GODS AND MONSTERS

THE START OF WAR

It had been a week since the death of Lucerys and Daella still didn't get better. Aegon and Helaena would find her drinking till she passed out or on the hill sleeping against Hyrne with bottles of wine she took from the kitchens.

Helaena usually convinced her to stay with her and the twins during the day to distract her from her impending, looming thoughts. Daella always held herself together in front of the children and did their hair to their delight. 

Alicent had tried to keep Aemond from her daughter's sight but she had failed once or twice. Every time Daella saw Aemond's smug face it would set her off to go to the streets of silk and drink her sorrows away with Tara. She was becoming Aegon.

Aemond felt no remorse towards what he did, he enjoyed the fear he installed. Originally he cared about Daella when he saw her breakdown but he lost it in a day or two when he remembered she was crying over the bastard who cut out her own  brother's eye.

Aegon comforted Daella when he could and tried to warm her up with hugs and nice kisses on her head and cheeks and it worked for a few moments till she went back into her depressive mood. Aegon brought her to the small council sessions and sat her to his left so he could hold her hand when she got upset. Daella was the one he trusted the most, she could have flew to Dragonstone and joined Rhaenyra but she came back. To him.

Rodrik Forrester followed her wishes and went back to the north with his father and younger brother. He told his father that he just wanted to see the north and feel what it was going to lead to when he's lord. As well as this he told Lord Forrester that the engagement was still going to continue all in due course even though he knew it never would.

Jacaerys hated Daella and her family for what they did to Luke no matter how much he used to love his aunt, he no longer did. They killed his brother who had been there for has long as he could remember. They killed an innocent. She killed an innocent even though Lucerys wanted to go and save her. He hated them all.

Daemon hated all of the Hightower cunts. Every single one of them. They stole the throne from him. He should be King not Aegon. And he hated Aemond for killing Lucerys, he was a sweet child and he did love him, he was his son. He hated Daella for staying with them. He heard about her escape act and he was right about what he told the council, she hates Aegon but she'll never leave him. 

And finally...

Daella hated herself. She let Luke down by not protecting him this once. She hated herself for not going to Rhaenyra and supporting her claim. But she hated most of all that she confirmed everyone's beliefs of her not being able to leave Aegon. She hated everyone...everything.

Now Daella sat with Helaena in the twin's room as her sister embroidered more dragons on Aegon's clothes. Helaena on a few of her designs even put Hyrne in the designs to pay ohmage to their love. 

Daella sat with Jaehaera in between her legs as she sat on the green carpet. Jaehaera played with her toy dragons while her aunt braided her hair in intricate designs. She loved Jaehaera and Jaehaerys with all of her heart. She most likely won't have children any time soon with the war that she knew was going to break out so she was grateful for the opportunity she had with her nephew and niece.

Aegon walked in quickly as he searched around the room. The lady's stiffened at the sight of him once again as he walked past. He went over towards Daella and his daughter and touched his daughter's head to see if it was actually his son then kissed Daella on the cheek as she turned to face him.

"Where is Jaehaerys?" he asked his wife as Daella stood up with Jaehaera in her arms.

"Attending his lessons." Helaena continued her stitching.