"We need to find Euron Greyjoy's fleet and sink it." Daenerys was adamant to take vengeance for this first strike against her allies. They had not anticipated it, but their foolishness was now behind them and Daenerys was determined to see her wasted fleet avenged and Cersei thrown from her seat of power one way or another. Rhaena stood between Varys and Missandei, gathered with the Small Council in order to discuss the repercussions of their losses. Euron Greyjoy was the uncle to Yara and Theon Greyjoy, who had come before Daenerys to offer their service in exchange for the chance to avenge their father's death at their uncle's hand. Rhaena had raged upon first discovering that Theon Greyjoy was not only still alive but in her sister's service, but Tyrion and Varys had calmed her eventually with their words. Rhaena wanted Theon put to the sword as a traitor and child murderer, thinking of the two boys he had killed and displayed and named them as Bran and Rickon. Since Rickon was still alive and Ramsay Snow had told her so himself, it was clear Theon had taken two innocent lads and butchered them in their place. She recalled the moment she had first heard of Bran and Rickon's fates, how she had cried and wept to think of them strung up on the gates of Winterfell. Theon deserved nothing less than a traitor's death, and she was adamant that she would deliver him to Jon and Robb to receive it.
"Your Grace, he's already destroyed a good portion of our fleet. To send our remaining ships after him…"
"I'm not talking about sending our ships after him." Interrupting Varys, the realisation came to those around the queen who intended to take her dragons to find and burn the fleet of Euron Greyjoy herself. Varys looked quickly at Tyrion, desperately.
"But you'll have to go yourself," he reasoned finally, quickly thinking of excuses to dissuade Daenerys from going in search of Cersei's fleet where she would have no one other than her dragons to protect her. "Euron's ships could be anywhere or in more than one place. You'd be flying around the open seas alone for who knows how long."
"I wouldn't be alone. I'd have Drogon, Viserion, Rhaegal and Rhaena. What can anyone do to them?" Lifting her head, Rhaena was more than prepared to go with her sister to hunt down this Euron Greyjoy, however she did not possess her sister's impulsiveness and saw the recklessness in such an action. Despite having three dragons with them, they would still be vulnerable and Rhaena doubted that Cersei would be unprepared, or indeed this Euron Greyjoy. They would have known about their dragons and would no doubt have made preparations, and as Missandei reasoned, it only took one arrow to do harm to the riders of dragons.
"It's too great a risk. You're too important," Tyrion insisted, "and Rhaena is currently your heir. We cannot risk both the Queen and her successor in one venture." Although displeased at being unable to take her revenge, Daenerys understood the wisdom in her advisors' words and deigned to listen to them. At least on this count. Instead she looked down upon the Painted Table which rested before them, beautifully carved with an exquisite likeness and accuracy of the Seven Kingdoms before asking after Casterly Rock, one of the goals they had set to take so that the Lannister queen and her army would have no safe haven to run to should they escape from King's Landing after it was taken.
"The Unsullied will be there soon." Varys promised her, a little more at ease now that the queen had seemed to set aside her notion of burning down Euron Greyjoy's fleet. He answered Missandei's question as to what the Unsullied would face delicately, knowing that Missandei's concerns rested more with the leader of the Queen's army, the one named Grey Worm. "A difficult situation. They know we're coming."
