Of course they are going to object. She wanted to feel embittered by the very notion, but understood she couldn't. She's had her own objections, after all. She can't strip from others their free will. As is their right.
When he continued, clarified his hesitance, her expression turned and softened, sympathetic to his cause. She had been no stranger to others attempting to kill her, but his own men succeeded. How he can be standing in front of her now speaks of a magic she can hardly know or understand. Perhaps a magic akin to that which both gave and took away Drogo. She didn't dare pry where she felt she didn't need to be, but knew well enough she'd be asking him of it later. Another time. Another circumstance.
"One step at a time," she finally managed to reply, reaching over to take his hands into her own gently.
Everything he said toppled right out of him. If he constantly looked at each and every thing at the same time, he would only overwhelm himself. She had something he didn't—Tyrion and Jorah, advisers. Those with whom she could share her thoughts. Those who would help guide her. In the end, she would not have been where she was without them.
"Express to them rough plans to address defences and fortifying Winterfell. You are not here on your own. I came here to help however you may need it. That does include your people in addition to mine. Mine can gather firewood. I am not above doing what is necessary. You cannot be everywhere at once. I am here to shoulder some of that burden, that you not think you must carry everything in solitude."
Daenerys shook her head at him with just a touch of disappointment, though she understood very well where it came from. His father would have carried all things, she was certain, and without complaint. Although surely he too had someone to share his concerns with...
"Those I brought with me here can also help assist with the defences. We may not be accustomed to the winter, but they will do as they are bid to. We can and will find a way. Perhaps we start with the beginning of all of this, and how to address your people. I am here for you, am I not? We tell them as such. They are as much my people as they are yours. I will care for them as though they are mine."
It staggers how much her touch can center him and feel more like home than anywhere else he's been. This isn't the time to reflect on his heart or feelings for her, but sometimes they were so overwhelming, it left him dazed and breathless. She was more than his queen, she was someone he was searching for his entire life. His fingers squeezed her, his breath becoming steadier under her gentle encouragement. His thoughts were spinning, a cacophony noise that had no real discernable words, just emotions of anxiety, worry and fear. There was no one to share it with, not at Castle Black really or after he left. Suddenly, there was Dany. She understood, she knew the burdens of this position. That was a relief in and of itself.
He nodded, pressing his brow to hers for a moment before pulling back to meet her eyes. "If we send some of your people to go into the forests, we will need a few Northerners to at least direct them. Your men can take care of themselves, but it's easy to get lost or overrun by bands of wolves." It was still a good idea. It would let some of his people work on simple fortification. "Ser Jorah wouldn't be offended if I we ask him to direct the efforts? You trust him and he knows this land well." Even if he had lived away from the North for some time.
"We should have him present with the Northern Lords." His reputation was tarnished, true, but he was still a Northerner at heart. He might have some sway with his House or otherwise. What mattered was having someone else from the North that added their voice to Jon's, insisting that Dany was the right person to lead them.
"It will be easier to begin assigning certain duties to our people once we meet with them and manage to placate them." Which wasn't something he was looking forward to. "Northerners bent the knee for dragons before, it can be stomached by them." Even if he was likely going to be the Second King that Knelt. "Beyond explaining the reasons, if I do a more public swearing to you, it might do some good. They will hear you vow yourself to look after them and take their interests into account."
He didn't have need to air his concerns. Daenerys saw them in the dark of his eyes as though they were simply writ across the features of his face. She saw the reflection of her own struggles. The complications of leading people. The adversity that came with being a leader. One could say that a lord, a king, a queen, a lady had all of luxuries, but though the hardships were different from that of someone without some influence, it was still fraught with dangers and obstacles.
She thought of Jorah and what he might prefer in the north. Perhaps he missed his homeland. Perhaps not, considering he had been disgraced given his history. But perhaps some part of him still longed for the land from which he and his had come. In some ways, Daenerys believed she had felt attached to what she believed was her home as well, even if she was born far from it. Even if it was home only by birthright. Home was more than a place as well. It was an idea. It was people. Locale rarely had anything to do with it.
And by that respect, where was Daenerys' home now?
"No," she replied as she shook her head. "If I ask it of him, he would oblige." Likely without argument at that. Daenerys suspected she could ask nigh anything of him and he would go along with it. Perhaps not without offering some of his advice, but he would still follow the wishes of his queen. She found herself nodding in agreement when he continued. "We should, yes, provided you do not think that would cause difficulty. I understand his relationship with the north is a strained one, at the very least."
