The Death of War

Chapter 36

Rhaenyra and Daemon talk to Baela. Rhaenyra finally makes a decision about Corlys's sons. I hope you guys like it 🥰

Rhaenyra had returned to her solar after the ceremony in the Godswood. Visenya had made it clear to the priest that she did not want to stand around and listen to him go on and on, that there was cake to be eaten. The poor man had looked at the little girl with wide eyes until Rhaenyra had told her daughter to shush. After the ceremony was over Daemon had immediately left to find Baela and they had agreed to speak with her in Rhaenyra's solar. She knew that her husband was not happy with his daughter and she was not expecting this conversation to be pleasant.

The doors opened and Baela entered, bowing before sitting down, but Rhaenyra could see how angry she was. Daemon walked in after her and slammed the door closed. He just stared at his daughter for a moment.

"What the fuck were you thinking?" Rhaenyra groaned, knowing that this was going to be worse than she first thought. Daemon and Baela were not happy and this had not started well. "Because the only reason I can think of for you marrying that fool is that you were forced to do it."

"I was not forced." Baela rolled her eyes. "Addam is a Velaryon and he was the best choice for me to marry."

"He is not a Velaryon." Rhaenyra's voice was soft as she looked at her stepdaughter, the girl she had thought would be her good daughter one day. "He is a Waters. He is a bastard."

"But he will be legitimized," Baela said.

"He will? By who?" Rhaenyra gave her stepdaughter a questioning look. "Because I am the only one who can legitimize anyone and I am not sure your grandsire told you this, but I never said I would legitimize his sons."

"I do not understand why you would not." Baela's eyes were still angry.

"Because I am the one who makes the decisions." She was getting tired of Baela questioning everything. "Are you aware that if I legitimize Addam he would be the one to inherit Driftmark?"

"I do not understand why." Baela snapped and Rhaenyra took Daemon's hand when she noticed the way his eyes narrowed. "You kept being the heir even after your father had sons."

"Yes, because my father chose me to be the heir and you saw how things almost ended. The realm fell into war because most people do not believe that a woman should have power." She thought Baela had understood this. "Corlys wants a man to follow after him."

"My grandsire wants me to be the lady of Driftmark, which is why he wanted me to marry Addam, so the Velaryon name can go on."

"He wants Addam to be the lord of Driftmark." Rhaenyra took the last letter Corlys had sent her and pushed it towards Baela. "This letter was sent to me by your grandsire after you had already wed Addam."

Baela took the letter and Rhaenyra watched her face as she read it. She knew her stepdaughter would not like the letter or what her grandsire had said. Once Baela was done reading the letter she pushed it aside. The woman did not say anything, she just sat there and looked down at the table. Rhaenyra did not want to hurt Baela, but her stepdaughter had made some very bad decisions in the past and she needed to learn. Baela stood up and left the room without saying anything. Daemon let out a breath and sat next to her.

"I do not know what to do about her." She ran a hand over his back, not liking how frustrated he sounded. "The more I try to speak to her the farther away she pushes me."

"I am sorry, my love." Rhaenyra kissed the side of his head, hating that he was feeling bad and having trouble with his daughter. "Maybe you should wait until tomorrow. Speak to her once you both have calmed down a little bit, maybe she will understand a bit better."