Chapter Text
Every choice you make will have consequences.
The hall was in chaos, or at least Daemon thought so, as the Viserys himself refused to marry Corlys' daughter but saw the need to strengthen the bond between Velaryon and Targaryen. The marriage would bring together two powerful families. The spacious hall was filled with lords from all over the world, and the sound of clashing cutlery and music echoed in it. In the face of such a situation, Daemon admitted that he would have been bored in the past and wanted to return to Dragonstone on his dragon as soon as possible. And he thought that he, and one of the wedding's main protagonists, the heir to the throne, Rhaenyra, must have been bored too. After all, her future husband was only interested in men, which had long been rumoured in their circle and was no secret.
"Uncle."
Rhaenyra's voice appeared above him. Daemon raised his eyes and realised he was sitting on a sofa. He kept up his old habit of resting his two crossed feet on the table in front of him with an empty glass of wine in his hand. His mind hadn't woken up yet, as if he wanted to go back to sleep. Then Daemon noticed that she had purposely dressed for the day, her hair coiled behind her head, the gold threads on her gown glinting in the candlelight, and the rubies on her earlobes stung his eyes.
"Hmm." He was not awake, his mind replaying the dream he had just had. He was on the back of a dragon fighting with another Targaryen until they ended together with an inevitable death. He was so lost in thought that it was not until Ser Harwin bowed to Rhaenyra and asked her to dance that Daemon realised that he was not Rhaenyra's royal consort. They were not married, and he had not put the crown on her head with his own hands. The teasing smile faded from his face as Daemon finally remembered after this night, Rhaenyra would be someone else's wife. He furrowed his brow.
"May I, Ser Harwin?" Daemon stood up.
"Of course, my prince."
Harwin walked away. Daemon then took Rhaenyra's hand and walked through the crowd, away from Viserys.
"Is this what you want?" He grabbed Rhaenyra's waist and hung his head, looking at her.
Rhaenyra's heart felt like something had stabbed her when she saw him like this. After hearing what he had said, Rhaenyra returned impatiently, "I was not aware that what I wanted mattered to you."
"This is not for you. Laenor is a good man and a fine knight. He will bore you senseless."
"Marriage is only a political arrangement, I hear."
"Mine was recently dissolved."
"So take me then." The more Daemon looked like this, the more Rhaenyra's attitude became tit-for-tat. She lifted her head and said in an almost provocative tone. "Has this not been your purpose? I am not yet married. But the hours pass swiftly. You are surely armed. Cut through my father's Kingsguard. Take me to Dragonstone and make me your wife."
Just then, a scream interrupted the cheerful atmosphere in the hall.
Daemon felt as excited then as he did the first time he rode on a dragon's back, wrapping his arms around Rhaenyra's waist before the crowd surged up.
"If that's what you want." He lowered his head and pressed his lips to Rhaenyra's cheek, right hand gripping the sword at his waist.
The bloodshed in the hall had attracted most of the attention. Everyone was dragged in there. Viserys walked there with Alicent to see what happened. This is precisely what Daemon expected. His arms tightened around Rhaenyra as he pushed through the ever-growing crowd and headed for the door.
Daemon had always been honest with himself. He couldn't lie to himself after having a dream, after feeling real emotions like that. The passion, the fire. He shouldn't leave because he couldn't give Rhaenyra what she wanted. He couldn't pretend to be oblivious to his longing. He even thought it wouldn't matter if Viserys were furious when he found out the truth. If he had known what would happen, Daemon would not have left. Before Rhaenyra, he had had two wives. He got rid of one of them and tried to settle down with Leana. He had tried passive aggressiveness and had gone on far-flung trips to foreign countries, but things never worked as he wanted. By the time he reached thirty-nine, he had found that the passion had not died out. It was buried under burnt wood and could be rekindled with the slightest spark.
He loves her.
Rhaenyra pushed at Daemon's arm, trying to break free. Daemon was leading her out of the castle. There was no Kingsguard outside. They were all gathered around Viserys and Alicent. Provoking Daemon was one thing, but being swept out of the castle at night meant that things were heading out of control. If she went with Daemon, leaving Viserys and Laenor behind, the split between the two houses would reach the point of no return. She had her duties. Shifting her eyes down, Rhaenyra saw Daemon's left hand resting on his sword. After her mother's death, Rhaenyra had never encountered such a complicated, tricky situation.
Most importantly, Daemon didn't look like he was joking. His face was serious. He was not doing his drunk tricks. The corners of his mouth no longer floated into a cynical smile as he had done from time to time.
Rhaenyra took a deep breath as Daemon rushed forward. The strength in her waist became greater as she struggled, five fingers almost imprinting through the fabric and onto her skin.
"It hurts, Uncle." Rhaenyra said, stopping struggling and obediently walking down the steps with her 'abductor'.
The force around her waist gradually lightened. Before Rhaenyra could sigh of relief, she felt her body lift off the ground. The next second, a warm body pressed against her from behind. Then she heard the sound of breath on her shoulder that belonged to another man.
