A/N: Missandei time! Or as Melisandre would probably call her, 'Controlled Opposition' time!
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"Your fleet is almost ready, my dear. After that, Westeros awaits."
"… Yes. I look forward to closing my claws around the demon tyrant's throat and ending him once and for all."
Missandei of Naath stays quiet and unobtrusive, even as she watches the Red Priestess and her Queen converse. The other two women stand on a balcony that overlooks Meereen's massive harbor, where a truly titanic fleet of ships can be seen filling Slaver's Bay in all directions.
She stays back, of course, out of sight and out of mind until she's called upon. The perfect handmaiden, the perfect servant. That is ideal that she tries to embody for her Queen. For as long as she continues to draw breath, Missandei intends to follow and serve Daenerys Targaryen to the best of her abilities. If it is to be her choice… then she chooses the Dragon Queen, always.
At the same time, Missandei can't deny having developed a significant level of distaste for her Queen's Chief Advisor. The Red Priestess known as Melisandre just tends to unsettles Missandei in so many ways. Chief among them being her unnatural youth.
There's no denying that Melisandre is one of the most gorgeous women that Missandei has ever laid eyes on, but at the same time there's something wholly unnatural about it that puts her on edge whenever she's in the Red Priestess' presence. Her beauty was… unnatural, to say the least.
"You will get the chance soon enough, Your Grace. Axel Baratheon is secure in his strength, believing himself untouchable because of his demonic powers. And to the ordinary men and women of Westeros, he is. He could cut through an entire army and come out the other side without so much as a scratch. But then again… now, so can you."
A shiver runs down Missandei's spine in remembrance. Her Mistress was indeed more powerful than ever before. And her enemies here in Essos have learned that firsthand in recent weeks.
It's been a little over a month now since they conquered Meereen and Melisandre sacrificed all of the Great Masters in Daenerys' name. A month in which they'd focused solely on gathering together a great fleet of ships in order to sail to Westeros.
But even knowing that they were trying to leave, there were those in Essos who refused to just let them go after all that the Dragon Queen had done. The scattered remnants of the slavers from the countryside surrounding Astapor, Yunkai, and Meereen had tried everything to retake their cities and reclaim their chattel, from hiring mercenaries to even luring in the Dothraki to do their dirty work for them.
The latest attempt had brought a Dothraki Khalasar down on their heads and for a moment Missandei had worried that her Queen might hesitate in the face of her late husband's people. Having heard many stories about Daenerys' 'Sun and Stars', she'd wondered briefly if the Mother of Dragons might freeze up at the threat.
Missandei needn't have worried though. Daenerys had flown into battle on the back of her largest dragon Drogon, and between him and her other two dragons, they had burnt the Dothraki Khalasar to ash in a single afternoon.
That was over a week ago now, and there had not been another peep out of any of their enemies since. If anything, gathering ships had started to go even faster, with the number of ships they'd managed to requisition in the last week amounting to over half of their total fleet overall.
The most crucial thing at this point was going over the ships carefully to make sure they weren't rotted or sabotaged in any way. As long as they were seaworthy, they would be accepted as part of the Queen's Fleet. Daenerys wasn't exactly picky after all, she just needed the ships to get them to their final destination.
"… And the letter from the Prince of Dorne? Are we to land at Sunspear and launch my invasion of the Sunset Kingdoms from there?"
Missandei's smile quirks up a bit at that. 'The Sunset Kingdoms' was the name for Westeros primarily used in the Free Cities. It was just one of the little ways that her Queen revealed where she'd truly been raised. Missandei found it rather cute, in its own way.
Of course, the other reason she smiles ever so slightly is because Melisandre… looks uncertain. Missandei knows that she shouldn't take quite so much satisfaction in such things, especially when it had to do with key factors to the conquering of Daenerys' homelands… but the Red Priestess is so rarely unsure of herself and that makes for a gratifying sight.
"I… cannot say for certain, my dear. He did marry one of Dorne's Princesses, after all…"
Missandei's eyes narrow, starting to frown now at how weak Melisandre's voice sounds. The Red Priestess is usually so much more confident in her words. Especially when she can apparently just see everything to come in those flames of hers.
Daenerys clearly feels something similar to her handmaiden, because she scoffs at Melisandre's tone.
"The rumors say that it was a forced marriage. And you yourself have told me time and time again that Axel Baratheon is a demon made flesh. Is it surprising that there are those in Westeros who recognize him for the monster he is? Is it surprising that those now bound to him by marriage are the ones to recognize the threat he poses and act accordingly?"
Missandei doesn't quite nod along with Daenerys' words, but she does agree with her Queen. Of course she does! She's heard the same rumors about Axel's monstrous power and how he wields it to do whatever he wants over in the Sunset Kingdoms, including claiming two brides instead of one. Some even said that he actually had more women than just his two Queens, an entire harem of beauties that he's taken because he liked their looks and didn't care what anyone else thought.
She can believe it, truth be told. Especially with how much Melisandre had said of him to Daenerys in Missandei's presence, and the things Daenerys has in turn told her when they're alone together, just the two of them.
