CHAPTER TWENTY

DAEMERYS had been surprised when she arrived in her chambers to see a woman standing by her window, "Excuse me?".

The woman turned, the moonlight from the open window cascaded down her pale face, her complexion was soft, her dark black hair faded down her back as she stood in a black dress. "Daemerys", even her voice was soft but rough around the edges.

Daemerys' face fell before she pulled up her gown and took her blade out — holding it in front of her and caressing her belly subconsciously. The woman's eyes drifted as she let out a pleasant hum. "I'll have you know, I have a very good friend who also happens to be my guard. All I have to do is scream and he'll come running", her eyes narrowed then, "Unless I get to you first".

The woman smiled softly, "Do not fret, my princess".

Princess? What the f—

"I am a friend".

Daemerys laughed sarcastically and cocked her head, "Oh really? Whom, may I ask?". The woman was beautiful, she had a natural glow to her, almost breathtaking, but beautiful women were to never be trusted.

"Yours. You came to me in a dream, you needed my help", she glided across the room, her hand raised and the blade fell from her hand — Daemerys felt her eyes widen and mouth open.

"What the fuck?", her eyes then darted to the mysterious woman, "Who are you?".

"Alys. Alys Rivers".

"And Alys Rivers what brings you to my chambers with this", she motions to the blade now on the floor, "witchy voodoo— witchy business?", Daemerys watched as Alys' expression turned to amused as she sat on a chair by the fire — her hand motioning for her to sit.

Daemerys hesitated before sitting opposite her, "I saw you in a dream I had, you needed my help".

"Your help with what exactly?", she hadn't meant to sound rude but she didn't know the woman, for all she knew Alys could be buying time to kill her.

Alys shifted, eyes boring into hers, "Do you not have somewhere to be tonight?". Her avoidance of the question worked as Daemerys tutted in realisation but looked confused on how she knew that, she stood back up, pacing across the room and taking a dress out but stayed aware of the other woman in the room. "You do not have ladies in waiting helping you?".

"I do not care for ladies in waiting, I did not have any and I turned out just fine", Alys nodded and stood up, walking over and taking the dress from her hands and placing it back into the wardrobe. Daemerys watched as she skimmed her slender fingers over each gown before stopping on a dark blue one.

"I'll help you", the Targaryen nodded sheepishly and turned around for Alys to undo her laces. Once the gown fell to the floor, the woman admired her slightly swollen belly when she turned around. "A boy, I presume".

"How can you tell?", Daemerys whispered as she touched her belly but Alys simply tapped the side of her nose with a smirk. "A witch never tells her secrets".

Alys helped the woman slip into her new gown, lacing it up before taking a brush from the vanity and begins brushing her hair back. Daemerys closed her eyes and lets the woman work — perhaps she should've have ladies in waiting, it made things more easier but she knew Corlys would be disappointed if she grew lazy.

"Why are you helping me?", she asked and Alys hummed in thought. Placing the brush down, the witch smoothed the woman's hair down making Daemerys open her eyes to lock with hers in the mirror.

"Because I have a feeling you and I are going to be the best of friends".

Daemerys looked away in thought but stood when a knock echoed through the chambers, Alys gave her a look and hid in the shadows just as Ser Criston ventured in, "Daemerys, the prince Aemond is awaiting your presence outside".

"Thank you, Criston", the man nodded once and turned to leave, closing the door behind him with a clatter. Daemerys eyed Alys, "Will you be here when I return?".

"I will not but you have my word, Daemerys, I will be by your side", the woman frowned with uncertainty — finding the whole thing awfully weird but couldn't help the unerring feeling that something bad was going to happen to her but not by the hands of the witch.

A life for a son.

The princess closed the chamber door behind her as the voice echoed, her eyes snapped up to the walls — Ser Criston stepping forward when he noticed the look on her face. Aemond waited patiently for his wife to snap out of her gaze.

"My love?", he called after a minute, she turned quickly, hair flipping over her shoulder for her eyes to lock onto him.

