Chapter 36
Jaime
"What?" he scowled. Brienne was standing there, staring at him again as he stared out the balcony.
"You're brooding again," Brienne said.
Jaime ignored her and gazed out beyond that horizon where the forest of the Kingswood met the sky; where he knew the Red Keep stood. Jaime wondered if his Queen was well.
They have heard that the King has departed to fight a war against Dorne, as he should have done 4 years ago. The Lord of Storm's End, Gendry, has called his bannermen to march with him to assist the King in this War. Jaime had expected Brienne to go but instead, she had sent the best knight House Tarth have to offer and stayed at Evenfall Hall.
When Jaime had appeared at her doorstep, he had expected her to send him back, to be properly punished by the King but instead, she listened to his side of the story and allowed him to stay as long as he needed. She believed him; she believed that he did not poison the Queen and it was a set-up by Arianne Martell.
At the thought of that name, he felt his only hand close into a fist on the parapet. The King had executed her himself; if the word on the road was to be believed. The people, who loved the King and Queen so, was enraged at the Princess of Dorne, cursing her name with a passion when they heard of what she did. And the day that the news of her execution reached them, the people drank and sang the Song of Ice and Fire late into the night.
Jaime had slept in one of the inns where one such celebrations occurred. As he listened to the drunken singing, all he could think of was how his Queen was faring. News of her was few and vague; only that Queen was recovering but they were unable to save the unborn princess. Jaime could only imagine how she must be feeling. He did not dare to dream that his presence would make it better for her. That always fell to the shoulders of the King, but it would have soothed his own worry to be there by her side; to ensure she was safe and well and alive.
"Word came from the capital," Brienne spoke again from behind him, closer now. He glanced to her as she leaned against the parapet beside him. She was wearing a light cotton jerkin with pants. On her hip, she carried her sword.
"What news?" Jaime turned to her.
"A raven,"
Jaime frowned.
"From Lord Tyrion," Brienne said.
Jaime tensed, "I have to go," he turned. If Tyrion wrote to him here, he must know Jaime was here. And truthfully, Jaime did not expect anything less of Tyrion, his clever little brother. In fact, Jaime was surprised it took so long for Tyrion to figure it out. But now that his brother, the Hand of the King and Queen knew where he was, Jaime was not going to linger another moment and allow Brienne to be branded a traitor to the Crown for harbouring a 'Queenslayer'. The word left a bitter taste in Jaime's mouth.
"Wait," Brienne's large strong hand closed around his arm.
"I will not stay and risk having you executed-"
"He did not address it to you. He addressed it to me," Brienne offered the note and Jaime paused, "in fact, he did not even mention you in the message,"
Jaime took it and unfurled it with the fingers of his left hand.
The Queen has departed for Meereen to fight against a revolt, despite my counsel.
Jaime froze. The King was far south, fighting a war against the Dornish and now the Queen has gone as well, far across the Narrow Sea. Both of them had a fair reason to leave. And now, King's Landing, the seat of the Iron Throne, stood with neither Dragons nor Monarchs.
There are many who want the Queen dead, Dorne is merely one of them. If the King is not mine, House Targaryen would truly meet its end this time. Arianne Martell had said. He had not thought much on it, thinking she was considering to attack with Dorne, which had neither the numbers nor the ability on their side.
Jaime paled.
"What's wrong?" Brienne asked.
Jaime blinked, "I have to go," he left the room, almost breaking into a run.
"What? Where? Why?" Brienne matched his pace with ease, "the Lord Hand does not know you are here-"
"He does," Jaime said, "he has not worded it in his message nor addressed it to me but this message is meant for me. Tyrion is informing me of the Queen's departure. And he does not know it but he needs my help,"
"Help?" Brienne yanked him to a stop, "what for?"
"To protect the Prince," Jaime snapped.
"Against who?" Brienne frowned.
"I don't know, maybe no one," Jaime replied, "but the King and Queen are both gone. And I will not leave Jaehaerys unprotected," I have already failed my Queen once, if I have any love in my heart for my Queen, I will not fail her again. If it hasn't already, losing her first and now only child would kill her.
