Disclaimer: A Song of Ice and Fire belongs to George R. R. Martin. I'm just a fan and I own nothing.
Thank you guys for the encouragemente! I'm very glad with all feedbacks and I'll push myself to keep up with the inspiration and continue this story. I'm really loving this and looking forward to your opinions again.
This chapter is about Dany's POV and my intention is to alternate as the fic goes on, then all the chapters have some more povs in them. It's just the beginning, though.
Enjoy your Reading :3
.I.
She watched from the Wall as they went farther north of Winterfell, where the Stark's bannermen found the deserter. They went very fast, it would start to snow any moment now and they couldn't take too long to return home. Her silvery blonde hair could very well blend in to the landscape behind her, the cloudy sky above, the mist taking over the hills that involved their castle. Her fur coat was much similar to the others, with a dark brown cloak underneath the grey, white and brown tones at the animal's fur, a very beautiful dress in light grey with little red, green and golden dragons trimmed carefully at the edge of her sleeves, the hem of her dress and by her neckband - Lord Stark and Lady Stark did not really bother for Daenerys to embroider the sigil of her household. For them, it meant she remembered very well about her heritage and she's proud of being a Targaryen. They would only ask her to wear a non trimmed dress or a dress with wolves or things that reminded the North when the houses that supported the Starks would come - not to cause a commotion over a piece of clothe.
Dany was very mature about all of it, she understood the meaning of being a Targaryen - something very dangerous in the wrong hands. When she had classes with all the children of the Great Keep, Septa Mordane taught them about all the houses and when it was about the Targaryen she told them about the madness and the greatness that involved this ancestor house that conquered the Seven Kingdoms centuries ago, when the brother and his two sisters came from Old Valyria, mounting their dragons, and first landed at Dragonstone, soon enough spreading their conquest for all Westeros.
There was always the awful parts when learning about her heritage - many mad Kings and Queens, many great warriors and lords and ladies… When it got to the year she was born, Robert's Rebellion, she would be very sad and wanted to leave the room, but she couldn't because Lord Stark was watching over her, demanding her from his very hard grey orbs for her to be strong and listen to all of it - he gave his word to King Robert himself to save her, Daenerys learned all of it when she was about ten and, as she grew up understanding more things, the story began to be much more similar to what really happened then the ludic way she first heard about it.
By now she knew her brother, Prince Rhaegar, took Lady Lyanna to be his and her betrothed, Robert Baratheon, now King of Westeros, moved a rebellion to get her back. Many died because of Rhaegar's love, including her child brother, Viserys, beheaded by one of Robert's bannerman, and Dany couldn't help think what it could've been if only things were different…
Now she was a grown woman, beautiful, the age of seventeen and every man at Winterfell would turn their heads towards her Valyrian traits - the true blood of the dragon, she's heard Maester Luwin say when explaining her what it meant, the platinum in her hair and the violet in her eyes. Theon had already asked Lord Stark for her hand once, but he denied, telling him Daenerys was to be married for some other Lord, with lands of his own, and not to his ward - if he wanted to, Theon could marry any other woman of Winterfell, but Dany and his daughters.
Daenerys walked back to the Great Keep, very polite and greeting everyone that crossed her way. She was very dear to all of them, nobody would ever think of the terrible Mad King while seeing her. She was raised like a North woman and that was all they cared about. She would go find Arya to have some more fun with her, because she was feeling a chill going up and down her spine since the moment she stepped out of her bed that morning - it usually meant something would change their lives, and she hated feeling this. The last time she felt it, Jon fell off his horse and was unconscious for two whole weeks, they were barely eight years old and she feared this chill.
Making her way down through the courtyard to the Great Hall, where she was probably planning some prank to get Sansa - the oldest daughter of Lord Eddard and Lady Catelyn, and she was just like her mother, of long gingery locks and bright blue eyes, very tall and lean. She was thirteen years old, but she had little to none womanly traits unlikely Dany, that when she was Sansa's age had a very curvaceous body, that Lady Catelyn would try to disguise with bagging dresses so the man wouldn't see and try to take her anywhere. Oh, but Dany hated those dresses.
When she arrived the Great Hall, she found Arya climbing the stone walls to get over the door and scary Sansa when her older sister would come through. Daenerys smirked to that and approached Arya silently. As soon as the little brunette girl tried to climb the porch over the door, the silver haired girl grabbed her feet and pulled her slightly, making Arya scream and hang from the porch.
