JON

“You did the right thing.” The increasing flames of the poorly lit room confirmed Jon’s suspicion that the Red woman stood behind him. 

“How is she?” He was leaning against the window frame that allowed a beautiful view of the Summer Sea, lurking behind the walls of Volantis. But even if the night was peaceful and the view calming, it was not enough to rally his thoughts. He had not yet managed to wrap his head around everything that happened that day. The fire, the heat, the pain on her face… her eyes. Those blood-red eyes that stroke a fear so deep, that robbed him of all other senses, halting any movement. The sight of her heart burning though her chest will linger in his thoughts for the rest of his days. 

“She still needs to rest, her body is weak. You may see her but you must not go near her.” The tone in Kinvara’s voice told him the seriousness of her guidance. He had not seen Dany since the day he brought her to Volantis. According to the red priestess, now and again, she would wake up, but it would last no longer than a few sips of water. She did not talk, she did not eat… she just slept. And even when she slept, she found no rest, her dreams proving more exhausting than soothing. 

Daario might be gone but his scars remained. Now that he was no longer riding his days away, the wound on his leg finally began to heal, itching more each day. If there was a city he could choose to fall sick in, it would be Volantis. Here, his wound was always clean and the potions he received were making the pain at least bearable. All that however, did not change the impression of the red priests or the Lord of Light that Melisandre left behind, still doubting their honesty and intentions. These people always had some hidden agenda behind every aid they provided and sooner or later, they would ask for it. 

After he tied fresh dressings around his leg, he used his old yellow-sandy shirt to secure them. He had enough of that old wound opening up. He threw on the dark-red garment that the priestess provided him with and went up the dark, spiral stairs leading to the warmest room of all Volantis. Dany’s room.

The girl lying on the bed did not even flinch when the loud cracking broke the silence as he opened the old door. His heart filled with pity the moment he laid eyes on her. This girl was half of the Dany he knew. She was sleeping, yet shivering under the thick furry covers that swallowed her weak, small, drained body. Her face was covered in sweat, pale as a ghost, her once full red lips, now were a dark shade between blue and purple. Her skinny arms were above the covers still carrying crack-shaped scars that resembled purple veins under a thin skin. Remembering the priestesses words, Jon stood still, looking at the girl who was but a shadow of the girl he loved… until he felt his body move forward. He lowered his hand over her forehead. She was burning hot with fever, yet freezing on one of the warmest days Volantis had ever known. He brushed his finger over her cheek, removing the sweat falling in the shape of a tear. He grabbed a chair and sat right next to her bed, taking her boney hand in his. 

Suddenly, he felt fingers wrap around his hand, gripping him tightly, her eyes opened, matching the purple of her lips. Without a word she brought her other hand, grabbing around his wrist, drawing him in, pulling him towards her. Resisting, Jon felt as if his heat slowly began leaving his body. The longer she held him, the more heat traveled from his body to hers, sucking his strength along. Her cheeks slowly changed color, transforming the ghost into a human, the drops of sweat disappeared, her scars began fading, her lips regaining their usual red color. Jon stopped resisting, letting her steal his warmth and strength, leaning towards her closer, until… her eyes began changing. Molten magma drowned her amethysts, swallowing them whole as it completed a full circle around her pupils. Jon’s eyes widened and a familiar fear began suffocating him. When dizziness took over his mind, he tried to pull back, but her hands would not let him, an inhumane strength gripping him tightly. Her touch was becoming unbearably hot, burning her fingerprints in his skin. “Stop!” he yelled but in vain, the wound on his leg pulsing and hurting. Her face was still, peaceful yet terrifying. “Dany!” he tried shaking her but she would not release her only source of life. Had the door not opened, she would have sucked his whole strength until there was no more, trading his life for hers. It took five people to pull them apart. 

“Do you ever listen? I told you not to go near her!” Furious, the priestess entered the room. She took his face in her hands, forcing his eyes open, analyzing them before shoving a potion in his mouth that made him gag. Whatever that disgusting thing was though, it halted his dizziness, slowly bringing his strength back. When he got back onto his own feet and turned to her, Dany’s two amethysts were back showing nothing but confusion. 

“What is happening, where am I?” She had no recollection as if it were someone else sucking the life out of him. The sweat was back, drops trickling down her neck, slowly diving in between her breasts and disappearing under the shirt when she sat up. 

