Visenya had done a lot of travels in her life, some rather prolonged, but what she did in that single month was something that had surpassed all of her previous accomplishments. She had formed a plan on how to approach their allies and which roads to take, to ensure they wasted no time.
She had loyal soldiers, who followed her despite the ever-changing terrains, the few hours of sleep and the small breaks that they took as they seemed to understand the urgency behind their mission.
Even the horses seemed to sense that, giving their best selves to carry them across Westeros.
The first travel had been easy since going from King's Landing to Sunspear was via the use of ships. There, she met with the Princes Doran and Oberyn where she explained the situation, the upcoming danger and what had to be done.
If she was anyone else, perhaps they would have turned her away but she was neither a common messenger nor a hated Westerosi. She had her past with the family ruling Dorne and Oberyn was more than willing to assist her, although how much he believed that undead army was uncertain.
In the end, she had left Sunspear with more ships and even more men.
Her next stop had been Storm's End, taking her less time than it would take her to go to King's Landing. There, she met with the main lords that held the castle until a Baratheon were to be appointed as the new Warden of the East.
The houses Swann and Caron were the biggest houses of the Stormlands but Visenya met with almost all the houses when she arrived with Oberyn. To persuade them was not easy, since their allegiances had shifted and many houses had turned against one another as some had supported Renly and others Stannis.
However, all the adult stags were dead and the only one left was Tommen; who some Lords did question his parenthood and the fact that he might not be a child of Robert.
Visenya did not blame them, of course, but tried her best either way. That day, her speech surpassed any other she had given and she used every trick in her book to pass her message.
She brought up Tommen and Robert, the allegiance of the Stormlands to the Targaryens and Steffon; her deceased cousin.
In the end, she left with their promise to think and to meet at the Crossroad Inn; if they agreed to join the war and bring their banners.
Her last stop was Highgarden, where she received a warm welcome from both Loras and Willas. Half of the army had left with Lord Mace and Tywin earlier, for the North but there were still available men and bannermen that could join.
They had used the time from her first raven to her visit, to gather the men; since Olenna had also sent a raven of her own, with similar instructions. Thus, the stay at Highgarden was short but needed.
Resources and provisions were loaded, the men had a chance to rest properly and more soldiers joined their cause; led by none other than the Young Knight of Roses, Ser Loras himself.
Eventually, with this new combined army; Visenya set course for the Crossroad Inn, where she hoped to see the Stormlands as well.
Crossroad Inn, Base of the Trident - Riverlands, Westeros - Evening
Visenya found it ironic that she was once again back at that damned Inn.
It was the cruel joke of the Gods, to amuse themselves by choosing that specific location.
In the same Inn, Tyrion had been kidnapped. In the same Inn, Tywin and she had set camp before going against the Boltons and the Northern soldiers at the Green Fork. In the same Inn, she had taken rest with Rhaegar during the Rebellion.
And in the same Inn, she had returned for the last time; hopefully.
Unlike all the other times, this one had a few major differences.
For starters, she was not there as a Targaryen but neither purely as a Lannister; evident by the cape she had with her personal sigil on it. In addition, she did not march against the North but rather to assist the Northerners; perhaps for the first time in known history.
Third was the fact that she did not have the Stormlands as her enemy but as her allies. In the end, available men were sent and were led by famous knights from each house like Bryen Jr. Caron; the middle-born of the famous Bryen Sr. Caron.
However, the main Lord who managed to bring them together was none other than the famous Lord Gulian Swann. His son, Ser Balon, was a member of the Kingsguard and had been left at King's Landing to protect Tommen. His youngest son, Ser Donnel, had joined his father and they had managed to bring with them enough men to make the difference.
Now, they were all gathered in the Inn; great lords and some minor ones, mostly those whose loyalty was to their legion Lords like the Hightowers to the Tyrells or the Hotah to the Martells. A map had been spread across the wooden table and everyone was around it with Visenya by the head of the table.
She was not the only woman though, for Obara had also joined her father in this war; being the only one of the Sand Snakes to do so. His other daughters wished to do so as well but he did not let them, preferring them to stay behind with Ellaria and keep an eye on Dorne.
In addition, Obara was the only one who had truly trained to fight like a man and would thrive better in war conditions than her two other sisters; who were more passive in their chosen weapons.
"Based on our calculations, we should arrive at North in about 22 days, My Lady," Bryen Jr. said, fingers slowly moving to form an imaginary line to show the distance they had yet to cover.
