Standing in the open light,
within the swelter of the night,
I found myself staring at you.
And everything our fingers touched,
I felt like it would be too much,
and too little to hold onto.
I cannot fall in love with you,
I cannot feel this way so soon, so soon.
I cannot be this way with you,
I cannot fall in love with you.
-Maggie Rogers, "Say It"
Dorne suits her, Jon thought. All the places they'd visited in the past week or two were breathtaking and complemented Dany's beauty in unique ways but Dorne was another story. The sun and sand and brilliant sky captured her in a manner the saturated greenery and golden sunsets couldn't. Brutal contrasts highlighting her softer edge.
They had a quick stint in Sunspear that included a horseback ride along the beach. It was going well, the two of them enjoying the fresh air and salted waves until a horde of paparazzi descended upon them with flashing bulbs. Luckily the security team jumped into action and got the royal couple away. They figured it would happen, anticipated it, but it didn't make the intrusion any less annoying. It left both of them agitated, a feeling that carried over to the next day.
From Sunspear they headed to another location, spending the entire car ride looking out windows they weren't allowed to roll down. Disappointment more than agitation filling the shared air. It was as if they'd forgotten how exposed they were; as if they weren't the most watched people on the planet. Jon certainly had.
Dany put it best. When did the acting start and stop? Were they just performers so entrenched in their roles that real life and fantasy blended?
Jon shook his head, chuckling to himself. There was no pretending anymore. He knew it from the way the feel of her hand in his was overwhelming and depriving. He wanted to share every little thing with her, minor moments and big events.
A structure in pure white stone interrupted their smooth landscape, rising up from the red sands like a beacon. If not for the spires and domes, it would be easy to mistake it for another of the sporadic spots of green the interior of Dorne offered.
The real Water Gardens, not the sized down replica housed in the Red Palace. The very sight of their first meeting and subsequent argument. The soft, hazy moonlight replaced with a blazing sun and their moods significantly changed from the stand-offish chill to fuzzy and cordial. And wearing swim gear instead of formal dress.
Waiting for them at the entrance of the little palace was the skeleton staff and Her Majesty, Elia, flanked by her children. They fidgeted excitedly when Dany stepped out, finally wiggling out of their mother's grasp to run at their aunt. She caught Aegon and swung him around, she went to set him down but he clung to her.
"You're getting too big for this, zaldrīze."
He giggled, "You just called me dragon. I learned that word last week."
"You did!" Dany playfully gasped, "I'm so proud of you!"
"I'm learning Valyrian too! I'm much better at it than Aegon."
"Are not!" Aegon pouted.
"Am too!"
"I'm sure you're both wonderful speakers," Dany cut in, although Jon could tell by her smile she was enjoying their sibling spat far too much.
They reminded him of Arya and Sansa when they were the same age. Always bickering about trivial things until someone broke them up. Thankfully, they were beyond that stage now.
"Rhae, Aegon, you remember Jon right?"
Jon hovered sheepishly beside Dany. The children were still wary of him, though Rhaenys nodded in response to her question.
"Shall we give our new guest a tour," Elia suggested.
They were more excited about that prospect and Dany released Aegon to walk with his sister. With her hands free, she immediately took up Jon's. They wandered through the halls, decorated in colorful tile and intricate designs. Light filtered through the arched windows and doorways, fresh air surrounding them at every turn. In her flowing kaftan of sheer ivory, Dany fit seamlessly into the halls, as though she were a ghost who'd always been there.
"And, now, for the reason we're all here," Rhaenys' little voice broke through.
They stepped into the main courtyard. It was much larger than the replica, the pools deeper and the fixtures taller. There was no shortage of statues and trees basking under the hot Dornish sun. Spots of shade dotting out the intricate tile work of scrolls and sunbursts.
"Last one in is a rotten egg," Aegon challenged his sister.
They took off in a burst of childish giggles and Elia called after them to be careful, following as a concerned mother would.
Dany turned her face to the sun and sighed. It was clear she was meant for the sun and warmth, days spent lounging around and taking in what summer had to offer. What would it be like when winter came and she was trapped inside by snow and wind and ice, with no sun? She wasn't made for such things, it would be hard on her.
"What's on your mind?" she questioned, fingers brushing over his wrinkled brow.
She'd taken to doing that whenever she noticed he was pulling the face.
"It's so hot here," he noted.
Just as Dany wasn't built for the cold, he wasn't made for the heat. He was in a constant state of sweat since they landed in the southernmost kingdom.
