Chapter 37: Kiss And Tell

Even when they rode to war she couldn't truly say Jon had over prepared, yet Sansa was sure that was the explanation. That or the fact it was so little that she barely noticed the pain while focused on everything else. The way Jon looked at her, the way her felt inside her, the noises he made when she moved in certain ways. If there was pain she hadn't noticed and didn't remember, but she would never forget to feeling of them coming together as shadows danced across the wall or how content she felt laying beside him, hearing his heart beat, drawing as much warm from him as she did the furs around them.

She woke to find him sat on a chair, pulling on his boots and wearing the clothes she'd brought for him. A glance to the window told her the sun had only just started to rise.

Once he finished lacing his boots Jon walked back to the bed, pressing a hand into the mattress as he leaned forward to kiss her forehead. "Sleep, love."

Grabbing his hand, she tugged his arm. "Not yet."

"I need to meet Gendry," he said regretfully, brushing a hand through her hair. When she pouted he gave her a kiss and smiled. "Sleep. Your king commands it."

"Mm… I'll try," she said laying her head back on her pillow.

"You want me to relight the fire?" He asked motioning to the heart as he slid his old jerkin over the newer clothes.

Shaking her head, she pulled the blankets around her, watching him adjust the jerkin and put on his cloak, the same one she'd made him in Castle Black. Once he was done he adjusted it all and rolled his shoulders quickly before turning to Sansa. She answered his questioning gaze with a smile. "Very handsome."

Jon rolled his eyes, accepting the answer and flashing her a smile before he left the room.

Even with the faded ache between her legs she felt content, curling into her furs, beaming at the lingering warmth and scent of him. She would have been happy laying there for the day, but soon the maids came and where at first they tried to be quiet, she sat up and went about her morning routine.

Sansa bit her lip, fighting off a swirl of embarrassment and humor when one of the maids gasped while going to make the bed. Without a word, the woman went about replacing the sheet, but Sansa doubted it would stay a secret through the day.

Of course she should have expected Daenerys to sit beside her as they broke fast. "So," the violet eyed woman said with a grin. "How was it?" Either to make sure her meaning was clear, or to torment the clearly embarrassed Sansa, Daenerys asked, "How was he?"

Thankfully the only other person at the high table was Missandei, who was sat with Gray Worm. Taking a breath she looked to Daenerys and decided to be honest. Their openness about her had kept her from feeling jealous knowing Jon had kissed Daenerys, maybe Daenerys would need the same from them.

"It was…" She tried to think of the right word. She didn't want to oversell it or sound childish, but she didn't want to downplay it either.

"That bad?" Daenerys teased.

"No," Sansa scoffed. "Far from it."

Daenerys' brow rose. "Really? It was your first time, wasn't it?"

Sansa nodded. "I always heard it hurt and expected it to be awful, but it was amazing. It was fun."

Daenerys wore an odd, solemn smile. "I'm glad. My first time was… not enjoyable in the least. I thought it would be like that every time, but then one of my handmaidens, a slave from Lys, helped me learn how I could… take control."

Sansa wondered what became of the handmaiden as it was clear from Daenerys tone when mentioning her that she disliked the woman. Instead she decided to try teasing her in return by asking, "Is that what you plan to do when he finds his way to your bed?"

Daenerys, surprised by her forward question, snickered. "Maybe. Would you have a problem with that?"

Sansa thought about it, imagining them together as she had been hours earlier. It stung for a moment, but as she thought on it that faded. Even after he'd kissed Daenerys, Jon came to Sansa and they had their night together. Whatever they did together wouldn't take Jon from her.

"No," Sansa said with a sure smile.

That seemed to intrigue Daenerys, who tilted her head. "Did he tell you we kissed?"

Sansa nodded. "He did."

Daenerys looked relieved before smirking, quietly asking, "One night when he's too busy for either of us, would you like me to show you what my handmaiden taught me?" Sansa's cheeks went pink as she looked away. Daenerys chuckled, but noted she hadn't said no. "Thank you."

Sansa blinked, looking confused as her sudden tender tone. "For?"

"Not using it against me," Daenerys said with a somber smile. "I feared that this might end up a competition, or that you might flaunt how he cares for you more."

"He cares for you," Sansa said turning to Daenerys. "He wouldn't have kissed you if he didn't."

"Maybe," Daenerys sighed, "but not as much as he does you."

"Not yet," Sansa offered.

Daenerys gave a relenting smile. "Not yet."

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

"This feels wrong," Jon said looking at the crimson ruby he'd taken chips from.

Gendry chuckled. "I know, but it's what you wanted, right?"

Jon looked over the chipped off piece of gemstone. "Is this enough?"

Gendry looked looked up from the anvil, wiping his brow with his forearm as he squinted. "Looks it from here. We can grind it to the right shape after. Just need it to be small enough we don't leave too much as dust."

