Come Back To Me

Chapter 11

Daena managed to sneak them all out in the night, properly disguised. They all drank and laughed their way through the streets in their exploration. It was nothing like back on Dragonstone. Something about it was more lively to her.

When the hour grew late, Rhaena looked at Daena and saw that now she actually was too intoxicated. She laughed and had Jace escort them all back to their chambers. Rhaena and Daena giggled as they slumped down on Daena's bed.

The two were insanely close over the years. Rhaena gave Daena balance, a gentle perspective as opposed to the ruthlessness of her sister. Rhaena gave her a soft smile, but then turned slightly serious.

"Daena? Are you...are you going to be alright staying here?" Rhaena asked.

"Why wouldn't I be?" Daena giggled, staring up at the ceiling as she took in the night.

"With Aemond...I'm glad you stopped a fight from transpiring, but you're playing with fire when you join in." Rhaena urged.

"Then he can make an effort to not be such a prick to my brothers." Daena rolled her eyes and shook her head, but then found herself thinking of Aemond. How tense and arrogant he always displayed him. The way his hair moved in one fluid motion when we walked. Her mind circled back to the way he looked at her in the throne room. That look on his face was burned into her memory. She bit her bottom lip the more she thought of it and finally spoke awkwardly after a long moment of silence. "He is quite handsome though..."

Rhaena turned her head with her eyebrows raised. "Oh? Admiring our uncle, are we?"

"Oh shut up! I am not!" Daena scoffed but couldn't stop the blush creeping into her cheeks.

"You are! Seven hells, you think he is attractive!" Rhaena teased as she began to poke at Daena's sides.

"Alright, fine! But that is all." Daena rolled her eyes as Rhaena hopped up and began to walk towards the door. She stopped and turned back to her nearly sleeping cousin. A somber look crossed Rhaena's face.

"Be careful that is all, dear sister." Rhaena whispered just before she left Daena alone.

The next morning, Daemon practically dragged Daena out of bed right before the sun began to rise. He told her their lessons would be no different than back at Dragonstone, knowing full well how hungover she truly was. He handed her sword over, successfully managing to smuggle the Valyrian steel into King's Landing.

The two sparred and she kept up, but she was slower than usual. Her face was groggy and puffy, turning almost sickly green with every spin. She knew she was in deep trouble when she realized his face was unphased by her distress. Usually if this was his form of punishment for her, what could her mother possibly have in store for her?

She finally wielded as she spun around and spewed all over the ground. Her head was spinning as her body shivered through each hurl. After quite some time, she wiped her mouth and stood breathlessly with her arms raised in a mock surrender.

"Fine. Your point has been made! Enough!" She spat at the ground one last time. He gave her a cold look, but she noticed his eye twitching just slightly. "What is it?"

"The king has commanded Baela and Jacerys wed in a fortnight...as well as for us all to remain in King's Landing until the celebrations are complete." He gritted through his teeth as he sheathed Dark Sister back into place. "He has also commanded I seek out Lord Corlys...he wishes for all of Baela and Jace's family to be in attendance. All of them."

"Does he mean me?" Daena scrunched her nose as she held her hands behind her back.

"I do believe all does in fact mean all." He chuckled, finally simmering down as he looked down at her. "Your mother thinks it is best I use my adventure to find Lord Corlys to...avoid King's Landing until the wedding."

"What? Why?" Her head cocked in confusion.

"Let's just say...you were not the only one who had some choice words for the greens after your departure." He smirked as he snaked an arm around her shoulders and led her through the castle. "Which I must admit, clever on your part. You managed to avoid an all out brawl and put that one eyed cunt in his place. Your mother and I could not be more proud."

The two burst into a fit of laughter. They walked up the steps, nodding to the passing lords and ladies smugly. It was like a way of them reminding the court it was still House Targaryen that sat the throne.

She looked around and noticed the abundance of statues of stars. The place looked like it was being covered internally from shining through the walls. Everything was so dark and grim. It made her feel slightly relieved to not remember these walls.

"Also...I still want you to keep a low profile with Silverwing and Vermithor. I'll not return to hear you've gotten yourself killed because you want to murder the boy." Daemon arched a brow at her with a warning in his eyes. She rolled her eyes and scoffed. "I mean it, Daena."

She looked up at him with more hurt than confusion. The thought occasionally crossed her mind of the look of when Aemond would see she had not one, but two dragons. Sometimes she'd find herself daydreaming of the fear he'd have of her. He'd know better than to ever cross her or her family ever again.

But using her dragons to kill him was useless in her eyes. No, that was an easy death. A Targaryen's death even. She pitied him for a moment at dinner the previous night as she thought of the king's words, but the moment he rose from his chair to antagonize them all, that vanished.

Daemon saw the pain lingering in her eyes and finally sighed. "When I return, we can discuss bringing them to light for the world to see. Until then, I want you to continue our normal practices. Understood?"

Her face lit up and she instantly threw her arms around him. She thanked him repeatedly before their departure. He sighed as he stomped off to find Caraxes for his journey ahead.