Author's Note: I'm posting this a few days early as a thank you to all the people who are reading, liking and commenting. I appreciate it.
R-C
Back inside the walls of King's Landing, Daenerys was still basking in the glow of her victory. It had been more than an hour since they left Harvest Time with their winnings, but she couldn't stop talking about it.
"That was incredible. I mean I always wondered what it would be like, but wow. I wasn't expecting all that." -
"You did good."
"Thank you for taking me there, I'll never be able to repay you."
"You don't have to repay me. I had a good time too."
Daenerys watched her face closely for any sign that she was exaggerating, but she didn't see any. "All the money the treasury has, all the space in the yards, and the Red Keep has nothing like that, it's such a shame."
"Most nobles wouldn't consider throwing balls at bottles fun, it's more of a smallfolk pastime."
"Then I think I prefer smallfolk to nobles," she admitted in a moment of unguarded honesty.
"Me too." She chuckled darkly. "Did you see that prick's face when I called you 'Princess.'"
Daenerys laughed too, but it was a little less authentic. "I'm glad I got to prove him wrong," she began, "but I hate when they do that."
"Do what?"
She took a moment to collect her thoughts, to decide how she would try and explain. "When they act different. When I was just a random woman, he was mocking me, but as soon as he realized I was a Targaryen, he was apologetic and considerate."
"He was an ass," Arya said simply, as if maybe that really was the long and the short of it.
She laughed again, for real this time. "He was, I just don't like how people become afraid when they learn…" She trailed off, not wanting to actually finish the sentence. She trusted Arya would understand what was being left unsaid.
"I told you the night we met you aren't responsible for your family's behavior. Strangers might fear you when they learn who you are, but it's different for people who know you."
She hoped Arya was right, but the game-master's abrupt change unsettled her, making her wary. "Is it? You can't know how other people feel."
She wasn't trying to be difficult, she just worried that there would be one more person telling their family and friends a story about their run-in with a Targaryen tonight. She didn't like being included with the rest when commoners spoke of the royals.
"I know how I felt," Arya justified. "Your father was going to kill me, if anyone had a reason to be a little upset, it was me."
She was afraid to hear the answer, but she asked the question anyway. "Why didn't you blame me?"
"Because I saw your face when your father ordered me to kill, you didn't want to be there anymore than I did. I didn't have a choice and after I met you, I realized that you didn't either, not really."
"I wanted to stop it," she admitted, "I hated it."
"You did stop it," Arya said, laying a calloused hand on her smooth arm. "You saved me that night, because it was the right thing to do. Most wouldn't have, but you did, that's how I know you're different."
Daenerys set her hand over Arya's trapping it against her forearm. "Thank you, it's nice to be reminded of that from time to time."
"That's what I'm here for Princess."
R-C
Bells were ringing to mark the hour. Daenerys and Arya had been wandering the city at random, laughing and talking. Aside from Daenerys ducking into a couple of shops to make quick purchases, they didn't have a plan.
They stopped walking and glanced toward the bell. "Do we need to head back?" she asked, assuming they'd be expected at dinner.
"Not tonight. Your brother said business will keep he and the King late, so we are free to remain where we choose."
"Really?" She felt like she was going to overflow with excitement. This whole day had been amazing. The orphanage, being with Arya, Harvest Time, and now she didn't even need to rush back. .
"You did tell me you wanted to see the city after dark, didn't you?" Arya questioned gently, already aware it was true.
She thought back to their conversation. "Wait, you knew when I told you that, that we would get the chance."
Arya shrugged. "As always it's up to you. We can go to the keep for dinner if you like. I'm sure they'll have enough food for us."
Daenerys enjoyed this, having someone in her life who could joke with her, who didn't shy away from the difficult things. "And if I choose not to return?" she wondered, unsure if Arya had something specific in mind.
"Well, in that case I guess I'll have to find you something to eat. I can't let you starve they'd never let me guard anyone ever again."
She said it with such conviction that Daenerys almost forgot Arya didn't especially want to be a guard. "What a burden that would be for you. I'd hate to taint your future like that."
Arya's serious expression didn't crack. "Very kind of you, I'll be forever grateful."
It was Daenerys who laughed first, unable to hold back, but to her delight, Arya joined in almost immediately. "Can we walk around a while more, I'm having fun."
