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Daenerys
When Daenerys woke up the next morning, she was sore.
She knew that after the night they had had, she would be, but she didn't expect it to be as bad as it was. Her legs were absolutely killing her, and all she wanted to do was stay in bed.
But when her eyes fluttered open and she looked on the sheets, she realized that Jon was not there.
Her brow furrows as she leans up, looking around the room, before spotting him leaning against the banister that the balcony had, looking out into the sea. She tilts her head as she watches him, seeing his eyes glance around the area in quiet contemplation.
Even looking at him made her remember last night, and it brought a quiet smile to her cheeks. She had tried to deny it for a long time, saying that it couldn't be done, that they couldn't return to what they were on the boat, even what they were in Winterfell.
But being with him the night before had felt even better.
She didn't know what caused it. Maybe it was his different demeanor now after everything they had been through. Maybe it was because he had been so sweet and loving and caring of her when she needed it. Maybe it was because he was such a good father to Daemon and Dan. She didn't know.
But what she did have to her understanding was that her attraction to Jon was far more than it had ever been. If some of her advisors could see her, they would laugh at her, call her a fool for falling for a man that had held a dagger to her heart.
Even with that, though, she did not care. This was the first time in she didn't know how long where she truly felt safe. At first, when she saw Jon, there was the past, what they had gone through, what he had done. But time had passed, they had grown closer, and they had found out the truth. Now, there was nothing stopping them.
And Gods was he great at sex.
For someone who hadn't had much practice before he had met her – him only being with one other woman – he knew how to please her right. She was still quivering when she thought about what he did with his tongue the night before.
While they had coupled many times on the boat, that had never been something he had done. That was something no one had ever done to her, even Daario when they had been together. With Drago, it was always about him being in control most of the time. There were a few times where she could take control, but other than that, she catered to him. With Daario…she didn't know what it was, but it wasn't what Jon and she did. It was an equal attraction – at the time – but it had always been sort of a quick moment between the two - the need to be with someone.
But now…she couldn't imagine being with anyone else but Jon. The way he made her feel plus the emotions they shared…she didn't know what this 'chosen-one' nonsense was, but in a way, a part of her knew Jon and her were made for each other. And she couldn't deny it anymore.
She quietly stands and grabs her robe that she had taken off the day before, wrapping it around her naked body. It was strange. The scar that she had on her skin didn't hurt anymore. When she had seen Jon, even been with him for a bit, she could still feel the pain that would haunt her. But now? It was just a blemish on her skin. No pain. Nothing.
It was as if being with him had seized it. And she couldn't be happier.
Daenerys quietly walks behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist. He turns his head and smiles at her. "Well, good morning," he murmurs, turning in her arms to face her.
"Why are you out of bed and not with me?" she asks.
Jon chuckles at her words. "Had a lot on my mind. I didn't want to wake you."
He rests a hand on her cheek and leans down, pressing his lips to hers. She lets out a happy sigh, closing her eyes. Each kiss felt like the first one again.
He pulls away after a moment, looking down at her. "How did you sleep?"
"Well, you?"
"Better than I have in years." He pulls her to the banister, looking out into the sea again. Her arms were still wrapped around him. "I still can't believe it happened."
Her brow furrows. "Why is it so hard to believe? There's evidence of it in the quite smelly sheets."
Jon snorts and shakes his head. "I know, Dany, I know…I just feel like I'm in a dream." He looks over at her, resting his hand on top of hers. "I mean, who would have thought years ago I would have you? And children?" He shakes his head and looks at the sea again. "I always thought honor and duty was the best thing a man could have back then…and now I see that Maester Aemon was right."
Her brow furrows. "Aemon Targaryen?"
"Yes." He turns to her. "He was the maester at the Night's Watch for a time before he passed."
"I had heard of his passing," she murmurs. "I didn't know you knew him. What was he like?"
"A very smart man," Jon says softly. "He had seen many things. With a lot of advice to give."
"What did he say?" she asks him.
Jon sighs and looks back out into the sea. "'What is honor compared to a woman's love?'" He looks down at her, her hand still in his. "What is duty against the feel of a newborn son in your arms…or the memory of a brother's smile. Wind and words. We are only human, and the gods have fashioned us for love…that is our great glory and our great tragedy.'"
Daenerys smiles. She had heard that Aemon was a man of many great words and yet she never had the chance to meet him. One of the many Targaryens that had a claim to the throne and had said no. She was envious that Jon got to personally know him and she could not.
"Do you believe that?" she asks him softly.
"More than anything now," he responds, moving his hand back to her cheek. She smiles a bit and then takes his hand in hers once more.
"What were you thinking about?"
Jon sighs and looks back out into the sea again. "Our children. What they could be doing in that castle right now. I know we're free to visit them whenever but I…I don't like them being in that place with the king," he says to her. "Look at how quick he was to kill us. What will he do to them?"
Daenerys nods gently. "I'm worried, too." She moves to stand in front of him. "I think we should visit them today. Walk around the city…observe what's happening. While last night was entertaining," she muses, seeing the small smirk appear on his face. "We can't do that all day. We have to make sure they are safe."
Jon nods but first wraps his arms around her body. "Are you sure we can't do anything like that?"
She rolls her eyes and moves away from him. "Jon."
Her voice left no room for argument. While her body would fight her and say 'what are you doing? Fuck him,' she knew in her head they needed to stay alert. As much as Saeresa had said that they were safe here, she was still concerned about what could happen. It was better to stay as vigilant as they could while could.
Jon sighs and nods. "Alright then." He leans back on the banister. "Don't say I didn't offer, though."
She chuckles and nods. "I won't." After that, she leaves the room and goes down to what would be the foyer, and stops short when she sees a box on the ground. Curious, she walks over and opens the flaps, glancing inside. There were dresses that seemed to be fabricated with gold and silver, in a dark red fashion. They were beautiful.
"I wonder where these came from," she mumbles, holding them in her arms. She walks back to their chambers, walking inside. Jon glances at her from where she stood, his brow furrowing at the box.
"What is that?"
"Just a box of dresses," she says to him, pulling the first one she had seen out. As she does, a note tumbles onto the fur beneath them. He quietly picks it up, his brow raising in surprise.
"'For the true dragonqueen,'" he reads to her, placing the note down. She raises her brow in surprise. She didn't think anyone here would think of her in that way, but she supposed that after yesterday's events, they might.
"I'll try this one on," she says to him, lifting it up. "Get ready yourself – we're going to be going out today."
He sighs and nods, watching as she went into the bathing chambers to prepare herself.
When she steps out, Jon was away from their chambers and it was only her. As she looked at herself in the mirror, she couldn't help but admire the dress. Whoever had done it was a skilled seamstress. It hugged her curves and flowed out around her until it reached the very bottom. It showed off her shoulders, and hung tight around her wrists, almost like an embrace. It fit her perfectly.
A few moments later, once she was ready to leave, she heads out into the foyer. There stood Jon in his normal clothes, his hair as done as it could be. But to her, he could be wearing a burlap sack and still look handsome.
He looks up at her as she approaches and his movements stop. Only then does she realize that he was sharpening Longclaw. Now that she thought about it, she should be doing so as well, just in case, but they had been so preoccupied that she hadn't even let it cross her mind.
The grin that spread across his lips was undeniable, and she laughs when he lowers his sword and comes over to her. He silences her with a passionate kiss on the lips, backing her up against the wall. She wraps her arms around his neck, letting out a soft moan as his hands started to trace her hips, all the way down to her ass before palming it, lifting her up into the air. Her back was still pressed against the hard surface beneath her when she pulls back, breathing heavily.
"Jon, we can't," she whispers.
"Dany, you're killing me here," he groans, resting his forehead against hers. "You can't just wear those dresses around me."
She chuckles at him, resting her hand on his cheek. "You were celibate for years at the Night's Watch and you're telling me that you can't resist?"
