Come Back To Me

Chapter 19

*hey everyone, this is a long chapter compared to the usual. Also trigger warning, there's violence, death and some very brief sexual violence in this chapter*

Rhaenyra/Rhaena POV

Rhaenyra stepped out of the carriage as the sun was beginning to rise, stepping down to the dirt before the dragon pits. She looked back, extending a hand out for the queen to take. Alicent was cautious, uneasy as she wobbled out behind. The 2 handmaidens followed behind her, carrying little Aegon and Viserys.

"And you are certain she will not harm me?" Alicent's voice was trembling, but Rhaenyra simply smiled and locked their arms together as they waited for their children to catch up.

"You have my word. Syrax would never disobey me." Rhaenyra chuckled. The 3 carriages following them came to a halt. Rhaenyra looked back, seeing Aemond step out from the last carriage. "And you're certain Aemond will behave?"

Alicent laughed to herself with a knowing smile. "Oh, I do not see that being an issue any longer."

"Oh?" Rhaenyra turned back to the queen with her eyebrows raised. "And do you plan on elaborating, Your Grace?"

"Our plan is working, that is all." Alicent whispered as all their children, except for Daena of course, gathered before them. "Though I must admit, it would work better if your daughter would show up to something like this. Seven hells, even I showed up."

"Come now, Alicent." Rhaenyra laughed, patting the queen's arm. "Daena still does not have a dragon of her own. I don't expect her to sit in the dirt while we fly and she has refused to ride anyone else's dragon with them for years now...that and it would appear my daughter has made quite the point of avoiding me since her duel with Ser Cole."

"I've noticed...do you know what else I've noticed though, Nyra?" Alicent grinned, leaning in closer to Rhaenyra. "My son has been quite absent lately."

"No." Rhaenyra's eyes went wide with delight, side eyeing Aemond who was looking around and tapping his foot. Almost like he had somewhere else he had to be.

Rhaena took little Aegon and Viserys, leading them off to the side where she began to play with them. She still didn't have a dragon of her own, but she didn't want to leave her half brothers alone. She couldn't explain it, but she had a terrible feeling if she left them alone something would go horribly wrong.

"I-I'll return soon. We co...we could fly Arrax." Luke stammered as he picked at his fingernails anxiously. Rhaena just gave him a comforting smile and placed a soft kiss against his cheek.

"I'd like that very much. Now go. I'll be here upon your return." She smiled. He nodded and rejoined his family as they strolled into the dimly lit pits.

Daena POV

Over in the streets of Flea Bottom, Daena wandered aimlessly, not even bothering to conceal her identity. Though she did in fact change her normal choice of attire for the occasion. This time she wore her black leather trousers with her sword displayed at her hip, but she still wore her usual off shoulder, ruffled white tunic with a lavender corset with violet silk flowers along the bodice.

Her hair wasn't braided back into its usual style. Instead she had two thick braids pulled back to hold her hair out of her face while the rest flowed freely.

But even with her identity being displayed for the common folk, she still didn't bother with formalities. She spoke with anyone that tried to bow or curtsey and at the end she always gave them a gold dragon from her pouch.

It burned her to see the strain in all their eyes. She didn't know what it was like as a child in Flea Bottom, but surely it couldn't have been as poverty stricken as it was now. Most people looked hungry and exhausted, but still continued on as they had no other choice.