Dany knew this was what she wanted before she even turned sixteen. Her best friend Missandei didn't get it, or understand why Dany even wanted to go all the Westeros for school and not stay in Essos.
Missandei expected they would all go away to the University of Meereen.
But Dany grew up in Essos, and just didn't want to go to college here also. She wanted to go to school in the country she was born, and to experience Westeros.
Her and her family were born in Westeros but after her father accepted a job with higher pay in Valyria.
Her family all but packed up and moved there. She was only a few months at the time, Viserys was seven and Rhaegar was already out the house living in Pentos with his wife and two children.
Her mother was ok with her going away. Dragonstone University was one of the top universities in Westeros, not to mention it was near the Crownlands where her family originated from.
But her father preferred Dany attending a school that didn't include a five-hour flight or so far away, from her parents home and everything she knew and was familiar with. I truth Aerys just didn't want to see her go far.
She was his baby, who he still saw as the toddler running to the door whenever he came home from work. Wanting nothing more than to be in her kepa's arms after a long work day.
Now his baby was seventeen about to be eighteen in a few months, and was hellbent on leaving him and the safety of their home.
To go off on her own. No longer that little toddler girl with two missing front teeth.
She was so cute and innocent back then. When did the years go by? He asked himself as he got dressed to go downstairs to eat breakfast with his wife and daughter before work.
I will talk to her and keep talking to her, until she realizes her father knows what's best for her. Aerys told himself as he walked out his bedroom going downstairs towards the kitchen area, walking while going over the words in his head to prove to his daughter father knew best. And staying in Essos, was best for her and his sanity.
Dany expected this morning to be like any other morning since she applied to get into Dragonstone University a few months ago. Her father was still trying his best to get her to go to a school close by or at least in Essos, but this morning was different.
He even tried to be slick in trying to get her to see things his way.
Already, he was once again refusing to pay for her tuition and boarding, if she got accepted to Dragonstone University.
Why was he doing this? Why was he being so difficult and hard headed? Dany wondered.
Her mother only hissed her teeth. Telling her father that he never did the same when it came to Rhaegar or Viserys. They both went away to college. Which in fact was true, so why was he even treating her any differently?
Her father countered, saying both their sons went to school in Essos, even if Rhaegar went to Pentos University where he met his now wife Elia Martell, and still lived to this day, due to loving the climate. Plus it helped that they weren't far from Dorne, if they needed to visit his wife's family.
While her brother Viserys went to the school known for its wild parties. The University of Meereen, where most drunk and got high. She was surprised he even graduated with a degree in nuclear engineering. Especially with how he drank and got high. But then again Vis was always great at multitasking when it came to what he set his mind to. And sure enough, her brother graduated with a Job already waiting for him in Yi Ti.
Her father continued asking, why she wouldn't consider going to the same college as Aegon or Rhaenys.
So you can have Aegon spy on me? She wanted to ask, but said nothing.
Rhaenys she knew would never tell any of her secrets. And would be the first to take her out to parties.
But in the end, it was her choice. And Dragontstone University was where she wanted to be.
The school her nephew attended was a great school, but the one Rhaenys attended she didn't know why her father would even consider there. Especially when he knew Dany wanted to study Industrial engineering.
Dany let a long sigh out then, wondering if her father would ever give up trying to make her stay in Essos.
Rhaenys was about to graduate from the Fashion Institute of Braavos and even Aegon was about to enter his junior year at the University of Valyria where he was studying political science.
She was knocked from her thoughts as her father pleaded with her to listen to him on this. Because knew best.
At least he thought he knew what was best. Dany mused, looking at her father, who was looking like a man defeated.
"Dany why do you want to go so far away from your kepa?" her father had tears in his eyes when he asked this.
Strange he never got emotional when it came to her brothers. Dany told herself.
She didn't know why he was acting like this, especially when she didn't even know if the university would even accept her anyway.
Though she wished they would. She didn't work so hard all these years not to get accepted.
"It's not guaranteed that I will even get in kepa! So many apply, even Rhaegar applied" Dany told him, while wishing they would give her the opportunity to get in.
It was the truth, many across both Essos and Westeros applied there, even Rhaegar applied and got denied. And he was smarter than her.
Her father looked on her shaking his head across the table from her, "you're a smart girl Dany, and at the top of your class, trust me, you'll get in princess."
Her father got up then, from where he sat in the kitchen across from her and her mother.
Forgetting his cellphone upstairs on the charger on the nightstand.
