We were aboard Monell's boat, on our way to Dragonstone. It was early in the morning, right before the sunrise. Monell was helping me with sword practice while Jon and the others slept in the cabins below. Monell had given Jon and I the Captain's Quarters, he claims it was because Jon was a King and the honored guest of the Queen, but I knew better. Monell and Jon tried their best to stay away from each other, but when they did meet they would instantly start bickering and arguing with one another. I didn't try to get the two to get along. As long as they weren't constantly at each other's throats, I was content with them not being fond of one another.
I had left Jon sleeping in the cabin a few hours ago. I was restless and couldn't stand being confined to that bed for much longer. I loved Jon, but the room was cramped and we ended up on top of each other in more ways than one. So I decided to sit on the top deck for a while, that is until Monell came over and suggested we play at swords. So here we were, a few hours later, the waves and the clashing of swords moving over the ship like a grim lullaby.
"Do you think she'll be angry with me?" I ask as our swords continue to dance.
"Who?" Monell asked, too focused on his blade movements.
"My sister, the Queen" I answer as we move around the deck.
"Oh right. Well, Princess, she was pretty angry you left" he admits with a grunt.
"But I'm sure she'll be happy to see you," Monell says with a smile. I smile back and quickly disarm him, stumbling a bit as I regain my footing. I was getting better.
"Nice on Princess, we'll have you back at one hundred percent in no time," he says with a chuckle as he walks over and grabs his sword.
"Ah, good morning my Lord" Monell calls. I turn around and see Jon behind me, dressed in his leather jerkin with his hair tied up in a knot. I could tell that he was bothered by Monell's attitude and the title Lord didn't help. I asked Monell why he called Jon a Lord a few days ago and he replied with,
"Your sister is the Queen, and until she weds I have no King but her"
A flattering answer, but I knew better.
"Morning" Jon called back dryly, walking towards me.
"Good morning, how did you sleep?" I ask as he stands in front of me. He glanced at Monell and then looked back at me.
"Fine, better if you would have decided to stay in bed with me instead of play swords with him" he grumbled, gesturing towards Monell. I smiled a bit at that. His actions and attitude lately had reminded me of when we were younger and I was more of a friend to Robb than him.
"I couldn't sleep. I might as well be productive" I answer, moving the sword in my left hand.
"How's your leg?" he asks, looking down at my right leg that still wouldn't go completely straight. However, it was less bent than before.
"A little sore from use but a bit more stable than it has been," I say, looking down at my leg myself.
"You should rest for a while,"
"Alright, but only for a little" I reply. I didn't want to argue with him, especially when I knew he was only concerned about my well being. I put my sword back in my sheath I move towards the crates by the mast to sit down.
The moment I sit I'm handed some bread and a skin of water by Monell.
"Breakfast," he says simply.
"Thanks" I answer, taking a long drink from the skin of water.
"So, Lord Snow, are you any good with a blade?" Monell asks in an oddly friendly manner. This couldn't be good.
"Aye, I believe so" Jon answers.
"Care to spar?" Monell asks, holding up his blade.
"It's early maybe we should all have breakfast first befor-"
"Yes, I think that's an excellent idea" Jon answers with a smug smile. I watch as Jon pulls Longclaw out from the sheath on his hip. He swings it around in his left than the right hand. He held it up at the ready, waiting for Monell to approach him.
Monell grinned and twirled his sword once in his hand before holding it up in front of Jon. The two men circled each other, waiting for the other to strike. Monell lunged forward first, going harder and faster than he ever did with me. Jon easily deflected it but gave Monell an odd look.
"Just testing to see what I'm up against" Monell explained, the two men continuing to circle one another. Jon lunged forward moving to strike Monell's left side with a downward thrust. Monell blocked it with a clang of metal and looked at Jon in frustration. Jon grinned at the man and they both lunged for each other. Their swords were a blur of metal and when they met they rang out with a deafening clang.
It looked like they were trying to kill one another. They were moving faster and swinging harder with each step they look. Jon had the strength, that much was obvious, but Monell was quicker. Jon was quick too, but not enough. Not quick enough to strike him, but quick enough to block and dodge the incoming blows.
