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Go check out these lovely reviewers and amazing people, and thank you to the new follows and favorites as well for joining the adventure. Ya'll are amazing. This chapter is admittedly not as crazy as the others, but I feel like there's some good fluff and heat that revelations that prepare for the shit storm next chapter is going to be, so I hope you enjoy!
Jon
When Jon did eventually step out of the bath, he hadn't been expecting the blast of cold air, but as soon as he did he had rushed to grab something to cover him up. When he stepped out into the queen's chambers, he saw that she was indeed gone, and had left him to relax.
He had to admit that she had handled that far better than he had. Daenerys had become the woman she is by believing in these supposed prophecies that came out of nowhere for her. For him, this was all new and he didn't know how to properly react.
But she had brought him back and took him to her room to calm him down, doing something he didn't expect would help but it did. And now he was relaxed – much more relaxed than before.
He still didn't know what to think of the voices in his head, whether it meant something real or not. Whether Jonarys understood him or not. All of it was so complicated, but what he did know was that his hand hadn't been burnt – where it had been before. Something had changed in him, whether through magic or something else.
"Seven hells," he mutters, stepping into the chambers. His eyes travel to the bed, and he realizes with a start that there were clothes on the top of the blankets. He walks over and sees a note settled right on the top. Quietly, he picks it up and looks down, reading the handwriting.
'Jon,
I do hope you stayed in there for a long time – the real reason I put you in a bath is that whenever I've been stressed, it's always calmed me down. I think it might do the same for you.
Your clothes, however, were a bit of a scent, so I brought you some new ones. I hope these are comfortable.
I'll be back up in a little bit – have to get changed before dinner. But I'll see you later.
-Dany.'
Jon feels himself smile a bit. She was even calling herself that now to him. He never thought he would ever have the chance to call her that again and now she was openly saying it in front of him.
By the gods above, how had he gotten so lucky? It wasn't that long ago that she had wanted to kill him for what he did, and now he was taking baths in her bathing chambers while she was ruling? That just seemed like an impossible dream come true.
Jon quietly shakes his head and starts to get undressed, glancing out into the city before him. It was amazing how she had come back here and taken back over this city after so long. A part of him wondered how she did it. He knew the Unsullied had sailed off to the island of Naath once he had been taken care of, and she didn't have the Dothraki when she originally came back here, so what had happened?
He pulled up the pants she had given him and sits down on the bed, feeling his chest start to hurt again. He knew that he was testing himself more and more as the days went on. This was the first time in the last three weeks he had been walking around without bandages, and it felt strange. His body was healing, that was for sure, but each time he glanced down at his chest, it was like a reminder of the pain he had felt – a part of which was a complete shame. He still felt terrible for letting that piss of a person live. He should have just slammed his sword into his body.
A part of him had stopped because his children had been right in front of him – but he knew that wasn't a good excuse either. Children or not, they were going to grow up witnessing bloodshed. Gods knew that Dan had seen a lot of it while she was North of the wall. Both of them knew how to use a sword very well. In fact, Jon was pretty sure Dan had already burned someone to death via her powers back in Vaas Kasheen.
Normally that would disturb him a bit, but after what happened to her, to his family, even to himself, he didn't really care. As much as he did care about his siblings of the past, Arya was the only one who seemed to actually give a shit. He hadn't heard from Sansa in years, and not just because he traveled to Essos – she just never bothered to look for him when he was beyond the wall. Bran – well, that was a whole other situation he didn't want to think about.
He runs his hands through his hair and then looks up, getting a glance of himself in the mirror Daenerys had in her room. He had to admit, he liked how she did it. His hair wasn't too long like it had been before – admittingly, he had let it grow while they were traveling, but hadn't cared to get it cut when they arrived in Meereen. It was almost just above his shoulders, sort of how it looked when he first started at the Night's Watch, except slightly longer. His beard hadn't changed either; she really had just done a trim.
He wondered where she had learned to cut hair like that. Usually, only handmaidens and servants of noble families knew how to cut hair. Even nobles tried to stay away from their own hair. But she knew it well.
As he stood up once again to put on the shirt this time, he heard the door open and he paused, shirt still in hand. Daenerys was looking down at a letter in her hand and then her eyes glanced up towards her writing desk, but stopped short once she saw Jon. "Oh – I'm sorry, I didn't see you in here. I'll-"
"No," he says quietly, putting the shirt over his chest quickly. He starts to button up each button. "It's alright, I'll head out of here soon. I just got out of the bath."
She smiles a little and walks over to her desk. "It was nice, correct?"
"It did help the pain, I'll give you that." He watches as her eyes scan over the piece of parchment, but he could tell from her mannerism that it was worrying her. He gently walks over and rests a hand on her shoulder from where she sat, and she jumps at the sudden contact before letting out a deep sigh. "Is everything alright?"
Daenerys glances at the parchment before folding it up. "I am…I've just been having some issues with the other cities in Slaver's Bay. We've kept them in check for a long time now, but some are starting to grow concerned with the relation between Meereen and Astopor, as well as Yunkai."
Jon's brow furrows as he takes a seat next to her. "What do you mean?"
She raises an eyebrow at him. "You're suddenly interested in the politics of Essos?"
"I never said I was interested," he states back. "But I can tell that it's worrying you and I don't like when you're worried, so you can either tell me what it is and I can try to offer my limited political advice, or you can keep it to yourself. Your decision."
Daenerys sighs, looking at him. "I suppose I can tell you," she states, glancing at the parchment before looking at him. "I took over Astapor and Yunkai. I retrieved the Unsullied from Astapor. It's where they were bred into the soldiers they were back then. Yunkai is where I met Daario, and most of the sellswords there. For a time, I held the power of both cities because I owned two of their main soldiers – the Unsullied and the sellswords. While most of the sellswords are still devoted to me, their main leader, Daario is in chains, and some who are keeping Yunkai in check are starting to wonder why he hasn't been responding to their letters. With Astapor, I don't have the Unsullied now – I don't even know where they went after I was killed…so keeping hold of them has been the hardest. Now, some of them are starting to rebel again, and as much as I could send the men I have here there, I don't know how much of them they could hold off."
"Have they ever questioned your rule in the past?"
"Yes," she answers, looking at him.
"What did you do then?"
She was quiet, glancing out at the city again. After a moment, she sighs and looks back at him. "I burned down their ships and destroyed their fleets. It's been years since then. The two masters that ruled were killed by Greyworm, but now…there's different ones that might be leading some sort of revolution. I'm not exactly sure."
Jon looks at the parchment before looking at her. "Then why don't you just do that again?"
"Because I made a promise to myself that I would only ever use my dragons if it needed to be that way," she says, looking back out at the city. "After what happened in King's Landing…I've almost been afraid to use Drogon. That I won't have control of myself, or anything else. I love him but at the same time…I feel that the world is destined to end in flames because of me, and if I use him…"
Her words trail off. Jon reaches over and grabs her hand, causing her to turn her head back to him. "Dany, I know you think that part of you is still there, but I can assure you, the woman that I've seen nearly the last year isn't the same woman that was in King's Landing. You have control over him."
