𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐘-𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐄 | Accusations

{ Coren }

✧✦✧

𝕮oren had not been present when Daenerys had gone to collect the surrender of Yunkai. Someone had needed to stay and keep watch of the dragons and considering their penchant for snapping and attempting to burn those they did not know.

So, Coren had stayed with the dragons.

He had taken that time to continue his training with Falkor, helping the other dragons out with other tricks too.

Daenerys had wished to take the dragons with her but had been dissuaded by her advisors. So, she was alone and Coren had been left back. He hated it, but he knew that he had to do what was demanded of him, not to rock the boat or bring attention to any close connection between him and Daenerys that could make people suspicious. 

"Falkor. Stop it." Coren shoved the red dragon's tail to the side, turning back to the youngest and smallest of the four dragons, Viserion. Viserion was gold and cream, green eyes watching Coren unblinkingly. He was the calmest of all four dragons, and the most eager to learn if Falkor was not counted. "Viserion, work with me here."

The dragon hissed and spat, before settling in. Coren ran through the motions, getting the dragon to fly and circle on command, before slamming into enemy targets. Unlike Falkor, who flattened the targets, Viserion could just about knock them off their feet. 

Drogon was ripping his target up, pulling it's head off, and glaring at Coren as the man sighed.

He was cautious of all three dragons that he did not know as well, normally only working with them with Daenerys. They were wild animals, and they had minds and tempers of their own. But, Falkor was the biggest of all four, and Falkor liked him, so at least whilst the red dragon was around, Coren was protected.

"Atta boy." Coren threw a piece of meat into the air, ducking as Viserion almost burnt him, before retreating back to Falkor's side. He ran his hand up and down the large dragon's side, picking stray scales that were malting from him. "You're growing again, Falkor."

Falkor chuffed, looking mighty pleased with himself.

"Or you're getting fat." Coren was almost sent flying across the arena at that. He managed to dodge the tail swipe in the nick of time. "None of that, you little worm. You'll injure me and then who's going to feed you?"

Falkor chomped his teeth with some attitude, before Coren threw the rest of the meat to the other dragons.

"Viserion. Rhaegal." Those two stayed still, allowing Coren to pat their flanks and pull out any stray scales. He wanted to make sure they were used to other humans touching them, not just Daenerys, and that they would be amenable to getting help. "Drogon."

Drogon snapped towards him, causing Falkor to growl.

"No food." Coren moved quickly as Drogon huffed, smoke pouring from his nostrils. "You're being dramatic."

Drogon growled and puffed his chest, before Falkor reached over to bat him on the head with a paw. The obsidian dragon finally settled back down, allowing Coren to pull some of his scales free that had not come loose in his last moult. Coren threw the meat to the dragon, before turning back to Falkor.

"You are lazy." He pointed at the dragon, who opened his mouth for Coren to put the food into. Coren rolled his eyes, before sticking his hand in instead to check the dragon's teeth, making sure none were wobbling and nothing was stuck. "Good boy. Here."

"Coren." All the dragons were on their feet, growling and snarling as Coren rolled his eyes.

"Hello. You are all dramatic. Move!" He shoved Falkor's head aside, ducking past him as he saw Jorah watching the dragon's cautiously. "You're back. How was it?"

"Good, they surrendered peacefully. One more night here and then we'll move into the city." Jorah explained. "We just have to find a place for the dragons and some other logistical queries."

"Brilliant." Coren grinned. Everything was going smoothly for once.

✧✦✧

"Coren, come." Coren looked up from his food, pausing mid bite as he watched Daenerys storm away from him. The meeting had just finished, he was about to eat his dinner, and now he could see that it would not be happening.

"What did you do?" Jorah's eyes narrowed at him.

"I have done nothing." Coren stood up, grabbing his sword and hurrying after Daenerys. Her shoulders were tense, hands clenched into fists and everyone ahead of them was giving her a wide birth as Coren pondered over what he had done, or what had gone wrong. Yet, nothing was coming to mind.

