AN: I still don't own anything. Also I decided to combine chapter 1 and 2.
Review's are enjoyed because they inspire me to keep writing.
Chapter 3 James I
James
James stood in the middle of the courtyard with his family, the nobles of Wintefell, and the guard's as they were all awaiting the arrival of Daenerys to take him, Jon, and Catelyn to the coronation in King's Landing. Jon had accompanied James from the Wall since his presence was requested at the coronation, so the command of the Night's Watch went to Grenn. She had offered to pick them up on her dragon's, if they met her at Winterfell, everyone within the castle were excited to see them. James was reluctant to go and still didn't know what to think about her proposal or the Queen herself. The last time he had spoken to her was when she invited him to break their fast in her chamber's in the King's Tower along the Wall. It went well and they made a good amount of small talk, but it was still a bit awkward. As James ate and watched he thought about Ned and Catelyn, and whether it had been like them for this at the start; forced into a marriage because Brandon had died and both were bound by duty and honor. James did not know what to make of her, he admired her straight forwardness, good will, and gentle heart. However, Daenerys seemed to headstrong and he hoped she wouldn't try and rush him, just for the sake of having a King. If she did that, he feared he will have to reject her, and face the wrath of the Targaryen Queen: they were known for their temper. But maybe in the end he will say yes, he didn't know.
When he sat his family down and first told them, they sat there in silence; the shock visibly on their faces. James hoped they would urge him to deny her and stay faithful to the Watch, but they didn't. In fact, most of them urged him to take up her offer and become King. Sansa and Catelyn were the most excited and they pushed upon him to accept. James figured Sansa just liked the fact that she had asked, but Catleyn saw the political side of it. She saw it as a chance for House Stark to cement themselves within the Westerosi history for all eternity, to establish the Stark's as a dynasty, just like the Targaryen's. Bran had claimed James he had a dream about a Wolf alone in the woods, dying, but than a three-headed dragon came and saved him, and he said that James would say yes, but he didn't know. Rickon was happy for him and also wanted him to say yes, James figured he was just enamored with Daenerys. Arya was too infatuated with her husband-to-be Gendry Waters, who was now a Baratheon, to really offer input. Gendry was a good man and James had known him for years. He was about three years older than her, tall with broad shoulder's and long black hair, just like his father the late King Robert, but he didn't care because James was three years older than Daenerys. Arya had grown into a beautiful women over time, and Arya Horseface was no more. She agreed with the courting, but told him not to keep her waiting or she would go to someone else. Maybe that is what James wanted.
Soon he heard the gasp's of all the people in Winterfell could be heard as James looked up above to see Daenerys's three dragons looming overhead. Some of the children were crying out in aww, as other's were crying: the dragon's did look scary. Jon had explained the names of each one. Viserion was the white dragon, who was to her right. Rhaegal was the green dragon who was to her left. And than there was Drogon, the black dragon in the middle that Daenerys rode. James watched as they landed outside Winterfell and Daenerys was helped down by Jorah. She had only come with her Queensguard and no one else. James stood in front of the column of people with his family. It reminded him of the day Robert Baratheon had come to Winterfell. Daenerys began to walk towards them as she spotted James and smiled, she wore a Pentoshi dress of blue, with her silver hair in that a tiara. He couldn't help but smile back, even though he didn't want to marry her James still found her very beautiful, her violet eye's were his favorite feature. There was something perplexing about Daenerys Targaryen that he couldn't put a finger on, something different about her that he had never really, truly, felt before. It was weird because they had hardly courted. James was not interested in her hand, and wanted to reject her at that breakfast right there and then, but couldn't. She had found a way to pull him in.
James felt a nudge on his back as he turned around to see Catelyn standing there, urging him to go forward.
"Go to her," she barely said in a whisper, "Go to her, James. She expects you to introduce her to everyone."
James rolled his eyes, "Do I have to?"
"Yes!" Sansa yelled in a whisper, "Go!"
James hesitated when both of them grew angry, even Arya. "Go!" they yelled at the same time as James nodded and began to walk forward to her.
The walk over to her felt like it took forever as he walked slowly, clad in black of the Night's Watch. Dany was walking front of her Queensguard as she smiled, and with each step was getting closer to James. Finally when they stood before one another she looked up at him in a smile.
"Your grace," James said bowing, he however bowed to low and was awkwardly in eye-level with her breast's. He stared for a second and stood up, embarrassed.
"James," Daenerys said curtsying, she was giggling.
James noticed Jorah Mormont give him a hard look, and even looked angry somewhat. All James could do was just stare at the devil brand's on his face as he offered Daenerys his arm, which she gladly accepted. They walked arm-in-arm as she leaned over to speak with him,
"How are you doing, James?" she asked, placing a hand on his arm.
