Chapter Text
They stood together in the ruined throne room. He smelled the burned city, even as ash and snow drifted over them. He realised how frail she had become, eyes hollowed, with lines across her face that were never there when they first met at Dragonstone. One betrayal after another had broken her, until she had opened the gates of hell to the people of Kings Landing. She had burned thousands, even as her army and his had murdered and raped their way across the city. She smiled at him, innocent, girlish even, before remarking,
"It's not easy to see something that's never been before. A good world."
"How do you know. How do you know it'll be good."
"Because I know what's good. And so do you."
"And what about all the others Those who think they know what's good."
"They don't get to choose." It was hopeless, Jon knew. The woman he loved would burn the world, thinking she was making it a better place.
He held her tight. He would die, moments after her, he knew. Slain either by Drogon or the Unsullied. "You are my Queen, now and always", he lied, before kissing her, and then thrusting his dagger into her heart. Only for his weapon to snag on the mail that was sewn into her dress. He recoiled, as she struck him across the face. Now she confronted him, eyes blazing, a dagger of her own in her hand.
"Jon Snow, a man so honourable that he couldn't lie to Cersei, but quite willing to murder his own kin! His own queen! More fool I to trust you. But, even I'm not such a fool as to leave myself defenceless in a city I've put to the sack. Torgho Nudho!" The Unsullied darted into the room, spear in hand, with several of his men. "Place Jon Snow under arrest. Ensure he comes to no harm." Grey Worm trussed his hands together, glaring hate, as he made no effort to resist. It was over now. He would die, and his family would be slaughtered. Then he was led away,
And so he had remained, captive, for more than three months. He had first been confined to a chamber in the Maidenvault, left undamaged in the sack. Later, he had been taken on board ship to Dragonstone, where it seemed his aunt had taken up residence. He could not say he had been ill-treated. He had been confined to the chambers he had stayed in when he first travelled there, months ago. He was allowed to exercise. Grey Worm, and other officials serving the Queen, had come to interrogate him from time to time. But never the Queen. Until now. "Out now. The Queen's Grace requires your presence" said Grey Worm. The man still hated him, would gladly slay him if ordered. He followed him through the castle, until they reached the Painted Chamber. And there she was, his Queen. Unsullied guards stood around the walls of the chamber. She had put on weight, a lot of weight, since their last meeting, and wore a loose fitting dress. She glared at him like a basilisk. A servant brought in a silver pot of coffee, and poured for her. Quite pointedly, he was offered nothing.
"I suppose you wish to know why you're here. What I have planned for you. I'd happily have flayed you alive, for what you did. But it would hardly do, would it?" He waited for her to explain, puzzled now. He sensed she enjoyed drawing it out, a thin smile on her face. "How could I explain to my child, in years to come, that I had put their father to death?" It felt like a gut punch. "Yes, Jon Snow, you utter disgrace to our family. Not only did you try to murder me, you tried to murder your own child."
”Gods, I never knew! I would never…” “
”have done your duty? I’m surprised. What after all is the life of a bastard born of incest, an abomination, when set against the lives of your true born siblings and the noble heir to Casterly Rock?”
”Dany, how can you say that? Hate me all you wish. I deserve nothing less. But accept this at least. I would never have murdered my child!”
”Dany? Call me by that name just one more time, and I’ll have your tongue ripped out. I wish I could believe you, but I’m afraid I don’t. You’re so desperate to be a true born Stark, there’s nothing you won’t do to win the approval of your bitch sisters. You filthy, fucking, treacherous bastard! How could you! How could you!”
Da- I mean your Grace, you burned a city! I heard you speak. You said you’d never stop, until the world was liberated. What choice did you give me?”
”The choice to rule alongside me. You turned it down, remember? “ She calmed herself, before speaking more evenly. “You need have no fears that I’ll seek to liberate anyone in the future. Your family and your people cured me of such naivety. Your Dany was a stupid little girl. I’ve grown up since we last met. It turns out there’s quite an advantage to having the world calling you The Queen of the Ashes. The lords of this land have been falling over themselves to pledge fealty since I burned Kings Landing. I've been bringing in more soldiers from the East, and settling my Dothraki in the Reach. They're all loyal to me, and they're more than willing to crush dissent among the local population."
