Disclaimer - Remember this is a fan fic and I am doing my best to just make it a fun read, things will not be perfect. The time gap between Daemon leaving and Rhaenyra flying there seemed to be a few days but I think it was weeks or maybe even months in reality? I think Otto at some point said how long Daemon had been there before the scene happened but I could not find the quote, things will be different here though. That scene was awesome but it will not be happening or at least not in the same way...
I just wanted to say something because I finally decided on a path for Daemon, I think it will be a fun ride.
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112 AC
Kingslanding
Daeron Nymeros Martell
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"So the place will be called the water gardens?" Aemma asks as I wheel her back toward her room with Rhaenyra at my side.
"Yep, it will have nice cool pools that will be shaded and have a steady supply of groundwater streaming through them. It is being built for comfort but also keeping safety in mind, while also having our own 'pit'. When it is done you should come to stay for a while and relax under the nice Dornish sun." She snorts and shakes her head as we get closer to her room.
"I would pass out, I do not handle heat well but if the pools are like what you describe I might think about it. I will let Rhaenyra try them out for me and she can tell me if they live up to your claims." She looks over her shoulder to her daughter who nods with a small smile.
"I have been looking forward to it since he first told me about it, I will make sure to let you know if it's worth the long trip." The original Water Gardens was known for people running around naked, a tradition I intend to start myself when I get Rhaenyra alone at the pools.
"Well, the trip is not that long if you just fly." Aemma looks further back at me with a raised eyebrow.
"How would I fly down there?" I look at her strangely since the answer is obvious but I remember she is an Arryn even if she has dragon blood.
We had to 'steal' our dragons and the Velaryons have there's because Rhaenys is a Targaryen by birth and had her dragon lay eggs. So Aemma has never had a dragon and likely never tried to claim one or was just not allowed.
"Well if you can't or won't claim a dragon then you could ride mine with me down there, plenty of room after all." I look toward Rhaenyra as I offer to give her mother a ride since the last time I offered that to someone who was not her she got upset.
"She is my mother Daeron, I could care less if you flew her down to Dorne so long as she is fine with it. But obviously, I am going as well, I won't be left behind and let my Mother see the place first without me." I nod as Rhaenyra moves to open the door to her mother's room so I can push her in.
The guards who were standing by to guard the door all slowly split off as we enter the room and two Kingsguard takes their place by the door. The woman who was watching over Visenya places her into her cradle as we walk in and she bows before heading out. I cast a look toward the Kingsguard who was in the room the whole time watching the young princess and I hope he was paying attention. If Visenya ends up dying suddenly I will be burnings somethings, she is a cute little thing and I am growing attached. The Kingsguard nods toward the crowned princess and the Queen before heading out of the room to stand guard with his brothers in white.
"Well I am not too sure I would want to fly anyway, but I will keep your invitation in mind in the future. If Rhaenyra will be spending some time down there after the wedding I just might make the trip down there to be there for her." Aemma finally speaks once we are more alone once more.
With Dorne joining in the more the Dornish like Rhaenyra when she eventually becomes their Queen, the better. A Royal progress can happen sometime later and can be used to befriend most of the Lords of Westeros but for the Dornish it is a bit different. By her staying in Sunspear for a time and even having her firstborn there she would gain a lot of goodwill with the Dornish. People are oddly sentimental about stuff like that, it's about the image that things are presented as.
"Look at this little cute baby, you are softer than silk little Visenya." Rhaenyra leans over the cradle and starts pestering her little sister causing Aemma to smile.
I hold the arm of the Queen as she raises to her feet and hobbles to the cradle beside her daughter. She winces with each step but a smile blooms when she sets her free hand onto the railing to the cradle and spots her daughter. I step back to give them their moment but I freeze when I notice movement from the egg resting beside the baby.
"Did you see that?" I ask both of them as I point to the egg, they both look away from Visenya and stare at the black egg.
"See what?" Rhaenyra asks and I am about to speak up once more but the egg rocks again much more noticeably this time. "Oh..." The egg rocks a few more times as we all go silent as a grave hoping to see a little miracle.
