You cannot fill a cup that is already full
Daenys keeps her word, and does her best to learn. When the Hand of the King, the court and Aegon have decided she has made enough progress, Visenya and Rhaenys take over again, because Seven Gods it is boring!
'What is this mess?' Daenys asks Argella one day, holding up the papers of the budget of Health, namely her area of ruling. 'I do not know what happened, Your Grace.' Daenys sighs and shakes her head. 'I know, you were still healing too. It is just, they have left important matters go by, and I'm scared there are people who have not gotten the basic needs they are entitled too.' Daenys falls back in her chair, and scratches her chin, wheels wirring in her head.
'Argella, send guards around to inform what the people need. We will clear money from the treasury to make sure the sick and needy have what they need to survive.' Argella nods and leaves the room in a hurry, Daenys looking at who was appointed this temporary task.
Lord Barren.
Daenys groans but stands up, and decides to go ask what happened. Maybe he did something wrong by accident, and if that is the case, Daenys will not be angry. Everyone makes mistakes.
But she wonders... Lord Barren has never taken it well that she and Argella helped his sister to marry Lord Riverworth. And though Eleonora is as happy as she could be, for Lord Barren it is not enough, since that marriage does not bring enough power.
'Time to find out.' she thinks. Daenys walks out of her office, informed by a servant the Lords are holding a meeting outside because of the good weather, so that is where she goes. Daenys does not wear her golden crown today, but there is no question who she is.
The walk to the gardens takes longer than normal, but she is still recovering, so Daenys takes it in stride. Voices and shouting can be heard from afar, and Daenys already wants to roll her eyes when she hears whose voice can be heard.
Lord Barren and Lord Thomas are shouting, Aegon sighing and sipping from his drink, Lord Orys rolling his eyes and murmuring a prayer for patience, Daenys reckons. 'Why would we punish the remaining people of House Droughtden? Only their youngest brother is still alive, and he has sworn allegeance to the King. He has stood down his army and is ready to do anything to show the loyalty of his House. Why punish a young boy for the mistakes someone else made?!' Lord Thomas sputters, Lord Barren fuming as well.
'Now listen to me, Lord Thomas, you only have recently come to court so you probably don't know how this works...' 'Queen Daenys!' Lord Thomas interrupts and bows, all the Lords turning around as said queen comes walking to them.
'In red today, Daenys?' Aegon asks, a teasing tone in his voice. 'It is too hot to be dressed in black, husband. I'd rather not feint from overheating.' Daenys says in good humour, Orys and Lord Thomas chuckling.
'I am sorry to interrupt your meeting, but I have a question concerning the department of Health. My area of ruling.' Daenys says, a silence falling over the table. 'Lord Barren. Did you not know how to do it? Were you confused? Because it is a mess.' Daenys asks, holding the papers in her hand, the ones that have urgent scrabbled on top of the page.
'I assumed this was not as important, Your Grace.' Daenys raises an eyebrow, his dismissing tone making her seethe. 'Not important? There are sick and needy people who need those basics to survive. Because of your negligence, there may be subjects dying as we speak!' Daenys barks out, throwing the papers in his face.
'Put yourself in their place. Would you not resent a monarch that cannot even help you and give you the basic things you need to live?' Daenys barks again, even Orys taken aback by her tone.
'Do not make a big thing out of this, Your Grace. There are more important things than this-' 'Happy subjects make for a happy kingdom. How long before people feel abandoned and revolt against the King? For you it is easy, your life would not be at stake. Tell me, Lord Barren, how does it feel to never take responsibility for anything? Sometimes I wonder if you are even a man at all.'
The words have barely left Daenys' lips before a hand shoots out and grabs her arm, wrenching her to Lord Barren. 'Do not speak to me that way, you wench. You will respect me!'
'LORD BARREN!' A sword appears at Lord Barren's throat while at the same time a roar sounds over them. Dust and rabble flies up and before they know it, a giant head is puffing out smoke, teeth shown as Magavin hisses.
'You will let my sister go. Right now.' Lord Barren seems to be blinking, only now realizing what mistake he made. A hiss sounds again, Magavin's snout coming to Barren, teeth still showing.
'Let her go. I will not ask again.' Aegon hisses through clenched teeth, Barren finally letting go of Daenys' arm. 'Magavin.' Daenys whispers, patting the dragon on her snout. 'I'm fine.'
Lord Barren is on his knees in a moment, begging for forgiveness. 'I'll calm Magavin down. I'll let you deal with this...incident.' Aegon sheats his sword and when he looks to Daenys, she mouths to him to not be too severe. Aegon sighs, nodding his agreement.
Daenys offers a smile, as she knows what losing House Tally would mean, even if their Lord is a bastard who treats women like dirt. She shakes her head and walks around her dragon, stumbling but eventually managing to climb on Magavin's back.
Magavin turns, Daenys looking every bit like the queen she hopes to be one day, and throws one last look at Lord Barren. 'Never forget I am a Targaryen, and that most of my family have dragons. Never forget that. It might save your life one day.'
Magavin hisses one more time, than seems to snort, and starts walking lazily, eventually flying up. She flies lazily over King's Landing, and than farther away, always mindful of the wounds of her rider.
Daenys takes a deep breath, a laugh leaving her lips. She only now can admit how much she missed flying.
She is hopeful of what the future will bring, both for her future as queen and wife, and resolves she will do her best. She is feeling content, but she wants to be happy. Like Argella, or Eleonora.
As the sun goes down, Daenys takes a deep breath, the smell and sounds of summer greeting her. 'Why don't we go flying some more, Magavin? It is a beautiful day after all.'