Kings Landing 300 AC.
Daemon.
It had been hard to sleep the previous night and had he not arranged to go riding with Myrcella today, he may have stayed in bed. But he had and the thoughts of riding in the Kingswood, of seeing her astride a horse, of just seeing her, dragged him from his bed far earlier than he had wished.
He dressed quickly, broke his fast and waited for his grandmother to rise surprised that Bonifer wasn't already up. While his grandmother had always slept late, he and Bonifer had always eaten together when the knight was on Dragonstone. As a young boy, he had enjoyed breaking his fast with both the knight and Ser Barristan, the two men filling his head with tales before his grandmother would wake and enter the room.
This morning though he sat alone for some time before the room began to fill, Grey Worm and Davos, Asher and Dale, Thoros and Melisandre, all of them coming in at different times, though there was no sign of Bonifer and his grandmother.
"You're up bright and early Daemon." Asher said sitting down beside him.
"I'm going riding later in the Kingswood so I wanted to be ready." he said and Asher laughed.
"This with the Lannister girl Thoros was telling us about?"
"It is, missing Gwyn?" he said and Asher glared at him before he quickly spoke some more "Because if you are I may have some news for you, some good news." he said and watched as Asher's face went from angry to curious to hopeful.
"You've seen her?"
"No, but I spoke to my uncle about her, he offered me a boon for what happened with my aunt and the Iron Born."
"A boon? What has this got to do with Gwyn?"
"Well I didn't want anything, not for me, but I spoke up for you and he agreed."
"Agreed?" Asher said his confusion clear.
"He will speak to both your families, he's agreed to give you a keep on his lands and will allow you and Gwyn be married." he said as Davos and Thoros looked on.
"Daemon, I, he agreed, she's unwed, I can… we can." Asher said his voice cracking.
"You can, I can send the raven to White Harbor, you can go when you're ready. I wish you all the best, my friend." Daemon said and Asher jumped up to grab him pulling him to his feet, embracing him and almost collapsing against him.
"You didn't have to, I..Daemon I. thank you."
Asher sat back down and Daemon saw the small nod Davos gave him, the smile on Thoros's face, Dale and Mathos looked a little sad knowing their friend would be leaving them soon, but they were happy for him too. The story when he'd finally gotten it out of Asher, the tale of why he'd gone to Essos had infuriated him and he had not understood it at first.
Later on, he did get it though, so he had resolved that if he was ever in a position to help he would, he'd even offered to have Davos bring Gwyn to Asher, but his friend would never take her from their homeland. He too would miss him when he was gone, but something's are more important than standing by someone's side because you feel you owe them, because you feel loyal, sometimes you need to be happy too.
"Who are you taking with you on this ride Daemon?" Davos said and he looked at the former smuggler and saw Thoros about to open his mouth.
"Thoros, Ghost, Myrcella's own guards, that should be enough, should it not."
"I assign some men, my prince." Grey Worm said.
"We're riding Torgho Nudho."
"Men ride now."
He laughed at that, he'd been trying to get them to do so for years, but the unsullied were infantry, not cavalry. So he nodded to Grey and after finishing he got up and walked to his grandmother's room. Ser Barristan stood outside and when he saw him he shook his head, telling him she was still asleep.
"Ser Bonifer?"
"Left orders she's not to be disturbed, my prince."
"Very well, will you let her know I've gone for the ride with Myrcella, I'll be bringing guards with me." he said before the knight could argue and he got a nod from Barristan in reply.
"I will my prince."
He went to his room to grab his swords, it felt good to be able to leave them somewhere and not worry they'd be stolen, his armor too. He was dressed well but not too well, and once he had tied them to his back he walked to the kitchens to collect the food and drink for the day. It was almost an hour later when he was ready to leave, Thoros, six of Grey's men and Ghost his accompaniment.
The ride to the Lannister manse was short and he noticed some of the looks directed at the unsullied, not that it changed the men's expression any. Upon his arrival, he was glad to see the guards ready to leave though there was no sign of Myrcella, something that was rectified a few moments later.
He had thought her beautiful in the dresses she wore but compared to how she looked now it was night and day. She wore tight leather britches and a long coat, a gold shirt underneath, her hair was tied up behind her head and done in an elaborate braid and to Daemon she was the most beautiful sight he'd ever seen. Seeing him standing there, seeing him so quiet, she at first looked at him confused thinking she'd done something wrong, only to blush a moment later when he smiled at her.
"Myrcella, you look incredible." he said and the smile he got from her when saying it was blinding.
"I look forward to our ride, Daemon." she said and he swore she made it sound far dirtier and far sexier than he thought possible.
"As do I." he said trying to regain the upper hand but he knew he had lost this round.
She didn't require any help to mount her horse, sat on the mare astride and not side saddle as some ladies did and after nodding to her mother and to Jaime who came out to see them off, they began to ride away.
Kings Landing 300 AC.
Rhaella.
