Author's Note: Hey y'all, thank you so much for the overwhelming love & response to my story! It means the world and I'm so glad you're liking it so far. This chapter doesn't include a lot of the episode's scenes as it's set while Rhaenyra rides out to Driftmark with her father, but that's because we have some of our own catching up to do with Elaena since she eloped. More of the episode's events will take place in the next chapter or two, both of which will prepare us fully for the time jump! Without further ado, here is the first chapter of the fifth episode. Happy Reading~
THE DRAGON & THE ROSE - EPISODE FIVE/PART ONE
It had been a month since the fateful night in Oldtown, since Elaena finally exacted her revenge upon those who hurt her most in this world. While she had thought that after this event she would feel some sort of conclusion, she couldn't help but feel that something was unbalanced in inside her. The closure she was seeking seemed to keep evading her, so she spent the remainder of time around Highgarden alone to try and make sense of what she felt. She knew Daemon had been getting suspicious of her behaviour, obviously worried about how distant she seemed to be from both him and herself, but she didn't know what to tell him. How could she explain to him what was wrong when she didn't even know herself?
Her mind was swimming with thoughts and emotions, all of them contradictory. Parts of her heart and mind were completely euphoric; she felt powerful and righteous in what she did, and those feelings were only amplified by the fact that she got to do them along Daemon's side. But in another deeper and darker corner of her soul she felt held back from feeling this as purely as possible. It wasn't shock, for she knew before this moment what kind of violence she was capable of; and it wasn't guilt, for she knew she had been just in the gruesome punishment she served.
It took her a long time to figure out that the way she was feeling had nothing to do with what happened in Oldtown, and everything to do with what was happening inside her. And the moment she realized this, she felt completely paralyzed be it. She was pregnant.
So distracted by the whirlwind of events as of late, she hardly remembered her monthly bleeding, or rather the lack of it. It was only in the month of calm and peace at Highgarden that she realized she was late, very late. And while she knew the first thing she should do was tell Daemon, she feared doing this more than she had feared anything in her life before.
Her and Daemon had barely begun their life together as husband and wife, and while others might be thrilled to have no complications in getting pregnant so fast, Elaena was not. This was never part of her plan so soon in their marriage; one day of course, but not today. She had always wanted children of her own one day, but she always thought that day was far away from now. It all felt too much too soon, and she was scared that Daemon would feel the same way, that her being pregnant would cause him to lose interest in her, that it would make his eyes turn elsewhere.
She didn't want a marriage like all the others of Westeros had where a woman was just a cunt for her husband to plant his seed. She didn't want to her only value or purpose in their marriage to be the person to bear his children. She wanted to be his everything, the only person in the world that could satisfy him in every way. She wanted every part of her to fulfill his needs, just like every part of him fulfilled hers. A child would change their relationship permanently, and that was something she just wasn't prepared to risk. She didn't want change if it meant that it drove them apart from each other.
Elaena laid silently in his arms, thinking about all of this to herself as Daemon gently stroked her bare shoulder. She could feel his eyes on her as they laid in bed, she could feel him trying to read her mind. And while he didn't know the exact problem on her mind, he knew that something was wrong.
"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked softly, continuing to brush his fingers along her skin.
"Talk about what?" she asked, trying to feign the appearance of not knowing what he was talking about. But it was no use, he knew her too well to believe this.
"Whatever it is that's obviously bothering you," he started, shifting his arm to prop himself up on the bed. He looked down at her, his eyes boring into her. "Is it what happened at Oldtown?"
"No," Elaena muttered, avoiding his eyes. "It's nothing."
"Is it me? Something I've done to upset you?" he continued, his jaw shifting a little as he guessed.
"No, it's not you, I promise," she whispered, finally looking at him. She put her hand up to his cheek, feeling the rough skin for a moment before looking away again. "I'm fine-"
"You're not fine," he said more forcefully, "And I don't want to return to King's Landing when it feels like we have unresolved matters between us, even if it's my brother demanding we come back. We're supposed to be a united front, a team. You're supposed to be able to talk to me about anything."
