IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: As I said last time, we saw a very dark end to the chapter before this one. And if you hadn't realized, all of the chaos and impact on Elaena during this scene is causing her to miscarry her child. As a serious writer I am always trying to hone my skill, even when the scenes written are not happy ones. With that said I will be going into very graphic physical and emotional detail. I know this can be a triggering and very emotional topic for certain readers, so if this is you, please read only at your own discretion. It is never my intention to trigger readers, only to write in a way that evokes feeling and response from you all. So with that said, only read forward if you feel you are able to.
THE DRAGON & THE ROSE - EPISODE FIVE/PART THREE
Feeling sharp pains stab in her side, Elaena screamed loudly in the great hall, unable to filter the pure pain and distress she was in. She could feel blood gushing out from inside her, pooling on the floor around and soaking into her dress. From the waist down the once light blue fabric was now a deep scarlet color, and smelled of rusted death. Sickness overcame Elaena in every way as the smell of it all filled her nose, as she felt her baby dying inside of her. Her breathing quickened in pace, the ragged sound only interrupted by her crying.
"Elaena, breathe-" Rhaenyra cried, her own voice shaking uncontrollably as she squeezed Elaen's hand. "Daemon's here now- we're going to help-"
"There's so much blood," Daemon murmured, the shock taking over him. Though he knew he needed to act quickly he felt as if he couldn't move, stuck in place as if someone had glued him there.
Pushing through the crowd of people Viserys and Alicent finally made it to them, the same terror everyone else felt filling their eyes.
"Ser Harrold get everyone out of here at once. They don't need to see this," Viserys said, his face pale with fear. The guard immediately turned away from them all, moving the watching eyes out of the great hall and away. The King then turned to his other knight awaiting command. "Ser Harwin take Rhaenyra to her chambers where she's safe-"
"No- I refuse-" Rhaenyra shook her head, squeezing Elaena's hand tighter. "She needs me- I can't- I can't leave her like this-"
"Please don't leave-" Elaena whimpered, her tears flowing down her face at the prospect. Both her and Rhaenyra gripped each other's hands, trying to prevent their separation.
"Ser Harwin we don't have time to waste," Viserys said, looking to the knight firmly.
"NO! LET GO-" Rhaneyra screamed. Elaena turned her head weakly to the side, watching as Rhaenyra was forcefully ripped from her. Rhaenyra shouted loudly to be let go, thrashing against the man to get out of his grip and back to Elaena. Ser Harwin remained silent, tossing the Princess over his shoulder to escort her away.
"Is the maester here yet?" Viserys asked quickly, ignoring his daughter's pleas to be with her.
"There's not enough time," Daemon muttered. Without another word Daemon swept down and picked Elaena up. She wailed loudly from pain as he did this, feeling a searing hot wrench in her stomach. It felt as if someone had reached inside her and twisted her organs with their hand, each step he took towards the maester's quarters hurting her deeply.
"Daemon it hurts," Elaena cried deliriously, whimpering as he ran up the stairs.
"I know, I'm sorry, my love," he responded shakily, the strength in his voice wavering like it never had before. "We're almost there, I promise."
"Why is there so much blood?" she wept, feeling it drip down her legs and fall onto the stairs below them.
"Mellos-" Daemon shouted, kicking the door before them down with a brutish force. He then quickly set his wife on the bed, turning to the old man for help.
"I was just on my way, but it's better you're here where I have my tools. What happened?" the maester asked, his eyes wide as he rushed over to her. He immediately lifted her skirt without hesitation, inspecting the gruesome scene.
"I don't know- I didn't see-" Daemon said quickly, breathing heavily. "But she was hit I think and she- she just started bleeding, she's been having these stabbing pains-"
"My stomach was hit-" Elaena wailed, "And kicked-"
"It's going to be alright, Your Grace," the maester interrupted him, looking to Elaena with serious eyes. "I know you are in shock, I know you are in pain, but I fear something has ruptured inside of you due to impact, that's why you're bleeding so much. You need to birth this child now."
"No I can't," Elaena cried, feeling Daemon's hands clutch her own. His grip was slippery, for his fingers were covered in her blood. "I'm not ready- it's too early- it's not safe for her to come yet-"
"Can't you just stop the bleeding?" Daemon asked with frenzy in his voice.
"We have no choice, Prince Daemon. If we don't do this now you risk losing your child and your wife. So I need you to push, Elaena," the maester said forcefully, examining her once more.
