I'm back again with a chapter of fluff. I can't help myself. There will be more soon (maybe some angst too ;) ) as I have quite a few ideas rolling into some vacation time.

Note of importance: This is dedicated to those who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder as it was the main source of inspiration for the chapter. This time of year can be difficult for a lot of people living in cold and dark climates, so put an emphasis on kindness and look for ways to brighten someone's day. :)

Jorah released a puff of air and peered up at the early morning sky. He could already tell that it was going to be another dreary day. There were no orange or yellow hues painted across the sky to indicate the risen sun. Instead, a dull gray hovered on the horizon, seamlessly blending night into day.

Although the air was relatively warm, King's Landing had suffered several long days without sunshine. The prolonged darkness seemed to cast a shadow over the land and it greatly effected the mood of the people. It seemed every person, from highborn to commoner, had become sullen and sluggish.

Fortunately, Jorah did not suffer the adverse effects of the gloom. The darkness felt familiar and reminded him of long days on Bear Island where the mist covered water could be mistaken for clouds. Perhaps the dreariness of the North explained the melancholy nature of its people.

Jorah could recall a time when the bright sun of Essos had been a startling change. Having been painfully torn from his homeland, the cheery sunshine had felt mocking when compared to his internal misery.

Now, what truly troubled Jorah was the somber state of his Queen. It was no secret that Daenerys opposed cold weather and the rainy days seemed to remind her of time spent in Winterfell. Jorah could see the frustration building within Daenerys as each morning arrived and the sun failed to emerge from behind the clouds.

The stress of ruling over the Seven Kingdoms did nothing to aid the Queen's dismal mood and it showed in the defeated slump of her shoulders and the dark shadows beneath her eyes.

Jorah's heart ached for Daenerys, but as much as he wanted to reach out and comfort her, he knew it was not his place to do so. His options were limited, but Jorah was determined. It did not take long for him to devise a plan.

Jorah could not force the sun to reappear in the sky, but he had spotted a rare item down at the docks that would certainly bring a smile to the Queen's face.

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The difficult part of Jorah's plan came after bargaining with the coin-grubbing merchants. They owed him a few favors, so convincing them to sell the item for a fair price was rather simple.

The true problem Jorah faced was discretion. He wanted his gift to remain anonymous, if at all possible. Therefore, certain individuals could not be privy to his actions - mainly Tyrion.

Jorah could not lug his gift from the harbor to the castle without raising questions, so he was forced to wait until everyone was asleep before completing his task.

He hid the gift within the rocky cliffs close to the shore and went about his day.

XXXXXXXX

Jorah couldn't help but be temporarily grateful for the grim weather as almost every inhabitant of King's Landing collapsed into sleep early that night.

He quickly retrieved the gift hidden near the cliffs and moved quietly across the grassy slopes towards the Red Keep.

After walking only a few paces, Jorah noticed a strengthening wind coasting off of the sea. It provided him cover for both sound and movement as it rattled windows and tugged at trees. His shadow would be impossible to notice from high in the Red Keep.

Jorah's eyes searched the exterior of the castle for a familiar balcony. The placement of his gift was critical, but thankfully he had patrolled outside often enough to know exactly where it needed to be.

After gently laying the gift in the grass, Jorah walked to the nearby stables and retrieved a shovel. He began to dig the spade into solid ground, suddenly grateful he had not worn his armor or sword belt. Although his tunic was thin and the cool air bit at his skin unpleasantly, the ease of movement without the hindrance of metal was appreciated.

Less than one hour later, Jorah leaned back on his knees and admired his work. He was covered in dirt and his hands had long gone numb from gripping the cold metal handle of the shovel, but his task was complete.

Jorah smiled contently once more before returning the shovel to its shed and making his way towards his chambers.

Utterly lost in his own exhaustion and the blissful hum of success, Jorah did not hear the soft footsteps rounding the corner ahead of him. He barely had time to react as he walked straight into Missandei.

The young handmaiden's eyes reflected Jorah's own surprise and she failed to suppress a sharp gasp that bordered on a yelp.

Jorah's hands automatically reached out to prevent Missandei from tumbling backwards and he lightly caught her forearms. He watched recognition flicker across her face before she released a sigh of relief.

Once Jorah was certain the young woman was steady on her feet, he released his grip and politely retreated a step.

"Forgive me, Ser Jorah, I should be more mindful of where I am walking," Missandei's spoken apology was accompanied by a soft smile.

"I believe I am the one at fault, Missandei. I shouldn't blindly lumber around corners at night," Jorah replied, hoping his eyes returned her smile well enough.

Missandei's smile shifted to one of amusement and she gave an agreeable nod.

Their apologies were followed by an easy silence that had become common in their interactions. Neither of them were particularly fond of unnecessary conversation.

Unfortunately, in this particular instance, the silence provided Jorah's mind enough time to notice the dirt smudged on Missandei's sleeve - dirt transferred from his filthy hands.

The realization that he was covered in grime after wandering around in the dark, struck suddenly and Jorah scrambled for a distraction. It was too late. Missandei's pereptive gaze narrowed on his dirt covered form.