"Good, your grace. I'm looking forward to the coronation."
"I'm glad to hear that. I'm excited to meet your family, I've heard nothing but good thing's about the Starks."
James smiled, "They are a good people. All have been excited to meet you, especially my brother Rickon. I'm sorry if he appear's nervous in front of you. He is quite enamored."
"Really?" she asked, intrigued, "Maybe I should ask him to be King."
She laughed as she un-hooked from his arm and beckoned everyone to stand up. All had kneeled before her. Everyone stood as she began greeting everyone as James just watched. Sansa, Catelyn, and Arya were all smile's. Bran greeted her happily as she hugged Jon. James noticed all his family give sullen look's as Jon hugged her; they still hadn't come to grips with the fact that he was a Targaryen. Arya took it hardest. Finally when they were all done saying their hello's, Daenerys beckoned him, Jon, and Catelyn forward, ready to go back to the Capital.
James, Jon, and Catelyn along with two guards of House Stark mounted upon Rhaegal as Jon rode him, because he was a Targaryen he could command the dragon without it having to know him. Daenerys watched as James mounted the green-scaled dragon, he was hesitant and scared of the creature, yet he got on with ease. The dragon only puffed smoke out of it's nostrils as James backed off from him, and he could hear Daenerys laugh. Soon everyone was mounted as they took of from Winterfell. James sat behind Jon with his arm's wrapped around his waste as Catelyn sat behind James. They watched as their families were waving up at them, looking like ant's on the ground.
The flight to King's Landing only had taken a few hours, instead of the week's it would take upon the kingsroad. The whole time James just stared at the back of Jon's head, or looked at the ground, sometimes his thought's would stray to other things, and even once he found himself staring at Daenerys. Soon they arrived as they walked over to their chamber's in Maegor's Holdfast that Daenerys had personally set aside for them. Jon and James shared a room while Catelyn was in her own, as they got ready for the coronation, which was later that evening. James stood in a grey doublet with a black tunic, and he was wearing a direwolf brooch. Jon was wearing a black doublet with a red tunic because Daenerys had felt he should wear Targaryen colors, Jon did not like it. Catelyn was finished and wore a dress of grey with a diamond pearl necklace, and when she was done she came over to their room. James, Jon, and her sat on the bed because she wanted to talk.
"You can not say no, James." she began sitting on her bed, James noticed the scar's on her hands and thought back about how much she has been through, "You need to marry Daenerys right away."
"Why?" James said, very stern, "I told her I was going to court her, she agreed, and that's what I plan to do."
"If you wait to long, she will just force you," Jon said combing out his hair, "Dany is very impatient when it comes to thing's she really wants."
"I'm aware." James said staring back at him.
"Because," Catelyn began, "Because this a chance to cement House Stark in the history book's forever. We have a chance for our family to become a dynasty! If only you'd give her a chance. Maybe you might actually grow to love her like I did your father."
"If father could hear right now!" James said, giving a sarcastic laugh, "He would laugh at that. My father wouldn't want his house to become a dynasty."
"Be that as it may, Ned always did his duty. He always did what was asked of him, especially if it bettered the realm." Catelyn said.
"Yes, mother and the last duty he did was accepting the position of Hand. And look where that turned out?"
Cat scoffed, "You think by saying yes that Daenerys would kill you? I think not."
"This isn't so bad, James." Jon said, "I know that you want to stay honorable to the Watch, but as part of our vow's we are to serve the realm. And if by marrying Daenerys you're serving the realm and at the same time bettering and protecting the realm, than so be it. "
James sighed, "Ok, but we aren't supposed to take a wife or child, Jon."
"And?" Jon said, "Did that stop you in the past? Why is this so different? I'm sorry, James but it is true. Atleast this time you can do it for honorable reason's, just like I did with Ygritte."
"Ygritte?" Cat asked, wondering, "Who is Ygri-"
"-Nevermind," James said, "Fine, I will give her an honest chance. But I will court her first."
"Good," Catelyn said tapping his leg, "Now let's go to this coronation. I heard it is supposed to be quite extravagant."
