Come Back To Me

Chapter 5

Rumors spread quickly of the state of the princess. It was confirmed by the tearful look in the king's eyes as he left his granddaughter's room. Daena had absolutely no memory of who she was or anyone else for that matter. She didn't know who she was.

When Viserys and Rhaenyra entered the room, the girl was frightened and huddled closely to her pillows with the furs gripped tightly up to her face. Jace and Luke were informed when they went to go check on their cousins. The news shook them all, but they were unsure of what to do after what occurred earlier.

"You know he'll only try to kill her again. Did you see the way she took him down?" Baela protested.

"Our uncle would never hurt her. The two are friends!" Luke nervously protested, but even he was unsure of how Aemond would respond to the news.

"Friends do not harm other friends, cousin." Rhaena spat with her arms crossed. "He stole my mother's dragon and he stole Daena's memories. He is a monster, just as she said."

"What do we do then? We can't very well let him near her." Jace slumped down onto the chair next to Baela with his head buried in his hands. It took everything in him not to fall apart in front of everyone. Baela noticed how uneasy Jace became and shooed Luke and Rhaena outside.

"Let Jace and I handle it. I promise, no one will harm Daena. Not even that monster." Baela whispered before she closed the door on them. She turned back to Jace and retook her spot next to him. "It will be alright, Jace. She's alive."

"Barely!" Jace finally sobbed. His body shook with each sob that tore through him. "I failed her. I failed everyone. I was supposed to protect us all."

"And you did! Yes, Daena is alive because of you and Lucerys. Who knows what Aemond would've done if the two of you hadn't acted when you did?" Baela wrapped an arm around him tightly, which made him slightly calm down to her surprise.

"You don't understand. My sister and...him...they've always been so close. He won't let her go so easily." He wiped the snot building at the edge of his nose. The two were silent for only a minute before Baela got an idea. She rose from her chair with a firm nod of her head.

"Then we make sure she is the one to push him away." Her grin was dark and twisted, something Jace had never seen from anyone before. It confused him thoroughly, but she was happy to elaborate. "If Aemond wishes to steal from my sister, then I shall steal from him."

"Luke already took his eye, Baela." He grumbled.

"Daena does not know a single detail of her life. Then we must ensure she knows the truth of him before he gets to her."

Jace's eyes went wide when it clicked what she was implying. "Baela, you cannot possibly mean..."

"I do. Aemond will never come around if he thinks she despises him, especially if she believes she has her whole life." Baela marched out of the room and found her way to Daena, but her room was heavily guarded with no one allowed inside except the king or her parents. But that didn't stop Baela. She knew how to sneak into any room in her grandparents' home.