"You will be killed, hanged for a traitor if you set foot in King's Landing!" Brienne shouted as he went to the harbour, "you can't be seen there-"
"So be it," he said as he made to approach a small boat that was used to ferry men to and from the mainland.
"Wait," Brienne snapped and she gestured to the page boys in the yard, "I will come with you, with my remaining men," Jaime looked at her as she murmured instructions to the boy. He ran off to relay them and Brienne came to stand before him.
He stared at her, "if you are seen with me, you will be hanged for harbouring a traitor,"
She sighed and shrugged, "so be it,"
Daenerys
The door clicked and she jerked to straighten from the wall. It was not yet nightfall, she could see it was still bright from the slit above the wall. A young girl entered. Behind her, two men followed. They carried in a large tub, filled with water. The young girl watched her curiously as she watched them. This girl had long dry stringy black hair. Her eyes were large and bugged unnaturally from her sockets. Her nose was small and flat, her lips too broad, too big, for her little face. Freckles covered her face and neck generously.
"I've been told to give you a bath," she said quietly, her eyes darting to everywhere but her. I will have you cleaned and tonight, I will take you. You will be mine. Daenerys considered rejecting the bath but glancing at the two men flanking the girl, she knew her resistance, if she had the strength for it, would be in naught. She nodded stiffly and slowly got to her feet. She could not straighten her torso, her middle flaring painfully if she did. As she stood, her leg burned and her knees buckled. Daenerys expected to fall but then she felt an arm around hers.
She turned to see the girl by her side. She was stronger than she looked. The young girl glanced to the two men and they came forward. Daenerys tensed as she felt their hands on each of her arm. They helped her to the tub of water and as she clutched the edge of the tub for support, they released her.
Daenerys expected them to leave when she nodded to them, a small thanks for their help. But they only went to the door, closing it. Then they stood with their blacks to the door, their hands clasped behind their backs. Daenerys looked at the girl as she approached her. The girl was quiet as she reached over to remove her clothing. Daenerys glared at the men but it did nothing to remove their eyes from her. Daenerys has never been ashamed of her nakedness but she knew this was Daemon's plot to rattle her and it only angered and disgusted her.
"My apologies they have to stay," the girl muttered quietly but no less sincerely and Daenerys looked to her, surprised. The girl was not looking at her as she focused on undressing her. The girl looked up to meet her eyes and Daenerys saw that her eyes were a dark blue, like the night sky. Daenerys nodded stiffly, accepting her apology. As the girl peeled the clothes off her, Daenerys shifted her body to help but pain erupted then Daenerys gasped. The girl shot her an apologetic look as removed her pants. Daenerys looked down at herself at glimpse a dark purple bruise over her middle.
When she was fully undressed, the girl offered a hand and after a moment's hesitation, Daenerys took it as she rose the steps and stepped into the tub. The water was ice cold to her skin but Daenerys sat in the tub quietly, her face impassive. The girl started washing her hair and when she was done, she picked up a rag and dipped it in the bathwater before she ran it over her back gently but the cloth was roughly woven and it scrapped over her skin.
The bath was quiet and tensed. Daenerys made to take the cloth from her when the girl made to wash her front but the men stepped forward and the girl gave her a warning look. Daenerys turned to glare at the guards before she sat back in the tub. She closed her eyes as the girl ran the cloth over her breasts, still tender from her pregnancy. Every ache in them tore at her heart, the only place where her daughter now existed. Daenerys watched the girl as she washed her. She was much younger than Daenerys. Daenerys wondered if she was a servant or a slave. She did not look Meereeneese, her skin was too pale for it.
Daenerys wondered if she could find a way to speak to this girl. She glanced to the men by the door. They were staring right at her and Daenerys bristled but turned back without saying a word. The girl met her eyes as she washed her bruise, an apologetic look in her eyes but Daenerys did not flinch. Instead, she met the girl's eyes meaningfully and the girl's eyes widened momentarily before she glanced to the men and her eyes darted down.