"Sure."
That is what they were doing when the bell tolled again. Why was ringing if not to signify the time? They got their answer, gruesome as it was. In the distance, past the bell was the keep. Nothing appeared amiss until Daenerys spotted the distinct green clouds billowing up into the darkening sky. She hung her head and the smile she'd been wearing most of the day disappeared. "By the Gods," she gasped as thick columns of smoke continued to rise.
"Are you okay?" Arya asked her, resting a comforting hand on her back.
She wasn't. He was killing people. That's why Rhaegar had let Arya and Daenerys leave, it's why she didn't have to attend dinner. All the things she enjoyed about the day were purchased with a life. She didn't know who or why, she didn't know if they were guilty or innocent, but it didn't really matter, not to her and not to Aerys. If her father didn't have enough guilty men to burn, he'd find innocent ones to fill the void. He just wanted death. Daenerys's opinion was the opposite. She didn't care who had done what or how vile they were, she'd tired of it. The occasional execution could be tolerated and understood, but that wasn't what this was. Didn't anyone in the castle realize there were other forms of punishment that didn't include indiscriminate murder. Since Arya was still waiting for a response, Daenerys blinked back tears and tried to provide one. "Y…yeah, I'll be okay." She hoped she wasn't lying.
"If you don't want to stay, I'd understand."
Honestly, Daenerys's mood had sharply declined, and she didn't feel much like enjoying the remainder of the day, but her only alternative was to return to the keep, the same place where the stench of charred flesh would be thick in the air for days. "Can we keep walking?" she asked, hating how fragile she sounded. No one would mistake her for a Dragon now.
As if she understood all of the reasons why Daenerys wanted to keep moving, Arya took her hand and led her down the nearest side street, carrying the only Targaryen Princess away from the evidence of her father's madness.
R-C
The first few minutes after they saw the plumes of green smoke, Arya feared Daenerys was lost to her. She was staring straight ahead without seeing and didn't acknowledge multiple attempts by the guard to engage her in conversation. Not for the first time, it became evident that she wasn't equipped to handle the Princess's emotions. She scoured her mind for a safe topic they could discuss, for something, anything that might take her mind off the King's murderous acts. When she finally found something with a reasonable chance of success, she was so eager to get started that she didn't ease into the conversation as she should've.
"Tell me about the ship!" she all but begged.
Daenerys turned her head in Arya's direction and raised a thin eyebrow. "What?"
"The ship you want to own one day, the one you want to build, tell me about it. How big will it be?"
The intervening seconds were some of the longest in Arya's life and that was saying something. When Daenerys looked more confused than intrigued, Arya provided what she hoped was a reassuring nod. "You promised you'd tell me about the ship you wanted."
For the first time since the Mad King murdered one of his subjects, Daenerys cracked a smile. "I remember."
Far from an expert, Arya considered this progress. "So how big?" she tried again.
"Big enough to see the distant corners of the world, but small enough that I wouldn't need dozens of crewmen to help sail it."
Help sail it, so Daenerys planned to do more than just sit back and allow someone else to sail her ship. That made sense. Although she knew exactly what Daenerys had in mind, she posed another question, just to keep her focus on the future and not the past. "So as big as the ship we took from Dorne, then?"
She shook her head vehemently. "No, no, smaller than that. That ship was much too big." She paused briefly and then clarified her opinion. "Ternesio's ship was the perfect size."
With a hand on the small of her back Arya nudged her to the right, to avoid an approaching trio of drunks. "What about the sail?" she asked. "Do you want to sail under the three headed dragon?"
"No, when I'm out there, I don't want to be Daenerys Targaryen , daughter of the King, I just want to be Daenerys."
Having spent enough time with Daenerys the Princess, Arya could understand why she wanted something separate, something of her own, untouched by the throne, her blood or her title. "Out there you wouldn't just be Daenerys," Arya noted, "you'd be Captain Daenerys."
A slow, easy smile spread across her face. "Captain Daenerys," she repeated, testing it out.
"What about the crew? Who would you trust enough to let sail your ship?"
When she stopped without cause, Arya feared she had unintentionally brought about a return of Daenerys's sombre mood, but instead of frowning the Princess just said, "I was hoping you'd be available."
