Introduction: What Does "Best Friend" Mean in a Fantasy Court
In the complex social world of Westeros and Essos, friendship among high-born figures is often entangled with duty, politics, and survival. When fans ask who Daenerys Targaryen’s best friend is, they are usually seeking not just a name, but a clear understanding of the nature and limits of that bond. This piece examines the most consistent companionship in Daenerys’s life, distinguishing between loyal allies, political advisors, and true personal confidants. By focusing on actions, shared history, and narrative emphasis, it clarifies which relationship fits the idea of a best friend while acknowledging the constraints of power.
The Case for Jorah Mormont: Evidence From Narrative Focus
Across both A Song of Ice and Fire and Game of Thrones, no relationship with Daenerys receives as sustained narrative attention as her bond with Jorah Mormont. Their shared arc moves from mistrust to mutual reliance, culminating in moments where personal risk underscores emotional closeness. Jorah repeatedly places himself in danger for Daenerys, while Daenerys repeatedly offers Jorah redemption and belonging. This pattern distinguishes him from other companions whose loyalties are more transactional or tied to broader causes.
Key Moments That Define the Bond
- Warning Daenerys of Robert Baratheon’s assassination attempt in Vaes Dothrak, prioritizing her safety over political advantage.
- Choosing to follow her into exile across the Narrow Sea, despite losing status and security in Westeros.
- Disobeying direct orders to protect her, such as defying Drogo’s khal in ways that place his own life at risk.
- Accepting exile and working as a double agent in King’s Landing to keep her informed and safe.
A Comparative Look at Daenerys’s Companions
Several figures in Daenerys’s circle demonstrate fierce loyalty, but they function in different relational categories: advisor, warrior, protector, or family. A best friend is someone whose relationship balances duty with genuine personal affection, shares formative history, and offers emotional support. This table summarizes how key companions compare to Jorah in those dimensions.
| Companion | Primary Role | Nature of Bond | Shared History | Emotional Reciprocity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jorah Mormont | Advisor and protector | Mutual trust and evolving equality | Years of betrayal, separation, and renewed commitment | High; both risk safety for the other |
| Tyrion Lannister | Advisor and confidant | Respect and intellectual rapport | Limited early contact; alliance solidifies in Meereen | Moderate; pragmatic and largely one-directional early on |
| Ser Barristan Selmy | Protector and knight | Professional loyalty and mentorship | Long service to her father, then to Daenerys | Formal and duty-bound; limited private warmth |
| Missandei | Translator and confidante | Deep friendship and found-family bond | Formed during Daenerys’s conquest of Meereen | High in affection, though constrained by their respective positions |
| Daario Naharis | Commander and admirer | Romantic tension and camaraderie | Brief but intense shared campaigns | Moderate; focused on present alliance rather than long history
How Shared History Shapes Friendship
Daenerys and Jorah’s relationship is rooted in a shared timeline that begins before either holds power in Meereen. Jorah’s early reports on Daenerys and her potential, sent to King’s Landing, taint their first interactions with mistrust. Yet even under those conditions, he repeatedly acts to shield her when it is dangerous to do so. Their time in the Great Grass Sea, moving from master to servant to equals, cements a bond that survives exile, accusations, and competing claims on loyalty. This history informs the narrative’s treatment of their connection as uniquely intimate, even when overshadowed by political necessity.
Friendship Versus Duty in a Conquest Narrative
Daenerys’s quest to reclaim the Iron Throne creates constant tension between personal attachment and political responsibility. Advisors like Tyrion and military leaders like Daario must balance candid counsel with the demands of conquest, while Jorah’s role as both protector and information-gatherer places him in a morally fraught position. The series often highlights how easily such relationships can become instruments of power, making the stability and consistency of Daenerys and Jorah’s bond notable. Even when their methods or priorities diverge, the narrative underscores an underlying personal regard that resembles friendship more than mere alliance.
The Role of Emotional Reciprocity
What distinguishes a best friend from a protector or servant is mutuality in emotional experience. Jorah listens to Daenerys’s fears about legacy and identity, and Daenerys acknowledges Jorah’s pain, exile, and desire for honor. Their conversations in Meereen and later in Westeros reveal moments of vulnerability that are rarely afforded to Daenerys in other relationships. While duty and strategy inform every interaction, the emotional exchange between them gives their bond a texture closer to friendship than to simple allegiance, setting Jorah apart as the most credible candidate for her best friend.
Conclusion: Why Jorah Stands Apart
When evaluating Daenerys Targaryen’s best friend within the contours of the books and television series, Jorah Mormont emerges as the character whose relationship with her combines longevity, mutual risk, and genuine personal affection. Other companions offer loyalty, strategic insight, or romantic connection, but none match the sustained narrative focus and emotional reciprocity that defines his bond with Daenerys. Recognizing this does not diminish the importance of her other relationships; it clarifies how power, history, and vulnerability intersect to create the closest companionship in her life.