Thank you for your reviews and the feedback.

Lately there had been a few that tell me they have read all the chapters in one go, so I'd like to welcome all of you.

We're back with Dany's POV and the next one will also be from her perspective, which is all I'm going to say because there are a few surprises here that might indicate what will happen.

About Ser Barristan... I'm not allowed to share my plans for him but he will make an appearance relatively soon.


Chapter 28 : Small Heroes

When the message arrived from the Westerlands, they were having supper. As soon as Maester Luwin told them the news, Dany witnessed how Catelyn felt conflicted. Everyone did, including her. They were unbelievably happy for Sansa's safe return but very scared for Arya, who was still missing.

"We will find her," Daenerys stated as she placed her hand over Catelyn's on the table in a feeble attempt to comfort her. "Robb will do whatever it takes to find her."

Nodding at her but with her mind elsewhere, Catelyn silently agreed with her. "Thank you. This wouldn't have happened without your help, even if my son doesn't know it."

"You're my family," was all Dany could say. She did not feel like her actions were part of a plan to earn their trust, like it could have been before she really knew them. Her plans to deceive them had crumbled long ago.

Since Robb's departure, and the punishment in which he had sentenced her, Dany had more than enough time to think about her life. Her fire had been a little flame those last months, and she really didn't blame Robb or his family. It was she the one who had sacrificed an essential part of herself in order to please them, to feel loved like she hadn't before. But as she saw Iagan grow, her spirit did so as well.

She no longer let Theon have power over her, to take decisions for her. She tricked him into making the decisions she wanted. If she wished to go to the Godswood, to train and see her dragons, then she told him that otherwise he would need to feed them – something he hated. She manipulated him because she was no prisoner when she was home.

After they had finished eating, Dany was led back to her chambers, leaving Catelyn and the boys to share a few more moments of joy for Sansa's return.

She despised Theon for not letting her stay with them but she did not want him to humiliate her in some way, even if she knew Dacey would defend her.

"Have you grown fond of Doreah?" she asked suddenly, wanting to cause him pain. This forced Theon to turn his head around sharply, eyes widening before he glared at her. Her expression was impassive. She was not scared of him. "I know she joins you most nights and, despite everything you've done, she seems to believe you're not as bad as we know you are."

"She's just a whore," he muttered with disdain, and at that Dany's blood seemed to boil with rage.

Grabbing him by one arm, she confronted him. "She's loyal, unlike you. Against all her believes, she followed me across the Narrow Sea. She's braver than you. Honestly, I hope she sees reason before you do something to her. If you hurt her, you'll pay. If you hurt any of my handmaidens, you'll regret it."

Theon smirked at her before he grabbed her roughly by the arms, shaking her forcefully. "You think Robb will come back to you? He'll be King and will do as he pleases. Why keep you? Why not leave you here to freeze your ass while he conquers the South?"

She showed no fear. Disgust and rage were the only feelings she had at the moment. "Let go of me!" she commanded, even if she was not as strong, even if she was smaller. Her voice held more power. "Robb will know what you've done to me!"

"You'll say nothing. Nothing," he hissed, as his face closed distance with hers. "Because if you do, I'll tell him you seduced me; that you invited me into your bed and I refused."

"He won't believe you," she spat with more fury. The idea of Robb hearing such things, of the possibility she cheated on him, was crazy. But she was sure he would trust her. "He knows my love for him is unquestionable. It will cost you your head to tell those lies about the Queen."

"Queen!" he snorted. His hand reached up, curling cold fingers around her neck. "A queen without a throne and soon without a king." His fingers tightened their hold and she made a sound between pain and anger.

It was then when Dany saw a blur of dark fur jumping before her eyes. Shaggy was snarling at Theon as he had the man pinned to the floor.

"Dany?"

Swiveling around, she found her little savior, looking a bit confused and tired. Rickon had sneaked out of his bed again to look for her. She couldn't be happier he liked her so much; he made her days much more bearable just like Iagan. Rickon was the boy she imagined Robb had once been; curious and wild.