Standing there stunned, it took a moment or two for Arya's mind to connect the response to the prior question. Daenerys wanted her to be there? It was strange, the way she thought she'd feel was not how she actually did. She expected to be enraged that another Targaryen was trying to keep her from realizing her dreams. From the moment she was given to Daenerys and ordered to serve as her guard, Arya had been counting the days until she could return to Sunspear and take her rightful place in the army. That's what she wanted, or it's what she thought she wanted. Now she was imagining a life with Daenerys, aboard a ship, sailing across the vast open water, going in whatever direction the winds or fate propelled them. She remembered her trip to Essos with Oberyn and all the meaningful memories she made. She guessed that travelling with Daenerys would be much the same, and that had her intrigued. It was unlikely that Daenerys would ever get a ship of her own, or the freedom to use it, but Arya still caught herself hoping that if that day came that they'd get to experience it together. "We'll need more than just me and you to sail a ship that big," she pointed out.
"We won't be alone," Daenerys assured her. "Missandei will be with us, and if she comes then Grey Worm will too. If he comes, his men will follow."
Arya assumed it was idle fantasy they were discussing but by her tone alone she could tell Daenerys had given this a lot of thought. For the first time since the Mad King summoned her, and definitely for the first time since reaching King's Landing Arya wasn't in a rush for the wedding between Viserys and Eliza. If some unforeseen disaster delayed things and forced the Martells and the Targaryens to postpone, she for one wouldn't be cursing the Gods.
R-C
After an hour of aimless walking, chatting about the ship of Daenerys's dreams, Arya was confident she would be okay. She was relaxed and engaged, talking fast, waving her hands in wild gestures to emphasize her points. It was a marked improvement when compared to the woman who was distraught at the sight of dark green clouds and everything they represented.
Arya was just about to propose they find a place to eat when a familiar set of dark, bouncy curls caught her attention. Missandei had decided to return after all, just as she said she would. She and Grey Worm were hand-in-hand, talking quietly and rarely looking away from one another. It was chance that had them approaching Arya and Daenerys. She stopped walking and decided to wait, wanting to surprise Daenerys with an unexpected reunion. She'd wager Missandei's return would improve Daenerys's mood in a way Arya hadn't been able to.
The Princess looked at her quizzically when she stopped without warning. "What's wrong?" she asked, assuming the worst.
"Nothing's wrong, I actually have a surprise for you."
"A surpr…" she stopped, and her nose scrunched as she tried to make sense of things. She studied the guard closely. "How is that possible? I've been with you all day."
She wanted to peek, to make sure Missandei and Grey Worm were still on the same course, but she was afraid if she did, Daenerys would notice and realize what was happening.
"What is it?" Daenerys pressed when Arya wasn't forthcoming.
She strategically placed herself in Daenerys's path, blocking her view of Missandei's approach. "Have patience Princess," she teased, knowing the use of her title would only annoy her further, "all you have to do is stand here and wait."
"Wait for what?"
"Daenerys?" Missandei called when she spotted her friends. "Is that you?"
Arya stepped to the side and revealed the handmaiden and her lover. Her choice to surprise Daenerys with Missandei's presence proved a good one. A hand moved to cover her mouth but stopped before reaching its destination. "Missandei, by the Gods, what are you doing here?"
The friends hugged and Grey Worm and Arya both stood back and watched with matching expressions. "We were on our way back to the keep," she explained.
Daenerys released Missandei and then moved on to Grey Worm. When the reunion was done, she pinned Arya with an intense stare. "How did you know she'd be there?"
"I didn't, I just saw her coming and guessed you'd appreciate the surprise."
Her eyes made clear how grateful she was. "Thank you," she said sincerely before dedicating her focus to Missandei. "How was your trip? Where did you go? Did you have a nice time?"
She didn't want to interrupt but having this conversation in the middle of a busy street didn't seem like a great idea. "I was just about to suggest to Daenerys that we find a place to have dinner, would you and Grey Worm like to join us? I'm sure after two days spent with just me, Daenerys is more than ready for someone else's company."
While Missandei and Grey Worm communicated wordlessly about the offer Daenerys put a warm hand on Arya's wrist. "I could never tire of you," she said passionately, "ever."
