Daenerys and Jorah's cabin
Still panting a little, his skin glistening with sweat, Jorah took his time watching Daenerys, adoring her: her hair was spread on the pillow and on the mattress, her cheeks flushed, her expression relaxed. Jorah was amazed to be able to look at her like this, but he was even more amazed by seeing her looking at him like that.
Still panting a little, her skin glistening with sweat, Daenerys took her time watching him, adoring him: he had those piercing blue eyes, a slightly lopsided and very tender satisfied smile making his perfect cheekbones even more evident, his usual stubble almost a beard, making him sexier than ever.
They were still joined, she beneath him, exchanging tender gazes and caresses. Jorah loved her long silvery strands, and wanted to feel them between his fingers; Daenerys discovered Jorah's strawberry blonde curls were incredibly soft and satin-like, and felt an incredible pleasure caressing his head while combing him. Jorah suddenly missed her lips, and then her tongue too, and bent for a kiss: a quick, but felt kiss. She appreciated the flexing of his biceps and pectorals.
"One would never want to leave this cabin. Wouldn't you, Daenerys?" finally spoke Jorah, almost murmuring. His incredible voice, low and full of adoration sent shivers down her spine, especially when he said her name. He had a unique way of saying her full name, or khaleesi, or princess.
"No, you are right, I definitely would not. It is so beautiful here, like this, with you." She caressed his cheek, and he leaned into her hand.
Jorah smiled remembering a discussion, long ago. "Do you remember when we argued because you wanted to leave the shelter in Qarth and go out to find your dragons, while I insisted we take the ship to Astapor, choosing safety over your baby dragons? I had to explain to you that I was just being logical and suggesting the most logical move to get you out of danger and towards the Iron Throne. And that nevertheless I would serve you no matter what you asked of me. How things have changed…"
"You are still the logical, pragmatic and competent advisor" Daenerys replied with admiration and with some tender mocking.
"Aye, and you will never get rid of that" he joked. "But you seem to at least take into consideration the existence of something outside your queenly role. You just admitted you thought for an instant to stay here with me, or a little part of you wished to. A corner of you is tempted." He was tenderly mocking her, and didn't care to hide it.
"I think it's quite normal to feel like this. Up until now, I only had a name, a heritage, a claim to occupy my thoughts. Now I have found something else. You might be my advisor and my knight, but you are also my friend and my lover, and I cannot avoid but wonder sometimes what our life could be if we could just be a man and a woman."
"Daenerys, my love, I would love for us to stay like this for the entire journey. Here, in this bed, talking and making love and sleeping." They exchanged another kiss and a caress. "But I even if you decided to give up any claim and simply be a woman, my woman, we couldn't afford a simpler life right now" A particularly long and warm caress to her cheek accompanied this last allusion to the threat.
"I know. But I think nevertheless we can escape sometimes, to forget everything for a while. Not even those dreadful icy monsters will prevent us from finding some moments for us. And if… when we get back to my conquest, we will always make more room in our lives for being just that."
Jorah studied her expression for a while. He was extremely curious about what was going on in her head. It must have been quite a lot going on, because he could see her being somewhere else with her mind. After a while, she got back to watching him tenderly, her eyes glistening.
Jorah didn't know she had recalled one of her old dreams, but not the ones about her Targaryen heritage. It was the one about a house with a red door instead, and she had asked herself if those were all prophetic dreams or just dreams: fire and blood, war and conquer, and a house with a red door, with Jorah opening the door for her.
Jon's cabin, now a sort of common room
Later that morning, Jorah and Daenerys reached the others who had gathered in Jon's cabin, in order to let the ill and wounded rest if needed. Jon was sitting at the table, busily writing, his face showing signs of nervousness. Sandor had a mug in front of him and did not look satisfied at all. Gendry stared into nothing, and Davos looked at Jon.
Everybody ignored the couple entering. The couple noticed the group ignoring them, and the group was very aware of its collective behaviour.
Even a fool would have understood the roots of this singular reception. The couple knew a few wooden partitions were not an effective barrier that could shield people from the music of love: a sweet tune for the players, but probably an embarrassing or annoying one for the listeners.
Jorah broke the ice. "So, Jon, still writing? Didn't manage to write and send everything from Eastwatch?"
"Actually, these are new ravens."
"To Winterfell?"
"Yes, to Winterfell."
Curious, thought Jorah. "Dire tidings? New issues?"
