The Bronze Dragon-A House of the Dragon fanfic

Chapter 39

The next events happened quickly, from my understanding, especially with Corlys Velaryon finally recovering his wounds. Though he was well advanced in age by this point in his life, he could still fight.

Over it all was my father, still nominally under house arrest but otherwise given relative freedom of movement. I must admit my surprise that his initial 'imprisonment' seems to have been rather comfortable.

That was all to change with the murder of Lucerys Velaryon at the hands of Aemond Targaryen.

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Daevar supposed he couldn't complain about the conditions he was held under. He still got decent food and kept himself as fit as he could; it wouldn't do for him to return home out of shape. He would never hear the end of it from Kermit if he did, after all. Apart from that, Rhaena had delivered him a few books the night before, mostly at the request of Rhaenyra. The Targaryen histories weren't nearly as interesting to him as the Vale's but they kept him entertained. He was lying on the bed, flicking a page just as the door opened to reveal his father.

"Father. Come to see if I'm still alive?" Daevar asked, not turning his attention from the book.

"The Sea Snake has returned. Rhaenyra has a plan now too. We control the Stepstones and are moving a blockade into place in the Gullet, with Meleys supporting it." Daemon said, resting his hands on his sword. "You'll have one chance to swear your allegiance now or be imprisoned."

"Allegiance to whom?" Daevar asked. "You'll say Rhaenyra, of course, but she's not the one trying to force the war out of you two, is she?" He set down the book. "Father, she is behaving as a monarch should. And besides, she's not demanded my allegiance yet, but she will have it once I know that she'll take a diplomatic approach to ending this."

"It will come to war, Daevar." Daemon said softly. From the way Aemond acted at the dinner, he doubted Alicent's second son would even permit there to be peace. "Treachery must be punished."

"I will swear my allegiance right now if you can guarantee the safety of Daeron." Daevar said. "Rhaenys said to me last night that he escaped King's Landing as well. Guarantee me his safety right now and I'll swear allegiance right now."

"You don't get to make demands of me, boy." Daemon growled, approaching his son menacingly. Daevar stood up, a hand on his dagger. "You swear allegiance to your mother or you're guilty of treason."

"She is NOT my mother!" Daevar shouted, loosening the dagger in its scabbard. Daemon did the same with his own. Much as Daevar could sound like a brat at times, the boy was a decent swordsman, at least. "My mother is Rhea Royce, and she would still be here if you hadn't killed her!"

"I've already warned you to watch your tongue, boy-"

"You can't even admit to it." Daevar said, shaking his head. "We're done here."

Daemon wanted to grab the boy by his shoulder and force him to obey, but that would likely just anger Rhaenyra even more. Besides, he had to get moving if he wanted to make Harrenhal and then Riverrun in good time. "I had hoped to make you see sense, my wayward son. Rhaenyra lost her mother-"

"There's a difference in what we went through and you know it." Daevar said, turning away from his father. Daemon sighed and left. One day the boy would overstep, and then he would face the consequences.

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Luke was beyond nervous at being chosen as the envoy to head to Storm's End. The Baratheons were a proud house, to say the least. He just hoped they wouldn't be offended by a mere Prince showing up instead of his mother herself. Still, with Jace headed northwards and the others planning the war that was supposedly coming, there was little choice but to send him.