Author's Note: Thank you all for your continued support in reading/reviewing/following/favoriting this story! I love you all so much! Here is the final chapter for the fourth episode. I CAN'T WAIT for the fifth episode to air, as that will be the last one before the time jump happens. From there, the narrative of this story is going to change dramatically... So until then, happy reading. This is the moment you have all been waiting for~

Disclaimer: Mature Content, Graphic Physical Violence, Graphic Sexual Content

THE DRAGON & THE ROSE - CHAPTER FOUR/PART THREE

The Following Night

Elaena stood in front of the mirror, completely lost for words as she looked at herself. The wedding she was about to walk into was certainly not the one she had imagined for herself as a young girl. In the most beautiful dreams of her youth she imagined herself in the Sept of Baelor with every person worth being there to watch. Flowers would adorn every inch of the Sept, roses of every color filling the room. Thousands of candles would be lit and scattered, from the chandeliers hanging above to the floor of the aisle. She'd be dressed in an extravagant red gown stitched with roses, a piece of art acting as homage to both of the houses she held allegiance to. But she would have none of those things for her wedding.

Instead, she was heading to the Godswood alone, with no one but Daemon, her husband to be, and Rhaenyra to stand witness to it. There would be no flowers, no candles, no grand feast following to celebrate. She would have nearly none of her family to celebrate this day with her. But as she looked at her reflection she realized that none of it mattered. No material thing could make what was coming for her any sweeter.

Elaena's eyes examined herself, imagining what Daemon would shortly see. With Rhaenyra's help, she wore a simple yet beautiful gown of white. The top half of her silver hair was braided into a singular crown atop her head, the rest of the long curls falling down her back. And the only piece of jewelry she carried was the necklace of pearls and valyrian steel that Daemon had gifted her on her first night in King's Landing, the first day that they were reunited. Despite how plain she looked, how different from how she always imagined herself to be dressed on her wedding day, she felt this was better. It felt right to put herself before the gods as plainly as she could, the only thing mattering her love for Daemon.

"You look beautiful, cousin," Rhaenyra whispered, resting her head on Elaena's shoulder as they both looked at her in the mirror. "Absolutely radiant."

Elaena clutched Rhaenyra's hand, smiling at her cousin through the mirror with tears in her eyes. "Do you think he'll be pleased?"

"How could he not be?" Rhaenyra laughed lightly, squeezing Elaena's hand gently.

Elaena slowly turned around, looking at Rhaenyra with sadder eyes now. "I don't have to do this."

"What are you talking about?" Rhaenyra asked, furrowing her brows. "Don't be silly, of course you do."

"You know what the Velaryon's reaction will be to our elopement," Elaena said quietly, feeling her body fill with nerves. "They'll turn to you as their last option to marry their children into the throne. And if you refuse, they'll declare war."

"I know," Rhaenyra said with a small nod, smiling through her own sadness. "But after my failure to complete my engagement tour my father and Alicent are already down my throats to marry. It was going to be someone someday, why not marry Laenor to ensure that you get your happiness?"

"But what of your happiness?" Elaena asked, feeling a singular tear spill onto her cheek.

"Hey, there's no time for crying. I'm going to be okay, Elaena," Rhaenyra said kindly, wiping the tear off of her cousin's cheek. She had a sort of mischievous smile on her lips as she continued, "I'll be plenty happy here."

"Am I missing something?" Elaena asked, tilting her head to the side as she examined Rhaenyra's happy face. "Something you haven't told me?"

"The night that the rumours started about me ...I was so scared and upset at first because I thought I knew them to be true," Rhaenyra started, her eyes lighting up as she spoke. "True about me and Ser Criston."

"Rhaenyra-" Elaena gasped a little, feeling her smile widen. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"There was so much turmoil and bother, I wanted to find the right time. Which I suppose is now." Rhaenyra nodded, biting her lip a little. "All I'm trying to say is that despite a marriage to someone else, even someone like Laenor, it won't stop me from doing exactly as I like. I'll be alright Elaena, I don't want you backing out of this for my sake. I want you to be happy."

"I'm not sure what I ever did to deserve so much kindness from you, when all it seems I've done is made things worse for you by being back home," Elaena whispered, the both of their eyes filling with tears again.

"We're sisters," Rhaenyra said softly, taking Elaena's hands into her own. "That's what we're here for. Now come, we need to get going if you're ever going to get away without my father finding out."