"Then maybe we should take one out of the kids' book."
She undid her cover, revealing the bold red suit underneath. The bottoms sat high on her waist, curving over her hips and allowing the bone to peek out when it cared. The top was square-necked and a line of black peeked out from under the band. Of course she had a tattoo.
"Auntie Dee, jump in!"
She laughed and ran, diving headfirst into the water. When she resurfaced and smoothed her hair from her face Jon had no choice but to recall that fateful night. The way her slip clung to her form, hair plastered to her neck.
"Aren't you going to join us?" she called back.
Jon grinned at her, he took his simple tee off and jumped in, tucking his legs up. He'd had plenty of practice from the Stark family trips to Long Lake. He came up right in front of Daenerys.
"Show off," she muttered as Rhaenys and Aegon giggled about the size of the splash.
Later, Dany and Rhae abandoned the pool for the chaises and Aegon worked up the courage to talk to Jon without his aunt as a buffer.
"Do you really have wolves in the North?" Aegon questioned with only slight interest.
"Yes, and bears."
"I've never seen any of those."
Jon's brows furrowed, "Have you ever been to a zoo?"
"Well, yeah, but that doesn't count."
"How so?"
"Any animal in a zoo isn't a true animal. It's behind all that glass and stuff. So it only counts as seeing a real animal if it's in the wild. You get me?"
"Sure."
They floated past where the ladies were sprawled out, soaking up the sun. Their babbles became clearer and revealed they were conversing in Valyrian. The elongated vowels foreign on Jon's ears. Dany glanced over her shoulder, eyes catching his before leaning into her niece's ear conspiratorially.
Jon looked at the boy next to him, "Can you understand what they're saying?"
"I don't speak it that good."
Jon sighed, he would have to ask Dany later.
"Will you throw me again?"
"Of course," Jon answered, grabbing Aegon under the armpits.
"I'm really glad my auntie married you," Aegon stated before Jon launched him.
"Me too, kid."
The sound of Aegon's giggling as he resurfaced brought a smile to Jon.
"Speaking of, how is married life treating you?"
Elia, who floated by herself since Jon and Dany had taken up her children's attention, sidled up next to him. She rested an arm on the edge of the pool, eyes scanning him as she awaited the answer.
"Better than I thought it would," he admitted, though he was getting tired of answering that question.
"I thought it might," Elia said with a knowing look, "So how soon can I expect my own collection of nieces and nephews?"
At Jon's hesitation, she continued, "It's no rush, of course, I understand. Better than most, actually. From my understanding of events, they're not far off."
Laughing, followed by Dany exclaiming something in Valyrian, distracted them from exploring that topic further. Thankfully.
"I hate when they do that," Elia complained.
"You don't speak it?"
"No, and thank the Gods I never had to learn."
Dany settled onto the tile between her sister-in-law and Jon, slipping her legs into the water.
"What are you harassing him about now?" she asked, playfully splashing water at Elia.
"Someone has to complain about the lack of grandkids," Elia sighed with a light splash at Dany's legs, "Is there any way you could get to work on that?"
Dany rolled her eyes, leaning back on her hands and letting her head roll to the side. "I'll look into it."
"The biological clock is real so you'd better-"
"Mommy, look what I found!" Aegon's excited cheers came from somewhere in the foliage.
"What?" Elia called back.
"This!"
Aegon had something bright colored and squirming held proudly above his head.
"No, put that down!" Elia climbed out of the water to chase after her son who took off in the other direction.
When Jon looked back at Dany, she shook her head.
"He's in a frog phase right now. Hasn't quite figured out you're not supposed to touch the bright colored ones."
Jon hummed, "What were you and Rhaenys talking about?"
She smirked, violet eyes sparking, "She's curious about you so I was filling her in. Aegon has really taken to you."
"You think so?"
"I know so." she glanced around their meticulously decorated surroundings, "It's so strange being here. All I can think about is that night."
"And how different everything was."
She nodded, "But a good different. And I much prefer this one."
"Me too. It's brighter."
Jon shifted in the water, bringing himself to hover in front of Dany's knees. The corner of her mouth quirked as she sat up. Jon almost felt bad for the plan formulated in his brain.
"Not nearly as humid," she added, leaning closer.
"I think the best part is this."
With deft hands, he pulled her from the edge of the pool and into the clear waters.
"Jon, I was dry!" she complained when she resurfaced, shoving hair out of her face.
