𝐃𝐀𝐄𝐌𝐎𝐍
Daemon Targanyen's life hasn't been going well lately.
Firstly, because of Viserys, once again Daemon had been forced to leave King's Landing behind. Okay, it wasn't exactly an exile this time since Daemon was the one who has chosen to leave instead of being chased out of the city, but after his fight with Viserys, Daemon had wanted to leave the city on his own terms. When everyone was convinced in every corner of King's Landing that Daemon would once again be banished from King's Landing (which had not happened) and that Viserys threatened to disinherit him (that definitely HAD happened), Daemon had already decided to sneak out of the city, taking all the Gold Cloaks with him. Without Viserys' permission and approval. Even though Viserys has forbidden Daemon from leaving the city and ordered one of his kingsguard to follow Daemon around.
However, after all that's happened over the past week, after all the bullshit from Viserys including what happened to Aemma and their ''little talk'' after that, Daemon's nerves has gotten so strained, he had decided to go to the Flea Bottom. After all, wasting a whole day getting drunk and causing some chaos was so much more relaxing than dealing with Viserys and his bullshit. It has been a fun day that achieved its purpose until the several members of kingsguard showed up at the tavern he was in.
What happened after the member of the kingsguard had forcibly dragged Daemon into the throne room, had been the last straw. Voices had been raised, threats had been yelled, orders (according to Viserys they were ''offers'' in the name of the king, but in truth they were all orders Daemon would not be able to decline, Viserys had particularly emphasized that) had been given and when finally Daemon was threatened with being stripped of his right to the throne, Daemon did something he's never done in his life before and threw a punch at his kingly brother... and then immediately left the throne room, leaving his brother laying on the floor. He knew he was either gonna sneak out of the city or be thrown into the dungeon after that one.
Daemon was not ashamed to admit that the choice had been relatively easy.
Secondly, when Daemon was about to leave the city without Viserys's permission or knowledge (Daemon was once again amazed at how stupid his brother could be), with all the Gold Cloaks and that dragon egg he has stolen to totally mess up with Viserys, that damn priestess of the Lord of Light and that damn Ser Lorent Marbrand who was following him around on the order of Viserys both stuck to Daemon like fleas. They were so annoying, one talking about visions and destiny and the other talking about duty, Daemon finally had lost it and thrown both of them into the ship's dungeon and started sailing by ship to Dragonstone for some peace and quiet that surely would last for a while.
Daemon felt certain that Viserys was going to come to his senses one way or another after a few days and was surely going to decide to visit Daemon at Dragonstone which was one place held no Hightower spies. (Daemon had made sure of that when he had visited there the last time by throwing the Hightower spy he has captured from one of the huge windows of the Ravenry. Viserys of course has been told it was just an accident because... well, Viserys was Viserys.) There, they could have a heart to heart talk about how brothers should treat brothers or maybe could even throw a few punches towards each other. No matter what would happen, Daemon was at least sure that they could be able to talk and fight as brothers at Dragonstone this time, not just as a king and his faithful dog (because recently Daemon has been thinking that Viserys saw him as nothing more than a faithful dog)
He had gotten pissed, so pissed, when the peace and quiet he needed only lasted for an hour and a half after landing at Dragonstone.
Thirdly, Daemon was really about to go crazy.
The Prophecy?
Dreams?
Divine intervention?
Huh.
Only fools like Viserys would completely believe in these lies. After all, it was dragons, not dreams, that made the Targaryens kings, and Daemon was fed up with the King's Landing that was filled with only worms, snakes and gray rats, he was fed up with his older brother whom was constantly forcing Daemon to prove himself in new ways and most of all he was fed of with being surrounded by dragons with extinguished fire. He was fed up even with his life and his so-called 'destiny' ahead. That is, until he had set foot on Dragonstone and had met the girl who jumped from her room's window, claiming she was a Targaryen.
That was such a sight Daemon has never thought he would ever see in his life. Maybe that's why, as he watched the girl move away from him on the back of her dragon, Daemon was filled with surprise, anger, and finally with desire… just as in the first moment he met the girl when she was about to drown.
Under the stunned gazes of those in the room, Daemon suddenly approached the window with quick steps, climbed outside by putting both of his hands on the window's rim and closed his eyes for a moment. He found himself wondering, as he breathed gentle breeze with a wistful expression on his face, if Caraxes was nearby and what his dragon would have thought of him if he also jumped.
Maester Gerardys, who was watching him with fearful eyes as if he was able to read the The Rogue Prince's mind, cleared his throat and asked in a half-weary, half-worried tone, "Prince Daemon, shouldn't we go after the girl?"
Daemon opened his eyes, turned around, and had a big laugh after seeing the faces of people around him. They were all shivering with fear. Like they should, thought Daemon silently. Everyone should be afraid of a real dragon, after all.
After hearing Daemon's laughter, everyone around him gazed at each other with anxiety and fear. They were all wishing the day would end as soon as, preferably before something else happened. Daemon started to grin even bigger as if he could read their minds. Gerardys opened his mouth to diffuse the tension in the room but Daemon acted before him.
''Ah Gerardys.'' The Rogue Prince cut Gerardys off quickly, and then continued speaking a mocking tone, ''I don't think our little escapees will get very far. I've seen Corlys' ship on the horizon while hovering over the sky with Caraxes and Rhaenys and Meleys must be around here somewhere, if I'm not mistaken with my guesses. I bet it was Viserys that sent them here.'' Daemon stopped talking for a moment to tilt his head slightly to his right side and acted like he was lost in a deep thought, but after a few seconds rolled his eyes and continued talking with the same mocking tone, ''What will his next move be, I wonder? Trying to ground me like I'm a what, a fucking child?''
''Why can't you guys act your ages for once? If only your father was-'' muttered Gerardys.
"Watch yourself," Daemon said, his voice threateningly low. ''Don't ruin my good mood and make me throw the knights who were supposed to guard this fucking door out of this fucking window.'' The Gold Cloaks that were tasked with guarding the room took a step back and swallowed with fear, while Daemon watched them with a predatory smile.
