Fragment: One Day
Daena
Unending darkness enveloped her, no matter how much she struggled.
Daena could hear it, her brothers' screams, metal tearing their flesh. "Don't look," Mother told her, but she could not cover her ears too, and so Daena heard them all.
"Mo… ther…" Viserys and Jaehaerys cried, "Daena…"
They were children, so young, so brave. But their enemies did not care, the same group of people who murdered her father and Aegon and Aemon before. Out of the safety of Tyrosh, of her grandfather's estates, and that was what happened. Bloodraven, Raven's Teeth, they were no longer only the creatures of nightmares she used to scare her siblings. They were here.
And they would kill all the Blackfyres until none were left.
Daena could not hear her brother anymore. "Hmph, annoying brats," one of the assassins groaned, "Taking up our time."
"Those won't put up much of a resistance at least," another said, "just women."
Daena halted her breath as those footsteps approached her. Mother hugged her tighter, "Don't be afraid," she whispered, "Don't be." From her sleeves, she pulled out a dagger and pushed it into Daena's hands. "Hold onto it, you might be able to surprise them."
The assassins did not notice. "Tell me where the rest of the brats are," the first assassin said. "We are to kill the brats. Tell us and I will spare your life."
Mother did not answer. "Daena," instead, she said, "Don't be afraid. I'll protect you."
But Daena was not ready. "Mother, no…"
Mother buried Daena's head in her chest, the fabric of her dress covering Daena's face, muting her words. "I might only be able to watch when my sons die in battle, but I must protect my daughter," Mother said, "Because I'm a mother."
"That's a no, then." The assassin snorted.
The sound of a sword cutting through flesh. Hot blood spilt onto Daena. She wanted to scream, but nothing came out of her mouth. Her throat was clogged with blood. She could not do anything, even with Mother's dagger. She could not move.
Sightless, voiceless, she cried. Quietly. Internally. It went on, eternally, until a ray of light cut through the darkness—
—
"Daena, Calla, good morning," Haegon threw open the cover of the sisters' shared tent, letting the sunlight shone onto Daena's face, "Uncle Aegor asked for you, Calla. I think he wanted to check your progress."
"Hmm, of… course," Calla yawned, "Sorry, I'm really tired." As Daena's gaze moved towards her silently, she forced out a faint smile, "I don't know what Aegor had planned for me today, but I'll be sure to come back before nightfall."
"I'm on a break today, so I'll stay with Daena." Haegon beamed, "Have a good day, Calla."
"Good day," Calla spared another worried look towards Daena before leaving.
The moment Calla's back disappeared, Daena felt her heartbeat speeding up. Her eyes quickly darted around the room. Where was her dagger?
"Here," Haegon fished out the dagger easily. It was beside her pillow. "Come on, let's have breakfast."
Clutching Daena's hand, Haegon brought her out under the sunlight, next to a campfire. Aenys sat there, waving at them with one hand and fanning himself with another. "Breakfast is ready," he said, smiling.
They shared a plate of roasted birds, Haegon putting the fattest, juiciest piece of meat on Daena's plate. "I shouldn't eat too much, otherwise I'll get a huge belly," he said when Daena glanced at him.
This was a weak excuse, yet Daena nodded and chewed on the meat silently. It was a far cry from the meal they had in Tyrosh. They had a home there, in their grandfather's estate. If they were not forced to leave, Mother and Viserys and Jaehaerys would still be alive.
All because of the so-called Targaryens, they meddled with Tyrosh's politics and courted Grandfather's rival, causing Grandfather to lose his position as Archon. He was no longer able to ensure their safety, so Uncle Aegor had taken them away, to meet with those who had followed King Daemon and to form their own army… then the ambush happened.
It was a well-designed trap, and they fell into it hook, line and sinker. Daena knew very well who her enemy was. Bloodraven. One day she would plunge her dagger into his chest, again and again, and watch as the life drained from his eye. One day.
But now she must be satisfied with stabbing the bird with her fork.
"I'm quite sure that we'll be leaving soon," Haegon was saying, "It takes time for the men to gather, sure, but it isn't safe to stay in one place for too long."
"You think we can finish assembling by the end of this year?" Aenys asked, "Calla's idea has merit, but I'm not sure if we'll find any fruitful employment opportunities. To find one that will fit our name…"
"Uncle Aegor had an impressive number of contacts during his sword-selling day, from what I gather. With Grandfather's recommendation and gold, we should be able to make ourselves into an outstanding company. Besides," Haegon smiled reassuringly, "there's Calla and her Crystal."
Daena shook as in her mind, the blinding light of the saviour engulfed her again, tears dripping down her cheeks. Haegon noticed and asked Aenys, "Do you have a handkerchief?"
Aenys swiftly handed the cloth to Haegon, who gave his brother a quick thanks before turning to Daena. "There, there, it's alright." He patted Daena's shoulders with one arm and wiped her tears with another. Daena opened her mouth, trying to tell her twin that she was fine, but no sound came out.