"Yes. Cersei believes my sole purpose in life is to destroy House Lannister. She will be ready." Musing almost to himself, Tyrion looked darkly over the image of Casterly Rock upon the table, the place which had been his childhood home. Rhaena could not help but wonder if Tyrion felt regret turning an army onto his old home and the Lannister army which were positioned there. If he did, Tyrion did not allow such feelings to show. "No one has ever taken the rock. The Lannister army is still the army my father built. Well trained and well provisioned. Ten thousand men at least. They will see us coming." Their chances did not seem promising, but Rhaena knew Tyrion and knew him well. He would never have sent the Unsullied to Casterly Rock unless he was certain they could take it. "They will be ready. The gates of Casterly Rock are impregnable. The fight up the walls will be hard. We'll be at a disadvantage. Many men will die." Hearing Missandei give a sharp intake of breath, Rhaena touched her hand lightly to reassure her whilst continuing to listen to Tyrion. "Interesting thing about my father. He built our house up from near ruin. He built our army. He built Casterly Rock as we know it, but he didn't build the sewers. That was beneath him. So, he gave the job to the lowest person he could find." The barest hint of a smile touched his face. "Me. He was right. I was low. The company I kept low, women mostly. They weren't welcome at the Rock. Father disapproved of that sort of behaviour. I couldn't walk them through the front gates. I couldn't have them in my chambers. So, in the process of building the sewers I threw in something for myself." Reaching out his hand Tyrion brushed against the Lannister figures that signified their position at Casterly Rock, looking at it contemplatively. "It was a passage that began by the sea and ended beneath one of the main guard towers. No better place for low pursuits. Casterly Rock, the impregnable fortress…as a good friend of mine once said, give me ten good men and I'll impregnate the bitch." Rhaena had never heard these words said before, but she could very well guess who they came from. Bronn. "And so it begins. They will face the bulk of the Lannister forces. They will be outnumbered. They will have less armour and fewer weapons, but as my sister's armies fights for her, the Unsullied will be fighting for something greater. They will be fighting for freedom and the person who gave it to them. They will be fighting for you. And that is why they will triumph."
"Then we shall take this victory against the defeat we found against our fleet." Daenerys answered unfeelingly, her eyes sweeping over the table which showed her the entirety of the kingdoms she intended to rule. Finally, she gave a nod of her head and dismissed the council with an order to bring word of their progress as soon as it arrived. Rhaena did not doubt in Grey Worm's ability or his zealousness in serving his queen, so did think for a single moment that he would fail, telling Missandei this to soothe her worries before leaving. She went to find Jon and Ser Davos who remained as guests upon Dragonstone, helping them to organise the retrieval of the dragonglass. The work had already been begun as from almost the moment Rhaena had set foot upon the island, she had begun to mine the dragonglass knowing that Jon and Robb would want it for the fight to come. Now with her sister's official permission given to Jon, they could begin to take it away. It was good that Jon and Daenerys seemed to be warming to one another, Rhaena noticing sometimes that they would speak to one another amicably, though Daenerys still insisted that Jon should bend the knee as well as his brother Robb. Perhaps there were some battles that would never have a decisive victory or loss. This one seemed to only continually go in circles. It made Rhaena sigh heavily. At least she found some peace whenever she went to visit Myrcella, bringing her gifts of her favourite foods and pretty things that she found in her explorations of the keep. Mostly the prettiest items tended to be seashells which washed upon the shore, but Myrcella liked them all the same. They adorned her room, clustered upon tables, shelves and the window ledge, some of them threaded and hanging in tasteful decorations the princess made herself.
Myrcella was quieter than she had been and did not smile as often, but this was simply because she worried for her betrothed, Trystane. Rhaena brought her word of him the moment she had it, the young Prince sending ravens with his reports and also private letters to Myrcella. Whenever Rhaena would appear at her door with such a letter in her hand, Myrcella would smile her brightest smile and fly across the room in order to take it with breathless glee. Despite the awkwardness of their situation, Rhaena remained as affectionate of Myrcella as ever, often sitting with her to talk or run a comb through her long golden tresses. Myrcella knew that they were going to war against her mother, but since Trystane had chosen to side with Daenerys, Myrcella did not go against his wishes. All she ever asked was mercy for her family, to which Rhaena promised to consider it, noting that if her mother would simply concede the throne she had no right to, then everything would end peacefully. In her mind, Myrcella understood the truth of things. She was no fool. She had known for a long time that her Uncle Jaime was in fact her father, and not the former king, Robert. It meant that neither she nor either of her brothers had any right to the throne, and certainly not her mother who had only married the king. It did not matter at all to her.
All Myrcella wanted was to have her family whole once more, though both her brothers were gone and her mother was now adamant to destroy anyone she perceived as an enemy just for the sake of power. It made her wonder if her mother would see her as an enemy because she chose her love for Trystane over all else. At the very least, he loved her in spite of her parentage. It was unlikely she would ever be so fortunate again, and in name she was still a Baratheon. Robert had been good to her. Perhaps not the most attentive of fathers, but still loving. Myrcella still had the memories of him pulling her up onto his knee and the feel of his large hand against her back to steady her, feeding her treats and sweets and laughing jovially. Everything seemed so overly complicated, but Myrcella knew she could at least depend upon Rhaena. Although not related to her in anyway, Myrcella knew that Rhaena would never harm her no matter the outcome of the war. Either way, she would be safe, and her Uncle Tyrion also saw to her every need and kept her company when he was able. So, Myrcella would sit and create her windchimes of seashells to pass the time, and Myrcella knew of peace amidst the chaos of war.
