the sun and the moon

three

Daenys and her family never had much else in common besides their blood. As years passed, she watched as her elder brother Aegon drowned whatever sorrows he held with cups of wine and women, as he dodged from his responsibilities. She watched as her older sister Helaena was forced into marriage with her unloyal and selfish brother. She watched her younger brother Aemond, as he threw himself into sword training and his studies, becoming a cold and guarded person. She watched her father become so sick and frail that he was almost completely bedridden from the pain. She watched as her mother desperately tried to hold onto control that she never had. Daenys watched because she never knew what to do. She didn't know how to fix her family so she gave up on trying. She retreated to sharpen her own weapons and prepare for the worst.

"Quite the match brother. Your skills with the sword have grown tremendously-" Daenys started.

"You'd stay away from those bastards if you knew better, dear sister." Aemond spat back.

"You'd watch your tongue if you knew better dear brother. That sounded an awful lot like treason to me." She stepped up closer to him, craning her neck up to look him in his good eye. Clenching her jaw, all Daenys could think of as she looked at her brother was their childhood. Daenys often took Aemond's side when he was being teased by his nephews and brother alike. She liked to think she was a source of comfort for him. He often confided in her about his fears of being less of a Targaryen with his lack of a dragon.

After his eye accident, Daenys made the mistake of trying to explain to Aemond that Jacaerys and Lucerys were only defending themselves and the honor of their cousins. He didn't talk to her for a fortnight and certainly hasn't confided in her since despite her reaching out constantly and apologizing more times than one can remember.

Daenys sighed. "I will not ask too much of you brother. Please just...hold your tongue. They are only here to make their petition and then they shall return to Dragonstone." She grabbed his hands to hold in her own as she often did in their youth. Aemond turned his head away as he avoided her pleading eyes. His eyebrows furrowed for a moment before smoothing out. He clenched and unclenched his jaw before turning back to face her.

"As you wish, sister." He finally said with defeat. Daenys' eyes shut from relief as she bowed her head and brought up Aemond hands to her forehead for a moment before she raised her head and dropped his hands.

"Thank you."She whispered to him. It was all she could say in response. Without waiting for her to say anything else, Aemond strutted back to where Ser Criston Cole was waiting on the other side of the yard and demanded another match.

She knew Aemond. She knew his temper. Daenys decided she would hold onto the hope that her brother would stay true to his word. With a somewhat renewed hope, Daenys left the training yard, her heart feeling lighter than it was when she first went out.

The Red Keep had many halls. It would be easy for a stranger to get lost. But Daenys was no stranger. She maneuvered through the halls until she reached her destination. Knocking on the door she waited for the person behind it to answer.

"Come in."

Daenys opened the door and shut it behind her. She stood facing the door only for a moment before the voice spoke again.

"Sister. What troubles you?" Helaena always knew when something was askew. She has been called odd more times than the number of stars in the sky but Daenys knew her as she was; her good older sister. The younger sister walked over and sat by her older sister who had been practicing her needlework.

"I have no troubles. Or at least I should not. Princess Rhaenyra, Prince Daemon and their family have arrived to make their petition on the inheritance of the Driftmark Throne. I have convinced Aemond to restrain his tongue for now but I can't shed the feeling that things could so easily go wrong." Daenys didn't look to her sister as she spoke, favoring watching as her fingers picked at her own skin.

"I believe that if anyone were to stop a dance it would be you my sister." Helaena responded. Her fingers twitched before she continued her needlework. A spider. Daenys held no such love for insects as her sister did. She also had no idea what her words meant half the time.

"Stop a dance? Sounds easy enough I suppose." The young girl smiled at her older sister whose eyes flitted up to her own for a moment before dropping back down. "I suppose I'll let you continue your work, it looks beautiful sister." With another small smile, Daenys stood and left to find Jace as she promised earlier.

As she walked, the young girl could only think of her sister's words. Stop a dance. Why would she want to stop a dance? Perhaps she was thinking too hard, or perhaps not hard enough. Knocking on the door she found herself in front of, she pushed away such thoughts. Those words can wait another day. With the door now open and Jacaerys now standing in front of her, Daenys felt like her breath was stolen away. How is it that he can do this to her no matter how many times she sees him? His eyes brightened and he smiled widely at her. Stepping out of his quarters, the two walked side by side through the halls.

"Aemond will do well to not say any cruel things while you and Luke are here." She spoke, looking into Jace's eyes. "I shall try my best to ensure he doesn't go back on his word." The boy nodded.

"You fret too much. Luke and I could've handled him."

"Yes you could, but I'd rather you didn't have to at all." 

Jacaerys grabbed Daenys' hand to hold in his own. "Haven't you eaten yet? Let's have some food outside."

"And Luke?" She responded back.

"Just about collapsed into his bed earlier. He's never been too good at managing his sea weariness. The journey tired him right out." Jace answered.

"Hm I see. So just the two of us I suppose."

"Yes I suppose so."