When they were done, the girl helped her rise from the bath and dried her off. The girl then pulled a silk dress over her. The silk glided over her skin and the girl gently adjusted the dress. Daenerys did not need to look to see the thin dress barely concealed her body. Silk slippers were slipped over her feet. Then the girl adjusted her silver-gold hair, running a brush through it. Her eyes lit up as she marvelled at Daenerys' hair, "you are so beautiful," the girl muttered.
Daenerys gazed at her, waiting for her deep blue eyes to meet hers before she replied, "thank you," Daenerys replied gently, "you have beautiful eyes," the girl smiled a small smile.
"Oy, master said no talking!" one of the men snapped gruffly. Daenerys stared at him blankly.
Then to her surprise, the girl beside her spoke, "we're not animals and I shall speak to her as I please," she said sharply. She had an air of haughtiness about her that should not be in servants or slaves.
The men grumbled under their breath incoherently but said no more. Daenerys then turned to look at the girl, "what is your name?"
The girl's eyes darted to her nervously then before she looked down and focussed on brushing Daenerys' hair.
"My name is Dany, what is yours?" Daenerys prompted again, gently.
The girl met her eyes, "Daena,"
Not a Meereeneese then. Then the girl set aside the brush, admiring her silver-gold hair, that after washing and brushing, now glowed, "thank you Daena," Daenerys said.
The girl's eyes widened in fear and some apology at her words. But before Daenerys could think on it, Daena glanced to the slit at the top of the wall and Daenerys followed her gaze. Orange light was flooding through it. The sun is setting.
Daenerys' throat tightened as Daena gestured to the men, "keep the tub, I'll escort her to the chamber,"
"We are supposed to-"
"Do as you're told," she snapped to the men, annoyed. Daenerys frowned as she glanced between the men and the girl. The men stared at her a moment longer before they nodded and they proceeded to carry the tub out. Daena held her arm to support her and Daenerys gazed at her as they proceeded out of the room. Daenerys glanced down the stairs where the men carried the tub but Daena tugged her in the opposite direction, to the top of the pyramid, "don't even think about it," Daena said softly but sharply, "you won't make it pass the first level and even if you do, there are guards at the main entrance of the pyramid. And with what I saw at the bath, you would likely tumble down these steps without my help,"
Daenerys glared at her sharp words angrily but her glare softened when she saw that the girl's eyes were merely honest, harbouring no ill-intentions. She kept quiet then and allowed the girl to lead her up the steps. She was getting used to the pain in her leg as she took a step, the pain in her middle as she straightened was worse but Daenerys refused to walk with her back hunched. So she took those steps with her chin up and her back straight, no matter how much it hurt her.
She knew Daena was watching her face the whole time as they walked but she made no move to start a conversation and Daenerys resolved to stay silent until she spoke. This girl was no mere servant and Daenerys would not risk exposing herself like that to someone who would likely betray her, "your dragon is fine," Daena said softly all of a sudden.
Daenerys had not realised she has been worried until she felt a breath of relief escape her at Daena's admission.
"Drogon, is it?" Daena asked. She nodded stiffly, "he misses you," Daenerys pursed her lips. Oh my sweet child, please do not give them a reason to kill you. "Your bond with him is strong," Daenerys did not respond but instead focussed on taking two more steps up, "did you have him since he was an egg?" Daenerys did not reply, "I'm only curious…" Daena muttered, "I could never dream to have that kind of bond with Moonlight,"
Daenerys turned to her sharply. Could she be the other rider? Daenerys gazed at her intently.
Daena met her gaze and she muttered, "you may not believe and it is kind of useless for me to say this now but I'm sorry about before, when I hurt…Drogon," not a servant then.
"And I you," Daenerys said, recalling how Drogon's flames had burned and hurt the dark dragon's underbelly.
A small smile spread over Daena's broad thin lips, "Moonlight is healing well from the flames. Drogon's fire is the hottest I have ever seen," Daena marvelled, her eyes twinkling in awe.
Daenerys smiled. It was true, even among three of her children, Drogon's fire always burned the hottest, as did his temperament. They fell silent as they came to a large wooden door that was only too familiar to Daenerys. A few years ago, these were her private quarters. Daena opened the door and led her inside. Daenerys glanced about the quarters cautiously.
