DAEMON I

As he feels the embroidered cape of rubies on his shoulders and sees the commoners of King's Landing waiting expectantly inside the Dragonpit, Prince Daemon Targaryen wishes this all to be a nightmare. His indigo eyes look at the High Septon a few steps away, and for the first time in his life, he feels more like a prey rather than the predator. He knows he's made a mistake, he had underestimated his brother.

Viserys is a Targaryen after all. But I never thought he had a dragon in him. Maybe if I had known, I wouldn't have been so stupid he tought, bitterly.

Daemon had not known when he had returned to court a few months ago. The prince had been in constant combat at the Stepstones for a year. A war he himself had begun with Lord Velaryon against the orders of the Crown. But his return had not been motivated by a desire for forgiveness or defiance to his brother, but by more joyful news, at least for him. His wife, his Bronze Bitch, had died in a horse accident and he had gone to the Iron Throne to fight for his rightful inheritance as her lord husband against the new Lord Royce. A fruitless battle.

Maybe if I had stayed on the Stepstones, surrounded by crabs, rocks and corpses, I wouldn't have gotten into this problem

The Rogue Prince had gone to a brothel on the Silk Street, trying to clear his mind after learning that the Crown would give Lady Rhea's title and lands to her cousin instead of him.

The Bronze Bitch keeps fucking my life even from the Seven Hells he said himself furiously as he got as drunk as he could. He was so lost in his thoughts and in his blind anger that he did not realize that she had followed him.

I should have known better. She has the dragon's blood, just like me. Maybe that's why we feel so powerfully attracted to each other

After he had felt sufficiently satisfied with his drunken state, he had gone out to find a whore. Rhaenyra had intercepted him in the middle of a dark alley. Her lips had touched his and the princess's hands had quickly undone his pants. Daemon had not stopped her then. He wanted it too.

I loved her as Aegon loved Rhaenys. She would certainly help me get closer to the Throne, but that doesn't mean that I didn't love her. That I don't love her.

When Viserys found out, Daemon could see firsthand a sleeping dragon awaken in fury. His brother had shouted at him, beaten him, and even put a valyrian steel dagger around his neck.

"You have sullied her, Daemon. You have humiliated her and our house and you pretend that I give her to you as a wife. Do you think you can manipulate me so easily?" Viserys asked him with eyes of fire. Daemon, still drunk, had committed the imprudence and stupidity of answering him without any filter.

"It wouldn't be the first time someone's done it. I know Otto Hightower has you eating out of his hand because of his daughter. When's the wedding, by the way?"

"You don't know what you're talking about. Lady Alicent Hightower is a correct and educated lady and she will be a good Queen" Viserys had said with a conviction worthy of a fool. It had caused Daemon a cruel amusement.

"Look at you, brother. You were never handsome and after Aemma's death you haven't exactly improved. Do you think a 17-year-old girl would be with you because she loves you? She seeks the crown, on her father's orders. And you're the fool who's gonna give it to her" He had spit with contempt. Viserys had turned pale, as a believer that is told that the gods did not exist and had left the Throne Room forgetting even to speak of Daemon's punishment.

I thought he had gone to plunge into his misery. I never believed Viserys a man with a mind for cruel revenges

But he had been. A moon later the King had called him to a council meeting. When the prince arrived, he found the entire King's Guard, Otto Hightower and Lady Alicent. Not even then had he smelled danger, his battle instincts atrophied by the remoteness of war.

"I have called you here because you three have thought me stupid for long enough" Viserys had said bluntly, his voice filled with a fury no one had ever seen. Alicent had turned pale. The Hand of the King had begun to stutter. But Daemon had smiled, willing to hold on being the Rogue Prince until the end.

Stupid. If I had known what was waiting for me, maybe I would have asked for mercy. Maybe.

Viserys had spoken with a voice full of fire. He had accused Otto Hightower of conspiracy, removing him from his role of Hand of the King and Lady Alicent by canceling his engagement with her. But the punishments were not over.

"And as your punishment for seducing Rhaenyra, I order you, Daemon, to marry Lady Alicent."

Daemon had been astonished. But honoring his dragon blood he did not beg, nor did he ask for any consideration. Instead he was filled with a rage worthy of a son of Old Valyria.

"I would rather burn Oldtown to ashes than marry the serpent's daughter" he had said as he tried to approach his brother. That's when he understood why the King's Guard was there. Four knights subdued him and held him to the ground, his cheeks on the cold floor.

" Refuse and I will banish you, with death penalty if you return...and I will disinherit Rhaenyra" Viserys had threatened in a cold voice. "If you really care about her a little, you will agree to this wedding. Think of this as an atonement for your sins"

And now he was here, with the heavy ceremonial cloak of his House on his shoulders, watching as his companion of sorrows approached. His future wife.

She should be Rhaenyra. The gods can be truly cruel

But as he watched Lady Alicent approach the center of the Dragonpit, ready to begin the wedding, he decided to put on a stoic face.

I am of the dragon's blood after all. And the dragon is never afraid. If Aegon burned Harrenhal, why couldn't I burn a lone tower?

It was not until he heard the voice of the High Septon that he allowed himself to feel a slight chill running through his body.

"We are gathered here to witness the union of this man and woman by the laws of gods and men..."