In Dragonstone, where dragons used this as their lair to lay down their eggs. Daemon enters the Dragonmont and retrieves a clutch of three eggs laid by Syrax herself. Excited by this, he carefully placed the eggs inside a leather bag and went outside where the Dragonkeepers awaited him. Upon meeting them, he ordered the three eggs placed into warming chambers.
"Syrax bought a fresh clutch. Three eggs. Three eggs! See that they are placed in the warming chamber."
"At once, my prince. The maester brought this. It just arrived from the Lady Baela on Driftmark."
Daemon took the small roll of paper, opened and read it. As soon as he's done reading the letter, he faces the sea, looking over at the horizon as he wonders how Elaena is now, what she's doing, what she's eating, if she have some food, if she's hurt or the worst, if she still alive or dead. It has already past six years since Elaena helped the war in the Stepstones once more and although she frequently sends them letters, it stopped after her fourth year in battle. Daemon heaved a sigh and proceeded to where Rhaenyra is, to give the letter.
As he entered the Great Hall of Dragonstone, Rhaenyra ordered them to leave, to which everyone obliged. Leaving Daemon and her alone inside the room. Rhaenyra, standing in front of Daemon, took the letter as he handed it to her and read it.
"He means to call into question Luke's legitimacy. And by extension, Jace, and by extension, my own claim to the throne." Rhaenyra stated, furrowing her eyebrows.
"Vaemond cares only about Driftmark and the Velaryon line. Not about our politics. Has he made common cause with Otto Hightower yet?" Daemon asked.
Rhaenyra hummed, "This is what I fear." She replied, "Rhaenys has flown to court. Surely, she cannot be planning to back him." She added.
Daemon shook his head, "No. Whatever disagreements we may have had, she's not cruel... or stupid enough to do that." He muttered.
"Disagreements?" Rhaenyra questioned, "She believes we had her son killed so that we might marry." She added.
"Yes... and yet, she's taken Baela to ward." Daemon mumbled.
"Yes. It is Laena's memory she honors. She has no love for us." Rhaenyra countered.
Daemon exhaled a breath and smirked, "Has the vipers' venom spread so far?" He asked.
"Those vipers rule in my father's name. And my father..." Rhaenyra trailed off and sighed, "What choice do I have?" She muttered and exhaled another sigh.
Daemon gently caressed Rhaenyra's swollen belly and looked her in the eyes, "To King's Landing, then." He stated.
"Any news about Elaena?" Rhaenyra asked.
"Still no letters from her. But I will send a letter to her right now and will say that we needed her at this very moment. I'm sure she will heed our call." Daemon answered.
Rhaenyra nodded her head as she zoned out, worried at Elaena's current situation.
Meanwhile, a woman clad in black and red armor single-handedly slaughters her enemies. Throwing sand into their eyes, blinding them momentarily, slicing their flesh and throats, neatly and deeply, as gushes of red splutter out of their dismembered body. Stabbing into their hearts, neck, and the fatal points in the body. As she straightened out, she wandered her eyes around and saw that everyone was fighting in their accord. A smile broke out on her lips as she remembered how Daemon and she fought Drahar back then.
It was already midday and dawn started to peek when Elaena went back, and finally after six years, they finally won the war but with the cost of Corlys' grave injury that forced Elaena to lead everyone and ended the war. Everyone was preparing for the celebration, Elaena was inside her tent, enjoying the hot water engulfing her body when someone went inside, interrupting her quiet and peaceful time.
"What do you want, Arden?" Elaena asked, eyes still closing as her head leaned on the lip of the tub.
"I want to help you, My Lady." He replied, a hint of cheekiness and mischievous in his tone.
Arden, one of the knights from House Velaryon that joined the war, approached Elaena, grabbed a cloth and slowly and gently wiped all the remaining blood from her body. Elaena hummed, satisfied at his service and didn't mind that her naked body was seen under the clear water.
"A letter arrived just now from Prince Daemon." Arden stated.
Elaena quickly opened her eyes and looked at Arden, who just stared at the woman in front of him in awe and pure admiration.
"Daemon...? I haven't heard from him for these past two years. Where is it?" Elaena asked, impatiently.
Arden chuckled, dried Elaena's hand and handed it to her to which she eagerly accepted and opened. Arden watched as how her eyes moved, how her eyebrows furrowed, how her lips slightly parted from each other, how her teeth bit her lower lips, and lastly how her eyes held such fire, such anger as she finished reading the letter.
"That fucking cunt." Elaena mumbled.
Elaena threw the paper away and stood up, as soon as Elaena stepped out of the tub, Arden quickly took her robe and wore it on her. Heaving a breath as she mumbled a thanks and proceeded to gather her things.
"Where are you going?" Arden questioned.
"To King's Landing." Elaena answered without looking at him.
Arden walked towards her, standing behind Elaena as he grabbed her hand, gently. Their eyes met with each other as they faced each other and stared longer.
