Author's Note: Welcome back everyone for the final chapter of the third episode, which I must admit is my favorite chapter yet. *winky face*. We have a lot to cover so strap in, this is going to be a long one. Please enjoy and let me know what you think after reading! So as always, happy reading~

Disclaimer: Mature Content, Violent Imagery, Graphic Sexual Imagery

Two Weeks Later

Elaena had hardly been able to enjoy Prince Aegon's name day celebrations as it were, her mind busy suppressing each and every emotion that tugged at the back of her mind. And then she was hit with a wave of news, that Rhaenyra had nothing to do with what happened that night. It gave Elaena some relief to know this, but it only opened another door to hell once she realized that Hightower had to be behind it. For the life of her she didn't know why, but the second that she stepped foot back in court he had had it in for her. Every time she made even the smallest of missteps he was like a viper, ready to attack with no warning necessary. And while finding a way to bring him to justice for what he did was of the utmost importance to her, she had little time already to focus on it.

Scared that she may change her mind and retreat from her agreement to Lucerys Velaryon's proposal, the King and Queen both started to plan the grand wedding with no time to waste. Elaena's days soon became filled with mindless and frivolous activities, the appointments with those to help put the wedding together were endless. The King was completely thrilled, his attitude changing from apprehensive and nervous around Elaena to warm and cheerful. Maybe he thought that all of her troubling feelings had finally gone away, that she was finally ready to open her heart to another other than his own brother. But this was not the case, the only other person aside from herself and Lucerys that knew the true nature behind their marriage was Rhaenyra, who promised on the grave of her mother that she would not tell a soul. Rhaenyra and Elaena talked often in the week following her engagement, about the wedding itself when in the presence of others and about the Hand when they were not. The two had started to collect every bit of information they could on him, looking for a weak spot to attack, but neither of them or their little birds had come up with anything of use yet. They were no closer to bringing him to justice than they day they realized his guilt at the name day celebration. But it had only been two weeks, and Elaena was still determined. And there was one last bright side to the announcement of her nuptials: the Hand's reaction. When she announced her decision to the small council she could feel the smirk drain from his face, realizing that since Lucerys' place was in King's Landing, hers would be too. Permanently.

She relished in the fact that despite the Hand hating her and her presence at court, she wouldn't be going anywhere. But this small stab at him wasn't nearly enough, so her and Rhaenyra continued to collect whatever information they could, and reconvened every morning before first light to discuss their prior days work.

"He knows, Elaena," Rhaenyra started, looking up from the fire to her cousin. "He caught one of my little birds last night, Melyssa."

"Is she alright?" Elaena asked, not looking up from the scroll she had intercepted to see if there was anything useful.

"Course not," Rhaenyra sighed, annoyance in her voice. "She was stupid enough to get caught and hasn't been seen since. I don't think she'll turn up again except maybe face-down in the river."

"So he knows he's being watched," Elaena muttered, rolling the scroll up and sticking in the drawer of her desk. "Does he know it's us watching?"

"He will soon enough."

"Then I think it's time I paid him a visit," Elaena responded, standing up with a sigh. She walked over to her wardrobe and shrugged off her robe, ready to get changed. "Every morning before the small council meeting he goes to office. I think I'll wait for him there. It's time he knows exactly who's coming for him."

"Do you want me to come with you?" Rhaenyra asked, "Or do you want to do it alone?"

"I think it's best if I go alone, you shouldn't implicate yourself any further. He already despises me, and obviously wants me dead. Best not have him feel that way towards you if we can help it."

"Not that one," Rhaenyra said as Elaena reached for a dress, putting her hand over Elaena's. Rhaenyra then pulled out the gown that was easily Elaena's finest, the one that made her look and feel like a queen. "You should wear this. It makes you look elegant, but powerful. Someone to be feared."

Elaena smiled a little at her cousin and nodded, stepping into the large gown for her to help lace up. The bodice was made of a dark and muted lavender velvet, softer than snow to the touch. At her waistline just above the sage colored tulle skirt were large black and pink roses stitched to sit on top of the fabric. The same roses were adorned on her shoulders, trailing slowly down the sheer tulle sleeves. It was gorgeous, so gorgeous that she had never had any occasion to wear it before. Once dressed, Rhaenyra helped braid the long locks of silver hair into a large crown atop Elaena's head. Each braid was intricately done, not one hair out of place. After she finished, she wrapped the necklace Daemon gave her around her neck, something that she knew would bother the Hand, and put her sword which she had recently named Reckoning on her hip for protection.

"Are you sure it's not too much?" Elaena asked, eyeing herself in the mirror with a glint in her eye.

"No, it's perfect," Rhaenyra smiled cunningly, "Now go. He'll be there soon."