Maybe it was something to do with the dragons? He had not injured one of them, that was for certain. Nor had he overfed them and Drogon was always in a foul mood with him, so that was nothing new. She had been the one to suggest for him to stay at the camp. He had been good to Jorah and not insulted him to his face. He had not killed Daario Naharis and Coren had not provoked any fights.

All in all, Coren had been on remarkably good behaviour.

It took him a few more seconds to catch up with the white haired woman before they entered the clearing for the dragons. In an instant, all four dragons were on their feet, growling and snarling. Drogon snapped as Coren got too close to Daenerys, before being shoved aside by Falkor as they moved to stand in the entry way, preventing Coren from leaving.

Perhaps he had not fed them enough and one of them had been angry about that?

"That is strange." Coren mumbled before spinning back around to stop watching the dragons. Daenerys had her fingers pressed on the bridge of her nose, hand on her hip and breathing deeply. "Hey, everything alright?"

He reached for her, hands barely brushing her before she was yanking herself back as if it burned.

"Do not touch me. Do not-Do not touch me." Coren grew tense in an instance, memories of his mother screaming those words at him when she was ill filling his mind. He swallowed, trying to push it down, shoulders tensing. 

"Daenerys, what is going on?" Coren questioned, not daring to reach out for her again, but not wanting to take too many steps back. Her body language was tense, distressed and Coren felt horrible that he was the cause of it. He was racking his brain, trying to work out what he had done. "What do you need me to do? If you need someone dead, I shall do it. If you need me to apologise to someone, I will not like it, but I will do that too. What do you need?"

"What did the witch say?"

"Who?" Coren's mind went blank.

"The witch, Coren. The one from two years ago that I burned at the stake." 

"She said a lot of stupid things. I ignored most of it." Coren shrugged, before realising that it was not the right answer and trying to change his statement. "In relation to what? I am sure that I can recall some things."

"When my-When I gave birth to the monster." Daenerys' hands were shaking and Coren wished that he could help more. "What did she say?"

"She said that it was the price you paid for keeping Kahl Drogo alive. I do not understand." Coren was growing even more confused.

"She said that I could not have children, did she not?"

"I think so, Daenerys, honestly, I was blinded by rage at that point and I wished her dead. I do not know but I can ask Jorah and he might remember..." Coren turned to leave, ready to go and find all the answers that Daenerys needed if it would make her happier.

"No, do not tell Jorah."

"I am not telling Jorah anything, I am merely going to ask if he remembers." Coren spun back to her. "Look, Daenerys, I am slightly confused. What is going on?"

"I am sick and late and everything is going wrong and Missandei...and then, but I cannot be because if I was and that is a big if then..."

"Daenerys."

"...then it would mean that everything was a lie and if everything was a lie then what does that mean and then, oh gods, what happens if..." Coren reached for her this time, hating that she was so distressed and upset over something. She froze as he pulled her into a hug, detangling her hands from her hair and holding her softly. 

They went quiet for a moment, before Daenerys clung onto him, head digging into his shoulder, and quiet huffs leaving her lips. Coren took a moment to realise that she was crying, immediately tightening around her and rocking her. He pressed a kiss to the side of her head.

"What do you need me to do?" He stroked her hair. "Anything."

"Coren..." Daenerys pulled back. "We've made a mistake."

Coren's eyes narrowed. If they had made a mistake in becoming affectionate with each other, then she would not be clinging onto him so, she would be pushing him away, but her hands were clutching onto him. So what could the mistake be? One that tied in with the witc-

"Oh shit." Coren muttered, face paling as he began to feel dizzy. He looked to Daenerys for confirmation, who nodded. "I think I am going to pass out."

"No, no, you cannot." Daenerys' nails dug into his skin, bringing him back to her. "Coren, what do we do?"

"Are you sure?"

"As sure as I can be. It is all the signs of last time and I remember from last time how it felt." Daenerys pointed out. "But, I thought that it could not happen again. I do not know how this is happening again."

"Gods above." Coren groaned, placing his head into his hands. "I am going to be killed."

"What?"

"Jorah is going to murder me. I will be flayed alive."

