Chapter 21: Slowing Down

~o0o~

"Princess, I don't just like you. I don't just want to see where this goes. After today, I can say, surer than I have ever been, that I am falling in love with you."

Daenerys' violet-specked eyes went wide as Jorah laid his feelings out for her. The word 'love' had been on the tip of her tongue that morning when she had told him she liked him. She had hesitated – not wanting to seem overly attached after just one kiss. And she wasn't sure if she really knew what love was, having experienced very few relationships.

All she knew was that her feelings for Jorah were strong. She felt safe with him. She felt special and worthy and seen. And, perhaps most importantly, she felt like a woman, separate from her royal title and everything that came along with it. She felt free.

"You don't have to say anything to that. I know we've only just met, and I work for you and that all of this is completely unexpected and unconventional. But I would be remiss if I wasn't honest with you about my feelings. Life is frighteningly short. I didn't get a chance to tell your brother – out loud – what he meant to me before he died. He was a brother to me. I know he knew it, but the most important feelings bear repeating." Jorah looked down at the plate of food in front of him and cut into the chicken, trying to seem casual and not expectant that she echo his thoughts, even though his heart was racing.

"I don't plan on dying anytime soon..." Daenerys said, trying to bring levity into the conversation.

"Grey, Jaime and I will make damn sure of that..." he briefly met her gaze and then turned back to his dinner, almost sullenly.

"Jorah..." Daenerys set her fork and knife down, worried at his change in demeaner and frustrated that she hadn't been able to gather her thoughts quickly enough to reply the way she wanted to – so that he wouldn't have taken her silence the wrong way - "I'm falling in love with you too. And you are right – we barely know each other and maybe I don't even know what being in love really feels like. But the way I feel for you is...different. And I've felt this growing in my heart for weeks and when I saw you and Sansa...I..."

Pain flashed across Jorah's face, "Daenerys, I'm so sorry. If I'm being truly honest, I went along with Sansa's overtures because I felt completely undeserving of you."

"Jorah, please...I'm not angry, I just was so jealous, and it all makes so much more sense now. I thought it was a little crush, but it's so much more than that." She blushed and he broke into a genuine smile.

"Well, then we are both falling in love. It's been so long for me – it feels incredible to feel this way again."

"Was the last time with your ex-wife?" Daenerys asked. She had always wanted to know more about his past and she figured that now was as good a time as any to inquire.

"This feels different than with her, but, yes."

"Why did it end?"

Jorah took a long sip from his champagne glass, "I think Lynesse had always been looking for a way out from the start. We ran in similar social circles when we were younger, even though my family doesn't have quite as strong of a noble background as hers. But I was what she pictured for herself – a military man. Then it became about how I was always gone and she was lonely and when I took the job with MI6 and left the service, she became deeply unhappy. Working for Rheagar was the last nail in the coffin for her – I embarrassed her. Regardless that I worked for the royal family, she told me I was nothing more than a mere errand boy. I had been convinced it was my fault – that I let work come first and hadn't strived hard enough for a meaningful career and that I wasn't an attentive husband – but the truth is that my status changed and I didn't have time or the desire to help her host garden parties or spend time schmoozing the British elite. She claimed I had been cheating on her, turned my friends and my own father against me, and hired the best divorce lawyer in London, who made a case out of nothing, and she now cleans me out every month in alimony." He chuckled sadly, "I apologize – you most likely wanted the abridged version of that."

"I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry." Daenerys whispered, "She's so wrong. I can't see you being anything but loyal and being an equerry is the highest position in the royal household – you are trusted beyond measure – I want you to know how incredible you are and how...how terrible she is."

Jorah tilted his head just slightly, looking over at her with emotion in his eyes that she was sure he hadn't let surface in a very long time.

"Thank you. Truly. Your brother helped me through that time. One of the hardest times of my life, actually. Your family trusted me and kept me on when she deliberately tried to sully my family name and reputation. I'll always be grateful for that. And now I'll be grateful that I took that job with your brother and didn't waste time trying to win her back – because it led me to you."

Daenerys pushed herself away from the small table and rushed to kiss him, bent over him with his head in her hands and her hair falling in a silvery curtain around them. She was overcome with anger at his ex for daring to treat him so badly and a burning desire to show him how much he meant to her already. With a light tug on the lapels of his suit jacket, he rose from the table as well, both of them forgetting their dinner.

They stumbled around the sunroom, intoxicated with one another. Her kisses were needy, and his hands ventured up her back and around to her side, right underneath her breasts. It was clear what she wanted as she started to unbutton his shirt and he couldn't hide how he felt either – with the bulge in his pants pressed against her stomach. It was agonizing for him to try and regain control of the situation and break away – a frustrated moan escaping his lips.

"Daenerys..." he fought to catch his breath as he looked into her eyes, which were dark and half-hooded, "We should slow down."

"Why?" She continued with her unbuttoning, her fingers nearly at the hem of his shirt. There was more beyond the 'why'. 'Why not? 'Why wait?' They had the tour and likely nothing more and she clearly didn't want to waste any more time. He understood that.