Elaena took one last look in the mirror before she left, pleasantly surprised by how well she looked. Everything about her presence felt ethereal yet dangerous. If she had seen herself walking in the halls of the Red Keep, she would know not to cross her. She looked and felt in this moment exactly as she needed to have the strength to stand against the Hand, to say what she felt she needed to say. Her shoes echoed softly as she walked slowly up the staircase of the Tower of the Hand towards his office. Once there, she walked silently through the shadows of the room and lit a singular candle at his desk. She sat down, examining the neatly arranged stacks of parchment and scrolls. She wasn't sure where to start until she saw Daemon's name darkly inked in on an open scroll. She picked the parchment up and held it to the light of the candle, reading quickly.

My Lord Hand,

Prince Daemon has left. When we got your message yesterday he read it and took off, going to-

"What do you think you're doing?" A voice said, interrupting her before she could finish reading the scroll. She slowly set it down, composing herself before he saw that these words rattled her. She desperately wanted to finish reading, but she had more important matters.

"What does it look like?" She responded, motioning to the scroll as he neared her.

"You may be a Princess but you have no business reading my personal letters, only the King himself is privy to them other than myself," he said coldly, taking the scroll from her hand.

"And you may be the Hand of the King but you have no business ordering attacks on royalty," Elaena said sharply, standing from his desk to walk towards him.

"That is a very serious accusation," he said flatly, but she could see a bit of nervousness flash across his eye.

"It is indeed. But you and I both know it's true."

"What proof have you?" he scoffed, feigning composure.

"Oh I don't have any," Elaena smiled politely as she clasped her hands together in front of her, knowing it would set him off. "That's why I've had my little birds following all the whispers around you."

"That girl hidden inside my chambers last night," the Hand started, "It was you who sent her?"

"Oh yes." Elaena nodded, exhaling a little as she rested her hand on the hilt of her sword. She didn't plan to use it right now, but she wanted him to think that she would. "Do you remember our conversation on the footbridge outside of Dragonstone, Lord Hightower?"

"Vividly," he spat, his jaw clenched as she took another step closer to him.

"I told you not to cross me again," she said, her smile falling, replaced by a wickedness deep within her. "And yet since then you have continued over and over to oppose me and my presence here in King's Landing. You've revealed my secrets to the King, you've tried to sell me off to the Lannisters, and now you've attempted to have me raped and killed. That's three times you've crossed me without repercussion."

"I already told you, I didn't order the attack-"

"No, actually, you didn't," Elaena said quickly, catching him tangled up in his words like a fly in a spider's web. "You said that it was a serious accusation and then asked what proof I had of it. You didn't deny it once."

"Well I deny it now," he growled, his face raging with anger.

"I suspected you would, Lord Hightower... I'm not here for your confession. I'm here now because I want you to know that it has been me following you as you creep through the shadows of this castle, and I don't plan to stop. I will wait for you to make one wrong step, one tiny mistake...and I'll spin it however far I need to to make sure you don't go unpunished," Elaena whispered, the flicker of the candle light dancing in the reflection of her eyes. "I look forward to the day to that I can pay both you and Lynara back for what you did to me. I look forward to killing each of you myself."

Lord Hightower took a step back, a flash of fear in his eyes. Elaena smiled lightly, for this is what she wanted. She wanted him to be afraid, to be filled with paranoia from this day on, always wondering when she'd be there to attack. But his face quickly resolved itself, a smug look taking over.

"When will you find the time to do that after you've finished reading this letter?" he asked, handing her the scroll with a satisfied look on his face.

"How do you know that I hadn't finished it?" she asked, taking it slowly.

"Because you wouldn't be standing here talking to me if you had," he smirked, the sound of evil delight in his voice. "Go ahead and take it, you can read it on your way out."

Elaena felt a pang of fear in her heart, the only reason he would seem so pleased with himself was if this note would hurt her somehow. But nontheless she held it tightly in hand as she left his office, knowing she had accomplished what she set out to do. Once she closed the door she opened the scroll and continued where she left off.

My Lord Hand,

Prince Daemon has left. When we got your message yesterday he read it and took off, going to face the Crabfeeder on his own without his dragon. I am not sure what he was more bothered by, the King sending him aid when he did not want it, or the announcement of the Princess Elaena's engagement to my son. Either way, he is gone, and without any reinforcements. So we march forward toward the Crabfeeder and his army to help him, but it is likely that the Prince will never step foot on Westerosi soil again. Please warn the King, for your aid may not be enough to save him, or save any of us for that matter. Prepare yourself, because if we are slain on the battlefield tomorrow, the Crabfeeder will turn his eyes to you.

Lord Corlys Velaryon, Lord of the Tides

Without a second thought Elaena dropped the scroll and bounded down the stairs of the Tower of the Hand. She stumbled several times over her long dress as she ran, but she didn't have time to change, she didn't have time to do anything except get to the dragonpit. At the end of the long stairwell she passed Cley, who was walking with a yawn as he made his way to her chambers for his guard duty. His head snapped up as he saw her, the tiredness fading from his body immediately.

"Princess?" he called out, moving to follow her as she thundered through the halls.

