Chapter Text
The Queen's Apartments had once been filled with the blue of house Arryn. Blue curtains, blue carpets, blue gowns. The sigil of that house, the eagle, embroidered in every piece of cloth, carved into each piece of wood, with small statues placed everywhere. A testament of Aemma Arryn's loyalty to her house. Her father's house, a house that sold her off at one and ten. Yet, she remained loyal. Her mother's house had been house Targaryen. Which only added to her perfection.
Perfect Queen Aemma. So perfect she could not give the Realm a son. Unlike me.
But that was her only flaw, for what Alicent could remember of her. She had been the image of a proper lady. Modest, demure, kind and gentle. Never opposed her husband, always took good care of her only child, always minded her manners and her matters, never anyone else's. Was beautiful.
"You are much more beautiful, cousin" Alerie told her as she brushed her long brown hair "Aemma Arryn simply had the prominent valyrian features, which is the only reason anyone could say she was more beautiful. You know how people are about valyrians"
Yes, she did know. Alicent sighed, for mayhaps her cousin was right. The valyrians and their otherworldly beauty had come into their Realm and imposed themselves and their queer customs, and now everyone compared the height of bravery, of beauty, and power to them.
She looked around then, taking in her apartments, if only to remind herself of what she had accomplished. The Queen's Apartments were no hers. There was not a single eagle, and nothing blue, there anymore. Alicent got rid of everything that was Aemma's when she moved in. Her house symbols were replaced by the symbols and colours of house Hightower. And by her own favourite colour: green.
People were already calling her party "The Greens" due to the dress she wore to the tournament the day before. While the foolish allies of her spoiled stepdaughter were now called "The Blacks". Because of course they were.
"Sister!" her brother, Gwayne, entered her bedchambers as she was getting ready for the day. Completely dressed already, but Alerie was still doing her hair "You will not believe the good news!"
Alicent looked at him through the mirror, he was smiling.
"What kind of good news?"
Gwayne took a chair and sat next to her vanity, eager to tell her the good news. Whatever they were.
"Princess Rhaenyra was seen leaving Daemon's bedchambers these morrow. She was only in her nightgown and a robe"
Alicent's eyes widened, could that foolish brat truly have let herself be seduced by her uncle?
Of course she has. She is just a little whore, always flaunting herself around the Red Keep. I will be surprised if this was the first time she laid with a man.
"These are good news, indeed! Finally! Viserys will see how unfit she is and will do the right thing and name Aegon as his heir, as he should do"
Gwayne nodded, smile still on his face.
"Soon enough, sister. It was only ever a matter of time"
Of course it was. Viserys was simply confused, for Rhaenyra had been his only child for so long. His only surviving child with Aemma. But he had been so happy when Aegon was born, so delighted. Finally he had a son, a proper heir. And then, Rhaenyra pouted, and nearly threw a tantrum bigger than any of her Aegon's. So Viserys persistent in his decision, that stubborn man. Now he would have no other option. No one wanted a girl for a ruler, let alone a whore.
"Oh! I have to start preparing Aegon's naming ceremony. I am sure I can have father returned to court now. And install more members of our house in King's Landing"
"Our uncle is going to throw a feast in Oldtown to celebrate it" Gwayne giggled.
He too misses our home, I wager.
Oh, she could already see the High Tower of Oldtown filled with people, colours and music. A pity she would not be able to see it for herself, her home. Alicent would have to contend herself with doing the same in King's Landing. With all the important lords of the Seven Kingdoms.
That is so much better.
In that moment, Alerie finished fixing her hair, placing the crown over her brown locks with a frown.
"Are we sure the King will change his mind?" she questioned "Mayhaps Princess Rhaenyra will remain his heir. If anything, he might exile Prince Daemon again, but even that is not a sure thing"
"Of course he will change his mind!" Alicent stood up from her seat at the vanity table, towering over her smaller cousin "What kind of man would allow a whore to be his heir?"
Alerie watched her with fearful wide eyes, but before she could apologize, Gwayne came in her defense.
"The kind of man that would name a daughter over a son" at seeing her face, Gwayne walked to her, appeasing "But, do not fret, he will surely exile Daemon again. At the very least"
Yes, he would. Would he not? And once Daemon Targaryen was back in Driftmark or, better yet, Essos, she could breath again. People were already fearfully whispering about how the Rogue Prince sided with Rhaenyra. Fearing to be seen with her party and provoke his famed rage.
