A Beautiful Tragedy

Chapter Eighteen

Rhaenyra arrives at the castle, walking up the Verena who pulled her Queen into a tight embrace the pair having missed each other more than air. Caraxes was just excited to have his friends back, Simon Strong came back down and started the conversation,

"I am the castellan, Ser Simon Strong, Your Grace. Welcome to Harrenhal, my queen. I did not think to see you here yourself."

Rhaenyra sighed, pulling away from Verena and answering that she had much concern from the message, and she knew it was now or never. Verena spoke,

"He has seen what he needs too. He just needs to see you to be reminded of his part in all this. His part as my husband, as your uncle, as your family. His part is to stand by you and your claim.

Rhaenyra walked forward into the hall of the army, everyone slowly turning around to look at the Queen. Syrax screeched as she landed on the broken roof. Verena held her hand on her sword, watching as the ocean of men parted and her husband strutted his way through the crowd, in disbelief to see her. Rhaenyra looked like she wanted to give in and hug her uncle, but she knew she must know what his plan of action is next. Daemon spoke softly,

"I wasn't expecting you."

Verena cut in, knowing what they had seen,

"And what? You expected to see her at battle?"

Daemon smirked at Verena, causing her anger to rise, Nyra shaking her head and Daemon spoke quickly, knowing already what he was going to say but liking the drama.

"They are sworn to me.
And not a moment too soon."

Rhaenyra stepped back and loudly claimed,

"And to whom are you sworn?"

Daemon stepped forward and started speaking in Valyrian, keeping the conversation private for the three of them.

"The world is not what we though it was. The war is just the beginning. Winter is coming, with darkness and doom."

Verena continued,

"The dead will walk the earth. And the mother of dragons will be born.
The princess who is promised."

Rhaenyra answered,

"You both sound like my father."

"I saw it. I saw that we cannot withstand it... And yet somehow... we must. The realm's only hope... is a leader who can unite it and my brother chose... you.

Daemon gets on one knee and continues,

"You are the true queen, Rhaenyra. First of Her Name. Protector of the Realm. I am meant to serve you, and all of these with me, until death or the end of our story. My queen."

Everyone bent the knee behind Daemon, Verena as well, Rhaenyra gestured for him to stand and threatens him if he would ever try to leave them again, Daemon answers smirking,

"I have tried."

Daemon looks at his wife and for once he felt like his true self, fighting for his family, for the future, for the fight they would lose much but be victors in the end. Daemon turns around and lifts his sword up shouting,