Visenya thought about it, her back as per usual straight but her unique red-flecked amber eyes were locked on the map. "22 days sounds like a good number. Let us pray we can still arrive before the enemy does."
It had been more than a month since she had left King's Landing and winter had started to spread all across Westeros. The more north they headed, the colder the weather was and more frequently they saw snow fall from the sky.
"It is a huge army, My Lady. It takes time to move all those soldiers and the provisions," Lord Gulian said.
She nodded her head. "I am aware, My Lord. Our pace should be enough not to tire our men or risk harming them," she commented and let a silent sigh.
She had not received any news from the North but based on the distance Jon Snow had told them the enemy was, they had time; for now. She suspected Tywin would be on his way as well, most likely soon to arrive.
The days had passed in haste and until they met with the Lords of the Stormlands, Visenya did not bother counting them; her mind was too busy. Now that she had the reinforcements, she had the chance to calm down her thoughts and that made her think of her sons and Tywin.
She had hoped and even mentally prayed that it all went well with Jaime and Trystan and that Tywin would have no problem with the Northerners. It was perhaps naivety to wish for all those things to go so well but considering the threat they were facing, one should not truly be blamed for trying to see something positive in the upcoming near future.
She looked from the map to the men around her, catching Loras and Oberyn exchanging glances. Ever since those two met, they had been rather close and she would not be surprised if they slept together even.
However, at that moment, the exchange they had with their eyes had nothing to do with anything sexual.
"What is it?" she asked, realizing that they had something in mind, something that they wished to share.
"Now that we have all gathered and we have set our course..." Loras started, earning the attention of everyone in the room. "I do believe there is one last thing we should discuss before we start our journey."
This made Visenya arch a single eyebrow. "Which is?" she asked and stole a glance around, seeing if any of the other Lords knew about it.
Their latest additions did not seem to be fully aware or they hid it well but some others seemed to have talked about it long before it was brought up to her.
"Your niece, Princess," Oberyn said, not once having moved from her side ever since they left Sunspear.
He had been riding by her side, sitting or standing and was always present when they discussed matters. Even when she talked with other lords, he was present but he knew when not to interfere and let her do her thing; like in the Stormlands.
To some, it might be odd seeing the Red Viper tightly wrapped around the Dragoness but she knew better. He was, for starters, grabbing the chance to be more in her presence without Tywin interrupting.
Secondly, he was trying to pass a message to the other lords; that he was protecting her.
Lady Lannister or not, she was still a woman and right now her powerful Lord Husband was far away. The people she had to talk to and the soldiers that would ride under her banners might try their luck with her or even try to harm her; due to Tywin's past actions.
She doubted that would ever take place but she did not force him to stop, knowing very well she would earn nothing of it. Plus, his presence also served another message. Lastly, it made it clear to everyone that mighty Dorne was supporting her.
One that had the Spearmen of the South to cover her back was one that few would truly think of crossing. After all, no one ever forgot how Dorne never got conquered by the Dragons or how deadly Dornish Spears were with either their weapons or poisons.
"What about her?" she asked, finding it tiresome that she had to drag it out of their mouths by constantly setting questions.
Oberyn, who was always the most open to speak, chose to enlighten her. "She calls herself the rightful Queen. She approached us one day through raven, claiming her right to the throne and wishing for our alliance."
This made her blink and frown faintly, for those were not the news she had been informed of or been aware of. "When did this happen?"
"Before the wedding of Myrcella to Trystane. Of course, we denied her."
One would wonder why, considering they could have easily supported her when she arrived in Westeros and gotten rid of the Lions entirely. Then again, Visenya was not like anyone else.
She knew why they rejected her and it was not Oberyn's sole decision due to his relationship with Visenya, since it was Doran who made all decisions in the end.
"Martells always keep their words," she said, a phrase she had heard often from both him but also his deceased uncle and his mother.
He offered her a toothy grin, pleased to know that she remembered but the topic was still there and it had to be addressed.
"Word has it that Jon Snow bent the knee and the North to her," Loras informed, although that was something she also knew. "When we arrive there, she will most likely try to approach us to earn our support."
Gulian Jr. chose to comment. "As if. She is a foreigner, with a foreign army. She is not one of us."
"In how many Kings have you pledged your allegiance by now, Ser Gulian?" Oberyn asked.
It was known that the younger Gulian did not have a stable allegiance to someone. First, he followed Robert, then Renly, then Stannis, then the Boltons, then Joffrey and lastly Tommen; making it in total a surprising number of six.