"Where are we going?" Rhaenyra inclined her head, her nose brushing lightly against Daemon's cheek. At this point, if Rhaenyra would lean her head down just a little more, their lips would touch.
Daemon wrapped his arms around Rhaenyra's waist and lifted his head, kissing her on the lips. The hot breath sprayed onto her face and made Rhaenyra hold her breath as she felt Daemon gently stick out his tongue and lick the corner of her mouth.
Their eyes met.
Although Rhaenyra hadn't been with Daemon for a long time, they knew each other far too well. Daemon didn't talk. He looked into her eyes, whispering in silence.
Don't you know already where we're going?
Rhaenyra couldn't answer as Daemon's lips were still pressed to hers. She was left with a small spray of hot air outwards through her nose. A very soft chuckle escaped Daemon's throat, and they pulled back. When Rhaenyra thought it was over and tried to move her head, Daemon leaned forward and kissed her again.
Rhaenyra's face flushed even more.
"So, have you had enough?" She played it cool and looked away from Daemon. "It's not too late. I need to go back to the castle. Laenor, Viserys, the Velaryon, they are all waiting for me."
Daemon understood Rhaenyra's doubts, but he couldn't stop here and explained why he did this. It would be days before the Viserys' men arrived, but if there were dragons, it would be different. He and Rhaenyra could reach Dragonstone in half a day, and so could Red Queen.
There was little time left for him to do so.
"Rhaenyra, I'm not fooling around. I want you. I'm taking you to Dragonstone. I will wed you in the tradition of our house." Daemon said as he straightened his back and clenched his horse's belly.
The horse neighed and spread its hooves in a furious gallop forward.
Daemon's firm pecs brushed against Rhaenyra's back. His body temperature was very high, soaked with the smell of wine.
"You are drunk, uncle." Rhaenyra leaned back slightly, bringing their bodies closer together. "Viserys won't agree. Soon, he'll find out what you've done. You have pushed me into a terrible position. My virtue will be questioned. Viserys has strived to find me a good match. Laenor is the man, and you are ruining my reputation now."
Daemon didn't make a sound.
"Aren't you even going to deny it?" Rhaenyra asked, gripping the saddle. She recognized the path, knowing in her heart that it was the path that connected the castle to Dragon pit.
Daemon changed positions and rested his head on Rhaenyra's shoulder.
"What does it matter, Rhaenyra?" He asked, remembering his unpleasant conversation with his brother in front of the Iron Throne. "Do you care about Laenor, or rather, Viserys? I don't give fuck about what my brother, what some lords think. "
"But I have my duties."
"Rhaenyra, we are the dragons. You and I are made of fire. We have always been meant to burn together. Let us bind our blood, just as Aegon the Conqueror did with his sisters."
In fact, when Daemon didn't back down but actually took her out of the castle, Rhaenyra lost all desire to resist. Despite the disapproval of her relationship with Daemon by Alicent's belief, despite the Viserys' tea which can remove "unnecessary" troubles, and despite her own belief that leaving Laenor and Velaryon in front of all the lords before the wedding would lead to an irreversible consequence, Rhaenyra had to admit that Daemon's words did make her heart tremble.
She lifted her chest, her shoulders finally relaxing. Rhaenyra moved slightly to her left, her whole body leaning into Daemon's arms.
"So, what's your plan, Uncle? After all, you are the abductor of the heir to the throne?" She asked.
Daemon smiled pleasantly, knowing Rhaenyra wouldn't say no. How could she? These were the words she said to him.
Rhaenyra tilted her head back and pressed the back of her head against Daemon's right shoulder. She felt reassured, as she usually did, by touching the hot, wine-mixed scent emanating from Daemon's body.
She tilted her head and brushed her nose against Daemon's cheek. She knew Daemon hadn't made this decision in the heat of the moment. He may be arrogant and impulsive, but he is always loyal. Viserys had disinherited him and told Daemon to get out of King's Landing. Daemon's protests had been nothing more than a childish act. He stole the egg of Dreamfyre and claimed to marry someone else. He'd done a lot of damage, but Daemon's fangs were only for outsiders.
"I've answered that." Daemon kissed Rhaenyra's neck.
"I meant the plan after the wedding." Rhaenyra took Daemon's hand. Her question was serious, but her tone was light. "Viserys and Sea Snake, they won't be happy. They will surround Dragonstone. Will you hand me over, just as you handed Dreamfyre's egg before?"
"Rhaenyra, we both know why I gave back it." Daemon dropped his head, silver strands of hair brushing the skin on Rhaenyra's collarbone. "I said I was married, and then you showed up with Syrax."
"You haven't answered my question, Uncle."
Daemon sighed. "Viserys won't disinherit you, but he will be furious, of course, maybe spitting out fire."
Daemon's description was so graphic that Rhaenyra laughed out loud.
"But we could go to Essos before he calms down. I want to visit there anyway. Our Maesters could not heal Viserys. We can get some luck in the east.
Rhaenyra listened carefully as he finished his sentence and frowned.
"Mellos never said Viserys was ill."
"I have a bad feeling."