Author's Note: HOLY SHIT. This episode was truly just so amazing. HBO is really outdoing themselves with House of the Dragon, and I'm living for it. And I'm also living for writing this story! So as promised, here is the first chapter of the seventh episode's events. Before you all read, I want to preface that in my story Laena only ever had one daughter (Baella) and it was with Tyland Lannister, not Daemon of course. You'll see why this is important later in the chapter :)
I hope you all enjoy! ❤️
THE DRAGON & THE ROSE - EPISODE SEVEN/PART ONE
The atmosphere surrounding Elaena and her family was dark, filled to the brim with gloom. Not only were everyone's faces solemn with grief, it felt as if the world around them knew it was a day for mourning. Dreary and dark clouds lined the skyline over the sea, and the wind around Driftmark blew quietly.
Elaena knelt before her children onto the stone floor, looking at them all with a gentle seriousness in her eyes. Daemon stood behind her, his hand on her shoulder as he too looked at their children.
"I know you only knew your Aunt Laena for a few weeks before she died," she started, reaching out to hold her daughter's hand. "But she was family. All the Velaryons are. They need all the kindness and love they can get from you three right now, so I want you all to go and offer your sympathies, especially to your cousin Baella."
"What do we say to her?" Viseryn asked, looking uncomfortable. He turned to his older brother with a bit of a nervous look on his face, his lips pressed tightly together. Elaena knew that in their time at King's Landing all the children had grown close, that it wasn't a matter uncomfortability in talking to Baella in general. He was scared about saying the wrong thing to his friend in her time of need.
"Well let me ask you this, my darling," Elaena said softly, "If it were me that died, your mother, what would you want her to say to you?"
Her three children stood silently, thinking about the horrible thought behind their eyes.
"I'd want to know that she was sorry, that she was sad too," Aemon said quietly.
"I'd want her to hold my hand," Rhaena whispered, letting out a small sigh of air.
"Then that's what you say and do," Elaena smiled sadly, giving her a small squeeze on her arm. "You tell her that you're sorry, that you're sad. You tell her you'll always be there for her and you hold her hand. Yes?"
The three of them nodded, looking to each other one last time before turning around to go find their cousin. Elaena stood up from her kneeling position, watching them closely as they approached Baella. Daemon stood behind her, watching them as well.
"We need to speak with Corlys and Rhaenys, offer them our sympathies," Elaena muttered, the wind blowing her hair off her face.
"Yes, but we also need to discuss the manner of their daughter's death," Daemon responded, his voice low.
"This is hardly the time or the place, Daemon," Elaena said, turning around to face him. "They just lost their daughter-"
"I know," he said firmly, his face absolute. "But they deserve to know that their daughter was murdered, and they deserve to know that the ones who did it are sleeping under their roof."
"We still don't have any proof of this, only our suspicions," Elaena whispered. She stood up a little straighter, her eyes flitting around them to make sure no one was listening.
"Our suspicions will be enough-"
"How could they be?" Elaena asked with raised eyebrows. "It's not like they trust me, not after I jilted their son for you."
"They'll be looking for someone to blame for the loss of their daughter, Elaena."
"Careful, Daemon," she said quietly, "I want Alicent to fall as much as you do, if not more, but we need to be cautious."
"War doesn't call for caution, my love, it calls for action," he muttered.
Elaena looked away from him and over her shoulder, her eyes falling on their children. They were sitting around Baella, along with Jacaerys and Lucerys. The five of them were huddled around her like a cloak of protection and comfort, all of them speaking softly with tears in their eyes.
"I don't want to see any of these children hurt because we made an accusation we couldn't back up," she muttered, watching as her daughter leaned her head against Baella's shoulder.
"Then we'll bring the proof with us," Daemon said quietly, his eyes moving to Tyland Lannister. Elaena looked to the vile man, watching as he accepted the apologies from the people attending his late wife's funeral.
Before she could respond to her husband, he walked away from her and towards Tyland. Elaena stood rigidly as she watched the two of them speak. Once Daemon had an idea in his mind there was hardly anything that could back him down from it. He wanted the Velaryons on his side, on the side of the Blacks in the war brewing, and he'd do anything to get them on it.