While she had slept, she had done so in patches, grabbing no more than an hour or two at a time. Were it not for Bon beside her she'd have gotten up and stood by the window, or sat down thinking in a chair by the fire, no not the fire, she doubted she could look in a fire again. Bon held her for most of the night and never had she been more grateful for him coming back into her life than right then.
Now though it was time to get up and when she did she ended up waking him up at the same time, she smiled as he looked at her concernedly, knowing how worried he'd been simply by him staying with her.
"We should get up." she said as he nodded, almost laughing when she saw he had dressed, but not dressed, wearing clothing so he could go to the door or grab her something should she need it, but not so he could leave.
He dressed far quicker than she did and while she was finishing he asked if she wished to break her fast here, or in the dining hall. She felt the need to get out of the room and so she suggested they ate with the others, Bon kissed her cheek before walking to the door, he came back in a moment later to inform her Daemon had come by and was gone for his ride. Something she was glad of, both that her grandson would be with Myrcella today and that she didn't have to face him yet.
The dining hall was empty and she and Bon ate alone, though Ser Davos, his son, and Melisandre came by to make sure she was well and to inform her Daemon had taken guards with him. She laughed at that catching them by surprise, after seeing what he could do she wondered if he even needed guards. Once she finished eating, surprising herself with the fact she'd actually had an appetite, she wondered what to do with her day and then it came to her.
"Bon, I need to speak to my children, Dany, Viserys can you find them for me, bring them here or I'll go to them."
"Of course my queen." he said kissing her softly and saying his farewells to Davos and his son.
"How did you handle it Davos?" she asked catching him unawares.
"Your Grace?"
"Daemon, the things he's done, the things he's seen, how did you handle it?"
He chuckled briefly when he looked at her.
"Who says I have?" he said softly and she laughed fully then as did he.
"Thank you, I needed that."
"Your grace, may I be frank?"
"Of course Ser."
"The things he's done, the places we've gone, I've found it best not to think too much on them, he rides a dragon, he knows things I do not, has been places I care not to think of, but I've found over my time with him, that he always comes back. He always protects those he cares for, so that's how I handle it, your grace, I put my faith in him and so far he's not let me down."
"What if he does?" she asked softly.
"Then we'll be fucked and beyond worrying, forgive my language your grace." he said and she laughed again.
"That's quite alright Ser Davos, thank you, for being with him." she said as she got up from her seat and walked back to her room.
It took far longer for Bon to return than she had thought and once again her son was nowhere in sight, Dany looking at her both happily and apologetically.
"Where's Viserys?"
"I tried to get him to come mother, but he's being stubborn." Dany said and she nodded.
"Where is he?"
"He's at the tavern mother."
"Then we shall go join him." she said and Dany looked at her surprised and with a small smile on her face.
They walked from the manse, she, Ser Barristan and Bon along with some of the hundred and a group of Daemon's unsullied, no doubt on her grandson's orders. She linked arms with Dany and as they walked she and her daughter talked of inconsequential things, both of them laughing and she couldn't help think she had missed out on this for far too long.
"In there?" she asked as the reached a rather run-down tavern.
"Yes, mother."
Dany giggled as they walked inside, the tavern was dark and dusty and full of noise though that stopped when they entered. Her son was sitting alone, his guards standing in front of the table. Without saying a word and while the tavern's customers looked on curiously, she and Dany walked to his table and took a seat, Dany beside him and she facing him.
"Well, are you going to buy your mother a drink or are you just going to sit there with that silly look on your face?" Rhaella said and for at least another moment Viserys did the latter before he asked for drinks to be brought.
Her son looked at her curiously and quietly as she drank the ale, she was pleasantly surprised at just how good it was, Dany meanwhile was caught looking between both of them, a smirk ever present on her face.
"What are you doing here mother?" Viserys asked finally breaking the silence.
"I wished to speak to my son and daughter."
"Now, you wish to speak." he said his voice full of bite.
"Yes now, I cannot change the past Viserys, the future however is not yet written."
"Why do you care about me now, your precious Daemon is back, go be a mother to him." he said and Dany slapped him making him turn to her a hurt look on his face.
"Don't speak to mother that way, she's trying Vis, she's here, don't you remember that being what you wanted?"
"Now, but what about then Dany? where was she then?".
"As I said I can't change the past, there are two futures in front of us, one where we aren't part of each other's lives." she said and Dany shook her head making her reach out and take her hand in hers "Or one where we are, I leave it up to you which one you want my son." she said and as she got up to leave so did Dany.
"You do whatever you want Vis, but I know which future I want." Dany said and Rhaella turned to walk from the tavern, Dany following behind her.
"Mother." she heard Viserys voice say softer than it had been "Can I come with you both?" he asked and she smiled and nodded as he rose to his feet.
"Why do you think I've come here Viserys."
The rest of the day was spent walking around the city, at one point Dany's friend arrived with some guards and she wondered if Dany was required back at the Red Keep, but it was just she was missed and so Missandei joined them. Her son was reticent in his conversation, in his interactions with her, but he smiled some, he laughed once or twice and he did relax the longer the day went.
"Will you join me for dinner tonight?" she asked both her children.
