Chapter Two
The dark ominous clouds over Casterly Rock seem to echo the sorrow and dread in Daenerys' heart. For three days since she arrived, learned of Varys' betrayal and Cersei's vicious beheadings she hasn't slept. Furthermore, she hasn't even moved; propped against the wall, staring without seeing into the endless sky. Light becoming shadow, night becoming dawn and still, none of it matters. The shock and loss of Rhaegal and Missandei is unbearable, crushing her like a tightening vice grip pulverizing her bones. Her closest advisors have either died, abandoned or failed her. There is no one to lean on – no one to share the loss with; so enrobed in a cloak of isolation she desperately waits for the feeling to pass. Three days ago, she sent Grey Worm and several unsullied on a mission but the details have become hazy and at the moment, the outcome unimportant. In a period of cognizance she learned the front was secure and her men were healing – it brought some comfort. Now, with her destiny on pause, she falls numbly into a silent abyss.
Tyrion, pacing the hallway like an expectant father, stops once again at her door. He knocks and listens. Nothing. Another tray of uneaten food waits for removal. "My Queen, please…" He places his hand on the door – it's obvious that his heart is breaking. "Maybe I shouldn't have said anything… I know my timing was lousy… We are all just trying to protect you and your reign… Even if you won't talk to me or anyone else, please, you need to eat…" He leans helplessly against her door.
In another room, dark forces are at work as The Master of Whisperers scrawls by candlelight. With a heavy heart and heavy hand he produces the second scroll of treasonous words; unleashing the secrets he knows will tumble a regime and destroy a queen. Though his first was dispatched to the Grand Maester at the Citadel; this one is marked for Lord Robin Arryn of the Eyrie. Only an uproar from all the kingdoms can stop the inevitable reign of Daenerys Targaryen and now he sees no other options. Although he has plotted against rulers before, this time it feels excruciatingly painful and more personal. Where the other rulers were proven cruel and tyrannical, Dany has only become a frightening threat. Uncertainty corrodes him to his very core but his life-long mission to protect the people and his overwhelming fear has already set this wheel in motion and driven this mutiny.
Battling with his own demons and his own words, he replays his conversations with Daenerys. Can he trust her to build the world she says she wants to create? His loyalty to the people has always been the force behind his actions, and while he was always willing to live or die with that decision, he had never worried about being wrong – until now. With a deep sigh and a lack of conviction, Lord Varys reluctantly seals the scroll and rises to the window. Jon Snow has arrived. Lord Varys places the scroll in a decorative box and leaves his chambers.
The last of light gleams against the water as Jon climbs from his boat. Varys ponders the weight of his decisions as he approaches a visibly distraught Jon, "What news?"
Varys realizes there will be no small talk tonight. "Nothing. She is refusing company and all food."
"Hopefully, I can get through to her."
"You may be the only one in the kingdom who can. About this and the war."
"Don't start with me, Lord Varys, she is our queen. We follow her lead."
"But you are the true heir, she should follow your lead."
"Those words are treason."
"Treason or truth? How can the facts be treason?"
"Because she IS our queen and I don't want it. I gave up my crown to her. I believe in her."
Varys stops walking, "I have followed her; believed in her. And I have watched you. Your experience and your heart makes you a stronger ruler. She wants to break the wheel; I believe you can fix what's wrong with it and save innocent lives."
"Saving innocent lives is all she's ever done!" Jon pushes past him and climbs the stairs so quickly, all fall behind.
He moves down the hall; Tyrion steps out of the shadows, "She won't see anyone."
Jon looks down at the uneaten dinner, "She's been through a lot."
"I know. I blame myself for much of it."
"Old friend, you could not have changed what happened."
"But I told your secret to Varys. I thought we could help protect her from it. I never thought that he'd want to use it to change the outcome. I know she spoke of fire and blood but she won't do it. She'd never slaughter the children she has fought so long to protect!"
"I know that too. It will be alright."
"Maybe my love for her has blinded me – I believed she was invincible. I just want to protect her but she looks at my mistakes as complete failures." He wrings his hands and continues, "I never saw her losing two dragons. Cersei lied to me but I believed her. Jaime is being held at the front; I was wrong about him too… I can't guard our queen's safety if I'm dead and I can't blame her for thinking that I should be – I have repeatedly failed her." He kicks the ground.
"She's not going to kill you for being wrong…"
"She doesn't keep people she doesn't believe in around for very long…"
"She'll keep you. I know how much you care about her. You are a true friend to the Queen and Kingdom. Get some sleep. I'll see if I can help her."
"Get her to eat something…" he pleads.
Jon feigns a sad smile and pats his shoulder. "Good night Tyrion." He turns away, knocks at Daenerys' door but doesn't wait for an answer. Like magnets, he moves to her and she falls into his arms. His concern turns to anguish; her sudden frailty rips his heart apart.
