Unexpected Loyalties || A Sansa x Daenerys FanFic (Daensa)

Chapter 6

The following morning Sansa broke fast in the Great Hall, sitting alone. Jon had left early to attend to training sessions in the soldiers' camps and her plan was to tour the keep and update herself on the progress of the rebuilding.

Daenerys walked in with Missandei at her side. Their eyes met and she walked towards Sansa.

"Lady Sansa, I apologize again for my unavailability yesterday. I was hoping we could continue our walks together today?"

"Of course, your Grace," Sansa replied, somewhat relieved that Daenerys had been the one to approach her and not the other way around which meant she hadn't scared her off completely. "It'll be a short morning's walk around the keep as I am told we will have more petitioners from the smallfolk today. Now that the dead are gone, people want to head back to their homes, or what's left of them anyway, and they want supplies."

"I don't blame them. Winterfell is majestic but home is home."

Daenerys's gaze was warm and inviting and it took Sansa's breath away. No... I will not lose myself today. Steeling herself, she stood up.

"Are you ready now? I was going to leave directly from here," said Sansa.

"Lead the way, Lady Sansa. Missandei will accompany us, if you don't mind," Daenerys said.

"Not at all, your Grace," answered Sansa, glad to not have to be alone with her but she also wondered if Daenerys invited Missandei because she, too, was afraid to be alone with Sansa.

"I also wanted to let you know that I've given the order for a portion of my armies to depart for White Harbor. Your men will get the rest I promised them but my own men have imposed upon your hospitality long enough. I have also ordered shipments of food from Dragonstone as well as Meereen be sent here to Winterfell as a thank you for providing for us and to make up for my own shortsightedness; we brought supplies but we should have brought more."

Sansa was too shocked to speak. It was more than she expected and not something she'd asked for. She tried to work out what was behind Daenerys's generosity, what she would be getting out of it. Staring at her, she saw a patient smile for of course Daenerys would expect her suspicions to be raised. Sansa smiled in return and gave a small laugh.

"I should worry that you read me too well but I want to thank you just the same. Our stores are nowhere near the levels they should be for this winter and your shipments will be very much appreciated."

"Your people are my people, Lady Sansa," replied Daenerys. The words had no edge to them and she knew they were meant kindly but Sansa felt the wall between them come up once again, a reminder that the North was not free and she tried to harden herself against these displays of generosity. Gain her trust but don't give her all of mine.

The walk around the keep was quick and full of sweet politeness that rang false. Sansa was trying to be civil without getting too personal because she didn't want to like Daenerys any more than she already did. Anytime she looked at Daenerys she was reminded of how she'd undressed in front of her. It was only her upper back but to Sansa she may as well have been naked and she was trying to forget that other thoughts had crossed her mind as well. Unfortunately, polite civility couldn't get Daenerys to let her guard down the way she had the first day. Today was all manners and awkward silences, a pleasant aloofness that would be fine with anyone else but would not be enough to guarantee Daenerys would continue wanting to spend these days with her.

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To say that Daenerys was disappointed by the last few days with Sansa would be an understatement. The tour of the keep had been pleasant enough and Daenerys had tried to look interested as Sansa shared some of Winterfell's history. But watching her discuss plans with builders was not very stimulating. Sansa treated her like a guest instead of a friend. But she also had to admit to herself that she didn't try very hard to be treated otherwise. The next day was more of the same when they had toured a bit of the soldiers' camps. Daenerys had been happy to see that some of her Unsullied and Dothraki soldiers had seemed to be getting along a bit better with the northmen but Sansa remained distant. The day after that had gone better but only because they went back to Winter town and their attentions were on conversing with the various people they encountered there. She'd even brought two guards this time instead of four to make it less intimidating. Their interactions with each other remained stilted and uncomfortable. If only she and Sansa could get back to the easiness of that first day in Winter town. For some reason neither of them could get past what had happened between them that night in her solar. The awkwardness of how personal Sansa had gotten, baring her scars as she did, the silky skin beneath her fingertips. She didn't feel the same way, she reminded herself, shaking her head.