Chapter Text
“Come partake in the Realm’s Delight”
The sun was blazing and hot, high against the clear blue sky overhead. The more dry, deserted climate Rhaenyra found suited her greatly and every day stepping outside she could feel the sunshine warming against her skin and a sense of calm would wash over her. Compared the damp, the musty, the tepid and then the brittle bone chilling winters of Westeros. Walking the streets with an anonymity not awarded in Kings landing, the shimmering silver hair, a curse in Westeros now a lure. Rhaenyra shuffled her way through the throngs of people on the busy streets of Volantis. No. The heat called to her, it always had. No summers day warm enough, to bath boiling enough to satisfy her craving for the lick of heat against her skin.
The climate, however, wasnt the only draw that Rhaenyra found kept her tied to the one spot. The security within the distance between Kings Landing and Volantis provided her with a sense of freedom Rhaenyra only dreamed about or read within the pages of fantasy and history tomes. Daring women who braved the perils of unknown voyages, casting aside friend and family, home and land to seek adventure in far off distant lands. Seeking a way to spread wings, literal or figuratively, and take towards the horizons that called to a part of their soul. Rhaenyra had found the call for freedom sang deep within her blood, a dragonsong called to by Syrax in turn who longed to be free of her own chains.
Rhaenyra had found great freedom within the streets of Volantis within the months since she arrived. Here, her silver hair could flow free, unrestricted of the tightly weaved braiding that was expected of her within the halls of Kings Landing, her slipper clad feet could brush the dirt alleyways and carved paths of the streets with nary a gaze in her direction. The populace barely turned their head in her direction as she trekked the streets to the market, the excitement of having a Targaryen and princess had been impressive in the beginning, for certain, but now the luster had lost its shine and she could spread her dragon wings wide and blend into the crowd just a regular person, just another resident of Volantis.
The lilac shade of her sheered silk gown, capped sleeves with cape hanging like dramatic courtly sleeves to the ground attached at the shoulders, floating on the wind trailing behind her as she walked, her silky skin glowing in the sunlight as she walked. A style of dress, a way of presenting herself Rhaenyra never thought possible. A freedom in choice, in expression as she walked the streets, unbothered and unnoticed save by the friends she had made within the markets.
As she approached the pleasure house her head tilted back to face the window, shading her eyes with her hand. Rhaenyra stood along the street front watching overhead as red haired beauty hung out past her chest, anchoring with her hips, the second floor window with her hair dancing in the wind as she yelled out the all too familiar phrase that still made Rhaenyra giggle and blush in embarrassment often.
"Must you yell that from the roof tops?" Rhaenyra found herself giggling, the burning embarrassment colouring across her cheeks and nose a rosy, pink shade, up at the woman above who stopped yelling long enough to spot Rhaenyra on the street below. A beaming smile broke out across the face of the young woman as she began to wave enthusiastically down to Rhaenyra who waved a little calmer in response.
"My darling sweet Delight, you are the main star. Want I would sing it from the rooftops, but alas my back sees my climbing days behind me." With a chuckle Rhaenyra picked up her skirt with one hand to her knee, exposing her feet enough to climb the stairs without tripping, and entered through the richly stained red set of double doors, the brass groaning under her palm as she pushed the doorhandle, the door popping opening ajar just enough for her to slip inside the cooler, shaded room. With a clang the door shut behind her back and Rhaenyra could take in the splendor in front of her.
The room was in a state of darkness, all the shutters remained closed in an attempt to keep the deserted heat out of the living spaces, the drop in temperature appreciated as Rhaenyra dapped her forehead with the back of her hand to remove a few beads of sweat forming along her brow. Down a set of 3 steps, chaises and chairs set around a planted centerpiece, a large tree looming in the center, surrounding by flowers and plants. To her left chairs and tables with a waterfall feature set against the wall lined in groups, providing some space away from the main seated area where most tended to gather in the evening before venturing upstairs to the private chambers.
And to Rhaenyras right, the large wooden countertop of the bar lay freshly cleaned and organised, bottles being packed away and glasses being polished by the mistress of the pleasure house, Rhaenyras now good friend and elder friend, Ny, and several of the working girls. Nys golden skin coupled with her jet-black hair which reached to under her waist, a tall statuesque figure made her a really draw, but her intelligence and cunning business skills helped the pleasure to thrive, months after the Princess Saera had passed away in her bed.
"Nyra! You made it back." Tiny arms wrapped around Rhaenyras waist, belonging to the newest, and youngest member of the pleasure house. Maela was only eight when she was sold by her father. Ny had only paid the price through bared teeth to keep the girl safe. She will never touch a man until she is old enough, Ny swore. And ever since Maela had been kept far away from the pleasure side of the business. She attended to the temple for schooling, when Rhaenyra had time she taught Maela everything that she could and at night she nestled either within the comfort of her own bed, or if Rhaenyra of Nys bed was vacant a visitor, she would snuggle and rest with either one.
"Of course I did. I just can't stay away from you." Rhaenyra giggled hugging the young child back with vigor, her arms lifting the girls feet from the ground, swaying her in the air eliciting an infectious belly laugh. Placing the child back to floor Rhaenyra moved closer to the bar, leaning over as she peered through her thick lashes towards the stocky, tall barman Lazor, a man from the summer isle sold to slavers, only to be brought and freed by Saera. His loyalty kept him working within the pleasure house, his looming presence a comfort to the girls.
And a man Rhaenyra enjoyed teasing, harmless mutual flirting.
"Laz, when do i get the pleasure of your company? My bed is so lonely." Rhaenyra pouted her bottom lip, leaning forward of the bar, her chin coming to rest on the palm of her hand. The man just chuckled as he cleaned a glass held firm in his large, calloused fingers.
"Ooo an interesting prospect but I could never handle you." Laz teased playfully.
"Never know unless you try." Rhaenyra shrugs innocently pushing herself off the bar to her full height, back arched as her palms lay flat against the wooden surface, the stance pushing her chest out ever so slightly. With a wink Laz moved away from the bar, leaving the group on their own.
"Did you walk to the market?" Ny asked as she moved closer towards Rhaenyra, spotting the reddening splotches forming along her nose and ears. "Why not take the palanquin?"
"It's such a beautiful day. Why spend it bouncing inside a sweltering box?" Rhaenyra questioned as more of a statement that a question in need of answer.
"When you start peeling, don't come crying to me for salve." Nys argued, her hand waving dismissively as she turned her back to Rhaenyra. Her hands swept along her neck to pull her silky black hair atop her head and secure into a bun with a golden emerald flower pin she had hooked to the front of her dress, now threading it tightly through the strands of hair, securing the bun in place.
"Aww you care." Rhaenyra cooed resting her chin on Nys shoulder. "I promise I wont damage the goods."
"You better not. I make money off you." Rhaenyra rolled her eyes, knowing full well it wasnt the money Ny was actually worried about.
"You make really good money off me." Rhaenyra corrected stepping back into her heels, releasing the older woman, "I promise it was only a short walk and I remained in the shade as much as I could. The sun is just warming up out there and I got a bit hot."
"Who's hot?" One of the older girls chimed in, Daenya, who sauntered over, arms clutching several wine bottles, throwing a glowing, friendly smile towards Rhaenyra as she placed the bottles of wine on the counter, glass clanging against glass. A Bravossi born girl of no more than three and two, her curvaceous figure coupled with the strawberry golden hair, braided into a crown around her head and her pair glittering sapphire eyes was quite popular despite her being shorter than most of the girls. She came just to Rhaenyra shoulder and this with her youthful face caused her to appear younger than she was.
"Nyra." Ny responded monotone, taking a bottle in hand.
"Well we know that." Daenya replied slinking her arms near Rhaenyras elbows and around her waist, placing a kiss to her bare arm. "She's the best looking person in this city."
"Is that a compliment or an insult? You always comment on how ugly everyone in Volantis is." Rhaenyra teased, her eyebrow kinking high towards her hairline as she watched the elder girl stutter through chuckles that she meant it as a compliment but that yes, everyone in Volantis is butt ugly.
"Why do you think Volantis needs us? They need the good looking whores to please the crowds." Rhaenyra stifled her chuckle as she smiled, Daenyas blunt but humor filled tone threatening to cause Rhaenyra to belly laugh outloud.
"Now now ladies go upstairs, bath and dress. We have the merchants and a few dignitaries from Qarth hosted here tonight. I already had your baths prepared." Ny instructed, loudly, her voice booming sending the newer girls scuttling up the staircase in low chatter.
"My my, such service." Rhaenyra teased, receiving a tap on the butt and her marching orders to get upstairs.
Slipping upstairs away from the bustle of the preparations going on downstairs, Rhaenyra slipped into the comfort of her rooms, allowed her gown to slid from her shoulders and pool around her now bared feet.
As Rhaenyra slipped naked into a steaming hot bath, her hair pooling to float along the surface of the perfume and petal filled water, her mind began to drift as it so often did whenever she achieved calm and quiet.
Had it really been six moons since she left what she once thought of as home?
Where had the time gone? Rhaenyra pondered as she realised that within those six moons, all the time that had passed, her ideal of what home had been had changed drastically as she settled into her freedom.