Elaena felt her chest tighten as the two men exchanged tense words, and she jumped a little with fear when she felt the tug on the back of her dress. When she turned around she saw her daughter standing below her with wide eyes.
"Rhaena," Elaena exhaled lightly, leaning down to pick her up. "You scared me."
"Sorry, mummy," Rhaena said softly, immediately toying with the ends of her mother's hair.
"Did you talk to your cousin Baella?"
"Yes," Rhaena said slowly, "But I didn't talk with Uncle Corlys or Aunt Rhaenys yet."
"I need to speak with them as well, shall we go together?" Elaena asked, propping the girl up on her hip. Rhaena nodded, looking up and around her for her aunt and uncle.
Once Elaena had spotted Rhaenys she moved through the small crowds of people, giving polite smiles and nods of her head as she passed. Corlys wasn't there, Rhaenys speaking with someone else quietly. Elaena stopped, allowing her a moment to finish her conversation before talking. Once the man had left, Rhaenys turned to Elaena with a tired look on her face.
"I'm sorry to interrupt you, cousin," Elaena finally said, looking at Rhaenys sadly. "But my daughter and I just wanted to offer you our condolences."
"Thank you," Rhaenys said stiffly, sniffling once.
Rhaena loosened her tight grip on her mother's shoulders, looking at her aunt as she spoke quietly. "I wish I could have known my Aunt Laena better."
"So do I," Rhaenys responded, her eyes softening a little as she looked at the girl. Elaena could see Rhaenys starting to cry, and so could her daughter.
, "Don't be sad. Mummy says she's in a better place now."
"That she is," Rhaenys said, forcing the smallest of smiles.
"Do you want me to hold your hand?" Rhaena asked with a small voice, stretching her arm out towards her aunt.
"That would be nice," Rhaenys laughed lightly, sniffling as she took Rhaena's hand. She then looked to Elaena, "Might I hold her?"
"Of course," Elaena responded with a small smile, passing her daughter off to the woman. Rhaenys wrapped the small girl in her arms, gently swaying as she admired her. Rhaena rested her head on Rhaenys' shoulder, hugging her tightly.
"I remember when Laena was this little, it seems as if it were only yesterday," Rhaenys said mindlessly, as if she was only speaking to herself. But she quickly remembered where she was, looking at Elanea sadly.
"I don't remember much of my life when I was her age," Elaena said, looking to her daughter. "But I do remember that before I left for Winterfell me and Laena were friends. I remember playing with her in the gardens, Rhaenyra, her, and I had matching dolls."
Rhaenys stood still now with Rhaena in hand, listening closely as Elaena spoke.
"I know we've had our troubles, Rhaenys," Elaena said slowly, feeling her lip tremble a little. "And I know it was a different situation, but I know the pain of losing a daughter."
Rhaenys looked away from her as she said this, brushing a strand of the little girl in her arm's hair from her face.
"I'm sorry that you're suffering that pain right now," Elaena said quietly, feeling her own tears spring to her eyes. "I wouldn't wish it on anyone."
"Thank you, cousin," Rhaenys nodded, sniffing once more before handing Rhaena back to her mother. She then looked behind Elaena, her eyes beckoning her to look as well. "Cherish and savor these moments with her, with your boys as well, they'll be gone before you know it."
Elaena turned around, only to see her sons speaking with each other quietly.
"Boys, come here," She called out to them, beckoning them to her. The two of them approached, slowly bowing their heads to their aunt.
"You have my condolences, Aunt Rhaenys," Aemon said, to which his brother Viseryn quickly spoke.
"And mine."
"Thank you, boys," Rhaenys said with a small smile, looking to Elaena once more. "You've raised wonderful children. And speaking of, I should find my own. He's been missing for quite some time."
"Of course, but Rhaenys-" Elaena said, putting her hand on the woman's arm. "I'm here if you need me. For anything."
Rhaenys nodded once, forcing another smile before turning to leave. Elaena watched her depart, then turned to her children.
"Alright, I think it's time for bed, yes?"
They all nodded, circling around her as they walked up the stone stairs. Elaena turned around, meeting Daemon's eyes one last time with a small nod of her head to tell him where she was going. He nodded back, the look in his eye saying that he was nowhere near finished talking with Tyland Lannister. She moved to continue up the stairs, but was called back down by another voice.
