The Kingdom of Ice and Fire

Chapter 10: A Targaryen Alone in the World is a Terrible Thing

A/N: Hello my dear readers! Another Chapter is here! But first a special announcement. Today is my birthday! Another year older! This chapter is my birthday present to myself. And from you dear readers, you reading and reviewing this chapter will be a birthday gift to me! I want you all to enjoy this chapter and then let me know what you thought! And I promise, this chapter is going to be one that you will love! Why, you ask? Well, just read and you will find out!

Steel upon steel ringing out in the courtyard as two Valyrian steel blades clashed, Daenerys quickly took advantage and escaped her sparring partner's attack – leaping to the side.

"Impressive, your Grace," Brienne of Tarth remarked, pulling back to circle her foe.

"I could say the same for you, Lady Brienne," the Dragon Queen observed, also circling. Easing her wrist, she twirled the great blade as she waited. Dark Sister felt perfect in Dany's hand, fluid and graceful. Its slender blade designed for a warrior queen, it felt completely natural being wielded by another. Her ancestor Visenya Targaryen had carried this sword during the Conquest, slaying many an enemy of their House upon the field of battle. Dany was resolved to honor her ancestor by wielding this sword.

Her training with Arya had definitely paid off. Although Dany wouldn't say she was quite a swordmaster yet – perhaps swordmistress was more apt - she definitely grew quite skilled at using her new weapon. Almost as if she was born to do this, as was dragonriding… simply in her blood.

Arya had made good on her promise to adept Dany's strategy into a longsword. They had spent at least a few hours sparring and training with their weapons each day in the freezing cold of the inner courtyard, each time drawing a large audience, who quite enjoyed the spectacle. The Wild Wolf of Winterfell had felt Dany was ready to use an actual weapon and with Dark Sister, she had the perfect one that suited her strength and stature. Although it was still usually one-sided as the Queen still had a lot to pick up, Arya's disarming of Dany grew harder and harder each time. Perhaps better training, perhaps the sword… perhaps both.

"Waiting patiently, Lady Brienne," she taunted, halting in place and raising the sword in both hands.

Brienne of Tarth had watched as Arya trained the Dragon Queen, and she was immensely impressed with her progress… Such progress was far greater than she expected – an easy win perhaps out of the cards – so Brienne was left wondering if her asking the Queen if she could spar with her had been the wise choice. Arya would have laughed and mocked the other female warrior incessantly… had 'urgent business' not called her away.

"Your wait is over," she finally said, lunging forward.

Daenerys breathed heavily as she matched Lady Brienne blow for blow. She had to admit, Brienne was an extremely talented swordswoman. And because she was much larger and stronger than Arya, Dany had to rely on her speed and small stature against Lady Brienne's superior size and strength.

Strike after strike was dodged, footwork careful to avoid frozen puddles of ice. Such was to her advantage as Brienne, her all into the attack, nearly lost her footing on the ice – slowing her reflexes enough for Dany to place the tip of her blade against her neck, as Brienne poised to decapitate her. "Draw."

Just like Arya, Brienne managed to disarm Daenerys multiple times. But Dany proved to be a natural learner, and she finally managed to actually fight Brienne to a standstill… if aided by nature. She smiled warmly, regardless.

"Very good, your Grace," complimented Brienne. "You're a quick learner. And your skill is impressive… especially your mind."

"They say the mind is the most important organ, my Lady." She clasped her hand. "Thank you, Lady Brienne," Dany said with a warm smile of her own. "Though I doubt I will ever be as good as you or Arya."

"Don't be so modest your Grace. I've trained with many men over the years, and you have more skill than over half of them." The thought of her early sessions with Podrick almost made her groan, though he had finally improved.

Dany blushed lightly. "Is that so?" she mused. "Perhaps Visenya Targaryen's blood truly runs in my veins."

The smirk of the Tarth warrior quickly turned to annoyed glare. Confused Daenerys turned to see what Brienne was staring at. It was the red-bearded Wildling… Tormund she believed was correct… walking to them with a flirtatious grin.

"Nice to see you again, Brienne of Tarth," greeted the jolly Tormund.

Brienne said nothing, only turning away with an annoyed face – he finally learned her name, but was still quite annoying. Tormund just continued grinning. He then turned to the Dragon Queen.

"And it is wonderful to see you again, beautiful Dragon Queen."

Regarding the compliment kindly, Daenerys had a feeling she'd like Tormund. While most of the Wildlings saw her as some kind of goddess for riding her dragon, Tormund was more relatable being a friend of Jon's. Which meant that he was a friend of hers. "And you as well, Lord Tormund."

Tormund laughed loudly, nearly falling over. "Oh, I'm not one of those petty kneelers, pretty Queen. Just a free man lookin' for the good things in life. Good food, good fights, and good…" he trailed off, wagging hid eyebrows at Brienne… who seemed to be restraining herself from punching him in the gut. "But you must be as powerful as Jon Snow to be able to ride those mighty dragons. I swear when you saved us, you looked like a snow goddess from the sky."

The Dragon Queen blushed madly at Tormund's praise. The man had a knack to break down one's unease. "Oh, I am no goddess. Just a Queen who hopes to make the world a better place for everyone. Also a mother trying to protect her children." Who would unfortunately be only her two dragons now… and Ghost. The direwolf watched everything off to the side, resting his rear and ears alert like the best boy.

Tormund grinned. He could see why Jon Snow was in love with the small silver-haired Queen. She had a good heart and an inner toughness just like him… and was very pretty. 'Much prettier than King Crow.' And she was a natural leader, just like Jon Snow.

Out of nowhere Dany found herself locked in the wildling's arms, squeezed in a bone crunching hug. Ser Jorah, watching from beside Ghost, nearly trotted forward but was stopped by the direwolf, sensing his father's friend meant no harm. Eventually, suffocating as it was, Dany returned the embrace.

"What was that for?" she asked, gasping for breath as they broke off.

"Don't know my own strength sometimes," he chortled. "To answer yer question, first for saving us from those icy fuckers North of the Wall. If you hadn't come, we'd be walking corpses right now. And the other reason, I see the way King Crow stares at you. He's fuckin' one of us, so when you become 'Queen Crow' you'll be one of us as well."

"King Crow?" Daenerys asked in confusion.

"Jon Snow. I see the way he looks at you. He never looked at anyone else that way - not even poor Ygritte." Jon had mentioned his past lover before on the boat… a tragic tale that nevertheless helped him become the man she loved. "It won't be long before he wants to marry you and make babies with you."

With that Tormund gave Dany one small hug, before going to grab a cup of sour goat milk. Hopefully the Dothraki bastards didn't guzzle it down, though he wouldn't mind fightin' some of their touch ladies for it. That could turn out to be fun.

Arya was waiting in the Godswood for Sansa. Arya needed to have this talk with her. She was tired of Sansa sowing seeds of chaos and distrust between the pack. Sansa may have been acting like a selfish and ungrateful bitch, but she was still her sister. She was still part of the pack. 'And the lone wolf dies. But the pack survives.'

