Cruel World

Daenerys

The day had not gone as Daenerys expected, and it seemed to only be getting worse. After that failure of a trial, her top commander was injured and the man who killed her father was freed thanks to Lady Sansa and the Tarth woman. She now sat in her chambers, staring into the fire, while Jon Snow stood awkwardly behind her. She could tell he wanted to say something, though he seemed not to have the courage to say it. 

It had been over a week since Jon revealed his true parentage, and more importantly his superior claim to the iron throne. And while Daenerys appreciated knowing she was not the last of her family line, Jon, Aegon, or whatever his name was, could take what was rightfully hers. What she worked for. The whole thing felt like a final test implemented by the gods; to make the man she loved the same person she feared the most. He could take everything from her, and she refused to let it happen. 

The proof in her worries could be seen in the celebration that took place a fortnight after the Long Night. Sure they had toasted to her involvement and expressed their gratitude, but no one could deny the way the northerners looked to Jon. They praised him for riding a dragon, when she had been the one to hatch and raise them in the first place! The victory during the Long Night would not have happened without Daenerys’ aid, and yet they dared to call him king. 

“Do not stand behind me silent as a statue, speak your piece.” Daenerys commanded. 

Jon cleared his throat. “Apologies, your grace.” 

Daenerys lifted herself from her chair and placed her hands on Jon’s chest. “I told you, you do not have to address me as your grace when we are behind closed doors.”

“Apologies, Dany.” Jon responded with a smile. 

Daenerys leaned in and kissed Jon’s soft lips. Gods, she wanted him. As their kiss deepened and their tongues danced, Daenerys let out a moan and began to rip off Jon’s clothes. 

“Dany—”

“Don’t speak.” She commanded, breaking their kiss long enough to push Jon onto her bed, crawling atop him as she continued to remove articles of clothing. 

“Dany, wait.” Jon insisted, pushing away Daenerys’ kiss. 

“What is wrong?” She asked in annoyance.

“While I definitely want to continue this, there is something I came to discuss with you.” 

Daenerys fought the urge to roll her eyes as she crawled off of Jon. “And what would that be?” She asked as she covered her breasts with a blanket.

“I was talking with the northern officers, and asked for their assessment of the soldiers, how well they have healed since the Long Night.” Jon began. 

“I did not ask that of you.”  Daenerys noted sternly. 

“Well no, but…” Jon stuttered slightly as he spoke.

“Talking with the officers is what the kingslayer suggested, is it not?” She interrupted, making no attempt to hide her annoyance. 

“Yes, but—”

“So you admit to following the guidance of the kingslayer, and not your queen?” Daenerys chastised, her eyes filling with rage at what felt like a betrayal of trust. 

“Yes, well the kingslayer has a point, Dany!” Jon retorted, now raising his voice and standing from the bed. He looked down on her as he spoke. “When I spoke with the officers, they said the soldiers could use another week or two before marching south. Many continue to suffer from missing and broken limbs, head injuries, and infection! If we were to march south now, and in the winter no less, who knows how many more men we would lose? And of the ones that survive in what condition would they be to fight?”

Daenerys stared into Jon’s eyes as she slowly stood from the bed. “You told me that the northern forces would do as I command. That they would obey my wishes. In one day I plan to march my army south and now, you choose to agree with the kingslayer? The man who murdered my father?” 

Jon cupped Daenerys’ cheek with his hand. “You know I am loyal to no one but you, but the northern officers have asked me to urge you to push back the date we march for King’s Landing. The Unsullied and Dothraki would benefit from the time to recover as well, and we would be all the more powerful when we marched against Cersei.”

If I refuse, the northerners will hate me and favor Jon. They already adore him…

Daenerys took a deep breath. “I will consider it. But the longer we wait, the stronger Cersei becomes.” 

Jon leaned into her face. “I promise you, we will fight until you are seated on that throne.” He reassured her. 

Daenerys couldn’t help but smirk at his words. She was about to lean in for a kiss when Jon continued to speak. “Another thing…” he began. 

“What now?”

Jon inhaled before continuing. “I’m going to tell Sansa and Arya about my lineage.” 

“No.” 

“No?”

“No! You cannot tell them. Sansa especially, she’d want to see me gone and you on the iron throne and you know it.” Daenerys seethed. 

“No, she won’t.”

“Goodness Jon, you still see her as the young innocent girl you grew up with. She isn’t. Not after what she has endured.” Daenerys retorted. 

“I owe them the truth.” Jon pressed.

“Even if the truth destroys us?” She questioned. 

“It won’t!”

“It will.” 

Daenerys sat at the end of her bed and Jon bent down to one knee and took her hands. “You are my queen, you are where my loyalties lie, what else can I say?” 

“You can say nothing! To anyone, ever! No matter how many times you bend the knee, if more people know it will take on a life of its own and you will not be able to control it!” Daenerys took a deep breath. “I want it to be as it was between us. To accomplish this, no one must know.” She assured him. 

