If you want peace,prepare for war
Rhaenys is silent on the way to the Red Keep, but Daenys feels the relief radiating off of her sister.
'How are you feeling, Daenys?' Rhaenys calls out over the wind. 'I'm okay.' Daenys answers, but the wound in her side throbs as if to remind her, and she cannot help but wince. 'Did you get hurt?' Rhaenys asks again, seeing her wince and her bloodied hands.
'Nothing that I cannot handle!' Daenys shouts back. 'There is the pit!' The dragon's land one after the other, Meraxes first and going into the shadows, probably to sleep. Magavin is calm, lying down so that Daenys can get of her back, and if she stumbles a bit and almost falls over Magavin's talons, Rhaenys has the decency to not say anything.
Her sister has come for her and saved her, and Rhaenys feels gratitude and other things, things she is not yet ready to say out loud. But she promises herself that she will make it up to her younger sister, if only to make clear she does appreciate Daenys more than she thought.
Argella stumbles behind them, the three women supporting each other and eventually they come to the Red Keep, the guards stunned by letting them in nonetheless. The Court is much emptier than normal, and a silence falls over them as Daenys stumbles to the Iron Throne, sitting down to take a much needed rest. Rhaenys plops down next to her, Argella even sitting down on Visenya's throne.
'My Queen?' a voice says through the crowd, Daenys looking up with tired eyes. 'Yes?' Rhaenys interrupts when the noble wants to continue. 'Where are Aegon and Visenya?' Rhaenys says, her voice seeming like a shout in the throneroom. 'They...when they heard the news you and your sister got kidnapped and taken prisoner, King Aegon, Queen Visenya and Lord Orys were quick to gather an army and went to them. That was yesterday.' Argella gasps, worry creasing her brow.
'Have a messenger send to Aegon and Visenya, that they come back. We can deal with House Droughtden later. Just tell them to come home.' Rhaenys mutters, a sigh leaving her tired and sore body. 'But Your Grace...' 'Please.' a whisper interrupts them, seeing it is Daenys that asks. She is tired and worried, her hair shining a dull silver.
'Please, tell them to come home.' Daenys whispers, for once being sure that Rhaenys feels the same. The noble looks for a moment, his face softens and than nods with a stern expression on his face. 'As you wish, Your Grace.'
Rhaenys stands up, stumbling a bit. 'Court is over. You're all dismissed. Daenys, Argella come with me.' Rhaenys' voice brokers no argument, but Daenys knows her sister is weary.
They bathe in silence, and the three of them fall asleep on Rhaenys' bed, too tired to even say anything.
They take several days to just get into their normal routine, but there is a certain tension. They have heard nothing. Nothing. And it makes them all worry.
When the next morning a messenger bursts in, bloodied and full of dirt, the knot of worry in Daenys' belly becomes even tighter. 'Your Grace!' He calls out. 'What happened?' Rhaenys asks, quick to look up at the men.
'We were ambushed, Your Grace! The King never got your message. And now, House Droughtden has decided to attack King Aegon's army from both sides. Even with two dragons it is near impossible to win.'
Daenys gasps, her breathing labored, struggling for air. Argella reacts the same, and even composed Rhaenys struggles to breathe for a moment. 'Than we will go to them.' Daenys blurts out.
Everyone in the throneroom is silent, a pregnant silence falling over them. 'Daenys...' 'I mean it, Rhaenys! What if they die if we don't help them? Could you live with yourself knowing you did nothing to help them?' Rhaenys is silent, finally nodding. 'You are right. But there is a chance we will not make it out of this alive, Daenys.' Daenys nods, but she has made her decision.
'If I don't, at least I'll know I did everything I could.' Argella lets out a shuddering breath, but nods. 'House Baratheon is with you. I'll gather the men I have left and follow you into battle.' Murmurs rise up into the crowd, smaller houses speaking up and promising to follow them into battle.
Their army is small, and they might not win, but Daenys feels better now. As the sun rises that day, their preparations begin.