You Are The One

Chapter 11

"Your Grace, may I have a word?" Maester Titus asks as soon as they are the only two within earshot of one another. Jon could see he wanted to say more to Aegon, but since she's the Queen—and it's her own fault that Aegon is no longer present outside—she guesses she'll be the one to hear it all instead.

She barely gets to sarcastically think, lucky me; has barely turned her back on the maester before he's already storming after her.

Jon sighs long slow and silent before forcing on a friendly smile and turning back around. "Of course, Maester Titus." She nods, pretends to look more sympathetic than she actually feels (which is close to none, for once.) And asks, "What can I do for you?"

Maester Titus glances warily around the Bailey. He looks slightly on edge and Jon understands the whole Aegon situation is...well, not normal.

And Jon has seen how scared and angry, and then, violent people can get when they don't understand something.

She now looses all pretences, leans closer and shows him he really does have her full and sincere attention..

Just as he finally locks eyes with her again and tells her, "It's really more of what I can do for You, Your Grace."

This is the first time Jon is seeing him look so open and actually worried for her.

"I," He sighs softly, pausing as if treading carefully of which words to use. Says, "I understand that You, personally, of all people, would be fascinated or even curious about where and who You really came from...but I...I implore that whatever You see fit on deciding to...to do with...with the man who claims to be The Conqueror, You will not ever come regret that decision."

It's sounds fucking ominous. And if he didn't look as worried as he did, Jon would think he was trying to subtly threaten her. In fact, he sounds so fucking serious and uneasy right now, Jon even finds her eyes flickering over to the Stone Drum where she sent Aegon off to wait for her.

Maester Titus must see something important enough in her expression, because his next words are soft and even rather sympathetic when he says, "I do not mean to put You on edge or to drive any wedges between You and Your father's blood. I only mean to keep Your eyes open for You, as You have so graciously appointed me to, along with the rest of Your Council. And if the man truly is who he says he is, and he kneels for You as the rest of us do, then, quite rightly so, he would be a...formidable asset to Your Queendom."

Jon can't quite gauge his real angle here, so, instead of outright asking for it and most probably—not to mention; predictably—having him lie to her, or at the very least, tell her a bunch of half truths, she—can't say why she feels a strong protective streak rise in her for a man she only met two days ago—politely but firmly lets the maester know just what she thinks about what he thinks about Aegon.

With a very slight scowl just to let him know she didn't, in fact, approve of the careful words he thinks he chose, she says, "Even without being raised to treat every person equally, no matter who they are—and this goes without saying long before you lot put me on that bastard throne just last week," She waves a lazily aggravated hand around; motions to the people wandering or setting themselves up cosy enough for the arriving night.

Maester Titus glances around at them, too. Though, his nervous gaze is focused on his Queen as he sees in her eyes now a similar rage to the one he saw the last Targaryen rain down in dragonfire.

And while he truly trusts that of all people, this woman is not only the true heir to the Throne, but is the first heir in over one hundred and fifty years to actually damn well deserve to sit upon it—he also, knows that if Aegon, who is now with them is the very same Aegon The Conqueror, then, Gods only know what kind of...encouragements Her Grace will take from him...

"But I am not the type of person who keeps those only useful close to their sides."

He shrinks back a little when her blackened eyes of anger find and narrow in on him; even though she doesn't move toward him. He swears he actually feels a bit of heat wafting from her like little waves of fury. He takes a deep but silent breath and a tiny little step back, while also bowing his head in complete submission at her words.

"You chose me to lead, not to follow—the last time that happened to me, I ended up in bed with my Gods damned aunt, then, had to end her life before she ended everyone else's. And the time before that, when I was asked to be the Lord Commander of The Night's, my life was ended for trying to save everyone else's. But now I am your Queen, and I am refusing to lower myself to the miserable and abusive moral low grounds as almost everyone I have ever bloody met! So, the only time you need to worry about Aegon is when I tell you to!"

Her tone is dangerously low and trembling. Though, when she focuses that searing gaze onto him and not through him, she forces her shoulders to relax and takes a deep breath to calm herself.

Maester Titus keeps his eyes on the toes of his sandals peeking out from the bottom of his robe.

With the submission laid out before her, rather than revel in it, Jon seems to snap out of her anger. She feels guilty and almost apologises for her outburst, but bites her tongue for it, because she did mean every word, she just didn't mean to get so fucking angry.

