Heir of the Dragon

Of Silver Flame

The weirwood tree at Harrenhal rivaled that of King's Landing. There it stood tall and ominous. Even in the light the white bark of the tree and bleeding face mirrored with the red leaves seemed to send chills down her spine.

The hoot of a brown barn owl startled Jessica away from her thoughts. It landed on a branch next to her and seemed to stare deep into her soul.

"Funny, that one's usually fickle around people." A female voice came from behind her.

Jessica spun to look at her. The woman was taller than her with a mess of dark curls on her head and dark eyes to match. She looked quite young, though Jessica doubted her true age.

The woman smiled. "I'm called Alys."

"Strong?" Jessica questioned.

"Rivers." Alys corrected.

Jessica nodded. "A bastard."

Alys beamed then shook her head. "Once you get to know me, you'll find I'm not so bad."

Alys looked Jessica up and down. "So you're the one he never shuts up about. I tried to picture over and over again who the girl was that could bring Daemon Targaryen to his knees. And you...mm."

Jessica narrowed her eyes. "What's that suppose to mean exactly?"

Alys gave a sad smile. "You and I will never come to like each other, Princess, but I do hope one day you and I will come to understand one another."

Alys gave a nod and took her leave as Daemon emerged in the godswood.

Jessica gave a cursory glance at him. "Interesting company you've kept, Uncle."

Something about that tone, that word, it never set right with him. They were more than that. They had always been more than that. "My Love."

Jessica closed her eyes and shook her head even though those were the two words she longed to hear. "Oh don't start."

Daemon stepped closer further closing the distance between them. "Come here. Come see me."

He reached out, offering his hand, but she batted it away. "You were in the city that night."

Daemon kept a neutral expression. "This is what we're going to argue about?"

Jessica threw her hands up. "You were in the city Daemon! You were in arms reach and you did not come for me! You left it to two common sell swords and murdered a babe in his crib. I had to watch my nephew die."

Daemon licked his lips. "I sent the Queen's vengeance, My Love. Don't you think I wanted to go and retrieve you myself. And as the time ticked...the more worried I grew. And then they closed the gates and still there was no sign of you. Leaving you there was..." Daemon shook his head.

Daemon closed the distance between them, slipping into High Valyrian he spoke low and urgent. "The people who support her will not be lead by her. They look to a man for strength. And who better suited, the Hightowers with their scheming or your father's first true heir. So when I take King's Landing I want nothing more for you to join me there and take your place at my side. King and Queen ruling together. As should have always been."

Jessica looked up at him, narrowing her eyes in confusion. "You would make me a tyrant?"

Daemon leaned down, pressing his forehead to hers. "I would make you a Queen. Fair as the sea and the sun, stronger than the foundations of the earth. I would have placed a crown upon your head and would never have rested until all of Westeros were brought to its knees to worship the light of its Queen. This is our purpose, My Love. For we are bound together, you and I, one in the same. We are of the same flame, Jesscareya. We burn together."