Author's Note: Hi everyone...SURPRISE! A bonus filler chapter before the sixth episode airs tomorrow night! As you know we will be catapulted 10 years into the future, leaving a LOT of time unaccounted for. So the purpose of this chapter is to fill you in on Elaena's life in these years that we miss and connect it to what's to come in the future. I'd tell you what those things are but I should just let you find out yourself... As always I hope you enjoy & happy reading~
Disclaimer: Graphic Sexual Content
THE DRAGON & THE ROSE - EPISODE SIX/PART ONE
10 Years Later
Elaena walked calmly through the dimly lit halls of Dragonstone, the sound of her shoes echoing quietly around her. In the last ten years of life here with her family, she had grown unexpectedly accustomed to being away from the busy and chaotic life she once lived. She used to think that her life would only be worth living in the capital, being in the center of the world around her. But 10 years away from it all made her realize all she ever wanted was happiness for herself and those she loved.
She never thought the life she had now would be the one to bring her this happiness, but it did. She loved her husband, and she loved her children. They were enough to cure the sadness of the past in her heart. Even monotonous activities like the one she was doing now brought her joy. It was part of her nightly routine to round them all up for supper, and she knew that the boys would all be in the courtyard sparring.
Elaena walked up to the open air window and looked down at the muddied yard below, seeing her two sons and Daemon all practicing with their swords. She leaned onto the cold stone and watched for a moment, then looked up at the darkening sky. The sun had almost completely set under the sea's horizon.
"Alright, you three," Elaena called down, watching as they stopped to look up at her. "Time for supper now."
"But we're not finished!" Viseryn shouted, not wanting to stop. His older brother Aemon didn't want to continue though, already moving to take off his small breastplate and go inside.
"Fine, five more minutes," Elaena smiled, shaking her head.
"Ten?" Viseryn begged, looking up at her with wide eyes.
"You get five more or none at all, take it or leave it," Elaena raised her brows, turning her head ever so slightly to look at Daemon. He gave her a nod then turned to his sons.
"But-"
"Listen to your mother, Viseryn, we'll have plenty more time tomorrow," Daemon said, patting his son's shoulders. "Three more minutes, let's go, both of you, get your breastplate back on Vaegon-"
The two boys started sparring again with their blunt swords, mud from the ground underneath flying up at them as they stepped. Elaena and Daemon looked to each other with smiles in their eyes, unable to believe that this was their life together.
"I'm going to go round up the last little one," Elaena called down to him, resting her hand on the cold stone wall as she waited for his response.
"Alright, we'll see you inside," Daemon looked at her sons once more before turning the corner, heading to her last child's nursery.
"Oh, Rhaena," Elaena sung through the halls, walking slowly towards her only daughter's room. Elaena could hear a quick giggle from across the hall, then called her name again. "Where's my Rhaena?"
She peeked her head around the corner of her daughter's room, looking around only to see Ona sitting in her chair. The woman was doing a needlepoint, a small smile on her face.
"Ona, have you seen my daughter?" Elaena asked, putting her hands on her hips as her daughter giggled again. "I just can't seem to find her."
"No, Your Grace, I haven't, she just disappeared into the wind!" Ona said with amusement, nodding her head once to the curtains hanging over the window. Elaena looked to them, seeing a small lump behind the red velvet fabric.
"Well I wonder where she could possibly be?" Elaena sighed. She then gasped, walking towards the window. "What's this I see in the curtains? Could it be?"
"Mummy!" Rhaena laughed, jumping out with a big smile towards her mother.
"Come here, my darling," Elaena said with a wide smile, squatting down with open arms to hug her. She then began to tickle the little girl's side a little, placing a big kiss on her cheek. Rhaena squealed a little in her mother's arms, her tiny nose wrinkling as she smiled.
"Mummy that tickles!" she giggled, squirming around a little as she shrieked with delight.
"Were you good for Ona, my love? Well behaved?" Elaena asked, scooping her daughter up. Rhaena wrapped her legs around Elaena's torso, clinging onto her tightly as Elaena stood.
"Of course I was!" Rhaena said enthusiastically, to which Elaena turned to the chamber maid.
"Aye, she was, Your Grace," Ona smiled lightly, "An angel as always."
"That's my girl," Elaena said proudly, giving her child another big kiss on the cheek. "Are you ready for supper then?"
"Yes," Rhaena responded with a sharp nod. "I'm famished."
Elaena and Ona laughed a little together, looking at Rhaena as they shook their heads.
"Famished are we?" Elaena asked, shifting her daughter to sit higher on her hip. "Then we must go eat immediately. You can go for the night as well, Ona, thank you."
"Of course, Your Grace," Ona nodded, "I'll finish stitching up this hem for you and go eat myself."
"Goodnight," Elaena smiled, turning out of the room to carry her daughter to the dining hall.