"That is your biggest concern?" Daenerys cocked an eyebrow. "I am pregnant and we are not married. You are my guard."

"Not for much longer. I am about to be an unmarked grave in the desert." Coren hissed back. "Jorah's one singular rule for me was not to do anything stupid. I think the destined Queen of the Seven Kingdoms becoming pregnant from her personal guard who has no land, no proper title and nothing to his name counts as stupid."

"What? And you think it is better for me?" Daenerys' eyebrows furrowed. "I am already spat on because I am a woman and a young woman at that. The last time I was pregnant, my child disintegrated! If I am pregnant again, and unmarried this time, they will not even take me seriously. This baby, if it does not become a monster, will be a bastard. They will not carry my name or safety and they will be spat on. I am going to have to deal with Jorah and Ser Barristan and all those other men looking down on me for this."

"You are the queen, what can they do?" Coren pointed out, eyes wide. "You can just tell them that they can take their opinion and shove it-"

"Coren!" The man shut his mouth, running his hand through his hair.

"And who says this child is going to be a bastard?"

"Me because we are not married." Daenerys replied, shaking her head. "How are we going to tell the advisors?"

"Tell them what? That you are pregnant or that it is my fault?"

"Well, not entirely your fault." Daenerys pointed out. "That witch told me I could not conceive."

"She also told you that she would not scream and I remember those. Why would you believe a single word she said?" Coren took a deep breath. He should have known better, and neither of them should have believed the witch who had a vendetta against Daenerys in matters concerning Daenerys. "Arguing over the semantics is going to do nothing for us."

Both of them slumped down beside one another. 

"We need a plan. We have to know what to do." Daenerys sighed, before reaching for Coren's hand and squeezing gently.

"Miraculous conception?" Coren suggested.

"We need a plan." Daenerys shut it down. "First things first, I tell the advisors."

✧✦✧

"I have to speak with all of you." Daenerys looked around the room as Coren stood beside Jorah, folding his arms across his chest in the hopes of hiding the shaking of his hands. He could not imagine how this was for Daenerys, and he wished to be standing with her, also taking accountability for his part to play.

She had advised against it, recognising that it would be better for the father of the child to remain a mystery.

"Is everything alright, Khaleesi?" Daenerys sighed, and Coren watched her.

"I am pregnant." The room went so quiet that a pin could drop. Ser Barristan twisted, looking between Jorah and Coren as if to question whether they all heard the same thing.

"You are pregnant?" Jorah's eyebrows furrowed, a look of horror plastered on his face. "By who? How?"

"I am not sure. The witch lied and I am pregnant." Daenerys licked her lips, trying not to look to Coren for support. "It is my fault. I should not have believed the witch."

"Your Grace, a baby born now, without you being married will cause much scandal and could-"

"I am not marrying anyone, they will respect me because of all I have done and all I have yet to do but I am having this child." Daenerys squared her shoulders. "I did not call you in here to lecture me over my decisions, only to inform you."

"Khaleesi, you..." Jorah seemed horrified. "You are a child, still recovering-"

"She is ten and nine, Jorah." Coren pointed out quietly. "We cannot be angry with her over this. By the time all of us were ten and nine, we had probably already bedded women or been married, how can we be annoyed with her for doing the same? It makes no sense."

"She has to be held accountable, Coren, for the difference is, none of us are rulers or women." Ser Barristan reminded the man. "We do not hold the responsibility of the crown. We are not leaders to a nation nor are we the lone Targaryen."

"Well obviously not the lone Targaryen, not now at least." Coren pointed out with a huff.

He and Daenerys had to have a long talk about this. If he was not to be identified as the father, then in public, he would have no claim over her child, he would not be able to give the baby the Thorne name, Daenerys would not be able to marry him and Coren would most likely have to see his child grow up as someone else's, merely being a guard to them. That was the way he would have to live his life, the consequences of his actions so to speak.

"Who is the father?" Jorah demanded again.

"I am not going to tell you, Jorah." Daenerys shook her head. "I only called you here to tell you that I am pregnant and that I am keeping the child."

"It almost killed you last time, Khaleesi."

