Hello !
Just to tease, I lost control of one of the characters ;)
Have a nice read.
Daenerys sighed. Bending forward, leaning against the low wall of the outer staircase, she gazed adoringly at her dragons flying over the bay. And they knew their mother was watching. Especially Drogon as always.
The black dragon was having fun flying past her to make her hair fly in all directions. Amongst the whole range of his roars, there was a particularly mocking one, or so she liked to think. The young woman smiled as she pulled back a strand of hair that was blocking her view.
For their part, Rhaegal and Viserion were still flying together. Their size difference with Drogon had worried her, but Daenerys could see they were growing fast. She still blamed herself for locking them in that big, dark cellar under Mereen's pyramid. And for chaining them up.
She who used to claim that a dragon was not a slave.
The two dragons did not seem to resent her. At first, they had been distant, spending days flying around without even landing once.
Since her arrival in Peyredragon, Rhaegal and Viserion no longer hesitated to visit her.
Daenerys was relieved because they were her only beacon. All her life, she had believed that she would feel at home the first time she set foot in Westeros. The young woman had been wrong. She had never felt more like a stranger than on the island where she was born. She had never thought the fortress would be so dark.
Drogon roared one last time before joining his brothers, which brought Daenerys back to the present. Which was not a pleasant one.
Planning a meeting in King's Landing was proving more complicated than expected. Tyrion was confident that Jaime was willing to help him and that he would talk some sense to Cersei. On the other hand, Ser Davos and Jon seemed quite convinced of the opposite. There had been fruitless debates around the big council table for several days.
Despite their discussion, Jorah had closed up again since the famous dinner when Jon Snow had lost his temper. The only change was that he sat beside her. But his face and blue eyes didn't give away his thoughts, which annoyed her greatly. She needed his opinion.
Daenerys sighed again. She tried to banish her gloomy thoughts. These peaceful moments alone were rare, the young woman wanted to take full advantage of them. She watched her dragons for a few more minutes before heading back to the castle.
Suddenly, she decided to change her usual path. Instead of going straight back to the throne room, she ventured into the corridors. The sounds of the castle guided her and finally she stopped in a wing where she hardly ever went. The clatter of wood echoed down the corridor. On the large terrace, the few Unsullied who had remained in Peyredragon were practicing. Daenerys crept along the wall so she wouldn't disturb them.
Away from the others, Ser Jorah stood there, facing an officer. A simple, thick tunic protected him from the wind blowing across the island, yet he was flushed with effort. He was gritting his teeth so hard, she could see it from a distance. The young officer lowered his guard and held out his hand. The knight handed him his training staff with reluctance.
The young warrior approached Jorah and motioned for him to open his tunic. The latter recoiled, but the young man insisted. His face hardened, but the knight complied. The Unsullied watched him from every angle. He took one of Jorah's arms and stretched it.
Daenerys could see that he was holding his breath by the grimace that distorted his face. She could also see the scars on his chest.
The young man shook his head.
"Not good... The skin... not yet tender... not supple. You have to... wait."
Jorah sighed.
"Oil... Ask healer. You... not afraid. You great warrior, strong," the Unsullied tried to reassure him.
"Thank you," Jorah grumbled.
Looking up, he noticed Daenerys' presence. So did the Unsullied. The officer bowed immediately, and then walked away.
The young woman looked petrified. She looked at his wounds, both horrified and guilty.
Jorah tied the laces of his grey tunic with shame. He kept his eyes down and his jaw clenched.
"Is everything all right, Ser?" she asked, knowing the answer already.
The knight took a long moment before answering her.
"My recovery is taking longer than I thought."
The young woman made a veiled attempt to lighten the mood.
"Wasn't it you who wanted to go looking for a dead beyond the Wall?"
A simple raised eyebrow answered her.
Embarrassed, Daenerys leaned against the parapet. Her eyes were lost in the sun's reflection on the sea. The young woman felt his gaze on her, and she did not know how to explain the shiver that ran through her golden braids.
"Has Jon Snow come to apologise to you?"