"Let's go to bed," she whispered in a sweet voice. Taking his hand, she walked quickly into her chambers where Iagan had already been put to sleep by Irri. Shaggy followed them promptly, but still growled one last time at Theon, who did not dare to stand up yet.

As she helped Rickon under the furs, he sleepily made conversation. "Will we practice tomorrow with Dacey?" He yawned. "You could tell her so she punishes Theon for hurting you."

"We'll see. Now sleep."

She did not want to tell anyone about the threats Theon had made. Suspicions started to arise in her mind that Theon was not exactly jealous of her only but of Robb as well. She did not want to believe it, but she saw the flicker of want in his eyes. He had tried to kiss her, not to choke her. Had anyone seen them, they would believe the lies of her cheating on her Wolf with no other than his former best friend.

Smoothing a hand over his unruly hair, Dany felt relief that she was not alone anymore. The thought of having people looking up for her only helped to make her braver.

Iagan was peacefully asleep, unaware of the chaos or perhaps very confident in the outcome of things. Daenerys dropped a kiss on top of his head, basking in the calm in which he bathed her heart when he was with her.

After changing her clothes behind the screen, she silently made her way to bed.

"Dany," Rickon whispered when she laid her head on the pillow.

She turned to him, seeing those bright eyes in the dark, full of innocence and life. "Yes?"

His mouth opened wide in a yawn and he blinked slowly, letting her know he was barely awake. "How do you say lower in Valyrian?"

"Lower?" Her eyebrows knitted together at the sudden question.

"Yes. Drogon likes to carry me high, and I like to ride him but it's scary. Viserion is nicer."

"Ride him?" Dany's eyes widened at the young boy's confession. Had Rickon been riding her dragons? She knew quite well the boys and dragons were very close despite their wild and independent natures. Besides, now that she had Iagan to take care of and her limited time unsupervised, she did not have much time to spend training the dragons. Bran had eagerly filled that position.

Before she could interrogate him, Rickon fell asleep, curling himself on Robb's side of the bed. It was incredible the love his brothers had for him, the people's love for him. Robb was well-liked by everyone and more now that he was being a brave man, the youngest of men who claimed the Iron Throne who was in battle.

She sank down in the bed and sighed. Probably the next day she would learn more about Rickon's adventures.

-o-

And so they had. Bran and Rickon had been experimenting with Drogon and Viserion. Well, it had been the youngest the one who offered himself since he was smaller and the dragons weren't used to carry anything or anyone on their backs. Bran also knew the beasts were still too small to carry an adult.

"Do you know how dangerous this is?" Daenerys scolded them, while both boys gave him sheepish looks and even their direwolves hung down their heads. Her dragons were too haughty to show remorse and so they looked at her with curiosity. "Without a harness you could fall! What would your mother do then?"

"They won't let me fall," Rickon rebutted but one look was enough to let him know she was not playing. She loved them very much since they had been the first to welcome her with open arms. She would not let them get injured.

"Viserion only flights around the Godswood. He never goes higher than the weirwood. But Drogon…" Bran trailed off, looking at the dark creature.

"He wants to go as high as the clouds!" Rickon provided excitedly. "And I have to hold on tight to his neck."

"I don't want you to get hurt."

"But I want Bran to see the things he saw when he climbed higher than everyone else."

At the little boy's words, both Dany and Bran remained silent. It was overwhelming to see how close two siblings could be, how much they could love each other.

"Dany is right. You shouldn't." Bran's voice was soft but firm, a voice that was full of a wisdom boys his age shouldn't have. There was something in the Starks's blood that made them special and different, just like she felt.

"Not until you have a harness," Dany conceded. "You must promise. Both of you."

"You'll get us a harness?" Bran wondered.

"I once told you, you would ride them. I'm keeping my word."

She could not help but smile at the spark of happiness in their eyes.

