Come Back To Me

Chapter 6

2 years later on Dragonstone

"Daemon, wait! Slow down!" Daena ran up the hill leading up to the Dragonmont where she always found her stepfather sneaking off to.

Daemon heard the grumbling princess nearing and turned to see her rushing straight for him. "We've already had our lessons today, little one."

"Yes, but now I wish to join you in your incubating." Daena huffed once she caught up to him, noticing his surprise of what she knew. "It's the only reason you'd continue to go in there. Unless you're trying to claim another, but I sincerely doubt Caraxes would take too kindly to that."

He laughed at how sharp she was. That was one thing that never escaped the young princess, but unfortunately her memories never returned to her. Otto Hightower, the new Hand of the King, urged the king along with the rest of the council that since the princess was not considered mentally fit for the position as heir, she should forfeit her title as heir.

It broke Viserys' heart to agree, but he knew Otto was right. What Otto hadn't considered was where that line would be redirected. Viserys simply changed Rhaenyra's heir to Jacerys, instead of choosing the next true born Targaryen, Prince Aegon. This shift also would make Lucerys Lord of Driftmark when the time would come.

Within days of the brutal fight that nearly claimed her, Ser Laenor was murdered just down the hall from her. Driftmark was shook by assasination, but what made it suspicious was the marriage between Rhaenyra and Daemon just a few days later. Rhaenys broke inside, having lost both her children and to now be a complete stranger to one of her granddaughters. Corlys was full of a rage he could no longer contain.

Baela decided to become a ward to her grandmother, remaining on Driftmark. Rhaena decided to join her father on Dragonstone, growing quite close with Daena and her brothers. Tensions quickly died down within weeks of their return to Dragonstone, but not for Rhaenyra.

Ever since the attack, she became so overprotective of her children, but especially her daughter. Guards constantly followed her, unless she was with Rhaenyra or Daemon. One day Daena practically begged her mother to let her learn to fight, but Rhaenyra flat out refused.

Her stepfather, on the other hand, was happy to offer lessons to the princess. Every day for the past year, they both would awaken before the sun would rise and Daemon would take her down to the shores where he'd show her exactly how to wield a blade and handle her own in a fight. The two of them became closer than anyone else. Daemon was the only one who didn't treat her like she was some fragile child.

"Yes, I am, but you cannot come. There are many of the wild dragons nesting inside." He warned, but that only seemed to excite her more. "No, Daena. Your mother is to give birth any day now and I will not have any unnecessary stress on her in the meantime. That includes her eldest child being eaten by a dragon."

"But-!" Daena protested, but he simply gave her a stern look that said it all. She sighed and crossed her arms. "Fine."

"Now go see if your mother needs any help." Daemon ordered with a sympathetic smile.

She rolled her eyes and scoffed. "All mother is going to tell me to do is needlework. Oh, no, forgive me, that involves something sharp. We cannot have that."

Daemon laughed at her sarcasm, wrapping the pouting princess in his arms. "Your mother just wants to keep you safe, that is all."

"Yes, but there's a difference between safe and sheltered. Does she expect me to live forever or something?"

"I believe she expects her daughter to live." He pulled away, brushing a loose strand away from her face.

"I most certainly would not call this living then." She grumbled with her eyes glued to her feet.

He sighed and gave her shoulder a pat. "When I return, we can sit down and speak with your mother on the matter. Now go. I have work to do."

With that, he was gone and on his way. She stared at the opening of the darkened cave for many minutes. Daemon had to also re-educate her on dragons and of Old Valyria. He even had to reteach her on High Valyrian, which thankfully came easily as she was quick to catch on. The two hardly ever spoke in common tongue, mostly for her practice, but also as a special bond they shared while her brothers still struggled with the language. It made it even greater that Rhaena spoke the language fluently.

Here she stood in front of where the majority of the unclaimed dragons would nest. All those history lessons possibly within her reach. Her mother forbade her from ever going to try to claim a dragon, but it only made her want it more. She wanted freedom, she wanted people to not think her so fragile.

She glanced around to see if anyone was around before pacing into the dimly lit caves. She grabbed a torch off to the side and walked very cautiously with her eyes peeping from side to side the deeper she went into the cave.

It felt like the longest walk of her life. After a while, she eventually just began to search for Daemon. Perhaps today was not the day for her, she thought to herself.

But just as she turned a corner 2 pairs of eyes were staring right back at her, skeptically.