A/N: A transition chapter to set some stuff up for later. Things have moved quickly between our ladies, they need time to assess the situation separate from each other. But I promise the next chapter will continue building the heat.


Chapter 5

Sansa did her rounds the next morning without Daenerys's company. Missandei had passed on her apologies and Sansa was relieved. After what she had shared yesterday, both in words and display, she was glad to have more time to get over her embarrassment. That's what she preferred to call it. Anything else was absurd. But before Missandei left to return to her queen, Sansa took the opportunity to ask for more details of Daenerys's accomplishments in the east. She'd heard it from Tyrion and Jon but it all seemed like so much propaganda for a Dragon Queen whose purpose was to conquer with force, obliterating all in her path. That was all Sansa had allowed herself to see. This time she had listened to Missandei with keener interest.

Having interacted with Daenerys herself, Sansa saw that she had a strong sense of justice. Daenerys's conversations with the children in Winter town showed a kind woman who didn't shy away from blunt questioning, and she was a person who wasn't used to close friendships but was fiercely loyal to those friends she had. Sansa recalled what Jon had said, that Daenerys had pledged her support to fight the dead before he had bent the knee. At the time, she thought that Daenerys had made that decision as a calculation to eventually win Jon's trust. But now she wasn't so sure. These last few days had upended many of her preconceptions. Don't doubt yourself, Sansa, she scolded herself. She is a Targaryen, the Mad King's daughter. The North is what matters.

She saw Daenerys in the Great Hall during the day, sitting silently while she and Jon received petitioners, but they had exchanged no words, just polite nods. Daenerys excused herself early, though, leaving her and Jon to finish the day's work. Sansa tried to focus on her people but her thoughts kept dragging themselves back to Daenerys's solar and she eventually apologized to Jon, excusing herself to take a walk outside in hopes that the cold air would help her out of this confusion. If Daenerys knew what I felt when she touched me...

Walking alone through the various courtyards, Sansa lost track of time as she thought over the best way to approach Daenerys without arousing further awkwardness between them.

"Sansa."

Looking up, she saw her sister Arya approach.

"Stop daydreaming, dear sister. We need to meet in the Godswood. Jon wants to speak with us."

*::::*

Sitting in the Great Hall while Jon and Sansa dealt with supplicants and petitioners, Daenerys reflected on recent events. She had discussed with Missandei most of what had happened with Sansa except for the part about being slapped or that Sansa had revealed her scars. If she had then she would've had to explain why she hadn't punished Sansa and what she had felt when she brought her fingers to Sansa's skin. Missandei would've listened without judgement but for reasons she wasn't able to fully comprehend, those details seemed too revealing. She was still ashamed at how she had spoken to Sansa but the other thing, the softness she couldn't stop thinking about, she wasn't ready to acknowledge those things out loud. So she told Missandei that after that day she needed time to think about the best way to engage with Lady Sansa, which was the truth.

Friendship had been the bait that Sansa had dangled when she first proposed taking those excursions together. And Daenerys was fully prepared to parry Sansa's iciness and false friendship with efforts to prove herself worthy of the North's loyalty, if not to Sansa then to her people. But she hadn't been prepared for how personal Sansa would get or how much she herself would share. It had happened so quickly and Daenerys was certain that Sansa was also surprised with how easily they fell into confidences. These are things true friends share, are they not? she asked herself. But when she bared herself to me that was very unusual. If insight and understanding were what Sansa had wanted Daenerys to have, words would have been enough. There was a seductive element to Sansa's actions and Daenerys's touch revealed to herself and maybe even to Sansa that she wasn't immune to those actions. A calculating woman would try to exploit that to gain the upper hand. But is she that calculating? Is she even aware of the undercurrent of what occurred in that moment? Daenerys couldn't be sure. But it meant that she would need to be even more on her guard around Sansa Stark.

