To Take What Is Rightfully Ours

Chapter 36. Making A Demand

I'm dedicating this chapter to everyone who was eager to see Diane and Otto's one-on-one reunion 😉🥰

***

When Athelstan brought them lunch, he was invited to join them and Diane allowed everyone to ask her anything they wanted to know about her trip to Valyria. Although she made a point that some questions she might not answer so as not to ruin anyone's appetite. After a few generic questions, Daemon remembered Diane mentioning her being the third one to come back alive from Valyria and immediately asked about that.

'Well, the first one was Aliyah, obviously. She actually grew up in the Valyrian Freehold when it was thriving and survived the Doom by visiting her son in one of the Valyrian colonies,' Diane answered, taking a bite of a duck.

'But won't it make her like... really, really old?' Athelstan carefully asked. He had eaten with Daemon, Rhaenyra, and Diane before but still wasn't sure whether or not he was allowed to talk or make his presence known in any other way. They did not seem to mind but again, they were nobles and he was just a servant. Some things were hard to unlearn.

'Yes. I think she is... almost four hundred years old, but do not quote me on that.'

'Is it a Molfar thing? I mean... I haven't heard of anyone ever living that long,' Rhaenyra said.

'I don't think so. Aliyah said she used to be the priestess for Shryxos before the Doom and when it happened, she was chosen by the Gods to make sure Valyrians survived. She's like... the bottomless pit of knowledge. I've spent almost seven moons with her and I barely scratched the surface,' Diane said with obvious fascination.

Rhaenyra finished her duck and looked at her empty plate with a pout. They didn't have any more duck at the table and she didn't have the heart to ask Athelstan to get some more because the boy was so engrossed in Diane's stories it would be unfair to make him leave.

'So she can't die?' Daemon asked, reaching out and swapping his and Rhaenyra's plates. He wasn't all that hungry so his plate was still half-full and - what was more important - had a few pieces of duck in it. Rhaenyra smiled as if her husband just made her the happiest woman in the whole Seven Kingdoms and tucked in.

'No, I think she'll be able to one day. When her mission is completed or whatever, Balerion will let her move on to the afterlife. But even she is not sure what exactly completing the mission entails,' Diane frowned thoughtfully. 'Anyway, as long as she believes it includes supporting me in preserving Valyrian culture and you as future Queen, I am fine with whatever,' she smiled and took a sip of her wine.

'Who was the second to come back?' Rhaenyra asked.

'Visenya.'

Daemon and Rhaenyra gaped at her. Athelstan also looked surprised but mostly to fit in with the crowd. He heard that name before but wasn't sure who Visenya was exactly so he couldn't be properly shocked.

'Truly?' Daemon checked.

'Yes. She went there for seven moons a few years before they started the Conquest of Westeros.'

'Just like you,' Rhaenyra pointed out.

'Just like me,' Diane smiled a little. 'Aliyah was also there for her, and let me tell you it's rather exciting to hear stories about Visenya and the Conquest from someone who was actually there to witness it.'

'That is incredible,' Daemon said in fascination. 'Just imagine... all this knowledge that was thought to be long lost might not be lost anymore and-' the prince's eyes suddenly lit up. 'Did you come across the instructions on how to make Valyrian steel by any chance?'