"He's not here," Daena replied her unasked question and Daenerys did not respond, "how do you train Drogon?" Daenerys looked at her blankly, not responding, still cautious about Daena. Daenerys did not forget that she still did not know what Daena wanted, "I'm just curious how you could command him so quickly and effortlessly, how he could be so completely loyal to you," Daenerys paused as Daena led her to the large bed and guided her to sit before she sat beside her.
Daenerys sat stiffly and looked into the girl's deep blue eyes then. In them, Daenerys saw that this girl was honest and pure, "zaldrīzes buzdari iksos daor (a dragon is not a slave),"
Daena's eyes widened, "kessa, issi daor (yes, they are not)," A Blackfyre. Daemon's sister, the one he was to marry but instead, he wanted me.
"You bond with them and when that bond is strong enough, you command your dragon with your heart," Daenerys said.
Daena looked at her in awe, "do you and Drogon share this bond?"
"As if I carried him in my own womb and fed him at my own breast," Daenerys replied, her heart warmed as she spoke of her child. She could still remember how Drogon had clambered onto her shoulder when he hatched, how he looked at her; taking her as his mother in that first instant as she took them as her children.
"The Mother of Dragons," Daena breathed.
Daenerys smiled, nodding, "Mother of Dragons,"
Then suddenly, they heard footsteps approaching. Panic flashed over Daena's face as she rose quickly, "whatever happens, don't resist it. He threatened to kill you?" Daenerys nodded, "he will, if you resist," the footsteps were closer to the door now. Daena took her hand hurriedly and squeezed it, "your dragon is alive and my brother doesn't know but I know, Drogon will never take a rider like my brother, not after you," Daena glanced nervously to the door before she hissed, "if you die, your dragon dies with you,"
The door opened and Daena straightened, dropping Daenerys' hand. They turned to see Daemon enter. At his back, four men escorted him. His silver-gold hair was combed back, not a strand out of place. His face was washed, as were the cuts on his face. Those did little to mar his attractive face. His deep purple eyes glanced at Daena, a flicker of disgust and annoyance in them, before they settled on Daenerys. She glimpsed his eyes darkened as they skimmed over her body; washed and barely covered by the silk dress.
"Why are you still here?" Daemon growled.
Daena stiffened, "I was making sure Dany had everything she need,"
Daemon narrowed his eyes at her, "Dany?" he scowled. Daena did not reply him and then he shouted, "get out!"
Daena glanced to her before she shuffled out. Daenerys watched her leave. As Daena turned to close the door behind her, her eyes met Daenerys' and she shot her a pleading look. Daenerys' eyes fell when the door clicked shut.
Daemon rubbed his palm together slowly, for a moment, his eyes never leaving her before he took a step to her. His entourage made to follow but he raised a hand and gestured them away. They nodded and left the room, "my sister, Daena," he said evenly as he walked slowly to her, "what do you think of her?"
Daenerys stared blankly at him, looking right through him, "she is very kind,"
Daemon's face darkened then, a furrow forming between his brows, "kind?" he spat.
"She gave me a bath, as you commanded. It's the kindest thing someone has done for me since I arrived," her eyes did not leave him as she said pointedly.
His nostrils flared for a moment before he took a deep breath, as if to calm himself, "you like her," he stated but looked at her expectantly after.
"She gave me a bath," Daenerys replied flatly.
Daemon took another deliberate breath as he approached. When he came to her, Daenerys tensed, expecting him to strike her or push her back into bed and thrust himself inside her but instead, he sat, where Daena had sat. He glanced at the bed before he looked at her, holding her gaze. She would have mistaken the look in his eyes for sincerity if Daenerys has not already gotten to know him earlier this day.
