Come Back To Me

Chapter 13

Daena pulled her cloak closer to her as she snuck through the darkened tunnels. She held tightly onto her heavy satchel as she slid through the final passage. Her feet were swift and light as they hit the rocks above the shore. There at the bottom by the shore was the infamous rowboat Daemon had promised upon her arrival.

She chuckled to herself before rushing down, pushing it into the waters carefully. She threw the satchel in and jumped in, rowing as quickly as possible to her secret island.

The waters were still and peaceful, something she desperately needed after her first couple of days in King's Landing. The flames of the city began to dim the further she rowed until finally she reached shore. She pulled the boat back as far up into the sand as she could, then grabbed her satchel and dumped out its contents.

Books collapsed down onto the sands and she scooped the first one up, walking further down the beach for clearer space. She held the book up out in front of her and stood straight with her arms extended. Her eyes scanned the text, stepping exactly how the book instructed. Though mostly, she was stumbling.

THUMP.

She turned behind her, seeing Vhagar land with Aemond sitting up straight on her back. The book dropped from her hand as she took in the size of the dragon standing across from her. She was huge, monstrous even. But she was so beautiful and haunting to look at.

Her feet had a mind of their own as they slowly dragged her towards the war dragon. Aemond looked down at her in almost pure shock that she didn't faint on sight by Vhagar's appearance. Instead, she raised her hand to Vhagar in a calming manner, slowly approaching the snout.

Vhagar let out a growl that stopped her tracks, but only for a moment. Daena froze and took a deep breath as she began to sing the same Valyrian lullaby from earlier at supper. Vhagar's head cocked slightly and soon her growls began to fade until her head was resting comfortably against the sands.

Aemond just watched her in fascination as she finally approached Vhagar's head, but she never touched her. Just simply stared, admiring her scales and golden eyes. "Just what do you think you're doing out here all alone at night, princess?"

Her eyes finally flew up to meet him. She wanted to scowl to curse him, but with Vhagar just a step away she knew she couldn't. So instead she forced a tight smile with a light hearted tone. "Is there any reason why you are out here as well, uncle?"

He smirked. He climbed down and ordered Vhagar back to the skies, leaving just the two of them alone on the beach. He walked past her with his hands behind his back and a smug look splattered all over his face, grabbing the fallen book.

"Hey, give that back!" She rushed over to snatch it away, but he stepped back just in time. "Give it, Aemond! That's enough!"

"A History of Dances In Westeros...why, my sweet princess, have you also forgotten how to dance?" He chuckled as he flipped through the pages aimlessly, ignoring her trying to take her book back.

"Shut up, Aemond!" She growled as she jumped onto his back trying to grab the book. He was startled at first, but then he threw her over his shoulder. She landed flat on her back but to her surprise, he straddled her waist and pinned her arms down with his knees while he casually read the book. "Get off! Get the fuck off of me, you cyclops!"

"Now is that any way to act, princess?" He peaked out from the book to give her a taunting smirk while she squirmed under his hold. "Do your brothers not know enough to teach you, little one? Hmm? How delightful. I hope their sword work is better, at least for tomorrow's sake."

"And what is that supposed to mean?" She huffed, finally realizing her squirming was useless as she looked up at him.

"Oh, just our mothers trying to train us all together once more." His grin was wicked, cruel even. She tensed up at the idea of Aemond plunging his sword right through either of her brothers. He noticed her unsettled state and rolled his eye. "I won't kill them...no, that is for another day."

"How gracious of you." She mumbled, but then chuckled under her breath as she looked up at his eyepatch. "Perhaps my brother's luck will prevail once more if we're all lucky."

His hand instantly went to her throat, clutching tightly as he glared down at her with a rage that would have most trembling. But not her. She just stared up at him with daggers in her eyes and her jaw clenched tightly. He leaned in, growling in a low threatening voice. "I've had about enough of your jests, niece."

"Shame, I was only just beginning." She returned his tone with a smirk. His hold tightened, surely bruising her neck at this point. Her airway was nearly closed under his hold and she finally started to squirm.

Her heart was pounding in her chest. She could feel that bond with her dragons as she shut her eyes and ran the words over and over in her head.

Don't come. Don't come. Don't come. Don't come.

Then in an instant, she could breathe. She could move. Her hand went to rest on her throat as she gasped for air. He rose from her swiftly and continued to walk around her with the book in his hands. "If my nephews are not well equipped enough to teach you, then I shall."

"And why..." She gulped, trying to steady her breath as she stood. "Why would I need your help? I am simply reading on the matter."

"Is that why you were dancing with two left feet before my arrival?" He joked, finally looking back at her with more arrogance than she'd ever seen in anyone. He knew he had her right where he wanted judging by her silence. "We can meet here to be more discreet."

"We can meet in the training yard if you-!" But he waved her away with a laugh.

"I'd honestly love to see you try, sweet one, but...for now just our lessons here. We can practice during the day, unless you'd prefer to have my services at night." He winked, which warranted a scowl from her.

She snatched the book back finally, storming away from him. "I am in no need of anything from you, uncle. Now if you'll excu-!"

She stopped dead in her tracks, gripping tightly onto her book. He started laughing as soon as he realized what stopped her. "Apologies, princess. Was that your boat Vhagar landed on?"

That was all it took for her to spin around, shooting the book directly at his face. He ducked just in time, only making him laugh more.

"This isn't funny, Aemond!" She snapped as Vhagar landed back in that same spot, almost as if to taunt her. Daena narrowed her eyes between the two.

"It's hilarious, really. Now come. We can fly back on Vhagar. It's getting late." He extended his hand out to her but she just crossed her arms. The humor in his eye began to slowly fade when he realized how stubborn she was being. "Unless you wish to be stranded on this island."

She looked to her side, barely able to see the light from the city. There were no other boats around either. Aemond could tell exactly where her mind was headed and rolled his eye.

"I wouldn't if I were you." Though it was more of a warning than a snarky remark from him. She smirked as she untied the laces of her boots, kicking them to the side with her satchel. She rolled her pant legs to her knees, flipping him off just before she started to walk into the water. "Are you mad?! You could drown!"

She laughed as she looked back when she was about chest deep in the water. "Targaryens have the skies...Velaryons have the sea."

Before he could get in another word, she dove right into the darkened waters. He just stood there, watching her swim back to the surface and begin to power through her swimming.

He smirked to himself as he continued to watch her face into the waters. "Then why are you in the sea, princess?"