Streams of water glittered along her skin and his eyes lingered on the places he hadn't shown interest in before. The sound of Dany clearing her throat reminded him that staring was rude.
"What?" he asked in an innocent tone.
She splashed him for that one, the cool water falling over his face.
"I deserved that."
"You think?"
"Can you blame me? I wanted you in here," he slipped an arm around her, resting at the small of her back.
The half-smile returned to her face, "You're not nearly as smooth as you think you are."
"I have to disagree."
He leaned down to kiss her when a little voice stopped him.
"Jon and Dany sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g," the voice sing-songed.
Dany pulled back and gasped, "Rhae."
Girlish giggles were interrupted by a shriek as Dany and Jon climbed out of the water in pursuit.
The decision to stay overnight at the Water Gardens was an easy one. The whole party was exhausted from the activity and heat but only retired to their rooms once the sun was gone from the sky. Despite being dreadfully tired, Jon couldn't sleep.
His phone buzzed on the nightstand. A text from Dany asking if he was still up. His response was a quick yes and a moment later there was a soft knock on his door.
"Is something wrong?" he asked when Dany pushed it open.
"No, I want to show you something. Come on," her hushed voice insisted.
And so they went, down the now dark halls with Jon following Dany's pale silhouette. Her nightgown was a pale grey that left her back and shoulders exposed, hemline falling to just below her knee. She was leading him back to the courtyard, he realized.
It looked slightly different in the dark, the statues and their long shadows keeping watch. A few lamps lit the space, providing just enough light. Dany pressed a button on her phone and a slow song trickled from the device.
"And your reason for dragging me out here was…"
"I was hoping to enjoy this place without Elia and the kids. Unfortunately, this was the only time."
She took his hand and stepped closer. Jon's other found the small of her back as though it was second nature. They let the quiet tune dictate their sway.
"What does your tattoo say?"
"Dracarys. It's Valyrian for dragon fire."
"Fitting."
"Isn't it? What about you, any tattoos I should know about?"
"Nope. I've never felt the urge to get one."
"Hm, maybe you should. My name in a heart sounds like an awfully wonderful idea."
"You got the awful part right," he chuckled.
"Just a suggestion." Dany rested her head against his chest.
A content sigh left her and Jon leaned his head against hers.
"You never told me what you were thinking about earlier." she pressed.
"I told you, it was just the heat."
"You're a terrible liar."
Jon relented, "I'm still thinking about those photographers from the beach."
"Don't let them bother you."
"I'm not trying to. It's been so peaceful and quiet that I almost forgot who we were. The way they appeared out of nowhere was a rude awakening. And a reminder."
"Of what?"
"The fact that we'll never be normal. There will always be people with cameras and microphones and opinions."
"Our wedding is the event of the decade, probably the century. Things will die down when we return North."
He hummed in agreement but his brows creased. A part of him knew it was wishful thinking; things wouldn't settle down and a whole new set of pressures would form. He just needed to make it through the next week. The thought he'd entertained all day came back to him.
"Dorne suits you."
"Huh?"
"The sun, the warmth. All of it. You belong in a place like this. Not the North."
"And why not?"
"It's cold and snowy, not to mention overcast. And it's especially worse in winter."
"Let me make one thing clear," she said with a stern voice, settling her eyes on him, "I belong wherever I want to, whether that be north, south, east, or west."
He looked at her, the determination in her eyes something he wanted to see more of.
"Where do you belong now?"
"Isn't it obvious?" her expressive brows knitted.
He shook his head.
"I belong by your side. Wherever you are, I'm meant to be."
She took her hand away from him to rest her arms on his shoulders, forehead pressed against his. His hands slid from the small of Dany's back to just under her shoulder blades, the smooth material of her nightdress slipping past. The soft song broke into an instrumental solo as they continued to sway.
Jon pressed a quick kiss to Dany's nose, then her lips. She laughed a little when he pulled away.
"What is it?" he pondered.
"Two months ago, I was determined to scare you off. Now, I don't want to let you go."
"My stubbornness did us some good."
"Mine certainly didn't help."
They returned to their swaying, enjoying the night sounds of the little palace around them.
"Can I tell you something?" he asked.
"What?"
"It's a good thing you were so mean that night or else I would've made a fool of myself."
"Would you believe me if I told you I felt the same?"
In truth, he wouldn't have but she said it with enough confidence to convince him. How changed things would be if they had met under different circumstances.
