Vaemond is telling the people of Driftmark why they should be on his side when six dragons land behind him. Blaze and Cannibal are in the front and Arrax, Moondancer, Seasmoke and Meleys behind them. The people gathered stare in awe at the six dragons as Vaemond tries to run away.
But unfortunately for him, the guards on Driftmark are loyal to either Luke or Baela or Rhaenys. They grab Vaemond, effectively stopping him from leaving. They force him to watch as Leanor takes Vaemond's place in front of the crowd.
Everyone stares at Leanor. Before, they had just heard about Leanor's return, no one had seen him with their own eyes. Leanor waits for a few seconds letting everyone see him. He looks back at Daelys who gives him an encouraging nod. Taking a deep breath, Leanor begins.
"I know that most of you are questioning if I am really Leanor Velaryon. And if I am, then why did I disappear and, as I am certain my uncle was just saying, why come back now. I am here to answer all those questions."
Everyone in the crowd is silent, listening to Leanor with all of their attention. They haven't forgotten how kind Leanor was to them when he used to stay at Driftmark castle.
"I will begin by reassuring each and everyone of you that I am really Leanor Velaryon. As for why I disappeared... It was because I was unhappy here. I wanted to be free and I knew the only way to do it. And I took it."
A few people start whispering but they are quickly shushed by those around them. Daelys and Aemond exchange a look. This is going better than they expected. They were hoping for people shouting at Leanor for abandoning them. But so far no one has done so.
"I had to come back because of what happened. I couldn't let you, my people, suffer because I wanted freedom. I cannot be happy knowing that I am the reason the people of Driftmark will be branded traitors. I want to stand by you with my son and my daughter." Leanor finishes.
Everyone waits with baited breath to see how the people will react. One by one, they start applauding. "Lord Leanor!" The shout rings through the air too.
Vaemond had been watching without interrupting but now he had enough. He frees himself from his two guards and approaches Leanor. The crowd falls silent as everyone turns to watch the interaction.
"You abandoned them and let them be ruled by a bastard and you think that they will accept you back just because you want to?" Vaemond asks.
"I have already stated the reasons for my actions." Leanor says calmly. "I will let the people decide whether or not they want to accept me, Uncle."
"Do you believe that they will want to be ruled by a bastard? All you are doing is delaying the inevitable. I will have Driftmark." Vaemond threatens.
"Luke is my son and Baela is my daughter as much as Daemon's and Leana's." Leanor states. "They will both inherit Driftmark after me and you will not stand in their way." Leanor turns to walk away as the people cheer but Leanor turns back again. "And as Queen Rhaenyra decreed it, calling her children bastards is treason. You have committed treason, Uncle."
Leanor turns to Daelys and gives a nod. "As my father just said, you have committed treason, Ser Vaemond. You called my brother a bastard-"
"I never called him a bastard." Vaemond protests immediately glancing at the people uneasily.
"I wasn't finished." Daelys says not letting him continue further. "That isn't your only crime. You have, on countless occasions, tried to take the seat of Driftmark from my brothers, you have sided with someone who has usurped the throne and you can stand here and claim to the people that you are the rightful heir to the seat of Driftmark. Your punishment shall be decided here. Now."
"You wouldn't dare-" Vaemond begins but is drowned out by the shouting of the crowd.
"Kill him."
"Burn him."
"He's a traitor."
"Leanor is our Lord."
"We won't listen to him."
Different shouts go up from the crowd. Daelys glances back at her family. Luke looks around uncertainly before giving Daelys a nod. Baela doesn't hesitate to nod. Rhaenys gives Daelys a look which says be careful but she nods reluctantly. Leanor shakes his head in a conflicted manner. Finally Daelys looks at Aemond who immediately nods.
Daelys holds up her hand silencing the crowd. "I have heard your requests. And according to our laws, there is only one punishment for traitors." Daelys announces. Vaemond has become pale and he looks around for an escape but there isn't any. "There is no escape, Ser Vaemond." Daelys says noticing it. She turns back to the crowd.
"Ser Vaemond Velaryon, for your crimes against the throne, I hereby sentence you to death... by beheading." Daelys announces. She leans in close. "You are lucky I have decided to be gracious."
"This doesn't feel like graciousness." Vaemond retorts.
"She could have let you burn." Aemond says walking up. He looks at Daelys. "On your word."
"Not you." Daelys says quietly so that no one hears her over the crowd except Aemond. "Atleast not here. Not in front of everyone. We need deniability if it gets to that point."
"You announced his execution in front of a crowd. How will you get deniability?" Aemond points out.
"By thinking ahead." Daelys smirks and turns back to the crowd. "Ser Vaemond Velaryon's execution will be held tomorrow before sunset." Daelys announces and makes a hand gesture. The guards take Vaemond away.
