Daemons Pov:

Daemon has met many bastards in my life. Many. You can not live in Kingslanding and not meet a bastard. But Rhaena Targaryen was like no other.

She was burned with dragon fire and lived. She wants the throne even though she has no claim, and she believes she can truly take it. And he believes she can take it too. She is fierce, the blood of the dragon runs thick in her blood.

He was intrigued by the girl. They were so similar. Made from the same cloth. He cursed himself for falling for his Viserys's daughter...He knew Viserys would never truly allow it.

But he could not stay away from her. During the war at the Step Stones, they spent every waking moment together. She wasn't as brutish nor difficult as she usually was. But once they returned home, she turned a cold shoulder to him once again... And he couldn't stand it.

When she asked him to show her freedom, he thought this was his chance. But when it came time for them to be together, he couldn't. She actually wanted to be with him, and that shocked him to his core.

He couldn't ruin her life by being with her. The king might even send her away if he found out. He was her daughter, but she was also a bastard. He couldn't take risk. So he left her.

Daemon then sank into his cups and found his way to Mysarias brothel. Not to fuck her like he usually would, but to find rest.

The following morning, he was woken by Mysaria pouring wine giving him a judgmental glare. "Am i your prisoner then?" he mumbled. "I was once yours.... Now i am your protector" she said sitting beside him.

"I do not need protection from a common whore" he muttered. "I am not so common" she spat back. "A not so common whore then" he said. She handed him the wine as he reluctantly took it in his hands. "This will cut the fog."

Daemon dropped the wine, rolling his eyes at the woman. "I have left that life behind. I learned that life could only take me so far. In fact, it is that princess you were in the brothel with that night who told me that. I met her a few years ago in a tavern. She's a sweet girl" she said. Daemon scoffed. "She's anything but."

Daemon closed his eyes, remembering what had happened. Even the mention of her made him shiver. "Her name is Rhaena" he said with a small smile. "You do not think i know that?... I know more than you, prince Daemon. And i know that she will never let herself be with a man like you" she said before walking off.

Daemon winced at the woman's words... He tried not to believe them. But he knew she was right. He couldn't even imagine what she was doing at this moment. Rhaena would probably murder him the next time she seems him.

But yet, the thought of her still made him smile to himself.

Rhaenas pov:

The following morning, i woke up alone... And full of regret.

I put my pained head in my hands as i groaned in discomfort. I did not regret my night with ser Criston... I regretted my trip to Fleabottom with Daemon. I knew i shouldn't have trusted him.

I also regretted trusting Daemon... And that the
man still stayed in my thoughts. I wanted to kill him. I'm sure Cannibal would love him as a meal. He had done more than try and dishonour me... He embarrassed me. The thing i hated the most.

I sat up in my bed looking for any left over wine on my desk... There was none. I groaned in annoyance as i changed into a purple dress. I had not seen this dress before. It certainly wasn't mine. My dresses are never this luxurious. I ran my hand over the soft fabric, smiling at my reflection.

"That dress was the late queen Aemmas, i believe" i heard a voice say. I turned to see ser Criston standing by my door with his head hung. "This dress was Aemmas?" i questioned as he nodded. "Princess Rhaenyra left it in your chambers before your return home."

As i heard his words, i appreciated the dress even more. "Why are you hiding? Come" i said ushering him over. He stayed put, refusing to meet my eye.

"Rhaena... The king has requested your presence."

"Why?" i asked with a scoff. "I do not know. He seems... Upset" he mumbled. "Well, tell him i am busy" i said continuing to admire my reflections. "He said it's urgent... And he is the king, your grace. I can't tell him your busy" he said. I rolled my eyes. "Ser Criston, tell him i am busy or will beat you out of my chambers."

Suddenly, ser Harrold Westerling knocked on my chamber door as Criston flinched. "Princess. The king has ordered for me to bring you to him" he said. "Gods fine! I'm coming" i exclaimed. Before i left, i grabbed ser Cristons hand secretly and squeezed it tightly. "I'll see you after" i whispered.