After sighing deeply and shaking his head, Maester Gerardys extended one of his hands to Daemon and gestured for him to come down. Daemon rolled his eyes at the sight and turned his head to throw one last look at the horizon where the girl had disappeared which caused Maester Gerardys to clear his throat once again, impatiently.
After a moment of silence, Daemon descended to the ground with a bored, disinterested look on his face, smoothed out his wrinkled clothes and raised his hand to silence Maester Gerardys who opened his mouth to speak once again.
After clasping his hands in front of him and scrutinizing everyone in the room one by one, Daemon fixed his gaze on the maester and started speaking in a teasing tone.
"Don't forget to send my regards to Viserys today, Gerardys, in the letter you'll be surely sending," Daemon said sarcastically. "Oh, also make sure to tell him that he was absolutely and absolutely right to be afraid of me. If he's really thought Corlys and Rhaenys could hold me back or make me come back to King's Landing after Otto's hilarious and poor attempt, which both Viserys and Otto should be glad that did not end with me taking Otto's head off with the Dark Sister by the way, make sure to mention that also in your little letter, it seems Viserys really doesn't know me at all. What a pity. My dear brother must have forgotten. I did told him the last time that I was done with being ordered around, didn't I? Weren't you there? And now that I've found something, something, how can you describe it? Hmm…''
Daemon took a second or two to raise his head and pretend he was thinking deeply, and then yelled ''AHA, found it'' after snapping his fingers a few times and continuing where he left off with a mischievous smile on his face. ''Now that I've found something, oh excuse me, someone intruding, well… How can I just leave here? I have to make sure that precious thing, I mean person, is safe.'' Stretching his arms outward, Daemon continued speaking in a teasing tone, ''This is what the Gods want, Gerardys. How can I say no to Gods?'' then broke into laughter once again. Daemon found what he had said so funny that his guffawing could be heard across the room but everyone else in the room was busy averting their eyes from the Rogue Prince who clearly was out of his mind, all acting as if the time had frozen.
''Didn't you say you did not believe King Viserys and that he was mad, Prince Daemon?'' answered back Gerardys, in a rather deep tone of voice. ''And I dont think think this is what Gods wanted with-''
''Who the fuck cares what they want? What does anybody want?'' said Daemon, raising his voice.
''Prince Daemon'' said Gerardys, clasping his hands together, speaking softly, ''King Viserys should be told of what's been happening here, by the right people. Not just as your king, as your brother as well, King Viserys should be assured of you, that you would not act recklessly as Otto had claimed you would. He should see that he can still trust you. What we should do is-''
''After all the things we've been through, all the things I've done for him, the fact that he feels the need to be assured of that, proves once again that I'm the right one here, maester.''
''Please, don't fight fire with fire, my prince.'' said Gerardys shaking his head, ''This would only prove what has been said about you may be true. You are better than that. You have been raised better than that.''
''Yes, yes,'' said Daemon in a mocking tone, rolling his eyes and waving a hand in the air a few times, ''It's I that always has to pick up the pieces and act like nothing is wrong, isn't it? Well, not this time. If Viserys wants to talk to me then he is welcome to visit here.''
''My prince, please-''
''Besides, pray tell me, why comfort him when I can scare the shit out of him?'' asked Daemon with a dazzling smile on his face, wiggling his eyebrows in a funny manner. Then, he made a show of putting his hand on his chin, acting like he was in deep thought for a few seconds, cleared his throat and said ''How about this.''
''Oh Shit'' muttered one of the Gold Cloaks to another that was beside him. ''Shh, '' muttered back to his friend, nudging. ''Don't drive any attention to us'' muttered back his friend.
''Yes, let's act like we are not even here'' muttered another one.
''Stop talking you idiots!'' warned the Golden Cloak that was in front of them, muttering.
''AHEM.'' said Daemon and cleared his throat once again after throwing a hard gaze at the Golden Cloaks that were talking which caused them to tremble where they stood.
Daemon continued talking after deeping his voice. ''Here's the thing. The dragons don't like to share and neither do I. I am done with sharing, waiting, yearning. I'm gonna take what I want. I'm gonna do what I want. If Viserys wants to stop me or if he wants to have a proper conversation with me, as brothers not as a king and his dog this time, we, by that I mean the girl and me, will be here waiting for him.''
''Prince Daemon, honestly-''said Gerardys, trying to cut in.
''However-''Daemon continued, after raising a finger in the air, ''who knows what'll happen until Viserys shows up? After all, I'm such a predictable son of a bitch. A terrible brother. A Maeger reborn. A Piece of shit and – ''
Daemon took a second to think and after scratching his chin in thought, shrugged and then said ''Ah, I can't remember what else was said about me in King's Landing.'' Then, after rubbing his hands excitedly like a small child, continued talking in a very enthusiastic tone, ''Well, I'm sure you are gonna make sure Viserys understands my intention. Make sure to write him all that, Gerardys.''
While all the Gold Cloaks in the room grimaced, Maester Gerardys couldn't help himself but to hit his head with his own hand. After shaking his head a few times like he couln't believe what he has heard, Gerardys clasped his hands and let out a deep sigh. ''So,'' he started saying with a tired tone, ''in other words, you request a meeting with King Viserys to have a heart to heart talk with him. To strengthen the bonds between the brothers. Since, thanks to you, everyone is oh so loyal to House Targaryen at Dragonstone and there are also less eyes and ears around, you, kindly and politely, ask the said meeting to be held here. There is also a certain guest at Dragonstone you want to introduce to your brother, as soon as possible. She was hurt badly so she won't be able to visit King's Landing for a while. However, the King should not worry because you, as an honorable prince of House Targaryen, promise to keep the girl safe. Etc. Etc. Etc.''
Gerardys waited a few seconds for the dramatic effect and then continued with a smile, raising one of his eyebrows, ''Did I get that right, my prince?''
''That is not what I've said.'' Said Daemon pursing his lips in mock anger and turned to the Gold Cloaks asking, ''Is that what I've said?'' but the Gold Cloaks bit their lips, averting their eyes to the floor, acting as if they hadn't heard Prince Daemon speaking. Once again turning back to Gerardys, raising his finger to the air, ''Don't put words into my mouth and make me come across as so… so sane.'' Daemon said, still in the same mocking tone.
