"It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not."— André Gide

DAENERYS TARGARYEN

Eyes.

That's all I could feel all over me. Eyes filled with worry, eyes filled with disdain, eyes filled with caution, eyes filled with hatred. I couldn't exactly blame them for it honestly. Jon told me it would be this way once I arrive at Winterfell. But still, I never expected their glares to be so... intense. I would just have to win their trust and loyalty in any way that I can, to let them know that I will be a great queen for them. I could do that, for Jon's sake.

Never in my life had I met an extraordinary man like Jon Snow. I've been with men who were brave and courageous, but there was something different about Jon. When I first met him, he didn't immediately swoon at my beauty, he didn't falter under my commands or back down. He remained himself, a man of honor and integrity. A man who took a knife in the heart for his people, and never wanted anything less than what was best for his people. He had no birthright, and yet his people named him 'King in the North' because they believed in him.

Jon Snow was a god among men in my eyes.

And he was all mine...

Sansa, Jon's sister, was the first one to speak, "I had our banners retreat back to Winterfell after we heard about the Wall."

Jon nodded curtly, encouraging the Lady of Winterfell to continue.

"Lord Umber, when can we expect your people to arrive?" I followed her gaze and gasped inwardly when then they landed on a young boy in the middle of the room. It baffled me to see a young child burdened with such responsibilities, to have the fate of an entire kingdom rest on his small shoulders. I can only hope that things will work out for the better.

"We need more horses and wagons if it pleases my lady, my lord, and my queen." His eyes lifted up to me before he quickly averts his gaze. "I'm sorry."

I gave him an encouraging nod, to let him know that he was doing quite fine.

"We'll give you as many as we can spare. Hurry back to Last Hearth and bring your people here."

"Of course, my lady." He nodded before he quickly left the hall.

Jon cleared his throat, finally making his presence known, "We need ravens sent to the Night's Watch as well. There's no sense in manning the castles anymore. We make our stand here.

"At once, Your Grace." The maester bowed his head slightly before he left as well.

"Enough," A small girl stood up, her posture stiff and bold. She had a fierceness in her eyes that showed me that she was not a child to be trifled with. "My king, you have some answering to do."

"I'm not your king anymore, Lyanna," Jon said.

"Yes, you are. We named you King in the North from this day until your very last day."

"Aye, you did," Jon rose to his feet, smiling sadly at the young girl. "I will never forget the day you all showed me your everlasting support and loyalty to me. But I had to make a choice."

"Which was?" Lyanna pressed.

"Keep the crown or protect the North, and I chose the North." I couldn't help but look at him in admiration. Always thinking of his people first before anyone else. He bent the knee to ensure his people's safety, to make sure they were protected from any harm. He gave up his crown for the love of his people. I wanted that from them. To love and be loved in return by the people in the North.

"If I may," Tyrion emerged from his chair, making his presence known as well. "Jon Snow is the reason we all have a chance of survival here. He nearly died trying to show us the threat is real. Thanks to him and his bravery, we have brought us the greatest army the world has ever. We have two full grown dragons and soon, the Lannister will ride north to help us in the war to come."

A roar of displeasure and hatred was evident as they yelled in disagreement, "I know, I know that our people haven't gotten along in the past."

"But if we don't fight together, we will all die."

There was a small moment of silence as they took in Tyrion's words.

"So who rules the North now, the Dragon Queen?" Sansa spoke up, bitterness hinted in her tone.

The crowd began to murmur amongst themselves as another topic was now brought to the table.

Jon's eyes met mine and I could see how this was tearing him apart. The hall then started to yell accusations, all pointed to me.

"My lady is right, Your Grace! We can't trust her. Thanks to her there's a bloody dragon amongst the dead army's ranks!" Lyanna shouted, followed by a group of shouts in agreement. "We need to protect ourselves, and that means she has to go."

Jon whipped his head towards the crowd, his expression now livid, "Her dragon died or us to be here! That dragon sacrificed itself to save me, your King in the North! She risked her own life to make sure that I come back home to you. She's a good queen with a good heart. She'll do right by you. I know she will."

Out of all of the words that came pouring out of Jon's mouth, one word stood out; sacrifice.

Sacrifice, an act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy. Jon has sacrificed so much, and it seems like he's been doing this for quite some time. It didn't take a genius to see that Jon was well loved and respected by his people, a bond that takes a long time to build. I couldn't take that away from him. Jon has already lost so much, I wasn't going to let him lose his people too for me.

As Jon began to speak again, I immediately interrupted him, "Jon, it's alright."