So, instead, she takes another deep breath and says, "I understand who you all wish for me to be for you. And I will be everything I can for my people. And I understand your worries, Maester Titus. I do believe you truly want what's best for the Realm, if I didn't, you would not be on my council." She gives a solemn nod and continues with, "But make no mistake, I wasn't raised to be a Queen, I wasn't even raised to be a Lady, so, I do know when to be cautious of people. And you, like the rest of my council that I chose, are there when I ask for your advise. If you need to tell me how to be a Queen, then, I think you should choose someone who you actually believe can do it without."

When he lifts his head, she arcs a brow and stares at him with a pointed look.

He bows his head, this time, with no other intention written over his face other than the one that shows he heard and understands her every word and will do as she says.

Jon gulps quietly when she feels a small rush of power shoot up her spine and into her brain and making her eyes tingle like she's been drinking too much wine.

It doesn't help when Maester Titus lifts his eyes back to hers and tells her, "We believe in Her Grace. We choose Her Grace. And Her Grace chose us in return. Even when Her Grace did not have to. Even when Her Grace was already at Her limit with life."

He stares right into her eyes, is serious as he says, "Pardon my tongue for a moment, Your Grace, but we did not choose Aegonyra Targaryen, we chose Jon Snow. The woman who united all of The North together; who was murdered by the same people she tried to save and did not hesitate to save again when she was ripped from her eternal and already well-deserved peace and thrown back into the harsh land of the living; who brought the means to end the army of dead men, and then, who betrayed her own kin to save the people yet again—who in doing so, brought about the end of her own family's legacy."

With every memory his words bring up in her mind, the thrill recedes quicker than it shot through her and Jon is left feeling empty all over again. Even when she knows the maester's intentions are completely the opposite, that he's trying to fill her with the confidence he and the rest of the people are apparently filled with because of her.

"We are with You, my Queen; I am with You." Maester Titus nods in gesture for a salute and adds, "All the way, Your Grace."

Jon simply nods back and says, "I'm glad to hear it," and "Please make yourself comfortable anywhere you would like for the night, Maester. I must leave you now to make sure the rest of our party are settled in," before she turns and makes her way towards the Great Hall.

On the way, she passes a few guards who are curiously wandering in and out of the armoury. They all halt and stand to attention before bowing their heads when they notice her walk by.

Jon gives them a respectful nod as she carries onwards. Though, she makes a note to ask them later if they found anything she somehow missed.

She doubts it, however, considering Dani used what was left to arm the Dothraki and her army of Unsullied, both of which they still are armed with...or whoever is left of them, anyway...

When she reaches the dragon head-shaped entrance to the Great Hall, Jon pauses in surprise when she hears the sounds of chorused and rather merry singing bouncing from each wall and escaping out through the doors the moment she opens them.

She pauses again at the sight—a good portion of her party have gathered here in the hall and have seemingly already started an actual party for themselves.

A small smile tugs at her lips as the chorus rings out...

"Promised to us in fire and ice,

The Queen that we choose 'cause she sees all the lies!

Her Grace burns all beasts but the One she rides on,

The growing black dread of Ba-leeeri-on!"

She briefly wonders what Drogon would think of humans singing their drunken chants to him, too.

Jon shakes her head, wearing a small grin as one of the completely sozzled looking young servant men comes up to her with two wooden mugs of ale sloshing out the sides and holds one out to her while trying to bow and also not just completely drop the entire contents of both mugs. He pouts when she holds up a hand and instead motions for him to drink both for her. Though, he bows his head again and is ultimately quite easily persuaded to leave her be when a pretty blue eyed woman smiles and waves him back over.

When she walks back outside a few minutes later, Jon halts in surprise when she sees Drogon standing a few yards away seemingly waiting for her as he stares expectantly at her.

She stares back at him. Blinks slowly at him when he does to her. Glances around to find practically nobody left outside. Shrugs to herself and walks over to him.

"Something wrong?" She asks as she takes in his body language. She shakes her head to herself when he continues to stare down at her. Mutters, "OK, nothing wrong. Good... For once. Must be Robb's birthday or something." Tilts her head up at him and just asks, "What is it then?"

Drogon slowly leans his head down to her, very much like the first time she ever met him—and he charged over to her just to test her nerve before proceeding to demand a pet on his nose from her.