The two girls moved silently and quickly from Elaena's room to the Godswood, each of them beaming as they walked. Elaena could feel the nerves start to rise in her chest, every inch of her of her body tensing as they neared the Godswood. While she knew nothing would make her happier than to be with Daemon for the rest of her life, the only object of his desire, she also knew that once it was done there was no turning back. What she was about to do would shift the course of the rest of her life for good.

Elaena and Rhaenyra walked arm in arm through the arched doorway that led to the Godswood, moving quietly under the night sky. The light of warm torches and the bright glow of the moon lit their way to the tall weirwood tree, where Daemon stood waiting with a septon who would marry them. Elaena avoided his eyes at first, only able to focus on her steps across the grass floor of the earth. But when she looked up at him she could feel every muscle in her body melt, every nerve on fire. He was looking at her as if she were the only thing to have ever existed in the world. She could feel her breathing quicken as he looked at her, the gentlest of smiles in his eyes as she approached him.

Rhaenyra let go of her arm, turning to her uncle with a small smile as she gave Elaena away to him. Elaena then joined hands with Daemon, feeling her cheeks flush bright red as his thumb stroked the underside of her palm.

"Are you ready?" he asked quietly, staring into her eyes with more love than she could bear.

She smiled a little as she exhaled her nerves, nodding in response. The two stood together hand in hand a moment more before the septon began the ceremony, Rhaenyra standing behind them with joy in her heart to see her beloved family so happy.

"Let it be known that Prince Daemon of the House Targaryen and Princess Elaena of the Houses Targaryen and Tyrell are of one heart, one flesh, and one soul. Cursed be he who would seek to tear them asunder," the septon began, his voice quiet but clear, "In the sight of the Seven, I hereby seal these two souls, binding them as one for eternity. Look upon one another and say the words."

But Elaena was already looking at Daemon, and he her. The two of them smiled as they squeezed each other's hands, speaking in unison, "Father, Smith, Warrior, Mother, Maiden, Crone, Stranger."

"I am hers, and she is mine," Daemon said softly as he looked down and into her eyes, "From this day, until the end of my days."

"I am his, and he is mine," Elaena responded, feeling the shine of the moon and stars on her skin. "From this day, until the end of my days."

"With this kiss, I vow before the sight of the Gods to love, honor, and protect you," Daemon continued, making Elaena's heart flutter in her chest. A small tear spilled from her eye as he leaned down to kiss her, every ounce of love pouring from one to the other. She felt his hand rest on her cheek, the both of them kissing as husband and wife for the first time.

When she pulled away, a strong breeze ran through them in the Godswood, blowing the crimson leaves of the weirwood tree above them down. Elaena looked up as the leaves fell around them, then looked to Rhaenyra with tears in her eyes. Her cousin was crying as well, remembering their day together in the Godswood years ago when Rhaenyra's own mother died. Elaena knew in this moment that her mother was with them, watching over her with love and acceptance of her choice. Elaena lifted herself up one more time, kissing Daemon with every bit of love for him she could muster within. "I love you, Daemon."

"And I love you," he whispered, smiling as their noses brushed against each other.

"I don't want this moment to ever end," Elaena murmured, keeping her face close to his, "But we have to go. Before anyone finds us."

"I know," he nodded, wrapping his arm around her waist. "Just let me enjoy it a moment more."

She watched as he closed his eyes and rested his forehead against hers, her smile spreading across her face at the sight of this. She had never seen him so content, so at peace in the world. And despite every ramification that she knew would come from their elopemnet, she felt this way too. Even if it was only for a minute, only for a second, she savored the feeling she had in her heart and wished it to last forever.

"Elaena, Daemon," Rhaenyra said softly, "It's time."

Elaena slowly pulled away, turning to Rhaenyra to give her a quick hug. She clutched her cousin tightly, so grateful for what she was doing for them, "Thank you Rhaenyra... I love you."

"I love you too, Elaena," Rhaenyra responded, pushing her away with a small laugh, "Now go! Both of you! Vermax and Caraxes are waiting for you."

Elaena looked to Daemon and took his hand, an excited smile on her face. The two of them started to run through the Godswood, leaving the lives they once knew and heading towards the one they would lead together. Elaena knew they needed to be quiet, but she couldn't help but giggle as they ran through the halls, overtaken by a youthful joy she hadn't felt in years. Once they reached the dragonpit, he offered her a hand up onto Vermax, watching as she mounted the great silver dragon. He then turned to Caraxes the bloodwyrm and climbed into the saddle. The two shared one last look of excitement before taking off towards their next adventure together.

