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warnings: mentions of violence and grief!
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RHAENA hadn't slept, and neither had Baela. The twins had fussed over their sister, even combing and braiding her hair as her face contorted in pain. Her wound had avoided infection thus far in the hours since the brawl. Daemon paced on the other side of the door, aware that his daughter hadn't wanted to speak to him and for once he listened to his eldest, at the most inopportune time as broken promises flooded his consciousness.
His children had been bathed, Daenys with more care but they only wished for Odessa's assistance. The Pentoshi maid had suppressed her worry when she saw the young Lady, but before she could speak, Daenys excused her and she did, leaving the twins to squander in guilt and anger.
"Dragons are not slaves. You should have claimed Vhagar before he ever had the chance to. What have I always told you?" she asked the twins who fumbled with their fingers.
"Take what's rightfully ours." They said in unison.
"But Vhagar is the last of our mother and he took that from me and you're defending him." Rhaena snapped, and Daenys simply blinked at her.
The silence that clutched the room even had Baela shifting in discomfort.
"We are the last of our mother," Daenys started calmly, "Her spirit lives inside of us," she paused, "don't you dare think I am defending him. He hurt you so I hurt him. He insulted you and Mother, so I took a blade to my flesh," Rhaena bowed her head when her voice rose, "I will always defend you! So watch your tongue!" the twins stayed silent, almost unmoving wary they'd see the Dragon in their sister's eyes again. "I'd prefer he ride that beast than you, yes he did you a disservice by stealing the chance for you to claim her and now his family have Vhagar in their possession. But, he has already made the sacrifice, would you want to lose an eye?"
Rhaena gulped, "Luke would never..."
"And yet he did, dear sister. And I know of the pain you feel. Being without a Dragon."
"No, you don't," Rhaena whispered, arms going to hug herself until Baela interlinked their fingers.
Daenys sighed, "I see it in your eyes. Just like I saw it in his. And now he's without one."
"But he has Mother's dragon," Rhaena sniffled.
"Better him than you. She's old, I fear I would hate myself if you claimed her, as I would always question your safety. I believe Mother rode her in the last of her best years. It's only time before Vhagar succumbs to the same fate as Balerion." Daenys decided, "I will find a way to resolve this matter."
