The clash of swords rang out in the air as Daemon swiftly swung his blade at his daughter Thereya. She was pushed around, stumbling backward until she hit the floor with a thud. "Again," he commanded, his voice stern and unwavering.
Thereya's frustration boiled within her, her patience wearing thin. It's been days since they left and he's still doing the same thing. "Quit it!" she shouted in a surge of rage, clashing her sword against his with fierce determination. With a swift kick, she pushed him away, creating distance between them.
Daemon's chuckle filled the tense atmosphere as he looked at her with a hint of amusement in his eyes. "There it is," he remarked, his tone almost proud. "The look of pure Targaryen rage. That's what I want from you." He raised his sword again, ready for another round. "Again."
Her breaths came in ragged gasps as she steadied herself, her grip tightening around her sword. "I'm not just some pawn in your game, Daemon," she spat out between clenched teeth, her voice laced with defiance. "I am my own person, and I will not be controlled by you or anyone else. You think I'm blind?"
Daemon's expression softened slightly, a hint of pride flickering in his eyes. "You have spirit, definitely not blind... Stupid mayhaps?" he conceded, his tone almost admiring. "But spirit alone will not make you a true Targaryen. You must learn to harness it, to turn it into something greater. Not to lower your self among the peasants."
Thereya's resolve hardened at his words, her determination burning brighter than ever. "Those peasants are the reason we are Kings. With no people to rule over, what makes you a King? I will not be molded into your image." she declared, her voice ringing with conviction. "I will forge my own path, one that is true to myself and my heritage."
With renewed determination, Thereya launched herself back into the fray, her movements fluid and precise.
As the clash of swords subsided for a moment, Daemon's lips curled into a satisfied smirk. "Very good," he said, his voice tinged with approval. "Your skill with a blade is rather not that awful, but remember, true strength comes from within."
Thereya paused, catching her breath as she locked eyes with her father. "Why did you bring me out into the woods alone, Father?" she asked, her voice tinged with both curiosity and apprehension. "And why did you command me to leave Drakus in King's Landing?"
Daemon's chuckle faded, replaced by a solemn expression. "There are things you must learn, without certain... Distractions," he explained, his tone grave. "Things that cannot be taught within the confines of King's Landing or the walls of our castle."
Thereya furrowed her brow, confusion clouding her features. "But why alone? So you could kill me with no witnesses?" she pressed, her gaze searching his for answers. "Why not bring Drakus with us? She's been by my side since I came back from apparently what's supposed to be a bad attempt of exile. And she never left my side, she slept with me, ate with me. Are you afraid of a sheep sized dragon?" Thereya smirked a little.
Daemon's gaze hardened. "Drakus is a loyal companion, but there are lessons you must learn on your own, the beast won't always stick around to protect you." he said bitterly. "And sometimes, the solitude of the wilderness is the best teacher."
Thereya nodded slowly, though uncertainty still lingered in her heart. "But what lessons am I meant to learn? Maybe you should listen to me for once and learn something." she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "And besides, don't call her a beast, you're more of a beast then she ever will be."
Daemon's eyes glinted with a hint of mystery as he met her gaze. "What could i possibly learn from a savage like you?" he replied cryptically. "For now, trust in me and in your own instincts. They will guide you on the path that lies ahead. And maybe, just maybe... You won't die a weakling like your mother."
"Do not... Mention her. Because you are the last person who has any rights to." Thereya tossed her sword aside and started walking away.
"If there is anyone who can it's me." Daemon tightened the grip on his sword. "And the only reason you aren't dead is me!"
"You are the only reason my life or death were ever in question!" Thereya snapped at him turning around.
"Hold your tongue if you value it." Daemon said pressing the hilt of his sword to her throat.
"I'd rather be dead then a tyrant..." Thereya frowned.
Daemon glared at her, "You don't know one thing about this life, blood shed is unavailable, it's going to come sooner or later, and the Gods won't be merciful..."
"If the Gods won't be merciful then I will..." Thereya uttered, her boots felt heavy on the dirt and sand.
As Thereya turned to walk away, Daemon's frustration boiled over, his anger simmering just beneath the surface. With a deep, angry sigh, he flung his sword to the ground, the blade embedding itself in the earth with a sharp thud. He cursed under his breath, his words filled with bitterness.
"Thirli," he muttered, his voice laced with venom, "curse your name for making her so stubborn, so willful." His grip tightened into fists as he cast a furious glance at the sky above. "And curse the gods for making us so alike," he growled, his voice dripping with disdain.
