♔ ♔ ♔

Henley tosses and turns in her chambers, unable to be met with peaceful sleep. The images of Caraxes flying away and Rhaenyra's claim announcement plaguing her mind.

She finally tosses her duvet to the side and makes herself a glass of warm milk to help her restlessness before trying again...

This time being met with much more success, and dreams....

Daemon's cool fingers graze Henley's cheek as he stands above her in her chambers. She stares up at him through her lashes, leaning into his touch.

His hand slips further down, stroking her breasts causing her back to arch...

The image flashes to Henley and Rhaenyra holding each other's arms, both clinging tightly.

Then a ringed hand rubbing a very pregnant belly.

To her and Daemon's body pressed together in a ballroom.

To a sweaty, screaming Henley sitting up right in bed as she grabs her large, swelled belly. Tears stream down the matured face as a blurry figure tries to hastily to shove their way into the room.

"Let me see her, now!" The voice roars, thought she can't make it out as he sounds like she's hearing it underwater, far away.

Henley heart races as the atmosphere changes once more as the air grows thicker. Her nails scrape down Daemon's arm as she nods to him, biting her lip. He watches her in awe as he thrusts him into her—

"Ahuhh." Henley gasps awake, sitting up quickly. She grabs her chest as the air disappears from her lungs and she grabs around at the sheets around her, taking in her surroundings as her eyes adjust.

She swallows harshly, throat pleading for water. She peels herself from the sheets, feeling her feverishly sweaty forehead as she grabs water from her desk table.

What was that- she thinks to herself as her cheeks burn. Sure she's had dreams before, but none this vivid.

None this real feeling.

Henley felt embarrassed with herself for letting her mind foolishly wonder off like that, as if she can control her dreams, her desires, during sleep.

Her eyes widen as she picks through her mind at each part of the dream, exhausting herself entirely.

She begins to panic thinking about the labor part of the dream, clawing at her chest for relief. Queen Aemma had just died during childbirth, and Henley still so young, the thought of it sent the young girl into a spiral.

She could feel the baby inside of her, she could feel like searing pain of labor, she could feel everything going wrong...

The glass of water slips from hands and splashes as it hits the ground, shards of glass flying everywhere. She blinks, coming to before she hurriedly grabs her robe and quietly pads through the halls til she makes it to a certain door.

She knocks softly before coming face to face with her best friend as she rubs her eyes.

"Hey, is everything ok?" Rhaenyra asks gently, yawning once she does.

Henley feels bad for interrupting her sleep, but knew she couldn't be on her own the rest of the night, however much longer that was.

Henley nods. "I'm fine. Sorry for waking-"

"Don't even finish that!" Rhaenyra says, pulling Henley in by her arms. "You wake me up anytime."

She shuts the door behind her with her food.

"Couldn't sleep?" The white-haired girl asks, clinging on to Henley's arm, giving her a flooding sense of deja vu.

Breathe, Henley, she tells herself.

"No. No, not entirely."

"Well, we can fix that." The Princess smiles, whisking Henley with her over to her bed, like many times before.

Both girls feel safe and comfortable when they share slumber.

They crawl into bed together and meet face to face in the middle.

"Now, are you going to tell me what happened?" Rhaenyra gives Henley a look, knowing she's tensed and flushed.

Henley's stomach flutters as she replays the dream in her mind, certain parts causing her to grow tingly and hot for some reason...

She squirms under Rhaenyra's grasp as her body begins to betray her and aches to continue—

Snap out of it, Henley! She scolds herself in her mind.

"I-uh, I-" She exhales, trying to regain her words. "I just had an odd feeling dream, that's all." She explains and Rhaenyra scoots even closer to her, listening intently. "It just all felt so— startlingly real. It sort of freaked me out."

Even more so now one of the flashes in her dreams just played out right before her eyes.... Which could mean nothing, which could mean nothing, she repeats over and over in her head.

"Have you ever had dreams like that before?" She asks Rhaenyra, whose eyes were growing heavier by the moment and betraying her.

The Princess licks her lips. "Mmm, I don't think so. Most of dreams are silly, or far fetched." She pauses, looking away for a moment. "I dream about us, sometimes."

Henley heart slows, as she begins to feel much more relaxed. "Tell me everything." She sighs in contentment.

Rhaenyra locks her fingers together. "We run away, we fly on Syrax, we have tea parties and eat cakes, and couple of them we marry." She giggles. "It's fun." Henley smiles. "I wish that was our future. We wouldn't need this place, or anyone else."

Henley nods slowly, eyes shutting. "That would be nice, wouldn't it?" A life away from the Kingdom where both girls could be free, and happy.

But unfortunately this story is not meant for fairytales.

"Yeah." Rhaenyra watches Henley drift off to asleep. "It would." She sighs as she snuggle into each other and sleep takes over her mind as well.

♔ ♔ ♔

𝟶ʙᴜᴛᴛᴇʀʙɪsᴄᴜɪᴛ𝟽 sᴘᴇᴀᴋs!

Wow, wow, wow, hellooo!! VERY long time no see huh?

I am incredibly sorry for not updating for this long. I truly believe it's bc episode 1 took me SO long to write, edit, & publish that I've just avoiding ep. 2 lmao. BUT, I cannot say that I haven't been motivated & planning all this time, & have even come up with a new idea that y'all will see in act 2 ;)

ANYWAYS, thank you guys SO SO much for 2k+ on this book!! Is wear it has NOT been abandoned for good, & will even continue on to S2!!! Eventually lmao.

For now, hope y'all enjoy this chapter, I've had this idea itching away at my brain forever so I'm happy to finally have it written. Please don't forget to comment your thoughts, questions, & reactions!!

AND HAPPY S2 DAY !! Hope y'all missed Henley as much as I did, until next time, mauh! 💋