Finally, her sister arrived, her red hair shining through the winter snow. Sansa walked over to Arya who was sitting near the Heart Tree, waiting for her.

"Thank you for coming sister," said Arya.

"What did you want to speak to me about?"

Arya sighed. Here it goes. "About Jon and Daenerys."

Sansa's face turned into a scowl. "Oh, you mean the foreign invader that our brother is blindly smitten with?"

"Sansa. That's not fair," chided Arya. "You haven't even tried to get to know Daenerys. She came here to help us. She's been kind and friendly. Why do you dislike her so much?"

"Are you serious?! Kind and friendly? She's not here to help us because she's a good Queen!" yelled Sansa. "She wants to take over the North! She wants power!"

"How do you even know that?!" replied Arya. "You don't know her."

"And I never will," declared Sansa. "She is not one of us."

"Not one of us?!" asked Arya incredulously. "Do you realize how much like Cersei you sound?!"

"Don't talk like you know her! I'm the one who was stuck with her and her evil monster in King's Landing for years! I know her!" shouted an emotional Sansa.

"Fine. But if you dislike Daenerys because she's "not one of us", then what about Lady Brienne?" implored Arya. "She's not a Stark. But you trust her with her life."

"That's different," insisted Sansa.

"Really? How?"

"She saved me. She's protected me," explained Sansa.

"But Daenerys came to help us against the dead," reminded Arya. "Without her help, we would have no chance. And Jon told us that she agreed to help even before Jon bent the knee."

"Jon's in love with her. He'll say anything to make her look good."

"Sansa. Jon is a lot of things. But he is not a liar. He would not lie to his own family," implored Arya. "And Bran trusts Daenerys. He knows everything. He would no if she can't be trusted."

Sansa said nothing.

"Sansa. Tell me something. Would you do anything to protect our family? To protect the North?"

"You know I would," insisted a confused Sansa.

"Then why all the dislike and distrust to someone who came to help us protect the North? Someone who our brother loves?" asked a pleading Arya.

Sansa shook her head. "Robb also fell in love with a foreign woman."

Arya looked at Sansa. "Don't tell me you think she deserved to die."

"No! Of course not!" insisted a shocked Sansa. "What those monsters did to her was horrible! But Robb broke his oath to marry her. And that eventually led to his death and mother's death at the Red Wedding. And the deaths of a lot of good Northmen."

Arya sighed. She knew Sansa was right on this at least. "Yes. Robb made a stupid mistake because he already swore he would marry Walder Frey's daughter. Though, thank all Gods that we are not related that old fucker through marriage."

Sansa shuddered with disgust at the thought of Walder Frey being her father-in-law. "We can both agree on that."

"But Jon didn't make any oaths to marry someone. And he brought someone who has a powerful army and dragons. How can that possibly be foolish or wrong?" asked Arya imploringly to her sister.

Sansa sighed. "I can see your point," she said. "But our mother and brother died to win the North's freedom. Why should we give that up?"

"But Sansa. They fought to win our freedom from monstrous tyrants like Joffrey and Cersei. Do you really think Daenerys is like them?"

"She could be. Her father is the man who burned our grandfather alive!"

"So we're supposed to judge her for her father's crimes? Even though she wasn't born?" asked Arya. "You seem to be friendly with Tyrion Lannister. His father helped murder our mother and brother. He gave the North to the same traitors who betrayed our family. Should we judge him for that?"

Sansa said nothing. That was true. Tyrion was a Lannister, the son of Tywin Lannister, but she doesn't dislike him or judge him for his family's crimes.

"And Theon," said Arya.

Sansa's head shot up. "What about him?" she asked in a slightly defensive tone.

"Theon betrayed our family," reminded Arya. Sansa opened her mouth to speak but Arya raised her hand to stop her. "Look, after what happened to him and what he did for you and what he's doing for Bran, I'm willing to forgive him. But the fact remains that he still betrayed Robb. He took Winterfell. And you're going to give a hard time to Daenerys, who has not harmed our family in any way, but not Theon who did?"

Sansa looked down. She did not really know how to respond to that. Theon saved her life. He helped her escape from that monster Ramsay. But it didn't change the fact that he still betrayed Robb and took Winterfell from Bran. But he paid for it in a way no one should have. And he earned her forgiveness by saving her. But she was acting cold and rude to Daenerys who had not attacked her family while she was warm and welcoming to Theon, who while repentant and trying to make up for it, did.

The Wild Wolf sighed before placing a hand on her sister's shoulders. "Look Sansa. Daenerys is not our enemy. She's not a bad person."

"I don't know, Arya," mused the redheaded wolf. "I trusted Cersei and look what that got me."

"I know it's hard for you to trust people, especially after all that you went through," gently comforted Arya. "But if you continue acting this way, you'll become no better than Cersei or Littlefinger."

The Lady of Winterfell said nothing as she continued staring down.

"Sansa. Look at me," ordered her sister. Sansa's blue eyes stared directly into Arya's grey ones. "Does our family, our pack, mean anything to you?"

"It means everything to me, sister," insisted the eldest living child of Ned and Catelyn Stark.

"And do you consider Jon family?"

"Of course I do! He's as much Father's child as any of us!" declared Sansa.

"If you really do, then swear this to me," pleaded the youngest daughter of Ned Stark. "Jon loves Daenerys. You know he does. She makes him happy. You know it's only a matter of time before he marries her."

Sansa could only nod her head, curious what her sister wanted her to swear. In the Godswood no less, where a vow made here is considered sacred by the North.

"Swear to me on our mother and father! On Robb and Rickon!" cried Arya, hoping the mention of their passed family members would compel Sansa. "When Daenerys becomes our sister by marriage, swear to me that you will not hurt her in anyway. That you will not oppose it. Swear to me that you will let Jon be happy for once in his life."

Sansa was mortified. This was no easy promise. And if she made it here, it would be considered sacred. If she broke it, she would lose the trust of not only her sister, but her whole family. Sansa really had to decide. Was power truly more important to her than family? Did her desire to be Queen mean more to her than her brother's happiness?

After a long moment of silence, Sansa sighed and then looked straight into Arya's eyes. "I swear on our family that if Jon marries the Dragon Queen, I will not do anything to oppose it," swore the Lady of Winterfell. "I swear that I will let our brother be happy for once in his life."

Arya smiled at Sansa before hugging her. Sansa was a bit surprised but immediately returned the hug.

"I love you, Sansa," whispered Arya. "You're my sister and you are part of the pack. Jon loves you too." Arya broke off the embrace. "Don't choose power over us. I don't want to lose my sister. Please make the right choice."

With that, the Wild Wolf left the Godswood.

Sansa stayed behind. She had just sworn a vow to her own sister in the most sacred place in the North. Was Arya right? Perhaps she was being a rude bitch. Daenerys had not done anything to her or her family personally.

'But you must become Queen. It's the only way you will ever be safe. You know all the other pretty Queens are lying whores.'

Sansa shook her head. That voice in her head. Tempting her. She had always wanted to be Queen. She loved holding power. And she would be safe. But it might cost her family. Was it really worth it?