For a moment, he stood there, seething with anger and regret. He knew he couldn't bring himself to harm his daughter, no matter how much she tested his patience. And as his thoughts turned to Thirli, the woman he had loved so fiercely, a pang of sorrow washed over him.
He couldn't kill his daughter, he couldn't kill the woman he once loved twice.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the rocky shore, Thereya found herself leaning against a large boulder, the sound of the waves crashing against the rocks soothing her troubled mind. Lost in thought, she didn't notice when Daemon approached, taking up a position on the other side of the rock.
Without turning to look at her, Daemon spoke, his voice cold and disdainful. "You're a strange one, Thereya," he remarked, his tone washed over with contempt. "Always so reckless, so impulsive. It's a wonder you've survived this long."
Thereya's jaw tightened at his words, her fists clenching at her sides. "And you," she shot back, her voice tinged with anger, "Are cruel and vile. You care for nothing but power and control, and you'll do anything to get it."
Daemon scoffed, a bitter laugh escaping his lips. "You think you know me, do you?" he retorted, his tone dripping with disdain. "You think you understand the weight of the crown, the burden of ruling a kingdom? You're just a foolish girl, Thereya, playing at being a warrior."
Thereya's eyes flashed with indignation as she pushed herself away from the rock, her voice trembling with fury. "I may be young," she spat out, her words sharp as daggers, "but I know enough to see the rotten that lurks within you. And I will not stand by and let you destroy everything in your path... And besides... I'm not a warrior... I'm..." Thereya wandered off not finishing her sentence.
Feeling a shift in the air, Thereya tensed as Daemon moved from the other side of the rock to stand beside her. She glanced at him warily, unsure of what to expect next. Daemon's gaze softened slightly as he regarded his daughter.
"I took you out here for days, hoping to break you," he admitted quietly, his voice tinged with remorse. "But you're stronger than I thought, Thereya. You couldn't be broken, no matter how hard I tried... You couldn't be killed off that easily either." Daemon admitted again.
Thereya remained silent, her eyes fixed on the horizon as she listened to her father's words. Daemon sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair as he struggled to find the right words.
"You would make a terrible lady or a princess," he continued, his tone rueful. "But you... you would make a fine Queen." He turned to look at her, his gaze intense and unwavering. "You have the strength, the determination, and the fire that it takes to rule a kingdom."
Thereya's breath caught in her throat at his words, a mixture of disbelief and uncertainty washing over her. "But I don't want to be a Queen," she protested softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Daemon smiled sadly, reaching out to gently squeeze her shoulder. "It's not always about what we want," he said gently. "Sometimes, it's about what we're destined for... And you, Thereya, you were born to lead."
Thereya's eyes widened slightly at Daemon's unexpected words, her brow furrowing in confusion. "Why are you telling me this now?" she asked, her voice tinged with a mixture of anger and frustration. "After all this time, after everything we've been through, why now?"
Daemon's patience wore thin as he struggled to find the right words to explain himself. "Because it's time you realized your potential, Thereya," he replied, his tone clipped and impatient.
"You were ready to murder me!" She shouted. Daemon ignored her.
"Time you stopped hiding from your destiny and embraced it." He said.
Thereya's anger flared at his dismissive tone, her fists clenching at her sides. "And why do you believe I could lead the people?" she demanded, her voice rising with emotion. "What makes you think I'm capable of ruling a kingdom? Of delivering the people to the promised land of better?"
Daemon met her gaze head-on, his eyes burning with intensity. "Because I see it in you, Thereya, most people would give up and drown, but you already beat the death, and you demanded the sea to let you live and the sea obeyed you." he said firmly, his voice unwavering. "I see the strength, the courage, the compassion that lies within you. You may not believe in yourself yet, but I do. Now I do. And one day, the people will too."
Thereya's anger began to wane, replaced by a flicker of uncertainty. Could it be true? Could she truly be destined for greatness, as her father claimed? She couldn't deny the fire that burned within her, the fierce determination to make a difference in the world.
As the waves crashed against the shore, a sense of clarity washed over Thereya. Perhaps, just perhaps, her father was right. Perhaps she was meant for something greater than she had ever imagined. And with that thought in mind, she turned to face her father.
Daemon's voice held an air of finality as he spoke, his words carrying the weight of destiny. "Ready or not, like it or not, you will sit the Iron Throne one day," he declared, his tone resolute. "After Rhaenyra's reign is over, there comes Jacaerys. And you, Thereya, will be set to marry Jacaerys. That is final."