Volantis, Essos, the Free Cities. All these were no place for a Targaryen Princess, even if she hardly is one anymore, or at least she resigned herself to the fact. Losing the title that had made up majority of her youth, filled her days well into her adulthood, abandoning the title had come as easily as diving into a pristine fresh water pool on a bright summers day. Mounting Syrax with little more than a small bag draped over her shoulder, her long silver hair braided and tucked away into a cap, the finery of her usual gowns replaced with a plain brown gown she had snagged from one of her ladies.
With a gaze over her shoulder, taking in the very space she held the most experiences within her life; where she slept, wept for her mother and siblings, where she first bled, where she would find her pleasures while dreaming of a silver haired man buried between her thighs.
Where she seethed, slick between her thighs, as her memory casted over Daemons broad shoulders, his muscled form walking away from her with little more than a glance before disappearing through the door atop the stairs. Her chambers, leaving all behind but a small bag slung over her shoulder. Buried deep within, nestled amoungst some clothes and money, her necklace.
Rhaenyra had pulled the Valyrian steel necklace out of the bottom draw, hidden beneath layers of other jewels, the reminder of the man who gifted the necklace to her laying at the bottom of the draw. She pulled the necklace out, held if delicately between her palms, holding the piece of her heritage up to the light, her eyes drifting across the rubies and sparkling silver of the metal. Biting into her lip, her teeth gripping the delicate skin of her pout, she placed the necklace in the bag, wrapping it between some spare clothes to keep it safe.
She couldn't bare to leave it behind. Something called to her that, if she were to lose everything else, this small piece of her memory, of her history, belonged with her. Tucking it deep within her clothes, the necklace had travelled with her. A symbol, a memory. Along with several other gifts Daemon had once given her. She didnt quite understand why she felt compelled to bring mainly Daemon specific gifts with her, but there packed in her bag, her precious items- the necklace, the tiara, the dagger she feared she may end up having to use if she wasnt lucky.
Daemon unknowingly gave her the freedom she craved, gifted her the necklace, inspired her with tales from far off lands throughout her youth. Awakened a lust within her center that had only been a flicker, a silent tender brush of her own fingertips along her skin, circling her own bundle of nerves of her cunt, slickening with want as she moaned a whisper, the name lingering on her tongue as she wept silently wanton cries of pleasure as the pressure would creep along her spine, her release tipping beyond the edge, leaving her careening as fingers withdrew from her trembling cunt.
His actions may have hurt, lingering in an irreparable wound within her chest, beneath her breast that oft would twinge with a sharp pierce when she had thoughts of her uncle, but the impression his actions left guided her to where she was now.
Months into her disappearance, Rhaenyra knows not the fallout save for small notes passed along through the chain of other pleasure houses, but no word had reached her directly, no hint that her uncle was aware of her presence across the seas. Rhaenyra wasnt even sure where Daemon was, if she were to be honest. His exile and his own disappearance from her life impressing upon her that this absence will be more permanent than absences of the past. Her father had never told her in the fallout of his exile and her tainting of her virtue in the eyes of the people. No. She refused any news the moment her feet had left Kings Landing, she had shirked any want of information. She cared for her father, to be sure, but his actions and his words haunted, forcing her hand into refusing to entertain the prospect of anything to do with kings Landing or her father. She has managed to do what she always set out to do; carve out a piece of this world for herself. Flying across the narrow sea, stretching her arms out wide and Syrax drifted to sail across the crystal-clear surface of the Narrow sea as they flew towards the place they now called home.
Visiting Lys at first, a small but wealthy city within the Free Cities triangle. Tyrosh and Myr she had come to visit a few times after her settlement in Volantis, Lys had fast become her favourite upon her travels. Lys was her first stop after leaving Kings Landing, when everything was electric charged, like a bolt of lightning placed firmly against her spine, fire dancing beneath her veins, crackling with the energy moving around her.
With everything still so freshly heightened and raw, Rhaenyra found within her first days of freedom, the fear began to settle into her bones, jumping at the slightest shadow as she trapsed the markets and stalls, gazing over her shoulder as she suspected the slightest fear of someone following her. She just couldn't shirk the sensation of being followed, that her every movement was being calculated in an attempt to do her harm, to return her to Westeros, to kidnap her for money from the crown. All these perfectly reasonable options only served to feed into her fears, casuing her to have doubts, doubts that she could survive, that she maybe couldn't make it on her own. That she was, as rumored, that she was just a spoiled child at heart.
But spoiled children dont take this risk. They dont risk it all by leaving behind everything they had ever known, fleeing into a world with little more than some coin and their name to tide them over. Spoiled children dont flee into the night not knowing where they shall find solace, no home to return to if they were to change their mind. Because putting yourself first, placing your happiness and dreams ahead of what is expected of you, especially as a woman, made certain the door to your home would be sealed firmly behind you.
No going back. No place to return to. No arms spread wide with a comforting embrace.
Upon discovering of Saeras passing, Rhaenyra opted to make her way directly to Volantis, hoping that the last remnants of the Targaryen name might be of some use to her there. Climbing into the saddle of Syrax Rhaenyra had whispered that they were going home. And with a chuff her golden beast took to the skies. soaring across the open plains of Essos towards the lands where Valyrains had once roamed. Old and New Volantis had always fascinated Rhaenyra, the fused black walls built by her ancestors, the temples of old Valyria.
By the time Rhaenyras feet had touched solid ground, her arse was tender from the saddle, legs shaking as she attempted to stand with some grace. Sending Syrax to hide deep within the mountains, out of sight, Rhaenyra found herself completely alone. Taking a deep breath she scanned the city in front of her, the looming city from the stories now a reality standing in front of her. Her feet shuffled forward against the dirt as she began to take her first steps towards the place she hoped could become her beacon, her final stop in the quest for a new home.
In a city she had only dreamed of, heard tall tales of wealth unsurmisable to the smallfolk populace that inhabit the streets, Rhaenyra could feel a sense of calm washing over her as she looked around. This was the city built for gods, by gods. Wealth to plunder and seek, pleasures untold just waiting to be discovered. And here, Rhaenyra stood staring at the archaic buildings, the Long Bridge connecting the city, the multiple leveled looming structure intriguing, peaking her interest as Rhaenyra found herself staring at the foreign city.
It could all be what she had always dreamed.
It could be the place to call home.
And all she needed to do was take one step.
And thats what Rhaenyra did.
Straightening her back, head held high and strong, she maneuvered into the city, merging with the crowds that would not part easy as the market brimmed with life, laughter, shouting from the stands and shops that lined the sides of the walkways. Cobblestoned streets paved the way for children to dart around the adults, playing amoungst the crowds as they giggled, the infectious laughter filling the air as they ran off down the laneways, laneways leading to the open circle marketplace, a wide open space that had Rhaenyras jaw dropped in awe as she stared wide-eyed around herself, not caring how she appeared to those around her.
The pleasure house Rhaenyra had been instructed, in careful detail, to seek out stood out amoungst the several pale stone and blackened buildings around it, its facade unique in its appearance compared to even the rest of the city Rhaenyra speculated. Tucked into a line of buildings, the cream building heralded brightly colour fabrics of various colours, trim painted red around stained glass windows the provided privacy for the inhabitants within. The emerald lined rooftop held two men, hammering away making repairs. Rhaenyra watched, the clatter echoing against the stone, sounding far down the walkway behind her.
Stepping into the pleasure house, Rhaenyras breath hitched within her throat, her nerve culminating in stomach churning pit, threatening to cause her to be sick.
Her nerves need not be tingling though, for the moment Ny spotted her and heard her speak, Rhaenyra was whisked away. It was love at first sight; Ny would gush later as she began to learn about her new charge. Ny had taken one look at Rhaenyra and through a mere glance, saw the potential within Rhaenyra. A potential, Rhaenyra would learn, had apparently been remaining dormant, buried beneath years of training and sept conditioning, a male lead dominance over her existence corrupting her sense of her ability to receive and give pleasure. An attempt to protect a virtue, Rhaenyra had come to learn, was worth nothing more than scaring youthful maidens into conformity and worshiping gods that cared none for a maidens virtue.
A pleasuring ability Rhaenyra was very good with. Excellent even. She had quickly found her footing and her place within the pleasure house and her popularity had taken flight to glimmering golden wings and soared.
Over the months a change had begun to take shape within her. Her voice had deepened over the time in Volantis, leaving her voice sultry like warm honey and silk over bare skin, her curves filled in, leaving the delicate frame of youth behind her. Heavy set teardrop breasts filled her gowns with an elegant seductive shape, the tops peeking out the tops of her gowns, exposing the long white column of her throat, the pale alluring skin of her shoulders and collarbone.
Stepping out of the bath Rhaenyra carefully dried her skin, making sure to dap on perfumed oils behind her ears, on her throat, behind her knees and just inside her thighs. All the points needed to lure and please for the night. Selecting her gown and select few jewels Rhaenyra dressed herself quickly, opting to leave her hair down to air dry while the sun began to set just outside her window.