"I don't know what it is...why I'm feeling like this," Elaena responded, covering her eyes with her hands so she wouldn't have to look at him while she lied.
Daemon looked at her for a moment, thinking about what to say next. "Then we should stay in Highgarden a bit longer, to figure it out before we walk into the mess waiting for us back home."
"We can't stay here any longer, we've already been too much of an imposition on my aunts and uncle."
"They're your family, our family now. They've made it clear that we're welcome here as long as we need," Daemon said strongly, not believing any excuse she was coming up with. "And even if they didn't want us here anymore it's not up to them. We are their Prince and Princess. We're Targaryens, we can do as we bloody well like."
"I know but it's time we go home, we can't avoid our problems there any longer-"
"But we can ignore the one right before us?"
"I don't need you to try and fix me, Daemon," she said a bit more bitterly than intended.
"I'm not trying to fix you, I'm trying to help you," he said softly, obviously hurt by her words and attitude towards him right now. She hated every part of this, she hated seeing him affected by her own cowardice. She knew she needed to tell him, but she just couldn't muster the courage to do it.
"I know, I'm sorry," she said quietly. She wanted to cry, she felt like she needed to, but no tears would produce themselves. She felt completely empty and hollow inside despite the life growing in her. Daemon stood from the bed, grabbing his trousers from the chair beside it. He quickly began to get dressed, saying nothing more to her. "Please don't go, don't leave our conversation like this."
"It's not me who's unwilling to talk about it, Elaena," he responded, pulling on his shoes. "You know I'm here for you, but you won't let me be. So I'm going to go get Caraxes and Vermax ready to ride. We'll leave as soon as you're dressed and ready since you want to get back to King's Landing so badly."
"Daemon-" Elaena pleaded, feeling her heart contort in her chest like someone was squeezing it. But before she could say anything else he had left, leaving her alone in their chambers. She sat in bed a moment more, trying to collect herself before getting ready.
When she stood from the bed, she stopped in front of the long mirror next to her wardrobe. She looked down at her naked body as she turned to the side, her hand running over her stomach. For a second she thought the swelling of her belly was visible, but after a moment of staring at it she couldn't decide if it was just in her head or not. She hoped it was. After getting dressed she headed quietly down the stairs from her chambers at Highgarden, making her way to where she knew Daemon would be bringing their dragons.
Once she got there, her aunts and uncle were waiting for her to say goodbye. She took a shaky breath in to try and conceal overcrowded mind, not wanting them to think that she wasn't grateful for everything they've done for her. She gave them a small smile as she stood before her uncle, speaking softly, "Thank you Uncle, for your help and for providing me your home this last month."
"Of course my dear," he said with a short nod. He too was smiling at her, but she could tell in his eyes that he feared her. When she came back from Oldtown she was covered in blood from head to toe, and her entire demeanor had been icy with hate. When he heard the tale of events he treaded much more carefully around her, aware of the horrifying damage she was capable of when angered far enough. "You're always welcome here."
"Yes, just promise us you won't wait so long again before coming back," Elyse interjected, stepping forward to give a short and rigid hug to her niece. While it would have been icy feeling to others, Elaena learned in her time at Highgarden that this was just Elyse's way. She wasn't an overly affectionate person at all, and this was likely the full extent of her sweetness.
Elaena then turned to Evie, the much dreamier aunt who seemed to always have her head in the clouds.
"Come here, love," Evie said with tears in her eyes, placing her hands on either side of Elaena's face. "Let me look at you one last time...you're just like Emylie... with a heart much fiercer. Much braver. Your mother would be proud of you."
"Thank you Aunt Evie," Elaena responded, feeling a twinge in her heart.
"Take care of yourself," Evie whispered, her voice barely loud enough for Elaena to hear. "Take care of both of you."