"I didn't have a beautiful woman next to me at the Night's Watch," he murmurs, moving his head to her neck. He started to place delicate, dangerous kisses down to her collarbone, and she closes her eyes, letting out a shaky sigh. He knew exactly what made her get wet. And she could tell by the smirk that formed against her skin. "We can have fun quickly," he whispers to her. She raises an eyebrow at him. As much as she knew they needed to leave, she wouldn't deny that she wasn't a bit turned on.
Maybe more than a bit.
He grins at her and lifts her up, kissing her again. She wraps her arms and legs around him as he carries her off to their chambers, not separating for a moment. But as soon as he goes to open the door, Daenerys hears a knock at the front door.
Jon hears it too and growls in anger. "Who is it?!" he barks. Daenerys rests a hand on his chest and his look instantly softens, waiting to hear a response from the other side.
"My name is Maelela, my lord," a small voice says from behind the door. "I'm here to bring you and Lady Targaryen to the castle to meet with the queen."
Jon's eyes close in annoyance, but Daenerys gives him a gentle kiss. When she pulls back, she turns to the door. "We'll be out in ten minutes." Instantly, the smile on Jon's face returns.
"Of course. I'll be waiting near the fountain around the corner."
Daenerys hears the footsteps trickle away, and she turns to Jon. "You better make this quick, she'll know what we're doing."
"As my queen commands," he teases before yanking her up into his arms again, causing her to giggle. He practically throws her on the bed, climbing on top of her, pushing her dress up, but she grabs him and plants her lips on his, her hands entangling into his hair.
When she pulls back, she bites her lip and grabs his hand, pulling it down to where her cunt laid, aching and wet for him. She rests it gently against her slick folds, hearing him groan at how ready she was for him, and then brings the two digits to her mouth. Then, in one swift moment, she places both in her mouth, wiping them clean.
Jon stares at her dumbstruck before suddenly pinning her hands against her head, causing her smirk to appear on her lips. "You're a naughty little queen, aren't you?" he growls.
Usually with anyone else, if they talked to her like that, she would have them kicked out instantly. It felt strange to speak to someone like that during something like sex. But with Jon? Hearing him say that felt so damn right.
"If you think so, then do as your queen commands and fuck her," she murmurs to him, leaning in so close to his ear that she nibbles at the end of it.
Jon instantly starts to undo his pants, and she smiles at his already hardened cock popping out within moments of them being down. Once he was free of his confides, he pins her hands down back onto the bed and pushes himself deep in her, causing her to gasp in pleasure, letting her head hit the back of the pillow.
He gives her no time – not like they had any – and gets right into it, pounding into her as hard as he could. And she loved it. Fuck, did she love it. Daenerys had forgotten what having sex was like at this point. The last time she had done it was with Jon, and then after she found out she had Daemon, no one had ever piqued her interest. Daario had tried once he returned, but she had obviously turned him down.
But being with him felt so right. And she wanted to experience every little aspect of it as she could.
It seemed that with each thrust, he brought her closer to her edge, but to speed up the process so that the girl outside wouldn't be waiting – or grow suspicious – Jon brings his hand down to where her clit was, rubbing ferociously. She moans out loud, clawing onto his back.
"Fuck, Ȳdra daor keligon, ȳdra daor keligon!" she exclaims, her Valyrian slipping out. Gods, who was she becoming? Sex had always been quiet for her and suddenly she was screaming out in Valyrian.
But that only seemed to edge Jon on more. He takes her hands and pins them again to the bed with just one of his arms, while his other hand works on her clit. And then, leaning in her ear, he whispers "Māzigon syt nyke, ñuha jorrāelagon."
That did it for her. She had completely forgotten that Jon could speak and understand Valyrian now, and hearing him say that, to come for him, had her whole entire body shaking and squirming on the sheets, clinging to him for life, gasping for air, as her core shook and her muscles twitched. It only took a few more pumps for him to let himself go, shooting his seed deep inside of her.
He breathes heavily, collapsing onto the bed. She turns her head and leans over, kissing him gently, a loving kiss, before standing. He stares at her. "What, no embracing?"
She snorts at his words, grabbing some of the towels they had in the room to clean herself up before going outside. "I told you, we don't have time." She walks over to him and grabs at his hand, pulling him up, his whole entire lower body exposed. "Now get dressed before I force you to."
"Ooh, I like the sound of that," he murmurs, trying to pull her into him again, but she shakes her head and steps back.
"No, Jon."
"Ugh, fine," he mumbles, standing up and grabbing his pants. "Maybe I should just walk around like this, huh? Best the Valyrians deserve after how they treated us yesterday."
"I don't care if they treated us kindly or badly – you would never go out like that."
Of course, he was joking, but a bit of her jealousy had started to leak in. She was never one to really care what others did, but this was her family. Her lover. And she wasn't about to let strangers see him.
He raises an eyebrow at her. "Oh really? And why is that?"
She walks over to him, now completely clean, and lets her dress flow to the ground. Then, quietly, she reaches down and wraps her hand around his cock, which instantly started to twitch in arousal. He stares at her in shock. "Because, Jon Snow, this cock down here is mine. And if I ever saw some other person looking at it, I don't know what I would do. So don't even make the joke, because I promise you, I will burn the next person that does."
She lets go and steps back, going out of the room. For a moment, he was silent, and then she hears him yell "So the dragon queen does get jealous, huh?!"
"Get dressed, Jon!"
When they did finally step outside, it was maybe fifteen minutes – but it seemed that the girl who was waiting by the fountain did not seem to notice. This was Daenerys' first time seeing it. The structure was huge and had golden dragons on the inside, with water spouting out the sides. It was beautiful. She could see little Valyrian children running around, some going down to the beach and others in the streets, along with plenty of merchants.
The night before, she hadn't seen this many people, but now, the city seemed to be alive.
"Hello? Are you the girl that knocked on our door?" Daenerys asks. The girl looks up, and Daenerys feels herself still. She looked so young to be giving her a tour, possibly even younger than Eleana. She had platinum blonde hair that reminded Daenerys of herself at her age and a kind smile.
"Yes." She bows her head to her. "I am Maelela. I serve the queen and the king here. Usually, we aren't ones for guests but I suppose that is going to be my job today."
Daenerys' brow furrows. "You're quite young to be some sort of tour guide."
The girl smiles. "I'm at the age of thirteen. It isn't too young."
No, no, that was young. But since the customs of these people seemed to be a little bit different than what Daenerys had grown up with, she wouldn't say anything for now.
At that moment, Jon leaves from the house, pulling at his shirt. He turns to the girl, shaking her hand. "I'm sorry I'm late. I had trouble getting on…a shirt," he states. Daenerys almost feels herself sigh. Jon usually didn't lie for good reason, but when he did, he was shit at it.
The girl on the other hand chuckles and shakes her head. "You don't need to lie to me on what you were doing. I know of what grown up's do." She gestures to the streets. "Even so, we have things to discuss. The queen and king requests that you come to the castle to speak of terms,"
"Terms?" After a moment, they begin to walk, Daenerys admiring the fine architecture as they did. "What do you mean by terms?"
"We haven't had a new dragonlord family ever appear at our gates that was worthy," Maelela says softly. "This is the first time we've ever let anyone stay in here, and for good reason. But they want to make sure that you are comfortable and reasonable."
Jon raises an eyebrow at her. "Reasonable?"
"I don't know. It was the queen's words." She looks around the streets. "It gets quite busy here during the day. Many people trade and sail to find things, keeping their homes structured and sound. The market we have here is called the 'Dragon's Lair,' and you can find anything there. I'm sure the queen will be able to give you as much as you need to buy anything."
Daenerys watches as people fly by them to little stalls. Some were selling food, others had goods and little trinkets, but it was still maddening to see little and older people who looked like her. That these people still lived.
