fic: family and duty (Game of Thrones; Jon/Daenerys)
Title: family and duty
Characters: Jon/Dany, Tyrion
Rating: G
Summary: Jon finds that being King is not so easy.
Author's Notes: Written for a friend on Tumblr. This fits into my Jaime/Sansa fic, when you kiss me, I'm happy enough. I own nothing here.
The council room is many times smaller than the throne room. Jon prefers it when they do business in here, as Dany insists upon the windows and door being thrown open to allow the breeze coming off the water inside. And also because the throne room allows only one to sit the Iron Throne. In here, they sit side by side and being King is more bearable with her next to him.
“The Riverlands will be given back to Edmure Tully, with promises of continued fealty to the Crown,” the Imp says from the opposite side of the table. The discussion for today has dealt with the lands still needing a ruling House or vassal.
“And he will be released from Casterly Rock?” Dany asks, her fingers playing with the fruit on the plate before her. She doesn’t wear her crown today, the heavy weight of the three dragons a welcome miss; he knows how often she complains of the discomfort of the crown.
The Queen’s Hand, Jon’s insides still curl at that, smiles with his mismatched eyes. “Already done, my Queen.”
“And the North?” Another council member asks this. It’s the one holding they haven’t named yet. Or rather the one that hasn’t been discussed only between Dany, the Imp, and himself.
Dany smiles, her secret one and he’s glad that he knows what she’s about to say. “Sansa Stark will hold the North as the Lady of Winterfell.”
It’s not a large shock to the other members, as they all knew that the knights of the Vale had been given by Sansa Stark, but she hadn’t marched to battle with the Queen nor had she been seen for many years. There are still murmurings amongst them, but they die with a stern look and the unmoving look in her violet eyes.
“That will be all,” she orders.
Jon waits only till it’s him and her and the Queen’s Hand to say, “I will be the one to escort Sansa home.” He says it as a statement without inviting questions, and knows immediately it’s the wrong way to phrase it.
Dany and the Lannister exchange a look.
It’s the Imp who speaks though, “That would be ill-advised, your highness,” the way he adds the title is not the same as how he refers to his queen.
“Why?”
“The realm is held by who holds the city. And King’s Landing is still somewhat unsettled. They like to see their Queen and King. It would not be useful to have you gallivanting off for weeks to the North. Nor would it help cement you as a Targaryen.”
His words hold wisdom and truth, but Sansa is the only remaining part of his old family. And she has been through so much. He only wants her safe. He grits his teeth and asks, “Who would you send instead?”
Dany speaks now with another glance to the opposite end of the table. “Tyrion’s brother made a promise to Catelyn Tully to see her daughters to safety. I would have him return her and leave King’s Landing.”
Jon can tell that this isn’t a new idea, she’s had it for some time, and knows she hasn’t shared it with him because he wouldn’t have liked it. He doesn’t like it. “You would have the Kingslayer bring her to Winterfell?”
He uses the man’s nickname on purpose because Daenerys had stayed the man’s life only at the urging of his brother.
Her violet eyes flash briefly, and then she softly says, “You cannot go, Jon.”
He leaves, remembering that as King he needs no permission to go. It’s problematic and hard, this being something new, changing from wolf to dragon, from Lord Commander to family of the Dragon Queen to lover and husband and King. Some days, he’s good at it, some days, today, he’s not. It’s hard to remember that Dany sits the Iron Throne, and he is her King.
She finds him later in their apartments, Ghost by his side as he sits on the low couch. He lifts his head and watches as Ghost jumps up to greet her.
Dany runs fingers through the thick white fur. She looks smaller when they are in their rooms, just his Dany. Her blue silks rustle as she joins him, leg pressing against his. “You are angry with me,” she says.
Yes. No. Yes. He can never stay mad at her for very long. She’s wise, and has more practice at playing this role than he.
“Would it make it easier if I ordered that you cannot go?”
Jon looks at her sharply.
She reaches up to brush his face and touches the scars there. “A man may have his family, but a King serves his people.”
He exhales. “You are right.”
The sides of her mouth pull up. “I wish I was not. I need you here and I am selfish enough to say so.”
That makes him smile. Catching her hand with his, he says, “I want my own men escorting her with him. I don’t truth him enough.”
Dany nods. “Done. And maybe we will go visit her once Winterfell is settled.” She slides her hand into his dark curls to bring him to her mouth.
When he pulls away from her lips she must still see the worry in his eyes. “She will be safe, I promise. You will find her much changed from the little girl you once must have known.”
Jon puts no trust in the Kingslayer, but he does trust Dany. Her words and hands and mouth chase the doubt away. It’s enough for now.