*
Jon spurred his horse after Ghost towards the part of the encampment where he was sure to find Dany. He ignored several men who tried to stop him, and Ser Lionel and Ser Oswell did their utmost to keep up with him. As soon as Jon saw Ghost standing next to his silver-haired Queen, who looked calm and well-rested, he slowed down and approached in a more dignified manner. A guard took hold of his horse's reins and halted it. Jon was pleased to discover that Dany stood within a circle of ten heavily armed soldiers of the Golden Company.
Monty and Renny ran up with a crate to help Jon down from his horse. Jon had to admit that, because he was wearing his full harness, his squires' diligence was much appreciated. He held out his hands and they removed both of his gauntlets simultaneously. The guards parted to let him pass and Jon approached his Queen with huge strides. He had just enough presence of mind to recognize Harry Strickland and nod at him briefly to him before turning away and sweeping Dany into his arms.
Their passionate embrace was a bit awkward, though, because Jon was careful not to let his body armour touch Dany's broken arm. "Cursed harness!" he whispered in her ear before he kissed her lips, ignoring the whistles and cheers that started up all around them. "How have you been, my love?"
"Much better, now that you've returned to me in one piece!" Dany whispered back. Then she added conspiratorially, "Morning sickness."
Jon's face lit up. "Perhaps the Red Priestess is not that crazy after all!"
Dany shushed him and kept her voice low. "I'm trying not to get my hopes up; nerves could cause nausea as well. I'll consult with Maester Pylos the moment we arrive at the Red Keep." She gave him a peck on his cheek. "Thanks for sending me updates twice a day!"
Jon kissed her once more. "You were never far from my mind, my love. I would want you to do the same should our roles be reversed." He added, "Viserion is at the Driftmark and is doing fine."
Dany breathed a sigh of relief. "Somehow I knew that he was all right! The Driftmark--that's good, isn't it?"
"Yes, we can visit him if he doesn't come to us soon," Jon replied. Someone tapped on his shoulder. Jon turned to see who it was before whispering to Dany, "I'm sorry, my love. Duty calls." He released her and positioned himself beside her as he greeted the Captain-General of the Golden Company properly.
"You have achieved much since last we saw each other in the tavern in Pentos, your Grace." Harry Strickland bowed slightly. "It was the best chance encounter of my life. My company has thrived as never before! I have even received two offers to swallow up entire sellsword companies."
"Then we've both benefited." Jon quickly imitated the commander's friendly demeanour. "I appreciate your unwavering loyalty, Strickland. It helped immensely to have an ally that I didn't need to worry about. You showed up when it counted and protected my Queen when I asked. Consider us even!"
"Just so you know, your Grace: Prince Oberyn of House Martell and Nymeria Sand only left after I had successfully convinced them that I took the Queen's protection very seriously. If I am no longer in your debt, then perhaps there is room to ask for a small favour sometime in the future? If ever your dragons fancy another trip to Essos...?" Harry Strickland's voice trailed off and he looked at Jon, clearly hoping for a positive response.
"I'll make sure to let you know. Both of us can probably accompany them. But not before things have settled down at our end. It will probably take a year or more before that would happen," Jon warned him.
"Just send word first, your Grace. And, before I forget, that is truly impressive body armour! Shall we talk more later?" Harry Strickland's eyes travelled over Jon's armour and lingered on the Targaryen sigil with the direwolf incorporated in it. He smiled as Jon nodded his assent, then said, "I shall now take my leave now so you may speak with the express messenger from Bear Island."
"Bear Island?" Jon frowned, hoping that the man was not bringing dire news from Cersei Lannister or, the Gods forbid, news that the Night King had already begun the Great War.
"Yes, your Grace. The man is a Northerner, loyal to House Mormont, who claims he came straight from Winterfell and is most anxious to deliver his message into your hands. I spoke with him a few times. He claims to have been a friend of Benjen Stark as a child. Goes by the name of Rickard Woodfoot," Strickland revealed.
Jon relaxed visibly, but did not let on whether the name of the messenger meant anything to him or not. "Thank you for the heads up, Strickland, and for keeping my Queen safe. I'll find time to speak with you again before you depart."
Strickland gave Jon a military salute and gestured for the messenger to be allowed to enter the protective circle. Then he strode over to Ser Gerold so that the latter and his men could be officially relieved of their duties as interim Queensguard.
Dany, who had stood to the side to allow Jon and Strickland some privacy, returned to Jon's side. The messenger bowed respectfully before both of them upon finally being allowed in the presence of King Aegon.
"Your Graces," he began respectfully. "Rickard of House Woodfoot of Bear Island, in the capacity of express messenger on an assignment sent by Prince Robb of House Stark. This message is to be placed only in King Aegon's hands." He handed the thick message to Jon, who promptly handed it to Dany.
"Hold this for me, please, Daenerys. I have to have these vambraces removed first--they're chafing a bit." His eyes twinkled and Dany could barely suppress a smile.
As if by magic, Jon's two squires appeared before him and his vambraces were removed simultaneously. Dany made a show of returning the message to him while Rickard Woodfoot watched closely, frowning. Jon studied him as he accepted the letter from Dany without glancing at it. "Rickard Woodfoot of Bear Island, do you happen to know what this letter contains?"
The messenger's expression shifted quickly from slightly annoyed to formal. "Prince Robb of House Stark gave me leave to inform your Grace that it contains a delicate matter that he wishes to discuss with his Grace at greater length than a scroll would allow him to do. I have been ordered to assure you that there is no cause for alarm. Prince Robb of House Stark would, however, be much obliged if you could send him posthaste a short scroll by raven containing your reaction to his news. I am also to wait in case you wish to send a more detailed reaction by express messenger. I am, of course, at your service, your Grace." Rickard gulped for air when he finished his speech.
"Thank you, Woodfoot. I am certain that Prince Robb will be eager to hear from me." Jon toyed with the scroll, still staring at the now sweating messenger. "Bear Island, you say? And you've come straight from Winterfell?"
