"He passed through the Red Keep's gates at first light." Ser Westerling informs Rhaenyra and Henley of Daemon's whereabouts as he takes them to the Prince after the council meeting.

"Does my father know he's here?" Rhaenyra asks.

"No." Ser Westerling answers.

Rhaenyra looks at Henley with a grin. "Good."

"Gods be good." Ser Westerling mutters, seeing Daemon sitting upon the throne as they enter the room. Henley can't help but let out a chuckle as her lips curl up.

"It's all right, ser." Rhaenyra assures him. He scoffs at the sight.

"What do you think you're doing, Uncle?" Rhaenyra asks him in High Valyrian as she makes her way towards him. Henley slowly trails behind her, pilfering at the bottom of the stairs.

"Sitting." Daemon replies to her in the same language. "This could well be my chair one day." He says. Henley smirks. Everyone in King's Landing would rather face death by a dragon than bare witness to that, but Henley on the other hand see's the potential, she always has. The council meetings would be far less of a bore, that's for sure.

"Not if you're executed for treason." Rhaenyra sasses, still speaking the Valyrian tongue.

"You think it looks as I belong here, don't you Henley?" Daemon asks her, still speaking Valyrian as well.

"Much better with your head still in tact." Henley lets the Valyrian words slip right off her tongue with ease, causing Rhaenyra to pause for a moment, impressed. It's been far too long since they've practiced but Henley never needed her to master it.

Daemon smirks at her response.

"You haven't come to court in an age." Rhaenyra continues. Daemon has actually came a time or two without breathing a word of it to anyone other than Henley, not even Rhaenyra. It's only been when he's in desperate need of a break. He would only sneak into the garden, where Henley spends almost all of her time, so much that it's hers at this point, so it was nearly impossible for them to not cross each others paths.

"Aye... Court is dreadfully boring." The young man scoffs at the thought.

"Amen." Henley mumbles in agreement.

"Then why come back at all?" Rhaenyra questions.

"I heard your father was hosting a tournament in my honor." He answers proudly. Henley shakes her head.

"The tournament is for his heir." Rhaenyra tells him.

"Mmm..." Daemon leans forward. "Just as I said.

"His new heir." Rhaenyra gloats. Henley sighs, knowing he will not be pleased at the sound of that. She thought it crude for an older member of the family to be so quickly tossed to the side when a younger, newer one comes along.

"Until your mother brings forth a son..." He rises to his feet. "You are all cursed with me."

"Lucky as ever, aren't we?" Henley hums in Valyrian, Rhaenyra's thrown off that was her best friend speaking it and not an elder Targaryen or Velaryon, thinking Henley had to have been taught by an elder, knowing books can only get one so far. To have mastered the language one must hear the tongue to match it.

"Then I shall hope for a brother." Rhaenyra remarks.

"Or that I find a suitable Queen to keep me in line." Daemon comments with a grin, though his attention was not on his niece in front of him anymore, but on the brunette leaning against one of the pillars staring at the floor.

"This is for you, dear niece." He resides to English and hands Rhaenyra a necklace before making his way over to Henley.

"I have a gift for you as well." Daemon approaches Henley, causing Henley to life her gaze.

"Oh?" She asks, raising her brows intrigued. "Are you sure it's not for Rhaenyra?"

"Positive." A playful smirk dances on his lips. "Hold out your arm." He commands rather than asks. Rhaenyra admires her pretty, run of the mill necklace as she gives the two their space. They're out of earshot for her to listen, but she's still curious as to what he got Henley.

Henley slowly raises her arm and Daemon carefully takes her hand it in his calloused one sending shivers down her spine.

He clasps a beautiful gold bracelet around her wrist as he looks her directly in the eyes, nodding for her to look.

She brings it close to admire, a gasp escapes her lips at the gorgeous roses, thorns, and vines etched around it.

"It's beautiful." Her voices comes out as a whisper. It is the most beautiful thing she's ever owned and the fact he found one with her favorite thing, flowers but more specifically roses, makes the gift all the more special. "Thank you." Her eyes meet his once again.

He leans forward as his hot breath kisses her ear. "You're welcome, my beautiful, tainted rose." He hovers for a moment as her she sucks in a sharp breath before he slowly backs away.