"Goodnight, Your Grace."
"What's for supper?" Rhaena asked, fiddling with a piece of her mother's long silver hair in her tiny fingers as she was carried through the long hallway.
"Hmm, I think there's some goose, carrots, maybe even some roasted potatoes-"
"There's 'tatos?" Rhaena asked, her eyes lighting up. "I love 'tatos."
"I know you do, my darling," Elaena responded, giving her daughter a tight squeeze. Rhaena rested her head on her mother's shoulder as she was carried, the small sound of her breathing right in Elaena's ear.
Elaena never knew such a simple sound as breath could be so comforting, so wonderful to hear. When all her children were babies she wouldn't allow them to be kept in a separate room for her. Until they were old enough to walk on their own her and Daemon kept the infants in between them in bed at night, watching them sleep and listening to the sounds of their tiny chests rising and falling. And when they were finally able to come to terms with their children sleeping in their own nurseries, the two of them would sit in front of their cradles and watch them sleep until they were too tired to stay awake themselves. Even now when all their children were past infancy, aging in a rage of five to eight, the two of them still snuck into their rooms every now and then to listen to them.
Such a simple thing as this helped heal both Daemon and Elaena's pain of never hearing their first child take even a single breath. When the two of them thought that nothing could heal them, that nothing could mend the deep hurt in their hearts, they went to Dragonstone just as Rhaenyra suggested. The first year of their life there was a sad one, filled with days of trying to ignore what they felt.
Daemon trained Elaena from sunrise to sunset with Dark Sister, the two of them barely stopping to eat or sleep. It was an activity that allowed them to take their minds off of their pain, an activity where they could focus completely on what was just right before them. Their initial plan was to only stay at Dragonstone for a year, then return to the capital. But only a few weeks before they had planned to return, Elaena found out she was pregnant with her first son Aemon.
Upon finding this out, Elaena sent herself into hysteria, unable to think about going back to court to where their child could be in danger again. Daemon wasn't willing to do it either, wanting to protect his wife in every way possible from having to go through another miscarriage, and also wanting to protect himself from the possibility of losing her too. So they stayed at Dragonstone together. A planned year there turned into two years, and somehow they blinked and two years turned into ten.
Those ten years gave them a strong marriage, three beautiful children, and a home where they all felt happy and safe. The halls of Dragonstone were not filled to the brim with sadness the way King's Landing was. While living at the capital certainly had wonderful moments, there were also too many sad ones, too many ghosts hiding in each room. Dragonstone was only a place of love and healing, a home for them all in the truest sense of the word.
Elaena opened the doors to the dining hall as she had a thousand times before, only to see Daemon already waiting for her. She gave her daughter one last squeeze and then set her down, "Go give your father a hug, quickly now!"
"Come here, darling," Daemon said warmly. Rhaena giggled lightly, running towards her father who now stood from his seat at the table. He held his arms wide open for his little girl, quickly swinging her off the ground with a big kiss on her cheek.
Rhaena laughed louder now, squealing with delight as her tiny legs flew around in a big circle. Elaena stood in the doorway with a large smile on her lips, watching the two of them with a searing joy in her heart. Daemon loved his sons, this was no question, but just like Elaena he felt a special bond to their daughter. They both wondered who Emylie would have grown to be if she had lived, but since she didn't Rhaena felt like the embodiment of what she might have been like. Watching Rhaena grow healed them in ways neither Elaena nor Daemon could explain with words.
Pulling her out of her thoughts in a jarring way, the sound of her two sons' thudding footsteps sounded behind her. They tried to run past her into the dining hall, the both of them muddy and laughing after a long day of play, but she wouldn't let them get that far before stopping them.
"Both of you come here," Elaena said, quickly grabbing her sons' hands to have them face her. She put a hand on her younger child's face, then looked to the eldest. "Neither of you thought to wash up before supper, I see, even though I gave you extra time?"
"I'm afraid, we're all guilty in that regard, my love," Daemon said, plopping Rhaena in her chair at the table. He then walked towards his wife with a cheeky smile. She could see that he too was covered in mud now that he was closer to her. "We were too hungry to wait any longer. We had a long day training with our swords didn't we, boys?"
"Yes- I bested Aemon twice!" Viseryn said triumphantly, smirking at his older brother who then shoved him lightly.
"Only because I let you!" Aemon huffed, a flash of embarrassment in his eyes.
"I'm sure you did excellently, my dear," Elaena responded, hugging her eldest son. He was of a much gentler and quieter heart than his brother, more sensitive than any other member of their family.
"Of course you did, Aemon," Daemon said proudly, resting his hand on his son's shoulder. "I'll make warriors of you both by the time you come of age."
"Come on now my brave warriors, it's time to eat supper before it gets cold. Then baths immediately after for all of you," Elaena shook her head, "And tomorrow I expect all three of you mongrels to be clean before supper, yes?"