"Everything will work out sweetling, you'll see." Her mother assured her while, she took another sip from her cup.
Somehow Dany didn't know what to believe. She was her parents last child the baby of the family, even Rhaegar's children were older than her.
"Now hurry and finish your breakfast or your bus will just leave you like yesterday." Her mother warned. Knowing Dany would not want to leave with Aerys that morning.
Dany hurried then stuffing her mouth full of waffles. She did not want her father taking her to school like yesterday. Recalling how he kept asking why she didn't want to attend at least Meereen University with Missandei. Sometimes she wondered, if he knew that most kids only wanted to go there just for their parties. Surely he knew this.
"Slow down Dany" her mother slapped her hand then, "you're making a mess of your dress!"
Dany looked on the spot where she got maple syrup, as her mother got up to get a wet towel to clean it off.
"I can do it myself muna!" Dany swatted her mother's hand away as she took the wet towel. She wasn't a child anymore. Plus she needed her parents to realize it.
Her mother smiled then as she placed a kiss in her hair.
"Look at you barely even eighteen yet, and already not wanting your mother's help."
"I didn't mean it that way muna." She lied, she did mean it that way.
"I know you didn't sweetling now hurry, your bus should be outside."
Not even five seconds after her mother said that, they both heard the honking from the bus.
Dany picked her backpack up, placing a kiss on her mother's cheek, "I'll see you later muna."
Before she could walk out the kitchen door her father was already coming back into the kitchen.
"Where are you going Dany?"
"School dad." Dany replied trying to get out of whatever discussion her father still wanted to continue with her.
"I thought you'd want me to take you to school like yesterday, maybe we can finish this morning conversation while I take you sweetie."
Dany cringed then not wanting to continue this conversation as the bus honked once more, normally they honked four times before leaving and that was already the second one.
Her mother cleared her throat getting her father's attention long enough for her to run out the kitchen door, as she shot her mother a thank you.
Which Rhaella gladly accepted. Knowing how mad Aerys would become.
"Really Rhaella? You just couldn't let me were the girl down?"
"Why not Aerys? Obviously, she didn't want to continue this conversation. She'll be eighteen in a matter of a few months. You should be proud she wants to go away to school, if case you forgot. I went away to school in Essos, while you stayed back in Westeros to attend Old Town University."
"And we all know what happened then." Aerys answered annoyed by his wife.
Rhaella smiled as she swayed over towards her husband placing her arms around his neck, trying to get him to sway with her as she stared into his lilac eyes. After so many years the love she had for her husband since they were teens in high school was still there, unplanned pregnancy and all. "Do you consider our first born a mistake?"
"You know I don't Rhaella. But things can happen. Us not being careful happened where our parents refused to even help us."
"And we worked out just fine Aerys... Our daughter is smart in case you haven't realized it. She's about to graduate, and as kept her virtue."
"Thanks to me." Her father huffed recalling all the boys he had to chase away from trying to get his little girl to date them around the neighbourhood.
"I can't watch her if she's so far away Rhaella. Can't you see?"
She planted a kiss on his cheek. "Don't worry so much, Dragonstone was the only university in Westeros our daughter applied to. The rest are here in Essos."
"Plus, for all we know she won't even get in." Rhaella offered her husband.
That seemed to help turn her husband's frown into a smile, since he woke that morning.
Maybe things would work themselves out. Or he could just lock her away on her room. Online colleges were all the rage now. Aerys thought, knowing he'd gladly pay for that form of schooling.
Months went by, as acceptance letters from all the universities Dany applied to accepted her, some even offered her full scholarships. Her father was proud of her. They were even planning on having a graduation party for her. Everyone in their family would be attending.
But Dany felt nothing but unease, waiting for the one letter she wanted to come.
Her father had a pep in his steps that morning, if a letter from Dragonstone University didn't come in a few days. Dany knew then, she wasn't going to be accepted.
"Don't be so bitter Dany." He ruffled her hair then, "It's like you said just a few months ago. It wasn't a guarantee that you would get in."
Rhaella looked at her husband, "don't be an ass Aerys, she can still get in. We just need to wait a few more days."
Dany felt defeated as she slumped in the kitchen chair, not wanting to finish her bacon and eggs. "What's the point mother? I'm not getting in. If they wanted me, I would've gotten the acceptance letter from last week." She didn't want to cry; dragons don't cry. She repeated to herself.