Rhaena did her best to keep the details of the war away from Myrcella to spare her the fear, especially after their Iron Born fleet was sunk. This much Rhaena could do to protect Myrcella, so she ensured that all the servants knew never to discuss the rumours around her. Let her live in peace and innocence. There was far too little of it to be had these days. Instead Rhaena steeled herself to every news which came back to them, feeling heavily their losses when it transpired that they had once more been misled. Casterly Rock was theirs, but only because the main force of the Lannister army had abandoned it with only a small garrison to hold it, in order to ride against Highgarden, another of the Targaryen allies. They fell to the sword, and word soon reached them that Lady Olenna Tyrell was dead. Without the food and gold from Highgarden, Daenerys's chances were swiftly slipping away. They had been outwitted by Cersei, and nothing enflamed Rhaena more, and so when Daenerys decided that she would fly to meet the Lannister army to deal with them herself, Rhaena was more than willing to go with her. Their advisors attempted to dissuade them, reminding them that the Queen and her heir could not both risk themselves on the field of the same battle, but neither woman would hear of it. "It is past time the Lannisters heard the roar of a dragon." Rhaena had proclaimed before going to fetch Whitefyre as well as her bow. Seeing no other option, the queen's subjects could only bow their heads and obey.
Varys, however, was not willing to see Rhaena leave without some better form of protection. The Queen, he knew, would remain aloft upon Drogon the greatest of her dragons, but Rhaena was far more likely to stride directly into the field of battle and commit her sword and bow to their uses. This being the case, she would need protection. Finally, he could present her with his final gift of the set he had originally intended to give. When the armour was brought before Rhaena upon a stand, she had lost all words upon casting her eyes upon it. Reinforced steel gleamed with pure white enamel indented with the impressions of dragon scales, gold and silver inlaid in elegant swirling designs which looked indistinguishable between fire and water. Upon the pauldron, which was slim and refined to suit her shape and allow her full range of movement whilst still protecting her, was ridged with individual pieces of gleaming steel dipped in gold to create more realistic dragon scales, as were her bracers and greaves. The design itself was simple with no ornamentation of jewels or motifs as some knights and lords preferred, but Rhaena found this far more to her liking. The armour looked light but strong. It would not be cumbersome or hinder her ability to fight. There were elements of Westerossi styles but also that of Dothraki beserkers and eastern mercenaries. The light armour was perfectly shaped for her, as if it had been made from the image of her own body measure for measure.
Then came the finishing piece, a cloak of richly deep purple which would fall to her ankles when worn, threaded with silver and gold so that it caught the light like ripples of indigo water. It was cut so that it would fall from one shoulder, the one opposite to the pauldron where she was less armoured, bound by a braid of gold and clasped with a broach of three dragon heads, one made from onyx, one of jade and the third from gold. At the centre they held a giant amethyst jewel as if guarding their precious treasure. "I thought this colour would suit you best." Varys informed her nonchalantly as the cloak was draped against her and fastened by a servant's deft hands before they removed themselves, Rhaena still far too stunned to speak. "You were once called Rhaena the Purple, if I recalled, for the number of bruises adorning your skin. I thought it only apt to take that name and return it to them as something to be feared." Still not looking at Rhaena, Varys shifted the cloak so that it settled more neatly upon her shoulder, fussing with the folds and stepping around her in order to look at it sceptically. "I had intended to give you the armour before you left Meereen, but alas it was not quite yet finished. However, now is as good a time as any, especially if you will insist upon following the Queen into battle. I only wish now I had commissioned a full suit of armour so that it might better protect you."
"Varys…you have already given me far too much. The bow…the sword, the sword alone must have cost you your entire fortune. Why have you given me more?" Rhaena questioned him in a quiet whisper, staring at the man who for many years, Rhaena had not known whether he was her friend or foe. At times he was both. It was a game of survival for all who entered King's Landing, and sometimes hard sacrifices had to be made. "Why do you treat me so well?"
