Terror

Daenerys felt her blood run cold as Viserion spiralled out of the sky. Drogon shrieked, turning sharply and diving down after his brother. Dany watched in horror as Viserion hit the ground, Sansa thrown off his back into the snow. She was on the ground before Drogon had landed.

Dany crouched down next to Sansa, her eyes filling with tears as she looked into the girl's pain-filled eyes. She slid her arms underneath her and tried to lift her up. Sansa gasped, stiffening up. Daenerys muttered quiet apologies and tugged her closer to her chest, only barely able to hold them both up. She was a petite thing and Sansa was almost half a foot taller than she was.

Rhaegal landed next to her and Arya hopped off his back, rushing to them. She took Sansa from her, supporting her much easier than Daenerys had. Someone burst out of the chaos still surrounding them, the only one to dare get so close with two dragons circling the area. The colour drained from his face as he looked upon Sansa. "Oh, no."

Arya looked over to him. "I promise I'll explain all of this later, but right now Sansa needs help."

"Let me come with you! I can help get you back!"

Arya shook her head. "You can't. I'll have Rhaegal with me; he will be enough. Be careful, Robb." Arya climbed back onto Rhaegal, setting Sansa down on his shoulders in front of her and curling her arms around her. She gave Daenerys an unreadable look before Rhaegal took off toward Winterfell.

Daenerys looked over to Robb Stark. He met her gaze steadily. "You're the mysterious Targaryen. The one that's been avoiding capture for the past year."

Daenerys bit her lip and nodded, looking over at Drogon as he snarled at anyone who came too close. "Yes."

"How do my sisters ride your dragons?"

Dany shrugged. "Sansa basically helped to raise them."

"What?"

Drogon roared loudly, spitting fire at a group of particularly brave soldiers. Daenerys turned back to Robb. "Now isn't the time to talk about this." Drogon moved closer and dipped his wing down to allow her to climb up onto his back. Robb looked confused. "You can't just leave it at that!"

"We're in a battle. You'll learn the entire story soon enough." Drogon leapt into the air, spewing fire down upon his enemies.

Victory?

They won. In every way, they won. The Lannister forces were almost entirely decimated and the remaining thousand or so retreated out of the North.

It didn't feel like they won. Not when Viserion was dead and Sansa was seriously wounded.

Daenerys flew Drogon to Winterfell, where they found Rhaegal pacing the courtyard anxiously. They joined him there. Daenerys could feel the many eyes on her as she dismounted from Drogon; watching; wondering. She paid them no mind. Let them think what they want. It won't change anything.

Some time later, the Northern forces entered the courtyard. Daenerys saw Robb at the front beside three other men. The moment he glimpsed her he changed course and made way to her.

"Is Sansa alright?" Was the first thing he asked her.

She shrugged helplessly. "I don't know."

He eyed the two dragons warily. "Come with me."

"Why? Where are you taking me?" Daenerys said even as she trailed after him.

"To see Sansa. And then you're going to explain everything."

Daenerys had been in the keep before and it wasn't any more impressive at the main door than it was through a hidden back door. The castle had been built not to be fancy or to flaunt wealth but to mark the Northern capital and keep it's royalty safe. There was no grand hall like the Lannisters had at Casterly Rock, no expensive art hung on the walls. It was simple and it worked.

Robb led her up into one of the towers where the Maester's room was. There were four people there already, not including Sansa: Arya, the Maester, and the king and queen. They all looked up when they entered.

Catelyn looked taken aback. "Robb! Why would you bring that girl here?" Daenerys ducked her head, looking down.

Ned was more logical in his approach. "Robb. It's good that you found the Targaryen, but it wasn't necessary to bring her here with you."

"I think it was," Robb said.

All eyes turned to Daenerys, who had her gaze locked onto Sansa. "Is she… will she be alright?"

The maester gave her a scrutinizing look. "We're unsure. She's still alive as of now, but the extent of her internal wounds are unknown. External wounds aren't too bad. No blood loss yet." It didn't help much to calm her anxiety.

Arya moved over to stand by her side, resting a hand on her shoulder. "She'll be alright. Sansa's strong. She'll fight."

Ned turned to Robb. "What happened to her? You didn't say." Catelyn turned her eyes to Robb as well.

