After meeting with the lords Daenerys sent groups of her men south to meet with men from the northern houses near Moat Cailin, ordered to leave as soon as the ravens reached their lands. Only a small amount of northerners would travel south with the Dothraki and Unsullied as guides in act of unity and to help converse with the southron lords they were set to meet.
Ravens traveled across Westeros ordering every house loyal to them north for the march on the Wall. Few would stay behind to prepare for the eventual march south. When Cersei came to claim what she thought was hers they could either accept it and play her loyal servant or hide themselves, send their families north to safety beyond the manned Moat Cailin.
The lords seemed to take news of his second betrothal well enough. They'd noticed some seemed relieved he wasn't abandoning Sansa. Though they'd all seen him take the dragon's blood, when asked what it was for they were told it was for the war effort.
At first Jon had intended to spend the day helping Gendry at the forge but Arya had been with him since that morning so he let them have their time alone. He was only forging daggers for now to use as little material as possible, but apparently even that would take most of the day.
With the lords busy preparing their houses, Jon assumed Sansa would want to spend time with him but found her heading toward the library with Tyrion.
"I asked Lord Tyrion to help me figure out how to improve our glass garden and hopefully make future ones easier to build."
Jon smiled, remembering her efforts to start construction on others while he'd been away. "I'm sure if there's a way you'll find it."
"Your grace," Tyrion said with a nod before following Sansa down the corridor.
Though he didn't want to presume she would answer his call and didn't want to interrupt whatever she might be doing, Jon found Willam in the yard and waved him over. "I need a favor."
"Anything, your grace," the bastard squire nodded.
"Go find Missandei. Ask her if Daenrys would be available for a ride or whatever she might enjoy. It seems I have a rare afternoon free." Seeing the boy's grin, Jon shot him a playfully warning glare. "A word and I'll have you shining armor for all the north."
Willam mimed locking his lips before taking off to achieve his task.
Jon took the chance to watch a few of the children training, holding back a laugh when he noticed them trying harder since his arrival.
When Willam returned he did so alone, but with a slight grin. Jon gave the boy he was helping a pat on the back and made his way to his squire. "She said yes, she'll go for a ride, but she has to change. Said she'll meet you at the stables."
"Good." Jon nodded. "Come help me prepare our horses."
Willam followed Jon to the stables, helping him saddle the horses and even brushing them quickly before they heard Daenerys approaching with Jorah at her side. Jon winced internally, having forgotten she had her own personal guard who would want to join them. A quick look to Willam was enough for the squire to hurriedly prepare a third horse.
He was just securing the saddle when they arrived. "Daenerys," Jon said with a nod to them, "Ser Jorah."
"Your grace," Jorah said with a quick bow of his head.
"I hope you don't mind," Daenerys said with an apologetic smile. "Though I suppose I am technically no longer a queen, he is still my guard."
"Of course not," Jon assured. "Sansa has her sworn sword and fireguard, I understand."
"And you?" asked Daenerys, with a glance to Willam.
"No," Jon said shaking his head as Willam brought the horses out for them. "Willam here is more a squire." He returned his gaze to his companions and smirked. "I know I'll surely end up forming a kingsguard in time, but I feel I should hold off as long as I can, if only to keep the few solitary moments I have."
Daenerys snickered. "I can understand that."
Taking the reins from Willam, who bowed and hurried of, Jon looked to Daenerys. Before he could even offer to help her up she'd mounted the gray mare with ease. Jon gave an impressed nod before turning to mount his own while Jorah did the same with his.
Jon doubted he would ever feel quite right with how people stopped to look at him, but being propped up on a horse just made him feel easier to gawk upon. Thankfully it wasn't long before they made it through the gates and took a path Jon remembered enjoying when he was younger.
"I suppose being Khalessi means it's only natural you seem so at ease on a horse," Jon said trotting beside her.
Daenerys chuckled. "I've ridden for months on end, from day to night, even while pregnant. If I didn't know how to ride by now I'd be a poor khalessi."
Jon nodded. "I can't imagine you knew their language as a child. How long did it take you to learn?"
Daenerys turned to him. "I had skilled instructors. I could say a few key words once they told me, but it took months to not second guess everything I said."
Jon looked back to Jorah. "What about yourself, Ser Jorah? Did you learn the language?"
Jorah seemed shocked at his inclusion. "I did, your grace. As you know… I spent a long time in Essos. I couldn't keep to our tongue without worry I was being robbed in every exchange, so I learned what I could."
Daenerys looked from Jorah to Jon. "Would you like to learn?"
A wary smile flashed across his lips. "I doubt I have the mind for it, but I'd be willing to try. Better to be able to speak with the men I'll be fighting alongside at the very least."
"I could give you a few lessons," said Daenerys, "though I imagine Missandei might be a better teacher."
"Whichever you think best," he said, placing the final decision on her.
They soon arrived at a large clearing with a stream Jon remembered only filled after snow fell. Even summer snows would leave it dry, but they were firmly in winter so they heard the trickle of chilled water as they dismounted. The woods around them were white with snow that crunched and shifted with ease underfoot.
