14
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112 AC
Kingslanding
Rhaenyra Targaryen
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Sitting at the family dinner with just my Father and Mother I avoid the look my mom is giving me. She has said nothing but her eyes are saying too many words all on their own and it feels suffocating. My Father thankfully seems completely oblivious or just does not care as he eats, occasionally looking at either of us and smiling.
The smile toward the babe in my mom's stomach is the brightest but I choose to ignore that for now.
"So, are you going to ignore me the entire night?" My mom sets down her utensils and places one hand over the other on her swollen belly.
My father stops mid-bite and his eyes travel between the two of us before he sets down his own utensils and puts on a more serious look. I snort seeing them join forces and cross my arms as I slump back into my chai.
"I am not ignoring you, you just have not said anything." She sighs and shakes her head with a tired look, my dad places a hand on her arm comfortingly.
"Rhaenyra I heard what happened and I want to know what you plan to do about it. If you want them to leave then they will leave, if you need help I will offer mine. No one can turn down a pregnant lady, especially a pregnant Queen so if I ask to meet they will accept." I chuckle as my father's eyes widen.
"What happened?" It's my mom's turn to comfort my father as her hand pats his arm.
"Rhaenyra and Daeron seemed to have some conflict." He looks incredulously at me as I wonder how my she knows but not my father.
"Did he hurt you?!" He looks ready to declare war surprisingly but calms down as I shake my head.
"It was not a big deal, we already worked it out and everything is fine." I stop to collect my thoughts as they look unsatisfied, I will need to give them more than that. "Long story short we had a lot of fun today but it ended poorly when I cut between him and Alicent. I said the two of them should not be alone on a flight after he offered her one since Syrax never lets Alicent near. The way I said it insinuated that they would do improper things if they flew off and he took it poorly. We talked after and I let him know I did not mean to insult him and then we talked about other things after he accepted that." They both look thoughtful before my father picks up his utensils and nods.
"I see, it was a simple misunderstanding and you dealt with it on your own and that makes me proud." I smile even though Daeron was the one to seek me out but I will leave that part out.
I don't need him making guards follow me into the Godswood when it's the only place I can be alone. I also plan to talk to him some more in there and I want to see the real Daeron and not the Daeron he shows in front of others. I feel safe enough to be alone with him or with Alicent, he could have killed me with Gaelithox if he really wanted me dead.
I meet moms eyes once more and my smile stiffens as she gives me another prying look but takes a glance at my father before returning to her meal. It seems she is not done but does not want the conversation to be heard. I am thankful as I feel she knows we have not seen each other 'publicly' since he flew off.
Let's hope she does not make a big deal about it, I really don't want my secret hiding spot ruined.
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"You could have asked me to come to your room, it is ridiculous that you walked here on your own this late at night." I quickly move toward my mother as she leans on a wall and holds her stomach.
"I planned on waiting until morning but I could not rest after I laid my head down, go ahead and tell me everything." I sigh as I help her toward my bed.
I adjust some pillows to help her sit comfortably before I cover her legs to keep her warm before sliding into bed next to her. She runs her fingers through my loose hair and smiles down at me as I lay my head on a single pillow.
"I was in the Godswood with Alicent and was reading as I thought of a way to fix what happened, then he appeared. We talked it out and he accepted my apology and then told me stories about Dorne, it was nice. There is no big secret except my secret spot and please don't let my father know or he will make the guards sit inside and ruin the privacy." Her eyes narrow the more I talk until they shut entirely as I end with a somewhat desperate plea.
"Rhaenyra, you cant expose yourself like that." She sighs and shakes her head as she stops running her hand through my hair. "You don't expect me to be at ease knowing he could very well ambush you in the Godswood, do you?" I sit up and glare at her and her hand falls off my head and onto the bed.
"Have you not seen how big his dragon is? His dragon has eaten dragons and flew right next to me with no problems. If he wants me dead he missed a great opportunity, why would he wait until he is within the castle to kill me?" Her face scrunches up hearing about Gaelithox but soon smooths out as she lays her head back resting her neck.
"I expect you to keep your wits about yourself and not put yourself in a situation that could lead to anything going wrong. He might not have bad intentions but a random servant wanting to head to the Godswood seeing the two of you will think they stumbled across a gold mine. The rumor you are bedding the Dornish Prince would be spread far and wide before we even knew what happened if someone just happened to be sleeping out there and you did not see them till they saw you." I shake my head helplessly.