She ignored him, fear racing in her heart. She couldn't let Daemon walk into this, she couldn't let him die. And even if she was already too late, she would never be able to live with herself knowing this information and not doing anything about it. She wouldn't even be able to live to herself if she even stopped for two seconds to explain to Cley while he could be out there dying. She needed to get to Vermax. As Cley chased her she could feel her pace quicken, pushing herself to the fastest speed she had ever moved. While Cley was a strong and admiral warrior, he was no match for her when it came to running, especially in his heavy suit of armor.

When she reached the dragonpit she turned quickly to the dragonkeepers and commanded in Valyrian for them to immediately saddle Vermax for riding. Sensing the urgency in her voice, they moved as fast as she did, not wanting to spurn the Lost Princess. She moved to the large iron dresser and pulled out riding boots and gloves as they saddled her dragon, sitting on the ground with her heap of a dress around her. She pulled her boots on as Cley finally caught up to her, panting.

"Elaena, what are you doing?" he gasped for air, looking at her shock. To any outsider she must have looked mad running as fast as she was in a dress like this, to go ride her dragon no less.

"I'm leaving for the Stepstones," she said, thrusting her hand up for help to stand.

"Why?" he asked, giving her a hand with a bewildered look.

"Daemon is in trouble, he needs me," she said, pulling her gloves on. "He's on a suicide mission and if I don't leave now I might not save him in time."

"And how do you know this?" he panted, following her as she left to go mount Vermax.

"The Hand told me."

"Elaena stop!" Before she could begin to climb up Vermax's wing to the saddle she felt Cley grab her arm. She turned around, looking at the other dragonkeepers with a look that said to go away. They all scurried off, fearing for Cley. For him to grab her so forcefully and use her name so informally around the presence of others could be punishable by death, but he didn't care. "This is what the Hand wants, he knows that if you go to Daemon your engagement will be called off with Lucerys, then he can marry you and send you off to wherever he pleases, to Casterly Rock even-"

"I don't care!" Elaena snapped, ripping her arm from him. Vermax lowered herself to the ground, allowing for Elaena to quickly climb her and get into the saddle.

"Even so, what about you?" he asked, stepping in front of the dragon with wide eyes as he looked up at her. "You could die, you have no experience in the battlefield-"

"I won't be in the battlefield," she said shortly, checking the reigns, "I'll be in the sky. Besides, I don't care about any of it, not even my own life. I only care about Daemon right now and you're wasting my time."

"Even if you won't stay for yourself, stay for me," he pleaded, his eyes begging her not to go. She looked at him with quivering lips, knowing that this was breaking his heart. "I have been in love with you since the moment you stepped through the North Gate of Winterfell. And I know you don't love me the way I love you but even then, I know you have some care for me in your heart. So stay, don't do this, don't put yourself in harm's way."

"I do care for you, Cley," she said, trying not to cry. "But I love him, I always will. I can't stay here when he could be dying, not even for you. Now go, Vermax."

Before he could say another word, Elaena looked away from him and straight forward out the end of the tunnel. Vermax's footsteps thundered and shook the ground, shaking dust onto all those who stood around. Cley jumped out of the way, watching as the silver colored dragon took off into the sky. Elaena refused to look back as Vermax ascended over the Red Keep, because if she did would see Cley's face, and that was something she didn't have time for to bare. Wind moved fiercely through her as she rode, the intricate braids she had done unwraveled around her and left her long silver locks loose. One by one the force of the air began to rip the sewn on roses from her dress, the fabric flowers flying off and falling to the ground below. The cold air of above whipped at her cheeks as she rode, turning them a soft and windburnt red color. But she didn't care about any of this, she didn't care about the effect of the elements or anything else. She rode Vermax hard for the Stepstones, unable to afford even a moment of hesitation or rest.

After hours of being in the sky, the reflection of her and Vermax in the Narrow Sea below disappeared, the sandy shores coming into view. A small breath of relief washed over her as she saw this, but the fear that even though she was here she was still too late clouded it.

"Naejot, Vermax," she commanded, lowering closer to the ground to see if she could spot signs of the Targaryen and Velaryon camps. Panic rose in her chest as she spotted the empty tents and dying fires, not a single soldier in sight. They were already chasing after him, which meant at the very best Daemon was close to the Crabfeeder. Elaena lowered Vermax even closer to the ground, flying only a few feet above the sands as she followed the trail of the army's footprints. After five or so leagues in pursuit of the army, she could finally see them with her own eye marching towards the field of battle. She quickly pulled up on the reigns as Vermax let out a deafening screech, the two of them flying just over the soldiers' heads and straight forward. She could see the men drop to the ground out of shock, then look up to see her and the silver winged beast soaring. Elaena could hear some of them cheering as she flew, but she didn't look back, not when she was this close. After another half a league further she could see the Crabfeeders army standing in a large circle around Daemon.