"By way of King's Landing, your Grace. I stopped at the Red Keep first. Prince Stark--I mean, Prince Benjen of House Stark--was kind enough to lend me a fresh horse and an escort."
"Good." Jon now turned his full attention to the scroll, studying the dark grey wax seal. Without looking up, he asked casually, "By any chance, is Lady Mormont still a guest at Winterfell? Lady Dacey of House Mormont?" Jon looked up now, raised an eyebrow, and suppressed a smile, not wishing to offend the courier, who apparently took his profession very seriously.
The messenger, astonished and then embarrassed, tried to speak in a neutral tone as he asked, "Your Grace mayhap has already received a raven?"
"Aegon?" Dany put her hand on Jon's arm and gazed at him curiously.
Jon returned her gaze, knowing that she would instantly recognize the mischief in his eyes which would reveal that he had been toying a bit with the messenger. "We'll read it in private," he promised her quietly before addressing the messenger in his usual tone. "Rest assured, Rickard Woodfoot, I will send a raven to my cousin before dusk. Would be so kind as to stay with us one more day? I intend to compose a lengthier reply that you can put into the hands of either Prince Robb or of Lady Dacey--whomever you find first. Hands only, of course."
Jon waited until the messenger nodded and left them, and then gestured to Ser Gerold and Davos to approach. "The Queen and I need to read a private letter. Permit us some time to do so, since it is rather long." He winked at Davos as he held up the message. "After I have refreshed myself, I need to speak to you, Davos. Please await my summons. In the meantime, perhaps you can peruse the other messages that have arrived? You can give me a short summary later. It is obvious that the Dornish are not here yet. Any word on when to expect them?"
Davos shook his head and began walking with the royal couple to their tent. "Only what we already know. They will arrive either late this evening or early tomorrow morning. You will be informed the moment our scouts spot them." He studied Jon from head to toe and seemed satisfied with what he saw. "You might wish to have your squires help you remove your harness first, son. I'll use the time to pick up the messages that the Queen was kind enough to guard with her life in your tent. If you ask nicely, perhaps Her Grace can already fill you in on their contents. If you have the time to address such tedious matters, that is."
Jon looked down at his body armour and sighed. He turned to Dany. "Whoever invented full body armour never considered what an obstacle it can be to enjoying married life!"
After Jon's squires had removed his armour and left his tent with Davos, Dany said to Jon, "I never saw anyone being unharnessed as efficiently as you were just now, my love! You should count your blessings instead of complaining about what others would kill to have. And your squires--have you noticed how well-behaved and efficient they now are? Yet you take them for granted!"
Instead of replying, Jon grabbed Dany's bottom and drew her closer. "I'll be mindful of your arm," he whispered, "but I need to possess you now!"
Dany quite happily allowed Jon to press their bodies close together. Her eyes, though, wandered from his to the still unopened scroll that lay on a small stool. "Aren't you curious about that letter?" she could not help asking.
Without further ado, Jon devoured her lips and lifted her skirt up. "The key to being a good ruler is defining your priorities," he murmured. "That letter won't go anywhere. Thank the Gods that you're not wearing breeches! Now, help me before we lose even more precious time!"
Some time later, Dany lay in Jon's arms as her fingers traced the relaxed smile on his face. He turned his head toward her and opened his mouth, only to close it again.
"What's on your mind, Aegon? I thought you enjoyed our coupling?" Dany's right hand cupped his chin so he could not turn away from her.
"I did," Jon assured her. "So much, that it made me remember how much I missed you the past few nights and how worried I've been about you. Are you truly well, Dany? Have you suffered any nightmares? Or felt unsafe? I despised myself for not being here to help you during these first nights after your ordeal!"
Dany studied him closely. "I am coping reasonably well. I trusted you to be out there dealing with Euron Greyjoy so he can never come after me again. Oberyn helped me feel safe, and I have never had so many guards around me as I have these past few days! Just go ahead and ask me what you really want to, Aegon."
Jon frowned. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Weren't you worried about my state of mind because of … other things? We hardly had a chance to talk before you left to fight Stannis Baratheon." Dany gently caressed Jon's face. "I understand, Aegon. I am not angry at you, nor do I resent what you did. I know that you had no choice but to leave me behind. You had to save Rhaegal and yourself. Had I been in your position, I probably would have done the same thing."
Jon released a shuddering breath and kissed Dany's hair. "I was supposed to protect you, Dany, and I failed. What kind of a husband am I if I can't protect my own wife? Not even with the help of a mighty dragon?"
"You didn't fail me," Dany said emphatically. "You told me that Rhaegal was nearly blind and was panicking. I understand, Aegon. You made a tactical retreat so that you could regroup. You had a plan, and you came back for me! What matters is that we are both alive and our enemy is defeated. There is no doubt in my mind that my well-being is of the utmost importance to you."
Her sincere tone struck a chord with Jon, and his heart felt a bit lighter as he asked, "Do you truly believe that?"
"I do!" Dany curled one of Jon's dark locks around her finger. "What good would it have done us if you had remained and allowed yourself to be caught as well? I believe that you made the wisest possible decision, given the circumstances. I could not ask more of you or of Rhaegal, for that matter." She smiled. "And I truly believe that I have the best husband that a woman could wish for! It is time you stopped chastising yourself and start believing that of yourself as well"
Jon, unable to speak, kissed Dany gently instead. It took some time before he finally released her lips. Gazing into her eyes, he whispered, "For your sake, I will strive to become the man that you believe me to be. This I promise!" He stroked Dany's face. "Now, it is your turn to make a promise. Promise me that you will let me know if you ever have trouble dealing with the memories of what happened to you."
