A/N: The night before the duel, Melisandre comes to Daenerys with answers~
-x-X-x-
"My Queen…"
It's not until the night before the duel that Melisandre returns to her side. When she does, Daenerys is surprised to see her looking almost like her old self again, her exhaustion wiped away and a smile on her ruby red lips.
Daenerys herself is spending a moment with her dragons within the caves beneath Dragonmont, the great volcano that the Castle of Dragonstone is built partially into. There is no room near the castle itself for dragons of Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion's sizes. They've all chosen to nest about a half hour's walk away from the fortress as a result, though for someone like Daenerys, the journey is far quicker.
Whether Melisandre found the rocky path up here difficult or not, she shows no signs of it. Instead, she looks as she once did, her pristine presence returned to her and that supreme confidence Daenerys most associates with her back in full force.
Reluctantly, the Dragon Queen steps away from where she was running a hand along Drogon's snout, causing the big black dragon to let out a huff, his nostrils flaring in disappointment. Giving him an amused yet exasperated look, Daenerys shakes her head before turning her full, undivided attention towards her Red Priestess and closest advisor.
"Melisandre. I hope you have good news for me."
Melisandre just smiles mysteriously, beckoning for Daenerys to come to her. When the last Targaryen does so, the Red Priestess reaches out and takes Daenerys' hands in her own.
"I have looked into the flames, my dear. I have seen a way for you to defeat and destroy Axel Baratheon tomorrow morning. You WILL win if you can follow my instructions. Your victory will be guaranteed."
Daenerys hums, tilting her head to the side. She doesn't immediately respond to Melisandre's excited words. Instead…
"You seem to be doing better."
Letting out a tittering laugh, Melisandre waves a hand through the air before returning it to gripping one of Daenerys'.
"Nothing to concern yourself with, my Queen. Our enemies sought to limit my sight. They sought to block the Lord of Light from showing me what needed to be done, first with the snakes down in Dorne and then with tomorrow's duel. But we persevered and through that perseverance, our Lord was able to speak with me clearly once more."
Melisandre squeezes down on both of Daenerys' hands at that, almost to the point of discomfort. Daenerys looks down to see the Red Priestess' knuckles are white as she grips hard.
"My sweet child… I must know that your resolve remains firm. You are still determined to destroy the demon tyrant and retake your family's stolen throne, yes? It is your destiny to unite all of Westeros under the banner of the Lord of Light against the Great Other and his White Walkers, after all. So long as Axel Baratheon stands in your way, that will be impossible."
Daenerys has not been a child for a long time now. Still, she nods all the same, her jaw clenching.
"I am determined, Melisandre. I know the threat we face. I won't let Westeros fall to ice. As you say, Axel Baratheon stands in the way of that… so he must go."
For all that they might have had their disagreements in recent days, on that she and the Red Priestess are still fully aligned. The duel tomorrow… Daenerys had to win it. There was no other choice. She and her dragons would bring Axel Baratheon low where nobody else could. A Targaryen would once again sit upon the Iron Throne. And Westeros would finally be able to prepare for the coming of the White Walkers.
But first…
"What do I need to do to secure my victory, Melisandre? You said if I followed your instructions, it would be guaranteed. Please, guide me as you always have."
Melisandre's smile widens at the show of trust. But the first crack in the façade comes when she lets out a slow exhale before speaking.
"Of course. It will be one final sacrifice, my dear. One last time, you must be willing to show your devotion to the Lord of Light… by reaching out and grasping the power he has already put in front of you."
The power he has already put in front of her? Daenerys frowns, but Melisandre isn't done.
"Close your eyes, Daenerys. Focus on the sound of my voice. Reach out to your wonderful dragons and feel the bond you share with each of them. That wondrous connection set in place by the Lord of Light himself through previous sacrifices."
Daenerys hesitates for only a moment before finally doing what she's told. She lets her eyes shut and reaches out, swiftly finding Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion in mere moments. By now, taking ahold of that connection has become all but second nature to her. She's been training with both this power and her beautiful draconic children for months now, after all.
"I feel them. I have the connection."
"Good, very good. Now do you remember drawing upon their power, making it your own? Do so now, fill yourself with that strength."