"Leaving so soon?" Alicent asked, standing at the bottom of the stairs as she looked to Elaena and her children.
"It's been a long and sad day," Elaena exhaled, turning around to face the woman. "My children are tired, they're ready for sleep."
"I would think it rude to leave without saying anything to your King or Queen," Alicent said with a small smile, taking a sip of the wine in her hand.
"My apologies, Your Grace," Elaena said through gritted teeth, "We all offered our sympathies to the Velaryons for the loss of her daughter, I thought that to be enough."
"So I saw, Princess Rhaenys seemed quite infatuated by your daughter, as is everyone else," Alicent nodded, her eyes turning to the little girl. "She's becoming The Realm's Delight, just as Rhaenyra once was."
Elaena stood silently, not knowing what to make of any of this. She only held Rhaena a bit closer to her, looking at Alicent with narrowed eyes.
"I only hope you raise her better than my dear husband did his own delight," Alicent said quietly, returning her gaze to Elaena. "It would be a shame to see such a sweet young thing turn sour."
"If my daughter grows to resemble Rhaenyra in even the slightest, it will make me proud," Elaena responded sharply, "After all I named her for my cousin's strength and kindness."
"Kindness?" Alicent scoffed a little, taking another sip of wine. "She has a funny way of showing it."
"As do you, My Queen," Elaena replied. "Now if that's all, I'd like to take my children to bed before they discover the wine as your son has."
Alicent turned around to see Aegon grabbing yet another cup, looking at one of the servant girls with greedy eyes. Before Alicent could respond Elaena walked up the stairs, leaving with her children. So she escorted the three to their chambers, each of them quiet as they walked. None of them made any fuss about leaving the gathering, happy to leave the dark and tense mood behind them. And no of them spoke a single word as they all readied themselves for bed.
Once her daughter was dressed in her night clothes Elaena ran a brush through the girl's long silver hair, moving it slowly through the tangled knots.
"When are we going back to Dragonstone?" Viseryn finally asked, watching his mother and sister.
"Soon, my dear," Elaena responded, placing the hairbrush on the vanity stand. Rhaena crawled from her seat at the edge of the bed now that her mother was finished, pulling the covers over her to be tucked in. She placed a small kiss on her daughter's forehead and then turned to leave. But she could sense her children wanting to continue this conversation, she could feel their desire to go home viscerally. "Out with it."
"You say we're going home soon, but when?" Aemon asked, brave enough to speak for all his siblings.
"In a few days, likely," Elaena nodded, turning to her sons with a small sigh. "Your father and I have a few more things to take care of here before we go back."
"But Jace and Luke will be coming with us, right? And Baella too?"
"Jace and Luke yes, but Baella no," Elaena said, sitting on the edge of Viseryn's bed as they spoke.
"But I want Baella to come," Rhaena whined, sitting up now with a small look of sadness.
"Even though we only met her a few weeks ago in King's Landing, she's our family," Aemon protested. "She should come with us like Jace and Luke."
"I know but it's not up to us to decide," Elaena responded, taking her son's hand into her own. "Ultimately she has to go where her father goes, and he isn't coming to Dragonstone with us."
"Why not?" Viseryn asked, pulling his hand away from her.
"It's hard to explain," Elaena exhaled, feeling slightly ambushed by her children's sudden and fierce opinions on the matter coming to the surface. "One day when you're older you'll understand."
"Is it because her father's a green?" Aemon asked hesitantly.
"Where did you hear that?" Elaena asked, shocked that he knew what 'a green' even meant.
"Everyone knows that people are taking sides," Aemon responded, a small look of fear on his face as he said this.
"Is Baella not on our side?" Rhaena asked, her eyes widening a little.
"Of course she is," Elaena said quickly, shaking her head at them as she tried to come up with something else to say. "She is your cousin, she is your friend...You're speaking of choosing sides but none of you fully understand what that means. So leave matters such a this to me and your father."
"We do understand though, mother," Aemon said slowly, "We know-"
"No, you don't know," Elaena said more sharply, standing from her seat. The last thing she wanted was for any of her children to become more involved than they already were. "I don't want to hear any of you talking about taking sides again, not ever. Am I understood?"
