CHAPTER 10

DAENERYS

"Lord Snow approaches! Open the gate!"

Daenerys dared a quick glance upward from where the voice had called out. The Wall was perhaps the most foreboding structure she had yet seen. It seemed to reach ever upward and then some, into the deepening sky.

A dragon imprisoned in ice. With each passing moment her feelings of regret only grew. This had been a most foolish decision. Not that of a queen. Nor even that of someone who valued their life. At least if I live through this I'll be wiser for it. Dany thought, trying to take something from the uncertainty that lay before her.

Their horse stamped impatiently beneath herself and Lord Commander Snow as the gate cranked slowly open. A young man, short in stature and unfortunate in countenance strode out to meet them.

"Seven hells. Who left Todder on the gate?" She heard Jon sigh from behind her.

The "Todder" he spoke of had come to stand before them. "Commander… the brothers… where-"

But Lord Snow raised a hand to cut him short. "We got separated, nothing more. I'm sure they will return before nightfall."

The Crow's face read neither relief nor disappointment, but he seemed content with the Commander's assurance. Content enough, at least, to turn his attention to Jon's company. Dany, in particular, seemed to conjure his curiosity as he moved in for a better look.

The young queen felt the Lord Snow tense up behind her, and she quickly withdrew her face even further into the hood of her cloak. Before Todder could ask any other questions, Jon drove their garron forward so that the beady eyed Crow had to move quickly or be taken under hoof.

"I bring a new recruit and a wildling captive to Castle Black." Snow announced to Todder and two other men who were lingering just inside the gate as they passed. One was wearing the same black leathers and furs as Jon and Todder, while the other wore light armor and the sigil of House Baratheon.

Dany could feel her stomach rise to her throat. The King who had put a price on her head was long since dead, but his brother had made camp within these very walls according to Jon Snow. Panic swelled within her. She felt like a snared hare, dangling hopelessly while hungry beasts circled below. Her fear began to betray her and she could not suppress the rapid rise and fall of her breast.

"You will make Ser Jorah Mormont comfortable here for the night. See to his leg and show him to the dining hall for supper. I will make arrangements for the Wildling."

They had almost passed from under the overhang when the Baratheon guard called out to them. "And what do you intend to do with the Wildling bitch, Lord Snow?"

Jon tightened the reins to halt their mount but he did not turn in the saddle. "I do not answer to your King, and therefore I most certainly do not answer to his guard. But if you must know, I intend to question her. The Wildlings who attacked Castle Black were but a small wave in the sea of what's to come. Any information she has could prove useful to our defense."

The guard was silent for some time behind them and Dany had almost dared to breathe again when he continued, "I've heard rumor around Castle Black of what you like to do with Wildling women… Lord Commander Oathbreaker. How do you intend to make her talk? Will you thrust your sword into her again and again until she cries out for mercy? Until all her secrets belong to you?"

If Dany's face had not been so ashen, she might have flushed crimson at his words. But all she could do was hold her breath and plead silently with Viserion to remain still. Sensing her discomfort he had begun to stir and the soft leather of her satchel shifted visibly.

Before Jon could reply to his accuser, a silken voice, deep and powerful spoke out from the shadow.

"Is that any way to speak to our gracious host, the Lord Commander?" A woman clad all in red walked forward. A quick glance was all Dany needed to confirm the Red Woman's identity and to understand that she was indeed, very dangerous.

Jorah, who had remained silent through everything spoke soft and hurriedly, "Commander Snow, we-"

But he trailed off when Melisandre continued a look of concern filling her features. "Your King would be most disappointed. His men are as representative of him as I am, are you not? And seeing as how we hope to forge an allegiance with Commander Snow and the Night's Watch, it would be most foolish of you to cast a negative light on your King."

Dany could hear the faintly clinking armor of Stannis' guard. He was terrified and she understood why. Soft as it was, there was no mercy in Melisandre's voice.

"Come, let us leave the Commander to his.. haul. He has much to do and we'll be needing to speak with King Stannis about your offense."

As the guard passed slowly before them to join Melisandre, Dany could see in his shrinking stature a dead man walking. Across the Narrow Sea, this was the kind of punishment that Dany would not stand for. This was a way in which she won the hearts of men and built her armies. Forgiveness could be just as powerful as punishment.

The Red Woman had just turned to escort the guard when Jon cleared his throat. "Please, M'lady- if this man finds his punishment more severe than a lifetime of servitude, I would bid King Stannis to allow him to take the Black if he so preferred. As you well know, I am very much in need of men here on the Wall."

Melisandre looked over her shoulder to regard Jon for a moment. "I will speak with the King, of course, Lord Snow."

That man attacked his honor and he is trying to save his life…

Dany could not help but to crumple back against Jon's body once Melisandre had finally walked from their sight. The fear and the cold had broken her and she had nothing left to fight it.

Is this what death feels like? The Dragon won't be trapped in ice, she will be buried in it.

And with that thought, all light faded from before her eyes.

Jon caught her as she started to slip from the saddle and shot Jorah a warning look before he could speak out in concern.

"Melisandre knows."

Jon held Daenerys tightly against him. "GO. Go with Todder. Have your leg seen to and we will speak again this evening."

**Sorry these chapters are kinda short, but I like to start a new chapter when I want to change character perspective**

QUESTION: (for those who follow this story) I gave this a mature rating to be on the safe side when I first published it. Are you guys comfortable with more mature material? I'm not talking porno mature, just the Game of Thrones we all know and love type of lewdness... I hope so, I don't want to dilute the story too much! But I noticed that I lost a couple of followers with this chapter possibly due to the first bit of sexual suggestion(?), so I just wanted to get a few thoughts on the matter. I did rate it mature, to be fair, so it shouldn't have been unexpected. :-/