''That was what I've heard.'' Said Gerardys, shrugging. ''With all due respect my prince, anything else you want to be written in a letter, you can write it yourself… if you can find the ravens I've hidden, that is.''
''You hurt me, Gerardys.'' Said Daemon in a tone sounded fake, putting his hand on his heart, acting lie he was hurt, '' I've thought you've always liked me better''
''Your father was my favorite, my prince'' said Gerardys.
''He doesn't count!'' whined Daemon.
Gerardys rolled his eyes and outstretched his palm up and said, ''Please, I beg you, wait for me to talk to the girl. She really shouldn't have jumped while she was hurt. Those of dragon blood keep getting worse and worse. Where did my bored life go, I wonder?''
''Hey, it could have been worse. At least I didn't jump as well-'' said Daemon winking.
''Thanks the Gods'' muttered one of the Gold Glocks.
''or'' Daemon continued speaking, ''did not go after her.'' Then he took a second to put a finger at his chin and said, ''I wonder how Rhaneys is going to handle the situation. Should we be afraid of what's about to happen? Hmmm.''
''I'm sure she'll handle the situation very delicately. Now, if you excuse me, my prince, I'm gonna send a raven and hope it arrives at King's Landing before Ser Otto because Gods know what lies he'll try to spread. Thank God Princess Rhaneyra showed up at the end and you have given the dragon egg back but oh well, we shall see if we can still save your neck.'' Said Gerardys and made a move towards the door but turned back towards Daemon before he was out, ''Oh. Do not forget to send for me when the girl comes down from her dragon and we should probably fix the door King Viserys notices, preferably. I recommend another room? I don't think you should have access to a maiden's room, after all. Hmm. Let's talk about it later. I'm sure Princess Rhaneys will have a good idea.'' And then he turned back and left muttering ''Should have stayed at Oldtown''
''Who the fuck needs her opinion?'' Daemon yelled after him, ''She can't just come here and order me around. Gerardys you better listen to me over her or else-. Gerardys, did you hear me? GERARDYS?! Ugh!''
After stomping his foot on the ground out of anger, Daemon turned back to the city guards in the room, folded his hands under his chest, and asked in a very angry tone, "Now, while I wait for the girl to return, one of you answer me. Why were there no guards at this door and whose fault is that?"
The Gold Cloaks in the room stared at each other and swallowed with fear, thinking all of these started a week ago with that damn Priestess of God of Light. They wished, for once, the Rogue Prince Daemon would meet with someone normal. For once.
Meters below, the Priestess of the God of Light smiled. Everything was going according to her god's plan.
ONE WEEK AGO.
GODS.
Exactly one week before Visenya Targaryen jumped out of her room's window, and five days before Daemon Targaryen departed from King's Landing to Dragonstone in a moment of anger, the Gods had put aside all the jealousy, hatred and strife between them and started to think about how to protect the Princess that was Promised and make sure the so called worshippers of Faith of Seven (a pissed of look was sent to the Stranger) didn't fuck of their divine plan once again.
While the Many-Faced God, the Drowned God and the Stranger whom was the only real God of the Seven brooded, the Old Gods of the Forest, R'hllor, and Gods of Valyria whose names were Balerian, Meraxes, and Vhagar, smiled at each other since they had already begun to do what was necessary. After all, the faces of weirwood trees were already changing, the ravens at Ravenhall were singing and destinies were changing.
Everything was gonna be alright this time, they swore to each other silently. And this would be the last chance Gods has given to humans to prove themselves. The last time Gods helped them fight against those who were called White Walkers. The last stand humans would have.
After all, even their chosen warrior, princess that was promised, deserved some rest. Gods were going to make sure nobody betrayed their princess this time.
ONE WEEK AGO.
𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐘𝐒.
(BEFORE VISENYA'S JUMP)
BLOOD.
BLOOD EVERYWHERE.
A woman crying out in pain during childbirth…
A Stag's warhammer smashes the breastplate of a Dragon, scattering his rubies and gems into the waters below….
"Promise me, Ned. Promise me…''
Death.
Too many deaths.
Madness.
Blood again, and voices and lives intertwining with each other, everywhere…
So much blood.
So many lost lives.
A dragon muttering a woman's name with his last breath….
"... the dragon must have three heads."
FIRE.
''When the snows fall and the white winds blow…''
"Prove to me that you are a dragon, Visenya. You cannot be both a wolf and a dragon. Make your choice or I'll do it for you.''
'' ..the lone wolf dies but the pack survives…''
A pack…
A pack filled with a woman with two faces, a girl with too many faces, a man with honor, a boy with no honor, a wild giant…
A burning red star in the sky…
''Promise me, Ned''
A dragon that sets King's Landing on fire...
"DRACARYS!"
"I wish you good fortune in the wars to come..."
Dragons dancing in the air…
… and dragons dying.
Eating each other, eating others, being eaten and then dying, dying, dying until there are only two left…
"Her song will be the song of ice and fire, and the princess that was promised will-"
The Night King throwing his spear at a dragon and knocking her down from the sky…
A queen who fills her heart with coldness and ice is laughing madly while a higher being of light watches her with a grin…
"Lannisters sends their regards"
An old man whose body is entangled in weirwoods roots…
"Where is your honor, lion?"
The thirteen slashes made by a dragon on a weirwood tree bleeds, bleeds, bleeds with each spring, again, again, again…
"I'll take what's mine by fire and blood"
A weeping weirwood…
"Promise me, NED!"
A dragon that takes its first breath during a castle and everyone inside is consumed by fire…
"BURN THEM ALL!"
"The night is dark and full of terror..."
A mummer's dragon that dies with blind eyes and a heart filled with love…
" Forgive me Visenya..."
WARS.
So many wars…
… in the name of love.
… in the name of greed.
… in the name of the game.
A child of the forest who breathes her last breath, cursing-…
Wars, again…
"For the Night Watch..."