"Daemon can manage himself quite fine, and so can I," Elaena smiled lightly. Of the three of Emylie's siblings, Evie reminded her most of her mother. The warmth and kindness seemed to radiate from Evie so effortlessly as it had done from her. Elaena would miss her most of all in leaving Highgarden.
She expected her aunt to laugh or smile a little at this response, but her face grew more serious as she took Elaena's arm. The two walked down the stairs and away from Maesen and Elyse, the two speaking in secret now. "I wasn't talking about him."
Elaena's own smile faded as she watched Evie look down to her stomach with knowing eyes. "How did you-"
"I had my suspicions," Evie said with a sad smile, "While I'm overjoyed I can't help but see you aren't. And that your dear husband doesn't know either. Will you tell me why?"
"I'm not ready for this," Elaena whispered, feeling her whole body tense. She certainly wasn't expecting a conversation like this.
"We women never are the first time, but once it's over your forget every minute of the pregnancy, I promise-"
"It's not the pregnancy that scares me," Elaena responded in a hushed voice, stopping in place to face her aunt. "It's everything else, it's the way that a child will change everything!"
"Change is good, my dear, it keeps you on your toes."
"I don't want to be on my toes anymore," Elaena inhaled sharply, "I just want to be happy."
"And what would make you happier than the love you bear for your husband being brought to life?" Evie asked, obviously not understanding where Elaena was coming from. "A child will only strengthen you and Daemon, it will unite you together in ways you can't possibly understand right now."
"Thank you for your advice, Aunt Evie, I shall take it into consideration," Elaena said strongly, making it clear that her aunt's opinion on what to do was not wanted right now. Elaena was already too overwhelmed with her own thoughts battling each other, she didn't need her aunt's words added to the mix.
"I hope you do." Evie nodded.
Out of nowhere a long and loud screech sounded. Elaena looked up without flinching, seeing Caraxes and Vermax flying side by side through the air. Her aunts and uncle all ducked to the ground, their instinct of fear taking over. They slowly stood back up as Daemon landed Caraxes, watching as Vermax stopped right in front of Elaena. Evie looked up at the beast, her eyes wide as she stared at the silver scales.
"Thank you again for everything. I promise to see you all soon again." Elaena said once more, stroking her dragon's cheek. "Goodbye."
Elaena then climbed up Vermax's wing, turning away from her mother's family. Once she was in the saddle she looked to Daemon, but he wouldn't face her. He only muttered something in High Valyrian, to which Caraxes took off from the ground. The wind from his wings blew harshly around Elaena, moving her hair wildly as she gave one last look to her family. They all bowed to send her off, to which she returned a short nod of her head.
She then sharply snapped the reins around Vermax, commanding her to fly, "Sōvegon."
This was what Elaena needed most, and yet she hadn't realized it. Flying over the earth made everything seem so small; great trees that once towered over her became specks of dirt, vast lakes became singular raindrops. It made it easier for her to put components of her life into perspective, to get clarity on the things that seemed too big or too scary to handle. And since they flew so far apart, Elaena didn't have to talk to Daemon. She could ride silently and think, which was what was needed. The crisp clean air in her lungs and the wind in her face purified her mind as best they could, but even this wasn't enough to truly help her. This problem was too big to face alone and she knew it.
So she decided to mentally tackle the other obstacles that she would meet again on the ground, the ones that would waiting for her back in King's Landing. Despite the news of Rhaenyra's engagement to Laenor Velaryon, Viserys' best attempt to mend the alliance of the two Valyrian houses, Elaena still knew that there would be tension between them all. Specifically, she knew that tension between her, Lord Corlys, and Princess Rhaenys would be ice cold. And the reception from her cousin King Viserys would be no warmer. She went behind all of their backs to marry Daemon over Lucerys, and she wouldn't be welcomed back to court unscathed. She needed to prepare what she was going to say to them all, how she was going to try and remedy the situation.
