𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚇𝚅𝙸𝙸

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I was lying in bed waiting for Rhaenyra to call for me for Ser Erryk and Ser Arryk's burial.

As I laid in bed I couldn't not think of Daemon. At that moment, he had already arrived at Harrenhal. It was odd thinking about Daemon being in my ex-husband's home. With the grandsire of my children... it was a weird thought to say the least. It didn't feel natural him being there without me. I thought about going with him, but I knew I was needed here in Dragonstone by Rhaenyra's side.

I knew the Strongs that still lived in Harrenhal were nice people, so Daemon was in good hands. I just hoped that they were in good hands with him as well.

My thoughts were interrupted when Ser Lorent called me to go to the burial.


I followed him outside, where Rhaenyra, Baelon, and Jace already were. They smiled at me as I approached them.

The guards were burying them both together, Rhaenyra's orders.

"He is the basest of villains." Jace spoke as he glared at Ser Arryk's lifeless body. "He sullies the grave of his brother.

"I cannot fault him for keeping his oath." Rhaenyra told her son.

"It's true." I sighed. "They both understood their oath in a different way, but they were never unfaithful."

"And what of those who sent him?" Baelon asked us, siding with Jace.

As I thought of my conversation with Criston, chills went down my spine.

Rhaenyra looked at me, not knowing what to do.

I couldn't tell her what to do, I could only try to guide her. There were already people telling her what they thought she should do. As her Hand, I could only advise her.

I knew a battle of dragons would be inevitable. I knew she was trying her best not to use the dragons due to the love she still has for her family, but it was only a matter of time. It's what the Green's next step was going to be, anyways. We needed to be sure we could match it.

As Rhaenyra and I watched the brothers being buried, Rhaenys joined us after Jace had left and Baelon who went after him.

"Otto Hightower would never have allowed this." She stated.

That I knew was true. As much as I despised that man, he had better plays than this one.

"Hotter blood has prevailed, think." She continued. "The young men have taken the bit in their teeth. They wish to punish, to avenge."

I sighed as I agreed. That could only mean that Aegon had gone rogue. Probably with Criston's help.

Otto had created this master plan for Aegon to reign under his control, and now his prodigy king had become out of control. It pained me knowing that Otto ruined the great man he could have been, but it also gave me satisfaction knowing that his plan was failing miserably.

"Soon they will not even remember what it was that began the war in the first place." Rhaenys stated.

"That is easy enough." Rhaenyra said back. "They usurped my throne."

"That is one answer." Rhaenys told her.

"I believe the true war began when Aemond killed Luke." I told them.

"And that is another answer." Rhaenys told me. "Or was it when the child was beheaded? Or when Luke took Aemond's eye?" She asked us softly. "We teeter now at the point where none of it will matter. And the desire to kill and burn takes hold and a reason is forgotten."

It was true. We were reaching the point where everyone was getting so filled up with anger and the need to avenge everything, that the font of it all would not matter.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐥𝐟 & 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐧 | 𝐃𝐚𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐲𝐞𝐧Where stories live. Discover now