Alternative Danaerys arc theory

[Ser Duncan Lord Commander]

Danaerys' arc has become more and more interesting. I have been around and reading a lot of theories about Dany and her future. So many have pointed her out as the true queen of Westeros that there aren't too many theories that rival that one.

But the more I give thought to it, the more I arrive at an alternative conclusion. Would it be all that crazy if Danaerys' arc at the end of the series (A Dream of Spring) ends in the 'Free cities'? (I will come to why I put the quotes later).

Dany's sense of justice is very well balanced. She hungers for justice and Peace. More than that I believe she does believe the free cities to deserve all the good qualities that any land deserves which include Justice, Freedom and Peace which she doesn't find anywhere and, believing (or at least I do so believe) that she can change all of it, she starts a war against all the bad qualities. Most criticize her as an idealist ,though she has the power what with the Dragons and the infantry. She could possibly gain some cavalry too considering her chance meet with Khal Pono (just a thought). So what is the end game? Where is GRRM taking all of this?

It could be that at some later point Dany decides to unite the 'Free Cities' (now you know why I put them in quotes, they might even call the future kingdom Free Cities just like the Westeros is also called the Seven Kingdoms, whence it actually was just that) and claim the land of her far ancestors' as her own.

If she is ambitious, she would probably help a relative of hers to the Iron Throne (Jon or Aegon VI perhaps) and marry someone in the free cities itself. Given GRRM's habit of shocking readers, that would probably be a good enough ending for him.

Note: Could someone reply in terms of the various prophecies (by Quaithe and the ones in House of dreams, the whole "Go East to go West" and so forth perspectives) and other legible Dany theories.

Edit: There is a really good series of analyses that I believe are going in the same direction. He hasn't quite come to the same conclusions as yet (it's a series of posts and he has only released two of them). Check the link :

1. http://meereeneseblot.wordpress.com/2013/09/27/untangling-the-meereenese-knot-part-i-who-poisoned-the-locusts/

2. http://meereeneseblot.wordpress.com/2013/09/29/untangling-the-meereenese-knot-part-ii-the-peace-was-real/

I quote him : "So, for both the Harpy and the Yunkish, it seems that the supposedly one-dimensional, obviously treacherous, villainous slavers are actually rational actors, able to agree on a mutually beneficial peace. In both cases, the peace deals agreed upon are not scuttled by any actions from the slavers. The Harpy peace is ruined by Barristan’s coup, and the Yunkish peace is ruined by the Drogon-caused disaster at the fighting pits.

So why does Dany herself see things so differently? Upon achieving the twin peaces, why does she feel an overwhelming sense of defeat and dismay? That is, after all, why most readers are so negative about the peaces. To understand Dany’s reaction, we need to take a closer look at what GRRM is doing with her character arc in ADWD. And one reason I think it’s so important that the peaces are real, is that this makes Dany’s arc a lot more interesting."

I have highlighted a part that I think pertains to what I have proposed. Does the fact that she feels dismayed and defeated mean that she will keep struggling for what values she upholds? Either ways, I suggest that we all follow this guy's posts closely.

[The Storm King]

I don't find her story interesting at all. It's become boring rather than interesting IMO.

In fact her fiasco in mereen proved that she is a good leader but not a good queen.

[Bolivar]

Hated her arc originally, but found it fascinating on my re read. Given how George has built up then subverted our expectations thus far i really do get the vibe that she's never coming to Westeros.

[Mace Cooterian]

When I give pause to Danaery's story arc my first impulse is to forget Slaver's Bay. The primary suggestion in this post by the author Ser Duncan Lord Commander questions whether or not Westeros is her final stop. A good question indeed.

GRRM has indicated that Dany will step foot in Westeros (someone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong on this account). It is safe to say that Dany's story arc will continue much beyond the confines of Slaver's Bay; otherwise, why have Tyrion, Marwyn, Vicatrion (Greyjoy) and Morqorro all head there with the intentions of never leaving again. That doesn't add up.

One hypothesis that has been tossed around is the notion that Dany will ultimately have to go back to Valyria to sort our the "fire" business. One could easily see the cast of characters midway into ADoS, on the shores of Westeros saying their farewells to Dany as she sets sell towards Valyria. I can see it now....Tyrion plants a kiss on her cheek as Dany, Morqorro and Jorah board their ship. NOTE: Marwyn and Vicatrion have already served their purpose and are of no further use.

Perhaps this is the "bitter sweet ending" that GRRM has stated.

[brut]

Dany was interesting until about Drogo's death. And then she got mad.

[The Great Cornholio!]

I don't find her story interesting at all. It's become boring rather than interesting IMO.

In fact her fiasco in mereen proved that she is a good leader but not a good queen.

Same here. She sucks as a character, and I hope she dies.

When I give pause to Danaery's story arc my first impulse is to forget Slaver's Bay. The primary suggestion in this post by the author Ser Duncan Lord Commander questions whether or not Westeros is her final stop. A good question indeed.