Jon puffs out a chuckle as she obliges him now, gently running her hand over his top lip and around his heated nostrils (of which she could literally fit her whole hand in with no problem, if she was stupid enough to.)

Drogon sighs, eyes closing and low rumbling sound of satisfaction vibrating from him.

Jon laughs, grins and teasingly asks, "Is this all you wanted, hm? Just a little love..."

Her grin slowly fades as those last words sink into her mind. Into her damn heart...

Every person who has ever loved her has either been taken from her or have taken themselves from her.

(Surely, she can only be cursed.)

Drogon's eyes snap open and narrow slightly. He huffs and shoves at her hand when her soft touches stop moving over his scales. He needs her attention back on him, or anything that isn't the feeling he gets when her face looks all sad like his mother's did every time she was sad. He can't fucking stand it. Humans are so stupid. Even the good ones.

Jon puffs out another chuckle, nods and says, "I'm here if you're here."

Strangely, after all the people she's grown close to that are still alive now, it's Drogon she feels closest to; like he's the only one who understands her; the only one who really understood Dani.

Drogon lifts his head, sits back on his folded wings and hinds. Then, proceeds to stare at her again. This time, he doesn't seem to be waiting for anything, which only confuses Jon when she takes a step back so she can see his face a little better.

She frowns. Takes a step forward. Stops when he doesn't move a muscle. Just keeps staring at her. Scowls and feels even more confused by his actions (or lack of), then, shakes her head with a tired sigh and brushes it off to deal with in the morning after she's finally hopefully able to catch some rest.

But when she turns around and heads towards the Stone Drum, the ground begins to shake gently beneath her boots and when Jon stops and turns back around, she sees the dragon slowly following her like a giant pup'.

Drogon tilts his head back, glancing up at something towards the Stone Drum. He gives one slow blink to the growing darkness, then, lowers his gaze back to focus on her.

Jon opens her mouth to ask, but closes it quickly on reminding herself that she will get no worded answers from a dragon, no matter how intelligent they seem to be.

Instead, she continues towards the Stone Drum, and yes, the dragon follows her all the way. But she is somewhat relieved to see him lay himself down across the steps of the entrance instead of following her inside a building that not even half of him would fit into.

Jon pauses just at the doors, turning to glance down at the dragon, who is now curling up and closing his eyes.

"He's protecting you."

Jon sucks in a gasp. Then, at the recognition of his voice, she swirls around to glare and hiss, "How do you do that?!"

No one has ever been able to sneak up on her without her hearing them first.

Aegon holds up both hands in surrender, a smirk tugging at both ends of his lips. He shrugs nonchalantly as he says, "I'm just the best." He winks, grins cheekily and adds, "After Her Grace, of course."

Jon barely contains the roll of her eyes, but fails on her tiny smile...that is quickly wiped off of her face when she notes the tightness around his own. "What's wrong?" She asks before she can even think about it, like it's automatic or something.

Aegon pauses with a surprised look, but quickly wipes it away and seems to double down his efforts on his smile when he relaxes his shoulders and tells her, "Nothing is wrong."

Jon narrows her eyes very slightly, because she can see and also, somehow feel that that isn't the case. Yet, she still knows he's telling the truth.

Aegon sighs, lowers his head along with his voice to a whisper as he says, "No matter how good things can get; how you can make them, you will never be able to please everyone around you. I just..." While they aren't alone, he refrains from leaning closer and pressing his forehead to hers. Instead, looks into her eyes and says, "I need you to be careful."

Jon sighs, looks almost bored as she feels tired. "If I have just one more person telling me to be careful of anything else today, I may get Drogon to actually burn me this time."

Aegon shoots her a withering look.

"You don't think I'm careful?" Jon arcs a brow, asks too calmly for him to see the challenge coming. Smiles too sweetly for him to even notice her reach for his sword still strapped at her back. Widens his eyes and stumbles back too late to dive away from his own blade coming up to press delicately against his throat.

"And now?" She asks, now sounding painfully bored and a little offended.

Aegon gulps, his Adam's apple squishing against his blade. "And now, I understand how his own potential death can make a man's cock harder than steel...Your Grace."

"Ugh!" Jon scoffs, pulling the blade away and shoving at his chest with her elbow instead. "Typical man!" She huffs to herself after turning her back on him and storming off.

Aegon can only stare after her again...can't help the way his eyes drift down to her tight little backside.