CHAPTER TWELVE

TW: ABUSE AND OTTO

ROBERT slept peacefully in his crib, Roseva petted his head softly as she lulled him to sleep. The woman smiled lightly down at her son — the light of her life when she was so lost among the darkness.

Rhaenyra sat in a chair she pulled up to the babes crib and watched him with soft eyes — she loved him like he was her brother, like the brother she missed out on and she loved Roseva like a mother, a mother she missed out on because her own died.

"He's so beautiful, I thanked the Gods when he was born that he looked exactly like you and not Otto", Roseva laughed softly at the Princess' words and nodded in agreement.

"Yes, the Gods blessed me with that I dare say".

"Did you . . .", Rhaenyra looked from Robert to Roseva then back to Robert, "did you speak with Daemon?", the princess knew that she had but didn't want to be nosy but she desperately wanted to know the topic of conversation they had.

Roseva frowned slightly and she noticed making her heart begin to hurt for the Baratheon woman, "I did though it did not end well. He just . . . he likes to think he can show up and every time he does I'll run into his arms again. And I want to but I cannot. He really hurt me this time, Rhae, and besides I am wed now".

Rhaenyra nodded in understanding, "My uncle is . . . complicated—".

"Could've fooled me".

"—What I mean is that, Daemon doesn't know how to be present within himself so how can he with someone else?", Roseva turned her head from Robert to look back at Rhaenyra with a look of confusion.

Rhaenyra noticed and began to elaborate, "Father once told me that Daemon is adventurous and never sticks around a lot. He's only ever wanted a handful of things and most of them he never got. One of those things were you, Roseva. But he couldn't have you and so he was sent to wed Lady Royce — as you know that marriage isn't exactly . . . right. And so Daemon became resentful to those who disappoint him, my father is one of those people despite his obvious need to have my father by his side. He's been rejected too many times during his life, he's a second son it was bound to be this way but then he lost you and I guess that was the final straw".

"I do not understand".

Rhaenyra sighed, "Roseva, Daemon loves you, but he doesn't understand why you would love him".

"That is . . .", Roseva shook her head not knowing what to say.

"Ridiculous?", the princess finished for her and the two women met eyes, "Is it, Roseva? Because ever since he met you everything made sense to him: going to war, sabotaging every relationship he has and even faking having a child with that woman — all these events were to push you away and every time these things happened was every time you told him you wanted him too. He's scared, probably even terrified because if he really stays, truly, and you see the real him — the him that isn't so perfect, the rigid, anger ridden side of him that you will leave him and stay gone".

Roseva looked down as a tear slipped down her check, she quickly brushed it away and blew out a breathe, "I'm scared too", Rhaenyra took her hands in her own and smiled gently.

"He's a good person when he's with you, calm, you're like his anchor, I'd be so lucky to have someone love me like that", the princess leaned up on her toes and kissed the woman's cheek before exiting the room.

Steffon turned around and bowed his head when he noticed the princess, "Princess".

Rhaenyra smirked at him, "Steffon", she turned smoothly — hair softly swinging behind her as she walked away from him, the man watched her every step with a softened twinkle in his eye before he quickly wiped the look off his face when Roseva came out of her child's room.

The chamber door closed behind her when she stepped out of the room, meeting Steffon who was standing watch just outside of it. She walked silently with him swiftly behind her, he could tell just by looking at the back of her head that she was in deep thought.

Deep thought over Daemon Targaryen.

Steffon didn't know what to think of the rogue prince, in his honest opinion he thought Roseva deserved better than a man who couldn't stay in her presence for more than a day before moving onto something else — that being pretending to get a woman with child, going to war for years or getting sent away by their own brother.

But on the contrary, he had never seen anyone fight for his cousin more than Daemon did, fight and leave, yet he fought nonetheless.

Roseva's eyebrows were furrowed the whole journey to her chambers, she kept repeating her conversation with Daemon that they had earlier that same day. She was angry, she was tired and she was upset.