I can't avoid her forever, though. I gave her these three weeks; I need to use them to my advantage. Daenerys stood up and excused herself. She needed to tell Missandei that she would join Sansa the next day. She also needed to talk to her Hand to announce the departure of a portion of her armies.

*::::*

Daenerys found Tyrion alone in the War Room. She glanced at the table with the map of Westeros on it and wondered what Tyrion was up to. He was sitting at a smaller table off to the side, writing.

"Good day, your Grace. I trust your outing yesterday with Lady Stark went well?" Tyrion inquired without looking up from his writing.

She smiled down at him, knowing how much his curiosity would be torturing him. Daenerys was tempted to ignore the question altogether but decided to be cordial instead. Another argument with her Hand was the last thing she needed. She moved a chair to his table and sat down, watching him, appraising him. He was remarkable in his own way; she'd long thought so. But now she tried to look at him the way Sansa looked at him. Her former husband, a very recent lover. Daenerys felt the slightest twinge of jealousy and the oddness of it made her uncomfortable. It only lasted a moment but as she looked at Tyrion the word 'rival' came to mind and she exhaled sharply, making Tyrion look up from his writing.

"Your Grace?"

"My apologies. I was lost in thought. Yes, it went very well. In fact, I hope to return to Winter town with her within the next few days."

"And do you think you'll be able to win a declaration from Lady Stark before we depart? The Vale fights with the North and is committed to defeat Cersei but I'd feel more comfortable for the safety of all involved if she declared for you."

"It's only been a couple of days, Lord Tyrion," Daenerys answered with a tired sigh. "I will say only that things with Sansa are developing."

Tyrion scrutinized her with a gaze that implied he was debating whether to press further and it was then Daenerys realized she'd referred to Sansa informally. In the end he went back to his writing.

"The reason I sought you out today is because I've decided to send a portion of my armies away to White Harbor. We didn't bring enough food with us here and it's a strain I no longer wish to put on Winterfell."

Putting down his quill, Tyrion thought over what she'd just told him.

"This is a good idea. I will speak with Jon and ask him to write to Lord Manderly explaining the situation and to prepare for our army. And if I may suggest, we should send for food supplies from Dragonstone and Meereen to help restore Winterfell's supplies; maybe even supply White Harbor so that Manderly doesn't feel too put upon. Even if the shipments don't arrive for another moon or two or three, Lady Stark and the rest will be appreciative of our thoughtfulness."

Daenerys smiled, pleased with this suggestion, knowing that it'll surprise Sansa. When Tyrion went back to his writing again, she became curious.

"What are you working on, Lord Tyrion?"

"Ah, is my Queen suddenly curious about what her Hand has been up to in order to make her conquest of the Iron Throne go as smoothly as possible?"

Daenerys ignored the sarcasm and sat patiently.

He sighed and finally put away the quill. Tyrion straightened in his seat which Daenerys interpreted to mean she should pay close attention and be on her guard for any omissions of details on his part.

"Since your Grace has decided to prolong our stay here, I've decided to use the time to write to the various houses, bolstering and seeking support. Also, Cersei has been spreading lies about your intentions to burn everyone but we have the time now to combat that. I want to ask Jon to send runners south, men he trusts to spread the word with firsthand knowledge of what happened here and how you fought with the North to save the living. It might be useless and they may be killed before they're able to go deep into the Westerlands and the Reach but seeing real northmen tell their stories might do better than just sending ravens."

She gave a nod and he continued, no longer the cynical man drowning in wine but a man in service of his queen. Daenerys listened as he spoke of messages he planned to send to Dorne and Yara Greyjoy. Tyrion thought that since the new Prince of Dorne had pledged support, he wanted to ask the Dornishmen to see what they could do to block southern supply routes to King's Landing. And apparently Yara had given word that she would depart the Iron Islands shortly with a small fleet to help in a blockade of Blackwater Bay. The delay in the march on King's Landing gave her time to arrive either just before the formal siege began or in the beginning days. Daenerys was very pleased with this news. She told Tyrion it was imperative they stay updated on Euron Greyjoy's fleet movements. He agreed.

