My Heart Whispers for Snow
It was her least favorite thing to do, but she began answering emails as she waited for lunch to arrive. Unfortunately there were several Christmas party invites she’d yet to RSVP to.
There wasn't a single one she was interested in attending. To say she was a bit of a Grinch was an understatement. She’d had enough Christmas to last her a lifetime before moving to King’s Landing. Outside her window, the sun shone bright over the city despite the late December day. It was so different from the winters she was used to and that was just how she liked it. She certainly didn’t miss the cold or snow, but she’d yet to get a chance to miss the decorations. The people of King’s Landing did their best to decorate for the Christmas holiday despite their balmy latitude. There was a large, ornately decorated tree in the center of the city with a false ice skating rink erected below it to give the illusion of winter, though it felt more like late spring. Not to mention the lights strung everywhere and even carolers on a few corners.
She was ready for it all to just disappear. It made her mood rather foul and she was tired of it.
A knock on her door brought her out of her reverie and she looked up to find her best friend, Missandei, standing in her doorway. She worked two floors down for a fashion designer and often came up to visit throughout the day when she needed a break.
“You busy?” she asked as she wandered in.
“Nope. Just finished off my last email for the moment. You caught me at a good time.”
Missandei took a seat in front of her desk and leaned forward, propped on her arms. Her usual easy smile was a bit wary and she was fidgeting with her nails. All signs Dany was about to be asked something she didn't want to be. She sat back in her chair and waited for her friend to gather her courage as she clung to her poise.
“So, I know you don’t usually celebrate,” Missy started, “but… if you’d like, you’re more than welcome to join me at my parents next week. There will be plenty of food and drinking,” she tempted, with a waggle of her eyebrows.
Managing not to sigh, Dany forced a smile and shook her head. “I’m grateful for the offer, really. I love you for it,” she replied, putting her heart into it because she truly did appreciate it, “but you know I try not to do anything for the holidays. It's nothing personal,” she added to hopefully soften the blow. “Just think of it as a rebellion. Considering where I grew up, there really is no other rational response.”
Her offer shot down, Missy deflated, sinking back in her chair. “Ah, yes, your elusive home town. What was its name again? Winterhell?”
She snorted with a roll of her eyes. That was rather fitting.
“Winterfell,” she corrected. “And if you knew what I had endured… The pageants, the festivals, parades, gallons upon gallons of eggnog, and even vicious reindeer, you’d understand why I do not want to celebrate anymore. I am quite content to spend the holiday all alone in my apartment watching horror movies, thank you very much,” she finished with a toss of her hair.
“Fine,” her friend sighed. “I give up trying to get you to break tradition.”
“Believe me, if anyone understands the value of tradition, it’s me. I’ve just developed my own traditions different from everyone else's.”
“Right. Yi Ti food and horror movies,” Missy deadpanned.
“I do facial masks and eat ice cream too,” she defended herself. “You’re really not putting enough emphasis on how quiet and peaceful it is. It's amazing, I swear. You're missing—”
The buzzing of her phone interrupted them. She picked it up and immediately dropped it to clatter across her desk, her heart thrashing in her throat, eyes wide as she watched it vibrate further away from her with each ring.
“Dany, what on Earth? Are you okay?”
She couldn't answer her, all of her frozen, held firmly in shock’s grasp.
“Alright, you're starting to scare me,” Missy pressed. “You’re even paler than usual. What's wrong?”
It was a struggle, but she managed to force a few words out, “It’s my… ex-husband,” she whispered.
Missy didn't take that news so well. “What?! Ex-husband?!” she hissed, clutching the arms of her chair as she lunged forward. “We’ve known each other for two years, Daenerys Targaryen, and I’m just now learning you were married?!”
“What do I do?” she asked helplessly, any fortitude to answer her friend's accusations lost in her panic.
Her expression clearly said she was worried for Dany's mental health. “Answer it?”
She gave a frantic shake of her head. “No! I haven’t talked to him in over four years. Nearly five. Not since our divorce was final.”
