Chapter 10 – Daenerys

It had been a very tiring day. All the plans had been put in place for Daenerys' journey to Kings Landing. Some of the Dothraki had already gone to the capital to make arrangements for her safety as she came to take what was rightfully hers. To start with, Dany had worried about Tyrion: that grief over his sisters' demise would have caught up with him, or that he would be loath to return to the city. So far she had been pleasantly surprised. He had seemed steadfastly determined now to get her on the throne, with an almost scary mixture of silent anger and fierce pride.

The meeting had been long and dull, but at least everyone was now planned and prepared. Dany carelessly wandered around her bedchamber as the sun began to set. Jon and Arya had spent the remainder of the day together. Word had arrived that the Unsullied were starting to make their way to the Red Keep. Missandei had been delighted, and Daenerys knew they had to be an item, and felt happy for her friend. She had also told Tyrion, Jorah and Varys that she planned to march north soon after becoming queen. All had disapproved of her decision, insisting that it was a bad plan and that she wouldn't be safe, but there was nothing they could do. She was in charge, after all.

Dany was alone now, having retired early. She couldn't help but feel excited for the future. While Dragonstone was important for her heritage, she couldn't deny that it wasn't a particularly comfortable seat to man. There was a cold and unfeeling air to the place. Daenerys found herself rummaging through a couple of old chests under her bed, wondering who the room had belonged to before her, and before the would-be Usurper Stannis Baratheon. So far all she had found was old, frayed clothing, but still Dany sorted through, desperate to find something one of her ancestors had left behind. It was getting more difficult to see as the sky turned from blue to a deep orange, and the candlelight begun to dwindle.

It was as she got to the bottom of the old oak that she stumbled across something shiny, that reflected a tiny beam of light in the growing darkness. Intrigued, Daenerys gently pulled – surprised at the weight. A jewel box, perhaps she thought, but then changed her mind as she pulled out something quite different. Long and thin and –

A sword she realised. I've pulled out a sword.

But it wasn't just any sword. Dany picked it up and carried it over to the weak sunlight to get a better view. It was a very dark silver, almost black, yet it had an almost iridescent glow to it. The flat blade of metal looked many times forged, like the steel had been folded over and over in the making. It was beautiful, but profoundly sharp. Even to Daenerys' untrained eye, it was clear to see that this was no ordinary blade. It was Valyrian steel. And as Dany continued to examine the weapon, she found it was no simple Valyrian blade, either.

It was Dark Sister.

Dany's heart gave a swell as she realised she held one of her ancestral swords. How did this end up here? she wondered. She then went back to scavenging through the chest and after a few minutes found a leather scabbard. She sheathed the blade and fixed it to one of her belts. That'll do she thought in satisfaction. That's mine. But she couldn't envisage herself wielding the thing. I'll need to learn how to use it she supposed. But who to teach me?

Daenerys knew she could choose any of the Dothraki or Unsullied to train her. But she didn't want to. The Dothraki didn't know swordplay – the arakh was their weapon of choice, and she knew the Unsullied would go too easy on her, careful not to hurt their queen. For a moment, she considered Jorah – he had been great in his day, and was still good – but she didn't want to put any strain on him as he was still getting his strength back from his time with greyscale. She pondered on whether to ask Jon. There was no denying that he was a good swordsman – he had been Lord Commander of the Nights Watch, after all – but the mere thought of spending hours at a time with the King in the North made her face flush. No. Tyrion, Varys, Missandei and Ser Davos she knew were incompetent with weaponry. Which could only leave the younger Stark girl – who was scarily good with a sword. Daenerys smiled and made a mental note to ask Jon's little sister a favour…

Dany began to rest then, truly, for perhaps one of the first times since arriving at Dragonstone. She couldn't take her eyes off the blade in front of her, thinking about who had wielded it in the past. Daemon Targaryen, Aemon the Dragonknight, even Queen Visenya herself. All silver haired, violet eyed dragons like herself.

Just as this went through her mind, Dany heard the dragons screech loudly from outside. She rushed back over to the window in alarm. It really was growing dark now, and Daenerys could not see them. They had to be on the other side of the castle. Sometimes the dragons would caw out in communication, Drogon always the loudest and Viserion always the quietest – but they never screeched like that unless it was her with them. Dany sighed, before gathering up a thick cloak and heading outside. She would find out what the fuss was about.

Her fear dissipated slightly when she got outside. Drogon and Viserion were doing their usual laps around the island, but Rhaegal was nowhere to be seen. Where is he? Daenerys said again and again in her mind as she raced down the steps. She could still hear shrill noise coming from below. She tried to reach the green dragon in her mind but she couldn't. Dany had only had this connection with Drogon so far, presumably since she had spent more time with him and bonded with him, while Rhaegal and Viserion had spent many months locked away together under the Great Pyramid of Meereen.

Dany stopped short when she reached the end of the steps. On the beach, just around the corner, Rhaegal stood hunched over the ground. Immediately in front of him stood none other than Jon Snow. Once again confusion and curiosity swept through her as she watched the little scene in front of her. How does he have this connection with him? she pondered. Why don't they seem to see him as a threat? Dany shook her head silently.

Because he's a good person another voice in her head answered. He is honest and trustworthy, and they know he would never hurt them or me. Dany's stomach flipped and she decided it was time to intervene. Rhaegal's disposition was the most undiscovered to her and she began to feel a slight prod of anxiety into Jon's wellbeing.

