Author's Note: Hey y'all! thanks for all the love on my latest chapter, I'm glad y'all seemed to like it! what did you guys think of the sixth episode? I LOVED IT. Not many people I know were looking forward to a recasting so early in the series, but I think the directors and actors did phenomanally. I will definitely miss Milly Alcock and Emily Carey, but I'm so excited to see where the show goes from here! Emma D'Arcy and Olivia Cooke are killing it so far!
Since my last chapter was solely focused on Elaena & Daemon's life away from King's Landing and ended with them accepting that they had to go back, that is where we are picking up. From there, the events of the episode will be a bit rearranged to make more sense for insterting Elaena/Daemon into the plot...so despite it being out of order, it should make more sense this way... As always I hope you all enjoy. Happy Reading ❤️
THE DRAGON & THE ROSE - EPISODE SIX/PART TWO
"Have you got everything you need, my dear?" Elaena asked Viseryn, rustling her hand through his shaggy blonde hair.
"Ona helped me pack everything last night," Viseryn said excitedly, practically skipping in the sand past his mother. Elaena watched him with a small smile as he ran past them all, an infinite amount of energy bursting out from inside him.
"And you Aemon? Do you have all your favorite books ready to go?" Elaena asked her eldest, reaching down to hold his hand. He was always quite a solemn boy, but he was even more so today, she could tell he was sad to be leaving home.
"Yes," Aemon responded quietly, keeping his eyes on the footprint trail his father and sister were leaving in front of them. He slowly started to kick up the sand as they walked, very clearly making it known he wasn't happy.
"Use your words, please, Aemon," Elaena said softly, watching his face as he chose what to say.
"I just don't understand why I have to go to King's Landing," he finally said, picking his feet up properly now. Elaena knew her son had no interest in great interest in adventures, travel, or swordfighting. While this journey to King's Landing would be an exciting adventure for his brother Viseryn, she knew Aemon dreaded it. He would have been much more agreeable to staying home and reading every day until they returned.
"I know you don't want to go, but I promise it'll be exciting," Elaena said slowly, giving him a gentle squeeze of the hand. "You can work with the Grand Maester of King's Landing, he can show you all his books and you can play with your cousins. Aexel will be big enough for you to start riding him even. Every day will be better than the one before."
"Can't you and father go alone and then come back?" Aemon asked, his small face pinched as they approached the large dragons waiting for them. "I just want to stay."
"You know we can't, Aemon. We're a family, we belong together always. Sometimes that's more important than what we want individually," Elaena responded, watching his face as she spoke to him. "Besides we don't know how long we'll have to be away."
"Are we staying forever?" he asked, stopping in his tracks. His eyes were wide as he looked up to her, betrayal flashing across his small face.
"No, my dear, not forever." Elaena leaned down so that she was eye level to him, holding his hands in her own to comfort him. The wind from the shores of Dragonstone blew roughly against them, their silvery blonde hair flying wildly as they spoke. "Dragonstone is your home, and mine as well. We will come back, I promise you this."
"When?" he asked, his little eyes filling with tears.
"I don't know," she whispered truthfully, lifting her hand to hold his cheek. "We have to speak with the King about something, then we have to help your aunt Rhaenyra. We'll come home as soon as that's done, yes?"
He nodded silently, avoiding her eyes as he looked down at his feet in the sand.
"I know you don't want to go, but I need you to be strong for me. And I need you to look out for your little brother and sister. Will you help your father and I by doing that?"
His eyes finally met hers again as he spoke, his voice small, "I'm going to miss it here."
"So will I," Elaena nodded, feeling tears well in her own eyes now.
She stood up again, finishing their walk along the beach towards their dragons. When Elaena looked up she saw Daemon standing and waiting for them, a knowing look on his face as their eyes met. He knew their son was more sensitive, that he needed a kind touch rather than a firm one. He shifted their daughter up higher on his hip, then held out his other arm for him.
"Come on son, help me put Aexel in his crate before we take off," Daemon said gently. Aemon let go of his mother's hand and walked towards his dragon, a skinny and grey thing with a gloomy temperament just like his own.
Viseryn's dragon, Baemex, was also young, barely hatched from the egg that shared his cradle and small enough for Elaena to hold with two hands. Viseryn was playing with the light green colored beast before he too had to be put in his crate.
