Despite everything

#my two last braincells colliding with each other

My Secret Santa gift for @nobodysuspectsthebutterfly ♥ Post-canon AU of the Queen in the North and her captain of the guards (with fat puppies everywhere).

He sees Baelor eating Dunk with his eyes and later tells him “You did not have to stare like that at his rope belt, people will think you’re mocking the poor”

Dunk sits by Baelor’s bedside while he’s recovering and Maekar makes fun of him acting like a loyal dog and asks where the fuck Baelor acquired new bruises on his neck (Baelor smiles and shrugs)

Please ask me a yes-or-no question about what happens in the next chapter in the ask box and I will respond with a yes or a no under a spoiler cut.

(Please don't leave questions in the comments, I can't spoiler-cut there.)

an impromptu visit

Fire and blood is what made Targaryens great, what made them kings. It is also what can (and almost did both during the Doom and the Dance) destroy them completely. Hence Dunk is his fire, because Dunk can destroy Baelor or make him great just the same.

Dunk is in a position where he could very easily harm Baelor in several ways. Physically, because they are often alone, and if he wanted to, Dunk would've been easily able to overpower and cripple or kill Baelor. Politically, because open acknowledgement of their relationship from Dunk to the right person at the right moment could turn the Faith and quite a few lords against Baelor. Emotionally, because Baelor allowed himself to get attached and to fall in love with him.