Dany stood on the deck of the aptly renamed "Dragons Breath" enjoying the fresh air. Her cabin was the largest on the ship but it was still cramped, and at the moment it was filled with men arguing about what time of day they should start their final assault. This close to actually landing on Westerosi soil was making Dany nervous. She looked to the sky and could see two large dark objects of in the distance. Two of her children were fishing in the distance, and the other, Rhaegal was sitting on the bowsprit of the ship.
It had been that way since they left Mereen, one of the dragons stayed with the ship and the others left to fly off over the vast ocean to find food. She had even flown with Drogon out over the ocean a ways, much to the alarm of Ser Barristan and Varys who had arrived on deck as she flew away.
The freedom she felt on her dragons back was at times so alluring that Dany had caught herself thinking that she could just fly away and never return, but the thought of the thousands of people relying her brought her back to earth.
Reluctantly she headed below decks and asked a passing cabin boy to find Ser Jorah for her. He was usually able to provide the reassurance she desperately needed.
"My Queen." He said as he passed through the door to her quarters.
"Please sit sir, or I fear you'll end up with a stoop!" She teased and was awarded with a smile. At just a little over six foot, Jorah had to duck through the low doorways on the ship and under the ribbed beams of the lower ceiling in her private cabin.
"Is something troubling you?" He asked the smile replaced by a frown of concern.
"Only the usual!" Dany sighed and patted the divan she was sitting on. She wished he'd smile more. She loved his smile but he wasn't a man who seemed to find mirth in very much. Tyrion could prompt him into a smile most days but it was usually out of embarrassment. "You do not smile often enough my Bear." She told him gently.
"I'm afraid that taking an army to war isn't a matter for smiles." He replied but gave her a wan smile.
"That won't do! You look like you are grimacing not smiling." She beamed at him and patted the cushion beside her again. He looked at the spot for a moment, before moving to sit on it.
Dany couldn't help but notice how uncomfortable Jorah was around her now, especially when they were alone. She took his arm and tried to ignore the fact that he flinched.
"Jorah, I want to apologise." She turned so she could look at him. He was staring straight ahead.
"There is no need.." He started.
"There is!" Dany said interrupting him and in a gesture she hadn't used in such a long time, she reached over and cupped his bearded cheek in her hand. She turned his face so he had to look at her. He did for a moment then closed his eyes. "I am sorry I hurt you. I did not mean to."
"I know." He nodded and sighed.
"Then why are you so uncomfortable around me?" She needed to know.
"Please..."
"Are you still angry because I sent you away?" She told him more firmly than she intended.
He didn't speak for a while, just stared at the hand that had held his face and was now resting on his leg.
Jorah shook his head. "No." He paused again. "When you were not... yourself, you...we..." He ran a hand through his hair, trying to cover his embarrassment.
"I know Tyrion told me some of it." Dany blushed this time.
"It's hard. To be so close to you after..." He explained, looking at her now. "To know it didn't mean... anything to you."
"I am so sorry, if I had known what I was doing, it was cruel..." She could feel the tears building in her eyes. She knew he loved her but she just didn't feel the same way. She had hurt him, and now when she needed his support so badly, his distance was distressing.
"I know you didn't mean to do it." He tried to comfort her. "We need to focus on the campaign. To leave it behind us." He said changing the subject.
Dany nodded. She understood, but it didn't lessen the guilt any. She had abused her position, abused the feelings she knew he had for her. Abused her oldest friend in an abdominal way.
"Can we just leave it in the past and get on?" He asked.
"Of course we can. We have been through too much together to fall apart just as we have our hands on the prize." Dany gave his knee a squeeze and stood up. "Jorah I don't know if I ever told you that I am glad you came back to us. It wouldn't have been right if we did not get to go home together." She smiled, and Jorah gave her a timid smile in return.
"Shall we find speak to the Captain and find out how far from Dorne we are?" He suggested.