The young lord scowled at the insult and was about to say something when his father sent him a look that made him go silent. It was times like those he wished for his other son to be alive instead, but alas he had perished in the Battle of Blackwater Bay.
"She would be a fool not to try and form alliances with any of you, considering her goal is the Iron Throne. Nor would it be wrong if any of you chose her side due to her army and her dragons that offer a certain security of winning," Visenya said, looking slowly at each lord as she spoke.
She was not surprised to truly hear that news, she was more surprised that it was brought up and openly discussed in front of her. If Tywin was present, none would dare to do that or if they did; they would face dire consequences.
But I am not him, she corrected herself mentally.
She was not Tywin and she did not keep her alliances and her soldiers through pure intimidation and fear. She was always one that went through respect and mutual benefits, something that had worked in her favour the past few years.
"We wouldn't even if she were to threaten us with her dragons," Lord Tarly said, his son Dickon nodding his head in agreement. "We have bowed the knee to one King and to that one King, it shall remain. Enough with usurpers trying to take the Throne and we have to pay the consequences."
Everyone knew what he was talking about, passively hinting at Aegon the Conqueror and Robert. His words did not earn the best of looks from the Lords of the Stormlands and Visenya let out a sigh, realizing how hard it would be to ensure they would not try to stab one another before they reached Winterfell.
"We are getting out of topic here," Loras said, surprising many with his more commanding tone and earning the attention of the Lords and the ladies in the room. "We have bent the knee to King Tommen but that does not mean she will respect that."
Oberyn nodded. "This has always been a game. Who has the biggest army, the most gold, the most fearsome reputation..." he smirked, looking at Visenya but he was passively talking about Tywin. "If she wishes to approach us, she may but we should first show her we already support a dragon."
Finally, the cards were on the table and Visenya took a moment to process everything. She quickly rushed into what conclusions they were leading her with their words; not once going straight for the most important part.
She looked at him but her gaze went to the other great House Lords.
"You do not support me directly, for I represent the Crown," she reminded them, passively correcting Oberyn. "In addition, she calls herself a Queen and that is not a title I possess and never did."
Loras smirked. "Categorically," he said, earning a few faint nods from the other Lords.
Everyone who had been on the battlefield, who had mingled with the high lords; knew that Visenya was not the trophy wife many court nobles thought of her. They knew she had led armies and she fought in the front lines. They knew she had a cunning mind, cunning enough that even the mighty Lord Tywin respected.
But above all, they knew she was not a woman sitting in a room and keeping herself busy with embroidery. She was a woman who constantly moved, constantly schemed and planned; acting more like a Queen just as Tywin acted more like a King; compared to those who officially held the title and wore the crowns.
"If we are to march North and meet with her, we better show her there is already a Dragon Queen standing against her," Oberyn grinned, showing his pearly white teeth and Lord Areo Hotah took a step closer and brought something forward.
In his hands, he held a band made from Valyrian steel, shaped to be narrower and more fitting for the head of a woman. It was thin and more feminine but it stood out thanks to the round bloody red gems spread evenly all around it.
Her lips parted and her eyes opened wider at the item. It was not entirely a crown but it was not a simple head decoration either. It was all too familiar, too similar to the crown of Aegon the Conqueror that was lost little after yet another failed attempt of her ancestors to conquer Dorne.
She looked from the band at Oberyn, who took it from his good friend and head of his personal guards, before turning to face her.
"Is this the crown of Aegon the Conqueror?" Ser Donnel Swann asked, his eyes locked on the unique and beautiful band.
"Made from the Conqueror's crown. That old thing was barely repairable. Plus, I do believe it is a far better fit in this form," Oberyn answered, barely taking his eyes off Visenya.
"You cannot crown a Queen, not when we already fight under the banners of King Tommen," she argued, clearly against the idea of the Dornish Prince.
Perhaps in Dorne, this would have easily been accepted but they were not in Dorne and they were not in any familiar land either. Plus, they had all gathered to go help the North in the battle against the Undead. They were not there to secretly crown a new monarch.
"Who says anything of officially crowning you a queen?" Loras asked, smirking. "We simply make it clear that we have already pledged our allegiance to a Targaryen."
Yet, she shook her head faintly as she was still not agreeing with them.
"You have not pledged allegiance to me. I do not rule you," she argued stubbornly.
"No, but you fight beside us, which is more than can be said for most rulers," Lord Tarly said, having also been present during the Battle of Blackwater Bay and before when they were discussing the idea of her being Renly's Pretender.
