Hey guys! I'm back and ready for anything! I figured I'd start a new story with my oh-so-awesome Collaborator Longclaw1-6, who has also amazingly offered to Beta-read my chapters for me! Say hi and give him a look, his stories are what inspired me to try my own GOT fic! But as always, I own nothing. All rights belong to George R.R. Martin and his wonderful books!
Have a great read ladies and gents!
Love: BlackRose999
In the dark of night, slender fingers danced over ghostly bare skin, combed through the woman's silver hair, and washed the blood from her ruined belly. They touched and cleaned and soothed the flesh while prayers filled the air. The words came from a dark-haired beauty, a glowing red necklace around her perfect throat. Her maroon robe dragged lightly behind her as she walked, the loose fabric draping elegantly over her arms as she touched the Mother of Dragons.
Kinvara had been woken from her slumber by a cry of pure agony, a bellowing roar of heartbreak and fear. When she had gone to investigate, she knew in her heart why her Lord had brought a being of Fire to her. The woman clasped so gently and carefully in Drogon's massive claws was someone she had met only briefly, but remembered well. And her heart cried when she saw the blood that had dried around the blade in her belly, had she not known anything about this woman, she would have mourned with the beast and sent it away. She would not be here in the Heart of R'hllor's Temple praying for the gift of life, while the amber eyes of Daenerys's dragon watched her intently.
Her prayers fell effortlessly off her tongue, the hours passing by like minutes. Finally, she felt it, the rush of blood to her head, a gasp of air in silent lungs, and the feeling of joy filling her body like liquor on an empty stomach. Jade-colored eyes fell on startled orbs, eyes that seemed a little bluer now than violet. A smile came to her, unadulterated joy lighting up her face.
"Muña Zaldrīzoti, ao've māzigon arlī naejot īlva rȳ mōrī!"
Violet eyes snapped open and took in the sight of the burning castle and the smell of singed bodies. For a moment, she was horrified and disgusted by the casualties around her. But only for a moment. Then, her mind reminds her of Cersei's cruelties and the city that reeked of shit, and suddenly she was as distant and guarded as before. She spared a thought for the dead, the innocence of children lost to death this day and the lives that were ruined by burning rubble and dragon flame. She would apologize for this, placate the smallfolk with promises of change and loving rule. Gods would this place change under her rule. She could see it now, the keep with flowers everywhere, red roses and black Firelillies, every petal a memory of home and what Viserys had told her the keep was before they were hurried from their mother's arms.
Once the traitor Tyrion had been dealt with, she began ascending the steps to the keep, her heart heavy with hurt and betrayal. First Jon, now Varys, now Tyrion. Poor Daenerys, she thought grimly, men will forever disappoint you. None live like the Selfless Knight of The Andals and your Sun and Stars…. Shaking those thoughts from her head, she found herself before the Iron Throne, staring at the ugly thing that had meant the world to her. Now she finds herself beginning to empty, the feeling of horror starting to sink in as her mind struggles to accept the bloodshed she'd brought onto the world. Then she remembers Missandei, and Grey Worm's face when the love of his life was beheaded by the Mad Queen.
But now what does she do? The Mad Queen is dead, gone, and no one is left to shoulder her leftover pain and wrath. Footsteps came up behind her, and a sense of knowing came over her, Jon stood behind her. And he was angry, he radiated it like water radiated cold. She opened her mouth to speak, to placate him, but only got a few words in before he cut her off.
"When I was a girl, my brother-"
"I saw them executing Lannister men in the streets… They said they were acting on your orders."
She pauses, feeling like he was vilifying her, like she was some monster who shouldn't be allowed to live. "It was necessary-" "Necessary? Have you been down there? Have you seen it? Children, little children BURNED Daenerys!" She feels herself taking a step back from his anger, and for a moment her only emotion is uncertainty, had she done the right thing? "I tried to make peace with Cersei, she used their innocence as a weapon against me!"
"And Tyrion? What did he do to you that warrants a death sentence?"
She flinched at his tone, another feeling of dread filling her as his anger intensified, what on earth was going on? She was the queen! She ruled over HIM! Why did she cower like a whipped dog now when he sounded so angry with her? "He conspired with my enemies behind my back, how have you treated others who've done the same to you?" She challenged and saw his eyes soften with hope.
"Forgive him."
Shock filled her, then she murmured "I can't." Wait, why couldn't she?
"You can, forgive them all, make them see they've made a mistake…. Please Dany."
Dany. She hadn't been called that by him in so long, her body began to heat as she remembered the last time he'd called her 'Dany' while pressed tight against her.
