Rhaenyra lay in her bed. Books laying around her, she was currently reading about Aegon the Conqueror and the Field of Fire, when her mother walked into her room.
"Rhaenyra, you're supposed to abed." Aemma said gently, picking up the books and moving them to sit atop her desk.
Rhaenyra groaned as Aemma grabbed the book from her hands. "Mother, I was just about to finish." she said, crossing her arms.
Aemma chuckled, but kept her eyes on the book. "How did you get these?" She asked softly. Though she already had an idea.
"What does it matter?" Rhaenyra narrowed her eyes. Daemon had bought them for her on his latest trip, and she wasn't sure her mother would approve. After all, her father wasn't pleased when Daemon gave her affection or brought her gifts.
"It matters because these books are all written in High Valyrian." Aemma said, closing the book and putting it with the others. "Your Septa said you've been disappearing from your lessons. Do you mind telling me where you've been going, or doing for that matter?"
Rhaenyra shook her head. She wasn't going to give up her secret, not even to her mother.
Aemma sighed, she knew Rhaenyra was secretive about the time she spent with Daemon. Unlike Viserys; Aemma didn't mind the affection Daemon gave her, and would watch them from afar. Often seeing Daemon reading to her, Aemma and most of the keep saw how Rhaenyra and Daemon interacted with one another.
"You know Rhaenyra, I'm not going to punish you for spending time with him, as I know he is rather important to you." Aemma sat beside her on the bed. "And I guess I owe him a thank you."
"For what?" Rhaenyra asked, confused.
"Well, your Septa told me that you have been reading and writing in High Valyrian, and you have been able to speak it very fluently. Also, she explained that you know pretty much everything about Targaryen history. Especially about Aegon the Conqueror."
"So?"
"So, I know that Daemon has been spending a lot of time with you." Aemma said, seeing Rhaenyra's worried expression, she pulled her into her arms. "What's wrong, darling?"
"You can't tell Father." Rhaenyra whispered. "He'll make Daemon leave again, like he always does." Rhaenyra started to cry; she didn't want Daemon to go. She'd be alone and forgotten if he left.
"Shh, Rhaenyra. Viserys won't send Daemon away because he's spending time with you." Aemma said, trying to soothe her daughter's cries. "Daemon is a warrior; he is to protect us."
"Then why is Father angry everytime I'm with him?" Rhaenyra questioned.
Aemma shook her head, for she did not have the answer to her question. Aemma knew Daemon loved Rhaenyra, and tried his best to make her happy, even with him being gone. She knew he let Rhaenyra lock herself in his room when she wanted to escape from the eyes of people. She knew Daemon cared far more for Rhaenyra than anyone, even Viserys. She knew he loved her, and maybe that was what Viserys saw whenever he looked at them, that bond they shared.
***
Daemon entered the keep, his thoughts focused on one thing: Rhaenyra. Earlier that morning, he had decided to take Rhaenyra for a ride on Caraxes. She had surprised him by taking the reins from his hand and telling the Blood Wyrm, High Valyrian commands. Which he obeyed without any hesitation.
Daemon stopped in front of Rhaenyra's door, sending the guard a glare as he opened his mouth. Rhaenyra came first, and whatever the guard had to say could wait; his niece however, could not.
Entering, Daemon saw Rhaenyra asleep. The books he'd given to her were left on her desk in a plie. He raised an eyebrow; someone most likely Aemma, had come into her room, making sure Rhaenyra was in bed.
He sighed. Quietly walking over to Rhaenyra, already the age of six. Rhaenyra was as wild as a dragon. Daemon had called Rhaenyra a little dragon when she was first placed into his arms, and she was starting to live up to that name. Her temper was so hot and fierce at times that maids often hid from her.
Daemon had laughed, but as she grew he began to understand why she acted the way she did. It was no secret that Viserys wanted a son, talking about it anytime he could while leaving Rhaenyra with her mother or the maids. When Viserys forgot her nameday, she was so upset that she wouldn't eat.
Daemon brought her jewelry, books, poems, and even taught her the difference between Valyrian and High Valyrian. Spending as much time with her as he could, Daemon knew it could never replace the bond Rhaenyra desperately wanted with her father.
When Rhaenyra was the age of five, she had asked him if Viserys loved her, and Daemon had gotten angry, when she said it would've been best if she'd been a boy. Daemon approached his brother. Arguing in front of the Small Council. Asking Viserys if he cared for his own daughter, telling him what Rhaenyra had said, everyone was quiet as the argument continued, and by the end of it Daemon had decided if Viserys was not going to be there for his daughter. He would be there for her.