Unsure of how to respond to that comment, Arya was relieved when Missandei spoke. "We would love to join you, if you're sure you wouldn't mind us intruding."
"Of course not," Arya assured her.
"You still have to tell us where you went and what you did on your trip!" Daenerys added, breaking her contact with Arya so she was free to grip Missandei's hand.
The soldiers shared a knowing look, which Arya punctuated with a roll of her eyes. They walked behind the two excited friends, listening to the fast-talking women in front. As she kept a look out for a place to eat, Arya couldn't help wondering how this had become her life? She was going to dinner with friends. Not too long ago, such a circumstance would have been unfathomable to her. A lot had changed since the night she was called before the Mad King and forced to fight.
R-C
Spirits were high as the foursome entered the keep well after sunset. Missandei and Daenerys were walking hand in hand, whispering in what Arya could only assume was some dialect of Valyrian. The guard and the commander were a full two steps behind. It amused Arya the way Daenerys and her handmaiden discussed their time apart. If she hadn't known better, she would have assumed the separation was months if not years instead of only days.
Although he surely understood what was being said, Grey Worm remained stoic and contributed nothing to the conversation. Like Arya he seemed content to blend into the background. Some she met would bristle at not being the center of attention. Many others wouldn't want their lover to be distracted by anyone but him, Grey Worm was bothered by neither of these circumstances. He appeared accepting of Missandei's friendship to the Princess and the visible affection between them. While they most often walked in amicable silence, occasionally one of them would ask a question of the other, usually about weapons, tactics or combat. They were in the midst of comparing the methods with which they were taught the spear when the women in front of them stopped suddenly.
The warriors halted their discussion, and each took a purposeful stride forward. Narrowed eyes searched for danger but found none. There wasn't a threat, but it was also no mystery what had stopped Daenerys in her tracks.
There up ahead, at the other end of the long corridor they were walking, was a collection of familiar faces. They appeared to be locked in a heated exchange of some kind. it was Aerys, with Rhaegar, Selmy, Tywin, his three children and one man Arya didn't know. She intended to ask the identity of the last man but before she could she noticed the far away look that had taken up residence in Daenerys's eyes. She hurried to the Princess's side and touched her shoulder. "Should we use another gate?" she wondered. If there was a mercy to their situation it was that the group down the hall was too busy with whatever was going on to notice their approach. "It's not too late to slip back out, they'll never know."
Daenerys looked tempted, but it didn't last. With a surge of determination, she squared her shoulders, raised her head and marched forward, leading the other three toward the collection of Targaryens and Lannisters. "No," Daenerys said when it was already clear she'd made up her mind, "I refuse to scurry and hide, this is my home too."
More than a little impressed, Arya glanced to the side and saw Missandei smiling proudly. "Yes, it is," the handmaiden agreed.
As they got closer it became easier for Arya to make an educated guess about what they were witnessing. Cersei was standing next to Rhaegar and though he was expertly avoiding meeting her gaze, she couldn't keep her eyes off him for long.
The Prince was more interested in the back and forth between the King and his Hand. Even when they were still too far away to hear the exact words, it was clear Rhaegar had an opinion about whatever Aerys and Tywin were debating.
The knight said nothing, but stayed close to Rhaegar, watching and waiting to be use. It was as if he expected the cane to crumble and the Prince to fall at any moment.
Opposite Barristan were Tywin's sons. If most seemed angry or annoyed to varying degrees, that didn't apply to Tyrion. The Master of the Coin stood next to his Kingsguard brother, grinning as his eyes bounced from face to face. He seemed particularly interested in his sister's reaction and that of Daenerys's brother.
If Tyrion was getting some joy out of any of this, the same could not be said for Jaime. The elder Lannister male looked livid. His sole focus appeared to be catching his sister's eye and conveying some sort of message.
The final man, the one Arya didn't know was a short, fat man wearing a faded green cloak. He had unkept hair the color of rust and dark, beady eyes. Unlike the agitated Lions and Dragons this man was the picture of calm. In fact, he looked utterly bored.
The knight charged with Rhaegar's safety was the first to notice them. He pointed it out to the Prince and Rhaegar seemed only too happy to make his escape. "Dany!" he shouted dramatically, moving as quickly as he could on damaged legs..
