Stannis could not stop looking at Daenerys. It was only a few moments ago that they had said the words to gods that neither of them kept. She, for all he knew, kept no gods—though she desperately tried to model her beliefs after her family. For himself, he had no respect for religion, only if it served him. But they had vowed to love each other till the end of days, and it had to mean something. If not love, it was at least a partnership that Stannis felt growing by the day. Although Shireen had been dragging his feet to this wedding, he had to admit that she had made the Great Hall as beautiful as he'd ever seen it. For a place filled with political intrigue and the scum of people at times, it had been transformed. The room was still dark, though lit with white candles; hanging from almost every place flowers could be hanged, were roses of every color. Though he promised himself, weddings were a dark part of his past and brought him no excitement, he had to admit that he was more happy than he thought he would be on this night. Last wedding, he had been wed to a woman who he never loved; Stannis did not love Daenerys—if he had any feelings for her other than growing respect, he would not admit it to himself, but at least he knew her. Not only that, but on this occasion he was King of all of Westeros and was not given it, he earned it.

Shireen sat on Daenerys' lap thrilled with her new mother, though not forgotteing her old one. It was a bit unfair though: considering Dany was a Targaryen, and was always considered a marvel in the young girl's eyes who studied the Targaryens in her bleak childhood.

Shireen turned to her father. "Daddy, did you see her dress?"

They had ended up going with his choice.

"Of course he did, Shireen. Don't be silly." Daenerys said softly and grabbed her nose lightly, she smiled at Stannis. "As if you're father would admit that it was beautiful. He's just learned to value my opinion, not thinking me a traitor. Shall we dance then?" she asked Shireen, eager to step away from the awkwardness arising between the three of them.

Shireen got up excitedly and followed Dany to the dance floor. Stannis sipped his wine quickly and a servant filled his glass again. He couldn't help looking at Daenerys now. She had taken his advice and worn the black dress with red accents. It was dark as night with panels of red, starting from her waist and stopping at her toes. The top was cut in a V and had cut out black slaeeves. The dress hugged her body closely—as everything did. Her hair was braided in the style of the South. The dragon is hiding under there. Her violet eyes brought out the color of the dress almost violently, showing her Targaryen roots to him and everyone in the room. He heard people whisper that she would be nothing but death and destruction to the seven kingdoms, but that only made Stannis looked at pride at his wife all the more. They should fear us. It had been several months since he had met Daenerys. He had hoped to get rid of her. He saw her as nothing but an enemy who couldn't be trusted. He didn't even see her as a person who deserved the Iron Throne as much as him. But she had proven herself to be worth of his trust and a woman who possessed a fine political mind. This relationship, whatever it was, was just beginning to form but he felt warmer towards her than he had previous nights. Maybe it was the wine, or maybe it was the fact that he didn't feel as his life was so bleak and that he needed to suffer at least just for the night. He had always studied her character, had studied her every move, wondering what she was up to. But tonight she had made the movement that had made him King, there was nothing to worry about. Stannis was not stupid enough to believe there wouldn't be betrayals, but he was grateful enough to her for the night to forget about them. She had made him a legitimate ruler, Shireen was his heir, and she was a Queen that he was beginning to feel gladder and gladder to sit beside.

Everything seemed happy tonight. Stannis was not feeling like himself. He was the scorned prince turned king—a king now having everything he wanted was not willing to believe that there was more pain to come. A king so kept in the darkness, who wanted to step into the light and wanting to reclaim that light as his own. All the things he believed and all his innocence shrouded from view now came out. Daenerys came quickly and fell into her chair beside Stannis. She sighed and breathed heavily, sipping down her wine. She was also in high spirits. She had left Shireen to dance with a young man that Stannis was watching closely. She kissed Stannis on the cheek (a move she would have never made months ago, or even sober), which made him turn.

"Husband, she will be fine. Why don't you dance with your queen?"

"I don't dance."

"You've had to."

"I don't like to."

"Have you been enjoying your wine and food?"

"I have."

"Then the least I can do is enjoy food and wine with you.

They spent their time working on several bottles of wine and making fun of everyone in the room. The night was coming to a close, but thankfully people's appetite for wine and entertainment wasn't. Stannis hoped to slip out of the room unannouced, he and Daenerys walked out with their arms hooked together—leaning on each other for balance. "Enjoy the feast!" Daenerys called.

"And the same to you, my Queen," several called and drew a roar of laughter from the room. Dany and Stannis could only laugh as they stole upstairs. "Let me walk you to your room, Lady Targaryen."

Dany laughed, "I think you can call me Daenerys now and I'll walk you." She could notice that Stannis was a quite more drunk than she was. Up a small flight of stairs, they arrived. Stannis could not say goodbye to her so easily. He had everything he wanted, a proper king and he wanted to build a night that was similar to fairy tales that he had long given up on, but now he resumed believing in because he felt they were not so far away. "I have everything I want. And it's partly thanks to you. In the cold winter, I never thought I would have such a night to warm me.

"You are King now."

"I am and you are the queen, you have a mind I wish I had and a beauty to charm-"

Stannis leaned in feverishly and kissed her, pushing her against the cement wall behind them and then letting go gently.

"I thought you would never admit that. You are not the cold prince they told me about."

"No, I am something new. Something I always wanted to be. Blame it on weddings, or alcohol, no wonder my brothers were fools."

Stannis opened the door and allowed Dany inside. He wanted to believe that he was not that cold prince he had to become throughout life. There was no Robert to shit on him and no Renly to outcharm him. He could be who he always was. Stannis peeled off Daenerys' dress like a dragon's skin, it seemed to say, "I'm unprotected and here before you." She indeed looked like a girl before him, nothing but his desire to seal his happy ever after called him closer to her. She, far less drunk than he, had played this game before and only wished to strengthen the bond between them because she was a man that she did respect. He feels like he's earned his happy ending that he's not the scared little boy he once was, but I know that I will always have to work within it. Happiness and strength can be taken away. An egg has to hatched. A Queen has to be made. It is not the end.