#rhaella

(Warnings: A bit of angst before a lot more angst. Battle, blood, war, mentions of death and abuse and SA before some more angst with some sad angst in it)

Dothraki will be in bold

High Valyrian will be in cursive

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Rhaella was quiet as she stood upon the hill, overlooking the dark waters of Ironman Bay, attempting to spot the small dingy that Bronn and his nine men had set sail in towards the ship closest to the shore, their orders being to work their way to the main ship but not beyond. If one of the ships were in the way of the main ship, their orders were to clear that ship and move towards the main one, repeating the process until they reached the ship the Red Raider was one, the one where the captives were supposedly held. Once a ship had been taken, they were meant to signal if they found any captives, so a boat could be rowed out and retrieve them. It had been hours since they set out, Rhaella watching in the darkness for any sign, any hint of a light. Raemor was resting further away from the hill, his white and silver scales visible even at night, instead it was Drogon who was resting behind her, his eyes closed as he rested on the ground, but he lifted his head when Daenerys approached.

“Your Grace” Daenerys greeted and Rhaella turned to look at her mother, a smile forming on her lips as Daenerys moved to stand next to her “so, any signals yet?”

“No… it’s been hours… do you think-.... do you think that this was a bad tactic?...”

“No. Yara and Bronn knows what they’re doing, if they agreed to your plan, it means that they believe in your plan, that it’ll work…” Daenerys stated with a soft smile, Rhaella smiling briefly at her before looking ahead “I’m grateful that you’re here, mother… but what about Daron? He’s so young…”

“Your father is taking care of him… we talked about it before I left. You’re my child also” Daenerys reminded her and she nodded, letting out a shaky breath, a soft smile on her lips “but-... Daron… he’s so young… almost a year old now…”

“Yes, eleven months. We’ll be back before his first name-day” she stated softly and Rhaella nodded with a sigh “good…” she murmured, a silence falling over the two of them and a sleeping Drogon, the dark night continuing, until the sound of a bell began to ring, her eyes widening and she looked at Daenerys before looking back over the bay, several lights aboard the ships began to be lit and Rhaella felt her heart race. She practically ran back to the romo she’d been given, Daenerys hurrying after her, finding her almost undressed, a set of armour laid out, ready to be put on and Daenerys frowned with worry “Issa dōna(my sweet)” Daenerys began but Rhaella shook her head “just help me into my armour!” she ordered, Daenerys hesitating and Rhaella turned to stare at her with a frown “Muña!... Help me into my armour” she commanded, Daenerys hesitantly approaching and doing as told, fitting her armour on her before giving her her Valyrian sword, Rhaella already running back outside, Daenerys running after her to find Raemor ready, letting out a loud roar, the distant sounds of fighting commencing along the bay as plan B was put into action. Attack the ships and try to save the captives.

Rhaella crawled up on Raemor with her sword attached to her side, Daenerys joining her on Drogon as Raemor began to get enough momentum to lift his wings and take flight, Drogon joining soon after, both dragons soon soaring above the battles taking place among the ships, Rhaella studying them before noticing the one with the scorpion on top, steering Raemor directly to it, lowering himself, so low that the water almost touched his belly, and just before he’d have to steer up to not crash into the ship, Rhaella jumped from him, Daenerys watching the scene with horror, until her daughter’s head popped up from the water and she began to swim towards the ship, crawling up, unsheathing her sword immediately as Raemor roamed the sky, Yara’s Ironborn keeping Rhaella safe as she hurried towards the scorpion, the Ironborn creating a wall to keep the raiders from the Queen as she looked over the scorpion, her heart racing with panic and she tried to figure out how it worked, how to destroy it, when suddenly someone touched her shoulder, making her spin around, her sword almost at their neck when a sword met hers, her eyes widening and she lowered her sword, stepping aside “allow me, Your Grace” he stated with a smirk, lowering his own sword as he moved towards the scorpion, quickly studying it and disabling anything that would make it work, having shot one a few times himself, so he knew somewhat the layout of the contraption. “Thank you, Ser Bronn” Rhaella spoke softly yet loudly enough to be heard over the battle, Bronn nodding with a smirk. “No problem. You should get back on your dragon, You Grace, this is no place for a lady or a Queen-”

“I will fight alongside my men for the Realm, Queen or not” she stated with determination before turning to face the battle around them, held off by the Ironborn to keep her safe. “The captives, where are they?”

“Weren’t aboard the ships we went to get here, one of the lads woke up one of the raiders, didn’t get to him ‘ill he’d rung the bell” Bronn admitted with a sigh as he looked around and Rhaella nodded “so the ships between the shore and this one, they’re checked?”

“Aye.”