Moving towards the window she threw open the shutters, peering down at the gathering line begin to form just outside the door. The door clipped open, and Ny stepped out, greeting the guest with a warm friendly greeting and handshakes. Watching for a moment Ny must have sensed eyes following her and gave a nod in Rhaenyras direction, signaling to Rhaenyra and anyone else watching from upstairs that they would soon be open. Her feet shuffled away from the window while messing with her hair and she gave one more check over her appearance before leaving her rooms into the hall where the music and glasses clinking could be heard echoing from downstairs.
Descending the stairs little while later, once the festivities had gotten underway, Rhaenyra stepped into the brightly lit room. Her pink and white samite gown with straps thin against her shoulders, neckline dropped low to show the curve of her chest, the light airy material feather soft around her, letting her skin feel like she was barely wearing anything in the late evening heat. Her hair was set to lose waves, only two braids along her crown pinned with an emerald flower twig hair pin to secure them in place.
"He's only had a drink so he's still pretty hard to get a reading on. I just don't know what he wants." Rhaenyra could hear Daenya mutter to another girl as she watched across the room in a direction Rhaneyra couldn't quite pinpoint as she approached.
"What's wrong?" she enquired, standing shoulder to shoulder with Daenya.
"Man by the waterfall." Rhaenyras eyes drifted to the man, maybe late forties, stocky built, wide shoulders, skinned browned by the sun, a tankard clutched between his fingers as he studied the room around him. "He paid for 'an experience' but then refused every girl whose approached him." Daenyas voice gave way to the frustration as she growled, tearing her fingers through her hair roughly as she tugged at the roots.
"You say he paid already?"
"Very strange. Some men just love to lose money it seems." Daenya answered muttering to herself about stupid men and she needed a stiff drink. Rhaenyra pondered for a moment before adjusting the straps to side wider against her shoulders, exposing the delicate skin of her collarbone more.
"He paid for an experience," Rhaenyra paused, loosening the two braids along her crown, letting the waves flow free across her back to her waist," "let's give him an experience."
"One he will never forget." Daenya whispered seductively, winking as she watched the man disappear into Rhaenyras rooms, "Just make sure he can still walk, please."
"I make no promises." Rhaenyra coyly replied, slinking away with a sway of her curved hips as she approached him. Daenya watched on, knowing no one refused Rhaenyra. And even from a distance she could see even the impenetrable man was not immune to Rhaenyras charms either, for he abandoned his drink and stood slowly, his eyes dazed as he stared at the silver haired beauty pressing a hand to his forearm.
Whatever Rhaenyra was saying to him, put him under her spell. He followed her closely before ascending the stairs in front of her, Rhaenyra casting one final look over to Daenya, throwing a wink her way before disappearing behind him.
Sealing the door behind her, Rhaenyra posed, arching her back, keeping her hands planted behind her back, pushing her chest out. His gaze fell to her chest, and she smirked, lust clouding her eyes as she watched him lick his lip with the tip of his tongue. Her hands moved forward, brushing against her curves as she moved towards him, her fingertips coming to circle her nipples, pebbling them through the thin material of her dress, the tips poking through earning a moan as he gazed at her figure.
Moving closer, Rhaenyras hand brushed along his front, tracing from the bulge hidden beneath his britches, his navel that trembled under her touch, along his chest, running along his nipples which he groaned, not used to the attention. Her hand came to stop at the base of his throat, applying just enough pressure to squeeze, his breaths shortening under her touch as his eyes rolled back, his head tipping back give her access to his stubbled throat. She nipped at the bopping Adams apple, his swallow causing her to chuckle, and he struggled to maintain his composure.
Her fingertips danced across his back, moving just out of reach, enough to drive a man insane., as his eyes followed her movements
"And they say the temple to god is no father away," he says, looking at her so deeply that she feels that his eyes might burn holes right through her, the thought sending excited shivers down her spine.
"Then the temple between a womans legs." his hand drifted to cup her, applying just enough pressure to make her clench and gasp, her lips falling apart ever so softly at his touch. Her hand pressed forward against his chest, pushing him down onto the bed with a thud. Propping up onto his elbows he watched as she stripped, letting her gown fall from her shoulder, flowing to pool at her bare feet. Her naked form left his mouth drooped low, his mouth drying as he stared along the curves and plains of her perfect, full figure. "You're perfect." He muttered, not even realising he said the words outloud, causing Rhaenyra to smile, the corners of her mouth propping high that the smile reached her eyes.
"So, what you're telling me is," Rhaenyra murmured, her hooded eyes peering into his as she untied his britches, gaining quick access to his veiny, smooth length. Kneeling against the edge of the mattress, her arms bracketing over his hips to prevent him from moving, her breath kissed at the tip as she took him in her small hands, fingers barely touching around the circumference.
"You shall worship me like a god." And with that she descended, her tongue darting out, tracing the blue vein from sack all the way to the tip. Puckering her lips to suck the tip, dotting the small pearlescent bead of precum to the tip of her tongue before relaxing her jaw, taking his full length in her mouth, her eyes never leaving his gaze. Hands trailed down her back, reaching the swell of her arse cheeks, cupping her with gentle squeezes. With a heady, throated moan, the tremble rippled along his length, drawing out a long groan as he threw his head back, a satisfied hum vibrating against him as he came to bliss, over and over again.
The time drifted by, the hours filled with sensual moaning, gasps ripping from his throat as she would bring him to the point of ecstasy only pull away at the last moment and deny him release, causing him to beg over and over until she gave him the ever so satisfying release that left him shaking against the feathered mattress. As his time came to an end Rhaenyra made sure he was cleaned up and had some watered wine to help him steady on his feet, a struggle to say the least as he swayed standing from the bed his first attempt.
With a kiss to his cheek once near the door, Rhaenyra turned and walked away, feeling his eyes bore into her back as she walked towards Ny who watched on, her hip jutted to the side as she lounged against the bar, empty goblet of wine in hand.
"Daenya filled me in. Successful evening?" Ny quired with a soft gaze, eyeing off mussed hair and slight puff to Rhaenyra lips, puckered and reddening.
"Is it the hair, is it the desperation for a good fuck? We shall never know but alas, everything went swimmingly." Rhaenyra responded, leaning against the bar on her elbow as she yawned into her palm, "I'll get my purse to you later. Couldn't let him see where I hide it."
"Good girl. And I think it's just you. Purely you. And you are gorgeous, don't forget." Ny sighed, her fingertip drifting across the rim of the goblet as she stared into the empty glass. Rhaenyra turned her gaze back to Ny, watching as her expression drifted far away, losing herself in a thought that twisted against her brow.
"Whatever has happened? You look like a snake crawled into your bed again." Rhaenyra teased while eyeing Ny with concern, Ny shuddering at the memory. Her hand drifted to an unfurled scroll on the bar, her hand curling around the document as she handed it to Rhaenyra.
"A letter from a contact in Kings Landing. King Viserys has taken ill." Rhaenyra eyes studied the words scratched into the parchment, a lump forming in her throat as she read how her father's ailing health had only worsened, the bitter pill of dread settling into her stomach as she closed her eyes, tears forming in the corners threatening to trickle down her cheeks.
"And so it begins." Rhaenyra whispered, tossing the unfurled scroll onto the counter, the page rolling across the surface twice before stopping, "The reign of future King Aegon II could be soon upon them."
"Would you ever consider going back? Even just to say goodbye." Ny asked, already having suspected the answer. But she wanted Rhaenyra to be sure. No room for regrets later in life, she wanted Rhaenyra to be steadfast in her decisions.
"I can never go back. Its better this way." she responded, her tone clipped and hurting as she knew she never did say goodbye to her last remaining parent before she vanished, and now it was too late. The door needed to remain firmly closed, there was no place in her fathers world, not for his 'political headache' of a daughter. She felt guilty leaving him to the pit of vipers he called a family and a council, but she had to choose to put herself first for a change.
"There is nothing left for me in Westeros, not anymore." Rhaenyra soothed, wrapping her arms around the shoulders of the elder woman, resting her chin on Nys shoulder. "The past may linger in my heart, but my future is here."
"Now. I'm going to bed as I want to head to the market early in the morning and visit your mystery man that you don't think we know sneaks into your bed late at night and see if he has the perfumes for me."
Ny scoffed hearing her words, "And what pray tell will you tell him when you see him?"
"That you are a very good little girl." She teased, winking seductively over her shoulder as she walked away. Hesitating at the base of the staircase leading up to the living quarters, Rhaenyra paused.
"I can make a man very happy for an hour and then he pays and leaves." Rhaenyra found herself explaining, her voice filling the empty space as Ny listened, "Why should I do it for life, for free?" Ny raised her glass to toast, watching Rhaenyra ascend the stairs out of sight. Rhaenyra had found her sense of freedom. taking what she wanted.
Fucking who we want.
Away from the pleasure houses brightly coloured walls safely guarding the young princess, spread across the lands facing towards the Narrow Sea, Daemon along with Laena, had found solace in the streets of Pentos. Pentos had been treating the pair well enough the past few moons, Daemon found himself comforted by having a familiar face accompany him on his travels this time around. The travelling from Driftmark to Essos had left him weary, his departure from his home and away from the people he held dear had torn into his very being and left a hollow gaping wound. This exile, unlike the ones of past arguments, had a sense of finality that was a bitter pit to swallow.