GRRM has indicated that Dany will step foot in Westeros (someone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong on this account). It is safe to say that Dany's story arc will continue much beyond the confines of Slaver's Bay; otherwise, why have Tyrion, Marwyn, Vicatrion (Greyjoy) and Morqorro all head there with the intentions of never leaving again. That doesn't add up.

One hypothesis that has been tossed around is the notion that Dany will ultimately have to go back to Valyria to sort our the "fire" business. One could easily see the cast of characters midway into ADoS, on the shores of Westeros saying their farewells to Dany as she sets sell towards Valyria. I can see it now....Tyrion plants a kiss on her cheek as Dany, Morqorro and Jorah board their ship. NOTE: Marwyn and Vicatrion have already served their purpose and are of no further use.

Perhaps this is the "bitter sweet ending" that GRRM has stated.

I'm not sure about her going back to Valyria, but Varlyia would be a good place to die.

Dany was interesting until about Drogo's death. And then she got mad.

Yup. Than she became a annoying twitty brat.

[Slayer of Lies]

Not only would it seem like much ado about nothing if Dany never left Essos, IMO, but in December of 2000, GRRM said the following this this interview:

The next book, A Dance With Dragons, will focus on the return of Daenerys Targaryen to Westeros, and the conflicts that creates.

So unless he “forgot” or changed his mind, it seems that portion of her plotline merely slides into TWOW.

Meanwhile, I believe that she doesn’t necessarily have to return to Meereen in order to head to Westeros, although it would certainly make sense for her to return if she “wins over” the Dothraki encountered at the end of ADWD, and the Volantene fleet is to be commandeered as their naval transport, for example.

As far as I’m concerned, though, by starting her Essosian journey in Pentos and “ending” in Meereen, she has already gone east to go west, or she wouldn’t have miscarried on “Dragonstone,” and she’s “eligible” to head to Westeros any day now.

However, it’s important to note that the MMD “prophecy’s” fulfillment is supposed to be Drogo returning, and nothing more, which Westeros.org suggests could be a son name Drogo. Symbolically, though, I suppose it could also be argued that Drogon “returning” to Dany at the end of ADWD means the MMD prophecy is complete, as he represents Drogo’s namesake in dragon form. But that’s just fun speculation.

In any case, all I’m saying is that Dany is heading to Westeros, and I’m curious to see exactly how – and when – and with whom – she will do so.*

*A curiosity I was hoping to put to bed in July of 2011.

[hkotsubo]

I started thinking that maybe Dany won't go to Westeros and will end up like some kind of queen in the east. Or maybe she will do a non stop march to the east and end up in Westeros, discovering that the world is round :)

[Princess]

If you think this series is going to have a happy ending you haven't been paying attention. Dany will die. There will be no Free Cities after the winter.

[Crastors Child]

She will send just her 3 dragons and riders to the wall to fight the Others and their hoards maybe...

[Hos the Hostage]

No one cares about Essos. It has some interesting aspects, I know. I really liked reading about Braavos, Lorath, Ib and Asshai. But that is because I think these cities are somehow related to the the Long Night and the First Men.

Martin has said he is 'a Northman at heart'. This was in context with weather, I think, and he also said he like spicy food like they have in Dorne. So while that does not say much, I take it to assume the North is the central plotline, not who rules Slaver's Bay or what happens between Elephants and Tigers. The series started with finding the direwolves. Not the first chapter, but the whole idea of ASOIAF started from this image in the author's mind. I really doubt an important character like Dany will end up ruling Essos instead of playing a role in the war against the Others.

I think Dany to ASOIAF is what Ned was to AGOT. While Jon, Tyrion, Arya and Bran have all been important characters well-loved by the readers, no one has as much power or as much burden of destiny as Dany has. She will die in the end. ETA: Probably from a treason for love. When David and Dan posted in this forum about the pilot, (at that time they were really respectful towards the book series), they said the first line will be 'we should start back' and the last line will be 'things I do for love'. I have a gut-feeling this might be an allegory to the series as a whole.

[Dragon_Rider]

^Die for love? God, could it end in any more cliched way. I would hope not.

Dany will make it to Westeros with her army and her dragons. That much was set down long ago by GRRM in his outline of the series.

She will not be Queen at the end, though. My theory is the Seven Kingdoms (as a political entity) will cease to exist by the end of the series. Drogon will melt down the Iron Throne. It was forged in dragon fire and it's only fitting it be destroyed the same way.

[Eddy of the Godswood]

Definitely not going to Westeros.

[vrso]

I like how GRRM subverts our expectations, but if I followed Dany's boring chapters in books 2 and 5 (I kinda liked her in book 1 and really enjoyed her chapters in book 3), I will be mad. I didn't sit through pages and more pages of utter bullshit to see it amount to nothing.

I mean, all those sudden deaths led to something - Ned's caused a Northern revolution! -, but the focus point of the books is in Westeros. If Dany ends her days never leaving Essos, then her plotline becomes entirely meaningless to me.

[Lord Wraith]

If Dany and the dragons don't go West how can anyone hope to defeat the Others?