Daena had sensed that the events of the courtyard would change a great deal of things, but she had not expected Ser Harwin to leave them.

He was to return to Harrenhal and take up his duties as Lord, after having been expelled from the Citywatch he had little choice but to leave. It was his duty after all, though Daena had read the histories of Harrenhal and she was not sure it was the place to be. 

It was said that the place was cursed. With many great houses meeting their end when they inhabited the castle. Daena did not believe much in the curse, but there was no denying that tragedy fell upon the inhabitants of Harrenhal.

"Be good to your mother, lads. I'll visit when I can. But that may be some time." Ser Harwin told both boys, though it was Jace who seemed to fully understand what was happening. Luke although disappointed by the commanders departure did not seem to fully grasp that this was to be a long a long departure. Nor did he understand the reasons for it, but Daena was it in her older brothers eyes. The truth of it all. "Jace. I will return... I promise."

The commanders words did nothing to ease Jace, who simply pulled away from Ser Harwin. He seemed angry and resentful, both emotions that she so rarely saw in her brother.

With a frustrated sigh Ser Harwin turned to Daena who had remained silent until now. She had not expected his attention but he kneeled before her taking both of her hands in his. "Daena. Take care of your brothers, they need you to ground them."

Her relationship to Ser Harwin was complicated, his relationship with her mother confusing. Yet, she could not deny that his departure was not easy. He had been in her life for as long as she could remember, and he always cared for her as if she were his own daughter.

He brought her gifts and made her laugh. He was a kind man and although his departure was for the best. She would feel his absence.

She smiled at Ser Harwin surprised by the tears that threatened to escape her eyes. Until now she had not realized that the commander was an important part of not only her brother's lives but hers too. He placed a kiss on her head before he finally turned towards the Princess Rhaenyra who held a sleeping baby Joffery in her arms.

"I will be a stranger when we meet again." He whispered to Joffery before placing a kiss on his head. There was a broke look in the commanders eyes. The truth was that his return was incredibly unlikely, and if he ever were to return it would many years til that day.

Throughout all of the commander's goodbyes Rhaenyra had been looking away. Daena looked between her mother and Ser Harwin aware of how difficult this was for them both.

"Princess." Ser Harwin muttered to Rhaenyra who hesitantly met his eyes. Almost like it pained him he finally looked away, not daring another look at the children that he had helped raise before leaving the room and disappearing down the hall.

Jacaerys instinctively ran into the hall to see Ser Harwin for one final moment. And without a second thought Daena ran to her brothers side aware of his distress and wishing that things could be different.

"We will exchange letters by raven." Rhaenyra assured her oldest son as she joined them in the hall. She still held their newborn brother in one arm as she reached out to comfort Jace. "Won't that be fun?"

Jacaerys met Daena eyes for a single moment, tears in his eyes before he looked up at their mother. "Is Harwin Strong my father? Am I a bastard?"

Although it might have only been a single moment it felt like a moment that had been stretched out for eternity. A gasp almost left Daena's lips at her brother's question. A question she would not have expected to ever be voiced. She looked up at her mother, seeing the same shock and worry reflected in her eyes.

"You are a Targaryen. That is all that matters." She replied not answering Jacaerys' question, her words doing nothing to ease his worries. It was true her brothers were Targaryen, there was no denying it. Jace and Luke might have not possessed the features of Targaryens or Velaryons, but they possessed something much greater.

They had dragons. That enough was proof that the blood of the dragon was in their veins.

There was a consistency to Daena's life that she both annoyed and resented. Not much changed in her life, and she was content because for the most part she was happy.

Although she knew she would miss her grandsire, she found some excitement to moving away from Kings Landing. Away from the expectations from the court.

The goodbyes were brief the only two people to meet them outside of the Red Keep being the King and his youngest daughter Helaena.

Daena did not expect her uncles to show as they did not care much about their sister, but she had expected the Queen to see them off. It only seemed proper, but Daena was no fool. She had always felt the Queen's disdain towards not only her bother but her brothers too.

"We will see each other soon sister." Helaena said, she was clearly confused. Or maybe she did see Daena as a sister, after all they had grown up together. Though that was unlikely, her aunt must have been mistaken. She often spoke words that made little sense, some whispered that she was mad.

Daena offered Helaena a smile, not willing to correct her in fear of confusing her more. "Yes, of course."

Helaena took both of her hands in her own with a sense of urgency that took Daena by surprise. "Hand turns loom; spools of green, spools of black; dragons of flesh weaving dragons of thread. Love and hate sealed by fire and blood."

Daena slowly pulled her hands away from her aunt unsure of what to say or do. Heleana tended to speak in riddles and words that made no sense, it was something that was widely accepted. But there was something about her words now that sent a chill through her.

"See you again by the sea." She whispered, though it mostly seemed to be to herself.

Again her words made little sense, but Daena knew better than to question her. She looked to her mother who was being embraced tightly by the Queen who did not wish to see her go. Although Dragonstone excited her, Daena knew that she would miss her grandsire terribly. She spent all her days by his side, serving him win and hearing his stories about the rise of the Targaryens and dragons. It would not be easy for him and she feared for his already fragile health.

"It is time my girl." Her father urged as he held out one of his hands to her. She took his hand as they all headed down the steps of the Red Keep, and towards the carriage that awaited them in the front courtyard.

Stepping into the carriage she sent one final wave to her grandsire who made no attempts to disguise his disappointment. He had asked his daughter to leave Daena under his protection so that she may continue to be his cupbearer, but Rhaenyra refused.

Not only did she not want to be away from her only daughter, but she did not trust the Queen to raise Daena properly. She feared that Queen Alicent would poison her daughter and that she would be treated cruelly.

There was a large ship waiting for them by the sea, all of their belonging already onboard. Laenor Velaryon had a wide smile as the stepped onto the ship, he had missed being at sea, as like any true Velaryon the sea water in his veins yearned to be out at sea.

Immediately her father began giving orders to all the men taking command of the ship. As the ship set sail Daena closed her eyes enjoying the fresh air that came from the sea and was so different from that of Kings Landing. She wondered how Dragonstone would be compared to the home that they were now leaving behind. But her brothers currently did not seem to share her excitement. Luke who often become sea sick was below deck with their mother who was caring for him. Jace stood at the other end of the ship leaning against the railing deep in thought.

"What is it Jace?" Daena questioned as she leaned against the the railing of the ship beside her older brother. He had not been the same since the events in the courtyard, not that she could blame him. It was the day he learned that everything he thought he knew was a lie. And he was no longer going to play the fool. Ser Harwin was his father, and he was illegitimate.

Daena felt as if it mattered little. What others believed meant nothing to her. However, it did matter to Jace who noe felt as if he had lost a father.

Jace turned towards his sister, his eyes no longer holding the sadness that they did before. "Everything is going to change."

"Change can be good." Daena replied though she knew that Jace was mostly upset about Ser Harwin who would soon reach Harrenhal. Although Laenor Velaryon loved him as his own son that did not change Jace's belief that he was no missing something. "I believe this to be a good change."

She believed it with her heart. She had no doubt that this change would be good. They would no longer have to endure the vicious words and rumors of the members of the court. They were now free to grow up as they wished.