Chapter 3

In Winterfell

Jon was sitting in the meadow, with her head of silver blonde on his lap, hearing her contented sighs, his grey eyes looking into her alluring lilac ones, and his hand tenderly holding her soft hand. Suddenly they were surrounded by fire and in front of them stood three magnificent dragons. As Dany stood, the dragon bowed their heads. Then he found himself reaching for her, he caught her hand, and pulled her into his arms. He looked into her eyes and pressed his lips on her soft, pink lips.

He woke up disappointed as he realized that once again, it was only a dream. He stood up, got dressed and went out to find his direwolf. He spotted his mother, Lady Lyanna leaning on the balcony, very deep in thought.

"Mother, what is troubling you?"

"Nothing of consequence, just letting my mind wander. How did you sleep? Yet again, you look like you strayed from a dream. I only pray those dreams be pleasant. You seem rather restless."

"You do not miss a thing, mother."

"I am just doing my duty, my dear son."

"And you are great at it."

"What are you plans for the day?"

"Look for my direwolf, Take Dany to the marketplace to find something she likes, Practice the sword."

"Of course, off you go then"

As he left his mother he remembered that he left Ghost in Dany's chambers. When he reached Dany's chambers, he found her door wasn't locked but something was preventing it from opening.

"Dany, open the door, It's Jon."

"Don't come in, Jon." her voice sounded like she had been crying.

"Dany, Is there something wrong?" he said sounding deeply concerned.

"Don't come in. Please just leave me alone." she gasped

"Dany, I'm not leaving you alone until I know what is wrong. So open the blasted door!"

Then she screamed as she felt a crushing pain below her belly. Jon panicked and started force the door open. Lady Catelyn appeared with Lady Lyanna by her side.

"Jon, What in the Seven Kingdoms are you doing trying to break down the door of a lady's chambers?" Lady Catelyn exclaimed

She was greatly astonished to find her nephew forcing the door of her ward's chambers to open.

"She won't open the doors and she seems to be in pain" Jon explained, with a worried tone.

"Is there something wrong with her, Jon? His mother asked

"I don't know she won't let me in, mother." he replied as he pushed.

Jon broke down the door, climbed over the table that barricaded the door, and pushed it aside so his mother and aunt can enter. Then he saw Dany sitting on her bed in an awkward sitting position, leaning on her knees with her hands on her belly with Ghost by her side. Lady Lyanna and Lady Catelyn immediately knew what was wrong.

"Jon, could you please wait outside?" his mother asked

"I said I wasn't leaving until I know what is wrong with her"

"Fine then, make yourself useful and lift her off the bed." Lady Lyanna said as she left to call for a handmaiden.

"Gently." added Lady Catelyn.

He approached the bed and lifted Dany with all the tenderness he can muster. When he removed her from the bed, there were bloodstains on her sheets and on the back of her night shift. She had flowered. The girl he held in his arms was now a woman. He realized that she can now bear children. He felt a pang of jealously in the knowledge that another man can put his child in her. He wanted her to bear his children and no one else. Knowing that he had to snap out of it, he pulled himself together to help her stand. Lady Catelyn took Dany to her changing room. His mother came back with three handmaidens who brought fresh, clean sheets to change the ones that were stained with her moon blood. Ghost got off the bed and ran to his master. When the handmaidens were done with the bed, they excused themselves to help Dany. As he watched them disappear in the changing room, his mother put a hand on his shoulder.

"She is now a woman, Jon. How time flies? Was it only yesterday, that the two of you were only little ones in my arms sharing the same bed?"

"Was it only yesterday, mother? I wish it was." he said with a voice filled with melancholy.

"What wrong, Jon?"

"I find it strange to see her change so much and yet she still she feels the same as before."

"I understand how you feel, my son. How you've changed as well! I noticed that every time Dany is present, you often smile, that is something you rarely do when you were younger and you care about her immensely."

"I've always been at ease with her but lately, I cannot stand being away from her and she is always in my mind and even in my dreams. My days are never complete without her. It's strange."

"It is not strange. You've fallen in love with her, Jon. It is only natural to think of her, care about her and want to be with her."

"What if she does not feel the same way?"

"Trust me, if she does not feel that she same way, then she certainly would not let you see her in that state and hold her. She could have pushed you away and yet she did not. She deeply cares about you."

"What must I do?"

"Be true and sincere. Just love her."

Lady Lyanna went to the stables to find Arya. Lady Catelyn dismissed the handmaidens and came out of the chambers when she finished explaining to Dany the changes she will undergo, now that she has her moon blood. Dany had changed into a pink dress that hugged her figure. Maester Luwin came to Lady Catelyn with a letter bearing news from King's Landing. Lady Catelyn immediately went in to the Godswood and found Ned.

"A raven arrived with news from King's Landing."