Daemon had found Laena, who he unexpectedly came into contact with while visiting Driftmark and his cousin, had been a pleasant travelling companion. Her company a soothing presence, friendly and warm. Flying across the Narrow sea with their dragons, being invited by the wealthiest members of Pentos to dine and shelter in their homes, biting at the opportunity to host a prince and dragonrider of westeros. The prince of Pentos had extended the invitation to his home to the pair and Laena eagerly accepted, wanting with great enthusiasm to get to know the Prince of and meet the magisters that run the city she had grown to love very much.
In honor of their extended stay, a feast had been organized by the Prince himself and many dignitaries, including the merchants of shipping and several magisters, had been invited to meet the prince and Laena, eager to meet the dragon riding pair seeming to make Pentos quite the prolonged pitstop. The wine, the food, the music had left all but Daemon in an exotic fever dream since the moment their feet hit the ground. Guests of one of the largest shipping merchants for Pentos, the gentleman had opened his luxurious home to the pair days before.
Before entering the festivities, Daemon had watched as Laena adjusted her gown, a soft, calming expression crossing his expression as he watched her beautiful silver curls danced and bounced with her movements. She peered in his direction in the mirror as she adjusted the bodice, her eyes glittering in dancing shapes as laced tightened behind her shoulders. Laena wasn't one for tightening her gowns too tightly, preferring the free form that allowed her freedom of movement.
"I know I'm not the person you envisioned for yourself." Her statement drew Daemons attention fully to her, the corner of his eyes crinkling as he sighed.
"Laena-" Her finger came to rest against his lips, stilting his words.
"It's ok. I've accepted it. You don't mistreat me, and I don't regret my life. But I see how this life is treating you in kind." Laena said, a soft smile around the corner of her lips. "I just wish i could solve all lifes issues for you."
Straightening her back, her posture held firm as she turned full to face Daemon. "Now, let us join the festivities, shall we?" Daemon watched as her back disappeared through the door, curious as to what caused Laena to make mention of this now, now when he had just started to settle into a happy enough calm, content with his situation for the most part.
Daemon could feel the void that had settled within his chest, blackening well into his soul with a despair he couldnt lay claim to fully understanding, and he wasnt entirely sure he even wanted to find out what was missing from his current calm situation that would cause him such anguish. Shirking away the dread threatening to descend and sour his mood, Daemon followed Laena out, taking her hand gently within his own and looping her arm through his, resting in the crook of his elbow.
The setting was enchanting as they stepped into the cavernous space of the dining hall, softly illuminated by candlelight stretched across the decorated dining table and the three low hanging large iron candelabras mounted to the ceiling. Laena and Daemon had made the rounds, drifting through the party as they introduced and met with the guests before splitting off to different directions within the feast. Daemon found little joy in the party, finding himself sitting at the table, drinking wine, smiling every so often an expression that never quite reached his eyes. Tight, exasperated as he watched Laena weave within the crowd, chatting and smiling brightly to everyone around her.
At least someone was having fun, Daemon found himself bitterly thinking to himself. Parties were never his strong suit, preferring the rowdy crowds of a tavern or whorehouse, the free-flowing wine and ale, the bodies pressed against one another in ecstasy filled frivolity. Feasts of Kings Landing were known to be grand, the wine excellent, but his only comfort during the long drawn out splendor of a Kings Landing feast was not to be found here.
Courses of food served, steaming from bowls and plates as servants briskly made their way around the feast, plating up food high upon the gold and royal blue dishware, stewed vegetables, meats, fruit sauces, eggs. All assortment of foods richly cooked and seasoned that made Laena mouth water as she, like the rest of the table, savored and made quick work of the meal. Clean plates were removed from around the table a short time later whereas Daemon had only found effort enough to poke his food with his fork a eat a minimal amount, his appetite drawing under the layers of wine he was drinking.
His appetite along with enthusiasm for small talk were in very short supply tonight, find conversation droll and boring, unable to remain focused on a single sentence being uttered around him until well after the food had been finished and cleared from the table. Laena held no constraints in joining the conversations, laughing and chatting away and was all smiles as her attentions remained on the prince throughout majority of the conversation, shifting only to interact with a merchant or another magister who caught her attentions.
"The feast was incredible. I hope it was to your liking prince Daemon. lady Laena." Opting to ignore the chatter, Daemon decided that sinking deeper in his cup, irritation flaring within his chest as sipped the strong syrup wine. The berry coated his tongue in a sour film, puckering his lips as the sour assaulted his taste buds,
"It was perfect. A grand way to spend the evening." Laena gushed looking around at the splendor lair across the length of the carved amber-stained wooden table, her warm smile entrancing their host. "I can't begin to thank you for your hospitality, my prince."
"Nonsense! Replenishing the soul after the tumultuous sailing journey from Westeros. I feared my stomach would never stop spinning." The prince was all smiles, a friendly warmth that endeared him very much to Laena, his mannerism reminding her of Laenor. The way he carried himself was very much like her little brother, "However good food and company seem to be the cure I was in need of."
"How goes the lands across the narrow sea?" A magister to Laenas right, a stout gentleman she couldn't quite recall the name of, asked the prince, tearing into a piece of bread, soaking some in his wine before plopping the pieces into his mouth.
"Oh yes! How is Westeros?" Laena asked, unable to hide the enthusiasm from her tone even as she felt the waves of the all-consuming dread rolling from Daemon who seemingly sank further into his cup as he glowered over the rim.
The prince made to swallow his wine, a loud gulp as he looked between the pair. "Ahh yes it's been a time since you last set foot in Westeros, hasn't it?"
"The kingdom is managing, for now." The princes attention fell to Daemon, "Your brother, the kings health declines rapidly I'm afraid." Daemon took pause, the unsettling curtain of mourning settling over his chest as he was hit with the knowledge that his own brothers death could be coming far soon than Daemon ever thought possible. As turbulent as their relationship had always been, made worse in recent years, his love for his family made him realise just how small his family had become. Viserys and Rhaenyra, along with Rhaenys and her children, were all the family there was left for him now. And with his brother gone? What would that mean in the dust of Viserys crumbling legacy?
"And then there's now the renewed problems with the succession." the prince continued, shrugging as he sipped his wine. His offhanded statement perked the attention of both Laena and of Daemon, whose brow furrowed as he gazed towards the prince.
"Succession?" Laena questioned, "Wasn't that matter settled years ago?"
The prince gave a nod in response as he spoke, "It was. But when the princess vanished it-"
"What?!" The table fell silent at the roar of not one but two dragons, Daemons tempered fury calling to life a long forgotten song, panged harshly as Daemon could feel Caraxes echo his fury inturn.
The Prince, shocked by the reactions, eyed the pair cautiously, his hands moving through the air in concerned gestures as he spoke more, "Surely news reached you here in Pentos?" Daemons eyes narrowed and his hand clenched into a fist, a fist Laena covered with her own hand, preventing his hand from shooting forward to punch or throw something at the question.
"The Princess Rhaenyra went missing." The statement seemed to linger amoungst the whispered, hunched forms around the table, the silence falling upon guests around the table in an uncomfortable, heavy burden.
"When?" Laena queried with far more patience than Daemon was feeling, his brow furrowing as he listened to the strangely absent news that had only just made it across the seas to two people, Daemon thought, should have been told when it happened.
"It would have been just after the betrothal to Laenor Valyeron, your brother, was announced. Moons ago, surely. I would have thought the king would have informed you?" He pauses, swallowing thickly.
"That was six moons ago!" Laena cried shaking her head.
"Where did she go?" A vicious snarl tore from Daemons lips, mimicking a sound akin to the blood wyrm, his fingers trembling against the tabletop, the anger burning hot within his veins the longer he made to sit and continue the conversation instead of leaping from his chair in a violent wave and storm from the hall.
"No one knows. The princess up and vanished in the middle of the night, even escaping the kings guard if you can believe that, and she hasn't been heard from since." Daemon listened, his eyes narrowing further as he swirled the goblet around in his fingertips, the liquid sloshing against the rim, dripping along the side of the glass and down onto his fingers. He failed to notice the staining, just as he failed to notice the looks Laena would cast to her side, watching his movements as she remained locked in conversations around the table. Her eyes would flit from his hand up to his, eyeing the utter nothingness painting his expression as he drank more and more.
The conversation was difficult to fall back into with an easy rhythm, but Laena pushed her attention to engage, attempting to quell the panic rising high into her throat as the memories of Rhaenyra kept springing to the forefront of her mind.
Even when Daemon excused himself abruptly from the table and left, goblet in hand, Laena remained seated, her eyes watching his back as he disappeared from the dining room, the doors slammed shut behind him, echoing through the room. Laena sighed as the conversations resumed upon his exit, turning her attentions back to the prince, distracting herself from the turmoil rising like the stormy seas, threatening to wash her away beneath the cold, dreary sea. She knew where Daemon would hide, knew he would be tucked away into a small corner of the library, noses buried in a book, losing himself to the histories and many glasses of wine, well into the night.
And thats exactly where she would come to find him.
As the festivities drew to a close well into the night, Daemon sequestered deep within the corners of the library. A tome of history covering the time following the fall of Valyria, pages spread open in front of him. But Daemons gaze remained unfocused, ignoring the paragraphs lining the parchment. Elbows resting against the table, hands clenched in front of his chin, his head propped against his knuckles. The words on the page had begun to mold together, a long string of confusion that had him rereading sentences more than once before abandoning the task all together, opting to lose himself in his thoughts.