"Maybe not today..." I speak up and mumble when I notice Aemma wobbling on her legs, I help her to the bed and she gets comfortable. "I suppose I should head off, I have taken more than enough of your time." I smile at the Queen and she waves me off with a chuckle.
"Nonsense, I thank you for getting me out of this room, I was getting cramped in here and my bones were starting to hurt." I nod and take one more look toward the cradle and the egg, Rhaenyra steps up beside me blocking my view of both.
I nod to both of them before I turn to head out of the room, I was supposed to meet with my Father and Lord Velaryon today but lost track of time. I hope they did not decide to start without me, we were making plans for the start of the war on the crab feeder. Lord Corlys was furious when he got word another of his ships was lost and he is ready to wipe the Stepstones clean.
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112 AC
Kingslanding
Aemma Arryn
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That was nice, it felt great to get out of this room for a bit and the added benefit of getting to know my future good son better was a nice addition.
"It won't hatch with you watching it, they never do." I dryly remark when Rhaenyra walks back to the cradle and watches the egg. "I remember watching the egg of Syrax in your cradle for hours, I feared she would eat you. Then I woke up one morning and found her laying beside you with her head resting on your chest." It was a cute sight but also a bit scary at the time, now I know Syrax is a sweet girl that just wanted to be closer to Rhaenyra.
"I wonder what the dragon will look like? I picked the egg because it is solid black and I hope it will look like Balerion but I suppose it could look like anything. Gaelithox is all black but has green eyes and flames as well, I wonder what his egg looked like..." Before she can get lost in her thoughts I wave her over and she sits on the bed and I grab one of her hands.
"How are you feeling?" I try and put on a reassuring look, both pride at my daughter being the heir to the throne and also fear for her safety.
"I am fine, I wanted to talk to you about some things." I nod and she crawls onto the bed beside me and wraps her arm around my back as she lays her head on my shoulder. "Father wants to move the wedding up. It has not even been long since everyone knows I am the heir and he is getting drowned in requests to talk. I even heard that Lord Tarly was upset that I was marrying a Dornish man." I sigh and shake my head at the start of all the problems that will build up quicker than she knows it.
"When was he thinking?" I try not to think about him as much as I can, each time I do the pain assaults me worse than the last right where I was cut.
I looked and there is only a slight scar left behind thanks to Daeron but it stings like a hot iron on my stomach. Each time I think about my husband it pulses and threatens to make me scream when the pain floods back in. The words he told me as the blade cut into me echoing in my ears and I feel like I am being held down.
"I do not know, but he promised me that even if this wedding will not be as big as it could be because of it being 'rushed' that he would make it up to me. He said in a year or twos time he would host a giant tourney and celebration for our union. Most of the Lords were already delayed leaving for me to be named heir and now they are heading home. But the wedding between Daeron and me will enact the pact between Dorne and the Iron Throne so long as I have two children, one for the Iron Throne and one for Dorne. That means the big celebration will also need the Dornish to be invited and it is much too short notice to get all the Lords of Dorne involved." I suppose that makes some sense, I would say to just put it off until they can marry during that event but I suppose the sooner the better.
This is all just happening so fast, one moment I am carrying the next heir, and then I almost die birthing my sweet Visenya. Rhaenyra gets named heir and her marriage goes from her marrying into House Martell to House Martell marrying into the iron throne. But Westeros won't wait for me to catch up, things must keep moving on and I suppose it's for the best. The sooner they married the sooner the situation can start to calm down.
Daeron will make an excellent ally for Rhaenyra with the pressure that will be on her as the first true Queen of Westeros. He already showed he is taking this serious when he suggested a Royal Progress so the people can see their future Queen. He has the strength to keep would-be problem-makers at bay and he has the wit to help support her in other matters.
I just pray to the seven that she will not have the problems I have when it comes to the birthing bed. She will have enough on her shoulder without worrying about the things I have always worried about. But with Daerons healing, I am sure she will have all her birthing's at the very least be safe and she will come out of them healthy.