The Outside / House of the dragon

17. Rhea

"You." Daemon demanded.

"It's me. Hi. I'm the killer, it's me."

And suddenly Daemons hands went to his bloody throat.

"Should have finished me off when you had the chance, husband."

"RHEA?" Davina demanded. "RHEA ROYCE? I didn't see that coming."

"EVeryone said you were dead." ALicent recalled.

"Not as dead as Daemon thought." Rhea countered. "You see when Daemon came for me, he was a coward, he just couldn't finish..." Rhea glanced down at a dead Daemon.

"Sounds like Daemon." Davina admitted kneeling beside her twin. SHe didnt know what to feel, sure, Davina would have been a great suspect, she hated Rhaenyra and Daemon. They tore her apart and it wasnt like Davina didnt think about killing them regularly but she really wasnt planning on it, at least not while Viserys was alive.

"I remember the day perfectly," Rhae remarked calmly. Davina stared back at her.

"I... know we had our issues but I believe that Daemon is awful and clearly I moved on," Davina leaned into Tommen, "And look, don't seek vengeance on me, I have a daughter."

"I don't care about you, Davina." Rhea assured.

"Never thought I would be happy someone said that about me." Davina murmured.

''Good morrow, Lady Rhea.''

''Cousin.'' Rhea answered stiffly from horseback.

"I never liked my cousin you see, he was always lurking," Rhae added. "But he wasn't a killer." Her gaze again shifted to a dead daemon.

''What's today's quarry?'' he pondered ''Rabbit?''

''Deer.'' She corrected

''Oh. Fine challenge. Care for some company?'' he offered

'I'd rather ride alone.'' Rhae told him as she rode off.

"It was a lovely day, for riding, for hunting, everyone always said I was a skilled hunter." Rhae added. "Of all sorts of hunts. All sorts of species." Davina pulled herself away from Daemon's bleeding out body, his lifeless eyes staring up, glossing over, crimson blood pooling around him. Davina wanted to weep for her twin but she used sarcasm as her defense, she couldnt break down now, she had to be brave. After all the killer was giving them her story of revenge.

'Good fortune to you.' He called after her.  Birds were squawking in the distance as Rhae rode farther away but suddenly her horse snorted and neighed coming to an abrupt halt.

"My mare was the best of horses, didnt spook for anything." Rhae informed them. "So I knew something, someone awful was coming... and I was right."

'Husband. What brings you to the Vale?'' Rhae said stiffly as she looked down at Daemon.  ''Or have you at last come to consummate our marriage? The Vale's sheep might be willing, even if I'm not.'' Daemon approached her slowly.  ''Our sheep are prettier, after all.'' She recalled word of him saying that and thought she might throw it back in his face. ''Or perhaps your brother has at last had his fill of your company. Cast you aside in favor of a little girl.'' Daemon still said nothing as he got closer, her horses shifted uneasy before him.

''What will you do now? Will you strike the child down? Or?''  Daemon lunged forward her horse bucked sending Rhea flying off getting crushed under his weight. Her horse whinnied as Rhea grunted, she winced, and whimpered as Daemon stepped down on her arm. Satisfied that she would die on her own he walked away.

"He walked away to leave me to die, luckily I was able to pull myself back to the castle, I was bed ridden for moons. Gaining my strength back, I had a skull fracture, they were surprised I survived it. Daemon surely thought I wouldnt." Rhae remarked walking the room. "I dont care about you lot, I have been married to Daemon for 15 fucking years. He has been nothing but cruel and manipulative to me from the start... I dont care about you lot." Rhae remarked. "I'm going home. Have a nice life."

"Mum?" Vaera questioned.

"Um... okay?" Davina agreed with an awkward shrug.

"Davina, she killed Daemon and Rhaenyra!" TOmmen agreed.

"And they deserved it!" Davina agreed. Rhae smiled back at her. "I love Luke and Jace, I love them, they are good boys- besides the eye-" she waved a finger around her own eye. "We take this secret to the grave. Daemon couldnt live with himself... oh!" Davina declared suddenly giddy. "We say Daemon did it and he was over come with guilt and killed himself."

"Slit his own throat?" Criston questioned.

"I mean, we burn the bodies, Rhea gets a life, she earned it and... we protect our own, we protect Jace and Luke. THey are Targaryen they dont need to know their mothers killer is walking free." Davina declared.

"Alright, lets get the pyre ready." Otto agreed. Rhae chuckled.

"I have been Targaryen by marriage..." Rhea looked to Alicent. "Just like you but I think you know, as well as I, if you are not blood you will always be on the outside."