Come Back To Me

Chapter 18

Daena pulled her boat to shore, collapsing down to her knees in tears. Her chest tightened as she sobbed violently. All the anger and resentment she'd had towards her grandfather felt wasted after her visit. If anything, she'd never felt more lost in her life than she did after leaving his chambers.

Nothing made sense to her since her return. From the snide comments from Cole on who her father was to Viserys admitting he was forced to take away her title, even as a king, she didn't know what to believe anymore. People only spoke to her in riddles and her mind was too drained to decipher them.

Her sobs turned into screams as she clawed at the sides of her aching head. It felt like her brain was being scrambled around the harder she cried. She hadn't even noticed Aemond landing Vhagar far behind her. He hurried over to her once he dismounted from Vhagar, rushing to her side. The second his hands touched her, she snapped up with her sword held up in front of her.

"Get away from me!" She screamed, backing up from him with bloodshot eyes. He rose to his feet with his hands raised cautiously.

"Daena...what happened?" He asked sternly. Her hand was trembling as she held onto her sword. Her breathing was heavy and harsh with each inhale and exhale. And her tears just kept coming. He took a step forward, but she tightened her hold over her sword and held it up to his throat. He froze reluctantly, but kept his demeanor calm. "I'm not going to hurt you...you have my word."

Still nothing. She didn't move or say a word.

"Alright...does this have to do with you fleeing from my father's chambers by any ch-?" Before he could finish his sentence, she pressed the blade against his throat. "So that is a yes."

Silence.

"Seven fucking hells, would you just say something!" He snapped.

"I should kill you." Her voice cracked and his face fell in an instant, but he still remained calm as he cleared his throat.

"Then get on with it." He casually spoke, but it wasn't sarcastic. It sounded almost...accepting. It was like he knew this day would be inevitable for him. But she hesitated.

Her heart was pounding in her chest, feeling her dragons' calls deep within her. She blinked harshly, trying to drown everything out of her mind and heart.

Stop. Stop. Stop.

Unfortunately for her, Aemond took her blink as an opportunity to smack her sword out of her hand. But to her surprise he pulled her immediately into his arms, where she fell apart. She clutched tightly onto his doublet, burying her face into his chest as she sobbed. He held her tightly, resting his face against the top of her head.

It felt like forever the longer she cried. There was no end in sight, she felt. That was until her body finally went limp and her eyes finally drifted off into a deep slumber.

"I'm sorry, my sweet girl. I know you wish to marry him, but-." Rhaenyra brushed little Daena's hair from her face and sighed, taking in the sight of her 12 year old daughter in tears. "But the king and queen have made their decision on the matter."

"It isn't fair, mother. You know grandsire would never make that decision. It was her. She hates me. She hates me and I've done nothing wrong to her." Daena's face fell to the ground, trying to hide her disappointment.

"The queen does not hate you. The blame does not lie with any of you, but with me and the queen alone." Rhaenyra explained, but it didn't seem to make it any better.

"Then why must I be punished for someone else's doings?" Daena mumbled. Rhaenyra pulled her in close with a warm embrace, gently brushing along her loose silver curls. "I'm going to marry him, I don't care what that bitter hag has to say."