"Yes, mother," her sons said in unison, bolting to the table to take their places as if it were a race.
"And you? You'll be cleaned up as well?" Elaena raised her eyebrows at Daemon, watching as he stepped towards her smiling.
"Yes, wife," he said quietly, kissing her cheek gently before taking her hand. With his free hand he wiped away a bit of the mud he transferred onto her face, then walked in hand with her towards the table set for five. Daemon sat the head of the table, Elaena and Rhaena to his right and his sons to the left. Her quickly growing sons had already piled mountains of food onto their plates, much to Rhaena's discomfort.
"Are there any 'tatos left?" Rhaena asked, sitting up taller in her seat to look at what was left of the array of food before them.
"Here they are, my darling," Elaena responded, spooning some of them onto her plate. She filled Rhaena's plate with food before turning to make her own up, now looking at her sons. "What I saw from the ramparts was quite impressive today, boys. You're both looking stronger and quicker by the day. Do you think you're strong enough to take me on?"
"Maybe I could fight father," Viseryn said confidently, stabbing a piece of roasted goose and dunking it in sauce. "But not you I don't think, not yet."
"What?" Daemon asked, laughing in shock as he stared at his middle child. He then turned to Aemon, seeing if both of his sons would betray him this way. But Aemon only shrugged, looking to his mother with raised brows. Daemon finally looked to Elaena with a baffled face as she sat with a suppressed smile.
"What can I say, the student has become the master," Elaena chuckled, looking at him as she tore off a piece of bread.
"And what do you think, Rhaena?" Daemon asked the little girl, leaning forward over the table for his last chance at victory. "Is mummy the better fighter or am I?"
Rhaena paused for a moment, looking back and forth between the two of them before saying anything.
"Mummy is," Rhaena finally said with a small smile, giggling as she looked up to her mother.
"That's my girl," Elaena laughed, planting a quick kiss on the crown of her daughter's head.
"Seven hells," Daemon sighed, dropping his fork. But they could all see this display was only for fun, that he thought all of this as funny as Elaena did. "You're all traitors. I should disown each and every one of you and ride Caraxes off into the sunset, never to be seen again."
"Noooo!" Rhaena laughed, the sound echoing around the hall.
"Don't be so dramatic, dear husband. It's been a moment since I've picked up Dark Sister, perhaps the children can watch as you show me a few things I'm rusty on tomorrow. We can make an event of it all," Elaena laughed lightly, reaching to the side to hold his hand. She gave it a light squeeze, looking at him warmly before turning to her children. "What do you say? Shall we go the beach? Pack a lunch and have a proper duel?"
"Yes!" Viseryn said excitedly, jumping up a little in his seat. "And then me and Aemon can have a duel too!"
"And we can eat more 'tatos!" Rhaena smiled brightly, making everyone around them laugh.
"Then it's a plan. Dueling on the beach with a lunch of nothing but potatoes," Daemon agreed, giving his daughter a little wink. He then leaned forwards towards his wife, speaking only loud enough in her ear for her to hear, "Perhaps we can have a duel of our own tonight as well."
Elaena couldn't help but feel her smile widen, as well as her heart flutter in her chest a bit. Even after 10 years of being married to Daemon and after all the struggle they endured together, each day was as if she was falling in love with him all over again. The passion and love they had for each other never faded, only strengthened by their love for their children together.
As immediately as these thoughts crossed Elaena's mind, the door to the dining hall opened slowly, one of the servants walking in with two scrolls on a small silver tray. Elaena looked up from her plate at him, immediately feeling a sense of dread, an instinct that told her she wasn't going to like this. Despite nothing being said yet she could feel the lightness and happiness drain from the room.
The man walked in until he hit the table, bowing once before speaking. "I am sorry to interrupt your dinner, Your Graces."
"What is it Merrick?" Daemon asked with annoyance, holding his hand out for the scroll. He didn't enjoy moments with his family like this being interrupted, ruined by the face of an outsider.
"Urgent word from King's Landing for the both of you," the man responded, handing him the letter. He then handed Elaena the second one and waited a moment for word on what to do next, but when it was clear that neither of them had anything else to say he bowed once more and left.
"Who is yours from?" Elaena asked more seriously, feeling a bit on edge by this. She knew that her letter would be from Rhaenyra, as she they both wrote to each other every week, but Daemon hadn't personally received anything from the capital in months. And each time he did, it was never good news.
"My brother," Daemon said with a solemn face, breaking the seal off.
"Children go on up to bed," Elaena said without hesitation, watching Daemon's face as he read the letter.
"But I'm not finished-" Aemon said, looking down at his still very full plate.
"Me neither," Rhaena said eyes wide like a doe and mouth full of food.