Many guards escorted me to my fathers chambers whilst i was still clueless to the anguish i was about to face. "Rhaena" my father said with a stern look as i walked inside. My eyes drifted between Alicent and my father as i sat down before his desk of figurines. "Father" i said with a cocky smile.

"Alicent" my father whispered, nodding for her to leave. Alicent did as she was told, not daring to meet my eye. My father sighed tiredly as he turned his back to me. "Rhaena... Why do you think i never legitimised you?" he asked. This question caught me off guard.

"I don't know" i muttered. "Think... Why do you think i never legitimised you?" he asked again. I shuffled uncomfortably in my seat. "Maybe because... You do not trust me with the power of a high born. Maybe because you do not... Like me" i suggested.

He turned to me, a scowl across his face at my words. "You think i do not like you?" he asked. "Do you?" i shot back. "I love you, Rhaena. You are my first born child" he said. "I did not ask you that. Do you like me?" i questioned.

He paused as his face faltered. "I did not legitimise you because you are wild and angry. Because with power you would torment the kingdom" he said. "And you are right. I do not like your actions nor your attitude. You have your mothers best... But my worst" he said. My mouth fell open slightly as he spoke about my mother. "What are my mothers best?" i asked.

A smile tugged at his lips at the thought. "You have her eyes. Her eyes were as blue as the Dornish sea, but had a a light brown coat around them. You also have her devious smile."

I laughed slightly. "It gladdens my heart to hear you speak of her" i said. "Is there anything else you can tell me?" My father was careful with his words. He sat down on the opposite seat to me as he played with a ring upon his finger.

"She has brown hair, red in some lights. She sold lemon cakes at the docks... I often saw her there when i rode to the dragon pit. One day i decided to speak to her... She was fond of the Valyrian history's just as i was. But she was still a common lady. And i knew i could not marry her."

"But she sired you a child" i said. "She did. She left a little Maegor in my lap. I should curse her for it... But i'm glad to have a piece of her still with me" he said. I bit my tongue. I did not know if i should take offence to his words or not.

"You are like her in other ways too. She was a maiden... Who couldn't hold back her desires" he spat. It was then i realised why i was her. I held his eye refusing to back down to him. "And you are upset why?" i asked.

"Because you are my daughter! A Targaryen princess. You can not go around to do as you please!" he exclaimed. "I am a bastard! Bastards have no title nor authority. I can do what i want!" i exclaimed back.

"I took a risk bringing my bastard to court. I have spent a lifetime defending you... And you have ruined it with every chance you have gotten. Do you know what you have done? Do you know where Rhaenyra was last night?" he asked.

"In her chambers?" i said with a shrug. "She was also in Fleabottom. With a man i am yet to discover. That means i have two disgraced and disobedient children-"

"How is that my fault?!" i questioned. "Because she looks up to you, Rhaena" he said. "I did not ask her too. What Rhaenyra does is her business not mine-"

"Jaehaerys would disinherit her" he muttered. I gulped thinking about his Hightower son. I would rather slit the babes throat than have him on the throne. "For a piece of gossip? You have yet to ask me what happened. May i ask, who told you this lie?" i asked.

"The truth does not matter, Rhaena! Only perception. You both have exposed yourselves. Now we must all suffer the consequences" he said.

"We're we born men, we could bed whomever we wanted. We could father a dozen bastards just as you have, and no one in your court would blink an eye" i said. "Your right... But you are women."

My face twitched with anger at his words. "It's not my fault i was born without a cock. It is hard when my father seems to be born without one also-"

"You hold your tongue" he snapped. I slumped in my seat as i rolled my eyes. "You have disgraced this family for far too long. And i am done protecting you. Making excuses for you... So i have betrothed you to someone."

My head shot up at his words. "Fuck off" i said with laughter. "You will wed ser Lennon Lannister and you will do so without protest" he said. I sat there in disbelief. "Your selling me off to a lord i have never heard of?" i questioned, a slight croaks in my voice.

"He is lord Jason Lannisters legitimatised bastard. I believe you two will make a suitable match i believe" he said. I scoffed as i shook my head.