He hesitated. "She got thrown off a dragon." He didn't sound very sure."

Arya decided to interfere. "They shot down her dragon and when he crashed Sansa was thrown off of him." She looked at Daenerys. "Speaking of Viserion, is he…"

She shook her head. "He's dead."

Arya looked at Sansa sadly. "Sansa won't like that."

"She raised him. It might break her." Dany felt a tear trickle down her cheek. She didn't bother to wipe it away.

"At least it was only Viserion. If anyone else had died too…" she didn't have to finish. Daenerys knew what she was talking about.

Robb broke the silence. "How did Sansa help raise the dragons?"

Daenerys took a shaky breath, wiping away her tears. "When they were still little, Drogon, one of the dragons, crashed into her room through the balcony. Every night, he would return and every night I would have to come and drag him back until she told me to not bother with it. We became friends and my dragons grew just as fond of her as they were of me."

"Sansa was the one who broke the dragons out the first time you caught them," Arya interrupted.

Catelyn looked horrified. "My daughter was keeping dragons?"

Ned sighed. "I thought Arya would be the troublesome one."

"I do have one of the dragons," she grinned. "I just met them when they were older."

"If you'd broken the dragons out before, why not do it again the second time? Or earlier, at least?" Ned asked Daenerys.

"Because I was captured at the same time as Sansa was, Your Grace." She sat next to Sansa on the bed, brushing her hair off her forehead. "The Lannisters had learnt that the dragons were mine and wanted me to control them for them."

"Then how did the dragons get out?"

Arya smirked. "I let them out. They were the ones who helped Sansa escape, not whatever story she told you."

Ned looked to Daenerys. "You are dear to my daughter?" She nodded. "Then you may stay. I promise that you will be safe within our walls, as will your dragons."

She smiled. "Thank you, Your Grace." His face scrunched up a bit at the title but he didn't correct her. He was, after all, the king of this castle.

Arya squeezed her shoulder. "Let us go retrieve Viserion's body. You will want to have a proper ceremony for him, yes?"

"I do. But not until Sansa can be there as well."

"Then we will preserve him until then."

Feels

Daenerys stayed in Sansa's room for the night. It was so big and fancy and she felt uncomfortable being here alone. Her dragons stayed outside and Lady had tucked herself into a corner, practically unnoticeable despite her size. Plus the anxiety of Sansa's injuries, she couldn't find it in herself to sleep.

At almost midnight, she gave up. Daenerys slipped out the door, making sure the halls were empty before taking the path she remembered taking to the Maester's room. She'd already walked this path twice before and didn't dare forget it.

She didn't spot a single soul the entire way there. The battle seemed to have sapped everyone of their energy and no one even bothered to post guards inside. They just won the war. The Lannisters would be idiots to dare do anything, especially with Drogon and Rhaegal just outside.

The Maester's room was empty save for Sansa. Most of the wounded soldiers had been kept outside for the Maester to come to them instead of dragging them up the steps of the tower. According to Arya, she had flown in through the window instead.

Daenerys sat on the edge of the bed, looking down at Sansa. Her breathing was slow and shaky, and as she rested her hand on her chest she could feel it vibrate every time she took a breath. There was dried blood on her face, trailing from her lips and nose.

Dany clutched her hands into fists, squeezing hard enough to feel pain where her nails dug into her skin. "I'm sorry, Sansa. I'm so sorry." A tear fell from her eye and splattered onto Sansa's shoulder. "I shouldn't have let you fight. I should have been there to protect you. And now Viserion's dead and you're not here and I want you to be!"

She took a deep breath, wiping away the tears. She reached a hand out to cup Sansa's cheek and brushed her lips lightly across Sansa's. "It'll be okay. It has to be."

Daenerys pulled a chair over to sit beside Sansa's bed. She stared blankly at the flickering fire, stiff and unmoving. She would stay here, Dany decided. She would sit here and watch over her lover until she awoke, however long it may take.

And indeed she did, though it was only a few hours off. She had fallen into a sort of trance, not truly sleeping but not aware either. She felt something brush her leg and jerked away, her eyes snapping to the source.

Sansa still lay in the bed, but her head was turned toward her and her hand hovered awkwardly where Dany's leg had been. Daenerys didn't bother to apologize, instead surging off the chair and falling to her knees next to the bed to kiss her fiercely.