Daenerys doesn't say anything but nods. She didn't seem as confident with her dragons as she once was – maybe that was something they could work on together. He barely knew how to react to dragons still. "That's not what they proposed though."
His brow raises as she hands him the parchment. He reads over the words and his brow raises as she speaks.
"A union between the cities – a political marriage of a noble family of wealth, and the queen of Meereen. Two sides molded into one. That way, the improvements that have been made in Meereen will be moved there, but they can still keep their way of life without the hope of an invasion."
"Well, you can't marry them," he instantly states, placing the parchment down on the table within seconds.
She raises her brow. "And why is that?"
He opens his mouth to respond but found himself lacking words. Truly, why couldn't she? She had nothing stopping her. She had her children, her rule, but that could follow her wherever she went. He wasn't her husband or her lover – just…something else. He didn't know what. She had every right to make this alliance and stop a future war from coming, but every part of his body said 'no. She can't. She mustn't.'
"I…just don't know how well it would go over," he admits quietly, trying to come up with some excuse besides his own stupid jealousy. "There are people who are very passionate about the nobles who marry into different families…my brother was killed because he married an Essos girl over a political marriage. People take it seriously. You could get hurt. And don't say 'I have my dragons' or 'I have my swords.' My brother had his men with him, and they were all killed. And so was he."
There, that was a good excuse, right? It seemed to resonate with her, and she looked at the parchment again before sighing. "It's not the same situation, Jon. What happened with your brother was because of his own accord. He made the choice to marry outside of an alliance that was already made. I don't approve of what they did to him – I would have loved to meet him, honestly – but this is marriage within a political alliance, something many people have to come to an agreement too. I'd be surprised if someone tried to hurt me when most people want this to happen."
She stands up with the parchment in her hands, pacing the room. He tries to come up with another excuse. "What about the children?" he asks, turning to her. "You're not going to suddenly move them to another city, especially when Kinvara says we have to train somewhere."
"This alliance would take place after that. It would be something I would specify with them. And I would not move to Meereen. Whoever I would marry, they would move here, and send delegates back to the cities to enforce the rules we have in place."
She really had thought all this out.
"What about your dragons? Aren't the masters or whoever going to be frightened of them being so close?"
"The dragons will remain in the pit where they are on the outskirts of the city – I don't think you realize how far it is truly from here. They will never see them."
She goes to place the parchment down and sighs, shaking her head.
"I can't deal with another war right now. Not while our children are having these strange experiences. While you're still healing. It would only end in chaos." She looks back at the paper. "I originally said I didn't want to, even to Eleana and Kinvara. Both mentioned it to me and I…I just didn't want to even think of another marriage. I had one once and it ended in disaster. But with how things are starting to turn…it could perhaps be better than war."
Jon watches as she reads over the parchment and pulls out a quill. Instantly, his fear kicks in and his hand reaches out, stopping her. She looks up at him, her brow furrowed in question, but he was trying so hard to portray how he felt through his eyes – because clearly, his mouth wasn't working so well.
But it seemed to work because she slowly let go of the quill, staring at him as her brow unfurrows and instead was replaced with mild confusion.
"Don't," he says gently, trying to stop himself from saying something he shouldn't. "Don't sign it. Don't say yes."
She stares at him before gently placing the quill back onto the table. "Why don't you want me to sign?" she asks him, her voice quiet. "It would make peace – better than we had before. To stop some sort of conflict from arising. What is making you say no?"
Jon looks at the ground before glancing back at her. There were so many things he wanted to say but he had no fucking idea how to say them to her. So instead, he just tries to come up with some other excuse. "I don't know how good it would be for something like that to happen right now. We have people consistently watching us – people trying to harm us. If there was a sudden union between cities, don't you think people would hear about it? Possibly even someone in Westeros?"
Daenerys sighs and glances back at the parchment. "I know…I was thinking that, too. But if I did marry, I would have more soldiers and men to protect us." She looks over at him. "All of us, I mean."
Jon looks over at her before leaning back in his chair. "Daenerys, it really comes down to what you want."
Her brow furrows. "What I want?" She laughs, bitterness in her tone. "Being a queen doesn't mean you get everything you want. It means you make the decisions that you believe will work the best for the people you lead. Getting married isn't what I want – but it might be how I keep my people safe."
Jon was quiet, glancing at the ground. He wanted to stop his brain from thinking of things to say, but he knew at this point, he might as well ask the questions now. "But what if marrying them isn't the right decision? You just think it is because it's the only decision you have right now."
"Then what other choices do I have?" she asks, her tone growing impatient. "I can't have Meereen growing unsafe due to political issues that could be resolved."
"Marry someone you actually want to marry," he states quietly, glancing at her. She raises a brow at him. "I mean, don't just go with whoever they give you…find someone you have a connection with from there. Someone who you know you'll be able to rule with, to take over with, who can reinforce rules and make sure they will be by your side…you don't want to marry a stranger. And then when you find that person, that's who you should marry."
Daenerys stares at him, her eyes a mixture of emotions that he couldn't quite place. It seemed that what he said seemed to stick with her, but after a moment, she glances back at him. "Is that what you want?" The words were quiet, the question shaky, but he could hear it none the less.
He doesn't respond for a moment. "It's not about what I want. I'm not a king here."
"I'm not asking as if you were a king or anything else…I'm asking as the father of my children. As my friend…as anything else besides this political world that we live in. Is that what you want, Jon?"
He was quiet, trying to think of how to best respond. For years, he had danced around the idea of marriage and politics and everything else involved because he never thought he would have to think about it. His plan had always been the join the Night's Watch and stay there until the end of his days, but that clearly hadn't happened. And now, he didn't want to dance around spectacles. For once, he just wanted to say how he felt.
"If you want me to be honest," he states to her, glancing back to where she sat. "No. It's not what I want. In fact, I don't want you to marry anyone." She was quiet. "But it's not my decision. It's not my choice. But if you feel that it is the best choice for you to do…then I'll support it, regardless if I want it to happen or not."
She doesn't say anything. She looks back at the parchment, her brow furrowed. He leans back in his chair before standing up, walking over to grab the cover-up to finally put over his buttoned shirt. As he goes to the door, she speaks up. "Jon?"
He turns to her. "Yes?"
The dragon queen bites her lip and opens her to speak, but as she does, the door opens. The two Targaryens turn their head towards where Eleana was, surprised to see the two in there. "Oh, I'm sorry," she states, her eyes switching between the two. "Did I come at a bad time?"
"No, I was just leaving." He looks over at Daenerys, who's mouth had closed. It seemed whatever she had wanted to say would wait. "I'll see you at dinner. You as well, Eleana."
The handmaiden smiled and nodded at him. Jon takes another glance at Daenerys, who nods as well, except a little softer. With that, he leaves her room, letting out a deep sigh. It was alright…he hadn't been expecting to talk about something like that, but it was good Eleana came in when she did.
He had to do something before he went to dinner. Something he had pushed off for weeks now.
When he reaches the bottom of the pyramids, he's ridden of old memories of him seeing Arya for the first time, her being locked away behind the old, decrepit bars. But this time, Arya was upstairs, probably getting herself cleaned and ready for dinner, while he was down here, visiting for another reason.
