We Are Dragons (Daemon Targaryen)

Chapter Seven

The sound of a ship moaning and creaking startled me from my uneasy sleep. I lifted my head slightly, feeling weakness eating away at my strength. I was exhausted, my body ached, my eyelids too heavy to open.

The ropes that held my arms and legs stretched out to my sides burned my skin as I lay limp in their hold.

Two years had passed since Viserys married Alicent.

Since then, neither Rhaenyra or I had spoken to Alicent or Viserys. A year ago, Alicent gave birth to a son. That was a blow. They named him Aegon, Second of his Name.

And Rhaenyra gave up. In her bitterness and anger, she slunk off to the Godswood, abandoning her duties and refusing to pay any attention to her young brother. She held no bitterness towards the child himself. But every time she looked at him, she saw Baelor, her mother, and everything we'd lost.

The Lords wanted Viserys to name Aegon his heir and replace Rhaenyra. They whispered about it, not caring if she heard, plotting their ways to convince the king.

I had escaped to the North for a few months, visiting the Starks and staying in Winterfell. Over the course of the past two years, Ser Brendan had been teaching me how to fight. How to be stronger. He was taking it slowly, so I wouldn't hurt myself, and the retreat to Winterfell allowed for more sessions deep in the woods.

Cregan was a kind host, giving me the tour, telling me their histories, showing me the family crypt. Were it not for Rhaenyra, I would have retreated to the North to be his wife. He didn't want children, he was honest with me about that. And Dreamfyre seemed to like the cool, open forests.

I felt free.

But on our way home, our caravan was attacked at the port city. Ser Brendan was preparing the ship, ensuring no castaways were onboard, and I was effectively grabbed and dragged underwater by a few pirates.

Most of my men protecting me were killed, including one of the other Kingsguard, Kyran. He was a good man, a kind man. They cut the throat of one of my handmaidens, Syra, and I was taken to a ship.

I learned that I was the Crabfeeder's prisoner.

He wanted to string me up in the Stepstones so no dragon riders would dare use their fire. Daemon and the House Velaryon had been at war in the Stepstones for two years, but it wasn't going well for either side.

I suppose someone thought that using their shared niece would cause them to hang themselves with the leash.

It had been five months since I left King's Landing. Four weeks since I was abducted.

There were footsteps in front of me, and then a bucket of ice cold water was thrown in my face. I let out a gasp, coughing and spluttering out water, my eyes opening from the shock.

I immediately started to shiver as I shook my face, trying to get my wet silver hair out of my eyes and see the man in front of me fully.

This was the man who was in charge of keeping me alive until I was delivered to the Crabfeeder. But he seemed to enjoy the only demand was that I was breathing.

For weeks he'd fed me and given me water only so I could stay alive and awake enough to feel the pain of his knife against my back and chest.

I glared at the shorter, dirty pirate, who had long black dreads, olive skin and empty brown eyes. "My face will be the last thing you see before you die." I spat out lowly, my voice croaking from the lack of use.

He drew out his knife, a smirk on his face as he approached me, standing beside my right hand. I held my breath, horror and fear washing over me as he forcefully pried my fist apart and grabbed my forefinger, holding it out.