Sansa whimpered and Dany pulled back slightly. "Gently, please," Sansa muttered, her voice shuddering. "But do keep going."

Dany did as she asked, repressing the hunger that surged through her. "I love you," she muttered against Sansa's lips. "I love you so much."

Sansa grinned as she pulled away pressing her forehead against Dany's. "What was that for?"

"I thought you were going to die!"

Sansa's grin fell. "Oh, Dany." Sansa shifted back to the side best she could and allowed Daenerys to lay next to her. Dany buried her face into Sansa's shoulder and cried. Sansa kissed her forehead, unable to turn and hold her like she wanted to. "I love you too."

Dany sniffled, pulling back and propping herself up on one elbow. "Are you okay? How do you feel?"

Sansa smiled at her. "I feel fine. I'm sure I'll be okay soon." As if to contradict that statement, Sansa suddenly began to cough. She took a shuddering gasp, blood dripping from the corner of her mouth.

Dany's eyes widened. "Sansa, you aren't okay! I'll go get the Maester."

Sansa grabbed her wrist. "No. Stay."

"Sansa, no! He'll help you!"
"He can't!"

Daenerys looked at her with worry on her face. "What do you mean?"

"I mean he can't help me." Sansa intertwined their hands. "I woke up once earlier, when it was just the Maester here. He didn't tell anyone because he didn't want to worry them too much." She squeezed her hand tightly and shut her eyes. "He told me that I'm dying, Dany. I'm dying and he doesn't know how to fix me."

Daenerys couldn't breathe. "Dying?"

Sansa nodded, looking down. "Yes."

"But- isn't it his job to prevent that?"

"Dany, you can't fix something that happened on the inside."

Daenerys sat back down wrapping both hands around Sansa's. "Do you know why?"
"He thinks that one of my ribs went through my lung."

Dany looked away from Sansa, her chest heaving. Sansa couldn't die. She couldn't. How could she live without Sansa? Without her, she would be dead ten times over. She would never have found happiness.

Sansa tugged at her hands to get her attention back. Daenerys couldn't bear the sight of her face, blood trickling out of her mouth and nose. She looked at Dany pleadingly. "I'm scared, Dany."

Daenerys felt like sobbing. "So am I, Sansa." Her voice shook as she fought to suppress the tears. "How can I live without you?"

"You'll find a way. Just promise you won't give up." Sansa pulled her down and kissed her. "Live for me."

"I promise." Dany kissed her again, trying to ignore the metallic taste of blood on her tongue. She buried her face into Sansa's neck, tears falling onto the sheets. Sansa turned to brush her lips against her head. Dany focused on the feeling of Sansa's skin against hers. Her breath, unsteady and wavering, on her forehead.

And then it stopped.

Dany sobbed, wrapping her arms tight around her lover and letting the tears pour. She heard the beating of wings as Drogon came through the window, Rhaegal behind him. Drogon nudged Sansa's hand, lying limp at her side. He whined, nudging her harder. Rhaegal rested his head on Dany's thigh and Drogon reeled back, his whimpers growing louder. He let out a call, a sad, sad cry that echoed through the halls of Winterfell. He nuzzled his head between Sansa and Dany, lending comfort to his mother while mourning all the same.

Dany felt like her heart was being squeezed, gripped so hard it would burst. Her eyes burned and her breath caught in her throat as she gripped Sansa as tightly as she could, afraid to let her go. Afraid she'd never get to hold her again.

A hand landed on her shoulder. "Daenerys." Arya. "You can't keep her here."

"She's dead, Arya!" Dany sobbed. "She died and-"

"I know." Arya gently pulled her away, allowing the girl to grip onto her for comfort.

Arya looked to the door, where her parents and brothers had finally found the source of the sound. She watched as Catelyn almost collapsed on the spot. Robb froze and Bran and Rickon, the two youngest, crept closer. "Sansa?"

Rickon took the spot that Dany had lay in before, nuzzling himself into his sister's side. Jon stepped up behind him, laying a hand on his arm and rubbing it. Bran stood beside him and grabbed his wrist. Theon hovered by the door, unsure.

