Changing Destinies

Chapter 19

A moment between Daemon and Helaena. Otto makes a move during the small council meeting and it doesn't go as he expects it. I hope you guys like it 🥰

Daemon made his way down the halls, Helaena secured in his arms while she played with the buttons on his red tunic. He had promised her that after the small council meeting and training with Aegon, he would accompany her to the gardens and help her look for bugs. While he did not understand her fascination with the creatures, she loved them and he did not mind helping her look for them or listen to her explain certain facts about them. He knew more about the little creatures than he ever thought he would.

They made it to the gardens and he put Helaena down, watching as the little girl ran towards one of the small trees and he followed after her.

"Here it is." He was not sure what she was looking at until he saw a small goldish colored cocoon. "It will be amazing."

Daemon was still not sure what she spoke of. "What will?"

"She will be born once more." Helaena's fingers were gentle as she touched the small cocoon before turning to look at him. "Once she is reborn her wings will be blue and black."

It took him a second to understand. "It is a butterfly."

"Yes," Helaena seemed happy about it. "I will gift it to muña, I think she will like it."

Daemon kneeled next to Helaena and smiled. "I am sure she will love it."

Helaena gave him a small nod before gasping and leaning down to pick up something near his foot.

She straightened and showed him the small caterpillar. "You almost crushed it."

"I am sorry," He did not truly care about the bug, but he cared about Helaena's feelings. "I did not even see it."

"If you had crushed it he would not have been able to fulfill his destiny." She ran a finger over the creature. "He will be a butterfly one day."

"Yes, I am aware." He sat on the ground next to her. "I was under the impression all caterpillars became butterflies."

"No, some of them become moths." Helaena continued to caress the small creature and her eyes became a bit glassy. "There is a moth among us, who wants us to believe he is a butterfly."

Daemon frowned, a bit confused. "What does that mean?"

Helaena did not answer and he did not push her, sometimes she would become quiet and not say anything for a few minutes. He knew better than to try and push her to talk, most of what she said would not make sense to him.

Helaena blinked and her eyes became clear once more, but they were a bit afraid. "Tell muña to get rid of the moth, before he tries to hurt her."

"Come here, sweetheart." He sat her in front of him and started to braid her hair, picking a few of the lavender flowers near them and placing them in her hair the way she liked it. His moves were calm and sure and he could see the tension leaving her small body. "You do not have to worry, I will protect your muña and the three of you."

Helaena nodded and stayed still as he continued to braid her hair. After a few moments, Helaena spoke again. "Do you think I am strange?"

He did not pause what he was doing. "We are Targaryens, most people think we are a bit strange. They do not understand us or the connection to our dragons."

Helaena nodded. "Alicent told me I was stupid."

Daemon tried his hardest not to tense and kept his movements gentle as he continued to braid her hair. He wanted to behead Alicent Hightower, but he knew saying that to a three name day old child was not the best idea.