They locked swords, panting in each other's faces. They were both glaring at one another as they stared each other down. There was a fire in Monell's eyes, but a cold fury was lurking in Jon's. They pushed off one another and began to circle once more.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were trying to kill me," Monell said in a would-be joking manner. Jon smirked at him.
"Who's to say I'm not?" he answered, stepping forward and swinging his blade from the bottom up. Monell stumbled backward, regaining his footing but not quick enough. By the time Monell was balanced Jon had hit his sword out of his hand, sending it sliding against the deck to stop by my feet.
Jon aimed his sword for Monell's throat, making Monell hold up his hands in surrender.
"I yield," Monell said, a bit quietly. Jon lowered his sword and stepped back from him. He turned to look at me with a smile on his face. He walked over to a nearby sack and pulled out some bread. Jon came to sit beside me as Monell picked up his blade in silence. The tension was thick as Monell walked over to the helm of the ship and roughly tossed his sword aside.
"I think you've wounded his pride" I mumble, glancing at Monell as I take a bite of bread.
"Better his pride than his hand" Jon mumbles back, taking a bite of bread himself.
After our small breakfast, I followed Jon back down to the cabin. We would be at Dragonstone within the hour and we both had to be ready. He sat at his desk looking at some scrolls or a map of Dragonstone perhaps, while I changed into the red silk dress Monell had brought for me. It was my favorite dress and it helped alleviate the heat that radiated from my skin. There wasn't any snow down here, meaning my heat kept me warmer than I needed.
"That's a thin dress you've got on"
I look up and see Jon's eyes roaming over my body.
"I'm warm, remember? I don't need very many layers. Why? Don't you like it?" I ask looking down at the flowing silk material. I hear the chair creak as he gets up and walks over to me.
"I like it, maybe a little too much" he mumbles, his eyes continuing to shamelessly roam over the front of my body. I laugh a little as he says that. He leans down and places a soft, long kiss on my lips.
He places his hands on my hips once he breaks away, causing me to put my hands on his chest.
"I'm always wanted to see you in a pretty dress" he admits, making me chuckle.
"Is it only because I hated them so much as a child?" I ask, making him smile.
"Yes, but I also want to tear you out of one," he tells me with a soft smile. I feel the heat rising to my cheeks as he moves down and connects our lips. My hands move up and wrap around the back of his neck while he moves them around my waist and pulls me towards his hips.
I get lost in his touch and allow him to lift me up so my legs wrapped around his waist. I lost myself in his lips and waited to feel the bed underneath me, but instead, I was set on the large oak desk he had been working on earlier. I broke away from the kiss to ask what he was doing, but the moment his lips left mine they moved to my neck to leave harsh kisses and bites.
"If you bite my neck much harder you're gonna leave marks" I moan, using my arms to keep me propped up on the table. After I say that he gives a particularly harsh nibble to my neck, which makes me cry out in surprise. He immediately pulls back to look at me.
"Did I hurt you?" he asks.
"No, you just surprised me is all. But what's going on? You're never this rough" I say, sitting up a bit more on the desk to look at him. He takes a step back with a sigh but says nothing.
"It's Monell isn't it?" I ask. I see him falter a bit and open his mouth to reply but ends up saying nothing.
"Why are you so jealous of him?" I ask, reaching forward to grab his hands.
"He acts like he owns you!" Jon snaps, the anger these past couple days have caused him finally coming to the surface.
"What?" I ask, a bit taken back by the statement.
"The way he acts whenever you're around him. He gets this look in his eyes and he knows what you need before you need it. He worships the ground you walk on" Jon grumbles in anger.
"He doesn't worship me"
"Whatever it is he's doing, he's pulling you away from me," Jon says as I hold his hands.
"Nothing could ever pull me away from you, do you hear me? Nothing" I say, standing up before him to look into his chocolate eyes. He smiles at me.
"I love you," he says softly. I lean up and kiss him.
"I love you too," I say in reply, but as soon as the words leave my mouth the horn blows signaling land.
We go above deck as everyone is rushing around to get the rowboats ready. I move to grab my sword off the crate but Monell beats me too it.
"Don't worry Princess, I've got it" he tells me with a smile.
"Thank you," I say, following the others down off the ride of the ship into the rowboats. I sit in the center as the men begin rowing the boat ashore. I take in the giant castle from afar and feel my heart skip in my chest. I was born here...this was the home of my ancestors.