He walks through the dungeons with a torch, looking at each cell until he finally found the person he was looking for. There, leaning up against a wall with his legs spread out and dried blood on the ground, was a tired and feeble-looking Daario Naharis.
He didn't seem to notice Jon at first – in fact, it seemed that he was sleeping. Jon quietly placed the torch in a holder on the wall, before banging a hand on the bars. The sound echoed off the stone walls and seemed to wake up the sellsword, his eyes snapping open and looking around the room.
"Daenerys?" was the first word that came through. Jon chuckles and shakes his head. Even near death, all this man could think about was the bloody dragon queen.
"Wrong choice, but close," he states.
Daario's head snaps towards his voice, and he moves his messed up hair to see that it was indeed Jon, who was looking down at him. Daario grabs at the wall, a ledge to help him stand before he wobbles himself over. It seemed that his legs were permanently impaired due to what happened. "You…" he growls as he clings onto the bars. "How…why…?"
Jon takes a step back and stares down at the man, seeing him shaking as he tried to stand. He looks over at his legs and sees that there was another wound that he hadn't inflicted there, one that seemed far worse than the strike he had done. "Who did that to you?" he asks.
Daario stares at him before looking down at the wound. He then looks back at him. "Daenerys."
Jon almost felt himself smile. 'That's my girl,' he thinks, but he doesn't change his expression. He looks back at Daario. "Seems that you've permanently angered the dragon queen."
"How are you here?!" the man screams, reaching out to grab Jon, but he loses his footing and falls face-first into the bars. "I killed you!"
Jon looks at the man, his shaking form of rage the only vibration he could see in the dim light. "You did," Jon states, letting out a deep sigh. "Seems it wasn't enough though…I suppose I was always meant to come back to her."
Daario doesn't say anything, just stares in shock, trying to keep standing. Jon comes closer, telling that the man was getting weaker. He usually was never one to brag about anything. He had grown up learning how to live a humble life. He was given a castle to stay in but had no love from the few people who cared. Even when he was given position after position, he never wanted to shove it down someone's throat that he was something they weren't.
But staring at Daario, the man who had killed him, who was shaking right now because he and Daenerys and permanently injured him, all he wanted to do was brag.
"I really do feel for you, Daario," he states, watching as Daario finally fell onto his knees, the pressure of keeping himself standing overtaking him. "I understand why you would love Dany. It's the same reasons I do. She's fearless. She's strong. She knows how to rule and conquer, something few women have mastered in our lifetime. And she's beautiful – the most gorgeous woman I have ever met and will ever meet."
He gets down onto his knees so he could stare the man right in the eyes.
"But you want to know the real difference with you and I?" he asks, pointing to the man and then at himself. "What's different is that while you would do anything to get the queen's love, for her to be devoted to you – even kill the father of her children - I wouldn't care who she was with, or what she did, as long as she was safe. And happy."
"You…you can't stand there…" the man grunts out angrily. "And tell me…you want…her to be with someone…else…you bastard."
Jon looks down at the man. "No," he states quietly. "I don't want her to be with anyone else. But if it's what she needs to do to keep the peace here, or to make herself happy, then I will support it – not try and kill the people she is close to. That's the difference between you and I."
He stands and looks back down at him.
"I know that you aren't going to have much time left. I'm sure Dany is going to want you to die soon." That seemed to shut the man up, and he was visibly shaking. "But I needed to at least say that to you. To show you that even when you tried to win, when you thought you did – you never will. And you'll never have the chance to again."
He goes to leave, grabbing the torch, but Daario's voice calls out to him.
"You never…answered my question." Jon turns, seeing Daario staring at him. "How…are you alive?"
That was a question even he still found himself asking. But as he stood there, looking down at the once-great Daario Naharis, he knew the perfect answer.
"I don't know why the Gods have brought me back," he starts. "Maybe for something different. Maybe for me to just die again. But what I do know is that if I'm brought back to life, and you're still down here, withering away in some shell of the man you used to be, that's got to mean something, right? Better than being locked in some cell waiting out my days to die, for a love I could never achieve."
He leaves after that, leaving the man alone, taking the torch with him. And as he walks up the stairs, he doesn't turn back. He was done with second chances. He was done with letting people feel they had worth left.
Because Daario's had run out a long time ago.
After his encounter with Daario, Jon went to go greet his sleeping direwolf once before dinner, and then left to go meet the rest of his family in the dining chambers. He needed a glass of wine or ale or something to calm him down. After that, he truly needed it.
When he did reach the dining chambers, he saw that Daenerys and Arya were already there. Eleana was serving the drinks while they prepared the food. He walks in and sees Daenerys look up as he did. "The children should be in here soon," she says softly. "Sit."
He does as she says, looking over at Arya, who was reading a scroll of some sort. He raises an eyebrow. "What are you reading?"
"What Daenerys was given earlier this day," she states, and instantly Jon glances at the table, not wanting to even think about what he had said. He really had no right to tell her how he felt about the situation, but he knew that it had to be said eventually. "She tell you this?"
"Yes, she did."
"You see?" She throws the parchment down on the table, shaking her head. "This is exactly why I did not want to become a lady in some castle – for reasons like this. Who wants to bloody marry someone just because they have to for political gain? If it was me, I'd say 'fuck all of that, and I'll marry whoever I want.'" He heard Daenerys snicker a bit but she doesn't say anything.
Jon snorts a bit before looking over at her. "You probably wouldn't make a good queen then."
"Probably not, no," Arya states, chuckling a bit, but she shrugs her shoulders at the same time. "But I never wanted to be one anyway. Sansa got those parts in the family." That turned him silent, and he glances over at his empty cup. He needed more wine to get through this. "So what are you going to do?"
Daenerys looks up from where she sat, looking at another parchment. "What do you mean?"
"With the marriage. Are you going to accept it? Or not?"
Daenerys sighs and leans back in her seat, before looking back at her. Jon glances up from where he sat, his morbid curiosity getting the better of him. "I've been thinking about it all day," she admits quietly. "But after talking with some people and multiple advisors…I'm beginning to think it might not be the smartest decision for me to do so."
That got his attention. He looks over at her, and he could see her spare him a glance, but she keeps most of her gaze on Arya. The young woman looks at her in surprise.
"Really? I thought you'd be all for a political alliance. Dan and Daemon told me of your first one to Hizdahr Zo Loraq. I know it ended badly but it's a different Meereen now."
"I did end badly," Daenerys says quietly. "And you are right – it is a different city now. But there are so many instances that are telling me that I shouldn't make any rash decisions. I have my children who suddenly have these powers. There are people on the outside who know where we might be. I have more than 100,000 Dothraki on the outskirts of this city that may scare away any potential suitors. It's just not the right time."
That gave Jon a lot more relief than he should have, but after that, he found himself smiling a bit. "I can agree with that," Arya states quietly.
Daenerys brings a brow up. "Why do you say that?"