"I said go up now," Elaena said more sternly, turning to them all. "We'll have the plates sent up with you to finish, then you'll take your baths."
The three of them knew by this tone of voice that she was not to be talked back to in this moment. While their mother loved them more than anything in the world, they knew she had her limits and would not be disrespected for anything. They all stood from their chairs, leaving quietly together. Elaena watched as Aemon took Rhaena's hand, escorting his little sister up the stairs and up to their chambers. One of the servants posted in the hall then walked to fetch the plates, leaving to follow the children. One more servant remained, holding a pitcher of wine in hand.
"Leave us," Elaena said firmly. Once the room was empty she then turned to Daemon, watching each of his reactions as he read the letter. His eyes were narrowed on the words, a contemplative look on his face. It concerned her.
"Well what does it say?" Elaena asked, feeling her heart beat a bit faster now from anticipation.
"Read yours first, then I'll tell you about mine," Daemon said slowly, scanning the scroll over again. "I need to read it again."
Elaena slowly broke off the scarlet wax seal from her letter, opening it up to see Rhaenyra's weekly words from the capital. Immediately upon opening it she saw that Rhaenyra had written to her in High Valyrian, not the common tongue as usual. This meant she didn't want just anybody reading this, it was for her eyes or Daemon's only.
Sister,
I'm afraid I write to you with troubling news. The control in the Stepstones, or lack thereof, has come to attention recently with the small council. Alicent in particular seems concerned that since you and Daemon conquered it, you have not done anything to keep it. Know that I do not share in this belief, I know that you and Daemon did your part in this effort. It was up to my father and the rest of his council to keep the Stepstones in his grasp. However, Alicent now insists on your presence in King's Landing again to discuss this matter. I think she wants you both sent there, permanently. My father is growing iller by the day, I fear she's trying to remove each of my allies before he dies so that Aegon's succession is unchallenged.
I know you have been happy with your family at Dragonstone, that you do not wish to leave, but I'm afraid you have no choice for now. I need you to come back not only because you're being summoned, but because it's time to come home. I need you on my side again Elaena. Court is an even more hostile and dangerous place than you remember, and I'm almost all alone in it all.
I know this isn't the circumstance that either of us wanted for you coming home, but I am happy to see you again, Elaena, five years is too long to have not seen your face. I've missed you dearly, sister. Much love as always, and see you soon.
Rhaenyra
Elaena set the scroll down, looking at the wall as she thought for a moment. In all their years apart, her and Rhaenyra had written to each other consistently, and even visited each other a few times. While they both missed each other immensely, Rhaenyra never said that it was mandated for Elaena to return to King's Landing, she knew Elaena feared it too much. So if she was asking her now to come back despite this fear, something bad was happening at court, something dangerous.
The mentioning of Alicent wanting to send her and Daemon to the Stepstones permanently made Elaena's stomach turn, knowing that it would be an attempt to isolate Rhaenyra further. She didn't want that for Rhaenyra, but selfishly she also didn't want to be effectively exiled from Westeros. And she also didn't want to have to take her children to King's Landing just to get this command. She wanted nothing more than to stay at Dragonstone forever, but Rhaenyra needed her. She had to go back with a plan that would allow her and her family to stay at the capital again, even if only for just enough time to protect Rhaenyra's succession.
"What did she say?" Daemon asked slowly, reading Elaena's face now that she was done.
"That we are to return to the capital immediately to answer for our lack of presence in the Stepstones." Elaena exhaled, tossing the scroll onto the table in front of her. "And you? What did your brother say?"
"The same thing," Daemon responded, watching her closely as he spoke. "But it's not his words on this paper."
"Alicent?" Elaena asked, finally turning to face him with a stony face.
"Yes," he nodded, his lips pressing tightly together. "I've heard that my brother is doing even worse as of late. That he can barely stand up on his own. He couldn't have composed this, it's only his handwriting, obviously her words. She wants us back."
"So does Rhaenyra," Elaena said slowly, twisting her ring around her thumb. "She says the capital is more dangerous than ever, that the tension between Alicent's supporters and her own has only grown. I don't want to take our children to a place that Alicent has complete control over. A place where they're put in the same danger Emylie died from. But we don't have a choice."
"We always have a choice," Daemon said simply. "I don't care what their reasons are for bringing us back, I will always put you and the children first. My family is my only priority, I refuse to let any of you stand in harm's way again."
"Rhaenyra is our family too, Daemon...she's in harm's way, I know it in my bones," Elaena whispered, feeling a small tear escape her eye. "We've been hiding for ten years to protect ourselves. We've taken this time to grow strong, to heal. Now that it's finally time to face the problems we once had again, we can't continue to run away. We have to stand together and do the right thing, we have to go help her."
Daemon sat silently, thinking about this. As much as he knew Elaena was right, he didn't want her to be. "I know, I just don't think I could bear seeing you hurt again."