"I'm so sorry, Dany. I should have been at your side riding him. Maybe we all could've escaped safely."
Her response is almost inaudible, "Or maybe I would have lost you too."
"With all we've been through," he sweeps a strand of hair from her face lovingly, "Maybe that would have been best."
Dany is instantly animated, "Don't ever say that to me. I know you believe all that crap but I don't, Jon. I love you."
He loosens his grip, "It's not crap. I know it's true, Dany." He wrestles with his demons, "But it doesn't stop my love for you…" he looks into her eyes with desperation.
"I need you, Jon, please…please… be with me. The way we were. The way I need us to be."
He holds her at arm's length and appears to pull away when suddenly he can't help the flood of rushing emotion. He scoops her into his arms and passionately kisses her. His hands move under her garments and they fall to the floor. He glides her quivering body to the bed and begins to make love to her. Shaken by the sudden onslaught of his true feelings he utters trembling, "I love you Dany."
The morning light catches in Dany's blue eyes as she watches Jon sleep. The loving gaze; the gentle touch of her fingers running through his shoulder-length hair. The distance and isolation between them melted by the passion fire rekindled in souls reunited. He stirs. She snuggles closer as his eyes open and lock onto hers. The desire reignites and he loves her again and again... Until the knock at the door. Grey Worm's voice is unmistakable, "My Queen, everyone is ready when you are."
Jon lifts off of her, "What's happening?"
Dany looks torn, "Court business. I want you with me."
He moves in for a long hungry kiss, "I'm always with you."
The large hall seems enormous with the tiny group standing in the center. Drogon screams and flies to Dany's side. "Thank you Torgo Nudho. See that no one disturbs us." Grey Worm exits. Jon is visibly uncomfortable as he scans the room. Tyrion, Varys, Sam, Bran, Sansa, and Arya form a large semi-circle with Drogon, Dany and Jon at the helm. Jon quietly turns to Dany, "What…" She raises her hand to silence him and walks toward the half circle. Jon moves next to Tyrion. "I am only going to ask each of you this, one time, have you told anyone outside this room the ridiculous story of Jon's birth?" She polls the room to vehement denies. Sadly, she turns away and then quickly back to the group, her demeanor changed, "I was going to forgive any or all of you if you told me the truth and swore to protect our secret. Everyone in this room has a special place in my heart or Jon's. But our most trusted…" She pulls out the scroll with Varys's mark on it. Seal broken. Lies for all to see. She shakes her head in anger, disgust, frustration… "Dracarys!"
Drogon rises up and fires a stream of flames - Lord Varys is incinerated.
Daenerys turns to the group, "So many needless losses…"
"I told you there would be!" Sansa screeches, "You were so busy wanting to conquer, you forgot to protect your people and your dragons!"
Dany is taken aback. She turns her rage to Sansa, "You dare challenge me? You told Tyrion, the secret you promised to protect, to get what you wanted! You killed Lord Varys every bit as much as I did! You did tell me to wait! But I've been waiting my whole life for my destiny – to rule the seven kingdoms. I lost half of my armies fighting in Jon's war with the Knight King and my heart…" Thoughts of Jorah and Viserion cloud her thoughts. Her resolve returned, she faces Sansa and barks, "You think you know best? How many wars have you won?"
Defiant Sansa stands firm, "The only one I fought in. I won the Battle of the Bastards. Not the Masters of War – me! And I don't care how long you've waited! Jon would never sacrifice all those lives! You think you just deserve to be a ruler of the seven kingdoms? My brother, your true king, was given the title long before he had a real claim to it! He will always be a better leader than you!"
With pure hatred in her eyes, Dany turns toward her love, "I'm sorry, Jon."
Jon screams, "No!" And dives toward Sansa.
Dany looks at Drogon, "Dracarys!"
Jon envelops Sansa as they go up in flames. Arya grabs needle but Sam and Tyrion hold her back. All gape in horror. Including Dany who has now come to realize that the love of her life is gone. And worse, it's by her own hand. Drogon, feeling Dany's anguish, coils around her protectively, like a snake. She clings to his broad neck, like a child, still in shock. Time seems to stop until Dany, hearing gasps, crawls out of Drogon's grasp and screams when she sees what has happened. Jon, naked, has protected Sansa from harm and stands unburnt and bewildered. Relieved that he is alive but devastated over the realization that Jon is a true Targaryen, Dany stumbles backward, "I didn't believe it... It couldn't be true… How could I…How could we…" She leaps on Drogon and flies off. Arya hands Jon Bran's cape. They all move to Jon in amazement.
Sansa studies Jon's face, "How did you?"
Jon pulls her in and holds her tight, "I don't know."
Tyrion pats his shoulder, "Welcome back Old Friend. I never believed the stories. They were just fairy tales. Mother of Dragons, the unburnt…but here you are…"