Jorah watched various questions arise in Missandei's expression as her eyes traveled from his tunic to his face and back again. He could do nothing more than plaster a weak smile across his lips and hope the rare expression eased her suspicion.

Missandei frowned in concern and her hesitation was almost amusing - almost. She opened her mouth before snapping it shut wordlessly, evidently deciding to leave her questions unanswered.

Jorah cleared his throat and straightened. "Would you like me to escort you back to your chambers?" he offered gently.

"Thank-you, but that is not necessary, Ser. I have only a short walk," Missandei explained. She studied him for a moment longer before her lips tipped into a polite smile and she bid him goodnight.

Jorah released a weary sigh, which blended into a chuckle...and a curse, before he resumed his trek back to his room.

XXXXXXXX

The following morning, Missandei opened the doors to the Queen's chambers with a broad smile, determined to start the day on a positive note. She was not at all surprised to see her Queen already awake. Despite the recent prolonged darkness of the mornings, the Queen awoke early. She and Missandei had a shared routine that was consistent and enjoyable.

Missandei's first task was to wash and braid Daenerys' hair, which allowed them time to talk and enjoy each other's company before the day began.

Once her hair was braided and she was dressed, the Queen always stepped out onto her balcony. It was her way of clearing her mind.

Recently, Missandei noticed a falter in her Queen's step when she walked outside and was met by the sunless sky.

Missandei hoped the new day would be different, but remained silent as Daenerys carried out this portion of her routine alone. The young handmaiden held her breath while the Queen stared out across the horizon. There was a sharp intake of air followed by a breathless laugh.

"Your Grace?" Missandei stepped towards her Queen in concern. Her words were met with silence, but Missandei watched Daenerys' expression brighten for the first time in far too long and suddenly the atmosphere around them shifted to something surprisingly pleasant.

Missandei's mouth responded with a smile of its own and she stepped forward to see what had captured her Queen's attention.

Daenerys remained silent, but her lips were stretched into a grin so wide that her fingertips pressed against it in an attempt to prevent it from spreading beyond its breaking point. The Queen drifted to the edge of the balcony as if in a trance. Rather than gazing up at the horizon, Daenerys' eyes remained focused on the ground.

Missandei peered over her friend's shoulder and followed her line of sight. The sky held nothing significant as it remained drab and gray, but Missandei's eyes caught on something much brighter and far closer to the ground. It was a tree - a medium-sized tree that stood alone and proud on the grassy slope just outside the castle. It was dazzling with its slender branches and blossoming leaves, but what truly drew her admiring gaze was the small yellow fruit beginning to grow.

"A lemon tree," Daenerys whispered, her eyes still attached to the tree as if they had grown from it. The Queen's tone held nothing but awe and tenderness and her eyes glimmered with a distant memory. There was more to the moment than a woman merely admiring a new gift, but Missandei was hesitant to pry at her Queen's privacy.

Instead, Missandei focused on the distant question nagging at the back of her mind. The image of the freshly planted tree slowly combined with memories of a familiar knight covered in dirt. Missandei smiled as she recalled Ser Jorah's shocked and guilty expression from the evening prior. She had been more worried than suspicious after running into him and now the truth of it all left her heart swelling with affection for the gruff man.

The idea of Ser Jorah combating the day's exhaustion and waiting to plant the tree at night - guaranteeing his Queen a morning surprise, but eliminating the reward of personal recognition - left Missandei anxious to inform Daenerys of their knight's selfless actions.

But as Missandei turned, ready to share this information, Daenerys spoke first.

"Have you seen Ser Jorah yet this morning?"

Missandei relaxed and allowed her eyebrows to raise in feigned ignorance. Apparently, the Queen did not need any assistance in identfying who had planted the tree.

"I have not, Your Grace. Would you like me to send for him?" Missandei spoke the words on the edge of a smirk.

Daenerys' eyes tore away from the lemon tree for the first time and met Missandei's gaze. All signs of weary sadness were gone from the Queen's face and all of the Seven Kingdoms seemed to breath a collective sigh of relief.

"No, no, I'll find him myself. I wish to speak with him - privately," Daenerys cleared her throat slightly, the warmth of her eyes giving away possible intentions.

After glancing outside once more with a look of dazed happiness, the Queen departed her chambers.

Note: I hope it is not confusing, but the lemon tree planted in this chapter is a reference to Daenerys' childhood in Braavos and her dream of returning to the house with the red door and lemon trees. Therefore, by planting the tree for Dany, Jorah is not only trying to brighten his Queen's mood, but is also attempting to make King's Landing feel more like home (that was my intent anyway lol). I like the idea of Dany immediately knowing Jorah planted the lemon tree because she has only ever shared that story/desire with him.

I deliberatly wrote Jorah's actions (planting the tree) as vaguely as possible because I wanted to leave the grand reveal for Dany's reaction...hold everyone in suspense. i apologize if that made anything confusing. Also, I don't know if a lemon tree would survive in King's Landing, but it's the thought that counts.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Thank-you for reading and drop a comment to let me know your thoughts!