The Others
Dany's silver hair lifts gently, whipping in the bitter wind, as she sits tall, on top of a stone ledge outside in the Clock Tower Courtyard.
"How are you not cold?" Meera shudders, standing there, then snuggles up her maroon and gold scarf tighter around her neck.
Dany scoffs. "I don't know." Her gaze, trailing behind a group of ravenclaw girls walking past, celebrating their exam marks, shaking them to each other in excitement.
Dany twists around to Meera who was now rummaging through her bag. “Did you hear that Professor Arryn is sick?” She asks, shaking her head with judgement, “I don’t exactly think that substitute has been grading papers properly.”
“Who?” Meera looking up, follows her gaze sadly, “Ohh... no I actually haven’t—“
"Good afternoon, friends," Tyrion greets them contently from behind, making Meera jump, while Missandei joined behind them in a half circle.
"Hi.” Dany smiles to them both, “This is good. You're both here... I have some news." Dany glints a mischievous expression. "We've found a clue." Meera nods along, wiggling her eyebrows proudly.
"We overheard some very interesting information this morning."
Tyrion side glances at her tired, “Okay...” he waves a hand out, articulating, "About what?"
Dany leans in closer with dark enthusiasm, "Well. After Herbology class, we were walking behind Jon Snow," —Tyrion's already rolling his eyes— "and he was with Samwell Tarly, right?"
Tyrion fidgets with his scarf as the wind howls, wrapping it tighter around his neck. “Yes...” he looks up at her.
"Well, we overheard him talking to Jon about this book... that he found in the library—" She smiles, pausing in suspense. "And he said that it might help explain Jon's encounter... as proof."
Tyrion blinks at her unimpressed, waiting for the punch line. "Hum... And which book might this be?"
"Yeah... well," Meera frowns, biting her lip, "he didn't say the name exactly."
"Hmmm, he didn't say the name of the book..." Tyrion puzzles his chin in pretend thought, glancing at Dany, "You appear to have quite a lead to the truth."
Dany smirks, lightly shoving his shoulder, "Well, we heard him talk about the book," she defends. "We we're hoping you might have heard of it."
"Yeah," Meera adds, "he mentioned something called, uhm, The Others? Or white... something. Workers?" she squints at Dany, trying to recall the name.
"...Walkers?" Tyrion suggests with a knowing grin.
"Yes!"
He shakes his head condescendingly, a short chuckle eacaping him. "The Others, is a fairy tale... You've never heard of it?"
"What? You know about it?" Dany lights up.
"It is a children'sfable, Dany!"
"So?!" She contorts her face in sudden offense.
No one read her silly bedtime stories as a child, how was she supposed to know?
"So?” Tyrion loosens the level of sarcasm. “It’s just a story, made to scare little boys and girls before they go to sleep."
Missandei nods her head, recalling thoughtfully, "Wait, I think I actually remember a story like that? The Others—" she repeats softly. "Something about walking dead men... and an army, bringing the cold with them wherever they go," she echoes, "My father used to tell my brother and I stories of what happened when we were younger."
Tyrion pinches the bridge of his nose in exhaustion, "Yes, that's the one. A thousand years ago, supposedly, the First Wizards battled the dead men bravely and won,” his voice transforms, triumphantly mocking his words, “saving muggle and wizardkind alike and blah, blah, blah. But, it's not real history."
Dany stares wistfully up into the brightly frosting sky, "Maybe. Maybe not."
"What on earth does that mean?" Tyrion chortles.
She glances back at them, suddenly inspired, "What if... the severing, cold temperature threat is connected to all of this?" she exclaims, "What if Jon Snow was attacked by one of those dead things?"
He folds his arms across his chest, "Theoretically, if Jon Snow ever met a ‘white walker’..." he chuckles, "he would most definitely not be here right now."
Meera lightly scratches her cheek, looking smugly over at Dany. "Haven't there been rumors though, about how he shouldn't have lived? From how they found him?" she says, biting back a grin.
Dany squints, smirking back slowly, "Yes, Meera, actually... You are completely correct."
"Daenerys, I never pegged you as one to believe in rumors..." Tyrion points out.
"This is different. And you're right, I don't believe in rumors..." She stands up, her blonde hair blowing lightly in the brisk, cold wind. "But what I do believe in, is myself. And I have a hunch."
"A hunch?" he groans dramatically. "Oh you know how I feel about your hunches, Dany? I don't like your hunches."
She folds her elbows into her stomach smartly, "And why is that, may I ask?"
"Seriously?" He lightly taps Missandei’s arm in disbelief, looking to her for support.
The timid Ravenclaw nods, admitting quietly, "I have to agree with Tyrion, sorry Dany... They do tend to lead us straight into trouble."
"See? It's not just me." Tyrion points out plainly.
"I don't care, I'm going to figure it out." Her eyes light up, suddenly grinning back confidently. "You don't have to join me. But you can't stop me, sorry."