Author's Note: You guys are the sweetest readers! You give such wonderful feedback on what you think, as well as give ideas for what may come ahead...some of which are already aligned with the plans I have in mind. 😉 I even had one reader create a moodboard for Elaena Targaryen on tumblr, which I absolutely adore. The link is at the bottom of the story if you want to see it! As always, happy reading!

THE DRAGON & THE ROSE - EPISODE THREE/PART TWO

After the bloody and gruesome attack over a year ago, life had drastically changed for Elaena. Everything she once thought she knew crumpled before her, the harsh realities of this world crushing them into dust. As a child, Elaena would look in the mirror see the projection of the life she would one day lead. She had seen herself living in King's Landing, a Princess who was respected and beloved by both the court and the common people. She had seen herself with her Lord Husband who sat on the small council, and she had seen their silver-haired children running around in the gardens to play. The life she had always imagined for herself was one shrouded in gold, a peaceful one with harmony in all aspects of her life. But when she looked in the mirror now the broken reflection of this life she once dreamed of cackled back at her as if she were still a naive child. She felt a fool for ever thinking that this world would give her the life she wanted. She realized now that she had to take what she wanted, for that was the only way to get it.

So she spent the past year and a half doing exactly as she pleased, with not a single apology. Following her attack she refused to ever feel so helpless and weak again. While she once thought that a dragon could never be defeated, she was very nearly wrong. She couldn't allow herself to rely on Cley or even on Vermax in any future battle. She needed to be a force of power both mentally and physically in her own right. And because she was refusing to speak to anyone she once knew beside Cley, she was left with lots of free time to ensure she would be. From dawn until noon she spent her time riding Vermax, developing their bond and increasing his training of commands. And from the afternoon until dusk she spent her time with Cley, learning how to use a sword. She had been absolutely pitiful at first, barely strong enough to hold even the smallest of swords. But she had enough anger and hatred to fuel her for a lifetime. After months and months of training she slowly crafted her skill and strength in the art of fighting, and everywhere she went she kept her thin sword on her hip. It was no great beast of metal, it could be easily cut in half by a thicker blade, but she didn't need it to be big. She didn't need to be the strongest, she just needed to be the smartest; able and agile enough to cut through someone before they even realized what she was doing.

And though she told herself that she was doing this to protect herself, that the only reason why she was learning how to fight was for defense, she knew deep down that it was all in preparation for one person. Like the snake she was, Lynara slithered and disappeared into the night before she could be brought to justice for what she did to Elaena. She had been missing from the capital ever since, and all words and whispers of her trail had come to no fruition. But this didn't dissuade Elaena, she knew she would one day find her and exact the justice she deserved. While the Targaryen way of execution was to have their dragons burn the guilty alive, Elaena wanted to taste Lynara's blood herself. She wanted to feel her sword slice into the vile woman's flesh, she wanted to take her life with her own bare hands. With each day that Lynara remained uncaptured, Elaena could feel her heart grow harder and darker, the all-encompassing desire for divine justice icing it over.

It also didn't help her heart that her and Rhaenyra and her weren't speaking to each other. The two of them had always been there for each other to pull the other back from the ledge once they've leaned over to far, once they risked falling into their darkest impulses. But Elaena had nothing to say to Rhaenyra. It was her own cousin that sent the guard to keep her with Lynara, her own cousin that spitefully demanded for Elaena to forgive her step-mother, and it resulted in her own pain and devastation. Rhaenyra had tried on many occasions to come to Elaena for support, but Elaena wouldn't hear of it.

The only good thing that Elaena felt came from that night was the fact that the king backed down from his rushed importance on her getting married. At first, he had done so just to give her time to recover. Her fear and anger had clouded her mind so much that they both knew it was not the time to force a marriage, especially when it was already such a delicate and fragile subject. But as time went on with the search for a suitor called off, as Elaena strengthened her body and spirit, Viserys grew worried that she would never become agreeable to the notion ever again, and he began to notice that the rest of the lords and ladies of Westeros were looking to him and wondering why a Princess of 21 year was still not wed. As far as Elaena was concerned, she was going to use this to her advantage. The longer she could put it off the happier she would be. As of late she put everything off, pushing her feelings for everything in her life away. She couldn't allow herself to feel as she once did. She knew if she tried, the floodgates of pain would open and she didn't know if she would be able to shut them again. There was too much soreness in her heart, so it was either feel it all at once or feel nothing. She chose the latter.

