warnings: mentions of death and grief!

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"HE doesn't have a Dragon, Daenys," Luke informed the young Lady who joined him and his mother who rocked Joffrey in her arms as they sat with the food they picked at.

Daenys' brows pulled together, "Rhaena is dragonless."

She had received rest but did not feel replenished. Her dreams pulled her out of her slumber, dreams of her mother returning on the shore, in a white gown, calling her name as she reached for her hand. Mother is gone. She repeated to herself, even though she could hear her voice.

"Daenys is right Luke, now go and find your brother, he's entertaining Baela somewhere." Rhaenyra wore a warm smile as she took in Daenys. "How did you sleep?"

"Well, Princess," Daenys groggily replied, picking at the food.

Rhaenyra's eyes softened, "Please, Daenys we're family, titles are formal. And I am your cousin."

The Princess caught her eyes wondering as if Daenys' wasn't focused, perhaps she wanted to be elsewhere, converse with others like Laenor who was training with Ser Qarl.

Daenys replied quietly, "Cousin."

"Cousin," Rhaenyra's smile widened, before asking, "Forgive me for asking, but your mind seems elsewhere, what would you prefer to be doing?"

"Watching over my sisters."

Being the eldest child weighed on Daenys shoulders even more so after her mother's passing and especially because their father was hardly present.

"I mean for yourself," The Princess corrected, gently stroking the brown tuffs on Joffrey's head, before the wet nurse took him, "You are a growing girl Daenys. What do you desire right now?"

"Father said I should rest, and I did."

Rhaenyra gently shook her head, "You're mistaken —"

"Cousin, I want my dragon." Daenys blurted. "After showing Seablade to Luke, I've realized how much I've missed being near him and how much he misses me. I feel like I've neglected him. He is without Vhagar," she explained. "He bothered her without fail in Pentos, Caraxes was more than friendly." She neglected to see the Princess playing with her skirts beneath the table, "Moondancer is now his only friend, apart from me."

"Your dragon breathes a blue flame, so I'm told, How exciting."

"Indeed," Daenys hummed, "He's almost big enough for me to ride, or so the Dragon masters say."

"It's freeing to ride one's dragon, you'll feel almost untouchable when you ride for the first time," Rhaenyra expressed, reminiscing her first time mounting Syrax. "As if it was the one thing you're destined to do, and for quite some time, I was convinced that was all I was born to do."

"Until your father named you heir," Daenys turned to her, seeing her joy.

"Until my father named me heir, yes," Rhaenyra repeated, "Now return to the Dragon pits, the other dragons won't cause a bother, I know hatchlings are more frightened of blue flames, because —"

"They're unfamiliar with it," they chorused, Daenys made a noise of agreement whilst Rhaenyra continued to smile.

"Now, go on."

Daenys felt a tenderness grow when she left, the bonds she had made since she arrived have been bittersweet. They all arrived in tragedy and she hoped her father would allow them to stay. It was clear to her that the island reminded him of her mother or so she believed, and the people he once knew had changed.

But did their goals? Or did everyone still want the same things, their deepest desires?

The crowned Princess being named the Realms delight was accurate as Rhaenyra was a delight to keep in Daenys' company, but many didn't think the same. Tensions between the family were high, a feeling Daenys tried to escape as her feet pulled to the dragon pits of High Tide.

They were larger and deeper than what she was used to, where Moondancer and Caraxes would accompany Seablade in Pentos, several other dragons screeched and hissed the further she walked in, with the several dragon keepers, some held torches and others were equipped with staffs. The guards who stood by the entrance wielded swords and wore suits of gleaming black armour.

"My lady," the elder keeker spoke, "Seablade has refused his feed."

"He hasn't been eating?" a melancholic wave washed over Daenys again, after she left with Luke, she believed the he-dragon would feast, but he hasn't, "Still?"

The elder dragon-keeper squinted his eyes, "A dragon's bond with their rider never ceases. Your dragon was born to you, correct?"