Arya held Daenerys awkwardly, trying her best to calm the girl. Ned stepped up, resting his hand on Dany's shoulder. "Daenerys." She quieted, sniffling. "We need to burn the body."

She nodded, stepping back. She held onto Drogon for support, afraid that if she let go she'd crumple. Ned called for another pyre to be made. Before the servant could go, Daenerys called out. "Wait!" All eyes turned to her. She hesitated. "You should burn Viserion with her."

"He's a dragon," Catelyn said.

"He was her dragon. Please, my queen. She raised him. He was like a child to her," Daenerys begged.

Ned nodded, turning to the messenger. "Add the dragon to the pyre as well."

And he left to prepare a funeral for Sansa Stark and her dragon.

Family

Two hours later and Daenerys was stepping outside of Winterfell's gates with the Starks and her dragons to look upon rows upon rows of pyres, one for each man down. At the very front, bigger and more intricate than any other, lay the one for Sansa and Viserion. Sansa was straight and stiff, her hands folded neatly on her stomach as if she was only sleeping. They had curled Viserion's body around her, his head resting atop her thigh.

Drogon erred, his body shuddering as he looked upon the dead bodies of his brother and surrogate mother. Dany rested her hand on his shoulder and looked down at the frosted ground. She felt Arya beside her, Rhaegal hovering over her protectively. She didn't attempt to console Daenerys. She knew it would only hurt her more.

She could hear people stepping up in the front, making speeches to honour the dead, whether it be a loved one or just the sacrifices they made for the good of the kingdom. She paid them no attention, not until Ned stepped forward at the very end to speak of Sansa.

"My daughter was someone we all knew as the perfect lady. We had all expected her to marry a foreign prince and forge an alliance, but instead, she shocked us all by sacrificing her life to keep the North safe from the Lannisters." He looked over to Daenerys and her dragons. "The princess, alongside a girl by the name of Daenerys Targaryen, raised the three dragons that saved our kingdom, one of which now lies dead beside her. And to her, alongside all the rest of the fallen, I thank for giving their own lives to help us live peacefully. May the gods, old and new, be with them."

Ned took a torch from a soldier and stepped up to Sansa's pyre, preparing to light it. Drogon shrieked, bounding forward and standing in front of him. Ned looked taken aback as Drogon snarled at him. Daenerys winced, stepping forward. "Drogon, come back. He isn't doing anything wrong. This is their way; burning the dead." Drogon gave her a sad look.

Arya nudged Rhaegal's shoulder beside Dany. "Go on." He moved forward, sliding into place next to his brother. Daenerys gave her a shocked look. Arya met her gaze with a steely one of her own. "Trust me."

Arya strode forward taking her place in front of both dragons. Ned frowned. "Let me through, Arya. Their bodies must burn."

"I agree," Arya said. "But I think you should let the dragons burn it."

Ned gave her a harsh look. "Arya, step aside."

Catelyn joined in as well. "Sansa may have raised the beasts, but Ned is her father. The right to burn her goes to her family, not her pets."

Arya scowled. "Those dragons were more of a family to her than you ever were. Than any of us. They were there for her when none of you were. It was them who freed her from the Lannisters when you couldn't. They made her happy when none of you could." Arya looked at all the faces of the Starks. "How many of you actually knew who Sansa was, more than just that she was the princess of Winterfell?" She looked back at her father. "The dragons should burn the pyre." He regarded her for a moment and nodded, stepping back into the crowd. Arya retreated back to Daenerys as Rhaegal and Drogon took opposite sides of the wood.

As fire burst forth from their jaws, Arya laid a hand on Dany's shoulder. "You were her dragon too, you know."

"What?"

"When I say the dragons, that includes you. You are a dragon, Daenerys. You were Sansa's, just as she was yours."

Daenerys felt the tears welling up again and nodded. "Thank you, Arya. You've done so much for me. For us."

Arya nodded to the burning pyre. "Sansa did more."

"Perhaps she did, but you kept her secret for months. You helped us through everything when we couldn't do it alone. Thank you for that."

Arya smiled slightly. "Don't get too sappy on me, Dany. I can only take so much of that."

Daenerys gave a watery smile. It would be the last of it's kind for a long while.

Final Goodbyes

Daenerys paced her chambers restlessly. Arya rolled her eyes from where she stood by the doorway. "You'll be fine, Daenerys. It won't be a very big event."