When they finally opened the door's into the Great Hall the coronation had already happened and the feast was well underway. It was beyond loud as many men and women were already talking and there was dancing with a lot of music. On the wall's were many Targaryen tapestries, the three-headed dragon constantly looking down on the guests. James was surprised to find the dragon skull's had been brought out from the cellar's and they grazed the Great Hall once more, he could still remember being in the huge one with Arya, as he heard men conspire against his father. As James sat at his table in the front of the Throne Room with Jon, his mother, and the two household guard he could feel the skull's staring at him. He looked up as Daenerys sat on the Iron Throne, she was wearing a red dress with black rubies outlaying the bodice and dress, she wore her official crown, which was a gold crown with three dragon heads: each head the color of one of her dragons. Her Queensguard stood in front of the dais in their gold armor, each wearing their helm, and they looked like glorified sentries. Next to her was her small council, which wasn't much of one to begin with.
"She's beautiful," he could hear Cat whisper into his ear, "I don't know why you won't say yes."
"That's enough, mother!" James whispered in an angry tone, she wouldn't relent.
"Fine, Fine, Fine. I'll stop."
"I need a drink." James said getting out of his seat and began to walk around, just looking at everyone.
Jon was gone from his seat and was now talking to the Tyrell's, who were sitting around a table with Ser Loras, Willas, and even the now 'divorced,' Margaery and their father Mace. They were laughing as it looked like Jon was talking to them about something, and James could tell that the Tyrell girl was attracted to him. James kept walking as he bumped into some man and they both stumbled,
"Sorry," James said, going over to the man who was bald-headed and plump, he smelled of lavender oil.
"There is no need to be sorry, Lord Stark. Or should I say King?" the man giggled.
It was Varys. James recognized that laugh anywhere. He knew that Daenerys had chosen him for her Master of Whisperer's and he was reluctant with that. Lord Varys had helped him in the past, and he had no reason to truly distrust him as he used to, but he was still the Spider and knew what you had for breakfast three day's ago. That was why one could never fully trust him. He was a eunuch and they don't want what men usually want.
"It's still Lord Stark, for now. If it ever was, it does me good to see you Lord Varys."
"Does it? Most men aren't glad to see me."
"It does me, I believe I haven't seen you since the black cells."
"No, such a shame."
"Indeed."
Varys removed his hand's from his sleeves, "So tell me, James? Will you accept the Queen's offer?"
"Not sure yet. I know that you've probably heard about the courting, and I plan on going through with that."
"Oh yes I did hear. A great song my little bird sung me. However, I feel you're being foolish for not accepting. You'd be King and the most powerful man in the kingdoms, plus Daenerys is beautiful. Is she not?"
"I don't want to be King," James spat, "I just want to be First Ranger."
"So why are you here, Lord Stark?" Varys asked, "Why are you pretending you care?"
"I'm not sure…"
"Face it, James. You actually do feel something for the young Targaryen Queen. Maybe not yet, but you will. Otherwise, you would've just said no and decided not to court her."
"Oh, enough!" James said angrily, "Must I hear this from everyone!"
James turned around and walked off, wanting just to be alone with his thought's. It was time's like these he would find solitude in his chamber's, or he'd go up onto the Wall and just watch the forest, standing over a nice fire. It was there he felt at home and there he wanted to be, but he couldn't bring himself to go back; not yet. James frantically walked around the Throne Room as he was looking for a mean's of escape. He was not very accustomed to the Red Keep, let alone the Great Hall, and just wanted to find a place that wasn't full of jester's, servant's, and musicians. Finally he stumbled upon what looked like a godswood, yet in paled in comparison to the one in Winterfell.
The Godswood at the Red Keep is an acre of elm, alder and black cottonwood trees that overlook the Blackwater Rush. The heart tree is a great oak, whose limbs have become overgrown with smokeberry vines. James sunk below and sat under this fake Heart-tree as he just listened to the godswood. The night was dark outside and the godswood was illuminated by the full moon, and all you could hear were the cricket's chirping and the mumbled sound's of the feast. He grabbed the dirt in his hand's and let them flow through, he wished for the black pool in Winterfell. Why does this women want me? James thought letting the dirty fall through his hands, Father must be laughing in the other world right about now. His son might be King.
"James," he heard in the distance, leaves crunching with every step.
The shadowy figure was walking through the grass. As it stepped in the moon light James noticed the crown reflecting the moon and he knew it was Daenerys. He was surprised to see her, surely her Queensguard must be worrying where she was right now.
"Your grace," James said dipping his head, remaining on the ground.
"Dany…" she said standing before him, "Call me, Dany or Daenerys if you like. Everyone else does. If we are to court we should be less formal with each other."
"Alright, Dany." James said smiling.
Dany smiled back, "I saw you leave and I had to see where you went," she was standing before him, she cast a large shadow as she stood there her hand's intertwined, her violet eyes peering through the light, her eyes made him at ease, "Can I sit next to you?"
"You are the Queen," James said moving over, making room for her.