"You will leave, now...?" He asked.
"My family needs me now, Den. And the war is over, you can celebrate and go back first thing in the morrow but, I have to leave now." Elaena answered.
Arden pulled Elaena towards him, their lips crushing with each other as he held her waist, squeezing it lightly as their kiss deepens. Lifting her up, his hand on the small of her back, supporting her and the other on her arse as she wrapped her legs around his waist. Both her hands placed on his face as she moaned, and his lips found its way towards her neck and the soft spot where her neck and shoulder met. Sucking it gently, leaving a mark as Elaena moaned louder, licking it to ease the pain, Arden placed a kiss and hugged her tightly.
"Let me go with you." Arden mumbled.
Elaena clicked her tongue, "You'll just going to get yourself killed if you'll get involved in their petty fights." She stated.
Arden laughed and placed another kiss on her neck, earning another moan from her, "I don't care as long as I see you and be by your side." He muttered.
"You're a knight of House Velaryon, your priority is to serve Corlys." Elaena spoke.
Arden hummed, pulling Elaena closer to him and let her straddle him, "I already talked to Lord Corlys about this. It is you who I care about and where my loyalties lie. Thankfully, Lord Corlys understood my intention, and now my priority is protecting you and you alone." He stated.
Elaena felt his smile on her skin, as she shook her head, "You know I don..."
"I am willing to be your whore, Elaena. Your shield, your sword, everything you wishes me to be as long as I get to stay beside you." Arden said, interrupting her.
Elaena heaved a sigh as she looked him in the eyes, "Fine. Go get your things ready, we'll be leaving right now." She stated.
Arden's smile widened as he placed kisses on her face and neck. He carefully placed Elaena down and left her tent. Elaena smiled and shook her head as she continued placing her things inside her bag.
Back in King's Landing, Rhaenyra and Daemon arrived at the Keep. Their carriages rumbled through the ground. The horses stopped as a knight announced them.
"All hail Rhaenyra of House Targaryen, Princess of Dragonstone and heir to the Iron Throne and her royal consort, Prince Daemon Targaryen."
Rhaenyra went out first, followed by Daemon who stood behind her, and her children. As the door opened, Caswell appeared and eagerly welcomed both of them.
"Welcome back, Princess." He said, bowed and politely touched her hand.
"Lord Caswell." Rhaenyra replied, "I would say it's nice to be home, but I scarcely recognize it." She added, staring at the stars replacing literally every Targaryen monument inside the Keep.
Entering Viserys' chambers, Rhaenyra wanders her eyes around and sees the huge sculpture of Valyria in his chambers was now covered in webs and dusts. Rhaenyra called him once, but no one answered. And decided to slowly approach her sleeping father, and noticed he's still alive, but completely bedridden. Most of his hair is gone, his skin discolored, and a bandage is wrapped around the left side of his head. Viserys whimpers and wheezes as he slowly moves his head.
"Who goes there?" He asked.
"Father. It's me, my king." Rhaenyra answered, "Rhaenyra. I'm here with Daemon." She added.
"Daemon? Daemon? Daemon. Help me up."
Viserys groans as Rhaenyra obliges, fixing the pillow behind him.
"It has been so long." Viserys mumbled, holding Rhaenyra's hand.
"The Sea Snake has taken a grave wound in battle in the Stepstones." Daemon spoke.
"When?" Viserys asked, breathing heavily, "We won that war years ago." He added.
"No. The Triarchy is resurgent. The fighting is anew. There's... There is a petition to decide upon the succession of Driftmark and the heir to the Driftwood Throne." Daemon replied.
"Petitions? Alicent and Otto... they see to all that business now."
"No, brother, listen to me. You are to affirm your position for Lucerys... to be Corlys Velaryon's successor."
"Has something happened to Lord Corlys?"
"Father... there's someone we wish to introduce you to." Rhaenyra stated.
As the door creaks open, Viserys continues to breath heavily and the children begin to blabber.
"Daemon."
"Brother."
"Where's Elaena? I didn't see her. Where is she?"
"Elaena is... will arrive here shortly. She joined the battle in the Stepstones."
"Who is that?"
"Father... this is Aegon."
"Aegon."
"And this... is Viserys."
Despite difficulty Viserys managed to give a smile while looking at the child, "Viserys. Now that is a name fit for a king." He mumbled.
Viserys and Rhaenyra laughed as the child began to cry, uncomfortable at the sight of his grandsire.
"Oh... Oh, oh... I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm so... I'm sorry. I'm sor... Please. My tea. My tea." Viserys mumbled as Daemon helped him.
"What tea? This?"
"Yes. Yes. Yes." Viserys answered, gulping down the milk of poppy, grunting and breathing heavily.
Daemon upon accepting the cup back, looked inside, smelled and slowly glanced at Rhaenyra, both holding a suspicious look on their faces.