"He will, of course he will" she nodded.
"He has sullied his beloved daughter" Alerie commented "I will be surprised if the only thing he does is exile him. He might geld him, or take his head"
Alicent cackled with not a trace of humour.
"Viserys? Take his brother's head? No, he will not. Not now, nor ever. He did not when he mocked his dead heir seven years ago, he will not do so now that he has two daughters"
Viserys was too soft, too feeble. And the birth of his two nieces had soften him even further. He thought Daemon was a changed man. Obviously, he thought wrong. There was nothing different in Daemon, he was the same man who toasted to his dead nephew. The same man who humiliated her.
"Well, let us hope for the exile, then"
Let us hope.
"I must break my fast with my family" Alicent said in a manner of excusing herself, even though she did not need to "Just as Viserys wishes us to do"
Mayhaps she will be lucky and Viserys would have already heard of what his brother had done and chose to exile him. Mayhaps even Rhaenyra would be imprisoned in her chambers.
She should be sent to the Silent Sisters, that little whore.
Ser Arryk, her assigned Kingsguard, stood on the door by Ser Criston and Ser Harrold. The presence of the Stormlander meant that Rhaenyra was already there. So she was not imprisoned in her chambers, nor was she being sent to the Silent Sisters. It seemed Alerie had been quite right. But Alicent did not lose hope yet, even when she entered the solar and saw both Rhaenyra and Daemon.
Mayhaps Viserys does not know. Well, then I will have the pleasure of telling him.
"My love" Alicent feigned worry, taking her seat by his side "I have heard some terrible gossip that I fear it can be true"
Viserys looked at her, silver-gold eyebrows raised. Daemon and Rhaenyra stopped talking to one another, turning to her.
"What is it, Alicent?"
"I heard rumours of our dear Rhaenyra spending the night in Daemon's bedchambers" Alicent sighed "And given Daemon's reputation I fear people might get the wrong idea"
"What idea?"
Was he truly that oblivious? Daemon Targaryen smirked, as if this was something positive for him.
"Your wife refers to my known taste for deflowering maidens" he said nonchalantly with an evil smile. Yet Viserys did not see it "She believes I would do the same to my dear niece"
"Alicent!" Viserys exclaimed "How can you believe such a thing? Who told you this? Who dared sully my daughter's and brother's name with such gossip? I want a name!"
Her eyes widened, of all things, she had not thought he might get angry at her. As if she was guilty of his daughter's promiscuity or his brother's wickedness.
What kind of man are you!?, she wanted to scream.
She did not.
"Oh, I...It was simply one of the servants, I cannot remember which one. But I did not mean to imply that something untoward happened, merely that many might believe it"
Only the rumours would be enough for any man to take measures. To disinherit Rhaenyra. But then again, no man would have named a daughter their heir over a son. Only Viserys made such foolish decisions.
The King continued eating his meal as if nothing had happened. As if Alicent had not just given him a reason to change everything. But then, he stopped.
"Why was Rhaenyra in your bedchambers, Daemon?" Finally, Viserys questioned him with a frown, yet there was no hostility in his voice.
Because she was opening her legs for him, like the little whore she is. Why else?
"She came to see my daughters, but we fell asleep. That is what happened, Alicent" Daemon said pointedly "we slept. Side by side, indeed, but we only slept"
"I was very comfortable there, father" Rhaenyra smiling, cheeks red.
Viserys did not notice. He never did. Despite the very obvious insinuations thrown in by his daughter and brother.
"Oh, then it is all solved. Are you enjoying your time with your little cousins, dear?"
Very quietly, Alicent took a deep breath, trying to assuage the rage she was feeling. She could not show how much her husband doing nothing enraged her. Why was he like this?
"Very much, they are so cute, father"
"You will soon have your own children, you'll see. Make me the proudest of grandfathers"
Sooner than you know if you do not open your eyes this very second.
Mayhaps the little whore was already with child. Her uncle's child. For giving Daemon's taste for despoiling maidens, he would not have looked at her twice had she not been a virgin. In any case, she was not one anymore, that was a sure thing.
She is so giddy and happy, as if she had not just laid with her own uncle. Targaryens and their queer customs.
