Come Back To Me

Chapter 46

A swarm of knights, lords and ladies, as well as Princess Rhaenys soon filled the throne room in silence as they all looked in horror at Aemond standing at the bottom of the steps to the throne holding Aegon's head.

"Take Prince Aemond into custody." Ser Erryk commanded as a group of Rhaenyra's knights marched forward towards him, but Daena scrammed to her feet and threw herself in front of him.

"You promised me, mother." Daena shouted as she held her sword up towards the men approaching, and her other arm wrapped over the wound on her side.

"Daena, you need to see a maester now." Aemond whispered into her ear as he placed his hand over hers on her wound.

"I'm fine. Shut up." She mumbled under her breath. The pain was hardly noticeable with the adrenaline in her veins.

Rhaenyra stepped forward with her hand raised to her men to remain in place. The princess was nearly begging with the look in her eyes as her mother approached her. Her voice softened, but still remained firm. "I ask that you and I speak in private and they be confined to their chambers in the meantime. That is all."

"Ser Erryk, Ser Lorent. Please escort our prisoners to their respective chambers...unharmed and unbothered." Rhaenyra commanded, not even looking at Alicent.

Daena turned around to Aemond and cupped his cheek, giving him a reassuring look. "I promise I will return as soon as I can."

He gave a stern nod and followed his mother along with the knights out of the throne room.

"Lord Stark, would you be so kind as to make sure no one steals this throne in our absence?" Daena dryly laughed, earning an eye roll from the northern lord.

"I'll guard it with my life, princess." He grinned, bowing his head slightly as the two slid out the side corridor and into the Godswood.

Once they were sure they were alone, they collapsed into each other's arms with tears of joy. It was over. No more battles, losing her children, no more suffering. It was like a weight lifted off their shoulders, one Daena hadn't realized weighed her down so much.

Neither of them were aware of the lurking presence hiding perfectly out of sight from the balcony above.

"Mother, I am begging you. Not as your heir, but as your daughter, please don't kill him." Daena muffled into her mother's shoulder as she sobbed. "It was an accident, Lucerys' death. He lost control of Vhagar. I can teach him so it won't be a problem anymore."

"He what?" Rhaenyra pulled away from her daughter with her eyes widened.

"Aegon was supposed to die at Rook's Rest and Aemond was going to let it happen. But Aegon abandoned Sunfyre when he knew Vermithor and I had them and he landed on Tessarion and that's when he took me as prisoner. He was planning to kill Aegon. He will bend the knee, I swear it. Just please spare his life, I will do whatever you want. Just please let him live." It was a pitiful sight. Like a small child crying to their mother.

Rhaenyra watched her daughter turn into that same little girl all those years ago begging to marry the very same man she now begged to live. "Daena, he is the reason this war began..."

"I am not asking you to forgive him. I am asking you to spare him. I love him!" She was holding onto her mother's arms tightly. She could trust her mother. She couldn't hide from her.

Rhaenyra was stunned to hear such a change of heart from her daughter after their last encounter. She'd received word from Cregan that Aemond kept referring to Daena as his wife. She wondered if his words had truth to it. Judging by the way Daena begged, it must have been.