Fire On Fire

24.𝓐 𝓓𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓶 𝓸𝓯 𝓖𝓾𝓲𝓵𝓽

Otto walked Amara down the aisle to her new golden husband. She looked at all the people around her dressed in red and gold. As they made it to the front of the throne room she looked at the first row on her left. She saw Viserys and Rhaenyra dressed in red and gold. But Amara noticed there was no crown on Viserys' head. She looked back to the altar, first on her side where Alicent and their mother stood. This wasn't right. Her mother was dead. She looked over her should only to see everyone dressed in red and black. Panicked she looked back up to see her mother and Alicent wearing the same colors. She looked to the altar where James was supposed to be and saw Daemon. He stood with a smile and Viserys' crown placed upon his head and the Targaryen cloak on his back. Beside Daemon laid James' body. Otto kissed Amara on the forehead and gave her hand to Daemon. She was afraid not of the people but of the situation. She looked down at her white rose bouquet, covered in blood. She looked back up and into Daemon's eyes. As the cloak was placed on her so was a crown. A crown fit for a queen. It was black and encrusted with red rubies. As the ceremony completed Corlys Velaryon introduced the two. King Daemon Targaryen, first of his name, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the first men. Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and protector of the realm. Queen Amara Hightower, first of her name, Queen of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the first men. Lady of the Seven Kingdoms and protector of the realm.

Daemon kissed his new bride in front of the whole realm. He then called out to his subjects. "We will have what our ancestors lost! We will take back our home! Valyria still exists...it can thrive again! And it will. Dragons will rule us all! The moment my son is born we will take to the skies!" The people cheered. Daemon touched his hand to Amara's stomach. She looked down to see her belly, clearly growing a child inside. She looked back up at him, smiles on both their faces. Daemon kissed Amara once more. Amara turned to the throne, only to see two of them. She and Daemon sat on the thrones. Their hands laid on top of each others. Daemon screamed out, "Perzys ānogār!" The High Valryrian words for Fire and Blood. The crowd and his queen repeated it back. Amara laughed as she said the words.

That laugh rang in her ears as she woke. She sat up looking around her room. She breathed heavily. Just barely whispering, she said to herself, "It was a dream...it was all a dream." She tossed her covers aside and got up. She lit her bedside candle and paced the room.

How could she have had such a wretched dream? How could she dream that her lover killed her husband? How could she dream of taking Rhaenyra's birth right?

She boiled it down to guilt. For weeks she had not told Rhaenyra and it was an ache. She felt sick. She could feel it coming up her throat. Amara didn't know what to do. Before long she got sick on her floor. She had to tell Rhaenyra.

Amara threw on her robe and grabbed a candle. She let Ser Elias know that her room needed cleaning and she continued on. Amara's feet made the sound of a slap on the floor. She had forgotten shoes. She raced down each hall, until she finally reached Rhaenyra's room.

"The Princess is asleep, my Lady." Amara came to a stop and stared down Ser Criston. Her eyes were like knives, not daggers. Knives. "I need to speak with her." Criston Cole shook his head, "I cannot do that." Amara gritted her teeth and tried to remain quiet. "I order you to let me in!"

Ser Criston stood, mouth slightly agape. He thought about what she had said all those years ago. The feeling he had. He wanted no part in whatever it was she wanted. He bowed his head and moved aside. "As you wish."

Amara opened Rhaenyra's door, closing it quietly. She silently walked over and lit a few candles, before nudging Rhaenyra. "Nyra. Nyra, wake." Rhaenyra rolled over to face Amara, rubbing her eyes and yawning. Rhaenyra noticed the darkness that blanketed the rest of her room. "It is late, Amara." She complained. "I needed to talk to you." Rhaenyra sat up, "Could it not wait?" Rhaenyra saw the desperation on Amara's face. She was sweating profusely. Rhaenyra patted to the open space on her bed, "Come."

Amara walked around and sat with her friend. Rhaenyra held Amara's hand. "What is a bother to you?" Amara was afraid of telling Rhaenyra the truth. What would happen?

Amara started slowly, "I have not been entirely truthful." "You've lied to someone?" Amara shook her head. "I have kept something from you." Rhaenyra nodded.

There was an awkward silence. Rhaenyra laughed slightly to lighten things. "It must be heavy if you are bothered." Amara licked her lips and continued. "On the night your Uncles returned..." she breathed heavily. "I did something." Rhaenyra nodded, "What would that be?" Amra inhaled sharply. "I...was with Daemon that night."

Amara had expected a yell or a bereavement to come from Rhaenyra just as Alicent had. But all that had come from Rhaenyra was silence.

Then there was a laugh.

"You were worried that I would shame you for it? I already knew." "You knew?!" Rhaenyra calmed herself, "It was a wicked rumor that I put a stop too, but yes. Who else knows?" Amara, still in shock of Rhae's reaction, calmly blurted out Alicent. "Alicent knows?" Amara nodded, "And you are still marrying James?" She nodded again. "Father does not know." Rhaenyra's eyes widened, "I assumed as much."

They talked for a while longer in which Rhaenyra revealed that she too had also been with someone that night. She would not reveal who but only that it was someone close to her. Rhaenyra and Amara sat in each others arms for a while. "I'm glad you are here with me" Rhaenyra told the woman who sat next to her. "As am I." They gave each other one last hug before Amara headed back to her chambers.

As she returned Amara had noticed the clearance of her bile. She heard an aknowledgment from Lord Elias and shut the door. She placed her robe on the footboard and crawled back under the covers. She brought her knees to her chest and closed her eyes. She drifted to sleep, slowly.