Rhaenyra sighed deeply. This trip had been a complete disaster. There was no point in seeing all these stupid Lords. She had already decided who she wanted to marry years ago. She was destined to marry Daemon, there was nothing more to it. The two of them were meant to rule, together.
When her father told her to marry someone of her choosing, it was a dream come true. Her one dream was fulfilled.
However, she knew she couldn't ask for what she wanted. Father would never accept Daemon as her husband.
A sound disturbed her.
Rhaenyra looked at the sky. Was that…
Out of nowhere, a dragon appeared. It narrowly passed by their ship. So narrowly the ship was sent rocking and she was tossed against the railing.
Ser Criston was with her in an instant.
"Are you alright?"
She touched her head. Sharp stabs of pain coursed through her body.
"Fetch the maester!" he called.
"I'm fine," Rhaenyra said.
She looked at the dragon flying to King's Landing.
More than fine.
She'd recognise that dragon anywhere.
Caraxes.
Daemon was home.
Daemon was home.
Daemon…
"Get us to shore," she ordered. "Now."
"Princess, we have to check the ship for damage-"
"There is no damage," she said. "Daemon was just teasing me. Get me to shore."
"Princess-"
Her eyes flashed dangerously. "If you don't get me to shore right now, I will jump overboard and swim there, do you understand me?"
Ser Criston swallowed hard. "Yes, Princess."
He started shouting orders to the crew.
Shortly after, they arrived in King's Landing. The guards quickly escorted her into the palace. In time to see him enter.
He was wearing his battle armor, and the usual confident smirk on his face. His hair was cut short and adorned with a crown. One hand was holding Dark Sister in place on his hip, the other held a cruel-looking axe.
Daemon confidently walked through the crowd to the throne.
Rhaenyra's panties were completely soaked before he even reached it.
She felt her knees grow weak. At this rate, she might drop to her knees. Again.
However, Daemon was the one kneeling in the end. He knelt, and offered up his crown to her father.
Her father raised him up and hugged him, like a long lost brother.
The two men walked past them. She heard her father speak about a feast.
"Ser Criston," she said. "I'll need to get changed for the feast."
"Yes, Princess. I'll escort you to your bedchambers."
"Please go fetch my dress," she asked.
"Which one, Princess?"
"The sand-colored one with the red. The one I wore last time Daemon was here."
"L-Last time? Princess that was four years ago. There is no way that one will fit you anymore."
"Ser Criston. This is important."
"I-I'll see what I can do, Princess."
In the end, he couldn't find exactly the same dress. But the dress he got her was the same sandy color, with dark-red accents. It was cut just deep enough to show off her necklace, but not enough to make her appear like anything other than the maiden she was.
When she entered the impromptu garden party, she found Daemon talking with her father. Both men ignored her. Father was clearly drunk again.
"Congratulations on your victory," she inserted herself into the conversation.
A brief silence fell. Daemon's eyes went to her necklace, and then back up to her face. Something passed between them.
He flashed her his usual smirk. "Thank you, Princess."
Unfortunately, she couldn't get a moment alone with Daemon. So she excused herself and went to sit by herself in the garden.
Unfortunately, it was Alicent who joined her.
"I surmise the tour didn't go well?" Alicent asked.
Rhaenyra sighed inwardly. Surely, Alicent could feel the tension between her and Daemon? Her father may be blind, but Alicent was not.
Luckily, she did manage to get Daemon alone an hour later. Her father had retreated to his chambers again, probably too drunk to continue. And Daemon was all by himself in the Godswood.
"So why did you return?" she asked him, in High Valyrian. "Surely there is more to it than taunting my father?"
In response, he smiled. Then, he reached forward and touched her necklace.
Rhaenyra's breath caught for a moment.
She quickly pulled herself together.
"So," she said, slipping back into the Common Tongue. "What do you want?"
You.
You.
Just say it. Say you want me. Say you want to marry me.
But of course, Daemon wouldn't give her the satisfaction. He liked to play with his prey.
"Only the comforts of home."
He walked away from her.
Ugh.