"I want my mother," Elaena sobbed, feeling every ounce of strength she thought she had disappear. "I can't do this-"
"You can and you must," Daemon said softly, squeezing her hand tightly. "Please don't leave me, Elaena, please. You can't leave me-"
She looked to him as placed a shaky kiss on her hand, seeing him cry for the first time in his life. Tears were streaming quietly from his eyes as he looked to her, pleading her to fight. She had never seen him with such fear, such sadness.
"You're already dilated very far, Your Grace, the child wants to come. You just need to push," the maester said with urgency, letting them both know that they were running out of time.
Elaena only looked into Daemon's eyes, nodding as she swallowed her fear to prepare herself. It was certain neither she or her child would live if she didn't do anything, so she felt she owed to both of them to try. She couldn't leave her child without a mother, or her husband without a wife. She gripped Daemon's hand as hard as she could, squeezing the mattress below her with her other hand as she began to push.
"That's it, my love," Daemon muttered through his tears, allowing her to break his hand if she needed it. He didn't care how hard she squeezed or how loud she screamed, he only wanted both her and his child to make it.
"Another push, Your Grace- now-" the maester commanded.
Elaena pushed as hard as she could, feeling the child push its way through. She had never felt such physical and emotional pain in her life as she did with this, each effort to bring her child into the world tearing her apart from the inside. Despite the traumatic nature of the birth, Elaena didn't care anymore. She just wanted to meet her child...to hold the baby in her arms knowing it was all worth it.
"Only a few more, Your Grace, I can see the child's head," the maester encouraged her, using his hands to try and reach inside. Elaena screamed loudly as he did this, feeling him trying to pull her child out. She pushed once more with all her strength, sweat soaking her body where blood didn't.
"You can do this, Elaena, I know you can- Just be strong," Daemon whispered, clutching her hand tighter. "Just stay with me-"
Elaena screamed even louder with the final push, all of her skin turning as bright red as the blood around her. She suddenly felt the maester pull the child out of her, it was finally over. As delirious and as in pain as she felt, she eagerly sat up, watching as the maester cut the chord from her.
"It's a girl," Daemon cried, laughing lightly through his tears. He turned to Elaena, giving her a gentle kiss on the forehead. "It's a girl."
"It is?" Elaena exhaled, feeling herself cry even harder through a small smile. She watched closely as the maester pulled her daughter away, walking away from them to wrap her in a blanket. Elaena's smile faded quickly though, watching each of his movements and micro-expressions intently. "Why isn't she crying?"
Daemon's smile faded as well as he turned from Elaena, now looking at the maester who stood with a solemn look on his face. The two of them waited for an answer, but the maester seemed lost for words. Daemon's voice immediately turned dark as he spoke. "Answer her, now."
"I'm sorry, Your Graces," the maester said weakly, holding the motionless bundle in his arms. "She cannot cry because she never lived."
"Bring her to me," Elaena immediately responded, trying to keep her tears at bay. But it was no use, large sobs started up from deep in her soul and released into the silent air, the sound chilling to the bone.
"You shouldn't see her like this, Your Grace-"
"I will gut you with my sword if you don't bring my wife her child at once," Daemon said, his body trembling with rage.
The maester slowly walked forward, looking at the stillborn child one last time before gently handing her to Elaena. Elaena looked at Daemon once, then back to the girl, feeling her tears rain down from her eyes. Their daughter was so small; so tiny that Elaena could hardly comprehend it. Her fingernails were barely existent, sitting atop thin little fingers. Despite her size Elaena could see both her and Daemon's features in the girl's face, which only made her cry harder.
"She has my nose... and your lips," Elaena whispered, feeling her lip tremble uncontrollably. Daemon fell slowly to his knees before them, tenderly bringing his hand behind their baby's head as he too wept. With his other arm he wrapped Elaena into himself, holding them both close.
"She's beautiful," Daemon nodded, trying to hold his tears back. He wanted to be strong for Elaena, but this loss was just as agonizing for him as it was for her.
"She never even took a single breath," Elaena wailed, unable to comprehend this loss.
Daemon didn't respond, unable to speak. The two stayed like this for some time, the only sound in the room that of their deepest sorrow. Earlier that day they had woken up with every possibility for hope and happiness for their future. Bliss surrounded the both of them in every way, and now it had been stolen from them in one fell swoop. Elaena brought their child closer to her face, pressing the tiniest of shaky kisses to her daughter's forehead before closing her eyes. She inhaled shakily, then handed her to Daemon.