A girl who cries for all she has lost…
A dagger to the heart…
"You promised me under the weirwood tree, you swore, how can you break your oath? How could you betray me? Sans-''
…another one…
"No, you can't ask me of this, Danny"
…another one..
"A Targaryen all alone the world is a terrible thing"
…another one…
"By what right, does the lion dare to question the dragon? You have no honor, Lannister"
A weeping weirwood….
"Love is the death of duty, Aegon. Never forget that..."
A dragon being eaten by another dragon and a crying child who is forced to watch…
"Let me keep my promise to the Silver Prince, Visenya. Let me have my honor back."
A dragon embracing a wolf, leaning against a laughing weirwood tree..
"The daughter of a mad king, I'm called. Maybe I should become one to prove them right"
A dragon drives his sword through another one's empty eye socket just as both dragons collide with the lake below…
"THE IRON THRONE BELONGS TO ME. I'D PREFER TO BURN YOU AND REST OF WESTEROS IN DRAGON FIRE THAN TO SHARE MY THRONE WITH YOU OR THAT FAKE DRAGON "
A dragon is poisoned by his own son…
… while another one drinks a cup of wildfire in the belief that it would turn him into a dragon….
…a pious gentle one who loves the smallfolk and the gods in equal parts, yet betrays his own kin by imprisoning them in a vault against their wishes…
…an unworthy dragon that couples with nine women to make a beauty cry, a Knight with dragon blood that protects her with a broken smile…
… a new bride that cries surrounded by sand and water…
…a dragon with black blood that roses in rebellion when what he wants is denied by those he claimed to love…
"Every time a new Targaryen is born…"
…a castle is consumed by fire as a newborn dragon takes his first breaths…
"…the gods toss the coin in the air and the world holds its breath to see how it will land…''
'' You only lost one eye, how could you be so blind?'' yells someone…
A young dragon dies with Blackfyre in his hand, surrounded by sand snakes…
"BURN IT ALL!" yells another one…
…dragons fighting against dragons in a trial…
… gray rats whispering, plotting, dreaming, destroying, killing, reaching…
"My Gods, Maegor was right. He should have destroyed-''
Gods, old ones and new, punishing humans with a winter fever, a great spring sickness, Greyscale and so many others…
…a sickly, mad dragon dying whilst choking on a pie while another one is being slained in a mishap, and the another one dies of grief, another one dies of a pox, a lot of dragons die by fire, another one dies due to a sudden shortness of breath, miscarriages and dead babies everywhere, everywhere, everywhere, a dragon that only gets treated with Leeches, a gray rat tampering with dragon eggs, a gray rat whispering a less charitable reading of a letter to a man's ear to sway his decision while the another one is burning a letter that was written for the the Winterfell's next heir, a dragon's paranoia and cruelty being fed, and all around them gray rats whispers, plotting and reaching above them with greed…
"Westeros pays the price in corpses as a Dragonfly loves a flower so much he castS aside a crown…
A wolf hiding a real dragon…
A stag climbs onto his throne over the corpses of pups…
A weak dragon is crowned with molten gold while a wolf howling in the rain, but no one hears her grief…
A cloth dragon swaying on poles amidst a cheering crowd…
Rubies flying from a dragon's armor to the red sea…
All Magic dying…
…and then it all comes back stronger thanks to the princess that was promised…
"and her song will be-"
A Red Comet appears in the world's skies…
A female dragon cries, cries, cries…
A shadow with a burning heart trying to butcher a mummer's dragon…
A dragon flying over Kings Landing while the city is burning with green fire below him and another one stands in the ruined throne room, snow and ash raining down upon around her while a blue winter rose keeps growing from a chink in a wall of ice…
Gray rats, a spider who wears perfume, a snake with a little finger, a greedy golden lion and a white tower scheming to end dragons…
… yet Dragons are still dancing in the air…
… and a dragon is so tired…
"Visenya?"
"Winter is coming…."
"…with fire and blood."
FIRE.
A THREE-EYED RAVEN WHO HAS A THOUSAND EYES AND ONE.
VISENYA.
BLOOD.
DEATH.
MADNESS.
WHITE WALKERS.
THE PRINCESS THAT WAS PROMISED.
THE LAST CHANCE…
..for the House of Dragon.
.
.
OPEN YOUR EYES, VISERYS.
OPEN YOUR EYES AND SEE.
.
.
.
A girl who fell off a dragon…
GIRL?
NO.
VISENYA.
"If I come back to life again, this time... Give me a chance..."
.
.
OPEN YOUR EYES, VISERYS.
.
.
"A woman would not inherit the Iron Throne.. That is not the order of things.''
.
.
Yet…
.
.
.
A woman sitting on the iron throne wearing the Conqueror's crown and a silver-haired man kneeling in front of her…
.
.
"From my blood comes the Princess That Was Promised and hers will be the Song of Ice and Fire."
A girl.
A girl.
A girl with the blood of a dragonwolf.
.
.
… and her song will be-''
.
.
"unite the realm against the cold... and the dark… Only a dr-"
.
.
.
OPEN YOUR EYES VISERYS. OPEN YOUR EYES.
.
.
Death.
So many deaths.
Aegon.
Rhaenyra.
Daemon.
Daemon?
…it all comes back to Daemon.
..and Visenya.
VISENYA.
… and her song will be ice and fire…
THE LAST CHANCE.
THE LAST CHANCE.
THE LAST CH-
. . .
"MY KING, OPEN YOUR EYES. ARE YOU OK, MY KING?''
Viserys opened his eyes and leapt out of bed, clutching his heart with his hand. He felt like his heart was going to jump out of his chest.
"My king, are you okay?" asked maester Gerardys, handing the king a glass of water.
Viserys pushed the water away with his hand, clenched his chest again in pain, and wept, wept, wept like a child in front of maester Gerardys and his loyal kingsguard, Ser Harrold Westerling.
After years, he finally realized it.
The horrible truth.
The fact that he failed not just as a king but as a brother, as a father and as a husband as well. The fact that he had fueled the destruction of his house, with his own hands.
