Background

Before Daenerys gets back to Westeros there are numerous open plotlines in Essos that must be dealt with. In this post I thought would be fun to discuss the number of chapters that could take place in each local for Daenerys.

Book	# of POV Chapters
A Game of Thrones	10 (Pentos to Vaes Dothrak to Dothraki Sea
A Clash of Kings	5 (Dothraki Sea to Qarth)
A Storm of Swords	6 (Qarth to Slaver's Bay)
A Feast for Crows	0 (N/A)
A Dance with Dragons	10 (Slaver's Bay to Dothraki Sea)

If interested: Which Route will Daenerys Take?

The Dothraki Sea

GRRM has mentioned Daenerys' plotline involving the Dothraki at numerous times and while some of this could involve the Dothraki that Dany brings with her to Westeros, it seems like it will be more than just a single chapter:

So Mago is not dead in the books. And, in fact, he’s going to be a recurring character in Winds of Winter. He’s a particularly nasty bloodrider to one of the other Khals that’s broken away after Drogo dies. -SSM,EW: A Dance with Dragons Interview: 12 July 2011

and:

WINDS OF WINTER. Yes, I'm working on that too. At the moment, I am writing about the Dothraki. More than that, I sayeth not, you know I don't like to talk about this stuff. -SSM, Odds and Ends: 12 May 2012

He also had this to say in a Galaxy Edge Interview in 2014:

“I’m going back to The Winds of Winter and writing the next scene—I’ve got Dany in a particular situation. I’ve just got to worry about how does this scene resolve? How do I end this chapter? How do I phrase this sentence?”

especially if he plans to send her back to Vaes Dothrak so the crones can:

Beneath the Mother of Mountains, a line of naked crones crept from a great lake and knelt shivering before her, their grey heads bowed. -ACOK, Daenerys IV

If interested: "To Go Forward You Must Go Back": The Dothraki Sea Plotline in TWoW

Slaver's Bay

Depending on the amount of time Dany spends in the Dothraki sea, the situation in Meereen after the Battle of Fire could look a myriad of ways. There are so many open plot points in this area alone, it makes it tricky to not have a Dany chapter here at some point.

If interested: Dany's Return to Meereen & The Post Battle of Fire Power Vacuum

The Route to Volantis

While some have theorized that Dany may head east instead of west to invade Westeros, I think it is unlikely due to not only the number of open plotlines setup to the West, but also due to the fact that we likely won't ever see Asshai according to GRRM.

That said, Daenerys has a very large army that will need to head west in some manner of cohesion (and regroup in Volantis - basically the inverse of what Young Griff and Co were about to do). There are three primary routes that can be taken: 1) The Demon Road (overland) 2) Through Valyria (dragonback) 3) Summer Sea (sail around valyria).

By land or by sea, there are long leagues between Meereen and Volantis," Tyrion observed.
"Five hundred fifty, as the dragon flies, through deserts, mountains, swamps, and demon-haunted ruins. Many and more will perish, but those who survive will be stronger by the time they reach Volantis … where they shall find you and Griff awaiting them, with fresh forces and sufficient ships to carry them all across the sea to Westeros." -ADWD, Tyrion II

Daenerys will likely have to split her troops and give command of someone else for the march/sailing if she chooses option #2 or decides to fly with one or the other.

The Demon Road

While I am sure that plenty of Daenerys' troops with take ships, the sheer number that she has will require that some of them march the Demon Road:

Between Meereen and Volantis lay five hundred leagues of deserts, mountains, swamps, and ruins

and I am not going to lie, it is one of the places I am most excited to see, due to the road/cities and their "sinister repute". I expect Daenerys to be on dragonback, atop Drogon and so she won't necessarily have to march, and she could have another person command the marching troops and take one of the below routes to Volantis.

If interested: The Demon Road in TWoW & Back to Dorne: The Big Man & Drink

Valyria

GRRM may have had Euron originally go to Valyria to impress Dany before changing this plotline, but either way his claim to have gone to Valyria is seemingly backed with things like a dragonhorn and valyrian steel armor.

