A storm raged outside as Lana sat in the Chamber of the Painted Table inside of Dragonstone. Even though it was the middle of the day, the torches gave more light than the dark gray sky that conjured up a dangerous storm.

Her and Clegane had only been there for three days, with him outfitting himself for new armor, and Lana learning that Daenerys was struggling with how to reclaim the throne.

Lana ran her hand over the wood, which was smooth with age. So many people must have sat in this very room at one point. So many Targaryens.

She was in the room in the first place because a meeting had just finished and Lana remained behind, wanting to enjoy the storm and ruminate about what to do. She wanted to help, otherwise, what was the point to her even being here?

Clegane had eventually made his way inside, finding her staring at the table.

"Staring at the table won't make plans appear," Clegane finally said.

She smiled, although it barely reached her eyes. "I just don't know why we don't just take the dragons to Cersei and burn her. Everything else is so complicated. They're worried about optics."

"If I have learned anything, it's that you don't get to the throne by being worried about being loved. That's for after the war."

"Discussing tactic plans, Clegane?" Tyrion asked as he entered the room, startling Lana.

"Lord imp," Sandor said with an annoyed drawl.

"It's funny. I switch sides," Tyrion said, pulling up a chair and some wine. "Kill my father, even grow a beard, and somehow a Clegane still manages to be in the war room with me."

"I'm not thrilled about it either," Clegane said.

"Am in the way of a meeting? We just had one," Lana said, wondering if they were coming in to discuss plans for a second time. Why would I not be invited?

The thunder roared in the background, the ocean lapping angrily at the shore.

"I heard that you remained behind and thought that we could have a quick chat while I had your attention," Tyrion said. "We haven't really gotten to talk since you arrived. We didn't even talk much in Meereen."

Lana nodded and poured herself some wine as the room was silent, save for the crackling fire and the sound of water dripping from the balcony.

She looked at Tyrion. "Let's have that chat, then."

"So, you are the Lady of this castle now?"

Lana held out a hand and shrugged her shoulder. "Would appear that way, at least when Dany leaves."

He smiled and nodded. "Yes, when your sister leaves. I think for a while it didn't feel like we would ever leave Essos. But here we are, and at some point, she will be on the iron throne. I need to straighten out a few things with everyone now that we are all here. You are aware that you have obligations, correct?" he asked.

"I need a lord and children."

He bowed his head slowly with approval. "Precisely. I wanted to see what your expectations of that were."

Lana furrowed her brow, pausing as she brought the wine to her lips, a crack of thunder vibrating the hall. "I don't know how to answer that."

"Well, your sister often mentions that she cannot have children. You are half Targaryen and have the powers of Daenerys, so for all intents and purposes, you are one as well. A marriage alliance may be needed at any point. You would think that offering to marry your sister would be the alliance, but it's not necessarily true. My first question is – how would you feel if we have to make an alliance, and that lord chooses you over your sister, due to her being unable to give him a lineage?"

Lana took a while to think that over. Her initial reaction was of course she would, and yet, that seemed stuck in her throat. She furrowed her brows as she realized she was not entirely willing.

Tyrion didn't let it linger. "Alright, we'll come back to that one. My next question is a little more sensitive, and this is the one that matters – how do you feel about your first born going to the throne to be the next king or queen, and the rest live here? Your sister would mother the future king or queen, and you'd mother the rest."

Lana took in a deep breath and a deep drink of wine, the sweet, sour flavor burning on her tongue. She slowly swallowed it, savoring it. "I think that that's been implied for a long time. Plus, I don't have much of an option."

"You don't, but it's nice to know you're cooperative," Tyrion said with a half-smile.

"To be honest, I am more interested in who you are planning to marry me to. I am not used to the idea of marrying for politics, and the closer I get to it, the more it terrifies me, let alone any children I may have."

"I don't often meet women more concerned for their husband than their children."

She took in a deep breath, looking down to her clean, impressive dress, and then looked back up to Tyrion. "If I were Sansa Stark, and had to look at my child every day and know that they are half Joffrey, I would honestly struggle with that. I'd love them, obviously, but...the idea of making little versions of myself with a monster is just plain unappealing, in every way, shape, and form."

"That is a fair point," Tyrion said, tipping his chalice in her direction. "Honestly, a lot of it depends on what happens after the war. Either a bunch of eligible bachelors will be left, or there won't be many. Dickon Tarley is quite handsome, but he is a prisoner right now. So again, post-war, we will see what he does. There are some houses in the north that would make sense. It would help strengthen a new alliance, especially with how stubborn they can be."

After the war . She still had time to deal with this. There was time to stall.

"How would this work? Would I marry a lord, and he comes here?" she asked, feigning her cooperation.

"Precisely. Your position here is to support the Targaryen claim, and your children will have that blood in them. This castle needs to have a Targaryen in it."

"What lord would give up his title and lands to come live here?"

Tyrion shrugged. "There's always the chance that we start a new house. With a man that can be a lord, but is mostly there to help forge a new dynasty. I really can't say until the war is done, however. The main point to all of this is that if someone like Euron Greyjoy appears and wants an alliance, then we may need you for that, and your first born will go to our queen."

Lana quickly made a disgusted face, tucking her head into her neck in a grimace. Apparently, Clegane made some kind of face as well.

"What's wrong, Hound? Don't like the idea of taking orders from someone like that?"

"I'm just going to keep my mouth shut," he said, his voice deep and rough, and also soothing to Lana.

Lana tapped her fingers on the table, interrupting whatever Tyrion was about to say. "I am not marrying a complete asshole like Euron Greyjoy, Lord Tyrion. I'm just not. Plus, why do we need to marry me to any dickhead if we have three dragons?"

Tyrion looked off to the storm behind Lana, speaking with his hands as he seemed to really consider that. "To be honest, that piece of negotiations is still new to me. I don't quite know how it all fits in with everything. Politics is fickle, but dragons are not. However, a dragon queen is still politics, so it will have some kind of impact. What that impact is? I don't know. Either way, I need to know you'll be willing to help in the only ways I know how to negotiate in."

Lana took in a deep breath. "I'll consider proposals, but know that I have standards, Lord Tyrion."

"Welcome to being a lady. Comes with a lot of privilege, but also sacrifice."

A handmaiden walked in. "The queen would like your counsel, Lord Tyrion."

He smiled at Lana. "We will be speaking again very soon, Lady Lana."

"I look forward to it. I mean it, as well. I have so much to learn," she said with an exasperated sigh.

It wasn't long after Tyrion left that Lana followed, retiring to her room for the night. Her and Clegane parted in silence once again.

She turned away her dinner as her stomach churned at the notion of marriage to someone like Euron.

Lana would jump off a cliff before she'd let that happen.