"Do you think Baemex will be as big as Caraxes one day, mother?" Viseryn asked, stroking his baby dragon's neck before placing him inside the wooden structure.
"If you train him properly, feed him well, and fly him often, he could be even bigger than your father's dragon," Elaena smiled, taking the crate from him to hand to one of the dragonkeepers. She watched as they slowly fastened the crate to the back of her saddle, alongside Rhaena's egg that still hadn't hatched yet. Their trunks and other things would be joining them in a few days time in King's Landing, having to travel by horse rather than dragon.
"We should get going, my love," Daemon said, walking towards her to hand Rhaena off. He would be taking their sons on Caraxes' back with Aemon's dragon in the crate behind him. She would take Rhaena with the dragon egg and Baemex.
"Are you ready for an adventure? To fly for the first time?" Elaena asked Rhaena with wide eyes, lifting her daughter high above her in the air.
"Do I get to fly Onyx?" Rhaena asked, gasping a little.
"No, my darling," Elaena laughed, looking to Daemon who was also smiling. "Onyx hasn't hatched yet, you know that. You'll be riding with me."
Rhaena seemed a little disappointed by this, but nodded to feign happiness about getting to be with her mother. Daemon and Elaena exchanged one last smile and then quickly kissed each other, to which their sons groaned behind them. Daemon pulled away lightly laughing as he turned around to face them, "You'll have wives of your own one day, boys. You'll be expected to kiss them as well."
Their faces wrinkled sourly at the thought before they both turned away to start climbing up Caraxes. Daemon watched them for a moment then shook his head, facing Elaena one last time.
"Make sure Aemon sits in the middle between you two, he'll get too nervous if he's not," Elaena said to her husband quietly, glancing at their sons. "And don't let Viseryn take the reigns no matter how much he begs, he's too young to steer a dragon yet."
"I won't, I won't," Daemon responded, the wind flapping through his hair. "I promise."
"I don't like when you lie to me, Daemon," Elaena shook her head, suppressing her smile now.
"Nothing gets past you, does it?" he asked, laughing a little as he leaned down for one last kiss. "Be safe, alright."
"You as well," Elaena nodded, giving Rhaena a small squeeze. "We'll see Daddy in the sky, right?"
"Yes!" Rhaena squealed, her excitement back again.
Daemon planted a quick kiss on Rhaena's cheek before turning around, following his sons up Caraxes. Elaena then climbed up Vermax's long silver wing, reaching for the reign on the saddle to help pull her up as she carried Rhaena. Once there she sat down, placing her daughter directly in front of her.
"Where is it?" she wondered out loud, looking around her. She finally located the thick leather pieces that would strap Rhaena to Elaena, then tied them tightly. Once her daughter was secure, she grabbed the reigns, leaning down into her daughter's ear. "Do you think we can outfly your father and brothers?"
Rhaena only giggled, leaning back against her mother's stomach in preparation.
"Sōvēs, Vermax," Elaena commanded, smiling as the large beast flew up and over Caraxes. Rhaena shrieked happily in her seat, holding onto her mother's legs as they flew above Dragonstone. Only seconds after they had taken off Elaena heard Caraxes screech, flying up beside her. "Look over there, Rhaena-"
Rhaena laughed with delight as she saw her brothers to the left waving to her. Elaena looked to Daemon, both of them silently agreeing to show their children one last fun time before leaving Dragonstone. After a short exchanged nod from both of them they leaned forward, their dragons nosediving to the ground. They both smiled as their children exclaimed, then pulled up on the reigns just as they were about to hit the sea. The two dragons hovered over the top of the sea, their silver and scarlet scales reflecting brightly in the waters.
Daemon dipped Caraxes down a bit, his wing dipping in the water just enough to spray water onto Elaena and Rhaena.
"Oh no you don't," Elaena laughed to herself, wiping the salty water from her face. She commanded Vermax in Valyrian to go faster, to which her bonded dragon immediately did. They flew quickly over the water in front of Caraxes, then tilted so far to one side Elaena got a little scared Rhaena might fall out. She wrapped one arm instinctively around her daughter, who was enjoying every second of this, as she had one of Vermax's wings plunge into the sea. Elaena flew her in a circle and then pulled up, causing a large wave of water to wash over the boys. She could hear Viseryn and Daemon laughing, and when she looked back at them even Aemon had a wide smile on his very wet face.
