The Dragon Of Harrenhal - H.S.

The Queen Who Never Was

Daella had been slightly quieter these days, Harwin realized. Not quite as much as she had been on the days following her mother's death, thankfully, but still far too quiet. She still talked to Rhaenyra whenever the two of them found themselves in each other's chambers and Harwin could always hear the both of them laughing through the door as he stood his post on the hallway. She also still talked to him on occasion, but it wasn't the same. Harwin found himself missing the way she'd chat with him about whatever as they walked together through the gardens and, as much as he wished to do something about it, the knight realized he had his hands tied.

After all, not only was he pretty sure he knew what had gotten Daella so upset, he also knew there was nothing he could do about it, really.

"She's so young..." Daella mumbled, finally speaking up after a few moments of silence sitting underneath a tree at the gardens when, from a few meters away, her father, the king, walked past with lady Laena Velaryon next to him. "Younger than me."

"I suppose so, princess." Ser Harwin agreed, standing nearby, attentive as ever.

"It's disturbing." She said, as Harwin sighed.

"Princess..."

"Forgive me." She said. "That was unbecoming. I know father is expected to remarry and lady Laena is a suitable match but still..."

Daella frowned as she watched the two of them passing by. It made her stomach flip the way lady Laena seemed to be so eager to please, striking up conversation with her uncle as the king indulged her kindly. It was expected of them - both of them - and yet, it made Daella feel slightly uncomfortable.

And something in her face must have given it away because that was the first thing the princess Rhaenys had said to her as she approached the younger princess.

"It bothers you, does it not?" She said, her eyes also following her daughter's every move from afar as she stood beside Daella.

"My father is a king." Daella answered shortly. It was not what she wanted to say - it wasn't what she would have said if it had been Rhaenyra or Harwin asking her the same question in the privacy of her chambers. "It is his duty to take a new wife and strengthen his line."

"I did not ask for a lesson in politics." Rhaenys snapped, to which Daella turned to look at her. "I asked whether this bothers you."

"Laena is your daughter, princess." Daella shrugged. "Does it bother you?"

"Of course, it does." Rhaenys practically scoffed. "But I understand the order of things. I'm not sure you do."

"Speak plainly, princess." Daella rolled her eyes. "I don't think I am much in the mood for riddles."

"I think your sister's position and your father's willingness to please have misguided you, princess." Rhaenys said. "Whether it's to my daughter or to someone else's, your father will remarry sooner than late. His new wife will produce new heirs, and chances are better than not that one of those will be male. And when that boy comes of age and your father has passed, the men of the realm will expect him to be heir, not Rhaenyra. And so, it is only smart that your father expects you and your sister to marry suitable lords as well. Because that is the order of things."

"Mayhaps, when Rhaenyra is queen, she will create a new order."

"How I wish that could be, Daella." Rhaenys shook her head, sounding almost wistful for a moment. "But the men of the realm already had their opportunity to appoint a ruling queen at the Great Council and they denied it."

"They denied you, princess Rhaenys." Daella cut her eyes at the princess, not enjoying what she seemed to be insinuating. "The Queen Who Never Was. But they bent the knee to my sister and called her heir to the throne."

"Does she remind your father's men of that as she carries their cups?" Rhaenys responded curtly. "Or mayhaps whenever the talk of which great lord will end up marrying you soon enough?"

"I am well aware my hand has been an object of desire to many men in the realm, princess." Daella said. "So if it is a warning you mean to give me..."

"Not a warning, princess." Rhaenys said. "A reminder. That women in our position - no matter how high our station - are only ever meant to marry. Marry well. For duty to their families. Their bloodline. Not for love."

Her last words cut deep, in a way Daella had not really expected them to. Noticing the way Rhaenys smirked as she sent ser Harwin a look, Daella blushed furiously, looking down at her lap as she allowed her silver hair to fall over and around her face in hopes of hiding her reaction. Of course, being in between one of the smartest women in Westeros and the man who knew her like the back of her hand, there was no escaping it. They both knew Rhaenys had managed to poke the princess right where it hurt the most. Ser Harwin felt a rage running through his body, his hands closing in tight fists by his body, which only really fueled Rhaenys' smugness even more.

"I thank you for your concern, princess Rhaenys." She finally spoke up after taking a moment to recompose herself. Her voice was steady and her expression firm as she looked up at her father's cousin and stood up from her place by the tree. Without thinking about it, Harwin moved to stand behind her, his presence a grounding warmth of protection that made her puff out her chest proudly. "But as you well know, any proposition for my hand should be passed through my father first. Or, when Rhaenyra ascends the throne, through her instead."

"Of course, princess." Rhaenys nodded tightly then. "Though I do have to say that here is the hard truth, which no one else has the heart to tell you. Men would sooner put the realm to the torch than see a woman ascend the Iron Throne. Only a fool would refuse to see it. And for all the faults he has, your father is no fool."