Tyrion also wanted to contact the Baratheon bannermen to inform them of Lord Gendry's legitimization and ask for their help with either men or in blocking supplies from their lands. Varys had also walked in and listened to the discussion of whether to send Gendry to Storm's End now or after King's Landing. They decided after would be safer and Varys helped them write a careful message with just the right amount of threat and incentive to imply Daenerys would view the Stormlands favorably if they aided in the efforts to cut off supplies. He also informed Tyrion that while Cersei was fortifying King's Landing, her armies have largely abandoned all other areas, leaving the smaller houses to defend themselves, and Edmure Tully had retaken Riverrun and maintained control of the Twins. At that bit of news, Varys looked at Daenerys expectantly.

"As I've informed Lord Tyrion, I've only just begun treating with Lady Sansa. I will not overstep by making demands of her when she still views me with distrust. Is there anything else?" she asked.

"I've also been thinking about House Tarly," said Tyrion slowly. She glanced at Varys who remained expressionless. "Jon thinks we should do something to show Samwell and his family that we do not wish to take their home away from them. It's a delicate issue and they are a minor house, I know, but the Reach is in flux now that House Tyrell is no more and we should ensure that the Tarlys have no further reason to raise arms against us, which will help the other houses of the Reach stay in line after you take the throne."

Daenerys was uncomfortable with Tyrion's discussion of the Tarlys but she would have had to deal with this eventually. And at least he wasn't chastising her again about what she'd done to Randyll and his son. Samwell did need to be appeased in some way, especially since he knew Jon's secret, which she would not share with either Tyrion or the Spider.

"House Tarly will be able to keep their title and lands, as long as they pledge their fealty. Samwell gave up his inheritance but we should assure him his issue will be considered nobility, and will be entitled to inherit Horn Hill if Lady Talla has no heirs of her own. Jon told me she has refused to marry Lord Fossoway after the death of her father. We can assure Sam that we support her decision and can find a more favorable match for her if she wishes. Also, he aspires to be a maester; perhaps we can make him Grand Maester? He cured Jorah's greyscale. A man as capable as that is needed on my council."

"Yes, I think he'd like that. And it would please Jon to see his close friend situated so highly."

"Then let it be done. If that's everything, then I think I shall take my leave."

Tyrion looked worried and Daenerys saw there was something he wasn't telling her. He glanced at Varys, who silently stood up and left the room.

"Is there something more you wish to tell me, Lord Hand?"

"Yes. I thought to wait until after you took the throne but since that's delayed… it's about Highgarden."

Daenerys listened in growing dismay as Tyrion described how he'd promised Highgarden, one of the richest seats in the land, fertile soil and temperate weather, to a sellsword in exchange for his and his brother's lives as well as to fulfill prior promises. There was no hope now of avoiding an argument with her Hand. She was furious and let him know it. And as if that weren't enough, Tyrion finally confessed why he had chosen to believe Cersei when she promised her armies to help against the dead. She was with child, or had been when they met in the Dragon Pit. It was a small detail, and Tyrion hadn't exactly acted against Daenerys, but she was shocked that Tyrion thought this wouldn't be important for her to know. Was he going to wait until she had put Cersei in front of the executioner? Which now of course she couldn't do, not to a pregnant woman, no matter how much Cersei deserved it.

Highgarden was infuriating but Daenerys could deal with Bronn if Varys could help find him. Not to kill him necessarily, but to make a better deal to her liking. The matter with Cersei was different. It revealed that Tyrion had not cut the familial tie to his sister as he'd led her to believe. If he was willing to hide things from his queen, he might also be willing to betray his queen.

