randomosity | [For Jorah] Under the Targaryen Banner

[For Jorah] Under the Targaryen Banner

The rebellion had been crushed.

The Baratheons were punished and Robert was beheaded for leading the charge against the Targaryen banner. Battles had been waged and fought all across Westeros, and luckily for the Targaryens, they had plenty of loyal supporters who fought for them. The Mormont clan were such supporters. Particularly Jorah Mormont, who was knighted by the King when the war was over.

But he didn't stop there.

Jorah's loyalty and devotion to the Targaryen banner was so great and his deeds were so admirable that the King took it a step further. He made Jorah Warden of the North, and sent his youngest child, his daughter Daenerys, to meet Jorah at Winterfell.

Another reward for Ser Jorah Mormont: She was to be his bride.

Daenerys wasn't sure how she felt about the North. On the carriage ride all she did was pull the furs about her tighter, to keep her warm. When they finally arrived at Winterfell, it began to snow lightly all around them. A Gold Cloak had been sent North to see that Daenerys was delivered safely, and he opened the carriage door for her to let her out.

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Daenerys looked to Jorah, her violet eyes wide, as if surprised by the question. But it was fair enough; she bit her lower lip, considering her answer.

"No doubt he could have done the same things...but Rhaegar was not as cruel as Viserys..." Daenerys shook her head. "He would not do these things. He would rule with kindness, but sternness."

She shook her head, burying her face in her hands as she rubbed over her face with her palms. "What am I to do? I cannot abide this..."

Jorah shook his head as he continued to hold her close. "No, what would Rhaegar have done after your brother did these things?" He asked.

He knew his wife was brave and loyal and fought for justice. He could see her leading an army and inspiring warriors to put the seven kingdoms back to how they should be. He was deeply worried that Viserys would send for her to be his wife and find a way to kill him off.

Daenerys thought for a long moment, leaning more into his arms. "...he would stand against Viserys. Well, truly Viserys would not have done this if Rhaegar were alive. But Rhaegar would stand against him and put a stop to his cruelty..."

She looked up to Jorah with glassy eyes. "Is that what I should do?" Daenerys was not certain she could.

Jorah tightened his grip so that she would feel safer in his arms. He listened as she spoke. He turned to look deep into those violet eyes. "You are the mother of Dragons. You managed to bring the North together again. Yes, I think you could." He said as he kissed her forehead.

He brushed some of her hair behind her ear. "No matter what you decide, you will always have me by your side." He paused a moment before adding, "And the men of the north have pledged themselves to you." He said. His wife already had a powerful army at her disposal, along with her dragons. Just a few victories and claiming the eerie would give her a major advantage.

Daenerys cuddled closer to him and pressed her face against the crook of his neck. "You've already fought in a dreadful war, my love," she sighed. "I don't want to think about you going into battle again."

She couldn't stand the idea of losing him. No, not her Jorah. She needed him. Daenerys leaned back and looked up into his eyes. "But I cannot abide his actions. He'll set his eyes on realms outside the Seven Kingdoms at this rate. And those who refuse his service, he'll burn alive..." her voice began to crack, imagining Jorah and the other lords of the North, brought to King's Landing in shackles and put before the dragons, burned alive all while Viserys laughed.

Jorah felt her resistance to diving into a war. He clenched his jaw for a moment before gently looking deep into her eyes. "War will be upon us one way or another. The advantage is that acting sooner would spring surprise on Viserys." He said.

He kissed her forehead gently. "I will never leave your side. I won't go out into battle unless you order me to." He swore to her.

Daenerys nearly burst into tears as he swore himself to her. But slowly she nodded. "...he has to be stopped..."

She looked up with a little more determination. "Will the North stand with us if we oppose Viserys? There will be no quarter if they turn against the South...they have to understand the risk involved..."

Jorah gently brushed the tears from her face as he pressed his forehead to hers. "You are blood of the Dragon Daenerys. You are strong and fierce. You are the only person in the seven kingdoms who can right the wrongs and bring peace back to this world." He said with pure honesty and love.

He smiled when he saw the determination in her eyes. His grin grew slowly as he nodded his head. "The North stands behind YOU. You have won their hearts and respect. The North always remembers and the North is unwaveringly loyal. They will stand by their pledges and fight to the last." He said.

Daenerys was emboldened by his words, but there were lingering facts that she worried about, things from the past. "They would stand behind a Targaryen? I mean...we destroyed the Stark clan during and after the war, and the North was fiercely loyal to me. How can I ask them to match their metal to mine when I come from the clan who slaughtered their own?"

Jorah smiled as he brushed his thumb over her cheek. "Because the house of Stark is ruled by a young lady whom you befriended and honored. They see you as what house Targaryen should be and will look past the faults of your ancestors. They will live a longer, fuller life with you ruling rather than your brother." He answered her simply.

Daenerys looked up to Jorah and took his hands in hers. For a moment she did nothing but stare into his eyes. "You truly think that I can do this? You think that I can defeat my brother if I stand against him?" She pressed her forehead against his. "...I'm scared, my love..."

Jorah held her close as he listened to her speak. He cupped her face gently in his hands as he nodded his head. "I do, with all of my heart believe that you can my love." At her confession of being scared he slid under the blankets to pull her close in a tight hug. "A good leader can sometimes be scared. However, they are not crippled by their fear. They use it to keep themselves in balance to help make better decisions as hey get more difficult." He said.