Her mother slapped her writs, "sit up and stop slouching, you're eighteen now, no longer a child. Stop having a pity party for yourself. Now finish your breakfast, I'll pick you up later so we can go and get your prom dress."
That seemed to get Dany to smile. She was attending prom with both Missendei and Irri, due to her father chasing away every guy in the neighborhood who even tried asking her out.
But on the bright side at least, there was no way of him stopping her from dancing with any of the boys from school on prom night.
"See, I knew that would bring you back to reality, now hurry before your bus gets here."
"I'm already full." Dany muttered as her mother looked over Dany's half eaten breakfast. And shook her head at all the wasted food.
Picking up her backpack then, Dany kissed her mother then father goodbye as she dashed outside.
"You know Aerys you don't have to be like that." Rhaella warned. Not surprised her husband was paying her no mind.
Her husband was getting another piece of bacon then as he looked up at his wife. "Like what Rhaella?"
"Don't act like you don't know what I am talking about." She was waving her hand around then.
"Your daughter is miserable about not receiving her acceptance letter, and all it seems you care about is celebrating that she hasn't!"
"You make it seem like I have hidden the letter or something." He laughed wickedly, placing a turkey bacon inside his mouth savoring the taste.
She gave her husband a quizzical look before taking another sip of tea. "Don't worry, I know you haven't, since I make sure to take the mail from the postman myself, before he even drops it into the mailbox."
He dropped his fork, suddenly the bacon seemed to taste bitter in his mouth all of a sudden. His wife never checks the mail and now she was.
Rhaella got up placing a kiss on her husband's stunned face. "Don't look so miserable love." She chuckled as she left the kitchen.
Loud music was playing in the background, with many laughing and chatting. Both his sons were home with their family and significant other.
Aegon was there before everyone else, it was only an hour drive from where he attended school.
Rhaenys flew in with her parents, and Viserys came that morning from YiTi, where he works at a chemical plant an an engineer. He also brought his girlfriend.
Everyone around Aerys was happy and laughing as he sat in the backyard frowning. His wife tried cheering him up, but it was of no use. He felt defeated!
Rhaegar came later, handing his father a beer. "Are you just going to sit in the backyard all night and sulk father? You should be inside celebrating with us." His son offered him a small smile.
But his father's mood was still not changing, as his eyes darted over his shoulder at everyone in the kitchen playing cards. "How can I be happy, when just in a few more months your sister will be leaving for Westeros, since that dumb school decided to take her in on full scholarship."
Rhaegar took another sip from his beer, he was proud of his sister getting into that school, when he couldn't... "I'm guessing if Dany never got the scholarship you weren't planning on paying for her to go, were you?"
Rhaegar waited for his father to give him an answer, which took about five minutes, even if he never spoke the words.
His father only nodded letting Rhaegar know that was the plan. There was no use of him lying to his son, when the truth was already written across his face and his actions.
Rhaegar took a gulp then, it seemed his mother was right, he would need to pay her for losing the bet not wanting to believe his father would do such a thing.
"Thanks for letting me know kepa, I owe my mother, a hundred dollars."
His father only frowned, "you should know your mother knows me better than anyone. Why would you even wager a bet against her?"
"Because I didn't want to believe her, that you would not pay for Dany's schooling."
If push came to shove, Rhaegar knew he would've gladly paid for Dany's schooling. That's how proud he was of her and the work she put into her school work and studies.
He looked at his father with concerned eyes, not know what the man would probably do in stopping Dany. "I'm not that far from Dragonstone, you know, if anything should happen to Dany. It's less than a two-hour direct flight to Kings Landing."
Gripping his father's hand then, willing the man to look at him. "Come inside kepa, you can't stay out here too long."
"I just need a few more minutes Rhae." His father coughed out. Trying to hide his tears and the tremble in his voice from alarming his son.
Rhaegar only nodded his head in understanding, at least Rhaenys didn't go off to college that far, and Aegon was only an hour drive away from his parents. If anything happened to his son, he knew his parents were near.
Even after going inside an hour later. Aerys couldn't bare looking at his family gathered around the kitchen table. Everyone would be leaving soon to go back home.
Rhaegar and his family would be leaving in four days and Viserys along with his girlfriend Talisa, a young woman his son had been dating for the past two years now would be leaving in a day. She was from Volantis and met his son when he went to the hospital after a chemical spill at the company he worked for.
Everyone had to be checked over by a doctor and lucky for Viserys, Talisa was on call, and they have been together ever since.
