┊͙✧˖*°࿐ 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐈𝐗𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍

𝐈𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭, not a sound to be heard other than the soft hums from Rhaella's throat as she rocked her daughter. The light from the sky that seeped into the room had long since turned to darkness. The flickering of the candles the only means of illuminating the chamber.

Rhaella smiled when Jaehaera and Jaehaerys ran over to her and kissed her cheeks when she leaned down slightly so they could reach. "Sweet dreams, my little dragons." A soft whisper against the silver whisps of hair and a kiss on their heads before a softly smiling Helaena placed them in their beds.

"Ser Daris?" The Princess called softly to her guard who stood mere feet away against one of the stone walls, his knee bent and his foot pressed against the wall, the man's hand resting on the hilt of his sword. Daris's stance was casual and informal, quite different from the Kingsguard.

The sellsword-turned-knight flitted his eyes over the Princess, his deep blue eyes meeting her lilac. "Princess." He replied tilting his head awaiting her next words.

Rhaella arose from the seat she had taken in front of the fire and walked towards him. Holding her babe to her she gazed up at him while speaking softly. "Prince Aemond is late," she swallowed thickly trying to bury the anger simmering. "if anything the fool is punctual."

"I shall seek his whereabouts, Princess." Daris tilts his head before pushing off the wall, dipping his head towards Helaena. He cast one last glance back at the Princess.

Rhaella sighed softly as he departed from the chambers swiftly, leaving her with Helaena and the children alone.

"They've grown," the Princess remarked, her smile spreading warmth that echoed in Helaena's faint grin. Jaehaera and Jaehaerys had indeed blossomed swiftly in the last few moons.

Humming a gentle lullaby, one her mother used to sing to her and Jacaerys in their childhood, she let the soothing notes escape her lips. Her fingers tenderly brushed through Jaehaerys' silver hair, lulling his eyes to close.

A serene smile seemed permanently etched on the Princess's face, much like the intricate embroidery on her dresses.

Yet, all good things must come to an end. Just as the threads on her dresses loosen and fall when cut, her smile faded instantly upon hearing Helaena's fearful gasp behind her.

Rhaella's head snapped around, her heart plummeting into the depths of her belly. Her voice caught in her throat, ears ringing with the thunderous beat of her heart.

"Stay still," the man snarled at Helaena. Only then did Rhaella notice the glint of the dagger in his hand, pressing dangerously against her neck.

Rhaella quickly straightened, placing a protective hand on her babe's head. Her lilac eyes darted to the door, desperately hoping for Aemond's figure to appear in the doorway, for the first time in over a fortnight wishing for his presence.

Stepping forward, her jaw tightened. "Stop." Her voice was firm, imbued with the authority of her title.

The stranger's eyes shifted to her, having missed her in his sights when he entered. A sinister chuckle escaped his throat as he turned Helaena, pressing the dagger deeper in warning, ensuring she made no sudden movements.

"Who the fuck are they?" A deep voice echoed through the chamber, making Rhaella swallow thickly. She and Helaena were helpless at the moment, as well as their children. No dragon, no weapons, nothing. They were at the mercy of the Gods and men.

Rhaella stood straight, her eyes locking onto Helaena's glassy gaze. She shook her head, her hands trembling slightly as she tried to reassure her aunt. The sight of Helaena's fear only fueled her determination to stay strong, despite the terror gnawing at her insides.

The giggle that erupted from the man holding Helaena sent shivers down her spine, a cold reminder of the danger they were in.

"She's the queen, she is." A cut was made on Helaena's neck, causing Rhaella to step forward instinctively. The man clicked his tongue and moved the dagger to the front of Helaena's throat, stopping her in her tracks. "That's the Princess he told us to find."

Rhaella's heart raced as she fought to keep her composure, knowing that any wrong move could cost them dearly. Her mind raced through possible escape plans, but without a dragon or weapon, they seemed futile. She needed to buy time, to find a way to protect her family.