Jon sat down on the bed. He was sitting in what used to be Robb's room. He just needed some time alone. His head in his hands, the White Wolf sighed. He desperately wanted to tell Dany the truth about who he is. He wants to so badly. But he still didn't know who he was. His whole life he was Jon Snow, bastard son of Eddard Stark. Only, Ned Stark is not his father and Jon himself was never a bastard. But he didn't know how to be anything else. Was he a Stark or a Targaryen? He did not know.

Also, what if the truth about him would hurt Dany's cause? Jon himself would never attempt to take the throne away from Dany, but what about everyone else? Some people might want him to be in charge simply because he has a fucking cock. Others because they hate Dany for the stupidest and pettiest reasons possible. He loves Daenerys more than anything in the world. If he were the cause of her death, he would not be able to live.

'I just want to know… Who am I?' thought Jon.

Jon was interrupted by his thoughts when he heard a knock on the door. "Come in," he called out quietly.

The door opened and it was probably the last person Jon thought of seeing right now: Theon Greyjoy.

"Oh, I'm sorry Jon," apologized the Greyjoy prince. "I didn't know you were here. I'll just go."

But as Theon began leaving, Jon called out to him.

"Theon, wait."

Theon turned back to the dark-haired Stark.

"It's alright. You can come in if you want." Theon still wasn't exactly Jon's favorite person in the world, but he meant what he said to him on Dragonstone. He forgives him. And Theon came to help fight against the dead, to protect Bran.

Theon was surprised but also thankful. He knows he has no right to, but he wanted to be in the room that used to belong to his best friend and brother Robb. 'The one I betrayed.'

Theon closed the door and he took a seat in a chair across from the bed where Jon was sitting.

The two childhood comrades sat in a quiet silence. They used to be in here with Robb many times. The three of them were inseparable. But now it was just Jon and Theon.

"We're all back in Winterfell again," spoke Theon after a few moments in silence. "At the end of the world."

"If only Robb, Rickon, Father, and even Lady Catelyn were here with us," whispered Jon.

Theon looked down at that. He had heard what happened to little Rickon. That monster Ramsay got his hands on him, and shot him with an arrow. Theon felt a surge of rage. 'I wish I killed that bastard myself.' But with the rage also came shame. The way he took Winterfell and forced Bran and Rickon out. He resolved to make sure that Bran would survive.

"Theon. I know what you're thinking. Rickon's death was not your fault. It was that sadistic fucker Ramsay. And I made sure he paid for what he did."

"I wish I could have been there to watch him die," stated the last son of Balon Greyjoy. "When I was his slave, I felt that he could not be killed. That he was invincible."

"I promise you he wasn't. I smashed his fucking face into a bloody pulp," remembered Jon. It had felt so fucking good. "I never liked killing or hurting people. But that freak, I enjoyed every single punch I threw into his face."

Theon smirked. If he had been given the chance, he would have enjoyed it as well. He would have enjoyed every ounce of pain that was inflicted on that evil demon.

Theon sighed. "Jon, I know you probably don't want to hear this…" Theon took a deep breath before continuing. "But the things I did, I regret them completely. I'm sorry for everything."

Jon gave a sigh himself before looking at his Greyjoy brother. "Theon, I told you on Dragonstone, I forgive you. And if Robb were here, I think he would forgive you as well."

Theon just stared at Jon, touched by his words. Having the forgiveness of Jon and the others would be wonderful, but if he sees Robb in the next life, he hoped Robb could forgive him for all the things he did.

Jon felt very comfortable in the presence of his Greyjoy brother. So comfortable in fact that he could not believe what he was about to do. But he knows that Theon has nothing but respect for Daenerys.

"Theon," called the White Wolf. "There's something I am going to tell you. But first you have to swear to me that you will never tell anyone this. Only if I allow it."

Theon gave Jon a confused look. "What do you want to tell me?" he asked.

"First you have to swear you won't tell. Please. It's important that no one else knows for now."

Theon could tell that whatever Jon wanted to tell him was very important to him. If Jon trusts him with this, Theon will not betray that trust.

"Alright. I swear I will never tell anyone. Not unless you allow me," swore the Greyjoy boy."

Jon sighed. "I found something out. Ned Stark was not my father."

That caught Theon by surprise. "What?"

"Ned Stark was not my father. He's actually my uncle. My real father was Rhaegar Targaryen. And my mother is Lyanna Stark."

"But didn't Rhaegar kidnap and rape Lyanna?" asked Theon.

"No. It was all a lie. That fat fucker Robert Baratheon could not accept that my mother didn't love him back. My mother and father were married in secret. But my mother died giving birth to me," explained Jon. "She knew Robert would have killed me if he found out. So she gave me to her brother, Ned Stark, and asked him to protect me."

Theon could not believe it. Jon, the bastard that Lady Catelyn hated so much, was no bastard at all. And if Rhaegar is his father, then that means he is related to Daenerys.

"Have you told Daenerys?" he asked.

"No, not yet. I want to tell her. But Theon, I don't know who I am anymore. My whole life I was Jon Snow, Ned Stark's bastard son. But Ned Stark is not my father and I am not a bastard. Jon isn't even my birth name. Who am I? Stark or Targaryen?"

Theon looked at Jon for a few moments. Then he stood up. "All my life, I never know who I was. I always proudly proclaimed myself the son of Balon Greyjoy. But the Starks were my family as well. But I believed that I could never be a Stark. I always felt that I could only be one. Never both."

Theon sighed as he looked out the window. "And because of that, I ended up making the worst mistake in my life. I betrayed the people who considered me family for a father that never gave two fucks about me," tears formed in Theon's eyes as he recounted the worst moments of his life. "I thought I could only be a Greyjoy and I ended up doing terrible things. And when Ramsay turned me into Reek, I felt that was all I could be. Vermin. Scum."

Jon felt sympathy for Theon. No matter what he did, no one deserves to go through what Ramsay put him through. "Theon," began the White Wolf. "You don't have to…"

"No, I do," insisted the young Greyjoy. Jon just simply nodded. "Even after I escaped from Ramsay, I still didn't know who I was. I could never be a Stark after what I did, so I went back to my sister. I found a purpose with her, but I was still conflicted. I wanted to be the right kind of person."

Theon then turned to face Jon, his bluish-green eyes meeting Jon's grey. "But then a man who was like a brother to me, told me that he forgave me. And he told me that I didn't need to choose. I'm a Greyjoy. And I'm a Stark." Theon reminded Jon of the words he told him at Dragonstone.

"And it was then that I finally knew who I was. I am both a Greyjoy and a Stark. And I rescued my sister from my bastard uncle. And now I am here, to protect my Stark family at the end of the world. It doesn't matter what my last name is, because I am Theon of the Houses Greyjoy and Stark." The Greyjoy Prince declared proudly. Jon had to admit, he was impressed with Theon's speech. Even when he was an arrogant prick, Theon always had a way with words.