So here he was. Tucking his niece into bed, making sure she would be warm during the night. Kissing her forehead, Daemon stood up to blow out the candle, but Rhaenyra gripped his hand.
"Uncle." Rhaenyra said in a small voice, still heavy with sleep.
Daemon smiled and kneeled in front of her. "I'm sorry, little dragon. I didn't mean to wake you" He said softly, "go back to sleep."
Rhaenyra shook her head. "You promised to read to me."
"It's a little too late for that." Daemon told her, earning a sound of annoyance from Rhaenyra. He grabbed her arm as she rolled away from him. "Now, now. I said I couldn't read to you, but that doesn't mean I can't do something else just for tonight."
Rhaenyra looked into Daemon's eyes, and after a few more moments, she said: "Sing to me then."
Daemon chuckled, getting up from the floor and sitting at the edge of the bed. "As my little dragon commands."
Rhaenyra snuggled farther into her pillows, blanket tucked up to her chin.
"Loo-li, loo-li, loo-li, lai-lay. Loo-li, loo-li, loo-li lai-lay. Ilagon ilagon aōha bartos se nyke'll vāedagon ao iā lullaby. Arlī naejot se jēdri hen loo-li lai-lay. Se nyke'll vāedagon ao naejot ēdrugon se nyke'll vāedagon ao hemtubis. Bless ao lēda jorrāelagon syt se geralbar bona jā. Kostagon ao sail tolmiot naejot se tolmiot fields hen biarves. Lēda diamonds se pearls rȳ aōha bartos se aōha dekossa. Se kostagon ao jorrāelagon dōrī naejot banish misfortune. Kostagon ao find kindness isse mirre bona ao rhaenagon. Kostagon konīr va moriot sagon people naejot urnēbagon toliot ao. Naejot guide ao each dekuragon hen ñuhoso. Naejot guard ao se gaomagon ao ȳgha hen mirre ōdrikagon. Loo-li, loo-li, lai-lay. Kostagon ao maghagon jorrāelagon se kostagon ao maghagon biarves. Sagon jorrāelatan isse return naejot se mōris hen aōha tubissa. Sir ropagon hen naejot ēdrugon, iksan daor nūmāzma naejot gaomagon ao. Nyke'll sepār sit syt iā while se vāedagon loo-li, lai-lay. Kostagon konīr va moriot sagon people naejot urnēbagon toliot ao. Naejot guide ao each dekuragon hen ñuhoso. Naejot guard ao se gaomagon ao ȳgha hen mirre ōdrikagon loo-li, loo-li, lai-lay, loo-li, loo-li, lai-lay. Loo-li, loo-li, loo-li, lai-lay. Loo-li, loo-li, loo-li lai-lay. Loo-li, loo-li, loo-li lai-lay. Loo-li, loo-li, loo-li lai-lay. Loo-li, lai-lay."
(Loo-li, loo-li, loo-li, lai-lay. Loo-li, loo-li, loo-li lai-lay. Lay down your head and I'll sing you a lullaby. Back to the years of loo-li lai-lay. And I'll sing you to sleep and I'll sing you tomorrow. Bless you with love for the road that you go. May you sail far to the far fields of fortune. With diamonds and pearls at your head and your feet. And may you need never to banish misfortune. May you find kindness in all that you meet. May there always be people to watch over you. To guide you each step of the way. To guard you and keep you safe from all harm. Loo-li, loo-li, lai-lay. May you bring love and may you bring happiness. Be loved in return to the end of your days. Now fall off to sleep, I'm not meaning to keep you. I'll just sit for a while and sing loo-li, lai-lay. May there always be people to watch over you. To guide you each step of the way. To guard you and keep you safe from all harm Loo-li, loo-li, lai-lay, loo-li, loo-li, lai-lay. Loo-li, loo-li, loo-li, lai-lay. Loo-li, loo-li, loo-li lai-lay. Loo-li, loo-li, loo-li lai-lay. Loo-li, loo-li, loo-li lai-lay. Loo-li, lai-lay)
When Daemon finished, Rhaenyra was fast asleep. Gently running his fingers over her cheek, Daemon tucked a strand behind her ear. He rose from the bed, planting a kiss on her forehead before blowing out the candle beside her bed. Casting one more look at Rhaenyra's sleeping form, Daemon smiled.
"Sleep, little dragon." He whispered before closing the door behind him.