Jon suddenly withdrew his hand from Dany's face so he could study her expression closely. His voice was agitated as he said, "Dany, please assure me that I have not forced myself on you just now, when you might still perhaps be unwilling? I know that fucking Euron Greyjoy placed his vile hands on you! Please tell me that you were not revolted at my caresses tonight!"
"Shhhh, Aegon!" Dany soothed him. "You are seeing problems where none exist! I enjoyed our coupling very much--couldn't you tell? I missed you too and wanted you just as badly. And I detest our lack of privacy here--it was so difficult to suppress my moans!" She chuckled. "In better conditions, I would already be persuading you to go for round two!"
"Truly?" Jon sent a silent thank you to the Gods for gifting him with Dany. "No lingering bad memories of Greyjoy's filthy hands on you?"
Dany caressed Jon's cheek while she looked deep into his eyes. "Euron Greyjoy barely touched me. He was nothing but big words and anticipation! Look…we promised each other honesty, remember?" She waited until Jon nodded. "All right, then. I will repeat my words one last time even if they shouldn't be necessary. I ardently desired, and truly enjoyed our coupling! And you only hurt my arm once, but not too much."
Dany grinned to let Jon know that her last comment was a joke. "Now, I'd like to talk about something else, if you don't mind. And a good husband such as you would want to oblige your wife, am I right? I'd like to ask you something." She released his face as she said this.
"Alright." Jon was relieved when he noticed the mischief in Dany's eyes.
Dany reached out with her good arm and grabbed the thick letter that remained unopened. She waved it in front of Jon's face. "Tell me whether I understood correctly your earlier lesson on ruling. One: You consider yourself a good ruler; and two: I am your top priority, and thus more important than any express messenger, even one who has traveled for several moons to reach you, bearing a message from your favourite cousin. Am I right?"
Jon playfully tapped Dany's nose before plucking the scroll out of her hand. "True only if the messenger carries news that Varys has already whispered in my ear earlier. He informed me about this right before we set off for the Stormlands. I didn't think Robb would deem this matter important enough to warrant sending an express messenger across half of Westeros. I had planned to inform you when his letter arrived with his news, and I was certain that what Varys relayed to me was no idle gossip. Besides, I had more important matters to attend to: I was in the midst of preparing for two wars!"
Dany pouted at him and protested sweetly, "Aegon, you're doing it again!"
Jon chuckled. "I'm sorry, my sweet--no more unintentional stalling, then! Here goes. I'll bet that this letter is Robb's means of asking my consent for his betrothal to Lady Dacey of House Mormont."
Dany took a moment to absorb this news. "The fierce lady warrior that Arya mentioned in her last scroll? The one who argues with Cousin Robb all the time?" she asked with barely contained excitement.
Jon nodded and trailed his fingers along her right arm. "The very one. Apparently, my eldest cousin has a rather strange way of courting the ladies."
Dany's face took on a pensive expression. "No betrothal between House Stark and House Tyrell, then."
Jon heard the unspoken question in Dany's statement. He lifted her chin and looked her in the eye. "I took your advice. I confess to checking some of your deductions first, particularly regarding the Tarlys. I talked about the matter with Sam and, after that, I was convinced of the brilliance of your proposal. Your intuition proved correct! Sam confirmed that Lord Dickon has had feelings for Lady Margaery for a long time now. Also, after you opened my eyes, I studied the behaviour of the Lady in question as she was dancing with Lord Dickon; and I am impressed by your superior mindreading skills where a lady's feelings are concerned! It is evident that Margaery also has a preference for Dickon. I also hope that you are correct in stating that the only reason that she has not yet completely fallen for him is that she believes that nothing would come of it; and so she has kept her feelings in check out of self-preservation."
Dany nodded. "I still believe this."
Jon smiled. "Then I'm glad. It was a very fortunate discovery, as you can well imagine. You should have seen the reaction of Lord Randyll, Dickon's father. When he finally appeared at our first official meeting, he almost committed treason by refusing to kneel. After he swore his fealty through gritted teeth, I said that I would assist with brokering that betrothal for his house; and then that proud, stern Lord couldn't bow and scrape deeply enough, and vowed that I could ask any service of him, no matter how demeaning! Can you picture the mighty Lord Tarly on his knees, admitting that he was wrong about Sam, and apologizing? We have already received an invitation to the wedding when there is not even an actual betrothal in place yet! Also, it took only one sentence from me to persuade him to hold the wedding ceremony here in King's Landing."
Dany's entire face lit up. She rested her head on Jon's chest again and stroked his hip absently. "So it all works out, then. A Stark-Mormont wedding and a Tyrell-Tarly one. I gather you plan to discuss terms with Lord Willas? Please keep in mind the dates for the wedding ceremony, would you? I would very much like to attend both weddings."
Jon tightened his grip on Dany and pulled the furs around her a bit higher so she would not feel cold. She adjusted her body until she lay half on top of him, their legs entangled. Jon let her take the lead. She had proven to him earlier that she had could be creative in bed despite the limitations of having an arm in a sling.
Jon sighed contentedly as Dany softly kissed his chest. He continued, "That is my intention. Lord Willas can bring our terms to his father as soon as he and I have reached an agreement. It won't be much of a negotiation, though; we just have to agree upon an amount for Margaery's dowry. House Tyrell cannot object to the betrothal itself since I took away their right to betroth their kin, and House Tarly is ecstatic." Then he added, "But please keep these plans a secret for now. The two main people involved have not yet been informed of them. Lord Tarly has agreed to delay spreading the word, under threat of my withdrawing support for the match."
"Speaking of young couples, let's read Robb's letter now and send him that raven soon," Dany proposed.. "Imagine if it were us, waiting for more than a moon to find out whether we were allowed to marry! I still remember how hard it was for me before you declared--"
Jon covered Dany's lips with his to silence her. He quickly released her mouth, though, when he felt her struggle to put some distance between them. Before she could speak, he said, "You promised to forgive and forget, Dany. You told me that was all in the past. It is high treason to lie to your King!" he added lightly, in an attempt not to spoil the mood.