Incest was absolutely disgusting in Alicent's mind, and in any pious person's mind. The Seven Pointed Star said it clearly, brothers and sister, uncles and nieces, fathers and daughters relations, were abominations of nature. No man or woman who practiced such acts could ever reach the Seven Heavens, and instead will burn in the deepest and cruelest of the Seven Hells. The Targaryen may believe themselves gods, but they were mere mortals. There were only Seven Gods. The true Gods. And house Targaryen was nowhere near them.
"I am sure you will be a great mother, my sweet niece" Daemon took her hand and kissed it shamelessly.
Viserys did not see anything wrong with that. Often Alicent wondered if his blindness was a consequence of his parents and grandparents being siblings. It most likely was not, however, for Daemon had the same blood and he was a cunning man. An evil, cunning man.
"Oh, she will. You are right Daemon. But let us not speak on it just yet, for Rhaenyra is still far too young to be a mother and a wife"
There had been younger mothers, younger wives, your dear cousin Aemma was only one and ten when you two wed. And no one said she was too young until she was dead. But it was not her age that made her unable to birth living children, it was her. She was weak. Unlike me.
Viserys had forgotten how weak his first wife had been, and how strong Alicent was. But she will make sure he remembered. And once he did, it would be her son as heir and not Rhaenyra.
Rhaenyra was in a cloud. A soft, joyful cloud. Feeling happy, and safe for the first time in years. And it was all thanks to him, her beloved uncle. Prince Daemon Targaryen, the Rogue Prince. For no one else could make her feel like he did. Only he could accomplish such fit of finally making her feel safe. Something not even her charming knight could do.
He is a dear companion, but he is not like me. He cannot understand me. Not like uncle Daemon can.
It was the second day of the tournament, of the celebration of her father's anniversary with that hag. Rhaenyra had no intention on going. She wished to fly away. She wished to go to her lady Syrax. And her lady surely missed her as well, she did not do well being away from her for so long. Neither of them did.
And her uncle wished to fly too, he told her. He had invited her to go flying with him and Caraxes. Rhaenyra nearly squealed with joy when he asked her.
"Lysa, gather my red riding attire" she told her lady "I will go flying with my uncle"
"Prince Daemon and you seem to be spending quite a lot of time together" Jeyne pointed out a very obvious thing "There are rumours circulating..."
"I know" she sighed "the Hag tried to have my uncle exiled this morning with those rumours, but my father did not believe anything. He will quieten any rumour, I am certain"
"Princess, if I may ask" ventured Jeyne "what were you doing in Prince Daemon's bedchambers?"
Rhaenyra smiled "I went to see my cousins, and then we fell asleep on his bed"
Her face burned as she remembered how he had wrapped his arms around her and promised to stay by her side.
"I believe Prince Daemon wishes to wed you" Lysa squealed, which made Rhaenyra smile in turn. Did he truly...? "Surely, soon enough he would ask your father for your hand. In a couple of moon turns, when his mourning period is over, that is"
Five moon turns...
"If Prince Daemon wishes to wed the Princess, he will not ask the King, he would never allow it. You heard what father said" Jeyne helped her to put her attire.
Rhaenyra frowned. What did she meant by that?
"What did your father say?"
Jeyne sighed, taking a step back and shutting her eyes.
"After Queen Aemma's death, Lord Beesbury told the King to betroth you and Prince Daemon to settle the matter of succession. But the King said he would never allow such to happen"
Rhaenyra looked down. Did her father truly said that?
Of course he did.
But why? Daemon was the best match anyone, including her, could possibly hope for. And surely he would not forbid them from being together if they loved each other.
Right?
When Rhaenyra was ready, she left her bedchambers in silence, upset, Ser Criston following her.
"Are you well, Princess?"
She did not answer him, for her world seemed to turn black again. As it had been ever since her mother died and her uncle left.
"What has my sweet, little niece so upset" and yet her uncle's voice had her perking up despite the previous words that crushed her hopes and dreams "Oh, but you look radiant when you smile. You should never stop"
Rhaenyra giggled. Her beloved uncle was as dashing as ever, in a black riding attire, long hair gathered in a braid, much like hers.
"Oh, nothing, uncle. Please, let us go to the dragonpit. I greatly miss my Syrax"
"I am sure she is well accompanied, now that Caraxes is there"
Daemon offered his arm and she happily took it, interlocking hers with his.