"Well, you are right. I may not have been up here long but I can clearly see that there are some things happening here. Marriage is something that's usually celebrated very much in kingdoms, at least in Westeros. I don't know the customs here but it's still celebrated, right?" Daenerys nods. "It would probably attract attention to unwanted visitors. It's smarter to do that when we know we're safe."
"Glad you agree, my guardswoman," Daenerys states, chuckling a bit at the look Arya gives her.
"I told you, don't call me that. I'm just a girl with a sword. Nothing more." She glances over at Jon and raises her brow a bit at his expression. "What has you smiling?"
Jon raises an eyebrow at her and then looks over at Daenerys, who seemed to be just as curious. "I'm not smiling," he states as his hand covers his mouth, but Arya shakes her head and moves it away. "Stop-I-"
"You are smiling," she chuckles. "What? Want the queen all to yourself?"
He could tell the way she said it was in a joking matter, but a part of him almost answered 'yes.' But he shoved that shit way down to spare himself the embarrassment and the explanation. "I didn't say that. I'm just happy she's not making a rash decision. Gods know marriage should be the last thing on any of our minds."
Daenerys glances back at her plate as Eleana fills up her goblet of wine, but he could see the smile on her lips. She knew. She always knew. She was smarter than people gave her credit for. He was a terrible liar.
"Either way," Arya states as Eleana comes over to her own goblet, filling her wine. "It's better that way. I don't even really get the appeal of it."
Daenerys raises an eyebrow from behind her goblet, placing it down on the table. "What are you talking about?"
"Marriage – well, really sex in general." Jon looks at her in surprise as Eleana begins to fill up his goblet. Arya glances at her brother and she laughs at his shocked expression. "You act like I am still a girl of ten and haven't traveled the world."
"I don't need to hear about my younger sister having sex," he mutters before shaking his head. "I'm going to need a lot more wine for this conversation."
Daenerys laughs at his statement, looking back at Arya. "Sex was always common talk between my brother and I."
"Your family was a completely different situation than ours was!" Jon exclaims, shaking his head.
"It's not like I'm talking about graphic details," Arya chuckles, but he shakes his head and stands, walking away from the table and towards the fireplace. Daenerys snickers at his reaction, but he really did not want to hear much about this. No matter how old his little sister got – whether by blood or not – he didn't want to think about her in bed with someone else.
"You can speak to me on it," Daenerys responds to her, chuckling a bit. "What don't you see in the appeal?"
Jon sighs slowly, controlling his quiet temper at the subject. He didn't want to think about Dany fucking anyone either. Especially that man in the cells below them.
But Arya had never had another girl to really speak to besides Sansa, and she was the complete opposite of her in every way. If she could find some comfort in Daenerys in the ways of womanhood or whatever the fuck it was, he guessed he couldn't be too mad. Even if thinking about both made him want to jump out the nearest window.
"I don't know," Arya states, sighing. "I've done it with a couple of people now-"
"Seven hells," Jon mutters, leaning his head against the wall. "Arya, please."
"You can kill thousands of people and beat someone down without blinking an eye but cringe at the idea of me having sex?" Arya asks.
"It's different!"
"Who was the first person you laid with?" Daenerys asks her, ignoring Jon's clear statement of personal disgust, but he rolls his eyes and looks away.
"Gendry Baratheon."
"Are you kidding me?" Jon asks, practically spitting out his wine. "You slept with Gendry fucking Baratheon? When the fuck did this happen?"
"It was before the Battle of Winterfell," Arya answers. "I just wanted to know what it felt like, you know? So many men – and a couple of women – had talked about it, and I had never known. I had a crush on him when I was younger when we traveled together, and I thought 'might as well try it out with an old friend.' And he had gotten older and so had I, so I just went for it."
"And?" Daenerys asks.
Arya looks at her before shrugging. "I don't know. It hurt but I guess it felt nice?" She sighs and leans against the table as Jon finishes his goblet. He couldn't believe that his little sister had been with Gendry. "I'm not saying he was bad or anything but – I thought it would be nicer. So I tried it with other people while I was traveling and – it still felt the same. I think I'm just starting to realize that it just doesn't do the same thing for me as it does for others that I've met."
Daenerys takes a sip of her wine before lowering her goblet to the table again. "Do you think that you might not be…interested in men?"
Eleana, as she poured more wine into Jon's goblet, almost spilled it onto the ground, clearly surprised. Jon looks at her, resting a hand on her shoulder. "Are you alright?"
She nods, smiling, clearly embarrassed. "I'm sorry, my lord. I've just…never heard my queen say that."
Daenerys shrugs. "Why is it so bad to mention? One of my best allies, while I was in the Seven Kingdoms, was only interested in women. Yara Greyjoy was a blessing with her ships – the whole Greyjoy fleet was. And if you happened to be like her, I wouldn't detest it."
Arya shrugs and glances at the table. "I don't know. I wouldn't say I'm not interested in men. But I've never done it with a woman. I wouldn't know." She shrugs and glances back at Daenerys. "Have you? Done it with a woman, I mean."
Daenerys shakes her head. "No. But I'm quite sure Yara wanted to with me."
"Everyone wants to," Jon mutters.
Daenerys raises an eyebrow at him. "What was that, Snow?"
Jon glances over at her, seeing the smile creep onto her lips. Oh, she was enjoying this. "Nothing, Dany," he responds, shaking his head.
Eleana breaks the silence and walks over to the table, filling up Daenerys wine again. "It's a common practice here in Essos. Women with women." She looks over at Arya. "It was a common request by the men who came to the brothels when I was younger."
Her brow furrows. "You were in a brothel?"
"Yes. A child bride."
"How are you here?" Arya asks.
"My queen rescued all of us but took me here. She saw promise in me. Ever since then, I've been serving under her." She places the pitcher down. "I'll forever be grateful."
"Funny…I never would have known that. You don't act like a lot of the brothel people I have met."
"Because I've trained her," Daenerys states simply. "It doesn't take much to change someone if they are willing to be changed, and she was. It only takes a push." As she lifts her goblet to her lips once more, Kinvara enters the room with one of the maesters, speaking in hushed voices. As she ushers the man out, she walks to the table, smiling at Daenerys.
"My queen. We are set to leave for our destination as soon as possible."
Daenerys sighs before shaking her head. "Can I please know where we are going?"
"I'm sorry, but I can not relate that to you just yet."
Arya raises an eyebrow. "This sounds quite peculiar."
Before Daenerys could ask more questions, the door to the dining chambers suddenly opens wide, and the two children come stumbling in. Both looked as if they were breathing fast as if they had run here. Daemon ran forward, running over to his mother. Jon looks over at Dan, his brow furrowed, once he realizes she stood still where she was.
"Mother, we found something you and father have to see. It's-Dan, come over here with the-Dan?"
Everyone turns their head to the young girl, who continued to stand where she was as if frozen by time. Jon places his goblet down and walks over to her, concerned. "Dan? What is it?"
She doesn't respond and only stares ahead. Her eyes were wide as if she was witnessing something horrible. Arya stands out of her seat, starting to walk over to the girl.
"Dan, whatever it is, we can speak about it," she says to her gently. "What's wrong?"
