Editing A Storm of Swords-Chapter 71 (section)

==Synopsis==
[[Daenerys Targaryen|Daenerys]] sits in the great pyramid of [[Meereen]], her troops having conquered the city after the men she sent into the sewers opened the gates. She meets an envoy from [[Astapor]], who represents King [[Cleon]] the great, a former butcher who now rules Astapor, supposedly in Dany’s name. But the envoy suggests that King Cleon wishes to marry Dany, and that the men she left to rule Astapor have all been deposed. Cleon has amassed new slaves, and is beginning to train them as [[Unsullied]], and Daenerys is dismayed that all she has done to free Astapor of slavery is coming undone.

Finally, she sends for Ser [[Jorah Mormont|Jorah]] and Ser [[Barristan Selmy|Barristan]], wishing the two had died in the sewers, but the two knights are greater warriors than even that suicide quest. Barristan speaks of things Daenerys was never aware of, that [[Aerys II Targaryen|her father]] was mad, and that [[Viserys Targaryen|Viserys]], even as a young boy, seemed to be [[Targaryen madness|more like his father]] than his brother [[Rhaegar Targaryen|Rhaegar]]. The old knight tells her, 
{{quote|The Targaryens have always danced too close to madness. King [[Jaehaerys II Targaryen|Jaehaerys]] once told me that madness and greatness are two sides of the same coin. Every time a [[House Targaryen|Targaryen]] is born, the gods toss a coin in the air and the world holds its breath to see how it will land.}}
She absolves Barristan, and he swears his sword to her cause. But Ser Jorah does not beg forgiveness, and remains defensive, insisting that he has done nothing wrong. Daenerys then exiles the knight who was once her closest friend and protector, threatening to kill him if she ever sees him again.

Later, [[Daario Naharis|Daario]] warns her that she should not have banished Jorah, and that she may come to regret not keeping him near or having him killed outright. When her advisors urge her to move on, Daenerys decides that she must learn to rule if she ever wishes to sit the throne of [[Westeros]], and she declares that she will stay in Meereen and rule as queen.