As he limped away, Barristan went with him. Cersei scoffed and rolled her eyes, grumbling under her breath. Once the space next to her was empty Jaime rushed to fill it.
Arya who had moved up to walk at Daenerys's side, fell back as they neared the Prince. "How was your day?" he asked as they embraced. Daenerys snaked both arms around him, while he cradled her gently with only one of his.
"Great!" Arya heard her reply, she was speaking into his chest. "It was perfect. We had a great time." She released a breath she hadn't realized she was holding after Daenerys confirmed their day was pleasant. When did it become important to her that Daenerys enjoy their time together?
When she released him, Daenerys did so with care, making sure she didn't upset his delicate balance in the process. Rhaegar gave his sister a sincere smile before he turned his eyes to the rest of their party. Arya resisted the urge to slink back, not wanting to show weakness. "Missandei," he said, "welcome back."
With a respectful bow of her head, she responded. "Thank you, Prince."
"What's all this about?" Daenerys asked, using her chin to point to the scene they'd walked in on.
Rhaegar rolled his eyes to emphasize his true feelings before he said, "More of the same. We were leaving the throne room, and before we could separate Cersei cornered me."
Daenerys's expression was an odd mix of horrified and amused. "Again? I thought she got the message last time."
"Apparently not. Tywin was there and overheard my refusal. He didn't take it well and tried to get Father to see reason."
She took a quick peek over Rhaegar's shoulder toward the King, before she inquired. "Did he?"
He answered with only a shake of his head. There was a pause before he continued, "I am glad you came along when you did, you likely spared me another twenty minutes of that."
"Always happy to help." Daenerys joked cheerfully. "We were just going to my chambers for a drink, would you care to join us?"
She bit her lip to keep from speaking out of turn. She had no interest in sharing a drink with the man whose greed and selfishness caused so much pain but suffering through it was preferable to drawing attention to the depths of her hate.
"Thank you, but no, it has been a long day and I want to spend some time with Aemon."
With an understanding smile Daenerys didn't press the issue. "Tell him I said 'hi'."
"I will, enjoy your night."
Rhaegar and Selmy went one way while Daenerys, Arya, Missandei and Grey Worm went the other.
Things remained intense despite Rhaegar's departure. Tywin and Aerys were whispering together, obviously disagreeing if their facial expressions were any indication.
Cersei was watching Rhaegar leave, while Jaime valiantly tried to regain her attention. The man Arya didn't know had escaped too at some point, and that left only Tyrion. He was strategically placed between the siblings and the fathers, dividing trying to hear everything. When he was angled toward Aerys and Tywin he seemed amused, like he was anticipating the end to the funniest joke ever told.
If asked Arya would have said it unlikely that they would be able to pass without being stopped by someone. She didn't like their chances of getting to the stairs unbothered, but she was pleasantly surprised. Cersei glared while Jaime whispered to her, trying to improve her sour mood. Likewise, The King and his Hand were so focused on whatever had them at odds, a pack of direwolves could have run past and garnered barely a second glance.
Tyrion was the exception, though he provided only a smile and a nod for each of the four as they passed.
"What was that all about?" Missandei asked Daenerys on the staircase.
"Cersei Lannister making another attempt to try and seduce my brother," she explained.
"Does this happen often?"
Arya probably should have left it for Daenerys, but she shared what she knew. "The other morning when I went to see the Prince, they were engaged in a similar disagreement."
Daenerys looked back at the guard and smiled. "That's not surprising. She's been trying to win his affection for years. She is just unwilling to admit he's not interested."
"That is…" Missandei stopped and took time to choose the appropriate word, "persistent."
Daenerys laughed. "That's one way to describe it. I'm just glad my father didn't side with Tywin and try and force Rhaegar into a marriage he doesn't want."
She waited until they were inside Daenerys's bedchamber before she asked the question that had been on the tip of her tongue. "When we first saw them, there was a man in a cloak standing with the King, who was he?"
She didn't miss the serious look that passed between Missandei and Daenerys. All good humor was gone, and Daenerys hung her head. Missandei answered for her. "Rossart is his name, he's from the Guild of Alchemists."
