'I wish I could say I'm sorry for this... but I'm not' Daemon thought to himself.
'Spoils of War'
Daemon had never used this on someone who had such low talent before and such small reserves he could only guess that it would make the year of his training worthless sending him right back to his beginning levels of aura. Daemon couldn't say that he cared much, he deserved it. Daemon's eyes turned from red back to purple and he suddenly felt exhausted.
The crowd cheered and went wild for their champion and Daemon did his best to smile and acknowledge the crowd. The ceremony was pretty boring he stood there with the winner of the archery contest and the jousting contest and received their winnings. 20,000 gold dragons was more than Daemon had ever seen in his entire life and he had no clue what to do with it.
For now, he asked Lysa to keep it safe in her room as he didn't trust the security of the servant's quarters. Right now he was sitting next to Rhaella something that was considered an honour but his mind was elsewhere.
(Flashback)
After the ceremony when he was handed his coin he went to go and stash it until he could hand it off to Lysa, however as he walked to his quarters he was stopped by Barristan.
"Lad I wasn't going to do this in such a way but after that fight it needed to be done as quickly as possible" he said in a severe voice.
Daemon's concern grew as he wondered what the problem was "I want you to squire for me lad, you have the most potential I've ever seen including myself. With the right training, you could stand at the top with the greats"
Daemon was shocked, to say the least, truth be told he'd given up on becoming a squire, he'd decided to stay in Riverrun and maybe get a trade so he could stay with Lysa, though recently he'd been struggling as he knew Lyanna would be leaving soon.
"I thank you for the other Ser Barristan but I wish to stay in Riverrun" he replies almost immediately. He could get strong on his own, maybe not as strong but enough.
Barristan holds up his hand "I'm not blind lad, I know what's going on between you and the Tully girl so take some time to think about it" and with that, he leaves allowing Daemon to his thoughts.
(Flashback end)
Daemon didn't eat much and he mostly played with his food which would've been considered rude had he not been sitting next to someone like Rhaella she looks down and smiles at him "Have you given any thought to Ser Barristans offer?" She asks surprising Daemon.
He must not have hidden it very well as the Queen giggled slightly "You shouldn't be so surprised I counselled Ser Barristan to make the offer as quickly as he could lest another lord get to you first"
Daemon nodded in understanding "I have... I just do not believe I can bring myself to leave Riverrun... I have reasons I wish to stay"
Rhaella smiles gently "The Lysa Tully being the reason?" She asks with a smile.
Before he can reply she waves him off "I'm old enough to recognise two people in love, for a competitor you barely watched any of the fights too focused with you lady" she says with a laugh.
"You're a good man Daemon, not many people would choose love over power and it's a shame because those are the types of people we need most in these times" she continues as she places a hand on his.
Her face turns serious, however, "But allow me to tell you one of the rules everyone learns at some point in their life"
"Power is everything... and if you have enough of it you can have whatever you want, whether it's the Tully girl or maybe a different one..." she says with a wink.
Daemon understood her words and perhaps she was right, if he stayed here perhaps he could make Lysa his but he wouldn't be able to have Lyanna as well.
"Aegon IV was obsessed with power he believed talented parents make a talented child something that wasn't proven at the time, he fathered many children nearly all of which became some of the talented aura users of that era, Daemon Blackfyre being the peak of his achievement, he was at least twice as strong as his siblings" Rhaella stated.
"Those who have power are desirable whether they are bastards or kings, and if it makes you rest at ease no one will expect you to join the Kingsguard when you're knighted" she says with a smile.
He finds himself seriously considering it now but before he can answer she shakes her head "Talk to them first, girls like to be included in things such as these" she says with a smirk.
Daemon nods his head and goes back to his food trying to enjoy himself and prepare for the conversation later tonight.
———————————————————-
"You're leaving!!!!" Lysa shouted as she threw one of his boots at him. While Lyanna started flaring her aura.
This was not going the way he had envisioned it, as soon as he mentioned he had been offered to squire under Barristan they stopped listening to him and started throwing things.
"Keep your voices down! And please listen" he whispers in a loud voice as he grabs their arms bringing them over to his bed.
He wraps his arms around them as they both lean into his shoulder Lysa lets her tears fall freely while Lyanna seems to try and fight them.
"I don't want to leave... but I realised that if I wish to be able to have a life with both of you I need to be stronger" He explained to both of them.
Lysa looked up at him her eyes watery "But you're already strong..." she says in a low voice.