Both Vermax and Caraxes let out two long screeches as they flew over the Red Keep, side by side in the night sky. Elaena had never felt more exhilerated in her life, the wind rushing through her hair. She looked at him with a blissful smile as she leaned forward on Vermax, guiding her dragon down to cut underneath him. She could hear his laugh through ring out as he flew a quick circle around her, the two of them dancing among the stars as they made their way from King's Landing to Dragonstone.

The two would stop there for only for few hours to enjoy their first night together as husband and wife. From there, her plans were to go to Highgarden to wait out the storm she knew was quickly coming from her sudden elopement. Though she would be coming with hardly any warning, and she hadn't seen her mother's family since she was a child, she knew she was always welcome there. And after receiving the news she did about Lynara and Hightower's location yesterday, the first thing Elaena did was send letters to them all. She told them of the treacheries that she had learned in her time at court, and then said that her and her husband would be visiting them soon to discuss how to move forward. She made it very clear in her letters to them all that she would be seeking the most extreme side of revenge possible, she could only hope that they wanted to avenge her mother just as much as she did.

Once they landed at Dragonstone, Elaena slid down Vermax's wing, immediately walking into Daemon's arms. He stood behind her, holding her tightly in his embrace as they watched their dragons take off to go find their own supper. Elaena admired the silver and crimson wings in the air as they flapped in front of the moon, inhaling deeply as she relaxed into Daemon's arms. She felt him press a soft kiss on the top of her head, then his face burying itself in her hair. She never realized such a gentle and simple show of affection could feel so wonderful until now.

"Promise me it'll always be this way...being with you," Elaena muttered, holding onto his arms that were wrapped around her chest.

"I promise," he said quietly, exhaling into her. "I don't care what changes around us, we never will."

Elaena pulled her eyes from their dragons to turn around and place her palm on his cheek. She slowly brushed her fingers against his smooth skin, her eyes trailing down from his face to his neck.

"Shall we go inside?" he asked, a small smirk on his lips as he watched her examine his face.

Elaena nodded, smiling lightly at him. Before she could say anything, he swept her off her feet, lifting her up into his arms in a fell swoop. She laughed warmly as he began to carry her up the stairs to Dragonstone, resting her arms around his neck. Once up the stairs and in through the doors of the castle, he began to run even faster, which only made her laugh more.

"Daemon, put me down-" she giggled, holding onto him tightly as he carried her.

"We're almost there-" he laughed, turning around to put his back against a door to push it open. Once inside he slowly set her down, allowing her to take in the scene before her. The room was lit by a hundred candles, creating a warm glow that reflected in Elaena's eyes, and scattered around them were blood red rose petals. It was as if the image she had of her wedding as a child was brought to life before her eyes. She slowly took it in, then turned around to see Daemon smiling down at her. "Do you like it?"

"How did you do this?" Elaena asked, feeling speechless.

"Rhaenyra may have sent word ahead of us for me that we'd be coming, that we'd need something special," he said softly, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. "I knew that sneaking through the shadows of the Red Keep to elope was probably not quite what you were expecting out of your wedding. I wanted something to meet your expectations, if only it being this."

"All that I expected, all that I wanted was you," she whispered. "That's it."

He leaned down, tenderly placing a kiss on her lips. She wanted him to continue, but he pulled away, a small smirk on his lips as he lifted her back into the air. She wrapped her legs around him with a short giggle, allowing him to walk her backwards towards the bed. As she tried to kiss him again, he pulled his head back, then tossed her down onto the feather mattress below. As she laid in front of him, she could feel him undressing her with his eyes, which only made her heart to start to race. She watched him as he started to untie his shirt, his eyes not breaking from her own the entire time he did.

Her chest and rose quickly as he shrugged off the shirt, revealing his bare chest in the candlelight before her. She moved to untie the strings of her bodice, but he quickly lunged towards her, grabbing her hand in his own with a firm grip.

"Not so fast," he murmured, hovering above her with a mischievous smile. She moved her hands away, allowing him to untie the string himself. He leaned his mouth into her ear, his warm breath and words setting her skin on fire, "You're mine now, Elaena. You won't be doing anything tonight without my say so."

"Is that so, husband?" she smiled, feeling her stomach flipping with excitement.

"Yes, my dear wife," he responded with a small smirk, quickly ripping the front of her dress open. She laid before him completely naked, the warmth of all the lit candles around bringing even more heat to her skin.

"So what is it you wish for me to do?" she asked playfully, narrowing her eyes at him.

"I want you..." he began by kissing her once on the lips. In between each word he moved his lips further down her body, exploring every inch of her. "...to lay here...and let me... have my way with you."

