Wow, it has been so long, right? I'm so sorry for that. Real life and other stories got in the way but I promise you this story is not abandoned. I would have probably updated sooner if someone who left me some unpleasant reviews left me feeling put out about keep writing this particular story. Imagine that this person claimed she was a Daenerys fan while calling her a bitch in every single review for every single chapter. Some people can be so annoying sometimes.

But, anyway, I'm back and hopefully you won't have to wait almost a year for a new chapter. Hope you like this one in the meantime. From the next one the story will actually pick up pace and things will finally happen that will move the story forward for real. Leave a comment, tell me what you think!

Chapter 34

"There's something I'd like to talk to you about, before we go back inside." Daenerys tells him, the two of them setting on a bench in a hidden corner of the courtyard.

"What is it?" Jon asked her, solicitous and perhaps sounding a little worried as well. They were sitting rather close but not too close, their bodies keeping a small distance between each other, in the case of noisy passerbys. The last thing they needed was people gossiping about them before they had even announced their engagement.

"You said that you'd like for us to rule together, after the war with the dead is won – if we both survive, that is. So, I would like for you to take a more active role in the ruling of this city, at least until we go North. Once we announce our engagement publicly, I would like for you to sit in the Small Council meetings, as my advisor. And I would like Ser Davos to be there as well. I'd like to have his particular perspective on things. He, like Gendry, wasn't born a noble. He knows what is like to be a member of the commonfolk. His opinions could be incredibly valuable."

Jon widened his eyes but he looked pleased. "I would be honoured…your Grace. And I'm sure ser Davos would be too."

Daenerys smiled at him, a warm bubble of giddiness filling her chest. She really wished she had the freedom of kissing him whenever she wanted, but she had to be patient, and cautious. "Good, because there are some things I would like to run by you. Some changes to the laws of this Country I'm thinking of implementing, and some new laws I would like for the Grand Maester to write for me."

"Like what?"

"Well, for starters, I would like to abolish the appalling law that allows husbands to beat their wives for adultery. In fact, I'm going to make it a crime punishable by law, husbands being violent towards their wives. I'm sure a lot of men will be unhappy about that but I don't care. As things stand right now, women become property of their husbands once they marry. Husbands have complete control over their wives. Wives have no rights of their own. They can beat them, rape them, set them aside by forcing them to join the Silent Sisters and short of killing them, they can do all that without consequences. You know what such a thing reminds me of? Slavery. And, as you know, I'm also the Breaker of Chains."

"I don't know if it's some kind of trial, but I support you completely Dany, I hope you know that."

Dany smiled at him again. "It wasn't. I know you do and that's why I'm telling you this. I would like your opinion on how to…lessen their reactions, a way to make it more palatable to them."

"I don't know if such a thing is even possible but…what about introducing something similar to an annulment? Something that would allow a husband to leave his wife if she's ever unfaithful and that would allow him to remarry again, but that still recognizes the children born from that union as legitimate. This way the wife would be free from his husband, she would be able to remarry as well, if she so wish it."

"It is a good idea. But we would also make sure that the female children remain with their mother. A man is always more interested in male heirs anyway. And talking about male heirs, I plan on changing the line of succession, at least for the royal family, and turn it into an absolute primogeniture like in Dorne. Whoever is the firstborn, no matter if it is male or female, will be to the throne.

"Moreover, every father would also have to economically support his children, even the ones raised by their mother. And any other children not born out of marriage as well, therefore not only the legitimate ones. Just like Ned Stark did with you. Illegitimate children won't have to live in the same house as their father but their father will have to provide for them until they are 6 and 10 at the very least, pay for their education and for an apprenticeship so they can find honest work once they are grown."

Jon widened his eyes again, clearly surprised. "You mean to make every nobleman who ever birthed a bastard, take care of that bastard?"

"They escaped their responsibilities for too long. Leaving children out in the world, not taking care of them…it's not right. If they are incapable of caring on their own, I will make them care."

"That is very bold, Daenerys. And I love you even more for even thinking about it but…"

"I know. Some are really going to hate me for it. But some people hate me already just because I am the Mad King's daughter and they will continue to do so, no matter what I do. If some can't love me or respect me, they will fear me. You know what is one of the biggest mistakes I made, in my dream? Beside burning down a city, of course. I hesitated. I doubted myself. The belief in myself that gave me dragons, that allowed me to liberate Slavers' Bay? It was gone. I started to second-guess my decisions instead of trusting my own instincts, instincts that never led me wrong before. It's when I started to listen to other people instead of myself that I started to make mistakes. And with that I'm not saying I'm always right, but listening to others and doing what others want me to do instead of doing what I want to do, are two very different things.

I know, deep in my bones, that these reforms are right and necessary and I won't back down because I'm scared of what reactions I will get. If I will have to rule through fear sometimes, I will. I'm done being scared of becoming like my father. Especially now that I know exactly what I'm capable of."

Jon took her hand in his and looked deeply into her eyes. "Good. And I will be by your side, no matter what. I promise you."

Dany didn't know why this time it felt different, but she believed him. She squeezed his hand in answer and said, "And I promise you that I will be by yours, that I will support you like I should have done in my dream. We will support each other and we will get through everything, together."

"Together." Jon echoed her words and it felt right, for the first time, hearing those words. She believed in them and she believed in him. Nothing and no one was going to get between them this time.

Daenerys finally realized that it was as much her fault as his if they had come to such a point in her dream. But it wasn't just them. The Starks, Tyrion, Varys. They all had played a part in it. But they got between them because Daenerys and Jon had allowed them to. But they were stronger now, both of them, and they knew what would happen if they let it. Things will be different this time. She would make sure of it.