"No, just… to inform my siblings we have sailed, the ship is sailing, and I am almost fit again. And to tell them many things." Jorah stared with suspicion at Jon, and Daenerys looked at him waiting for some sort of continuation. Therefore, Jon continued: "I think… I have neglected my… well, not my duties, but I think the North hasn't heard enough from me. And Sansa definitely hasn't. I left her the regency, then disappeared. She was right to be angry."
"At least, it sounds like you left the regency in the capable hands of a strong woman. In my experience, it was a wise move" and he smiled to Daenerys, eliciting a grunt from Sandor and a raised eyebrow from Davos.
Daenerys was torn between appreciating the sweet compliment and feeling upset that he compared her to a regent. She find a clever way out, though. "Be careful, Jon: I think he will suggest soon that you relinquish all your powers in her hand and become her knight" she japed, sarcasm mixing with fondness.
Davos wanted to avoid Sandor's angry remarks and to relieve Gendry of his embarrassment, and shifted the conversation to more apt and urgent themes. "So, how are we going to present the embassy to Cersei?"
Daenerys answered: "I think Tyrion's absence makes this particular discussion more difficult. He is the one who knows her the best. We had discussed the main points already, starting from the agreement he reached with Jaime."
Jon intervened: "Sansa knows her well too. I might ask her. We will find the reply at Dragonstone waiting for us."
Sandor grunted, again.
Jorah stated: "We should also keep talking about fighting the Dead. We have already analysed the strengths of our forces, especially the Dothraki, the mounted Northerners, and the Knights of the Vale. They will charge, trying to trample as many wights as possible, and trying to make it for the Walkers with arakhs, spears, lances, and pikes with dragonglass points. The Dothraki archers will also throw special arrows. I would say fire arrows for the wights, and dragonglass ones for the Walkers. A few of them will have Valyrian steel arakhs too, as far as I know."
Jon added: "I think the most challenging task we will face will be finding the right way to employ the Unsullied. Fearless elite foot soldiers who will have to share the battlefield with various people-at-arms and with less skilled volunteer fighters… "
"The most unskilled fighters must be charged with lighting up as many wights and corpses as possible. Torches, hay, old cloth stripes, oil rather than wasting precious weapons" was Jorah's pragmatic suggestion.
"This might be dangerous for the living as well, though, Jorah. Let us not forget that we can burn just as easily."
Davos grimaced, and only Jon understood why.
Jorah replied: "Of course, but one always hopes that the living will try as hard as possible to avoid the fires, or to extinguish them quick enough if they catch on a sleeve" he was definitely speaking from experience here. "And, as brutal as it may sound… if they have to die nevertheless – because these are the unskilled fighters, and they do not have many chances to survive, let us be honest – better to die in a way that will destroy wights as well and prevent them from becoming one, than to be hacked to pieces or to be raised soon afterwards."
Jon pondered his words for a while, then had to admit it with a sigh: "I guess you are right."
Daenerys added: "I fear my dragons might ignite accidentally friends along with foes, too. It will not be an easy war, this much is clear." Jorah reached for her hand and squeezed it tenderly, noticing she felt uncomfortable. "I am sure you will manage to control your dragons and to burn wights, not knights."
Not even Jorah's attempt at some rhymes for comic relief could have lifted the weight Daenerys felt in her chest, thinking of the Tarly execution. She was quite sure Tyrion still hadn't mentioned it to Jorah, which meant Jon had no idea either. But how long until the truth was out?
The ship's deck, later at sunset
The marine breeze, although cold and wintery, was a balm for Daenerys, the Stormborn scion of House Targaryen born on Dragonstone. And Jorah loved it too: it reminded him of his Bear Island.
The couple enjoyed a tender and romantic moment breathing in the perfume of the sea. The appreciation of the sea breeze was yet something else that united them: both born on an island, both attracted by the deep blue waters. Jorah held Daenerys in his arms, who was standing before him, leaning into him, her head dovetailed under his chin.
It was a beautiful winter sunset, with only a few clouds here and there that reflected the reddish light of the disappearing sun. Jorah told her about clear winter nights, freezing but enchanting, especially when in a snowy landscape, or when looking at the sea. Daenerys did not have much experience about winter, having lived most of her life during the Long Summer, and in warmer places than Bear Island besides. However, she was fascinated by his stories, as she had always been. This time, however, she could barely imagine what he was describing – she got a few glimpses of a wintery landscape while flying to save the mission beyond the Wall, but her mind wasn't focused on the beauty of nature back then.