"How are you going to explain his absence?" Luke asks appearing beside Daelys.
"He escaped." Aemond answers following Daelys' train of thoughts. "He will wash up to shore a few days later, dead."
Luke shrugs. "That will work." He says. "You should send word to Dragonstone that they can move."
"We will go ourselves." Daelys says before Aemond can say anything. She turns to Leanor, Baela and Rhaenys. "Take care of our guest." She orders. "Your next problem is the Ironborns. They are the only ones who can challenge your navy. Take care of it."
"We will." Baela says defiantly.
Daelys glances at her. "Be careful." Daelys says quietly. She then turns to Aemond. "We should go back to Dragonstone now. They will take care of everything else."
"We should." Aemond agrees eager to get back just as Daelys is. They don't want to let their children leave without a goodbye.
"Brother, they have captured Lord Vaemond." Viserys tells Jacaerys.
"As was expected." Jacaerys says. "Inform Lord Greyjoy to move his fleet to Driftmark." He orders. "And destroy it."
Viserys looks shocked. "Destroy Driftmark?" He asks.
"I did not stutter." Jacaerys says coldly. He then notices that Viserys doesn't understand why. "Driftmark has a much stronger navy than the Ironborns. They can, if they wish to, destroy King's Landing at any moment they want. All they have to do is convince the people that it is the right thing to do."
Viserys considers his words for a few seconds. "I will inform him then." He says and Jacaerys nods satisfied.
"Can I trust you?" Jacaerys asks suddenly before Viserys can leave.
Viserys looks back surprised. "Yes." He answers confused.
"Okay." Jacaerys nods and Viserys leaves. Jacaerys looks around the throne room. He is the only one in the room, sitting on the Iron Throne.
At Dragonstone, everyone is in the yard with their dragons sunset only a few minutes away. It will be dark soon and after that everyone will depart. Daemon is talking to his son, Helaena with Jaehaera, Dyanna and Joffrey with Rhaenar, Cregan with Barthogan and Andar with Jon saying their goodbyes. No one knows when they will meet again or whether they will.
Aemond and Daelys are with Daena, Aemma and Aemond. Aemma had immediately hugged her father just as Aemond had hugged his mother. They didn't want to leave but they had insisted on it and weren't going to back out now.
"Be brave. All of you." Daelys says pulling Daena in a side hug with her other arm. Daena hugs both of her parents.
"I will be." She whispers.
"We will be too." Aemma pipes up.
"When will we meet again?" Aemond asks.
Daelys looks at Aemond. The honest answer is that they don't know. But they can't say that. Not to their children and they were afraid of saying it out loud. Afraid that it will come true if they do. Daena can read the answer and fear in both of their eyes.
"I am certain we will see each other soon." She says and both Daelys and Aemond look at her.
"We will." Daelys says with conviction.
"This will be over soon." Aemond reassures his children but the words sound hollow to him just as it sounds hollow to both Daelys and Daena. But no one is willing to say it out loud.
Daelys pulls Daena in a hug again. "I love you, Daena." She whispers and presses her lips against Daena's forehead.
Daena pulls away to hug Aemond as Daelys turns to the twins. She says the same thing to them and so does Aemond. Finally Daelys and Aemond step away. Aemond walks over to Aegon and Helaena and Daelys to Daemon.
"I was thinking I will be leaving without a goodbye from you." Daemon says calmly.
"I have children." Daelys reminds him. "They require more attention than you do. You are a grown man."
Daemon raises his eyebrows. "You will see them again." He reassures her. "Aemma and Aemond will be in the safest place in all of Westeros at the moment. And Daena will be in a place where the fighting will be least."
"And yet that is where Maelor died." Daelys reminds him. "He was my son too. I raised him with Helaena and beside my own children."
"I am sorry about that." Daemon says sincerely. "But I am certain that you won't lose any more children."
"No one can say that for certain." Daelys sighs. "Just make sure that you don't die."
"I am not yet ready to die." Daemon says. "I will die on my own terms."
"I doubt it." Daelys whispers which Daemon chooses to ignore. "Just-" Daelys sighs before hugging Daemon.
Daemon though slightly taken aback, hugs Daelys back. "I never thought you will hug me." He whispers.
"I never did too." Daelys retorts. "Don't ruin it."
Daemon doesn't say anything else. Finally they separate. "Daelys." He grabs her hand before she can move away. Daemon takes a deep breath as Daelys looks on expectantly. "I... I love you."
Daelys smiles a little. "I know. I love you too." She says hugging Daemon briefly before going to stand beside Aemond.
The two of them watch as they all depart for their various destinations, each of them having something to do other than what was said at the war meeting.
Daelys and Aemond glance at each other. The war has officially begun.