The newly unified Khalasar had mounted its wooden horses and was riding the waves as trippingly as if they were the familiar, grassy fields surrounding Vaes Dothrak.
The fleet was making good time, skipping easily across the stoic sea. Even though the rocking of the ships was minimal, it was enough to sicken many of the Dothraki who had grown up trusting the solidness of the ground beneath their horses' hooves. Their Khaleesi was no exception.
That first night at sea, she found herself curled up in a ball on her bed, clutching her stomach.
"She needs help," Missandei, who was crouched by Daenerys' side, pleaded to no one in particular. She'd tried every remedy she knew and watched with growing desperation as they failed, one after the other.
Grey Worm, who was keeping vigil at the door, left without a word and returned a few minutes later with Yara and Theon Greyjoy in tow. Missandei's eyes widened. "They know sea," Grey Worm shrugged in response to her questioning look.
"She's ill." Missandei explained, moving to greet the Greyjoys. "I don't know how to help her. I've tried every-"
"I can take it from here," Yara interrupted. "It's seasickness," she offered. Missandei nodded. "My people are born and raised on the sea. Still, not all of us are born with the stomachs for it, " a good-natured smirk turned one corner of her mouth upward and her brother looked quickly away. "We have many cures."
As if on cue, Daenerys moaned from her bed where she was lay prone, her back to the four of them.
"Try them please!" Missandei urged.
"Of course." Yara turned to her brother, "Theon, please go to our chambers and find my bracelets. They should be in my chest, probably buried near the bottom."
"How many should I bring?"
"All of them. I need a variety to choose from."
Yara then looked to Missandei and Grey Worm, "I also need ginger and any substances your maesters have to spare."
"We don't have maesters here."
"Any healers at all?"
"Not on board."
Yara sighed, "Just the ginger then. If you have ginger root or ginger powder, here's what I'd like you to prepare." She rattled off a short recipe with directions, before adding, "If you have ginger tea, bring that as well."
As the three hurried off to collect their assigned supplies, Yara walked over to Daenerys' bed. Her commanding tone softened to a coo-like whisper. "You'll feel better soon."
"Please," she moaned.
Yara moved to climb onto the bed.
"Boots," Daenerys croaked.
"Do they offend you?"
"Not on the bed."
Yara chuckled to herself. "Of all the things to be worried about." She sat on the edge of the bed and removed them. "As a Khaleesi shouldn't you be used to dirt?" Daenerys turned over to face her. "Did that offend you?" Yara smirked, turning onto her knees.
Daenerys ignored the question. "I have lived in dirt, yes, but that doesn't mean I liked it."
Yara nodded, her eyes shining playfully. "Is there anything else you'd like me to remove before I get into bed with you?" She leaned forward. "All you have to do is ask." A little color returned to Daenerys' pale face. "I'll take that as a no," Yara sighed, climbing onto the bed. "Come here," she commanded. Daenerys crawled over to her. "Sit."
"I'm not your—"
"Bitch? Alright then, DaenerysStormborn of House Targaryen, First of Her Name, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, Queen of Meereen, Breaker of Chains, Mother of Dragons, Unburnt Queen of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, please sit here." She pointed to her lap. "Between my legs."
Daenerys rolled her eyes before moving, apparently too slowly, to sit in front of Yara, who gently, but firmly, pulled her into position.
"DaenerysStormborn of House Targaryen, First of Her Name, Khaleesi—"
"Daeneryswill suffice," she said, her throbbing head and roiling stomach weakening her resolve.
"Daenerys, please lean forward. Slightly. And tuck your chin."
Theon appeared at the door. "I brought all I could find." "Thank you. Bring them here." In three strides he reached his sister and dropped the bracelets into her hands. Yara studied them for a moment, before plucking two from the pile.
"These will do. Can you return the others?"
"Yes, anything else?"
"No, that will be all. I've got this under control." Theon nodded curtly before disappearing.
"What are those for?"
"Pressure points," Yara answered. "Hold out your wrists." Daenerys lifted her arms and Yara reached around her, sliding one band onto each and then wrapping her whole hands around them and bending them into shape until they hugged her wrists just right. "Your wrists are small."
"I'm small." Yara could feel the vibration of Daenerys's soft laugh through her chest as she pulled back.
"You are," she agreed.
"Ginger!" Missandei announced.