As Elaena narrowed in on them she could see Daemon's face more clearly now as he watched her fly in. He was completely surrounded with Dark Sister to protect him, but she knew even a great warrior like himself had no chance of beating the men that encircled him. Her heart pounded in her chest as she neared them, knowing what she needed to do. She had never taken a human life before, but there was no turning back now if she wanted Daemon to survive.

"DRACARYS-" she shouted, feeling a strange thrill of power rise in her throat. Vermax shrieked once more, unhinging her massive jaws as she flew around the enemy. A great dark red fire projected forward, incinerating the Crabfeeder's army below. Fire jumped and danced upwards, lifting the ash and soot from their screaming bodies into the air. Normally the sight and smell of burning death would have made Elaena sick, but she only felt adrenaline course in her veins, and she only knew that it felt good. Elaena steered Vermax back to them, preparing to burn the rest of them. She looked down to Daemon only to see him with wide eyes and a bellowing voice. "GET DOWN-"

Elaena looked up from the ground below to see a thousand flaming arrows traveling her way. She immediately flattened herself against Vermax, only narrowly dodging the arrows that pierced through the air above her back.

"GO!" Daemon screamed from below, to which Elaena didn't hesitate. She sat up on Vermax as the second round of arrows flew her way, feeling her dragon shoot into the air. Vermax wailed as she was hit with the arrows again, and despite the fact that they weren't strong enough to pierce her scales, Elaena knew her dragon didn't appreciate it. The two ascended higher into the sky and flew towards the cliffsides where the archers stood. Vermax let out one last screech before blowing fire onto the screaming men, the protective flames setting all of them ablaze. Vermax perched herself at the edge of the cliff as Elaena panted, her eyes on the coast. The Targaryen and Velaryon army was approaching, all of them running towards the field to fight the opposing side's men that bolted out of the caves of the mountain. Elaena looked around in the sea of blood and battle for Daemon, searching for his silver hair, but she couldn't find him. Panic shot out from her heart all the way to the tips of her toes, causing her to freeze as her eyes flitted around. But as Daemon's armies came closer there was too many people fighting back and forth for her to find him. It was impossible this far away.

Just as she was about to take off, a much larger steel arrow smashed into the rock just behind her, startling Vermax. Not expecting it, Elaena slipped from the saddle as Vermax flew forward and away from the weapons being fired, leaving Elaena hanging on with one hand to the reigns as she dangled against Vermax's body. She cried out with fear as she struggled to pull herself up, feeling more arrows from the other side of the mountain fly around her. She wasn't strong enough to hold on and Vermax knew it, so she flew closer to the ground. But even this wasn't enough, for her hand slipped from the reigns, the gravity of the earth below her pulling her down. She landed into the fire below her, thudding harshly onto the sand in the sea of fighting. She stood up and immediately pulled Reckoning from the sheath, holding the sword forward as she walked slowly through the flames. The Crabfeeder's men took small steps backward as she emerged from the blazing fires untouched, the only thing changing about her appearance being the scorched black fabric of her dress. She could feel her breathing intensify as the men watched her, all their weapons ready to charge. She had only practiced at fighting, and only with Cley who she knew would never hurt her. She had never faced anyone who was armed and looking to kill her.

But these men were not armored like she had been expecting, their bare torsos were only covered by clothing. There wasn't a single breastplate or helmet in sight, making her targets much wider. Just as she was about to swallow her fear and step forward, a blast of fire came through above her, burning the men that stood before her in the blink of an eye. She turned back to see Lucerys' brother Laenor Velaryon on the back of his own dragon, Seasmoke. She breathed out with relief as she watched Vermax land next to him, and ran to mount her. Once she was in the saddle she looked to Laenor with a small nod of appreciation before they both took off into the sky. They both circled around the battlefield, breathing fire upon any enemy that stood in their way until the last of them were too close to their own soldiers to risk the flames.

Elaena and Vermax flew to the ground as they watched the fight finish, both of them exhausted. Elaena panted as her eyes danced across the field, a small smile on her lips. She had always thought that taking a life would haunt her, that the ghosts of those she murdered would follow her and guilt her. But the only thing she felt in this moment was the trembling of thrill and satisfaction in her bones. The power she felt dragonback and fighting was like none she had ever experienced, and she knew that once the adrenaline had left her veins she would be craving it again. She inhaled the scent of fire and smoke as she listened to the last screams of those being killed, savoring this feeling as long as she could.

Suddenly she saw someone emerge from one of the cave openings who looked like Daemon, but she couldn't tell for the man's hair was covered in dark red blood. His whole face was as well, but the closer he approached while dragging a body behind him, she could see it was him. She immediately dismounted Vermax, her boots sinking softly into the sand as she walked towards him. The closer and closer they got to each other she realized that the body he dragged wasn't a body at all, just a bloodied and lifeless torso with its intestines spilling out. Daemon dropped the Crabfeeder's arm and panted, his eyes boring into Elaena's.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, his chest rising and falling quickly. While she thought being reuinted after two years might bring him some joy, she could quickly see that he was anything but happy in seeing her.