"Just us?." Viserys asked and she knew he meant Daemon.
"Just us." she said and he nodded as did Dany who looked to Missandei and then to her silently asking if she could come too "And Missandei of course." she said and Dany's smile made her own appear instantly.
She allowed them to go to change and get ready to join her, while she, Bon, Barristan and the unsullied walked back to the manse arriving just as Daemon did. She saw the smile on her grandson's face when he saw her, saw him jump down from his horse and he and Ghost walked towards her.
"Grandmother, you are well?" he asked when he reached her.
"I am, you, how was your day?"
"Fun, yours?"
"I spent it with Dany and Viserys, they've agreed to come to dinner, I..Daemon, I told them it would be just us." she said slightly worried at how he'd react.
"I understand, I'm tired anyway, I had intended to rest." he said
"Are you sure?"
"I am grandmother, besides I don't think Viserys and I are ready to be friends just yet." he said smiling and she shook her head.
"I want you to, both of you, I want you to get along."
"Then we shall, I promise." he said giving her a hug and kissing her cheek before they both walked into the manse together.
Kings Landing 300 AC.
Ashara.
She had been a coward she knew that, seeing Daemon back she had wanted to go and speak to him, to go talk to him, but in the end, she'd been a coward and hidden away. She'd been fortunate too in that he had flown North, flown to the wall, and now given the fight he'd had with his father, he had moved out of the Red Keep itself. As Allyria laughed at something Tyene said, she knew her cowardice couldn't last much longer.
This was soon made even clearer to her as once they'd finished lunch, once Elia had sent her nieces away, once she'd looked to her to do the same with Allyria, Elia asked for her help.
"I don't know what to do Ash, I really don't, why he listened to Varys of all people." she said and Ashara reached out to take her friend's hand.
"Varys?"
"We spoke, Rhaegar, I, Arthur even added his own thoughts." Elia said catching her by surprise "We agreed that should Daemon wish to marry Myrcella Lannister, that we'd support his choice."
"But, I thought?"
"Varys, he whispered in Rhaegar's ear that they needed to be sure of Daemon's loyalty to Aegon, they needed something legal, something in writing compelling he and the Old Lion to support the crown."
"He asked Daemon for this?" she said her head shaking in disbelief as she did so.
"If only." Elia sighed "He asked the Old Lion, or he was suggesting it to him when Rhaella intervened."
Ashara could guess the rest, no way would Rhaella have Daemon be thought of as lesser than Aegon, nor would she have allowed Rhaegar to suggest that Daemon was disloyal. Once Daemon found out then he'd be furious and given what she suspected had happened next, it was clear that he was.
"After she stormed out, I tried to get Rhaegar to see the stupidity of his actions, of what he'd done, but he kept going on about needing to ensure the succession, about making sure there was no repeat of the dance."
"Daemon would never." she said though her voice was unsure.
"Even if he was being denied the right to marry someone he loves?" Elia asked.
"He loves her?"
"I do not know, I know he cares greatly for the girl and it's serious enough that he's ready to marry her, is it love? I cannot tell, but how would he react to being denied the right to marry?."
"Badly."
"Worse than that." Elia said " "The argument could be heard all around he keep Ash, I'm surprised you didn't hear it way back here."
"So that's why he left?"
"No that was Rhaella, Daemon just told Rhaegar of the last time a prince decided to marry for love, the last time and what it did to the realm, that he would marry Myrcella and damn the consequences." Elia said.
Despite the seriousness of it, despite what it could potentially mean, Ashara found herself smiling, thinking back to a man who told her the very same thing, a man she had loved once, a man she had lost.
"What am I to do? Aegon hates his brother, nothing I say will get through to him in that regard and Rhaenys wants the throne for herself."
"Would that be a bad thing?"
"Ash." Elia said shocked.
"We've all heard Elia, you've spoken of it yourself, Aegon may be crown prince, but would he make a good king?"
"It… He is the prince Ash, you can't just pass him over, the realm would go to war over that."
"The realm may go to war anyway Elia, maybe its time to think of who's best to sit the throne, who belongs there."
"Ash, you're speaking treason."
"I'm not, gods I'm not, I'm trying to make you see reason, you love your son, I understand that. But you, Rhaegar, you've been blind to him too, you've hoped he'd change, but he's a grown man Elia, he's not changing. If there is one thing life has taught me it's that a man can't change his nature."
"Rhaenys is too close to my brother's, they would destroy the realm just as much as Aegon would."
"Then speak to her, speak to Daemon, see what it is that can be done, Aegon too, you can't sit on the sidelines any longer Elia, Rhaegar is failing, you cannot as well."
"Why do you think I've asked you here Ash." Elia said and as she looked at her she realized she'd been played.
"God's I hate you." she said before the two of them laughed "What do you want me to do?"
"I'll speak to Rhaenys, and see if I can get through to Aegon, Daemon, Ash, I need you to speak to him."
"Elia." she said softly.
"Please Ash, it can't be me, he may not even agree to see me and should I be turned away.." Elia said.
"He would never, you know how he's always felt about you."
