Bronze Beauty | Daemon Targaryen

Betrothal or Betrayal

112 AC - Six Months Later

The shrieks and roars of dragons filled the air surrounding Dragonstone. From her place within a small garden hidden within the keep's inner walls, Diana looked up and could only smile as she watched her two eldest children fly with their father.

Diana had been right when she'd assumed Daemon would take Alycia to claim a dragon once their business in King's Landing was over, but she could never have predicted the dark days leading up to their departure. Aemma's death and Rhaenyra's absence in their lives was a dagger in her heart every day, even with the boons her family received with Alycia's claiming of all dragons, the dreaded Cannibal.

Black as night, with piercing green eyes, the Cannibal was so named for his terrifying habit of eating smaller dragons and hatchlings. He was an utterly wild, massive, and temperamental dragon before her daughter found the courage to approach him. He was liable to kill anyone other than Alycia who approached. Because of this, he remained unsaddled and free from chains. Vermithor, Caraxes, and Quickfang were eager to follow his example and flew around Dragonstone and Dragonmont until called upon.

With their newfound freedom, Quickfang's growth progression had skyrocketed compared to his time living in chains in the Dragon Pit. The young dragon had already reached the size of a small pony, almost ready to be saddled and ridden, according to Daemon, who took his children riding and exploring the surrounding Volcanos daily, telling them tales in High Valyrian and speaking of dragon-taming and care.

"I wish I could go," Daemion muttered from his place by her side, his brown fringe covering his eyes partially as he stared down at an old Valyrian text his father had gifted him for his birthday.

"You know your father would take you for a ride on Caraxes. Why not ask?" Diana said, smiling softly and running her fingers through his dark locks, so similar to hers. Of their three children, Daemion had been the only one to inherit her colouring, his bone structure and deep purple eyes the only connection between him and his father, that and the green egg hatched in his cradle.

"It's not the same," Daemion muttered, pulling away from her ministrations with false independence. He got that from his to-a-fault independent older brother. Daemion idolized his older brother, despite their differences in interests, Aelyx with his sword and Daemion with his love of books and history.

Rolling her eyes at her boy's stubbornness, Diana smiled as Yelena came into the garden, a familiar piece of paper in her hands. Taking the message with a soft thank you, she unrolled it and looked at its contents, her smile slowly fading at what she found.

Dearest Aunt,

I write to you to bring word of my father's possible new betrothal to Laena Valaryon. Unfortunately, the council is pushing him to remarry. Lord Corlys also speaks of the conflict at the Step Stones, but my father refuses to act. I have missed you and my cousins these long months, when are you coming back? I need you, Aunt. Marya helps, but I can't do this alone.

Your loving niece,

Rhaenyra

Sighing, Diana nodded once to Yelena in dismissal and stood. When she began walking out of the garden, Daemion looked up and called, "Mother? What is it?"

"Nothing, sweetling. I need to discuss something with your father."

She ordered the guards to light the flame in one of the watchtowers; she and Daemion had decided early on in their residence that they would use those flames as signals to the often-flying Daemon and their children to call them home.