-o-

"Why do you want me to teach you how to fight? I am here to protect you, even if it is not my duty at the moment, I will protect you as a friend," Dacey said, holding a few arrows and handing Daenerys a bow.

"I don't want to be a helpless woman," she replied, remembering the times in which she had been saved by her dragons, Grey Wind, Ser Jorah or even Shaggydog when Theon had tried to hurt her a few nights before. "I want to know how to fight in case I need it."

"Then you should carry a dagger. It is more suited for a woman to hide under her skirts or between her breasts," Jaime said with mischief. He had healed already, and wandered around the Great Keep freely, as long as he stayed away from Lady Catelyn. The woman was frightening when she wanted.

"Don't be crude," Dacey chastised him for Dany's amusement. She could tell the Lady from Bear Island was upset about something but she hadn't had time to ask yet. She guessed it had something to do with the Young Lion.

"Sorry? I was proposing a very good plan for the Queen to have a weapon at hand if she is mistreated by someone," he replied sardonically. "If you have a problem with that, well."

"You. I have a problem with you. Now if you could leave us," Dacey finally snapped, showing her short temper. But Jaime only smirked, as if her bad mood only served to entertain him.

"I believe that my experience as a knight might serve to provide some advice."

Daenerys was about to make a comment when she saw the tense expression on Dacey's face.

Since the incident that had cost Jaime Lannister his hand, they had remained very close, despite their obvious differences. Dacey had felt guilty over it but he seemed too forgiving and that bothered her. It was a very strange relationship that Dany believed had turned into something more long ago, even if they were people who did not want love.

"Keep the arrow straight. Lift your elbow," Jaime ordered from his place, a few feet away from the two women.

"Keep quiet. You're making her nervous," Dacey shot back with venom. "Or I will use you as a target."

"Could you two just solve your problems other time?" Daenerys finally barked at them, having enough with their quarreling. "What has he done to upset you? I mean, besides being obnoxious and conceited as always."

"Thank you, Your Grace," Jaime interrupted with sarcasm.

"Any time." Dany smiled at him with fake sweetness.

After doubting for a moment, Dacey finally told them, "He's taking advantage of Brienne."

"What?" Both Jaime and Dany said with the same surprise laced to their voices.

"Yes. He says things to make her uncomfortable. Inappropriate things and…"

"She's jealous," Jaime provided nonchalantly, rolling his eyes as if the sentiment was silly, as if Dacey had no right. But the smile on his face proved to indicate otherwise. He enjoyed her jealousy.

"Watch your tongue!" Dacey threatened and then turned to Dany who was pursing her lips not to laugh. Without words she told her friend that, painfully, the Kingslayer was right. Dacey tried to hide the embarrassment that had tinted her face in a deep red.

"Leave her alone. And stop making comments to Brienne as well. She's a very nice woman and doesn't deserve to be mocked." Dany tried to defend Dacey but it was useless. Mortal enemies could desire each other; she and Robb were proof. Books told legends of the past, but said nothing about the present.

Jaime nodded but it was obvious he would do as he pleased no matter what anyone said. He didn't left, though. Instead he decided to ask, "I've heard you rescued Sansa."

Dany looked up into his eyes but did not give him an answer. It was very likely that he would ask to be released since, in his eyes, there was no point in being kept prisoner. But they couldn't let him go until Arya had returned. He was their fallback plan.

"Was she safe?"

"If you want an apology for what I did…"

"I paid for my crimes. My debts are settled. I'm not asking for an apology, as I haven't given you one either. We both know we've paid, even if in our eyes it could have been unfair."

Daenerys held his eyes and her voice did not waver. "She is safe and will return home soon."

"I'm glad." And with that he turned and left the courtyard. She could feel he was not as fine with the news as he pretended to be, but she had no time to worry about that.

When Dany and Dacey were alone, the northern woman finally admitted that, "He is right. A dagger would be a good weapon for you."