She felt her smile widen as he kissed her stomach, his hands gripping her hips. He hovered just above where she wanted him to kiss the most, then crawled back to face her.

"I want you to show me that you're mine, just I'm about to show you I'm yours."

"I think I can manage that," she smiled softly, leaning up to press her lips against his. Without thinking twice about it she felt her fingers wrap themselves into his hair, using her other hand to untie his trousers. Though this certainly wasn't the first time she would have been with him in this way, this would be the first time that they would be together as husband and wife. Every ounce of hesitation or pause she may have had in the past had completely disappeared from her body. She felt no guilt whatsoever for what she was about to do, for how she was about to feel.

Once his trousers were pulled off of his legs, she took him into her hands, feeling him harden to her touch. She relished in how easily it seemed for her to do this, how easy it was for her to ignite the lust inside him for her. He slowly started rubbing her as well, the both of them staring into each other's eyes as they touched each other. After a sharp inhale he leaned down onto her, grazing his lips onto hers. Their tongues danced slowly inside her mouth, each of them reveling in the other's taste.

He then entered inside of her, moving slowly and deeply to make sure she felt each thrust fully. She couldn't help but let out a moan as he did this, her back trying to arch upwards underneath his weight. She could tell that he was teasing her, that he knew she wanted more. But he continued to move painfully slow, watching her face and body contort in reaction until she couldn't take it any longer.

She pushed him away from her then grabbed his shoulders, shoving him down to the bed underneath her. She straddled her legs over him, positioning herself so that she sat on top of him. He looked surprised by this show of will and force, but she could see in his eyes that he loved it. He almost immediately grabbed her, digging his hands deeply into her as he guided each circle she drew with her hips. Elaena exhaled with pleasure, closing her eyes. But as soon as she did this he sat up, holding her in place with one arm around her waist and the other on the back of her neck.

"You look at me," he breathed out, forcing her gaze into his. "Only me."

She stared deep into her eyes as he leaned her forward, his own hips starting to buck rhythmically against hers as if by instinct. She grabbed around his neck tightly as he fucked her, every sense of gentle intimacy quickly fading. She was glad for this. Yes, the setting was romantic with the roses and candles, and the occasion normally would have called for a more delicate intimacy, but she didn't care. They had waited long enough with only stolen kisses and gentle touches. She didn't need to be treated like a delicate flower in this moment, she needed him to show how much he wanted her.

"Fuck-" she gasped, unable to help herself.

Daemon smiled at this reaction, his grip tighting around her, "You like that?"

"Yes-" she groaned, smashing her lips onto his own. Her hips started rocking over his as he thrusted into her, both of their bodies moving in a perfect sync. Just as she was feeling like she was close, he threw her off of him belly down onto the bed. He wasted no time in laying on top of her, his breath hot in her ear as he continued to push himself inside. She clawed her fingernails into the bed as he did this, feeling her toes curl behind her.

"And this?" he asked in her ear, "Do you like this as well?"

"Yes," she whimpered, praying that he wouldn't stop. She wanted this to last forever, for it to never stop. If she had it her way she would stay in this room until the end of time doing nothing else.

She felt his hand quickly wedge itself between her and the bed, grabbing her clit as he continued to fuck her. She felt a wave of pleasure and tension course through her body as he did this, feeling herself about to climax.

"No," she begged, "No I don't want this to be the end-"

"The end?" he laughed darkly in her ear, "My darling, this is far from the end."

Four Days Later

Despite both Daemon and Elaena wanting to stay at Dragonstone for all of eternity together, they both knew the following morning that word of their elopement would quickly start to spread throughout the Red Keep. Rhaenyra would have had to tell her father the truth, that she was there as a witness to the wedding. The Velaryon's wrath would shortly follow this, and Elaena knew that the first place they would look was Dragonstone for the newly married couple.

They knew their time just being alone was short, so the two spent the entire night awake together either making love or lying naked in each other's arms. They didn't sleep a wink, unable to sacrifice a single moment together. And as they watched the sun rise through their window, they relunctantly rose from their very comfortable positions in the bed to ride their dragons towards Highgarden, where Elaena's relatives lived.

Their arrival was even more awkward than Elaena could have imagined, for she hadn't seen her aunts, uncles, and cousins on her mother's side since she was a little girl only eight years of age. And she was no longer a little girl, rather, a 23 year old married young woman. But despite the first strange reunion with her family, she was immediately welcomed by them all, her and Daemon immediately given a room together to rest after their long journey there.