Once the boat was dragged ashore Jon came over and lifted me out of the boat by my waist. My bare feet hit the sand and my silver hair was flying around in the wind. I could smell the salty sea and the air felt so fresh and clean. It felt like I was coming home. The wet sand hissed from the heat under my feet.
I led the party forward, towards Tyrion and Missandei along with some Dothraki blood riders.
"Princess, I'm glad to see you are well," Tyrion says as I approach him, bowing before me. Missandei and the blood riders bow before me as well.
"Same goes for you, I trust all is well with my sister?" I ask. He nods.
"Why don't you go up and join her while the rest of us chat" Tyrion suggests.
"That's alright, I can speak to her after," I tell him with a smile. He smiles back and then turns to address Jon.
"The bastard of Winterfell"
"The dwarf of Casterly Rock" Jon answers.
I lead the party up the stairs as Jon and Tyrion talk. Once we're halfway up the stairs, Drogon and Visenya swoop down, making everyone else duck aside from myself and Tyrion. I turn around and see Jon's look of surprise of fear.
"Don't worry, they do that. And no, you do not get used to it, unless you are a Targaryen apparently" Tyrion says as we continue up the steps. The men continue to talk as I walk forward with Missandei beside me.
"How is she?" I ask.
"Stressed, about you mostly. But she seems very happy to be here your grace" Missandei tells me.
"That's good, I'm glad she's happy" I reply as we approach the doors of the Great Hall. The doors are opened by a couple of Unsullied guards and there across the room sits my sister.
She sat on a throne made of rock that was jagged and pointed towards the right. Her dress was a dark grey and her hair was pulled back in the front into a braid while the rest was left down, the same way I had my hair. Her hands were folded in her lap and she smiled when I approached her. Jon and Ser Davos stayed on the opposite side of the room while I stood before my sister and curtsied before her.
"It's good to see you," I told her when I stood back up straight, wobbling a bit on my right leg. She smiled.
"It's wonderful to see you too," she said quietly as I turned around and stood on her right side.
"This is Daenerys of the House Targaryen, the First of Her Name, The Unburnt, Queen of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men, Queen of Meereen, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, Protector of the Realm, Lady Regent of the Seven Kingdoms, Breaker of Chains and Mother of Dragons" Missandei said introducing my sister.
"And here beside her is Rhaella of the House Targaryen, the Second of Her Name, The Unburnt, Princess of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Princess of Meereen, Queen of Dragons, Breaker of Chains and the Holder of the Dragon's Flame" Missandei said, introducing me in turn. Jon gave me an odd look from across the room that almost made me blush. We both weren't ones for titles and I can only imagine how he felt hearing all of mine.
"This is Jon Snow, he's King in the North" Ser Davos said simply.
"Thank you, my Lord, for keeping my sister safe in the time we were apart and for making the journey to Dragonstone," Danearys said.
"Forgive me your grace but perhaps you didn't hear me, Jon Snow is a King," Davos said a bit awkwardly.
"There hasn't been a King in the North ever since Torren Stark bent the knee to Aegon the Conqueror and swore his oath. An oath that lasts in perpetuity. Likewise, my Lord, I would ask you to bend the knee today and renew the vow your fathers once made to mine" she asks kindly in her Queenly voice. Jon glances and me and I do my best to keep my face neutral and to keep quiet. This was between my sister and Jon, I shouldn't get involved.
"I cannot your Grace" Jon answers. I can see Dany tense up beside me.
"Are you outwardly breaking faith my Lord?" she asks, her voice a bit harsher than before.
"It was your father the Mad King who burnt my grandfather and uncle alive, so I do not think that I was the first one to break the faith"
"I'm sorry. I understand that my father's actions weren't...wise but I ask that you do not punish a daughter for the crimes of her father" Dany says rising from her seat and moving to stand before Jon.
"Let us renew the historic allegiance between Targaryen and Stark" she offers.
" I agree with you that children should not be punished for their parent's crimes, but likewise I should not be held to my ancestor's oaths. I have come back not only to return your sister to you but because we need your help and you need ours" Jon states.
"I have three dragons and Dothraki screamers who have pledged their lives and services to me. What help do I need from you in this war?" Dany states.