Daenerys hums, doing as she's told. This is… nothing she hasn't done a million times before. Her blood claws manifest, but Melisandre doesn't seem to mind them. More than that, she feels other draconic traits make themselves known as well. Horns atop her brow. Scales beneath her clothes. A tail winding down under her dress. And finally, bursting out of her back through already prepared slits in her garments… her draconic wings.
Blazing orange eyes open as Daenerys breathes in and out, a furnace of fire stoked within her chest. She feels so very powerful right now… and Melisandre has the brightest smile on her face, alight from the glow of Daenerys' eyes.
"Good… keep going. Further. Deeper. Take it all, my Queen. Claim what has always been yours by right of birth."
Take it… all? For a moment, Daenerys starts to do as she's told. She draws more from her children than she ever has before, pulling on their power until… until she hears one of them let out a discomfiting cry of pain behind her. Daenerys flinches, immediately pulling back… but despite her being the one with claws right now, Melisandre maintains her grip on Daenerys' hands, holding her close.
"Don't stop, Daenerys! Keep going! This is the power you need! If you are going to face Axel Baratheon, four must become ONE!"
When Daenerys finally processes what Melisandre is truly saying, her eyes widen and the entire thing fizzles out. As soon as she understands that the Red Priestess means for her to drain her draconic children completely dry and take all of their power for herself permanently… she pulls back. Letting what energy she's already taken return back to her sons in a rush, Daenerys lets out a shuddering breath as her body returns to normal, the draconic features vanishing in the process.
"No… no, what are you doing?! You have to keep going!"
With a snarl, Daenerys finally rips her hands free of Melisandre's grasp, taking a step back in anger.
"Not before you explain yourself, Melisandre! You would have me kill my children without even telling me beforehand?!"
Melisandre's gorgeous features might as well be carved in stone as she stares Daenerys down.
"It is necessary, my Queen."
"But why? Surely the four of us have a greater chance of defeating the Baratheon King than just me with all our power!"
But Melisandre just shakes her head.
"No. You cannot measure up to his strength as you are now. You cannot hope to surpass his power without this sacrifice. The Lord of Light showed me, Daenerys! You can destroy Axel Baratheon and the White Walkers alike with the power you gain from this. All you have to do is sacrifice your dragons and you will be stronger than anything your enemies can bring to bear!"
Daenerys is barely listening though. She's still too incensed that Melisandre would try to walk her through the process without even telling her what was going on ahead of time.
"You weren't going to tell me, were you? Not until it was already done! You were going to have me kill them unknowingly!"
Melisandre stiffens up, her eyes flashing.
"It is my duty to guide you, my dear. It has always been my duty."
Snarling at that, Daenerys steps forward, stomping a crater into the ground as she goes. As cracks spiderweb out from the impact of her foot, Daenerys gets in Melisandre's face.
"No! Your duty is to advise me! I am your QUEEN! Not your pawn, not your tool, not your toy! You do not get to make decisions for me! Not now, not ever!"
Melisandre's composure cracks further and much to Daenerys' surprise, she actually snarls back.
"I do what I must, always! For all your years, you are but a girl playing with a crown, Daenerys Targaryen! You have always needed ME to push you towards your destiny! You would still be back in Essos playing house with your little horse lord if it wasn't for what I did!"
… What? When the words of the rant penetrate through the angry haze over Daenerys' thoughts, she finds herself stupefied. What did Melisandre… mean by that?
The Red Priestess also looks taken aback by her own words after a moment. And for the smallest of seconds, she looks… terrified. Then, she smooths over her expression, acting as though nothing she said was at all disquieting. But Daenerys isn't that easily fooled.
"What does that mean, exactly? What are you saying?"
Straightening herself up, puffing out her chest, the impossibly beautiful Red Priestess sniffs indignantly.
"… All I meant was that I have been showing you the Lord of Light's path for a long time. You would not be anything but Khal Drogo's broodmare right now if I hadn't taught you everything you know about yourself, your dragons, and your sorcery."
No… no, Daenerys can practically smell the deceit in Melisandre's words. There's something else. Something that the Red Priestess is hiding from her.
"Don't lie to me. What did you mean? What did you DO, Melisandre?!"
"N-Nothing! I have done nothing but HELP you, my dear! Everything I've done has been to make sure you are on the right path!"
More obfuscation. More half-truths bundled with lies. But how does she make Melisandre tell her the truth? And then it hits her.