"Your wedding to ser Lennon will put ease to any tension between our powerful houses. To combine our strength of their wealth and our dragons. No one would dare to stand against us... Then perhaps, once Rhaenyra sees that you are married and settled, she will too."

"I am not marrying anyone" i spat. "I was not asking your permission, Rhaena. Nor will i hear your arguments" he said. "I would rather throw myself from the walls" i said. My father gritted his teeth with anger.

"What else do you propose i do? Sell you off to a brothel in Fleabottom or give you over to a fine lord?" he questioned. "I am telling you to not sell me at all. I am not cattle nor a whore. I am a Targaryen whether you and all your friends at court like it or not."

My father sat up from his seat as he walked towards me. I held his gaze and gulped. I had never seen him so angry. "If you are so determined to defy me and taint you image then so be it. You will be confined to your chambers and i will drag you down that aisle if i must" he whispered towering over me. I saw him watching my every move with a judgmental yet saddened glare.

He wondered how i became such a disappointment.

I rolled my eyes and began pinching myself to prove this was all not just a bad dream. It was not a dream. This was really happening. And i could do nothing to stop it... But if this is to be my fate. i may aswell cause some havoc. If i am to go down, i would bring down others with me.

"And what will you do about the vulture who perches upon your throne?"

"What vulture?" he asked. "Your hand" i said with a scoff. "Otto Hightower has served two kings loyally and faithfully" my father said. I tilted my head and smiled. "He wants Aegon to be named heir. And he will stop at nothing to see it done, including spying on your daughters to bring about our ruin. I know you are not that blind father. He pulls your strings as if you are his puppet. If you want him gone quick, i'm sure Cannibal would be more than happy to-"

"Do not finish that sentence, Rhaena" he muttered. I leaned in closer to him, grabbing his cold and crumbling hands. "I will do my duty as your daughter. I will strengthen the realm and your legacy without a fight... But you must first do yours as king. Keep Rhaenyras claim strong and take on a hand that will support her claim, not weaken it."

He did not answer me, but i could tell he had heard me. He had listened. That's all i have ever wanted. "You may go now, Rhaena. Get some rest. The Lannisters will be here tomorrow" he said trying to walk away from me.

"I am not finished, your grace" i said. My father slowly turned to me as i stood tall. "I request one more thing from you if i am to be wed to a Lannister of all people, i demand something i'm return" i said.

"And what would that be?" he questioned, fearing my answer. "When Rhaenyra takes the throne, if i clan up my act, if i become a better person... I demand to be her heir."

Im sure my father's mouth had hit the floor as i spoke. "You foolish child... You are not legitimate. You could never sit the throne" he said shaking his head.

"You said you did not legitimatise me because i am wild and angry. Because with power i would torment the kingdom. But what if i was not wild. What if i was kind and content. What if i could be a good ruler. Would you legitimatise me then?"

My father stayed still. He thought i was mad for even bringing it up. But i was not mad. I was hungry for power. For the throne. I needed it more than the air i breathe.

"You asked me if i liked you, Rhaena... I do not... And your mother would be so disappointed in the way your turning out."

My cocky smile faded as he left me alone to my thoughts. I let out a weak, shakey breath as his words sunk in. They had hurt me more than i would like to admit. I fixed my hair and put on a fake smile as tears begged to escape me.

Though my smile was twinging, i would not let it disappear. I would never let my father know he got to me. Never. I weakly left his chambers and crept to the throne room. Who knows, if i wed this man, if Rhaenyras image is ruined, perhaps one day that throne could be mine.

Meanwhile...

Daemon walked back to the castle in his filthy clothes, stumbling with every step. He was convinced that he was still drunk as the pain in his head grew.

But that headache was about to get a lot worse. Daemon was clueless to ser Harrold Westerling along with two other guards marching towards him, the anger burning off of the Westerling knight.

Ser Harrold had known the princess Rhaena since she was brought to the castle. In fact, he held her before her own father. So when he heard what had happened, he wished death upon the rouge prince. "Prince Daemon. The king has requested your presence."