History would remember him as 'The King Who Never Should Have Been' and they would be right, thought Viserys as he cried.
They would be right.
The danger that destroyed his house and the rest of the kingdom had begun with him, after all.
ONE WEEK AGO.
𝐃𝐀𝐄𝐌𝐎𝐍.
While Viserys Targaryen was opening his eyes, perhaps for the first time in years, his younger brother Daemon Targaryen was in a tavern surrounded by men, prostitutes, and strangers, his mind far, far away, mourning in his own way.
Daemon took a deep breath and exhaled it slowly.
He felt like an idiot for being here.
He knew it, he knew that he should not be here, drowning his grief, feeling all lonely, sort of flat, dull and like there was not going to be any pleasure or joy in life anymore without all the people he has lost, but he also did not feel welcomed at Red Keep after Aemma's funeral. He did not feel welcomed by his own family. So where else could he go tonight, really?
He felt tired.
So tired.
He was watching what was happening around him with a mocking smile on his face, tapping his fingers on the table, but instead of distracting his mind, it was making him feel even more depressed. It wasn't hard to guess what these idiots around him probably thought about him, afterall, no matter how loyal they were to his so-called cause.
Some might think that he was celebrating (his men and maybe everyone in Flea Bottom) because his nephew had died, some might think that he was being careless and thoughtless for coming here instead of reassuring his brother everything that happened was inevitable (probably Viserys because he liked being surrounded by liars these days), and others might think that he was plotting treacherous plans (definitely Otto), but as he sat in the tavern, all he could think of was how tired and lonely he was.
Daemon was tired of trying to prove himself to the lords and ladies of Westeros, to the likes of Otto, and to his older brother Viserys, who had been incapable of being a real brother to him for years.
Daemon was tired of this city that was filled with worms, snakes, and rats.
Daemon was tired of losing all he had loved, of not being able to love those he could love, and of course, of loving and being loved.
But most of all, Daemon was tired of being alone and not being trusted enough. It couldn't be hard to find someone who could truly, truly, truly trust him in this vast realm, right?
Yet…IT WAS DIFFICULT.
In fact, according to Daemon, this should be considered as almost impossible.
Suddenly filling with a burst of anger, Daemon threw his mug against the wall and extended his empty hand to one of the prostitutes around him, asking for a new one. Those around him, neither his men, nor the prostitutes, or Mysaria, were surprised by this. Everyone was accustomed to the suddenly changing moods of The Rogue Prince.
Of course, Daemon knew very well what everyone who spoke behind his back was saying about him. He even knew what was being said about him in the Small Council behind closed doors.
People like Otto always talked about how Daemon was the Maegor Targaryen reborn, constantly whispering in Viserys's ear that if Daemon ever sat on the Iron throne or if he was around Viserys too much influencing him, it would drag the seven kingdoms to war and destruction. And Viserys would pat Daemon on the back, pretending to listen to him and to trust to him, but at the end of the day, he would either banish Daemon from the city or find him "something to do," to distract him, always following Otto's counsel. Of course, these duties were constantly changing, but Viserys never gave Daemon what he really wanted, which was to be the hand of the king. Viserys also never trusted Daemon in important matters, and never, never and never would really listened to him when Daemon tried to have an actual deep talk with his brother.
Yet Viserys, no matter how much he wanted to forget, was Daemon's brother and he was seated on the Iron Throne thanks to Daemon.
Hadn't Daemon gathered the necessary support to make his own brother the king?
Hadn't he sided with Viserys in the battle for the throne instead of his beloved cousin Rhaenys'?
Hadn't Daemon always kept the promise they made to each other when they were little, that they would be "a new Baelon and Aemon" and that he'd always protect Viserys from others and even from himself (most of all, from himself)?
No matter what anyone has said, hadn't Daemon always stayed true to his brother and the throne?
So why did Viserys not trust Daemon at all?
Did Viserys really think Daemon wanted that cursed iron throne?
All Daemon wanted was keeping Viserys and rest of those from dragon blood safe from danger and extinction and being able to keep the promise he has made to his father on his deathbed However, these days, thanks to Saera Targaryen, the dragon's blood had been contaminated and weakened so much that all that remained were the bastards she had, Valerions who still yearned to steal the throne, Viserys who has been spending his entire reign trying to please people, Daemon who has been constantly forced to play the villain role because of Viserys' passivity and the spoiled princess Rhaenyra who Daemon was a bit afraid to trust since that Hightower girl was always around of his niece.
Daemon drained the wine that was passed to him all in one gulp and, found himself once again contemplating about how complicated his relationship with Rhaenys, Viserys, and Rhaenyra had been while his glass was being re-filled by a passing prostitute thanks to the hand gestures of Mysaria.
Daemon had always loved and respected his cousin Rhaenys. Even though Rhaenys and Viserys had always been closer, Daemon and Rhaenys did have a bond together. However, after Daemon's actions at the Great Council to garner support from the lords, and after choosing his brother rather than his cousin who sought his support, in those days Daemon couldn't help himself but feel that the bond between them was damaged beyond repair.
After chuckling, Daemon drank all of his wine once again in one gulp and wondered if he had made a mistake with supporting Viserys in the Great Council. Rhaenys was at least a dragon whose fire was still not extinguished. As for Viserys… ah Daemon could talk and think about his brother for hours. His older brother was many things, but he had never been able to open his eyes and become a real dragon. Daemon used to wonder about what caused his brother to become so weak minded or turn into a people-pleaser. Maybe it was caused by flying with Black Dread Balerion only once and never being able to embrace the fire in their blood, or finding it easier and safer to trust Otto, whom was also trusted by their grandfather Jaehaerys Targaryen, over his own blood, or maybe it was all due to just being the wrong person to wear the heavy crown. Whatever the reason was, Daemon was now very tired of constantly receiving blows from Viserys and feeling so alone and excluded in his own family.
