Chapter 110

Daisy was wrung out. Her eyes were closed, the sweet smell of the pine soap used with Sansa's clothing comforting as she lay curled into Sansa. She'd cried herself out of sheer relief some time ago. But the idea of moving just made her press ever so closer. She wasn't ready to move if she didn't have to. Instead, her fingers tightened ever so slightly before loosening where they were buried in the thick fabric of Sansa's gown. She hummed in contentment at the feeling of Sansa's fingers trailing through her hair. She felt rather like putty.

The howls of wolves could faintly be heard. Sansa's voice was quiet. "The party from Eastwatch by the Sea must be arriving."

"Do you need to greet them?" Daisy forced herself to begin to pull back.

Sansa's arms tightened. "They can present themselves to me before the court tonight."

She shifted enough that she could look up at Sansa's face. "You're sure?"

"I'm a queen." Sansa's brow arched a smugly playful expression flitting across her face. "My Lords can survive a day without my presence."

If she hadn't puked recently, Daisy would have kissed her for that. Because Sansa might be beholden to her kingdom, but still placed her family above that. And…they were family. Daisy pressed back into Sansa. It was pathetic, but if she hadn't already sobbed herself out she'd have probably cried again. She felt stupid for it. But the terror at possibly having harmed Sansa, her wife, had been too viscerally repugnant to ignore.

Because Daisy didn't know if she'd have been able to live with herself if the best thing in her life had involved harming the woman she loved. It was anathema to her. Her bones creaked at the wrongness of it. But here, able to feel Sansa's calm and familiar vibration, her familiar scent, and the physical warmth of her it felt real that she was safe. The relief was euphoric really. And she did feel stupid at the reminder that Sansa was the one who'd jumped her. For fucks sake they were married. But it just…she'd had to know. Really know.

Sansa spoke softly. "So, you think I'll be impressed by Daenerys' translator?"

"Yeah, Missandei is kinda badass." Daisy's lips twitched up, though her eyes flicked closed. "She's in love with the general of the Unsullied forces, Grey Worm. But her languages, she knows dozens of them. It's impressive as hell. No idea how she keeps it all straight."

Her wife's fingers went back to carding through her hair. A thing Sansa had started doing ever since Daisy had had to cut her hair cause the dragon issue. It was…really nice. "She's a former slave, yes?"

"Hmm." Daisy was exhausted, it was still early and she honestly just wanted to sleep like this. "She wears pants too, and Daenerys actually. I think it's a dragon riding practical thing."

Sansa no doubt was quietly planning political clothing thoughts. "The south certainly sounds quite exciting."

"I wish you were with us." Daisy was going to tell someone to fuck off if she spent a whole week away from Winterfell again. "Oh, you'd laugh, Olyvar Martell has been flirting with Jon. He's just being a dick about it because he thinks Jon's flustered confusion is hilarious. But he wants in with Jon when Jon is Prince Consort or whatever his title ends up being."

There was a soft sound of understanding as a faint tremble of repressed laughter shook Sansa. "Jon hasn't climbed out a window yet?"

"No, Helen Tyrell's been helping him. I think she's taken it as a bit of a project." Daisy smiled, the woman's sheer frustration every time she saw Jon wearing his northern clothing instead of the finer things the Tyrells had provided for him coming to mind. "Jon's been glad to be back in Northern leathers since the baggage train from Dragonstone showed up."

Sansa scratched at her scalp. "The Tyrells wanted me to marry Loras back in King's Landing. It was a pretty dream while it lasted."

Daisy knew that but, she actually considered how Sansa said it. "Did you like him?"

"I liked the idea of him. Of being able to escape the Lannisters, of being safe in Highgarden, and he'd have been my knight to rescue me and I'd have had Margaery for a good sister." Sansa's voice had a faint hint of disdain to it. "And he looked so perfect. My knight on a white horse, charming and perfect. It was stupid."

She pushed up so that she could look down at her wife. "I don't think that sounds stupid at all."

Sansa smiled softly, the corners of her eyes crinkling as she slid her hand out of Daisy's hair, to instead cup her cheek. "There you are."

"You…" Daisy felt her face flush, she slumped, burying her face in Sansa's shoulder with a groan. "That's not fair."

Light laughter filled the room. "I think it's perfectly fair." Sansa propped herself up slightly, arm bent to hold her head up.

She looked up at her wife and just felt safe. "You're beautiful, ya know that?"

"Why, are you attempting to seduce me?" Sansa's eyes were bright and happy.

Daisy caught a lock of red hair, between her fingers. "Nope."