"No-"
"You should hold her Daemon," Elaena cried. She didn't want to let go of her daughter, but it wasn't her child alone. "It may be the only chance you get."
Daemon slowly took the bundle in arm, holding the baby close to Elaena so that she wasn't too far. Though she couldn't feel it, Daemon gently rocked the baby.
"We should name her," Daemon said softly, sniffling once. "Even though she didn't get to live she deserves a name."
"I can't-" Elaena cried, her voice cracking as she stared down at their daughter. After a moment of silence, Daemon cleared his throat.
"We should name her Emylie," Daemon said, stroking the bare and bloody skin atop the child's head. He slowly turned to Elaena, his face glistening from the fallen tears. "But only if you want."
Elaena could hardly speak, too overwhelmed with sadness to even breathe as he handed her their daughter again. She nodded slowly as she took the child into her arms, tears blurring her vision as she now thought of the loss of her mother too. She squeezed her eyes shut, sobs racking in her chest as she held her daughter tightly. Elaena felt Daemon rest his chin on top of her head, his tears rolling off from his cheeks and into her hair. He gave her a small kiss on the crown of her head, sniffling once.
He wrapped his arms back around the both of them, holding them for strength. But Elaena felt his body grow more rigid, the panic in his muscles more visceral to her as each second passed.
"Mellos-" he said gravely, unable to continue.
Elaena's eyes shot open, looking down at Emylie with a quick pang of hope that she was somehow now breathing. But the infant lay as still and lifeless in her arms as she had always been. Elaena turned her eyes towards the maester, who was staring at her with concern in his eyes.
"She's turning ice cold-" Daemon said fervently, alarm rising in his voice. "And she's getting paler- why is she so pale all of a sudden- what's happening?"
It took Elaena a moment to realize they weren't talking about the baby, but rather her. The maester quickly lifted her skirt, examining her once more.
"She's still bleeding," the maester muttered, grabbing a cloth and some tools behind him.
Elaena realized in this moment that she couldn't feel a thing he was doing, that if her own eyes weren't watching him at work she wouldn't have known he was there. Her whole body was numb, and growing even more so with each passing second.
"Daemon," she said weakly, feeling dizzy all of a sudden.
"It's going to be alright, you're going to be alright," Daemon said, but his words felt more like a command than reassurance. He was telling her that she had no choice but to be alright. She wasn't allowed to leave him alone by dying alongside their daughter. She wanted to tell him that she was trying, but she felt every ounce of energy drain as the blood did. She struggled to hold onto the world around her, feeling an undeniable pull to rest.
She slowly closed her eyes, unable to resist the need for sleep, only to feel Daemon shake her. His words faded from her consciousness, now only as loud as the humming of a bee in the garden. The only thing she could do to keep from falling further into sleep was Emylie in her arms, but soon she too was not enough to keep her in this world.
Six Days Later
Darkness and silence surrounded Elaena for six days, every sensation she might have felt in her sleep was drowned into the abyss. Every decision the maester made to save her life was not felt, every plea from Daemon for her to come back to him was not heard. She lived only in darkness and silence.
The first sensation she felt returning to the world of the living was pain; every twisted shape this evil took consumed her body, mind, and soul. She could handle the physical pain, for this certainly wasn't the first time she'd known it, but the wound in her heart felt so agonizing she wished she had never woken up. Part of her soul felt missing as she rose into consciousness, her heart shattered into so many pieces that she didn't know how she would begin to mend it. As she lay fully awake now, tears escaped from the corners, falling on her face as she laid silently.
When she finally opened her eyes she saw Rhaenyra and Daemon on either side of her, both of them with one of her hands in their own. She could see the visible relief wash over both of their bodies as they saw her wake, and their breathing seemed to finally resume as if they'd been holding it this whole time she'd been asleep.
"There you are," Rhaenyra said lightly, but Elaena could see there was no life behind her eyes. Devastation and sadness overwhelmed her just as it did both Daemon and Elaena.
"Where is she?" Elaena whispered, her throat dry and sore as she looked to Daemon. His eyes were bright red from crying, accompanied by large purple circles underneath from lack of sleep.
"They had to take her away, my love," Daemon muttered, squeezing her hand a bit tighter for comfort. Whether this comfort was for him or her, Elaena didn't know.