"Because, my dear child, I have always styled myself a loyal man." Now finally meeting her gaze, Varys slipped his hands back into the folds of his sleeves. "Loyal to whom? Now that is the question. Some might think it was the king, whichever king who sat upon the Iron Throne. Others believed it was to myself…they were not entirely wrong in that, I do rather like living, after all. Yet some I have told myself that my loyalties lie with the people and the realm. Now this I do not deny, I shall always speak for the interests of the people, however there is one other whom I might profess my loyalty to. One whom I have secretly served these past twenty years and more." Giving one of his rare, sincere smiles, Varys leaned forwards in order to whisper quietly to Rhaena. "It is to the one who deserved it more than anyone else in the world." Rhaena stared at him continuously. Varys drew back. "Do not misunderstand, I serve your sister and I serve her faithfully, but if ever I were asked to choose…well now, that shall be an interesting day indeed." Sighing deeply, Varys withdrew a hand from his sleeve and dapped at his face with something old and worn, faded from use and beginning to fray. However the coloured threads, faded as they might be, distinctly showed the image of flowers that Rhaena herself had threaded years ago.
"You still have it." It was no longer a question, Rhaena told herself she would no longer be surprised by Varys.
"But of course. It remains my most treasured possession. Even if you were to offer me the value of your bow, your sword, your cloak and your armour, it still would not equal the value I place upon this small thing." Tucking it away once again, Varys gave Rhaena another smile. "I have pledged my service to your sister, but my heart remains yours, my princess. I have no care and little use for gold other than to pay my birds, and so I see no harm in spending it upon the woman who has the future of the Seven Kingdoms resting in the palm of her hands." Now Rhaena's head grew light, swaying slightly as she attempted to understand Varys's cryptic words.
"My sister is the queen. She is the one who will rule."
"Ah, but I am told that the queen will never be able to bear an heir. If she is to have no child to succeed her, then it can only be yourself, my princess, who will take the throne after her death. Or perhaps your own children, should you choose to have any." Such words could be mistaken as treasonous by those of a more suspicious nature. Rhaena merely hoped Daenerys will not hear them as her character had been fractious as of late. It was understandable, the war was adding a great deal of weight to her mind especially since they were losing, but Rhaena did not wish to tempt her sister's anger. So instead, she warned Varys not to voice such words again, but took his hands in hers to kiss them tenderly, thanking him sincerely for his gift and promising once more that he shall see his investments repaid tenfold. "My only wish, princess, is to see you safely returned. I shall leave you now. I hope the armour fits." It did. The moment Rhaena had fitted herself with every item, she had stridden several times across her room with her cloak sweeping behind her. The clasp released in such a manner that she could discard it quickly in order to battle, however as she looked upon it, Rhaena felt it too fine and precious to take to where it would only be torn, dirtied and most likely burned. So, she laid it neatly across her bed and took only the clasp, fitting it to her belt before a servant arranged her hair into several braids and wove them together to keep her hair tamed, placing the coronet upon her brow once she was done.
Now dressed and armed for war, Rhaena strode forth and mounted Rhaegal with pride who seemed to growl in approval of his rider's apparel, thinking her to look fierce and mighty. With the ships to take the Dothraki once more across the sea, Rhaena and Daenerys took flight upon Rhaegal and Drogon, listening to their cries as Viserion remained behind in order to protect Dragonstone, though only because Rheana had instructed him to do so. Daenerys had been unable to make him understand her, but a simple touch and hush had Viserion soothed and calmed, and within moments Rhaena had relayed to him her desires and he obeyed them willingly. More spikes of envy cut through Daenerys as she watched all three of her dragons respond so softly and obediently towards Rhaena, when she herself could barely make them listen to her. It is only because of her magic. Daenerys thought to herself as she gripped tightly onto Drogon as he flew into the air. They listen to her because she has magic I do not. Where I do not burn, Rhaena is a living flame. I am their mother. Soothing herself of her envy, Daenerys thought instead of what she intended to do. She had lost two of her allies, and now the Lannisters made off with the gold and food which had been intended to feed her army. If the Lannisters would play such tricks, then she would simply take back what they had stolen. After all.
Who would dare steal from a dragon?