"How is it that this place has stood for hundreds of years?" Daenerys asks the girl, her brow furrowed. "I'm still so confused by it."
"Well, technically, it's been longer."
Her brow raises. "What do you mean by that?"
They walk past the market and back to the streets that would lead up to the castle. "Time moves quicker within the confines of our sorcery. While it could be a month out there, it could be a year in here. While it could be a week out there, it could be a month here."
"How does that even work?" Jon asks her.
"That's a question for the red priests. Magic and sorcery are things Valyrian's are familiar with, but when it comes to time? That's hard to explain." They turn a corner and arrive at the entrance to the castle. The guards that they had bowed to Daenerys and Jon, before allowing the girl to bring them inside.
"Does everyone here ride dragons?" Daenerys asks.
"No, not everyone. It really depends on who your family is. If you've had dragons for years, then you'll most likely have a dragon to ride. If not, then you're out of luck."
"And what of magic?" Jon asks her. "Does everyone have the type of powers Dan and Daemon have?"
The girl glances at the ground, quiet for a moment before responding. "No. Daemon's powers are especially rare. Only a few gifted Valyrians have control over that. Dan's powers are commonly known, though. There are many fire mages in Valyria. Her powers just seem to be especially strong." They arrive near a balcony, and Daenerys looks down to see Dan and Daemon talking with what looked like a red priest. At that moment, she sees a red priest summon fire in his hands, and Dan watches with peculiar eyes. Daenerys feels herself smile a little. She was glad that despite the circumstances, Dan was enjoying herself.
"Is Daemon being trained as well?"
"With Daemon, it's much harder," Maelela states. "With him, it can only be with a few select people who harvest his power, so he will be spending a lot of time with the queen and her daughter, as well as a few select individuals."
"Do you have any powers?" Jon asks her quietly.
Maelela smiles sadly. "No. I don't. I'm just a normal girl." She glances down at where Dan and Daemon were, letting out a soft sigh. "But that's not a bad thing. I've never been ashamed of who I am…it's just what I've had to deal with."
Before Daenerys asks why she would even think of being ashamed in the first place, a voice echoes from behind her. "Daenerys and Jon." She turns her head to see Saeresa looking at them with her smile. "I see you have made yourself at home, and Maelela guided you here. Child, you may go."
Maelela nods her head and leaves quickly, turning to the two of them. "Goodbye," she says before heading out of the room. Daenerys watches her go, biting her lower lip subtly. There was something wrong with that girl. Nothing bad – but something was going on. The way she had acted was as if she had her guard up the whole time. It was something she could keep an eye on.
"Saeresa," Daenerys responds, smiling a bit. "It's good to see you." Not really. In all honesty, the only reason she had wanted to come here was to see her children, but if she was forced to talk to the queen, she would do so. "Maelela told me that you and the king had business to speak of with the two of us?"
"Well, I have business to speak of with you. The king, however, would like to speak with Jon. Alone."
Daenerys raises her brow. "You really think Jon would be so stupid as to have a meeting alone with the man who tried to kill him the day before?"
"Dany," Jon says quietly from her side, reaching over and taking her hand. She turns to him, and he shakes his head at her. "It's alright."
Her brow raises incredulously before she turns to Saeresa. "Give us a moment." The queen nods her head and allows them to walk around a corner. At that moment, Daenerys turns to him angrily. "Are you positively mad? You know exactly what he tried to do with us yesterday! You didn't even bring Longclaw with you! How are you supposed to defend yourself if something happens?"
Jon rests his hands on her cheeks, looking at her seriously. "Daenerys, if we don't go along with what they say, then they are not going to trust us, 'chosen ones' or not. We need to play by their rules for now. And if something does happen, you needn't worry about me. I'm going to be just fine." He strokes her cheek, and she lets out a soft sigh. "You need to trust me on this…I have a plan."
Her brow raises in surprise. "You have a plan? What plan are you speaking of?"
"It's nothing I can tell you right now…it's what I've been thinking about all night, but I can tell you later. For now, just go with Saeresa, and I'll go speak with the king. I'm going to be fine."
Daenerys swallows, resting her hands against his own. "Alright…fine." She leans up and gently kisses him, letting it linger for a moment before pulling back. "But you better come back to me unscathed."
"I will. Don't worry." She steps back from him, shaking her head subtly before appearing in front of Saeresa again.
"You said we had words to speak of?"
"Yes." She turns to Jon, who had just appeared at her side. "I can have someone guide you to where the king's quarters are."
Jon nods. "That would be nice, thank you."
Saeresa snaps her fingers and suddenly, a guard appears at his side. "Bring him to the king's quarters." The guard nods and begins to walk. Jon gives Daenerys a bidding look before leaving the balcony, heading around the corner to Gods knew where. Daenerys looks down at where Dan was, practicing her fire and shooting it off towards the edge of the room. She jumps in joy when she's able to blast it into the form of what looked like a dragon.
"She's only been training for a day and she's improving rapidly," Saeresa says quietly from her side.
"That's my daughter," Daenerys says with a small smile. "Always the perfectionist." She turns to Saeresa. "Now. I believe we needed to speak of something."
When they arrived at what looked like a writing chamber for the queen, Daenerys had to admire how it looked, regardless of her feelings towards the woman.
The walls were shrouded in gold and red, with little dragons etched into what looked like banners. There was a giant window that overlooked the city, and she could see tens of dragons flying out in the distance. It truly was beautiful.
"Here," Saeresa says to her calmly, pulling out a chair. "Sit. We have much to discuss." She begins to pour herself a glass of wine, while doing the same of Daenerys. She sits down quietly as the woman hands it to her, and she takes a sip. It was delicious, but nothing compared to some of the wine she had in the past. Her mind remembers the wine she had given Jon as a thank-you for training. Now that had been good wine. "How was your first night here?"
While she almost felt inclined to say that it had been full of sex and kissing, more than she had had in five years, she declined to even mention it, simply stating "it was comfortable."
"Good. I'm glad."
"I wanted to ask you," Daenerys says softly. "Who is that girl that showed us here? She seemed quite young to be a handmaiden. They don't begin to start that until they are at least the age of 16 – that's when I made mine able to serve me."
Saeresa smiles a bit, chuckling as she placed her goblet down. "That girl is actually my eldest."
Daenerys stares at her in surprise, thinking back to the day before. She hadn't seen a third throne for the children. "She…wasn't there yesterday?" she asks, her confusion evident.
"No, she was not." Saeresa sighs and stands, walking to the window to look outside. "Such a shame, really."
"What do you mean?"
"The Galeron's have had sorcery passed down in their lineage for years. Even Aenar had powers for some time before he became king, and had to relinquish them."
"Relinquish?"
"When someone becomes a king of Valyria, they must let go of all prior powers to hold onto the one true power – being king. It's just how it's been for years." She sighs and looks outside once more. "When we were betrothed, we had no idea that our eldest would turn out to become the way that she is, without powers. We can't have her on the thrones with us, as it would show we let tradition go. It's what we must do to keep Valyria alive."
"So…because your daughter can't blast fire out of her hands or heal people – two completely normal things here, apparently – you refuse to acknowledge her as your daughter?" Daenerys asks, trying to suppress the building anger. She didn't know what Jon was talking about before. She didn't trust this woman if she so easily lets her daughter out of her life.
Saeresa turns to her. "I wouldn't say I don't acknowledge her."
"She serves as a handmaiden at thirteen!" Daenerys exclaims angrily. "That's no age for a girl to start so young! She probably hasn't even bled yet."
Saeresa walks to where she stood. "While I can see why our customs would be of confusion to you because normal people outside these walls don't experience what we experience here, you do not need to question them. It isn't as if we beat her because she doesn't have powers. She simply serves her family – it's what's she's going to do in the future anyway. We nurse the people who will protect us and use the people who can't."
