The True and The Brave

𝔉𝔬𝔲𝔯: 𝔗𝔥𝔢 ℜ𝔬𝔤𝔲𝔢 𝔒𝔫𝔢𝔰

[AN: Thank you for all your kind words and comments. I never imagined this blow up as it has. I hope you continue to enjoy this creation as much as I enjoy writing it. Thank you from the bottom of my heart] (PS; you know the drill, no ghost reading, please)

Three moons had passed since they laid siege on the stepstones. Seafyre mercilessly toppled over ships from below, her proclivity to water faring as an undeniable advantage. But Seasmoke would reign fire from above as Aemma spewed commands. Her grandfather let her command the dragons, but would never let her set afoot in the physical fighting. Not unless it was the last resource.

"Dracarys Seasmoke!"

Seasmoke, already bonded with Aemma roared, following all commands. It wasn't a bond, perhaps. It was as if Seasmoke recognized her. As if she had enough of her father's blood to be recognized as a worthy rider.

She saw her uncle Vaemond leading a small armada. His eyes followed the body of Seasmoke as it burned three ships that had been making their way from behind them. Aemma wouldn't like and deny she did not find a certain thrill. From above. She had not proven herself as a marching soldier. But she reckoned she would soon. She was a warrior just like her father, and she would prove herself so.

"Dragon!"

Aemma turned in confusion. Seafyre was still on the vast ocean, submerging ships and whole armadas. And she was currently riding atop of Seasmoke. Vaemond turned to also see if there was any incoming creature they could not recognize.

Would Aemond and the mighty Vhagar come? Would it be them, mistified as a glorious god in her eyes? Would he swoop in and save her from her own self-destructive devices?

From atop of Seasmoke a great shadow was cast. She felt her spine tingle at the sheer size. He had come. He was really here.

When Seasmoke reinstalled itself back in the stone her grandfather garrisoned as camps, she threw herself into the sand, calling back Seafyre.

When the shadow grew closer she heard it then. The unique shrieks and distorted roars. It was not Vhagar. Instead, the clouds parted to show Caraxes. And riding on him was the rogue prince, Daemon Targaryen.

With the ground slightly trembling, Caraxes landed, its snout a few inches from her face. She watched as it bore its fangs. The breath was so putrid she could almost wretch. Pieces of meat stuck between its elongated teeth. Another roar resounded into the air, and this time she felt as if the stone they all sat atop of almost break down and submerged itself. She felt the familiar presence behind her. Seafyre. Her she-dragon had outgrown Caraxes by so much length and vigor. Her dragon let out a snarl that sent the whole world silent.

Daemon lunged from his dragon, inspecting Aemma almost warily. Aemma stood her ground, her face unyielding. Seafyre's breath made the loose strands of her braid swindle.

Corlys stepped beside her. His hand was on her shoulder plate, almost as if she could feel the warmth. Daemon's eyes darted to her belt that brandished an ancestral blade. Just like Dark Sister. Then, smirked. That serpentine smile.

"I hear there is a new queen of the stepstones. It seems you are a mighty replacement, niece".

Corlys' intake of breath was almost audible, but Seafyre's snarl resounded.

"I hear the same news, uncle. It seems you have been supplanted indeed".

There was a game of stares. One she would win. Her piercing lavender eyes not yielding his darker ones. A fight.

"Well, not for long, Princess. I've come to retrieve you back to Dragonstone at your mother's behest", he said, his hand darting to Dark sister's hilt.

It was Aemma's turn to tense. Corlys stepped in front of her as if his body was enough to hand her to the same people that had sent his son to be butchered, "Princess Aemma is my ward. She is under my tutelage. That is to be respected".

"It is not a request, Corlys. It is an order for the crown heir", his voice like sharp stones that had managed to invade her mind.

Why would her mother ask for her? Why now? Why must she insist on making her life more miserable? She was fine without her. Aemma let out a twin snarl similar to Seafyre's.

"Then at once, Prince Daemon. Her orders are to retrieve me from where I belong and hear her words. There isn't an order that prevents me from coming back. Grandsire, I believe you can command Seasmoke. I will be back once this—", she glared back at Daemon who looked smug at her words, "— ordeal... is at its end".

Daemon smirked once more and mounted Caraxes, which let out a loud shriek as it flew.

Aemma looked back at her grandfather, "I will come back. I know my presence will be summoned at court to set a date for the wedding. With this, it will be pushed earlier. I am a woman grown and fit to marry. But you are my grandfather and my duty is to my house first. I am not a Targaryen. Not yet at least".

Corlys took her leather-gloved hands, Vaemond also beside him. He himself was the one who dueled with Aemma. He was proud to say that he trained the Princess to be a formidable warrior. One worthy of the Velaryon name.