"Wonderful," Yara said, turning her attention to the pair who'd just entered. They rushed over and handed her a small basket of the ginger concoction along with a mug of ginger tea.
"You look better, Khaleesi." Missandei observed.
Daeneryssmiled. "Thank you for watching over me." Missandei smiled as Yara nodded a thank you as well.
"Do you need—"
Yara shook her head. "I can take it from here." Missandei hesitated, but her own exhaustion hushed the objection forming on her tongue, and she allowed Grey Worm to lead her out.
Yara passed Daenerys the mug, and she sipped it eagerly.
"It's awful," she coughed, handing Yara the mug.
"But it will help," she countered, refusing to take it back. "Drink." When Daenerys didn't immediately comply, she reached for the mug herself and raised it to Daenerys' mouth. "Drink, Daenerys," she ordered again. Daenerys drank and shuddered as the biting liquid slid down her throat. After coercing her to drain half the mug, Yara finally relented to her protests and took it from her, "Good girl. Alright, now back to leaning forward." Yara paused for a moment, displaying an uncharacteristic timidity.
"Yara?"
"Mmmhmm," she stalled.
"What now?"
"I need to move some of your dressing gown out of the way … to expose your back."
"Well, do so," Daenerys instructed, impatient for the relief she could sense on the horizon.
Yara's fingers found the ribbons lacing the back of the dress and loosened them, allowing her to split the material along Daenerys' spine, pulling it to the sides, and push the material off her shoulders. She gathered the silver strands of hair spilling down her back, quickly braided them, and cast the braid over the front of her shoulder.
She allowed herself one moment to drink in the sight of Daenerys' bare skin, and then she placed her hands on her shoulders and began gently massaging them. She gradually increased the pressure, kneading the muscles to release the tension tightening them.
Daenerys whimpered when her fingers dug into a particularly tender spot. "Hurts so good?" Yara eased up anticipating a negative response.
"Don't stop."
"As you wish, Khaleesi," she whispered, moving her hands up the neck. Daenerys leaned her head back into the pressure. "Eat this," Yara suggested, holding one of the chewy ginger candies that Missandei had cooked up to Daenerys' lips, which parted to take the treat.
"Hhoow?"
"Don't try to bite or chew it. Just suck it."
"Oh. OH." She slid the candy to one side of her cheek to speak. "It's stronger than the tea."
"It'll steady your head and calm your stomach," Yara explained, her deft fingers taking care of Daenerys' neck. While the candy slowly dissolved in Daenerys' mouth, Yara's hands continued to leisurely work their way down Daenery's back. Nearly an hour after she'd climbed onto the bed, Yara felt the small body in front of her deflate.
"How are doing?" Yara's ministrations slowed.
"So much better." She turned to look over her shoulder. "Seven hells, I'd forgotten what it felt like when the world wasn't spinning. Thank you for coming to me. You didn't owe me anything…"
"You forget, I need you if I'm to reclaim the Salt Throne."
"Yes, that's true." Daenerys turned her head back to face forward.
"But that's not the only reason I came." Daenerys became very still.
"It isn't?"
"No." Yara leaned forward, her chest pressing against Daenerys' back, and whispered in her ear. "You're beautiful, you know."
Daenerys had all but stopped breathing. "You came because I'm beautiful."
"No." Yara pressed a kiss behind her ear, before leaning back. "I just wanted to tell you that."
"Why else did you come then?"
"You needed someone to take care of you. I wanted to." Yara's hands dropped from her shoulder blades to the sides of her ribcage.
"You wanted to?" Yara felt Daenerys' sharp intake of breath as her ribcage expanded under her touch.
"Mmmhhhmm." Yara's fingers began to tickle her sides, before tentatively brushing the sides of her breasts. "I like you."
"Like me?"
"Oh yes." Her fingers slid under her breasts, then her hands moved to cup them. "Very much." Daenerys' head lolled back onto Yara's shoulder as her hands caringly massaged the soft flesh, raising the nipples to hard peaks.
Daenerys flipped around to face Yara, who adeptly slipped the gown off her shoulders, completely exposing her upper body. "I've never…" Daenerys bit her lip and tilted her head.
"Never been with a woman?"
"I'm more than happy to be your first. Let me teach you, Khaleesi," she reached out and cupped Daenerys' chin, pulling her into an insistent kiss.