That word made Rhaella furrow her brows. 'He'?

The other man grabbed Rhaella's arm, making her stumble and clutch Aemma closer to her chest. The pain shot through her arm, and she could already feel the bruises forming from the roughness of his grip. "A son for a son, he said." The taller man's voice was filled with anger. "Well, does she look like a fucking son to you?" His eyes locked onto Helaena, aware that any harm to the Princess would have dire consequences.

Yet another hearty, sinister giggle fell from the man's horrid mouth. His eyes flickered behind Rhaella, a smirk brighter and more malicious than any she had seen before.

"Over there."

The revelation of what that gaze meant sent a chill down Rhaella's spine. She unconsciously shook her head, whispers of "no" escaping her parted lips. Her eyes filled with tears, the hopelessness of their situation sinking in.

"We need to get our head, take the Princess, and get out."

Rhaella struggled in the man's grip, pulling and twisting with all her might, but his hold was unyielding. His accomplice's words rang in her ears, filled with a chilling indifference. "No, no." She fought, desperation fueling her strength as he dragged her over to the beds, his eyes cold as he checked the children.

"They both look the same," the one holding Helaena sneered, his voice dripping with malice as he leaned in closer to the terrified girl. "Which one's the boy?"

"Maybe that one."

"Well, look for a cock."

Rhaella's fury boiled over, and in a moment of defiance, she spat in the man's face. His reaction was swift and brutal; he slapped her with enough force to make her head snap to the side. She felt the sting and the warmth of blood filling her mouth, but she refused to show any pain. With steely resolve, she spat out the blood, her eyes blazing with defiance.

"The mother knows," the larger one spoke quietly, his gaze shifting to Helaena, calculating and cruel.

Desperation began to cloud the Princess's judgment. This couldn't happen, not after all they had already suffered. The thought of another innocent life being lost to this brutal war was unbearable. Rhaella's mind raced, searching for a way to protect the children, to prevent another tragedy from unfolding before her eyes.

"Do anything but what I ask, and I'll bleed the whole lot of ya." The dagger slipped from Helaena's throat as the man stepped back, pressing the blade against Rhaella's cheek in a threatening motion. Rhaella made no sudden moves, no sounds of fear other than her shaky breathing. "Which?"

"No," Rhaella spoke, her voice trembling as she swallowed down her fear, feeling the cold blade pressed into her cheek, the warm blood pooling from the fresh wound. "Whatever was offered, I will pay ten times over." Her voice was a desperate plea, her eyes so glassy with tears she could barely see the figure before her. "I swear it, take whatever you want, please just leave the children." Her heart pounded in her chest, each beat echoing loudly in her ears as she struggled to maintain her composure. The room seemed to close in around her, the weight of her words hanging heavily in the air.

Helaena, thinking the same, reached her trembling hands to undo her necklace from around her neck. "I have a necklace. It's of great value." The gold chain glinted in the dim light, the pendant sparkled with an almost hypnotic allure.

Both men's eyes flitted between the two women, who were desperate to protect their children from harm, no matter the cost. The tension in the room was palpable, the air thick with fear and desperation.

A huff sounded in Rhaella's ear, the blade sliding a bit down her cheek, making her hiss in pain as more blood trickled down. The necklace was soon snatched from Helaena's grip with a rough yank.

"That's not a son."

Rhaella tilted her head away from the blade, her body shaking and trembling. Nothing she offered would be enough to change their minds or save Jaehaerys.

"Helaena, no," she whispered, a tear slipping down her cheek. The Princess saw the horrified look on the woman's face and the way her hand began to rise. "Don't. Please! I'll give you anything you want, just leave them be! They didn't do anything."

A hand clasped her mouth, silencing her pleas. "Quiet!" A sharp hiss of a whisper was spat into her face, and the only sounds that followed were the muffled struggles behind his palm.