Theon put his hand on Jon's shoulder. "And that man who helped me realize who I am, I am going to help him. You do not need to choose. You're not a Stark or a Targaryen. You're both. You are a good man Jon. Your last name does not change that. You are still Jon. Be the good man that you have always been. Be both a Stark and a Targaryen. Be both a wolf and a dragon."

Jon looked at Theon for a long while. And then he embraced him. Theon was caught by surprise before he returned the hug tightly.

Jon held his Greyjoy brother for a long time before releasing him. Thanks to Theon, Jon finally realizes who he is. What he is meant to be. And what he needs to do.

"Thank you, Theon. Thank you so much," thanked the grateful dragonwolf.

Theon smiled warmly at his brother. "You're welcome. Brother."

Jon smiled. "Theon, can you do me a favor?" asked the son of Lyanna and Rhaegar. "Find Daenerys and tell her to meet me in the crypt."

"Of course," immediately answered Theon. Theon then patted Jon on the arm. "Good luck."

With that Theon left the room. Jon stayed for a few moments though. Thanks to Theon, he now knew exactly who he needed to be. Who he wanted to be.

Daenerys sighed as she gently petted Drogon and Rhaegal's snouts. 'My beautiful children.' As if they could hear their mother's thoughts, both dragons purred contently before blowing warm air from their snouts.

Ghost wanted some affection from his mother too and nudged Dany on the stomach to get her attention. Dany giggled before reaching down to pet the snowy white direwolf. Dany never would have thought she could love another creature as much as her dragons. But Ghost was such a good boy who never failed to show Dany affection. And while Jon became distant, Ghost stuck by her all this time. With all of that, how could she not love him as much as her other children? Of course, that doesn't mean her dragons want less affection from their mother. Drogon growled at his mother's attentions being turned to the small wolf. Well, small compared to Drogon.

Dany gently scolded him. "Drogon, be nice to your new brother." she chided. Drogon snorted in annoyance but he could never disobey his beloved mother. Rhaegal leaned his head down and gently nudged his wolf brother. Ghost put his paws on the dragon's snout as a sign of affection.

Despite being much smaller than them, the two dragons took an immediate liking to Ghost. His smell was similar to that of Jon Snow's, and their mother seemed to quickly grow to love him. It was still odd to accept him as a brother – big brother if Ghost's barks had anything to say about it, since technically he was still older – but direwolves shared a similar magic and intelligence as dragons. Ice instead of fire. Oddly compatible to such an extent that the three of them seemed to be able to communicate clearly, though it appears that whatever they share with Ghost is between the three of them.

Dany smiled lovingly at her children. But then her smile dropped, and she felt a great sadness surging through her. The dragons and the direwolf could sense the sadness growing in their mother. They gently nudged her in an attempt to comfort her. Ghost whimpered as if asking Dany what was wrong.

"My sweet children. I love you all so much. I cannot lose you. I already lost my sweet Viserion. And now we have to put him down like a rabid monster." The Mother of Dragons let out a few tears as she thought of her gentle Viserion, who was now a slave to the same demon that murdered him.

The dragons let out small shrieks of sadness. They missed their fallen brother. Flying doesn't feel the same without him. And through their connection with their mother, the dragons could see what has happened to their beloved brother. He was now little more than a sadistic killing machine serving the one who made him fall from the sky.

Dany sighed as she continued showing love to her remaining children. "I will not allow anything to happen to you, my beautiful children," declared the Khaleesi fiercely. "I will protect all of you until my dying breath. I will kill anyone or anything that tries to take you from me."

The dragons nudged their mother gently, letting out rumbling growls that sounded much like a cat purring, only far louder. They both know their mother would do anything for them. Just as they will burn anything that tries to hurt her.

Ghost licked Dany's face before he nudged his head into her stomach. Dany smiled. "You seem to have such an interest in my belly, sweet Ghost," noted Dany.

The sound of footsteps had the three sacred creatures on alert, ready to protect their mother. But they soon backed down when they all noticed who it was. Their mother's best friend, Missandei of Naath. Missandei was one of the few humans that the dragons had a liking to, and who could touch them without fear of getting ripped apart by their razor-sharp teeth.

Missandei approached Dany casually, unafraid of the three large and powerful creatures. "Forgive me if I am disturbing you, your Grace."

Dany smiled warmly at her beloved friend. "You could never disturb me, dear Missandei," assured the Breaker of Chains as she took Missandei's hands in her own. "You can always come to me for anything."

Missandei beamed as she squeezed her beloved Queen's hands. "Thank you, your Grace," said the translator. "I wanted to introduce you to a new friend of mine, if you don't mind that is."

"I would be honored to meet them," said Dany. She then turned to her children. "I have to go now my sweetlings. Stay safe." With that Daenerys followed Missandei back into the castle.

The three animals all stared at each other, the meaning in their eyes clear. They will protect their mother and father. No matter what it took.

Missandei led Daenerys to the room holding her new friend and her family. She knocked on the door three times before a voice called out "Come in!" Taking Dany's arm with a smile and opened the door. Inside, Gilly relaxed on the bed while Little Sam played with toys, enjoying a moment's calm.

"Missandei!" exclaimed the wildling as she stood and walked over to embrace her friend.

The translator laughed merrily, returning the embrace. "I hope I'm not bothering you."

"Oh no, it's alright. You're always welcome."

"Good, cause have someone I would like you to meet." Embrace broke, she directed Gilly's attention to the other woman in the room with them. Watching as her eyes widened in recognition. "Gilly, I have the honor of presenting Queen Daenerys Targaryen." Normally Missandei would list the Dragon Queen's long list of titles, but since she was only introducing her to her friend, she decided to just give her name. "Your Grace, this is my new friend, Gilly."

Gilly looked at the silver-haired Queen in awe. So this was the legendary Mother of Dragons. Without a doubt, she was the most beautiful woman Gilly had ever seen – far greater than her plain features. Her striking Valyrian features gave her an ethereal and exquisite beauty. Her silver hair and her violet eyes. She had never seen anyone like her, and on top of everything this was also the woman who freed Missandei from slavery.

"Your Grace," she finally managed to stammer. Gilly didn't know too many courtesies, but she bowed her head in respect. "I am happy to meet you."

Daenerys smiled kindly as she walked towards Gilly. "The honor is all mine, Gilly. Given all that I've learned, if anyone is a friend of Missandei's then they are a kind and gentle soul."

The Dragon Queen was kind – nothing like the evil caricature she had heard all over Westeros. "Thank you, your Grace." Gilly then realized that she would like the Queen to meet her son. "Oh! Your Grace," Gilly walked over to the happy child and picked him up. "This is my son, Samwell… we call him Little Sam."

Leaning down, Dany's eyes sparkled at the innocent little child. "Hello, little one," she said as she moved closer to him. "Aren't you just precious?" Little Sam smiled adorably as he reached his hand to Daenerys.

Her son was already smitten with the beautiful Queen. "Would you like to hold him?"

"Oh, may I?"

Gilly gently handed her son over to Daenerys. Little Sam immediately squealed as he started touching Dan's silver hair. "You pwetty," he whispered. "Aw you a god…ess?" he asked completely seriously.