Which is why it's so strange that for once, Melisandre doesn't seem to know what to say. Finally, she licks her lips nervously.
"The flames… the flames have been unclear of late, I'm afraid. The offer to land in Dorne uncontested and make our next move from there could be legitimate, Your Grace. But it could also be a trap…"
The flames were unclear? Missandei can't help her eyes widening just a tad. She'd been by Daenerys' side for months now but she'd never heard Melisandre say something like that before. She'd always seemed to handle her visions from looking into fire with ease and aplomb, along with a certain supreme confidence…
Missandei's Queen and Mistress, likewise, is thoroughly unimpressed. Her glowing orange eyes narrow as she turns away from the balcony to look at Melisandre directly.
"The flames are unclear? How can they be unclear? I am the Lord of Light's Champion. You are his Chosen Priestess, meant to guide me down the correct path. The flames have never been unclear before…"
Melisandre grimaces and shakes her head.
"There is… interference, I'm afraid. Others seek to stymy us, to stop our efforts."
Others? Missandei blinks. Who? But Daenerys isn't having it either way.
"I don't want excuses. You said it yourself; Westeros awaits. We need to know where we're going, Melisandre. Ask the Lord of Light again. And don't you dare stop until you get a proper answer."
Melisandre hesitates and for the first time, just for a split second, she looks… almost tired. But then the moment passes and she straightens up, that same enigmatic smile she always has spreading across her oh-so-perfect features once more.
"You're right. Of course you are. I'll go commune with our Lord now, my dear. I promise I'll have a clear message for you before we set sail for Westeros."
Inclining her head in a bow that Missandei privately doesn't think is nearly deep enough, the Red Priestess takes her leave, walking right past her without so much as glancing in her direction. Missandei doesn't mind though… she prefers to avoid the other woman's notice as much as possible.
Still, it was surprising to hear Daenerys talk to her closest advisor that way. From what Missandei had seen and heard, her Mistress had been leaning on the Red Priestess for a long, long time. It was obvious that that was the way Melisandre liked it too, preferring to have Daenerys hanging off of her every word.
And yet… things had changed a little bit since the sacrifices a few weeks ago. It was one thing to sacrifice the adults, but while Daenerys had ultimately allowed Melisandre to convince her that they needed to sacrifice the children of Meereen's Slavemasters as well, it was obvious she wasn't happy about the decision, even now.
Of course, that was more obvious to Missandei than most, she imagined. Mostly because the handmaiden had spent many a night holding her Queen in her arms while Daenerys shuddered and whimpered her way through the resulting nightmares from what she'd been forced to do for her power.
Though… it wasn't all bad. For all that her power was as great as it was terrible, the Dragon Queen had discovered another use for it beyond just killing and sacrificing her enemies. A use that was all her own, that Melisandre seemingly hadn't known about.
It turned out that Missandei's Mistress could use her blood magic to heal, fueling the recovery of others with the power she gained from the connection to her wonderful dragons.
Of course, it did drain her and the dragons to do so, and Melisandre had ultimately tried to get her to stop… but Daenerys refused to relent. The draining was only temporary after all and she'd been able to heal so many former slaves, even going so far as to restore entire lost limbs and appendages. What a discovery that had been…
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"My Queen! My Queen, please!"
They'd been passing through the streets of Meereen when a man, clearly a former slave, had come running up with a small form in his arms… a little girl, with wide eyes and a missing hand clearly cleaved off at the forearm. Melisandre had gestured to the Unsullied to block him, but Daenerys had stopped them.
"Hold. Good ser, what is it? Who is this?"
"M-My daughter, Your Grace. The Great Masters… they took her hand for taking an extra piece of bread. Please, they say you have power. Can you help her? Can you heal her?"
Missandei had watched Daenerys' face go through so many conflicted emotions at that. It was mere days before that the Queen had been forced to sacrifice the former ruling families of Meereen for power, down to the youngest of them. But that power was destructive in nature as far as Missandei knew.
Melisandre had stepped forward, leaning in to whisper in Daenerys' ear, but before she could give her counsel, Daenerys had moved away from her and towards the man.
"I… I'll try."
Alarm had flashed across the Red Priestess' face at that, but before she could say a thing, Daenerys was already laying her hands on the girl, draconic claws forming over her fingers as she called upon her power. Later when it was just the two of them, Daenerys would tell Missandei that she didn't have a clue what she was doing. She was just working off of instinct at the time. But that… that was still more than enough.
The little girl had whimpered and then lifted up the stump of a wrist, only to reveal it growing back right before all of their eyes. Everyone, Melisandre included, had watched on in shock as the arm, hand, and fingers all regrew bit by bit until it was like nothing had happened at all. The expression of disbelief on the Red Priestess' face had warmed Missandei for quite a while after that.
After the man left with his daughter, though not before profusely thanking Daenerys and weeping in his relief, Melisandre had the gall to try and take the Queen to task.
"That was ill done, Your Grace. Now everyone will demand your healing."
But Daenerys, staring down at her hands, had just smiled broadly.
"Then they shall have it."
And that had been that.
