"Well you tell me what it is or not?" Sansa became impatient after all. "You've been smirking over yourself since you entered this room."
Finding himself looking up with an immature smile, Legolas shook his head. "The blue pearl you bestowed me, do you remember?"
"How can I ever forget?" Sansa smiled a little, "it was a gift from my father. I trust you've put it to good use."
Legolas nodded cheerfully, "My old friend, his life was saved by your action, your gift. Without you, he would have never sent me the letter he did this day."
"And the letter said?" the little dove had done enough waiting.
"My friend, he is a man with a broken heart. But now it seems that he has at last fallen for another, and she has gotten the most powerful grasp over his affections."
His words delighted her instantly. It simply brought joy upon Sansa to hear that one whom has been saved for her reason can love so sweetly, while she here, cannot do so publicly. She even felt a hint of envy, when knowing that as long as she remains in King's Landing, Legolas and her may never share something like that. "Your friend, what is his name?" she had not the slightest sense why she even asked that. And something she only said out of the white without a reason seemed to have silenced the Elf suddenly. He looked at her briefly, not speaking a word. That bewildered her. "What is it? Is he someone I shouldn't ask about?"
Legolas knew he could no longer keep secrets from her at this state. "He's an old friend from the war with Sauron. I do believe you were not even born at the time yet." He thought his slight change of subject might kill her curiosity, yet it never seemed to work. With that then, he decided to finish his answer. "He was a close friend of your father and your brother. You were yet an infant the last time he last visited Winterfell, but I'm sure you've heard of him. He's the steward of Gondor, Faramir."
Faramir's name wasn't what bothered her. It was the part that said "Gondor". Until then, did Sansa finally realize after all this time, what Legolas hid and feared. She wanted to scoff at herself for being so stupid, to not have noticed earlier. The dove she saw him send away, of course it was back to Gondor, where now she knew, his true allegiance remained with. She knew this was the time that she should give a reply. However, she did no more than place that hand over the front of shoulder with reassurance, "I admit, I am not a good secret keeper. But after having done something ignorant enough, which has partially contributed to the death of my own father, I promise you, that no living soul may hear your secret from me." She smiled peacefully into his dashing blue eyes, feeling his palm close upon hers by his shoulder. He smiled back at her with his usual charms, "I know."
...
Three days passed by as if they were only hours.
Daenerys felt the deepest anguish at heart when the time arrived. Jorah Mormont had at last advised that they get to Astapor, the southernmost of the three great city-states of Slaver's Bay, home of the infamous Unsullied. The Khaleesi had in the end accepted his advice.
She never expected any formal farewell, than going up to say goodbye to the King and Queen. She had stood before the gates of the citadel with her Dothrakis and Ser Jorah, along with her three dragons. The creatures had grown, for now they sat within newly weaved cages that were far much larger in size.
What came surprised her, and for most, affected her. Before the white tree, the ministers of the court of Minas Tirith were crowded behind Aragorn and Arwen at their front, with Gimli by their side.
"My people are here to bid you farewell Khaleesi," Aragorn said before all, yet his words bewildered Dany shortly. He said "my people", yet not "we". Her wonders had all been in the Gondorian King's eyes. Pulling his loving wife, Arwen's hand within his, he smiled a little, "Wait for me to return, I will escort Khaleesi and her Dothraki people to nearest ports where they will sail to Astapor, with a dozen of our men."
It was not only Dany, but even Arwen seemed surprised. "You never spoke of this..."
"Forgive me," Aragorn looked upon her eyes, "I have thought of it for long, and it is of Gondor's courtesy and responsibility to give aid to its guests." He let go of his Queen hand, approaching his steps towards Dany, "I may not be able to give you the many ships and soldiers you yearn for Khaleesi, but I will do you this."
"That is very kind of you my lord but..." she stuttered a bit, "Ser Jorah had only suggested we get to Astapor. We have planned to do so by going over land, for we have no ships. If you and your men escort us to port then..."
"Do you really believe Aragorn would let you leave empty-handedly?" Gimli to the side laughed openly, leaving Dany's mouth there opened with confusion. "I beg your pardon?"
Aragorn could do no more but smile. "Perhaps Gondor cannot spare you the many ships you desire, but at last we have decided, that one would not take away much from us."
"And a few boxes of gold," Gimli by his side added humorously, causing all around him to rang in laughter. However, Daenerys remained one of the only who laughed not a little. She was too awed, for she had never expected that Gondor would show her such generosity. It gladdened her deeply, for it proved that her love for these people had after al not been wasted. "My lord...I don't know what to say to thank you."
"Aragorn," the King corrected, "let us end this as friends, than as a King and a Khaleesi, shall we Dany?" His words made her solemn expression lighten, but something so sudden flashed back within her.
"I'll take my leave of you then, Khaleesi. I hope you get comfortable soon here in Gondor."
"I will. And next time remember, it is Dany."
"Sweet dreams then, Princess."