Surprised by the change of subject, Jorah leaned back next to her.
"Not yet."
"He had no right to tell you all these things, especially in front of so many people."
Daenerys turned her head towards him. His eyes were squinting against the sun, but strangely, the knight didn't look angry. If she were him, she would have fulminated.
"Yes, but he wasn't entirely wrong."
"Jorah..."
'I betrayed my father's trust. I let him down."
"Jorah, you've changed, your father would be proud of you now," she contradicted him, convinced.
"I will always regret it, Khaleesi. I will always regret not seeing him one last time to ask for his forgiveness."
Life was unfair. However, the young woman forced herself to regain her composure.
"How do you stay so calm?"
Jorah looked at her with the shadow of a smile.
"I don't know. Maybe it's age."
"It's a well-known fact that all men get wise as they get older," she scoffed.
"Yes..."
A stifled laugh escaped the knight who had looked away. He resumed more seriously.
"If I had gotten carried away like he did, I would have blamed myself."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Jon Snow is a powerful ally. An alliance with the North would be very advantageous for you in a long term," he said, looking at her.
The young woman felt herself blush. She turned back to the sea to escape the intensity of his eyes. She couldn't help but wonder if he was trying to find out if she liked the young King in the North. Daenerys knew that Tyrion was already wondering.
Jorah was perceptive too. If that was what he was thinking, then he was walking a tightrope again, and so was the young woman.
For the feelings of her knight, which had once made her so uncomfortable, were now strangely reassuring. The young woman dreaded the day when she would marry. Even though she knew that Jorah's feelings would have no weight in the balance, she was afraid of hurting him. Again.
Daenerys couldn't tell if she was attracted to Jon. Sure, he was young like her, he had a natural authority she envied, he was humble and selfless, and not so horrible to look at despite his ever so grave expression.
On the other hand, she was less fond of his stubborn nature, like hers, and his particularly strong sense of family. It was a good thing, but the Starks had a bad memory of the Targaryen.
The young woman tried not to think about it too much.
"Perhaps," she simply replied.
From the way he looked at the void beneath him and the sharp rocks at the foot of the cliff, and the way he rubbed his hands nervously, Daenerys knew he was both embarrassed and a little curious. However, he did not insist.
"Is something else bothering you?" he asked instead.
"King's Landing. Cersei. Tyrion is too optimist and the North is too pessimist."
"You told them your intention."
"Yes, I did."
Daenerys frowned, she didn't understand what he was getting at.
"And what is it?"
"Offer a truce to Cersei so that her army will come and help us fight the Night King," she said with some annoyance, turning to face the knight. "By proving to her that magic exists. If dragons exist, then so do white walkers."
Jorah pivoted towards her. He tilted his head slightly and raised his eyebrows as he looked at her frankly.
"What is your real intention?"
Blown away, the young woman began to writhe nervously. For a few long seconds she did not know how to answer him. Then a familiar feeling returned, and gave her a sense of well-being and assurance she hadn't felt in a long time.
This was what Daenerys really needed. Someone who understood how she thought. Jorah knew her by heart.
"Cersei will never help us. I wouldn't believe Jon, so I guess she won't either," she explained more confidently. "I want to see her. And I want her to see me. I've heard a lot about her, but I can't get a clear picture of who she is. Why else would Tyrion still have hope of saving his sister?"
"Tyrion is well aware that you won't let Cersei survive," the knight remarked.
Daenerys gave him a sad smile.
"You can't help but have hope. I loved Viserys even though he was a horrible man. He had some good sides that he never managed to show when we were with the Dothraki. He protected me when I was little and we had to run away constantly. The whispers and the false promises got the best of him... If Tyrion loves his sister anyway, she must have some good sides."
Jorah seemed to be thinking about what she was saying. The young woman smiled as she thought about what was coming next.
"If she is able to have a bit of humanity in her, then like any human being, she must have a weakness."
A genuine smile stretched Jorah's lips.
"Indeed, Khaleesi," he could only reply.
Her smile was infectious. Daenerys laid a hand on his forearm.
