07x03, 'The Queen's Justice'

Jon Snow has accepted her invitation to Dragonstone, Tyrion had informed her a few weeks ago. As long as the tides hold, he should be here within days.

Nerves churn and froth inside her, like those very ships tossed on the waves. This will be her first meeting with someone outside her immediate group of allies.

This Jon Snow calls himself King in the North. He is, Tyrion tells her, the bastard son of Lord Eddard Stark. Lord Stark is long dead, but she's sure the memories of her father's heinous acts are not. This could be a precarious situation. Jon Snow may seek revenge for what her father did.

"I don't think so," Tyrion reasons. "I've met him before. A thoroughly decent boy."

She wishes desperately that Jorah was here with her. His counsel would be precious to her right now. As the only northerner amongst her supporters, he'd be able to give a measured opinion, would understand the rich histories better than Tyrion ever could, despite his claims that he's read all about them.

She hadn't been giving him consoling words when she'd told him that she needed him by her side. She does need him, and his expertise regarding the north. She has Ellaria for Dorne, Lady Olenna for the Reach, Yara for the Iron Islands, Tyrion for the Crownlands and the Westerlands, but she has no one with real knowledge of the north—though Yara insists that she is not a southerner. Jorah is invaluable to her in so many ways.

So she hopes and she prays that he will make it back to her one day. When she mounts the steps to take the Iron Throne, she wants his face amongst the crowd, shining with pride, the first person to swear his fealty to her, now and always.

Two days later, Missandei brings the news that Jon Snow's ship has anchored. Daenerys straightens her spine and steels herself for war.

She remembers how vigorously he's always defended her against those who would scorn her, like Qotho, the Masters.

If only he could be here today.