Daenerys was laughing loudly "DANY! WHY DID YOU DO THAT?" Arya said, very pissed, trying to push herself up the porch and not succeeding. She jumped to the same level as Dany and pouted to her "You spoiled my prank!"
"Serves you right! You've tricked enough people for today, Arya." the young lady ruffled the girl's entangled hair, loosened from the braids that Lady Catelyn did earlier.
"Where are the boys? It's the perfect time for swords' practice!" she ignored Dany's teasing and looked at her, shining her curious grey eyes and pretending to hold a sword in her left hand.
"Your father asked them to join him. They went to execute a deserter from the Night's Watch." Arya pouted again, crossing her arms and furrowing her eyebrows "What?"
"I hate being a girl!" Daenerys laughed loudly at that and Arya blushed, getting more annoyed "Father never, EVER, brings me along!" she walked away and the Targaryen former princess followed her "I have to be stuck in here embroidering and dancing, among other 'noblewoman pursuits'!" she mimicked Sansa's voice and Dany chuckled again "I hate being a girl!"
"Well, there isn't much we can do about it." Arya glanced back at Dany when they arrived at her room.
"Of course there is!" Arya replied. Dany arched an eyebrow and the younger, slim girl stopped in front of her mirror "I look like a boy already. Just cut off my hair and give me some male garments." Daenerys put a hand in her chin and stared at Arya, getting in her fantasies.
"Hmmm… Let's see something about that." Arya opened a smile from ear to ear when she saw the silver haired young lady walk towards her and put every lock of Arya's dark hair back, bunning them down so she couldn't see in the mirror "Now, you're hair is short." Arya laughed, enjoying how she looked with short hair "What else can we do?" she asked the little sister - she considered Arya her dear baby sister ever since she was little.
"We could grab some of Jon's clothes!" Arya suggested and Daenerys guffawed, agreeing to her. They both ran to his room and went through his clothes, laughing loudly while going through his undergarments.
"You'd have to wear those if you want to be boy." Dany remembered Arya and she crinkled her nose, making a face to that.
"I'd wear the girl's undergarments. They look more comfortable." And they found a dark pantaloon and a leathery vest along his boots.
Back at Arya's room and she changed into his clothes as Dany played with the patterns in her sister's mattress.
"What else would you have from the girl's world?" was a very difficult question.
"Mostly nothing." retorted Arya and Dany made a sarcastic joke that had Arya laugh again "I don't know how to close this stuff!"
"I know you don't like mostly everything of being a girl. But there are some privileges the boys don't have." Arya arched her eyebrows to that, grimacing and walking towards Daenerys, signing for her to continue as Dany helped her button up correctly Jon's vest "Like being the first of everything!" she said very glad about that and Arya thought for some moments, agreeing by last.
"This helps me to win the races against them." Arya gave in and Dany nodded.
"Of course you're much faster than the others, but it helps." Dany could see now Arya looking to the ceiling thinking about it "What else?"
"Maybe that we're much stronger than men…?" Dany nodded smiling.
"Much more! There was a time when Theon sticked his thumb in one of my sewing needles and it went very deep, but, come on, it's a needle!" Arya laughed and the Targaryen continuing telling "He asked Maester Luwin to give him milk of the poppy to take it out because he couldn't bare the pain." she laughed some more at her memory "And we laughed of him forever since." Dany signalized for Arya to look at the mirror and see how she turned out as a boy "What do you think, Lord Arry?" she jested and the brunette girl admired herself.
"It's too big!" she told Dany.
"Pretend it fits you!"
"Fine!" Arya watched as she did look like a boy, but something was still wrong. It wasn't fitting… "There's something wrong…"
"I know what is wrong." the younger girl looked at the other and waited for her to continue "Look again at the mirror, to your face." she obeyed and glanced at the 'horseface' she inherit from the Starks, feeling very uncomfortable and Daenerys continued "You see that face?" Arya nodded "A Lord will never be so beautiful. This beauty belongs to a lady, a Stark Lady, only." Arya blushed and smiled small "And don't mind about what those silly girls that follow Sansa everywhere say. When I went to the crypts and saw your aunt Lyanna's statue, I can sworn it that you two are very alike!"
Before any of those two could continue the conversation, they could hear someone getting to Arya's room and it was one of her handmaidens "Lord Stark requires your presence at the Great Hall immediately." Daenerys nodded and the handmaiden left the room, chuckling slightly for Arya's funny look.
