Rhaenyra and Daemon - Behind closed doors HOTD fanfiction

Leaving King's Landing

Daemon

I shook off all my feelings for Rhaenyra as I entered the arena on my black stallion. It was game time. In the first round of jousting, I felt a little unbalanced, but I won of course. It felt good to beat Hightower's son. Then it was time to show appreciation to the crowd and ask one of the women of the court for her favour. I thought about choosing Rhaenyra, I wanted to, but I was so annoyed with the king's Hand that I chose his daughter instead, just to spite him. When Alicent dropped the wreath down my lance, I saw it as a symbolic intrusion into Otto Hightower's territory. It felt great. Rhaenyra raised her eyebrows just a little when she understood the political meaning behind my choice. Hightower looked furious, as usual. It was my life's mission to make that man miserable.

Apparently, Alicent was a good choice because the rest of the tournament flowed nicely and in the finals, I faced Ser Christon Cole, who like me had actually tested his abilities in war and not just at tourneys. It turned out that Ser Criston was an accomplished knight because he managed to beat me. I was furious at myself, but it was my fault. I should have prepared better. I wasn't used to losing, it had been years since the last time. I hated that Ser Christon now got to choose Rhaenyra as the Queen of the tourney instead of me. But I had learned to hold my tongue over the years, the court games demanded it, and the men at court had a very hard time trusting a man showing his true feelings. Nonsense in my opinion, as I was correctly described as a man with a temper as fickle as mercury.

After the games, I learned that Rhaenyra's mother had died in childbirth during the tourney and that she had given birth to a small, weak boy. The little boy died only hours later. Rhaenyra had lost her mother and knowing how that feels I wanted to comfort her, but I wouldn't impose on her grief. I had very mixed feelings about this, still being the heir, and dealt with it as I usually do, I drank. Possibly I drank a little too much because the next day I was summoned by my brother, the King, who was furious about something I had said at the tavern. I pleaded with him but he was determined to think the worst of me. That's what it felt like anyway. I got so mad that I spoke the truth, that he was a weak King, and that all I wanted to do was to protect him. Of course, my opinion made him even madder. Then he dropped an even bigger bomb on me. He had chosen Rhaenyra to be his heir and had got the small councils' approval. He didn't choose me! I was stunned. The King sat there on his Iron throne and demanded I leave the capital immediately. I said nothing. There was no point.

So, escorted by the king's personal guards, I went to the dragon stables to saddle up Caraxes. I didn't even get a chance to say goodbye to Rhaenyra. I felt bad since I had promised her we would talk again. What would she think when I disappeared? I must send a letter and explain. Her last memory being me losing to a cocky young knight, isn't exactly what I was hoping for. I grinded my teeth and mounted Caraxes who seemed very eager to fly. When I saw King's Landing below us, I was struck with both sadness and anger. My brother didn't trust me, he was forcing me away from both my birthright and my love. I was tired of playing nice.