"What does it look like I'm doing here?" she responded, stopping in her tracks. The wind blew around them, her freed silver hair flying wildly around her face.

"It looks like you were on your way to a ball with the way you're dressed, or a wedding, perhaps," he said bitterly, wiping some of the blood that dripped down his face off of his mouth with the back of his hand.

"Don't be cruel," she said softly, his words stinging her.

"Me the cruel one?" he laughed drly, walking forwards. He stopped before her, the scent of blood seeping from every inch of him and into her nose. "I'm not the one who asked you to wait for me, only to show up two years later engaged to another without a single word in between."

"It wasn't that simple." She shook her head. "And you know it."

He paused for a moment, his eyes trailing down her body once before continuing, "Go back to King's Landing, Elaena. Your fiancé will be staying there now that I've won this war."

"Now that you've won it?" she scoffed, her eyes widening. "You would be dead in this sand if I hadn't come and saved you-"

"I didn't want saving!" he bellowed, rage filling his voice. He inhaled sharply, trying to reign in his emotions as she looked at him with disbelief.

"How can you say that?" she whispered, feeling tears start to well.

"Just go home, Elaena," he said softly, moving past her to rejoin the rest of his army.

She stood with her back to him as he walked away, unable to believe that this was how their reunion had went. She wiped her eyes once and turned to go back to Vermax, mounting her without another word. She could feel Daemon's eyes on her as she lifted from the ground, but refused to meet them. Her breathing steadied as she soared above the men, but her heart still beated twice as fast as normal in her chest. She followed the blood soaked sand over the hill as she flew back to the camp, and from there she continued onward until she reached the sea. As the sun's setting reflection shined up at her from the water, she felt the pit in her stomach grow. While she had done what she set out to do, and even though she owed Daemon nothing else, she felt as though she owed it to herself to have more. She needed answers, even if Daemon didn't love her the way she did him anymore. Before she could change her mind again, she turned Vermax around and flew back to the camp. By the time she reached it, the sun had almost fully set in the sky, leaving the only light around her being the fires that the returned men had start to set.

She landed Vermax outside of the camp and gave her a small stroke, "Rest now. You've done well today."

Vermax chuffed once, pushing her silver head into Elaena's hand lovingly, then relaxed onto the ground. Elaena turned and walked closer inward, finding three men standing with giant mugs of ale and smiles of victory on their faces. As Elaena approached them, she saw them all stand up straighter with wide eyes.

"Princess," one of them bowed gratefully, spilling his ale onto the ground and splashing her feet.

"Get back you fool!" another responded, his accent thick.

"It's alright," Elaena smiled lightly, taking a step back out of the puddle of drink.

"Forgive him, Your Grace," the third said anxiously, "That's no way to thank the Princess who just saved us all."

"Please," Elaena said, too tired to care, "Think nothing of it. Besides, I'm afraid I have to ask something of each of you."

"Anything, Your Grace," the one who spilt on her said quickly.

"I wasn't planning on staying here tonight, but my dragon is tired and so am I, would you find me a tent to sleep in tonight?"

"Right away," he responded, handing his empty to cup to his friend and running away to find it.

"What else can we do for you, Your Grace?"

"I need one of you to find Prince Daemon and bring him to my tent, I have business to discuss with my cousin that cannot wait any longer...no matter how much he doesn't want to address it," she said more seriously, exhaling lightly. "And then I need the other one of you to find some supper for my dragon. She rode long and hard today, then fought even harder. I'm afraid if she doesn't eat soon she might start turning to you all to satisfy her hunger."

The two men looked to each other with fear in their faces, neither option sounding like something they wanted to do. Elaena watched with a small smile as they looked to each other and back to her. But the taller of the two jumped and claimed the task he deemed less dangerous, "I'll find the Prince at once, Your Grace, and bring him to your tent."

"Thank you, Ser," she said, her eyes smiling with amusement as she turned to the last man standing. He looked back at his friend running quickly, a flash of betrayal on his face. He quickly wiped it off as he turned back to the Princess, a nervous smile on his lips.

"What does your dragon like to eat, Your Grace?" he asked, jitters in his voice.

"I was only joking, Ser." she smiled fully, taking off her riding gloves to stretch her fingers out, "Vermax will find her own supper, and I promise you it won't be your kinsmen that she dines on. It's only me that requires a meal."

Relief washed over him as she laughed a little, "Of course, Your Grace, what would you like to eat? We have some mutton on the spit right now that won't be ready for another while, but we also have venison stew from this afternoon."

"The stew is fine, Ser," she nodded appreciatively.

He gave her a quick bow and turned on his heels towards the bonfire behind him. She smiled to herself with amusement as she watched him shove one of his friends, speaking frantically. It was nice to laugh, to smile again. She knew that the warmth in her cheeks and in her heart wasn't from the bonfires, it was from within. She hadn't known how long it'd been since she'd felt that. Because despite Daemon's more than unwelcoming greeting earlier, she felt proud. Proud of herself that she had set off from King's Landing to save him even though it came at a great risk to herself, proud of herself for succeeding even though he didn't want it, and proud of herself for coming back to settle what she needed settling even though she wanted to run away.