"I can't hide behind small mercies, Jon…"
"You aren't, our world has to be one of mercy, it needs to be after all the shit we've grown up in and waded through to bring a new dawn to the world. Your dream is a reality now, now make sure theirs is too! Like you promised them so long ago on the shores of Astapor, and again in every sacked city you set free!"
Daenerys feels something wrench free inside her, and suddenly it's all too much. Too much death, destruction, and pain in her body and mind. She keels over, retching into the ground as she vomits blood into the perfect snow. A cry of pain echoed in her ears as Drogon reached his head to her, their link warning him something was wrong. Jon watched with shock as Drogon coos at his mother, gently nudging her as much as he can to fix her. His small cries of fear and distress making Jon marvel at the way the dragon loved her, the silence then startles him to look at Daenerys, who looked furious, then her eyes meet his. They were a blue-violet that he'd never seen before, and they looked clearer than they had for months.
"Dracarys!"
Drogon's maw opened and his jet of flame billowed out at him, but it didn't hit him. He braved the heat to see the Black Dread Reborn burning the throne, and his heart lifted.
"DRACARYS!"
Daenerys cried out again, tears streaming down her face as she screamed at Drogon, his fire melting the throne to nothing, taking with it her obsession and madness. When the throne was gone, she looked at Jon and cried harder, "Kill me! Gods what have I done! I've murdered thousands! I KILLED CHILDREN JON!" She vomited again, more blood spilling into the perfect white of the snow under her, and he worried over why she vomited blood and not bile. Then he understood, she expelled the toxic madness she'd allowed to control her to kill Cersei with a clear mind, she expelled the bile of her mind and the ruin of her soul. She cleansed herself with the expelling of blood.
And all that blood… all that poison infesting her system… it had been him that led to this. His own form of madness, the woman that was his world suffering before him, and yet he was too consumed with his brooding shit to notice or care. 'Dear Gods, what have I done…' Jon knew he deserved to die, but not even self-loathing could stop him from going to her.
Jon only made it a few steps before Drogon stared at him, teeth bared. He stopped, but didn't remain silent. "Daenerys, stop! Listen to yourself! You don't need to die, you need to make it right, you need to fix the wrong you committed, save yourself by saving them! You are my Queen, now and always, now be theirs!"
Drogon watched as Dany forced herself up, lurching unsteadily as she hurried to the doors, and as she stumbled he caught her with his massive head, letting her lean on him. Jon took her arm and pulled her off Drogon, letting her use his body as a crutch.
"STOP! I COMMAND THE KILLING TO STOP!"
Her voice rang out like clear bells in his soul, and he was relieved to see soldiers stopping their swings mid-strike. "I command the killing to stop immediately, it's wrong. I was wrong."
"Issi ao, Muña Zaldrīzoti?"
"Iksan, ivestragī se Lānistor vali dāez, pōnta daor sagon ossēnagon syt issare se pirta brōzi."
Jon kept her steady, holding her by the waist so tightly he feared he might hurt her. He loved her, he worshipped her, and he had almost allowed himself to kill her. This white-haired goddess among men held his soul and his heart in her dainty hands, and he'd almost broken them all with one stupid move.
"Dany I… I need to tell you something."
"I know." Tired, she nevertheless reached to touch his cheek the moment they were shrouded by the ruins – only each other to see their intimacy. "I love you too, be with me. Help me keep this throne and rule our people together. Help me stay Daenerys Stormborn, and keep me from being the next Mad Queen."
Jon nearly choked, he wanted so badly to love her free of all the shit in the world, but he felt an indescribable pain when he tried to tell her what he had planned to do to her not two minutes ago – what he thought he had to do… a duty Tyrion poisoned his mind with. He was broken, burned, and ruined, but gods did he love her. She touched his cheek lovingly, and for a moment, he felt nothing but peace. "I love you. But I almost killed you." The words spilled out of his mouth without his permission, and the shock-hurt-betrayal-pain-HURT that flitted across her perfect face nearly crippled him, and as he reached for her she pushed herself away from him.
"You… You were going to kill me Jon?"
"Aye. You were gone, Daenerys, gone from my life and I couldn't find you anymore, the woman I loved on that ship was gone. Replaced by a broken soul and a murderous mind. I was going to kill us both…"
Tears dripped down her face, he was going to kill her, how could she trust him now? The answer came as a passing thought. You trust him because he loves you first, and he was going to kill the monster she'd made you. You killed Children Dany, not just men and women, children. Would you want that as your life? Surprising herself, she grabbed him and kissed him. Holding him to her as he fought to push her away, as though her touch burned him.