It is not something I have explored too much, but GRRM could have a chapter with Dany (potentially similar to Aerea but Dany survives) in Valyria.

If interested: Characters Who have seen the Doom of Valyria & The Lands of the Long Summer

The Summer Sea

The Ironborn have arrived and helped Team Dany win the Battle of Fire. Regardless of what happens with Victarion and the dragonhorn, there is now a fleet available to help sail Dany's army back to Westeros. But the logical step is to sail around the Doom and get to Volantis to take on fresh water, etc.

If interested: Returning to Westeros: Dany's Fleet

Volantis

Volantis is the gather point for the land/air/sea forces of Daenerys' army. I can't remember who it was, but another user mentioned that with how much GRRM has been setting up Volantis, it could take the place of Asshai in GRRM's plans for Dany. The city is bursting at the seams with a slave rebellion/religious zealotry:

Tyrion grinned. "If I were Volantene, and free, and had the blood, you'd have my vote for triarch, my lady."

"I am no lady," the widow replied, "just Vogarro's whore. You want to be gone from here before the tigers come. Should you reach your queen, give her a message from the slaves of Old Volantis." She touched the faded scar upon her wrinkled cheek, where her tears had been cut away. "Tell her we are waiting. Tell her to come soon." -ADWD, Tyrion VII

and:

In Volantis, thousands of slaves and freedmen crowd the temple plaza every night to hear Benerro shriek of bleeding stars and a sword of fire that will cleanse the world. He has been preaching that Volantis will surely burn if the triarchs take up arms against the silver queen." -ADWD, Tyrion VI

I cannot say how many chapters happen here. I would want to say a few, but this could be a situation that looks like a few chapters that is resolved in dragonflame quite quickly.

If interested: Volantis in TWoW & Moqorro's Visions

Pentos

Barristan (and by default Daenerys) have promised the Tattered Prince (of the Windblown) the city of Pentos, for his assistance in the Battle of Fire. This could involve conflict due to Dany's original apprehension to it:

"Pentos belongs to the Pentoshi. And Magister Illyrio is in Pentos. He who arranged my marriage to Khal Drogo and gave me my dragon eggs. Who sent me you, and Belwas, and Groleo. I owe him much and more. I will not repay that debt by giving his city to some sellsword. No." -ADWD, Daenerys X

While Dany doesn't know that Illyrio is on Team Young Griff and not Team Dany, that could change, either way this another stop that likely requires some time.

If interested: The Conflict over Pentos

The Stepstones

While I doubt that there is much book space spent regarding Daenerys' time in the Stepstones (if any), it should be noted that there is A LOT going on in the area, with numerous plotlines that could be relevant to Dany's story. Ranging from Edric Storm, to Tyrosh to the "Lord of the Waters". It should also be noted that the Golden Company has taken over "half of the Stepstones".

If interested: The Stepstones: Current Characters/Groups

Dragonstone

While she could go straight to King's Landing, etc. I think it would be cool (similar to the show) to see her land at Dragonstone as Aegon the Conqueror did. Have the painted table before her. I don't think more than 1 chapter is needed here and it is likely her last chapter in the book.

Final Thoughts/Other POVs

It should be noted that there are several other POVs in the area that already have chapters involving the Battle of Fire (Victarion/Barristan/Tyrion). And while I do expect a POV or two to fall off in the area relatively soon, the other can pickup the POVs for whichever group that doesn't have Dany with it. Say if Tyrion is forced to march the Demon road (since Tyrion/Dany are apart for most of TWoW):

and he was juggling on how to intersect them:

TLDR: Before Dany gets back to Westeros there are numerous open plotlines in Essos that all can't be just dealt with via "dragonflame". While 1-2 of these larger plot points can be dealt with as such, many of the others are quite nuanced and will require at least a chapter or two.