That's why she hadn't tried to speak to Daemon once in these two years, or even write to him. She had no idea what she would say to him, for she didn't even know how she felt about him anymore. Of course she loved him, but it was an impossible mountain to climb to get where she wanted. After hearing Lynara admit she was the one who killed her mother to be with her father, she solidified her stance about Rhea Royce once and for all. She refused to become the person she hated most in this world, even if it kept from her happiness.

As Elaena rode in the carriage towards Prince Aegon's second name day hunt, she could feel the tension between everyone inside. King Viserys was quarreling internally with both Rhaenyra and Elaena. Rhaenyra resented her father and Lady Alicent, and didn't know where she stood at all with Elaena. Alicent looked as nervous as a mouse sitting next to Rhaenyra, and hadn't hardly spoken a word to Elaena since the attack. And Elaena obviously sat with contempt for them all. Even if they only had a tiny hand in how things played out, she blamed each and every one of them for what happened to her.

"Well isn't this splendid," Viserys said nervously, turning to his small son with a smile. "The whole of our family off to celebration and adventure in the Kingswood."

Despite the two not talking to each other, Elaena and Rhaenyra quickly caught each other's eyes, both of them sharing the same humorless look on their face. They both knew this family was broken, and they knew that half of the members of it didn't even agree that they should be a family.

"Should you be traveling in such condition?" Rhaenyra asked, turning to the heavily pregnant Alicent. Elaena looked at the girl's bump and exhaled a little. She could be in the same exact position as Alicent right now with the amount of time that had passed since she was supposed to be married, pregnant already with a second child.

"The maester said that being out in nature would do me well," Alicent said with a smile. But everyone could feel the resentment between the newly made daughter and mother.

"You both will be with your own children sooner than late, making me a proud grandsire and uncle," Viserys nodded, taking a large drink of his wine.

Both girls sat silently, the two of them detesting this notion. Elaena could feel Alicent's eyes travel down her, landing on the sword that had been tucked behind her skirt.

"Is that a sword I see?" Alicent asked, changing the subject of conversation.

"Gods be good, it's only a name day celebration," Viserys laughed a little. "I'm sure Ser Cley can protect you well enough without you having to arm yourself, Elaena."

"It's not appropriate for a lady to carry one, especially at an event like this," Alicent said, putting a hand on her bump. "Won't you leave it in the carriage?"

"No," Elaena said flatly. "I won't. I need it."

The King and Queen also fell into silence, the tension between them all thick enough to cut with a blade. They all knew that the frivolous small-talk was just a mere distraction from what they all really wanted to say, but no one was brave enough to actually say it quite yet. So the stress and pressure grew around them like weeds through stones. Once they arrived, the relief was palpable, now they could all go their own ways and continue to avoid what needed to be said.

Inside the massive tent was more people, food, wine, and music than Elaena had ever seen in one place. The festivity was even grander than the King's second wedding, and it was only for a babe of two that would never remember it. They all parted ways in the sea of amusement, finding something to occupy themselves. It was all too overwhelming for Elaena though, and the joy in the air was just something she couldn't bring herself to feel in her own heart. She stepped out of the tent, leaving them all to celebrate, and joined Cley who was sitting outside and talking with other members of the kingsguard.

"Ser Cley," Elaena said, her demeanor stiff.

"Your Grace," all of the guards stood, bowing lightly. They had all stood so quickly that the ale in their cups sloshed out to the side, splashing in the dry dirt below.

"How can I help you, Princess?" Cley asked, a small smile on his face.

"I'd like to continue my training," Elaena responded, pulling off her silk gloves.

"Your Grace should be enjoying the festivities," one of the other guards spoke, hiccuping a little. "The Prince only has one second name day."

"Maybe you should be enjoying the celebration a bit less," Elaena said coldly, eyeing his nearly empty cup. "Your job is to protect the King, not drink all of his ale."

"Yes, Your Grace," he responded, his cheeks flushing red.