Viserys needs to hurry and propose to her . Aerys thought, I should probably have a chat with him about that. Talisa was a good woman. She kept his wild son grounded after they became serious.
His daughter looked up at him then with her pale violet eyes, as he felt as though he couldn't breathe, she would soon leave him also. And there was no stopping her. His baby!
He hated everything about this day, it seemed everything happened so fast after Dany graduated. And now they were at the airport waiting for their flight to Westeros, which only made his daughter giddy with excitement at finally leaving home and being on her own, like an adult. Which for him she wasn't.
Everything he tried backfired on him, from hiding everyone's passports to cutting his wife's credit cards up, not remembering
they both shared a joint banking account. Even his precious wife sold him out. Telling him, he was once more being ridiculous, and blowing things way out of porporatiin.
He wanted to kick himself, his wife made sure to hide the bank statement that month. And because he never followed Dany's advice a few years ago, to get the banking app. He didn't know his wife had charged the tickets to their account.
"Flight 704 to Kings Landing is now boarding" the woman standing in front of them announced, letting everyone know, it was time for boarding.
He remained seated as his wife and daughter just looked at him, waiting for him to get up, and get it together. The world wasn't ending.
Except it was, for Aerys Targaryen.
"Aerys if you don't get your ass up now, I will take this flight with our daughter alone and you can kick yourself until she returns for Christmas break." Rhaella barked, getting the attention of those around then.
She offered an apologetic smile, which resembled, sorry my husband is being an ass.
He wanted to frown then, that was almost five months away from now. Especially since Dany had to get to school a few weeks early to get familiar with the school.
Plus, he knew what his wife really wanted to do. Go wild with spending, buying unnecessary things for their daughter, just like She did with their sons.
It wasn't until he heard the words, final boarding call for flight 704 did Aerys bother getting up. He would hate himself, if he didn't spend his time with her in Westeros. Or at least try to convince her, this was a bad idea.
Aerys had been mean to everyone once they landed, even the guy who told him, "welcome back to Westeros." Before handing him back his passport.
How was anyone going to understand his daughter in the common tongue when her accent was so deep, since they hardly spoke the common tongue at home. He looked over the statistics for the school, not many attending the school were from Essos.
After arriving at the University, he could see all the stares Dany and his wife were getting, which only seemed to speed Aerys heart rate up. Maybe I should move back to Westeros?
At least then Dany would attend school and live at home, where they used to live in Kings Landing wasn't so far from Dragonstone.
Before he could say anything, he and his wife were being told where to go away with other parents, as Dany and the other freshmen were taken some place else. Already he was grunting not liking this.
Both schools his sons attended allowed them to stay with their parents to experience the new school together.
Another strike against this damn school. He also hated the older gentleman giving them the tour. What kind of name is Tywin Lannister anyway?
Already sensing the tension coming from her husband Rhaella slid her hand in his, offering him a comforting smile, letting him know they were in this together.
Not together, he thought, if they were together in this, Dany would be attending the same school as Aegon. Where his grandson could keep an eye on her.
He did not see his daughter until the end of the day, which was three hours after he and his wife arrived back at her dorm room, with the parents of the girl Dany would be boarding with.
They were northern and said they hailed from White Harbor. Aerys didn't know what to think of their green haired daughter Wylla or her parents Wylis and Leona Manderly. Both kept trying to pry into Aerys and Rhaella's personal life.
Their daughter was just as rude!
The girl hardly understood his daughter when she spoke in common tongue, even went as far to ask, why Dany would even bother applying to a school where she hardly spoke the common tongue of Westeros.
His daughter only smiled, but Aerys could tell she was upset. His wife went to say something until the girl's mother said something instead. "That is not how we raised you Wylla Manderly, it's not like you have never met anyone from Essos before."
She then turned to them apologizing for her daughter's rudeness.
Strike three , and it wasn't even the second day yet.
"We should leave." his wife offered, seeming to no longer want to be around these northerners.
Aerys knew what that meant, she needed to get out of there before she said something she didn't want to.
It wasn't until they arrived at back at their hotel did his wife finally scream out her frustration.
"How dare that girl say such a thing to Dany? When our daughter is attending Dragonstone, for all the hard work she's done. While their daughter got in on a sports scholarship." Her mother huffed.
His wife threw the food down on the table she had been holding.
"I'm sorry Dany, you know how much I hate people like that."
"It's ok mother." His daughter offered a weak smile, "maybe by time, I'm home for Christmas, my accent won't be so thick in the common tongue."
