A/N: Prompt: Rest.
03x02, 'Dark Wings, Dark Words'
Today Daenerys stood before Barristan the Bold, one of the greatest knights the Seven Kingdoms has ever seen. The man who single-handedly rescued her father from Duskendale.
"Who served the Usurper for seventeen years," Jorah notes grimly, pacing the floor in her cabin, one hand tight around the pommel of his sword. "How do we know what he wants? The Boy King could have sent him here to spy on us."
Ser Barristan is now settled into one of the cabins… not exactly guarded by her Dothraki, but certainly being kept a watchful eye on.
Daenerys wants to believe that Ser Barristan has no ulterior motive. He'd served her family faithfully. He's travelled all this way to find her, saved her life.
"He's a knight," she says stubbornly, snatching a grape from the bowl on the table. She chews it thoughtfully before adding, "Knights are honourable."
Jorah snorts. "They're not all the shining noblemen they're said to be in the songs."
"You are," Daenerys says.
Jorah's mouth thins. He looks as if he wants to say something, but keeps his counsel. She wonders at it, but doesn't push.
"Well, I've made my decision," she says. "Ser Barristan doesn't strike me as the sort of person who will betray me. My instincts tell me I can trust him. I want to bring him aboard. I will always treasure your council, but I need more than just your help if I want to take the Seven Kingdoms."
Jorah doesn't seem to like the answer very much, but he doesn't argue. She pushes a tankard towards him.
"Have a drink with me," she says. "Trust me on this, and we'll say no more about it."
He takes the goblet. Something is still bothering him, but whatever it is she can only guess at; he's retracted back into himself, his gaze turned away from her.
She puts it down to the fact that he dislikes her decision. Well, no matter. She is a queen. It is her decision to make.
Ser Barristan is to join them.
And so the matter is laid to rest.