"I had long sworn myself never to pick up a sword again," Lord Gulian said, entering the discussion. "Yet, it was your words that made me pick it up again and stand here with all the other Lords."
Another Lord from the Stormlands nodded his head. "Lord Steffon trusted you and ever since his death at that accident, you had constantly supported the Stormlands until Robert and his brothers came of age," he reminded her, for she indeed had kept the promise she had given young Robert after the funeral of his father.
"You have earned the trust and interest of my Grandmother," Loras told her. "For her to do so, meant that she did see something more. Despite her sharp tongue, I have learnt to listen to her pieces of advice."
He did not even have to bring up how understanding she was with his relationship with Renly and how she brought back the armour, as she had promised.
"And Dorne would not truly fight side by side with Lannister Lions if it weren't for your assistance to bring justice to Elia," Oberyn added right after. "My uncle Lewyn trusted you as well and followed you in the battles, all the way to the Trident where he perished, fighting under your banners."
Visenya had never forgotten how she had fought side by side with the Dornish Prince back then, who had remained loyal to also ensure Aerys would not harm his niece and her children. He had been a good man, one that she listened to for advice and respected for his loyalty to his family.
He had died at the Trident along with so many other faithful soldiers and Lords.
The Dragoness looked at each Lord as they spoke, at the Dornish Prince and everyone else present in the room, as they brought up her achievements. Even those that were silent did nod their heads in agreement; with few remaining passive but choosing not to argue.
"If I accept this plan, then it must be clear that nothing changes. Right now we are all equals, gathering together our men to fight a threat that doesn't care which House we belong to. This is all mutual and no one has been forced to participate," she made it clear.
She knew the men already remembered that but she wished to repeat it, to make sure. She was no Queen to them; she was not ruling or ordering them because that was never her goal. She showed up to their doors as a messenger, as a Lady of a big house that needed to raise its banners and go to yet another war.
She never forced anyone, which was why she had allowed the Lords of the Stormlands to think about it and come only if they wished to. Now, the time of threats was not needed and personally; she was never one to truly make them when it came to her allies.
If I am to fight side by side with someone and let them cover my back in battle, I need to know they are there because they want to, she often told herself.
"An alliance based on fear will only result in a backstabbing," Tywin had told her when she was far younger and was tutoring her in secret in the Royal Library.
He had never allied by forcing the other party but always through some agreement, whether it was marriage or something else. Sure, he was not linear or friendly when he did, but he knew better than to intimidate someone into agreeing.
The Lords nodded their heads, many now more eager to see the band around her head. It did offer a sense of reassurance, that at least they were following the right person.
They did not follow an Old Lion with a ruthless nature, nor a boy-king, who had yet to hit puberty. They did not follow a bastard Northerner either and neither a Targaryen girl, who thought she could conquer them all.
Visenya looked at them, not sure what to say or how truly to react to such words and plans. Is this how Robb was named King of the North by his men? she wondered mentally as she looked at Loras and Oberyn.
It was clear that those two had long discussed and planned it and she was not going to be surprised if they had talked to the other Lords as well before bringing up the proposal.
She focused more on the grinning Oberyn, wondering when he made that band and why he carried it with him from Sunspear. A part of her, honestly, was not sure she wished to know even though she had her suspicions.
In the end, Visenya gave in.
As she bent her head for Oberyn to place the band on her head, she could not help but wonder what Tywin would think upon seeing her.
She was curious to see his reaction, to hear what plan Oberyn, Loras and the other Lords had come up with.
She was curious what Daenerys would say. She did not wish to clash with her niece before truly meeting one another but she knew she could not truly refuse the men either, for they had every right to ask that of her.
The cold metal of the band touched her forehead and framed her head, somehow being such a good fit that Visenya was afraid to ask Oberyn when he took measurements; let alone how.
It was not a heavy ornament, light enough for her to battle with but the odd sensation was still there. She had never truly worn anything on her head, other than the ceremonial crown that Daemon Targaryen had personally made for his wife Naelys Targaryen, as a wedding gift.
And she had worn that damn thing only once, in her own wedding to Tywin.
Visenya lifted her head and looked around the room. They were not going to shout and cheer as if they had truly crowned a queen but they did show their respect by bowing their heads forward; one by one.
Even Loras did so but to her surprise, Oberyn bowed his head last. Yet, his eyes never left hers and his smirk remained as he showed passive respect to her new "title."
She pressed her lips to form a thin line but kept her chin up, accepting the role the Lords wished her to play with every bit of pride she had within her.