"Dany, it's not alright." He whispered through seething teeth.

I smiled weakly as I stood up from my chair, "It is."

I took a deep breath and addressed the crowd at large, "I understand your mistrust in me. I would feel the exact same thing if I were in your position. I don't mean any harm to your people or to your home. I just want to claim what is rightfully mine, the Iron Throne. Nothing more, nothing less. And the North is not mine to claim. The North deserves to be independent, as it always has been."

A series of collective gasps had erupted as they took in my words.

I felt Jon's hand clench onto my upper bicep, staring at me in disbelief. "Your Grace...what are you saying to us right now?"

"The North is yours, Jon Snow. You may continue to rule the North as the king if that is what you desire. I will have no say in what goes on here, as I hereby name the North an independent kingdom."

"Is this some sort of trick?"Lyanna demanded as the rest followed suit.

"On my honor, you're free to do as you wish, with Jon Snow as your king."

It was then my heart warmed at the sound of the cheers that erupted in the hall. They may not love me, but they would always love Jon. And that was enough.

Jon's eyes softened as he tried to sneak his hands into mine, "Dany..."

I pulled my hands away and gave him a curt nod, "My king."

I turned around and made my way out of the hall, not missing the icy glare of the Lady of Winterfell.

"Daenerys..." Jon's voice called to me softly. I didn't answer. "Dany, please."

I looked down at the flames in the fireplace as they danced violently, a large glass of wine in my hand.

"May I sit?" He asked, his voice tentative like he was walking on glass.

"If you want." I took a sip of my wine and sniffled.

Jon kept to the far side of the room, pushing himself away from me at all costs. Jon wanted to comfort me, I know he did. To wrap me in his arms and tell me that he was sorry because he was. But I didn't need his comfort, not now anyway. This was my choice, and it was my burden.

I didn't raise my head to look at him, I didn't want him to look into my eyes. They would tell him how much pain I was in.

"You hungry?" Jon began. "I can ask a servant to make us some food."

I shook my head. "I'm fine."

"Why," He whispered. "Why did you do it?"

"It was the right thing to do." I sniffled again.

"Right thing for who? "

I didn't say anything.

We sat for a long while in silence, before I spoke again, "What was I supposed to do, Jon?" I asked quietly. "I wanted to show them that I could be a good queen, a merciful ruler. But the more I thought about it, the more they spoke, I realized that they were right. I'm not as good as I claim to be."

"Stop this nonsense." Jon inched closer to me, but still kept some distance between us. "You have a pure heart, Dany. You want what's best for the Seven Kingdoms, you just have to make them see what I see. "

I gargled out a laugh. "My heart is far from pure, Jon. Looking back on all the men I've burned and murdered...for the sake of the throne. I wish I could take it all back."

"It's the toll of leadership. We all have to make tough decisions," Jon reached for my hand but pulled back, thinking twice about it.

"I saw the way they looked at you, how they admired you, how they loved you," I felt his body come closer. "I couldn't take that away from you. I don't need their love, I only need yours. But you need theirs... so I did what I thought was right."

"Dany..."

"I want to be a good queen, I want to prove to them that I'm nothing like my father." I took a deep breath. "This is the first step."

"You didn't have to do this," Jon got on his knees and placed his hands over mines."I love you, and you will always be my queen."

"I know, but it's the right thing to do."

This was when I realized that there were walls that I had built around myself, years of pent up emotions spilling forth in a torrent of confusion. All the things that I kept telling myself didn't seem to make any sense anymore. The only thing that made sense to now that mattered was that I loved Jon, and he loved me.

And his love was the only thing I needed.

My hands cupped his face as I pressed my forehead against his, letting the emotions flow out freely, "Losing Drogo was one the hardest things for me. I thought I could never move on, you know? I thought shutting out my emotions would be healthy for the sake of my people. I was at the lowest point of my life and I didn't think there would be an end to it. Then came my children, I had my army, and I thought I had everything I wanted. Until I met you."

Jon listened intently. He lifted his hand up and laid it on my thigh. He eyed me expectantly, encouraging me to continue.

"From the first day we first met, you showed me what it means to be a true ruler when I thought I had it all figured out. You care about me unconditionally. You are everything I want, Jon Snow, everything I need and not a day goes by that I don't feel grateful for the time I spend with you."

Jon leaned into my hand while I confessed my feelings for him. His eyes were full of hope and adoration. It looked as though he was processing a thousand things in his mind all at once.

"I love you too, Jon. More than anything. More than everything."