If she had it her way she and Daemon would have gone on a wedding tour, discovering new lands and cultures together with perfect harmony in their hearts. She wished she could erase every one of the problems gnawing at her, that she could just live in the moment with the person she loved most. Most of all she wanted to feel like and be the person she knew he loved. But she just couldn't, she couldn't shake every fear and worry in her heart and act like nothing was on her mind.
Exhausted in every way, Elaena felt like she could barely walk once they landed in King's Landing later that evening. Her feet dragged behind her as she gave her riding gloves to the dragonkeepers of the pit, her eyes barely open. Despite the troubles between them, Daemon waited for her to catch up, his eyes watching her closely.
"Are you alright?" he asked softly. He started walking by her side back to the Red Keep, taking long and slow steps to keep in time with her sluggish pace.
"I'm just tired," she sniffled, "And sorry. I know I should talk to you about it, but I just can't. Not yet."
"You know that you can though, right? No matter what it is," he responded, lacing his fingers through hers. The two walked hand in hand, a bit of both the physical and emotional distance between them closing.
"I know that, and I promise I will...I just need time," Elaena said quietly, feeling tears well in her eyes.
He stopped walking, pulling her hand so that she would face him. She kept her head down, not wanting him to see her like this, it would only make him worry more. But he didn't seem to care, lifting her chin so that he could see her face. "I won't press you anymore about it, not until you're ready to tell me. I just want you to know that whatever it is, I still love you. Always."
She nodded with a sad smile, tears now falling from her eyes. "I love you too, Daemon."
"No more tears," he smiled lightly at her, brushing them off her face. She walked into his arms, immediately comforted by his familiar scent. He was the one person she needed, but even a small moment like this with him made her feel guilty. She felt he had every right to be upset with her, to not understand why she was being this way. It would have been easier for her to continue hiding her secret from him if he had been. "Come on now, my brother's expecting us."
"Alright," she responded, forcing a smile. "Let's go."
They joined hands again, walking in silence together as they approached the castle. The walk to the throne room was an tense one, the eyes of every lord or lady in the court on them. Daemon wouldn't let go of her hand though, holding it tightly to show everyone that they had nothing to hide or be ashamed of. Elaena gently squeezed his hand for courage and then let go, following after him through the door of the throne room. He immediately moved a step closer to, holding his arm around her waist. Inside, Viserys was waiting alone, sitting on the chair with a thorny look on his face. He looked completely exhausted, his face aged by two years instead of by the two months they had actually been gone.
"Must you rub it in?" he asked coolly, his voice echoing around them as they approached. He looked down at their linked bodies, his top lip curling back a bit. "Must you come in so obviously relishing in your newfound marriage? A marriage that was bought at the expense of our alliance to the second greatest house in the Seven Kingdoms?"
"Hello to you too, Viserys," Daemon responded, not moving his arm from being around her. "I thought you might be more grateful than this to see your brother and cousin's happiness."
"Grateful?" Viserys asked, standing from this throne to look down at them. "For your happiness?"
Elaena stood silently, feeling her heart start to race.
"WHAT OF MY HAPPINESS?" The King bellowed, taking a sharp breath in to compose himself. He lowered the volume of his voice, but the rage remained. "I have done nothing but make excuses for both of you. I have protected you both, given you every opportunity to find happiness of your own."
"Yes, just as long as it wasn't with each other," Daemon snapped, his own tone of voice hardening.
"How dare you?" Viserys asked, letting out a dry laugh. "I have every mind to banish you both from this court, you would fare well to speak to me with respect."
"If you want to banish us, why don't you? Why did you call us back to court, we would have been content away from it," Daemon said, letting go of Elaena's waist to walk towards him. Elaena watched silently as Daemon stopped right before him, the both of them looking at each other with hostile anger. "You've never wanted me to be happy. If Elaena had run off to marry anyone besides me you wouldn't be reacting like this."