"Ser Criston, you may stay here, my uncle will escort me to the dragonpit" she smiled at her charming knight.
Ser Criston stared at them, but did not move. It annoyed her to no end. She wished to be alone with her uncle.
"You heard the Princess. Leave" her uncle all but growled at him.
Finally, with a clenching of his jaw, Ser Criston left.
"I'm telling you, my sweet niece, that lowborn knight is not to be trusted" her beloved uncle told her as they made their way to the courtyard "There is something strange about him"
She refrained from answering until they were inside the carriage, getting away from the Red Keep.
"Ser Criston has been with me while I was alone. And even knowing I could not wholly relay on him I...I have trusted him, if not fully. I am sure he is merely worried about me"
And he does not like you, uncle. I do not know why, given that it was him who beat you at that tournament so many years ago and not the other way around.
Mayhaps it was Ser Arryk's influence. Ser Criston spend much time with him, and he was a known creature of Alicent Hightower. Another man who did not believe she should be the heir. And those who did not, almost always loathed her uncle.
They know he will stand with me, and for that they both hate and fear him.
"If my sweet niece believes so, then I will let it be" her uncle told her with a smile.
Rhaenyra smiled back.
They soon were in the dragonpit, walking amongst the dragonkeepers to reach their mounts. According to one of the elders, Syrax and Caraxes had taken to share a cave, for her lady refused to leave his. And her uncle's Blood Wyrm did not mind.
"We will soon be blessed with more eggs, I believe" the old man told them.
Rhaenyra clapped happily. Eggs from her lady and Caraxes for her future children. Their future children.
"A blessing indeed" her uncle agreed with a smirke. He turned to her "Come, my sweet niece, let us race to Dragonstone"
Rhaenyra was quick to secure herself on the saddle and take flight, if only a few seconds before her uncle did. Caraxes was much bigger than Syrax, but that did not mean he was faster. However, what he indeed was, was much more experience than her. And he did win, reaching Dragonstone before she did. Still, Rhaenyra enjoyed the race, giggling all the way to their ancestral home.
It has been so long since I last felt this free.
They landed on the beach, feet touching the grey-ish sand that one could find in any of the beaches of Dragonstone. The wind blew gently, moving a few silver-gold strands that had escaped from her braid. The waves crushed against the shore, the sea water almost reaching her boots. Rhaenyra smiled, breathing in the salty scene of the island.
"Do you wish to return, uncle?" she asked.
"Do you?"
"No"
I do not wish to ever return. I want to be here with you.
"Come, then, let us sit on those rocks" Daemon grabbed her hand and led her there. They sat on the rocks, warmed under the sunlight, shoulder against shoulder "Are you feeling better? Last night you were quite... worried. Sad"
"Oh" Rhaenyra blushed, shaking her head with a smile. Only he could make her smile that much "It was nothing, uncle, I was just..."
"No" he shook his head and gently took her hand in his "If you ever wish to speak about anything, I am here for you. I will always be here for you, sweet niece"
"Then why did you leave?" she asked without thinking "You left me. My mother just died and you left. I was alone. I have been alone for seven years. And I know it was not your choice, but surely you did something that angered my father. What happened? Why did you have to leave?"
Daemon sighed, letting go of her hand to rub his forehead.
"I did a foolish thing. I was drunk, drowning my sorrows in beer and I...It was a jape, only that, I swear to you. I toasted Baelon as 'the heir for a day'. I inmediatly regretted it, you must believe me I was...well, drunk"
Rhaenyra swallowed, turning her gaze away for a moment. She had not expected that, of all things. But she did believe him. She believed him when he said he did not mean it. That he was merely drunk. Otherwise, her uncle would never said out loud something so callous about his own family. He would not.
"I believe you, uncle" she smiled reassuringly, just so he would know she was not angry at him. She could never be "I know you would not normally say something like that. I know you"
Daemon reached out to touch her braid. She held her breath.
"Only you understand me, it seems, my sweet niece. No one else does"
"I feel the same way. No one understands me, and very few side with me. They all wish to see my half-brother on the throne instead of me. I barely have any allies. Only Lord Beesbury seems to stand by my side at times."