"I was raised in exile," he said, his purple eyes softening, "as you were, weren't you?" Daenerys stared at him, not moved by his act but she nodded stiffly nonetheless, "so you know what it is like. To always be hiding, from place to place with nowhere to call home and no one to call family-"
"You had your family. Your mother, your sister-"
"And we know if we were discovered we will be killed," Daemon hissed. Daenerys did not reply but she knew if the Blackfyres were discovered under her rule and they made no attempts to usurp the throne, she and Jon would likely leave them in peace than kill them. This man did not know the first thing about her, and Jon's, rule. All Targaryens were unworthy in his eyes and her, most of all, for choosing the 'wrong' man for a husband and King, "so we hid, in old Valyria, hiding like rats from the stonemen. But we had our dragon eggs, passed down from our Daemon Blackfyre I and we found more. They hatched suddenly one day. They were so beautiful,"
Daenerys tensed.
"I heard it was a little different from how you hatched yours," Daemon said, watching her for a response. Daenerys only stared at a spot on the floor but Daemon seemed unfazed and did not anger this time. He continued, his voice almost soft, "Mother said a long time ago, dragons hatched naturally, like how ours did. And now, they do again. She said it was because of you. You brought magic back into this world when you hatched your dragons; and the comet appeared,"
Daemon shifted closer.
"I apologise for my behaviour this morning," he said solemnly.
Liar.
"Can you forgive me?" Daemon asked, "can my Queen forgive me?"
No, even if you were dead. And I am not your Queen. The words on the tip of her tongue,she hesitated.
If you die, your dragon dies with you.
Daenerys nodded stiffly. A wide smile spread over his face then. He lifted a hand and she tensed automatically; her body still remembered the pain the very same hand inflicted, could still inflict. He paused and when she did not move away from him, his smile widened just so. He touched her bare shoulder meaningfully.
If you die, your dragon dies with you.
His palm was smooth on her skin when she expected, hoped for, it to be rough; as it should be. Disfigured from the burns.
Daemon's dark purple eyes held hers. Not grey.
He dropped from his gaze and followed the trail of his hand as he stroked her arm. She clenched her hands to fists in her lap as his hand wandered to her left breast and he cupped it gently.
If you die, your dragon dies with you.
Then he squeezed it and pain erupted through her tender flesh. But Daenerys did not wince, her face remained the same impassive mask as she stared through him. He looked at her then, a smirk on his face. He took her hand and led her to her feet. She obliged, limping as he pulled her to stand beside the bed. Then he went to the side and fetched a candle burning low. He picked up the candle with his bare hand, unbothered by the hot wax.
Daemon smirked as he approached. He slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her flushed against him. She closed her eyes against the proximity as he whispered in her ear, "I promised you blood and fire," he pulled away and she saw a glint in his eyes as he crouched before her. Gazing up at her, he placed the flame at the edge of the silk dress she wore. Quickly, the flames caught on the dress. Daemon smirked and stepped back from her. He blew out the candle as he stared at her intently, his eyes burning like the flames with an intense desire. The flames crawled up her dress greedily. She could feel the heat but as it always did, the fire licked at her skin, teasing her with its warmth but never harming her.
Soon, the last of her dress burned away and she was bare before him. Daenerys glimpsed his hardened member through his leather breeches as his hungry gaze wandered over her naked body. Her stomach turned as he approached her and Daenerys felt and resisted an impulse to step back from him. Her nails dug painfully into her palm as she willed herself to be still.
I am the blood of the dragon.
Daemon grabbed her chin in his large hand and kissed her fiercely, roughly and her split lip, from this morning, erupted with pain. She closed her eyes and she only saw one face, a sweet, comely face that she dreamt, except this time it was no longer a shifting shadow. She knew her lover's face as well as, if not better than, her own now; his soft grey eyes, strong jaw, his thick curly locks and his beard surrounding soft gentle lips that she desired.
But the lips on hers felt wrong. They were rough, hard and the skin surrounding those lips were smooth when they should be scratchy from a beard. As Daemon bit down on her lips hard, her wound reopened and blood gushed from it. She felt a wave of nausea come upon her when Daemon tasted her blood and moaned deeply into her mouth.
He pressed his hips to her firmly and she could feel him, hard against her abdomen.
If you die, your dragon dies with you.