The Dragon Queen giggled as he did so. "No, I am just a woman, little one. One that rides a dragon, but just a woman. At his wide eyes, she laughed merrily. "Oh Gilly. He's absolutely wonderful!" Would Rhaego have been like that at his age? The thought threatened to spoil the happy moment with sorrow.

"Thank you, your Grace," Gilly's liking of the silver-haired Queen grew by the second. Remembering what Missandei told her, she asked "Your Grace, is it true that you ended slavery in Essos? And that you freed Missandei?"

Inwardly, Dany was glad for the distraction. "I did. I fought to end slavery so that the former slaves could have a better life. And so that no child would ever have to be born into chains." A sigh left her lips. "I had opposition and it delayed my goal to reclaim the Iron Throne, but my people are far more important. They looked up to me and I could not abandon them."

"That's very kind of you, your Grace," offered an amazed Gilly. "And very brave."

"Thank you, Gilly," said the Breaker of Chains, easing Little Sam to the ground. He waddled back to his few toys, but never kept his eyes off Daenerys.

Watching her son till he sat, Gilly looked back to Dany. "Your Grace, is it true that you are the Mother of Dragons?"

"I am."

"How did you give birth to dragons?" asked Gilly in curiosity. She read – slowly and haltingly, but with pride that she could – about the dragons at the Citadel and had seen them flying over Winterfell. They were terrifying but also beautiful. How did this silver-haired woman bring those amazing creatures into the world?

"Yes! Dwagons!" Little Sam clapped his hands. Missandei merely leaned against the wall, having heard this plenty of times before.

She decided to simply tell Gilly the quick version. "When my dragons were eggs, I placed them on my husband's pyre. And then I walked into the fire."

A gasp came from the young mother. She walked into fire? How is that possible? "But how are you alive, your Grace? How did you not burn to death?" She voiced her thoughts out loud.

It was Missandei who answered. "Our Queen is the Unburnt. She is the blood of the dragon."

"Fire cannot kill a dragon, Gilly," explained the Mother of Dragons. "I walked into the flames and sat with the eggs though the whole night. And my dragons, my children, were born."

"You aw god-ess!" Little Sam exclaimed, earning a blush from Dany.

Gilly was fascinated by the story. This Queen was no ordinary person. She can do amazing things that other people can't. "My son is right. You're like a goddess."

On top of what Tormund had remarked to her, Dany found it amusing and endearing that the Free Folk, Dothraki, and many others saw her as a goddess. Certainly many in the Bay of Dragons and beyond did, especially with what Kinvara and the Red Priests were spreading. 'One thing Tyrion actually managed to accomplish.' But Dany did not care about being a goddess. She only wanted to earn the love of her people… which now included Gilly and Little Sam… Sam… Sam Tarly.

"Is Samwell Tarly the father, Gilly?" Daenerys asked in curiosity.

Sharing a worried look with Missandei, Gilly knew that the answer was a lot more complicated than a simple yes or no. However, Gilly once told Sam that he was the father of her son and she meant it- he had been a father to Little Sam in every possible way.

"Yes," answered Gilly firmly. "Sam is the father of my son."

Dany's face suddenly turned sad. "Gilly, there's something you should know. Sam's father and brother betrayed my allies the Tyrells. I fought them in a battle. They refused to bend the knee or go to the Wall. So, I had no choice but to execute them. I didn't enjoy it, but it was necessary." A sentiment agreed to by Missandei – both women had been hardened by death and suffering. Neither wished for it to continue, but the necessity of it in certain circumstances couldn't be washed away by idealism.

But what surprised Missandei and Daenerys was Gilly's answer. "Good," she said in a cold voice. "I met his family many moons ago at Horn Hill. I didn't really want anything to happen to Dickon, but Randyll Tarly was a horrible man. He deserved to die.

Daenerys looked at Gilly in confusion. "Why do you say that?" Gilly didn't seem at all like a person who would be so callous.

"Sam and I traveled to Horn Hill before we went to the Citadel. I met Sam's family. His mother and sister were wonderful and kind. Dickon was genuine and kind as well. But Lord Tarly was a horrible, cruel man," recounted Gilly as she remembered her trip to Horn Hill. "He called me a 'wildling whore' and my son a half-breed bastard."

It didn't surprise Dany that such a hard man that chose dragonfire for both him and his son rather than bend the knee would act as such. "Oh, Gilly," said Dany, "I'm so sorry he said those cruel things to you."

"But that wasn't the worst of it. I didn't care about his insults to me. But he treated Sam horribly. He told him that he was a lesser man and a disappointment," With everything Gilly said, Daenerys was rapidly losing any sadness from executing the old Lord Tarly. "Sam never would have joined the Night's Watch if it wasn't for his father. His father told him that if he didn't go to Castle Black, he would take him out on a hunt and an arrow would 'happen to strike him'."

Missandei cursed under breath, something slaves called their masters while out of earshot. "What kind of father threatens his own child?" asked the disgusted translator.

"Men like Lord Tarly," said Gilly.

For Daenerys though… a woman that had lost her child and would never be blessed with one again, imagining a parent willing to kill their own child utterly disgusted her. "Well, I have no more regrets of executing him," said Daenerys. "I only wish that Dickon Tarly didn't choose to join him." Had Randyll stopped him, at least that would have given him some respectability.

"Sam and I have that in common. Our fathers were both horrible men," stated Gilly.

"What did your father do to you?" asked Daenerys in a gentle tone. But Missandei put a hand on Gilly's arm.

"You don't have to say anything about if you don't want to, Gilly," comforted Missandei. "I know it was a horrible experience."

"If it's too difficult for you Gilly, then you don't have to explain it to me. I'll understand," gently assured the Dragon Queen.

Gilly sighed. It was hard to talk about it. But the Dragon Queen was a kind woman. And Gilly admired her for everything she did. And she trusts her friend. "It's alright. I trust her, Missandei. She's a good person."

"Take as much time as you want Gilly." The Dragon Queen gently took the other woman's hands in her own. Much as she did with Missandei while the translator had a hard time opening up about her past and feelings – freedom was… hard to get for those used to long lives in chains.

She took a deep breath. "I used to live North of the Wall, in a place called Craster's Keep. Me and my sisters all lived with our father Craster. He supposedly was a trapper, but made his coin providing supplies and shelter to Crow rangers." Gilly closed her eyes. "Well, let me be accurate. Actually he was our father and husband."

"What?!" asked Daenerys. While she was familiar of the practice of incest in her family, she knows that even her family would not marry a parent to their child – even so, it didn't seem to her that the arrangement was… entirely consensual.

Gilly confirmed Dany's fears. "Yes. He forced us to marry him. He would beat us and rape us." But there was far worse. "If we had daughters, he married them as well. And he would do to them what he did to us."

So many horrible men and women in the world… so much depravity. But if he married his daughters… "What… did he do with the… boys?" asked Dany, dreading the answer. And the answer shook her to her core.

"He killed them, not personally but that was the end result." It still haunted Gilly to this day. "When they were born, he took them out into the woods as offerings to the White Walkers. – bribes to keep himself safe. All his daughters suffered at least once from such… including me." A secret she hadn't yet even told Missandei, let alone Sam.

