Dany often felt shy around strangers. Would they judge her with contempt or pity for being a bastard? Being a guest at Highgarden seemed like a dream – how often would a Northern girl (or a bastard) have a chance to be entertained at the most beautiful castle in all of the Seven Kingdoms?

Since the moment she arrived at Highgarden, she felt like she was living in one of the songs sung by the a bard. Reach food and drink were delicious; the endless songs were beautiful; and the vibrant sun! There was nothing more she enjoyed than sitting in one of Highgarden's many gardens and soaking in the warmth and the golden glow of the sun. Technically Dany had only been at Highgarden for not more than a day, but she felt as if she could live there forever.

The pre-wedding feast and the wedding feast were both magnificent and she even glimpsed some of the hundred wedding gifts Lord Renly and Lady Margaery received in the morning. Apparently it was a Reach tradition for the prospective husband and wife to break their fast together in the Great Hall on the morning of their wedding day and accept their bridal gifts. Daenerys found it a little strange but it seemed splendid.

If the feasting wasn't enough, there was the tournament in the afternoon. The jousting tourney was scheduled for the next day but Dany witnessed the first half of the melee and the end of the archery contest. Even though she found Theon a little unsettling with his coy smiles and smirks, she was impressed with his skills with the bow and was pleased he came third, losing only to Ser Balon Swann and Anguy, a commoner from the Dornish Marches. Anguy walked away with a pouch of ten thousand golden dragons; Theon seemed quite smug with his winnings of a thousand golden dragons.

If that was not all, there was another feast in the evening and Daenerys greatly enjoyed watching Lyarra and the other noble girls dance from her table with Jon and Arya, both of whom refused to dance. Dany felt a tiny jab of jealousy as she'd saw Lyarra dance the night away, dancing with North lords, heirs in Dorne, Vale knights and even a few squires and hedge knights. She wished she was dancing the night away – who would dance with a bastard?

Dany thought that after the last feast that day all the excitement would finally die away; it augmented when she was led to the guest chamber. It appeared that the Tyrells had a whole wing in Highgarden filled with guest rooms and each and every one of them were large and spacious.

For an autumn night, it was pretty warm and Daenerys slept comfortably on a huge bed big enough to fit two people. When morning came, Dany found herself too comfortable to move. Winterfell hardly has warm days anymore, she thought lazily. She spluttered with surprise as Lyarra threw an embroidered pillow at her. For the duration of their stay at Highgarden, it was decided that Dany, Arya and Lyarra would share a room while the boys shared one too, except Bran who was to have a chamber closer to the royal family as he was the king's ward.

"Really?" said Daenerys, shaking her mane of silver-blonde hair as she threw a pillow back at her. "Throwing pillows? That is more Arya's style!" She glanced at the messy, unmade bed across the room. "Where is Arya?"

"Out exploring Highgarden," Lyarra answered, smirking at her. "She was up at dawn and running around in her um, water dancing attire. I am astonished Septa Mordane said nothing when she supervised the packing! I think she'd muttered something about catching cats?"

Dany laughed. "She was catching cats at Winterfell! What does mastering that particular skill have to do with water dancing anyway?"

Lyarra shrugged. She sat down on the edge of her bed and began combing her hair. She was already dressed – wasn't the tourney later in the morning? "Queen Catelyn invited me to break my fast with her, her daughters and her nieces," she informed her. "Lady Margaery will be there too."

"Oh." Dany could not help but feel slightly disappointed. What an honour to be invited to dine with the royal family! Whenever there were guests at Winterfell, she and Jon were whisked to one of the lower tables. The only time they sat with the rest of their family at the high table was on a usual day with no guests. "What about the boys?" The thought of breakfasting alone was daunting.

Lyarra thought for a moment. "Robb, Domeric and Bran will be breaking their fast with the king. I think Theon is still in that tavern he went to last night to ah, celebrate his victory. I'm not so sure about Jon."

"Does it feel odd with your direwolves still at Winterfell?"

"A little. I thought I would miss their howls at night, but last night, I swear that I heard minstrels sing. It was so…soothing. The Tyrells truly know how to host a wedding festival do they not? Three feasts yesterday and more today and in the next few days! More dancing and then there is this tourney!" Lyarra shone with excitement. "Oh there is so much to do!"

Dany nodded in agreement. She could not wait to board a pleasure boat with her cousins soon. "You look lovely," she complimented. "It is clever of you to sew dresses more suited to the Reach climate." Lyarra flushed with delight. "Is it a bit too much?" she asked worriedly. Lyarra had elected to wear a sleeveless purple gown with a light grey skirt and bodice ornamented with purple swirls and tiny flowers and a silvery-grey belt around her waist. She looked wonderful.