Finding her smile slowly fading, she glanced over the crowd of at least twenty ministers behind Aragorn. He wasn't there. How could it be? Did he loath her to the point that he would not even see her to her depart?
...
It was not an easy thing to let go of Arwen and Gimli. The two had grown dear to her in time, and Dany had found herself glancing back from her saddle beside Aragorn to look back at them. The Gondorians had been kind enough to provide all of the Dothrakis with horses for their ride to port, before they were to embark their ship.
"Khaleesi might I ask why you seem troubled?" Jorah Mormont asked by her other side, as solicitous upon her as always.
"Do not say that you do not know Ser Jorah," Dany replied with the bit of a bantering manner, "you know me too well to not know." She smiled a little, until she realized that the King had had his eyes over her. "Does he hate me so much, so much that he doesn't even have the courtesy to bid me farewell?"
Aragorn could do no more than smile at himself, his thoughtful blue eyes kept straight before the plains, "Fear not Khaleesi, some questions may be answered soon." His mystery did not truly please her, for she was in no mood for jokes. Even so, she understood herself that things go the way they must, and if Faramir was truly so callous, then she too should let go.
...
The port was a beautiful sight to see. The harbor was busy with passing crowds, and through it traveled the many Dothrakis on horseback with a dozen Gondorian soldiers for their protection, along with their Khaleesi, and King, and at last Ser Jorah Mormont at the very front. The gangway had been long before set and prepared for Daenerys and her people to embark.
"The gold is in the cabin," Aragorn said in his low voice, "we wish not that our guests may leave with uncertainty. The Unsullied are greatly feared...yet they are slave soldiers, to own them you must have the wealth to buy them."
"My..." she meant to say "My Lord" at first. "Aragorn, I cannot accept it, you and your people have done enough for us. You've taken us in during our hardest times, we already owe you our lives for that."
"Then take it as a token of our friendship," Aragorn smiled, "remember that Gondor may always be on your side Dany. Perhaps we wish not for war now, but when the time comes, my Gondorian sons will be yours. We will pray for the day you win the Seven Kingdoms."
The Khaleesi's green eyes shinned with gratitude. "You're a true friend." Her hand finding its way to his shoulder, she stepped forth to kiss him softly by the cheek, serenity marking her face. "It has been a honor knowing you Aragorn, King of Gondor, Son of Arathorn. Me and my people will remember this day. You and Gondor shall never be forgotten."
Aragorn bowed his head humbly, "The Seven Kingdom awaits for your reign in the future. But now you have a journey to begin." He gestured her up the gangway, mystery suddenly again within his expression. "Go now Dany, our captain awaits you. He will follow you through your journey, trust him, and keep him beside you, knowing that he represents Gondor itself by your side at all times."
Daenerys smiled her best to show her appreciation. "We'll say our goodbyes here Aragorn. We'll meet again one day." She took her moment to gaze him upon the eyes, before her steps slowly moved upon the gangway.
"Welcome aboard Khaleesi," that deep voice called to her upon the deck. A hand reached forth towards her. Dany almost gasped. She raised her head to see the man's pale eyes, suddenly realizing why his voice was so familiar. "Fa-Faramir..." she was too lost for words when she slipped her hands inside his to let him pull her aboard. Her head turning once more to see Aragorn smiling slyly upon the two, she knew now where all the secrecy came from. "Why are you here Faramir?"
"That's a simple question," he smiled upon her beauty, watching her silver strands of hair fly in the wind, "I'm here for you, I'm here to follow you, wherever you go."
Her eyes widening with astonishment, Dany's thoughts became too intricate to be put in words. "But how can that be? You're the steward of Gondor, Aragorn's most trusted friend. You cannot leave his side, he needs you. Your place is with him."
"No," Faramir's voice echoed over her ears with determination, "my place is here with you. They call me Captain Faramir, and now I am still Captain Faramir, of this ship, who is under your command, who would fight for you and follow you. You know we both want this Dany."
Her pursed lips relaxing into a grin, Dany reached her fingers up to caress the man's face, just like the first time she did so. That was the Faramir she knew all, kind, sweet, and so faithful and devoted. Her smile suddenly became a bit playful. "Swear to me then, if you'll fight for me."
The captain smiled and willingly went on his knees to kneel before the fair lady, "From this day forth, I belong to you Khaleesi. I am yours to command, and I will serve you and love you from this day, until my last days." His solemn words made a chuckle escape her mouth. She helped him up from the arms, and looked upon his features. "Promise to stay by side, at all times Faramir. Take back what it is of mine with me, together."
Turning to see his King, now his former Lord Aragorn still smiling upon them peacefully, Faramir could do more than nod upon her. "I promise." His warm hands reaching to hold her delicate ones within his, they glanced down before the wheel to see all of the Dothraki sons aboard their ship, the first ship whom the rightful Queen of Westeroes would own. The sea shinned brightly blue before that rising sun. No sight could be more magnificent than such.