I've thought about this for a while because I love Daemon (don't ask me why I honestly can't put it into words properly) but I don't like Daemyra at all.
The reason for this is so many make them into this soulmates or true love story and to me that's not the case at all, especially when you read the book properly and not cherry pick certain lines.
Because yeah Daemon said Rhaenyra was the fairest maiden in the lands when she was 14, but you need to remember she was considered a child still, even in those times it was rare for a girl to be married that young. Possible yes, but not common in any sense. Yes Daemon gave her many gifts when she was young. But if we're honest and take off the "Daemyra is true love!" glasses it just seems like an uncle being an uncle. The fairest maiden bit is strange to say but yet again back then it wasn't uncommon for uncles to praise their nieces or nephews beauty or skills.
So let's look at the time in his marriage to Laena. Many say that because Syrax had many clutches during that period it means Daemon and Rhaenyra desired each other. And though I agree Caraxes may have fathered some of those clutches I don't think he fathered all of them because a dragon doesn't need sperm to lay viable clutches. I will also say using Vhagar and Caraxes as an example is stupid because of the size difference between the two and the fact Vhagar was known to not lay many clutches let alone viable ones (meaning they weren't stone). The text also never says that Daemon was happy Rhaenyra visited them (to my memory) it only talks about how Laena had grown a fondness for Rhaenyra. That it was Laena and Rhaemyra who betrothed their children, it doesn't really go into Daemons feelings on the subject. And the people saying him leaving them betrothed after Laena's death means he respected Jace as the heir to the throne after Rhaenyra and Luc the heir to Droftmark is stupid. To me there could be a billion reasons for that. The first that comes to mind is keeping his dead wife's wishes of them marrying. The second being if he didn't get his immediate blood on the throne then his grandkids could be on the throne (ie if he didn't marry Rhaenyra).
Let's now talk about their married life. In book it states that they "feasted as they pleased." Even going on to say how Daemon still pursued Mysaria whole married to Rhaenyra. It even says how he pursued maids and Rhaenyra's lady's in waitings. That doesn't sound like a man in love with his wife.
What do I think their marriage was? Political. She wanted Daemon for his reputation and the fact he's lead soldiers in war and won those wars. Rhaenyra wanted him not out of love, but because Daemon was feared. And Daemon married Rhaenyra so his blood could be on the throne. No one will change my mind that if the dance didn't happen between Rhaenyra and Aegon it would've happened between Jacaerys and Aegon iii. Daemon wanted bis name to live on, wanted his blood on the throne. Nothing more, nothing less. And I'm sure people may point out he couldn't do that with Laena, couldn't have his immediate blood on the throne if he married her. And to me that shows how much he loved her, that he was willing to give up all his ambitions for one woman. That says more than having three children and fighting in a war for a throne we already know he wanted.
That's all they wanted from the other. Not love or romance. They aren't in love, never have been and I will die on that hill.