"I know, but I can't take the chance, my brother is just waiting for another reason to hate him."
"I thought Oberyn was leaving, going to Essos?"
"He is, tomorrow, though Arianne is staying here." Elia said annoyed.
"Doran really is an idiot." Ashara said and Elia chuckled.
"She came back from the manse they're staying at in a fury last night, apparently not only would they not let her in, but Daemon dismissed her himself, I overheard her speaking to Tyene and thinking it only a matter of time, the silly girl."
"You'll need to speak to her too."
"I know, will you do this for me, Ash, will you talk to him, speak to him of the things I cannot?."
"I will."
"Allyria?"
"Will come with me, it's time he learned of his cousin."
Kings Landing 300 AC.
Myrcella.
She had waited excitedly, the thoughts of being alone with Daemon, of spending some time together making her eager for him to arrive. Even her mother's teasing that she would need to accompany her and her uncle's warning that he'd be there too to guard her against unwanted attention was not enough to dampen her mood. When he had seen how she was dressed, how he'd looked at her, how he'd smiled, all of it made her heart flutter in a way it had never done before.
They rode out, Daemon and his guards, she with hers, the white wolf beside them, and she saw how people looked at him, at her. When she had arrived in Kings Landing for the first time people had almost ignored her. Now though they stared and she knew it was more to do with who she rode with than anything else.
"You're very good." Daemon said and she turned as his voice had caught her unawares.
"Sorry?"
"I said you're very good, have you been riding for long?"
"Uncle Jaime insisted I learn when I was younger, and father too liked to ride." she said her voice a little softer when she spoke of her father.
"I'm sorry for your loss." Daemon said and she nodded.
"As am I for yours." she said back and he gave her a true smile, one which she returned.
They rode from the city and soon she found herself enjoying the day, even more, the smell soon a thing of the past as they entered the Kingswood. She had been here maybe only once previously and even then had barely entered into the forest itself. Daemon though seemed to know exactly where he was going and so she let him lead the way, watching on as he nodded to Ghost who soon ran off ahead of them.
Eventually, they came to a clearing and a large hill, Daemon looked at her and then within moments was racing up it, laughing as she followed. When she reached the top she was surprised by how flat it, was, even more, surprised when Daemon dismounted and walked over to her, helping her down from her horse.
"My grandmother used to bring me here when Kings Landing was too much, when I wished to return home but couldn't, we'd come here and have a picnic." Daemon said as he took down a blanket and laid it out for her to sit on.
She sat down and he showed her the city in the distance, her breath catching as she looked at it. From here it looked beautiful, the Red Keep loomed magnificently over the city, the light reflecting down on the Sept of Baelor. Daemon poured her some juice and took out some food, a meat pie, some fruit, he'd even managed to bring a peach pie for dessert.
"I like to think this is where Aegon came, that he stood here with Rhaenys and Visenya and between them, they decided to build the Aegonfort." Daemon said.
"You think all three decided?" she asked surprised he didn't say it was just Aegon.
"I do, Rhaenys and Visenya were more than just his sister wives, they were queens, they were what queens were supposed to be until my family worried about a woman's power." he said bitterly.
"So you believe a woman can rule, that she is equal to a man?" she asked her heart racing at the idea of a man thinking so.
"You've met my grandmother, you think she's not more capable than most of the fools who've sat the throne, not cleverer than most of the lords of the realm?"
"I know she is." Myrcella said and he leaned forward kissing her cheek and making her blush.
"What was it like growing up at the Rock?"
"It was fun, Tommen and I would race around and get into as many adventures as we could, father would scold us and mother would join him, but we knew they didn't really mean it, that they were never really mad at us or angry."
"Your father, it must have been hard when you lost him?" he said a note of sympathy in his voice.
"It was, he had been ill for some time, but we all expected he'd recover, he was a good man and he loved us all, even Joffrey." she said and Daemon smirked.
"Your brother is..I'm not sure what the word is."
"A fool, an idiot, cruel and vindictive, petty and jealous, mean." she said and Daemon laughed loudly.
"All of them or just one?" he asked and she laughed too.
"Myrcella, the wedding, us, it's what you want isn't it?" he looked at her his expression far more serious than she'd ever seen before.
"It is, if it's what you want too?"
He leaned forward then and she shivered as his hand brushed her hair from her face, as his fingers traced down her cheek and touched her lips. Before she knew it he was kissing her, firmer, more intense than before and she kissed him back just as hungrily. How long it went on for she couldn't tell, only that when it ended it felt far too soon and she wished he would do it again, and often.
"Forgive me." he said embarrassed and she smiled leaning forward to kiss him softly.
"Only if you promise to kiss me like that again."
He laughed, nodded and then lay down, she following him and doing the same, within moments he'd put his arm around her and she found her head resting on his chest, both of them looking out on the city in the distance. She could feel his heart beating beneath her, the rhythm soothing and relaxing and soon her own heart slowed and beat in tune.
"Myrcella, Myrcella." she heard his voice and opened her eyes, the drowsiness taking a few moments to clear.