"You never looked particularly comfortable in this home," she insisted.
Apart from that one time on the Iron Throne, with her mouth tending to his cock. Why couldn't they do that again?
Rhaenyra stepped back in front of him. "You've matured."
"As have you, Princess." His eyes briefly glanced down at her chest.
"Father wants to sell me off to whichever Lord has the biggest castle."
Now would be a great time to point out how big Dragonstone is.
Her brother changed back to High Valyrian. "Marriage is a political arrangement. Once you are married, you can do as you like."
Wait what? Did he mean…
Was he proposing they sneak around and…
No, no. This was crazy. If she married someone else, they would want an heir.
"For men, yes. For women it could be a death sentence."
"Would that it were so," Daemon said. "I would have gotten rid of my Bronze Bitch ages ago."
Rhaenyra bit her lip. If he spoke the word, she'd fly Syrax up to the Vale in a heartbeat and burn that bitch alive.
He held out his goblet.
She wasn't supposed to drink wine. But of course, she accepted it and drank.
"Your wife is lucky that you haven't put a baby in her."
"I doubt a child could grow in such a hostile environment," Daemon said.
Rhaenyra hesitated. Her own womb would gladly welcome his babies. She wanted-
Suddenly, something else flashed into her mind.
Mother.
"Mother was made to bear heirs until it killed her," Rhaenyra said. "I won't subject myself to the same fate."
Especially not for some random lord. And if Daemon didn't want to marry her then…
"What happened to your mother was a tragedy," Daemon said. "But this is a tragic world. You cannot live your life in fear."
"I have no intention of living my life in fear," Rhaenyra said. "Only solitude."
They couldn't be together. She knew that. It was time to stop this silly dream of hers. Grow up. She would never be allowed to marry Daemon. And even if they could meet in secret, that didn't stop the fact that she would have to lie with another man and carry his babies.
"Such a lonely prospect," Daemon said.
Their eyes locked for a moment. But then, the moment passed. Daemon walked away from her, leaving her all alone in the Godswood.
Rhaenyra walked into her room. "Good night, Ser Criston."
"Sleep well, Princess," her guard replied.
Rhaenyra closed the door and took off her earrings.
Maybe she should sneak out? Try and see Daemon. If he took her maidenhead, then father wouldn't have any choice but to marry them. No other man would want her.
She smiled at her own silly plan. As if that was going to happen. Ser Criston was guarding the only entrance to her bedchambers. And even though he liked her, he would never allow her to leave this room to-
Wait. What was this?
Surely this bag hadn't been there before?
She shook out its contents.
Clothes. Smelly peasant clothes.
And a note. A note with a drawing of her room. With a little X marking.
Rhaenyra walked up to the spot and pushed the wall. It opened up into a secret staircase.
No way.
Her heart raced.
Daemon.
Rhaenyra quickly undressed herself and put on the peasant clothes.
She checked herself in the mirror.
Damnit. Her necklace.
She tried hiding it beneath the shirt. But while it laced up pretty high, it wasn't enough to fully hide her necklace. And if she bent over a little, it fell out right away.
She would have to take it off. It drew far too much attention. Peasants didn't wear necklaces like that. And if anyone saw it, she would be exposed instantly. She'd been wearing this necklace every day for the last four years.
With trembling fingers, she reached up. There was no other option. She'd have to take it off. Otherwise, she could not see Daemon.
Rhaenyra fumbled with the fastening. She had never taken off this necklace before. Come to think of it, she didn't even know if that was an option. Maybe Daemon had rigged it so she couldn't remove it? That would be-
Suddenly, it came loose. The necklace fell down into her cleavage.
Rhaenyra chuckled. Maybe she should leave it there? A little surprise for Daemon later on?
Unfortunately, that wasn't an option. The risk of it falling out was too big. If she lost this necklace…
Rhaenyra shuddered.
She fished out the necklace and carefully stored it in her bedside table.
Alright. Time to see Daemon.
She followed the secret path, down the stairs, past a massive dragon skull, and then upstairs again. At the end, she found him waiting for her.