"Let's go, get back to your clothes before…"
"Hey, where are my clothes?" they both cackled when listening to Jon's concerned voice about his clothes.
…
There were all the ladies of Winterfell, Catelyn and her daughters, Sansa and Arya, back in her dress, and Daenerys sitting in the heavy wooden chairs while Rickon ran from side to side, anxious to what his Lord Father wanted them to see.
"Is father bringing us presents, mother?" he wondered to Lady Catelyn and the ginger woman of her late thirties smile to him, shrugging her slender shoulders covered by her long sleeved cobalt dress and glancing to the her daughters at her left and to Dany, sitting at her right.
"Do you know what this is all about?" the three of them shook their heads, as confused as Lady Stark and the woman winked to her little boy "Let's hope it's something good, alright?" Rickon grinned and went back to his solo game.
Daenerys looked through the window absent mindedly when she heard Lady Catelyn's speak, but she wasn't particularly interested until her Lady called her name "Yes, Lady Stark." she said startled and blushing for she was caught wandering away with her mind.
"A raven just arrived from King's Landing." announced the elder woman and the Targaryen girl's purple eyes widened afraid. Catelyn gesticulated for her to calm down "This time it wasn't about you, my girl." Dany let out a breath she didn't know she holding when Lady Catelyn continued "However, you should better prepare yourself." the silver haired beauty furrowed her brows, not understanding what her Lady Stark was talking about.
But, then, there were sharp barking coming from the entrance of the Great Hall and Lord Stark saying he warned the boys about those pups and he would not say a word about their pets.
"Dogs?" Sansa wondered looking at her mother, a little smile curling up her pale face as Arya jumped from her seat with Rickon leaping from side to side, too excited to stand still.
And before Lady Catelyn could reply, Lord Stark entered the room followed shortly by his lord sons, his ward and his bastard - all of them holding pups that had sharp ears lifted, slim snouts with lots of fur covering all their skin, of black, brown, grey, white and silver bristles, and wisp tails.
"They're soo cute!" Sansa screamed making her way down to Robb and taking one of the female pup from his hand.
"Calm down, all of you!" Lord Eddard said to all his children, even Daenerys ran towards Jon, who held two snow white furred little pups. They were much smaller than the rest of the pack. The bastard gave her one of them and the Targaryen's face lighten up to the biggest smile she could have.
"Those aren't dogs…" Lady Catelyn said glancing worried at her Lord Husband.
"They're direwolves, mother." Robb answered watching Theon giving Rickon a dark cream direwolf pup "We found the mother dead and they were left to die. Father allowed us to keep them." he grinned sweetly to his mother who was concerned about so many direwolves pups.
"But, Ned, they'll be huge!" mentioned his wife that had studied about direwolves when she came to the north. They were supposed to exist only north of the Wall.
"That's what I told them and I'm telling you ladies, right now." Lord Eddard claimed their attention and all of them turned to him, holding their direwolf pup in hands "You'll feed them yourselves, train them and you'll bury them yourselves if they die." all of them nodded and agreed to his noble demands "And I don't want seven direwolves going wild inside these walls, so you better start right now by giving them names!" he said before the children started to laugh and wonder how to call them.
Lord Eddard left the room and his Lady Wife followed shortly after warning all of them that supper would be served by the nightfall, so they were not to get delayed by their pets.
"Why Theon has none?" Rickon asked and the Greyjoy young man laughed, ruffing his head.
"I didn't want any more trouble than those I already have." he announced, very pleased in not having to raise any pet "You have no idea how much trouble having a dog is."
"And you'll never know how wonderful it's to own a direwolf like us." Robb replied smugly, playing with his grey pup that was already very fond of him "And this is Grey Wind."
Daenerys and Jon watched as the others were figuring names for their pups at the corner, stroking the platinum fur of her little pup, of great blue orbs. Jon was very amused with his own pup to keep staring at the young lady next to him, marveled by the little creature.
"Those two were buried deep in the snow." he muttered and she glanced up at him, hugging the female pup as she paid attention to his words "Theon said they were meant for all the Stark children, even the both of us."
"He said that?" Daenerys was rather intrigued with the Greyjoy's comment and Jon held a laughter "What's wrong with him? He's being too nice for a day." the brunette young man agreed watching the red eyes of his pup "Have you figured out a name for him?"