The dragons flew side by side after this bit of fun and games, everyone leaving their home with a smile on their faces. This was how Elaena wanted it to be, she didn't want any of them to be sad or scared, especially Daemon. She knew her children were naive enough and young enough to not know what they were about to walk into, she wanted to protect that for as long as she could. When she was Aemon's age her mother had died, and only a year later she found out it was her father who had killed her. Elaena would do everything in her power to make sure that her children weren't exposed to such horrors in their time at the capital.
But Daemon was a different story. He wasn't a child, he was her husband, and he had already made his feelings on the matter of returning to King's Landing clear. Despite their argument the week prior being resolved, her mind hadn't changed, and neither had his. They had simply agreed to disagree, reaching a compromise so that they would't still be fighting about it. If she was going to stay as long as she could to help Rhaenyra, that meant that she had to avoid danger for herself and her children at all costs. If things got too threatening Daemon made it clear he'd drag them all back to Dragonstone and away from the harm if he had to. She told him it wouldn't come to that, if he decided it was time to leave, she would. And while they both knew that this promise she made had the potential to be broken, they ignored this fact and did what they must by going back.
They had spent the past week together as a family at Dragonstone, making the most of the last moments of their quiet life there. Neither Daemon or Elaena were planning to leave forever, but deep down in their hearts they knew that it wouldn't likely be anytime soon that they saw these shores again.
The ride over Blackwater Bay from the island of Dragonstone to King's Landing was a short one, infinately quicker than if they had gone by ship. But Elaena could tell that even these few hours were too long for her young daughter, who was starting to get fussy and tired after sitting for so long. When Elaena looked over at her sons they were eagerly looking for the Red Keep in the horizon, waiting for it to finally appear. As she looked at them she saw Viseryn's face start to light up, and could hear his muffled shouts of excitement as he looked back to Daemon. Aemon seemed less enthused, but Elaena could tell there was a small spark of curiosity in his eyes as the great city fell before their eyes.
"Look, my darling," Elaena said, leaning down to give Rhaena a tight hug, "There it is."
Rhaena sat up straighter now, silent as she took in the massive city. The only place her children had ever known was Dragonstone, a small and quiet island remote from others. The capital was the opposite of this, a bustling center of amusements and dangers. The Red Keep would be filled with different people of the court, not just their family, and everything they would do would be under the public's eye. She didn't know how her children would truly react to it all. Her and Daemon grew up among the hectic commotion of it all, then went away for solitude. Her children had only ever known one thing and were about to be thrusted into the most chaotic place in the world. As she landed Vermax in the old dragonpit, she could feel the worry about this increasing inside her.
After unstrapping her daughter from her, Elaena pulled off her riding gloves, setting them behind her with the dragon crates. Daemon and the boys had already dismounted Caraxes, and Daemon was standing underneath Vermax with his arms out for Rhaena.
"I got you, darling, come on," he encouraged her, nodding with a smile. The little girl slid down the side of the silver wing with a small squeal, landing in his arms happily. "Was riding fun? Do you want to go again soon?"
"I want to ride Onyx," Rhaena giggled, unable to take her mind off the fact that someday soon she would have her own hatched dragon.
While this normally would have made Elaena smile, she felt too nervous all of a sudden to do that. She slowly stood from the saddle, dismounting and taking Daemon's hand at the end to step down completely. He could see the fear in her eyes as she looked up at the Red Keep, then down to count her children.
"Here," he said softly, handing Rhaena to her for some comfort. "I'll get the boys."
Elaena nodded, watching as he quickly rounded them up. He knelt down to talk to them, but was too far away for her to hear. Her eye was then suddenly pulled by one of the dragonkeepers who came out of the pit, running until making a fast stop before her.
"Your Grace," he bowed, a small smile on his face, "Welcome back to King's Landing, it's been to long since you've graced us with your presence."
"Thank you, Joran, it's good to see you again as well," Elaena responded, forcing a small smile as she put her hand on the back of Rhaena's head. "You know Vermax and Caraxes well enough already, but we have two more and another on the way for you to care for. Aexel and Baemex are in the crates and my daughter's egg is on the heating coals. Make sure to change them out for fresh ones, they've lost their warmth during the ride here."
