Dany XII
Winterfell (7x03)
Varys' news had sent Daenerys into a tailspin. All their careful planning was starting to unravel and, despite the western part of the plan still being in progress, she couldn't help but remember Olenna Tyrell's words and wonder if the Queen of Thorns may have been right after all.
There was talking and shouting and complaints and regrets but, in the end, there was little to be done. Euron had sneaked up on the Greyjoy ships and captured or killed most of their allies. Without the Sand Snakes, Dorne would likely dissolve into chaos and the loss of a large part of her fleet would severely restrict their plans for blockading King's Landing.
With none of them in the mood for civil conversation, Daenerys dismissed her council and headed back to the royal chambers, unable to stay long in her bath or occupy herself with reading. It was supposed to be one of her evenings away from Jon but she was too fired up to either relax or sleep and so decided to head through the Door, even though her lover may not even be in the First Keep if he wasn't expecting her. Having no idea what would greet her on the other side, or if she might have to turn back around if his chambers were empty, Dany hunted around for some rare, dark clothing - including a scarf to wrap around her hair - before heading downstairs to the corridor and from there through to Winterfell.
Jon had already said that the ancient keep was not used for anything else at the moment so she was confident that she could step through unnoticed. She pushed open the Door, wrapping her far-too-thin cloak tighter around her shoulders as the cold hit her and walking towards Jon's chambers. She would stay here for a while anyway, she decided, perhaps burying herself under the furs on his bed but then she saw the tell-tale flicker of fire and candlelight emanating from his room and let out a huge sigh of relief.
"Jon."
"Dany?" He stood up quickly from his place at the desk, frowning. "What's the matter? We were to meet tomorrow?"
"Yes, I know but I thought … I hoped ... Sorry."
"It's fine. Here, you're shivering. Come closer to the fire." She didn't need to be asked twice, moving towards the blaze as Jon quickly threw his own cloak around her shoulders. "What is it, Love? You look so tense."
"Our Greyjoy allies were escorting the Dornish home when they were attacked at sea."
"Theon?" he asked immediately.
"I don't know, Jon. I'm sorry." He just shrugged in response. "Yes, I know you have mixed feelings about him after … everything, but you don't grow up with a person without some part of them staying with you. I could never find it in my heart to rejoice at Viserys death, for example. No matter how cruel he was to me. He was my brother and that always means something."
"Aye. Theon was close to that for me too, despite us never getting along." He sighed. "So what are you to do now?"
"I don't know. Olenna Tyrell warned me against clever plans. 'Be a dragon,' she said and, although I was reluctant to head straight for King's Landing when I first arrived in Westeros, I can't help but think that would have been the best idea after all. I just have a horrible feeling that everything is about to start unravelling."
"That was only part of your attack plan though, yes?"
She had told him very little, but Jon Snow was a king and commander in his own right and knew how these things worked. "Yes. I just hope there are no more unpleasant surprises waiting for me."
Having warmed up a little she had began to pace, only half aware of Jon quietly watching her.
"Did you come here to wear a groove in my floor, Dany?" he said eventually, "or was there something else I can do to help you relax?"
She turned, almost surprised to see him there for a moment before she caught the gleam in his eye and smiled. "I do find myself highly tense and frustrated right now."
"Hmm," he moved closer, sliding both hands under her cloak and around her back before pulling her flush against him. "Let me see what I can do about that."
Jon's initial kiss was loving and gentle, but that was not what Dany needed from him tonight. She quickly yanked out his hair tie and grabbed at his head, threading her fingers through his curls as she did so. She felt him wince as he deepened the kiss but was far too gone to ease off, her tongue exploring whilst she pulled his hair firmly with one hand and edged downwards with the other, grabbing hard at the front of his trousers.
"Go easy, Love," he gasped, pulling away briefly. "I can't service you properly if you bruise it."
At any other time Dany would have dissolved into fits of giggles at this but tonight she was fired up and desperate and instead moved both hands to Jon's chest, pushing him towards the bed.
"Clothes off and get under those furs!" Her voice cracked on the last word. Gods, she wanted him so badly.
The moment he was undressed she pounced, instantly straddling him and dropping down hard, not remotely concerned about the cold as she rode him fully naked. She moved fast and hard - thinking of nothing but satiating her appetite - but Jon soon urged her to stop, using his superior strength to still her movements whilst warning her that he could not possibly last unless she let him take back a modicum of control. Fortunately he seemed to understand what she needed now and went to work on her with mouth and fingers whilst she shouted at him for being far too gentle.