“Good” she stated with spite, turning to look up at her mother as she circled around the scene, knowing that Rhaella didn’t want anything burnt unless she were sure the innocent captives were safe. Rhaella caught her gaze as she waved above her head, then gesturing to the ships that Bronn and his men had cleared, Drogon flying directly to them, spewing down fire from above, Raemor joining him, the two of them burning that side of the fleet and Rhaella nodded, looking around the several ships with battles fought on their decks, and probably below. “Ironborn! Soldiers of the Crown and Westeros! These raiders are nothing compared to you! You are Ironborn! You are Dornish! You are from the Riverlands, the Westerlands, the North, the Eyrie! They burn your people and homes and steal your women and children! Fuck them up!!” she shouted as loudly as her voice could muster, raising her sword high in the air, the soldiers all on her side beginning to fight much fiercer and she smirked as she lowered her sword from the air, instantly jumping into battle, using Dark Sister as though it was an extension of her arm, Bronn joining in, the dragons burning any who tried to flee in whatever way they could, unless they were heading for the shore. Those that were heading for the shore was in for a shock, most so focused on the chaos behind them that when they got ashore and jumped out of their boats, they froze when they saw an entire army waiting for them in the dark, small lights starting to be lit up on a hill and they were fired through the air, many landing in the sand, the sand catching on fire as it was coated in oil in certain spots, lighting up the ground to provide light and the soldiers charged the second they could see better.

Rhaella was covered in blood by now as she made her way to the captain’s cabin, attempting to rip the door open but when it felt like it was locked, she looked around, waving over some of Yara’s Ironborn, gesturing to the door and they began to charge at it, the door finally giving in, letting Ironborn spill inside along with Rhaella, her eyes widening in horror at the sight she saw. Children and women were chained to the floor in clusters inside the small cabin, the women filled with bruises, their clothes torn to tatters, many could barely be considered clothed, even the children… Rhaella let out a shaky breath, trying to steady herself and ignore her shock before turning to looking around, ehr sword still in her hand “the captain, the one they call the Red Raider, where is he?” she asked softly, the women and children shrugging, shaking and sobbing with fear and Rhaella nodded “it’s okay, it’s okay” she soothed, looking over her shoulder at the Ironborn “keep this area clear, kill any who try to enter if they’re not on our side” she ordered sternly and the men and few women nodded, closing the door as they left the cabin and Rhaella sheathed her sword. “Wyla? Is there one among you who is Wyla? Daughter of Jorrick?”

“I-I’m W-W-Wyla” a meek voice said and Rhaella hurried over, her hands raised to show that she meant no harm “Wyla? Your father sent me, he sent me to get you, get all of you” she informed to the ground, kneeling down to the ground “I’m going to get all of you out of here, alright? Will you allow me to do that?” she asked, looking around, finding almost all of them avoiding her eyes, cowering away from her and somehow, she knew it wasn’t because of the blood she was soaked in from battle. Her heart ached and she felt a darkness in her, an urge so simply leave them there. But she didn’t, instead she sighed and looked down before getting out a dagger, Wyla and the others gasping and flinching, Wyla whimpering when it came near her but she froze when she saw Rhaella try to jimmy the lock open with her dagger, straining, trying her best and finally, the lock around Wyla’s ankles dropped, Wyla flinching at the heavy sound of the metal falling from her ankles and Rhaella sighed, giving Wyla the dagger “free the others” she muttered, Wyla hesitantly taking the dagger “h-how?”

“Do what I did” she informed before stepping back, taking in a shaky breath, turning her back to the captives so they couldn’t see the tears in her eyes. She continued to hear the sounds of locks popping open and heavy metal falling to the floor, murmurs and whispers filling among the women and children, the children too scared to look at her when she turned back around to face them. Wyla shakily gave her the dagger and Rhaella took it, forcing a soft smile before sighing, the sounds of battle outside still raging on and Rhaella hesitated before turning to Wyla and the others “I’m sorry for all you’ve endured… I know what I say cannot undo it, and all I can hope to give you is justice…”

“M-My father… i-is h-he alive?” Wyla asked shakily and Rhaella frowned at her “of course. I offered him a place to stay in the Red Keep while I-... came here” she admitted, confusion written all over her face “y-you didn’t-... eat him?” she asked in genuine shock and Rhaella frowned “eat him?? Why would I eat him??” she asked with a scoff, Wyla and the others shaking by now and she sighed “I’m not angry, just confused. Why would I eat someone?”

“I-... i-it’s what they say… that you eat those who-... displease you” Wyla admitted and Rhaella looked to the others, some of them nodding hesitantly and Rhaella scoffed again, looking away with fresh tears in her eyes, her jaw clenched as she tried to keep her composure. “I did not eat your father. I do not-... eat people” she trained to keep her voice level and even, turning to look at Wyla, who looked shocked to see the tears in the Queen’s eyes. “Is that what I’m seen as? A monster who eats people?” she asked breathlessly, the tears still in her eyes and she refused to let any of them fall down her cheeks. She’d rather die. “I-... w-we simply-... p-please, Your Grace-”

“You needn’t worry, I’m not angry with you…”

“You’re-... n-not?”