"You are magical, Jorah."
Thinking she was gently mocking him, the knight laughed.
"To me, you have magic, truly. You make me think."
Embarrassed by this strange compliment, Jorah avoided her gaze and rubbed his chin instinctively.
"You had already thought of that."
"Yes, but now I ask myself other questions. It's not the same with Tyrion," she confessed, much less cheerfully.
"What do you mean?"
"I want to believe in him because he sincerely wants peace and to not cause any pain to the people. But he is manipulative. He always manages to make me believe that his decisions are always better. And that brings out certain things in me that I find hard to control."
Jorah's sudden concerned look forced her to continue. The young woman turned around to make sure they were alone before continuing.
"When I told you I made mistakes, it was true. When I get angry and frustrated, I get terrible. It started in Mereen after you... left. I chained dragons, my dragons! I got smug when I welcomed Jon Snow. And there, in the Reach... just before you returned... "
Jorah's lips quivered.
"I had a Lord executed for not bending the knee as an example to the Lannister's' army. And his son. Who I could have reasoned with. But Tyrion was standing up to me in front of all those men and I couldn't stand it anymore!"
The more Daenerys spoke, the angrier she became. Her voice was shaking, her hands were shaking. She closed her eyes to try to compose herself before opening them again, but the knight saw the redness in her eyes even though she wasn't looking at him.
"It was a mistake. A terrible mistake. I blame myself, Jorah. It doesn't win me any support from the other Lords of Westeros. I don't feel home."
Jorah wanted to put his hand on hers to comfort her but froze when she continued.
"If Cersei thinks I'm terrible, so they do."
Suddenly her voice rose, still trembling, and tears rolled down her cheeks.
"I am afraid. Sometimes I don't recognise myself anymore and I tell myself this is the end and I'll end up like my father. Burn them all!"
This time Jorah squeezed her hand, but she didn't even seem to notice. She was panicking. It was the first time he had seen her like this and he wasn't sure how to react.
"It terrifies me! But I can't show it to anyone. So, it goes round and round in my head and it gets unbearable! But I can't tell Missandei either because I don't want her to worry, she's already worried enough for Grey Worm! I don't know what to do!"
Jorah felt his heart break to see her fall apart so violently. So, he just listened to his instincts. The knight grabbed her shoulders so she wouldn't shy away, and he locked his blue eyes in hers.
"You are not like your father, Daenerys! You're strong and you have a sense of justice. You are caring and strong-willed. You have the power to make your dreams come true. If you're afraid, it's normal. If you were not afraid, then you would be unconscious like your brother. Listen to your advisors, but detach yourself from them," he said in a strong and convincing voice.
His tirade brought more tears and the young woman clung to the hands that held her up as her legs shook.
"You have to trust yourself. I'm not eternal," he added.
His joke, which was not really one, had the effect of making her open her eyes.
"What?" she choked out between sobs.
Jorah's features softened.
"You don't really need me..."
"No, I need you."
"One day you won't need me anymore. All you have to do is believe in yourself. A advisor can only give you advice. The final decision will always be yours."
Daenerys nodded timidly before wiping her face with her sleeve rather angrily. The knight leaned towards her a little.
"The sweet, innocent girl who managed to blossom into her marriage with bravery and intelligence is still here," he murmured.
The young woman finally looked up at him with her still moist eyes. She was still jittery, but she was calming down. She realised how much she had needed to hear those reassuring words. Her tears changed. They were tears of relief.
Without thinking, she clutched his tunic. Jorah could see in her eyes what she was asking. Unable to resist, he offered her what she wanted. Gently, he pulled her against him. His arms closed around her like a cocoon. Daenerys let herself go with a sigh of relief. Her fists still gripped the grey tunic tightly when she finally laid her cheek against his chest. Her knight's heartbeat began to calm her. In a few seconds she let herself go completely against him. The young woman knew that he would not let her go.
Jorah radiated warmth, both in his body and in the gentle strength of his embrace. No one had ever held her like that. With gentleness and infinite tenderness. The warm breath of her knight swept through her hair and forehead. His hand caressed her back between her shoulder blades as if to tell her he was there, that he would always be there.