"The fighting between the Great Houses, Targaryen, Lannister, Stark, we're all just children squabbling over chess pieces. The army of the dead is our true enemy"
Dany turns to look at me with a skeptical look.
"Have you witnessed this?" she asks me quietly.
"No, but he is an honest man and I can vouch for his words" I reply.
"We need to turn our forces North to the Wall and prepare for the fight that is to come" Jon urges. Danearys stays quiet for a moment.
"Did you know that your father and his best friend sent assassins to kill me as a baby? That when my sister needed help your father turned his back on her? I myself have been targeted by assassins, enslaved, and defiled. But it was me and my faith in myself that kept me going, not the gods. It was said that dragons no longer existed and then my children were born. The Dothraki have never crossed the Narrow Sea but they did for me. I am destined to rule"
"You'll be ruling over a graveyard if the army of the dead is not defeated" Jon retorts.
"What would you have us do? We cannot split our forces" Tyrion chips in.
"Jon Snow has won the support of the wildling people, it was said that could never be done. He has fought the White Walkers and he took a knife in the heart for-" Jon quickly nudged him to cut Davos off.
"But it won't matter who bends the knee to who if we don't put aside our common enemies and focus on the threat beyond the wall. If we don't focus on the undead we'll all die" Davos says finishing his statement.
"But why not bend the knee? We have dragons, we can become allies and help one another" Tyrion argues.
"She is not my Queen" Jon answers.
"You are in open rebellion by claiming yourself King in the North" she snaps at him. But everyone goes silent as Varys walks over to Dany and whispers in her ear. She takes a moment before she speaks again.
"Missandei, please give Lord Jon and his companions food and lodging" she states. She mutters something in Dothraki to the soldiers and they walk away. She begins walking back towards me and what I assume is the meeting room.
"Am I your prisoner?" Jon calls, annoyance in his voice.
"Not yet," Dany says in reply.
"For now, you can stay until we reach an agreement" she says calmly and proceeds to walk into the next room. I watch as Jon, Ser Davos and some other Northmen follow Missandei to their chambers. Once they leave Monell walks towards me.
"Well that went splendidly" he mumbles. I don't say anything.
"Why didn't you stick up for your King?" he asks, crossing his arms in front of his chest as he turned to face me.
"This was business and politics. There's no room for emotions or feelings. Anything I would have said in defense would be taken as such. I am the Princess here, and I have to start behaving as such" I answer. He nods.
"Where's Myra? I had hoped to see her on my return" I ask.
"She sailed off with her brother and sister to transport the sands to Dorne" he says simply. I give him a confused look.
"She's a Greyjoy, the eldest apparently. She went with Theon and Yara I believe" he says. I can feel my eyes widen at the news. Theon Greyjoy? He was still alive after all these years? I nod in response and turn to follow my sister into the next chamber. She was across the room standing by a balcony, looking out over the cliff sides and ocean. In between her and me as a large table, cut and painted to an exactly likeness of Westeros.
"That's a beautiful table" I remark, making her turn around to look at me. She smiles and walks towards me, instantly pulling me into hug. I hug her back tightly. I had missed this, missed being her little sister. The nights we spent talking while she braided or brushed my hair.
"Come, we can talk in your chambers" she says, walking out of the meeting room. I follow her down the rocky hall and into one of the rooms. Inside was a large bed, vanity, table and across from the door was a large balcony with white silk curtains.
"Dany, it's beautiful, how did you do all this?" I ask, walking slowly inside.
"Well I had a little help. Do you like it?" she asks as I turn to face her.
"I love it! Thank you!" I tell her with a grin as I take a seat on the bed. She smiles and moves to sit next to me.
"So tell me what happened. I want to know everything" she said as she turned to look at me.
"Well, the night you left, in Meereen, I had a vision. It was about Jon, he was...injured in some way" I mumble trailing off. I wasn't quite sure how to phrase or explain any of this.
"Okay, but why would you drop everything and leave for this man?" she asks curiously. I give an awkward smile. I had never mentioned Jon, before. The only people who knew about him were Myra, Tyrion and Varys. But even then they didn't know how deep our love ran, or our full story.
"Because I love him...even after all those years apart and everything I've been through" I answer. She smiles.