“No… saddened? Remorseful? Defeated? Yes…” she admitted, the door to the cabin being thrown open and she drew her sword, ready for a fight but it was Bronn who had appeared, panting and out of breath, covered in sweat and blood. “Your Grace, whatever’s left of this fleet, is yours” he announced and Rhaella nodded with a forced smile “thank you, Ser Bronn.”

“The boat’s on the way, though Yara’s ship can take some now, if it’s alright” he stated and Rhaella nodded, looking over her shoulder at the women and children “the men who took you are dead. There are boats on the way, to row you to shore do you can return home, or you can get on a ship in my navy who can take you there directly immediately, if you don’t want to be waiting for the boats to arrive. You will not be harmed. If you require food and water, medical supplies, clothes, all will be given to you, I promise” she declared before sheathing her sword, turning back to Bronn “fetch Yara, I doubt many of them want to be led around by a man” she whispered, Bronn nodding and leaving, leaving the door open to the rest of the deck. “You’re free, we will help you to shore and clothe and feed you, should you want it. Wyla, I will send a raven for your father, tell him that you’re alive and where you are” Rhaella informed, just as Yara entered and Rhaella turned to her “lead these women and children to any boats you have, any that do not want to wait for the other boats to arrive to sail them back to shore…”

“Your Grace” Yara bowed her head and Rhaella nodded “this is Yara, she’s the Lady of Ships and the navy, she will see you taken care of and back to shore” Rhaella informed before walking outside of the cabin, letting out a shaky breath before sitting down on the steps to the upper deck, taking her sword off her belt to sit more comfortably, resting it against the railing on the steps next to her. She sat in silence as the captives were led out of the cabin, some of them looking over their shoulders at her, at the dead look in her dragon eyes as she looked off to the side, the dawn breaking on the horizon, Raemor’s silver scales catching the rays of the sun, reflecting them as he soared around, Rhaella studying him before sighing “pile any dead bodies and take them to shore. Our own will be buried with dignity…”

“And the rest?”

“The rest will be food for the dragons” she informed in a tired voice, the Ironborn nodding as he went to spread the order, Rhaella leaning against the raising with a sad look on her face that she couldn’t hide, her vision blurry from tears. “You alright, Yer Grace?” Bronn asked as he leaned against the other railing, Rhaella clearing her throat, wiping the tears from her eyes as she sat up straight, forcing a smile “yes, thank you, Ser Bronn. You did excellent work” she stated with a smile, hoping that that would be it but instead he walked closer, moving her sword to the side, sitting down where it’d been, placing it nearby along with his own sword. “You know, this is a victory” he stated and she frowned with slight confusion “it is, yes…” she agreed quietly, Bronn looking around with a nod “‘course, no one could blame ya for bein’... quiet, shall we say” he stated casually and she frowned at him “today is a victory, we saved lives-”

“Aye, but we also took lives” he admitted and she frowned, studying him before looking down “has it ever bothered you?”

“No, not really” he admitted freely, turning to look at her “don’t mean it can’t bother others, though” he pointed out and she hesitated before sighing “you know what bothers me? Not that I’ve taken lives today, it’s that the lives I saved see me as a monster…” she admitted, looking up at him and he looked around, sighing “don’t have any words of wisdom for that” he admitted with a shrug and she chuckled lightly “I doubt many does… I didn’t ask for this, you know… I didn’t ask for scales… I didn’t ask for my eyes to be-... different…” she muttered, looking down at her dirty hands and he sighed “anyone who’s different never asked to be different. Think your Hand asked to be different? He didn’t. No one asks to be different” Bronn stated casually and she nodded “but people don’t make up rumours that Tyrion eats people like a dragon” she  murmured and Bronn scoffed with a smirk “there’s worse rumours to have” he pointed out and she nodded with a scoff “of course there is… But I don’t want my people to fear me… Of course I need them to know that I’m not some-... meek little girl who will just roll over and do as told…. but I don’t want them to be scared of me” she admitted quietly, Bronn shrugging “not much you can do ‘bout it. You are who you are, can’t do much to change that” he stated before getting up, groaning quietly, looking back down at her “just ‘cause you can’t change what you look like doesn’t mean you can’t be the opposite of what you seem. Don’t matter what people think, you’re the Queen. Fuck them and their opinions” he stated casually and Rhaella smirked with amusement, looking around as she nodded “you should return to shore, Ser Bronn, get some food and rest” she ordered softly, Bronn bowing theatrically “as you say, Your Grace. You comin’ with?”