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Shaera walked into the castle, no longer feeling suffocated by everything going on around her. The pain, the weeping, the conversation, it was all too much for her to handle. Not when she ached to grieve as well but knew she couldn't.
She sighed deeply, a part of her wanting nothing more than to cry. She clutched her gut tightly, forcing herself to keep all her emotions contained. She had to. She always did. It pained her more but she had no choice. She had to remain strong. Not for herself, but for the people she loved. She preferred to carry the burden for them, allowing them to have a sort of peace that she knew she would never have.
Hearing a familiar cry, Shaera moved in the direction it came from. She opened the door to one of the rooms, finding Daena.
The young girl sat on the ground, weeping into her hands.
"Daena--" Shaera spoke up as she moved toward the girl. She froze, however, when the latter pointed a sword at her.
Daena lifted her head, her eyes widening at the sight of her grandmother. "I'm sorry--" She started to apologize, clearly not knowing it was her.
Before she could finish, the sword was snatched from her hands. She scoffed, noticing the disapproving look the woman gave her. "Where did you get this?" Shaera questioned, but received silence, "Daena?"
"Daemion gave it to me. To protect myself," Daena informed the woman, who smiled slightly. It confused her more, expecting the woman to be upset.
Daena frowned as Shaera handed her back the sword. She didn't refuse, however, quickly snatching it back. The young girl stood up, watching her grandmother take a seat on a nearby chair.
"Your uncle Rhaegon did the same for your mother long ago," Shaera informed the girl in a calm tone. She smiled sadly, eying Daena as she placed it back in its sheath, not before taking a moment to admire it, "Daena...I know I haven't been the best to you and I'm sorry--"
"I understand why," Daena replied calmly, much to Shaera's surprise, "I remind you of her, I suppose. The King mistakes me for her all the time."
Shaera chuckled at her words and shook her head. "My brother just called Alicent his first wife's name," She informed Daena, who laughed.
"Alicent must have been enraged," Daena responded, walking to sit beside her grandmother, "I wish I saw it. But I can't sit there and give condolences to these people when I too am saddened by a parent's death."
"I know how much he meant to you," Shaera sighed and squeezed the girl's hand tightly, "I'm sorry I wasn't there for you."
"You had reason to mourn too," Daena reminded her, which surprised her grandmother. It was the longest conversation they had ever had without becoming an argument.