They all nodded, then looked to each other to silently exchange thoughts.
"Good," Elaena exhaled shakily, "Now go to sleep, all of you."
Elaena slowly closed the door behind herself to their chambers, walking into the small common area they shared in their quarters at Driftmark. She knew she should ready herself for bed as well, but what she had just heard from her children had rattled her to the core.
She knew that there would come a day when they saw the conflict in their family, that a day would come that they'd decide for themselves what they thought about it. She just never thought that day would come so soon. They were too young to be involved in any kind of way. All she wanted for any of them was to be happy and safe, to never know the struggle and pain she had faced in her life.
So she sat in front of the fire as she waited for Daemon to come back. She stayed there for a while, watching the flames lick at the wooden logs as time passed. But after nearly an hour of his absence, she felt a worry for him stir inside her.
After going back in her children's shared room and telling Aemon to bar the door behind her, she quickly left to go find her husband. She moved quietly through the unfamiliar halls of Driftmark, wanting desperately to find him so that she could get back to her children. She hated leaving them without her protection, but she couldn't choke the fear for Daemon's safety down. Especially when she knew that he had been talking to Tyland.
After eliminating every place she could think of to find him she finally rushed to the throne room, slightly out of breath as she stumbled in.
"Daemon?" she called out, rounding the corner of the large staircase blocking her vision. Once she made it to the other side she saw he wasn't there, but Corlys and Rhaenys were.
"Elaena?" Rhaenys asked, turning around in her chair to look at her. "What are you doing here?"
"I apologize, I didn't mean to interrupt you both. I'm looking for my husband," she said, walking slower now towards them. "I can't seem to find him anywhere."
"Has something happened that you need him for?" Corlys asked, his eyes narrow on her. "You seem distressed."
"No nothing's happened, I was just getting worried. He's been away for quite some time."
"I'm sure he'll be up soon-"
As soon as Elaena heard this, the door to the throne room opened again. The three of them waited for the person on the other side to show themselves, only to see Daemon. He walked in dragging a limp body over his shoulder, grunting before dropping the man on the ground. After taking a moment to absorb the shock of seeing the bloody face before them, they could all see it was Tyland Lannister.
"What are you doing here?" he asked his wife, wiping the sweat and blood off his brow.
"I was looking for you, Daemon, what have you done?" Elaena whispered, looking up to him with wide eyes.
"I needed to bring him to you both," Daemon said quietly, turning to Corlys and Rhaenys.
"Whatever for?" Rhaenys asked with horror in her eyes, looking at Daemon as if he were crazy.
"Have you gone completely mad, cousin?" Corlys asked in a hushed voice, standing from his chair to examine the body. "You kill my daughter's husband, the father of my grandchild, and on the day of her funeral of no less?"
"I did it because it's him that killed your daughter, Lord Corlys," Daemon responded, bending down to lift up the Lannister's head by the hair. "He finally admitted it to me after our long conversation."
"What did you say?" Rhaenys asked breathlessly, walking towards them all. Elaena stood petrified in place, watching as her husband dropped the lifeless head back to the floor.
"I tried to get him here in time so he could tell you himself, but regrettably he died on the way," Daemon sighed, nudging the body with his foot.
"Did you know of this?" Corlys asked, shifting his anger to her now.
"My wife was completely unaware of what I've done," Daemon spoke strongly. "But she and I both knew in our hearts that it was he who was behind your daughter's death."
"Why would he kill Laena?" Rhaenys asked, staring at Elaena with confusion. "It doesn't make sense."
"May I explain it plainly?" Elaena finally said, clearing her throat a little.
"The more plain the better," Rhaenys responded, walking past her husband to her cousin.
"You've sensed the tensions between all our families, specifically between Rhaenyra's and Alicent's," Elaena started, shaking her head as she spoke softly. "You know that there will be a war for the succession."
"This is ridiculous, Rhaenyra is the heir-"
"I thought we were speaking plainly, Corlys," Rhaenys said strongly, cutting her husband off without hesitation. "We all know what she's just said is the truth."
"Alicent wants her son to sit the Iron Throne, we've all already seen the divide in our family because of it," Elaena continued, feeling tears well in her eyes. "Once our cousin Viserys dies, the tension we all feel will implode. War will befall us all, you know that."