Rhaenyra.
The reason he left Westeros the way he did. Daemon knew if he were to remain on the same continent as Rhaenyra, there was no possible way Daemon would have been able to stay away from her. He had to leave to save her from ruin, and he the constant temptation that is his niece. His other half of his fractured soul.
The one person who could lay claim to possessing his heart. His whole heart even.
Now, with none save himself to lay the fault upon, Daemon found himself now seeking the only refuge he could reliable depend upon when he had need of solace, books. The detailed accounts of ancestors he once fashioned himself after, wishing to silence the memories of his darling niece. The memory of her touch, her soft whimpers and moans as she rose to meet his challenge, not once but twice. Twice he made a challenge that he found when confronted with something he desperately sought after, he failed. He caved to ideal that he was somehow saving Rhaenyra and fled, taking his debauchery with him in an attempts to save her from himself.
Had he known that he was not saving Rhaenyra from anything, that she would just vanish from those he expected to keep her safe, he would have just ruined them both that night. Taken her maidenhead, taken her and fled into the night. Carving out a path to dragonstone and taking her to be his wife, laying the claim to her that his blood cried out for each night, even now, many moons removed from her touch, he still found his blood calling out for her. His soul crying out for its other half.
Daemon found the longer he stayed seated, hunched over thinking, the more questions sprung to the front of his mind. Why would Rhaenyra leave? Why did no one tell himself or Laena? Not even Laenor contacted them. Why would Viserys not inform him? Send for him. Where would she go? Was she safe? Was she hurt? Was-
"What do you make of this?" Daemon turned to the voice that broke through the questions building in his mind. His eyes met Laena as she ascended the final steps of the staircase, watching him as he straightened in his chair, coughing into his fist as he averted his gaze to look down at the book set out on the table.
"Dont pretend you were reading this whole time, Daemon. I saw you." Laena chided as she stepped closer, the corners of her mouth propping into a smirk as she watched him huff, sitting back against the chair further.
"Rhaenyra missing? So suddenly and we have not heard a word about it?" Daemon spoke calmly despite himself, attempting to make some sense of anything that had transpired within the few hours of a simple feast.
"Where would she go?" Laena added, her question plucked right from his own mind, a question begging for answers, "Is she even ok?" Daemon heard the crack in Laenas voice, the swell of emotions trembling against her bottom lip as she struggled to prevent the swell of tears from trickling down her now paled cheeks.
"Daemon, we need to find her." Laena said through a sob bubbling to her lips if a saliva and tears. "The realm won't try, that much is clear. She could be in danger."
Daemon almost sneered outloud, finding the deep seeded anger lashing against his chest, taking root, burrowing within his veins and into his soul as his brother came to mind. Viserys. The fears for his health now being overshadowed by the renewed lashes of resentment ebbing. The king. Had there been any sign that Viserys had sent anyone to track down his beloved child, the last remnants of Aemma that he so cherished, apparently? Where was the care? Where was the responsibility? Viserys had accused Daemon, not even six moons ago, that Daemon would ruin Rhaenyra. But was it not he, The King, her own father, who had driven her to the point where she would abandon everything she ever knew and flee into the distance. Never to be seen again.
"I have contacts in Westeros. I'll send word and see what I can find out." Daemon suggested, the memory of Mysaria creeping to the forefront of his mind. If anyone could gain the information he sought, it would be her. "If my brother will do nothing, I shall."
Weeks had followed the feast but the news from the dinner table had hung over the pair well into their travels. Pentos remained the favourite place to start settling down, finding gentle pleasures within the streets and the throngs of people inhabiting the thriving city. Laena would oft be found wondering the streets below, taking pleasure in the street plays and market stalls lining the streets, filled with exotic wares from all across Essos and even beyond the unknown worlds. Perfumes, jewellery, books, clothing. Her eyes would sparkle as she questioned the histories or origins of unique pieces, pulling Daemon aside to look too, gauging his opinions on everything and anything. Attempting some way to break through the walls that slowly had begun to erect themselves around his heart once more, the more as time moved forward waiting for work from Westeros, from someone who may hold any little piece of information.
But his mind remained firmly invested, unable to escape the torment that had followed finding out Rhaenyra disappearance. Laena would find him staring off into the distance, eyeing off a trinket within the stalls of the market and she would find herself pitying his expression, knowing it to be his thinking of Rhaenyra, the worry settling into his every expression, a far off linger, a longing as he watched Caraxes take to the skies each day. And within Laena, a fear. Not for herself, but for Daemon. He didnt just want to find Rhaenyra, Laena knew he needed to find her. And she was starting to understand why.
It wasnt just a familial concern, as Daemon would try to assuage her. He held a care for Rhaenyra like no other. A love even, Laena would even go so far as to say Daemon was in love with Rhaenyra. Not that she would say those words out loud to him. Not yet, anyway.
Laena would not push, knowing Daemon could not prevent the self-inflicting torture he was placing upon himself, as he awaited news. Some form of information as to Rhaenyras whereabouts. He could afford to leave no stone unturned, and Laena knew he would spare no energy until he could know she was safe.
Early into this one particular morning, not long after Daemon had broken his fast within his allotted chambers, a rapping against the door sounded, echoing against the walls.
A messenger stepped into the room, holding a rolled note in one hand. "A message from Driftmark for you, Prince Daemon." Dismissing with a wave Daemon found himself left alone, staring at the message baring the mark of Velaryon. A message holding the writing of his cousin, of Rhaneys. Unfurling the message Daemon quick work of scanning the message, purple eyes burning holes into the parchment as he read.
"Cousin, forgive the lateness of my writing to you, even with Laena on your journeys, but as you can imagine the situation here in Westeros, even on Driftmark, have left us all in a precarious situation. I must, however, admit to my surprise by your message cousin. I would have expected our king would have informed you as soon as Rhaenyra left. Or even Laenor after the betrothal had to end, only to find he had failed to write to even his own sister. And yes, I say left, despite what lingering gossip here and abroad says. Rhaenyra somehow found and used the tunnels of Maegor to leave her chambers and made her way to the dragon pit on foot. Last we saw Princess Rhaenyra and her golden lady flew over the Narrow sea. No one has heard from her since the night she left. After the night of the brothel incident the betrothal was announced, and Rhaenyra vanished almost instantly."
Daemon sighed reaching the end of the letter, running her tongue along his lip as he thought over the information presented to him. Rhaenyra in Essos? Daemon glowered thinking he escaped the continent that held his torment, only for his torment to still be on the same stretch of land he himself was standing on. Whatever false sense of composure Daemon had managed to establish within himself, he felt slowly crumble, relinquishing in the face of potentially breathing the same air, staring at the same sky as Rhaenyra once more.
Seeing her once more if he could locate her. But where would she go? Essos was a large place, and full of silver haired people Rhaenyra would have no trouble in being able to blend in with for a short period of time. Her beauty would signal her out, but Daemon was sure the task of locating his niece would be made difficult, especially if she did not want to be found.
Laena entered his chambers soon after he read through the message, his eyes dragging across the parchment once more as he studied the words closer, spotting the missive between his fingertips, eyeing him with a glimmer of hope shining within her eyes.
She comes to lean over his shoulder, placing a gentle peck to his temple as he scanned the message more, "What is it?"
Daemon held the parchment up higher, angling it for Laena to scan over his shoulder, "It's from your mother. She seems to point Rhaenyra could potentially somewhere here, in Essos."
Laena turned her eyes to Daemons face, her mouth falling ajar, "She could here?"
"Said Syrax was last seen flying across the narrow sea, disappearing over the horizon with the breaking of first light. That was the last anyone saw them." He muttered more so to himself than reiterating the message to Laena, "It's such a large place. She could be anywhere." Daemon murmured tossing the scroll to the side as his fingers circled his temples.
Straightening from her position across his shoulders, Laena found herself pacing the small length of Daemons chambers, wringing her hands together in front her chest as she bit into her lip, "Let's think for a moment."
"Why wouldn't she come to us?" Laena asked dubiously.
Daemon cringed at her question, knowing full well a reason why his niece wouldn't think to seek him out. "Last I saw my niece it wasn't a very... pleasant parting." he admitted.
"Oh, I know!" Laena balked, continuing to pace, ignoring the frown crossing Daemons features.
"What does that mean?" Daemon taken aback by her quip, the distaste in her tone leaving him to frown as he watched her. They rarely talked about much to do with their pasts, outside of a shared history. But Rhaenyra, outside the occasional slip of memory from his tongue, he never spoke a word of their.... incident.
"But surely if she was in danger, she would know to come find you. wouldn't she?" she asked, ignoring his enquiry to continue to focus on Rhaenyra and her own questions.
"I would do anything for her, whether she remembers that is another question entirely." Daemon squeezed his eyes tightly shut out of sheer frustration, burying his face into his palm, elbow hitched against the table surface.
"Wait..." Daemon looked over towards Laena who had stopped pacing enough to turn to face him directly, "Wasn't your aunt Saera in Essos at one point?"