Daenerys feels herself bring a hand to her mouth, trying to stop the curses that were bound to come out. She could never imagine just leaving a child like that, barely even saying hello to them accept to serve. That was a horrible way of life.
She swallows as she looks up from where she sat. "She said that you had something to talk with us on," she states quietly, sighing. She wanted to snap at the woman, to tell her off about every single little thing she said, but right now, she knew it wasn't the right time. There were guards right outside this woman's door, and Daenerys didn't even have her sword. It wasn't like she had many options.
Saeresa smiles and nods. "I did. Ever since you arrived we've been preparing a feast to throw in your honor as well as Jon's. Would you-"
"I don't want a feast," Daenerys says quietly, looking up at her. "I don't need to be celebrated. I just want to know that my children are safe."
Saeresa stares at her in surprise before gesturing to the door. "My lady, you-"
"Saeresa, I honestly could not care less what you throw for Jon and me, or who comes, or what food it is. I don't even care if a feast happens. I only want my children to be happy. That is all."
Saeresa looks down at her quietly before hmming. "I see." She walks back to her desk and sits down, taking another sip from her wine. Once she places the glass down on the table, she turns to her. "Why is it that you hold so much disdain for us in your hearts?"
Daenerys raises an eyebrow. "Disdain? I hardly know you." Even though it was right.
"It's not hard for me to read people, Daenerys. Remember, I know many things. It's hard not to see it."
Daenerys crosses her arms across her chest. "If you must know, there are a multitude of reasons. One is that your king nearly had us killed, and you went along with it. And I know you say sorry, but there are many other outcomes that could have happened that wouldn't have put our lives at risk. But instead of stopping him, you let it go. Another is that my children are living in a castle with strangers when they should be living at home with us while we are here. You're deliberately separating a family and while you may perfectly alright with not even acknowledging a daughter, I am not."
Saeresa doesn't say anything but her stance does not move, and her eyes stayed locked on Daenerys. Was what she said hurtful? Yes. But was it uncalled for? No. She hated the fact that a child was treated like that, and if she could show her passive-aggressive side as much as she could while here, she would.
The woman sighs and nods. "Very well. You know we only keep the children here so they can be closer to lessons."
"They don't need to be directly in this bloody castle to be on time for lessons," Daenerys states, her voice dripping in annoyance. "I can have them here. Or Jon can. It's not the end of the world."
Saeresa folds her arms across her chest. "Very well. They may stay with you in your home but they must be on time for lessons."
"That's alright with me," she states. Saeresa stands, looking outside the window once more. "Was there anything else you planned to talk with me about?"
"Since you have blatantly said no to a festival, then there is no need to talk anymore. I'll have a guard show you to the foyer where you can wait for Jon."
Daenerys nods, standing, leaving the wine there. As she goes to leave, however, Saeresa's voice stops her.
"You know, we hate you for what you became."
Daenerys turns to her, her brow furrowed. "What?"
"I know that's what you've been thinking," Saeresa states, turning to her. Daenerys could see the anger in her eyes, the distrust. "I know that ever since you got here, you have been thinking how could a family that never met you hate you so much? It's because of what you did." She walks over to her, this time slowly, with purpose. "A single dragonlord family conquering a whole entire continent for centuries. And then years later, their ancestor comes back and nearly takes it all again. Do you know how many dragonlords would love to do what you did? To take over a world? To build a new Valyrian Empire as it was before? With slaves and workers and everything else combined. So many of us. And yet, your family did it, all by your free hand. That is why my family and many other older families hate you. But I am trying to change that. I am trying to bring back the ways of Old Valyria, and turn this city into what it once was, with slaves and dragonriders and masters, just as much as the next cities here. And one day, when we are as strong as we can be, we will rise out and do exactly as you did, only better. We will conquer both Essos and Westeros, and build our old Valyria onto new soil. And I refuse to let some Targaryen girl come into our home and suddenly change the ways of the city that I have been building for years."
Daenerys stares at her in shock, her words digesting within her. "Your version of a New Valyria is nowhere near what the world needs," Daenerys states, not moving from her spot. "What I did freed slaved from years of torturing. What I did gave soldiers a reason to fight for the living. What I did gave hope until someone took it away from me. The difference between you and me is that you want to rule in the past, while I want to rule in the present. You think that your way of life in here could possibly last outside these walls, but it couldn't. So yes, maybe you can hate my family for doing what you have wished to do for years, but at the very least, we were brave. We took on a conquest and took all the kingdoms for us to rule, uniting them. We did not hide in a bubble as you did, wishing you could return back to slavery and servants. If anyone should be ashamed of how their family became, it's you."
Saeresa does not respond. She swallows and looks away. "I will have your children brought to your home after lessons today. You may leave."
Daenerys nods, heading out of the door. A guard waits for her, and guides her down the stairs. But as she walked away, a slight smile appeared on her lips. She had caught the queen red-handed in her hatred. She knew she would have to tell Jon what she learned.
But at the same time, she couldn't believe that a woman would want to hold a world like that, so stuck in the past. This city was so beautiful, and for a moment, she thought maybe the woman wasn't as bad as she initially thought, after how she had practically begged them for forgiveness. But now? It seemed that there was more to the queen of Valyria than Daenerys thought.
These people were going to be in trouble if they did nothing to help them. She could see it in her eyes. Even if she could not step outside this bubble, she would try her hardest to make sure the old ways returned.
And, well, Daenerys couldn't stand for that. Something had to be done.
Jon
By the time the guard dropped him off near the king's room, Jon was starting to wonder what it could be that Saeresa had to speak to Daenerys alone about. Out of everything in the world, they hadn't done anything wrong – at least not yet – so did it have something to do with him? Or the children?
He didn't know. For now, he just needed to wait.
As he approached the king's chambers, however, he could hear yelling coming from within. He quietly looks around and sees a sliver of the door showing light. Silently, he lets his head rest against the wall while his eyes peek in through the hole, trying to see what was happening.
Inside he could see the boy from the day before – the one who had shot fire at Dan – standing in front of the little girl. What were their names? He could hardly remember. The boy's name started with a Z, something he didn't see so often. The girl…gods, he couldn't think of it.
"I will not have you standing in the way of one of the best mages we have seen thus far!" Jon hears the king scream. He looks further in and sees the boy glaring at his father.
"You're not understanding, father. She's better than the rest – she's better than this place, all of us. She's already picking up movements it took years for others to learn. The same way Nesara believes Daemon is gifted too!"
Nesara. That was the girl's name. It fit her.
"You are standing in the king's way, Zaevar," the man growls. Zaevar. That was the boy's name. He knew it was different. But honestly, watching how the children reacted to the way he spoke, he had a feeling there was a much darker intrusion happening here. "Do you know what happens to people who stand in the way of a king?"
He could visibly see the boy swallow. "I'm only saying-"
Suddenly, Aenar slaps the boy hard across the face, sending him flying to the ground, his little sister jumping back in shock. Zaevar glares up at him as he holds his face, and stands, pushing his little sister behind him.
"You go to your chambers before the chosen one arrives. You'll be lucky if I don't replace you with their children!" he snaps. Jon quickly backs away from the door, trying not to be seen as the children rushed out. He could see Zaevar look his way, but he does not see him – only looking to make sure there were no witnesses, before running back. Jon felt a rage he had not felt in a long time take over him.
This fucking bastard beat his own children? What kind of a king was that? What kind of man was that?
It was at this moment that Daenerys was right. He should have brought Longclaw. Because if he had his sword, he would have plunged it into this horrible man the moment he saw him. No one deserved to live if they did something like that.
He didn't even want to see him, let alone hear what he had to say. But as he went to walk off, he hears the man call out to him. "Jon! Come in."
Jon feels himself curse. He should have left when he had the chance.
He turns around and walks towards the room, not even bothering to close the door behind him. He wasn't going to be here long. He refused to.
"How have you been?" the man asks, taking a seat behind his desk. Jon stares at him before shrugging his shoulders.