"I was not mentioning it to chastise you, but to make you realize that further delay might make Robb and Dacey suffer longer." Dany carefully wriggled out of Jon's arms and urged him to sit up straight. "Now, be a good sovereign and think of the wellbeing of your subjects. Duty calls, my King! Stop trying to make love to your beautiful, kind paragon of a wife and start reading your cousin's letter!" She added teasingly, "I will not let you touch me again until you release that poor young man from his suffering and send a raven to Winterfell."
"So you counsel me to agree to this betrothal without reading this letter first?" Jon pretended to sound aghast. "But what if Varys had it wrong and Robb is asking for a betrothal to a lowly servant of House Mormont?" He failed to keep his tone serious enough to make Dany believe he actually entertained that possibility.
Dany thrust the message into Jon's hands again. "Just read his letter already, or I will! If you don't, I will tell that handsome cousin of yours exactly how cruel you were when he needed you most. And don't think I wouldn't dare! I would do it the very moment I finally get to meet him!" However, she kept her tone light as well.
"All right, you win! You sound as domineering as Sandor's wildling wife, from how he describes her. Relentless, manipulating, and threatening to withhold affection until poor Sandor has no choice but to give in to her demands!" Jon gave Dany a searing kiss before breaking the large wax seal of Robb's letter. His eyes quickly scanned the neatly written words.
Jon suddenly gasped, and Dany, who was awkwardly adjusting her clothes with her functioning arm, dropped the sleeve of her dress. She looked up at him and, seeing his shocked expression, asked, "What is the matter? Is everyone all right?"
Jon nodded. "Yes, just give me a moment." He continued reading as fast as humanly possible. He only realised how much he had kept Dany in suspense when he heard her release a deep breath as he began to explain. "Robb got Dacey pregnant! They now have no choice but to marry! I can only hope that Robb will come to love her." Jon's voice was full of compassion for his cousin.
Dany put her hand on his arm, leaned in, and kissed him. "It can't be that bad. Let me read it." Jon gave her the letter and a heavy silence reigned until Dany finally put it down. "You men are all stupid creatures!" she chastised Jon. "I believe Robb told you at least five times in this one missive just how much he loves her, but neither you nor he realises it!" She handed the letter back to Jon. "Here, read it again and notice how he fights for her honour and puts her interests before his own. It is actually very endearing!"
Jon looked at the letter hesitantly. "I reckoned that was just his Stark honour speaking?"
Dany shook her head. "Those words speak of love as much as of honour; they express mutual respect and admiration. You have to read between the lines. How often does Robb refuse to blame Dacey for anything, no matter how minor?" She leaned forward. "Aegon, do me a favour and send them both our heartfelt congratulations. And, as soon as you have time, write letters to your uncle Ned and to Robb. Don't keep them in suspense! This should be a happy occasion--the heir to the North makes a politically advantageous marriage and marries his chosen lady for all the right reasons! Even better, his future wife has already proven that she can provide the North with new blood for its next generation. So go on and send that raven!"
Jon pulled his tunic over his head. "I promise to as soon as I am decent." He put on some ordinary clothes and prepared to leave, then turned back to Dany. "I'll send a female servant in to help you dress. I'll be back before you know it!"
Dany smiled. "Take your time, Aegon. Just promise me that you won't let anyone distract you and drag you to some meeting or celebration before the raven has safely left for Winterfell. And please, think carefully before you write. Make it crystal clear to Robb that you are giving him your consent and unconditional support, and that both of us are happy with the outcome, all aspects of it!"
"Don't fret. I'll let Davos read my letter before I send it and will ask for his stamp of approval.." Jon bent down, gave Dany a quick kiss, and left the tent. He hurried to the area in the camp where the ravens were kept.
As expected, Davos intercepted him before he got there. "Varys' birds were right?" the older man asked, noticing Jon's excited face.
"Only partly," Jon replied, proceeding to whisper the additional news in Davos' ear. Davos grinned "From now on, never let it be said that the Stark men have ice running through their veins! First, Prince Benjen starts acting like a young fool in love, and now this!" Then he asked seriously, "You intend to give your cousin your consent?"
Jon nodded. "Of course, before all hell breaks loose. I never thought that I would say these words, but thank the Gods that Princess Catelyn returned to King's Landing instead of Winterfell!"
"As soon as she receives your royal consent to leave Court, she will be on the first ship to White Harbour. Mark my words!" Davos grinned. "Come on, lad. Let's craft that letter in such a way that nobody dares to reprimand Prince Robb. How about making it appear that he had been following your orders all along? But keep silent about the pregnancy, and phrase it so that only the happy couple understands that you are congratulating them on more than a royally approved betrothal. And let's send Ned Stark a coded message, asking him to play along and pretend that he was in on things from the start. This way, nobody loses face!"
Jon grinned. "I might need your help to get that letter written exactly right."
Davos chuckled. "That's kind of you to say. Very charitable to allow an old man to feel a bit useful from time to time! It only makes you a better ruler, son."
"'A better ruler.'" Jon smiled to himself as he remembered Dany saying the same words earlier as she lay in his arms.
When the letter was written and the raven was finally on its way to Winterfell, Davos convinced Jon to sit down for a while at an abandoned campfire. The grass was still moist from a recent rain shower, so Jon's Kingsguard quickly brought two small stools over. Davos threw a few pieces of dry wood on the dwindling fire it to rekindle the flames. It crackled in a welcoming way, and Jon chose to sit closer to it than usual. Davos studied his face. "Any news of Viserion?"
Jon shook his head. "Nothing recently. You already know he sought sanctuary in the caves that he grew up in, and has healed considerably. Rhaegal and I will contact him again later tonight. I intended to wait for Euron Greyjoy to arrive so that Rhaegal can send his brother the image of his defeated foe. Rhaegal will tell Viserion that if he shows up, I promise to allow him to decide how his torturer will be executed."