It is not fair, I have been learning laws and how to rule since I was eight. I was a cupbearer to the small council at only seven name days old. Yet if my father died in two years time, they would want to put a seven year old, untrained, spoilt boy in the throne rather than a competent and trained woman grown.
"I am on your side. I swear it by the Old Gods and the News. I swear it on Caraxes, on Dark Sister. I swear it on my life. My sweet niece, you can always count on me. I will fight for you and your claim until my vert last breath"
He swore he would support her on the most important things in his life. On his own life. So he meant it. He truly did. She was not alone anymore.
"Do you truly mean that?" the question came without thinking.
Too many years all alone, unable to trust anyone. Far too many.
Daemon leaned towards her, stealing the air from her lungs as he joined his lips to hers. He kissed her so very softly, as a knight would kiss a maiden in a fable. When he separated from her, Rhaenyra felt as if all the heat from her lips had moved to her cheeks.
"I do not swear in vain, my sweet niece"
I was right. He wants me, the way a man wants a woman. He wishes to wed me.
The mere thought filled her with an unmeasurable amount of joy.
"Uncle, I....is it true what my ladies-in-waiting said? Do you wish to wed me?"
Her uncle chuckled, caressing her cheek with the back of his hand. Rhaenyra's heart raced like a horse galloping just with a single touch and a chaste kiss.
"Your ladies are quite intelligent then, more so than any member in your father's council. Lord Strong's daughters, are they not?" Rhaenyra could only nod "Yes, my sweet niece, I wish to wed you. But I also wish to hear your thoughts on the matter"
Rhaenyra smiled, wide and bright.
"Uncle, I will love to marry you" she remembered Jeyne's words "But father would not allow it to happen. Lord Beesbury already proposed it, but father said he would never allow it. And without his blessing we cannot—"
"We can" he smirked "Worry not, my niece, I have just the solution to that"
Was there truly a way that we could wed without her father's permission?
"What solution?"
"I will tell you in a few moon turns. But I swear this too, we will be husband and wife"
She decided too that it would happen, even if they had to elope and marry in secret.
Daemon stood up, grabbed her by the waist and spun her around. Like when she was a child. Rhaenyra giggled happily. And when he put her down, she stood on the tips of her toes and kissed him.
Ever since Prince Daemon came back, Criston could barely sleep a wink at night. His mind ran on thoughts of whatever deprived things the Prince surely planned to do to his sweet Princess. For Criston knew him. He knew he was not a good man. He was vile and perverse. A man who cared only about violence and pleasure. His own pleasure, no one else's.
A man who had wed twice already, having murdered his first wife and not even waiting a moon turn to wed after it. It was clear that, he had slayed the poor Rhea Royce. A hunting accident, they said, a hunting accident, a woman who was said to be an avid hunter. Criston did not believe it. He did not think anyone truly believed it. They simply did not dare to say it out loud for fear of Daemon and his rage. Criston could not understand. There was nothing frightening about Daemon Targaryen. He was simply an abomination, a man-monster born of two siblings who were also born of two siblings. A man of unnatural features and indecent behaviour.
Of degenerate desires as well. He wants Rhaenyra, his own niece. I see how he looks at her. His eyes are always on her bossom, never on her beautiful face. He wants as he wants his whores.
Criston sighed as he sharpened his sword. He had nothing else to do, having already beaten Arryk once before. The Cargyll twin, the one assigned to the Queen, the one he had bested, Arryk, walked towards him.
"Are you feeling quite well, Cole? You seem preoccupied"
His twin, Erryk, came closer, laughing with Ser Harwin Strong. They were friendly, for what he knew. They were also friendly with the Gold Cloaks, Daemon's creatures.
"What's with your face, Cole? Something wrong?" Erryk asked, though taunting, unlike his twin "Worried about Princess Rhaenyra?"
"Why would you be?" Harwin Strong frowned "She is in company of Prince Daemon and his dragon. She could not be safer"
He could not understand, of course, he could not see. None of them could see.
For what we know he could be defiling her as we speak. Raping her. He would. That monster.
Criston imagined his Princess' screaming, helpless and crying for help. No one would help her, however, not in Dragonstone. Not with the Prince's beast there. Prince Daemon could very well be raping her in front of the castle's household and no one would lift a finger to help.