"We've been fine. I've just been thinking of the children."
"Yes. They've been advancing quickly – only been training for a few hours. It's amazing. Your children are going to make excellent sorcerers for the army of Valyria."
"My children are not going to do anything they did not sign up for," Jon responds, his voice firm. "It is their life. The only reason we are here is to train them. Once Kinvara sees that they are rightly trained, we will leave."
The man stares at him in shock before gesturing outside. "But this is your home. It's Valyria."
"Forgive me, but this is not my home. Meereen is my home," he states. "If we wanted to get technical, the North back in Westeros is my home, but I don't have many friendly faces their anymore. My sister is back in Meereen. People I care about are back in Meereen. And soon, my family and I will be back there. So if you could get those thoughts out of your mind that you're going to steal my children away from us to be a part of your fucking army, that would be great."
He sees the man still in his words. Yeah, Jon was acting petty using his own words against the king, but for all shits and grins, he did not care. He had hit his children. If Jon had it his way, he would take them with him, leave this place with Daenerys and the children, and never return. But he couldn't. Not yet.
"I…I see," the man mutters, looking at him again. "Well…I wanted to apologize for my behavior yesterday. It was uncalled for and I know that I shouldn't have done it. I was just so-"
"You know? Save it," Jon states, shaking his head. "I don't want to hear it. I know you're not sorry." Jon had told Dany himself they needed to go along with what they said, but after witnessing what the king did? Fuck that. "If it was any normal person, you would have burned us to the ground. But because we're special, suddenly we're given a home? Our children are trained? You're only acting this way because we have powers and you do not. And honestly, if Daenerys and I wanted to, we could probably steal your whole life away from you."
The man stands, his anger suddenly evident. "I am trying to move on from here. It is for this exact reason we do not let people into our home!"
"This place is not a home. It's a cell," Jon states angrily. "Do you see some of these people outside? Do you see that they wish to leave? Daenerys was focused on listening to Maelela this morning." He could see the man's face twitch at the name, but he does not say anything. "But I could see that they were envious of us. That we could leave but they could not. You're holding your people in a cage when all they want to see is the world. And that's not right."
"You have no idea what it has been like in here!" he snaps at him.
"Don't I?" Jon asks. "I lived in a castle my whole life up until I ran off to join the Night's Watch. You can live in luxury and have a bed, a pot to piss in, all of that, but if you don't have family, or you don't have freedom, then what is life like? It's awful, and anyone who is experiencing it knows it. And I'm sorry to break this to you, but that's what's happening here."
The man stares at him, his mouth opening and closing like a fish, but no words escape. Jon sighs and steps back.
"I appreciate you attempting to apologize, but don't try to be my friend. I am not here for that. I'm here for my children, so they can feel that they have control over themselves. After that? I don't even want to see your face again," he mutters.
Before he could even say another word, Jon leaves the room, storming down the hall. The guard that was there before had left, so he supposed it was up to him to find the exit. As he turned a staircase, a little voice calls out to him.
"It's to the right."
He turns his head to see that it was Nesara. She had been hiding behind a column. Her blonde hair was over her eyes and blocking something. Jon didn't think he wanted to know. But her big blue eyes were inescapable. They almost reminded him of Daenerys'.
"Thank you, sweet one," he says to her gently, kneeling down to her level. "I know this isn't my place, but I must ask…are you and your brother alright?"
Nesara looks at him and glances down the hallway. At that moment, they both see a shadow come from the king's chambers. Nesara quickly takes a step back and nods.
"We're okay. I promise."
Jon looks down at her and then at the shadow. At that moment, Aenar appears in the hallway, staring him down. Jon stands and looks at him before letting out a deep sigh. He turns his head to look at Nesara and offers a small smile. "Alright. Thank you."
He leaves after that, walking as quickly as he could. His mind was reeling.
He had told Daenerys that he had a plan, which was to just leave as soon as the children had their powers. No formalities, no goodbyes – just to get out and never return, because he had a feeling they would try and pull something like this. How could Saesera be okay with Aenar using kids in a Valyrian army for sorcery? What kind of king did that?
But now, they needed to do something different. They needed to make sure that these children – these people – were safe from this king's mind. And he only hoped that Daenerys would go along with it.
But after seeing Nesara, all hunched up and afraid – even seeing Zaevar get hit while just trying to speak to his father – they had to do something. Jon had lost a lot of himself in the last years of his life, but he didn't lose his conscious.
Dan and Daemon
Dan stood in her room, packing up the few things that the king and queen had given her. While she was excited to be back home with her mother and father, a part of her couldn't help but wonder what led them to that decision. They had seemed very adamant on keeping them here the past 24 hours and yet now, they were suddenly letting them go home and only come back for lessons?
'They had to have had something to do with this,' she thinks quietly, wondering what mother and father had been up to. It was the only reason as to why they would be allowed to leave. Maybe they had a nice conversation with the two? She didn't know.
As she did pack, she saw a figure appear out of the corner of her eye. She looks up to see it was Zaevar, who had his arms crossed across his chest.
"So the pressure got to you already," he teases.
She rolls her eyes. She had formally met Zaevar the day before when Saeresa had introduced her to the other fire mages. Although at first, she had been rather inclined not to speak to him – considering he, you know, shot fire at her – he was the best one out of everyone she had met so far that knew as much as she did. It was better to try and be friends rather than be enemies.
"It's not pressure," she states, closing her bag. "I guess my parents talked with the king and queen. They're allowing us to stay with them as long as we come to lessons still on time."
"That's how you know you have a special privilege," Zaevar states quietly. "When they actually allow you to leave? That's never been okay."
"I don't know. It's just what's happening."
"Of course for the 'chosen ones' family, anything goes-"
"Zaevar, do you have something to say to me?" she asks him quite frankly, turning to him. "I'm just trying to pack up my things and I don't need your comments. I just want to go home to my family. I understand that you don't like me for some reason but that doesn't mean you have to take it out on me consistently. For the past day, all I've heard from you are comments about how 'not good' I am. I'm done with it. Honestly, it makes me want to leave."
She turns back to her bag, stuffing a couple more things in there. She hears Zaevar sigh before he comes into the room.
"I don't think you're bad," he admits to her, causing her head to turn. "I even tried to tell my father today that you're better than anyone I've seen in a long time. If you want me to be honest, I'm jealous of how quickly you've learned some of the basics. It took me years to learn some of those." He shrugs his shoulders and glances at the floor. "I guess some of us are meant for greatness."
Dan feels her shoulders drop before walking over to him. "Don't say you're not meant for greatness. You're the heir to a powerful throne. Isn't that worth something?" she asks him.
Zaevar snorts before looking over at her. "It's not a throne you want to have."
Dan's brow furrows, but before she could ask what he meant, she notices there was a dark bruise on his left cheek. "Are you alright? Did you harm yourself or something?" She gestures to her own left cheek, aiming at the spot where the bruise was.
It seemed that doing so made him step back into the shadows. "I'm fine. I'll see you tomorrow in lessons."
She shrugs quietly. "Alright." When she goes to turn around, his voice calls out to her again.
"Dan?" She turns her head to look at him. "I'm sorry for what I did the other day." Her whole body turns to where he stood, his arms crossed. "Mother…kind of runs things around here. Whatever she says, goes…I didn't want to do it but I have to put on a show for her."
Dan smiles a bit before nodding. "I forgive you, then."
Zaevar nods and then heads down the hallway, leaving her alone. She lets out a soft sigh before going back into the chambers, tying up her pack to go down to the foyer where she would meet her family. At that moment, she hears another knock on the door, and she turns around to see the familiar eyes of Daemon.
"Mother and father are here. You ready to leave?" he asks her. She nods, walking over to him. "Do you have any idea why we are suddenly allowed to leave?"
"It has to involve them, right?"
"Of course."
"Maybe they threatened them?" Dan whispers as they walk down the corridor.