"I want to see her," Elaena responded, trying to sit up a little. But before she could move at all both Rhaenyra and Daemon rushed to her side like hawks, holding her back.
"You need your rest, Elaena," Daemon said more forcefully. It was an understatement to say that he had been serious in this moment. It was clear to her that he was saying she had no other option than to rest. "I almost lost you that night, I don't plan to do it now just because you think you're stronger than you are."
"Just bring her to me and I promise I'll rest-" Elaena pleaded, feeling helpless as they held her down. She began to cry harder, feeling completely helpless. "Just bring her to me, please! Let me see her!"
Rhaenyra let go of her grip on Elaen'as arm and slowly sat on the bed, looking at her with pained eyes, "I got to see Emylie, I got to hold her, even if only for a moment."
Elaena sat still now, too weakened by these words to fight them anymore. "You did?"
"She was beautiful, just like her mother," Rhaenyra smiled sadly, tears falling from her eyes. "But that was nearly a week ago Elaena. They had to take her away."
"No-" Elaena cried, deeper sobs racking in her chest as she listened.
"You need to remember her the way she was," Rhaenyra whispered, her eyes growing redder. "Remember how beautiful and precious she was. Don't replace the image you have of her with anything else, please."
Though Rhaenyra was tiptoeing around the words, Elaena knew what she meant. Her daughter would be decaying by now, even if only slightly; death consuming her. The images she was now conjuring in her mind were enough to scar her forever. Rhaenyra was right, she didn't need to see that. But the only thing she wanted was to hold her one last time before returning her to the Gods.
"I'm so sorry, Elaena," Daemon muttered, guilt seeping from his pores as he quietly cried. He couldn't even look his wife in the eye, staring at her hand that he held instead. "I'm sorry I couldn't save her. I should have done more I should have-"
"It wasn't your fault," Elaena interrupted, trying to regain any composure she could. It broke her heart to see him like this, to see him blame himself for something so completely out of his control. "If anyone's to blame it's me. I should have gotten away faster before they-"
"It wasn't either of your faults," Rhaenyra said quickly, leaning forward to reach for Daemon's hand as well. The three dragons sat linked together, sharing their pain with each other. "The only persons to blame for this tragedy are the ones who tried to assassinate me at my own wedding. The ones who are so threatened by my succession that they don't care about the innocents that stand in their way to ensure my demise."
"It was an assassination attempt?" Elaena asked, feeling confused.
"That's what Ser Criston told me," Rhaenyra nodded. "He said he spoke with a man called Ser Joffrey, who was apparently questioning my right to the throne. Later he said he saw the man try to go towards me with a knife. All the chaos that followed was him stopping him, then everyone fighting each other in turn."
Elaena could feel her tears dry a little, her deep sadness slowly brewing into anger inside of her. The three sat in silence long enough for the small feelings of anger to quickly form as rage... as fury.
"This is their fault," Elaena muttered numbly, her eyes turning to Daemon. He seemed to be feeling the exact same way as her, Rhaenyra's words ringing in their ears. "Every person that has ever challenged Rhaenyra's claim to the throne has fault in this. For it's this treasonous idea that has led to an assassination attempt that killed our daughter. Our Emylie."
"I'll kill every last one of them if I have to," Daemon said, wrath wrapping around each word he spoke. "I'm going to find them all, anyone who fights Rhaenyra's claim to the throne, and I'll drive my sword down their throats. Maybe then they'll feel the same pain that we do."
"No one could ever come close to feeling this pain, no matter what you do to them, not ever," Elaena said, silent tears falling from her eyes as she looked at him. "But I'll be damned to the seven hells if I don't avenge her for what they did. It's their hatred that forced me to feel her blood on my hands, and I don't plan on leaving this world until I feel theirs on mine in return."
Six Weeks Later
Bedbound for nearly a month in recovery, Elaena spent every waking second of her days imagining the things she'd do to those who took her daughter from her. While she initially thought after waking up that her and Daemon would be inconsolably in tears for the rest of their lives, she found that she was now only filled with rage. It was easier to feel this way, to acknowledge the hatred rather than face the pain. She couldn't allow herself to think of Emylie, of her tiny little fingers or thin pink lips. When she caught herself longing for her departed daughter she quickly turned her mind off, immediately listing every cruel and twisted punishment she could imagine.
It quickly became a game for her, to see if the terrible things she imagined could be outdone, could be made more terrible. But it didn't matter how brutal or cold-blooded her thoughts turned, it didn't matter how satisfying each torturous scenario she concocted might feel. It would never make up for the loss she and her husband felt.