Dany was filled with so much anger and disgust. If he was still alive, she would have her dragons rip him apart… slowly. "Gilly, is he still alive? Tell me if he is and I promise I will get justice for you and your brothers and sisters."

"No, your Grace," answered the young mother. "There was a mutiny and he was killed by men from the Night's Watch. Sam helped me and Little Sam escape from the Keep."

Dany breathed a sigh of relief. While she had heard that this mutiny had killed Jorah's father, at least that disgusting monster was dead.

"But the White Walkers were persistent," continued Gilly. "One of them found us and he tried to take my baby. But Sam saved us. He stabbed the Walker in the back with a dragonglass dagger."

"Sam the Slayer." Dany heard the nickname banded about by Jon sometimes. Dany felt a surge of admiration for Sam. The man saved her dear friend Ser Jorah from greyscale, and he saved this sweet woman and her wonderful child from a demon who came to take the baby away to do Gods-know-what. Dany decided that she needs to reward Sam, again. But why would he even wish to speak with her? "Gilly. When I take the Throne, I have an offer for you and Sam. Tell Sam that if he wants, I will allow you and him to return to Horn Hill. If he wants, I can even reinstate him as Lord. Or if he wants to still be a Maester, I will make sure the Citadel accepts him back."

This silver-haired woman was one of the kindest people she had ever met. "Sam will be very happy about this. I will tell him when we are in the Great Hall."

Dany smiled and gently squeezed Gilly's hands.

There was a knock on the door. The three women and the small child looked at the door. "Come in!" shouted Dany.

The door opened to reveal Theon Greyjoy. The young Greyjoy bowed his head in respect. "Forgive me, your Grace, if I'm interrupting."

"Not at all, Lord Greyjoy," reassured the Dragon Queen. "What can I do for you?"

"Jon wants to speak with you, your Grace," explained Theon. "He asked me to come and take you to him, with your permission of course."

That caught Dany by surprise. Jon wanted to speak with her? Alone? Would she finally know what has been causing him to be distant for the past few days?

"It's alright, your Grace," Missandei gently assured. She knew that her Queen greatly desired to have privacy with Lord Snow. Who was she to deny her Queen? "Go to him. Gilly and I will be fine."

Daenerys looked at Missandei before turning to Gilly. Gilly simply nodded with a warm smile. Dany then made her decision. "Alright. Where is he?"

"He's waiting for you in the crypts," answered the Greyjoy prince. "Come, I will take you there."

Dany gave one last smile to Missandei and Gilly. She also gently rubbed Little Sam's head. The Targaryen Queen then stood up and took Theon's offered arm. She then allowed the young Greyjoy prince to lead her to the crypts, where her love was waiting for her.

Grey Worm stood at the smiting tables where he and his Unsullied kin were fixing dragonglass spears together. Northern soldiers were retrieving Dragonglass axes, daggers, and swords. Some collected arrows for their bows, while the Dothraki grabbed freshly-forged arakhs coated with dragonglass. Nearby Gendry worked till the end to forge as many weapons as he could… especially on the one requested to him by Arya…

And the Hound was fixing himself up with some new armor. Grey Worm noticed the man struggling a few times and walked over to offer his assistance. "Do you need help?"

Sandor's answer was blunt. "Nah. I fucking got it."

Nodding, before Grey Worm could walk away, the Hound's voice stopped him. "That kinky-haired woman you're always with… the one with an ass to die fo - what's her name?"

Grey Worm narrowed his eyes. Missandei was the most amazing woman he had ever met, and one of the kindest souls. If the Hound was going to insult her, he would spill blood. But he decided to answer Clegane's question calmly – they were supposedly allies. "Missandei."

"Ah, Missandei," noted the younger Clegane brother. "A pretty name. And from what I have seen, she's a fine woman." Sandor said as he latched a vambrace onto his right arm. He had discarded his old worn out leather gambeson and had switched it out with a chainmail vest, leather sleeveless and a pair of steel vambraces that he was currently equipping.

Grey Worm relaxed at hearing that. Something he and the Hound could actually agree on, and he supposed the man was just generally crude. "Missandei is very good woman."

"Same she is wasted on a man with no cock between his legs." Sandor looked at Grey Worm.

There was a silence. "I would rather have no cock between my legs, than a face like burnt meat."

The men nearby went quiet as Sandor and Grey Worm glared at each other; it was no secret that these two were two of the best fighters in Winterfell right now. If a fight broke out, who knew what the hell would happen. The Hound had brute force and raw skill, while Grey Worm had speed, precision, and discipline – one of the few Unsullied that could fight individually rather than as a group.

But the tension started dying down when Grey Worm smirked. "I make joke."

At this the men in close proximity began to snicker loudly. Sandor himself grinned and pat the Unsullied on the back. "You may not have a cock between your legs… but you have bigger balls than half the cunts I spent my whole life with." The younger Clegane brother smiles before going back to latch on his second vambrace.

Grey Worm, Sandor, Gendry and the other assembled men continued about their tasks; Sandor fixing his armor on, Grey Worm fixing spearheads to the shafts, and Gendry continuing to forge Dragonglass weapons as best and as quickly as he could. Grey Worm looked to the Hound; and a question filled his head, and the curiosity that made him human and not Unsullied couldn't be held back.

"Why you here, Ser Clegane?"

He gave Grey Worm an incredulous glare. "I ain't no fucking Knight… and what the fuck are you talking about?" Sandor asked as he continued to tie his vambrace on.

"I fight for my Queen and for Missandei… Unsullied fight for Queen. Dothraki fight for Queen. Northerners and Wildlings fight for Jon Snow. Little Wolf fight for Jon Snow. Vale I think fight for Jon Snow. Gendry fight… what does Gendry fight for?" Grey Worm asked with an arched brow as he looked at the young blacksmith.

"It's obvious what the lad fights for. Its short, has brown hair and grey eyes, and a death list longer than a horse's cock." Sandor said as he gave Gendry a knowing smirk.

Gendry blushed lightly. "Can you not talk about her in the same sentence as horse cocks please?" he asked.

"Why does Clegane always act like… what is Westerosi word?" Grey Worm asked.

"Like a complete cunt?" was the Hound's answer.

"Yes… like that?" Grey Worm asked.

"Well lad, if you had a face like mine, you would always act like a cunt too." Sandor finished lacing up his vambrace and put on a pair of brown leather fingerless gloves.

"Scars do not make you a cunt. Joffrey never had any scars and he was the biggest cunt that ever walked the earth." Gendry replied with a smirk.

On that Sandor completely agreed. "Aye… a bigger cunt there never was. Took me all I had not to break that little shit's teeth." Clegane smiled. But then his face turned hateful. "Only one who could match that little shit is my fucking brother – maybe Cersei."

Cersei he knew, but of Sandor's family Grey Worm knew not. "Bad relationship with brother?" the Unsullied commander asked out of curiosity.