Suddenly, blood starts to gush out Dan's nose, and she faints onto the ground, shaking intensely. Jon rushes over as Daenerys stands in surprise, trying to hold her in his arms. Arya stares in shock as she looks towards Kinvara, who seemed just as still and confused as everyone else.
"What's happening? What's wrong?!" he asks Kinvara as she comes over, concern in her eyes. She looks at Dan, who was still shaking and moves her sleeve up. Jon stares at it once he realizes there was something etched into her skin. On her upper arm, was an imprint of what looked like a hand. It was blue, and it was spreading throughout her veins. The blood from her nose started to trickle onto his hands, as he tried to keep her head up.
Kinvara chants something in an ancient language, and suddenly, Dan stops shaking. The blood seizes to flow. And the mark on her arm disappears. Daenerys stares with her hand covering her mouth while Daemon rushes over, grabbing what had fallen out of Dan's hands.
"What happened?" Jon asks again, his voice low and serious, looking at Kinvara.
The red priestess looks up from where she kneeled, before letting out a deep sigh. "Your daughter stayed for too long."
She lifts the girl into her arms, Jon staring at Kinvara for any further explanation. "What does that mean? You can't just walk away!"
"I'm not," Kinvara responds before turning back to look at the family. "Follow me to her chambers."
Jon looks over at Daenerys, who was clearly just as confused and frightened as he was. But, even so, he walks forward, following after the red priestess. After a moment, Daenerys and Daemon followed as well, with Kinvara and Arya close behind them.
It seemed that dinners were not the Targaryen's style of being together.
When they reached Dan's chambers, Jon watched as Kinvara gently laid the girl down. Arya – the direwolf – jumped up onto her bed, clearly worried. It was funny – how he knew that they would need to change the wolf's name if Arya stuck around, but his mind instantly went to that instead of his child possibly seizing before.
Maybe he was just trying to think about anything else besides that.
He watched as Kinvara gently pressed a hand on top of the girls' head, and then over her heart, before nodding softly. After a moment, she gestures for the rest of them to come inside, and Jon comes in first, followed by Daenerys and Daemon. Arya stays on the outside with Eleana.
"You can come in," Daenerys says to her quietly.
"No. I'll stay out here. Better for the immediate family to be together," she says softly. "Just let me know how she is."
Daenerys nods as she watches Eleana close the doors in front of them. After that, she turns to Kinvara. "What in the name of the seven hells below us happened to my daughter?"
Jon looks over at Kinvara for some sort of explanation. She looks back at them. "What happened is that your daughter got too immersed in memories."
"What do you mean?" Jon asks.
"I mean, she found a memory and stayed in it for far too long. Too long that someone figured out she was there – that was what the handprint was. The blue one." She gestures to her arm, which was now free of the print. "What I said took the trace off of her – but someone was in that memory as well. Someone that I think was expecting her. Someone that I think you two know."
"Bran," Daenerys finishes, looking down at her daughter. Now, she was sleeping peacefully. Kinvara had wiped the blood from her cheeks and nose.
"I believe that because she was in this memory for so long, the overwhelming power must have messed with her mind." She looks back at them. "The trace has a powerful fragrance. I believe two voices were speaking in her head at the same time. Two unimaginable amounts of energy. And that's why she fainted and began to seize – it was too much for her little mind to handle."
Jon comes over to Dan's side, taking her cold hand in his. "Is she alright now? She didn't…seem okay."
Kinvara nods gently. "She should be. I felt her head and it feels like she might have a common cold – her body needed to take back something bad. But from the state she was in before? She should wake up in only a couple of hours. But if that trace had been left on her…I don't know what would have happened."
Daemon bites his lip as he stares at his sister. "I don't get it," he states to Kinvara. "We were in the same memory – at least for one of them. Why didn't it affect me?"
"Because the trace was placed on her, not you," Kinvara answers. "She was the one that Bran wanted. And he got it. And I have a feeling that if not for me being here…he would have killed her."
Jon looks back at his daughter, feeling his heart sink. "What could she be holding that Bran wanted to kill her?"
Daenerys looks over at Daemon, who was holding what looked like a scroll in his hands – as well as a bottle. "Daemon," Daenerys asks. "Do you know anything about this? What was the memory you were in?"
Daemon looks between Jon and Daenerys as if trying to figure out how to speak, but he then shakes his head. "I think it's something Dan and I both have to tell you…if she's able to show you the memory. I can't do it without her." He glances at the door and sighs. "Aunt Arya should hear it too, so we should wait."
Jon's brow furrowed. "What could it be that she has to hear as well?"
"She just has to."
He could see the clear conflict on his face, but the boy was sticking with what he thought. So, Jon nods quietly. "Alright…we can wait for her to wake."
Daemon nods, walking over to the side of the bed with Daenerys. Both sit on the edge, and Daenerys takes the girls other hand, before looking over at Kinvara. "Thank you," she says to the red priestess softly. "For saving our daughter. Again, really."
"It is my duty to serve," she responds. "I'm pleased that she is alright."
Daenerys looks over at Dan, squeezing her hand. She would be okay – and they would find out what it was, one way or another.
Hours pass and go, and Dan had yet to wake up. Jon wasn't losing hope considering Kinvara had said herself that it would take some time for the young girl to awaken, but that didn't seem to calm his nerves as much as he would like. So, after some time, he excused himself to go out and speak with Arya in the hall.
When he had gone out there, he had seen that Eleana had kept the girl company and left with a bow when Jon wanted to speak with Arya. He sat down next to her, and explained the situation, before letting her intake what had happened. After a moment, she said that she was just happy that Dan was okay.
The two spoke of random things for a little while, before Jon brought up something he didn't think he would. "I don't mind, you know," he says quietly. She looks at him full of questions. "What you and Daenerys were talking about…I know everyone grows up and grows old and it's natural but…even if we're not blood, I'm your brother, and it's strange to hear that coming from you. Also mind-boggling that you did it with Gendry Baratheon, of all people."
Arya chuckles a bit before nodding. "He was sweet…don't think that he was like most men." She shrugs and nods quietly. "I know it is strange, but I haven't spoken to anyone like that, probably ever. With how long Daenerys has been making unions, I thought she might have some sort of insight into the situation." She sighs and chuckles a bit. "But I should have known you wouldn't have been okay with it considering how you feel about Daenerys."
Jon's brow furrows. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"Oh, come on, Jon," she snickers, looking over at her. "You can say you are friends until the sun rises tomorrow, but I will not believe you for a second if you don't admit that you still don't care for her in a deeper way."
"I-Arya, she-"
"So you're telling me that you don't mind us talking about all the men that she's fucked in the p-"
Jon instantly clams a hand down onto her mouth, glaring at her. "Would you shut it?" he snaps at her, but he only feels her laugh under his hard grip. He sighs and lets his hand drop. "Even if I did care for her – and I'm not saying it's anything like that – it's not like I could do much. You heard what she has to do."
"Except she didn't go for a marriage," Arya states, crossing her arms across her chest. "She specifically said no. And even if she gave her reasons, I have a feeling it has everything to do with you – and if you can't see it, you really are blind."