Davos frowned. "Think you will be able to live with that decision, son?"
Jon met Davos' gaze with unwavering determination. "I might even do worse to him than Viserion will! You were there when Melisandre whispered some things to us that Daenerys either omitted or blocked out. Those were not just idle threats, but acts he intended to carry out! It will take all of my self-control not to hack him to pieces myself when he is brought before me. And don't forget that through our bond with Rhaegal, I experienced some of the pain and torment that that fucking Greyjoy inflicted on Viserion." He shrugged. "I'm sorry if I disappoint you, Davos; but yes, I am quite sure that I will be able to live with this decision."
Davos nodded gravely. "That's all I wanted to hear, son; I was merely looking out for you. I wanted to save you from sleepless nights, were it not the case. I don't really mind myself--Greyjoy has this coming. I've been a sailor and a captain myself. Those poor sods he calls his crew!" Davos shook his head. "Do what you feel is right, son. I will have your back."
Jon was pleased with his Hand's reaction, for he hated to disappoint him. "Thank you, Davos. One day I will find a way to reward you adequately for all your support and guidance."
Davos chuckled. "I have all the reward that I need right here, son! And, as far as I know, you are doing your utmost to produce another human being for me to cuddle and smother with my fatherly affection . . . or should I call it grandfatherly, in this case? I might have overheard Melisandre…" Davos studied Jon carefully.
Jon smiled nervously. "Yes, it is a possibility that we are beginning to entertain."
"You have my good wishes and support, whatever the outcome," Davos answered heartily.
"Yes, I know." Jon nudged the other man's shoulder. "Do you know what popped into my mind just now?"
"Do I want to know?"
Jon stared into the fire. "Do you remember the first time that we travelled to the Wall? A few days into our journey, you approached me and sat down next to me in front of a small fire, just like this one."
Davos smiled, remembering all too well the scene that Jon was describing. When you were eleven or twelve, and broody as hell? I remember you sharing your meat with me."
Jon's dark eyes were filled with emotion. "I remember being very confused and hurt. I had learned of my parentage a few days earlier and didn't know how to deal with it. And then a certain sea captain, without having an inkling of who I was, did everything he could to make this child, whom he barely knew, feel better. I've never quite forgotten that night! That was the first time that I experienced the famed 'Davos magic.' I just didn't realise what it was back then."
Davos put his hand on Jon's knee for a moment. "I could return the compliment, son. You had a way of drawing people in, even at such a young age. Many swore fealty to you because they liked you and saw someone they could believe in. Many swore fealty to the boy, to the young man, and not so much to the name or the heritage. Prince Oberyn is a good example; Loras, Lady Brienne . . . and now that I think of it, Harry Strickland as well."
Jon shook his head but smiled softly, his mind still in the past. "Harry Strickland was merely a stroke of luck."
Davos shook his head as well. "I disagree. He could have laid a trap for you in Pentos. He could have murdered you and taken Blackfyre for his own! But, instead, the two of you had one honest conversation in a tavern, and you gained a loyal ally for life. That is not a stroke of luck. That is proof of the easy way you connect with all kinds of people, be they highborn, servants--or even slaves!" He winked at Jon, who blushed.
"That only happened once," Jon protested, cursing the fact that he still blushed quite easily after moons of being a married.
Davos grinned. "A little bird whispered to me that Clea and Ornella still give you little handmade trinkets each time you show your face at the Driftmark" Then he said, "I believe I will have to come up with a name for the phenomenon. Just as you claim that I possess 'Davos magic', I need a term to define the effect that you have on people." He paused for a moment before exclaiming, "Hells, I can't think of anything suitable! I'll have to ask Sam. He'll have no trouble coming up with an appropriate term."
"Sam." Jon sighed deeply. "He'll leave soon, you realise?"
"You have a dragon, son. You can visit and make sure that the Archmaesters know the consequences if they fail to treat our boy as the prodigy that he is! If I hear one whisper about them treating him as a lowly acolyte, and impeding his studies for no good reason--"
"Then I'll threaten to reorganise their entire institution! The diary of my father, which I showed you before, has an entire chapter dedicated to the potential threat that the Citadel poses if they have bad intentions. The Maesters advise most of the noble houses of Westeros, and my father warned that they can manipulate the heads of these noble houses into pursuing their own agendas, starting wars, or doing anything else that they wanted to do. If they really were driven by the wrong motives, they could create havoc in the known world. I intend to curb their influence, one way or another!"
Davos looked pensive. "Hmmm, that's heavy stuff, but not entirely outside the realm of possibility, I grant you. If there is one Maester whom you can trust with your eyes closed, it is our Sam. Talk to him about this. He is in the best position to study the motives of the Archmaesters and to make sure that they are still above politics and as neutral as they ought to be."
"Poor Sam, another difficult task for him! You must help me look out for him. We must make sure that we don't work him too hard--he is incapable of saying 'no' whenever we give him additional assignments." Jon took another log from a small stack and tossed it onto the fire.
Davos evaded a few sparks and chuckled. "He certainly is. But then, he thrives and focuses better if he has to deal with several things at once. He is one peculiar specimen, our Sam!"
Jon noticed Ser Arthur and Ser Patreck approach, which he found strange since he knew that Ser Oswell and Ser Lionel were standing behind him. Then he realized why upon seeing Dany peek out from behind Ser Lionel. She had made sure that Jon couldn't spot her until she was closer. Jon gave her a welcoming smile.
"You didn't return, so I thought I would seek you out myself, my King." Dany smiled at both men.
"Oh, to be young and in love!" Davos chuckled, gesturing to Renny, who was hovering nearby, to bring another stool. "Please sit down, Daenerys. I'd like to keep both of you company for a while, if I may. Let an old man look upon a happy couple and reminisce a bit about days gone by."