"That's where you're wrong, Daemon," the King responded. He then took a step to the side, looking down at Elaena. "Go. I'll speak to you later."
"She's not going anywhere," Daemon seethed. "I won't let her out of my sight, not when we are so obviously not welcome here."
"It's alright Daemon," Elaena finally said, her voice soft. "I'll see you upstairs when you're done."
"You two will not be sharing a room," Viserys said slowly, foaming at the bit like a rabid dog. "You will each stay in your old chambers separately."
"He's my husband, and I his wife." Elaena turned to her cousin, feeling her own anger bubble. She understood his ire, his frustration for what they did. But this wasn't called for. "You can't change that no matter how much you wish you could. Our place is together."
Viserys' eye twitched a little, but he said nothing else, only jerking his head to the side to tell her to leave. Daemon turned around, very obviously not wanting her to leave on her own. Since the battle in Oldtown, when Hightower had snuck up on her, he rarely left her anymore without his protection. She was too close to being killed by the former Hand, and would always bear the scars from his blade on her skin. She knew Daemon blamed himself for making her stay behind, for not leaving someone with her.
And now they had just entered the most threatening place in the whole of the Seven Kingdoms, there was no way he was okay with her even walking to her room without his presence. But she knew they didn't have much choice in this matter, they had to try and mend their relationship with Viserys if it meant they were to stay at court. She knew Daemon didn't care where they were, but she did. She worked hard to make this her home again, and she didn't want to leave it.
"I'll be okay," Elaena nodded, giving him a small smile. He didn't seem convinced, but knew they didn't have any other choice. Elaena slowly turned around, leaving the two feuding brothers to settle matters on their own. She knew she would have to answer to Viserys sometime soon, but she was too tired to do it now anyway. She was thankful for the extra time to prepare herself for her lashing. As she walked through the halls to her room she avoided the staring eyes of everyone around her, hoping only that she would have more strength in her to face it all tomorrow.
The Next Morning
While having to face a common enemy brought her and Daemon closer upon their arrival in King's Landing, Elaena still felt distance from him. She was unable to face him on her own for longer than a minute because of her nerves. She knew she needed to tell him, not only for his sake, but for her own. She wouldn't be able to last much longer keeping it from him. It had only been a few weeks of knowing, but the lies ate away at her like it had been years of witholding from him. So she woke up early, before the sun had even fully risen, ready to go to the Godswood.
She turned back to look at him before closing the door behind her, admiring the peacefulness in which he slept. She looked at the hole in his arms where she had been, feeling another tug of guilt. But she had to go, she needed to find it in herself to gather her courage. Not only did she desperately need it for Daemon, she also needed it before she faced Viserys later in the morning. And the only person she could think to turn to for this help was her mother.
But she didn't make it to the tall weirwood tree to do this, for at the entrance to the Godswood Lucerys Velaryon stood waiting for her.
"Have you come to find absolution with the Old Gods?" he asked, his face stoney.
"Absolution, no. Guidance, yes," Elaena responded, walking past him. She didn't have it in her to handle him right now, not with everything on her plate.
"You're just going to run away again? Without an explanation, again?" he asked, grabbing her arm forcefully. "I think you owe me more than that."
Elaena pulled her arm back without thinking, slapping him across the face as hard as she could. She was in no mood to coddle his feelings, to beg for forgiveness or boost his ego. "Don't dare lay a hand on me ever again. I understand you have hurt feelings right now, but I am still your Princess. The next time you touch me you won't have hands to touch anything at all."
"Yes, Your Grace," Lucerys said through gritted teeth, remembering his place. "I only meant that I feel like I deserve an explanation for being scorned in such a way. You embarassed me and my family when you snuck off with him into the night. We had an agreement-"
"We did, and for going back on my word I apologize, but you knew the whole time that I loved another. I was willing to break the sacred bounds of marriage in order to be with him, so when the opportunity came for me to choose him and only him, I did. Again, I apologize for how it affected you, but I don't have to explain myself any further," she said angrily, her chest rising and falling quickly. She had wanted to do this more eloquently, but his attitude was irritating her beyond belief.
