Silver Stag

Attempts On Dragonstone

[Dragonstone]

Daemon and Aelinor had been in the Chamber of the Painted Table when they heard a scream.

"Dyanna," Aelinor said, recognizing it.

They hurried in the direction it had come from. Well, as much as they could, given Aelinor's advanced pregnancy.

It appeared to have come from their chambers.

Which is where Dyanna and Aegar were.

Daemon reached there first, followed shortly by Ser Fowler.

Aelinor brought up the rear.

The first thing she saw when she entered was her husband and guard dueling with two unknown men.

Then she turned to the floor where she noticed Dyanna, blood covering the front of her dress.

She turned to her husband and sworn shield.

"Don't kill them! I want answers."

Watching as Daemon and Willem restrained the two men, she rushed over to her fallen friend.

"Dyanna!" Aelinor shouted, dropping to her knees and pulling her friend into her lap. "Fetch the maestar."

"No, no," Dyanna muttered. "It's too late."

"No, please. I'm not ready."

"We nevr are."

"I cannot lose another sibling. You have to fight."

"I did, and I did what I meant to do. Aegar is safe."

"Oh Gods! Aegar! Where is he?"

A tiny cry sounded from behind a curtain.

Daemon handed his prisoner off to another guard and peered behind it, reaching down, gathering Aegar in his arms.

"Take him away. He does not need to see this."

Daemon nodded and exited the room.

Aelinor turned back to her friend who had grown colder. "I need you. I am so scared."

"We are all afraid. But you-you are the strongest person I've met."

"Please, please. Let me fetch the maestar."

"There's nothing he can do." She grabbed Aelinor's hand with one of her bloody ones. "It's okay. I'm not afraid. I can't even feel it."

That was not good. It meant she was almost dead.

"Don't allow this to change your beautiful heart. I just want to thank you for being a friend... being my family. But, it's time to join them, wherever they are."

Her breathing continued to grow shallow, and tears continued to fall from her friend's face.

"My Queen," she whispered, the light leaving her eyes.

Aelinor could feel the tightness in her throat grow as she fought to control the tears that flowed freely down her cheeks.

Suddenly her grief was channeled into fury.

These men would pay for what they had done.

Gently lowering her friend's corpse to the ground, she told her guards, "Prepare her body."

Receiving a nod, she left in search of the two killers.

She found them on the cliffs with Daemon. Both were bound and on their knees.

"Who sent you?" She asked, tears still streaming down her face.

Neither man answered.

"I said who sent you?"