Daenerys pulled back, breaking the kiss. "Dany."
"Huh?" Yara looked at her quizzically.
"Call me Dany."
"Dany," Yara breathed, brushing her lips against Dany's. "Let me worship you like the Khaleesi you are." She flipped her over onto her back, slid the rest of the dress off her hips, and straddled her.
Dany squirmed underneath Yara's unrelenting gaze. "What?"
"You're just so fucking gorgeous." Dany's cheeks flushed pink. "It's hard to believe you are really here," Yara admitted as her hands went to remove her own top.
"Oh?" Dany reached up and undid the buttons on Yara's shirt, and helped her pull it over her head.
Yara dropped down, planting kisses down her forehead to her nose, across her cheek, along her jaw line. "When I first heard about this rumored Dragon Queen, I imagined scales. But you are made of porcelain and glass. Beautiful. Strong." Her lips continued to Dany's neck, sucking at her pulse point and at the base of her collarbone. "When I first met you, I was floored. Couldn't you tell?"
Dany gasped when Yara's mouth closed around a nipple. "I could tell you were intrigued, but I figured that could be for any number of reasons."
Yara's tongue circle around her nipple, before she broke away. "Intrigued? Indeed," she smirked. "I was. I was interested in you. I was actually serious about the offer of marriage. I was eye-fucking you the entire time."
"I wasn't discouraging you." Dany whimpered as Yara pressed a kiss to the center of her panties.
"Discouraging me? Ha, no definitely not. You were flirting right back." Yara propped herself up on an elbow and traced her index finger down Dany's slit through her panties. "I wasn't sure how serious you were though—if I actually had a chance or if you were just playing." Yara smiled, "You're wet."
"It's not the first time you've made me wet."
"Is that so?" Yara hooked her fingers through the panties and divested Dany, who obligingly raised her hips, of them.
"The… how do you call it… handshake?"
Yara slid a finger into her. "I thought about pulling you to me then, but I'm not much for public displays." She slid another finger inside. "You're surprisingly tight for a woman who has been with a Khal. It is said that they are hung like their horses. Is it true?"
"I can't speak for all Khals, but Drogo was." Yara began to pump her fingers, in and out, slowly.
"And as rough?"
"Drogo could be." Yara picked up speed.
"Did you like it like that?"
"I did," Dany gasped. Yara's rhythm slowed. "I also liked it when he was gentle."
"Did he take care of you?" Yara removed her fingers and replaced them with her mouth.
"Yes," Dany gulped.
"Good." Yara lips were a spark, lighting fire to the oil spill between Dany's thighs. Her tongue brought Dany to a quivering climax, calling her name. Yara waited as Dany rode out the aftershocks.
"Wow." Her pupils were so dilated that almost no color was visible.
"As good as a big cock?" Yara teased, tracing a finger up her bare thigh.
"Better, I dare say."
"I think you should get some rest, Khaleesi." Yara kissed her deeply before pulling away. Dany snatched her wrist.
"What about you?"
Yara raised her eyebrows. "What about me?" Dany nodded, sitting up herself. "Are you sure, Khaleesi?"
"Dany," she corrected. "You said you'd teach me."
Yara studied her determined expression and found it satisfying enough to remove her pants. She reached out, took Dany's hands, and pulled them to her breasts. Dany took to massaging them as Yara had hers. Her fingers' skill was more than sufficient as she soon had Yara moaning with her head thrown back. Dany abandoned her breasts and wrapped one arm around Yara's back, bringing them chest to chest so she could kiss her.
"I want you." Dany whispered into her kiss.
"You have me."
Dany shook her head, breaking the kiss. "I want you for more than tonight."
Yara's solemn eyes met and held Dany's shining eyes. "You have me for as long as you want me," Yara answered unblinkingly, before pulling Dany back to her lips. Dany's hands slid between them, and her fingers stroked Yara, who exhaled in pleasant surprise. As Dany's fingers continued to tease Yara's entrance, Yara nibbled at her earlobe. "I don't think you need a teacher, Dany" she paused before biting down a little roughly, and sneaking her own fingers down to worry Dany's clit, which sent Dany bucking wildly. Being the instant trigger of so violent a climax caused Yara to climax herself, and she collapsed against spent Khaleesi.
After a few minutes spent recovering her breath, Dany slid under the covers. Yara made to leave, but Dany stopped her.
