Bronze Beauty | Daemon Targaryen

Tension Filled Farewells

Diana fought back the tears that brimmed in her eyes as she sat, seemingly frozen in her's and Daemon's cabin on their ship, The Valonqar, a gift from Viserys on Daemon's thirtieth nameday.

Beside her, baby Viseys slept peacefully in his cradle as the ship rocked gently back and forth, the skies clear of storms despite the turbulence that had rocked House Targaryen and House Velaryon with the sudden death of Laena.

Despite making black a staple of her wardrobe since her marriage all those years ago into House Targaryen, the black fabric of her dress felt constricting as Diana fought to keep her breaths calm and even despite the grief that threatened to overtake her.

Despite living hundreds of miles apart for the last decade, Diana had made it a point to visit her children and grandchildren at least semi-regularly and make it clear that the door was always open for them at Runestone. Add on the fact that she'd watched Laena grow up in the Red Keep, and the loss of her good daughter was hitting her hard.

A knock on the door had her head snapping up and staring blankly as Daemon stepped into the room, his usually bright eyes sombre as he took in his wife. Like her, he wore all black, his signature red absent from his wardrobe, and his hair was neatly combed.

Coming over to lay his hand on her cold cheek, he whispered, "We'll be docking soon, love. Aelyx and Rhaenyra are preparing the children."

Blinking rapidly, Diana forced her mind to focus as she cleared her throat and stood, pulling Daemon's hand off her cheek and clasping his fingers with hers. Nodding, she said in a tear-rasped voice, "Let me grab Viserys. I'll return him to Rhaenyra, and as soon as we dock, I'll go find Daemion and the girls."

Her husband's eyes narrowed in sympathy, but he shook his head, "My brother and his lot will be arriving at the same time. There are protocols to be followed, darling."

Diana's eyes narrowed as her temper flared, "Who gives a fuck about protocols? My son's wife is dead. My grandchildren are motherless. I belong with them, not kissing the king's feet and worrying about his fucking wife's precious feelings."

Shoving away from Daemon's gentle hold, she strode over to where Viserys was stirring awake, their voices loud in the small, quiet space. Forcing herself to smile softly for the babe's sake, Diana plucked him up and cradled him close, shushing him until he fell back into sleep's grasp.

Continuing to ignore her husband's presence, unrepentantly using her sleeping grandchild as a shield, the princess pulled on her fur skin coat and checked her appearance in the mirror. Her brown eyes held circles under them, and her ordinarily vibrant face looked pale in the dark cabin, but overall, she looked presentable, her gown and hair immaculate.

When she made to bypass a scowling Daemon entirely and head outside, he grabbed her arm and forced her to link it with his. Unable to jerk away with Viserys in her arms, Diana rolled her eyes and allowed the silver-haired prince to escort her out onto the deck, where there was a flurry of movement taking place as sailors raced to prepare the ship for docking.

In the middle of the chaos stood the rest of Diana's family, her children working on wrestling her grandchildren into some semblance of order. It was easier than normal, with the mood being so melancholy, most of the children's eyes were red with tears, their forms drooped in grief as they clung to each other for comfort.

Plastering a smile onto her face, Diana opened her free arm wide and pulled a sobbing Alyssa into her arms, kissing the girl's silver curls while crooking her lip at a pale-looking Dahlia who clung to her niece's hand in a vice, her dark curls pulled up into a tight updo for once.

It took a while for the ship to be finally deemed safe for disembarkment, the sun high in the sky but hidden by the clouds. Further down the dock, a flood of green pooled off another larger ship as the King and Queen waited for them. A bored-looking Aegon stood far away from his mother and father, his clothing dishevelled, while a dazed Helaena was forced to walk arm-in-arm with a scowling Alicent.