Her chin dipped, considering what more he had to present to her. It was pertinent that she thought of all sides. How such actions reflected on him. If something she said or did could represent poorly. Regardless of her own position in things as they were, she could never let down her guard fully. And she could never have Jon thinking that she wasn't acting with him in mind. Even if she didn't necessarily treat him as paramount, he remained a foreground priority. Him and his desires.
"I would prefer it if they did not merely stomach or endure pledging loyalty to me. I am not a tyrant queen. I wish to protect them, to care for them. I must be able to show them so in time. I require their patience and the opportunity to do so. As such, I intend to be as involved as those I have brought with me. Whether that is gathering firewood or attending meetings, I will do as necessary to show my dedication to the cause."
He wanted the Northerners to do more than stomach her as well. He had hoped that they would be more open to her, given what she was bringing them. Many of the men who fought in Robert's Rebellion were dead now. The few that still lived only heard of Aerys, never really seeing him or his actions. Still, the lies of Robert ran deep. They likely would side eye Dany for some time and watch every move she made. Once the war started, everything would change, but it wasn't a terrible idea for her to be involved, so long as she was prepared for hostility to begin with.
"There's a lot of work to do, so having you join would be appreciated." He was hesitant to expose her to all that labor, but he knew that she wasn't some delicate flower. She didn't simply oversee things, she endured alongside her followers. It was one of the reasons he respected her as a ruler. She didn't watch from a balcony, she was at their side. "We can at least start with firewood and other provisions. It's nothing too strenuous. Number keeping, distributing, that sort of work."
Which she would be fairly good with, he knew. "What do you think about another public declaration? Something that the Northern lords could witness?" And perhaps come to accept. He'd be the second king that knelt, but it would at least be somewhat familiar for them. Perhaps reminding them of these stories they all grew up with.
Number keeping. Distributing. Such simple things, and she understood to some degree, perhaps he didn't like the idea of her getting so involved. It may have been his means of compromise. He understood well enough that Daenerys would sink herself full in alongside those that followed her to empathise better and to lead them with her heart, rather than with purely political mind of royalty that couldn't well understand the plights of their followers.
Her head tipped thoughtfully, wondering if she ought to contest that she was capable of more strenuous labour as well, but decided that if such an opportunity came up, she was going to pursue it with or without discussion. It helped that he broke into her thoughts with talk of public declarations. She didn't require a lengthy explanation over what he was implying. Her response was not immediate, instead prying her gaze from his handsomely sculpted face and past him in their solitude.
"Is that safe?" she asked him quietly, realising that there would, undoubtedly, be repercussions for such a spectacle. Not necessarily for her, but again, another situation where if there was to be a line of fire, Jon was very willing to put himself between her and whatever that might have been. She could admire his adamant devotion to her, but at the same time, she'd had plenty of blood on her hands, and Daenerys took very little pleasure in the idea of sacrifices.
There were already so many people she had been unable to save. What if she failed to save him as well? It was a weighted and real concern.
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songofmusebox2021-10-24 07:37 am
no subject
When he continued, clarified his hesitance, her expression turned and softened, sympathetic to his cause. She had been no stranger to others attempting to kill her, but his own men succeeded. How he can be standing in front of her now speaks of a magic she can hardly know or understand. Perhaps a magic akin to that which both gave and took away Drogo. She didn't dare pry where she felt she didn't need to be, but knew well enough she'd be asking him of it later. Another time. Another circumstance.
"One step at a time," she finally managed to reply, reaching over to take his hands into her own gently.
Everything he said toppled right out of him. If he constantly looked at each and every thing at the same time, he would only overwhelm himself. She had something he didn't—Tyrion and Jorah, advisers. Those with whom she could share her thoughts. Those who would help guide her. In the end, she would not have been where she was without them.
"Express to them rough plans to address defences and fortifying Winterfell. You are not here on your own. I came here to help however you may need it. That does include your people in addition to mine. Mine can gather firewood. I am not above doing what is necessary. You cannot be everywhere at once. I am here to shoulder some of that burden, that you not think you must carry everything in solitude."
Daenerys shook her head at him with just a touch of disappointment, though she understood very well where it came from. His father would have carried all things, she was certain, and without complaint. Although surely he too had someone to share his concerns with...