"Because I want to do this properly." He gently rubbed her shoulders, "And it kills me to stop..." he darted his eyes down to the space between him and the evidence of his want there for the both of them to see, "But you deserve everything – and I want to give that to you..."

She smirked, pulling him closer, "You can give it to me..."

The look on her face made him flush – he had seen many sides of his Princess, but this was a new one, "Soon – I promise you. Let's just have a proper date that wasn't put together by our well-meaning friends first?"

Daenerys acquiesced with a nod, "But can I still kiss you?"

"Oh, I never said we should stop that..."

~o0o~

"These aren't her..." Robb frowned as he looked at the jewels laid out on black velvet before him. He was sitting in Petyr Baelish's office and had been for the last hour, trying to decide on an engagement ring for Daenerys.

In the past few days, so many crucial parts of Petyr's larger plan had fallen perfectly into place, and to top it off, he had managed to convince Ned Stark to talk to his eldest son about proposing to the Princess the second she returned back from the tour.

The plan was for Robb to be in Scotland with her brother and father upon her return and use the circumstances, crowd, and guarantee of paparazzi to create a proposal that would be seen around the world. With Viserys in Rehab and his relationship with Sansa still nonexistent, this was the next best thing Petyr could concoct.

Petyr found it almost too easy to get Robb on board as well. Even after only being on two dates with the Princess, he was very clearly mad for her and eager to please his parents. Petyr had asked for any Stark heirloom rings to be brought with Robb for inspection, but all of them were quickly deemed too Northern in style and certainly not big enough.

So, Baelish had been prepared with alternatives – dozens and dozens of royal heirlooms and some more contemporary choices by the best jewelers in London.

"How would you know?" Petyr sighed, watching the boy tentatively pick up a four-carat emerald ring surrounded by diamonds.

"I feel like she would want something delicate. She's kind and not flashy like her brother – and all of these are the exact opposite."

"Delicate doesn't show up in photographs," Petyr rolled his eyes. The boy really was thick. "Just pick one..."

"But it should mean something. Shouldn't it? I should see it and know..." Robb's eyebrows knit together as he picked up another ring – a huge ruby surrounded by two intricately carved gold dragons, once worn by Daenerys' great-great-grandmother. He found it gaudy and set it back down.

"Just. Pick. One." Petyr reiterated and then decided to soften his tone – he needed this to work, "Whichever one you pick, she will love because it is from you."

He couldn't believe that line of shite had come out of his mouth, but it seemed to put Robb at ease, who went back to diligently inspecting his options. Fifteen minutes later, he had chosen a five-carat oval cut flawless diamond on a simple, white gold band. It was one of the modern rings, designed by Harry Winston, and Robb seemed pleased enough with it.

"Well done. We'll keep it here and have it ready for you when the day comes. We'll speak soon," Petyr promised Robb, who saw himself out with a smile on his face as the rest of the jewels were collected to go back to the royal vaults. Petyr snapped a quick picture on his mobile of Robb's choice and leaned back in his chair, smirking to himself.

~o0o~

The next morning, Jorah took part in his usual routine with Captain Lannister of sitting outside and watching the sun rise. They had no time to get attached to their temporary dwellings, as that day they would be moving on to their next stop – Angola – but it was still nice to capture a few quiet moments.

He sipped his coffee and smiled as he thought back to the night before. Despite promising to take things slow, he and Daenerys had made out like teenagers for the better part of an hour, letting their food grow cold and forgotten. He ended the night by walking her to her bedroom, giving her a final 'goodnight' kiss, and then ventured to the living room to see Gilly and Missy asleep on the couch as Jaime and Grey watched an action move. He and his friends shared a knowing look and Jorah gave them both a small nod of appreciation.

His morning had only been made better by getting a text message from his niece, Lyanna.

Jorah: Since when did your mother let you get a mobile – and why are you up so early?

Lyanna: Mom says I can't text during school – so it has to be early. How is the tour?

Jorah: Good. Does you texting me mean you aren't mad at me anymore?

Lyanna: No. Still mad. You left without saying goodbye.

Jorah winced, thinking back to the night a few weeks ago that he had cut his trip home short to make sure the Princess was safe. He would have made the same choice again, he just wished he hadn't hurt Lyanna in the process.

Jorah: I'm sorry. I will be back after the Tour is over. We end in Scotland and I'm taking a few days to come see you.

Lyanna: If that's true then I think I can forgive you...

Jorah: And I'm bringing my girlfriend with me. I want you to meet her.

Jorah knew it was wishful thinking on his end that he could sustain a relationship with the Princess and take her to Bear Island to meet his family, but he knew it would make Lyanna happy to hear and it made him happy to think about – so he indulged himself.

Lyanna: YAY! Gtg – see you soon!

Jorah smiled as he looked over at his friend, who was on his phone as well with a sappy look on his face – clearly texting Brienne. All felt right, made even better with the incredible display of nature in front of him as the molten sun came up over the horizon.

His phone buzzed again, and he eagerly unlocked it, wondering if Lyanna had something else to say. Instead, a photo popped up on his screen of an enormous diamond ring in a black box.

Then a message from Petyr Baelish that made Jorah's heart sink.

Petyr: Make sure the Princesses' nails are done before you arrive in Scotland. More soon.