Jon sighs. He wanted to believe that there was something there, but at the same time, he was terrified of what might happen if he even addressed it. He knew that he had nearly kissed her before – even invited her into the bloody bathtub with him – but it was like if he acknowledged what they were, then it was real, and he didn't want to influence her opinions than he already did. If she didn't go through with a political alliance because of him, he knew the guilt would eat him away.
"I can't stop her from doing what she needs to do," he finally answers. "Regardless of feelings or not."
"But you're a lord. A king."
"I'm nothing right now, Arya."
"You're the father of her children," Arya chastises. "And that's far more than any other man out there could ever give her. Besides, do you really think you could stand there and let her marry someone else when you literally live with her? What would that mean for you?"
Before he could answer, the doors open and Daenerys steps out, before she smiles at the two. Gods, that smile was going to put him behind chains one day. He would kill anyone to make sure she kept that same smile on her face. "She's awake – come in!"
Jon and Arya stand, walking into the room and closing the door behind Daenerys. Jon looks to where Dan was and felt himself let out a sigh of relief. There, sipping on a cup of what looked like tea, was Dan, alive and healthy.
"You're okay," Jon states, rushing over to hug his daughter tightly. "You had us scared to death."
"I think that's starting to become a common thing," Dan states.
"It better not!" Daenerys exclaims from where she stood, grabbing another cup of tea. "I'll be dead young before you have another incident."
Arya looks at her quietly, squeezing her shoulder. "Are you feeling alright now?"
"I'm feeling…okay. I don't really remember what happened. How did I fall unconscious?"
"You had some sort of seizure," Daenerys says to her softly. "You had a bloody nose and your body shook constantly – Kinvara said it was because of a mark Bran left on you in a memory?"
Dan's brow furrows. "Well…I was in a memory for far too long – that I'll admit. But I don't know if it was Bran who left a mark on me. When whoever touched me did it, it was cold. It was like the coldest I had ever felt – and we lived in the far North. I don't know if it would be Bran or not."
Jon hmms, thinking back to his past. Had he ever encountered anyone like that?
"Bran had a mark like yours," Arya admits quietly. "One the Night King left on him when he went into a vision. Do you think…it could possibly be him? Even if I killed him?"
Dan shrugs softly. "I didn't see the man's face. All I know is that it was cold."
Jon sighs. "Well…it doesn't matter now. The mark is gone. I don't know if he knew where you were if someone was trying to harm you. Hopefully, it doesn't appear again." He looks back down at her. "But Daemon said you and him were trying to show us something? All of us? Even Arya."
Her brow furrows as she looks at Daemon. "You didn't tell them?"
"I wanted to wait for you to try and show them."
She bites her lip and sighs. "I really don't know if I can show them everything again. I'm scared of what might happen."
Daemon reaches over and grabs her hand. "We could just show them the scroll and the bottle, try to explain."
Dan looks at them before back at her brother. Clearly, whatever this was, it was important. "You don't need to do this now if you think you can't," Jon says to her gently. "It's whatever you want."
Dan sighs before shaking her head. "No…I have to show you. It's important. Something you, mother, and Aunt Arya need to know. But I suppose we can try to explain to you first." She grabs the piece of parchment, glancing at it, before looking back at her family. "I know this is going to sound strange at first, but let us explain it the best we can. You have to listen to it throughout, and if you still don't believe me, then I can show you."
Jon looks at Dany and Arya, who both nod. "That's alright," Daenerys says. "We promise we'll listen."
Dan looks at Daemon, nodding at him to start. "Well, mother…you always said you don't remember what happened in King's Landing, right? Why you burned so many innocents?" She nods in response. "Dan and I have figured out why."
Jon's brow furrows as he suddenly tenses up. "What do you mean you figured it out?"
Dan hands him the scroll. "Read this. Show it to mother and Aunt Arya."
Jon shares a glance with Dany, who looked just as confused, but she gently comes over to Jon's side as does Arya. And all three of their eyes begin to read.
When they reach the bottom, Jon feels himself let go of the parchment, staring at the ground in shock. Daenerys was silent, looking over at her children. Arya was the one who took several steps back, shaking her head. "No. No, my siblings would never do something like that. They cared for Jon. Sansa cared for Jon."
"But she hated mother," Dan states. "She would do anything not to see her on the throne when the chance of her kingdom was taken away. So she planned with Bran to poison Daenerys and use father to kill her."
"That-she-" Arya stops herself, resting her head in her hands, trying to find the right words. "Why wouldn't she want Jon? He had just as much of a claim as Daenerys?!"
"Did you not see the writing?" Daemon asks her. "Sansa herself said that father was too emotional, that he would act on instinct as well, just as mother sometimes did. Bran gave her a way out – and she took it."
Daenerys was still silent, staring down at the parchment. Jon suddenly stands and walks over to the balcony, looking outside, silent. After a moment, Dany breaks her quietness and looks at her children. "Bran said he saw some vision? Of me burning cities down?"
"He didn't, actually," Dan states softly.
Daenerys brow furrows. "What do you mean? It says right here-"
"Sansa only wrote that to convince Varys that the 'Three-Eyed-Raven' had already seen all," Dan states. "But when I was stepping out of my vision, I heard Sansa ask Bran if he had really seen a vision of you burning cities down. He said he didn't – only a vision of you flying over a city, but no fire. He proposed the plan to Sansa because he didn't trust Targaryens – and apparently, neither did she. So they manipulated both Tyrion and Varys into their plan."
Daenerys looks down at the parchment before letting it drop onto the bed, a hand in her hair. Jon was still in the same place, his eyes focused on the city. Arya came over, grabbing the parchment. "I can't believe they would do this," she whispers, looking at the words. "…how could they use Jon so easily?"
"It wasn't easy," Dan responds. "I think they both tried to come up with this plan together for the easiest way out…using father's love for his family and mother was their best option, so they knew as soon as he did what he did, no one would allow him to be king – allowing for them to take in the throne."
"But this doesn't make any sense," Arya states. She was clearly having trouble accepting it. Jon could hardly speak. "Bran once told me he didn't want to even be Lord of Winterfell, and now you're telling me him and my sister came up with some plan to take out the two heirs to the throne so they could have their own kingdoms? That doesn't sound like Bran."
"You're right. It doesn't – at least according to the books." Dan gestures her head out towards the door, where the library was. "But something changed in him after the Battle of Winterfell. For years, the Night King had his vision set on him, but then when Arya killed him, something developed that no one thought he could be, and he craved power – disguising it as some sort of democracy. Sansa was the catalyst that could help him – and Tyrion and Varys were the ones close to the queen that could carry it out."
Daenerys looks at the scroll of parchment before grabbing it in her hands. Her eyes scan over the words once more before she glances at her son. "This…basilisk venom. Is this what you were holding before?"
Daemon nods before lifting up the bottle to her. It was small, a little smaller than the size of her palm, but as Daenerys stared inside the vial, taking it into her hands, she could see the black liquid that had been leftover from years ago. She looks over at Dan and sighs.
