[Chapter Size: 3100 Words.]
Third Person POV.
King's Lading.
...
...
Daenerys couldn't help but hold back a sigh or roll her eyes from time to time.
In her arms, her two-year-old daughter ate a sweet dessert in a cup brought by the kitchen servants, while they sat peacefully in the middle of the garden as she remained gathered with other noble ladies who met with the queen to chat.
"I'm telling you, I saw Lord Orme fart right in the middle of dinner. His face turned as red as a shrimp when he realized what he'd done and didn't know where to hide, and the children couldn't hold themselves back and started laughing..." Lady Vance recounted, drawing a few laughs from the other ladies, mixed with looks of horror.
"How dreadful! How could you say such a thing in front of the queen?" another lady commented, scandalized, covering her mouth with a handkerchief.
A childish giggle was the only thing that broke the silence before Daenerys could respond.
"Lord Orme is that old, fat man, isn't he, Mommy? Is he a big farter?" little Rhaella asked, looking curiously at her mother, giggling as she ate.
Daenerys reached over and gently wiped the corner of her daughter's mouth. "Please don't say things like that while you're eating. It's a little disgusting and very impolite, Rhaella."
The little girl, named after Daenerys's mother, merely nodded. Back when they had chosen the name, Daemon had never objected to Rhaella being chosen for their daughter.
Then Daenerys turned her attention back to the ladies. "Let's talk about something else."
She truly found those gatherings tedious, even though they were part of her duties as queen. At that moment, she would have much preferred the company of her trusted ladies-in-waiting. None of them, however, were present. Not even Lucis, who usually remained by her side, leaving her alone with those noblewomen. But Lucis was pregnant and spent most of the day resting...
At least Lady Velaryon, who had arrived at court that very day, seemed to be a sensible woman. Sitting a little farther away, she spoke calmly while gently caressing her already quite prominent pregnant belly.
"She's right. Let's talk about Your Majesty!" Lady Tarly said excitedly, almost letting out the squeal of an infatuated teenage girl.
Daenerys forced herself to keep smiling. That woman, Talla Tarly, had very clear intentions regarding Daemon.
House Tarly had suffered from the war like many others. Westeros had still not managed to recover from the wars. And the recent wars had been even more devastating to the kingdoms than Robert's Rebellion.
House Tarly had seen its patriarch consumed by dragonfire when Daemon used one of his dragons to burn the entire Reach host led by Randyll Tarly. His brother, Dickon, survived and ultimately bent the knee to Daemon. He had ruled House Tarly's lands ever since and was a young lord who seemed to seek no vengeance, preferring peace instead. He married Desmera Redwyne, and despite both houses having been rebels and powerful in the Reach, there had been no problems.
Daenerys also knew Talla's brother at the Wall. The boy was often seen in Maester Aemon's chambers and always greeted them whenever they went to visit their relative, even at the maester's funeral. He had been chosen to study at the Citadel and had returned to Castle Black a year earlier as a maester of the Night's Watch.
It was no coincidence that she had remained at court for six moons, ever since arriving by her father's own orders. Daenerys was almost certain his instructions had been simple: become the king's mistress.
In any case, the girl was irritatingly quick to smile and wore the look of someone hopelessly in love. Talla Tarly never missed an opportunity to mention Daemon, nor did she make any effort to hide the interest she felt for him.
Fortunately, Daemon never returned her advances. Otherwise, he would have had to deal with a deeply furious Daenerys.
She had already accepted sharing her husband with three other women. Even so, the situation was completely different. Val, Lucis, and Ygritte were her friends. Women she trusted with her own life and whom she had met when she had no one else. They had always been honest with one another. They never resorted to fake smiles or pretenses. If there was something unpleasant to say, they said it directly.
Besides, they had been the ones who cared for Daenerys while she remained beyond the Wall during the year Daemon trained the Free Folk army before launching his attack against the Wall and the Night's Watch.
Val, Lucis, and Ygritte were one thing. The queen had already grown accustomed to them.
Now, these noblewomen... Daenerys merely sighed to keep herself from rolling her eyes or telling one of them to shut up. