Wise men do not make demands of Kings.

She cared not who heard, for she had tried to be diplomatic, patient, kind. She had tried so hard to avoid bloodshed, but what had been done here there was no escape from and no happy ending. It could not be undone and so her screams were for her father, her son, her birth right. Her screams were for her promising past, for the fact that Christan had portrayed her. Her tears were for the peaceful and happy future she knew she had lost.

And if the guards outside heard and if others heard, well let them hear. Let them know what this has done to me, let them share in my pain. She thought.

Hearing her pain Daemon felt like a knife was being twisted in his gut. There was nothing he could do to ease this and the noises coming from his wife made him nauseous, anxious both to be with her and to get as far away from this place as possible. Though he disguised it well, he too had suffered, he too had shed tears in secret and screamed into pillows to muffle the sound. Daemon could not stand the thought of anyone witnessing his grief, perhaps not even Rhaenyra. Besides, she had enough going on, although the grief shared probably would have helped her to feel less alone, Daemon was incapable of thinking it this way, believing in that moment that it would do more harm than good.

He opened the door with caution and entered the room he did so with an element of trepidation that was unbecoming of his character. There was no one in the world who meant to him what Rhaenyra did. So now, staring in the face of unfathomable adversity and heartache, Prince Daemon Targaryen was ashamed that in this instance he had been unable to protect her. To see her hurt so deeply, to witness the raw, visceral reality of loss was too much for him to bare.

The birth of their still born child was a stark reminder of both his past and of his greatest fears. The death of his mother, the death of Laena due to complications in child birth made him feel fear like no other. The thought of losing Rhaenyra in that way too, well it was far too much to bare or comprehend. The weight of that fear hung round his neck, his secret.

Daemon had always been a man of action and not one to sit by and watch as things fell into place or worse, fell apart. He liked to be in control, to manipulate what was happening so he could see the outcome before it happened, so there would be no nasty surprises. But this was not one of those days, there was no telling how the events were going to play out, but he had to do something, unable to stay still or see what destiny had in store for them.

But more than that he needed a distraction, needed to keep busy and most of all to feel useful. That even though he hadn’t been by his wife’s side in that moment where she needed him most he had been ensuring all swore fealty to her. He had been ensuring the safety of their other children and acting quickly.

That was what Daemon did. That was what Daemon knew.

He’d watched Laena go through the pain she suffered, watched as she tried to give birth, watched as she burnt and screamed. He couldn’t do it again.

Rhaenyra hadn’t noticed he had entered the room, her mind swimming in that deepest ocean of pain and grief where it had momentarily set up residence. No sounds from the outside world disturbed her, no doors opening nor shuffling of feet or the sound of crows.

“My love.” Daemon spoke to announce his arrival.

Rhaenyra didn’t look up put held one of her hands out for him to take, a welcome invitation to jump into the ocean of her grief and join her on what seemed an impossible journey to reach dry land the other side. It will get better Daemon had to believe; it will get better Rhaenyra tried to believe. We will get our revenge.

Daemon moved swiftly to her side and took her hand in both of his, capturing it, keeping her safe and warm in the only way he could. He squeezed softly, “I am here my Queen.”

Somehow Rhaenyra found strength then in the presence of Daemon she expelled the remaining grief for now, knowing it would come in waves…but for now she could compose herself. For now she had to compose herself.

“I need it. I need them to suffer Daemon, tell me you’ll make them suffer the way I have, the way we have. How dare they…when I tried to be reasonable, to be good…to make it work.” She spat the final words, still bent over in pain but trying slowly to stand strong.

Daemon placed a hand on her stomach in silence, his other hand reaching to her face and brushing her long silver hair behind her ear.

“My Queen,” he said quietly as he leant forward and pressed his forehead against hers. For a moment they stood like that, joined together their minds pressing against one another. This was one of Daemon’s favourite ways to hold her, when his arms wrapped round her waist and would pull her in close, but their minds as one, with only skin, skull and blood between them. In bed they used to laugh when Rhaenyra pressed her forehead to his and would say hello from her mind to his.

He felt the tears drop onto his hand. She wouldn’t allow anyone else to see them, no one was to witness the Queen’s vulnerability but with her Uncle, her husband, then she could be herself, free to express the inner most desires and fears held so tightly in her heart.

How was one meant to go on when such injustice existed in the world? How was she meant to just carry on as if nothing had changed when everything was different now. Too long had she tried to remain calm, be diplomatic and do exactly as she believed was true and good to avoid unnecessary deaths. No more. Queen Rhaenyra refused to bow to others and would not be held a prisoner to her desires any longer. Her patience and good will had run out.

Daemon moved the hand that had been on her belly up to her other cheek so he cupped her face. Only now when she knew she would be greeted with the vision of her husband and most trusted, most beloved did she open her eyes.

“My Queen I swear to you we will get our revenge; I will kill anyone that dares to try harm either you or any more of our children.”

Our children. Rhaenyra loved Daemon more for this. Although Harwin remained fondly in her memories as he always would, following his death she had felt alone. Then Daemon returned and without a word he had stepped up, had been a father to both Lucerys and as if they were his own.

Rhaenyra bit her lip, “I am tired my love.”

“I know,” he pressed his forehead against hers again but so that now their lips were brushing against one another.

“I want to sleep but the guilt it clings to me like a shadow that never sleeps not even in the dark. I must have revenge.” Rhaenyra still spoke softly but with determination.

Daemon pulled away and dropped to his knees, practically sliding down her body, clinging to her skits and onto the floor. One knee pressed against the stone and the other bent, he took hold of Rhaenyra’s hands in his own and bowed.

“My Queen, my blood, my life I give you all I have. I give you my word I will protect our family and your birth right. I am yours forever loyal and by your side. I will comfort you when you are lost. Because you are all. You were right my Queen, you and I, we were meant to burn together so let us do it, let us to War and fuck them all. We will tear them down as they have tried to do to us, and we will take what is ours.”

Rhaneyra felt her heart stir, a shiver went down her spine as he said the word fuck, that was the Daemon she loved, the Daemon who was unhinged at times, loyal to a fault but equally chaotic and brash. This was her blood, and he would defend her to the bitter end, this much she knew to be true.

“With fire and blood,” she responded.

When Daemons stood up he turned Rhaenyra round and pulled her into him from the waist so her back was flush against his broad chest. He held her close and nuzzled against her neck, she leant back into him allowing this moment of passion between them to go unspoilt. Daemon kissed her neck then, light peppery kisses for a few seconds before they grew in passion and he turned to sucking gently at her pulse, his teeth sure to leave a small bruise. Rhaenyra let out a soft moan as she felt herself bend to him, wanting to come undone in that moment. Fucking would fix the pain, even if it was just for the smallest moment.