Her first climax at least eased a little of the tension, although she knew that would not be enough tonight and, from then on, the two of them fought as much as they loved, both working hard to satisfy her aggressive desire. Jon dealt with her demands by changing position regularly, entering her for a few, powerful thrusts before withdrawing and sending her over the edge in other ways. Only once he felt she was sufficiently calmed did he finally allow her back on top of him to ride him to his own end. Afterwards Dany collapsed on the bed beside him, calmer and sated but now feeling a little tearful.
"S-sorry," she managed at last. "Do you hate me terribly for the way I behaved just then?"
He chuckled, pulling her close and kissing the top of her head. "Anything but. Didn't I say before how much I love having a woman who knows what she wants? Weren't you the one who told me about the appetites of a Dragon?"
"I know but still ..."
"You needed an outlet. I get that. And I'm hardly going to lie and say it was unpleasant."
She looked at him closely, keen to reassure herself that he wasn't just just saying that to make her feel better. "Truly?"
He kissed her again. "Not many men can boast that they've been quite so thoroughly bedded by a woman. Although, next time, I'd rather you leave off the hair."
She smiled, moving so she could stroke her fingers gently through his curls. "Oh, now I really am sorry, Jon. I know just how much you treasure this. Perhaps more than anything."
He glared at her, although the sparkle in his eye belayed his true feelings. "Not quite anything," he replied, leaning down to kiss her tenderly.
~o~0~o~
Jon XII
Winterfell (7x03)
The following morning Jon broke his fast with Sansa, making a few plans for the day, most of which were about the arrival and storage of food supplies. She promised to talk about Lord Royce and Maester Wolkan about the final details and exact amounts but Jon was quick to point out that it was probably never going to be enough unless they could finalise their tentative alliance with Daenerys.
Leaving his sister to her work, Jon headed to his chambers in the First Keep to write his latest reply to Dragonstone, making sure he was still working to their agreed script. Afterwards he lifted out the treasure box he now kept here, looking through the various notes Dany had written to him when they'd been younger and belatedly realising that the scribbles on the first one were actually a rough map she had drawn of the Dragon Doors. Jon studied it briefly before curiosity got the better of him and, after quickly checking that the keep was locked and empty, he headed down the corridor and stepped through to Dragonstone.
He didn't usually visit here at this time of day but was keen to compare her rough sketch with what he could now see. He wondered if she had a more detailed map drawn and promised himself he would ask when he next saw her. If not, then perhaps the two of them could work on one together. He didn't stay long - conscious of the time passing - heading back to Winterfell to return the map to the box and giving the scroll one last look over before taking it to Maester Wolkan. His door swung open without the usual courtesy of a knock, making him jump, and Davos stepped in, total confusion on his face.
"You're here?"
"Ah, yes?" Jon held up the scroll. "Been working on my reply to Queen Daenerys."
His advisor frowned, shaking his head. "But, I was sent to look for you half an hour ago and you weren't here. I couldn't find you anywhere."
Jon tried to keep his expression neutral as he internally cursed his rash decision to visit Dragonstone at this time of day. "What is it?" he asked instead, hoping to distract the man.
"Your brother … Bran …" Davos took a big breath. "He's here. He's just arrived home."
"What!" Jon jumped up so quickly that his chair crashed onto the floor behind him. "How …? Where is he now?"
"In the Godswood with your sister. They … they asked you to meet them there."
Jon dropped the scroll and grabbed his cloak, rushing out of his chambers at such a pace that Davos struggled to keep up. "You Grace," he called out. "Jon! Where were you? This was not the first time I've been unable to find you."
He ignored the question, breaking into a run and leaving his advisor behind, heading to the Godswood where he discovered his brother sitting under the Weirwood tree with Sansa perched on a rock in front of him.
"Bran!"
His sister was already rising, her face a little pale as he approached them. "Jon ..." she began, resting a hand on his arm.
"What?" His eyes darted between her and the tree, torn between asking after her and going to see his brother.
She shook her head. "Never mind."
He frowned slightly, still worried about her, but Sansa was already heading out of the Godswood and so Jon turned his attention back to Bran.
