Bronze Beauty | Daemon Targaryen

A Royal Wedding

The Red Keep and King's Landing as a whole were alive with excitement as preparations were made for Rhaenyra's and Aelyx's wedding. There hadn't been a royal wedding since the marriage of King Viserys and Queen Alicent, and the people were eager for a show of unity from the monarchy. For years, they had whispered about Prince Aegon and his place within the line of succession once he survived infancy, and with the new alliance between The King and The Rogue Prince, the politics had become even more exciting.

Ships and caravans from all over Westeros were arriving in droves to the capital, and all of the Great Houses were sending representatives.

Diana had to curl her lip as she took in the multiple carriages covered in the sigil of House Hightower passing through the gate. Just as they removed one snake, three more popped out from the bushes. This time Lord Holbert Hightower and his wife Lynesse looked like they smelled something foul, so high were their noses as they passed through the gates and into the yard.

No doubt displeased by the news that Ser Otto had been stripped of his title of Hand and sent back to Oldtown, his tail between his legs.

But watching the arriving lords and ladies of the realm wasn't why Diana stood out on the balcony, her heart in her throat. The maesters had confirmed that if their calculations were correct, the Velaryons and her son Daemion should be arriving by dragonback within the hour.

As if summoned by her throat, Diana heard a distant shriek. Turning with a gasp, she looked out across the water, squinting her eyes to see the three small forms moving in formation quickly towards the city. Below them, ships bearing the Velaryon sigil sailed, cutting through the waves rapidly, outpacing many other vessels from other houses.

As they drew closer, the dragon became larger and larger as they swooped and swirled, Meleys taking point, her red scales blazing in the sun. Following behind were the silver Seasmoke and emerald Quickfang.

Let out a breathy laugh; Diana ignored all rules of decorum and picked up her skirts, jogging down the halls in her haste to reach the Throne Room. Her baby was home.

**Line Break**

Daemion laughed as he circled the sky, the mind flowing through his shoulder-length brown hair, dancing with the strong winds that buffered against him in his haste to reach the city. It had been almost a year since he had seen his mother and sister and nearly four since he's seen his father and brother.

He held back a blush when the arms that circled his waist tightened, and he heard the girlish giggle behind him as his betrothed held on for dear life as they made another death-defying dive, going so slow they skimmed the water as they levelled out.

When he'd first found out that he may be betrothed to Laena Velaryon, Daemion hadn't been the most graceful about it. Hiding away with his books and dragons, depressed by his brother and father's absence and frustrated by all of the changes taking place too quickly for his liking.

But, it had been Laena who had pulled him from his solitude. With her energetic and cheerful spirit, she had patiently and steadfastly pulled him away from his hiding places and towards the wonder Driftmark and she had to offer.

While growing up in the Red Keep, Daemion had always been aware of the silver-haired Velaryon daughter but meeting her again at fourteen, nearly a man, had almost swept the boy off his feet. Her smile, the way her dresses swirled around her ankles, and the way she was all too eager to discuss dragonlore with him had the boy smitten from the start, despite his shy and antisocial behaviour towards her.

As they made their way toward the Dragon Pit, Daemion could feel Quickfang's discomfort as the dragon shrieked in protest about being confined. For the last four years, the hatchling had grown exponentially while flying free on Dragonstone and then Driftmark, gorging himself on sea creatures until he was finally large enough to ride.