"No?" Sansa's hand slid into Daisy's hair again, only this time she tightened her hand, pulling at it slightly.

Daisy let out a hiss, "Sansa," even as she somehow melted further into the mattress beneath them.

"That is my name." And Sansa was far too pleased by the reaction she was getting.

Daisy knew she could match Sansa's teasing. Normally she probably would. But not today. Her voice was quiet. "What do you want?" Because she'd stay like this as long as Sansa could afford to let them. But if Sansa wanted more…. It was stupid, but she needed to hear it.

Sansa stared at her and then half rolled, half climbed, so that she was hovering over Daisy. "What do I want?" Her hand trailed out of Daisy's hair, and then down her front, neatly loosening the ties of her gambeson, and then pulling it open. "I want a lot of things. I want an endless winter to not be threatening my kingdom. I want my lords to stop their bickering and be sensible for once in their stubborn lives." She leaned, pressing an open-mouthed kiss to Daisy's throat as she pulled the collar down.

Sansa was certainly sucking a series of hickies into Daisy's neck. A hand palmed Daisy's breast, as her teeth pressed against her. It was so much. The smell and warmth of her, the weight of Sansa against her. It was grounding in the most delicious of ways. Present and real with a burning intensity.

Pulling her mouth ever so slightly away from Daisy's neck, Sansa kept speaking in that stupid clear, and certain voice that so easily commanded men. "I want Lord Baelish's head on a pike." Her teeth scraped against Daisy's flesh, as her hand settled with purpose and began to unlace her pants. "I want to not have three disputes between the Northerns and the Free Folk to settle near every day."

Daisy felt a shiver go down her spine, her breathing turning quicker.

"I want those fire-breathing lizards to stop being a threat on my border. I want to never have a legend turn into something real and dangerous I have to address again." Sansa shifted her weight back so that she could use both hands to pull Daisy's pants down.

And fuck. Daisy lifted her hips, helping her wife get the things down her legs and get tossed somewhere. She reached for Sansa, only for her hand to be batted lightly to the side. And shit, Sansa's eyes were practically black as she looked down on her.

"I want my wife in our rooms every morning and every night. Not flying down to deal with fucking Tyrells." Sansa shoved Daisy's shirt up, not bothering with even attempting to get it or the gambeson over her arms. Her mouth just settled above the scarring from when she'd been shot years ago in the stomach, and then she sucked sharply.

Daisy's head fell back with a sharp breath. Oh, fuck. She was not prepared for whatever this was. A hiss passed her lips at the feel of Sansa's tongue running along her abs.

Sansa's voice was rough as she pulled her lips away from Daisy's skin. "I want Jon home in the North where he belongs." She sucked just above Daisy's hip, and shit teeth, as one of her hands opened Daisy's legs purposefully. Her grip was firm. "I want the Iron Throne melted into scrap chucked into the ocean and lost for all time."

"Sansa!" Daisy's hips bucked, her hands twisting in bedding as Sansa's fingers slipped through her wetness. It was almost embarrassing how quickly Sansa had gotten her into this state.

"But right now, what I want more than anything else is to hear my wife, scream my name." And then Sansa's tongue was replacing her fingers.

Daisy gasped, head snapping back.

/

Jon opened up a book and smiled. Turning he looked towards where Daenerys was reading yet another, dry history tomb. "I think I found something."

"Another text on Maegor?" Daenerys' voice was wry as she looked up from her reading.

He chuckled. "Nay, I believe it's a book of children's stories for your House's children." He walked from where he'd been looking through the shelves of texts towards his possible betrothed, offering out the slim text. "It's in Valaryian but a lot of pictures?"

"I might steal their servant who manages this library to see to the texts in the Red Keep when the time comes." Daenerys set the thick tomb she'd been reading aside, and accepted the much smaller book. Her face lit up as she read the title, clearly understanding what it was instead of having to guess as Jon had.

Jon cast his gaze on the library of Highgarden. It was a stunning display of wealth and power. So many books. It dwarfed the collection in Winterfell and he'd always thought the library there magnificent. "Daisy'd be more help with this."

"Most likely," Daenerys replied, a smile still on her lips as she flipped through the narrow text in her hands. "Where is she? I don't believe I've seen her yet today and I know Tyrion was hoping for a word with her."

He winced. "Winterfell most likely."

"Really?" Daenerys looked up at him in surprise.

Jon wasn't entirely sure of why Daisy had been on edge ever since Leonette had cried on her yesterday, but she had been. Also, Seth had reported she'd gone towards the gods' wood after choking down something to eat. And she wasn't in the gods' wood now. So probably Winterfell. His sister could probably fix whatever the issue was? He really didn't want to think about that, however. "Where else would she go?"