"Mmm last I heard she was in Volantis. Highly unlikely she's still alive." Daemon had grown up hearing little of his aunt, save for her ruin and fall from grace before embarking on her own journey, swearing off everything and anything to do with her family and Westeros. He had never once met her; just heard the tales of her maidenhead and the embarrassment her lack of remorse had caused his grandsire and the good queen.
Laena inhaled sharply. "But a name and reputation could live on, correct?" not one to usually entertain such a distasteful idea, Laena knew she would be treading a fine line with the suggestion.
"You don't believe..." He asked gruffly. A forming pit in his stomach shifted, making his stomach clench in a painful sick sensation. Rhaenyra living in a pleasure house? Daemon didnt know if he could stomach that.
"Where else can we start? Where else would Rhaenyra go without connections, without seeking you out? Where else could she attempt to find safety?" Laena attempted to reason, understanding how the idea of Rhaenyra hiding out in a pleasure house would fester within Daemons mind, but without any other viable leads, where could they start?
"Daemon, I know it's a long shot. You want her found and safe. But maybe this is the place to start." Laena pushed softly, placing a jeweled hand against Daemons shoulder, causing his attention to shift to meet her gaze.
"Maybe this is just a sign." she breathed in a soft voice, a gentle push in the direction she knew Daemon needed to follow.
"A sign?" Laena smiled, watching the struggle warring beneath Daemons gaze as he sat staring off into the distance, his frown deepening against his forehead.
"Go. Find her. For you and for her." Laena reassured, a gentle hand resting against his shoulder as she studied his expression. "I'll be fine here. Just send word when you arrive." Placing a soft kiss to his forehead Laena turned and exited the library, a smile gracing across her lips. Laena had grown to care for Daemon, a fondness for his company and companionship. But if he could find his happiness once more, his true happiness, Laena refused to be the one to stand in the way of that.
Plus, Laena had some choice words for her cousin, running away and putting herself in unnecessary danger. Not seeking them out? Laena couldn't wait to get her hands on Rhaenyra. After Daemon of course.
Coming down the stairs in the daybreak, Rhaenyras light blue silk dress trailed against the steps behind her footsteps, flowing as she glided down the steps silently. Landing softly against the wooden floor, her slippers clipping against the solid wood underfoot, Rhaenyra peered around the silent, darkened room. Shutters remained tightly closed while the pleasure house rested for the day, attempts to keep the humid heat from reaching the interior, leading to the cool darkness to permeate the rest of the rooms, abating the sweltering heat outside. As she dressed in her rooms she could feel the heat seeping through her shutters that she forgot to close from the night prior, leaving little beads of sweat gathered along the hairline of her neck, casting a trail down the length of her spine.
The rhythmic dripping of the water from the waterfall coupled with the muffled swell of the shifting crowds outside echoed within the room, the only actual sign of life was behind the bar. With her back turn Ny had yet to noticed Rhaenyra entering the room, nor her footsteps which she managed to time with the waterfall to cover her approach as she tip-toed over towards the bar.
Spread out across so much of the bar Rhaenyra could swear was every glass and pitcher the pleasure house had in possession, spreading from one end to the other, covering the entire surface. The only other items on the bar were several bottles of a wine Rhaenyra could recognise the label of, having served enough of it in her lifetime as princess. Rhaenyras hand wrapped around the bottle, the golden label telling her it came from Dorne, as she studied the bottle, the beautiful reddish-purple liquid flowing within the glass to the movement of her hand. "You are breaking open the good wine? The Dornish wine? Who died?"
"Cheeky girl!" Ny chided, snatching the bottle from her hand with a tight grin. "No one died, I'm afraid, although we might have some deaths if all doesn't run smoothly. We have a guest coming tonight."
"Important?" Rhaenyra smirked, gesturing her hand to the full cluttered bar counter.
A gentle hand pressed to Rhaenyras forearm, her eyes drifting to meet the worried eyes of Ny.
"The Prince Daemon is here. In Volantis." The pin dropped and with-it Rhaenyra felt the void form beneath her feet, the world falling away.
"My uncle? is.... here?!" Rhaenyra stuttered, her eyes widening, eyebrows high against her brow. Her finger pointed to the ground, emphasising the fact that he was in Volantis, as if the words were lost on Ny who relayed the message. Nys restrained the sarcastic response she had lined up, knowing the shock could send Rhaenyra careening to the floor if she wasnt careful.
"Breath." Ny whispered, taking Rhaenyras hand within her own, clasping between two as her thumb ran gentle motions along the back of Rhaenyras soft knuckles. A shallowed breath Rhaenyra hadnt realise she had been holding escaped in an undignified gasp as she gulped for air.
"Why now? He never comes to Volantis, so why now?" Her voice stiffened, but not cold as it once would, as she found her voice to express her confusion out loud.
Ny said nothing, just raised a quizzical eyebrow at Rhaenyra whose head turned to meet her gaze indignantly as she spoke of her uncle then widened eyes met Nys as she blinked in confusion.
"You can't possibly believe, for me???" Rhaenyra stepped back, shock painting her face white, eyes wide as she watched Ny shrug. Rhaenyra closed her eyes, her head shaking from side to side as she braced her hands against her waist, forcing deep breaths into her constricting through, lungs crying out for air as she struggled to breath. All the anger, the hurt she had felt despite her futile attempts to bury the useless emotions proved impossible to remove, much like the desire and love she still felt for her uncle.
A love, a care she knew to not be returned by the man who occupied so much for her thoughts and memories. His abandonment, his lack of communication or attempts to reach out her had hardened her heart, proof to herself that his follies that night had been nothing but his using of her and her trust for him, then tossing her aside once she held no more value to his ambitions.
"Forgive me if I fail to see how the man that abandoned me within the streets of that rats nest, I once called home, ran with his dick limp and tail shoved up his ass, could possibly have any use for me so much as to seek me out where he wouldn't know i am."
"All I'm saying is we receive word, word that your father seeks to have your safe return and even goes so far as to finally send men to Essos, their feet landing on the shores a mere weeks ago. And now Prince Daemon, the rogue know to all Westeros and known in several parts of Essos, is rumored to be coming to Volantis after months in Pentos." Rhaenyra listened to Nys low, almost threatening rumble. The threat not levied at Rhaenyra herself, but those that would see her potential harm and destroy the lives of many around them, "And now he makes to seek our establishment, out of all the establishments in Voilantis. Tonight. You know me, child, I hardly believe in coincidence but-"
"He wouldn't be here to take me back." Rhaenyra breathed, more so sounding as if she were trying to convince herself rather than posing a question, "Would he?" Rhaenyra had made amends that one day her father could potentially have sent people to find her, communicate to her in some manner. But it never crossed her mind that Daemon could be the one bearing the missive.
"If that is the princes intention, know that I will seek a high price." Ny assured, returning her attention to cleaning a glass with a rag.
"Make it fucking high, I beg you." Rhaenyra protested hotly, a flicker of fear capturing her pale eyes, settling deep within the furrows of her deepening brow.
"What's that? Enough for a private island and a castle you say?" With a smirk towards Rhaenyra, Rhaenyra breathed a small sigh of relief.
"Fully staffed." Rhaenyra added, her finger pointed at the mistress in agreement.
"You are incredible." Ny assured, placing a gentle kiss on Rhaenyras cheek.
"Go. Have a grand time at the markets, bring me something good to eat and come back early. Bath tonight and I shall send you word when Daemon arrives." Batting the younger girl away, sending Rhaenyra towards the door with a wave of her hand. "And lose the frown! Can't have you wrinkled." Rhaenyra laughed as she disappeared from sight towards the stairs.
Stopping at the small set of stairs just by the front door, Rhaenyra halted in her strides, hand pressed against the door. Volantis was a large city, not huge but still large enough that the chances to Daemon finding her, unprepared and alone, would be slim. But the knowledge that Rhaenyra could potentially open the door and Daemon be on the other side, walk around the markets, shuffling from stall to stall and be met with his burning lilac gaze, it made her knees tremble beneath her weight, almost sending her careening to the floor, crumbling like the stony walls she had erected around her heart, at the mere mention of Daemon being within proximity.
Opening the door, the hinges creaked against the slow, cautious movements as Rhaenyra peered out the small gap she had created. Peering out into the bustling street below, Rhaenyra was met with nothing. Nothing that her fears or anxieties had begun to speculate only to torment her, no song to answer the desire ebbing into her muscles. With a comforting deep inhale of breath, Rhaenyra made her leave, stepping out into the already boiling hot sunshine.
Daemon stalked of Volantis, the air humid and thick, hot under the strong blinding ball of sun, the moisture in the air causing beads of sweat the form along his skin, soaking through his clothes and pinning stray pieces of hair against the skin of his neck and forehead. After sending Caraxes to free fly and seek shelter high in the mountains. As he watched the red wyrm disappear Daemon wondered if he might find Syrax, locate his own long lost mate high within the hills. His footsteps ground against the rocky terrain under boot, slipping as he attempted to gain traction until he reached the cobble lined more sturdy ground amoungst the city. Volantis had been a city he would visit few times on his trips to Essos, finding Lys more to his leisure. But he could recall the one pleasure house the populace would boast about and recommend to the travelers passing through their city. One Daemon would always frequent, having heard alot about the establishment for his limited connection to Saera.
