The Dragon Queen

CHAPTER 38

Rhaelys was awake watching Aelea for any changes. They had moved aelea to the chambers that Rhaelys was using.

The door opened. "The hand, princess" Criston announced. Rhaelys looked up as Otto entered.

"Say your piece."

"And what piece is that?" Otto asked.

"I conducted myself in a manner unbefitting of my title. I became a monster."

"You spoke truths princess."

"The king won't see it that way."

Otto moved to stand next to her. He put his hand on her shoulder.

"The king will forgive you. You are his weakness."

Rhaelys shakes her head. "I'm not. I don't think I ever was or will be."

"You just became what they were making you. So what if you lost control of your anger, it only proves that you will not be weak."

Rhaelys let's out a sigh. She turns to Otto. "I'm happy that you returned. I will finally have a say in the council meetings again."

Otto smiles and squeezes her shoulders before leaving.

After a while Rhaelys left to check up on the children. She went to the twins chambers first.

She saw aeron and aerion laying in one bed together. She walked closer the two boys.

"Aeron are you awake?" Rhaelys asks.

"Almost."He answered.

Rhaelys sat on the edge. "Are you in any pain?"

She looked over the wound. The redness had reduce but it was still swollen.

"No, the maester gave me milk of the poppy for the pain. I'm sorry mother."

Rhaelys looked confused. "What for?"

"If..if I had stayed with Aelea in the chambers maybe...maybe she would be okay. I know that she's fragile." Tears started pooling in the boys eyes.

Rhaelys put her hand on his cheek. "I do not blame you. You went with your uncle, you did not know that you would be assaulted in thus manner."

"How is she?"

Rhaelys swallows. "She has not woken up yet. You should rest."

Aeron laid back down. "I love you muna."

Rhaelys smiled. "I love you to little dragon."

Rhaelys walked down the corridors in search of Maelon. She finally found his chambers after a few minutes.

She looked inside and noticed that he was asleep. She entered and tucked him in properly. She kissed his cheek before leaving.

She entered Aegons chambers and notice that he wasn't alone. On the bed laid Helaena, aemond and Aisha as well as Aegon.

The sight brought tears to Rhaelys's eyes. She does not know how long she stood there for before she noticed the sun shining.

Rhaelys left and went back to her chambers. When she entered she noticed Daemon sitting on a chair.

"Daemon."

Daemon turned at the sound of her voice and moved towards her. He pulled her in for a hug.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

Daemon watched her face.Rhaelys looked exhausted.

"Do I still have to do what we discussed?"

Rhaelys nods. "Yes. I know you do not wish to but I have no other choice. Just play your part."

"You know what that entails."

"There are ways to prevent such things."

Daemon placed his head against hers. "As you command."

She kissed him and he was quick to return the kiss ten fold.

******

A maester had come to check over Aelea. Rhaelys watched as he worked.

"And?"she asked.

The maester turned to her. "The swelling has gone down. It's up to her now to wake up."

Rhaelys nodded her head. "Thank you maester."

With that the maester left.

*****

Rhaelys entered the carriage with the children. She looked at them and could see how tired they were.

"As soon as we get on the boat, you can sleep."

Rhaelys looks out of the carriage as they move along the path, watching the scenery.

After a while they arrived at the boats. The children were the first to get out. Rhaelys exited afterwards.

They bordered the ship and said away, the dragons flying after them.

******

When they arrived two ravens came, one from Driftmark informing everyone of Laenors death and another from Dorne who seemed to have accepted the marriage proposal.

After a few weeks the wedding was planned. Aegon and Aria had gotten married in Dorne. Aria had opted to live in Kingslanding with Aegon's family.

******

Rhaelys sat in Aelea's chambers, where the little girl laid for weeks. Rhaelys took a wet rag and wiped Aelea's head.

Suddenly Rhaelys saw Aelea move. Her finger had moved and then her hand, until she finally opened her eyes.

Rhaelys pulled her daughter close to her. She was happy that her children was alive.

"Ser Criston, get a maester." Rhaelys said.

The man kept the chambers and returned with the maester.

The maester looked over Aelea. He wrote down things in a book.

"What's wrong?"

"It seems that princess Aelea has been severely damaged. She will not speak, she makes this odd sound instead as if she was an infant."

"What does that mean?"

"Your daughter will have mindset of a child forever. I apologize my princess. There is nothing we can do about it."

Rhaelys nods her head, tears falling from her eyes.

The maester left Rhaelys alone. Criston moved to hug Rhaelys which broke down.

"At least she is alive."