Daenerys felt safe, as if nothing could touch her.
"Thank you, Jorah," she breathed barely audibly.
Missandei stopped at the queen's favourite vantage along the endless staircase that led to the beach. Except that Daenerys was not there. The girl had already looked everywhere for her. In the council chamber, in her chambers, in the kitchens, on the cliffs and on the stairs. The queen would have warned her if she had gone down to the beach. The same if she had wanted to fly with her dragons.
Not letting herself be discouraged, Missandei took a deep breath before heading up the stairs. Once inside, she wondered where to start. The answer came directly to the girl. The small group of Unsullied that remained in Peyredragon appeared around the corner. Knowing full well who the translator was looking for, the captain walked up to her and informed her that Daenerys was at the great terrace where they were training.
The girl thanked them with a smile before hurrying off. Jon Snow wanted to see her. He and his men had already begun mining the obsidian. He wanted Daenerys to see how much of it they had already mined, and what it could represent in terms of weapons.
From a distance, Missandei heard two voices. She approached quietly and stopped short when she recognized Ser Jorah. The girl stood in the shadows, torn between her duty to interrupt them and the embarrassment of disturbing them.
They needed to talk.
The translator could not help but hear the conversation. The queen and her knight were talking about strategy. She liked the look on her friend's face. Daenerys was focused and thinking heartily about what Ser Jorah was telling her. The change was quite positive.
Then the conversation shifted to a much more personal topic that the queen had never shared with her.
Missandei petrified when Daenerys abruptly burst into tears. When she heard her saying that she didn't dare tell her about her worries so as not to cause her any, the young girl felt her tears welling up. Yes, she was worried about the man she loved, but she also had to take care of her friend who was also her queen. Both touched and frustrated, Missandei sighed.
Jorah's words of reassurance were a true confession of his love. The translator wondered if Daenerys realized it. When he took her in his arms, the girl could not help but smile. A smile that faded when she realized that the queen was still crying.
The heel of her shoe still made a noise when she tried to back away discreetly. This caught Jorah's attention. They exchanged a forbidding look before the knight made it clear that she was really not okay. Missandei nodded and walked away.
The young girl went in the opposite direction. When she reached the stairs, she sighed and hurried down the steps. On the beach she first saw Ser Davos who smiled warmly at her when he saw her.
"I'm sorry, Ser, but the Queen will not be able to join you just yet. She has caught a cold and is not feeling well. She sends her apologies."
Ser Davos frowned.
"Nothing too bad?"
"No, Ser, but the Queen very rarely falls ill, so she feels a little weak and prefers to rest."
"Of course, I hope you are well, my dear, you look pale," he said with a genuine air of concern.
Disturbed, Missandei blinked several times before smiling.
"Yes. Thank you, Ser."
The girl walked back up to the castle. In the queen's chamber, she closed the windows, drew the curtains and pushed back the covers on the bed. Not sure if Daenerys was going to let herself be pushed around, she twisted her fingers nervously.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Missandei waited.
Well. So, I might tell you that it wasn't at all what I had originally planned, at least for the last half of the chapter. I think I'm frustrated not to see the real feelings of the characters in season 7, so, I'm opening the floodgates ;)
I'm not very nice with myself most of the time, but for once I am very happy with the quality of this chapter in French. I hope you had a nice feeling with it in English. Actually, I have no success in French, I don't know what people think about this story. I have half the views that I have in English, which is normal, bot NO reviews, NO favorite, NO follower... This is the first time it's happening in my fanfics'history ':)
GoldenJediKenobi99: Thank you ! We have the same feeling about their relationship :) I hope you liked this chapter!
Female'wraith: I desperatly try to find some balance in all this mess ! ;)
Poorbear319: This is something I found really strange, they never talked about it, oh no wait! 1min in S8 Ep2 :p I think everybody is on edge because the past of each character is brought back to them one way or another. But Jon is Jon, a nice fellow, so, he'll calm down.
See you next time ! :)