Which Route Will Daenerys Take When She Returns to Westeros? (Spoilers Extended)
When we last see Daenerys (& Drogon) in ADWD, she is currently in the Dothraki Sea facing off against Khal Jhaqo's khalasar and most likely heading to Vaes Dothrak. She also has quite many plot lines left in slaver's bay (some of which could have influence on her route choice. This post is not about any of that.
I want to focus on in which way you think that Daenerys and her dragons/supporters/armies/etc. will return to Westeros.
The logical (in my opinion at least) next step in her journey is Volantis due to several factors (introduced plot lines, location, etc.).
She has several options on how she will head west:
- The Demon Road (marching northwest from Meereen, along the northern coast of Slaver's Bay/south of the Painted Mountains, through the ruins of Bhorash, then passing north of The Black Cliffs, the City of Tolos and the Valyrian Peninsula before arriving at Mantarys and then continuing west and crossing some unnamed rivers and small cities (according to TWOIAF map)).
2.)Sail around Valyria: Sailing southwest out of Slaver's Bay, past the Isle of Cedars (we are basically reversing Victarion's and other's journey to Meereen) all the while trying to stay as far away from The Doom as possible (who knows maybe Daenerys feels some calling to go there while astride Drogon). Then sailing through the Gulf of Grif into the Summer Sea, then west and north to Volantis.
3.)Some Combination of the First Two: Possibly splitting her troops and doing both, while giving command of the other force to Barristan (if he survives Battle of Fire) or Victarion, etc.
4.)Ignores Volantis and Sails straight to Pentos or Westeros: This option is possible, just due to the sheer number of plot lines left in Essos and the very limited amount of space available, but I believe that the way it was introduced in ADWD makes it a logical next step in the plot. Feel free to point out why its not, I will try and be as open minded as possible.
5.)Heads East Instead of West: I find this option extremely unlikely, but feel free to point out why you think it is the case as well. It would require her going to Asshai most likely (which GRRM stated wouldn't happen) and traveling an unknown distance and would require much more time and space than a quick stop in Volantis.
Looking at the maps/routes available, I don't see a 6th option, but feel free to point one out if you think it makes sense.
Each of these routes has numerous perils and hazards that will have to be overcome in order the destination to be reached:
"The demon road is dangerous, and too slow," Quentyn said. "Tywin Lannister will send his own men after the queen once word of her reaches King's Landing." His father had been certain of that. "His will come with knives. If they reach her first—" -ADWD, The Merchant's Man
and
"The demon road is death. We will lose half the company to desertion if we attempt that march, and bury half of those who remain beside the road. It grieves me to say it, but Magister Illyrio and his friends may have been unwise to put so much hope on this child queen." -ADWD, The Lost Lord
and
The Freehold of Valyria and its empire were destroyed by the Doom, but the shattered peninsula remains. Strange tales are told of it today, and of the demons that haunt the Smoking Sea where the Fourteen Flames once stood. In fact, the road that joins Volantis to Slaver's Bay has become known as the "demon road," and is best avoided by all sensible travelers. And men who have dared the Smoking Sea do not return, as Volantis learned during the Century of Blood when a fleet it sent to claim the peninsula vanished. There are queer rumors of men living still among the ruins of Valyria and its neighboring cities of Oros and Tyria. Yet others dispute this, saying that the Doom still holds Valyria in its grip. -TWOIAF, Ancient History: The Doom of Valyria
and
A few of the cities away from the heart of Valyria remain inhabited, however—places founded by the Freehold or subject to it. The most sinister of these is Mantarys, a place where the men are said to be born twisted and monstrous; some attribute this to the city's presence on the demon road. The reputations of Tolos, where the finest slingers in the world can be found, and of the city of Elyria on its isle, are less sinister, and less noteworthy as well, for they have made ties to the Ghiscari cities on Slaver's Bay and otherwise avoid involvement in any efforts to reclaim the burning heart of Valyria. -TWOIAF, Ancient History: The Doom of Valyria
We even get a discussion (about the different routes/splitting troops/etc.):
"That might serve until you reached the ruins of Bhorash," said the Shavepate. "Beyond that, your ships would need to turn south past Tolos and the Isle of Cedars and sail around Valyria, whilst the foot continued on to Mantarys by the old dragon road."
"The demon road, they call it now," said Mollono Yos Dob. The plump commander of the Stalwart Shields looked more like a scribe than a soldier, with his inky hands and heavy paunch, but he was as clever as they came. "Many and more of us would die."
"Those left behind in Meereen would envy them their easy deaths," moaned Reznak. "They will make slaves of us, or throw us in the pits. All will be as it was, or worse." -ADWD, Daenerys III
As I mentioned earlier, while this post isn't about the numerous plot lines left surrounding Dany/Slaver's Bay, their outcomes will probably have a big influence on the choices Dany makes. The number of Dothraki, freedmen, Unsullied and numerous sellsword companies seems to show that a large number would have to march, but it also doesn't take into account another big factor that is currently in Slaver's Bay.
The outcome of the Ironborn/Dragonhorn/Victarion plot line is extremely important as well as the Iron Fleet could carry a large number of troops, and would obviously help against the Volantene naval force.
Keeping that in mind, I think its most likely that Dany has to do option #3 and split her force. If Barristan survives Battle of Fire I would expect him to lead the foot down the demon road, or Dany/Drogo leads the foot down the Demon Road while Victarion and possibly Rhaegal lead the ships. There are plenty of options, but if the Ironborn are helping it means that either Victarion got a Dragon, or married Dany, etc.
TLDR: What route does Dany take to Westeros and how does she manage her forces while doing it?
Posted Jul 25, 2019, 3:56 PM UTC