As much as Elaena wanted to stay in bed with Daemon all week, to do nothing but feel his touch and sleep in the comfort of his arms, she knew she had business to attend to. Yes, they were staying there to wait out the storm back home, but they also had a more pressing matter to attend to: vengeance for her mother. So after a polite dinner and a night of rest, Elaena and Daemon rose early the next morning to discuss with them how they were going to go about it.

Her uncle Maesen invited the two of them to his office alongside her two aunts, Elyse and Evie. Also in attendence would be four of her cousins who were much older than her, who remembered her mother probably better than she did; Colin, Maxir, Dalton, and Mykal. She hardly knew any of them except for the fact that they were her family, so she only hoped that in meeting with them they would agree to fight alongside her for the sake of her mother's name.

"I trust you slept well last night, my niece," Elyse started, breaking the icy nature of the room with a warm smile. "It has been a long time since you slept under this roof. It is wonderful to have you back."

"Thank you," Elaena said with a small smile, "And thank you for welcoming my husband as well."

"Thank you for opening your home to us, Lord Maesen," Daemon said with a nod of gratitude.

"I wish my dear sister Emylie was here to see this," Evie said a bit dreamily, though her eyes were sad as she looked across the table to Elaena. "To see her beloved daughter back home, all grown up and beautiful, and in love, no less."

Elaena looked next to her at Daemon, seeing the smallest of smiles on his face as she squeezed his hand. She turned back to her family, her smile falling as she spoke, "I wish I had come back sooner, and in better circumstances. But I'm afraid the matter in which I need to speak to you is urgent."

"Yes," Maesen said more gravely, "We received your letter describing what you discovered in King's Landing. I'm only sorry that we were not able to find out before you did, that we were not able to avenge our sister's murder before now."

"So you'll help us?" Elaena asked, leaning forward in her seat as she looked to her aunts and uncle. "You'll aid me in finding Lynara?"

"Of course, my child," Elyse replied, her voice suddenly turning darker. "But you both have two fully grown dragons at your disposal. So I must ask, what aid in your vengeance would you ask of us that you are not already capable of yourself?"

"I could easily burn Lynara and Lord Hightower if I wished, I could burn Oldtown to the ground if it meant getting them before they can escape again," Elaena started, feeling her hatred from them rising to the surface of her words. "But that isn't enough for me."

"So what would you consider enough?" Maesen asked, his eyes narrowing at her.

"Seeing my sword cut each of them from navel to nose would be a start," Elaena said icily. "I want to be the ones to personally take their lives, just as they did my mother."

She could feel Daemon's smile growing next to her, approval seeping from every pore on his body, but it seemed he was the only one who felt this way. Maesen, Evie, and Elyse seemed a bit shocked by the blunt and gruesome nature of her response, their mouths handing open a little. But what they had to realize was that she wasn't the sweet child they used to know nearly two decades ago. She had been through so much in her life; so much grief, trauma and pain. And over time those feelings hardened her ability to forgive the evils that people committed against her.

"So what is it you need from us to do that?" Elyse asked, removing the shock from her face quickly, for she too wanted her sister's memory avenged.

"While Elaena and I could easily ride our dragons there, I'm afraid our beautiful beasts are too noticeable to go undetected like we wish to be," Daemon started. "We need to be able to get into Oldtown, just the two of us."

"The distance between Highgarden and Oldtown is short," Maesen nodded, "We could easily give you a pair of horses to get you there. But I hardly think that's the only request you might have."

"You'd be right about that uncle," Elaena responded, "Hightower will be waiting, he knows that I will stop at nothing to see him and Lynara pay for what they did. So his keep will be armed tooth and nail. We need fighting men, lots of them if we're going to get to him and Lynara."

"I can bring my company in immediately father," one of her cousins said quickly, though which one he was she did not know. But she didn't have enough time to care to find out which cousin he was to her, she only wanted to take his men.

"Of course," Maesen said with a quick nod, "All four of you need to call your men in, leave now and have them here by first light."

"Thank you, uncle," Elaena said appreciatively as the four men left. "Might I ask one last thing of you all?"

"Anything, my dear," Evie said softly. Elaena could tell that Evie may not have had the anger in her heart as her uncle and other aunt did, but she could tell that Evie loved her and would do anything for her. The way she looked at her neice and examined the features she carried from her mother was enough to show it.

"After it's done, Daemon and I will need a place to stay," Elaena said slowly, turning to look at him. "We didn't exactly receive the King's blessing when we married. I don't know if we'll be welcome back at court right away. We'll need somewhere to stay until we can find a place of our own."

"You mean to say that you eloped?" Elyse asked, a stern look on her face. "With no plans of what may come next?"