"Do you not think I am aware of that?" Daenerys hissed. "It was my body the monster came out of. The child that disintegrated to dust came from me but what can I do?"

"There is a tea that could be made-" Ser Barristan began. Coren could feel Jorah's eyes boring into the side of his head.

"I am not getting rid of the child. That is my final decision. I told you as a courtesy, nothing more." Daenerys put her foot down. Her eyes narrowed, looking between all three of them. "Are we done here?"

"What have you done, Coren?"

"Excuse me?" Coren turned towards Jorah, eyebrows furrowing.

"Do not lie to me, boy. I raised you, you think that you can hide things from me?" Jorah growled. "What were you thinking?"

"I do not know what you are talking about."

"Jorah, what are you-" Ser Barristan turned towards them. "Coren is her guard, that is all."

"Her guard, precisely. How is it that Daenerys was able to meet whoever is the father of this baby without any of us knowing? The only way that she could was if her guard was helping her, protecting her and hiding it." Jorah pointed out, stepping closer to Coren as Coren rolled his shoulders back and narrowed his eyes. "Are you stupid, boy?"

"Do I look like I'm stupid?" Coren's temper began to waiver, clenching his jaw as he tried to fight the urge to reach for his sword. He was not in the mood for this.

"You know who the father is."

"You think I would tell you and go against a direct order from the Khaleesi?" Coren laughed at the audacity of it all.

"Jorah, leave him be." Daenerys commanded.

"With all due respect, Khaleesi, Coren had one job to do and that was to keep you safe. He should have warned you against such decisions, but he did not. Now his duty is to tell us who the father is so that we can deal with that situation." Jorah turned his glare back to Coren, who's mouth was twisted into a scowl. He did not like how Jorah was speaking to Daenerys. "It cannot be any of the Unsullied, nor the Dothraki, they know better and would not defile Kahl Drogo's memory. It was not either of us and Coren, you would have killed one of the Second Son's if they went near her. That leaves Daario Naharis and...and you, Coren."

"If you wish to accuse me of something, do so." Coren growled.

"I never should have trusted you with her." Jorah shook his head. "You defiled the queen."

"Watch your tone." Coren spat out, reaching for his sword as Barristan tried to pull Jorah back.

"You have always kept too close an eye on her, ever since we were introduced to her. I warned you against it, and I thought you had stopped, but were you waiting for Kahl Drogo to die? You should have known better than sleeping with the Queen!" Jorah pushed Ser Barristan off as Coren half-drew his sword. "You have no title, no land and nothing to offer and yet I know that it was you because who else in this gods forsaken camp would have the audacity to attempt to sleep with the queen."

"Jorah, enough." Daenerys commanded. "It was not Coren."

"I should have left you where I found you, you ungrateful boy." Jorah reached for Coren's armour. "Left you by your sister."

Coren's temper snapped. He made to lunge at the man who dared open his mouth to speak about his older sister.

"Coren!" Coren came to a stop, breathing deeply, before turning to look at Daenerys. "Enough."

Coren did not want to leave this. He wanted to beat Jorah's head into the ground for daring to speak about his sister, but another firm glare had Coren pulling back. He stabbed his sword into the ground, pacing behind his queen as he fumed.

"Khaleesi, do not tell me that this is true." Jorah pleaded. "Please, tell me that you and Coren-"

Both stayed quiet and that was all the confirmation that the older two men needed.

"My statement still stands." Was all Daenerys said, before she motioned for Coren to leave first. The Thorne man sheathed his sword, before waiting for her at the tent entrace. "That is all."

𝐄𝐍𝐃 𝐎𝐅 𝐒𝐄𝐕𝐎𝐑𝐔𝐌

Hiya,

Wow, what a roller coaster of a chapter. I had so much fun and I just love every single part of this. Coren and the dragons are funny, Dany is just stressed so fair play to her, Jorah and Coren are now not going to be having a good time together, Dany's pregnant. I'm hyped. This is going to be so much fun. Hopefully this answers all questions about consequences of actions.

Let me know what you think,

Love Li xx