Looking it over again, Jon gave a relenting nod. "I think it came out better than the topaz."

"They'll be fine once the rest is finished," Gendry assured with another swing of the hammer, forcing a section of the glowing chunk of metal down.

"King Jon!" A voice called from outside the tent that was erected around the forge to keep out prying eyes.

Jon set his tools down and gave Gendry an apologetic smile while the smith nodded, telling him his departure was fine. Exiting the tent he found Willam waiting for him. "Lady Sansa called for you at the gate. They've spotted riders approaching from the south."

Sansa greeted him with a smile alongside Arya, Brienne, Daenerys, Rickon and Tyrion. The dwarf's presence was explained when Sansa told Jon, "A dozen riders with Lannister colors."

Jaime Lannister rode through the open gate with Bronn and a dozen other men in red and gold armor. Jaime was lacking his, wearing leathers beneath his cloak. Scanning the group his eyes stopped when they landed on Tyrion.

The others looked between them, Jaime's jaw set as Tyrion offered a wary smile."Hello, brother." When Jaime remained silent he gave a weak laugh. "You missed me looking like a complete fool. I thought I'd surprise you by hitting Casterly Rock, but Cersei was three steps ahead of me. Abandoned the family home, completely unsentimental. Father would have been proud."

"Don't talk about father," Jaime warned.

"Jaime-"

"I once told Bronn," Jaime interrupted, "that if I ever saw you again I'd cut you in half."

Tyrion looked from Jaime's face to the sword on his waist before offering a sad smile. "I doubt you're so cruel you'd leave me a quarter man."

Jaime's hand clenched before turning his attention to Jon. "I assume you received my letter, your grace?"

"We did," Jon nodded, glancing at Tyrion before offering Jaime a fond smile. "I'm glad you've returned, Ser Jaime."

The anger faded from Jaime's face. Brienne glanced from Jaime to Jon with a smile, proud of both as Jaime took a breath and gave him a thankful nod. "I am at your command, you grace."

"We'll find a place for you and your men," Jon said with a glance to Sansa, who nodded in confirmation. Returning his attention to Jaime, he nodded toward his gilded prosthetic. "Obviously you've lost your sword hand, but I assume you can still fight?"

"I'm not where I was," Jaime said with a smirk, "but few are."

Jon nodded, not noticing a few eyes shift toward him. "Either way, I've no doubt you still remember how to fight as well as you did. I'd ask you help with training."

"Are you sure that's wise, your grace?" Jaime asked cautiously. No doubt worried some drunken northerner would try to seek vengeance for Bran.

"The women and children," Jon clarified. "Help train them with the others. That includes my wives to be." The men smirked when Jon placed a hand on the shoulders of Daenerys and Sansa. "Your cloak and armor may not be white any longer but I trust you to care for them as if they were."

Daenerys looked like she wanted to make a comment, likely about his killing her father, but she'd learned enough about the mad king to know it was for the best.

Jaime nodded. "I will."

"Good, then rest while you can and prepare to leave within the next few weeks." Seeing the men exchange confused looks, Jon told them, "The dead march toward Eastwatch. We'll send a small force there to asses it and try to hold them off if they near before we've gathered all our banners. Either way I'd have you and your men join me when I depart."

Jon turned to Sansa, looking for her help. She put on a smile and stepped forward with Brienne. "I'll show you to your room, Ser Jaime and find quarters for your men."

Jon watched them leave and turned to fine Tyrion walking away with a frown. He looked from the departing dwarf to Daenerys and offered an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry I haven't had much time lately."

"I was starting to worry you were avoiding me," she said playfully. "Should I be concerned that you kissed me then took Sansa to bed?"

Jon's eyes widened slightly while behind her Missandei bit back a smile and turned her head. "It wasn't-"

"Oh, I heard it was very," Daenerys cut him off with a teasingly assuring nod.

Tilting his head he asked, "Heard from where?"

Daenerys scoffed. "Surely the whole of the North knows by now. Though Sansa told me herself when we broke fast."

She watched his brow knit together, unsure how to feel about this all. Finally he shook his head, looking to her. "I'm sorry if you thought it an insult. I never meant it to be one. It was separate from you."

Daenerys snickered. "I know. I just wanted to make sure you haven't forgotten me already."

Jon reached for her hand and gave her a sincere smile. "You're hard to forget, Dany."

"Dany?" Daenerys laughed in surprise, looking up and away in thought. "Who was the last person to call me that? I'm not sure, was it my brother? Mm, not the company you want to keep."

"Alright," Jon said with a nod, squeezing her hand, "not Dany. How about My Queen? Shall I bend the knee as well as I speak it?"

Daenerys smiled at the implication, shaking her head. "Dany's fine… when we're alone."

Jon nodded, raising her hand to kiss the back of it as he promised, "When we're alone."