She bit back a surprise gasp as he broke the kiss and shoved her back onto the bed roughly. She fell back, her leg and middle flaring with pain. She stared at the canopy but from the corner of her eye, she glimpsed him unlacing his breeches before her.
I am the blood of the dragon.
He drew his hardened cock out, kicking away his pants. Then he roughly pulled her by her hips to the edge of the bed. Pain shot from her leg to every corner of her body from his rough grasps but Daenerys did not scream, she barely flinched.
I am the blood of the dragon.
He flipped her over so her face was pressed to the sheets and parted her legs roughly.
I am the blood of the dragon-
The tip of his member brushed against her inner thigh.
No.
"No," she said and she scrambled away from him. But she felt his hands on her hips and he pulled her back to him with ease. As she made to turn, she felt his body pressed up against the back of hers, his weight pressing her firmly to the bed. Then he bit into her shoulder, his teeth sinking into her flesh, "no!" she shouted, pushing her elbow into his ribs with all her strength but he did not budge. His fingers dug into her hips, "NO!" she screamed.
She felt him draw back his hips, readying for a thrust; ready to tear into her. Suddenly, the door flew open and she felt his body tense behind her.
She looked up to see Daena standing at the door, her eyes sad as she pleaded, "Brother, don't do this. We are better than this," her voice was meek, soft.
Behind her, Daemon rose from her, taking his weight off her. Daenerys scrambled to sit, pulling the sheets around her the moment she could. Her body was trembling terribly. Daemon was glaring at his sister. His large hands were fists at his side and his broad frame was shaking in rage.
Daena looked wide eyed at her brother as he approached her, his bottom half still bare. Daena's dark eyes glanced over to Daenerys before they settled on her brother, who towered over her. There was a fear palpable in her eyes. Then without warning, Daemon slapped her soundly across her cheek, hard. Daena reeled from the impact and fell to the floor.
Daenerys abandoned the sheets and rose from the bed. She limped to Daena as quickly as she could manage. Crouching gingerly, Daenerys placed a hand on her back and glared at Daemon. His eyes were on her naked form, gazing over her hungrily. He took a step towards them then and Daenerys rose to meet him. As he met her glare, he paused, "your eyes," his hand came up and grabbed her chin, "there is a fire in them. Unlike my sister, who is nothing like you and not worthy of me,"
Daenerys tore her face from his grasp, successfully this time, "you're wrong," she told him calmly, "you are the one who is unworthy of her,"
Daemon raised his hand to her then but Daena shot to her feet and stood before her, "Brother please, she is to be your Queen!"
Daemon glared at Daena and lowered his hand. Then suddenly, he turned to the table and picked up a candle. With his other hand, he grabbed Daena by her dark and stringy hair roughly.
"Unhand her!" Daenerys snapped but he ignored her.
Then Daemon pressed the burning candle with the melted wax to Daena's neck and she screamed in pain. Daenerys flinched before she stepped forward and snatched the candle from his hand. The skin on Daena's neck was red and raw and covered with cooled wax, "you see," Daemon spat, "she is unlike you and me. She claims to have the blood of the dragon but she is everything but!" he glared at his sister, her hair still firm in his hand. In his eyes, Daenerys saw that he despised his sister, he was revolted at the sight of his own sister. What kind of monster is he? Daemon hissed at Daena then, "Mother must be punishing me to have me marry you-"
Daena turned and glared at him, "Mother hoped I can soothe the madness in you-" Daemon threw her to the floor and as Daena fell heavily, he turned to the table. Daenerys watched in disbelief as he drew his sword from the scabbard, pulling his sword to stab Daena. No. Daena; a girl so kind and smart and brave. She saved me. Daenerys dropped the extinguished candle and came between them.
Daemon stilled his sword as he saw her, the point over her chest, "step aside," he glared.
For a moment, she saw Viserys before her, a rage, madness in his eyes and his silver hair wild about his face as he had threatened to cut her child out of her; his own nephew, "she is your sister," Daenerys said softly. Then in his dark purple eyes, she thought she glimpsed something. But as soon as she saw it, it disappeared behind pure rage, madness, and Daemon grabbed her with his free hand and yanked her to his side. In the same breath, he plunged his sword towards Daena.