So once her murderous fantasies no longer satisfied her and she had the strength to move, she began to leave her room for walks to regain her physical strength. Daemon was against it at first, afraid of what might happen to her. Elaena lost her child that day, but Daemon nearly lost his child as well as his wife, the one person he needed to stay in this world with him. While before now she might have fought him for trying to control her, she did no such thing now. She respected his fears, his need to know that she was safe. She wasn't going to be the person to bring him any further distress or sadness.
So she started with very short walks with him by her side. Though she was sore, she could certainly walk without him supporting her, but she didn't say anything. She only leaned on him as a comfort for them both. On these walks they hardly spoke to one another. They didn't need to though, because they both knew there was nothing to say to help or heal anything, they already understood each other's pain. They were of one heart during this time, aching and grieving together.
So rather than talk, they walked, gaining Elaena's physical strength step by step. In the two weeks that she had been leaving her room, everyone's eyes were glued to them, unsure of what to do or say around them. Elaena could hardly make two steps before one of the lords or ladies of the court stopped them to offer their deepest sympathies. Each word any of them said went in one ear and out the other, for she was unable to allow herself to even hear their condolences for what they were. If she had allowed herself to hear them she would think, and if she thought she would have felt, and ultimately if she allowed herself to feel she knew she would become crippled by the pain.
So she stood politely, nodding every now and then to feign the appearance she was listening, then would allow Daemon to say a few words to excuse them. She wished they would all leave her alone, she didn't have it in her to talk about any of it anymore. The only person other than Daemon that Elaena wanted to be with was Rhaenyra. Her and Rhaenyra had grown even closer than they had been before since that horrible night. She knew that Elaena didn't want to speak about what happened, so she talked about her and Laenor to distract her, which was much welcomed.
After being dragged away from Elaena, Viserys had Rhaenyra and Laenor marry that night to prevent any further problems. Since it was Laenor's lover that had been killed for trying to assassinate Rhaenyra, the two newlyweds certainly weren't close to one another in this honeymoon period; both of them found on opposite sides when concluding what actually happened.
Today Elaena was walking with her, the two girls spending the afternoon together while Daemon tended to something. They moved slowly through the Godswood, allowing the fresh air to fill their lungs and the sun to warm their skin. Elaena winced a little as they walked, feeling a small ache in her stomach.
"Are you alright?" Rhaenyra asked quickly, stopping to check on her.
"I'm fine, just a little sore still and stepped wrong," Elaena said softly, trying to give her a convincing smile. She was trying to get back to normal, to talk about normal things and do normals things; to be the person she was before this all happened. So she quickly turned the topic around. "Have you and Laenor... consummated yet? Last I hear is that you still keep separate chambers."
"No, he won't let me near his bed nor I him near mine," Rhaenyra exhaled, looping her arm through Elaena's as they continued to walk.
"You know you'll have to one day, right?" Elaena replied. She was grateful for problems that weren't her own, to be able to distract herself with them.
"Yes, I know. I just can't stand the idea of him on top of me after he's so adamantly defended his dead parmour, Joffrey-" Rhaenyra paused, her skin turning cold. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring him up."
"It's fine," Elaena assured her, swallowing roughly.
"I only meant to say we don't get along at all anymore even on familiar terms, we're living our lives comletely separately," Rhaenyra continued.
"Maybe it's for the best for now, it means your attention can go elsewhere, to Ser Criston perhaps?"
"He's barely looked at me in the past few weeks. I don't imagine things will ever be the way they were between us either."
"I'm sorry," Elaena said softly, not knowing what else to say.
"Father is sensing the distance between me and Laenor, the distance between me and anyone else except for you and Daemon right now, which brings me to what I have to ask you," Rhaenyra said slowly, seeming nervous to bring it up.
"What is it?"
"He wants me to go to Driftmark with Laenor," Rhaenyra stopped, turning to face Elaena with sad eyes. "He thinks it will be best for me to get away from court for a while. Even if only for a year or so."
"Did you tell him no?" Elaena asked, feeling her heart turn a little.
"No matter how much I don't want to go, no matter how much I don't want to leave you...I don't think I have a choice, El," Rhaenyra said softly.
"I see," Elaena nodded, holding back the tears that wanted to come forward. "When will you be leaving?"