"Come, Ser Cley." She turned immediately, walking towards an open area to practice.

He took one last drink and followed her, sighing to himself. Once they reached the field she immediately pulled out her sword, expecting him to do the same, but he only stood with his hand on the hilt.

"What are you waiting for?" she asked, her tone flat.

"Why do you want to do this so badly...why right now?" he asked.

"I can't fall behind in my training."

"You won't fall behind in skill from missing one day of training, Elaena," he said slowly, his voice filled with kindness. "It's alright to just have fun."

"I don't want to have fun, I want to train."

"For what? Lynara?" Cley asked, his face turning more serious. "I'm pretty sure she won't hold a candle to your skill should you ever find her."

"It's not just for Lynara," she shook her head. "It's for anyone that tries to hurt me again."

"I won't let that happen," he said softly.

"You won't always be there to protect me, Cley," she snapped. "I can't afford to lie down and wait, hoping for a savior. The next time something like that happens, I'll be ready for it."

"I'm worried about you, Elaena," he whispered. "You're not-"

"Not what?" she asked, her eyebrows raised. "Not who I used to be? Of course I'm not, how could I be?"

The two stared at each other for a moment, not moving. Elaena finally exhaled with annoyance and glanced at his blade. "Just pick up your sword-"

"I wish you would talk to me about it, or to Rhaenyra, anyone really," he said, looking exasperated. "Even if you can't see it yourself, I can. You're drowning-"

"I can't talk about it Cley," Elaena shook her head, "I can't even think about talking about it. Because if I do, I'll start to cry and I won't be able to stop. I'm just sick and tired to my bones of crying, of being the person people pity. I refuse to do it. So if you want to train with me, stay. But if you're going to keep interrogating me, then leave."

He nodded once, pursing his lips together, and left. She bit her lip and exhaled angrily, shoving her sword back into its sheath. She knew Cley was right, but she didn't care. She just couldn't do it. She refused to watch him walk away, turning her back on him to go back in the tent. She would rather make small talk with the ladies of the court and Queen Alicent herself than talk about what happened that night, about how she felt about her life since then. As she walked through the red and white silked tent, she immediately walked to a cup bearer holding wine. Before she could even take a sip of it, she felt someone grab the cup from her and replace it with another.

"Don't drink that Dornish swill, Princess," the man said with a drunken smile. "This is the finest honey wine you will ever taste, made in Lannisport."

"Of course it is," Elaena said dully, eyeing up Lord Jason Lannister of Casterly Rock.

"It has been too long since our last conversation, Your Grace, I have missed your beautiful smile," he said slimily. Elaena couldn't tell if this boldness was because of the wine or if it was just his very own nature. "The King made it clear to us all last year that you were looking to marry, but the search seemed to be put on hold for some reason."

"Yes," Elaena nodded, but didn't explain why. When he saw that she wouldn't, he continued.

"I hope you know, I'm still very much interested in your hand in marriage. We could live a wonderful life together at Casterly Rock, with crates and crates of this wine if you wish." he laughed, the sound grating her ears. "I would do...anything... for my Princess."

"You're proposal is bold, Lord Lannister," Elaena responded, giving an insincere smile.

"Thank you," he nodded, but she didn't mean it as a compliment. "I know you have many suitors vying for your hand, so I have to be bold to make a good impression and beat all the others out."

"How flattering," Elaena mumbled.

"Just remember," he said, taking a step closer to her. She felt her whole body tense up as he moved his mouth to her ear. Her instinct told her to grab her sword, but she couldn't very well pull it out on him in the middle of the party. No one would understand. "Whatever someone offers you, I can offer more. Because I must admit I would be terribly disappointed if you chose someone else."

"Thank you, my Lord, I will take your proposal into consideration," she said quietly, swallowing roughly from her nerves. She wanted him to step away from her, and when he finally did she felt her whole body relax.

"Enjoy the festivities, Your Grace," he bowed, giving her one last lewd look before leaving.

She quickly walked away, setting the wine down and leaving it behind. She was about to go back outside and abandon all the small talk to go riding, but she heard shouting from the King and Rhaenyra that immediately pulled her attention. Over the music and the rest of everyone talking she couldn't understand exactly what was being said, but she could see Rhaenyra on the verge of tears, and the King's face was red with anger. Elaena watched as Rhaenyra stormed from the tent. While she was still angry with her cousin, she also hated seeing her completely rattled. Her first feeling was to stay and let her go on her own, but Cley's words rang in her mind.