"She truly loves your sister, doesn't she?" Daenerys closed the slim book he'd found and set it aside. "I remember how that felt."

His nose scrunched slightly. "She's my sister."

Daenerys laughed at his discomfort. "Oh, do you not approve of your sister having a lover?"

"I do, approve that is…if it even matters what I think." He shifted uncomfortably. "I just worry."

She looked at him curiously. "You are a good brother." Leaning against the table behind her, her attention remained on him. "Tell me, have you ever been in love, Jon Stark?"

"Once." He knew in some ways he owed her this truth. After all from the whispers of the court, he knew of her husband and of her lover, she'd left in Meereen. "Her name was Ygritte, she was one of the Free Folk from beyond the Wall."

Daenerys' head tilted slightly. "What happened to her?"

"She died attacking Castle Black." He knew he was being short but he didn't…he didn't want to talk about the rest of it. It was one thing with Daisy, but it was another with someone who didn't understand. Mayhaps Daenerys did, but even then…he was only beginning to know her.

She gave a faint nod. "I'm sorry for your loss." Her right arm lifted across herself, holding to her other arm. "Drogo was taken from me by a scratch."

"He must have been something for you to still speak of having loved him." Jon didn't say he thought she was likely lucky her husband was not here now. That the Westerosi Lords would not have taken a Queen with a foreign husband. Or at least, he didn't think they would have.

Daenerys stepped away from the table. "Do we ever forget?"

He dipped his head. "No, I doubt we do." Jon frowned slightly as he realized she was leaving the library. "You don't intend to read longer?"

"I will be an old woman before I have learned all that I should have been taught, and war waits for no one." She replied as she walked.

Jon didn't disagree, instead, he lengthened his stride to catch her, before falling into step beside her. "If I may accompany you?"

"You may, for now." She allowed as she led them down the halls, her guards not far behind them.

As they reached a corner Varys seemed to half melt out of one of the attached passageways. His head lowered. "Your Grace, your Highness."

"Lord Varys, you bring news?" Daenerys came to a halt.

He straightened. "Some things of note, however, they can wait. I wished to speak with both of you on a matter of some importance, I believe, your Grace."

"Speak," Daenerys commanded.

He folded his hands before his stomach. "If a marriage between your two persons is agreed upon, there is the matter of the dragons."

Jon had a bad feeling about what the effeminate man was about to say.

/

Rickon perked up as he spotted his sister leaving the tower. He'd been stalking it ever since she went in. He grinned as he spotted Daisy. Hopping off the sawhorse he'd been sitting on, he took off at a light jog, Shaggydog on his heels. As he got nearly to them, he half lunged, half jumped for her. "Daisy!"

She laughed, catching him easily like he was nothing but a small child and not nearly grown. Her voice warmed, as she hugged him back. "Hey, kid."

"You didn't come see me last time you were here!" He tightened his hold, breathing in, as he hugged her. For a second he slipped into Shaggydog who was curling around them, and yup, she smelled like Sansa, exactly as she should.

Daisy ruffled his hair. "I seem to remember spending a lot of time with you last time."

"Nuh, uh." He pulled back, though he kept an arm thrown over her shoulder. "I smelled you in Sansa's room yesterday." Rickon grinned at the startled expression on her face. "You can't lie to me."

She shook her head, but she was smiling. "Guess I can't. How're the hawks?"

"Lord Royce is taking Lyanna and me hawking again tomorrow!" He glared, she was distracting him. "How long are you staying? You could come with us!"

Daisy paused, hesitation on her face. "I…

"Till tomorrow evening." Sansa cut in, her gaze meeting Daisy's. "After all Jon can spare you that long."

A soft smile filled Daisy's face, her shoulder softening under his arm. "Yeah, yeah he can spare me that long."

Rickon beamed, hugging her again. He didn't like the pack being scattered. "Jon's good?"

"He's good." Daisy laughed. "Misses you so much."

He puffed up. "You've told him I'm getting better at using a sword?"

"Of course." Daisy released him so that she could scratch at Shaggydog and greet him as well.

Rickon glanced at his sister and paused. He quickly moved to hug her as well. He sighed into her shoulder. She gave the best hugs.

Sansa whispered into his ear. "Stick to Daisy."

"Got it." He gave his sister a last squeeze before hopping back. "Daisy! You've got to come see the new shoulder guard Lyarra made me for hawking!"

Sansa spoke. "You should, I'll see you at dinner?" She stepped forward, catching Daisy's cheek and kissing her chastely before pulling back.

