Burn Together ❖ Daemon Targaryen

Chapter 27

" ... King Viserys was dead. The news arrived on Dragonstone from Rhaenys, who informed Rhaenyra that Alicent and Otto had placed her son Aegon on the throne and crowned him in front of the small folk and the Head Septon himself. Devastated, Princess Rhaenyra clutched her stomach and blood poured between her legs. The pain of losing her father had triggered her labours. She sobbed and screamed for hours through labour, refusing the touch of all but Rhaellanne. Her cries echoed throughout Dragonstone, until finally they stopped, replaced by silence. The babe, Visenya, was born still and silent, and Rhaenyra carried the lifeless babe herself, wrapping her in cloth and dressing herself with the shakiness of a woman whose whole life had just been taken from her... "

" ... Dragonstone mourned Visenya like anyone else. Rhaenyra and Bennard stood together, silent and grieving together as they watched their daughter's body burn, and mourned not only her but Viserys as well. Then, Ser Erryk arrived, abandoning his post as a Kingsguard and coming to Dragonstone with the crown which King Jahaerys himself had once worn and there, in front of Visenya's burning body Rhaenyra was crowned Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, igniting a war that would destroy the Targaryens once and for all ... "

Rhaellanne and her family had left for Dragonstone the morning after Viserys's dinner and were home two days later, relieved to have their feet back on their home ground. However, things weren't the same anymore for the children.

The afternoon that they had returned, the adults sat down and told their children that things would be different for them now because they would no longer just be attending lessons and messing around all day. Jace, Luke, Baelor, Lyanna, Eleana, Vaelon, Baela, Rhaena, and Joffrey were old enough to be responsible now and every morning they all had combat training in the yard, followed by dragon training in the early afternoon, and then private lessons in the evenings.

Those private lessons were particular to each child, for example Jace and Baelor studied with their mothers and leaders of the Gold Cloaks, learning strategy and politics. Meanwhile, Luke studied with another soldier, formerly of the Velaryon navy, to learn about his future and roles at Driftmark. Finally, Baela, as Bennard's eldest child, spent those lessons with him learning about his work in the North since one day they would be hers. 

Rhaellanne had been coming from a meeting with Daemon and Ser Roderick one afternoon when she was stopped by one of her guards.

"Princess. Prince" he bowed "Princess Rhaenys has arrived. She has urgently requested your presences in the main hall"

Sharing a nervous exchange, Daemon and Rhaellanne hurried there and found Bennard and Rhaenyra arriving as they did. The four of them walked in and found Rhaenys inside, looking distressed

The doors closed behind them, and Rhaenyra approached saying, "Princess Rhaenys...might we hope for news of Lord Corlys's recovery?"

If only that could have been the news Rhaenys had, but it wasn't and she blatantly said, "Viserys is dead." Immediately, everyone stopped short. Viserys was not only a King but he was Rhaenyra and Rhaellanne's father and he was the only parent they had left, and not only had he died but he had died without either of them nearby and for that Rhaellanne felt incredibly guilty "I grieve this loss with you, Rhaenyra and Rhaellanne. My cousin, your father...possessed a kind heart." Neither woman could muster up a reply, and Daemon worriedly wrapped his arm around Rhaellanne, who was stood there frozen and emotionless "There is more. Aegon has been crowned as his successor."