Chapter Text
Rhaenyra
Rhaenyra was reluctantly walking towards the carriage to go on her half-brothers name day hunt when she heard an eerie screech from overhead. Her mouth turned up in a smile and her father looked her her in shock.
“What has you smiling like that my dear? You haven’t worn that expression in the longest time, I missed it,”
She looks over at her father and has to stop herself from rolling her eyes at him, he could be over dramatic sometimes. She simply tilts her head up to the sky,
“My favorite Uncle has returned,” she says and almost on cue Caraxes bursts through the cloud cover, his lanky, worm like body circling around the area until he found an open place to land. Daemon dismounts his beast, his hair now cropped short, close to his head, and a crown of driftwood on his brow. He silently walks forward, dropping to his knees in front of Viserys and lifting the crown, presenting it to his brother.
“What is the meaning of this Daemon?” Her father asks.
“I have won the war in the Stepstones, they have crowned me king of the narrow seas. I offer this crown to you, my dear brother, my king,”
Viserys smiles widely, “Rise brother, and keep your crown. I am just happy to welcome you back home, especially on my son’s second nameday! You will join us on the hunt won’t you?”
Daemon stands, still holding the crown in one hand, the other resting on Dark Sister’s pommel, “Of course I will, now I think everyone has had enough of my theatrics. Let us go hunt!” He proclaims and the crowd gathered around them cheers. Rhaenyra smiles when she notices his eyes rake over her before he prowls towards her and wraps her in his arms in a hug. He swings her around in a circle, causing her to burst out giggling like a little girl.
“Oh Uncle, how I have missed you,” she says as he places her back down, his hands still lingering on her back.
“Not as much as I you, sweet niece. Where does the time go, you are a woman grown now,” he says and she blushes at the way he gazes at her. He had looked at her that way once before, when she arrived at Dragonstone and retook the egg he had stolen; she had been hoping he would return and finally see that she was no longer a little girl. Part of the reason she protested her father marrying her off was because she still dreamed of being with Daemon, he occupied her thoughts often. She had felt so alone these past few years, she often felt as if she had no one except for her sworn shield and even that wasn’t true. She spends the entire carriage ride ignoring her father and former best friend’s talks of her being married with child soon and instead listens to all the stories that Daemon has to share. Her favorite is how he ended the war, tricking the Crabfeeder into believing he would surrender only to slice his way through his men, eventually cutting the man in half himself. She had laughed when he talked of the ‘surrender’ because how ridiculous was it that a dragon would ever wave a white flag? No, never. Especially a dragon such as her Uncle, she knew he would rather go out in fire and blood before ever giving up. It was one of her favorite traits of his, one that they shared.
At the camp she glued herself to Daemon’s side, however, her father schemed to ruin her good mood by stealing him away from her. That left her to the vultures, the question was which would be brave enough to approach her. Of course it was the Lannister twin, Jason. She could barely stand through his so called bragging, she left him standing there when he thought of her as simply a wife though. Was this what her father planned to do? Disinherit her for the son he had always hoped for? Her mood was thoroughly wreaked and she nearly stomped into the tent to confront her father. After getting into a screaming match with him she had enough, walking out and mounting a horse before she could even think her plan through. She spurred the horse on, galloping away against the fading protests of her father.
It isn’t long into her ride when she feels a tug at the reins and sees Daemon pulling her horse up along with the one he was on.
“Princess, what on earth were you thinking?”
“Father plans to sell me to the highest bidder it would seem,”
“Such is the way of things little dragon, happened to me as well. Luckily Viserys has finally seen reason and signed the annulment I drafted up, I am finally free,”
“Well I’m glad that everything is going in your favor Daemon, thank you for rubbing it in my face,”
He lets out a hearty laugh, “You’ve never called me that before,”
“Do you have a problem with it? It is your name after all,”
“No, I think I quite enjoy the way it sounds from your lips, my dear Rhaenyra,” he practically purrs at her. A shiver runs through her body when he says her name. Never has it sounded so sinful before.
He sighs, “Should we return to camp?”
“I would rather we didn’t. Is that alright?”
“Of course, we can stay away as long as you like,”
“And if I wish to stay away forever?”
“Now don’t go saying things like that Princess, the realm would think the evil Rogue Prince stole away the Realm’s Delight,”
Now it was her turn to laugh, “I can practically hear the bard’s songs now, sounds like a wonderful tale,”
“A tale it must stay,” he says as they begin to lead their horses down the path to a clearing in the woods.