"He looks like Ghost to me." he told her and Daenerys punched his shoulder slightly chuckling "Well, look at him! He is snow white and has this big red eyes. What other name would you give to him then?"
"You're such a fool, Jon Snow!" she teased and he made a face, going on with her jest "But your pup liked Ghost." she added and pointed to the direwolf, swinging his tail and turning his little head from side to side as he heard his name "Ghost it is." Jon caught Daenerys' purple eye winking at him and smirked charmed at that as she grabbed and rocked her white pup.
"What are you calling her?" the pup had slept in Dany's lap.
"Maybe Sleeping Beauty…" she joked and he sneered a laughter.
"Too long, Daenerys Stormborn Targaryen!" he teased and she grimaced at him.
"I'd call her Silver, but that's already my mare's name…" she looked at Jon and he commented something stupid about same names are more difficult to forget than different names. Daenerys glanced once again at the bastard and he made a funny face, making his hair fall over his countenance and she stretched her hand to take the dark curls off his face to stare deeper into his eyes. He reddened so fast she could feel the heat emanating from him and grinned widely "I'm calling her Snow."
"And why are you looking at me like that?" he wondered, not sure if he wanted to know the answer or not.
"I was making sure I wouldn't regret it." Jon furrowed his dark brows and laughed pissed off about her joke. She didn't seem to care though, because she leaned in and kissed his hot cheek, smiling widely after that.
"Snow it is." he mimicked her and she laughed, waking up the pup.
…
When they were reunited again, having supper, Lord Eddard had another announcement to make after all of them had finished eating - because he knew some wouldn't be able to swallow anything later, specially his lady ward, Daenerys. He was gathering the words and the courage, but Ned wasn't young anymore. He was very experienced and delaying it would only make things worse, for everyone.
"Are you glad with your direwolves?" he asked first, having an unison answer from his children. He smiled small at that and Lady Catelyn allowed herself to smirk too "Great. Now, I have a more serious deed to tell you." he looked to all of his children and, at least, his fierce grey orbs laid in Daenerys' face "Jon Arryn, the Lord Eerie and the Vale, hand of the King, passed away. He was a close friend and like a father to me. I would like you to pray in his behalf tonight, so the Gods may guide his way to the Afterlife." all of them stood quiet for a moment before Ned continued "King Robert and all his court are coming to Winterfell in a fortnight, probably to make me a proposal, that includes all of you, because you're my family, and to meet Daenerys."
And he was right. She couldn't even breathe after this announcement, swallowing would be the last thing that would cross her mind. Her mind started wandering elsewhere, her imagination working to the wrong way, seeing herself locked in a dungeon as King Robert sentenced her execution - the people she loved the most, Robb, Jon, Arya, Bran, Lord Stark, Lady Stark, Rickon, even Sansa and Theon, turning their faces from her because she was a dragonspawn and the time to annihilate the Targaryen's from the existence had arrived.
Her entire body was trembling and she couldn't listen to what Lord Eddard was speaking, because she was too frightened of what would happen when the Usurper arrived at her beloved home to grab her by her hair and drag her all the way down to King's Landing just to behead her in front of his people.
Of course, he could always kill her in front of the Starks if it was his desire…
A hand touched hers which were grabbing and crumpling the grey skirt of her dress. She snapped out of it, turning abruptly to her left and meeting Jon's deep grey and calming gaze. She accepted his warm touch and squeezed his hand between hers, much smaller and frail than his, welcoming the courage he gave to her by this gentle gesture.
"Is the prince coming?" Sansa asked suddenly very interested in the subject and Arya rolled her eyes away.
"Yes, the princes are coming, the princess, the Queen and her brothers." Ned grimaced at the mention of the Lannisters and continued his speech, staring again at Dany "All of you will behave while they stay here and let's hope they'll leave soon." All of them, but Sansa, nodded agreeing with him.
…
Ned knocked on the door, waiting patiently and straightening his posture as he heard the sweet voice of the girl he raised as his own daughter. He could listen to her light steps hurrying towards the door and he felt terribly to make her pass through such a humiliation. Of course Eddard knew much more than what he told his children today, that Robert was coming to claim him as the Hand of the King and he couldn't do much about it. And if he went South, he would have to take Daenerys along his daughters - he really didn't want it to happen. He wasn't feeling great about this.