Understanding struck like a punch to the gut. There was only one reason the King allied himself with the Guild and it was because they provided his favored weapon. So that fat little man was the King's pyromancer? Oddly enough neither Rossart nor any of his order were there when the Starks came before the Mad King. On that day, Aerys used more traditional weapons to exact his revenge. As bad as it had been, she wasn't above admitting it could've gone far worse for the surviving members of her family if Rossart and his wildfire made an appearance.
"Wine?" Daenerys asked, hoping to redirect things.
Missandei agreed quickly with Grey Worm joining in shortly after. They all turned to her. Daenerys's bright violet eyes were the hardest to look away from. "Sure," she agreed. For the second time that day it occurred to her that she wasn't especially eager for the wedding that would precipitate her return to Dorne. She was quite content where she was for the time being.
R-C
Her heart was pounding in her chest as she walked Grey Worm and Missandei to the door. The day was beyond successful. Apart from a couple of bumps in the road, she couldn't complain. She got to spend the day with Arya, who was rapidly becoming one of her favorite people, she got to go to the Harvest Time celebration and then she had dinner with Arya, Missandei and Grey Worm, in the city. Not even the tension they walked in on between Rhaegar and Cersei could dampen her mood. In fact, she probably owed Cersei since it was the awkwardness that prompted Daenerys to invite everyone for a drink.
Now Missandei and Grey Worm were gone for a walk and that left Daenerys and Arya alone. She hadn't realized how long she'd been lost in thought, until Arya was suddenly standing right next to her. "I should probably go," she said gently, "you've had a long day and you probably want to rest."
Go? Rest? No! That was the last thing she wanted. Her cheeks felt warm and she avoided the mirror so she wouldn't have to see the blush on her cheeks. "Wait!" she called a little too loudly.
In a flash Arya was by her side again, this time looking at the Princess with concern. "Is there something you needed? I can stay until Missandei gets back if you'd rather…"
Daenerys did want her to stay, but not because she had need of a servant. She liked Arya's company. The guard was waiting for her to explain her outburst, but her mouth wouldn't cooperate. Suddenly there were so many things she wanted to say, and it was as if all of them were trying to get out of at once. The clog in her throat kept her mute and made her look foolish, she was certain.
With panic bubbling up she grasped Arya's hand and forced her best approximation of a smile as she pulled her away from the door and back toward the table and chairs. On the way she recovered her voice. "Let's sit, I'm not quite ready for today to be over."
Her words sounded idiotic in her ears and she resisted the urge to cringe, but somehow Arya understood. She smiled and let Daenerys steer her back to the table. At the last moment the Princess spotted a padded bench and thought it more suitable. She went there instead. Big enough to sit three with room to spare, Daenerys sat in the middle and then patted the space on her left to invite Arya to do the same.
When Arya's lips parted, likely to ask what was wrong with her, Daenerys felt compelled to save her the trouble. Without releasing Arya's hand, she tried to explain herself. "I had a good day," she began, minimizing things severely. "It never would have happened without you. I want to thank you, but the words alone aren't good enough."
She was beginning to ramble, so she was relieved when Arya squeezed her hand and made speaking temporarily impossible. "You don't need to thank me," she disagreed, "I had a good day too. I'm glad you enjoyed it."
"I have dreamt of having a day like that, for as long as I could remember, and somehow it managed to surpass any and all of my expectations." She didn't say so, but secretly Daenerys knew why the reality was so much better than her fantasies, it was because she was ill-prepared for Arya Sand.
An idea came to her and she popped up off the bench and hurried to the desk where she set her things. "Is everything okay?"
Daenerys looked back at her friend and saw her looking down at the hand Daenerys had been holding. Was she missing the contact between them as much as Daenerys was? That didn't seem likely, but what other excuse could there be for the way her empty hand was now her entire focus? "I just thought of something, I'll be right back." That promise was as much for herself as it was for Arya. And, she decided, when she was close enough, she'd take Arya's hand again too.
It wasn't difficult to find, the small piece of copper with the mark of a dragon on it. It was the prize she won for knocking over the bottles, the first thing she'd ever actually earned. With care she picked it up and brought it back to the bench. As she crossed the room, she traced the outline of the winged beast with her thumb. "I know it's not much," she said in warning, "but it would mean a lot to me if you'll accept it."
