Heir of the Dragon

Mutiny

The rain was relentless at Harrenhal, and it seemed to be another restless night of sleep for Daemon. He was lying on his back, attempting to find rest.

It was the high trilling laughter that made Daemon rise from bed. It sounded all to familiar. Daemon unsheathed his sword and opened the door to his chambers.

He caught a glimpse of a girl in a white nightgown turning at the end of the hall. He sprinted after her. Because it couldn't be her.

Daemon skidded to a halt colliding into the wall when the girl suddenly stopped. Daemon took a moment to catch his breath. "Jesscareya."

The girl turned, she looked to be about 9 years old, clutching a deep blue dragon's egg. She looked him up and down incredulously. "Tell me you did not know that would happen. Say you didn't know how that would end. Look me in my eyes, and tell me, Daemon. That you did not just sacrifice a babe of six."

Daemon stared at her, shaking his head. "Use your wits to try and say I'm crazy and mad. That this is all some trick the Gods have sent."

The girl cocked her head to the side. "Tell me you did not miss me so painfully bad, that you gave up the life of this child of six. When you were at the Stepstones, you were quick to hatch a plan, and on Aegon's wedding night it was you who refused to leave me behind. But when Rhaenyra asked for Aemond, you barely took a stand, you abandoned me and ran. Say something?"

Daemon held his ground, anger filling him. "I CAN'T!"

She blinked, completely unfazed by this outburst. "Then you have forced my hand."

The girl turned left and headed down the corridor. Daemon on her heels. "Jesscareya. Please stop."

"No can do." She answered. "You missed our love so bad, you'd trade the lives of your own crew."

Daemons scoffed. "Don't make me fight you, My Love, you know you'd have done the same."

She didn't even turn to Daemon. "If you want all the power, you must carry all the blame."

Jesscareya, Jesscareya, Jesscareya

Daemon, Daemon, Daemon.

Daemon called out to her. "There is no price I won't pay."

She took a breath, stopping at a door. "I am not letting you get in my way."

The girl pushed it opened revealing a well lit and warm chamber. Five people were in the room total. Two men, two young boys and a young woman in the middle.

Daemond had to do a double take, because without a doubt that was Jessica in the center. That cunt of a king, Aegon, stood to her right. And her prick of a husband, Aemond, stood to hher left. The two boys stood in between Aemond and Jessica.

Jessica looked over at the girl in the entry way as the two boys clung to her dress. There was a soft, mothering smile. "Alerie, what have I said about wandering off?"

Alerie beamed up at Daemon before darting between Jessica and Aegon, hiding behind him.

Jessica sighed finally looking over at Daemon. As soon as Jessica moved towards him, his arms were outstretched as he couldn't pull her to him fast enough.

But Jessica didn't smiled at him. "How am I supposed to trust you now? Now your time has come, your lucks run out. Now, the time has come to shut you down. You relied on wit, and now I'll die on it."

Daemon pressed his forehead to hers. "Come back to Dragonstone, My Love."

Jessica pulled back to look at him. "See there the innocent blood you have spilt, on the steps of King's Landing."

He looked at her, his eyes hard. "My orders were clear."

Jessica lips thinned. "Now you would add this child's blood to your guilt, on the steps of King's Landing."

He kissed her forehead. "My conscience is clear."

Jessica pulled back, out of his arms. "You can lie to yourself and your minions. You can claim that you haven't a qualm. But you never can run from, or hide what you've done from the eyes, the very eyes of all the Gods."

Daemon gently pulled her back to him. "Please don't tell me you're about to do what I think you'll do?"

There was a sad smiled. "My Love, we're never gonna get to make it home, you know that's true."

"You don't know that's true." Daemon pleaded. "Come back to Dragonstone."

"I have the realm to think of." Jessica took both his hands in hers.

Daemon closed his eyes. "I need you, My Love."

Jessica pressed her forehead to his. "I have Aemond, My Love."

Daemon scoffed. "No, we're so close to home, this can't be where it ends."

Jessica looked up at him with tears in her eyes. "How much longer must I suffer now?"

"Please don't do this." Daemon whispered.

Tears were in her eyes. "How much longer must I push through doubt?"

Daemon cupped her cheek, gently rubbing his thumb against it. "We can go home."

Jessica leaned into his touch. "How much longer must I go about..."

"My Love." Daemon begged.

"...my life like this when, people die like this?"

Jessica stepped back towards the family she had built. "How much longer must I suffer now?"

Daemon reached for her. "Reconsider."

Jessica folded her hands. "How much longer must I push through doubt?"

Daemon was begging by this point. "We'll marry on Dragonstone."

Jessica shook her head. "How much longer must I go about..."

Daemon sighed. "My Love."

"...my life like this when people die like this?"

Jessica turned away from him, back to Aemond and Aegon. "You're just a man."

Daemon lunged for her, sword ready to be plunge into her back. "Jessica, no!"

The young woman looked over to Daemon as he stumbled into the room. "It's a touch late to be stalkin' about a strange castle, putting its people to the sword."

Daemon looked around. Jessica was just there with him. He looked at the strange woman. "You?"

She smiled. "I'm called Alys."

"Strong?" He questioned.

"Rivers." Alys answered.

Daemon scoffed. "A bastard."

Alys licked a thick red paste from her fingers. "Once you get to know me, you'll find I'm in not so bad."

"So who is Jesscareya?"

There was a genuine smiled to Daemon's face. "My niece."

Alys glanced over. "So you came here after quarreling with her?"

Daemon shook his head no. "Her prick of a husband has trapped her in King's Landing."

Alys looked puzzled. "And yet you're here?"

He scoffed. "I need an army if I am going to go retrieve her."

Alys let out a chuckle. "And all for a girl...child you bounced on your knee."

Daemon narrowed his eyes. "You are a strange kind of woman."

Alys grinned ear to ear. "I'm no woman at all. I'm a barn owl, cursed to live in human form."

Alys handed him a cup filled with red liquid. "Here, drink this. You'll need your sleep if you're to win this placed to your side."