"Maybe not now, but soon it will!"

Arya sighed. "It will, yes, but you will not have to bother yourself with it all just yet. You do remember what my father told you, right?"

Dany nodded. "That he would send advisors to help me along while I adjust, yes, I remember."

"Good. Then you're ready?"

"I am." She took one last look in the mirror, admiring her black lace dress before following Arya out of the room.

They were in the room where all council meetings were held. The Stark family was there, along with some of the most powerful lords and ladies in the North. Daenerys shifted nervously under the intense gazes of the lords. Arya slowed to walk beside her as they made their way to the front of the room. "You'll have to get used to this."

"I know." Ned Stark waited at the front of the room for them. Arya stopped at the edge of the small crowd, nudging Dany forward. She slowly made her way up to stand in front of the Northern King.

He smiled encouragingly at her. She smiled back politely, not having the heart to attempt to make it look real. His smile faltered slightly at the obvious discontent but he pushed on.

"Daenerys Targaryen," he said loudly, hushing the whispers of the Lords. "You have lived on the streets of Wintertown for the past four years as a poor girl, while living across the sea in Essos for the previous twelve. Your ancestry was pushed away, but today we shall bring it back into the light." He accepted a dark crown from the Maester, a beautiful piece made of the shining black Dragonglass that inhabited Dragonstone. "As King of the North, with approval from four of the seven other Kings of Westeros, I name you Daenerys Targaryen, first of her name, rightful queen of Dragonstone and the Crownlands, the mother of dragons and the last Targaryen heir."

Arya began to applaud, followed by her brothers and then the lords. Daenerys blushed as Ned rested the crown on her head, turning to face the lords. Despite the approving smiles of Ned, Arya and the Stark sons, she felt as if she wasn't deserving of the titles she was just given. She'd lived as an outcast her entire life, and suddenly she was the heir to an entire kingdom? It didn't seem right. The crown felt heavy and awkward on her head and the attention resting upon her felt like it was carving down her soul.

Ned dismissed the room, allowing Daenerys to escape outside to see her dragons. Drogon greeted her heartily. She hugged his neck tightly. "I'm going to be a queen, Drogon. A queen." He warbled quietly. "I feel like I'm dishonouring Sansa, abandoning the home she fought for."

Drogon snorted, stomping his foot on the ground in disapproval. She hugged him tighter, thankful that she still had him and Rhaegal left, though she felt bad about having the latter. Arya had insisted he go with her, claiming that the dragons were symbols of her power. If one stayed with a Stark, it would leave a bad impact. She just hoped Rhaegal could bear leaving his rider behind.

Daenerys left Winterfell next morning and arrived at White Harbour the following day. She boarded a ship along with four Stark advisors and a small battalion of soldiers for protection. Resources for the journey were stocked below deck and anything needed once there would be provided by the Tyrells (one of the four kingdoms to approve Daenerys's claim) until she could either find her own way or make a permanent alliance with their kingdom.

Rhaegal dove down from the sky, crashing into Arya and nuzzling into her chest. Arya rubbed his neck, patting his snout. "I'll miss you too, you big baby." He crooned, too sad to bother being offended.

Daenerys stepped up to them. "If you want, I would allow him to visit you. He could journey here and back alone."

Arya shook her head. "No. He's your dragon, Dany. I love him but if he kept coming back I'm afraid I would get too attached. It's better this way. It'll be easier in the long run."

Dany nodded. "I hope I'll be able to decide these things for myself soon."

Arya smiled sadly. "You'll be a good queen. I must admit, I'll miss having you around."

"I'll miss having a friend by my side." Arya allowed Daenerys to hug her before she left, Rhaegal trailing after her with droopy movements.

The ship departed not long after, leaving Daenerys looking back at the harbour. She wasn't sure if she'd ever be back, and if she'd still love it as much as she did now. This was a place full of memories and happy times, the place where she met her first and only love. The place where she found true happiness and the place where it was torn away from her. She hoped she could look at it with more than just a political view in the future.

The future was blurry and unsure, but it was fast approaching. She wasn't sure whether to embrace it or dread it.

She only hoped that she would do Sansa proud.

She was terrified she wouldn't.