"Is he...Hope's father?" she asks. I slowly nod. She nods in return and stays quiet for a moment.
"Why didn't you defend him? Earlier in the Great Hall?" she says.
"How could I? You're my sister, my family"
"But you love this man"
"Yes, I do. But I love you too. So in all further matters concerning Jon I've decided to stay neutral" I tell her taking a deep breath.
"Alright, I can respect that" she says a bit stiffly.
"So what else happened?" she asks me curiously. So I started to tell her.
Jon was less than thrilled about his new circumstances. Upon their arrival they had taken their boats and their weapons, save for Monell and his crew and her. Daenearys Targaryen was a very stubborn woman, one of the most stubborn women he's ever met, second only to her sister. He was starting to regret coming here.
Jon was walking around the large grassy hill, examining Dragonstone for the small island that it was. He was trapped. Jon stood on the hill, with the wind blowing through his cape when Tyrion Lannister approached.
"Lovely view" Tyrion called out as he walked over Jon.
"For a prison it is" Jon retorted as Tyrion moved to stand by his side.
"You're not a prisoner"
"I am. I have no weapons, no boats to leave. I shouldn't have come here, not while the White Walkers and the Night King is still out there" Jon remarks.
"So then why did you?" Tyrion asks.
"You know why" Jon answered, turning to look at the little man.
"Ah yes, to return the Princess to her sister" Tyrion says with a nod. Jon says nothing and turns back to look out over the ocean.
"When you're allowed to leave, do you think she'll go with you?" Tyrion asks curiously.
"No, she won't. And I wouldn't ask her to. I saw how happy she was, to be here and to see her sister again. I wouldn't ask her to give that up"
"Not to mention that her sister the Queen doesn't seem to like you. You oppose her rule and if her sister leaves to be with you, well...I expect that the dragons would be making an appearance at Winterfell" Tyrion adds on. Jon takes a heavy breath. It wasn't something he wanted to think about.
"You know I received a raven at King's Landing from Commander Mormont. He said he was attacked by a while walker in his sleep, I trust you know about this?" Tyrion asks turning to look at Jon. Jon nods in response.
"I trust Commander Mormont, and I trust you, but I don't think I completely believe you" Tyrion says, making Jon sigh.
"How can I convince people to believe in things they don't believe to exist?" Jon asks, feeling frustrated.
"With time perhaps, but you'll figure it out"
"But I can't convince anyone from this rock. I was a fool to come here. Everyone advised me not to, well almost everyone"
Tyrion chuckles at that.
"The Mad King's daughters are not their father. Daenearys has protected people from monsters just as her sister has. You should ask the servants what they think of her" Tyrion suggests.
"If there is anything I can do to help"
"Actually there might be something. It's said that there's dragonglass here. I would like to mine it and turn it into weapons. It's one of the few things that can fight against the White Walkers"
"I'll see what I can do" Tyrion says, walking back towards the castle, leaving Jon to look out over the vast ocean.
Dany and I were in the meeting room with the large painted table talking stragedy. It was the first time I felt useful in months. She told me about what Vary's had told her in the Great Hall. That Euron Greyjoy had destroyed the fleet and captured Yara, along with the Sand mother and daughter. We had lost two of our allies.
Tyrion entered as I was suggesting we mobilize our army.
"Forgive my Queen, Princess, but I have some matters that need to be discussed" Tyrion says as he enters.
"What sort of matters?" I ask as we all move to sit around the table.
"Our newest guest" he says, making me stiffen.
"What of him?" Dany asks.
"He has requested to mine here for dragonglass and I think we should let him" Tyrion says, glancing at me before turning to look at my sister.
"Why should we give him anything?" Dany asks, anger lacing her voice.
"We need this allegiance to work and this would be a good way to court it. Let's give him this so we can focus on Casterly Rock" he argues.
"Casterly Rock?" I ask.
"It's a strong hold and it will show that Cersei is not invulnerable" Tyrion quickly explains. She sighs and turns toward me.
"Alright, he can mine here. We'll give him men and equipment. Rhaella would you care to tell him the news?" she asks. I rise to my feet.
"Of course" I answer, turning to leave the room.
Once Rhaella left the chamber Daenearys turned towards Tyrion.