“Why must it stay a tale,” she says more than asks.
He turns to look at her then, “You are heir to the throne, you can not give that up,”
“I may not be, father seems to edge more and more towards giving it to Aegon with each passing day,”
“That is Hightower whispering in his ear, but he would never pass you over, he adores you,”
“Things have changed since you’ve been gone,” she says, her voice gone cold.
He narrows his eyes at her, “Are you cross with me?”
She forces herself to look into his lilac eyes, “You left me all alone, I have had no one for nearly three years” she speaks, her voice small.
His eyes soften and she hates feeling vulnerable like this, “Darling, I had no choice but to leave. You had Alicent when I went away, I never could have anticipated she would wound you so,”
“She tries to act like things need not be so bad between us, like she wasn’t the one who drove the wedge. Seems like she was warming father’s bed before mother had even gone cold. Guarantee he couldn’t tell if the blood on the sheets belonged to Alicent or mother,” she sneers. She notices a smile toy at Daemon’s lips, oh how he enjoyed watching her rage.
A huff of a laugh manages to escape him, “You have indeed grown, and not into a sad shell like your father, but rather a fierce dragon,” he says, awe in his voice and was that a hint of desire she detected, she could not be sure.
“I’ve had no choice but to, seems you have done the same. Don’t leave again, please Uncle, I don’t think I could bare it,” she tells him. No sooner have the words left her mouth he has crossed the short gap to her, cupping her face between his hands and for a moment she thinks he might kiss her, but he doesn’t to her disappointment.
“I swear to you, I will never leave your side again. You will not be alone,” he says and seeing the fierceness in his gaze she believes it. He was everything people said he was. A beast, a rogue, a dragon; but he was hers, she could tell from his eyes.
She looks up at him, “Do you think they will ever accept me as Queen?”
“They will have no choice to, they swore themselves to you,”
“You didn’t,” she speaks frankly.
He wordlessly unsheathes Dark Sister, the Valyrian steel singing as it was revealed and drops to his knees.
“I, Prince Daemon Targaryen, King of the Narrow Seas, herby swear to respect your claim as the rightful heir to the Iron Throne and the Seven Kingdoms. My sword is yours, my crown is yours, my life is yours,” he speaks to her in high Valyrian. The words of the language, their language never sounding so beautiful.
She can’t help but run a hand through his now short hair, he leans into her caress, almost as if he craved it.
“I think I quite enjoy this sight, the mighty Rogue Prince kneeling before his queen,” she muses.
“Never for anyone else, only for you,” he says, turning his head and pressing a kiss to her palm. Heat courses through her and she drops to her knees herself, unable to resist as she pulls his face to hers in a searing kiss. It should have felt wrong, but if it was then oh why did it feel so right. Daemon lets loose a growl, one hand going to her hair, the other wrapping around her body; pulling her flush against him.
“Have you ever been kissed before, darling Rhaenyra?”
She shakes her head, hating that she was so inexperienced when he was anything but. The smirk that crosses his face is rakish, “Then this and all your other firsts, will belong to me,” he says before kissing her again. This time he licks at her lips and she parts her mouth, letting out a surprised moan when his tongue enters her mouth, starting to twine with her own. It took her a moment to get the hang of the action and she kissed him back in earnest. She feels him smile against her lips and then his own move down her jaw and to her neck. He sucks at her collarbone, surely leaving a mark but she couldn’t find herself to care. She let out a true moan this time and arched her neck, giving him better access. His hands are roaming all over her now, down her back, along her thighs, fingers skirting underneath her breasts but never quite touching them.
“Please Daemon, touch me,” she whispers sounding much more desperate than she intended. He pulls away and looks at her, his eyes almost completely black, only a hint of lilac remaining. He shakes his head.
“Not here Rhaenyra, not like this; When I have you, and I will have you in every way possible. I want to be able to worship you,” he replies, face resting in the crook of her neck, the feeling of his breath against her skin sending a shiver through her. “And you deserve to be worshiped my dear, I can not do that here on the hard ground,”
She sits back on her heels, conceding to his argument. She shifts side to side to try and alleviate some of the heat between her legs. Daemon catches the movement and lets out a strangled groan, this was as difficult for him as well then.
