The Desire

(Drakken's POV)

"I will do no such thing." I said as I walked up to her, "Do you understand?" 

Maegelle pulled on my arm, "Stop it." She said, "That is enough." 

Daella glared at me, "Do you want me to suffer?" 

I reached for her cheek, "I don't intend for that." I said, "But I won't kill you either." 

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she closed her eyes, "I want it to stop." She said softly, "The pain....." 

"I know." I said softly, "But....there is nothing I can do for that. I will not force you to worship me, I will not force you to like me. We all make our own choices." 

She opened her eyes and looked at me, "You told me....." She said, "I would have been happy if I had been with you..." 

I pulled away, "That is true." I said, "Do you regret it?" 

"No." She said 

"Drakken." Maegelle said, "Let us go now." 

I looked at her, "Hm, fine then." I said, "Say goodbye to your sister then." 

Maegelle reached for Daella and hugged her, "My sweet sister....." She said, "I am sorry you feel this way. But please, do not do something rash. That pain, it will go away someday." 

"Sister....." Daella hugged her back, "Please, don't go...don't leave me....." 

"I would love to take you with me." Maegelle told her, "But you know that cannot happen. I am so sorry....." 

Daella wiped the tears away, "I'll miss you....." 

"I'll miss you too." Maegelle told her

"When your child is born, can I visit you so?" She asked

"Of course." I saw Maegelle smiling warmly, "I will not refuse you." 

Daella nodded, "Thank you....." 

"Don't worry about it." Maegelle said, "One day, our families will coexist happily, Daella. Should you finally have a child.....when this one undoes his curse, that is.....we'll spend time together, my dear sister." 

"Hm...." I said

Maegelle stepped back and grabbed my hand, "Let us go now, Drakken....." 

I looked at Daella, "When the time comes, you will ask for my help, Daella." I said seriously, "And you'll understand one thing and one thing only." 

"I am not just a monster that you all claim me to be." 

************************

"Why would you tell her all of that?!" Maegelle scolded as she smacked my arm, "You know her mental state is fragile!" 

I shrugged, "Ah, calm down." I said as I sat down, "She doesn't need to know personal things about me." 

We were in the Manse, preparing to leave already. Maegelle was not happy with the way I spoke to Daella, it seemed. 

"All of those things, Drakken..." She said, "All of those horrible things that happened to you.....how could you-" 

"Like I said." I cut her off, "She doesn't need to know any of it. There is no point in that." 

She sighed, "I....." She said, "I cannot believe it has come to this. Mother has asked me if there is a chance for Vaegon to get his hand back." 

I looked at her, she was sitting down next to me, "I gave him an option." I said, "Not my problem if he doesn't like it." 

She was so beautiful. The way she gave off that motherly glow while carrying my child. She has often stated how ugly she felt whenever she was pregnant, but I cannot help but laugh at that sentiment. She was far from it. 

She was a goddess. 

I reached for her belly and gently patted it as she looked at me. 

"What is it?" She asked

"This is our second." I told her

She nodded, "Yes." 

"I want more." I told her

She frowned, "More?" She asked, "This one is not out." 

I rubbed her belly gently, "I still want more." 

"Define more." She said, "Because if I am going to be like my Mother, well, I am not so sure about that." 

"I don't mind." I told her, "I'm not forcing you to do anything. I just.....I want more. From you." 

"What about the one from Dorne?" She asked softly, "When are you going to make that happen?" 

"After this one comes out." I said as I pulled away and leaned back, "Hm...." 

"What is it?" She scooted closer to me and hugged my arm, "Is there something on your mind?" 

"Nothing." I said, "All of this that has happened recently...it just made me think...." 

"Think of what?" She leaned on me, gently rubbing my chest, "You can speak your mind freely with me." 

"I'm weak." I told her

"What?" She asked

"The Realm should be in flames by now." I told her, "I shouldn't allow what happened to Riktor to go by unpunished." 

"You haven't." She said, "As we speak, Mya is still punishing that woman. You have not let this go unpunished." 

"I've gone soft." I said, "There should be nothing but carnage and destruction." 

"You don't have to." She said, "You really don't have to." 

"It's you." I said, "You've made me this way." 

"I know. You constantly remind me." She said, "But is it so bad? Is it so bad that I try to restrain you?" 

"Perhaps it isn't." I said, "But what if something happens because of that?" 

"I understand." She said, "It would be my fault." 

"No." I said, "It would be mine. For allowing you to influence me this much." 

"Drakken...." She said, "You've spoken those words to me. They were real....and for that, I am grateful....that you've shown restraint at times." 

I looked at her, "Hm." I said, "Is that so?" 

She looked at me, "Yes." 

"Papa....." I heard a voice call out

I turned to see Vaella walking up to me, "Oh, come here my dear." I said as she reached me, "Come to papa." 

I picked her up and sat her on my lap as she leaned against my chest, hugging me. 

"Oh, Vaella." Maegelle said, "What is the matter?" 

"I want to go home." She said softly

"We're leaving soon." Maegelle told her as she patted her head, "Don't worry. But Vaella, you know this is our home too, right? I grew up here." 

"I don't like it." She said

Maegelle smiled, "I see."

I ran my hand through Vaella's hair, "My sweet Vaella...." I said, "My precious daughter....." 

Maegelle kissed my cheek, "You love her, don't you?" She said, "The daughter that we made?" 

"Hm." I said as I looked at my girl, "She's..." 

"She's perfect." Maegelle said, "Isn't she?" 

"I've wondered...." I said, "What would my life be like if I had decided to do this earlier? During all those wars, all those decades of nothing but carnage, would it have been a good idea? Would it have been a good call to take a break and just....start a family?" 

"I don't know." Maegelle said, "I still don't know much about what you've done or experienced.....but one thing is for sure.....I am glad you decided now." 

"Because my daughter wouldn't be here if you didn't."