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Daenerys had indeed healed practically anyone who would ask for it these last few weeks. Anyone who could reach her anyways. And while this did leave her busy and even exhausted at times, Missandei could tell that it also fulfilled and satisfied her in a very real way.
In the end, in spite of Melisandre's best efforts, she hadn't quite managed to kill Daenerys' heart. She hadn't managed to turn the Queen into her soulless, unthinking and unfeeling weapon just yet. And maybe… maybe she wouldn't if Missandei had anything to say about it.
Sucking in a deep breath, Missandei quietly approaches her Mistress, stepping up alongside her as Daenerys turns back to look out over the harbor. Her hands clutch at the balcony until her knuckles turn white from her grip and so Missandei reaches over and places a hand atop one, gently prying it loose and then intertwining her fingers with her Queen's.
Daenerys lets out a shuddering sigh as she squeezes Missandei's hand gently, taking solace in holding it and in the skin to skin contact. They stay like that for a time in wordless silence, watching all of the workers down below doing their best to prepare the Queen's Fleet for the voyage ahead. Until finally, Missandei holds her tongue no longer.
"Your Grace… I would not wish to overstep…"
Torn from whatever inner thoughts she's having, Daenerys looks over to Missandei before smiling softly.
"You could never overstep, Missandei."
Turning to her properly, the Dragon Queen reaches out with her other hand, taking ahold of Missandei's free hand and smiles wider still.
"Speak your mind with me. I would have it no other way, you know that. You are not my slave, you are my handmaiden and dearest friend and I want nothing but honesty from you."
Missandei believes her, but at the same time… what she has to say might still be a step too far. And yet, at this point it feels like it needs to be said. She can't stay quiet any longer.
"… I fear that the Red Priestess does not have your best intentions at heart, my Queen."
Daenerys stills, violet eyes flicking over to the doorway that Melisandre had just left through. Her smile fades, replaced by a frown.
"Melisandre? She… she's been my guiding light since my brother's death… no, since the wedding in Pentos, truth be told. I know she can be… difficult at times, but she's trustworthy, Missandei. Reliable."
Missandei hesitates… but she's come this far. No point backing down now.
"Only so far as the Lord of Light's Will is concerned, Your Grace."
That causes Daenerys to go silent. Missandei licks her lips, wetting them with her tongue for a moment before continuing.
"I fear she doesn't see you as you really are. She doesn't see you as her Queen, or Daenerys Targaryen, or even as a woman with your own thoughts and feelings. She sees in you her weapon, her tool… her Chosen One."
Daenerys grimaces, biting her lower lip and glancing to the side. That alone is enough to tell Missandei that she's had similar thoughts herself from time to time.
"I… I am Azor Ahai Reborn, Missandei. I am the Lord of Light's Chosen Champion. So… she's not wrong, exactly…"
Missandei scowls, unable to help herself.
"But she is! You are so much more than those things, my Queen! You are the one who brought dragons back into the world! The Mother of Dragons! You are the one who broke my chains and the chains of so many others! The Breaker of Chains! You are a woman who has lost much but never let it break or defeat her! Azor Ahai is only one part of who you are, of the wondrous Queen that I have chosen to follow!"
Looking taken aback by Missandei's outburst, Daenerys nevertheless smiles and lifts up a hand to caress one of her cheeks. Needless to say, Missandei happily nuzzles into her Mistress' palm without reservation or restraint. At the same time though, she's not done, her eyes growing serious again after a moment.
"… I fear she will use you up and discard you in time, Your Grace. I fear what she truly plans for you in… in the long run. She pushes you to do things you do not want to do, always urging you to gather more power even at the expense of your happiness… of your very soul. And all the while… she hides her true nature from us."
That gives Daenerys pause. Her lips purse together, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"Her true nature, Missandei?"
Huffing, Missandei pouts, knowing full well that her Queen knows exactly what she's talking about.
"The Red Priestess' beauty is unnatural, Your Grace. She is like a painting made flesh, even. I do not know her true form… and that worries me. Magic is a blade without a hilt, yet she wields it with such ease. What would she do if you wanted more for yourself than what she wants for you?"
Daenerys jolts, looking completely caught off guard by that last question. Like she'd never even thought about it before.
"More…?"
She's said too much. Blushing, Missandei puts aside nascent thoughts of trying to convince her Queen to run away with her. To leave this all behind, to venture somewhere else entirely rather than Westeros. The Summer Isles would be nice this time of year, for instance… but no.
She knows Daenerys would never go for it, not as she is now. And Missandei… Missandei is a coward. She doesn't want to lose what they already have, in the end. Instead, she reaches up and places a hand on Daenerys' cheek in turn, before leaning in and kissing her.
The Dragon Queen responds swiftly and eagerly, positively devouring Missandei's lips. It's not long before they retreat back from the balcony and into the room to make use of the bed there. Part of Missandei hates herself for her cowardice, for not pushing harder to make her Mistress see that she's being used by Melisandre.
But at the end of the day, her place is to serve. So that's what she does.
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A/N: Ruh roh. Careful there Melisandre. Your controlled opposition is getting out of hand. Oh but you're too busy to notice, aren't you? Fufufu…
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