Her eyes closed when Helaena pointed towards where Jaehaerys was still sleeping, blissfully unaware of the dangers lurking above his bed. The sight of the child, so peaceful and innocent, made her heart ache even more. Each breath he took was a reminder of what they stood to lose.

"Wait." The man said as he pushed Rhaella into the other man's grip, his fingers gripping her hair tightly when she kicked at him. Her movements ceased when he held the dagger above her child's head, the blade gleaming menacingly in the dim light. "It's the other one. She's not gonna give up the King's heir that easy." His voice was cold and calculating, eyes glinting with malice as he weighed his options, the tension in the room thickening with every passing second.

Rhaella's heart pounded in her chest, her mind racing for a way out, but the grip on her hair and the dagger poised above her child left her feeling utterly powerless.

His partner stared into Helaena's eyes, his grip on Rhaella's hair never loosening. "No. She's telling true."

Rhaella's body screamed at her to move, to do anything, anything at all. It seemed as if her body was frozen in shock and fear. The grip on her hair suddenly loosened and she was shoved back. "Don't move."

Helaena mumbled under her breath as she darted to grab her daughter out of her bed.

Rhaella felt the blood mixing with the tears falling down her cheeks. She forced her legs to move, grabbing the poker by the fireplace. She placed her daughter down on the floor far away.

"Run, find someone, find Daris." Rhaella whispered shakily, shoving Helaena out of the room. Her aunt stumbled but was too in shock to fight her.

The tension in the room was palpable, every second feeling like an eternity. Rhaella's heart pounded in her chest, but she knew she had to act quickly. The poker felt heavy in her hand, but it was her only weapon.

The sounds of Jaeharys screaming against the man's palm made her stomach quiver in pain. She raised the thick, heavy iron poker above her head and slammed it down into the smaller one's back, the one who carried the dagger.

It made him grunt and move the blade away from the boy's neck momentarily in shock.

A scream of sheer agony left the Princess's lips as she swung the iron once again, hitting him wherever she could, acting like it was a sword. Blood spattered on her dress when she made contact with his face, blood spitting from between his lips.

In her moment of rage, she forgot there was another, and he quickly grabbed the poker and threw it against the chamber wall. The iron clanked as it fell to the stone floor.

A hand shoved her harshly and she collided with the hard floor, her head smacking against the stone. Her stomach lurched when she heard the sound of screaming once more before a slice of a dagger against skin silenced it.

Rhaella gagged, as tears fell, her hands gripping the stone as she crawled towards Aemma. The sound of flesh and bone being cut through made bile rise in her throat before she could not hold it in and she released the contents of her stomach all over the floor.

Aemma wailed loudly as she grabbed her shakily, legs trembling so much Rhaella couldn't fathom at that moment how she was managing to walk.

Despite the chaos around her, Rhaella knew she had to stay strong for Aemma. She pulled the girl closer, whispering words of comfort even as her own heart pounded with fear. The scene was gruesome, but she couldn't afford to let panic take over.

Closing her eyes, knowing she was able to do nothing to save the little boy from his fate, guilt swarmed her heart. Maybe if she had fought harder, she could have changed the outcome. The weight of her failure pressed down on her, making it hard to breathe.

Rhaella couldn't help the continuous gagging that sounded from her throat every few moments as she fled the room. Her limbs trembled violently, barely able to support her as she ran through the halls, desperately searching. She didn't care who it was, she just needed to find someone—anyone who could help.

Where were the guards? This was the Queen's floor; there should be guards posted outside her room and throughout the halls, ready to protect and defend. The absence of their presence only heightened her panic.

The Princess panted as she sobbed and heaved, her breaths coming in ragged gasps. Her vision blurred with tears, making it difficult to see where she was going, but she couldn't stop. She had to keep moving, had to find safety, had to find help.