"What does this have to do with our daughter?" Corlys asked angrily, not liking this conversation one bit.
"My wife and are convinced Alicent is trying to pick us all off one by one so that Rhaenyra's side is weakened," Daemon interjected. "Everyone knows you will pick Rhaenyra's side when the time comes, just like we have."
"Will we now?" Corlys scoffed.
"It's your son and grandsons in line once my brother dies to sit by Rhaenyra's side as she rules the Seven Kingdoms," Daemon said more fiercely, "We all know you will defend that legacy... you won't let Aegon take your family's place on the throne."
"I thought we were speaking plainly," Corlys said darkly, shaking his head. "You know it won't be my grandsons that sit the Iron Throne one day."
"No, but they will still carry your name," Daemon countered, "And we all know that's what matters."
"I still don't see what this has to do with my Laena," Rhaenys snapped, tears falling freely now from her eyes.
"Don't you see?" Elaena exhaled, "Your daughter rode Vhagar, the largest dragon since Balerion the Dread. She was a dangerous force of power, of strength...The Greens took their chance while they had it and had one of Aegon's greatest threats taken out before the game even started."
"You should have left all of this alone," Corly shook his head, taking a step backwards from them. "You're only making it all worse-"
"It already is worse," Elaena said sharply, turning to Rhaenys to beg her to see reason. "Only an hour ago when I was putting my children to bed they began talking of what side Baella was on. They were asking me if she was on our side like the Velaryons or on The Greens' side like the Lannisters, like her father."
"They said that?" Rhaenys asked, her eyes widening.
"Yes, it's why I was looking for you, to discuss it," Elaena nodded, looking to Daemon. He looked equally shocked and disturbed by this. "Whether we like it or not war is already among us...it already divides us, even the children. And the only reason why we're telling you any of this right now is because we need to know that you'll stand by our side when the time comes to truly fight. Avenge your daughter, just as we're going to avenge ours. See to it that they don't get to hurt any of our children ever again."
"We need time to think-"
"No we don't," Rhaenys shook her head, interrupting her husband once again. "I won't have my daughter's life be taken in vain. She will be avenged if it's the last thing I do. So whatever it is that you would ask of me, that Rhaenyra would ask of me in the fight to come, I'll do it. For Laena's sake as well as her daughter's."
"We leave for Dragonstone soon," Daemon said quietly, "My family as well as Rhaenyra's. Come with us and help strengthen our cause."
"I can't leave Driftmark, I can't abandon my house so that yours will rise," Corly scoffed.
"Lucerys can take charge in our stead," Rhaenys said, her words more of a dictation than a proposal. "Or you can stay with him, but me and my grand-daughter are going to Dragonstone. I won't let them touch a hair on her head."
Corlys stood silently, looking at his wife with betrayal in his eyes.
"I know we have had our problems in the past, that I haven't always given you reason to trust me," Elaena said, looking at Corlys now, "But I am not your enemy, Alicent is. If any of us are going to survive what's to come we have to forget the past and band together before she can hurt any more of us."
Corlys thought for a moment, looking at them all without saying a word as he tried to compose himself. But rather than agree or disagree to anything, he only turned to the body laying on the floor before them all. "Get him out of here before someone sees. Push him over the ledge and into the rocks that way we can say he must have accidentally fell...drunk with wine and grief."
"You're doing the right thing, Corlys," Elaena said softly, but he did not return any of the warmth she gave him.
"I'm not doing it for you," he spat, "I'm doing it for my daughter, for my son, and for the boys he graciously calls his children even though they're not."
Daemon and Elaena exchanged a small glance, knowing that despite his harsh reaction that they had succeeded. It may not have been in the way she had imagined them to do it, but it didn't matter. They had gained another ally, another supporter confirmed for Rhaenyra's cause.
Suddenly the door to the throne room opened, the sound of people walking in echoing around them. Daemon immediately bent down, grabbing Tyland Lannister's lifeless body and quickly carrying it to the side. Elaena felt like her heart had stopped beating as she watched him hide the man's corpse behind one of the walls, hoping no one would see. He rushed back to her side once it was concealed, looking to the shadows moving closer.
"Hide your hands, they're cut to pieces," she whispered, quickly moving her hand to wipe away the small trace of blood on his cheek.
He immediately held his hands behind his back as she turned around. The four of them stood with wide eyes as they saw the group of their children being escorted inside by a group of guards. The last thing she had expected was to see them all here and out of bed, and each of them more bloodied up than Daemon had been no less.
"Boys?" Elaena asked, immediately running to them. Daemon followed after her, not caring about his hands showing now that he saw his children hurt. Rhaenys also ran forwards, pulling Baella to the side to check on her.
Her eldest stood before her cradling his arm in his left hand. When she looked down at it she could see that his wrist was twisted and bent in a way that wasn't natural, surely broken. Visery stood next to him with blood all over his face, but it wasn't his own. Nothing seemed to be wrong with him save for a few scrapes and bruises.
"What happened, where's your sister?"
"She's here, Your Grace," another voice said, walking around the corner.
Elaena looked up to see Ser Cley carrying Rhaena in, the small girl crying in his arms.
"Give her to me!" Elaena said quickly, running to take her from him. She gave him a glare before quickly examining her daughter to see if there was any injury, only to see a deep red cut on her daughter's cheek. "Who did this to my daughter?"
"I don't know," he shook his head, "One of the children, we found them all fighting only moments ago. The rest of the royal family is being brought here immediately to sort the confusion."
"Confusion," Elaena exhaled angrily, turning around to look at the group of bloodied children and then back to him. "Yes I'd say that I'm confused, how the bloody hell did this happen? How did they all manage to nearly kill each other without any of you there to stop it? Who was supposed to be there watching over them?"
Aemond, Jacaerys, Lucerys, Baella, Viseryn, and Aemon all stood clutching their wounds, looking away from her as she shouted at Cley.
"Your Grace, you told me yourself that you didn't want me watching over your family, that you didn't-"
"I see your point, Ser Cley, but that doesn't mean I wanted no one there to watch over them," she said sharply, cutting him off. Elaena stood breathing heavily as she stared daggers into Cley's eyes, fury taking over her. "And what of the Princess' sons, what of the King's? What of the little girl who just lost her mother? Where were the guards for any of them to ensure something like this didn't happen?"
"I don't know, it was Ser Criston on duty tonight," Cley said more softly. "I wouldn't have let this happen to any of them, you know that."
Before Elaena could say anything, the room suddenly swelled with people entering. Elaena turned from Cley and walked back to her own family. Daemon held his arms out for Rhaena, taking the girl into his arms as Elaena knealt in front of her sons protectively to check on them. The King, Alicent, and Rhaenyra all came rushing in, each of them gasping as they saw the state of all the children.
"What is the meaning of this?" Viserys boomed, looking at his mutilated son and the rest of his battered descendants. "What's happened?"
"That's what we're trying to find out, brother," Daemon responded.
"My son," Alicent cried, kneeling at his side as the maester began to clean his wound. "Who did this to you?"
"It was him," the boy said, pointing at Elaena's son, Viseryn.
Elaena turned around, her eyes wide as she looked at her boy. "Is this true?"
"Only because he threw a rock at Rhaena, then broke Aemon's hand!"
"After you all attacked me!" Aemond shouted.
"Because you attacked Baella and then called us bastards!" Jacaerys said, stepping past his mother angrily. Rhaenyra grabbed her son's hand to stop him, then held him behind her.
"It's true!" Baella agreed, speaking loudly from the embrace of her grandmother. "He stole Vhagar, my mother's dragon, and when we confronted him he hit me!"
"He broke my nose-" Luke chimed in, to which all of the children started shouting at each other. Elaena stood with her mouth slightly ajar as the children fought. All seven of them now spoke at once, their voices overlapping loudly in the room.
"Enough," the King said tiredly, but the children showed no sign of stopping.
"He almost killed my sister-" Viseryn shouted, trying to defend himself.
"It should be my son telling the tale," Alicent said angrily, looking at the boy with hatred. "It's his eye you took! It is he that is maimed-"
"He was defending his little sister after Aemond hurt her, a girl of only five," Elaena roared.
