Enchanted // Rhae Royce

57. Almost Lost a Princess

Haunted // Aegon Targaryen x VAERA - out now!

 'We should make landfall inside the hour, Princess.' Cole told her as they sailed

'How do you think he will take it?' Rhaenyra questioned looking out at the castle in the distance.

'Do you speak of how you rejected every suitor His Grace put before you, or how you abruptly ended the tour with two months remaining?' Cole mused.

"He is going to be thrilled." Tommen assured. "Wait are we talking about Taelon or your father? Because your father will be furious." Tommen countered. "But Taelon will be-" but a dragon shrieking and rumbling caught their attention. Caraxes flew overhead, rocking the ship.

'Take cover!'

'Princess! You all right? Are you? Fetch the maester!' Criston said as he helped Rhaenyra up she clutched at her head as she stared at Caraxes.

'I'm fine.' She assured.

"Gods almost back and we almost lost our princess." Tommen teased. "If that were to happen. It was Criston's fault."

"Tommen!" Nyra laughed out.

+

"Father, don't even entertain him." Taelon begged.

"I will see what he has to say." Viserys remarked. "And then take his head." Taelon sighed knowing his father would never kill his brother. Even if Daemon was the one about to pierce Viserys through the heart. Viserys was peaceful, it was Taelon that had to protect him. Viserys stood ready to reprimand his brother but Taelon hated every bit of this.

Yes, he saved Daemon's ass but that was moons ago. He didnt get a thank you, Taelon got a fuck off. Taelon knew that no matter what Daemon said, Viserys would ultimately forgive him. Because thats what brothers did, no matter how much they piss you off they are family and family forgives. 

Daemon walked forward with confidence though, the kings guard unsheathed their swords ready to attack, to protect their king. A crown on Daemon's head he threw down his sword before them. Taelon looked from the sword, to the crown. He gripped his blade Asgard tightly, ready. He wasnt about to be bamboozled by Daemon.

'Add it to the chair.' Daemon offered it clattered before Viserys as the crowd murmured with anticipation.

'You wear a crown.' Viserys noted. 'Do you also call yourself "King"?' he sneered

'Once we smashed the Triarchy, they named me "King of the Narrow Sea." Daemon informed him, his gaze shifted just slightly to Taelon and the crowd murmured again, Daemon was no king. Everyone knew of his reputation. Taelon knew they would have lost without himself and his dragon. Yet Daemon got the false title of king?

'But I know that there is only one true king, Your Grace.' Daemon assured. 'My crown and the Step stones... are yours.'

'Well, where is Lord Corlys?' Viserys questioned hesitantly, Daemon was not one to bend the knee willingly.

'He sailed home to Driftmark.' Daemon told him

'Who holds the Step stones?' Viserys countered

'The tides... the crabs, and 2,000 dead Triarchy corsairs, staked to the sand to warn those who might follow.' Daemon informed him. Viserys got closer to him and the crowd held its breath.

'Rise.' Viserys said hugging Daemon as he rose and the crowd applauded, there would not be war, but peace. 'The realm owes you a great debt, brother. Come. This is our chance...'

Daemon glared over Viserys shoulder at Taelon. The smuggest of smiles on Daemon's face.

"Fuck it all." Taelon grumbled as he walked off.

"My prince, the lady Rhae has gone into labor." a handmaiden remarked and Taelon frozen before running down the hall. 

+

"Baby's coming!" Taelon declared happily but Rhae groaned out as she walked sluggishly around the room. "Are you supposed to be walking? I thought it best if... well I dont really know but I know my mother was laying down... maybe that was the problem." Taelon pondered as he moved closer to her. 

"She isnt fully dilated."  Taelon nodded as though he understood but he was very confused. 

"I cant start pushing yet." Rhae remarked. 

"Oh yes, I knew that." Taelon agreed as he hugged her gently. "What can I do?" 

"I saw a dragon flying." Rhae rasped. 

"Yeah... dont worry about that." Taelon remarked. "What do you need? What can I do?"

"And a ship docked." Rhae added. 

"Nyra is back, Tommen too." Taelon agreed. "But you are more important than them. They will wait." 

"I'm going to be here for a while Taelon." Rhae remarked as she kissed him. "Say hello,  I know you missed them." 

"I dont want to leave." Taelon corrected. 

"Its going to be a lot pacing and groaning and not pushing just pain." Rhae remarked. 

"I dont want to leave." Taelon corrected. "I want to be here for this." 

"I want you to say hello to Rhaenyra and Tommen." Rhae corrected knowingly. "They will be glad to see you, then come right back." 

+

"Tommen!"

"I'm back buddy! Let's paint the town!" Tommen declared hugging Taelon. Taelon held tight to his friend for a moment longer. 

"I missed you TOm, I missed you." Taelon declared. "But where is-"

"Gods, I'm second best now? Is that it? You wound me." Tommen mused.

"I missed you. But where is Nyra?" Taelon demanded.

"Probably fondling your uncles ego." Tommen mused and Taelon groaned.

"Nyra is smarter than that."

"Is she?" Tommen countered nodding to Nyra walking up to Daemon and Viserys.

'Daemon, he would venture off, abroad, winning tournaments...'

'No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.' Daemon said immediately a smile on his face

'I will not revisit this debate. You were always mother's favorite.' Viserys told him.

'No, it's no great mystery.'

'You were.' Viserys assured 'Our mother, she had no regard for custom or tradition, rules. And I, sadly, was no great warrior.'

'Congratulations on your victory.' Rhaenyra said walking up to her family and Alicent. She wanted to find Taelon but thought it best to try and soothe things with her father.

'Thank you, Princess.' Daemon said kindly.

'Perhaps Prince Daemon would care for a tour of the gallery? He hasn't yet seen the new tapestries gifted to you by Norvos and Qohor.' Alicent offered sweetly.

'Oh, oh. Would you like to see the tapestries?' Viserys questioned and the siblings burst out laughing. 'He has no interest in such things.'

'I'd like to see them.' Rhaenyra said, for she had been gone on her royal tour of looking for a suitor for many moons. She wanted to see Taelon more though.

'Oh, well, then you should not deprive yourself.' Viserys told her bitterly. He wasn't happy about her early return with no husband to be.

'I shall enjoy them alone.' Rhaenyra said heading off.

"NYRA!" Taelon declared and her smile instantly appeared as she ran to him. 

"Taelon!" She hugged him tight. 

"I wanted to say hello see how things went but Rhae went into labor." Taelon remarked quickly. "Not pushing yet but lots of pain...  but these things take time and she said to find you so I found you and I want to catch up." Taelon declared kissing her cheek. "But-"

"Go be the best dad ever" Nyra assured. 

"Thanks love bug."