Dany sat down next to Davos and kissed his cheek. "I missed you too, Davos. Now spill: exactly how reckless was my husband while he was away?"
***
The next morning in the royal tent . . .
"She survived another suicide attempt," Davos confirmed, handing Jon a raven from House Mormont. His keen eyes noticed how the furs were arranged on the floor by the small cots, but he kept his expression neutral. He did not want to reveal how such a small detail had improved his mood. If the young couple was happy, then he was as well--it was that simple. He was also thankful that he still had time to share his news before the formal audience for their Dornish visitors began.
Jon was caught up studying the exact wording of the message, so Daenerys was the first to react to Davos' words. "I feel for Cersei," she sighed. "She will never walk again. It is an unfortunate thing to say, but it may have been better for her had she succumbed to her wounds instead. I can't imagine what her life will be like now. Perhaps we should allow her to return to Casterly Rock?"
Jon took Dany's hand. "Robert Baratheon warned me not to do that. You know that Varys found irrefutable proof that Cersei had plotted at least two of the assassination attempts that took place shortly after we were married. If she can convince men to do her bidding while she is imprisoned in the far North, what havoc might she wreck when surrounded by a kingdom full of people loyal to the Lannister name?"
"I have to agree with him." Davos sounded apologetic. "I shall inform Lord Kevan of House Lannister."
Dany shook her head. "I could never imagine wanting to end my own life! Lady Cersei must be miserable, Aegon."
"Then we'll make her life as comfortable as possible. Provide her with books and--I don't know--a few other things she likes? But under no circumstances shall I allow her to live at Casterly Rock, Dany!"
"How about sending her to an island with a warmer climate? Would you consider Tarth?" Davos suggested.
"Her guards would have to be women who are extremely loyal to us," Jon said, but he was still sceptical. "I'm not sure that Tarth can fulfil that requirement. However, Dorne would be a better option. They have no love lost for the Lannisters, so Cersei will be unable to sweet- talk them into doing her bidding." Jon turned to Davos. "I don't want to make a hasty decision, so perhaps Dany and I should briefly visit Bear Island when we go north for the wedding. We would see for ourselves how Cersei Lannister is being treated there."
"You intend to travel north for the wedding?" Davos exclaimed.
"Of course we will attend!" Jon exchanged glances with Dany, who nodded enthusiastically. "But it would just be Dany and me. I reckon we only need to fly less than half a day to cover between Winterfell, where we shall be staying, and Bear Island. Even if the dragons fly at only half their usual speed to, uh, you know--make things easier for Dany."
Davos noticed the young couple smile at each other, and warned, "You will have to convince Ser Gerold that the Northerners can assign enough loyal, capable guards to guard both of you. How many sennights do you still have left to convince him?"
"Tell him that there are four direwolves at Winterfell that can take turns guarding us," Dany advised her husband. "I do so look forward to attending a wedding in the famed Godswood of Winterfell!"
Davos intervened once more. "If I may offer another word of advice? If you wish your Lord Commander to permit you to fly north with no reservations, and without insisting that you delay your voyage until he has sent some guards ahead by ship, then do not inform him that you also intend to visit other places while you're there. At least, not until the very last minute."
"To be honest, Davos, I was also thinking of making a quick stop at Castle Black," Jon admitted. "But I would refrain from going beyond the Wall as long as Sandor and Tormund are willing to meet me there." Then, without waiting for a reaction, Jon took Dany's hand. "Do not worry, my sweet. Ser Gerold may grumble and protest all he wants, but we will wear him down! At the end of the day, after all, we are his superiors. Both of us will fly north in time for Robb's wedding--provided you remain in good health, that is."
"I will do everything I can to ensure that I am fit to travel," Dany assured him. "Besides, the wedding won't take place for two moons at least, and my arm will be fully healed by then. Princess Catelyn will need more than a moon to travel to Winterfell, and then she'll want to oversee the final preparations." Dany smiled and squeezed Jon's hand to express her delight over the upcoming journey.
Jon realised that their trip would be particularly special for Dany because she had never been to the North. All her knowledge of it came from books and Jon's tales. He kissed her cheek before addressing Davos once again. "What other news, Davos?"
"You received a raven from your uncle, Prince Eddard," Davos replied without missing a beat.
"He can't know of the Dacey and Robb matter yet," Jon commented as he accepted the tiny scroll and broke the Stark seal. He read the letter and furrowed his brow. "Uncle Ned assures me that all is well in the North, and says that he intends to arrange a match for Robb with a Northern lady. He claims that being back in the North has made him rethink his options. He hopes that I will not be too disappointed because he has decided not to unite his house with House Tyrell; instead, he favours a union with House Mormont. He hasn't talked to Robb yet, but asks that I do not interfere." Jon's tone revealed his growing disbelief at what he was reading.
"Either he is playing you, or he is being played masterfully by the young couple." Dany shook her head.
"I wager it is the second case." Davos could not keep the edges of his mouth from curling upwards as he said this.
Jon caught on and burst out laughing. "Oh dear! Whatever will Uncle Ned think of the raven I just sent? I wish I could see his face as he reads my suggestion that he pretend it all to be his idea! My message will destroy any illusions he might have harboured. He will no longer be able to congratulate himself on coming up with the brilliant idea of a Stark/Mormont alliance. Instead, he will have to content himself with claiming false credit for it."
"I hope he doesn't take it out on Robb once he realizes that he and Dacey have gone behind his back and asked for your support." Dany looked rather worried now.
"How do you think her Excellency, Princess Catelyn, will react?" Jon asked her.
"Oh, what I wouldn't give to witness your Aunt Catelyn's reaction when she learns that her son must marry in a few moons' time or else her first grandchild will be a bastard--a Snow! You should have heard her lecture my ladies-in-waiting about avoiding all contact with bastards. They are evil, lustful, and they covet all the things they can't have!" Dany laughed as she said this.