Clegane scoffed. "That's putting it lightly. That fucker is the reason my face is like this," he said as he pointed to his burnt face. "Pushed my face into the fire just because I was playing with one of his fucking toys." The venomous hatred in Sandor's voice could not be mistaken.

Gendry looked away. He didn't say anything because he knows the Hound was very sensitive about that, but he felt a great wave of sadness for him. For his own brother to do that to him. Suddenly Gendry's childhood didn't seem like such a pile of shit.

Given his history Grey Worm understood too. At least Unsullied were not cut by their own brothers.

"If I manage to survive this fight with those fucking corpses, I am going to go south, and I am going to kill him." Any idiot would be able to tell that the Hound never meant anything more in his life.

"Unsullied understand. Masters of Astapor, Yunkai, Volantis, and Mereen… they were… as you say, complete cunts." Grey worm said to the laughter of Gendry and the mood-improved Sandor. "Didn't want to leave until all the masters were dead."

"Well, I can't say I blame you there," said Gendry. "I would have wanted those pampered shits dead too."

"Seem everyone hate pampered shits. Cersei seem like one." Both companions nodded. "So what does Ser Clegane fight for?" Grey Worm asked again. "For vengeance?"

Sandor stopped and sat there, his hands resting on his knees as he looked around him, seeing Wildling and Dothraki children playing. Older Wildlings and Dothraki sharing drinks and laughing heartily, playful fights sometimes breaking out. Seeing Unsullied men preparing alongside Northern men, young and old. Sandor thought of what it was he fight for. Was it vengeance? No. If it was only that, he would be going to King's Landing to kill his brother. At the end he could only think of one word. One word as he remembered his friends at the half-built sept. Septon Meribald's words ringing in his head.

'It's never too late to stop robbing people, to stop killing people and start helping people.'

'Never too late to come back.'

"… No lad. Not vengeance. Redemption."

"It's right through here, my Queen," said Theon as he brought Daenerys to the entrance of the crypts.

"Thank you, Theon." Daenerys thanked the Greyjoy boy.

"It's my pleasure, your Grace." He said with a small smile. Theon bowed his head before leaving.

Daenerys watched Theon leave before she descended down into the crypts where Jon Snow was waiting for her.

A chilly draft wailed through the crypts, a ghostly sound that scared Jon many times as a child. Now, it just felt familiar. Grounding him as he stood in front of the statue of his mother. She was said to possess a wild beauty that few other women in the North had, to be kind and compassionate. Many noble ladies considered mingling with the commoners beneath them, but his mother was beloved by all in the North, both noble and common. Jon sighed as he felt sadness creeping. His mother died giving birth to him, loving him beyond measure. Her last thoughts were of keeping him safe.

Jon realized just how stupid and fabricated the lies that his father kidnapped his mother were. His mother was said to be a fierce she-wolf, not one kidnapped so easily. But that fucking whoremonger wanted her for himself and so he painted her as a helpless damsel that was waiting for him to save her. Maybe Littlefinger had something to do with it too, wanting revenge on Brandon Stark. Perhaps he told him knowing that the hot-blooded Stark would rush to King's Landing. Because of those lies, his mother and father were both dead. He was forced to grow up a motherless bastard. And Dany was forced to living in the streets with only her cruel brother to raise her.

As much as Jon still loved Ned Stark, he held some resentment towards him. He lied to him all his life, letting his wife to treat him like he was dirt on her boots, allowing her to poison Sansa against him. Allowed him to go the Watch, knowing that it was a dumping ground for criminals, and did not even tell him if his mother was alive or if she loved him. Jon closed his eyes tightly, warding away the tears.

The negative feelings Jon had about Prince Rhaegar Targaryen have pretty much all faded away. While he didn't understand why Rhaegar annulled his marriage to Elia Martell – maybe Bran will be able to explain it to him better – Rhaegar truly loved his mother. Jon wonders what his life would have been like if his parents had lived. Would he have grown up as a Prince? Would he have had a life filled with love as he always wanted? Would he have been with Dany from the very beginning?

Hearing footsteps, Jon turned around to see his beloved Dany. Easing herself along the tunnel to find him, violet eyes sparkling. 'Gods, she is so beautiful'. In her white winter coat, Dany looked like a true snow goddess.

Jon smiled lovingly as Dany approached him, Dany beaming back as she took his hand. Jon pulled her close to him. "Dany," he murmured.

"Jon," she replied, just now noticing the statue that Jon was standing in front of. It was a statue of a woman. "Who's that?"

"Lyanna Stark," he answered.

Dany heard the stories. According to the Usurper and his allies, she was kidnapped and raped by her brother. But from the stories, Ser Barristan told her, that did not seem like something Rhaegar would do. "I've heard stories about my brother. That he was kind and generous. That he loved to sing to the common people and give money to children. That the people loved him. But according to the Usurper, he raped her."

"It was all a lie," said Jon with anger in his voice. Dany turned to Jon with a raised eyebrow. "Robert Baratheon was a fucking liar." He ran a hand down his face. "Rhaegar never kidnapped or raped Lyanna. He loved her. And she loved him. Robert could not accept that Lyanna did not love him, so he painted her as a helpless damsel. But Lyanna was a strong woman. She never would have let herself get taken."

Dany was intrigued by what Jon was saying. And she couldn't help but notice the passion in his voice when he spoke about Lyanna.

"Rhaegar and Lyanna fled to Dorne. They married each other in secret." Dany was confused now. She never heard about that. Her brother was already married to Elia Martell. "Apparently, Rhaegar annulled his marriage to Elia Martell," said Jon as if reading Dany's thoughts. "I don't really know how that went. But Rhaegar left Lyanna in the Tower of Joy, guarded by some of the best Knights in the Seven Kingdoms, including Ser Arthur Dayne. He left them there to protect Lyanna even though they could have saved Rhaegar at the Trident."

Dany wonders why Jon was telling her all of this? Was it to validate her beliefs that Rhaegar was a good man? "Did Bran show you all this?"

"Aye, he did."

"Why?"

"You'll see." Jon walked to the sarcophagus, leaning upon it, eyes away from her. "Robert killed Rhaegar. And Ned Stark took some of his best men to Dorne. They killed the Kingsguard guarding the tower, only he and Howland Reed surviving." He continued. Dany knew about that, though Viserys had claimed that the Northerners were cowardly fighters. "Ned found Lyanna dying in a pool of blood. Not because Rhaegar had raped her. But because she had given birth to a baby boy. Her son with Rhaegar." That caught Dany by complete surprise. She had never heard about this. Rhaegar had a son with Lyanna Stark? What happened to him? Was he killed like Rhaegar's children with Elia were? She still felt sadness when she thought of what happened to her poor nephew Aegon and niece Rhaenys.

But what Jon said next utterly shocked Dany. "She asked her brother, Ned Stark, to protect her son. She knew that Robert Baratheon would have murdered him if he found out. Before dying, she named the boy Jaehaerys Targaryen." His eyes found hers again. "And Ned took the boy home, to raise as his bastard son, Jon Snow."