"I hope we will get to see more of the North, and not just during war. I would like to visit Bear Island with you. I hope Jon can convince Lyanna to forgive you and to allow you to visit. I would love to walk through forests, along snowy paths, or to look at the sea from a Northern keep."
"We will see, my love. Everything is still possible, I believe." Jorah tightened his hug, and blessed her hair with a kiss. It was not the right time to let worries taint their peaceful moment together.
Less romantically, Daenerys also appreciated being able to check on Drogon and Rhaegal, since they were standing on the upper deck and could easily look to the sky. She felt reassured when she saw them reappear on the horizon and greeted them.
Suddenly, Daenerys had a wish, and removed the few hair pins and bands she had put back after her passionate night with Jorah. "I want to feel my hair waving in the wind freely" she explained.
Jorah smiled, helped her, and added: "Let's move towards the rails. Hold tight on them, though. We don't want to slip."
Daenerys smiled and complied in silence, feeling Jorah's body always behind hers and his arms tightening again around her, as if he wanted to straighten her up. His arms then shifted and gripped the rails too, next to hers.
Her long silvery strands waved in the wind. "I hope my hair doesn't hurt you."
"It's so romantic, and enticing, although it also betrays a certain sweet childlike nature you have in you, and also unleashes the wildness you have in you."
"Interesting choices, my bear. Romance, seduction, tenderness, and wildness."
"They are, my love. It's all I feel for you. It's all I want to give to you."
Jorah's adoration was so intense she felt an equally intense heat take hold of her. "So, you lied to me when you said that all you ever wanted was to serve me" she remarked in jest.
"I didn't lie. But if you give me leave to give you more, I will give it to you. All of it"
She leaned her head back towards him. He blessed her with a kiss, and she answered, almost whispering in his ear: "And I want to return all you have given to me and all you give to me."
Jorah kissed her neck, squeezing her frame between his arms, and she nested her head between his shoulder and neck, her hair still riding the wind on her left side.
Soon the beauty of the wind in her hair and of the sight was not enough to keep them away from the call that came from the warmth of their bodies. Jorah lifted Daenerys in his arms to bring her back to their cabin, kissing her deeply many times along the way. He wanted to try every single way of kissing her, and she complied gladly, reciprocating his hunger and his curiosity. However, Jorah's extensive experience and skills gave him a significant advantage. Daenerys acknowledged this and let him guide her through unknown paths of tenderness and raw passion that set them both on fire.
When they were naked on their bed, Jorah kissed her deeply while leaning her on the mattress. He stilled his hands on her body to have them both concentrate on the feeling of their mouths and tongues. It was a long kiss, though how long none could have said. When it ended, Jorah said with emotion: "I should have kissed you in Qarth, in the Red Waste, every night and every day. You were made to be kissed, often and well."
Daenerys was so moved, and on fire as well, that she could only reciprocate and answer: "You make my head spin… I… cannot think straight when I am with you like this… not that I want to think straight right now."
He dipped on her lips and on her body, trailing down until he reached his destination. They yearned to be joined soon, and he wanted her to be dripping as usual.
When he entered her, his cock slipped inside in no time, and he captured her lips after a shared moan that escaped them at the pleasure of being joined again. They stayed tightly embraced, sometimes rolling and shifting to change their positions. Their made love for long, Jorah putting his experience to use. When he knew he could not last much longer, and had her underneath him, he took her right leg to lift it further up, leaning it between his hip and shoulder. With this move, he also kept their hips tightly joined. Then he put his right arm beneath her shoulders and gripped her, slightly leaning on his elbow for balance, and started fucking her with hard hip thrusts while looking into her eyes, often leaning his forehead on hers. He made her peak one last time, their stares never parting. The sight of her eyes looking into his during her orgasm, and of her face deformed by pleasure, combined with the spasms on his cock and with her screams of "ooooh, Joooooohraaaaah", made him orgasm too with a long, low moan. His left hand pushed tighter to keep them joined deep while he filled her, and he noticed her doing the same on the small of his back, all the while throwing her head slightly backwards. He then collapsed on her body, his forehead finally resting on hers while his last drops filled her. "My beautiful Daenerys" he whispered before giving a peck on her swollen lips.