"What news?"

"I am so sorry, my love. Jon Arryn is dead. I know he was like father to you."

Ned stood unable to believe the news.

"More news, King Robert rides for Winterfell, along with every one of them."

"His coming only means one thing."

"Ned, you can always say no"

Lady Catelyn wasted no time in preparing Winterfell for the King's arrival. She had new dresses made for her daughters and her ward and had Robb, Jon, and Theon shaved and given new haircuts. Jon was not very eager about having his hair cut short but his aunt gave him a hard time about it. Even Lady Lyanna, his own mother, sided against him, when he was being difficult. He admitted defeat but smiled knowing Dany wouldn't like his new hair cut. When he was done, he went with Ghost to the stables to find Dany still in the pink dress, mounted on Silver resting her head on the mane of the silver mare he and Robb, raised and presented to her as her eighth nameday gift, seven years ago.

"What are you dreaming about?" he said

She gasped in surprise when he appeared out of nowhere and startled her. On the corner of her eye, she spied Ghost settle on the bench. She looked up and frowned at his short curly hair. Seeing her pout tempted him to kiss her but instead of surrendering to his urge, he chuckled heartily, earning a shove from Dany.

"With your father coming to stay for three weeks, I'm going to be living in fear until our nameday."She said

She dismounting from her mare and approached him. Jon lifted her chin up to look at her lilac eyes.

"Look at me; I promise you that I'll always be by your side. I won't let anyone lay a finger on you."

Dany did not say anything but she believed every word he said. She gazed into his grey eyes and saw his sincerity but there was about his gaze that made her feel weak at the knees. Jon moved closer to her, pulled her into his arms, wrapping them around her in a warm embrace.

"Lady Targaryen, would you do me the honor of spending the day with me?"

"I would love to, Lord Stark."

Jon took her to the marketplace. They approached a stall that sold various trinkets from across the Narrow Sea. While Jon went to look around, a necklace adorned by a teardrop shaped ice blue crystal caught Dany's interest.

"See anything you like, Dany?"

"I was just admiring this necklace, Jon. I will look around."

When Dany turn her back, Jon asked the shopkeeper the price of the trinket.

"Good day to you, how much for the necklace?"

"Two silver dragons, my lord."

The shopkeeper put the jewel in a velvet box and handed it Jon, who paid the man and hid the box in his satchel. As Jon looked at the man to thank him, the shopkeeper began to tell him a story.

"Beautiful isn't it? It is said to come from the Icy Mountains of the North. It is named "lover's tears" and there is a story about that crystal. A Northern prince promised his love to a Southern lady. When the prince professed his undying love to his ladylove, she wept with tears of joy and the tears turned into crystals as they reached the ground. It forever became the symbol of their undying love."

"I enjoyed your story."

"I hope the gift pleases the one in your heart."

"One can only hope but I thank you. Good day."

Jon found Dany, carrying a parcel, a bag, and a bunch of flowers. He helped her carry the things she bought and went back to the castle. At dawn Dany went to find Sansa. She found her working on her embroidery.

"Sansa, how would you arrange some flowers as tokens to the Queen and the Princess?"

"I'd love to, but where can we get the flowers?"

"I bought some from the marketplace."

Dany and Sansa arranged the flowers into beautiful bouquets. When they finished, Sansa changed into a beautiful pale blue dress with a matching pale blue cloak adorned with gray fur and Dany wore an elegant turquoise dress underneath a white cloak lined with creamy white fur, then Bran came in breathless from running.

"The King has arrived. Come quickly." He panted.

The girls took the bouquets and followed Bran to the entrance of the East Gate. Jon and Lady Lyanna met them at the courtyard and Jon help the girls by taking the flowers. Sansa went ahead to stand beside her siblings while Dany was instructed to stay with Lady Lyanna. Jon stood beside his mother with Dany at his side. He was cheery at first but when Theon stood beside Dany sporting his usual cocky smile. He boldly took her hand in his and Theon rolled his eyes. Seeing her son's bold move, she secretly smiled in approval. Lady Catelyn fussed a little when she noticed Arya's absence she quickly asked Sansa who just shrugged and then Ned caught Arya who had a helm on her head. Laughing he removed the helm and sent his youngest daughter to stand beside Robb. The King's party finally arrives; the members of the King's Guard headed by Jaime Lannister the Kingslayer entered the gates, behind them the princes Gendry and Joffery followed closely by "The Hound" Sandor Clegane, then the wheelhouse that carried Queen Cersei, Princess Myrcella and the young Prince Tommen and finally King Robert I. The people of Winterfell bowed when the King arrived and as he approached Lord Stark, he ordered him to stand.

"You've gotten fat" the King said to his old friend who just gave him a look.

Then Lord Stark and the King shared a laugh.

