Rhaelles pov
I search for daemon hoping to find him and the last place to look is the throne room I peek in and my heart cracks seeing him with rhaenyra giving her a necklace. From the looks of it it's Valyrian steel. I listen as she asks "what of rhaelle?" Daemon chuckles "what of her?" "What did you get her?" She asks and daemon says "I get you things because you're my favorite. She's a defect" my heart hurts. I leave not caring if the door slams behind me and I hear "rhaelle!" It's daemon.
I wipe my tears not wanting him to see them. He doesn't deserve it. "Rhaelle!" I stop "what daemon" "were you crying?" He asks seeing me and I scoff walking passed "what does it matter to you?" I add with a chuckle "rhaenyra's your favorite and I'm just a defect...right?" His eyes soften "rhaelle" "dont touch me uncle. I wish I knew how you felt about me before I spent years of my life opening up to you. Silly me huh? Expecting family to love me. I get it. I won't expect anything from any of you again" I reply and make my way to the tourney. I sit and as usual I'm alone. My father surprisingly comes over "you're late" "so is rhaenyra" I point out seeing her come and take a seat.
"I'm asking about you. Where were you" he asks. I reply "I was with my mother. Who looks terrible by the way." "Your brother will be here soon" he says with a smile "and if he's not? Would you just make mother go through another heartbreak? How much can a woman's body take of stillborn children and miscarriages before it just gives up on them? How many times? I can tell you. 3. Mothers been lucky. The gods have been good but you haven't heeded their warnings. I'm afraid for how they'll choose to make you do so" I tell him.
He mutters "you've been doing it again" "what? Educating myself because no one else will because you think I'm shit and not worth it because I've been unable to see for most of my life?" I ask. I just want them to love me the way my mother does. The way I thought daemon did. All I have is my mother truly now. "I mean looking at the maesters books" he says. I tell him "well I'm not going to be queen. You've already proven youd rather face poison than name me heir. You can't even look at me for longer than thirty seconds and this is the longest conversation we've had in my life. I care about everyone else more than myself. I want to be a maester" he shakes his head "absolutely not" and walks away.
I watch the tourney bored as ever. Everyone gives their favor. Rhaenyra gives hers to ser Criston cole. Who defeated another knight. Daemon duels later and wins.I'm the only one left with a favor. Besides two other ladies. "Princess Rhaelle" he voiced and I sigh and walk over "what daemon" "may I have your favor?" He asks smiling up at me. I want to say no to spite him. So I do "ask someone who's not a defect" I reply. He says "I'm sorry" I ask "for what? That I heard you and can see you for who you are now? Or that I'm upset because I know you're not sorry for saying it. I can see you meant every word" looking down at him "I should've never said it" "I'm happy you did. Atleast now you're not stuck with me and thinking it. Ask for another favor" I tell him breaking mine and sitting. He voices "I don't care that it's broken." I'm given a new one by my father "give it to him and stop giving a show because he said the truth" I stand and toss it down "here's your favor. Leave me alone" but he doesn't. He wins the tourney and names me the queen of love and beauty.
I head to my mother hearing a ruckus. "Your Grace she and the babe are gone" no! I rush in and grab my mothers hand crying "wake up. Mother please. You promised. Please" she's cold and cut open. They did this to her. For a babe that died anyway. For a boy. "Get her out of here" my father snaps and I shake my head jerking away from the guard "don't touch me!" I look at my father crying "you got the boy you've always wanted. Happy now? The gods took her because of your selfishness" I kiss her head and close her eyes "Avy jorrāelan muñnykeā"
I love you mother
I go to my room and lock myself inside of it and cry and trash it. I hear something land on the roof of my room and head out the balcony and see Vaegon. He makes a noise and leans down and I pet him softly "todays been the worst for me" stroking his black and red scales. He puts his wing down offering me a ride. I shake my head "not tonight" I used to have him attached to my hip pretty much. He's much too big for it now. He's all I have left now. Just me and him. I shouldn't have left her. I should've stayed and stopped it.
Vaegons presence makes me feel immensely better though my heart has been broken twice today. It's not out of the usual for me to end up crushed and hurt. Suddenly I feel dizzy and a headache. I see flashes of me, a crown, daemon and pain, betrayals. Death. I collapse and vaegon moves to catch me. Last thing I hear is a roar from vaegon before it all goes black.
