VALEANA FOUND HERSELF comforted by the familiarity of the busy streets of Flea Bottom, slipping through the crowd dressed in dirty trousers and a shirt much too big for her. It was a relief to finally escape the itchy dresses that made it impossible to move in. The bustling merchants and shoppers of the market surrounded her, a sense of adrenaline rushing through the young girl as she came alive with the sounds, sights, and smells of the place she considered home. It certainly didn't smell the best, nor did it look it, but it was what she had grown up with.

Valaena resisted the urge to stop at the stalls that lined the narrow streets, all overflowing with goods ranging from lamb meat to trinkets from distant lands. It was a mercy the vendors tended to ignore her, not expecting to conduct business with a young girl of only a mere six years old. She used it to her advantage, keeping her head down and avoiding eye contact lest anyone notice the unusual purple that graced her eyes. No one gave her a second glance, her hair was much too common and her clothes much too poor for anyone to care about what she was up to.

She ducked into a familiar alleyway, a shortcut to her destination as she escaped the busy crowds of the market that morning. Valaena allowed her shoulders to relax, tense from the prospect of anyone catching her where she wasn't supposed to be. She hadn't asked permission from Daemon to leave the Red Keep, too afraid that asking him would only serve as another reminder of what a disappointment she was to him. That she would rather be anywhere than in the Red Keep where she didn't belong.

Releasing a deep breath, she turned the corner as she caught sight of her final destination. Her lips turned into a smile as she scurried the back door she had grown accustomed to sneaking through to escape Meera's motherly scolding. Valaena pushed against the door, unsurprised to find it unlocked as she peeked into the dark room.

She was immediately hit with a strong whiff of perfume followed by the loud giggles and chatter upstairs. Despite the earliness of the morning, Valaena was unsurprised the girls were already up and running their business.

"Didn't expect to find you back here so soon," Valaena's eyes snapped to the end of the room, where one of the younger girls sat in front of a mirror preparing herself for the day's activities.

Lyla Rivers was the youngest of the girls at the brothel, still only a mere sixteen years old, but she worked just as hard as the rest. She had a lovely voice, often singing lullabies to Valaena before she fell asleep. Valaena hadn't expected to find her downstairs still.

"Is Meera expecting you?" Lyla turned from the mirror, giving Valaena a wide smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"Expecting who?" Meera appeared down the stairs, pausing as she caught sight of Valaena standing at the doorway. She released an annoyed sigh, but the smile threatening the corner of her lips showed she was happy to see the girl. Valaena gave her a sheepish shrug in return.

"Lyla, you have a customer requesting you. Far corner of the East Room," Meera dismissed the girl, who gave an annoyed eye roll before disappearing back upstairs. Meera turned her attention back to Valaena with her hands on her hips, as if contemplating what to do with her.

"Valaena, you know you shouldn't be here," Meera started, her hard resolve crumbling quickly and her face softening as Valaena hugged herself tightly while she stared at the ground. She approached the young girl, crouching down to be at eye level as she reached up and put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Does Daemon know you're here?"

Valaena hesitated before shaking her head, unable to meet Meera's gaze.

"No, he doesn't," Valaena replied meekly. "I didn't ask him. I just... I needed to get away."

Meera reached up, gently lifting Valaena's chin to reveal the tears threatening the corner of her eyes. The young girl tried to blink them back furiously, but it was too late.

"Oh, darling," Meera sighed as she hugged the young girl, choked sobs forcing their way to the surface as she continued to try and force them down.

"I don't belong there, Meera," Valaena admitted as she clung tightly to her, as if letting go would allow her to disappear forever. Meera's heart ached at Valaena's distress, stroking her head soothingly.

"Why would you think that? Has Daemon been mistreating you?" Meera questioned, her motherly instincts taking hold as she thought of the rogue prince who used to frequent their brothel.

"He doesn't have to," Valaena mumbled. "How can I be a Targaryen when I'm afraid of dragons?"

"Is this what this is about?" Meera asked as she gently pulled away, lifting her hand to Valaena's face as she stared into her tear-stained eyes. "Because you don't have a dragon yet?"

"Because I don't want a dragon," Valaena admitted. "They're large and scary and... and if you'd see them you'd understand!"

"I see," Meera hummed. "But not all Targaryens have dragons. Why do you need one then?"

Valaena paused as she thought about Meera's words, her bottom lip trembling as she struggled to hold herself together.