Daemon shook his head "Not to have you both... I would either have to travel to Winterfell or stay in Riverrun either way I'd lose one of you"
"And there is no guarantee I'd even get to marry one of you even if I stayed with you, but if I squire under Barristan I'll get stronger to the point where your families would want me to marry you regardless of my birth" he continues.
The girls both understood, they weren't stupid and they did realise at the end of the tournament he would have to pick who to stay with leaving one of them heartbroken. It made them happy that he would go so far for them but they'd still miss him terribly.
"What if Father marries me to someone before you're finished," Lyanna says in a low voice.
"Then I'll spirit you away and take you to Essos, you and Lysa both" Daemon says making the girls giggle though he was completely serious.
"I love you both and I'll become the strongest man in Westeros to prove it" he whispers to them.
———————————————————-
Daemon found himself in Lord Hoster Tullys Solar with the Queen, Ser Barristan, Lysa and her mother. He felt slightly nervous as he had no clue why it was requested he come here. He was gestured to take a seat next to Lysa which Daemon did giving her a small smile.
"You must be curious as to why I summoned you" Hoster asked, getting a nod in return from Daemon "Yes my Lord" he replied.
"Do you have any family at all?" He asked, making Daenon raise an eyebrow.
"No my lord just a sister but she's in Essos, my uncle was the one who raised me but he's gone now" Daemon explained.
"I see... then it falls to you to make the decision" Hoster states
Before he can ask him what he means he continues "The Queen has brought to my attention that you'll be squiring for Ser Barristan" Daemon had told them that morning that he accepted their offer much to their delight.
"I am" he replied
"If it is agreeable to you I wish to set a betrothal between you and Lysa, since you are a bastard so you will take on the Tully name, as a dowry a keep with lands will be gifted to you upon your marriage" Hoster stated neutrally,
Daemon's mouth dropped at the ridiculousness of it, he looked to Lysa who looked just as shocked as he did though behind the disbelief in her eyes lay excitement Hoster was still going through the details when Daemon can't help but interrupt him "My lord what is the reason behind the betrothal as you said I'm a bastard, what possible advantage would you get from marrying me to your daughter"
Hoster Tully a man who he'd only seem to behave seriously started laughing, not only him but the Queen and Ser Barristan did too "Boy I was already tempted to make the offer when I saw you take down Amory Lorch, but it was when I saw your Crimson eyes that it made me certain"
Lysa suddenly gets a look of understanding and turns to Daemon "It is like I told you before the Riverlands needs talented Aura users to keep the kingdom safe, by betrothing us he'd get you... and any children we'd have would most likely be talented" She says the last part with a blush on her face.
"Not to forget they may also inherit your eyes" Hoster added.
Daemon felt like tearing his hair out "What are Crimson Eyes" he asked.
Rhaella could see his frustration and put her hand over his "It used to be a common trait in House Targaryen but when our dragons died so did the chances of one inheriting the eyes, some say it's the Targaryen's last link to magic, for years only my husband King Aerys had those eyes until you"
"What can they do?" Daemon asked curiously.
Ser Barristan answered this time "Your eyes are linked to your aura and just like your aura none two are the same, though one common ability is a boost in strength. With you though I believe I know what your ability is"
"You were caught in Baelish's trap there should've been no way for you to break free at your level but you did, your eyes must've exorcised the aura from your body a rather powerful ability" he continues.
Daemon nodded in understanding, he was glad he took the offer to squire now as he would've never fully understood this ability alone.
Daemon didn't have a very tough choice to make "I accept, nothing would please me more than being betrothed to Lysa" he said clearly though he nearly got knocked out of his chair by the small redhead who crashed into him hugging him tightly.
Hoster smiled slightly "Good... now go and get your knighthood afterwards you'll have my permission to marry"
Daemon nodded his head as he hugged the girl in his arms, at least he had secured Lysa's future, now he just needed to get stronger and he'd be able to take Lyanna. Nothing would stop him from getting stronger.
(AN: Tbh this took ages to write usually it'll take me like a day to write but this took ages and idk why. Anyway we've finished the prologue basically next 3-4 chapters will be the prelude to Roberts Rebellion heading into Roberts Rebellion straight after. The arc after that I'm thinking about, perhaps I'll do something similar to the Dark Continent Expedition Arc but with YI TI and Sorthoryos, haven't thought that far ahead)
Anyway if ya like my work or wanna see chapters you early think about supporting me.
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