𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐕𝐈𝐍𝐆, daemon targaryen

027.

THE SKY was heavy with clouds, casting a pale light over the camp as Eleanor watched her soldiers move about in quiet efficiency. The air buzzed with the usual sounds of preparation—the clanging of armor, the sharpening of blades, and the low murmur of voices. Days had turned into weeks since the last battle, and now it was time. Eleanor would return to the Red Keep, but first, there was much to settle.

Eleanor stood in her command tent, her dark leather armor gleaming in the dim light. Fionn Tyrell, her most trusted knight and confidant, adjusted the clasp of his cloak, his expression unreadable as he prepared for their departure. He had been by her side for years, and though he never spoke of it, Eleanor knew he had his own reservations about returning to King's Landing. The Red Keep was no friend to outsiders, and even less so to a man from the Reach.

"We'll ride at dawn," Eleanor said, her voice steady as she turned to Fionn, fastening the last of her bracers. "The soldiers know their roles. They'll hold the lines until my return."

Fionn nodded, his brown eyes flickering with the slightest hint of hesitation. "They trust you. They'll hold." He stepped forward, his voice dropping slightly. "But do you trust them? You know the Red Keep—it's not just swords and spears that await you there."

Eleanor's jaw tightened. She did know. The halls of the Red Keep had always been dangerous, even for those with dragons. Perhaps, especially for those with dragons. But she was no longer the princess who had left in search of vengeance. She was Eleanor Targaryen, and she had forged herself through blood and war.

"I trust them," she said quietly. "And more importantly, I trust myself."

A long silence stretched between them, Fionn studying her face before speaking again. "I will ride at your side, Eleanor. Whatever awaits us there, we face it together."

She gave him a brief smile, one that didn't quite reach her violet eyes. "I know, Fionn. You've always been with me." Her hand briefly touched the pommel of her sword, Azeas still resting outside the tent. The dragon sensed her unease and shifted in the distance, his wings stretching in the early morning breeze. "It's time."

Together, Eleanor and Fionn stepped out into the camp. The soldiers had gathered, all eyes turning toward her as she approached the center. These men and women had followed her through the impossible—through fire, blood, and endless nights of war. She had been their leader, their dragon, and their hope in the darkest of times.

She stopped before them, her back straight, her presence commanding. The camp fell into complete silence, the anticipation palpable. A few of the younger soldiers leaned forward, eager to hear her speak. Even now, after all she had done, they still looked at her like she was something more than mortal. She had always wondered if the gods truly favored the Targaryens, but today, she allowed herself to believe it.

Eleanor's voice was calm but strong as it echoed across the gathering. "We have fought together, side by side, in battles few believed we would win. I see your strength in every victory we've carved, and I carry it with me as I leave."

Her gaze swept over the sea of faces—some hardened with the scars of war, others young and eager for glory. She continued, "The time has come for me to return to the Red Keep. But make no mistake—I will return to you soon. Our fight is far from over. We have secured victories, yes, but the true battle lies ahead."

The wind picked up, whipping through her hair as she stepped closer, her voice rising with intensity. "You are more than soldiers. You are the iron that will forge a new dawn for this realm. You will continue to hold this ground, to defend what we've won. And when I return, we will ride together, not as warriors seeking survival—but as conquerors."

The crowd stirred, their faces reflecting the fire in her words. Eleanor paused, letting the weight of her promise settle over them before speaking again, softer this time. "I have trusted you with my life. And now, I ask that you trust me with yours. This war is not over. But together, we will finish it."

There was a brief moment of silence, the weight of her words sinking in, before a roar of approval rose from the troops. The sound echoed through the camp, a wave of loyalty and determination washing over her. Eleanor nodded, her heart swelling with pride.

Fionn stepped beside her as the crowd continued to cheer, his voice low. "They'd follow you to the ends of the world."

Eleanor's gaze lingered on her soldiers, her lips curving into a grim smile. "Then let's make sure we don't fall off the edge."

With that, she turned, her cloak sweeping behind her as she made her way toward Azeas, who awaited her on the outskirts of the camp. The dragon's great golden eyes met hers, a deep rumble vibrating through the earth as he lowered his head in greeting. She placed a hand on his scaled neck, feeling the warmth of his power coursing beneath her palm.

"We ride for the Red Keep," she whispered, though the words were meant for herself as much as her dragon.

As Azeas lifted into the sky, the thought of the Red Keep loomed in the distance, and for the first time in years, Eleanor felt a flicker of something unfamiliar.

Hope.