"You look beautiful," said Daenerys honestly. "How are you not cold?" Lyarra's bare arms were as white as snow. Well, her skin looked paler than usual.

"It is so warm here. You should go to breakfast now if you plan to find a good seat in the stands for the tourney. I'll see you there!" She rushed out, humming a cheerful tune to herself. Dany sighed and reluctantly pulled herself out of bed. If she was able to move faster, she might be able to catch a few of the Starks in the hallway before they went their separate ways.

Dany grabbed her lavender purple dress from her wooden chest and hurriedly changed out of her nightgown. After brushing her hair hurriedly, she rushed out her room, almost crashing into Robb.

"Slow down," laughed Robb. "Why are you in such a rush Dany?"

To find you before you break your fast with the king. "The sun is shining," she said simply. "The sun does not shine as much at Winterfell."

"There is no need to run," said Robb, still smiling at her. "The sun wouldn't be going anywhere. I suppose you have not eaten breakfast?"

"Not yet. Have you?"

"No. The king expects me to breakfast with him and his family."

"You will eat with the queen and the princes and princesses too?" At least he'd be with Lyarra if that was the case. Robb nodded. "Walk with me," he invited. "It had been some time since we had some time…alone."

Daenerys blushed. "Well we have been mostly travelling and people would be talking if they see us spend more time with each other than normal."

"That is quite true." Robb glanced around. No one else was around – very odd considering how many guests there were at Highgarden. "Theon did quite well in the archery contest did he not?" He chuckled. "Oh, but you should have seen their faces when Lady Mormont won the melee! It seemed Thoros of Myr would claim victory and the twenty thousand golden dragons, but Lady Mormont snatched it from him with her spiked mace! Ha!"

"Will you participate in the joust today?"

"Yes! I did not come here to watch the joust! I intend to joust!" He sounded so enthusiastic. "Will you be watching?"

"Of course." Dany smiled at him. Her heart fluttered as he grinned back. "Who would you crown your Queen of Love and Beauty?" she asked. "Lyanna or Arya? The southroners would be offended if you crown Arya, but at least we would get the joy of seeing Arya's horrified face."

Robb laughed again. "I would crown you," he said so softly Dany thought she'd misheard him. "I would crown you," he repeated. "Over the last year…" He shook his head. "No. I cannot tell you this now."

"What is it?"

Robb glanced around a second time. "It is you I want," he said quietly. "We've grown up together since we were in our cradles – of course it is you who I want. I write letters to Lyanna and she writes back; I feel I still don't know her as well as I should and we are to be wed like by the end of the year. I like her as a sister or a friend, but you…"

"No," Daenerys heard herself murmur. "This is not right Robb. We are cousins, remember? It is not right…"

Robb sighed gloomily. "My grandfather married his cousin," he pointed out. "It happens. Lord Tywin's late wife was his cousin too."

Over the last year I grew close to you too, Dany wanted to declare. Instead, she shook her head. Robb was not the man for her. Falling in love with him shouldn't even happen! He was betrothed to Princess Lyanna and that was the end of it. It was not so long ago when she liked Robb as a brother – why could she not think him that way still? "There is nothing we can do," Dany said finally. "You will soon marry a princess and I am a bastard. Once I'd considered becoming a septa – that was before Septa Mordane came to Winterfell of course."

"Septa Daenerys," said Robb with a smile. "At least you did not consider being a Silent Sister. Imagine becoming the Stranger's wife." He shuddered, "or death's handmaid, whichever you prefer." He looked concerned. "What do you plan to do this morning apart from eating?"

Daenerys shrugged. "Walk around I suppose." She bade farewell to Robb and wandered to the Great Hall. Ignoring the stares and whispers of the many nobles there, she found an empty table and sat down. She reached across the table for a slice of white bread. She was not particularly hungry.

Staring at the piece of bread reminded her of that unusually warm morning at Winterfell about a year ago. Jon had left for Dorne and Daenerys was in no mood to remain in a stuffy room to sew. It had been her second time avoiding a sewing session – Septa Mordane would assume she was on the wild path frequented by Arya. That morning she hid in the empty godswood with a pad of paper and a box of pencils. She'd been suddenly inspired to draw and the first person she yearned to sketch was Jon.

She vividly remembered his long, solemn face, his lean build, his curls of dark brown hair and beautiful eyes so dark they bordered on black. When she closed her eyes, she pictured him perfectly. The final result on her parchment? A bunch of lines and scribbles. Her first attempt was futile; the second horrible; and Dany was on the point of giving up when Robb found her. "You miss him too," he said quietly after glancing at one of her unsuccessful drawings of Jon. "We all do. He'll be back soon. He'll be here before we know it." How in the name of the old gods did a poor drawing of Jon led to her falling in love with Robb?