"What, I. did I fall asleep?" she asked and could barely look at him.
"You did." he chuckled.
"It's not funny Daemon, I wished to spend time with you and I slept through it." she said a little put-out.
"As did I, best sleep ever." he said
"Well you are a good pillow, I'll give you that." she said giggling.
"My grandmother will be so proud, she wished me to be a good prince, yet all those years little did she realize that instead, I'd grow to be a good pillow." he said as they both looked at each other before laughing.
She looked to the sky and saw it was still daylight, still early she felt though she wasn't certain.
"What hour is it?"
"I have no idea, it's early though, not long after noon I'd guess."
She watched as he poured her a glass of juice, as he reached over and cut a slice of the peach pie, and then she found herself almost quickly moving away when she saw the shadow appear over her. How Ghost had managed to sneak up on her so completely she didn't know, the wolf she'd noticed was quiet, but this was different, he'd not made a sound and so he startled her.
"Ghost." she said and the wolf licked her face, making Daemon laugh as she reached for a handkerchief.
"He likes you."
"Well I like him too, come here Ghost." she said and he walked back to her, almost smiling she felt as she fed him her piece of pie.
"You'll spoil him."
"Jealous?" she said.
"Very much so." Daemon said and her heart fluttered yet again.
She felt disappointed when Daemon began to pack up, wishing they could just stay here for longer, cursing herself for falling asleep. When he helped her up she looked to him and this time didn't wait for him to kiss her, her lips on his before he had a chance to move away. She felt him take her in his arms and before she knew it hers were around him too, though yet again the kiss seemed far shorter than she'd have liked.
"We should do this again," Daemon said when they moved apart.
"We should, it's so beautiful here."
"What, oh yeah we'll come here too, but I was talking about the kiss." Daemon said with a smirk and she found herself slapping his shoulder.
"Daemon."
"Cella." he said and she stopped looking him in the eye, his expression almost worried for a moment.
"Why did you call me that?" she asked.
"I heard Tommen say it, I'm sorry don't you like it?"
"I, I do." she said and he looked relieved.
He helped her to her horse and they rode back more slowly than they had ridden out, she wondered if like she, Daemon didn't wish the day to end.
When they reached the manse, he helped her down yet again, his hands on her waist as she turned to him, the kiss this time was far more chaste, far more polite, though the look in his eyes was anything but. After bidding her goodbye and saying the same to her mother who'd come to greet them, he rode off looking over his shoulder all the way.
She spent the next hour or so being questioned, by her mother, her uncles, her grandfather, even by Joffrey who she was annoyed to see was in the manse. Her brother making sly remarks when he was sure he wasn't going to be overheard, between him and Tommen who teased her she became annoyed and went to her room. Laying down on her bed she found her eyes closing, her fingers touching her cheek, touching her lips, a soft smile on her face as she fell asleep.
Kings Landing 300 AC.
Rhaenys.
Nothing she said to Arianne seemed to get through, her warnings falling on deaf ears as her cousin waxed lyrically about her brother. Hearing that Daemon was handsome was one thing, hearing her cousin speak of the body he must have under those clothes, of what she intended to do with that body, was far too much. So she had left Arianne with her cousins, and had gone looking for someone who wouldn't speak on Daemon.
She found Allyria in the library, the girl was sitting all alone and reading, as usual, she was torn between joining her and interrupting the girl's solitude, or walking away. Allyria herself took the choice out of her hands as she looked up and saw her there, bidding her to join her. Rhaenys took a seat across from her unsurprised to see she was reading a book on dragons, it was all anyone came to the library for these days.
"You look as bored as me?" Allyria said and Rhaenys nodded.
"My cousins are annoying."
"They are." Allyria said and she remembered the way they spoke of her, feeling guilty that she'd never stood up for the girl when they did so.
"Arianne thinks she can seduce Daemon." she said as she sighed.
"I thought he and Myrcella?."
"They are, it's why he moved out, father doesn't approve."
"You think he denied them?"
"I think he tried to place conditions, but Daemon wouldn't listen."
"Rhae, can I ask you something?" Allyria said nervously.
"Go ahead."
"How do you feel about Daemon?"
"What, I don't Allyria, it's not like that, I don't, he's my brother, ehwww." she said and Allyria giggled.
"I wasn't suggesting that, I mean how do you feel about him?"
She didn't answer for a long time, it was the same question she'd been asking herself since he'd come back, the same question she'd been unable to answer.
"I don't know." she said finally, Allyria's staring making her uncomfortable.
"You should speak to him."
"I can't."
"Rhae, he's family, do you have any idea how much I'd like to speak to my family?"
"Ally." she said softly.
Before they could speak anymore she heard the footsteps behind her and turned to see Ashara walk into the room, the woman smiling at her daughter and her when she noticed she was there too.
"Princess,"
"Lady Ashara." she said looking to see if there was anyone else there before calling her how she'd always addressed her "Auntie Ash."
"What were you two girls gossiping about?"