"At once, Your Grace," the man bowed again, immediately turning to Vermax with a smile. He began speaking in Valyrian to the beast, guiding her down the ramp of the dragonpit and into the caves. As others took Caraxes, Elaena walked towards Daemon again, holding tightly onto her daughter.
"Shall we?" she asked, trying to give her sons an encouraging smile. Everyone could see the nerves in her eyes though, the tension in her lips.
"Let's," Daemon agreed, putting a hand on the small of her back. Rhaena looked down and fiddled with the hilt of Dark Sister on Elaena's hip as they walked, and their sons split to the side: Aemon on Elaena's left and Viseryn on Daemon's right. The five of them walked from the dragonpit together in a straight line, a show of Targaryen force and Valyrian steel.
The children remained quiet as they approached the entrance of the Red Keep, looking up in awe at the towering castle before them. They then turned to the people waiting on the steps, trying to make out from prior descriptions of their family who was who. Elaena's smile widened as she saw Rhaenyra, her steps quickening a bit as she walked in front of the rest of her family.
Rhaenyra smiled as well, her eyes brightening at the sight of Elaena. She too walked forward, opening her arms wide. "It's good to see you again, El."
"You as well, sister," Elaena smiled widely, feeling a relief in her body. Rhaenyra tried hugging Elaena, but the small girl in her arms and Rhaenyra's own large bump was very much in the way. The two laughed lightly then pulled apart, examining each other's changed faces. When she pulled away Elaena looked at the rest of Rhaenyra's family, only to find someone missing. Laenor was no where to be found, Ser Harwin instead standing behind her and the boys with his hand on his sword. "Where's your husband?"
"I'm not sure, and I'm not sure I care," Rhaenyra sighed a little, shaking her head. Her face quickly turned into a smile though, avoiding this topic as she turned to look at Elaena's daughter. "You must be little Rhaena! Did you know you were named after me, my sweet?"
Rhaena nodded shyly, a small smile on her lips. She had always been an outgoing child around her family, but around strangers she took her eldest brother's disposition of quietness. Rhaenyra then looked behind Elaena as Daemon and their sons approached. She turned around, calling her own sons and Ser Harwin to come down the steps before looking back to Elaena's sons.
"My goodness how you've both grown," Rhaenyra sighed, looking at the silver-haired boys. "The last time I saw you either of you, you were just babes. You're turning into young men, aren't you?"
The boys smiled proudly, looking to each other and then to their cousins of similar age. Elaena looked at Rhaenyra's children, seeing how they too had grown in the years since she last saw them. The last time she had seen them it was already appartant that they were not Laenor's children. Their complexion was far too pale and hair far too dark to be his sons. And over the last several years they had grown into their looks even more, looks they shared with Harwin Strong. But she wouldn't let them see that she was thinking this, turning to them with smiles.
"It's good to see you again boys, do you remember me, your Aunt Elaena?"
They both nodded, small smiles on their faces. But she could tell they were just doing this to be polite, she could see that she was a stranger in their eyes. The only way that Rhaenyra knew her children, or Rhaenyra's children knew her were through the stories they told of each other.
"Welcome back to the capital, Your Graces," Harwin finally said once the introductions and reunions of the family were finished.
Elaena gave him a small nod, smiling politely. She was glad that Rhaenyra had found happiness and love with him, she was even glad that Rhaenyra's children were born of this love, but Elaena was afraid for her. She was afraid Rhaenyra's playing with fire would come back to burn her. Elaena could tell Daemon was thinking the exact same thing, his eyes pinned on the two dark haired boys as they started talking to Aemon and Viseryn, not hearing or feeling the obvious tension in the air around the adults.
"We should go see my brother," Daemon said quietly, nodding a little at the other adults. "The sooner we get this business handled the sooner we go home."
"Why don't I take the four boys and let them go play together, let you all catch up on your own?" Ser Harwin asked, looking to Rhaenyra.
"No-" Elaena said quickly, her face falling. Immediate fear and protective instinct came through in her words, and everyone heard it. Harwin stood up straighter, looking a bit nervous to have been caught speaking a bit too informally. The boys had all stopped talking with each other, turning around to see their parents' faces.
"I'm sorry if I spoke out of turn Your Grace, I only meant-" Harwin bowed his head a little as he held his arms behind his back.
"No it's not you, Ser Harwin...it's a fine idea, the boys getting to play together," Elaena inhaled lightly, clutching onto Rhaena a bit tighter. "I'm just not comfortable having them leave without supervision."