"In a few weeks...I don't want to do it anymore than you don't want me to, but it had me thinking. Maybe some time away from the capital would do you good as well. I asked my father and he said you and Daemon could live at Dragonstone for a while, just to get on your feet again after all that's happened," Rhaenyra said gently, taking Elaena's hands into her own. "You'd get away from all the gossip and prying eyes. You could get a fresh start."
"All my enemies are here, Rhaenyra."
"And they'll be here waiting for you when you return," Rhaenyra said strongly, beseeching her cousin to consider her offer. "You have all the time in the world to get revenge for your daughter and I'll help you find it, this I promise you. But in order to do that you have to be well. You have to be able to stand on your own two feet again."
"I can stand just fine-"
"You know that's not what I meant," Rhaenyra interrupted, exhaling lightly. "I love you, El. You're my sister and I want to see you get your vengeance. But today is not that day. I'm not saying this to hurt you. I have to try to protect you the best I know how, even if it's from yourself. So just think about it, will you?"
Elaena stood silently for a moment, wiping her tears away. "I will, I promise."
Rhaenyra took a step forward, enveloping Elaena in a tight hug. The two girls held onto each other silently, each of them standing to hold the other one up.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but I'd like to speak with Princess Elaena alone," a voice said, causing them to pull away from each other. When they turned over their shoulders they saw Alicent standing dressed in green, as she had been since the wedding feast.
"You're either speaking to her with me here, or not at all. I don't care if you're the Queen," Rhaenyra said hostily, stepping in front of Elaena to protect her.
"It's alright," Elaena said coldly, "I'd actually like to hear what she has to say. I'll find you later."
"I don't want to leave you alone-"
"Daemon is on his way to find me any minute. If anything should happen to me in that span of time you'll know it's her to blame."
Rhaenyra gave Alicent a dirty look, then hugged Elaena one last time before leaving the two alone in the Godswood together. The two stared at each other quietly for a moment, the tension thick.
"I wanted to find you and offer my condolences," Alicent started, walking towards her slowly. "I know it's been some time, but I wanted to give you your space."
"How considerate of you." Elaena muttered, her tone icy.
"I can't imagine the pain you must be in, Elaena. I'm sorry this has happened to you," Alicent continued, fidgeting with her cuticles.
For the first time in years it appeared to Elaena that she might actually be telling the truth, that there wasn't something ulterior behind her words. Small tears started to flow from Elaena's eyes, but she said nothing in return, for she still blamed Alicent for what happened.
"I know we haven't gotten along in the past, but that doesn't mean I wanted this to happen, that I wanted you to lose Emylie-"
"Don't say her name," Elaena responded through gritted teeth. "Not ever. Not when it's your fault she never got to live."
"My fault?" Alicent asked, seeming genuinely hurt at the prospect.
"The assassin was trying to kill Elaena so your son could inherit the Iron Throne. You made it clear the week before the feast that you would do anything to protect him. You threatened Rhaenyra for her actions in the past with Ser Criston. It only makes sense that the plot was conceived by either you or your supporters to get back at me."
"I did no such thing, I wouldn't have, not to a child-"
"You were trying to do it to Rhaenyra, but it was me that suffered the consequences," Elaena spat, feeling anger take over her. "You may act sweet and innocent, Alicent, but you don't fool me. I know underneath that facade you have is a cruel and manipulative person. You want Rhaenyra out of the way for your son to take the throne. You told me a week before the wedding that you would do anything to protect him, so I know it was your actions that caused my losses. You organized the assassination attempt."
"But I didn't-"
"At least I don't try to hide the fact that I'm capable of horrors," Elaena continued, not letting her get another word in. "You called me a murderer and a whore the week before the wedding. And you were right. I admit that I killed hundreds of men in the Stepstones for Daemon without batting an eye. I admit that I killed your father and Lynara in the most gruesome fashion possible because I wanted vengeance. I admit to having been with Daemon outside the bounds of marriage because I am and always have been in love with him. And now I admit that I want you and every last one of your supporters dead for what happened to my daughter."
Alicent stood still, her face sheepish as she was being talked down to.
"I own up to who I am, I don't hide it. If you're going to last in this war you started, you better do the same," Elaena finished, her voice low and dark.
"Elaena?" a voice behind her called. She immediately recognized Daemon's voice, turning away from the speechless and teary-eyed Alicent to walk towards him. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," she responded, "Is the surprise you were talking about earlier ready?"
