Unstoppable flames || DAEMON TARGARYEN

O N E

⁂⁂⁂

⁋The only thing that could tear down the house of the dragon was itself¶

109 a.c.

Amarys often wondered why she was sitting in Small Council meetings listening to all these men. They were not pleased to see her among them. Amarys wasn't the happiest either. But her sister Aemma was queen and it was known that king Viserys would do anything for her. And Aemma would do anything for her sister. Amarys had mentioned to her once that she wanted more responsibility, that she wanted to feel important and that her word and opinion carried weight.

So now she sits on the Small Council and listens to the interminably long conversations of the lords.

They tired her. She was never asked for an opinion, and even if she had one, they wouldn't let her speak. Otto Hightower would interrupt her and often say that she should find a husband and fulfill her duty as a wife. The king's hand would often have scathing comments about Lady Amarys Arryn and find a way to get under her skin. Amarys, of course, could not keep quiet, so the meetings of the Small Council were often like a battlefield, a battle of insults and scathing comments between Amarys and Otto.

The door opened, snapping Amarys out of her thoughts and she smiled at the newcomer. Rhaenyra, the only surviving child of her sister, Queen Aemma and King Viserys, was the Realm's Delight, and Amarys adored her niece and tried to spend every free moment with her.
"Rhaenyra, you are late," the king addressed his daughter. "The king's cupbearer must not be late. Such behavior leaves people thirsty."

Amarys laughed softly and rolled her eyes. She was a mirror image of her mother, the late Princess Daella Targaryen. Her eyes were the color of amethyst, fiery and seductive. Unlike her mother, Amarys was fearless and did not care about other people's opinions and reproaches. She loved her freedom and did not want to trap herself in a marriage where her husband would demand that she bear him an heir, regardless of the consequences. She objected to it, to which Aemma often scolded her. She would say that she also conveys such thoughts to Rhaenyra, to which Amarys would reply that Rhaenyra is the blood of her blood, a clever girl.

"I visited mother." Rhaenyra answered worriedly, kissed her father on the cheek and gave her aunt a smile, to which she happily returned her smile. Viserys smelled her and looked at her carefully.
"On a dragon back?"

Amarys did not hide her laughter at his criticism. Rhaenyra loved riding her dragon Syrax. She enjoyed her freedom and would often soar to the heights, often accompanied by Amarys and her dragon Vaessia. The two were an inseparable duo and Aemma was often grateful for her sister and how she cared for Rhaenyra as if she was her own child. "You'd make an excellent mother, Amarys." her sister would tell her. "I'd rather be a knight and win gloriously. I'm not made for marriage and children." Amarys would answer every time. She believed that her love was not written in the stars and that she would never know her happiness.

"Your Grace, at the persuasion of Prince Daemon, the crown invested considerable capital in retraining and re-equipping of his City Watch. I thought you might urge your brother to fill his seat at council and provide assessment of his progress as Commander of the Watch." Lord Beesbury voiced his concern. Amarys sighed, they returned to the boring discussions that had so often put her to sleep. She had no significant role in the council. She was only there because the king decided so, at the urging of his wife. Amarys could only sit and listen as the lords debated and decided.

,,Do you think Daemon is distracted by his present tasks? And that his thoughts and energy are occupied?" asked the king.
"Well, one might hope so, considering the associated costs."
"Then let us all consider your gold well invested, Lord Beesbury."