Game of Dragonborn. [BOOK 1/2]

Chapter 184 - Settling into Winterfell.

[Chapter Size: 2600 Words.]

Third Person POV.

North.

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The days passed in Winterfell as Daenerys grew accustomed to her new routine.

She couldn't deny she was enchanted by the Stark castle. The weather was gray, the atmosphere somber, and the people reserved and cautious, especially with strangers — yet, there was still beauty there. It was the first castle she had truly been in within Westeros, if one didn't count the Wall...

Daemon had made Ser Barristan Selmy swear to protect her — and now he watched her with even more zeal than Daemon himself, who refused protection for obvious reasons. No one would dare touch him. No one could.

On that first night in Winterfell, Daemon had taken her to dinner after asking the servants to prepare a bath and set aside the dress he had once bought in Braavos — Myrish silk.

The first night had been somewhat frightening for Daenerys. She wasn't used to the lords of the North, facing nobility for the first time as a queen — which was very different from dealing with the free folk — especially when everyone present watched her with suspicion.

They seemed to wonder if she was an enemy... perhaps someone who had inherited her father's madness...

She was nervous. Every gaze in the hall was fixed upon them. Val and Ygritte were seated beside her, and Daenerys sat to Daemon's right, officially taking her place as queen beside him.

Val had told her not to mind the curious stares, while Daemon, with calm assurance, said everything was fine — no one would dare say anything in his presence.

To Daemon's left sat Robb Stark. Even after everything, Daemon had still placed him at the high table as lord of Winterfell, though it was obvious he no longer held any true power over the castle — not while Daemon had yet to decide what to do with House Stark. None of the lords complained, but Daenerys could see in some of their glances a hint of frustration directed at Robb — perhaps even contempt. They were angry at him for his failure in the South.

As the night went on, the men began to drink and talk, though suspicious looks lingered. That had been only the first night, but soon Daenerys began to grow accustomed to the place.

In the days that followed, a routine was established. Upon waking, she often found Daemon overseeing the castle's affairs or training alongside the men of the North. He also had the free folk train beside them — a way to bring the two groups closer together, still tense in each other's presence. Daemon also sparred often with Val, and Daenerys couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy whenever she found them smiling at each other after training. It was something she could never have with Daemon, for she didn't know how to fight, nor was she as fierce as Val — or even Ygritte.

Daenerys tried to speak with the Northern ladies who remained in Winterfell. Lady Cerwyn was among the most open and friendly, though, like all Northerners, she too showed a certain distrust. Lady Glover certainly didn't hold a very friendly opinion of Daenerys; she kept her respect, but couldn't hide the faint look of displeasure on her face whenever she spoke to her.

The glances and whispers were always there, but a single stern look from Daemon — or even from his guards — was enough to silence them immediately. Daemon had told her that the Northerners would distrust her and even him for being Targaryens; they would have to live with that until they managed to change their minds. They respected Daemon for what he had done, but Daenerys, as the daughter of the Mad King, still had to earn that respect — even if she was Daemon's future wife.