"How…how do you know that they actually did this and went through with this plan?" she asks. Jon sighs from where he stood. He knew what she was trying to do – to make him feel better about his family fucking betraying him. "This could have been a misunderstanding."
"Because I saw Varys put it into your drink," Dan replies. "After Daemon and I saw the memory, I thought on my feet and grabbed the bottle. It had Varys' memories linked to it – and I saw him put it into the goblet. And then I saw you drink it…I wish I could stop it but it is just a memory…there's nothing I could do. I screamed at one point to stop, and you thought you heard me…but you couldn't see me."
Daenerys looks at the bottle again. "I did think I heard something that day," she mumbles before looking back at her daughter. "Dan, I know this is much to ask, but I need you to show me it. I need to see it myself."
Dan swallows but nods. "I don't know how long I can keep you there."
Daemon looks at her quietly before grabbing her hand. "We can all see it – take the pressure off of you."
Dan looks over at Arya, and she sighs. "I suppose I should see it…I've never been in your visions. Does it hurt?"
"You get a little nauseous," Dan responds. Arya sighs but nods, taking the girl's hand. Daenerys looks over at Jon, seeing him still standing, staring out into the city. His mind was preoccupied with thoughts, but her voice broke him free.
"Jon." He looks over at her, seeing the desperate look on her face. "We need to see this. Please."
He looks over at her and then back at the ground. He didn't want to see it. Sure, he had thought about his brother and sister in a negative light – he blamed them partially for what happened to him after King's Landing, with him living beyond the wall – but never in his life did he think his family would willingly plan out both his and Daenerys' demise for their own personal gain. Never.
But here was the letter. And here was the bottle. And now Dan could prove it with just a simple memory.
So, besides the pain that was developing in him and the anger he wanted to escape from, he walks over and grabs Daenerys' free hand so he could feel the energy as well. He looks back at Dan. "Where did you find all this?"
"It was in a book written by Samwell Tarly about the Battle of Winterfell – like it was hidden in the back, along with the vile."
Jon's brow furrows in shock. There was no way Sam was a part of this. He had to know something was wrong. That's why he put it in the back of the book. But how would he know it would get to them? There had to be another reason. His own friend couldn't have gone against him...could he?
He looks down at the scroll and then sighs, before nodding his head. "Let's see this."
Dan nods, and she closes her eyes gently. Within moments, he was deep in her mind, his eyes witnessing the very memory his children had seen hours ago.
Daenerys
When Daenerys opened her eyes, she felt herself let out a gasp. She had been right. Everything had been right. She had seen Sansa and Bran speak with Tyrion. She had seen Varys put the vial of poison into her cup, and have her drink it. Her head hurt remembering those moments, but that had been it. She knew she didn't remember what happened for a reason, and this was why.
She had been poisoned.
When she was out of the memories, she looks over at Dan, who was laying gently down on the bed now after the power she had just used. Daenerys looks over at Arya, who was silent.
"Arya," she starts, but the girl shakes her head and takes several steps back. She walks around the room before glaring at the ground and then heads towards the door.
"I need to be alone," she mumbles. That was the last thing Daenerys heard before the young wolf left the room, closing the door behind her. Daenerys lets out a soft sigh and looks back at her children, who seemed confused.
"Should we have not told you that?"
Daenerys could see the fear on her children's faces, both concerned about the fact that Arya had stumbled out. Daenerys takes her children's hands and shakes her head. "Don't think that. You telling us what happened was the right thing to do…you have to understand that this is your father and aunt's family, regardless of blood – they never thought they would do something like this. They need time to adjust."
"Is that why father isn't here either?"
Daenerys looks up and feels herself drop her shoulders in surprise. Jon was, in fact, missing. He was nowhere to be seen in the room. She looked around and tried to spot if maybe he had gone into Dan's bathing chambers, but he was not in there. He wouldn't just leave after something like that…would he?
"I don't know where your father went, to be completely honest," she states slowly before looking back at them. "I'm sure he just went to his chambers…don't be frightened." As much anger as she felt coursing through her, there was absolutely no way she would take it out on her children or their family – no, she needed to maybe train a bit or something. "You two did the right thing. It explains many things that we had questions about." She glances at the ground before sighing. "How did Drogon react under me acting that way? He wouldn't have let me burn down the city…he knows better than that."
"Bran controlled him – he talked about it in the vision. He used his warging powers. It was quick - I could understand where you wouldn't hear it," Dan responds. "Seems his warging powers are just as powerful as you think they are."
'That bastard,' Daenerys thinks. She nods slowly, understanding. "Thank you…that explains more as well." She stands and runs a hand through her hair, before turning to her children. "Both of you…go to sleep. Today has been…an adventure, but you need your rest – especially you." She runs her fingers through her daughter's hair, who smiles up at her slightly. "You've done enough today."
Dan nods quietly as Daemon stands. He hugs his mother tightly, and she hugs him back. "We're going to be okay, right?" he asks.
Daenerys feels her heart ache at his statement. She pulls back and rests her hands on his shoulders. "Of course we will be – we're family, and we can get through anything, right?" Daemon nods, smiling a bit. "Now, head to bed. I'm going to go check on father."
Daemon nods, before he hugs his sister tightly and leaves her chambers, heading around the corner. Dan looks up at Daenerys, biting her lip. "What if someone really is watching us? That mark…whoever it was knew I was invading a memory."
"The mark is gone," Daenerys responds. "You don't need to worry about it…but if it is as bad as we believe it to be, we're going to be leaving soon. And hopefully, wherever Kinvara is planning on taking us, they can help you with that as well." She kisses her daughter's forehead before running a hand through her hair once more. "You're going to be alright…and if you need anything, your father and I are only two chambers away."
Dan nods quietly, looking at the bed. As Daenerys stands to leave, he hears her call out to her. "Mother?" Daenerys turns to look. "I love you."
The dragon queen smiles greatly at this. Was this the first time she had ever said it? It could be, or it couldn't – but in every way, it filled the void the sudden information they were given had left in her heart. "I love you too, my child. Now get some sleep."
Dan turns on her side, as Daenerys blows on the candle to her room. After that, she gently closes the door, letting out a low sigh before heading back to Jon's chambers. Something was wrong with him – it was up to her to at least see if she could try and help. She didn't blame him at all, though.
After finding out your family single-handedly planned your downfall of your lover, yourself, and plenty of other people all for them to gain something for themselves, she would be a little beside herself too.
She glances at Daemon's door and saw him sleeping as well. She was proud of him too. Despite the fact that Dan was the one with the power, he didn't move a muscle from his sister's side to make sure she was okay. He even waited until she awoke to tell them the news, something others might not have done. Her son was growing up into an honorable young boy – something she had a feeling someone had taught him about.
Gods, she felt horrible for Jon. Yes, she was the one who had been royally fucked over – especially from people who were inside her ranks, whom she had trusted. But Jon…that had been his family, the people he had fought to protect, and they used his vulnerability, his sweetness, and his honor against himself. She had been the one poisoned, but he had been the one tainted by his own siblings.
