The Art of Love & Hate

Chapter 11

Darya arrives at Storms End and gets a surprise. This chapter will be very similar to the events in the TV show with one major difference. I hope you guys like it 🥰

As always High Valyrian will be in Italics.

Darya had spoken to her mother before leaving for Storms End, she wanted to make sure that Daemon would not convince her to allow the dragonseeds to claim a dragon. Her mother had understood and seemed to agree with her, but Darya knew how convincing her stepfather could be. She prayed that her mother would not give in to him. In the end, she could not worry about what her mother and father could be doing at that time, she was supposed to be worrying about convincing Borros Baratheon to back her mother.

The storm grew worse the closer she got to Storms End and she hoped it would let up soon. Arrax was not happy with the weather but kept flying until he landed in the courtyard. Darya climbed off her dragon and ran a hand over the side of his neck, sending him a silent apology and promising him a few goats when they returned. She was making her way to the castle's entrance when she saw something move out of the corner of her eye. She turned her head and her eyes widened when she saw Vhagar's massive shape. She should have known that the queen would also send her sons to try and make alliances.

"I am princess Darya Velaryon." She said as she approached the guards. "I bring a message to Lord Borros from the Queen."

Two of the guards nodded and immediately turned, guiding her towards the great hall, two guards following behind her. She made it to the great hall and while she was not surprised to see Aemond there, she was surprised to notice he looked dry and well rested. Apparently, her uncle had been at Storms End longer than she first thought.

"Princess Darya Velaryon." One of the Baratheon knights took a step forward. "Daughter of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen."

Darya saw the woman standing near Aemon, she was pretty, tall, and had dark hair. She did not like the ache in her chest, not knowing why she felt that way, so she chose to ignore it. She did not have time to think about Aemond now, so she turned her attention towards the Baratheon lord.

"Lord Borros." The man sat on a throne, raised on a platform in the middle of the room. "I have brought you a message from my mother, the queen."

"Yet earlier this day, I received an envoy from the king." Borros's gaze turned mocking. "Which is it? King or Queen? The house of the dragon does not seem to know who rules it. What's your mother's message?"

"The house of the dragon knows perfectly well who rules it." Darya's voice was amused as she stared down the man. "But usurpers run rampant these days, wishing to steal things that have never belonged to them."

She could tell the man did not appreciate her talking back to him, Borros Baratheon was one of the men who believed a woman did not belong on the throne. Darya kept the smile fixed on her face as she handed the scroll her mother had written to one of the knights. The man immediately moved towards his lord and handed it over. Borros did not seem pleased when he got the scroll.

The man looked at the scroll in his hand before raising his voice. "Where is the bloody measter?"

It took Darya a few seconds to understand what was happening and cursed herself and her mother. How had they not known that Borros Baratheon was illiterate? She was able to keep the surprised look from her face and continued to ignore her uncle, who did not seem able to stop staring at her. She moved her shoulders, trying to keep herself from shaking. She was very cold, her cloak was soaked through and water was dripping from her braid and clothes down to the floor.