“They are my family, the only family I have left. And I refuse to keep this secret from them!” Jon argued. 

I cannot let him stain my claim to the throne before my reign has even begun! 

“As your queen, I command you not to discuss this with your sisters.” Daenerys ordered. 

“You command me to lie to my family? Command!?” Jon was shouting now. Jon never shouted with her. 

“You threaten my reign with your words!” Daenerys shouted back. 

Jon stood and began to pace around her room before speaking again. “In this instance, Dany, I need you to forget your race toward the iron throne, and realize how your commands will impact me and my family. My sisters, whom I have only just reunited with, after we have lost everyone else. And now you ask me to lie and distance myself from them? I cannot agree to that.” 

Tears started to form in Jon’s eyes, and Daenerys began to realize that her actions were hurting the man she loved. It was true he had just reunited with his sisters, and she was well aware of the horrors the Stark family had endured over the years, the brutal deaths of his brothers and father. “Ok.” She began softly. Jon met her gaze. “You may tell your sisters.” She stood from her bed and walked over to Jon, taking his hands into hers. “But ensure they do not tell a soul. Should anyone else learn the truth, there will be consequences.” She added. 

Jon crossed his brows. “You, threaten my sisters?” 

“Of course not, Jon. I threaten you.” Daenerys reassured him. She didn’t desire the idea of harming Jon, but such a warning seemed to be the only way she could ensure his sisters would not share this secret. 

Jon nodded, seeming to be pondering her words. “Please, go. I wish to be alone.” Daenerys requested. 

Jon made his leave. Daenerys wrapped herself in her robe and returned to her seat by the fire. Tears began to descend down her cheeks as she processed their conversation. 

I’m losing him.

Tyrion protected his kingslaying brother, Jon threatened her claim by telling his sisters of his lineage, Jorah was dead, even Grey Worm was injured. Westeros had not been kind to her or her companions, and she felt she was losing allies rather than gaining them. The north especially seemed to only tolerate her, but adored Jon and Sansa. 

Daenerys had always believed herself and her forces to be invincible. And yet, she had lost half her army in the Long Night, a dragon to the North, her closest advisors seemed to be turning on her, and Grey Worm, who had never failed her before, lost against Brienne of Tarth. A woman warrior of all things! Daenerys pondered their fight that had taken place earlier in the day, and how the Tarth woman was able to falter her top general.

And so soon after waking from the injuries she suffered? 

Daenerys stood from her chair once again and headed toward her door, where two unsullied guarded her. “Send me Maester Wolkan.” She commanded. 

The Winterfell Maester strolled into her room soon after. “Is everything alright, you grace?” 

“Everything is just fine Maester. Please, sit.” Daenerys motioned for the chair opposite hers by the fireplace. “I have invited you here to discuss Brienne of Tarth.” 

The maester appeared shocked with Daenerys’ interest. “Really, you grace?” 

“Grey Worm is my top general, and one of the best fighters in my army. And she beat him. She had only just begun recovering from her injuries, and she beat him.” Daenerys replied sternly.

“Ser Brienne is a capable fighter. Though had I known ahead of time she was planning on fighting in place of Ser Jaime, I’d have advised against it.” Maester Wolkan replied. 

“I don’t understand why everyone keeps calling her Ser Brienne.”

“Ser Jaime knighted her before the Long Night. The first female knight in Westeros.” The Maester answered. 

The Kingslayer cares for her enough to knight her? Interesting. 

“And what injuries exactly did Ser Brienne obtain during the Long Knight? She was out for quite a while.” Daenerys asked. 

“Well, she bruised her ribs, and the impact of her head injury led to a number of seizures. Though the memory loss seems to be the most troubling for her.” 

“Memory loss you say?” Daenerys replied, her interest peaked. 

“Yes, with Lady Sansa and Ser Jaime’s help we were able to conclude that she has lost six years worth of memories. It’s most unfortunate, though I am hopeful her memories will recover eventually.” 

Hm…

“I would like to talk with Ser Brienne.” Daenerys commanded. She stood her from her chair and held her hands together. 

“Apologies, your grace, but Ser Brienne is resting at the moment.” Maester Wolkan responded. 

“She can be woken.” Daenerys insisted. 

“Unfortunately no, your grace, I gave her essence of nightshade to help her sleep.” 

Daenerys took a deep breath in frustration. “Alright. You will alert me the moment she wakes so I may talk with her.” She commanded. 

The Maester nodded. “Do you need anything else, your grace?”

“No, you may go.” 

Once the Maester left, Daenerys returned to her chair by the fire and sat with her thoughts. While of course the Maester viewed Brienne of Tarth’s memory loss as a tragic accident, Daenerys saw it for what it truly was: an opportunity. And she could use someone as strong, and loyal as Ser Brienne fighting for her cause. Not only would this move strengthen her chances against Cersei, but she suspected it would also hurt the kingslayer in the process. It would be perfect.