"Stop it, Jon! I forgive you!"
He stilled, and watched her with shocked eyes and a hopeful demeanor. How could she forgive him? How could she love him after he told her he was going to kill her?
"How? How can you forgive me Daenerys?"
"Because I was lost, ruled by cold and hate. I was Cersei. I was… my father." Weak, it was only his touch that steadied her… in more ways than one. "I'd have killed me too. You promised once upon a time to tell me when I was failing the people, and you tried, and I couldn't see it. So yes, kill me when I get bad. Kill me over and over again until you get through. I don't mind."
He cried, he broke down and fell to his knees in front of her guards. Pressing himself into her as she petted his hair, running her fingers through the silken locks and sending shivers down his spine. This woman was his everything, his weakness, his loyalty, his heart and soul, and would eventually be his undoing. But for her, he'd brave the storm. A thought caused him to still, his tears drying as horror filled him.
"Where's Rhaegal? I saw Drogon but not Rhaegal."
Pain filled her face, thinking of the arrow that had hit his chest and the one that had bounced off his throat, nearly killing him.
"Resting, he was injured. He tried to follow from Dragonstone to help me, but Drogon made him land outside the walls and rest. The scorpions were too much…"
A sense of purpose filled him, as though he knew what he needed to do, as though he understood her pain on a personal level as well. He asked to see the green dragon, and when she brought him to the great beast, his heart broke again. Blood pooled around him, as the massive bolt had yet to be pulled to heal properly since nobody else could get to him. Daenerys moved to pull the rod from his breast but was shocked when he snapped his teeth inches from her nose.
"RHAEGAL! What do you think you're doing!? THAT'S YOUR MOTHER!"
The great green beast looked at him with what could only be described as amusement, as though the thought of the raven-haired northman ordering him around was funny. Jon was in no mood for comedy. He stalked up and smacked Rhaegal's nose as hard as he could, which was followed by Rhaegal billowing a puff of irritated air at him. Jon steadied himself against a wall of air that threatened to blow him over, then smacked him again.
"You will not snap at her! Now stop acting like a child and hold still!"
Rhaegal huffed and mewled what Jon believed to be an apology at Daenerys, who lovingly petted his head. Jon turned to Daenerys, a soft smile on his face.
"What of Tyrion? He only tried to save you…"
"He tried to kill me Jon, and like it or not he did so publicly. Not like you did, you I can forgive because I love you and I need you. I can't allow him to live after he plotted with Varys to kill me… I'm sorry. But my decision is final."
"Daenerys don't-"
"No, you don't. I must remain resolute in the eyes of our people, I can't change my mind on a whim like some flippant woman, they need to see strength, compassion and honesty. I ordered his death, he will die."
Jon looked at the woman before him, noting the blue of her eyes and the steel of her spine, she bore no hint of madness now, but she had a point. Sighing, he resolved to take the burden from her.
"Then let me do it. He deserves better than the axe, Varys manipulated him too. He won't choose poison and he doesn't need to be burned as a spectacle. Mix the snow and the fire Dany, let it balance each other out."
The truth of his words rang through her like bells, and suddenly she understood why Targaryens needed more than one in the world. Their dragonblood brought greatness and might, but the power of gods left them vulnerable. Without another… there was no equal to a dragon, and that power drove them to madness. Two Targaryens balanced the scales, balanced the madness and kept it at bay.
Jon seemed to understand the same, as he recalled Maester Aemon's words. 'A Targaryen, alone in the world, is a terrible thing.' He touched her face, marveling at the way she turned her face into his palm, and smiled. It was time he accepted his birthright.
"I, Aegon Targaryen, seventh of my name, proclaim my love and my fealty to you. I want to keep you safe, I want to keep you by my side, now and always. Let me love you, let me lead with you as your friend and lover or even if you wish as a husband. Just let me love you... Please."
Translations:
"Mother of Dragons, you come back to us at last!" - "Muña Zaldrīzoti, ao've māzigon arlī naejot īlva rȳ mōrī!"
"Are you sure, Mother of Dragons?" - "Issi ao, Muña Zaldrīzoti?"
"I am sure, let the Lannister men free, they shouldn't be punished for being given the wrong name." - "Iksan, ivestragī se Lānistor vali dāez, pōnta daor sagon ossēnagon syt issare se pirta brōzi."
So what did you guys think? Any ideas you'd like to see added in? Feel free to R&R and let me know! No ideas are bad ideas, so don't be scared to add your input!
Love you all!