"Khaleesi?"
"Stay with me."
"Is that an order?" Yara smirked.
"Please."
"Anything you want, Dany," she said, her smirk softening into a smile as she slid between the sheets and pulled the small Khaleesi to her, burying her nose in her hair.
"Thank you for coming," Dany signed, near sleep.
"My pleasure," Yara whispered breathily.
#
With a deep breath, Dany awoke. When her eyes opened, she was greeted by the site of Yara. clad in a loose, translucent shirt, sitting cross-legged atop the bedspread, watching her intently. Dany slowly sat up. "What are you—" She scrunched her nose, unable to continue. Yara passed Dany the mug she had been nursing, and Dany drank without protest. Yara moved to sit on her heals behind Dany and started massaging her temples. "I thought I was past this."
"It may take your body a few days to adjust. Or it may never adjust."
Dany's back straightened in surprise. "Never?"
"Some people aren't meant to ride the sea. Some are meant to ride horses. Still others—a select few—are meant to ride dragons," Yara teased, temporarily abandoning the massage to hug Dany close. "The sea is my domain. Perhaps yours is the air." Dany swiveled in Yara's embrace to face her, encircling her arms around Yara's neck. "You're worried." Yara observed in surprise.
"I'm thinking," Dany amended. Yara's brows furrowed. "I'm wondering if this is not meant to be. Me of the air and you of the sea."
Yara's look of consternation gave way to amusement. She leaned her forehead against Dany's and ran her nose down hers. "We're the horizon, Khaleesi." She pressed a chaste kiss to Dany's lips. "Destined always to meet." Yara gripped Dany's hips before ducking her head to plant butterfly kisses down her neck and across her shoulder, "To touch."
The door opened and the girls jumped apart.
"I see you're feeling better," Tyrion announced, a wry smile spreading across his face.
"Much," Dany smiled in return before sipping more tea as Yara passed her the mug.
"In my experience the company of a naked woman can improve most any situation," he added, eyeing Dany's disheveled nightgown and Yara's thin shirt. "I think you are learning the same."
Dany made no motion to fix her appearance but through gritted teeth growled, "Lord Tyrion, did you need something?"
"Unfortunately, yes, your highness, this is not just a social call. You are wanted on deck. Varys' little birds have delivered an interesting message."
"I'll see you on deck shortly, Tyrion," Dany said, clearly dismissing him. When the door closed behind him, Dany muttered, "Terrible timing," as she moved to get up.
"He's right though," Yara said, pulling Dany back down into a kiss and allowing one hand to slide inside her dress to fondle her breast. "A naked woman makes everything better."
Dany moaned before breaking away. "I have to get ready."
"I will help you," Yara said, rising with her.
Dany turned and held her at arm's length. "I'm sure you'd give me the help I most want—" Yara reached out and cupped her mound causing Dany to bite her tongue. "—but that's not the help I need right now." Dany forced herself to step away. Then she unexpectedly closed the distance between them again. "But you can have your way with me after," Dany whispered, pressing her length against the taller girl and watching with delight as desire pooled in her eyes.
"Let us hope this meeting is brief," Yara sighed as Dany put space between them once more.
Several hours later the men were still yammering. Yara had taken to staring relentlessly at Dany. It has started accidentally. The sight of a bruise on the neck she had given the Khaleesi last night had caught her attention. Then it was the curve of her ass. Then the iced crystal of her eyes. She gave up trying to focus after that and instead settled on staring at her, fantasizing about all the things she'd do to her when they returned below deck.
At first Dany had brushed off catching Yara's gaze as a coincidence, but soon realized that the woman was indeed checking her out. And now Yara's eyes never left her. It wasn't uncomfortable, but it was making her squirm. Heat pooled low in her belly, and the chiffon of her dress did nothing to disguise the hardening of her nipples. No one seemed to notice, except—and this could have been paranoia—Tyrion, who seemed to be smiling strangely at her.
She couldn't focus on what they were supposed to be talking about. They had to change course. That much was accepted by all. But the precise adjustment was hotly contested. Most (but not all) agreed that they should make landfall more north. But then there was the question of which shore of Westeros to steer toward. Some wanted to sail to the western shore, while others wanted to sail up the east coast. And then there was the question of how far north. Some advocated they sail as far north as Winterfell while others argued for a destination closer to their final one.
