The secret affair|| Daemon Targaryen

7

Saera's pov
I land Meraxes in kingslanding right outside the dragon pit. I'm lowered to the ground and climb off. I smile as meraxes nudges me with her head and I stroke her scales feeling the heat emit from her scales. Her green eyes snap above me and she flares up and hisses loudly. I turn around and see a dragon keeper. She moves so her head is hiding and protecting me. The dragon keeper orders "lykīrī" be calm.

She hisses again and heats up. I tell her "rȳbās" listen. She turns to me and I tell her "lykirī" she calms down but doesn't drop her protectiveness. "She must go into the pit with the others princess" the keeper says. I shake my head "she's never been in a pit. Confined. And she won't start now. Even when I hatched her here from my cradle she remained free" he nods "and if she hurts the townsfolk" I reply "she's never hurt anyone who didn't pose a threat to me before. Just make sure to keep her fed" stroking her scales. He nods "very well" leaving me. I tell meraxes "stay" she makes herself comfortable.

I find daemon waiting with a horse for us. He hands me the reigns "the keepers didn't take to meraxes well did they" he chuckles. I reply "more like she didn't take to them" daemon helps me onto the horse before getting on the one he has for himself "I expected nothing less from her" I chuckle "he seemed surprised she ignored his command" "it's not everyday a dragon does so. Usually Zaldrīzes rȳbus, lo mērī udrirzi Valyrio eglio ȳdrassua" a dragon only listens if you speak in high Valyrian.

I nod "true but a dragon is not a slave." He smiles "that they're not. This meeting can go right or wrong for you dear" bringing it up. "Why can't they just accept my grandsires wishes for Luke to hold the driftwood throne." I huff. He looks at me apologetically "you know why dear" "my brothers are not bastards. Rhaenys' mother has dark hair. As do others. It was only a matter of time before the gene showed itself once more despite our parentage" I huff. He smiles my way "you've been looking at the maesters books again havent you?" I nod sheepishly "I have. But there's a lot there that they don't share with everyone daemon. If they did my brothers wouldn't be looked at as if they're bastards."

He says "when you're queen you'll be able to share this knowledge. Or tell your mother so everyone can know now. But for now. We must do this" I nod and we head to the red keep. We're greeted by  Alicent. Along with her are Helaena, Aegon, Aemond and Otto. We're settled in and then brought to the throne room. They talk about the succession of driftmark.

Vaemond hinting at my brothers not being of pure blood. He says "I propose that if my brother should pass that princess Saera's heirs hold the driftwood throne" his eyes on me. People gasp. Otto who's speaking on my grandsires behalf "she's the heir to the iron throne. She has no children to take the driftwood throne if Corlys were to pass on" I say "my mother is the heir to the throne. And until I have children and they're grown. Should my grandsire be taken from us. I will do both. Lucerys is the heir my grandsire Corlys chose. Not me. I say we honor his wishes without any qualms or superstitions about my brothers parentage. That's all they are. Superstition. Rumors. Murmurs farce to discredit my mother as the heir to the throne. But if I must take station as the heir to the driftwood throne until I choose a husband that is worthy of being called such, and I have children of my own. On my own. Without pressure from anyone. Then I will do it. My grandsire was verbal and detailed in his wishes for the driftwood throne. Should he pass we should honor that. But again. You Otto, Alicent and that entire council, know nothing of honor. So do as you may. It's what you've been doing already."

My annoyance known. "Princess" Otto speaks. I say "you should not be holding this meeting. Making law for us and our houses as if you are king. You are not. My grandsire viserys still lives. He is ill. Yes. But does he know you fight over succession that has been settled since my brothers birth? Does he know that despite his heir being here youre still standing at the throne trying to pass a biased law with an even more biased hearing? Step down Otto. My mother, the rightful heir to that throne is here" a hand grabs mine. Daemon. He smiles my way "your fire is showing hatchling" I mutter "good. They need to all know their places it seems" my mother smiles and steps forward and Otto is put down a few pegs. Alicent too.

"Rhaenys what we're Corlys' wishes?" She asks my grandmother. She replies "he played with a few ideas princess" my mother asks "and what we're those ideas?" "He wanted saera to rule driftmark as his heir. Then he said he couldn't have it because of her being the heir to the throne. He moved to the idea of Jacaerys. But saera declared him to be her hand when she rules. So he settled on Lucerys. Lucerys was his final choice. But saera, and her children were his first" grandmother says her eyes on me. I never knew that. A hand grabs mine and strokes my scarred wrist. Luke. I smile his way and kiss his forehead gently.

My mother nods "very well. I declare that Saera's children when she has them will hold the driftwood throne. And for now she will be privy to all the comings and goings of driftwood. Rhaenys will rule it In her stead as she will be here as my heir. Meeting adjourned" stepping down. So much for being able to choose. She just put a time stamp on me having to marry and have a child to give to driftmark. The people of Westeros are impatient. I'll have suitors flanking me left and right. And it's not what I want. I want to fall in love. I want it to happen naturally without the pressure of the world for me to make this choice. Daemon and Jace seem to be the only ones to understand how I feel about it. "I'm sorry sister" Luke says.

I furrow my eyebrows "what for luke?" His thumb strokes my scar "everything. I keep making issues for you and I'm sorry. If I looked more like you and not like a Baratheon you wouldn't be in the position you're in now. If I acted differently you wouldn't have this scar or the queens hatred. If I just spoke up" I stop him "I do and did what I did to keep you safe luke. I don't regret it. Any of it. Do not apologize for a thing. Today isn't your fault. You don't need to look like me luke you're perfect the way you are" kissing his forehead "I wish I could be like you sister"

"Like what?" I question and he smiles softly "so perfect" I stroke his hair "sweet boy...I am not perfect. No one is." "You are Saera. Everyone in the 7 and even outside of it desire you because of it" he says. His thumb still caressing the scar "luke it wasn't your fault. And believe it or not they don't actually want me. They want meraxes. The power that comes from being tied to the house velaryon and the heir to the throne. It's not about me. It's about names and objects and power"

he smiles "then they don't deserve you sister. But I still feel guilt. I should've spoken up that day" I kiss his forehead "what's done is done. I don't regret protecting you that day luke. Now go see if mother needs you or Jace" he hugs me "I love you sister" I smile "and I love you" and he leaves us. Daemon says "you're good with him" "he's my brother." I say as we walk out. "Yes but you're...motherly and glowing around him" he says. I reply "he's my youngest brother. When mother wasn't feeling well from birthing him and couldn't be there I was. I refused to leave him to wet nurses or maids. When he had a nightmare or was bullied by aegon I was there. For both of them actually." With a smile. He nods "your bond with them is nice to see. It's not every day you see something so deep and real" I smile and he asks "how are you feeling with this ruling?" "A bit overwhelmed. I'll figure it out" I say with a shrug. He nods "I'll help you. We all will. You're not alone in this sweetheart" I nod "thank you" my mother approaches and says "a word saera?" I nod and kiss daemons cheek "I'll see you later?" He nods with a smile "very well princess" leaving. I ask "yes mother?" She says "we'll need to talk later. At the hour of the owl. My chambers." What? I ask "is everything alright mother?" She kisses my head "yes. Everything is fine. Don't be late" and with that she's gone. Leaving me even more anxious.