"He was," Daenys meekly answered, eyes softening when they met fiery orange. Seablade resisted when the keepers tried to guide him forward, and so she stepped towards him against their advice, "Ynot,"  he crankily approached. Daenys frowned, carefully stroking his spikes as he purred against her. "I'm sorry," were words she she continued to hear. "Bring forth the sheep," she demanded, "the scent of burnt flesh increases his appetite." She heard the acolyte keeper scramble behind her, but that was not all. Another set of footsteps, caused her to turn around.

"My Prince," the elder dragon keeper bowed.

"Aemond," Daenys greeted him.

He flashed her a small smile, "Daenys."

Seablade groaned against her, and so she continued to stroke him, soaking in the fire flowing through his veins.

"This is Seablade," she introduced him to the prince who watched in awe. "Careful, he's hungry," she warned, watching the Prince take a step back as the he-dragon tried curling around her. "You'll soon understand how strong the bond truly is, it seems my grief spreads through him."

"He feels your pain?" He asked, cautiously of the smoke pouring through his nostrils. How protective.

"And my happiness," Daenys watched as Seablade fiery eyes caught sight of the sheep being pulled in. It was a blessing the other dragons were further into the pit, but there was no doubt they could smell the stench of meat. And so she took a step back, hoping now she was present he would eat. They all followed her movement. "Seablade, Dracarys!"

Aemond gasped as a blue flame cut through the air and engulfed the sheep that died before it could shriek.

Daenys was content that her dragon listened to her commands easily, although it hurt that her mother wasn't here to see her growth. Her contentment grew when the Prince's glove-clad hand grazed hers ever so slightly.

She turned to him, gulping when his eyes met her for seconds before complimenting the he-dragon. His wing span had grown as did his height. The  black and blue dragon was perfect in her eyes.

"Māzīs naejot," she ordered and the dragon listened once again. "Aemond..." she felt him looking at her, so she softly grabbed his hand and he didn't let go, not even when she placed his onto her dragon, allowing the Prince to pet him. "There you go," she whispered, as the dragon keepers remained vigilant. "His fire burns brightly it's like..."

"The sun against your skin," Aemond finished her sentence, eyes lighting up at the heat emitting from the dragon.

"Yes, yes it is," she agreed, reluctantly pulling them back. "lykirī Seablade," the dragon purred in response. Aemond felt his cheeks flush the more she spoke in high Valyrian. He studied and practised for hours but somehow her voice sounded more polished. Looking toward the raw meat now presented, Seablade once again followed her gaze, still annoyed by the strange Prince near him. "kisās Seablade."

Aemond was enthralled as he stood next to the lady who did not mock, nor did she make him feel dejected for not having a dragon.

"Do not feel ashamed Aemond," she said, "I know you're dragonless, as is my youngest sister."

"Tis easy to feel shame when I am surrounded by those who do not cease their mockery," he spoke over the sounds of the he-dragon ripping his food to pieces. "They're relentless."

"Luke?"

Aemond scoffed at his name, "And his brother Jace," he decided to exclude his elder brother from the fact.

"Luke is too young to understand, so he follows, but I'll admit Jace should know better. It's easy to mock what we do not know," she said softly, saddened by his annoyance, although thrilled her dragon had been fed.

"They're never punished."

"They will be," Daenys' words confused him.

"I don't understand, their mother protects them, shields them from the truth."

"What truth?"

Aemond met her eyes, his anger fading slightly, "Their parentage."

"Hush..." she brought him to the side, away from where they could be heard. The dragon keepers gripped their staff as the dragon continued with its meal. Aemond was not looking at her as she thought, he seemed drawn to their interlinked hands. "From what I've heard, the whispers about their parentage have spread to the Free Cities. But be as it may, it is not fact," she sighed at his groan. "My grandmother was not born silver-haired, Baratheon genes clung to her so it seemed."

"But their eyes..."