Angry because Daemon came back and as usual pretended like he never left, tired because she continued to love him anyway and upset because she was married to Otto.

But she also replayed the conversation she had with Rhaenyra and suddenly everything made sense to her.

Her chamber doors were coming up ahead, she turned her head to the side to see her cousin behind her, "Could you watch Robert tonight?".

"Of course, are you worried over something?", he asked with a look on his face that showed he was growing protective.

"No . . . I just want him to be safe, too much has happened today already".

"I'll watch over him", he nodded his head and she hugged him tightly with a whispered thank you.

"Goodnight, Steffon".

The man smiled lightly before bidding his own goodnight and watched as she entered her chambers before he walked away back to the young Robert's chambers.

Roseva began taking her earrings out, she threw them to her dressing table before going to take her necklace off and rested it on the table. It laid flat on the table, the moonlight made the red rose shine lightly — it made her smile a little.

"Rose", a voice made her jump and turn around quickly, grasping the knife she kept hidden on the table and held it up. She breathed a sigh of relief when she realised it was Daemon.

"Daemon! Oh my gods", she lowed the knife and placed it back on the table. "What are you doing in here?".

Daemon stepped out from the darkness, she could see the tiredness in his eyes — something he would only let her see. "I . . . came to—".

"Apologise?", Roseva finished for him and Daemon nodded, "I'm tired of your apologies, Daemon", she shook her head and turned her back to him, pulling the clips from her hair and letting the top part of her hair that was up fall down her back with the rest of it.

"I know", Daemon admired from afar but stood straighter when she turned back to him.

"What are we even doing, Daemon?", he watched as she rubbed a hand down her face and be began to notice the tired expression that rested on her face too — the bruise that stood on her cheek became more prominent in the fire light as well as the cut on her lip.

His eyebrows furrowed in confusion and anger, confusion because he didn't understand her words and anger because of the way Otto had been treating her — he knew he hadn't treated his own wife with respect and left her in a life with solitude but on the contrary he was resentful toward her for being a barrier between who he truly wanted but Otto took whatever he had with his Rose too far and he needed to go away.

"What do you mean?".

"I mean that . . . how many times are we going to have this exact conversation before we realise we are just not . . . meant to be?", Roseva looked at him sadly but he shook his head in denial.

Daemon walked forward and grasped his hands in hers, she tried to let go but he wouldn't, not this time, "We are meant to be. I know I have failed before, told you things that you wanted to hear, I know that and . . . I am so sorry, Rose".

Roseva closed her eyes as she felt tears begin to well, she was sick of crying, "It isn't just about me and you anymore. I have a son and he is the most important person to me now, I simply cannot afford to want you anymore because Otto will do anything and I mean anything to wed Rhaenyra to Robert and the only person who can stop that is me. Viserys may be one person who forced me into this marriage and I hate him for it but I am Roberts mother and Viserys does listen to me when it comes to him".

Daemon looked down and let go of her hands, "Who else do you hate for it?".

"What?", Roseva furrowed her brows.

"You said Viserys is one person you hate for forcing you into your marriage . . . who else?".

The woman looked at him for a moment, her eyes were cold from the tears that had fell previously but also cold inside, in her heart, "You".

The Targaryen closed his eyes and tilted his head down with a nod, letting the words sink in fully. "I was forced to marry Otto because you left me again!".

Roseva grasped his face, forcing him to look at her, "If you want me, Daemon, then fight for me. Do not come to my chambers with your apology because I don't believe you anymore. Fight for whatever it is you truly want because I don't care if it isn't me anymore, I am stuck in this marriage so long as I am in the Keep and I will never leave my son behind just because I love you".

Daemon opened his eyes quickly to see her let go of his face and stand straighter, and for the first time since he had known Roseva Baratheon — he couldn't tell what she was thinking.