They hugged again, and Daenerys said, tenderness and some bitterness mixed in her remark: "This should have been us in Qarth already." She did mean them kissing and being lovers, but she also meant the more balanced and communicative relationship they seemed to be developing as queen and knight. She knew she had often been very lucky previously, when she had ignored his counsel… but other times she had definitely failed and almost lost everything.
"This is us now. Everything else does not matter, my love." And sleep embraced them both quickly.
She was in the King's Landing throne hall again. The ceiling had collapsed, and everything was covered in snow. She lifted her hand to touch the throne, and motioned to touch it, then she heard her dragons call her.
Again. Like that vision in the House of the Undying.
Only, this time it was Jon who opened the gate for her and helped her get through, then showed her the direction. He walked north too, but in another direction.
She saw Drogo's tent. Again.
In front of the tent, this time, Jorah in his old Northern armour was standing guard. When she arrived in front of him, he stepped aside lightly, looking at her intensely. She stopped to reciprocate his stare, and then asked: "Do you know what's inside the tent?"
"Yes, I do, khaleesi."
She continued looking at him for a while, studying him, trying to understand. Then she decided she didn't want to see again what was in that tent – only shadows of the past -, and motioned for Jorah to take her hand and lead her away.
Her dragons called again, and they followed.
"Why are you here as well, this time?" Daenerys wanted to know.
"Because now you doubtless wanted me to be here. Back then… your mind was not as clear as today, and even magic has to deal with someone's mind."
"Whose magic?"
Jorah squeezed her hand tighter, smiled, and continued leading her in silence.
They reached the army of the Dead, but the Dead did not care for them.
The Night King did, though. His blue eyes, cold and distant, pierced through her. But Jorah had reassuring words: "Our swords in the darkness".
She noticed she had a sword on her hip. She unsheathed it, curious about the outcome. Her sword was shining of a warm light, like that of a fire in a Dothraki camp.
Jorah's one was glistening too, with a pale and white light, colder than hers.
The Night King threw a hateful look at them, and made for a weapon he had on his belt…
She woke up, sweating and heavy breathing.
Jon's cabin, that very same night.
He was looking at a vast throne hall, although the ceiling had collapsed and everything was covered in snow.
The symbols of the Faith and the shape of the throne did not leave any doubts as to what hall it was. King's Landing, the Red Keep, the Iron Throne.
He then noticed the gate at Castle Black popping up from one of the walls of the hall. He was surprised, and find it curious; nevertheless, he knew that was his direction, although he had left Castle Black on his own will a while ago.
He also noticed Daenerys going that way. She cannot open and pass the gate. She needs someone of the Watch to do that.
He opened the gate for her and let her through. Suddenly he felt like she had to go somewhere, where a shape could be seen through the snow, and he had to go another way.
He reached the weirwood where he swore his oath. A red-haired shape was standing by it, wrapped up in pelts.
Ygritte?
But she was taller, and had no spear in her hand. She turned, and saw who it was.
Sansa, more beautiful than ever, smiling brightly at him. She had, in fact, something in her hands: a weirwood leaf she was guarding as if it were a precious jewel. Ghost appeared from the woods too, and he stopped between them.
"You found your way back, Jon."
"I… I did."
She motioned for him to come nearer, and she gave him the leaf.
The red leaf soon turned into flames upon touching his hand, but the flames did not burn him. It was red, and beautiful, enchanting.
"I… I don't understand."
"Flames to stop the Dead. Flames to keep you warm. Flames to keep you alive. Flames to bring you back to life." And with those words Sansa leaned her hand to grasp his, the same way she had done as Castle Black that day that they had reunited.
He had never seen her like that. Her hair seemed to glow, her lips never looked so red, her eyes were so deep he felt he could get lost in them, and he found himself lost in her. He could stare at her for long, instead of thinking they were both beyond the Wall, in a very vulnerable position, alone with only Ghost guarding them and no army.
Still keeping the small flame in his free hand, he lifted Sansa's hand grabbing his to place a light kiss on her back.
"A true Dragonknight" she said as thanks for the gallant gesture.
Jon noticed that Ghost adjusted its position at their feet, truly guarding them. He also noticed a glow coming from his sword. He unsheathed it in part, letting go of Sansa, and saw the sword glowing. It was a strange glow. It was not the warm glow of the sun on the ground during the summer, or the cold glow of ice and snow during the day. It looked more like the sun itself in the sky.