She couldn't keep straight who supported what route, didn't know what she herself preferred, and was almost past the point of caring.
"I think we should recess so our queen can regain her sea legs and the rest of us can get some food. And drink. Perhaps then we can find a path forward we can all agree on." Tyrion toasted before emptying his goblet. He gave Dany a subtle nod, and she inclined her head in gratitude.
Everyone in the party readily agreed to the respite, and as they rose together toward the galley, Dany cut away and headed toward her chambers with Yara at her heels.
As soon as Dany closed the door behind them, Yara pressed her up against it.
"Too long," Yara complained against her mouth.
"Take off your clothes," Dany ordered.
"Yours first," Yara countered, making quick work of the wrapped dress, which was soon pooled at Dany's feet. Yara picked her up, and instinctively Dany wrapped her legs around Yara's hips. "You will soon rule the seven kingdoms. Then, like all your subjects, I will have to bow to your every demand," Yara said, as she walked them toward the bed.
"I am your Khaleesi now," Dany protested.
"Really, you are a Khaleesi. Though if you insist on being mine, I won't object."
"Then I insist." Dany yelped as Yara dropped them onto the bed.
"You are mine," Yara sat up, studying her.
"Now take off your clothes." Yara laughed and complied. "One day you will rule all of Westeros, what will that leave me?"
Dany moved to sit up, but Yara pushed her back down into the mattress. Dany's eyebrows knitted together. "You will have the Iron Islands."
"The Iron Islands will have conditional independence. They will be under your law still."
"I think my law about rape is reasonable," Dany was starting to get annoyed. She finally had Yara alone. In fact, Dany was naked beneath her, and all the woman wanted to do was talk politics.
"I don't disagree. But it is your law."
"Will you just kiss me already?"
"You get to be boss everywhere, but not here. Here, in the bedroom, I get to be boss sometimes. Now close your eyes."
Finally, Dany understood, and she could feel wetness soak her panties. "Please kiss me." Yara rolled her eyes and then leaned down and captured her lips sweetly.
Yara shook her head and laughed, "I'm not sure you understand how not to give orders or how to obey those of others."
"I do. See, my eyes are closed. It's just that I've been waiting for hours to kiss you, and I couldn't stand waiting for another second." Yara felt her own wetness grow.
"Delayed gratification, Khaleesi." Yara leaned her face in close so Dany could feel her lips move against her skin as she spoke. "It's a powerful thing," she teased. Dany's eyes flashed open when she felt rope wrap around her wrists. Yara tied her hands to the headboard, then shimmed down her body. "Trust me," she whispered, nuzzling Dany's hair. "I'll be right back." She returned a minute later with a bag that she set down on the bed beside them.
"What's that?" Dany asked.
Yara smiled, plucking a feather from the bag and running it down Dany's body in response, watching her squirm when it passed over her sensitive spots. She stroked Dany's neck with it, circled her breasts with it, ran it up and down her inner thighs until Dany was bucking her hips off the mattress. Yara firmly pressed her hips back down.
"Stay still."
"Please," Dany hissed.
"Please what," Yara asked, sliding the feather over her slit.
"Please touch me," Dany begged, twisting against her bonds.
"I am touching you, Khaleesi."
"More," Dany demanded, her eyes rolling back in pleasure.
Yara set the feather aside and pulled out something more solid, which she pressed against Dany's opening. "Open your eyes." Dany did. "Watch." Yara pushed the head of the phallus-shaped device inside her slowly, and then pulled it back out. Dany's eyelids slipped shut. "Dany," Yara warned. "Look at me." Dany forced her eyes open and watched in fascination as Yara strapped the device to her waist and settled herself between Dany's legs. Inch by excruciating inch, Yara slid the entire thing into her and then inch by inch pulled it out. A second later she slammed herself into Dany who cried out in surprise. Yara continued to ride the queen roughly until they both came and Yara collapsed on top of her in exhaustion.
After a few moments when they had caught their breath, Dany requested to be untied. Yara loosened the ropes, allowing her to slide her wrists free, and they immediately went to Yara's face, pulling it to hers.
"If that's how you rule, you can be my queen," Dany whispered, near sleep.
"Even as your queen, I would serve you," Yara responded, gathering the spent queen to her chest. The two fell asleep in a tangle of limbs.