Rickon snorted at the looks of shock across everyone in the courtyard. He just hooked Daisy's arm as soon as Sansa released her and started hauling her towards where he'd last seen Lyanna and Lyara arguing over appropriate armor for a woman.

/

Petyr Baelish watched from the window as the young prince dragged off his sister's lover. He was impressed. For all some degree of true emotion was clearly involved for Sansa, she had certainly done a masterful job at seducing and securing the attention of the god. It was one of the most daring, and profitable uses any man could have dreamed of for her body. While he'd certainly have pushed her to it if it'd been needed, he was impressed she'd recognized the necessity and done it on her own.

When the time came, the long wait to take what he wanted would have been worth it. He would marry her. And when he did the world would be his. And when he fucked her, he would put a babe in her belly and Westeros would belong to his sons and their sons. A legacy greater than any. Power, legacy, the world. It would be his. A name written in the annals of history in blood.

Still, there was work left to be done before his prize would be his. If he'd wanted her in his bed, he could have taken Sansa in the Vale. Men who thought only with their cocks were fools. Besides, what was the true value of a girl's maidenhead in the great scheme of things? Broken in rough, and then trained up had its own benefits. And their marriage would solidify kingdoms now. Or it would once the god left to wherever it was she came from.

He slid the letter he'd been expecting into the lining of his coat's breast. Yes, things were moving exactly as he wished them. With this, he was well on his way to establishing himself as the obvious and only choice as consort to their conquering Queen. It was so very convenient that the god was a woman. He fastened up his coat and turned to leave his chambers. Well, if the Queen was done servicing the god, there were things to attend to. Now, to seek out Lord Royce, the blithering fool, or the Queen first?

It was an obvious answer, after all, Lord Royce was much closer and the Queen had an entire day's schedule to adjust. With that in mind, he swept through the halls provided for the Vale Lords of the highest rank. He rapped his knuckles on the door to Lord Royce's solar. At the muffled 'enter', he strode into the room, closing the door behind him. His eyes immediately spotted and then dismissed Lord Redfort. "Lord Royce, I was hoping to have a brief word with you before her Grace calls an open court."

"Ah, Lord Baelish, what is it you wished to speak of?" Lord Royce straightened as if he had any right to look down upon him. Even Lord Redfort barely reacted at his arrival.

His face melted into a congenial mask of a competent advisor despite being the Protector of the Vale, and that his word should have been law to these fools. "About our efforts to ensure as many betrothals between our own Houses and those of the North. Perhaps some focus on the Riverlands as well might be in order?"

"I fail to see why this insistence? It will harm our own interests when we are forced to bend the knee to the Targaryen girl." Lord Redfort scoffed. "My younger son'll have a better future married in the North, but I would not have agreed to bind my House North if that hadn't been the case."

Baelish stared at the moron of a man. "Daenerys Targaryen is a conqueror, once she's secured the realm, surely her eye will be turned back to Essos. Would you trust our lands to a Queen none of us know and will likely leave us as suddenly as she's arrived, or would you ensure that at the least a proven Queen will be there to protect and support our interests? A Queen who is cousin to our own Lord Arryn, no less?"

"You believe the Targaryen will fall?" Lord Royce said sharply, a hint of outrage in his voice already. "You would make us oathbreakers before we even bend the knee?"

If he were an honest man, he'd have said 'yes' instantly. He wasn't an honest man. "Certainly not, but she does lack an heir, and we all know the dangers of the birthing bed." He kept his tone conciliatory. "Should she fall without an heir, or in an attempt of birthing one, I would see the Vale secure, as is my duty till young Lord Arryn is of age." Baelish tipped his head. "If the worst should happen we will be secure should that terrible day occur, if we already have bonds to the Winter Kingdom. If Daenerys Targaryen and Prince Jon produce heirs, we will merely have furthered the alliance between our two kingdoms. Hardly a terrible thing, I should think?"

"It is doubtful war would break out with a Stark on both thrones." Lord Royce agreed, his face turning thoughtful. "A shame we cannot hope for her Grace to accept us into her kingdom without risking humanity perishing against the Dead."

Baelish quite agreed with the man for once. "Indeed, but we will see to our oaths to fight through this Long Night."

"Which alliances strike you as for the best then, Lord Baelish?" Lord Royce asked, ignoring the unhappy grumbling from Lord Redfort.

He smiled with projected sincerity. "Houses Piper and Wode will be desperate for support I should think-" And he outlined his proposal of solidifying ties between the Vale, Riverlands, and the North. All alliances with strings tying them to him of course. The future was bright, and he'd have his crown and his Tully beauty to wife.