"What will hurt me is seeing her hurt," Elaena said, squeezing his hand gently. "We owe it to Rhaenyra to stop hiding, to stop running from what matters."
"You are what matters," Daemon said more strongly now, "Our children are what matters."
"Then do it for our children. All of our children," Elaena said more strongly now. "Protecting Rhaenyra and her succession once your brother dies will mean that Alicent and her supporters fall. The people who murdered our Emylie will fall. That is the best vengeance we can ask for, that everything Alicent and her supporters did was for nothing. We owe it to our first daughter to do this, Daemon, you know that."
"I want to avenge her as much as you do, but I can't let us go back to King's Landing, I'm sorry, not even for this. I won't chance anything happening to you again," Daemon's eyes watered a little, but as soon as she saw it the tears quickly disappeared, replaced by anger.
Elaena stood slowly from her seat, feeling tears flow more freely now with frustration. She gripped the back of her chair as she stood, shaking her head. "Rhaenyra is my sister in every way that matters, she is of my blood. She wouldn't hesitate to protect me if I asked of her what she's asking of me now."
"But you're not the one asking," he banged his fist on the table, standing with anger in his throat. "She's asking you to put yourself and your children in danger, not the other way around. If I had any sense of mind I'd take the four of you to Essos whether you like it or not, away from all this bloody madness."
"You'd hold me and our children against our will just to get your way?" she asked, feeling herself start to get angry too.
"If it meant protecting you, that you were safe, of course I would," he said through gritted teeth.
"I don't care about me," she responded with exasperation. "So long as you, our children, and Rhaenyra are safe-"
"Well I care about you," Daemon shouted, walking closer to her until their faces were inches apart. He took a deep breath in to calm himself, his voice lowering as he continued. "I love our children you know that, but you're the woman who made their lives possible, the woman who makes my life what it is."
"And you're the man who makes mine what it is," she said softly, feeling her tears well up again. "But I don't need your permission for me to put the people I love before myself. I have every much of a right as you do to try to protect my family, even if it means endangering myself."
"The night Emylie was born I held you in my arms as you bled out... I cried out your name thinking you had died in my arms along with our daughter," Daemon said, his voice wavering a touch. His face was completely serious as he spoke, his eyes searching her own for her to understand. "I'm still haunted by that night, by what I felt. So no, you don't have every right to endanger yourself for anyone else, not when it means you'd risk having me feel that way again."
"Daemon-" Elaena whispered, feeling tears well in her eyes.
"Don't you see I'd rather do anything other than go through that again? If something were to happen you again it would kill me. And then our children wouldn't have anyone in this world to protect them."
"Daemon I don't think I can live with myself if we don't go. It'll eat away at me until I'm as good as dead if anything were to happen to Rhaenyra and we didn't even try to stop it," she said softly, looking down and away from his eyes. She understood where he was coming from, but couldn't bring herself to bend on this matter.
He nodded a little, looking up and away from her as he thought. "Then we'll go back to King's Landing... But if I sense that things are more dangerous than they're worth, if I say that we need to go, we go. No questions asked. I love Rhaenyra but if protecting her means sacrificing you I refuse. So promise me that you'll listen to me, that we'll leave when I say it's time...that you'll do as I say."
"I promise," she whispered, knowing this would be the best compromise she could get. She slowly met his eyes again only to see his filled with anger. She reached for his hand, speaking gently, "Thank you, Daemon-"
"Just don't-," he shook his head, pulling his hand from hers. He could see that this hurt her, but she had hurt him too. He went to turn away, but she couldn't let him.
"Daemon please, don't leave it like this," Elaena pleaded, taking his hands into her own again. She held them tightly, not allowing him to let go. "I don't want us to change, even when everything else does. We need to stand together, we need to be united if we're ever going to survive any of this."
Before saying anything else he leaned down, roughly pressing his lips onto hers. She felt a bit shocked by this at first, standing stiffly as he tightly wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed her up against him. His lips opened and closed hers more fervently now, his hands gripping her waist firmly.
"Daemon-" she breathed, pushing her hands gently against his chest. "We need to talk about this, not-"
"No more talking," he growled against her skin, placing kisses on her neck now. The trail his mouth followed made Elaena's breathing catch in her throat, and made her limbs feel a little weaker. "There's nothing left to say."
He fiercely moved his lips from her neck to her mouth, taking away any words of protest she could come up with. It was obvious to her in this moment that he was asserting his dominance over her. She hadn't yielded in her decision to go to King's Landing, so the only way to make her do so now was through his own physical power.
While she felt they still needed to talk about it more, she knew what he needed was to hold power over this moment in any way he could. So she decided to let him, allowing herself to submit for him. Maybe if she did they would get past this argument. Elaena slowly wrapped her arms around his neck, letting her fingers tie themselves around the ends of his hair. But as soon as she did this he grabbed her harder, lifting her into the air and up onto him so that her legs straddled his torso.