Dany sat down and flattened her dress on the ground, she placed her hand's on her lap and looked down at her hand's. James looked over and thought she looked like a child, even though she was twenty-four year's old. They both sat there in silence for awhile, just taking in the godswood.
"Do you not like the feast, James?" Dany asked.
"On the contrary," James said, roughly, "When I was younger I used to love the feast's in Winterfell, but now I just prefer to be alone most of the time. Just thinking."
"I do too," she responded, "It seem's like your thought's are the only thing you have left, once you're queen. Everyone know's your every move and you have no privacy, my thought's are the only thing they can't hear."
James looked down at the ground and smiled, he liked her analogy.
"Jon told me you were a reserved man. Just like him," Dany said, "It seem's all you Stark's are that way."
James gave her a slight smile, "We get it from out father, Ned."
"Ned…" she muttered under her breath, before turning to him, her eye's looking through him, "I've heard many thing's about your father, Eddard. That he was an honorable and just man, who was devoted to his family. Always did his duty."
"That's him," James said, "That was my father."
Dany sighed, "I would've liked to have met him."
"He would've liked you," James said smiling at her for the first time, now he truly felt at ease with her.
She returned it in kind, "Do you think so?"
"Oh, yes I do. Ned always admired people who were headstrong."
"Tell me about him?" Dany asked, "I've alway's wondered. People seemed to love him."
James turned to face her, "He was the best man I ever met. It's true. He taught me many thing's about life, and when he groomed me to lead he alway's had the best examples. Once, he told me that being a Lord is a lot like being a father, except you have thousand's of children: all of your's to protect."
Dany remained quite, staring at him. Asking for more.
"He told me that a man must alway's be brave, and that the only time a man can be brave is when he is afraid. He once told me that a man must wake with fear in the morning and go to sleep with fear at night, but I didn't listen. There were many thing's I took for granted in life, and he was one of them. I never heeded the word's he spoke or the advises he gave, and everyday I live with that regret."
James paused but she continued staring at him, quiet as can be. So he decided to continue,
"I never took anything seriously. I was over-confident, laid back, and didn't give a damn about anything in the world. When I took the black, he didn't speak to me for awhile, neither did my whole family. So I drenched my sadness and my fears in whores and wine, I was only seventeen. I threw away my honor, just because they didn't accept me. Only now did I realize how foolish I was, how young I was. And for that I'am ashamed."
Dany cupped his cheek with her hand, she was sad. James allowed her this much, he had just opened up to her. "You are not this serious man you pretend to be, James. I know you to have honor, but you don't show it. You put on this sullen mask for the whole world to see, because that is what they expect. If only you'd remove it and let me in, like you just did now. I know you'd grow to love me."
James smiled and removed her hand from his face, slowly. Fearing she was getting to close to him. "Everyone say's that you are kind and have a gentle heart. That you understand better than most, but you are also strong when you must be. I know you will make a fine Queen, and I'm sure you can find a better King, than me."
Dany gave a feint smile, but her eye's betrayed her. James saw the sadness in those eye's.
"Don't you see? That is why it must be you. Someone who is humble, and honest, and just. I don't want a man who lies, scheme's, and betray's those around him to get what he want's. I want you, James Stark."
"Please, Dany don't."
"No!" she said defiantly, "I promise to be a good wife, a good queen, a good mot-" she cleared her throat, "-I promise to love you, and cherish you. Just please, let me."
"I can't," James said, his voice filled with sadness.
"Why?"
"Out of fear that I may hurt you, in more way's than one."
"You won't." she said, "I know you won't," now she smiled. One he returned.
Silence passed as they just sat there, Dany spoke up, "Tell me James, have you ever been in love? Have you ever truly loved someone?"
"Once," he responded, "Or I don't know what it was, love or lust."
"And who was this person?"
"I'd rather not say," James said, reluctant to tell her about Ros or Cersei.
"I've been married twice. Only one of them turned into love. He was a Dothraki Khal, named Khal Drogo. I was only sixteen when I met him and he terrified me. But over time it grew into love, like a flower. I feel that we can have the same, James. We can grow to love one another like me and Drogo. Just take down the wall you have in front of me."
James sat there and studied her, he realized he couldn't hate this woman. She was something different, there was no malice in her, and she wasn't Cersei. "Fine, Daenerys Targaryen. I will take down this wall I have in front of you."
She smiled and looked at him. Slowly she closed her eyes and began to lean forward her lips fashioned in a kiss, James blocked it with his hand, gently.
"Not yet," he said as she opened her eyes, startled, "I have to grow to love you first, Dany. As much as I would like to kiss you now, I can't. Just let me get to know you and you me. Don't worry, I will give you your answer soon. Just don't pressure me."