"You do have to explain yourself, you owe me that!" Lucerys said loudly, his face turning red with anger. "You made an enemy of me and my family that day. If you want any chance of mending the alliance our houses have you'll need to beg my forgiveness."
"I am a Targaryen," Elaena started, her tone cold. "I am from the blood of Old Valyria, from the blood of the dragon. I am a Princess in my own right and I don't have to explain myself to the likes of you."
"Then you'll have war," Lucerys exhaled, as if this was the worst threat she could hear.
Elaena let out a small and dry laugh, shaking her head at him. "No I won't. Your older brother gets to marry the heir to the Iron Throne. He'll be King Consort and Protector of the Realm one day because of the choice I made. Your parents wouldn't sacrifice that, not with that much of a prize waiting for him."
"You underestimate our talent for vengeance, Princess. We will have both."
"No, you won't," Elaena smiled, taking a step towards him. "Don't forget that I know something about you that wouldn't do well in the people's hands. It wouldn't do well in the High Septon's hands either. Remember I know the secret you divulged to me so long ago, just here in the Godswood where we are now. It's something I don't want to have to use against you, but make no mistake I will if you or your parents ever threaten me and my family again."
Lucerys stood silent, simmering in anger. In this moment she had the leverage, and he knew it.
"Tread wisely, Ser Lucerys, and don't make an enemy of me. You won't stand a chance," she said quietly, shifting her weight as she tilted her head at him. The two stared at each other for a long moment, neither one backing down, even when a third voice entered the conversation.
"Your Grace?" a guard said, clearing his throat a little.
"Yes?" Elaena responded, not taking her eyes off of Lucerys.
"The King wishes to speak to you immediately," the guard said nervously. "If you would come with me."
"Of course," Elaena smiled. The guard stood awkwardly, waiting for her to follow him. But she wasn't leaving anywhere until Lucerys looked away first. With a slow exhale he finally turned around, leaving the Godswood with stamping feet in the gravel.
Once he was gone Elaena finally followed the guard, walking quietly in front of him towards the King's council chambers. Elaena prepared herself as much as she could, trying to shake her nerves. She had really wanted to spend what little time she had in the Godswood with her mother, but Lucerys had snatched every second with his frustration.
When the doors opened to the small council chamber, she could feel her skin pale a bit. Despite feeling righteous in her choice to marry Daemon, she didn't want bad blood with Viserys. He was her family, and she hated having to go behind his back even if he didn't believe her.
"Sit," Viserys commanded once she was in the room, but his voice was less angry than she expected. If anything, he seemed exhausted, completely run down by the responsabilities of ruling. As she looked upon her cousin she could say that he was in pain, both mental and physical. He didn't seem well in the slightest.
Elaena walked over to him, seating herself in the chair beside him as he sat at the head of the table. She opened her mouth to say something, but he spoke over her before she could get out a single syllable.
"Please...let me start," Viserys sighed, tapping his fingers on the stone table before them. "I want to discuss the business in Oldtown before anything else."
This came as a bit of a shock to Elaena. She knew it would come up at some point, but she thought she would be walking into hell's inferno to defend her choice in marriage first.
"I want to know what made you think you could murder the Hand of the King without my consent," Viserys started, leaning back in his chair to listen to her response.
"Your former Hand, cousin," Elaena said quietly, her voice soft but solid. "And it wasn't murder it was justice."
"I could understand how you would think that for your step-mother, Lady Stark, but I thought we agreed that there was no evidence in Otto's involvement."
"Did Daemon tell you how it happened? How I killed him?" Elaena asked, feeling her whole body tighten.
"No, he said it was your own tale to tell," Viserys sighed.