Jon frowned. "And all the sins that these bastards are supposedly born with shall magically disappear into the void when a King legitimizes such an evil creature? How the hells does she justify scheming for Gendry to become her good-son?"
"That would imply that you believe she is capable of using logic," Dany pointed out. "Don't worry, I'm sure that she will simply conjure up a passage from the Seven-Pointed Star that will explain it away. Nothing needs to be questioned or examined as long as it is ratified by her holy Seven. They are above logic, above human understanding. For example, if they say a man cannot drown, then it must be true; and all evidence to the contrary is either blasphemy or on the result of a misunderstanding." She paused when she saw both men look at her as if she had two heads.
"You think I exaggerate? I am confident that, should the Septons proclaim that the man who drowned man has founded a new dynasty at the bottom of the sea or has joined a submerged Kingdom there, of course Princess Catelyn will believe it, for it must be true!" Dany sighed. "I shall be ever so glad when her Highness returns to Winterfell. You should have heard the advice that she sometimes gave us. I know she means well, but she can sometimes be extremely short-sighted! Ashara often has to calm us younger ladies down and neutralise Princess Catelyn's influence by teaching us how the world actually works."
Davos quickly reassured Daenerys, "Princess Catelyn will be at Winterfell soon, first for the wedding and the birth; and after that, it is highly unlikely that she would want to be separated from her first grandchild so soon. Even if she doesn't come to that herself, I am certain that her esteemed royal nephew, King Aegon the Sixth of His Name, can give her some well-intentioned royal advice. A grandmother has duties and obligations, you know, and your husband probably ranks almost as high on her list as the Seven." He winked at Dany. "I am very much afraid that you will have to learn how to survive without Princess Catelyn's wise advice for the foreseeable future, my Queen."
Jon winked. "And seeing how she gives such importance to protocol, she won't return to court without a formal invitation from the royal couple."
"See, Daenerys?" Davos chuckled. "You will soon be free from your wicked good-family for a very long time."
Dany blushed. "Davos, all that I have said just now--"
"--will remain among the three of us," Davos finished, and placed a reassuring hand on Dany's shoulder. "My loyalty is to both of you. I would never do anything to discredit you in the eyes of others."
Dany put her hand atop his large, weathered one. "Thank you, Davos! I feel so comfortable around both of you that I sometimes find myself thinking out loud without heeding my words."
"You two are adorable," Jon teased. His eyes followed Davos, who had removed his hand from Daenerys' shoulder and approached the small stool on which lay the scrolls he had come to discuss. He kept his face averted all the while.
"I prefer that you youngsters say what you really want to say, instead of choosing your words carefully to avoid hurting my feelings." Davos' voice was suspiciously hoarse as he said this.
"But I must take care not to bad-mouth my good-aunt in the presence of others," Dany insisted. I acted as if Aegon and I were alone."
Jon threw his arm around Dany's shoulders gently, mindful of her broken arm. "No harm done! Davos is like our foster father anyway."
Davos grew warm again when Jon spoke so matter-of-factly about their close relationship. He blinked his eyes a few times and made a show of browsing through the messages. Most of them were dry status reports from the members of the small council and contained nothing that needed to be dealt with urgently before Jon and Daenerys' departure. He looked up when his King asked, "Nothing of importance in there, I gather, from the look on your face. What else do we need to discuss, Davos?"
Davos cleared his throat, still a bit affected by being included so casually in the young couple's private life. "Lady Greyjoy apologizes for being unable to offer more support. She mentions they have found something akin to dragonglass on one of the smaller islands: Blacktyde, to be precise. She asks for a means to test it and whether they should start mining it."
"I'd say we have enough." Jon mulled the matter over a bit longer. "But I suppose she could ship a few pieces to Castle Black. If it is really dragonglass, then they can have a local blacksmith make some pieces for their own people on the Iron Islands. You never know what will happen. Bear Island and Skagos can either post guards armed with dragonglass at all of their cemeteries or burn the remains of their long-dead ancestors. I know that the Iron Islands are not too close to the North, but it is better to be safe than sorry, isn't it?"
"I'll send a response to that effect," Davos agreed. "Then there is the request of the Red Priestess to be present when you interrogate the wizard who was working for Euron Greyjoy. She insists that her presence will help you obtain the information that you want. She claims that she will be able to distinguish whether or not the wizard is lying."
"Surely it can't hurt?" Dany looked at Jon.
"Will you be present, Davos?" Jon asked him.
The ease that Davos had felt during this meeting evaporated a little, and he shifted uncomfortably. "Only if you want me to. I think the topics you are to discuss are not really my area of expertise. Thoros will be a better adviser than me; you might consider bringing him along instead. If he is at your side, then I won't feel too bad for backing out. I believe you can depend on him. And, for what it is worth, I agree with Queen Daenerys. Having the Red Priestess present at the wizard's interrogation seems like a good idea. She had dealings with him before in the Greyjoy camp and might be able to persuade/manipulate him a bit. Isn't she from Asshai as well?"
"Indeed she is. Then I believe we can manage without you, Davos. I'll keep you informed if we learn anything valuable." Jon nodded at Davos and then addressed his wife. "Dany?"
"I would like to be present, Aegon," Dany said. "I want to learn more about that horn. I am sure that if we put the wizard at ease and promise him that we will allow him to return to Asshai, he will cooperate and tell us all that he knows about it. Melisandre informed Thoros that this wizard was another of Euron Greyjoy's prisoners and was merely trying to make the best of a bad situation. He was kidnapped, dragged to the other side of the known world, and forced to obey his captor. Therefore he can't be truly loyal to Euron Greyjoy; it is clear that he acted under duress."
Jon made his decision. "Then you and I will talk to him with the assistance of Thoros and Melisandre. I want to do it covertly, later today. I do not wish the entire camp to speculate about it."
Davos admired the decisiveness of his King, even when the young man broke character and glanced toward him for a sign of approval. Davos gave it by nodding quickly, and said, "I'll tell Ser Gerold to make the necessary arrangements."
