The moment that Marynax had grown large enough to carry Daena, there was nothing that could stop the princess from spending her empty hours with her dragon. She had long forgotten about her needlework and spent her days with wanting to become an experienced dragonrider.

Daena had Marynax land as close to the castle as possible, and as she climbed of the dragon's back she placed her hand on its neck. Taking a step back Daena nodded before her dragon took off to the skies once again.

She watched as Marynax flew off, no doubt on her way to join the other dragons. She had grown so big over the last couple of years, and Daena grew more excited as she almost grew as large as Syrax. Once she could no longer see Marynax Daena rushed up the steps to the castle, knowing that she was about to be scolded for being late.

Two members of the Kingsgaurd opened the doors of the great hall for her, where she could already see her brother pacing impatiently.

"You're late." Jacaerys declared the moment she walked through the doors. He had clearly grown impatient from waiting, though in reality she was not as late as she believed.

"Yes I know." Daena replied as she took little Aegon from her handmaidens arms. She knew that Jace was upset, he took the lessons very seriously and he wished to perfect his High Valyrian. Sometimes Jace would spend hours practicing with her and Luke between his lessons with the Maester.

Her brother stepped toward her placing a large tome about Aegon's Conquest on top of the Painted Table. "You reek of dragon."

"If you wish to insult me, do it in High Valyrian." She dared him only to earn an annoyed look from her older brother.

"Let's just begin."

Not wishing to annoy her brother any further she began to read from the old book in High Valyrian as Aegon gently tugged on her silver waves. He little brother was almost getting too big to carry, and Daena found that the fact caused her to want to carry her brother more.

"The Conqueror and his sisters sailed with a great army." Jacaery's translated proudly.

Daena nodded, although her brother's pronunciation was not the best his translation was correct. "Se Blakuata Rasho dranot vilinio viartis."

Jace exhaled as he placed his hands on the table, deep in thought. "And landed at the Blackwater Rush."

"Dranot." She repeated, hoping that he would correct himself but he only seemed to grow more confused.

"Dranot. Dranot. Dranot." He muttered to himself as he began to pace along the length of the table before he came to a stop before her. "At the end?"

"The mouth." Their mother corrected as she entered the room, Rhaeynra's hands softly caressed her swollen belly as she smiled at her eldest children.

"Mouth! Ah, come on, Jace, you knew that." Jace exclaimed disappointed in himself once again, and now that their mother was here she knew that Jace did not wish to disappoint her."Dranot. Dranot."

"Dranot vilinio viartis." Daena repeated once again, her tone reflecting her boredom. Most days she was happy to help her brothers with their studies, but after having spent the morning on dragon back she wished for a shower.

"Dranot. Dranot. Come on, Jace."

"Perhaps that's enough for this morning." Their mother suggested.

"No, no. I... I want to keep going." Her brother insisted as he turned his attention back to her. She knew that he would be willing to spend hours studying, but she did not wish to spend the rest of the day reading the history of Aegon the Conqueror for what felt like the hundredth time. "Sister?"

Daena rolled her eyes and sighed as she began to read from the old tome again. "Guesi misenakson Aegon undas."

"Aegon... ordered that the trees should be... killed." Jace declared proudly unaware that his translation was incorrect.

"Killed?" Deana exclaimed in disbelief, and she had to try not to laugh at her brother. "You cannot be serious."

"Felled. It is a related word." Rhaenyra corrected while also trying not to discourage her son. As her mother stood beside her Daena placed her free hand on her mother's swollen belly. She was finally beginning to show and once again Daena secretly hoped for sister. Though in a way she did finally have sisters in Baela and Rhaena. " I don't expect you to learn High Valyrian in a day, Jace."

"A king should honor the traditions of his forbears." Jace replied passionately, and Daena could not help but smile at her older brother. He really was born to be king there was no denying it.

"Well... unless you're planning to depose your own mother, you have plenty of time to study." Their mother countered with a smile of her own. It was clear that she was also proud of her eldest son and how seriously he took his position as her heir. But she also did not want that responsibility to consume him, even though it was a heavy responsibility to carry.