"You tell me this now because you don't want me to kill her in an attack and you see me leaning away from a siege. But I still wonder how starving the smallfolk to the point of rioting is more merciful? Are there no horrors in a mass riot? Is she more important to you than the innocent? And Cersei herself chose death by not fighting with us for the living. She knew the truth, knew her condition, and refused; Cersei will not yield no matter who riots in the streets. You have to face the truth, Tyrion. She is lost. Besides, we have just discussed cutting supply routes. Cersei is holed up in the Red Keep, her armies cower in King's Landing wondering when we'll strike. So, whether we like it or not, the siege has begun even if we're not there to enforce it. By the time we arrive, a longer siege will likely not be necessary."

Her anger was gone now and it had been replaced with disappointment. "We will discuss your lack of candor another time. Please continue working on those messages and the other things we talked about."

"Yes, your Grace," he replied, his expression remorseful. She smiled sadly and walked out of the War Room. Daenerys was now certain that, as clever as he was, she would not keep him as Hand. She would tell him later, when it was time to leave Winterfell. But for now, her task was winning Sansa's friendship.

*::::*

Sansa practically ran to her rooms. She needed to be alone, needed time to think. Jon Snow was a Targaryen. Her Aunt Lyanna's son. Heir to the Iron Throne. She wanted her mother right now more than anything. She wanted to cry and berate her for allowing their mistreatment of Jon growing up. Oh, she knew she'd been horrible. He said he forgave her and she thought she'd allowed forgiveness for herself. But this news... her father never betrayed her mother. He had lied to them all.

She'd listened to every word Bran had to say in the Godswood, stayed silent as Arya yelled at Jon, telling him to push his claim to the throne, and wrung her hands when she had to listen to Jon whine about not wanting it and being loyal to Daenerys. Sansa's eyes had widened when she realized their familial connection and how he had bedded his aunt. But when he explained that he had stopped the relationship, she'd had enough.

"You're an idiot, Jon!" Sansa had yelled, and stormed off. And now she paced in her room, infuriated at her brother.

How could he be so stupid? He's the only one holding Daenerys's friendship to the North. She will owe us nothing if Jon displeases her. Worse still, she might decide to assassinate him as her rival. And he put us all in danger by sharing this knowledge of his true parentage. Daenerys will have to kill us, too, if she sees us as a threat to her rule.

Sansa's mind whirled with these thoughts, wondering what to do. She had sworn to keep it a secret. Did that mean she had to pretend she didn't know about it with Daenerys, too? Jon had to have told her he planned to tell his family. She'd be looking for any sign of this knowledge in her. No, their interactions together would be better if she didn't deny knowledge of it. An understanding friend would be what Daenerys would need. Someone to confide in. She may not want to confide this knowledge to Missandei; she wouldn't want anyone to know at all. So that means she's isolated; the man she loves has isolated her, a Targaryen with two dragons! Jon, you're an idiot. And no wonder she jumped at the chance for a friendship with me.

So lost in these thoughts was Sansa she didn't notice Arya enter her room. Sansa looked up, startled.

"You know what has to be done now. The danger our family is in," Arya said coldly.

Sansa nodded. It was the only move now to ensure their safety. Jon on the throne would guarantee the North's safety.

"When?" asked Arya.

"I need time. There are things I'm working on with her and I've been trying to gain her trust. No one should see it coming. No one should be able to blame our family."

"Why do you need her trust if the plan is to get rid of her?"

"As I said, no one should question the alliance Jon made with her. If I have her trust, her advisors will give it as well, and her armies will depart without bloodshed."

"You already have an idea, don't you?" Arya did not look surprised. Their little play with Littlefinger had taught them both how ruthless the other could be.

"Yes. My earlier thought was to have it happen in King's Landing or Dragonstone. When the time was right, I planned to ask you to do it. And I had been planning on contacting other houses for an alliance against her. Glover will readily join us though he doesn't have the men but he can bring in Manderly and others. I can convince the Vale and Uncle Edmure. But this news makes me think it needs to happen before she leaves Winterfell, before she has a chance to rethink her view of us. As you know, she went with me to Winter town and there are plans for her to continue accompanying me on my rounds of the castle and outside the walls. I can send messages to the other houses implying fractures in our alliance with her, just to get them ready to support Jon when she's gone."