Thereya's heart sank at the realization of what her father was saying. The weight of his words pressed down on her like a heavy burden. She had always known that her life was not entirely her own, that her future was tied to the politics and power struggles of the realm. But to hear it spoken aloud, to have her fate sealed without her consent, filled her with a sense of resignation.
"But why?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "Why must my life be dictated by the ambitions of others? Why must I sacrifice my freedom for the sake of power and prestige? I hate the throne you know it... I won't bend before it... I will never serve the crown and you know it... But i will, i will serve my people."
Daemon's expression softened slightly as he reached out to gently cup her face in his hands. "Because you were born to be a Queen, Thereya, that's why the gods allowed you to live... You you weren't meant to be alive..." he replied, his voice tinged with sadness and bitterness. "You were born to rule, to lead our people into a new era of prosperity and peace. And I will do whatever it takes to ensure that you fulfill your destiny."
Thereya's heart ached at her father's words, torn between the desire to rebel against her fate and the realization that perhaps, deep down, she had always known that this was her destiny. With a heavy heart, she nodded slowly, but not accepting the path that lay before her, she was smart, she will think of a way to free herself.
Thereya toyed with her mothers ring as she spoke again. "I believe in freedom, Daemon," she began, her words measured yet impassioned. "I believe in marriage out of love, not duty or politics. I could never bear Jacaerys's children, not when my heart is somewhere else. I could never tie myself to a man I don't love."
"And what of Jacaerys?" he asked quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. "Do you not care for him at all?"
Thereya's grip tightened around the ring as she struggled to find the words to explain the complexity of her feelings. "I do care for him," she admitted, her voice tinged with sadness. "But not in the same way that I loved Aeg-... Not in the same way that I yearn for freedom and independence."
"You believe in freedom, in love," he finally spoke, his voice quiet yet filled with a depth of understanding. "But you must also understand, my dear, that love and duty do not always align. Sometimes, sacrifices must be made for the greater good."
Thereya's brow furrowed in confusion as she turned to face her father, her eyes searching his for answers. "But how can I marry a man I don't love? It's not right," she pleaded, her voice tinged with desperation. "How can I tie myself to someone who will never truly understand me?"
Daemon's expression darkened slightly as he met her gaze, a shadow of regret crossing his features. "You speak of love as if it were a simple thing, Thereya," he said. "But love is complicated, messy. It can lead us down paths we never thought possible, make us do things we never thought we were capable of."
Thereya's heart ached at her father's words, the weight of his wisdom pressing down upon her like a heavy burden. She knew that Daemon spoke from experience, that he had sacrificed everything for the woman he loved. Rhaenyra... And yet, despite the pain and heartache it had caused him, he had never regretted his decision.
"You gave your heart to the man who won't be gentle with it," Daemon continued, his voice filled with a sense of resignation. "But you are like me, Thereya. You would do whatever it takes to be with the one you love, consequences be damned."
"And what would you do for your love?" Thereya asked bitterly, knowing that he wasn't thinking of her mother.
"Kill..." Daemon said without hesitation.
Thereya scoffed. "That is too easy... What kind of love do you have then? Cowardly taking other people's lives?"
Daemon's features darkened, "And what would you sacrifice for your love?"
"Myself..." Thereya uttered. "Because it is easy to take something that doesn't even belong to you... And to give up something you never knew... Such as other persons life... What am I going to sacrifice if not my whole body and being..."
Daemon's frustration simmered beneath the surface as he stared at Thereya, uncertainty evident on his face. He wrestled with his thoughts, searching for the right words to say. Yet, despite his best efforts, his mind remained blank, his tongue tied in knots.
Sensing her father's struggle, Thereya spoke up, her voice cutting through the tense silence like a knife. "Is this stupid training over?" she asked, her tone tinged with impatience. "It's been days, and I need to get back to the Red Keep before the sun sets entirely. I promised Helaena I'd come back to her..."
Daemon scoffed, a bitter chuckle escaping his lips as he shook his head in disbelief. "Of course," he muttered sarcastically, his frustration evident in his tone. "Why waste any more time on training when you clearly have more important matters to attend to?"
Thereya's jaw tightened at her father's barb, her patience wearing thin. But she knew better than to argue with him further. With a resigned nod, she turned on her heel and began to make her way back towards the Red Keep.
He knew that he had failed her, that his inability to communicate had only served to drive a wedge between them. And yet, despite his frustration, he couldn't shake the feeling that Thereya was destined for greatness, that she was meant to surpass even his own expectations.