"You've grown," Jon remarked and then froze as the young man in front of him turned towards him and appeared to look straight through him in the process.
"Yes," he replied simply. Jon blinked in surprise at the reaction before sitting down on the rock that Sansa had just vacated, itching to embrace his brother but suddenly not sure that was appropriate. "Hello, Jon."
"Are you … all right?" he asked, a cold fear taking a hold of him.
"Yes." His gaze appeared to focus on Jon a little more. "We need to talk."
He smiled. "Aye, that we do, but perhaps you'd be more comfortable inside?"
Bran looked up at the tree, frowning very slightly. "They're finding us accommodations now and the maester said something about a new chair? I'll stay here for now."
"Us?"
"Meera Reed brought me back."
Jon frowned, so many questions now crowding his mind but with no idea where to start. "What happened, Bran?"
There was a long pause. "I travelled beyond the Wall and became the three eyed Raven."
"Which means?"
"I can see everything. I can see the past, present and future and ..." His gaze returned to Jon. "I have seen many things regarding you. Important events in your past as well as thing that make little sense."
Jon frowned. "Magic?"
"Of a sort."
Jon turned his head to check they were quite alone. "What have you seen, Bran? Have you seen who my mother is?"
"Yes."
He took a deep breath. "Was she ... Targaryen?"
His brother had appeared quite emotionless so far, but even he looked surprised at this question, his gaze briefly, fully holding Jon's as he blinked a couple of times. "No. That was your father. Rhaegar."
"Rhaegar? But … That can't be right." And yet, Dany had kept mentioning her older brother in relation to him. Every time she had tried to see her blood in him she would make the comparison. "Then …? My mother …?" Of course, there was one very obvious connection between Rhaegar and House Stark. "… Lyanna?" The name was a mere whisper on his lips as a sudden flood of emotions hit him, causing him to sway slightly.
"Yes." Still Bran seemed calm, some might even say uncaring, as he delivered such earth shattering news. "Eddard Stark was never your father. He only claimed you to protect you. He promised his sister he would keep her Targaryen son safe from King Robert." He tipped his head. "How is it that you've guessed some of this already?"
Jon just shook his head, his mind reeling with far too many questions of his own. Not that he doubted anything Bran had said. In fact, after all of Dany's comments, it actually made perfect sense to him, but that didn't mean it wasn't going to take a while for him to come to terms with it all. However, right now, he needed to put that to one side and attempt to answer Bran's question by asking one of his own.
"What is it you saw regarding me that didn't make sense?"
"I've seen you on Dragonstone," he answered promptly. "I've seen you there as a boy when I know that you never once left the north, and my visions give me no real answers to that question, no matter how hard I try to see."
Jon nodded, his mind racing. "We should go inside, Bran. We should get you warm and settled but later, when that is done, you need to come with me to the First Keep. There's something there that you really need to see."
~o~0~o~
"I have never once seen this in my visions," Bran said as he placed a hand on the dark and light streaked wood of the Dragon Door. "In fact, I don't think it wants to be viewed in that way."
It was the following day and the young man was now seated in a special wheeled chair that Maester Wolkan had had hastily made, having seen it in use at the Citadel. There was still some work to be done on it, the maester had told them, and indeed, Jon found it exceptionally difficult to push, each wheel apparently having its own idea about which way was forward. All the same, it was still easier than trying to carry Bran around the castle. Jon was strong, certainly, but he was no Hodor.
"The Door is Valyrian," he explained to Bran. "Some sort of ancient magic?"
"Yes. It has weirwood in it, did you notice?"
"I thought so, aye. And is the dark wood the same as that on the door of our crypts?"
"Ironwood? Perhaps. Or Ebony from Essos? Both have magical properties but this …? To have them combined in this fashion? This is something unique, I think." He looked up at Jon. "Where does this door lead?"
"In reality, nowhere. The curtain wall sits directly behind it."
"There is certainly magic here," Bran continued, leaning forward in his chair to place his palm on the door. "But none that I can access."
"That's because you have the wrong blood."
"I see. But it works for you?"
Jon nodded. "Do you remember a friend of mine, Bran? A young girl whose pale hair was usually covered but you once saw when you were very small? Arya called her a princess."
"One of my first memories." Bran replied. "If not the first."
"Well, she is on the other side of this door. It is a passageway, of sorts. I can step through here to Dragonstone and she can step from there to here … and other places."