"Poison would be cleaner. It's how I ended House Frey after all," said Arya coolly.

Sansa felt a chill pass over her and thought of Joffrey and how painful his death had been. There surely were poisons that could make it painless for Daenerys. But having it happen within the castle made Sansa uneasy. It would raise suspicions against House Stark.

"I think an attack in Winter town or somewhere else outside the castle would be better. There would be less suspicion in a random attack than with a calculated infiltration of Winterfell," said Sansa.

"And Bran?"

"Bran will see the necessity of our safety and won't betray us."

"Jon will know, he won't forgive us."

"Jon will suspect, and as long as he sits on that blasted you-know-what and keeps the North in peace, then I don't care what he does. He made our choice for us when he rejected her as his lover and told us the truth of who he was."

"So you would break your vow and tell others about him?"

Sansa's heart beat rapidly. Doing so and hoping for the right outcome left too much to chance. Daenerys would know who shared the information and it increased the risk for all of them. But more importantly, betraying Jon's trust… she was already going to betray his queen, she did not want to add another terrible thing to that list.

"I won't. But with her gone, you and I will push hard for him to reveal it himself, to gain support against Cersei. She still needs to be removed from power. Even with that name, Jon will have support. And he is a dragon rider. He may be able to control those dragons."

"We could work on him to accept their relationship instead? It doesn't have to go the other way," offered Arya. This surprised Sansa. But of course sparing him this loss had to be considered. He was still their brother.

"But then how does that keep the North out of her hands? Or at least leave us in safety?"

"Didn't you say you're working her? Gaining her trust? She may not have Jon as a consort but she would have you both as allies. She will want allies."

"I don't know. I don't know if I can trust her, Arya. I see it in her. Her anger, her obstinance."

Sansa couldn't define this feeling that she had about Daenerys. She had recently caught glimpses of the heart underneath, the person Jon loved. Strong, intelligent, kind to her loyal followers, these were all things Sansa was beginning to admire in Daenerys. A strange flutter in her stomach was felt as other memories of their encounters came to her and Sansa suddenly felt weak in her resolve. But this has been the plan all along, she argued with herself, straightening and staring hard at Arya. She focused on the haughtiness, the self-righteous air about Daenerys, and the certainty that the Dragon Queen would rather burn those who oppose her than show mercy and understanding; all these things added up to a queen who would not understand the North's hesitance. Jon's love might have been able to temper those impulses but without him at her side what was to stop her from burning them all when Sansa and the rest refused to obey?

There was a moment's pause as the two sisters pondered the future. Then Arya said softly, "I can understand what you're doing but aren't you concerned with her motivations for pursuing a friendship with you? What does she hope to get out of it?"

"As you say, she wants allies. And she knows my view of her and what I want for the North. I expect she's trying to head off a future confrontation between us after she wins the throne."

"She's charming, Sansa. You need to be cautious." Arya eyed her knowingly, making Sansa uncomfortable. How could she know?

Sansa nodded but didn't want to share how drawn to Daenerys she'd already become. "I have to think, Arya. Can you make my excuses at dinner? I need to figure out when would be the right time to tell her I know about Jon."

"You're going to let her know you know?" Arya asked, surprised.

"It's the smart move. She will respect the honesty I give her. You've seen how she takes on as advisors those who acted against her or whose families did. Jorah Mormont, Lord Varys, Lord Tyrion. She already knows I dislike her, or did. I see now that Jon has broken her heart and her pain cannot be shared due to the sensitive nature of the secret. I'm almost positive she has told no one. I can be the confidante she needs."


A/N: Just wanted to thank you lovely readers for sticking with this. Updates will significantly slow down over the next several weeks due to work (I'll try to get at least one more in during that time) but after that I hope to get back to my preferred schedule of an update every 5-7 days until completion. My current outline has this fic ending at 20 chapters or so (subject to change).