The (y/n) That Would Change the Realm

Chapter VII

The day of Queen Aemma's funeral was a sad one. I held Rhaenyra's hand as a lifeline and I had promised I wasn't leaving. "They're waiting for you." Daemon whispered softly to her as he placed a comforting hand against her back. Rhaenyra squeezed my hand tighter as I listened to the way the waves crashed around us. I had watched every tear drip down Rhaenyra's face and it finally looked as though she had no more. 

"I wonder if, during those few hours my brother lived, my Father finally found happiness." Rhaenyra admits to us and I squeeze her hand. The love I had for Rhaenyra was beyond measure. "Your father needs you more now than he ever has." I whisper to Rhaenyra kindly as I use my thumb to stroke the back of her hand. "I will never be a son." Rhaenyra states simply and I sigh. 

I don't say anything but I look back at my mother. She was crying still but I don't blame her. Queen Aemma had been her best friend. Gratefully, King Viserys was letting us keep our new dwellings and our titles to honor his wife. Then Rhaenyra gave my hand one final squeeze before letting go. She glanced up at Syrax who was sitting at the top of the hill, ready to ignite the funeral pyre of the Queen and Prince.

With a single word, Queen Aemma and Prince Baelon go up in flames. Flames I know Rhaenyra can't stomach looking at. So, that night, I took over Rhaenyra's job as cupbearer to the king. That night, when King Viserys came to council, I was there, pouring wine as was Rhaenyra's duty. "Where's Rhaenyra?" The King questions as I begin to prepare the glasses and wine. The Hand of the King was quick to cover for Rhaenyra.

"Your Grace, this is the last thing any of us wish to discuss at this dark hour, but I consider the matter urgent." Otto states to the King as I begin placing glasses onto the table for each Lord on the council as well as the King. His Grace is more than happy to accept a glass of wine, I imagine to drown the sorrow of losing his Queen wife. It was a meeting about the succession of the king, who would rule once he had died.

"These recent tragedies have left you without an obvious heir." Otto explains to the King as I go around the table. I struggled not to give the opinion of the fact that Rhaenyra was also the King's heir. "The king has an heir, my Lord Hand." Lord Corlys states to Lord Otto, gesturing to Daemon's empty seat. He had mentioned something about the fact that he was going out and might come and find me later. 

"Despite how difficult this time is, Your Grace, I feel it important the succession be firmly in place for the stability of the realm." Otto explains and I slam the jug of wine down once I am finished serving it. All the Lords and the King glance at me. I was making a scene. "The succession is already set, by precedent and by law." Lord Lyonel Strong reminds Lord Otto as Corlys moves from my side to his own chair at the council.

"Shall say his name?" Lord Corlys questions and one word comes to mind. Daemon. I walk over to Lord Otto and lean down a little. "Might I go check on the Princess? She is expecting me back by now." I whisper to the hand who nods, letting me leave to go and check on Rhaenyra. I stop for a moment, noticing that Daemon was listening to their conversation, hidden behind a wall with a lattice carved into it. 

I smiled and waved before I disappeared up to Rhaenyra's room. Alicent had promised she would put the girl to bed and I promised that I would relieve her of her duty when I was finished with Rhaenyra's job as cupbearer. I could hear her sobs from down the hall and entered the wing where Rhaenyra slept. I took over for Alice, staying with Rhaenyra until she fell asleep with tear marks still tracking down her face.

I tucked Rhaenyra before I went and poured cold water upon a cloth. Carefully, I cleaned the tears from her face. Then I removed the Kohl from her eyes and the colour from her lips. I pressed a kiss to her forehead before someone knocked at the door. I opened it to find Daemon on the other side. He didn't say a word, just offered me his hand. I sighed and glanced back at Rhaenyra in worry.

"I love you, Daemon. But I love her just as much." I tell the tall man in front of me with a sad smile. Then I nod. "Only for a short while, Rhaenyra is a deep sleeper." I concede and his face bursts into a wide smile. I looped my arm through his own as I quietly closed Rhaenyra's bedroom door. But I too was grieving and I needed some time. Daemon took me to the brothel where he had taken me, the two of us drinking as the moans and screams filled our ears.

There was laughter too and many tried to take the attention of the Prince, but none seemed to succeed. Every time someone tried, he seemed to look over at me. Even when Mysaria tried, he showed no interest. "The King's sole heir once again." She says to him with a wide smile. I scowled at her as my heart twinged. The King's sole heir because the Queen had died producing a son and the son had died because he was not to live.

The gods could be cruel. "Might we drink to our future?" Mysaria boasts to the pleasure house, raising a mug of wine. The only responder was a drunken man who was busy getting his cock sucked and slammed his glass down on the table beside him. "Quiet! Your Prince will speak!" The drunk bellowed as I scrunched up my nose. People were still laughing and fucking around him, so the drunk bellowed again. 

I sighed and buried my face into my arms. The pleasure house goes silent except for a few scattered shouts and moans. "King and Council have long rued my position as next in line for the throne." Daemon starts and I lift my head a little to look at him. I could not believe he was doing this, here, in a pleasure house. "But dream and pray as then all might, it seems I'm not so easily replaced." Daemon continues as he stands from his seat. 

"The gods give just as the gods take away." He says as he leans against the edge of the table, making me practically invisible. Then he toasted to Prince Baelon, the child the gods had taken from the King. But it was how he toasted Prince Baelon as 'Heir for a day'. I stood, slamming my mug down in the silence of the room as I stood. Daemon looked back at me and tried to reach out for me but I slapped his hand away. 

I scoffed before I rushed out of the pleasure house I had now resigned from. I had to return to Rhaenyra anyway. But tears were already dripping down my cheeks as I entered the castle and ran into Otto Hightower. "I'm so sorry, Lord Hightower." I whisper as I curtsy to him. He shakes his head and lifts my chin to expose my glistening wet cheeks. "What is it?" Otto questions me and I shake my head before I let out two words I regretted the minute I said them. "It's Daemon."