Then he turns to Lady Catelyn and hugged her then he ruffles Rickon's hair

"Cat, still beautiful"

"Thank you, my king." Lady Catelyn said as he turns to Ned

"Nine years, Why haven't I seen you? Where the hell have you been?

"Guarding the North for you, your grace, Winterfell is yours."

"Nine year has been too long, old friend and who have we here? You must be Robb."

"You've grown into quite a man" the king compliments him as he meets Sansa

"My, aren't you a pretty one" he said then moves to Arya

"And who are you?"

"Arya sir" she replied with a firm voice that the king found interesting then when over to Bran.

"Let's see those muscles" then Bran happily obliges

"You'll be a soldier" he said then Bran smiled. King Robert nodded respectfully at Lady Lyanna, who curtsied, thankful that he did not approach and smiled cordially. Then the queen approached and offered her hand, Lord Stark who bowed and kissed her knuckles then faced Lady Catelyn who curtsied in greeting.

"My queen, my daughter and my ward prepared some flowers as tokens of welcome for you and the princess." said Lady Catelyn.

"How wonderful! Myrcella darling, could you please come forward? They have some flowers for you."

"Yes my queen." the princess replied as she came forward.

Then Sansa, Jon, and Dany come forward and presented the bouquets to the queen and princess.

"They're lovely. Thank you for such a warm welcome." said the queen as Sansa went back to stand beside Robb, who's eyes were on Dany.

"Thank you so much." the princess uttered as she went back to stand with her brothers.

The queen turns to Daenerys and appraises her from head to foot.

"You must be the last Targaryen." the queen said

"That I am, your grace." Dany replied as she curtsied

"What is your name?"

"Daenerys, your grace."

"and how old are you, Daenerys?"

"I'll be five and ten next week, your grace."

"I see you've a woman's body, you are tall but you slouch. How you bled yet?"

"Only the day before, your grace."

"I see. A pleasure to meet you, my dove."

"Likewise, your grace.

King Robert spotted his son and stared at the silver haired young lady whose hand his son held. He eyed them warily as he approached his son and Dany.

"Well, son; I see you found your time in Winterfell rather pleasant."

"Yes, my king." his son replied

Jon stiffened when his father turned to Daenerys. Ned turned to faced them.

"My king-"

"I only want to look at her, Ned." he said

"As you wish."

"You must be Daenerys Stormborn. Thank the gods you look nothing like your father, save your hair and eyes, you take from your mother. " the king said then looks at Jon tellingly.

"I never knew my family, your grace but I thank you, nonetheless."

" My, you've grown into a beauty and you don't seem to show any signs of madness. You have the Starks to thank for that."

"Indeed, you grace. I owe them my life." she replied

"I heard from Lady Catelyn that you and my son share the same nameday."

That is correct, your grace"

"Well then I've decided to stay until my son's nameday."

Then the king walks back to where Ned was standing.

"Ned, we've something to discuss." he said then the queen reacts

"We've been riding for a month, my love. Surely your offer can wait."

"Ned?"

Lord Stark bows to the queen and leads his old friend to his study. The queen expressed her wish to retire then Lady Catelyn led the queen and her progeny to their chambers. Except for Prince Gendry, who was observing intently as Robb and Theon approached while Dany sighs in relief as Jon rubs her back to comfort her.

"Dany, you can breathe easy now" said Jon

"You survived, Dany. Well done." Robb congratulated her while ruffling her hair.

"Thank you for your words of comfort, boys." said Daenerys

"You're not serious, are you Robb? Did you notice how the queen was looking at her? Staring her down like she was some whore from a brothel. Even more so the king, who looked back when he heard about Daenerys' moon blood and when he addressed her, he looked at her as if she was fresh meat. Still I'm impressed at how you held yourself, your highness. I dare say, you did well." Theon said bitterly.

"For once I thank you Theon."

"A kiss would suffice"

Without warning Robb smacked Theon in the back of his head and Jon punched Theon on his right eye.

"Boys will you stop it!"she said as she pulled Jon and Robb from Theon.

"He was asking for it." they said at the same time.

"I don't care." Dany said.

Then she lean down to help Theon stand back and then she raised her hand on the left side of his face. Suddenly Theon's head flew to the right side to Robb and Jon's astonishment they realized Dany had slapped Theon in the face. Robb and Jon smiled with pride at her.

"That is what you get if you talk like that to me again."

Prince Gendry approached them as Theon stalked away then Robb and Jon bowed and Dany curtsied

"I must say, I'm impressed with that very entertaining display. Please disregard formality when in my presence. Lady Daenerys, I'm pleased to meet you."

"Likewise, my prince."

"I see why my brother here, never stops talking about you during his stays in King's Landing." he jests as he hugs Jon.

"Thank you for that brother."

"Trust me, my prince. You are not alone." Robb reveals.