CHAPTER TWENTY—THREE

TW: death, blood, loss of a child

LUCERYS often pondered on his life. The land he would one day inherit as well as wedding his betrothed so she could rule Driftmark by his side.

But that would mean his family were dead.

He often thought of his sister, Daemerys and how he missed her presence in Dragonstone. He remembered how she read to him and told him tales of the adventures she had been on during her time with Lord Corlys. He was proud of her and the person she had become, she was married now and was having a child of her own — another person to care about and cherish.

Lucerys had a fear of death. Lucerys had a fear of the sea. Lucerys had a fear of ruining everything. But he didn't fear anything when he was with his sister. It was a peculiar thing, she was only partly blood related to him and yet they shared a bond stronger than any form of blood.

The boy looked up from the carved-in war map, hand trailing over Driftmark with a focused glance before it was interrupted by his mother, Rhaenyra waltzing in, "The Sea Snake is going to die isn't he?".

Rhaenyra sighed and looked away, "Luke—".

"I cannot be Lord of the Tides", he interrupted, "Grandsire was the greatest sailor who ever lived. I get greensick before the ship even leaves the harbour", Rhaenyra stood as the boy went on, taking in his words, "I'll just ruin everything. I don't want Driftmark. It should've passed on to Ser Vaemond".

As soon as the words were uttered he thought of Daemerys and how she would scold him, especially since she was the one to murder him but his mother beat her to the scolding, "We don't choose our destiny, Luke. It chooses us".

"Grandsire let you choose whether you'd be his heir. You told us so".

Rhaenyra nodded with a sigh before walking around the table to meet her son, "And do you want to know the truth of it?", she didn't let him respond, "I was frightened".

Lucerys looked at his mother in slight shock because she never had admitted being scared before, she always looked so strong and wise — like she could take on the whole world. Perhaps that's where Daemerys got her wits from. "I was four and ten. Same as you are now. I wasn't ready to be Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. But it was my duty. And in time, I came to understand I had to earn my inheritance".

Her son looked at her for a moment before letting his head turn away, "I'm not like you".

Rhaenyra smiled lightly at that, "In what way, sweet boy?".

"I'm not so...", he met her eyes once more, "Perfect".

Rhaenyra cupped his face and kissed his forehead three times, "I am anything but. My father looked after me and helped to prepare me for my duties. Your mother will do the same for you".

"Good morrow, Princess", the pair were soon interrupted.

"Good morrow, Ser Lorent".

"Princess Rhaenys has just arrived on dragon back with the Princess Daemerys. They urgently request an audience with you and Prince Daemon".

Lucerys looked to her mother in confusion, Rhaenyra looking down with her own furrowed brows in concern. Her son wasn't around for long as she ushered him to find his brother, Jace. But he couldn't help but feel that gut wrenching fear that something bad had happened.

—

Rhaenys walked through the halls of Dragonstone, following the guards with Daemerys not far behind. A bead of sweat trickled down her forehead as she clutched her belly that seemed to be giving her some trouble.

"The Princess Rhaenys Targaryen and the Princess Daemerys Targaryen".

"Thank you, Ser Lorent".

Daemon looked passed his wife and cousin to his daughter who's lips were trembling, skin awfully pale and frown drawn back in a furrow as though she were in pain — his fatherly instincts taking over making him step forward but Rhaenys was quick to intrude.

"Viserys is dead".

Rhaenyra's face fell quickly and Daemon stopped in his tracks, the silent air becoming still as the cold and hardened truth echoed the walls of Dragonstone. "I grieve this loss with you, Rhaenyra. My cousin, your father... possessed a kind heart".

The woman remained speechless as her eyes looked around shocked, not finding it in herself to ask anything or speak at all. Rhaenys took that as her sue to walk around the table to meet the Princess halfway, "There is more".

More? How could there possibly...

"Aegon has been crowned as his successor", that made Rhaenyra snap her head up in disbelief, taking a glance at her daughter who mumbled under her breath, grasping the table before her in support.

"They crowned him?", she asked swallowing her tears.

"How did Viserys die?", Daemon finally asked, not taking his eyes off his daughter, concern written on his face.

"I could not say".

"How long ago?".

"A day past, perhaps two. I was made a prisoner in my quarters while the Queen made her preparations".

"Viserys has been slain", Daemon uttered in his own realisation, the words being the only reasoning he could find for this betrayal.

"Alicent demanded you declare Aegon", Rhaenyra mumbled in realisation. Daemerys groaned softly and clutched her belly, breath becoming rattled.

"She did. I refused her".

"And yet you are alive".

"The High Septon crowned Aegon in the Dragonpit. I witnessed it myself just before I flied on Meleys with Daemerys", Rhaenyrs held her tone as the accusation blew passed her.

"They crowned him before the masses".

"So that the masses would see him as their rightful king".

"That whore of a Queen murdered my brother and stole his throne and you could have burned them all for it".

"A war is like to be fought over this treachery, to be sure. But that was is not mine to begin. I only rush this warning out of loyalty to my husband and to my house and because Daemerys insisted she came home. The Greens are coming for you, Rhaenyra. And for your children. You should leave Dragonstone at once".

A gasp left the room silent, Daemerys doubling over clutching her belly in a fit of mumbles, "Daemerys!", her parents rushed forward, their anger and betrayal fading at the sight of their daughter. The woman stood and lifted her dress, the palm of her hand disappearing under her dress but came back out stained red.

Blood.

Her baby.

"The babe is coming".

Rhaenyra paled over and Daemon looked at his wife in concern but before the two could react Daemerys groaned in pain, holding her waist and she breathed deeply through her nose.

"Quick, bring her to her chambers", Rhaenyra ordered Daemon who picked his daughter up bridal style and carried her through the throne room and up the stairs to her chambers.