"And if you open it now?"
Jon looked over his shoulder to confirm they were alone before trying it - nervous about sharing this secret but somehow knowing instinctively that he needed to. He grasped the ring and pushed, opening it to the usual, familiar view of the Dragonstone corridor. He turned to Bran whose face showed little more than idle curiosity.
"The door just disappeared as you pushed it and now I see only a plain stone wall through its frame. However, I sense … something else ... like the feeling on approaching a weirwood. The feeling that there is a place to see, if only I could reach out and access it."
Jon nodded, checking again that the coast was clear before very deliberately taking a large step over the threshold. Then he waited for a few heartbeats before returning to Winterfell.
"Interesting," Bran said blandly and Jon smirked, guessing that if he'd done that in front of anyone else he would have witnessed a far more emotional reaction. Certainly Ghost was always extremely upset whenever Jon crossed over. "As you stepped forward it appeared the wall turned briefly to mist and then it was just stone again and you were gone."
"I was in Dragonstone," Jon told him.
Bran blinked, simply processing this information before nodding. "So, when I experience my visions, it feels as if I'm actually there and walking around," he told Jon, "but, in reality, it is only my mind that's travelling, even though some with strong magic can sense me to a certain extent. However, this is … more. You actually, physically travel to the place?"
"Yes," Jon confirmed. "I can be seen by, and interact with, any person or object when I'm there, but this Door only leads to Dragonstone and only in the present time."
Bran tipped his head again. "Are you quite sure about that?"
"What?"
He shrugged. "I can't be certain but … it really does feel like the same type of magic. It feels as if the past and future is here too, even though they are always so much harder to view."
Jon gaped. "I could step back into the past? See the future?"
"Perhaps, although you would need to know how to do so and, as I can't access this magic, I'm not sure I could help and …" He paused. "And the girl? The princess?"
"Queen Daenerys Targaryen."
He nodded. "Your aunt."
"Aye."
"But rather more than that to you now?"
He winced. "We do have a lot to talk about, don't we?" He looked back up the corridor and frowned. "How about we put you up in Old Nan's chambers?" Jon grabbed at the back of the chair and wrestled with it until it pointed the other way. Let's have a look at the state of it and see if it will be suitable for you."
"Yes," Bran replied. "I would certainly like to study this door some more."
~o~0~o~
"I got your message," Dany said, lowering her scarf as she entered Jon's chambers the following evening and coming over to kiss him. "Why did you ask me to come here tonight?"
"There's someone I want you to meet," Jon replied. "Or rather … someone I want to reintroduce you to."
"Oh?"
"Bran."
She gasped. "Your little brother?"
He pulled a face. "My cousin as it turns out but, yes, the one you last saw when he was a very small child."
"Cousin?"
He nodded. "You were right. At least partially, but I'll let Bran tell you the rest. Scarf up, just in case."
She nodded and covered her hair whilst Jon checked the coast was clear. Then with a nod, he took her hand and lead her to the next door along.
"This is where that old lady used to live," Dany remembered.
"Yes," he replied, "but I've decided it would be the ideal place for Bran, especially since I told him about the Door."
She turned to him just outside the room, shocked at what he had said. "You did? Why?"
"He has some unique insights which are likely to be useful to us."
"But, next door to your chambers?"
"I do tend to spend more nights with you in Dragonstone," Jon replied with a small smile, "and it's probably best that I keep doing that now anyway, as a few here are starting to question my disappearing acts. It wouldn't do any good to have someone discover you with me in my chambers."
She nodded. "I understand."
"Anyway, Bran has visions now. He can see the past and future, and can also view things that are happening now in other places. He says he has news for you. If he can focus on the specifics for long enough, that is."
"I ... I'm not sure I understand," she said, but Jon was already opening to door and leading her inside.
"Hello, Daenerys," Bran said unemotionally as they approached his chair.
She lowered her scarf, heading over to perch on the seat opposite him with a smile. "You used to call me Dany."
Bran smiled, suddenly, finally showing a hint of the young boy he had once been. "I remember. It is good to meet you … properly."
"Although still not without magic involved," Jon said. "We're trying to work out how to remedy that."
He nodded. "With a marriage alliance."
"Yes. How did you know?"
"Sansa mentioned it. I'm not sure she approves."
"She also met me when she was a young child," Dany said. "As did Arya. Do you have news of your younger sister?"