A knock on her secret chamber door made her look away from him, she quickly pushed Daemon into the connecting room and wiped her face from the dried tears. The woman opened it to see one of her little doves, the young boy was caked in mud from living on the streets but he smiled toothily at the woman who had saved him once.

"Hello, little dove, do you have something for me?", Roseva smiled back sweetly and the boy nodded and whispered in her ear.

The two pulled away and the woman nodded at him, "Well done, little dove", she stroked his dirty cheek — she never minded because it wasn't their fault the kingdom couldn't afford to keep them clean and their belly's full.

Roseva stood and went over to her table and grabbed a coin and handed it to the boy, "Spent it wisely . . . you and the others know what to do if you're in danger or hear anything else".

"Yes, my lady. G'night", the boy held the coin in his hand gracefully and smiled widely before running down the steps of the secret passage that would lead him back into the common world.

"Goodnight, little dove".

When Roseva turned back to where she had pushed Daemon, she no longer found herself disappointed that he was no where in sight . . . again.

⸺

Daemon Targaryen stepped out of his chambers on the morrow, his discussion with Roseva made new plans hatch between two other individuals as well as himself.

Rhaenyra and Steffon stepped out behind him but went their separate ways with their own parts of the plan in motion. However, before Daemon could even attempt to begin his, two kings guardsman grabbed a hold of him as Ser Harrold muttered the words, "The King demands an audience, my prince".

Rhaenyra went to turn back to stop them but Steffon gently grabbed her waist and pulled her towards him and around the corner out of sight, "He knows what to do", he whispered in her ear — the pair then watched the guards drag Daemon to the throne room.

Daemon fell to the floor when the guards pushed him down before exiting rather swiftly, the man groaned and laid still when he heard footsteps approaching — his brother, the king.

"Roseva", the King said, looking down at his brother in disbelief, disgust and disappointment. Daemon groaned again and rolled over onto his back to look to the man. "Won't you even deny it?".

The younger brother sat up and smoothed his hair back, "I need to understand the charge before I can attempt to discredit it", though he understood perfectly. When he had left Roseva's chambers the night before, Otto was on his way to see her.

Both men had stopped and stared at each other, Daemon smirked before striding passed him. Otto looked at the chamber door with anger before he walked off to see the King — causing the now dispute between the two brothers.

Daemon watched his brother closely and fully realised what Roseva had meant when she said Otto would do anything to wed Robert to Rhaenyra — she was the heir and Robert his son, his son would be a King. And the only thing stopping that from happening was Roseva — Otto was trying to get rid of Roseva.

"You defiled her!", Viserys kicked him in the stomach. Daemon fell back and cried, "Ouch! What the fuck was that for?".

Viserys loomed over him, "All those years ago, you defiled Rose, and last night you did it again!".

"What does it matter, brother? Roseva was and still is a woman—grown. Better her first experience be with me than Otto Hightower who you forced her with!", Daemon shouted back, finally losing his one strand of sanity to calmness.

"You fucking—", Viserys grabbed Daemon's clothes by the neck and lifted his head up a bit, "You have ruined her! What will Otto do to her now? In this condition? He let it slide the first time but now?".

Daemon pushed his brother off of him and started to stand fully, once he was he looked Viserys dead in the eye, "Who gives a fuck what some lord thinks? You are the dragon. Your word is truth and law".

"I have spent a life time defending you. But your heart is even blacker than I thought. I should have her father disown her as I should have done with you and be done with it".

Daemon scoffed, "Rose has been through enough, do you not think, brother?", he spat and Viserys narrowed his eyes waiting for the catch.

"And so?".

"And so wed her to me. When I offered up my crown, you said I could have anything. I want Roseva. I'll take completely as she is and wed her in the tradition of our house".

Viserys looked at him with bafflement, "You are both already wed".

"And Otto beats her every day! Every day, brother", Daemon grabs hold of him, eyes full of dragon fire.