Daemon handed his empty mug to the prostitute who was waiting a few feet behind the table he was sitting at. While his mug was being refilled, Daemon pretended not to see the girl bowing way too lower than necessary to draw attention to her breasts, biting her lips and gazing at him with certain desire. Instead, Daemon quickly turned his torso away from the girl and signaled her to go away with his hands. Then, after raising his mug he took time to glance around the men around him. Daemon's men, who met their eyes, bowed their heads slightly in respect and raised their glasses, while the others looked too drunk to notice Daemon with the prostitutes sitting on their laps and their wallets probably about to be robbed.
Grinning slightly, Daemon turned back in front of him.
Flea Bottom.
Always makes you go through such enriched experiences.
While the laughter and nonsense around him increased more and more with each passing moment, Daemon's mind suddenly wandered back to Rhaenyra and he found himself wondering how she would handle what lies ahead. Another crisis in the Targaryen family.
How much did his beloved niece know about King's Landing, its people, and the rest of the realm?
If Viserys, Daemon, and all the other lords and ladies of the realm stopped pampering her, how many days or even hours would Rhaenyra be able to endure the real, hard life she was supposed to live as a princess of the realm and all the duties she'd have?
Would Rhaenyra really know what it was like to be a true dragon? Or would she be the same as her father?
Oh how hopeful Daemon was of Rhaenyra at first! He had always liked her, tried to take care of her, to awaken the fire in her blood to make her a real dragon, and secretly wondered if perhaps they would be more than an uncle and niece in future, a couple of times. After all, Daemon was a dragon and he was teached from an early age by his parents that dragons could only happy with other dragons However, when Viserys had been awarded with a dragon as his mate, Daemon had been tricked by his own family and ended being sold to a Bronze Bitch.
This is your duty, his father had said.
You should learn how to be content with what you have because this is all we could give you, you'll have to deal with the consequences if you don't accept this offer, his grandparents had threatened.
You could be happy, his own brother had claimed.
If only they could see what kind of life Daemon was going to be subjected to, if only they had listened to his pleas. If only they could see that their precious Viserys was going to kill his own wife, his own blood, to have a new male heir so that it would be impossible for Daemon to wear a crown.
Would he still be forced into his unhappy marriage, he wondered, with a broken smile, or would he be able to create his own destiny this time?
What a joke.
What his parents and grandparents, even Aegon the Conqueror would think of what became of their descendents, he wondered.
All these years, Daemon had been trapped in an unhappy marriage, begging the Gods of Valyria to take either his life or the Bronze Bitch's every night, because Daemon had felt trapped in his unhappy marriage for so many years. Afterall, he had been forced into his marriage with his Bronze Bitch so that Viserys could be happy with his, just so that the Vale, House Royce and even Starks wouldn't rise against the crown by getting stronger than they should. The gods had so far ignored this wish, and every time Daemon begged his brother to annul his unfruitful marriage to Rhea, Viserys found new reasons to refuse every fucking time by listening Otto's counsel instead of Daemon's even at this subject. Viserys had always used Daemon's marriage to the Bronze Bitch to control and punish him, and he was probably going to keep using it in future as well. Viserys always liked having power over Daemon.
However, Daemon had done everything he had done so far for the sake of Viserys and the House of Dragons, and in return the only thing he wanted was to have a mate with dragon blood who could understand him, love him and trust him the way he was. He wanted what his grandfather, father and brother had. Why couldn't they understand that? Why did it had to be Daemon that made all the sacrifices? Why couldn't they see that Daemon would only be able to be happy with a mate that had the same fire in her blood, since the fire in Daemon's blood was too strong to accept anything else.
While Aemma was alive, Daemon would sometimes find himself wondering if that the dragon mate he yearned so much would be Rhaenyra so that together they would be able to restore House Targaryen to its proper glory, but these days Daemon was feeling more and more assured that this would be a bad idea. Because Rhaenyra was Viserys' daughter, and the best thing Viserys did in this life was hurting Daemon. After all, how could the spoiled Rhaenyra, the Rhaenyra who had never set foot in Flea Bottom, Rhaenyra who never had to fight for the things she wanted in her life, really be able to make Daemon happy? She was young, too young maybe, but Daemon was tired of waiting. He no longer had the strength to wait, be patient or give up anything else.
What else could Daemon give up for his brother?
Hadn't his brother cut the woman he fell in love with, a dragon, for the sake of a son, just so that Daemon would not sit on the Iron Throne, just because he had a ridiculous dream?
Yes, Daemon knew about it, Viserys did admit it when he was drunk once and Daemon, Daemon had felt like burning Kings Landing in anger that day because once again he felt so betrayed by his own brother.
Hadn't that son, the precious heir Viserys wanted so much, died less than 24 hours later?
Did it not mean that Viserys slayed a dragon for another one that was not ever going to be able to live?
What was Viserys who treated the woman he had claimed he loved so much like shit going to do to Daemon, to his own brother?
Was Daemon going to be the next one to go?
Was his brother going to listen to Otto and find an excuse to take Daemon's head off?
Or was he going to find new ways, new reasons to exile him, hurt him and belittle him?
What had happened to the brother Daemon loved, admired and wanted to protect so much?
That's why, instead of mourning his cousin Aemma's death with his family tonight (as if Viserys had the right to mourn, what a joke, Daemon thought, once again), Daemon found himself drowning in all the disappointment, grief and resentment he was feeling, as he was slowly getting drunk in a tavern surrounded by people that probably did not give a shit about him. He was mourning not only his stillborn nephew but also Aemma who was slaughtered for the sake of having ''the right male heir''. Daemon felt like he was going to get suffocated due to all of his frustrations and with Viserys, while everyone around him thought he should be celebrating.
Daemon threw his mug against the wall once again, leaned back in his chair and rubbed his temple with his fingers, bowing his head slightly. Still waiting for the chance to re-fill Daemon's drink (and for Gods know what else) the prostitute immediately grabbed an empty mug from the side table, filled it with wine and as she was about to hand it to Daemon with a seductive look Mysaria pulled the girl back from her shoulder and pointed lightly another table with her head. Biting her lip, the prostitute glanced at both Daemon and Mysaria, and then after slumping her shoulder slightly and putting a new false smile on her face, she headed to the table Mysaria had just pointed.