"You behave yourself, Aemma. Do not let your temper cloud your judgment when you face your mother. I am certain that your honor will no longer be soiled. You are a Velaryon".

Aemma had unshed tears in her eyes. War felt easier than facing her past. Facing her mother. With one last glance at her family, Aemma ran to the edge of the cliff, whistling for Seafyre to catch her.

When she was in mid-air with Seafyre roaring and departing, the red-scaled dragon circles back, flying beside Seafyre.

Daemon inspected her dragon. Remembered the tales of an egg no one could recognize found on the beaches of High Tide. It was a formidable beast. Bigger than his own dragon. How the tables turn. The girl set to inherit nothing was the one who could prove the most.

"Rhaenyra seeks to keep you guarded. As if you need her protection now—", he started.

"I've never needed it nor asked for it. Why now?", Aemma snarled.

"She is your mother. My wife. That makes you my stepdaughter. It is natural she would like to protect her children. Now that there seem to be two sides".

"Sides to a quarrel that does not concern me or my house. When you killed my father, my loyalty to house Targaryen died. Or will you deny that too?"

Daemon tensed at the fire that enveloped her sharp lilac eyes. How they had underestimated the rage of Aemma Velaryon.

"We did what we had to—"

"You don't get to talk. I've had everything taken from me—everything. I won't let you parade around as if you meant something to me and command me not to be by my family—"

Daemon snapped, and he seemed to roar, "You are family, Aemma! You have your mother's blood. That makes you a part of mine!"

Aemma circled Caraxes, making the beast halt in mid-flight, "I am nothing to you. I am no such thing to her. She decided that long ago for the way I looked when I was brought into this world. Do not lie to yourself, Daemon. I was cast away just like you were by Viserys. But you did that yourself. I did not have a choice. I was born. That was the reason for such treatment".

Daemon for once let his gaze fall. Aemma scoffed in disbelief and commanded Seafyre to fly faster. Away from him.

Aemma watched Dragonstone. A coldness seeped through her bones. This would never be a home to her. Daemon escorted her to the main hall. Aemma took the helm from her head, setting it on the table in the middle of the room. Her eyes fell on the words that marked Winterfell. And her chest caved with pain. Cregan Stark was a home with his warmth. This wasn't.

Rhaenyra watched her daughter with a pang of hidden guilt. Her face glowed with the fire. If Rhaenyra turned to see her profile it almost looked as if she was seeing her mother again, Aemma. She held her belly.

Jaecarys had gawked at his sister, even a year younger than him and she had already looked older. Her face matured and her eyes haunted. Lucerys watched the woman he knew to be gentle stand in front of them, radiating a coldness that made his spine crawl.

"Daughter", Rhaenyra acknowledged.

The room was silent. Tensed. Almost as if Aemma would so only shift and the only thing heard would be her armor clang.

Aemma only stared. Her jaw clenched. The nails that pressed into her palm drew a string of blood.

"Princess Rhaenyra", she countered.

Jace was horrified for once. The cold and callous voice he did not imagine for his once gentle and kind sister. One they had pushed away.

Rhaenyra walked towards Aemma in a haste, but Aemma took twice steps backward. Her piercing gaze was dull and indifferent.

Rhaenyra's arms were outstretched, but at the dejection from her daughter, fell to her sides. She had caused this.

"My daughter, how you've grown—"

"State your purpose, Princess Rhaenyra. Otherwise I might be tempted to return where my presence is needed". Cold. Sharp. Calculated.

Rhaenyra's face momentarily fell. She knew it was too late to change the past. But distance had made it fonder. How she had missed the laughs that once surrounded the red keep.

"You will do no such thing", Rhaenyra snapped back.

Aemma took a step forward, Daemon warily placed a hand on the hilt of Dark Sister, "I do whatever my lord grandfather commands. It is his tutelage I am under".

"Then you won't be under it. You will remain in Dragonstone. Your betrothal will be broken for a more fitting one. You will stay", commanded Rhaenyra.

Aemma laughed. A cold, heartless, and emotionless laugh resounded through the room. Jace stepped forward as if he would lurch to protect his mother.

"It is comedic that you think you have a vote or say. My late father was to arrange both my wardship and betrothal. There is a room of witnesses if you'd like to refute it".

"You are my daughter. You will do as I say!"

"I am Laenor Velaryon's daughter. You lost the right to call me one when you had him killed. When you laid a hand on me. When you did not claim me as such. I am a Velaryon first. And I have no loyalty to you", Aemma shook in fury. She would not have it. Would not have it.

"You don't belong there, Aemma. You belong here with your mother and brothers", Daemon let out, his voice emotionless.

"I belonged to my father before you ripped him away from him. And I belong to Aemond Targaryen—"

"You don't belong anywhere near those snakes! You are my daughter. You will do as I command", Rhaenyra let out, her voice strong, as if using the will of the crown heir on the tone.