The Silk Palace.
A pleasure house Daemon hadnt set foot in for many years. Famed for its unique beauty, a delicacy for every taste that could pass through those doors and held the coin to pay for it. But Daemon hadnt come to lay claim to the pleasures held within, he came for answers.
He came for Rhaenyra Daemon kept in mind as he moved towards the building. Along the flight from Pentos to Volantis, of which Daemon refused to make any stops along the way a feat Caraxes was all too willing to abide by, the anguish began to fester as he reminded himself of WHY he was travelling to Volantis, to a pleasure house in the first place.
And Rhaenyras location had not be incredibly difficult to deduce through the crowded streets she was now calling home, an idea that made the dragon in Daemon growl sinister. Rhaenyra, who through easily verified information from around the marketplace of which the silver haired beauty could be easily identified, had been rumored to be residing within and even working for the pleasure house. For how long? Daemon would be finding out, demanding answers from his niece, dragging her out if he had to. Daemon was not overly picky in this situation.
The interior much like the outside had changed little as he stepped inside away from the skin crawling heat, dabbing a line of sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. The brightly painted walls, the soft rugs under foot throughout the seated areas, the polished floors underfoot glowing against the candlelight freshly lit for the evenings trade.
"You must be Prince Daemon? I presume." A long billowy figure greeted with a tight grin across a set of crooked front teeth.
"Keen observation although I am curious what led you to that conclusion? What gave me away?" Daemon found himself asking, rather snidely as he gazed around the near empty space, no signs of the ladies working within as of yet.
"Well, you are just as a certain someone described him to be." Daemons attention perked right away, eyes drifting back to meet the mistress head on, her face smug as she eyed him up and down. "Right down to your manners. It's usually quite rude to enter a pleasure house before they open properly." It didnt escape Daemon that neither had spoken that he could potentially be here looking for somebody, his visit had obviously caught the attention of the very person he came to seek out. Of Couse Rhaenyra would know he was here.
"I'm sure you can make an exception." His voice was low and incredulous.
"Just this once. As a favour." It was Daemons turn to frown. A favour to whom, Daemon need not ask, as the mistress turned and guided him further into the room towards the bar. Sliding behind the carved bar countertop she gestured to a stool for Daemon to sit as she prepped a goblet of wine for him.
"Westerosi wine?" Daemon stunned as he caught the fragrant wine wafting towards his nose, bringing the goblet to just under his nose to take in the fragrance more with a raise of his eyebrow, suspicious.
"Heard tale that you prefer it to the Amber Shit of Essos." Daemon paused hearing her words, knowing of only one person that could have muttered those exact words within these walls. Daemon opted to not sidestep the conversation, growing tired after having travelled the distance, the long dragonflight and his growing temper, paired with the gnawing ache that Rhaenyra was here somewhere and he had yet to see her with his own eyes, wearing on his nerves.
"How is it that the princess of Westeros came to reside here?" Daemon asked, his voice a low rumble as he sipped the wine, the fragrant Dornish berry coating his tongue, bursting fruit against his tastebuds in a melodic symphony. Finally some good fucking wine, Daemon caught himself near grinning as he tasted the sweet berries.
"In a pleasure house? Or in Essos?" Ny coyly asked, watching for Daemons every reaction. She was studying him, intensely, as if attempting to gain a reading on his behaviour. The intense scrutiny was leaving Daemon mildly seething, the observations causing his usual cockiness to want to rise to the occasion and bite back. But Daemon knew, if he was going to gain any information from this conversation, he needed to do what he hated the most-
Biting his tongue and playing nice.
"Both." Nys gave a shrug to his response, causing the muscle in his jaw to tense and twitch, his jaw clicking in contained irritation.
"The specifics will be something you shall have to speak with her yourself. I cannot speak on her own mind." Daemon sighed, his eyes rolling as he avoided Nys gaze. He knew there would be answers he would only get from Rhaenyra. But he was trying to extend to inevitable, wanting to be as prepared, and drunk, as he could be before he had need to stand in the presence and more than likely give into the temptation burning within his veins, tightening certain muscles at the mere memory of Rhaenyra.
"But how she came to reside here, in this pleasure house, well..." Nys voiced trailed off for a moment, her hand gesturing to Daemon, "it seems for some part you can claim some influence over."
Daemons eyebrow quirked questioningly, "Speak plainly."
"It seems one night, one venture out into the freedom the streets of Kings Landing provided, one taste of a long-forbidden fruit," Ny paused looking at Daemon with a knowing smirk, making Daemon shift uncomfortable against the stool, "and the princess found pleasure in life. A pleasure for fucking." Daemon felt his knuckled clench, white knuckles against the bars edge as he gripped tightly. Ny smirked watching Daemons subconscious reaction, she was sure he hadn't even realised he was doing it. But watching the known rogue white knuckling her bar at the mere idea of his precious dragon fucking some other man left her chuckling to herself.
"When Saera died, the establishment went through a few growing pains. No one protected the girls like she did. Money started to filter from the books but wasn't paying girls actually working. Then your niece showed up on our doorstep. Apparently, someone gave her the information for Saeras last known location and Nyra came straight here." Ny explained, thinking of the scared skinny little twig of a girl, a woman but so stilted by Kings Landing, turned up on the doorstep. Her silver hair twisted into a braid across her shoulder, dazed and seemingly lost in a world that she didn't think held a place for someone who abandoned everything.
"If it weren't for her, who knows what would have happened to this place. So beautiful. So alluring."
"She saved us."
"Saved you how?" His voice managed to remain level and even as he spoke, though Ny noted Daemons eyes narrowed as he watched her, the tension twitch in his jaw belying the irritation brewing within.
"Shes a very intelligent, very charismatic creature. An intelligence, from what i gather, sounds as though her own family never fully understood. Didn't allow her to actually showcase just how bright she is. And also the money that girl brings in on her own helps alot." Her cocky smirk was set the drive Daemon over the edge as he felt his fingers tremble against the counter, a reaction receiving nothing but a chuckle from her as she watched his hand clench into a fist. "If you want to hit me, aim true. But be prepared." Her body angled over the counter, her breath licking at Daemons face warm and faintly pungent of ale.
"I taught your niece to punch back. You hit me, she will knock you the fuck out." Her threat loomed, a crackle to her voice targeted lightening sharp. With a pause she straightened, her face softening back to the blank, calculated expression.
"That silver hair, the curves on that girl. I should say woman actually. Rhaenyra is no mere girl. Not anymore." Ny smirked at Daemon and Daemon was sure she was saying these things on purpose. How much Rhaenyra had told was becoming more obvious with how much Ny was intent on torturing him.
"So, my niece left her family and the security of an entire kingdom to come here and spread her legs?" A humorless chuckle left his lips as his words spat out, crude as his mind found reason to conjure up the image of a bared Rhaenyra laying spread apart on her bed as he gazed down over her naked form. Daemon shook that image from his mind real quick.
"Now now, there's no need for hypocrisy here, my prince." Ny bit back, her tone losing the quizzical ease she had been address him with, to a more serious, calculated tone. "Being a princess is impressive, to be sure, but for someone as driven and lively as your niece, it sounds like the pretty little cage everyone was trying to keep her locked away in just wasnt going to cut it."
"You cannot cage a dragon." Daemon found himself whispering, unknowingly out loud as he saw the mistress nod in his direction, apparently agreeing with his sentiments.
"And besides, nobody is permitted actually sleep with the delight of my establishment. No one." Her eyes hardened as she pointed at Daemon, the threat looming heavy in the air between them.
"What then, pray tell, do they pay her for? Her time?" Daemon balked, a frown deeply creasing against his brow.
"She has skills, valuable skills. Her virtue intact is part of the allure. One taste of her cunt and men weep. She's very good at what she can do." Daemons fist clenched as he struggled to render his hardening length to still beneath his britches. The idea of men finding pleasure in tasting what he first tasted, touched. The slick beneath her thighs that he once almost explored, and if given the opportunity once more Daemon doubted her could refuse, turning away would be nigh impossible if he could kneel and taste his wonderful niece.
"A goddess reborn with the skills of an enchanter. That body, that face, enough to bring a man undone with a touch." Ny continued, the cloth in her hand wringing against the rim pf the glass, polishing the glass in hand before replacing it to where the other cleaned glasses stood. "A woman of that caliber need not relinquish her maidenhead to pleasure a man. Or a woman." She shrugged, knowing Rhaenyra preferences were not so picky as one might think about the princess.
Daemon didn't like where this was leading.
"Stay around long enough and you will see." Daemon scoffed at her words, as if leaving was ever his intention, at least until he saw and spoke to Rhaenyra herself. "Your niece isn't the same little girl you abandoned." Daemon felt the sting of her final words. The sharp accusatory tone sinking teeth into his heart. He sipped his wine with a sigh.
Slowly almost regretting the push that drove him to come here.
Almost.
As the nighttime began to draw near Rhaenyra could feel anxiety roil within her stomach, her palms clammy as she attempted for the fourth time to straighten the hem of her gown and adjust the metal beading along her shoulders. The moment she descended those stairs into the frivolity begin to form, Rhaenyra would need to be the picture of sultry, play the alluring statuesque figure as she moved and enticed a man into her bed for the evening.