"Dany, do you plan to stare at that or do you intend to eat it?"

Daenerys blinked. Jon was across from her, gazing at her patiently. "Oh." Dany blinked again. "I…I was deciding whether to…whether to eat it with bacon or um, jam." She hastily reached for a pot of jam, almost spilling the flagon of milk in the process. She felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment.

"There's no rush," said Jon, lathering butter onto his slice of bread. He placed a thick piece of salty ham on top and bit in. "The jam is not going anywhere."

"You caught me by surprise," responded Daenerys. "I didn't hear you sit down for breakfast." Or see you either.

"You were distracted by your breakfast." Jon cracked a smile.

"I suppose I was," agreed Dany with a quiet laugh. "Who knew a piece of bread could be so distracting?" Jon snorted. They both ate and drank quietly, watching more guests trickle into the Highgarden Great Hall. After about ten minutes, Lord Renly and Lady Margaery entered, broad smiles on their faces. Having no desire to hear about their successful wedding night, Daenerys asked Jon, "Did anything exciting happen at Dorne? I read your letters and it sounded wonderful – how do you feel as a knight?"

Jon chewed on his bread and bacon thoughtfully. "There are so many stories I can tell you Daenerys."

"Tell me one please."

"Prince Oberyn and I travelled to the Tower of Joy on the way here."

"The Tower of Joy?" Dany frowned. Why did that sound so familiar?

Jon nodded. "Father's sister died there. Oberyn asked if I wanted to retrace my father's footsteps in Dorne – it was awfully kind of him. We went to Starfall and I saw Dawn." His eyes shone brightly. "You should have seen it Dany! Only Swords of the Morning can ever wield it." He lowered his voice. "I tried to find out if there was anything said about you, but the servants there were not talkative. At times they would speak about the late Lord Dayne, but they never mentioned you. They only spoke about his tragic death."

"Nothing at all?"

"Nothing. If Lord Dayne wanted to keep you a secret, he did it well. We didn't stay at Starfall for long though. We then rode to the Tower of Joy and the prince told me the story. It was a sad tale."

"Uncle Eddard found his sister there did he not?"

Jon nodded. "She died there too. If she was alive, she would be queen. Robert Baratheon would have married her, even if she was…ruined."

"He must have truly loved her."

"A war in the south over a Northern maiden. You Northern ladies do have an, ah, certain appeal about you." He smiled as Dany blushed. It was sweet of him to consider her a Northerner. She was raised in the North but bore the bastard last name of Sand yet she never set foot in sunny Dorne in her life.

"I do not look too southron?" jested Dany.

"If I could choose a wife, I would choose you Dany." She almost choked on her bread. If he told her this last year she would have been thrilled…but now? "Lord Tyrell commented that this year is the year of weddings," Jon continued, handing her a goblet of diluted ale. "I agree with him. Robb will wed, Lyarra will wed, the crown prince will wed…why can't we too? We are both bastards and once we are married, we can go anywhere we like. We can find your mother too."

Daenerys stared at him, wide-eyed. By the old gods and new…he wasn't drunk or japing. Once not long ago she would agree enthusiastically; how could she tell him she was head-over-heels in love with Robb?


Dany's stomach twisted into knots as she sat down next to Arya in the stands. She had looked forward to the tourney but after Jon's spontaneous declaration of marriage…she felt a little ill.

"Do you think I can compete in a joust one day?" Arya asked. Dany frowned. "I don't think girls are allowed to compete."

"There isn't a rule that says women cannot. Lady Mormont participated in the melee yesterday and no one said anything about it." No doubt those who wanted to were too intimidated by Lady Mormont's spiked mace to squeak a word. "I can always compete as a mystery knight," Arya went on. "There's always one mystery knight in a joust and I don't see why I cannot be the mystery knight."

Daenerys looked at her. "Do you not think you are too young?"

Arya rolled her eyes. "Not now, stupid. Maybe in a few years' time. I'm already good at riding horses and Syrio said that I've improved in water dancing. Maybe one day he can teach me how to joust."

"Maybe." Dany glanced around. "Where are the others?"

"Over there." Arya pointed in the direction of the royal stands. Daenerys felt a pang of envy as she saw Lyarra, Bran and even Uncle Eddard and Aunt Ashara sit with the royal family, Lord and Lady Tyrell, Lady Margaery and Lady Olenna, the Dowager Lady of Highgarden. There was another man with them. He was garbed in Tyrell colours and Dany guessed he must be Lord Tyrell's crippled heir. "Why are you not with them?" she inquired to Arya.