Acting almost on instinct, Daenerys flashes forward, moving faster than the Red Priestess can possibly react. Her fingers close around the ever present amulet around Melisandre's neck… and with a burst of draconic strength, she rips it off. Just as quickly, she takes several steps back, putting distance between them before the other woman can even realize the necklace is gone.
Or rather, that's Daenerys' plan. However, the reaction to the amulet's theft is… damn near instantaneous. Melisandre howls and then collapses to her knees as strength leaves her body and she transforms in a handful of seconds into an ancient, hideous crone of a woman.
"N-No… the amulet… return… my amulet."
Watching carefully for a moment to make sure this isn't a trick, Daenerys eventually moves forward again, until she's looming over Melisandre.
"Not until you tell me the truth, Melisandre. What. Did. You. Do?"
There's a long pause, the air filled with the sound of Daenerys breathing through flaring nostrils while Melisandre gasps raggedly, her decrepit and aged body clearly failing her quickly. This was her true form, it would seem. Just how old is the Red Priestess truly? A hundred years? More?
"… The horse lord… and his son… would have failed you."
Daenerys freezes, staring down at Melisandre as she parses the Red Priestess' meaning. Meanwhile, Melisandre continues talking. Daenerys almost wishes that she didn't.
"Khal Drogo… did not have the strength to win… against Axel Baratheon. And your pregnancy… would have left you too weak… to fight him as well."
No…
"The plan… had to change. But your husband… would never have agreed. Men are… stubborn. Especially… men like… him."
No, no, no…
"I did… what had to be done… for the sake of your destiny, Daenerys. I made sure what needed to happen… happened."
"You… but I'm the one who went behind your back to seek out ill-advised care for Drogo. I'm the one who got my son killed. You can't have…"
Melisandre stays quiet, averting her eyes. Daenerys stares down at the decrepit old woman, seeing her true face for the first time.
"… My amulet… you must return my amulet…"
Daenerys looks at her incredulously, and then at the amulet still in her hand. Then, she snarls.
"This amulet?"
Melisandre finally raises her head, just in time to see blood red claws form over Daenerys' hands… and close down on the amulet as she begins to squeeze.
"N-No! What are you doing?! You-!"
C-CRACK!
A long, jagged crack forms in the amulet's gemstone… and then a moment later, the whole thing shatters. Daenerys keeps squeezing until the amulet is nothing but a twisted lump of gold and gem shards in her palm. Melisandre looks on in horror, speechless… but that's okay. Daenerys finds she has no use for the Red Priestess' words. Not anymore.
"Drogon."
Behind her, her beautiful draconic child, the closest thing Daenerys has to a son thanks to Melisandre's machinations, lumbers to his feet, moving forward until he's looming over them both. Daenerys feels him at her back, massive and all-encompassing, but she's not afraid. Not like Melisandre is.
"You can't… you need me. I am… R'hllor's Voice… you cannot turn your back… on him."
Daenerys scoffs.
"Turn my back on the Lord of Light? I'm doing no such thing, Melisandre. You said a sacrifice was necessary. If he truly disapproved of this, then he would have already stopped me."
Melisandre's eyes widen in horror as she realizes Daenerys is right. The Dragon Queen smiles grimly and takes a deep breath.
"Drogon… Dracarys."
A torrent of dragonfire flows out of her son's mouth and covers Melisandre in the span of a single moment. The Red Priestess screams as she's burnt to a crisp before she can so much as blink. What's left behind is barely a skeleton, as charred black as it is.
That doesn't stop Drogon from leaning over Daenerys for a moment to scoop up what little remains of Melisandre into his great big maw. The crunching of ashen bones fills her ears as Daenerys lets out a sigh and reaches back, running a hand over black scales.
Melisandre had betrayed her. But ultimately, this changed nothing. Daenerys would still kill Axel Baratheon tomorrow. For turning Jorah Mormont into an assassin, he deserved nothing else. And she would still unite all of Westeros under her rule, to prepare for the coming of the White Walkers.
The Iron Throne was still hers by birthright after all. She was the Last Targaryen. She was Azor Ahai Reborn. And nothing and nobody was going to stop her.
-x-X-x-
A/N: The truth comes out. But Daenerys… is determined.
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