He walked back to his chair at the head of the table and sat with her ontop of him. As if by instinct she began to slowly grind her hips against his, leaning her head down to keep kissing him to heal his obviously wounded ego. She felt his hands drift down lower from her hips, encouraging her to keep doing exactly what she was doing by moving them for her. She could feel him starting to harden underneath her, so she pulled the laces of his trousers undone. As soon as she tried to reach for his cock he quickly grabbed her wrist, pulling his face away from hers.
"What do you think you're doing?" he asked, narrowing his eyes at her. Elaena breathed heavily on top of him, feeling a bit shocked as she waited for him to continue. "I agreed to go back to King's Landing because you wanted to, but only on the condition that you do as I say...everything I say, everything I want."
"And what do you want, Daemon?" she asked, suppressing her smile. She knew she should have been angered by him being so possessive and controlling, that he was only doing this because she had gotten her way over him. But in this moment she didn't care why this was happening, she only cared about the desire for him growing inside her.
"I want to fuck you," he said plainly, lifting her skirts up. He pulled his hardened cock out of his trousers and roughly inserted it into her, making her inhale sharply. She slowly started to move up and down on him, breathing in heavily as she felt him deep inside her, but he stopped her yet again, shaking his head. "I said I want to fuck you. Not the other way around."
She stared into his eyes and grasped his neck, unable to help but smile a little as he put his hands back on her hips. He then began lifting her up and pulling her back down on him as he thrusted upwards in his seat. The sudden strength and force in his movements made Elaena moan, the sound right in his ear as she leaned forward.
She wasn't expecting him to move so aggressively so fast, it almost felt like he was trying to shock her. So she stopped moving altogether as his hips bucked upwards, fucking her so hard and fast that she felt her legs go numb.
"Fuck-" she gasped, slapping her hand to the back of the chair as he continued. Elaena cried loudly, unable to censor her volume as she felt herself get close. But as soon as he heard these familiar sounds and felt her body start to tense up, he stopped almost completely, sitting her back up so that he could kiss her. His tongue forced its way into her mouth, tasting her as she wanted for more. Her body had been just before the threshold of intoxicatingly pleasurable release, but it was fading now as he sat still under her. She wanted to continue and get back to that feeling, but he quickly stood with her wrapped around his torso and then walked forward.
With one arm he held her up, and with the other he knocked off all the plates from the dining table onto the floor. He then forcefully set her on the edge of the table and pushed her shoulders down to make her lay flat. She breathed heavily as she looked up at him, watching as he pushed her skirt up around her. He then leaned over her before thrusting himself inside her, grabbing her neck as he stared into her eyes.
"You don't get to come for me yet...not until I say so," he said gruffly against her mouth. His hand tightened a little around her neck, holding her in place as he fucked her, the entire table shaking wildly with each thrust he made. The remaining cups and plates behind her all rattled, falling to the floor noisily. Elaena breathed heavily, her chest rising and falling quickly as he pounded into her. He had never been quite this rough with her, she couldn't make up her mind on whether she liked it or not. All she knew was that she could barely think about anything other than him being so deep inside her.
He then stopped again, breathing heavily in her ear.
"Fuck-" she moaned, her hands shooting to the edge of the table to recover as he paused again. She wanted him to keep going, to stop teasing her like this, or just stop altogether.
"If you want me to let you come, you have to promise me you'll do as I say," he muttered, moving ever so slowly inside her as he waited for her to respond.
"I promise, I'll do as you say," she breathed out, just wanting him to continue. As soon as the words left her mouth he quickly pulled her up from her flatback position on the table and stood her up for a deep kiss. While she normally savored every kiss he gave her, what she really wanted in this moment was something different than this. There wasn't a gentle bone in his body right now, his only focus on dominating her in every way.
He quickly spun her around and pushed her down so that her stomach laid down on the table. She breathed sharply as he lifted her skirt again, waiting for him to finish whatever game he was playing.
But rather than feel him inside of her again, she felt his mouth against her cunt, lapping up every inch of her with his tongue. She whimpered a little, feeling the tension of the anticipation burn across her skin.
"Fuck, Daemon," she cried, grateful for the table holding her up so her legs wouldn't have to. His hands tightened their grip on her exposed thighs, and his mouth quickened as he felt her tense up again. He got her close to the edge all over again, her whole body trembling under his touch. He lived for this, for seeing her melt under him. But yet again he stopped, watching her body reluctantly release the small amount of tension built up. He slowly stood up, then leaned over her so that his chest was flush with her back.
"Tell me what you want," he asked, his lips grazing her ear.
"I want to come," she cried, practically begging him to finish. "I want you to make me come."