"It is logical for you to worry" Ser Arryk said, serious and solemn, so very different from his twin "What with Prince Daemon's reputation and the gossip going around"
Criston frowned.
"What gossip?"
"Have you not heard? Princess Rhaenyra was seen leaving his bedchambers in the morrow, having spent the night with him. Mayhaps they are having an affair"
Ser Erryk's words scandilazed him.
"He is her uncle!"
"They are Targaryens" Harwin Strong laughed "It would be odder if they were not together"
No. My Princess would never do anything untoward with her uncle, or with anyone. She is the purest of maidens.
One of the maids came rushing, telling him that the Queen wished to see him. Criston did as he was told and went to the Queen's Apartments in Maegor's Holdfast. Queen Alicent was waiting for him, having tea with one of her ladies in the solar. The celebrations of the second day of the tournament having been over a little while before.
"Your Grace, did you wish to see me?" he said before bowing.
"Oh, Ser Criston, I am so glad to see you. Please, do have a seat"
He obeyed, for it was always best to obey the Queen. She might seem kind, but according to Rhaenyra there was none more wicked than Queen Alicent.
"Your Grace, I do not wish to sound rude, but I must wait for the Princess to return, as I am sure she will do soon"
Queen Alicent sighed, looking down.
"I am quite worried, about Rhaenyra. Prince Daemon is...I am sure you have heard about his callous comment about Prince Baelon seven years ago"
"I have, Your Grace"
Toasting to the death of his own nephew. That man is a monster.
"I fear...I fear Rhaenyra might find herself in a certain kind of situation because of him and I fear for her. I know we have not always seen eye to eye, but she is just a child. I fear Daemon might..."
"Corrupt her?" he finished in her place.
Queen Alicent raised her eyebrows, before nodding, thin lips pressed into an even thinner line. She looked so worried, mayhaps his Princess misinterpreted many of the Queen's intentions. She was a kind woman of the Faith, devoted and dutiful, much like Rhaenyra.
"You are her sworn shield. Can I count on you to protect her from him?"
Criston nodded frantically. Of course she could. It was all that he wanted to do, protect his Princess.
"Of course you can, Your Grace" he assured her "I will be ever vigilant"
Queen Alicent Hightower sighed relieved.
"Thank you, Ser Criston. You may go now"
He stood up and bowed one more time before leaving. The Queen's companion had not spoken a word since he entered and did not spoke another until he left. A cousin of the Queen, he believed she was.
Ser Criston did not return to the training yard with his sworn brothers, but rather dutifully waited at his Princess' door. Impatiently awaiting her return. The sky turned dark, and she still did not return. With each second that passed, Criston believed Daemon was indeed defiling her. For who would fight him, with his beast there? And it was true, that Princess Rhaenyra too had dragon of her own, but much smaller and less frightening than the Prince's Blood Wyrm.
His heart ached with the mere thought of his Princess suffering.
Then, he hear the familiar roar of his Princess' yellow beast. He saw them, the dragons, dangerous and unreliable beasts, Caraxes and Syrax. Both named after the heathen gods of the valyrians of old. He did not know what they were gods of, Rhaenyra never told him. And he never asked. Truth be told, he wanted nothing to do with the fake gods of the Valyrian Freehold. That empire had been a curse on the world. Lasting century after century for so long barely any record remembered what the world was like before they were conquering and burning with their flying beasts of destruction. They took what they wished, destroyed empires and civilizations just because they could. Raining fire over them with their armies of dragons and their sorceries. They were everything the Seven taught them to be wrong. An abomination.
Criston did not know how the Gods allowed them to continue their reign of terror for so long until they sent them that end. They killed them with fire, just as they dealt with everyone they conquered. It was divine justice. A punishment for their greed, their vanity and their deals with demons.
Yet the Targaryens survived, one of them had a dream of what would fall upon everyone in Valyria. They survived because of it. Mayhaps it was the will of the Gods.
It had to be. Why else would they allow some of those heathens to survive their fall? Mayhaps that was why they now ruled over the Seven Kingdoms. Because the Gods willed it so. Because the Gods willed them worthy.
And Rhaenyra is the most worthy of all, but she is so innocent and pure Daemon will seek to corrupt her.
Criston waited and waited, mind running through events where his sweet princess got hurt by the Rogue Prince. He could only breath safely again when he saw her return, braided hair a mess and a big smile on her red face.