"Mother we were not gossiping." Allyria said affronted while Ash just raised her eyebrow "Much." Allyria said before they both giggled as Ashara sat down.
"I believe your mother is looking for you Rhae." Ashara said and so she said her goodbyes and went to find her mother.
She found sleep hard to come by that night, Arianne and her cousins, Allyria, her mother all of them combining to make her thoughts troubled. Her mother had been firm with her, firmer than she could remember her being for a long time, she had practically demanded she go speak to her brother, both of them.
Rhaenys knew that speaking to Aegon would be a waste of time and she feared that doing so to Daemon would be too. Waking the next morning though she resolved to do both, so after breaking her fast she went looking for her brother, finding him with his idiot friends and within moments she'd left him there. Listening to him run Daemon down was bad enough, when one of his idiot friends called Daemon a bastard it was too much.
"Who do you think you are?" she said to Harold Hardyng.
"I'm."
"You're nobody, nothing, a minor lord from a minor house, a fool who my brother put in his place once already, listen and listen carefully Harold Hardyng, speak in such a manner about my brother again and I'll make certain my father knows of it, how do you think he'd react?"
"…"
"Father would do nothing dear sister, not after what happened with Daemon." Aegon said and she laughed loudly.
"And I thought Harry the Arse was the only fool here." she didn't even bother to wait for Aegon's reply, didn't need to be there to know how he'd petulantly stand up and deny he was a fool, how he'd then say he was the crown prince, the future king, how dare she speak to him that way.
She was gone before he'd even had the chance to move, walking down the hall she turned to Ser Arys and told him to have a messenger brought to her room, before walking in and writing the note to her brother. She hoped he'd agree to see her, that they'd get along and come to an understanding, that he'd not deny her the opportunity to speak.
More than that, more than anything she found herself hoping that he'd prove her wrong, prove Oberyn and Doran wrong, prove himself to be her brother and not the bastard spawn of a wolf they claimed him to be. It took a few hours for the reply to come and as he held the note in her hand she felt nervous and worried as she looked at the seal, breaking it she held her breath.
My dearest sister,
I'd be delighted to speak to you, perhaps it would be better though if you came to me. I will await your visit eagerly.
Your brother.
Daemon.
The note was simple and to the point, but she found herself hopeful in what it said, she would need to wait until Oberyn left, if he knew she was visiting her brother he'd not leave her alone, better she did so while he was sailing. She didn't notice how her mood improved that day, how she smiled a little more or was a little friendlier, how she looked forward to Oberyn's departure where before she had been worried by it.
Arianne's words about her brother didn't even register with her, her cousins either, instead as she joined them as they got ready to wave Oberyn off, she found their words meant nothing, as it wasn't their's she wished to hear.
Kings Landing 300 AC.
Oberyn.
When he heard that his niece hadn't even been allowed into the manse he'd been furious, despite not being on board with his brother's plan, he would not allow her to be shamed. Arianne though laughed it off, saw it a challenge, and while he was against her being anywhere near the wolfspawn, on this he wasn't calling the play. So he had bitten his tongue and concentrated on what he needed to do.
He had spent the day making arrangements, the raven to the Water Gardens had been sent, he would leave the vast majority of his guards here, and despite the arguments Ellaria too would stay. His paramour was barely speaking to him, furious that he was leaving her behind, but he needed her here, he needed her to be the voice of calm that his girls would listen too.
While he was rash, impulsive, quick to anger, Ellaria was far calmer, for more measured, with her here she could keep his girls in check, something he feared Arianne would not be able to do. He had called his daughters to his room to tell them this, all actions were to go through Ellaria, no move to be made without her approval. Reluctantly they had agreed and yet Ellaria still couldn't see the reason for her to stay here.
"I cannot bring you with me, my love, it's too dangerous." he said and winced when he realized he'd said exactly the wrong thing.
"You think I fear danger, you think I would not be in so just because we're parted, if anything I'm more in danger, you are my heart Oberyn you walking into danger puts me in danger, should you fall, should anything happen to you?"
"I will be well protected, I know Essos well, I traveled there before we met, should you be with me then I would need to worry on your safety too, as it is, my only goal, my only objective would be to come back to you, it would only be mine own life that I need worry on." he said and she nodded, though he knew he'd lost the argument anyway.
He sparred later that day, surprised to see Arthur sparring too, walking over to the night he decided to see how Rhaegar was, how badly he was takin the recent events, though Arthur was anything but forthcoming.
"You think my oath only covers my king's health, you think I'd be so free with his secrets too?"
"I only wished to know, for Elia, for Rhaenys's sake."
"You were a terrible liar when we were boys Oberyn, you've not improved over the years."
"Perhaps, how about a spar?"
"No." Arthur said and it annoyed him, vexed him and he couldn't stop the words that came out of his mouth if he'd tried.
"No, you'll spar with a bastard but not with me?"
"Careful Oberyn, I may not have a dragon, but I can still put you in the dirt, speak that way of the prince once more and you do so at your peril." Arthur said and he was surprised by the anger in the normally stoic knight's voice.
"I meant no offence." he said and Arthur laughed.