"Daemon made me stay behind when they went into the keep, said it wouldn't be safe for me inside the walls once the fighting broke out. He was going in with my uncle's men to retrieve Lynara and Lord Hightower for me, but your former Hand found me himself," Elaena said coolly, "He tried to murder me with a dagger and his bare hands."
Viserys sat silently, not letting his reaction show as he listened.
"He tried to kill me, but I got him in the end. Before I did he admitted to my face that it was his idea to murder my mother, that he was the one to provide Lynara with the poison," Elaena continued, the strength in her voice growing weaker. "He told me he did it so you would be King. He called you easily manipulated and weak, cousin. With all of this information and the fact that he was actively trying to kill me, I stuck my sword in his throat. And I don't regret it one bit."
"I understand you doing that in the heat of the moment, I do," Viserys admitted, speaking slowly. "But you still should have come to me before going to Oldtown in the first place. You may have ignited a war on two fronts because of it. All of Otto's children, my wife in particular, have not taken kindly to this news. Was it not enough to anger the Velaryons?"
"I'm sorry, cousin," Elaena said honestly, feeling tears rise in her throat. "Truly I am. But I had to avenge my mother, even if it was the last thing I did."
"I know," he exhaled, his face pensive. "And it's for that reason that I'll allow you to remain at court. Your punishment will be having to be surrounded by faces that hate you for what you did. Not just Queen Alicent, but all of the Velaryons as well. Which brings us to our next point of conversation."
"My husband," Elaena replied, sitting up a little to regain her composure and strength.
"Yes," Viserys said bitterly. "Your husband."
"What is it you'd like to know?"
The King laughed drly, shaking his head before narrowing his eyes at her. "Well to start, I'd like to know what you were thinking eloping with him without a word of explanation to me or the Velaryons."
"The only reason we did any of it in secret this whole time was because we knew you wouldn't approve," Elaena said a bit breathlessly. "No matter how happy it would have made either of us to be together, you were never going to allow it."
"Because I don't trust my brother," Viserys replied strongly, his voice getting sharper now. "He has proven time and time again that he can't help but to play games with me, with anyone in his life. I did not wish for you to be another thing for him to toy with."
"But that's not how it was, it never has been." Elaena shook her head, her eyebrows furrowed. "Why can't you see that?"
"Because I've known Daemon a lot longer than you, he isn't capable of being trusted. You would have been better off with Lucerys as a husband."
"But I didn't love him, I love Daemon," Elaena said softly. "I don't want to quarrel with you cousin, but I won't back down on this. So even if you don't trust him, trust me."
"I don't doubt your love for Daemon," Viserys replied honestly. "I doubt his for you."
"What?" Elaena asked, the words like a stab in the gut.
"My brother's eyes have a talent for being easily turned. His attention and claims of love change as quickly as his temper does," Viserys said darkly. His eyes were cold and narrow as he spoke to her, as if his words alone weren't enough to make her sick to her stomach.
"You don't mean that-"
"But I do," Viserys insisted. "There's a reason why he's flitted around three different positions on the small council, ending in his exile from court each time...There's a reason why his eyes turned from his first wife to his whore, Mysaria. And there's a reason his eyes turned from her to you."
Elaena fought the tears and doubt creeping up inside her, not wanting to let Viserys see that he had made her waver in her trust of Daemon. She had already felt doubt and fear with this pregnancy. She didn't want him to become bored with her, to see her as only a person who makes him heirs while he does what he likes elsewhere. Her worst fears and doubts about her marriage were being confirmed by another, and it made her feel like she'd be sick.
"I don't want this to be the case," Viserys said calmly, leaning forward as he spoke to her. "Despite what you may think I want both of you to be happy. You're my family and I love you. I just hope that you made the right decision. There's enough repercussions from it as it is for it to end in misery for you."
"Is that all?" Elaena asked with a small voice, her eyes watering fiercely.