Has there ever been a maiden so innocent and so pure?
"Princess" he called for her, nearly breathless "I am so glad you have returned. May I speak with you?"
Princess Rhaenyra nodded, smile still on her face. She was smiling for him.
"Come" she told him while entering her bed chambers. He followed her, closing the door behind him "What is it that you wish to discuss with me?"
It would be hard to make her understand, he knew. She loved her uncle so very much. Had ever since he knew her. As a child of seven, a child of eight, nine, ten and one and ten, she was always speaking about him. Completely oblivious to the danger the Rogue Prince posed to her. She only saw her beloved uncle, not the monster that would cut her down to ascend the throne. Or worse. The monster that would force her to marry him and rape her every night to get an heir out of her, no matter how young she was as long as she had her first blood.
"I wished to speak about your uncle, Prince Daemon"
The Princess' bedchambers were largely decorated with pinks and lilacs, with only a bit of red in the mix. Rhaenyra undid her braid without anyone's help, waves of silver and gold falling all the way to her breast.
She was absolutely breathtaking.
"What about my uncle?"
"Princess, I know you posses a great fondness towards him, but..." He sighed "I worry about you"
His princess frowned in such a sweet way. As if she could not understand his words. And mayhaps she could not.
"I do not follow. Why would you worry?"
"Prince Daemon is not a good man, Princess, and I fear he might hurt you to get his way"
His sweet princess was taken a back by his words, retreating a few steps.
"What? No. Ser Criston" she shook her head "My uncle would never hurt me. He loves me, as I love him. He would never lift a finger against me"
She could not see, being far too enchanted by whatever charms Daemon Targaryen possessed. Or mayhaps by some sorcery. Mayhaps he too, like his ancestors had in that cursed land, practiced the dark arts.
"I know you believe that, but Princess" Rhaenyra tried to turn around, tried to turn his back to him, but he stopped her by grabbed her delicate wrist "Please, listen to me. He will hurt you. He wants you in ways he should not. Perverse ways. You must believe me, I have seen it in his eyes"
Rhaenyra tried to break free of his grasp, but she could not.
"Let go of me! You are hurting me"
"No. He will ruin you. Defile you. Please listen to me!"
But she was not listening, she was only seeing what was not there. Her eyes were wide with fear, as if he was the monster instead of Daemon. Rage took a hold of him as he tried to pull her closer despite her struggles.
He has turned her against me. He has poisoned her mind, put her under his spell in so little time.
The door opened, and only then did Criston let go of her. When turned around, he had a sword to his neck. Daemon Targaryen stood before his eyes, eyes cold and lacking any kind of reaction in his features.
Unnatural man.
"You dare lay a hand on the Princess of Dragonstone" he pronounced those words rather calmly "The punishment for that is dead, do you not know?"
The valyrian steel sword bit into his skin, for nothing was sharper than that enchanted metal. He could not even reach for his sword.
"Uncle, no!" His princess came to his rescue "Let him be. He must be drunk. Men do stupid things when they are drunk. Just let him leave. He is a knight of the Kingsguard. Do not kill him, please"
Daemon stared at the beautiful princess, who pleaded with her violet eyes. Criston saw him succumb to her.
"Leave now, lowborn knight, or else I will take your head"
And Criston had never been one to back down from a fight. But he did leave, for his princess had pleaded for his life with the monster and won.
One day. One day I will kill him.
The Stormlander knight was fucking dim-witted, it seemed. Daemon could not understand how he had been accepted in the Kingsguard, a force created by Visenya herself. A force meant to protect the King and his family. Yet, there was Criston Cole, a fool who carnally desired his sweet niece. For that he could not blame him, not truly. Any man worth something would desire a Targaryen princess, specially one as beautiful as his niece. But one thing was desiring her, and another believing that he had a chance to have her. Something that lowborn knight clearly believed he had.
Well, he is wrong, for Rhaenyra is mine and mine alone. I do not share.
He could still remember how sweet she tasted. How soft her lips felt against his. How perfect the curves of her body were against his own. Truly a pity he had to wait longer to have her. Six moon turns, he reminded himself. Six moon turns until her name day, and then he could have her. He would have her as many times as he could before she fell with child. And once she did, not even Viserys could tear them apart. For even if he did try, he would steal her away until the birth of their child. His kingly brother would have no other option but to allow them to be together.
