♔ ♔ ♔

"It occurred in the blackness of the night, my lords, during the Hour of the Bat." High Valyrian reaches my ears as Rhaenyra and I enter the council room. "The thief eluded our pursuit." My brows knit together as Nyra folds her arms behind her back.

"How is it possible that a dragon's egg was stolen out from beneath more than fifty Dragonkeepers?" The King questions.

"It was Prince Daemon who was the culprit, Your Grace..." One of the keepers answer and my stomach twists at the name while my lips part slightly.

"Daemon." The King repeats, returning to English.

"The Prince left a missive, which I believe might explain." My father intervenes and the King's attention turns to piece of parchment unfolding by the hands of Mellos. I lean forward, stretching my neck anxious to hear what he left to say.

"It is the pleasure of Daemon Targaryen, 'the Prince of Dragonstone and rightful heir to the Iron Throne' to announce he is to take a second wife in the tradition of Old Valyria." Mellos reads. "She is to assume the title of Lady Mysaria of Dragonstone. Her Grace is with child and is to have a dragon's egg placed in the babe's cradle in the custom of House Targaryen." With child? My mind scrambles to process everything as he continues. "The Prince has invited you to his wedding, Your Grace. It is in two days' time."

"Gods be good." Lyman Beesbury mutters, lifting his cup for a drink.

"Who is Lady Mysaria?" Lord Corlys asks.

"We believe-" Mellos starts before my father cuts him off.

"Daemon's whore." I sigh through my nose. "This is nothing less than sedition."

"I strongly agree, sire." Lyonel Strong speaks up.

"My brother wishes to provoke me." Viserys says, staring off. Is it working? "To answer is to give him what he wants."

"The realm is watching, Your Grace." Lord Coryls reminds. Watching, whispering, gossiping. It's all the same. It's all with intentions that are not well, waiting for someone to falter.

"What would you have me do?" King Viserys' tone softens. "Send him to the Wall? Perhaps I could put his head on a spike." Though I know he is not serious, the thought spikes my heart rate, blood running cold.

"Daemon has seized Dragonstone, has surrounded himself with an army of gold cloaks, and has now stolen a dangerous weapon-" My father carries on. Maybe you shouldn't have provoked him then, I bite my tongue as Rhaenyra mumbles beside me snapping me from my thoughts.

Every council member slowly turns.

"Which egg did Daemon take?" Rhaenyra raises her voice, using the Valyrian tongue.

"The egg was Dreamfyre's, princess." The Dragonkeeper answers. A small gasp falls from my lips. He wouldn't... "The same that you chose for Prince Baelon's cradle." Oh, Daemon.

King Viserys' nostrils flare. "Assemble a detachment, Otto." He rises to his feet. "I will go to Dragonstone and drag Daemon back to face justice myself." He begins storming off.

"Your Grace." Father stands slowly and the King halts immediately. "My apologies, Your Grace, but I cannot allow it. It's too dangerous." This will be Rhaenyra and I someday, I know it. Her thinking in anger, whereas I will be thinking rational. The only comparison I can stomach to my father, and even then... "Daemon is without limit." That name pulls me back to. "Let me go to Dragonstone." My head rears back at the suggestion.

♔ ♔ ♔

I swallow harshly as I see Otto emerge down the hallway.

"The egg will not hatch." I speak with parched tongue, my words staggering the air. "Whatever you're going to do to Daemon might as well be meaningless."

My father turns around, disgust apparent on his face more than the gold adorning the walls. I hold my chin high as he walks over to me. Before I can blink he takes his glove across my face, hitting the corner of my eye. A gasp flies out of my mouth, a sting etching my skin. Did he just hit me?

"You foolish girl." He spits out, leaning forward. "Whatever fantasy you have written in your mind about Daemon Targaryen is nothing but a waste of time." He chuckles. "And while your sister will be performing her duty tonight, you-"

"Will what, father?" I dare through clenched teeth. "Fantasize about Daemon Targaryen while I stow away in my room as the entire kingdom continues to spew falsities about me?"

"You watch your tone when speaking to me, girl, I am your father." Otto scoffs.

"We may share blood and a last night, but you are no father to me." I bite, nose twitching before I back away, turning on my heel to create as much distance from the monster I'm supposed to call father?! After everything he's done, and damned me to be...

♔ ♔ ♔

"Come on." Rhaenyra enters my corridors merely as soon as I.

"Hmm?" I turn to face her. Her jaw lay firm at her attempt to stop her mouth from trembling, but I notice. I always do. I want to comfort her, shove my sorrows to the back of my mind. They aren't important anyway.

"You will follow me to the ends of the Earth and seven kingdoms, will you not?" She poses the question, eyes boring into mine.

My eyes drown in emotion as I nod firmly. "Of course."