Suddenly, the doors of the main hall opened as Daemon walked straight towards them. His expression was serious, though in reality it was not much cause for concern. It was almost impossible to guess what was going through Daemon's mind.

"Leave us." Their mother instructed, and the two eldest siblings simply nodded as they motioned for Joffery to follow them. He was seated on the floor playing with a wooden toy dragon that Daemon had gifted him on his last namesake.

Joffrey ran ahead of them both and through the large doors, undoubtedly in search of Lucerys. As Jace and Daena walked out of the hall he offered him arm to her as the headed to the courtyard. He remained silent as they walked, and she knew that his sour mood was due to his studies. He always became gloomy when he felt as if he had failed at something.

"It will come to you Jace." She assured her brother knowing how much it troubled him that he struggled with the language.

"It does not come as naturally to me as it does to you and Luke." Jace replied, though Daena did not believe that High Valyrian came more naturally to her and Luke. It was simply that they had more time to practice and perfect the language. Their duties were not as extensive as Jace's, who was being raised to be a king.

"Yes, well you cannot expect to be perfect at everything."

"I can try." He stated stubbornly and Daena knew that there was no point arguing with her brother.

As they stepped outside to the courtyard they found Rhaena walking up the steps to the castle. She was covered in dirt and mud, the smell of dragon clung to her as it always did when she went searching for dragon eggs with her father.

Daena smiled at her cousin, hoping for some good news about their search. "Rhaena. Any new eggs?"

"Three." She replied as she took Aegon from Daena's arms, but there was a troubled expression on her face. Daena wondered if it was due to the fact that she still wished for a dragon of her own, it always seemed to be a sensitive topic for her. But Rhaena had found a way to be content with not being a dragon rider regardless.

"Perfect." Daena replied happy to hear that there would be enough dragon eggs for Aegon, Viserys and their new sibling that was on the way.

"There was a raven from Baela." Rhaena quickly added, and she now understood the reason as to why she looked so grim. Immediately worry seized Daena wondering if Baela was hurt, there were few reasons why Rhaena would be this worried. Only now did Daena realize that Daemon also had a worried expression, though his held more fury than Rhaena's.

"And the contents of the letter?" Jacaerys asked realizing that whatever that letter contained was what their mother and Daemon were discussing in the great hall.

"Our grandsire is gravely ill. He was injured at the Stepstones." She continued, but it was clear that it was not the worst of it. "Vaemond Velaryon intends to petition to be the next Lord of Driftmark if grandsire succumbs to his injuries."

"Lucerys is heir to Driftmark." Daena stated firmly, the idea of someone wanting to take what was her brother's birth right angered her. Corlys Velaryon had chosen Luke as the next Lord of the Tides, it was his right as the son of Laenor Velaryon. But they all knew why their uncle Vaemond wanted to claim Driftmark, he like many others saw Lucerys as illegitimate. It was untrue of cours considering that her father, grandsire and at the King himself all declared Jace, Luke and Joff as legitimate.

"Our grandmother is now headed to King's Landing." Rhaena added, and from her tone it was difficult to assume that it was good news.

"To petition in favor of our brother?" Jace questioned, as if there was no other option.

Rhaena remained silent for a moment, undoubtedly thinking what they all were. Rhaenys petitioning in Lucerys favor was not entirely guaranteed. Not when she believed Rhaenyra and Daemon to be responsible for the murder of her son, Laenor.

Daena was aware of the terrible rumor, but she knew that her mother would never be capable of such a thing. She believed it of Daemon, but never her mother. As she grew older Daena recognized that her mother was never truly happy with father, not in the way that she was happy with Daemon. They had married shortly after her father's death, which only served to further ignite the rumor that Rhaenyra and Daemon had Laenor killed.

Daena was not so naive as to not admit that there were coincidences. But Rhaeynra was no murderer, and although their marriage was arranged she knew that her mother and father loved each other. Even if it was not romantic.