"What do you make of this man?" she asks him, leaning back in her seat.
"He seems to be an honest man, he is only concerned about the well being of his people"
"I meant in regards to her"
"It still applies. I believe he has good intentions" Tyrion says, leaning back in his chair as well.
"That thing Ser Davos was about to say in the throne room, about him taking a knife in the heart, what do you suppose he means by that?" Daenearys asks thoughtfully.
"I'm sure it was only an exaggeration"
"But you trust him? Not only as a potential ally but as my sisters lover?" She asks.
"I do, and I think that it will work for our advantage. Your sister and Jon Snow have a connection, that much is clear. Perhaps we can use that connection to ensure our alliance with the North?" Tyrion suggests.
"How?" Daenarys asks.
I made my way outside, deciding I would take a detour before heading to Jon's chambers. I walked towards the center of an empty field, watching the dragons flying over. I stood still for a moment and watched as Visenya flew down and landed in front of me. I smiled and approached her once she landed, placing my hand on her snout and calling heat into my palm.
"Hello old friend, did you miss me?" I ask in High Valerian. She moves her nose forward so my hand would go further up her snout. I stood their with her for a while, until she decided to take off and go join her brothers in flight. I stood there and watch them. Jon walked over from behind me and stood by my side. We stood in silence for a few moments, until I began to speak.
"Beautiful aren't they? My sister named Viserion and Rhaegal after our brothers, and Drogon after her husband" I explain.
"And the fourth one?" he asks.
"I named her Visenya, after our ancestors...and for our daughter" I answer. I turn to face him as he turns to face me.
"You've never talked about her," Jon says, his voice soft and a little sad.
"I've never wanted to...but I owe you that, and her" I mumble.
"Did you give her a name?" he asks gently. My hands start to shake a little as I think back on that time.
"Hope...I named her Hope. She was a great comfort to me in King's Landing and...she gave that to me. She gave me hope" I explain, my voice starting to shake. I smile at him sadly.
"She was beautiful...so beautiful. She had your curls, and your eyes" I say, fighting off the tears that were welling up in my eyes. He said nothing, but I didn't need him to. I could see the pain on his face and I knew he would blame himself for it.
"We'll give you men, and whatever equipment you require to begin mining the dragonglass." I say, turning to look at the dragons, turning so he wouldn't see my tears.
"Do you believe in the Night King and White Walkers?" he asks.
"I believe anything's possible" I mumble back.
"When we return to Winterfell, we'll figure out a way to stop them. I am sure of that" I mumble. He stays quiet for a moment and I turn to face him.
"You're not going to come back with me"
"What?"
"I know that when the time comes for me to go back, you won't come with me" he says with a sad smile. I stay quiet.
"I saw how you two were today, in the throne room. She was so happy to have you back and you. I saw how happy you were to see her again. I couldn't ask you to leave that"
"So don't ask me. I swore I would never leave your side"
"And I swore that I would never leave yours...but I can't help the North if I'm here, and you can't help your sister if you're there"
"You can't expect me to just let you go...not unless I come with you" I say, feeling like the girl I was at Winterfell. This was our first departure all over again, only this time we weren't children.
"You have to..."
"Don't you dare tell me what I have to do! I'm not doing this again. I'm not leaving you again" I snap. We may not have been children but I was acting like one.
"Do you have any idea the hells you've put me through? What it's like being separated from you? You chose to leave me that day in Winterfell, and I let you because I knew that's what had to be. But you don't have to leave me now...and I don't have to let you go" I continue.
"What should we do then? Run off together? Sail across the Narrow Sea? I have a duty, we have a duty. The great war is coming-"
"So let it come! Let it come and let me be fighting at your side when it does! You're not going to do this to me again Jon Snow. King or not" I say, feeling the fire rising up in my chest. He smiles at me and steps closer to me.
"Do you think a day will go by without us fighting?" he asks with a chuckle. I huff out a breath of annoyance as he raises his hand to cup my cheek.
"We'll figure this out" he mumbles, pushing some hair behind my ear. I smile slightly at the action and lean into his touch. He drops his hand and looks deeply into my eyes.
"Leaving you at that crossroads was the hardest thing I've ever done, and maybe the biggest mistake I've ever made. A mistake I don't plan to repeat"
"Good"