Nightmare

Chapter 11

Daenys felt that everyone was upset with her.

There was too much silence for her tastes, the few mornings that came after. Rhaenyra and Daemon were avoiding her like the plague. The Small Council meetings were colder than ever with both Otto and Rhaenyra not looking her way. Daenys felt she'd been as honest as she could and should be, but no one seemed to understand that.

Then, one day, she hadn't seen Daemon at all in the morning. Normally, she passed him at a distance when making her way to the Small Council chambers. This day, he was notably absent. She wondered if he'd gone out to fly, or if perhaps he'd left without a trace, tired of her silence.

It surprised her more when a member of the Kingsguard came to her apartments, stating an urgent summons from the King. Confused, she left her children with her handmaidens and made immediately for Viserys's room, where he leaned over a chair, distressed, still in his night clothes.

"What is it?" she asked, knowing her brother's disappointment only ever showed this way with one person in particular. "What has he done now?"

"You were right about Otto Hightower," said Viserys, strained. "I was too weak to see it."

That shocked her. "What has he done? What do you mean?"

"He truly is so sick with ambition to have his blood on the throne, that he would have my daughter stalked and aim to destroy her reputation." He sighed, rubbing his forehead. "This must be how our grandsire felt, learning of Saera's own exploits. Of Viserra... gods be good."

He was beginning to alarm her. "What happened to Rhaenyra?" she asked immediately. "By all the gods, speak it plainly, Viserys!"

"Otto told me that Daemon and Rhaenyra were seen together in the bowels of a pleasure den... coupling. He said that several servants admitted to seeing her creeping through the gates of King's Landing disguised as a page during the hour of the owl."

Gods be good indeed. "Oh, Viserys." Daenys felt some guilt on her part– perhaps she'd pushed Rhaenyra too hard and encouraged her to act out. "Well, if the only witnesses are servants... we'll pay them well for their silence– Rhaenyra could have simply snuck out to explore the city, who can know? As for whoever saw them in a pleasure den... I'll find them and kill them. I was never close with Mysaria, but I know she lingers in King's Landing. If anyone can help me, she can."

"And what of Daemon?"

Unsteadily, she told him what Daemon had tried to do to her. "If it is true, that he has defiled Rhaenyra, I will make him a eunuch," said Daenys.

"You'll not see him," said Viserys. "I will deal with Daemon. I'll not have him anywhere near you or Rhaenyra again. Why... if it is true, why would he... I thought he always cared for you most. We both..." He turned away. "Why Rhaenyra?"

"I don't know. Perhaps I upset him so much he chose to act out this way. He's always claimed he wants to be loved by us unconditionally, yet time and again he acts in a way that hurts the family. He's always wanted me to revere him and abide by him... perhaps he finally thought to find an easier target. I've known my worth and have never loved him fully, but perhaps he saw a lack of confidence in Rhaenyra, a lack of resistance, even. She is more innocent and capable of loving him despite his flaws, whereas I always saw him for what he was... truly, we both know what Daemon's ideal world is, Viserys. Him, on the Iron Throne. Me seated on his lap with a babe in my belly. You as his Hand. Otto's head on a spike. He couldn't have me, and so... he tried to have Rhaenyra. She's always admired him, that... is true."

Even more regrettably, she told him of her conversation with Rhaenyra. It hurt him as well to think of Daenys having to tell her such things, but he was more capable of understanding the importance. He affirmed Rhaenyra as his heir every single day, yet still there was doubt. All the same, Rhaenyra was not taking her duty seriously. If Daemon had taken advantage of her, Viserys would not be able to stop Daenys from killing him.