"Accept what?" Arya asked, rising up off the bench.
She held out an empty hand and motioned her back down. She reclaimed her seat next to Arya and immediately reached for her hand, just as she told herself she would. She savored the rough feel against her smaller, softer skin. It was all she could do not to melt into Arya's touch.
It was probably a stupid idea, but it was too late to stop. She'd come too far. With one deep breath and then another she extended her closed fist toward Arya and slowly unwound her fingers. "I know it's cheap and you didn't even get to pic…"
"Daenerys," she said, stopping what was sure to be embarrassing, "this was your prize, don't you want it?"
She did want it, but she wanted Arya to have it more. "If you don't want it, I'll keep it," she said, forcing the words out in a rush. "I just…"
She had been looking into her lap as she spoke but made the mistake of glancing up to assess Arya's emotions and got lost in her eyes. "Don't you want a keepsake of your victory?"
She couldn't say what compelled her to tell the truth in that instant, but the words were out before she could catch them. "I'll always remember today," she admitted openly. "For as long as I live, regardless of what happens in the years to come or how old I grow, I'll remember every detail. I don't need a trinket for that. I could never forget."
"You won this," Arya reminded her, picking up the copper dragon from her palm. "You should keep it."
"I'd rather you had it," she confessed sincerely. "Soon we'll be thousands of miles apart. When you're gone back to Sunspear and the army, I'd feel better knowing that you had something to remember me by, even if it's junk."
There was a gasp that Daenerys was powerless to identify, was it her, or had her heartfelt admission struck something within Arya? When the guard leaned forward, without releasing her hand Daenerys had to wonder for a moment if her dreams were coming true. Was Arya going to kiss her?
It wasn't to be. Arya just adjusted her posture slightly and then sat back. She held up her the token and studied it by firelight. She was treating it with much more reverence than the cheap copper deserved. She passed her thumb over the engraving as Daenerys had done when she brought it over. "Are you sure? Like you, I'll remember today with or without a keepsake."
She was tempted to ask what about the day was memorable to Arya, but she got the distinct impression that she'd pushed far enough for one day. "I'm sure," she confirmed. "I want you to have it, so you can remember me and the time we spent together when you're off with your fellow soldiers."
Arya had been looking down at the copper, but her head snapped up about midway through Daenerys's speech. "You need not worry about that, I'll always remember you," she promised. "Thank you, Daenerys," she said with feeling. "I'll take this with me wherever I go and I'll cherish it."
Something about the way Arya said that, made Daenerys believe with certainty that she was telling the truth. It was what she wanted, to know that Arya would remember her after they parted, so why did she try and turn it into a joke? "Don't get too excited, it'll probably break in half before you ever see Dorne again."
Arya didn't appreciate her attempt at humor. "Don't do that," she insisted, "It's great. Thank you, Daenerys, truly."
"Like I said, I know it's nothing special…"
"It is special," Arya disagreed, "because it came from you, and because I know how significant it is." Daenerys thought that that was all there was, but Arya had more. "It doesn't matter what anyone else sees when they look at it," she said holding the copper dragon, "when I look at it, I'll see today and you and how happy you were when you won."
She chuckled and tightened her hold on Arya's hand for a moment. "Thank you for everything Arya, today wouldn't have been as memorable without you there."
"We aren't done yet. It'll be a few more weeks before your brother returns, I think we can have at least one more day like today, don't you?"
She didn't know, didn't know if Rhaegar would approve of more outings, didn't know if anything she and Arya did could top the day she just had, but she was hopeful and willing to find out. No matter what the future did or did not include, no one would be able to take her memories of Arya.
R-C
Long after she blew out the candle nearest her bed, she remained awake. She squinted through the darkness until she could make out the raised edges of the dragon's spread wings.
She held the gift Daenerys gave her and lost track of time. How long had she been staring? She couldn't seem to put the thin square down. She'd been stunned when Daenerys expressed her desire to give the token to Arya. It had been a long while since anyone gave her a gift, and even longer since it had been for no real reason at all. Sure, Oberyn gave her things occasionally, but when he did, it was more practical in nature. He gifted her with things she needed, but couldn't afford, like when he had her helmet fixed. The present from Daenerys was different, there was no logical reason to give Arya her prize, except that she wanted her to have it. That it wasn't given out of pity, or to satisfy a need made the trinket more meaningful somehow.