Yet, she did not believe her grandmother capable of turning against them even if she believed that Raenyra had a hand in the death of her son. Because although their grandparents were aware the Rhaeynra's three eldest sons did not carry their own Velaryon blood, they still loved them as their own.

"I'm not certain."

Daena looked to Jace, because they all knew that questioning Luke's legitimacy had worse consequences than loosing the Driftmark throne. In questioning Luke's legitimacy it also questioned not only Jace's claim to the Iron Throne but also their mothers.

The worst of it was that it was well know that King Viserys now longer sat upon the Iron Throne, that his illness had become so severe that he could no longer rule properly as king. It was Queen Alicent and the Hand of the King, Otto Hightower, that ruled over Westeros.

"I suppose we will all be headed back to King's Landing then." Jace stated, knowing that they all could not simply remain on Dragonstone and allow for their brother's broth right to be stolen from him.

Lucerys was to be the next Lord of the Tides, and they would not allow anyone to question his claim.

It had been a long time since Daena had been out at sea, mostly because it brought her great sadness. Anytime she was aboard a ship she was reminded of her father, and although she cherished the few memories she still held of him it was almost impossible not to think of that night on Driftmark.

They had set sail not long after they had received the raven from Baela, now it was morning once again and Kings Landing was not far out. Daena walked across the deck of the ship to Lucerys, who was looking out into the sea. She wondered if maybe he was feeling sea sick once again, as they rarely sailed anymore.

Daena stood beside her younger brother, who did not acknowledge her presence as he continued to look straight ahead. "What's wrong Luke?"

"Why must I go petition to be Lord of Driftmark when I have no real claim?" He questioned looking out to the crystal blue sea. His words shocked Daena as she had never realized that Luke felt as if he was not deserving of being Corlys Velaryon's heir.

"Do not speak such foolish words."

Luke turned to face her and she could see the frustration on her younger brothers face. He had attempted to remain stoic through most of their voyage, but now as King's Landing loomed closer his walls were beginning to crack. "You have a stronger claim to Driftmark than I do. You know this to be true."

"You are blood of my blood. We bleed the same." She told her younger brother, because she did not care that they had different blood fathers. If he bled so did she, he was so dear to her that she couldn't possibly imagine a life without any of her brothers. And she hated that Luke felt lesser for something that mattered so little to her. "Pay no mind to the poisonous words of others, you are a true Velaryon. Your claim is as strong as mine. Do you understand?"

He looked away from her then, and she immediately reached out and placed her hand on her brothers chin forcing him to meet her eyes again.

"Do you understand?"

He nodded slowly, and although he had agreed she knew that he still had doubts. "Yes."

"When you arrive to Kings Landing you will do so with your head held high. You are Prince Lucerys Velaryon, son to the Heir of the Iron Throne and future Lord of Driftmark. You will act like it."

Again he nodded and she placed a kiss on her brother head as another attempt to comfort him. It felt as if he had grown so quickly the last couple of years, he was now almost as tall as her and if he was to be like Jace then he would grow much taller still.

"There it is." Luke muttered softly, and although she could still see that he was worried he now held his head up a little bit higher.

They could already see Kings Landing in the distance, they would probably reach the shore within the hour. Oddly enough Daena did not find herself exited to return to the place where she had grown up. They had found peace in Dragonstone away from the critical eyes and vicious words of the members of the court. Away from the cruelty of the Queen and her sons.

The night when Aemond lost his eye, was not forgotten to her. The many horrible things had occurred on Driftmark haunted her still. They had not seen the Queen or their uncles since that night, and Daena did not expect a warm welcome.

The only aspect of their return that brought Daena any kind of joy was seeing her grandsire after so many years. She knew of his declining health, she truly did miss him. Though the subject of their return was anything but joyous and she wondered if the King still had the strength to fight in their favor.

A/N: Here we go, now the story finally kicks off. I know this is a bit of a longer chapter but I ended up combining two chapters into this one. It just felt like it flowed much better. I know you all want drama and I promise you it is coming, let me just say that Daena will not be returning to Dragonstone with the rest of her family after this. I will be changing the timeline a little to fit with my story, but the major events will still occur the same way.