"Come with me," Daemon smiled softly, offering his arm for her to take. She returned a small smile and took it, only to see him give a glare to Alicent behind them before walking. "I don't like that you were alone with her. What was it about?"
"I'll tell you later, I'm too tired to even talk about it. So just tell me, what is this surprise you're taking me to?"
"It wouldn't be a suprise if I told you now," Daemon responded, the tiniest hint of excitement in his voice. Elaena wondered what it could be to lift his spirits like this, but didn't ask. She only smiled at him lightly and turned her head forward as they walked. They didn't say anything else as they entered the Red Keep, going through the maze of halls until they approached the armory.
The two walked through the tall oak doors of the room, then approached a table where two long objects laid underneath purple velvet cloths. They walked closer silently, then looked to each other.
"What is this?" she asked, feeling confused.
"Do you remember the day I gave you this necklace?" he asked, his hands moving towards her neck to gently touch the cold valyrian steel. His fingers lingered for a moment, brushing against the smooth skin of her collarbone.
"Of course I do," Elaena whispered, not sure where this was going.
"You said it was a beautiful gift, but you would have preferred Dark Sister if I was to give you a piece of valyrian steel," he reminisced, a small smile on his lips. "I promised you that one day we would fight together dragonback, with Dark Sister at your side-"
"And Blackfyre at yours," Elaena responded, feeling herself smile a little as well.
"That's right," he smiled wider now, a small sparkle in his eye as he looked down at her.
"You don't mean to tell me you have it, do you?" she asked, her eyebrows raising.
He didn't respond, only looking to the table before them. He pulled the velvet cloth back, revealing the two ancient and ancestral valyrian steel swords of house Targaryen. Elaena's mouth fell slightly agape as she stepped forward, running her fingers along Blackfyre's cool and smooth blade. She examined the intricate steelwork carefully, admiring the ruby embedded at the end of the hilt.
"Where did you find this?" she asked breathlessly, looking up to him in awe. "I thought it was lost."
"So did I," he nodded, lifting the heavy weapon into hand to admire it. "But it was only concealed, by my brother no less."
"And how is it that you came into its possession?" Elaena asked warily, afraid he'd stolen it.
"He gave it to me," Daemon said quietly, his eyes meeting hers. "He's dying Elaena. The throne is rejecting him, he's not fit for it. His body and mind are being torn to pieces and he knows it."
Elaena stood silently, not knowing how to respond to this. She knew he had been sick, but she didn't think he was dying.
"Blackfyre was last known to be wielded by Jahaerys, who secretly passed it on to Viserys come his death. Now that my brother is dying he entrusted the sword's birthright to me."
"It's a lovely notion, but why not Aegon, his son?"
"At Rhaenyra's wedding he said he saw how I protected not only you, but Rhaenyra as well. He saw what I did to make sure you both came out of that night alive, even if our daughter didn't," he said, pausing to collect himself. He cleared his throat a little and continued, his voice a bit weaker now. "The sword is a peace offering after years of strife between us. He said it's a gift and reminder of my promise to continue to protect the both of you, especially once he's gone and the succession passes to Rhaenyra."
"I'm glad he did that, that he said that," Elaena said softly, nodding a little as she put her hand on top of his.
"So am I, because it means that I can finally part with Dark Sister and give her to you," he replied, handing her Blackfyre's twin. "You'll have to train, she's heavier than you're used to. But this is how it's supposed to be. Both of us, side by side with our ancestral steel. We'll use them to protect Rhaenyra, and most importantly to avenge our daughter one day, when the time is right."
Elaena felt tears well in her eyes as she looked from the blade to him. "Thank you, Daemon, truly."
For the first time in weeks she felt the smallest ounce of hope, the smallest ounce of potential to be happy again. And it was all because of him. She needed him to be the provider of hope and love for her right now more than ever, and he certainly wasn't disappointing her.
"We will do everything we can to make sure that Rhaenyra ascends the throne, so that nothing like what happened ever does again. And we'll do it together."
Author's Note: Okay, y'all this is it! This is the last chapter before the time jump! I'm sure you have all seen the promo for the sixth episode/have an idea for what is to come in the future, but I'm sure you have no idea what is to come for Elaena's story! All I can say is that I have a lot in store for the Targaryen civil war, and for what Elaena's life will look like during it. I have lots of ideas, but nothing is certain...if there's something you'd like to see feel free to let me know. Who knows, it just might be included 😉 Until Sunday, my friends. -J❤️