A vibrant smile graced her face and she ran over to him quickly, "My champion", she kissed him softly. Aemond blushed deeply but his smile never turned, he tried his best over the year of their marriage to compose himself for when they were in public, more often than not, Daemerys couldn't recognise the man she married but she loved him and that was enough.

"Shall we, my love?", the woman hummed at his question and took his arm, Aemond liked keeping her close, moving from their shared rooms and down the halls to reach the private dining room were their family who were to join them on the meal tonight.

Upon their entrance, Daemerys discovered the fires ablaze from the candle setting, Rhaenyra looked up from her place next to her husband to see the glow on her daughters face. A smirk covered her face before she looked down and began conversing with Jacaerys who sat opposite her.

"Daemerys!", a small voice called and the woman let go of her husband to venture over to Lucerys, who was beaming at her, his future Lady wife sitting beside him.

"There you are!", she smiled whole heartedly in return. "I have missed you".

"I too, sister".

Alicent falsely smiled at the group of people around the table, Rhaenys placed in between herself and Rhaenyra, timidly she grabbed her hand, "Prayer before we begin?".

"Of course"

Daemerys sat beside her husband and grabbed his hand before she locked eyes with her father who snickered under his breath as Alicent began her prayer — the girl merely sat back in her seat, clutching her wine and taking a sip, eyeing everyone else praying with amusement, just like she had a year ago.

"May the Mother smile down on this gathering with love. May the Smith mend the bonds that have been broken for far too long. And to the men sacrificed today for my son, Aemond's win, may the gods give them rest".

Daemerys looked to Aemond but his face didn't change, just as stoic as ever but he caught her gaze making her smile, rubbing her thumb over the top of his hand.

"This is an occasion for celebration", Otto begun and Daemerys pursed her lips in contemplation, "Daemerys and Aemond have been wed for just over a year now, despite the families wishes".

"Father—".

"But it seems the happy couple are doing well", Otto continued over his daughters interruption and looked to the pair with a flaming subtle glare. Heleana twiddled her knife on the table, humming lightly to herself as Aegon leaned over her to fill his cup.

Daemerys glanced at her husband next to her, seeing his jaw clench, making her shift in her seat and look away. "Thank you, Lord Hand". She muttered, taking a chance and looking him in the eye with her own glare.

"To the happy couple", Alicent raised her glass, trying to keep the peace.

"Hear, hear!", Daemon shouted and his daughter smiled over at him as the others raised their cups.

"Well Jacaerys, when will you bed your woman? Left it long enough, have you not?", Daemerys snapped her head over to Aegon who was smirking over at Jace and Baela — Baela shot him a disgusted look but her betrothed placed his cup down harshly on the table — trying to ignore his words.

"You do know how the act is done, I assume?", Aegon continued, Daemerys watched warily as Jace clutched his cup tighter, knuckled turning white, "I offered to show you once, I'm offering again but after that, well—".

"Let it be, cousin", Baela stopped him, shifting in her seat with an uncomfortable frown. Aegon made everyone uncomfortable with his dirty jokes and unrelated humour, he had no idea what it meant to play nice or he did but failed miserably.

"Aegon, please", the woman muttered and gave him a glare when he turned to face her with a smile on his lips.

"I'm merely trying to give my nephew some pointers, gods know he needs it".

"You may play the jester as you wish, but watch how you talk to my betrothed and sister", Jace hissed making Aegon hum and move away, displeased with how the conversation turned out.

Daemerys looked to Aemond again, her eyes were soft as he turned his head to look at her — holding her stare. She smiled before she stood, everyones attention turning to her. "I have some news".

"Love?", Aemond asked with concern on his face but her smile seemed to calm his nerves.

"I am with child".

Aemond opened his mouth but no words seemed to pour out, it wasn't until he noticed her face fall slightly that he mumbled, "Truly?".

Daemerys took his hands, "Yes, it's early but I checked with the maester. I wanted to be sure this time since the last time", her eyes grew sad for a moment when she remembered what happened a few weeks after their wedding.