"We've only been here a day."
"That's never stopped them before," Dan mutters, turning a corner. She sighs and looks over at her. "How was training with Saeresa and Nesara? Were there other children there as well?"
Daemon shrugs. "A couple, but nothing crazy. It was only around…ten people, I believe? We focused on certain abilities and I picked them up quickly. Others had a little bit more trouble. Nesara thinks I'm cool though." A smile appears on his cheeks. "Never had another child think I'm cool yet."
Dan rolls her eyes. "Don't let the sudden fame get to your head," she states, chuckling a bit and looking over at him.
"It's not fame," he mutters before turning to her. "She just seemed into what I could do. You can't blame her – she's young and probably doesn't have a lot of people like her and now someone comes into the castle that has the same abilities. She's happy about it. And I'm happy someone truly thinks I'm gifted."
Dan chuckles a bit before squeezing her brother's arm. "You are gifted. I don't know why you think you aren't. You're the reason father's alive." She turns to him. "If that's not incredibly gifted, I don't know what is."
Daemon smiles a bit at her before squeezing her hand back. "Thank you."
She nods. At that moment, she glances to where they just were above them, where the sleeping chambers were. "Do you think the children are…treated well?"
Daemon's brow furrows. "What do you mean?"
"Well, I was talking to Zaevar and-"
"Gods, why are you wasting time talking to him? He's a clear ass," Daemon states, turning to her again. "He nearly hit you with fire the other day."
"His mother told him to. He said he didn't want to but he didn't have a choice. Either way – it's not like you've trained with him."
"You've known him for a day!"
"I'm not saying he's a bloody angel," Dan responds, frustrated. "I'm trying to say I saw something on him that seemed…a bit out of the ordinary." Daemon's brow furrows once more and he nods at her to continue. "When I was training with him earlier today – before mother and father apparently came to visit – he didn't have a bruise on his face. But when I spoke with him before, he did."
Daemon raises an eyebrow at her. "You don't think he could have just tripped and hurt himself?"
"No. Remember – I trained with him today. He has skillful footwork. What I've learned is that manipulating fire and using it as a weapon is much like using a sword. You have different stances, different ways of striking, directing, blocking – it's quite impressive that this sorcery had remained mainly hidden all these years with how advanced it is. And he's very good at moving his feet. I don't think he's the type of person to just trip – if you understand what I'm saying."
Daemon raises his brow. "Do you think they hurt the children?"
Dan bites her lip as they turn a corner. "I…I don't know. Zaevar said it was nothing when I brought it up to him but it didn't seem like nothing. I don't want to pry unless father and mother have seen something too…but it's just something I've noticed."
As they walked, Daemon rubs the back of his neck. "I did see something today too."
Her brow raises in surprise, looking over at him. "With Zaevar?" she asks, surprised.
"No. With Nesara. I don't think it was anything physical, but when she got a movement wrong while we were practicing healing, Saeresa yelled at her. I could see her visibly flinch – like she thought she might be hit."
Dan swallows as they turn another corner, and her eyes land on the familiar hair of her mother. "I think it's something we're just going to have to look out for."
"Should we bring it up to them?" Daemon asks as they approached.
Dan shakes her head. "Not right now…we'll talk with them when we can."
At that moment, the two of them turn and smile at the children walking forward. Together the two siblings run up and hug their parents tightly, both giving them each a tight embrace.
"Let's get you home," her father says to her warmly, helping her with her bag. Dan smiles at him as Daenerys and Jon lead them away from the castle to where they had placed them. Dan glances behind her and sees eyes watching them from the very top of the castle, but they soon disappear when they walk away.
Daenerys
She had waited all day to tell him.
It wasn't that it hadn't been on her mind. It had been. The fact that Saeresa wanted to return to the glory days of Valyria as well as her children had been the only thing she had been thinking of. And now that her children were home in their chambers, all she had to do was bring it up.
Except each time she felt would be a good opportunity, it never seemed to be. The first time had been when she and Jon had met up after their initial meetings with the two leaders, but both had been swept away by Maelela for an actual tour of the city afterward.
The city was beautiful. She got to see more of the market and say hello to many people, but as she spoke with them, she could see a certain fear in their eyes each time she mentioned the queen or the king of Valyria. And it was then that she would realize that these people feared them. She asked Maelela why so many people still attend the fights, and she had said it was tradition. People still enjoyed them, but didn't mean they liked who hosted them.
She had seen where there was an opening to the fields, where farmers worked, as well as an opening to the sand and the beach, where they would find their fish or other supplies. It was a very well-put-together system, but she couldn't get the faces of the people out of her head.
And Maelela, how she was treated like a servent. That was just wrong.
The second time she had thought about bringing it up, their children had arrived. She couldn't openly say what she wanted to in front of them, so she decided to later on.
Now, it was later at night. The children were asleep, and she and Jon were in their chambers, both getting ready for the night. But the one thing she did notice was that he wasn't touching her. Which clearly meant there was something on his mind.
Maybe it was the best way for her to speak as well.
"Jon?"
"Dany?"
They both turned their heads at the same time, before chuckling at their shared question. She stands and walks over to where he stood, now in just his smallclothes. "Do you have something to say?" she asks him softly.
"I've…been thinking about something all day, yeah," he mutters before looking up at her. "But if you need to say something, you say it."
"No, you."
Jon bites his lip before taking her hands in his. "What if we just speak it at the same time?"
Daenerys nods quietly. "Alright," she states, pulling him over to the bed. She sits next to him before taking a deep breath. "Ready?" He nods.
She turns to him and speaks what was on her mind for the past day.
"Saeresa has a third daughter."
"Aenar beats his children."
"What?" both of them exclaim, looking at each other in shock. Jon shakes his head and turns to her.
"Wait, you said Saeresa and the king have a third daughter? Who? There were only three thrones?"
Daenerys gestures outside. "The girl that was showing us around today. Maelela." Jon's brow furrows, his expression already asking 'why?' "Saeresa told me many things today…I asked her why a girl so young would be showing us around. She revealed it was her daughter, but they treat her like a handmaiden because she was not born with powers like the other two were."
"Seven hells," Jon mumbles before looking back at her. "So she's the eldest but they treat her like a servant because she can't blast fire out of her hands or heal people? That's not a normal thing, you know."
"Apparently in Valyria, it is," Daenerys responds. "The Galeron's have had sorcery in their family for ages, and she was the first one born without the power. So they…well, now you know." She turns her head to him. "But you…you said Aenar beats them?"
Jon sighs, running a hand through his hair. "I…I know I saw Zaevar get hit – the young boy who struck fire at Dan?" Daenerys nods softly. "I think he might have been speaking about her to his father – mentioning that she was better than everyone. And Aenar didn't like that. He fucking slapped the boy across the face so hard, he went flying to the ground."
He could see the rage appear on Daenerys' face before she suddenly stands. "Can you only imagine what he might do to Maelela? A girl with no powers if he beats his son?"
"I have a feeling he's hurt the young one, too."
Daenerys brings her hands to her mouth. "Nesara?" she whispers.
"When I was trying to find my way out of the castle – the guard had left before I could get escorted out – she told me where to go, but when I looked at her, it looked like her hair was hiding her face, and she seemed like she was…shrunken in, or something. Like she was afraid. As soon as she saw her father's shadow, she ran off."
Daenerys shakes her head, sitting back down on the bed. She was silent for a moment before looking over at him. "I told you they were bad."
"I know," Jon mutters. "I know, and you were right." He shakes his head, looking back at her. "Gods, the things Aenar said today – I wanted to fucking kill him right there."
"What did he say? How did your conversation go?" she asks quietly.
"It…went about as well as you thought it would. He tried to apologize for his behavior the other day – I had none of it. But what stuck with me…he uses these children for an army, Daenerys. An army full of powerful people, who don't even have a choice to fight. As soon as they can learn how to use their fire, he trains them and uses them. At least that's what it sounded like when I spoke with him. He said they would be 'excellent sorcerer's' for the army, or whatever the fuck he meant."