The feeling of colliding with a firm body made her gasp and try to run, thinking she had collapsed back into their trap. Panic surged through her veins, her heart pounding wildly in her chest.

"Princess?" The words sounded worried and confused, hands gripping her shoulders as eyes darted all over her body, searching for any signs of injury or distress. "Rhaella?" The foggy voice spoke again, bringing a sliver of recognition to her clouded mind. She stumbled back into the body, her fear momentarily abating as she realized who it was.

"It's my fault." Rhaella muttered over and over again, her voice breaking with each repetition. Her legs gave out beneath her, and she crumpled to the ground, overwhelmed by the weight of her guilt. Daris caught her in his arms, his grip firm yet gentle, trying to offer some semblance of comfort. He could only describe the look in her eyes as crazed yet defeated, a haunting mixture of despair and self-reproach.

His eyes fell on the small Princess crying into her mother's neck, her tiny body trembling with each sob. Rhaella held her tightly as if she would vanish if her grip loosened even a fraction.

"Princess, what has happened?" Daris cupped her cheeks, his voice laced with urgent concern. She shook her head, tears streaming down her face and landing on his skin like tiny, sorrowful raindrops.

"T-they," she stumbled over her words, her voice barely a whisper, and for a moment it seemed she would faint. "killed him. My sweet Jaehaerys." she finally managed, her voice breaking with grief.

Daris felt a surge of rage and sorrow himself, his hand instinctively moving to grip the hilt of his sword. But he knew his first priority was her safety. Gently, he placed one arm underneath her knees and the other behind her back, lifting her from the ground with ease. He hurried to a nearby chamber, his steps quick and purposeful. Once inside, he carefully tucked her into a corner.

Rhaella leaned her head against Aemma's as Daris gently brushed away the silver strands of hair that clung to the tears and blood on her skin. "Stay here," he whispered softly, his voice a mix of urgency and tenderness. Before she could respond, he was gone, disappearing into the shadows.

She remained huddled in the corner, her body wracked with violent trembles. Every muscle felt weak as if her very will to move had been sapped away. Silent tears continued to slip from her eyes, tracing a path down her cheeks and pooling on the cold stone floor beneath her.

One name echoed in her mind, a relentless mantra that drowned out all else.

Daemon.

+.*.｡𝖺𝗎𝗍𝗁𝗈𝗋𝗌 𝗇𝗈𝗍𝖾!.｡*ﾟ+

𝗌𝗈𝗋𝗋𝗒!

𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗍𝗈𝗈𝗄 𝗌𝗈 𝗅𝗈𝗇𝗀 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗆𝖾 𝗍𝗈 𝗐𝗋𝗂𝗍𝖾. 𝗆𝗈𝗌𝗍𝗅𝗒 𝖻𝖾𝖼𝖺𝗎𝗌𝖾 𝗂 𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽𝗇'𝗍 𝖿𝗂𝗀𝗎𝗋𝖾 𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝗁𝗈𝗐 𝗂 𝗐𝖺𝗇𝗍𝖾𝖽 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗒𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗈 𝗉𝖺𝗇 𝗈𝗎𝗍, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗁𝗈𝗇𝖾𝗌𝗍𝗅𝗒 𝖨'𝗆 𝗌𝗍𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝗉𝗅𝖾𝗍𝖾𝗅𝗒 𝗌𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗌𝖿𝗂𝖾𝖽 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗁𝗈𝗐 𝗂𝗍 𝗍𝗎𝗋𝗇𝖾𝖽 𝗈𝗎𝗍.

𝗂 𝗁𝗈𝗉𝖾 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗀𝗎𝗒𝗌 𝗅𝗂𝗄𝖾𝖽 𝗂𝗍, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗂 𝗐𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾 𝗍𝗈 𝗁𝖾𝖺𝗋 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗍𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗁𝗍𝗌! <𝟥𝟥

𝗐𝗈𝗋𝖽 𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗇𝗍: 𝟥𝗄