The first man approached her again with a small bow, out of breath from running. "Will you come with me, Your Grace. I have found you a tent, Marcus has just delivered your supper to it."

"Thank you," she smiled, following him through the camp. The sounds of cheering roared around her as she walked, the men all lifting their cups of ale in the air to salute her for helping win the war. Her lips widened into a grin as she walked, wanting this feeling to last forever.

"I'm sorry it's not grander for you, Your Grace," the man said, holding the flap of the tent open for her. "But there's some wolf furs on the bed for you, as well as a small fire that's been started just here to keep you warm."

"Thank you, Ser..." she began, looking for his name.

"Oh I'm no Ser," the man said sheepishly, his cheeks rosy from drink and nervousness as he looked at the Princess. "Just Daniel."

"Well thank you, Daniel, for finding me this tent and for your service on the battlefield," she said kindly, giving him leave to go.

"It was my honor to fight alongside you, Your Grace. Your strength is even greater than your beauty."

Her smile warmed even further as he left, leaving her with the lovely compliment in her mind. She tossed her gloves onto the table to see that the stew was already waiting for, steam rising off of it it was so hot. She sat down and quickly ate, not realizing how famished she was until now. She hadn't eaten a thing all day, and she had certainly earned this meal by the end of it. The stew was not anything special, lacking in the normal flavor and seasoning that the cooks in the Red Keep would have given it, but it was more than enough. She ate it quickly, savoring each bite that filled her belly. Almost as soon as she had finished, she saw two shadows approach the outside of her tent, and only one entered.

Daemon stood before him with the blood from earlier washed off, revealing his shiny silver hair and pale skin again. Elaena found herself thinking of a bath, and in turn the bath she was taking the last time she saw him. She wanted to see him in the water as he had seen her, but she refused him the satisfaction of looking at him that way right now. So she sat silently as he approached and sat across from her at the small table inside.

"You called for me?" he asked, his tone short.

"Yes," she said softly, her smile from before fading completely from her face. "We need to talk."

"About what?"

"What do you mean about what?" she asked, her voice filled with contempt. "About everything-"

"Everything?" he asked, shaking his head. "Two years is a long time to catch up on, Elaena."

"I know, but you owe me that."

"I don't owe you anything," he said angrily, but his eyes revealed a certain sadness and weakness that was new to her. "It was you who told me that night that nothing had changed, that you weren't willing to do what it took to be with me the way we both wanted. Yet for two years I still wait for you to change your mind only to find out from my brother that you'd rather just be married to the Velaryon cunt instead of me."

"I told you, it's more complicated than that," she said bitterly, trying to keep from lashing out. "I didn't have a choice-"

"We all have choices-"

"Well I didn't!" Elaena shouted, leaning towards him in her seat. "Your brother threatened to hold me down in front of the High Septon himself if meant he could sell me off to the Starks. He commanded that I marry only weeks after you left! The only reason I've been able to prolong it this far was because of the attack-"

She paused quickly, realizing what she had just said. She inhaled sharply and avoided his eyes. She didn't want to talk to him about that night, she didn't want him to see her break down over it.

"What attack?" he asked slowly, his voice chillier now, taking on a tone of concern. She slowly looked back into his eyes, confused.

"You don't know?" she asked, "I thought your brother would have told you-"

"Well he didn't- Now what attack?" he asked, frenzy rising in his eyes.

"A few weeks after you left I was speaking with Lynara and discovered it was her as well as my father that killed my mother. When I tried to go and tell the King she had one of the Kingsguard try to kill me, but he also tried to-" Her mouth fell agape, unable to finish her sentence as she watched the fury burn in his eyes.

"He touched you?" Daemon seethed, controlling his breathing very carefully.

"He tried to..." Elaena whispered, looking down at her soot covered hands. "But Cley killed him before he could...I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring it up, but I assumed you knew."

Daemon didn't respond, only able to watch her as she avoided his gaze.

"Your brother prolonged the need for my engagement because of it," she continued, trying to veer the conversation away from this subject. "But it's been nearly two years since that night and it was clear that if I waited any longer to make a choice the Hand would choose for me."

"The Hand?"

"He's been against me with every move he's made since I returned to King's Landing, he wants me to marry Jason Lannister now that the Starks aren't an option and practically banish me to Casterly Rock. The only way to stop that from happening was to choose Lucerys, to keep me in King's Landing. We made an agreement, an odd arrangement of sorts. We would marry to keep the King and Lord Corlys appeased, but after the wedding we would live our lives separately... so I could still be with you. It was the only choice I could see-"

"There was another choice you just refuse to accept it," Daemon said, some of his frustration returning. "I told you loud and clear what I was willing to do for you, what I'm still willing to do for you. But you would rather marry that cocksucker than do what it takes to be mine and mine alone."