"Yes," Viserys responded, nodding once. "Rhaenyra's wedding to Laenor Velaryon has been confirmed once and for all. It will happen in the next few months, which seems to have appeased them all after you scorned them. So as long as you extend your sincerest apologies to the Velaryons, and you don't cause any more trouble, you're welcome to stay back in court."
"Thank you," Elaena replied bitterly, standing from her seat. She quickly began walking away, unable to hear another second of it all. She tried to keep the tears from falling as she walked, but it was pointless. The floodgates had been opened completely, and every dark fear and thought that hid in the corners of her mind were out of their steel cages. She couldn't handle it any longer, she had to talk to someone who could understand fully. Rhaenyra.
Elaena practically ran to Rhaenyra's chambers and let herself in, finding her cousin still in bed waking up. Chambermaids surrounded her, getting things ready for the day, but as soon as Rhaenyra saw Elaena she told them all to leave, standing from her bed without hesitation.
"Elaena, what is it?" she asked, bringing her to the large lounge chair in her room. She wrapped her arm around Elaena, feeling panicked by her cousin's outburst of emotion.
"Do you think I made a mistake?" Elaena asked, feeling her heart in her throat as she breathed heavily.
"What do you mean, a mistake with what?" Rhaenyra asked, genuine confusion on her face.
"Please don't make me say it," Elaena pleaded, pressing her lips together tightly.
"You had every right to make Hightower pay for what he did to your mother, I know Alicent is upset, but-"
"No, not with that," Elaena cried softly, trying to hold her emotions in as much as she could. "With Daemon?"
"Elaena, no," Rhaenyra said quietly, "Of course I don't think you made a mistake, how could you ask that?"
"Your father, he- he confirmed these doubts that I feel- these fears-"
"You can't listen to what my father said, he doesn't understand it. He's biased against Daemon, he always has been," Rhaenyra said, gripping Elaena's hands tightly.
"What if I'm biased? What if I can't see what's before me because I'm blinded by my love for him?"
"What doubts are you talking about?"
"I'm pregnant," Elaena whispered, watching Rhaenyra's face completely shift at these words.
"Isn't this good news? I know it's sudden but I'd think this is cause for celebration, not tears."
"I'm scared...terrified of Daemon's reaction to it."
"You haven't told him yet?" Rhaenyra asked, her face shocked. "Why not?"
"I was afraid once I tell him that he won't love me as much as he did, that things would change. We only just got married..and after my conversation with your father I'm starting to doubt that Daemon ever loved me at all. Maybe it was all some game he was playing, maybe-"
"Stop this madness," Rhaenyra said firmly, gripping Elaena's hands tightly now. "I was there on your wedding day, I saw the both of you vow your love or each other before the Gods. And even more than that, I saw in both of your eyes alone how much you adore each other. I've never seen two people more in love, Elaena, don't let anyone else make you doubt that."
"You really think so?"
"I do," Rhaenyra smiled, "I really do. And I think despite these feelings of doubt you know that you two are right for each other. Deep down you have to know you made the right choice."
"Then why do I feel so confused? Why is it so hard for me to tell him?"
"You're afraid because you know that what you have is beautiful. You're afraid to risk losing it. But nothing worth having comes without risk, Elaena," Rhaenyra said softly. "So don't fear what may come, there's no point. Even if you don't think you have the right words, even if you know you don't... the only way you'll feel any better about any of this is if you just talk to him. He's the one you need right now."
Author's Note: Thank you again everyone for reading! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Things are definitely a bit tumultuous for Elaena right now even though she's technically in the honeymoon period. As much as I love my character and what her to happy, what fun would it be to have things be perfect? Not only is it not realistic for everything to go smoothly, it makes for a boring story. And House of the Dragon is anything but boring. The next chapter where Elaena tells Daemon is coming up soon, as well as the chapter with Rhaenyra's wedding celebrations...the last two chapters are likely to be released tomorrow and the day following, so keep checking back in! Until then -J❤️