Since Jon continued looking at him, Davos quickly added, "I'll also make sure that Melisandre and Thoros get to the cave without anyone noticing. We already made sure that only your Kingsguard know where the wizard has been sequestered. They won't tell a soul. The two of you, on the other hand, can take a stroll to spend some time alone in what everyone will assume to be an isolated location. Those who notice you leaving will simply think it romantic."
Jon smiled. "We'll never get rid of the sappy rumours that way!"
"There are worse things!" Dany returned his smile. "Better to have people believe that we are besotted fools than have them spreading rumours that one or both of us are seeking other partners to, uh--"
"We understand," Davos interrupted before Dany could finish her sentence. "Besides, the rumourmongers are now focusing on the Princes of the North, those romantic fools! The latest rumours are mostly about Prince Benjen, but soon Prince Robb will be their next target. Your royal love story will be entirely replaced by new and more scandalous developments. Lady Dacey's pregnancy will quickly become the most interesting thing to have happened to a ruling house in recent years, and Robb Stark will have to pray that something else occurs to divert the wagging tongues away from him and Dacey."
Jon straightened up. "If we have discussed all we needed to this morning, then perhaps we should proceed with our schedule. It must be time now to receive the Dornish delegation, and then we still need to organise the jury with Lord Royce for the trial-execution. I didn't get a chance to talk to Strickland last night, so I will have to squeeze that in today as well; and I'd rather not postpone the interrogation of the wizard to another day. I very much wish to learn how much damage that cursed horn might have inflicted on Viserion, and how the blasted thing can be destroyed."
"You mean the horn has not yet been destroyed?!" Davos exclaimed, and looked at Jon as if he was solely responsible for the horn's remaining intact.
"Shhh, lower your voice, Davos!" Dany berated him. "We don't want word to get out because our men might panic if Viserion showed up, believing him to be a threat to their lives."
"I didn't exactly lie," Jon explained, taking over from Dany. "Viserion did incinerate the horn; I only omitted mentioning that that didn't destroy it completely. There is no need to panic, for the horn is safe for the time being. Viserion is guarding it in a cave at the Driftmark."
"Why didn't he just drop it somewhere over the Narrow Sea?" Davos asked him.
"He wasn't certain if the horn would sink. What if the horn, for some reason, can float or washes up on shore somewhere? It is a magical object after all, Davos, so we can't take any chances. We must not rest until it has been reduced to ashes, or at least has chopped up and melted into numerous pieces that we can scatter across the known world, never to be reassembled again."
"I understand," Davos conceded. "I'll go and find Ser Gerold now so he can make the arrangements for your secret meeting with the wizard later. I wish you every success and will pray that the wizard can help you."
"Thank you, Davos. Do hurry back so you can attend the audience with the Dornish!" Jon called after him as his Hand left the tent.
"I'm also keen to talk to that wizard. I pray that he can tell me how I can become Viserion's rider for real," Dany whispered to Jon.
"I don't believe you need the wizard for that--you are well on your way to becoming his true rider!" Jon kissed the corner of Dany's mouth and wrapped his arms around her. "You have already sensed his mood a few times even when he was far away, which you couldn't do before. Something has definitely changed!"
"Yes," Dany sighed against his mouth. "Did you believe Melisandre when she told us last night that I carry your child?"
Jon did not reply, but asked instead, "How exactly did she explain the fact that you bled two sennights ago?"
"She asked me if I bled for four days or less, and how much. When I told her I bled but little, and only for two days, she confirmed this was a sign that my womb is closing. Some women bleed a little when that happens. The entrance to my womb has been sealed off so the baby can safely grow in there."
Jon nodded and smiled mysteriously. "If you refuse to believe her, you can at least believe Ghost."
Dany opened her mouth and closed it again without uttering a sound.
Jon looked defensive. "You were fast asleep when he returned from his hunt last night! Do you recall reading in Robb's letter how Greywind sensed his unborn child's heartbeat?"
"You--Ghost, I mean, you--heard, you warged--you didn't wake me?" Dany tried to take a step back.
Jon didn't let her, tightening his hold on her so that she would have to listen to his explanation. "You were sleeping soundly and I--I--" He finally released Dany, but she stood still and let him continue. "You are right. I should have woken you up. I'm sorry. I was so excited, I couldn't think clearly!" Jon admitted. He was relieved when Dany responded by leaning into him, and he swiftly embraced her again.
"I'll forgive you this time," Dany murmured. "But the next time you learn news as important as this, you must wake me. Do you understand?"
Jon nodded and kissed her hair. "I promise."
Dany smiled. "Can you describe it to me? What you heard?"
Jon thought back to last night. Upon Ghost's return from a successful hunt, he had instructed his direwolf to listen to Dany's stomach. Then he had warged into Ghost and had heard another heartbeat, much faster than Dany's or his own. Jon did his best to describe the sound exactly as he remembered it. He and Dany stood together for a while, lost in contemplation of all that was to come. "I won't mind now if you sometimes complain of a queasy stomach. I will always feel happy when I hear you complain!" Jon told her, though his tone was not as teasing as his words.
"Glad to hear you're happy that I felt miserable this morning!" Dany teased him back.
"And I plan to continue this behaviour . . . unless, of course, the aches become too unbearable and your health begins to suffer." Jon paused their banter by claiming Dany's mouth, kissing her like there was no tomorrow. Dany was panting when he finally released her. "Don't tell me that you weren't happy to feel nauseous! I wouldn't believe you if you did," Jon whispered, this time giving her a more tender kiss. When he finally released her lips again, he whispered, "I love you, Dany. Never doubt that I do! I love you so very much, pregnant or not. And I won't mind if that makes me a sappy fool. Let the gossipmongers spread the news around the realm if they wish! I will never hide how much I love both you and that tiny creature that nestles inside your sealed-off womb."
***