"Alright," she said, retracting from him, "I will not pressure you, James. I will get to know you, and I mean truly get to know you. Hopefully, I will love you."
"Good," he said smiling, "I was hoping to hear that."
James got up from the floor and dusted the dirt off his breeches. Dany gave him a puzzling look, "I'm sorry, Dany. But I fear I must go back to the feast. I'm sure we are both expected to be there."
James turned around and began to walk when she grabbed his hand. Her small hand's felt nice and soft under his hard calloused one's.
"Don't go," she pleaded, "Stay here with me, please. I don't want to go back, I just want to stay here and talk. I want to get to know you."
"Alright," James said taking a seat back down on the floor, he turned to her, "And what would you like to hear?"
"You never told me about that woman you loved, who was she?"
"I'd rather not talk about it, Dany," he said sullenly.
"If we are to be man and wife one day we can't hold thing's like this back from each other. We have to be truthful to one another so please, tell me."
James feared to answer this question, out of fear she may be repulsed or angry with him, but he felt calm. Her eyes were what kept him at ease and in check. Finally, he began to tell her the story of Ros and Cersei, the red-headed whore he laid with at Winterfell, and the Queen he laid with as well. The one who built the wall he had around him brick by brick. Dany only sat there and listened as he explained, her eye's did not betray her thought's. He explained the feeling of love he once felt.
"I don't know what it was at the end of the day. I told her I loved her on numerous occasions, and she returned in kind. When I look back at it, I realized it was lust and nothing more."
Dany finally spoke, "And when was the last time you saw her?"
"Oh, it's been years. The last time I saw her was in a brothel in King's Landing, when I visited one of Robert Baratheon's bastard's with my father. It was there that she told me I had gotten her pregnant and that she killed the child with moon tea."
Dany remained silent at that. James feared she was judging him but yet again she said nothing, and he could see nothing in her face or eye's. Just a look.
"That's sad," she finally said, "I'm sorry you that happened to you. I've also lost a child. My firstborn son, Rhaego."
"Tell me about him," James said as she went into detail about Mirri Maz Duur and Khal Drogo's death and her dragon's. As she sat there telling the story, he realized Jon was right: she had been through a lot in her life. She spoke of the 'usurper's knives,' her brother had constantly spoken to her about, and she told tales of Viserys and his anger.
When it was over they sat there again in silence, he had felt the first inkling of feeling's for her. And he admired her.
"I want you to come back to me to Winterfell for my sister's wedding, Dany. I wan't my family to get to know you. I know they will like you, especially Sansa. They'd be honored if you attended."
"And who is getting married?"
"My sister Arya and her betrothed, Gendry Baratheon, the Lord of Storm's End."
"I'd love to," Dany said smiling ear to ear, as James just embraced her, she was laughing. He was truly happy that she was going.
When they finished hugging they stared at each other and she began to lean in close, and James found he was too.
"Khaleesi," Jorah said clearing his throat.
Dany and James stopped and turned to him, startled. She retracted from him and looked at Mormont, who stood there staring at them, giving James a hard look.
"Yes, Ser Jorah? Would you like to tell me why you just interrupted?" she said, angrily. She had gotten so close and James knew it.
"I fear your presence is requested, Khaleesi. Your absence has been noted. I'm here to take you back." he said offering her a hand as she swatted it away like a fly.
"I'm no child Ser Jorah, I can walk myself back." Dany answered getting up from the floor and flattening her dress.
James got up and did the same as he walked her back to the coronation with Jorah, who looked somewhat like his father, Jeor. Dany attempted to kiss him as they walked back, but he pushed her away and told her not yet.
When finally they got back to the Great Hall the coronation was still going, and James went over to the table with his family. Jon was sitting there talking to one of the household guard, while Catelyn was alone. When she saw James she smiled, as if she knew where he had been. He explained to her what had just occurred and she was happy, hoping it was a step in the right direction. Her eye's grew wide when he told her that Dany was coming to Arya's wedding, and she was angry. Catelyn liked to impress and liked to show off, and hates surprises.
When finally the coronation was over and he laid in bed, he had the same dream of the dragon with the wolf. He realized that he will probably marry Dany one day, but not yet. For a love grown out of time is stronger than one out of love. It last's longer and is stronger. Except that night he also dreamed of a woman he hadn't in a while, he dreamed of Ros. Finally, he had a final dream of Dany giving birth on a bed, mid-wives all around her. James saw himself clutching her hand as she was pushing, sweat trickling down her face. When finally she pushed out the child it wasn't human, but a dragon.