"For a man with Eight bastard daughters, you really are a hypocrite Oberyn."
"My daughters are not the same as him."
"Indeed they're not, his father married his mother." Arthur said walking away.
He found himself taking his frustrations out on any who faced him in the sparring ring, sitting down a few hours later he was tired and still frustrated, something which no doubt would soon be even worse given who walked towards him.
"You look upset my prince." Varys said and he just swallowed his water and didn't reply.
"What do you want Varys?" he said a few moments later when the eunuch hadn't walked away.
"A name my prince, a man who may be worth meeting on your trip."
While he hadn't made a secret of him leaving, he had of his destination, so he wondered whether Varys actually knew or was he trying to find out.
"Who's name?"
"Malaquo Maegyr, you'll find him in Volantis, my prince."
"And why would I wish to speak to this man?" he asked but Varys said nothing and just walked away.
He stared after him as he walked from his view and wondered what game the eunuch was playing today. He, like everyone else both feared and respected the Master of Whisperers, never knowing his true allegiances, or how he knew what he knew. The little birds were well known, but knowing of them, even when you were careful and spoke privately, Varys was still able to garner secrets and discern plots, though which he'd expose were always up to him.
He ate dinner that night with his niece and daughters, with Ellaria sitting beside him, though Rhaenys didn't show. It bothered him more than he let on, and only the fact she was there the next day and had explained of her headache made him feel better at her non-showing. He kissed his girls' goodbye, kissed both his nieces and standing in front of Ellaria he smiled and promised to see her again.
Kings Landing 300 AC.
Daemon.
He didn't begrudge his grandmother a night with his uncle and aunt, and he didn't lie to her he really was tired. He'd not really spoken to Daenerys much, though she at least seemed friendly and glad he was back, Viserys was always a problem though. As a boy it was Aegon, it was Viserys, between them both they made their displeasure for his existence clear.
Aegon though had never beaten him, never raised a hand, his brother a coward even then. Viserys had been a bully, he was jealous of his mother's interest and while now he understood it, back then he had not, back then he only knew he hurt him when he could. So he avoided his uncle, went where he would not, kept out of his way and out of his sight, and sometimes it worked better than others.
He was six when he hit him back, when he crashed his little wooden sword off his hand, when he sent his uncle running from him and it was the last time he raised his hand to him. Daemon had seen Visery's true face that day and his uncle had never forgiven him for it, his shame now part of his disdain, not that Daemon cared. But if his grandmother wished them to get along, then it wouldn't be he who was the obstacle to it, he who was the barrier.
"Wake up you lazy sod." he heard Asher's voice say and he looked up and for a moment thought he was back in Essos, back in Volantis or maybe even Myr.
"Go away you idiot." he said wrapping his arms around the pillow and trying to pull the sheet over his head.
"Come on it's almost noon, besides a letter arrived for you." Asher said and that woke him up, had she sent him a letter already, he smiled as he got up from the bed and at Asher's next words.
"By the old gods, put some clothes on, you really think I want to see that first thing in the morn."
"First thing, you said it was almost noon?" he said grabbing his britches.
"I needed you up, now cover up that arse, your lucky I'm not that way inclined my prince."
He laughed as Asher left, dressed and made his way to break his fast, finding his grandmother and Bon sitting there with Davos and Melisandre.
"You weren't lying, you really were tired." his grandmother said with a smile when he sat.
"I told you, how was your dinner?"
"It was good Daemon, thank you."
He was eating his meal when Asher returned, the note in his hand, handing it to him he saw his grandmother smile and then frown when he did.
"Daemon?"
"It's from Rhaenys, she wishes to speak to me." he said surprised it was his sister and not Myrcella who'd sent the note.
"What does she say?"
"Just that, she'd like to speak, if I would."
"What do you wish to do?" his grandmother asked.
"I should speak with her, know her mind at least, who knows we may get along." he said a small hopeful smile on his face.
His grandmother said nothing but then he knew she doubted it, still, he was willing to try, Rhaenys had been cold, distant, but never cruel, never hurtful, she disliked him first for her mother and he could appreciate that. Since he'd come back they'd barely exchanged pleasantries, he would like the option, the chance to do more. So he wrote out a reply and handed it to Asher and then he waited until she came to visit.
Seeing her at the gate two days later, seeing Ser Arys with her, he smiled as he welcomed her in and led her to the small room, she left her guards outside, walked in with him and took a seat.
"Have you eaten, would you like a drink?" he asked and she shook her head.
"No, that's quite alright."
They sat in silence for a few moments, both of them struggling to think what to say, for Daemon it was the thoughts that he had not been alone in a room with her since he was a babe that he focussed on, what Rhaenys was thinking he knew not. Eventually, the silence was too much, the tension too palpable.
"I." they both said at the same time, looking at each other they laughed, though it was not a full one, not yet.
"Where were you?" she asked a moment later.
"I told you all, Essos."
"Why, why did you leave?"
"You know why."
"I don't." she said and he looked at her and could see she was being honest on this at least.