“And what of my sisters?” asked Jon, quietly.
”All in good time. First, the Imp. You begged me to spare his life. You’ll be pleased to learn that I did so. He’s still alive, if a little…uncomfortable. He’s living in a cage above the Lion Gate; minus eyes, lips, tongue, and various other body parts.” He felt his gorge rise at this. "Now, your friend Tarly. He'd got it into his head that he could take a paramour and father a child, despite his Nights Watch vows, and he even expected to inherit Horn Hill. He forgot that his father and brother were a pair of traitors, who rejected my offer of clemency. Horn Hill is forfeit to the crown, although I will allow his mother and sister to reside there. They are not to blame for the actions of their menfolk, any more than any other woman is. Anyway, the Nights Watch still continues, in a fashion, and I sent him back to Castle Black, to fulfill his oaths. However, I did have him gelded beforehand, lest he be tempted to break them again. I'm pleased to say, he survived the operation."
"You disgust me," was all Jon could say. Daenerys laughed.
"I'm well aware of that, Jon. Now, as for your sisters, you'll be interested to learn, we reached an accommodation. I offered Sansa the crown she hungered for. In return, she agreed to renounce any rights she might have, to inherit either the Riverlands or the Vale." Jon couldn't contain his surprise.
"What does it benefit me to rule a frozen wilderness, populated by treacherous ingrates? I wish dearest Sansa joy of them. Of course she will learn, sooner or later, that the bargain I struck with Yara Greyjoy, of independence in return for an end to reaving, does not extend to the Northern Kingdom. I imagine she'll come to regret her lack of a navy. Nor will she find the merchants of the Reach sympathetic, during times of famine."
"You'd let innocent people starve, and suffer at the hands of pirates?" snapped Jon.
"I'd let them find out what their precious independence entails", she replied. "As for Arya, she is a worry, I'll admit. However, she's not the only Faceless assassin in the world. It turns out the House of Black and White were not at all happy that she used her training there for selfish ends. It turns out they were founded by escaped slaves, and they welcomed what I achieved in the East. They have offered me their protection, and several of their people have taken service among my guards. If your sister comes for me, she'll have to go through them. And, there's another thing. I have made it very clear to Sansa that if I die, so do you. With every refinement of cruelty. I'm sure she'll have made that clear to Arya. You know, I did expect that Sansa would try to bargain for your freedom, but she seemed very willing to give you up, so long as she got her crown."
"So finally, what am I to do with you? "
"I think I've worked out, you aren't going to kill me."
"You do know something, after all, Jon Snow. No, I'm not going to kill you. I'm going to do something far worse. I'm going to marry you. " She smiled nastily, at Jon's surprise. "I don't want our child to grow up a bastard in the eyes of the world. One day, they'll rule this land, and ride Drogon. Even if I issued a decree of legitimacy, there would always be those who murmured of bastardy. You and I will wed publicly, and appear together on state occasions. But, that aside, we will lead entirely separate lives. Even I'm not cruel enough to make you lie with a woman you loathe. You'll be invested as Prince of Dragonstone, and here you will remain, under guard, but treated with honour. You will enjoy all the privileges of royalty, but you will play no part in the government of my Realm. And, you will play no part whatsoever in the upbringing of our child. You lost that right forever, when you tried to plunge a dagger in me!"
"And if I refuse to marry you?" She laughed.
"If you refuse? Well, I could make your conditions a lot less comfortable. But, whatever your faults, I know you're not a coward. Let's just say, I know you won't refuse, because you won't want your child to suffer." She was right, he would not. "I wouldn't be too upset Jon. Plenty of married couples in this world hate each other, but they still see political advantage to their union. I won't expect fidelity from you, and I certainly won't be displaying it, either. There are worse fates than yours or mine; much worse."
And that, he reflected later, was the bitter truth. He and Daenerys were locked together, in a mutual bond of hate, until the end of their days.