Chapter III.

Author's Note- Thanks for the favs and reviews, I really appreciate it. As I said, this story will be soon moving along quickly as I already have the entire plot worked out which is a first for me.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

They had been riding for two weeks now. Though travelling this far on horseback could be somewhat exhausting, Daenerys had never felt more free in her entire life. Ser Gerold Hightower she found, was an inexhaustible font of knowledge about her family. For his age, the man still exuded a strength about him that few could match. He had known and served her family since the days of King Aegon V, and was able to tell both Jon and herself many personal anecdotes about her family. She had been especially keen to hear Ser Gerold's descriptions about her mother Queen Rhaella.

She had also gotten to know her nephew Jaehaerys, or Jon as he was called, much better. The first few days they had both been rather shy and reticent of one another. She was surprised to find he was rather quiet by nature. But, she was also pleasantly surprised to find that he was a genuinely kind young man. There was not a shred of arrogance about him. He confided in her what it was like to grow up with the world thinking he was the bastard of the honourable Eddard Stark. How, no matter what he did; part of him felt that he would never be good enough; that he would never fit in.

From what she had observed, he had the makings of a fine man; a fine king. In return, she shared with him what it had been like growing up with an increasingly erratic Viserys. How she had lived in terror of his rages and the Usurper's assassins. The more time she spent with Jon, the more comfortable she felt around him. There was just something about her nephew that you couldn't help but like. She also didn't know what to do about the things she was beginning to feel for him. Part of her wanted to not feel them because she was his blood, but another part of her -something almost primal within her, had never felt happier and safer than when she was near Jon. She also knew he felt the same; what happend the night before proved that. She could still almost feel the heat from his lips on her own.

They had made camp rather early that night. She and Jon had volunteered to gather some wood for the fires. As they walked through the forest, she couldn't help but think of how fast her life seemed to be changing. She was heading towards a new life without her cruel brother, and she had never felt better. Lord Varys may have been the one to bring her here, but she knew she truly owed her newfound happiness to Jon. She had been so lost in thought that she had tripped and scraped her knee against a rock.

The fall surprised her as she didn't even make it all the way to the ground before a pair of arms was suddenly around her; gently guiding her down. Jon gently took her skinned knee in hand. Even with the chill in the air, Jon's hands were pleasantly warm to the touch. He ripped off a strip of cloth from his tunic to make a bandage. After pouring some water on her skinned knee from the skin they were sharing, Jon gently and meticulously bandage her knee. He handled her with such care, as if she was made of glass and would break at any second.

They both sat there for a minute before she shyly whispered, "Thank You, Jon."

He gently squeezed her hand.

"Are you alright now, Dany?" Jon asked.

"Good as new," Dany said.

She was not sure what came over them, but she couldn't help but stare at his lips and wonder if they tasted as sweet as she imagined. He seemed to be holding her gaze in his deep violet eyes, and before she knew it he had leaned in closer and gently pressed his lips to hers.

It was quick and tentative at first, and he pulled back almost immediately and stumbled out an apology.

"I am so sorry Dany; I don't know what came over me...I promise. I won't do that again..." he trailed off as she pressed her finger to his lips in a shushing motion.

She stared at him for a moment before steeling her resolve.

"Don't be sorry," she told him quietly.

She gently placed her hand against his cheek as she guided his head closer towards her. She never broke eye contact until their lip met once again; this time for much longer. She felt an arm wrap around her waist as Jon brought them closer together. She gasped as she felt his tongue slowly enter her mouth and knew she must be blushing when a moan involuntarily escaped her. She was sure she had never experienced anything so wonderful as this. Dany was well aware that perhaps they shouldn't be doing this, that they were of the same blood; but she couldn't help herself. The past two week of traveling with Jon she had grown to care a great deal about him, and not as an aunt towards a nephew. He seemed more than a knight in shining armour to Dany, he was simply himself; and she wanted him to be her Jon, just as she would be his Dany.

