CHAPTER 410: CHAPTER 410: THE QUEEN RETURNS

Fisherman Jarman had just awakened from a deep sleep. He grabbed the jug on the table and poured the cold water over his head to snap himself awake, then casually wiped his face and dashed out, heading toward the docks outside the Mud Gate.

To celebrate His Majesty Lynd leading the Night’s Watch and other brave warriors to victory over the legendary White Walkers, a grand banquet had been held in King’s Landing on the very day of his return. Wine and food had flowed freely, and the entire city had plunged into a frenzy of celebration.

Though the main festivities had ended, for the next half-month many nobles—especially officials dispatched from Summerhall—continued to host banquets in the taverns to show their respect and admiration for their king.

Thus, Jarman had spent his days drifting between taverns, drinking for free. Though he had run into a few small mishaps, he had mostly succeeded. Just last night, Lord Mus from Summerhall had rented out the entire Herring Tavern for a feast, and Jarman had managed to sneak in, nearly getting a taste of Arbor wine.

He wished that such a life could continue forever, but unfortunately, his money had run out. If he didn’t go back to sea to fish, he would soon starve. That was why he planned to head to the docks today to find work on a fishing boat.

However, when he arrived at the docks, he was stunned by the sight before him. The entire pier was packed with people, crowding the streets and even filling the rooftops. Everywhere, heavily armed guards stood at key points, vigilantly scanning their surroundings.

The mooring area along the Blackwater Rush had been completely cleared. All fishing boats and cargo ships had been pushed upstream, while two warships blocked the river to prevent any vessels from approaching the now-empty docks.

The road leading from the docks into the city had also been cleared, with elite soldiers from the God’s Chosen Corps lining both sides. The Mud Gate itself had been dismantled to ensure an unobstructed passage into the city.

Although Jarman couldn’t see into the city itself, judging by the preparations here, the situation inside was likely just as intense. His curiosity piqued, he asked a nearby bystander, "What’s all the commotion? Who’s coming?"

As soon as he spoke, one of the Gold Cloaks maintaining order shot him a sharp, scrutinizing look.

The man Jarman had asked, seemingly unaware of the attention they had drawn, replied casually, "The two queens from Essos, along with the prince and princess, are arriving."

Realization dawned on Jarman’s face, and he stood on tiptoe, eager to catch a glimpse.

Most of the crowd shared his curiosity. Apart from Queen Nymeria, whom many had seen before, few had ever laid eyes on the others—only heard stories of them.

They didn’t have to wait long. From the mouth of the Blackwater Rush, a fleet of mighty warships began sailing up the river. From these ships, a host of pterodactyl riders took flight, patrolling the riverbanks as they escorted a grand, four-decked flagship slowly toward the pier.

The warships tasked with security docked first. Warriors in exotic armor disembarked, thoroughly inspecting the area once more. Although the commander of the Gold Cloaks, who was responsible for city security, felt slighted by this—believing it showed distrust in his abilities—he betrayed no emotion. Instead, he followed orders and meticulously conducted another inspection, knowing full well that any lapse could cost him not just his position, but his life.

Following the advice of the Queen’s Guard captain, the commander ordered all rooftops cleared of civilians, posted guards at every two-story building, and expanded the cleared area around the road to ensure it was wide enough for carriages to pass, while still allowing two or three mounted guards to ride alongside for protection.

When all security measures were in place, servants unloaded the specially crafted carriages from the flagship. The finest warhorses were harnessed, and two fully armored gladiators took the reins, while a unit of powerful gladiators surrounded the carriages on foot.

At last, Queen Nymeria, wearing a specially designed battle gown, descended from the ship, followed closely by Daenerys, dressed in ancient Valyrian attire.

As the two queens appeared, the surrounding crowd erupted into cheers.

"Long live Queen Nymeria! Long live Queen Daenerys!"

At the same time, a mighty dragon’s roar echoed from afar. Moments later, eight massive dragons of various sizes and colors flew into view, circling above. From the Dragonpit, Deltos also soared into the sky, leading the eight dragons as they wheeled majestically above Winterfell.

When most people’s attention was drawn to the dragons overhead, Augustus and Myrcella walked hand in hand down the gangplank, followed by the four younger ones—Katarina, Caesar, Alexander, and Elizabeth.

Once everyone had boarded the carriages, the convoy slowly moved onto the newly cleared road. Nymeria and Daenerys opened the windows, smiling and waving to the cheering crowds lining the streets.

Among the throng, a few suspicious individuals tried to move closer to the convoy. However, before they could take more than a few steps, two or three guards would immediately surround them, pressing blades against their vital points—one wrong move, and they would be finished before they could react.

Thus, the convoy proceeded from the Mud Gate to the Iron Gate, making a full circle around the inner wall along the ring road, before finally arriving at the plaza before the Red Keep.

There, the Red Viper led the members of the Small Council, and Little Rose led the members of the Executive Council, all waiting outside the square. When the carriages came to a halt and Nymeria and the others descended, the gathered officials stepped forward to pay their respects.

"Lord Oberyn, Lady Margaery, isn’t His Majesty here?" Nymeria asked after nodding a greeting to the assembled crowd, glancing around in mild confusion.

The Red Viper immediately replied, "Something came up at the Wall yesterday. His Majesty went to deal with it personally."

Nymeria frowned slightly. "Something at the Wall? Is it the Free Folk?"

"Yes," the Red Viper nodded, glancing around before saying, "This isn’t the place to discuss it. Your Majesties, Your Highnesses, please, let’s talk inside."

Nymeria gave a small nod, and the group made their way into the Red Keep. As they passed through what had once been the throne room—now converted into a council chamber—Daenerys suddenly stopped. Her gaze fell on the place where the Iron Throne had once stood, and a flicker of sadness crossed her face.