"I am yours and yours alone, and I always have been. From the moment I saw you in the guard's tower, from the moment I felt your arms around me I have been yours. But look what it's gotten me!" Elaena shouted, feeling her tears break through her eyes. They streamed quickly down her cheeks as she stood and turned away from him, unable to face him any longer. "I am doing everything I can to be with you despite the risk it brings me, why can't you see that?"

She could feel him slowly walk towards her, stopping just close enough before their bodies touched. His voice was gentle in her ear, but his words were sinster, "Then allow to me to give the order, allow me to get rid of my bronze bitch once and for all. I watched you slaughter hundreds of men today, burning them alive for me without blinking an eye. What's one more life added to the pile if it means we can be together?"

She felt her stomach turn sickly inside her as she listened, her tears wetting her cheeks. "It's not ability that is keeping me from killing her to be with you Daemon. It's principal. How can I devote the rest of my life seeking out revenge against Lynara if I do exactly what she did to my mother? How could I ever live with myself?"

She turned around slowly and looked up to Daemon, sniffling a little.

"The thought of killing Lynara brings me joy, because I know that she will have deserved it. The thought of killing those men today also brought me joy, because I did it to protect the person I love," she whispered, lifting her hand to his cheek to hold his face. "But killing your wife for my own personal gain would eat me alive. So please, tell me that this will be enough for you."

"Stolen kisses in the shadows? Hiding from everyone because you're married to another?" he asked, shaking his head grimly. "It isn't, not for me."

Elaena squeezed her eyes shut, her heart feeling as if it was being torn in two.

"So we're just going to have to find another way," he continued, to which she looked back up at him. He brushed his thumb under her eyes, wiping her tears before tucking her hair behind her ear. "I won't kill my wife, not if it would cause you that much pain. But I will do everything in my power to find another way to have you. Because I refuse to lose you again, Elaena."

Before he could say anything else she raised herself onto the tips of her toes and kissed him, pressing her wet face against his with relief. His arms slowly wrapped around her waist, pulling her in to press himself against her. While the first kisses that they had shared together in her chambers were desperate and filled with fire, this felt altogether different to Elaena. After two years apart, two years of what their future together could like up in the air, they weren't desperate: they were longing. His lips were soft and warm on her own, kissing her as though this would only be one of a million more.

Despite the loud sounds of the army celebrating outside the tent, everything except from Daemon faded from Elaena's world, blurring into the background. She held his face with her hands, the heat from his skin slowly warming the embers within her. His lips gently opened and closed her own, each of them savoring every taste they could get from each other. Elaena slowly pulled away from him, her heart racing as she turned around. He watched her silently begin to pull at the end of her tattered corset strings, her fingers trembling as she struggled to undo it herself. He took a slow step forward and put his steady hands on hers, giving them a gentle squeeze. She pulled her hands forward as he took over loosening the strings, feeling her breathing begin to intensify. But despite her nerves she knew that this was she wanted. She had never been more sure of anything in her life. Every frightening possibility for her future had disappeared from mind, leaving her alone and at peace with her feelings she had for him.

Once the corset was completely undone, she carefully pulled her arms from the tattered and burnt sleeves of her dress, then dropped the removed bodice to the floor. She remained with her back to him as she stepped out of the skirt, leaving herself naked before his eyes. She couldn't muster the courage to turn back around, staring at the tent's wall before her with shaky breaths. Her whole body flinched when she felt his hand touch her back, his thumb grazing over the raised red scars from that night. She wanted more than anything now for him not to see what had been done to her, to turn around and kiss him so that he wouldn't see the damage done.

"Does it bother you? The marks?" she asked nervously, feeling her heart pound out of her chest as he inspected her.

Without a verbal response from him she felt his hands tenderly grab her bare waist, and then a tender kiss placed on one of the scars. Chills ran from the base of her spin up to her neck as she felt him trail her back, finding each one of the scars and mending them with his lips. She closed her eyes as he did this, tears falling down her cheeks as she placed her hands over his to keep them where they were. After the last kiss, he stood straighter and turned her around to face him. She watched with tears in her eyes as his own traveled down her naked body, taking her in scars and all. When his eyes found hers again he kissed her softly, the pressure of his lips so light that if she hadn't seen him do it she wouldn't have known. His lips hovered over hers with his eyes closed as he whispered, "You're more beautiful than I could have ever imagined, Elaena. How could they bother me?...Do mine bother you?"

Daemon lifted his shirt over his head without another word, revealing his own bare and marked chest. Elaena slowly lifted her hand and rested it on his skin, her fingers finding the arrow wounds from earlier that day. She felt him grimace a bit as she got closer to them, as well as his heart beating just as fast as her own through his chest. She stopped, looking at him as she shook her head in response to him. She knew now how he must have felt looking at her own scars, for nothing about any mark on his skin could ever bother her.

"Does it hurt?" she asked, the only thing unsettling to her about it was that he may be in pain.