"How can I expect to get to know him and consider the possibility of marrying if I will never have the chance to 'get to know him'. I obviously know what not to do, I am not the stupid little girl you seem to think I am. I am in no rush to get pregnant like you are, it looks more like a pain than it's worth." She opens both eyes with a small smile.
"How many times do I have to tell you, time and time again I have said it." I drop back onto my back and pull the pillow over my head to block out her voice. "You will figure it out on your own, I am confident in that. I just pray the gods are merciful and you will be happy with who you end up deciding on." I lift the pillow to see her looking across the room at the wall with a sad look on her face.
"Well it would help if you didn't tell my Father I talked with Daeron in a more 'private' way." He will either forbid us to ever talk again or throw his full power into ensuring a marriage on the spot to protect my 'honor'.
"I will keep it a secret even though my heart is telling me it's wrong, I hope you are right. I won't be able to live with myself if something happens and I approved of this. You also will not be doing anything you should not be doing, your father is accepting so far of this potential match. If you two are caught doing things you should not be doing he will be wroth." I nod as a smile slowly spread on my lips.
"I will be fine, I actually wanted you to talk to him soon and we can set it up tomorrow. I think a lot of your hesitation will fade if you talk to him yourself and not just stare at him from across a table. Maybe we can get him to come to your room for some questions you might have, as you said it's hard to deny a pregnant Queen." She chuckles and grips my hand in one of hers and brings it to her lips.
"You are right, it is hard to say no when the suffering Queen goes out of her way to ask for your appearance. No one can even say anything about it either as I will be the one inviting him and it can help serve to end any rumors after today. No one knows you two made up so this will be the 'official' meeting you to make up for the rumor mill." I lay my head on her shoulder as she lowers herself from the sitting position.
I smile seeing her have no intention to leave tonight, it has been a very long time since we slept in the same bed.
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112 AC
Kingslanding
Daeron Nymeros Martell
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"Wake up you grump." I start to open my eyes only to see a hand sail through the air and slap my bare chest.
That at least was the plan of my assailant but my tweaker reflexes are cranked to an eleven at all times and I grab the hand. Shimmer runs through my blood twenty-four-seven and won't quit even if the cows come home. A fact my sister has long gotten used to even if she still slips up every now and then.
"You have slept in, it will be lunch soon enough and a request from the Queen came for you to join her. You don't want to leave your 'future' good mother waiting so it's time to get out of bed." Myriah practically spits some of her words, she is most against the union.
The odd thing is that she honestly seems to be willing to befriend Rhaenyra but she does not want me to wed her. I can't even begin to understand the enigma that is my little sister, and I don't think I ever will.
"I am up, can you toss something appropriate to wear to meet the Queen onto the dresser." She nods as she steps back and lets me out of bed.
I stretch before heading for my 'travel bag' that holds a convenient amount of daily necessities. A whole product line of things I have slowly worked out is in my travel bag but I have yet to get anything moving as far as product goes. Oral care products I expect will do very well when I get that up and running. But my secret hair care will remain a secret, got to keep stuff close to the vest sometimes.
But no one wants to smell bad breath so I will be pushing Oral care even if it ends up costing me in the long run. They will call me 'Daeron the Dentist' by the time I am done with this world, and I will be proud. Not many can claim they helped the whole world's general healthcare, how many lives could it end up saving?
"You think she wants to give you 'the talk'?" Myriah asks as she throws a pair of pants onto the dresser.
"I think she wants to find out what happened yesterday, if Rhaenyra herself did not tell her. I doubt Rhaenyra would talk about how 'alone' we were yesterday. I was the one who caused the situation in the Godswood by seeking her out but she made no moves to leave or call for help. By doing nothing she accepted my presence there even if she was secretly scared on the inside which I know is not the case. So I expect her to not want anyone to know and she likely made Alicent swear up and down to keep it a secret." Still not sure how to feel about actually seeing them as friends when I know they would tear each other apart eventually.
It almost is sad to know that bit of foreknowledge, but it is in my best interest to let things play out even if it is 'deceitful'. Ultimately it will be their own inability to work things out after being put into a shitty situation so my hands are clean morally.
"That should be good, don't say anything that will cause her to distrust you. She had her eyes on you most of the time we have been around her and I think she is nervous about you. Just be boring old Daeron and she will ease up on her protective mother instincts." I roll my eyes at my sister as she pats the clothes she picked out and turns to the door. "Good luck." I hum in response as she pushes open my door and shuts it behind herself.
Well, let's hope this is not a setup or something, I am hopeful after we reconciled yesterday that things will go in my favor if I can play my cards right.