Aemond shook his head and stood, kissing her softly and cheers erupted around them, mostly from her family than his. Rhaenyra beamed as did Daemon as they watched them, happy with their decision to wed them in secret, even Ser Criston smiled as he stood guard in the corner, trying to keep his tears at bay.

"To Aemond and Daemerys!".

Chatter conducted as music began playing, Aegon coughed and stood up, walking over to Daemerys as he filled his cup of wine again, leaning down to mutter, "I regret the disappointment you are soon to suffer, my brother's absence should not be surprising once the babe is born".

A fist slammed on the table, a figure standing at the same time as the family looked up to Aemond , who despite his outburst, looked calm as he heard his brothers words but his wife's did not. "Sit down, Aegon, before you kill you before your mother".

Otto glanced at her, slightly amused but more irritated by the situation as well as Daemon but for different reasons — her father visioning taking the princess head clean off his shoulders and hanging it as a trophy in Dragonstone.

Himself and Jace stared at each other, the latter held up his cup once Aegon sat down — thumping Aegons shoulder, "To my dearest sister, may she be blessed with a wonderful pregnancy and safe birth".

Aemond sat and raised his cup, his eye glaring at his brother. "Thank you, brother", Daemerys smiled and rubbed her belly softly.

"There's a beast beneath the boards", Heleana whispered, Daemerys took her hand causing the woman to glance at her before looking down at her belly with a sad gaze. Daemerys looked down with confusion and fear, the uncertainty and dread filling her again as Helaena looked away.

Aemond raised his cup, "I'd like to raise my cup", Daemerys snapped her eyes from the woman to him as did everyone else, "To my wife, light of my life, thank you for gracing my life with your presence and giving me this extraordinary family. It's a beautiful life we are living together".

Her eyes softened and she raised her cup, toasting to the speech as well with a smile. It was indeed a beautiful life they were living together.

"Let us have some music", Otto clapped.

Jace stood at once, holding his hand out to Baela who took it with a smile, the pair venturing to the floor and began dancing to the music.

Daemerys looked over at them with a smile, she met the eyes of Rhaenys who nodded with a prideful look, you've done well, was the message and the woman felt internally grateful.

Aegon turned in his seat, looking to Aemond who's face was blank as his eye settled on his brother — still displeased with him.

Otto and Alicent clapped when Helaena got up and danced with the couple, smiles upon their faces that had been rare.

Daemerys sat back and watched, taking gulp of water, swiping a piece of pork off her husbands plate and shoving it in her mouth — the man looked at her with fake annoyance yet smiled when she looked at him innocently, "I'm eating for two".

"Hmm", Aemond hummed and began filling her plate, wanting to make sure the baby and herself were well fed. Not wanting anything to happen this time.

She hadn't known when it went wrong, one minute the family were laughing and the next Aegon is standing, well swaying in a drunken state.

"Final tribute", he raised his cup, "To the health of my nephew or niece, may they be healthy and not a bastard just like it's mother".

Daemerys looked at him hard, breathing heavy in anger whereas Alicent bit her knuckles when Aemond grabbed his knife and stabbed it into the table.

"Aemond—", Alicent went on but stopped when Rhaenyra turned her head with an angry look, Daemon holding the same but much more murderous. The music had stopped playing and the three whom been dancing stopped with shock plastered on their faces.

"Come...let us drain our cups to the bastard carrying my brothers baby", Aegon instantly held his cup but lowered it when nobody joined him — the air silent.

"I dare you to say that again", Aemond gritted out and Aegon turned to face him.

"Lighten up brother, you know who you married", finally Aemond snapped and punched Aegon in the face — Alicent calling for them to stop.

Aegon pushed his brother back but his drunken state was nothing for Aemond, he ended up being a bloody mess on the floor, nobody bothered helping him not even his own mother but she never did. Aegon got into messes all too often.

This one he would have to deal with on his own, nobody in the room knowing that Aegon would be sitting on the throne sooner rather than later — leaving Daemerys to make decisions she never dreamed of making.