"Yes?" Dany opened the door quickly in her nightgown and bowed to her Lord Stark, smiling small to him, her swollen violet eyes "Oh, good night, Lord Eddard." she opened her door so he could enter if he wanted to.
"Can we talk?" he beamed slightly to her, compassionate and she nodded.
She let him close the door, because he was always adamant about gentleman manners and followed the Targaryen girl to her bed. Her long wavy platinum hair went down her back and fell in front of her. Her room was always very warm, due the powerful hearth, because Dany was always so cold - during the day she could find it in her to stand the temperature, but, at night, even with the thermal waters heating the Great Keep, she still felt very cold - Ned could feel the sweat going down his forehead as he approached the window and opened a crack in it so he would breath better.
"Are you worried, Dany?" he asked in a soft voice and his ward admitted, embracing her slender body in her arms "My urge is to tell you that you don't have to, but you're a grown woman and aware of things." she gazed back at him, frightened tears gathering in the corners of those Valyrian eyes, sweet eyes "I promised Robert you'd never threaten his reign."
"You know I won't, my Lord!" she said desperate, crying and walking towards him. Ned touched her shoulders and tried to calm her "You know I would never deny your words, father…" lord Stark embraced the young lady, assuring her and believing in her words. He trusted Daenerys and considered her as one of his daughters.
"And I won't let anyone hurt you, my sweet girl." Eddard warned her, cupping her face and making her look at him "Even if I have to stand up to the King once again to keep you safe, I will." she nodded even more touched by his words.
"You can't go against the King, father. He'll have you killed." She told him, holding his hands and smiling as he chuckled softly.
"He's a King, not a fool. Who is going to guard the North for him?" Daenerys agreed "Besides, he's my friend and he'll believe me once he gets a look at those eyes of yours." he mussed her hair and hugged her once more before preparing to leave "Try not to worry, my girl. We still have a fortnight until they arrive" and he left, but Dany couldn't really fall asleep that fast.
She just kept glancing at the ceiling trying to imagine happy thoughts and ignore King Robert's arrival in fifteen days…
She heard a faint bark and got up to see Snow trying to climb her bed and join her, with her bright blue orbs shining at Daenerys and head leaning from side to side. Dany smiled and grabbed her pup, putting her under the mattress with her and stroking her until they both fell finally in a deep sleep.
A dragon and a direwolf.
…
A week passed and the direwolf pups grew so much even Lady Catelyn could believe in her very eyes, and they followed the Stark children everywhere, or anywhere they could go, because when they went riding outside the pups had to stay in Winterfell - but they stood guarding the gates until they were back.
Like this very moment, when Jon and Dany took Sansa, Arya and Bran outside to play in the woods, since their Lady mother seemed to be in very good spirits, allowing them to go, and the weather was warmer than usual helped a lot also. She wanted to send the guard along the children, however the bastard and the ward guaranteed her there was no need because they wouldn't go far way and wouldn't take too long to come back.
Jon went ahead with Bran and Arya to the neared woods in which they would play with their wooden swords and among other things, while Sansa galloped in a softer pace with Dany still very interest in Prince Joffrey's. Her bright blue orbs glistening as they imagined the blonde prince looks and how charming he could possibly be.
"Do you not want to meet the prince, Dany?" she asked, grinning already in love for her dreamy prince.
"Not particularly. No." Sansa had this outraged face in hers "I just don't dream about princes, Sansa." she chuckled and looked ahead of them, seeing Jon disappearing between some trees "I won't marry one of them."
"It doesn't mean you can't dream of it." Sansa replied skeptical of Dany's thoughts "You can't be serious… Every girl wants to marry a prince! Specially Prince Joffrey!"
"I'm not like every girl." she granted her with a great smile and Sansa laughed of her older sister "You, on the other hand, will surely marry some lord or even the prince himself, if he deserves you, of course." her announcement made Sansa show her teeth in joy as she thought talked about prince Joffrey. Dany barely rolled her eyes, amused by the delusional sister.
"He must be so handsome! I've heard he has golden hair and bright green eyes as the Lannisters and their beauty." she wondered and Dany was starting to get bothered "Do you think father will allow me to marry him?"
"He will ponder over it." Sansa rolled her eyes and scolded Dany "What? He'd do that."
"What do you think, Daenerys!"
"Well…" Dany glanced slightly tense towards Sansa, wanting to finish that conversation and meet with her other siblings "Have you bled, Sansa?" the ginger girl widened her eyes and flushed gawky, not waiting for the Targaryen ward to say such a thing "You'll only marry Joffrey if you have bled already and become a grown woman. Father won't marry children."
