Play With Fire // Daemon Targaryen

2.11

The chosen bride —

Daenys found herself walking the same halls she done 6 months prior, her footsteps loud as she walked through the blood red halls that her ancestor's half-brother had risen. Secret pathways filled this large beauty - of which she did not know the full extent of, but she was sure that Daemon did. Birds chirped, and the Blackwater rolled to its shore. A normal day to an outsider, a day the same as the one before to the smallfolk's understanding. Daenys knew that this was not the case. As the events of 6 months repeated, she found herself walking into the chamber of the small council at dawn, the Lords around her confused at their summons. All but Lord Corlys, Ser Otto, and Lord Lyonel were unaware of the reasoning behind their summons.
Shortly after she took her seat, still to the left of Lord Corlys' own, she whispered to the man beside her.
"Cousin-in-law, I do believe he has made his choice. Laena will be most welcomed as the Queen by the smallfolk, that I am sure of"
"We can only hope so, Daen"
Their quiet conversation stilled with the arrival of Viserys, Rhaenyra, and quite confusingly to Daenys - Lady Alicent.
In that moment she knew, and her face hardened. He had not taken her counsel in any capacity, nor the counsel of his so-called favourite cousin and her husband. She would refuse to be happy for her brother if he spoke the words she knew to be truth.

Viserys took his seat at the head of the table, Lady Alicent stopping behind her father and Rhaenyra behind Lord Lyonel. Once properly situated, he spoke. His dulcet tones were even and confident, believing his choice to be right.

"Good morrow my lords. I have decided to take a new wife"

There was a look shared between the King and his daughter, the exact emotion was unknown to Daenys - but the singular nod and encouraging smile of Rhaenyra's was not unknown. What would be next would offend her, as well as Corlys, Daenys surmised. He had not told her of his intention to marry her best friend.

"I intend to marry the Lady Alicent Hightower, before spring's end"

Quiet befell the room, not one wanted to be the first to comment or act. But the Princess of Dragonstone looked to her former best friend. Hurt, sadness, anguish and anger swirled in her lilac eyes. This would come to be known as the first betrayal toward Rhaenyra, her own best friend and her father.
But it was not Rhaenyra that Daenys was most worried about in that moment - for Lord Corlys had risen from his seat, anger splattered across his face, and he slammed his hand on the table.

"This is an absurdity! My house is Valyrian, the greatest power in the realm!"
"And I am your King"

Corlys stared into the eyes of Viserys, believing his words to be folly - until the King broke the gaze and switched to look at Alicent, smiling at the hand's daughter. At this, he pushed his chair back, exiting the room with loud footsteps and throwing the old oak doors open with a creak.

Daenys stood then, looking toward her beloved niece. She saw her lilac eyes fill with tears and moved to go to her, to comfort her as a mother would - as Aemma would've, if Viserys hadn't sacrificed her for a sickly babe that would not live more than half a day. But Rhaenyra's gaze turned hard, and she followed Lord Corlys out of the room - in the same temperament. Lady Alicent shouted after her, desperate and sorrow filling her voice - to which Daenys responded in a sort of defence for her sweet niece, who did not deserve the situation that befell her.
"Rhaenyra!"
"You have done enough to hurt her, Lady Alicent. Leave her be. I recommend that you leave now, for I am sure yourself and your father have much to do - now that your lady mother is no longer with us. As for the rest of you, leave us. I wish to talk to me brother alone."

The lords of the small council looked toward each other, before looking back at Daenys. They were sure that they would not move under her command until they saw the fire in her eyes, and the anger etched into her face. Reminded of a time long ago, when he encountered the very same princess and her rage at Viserys and Daemon for leaving her without company, Grand Maester Runciter was the first to move. He was soon followed by Lord Strong, Lord Beesbury, and Ser Otto. Alicent had not moved to leave, until her father had touched her shoulder and shook his head. He knew that now was not the time for a united front from the King and his new Queen.
Daenys stood next to her brother, staring down at the eyes that were so similar to her own. She remembered how her grandfather would say that herself and Viserys reminded him the most of his eldest daughter. They looked the most similar, more so than the twin daughters of Rhaena and Aegon. The tension hung thick in the air, drowning the King and Princess and three Kingsguard that remained. It was Daenys that broke the silence, though she did not speak the common tongue when she did, nor were her words particularly kind or soft - but they were cruel and harsh.

"Brother. How could you be so stupid? The Lady Alicent will bring ruin to this house, whether or not you can see that! Do you honestly think she would stumble into your chambers of her own volition? Every little interaction has been carefully constructed by your hand, a second son who stands to inherit nothing that he does not take for himself. Do you think she will be loyal to Rhaenyra's claim? I do not. You are a fool, Viserys. A fool. I wonder, will you cut her open too?"
"Get out. Leave these chambers, Daenys. Cede your stone and do not think to enter here again. Be thankful for Rhaenyra, it is for her that I do not seek to send you back to your frozen hell or banish you from these lands entirely. Too long you have been allowed free will in my castle, know that that will no longer be the case"

Daenys stared into Viserys' eyes, anger flaring through the gaze between the two siblings. Daenys turned to leave the council room, as Grand Maester Runciter returned. He carried a scroll that bore Cregan's seal. Handing the scroll of paper to the people's princess, he spoke.
"This arrived not an hour ago, my princess. I had thought you may still be here, I came with the upmost urgency, your grace"
"I thank you most earnestly, grand maester"

The people's princess broke her son's seal, and cautiously unrolled the scroll. It was aged and cold to the touch, a testament to its journey.
The contents of it lay there, in black ink for all to see.

Mother,
How I miss you so. Father has asked me to write to request that you return home, he needs you for what I do not know. I finally bested Elya on the yard yesterday, and in the archery practice!
Father said you would have been overjoyed to see, maybe I can show when you return.
Cregan.

Daenys smiled to herself, imagining the triumphant look on her only son's young face. It pained her to know that she could not witness these acts anymore, for though others may see it as mundane, Daenys was overjoyed to encourage her growing pup. Turning to her brother, the smile dropped. Her face hardened again. The language of Valyria slipped out of her cherry lips, a ghost of the strong voice she had just taken on.

"You needn't threaten me with the senselessness of banishment from your city, your grace. My children and husband have need of me, for my counsel and action is needed where it may actually be taken into account, rather than flung aside. Do not ignore your daughter, Viserys. Or do. I will return once my business is finished in Winterfell, that much Rhaenyra can count on"

—A/N—
my apologies if my referral to Aemma's death have triggered any of you, it was not my intention.
Thank you for reading!