𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔇𝔯𝔞𝔤𝔬𝔫 𝔓𝔯𝔦𝔫𝔠𝔢𝔰𝔰 || ℌ𝔬𝔲𝔰𝔢 𝔬𝔣 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔇𝔯𝔞𝔤𝔬𝔫

𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝕿𝖜𝖊𝖑𝖛𝖊

MAERA HAD A GULITY LOOK WHEN THE NEWS OF JAEHAERYS BEHEADING STUCK DRAGONSTONE. Maera did not dare to look her mother in the eye, feeling guilty and disappointed in herself.

But Daemon seemed quite proud. Maera stood next to Daemon, her arm on her long sword. Maera looked around the table, catching Rhaenys eyes.

Maera swiftly looked away from her, while Rhaenys shifted her eyes on Daemon. Jace approached the table. "Let me fly out on Vermax. Rhaenys is needed in the gullet and I can watch for movements Kings Landing."

"No." Rhaenrya shook her head. "It must be said that the damage to our positions is immeasurable, at a time when we most need loyalty to our cause."

"But it is a lie. Having lost my own son that I would inflict such a thing a thing on Halaena, of all people. An innocent." Rhaenrya scoffs.

The room was filled with tense silence. Rhaenys looked at Dameon, He mets her gaze. "The death of Prince Lucerys was a shock and an insult. A mother so aggrieved might, naturally, seek relief in retribution..."

Rhaenrya stood up from her seat, moving towards Ser Alfred. "Are you suggesting, Ser Alfred, that my grief drove me to order the decapitation of a child."

"I merely thought, perhaps, an action, taken in haste." Ser Alfred said. "Mind yourself." Rhaenys stated. Rhaenrya stares sharply at him, she turns around and sits back on her chair.

Rhaenrya looked at Daemon, she glances up at Maera, who was already staring at her, and looks away from her, Rhaenrya's face falls.

"Did you two send assassins to murder children in their beds?" Rhaenrya asked. Maera shook her head. "I sent the queens vengeance for her son." Daemon answered, sitting down on a chair, Maera sitting opposite of him.

"What did you tell this vengeance? What did you say to him, Daemon?" Rhaenrya questioned. "That a boy lies dead and I am accused of killing it?"

"Myseria provided me with names and a subterfuge. I was clear in my instructions: Aemond, the brother of Aegon the Usurper. I cannot be responsible for a mistake." Daemon informs. Maera stayed silent.

"Cannot be responsible?" Rhaenrya inches closer to Daemon. "If Aemond was not to be found, what were your instructions then?"

Daemon ran his hand thru his face. Rhaenrya moved to Maera. "Maera, what was it." Rhaenrya asked. Maera looked up at her mother.

"A son for a son." Maera whisperers. Daemon sighs, looking elsewhere. "I'm sorry, Mother-" Rhaenrya scoffs. "You have wounded me, weakened my claim to the throne, my ability to raise an army, my standing amoung my own council."

Rhaenrya paces around the room, looking at both of them. "I cannot trust you, Daemon. Or you, Maera." Hearing those words felt like a stab in Maera's chest.

"I never trust you, wholly, much through I wished myself to, willed myself to." Rhaenrya said to Daemon. "But now I have seen that your heart belongs only to you. And when I was a child, I took this as a challenge. But I am older now. I have challenges enough."

"I have served you faithfully." Daemon stated. "Have you?" Rhaenrya asked. "Or have you used me as a tool with which to gasp for your stolen inheritance?"

Daemon knocks cups of a table, running towards Rhaenrya, Rhaenrya flinches back, Maera was quick to stand up. Daemon closes his eyes, and cups Rhaenrya's cheek. Maera watches him closely, standing behind him.

"When Ser Erryk brought you the crown, did I myself not place it upon your brow?" Dameon asked. "Yes, but  before that, you sought to lead a council of war while I labored alone in my bedchamber, and afterward, when I thought it meet to consider the terms our foes before us-"

Daemon pulled away from Rhaenrya, walking away from her. "A folly! A folly! To give up my brother's throne to the traitorous lies of Otto Hightower."

"My throne, Daemon. Mine. I think you used my words as an excuse to take your own revenge. To indulge the darkness you keep sheathed within you like a blade." Rhaenrya exclaimed.

"You think of me as some sort of monster." Daemon scoffs. "I don't know what to think of you, or you, Maera." Rhaenrya placed her attention back on the Princess.

Maera looked away from her Rhaenrya. "Say something, Maera!" Rhaenrya ordered. "My brother is dead! I saw when Vhagar clumped her teeth into my brother and his dragon!"

"I wanted vengeance, and we got it! The Greens laughed at us for Lucerys death. We gave them a taste of what we felt for the last couple of days! Grief and Sorrows, I'm sorry Jaehaerys had to pay Aemond's consequences! Is that what you wanted me to say?" Maera yelled.

Daemon slightly smiled, proud of Maera's words. Rhaenrya turns her back to them. "Do you accept me as your queen and ruler?" Rhaenrya asked, looking back at them.

Maera scoffed, shaking her head. It was a stupid question. "You both stuck down a child." Rhaenrya muttered, Dameon glared at Rhaenrya. "It was a mistake."

"You're pathetic." Rhaenrya stated, moving away from Daemon to sit on a chair. Daemon leaves the room, slamming the door behind him.

Maera moves closer to Rhaenrya, sinking to her knees. "I'm sorry, Mother. I should've stopped it but I.. I was so desperate to avenge Luke." Maera stated.

"Erryk!" Rhaenrya calls for Ser Erryk. "Yes, Your Grace?" Erryk comes in seconds later. "Tell Baela I need to see her."

Maera glances between Rhaenrya and him. Rhaenrya was giving her the silent treatment. Ser Erryk leaves. "Muñnykeā? Udoligon issa." Maera whispers, then stands up. (Mother? Answer me.)

Baela came in a few minutes later. "Ziry's aōha dārōñe, Maera." (It's your grace, Maera) Maera's eyes softly widened at the queen's words. Rhaenrya stood up from the chair, approaching Baela. "When morning comes, take moondancer and keep a watch on Kings Landing. I must know which course they take next."

"I will be vigilant." Baela stated. "I depend on you, Baela." Rhaenrya said. Again, Maera felt an ache in her chest.

Maera walked past Baela, leaving the room. Maera wiped tears, that were falling down her face when she passed down the corridors.