The maesters were brought at once but did little but stand and watch as she walked around the room, Daemon bit at his nails watching Rhaenyra fuss over the woman. "Her term is far from complete. This should not be happening", she heard the maester tell her father.

"But it fucking is! I need Aemond", she cried and held onto her mothers shoulders pleading. Rhaenyra held her but looked conflicted, she didn't know why Aemond was not with his wife but she had a good idea and she was angry because now her daughter was giving birth too soon.

Daemon walked out of the room instantly, shouting for all guards and lords available. He couldn't see her like this, not his sweet little girl.

"Bring me Jace and Luke", Daemerys stood straight before groaning, "Ow, bring them to me now!", she screamed and a guard ran as fast as he could to find the boys.

Jace and Luke entered the chambers to see their mother watching Daemerys in tears, the woman had isolated herself to the wall, holding onto it for dear life as she screamed. "Princess", they watched as she stood back up immediately and turned with a smile, trying to keep a brave face.

"There you are, my boys", the pair looked at her sadly but she shook her head and waddled over to them grasping at their hands, "Your Grandsire, King Viserys, has passed. The fucking Greens have repudiated the succession and claimed the Iron Throne".

She let go of their hands and groaned again, sweat forming down her chest as the nightgown did little to cover her flaming hot body, she felt like she was on fire. "Aegon, that fucking cunt has been crowned King".

Jacaerys stood straighter and locked his jaw, "What is to be done sister?".

"Nothing yet but if they come, you kill them".

Rhaenyra stood from the bed, "Daemerys".

"No mother!", she yelled, eyes flaming in anger, "We are at war now and in wars people die, they must know that so they can live". Her mother looked away and nodded, "Where's father?".

"I don't know", Rhaenyra answered, "Gone to madness. Gone to plot his war", she rubbed the woman's back as silent tears ran down Daemerys face. She didn't want to die. She didn't want her child to die. She was scared.

"Leave Daemon with me", Jace walked away, nodding for his brother to follow. Lucerys looked to his sister scared, like he knew she wouldn't survive and she watched as his face paled from the look on her face.

Daemerys nodded her head, silently telling him that he would be okay without her but he didn't feel like that could be true. But for her sake, he nodded as a lone tear fell down his face and walked away, the last thing she saw of him was his back.

"Jace", his mother called for him and Daemerys stumbled away, the boy turned to face her, "Whatever claim remains to me, you are now it's heir. Daemerys needs us now more than ever. Naught is to be done but by my command".

Jacaerys nodded once before leaving, Rhaenyra turned back to her daughter when a gut wrenching scream left her lips, "I'm scared. I don't want to die", she cried and her mother bit her lip to stop tears from falling.

"You won't, my sweet girl. Mothers got you", the Princess held onto her child like her life depended on it, she couldn't lose a child, she just couldn't.

Daemerys laid her head on her mothers chest as her back began being rubbed, the pain being soothed as best as she could but it didn't stop the fear inside of her, "Father!", she called as a wave of pain flooded her body. "Father, please!".

Daemon stood in the throne room, the guards and lords watching him as they listened to the screams and calls coming from his daughter. He wanted to ignore it, he wanted to drown it out but she needed him.

"Ow!", multiple groans filled the air, nobody in Dragonstone could miss it, not a single person could ignore the screams coming from Daemerys Targaryen. "Mother, put me out of my misery".

Rhaenyra chocked back a sob as her daughter sat back on her knees, hands on the floor — blood, sweat and tears covered her. Her hair was now falling down her face, her skin was pale and her eyes were rimmed red and bruised bags resided under them.

She looked dead.

The Princess couldn't do anything but watch as her daughter pushed despite the maesters words and midwife's begging for her to stop, "Don't fucking touch me!", she screamed as she pushed the people away.

Her eyes remained closed as she gritted her teeth in pain. She thought of her family and Aemond. The look on his face when she betrayed him. The heartbreak she felt when he betrayed her. Their love story, what a joke. Now she was to die and she couldn't find it in herself to try to live.

Blood seared out like a wave crashing over her, controlling her mind, body and soul. Her once white nightgown was stained red, "Get it out of me!", Daemerys screamed and held onto the bed post for support.

"Daemerys! Please, my child", Rhaenyra begged of her but she couldn't hear. A dragon appeared in front of her, it's scales golden brown and fire as hot as a thousand suns. It was calling for her.

"Don't do this alone, Princess", a voice called but it was muffled by the roars of the dragon.

A splash of blood hit the floor as she gave her final push, her hand reached below and grasped at the babe coming out of her body. A gasp left her lips as the babe slid to the floor — Rhaenyra's eyes widening just as the midwife's stepped back horrified, one young girl looking away in tears.

Daemerys opened her eyes when she heard nothing. Her eyes cascaded to the floor to see her son lay limp in it's own death, her baby boy. Her Daemon.

"Mother", she gasped. Rhaenyra launched forward and pulled her daughter back into her chest — the babe being cradled in Daemerys' arms. "My son", she cried, picking the babe up with shaky hands that were covered in her own blood.

Rhaenyra hushed her, "Sh, I've got you", the pair failed to notice Daemon standing in the entrance of the room. Everything was silent, Daemerys couldn't hear anything and just like that, a light went out. She couldn't remember closing her eyes.

Daemerys couldn't remember dying. It was so quick. So... peaceful. Dying in the arms of someone you love, she hadn't meant to do that to her mother who to her father who rushed over as her body went limp.

She didn't hear the screaming of her name or her child being taken from her arms. She didn't feel her mother's tears falling over her dead body. She didn't feel her heart stop or hear her father's dragon like roar as he cradled her body like he had done when she was a babe.

She didn't remember dying. And she was thankful.