"Those I brought with me here can also help assist with the defences. We may not be accustomed to the winter, but they will do as they are bid to. We can and will find a way. Perhaps we start with the beginning of all of this, and how to address your people. I am here for you, am I not? We tell them as such. They are as much my people as they are yours. I will care for them as though they are mine."
no subject
He nodded, pressing his brow to hers for a moment before pulling back to meet her eyes. "If we send some of your people to go into the forests, we will need a few Northerners to at least direct them. Your men can take care of themselves, but it's easy to get lost or overrun by bands of wolves." It was still a good idea. It would let some of his people work on simple fortification. "Ser Jorah wouldn't be offended if I we ask him to direct the efforts? You trust him and he knows this land well." Even if he had lived away from the North for some time.
"We should have him present with the Northern Lords." His reputation was tarnished, true, but he was still a Northerner at heart. He might have some sway with his House or otherwise. What mattered was having someone else from the North that added their voice to Jon's, insisting that Dany was the right person to lead them.
"It will be easier to begin assigning certain duties to our people once we meet with them and manage to placate them." Which wasn't something he was looking forward to. "Northerners bent the knee for dragons before, it can be stomached by them." Even if he was likely going to be the Second King that Knelt. "Beyond explaining the reasons, if I do a more public swearing to you, it might do some good. They will hear you vow yourself to look after them and take their interests into account."
no subject
She thought of Jorah and what he might prefer in the north. Perhaps he missed his homeland. Perhaps not, considering he had been disgraced given his history. But perhaps some part of him still longed for the land from which he and his had come. In some ways, Daenerys believed she had felt attached to what she believed was her home as well, even if she was born far from it. Even if it was home only by birthright. Home was more than a place as well. It was an idea. It was people. Locale rarely had anything to do with it.
And by that respect, where was Daenerys' home now?
"No," she replied as she shook her head. "If I ask it of him, he would oblige." Likely without argument at that. Daenerys suspected she could ask nigh anything of him and he would go along with it. Perhaps not without offering some of his advice, but he would still follow the wishes of his queen. She found herself nodding in agreement when he continued. "We should, yes, provided you do not think that would cause difficulty. I understand his relationship with the north is a strained one, at the very least."
Her chin dipped, considering what more he had to present to her. It was pertinent that she thought of all sides. How such actions reflected on him. If something she said or did could represent poorly. Regardless of her own position in things as they were, she could never let down her guard fully. And she could never have Jon thinking that she wasn't acting with him in mind. Even if she didn't necessarily treat him as paramount, he remained a foreground priority. Him and his desires.
"I would prefer it if they did not merely stomach or endure pledging loyalty to me. I am not a tyrant queen. I wish to protect them, to care for them. I must be able to show them so in time. I require their patience and the opportunity to do so. As such, I intend to be as involved as those I have brought with me. Whether that is gathering firewood or attending meetings, I will do as necessary to show my dedication to the cause."
no subject
"There's a lot of work to do, so having you join would be appreciated." He was hesitant to expose her to all that labor, but he knew that she wasn't some delicate flower. She didn't simply oversee things, she endured alongside her followers. It was one of the reasons he respected her as a ruler. She didn't watch from a balcony, she was at their side. "We can at least start with firewood and other provisions. It's nothing too strenuous. Number keeping, distributing, that sort of work."
Which she would be fairly good with, he knew. "What do you think about another public declaration? Something that the Northern lords could witness?" And perhaps come to accept. He'd be the second king that knelt, but it would at least be somewhat familiar for them. Perhaps reminding them of these stories they all grew up with.
no subject
Her head tipped thoughtfully, wondering if she ought to contest that she was capable of more strenuous labour as well, but decided that if such an opportunity came up, she was going to pursue it with or without discussion. It helped that he broke into her thoughts with talk of public declarations. She didn't require a lengthy explanation over what he was implying. Her response was not immediate, instead prying her gaze from his handsomely sculpted face and past him in their solitude.
"Is that safe?" she asked him quietly, realising that there would, undoubtedly, be repercussions for such a spectacle. Not necessarily for her, but again, another situation where if there was to be a line of fire, Jon was very willing to put himself between her and whatever that might have been. She could admire his adamant devotion to her, but at the same time, she'd had plenty of blood on her hands, and Daenerys took very little pleasure in the idea of sacrifices.
There were already so many people she had been unable to save. What if she failed to save him as well? It was a weighted and real concern.