"They won't be, Ser Harwin would be going with them," Rhaenyra responded, seeming a bit confused by this whole interaction.
"Elaena meant we're not comfortable having them go without our supervision," Daemon said quietly, his voice serious. They all stood quietly for a moment, tension from the past rising around them.
Elaena swallowed roughly, turning to Rhaenyra as she shook her head. "I'm sorry, we just can't-"
"I understand, El," Rhaneyra said softly, putting a hand on her arm. "I know it's hard to be back here after all that's happened. But I trust Ser Harwin with my life as well as my children's, he won't let anything happen to Viseryn or Aemon, I promise."
Elaena looked to Daemon, the both of them sharing a concerned look between them. They knew realistically they wouldn't be able to keep eyes on their children at all times back here in court, but actually letting them out of their sight was much easier said than done. Trusting anyone besides themselves felt impossible.
"It's been a long day of riding, perhaps they should just rest for now," Daemon said more lightly, turning to his daughter with a small smile. The little girl was resting her head on Elaena's shoulder, her big eyes now smaller with sleepiness. "I have a feeling they could all do with a meal and some sleep rather than play."
He had wanted to meet with his brother and get whatever matter needed to be sorted done and out of the way, but being with his children was more important than this. His brother could wait if it meant keeping them in the grasp of his protection longer.
Rhaenyra nodded, smiling a little, "Of course. They must be exhausted, you all must be. We can get to politics tomorrow."
"Viserys won't mind?" Elaena asked.
"Of course not, he's likely tired too now as well, it's later than I thought it was. Come, we'll see you all to your rooms. You'll have the entire east wing tower to yourselves. All the rooms are connected together and only accessed through one door, like having your own home inside the castle walls," Rhaenyra said warmly. While she had felt a tiny bit scorned by Elaena and Daemon not trusting Harwin enough, she also understood it. She was there the night they lost their daughter, the night Elaena almost died too. They were risking lots to be back to help her, so she wouldn't push them.
Elaena appreciated this, knowing that she and Daemon both would need time in any matter concerning their children. They had grown so accustomed to not having anyone else in their home except for themselves. And while Rhaenyra said that their quarters would be connected together and separate from others, it still felt vulnerable to Elaena. Being under the same roof as Alicent and her supporters made her feel vulnerable.
Elaena rested her hand on the back of Rhaena's head, feeling her daughter start to fall asleep in her arms as they walked through the familiar halls of the Red Keep. She tried to swallow the fear rising in her throat as they continued past other lords and ladies of the court, as she felt their eyes on her. She wanted more than anything now to take her children and run, to shield them from the nightmarish scenarios that were now being created by her own her mind. Maybe Daemon had been right, maybe they should have gone to Essos while they had the chance. Maybe they should have never come back.
But it was too late now for any thoughts like this, especially now that the entire capital had seen two great dragons flying into King's Landing, now that they were seeing them return to the Red Keep. Word of their arrival to court would spread like wildfire within less than an hour, making them appear weak and even more vulnerable if they ran away now. It was time to face the past once and for all, it was time to claim ownership over it and squash any remaining threats. It was time to fight for Rhaenyra, and for themselves.
The Next Morning
Neither Daemon or Elaena had slept a wink all night, unable to take their eyes off of Rhaena. The boys had slept peacefully in the room adjacent to them, and Rhaena had slept between her parents in their own bed. Elaena watched her little girl sleep all night, feeling much like she had when Rhaena was just born. Daemon tried to urge Elaena to sleep, that he would watch over them all and stay up. But she could only listen to the sounds of her daughter's breath, she could only watch her tiny chest rise and fall.
So while Elaena did this he remained sitting up in bed with his arm around them, his other hand on the hilt of his sword and eyes on the door. When morning finally came, the two of them were finally summoned by the King to the small council chambers, giving Elaena a bit of a panic. She didn't want to leave, exhausted and afraid of leaving the children all alone. The only way Daemon could get her to go was to have Merrick and Ona stay with the children, barring the door behind her and Daemon. Ona had been a part of Elaena's life since she was a child herself, and Merrick had lived at Dragonstone with them since before each of her children were born. They were the only two people either Daemon or her trusted, but even then she couldn't bring herself to leave Rhaena behind.