She knew she needed to make amends with Rhaenyra at the least, for she knew that her cousin would never intentionally mean to harm her the way she was harmed. And even if Elaena couldn't talk about what was wrong with her, maybe the first step in mending their relationship was to show Rhaenyra that she could talk to her about her own problems.

She moved through the sea of people quickly, stopping Rhaenyra in her tracks by grabbing her arm just as she left the tent. "Rhaenyra wait-"

"Let go of me, Elaena," Rhaenyra cried, ripping her arm away. "Just leave me alone."

"Please, wait," Elaena said, her heart stinging from the rejection. "Talk to me, what happened back there?"

"For nearly two years we've only spoken a handful of times," Rhaenyra said angrily. "But you decide now is when you want to talk? Now that you think you can rescue me?"

"I'm not trying to rescue you," Elaena said more bitterly, "I'm just trying. I'm trying to mend what's broken between us."

"Well I tried to be there for you and you pushed me away-"

"I know," Elaena nodded, "I know. But I was angry with you, I still am. But that doesn't mean I don't care that you're upset."

"Why were you angry with me? What did I do to you that warranted your scorn and ice for a whole year?"

"I blamed you for what happened, it's been hard for me not to," Elaena said, breathing shakily through her nose. She was trying to maintain every ounce of composure in her body, but she could feel the wall she'd built starting to become faulty.

"How would your attack have been my fault?" Rhaenyra asked, her voice filled with offense and confusion.

"It was you that sent Ser Farley to my chambers with Lynara that night," Elaena spoke hostily, "You were trying to force me to forgive her after our fight about it, after I told you to forgive Alicent."

"I did no such thing," Rhaenyra shook her head with bewilderment.

"She told me that it was you," Elaena breathed, suddenly feeling the same confusion. "She said that you sent her and Ser Farley in."

"You really think I would send a man in to rape and kill you, Elaena?" Rhaenyra whispered, heartbreak filling her voice. "Who do you think I am?"

"That wasn't the purpose initially, she was trying to talk with me after the small council meeting, she was just trying to get me to hear her out," Elaena said quietly, making sure no one else heard her. "It was when she was talking to me that it was revealed that she was the one to kill my mother. And since I found out she had the guard do what he did to cover her tracks."

"But a kingsguard member would never listen to someone of her low station and kill a Princess," Rhaenyra thought out loud, her face filling with concern. "It's too dangerous, too risky. Why would he follow her command?"

Elaena stood quietly, thinking about this. Rhaenyra was right, even after Elaena found out what she did, wouldn't have the kingsguard member have rather reported it to the King? Why would he immediately agree to kill her?

"Ser Farley must have had the order from someone higher up than her, someone that already wanted you gone," Rhaenyra whispered. "And Lynara had to be in on it from the start too. Nothing else makes sense."

"It had to be her and someone else who wanted me dead," Elaena muttered, feeling overwhelmed.

"Do you have any idea who that might be?"

"Yes," Elaena nodded, looking at Rhaenyra fiercely. "The Hand."

The two stood with looks of fear on their faces, knowing that there was no other option. Rhaenyra and Elaena both knew that the Hand had it out for her, and that he wouldn't stop for anything to bring her down. Just as Elaena was about to continue, the two saw their cousin Lucerys Velaryon, Corlys' second son, come their way. Their distant cousin had been away at the warfront with Daemon for the past two years, and before that he was known to keep away from court activities. Neither her or Rhaenyra hardly knew him, and both had no idea why he would be approaching them now to speak.

"Your Graces," he said, bowing gently to the girls with a timid smile. "I hope I'm not interrupting."

"Of course not, Lucerys," Rhaenyra said politely, covering for Elaena who was still in a bit of shock.

"I was hoping to speak with you, Princess Elaena."

"I'm sorry, I'm rather-"

"Please, it's quite important," he said more seriously, his face pleading with her to speak with him.

"It's alright, cousin," Rhaenyra said with a short nod to Elaena, "I'll find you later."