"Then we're leaving now."

"Yes, princess."

♔ ♔ ♔

Syrax rumbles as she soars through haze of the fog, bursting up from below, she screeches as Nyra guides to loop around above Caraxes before landing behind the scene unfolding in front of us. I gaze at Caraxes in awe, feeling a pair of eyes seer into my skin as Rhaenyra drops the straps and my hands leave her waist.

Rhaenyra strongly leads as down the isle as my fathers eyes land upon me, anger flashing through them, ignoring the rest of the guards stares.

"What are you doing here, Princess?" He asks Rhaenyra as she approaches him.

"Preventing bloodshed." She answers.

"Ser Criston, please escort the Princess and her Hand to safety." Otto orders. I see Daemon stretch his neck as I slip out of view.

"Take care not to startle Syrax, my lords. She's rather protective of me and Henley." Rhaenyra speaks before stepping past.

I stay behind, letting her go as my father steps over to me and grips my arm tightly in his grasp. "What are you doing here?"

"My father named me Princess-" Rhaenyra begins in High Valyrian before she is sharply interrupted.

"Unhand the Princess's Hand now, or I will turn this entire bridge into ash." Daemon's voice directs. Otto freezes, tensing before he slowly releases me and I abruptly push away from him, exhaling through my nose.

"You have angered your king." Rhaenyra stresses.

"I don't see why." Daemon finally responds to Rhaenyra now that I have backed away from Otto, feeling the heat of his gaze as he watches me. "This is a day of celebration. I am to be wed."

"You already have a wife." Rhaenyra fires back.

"Not one of my choosing." Daemon states and I take this moment to finally glance up in his direction. My eyes meet his in an instant as he looks beyond Rhaenyra at me.

"And this required you to steal my brother's egg?" Rhaenyra draws his attention back, but not his focus.

"You shared a cradle with a dragon when you were born. I want the same for my child." Daemon simply answers.

"You're to have a child?" Rhaenyra questions.

Daemon glances quickly over his shoulder at his bewedded and suddenly I... know. She is not with child. "One day." He says earning his betrothed to walk away.

"I'm right here, Uncle." Rhaenyra returns to English.

"But you are not who I want to hear from." Daemon hums, casting a subtle nod towards me causing wariness to wash over my body.

Rhaenyra glances back before facing him once again. "If you wish to be restored as heir, you'll need to kill me. So, do it. And be done with all this bother." She spits out.

"I want to speak to your Hand." His words clamp down on my spine. Rhaenyra's brows furrow ever-so slightly as she turns to look at me. I shake my head, barely moving a muscle, but she'll know. I have no fight here, what could he possible want from me? Daemon bows his head, requesting I come closer.

I sigh to myself, avoiding Otto's furious glare as I make my way through the men of our side. Rhaenyra takes a step back as I come forth.

"I believe you have something to say." Daemon awaits.

I pull the inside flesh of my lips between my teeth, sniffing the cool air before speaking the Valyrian tongue. "That egg is dormant." I say softly. "It will not hatch." Rhaenyra's face falls sorrow beside me. A flash of three eggs crosses my mind, causing a light pain in the back of my head. "You are fighting for a prize you have not yet gained." I lift my chin, taking a step forward. "You will return the egg to Princess, for it is not yours to claim."

Daemon's stare remains down upon me as I do not break it before he looks from Rhaenyra to behind us. "Very well." He whispers, turning away as he tosses the egg forcefully to Rhaenyra. She holds in her hands victoriously.

"Are you sure?" She asks me.

"I am." I speak truthfully.

The fate of the egg will lie with it of it's cradle.

♔ ♔ ♔

0𝒷𝓊𝓉𝓉𝑒𝓇𝒷𝒾𝓈𝒸𝓊𝒾𝓉7 𝓈𝓅𝑒𝒶𝓀𝓈!

Hello, hellooo... & welcome back to Scarletted Persuasion, it has been a minute....

While away we reached 7K readssss... wow!! I cannot thank y'all enough!! Though S2 disappointed me, & I unfortunately got busy with life & other books... Henley's story is nowhere near the end, as we have just begun ;)

The Dragon Whisperer... Henley Hightower ladies & gentleman... ahhh!! I was SOOOO excited to write the bridge scene for this chapterrrr, omggg!! And Otto Hightower can rot! Daemon willl neverrr let that thing lay a hand on our girl when he is arounddd, mhmmm!!!

Wellll, I hope you all enjoyed that very intenseee chapterrr!! Andddd hmmm, what was Henley seeing during her conversation with Daemon... hmmm... hehe...

And it is my honor to say & celebrate two years to Scarletted Persuasionnn!! I cannot wait for this story to continue to unfolddd!! Don't be afraid to comment your thoughts, questions, & reactions, & until next timeee, mwah!! <333