Interlude
Daenerys was bored.
How long had it been since she'd had the luxury of idleness? Her anxiety for the party in the north was ever present, but dulled a bit from just shy of a fortnight without word. Boredom when so much was at stake was intolerable. So she set out to do something she hadn't done in years, not since she'd been married to Drogo.
They were in Daenerys' chambers, Missandei and Daenerys, indulging together on fine Dornish wine. Missandei was burrowed in a large grey fur that she favoured when she was alone. Some of the southerners were adjusting to this strange cold country better than others. The weather seemed to constantly be the topic of conversation around Dragonstone these days. Although the Dothraki were surprisingly hardy in the cold as it turned out, had taken to Westeros far better than expected. It seemed many of the hoard really had tired of the endless raids of the same villages, the same infighting amongst tribes over the same blood feuds. They had done well with a new adventure across the sea, new enemies to fight and a Khaleesi to fight for.
Missandei never complained, but the strange clothes, the strange culture, and chiefly the cold climate was difficult on her. Made worse by Grey Worm's absence. It was good for Daenerys and her friend to have this time together tonight, a warm room with drink and companionship. They reminisced about Meereen and times past, a welcome diversion from the constant stress of wondering and worrying about the present.
"I wonder what it is that makes virgins such great fighters." Daenerys mused idly, thinking about the many men who had fought for her and the differences between them. What made some better than others. Daenarys took a sip from her cup before continuing. "One would think lying with a woman... or a man for that matter would give them something to fight for. But perhaps it's a distraction rather than help. Without someone in their beds, they're free to have more... focus on other things." She looked up at her friend. "Not that I would know about that. Not that you would know." They eyed each other a moment, before bursting into girlish, wine tinged giggles.
"What about Lord Varys?" Missandei asked with a twinkle in her eye.
"Lord Varys is a manipulative schemer. It's a different type of battle, but he fights it well." A beat before adding, "He really is one of the best." Another pause, then they were off again, laughing harder than before. Daenerys had tears in her eyes.
Missandei refilled the Queen's cup after her laughs died down, then her own cup as well. "Jon Snow isn't." Missandei said at last, conversationally. Daenerys, still stifling laughter looked up.
"Isn't what?"
"A virgin." Missandei replied mirthfully, as though it were obvious. Daenerys looked at her sharply.
"I never said he was."
"I know this." Missandei answered with a shrug. If Missandei caught her Queen's change in mood, there was no sign.
They hadn't been speaking of Jon Snow. Had they? Daenerys frowned into her drink, perhaps the answer was in there. Even if they had, she hadn't been inviting the speculation. Or maybe she had. But she was hardly about to admit that.
"Well even still... he must be," Daenerys responded archly and slightly condescendingly to her friend. Westeros may have been stranger to her than she liked to admit, even privately to herself. But she did know the traditions of her people. "The Night's Watch take vows to take no wife and father no children, and Jon Snow was just a boy when he joined the Night's Watch."
"All men have ways of getting around vows." Missandei answered suggestively. Daenerys rolled her eyes, she knew this well. But Jon Snow was different.
"In the short time I've known him, I seen Lord Snow show himself to be an honourable man. Does he strike you as the kind of man who would break a vow?"
Missendei waved her arm, dismissing her Queen's words. Daenary's irritation increased, but she also distantly recalled this was why Missandei was one of the few she could count as a friend as well as a trusted advisor. "I know about honour, your Grace but I also know what I see. He's been with a woman before, and loved a woman deeply."
"Loved a woman," She scoffed. "And how, pray tell, would you know that?"
"I just can tell. I can't explain it, I feel it." Missendei lifted her fur off of her shoulders, skin flushed from the wine. "This is the first time I've been warm since we got here." Missandei complained. Then smiled wickedly. "Well almost the first time." Daenerys laughed.
"Ah Grey Worm. You never did finish telling me about that you know." She said distractedly.
Missandei, needing no convincing leaned forward conspiratorially.
"Well. When we -"
"I just don't think Lord Snow would have broken sacred vows." Daenerys exclaimed, before Missandei could continue. "Perhaps he knew a woman as a boy. That's not uncommon, some whore in a brothel somewhere. But I certainly don't think he'd have been old enough to know love."
Missandei sighed deeply and sat back in her seat. Daenerys eyed her friend guiltily for interrupting. To make amends, she reached over and filled Missandei's cup again. They really were going through this jug far too fast.
"I could be wrong." Missandei shrugged languidly. "It's just what I think, it's something in his way. Besides, Jon Snow's a King now, not commander of this Night's Watch. Does that not mean he broke vows, your Grace?"
This silenced Daenerys. She had considered this before. How exactly did a Lord Commander of the Night's Watch come to be King in the North? She had assumed it was the need for a Stark to retake the North that had led him to forsake his duty at the Wall. But suddenly she recalled their conversation many days ago, when Jon had told her the story of her Uncle Aemon, and his lessons on the importance of vows. Had he not said the Maester had taught him that their vows to the Night's Watch meant more than even blood? And did he also not say that his sister was a capable ruler? Why had she not asked him about this that night when she'd had the chance? Now he was away beyond the Wall on a fool's errand. Gods knew when they'd have another chance to speak.
"He's quite handsome, Lord Snow." Missandei offered innocently. Daenerys narrowed her eyes, trying to focus her senses. She couldn't tell if this was as casual a remark as it seemed to be.
"He is," Daenerys replied noncommittally, looking away. There was a long silence, and when Daenerys glanced back to her her friend, she found her still looking at her expectantly. Daenerys felt an unwilling smile take hold. "He is." Missandei giggled and Daenerys couldn't help joining her.
"Do you miss Daario, your Grace?" Daenerys knew what her friend was insinuating, yet paused all the same to consider the question. She recalled one of her last conversations with Tyrion before they left Meereen, and Daario along with it.
"No, I don't miss him." She was certain.
"Jon Snow. He's quite capable. And brave."
"Missandei, quit fishing for... whatever it is you're fishing for!" She admonished her friend, only half joking. Missandei shrugged again, although she seemed rather unapologetic.
"You are the one who wanted to keep talking about him." She pointed out.
Daenerys scowled. Fair point. She had invited the conversation. And now it was time to end it.
"Okay, okay, I'm sorry. Tell me more about Grey Worm." Daenerys leaned forward and looked at her friend imploringly. "I really have been dying to know."
Missandei grinned widely and just like that, the subject was changed.
Much, much later Daenerys was alone in her bed, for once glad there was nothing of import the next day. Her head wouldn't be able to take it. Yet she found sleep elusive. As she lay awake, she couldn't help allowing her mind to wander back to the subject of Jon Snow. During his time in the North, he'd seen many things, some of which she knew she might never believe. Was Missandei right when she said one of those things may have been a lover? If so, who had this woman been that had seen a man such as Lord Snow, a man of the Night's Watch, a Lord Commander of the Night's Watch break his sacred vows?