After that, Sansa turned her face into a scowl and fastened her mare's pace to meet the others before Daenerys and the young lady thought she was away too harsh on Sansa's thoughts. She was just girl and dreaming of charming princes, Dany should understand this, but she couldn't due to her family constantly remind of how mad the royal family could be.
She never once dreamed of marrying a prince or deluded herself about perfect and handsome man to marry. First of all, Daenerys didn't think she would ever get married because who would betroth a Targaryen, for an instance. Then there was the thoughts she might marry someone, but it wouldn't be someone she would fell in love with first - after all, she's a ward of the Starks and she'd have to be useful to them someday. Maybe her dear Lord Eddard was just waiting for the best proposal from a very wealthy lord and she would be given gladly and her future husband's house would sworn loyalty to the Starks, more bannermen for them. She knew she'd have a duty when it came and it was adding alliances to the Starks.
However, she did dream about marrying either Lord Stark's sons. Mostly, she dreamt of marrying Jon Snow and live forever in Winterfell, become a seamstress as he would be the master-at-arms of Lord Robb once Sir Rodrik Cassel passed away, bear his dark haired children with purple eyes and pale skin, their direwolves also breeding, grew older with his brooding, unyielding Stark face.
Sometimes, she would dream of kissing Robb while riding his horse after he saved her from thieves when they were outside Winterfell, a day particularly similar to that very day she went riding with the children and Jon. And she felt deeply guilty about such dream go inside her head - she really had Robb as her own brother. And those times were the times she remembered she was indeed a Targaryen and her inheritance of incestous weedings preceding and giving birth to her. She was very drawn to him everytime he gave her that smug smirk when dancing with her before Theon did or when he gazed at her praying in the Godswood with Lord Stark.
She finally joined the Stark children and Jon Snow, the three of them were playing hide and seek while the bastard laced the horses to the trees. Daenerys got off her mare and laced her on her own, startling the brunette young man once he finished his task. He smirked at her, a tiny wrinkle between his brows as he approached the Valyrian beauty.
"Were you lost?" he teased and Dany showed him her tongue "You took ages to get in here."
"Sansa and I were discussing prince Joffrey's handsome or not look." the bastard arched an eyebrow, not very pleased with that subject "That was the same face I gave her, but you know Sansa, when she talks about charming and handsome imaginary princes there's no one who can stop her."
"Except that he isn't imaginary. He's real and he's coming." Daenerys let her head lean forward, remembering that the King was coming and trying not to become afraid again "Do you want to talk about it? I thought you'd be very uneasy about it, but you're handling it alright." he lead her to a branch and they sat down, looking at each other faces.
"Can I handle this anyway but alright?" she wondered, twisting the corner of her mouth and gazing at Jon with puppy eyes "Lord Stark talked to me about it, reassured me I'll be safe. I can't really suffer from anticipation, I'll end up killing myself ."
"Your sense of humor seems intact." he bickered, pulling a smirk in the corner of his lips and receiving a light punch from the stormborn lady "It was a compliment, you hotheaded lady!" she narrowed her purple eyes to stare at him as he pretended to be in pain and massaging her arm.
"You're lacking of better compliments." she retorted folding her arms over her chest.
"I won't let them do anything to you." Jon whispered in her ear and Daenerys felt a great heat and glanced up to him, he was very close to her "Do you believe in me, Daenerys Stormborn?" he called her this way when he meant it.
Dany lifted her face slightly, stopping it inches away from Jon's concerned and devoted face. She nodded and she could see that he was blushing as hard as she was. Her heart was pounding so fast she could listen to it, almost jumping off her chest.
"Good." he whispered again, his hard grey orbs going from her eyes and to her mouth, swallowing every now and then as they stood like this "Stop worrying now."
"Alright." she agreed, looking from his orbs to his reddish lips underneath that growing dark beard.
Before any of them could move forward and seal their kiss, Arya called out to them and they leapt from the branch in half a second, if possible, widening the space between them and reddening so much even Jon's pale ears were deep flushed.
The brunette girl got to them, very pissed and with crossed arms over her slender chest. She had dirty all over her dress and there were grass in her braided dark locks.
"What is going on?" Jon demanded to know after everything, steadying his breath and staring at the tempered younger sister.
