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Note: Thanks to my beta, Loubna (sweetpea-x). Leave your review. Enjoy if you can :)
Daenerys
How she guessed that, Dany will never know. It was so far away. A lifetime ago.
"How... I..." Dany is at a loss for words. Is that a trick? But the gentle smile on the Queen's face says otherwise. There is no treachery. This is an honest question with genuine concern.
"It's alright. You don't have to answer that. You don't have to tell me anything. I offered you a place to stay with no condition. Here, let me show you your chambers." she says as she shows the way.
Dany feels Viserion and Rhaegal wake up at her feet, just contempt they could grab a nap. But Drogon's features say something completely different. He is not comfortable. And Daenerys knows exactly why: she is not really at ease either.
In a matter of minutes, this total stranger knew more about her than Daenerys herself. Something was off. She hadn't been attacked yet. She hadn't been walked out of the castle, yet. And this beautiful stranger offers her a place to stay. Just like that. For nothing in return. Out of pure charity? After all Dany has been through, she knows charity is dead. Everyone wants something. This Queen is no different.
"Your Grace, thank you for your kindness but I have to decline" Dany says reluctantly. The idea of a warm bed and a hot meal is appealing.
"I assure you, I will ask nothing of you in return. You have nothing I want. I just... Stay. For one night. Rest and eat. And if you decide to leave in the morning, no one will stop you. Please." she is almost begging. That's when Dany understands what the Queen wants.
She is lonely. More than that. She is alone. This nickname, Evil Queen, surely doesn't do great for social events. Too bad, having to confine such beauty, Dany surprises herself to think.
"One night then. But I'll keep my children with me." says Dany, making Regina understand this was non-negotiable.
"I wouldn't have it any other way. That's why you are here in the biggest chamber this castle has. There is room for all of you here. I'll have someone start the fire... unless you have a faster way to do so, Khaleesi?" this is the first time the Queen uses her title. Hearing it pronounced by a outsider of the Dothraki always felt different. It gave Dany an impression of power, of greatness.
Hearing Regina say it feels... different. So different. She wants to be Khaleesi. But is it really what she needs?
"My friends... my only friend actually... He called me Dany. Please, your Grace, call me Dany." it is out of her mouth before she can even think of it.
"Mine called me Regina." the Queen answers, smiling at her. Her smile is so bright for someone said to be so dark. "Here, I think this dress will suit you. I'll have my seamstress come up to fix it for you. I want you to... I'd like you to... would you... uhm... Join me for dinner. Come down when the sun sets." she says sternly. Dany saw the inner conflict on her face. She surely doesn't have so many people to invite for dinner, thinks the Mother of Dragons.
"I'll be there. Thrank you, your Gr- Regina" the silver-haired queen smiles at her and as the Queen is about to close the door and leave she says "I was 14"
Regina
She leaves the room without any comment on the confession of Dany. Fourteen. This girl has been robbed of her innocence. Just like I have been, thinks Regina. Different settings, different styles, but something has been taken from both of them. Regina can't help but wonder how similar their paths has been.
The day passes rather quickly. And before she knows it, Regina finds herself pacing in front of the fire place, again. But not out of sadness this time, she is nervous.
She doesn't have many friends and the ones she has she doesn't see them very often. Besides, it's more of a You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours relationship she has with them.
Regina wants to do this right though. She wants to feel the joy of helping someone out of kindness again. See if she is still good. She needs to know if her darkness has already consumned her completely or if she is still capable of good.
When Dany crosses the door, all the air in Regina's lungs leave her. Behind the tiredness and dirty dress she saw earlier, who could have guessed that she really looked like a queen. Of course Regina had found her beautiful then, but that was nothing compared to now.
"Dany, you look..."
"I am sorry, Regina, I don't do this dress the honor it deserves. I... life on the run hasn't been treating me kindly. I hope you won't-"
"Dear, you look stunning. Very... regal." Regina takes the few steps separating her from her guest and offers her her arm. After a quick second of hesitation, Dany accepts the offer, blushing slightly not used to receiving compliments on her beauty from a woman. Let alone one more gorgeous than her.
"Where are your children, Mother of Dragons?" Regina says as she looks back over her shoulder while leading Dany to her seat.
"I-I didn't know if they were welcomed here. You honor me in accepting me as a guest, I don't want to cause you trouble. I left them in my chambers." answers Dany with a hint of regret in her voice.
"Well I guess dinner can wait a little longer, go get your dragons. There is plenty of space here for them to sleep or play or whatever your children do." The smile brightening Dany's face was worth a thousand kingdoms.