Daenerys struggled against his grip, reaching for his sword but it was too late. Daemon buried his sword into Daena's chest. Daena glanced down at his sword before her eyes rose to meet her brother's, a look of disbelief in her eyes, "Brother…" she murmured. Daemon sneered at her and he removed his sword, wiping it on her shoulder.
As, Daenerys made to shake off his grip on her arm, she froze when she felt the edge of the sword on her neck, "I said I will have you tonight and I will. If you resist, I'm afraid I will have no choice but to abide by my mother's wishes and kill you,"
If you die, your dragon dies with you. He smirked as she looked vacantly at him. Daemon yanked her to the bed.
Then another's words, her own, came to her: zaldrīzes buzdari iksis daor.
She twisted around and her palm collided with his cheek soundly. He glared at her then and pushed her back onto the bed. He raised his sword, drawing it back to plunge it into her middle. One thought came to her; one name. Jon.
The door burst open.
They both turned to see a man from his entourage enter and bow hurriedly, his eyes darting nervously between Daemon and her, "Dothraki, your Grace. They are attacking the city-" Daenerys turned at the mention of them and she felt hope bloom in her chest. Have they come for her? How-
Daemon snarled in frustration, "well, just close the gates and keep them out-"
"They are in the city and sacking it as we speak, your Grace," the man said. Then he hesitated, glancing at her, "a dragon destroyed our gates for them to enter,"
Daemon was stunned.
Then a loud familiar roar was heard and it was as if the very pyramid they were in shook. And with the roar, the call, her heart lifted and sang; Rhaegal.
Then there was an answering roar, voicing a reply of her own. Drogon. He was calling to his brother, as his rider called to Rhaegal's.
Daemon turned to her. He was furious. For a moment, Daenerys thought he would run her through with his sword but then he backhanded her roughly across her face and she fell on her side on the bed, "make sure she stays here," he growled and with that, he marched out of the room and the door slammed behind him.
Her head was ringing from the hard slap. She blinked to stop the room from spinning. Her split lips had reopened and she tasted blood in her mouth. Then a groan brought her to her feet. Daenerys limped across the room hurriedly, dropping clumsily at Daena's side. The girl was staring at the ceiling vacantly, her face white as sheet, but her chest, with the gaping bloody hole, was still rising and falling.
"Daena," Daenerys breathed as she slipped her arm under the girl, lifting her head into her arms, "hey, you're going to be fine,"
Daena's eyes refocussed as Daenerys spoke and settled on her, "no, I am going to die," she whispered softly and Daenerys shook her head but Daena smiled and whispered, "but you won't," Daena's hand reached for hers and Daenerys clutched her hand, "Dany, Drogon is released… he will come for you…once he is able,"
Daenerys nodded, feeling tears sting her eyes, "we'll leave here together, atop Drogon,"
Daena shook her head, her hand squeezing hers. Then her deep blue eyes softened, fixed on Daenerys' lilac and she said, "I grew up on stories of you and your conquest of Essos, to free the slaves, ending slavery, and how you won the Great War…and retook the Seven Kingdoms. You…riding Drogon…" she wheezed, "I've always wanted to be like you…beautiful, smart, brave…"
"You can be, you are," Daenerys said firmly.
Daena smiled weakly, "I am not, I know that…" her hand's grip weakened and Daenerys clutched it firmly, "then I met you… and I realised that's not all you are…" Daena breathed, "you are also good and kind…everything my brother is not," Daenerys glanced to the blood pouring from her wound and then at Daena's pale face. Her deep blue eyes hardened then, "he cannot be King, Dany. You cannot let him win. My mother and sister-" Daena coughed, her small frail body racking in her arms.
"Don't say anymore, rest," Daenerys gently caressed her cheek, "I will take you away from here, away from your brother, you and Moonlight and-"
"No, Dany… my mother and sister…they have dragons, their own," Daenerys froze, "it's a trap… all along…Dorne was to draw the King away…and my Brother and I…you…" with her last breath, her blue eyes on hers, Daena whispered, "the Crown Prince…"