"Bran is climbing a tree so high that Sansa thinks he'll fall and break his skull." she gesticulate irritated "Everything is alright, she's just overreacting, that's all!" Arya stated pouting "She asked you to go there and make Bran come down or she'll tell mother."
Jon was about to go himself, but Daenerys went ahead, taking care of things and ruffing Arya's entangled braids in the way. The young man let out a breathe he didn't know he was holding and sat down again, leaning his body forward and supporting his head with his hands. Arya glanced at his posture and arched an eyebrow, walking towards him and standing in front of his sorrowful stance.
"You're pathetic." Jon barely stared at her, not really wanting to answer her temper "I took those two out there so you could be alone with Dany and you failed your quest!" He grunted throwing his body backwards "Wake up, Jon Snow! It's time to do something about your feelings, don't you think?"
"It-it's not like I wasn't doing anything!" he defended himself, flushing brightly "We were very close to kissing!" he muttered the last part so the others wouldn't listen to his report to Arya "But you rushed in because of Bran!" he narrowed his dark eyes to her "You spoiled the moment."
"Now it's my fault that you're too slow, Snow?" he grimaced at Arya and she laughed wryly "I can't believe in you."
"I tried, alright? At least I got close of doing it! You should be supporting me and not picking on me!" he stood up, glancing at her from above and she rolled her eyes.
"I won't cover-up your mistakes, Jon! I'm supporting you, that's why I'm here telling you that you've failed!" he glanced at the direction Dany went and spotted Bran coming down from the tree as Sansa made her way back to the branch they stood "What if Robb try something?"
"I guess I'll need to hurry up then."
Arya sneered and walked away "You guess…"
Sansa saw Arya marching back to the horses and leaving a very unpleasant, frustrated Jon by the branch, running his hand through his dark curls and looking down - his face bright red.
"What happened?" the auburn haired sister asked and Arya replied grabbing her horse.
"Jon Snow knows nothing..."
...
The day had arrived and the entire Winterfell was prepared - or as prepared as were supposed to be. Lord Stark and his entire family were outside in the courtyard under the clouded sky waiting for King Robert's expedition arrive - and they were about the gates. They could hear the man horses galloping towards them.
Eddard and Catelyn shared worrisome stares and Dany stood right behind them, Theon at one side and Jon at the other, holding tightly to her hand. All very well dressed to meet the Queen - Lady Stark had the young man cut their hairs and shave their beards to look presentable and the young ladies were dressed in new dresses, coloured with the Stark colours.
Daenerys' platinum hair was half loose and half tied up in a bun, showing very well her beautiful face. Her pale skin was paler than ever and her violet eyes were very attentive to any movements around her. Her heart was racing inside her, ready to take flight anytime and she could feel her body trembling because of that. She was extremely anxious and Jon couldn't do nothing to help. The dark fur coat she wore made her look even more paler that usual and the silvery grey dress had her almost vanishing between the other people - she really wanted to blend in and get done with it at once.
But a Valyrian between Northerners was just like the moon in the dark sky - easily spotted and shining brighter than the rest of the stars.
"I won't let them touch you." she heard the sweet, calming whisper from her right and she turned slightly to glance at Jon's brooding face, his eyes yielding to her and supporting her the best he could. He was wearing his fur cloak and a brown vest to compliment his very Stark look. He indeed resembled a lot his father.
She smiled small to him and nodded, squeezing his hand between hers and he entangled their fingers.
Suddenly, everyone was kneeling and so the both of them knelt too, leaning down their heads and listening to the carriage stopping in the middle of the courtyard. Then the horses stopped and there was a sound of a heavy man walking towards them. She was close to a heart attack at how fast her heart was pacing and she tightened her grip over Jon's hand. He squeezed to assure her he was still in there.
Lord Eddard stood up, followed shortly by everyone else, she went along not wanting to get the king's attention right at that very moment. And she saw the man she was concerned about meeting, the only man that frightened her more than the memories of her Mad Father.
"Your Grace." the deep voice of her father broke the silence.
"You've got fat!" dark brown hair with grey locks and grey spots on his thick dark beard spoke to her lord father. His eyes were deep blue and his face was round along the rest of his body. He seemed to have been a very handsome man, though he aged much faster than Lord Eddard. He had wrinkles all over his face and his dark garments weren't making him look the age he was at all.