“Do you remember anything?” Jon sat back on the chair next to her bed, carefully holding a safe distance between them. 

Her face frowned at the sight of him. “Your brother nearly killed Drogon, that is what I remember… Perhaps you knew all along why you are here after all.” 

“He is the one who… ” Kinvara tried to explain, but Jon would not have someone else justify his actions, especially not to someone who burned a whole city to the ground without a blink, no matter who she was.

“No, Dany, I am here because I saved your life, I never meant to hurt Drogon nor knew that my brother built new scorpions or that he had an entire army after him. I have been here with you the whole time, a little trust would be appreciated…”

“Trust!?” her eyebrows raised in surprise. “How dare you speak to me about trust?”

“Enough! We have no time for this. Your brother…” The red women turned to him with a look on her face that let him know he won’t like the following one bit. “A raven came this morning… The King is… lost.” Silence filled the room. For a moment, no one moved until Jon got up and stood right in front of the priestess, angrily digging his fingers in her arm. 

“What kind of tricks are you playing now?” Kinvara did not resist his grip, but just stood still, waiting for him to read the honestly in her eyes. Finally, defeated, he loosened his hand and asked “What do you mean lost?” 

“They say he could not be awoken for days now. He is lost in a mind of another. His eyes are white, his heartbeats faint. They believe it was the dragon he tried controlling… to help your sister and his Kingdom… he never woke up.” 

“My sister?” 

After the red woman informed them of everything happening in Westeros, she focused on Dany who looked as shaken as Jon felt. He was half present, half his thoughts were off to the west. “I am afraid the time has come, my Queen.” - “Time for what?” asked Dany.

“The shadows Lands. You must sail further East.”

“East!? Are you mad? She must go west and put an end to the war, she is the only one who can!” Jon raised his voice higher than intended. Turning to Dany, he ignored the priestess’ existence “Dany…” then stopped as if no words were necessary to draw the logical choice. 

“She can’t join or stop that war until she has won the war against herself. Can’t you see her? She nearly drained her own life away, she must learn how to control the fire within. The people of Asshai are the only ones who can guide her through the shadows. You think her body will heal and she will be fine? You think King’s Landing took no toll on her? Has she told you about every restless night since that day? Has she told you how she felt that day?”

Jon laid his eyes over the girl sitting up in her bed, pale and drained, yet beautiful. No… she hasn’t. They were once again making the same mistake they always did… not talk to each other. Had they talked, maybe everything would have been different, maybe nothing would have been different. Maybe heading east was indeed the right decision for her, maybe however that did not mean it was the right decision for him. He distrusted this priestess, refusing to even consider the possibility of his brother being lost, or his sister losing a war against Tormund… his friend. Perhaps leaving this city as soon as possible was in his best interest.

“I can’t stop the war Jon, I can’t do it all again, that much you do know. The matters of the West are no longer my concern.” Dany’s voice became weak or the pain took its toll, Jon could not tell.

Desperation overpowered hesitation and Jon blurred out the words “No longer your concern? You turned their children into ash… you owe it to them…”

Traces of disgust emerged upon Dany’s pale face “My debts were paid the moment you put a knife in my heart.” 

A moment of silence followed, building up a tension that filled the room, like two dragons staring each other before a fight, until Jon broke it. “You say you want to help those who cannot help themselves. In war, many are helpless, Dany. And the time to stop a war is before the war begins.”  disappointment covered his face and he did not even try to conceal it. Why should he? He was disappointed. He knew she was still the girl who not too long ago saved a child’s life. In fact, saved many lives and yet, when it came to helping the people of Westeros she would retreat and refuse. Why? Was it because they never accepted her? She had no love there so now their fate meant nothing to her? Suppose that is fair, perhaps she really does not owe them anything… or was it fear? Was she afraid to go back there? Was the reminder of what she did too painful, or maybe her death? Maybe both? Does she even regret what happened in King’s Landing? Thoughts overflew Jon’s mind but no matter how many questions he had, there was only one person who could give him the right answers and she would not talk to him.

He felt her eyes on him but refused to meet them, maybe that one look would be enough to change his mind. So he stood up, turned his back to her and walked out never looking back.

>> Chapter 28: TYRION