Burn Together ❖ Daemon Targaryen

Chapter 4

It had ben six months since the death of Aemma, and declaring of Rhaenyra as heir to the Iron Throne, and largely life had not changed for the two Targaryen Princesses. Rhaenyra was required to be at more small council meetings than normal, and even Rhaellanne had taken to attending a few. However, she used her new title as an excuse to leave the Red Keep more often and spend more time on dragon back

Even though she had bonded with Dreamfyre, and now the unclaimed dragon Silverwing, she still only rode on The Cannibal. She had once tried to ride Dreamfyre, but Cannibal was incredibly jealous, huffing and spitting fire everywhere, so Rhaellanne had stuck to only riding him

Her skill of dragon riding and bonding had become legendary to everyone in King's Landing, and they had begun to call her a legend for no dragon rider before had ever bonded with more than one dragon, but Rhaellanne Targaryen, at 15, had three who listened to her

It had not been all smiles at court though, because whenever Rhaellanne was not on dragon back or in a small council meeting, it was clear to everyone who knew her well that she missed the presence of her uncle Daemon at court. 

She had not heard a single word from him since his departure, and as much as the King disliked their relationship, he did not want to see his daughter continue to be so down and unlike her usual loud self. Rhaellanne had debated writing to Daemon many times, and whenever she took to dragon back a small part of her kept her eyes peeled for the red dragon Caraxes somewhere in the distance, but she never saw him.

The disappointment never failed to hurt her, leading her to become quieter and more despondent at home.

What worsened her mood considerably, was that within the Keep there had been rumours and wishes for their father to remarry and produce more heirs, which thoroughly angered the princesses since they knew that people only wanted him to have more heirs in the hope that one would be male and Rhaenyra would be denounced as heir.

Their mother had died not long ego, and Viserys had loved her, as her daughters had, so neither girl had any desire for their father to remarry, but neither voiced it to him.

Tensions between Viserys and his daughters was also still very high, which made family dinners awkward. 

They were sat at one one night, and after several minutes of the now-normal silence, Viserys finally spoke. "We haven't spoken much since..." he trailed off and Rhaenyra and Rhaellanne shared a nervous look. Their father was not always one for affection or devotion, and so for him to be reaching out was unusual, and Rhaellanne wondered if someone else had told him to do that. "A regret of mine. We should be free to speak our minds to one another."

Rhaenyra smiled stiffly "You can say whatever you'd like. You are the King."

Viserys could tell from the fake happiness on their faces, and black attire, that they were still grieving their mother's loss, and knowing that he had not been there enough to help them through that loss made him feel awful 

He sighed and put down his glass of wine. "I loved your mother very much."

That small sentence brought some comfort to the two teenagers, and Rhaenyra smiled properly this time, although it was sad. "As did I."

Viserys nodded understandingly and turned to his other daughter, who had not spoken yet. "How are the dragons?" he asked

"Dreamfyre and Silverwing are thriving out of the pit" she answered "I keep trying to urge the dragon keepers to let them stay outside in the day but they are afraid that if they let them, then the dragons will terrorise people living around"

"I can speak to them too," said Viserys "If there is one thing I have learned, it is not to doubt you when it comes to those creatures" Rhaellanne smiled appreciatively and Viserys turned back to Rhaenyra "Did you choose a new knight for the Kingsguard?"