Daenerys stares at him before standing. "Are you speaking the truth right now?"
"He is."
Daenerys turns her head to see both Dan and Daemon standing in the doorway, having listened in. She drops her arms in surprise and looks at them.
"You two are supposed to be sleeping."
"We couldn't sleep. We had to tell you something – but father already found out," Dan states quietly, walking in with her brother. "The red priests – the ones we were training with – said something about sorcerers in an army but I didn't pay attention to it. But if you say you heard it…"
Jon could see the fear appear in her eyes and he instantly pulls the twins closer. "We aren't going to let that happen. You don't need to worry about that," he reassures both of them, before turning to Dan. "Did you see any bruises or injuries on the boy?"
Dan nods quietly. "I saw Zaevar. He talked to me before I left…apologized for the fire for yesterday, but he had this big bruise on his cheek. Is that really from the king?" Jon solemnly nods.
"And Nesara?" Daemon asks. "Do you think he hurts her too?"
"I don't want to believe he does," Daenerys says gently, walking over to him. "But if he hurts his son…there's a chance he might hurt her as well as the oldest daughter."
"Zaevar and Nesara didn't say anything about an older sibling," Dan says quietly.
"Probably because that woman demanded them not to speak of her," Daenerys mutters before looking outside. "It all makes sense now with this army you say he has. What she was speaking about. I can not believe we walked into this."
Jon's brow furrows as the children sit next to him on the bed. "What are you talking about?"
Daenerys turns to him, thinking of how she could say this. "I…I don't know if it's something the children should hear."
"Why not?" Dan asks, her tone growing. "We're a family. We said we would do this together. If you don't tell us truths, we aren't going to get through this."
"If it's something that can help the other children, can we know? Please?" Daemon asks. "I don't want them to get hurt anymore if what father said is true."
Daenerys sighs, looking to Jon for some help, but he only nods his head. "They have a point, Dany. We can't keep secrets from them."
She closes her eyes and smiles softly. "No. I guess we can't." She walks over to the bed, sitting opposite of them. As she looked up, she smiles a bit. It was funny, how life worked. The whole entire world could fall apart in front of her tomorrow, but as long as she still had these people in front of her, she would be happy.
"What is it then?" Dan asks quietly, interrupting her thoughts. Daenerys sighs and looks to them once more.
"Saeresa told me why she and her husband – and many people in the past – aren't too fond of Targaryens. It's because we took over a continent. One family, ruling overall. It's because while old Valyria never had one single ruler, we went off and built a conquest, a united kingdom. So she is planning on doing the same – only bigger."
Jon's brow furrows. "What do you mean?"
"The monarchy here is the first step," Daenerys explains quietly. "The one ruling family that has been ruling for years – the Galeron's, united with certain dragonlord families to keep the bloodlines pure. The second part? Building an army." Her eyes go to her children. "While I'm sure Valyrian's have their surplus of fighters and warriors, they have something many other people do not – sorcerers. And that's where people like you two come into the picture. The third part?" She swallows and glances out at the balcony, listening to the rushing sea. "She wants to build a New Valyria based on the old one."
"What does that mean?" Daemon asks.
Daenerys turns to her son, her shoulders dropping. "It means slavery, my child. People swarmed into tough places, getting the resources for the lords and the ladies without any say. Imprisoning children to work for an army…everything you could possibly think of. And she doesn't just want to do this to where we are now. She wants to bring their army to all of Essos – and all of Westeros. She wants to build what my ancestors did – only greater, and much more deadly."
Jon looks at her in shock while the two siblings were quiet. Daenerys turns to Jon quietly, biting her lip.
"You said earlier that you had a plan. Can it stop this in any way?"
"No," he states quietly, looking over at her. "My first plan was just to leave as soon as the children were done training – no goodbyes, no celebrations – just to leave. When I saw what Aenar did…" He looks at the children and sighs. "I wanted to find a way to protect Zaenar and Nesara – whether that be the worst-case scenario or the best. But after what you just said…I don't know if we can do any of that. We can't just leave knowing what Saeresa is planning."
Daenerys looks at him, seeing the clear conflict within his gaze. A part of her did not want to remain either, but she knew he was right. They couldn't just leave that quickly.
"Have either of you seen Kinvara?" Daenerys asks the twins. They both shake their head.
"The red priest that was teaching me today said they needed her for something special," Dan responds. "I don't know if that's good or not."
"This place is full of secrets," Jon states quietly, looking back at Daenerys. "I have a feeling Kinvara got dragged into one of them. I mean, when has she ever left your side like this? I don't think she's wherever she is right now on her own will."
Daenerys bites her bottom lip, nodding. "I was thinking that as well."
Daemon looks between them before shrugging his shoulders. "Why don't you just take over?"
The two Targaryens turn to the boy in surprise. Daenerys crosses her arms against her chest. "Daemon, it's not that simple. These people have been living under the same system for hundreds of years now. You can't just replace it."
"I'm not saying do it tomorrow," Daemon responds. "I'm saying you can grow close with the common people here. The other dragonlords. It's clear that Aenar keeps secrets from people – we don't really know what they think about the monarchy. And if you did grow close with them, they might rebel against the king and queen. You won't even have to do anything."
"I don't think the people like it here," Jon states to Daenerys softly. "I've seen some of their faces. They want to be free."
Daenerys looks to them before gesturing outside. "What makes you think they would accept us? We're outsiders."
"We're also what they believe in," Jon points out. "Instantly, they think of us as some sort of savior. The king and queen can't do anything to us because the people would be outraged, so we're protected from that for now. But Daemon is right – we could grow close to the people there, hear what they say, make them want to rebel against the king and queen. Once their power is stripped away from them, there's the threat of Saeresa's rebuilt Valyria gone. It can't be just a killing – just like that. It has to be planned. The last time a king was killed, the world went into war."
Daenerys nods quietly. "You're right." She looks at Jon. "But what about the children? If you say that the king beats them, what are we going to do? How are we going to protect them over this period of time of convincing the people here?"
"We're always in the castle," Dan points out. "We can try to stay there for as long as we can during the day so there's less chance of them getting hurt at night."
Jon looks to the two of them before resting his hands on their own. "You're saying you'll stay close with them so they won't be hurt? Are you sure you want to risk being in that castle with someone like that?"
"They can't harm us," Daemon states. "We're your children. If they hurt us, it'll only hurt you and bring more disruption. I think if we did stay there during the day, there would at least be less of a chance of them getting hurt."
"I don't want to think about them getting beaten," Dan admits softly.
"Neither do I," Jon responds, hugging his daughter's side, the discomfort evident in her gaze. He turns to Daenerys. "What about Maelela? If she's also in the castle and they treat her like a servant…that means she might end up getting beaten as well."
Daenerys nods quietly. "We did not bring Eleana here," she states gently, a plan forming in her head. "Since Saeresa already sees her as a servant, why don't I just bring her into our home? She can be safe from the king and queen, and we can keep a steady eye on her."
"That makes me feel terrible about the other children," Daemon responds.
"I know. But there isn't much we can do with them. The best we can is that you stay there and make sure they are as safe as they can be when you're in the castle. At least with Maelela, we can keep her safe." She looks to her children and bites her lip, before moving and descending to her knees. "What we are trying to do right now is going to take some time. I don't know how long. It could be a month. It could be years. We don't even know what proper time it is outside these walls because time moves quicker within here. But we won't do anything if you two are not in agreement. If you want to leave, we can do as your father said and just go."
Dan and Daemon share a small look before both shake their heads. "I want to protect the children," Dan says back. "I don't want them to be alone."
"I want the dragons out." Jon's brow raises at his son's statement.
"What?"