The Crannogmen were leading them to Greywater Watch as the anticipation built within Jon. He was about to meet not only his mother, but his sister too. He couldn't possibly have been more nervous. He now understood why they needed the guides, because he was sure they would never have been able to find the keep that was said to change locations. When they arrived he was mesmerized by the beauty of it. It seemed to be a part of nature itself. The stones and mortar combined with the moss, grass and reeds to make a truly unique structure. The iron portcullis surrounded in vines seemed to be from another age entirely. They had dismounted and were walking through the yard, and Jon felt his nerves grow exponentially. He felt Dany grasp his hand next to him. She knew how nervous he was as she was fairly nervous herself. He was glad he had her next to him.

Dany gave him strength. He still couldn't believe someone as beautiful and wonderful as her liked him. He couldn't explain the connection he felt. When he was with her, near her; he felt a peace settle over him. He was strong beside her. He knew they hadn't known each other very long, not even a moon's turn; but he didn't think he would ever want anyone besides Dany. He knew he was in love with her. When he asked her what she thought people would think, her answer startled him.

"We are the blood of the dragon Jon. The dragons have always mated with each other. Why should we care about the opinions of lesser beings? The dragon bows to no one," she had said.

Perhaps she was right. Even if he still barely felt like one, he was a Targaryen; the King even to some. Why should he let any one else's opinion of whom he should love affect him. Dany was right. He was the blood of the dragon; and the dragon did not bow.

His thoughts were cut off as he saw a group of people coming out of the keep. One was a tall man of middle age with silver hair and violet eyes. He could only be Ser Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning, and one of the most legendary knights of all time. Next to him was a woman with similar facial structure, long dark hair, and eyes of an alluring violet. She must be the legendary beauty Ashara Dayne. He could easily see how she had been called one of the most beautiful women in all of the Seven Kingdoms. Next to her was a slight and short man with piercing moss-green eyes. Going by the lion-lizard emblem on his tunic, he assumed the man was his Uncle Ned's dear friend Lord Reed -the man who had helped to hide his mother and sister these past fourteen years.

After them were two women. The first was a young woman of around eight and ten name days. She had beautiful golden skin, and dark brown hair. However, her most striking feature had to be her deep violet eyes that were a mirror image of his own. There was no question to him that this must be his sister Rhaenys. Their faces even shared a similar bone structure. The other looked to be around thirty years of age. She had curly dark hair that framed a still beautiful face with wintry Stark grey eyes. She heavily resembled an older version of what he thought Arya may look like when grown.

"Welcome your grace, my princess, Ser Gerold to Greywater Watch. I am Lord Howland Reed, and I bid you all welcome. My home and lands are yours as long as you shall have need of them," Lord Reed said to them.

"Thank you for extending your gracious hospitality my lord," Jon replied in welcome.

"Allow me to introduce Ser Arthur Dayne, and his sister and my wife the Lady Ashara. Next, is your sister the Princess Rhaenys and your mother the Princess Lyanna," Lord Howland introduced.

Ser Arthur and the Lady Ashara bowed and curtsied in response. Jon nervously approached his mother and sister. He had never felt more nervous in all his life. His mother slowly approached him. She appeared almost as if she thought he would vanish at any moment.

"Jon, is it truly you? Oh, my darling boy. You have no idea how I've longed to have you with me," Lyanna told him. She quickly closed the distance between them and for the first time in his memory, Jon knew what it felt like to feel a mother's love as his own mother embraced him. He held his mother just as tightly as she was holding on to him. He couldn't help how un-manly it made him seem, but he found he didn't particularly care.

Lyanna drew back after placing a kiss on his forehead and took his hand in to hers.

"Jon dear, this is your sister Rhaenys," Lyanna introduced.

His sister was without a doubt beautiful and her Dornish blood gave her a slightly exotic look. However, Jon was relieved beyond words find himself able to truthfully say that he was not attracted to his Targaryen sister in the slightest amount.

Rhaenys stepped forward and said, "It is wonderful to see you again brother. Your Uncle's letters give us updates on how you are doing all the time, but I've longed to see you in person. You've grown up so much since I last saw you," she said.

This peaked Jon's interests.

"Have we met before?" Jon asked.

She took his hand and pulled him into a hug with no hesitation. He instictively returned the gesture. His little cousin Arya was the only one who had ever shown him such gestures of love and affection. It truly warmed his heart that his real flesh and blood sister seemed to want to know him and accept him just as much as Arya always had.