"It's beautiful," Daenerys said turning to take it all in.
"Few things compare," he said with a smile, watching her smile as she walked to the stream.
Daenerys looked to him with a smirk before turning to them. "Jorah, could you take the horses back to Winterfell for us?"
Both men glanced at each other. "You grace? You can't expect to walk back, not in this cold."
"We won't walk," Daenerys said looking up, "we'll fly and meet you there."
Jon raised his chin slightly while Jorah started to gather their horses before mounting his own. With a glance to them he sighed, giving Jon a firm nod as if to say, "She's in your care now."
Returning the nod, Jon watched Jorah leave before turning to Daenerys, who raised her hand and seemed to whisper. Somehow that was enough for the three dragons to descend, landing in the clearing and blowing away all the loose snow around them.
All three watched them warily while Viserion was the first to approach Daenerys, keeping his eyes on Jon. Daenerys chuckled seeing Jon frown at the dragon's apparent dislike of him, so once she had her hand to the dragons snout she waved Jon over.
Making his way to the creature's head, Jon removed his glove and carefully placed his hand on it's snout while meeting it's eye. "I'm sorry about before," he told the dragon, "but it's going to help us. I promise."
Viserion's eyes had narrowed slightly, shifting toward Daenerys briefly before turning back to Jon and letting out a warm breath through it's nostrils, pressing it's snout into his hand slightly.
Once Viserion backed away, Jon looked to Drogon, who had raised his head to observe them. He sniffed slightly, his eyes focused on Jon before making his way toward them and looking him over. His eyes turned to Daenerys then, who smiled as Jon again rubbed the scales of Drogon's snout.
The shift of snow behind them made them turn to find Rhaegal approaching, his eyes shifting between the two before looking at Drogon and Viserion. They seemed to watch Rhaegal as he approached the Targaryens.
Daenerys easily reached out to rub his snout as he sniffed. "Don't feel left out," she told him, "we haven't forgotten you."
Though she spoke, Rhaegal's eyes had drifted to Jon, watching his palm rub the scales above his mouth. Jon met the creature's eyes and in the distance heard a wolf howl as Rhaegal shifted, forcing Jon's hand away while turning from Daenerys.
Her confusion lasted until the green and bronze dragon forcefully pressed his right wing down in front of Jon and lowered itself much as Drogon had for her. She let out a gasp while Jon looked confused. Her hand rose to her mouth while she stepped back.
Jon looked to her questioningly and Daenerys lowered her hand, revealing a solemn smile as she nodded.
His eyes lingered on hers before turning and stepping onto Rhaegal's wing, holding his scales and making his way up the beast's back until he was firmly between his spines. Jon felt his stomach knot around itself as Rhaegal pushed off the ground, his exhaled breath melting the snow on the ground before him. Daenerys had rushed off to mount Drogon while Rhaegal turned, letting out an air shaking roar before launching himself into the air.
If not for his scales, Jon might have feared he would hurt Rhaegal with how tight he was clutching to the creature's spines. He could hear the other dragons roaring and screeching around him, a quick glance revealing they were flying around them, weaving through the air with Daenerys atop Drogon's back, beaming as she watched Jon and Rhaegal.
He could see Winterfell coming up rapidly before growing smaller as Rhaegal turned from it, eventually landing in a clearing surrounded by trees. The others landed a moment later, Daenerys already off Drogon by the time Jon made his way back to earth. The dragon turned to look at him, giving him a sniff before pressing his snout to Jon's forehead, as if kissing it.
A moment later he turned and took off with his brothers, leaving them in the clearing.
"I can't believe he did that," Daenerys said shaking her head. "I never thought…"
Jon turned to her and saw her eyes wide with emotion, drifting from the dragons to his face. For a moment there was only their soft breaths before a feint crunch with her step heralding her reaching up, her fingers slipping through his windswept curls as he leaned down to press his lips against hers while she pulled him into a kiss.
He felt sure the snow around them would melt from the heat he felt in that moment, but once they separated he felt the cold drift in again. For a moment he felt shame at kissing someone other than Sansa, but it faded as he looked to Daenerys, who stared into his eyes with shock. Shock at what she saw and what she felt.
Jon brushed a loose curl behind her ear before leaning in to kiss her again, leaving no doubt he wanted that as much as she had. Feeling him tug at her jerkin, pushing herself closer to him to deepen the kiss, he found it hard to think.
When she sank to the earth again, Daenerys let out a breath. They gazed at one another until they heard hooves and separated, turning to watch Jorah and their horses approach.
Once they were through the gates of Winterfell Daenerys was thankful it had been so cold, giving her an excuse for her rosy cheeks as she dismounted and looked to Jon.
"Thank you for the ride, your grace," she said with a smile. "We should go again soon."
Jon nodded. "I'll look forward to it." Watching her leave, he hoped it wouldn't be too long, both for the implied kiss and another chance to ride Rhaegal.