♔♔♔

Later on in the day, Rhaenyra and Henley join Alicent outside. They're relaxing under a tree on the other side of Henley's garden, and the wall. Rhaenyra's head rested partly on Henley's lap, partly on her toros, with her legs drape across Alicent's, who is sitting across from them. Henley is enjoying her book while Alicent quizzes Rhaenyra.

"Did you read it?" Alicent asks the Targaryen girl.

"Of course I read it." She defends.

"Liar." Henley mutters under her breath. Rhaenyra playfully nudges her.

"When Princess Nymeria arrived in Dorne, who did she take to husband?" Alicent questions.

"A man." Rhaenyra answers causing Henley to snicker quietly.

"What was his name?" Alicent presses with an unamused tone.

"Lord something." Rhaenyra rushes out absentmindedly, more interested in the red daises in her hand than the questions.

"If you answer with "Lord Something" Septa Marlow will be furious." Alicent reprimands her.

"Oh, relax Alicent." Henley laughs lightly. "She's funny when she's furious." Her and Rhaenyra speak at the same time.

"You're always like this when you're worried." Alicent notes. Henley knows it's true, but she was trying to let Rhaenyra have her time with her thoughts.

"Like what?" Rhaenyra asks innocently.

"Disagreeable." Rhaenyra looks up to Alicent and Alicent raises her eyebrows knowing she's right.

"Maybe she just doesn't want to answer your questions." Henley hums, turning the page as she plays with strands of Rhaenyra's hair.

Alicent huffs at sister before continuing. "You're worried your father is about to overshadow you with a son."

"I only worry for my mother." Rhaenyra brushes off Alicent's comment, confirming what Henley was also thinking. "I hope for my father that he gets a son." She states, picking off some flower petals. "As long as I can recall, it's all he's wanted."

"You want him to have a son?" Alicent asks in disbelief. Henley knows that's not what Rhaenyra truly wants, but she wants her father to be happy.

"I want to fly on dragon back, see the great wonders across the Narrow Sea, and eat only cake with the both of you." Rhaenyra responds with.

"I'm being serious." Alicent snaps. Henley sighs, not knowing why Alicent can't just enjoy the fun. This is why Henley and Rhaenyra joke about all sorts of places they could fly away to alone.

"I never jest about cake." Rhaenyra pokes.

Alicent snaps her head down to look at her. "You aren't worried about your position?"

"Maybe she doesn't want the position." Henley mumbles to herself, the girls too busy in their argument to hear her. Another reason Daemon ruling wouldn't be the end of the world to Henley, Rhaenyra would be free. Alicent sounds a lot like their father in this moment, making Henley uneasy and annoyed.

"I like this position. It's quite comfortable." Rhaenyra retorts, smiling up at Henley who tries her best not to laugh.

Alicent scoffs, slamming the book and quickly stands, letting Rhaenyra's legs fall roughly as she goes to storm away.

Rhaenyra rolls her eyes. "Where are you going?"

"Home. The hour has grown late." Alicent states irritably.

Henley sighs, knowing that means she'll have to go to. Rhaenyra raises up and they both stand to follow Alicent as she huffily turns around.

"Princess Nymeria led her Rhoynar across the Narrow Sea on 10,000 ships to flee their Valyrian pursers." Rhaenyra finally answers, annoyedly. It pays to have a history filled best friend.

Alicent heaves the book back open.

"She's right." Henley pipes up, stretching to her tiptoes as she rocks back and fourth on her feet waiting for the results.

"She took Lord Mors Martell of Dorne to husband and burned her own fleet off Sunspear to show her people that they were finished running." Rhaenyra continues before ripping the page Alicent stopped at out of the book.

Alicent's eyes grow wide. "What are you doing?"

"So you remember." Rhaenyra schools, lifting her brows knowingly as she places it back on the book. Henley smirks.

"If-if the Septa sees this book, then-" Alicent rushes out, tripping over her words.

"Fuck the Septa." Rhaenyra interrupts, linking her arms with Henley's, who couldn't be more proud in this very moment.

"Rhaenyra!" Alicent chastises, following behind the pair as the bell tower rings over the girls giggles.

♔♔♔

Author's Note: The bracelet sceneeee omgggg <3

Also Rhaenyra and Henley teaming up against Alicent>>> They were so cute in that scene

Ugh, I love this chapterrrr, all the feels!! Hope y'all enjoyed, okay byeee!!