He didn't say anything else, keeping his body leaned over on top of hers with one last moment of anticipation. He put his cock back inside her, moving harder and faster than ever, their bodies colliding roughly over and over again. Her fingernails gripped as hard as they could into the wood table, trying to hold on as he fucked her. The both of them moaned, knowing that the other's desire for each other was outweighing any sense of wanting to prolong this moment any longer. Elaena could feel his hips tense up as he fucked her, just as her own muscles tightened for release.
"Come on, baby, please-" she whimpered, not knowing how much more of this she could take. She wanted all of him, but not like this. His hips thrusted faster, filling every inch of her as they both climaxed together.
Every bit of tension released from inside her, her whole body melting over the table like honey over bread. She could feel his hot seed pour inside of her, then his own chest lean over onto her again. His lips pressed themselves against her neck in a natural habit, tasting her once more as they both relaxed into each other.
Elaena tried to slowly stand, knowing that he had gotten his way and was satisfied now. But the second she moved she could feel him wrap his arm under her stomach, his other hand moving to her neck again to pull her to a standing position with him still inside of her. He panted in her ear, holding her back tightly against his chest so she couldn't move.
"I'm not done with you yet," he grunted.
Elaena closed her eyes as he slowly thrusted his cock in her again, making her whimper a little. While he was moving with a slower rhythm, the force of his hips said everything he was feeling towards her right now. She understood why Daemon's intentions were to be rough and assertive with her in this moment, but she couldn't do this again.
"That's enough, Daemon, just stop-" she breathed out shakily. She could feel small tears form in her eyes as she slowly pried his hands off of her to try and step away.
He immediately stopped even though he didn't want to, watching her as she slowly walked away from him.
"You already succeeded in fucking me into submission, and while I can honestly say I enjoyed some of it, I think you've made your point, you don't need to do it again," she said, her voice small.
She closed her eyes as she heard his footsteps near her, then felt his hands rest slowly wrap around her stomach, his chest pressed against her back again. He remained silent, leaning his head down into the space between her neck and shoulder. After a moment of stillness together he placed a very delicate kiss on her neck, trailing slowly across her shoulder and down her arm.
"Daemon, please," she whispered, feeling a tear fall from her eyes. She wanted to say more but she couldn't find anymore words other than these.
He gently turned her around, holding her face in his hands now. While they both knew that he had meant to make her feel like this, she could see in his eyes a glimmer of regret. He placed one last delicate kiss on her lips, as if making an apology for his roughness, but didn't say anything.
She exhaled out of her nose as she looked at him, frustrated that even when she had the right to she couldn't stay angry with him. "Please don't do that again, Daemon."
"Alright," he responded, his jaw clenched tightly. "I won't."
The two of them fell silent again, standing in front of each other without words. She examined his face as he looked at her, trying to get inside of his head. She could tell he was trying to do the same, his eyes searching.
"Tell me what you're thinking," he finally said, tucking a strand of her hair gently behind her ear.
"I'm thinking we need to put this behind us. If we want to make it in King's Landing, if we want our children and Rhaenyra to make it, we have to stand together," she said softly, avoiding his eyes now. "We can't be fractured before we even get there."
"I'd rather be fractured than lose you, Elaena," he said quietly, his eyes closing as he rested his forehead against hers. "I'd be alright with you hating me for the rest of my life if meant it would protect you."
"Is that what you were trying to do just now? Make me hate you?" she asked, feeling her lip tremble a little.
"No... I just wanted you to remember that you're not the only person who gets a say in this. We were individuls for a long time with the ability to make decisions for just ourselves, but that's not the case anymore. We're a family, Elaena...we're a husband and a wife with three children relying on us. You can't disregard my opinions and wishes when we're faced with a problem like we were earlier. It's not fair."
"I know," Elaena nodded, feeling tears fall from her eyes again. "I know that, and I'm sorry if I disregarded you in making my decision. But that doesn't mean you get to treat me like you just did."
"I'm sorry," Daemon responded slowly, taking a step towards her. He wrapped his arms around her, feeling her softly melt into them. "It wasn't right of me to do that, I just got carried away with my anger. Can you forgive me?"
"Of course I can," she whispered against his chest, "Can you forgive me too?"
"I forgave you for everything you could possible do to me a long time ago, Elaena," he said, pulling away slightly so that he could look at her. She smiled lightly, standing up on her toes to wrap her arms around his neck. He gently kissed her, finally giving her the intimacy and love he had denied her before now. She could feel the tension between them slowly dissolve as they kissed, knowing in their hearts that everything they had done tonight was because of love and the need to protect it.
"I love you Daemon."
"I love you more," he muttered against her lips, running his hands slowly through the ends of her long hair. "Always. No matter what."
The two stood still in each other's arms for a moment more, allowing themselves to be in the other's comfort as long as they could with their eyes closed. She breathed calmly as his fingers slowly stroked her back, reminding her of his love.