"Yes," Bran said calmly. "She was travelling to King's Landing but has changed her mind. She's heading back here now."
Jon gasped. "What? Why did you not say so before?"
Bran frowned. "All these visions are … confusing. I haven't really mastered it all yet."
He felt immediately guilty. "No, of course. I'm sorry. I'm just glad to hear she's alive and that I'll see her soon. He turned to Dany, smiling and she looked delighted at the news too. She had always had a soft spot for Arya and his own heart was now racing at the prospect of finally reuniting with the girl.
"Anyway," Dany continued. "Jon says there are things you need to tell me."
Bran nodded. "Has he told you who he is?"
Dany shrugged. "I guessed he must have Targaryen blood to be able to use the Door."
"She's only just arrived," Jon said, "So, no, I haven't told her."
"Jon is the son of your brother Rheagar and my aunt Lyanna Stark."
"What?" She turned to Jon wide-eyed and he shrugged, still struggling with the whole idea of it. "But that means-"
"-that he's your nephew."
"That's still all right though, isn't it?" Jon asked. "We can still marry as Aunt and nephew?"
"We're Targaryens, Jon as I said before," Dany replied, "and so I doubt anyone here would be concerned unless we were siblings."
"That's not why I wanted to see you though," Bran continued. "Jon needs your help but you have other problems to deal with before you can do so. Is that correct?"
"Yes. I need to deal with Cersei first."
"And you were right when you said that Tyrion Lannister's plan is unravelling. You need to take action now if you don't want to drag out this southern conflict and cause all manner of unnecessary complications."
"What have you seen, Bran?" Jon asked.
"A great many things however ..." He tuned to Dany. "I have been viewing your troops moving in the south and Cersei's too. You need to know … I have to tell you … Euron's fleet is currently passing the Shield Islands. Heading for Casterly Rock."
"No!" She gasped, rising quickly from her chair. "I … I have to go."
"But it's the evening now," Jon said. "Surely this can wait until the morning?"
She shook her head, holding her hand out to him and then smiling at Bran. "Thank you. I will come and visit you again soon."
"Yes," he replied, and Jon placed a hand on the young man's shoulder before following her back out into the corridor.
"What is it, Dany?"
"Tryion recently advised me against going after Euron saying I had no idea where he was and it could be dangerous to fly around blind but, now I know his exact location, I can not only avenge my allies but also prevent him from disrupting the rest of my plan."
"Which is?"
"He's going after my Unsullied, Jon and, if he succeeds, it will set me back even further." Her eyes were bright now, less concerned and more excited. Jon recognised the look. Understood it. He nodded, holding both of her hands in his.
"Just … promise you'll be careful and come back to me."
"Thank you." She threw her arms around his shoulders and kissed him soundly, although Jon had no idea why she had responded quite so enthusiastically to his words. Then she pulled back to look up at him, her eyes still bright. "I shall take back what is mine with Fire and Blood, Jon. Just as you have done here in Winterfell." She smiled more gently then, stroking his face and gazing up at him in a way that made his heart skip. "I was right. You are of my blood and that means you are truly mine and I am yours."
Jon gasped, eyes stinging. He had spent most of his life feeling alone and separated from his family only to realise that he was now closer to the Starks than ever before while also having found a second home in this amazing woman.
"I am yours and you are mine," he agreed. "I love you, Dany and I long for the day when all of this is sorted and we can marry."
Then he gave her another long, hard kiss before letting her go, watching as she opened the Dragon Door and stepped back home to Dragonstone.
~o~0~o~
End of Act Two
A/N: My usual thanks to you all for your lovely comments and amazing support on this story. 3 The Prince Next Door is now set to be my longest fanfic in either fandom, having already hit 85K in my docs and due to end up over 100K. :O
Most of you writers know how it is. You have this 'little' idea in your head but it's only as you start writing it down that you realise that you were severely mistaken. Things I assumed would fit into one act, actually needed to be in two ... or three and it's now looking like the original Act 4 plot will also be moving into a fifth! 30 chapters? *whimpers*
So, this is the end of Act 2 - the moving away from canon - and Act 3 will now become considerably more AU as it covers the time from around episodes 7x04 & 5. Since returning from holiday I've been plotting the craziness that is Act 4. I've definitely made some progress on that but it certainly tied me up in knots there for a while.
