Daenerys woke the next morning, more inflamed then she was the night before. She didn't even want to rise from bed. She sat up in bed for several minutes, rubbing her eyes and scanning the room. Asha was nowhere to be seen. She hoped she hadn't made her too uncomfortable, but was eager to talk to her again. Asha was always moving, like she had once. She did not ache for those day. It had been her life for so long - all she wanted was to rest. But still even in these castle walls, she did not feel at peace or at home. She might as well give up that dream, just as Stannis had. She remembered their wedding night. He was babbling on about believing in hope and dreams again. It was the most she had heard him talk. She knew he would never talk to freely to her again. He said something about fairy tales and about Dany being his princess. His Princess? His Queen? She didn't want that; and even if things were different, even if he did love and respect her, this was not what she wanted. Being a man's queen would never get her far without her own independence.

She remembered being wed to Khal Drogo. "I don't want to be his queen," she had told her brother Viserys. But of course, she had been. She was nothing but a slave, bought and sold for an army. Things weren't so different. He came to love her, but Stannis never would. She knew that deep down. The difference was, of course, she was queen here in her own right even if she was snickered at in the streets. She wouldn't waste her time getting her power through him. All he had given her was a title and she had given him enough. I am Queen.

Stannis walked out of the council room, rubbing his head. Daenerys had not been there yet again. It was a few days now. Come to think of it, he hadn't seen her since the argument they had gotten into after dinner that night. He had maybe seen the back of her in passing. He understood, but it was easier this way. He didn't need love, he needed to rule. He thought Daenerys would respect the same and perform her queenly duties.

"Father!" Shireen yelled loudly as he got into the room. It had been a long day at council and he longed for peace and quiet. This was not something that was going to happen with Shireen joining him for dinner.

"I've got your meal all ready. How was council?"

"It was good. Long but good." He poured himself a tall glass of wine.

He noticed Davos next to him, "Have you seen Daenerys, Davos?"

"I think I saw her leave the castle earlier with Asha."

"Hmm. I wonder what that is about. Shireen- why don't you go ask Daenerys to join us for dinner?"

"I don't feel like it."

Stannis rolled his eyes, "Davos, would you go ask the Queen to join us?"

Davos bowed quickly and went.

Daenerys sat with Daenerys at the table, drinking wine. Asha was telling her stories from her childhood before she had ended up shipwrecked here. There was a knock at the door. Asha rose to get it. Daenerys stopped her. "I'll get it." Dany composed herself before answering the door. If it was Stannis, she didn't want to hear from him just - yet but she would act as cold as he did if she had to.

"Davos."

"My Queen. Stannis asks you to dinner in his chambers."

"I will dine here with Asha tonight."

"It is the King's order, my lady."

"And this is my answer."

Davos, the ever-loyal servant, had to get the Queen to come someway. "Shireen asks you to come."

"She did?"

"Yes, she misses you very much."

It had hurt more than words when Shireen had ignored her at dinner, then again this whole week. She felt like she had lost her only friend and the only daughter she might ever know. She thought Shireen would be thrilled now that Dany was officially her mom, but as she had learned the last few days, things did not turn out how you thought they would.

"I will come."

Halfway to Stannis' chambers, Davos went for a small detour. He said that he would be there in a few moments and that Daenerys should continue on. She did and stood outside of the door. She was only going to calm herself, but then she heard that Shireen and her father were talking about her.

"Why don't you like Daenerys anymore?"

"I went into town. The day after the wedding. I heard what you did with her."

Stannis coughed awkwardly. He certainly didn't want to talk about this with her. "It's natural."

"I heard some other things."

"What are they saying?"

"There must be a servant that you can't trust. He was speaking of all you told her. Things you've never told me about. How could you?"

Stannis had nothing to say.

"I asked them about the Queen. They say she's going to get on her dragon and burn us all to death. You love her?"

"No." Stannis said.

"You have loved her more than you have ever loved me. I was fine when I knew you didn't love much, but now, I hate you! I hate her!"

Daenerys held back tears. She raced back to her room and didn't care that Davos was asking her what was wrong as he was coming back.

"She hates me." Daenerys gave out great heaving sobs as she told Asha what had happened.

"She doesn't hate you. I've seen how that girl dotes on you. She's jealous. It will pass. She's a teenager."

Daenerys rubbed her eyes. She was hurt; she was pass the point of caring anymore. "I have nothing to lose now."

Asha looked at her nervously as she got up and poured a tall glass of wine. "Will you drink with me?"

"Of course."

"So I've been thinking, my first duty as Queen, I would like to free you and send you back home. I know it's what you want."

"How will you convince the King?"

"We're not going to tell the King. It will take maybe a few weeks, but I will get you out of here. He messes with my plans, then I will mess with a treaty that he cares about."

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Asha took a sip of her wine.

"I'm sure. I must show him who I am, right? This is only the beginning." Daenerys clinked her glass with Asha. If she had been inflamed this morning, she was beginning to spout fire starting tonight.

Note: Thanks for all the new follows of my story these last few days/weeks! I really appreciate it :)