The Red Viper and Dragon Princess Edit

Prologue: Part Three

Prologue: Part Three

284 AC Dragonstone – Exiled to Essos

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It took them weeks to arrive at Dragonstone as a fierce storm had blown in from the North and made the waters extremely dangerous. But the Captain that Lord Dayne had found for them came through. Daella was upset at not seeing Ashara, who had gone to Sunspear after news had come of Elia and her babes deaths, but she also knew it was for the best. If Ashara had met up with them, she never would have let them leave Starfall without her. Their journey was long and Daella was thankful when they had finally docked at Dragonstone. Information had just come in about Stannis Baratheon heading to Dragonstone to get rid of the rest of the Targaryen's and she wanted to get her mother and little brother out of there.

They immediately headed for the Keep, where the Targaryen ancestral seat was. Daella knew her naneth had been in seclusion there since just before The Battle of the Trident. How she hated her ada for refusing to send Elia and her children with them because he wanted Dorne to fight for him. Aerys had instead sent away his pregnant wife and their youngest son with Ser Jonothor Darry's younger brother for protection. Viserys was only five but Aerys wanted him to be safe just in case Rhaegar perished. It seems his fears had come to pass. Rhaegar was dead, so was his first-born son, leaving only Jacaerys as the heir to the Iron Throne, with Viserys his heir until he had children when he was older.

The docks were busy as the guards and families loyal to House Targaryen rushed around, hoping to keep the Queen Mother and the heir apparent safe. Daella had never seen Dragonstone in such a state and Lord Valeryon was quick to inform her that her mother was in labour in the Great Keep and they were setting up a blockade to slow the usurpers brother down to give them time to escape. Daella kept Jacaerys pressed tight to her chest as she and the three knights of the Kingsguard moved at an almost run towards the keep.

Just as they reached the courtyard that led to the entrance of the Keep, they could hear the screams of a women in the birthing bed and the bells ringing, announcing that someone unwelcome was coming towards the harbor. Ser Gerald talked to one of the guards and then turned to his princess, "Baratheon banners will soon be coming into the harbor. We need to hurry. The guards say that Rhaella has been in the birthing bed since very early this morning and her screams have echoed just as long," he explained wearily.

Ser Gerald had been a member of the Kingsguard since Ser Duncan the Tall had been Lord Commander and before Aerys and Rhaella had gotten married. He had been there for every birth and death of their children and he above everyone knew the trouble Rhaella had suffered in the birthing bed. Rhaella had given birth to eleven children. Of that number, only three survived to adulthood. Princess Shaena, who was born after Rhaegar, would have survived if not for the Blackfyre's, who sent someone to kill her. All the other children either came stillborn or were to weak to survive after their birth.

He had even been there when Arrana Umber had given birth to Daella. Gerald had never forgotten when Aerys, scared of losing another child, had taken his bastard daughter to Rhaella and ordered her to nurse her, after losing her own child. Rhaella had done so and instantly fallen in love with the little black-haired babe. Daella had grown up safe and happy because of Rhaella's acceptance and Gerald had a lot of respect for her. Daella had proven time and time again that she wasn't like her father and that she would be a good Regent for his King. Little Jacaerys looked so much like his aunt that Gerald could almost think he was her son but his eyes gave his parentage away. Daella had eyes like violets, while Rhaegar had had beautiful purple eyes, which his son had inherited.

He watched as his words filled Daella with a new anxiety and they rushed towards the doors and into the Keep at a faster pace. Daella noticed the silence the moment they entered. There was nobody about in the hallways or guards in the castle, all having gone towards the docks to stall the Baratheon forces. She found this strange and her concern from her naneth grew before they came to the chambers her naneth used when she visited Dragonstone. The doors were slightly open and the sounds of moans and cries echoed from inside. Daella swallowed hard before she entered the room with Jacaerys strapped to her chest and the rest of the Kingsguard following her.