Gael II 90AC
Gael never ceased to be amazed by the sight of King's Landing from dragonback as Tessarion soared just beneath the clouds.
"The Red Keep looks like a dollhouse!" Gael turned her head to glance at her nephew's wide eyed expression. "It doesn't matter how often I see it from up here, I still can't believe that it looks like a dollhouse!"
Gael still doesn't quite know why she agreed to let Daemon go flying with her today. Although she was closer in age to Baelon's sons than she was to Aemon's daughter, Rhaenys had always been her favorite Targaryen. A fact that Gael did little to hide but hoped that Daemon was oblivious too.
"The realms of men may be vast, nephew," Gael laughed. "But we are the blood of the dragon and House Targaryen is not bound to the laws and ways of lesser men. The realm is not vast on dragonback."
Daemon's arms tightened around her waist even though his eyes never wavered from the magnificent sight below him.
As Tessarion elegantly floated above the capital of the Seven Kingdoms Gael decided it was time to head back to the Red Keep, lest she face her brother's wrath for taking his son high above the clouds. And Gods forbid Baelon told the King.
Tessarion descended downwards as Gael guided the Blue Queen, now about the size of a small house, in the direction of the entrance to the dragonpit.
The wind rang in her ears as Tessarion eventually landed on the floor of the pit with a noticeably loud thud. Gael briefly took note of the dragon keepers swarming her lovely Tessa as she helped Daemon undo the fastenings that kept him secure in the saddle.
After Daemon had safely dismounted onto his own two feet, Gael climbed down herself, treasuring the feel of Tessarion's beautiful blue scales beneath her fingertips. She had just finished brushing the specs of dirt off her riding dress and thanked the dragonkeeper for retrieving her walking staff when she noticed Rhaenys' tall form across the pit.
"Oh dear," Gael muttered to herself. "She looks pissed at me."
"What is it, Aunt?" Daemon gave her an odd look before the familiar mischief in his eyes returned. "And you said pissed. That's a bad word. Princesses aren't supposed to say bad words."
"And neither are princes, nephew," Gael shot him a piercing glare. "Considering that I seem to be the only Targaryen willing to take you flying these days, you should be more kind to me. But by all means, if you no longer wish for me to fly with you on Tessarion, continue on with your ridiculously bad humor."
Daemon's mouth opened in brief horror before he quickly closed it. "I'll be nice to you, Aunt Gael. Promise. And Tessarion is the prettiest dragon ever!"
"Are you trying to flatter me?"
"Is it working?" Daemon smiled at her. Gael had to resist an urge to laugh in sheer amusement.
"This time, no. But just like your awful japes, maybe if you practice enough you'll get better," Gael told him. Her attempt at being stern was unfortunately undermined by the surprisingly lighthearted tone to her voice. "Now get back to your lessons with the Maesters before your father has my head."
Daemon nodded and scrambled off. Gael just barely had the time to ensure that one of the knights sworn to her House accompanied her nephew so that the prince just shy of nine name days was not walking through the city by himself before Rhaenys appeared, stone faced, in front of her.
"I thought we were going to go riding together, Gael. Not that you would ditch me for little cousin Daemon," Rhaenys' spoke evenly yet Gael could sense the hurt that hid beneath it.
"I am sorry," Gael apologized. "I should have told him that I would take him another time. Do you forgive me, Rhaenys?"
Rhaenys shrugged. "Of course I forgive you, I just do not see why you would wish to even take him riding in the first place. Tessarion is not nearly fully grown and Daemon would only slow you down."
Gael looked up at Rhaenys carefully. "Baelon will not take Daemon flying. Alyssa would always take Daemon on Meleys and apparently those memories somehow haunt Baelon too much for him to take his son on Vhagar. Daemon reminds me of myself, in a way, and as young and immature as he may be I find I enjoy his company."
"And what of mine?" Rhaenys asked honestly.
Gael grasped Rhaenys' hand. "You are my beloved Rhaenys. Now and always. My niece, my queen and my dearest friend. I swear on every God in existence that you are irreplaceable to me." Gael's eyes watered. "But Rhae, you will marry Lord Velaryon in a fortnight. Soon you will leave me for Driftmark to start your own family… I am happy for you, of course I am happy for you it's just…" Gael's voice caught in her throat as a tear leaked down her cheek. "I just don't want to be alone."
With those few words, the tears began to truly fall. And Rhaenys pulled Gael into her embrace, holding the Blue Princess close as she sobbed into her Red Queen's shoulder.