twin flames | daemon targaryen

seven

The next morning, Rhaella walked along the shores outside High Tide, enjoying the feeling of the sand beneath her feet. When they had returned to the keep the night before, they were met with a frightened Rhaenys and Corlys and an amused Daemon, all of whom had heard Vhagar's cries. Their fear soon turned to anger at the fact they snuck out from the keep and then to immense pride that their daughter now rode the fearsome conquering dragon.

Rhaella smiled at the memory of Corlys lifting Laena in the air in his embrace of her, the Lord of the Tides being a father proud beyond belief. Footsteps sounded in the sand behind her, and Rhaella turned to see Daemon walking towards her with his usual smirk.

"When I heard Vhagar roar into the night, I knew that you had something to do with it," he told her fondly, stepping to standing beside her.

"Am I so predictable, Kepus?" She asked with a laugh.

"No, I just know you well," Daemon answered in the common tongue, his smirk becoming a warm smile.

"So it seems," was all Rhaella said, smiling back before turning to look out as water lapped at their feet.

"I was surprised to see you yesterday," Daemon revealed after several moments, peering down at Rhaella as their arms brushed against each other. "I had not heard of your travels to Driftmark."

"It-it was hard to stay in the Red Keep without Muña there. The wounds were too fresh. Princess Rhaenys invited me to come and stay with them," Rhaella revealed, looking down at her feet.

"I think it very wise," Daemon said. Rhaella peered up at him curiously, meeting his gaze. "We lost my mother when I was three years old. I am sad to say that I do not remember much of her other than her smile. After her death, my father moved chambers because the memories were far too great."

"I did not know that," Rhaella said softly. Daemon shrugged, clearing his throat nervously. He had not spoken of his mother, Alyssa Targaryen, in many years. The memories, and the memories that had not come to be, were too painful to bear.

"What I mean to say is that I am glad you came here," he told her. "I can see that you have gotten some of your happiness back, being here by the sea with our cousins." 

Rhaella nodded in agreement, thinking of dragon riding with Laenor and Laena and the few times Rhaenys has started to teach her how to play chess.

"I am happy here," Rhaella said after a moment, clasping her hands tightly behind her back. "It is a nice change of pace from King's Landing. I am to go back in a few months for the wedding." Daemon's features darkened at the mention of the nearing union of House Targaryen and House Hightower. "Though, I wonder if that is the only wedding for which I will be attending." If possible, Daemon's expression soured further.

"Rhaella—"

"I do not need to hear your excuses, Daemon," Rhaella interrupted, holding up her hand. She turned to face him properly. "As Rhaenyra wrote to me a few days ago, the whole affair is finished, is it not? My only regret was that I did not ride on Gaelith to Dragonstone to get the egg back myself."

Daemon remained silent, staring down at her with an unreadable expression, his jaw clenched tightly. Rhaella scoffed, shaking her head. 

When she had read Rhaenyra's letters detailing Daemon's acts of revenge against their father, she honestly did not know what to think. Anger? Sadness? Now, when she is faced with her uncle in person, all she could feel was disappointment.

"Last we spoke, you told me that you would try to make up for the insult you gave me and my brother," she reminded him, stepping closer to him with a finger pointed at his chest. "What am I to think when months later, you steal his egg in some show of ego to do what? Impress your new wife? Tell off my father?" Daemon bowed his head, his eyes on his feet as he pushed around the sand beneath them.