And suddenly, it all seemed so easy. Everything just seemed easier even breathing.

His lips crushed hungrily onto mine, and we both moaned at the contact. We kissed eagerly, our tongues fighting for dominance, as we lost ourselves in the feel of each other's touched. We only released each other's lips when oxygen became necessary.

Without breaking apart, Jon shifted us so that I was further up on the bed and he was hovering over me. His body pressed into mine, and I moan softly pleasure at the feel of him against me.

We kissed urgently, his hands traveling down my waist, my legs wrapped around his like a vice. I hastily helped him out his shirt and threw it to ground, never breaking our kiss. He climbed on top of me to get better access to whatever he desired. I didn't mind that.

"Jon," I whispered. My nails traced the muscles of his stomach as his breathing increased. My hand stopped on the scar that traced the circumference of his left hip. The scar from the accident.

I let my fingers linger on his hipbone, making him shiver a little, "You're so beautiful..."

"And so are you," I leaned up to press small kisses among the bruises and small scars that littered his body. I didn't pity him, I was accepting me.

Jon kept his eyes locked on hers as I proceeded to dig further into his pants but didn't go all the way.

"You're mine, Jon Snow," I whispered huskily.

"Now and always," He said back forcefully, nibbling on my ear.

His hands swept along the sides of my coat. I sighed as Jon tore it off, tossing it next to his clothes on the floor.

I whimpered as his hands began to fondle my left breast softly, shivering lightly when I felt his tongue run along with my pulse point.

My hands wandered up to his bare back as I proceeded to pull his body against mine. The feeling was incredible. I moaned roughly as his fingers slowly traced the navel of my breasts and arched into his hand.

Carefully, he pushed me back onto the furry blanket and ran his hands along my bare legs which automatically opened to him, like they were trying to magnetically pull him towards my center.

I sighed again as his hands massaged my feet before making a trail up my legs with small kisses. His hands finally came to rest along my stomach, and my eyes never left his as my fingers traced the outline of my inner thigh.

"You're so beautiful," Jon whispered as his fingers softly traced the skin of my upper thighs. He bent down to lightly kiss my wet center and my hands immediately gripped his hair.

"Enough with the foreplay," I whispered softly.

"Of course, my queen."

Jon grunted loudly and thrusted against my hand as I reached between us to grab his obvious arousal. I moved us again so that Jon was against the pillows as I was straddling him.

With a smile, I glided down his body and tugged his lower garments down his legs before throwing them to the floor. I kissed my way up his legs and onto his thighs.

"Stop teasing," He whispered forcefully, pulling me back to the same length as him.

I cupped his face in my hands and began to trace small kisses along his jawline and neck, brutally continuing my teasing, "I thought you craved for the wait, Jon Snow."

He entered me slowly, leaning down to met my lips as I adjusted to accommodate him.

"Not tonight," Jon growled against my neck.

I gasped, urging him deeper as I plunged myself over him again. He groaned as the motion forced him to completely enter me, and our cries of pleasure were sweet and quiet but said everything we wanted them to.

We continued our movement, whispering each other's name over and over as I wrapped my arms around his neck, surrendering ourselves to each other. The only sounds in the room were our moans and the sound of our skin slapping against each other. A fire ran through my veins as I allowed myself, for the very first time in a long time, to love and be loved in return.

"God, I can't get enough of you," I whispered urgently as his lips stayed on my neck. Our movements became frantic.

I think I said something back but I couldn't tell. I felt the muscles in my stomach tighten, and as much as I didn't want to give in, I couldn't help it. We needed each other for so long. There was no way we could take this slow. Not this time. I knew we would have time for proper lovemaking later.

Lights flashed behind my closed eyes as Jon came violently, grunting into my bare shoulder and grabbing onto my back to hold me close.

Our thrusts slowed as Jon began pressing soft kisses to every inch of my face and we rode out or orgasms together. Exhausted, we both moaned and collapsed onto the warm blanket. I crawled over a little and laid my head against his chest as he wrapped his arms around my waist and cuddled against him.

"Wow. That was..." I couldn't even finish my thoughts and closed my eyes to revel in the feeling.

"Wow indeed." Jon leaned down and placed a small kiss on my forehead.

I sighed contently and held him impossibly closer ag as I rubbed my hands against his chest in a soothing motion.

"This room," I whispered, inhaling everything that was Jon Snow. "I don't ever want to leave this room."

A small chuckle left his perfect lips, as if a faded memory reached his mind, "Then we won't."