"I don't want to disappoint him," Valeana admitted rather meekly. "What if he doesn't want me anymore? What if he regrets claiming-"

"Valeana, I won't have you speak another word about that," Meera cut the girl off rather abruptly as she grabbed her chin, meeting her eyes with a stern look. "Daemon Targaryen may be a spoiled rotten prince with plenty of issues, but he has a big heart when it concerns his family. Can't tell you about the number of times he's stumbled around drunk mumbling about it."

"But I'm just a bastard-"

"Nonsense," Meera shook his head. "You've been legitimized by the king himself, that's how much Daemon doesn't care about things like that."

Meera paused, seeming to realize she was going on a rant as she released a quiet sigh.

"You're luckier than most, Valaena," Meera's voice was soft as she spoke to the girl. "You got out of here, and you have a father who I'm sure is doing his best. Have you tried talking to him?"

Valaena seemed to blanch at the comment.

"Talk to him?" she repeated with wide eyes. "I don't think Daemon is one to talk about... feelings."

"Well, there's something you both share in common," Meera laughed as she stood from her crouched position, brushing the dust off her skirts. "Come, we'll talk about this more over tea and then I'll send you on your way back to the Red Keep."

Valaena agreed reluctantly, following Meera to the kitchen area of the basement as they boiled tea. It was comforting being back where she grew up, the familiarity making her long to stay there forever. Unfortunately, Meera had other plans as she sent her on her way back to the Red Keep with the promise not to return unless she asked Daemon.

Valaena returned to the Red Keep just as she had left, sneaking through the secret passageways as she found her way back to her room. She slipped through the hidden doorway, closing it shut tightly behind her as she heard the clearing of a throat behind her. She paused wondering if it was too late to run away, but Valaena knew she had been caught red-handed. She slowly turned around, unsurprised to find her father standing in her room with his arms crossed menacingly across his chest.

"And where are you coming from?" Daemon questioned as Valaena felt herself shrink under his burning gaze.

"Um, Flea Bottom?" Valaena replied, turning it into more of a question as she wondered if this was the moment she was going to be thrown out.

Instead, she was surprised when a short laugh escaped Daemon's lips as he shook with head at her. She furrowed her eyebrows together, wondering what she had done that was so funny. When he finished, he returned his gaze back to her, much less stern than before.

"I suppose it's good you're already dressed then," Daemon commented on her clothes as he gestured for her to follow as he walked towards the door. "Come."

It took a moment for Valaena to process his words, wondering what he was on about as she hurried to catch up with his long strides. She grew unfamiliar where they were walking as she wondered where Daemon was taking her. Neither said a word, and Valaena was too scared to break the silence. It wasn't until several minutes later that they entered a secluded courtyard in the Red Keep, far from prying eyes and the usual business of the Red Keep.

"Pick a sword," Valaena's eyes snapped over to Daemon, where a table of swords layout for her to take. She approached the table, eyes scanning over the sharp weapons before glancing over at Daemon.

He only stared back, nodding his head at the swords as she turned back to the weapons. She reached out, grabbing the first one on the table only to find it too heavy for her small body to hold. Valaena dropped it back to the table. She brushed past the bigger swords to the end of the table, where the smaller swords resided. Her eyes caught sight of the last sword on the table, her hand reaching out to grasp it. It was still heavy, but she was able to lift it as she turned it over in her hand.

The sword was elegant in its simplicity. The blade was lighter, but the edges were still sharp and ready for battle. Its hilt was wrapped in a deep burgundy leather that provided a soft grip for the otherwise sharp weapon. Valaena held the sword in both hands, unfamiliar with the weight and balance of a sword.

"A good choice," Daemon started Valaena as he approached from behind, grabbing the wooden sword instead of a real one.

"What are you doing?" Valaena questioned as Daemon walked towards the center of the courtyard.

"Being a Targaryen isn't all about dragons," Daemon told her as he turned to face her. "You need to know how to fight too. Come on, we don't have all day. I want to see what instincts you have and we can work off of that."

"You want me to... fight you?" Valaena questioned, sure that she had heard him wrong.

"Well, who else are you going to fight?" Daemon questioned with a smirk. Valaena did not return the enthusiasm as she glanced between her sword and Daemon's wooden one.

"What if I hurt you?" Valaena asked, prompting a laugh from him.

"Trust me, you won't," Daemon shook his head as he gestured with his sword for Valaena to approach. "Let's being, shall we?"