Mysaria sat in the chair next to Daemon, who was still rubbing his temple, and lightly touched the Rogue Prince's arm. "Are you all right, my prince?" Mysaria asked in a light but seductive tone. "Would you like to go upstairs and rest? Or… perhaps you would like to give a speech to your men?"
When the Gold Clock, who was sitting at the table next to the Daemon, heard this, he excitedly slammed his mug that was still filled with wine on the table and jumped to his feet. "SHUT UP! Shut up. SILENCE! Your prince will give a speech. I TOLD YOU TO SHUT UP YOU BASTARDS!"
Everyone in the tavern fell silent in an instant.
Daemon threw a glance at Mysaria who was staring at him with a faint smile, then at the men around him, and slowly stood up, taking the mug that was newly filled with wine that Mysaria had just handed him. But before he could open his mouth, his eyes fell on a slender, graceful woman with long, deep burnished copper hair who had just entered the tavern, dressed in a blood velvet robe over a red satin dress.
What was a Red Priestess of the Lord of Light doing here?
Daemon felt as if he was trembling for a moment as his eyes met the eyes of the Priestess'.
There was no sound to be heard in the tavern and everyone's attention was on both Daemon and the newly arrived Priestess.
The Priestess smiled and began to approach Daemon with slow but confident steps, slightly swaying her hips while walking seductively. As she got closer, Daemon noticed that the woman had disturbing red eyes, a pale face, plump breasts, and a narrow waist.
Rogue Prince Daemon licked his lips in anticipation, suddenly all of his being filled with both excitement and anxiety at the same time in a way he was not able to grasp.
The Priestess stopped a few feet away from the Daemon and stared at him smiling with her head slightly tipped to the side. For the first time in a long time, Daemon actually felt really embarrassed under the woman's steady gaze and gulped. Mysaria and everyone else in the tavern were watching them with curiosity about what was going to happen next.
After approaching Daemon and leaning into his ear, "Are you ready to change your destiny, Daemon Targaryen?" the Priestess asked in a tone that sounded both deep and melodious.
Daemon grinned and braced himself for a deep laugh, but hesitated when his eyes finally landed on the sparkling ruby necklace around the Priestess's neck.
In the tavern, everyone around Daemon was still quiet and the chatter and laughter were completely stopped due to everyone feeling like they were under a magic that the woman had casted, while Daemon couldn't take his eyes off the ruby necklace which was starting to shine more and more with every passing moment.
Everything and everyone, probably including the time, felt like they got frozen at their spot but what felt like minutes to these people, lasted only a few seconds.
After shaking her head from left to right a few times to recover from what felt like being under a spell, Mysaria suddenly stood up and touched Daemon's arm lightly to get his attention. Daemon tried to come back to himself by blinking his eyes a few times, but he was still feeling slightly mesmerized. As Mysaria squeezed his arm harder this time, Daemon's mind suddenly got cleared and he shifted his gaze from the woman's neck to her heart-shaped face. "Oh, a Priestess of the Lord of Light. What was your God called again? R'hller or something like that? Hmmm, have you come here to enchant me, Priestess? Or have you lost your way?" he asked with a mocking smile and after freeing his arm from Mysaria's hard grasp, he gently pushed her behind him.
After smiling slightly, the Priestess reached out to Daemon and started stroking his arm which was squeezed by Mysaria just a few seconds ago, reassuringly.
Daemon turned his glance firstly to the woman's hand, then to her ruby necklace, and finally to the woman's eyes and raised one of his brows in question. ''No, the Rogue Prince'' the woman answered back to Daemon's silent question, with a very, very seductive tone. ''By the grace of my God I've finally found my way. What about you, my dear prince,'' the woman said, her hand going back to her necklace this time and starting to play with it, ''are you ready to find your way? Are you ready to change your own destiny?" she asked.
Daemon took a long look at the priestess who was still playing with her necklace, and broke into a hearty laughter after what seemed like hours had passed to all the people that were in the tavern, because of the tension in the air. ''Actually, believe or not but-'' he started saying, using a very cheeky tone, ''I've never slept with a Red Priestess before so... why not?''and then broke into a big laugh again.
Everyone in the tavern with the exception of Mysaria and the Red Priestess, joined in Daemon's laughter, and then the tavern once again got filled with sex, music, and toasts raised in honor of Daemon. Everyone was thinking this would be a normal night for Daemon Targaryen, the prince of the city. Mysaria, on the other hand, was still feeling anxious and fearful due to the Red Priestess. Something about her definitely yelled danger.
Under Mysaria's half-worried, half-curious gaze, the Red Priestess stopped playing with her necklace and started stroking Daemon's arm again. Then after a few seconds, she leaned slightly towards Daemon's ear to whisper, "Let me introduce you to a real female dragon, prince Daemon. After all, dragons can only be happy with other dragons, isn't that right?"
The priestess pulled herself back and winked at Daemon, and then as she held her hand out for Daemon to hold, Daemon's eyes once again fell on the ruby necklace around the priestess' neck.
The necklace was shining, shining, shining….
Daemon bit his lip.
"Prince Daemon-?" Mysaria asked with a concerned tone but Daemon raised one of his hands to cut Mysaria off and then after looking at the Red Priestess's outstretched hand for a few seconds silently, he gently took the woman's hand between his own and with quick steps left the tavern with her. Not knowing that he completely changed his own destiny with that simple choice that night.
ONE WEEK AGO.
𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐆𝐀𝐍.
Rickon Stark, the lord of Winterfell, had been going to his own room with Alyn Poole to pick up something when he heard all the screaming and crying. ''Is that-?'' he asked worriedly to Alyn.
''Yes, I think the voices are coming from the young Cregan's room, my lord.'' Alyn replied, worried.
''Come with me, quick!'' the Lord of Winterfell yelled after starting to run towards his son's room.
When Rickon opened his son's room with a panic, he saw Cregan writhing on the floor next to his bed, punching the floor while he was crying and screaming.
