Burn for You { Aemond Targaryen }

TWO

CHAPTER TWO
A DRAGON'S FUNERAL

DAENERYS WAS NOT a fan of crowds. The presence of others was often smothering to her, and not even the support of her sisters could calm the way her skin crawled under the watchful eye of their extended family. Many people had gathered to celebrate Laena's life, and all eyes were on the poor daughters left behind by the fierce Lady. The heavy burden of their mother's death only worsened her sensitivity to the staring.

Daemon knew the pain that plagued his daughter—all his daughters—and he wished for them to not be alone in such times. Especially not today, not when they were laying their mother to rest. Not when he was stuck entertaining half-arsed condolences from distant family members who cared only for their own appearances and could not be there himself for his girls.

Knowing her father only wished for her to not go through this alone, Daenerys did not fight his wishes. Instead, she had stood quietly next to her sisters and father as Laena was put to rest in the sea, and she continued to put up no fight when she was guided along with the crowd to higher grounds—to where the wake would take place.

While her sisters found solace with their grandparents, Daenerys stayed glued to their father's side. When they reached the landing, Daemon had found a goblet of wine and claimed a spot along the stone wall that faced the sea, leaning back against his elbow. His daughter stayed tucked to his side closest to the wall, small hands twisted into his robes. She didn't notice the look of longing Rhaenyra sent Daemon when she exited onto the stone landing from the lower tunnels of Driftmark, too busy counting the stitches on her father's shirt.

Occasionally Daenerys was brought out of her daydreaming by another person she did not know coming up to them, a small smile on their lips as they gave their empty condolences. Her attention was lost just as quickly as it was caught.

"Kepa?" Daenerys' soft voice finally broke the silence between her and her father, the sky having began to darken already.

Daemon glanced down at his daughter, brow quirked in questioning, "What is it, Dae?"

"Is he alright?" She questioned, turning her head to peer back over the stone wall and towards the beach below—where Leanor Valeryon stood weakly in the water.

Her father followed her line of sight, a pitying sigh escaping him as he laid eyes on Laena's brother. Beside him, Lord Corlys Valeryon tensed his jaw before pushing away from the wall and moving through the crowd towards a man Daenerys could not recognize. Her eyes remained on the pair, head tilting in interest as the entire party watched the men exchange heated words.

Daemon hummed as the man stormed off, gently stroking over his daughter's hair to bring her attention away from the altercation. She stared up at him with wide blue eyes, a childlike innocence in them that Daemon wished would never leave. A smile ghosted his lips as he drew his eyes away, hers going to the water and his meeting those of his brother's.

Viserys grunted as he looked away, thinking his next actions through carefully before grasping his cane firmly. He used it to pull his weight up, making his way to Daemon on shaky legs.

"Your girls are the very image of their mother, and you," Viserys complimented, sneaking a glance down at Daenerys, "I see Laena's spirit bright within you. A comfort, and an anguish, as I well remember."

Daenerys pressed back into her father's side, wide eyes focused on the man before her. He continued speaking, her father listening silently, "The gods can be cruel."