Daemon woke up with a gasp for air, something that seemed to be happening more and more often as of late. His whole body aches though he supposed he should be grateful that he woke up at all.
He sat up in bed though he felt a great amount of pain as he did so. Still, by doing so he realised that he was not alone in his room. Rhaella was sitting on a chair with a blanket wrapped around her asleep, Daemon couldn't help but smile as she seemed to stay with him while he recovered.
Daemon saw a pitcher of water close by to his bed and attempted to reach for it, though a shot of pain streaked through his body as he stretched for it and he ended up pushing the pitcher onto the floor with a loud bang. Rhaella woke up startled, she looked at Daemon seeing he was awake and immediately got up positioning him back on the bed as he had almost fallen out.
"Daemon, how do you feel? I'm glad you're awake" she said with a teary smile as she held herself back from hugging him tightly.
"How did I end up here? Is Paxter okay?" He asked Rhaella sat down on the bed next to him.
"Rhaegar and Arthur said they found you broken on the battlefield with the lion about to eat you, Rhaegar said he slew the beast while Arthur got Paxter and you to safety" Rhaella stated, Daemon couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the information. He was almost certain that he had killed the beast before he passed out, but perhaps he was wrong, why would the prince make up such a lie otherwise?
"I see... well I suppose I should thank him and Arthur" he said as he goes to move but Rhaella places her hands back down on him.
"That will have to wait, the royal procession has gone, you've been unconscious for a month" Rhaella explained shocking Daemon.
But this also makes way for slight confusion "Why are you still here if the royal procession was to move on?" He asked
Rhaella looked at him with a raised eyebrow "You truly expected me to leave you behind without knowing if you were well, I begged my husband to let me stay as I enjoyed High Gardens greenery" Daemon couldn't help but chuckle at the lie.
"Thank you for staying with me," Daemon said with a smile.
Rhaella smiled at him though her face seemed to have a pretty blush on it "I suppose I care for you a lot more than I thought... mayhaps I hid behind the excuse of being so old, though in a world such as this, it is a weak reason"
Daemon went to ask what she meant but was stopped when she placed a kiss on his lips, this one lasted longer than the one in the forest and it felt different as well, it was as if he could feel the love and affection that she felt for him. She moved her lips back and cupped his face "I love you as well, but I cannot forget that I am Queen and the King would kill both of us if he found out" she said with a sad tone.
"Maybe we were destined for another life, but with how things are I do not believe it is this one" she finishes as her eyes water slightly.
Daemon shares her sad smile but doesn't comment on her words 'You once told me that Power is Everything, if that is so then I shall take you regardless of who your husband is' he thought to himself resolutely.
He would train every day until he collapsed to the ground, he would endure the harsh lessons of the King and one day he would stand above him and cast him down, no one would stop him in pursuit of what he wanted.
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After a while of travelling they finally arrived at Kings Landing, even after seeing places such as Riverrun and Casterly Rock he still felt awed at the sheer size of Kings Landing. Rhaella told Daemon that over a million people make their home in Kings Landing, it sounded too fantastical to be true, so many people squeezed into such a small space.
Though the feeling of awe and amazement soon left as he got closer to the city and the smell hit him, he had to hold in his gag, he had grown up surrounded by nature, this was the antithesis of nature it was as if the city was rotting, the pungent smell of filth and shit filled his nostrils. Rhaella laughed at the look on Daemon's face but quickly removed a small bottle of scented oil, then placed a couple of drops just below his nose and said it would help.
He could still smell it though it wasn't nearly as pungent, Rhaella asked him to join her in the wheelhouse for most of the trip and that included the trip through Kings Landing, she had acted a lot more intimate with him than she usually did in complete contrast to her words back in High garden, though Daemon tried not to think about it. He trained himself ragged during the trip to Kings Landing and he could see some improvements though nothing drastic.
As they got to the Red Keep there seemed to be a panic beset on the place, guards were rushing around as were servants much to the confusion of Daemon and everyone else. Once they left the wheelhouse they made their way to the Throne room, if there was a commotion it was likely the King was dealing with an issue and so that would be the place to find him.
However, once they got up there, it wasn't the King that was present but his son Rhaegar. With his ever-present guard Arthur standing next to him silent as he usually was. Rhaella rushes towards the throne and Rhaegar walks down the steps to greet her "Mother I am glad you're back, it seems we have an issue" he said as he hugged Rhaella.
"What is happening? Where is your father?" She asks with confusion in her voice.
Rhaegar looks grim but sighs "When we arrived at Kings Landing we came to a letter from Lord Darklyn, he said he refused to pay tax any taxes until the King had listened to his petition that was previously declined by the Hand, Father laughed it off and decided to humour him and most likely punish him. He went with Ser Gwayne and a small party, we have just gotten a letter from Lord Darklyn stating that he has taken the King captive and will not release him until his demands have been met"
Rhaella gasps as she holds a hand to her mouth "That's impossible how could someone possibly capture your father"
Rhaegar sighs "His arrogance most likely, he most likely assumed none could challenge him and let his guard down, if they have taken him captive they're most likely using dragon glass shackles"
"But he ordered those all to be destroyed years ago!" Rhaella replied.
Rhaegar shrugged "It's not surprising some would refuse, especially when it is the only defence against Father"
Daemon watched on in silence as they talked though to be honest he didn't care that much, if the King died then Rhaella would be free to do as she pleased, he also wouldn't be able to hurt her again. Rhaegar turned and saw Daemon was there and he smiled at the boy, he walked past his mother and towards him holding out his hand. Daemon took it and shook his hand "It's good to see you, my friend, I'm glad you've recovered" Rhaegar said with a broad smile.
Daemon returned the smile "Thanks to you, I don't believe I would've made it otherwise"
Rhaegar then removed his hand and puts it around his shoulder and guides him off to the side "Daemon I have a favour I wish to ask of you, I am going to be sending Ser Barristan to Duskendale in the hopes he can help Lord Tywin save my father, I would like you to go with him"
Daemon felt weird about the request he didn't want to save Aerys, in his opinion he didn't deserve the life he had nor did he deserve the people around him, if Lord Darklyn killed him then the realm would be a better place.
Rhaegar can the conflict on his face "Daemon... Would you please save my father"
Daemon can't help but smile, if his friend was asking him then he'd try, after all, he did save his life from being eaten "Of course Rhaegar, I'll do my best"
(AN: I wonder how many of you are going to complain about this chapter, I can already hear it now. But I honestly don't want to hear it, if you can't see what's going on then would you please not comment 🙄. Anyway hope you enjoyed.)
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