Rickon immediately turned to Alyn Poole who was right beside him and ordered him to immediately summon his wife and the maester of Winterfell to Cregan's room. As the steward of Winterfell rushed out of the room, Rickon knelt down beside Cregan and lifted his only son's face off the ground, glancing quickly at his face, then at his body, and sighed in relief after realizing nothing was physically wrong with his son. ''Did you fall out of bed after having a nightmare, Cregan? Are you ok?'' he asked, concerned.
"I saw her, Dad," Cregan said, sniffing.
'What did you see, Cregan?'' asked Rickon, placing his hands on Cregan's shoulders.
''The princess that was promised. The She-Wolf. The White Rose of the Winterfell. And then I saw the White Walkers, the Long Night and all the mistakes our family made. She needs us!'' Cregan answered back, starting to slightly shake.
"Cregan… what are you talking about?" Rickon asked, squeezing his son's shoulders slightly in concern, to stop his shaking, to give some strength to him.
''Father'' said Cregan, staring into Rickon's eyes. "I don't know how to tell you all the things I've seen in my dream, but…'' Cregan took a second to gulp and tried to harden his voice and continued, ''I've seen many things in my dream. A lot of things I understand, don't understand or don't want to understand. But most importantly, I've dreamed of Torrhen Stark, Father. The King who Knelt told me to remind you of three things all the Starks must remember till the end of time, and-'' Cregan hesitated for a second but then continued his lips trembling, ''and then he wanted me to warn you.''
Rickon's heart suddenly filled with fear and anxiety. He closed his eyes for a few seconds, making a face. Cregan…couldn't have had a green dream, could he? It had been so long since the last time Starks were able to skinchange and use Greensight. It was even forgotten that whether both of the abilities that were given to them by the Old Gods and the Children of the Forest, have been a blessing or a curse. The last Stark who was able to warg has been Torrhen Stark's own bastard brother, Brandon Snow, as far as he knew. Then, until now, both of the abilities weren't seen at House Stark. As if they were being punished by… something or someone.
Taking a deep breath, Rickon calmly tried to slow his rapidly beating heart, to soften his worried face, and opened his eyes. "What are they?'' the Lord of Winterfell asked in a soft voice, caressing his son's delicate cheek lightly.
Cregan smiled faintly at his father and started speaking confidently.
"One. When the snow falls and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies but the pack survives.''
Rickon moved his head up and down in agreement, he knew of that one. Every Stark knew of that one. That was the first thing they were teached. Quirking a brief smile, Rickon signaled with his hands for his son to continue.
"Two. Remember why the Starks knelt to the Targaryens without a fight, and remember what are the House Stark's words are.''
Rickon's eyes got bigger at that one and his hand nearly went to his mouth with shock. Fuck me, he thought and couldn't help himself to mutter "What in the hell is goi-"
"Three.'' Said Cregan, cutting him off. "Protect the Princess that was Promised, because her song is the song of ice and fire and she's the only one who can stop the Long Night. And-….'' Cregan hesitated once again and bit his lip in fear.
"And-?" Rickon asked, trying to smile a little to give some encouragement to his son.
Cregan swallowed loudly and turned his eyes and head to ground. Rickon gently lifted his son's head with his hand, looked into his eyes, and tried to give a reassuring smile "And-?" he asked, once again.
"And…" said Cregan and then after gulping for a few times, he quickly decided to whisper the next thing he was supposed to say because it felt so shameful. "Torrhen Stark said these exact words, father. Winter is here. With fire and blood. But if another Stark breaks his or her oath under the weirwood, if another Stark forgets to be a Stark, and if another Stark betrays his own, to Stark blood, let the Starks fear the wrath of the Old Gods. This is the last chance the Old Gods give to the wolves, even if the whole realm burns."
"What the fuck you have seen in that dream, Cregan? What the fuck?'' whispered back Rickon puckering his lips. Cregan opened his mouth to tell more of his dream but Rickon raised one of his hands to stop him. "No, wait a second. Wait a second. Let me think''
While Cregan was watching his father silently, Rickon's shoulders slumped alarmingly and in return he tried to at least clear his face from all discontent. When he was looking into his son's eyes, he had thought that Cregan was acting like not a small child but as an old wounded soldier returning from a very traumatic war. His son probably would never be the same child again after tonight, but maybe that was exactly what Rickon and rest of the North needed. There had to be a reason the Old Gods had chosen and trusted Cregan as their messenger, rather than him or his brother Bennard.
Rickon's heart filled with fear and anxiety, once again.
"I want you to tell me everything you have seen, Cregan. Everything. But we'll talk when the morning comes. Tonight, let us be just a father and son and not the lord of Winterfell and the heir of Winterfell. Just a father and son who loves each other dearly'' said Rickon, patting his son's shoulder with love.
After seeing Cregan nodding several times, Rickon pulled his son towards him and gave him a long, tight hug.
When Maester Kennet, Gilliane Stark, Bennard Stark and Alyn Poole, entered the room in a panic, they found father and son asleep in Cregan's bed, hugging each other. Nobody dared to wake them up to ask what was wrong.
As Lady Gilliane Stark, the Lady of the Winterfell, slowly led everyone out of the room, she paused one last time before closing the door and she watched her beloved husband and son for a few seconds, tilting her head to the side with a slight smile on her face. After silently closing the door, she turned to those who were waiting for her outside, beckoning them to follow her back to the Great Hall silently again. Whatever happened in her son's room was tomorrow's problem, after all, and the Starks always knew how to deal with problems.
Meanwhile in their newly created Realm, the Gods and the Goddesses were happy with what they accomplished so far.
Old Gods looked at each other and smiled, Valyrian Gods secretly hoped all would be well this time, R'hllor rubbed his chin in thought and wondered if he should have done more, while the Stranger rolled his eyes at all the Higher Beings that was around him and snapped his fingers secretly. The Stranger, the only true God of the Seven Faith Gods, had finally found who he had to send back into the past as the guardians of the princess that was promised.
When Rickon Stark, got up in the morning and went to Godswood with sleepy eyes to pray to the Old Gods only to find a large white direwolf with red eyes who was staring at him with almost intelligent eyes and people who were lying unconscious on the roots of the Heart Tree, nothing would truly be the same for the North or the Starks anymore.