All as her uncle watched on.
Pressing her thumb to the dip in her brow, the furrow set temple to temple, Rhaenyra could escape the wanton pit forming, the sickened part of her soul that sang of the potential that the man she could lure into bed could very well be her uncle. Half fury, half desire. Warring together deep beneath her ribcage as she protested her dark desires that he abandoned her, why would she welcome him into her calm, her safety her bed, her cunt? Shivering she pushed that idea from her mind. She had yet to relinquish her maidenhead, why would she allow one to lay claim to it now? Especially the very person who had his chance and squashed it beneath his boot, grinding it into the dust as his rejection tore into her heart.
Unease clenched at her belly as Rhaenyra pictured the moments she would enter the room below. Daemon, who was currently occupying a table below, would be watching on, studying her every movement, predatory as his gaze bore into her very being. Would he approach her? Or would Rhaenyra be bold enough to saunter over to him as if no time had past? Would she ignore him? Would he leave, sneering at her shame?
How she longed for the moments of her youth. Naive abandon would have had her leap towards her uncle knowing for certain her would snag her from the air into her strong muscled arms, holding her tight to his chest as he spun her around to make her giggle.
My little dragon, he would whisper in their shared language.
It had taken her the entire day. an entire trek around the market of Volantis, walking the bridge ON FOOT, from old to new, for Daemons voice to cease echoing within her mind, the memory refusing to fade as she felt the all too familiar clench and pool between her thighs.
A sensation that the silver haired man of her sinful dreams never failed to achieve. She would always find herself a mess atop her sheets, hand buried between her thighs as she sighed for a relief that would never come. Chasing the dragon, as she had come to jokingly mutter to herself and on occasion to Ny when they had a few drinks.
A gentle rapping against her door broke Rhaenyra from her panicked pacing. "It's time, love." Calling out that she would be down in a moment, Rhaenyra sighed, taking one last opportunity to check her appearance in the mirror before steeling her resolve, holding her head high with a confidence she knew she had to exude as she stepped down those stairs.
And confidence she held as she entered the merriment, the infectious laughter, the loud chatter and clanking of glasses together. Head held high she stepped from the final step into the room, scanning with a warm friendly gaze, and thats where she found him.
Daemon. Seated along the back wall. Eyes boring into her very being before she even noticed him. Her knees buckled slightly as her eyes met his, the tremble vibrating through her hips and along her spine, almost weakening her resolve.
He had not changed, not that she expected the months to affect him so much that his appearance would be altered terribly. His hair was still shorter, a length she found incredibly alluring, from his adventures to the Stepstones. Rhaenyra could remember clearly his words, the bitter dread as he explained the blood-soaked loss of his long silver strands forcing him to cut his hair, long strands she could remember well from her youth. The same hair that hung from her head, hers being more golden than his incredible moonlight silver. The front fringe still hung low across his eyes, those eyes. The eyes that haunted her dreams, weaving threads into her sleeping self. He looked good.
Painfully good, so much so that Rhaenyra had to convince her body to not respond to the intensity of his gaze form across the room, the slicken between her thighs threatening to pool as she stepped to move amoungst the crowd, averting her gaze to greet guests as she was trained.
Daemon watched from the sidelines, tucked away at a table along the back wall, goblet of a Westerosi wine clutched between his fingers as his eyes never once left Rhaenyra stalk around the room. From his vantage point Daemon could see the majority of the room, majority of the splendor as people drink and laughed, bare skin touched bare skin. And Rhaenyra smiled brightly, a goddess walking amoungst men. He took note that her eyes never gazed in his direction, her eyes fixed on everything else in the room. She would lean against the bar, arms folded across in front of her under her breast, her pristine back arched ever so sinfully as she talked in hushed tones with the man working on preparing wine and ale for the masses.
In the center of the room a man began to become incredibly rough with a girl, no more than fourteen, who tried to stand to leave only to have his arm tightly wrap around her waist, pulling her hard against his chest as she struggled.
Rhaenyra unbeknownst to most in the room slinked over and beckoned the man to stand from the couch. Her intense gaze causing his hands to fall from the child as she quaked next to him, the fear colouring her pale features.
As if in a trance the man abandoned the young girl, who following Rhaenyras gesturing to leave, whimpered off to the welcoming protection of another girl who watched on from the sidelines. He stood from the couch, setting his sights on Rhaenyra now, which made Daemon shift in his seat, a predator preparing to pounce.
"You looking to come home with me?" The cocky slurred speech from the man enough to cause a twitch in Daemons forehead, a snarl twisting his lip back ever so slightly. Rhaenyra continued to smile, seductively as the man made to move towards her, to pull closer to her aura.
Daemon nearly made to leave his seat, goblet placed on the table, elbows hunkered against his thighs as the rage began to burn an all-familiar bright flame. Far off he could feel Caraxes rumbling growl, deep within his chest, calling to Daemons own rage.
Suddenly with a steady, unflinching smile painted across her pouted lips, Rhaenyra's hand snapped out, clenching a vice grip around the mans tightening breeches in a painful howl. Her fingers tightening even against the mans frantic fingers attempting to pull her grip from his cock, failing as Rhaenyra stared him down. Collapsing to his knees, falling onto his side as the blood flow began to throb with painful twitches, Rhaenyra's foot came to rest against his neck as her choked.
"Still want to take me home?" She murmured, an alluring smirk crossing her pouted lips, eyes glittering in the candlelight as she watched the man under her foot squirm.
Before a response could leave his lips, the man passed out against the hard surface of the floor, face tinted pink, a layer of sweat coating his skin as the pain overwhelmed his drunken senses. Watching Rhaenyra move back towards Ny, Daemon sank back into his chair, a smug grin threatening to flicker across his lips as he held the goblet to his mouth. Gone was the tiny whimpering child of her youth, here stood a dragon. Daemons dragon.
The equal to his blood song as it sang, watching its other half stalk around the room, strong and lively. A vivacious creature he had never seen before.
"I don't know what you did to the man, Nyra, but he will scarcely be able to walk." One of the girls joked, watching as the man had to be carried out by two companions, leaving through the doors with a struggle as the door clipped an elbow, slamming shut behind them.
"I dont know why they never want to take me home." Rhaenyra sighed innocently, "Was it something I said?" Ny just chuckled at the question, the innocent naively painted question.
"Well whatever you did helped alot." Ny thanked without saying the words outloud.
"I aim to please." Rhaenyras tongue darted out, wetting her lips. Even from a distance Daemon felt the tightening beneath his britches as he watched her tongue moving, capturing every bit of his attention. Rhaenyras lips twitched into a smirk as she peered over her shoulder, almost taunting him. Like she knew he would be watching her. Like all his attentions would be focused on her and planned to play him at his own game. The juxtaposition within his mind, of what Rhaenyra once was to the now incredibly alluring creature stalking the room, her back arched and standing tall. A dragon flame, beautiful, burning hotly enough to devour those within the room around her.
Standing from his chair, the wooden seat fell backwards to the floor, the thud muffled amoungst the laughter and chatter going on around him. Walking away, his strides predatory as he stalked towards his niece, descending down the few steps towards the bar.
"All besides me." the barman jested, holding his chest in mock wounded candor.
"Just name a time and I'm all yours." Rhaenyra countered playfully, bordering flirtatious tone irked Daemon in a way he had never experienced before. His chest constricted in a fury he was unfamiliar with, but new and bizarre sensations when it came to Rhaenyra, he was realising, were becoming more and more apparent whenever thoughts drifted to his niece...
Who was now standing in front of him and he could smell the perfume from her skin even from a distance. The alluring fragrance making his sense overload with want, mouth watering forcing him to swallow.
"Tease." Rhaenyra smiled at this, nibbling at her bottom lip as she peered up at the bartender innocently as he chuckled. His steps took him the opposite length of the bar to prepare more wine for a customer as Rhaenyra remained propped against the counter, elbows folded beneath her.
Daemon stood just behind her, watching her form softly sway in time with the lute playing from the balcony overhead. Her head bopped from side to side in time, the light catching her crown with her movements, making her hair glow like a golden halo circling her crown.
The blue material, cut just under the bust and along the tops of her hips, exposed much of her abdomen, her back left bare save for the gold beading details dangling from shoulder to shoulder along her shoulder blades. Daemon closed his eyes briefly as he watched her shoulders move against the beading in time with the music, his mind conjuring the image of his tongue tracing the length of her elegant back, feeling the bumps of her spine as he kissed and nip the pale skin to her neck, leaving pale violet bruised as he made his way to bite behind her ear.
The desire he had sequestered for so many moons had begun to bubble to the surface against his attempts to quell the sensation, like lava pouring through his veins as he could hear her sinful moans in his ear as his lips devoured her soft pout. Her whimpers. Kepa...
"Hello, niece." That silky voice that haunted Rhaenyras dreams for many moons sounded in her ears. Warm and sultry, coasting goosebumps down her bare arms. looking over her shoulder to where the voice rumbled so close to her ear, her eyes meet a fiery pair of lilac.
Violet met Lilac.
"Uncle."