"I can't," Elaena whispered, shaking her head. She turned to look at her young daughter, feeling tears spring up. "Just go without me, I'll stay with her-"
"I can't go without you, you know that," Daemon said softly, "The boys are asleep still, Merrick and Ona will watch out for them. Why don't you bring Rhaena, keep her close?"
"Bring her to the small council meeting?" Elaena asked, raising her brows a little. She knew that the idea itself was a bit mad, for the council meeting had no place for children of only five, yet she couldn't help but feel relief at the thought of having her only daughter in her protection.
"Who cares if it's allowed or not, if we don't want to leave her behind, then we don't," Daemon said quietly, walking towards their bed. Rhaena was fast asleep in the middle of it, curled up into a tiny little ball and unaware of what her parent's were saying or feeling. He gently scooped his daughter up in his arms, giving her a small kiss on her forehead before handing her to Elaena.
Elaena took Rhaena into her arms slowly, feeling her tears fall onto her cheeks. In her sleep Rhaena's arms found their way around her mother's neck, and her head rested on her shoulder. Elaena took a deep breathe as she held her daughter, then nodded. This was what she needed in order to go. She felt a bit of guilt about her sons in admitting this to herself, thinking about how it wasn't taking them that she needed to do. She loved them fiercely, but she didn't know the pain of losing son, only a daughter. She refused to feel it again.
"Shall we go?" Daemon said softly, brushing the tears out from under his wife's eyes with his thumb.
"Alright," Elaena whispered, nodding a little.
Once the door behind them was barred by Merrick and Ona, the two walked down the stairwell of the East Wing Tower, towards the small council chambers. Daemon kept his arm around her waist the whole walk there, keeping his two girls close to him as he scanned the halls for potential threats. In his eyes, everyone who wasn't them couldn't be trusted, and if anyone made even the slightest move that seemed suspicious to him, he wouldn't hesitate to remove the threat.
As they approached the small council chambers, Elaena felt her body stiffen, her grip on Rhaena tightening. Outside the doors of the council chambers standing guard was a face she hadn't seen in forever. Despite the alterations age and time had made to his face, she would have recognized him anywhere: Cley Karstark. He stood by Ser Criston Cole's side, guarding the entrance to the chambers with a stony look in his eye.
The last time she had seen him he was begging her to stay in King's Landing, to not go after Daemon in the Stepstones. He had begged her to stay for him because he loved her. Scorned and heartbroken after she left anyways, he left for Winterfell without another word. Elaena had always thought that their paths would never cross again, and if they had it certainly wouldn't be like this. The only reason he was ever in the capital before now was to protect her, and now he was a member of the kingsguard? It didn't make sense to her.
Daemon became quickly aware of Elaena's panic as they slowly walked down the hall, then whispered to her, "What is it?"
"Ser Cley... he's back," she whispered, looking straight forward as they walked. Daemon had never liked the man, whether it had been by the King's orders or not he didn't appreciate Cley always spying on his and Elaena's every move. He knew over a decade ago that the man had been in love with Elaena, even when Elaena couldn't see it herself. Years after the fact she told him what Cley said the day she left for the Stepstones, that he had professed his love for her. Daemon didn't like this, not one bit. And he liked it even less that he was back now at court.
Elaena felt his hand tighten a bit around her waist, then saw the corners of his lips pull up into a small smile as they stopped before the doors of the chambers. She felt her cheeks burn a bit redder as she realized that Daemon was smiling at Cley, letting him know that this was his wife, his family.
"I know you," Daemon said with narrowed eyes, his smile still remaining. "Remind me of your name."
Elaena looked up at her husband, then back to Cley. Daemon knew his name, she had just said it. Her husband was toying with him now, trying to get under his skin.
"Ser Cley Karstark-" he responded coldly, obviously trying to continue, but Daemon wouldn't let him.
"Ah yes, Karstark, you're the one who guarded my dear wife in her youth," Daemon nodded, his smile widening a bit. "Thank you for that, it's much appreciated."
"Of course, Your Grace," Cley said stiffly, avoiding her eyes. Elaena noticed then that Cley couldn't help but take a glance at their daughter in her arms, his eyes hardening. Elaena couldn't tell if they had hardened because of jealousy, hurt, or anger, but it didn't matter. She didn't like it.
"We should go inside," Elaena said, holding Rhaena closer to her.
"Of course, my love," Daemon responded, looking to Cley once more. "The door?"