As she walked towards his room, she went through multiple ways to try and address what happened, and what they had discovered. Cry with him? Talk it out? Plan a refute? Talk another bath? She didn't know. But what she did understand was that this was going to be one hell of a conversation – and she didn't have the slightest idea of how to start it.
Quietly, she knocks on his door, looking for some sort of response. When nothing came, she speaks up. "Jon? It's me."
Still nothing.
She sighs. "If you don't open your door, I'm going to come in…we need to talk about this."
The silence on the other side was deafening. Her brow furrows. This wasn't like him. He would be the first to speak about issues and now he was locking himself away in his room? She stares at the door before trying another tactic.
"Jon, I order you to open the door. If you don't, I'm going to have to have a guard do it. You don't want me to break it." Her voice was firm, withstanding, but there was still nothing coming from the other side, even after that. What the fuck?
She brings her hand down and pushes it open, only for her to see that it was, indeed, unlocked. Daenerys steps inside and was instantly bombarded by Ghost, who was whining. She gets down onto her knees and begins to pet him, sensing his discomfort.
"What is it, boy? What's wrong?" she whispers.
Ghost runs from her and towards the balcony and back as if he was gesturing to something. Daenerys stands and looks around. Jon was nowhere to be seen. His bed was made, his clothes still in his dresser, his pack and armor near the wall - nothing changed. Daenerys steps into her bathing chambers and found them completely clean, with not a single thing out of place.
Where had he gone?
She steps out onto the balcony, looking up into the sky and sees nothing, but as she rests her hands on the handrail, she feels an overwhelming familiar pattern.
Heat. As if something had been burnt.
Her eyes scan the room before she looks up, and sees that the plant that had been located above the entrance had been burnt as if it had been lit on fire. She looks around the balcony again before she spots the littlest of parchment etched up against one of the plants as if pinned there. She looked over at Ghost, who whined in response. This was it.
Daenerys walks over and grabs the piece of parchment, reading a note written across it. It was in Jon's handwriting.
'Jonarys came for me. I have to go.
-Jon.'
"No," she whispers, shaking her head. "No, no, no, fuck!" She runs a hand through her hair, looking out into the city. "Why would you do that?"
The news had been too much for him. The parchment had been too much. He had done what she had in the fighting pits – climbed on a dragon, and left the horror, the destruction, the pain behind. He had left.
But there was one difference between her then and him now. She didn't have anyone that could understand what she was going through. Jon had her.
As she stared at the note, her worry started to get overtaken by anger and annoyance. This wasn't Jon at all. He didn't just run away from problems. Whatever this was, it was serious. And now, it was up to her to find him.
"Damn it," she mutters. She crunches up the note and places it in her pocket, before looking over at Ghost. "Alright, boy. Do you know which direction they went?"
Ghost comes over to the balcony and places his paws up on the banister, his nose pointing south. She takes a deep breath and nods her head.
"Then that's where I'll go." She looks down at Ghost. "Go to Dan's chamber – protect her. If you hear anything else, get Daemon."
Ghost runs off in response, running out of Jon's open door and to the next area of the pyramid to follow her order. Daenerys looks around the room and notices that one thing was, indeed, missing. And that was Jon's sword.
Wherever he was going, he was prepared for a fight. Which meant this wasn't anywhere good.
"Fuck," she mumbles, heading up to her own chambers quickly. As she ran inside, she grabbed her cloak and Dark Sister, placing it in its holster before wrapping it around her waist. She gets dressed quickly, putting on simple clothes so she could travel on her dragon easier without a dress flying off into the wind, and wraps her cloak around herself tightly, making sure she would be warm. The winds at night were especially cruel on Drogon's back.
As she went to leave, Eleana came up at that moment, surprised to see her all dressed. "My queen, what's happening?"
Daenerys turns to her, a determined expression spread throughout her face. "Jon has left the pyramid. And I'm going to go find him." With that, she started to head towards the dragon pit. Eleana watched in shock as she headed towards her.
"Wait, what happened? What is going on?" she asks, her voice filled with worry. "My queen?" Daenerys doesn't respond, walking forward. "Daenerys!"
She sighs and turns to the young girl, clearly seeing the confusion in her gaze. She places her hands on her shoulders, grabbing them tightly. "Listen to me," she says softly. "Jon and I have just found out about something neither of us thought happened, but it's changed many things. He's…not handling it well. I have to find him before he does something he is going to regret. I will explain everything when we return. For now, watch over the children and Ghost – make sure Arya is okay as well. I will be fine."
Eleana stares at her before glancing outside. And then, within a moment, she slowly sighs and nods. "Alright…just make it back here safely."
"I promise you, we will." She hugs the girl tightly before heading off back towards the dragon pit. "And make sure the twins eat something tomorrow! We didn't get to have a proper dinner!"
Even running away to find Jon, she still had to make sure her children were taken care of.
"As you wish, my queen!" Eleana exclaims after her as Daenerys turns a corner, heading into the entrance that would take her to the pit. She ran as quickly as she could, trying to figure out where Jon could have gone.
She didn't think he would go to Westeros, of all places. He wasn't that stupid. But she knew it had to be somewhere that he would feel is the best place to let out his anger – or something related to that. And she knew that would be somewhere away from the city.
She entered the pit within a few minutes of her running, finding the two younger dragons sleeping. But her dark blue child, the one she had named after Jon, was gone. He really had taken him somewhere.
Drogon looks up at seeing her worried glance and lets out a huff of air. She walks over to him, petting the side of his snout before looking at him seriously. "We're going to go somewhere, and I need you with me. Are you okay to fly, my child?"
The dragon gets up and begins to stretch in response, before looking down at her with the most obvious expression ever that read, 'of course I'm ready to fly. I'm a dragon, am I not?'
Daenerys smiles slightly and then climbs onto his back, holding on to his body as tight as she could. With Dark Sister at her side and Drogon below her, she says loud and clear "Valahd!" and the dragon leaps into the sky, taking off with a few swift flaps of his wings. Within seconds, they were flying away from the pyramid.
She glances at the city below as they flew. Most of her people sleeping, unaware of the magnificent dragon flying over them, but her mind was focused on one thing – finding Jon.
"Go as fast as you can, Drogon," she states, her eyes staring straight ahead. "As fast as you can."
Maybe revelations don't make the world go round as we thought.
Next chapter is going to be a sole focus on our two lovely characters and it's going to be intense. I hope ya'll are ready - because I'm not lol
Another thing - how do ya'll like smut? I mean, I'm not saying it's going to be next chapter at all - but I have been thinking about it a lot recently. Ya'll want some simple stuff or all the steamy shit? Cause I can do both when the time comes. I was thinking of keeping this story T and then just letting people know there will be smut in chapters cause I want to include it badly soon lol
Besides that, as always, love it? Hate it? Want to cut off my head like Joffrey ordered for Ned Stark? (did I use that one already? I'm beginning to lose track XD ). Let me know how you feel in the reviews, as they always keep me writing and pushing these long chapters out for you - you guys are amazingly awesome. Don't forget to follow and favorite if you want to join us on the adventure, and I will see you all in the next chapter. Thank you all for reading, and I hope you have a great day! Wash your hands and stay healthy! :)