Mother of the nation?

The perspective can speak volumes. From the balcony on top of her pyramid, Daenerys Targaryen gazes down on Meereen and then towards Astapor, the second city in Slaver’s Bay, as the city surrender’s to her troops. The ancient city marked by the harpy is literally at her feet. But for Meeren’s citizens looking up from the labyrinth of alleys and narrow streets, the view of their new, all-powerful ruler is just as impressive. The probability that either of these points of view converge is relatively slim. It’s also improbable that the Meereenese will ever fully enjoy the freedom that was promised to them.

Daenerys I. The Most Unlikely

Daenerys Targaryen, known as “Khaleesi” to her worshippers, was a complete unknown just years before. But the great-granddaughter of King Aegon “the Unlikely” is poised to surpass her famous ancestor in terms of improbability. While Aegon was at least in theory part of the succession, a simple twist was keeping the wispy blonde from assuming any position of power: Everyone assumed that Rhaegar Targaryen’s sister had died during Robert Baratheon’s rebellion.

The murder of Daenerys and her twin brother Viserys proved to be one of the most widespread lies in a society full of lies. And one of the most long-lived: The press and the public were so convinced, that even the wedding of the “deceased” to warlord Khal Drogo remained unnoticed.

From trophy wife to superstar

This alliance, which was supposed to secure the loyalty of Khal Drogo to the equally living Viserys Targaryen, not only led to her title of Khaleesi. There were also three petrified dragon eggs that were presented as presents during the ceremony – perhaps the most dangerous wedding gifts since Pandora’s Box. While Khaleesi managed to mysteriously lose her brother and her husband within the course of a few months, she was able to reactivate those three eggs. Thereby was the teenager not only the leader of the predatory nomads (the Dothraki) but also in possession of three weapons of mass destruction.

However, the young Targaryen only became a serious player in the Game of Thrones after she gained control of a band of mercenaries in Astapor. An audacious move for Khaleesi, who only had a limited amount of capital. Her solution was simple and frightening. According to reports, Daenerys was prepared to offer the largest of the three dragons in exchange for her army. This deal turned out to be nothing more than fraud. But the fact that a dragon was used as a means of negotiation had weapon’s experts up in arms. In addition, questions were raised about military intelligence as they weren’t capable of predicting this coup in Slaver’s Bay.

With the support from the “Unsullied” mercenaries, Daenerys then took over Astapor and the proud city of Meereen. She was celebrated as a liberator – mostly because a large portion of the population had been living in servitude (hence, the name Slaver’s Bay). But the cold-blooded murder of the ruling oligarch damaged her reputation as a freedom fighter with principles.

Questionable means

Now, Daenerys Targaryen is honored as the caring “Mhysa” (mother) for the underprivileged Astaporis. However, after taking over the city’s daily business and moving into the pyramid, this mother is nothing but an inaccessible image to her “children”. As the confrontation between bickering factions grew and the control over her dragons dwindled, she was also forced to cut ties with her most loyal consultant.
The most powerful woman in the world still bases her power on the three dragons and unfaltering obedience. But only the future will tell if this tactic will help her to take her grandfather’s throne in King’s Landing.