dancing with our hands tied | r. targaryen

lxxi.

299 A.C.
KING'S LANDING
•••

ON A WARM SUMMER DAY IN KING'S LANDING, SANSA SAT IN A CARRIAGE AS SHE WAITED for Daenerys to return from her flight with Drogon. She'd spent many days waiting for Daenerys and rarely did she ever mind. She always brought a book with her to keep her company.

"What are you reading today, my Lady?" Ser Gerold Hightower, a member of the Kingsguard, questions. Sansa liked Ser Gerold. He was an older member of the Kingsguard and he seemed to not only have the safety of the Targaryens in mind but her own as well.

"Oh, just some old histories," Sansa responds, her cheeks flushing lightly as she clutched the book a little tighter.

"Ah," Ser Gerold says, not pressing at her response, "It's important to educate on the histories or you're destined to repeat it."

"That's what my father says," Sansa says with a small smile.

"You must miss him," Gerold states.

"Dearly," Sansa responds, "I hope to visit soon."

"I hope you get the chance too, my Lady," Ser Gerold responds, and Sansa once again finds a shy smile on her lips.

Their conversation comes to an end as Drogon's cries can be heard nearby. Sansa closes her book and sets it down as she opens the door of her carriage to see Daenerys landing her dragon near the pit. With ease, Daenerys slid off Drogon's back and gently stroked his head.

The Dragonkeepers watched but didn't approach the dragon, knowing that as soon as Daenerys turned her back, the dragon would fly off to Dragonstone and return to his nest in the Dragonmont.

Daenerys spent a moment with Drogon before giving him a pat and turning away as she slid her riding gloves from her hand. She wasn't surprised to see Sansa standing there with a smile on her lips.

"How was the flight?" Sansa asks.

"Quite well," Daenerys responds with a smile, "Drogon is nearly big enough to seat us both."

"The main word in that sentence being nearly," Sansa retorts.

"Don't tell me you're scared," Daenerys teases.

"I am not," Sansa responds, "I just – I quite enjoy the ground."

"And you will quite enjoy the sky," Daenerys tells her, "As soon as Drogon is big enough, you and I are flying North."

"Isn't that a bit of a long flight?" Sansa asks, "Especially for a first time?"

"Yes," Daenerys states, "But you'll get used to it rather quickly."

Sansa rolls her eyes, "Come, apparently your father has some big news that he wants to share with everyone."

"His big news is that he is disappointed in Rhaegar," Daenerys states, "Now that we've covered that, would you like to go sit in the Godswood with me?"

"Daenerys," Sansa says firmly.

"Sansa," Daenerys responds, quirking a brow.

"I think His Grace may have something important to say. Besides, the Hightower and Tyrell parties are arriving today. Your father intends to host them for dinner this evening. He's hoping to either find a lady in waiting for your sister or a wife for Viserys."

"Well, I know the Hightower girls and I don't think they'd be good at either," Daenerys responds.

It wasn't the first time Sansa had heard of Daenerys's dislike for the Hightower sisters. Jocelyn and Elaena were their names. They had been in King's Landing before Sansa's arrival. From how Princess Shaena, Daenerys's elder sister, spoke about them, Daenerys had never gotten along with the girls, even as children.