"The last time we met you were around three name days. Your Uncle Ned had brought you with him to visit. You stayed here with us for about a fortnight. I think I was around seven. We had so much fun, and you were so cute at that age," Rhaenys said; much to his embarrassment.

He then went on to introduce Dany to them. She was very warmly received and Jon could tell how much her warm reception meant to her after having no one but Viserys in her life. He also was not so oblivious as to not notice the knowing looks his mother, sister, and the Lady Ashara threw his and Dany's way. Lyanna and Rhaenys especially seemed rather amused by his and Dany's not so concealed affection for one another.

They were shown to their rooms and then allowed to get baths and change for the small banquet that had been arranged. Later that evening, Jon escorted Dany into the great hall of the keep for dinner. That night, they were joined by Lord Reed's children Meera and Jojen, as well as an older man who he soon came to learn was the third member of his Kingsguard Ser Oswell Whent. He had been surprised to learn that Ser Oswell was Lady Catelyn's uncle; her late mother's brother.

The feast was wonderful, there were many different dishes served that neither he or Dany had ever tried before; some native to the swamps of the Neck, and some dishes that the Lady Ashara was fond of from her native Dorne. With Daenerys' prompting, Jon stood up when the meal was drawing to a close. He'd seen Robb do this once, and he wanted to try and show the Reed's how thankful he was for hosting him. He stood up and raised his goblet.

"I'm not used to doing this, but there are a few things I'd like to say. Firstly, I'd like to thank Lord Howland and Lady Ashara for opening there home to me; and also for looking after my family for all these years. One day, one way or another, I promise you; I will do all in my power to repay the generosity you have shown me and mine."

"Ser Gerold, Ser Arthur, and Ser Oswell, I wish to thank you also for all of the loyalty and protection you have shown my family these many years. I don't think there ever lived knights more true and loyal."

"To my mother and my sister, I just want you to know how happy I am to finally get the chance to know you. I never even dreamed I could be so lucky as this, and I want you to know that I don't care what I have to do, but I will never allow anything to part me from either one of you. Never again will others be able to break us apart. We are family, now and always."

He surprised even himself with what he said next.

"Princess Daenerys...Dany. These past weeks travelling with you and getting to know you have been amazing. I have never met a girl quite like you. You're beautiful, and kind, and the most unique girl I've ever met."

He was so nervous by this point that he was near to stuttering, but he took one look at Dany who looked radiantly beautiful and steeled his resolve.

"Dany, I would feel truly blessed if you were to allow me to court you. Would you allow me that honour?" Jon asked her.

Daenerys was silent for a barely a moment when with no hesitation whatsoever, she replied with a steady voice, "I'd be happy to accept your courtship."

Jon was so happy he could barely contain himself. He swept Dany into his arms and kissed her.

He was surprised to hear light applause around the hall. As most of the diners left the hall a servant approached his sister Rhaenys and deposited something next to her that was wrapped in a red velvet cloth. He had a sneaking suspicion of what that was. Rhaenys nodded to him and Daenerys and they both knew she meant for them to both go and retrieve their own. They quickly went back to their rooms and Daenerys got the package she recieved from Varys while Jon got his parcel he had been given by Lord Stark. His uncle told him his father Prince Rhaegar had kept it for his last child and he had kept it safe for Jon. Together, Jon and Dany returned back to the great hall. Their family and the Kingsguard were the only ones remaining in the hall.

Jon and Danaerys approached Rhaenys and laid their own packages down. Each of them removed the wrappings. Underneath the wrappings were three beautiful dragon's eggs. All of the eggs were nearly black and appeared stone-like. Rhaeny's egg had dark green running around it. Daenery's was almost marbleized white and gold. While Jon's was almost jet black with veins of a deep red running through it.

Together, they placed all three eggs side by side where they were all connected. Then, as if some instinct was guiding them, each of them placed their hands on their eggs at the same time. They could feel a deep heat emanating from the supposedly stone eggs. Without warning, the fire in the hearth that was burning flared up to a great height. Their eyes and that of those around them were as wide as possible, and they could feel the eggs continue to heat up. They had reached a burning hot temperature, but none of the three Targaryens present felt anything more than a pleasantly warm sensation. That was when they heard it.

The eggs cracked open. Everyone in the room was astounded when three baby dragons raised their heads into the open air for the first time in well over one hundred years.