Haegon's forehead furrowed with visible concern. "...Aenys, haven't you mentioned that there was a field with a beautiful view nearby?"
"I haven't actually been there, it was Daemon who told me. But yes. I think I can remember where it is." Aenys tapped his chin idly, likely recalling the location, before chuckling, "It will be funny if we just happen to bump into him there."
"He should be having all those extra lessons." Haegon frowned as he was temperamentally distracted by the mention of Daemon. "He is to be a king, so he is measured by a higher standard than the rest of us."
Aenys smiled wryly, "Maybe he'll put more effort into it after you beat him last time."
"I just got lucky, that's all," Haegon shrugged, "Daemon is older than me, he still has the advantage. So anyway," he turned back to Daena, beaming, "Do you want to go for a walk?"
Daena nodded. And so Haegon hastily arranged for some of their knights to protect them, Aenys asking for directions for a place he had claimed he knew how to travel to. Daena only watched on, one hand gripping the dagger hiding in her sleeves tightly.
Mother protected her because she was Mother. Calla saved her, Haegon and Aenys stayed with her because… what? Because they were siblings?
Daena could not ask anyone her questions, not anymore. She lost her voice that night, along with a lot of things. She will recover with time, the maesters and healers had told Uncle Aegor. It's only mental, and she will get over it eventually.
But Daena… could not.
—
It was just as Aenys said, a field of flowers laid ahead of them just minutes of walk from their camps. Haegon held Daena's hand on the way and squeezed it reassuringly whenever the wind grew too strong. Daena did not like how the grass sounded. She felt like someone could be hiding there, holding a crossbow and ready to shoot them down.
I can't do that, I can't, I can't, she wanted to say many times, as her heartbeat increased, it's too dangerous. But she could not talk, and when Haegon looked at her and smiled, she had the strength to continue again.
And so they were here. Daena gazed at the flowers, her face an emotionless mask. Yellow, white, blue, red, they were all the same to her. Her world had been colourless since that day.
As she sat down on a rock some distance to the flowerbed, Haegon peeked at her face, "Like it?" Daena could hear the nervousness in his voice, and so she nodded, putting her hands on her lap to show him she had relaxed.
It did not work, as Haegon's smile turned guilty. "Sorry, Daena. I shouldn't drag you all the way here for something you don't care about."
Daena shook her head. It was not like that. Haegon was just trying to help her, he only had the purest intention in mind.
"It's not like that," but Haegon's words mirrored her thoughts, "I'm just doing this for myself. I feel just as awful when you're unhappy." He put a hand on his heart, "Here, I can feel what you feel."
Ah, of course, Daena thought as she put a hand on her chest. It was here too, in her beating heart, she felt Haegon's concern and the twinge of guilt. Some part of her could feel him, as he could feel her.
Whether it was because they were twins or not, Daena could not tell, but Haegon was always the one who understood her the most.
"I… don't know how much darkness in your heart I share. How many clouds in our hearts are the same. But I want to clear it out," Haegon said earnestly, his eyes peering into Daena's, "one day. We can do it."
Daena blinked. In Haegon's eyes she saw her reflection, thin, gaunt, but still held an unyielding strength in her gleaming eyes. That was the Daena Haegon saw.
Haegon stayed with her, believing she would recover one day. Mother gave Daena her dagger, her life, trusting that she would be avenged. Daena must believe in herself too. One day, she would speak again. One day, she would not need to rely on Calla to fall asleep. One day...
Tears filled her eyes. "Daena!" Seeing Haegon fussing over her tears made her want to laugh, but no voice had come from her throat. She smiled. One step at a time.
"Geez, Daena…" Hearing Haegon's voice, Aenys ran back to their side, took a look at her face and furrowed, "Haegon, take this." It was a flower crown, fresh and smelled of life. "Just made it. Could have spent more time on it, but it seems you need it now." Aenys was as attentive as ever.
Haegon stared at Aenys for a second, then his gaze wandered back to Daena's face. His eyes lit up. "Thank you!" he said to Aenys, before putting the crown on Daena's hair. "It looks good on you, Daena," he said encouragingly.
"There's a lake nearby. We should go there so you can see yourself," Aenys suggested.
Daena nodded. Standing up and pulling Haegon with her, she looked at Aenys with expectation. Aenys laughed, "As you command, Your Grace."
"You just reminded me, Daemon has told me that he dreamed of Daena wearing a crown," Haegon said, "I thought he meant he planned to marry Daena. But maybe he just dreamed of today?"
"Daemon's dreams are as reliable as the wind," Aenys shrugged, "So who knows?"
The siblings walked hand in hand in the wind, forgetting the sorrows life had imposed on them for a moment. They did not know the true cause of their suffering, or what would be waiting for them in the future.
Daena glanced at the sun and the blue sky.
One day, she would gain the strength to face all that, she was sure. With whom she loved walking beside her.
One day.