Margaery explained softly, "The Iron Throne has been moved to Dragonstone, Your Majesty. If you wish..."

"No need," Daenerys said, smiling faintly. "It’s just an outdated chair." She turned away and continued walking with the others toward the Queen’s Hall.

...

Once they reached their designated quarters, Nymeria motioned for most of the attendants to withdraw, keeping only a few key figures—among them the Red Viper and Little Rose—before asking what had happened at the Wall.

The Red Viper answered seriously. The Free Folk tribes settled in the Gift, after learning that the White Walkers had been wiped out, had become reluctant to migrate elsewhere. Some even wanted to return beyond the Wall, while others had taken advantage of the chaos to slip south into the North. At that time, most of the North’s forces were still assisting the Night’s Watch and other armies with postwar matters at the Wall, leaving the northern lands sparsely defended. The roving Free Folk bands had begun causing trouble for the local territories.

Upon receiving reports from the North and the Wall, Lynd had immediately mounted his lava dragon Neltharion and rushed north to deal with the situation.

...

After learning the details, Nymeria said nothing further about it and instead shifted the topic to the preparations for the Empire’s founding ceremony.

Although Lynd himself had little interest in grand ceremonies, believing a formal announcement would suffice to declare the Empire’s establishment and his coronation, others hoped for a lavish celebration. After all, after enduring a titanic struggle like the battle at the Wall, the people of the Seven Kingdoms longed for a moment to relax. Furthermore, with the Great Migration looming, a flood of responsibilities would soon crash down like a tidal wave. If they did not take the opportunity to celebrate now, there would be few chances later.

Moreover, both Nymeria and Daenerys felt it inappropriate to establish an empire with such a rushed, perfunctory announcement. At the very least, a grand ceremony was needed—both to mark the moment and to present the entire Tarran royal family before the public.

In the end, Lynd could only compromise, handing over all preparations for the ceremony to Margaery.

Margaery quickly reported, "Everything is ready. The lords from across the realm have been summoned to Winterfell, and on the Essos side..."

Nymeria interrupted her, saying, "The people there will go to Ny Sar. After the ceremony here in King’s Landing is completed, another ceremony will be held at Ny Sar."

"Grand Maester, is this the latest map of the entire empire?" Augustus suddenly turned to the Grand Maester Pycelle, who was waiting quietly at his side.

Grand Maester Pycelle bent low, wearing a flattering smile. "Yes, Your Highness. This map was recently compiled by the Citadel after gathering information from numerous maesters across the realm."

"Mm, very good," Augustus nodded, but then casually added, "Though, it’s a pity it’s wrong."

Everyone in the room froze upon hearing this, instinctively turning their gaze to the imperial map.

Although Augustus’ tone was light, the matter itself was anything but. This map was intended to be displayed on the bulletin boards of every city and territory across Westeros and Essos, a declaration to all of the might and vastness of the Tarran Empire. If the map contained errors and was publicly displayed, it would cause serious damage to the Empire’s reputation.

"Augustus, where exactly is the mistake?" Nymeria asked sharply.

"There are plenty of mistakes," Augustus said calmly. "The map doesn’t include the northern regions of Lorath and the former Kingdom of Old Yvethron. I recall that area was already under the Empire’s jurisdiction before Braavos was conquered." He pointed to the northern part of the map, then shifted his hand southward. "The ruins of Valyria aren’t marked either. This really shouldn’t be overlooked. Has the Citadel already forgotten that my father took control of that area long ago?

"Slaver’s Bay is wrong too—where are the islands? They aren’t marked at all. The Dothraki Sea isn’t drawn either, despite the fact that after my mother and Aunt Daenerys conquered Slaver’s Bay, the khalasars submitted to Aunt Daenerys. That land should certainly be included. And beyond that—Great Moraq, Val, Little Moraq, the Dragonhorn Peninsula of Sothoryos, the Manticore Isles to the east, Thunder Isle, and even Asshai farther east—all missing.

"Altogether, nearly a third of the Empire’s territory isn’t shown. Who compiled this map, based on what sources, and with what intent?"

By the time Augustus finished speaking, cold sweat was pouring from Grand Maester Pycelle’s forehead. In the end, his legs gave out and he collapsed to the floor, too terrified to speak.

"Has the map already been distributed?" Daenerys asked.

"Several copies have already been sent out," the Red Viper said with a wry smile. The responsibility for this task had been his, but he had thought it unimportant at the time. Without double-checking, he simply had a few ’improved’ copies made and sent them to the domains of the realm’s major lords.

"Send people to retrieve the maps immediately and have them redrawn," Daenerys said decisively. Then, when it came time to appoint someone to oversee it, her gaze swept around the room before finally landing on Augustus. "Since you discovered the problem, Augustus, you will take charge of this matter."

Augustus hurriedly tried to refuse. "What? How can this be handed to me..."

But Nymeria, seeing her son—with his now slightly grown-in mustache—gave him no chance to argue. She said firmly, "It’s decided. If you do it well, you will be rewarded. If you fail, you will be punished."

Augustus’ expression grew rather grim. Originally, he had only meant to find fault with Grand Maester Pycelle and the others to teach them a small lesson. He hadn’t expected it would backfire so spectacularly and drag him into it.

Nearby, Myrcella seemed to understand what was happening. She couldn’t help but chuckle softly, though soon a trace of sadness appeared on her face. "Your Grace, I would like to return to the Westerlands for a visit."

Nymeria looked at Myrcella, instantly understanding—she wanted to visit Jaime and Cersei’s graves. Nymeria nodded, saying she would arrange for an escort to take her to the Westerlands, and she also instructed Augustus to accompany her as a representative of the Imperial Family.