"This is what they were making a fuss about," she said lightly, gaining Jon's attention. "They seem to like you, don't they?"

"I am very sorry to have disturbed you, Your Grace," Jon said earnestly, sending her an apologetic glance. "I was just on my way back up from the cave. I definitely wasn't expecting to have a visit paid on me by your dragon." He looked back at the green dragon and tentatively petted at the scales once more. "What is his name?"

"Rhaegal," Dany answered, thoroughly bemused.

Jon gently withdrew his hands. "After your brother?"

"Yes," she replied. "The yellow one is Viserion, after Viserys. And the one I ride is Drogon."

"Drogon? Sounds a bit like 'dragon'," Jon looked back at her and smiled.

Dany grimaced. "It does," she said. "I named after my husband. I hatched the dragons at his funeral pyre, I figured it would be just to name one for him."

"I am sorry for your loss," he said gently. Dany shook her head and grimaced again, instead focusing on the majestic creature in front of her. If I look back, I am lost.

"I know it's probably unwise to choose favourites when it comes to dragons," Jon said, "but I definitely think Rhaegal is my favourite. Smaller, less scary, but still fierce." Rhaegal roared in approval, his breath blowing Jon's hair back, causing them both to laugh. The green dragon then turned to face Daenerys, gargantuan feet pounding at the sand, causing the ground to shake. Dany almost laughed when he tilted his head to one side, blinking at her.

"A mother cannot choose favourites at all," Daenerys told the dragon. She knew this was a lie – she was Drogon's rider and she had bonded with him more than Rhaegal and Viserion combined. But her green child didn't know that. "But there is no denying that you are very lovely, Rhaegal." The green dragon bared his teeth into what sort of resembled a toothy grin, before turning right around and taking to the sky. Jon laughed at her, and Dany smiled back.

"They do seem to like me," Jon mused, standing next to her. "I can't see why. Are they like that with your friends and advisors?"

"No," Dany answered truthfully. "They never hurt anyone who is loyal to me. When they were very small they used to spend a lot of time with my then-handmaidens. But I've never seen them act the way they do with you, except with myself."

"Weird," Jon laughed nervously.

"Definitely," Daenerys agreed. "There is so much that intrigues me about you, Jon Snow." The second part was out of her mouth before she could even think.

"Really?" Jon asked. He still looked a little anxious. "Like what?"

"Things that perhaps I will never know," Dany said. "Such as, why do the dragons like you so much? Not that I mind, of course," she added, seeing the look on his face. "I can think of many more far worse candidates for their affections. But also your story. Where you've been, what you've done, how you've changed since you left Winterfell for the Wall…"

"Well, like I said, I've no idea what your children see in me," Jon said, looking from where Rhaegal had taken off and back to her. "I don't know who my mother was, but it is highly unlikely that any dragon blood flowed through her veins. As for how I've changed, well, I don't think I have. I've got better with a sword, perhaps, but I think that's about as far as it goes…" He broke off and looked at her. "I don't like to keep going on about myself, Daenerys. Not when my story is probably not half as interesting as yours." Dany's stomach fluttered as Jon referred to her by name.

"My story is pretty much the same in each city," Daenerys replied, not really wanting to go into many details. "Quarth. Yunkai. Astapor. Meereen. I went in, liberated the slaves, ruled for a bit, then left." She frowned, knowing this wasn't all the same at all. Different people, different stories, different fights, betrayals and friendships. "You on the other hand – I hear you've been to Castle Black, North of the Wall, Winterfell, everywhere that's possible to go in the North."

"Aye," Jon told her. "And it's all the same. Dull. Cold. Stubborn people who all wish they were warmer and further south."

"Essos is warm," Dany offered, and just like that, Jon was smiling again.

"I am sorry to have disturbed your evening," Jon said sincerely, a few moments later.

"Not at all," she responded. "It was, in fact, the dragons – they disturbed my evening and yours." They both smiled in amusement again.

"Well," Jon said. "It's getting late, and we're both going to need our strength for the days ahead."

"Indeed," Dany agreed, though she felt slightly sad that they were going to be parted again. It seemed there were just so many moments that they were alone together, to laugh and talk, to slowly confide and fall for one another. Daenerys didn't really want him to leave, and the longer she was in his company, she wasn't so sure she wanted to either. "You must be excited to be going home."

"And nervous," Jon grimaced. "With what's ahead, and all. I imagine you must be too."

"Yes," Dany confessed. "Terrified, in fact. But I'll endure. I always have."

Jon grinned at her, and took her hand, squeezing it ever so slightly. "Sometimes strength is terrible."

"Aye," she replied, mimicking his northern accent, which made him laugh like a child. It was a nice sight to see. For a short moment, he looked lighter and younger.

"Well," Daenerys added in the same tone as Jon had, after a little pause. She smiled, with a twinkle in her eye. "Goodnight, Jon Snow."

He smiled in the growing darkness, gently caressing her shoulder in farewell. "Goodnight Daenerys."

A/N: Another week, another chapter! Thank you for reading, hope you enjoyed and please review.

I know a lot of you want a speed-up in the whole Jonerys relationship, but more stuff needs to happen in terms of plot first. Just got to keep reading!

Forgive me if I'm a couple of days late uploading in the next few weeks – college and work is more difficult than ever and I'm up to my neck in deadlines and tasks and all the fun mess that goes along with. I won't abandon this story until it's finished – promise.

The next chapter will be in Arya's POV. Thanks again for reading everyone, please let me know what you think.

See you all next time! x