Daemon was wearing a hooded cloak and his usual smirk.
She smiled back.
Without a word, he turned around and started walking down a narrow staircase. Rhaenyra quickly followed him.
He took her hand.
Her heart skipped several beats.
Calm down. He was just guiding her down the stairs.
"W-Where are we going?" she asked.
Daemon didn't reply. But no reply was needed. Her question was soon answered.
They were going into the city. Into a world she had never seen before.
They had a wonderful night together. They drank wine, saw street artists and people fucking in the streets. Daemon would often take her hand to guide her to whatever wonder was guiding around the next corner.
In the end, they arrived at the biggest wonder of all. A brothel.
Rhaenyra was watching in awe. She had seen people fucking in the streets, but this was different. This was…
Beautiful. They weren't fucking. No, they were. But they were also… making love.
She always thought 'making love' was a silly idea. Something invented by poets to woe silly maidens. Something she often dreamed off, but knew was never going to happen. She never knew that-
"Fucking is a pleasure, you see," Daemon spoke her thoughts. "For the woman as it is the man."
He was so close to her. Their eyes locked.
And then, they both leaned in and kissed.
Her heart was hammering in her chest. She was kissing Daemon.
She had dreamed about this countless times, but none of those silly dreams had come close to reality. In all her nights of self-pleasure, nothing had felt as good as Daemon's lips on her. His hot breath against her. His hands pulling her closer.
It was a gentle kiss at first. But their need was too large.
Daemon guided her towards the wall and pushed her up against it.
His hands unlaced her shirt and opened it up.
Fuck. She wanted him. Right now.
Rhaenyra turned around and placed her hands against the wall. She wanted him to take her like this, the way she had always dreamed.
He pulled down her pants while he kissed her neck.
Wait. Hold on. She wanted to kiss him some more before he took her.
Rhaenyra turned back around and tried to kiss him. But he was holding her off.
Stop teasing me, you jerk.
She tried to kiss him more forcefully, but he tightened his grip.
What was going on? This wasn't teasing anymore.
Suddenly, Daemon released her and walked away, leaving her standing there, half-naked.
She pulled her clothes tighter around her body.
"Daemon?"
This wasn't funny anymore. What was he…
She went after him, but he was gone.
"Daemon?"
No reply.
Rhaenyra felt tears stinging into her eyes.
She ran back to the castle. She forgot about the secret passage and walked in through the front door.
Everyone was stunned to see her, but no one stopped her. Apart from Ser Criston.
"Princess? What's going on?"
"Nothing."
"I should alert the Lord Commander."
"Don't you dare," she hissed.
Their eyes locked.
Maybe she should fuck Ser Criston? That would show Daemon. That fucking…
Ugh.
"You saw nothing."
Rhaenyra slammed the door shut. She fell down on her bed and burst into tears.
Why did he do that? What did she do wrong? Everything was so perfect and then he just…
Why had Daemon pulled back? Did he regret what he did? Didn't he want her?
Rhaenyra climbed beneath her blankets.
But if she thought this was bad, she had no idea. Things were about to get far, far worse.
As Rhaenyra was getting ready for bed, she heard a voice behind her.
"I believe congratulations are in order."
She spun around. "Daemon?"
He must have sneaked in through the secret passage.
"Good evening, Princess. You look well. Leanor is a lucky guy."
"I'm gonna call the guards," she warned him.
"Relax. I'm just coming to say goodbye."
"I'm not married yet," she said.
"Ah, but I have been banished again. Your dad is livid about our little trip. I'm being sent back to the Vale to my lady wife."
Rhaenyra hardened her gaze. "Good."
"I'm sorry about what happened."
She was unable to stop herself. The words just spilled out.
"What happened? What happened? You mean what didn't happen? Why couldn't you have taken me? If you had taken me, father would have had no choice but to marry us. This is all your fault. Why did you give me that stupid necklace if-… if-…"
She felt tears welling up again.
Rhaenyra stomped to her bedside table and roughly pulled open the drawer. She pulled out the necklace and threw it against Daemon's chest with all the strength she could muster.