"Aemond," she stepped closer, making his palms dampen with sweat, but she paid no mind. "It is a dragon that ails you," she tried to change his thoughts, aware that stewing on the Velaryon Princes' appearance was a tired battle. She had her own qualms with it, but she was surrounded by dragons, in the presence of her own, while he was not. "You will not be without for long. And they will soon know and witness you ride a dragon which will cease their jests."

"Do you think it's only jests?" His frown was replaced with a scowl.

Seeing the hatred swimming in his eyes, her head shook, "No."

"It's far from yard buster."

"And as I said Aemond, they'll be punished, because you'll claim a dragon or perhaps a day will come when you are gifted another dragon egg."

Aemond pursed his lips, "when will that day come?"

"I am not sure."

"The Gods do not listen to my prayers," he murmured.

"The Gods can be cruel," Daenys whispered. He heard the sadness clinging to her voice.

"A walk through the gardens will replenish us," he suggested, increasing his grip on her hand and smiling when she gulped.

Daenys agreed, comfortable in his presence, yet cautious of leaving her dragon, but he was in good hands and she would return.

"You said the Gods can be cruel," he mentioned, "do you think they thought it was..." he had to pick his words wisely. He was one for wit, not emotion and yet he found himself wanting to be tender in her presence. "Did you think your mother wanted to leave you?"

"I don't know," her chest tightened at the thought. "But she knew it was her time. Vhagar did not want to kill my mother, they were bonded. It's like killing your kin. He's soaring the sky with a lack of purpose and a heart full of burden."

The Dragon in question had not been seen since the funeral.

"And what of the next person to claim her? Your sister perhaps?" He questioned.

"She'll have to earn her, bond with her like my mother. It took her many moons to succeed, but my mother was patient, and treated her kindly."

Aemond simply hummed.

"The older she becomes mayhaps the more difficult she will be. My advice to her next rider will be this - you may have claimed her, but she will burden you as the years pass."

His face scrunched up, "Burden how?"

"They'll know when it comes," her answer only caused more questions to rest at the top of his tongue. "If I were Dragonless, I doubt I would want my mother's Dragon."

"Why?"

"The longer Vhagar is without a rider, it will feel like my mother will never truly be gone," Aemond glanced away as he took in her words. Daenys felt shocked she was expressing her feelings as history knew it did not come easily. She was a slave to her emotions and feelings but struggled to convey what was on her mind. She struggled but managed to conceal her truth with wit. "Thank you Aemond."

He stared at her with confusion, but to her, her contentment was filled with a stronger sensation, a warm feeling, scorching even.

"Thank you for listening, I am often the one who listens to others."

"There is no need Daenys for that, your company is what I look forward to," he revealed, and he swore he caught her lips twitching up into a smile. "Your words have been kind, despite the Gods fate."

She nodded, forcing away the tears forming in her eyes, "The Gods have something in store for you Aemond Targaryen," she said undoubtedly. Bullied children became dangerous men. And if she ever witnessed her sisters being treated in such a manner she'd adopt Baela's temper in seconds. "Something rather extraordinary, however with every blessing, a curse is never too far behind." He clung to her words, "Those who mock you: a Prince, a lord... kin, ensure they live to regret it."

Her sincere advice roused the Prince who squeezed her hand tighter.

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a/n:

I hope it's clear that daenys and the girls think that their parents had a great relationship, which is why daemon's absence hurts so much more. they understand now that "people grieve in different ways" but it was an excuse on daemon's part. I really wanted her to Bond with rhaenyra for many reasons but one was the fact that I find it kind of perfect that Laena only had girls and rhae only had boys so now rhae is getting that experience with daughters, as well as daenys thinks she's getting an older sister but that ideology will get ripped away once other things come into place. plus the greens will get into her head, she's very vulnerable and only ten and also impressionable.

also, daenys is kind and has never witnessed the relationship between the strong boys and aemond and aegon. But ever since her mother's funeral, she has interacted with aemond more and more, finding that she can open up to the boy, who shares his experiences so she can do the same. she talks, and he listens, although he does have an ulterior motive when discussing dragons but she's unaware. and so she gives sincere advice, advice he will take to heart and soon come back to bite them all in the arse.