"None of you wished me there, none of you wanted me, the king made grandmother bring me with her, made me come visit, why? Why do you think that was?"
"He wished to see you." she said and he laughed bitterly.
"You think so? Then why did he not spend time with me? Why when I was made to stay here was he nowhere to be found? He didn't wish to see me, the realm needed to see me, needed to know I was under control, that I wasn't out there plotting to rebel."
"You're wrong, father."
"Your father Rhaenys, never mine, he was never mine." he said loudly before breathing deeply "You had a father, a mother, a brother, and me, I was the odd one out, the one you never thought of as a brother, the one Aegon never thought of as a brother, or Rhaegar a son, were it not for you mother than none of you would have cared if I existed."
"That's not true." she said shaking her head.
"Is it not, how many times did you think of me Rhaenys? How many times did you miss me?"
"I missed you." she said and he turned to look at her, surprised to see her wipe her eye.
"I missed you too." he said and this time it was her turn to look surprised.
"You did?"
"You're my sister, you've always been my sister."
"Daemon I…"
"What do you want Rhaenys, much though I'd like the thoughts you came to spend time with your brother, there's more to it than that, what do you want?"
"I don't know, I don't know." she said and she began to sob.
He moved from the chair, feeling her hesitation as he took her in his arms, as he held her and she cried against him. This was the first time he'd ever held her, ever been this close to her, almost ten and eight years and he'd never held his sister in his arms before. When she composed herself, he let her go, not moving far from her though, he watched as she sat down on the seat.
"Aegon."
"Is a fool, you know this, you see this." he said and she nodded slightly "What do you want Rhaenys?"
"To be safe, for all of us to be safe, we came so close Daemon, so close to falling, mother, I, Aegon, you, Father, Grandmother, Dany, and Viserys, we were so near to falling, I fear we're closer than ever yet again."
"What do you mean?"
"All my life I've wished to be queen, no, that's not exactly true, all my life I've known I needed to be queen, I had to sit the throne, I had to protect us, I had to keep us safe."
"From who?"
"All of them, all of them who'd see us cast out, the scars from the rebellion aren't healed Daemon, they'll not be healed from a long time and if Aegon sit's the throne, then it'll be war."
"Then take it from him." Daemon said and she looked at him shocked he'd say it like that.
"I can't."
"Why?"
"Because of you?"
"I don't want it, I've never wanted it, you think I wish to sit a throne, you think that's why I came back?"
"Isn't it?"
He laughed then, for quite some time he laughed, looking at her grow angrier and angrier was what made him stop.
"I came back because Lyanax finally agreed to bring me, I came back to see the one person I knew for certain loved me, the one person I'd hurt by leaving, I didn't come back for the throne, Aegon could have had it if he wished."
"Could?"
"I'm not an idiot Rhaenys, I can see it too, he's not fit to sit the throne, I know what grandfather almost caused, Aegon will finish the job, so yes I won't see him on the throne, not when there's someone better suited for it."
"So you're taking it?" she said her voice a mix of anger and relief.
"I told you, I don't want it."
"Then who?"
"Someone who does." he said and she looked at him shaking her head.
"I don't understand."
"Why would I wish it when there's someone better suited, better trained, someone, who wishes it more, I'd support you, I'd kneel for you, but.."
"But?"
"Dorne Rhaenys, you can't, not with Dorne."
"They are my family."
"A Queen can't be beholden to one kingdom Rhaenys, she needs to be more than that, you need to broaden your appeal, otherwise, that fight you're so desperate to stop, it will come regardless."
"Willas Tyrell." Rhaenys said softly.
"What of him?"
"He was to be my husband, that was my plan."
"But Aegon marrying Margaery, you'd not be allowed."
"I was going to stop Aegon's marriage, a scandal, big enough to cause him to be removed, then when named I'd have offered to marry Willas to bring the Reach on board."
"That could work, how would your uncles react?"
"I don't know, but you're right, I knew I needed to broaden my appeal."
He looked at her slightly differently, she had planned this out far better than he'd thought, her Dornish influences would have been a big problem, but marriage to the heir of the Reach, the Roses would love that, they'd welcome it.
"Would you really have knelt for me?" she asked and he nodded before she grabbed him in a hug, the smile one he'd not seen from her ever before "Thank you little brother." she said and he felt his hand rubbing her back, her head leaning on his shoulder.
He walked her to the gates of the manse, kissing her cheek as he bid her goodbye, both of them agreeing to speak again, she was waking away when Ghost came running from the Manse, Daemon on seeing him turned to look and saw it out of the corner of his eye. He ran, faster than he had ever run, reaching her, he pushed her away as the arrow flew, the pain and force of the impact forcing him to the ground.
"Get her inside, get her inside now." he shouted as he looked at her, crawling on the ground towards him.
"Daemon…." she cried out as the world went black, as the light went out, his fingers wrapped around the arrow, his vision fading as the blood dripped down his fingers.
"You're safe big sister." he said smiling as he saw the unsullied help her into the manse and then the second arrow hit beside the first, his eyes closing as he no longer felt the pain.