"Daemon?" she asked softly.
"Yes, my love?" he murmured, sounding completely tranquil.
"We should go tuck the children in," she said slowly, "They'll be waiting for us, especially Rhaena, you know how she gets."
"She'll be alright for one night, I'm sure she's already asleep. Besides, we can't very well go into their rooms like this," he said with a small laugh.
"Like what?" she asked, pulling back to look at him with narrowed eyes. "Why are you laughing?"
"Your hair looks like you've gone riding Vermax," he continued laughing as he smoothed down the flyaways in her hair, "As well as that your dress is ripped at the back, and you-"
"And I what?" she asked, smoothing her dress a bit.
He leaned down closer to her, his smile grazing her ear, "You smell of me, my love. And I of you."
Elaena felt her cheeks blush a bit redder as she looked up at him, feeling a bit speechless. "I-"
"And I wouldn't be surprised if you needed me to carry you up, I have a feeling you might be a little sore-"
"Daemon not so loud!" she laughed lightly, hushing him as she looked behind her.
"My darling if the servants didn't hear you earlier, they won't hear you now," he continued smiling, unable to help himself now as he teased her. "And we're leaving behind quite the mess-"
"You're not helping your case with me right now-" Elaena paused, trying to conceal her own smile, "Just take me upstairs, before anyone catches us in here."
"They're going to know it was us one way or the other-"
"I know, I know!" Elaena shook her head, stifling her laughter, "Either way let's just go."
She started to walk with him hand in hand out of the room, only to find that he was absolutely right. Each step she took was rigid with soreness, her legs still woozy feeling from what he did. He immediately noticed this, chuckling a little louder now next to her.
"Do you need some help?" he asked, very amused in this moment.
"I'll be just fine, thank you very much," she responded, walking up the stairs from the dining hall towards their chambers. Each step felt more painful than the next, and as his smile grew she finally caved. "Just- Just carry me already-"
"As you command, my love," he laughed, immediately scooping her up into his arms. She winced a little as he did this, unable to ignore the growing pain below her waist. He noticed this, laughing a little more as he shook his head, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I shouldn't be laughing."
"No you shouldn't be, not when you did this to me," she tried to say seriously, but couldn't help her smile from widening.
All of a sudden a couple servants walked with their heads down past the two of them, going towards the dining hall now that they were done. Daemon walked with her in his arms up the steps, the both of them looking at each other silently until the women were out of earshot.
"Go, go, go!" she giggled, patting his shoulder for him to hurry. They then burst out laughing again together, their cheeks turning a rosy color as he quickened his pace up the stairs.
She admired his smile as he ran, then allowed her eyes to wander the rest of his face. Even after 10 years of marriage, even after arguments and trouble with each other like they experienced tonight, they were both still able to laugh like she was 17 again. She didn't care if she only got one of these good moments for every hundred bad ones, they were enough for her. And she knew they were enough for him.
It didn't matter what they would face waiting for them in King's Landing, all that mattered was that they'd face it together head on, and they would come out even closer for it.
Author's Note: Okay, so this chapter's purpose was obviously to set us up for the events of episode 6! You all got to meet Aemon, Viserys, and Rhaena, their three children. Through this I tried to make it so you could see what their life has been like in the many years away from King's Landing. And then you got to see this harmony disrupted as they are called back, the strain and pressure of the capital already falling upon them.
I of course had to add a steamy scene to this introductory chapter simply because I wanted to, but it certainly isn't like anything we've seen with them before. I wanted this sex scene to kind of show that despite the change of the image of their life over these ten years, Daemon and Elaena are still very much the same people they used to be.
In this chapter Daemon is obviously very sweet with his children and cares a lot about them, and in many ways we see his selfishness of the past fade. His family comes first before himself, especially Elaena, that much is clear. But when she is so willing to endanger herself for Rhaenyra, we see where that protectiveness turns into possessiveness and selfishness, which we know he is still capable of.
We also see that Elaena is the same. While she loves her family and wants to protect them, she isn't able to let go of old vengeances in her heart. She feels like she not only has to protect Rhaenyra, but she has to do this to avenge her daughter. So while Elaena understands Daemon's point of view of being against this, she also knows in her heart what she has to do.
I hope it came across clearly that despite both of them opposing each other a bit in this chapter, they were each valid in their own right to these different beliefs. AND these beliefs make sense to who the've always been.
Daemon didn't have to go caveman on her, that's for sure, but she also didn't have to immediately jump in the line of fire to protect Rhaenyra. At the end they come to a compromise, agreeing to disagree...despite this struggle between them, they are still a united front together. Their love is greater than the problems that come their way.
What happens from here is to be found out in later chapters once the episode is released, so make sure to check back in tomorrow for the next one! Thank you all for reading and let me know what you think!