Elaena wished Daemon wouldn't provoke him like this. Cley nodded stiffly, then looked to Criston as he opened the door for them. Elaena walked through first, avoiding his eyes as Daemon put kept his hand on her waist for them to see. Once the door closed behind her she felt a small sense of relief to be away from that awkward encounter, but the tension only rose when she saw the room before her. She had jumped out of the frying pan into the fire.
"My goodness," Viserys said with a smile, standing shakily. "I wasn't expecting it to be the three of you."
Elaena tried to smile in return, but she couldn't help but feel horrified by the state he was in. She had never seen anyone look so unwell in her life, including the dead. His skin was covered in scars and sores, his hair had almost completely fallen out, and one of his arms was missing. Both her and Daemon knew that he hadn't been doing well, but never in their wildest dreams could they have imagined this.
"Come here, let me see my beautiful niece," Viserys said, waving them over to him.
"I'm afraid she's still asleep," Elaena said softly, forcing herself to smile as she walked up next to him.
"That's alright," he said more quietly now, brushing his finger along the little girl's cheek. He looked up to his brother, a proud look on his face. "You have a most beautiful daughter, Daemon."
"That I do," Daemon nodded, he too still shocked at the sight of his brother being so unwell.
"She looks just like you did when you were this young, Elaena, and you as well Rhaenyra," Viserys reminisced, his eyes lighting up as he watched the sleeping child.
"She's wonderful, of course," Alicent said from her seat, her eyes narrow. "But the small council meeting is no place for children. The guards should take her back to her room to continue sleeping so we can discuss the important matters at hand."
So shocked by the King's appearance, Elaena had hardly noticed Alicent, but now that she had she felt anger grow inside her. She turned to the woman, her voice cold as ice as she spoke, "Forgive me, My Queen, but she isn't leaving my side, not for anything. The last time I had a daughter in King's Landing, things didn't exactly go well, as I'm sure you remember."
The room fell silent, tension filling the air from the chilliness of these words.
"The girl is fine, she's not even awake," Viserys said, trying to break this tension. "Let's just sit, please."
Elaena turned around, looking at Rhaenyra as she sat between her and Daemon at the table. After repositioning Rhaena so that she was cradled and asleep in her arms, Elaena looked to Daemon, the both of them joining hands before turning to the rest of the council.
"So tell me," Viserys continued with a smile, the only one brave enough to speak at the moment. "Where are the boys? When do I get to see them?"
"Aemon and Viseryn are still asleep as well, but I'm afraid they're a bit to big now for us to carry like this one here," Daemon smiled lightly, nodding to his daughter.
"They're handsome boys father, and sweet too," Rhaenyra said lightly, "I got to see them last night, they've grown so much over the years-"
"This is all very nice, but we have more pressing things to discuss," Alicent interrupted, looking at the rest of the council members. "Matters like the Stepstones."
"Yes, I suppose we must," Viserys sighed, obviously not wanting to. It was clear to everyone in the room that he had no interest in discussing this, that he no energy for it. But yet he agreed, which made Elaena realise just how deep Alicent's claws had sunk into him.
"It's been a decade," Alicent exhaled, looking at Daemon and Elaena. "A decade of you both leaving the region undefended-"
"We have left it undefended, not them," Rhaenyra interrupted, "The crown should have been fortifications built, watchtowers.. we should have sent a fleet of ships, a garrison of soldiers sent to hold our ground."
"We couldn't afford it," Alicent scoffed, as if she couldn't believe Rhaenyra would take their side. "Our coffers are great but not infinate. We had to consider the cost to our subjects."
"You admit that it is impossible to defend the Stepstones, that is too expensive, My Queen," Daemon interjected, his voice quiet but firm. "So I'm curious to hear what it is that you would ask of us to do about this matter. What can we do that the crown cannot?"
"You can go back to the Stepstones with all the men you have at Dragonstone and at least try to regain control," Alicent started, speaking sharply. She didn't appreciate being underminded by him just then. "You've both lived at Dragonstone far too long now, it's time you-
"Dragonstone is mine by birthright to do what I wish," Rhaenyra said, leaning forward in her seat with her hand over pregnant belly. "Daemon and Elaena stayed at Dragonstone because I wished for them to-"
"Even still it is high time that they fulfill their responsabilities to their King. It's time they finish what they started in the Stepstones." Alicent shook her head, looking at Rhaenyra with hatred.