"Ghost knows, Ghost saw it first. And Ghost made you open your eyes too. Don't worry, Jon."
"Do you know what's going on with my sword too?"
"You are still one of the swords in the darkness."
"And we are guarding the realms of men?"
"The Starks of Winterfell never stop doing that. And they are not alone anymore, thanks to you."
"You said I am a Stark to you…"
Sansa only smiled.
Jon felt dreadful, and woke up in panic.
Jon's cabin, the morning after
Jorah's heart was beating fast, and it had nothing to do with his love for Daenerys this time. That had not been a dream, or a nightmare: it had been something else. "You both had the same… dream. It was a vision then, not a dream. And you met, and then went your way. Up north. Something has been intruding on… well, on us, right here."
Daenerys and Jon were too shocked not to talk to someone about their nightly visions. Daenerys had immediately confided in Jorah. Jon didn't know whom to confide in, but he tried to see if Daenerys and – or – Jorah were open to some weird dream discussion. Luckily, he not only found comprehension, but also discovered that Daenerys had the very same vision.
Jorah reprised: "I am quite shocked that something magical happened here on this ship. I feel like something from beyond the Wall has followed us. Then I remember the Undying in Qarth had no friendly intentions either…"
"Bran has visions, too, Jorah. It might be it's something that comes from Bran. At least I hope so."
"Aye".
Daenerys had to smile at hearing Jorah and Jon discussing, their native accents getting stronger and stronger.
"The swords in the darkness" repeated Jon.
"That much seems clear to me. We all know where we are heading, after we meet Cersei. And we all know the words of the Night's Watch oath."
"To be honest, I don't, Jorah" remarked Daenerys, almost reprimanding him for not telling her every single detail.
"I am sorry, but I never thought you would want or need to hear much about the Watch up until now. Anyway, it mentions the Brothers are 'a sword in the darkness'."
Jon completed: "Night gathers, and now my watch begins. It shall not end until my death. I shall take no wife, hold no lands, father no children. I shall wear no crowns and win no glory. I shall live and die at my post. I am the sword in the darkness. I am the watcher on the walls. I am the fire that burns against the cold, the light that brings the dawn, the horn that wakes the sleepers, the shield that guards the realms of men. I pledge my life and honour to the Night's Watch, for this night and all the nights to come."
Daenerys observed, sad and worried: "It almost sounds like a curse. Hold no lands, have no children, wear no crowns…"
Jon interrupted: "Come on, Daenerys, I was simply recalling my old oath. I think it's time to be all the Night's Watch, but I am not planning on asking everyone to swear off love, titles, and family. Make no mistake: it will cost much to many people, and in the end it might cost even crowns, loves, and lives. But not to everyone."
Jorah added: "I am sure surviving this war will not be easy. But knowing we are fighting for something or someone will give many of us courage. And those who will get back will have the possibility of rebuilding Westeros and living a happy life."
Jon commented: "According to Aemon Targaryen and to your father, though, the contrary would be true, because duty and love were opposites. Incompatible."
Jorah opened his mouth to answer, only to stop himself after repeating in his mind Aemon Targaryen and connecting the dots. The 'answer' came from Daenerys herself: "Aemon Targaryen? You met someone from my family?"
"He served on the Wall as a maester. Aegon the Unlikely's brother. Everybody had forgotten about him… I forgot to tell you too. He died, unfortunately… about two years ago, I would say? I am sorry. It really got out of my mind with all that happened after that. You know, the stabbing, the resurrection…"
"I understand. It just feels strange to hear you met a Targaryen. I only ever met Viserys. The idea that I once had a family… and then disappeared…"
"I guess Jorah will be your family soon. I would say the Mormonts are nice fellows. You admitted yourself your family can occasionally be… well, unpleasant. If I were you, I would be glad to… oh, I think I should just shut up, I apologise!" Jon realised too late he was blurting out things he could and should have kept for himself.
Jorah didn't know how to react: laughing, reprimanding Jon, or being silent. Daenerys' went wide-eyed, her jaw dropping; then, after a few instants, she thought he was right. "Yes, you might have been too blunt. But you are right. And Jorah has been my family for years already" she added with a smile.
Jorah tried to steer the conversation back: "So, what do we do about your visions?"
Daenerys thought about it for a while, then answered: "Nothing. We do nothing. We just go on as planned, and keep them in mind. They might be useful to interpret something that happens, or they might just be some magic trick by someone."