Ned glanced back at his King, arching one of his brows and twisting slightly his lips to the man's comment. Soon enough the both of them were cackling together and hugging each other. The King hugged lady Catelyn, played with Rickon's hair, went straight to shake Robb's hand, complimented Sansa's beauty, asked Arya's name and made Bran show him his muscles - it all took ages in Daenerys perspective, because she just couldn't wait until this King Robert would meet her and sentence her already for the crimes she's never committed.
"Nine years!" the King talked to Lord Stark again, back in front of him, glancing nostalgic at his friend "Why haven't I seen you? Where the hell have you been?"
"Guarding the North for you, your Grace. Winterfell is yours." there was a smile in Ned's voice and the King nodded very glad to hear that.
Then his sharp blue eyes met Daenerys violet orbs behind her tall Lord father. He narrowed them and stared back at Ned, making sure he wasn't mistaken in calling the young lady to stand between the Lords of Winterfell. Ned nodded and King Robert scowled, taking one step backwards and signalizing for Dany to go meet him.
Lord and Lady Stark let her pass and stand two steps in front of them. Lord Eddard started speaking "Your Grace, may I introduce you to Lady Daenerys Targaryen." she knew why he wouldn't exceed in her titles - King Robert wouldn't like it.
She felt naked under his intense gaze, his eyes going up and down her silhouette as if she was some rabid animal about to strike. Well… Thinking this way, she was a dragon herself. She could be a rabid animal if she wanted to be, but it wasn't a instinct to her.
He arched an eyebrow and focused his eyes in hers, looking for some trait of her later parentage. If he found any, she was doomed and Dany's body wouldn't stop trembling from so much tension coming out of this man's eyes. It was endless.
"Hmm…" he made a contempt face and stood closer "How old are you?"
Dany's voice faltered and she had to say again, louder "Seventeen, your Grace."
"A grown woman already." he stared back at Ned "You've had quite the job raising this one." he remarked and Ned smiled to him, touching Daenerys' shoulder to reassure her it was almost over.
"She's been very devoted to everything. I had no job at all, your Grace." Ned pulled on her cloak and Daenerys bowed, walking backwards to her place between Jon and Theon, feeling Lady Catelyn's soft hand grasping her arm and squeezing it slightly, securing her.
"Yeah, yeah…" Robert lost his interest in Daenerys and marched towards the crypts "Come along, Ned. I want to pay my respects."
This very moment, Queen Cersei had her hand kissed by Eddard, with her long golden locks and bright green eyes. Her skin was kissed by the sun and her garments were in bright red and golden thread. She stared at Daenerys for some seconds before listening to her husband's commotion and gazed back at him.
"We've been riding for a month, my love." she said, a beautiful and soft voice "Surely the dead can wait." but the King was as little interested in Queen Cersei's opinion as he was to Daenerys' raising.
Jon grabbed her hand again and smiled widely at her once his lord Father followed the King to the crypts. They stood there, of course, as the house keepers helped the King's court to settle in Winterfell and Dany could finally think of something else but this very odd King Robert.
In front of the carriage stood prince Tommen, the King's younger son, smaller than Bran, Dany could tell, and just as like the other Lannisters - of golden locks and green eyes, wearing red. Princess Myrcella, exactly alike her mother, but with softer eyes than Cersei's. She was about Arya's age and she was flushing a shy smile to Robb. Daenerys grinned to that. In a horse next to the carriage, in front all of the handmaidens of the Queen, was her twin brother, Sir Jaime Lannister, of sleek golden hair floating in the wind when he took off his King's Guard helmet and held it by his side, the same green eyes all the others had.
Across the courtyard, making his way galloping to the carriage, was prince Joffrey in all his mighty title. He wasn't that handsome as Sansa dreamed of, not even close of what Daenerys' handsome notion were about. He had a boyish face and the same hair and eyes of his mother, but they seemed a bit too smug in Dany's opinion - she didn't like him. He was Sansa's age, slender presence and average height. His green eyes had locked with Dany at a moment and he grinned, bowing to her. She just didn't turned around because she remembered he could behead her also, so she forced a smile, not showing her teeth, and bowed her head towards him, turning abruptly to Jon after that so he wouldn't keep staring at her very much.
"Can we get out of here?" Dany's pleading face made the bastard smirk widely to her and called out for Robb, who turned abruptly towards him - the same begging eyes of Daenerys'.
"Let's go!" the older brother lead the way so they could get out of there at once.