"I don't want to," came the swift and blunt response. "If I sit over there, I have to be a proper lady like Lyarra. I cannot be myself. I heard Father tell Mother that the king wished Lyarra was able to marry Prince Orys as well as Robb marrying Lyanna. Why do you think I'm avoiding the king? I don't want to sit over there in case the king remembers I am a Stark and insists I marry one of the princes." She shuddered. "That would be horrible. No more water dancing lessons with Syrio, no more riding alone and more sewing lessons. Ugh!" Daenerys couldn't help but smile. Arya would always be Arya.

"Robb is competing first," Dany murmured as she saw Robb ride towards the royal stands on the red steed Lady Dustin gifted him when he was born. He was in simple and plain armour; Northerners didn't believe in wearing fancy armour according to Uncle Eddard. A snow white cloak emblazoned with a grey direwolf clasped together by a grey direwolf head pin billowed behind him as he rode to the royal stands. Daenerys couldn't help but smile. From her seat she wasn't able to catch a glimpse of the grey direwolf head pin she gave him as a name day gift, but she knew he would wear it – he promised after all.

Princess Lyanna rose, smiling, and slightly leant forward, tying a long golden ribbon around Robb's arm. Envy prickled Dany's heart. You have given him your favour too, she consoled herself. The pin…that is your favour to him. To distract herself, she looked at Robb's opponent. He too was in simple and plain armour, a set even more ragged than Robb's. Daenerys squinted at him and caught sight of his old shield. The paint on it had peeled away but there was still enough to show the two blue towers united by a bridge on a silver-grey field.

Robb's opponent was a Frey.

Beside her, Arya snorted. "A Frey. I heard one of the Tyrells say that knocking down Freys in a tourney is like stomping out weeds."

"That is a little rude," said Dany, who could not resist a smile.

Arya shrugged. "Freys are pests."

"Arya!"

"That's what all the lords say! Early this morning, I went exploring and hoped to catch cats like I did at home. I was chasing after this fat striped cat when I um, overheard a few conversations, mostly about the Freys."

"Arya! What would your parents say about eavesdropping?"

Arya sniggered. Daenerys shook her head and with a sigh, settled to watch the joust. Robb and his Frey opponent galloped towards each other. Dany wanted to shut her eyes; it was Robb's first joust. What if he-? Her fears crumbled as Robb's lance struck the Frey knight in the chest. The Frey knight was almost unhorsed – he managed to remain on his brown destrier. He and Robb rode across the field again. This time the Frey knight struck a blow at Robb's helm whilst Robb jabbed his lance at his old shield, significantly denting it. Dany's heart thumped loudly as she watched them gallop against each other a third time. She glanced around and noticed the crowd was growing restless.

"A Frey and a Northern boy," a knight with large ears grumbled to another – a friend? "What a poor start to the tourney!" Once the words left his mouth, Robb's steed thundered across the field and as if blessed by sudden strength, he struck his jousting lance straight at the Frey knight's chest, taking him by surprise. The crowd of commoners opposite Dany roared with cheers and applause as the Frey stumbled off his horse. Robb lifted his visor and grinned as he slowed down to a trot. He nodded at the commoners before he turned to the nobles. Daenerys tried to hide her smile as she felt his gaze upon her. It only lasted the tiniest of seconds before he urged his horse to trot to the royal stands; it was enough.

He will win, Daenerys thought confidently as she clapped loudly. Robb will win. Robb would crown Princess Lyanna his Queen of Love and Beauty as expected of him, but she knew deep inside that if there were no conventions, it would be she who would be Robb's Queen of Love and Beauty. Dany bit her lip as Jon appeared in her mind, brooding and serious as ever.

"What is it?" asked Arya, noticing her uncertain expression.

"Nothing," said Dany faintly. "Nothing at all."


Yeah, I know it's pretty sudden with Daenerys falling in love with Robb and all that but I'm planning to show the months they grew closer to each other through flashbacks in the next Daenerys and Robb chapters. I definitely plan on writing a Theon and an Arya chapter later on :) I know it seems a bit like I've changed directions in the course of the story and I admit that what I planned for this story seems to be slightly veering of course. This was the first fanfiction/story in general I planned and I guess I enjoyed the planning stage a little too much and went overboard (that'll make sense later if it seems to be going all over the place). I hope the story would stay on a more steady path now.

For those who are interested, I've posted the first chapter of Family, Duty, Honour, a new story I've been plotting and writing over the last few days :)