It had taken a year before Arya permitted Oberyn to buy even the most basic things on her behalf. She appreciated that he wanted to help her, she just didn't want his gold. Oberyn was the first friend she'd made since losing her family. She didn't want to corrupt their bond by benefiting financially from their friendship. After all, she wasn't friends with the Prince because he had lots of gold, she was friends with him because he was sarcastic, good with a blade and better with a joke. Her instincts were deeply engrained, and they almost demanded Arya refuse Daenerys's generosity on reflex, but she stomped out that impulse before she could hurt the Targaryen's feelings.
She hadn't known Daenerys very long, not really and yet she allowed her to give her a gift and not for the first time either. Arya let Daenerys purchase food for her in Sunspear once too. Trivial as the concessions might seem, Arya knew they were anything but. So, the question remained, why didn't she lash out at Daenerys? Why not rebuff her kindness? She didn't know exactly, but she had plenty of theories. For one thing Daenerys was generous with everyone she cared about. Arya didn't need to feel guilty because she wasn't being singled out for special treatment. When she scoured her mind for a second reason, her brain unhelpfully reminded her just how beautiful this particular gift-giver was. Once she was thinking about that, it was a short walk to remembering how flawless her body was. She'd seen all of it when they shared a room. With effort she worked to stifle those thoughts before they could multiply. Spending her days with Daenerys was hard enough without being able to recall what she looked like naked. Desperate for a way to change the play being acted out in her head she searched for another more suitable explanation for why she allowed Daenerys to give her things. It was her eyes, she decided, her whole face really, and the arrangement of those attractive features when she was trying to justify giving the copper dragon to Arya. She was so sincere, so vulnerable, the guard just didn't have the heart to refuse her. She also didn't want to, but that was a secret would take to her grave.
With the upmost care she tucked her newest possession under the corner of her pillow. In the morning she'd add it to the wooden box that held the remnants of her former life that she managed to hang on to. Daenerys's prize for knocking over bottles would be the fifth item to gain entry.
Thinking about the box inevitably led to thinking about her father. She felt guilt when she remembered him tonight. He would be appalled to hear she was accepting things from a Targaryen. His hate ran deep and rightly so. Ned Stark had suffered more than most at the hands of Aerys and his kin; first a sister, a brother and a father and then later, he lost his family a second time. He would be disgusted to learn she counted Daenerys among her friends. He wouldn't understand and she didn't know how she'd explain it. How could she make him see that Daenerys wasn't Rhaegar and she wasn't Aerys? Daenerys was kind, sweet, honest and fair.
She tried and failed to articulate what it was about Daenerys that set her apart from almost all others who shared her name. It wasn't just one thing, more accurately it was everything, all of it combined that told Arya she was worth of the foster's trust, even if she was a Dragon. In truth she would have preferred it if the Princess was spiteful and cold, as Arya originally expected she would be. Then it would be easy to overlook her beauty and dismiss her goodness as an act. Unfortunately, she had little in the way of excuses to fall back on. Daenerys wasn't cruel, nor was she rude or entitled. As surprised as she initially was, she accepted it as fact now. She'd given up expecting Daenerys to stoop to her low expectations and stopped being shocked when each day she found another trait to add to the growing list of admirable qualities she possessed. There were so many at this point, Arya was able to overlook her place on the Targaryen family tree – a feat Arya would have thought impossible six months ago.
Ned Stark's disapproval wasn't enough to create doubt anymore, especially since she'd never have to confess to him. It would never be her favorite topic, and she hated feeling like she was letting him down, but she'd make her peace with the guilt and get past it. This night she chose to believe her father would understand if he met Daenerys. If he spent time with her, he'd see the same things she had, right? He'd agree with her, once he realized Daenerys had nothing in common with the Targaryens she'd been raised to despise. Whether it was true or not, she hoped it would be enough to satisfy her chaotic brain. She needed some sleep and morning would come early.
R-C
Author's Note: That wraps up their two-day adventure. It was fun to write and provided a glimpse of who Daenerys will eventually become. After a lot of happy, of course there had to be a reminder of the King and the threat he poses.
Thank you and Stay Safe
RC