Daenerys cuddled in closer to him, burying her face into his neck as he held her. "You are right, I know you are. But still..." she was so worried. "I've...I was never raised to be a leader. I was raised to be the good, obedient daughter. I don't know that I have the capacity to lead."

There was no scenario that her father had anticipated in which Daenerys would be ruler. There were two brothers before her that were more than capable and expected to carry on the Tagaryen legacy.

Jorah held her tightly for a moment before pulling back to look into those mesmerizing purple eyes. "You have won over the North. A feat not many have done without violence. That alone speaks of the kind of leader you are and what strength you have going forward. You hatched dragons from what many thought were petrified eggs, and they obey you. If you can make three dragons and the stubborn men of the North follow you...you cannot be stopped." He said.

Daenerys felt overwhelmed from the confidence he gave her. She smiled and leaned up to kiss him. "You seem so sure of me. How can I not be sure of myself in turn?"

She took a deep breath and smiled to him. "So then, what's our first step?" She hadn't been trained on battle tactics or strategies. She knew not where to begin.

Jorah smiled when he saw her mood picking up. "The first step, would be to join me in the great hall and announce that you will not allow your brother to continue his course of action. They will gladly swear fealty to you and some will offer themselves to you as councillors and generals. I know them well enough to point out the ones that are most qualified and trustworthy." He said.

He hoped that the support from the men of the north would truly boost her spirits and her confidence.

Daenerys listened carefully and nodded slowly once he'd finished. She looked up to him and bit her lower lip. "You're with me then, my love?" She moved to wrap her hand around his and laced their fingers. Daenerys likely knew his answer, but wanted to hear it for herself.

He smiled as he took her hand. "I am always with you." He promised. He leaned down to kiss her gently. As he pulled back, he stood with his hand still laced with hers. "Are you ready?"

Daenerys kissed him back, but trembled a little as he stood up. She would have to do this. There would be no turning back if she rose and went down to the great hall with him to make that announcement. She hesitated, and after a long moment, she rose, gripping his hand and nodding slowly.

Jorah smiled and pulled her close to kiss her forehead gently. "You are blood of the dragon." He whispered as he stepped back to offer her his arm. He would lead her down to the great hall. He knew all of the important lords were there already, hoping to hear from the young princess soon.

Daenerys smiled, emboldened by the gesture. She took his arm, then took a deep breath, and followed beside him to the great hall. When she saw all the assembled lords, all the color drained from her face. But she couldn't turn back now. Daenerys took a deep breath and moved forward, just slightly away from Jorah, but not too far.

"My lords," she kept her voice strong. "I come before you this day a proud Targaryen, despite my shame of my brother's behavior. His actions are appalling, and we cannot stand idly by and let him continue in his madness. Were my older brother alive, this would never have happened; but I am grateful somehow, for it. His actions give me the opportunity to make a pledge to you: I will put an end to his reign. I will stop Viserys from hurting anyone else ever again, I will stand against him and lead my dragons to combat all the way to King's Landing, on my own if I must!"

She paused, catching her breath, letting her words sink in.

"I ask you now, who will pledge their metal to mine? Who will stand with me against Viserys? I cannot promise you safety from death, but I can promise you an end to his tyranny should you stand with me!"

Jorah gave her hand a gentle squeeze before stepping back as she walked forward. All of the lords who had gathered grew quiet quickly to listen to her speak. It took just a few moments for them to listen to what she had to say. They sat their silently before each and every lord slowly stood, gathered their swords, and moved to kneel before her. Once they were all before her, they spoke as one. "The North never forgets. The North will stand united with Daenerys Targaryen, the true Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, until victory is won or valiant death greets us."

Jorah took a half step forward to gently touch her elbow. They would wait for her to formally accept their pledge of fealty.

Daenerys held her breath when the silence fell over the room. As the lords drew their swords and pledged themselves to her, she breathed again, and her eyes grew glassy. She was so incredibly grateful, knowing that they supported her.

"Daenerys Targaryen accepts your pledges, together I promise that we will defeat our enemy, even though that enemy is my beloved brother," she would never not love Viserys, even after all his cruelty to her and to the realm. "We will take back the Seven Kingdoms, we will take back what's ours, or we will die together and march valiantly to meet the Seven!"

All of the lords stood and cheered at her words. They began to chant and unite even more behind their young Queen. Jorah stepped forward as the celebrations continued. He went with his wife to sit at the head table as the feast began in earnest. Many of the lords began speaking of how many men (and some women) they could muster for this battle.

Jorah leaned over to whisper into her ear. "Hold my hand the whole evening. I will tap your hand once if you should accept their offers for command and twice if you should recommend a different honor than what they request." He said as he offered his hand for her to take. He would be certain to position their hands where it would be easy for him to do without the lords noticing. He knew she would be worried, and he also knew that she might not follow all of his recommendations. However, he wanted her to know his opinion without appearing uninformed of each lord's strengths and weaknesses before them.

Daenerys followed Jorah to the table and squeezed his hand gently. She smiled to him and whispered her thanks. Daenerys had learned quite a bit of the North from her time here, but there was still much she needed to learn. So the fact that he was offering to help her choose in a way that didn't undermine her meant all the world to Daenerys.

He truly wanted her to succeed on her own merit, not for his laurels.

Dinner had been prepared, thankfully it was a dinner of roast lamb and citrus chicken that Daenerys loved.

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