Before Daemon could answer the knight, they kicked the princes legs as they buckled from underneath him. "Get your fucking hands off me" Daemon muttered as they dragged him to the throne room.

Once they were opposite the iron throne, they threw Daemon to the floor as he groaned in pain. The knights left the prince, closing the large doors for privacy. Daemon tried to rise to his feet but failed miserably, landing back on the floor.

Viserys slowly walked towards his brother, standing over him. He glared at his drunken brother as his blood boiled more and more.

He wondered how he became such a disappointment.

"My daughter," Viserys began. Daemon groaned tiredly in response. "Won't you even deny it?" he questioned. "I need to understand the charge before i attempt to discredit it" Daemon mumbled.

"You defiled her" Viserys snapped as he kicked his brother where he laid. Daemon groaned in pain, holding his pained stomach. "Still you say nothing?"

"What does it matter, brother. When we were Rhaenas age we fucked our way through most of the brothels in the streets of silk.... That's how you got her in the first place" Daemon said with a small smirk. "We were young men. She is just a girl. Your niece-"

"Rhaena is a woman grown. She has flown to war, faced the most harrowing of men. Better her first experience be with me than some whore-"

"You fucking-" Viserys finally snapped grabbing his brother by his night shirt. "You have ruined her!" he shouted. "What lord will wed her now?"

"Who gives a fuck what some lord think? You are the dragon, your word is truth and law" Daemon snapped back. Unknowingly to both, Rhaena was hidden in the secret walls within the throne room. She had listened to everything they had said. And she continued listening.

"I have spent a lifetime defending you. But your heart is even blacker than i thought. I should banish her, as i already did you... Just be done with all this bother" Viserys said growing tired of the rouge dragons.

"Wed her to me" Daemon said.

Rhaenas mouth fell open at his words. She never thought the man would go this far. She thought he just simply enjoyed the thought of being with someone as rouge as him... But she never thought he would wed her.

"When i offered up my crown you said i could have anything... I want Rhaena. I'll take her as she is and wed her in the tradition of our house."

Viserys gave his brother a disgusted look. The king could barely handle them separately, but them together as one? He would crumble on the spot.

"Rhaena is a bastard... And do i even have to mention that you are already wed?" Viserys muttered in disbelief of his words. "You think i care? She's more Targaryen than you, brother. And about the other thing, that never stopped anyone. Take Aegon the Conqueror. Being wed didn't stop him from taking a second wife."

Viserys had enough of the man's words as he slipped out his dagger, holding it to Daemon's throat. Rhaena gasped quietly at the scene though she knew her father was far to weak to kill anyone, let alone his own brother. 

"You are no conqueror. You are a plague, sent to destroy me" he said as Daemon chuckled. "Give me Rhaena to take to wife and we will return the house of the dragon to its proper glory" he said.

Viserys shook his head, inching the dagger into Daemons skin. "Rhaena is already betrothed... To Lennon Lannister" he spat. "Never heard of him. But if he's a Lannister, it's not a suitable match in my opinion" Daemon teased.

"I've had enough of your tongue. Perhaps i should simply cut it out" Viserys spat. "If Rhaena has not said her vows and fucked the Lannister man yet, than she is not married."

Viserys simply shook his head. He did not want to deal with him anymore. "Go back to the Vale, Daemon. Back to your lawful wife" he said tiredly removing the dagger from his brothers skin. "Try to restore whatever scrap of honour you have left... Or don't. It matters not to me. As long as you are out of my sight for good."

Viserys left the throne room leaving Dameon to his thoughts. Rhaena watched the man intently. She watched his movements, his expression. He intrigued her more and more. He understood her in ways no one else did... Perhaps it was because they were so similar.

It made her smile slightly that he was the only one willing to save her from the misery of marrying a man she never met. And a Lannister at that...

She then thought about her fathers words. Daemon was already wed... But what if he wasn't? What if that Rhoyce woman was out of the picture? A smile tugged at her lips as she fled to the Dragonpit.

It was time her and Cannibal visited Runestone.