“Come Princess… let’s make a fire and settle in for the night if you still do not wish to return,”
“I do not!” She answers and the two of them silently begin to gather kindling for the fire. He strikes a match and lights it, before beginning to strip off his armor for comfort. Her eyes are glued to his every movement, watching as his fingers expertly undo each strap and she can’t help but think about how his expert fingers would undo her. If he knew she was staring, he didn’t let on, which she was glad for. He had laid down his cloak for her to sleep on and she currently was resting on it but finding that sleep evaded her. Her arms wrap around herself; despite the fire she still felt the chill in the air.
“Are you cold little dragon?” He speaks through the silent night.
“A bit, not very dragon blooded of me, is it?” She replies with a sharp laugh.
He shifts across the small makeshift camp and lies down next to her. He pulls her into his arms so her head rested against his chest, his heart thundering in his chest the only tell that he was as affected by her as she was him.
“This better?” His fingers begin to absentmindedly play with her hair and she can feel the pull of sleep calling to her.
“Much, thank you Uncle. I’ve missed you so,” she speaks, her voice slurring as sleep overtook her.
It was early morning when she felt a gentle nudge on her shoulder. She blinks open her eyes and sees Daemon pressing a finger against his lips signaling her to be quiet. Panic rushes through her, had someone stumbled upon them? We’re they in danger? Daemon would never let any harm come to her, this much she knew, it calmed her some. He gives her a moment to wake up before pointing a few paces away from them. Her mouth fell open when she saw what he woke her for. The white stag her father so desired was grazing calmly in the clearing. Daemon reached over for Dark Sister, she puts her hand over his to stop him.
“No, we should let it be,” she whispers watching the unnatural beast in awe. Her uncle shakes his head.
“We can’t. Your father believes this stag would be a sign for your brother to be heir; if you return to camp with this magnificent creature dragged behind you, he will never have doubts again. It is choosing you, Rhaenyra. Take the gift of it’s life and use it to cement the beginning of your reign,” he whispers back and she knows he is right. She releases his hand and watches as Daemon moves with lethal speed to attack the stag. The animal was caught off guard and doesn’t have the chance to flee before her uncle stabs it in the abdomen.
“You must deal the killing blow,” he calls over to her. She stands and approaches the animal. Its breathing was labored as it lay on it’s side. She takes Dark Sister from her uncle and looks at the beautiful stag.
“I’m sorry,” she states before driving the sword through it’s neck, blood spraying up at her, coating her dress, her neck, and her face. She relishes in the release of anger using a blade had given her. It was like the years of pent up emotion had burst from her and she turned to Daemon and flashed him a wild smile. He returns it and the desire in his eyes is evident.
“Gods you look devastating all covered in blood, I should have brought you to the Stepstones with me,” he states, clearly speaking his thoughts aloud. They craft a makeshift cart and load the beast onto it before mounting their horses and riding back to camp. Along the way she asks him to teach her how to fight, and he agrees and gifts her one of his personal daggers; to keep her safe of course, until he could teach her real swordplay.
All eyes are on them the moment they appear in the camp clearing. Rhaenyra wordlessly dismounts and strolls towards her father, hands held behind her back, blood dried and caked into her hair and skin. The men who stare at her look equal parts terrified and aroused at the sight of her, but quickly turns to just terror when they received a glare from her new shadow, Daemon. Alicent looks at her as if she were a stranger, but there was no animosity in the woman’s eyes. Gods it would just make everything easier if she would hate Rhaenyra the way she now hated her. She approaches her father and gestures to the stag’s body that her uncle had led over to them.
“I believe you were searching for this stag were you not?”
“I— yes we were, the men lost track of it and I only managed to fell a standard one, how on earth?”
“I awoke and it was standing there a few paces from Uncle and I. Didn’t take much to kill the beast, quite simple in fact,”
“You killed the animal, not Daemon?!’
“My dear Uncle Daemon helped teach me but it was I who delivered the killing blow,”
She believes she hears some random lady sneer that it must not be all he taught her out there all alone in the woods amongst all the commotion and that causes her father’s temper to rise.
“ENOUGH everyone!! This is a sign from the Gods, the future Queen has slayed the white hart on this wonderful hunt. The Gods have spoken their favor, and we will enjoy twice the feast because of it,” his voice booms so all of them can hear.
“Daemon, take Rhaenyra home in the carriage and make sure her ladies get her cleaned up in time for the feast. You too Daemon, I will not have my family looking like savages at my son’s celebration,”
Daemon smirks, “Of course, I will take excellent care of the Princess, just as I did last night,” he says and gives a curt bow to her father. Rhaenyra happily links her arm through his and allows him to lead her into the carriage, for the first time in years she was looking forward to returning to the Red Keep and what would await her there.