"I'm afraid we had little time for planning, Lady Elyse," Daemon responded, his face serious. "It was either elope together or allow her to be married to another."

The table sat silently, processing this information for a moment. Elaena could tell that they all were a bit shocked by this. And most of all Elyse looked as she disapproved, not of her marriage itself, but by the recklessness of how it was conceived.

"I love him, Aunt Elyse," Elaena said quietly, her face softening. "Once we finish this business with Lynara and Lord Hightower, we will find a place of our own. But until then we'll need somewhere to stay."

"Prince Daemon is our family too now, just as Elaena is, no matter how long apart she's been from us," Maesen said seriously, his eyes showing them that he truly meant it. "Both of Your Graces are always welcome here, for however long you need."

Elaena felt herself relax with relief in her seat, feeling something warm grow inside her. Her mother's side of the family was nothing like her father's side. She wondered briefly what her life would be like if she had grown up here with them rather than in King's Landing or Winterfell, she wondered what kind of person she might be. But she quickly shook these thoughts from her mind, for they would do her no good now. There was nothing that could allow her to go back in time and change the past. Even if she could, despite all the terrible things she had experienced in her life, she knew deep inside she wouldn't change a thing. For everything in her life led her to where she was now, with Daemon. No matter how rocky the path to each other had been, they were finally together with nothing standing between them. Every obstacle that would come their way she knew they would face together, as they were doing now.

Six Days Later

Elaena, Daemon, and the Tyrell army had traveled practically nonstop for days, stopping only to briefly sleep and eat on their way to Oldtown. Once they approached the edge of the city, they made camp, waiting to strike just as the hour of the owl struck. Elaena had prepared herself as well as her sword for this moment all evening. Rather than eat or try and rest before the battle she knew was to come, she spent her hours sitting and sharpening Reckoning, thinking in a detailed manner just how she wanted to exact her revenge on both Lynara and Hightower once she found them.

Daemon took charge of leading the troops, working with her cousins to arrange all the men and strategise how they were going to raid the city. While Elaena wanted to take part in every aspect of her revenge, she knew that she knew nothing of battles or sieges. So she left this rather boring part of the mission to her husband and the rest of the men, preparing herself both mentally and physically for the fighting to be done.

She had just finished putting on her armor over her dress, a shining silver steel breastplate over black silk that bore the emblems of both houses she held allegiance to. As she left her tent with Reckoning in hand, she saw Daemon walking slowly towards her. From the look on his face she could tell that she wasn't going to like what he was about to say.

"What is it?" she asked, the wind blowing gently through her pin-straight silver hair.

Daemon looked at her apprehensively, sighing a little before he spoke, "You're staying here."

She could feel her blood immediately run cold as she slowly shook her head, "Like hell I am."

"It's not safe for you once we breach the walls, Elaena," Daemon said seriously, taking a step towards her. "You don't have enough training or experience to go against seasoned fighters."

"In case you've forgotten it was me who helped win the battle at the Stepstones-"

"Yes but you were up in the air dragonback," Daemon interrupted her, firm in his position. "And no matter how much you've practiced, your sword will still be a toothpick to the men waiting for us behind the gates. I will not have you put yourself at risk, I won't let you die for your revenge, no matter how much you want it."

"But it's okay for you to die for it?" she asked, feeling angry tears rise in her chest.

"I won't die, not today," Daemon said with a small smile. "You're not getting rid of me so easily."

"Daemon-"

"I'll bring them both back to you alive," Daemon assured her, his smile fading as he held her chin up to look at him. "The men are under strict order to capture them and deliver them to you untouched. But until then you're staying here, where I know you're safe."

Elaena slowly nodded, her anger for the situation being outweighed by the truth of it all. She knew she wouldn't stand a fighting chance against men twice her size. But that didn't mean she wasn't disappointed in having to miss all the action, in having to miss seeing Lynara and Hightower's faces when they realized she was coming for them. Daemon leaned down and gave her a soft kiss, but didn't make it last long. When he stood up straight he could see that she seemed displeased by it.

"Don't worry, darling," he said with a small smile. "That won't be our last."

"I know," she said quietly, unable to conceal her nerves, "Just come back to me in one piece."

She inhaled his comforting scent as he gave her one last kiss on the cheek, then watched as she turned around to leave. Her eyes followed him down the hill and through the camp of Tyrell men, watching his silver hair move in the moonlight until he was too far away to see. She felt her heart sink to her stomach once he was no longer in sight, then all the way to her feet when none of the army was in sight.