I will give him no other option.
"Are you feeling quite alright, my niece?" he asked her, worry lacing his tone.
With her hair loose around her shoulders, falling gently to her waist, and her eyes so teary and wide, she looked magnificent.
"Yes. I am" he stroked her cheek gently, comfortingly "You mustn't worry about me"
"I will always worry about you" he saw her smile as he leaned forward to press a kiss on her forehead "Will you be quite well if I return to my bedchambers? I must check on my daughters"
"Go. I will be fine" he did not move "I promise, uncle. Besides, Jeyne and Lysa are surely on their way to help me change"
"Pity I cannot stay to see that" Daemon teased, pulling a strand of her hair playfully. Her face turned even redder "I will see you in the morrow. Sweet dreams, my sweet niece"
Daemon smiled at her one more time before leaving for his chambers. Only two days he had been there, in King's Landing, yet everything seemed to go as he had planned. With some deviations, of course, but if it worked he would not complain.
His bedchambers were not empty, but rather filled with maids and wetnurses surrounding his crying daughters. It was Baela who screamed and crying at the top of her lungs, but Rhaena too followed her lead. Daemon passed through the flock of maids and held his first born against his chest. It calmed her a little, but she was still crying.
"What is it, my dear?" he asked in high valyrian, feeling as if a fist was clenching around his heart in seeing his daughters in such distress "How long had they been crying?"
"A while, My Prince. We had tried everything, but nothing works. They are not hungry, they are clean and just awoken from a nap. We do not know..." One of the maids, a large woman, told him.
"I do know" he sighed, carefully handing Baela to the woman "Look after them while I am away"
"Where are you going, My Prince?"
"The dragonpit"
And to the dragonpit he went, with Dark Sister attached to his belt and on top of a stallion. He reached it fairly quickly, for the reddish stallion was fast and strong. Young as well, full of energy. Much like himself.
It was completely dark when he reached the dragonpit. Luckily, the path to the dragonpit was lighted by tall torches that were lit at sunset. One of his grandmother's initiatives. The woman was quite brilliant for some things, yet so dim-witted for others.
"Prince Daemon, back again?" one of the elders asked, a smile on his wrinkled face "Are you to take Caraxes to the skies at this hours? I do not recommend. He is rather restless"
Restless? In the company of Syrax?
Oh.
Of course. Caraxes was restless because his hatchling was. Much like he was because Baela was uneasy.
"No" he shook his head, handing the reins of his stallion to one of the guards at the door "I came here to retrieve my daughter's hatchling. A pale green one"
"Ah, yes. The female born to Caraxes and Vhagar" the elder nodded "She is a fierce one, always trying to bite us. Thank the Gods she does not know how to spit fire yet"
If she did, I suspect you would be covered with even more burns.
The elder lead him to a small cave, were her daughter's dragon laid curled onto herself. Which was odd, for hatchlings were often put together.
"Why is she alone?" the hatchling perked up when she heard him, inmediatly moving to stand up. Daemon opened the cell, and picked her up "I thought hatchlings were supposed to be put together, to make them grow used to company"
"Yes...that we try to do. But this one kept on trying to fight Sunfyre, Prince Aegon's bonded dragon, while he is much bigger. Well, we had to put her alone"
Daemon chuckled, stroking the hatchling's small head. She was intelligent.
More so than Viserys, it seems.
He took the hatchling back to the Red Keep, where many stayed still, staring at the small dragon as if they had never seen one before. As if, not too long ago, Syrax was running with Rhaenyra through those very halls. But some of those servants seemed to be new. Surely employed by Alicent Hightower, who was said to despise dragons. Servants who acted as spies for the Highwhore, he knew. Rhaenyra had not been exaggerating by saying she had been alone all those years without him.
No more.
Now he was back, and she would never be alone again. Nor would anyone take what was hers.
Daemon found himself in his bedchambers again soon enough. The maids moved quickly away from the crying babes when they saw him come in with the hatchling. The small she-dragon shrieked happily when she saw Baela, and her eldest immediately ceased crying and screaming. And with her, Rhaena.
"You may go now" he told the servants.
They obeyed, clearing the room in a few seconds. Daemon sighed when he finally found himself alone.
Six moon turns, he reminded himself, just six moon turns.