With that, Rhaenyra left them, turning back over shoulder to watch them.

"Walk with me?" Lucerys asked, holding his arm out for her.

Elaena took it, barely resting her arm on his as they moved towards an even more quiet area to speak. "What would you like to talk about?"

"I understand there are a lot of suitors coming your way, proposing to give you the world with their hand in marriage," Lucerys started, his voice nervous. Elaena felt immediately annoyed, not believing that her conversation with Rhaenyra was cut short for another proposal to a marriage she didn't want. "But I also know you don't want it. My father told me that you've made your intentions on marriage quite clear while I've been away... has that changed?"

"No, I'm afraid not," she said slowly, not sure where he was going with this.

"Well I don't to be married either, just like you," he said cautiously, as if he were trying to discern wether or not to trust her with what he was about to say next. "But the days of the King not forcing you to marry, and the days of my father not forcing me are coming to an end. Soon we will both be trapped into an engagement that keeps us from our strongest desires."

"Strongest desires?" she asked, feeling her cheeks flush a little.

"I know about you and the Prince, Daemon, that he is the one you truly want to be with. And I have my own reasons to not want marriage...So what I propose to you now is that the two of us get married-"

"You've just made it clear as day you don't want a marriage, and you obviously know I don't either," she scoffed a little, stopping to turn and face him.

"We can use each other as a cover, Your Grace," he said solemnly, making sure no one heard. "We can appease the King as well as my father by giving them the alliance they wish. They'll stop hounding us to marry any other once we fulfill our family duty."

"Go on," she said slowly, feeling intrigued by this proposition.

"Once we are wed, there's no rule that we have to lead our lives together. I can go back to the Stepstones and fight alongside my brother, you can be with Daemon, so long as you're careful and discrete not to draw attention. We'd have to produce an heir or two, but other than that we would both get exactly what we want."

"And what is it that you want?" she asked, narrowing her eyes at him.

He cleared his throat a little, looking uncomfortable. "What?"

"You said earlier that an engagement to another would keep us from our strongest desires... you know mine. Before I even think about agreeing to this I need to know what yours is."

"Your Grace," he said slowly, looking like it pained him to his core to say it, "I am not interested in marrying any woman, even a woman as beautiful and powerful as yourself... That is why I am proposing this arrangement...I fear I would not be able to fulfill my part of the marriage in the way you or any other woman deserves... so you having someone else, it allows me the freedom to be with who I please, just like you."

"Oh," Elaena said softly, feeling uncomfortable. It wasn't her intention to make him feel this way, to expose this part of himself. "I see. So if we were married... and I saught to be with Daemon, discretely of course, you would not seek to be with another woman?"

"No," he shook his head, a faint smile on his face. "I'm afraid I never aquired the taste."

"I promise you, Lucerys," she said slowly, trying to show him in every way that he could trust her. "I won't tell anyone what you've said today, not ever. You took a great risk coming to me with this. Thank you for trusting me with it."

"Thank you, Your Grace. The rest of the world would not understand as you so clearly do," he said appreciatively. But his voice turned quieter as he asked, "So what do you say? Will you accept my proposal? To marry each other and still keep our lives the way we want them?"

Elaena looked at him with her mouth agape, feeling overwhelmed by it all. Though the King had extended his terms with her in regards to marriage, it had been nearly two years. He'd already been slowly hinting that it was time for her to look again, and it would be no time at all before she was forced to choose someone. She wanted to extend her time unmarried, but perhaps this was the answer she had been looking for all along: a marriage that didn't trap her. She would have complete physical and emotional freedom within it, able to be with the one person she loved so long as she was cautious. It seemed like the best option available to her, and as a woman in this world, those options were few and far between.

"Yes."

Author's Note: Since the previous chapter was a filler in time between the second and third episode, I have split the third episode into two more chapters. So while this one was quite short, another much longer one will be added in the next day or so, making it three total chapters for the third episode.

I am so excited for this chapter as well as for the fourth episode of the show. Obviously as we progress the addition of a new character is going to change how some of the show's events take place, so don't count on what you know may happen in the show to happen here!

link to elaena's moodboard on tumblr: chalamala-bing-bong/694657919984304128?source=share