She turned her eyes to the city of Oldtown, only the faint glimmering of lights visible to her. She felt like she was watching for hours before anything changed, and then she heard it: screaming, no- roaring. If she wasn't standing so silently, so focused on the city before her, she wouldn't have heard a thing. But her ears zeroed in, hearing faint clanging of swords and men shouting. Going into the battle she thought that the most important thing to her would be to get her hands on Lynara and Hightower, but in this moment all she wanted in the world was for Daemon to be okay. But as she felt her heart race with these thoughts, she suddenly felt a blunt force hit the back of her head. Her head throbbed as she felt to the ground, only to hear a menacing voice above her.

"I'm surprised he left you all alone, unprotected."

Elaena rolled onto her back and looked up, only to see none other than Hightower standing above her. Elaena immediately stood, withdrawing her sword from its sheath as her blood boiled. "He didn't leave me unprotected, you snake. I can manage myself."

"Then why didn't you go in with him?" Hightower asked, smiling he held his dagger out. She didn't know how he got here, how he slipped away and found her, but it didn't matter. All that mattered now was that she was finally face to face with him, alone and able to do exactly as she pleased. The two started walking in a circle around each other, sizing each other up as they spoke. "Why aren't you by his side as you wished to be after all these years?"

"Why aren't you by Lynara's?" Elaena asked, breathing heavily with nerves.

Hightower let out a small and dry laugh at these words, "You think I care about her? That I ever did? She was a means to an end from the start."

"Then why did you bring her here? Why were you protecting her after all this time?" Elaena asked, smiling a little. "It's hard to believe that as easily as you exiled my father, the future king, you wouldn't have just killed her to cover your trail. It would have been safer to leave no loose ends and you know it."

The humor drifted from his face as she said this, silence overcoming him. But she didn't need him to say anything, she already knew what his answer would be.

"You wanted her to raise me, didn't you? To take me far away from King's Landing and keep me away," Elaena breathed, her rage growing, "I was a living, breathing reminder of what you did. And even as a child I was tenacious, always curious. You didn't want me lingering around court to find out it was you. But I did. And now you're going to pay for what you did to my mother."

Elaena lunged forward quickly, swinging her sword at him. He jumped backwards, her sword scratching him across his cheek, but he didn't seem phased. He spun around and stabbed his dagger at her, slicing through her arm. She yelped in pain, but didn't allow this to stop her. She didn't care if she died as long as she fought him the whole way through. She refused to cower and let him snuff her from this world without a fight.

After eyeing her target, she thrusted the sword forward with all her strength at him. She narrowly missed him, creating an opening for him to stab again, this time in her thigh. Despite him being an older man, he was still physically much stronger than her, and had a military training of many more years. She felt her legs buckle beneath her from the impact of the blade, falling on her back to the ground. She could feel the blood gushing from her leg, making her dizzy.

He circled around her for a moment, enjoying seeing her this way. "Now that we're at our end together, I'll finally tell you the whole truth. Yes, Lynara loved me and not your father. Yes, I told her to give him the poison that he used to kill your mother. Yes, I did it all to get him out of the way, so that Viserys could rule instead. Viserys is weaker, feebler...the Iron Throne is rejecting him. He was a much easier person to manipulate in my time as Hand. And if it wasn't for you, I would still be at court and my grandson would be king-"

Elaena couldn't stand another second of listening to his poison, mustering all her strength in her legs to swing and kick his legs out from under him. He fell flat on his back, gasping for air as she rolled ontop of him. With one hand she knocked the blade out of his hands and away from them into the grass, and with the other she pointed her sword at him so that the tip pressed into his neck.

"I refuse to listen to another vile thing you say," Elaena spat, her voice shaking with tears of anger. "You killed my mother. You tried to have me raped and killed when I found out. And you tried to let the one person who makes my miserable life worth living die in the Stepstones. I want you to hear me clearly when I tell you that even though you tried to take my voice and life away, even though you tried to take everything away from me, it will be me whose name lives on. It will be my words and memory that are passed on through the generations through song and tale. And it will be me that makes sure yours are never repeated again."

Before he could say anything in response, Elaena pushed the sword through his neck slowly, wanting to inflict as much pain as she could. She watched as he choked on his own blood, small bits of it flying into her face as she sat over him. Once she felt her sword start to penetrate the earth underneath him, she ripped it out sharply, feeling a splash of his blood coat her face and neck. She stayed on top of him, unable to move as she stared into his now lifeless eyes. His face stiffened with death, freezing in place under her gaze.

"Elaena?" she heard behind her.