"Or we can just move back to Westeros." Aerys offered as both his wife and Dany spun around to look at him.
"You can't be serious Aerys?"
"I am being very serious" he explained.
"You aren't moving back here; you never did this with Rhaegar or Viserys." Dany screamed as she ran into the room, she was staying in.
"Are you happy now for upsetting your daughter Aerys? It's bad enough she thinks her roommate hates her, now you want to come back to Westeros all of a sudden?"
His wife walked out the small eating area going inside the room his daughter went most likely to comfort her.
Great now it's my fault!
His daughter forgave him, when he offered to buy her whatever she wanted for her dorm room in her own personal way...
"Do you really need all of this Dany?" Aerys picked up the Myrish pillow sets his daughter wanted.
"Why in the world do you even need five sets of pillows for?"
His wife slapped his hand away, "she's not a boy Aerys, girls need all these things." His wife pointed at all the things he found unnecessary. "Plus, you told her whatever she wants she can have."
He did tell her this, but Aerys felt as though his wife and daughter were just getting stuff they really didn't need, especially the 50-inch tv. The girls had a nice dorm room, but he didn't see the reason for this size tv. It took a bit of convincing on his part to get Dany to not take the tv.
Instead she went for the next expensive thing she could get her small hands on.
I should've just let her get the tv.
When everything got rung up it all came over three thousand dollars, Dany decided since she wasn't getting a tv, a new MacBook would do.
What was wrong with her old one?
By the time they returned the Manderly's were already there with a raven-haired young man who introduced himself as Jon Stark. He also had a thick northern accent. Maybe he's the girls boyfriend since he noticed the way the green haired girl watched Jon as he helped Wylla's father with her furniture.
Though a part of him was sure the young man wasn't, just by the awkward smile and glances he made towards Dany, when he thought no one was watching.
Aerys decided he and his family would go have something to eat while the Manderly's got their daughter's side of the dorm room done, then they would start on Dany's. The raven-haired young man offered to help them also when they returned, but Aerys declined. After meeting the Manderly's he was done with his share of northern hospitality.
By the time they were done, it was already close to midnight. Has his wife took a few pictures of their daughter inside her dorm room before they left for the night.
This was not a good day. He had tears in his eyes. They were saying their goodbyes outside her dorm room, they had about three hours to get the airport and board their flight home. Aerys decided this was his final chance to get his daughter to come home.
Would they arrest me, if I tried dragging her on the plane?
"You know, you wouldn't be crying this much, and not wanting us to leave so soon, if you'd just board the plane back home with us Dany." He knew he sounded like he was begging but he did not care.
"Don't listen to him Dany" Rhaella cupped her daughter's small tear soaked face in her hands. "Look at me sweetling."
Dany finally looked up at her mother with tear stained eyes, "this is what you wanted, no holding back ok my love?"
Dany only nodded and whimpered, apart of Rhaella wondered if Aerys was right.
Her father only hissed as his wife looked back at him. Maybe not!
"In no time, it will be Christmas break, and you'll be back home sweetling." Her mother offered.
While Aerys did the opposite, "or you can come home before then, I'll be on the first flight to help you pack."
Dany could do nothing but cry out in tears, which only caused Aerys heart to melt.
"We're going to miss our flight if we don't leave now, who knows how bad the traffic will be getting to the airport." Rhaella offered. Before turning to her husband. "Say your goodbyes just don't take too long, I'm going to call the uber."
He exhaled as his wife walked off to call their car service. "You know how I feel about this entire situation Dany."
"I know kepa." Dany said softly.
He had tears in his eyes once again. "You will always be my little princess Dany."
The tears were coming faster then as he tried his best to suck it up. But he no longer cared who saw him crying there as he cradled his baby girl's head in his hands.
"Remember what I said, you can always call me, and I will be on the next flight here, or you can use the card we gave you. Just don't go wasting money on things you don't need."
"Ao jāhor va moriot sagon issa riñītsos daor matter skorkydoso uēpa ao jiōragon"
"You will always be my little girl, no matter how old you get."
Aerys kissed her in the hair then as his wife came over saying the car would be there in five minutes.
His wife was trying not to ruin her makeup, as she began crying once more. His daughter was now a young lady, but all he saw before his eyes was that shy three-year-old toddler who would wait at the door for her kepa to return home from work. He and his wife said their goodbyes once more, as they left their baby girl behind.