Burn Together ❖ Daemon Targaryen

Chapter 31

" ... Jacaerys Velaryon and Baelor Targaryen had lost their third. The two of them and Luke had grown up together wreaking havoc on their parents, pranking their sisters, and causing mischief in every corner of their home. They were brothers in every way. Losing him meant losing a part of themselves. When they returned to Dragonstone, the brothers were inconsolable and clung to each other in their grief, just as their mothers did ... "

" ... the visits to the Great Houses had proved worthwhile for Jacaerys and Baelor, and the two grief-stricken boys returned with support. Lord Cregan Stark, nephew of King Consort Bennard Stark had declared his undying devotion and in return was betrothed to Princess Lyanna Targaryen. The Eyrie, the home of Rhaenyra and Rhaellanne's late mother, had promised their support and Lord Manderly's daughter Wynona was betrothed to Joffrey Velaryon. Lord Corlys Velaryon had come to lead the Velaryon fleet in support of Rhaenyra, and had decided that Lady Baela Velaryon would inherit Lucerys's title as the heir to Driftmark ... "

" ... An eye for an eye. A son for a son. Daemon had sworn that promise when Lucerys had died. The Gold Cloaks remained loyal to him and with Ser Roderick's help, Daemon and Rhaellanne broke into King's Landing to find Blood and Cheese, rat catchers no one would ever notice. Rhaellanne declared that they should find and kill Aemond Targaryen, and if the Prince could not be found then Aegon's son Jahaerys. She would avenge Lucerys ... "

Rhaenyra could not face her own son in her grief, and had hidden herself away in her chambers, leaving Rhaellanne and Daemon alone on the front steps of the castle, waiting for Jacaerys and Baelor to appear.

Baelor, Jace, and Luke had been brothers in every sense of the word, and had been as thick as thieves since the day Rhaenyra's family moved to Dragonstone, so for one of them to be gone was going to be the hardest thing they ever experienced.

Two weeks ago ravens had been sent to both the Eyrie and Winterfell to inform Jeyne Arryn and Lord Stark of the news of Lucerys's death. Rhaellanne just prayed that her son had read it as well, so that she would be spared the news herself.

Beside her, Daemon, was clearly feeling the same as her. They didn't need to say it out loud because the pain of Luke's death was still fresh in both of their hearts, but they both knew exactly how afraid the other person was feeling.

When the sound of their boys's voices could be heard coming from outside the gates, Rhaellanne felt like she could be physically sick. She would never be ready for this conversation and just hoped that her husband could be there for her.

However, there was no running from this now. So wordlessly, Daemon slipped his hand into his wife's and squeezed, both hoping that this pain would be over soon. Lucerys's had died two weeks ago and today may be the most painful day since.

The guards opened the gates, and through them strolled Jace and Baelor, both wearing matching expressions of horror and desperation, and Rhaellane fought to keep her tears down.

She stepped down from the bottom step to the castle and opened her arms wide to her son.

"Muña!" Baelor cried and ran towards her. He was 16, yet he loved his mother as much as he had since the day he was born.

He had jumped on Silverwing as soon as he learned the news of Luke's death, praying for every moment of his journey that the news would turn out to be a lie, but seeing his mother again made his fear come to life, overwhelming him.