"Is this what you want, cousin?" Elaena finally spoke, cutting everyone else off. She turned to Viserys, speaking to him now to beg him to see reason. He had been letting Alicent speak for him this whole time, she wanted to hear what he had to say. "You want to send me, Daemon, and our children to the Stepstones? Have we not done our part in seeing that they were secured, do you think we should have done more?"
"No," he breathed out lightly, much to Alicent's apparent disbelief. "No, you did your part. We cannot blame you for what's happened since then."
"Nothing's changed has it," Alicent scoffed, leaning back in her seat to drink from her cup of wine. "Rhaenyra, Daemon, and Elaena always doing exactly what they want, with no sense of duty above their own selfish desires. And then their King encourages it-"
"My desire was to stay at Dragonstone," Daemon said angrily, his jaw clenching. "What I wanted was to stay with my family there, to keep them safe from the peril I know seeps from these walls. Despite what I wanted I came back, I brought my children into this wretched city to answer the call back you two gave. I followed my sense of duty by coming back, but I refuse to take my wife or my children into a warzone just so you can be rid of us."
The room was stiff with tension, silent for a moment before Elaena spoke up again.
"What my husband is trying to say is that we understand our duty to the crown, cousin," Elaena said, putting her hand on top of Daemon's to try and calm him down as she spoke to Viserys. "And we understand that in the past we have shirked that duty for our own selfish reasons. But us refusing to go to is not about avoiding responsability, it's about embracing it...the responsability we owe to our children. The Stepstones are no place for children."
"Even if it was," Rhaenyra nodded, playing to her father's side now. "You've been away from us far too long. You're finally back home with your whole family, where you belong. It's not right to send you away only to not see you again for another ten whole years. We're Targaryens... were family. We belong together."
"You're right, Rhaenyra," Viserys exhaled, looking at Rhaena still sound asleep in her mother's arms. They all knew that Viserys didn't have another ten years of life in him, he might not even have another two. "We belong together."
"A kind sentiment, dear husband," Alicent nodded, a smug smile on her lips. "But then what do you suppose we do about the Stepstones?"
"We'll send reinforcements in other ways, it can be figured out later," he sighed, rubbing his hand over his brow. "But their place is here in King's Landing, we won't be sending them away."
"But-"
"My decision is final," he said more strongly, looking at Alicent. "We can discuss this further later, but for now they're staying. I want to spend time with my niece and nephews."
"Thank you brother," Daemon said appreciatively, giving one last glare to Alicent before turning to Elaena and his daughter.
Elaena felt a weight lift off her chest, a smile breaking through her lips as she gave Rhaena a small squeeze. She looked to Daemon who placed a small kiss on the top of their daughter's head, then held his arms out a bit as he stood up.
"Let me see her," he said softly.
Rhaena stirred a little as she was transferred to his arms, but fell fast asleep again against his chest, too tired from the long journey the day before to wake up just yet. Elaena watched as he took the girl over to Viserys, then looked to Alicent. The woman was staring daggers into both her and her child, obviously very upset that she hadn't gotten her way. But Elaena didn't care, she was only glad that whatever plans the Queen had made were foiled.
The two women exchanged a hateful look between them before Alicent stood, leaving the room behind the rest of the members of the small council. Elaena sat still next to Rhaenyra, feeling worry bubble up in her again. Just because Alicent hadn't gotten her way now didn't mean that she would stop trying. Elaena was sure the woman would continue to try and figure out how to take her and Daemon out of the equation. She wouldn't stop until Rhaenyra had no allies left, until she stood all alone in her fight for the Iron Throne.
Author's Note: I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, and the twist I threw in! Cley is back, but the reasons are uncertain as of now...
I'm going to continue writing tonight to hopefully have the next installment in by tomorrow. From there the remaining chapters will be released as they're created. I have a lot I want to fit in for this episode's events, so there may be two to three more after this one.
And REMEMBER! The events of the episode are going to be changed around in timeline order to make more sense for Elaena's story...so you can still expect to see Rhaenyra give birth, the event in the courtyard with Ser Harwin, and other scenes included in the coming chapters.
Until then let me know what you thought of this chapter/would like to see coming next, I'm very open to suggestions from you all! So thank you again for reading, until next time! -J❤️