"Here. Give it to your lady wife."
Daemon frowned. "Why do you still have that?"
"What?"
"You weren't wearing it last night."
"Of course not. Anyone would recognise me wearing that."
"Oh."
Wait. "Is that why you ran away?"
"I… You said you wanted solitude," Daemon insisted. "In the Godswood."
"I want you."
A silence fell.
"We both know that's not an option," Daemon said.
"But if you-"
"I told your father I took your virginity. I told him I defiled you. I asked him to marry us and he refused."
"Why would you do that?"
"Because I want you too."
Her breath caught. "Daemon."
"Don't. You need to stay away from me. This is dangerous. You need to marry Laenor and I need to go back to the Vale before your father kills me."
"He wouldn't do that."
"He put a Valyrian dagger against my throat."
Rhaenyra hesitated.
"One night," she said.
"No."
"I need my first time to be with you, Daemon. Then I-I can face reality."
"We can't do this. If your father finds out."
Rhaenyra stepped forward. She crouched down before him and picked up the necklace. Then, she rose again. She removed her other necklace and tossed it away. Then, she put his necklace back where it belonged: around her neck.
"Rhaenyra."
"I'm sorry, Your Grace," she said. "I won't take it off again."
She saw him waver, but he caught himself. "Don't do this."
"Please. Please take my maidenhead." She unfastened the straps of her dress and let it fall down, leaving her in her undershirt. Then, she reached down and-
A knock on her door interrupted them.
Fuck.
"Hide," she whispered.
No word was needed. Without making a sound, Daemon hid beneath her bed.
Rhaenyra quickly sat on the couch and picked up a random book.
"Come."
The maester entered her room.
"Forgive the late hour, Princess."
Rhaenyra realised she was holding the book upside down. She quickly put it down.
"I took great care in its preparation," the maester said.
He placed something on her table.
"If brewed-"
"What is that?" Rhaenyra asked.
"A tea, Princess. From the King. It will rid you of any… unwanted consequences."
The maester bowed and left the room.
She waited until he was out of earshot. Then, she said:
"Father already believes you took my maidenhead. You might as well do it for real."
"Don't be absurd," Daemon said, crawling from under her bed.
"I'm not asking you. I'm the Princess. Heir to the Iron Throne. I am ordering you to take my virginity."
"No."
Daemon tried to walk away, but Rhaenyra pushed him with both hands. He fell down on her bed.
"Rhaenyra."
"Call me Princess."
She straddled him.
"That's enough." He tried to push her off.
"That's right." She pinned both his hands above his head. "Enough with these silly protests. You're going to fuck me now."
"Rhae-"
"If you don't, I'm gonna scream. Ser Criston is going to rush into this room. And I'm going to tell him that you tore the clothes of my body…" she pulled hard on her flimsy undershirt. It tore right away. "And then father is going to kill you. Maybe he'll use that Valyrian dagger to castrate you first?"
"You're insane."
"This is your fault. You awakened this when you put this little necklace on me. Now it's time to take responsibility. I asked you nicely, but you wouldn't go for it, so you leave me no choice. I would have preferred to lose my maidenhead from behind up against the wall. But given the circumstances, I suppose I'll settle for riding you."
She reached down and unlaced his pants.
"Okay, okay. Fine," Daemon said. "I'll do it. I'll take your maidenhead."
"Really?"
"You're right. This is my fault. I've already taken things too far. But we need to be more careful. That maester almost saw me."
"You're right," Rhaenyra said. "I'm sorry."
"Do you trust Ser Criston?"
"He owes everything to me."
"We'll need him to warn us if anyone is coming. And we'll need his help hiding any… evidence. Like that shirt of yours."
He nodded to the large tear in her undershirt.
"I'll go talk to him," Rhaenyra said. "Don't go anywhere."
"Yes, Princess."
Rhaenyra flashed him a confident smirk. She hopped out of bed and walked to the door.
It was happening. It was finally happening. She was going to lose her maidenhead to Daemon. Like she had always dreamed. And no one, no one was going to stop her.