Viserys sighs and pushes him away from him, "And you are a plague . . . sent to destroy me".

"Give me Roseva to take to wife and give me her son to raise as my own and we'll be gone from here, I swear this to you, brother. All this time you've tried to get rid of me . . . give me this and I will stay gone".

Viserys looked as though he was beginning to cave and Daemon began to fill with hope but it was quickly destroyed when he stepped back and shook his head, "Go back to the Vale, Daemon, to your lawful wife. Strive to restore whatever scrap of honour remains in you. Or don't. Matters not to me. As long as you are gone from my sight for good", he spoke before he was gone from the room.

Daemon sighed as another plan forged into his head, As you wish, brother".

⸺

Otto Hightower walked into Roseva's chambers to see her playing with Robert on the floor — the small child looked at his mother with a smile to which she returned it.

Steffon stood outside the door in his usual place but kept a closer ear on the room in case Roseva needed him — the woman had been explicitly clear that he should not come in without her orders to but a plan had been forged and therefore he stayed and waited for what was bound to happen.

"Did you sleep with him?", The man said and Roseva looked behind her to meet his eyes and scoffed as she picked Robert and placed him in his crib that she had put in her chamber if she was ever too worried to have him in his own chambers.

The woman turned to face her husband, "How dare you come in here and accuse me of such notions. I am not the one that has been unfaithful, husband", she spat.

Otto tilted his head higher and furrowed his brows, making Roseva smile but not one of kindness and it make his stomach drop, "Do you honestly think you are the only one with spies running around?".

"You've been busy, wife".

"And you have been nothing shorter than a cunt. Leave".

Otto walked forward and grabbed her by the neck harshly, Roseva's eyes widened and she clawed at his hand but he shoved her into the wall behind her causing her back to ache.

She looked behind Otto when Robert began crying loudly, his brown eyes were looking right at him — she never wanted him to see her like this, to see his father doing this to her. And he never had until now.

"O-otto", she cried as she looked back at him with a red face — her breathing becoming slower the tighter he held onto her.

"Robert will wed Rhaenyra and he will become King", he spat.

Steffon had heard the commotion and signalled to Rhaenyra who was waiting around the corner — the princess ran off and began screaming, "Help!".

Suddenly Criston Cole came running toward her with Ser Harrold beside him, "He's hurting her!". She ran back to where Steffon was and she quickly nodded which made the Baratheon kick open the door, sword at the ready.

Criston and Ser Harrold came in behind him and looked at the scene in front of them — Otto Hightower looming over his wife who was clinging onto life while their child screamed and cried while trying to grab at his mother from his crib.

Steffon held his sword toward the man as did Criston and Ser Harrold who were shocked beyond belief, of course they had heard rumours but now they saw Otto in the act and Roseva was under the Princess Rhaenyra's protection therefore Otto stood no chance.

"Remove your hands from the lady", Steffon spoke harshly and came up behind Otto as the other two came to the side — surrounding him.

Otto reluctantly let Roseva go — the woman fell to the floor and coughed continuously as she clutched her throat. Rhaenyra ran forward and passed the guards to Roseva and helped her up but the woman made a bee line to her son.

Robert's hands grabbed to his mother once she was close enough, he had stopped crying the moment Otto released her — the woman picked him up and cradled him to her chest. Rhaenyra grabbed a hold of her arm and pulled her to the side just as the guards grabbed a hold of the man in front of them.

"Put him in the dungeons", Rhaenyra ordered and the guards nodded and dragged Otto away, Steffon closed the door behind them and instantly pulled Roseva into a hug making her cry loudly.

"Thank you", she whispered to the two and they nodded gently, "Where's Daemon?". Rhaenyra smiled sympathetically making Roseva frown, "He left again?".

"Not quite. Just trust us".

Roseva looked between the two in confusion but nodded anyway and kissed her sons head.

Trust them.