"Silence!" Viserys boomed, breathing heavily as the voices fell to silence. The whole hall stood in shocked silence, not knowing what to do. The first one to speak was Rhaenyra's son, Jace, his voice echoing quietly in the hall as he pleaded his mother to do something.
"He called us bastards."
Rhaenyra turned around, looking to her father silently. Before she could say anything, Viserys stepped forward, looking to his son. "Aemond, you will tell me the truth of it, right now."
"What more is there to hear?" Alicent asked, seeming absolutely aghast by this. "Aemond had his eye cut out by Elaena's sons. And he was beaten and bullied by all of them-"
"It was my sons who were attacked, my daughter as well," Daemon snapped at her, "They only defended themselves and their sister."
"And let us not forget it was your son who levied vile insults against mine," Rhaenyra added, "Questions of the legitimacy of their birth were brought up, words of the highest of treasons."
"My son lost his eye over an insult? Over a squabble with his cousins?" Alicent said with disbelief.
"This interminable infighting must cease!" Viserys shouted, banging his staff onto the floor. "By all of you! We are family! Now make your apologies and show good will to one another. Your father, your uncle, your grandsire, and your king demands it!"
"That is insufficient," Alicent shook her head, tears falling down her face. "Aemond has lost an eye, good will cannot make him whole-"
"What would you have me do?" Viserys asked, shaking his head rabidly.
"He is your son! He deserves justice," Alicent said strongly, turning around to look at Elaena. "And to see to it, I shall have one of her son's eyes."
"You will not lay a single finger on any of my children," Elaena shouted, holding Viseryn behind her as he cried in fear.
"Do not let your temper guide your judgement, Alicent," Viserys said coolly.
"If you will not seek justice, I will. Ser Cley, bring me the eye of Viseryn Targaryen."
"Stay your hand-" Viserys turned to Cley, ordering him to stop.
"No he is sworn to me!" Alicent yelled, now looking at Cley with madness in her eyes. "You swore yourself to me, to do as I say, to defend me and my children. Now bring me his eye-"
Elaena's eyes flashed to Cley, who stood petrified in place. Everyone saw as he turned to Elaena for what to do, not Alicent. She could see in his eyes that he wanted no part in this, and not only did he not want it he would not do it.
"I swore to be your protector, not to harm the Princess' children," Cley said slowly, looking back to Alicent now.
Elaena could see the feelings of betrayal in Alicent's entire being, the pure and unabashed fury. Viserys took a step towards his wife, his voice low, "This is over, Alicent. Do you understand?"
The Queen stood silently, breathing heavily as she stared at her husband. Elaena turned around to look at her son, holding his face in her hands as he trembled with fear.
"It's alright, my love," Elaena said shakily, looking now to all her children. "It's alright-"
"Alicent!"
Elaena turned around only to see Alicent with a knife, heading towards her children. Viseryn screamed behind her, hiding between his older brother and father for protection. But Elaena wasn't going to let anything happen to her son, she wasn't going to let Alicent take one more thing from her. Elaena rushed forward without a second thought to protect her children, blocking the queen's advances with the knife. She knew Daemon would first move to help her, but this isn't what she wanted.
"Daemon stay and protect the children, I can handle this!" she commanded, shouting in Alicent's face, using her hands to try and wrestle the knife away. She could hear his sword immediately being drawn from its sheath behind her, ready to defend his sons and daughter.
"The debt must be paid!" Alicent screamed, fighting against Elaena roughly. Elaena's eyes zeroed in on the knife as moved closer to her face from Alicent's trembling hand. Everyone around them stood in a circle, watching, but not daring to intervene. This was between them now.
"I'd die a thousand deaths before I'd ever let you touch a hair on my son's head," Elaena spat, the two of them struggling to hold each other back.
"He took my son's eye! And yet you act as if it were nothing, as if you are entitled to it just like everything else in your life!" Alicent screamed, her lip quivering as she spoke. "I have done my duty all my life to this kingdom, to this family. And when I seek justice it is spat upon!"
"Alicent, let her go!" Viserys finally barked, everyone else watching with fear in their eyes.
"Where is justice? Where is sacrifice?" Alicent continued, "It's trampled under your pretty foot again, under Rhaenyra's as well-"
"Aren't you exhausted?" Elaena exhaled, feeling her own body start to shake with anger. "Hiding beneath the cloak of your own righteousness after everything we both know you're capable of, after everything we both know you've done?"