"I was listening to some of the other children today. You're right. A lot of the families here are sick of being stuck within. I want to let them loose. To live their own lives. Can you imagine what the world would be like if Valyrians were allowed to actually live outside this bubble again?"
"It could be a world we could make," Daenerys says to him softly. "But we need to approach this calmly. We can't make any mistakes. Each day is a new day to grow closer to what you have to do. For us, it's to see into the minds of the Valyrians here – root the seeds of rebellion, I suppose is the best way of looking at it. For you, it's making sure those children are safe."
"You can count on us, mother," Dan responds, a smile on her cheeks.
"As long as Zaevar doesn't blast me with fire next, I'm in." Dan rolls her eyes and punches her brother softly on the shoulder, causing him to laugh. Daenerys smiles and hugs them tightly, letting out a soft breath. She looks up at Jon, who was quiet. When she pulls back, she turns to him.
"What are your thoughts, Jon?" she asks him.
He turns to her, quiet, pensive, before a response comes. "I think what we are trying to do is quite maddening," he admits softly. "But I can't stand here and allow that man to lead this place, knowing what they are planning. It's not a choice…we have to do this. For the children and for the rest of Valyria. The world Saeresa is planning has everyone at risk – including us. We need to do this."
"And we will," Dan states, her voice determined. "We're Targaryens, right?" Daenerys smiles brightly at her daughter openly admitting her name. "We don't break easily."
Daenerys smiles and hugs her children once more. "You two need to go to sleep. We'll speak more tomorrow." She kisses them both atop the head, and Jon does the same. Daemon leaves the room first, and Dan follows, but the girl stops and turns to them.
"Thank you for bringing us here," she says softly. "The castle…sleeping in there last night was lonely."
Daenerys feels the corners of her mouth turn upwards, and she nods to her daughter. "Of course. I wouldn't have let you stay there alone."
Dan nods, smiling once more before leaving the room. Daenerys closes the door behind her once she was gone, and as soon as it is, she turns to Jon.
"How is it that they're so perfect?" she mutters, shaking her head. Jon chuckles as she walks over to him, sitting next to him on the bed. "They just…understand. Do you know how many children at their age wouldn't even know how to comprehend what is happening right now?"
"We've kept them informed," Jon says to her. "A lot of parents keep secrets from their children. We're obviously not one of them."
"Well…technically we haven't told them about us," she responds, looking back at him. "That's still a secret."
He wraps an arm around her and pulls her into his side, kissing her gently. When he pulls back, he brings a hand to her cheek, stroking the skin underneath her silver hair. "That's a conversation for another time. I'm sure we don't even need to explain it, honestly…they already thought we were having sex back at the pyramid."
Daenerys chuckles softly, nodding. "That is true…they are smart ones, aren't they?" She smiles at him and rests her hand against his own. "We made something really good, Jon."
"Two things," he corrected, and she laughs.
"Two, yes." She turns to him and bites her lip. "Are we really doing this, Jon? Trying to take over Valyria?"
Jon sighs and looks to her. "We don't have another choice, Dany. You know what Saeresa will do if we let them stay in power. What Aenar will continue to do if we don't stop them."
"I just…" She swallows and glances at the ground. "Power was everything to me when I was younger. It was what drove me. I wanted to become better than the last, better than my brother, better than my father, than anyone before. I kept working until I felt I had the army, the support…and that all just blew back in my face because of people we both thought we could trust." She looks back up at him. "Now…even if we're here, we have this…wonderful life. I don't want to lose it. I don't want to lose you or the children again."
He rests his hands against her cheeks, cupping her face in them. "I can assure you, we will not. We're still going to be a family when this all ends. We are still going to go home to Meereen. We are going to be just as happy as we are now. I promise you, nothing will happen to what we have. But it's going to be bigger. We're going to need to take on this role – not for ourselves, but for the city. We can't let what Saeresa is planning on doing, happen."
Daenerys nods quietly, letting her hands rest on his. She lowers them onto her lap before chuckling a bit. Jon raises an eyebrow at her.
"What are you laughing about?"
"Jon Snow," she muses, looking back at him. "King of Valyria. Words I never thought would leave my mouth."
"Does sound strange, doesn't it?" he asks, before gently pulling her into his arms, shifting so that she was on his lap. "I think Queen Daenerys Targaryen of Valyria sounds much better."
She raises her brow. "If you expect me to do this alone, I'm going to drag you with me."
Jon laughs at her expression before resting his hands against her hips, sliding them up and down her curves. "I could never let you do this alone – never again." He leans up and kisses her, this one filled with passion and intensity the others earlier did not match. When he pulls away, he rests his forehead against hers. "We can accomplish anything as long as we're together – and I know, we can do this."
"The last time I tried to take over a kingdom, bad things happened," she replies, her worry evident on her face.
"That was the past," Jon reassures, squeezing her body closer to his. "This is now. We didn't have what we have now. We didn't have the children. We didn't have this."
He leans in and kisses her again, and she sighs into the kiss, feeling her worries melt away. It was funny how one little kiss could somehow make her whole day better.
When he pulls back, his hands then move to her face again, brushing her hair behind her ears. "You can say we were together – but even you have to admit that something feels different this time."
Daenerys smiles a bit. "It does, yes." She leans in and kisses him again, but when she pulls back, she sighs. "I need you to swear you'll be by my side during this – no backing out. No betrayals. If we have an issue, we tell each other."
"I will stay by you as long as you will have me, Dany," he whispers to her, his hands enveloping her face again. "Until you get annoyed with me," he adds on.
She smiles sweetly. "Impossible," she murmurs before kissing him again. It was strange how this felt. She had come back to Meereen to rule because people were still loyal to her, but for so long, it had felt empty. It had felt she was only doing it for the sake of her son, to make sure he had a home. She didn't feel complete after what happened.
But now with Jon by her side? She felt like she could take on anything. They really were meant to be together, a set molded by the gods above and below, destined to intertwine. And as long as they stayed loyal and true, she truly believed nothing could stop them.
Suddenly, she hears a giggle come from behind the door. Daenerys quickly pulls back and looks over as does Jon, before briefly seeing the twins faces in the small crack. Those little ones had opened the door slightly when they didn't hear. They vanish within seconds once the couple realizes, laughing, Dan saying 'I told you so!'
Daenerys feels her face turn red as Jon laughs. "I suppose we don't need to hide it from them anymore."
She laughs as well before turning back to him. "I suppose not." She brings a hand to his cheek, stroking it again. In that moment, she lets out a soft sigh, staring into his dark eyes, but a sense of determination overtook her, one she had not felt in a long time. "We do this together."
With a firm squeeze to her sides and a kiss to her lips, he seals his promise to her. "Together."
Here are some translations for you guys:
Ȳdra daor keligon, ȳdra daor keligon! – don't stop, don't stop
Māzigon syt nyke, ñuha jorrāelagon – come for me, my love
Gotta include the Valyrian in there somewhere, am I right? And yeah - like I said, Targaryen takeover baby.
The next couple chapters are going to be filled with a lot of action (both the good and the bad) so I wanted to make this chapter as long as I could to get the same information across. Just as a warning, there's going to be a time skip in the next chapter - I don't know how big it will be, maybe a couple months or a year, but I'm still deciding on it. If you guys have any intake on that, just let me know!
As always, love it? Hate it? Want to cook me into a pie like Arya did to Walder Frey's sons? (wow that's gross lol). Let me know in the reviews, as you guys always keep me going and wanting to get this out for you as soon as possible. I'm sorry this took a little longer than usual but that's because I wanted to make it good after the craziness of last chapter, so thank you guys so much for your patience. You all are awesome and your reviews keep me writing because I'm so happy you're enjoying this! Don't forget to follow or favorite if you'd like to join us on our adventure, and I will see you all in the next chapter. Thank you for reading and I hope you guys have an awesome day! Wash your hands and stay healthy! :)