"Not anymore," he said softly, his eyes gentle as he looked at her. She looked down and slowly moved her hands down his body, stopping at where his trousers were tied off. She moved to undo them, but felt his hand quickly grab her own. "We don't have to do this. Not if you aren't ready."

"But I am ready," she whispered, inhaling deeply. "I want this."

He nodded, a small smile on his lips as she continued to untie his trousers. He shrugged them down and stepped out of them until he was completely naked. Elaena took one step backwards, giving them both the opportunity to take each other in before anything went further. While she wasn't completely innocent and knew that a man's body was different than a woman's, she had never seen a completely nude man before. She couldn't help but stare below his waist, her heart beating faster with each second that passed. Her eyes only averted from him when she saw that he was walking towards her, closing the space between them. She closed her eyes as he kissed her, gently pressing her body closer to his so that every inch of their bare skin touched one another. They stood together for a moment, their bodies entwined as they kissed before doing anything else.

She felt herself melt into him further, relaxing into his arms as they held each other. But their embrace ended shortly, his feet moving her backwards until the back of her legs hit the bed. She slowly pulled away to lay back, but he kept his body flush with her own the whole way down, not allowing her to break contact with him. While she initially feared that the weight of his body on top of her would remind her of the night of the attack, she immediately knew in his embrace that he would never harm her. She was completely safe in his arms, and every feeling in her soul she had right now was entirely different than that night. She relaxed even further on the bed underneath him, digging her nails in to his shoulders to pull him closer.

But before she could clutch him any further, he took her hands and entwined his fingers through hers, holding them above her head. His lips moved down her neck, his kisses turning from sweet to more ravenous, as if he was trying not too consume her all at once. Each touch his lips made against her skin brought more and more heat to her face, the need for him rising.

"Daemon-" she inhaled, her neck arching as his lips moved down her chest. "Don't stop-"

She could feel him laugh lightly against her skin before his face met her own again.

"Are you sure?" he asked, a devious smile on his lips. "Because-"

Not allowing him to finish his thought she pulled him back down to her for another kiss, then whispered "Just-"

But before she could continue, he interrupted her as she did him. She breathed in sharply as she felt him slowly thrust forward, the pain intoxicatingly addictive. She had never felt so close to anyone in her entire life, and she only wanted him to be closer. Her nails dug into his back again, breaking the flesh as he continued to move inside her. In this moment she knew that if she never did anything else again in her life she wouldn't care. She wanted to stay here just like this until the end of time.

After allowing her to become accustomed to this he began to move faster, grunting gently in her ear. The sound made her own blood run hotter, and she couldn't help but return the same moans of pleasure, the sound sweeter than anything else he'd ever heard. As their bodies moved in rhythm with each other, Elaena could feel her legs start to tense up. Her whole body felt as if it were contracting, a pressure building up from within that was begging to be released. As she looked into his eyes she could see that he was feeling the same way. He moved even quicker within her, sweat dripping from his forehead onto her already glistening chest. He leaned his head down, crashing his lips onto hers with a force she had been craving this whole time. His tongue grazed her own as she felt everything in her come to a climax, unable to stop herself from moaning and whimpering into his mouth as the pressure released. Her whole body trembled underneath him, her grip into his back relaxing. Only moments after this, he pulled out from her, groaning deeply.

"Damn it, Elaena-" he growled, inhaling sharply as he laid back next to her.

"Did I do something wrong?" she asked, feeling her face fall a bit. While she had never been with anyone like this, she knew that he had been with more than woman before her. She felt filled with fear all of a sudden that what they just did wasn't as amazing for him as it was for her. She watched his chest quickly rise and fall as he closed his eyes. He kept them shut for a moment and then opened them, turning to her with a small smile on his face.

"What could you think was possibly wrong with that?" he asked, as if he couldn't believe she was asking him that. He rolled back to his side to face her, taking her delicate face into his hand.

"I only ask because..." she muttered, feeling his thumb move gently back and forth across her cheek, "I don't know if it was as good for you as it was for me. I don't have anything to compare it to like you do-"

"Elaena," he said more seriously, his smile falling as he studied her face. "There isn't a single thing I'd change about this moment... Would you?"

"No," she whispered, resting her thumb on his bottom lip. "I wouldn't change a thing."

Author's Note: Woof! I know that was something I'd been wanting to have them do for a looooong time. But the suspense of it all only made it sweeter when it finally came. Obviously if you've seen the promo for the fourth episode you know there is some major drama coming around the corner. I have a pretty good idea of how I want things to play out in reaction to it, but that will just be my little secret for now until I watch it. 😉 Y'all will just have to wait and come back on Monday when the next chapter is released... but never fear, I can promise that what I have in store will be epic.

I hope y'all enjoyed seeing Elaena face to face with her darkest side of herself during the battle, and I hope you enjoyed her and Daemon's reunion even more. Let me know what you guys think about it all, your comments and feedback always mean the world until me. Until next time, my friends. -J❤️