Elaena sniffed once, giving Hightower one last look before using her sword to help herself stand. She slowly turned around and faced Daemon, who also had blood spattered across his face. She could see the shock in his eyes to find her like this, but all she saw was Lynara being dragged in behind him, kicking and screaming to be let go. She silently limped forward, lifting her sword in front of her.

"Elaena, you're hurt-"

"I don't care," she said numbly, moving past Daemon. She needed to finish this, once and for all. Lynara looked straight at her, but Elaena could tell that she didn't recognize her at first. Elaena relished in this, a dead smile growing on her lips as she watched the exact moment Lynara realized what was happening. All of the woman's screaming and fighting immediately ended, being replaced by a paralyzing fear.

Elaena's cousins held Lynara up, stretching her arms apart from her as she stood to keep her from being able to move.

"Elaena, you don't have to do this," Lynara quickly said, shaking her head as tears started to flow down her cheeks.

"Do you know why I learned how to use a sword, Lynara?" Elaena asked flatly, her eyes as lifeless as Hightower's as she looked upon the woman. "I learned for you."

"Elaena please-"

"I learned because I promised myself that I would never be caught vulnerable, I would never allow myself to be put in a position where I'm defenseless ever again," Elaena continued, swallowing roughly. "So I learned how to fight, it may not be much, but it's enough for you."

"You don't have to do this," Lynara pleaded, sobbing loudly, "I'm your-"

"Don't say that you're my step-mother. You are nothing of mine except for my enemy," Elaena cried, feeling tears run through the sea of blood on her cheeks. "I could understand Hightower and his motives, that everything he was doing was for his own gain of power. But you took the place of my mother and raised me, Lynara! We lived together for over 10 years, having me believe the entire time that you were innocent in her death! And when I found out you tried to have me-"

Elaena choked on her tears, hardly able to finish what she wanted to say. She could feel Daemon's eyes on her but refused to meet them. She needed to end this before she could look at him, before she could turn to him for his protection. She needed to protect herself one last time against the person who hurt her most in this world, the person who betrayed her most. So once she got ahold of herself she sniffed in and continued.

"I named my sword Reckoning for exactly this moment, so that it would have a destiny to fulfill, Lynara," Elaena continued, her tears drying as her anger took over again. "I have dreamt of this moment since the night you fled King's Landing. I have dreamt of my face being the last you ever see, that as you look in my eyes you know in your bones that you're going to the seventh ring of hell for what you did to me. So look closely."

"Elae-"

"Look at my face, at my eyes...truly see me one last time so that when you meet the Gods for your punishment it is only this that you can think of."

Elaena quickly swung her sword in front of her without another moment of hesitation, cutting across Lynara's eyes. Lynara shrieked in pain as the men holding her let go, the sound echoing over the hills around them. Lynara put her hands to her bleeding eyes as she screamed. Elaena let her live in this misery for a moment, hoping that her face haunted Lynara's mind in her darkness.

"Get her up," Elaena commanded.

Her two cousins quickly grabbed hold of Lynara again, lifting her as she sobbed into a standing position.

"Elaena, I'm sorry-" Lynara wailed, but Elaena didn't need her apologies to ammend what she did. She only needed her life. Elaena inhaled once, feeling all the hatred in her heart gather together, then released it from her body as she exhaled. She thrusted Reckoning under Lynara's ribcage, piercing the woman's heart in the same way she had done to Elaena. She held her sword there, feeling Lynara's blood gush down and soak the cloth over her arm. She then let go of the sword, leaving it punctured into Lynara's motionless heart as she turned to walk away from the corpse before her.

"Princess, your sword," one of her cousins said nervously. She turned over her shoulder, seeing the fear of her in his eyes even through the dark night.

"Burn her with it," Elaena said numbly, "I don't need it anymore."

Author's Note: Can I get a yee-haw? Elaena finally got everything she wanted: to marry Daemon & get revenge for her mother. I felt it was necessary for her to close this chapter of her life so that we could all prepare for the inevitable time jump. The struggle between her and Daemon being able to be together is over, as well as the hunt for the people who had a hand in her mother's murder.

I wanted to leave this chapter with the major contrast of her feelings of love during her wedding and feelings of hatred in the final battle on display. I wanted to show the vast dynamics and range of her feelings for she's a true Targaryen with the blood of the dragon in her. This should be ample platform to justify who she is once we reach the Targaryen civil war... a princess capable of inspiring both immense love and immense fear in others. Again, I'm so excited for episode five to air so I can keep writing. Until then, I hope you all enjoyed and look forward to hearing what y'all think about it. Much love, -J❤️