Alicent let out a cry of rage, swinging her arm down at Elaena until the blade sliced across Elaena's shoulder.
"Mummy!" Rhaena shrieked from behind her father.
Before Elaena could do anything in return she felt Cley's hands quickly pull her back and then shove her away to safety. Quicker than she could hardly see it he stepped forward, catching Alicent in his arms to restrain her as she lunged forward again.
"Let go of me!" Alicent bellowed, trying to fight her way back towards Elaena.
Elaena stumbled backwards towards her family, shocked for a moment that Cley dared to touch her like that. But she didn't say anything, only standing still and panting as her children held onto her legs. Daemon took a step forward in front of her with Blackfyre in hand, ready to defend his wife and children even if it meant cutting Alicent down. As Elaena watched Alicent struggle in Cley's arms, she could see now that Cley had acted purely in defense of her, not Alicent. Everyone could see it.
Each and every person in the throne room was now looking at the queen as if she were completely mad, a hysterical woman who had not only disobeyed the king's commands but who had also just tried to kill a princess, a Targaryen of royal blood.
"They may not have before," Elaena said loudly, looking around at everyone surrounding them before locking her eyes on Alicent. "But now they see you as you are."
Alicent's force against Cley weakened a little as she looked around her, her eyebrows knitting together. She now saw the horrified faces of everyone around, the shock in their eyes. It was only now that Alicent realized what she had done, the blade in her hand dropping to the floor.
"Are you alright?" Daemon finally asked his wife, lowering his sword to look at her.
"I'm fine-"
"No you're not, mummy, you're hurt," Rhaena cried, completely in distress by this whole situation.
"I'm okay, my darling, I promise," Elaena said shakily, holding her hand to the back of her daughter's head as the girl clung to her lung. She then placed her arm around her Viseryn's shoulder to hold him closer. Daemon took a further step back, wrapping one arm around his wife's waist, then the other over Aemon. The five of them held each tightly as the rest of the throne room looked at them, standing tall and united as a family.
"Don't you see, father," Rhaenyra said coldly, holding her arm up to Elaena and her family for everyone to see. "This is why I'm leaving for Dragonstone."
Viserys looked up to his daughter, his eyes wide. Everyone in the room was silent as they listened to her continue.
"I won't stand idly by and wait for the next fight to break out among us, for the next one to result in even more blood and pain. I need to protect my children from it, from the vile woman who tried to take the eye of my seven year old nephew, the woman who nearly just killed my sister," Rhaenyra continued, shaking her head.
"This has all just become out of hand, it won't happen again, not while I'm alive," Viserys said sharply, looking at them all as he shook his head. Alicent stood with wet eyes, unable to stop staring at Elaena as Rhaenyra spoke.
"You're right, it won't. Because I won't allow my children to be around her for one more second. We leave for Dragonstone first thing in the morning," Rhaenyra said stiffly, looking to Elaena. The two girls exchanged a nod with each other, each of them understanding that after this moment there was no turning back.
Viserys seemed heartbroken by this, for while he had told both Elaena and his daughter the week prior that this was a good idea, he certainly didn't mean for it to be because of what happened tonight. He didn't want his whole family splitting up with such strife between them. But neither Elaena or Rhaenyra cared, for as much as they loved Viserys they loved their children more. And they were going to do whatever it took to protect them.
Author's Note: Hey guys, sorry for it being a bit of a shorter chapter. I know it's not as long as usual AND it includes most of the episode's events all in one, but this is for a couple reasons. One is that almost all of this episode took place in one singular day, so there wasn't much time to squeeze in moments of my own creation between each and every moment of chaos.
Secondly, I wanted to include all of this together so that in the following chapters before the third and final time jump we could focus completely on Elaena's time back at dragonstone. I plan to have two more chapters after this one dedicated to this time before all of the children age up for the true start to the Dance of Dragons.
I will likely plan on having the two chapters realeased on Wednesday and Friday, but as always this isn't definite. If I finish them sooner, they'll be released sooner; but if it takes me longer just be patient with me :) I want to make sure that I'm putting out good and well thought out work. As always I hope you enjoyed the chapter. See you next time!