A gasp fell from her lips, though soft… as if she was stunned into silence. Staring at Jon, dumbfounded. Great emotion welled in his eyes - as if begging her not to hate him. Dany did not know what to say... "How… how do you know this?" she finally managed to stutter.

Jon sighed. "Sam found a High Septon's diary at the Citadel. And Bran saw it all. He saw the past. He saw my parents getting married and my birth." Jon took Dany's hands in his own. "But more than that, I know it in my heart Dany. I know it's true."

She regarded him anew, as if seeing him for the first time once more. Jon's raven hair and grey eyes made it difficult to believe he was of Valyrian decent. But Dany moved closer to Jon, and when she looked closely… The curls in his hair. Viserys had those too, inherited from their mother. She cupped Jon's cheek. The set of his jaw and cheekbones. They were not Northern. They were Valyrian. And also…

"Of course. That's why Drogon allowed you to touch him. And why you could ride Rhaegal. They could sense the dragon blood in you..." Her heart beat out of her chest at the shattering revelation.

Jon cupped Dany's cheek. "Dany listen to me. This does not change any of my feelings for you. I don't care that you're my aunt. I love you more than anything. And I still want to marry you, if you'll have me." Jon meant that. He knew about the Targaryen practice of incest, though Dany was not his sister – perhaps making it easier for him. And even in his Stark family there were instances of cousins marrying and of uncles marrying their nieces or nephews marrying their aunts. Dany is the same age as him. There was no issue with them marrying.

Dany felt tears in her eyes. This wonderful man just basically declared that nothing changed for him. He still loved her more than anything and he still wanted to marry her. Her nephew, a dragon as she was. Someone that actually adored her unlike Viserys. Gods, how could she have been so lucky? To enjoy such happiness after the shit life she held? She cupped her beloved's cheek. "Blood of my blood," she whispered. She leaned her forehead into Jon's. "All this time, I thought I was the last Targaryen. I thought I had no more family."

Strong hands gripped her waist. "You're not the Last Targaryen." It felt strange to him, but perhaps she'd teach how to be one." We have been separated for so long but we're here together now, my love. And I will never leave you alone."

The Dragon Queen could not hold herself back anymore. She cupped Jon's face and kissed him hard. Jon lovingly returned the kiss as he tangled a hand in her silver hair, his tongue tangling with hers. The two dragons continued kissing for a long while before the need for air broke them apart.

"Dany. I know that by law of succession my claim to the Iron Throne is stronger than yours. But I don't care. You have fought so hard to get there all your life. You deserve it far more than I." Not wishing to break their embrace by bending the knee, he merely stared in her eyes and cupped her cheek with one hand. "I will be happy to help you take it and become Queen. You're the ruler Westeros needs. You were born to rule the Seven Kingdoms."

'Oh, Jon'. What her beloved said was true. Technically, his claim to the Iron Throne was strongest. But here he is giving it up for her. He truly loves her, and he truly believes in her. But she will not deny him the birthright that he deserves.

"Jon. All my life, taking the Throne was my goal. But I didn't really want it so I could be Queen. I wanted it because I wanted a home. That was always my greatest desire – home. A little house with a red door and lemon tree." It had been one of the stories they had shared on the boat, and a wistful smile formed on Jon's face thinking of the tranquil life a little Dany must have had there. "But I finally found my true home. It's with you, my love. I don't want the Throne if you're not there with me. I want you to be my King, my equal." She kissed his chin, all care gone. It felt right, claiming happiness with the one person who would never compromise her goals. "I don't care where we are as long as you're with me. Because you are my home. But we both want to help and protect our people. Will you take the Throne with me and help me make the world a better place?"

Jon simply smiled tearfully and lovingly. "It would be my honor. And would you do me the honor of becoming wife? Not just as Jon Snow, but as Jaehaerys Targaryen?"

"Jaehaerys Targaryen…" It only made it more real for her… and by the gods Daenerys reveled in it. Loved it, loved him. "It would be the greatest honor of my life, Jaehaerys." She would call him Jon in their private lives, but as rulers it sent a pleasurable shiver through her system thinking of using his Targaryen name.

The reconnected lovers crashed their lips together, kissing passionately with only the ghosts of House Stark to keep them company. Reaffirming their love.

"I love you Dany." Jon whispered tearfully.

"And I love you Jon." Dany whispered back.

In the crypts of Winterfell, Ice and Fire united once more. The spirits of a beautiful she-wolf and a handsome Dragon Prince watching with tearful smiles on their faces.

A/N: Well, it took me longer than I expected. I was hoping to upload this on June 4th which was my birthday, but with the length of this chapter and me enjoying my birthday, I had to wait until now. I have to say, I think this was my favorite chapter to write so far. It's definitely the longest and one of the most important!

So we got to see Dany train with Dark Sister. And she got a new sparring partner, Brienne of Tarth! She even got a bear hug from old Tormund Giantsbane himself!

Arya and Sansa's conversation was fun to write. As bitchy as Sansa has been acting, she is still Arya's sister. Arya loves her and wants her to stay as one of the pack. You know, writing that conversation has really changed my view on Sansa. I originally was going to just write her as a petty bitch, but this conversation… If I were Sansa I think I would take it to heart. I don't know which way Sansa is going to go. Will she remain a loyal member of the pack and finally change her behavior? Or will her desire for power be too great and cause her to betray everything her family stands for?

I bet no one saw this coming! Theon was the one who helped Jon with his identity crisis! Not Arya. Not Davos. But Theon! As you all know, I have a massive love for Theon and I want to make him an important character in my story. This was one way. Plus remember how Jon helped Theon with his identity crisis and told him he didn't need to choose? Now Theon was giving Jon his own advice. And it worked! I'm so proud of you Theon! I hope you all enjoyed that scene!

Had to write a scene where mommy Dany got to show her love for her precious children! I found it so cute to write Dany being mother to three extremely intelligent, magical, and powerful creatures. Creatures that could easily tear a human apart limb by limb. But with Dany, they turn into little boys that want mama's love!

Dany got to meet Gilly and Little Sam. Who knows? Maybe Gilly's experience will help Sam realize what a good person Dany is.

Grey Worm with the Hound and Gendry was fun too! Character growth is a marvelous thing, isn't it!

Finally, the most important scene yet. Jon has finally told his beloved Dany the truth. And Dany was surprised at first, but then elated to realize she is not the last of her kind. You see Dany has always wanted the throne. But not because she wanted to be Queen like Cersei, Margaery, or Sansa. But because she wanted a home. That is her greatest desire. Home. But she has already found it with Jon. So taking the throne alone would be meaningless to her, if Jon is not there with her. And Jon decides to embrace both sides of his family. More importantly he chooses to be with Dany. I loved writing this scene so, so, so much.

Please leave me a long review! Tell me what you liked! Did you like Jon and Theon? Did you like the last scene? Oh and even though my birthday has already passed, since this was my birthday present to myself, I will consider everyone reading it and leaving a nice review to be a birthday present! Thank you for reading, my dear readers! And thank you Longclaw for helping me write this chapter! Next chapter will be the calm before the storm finally hits.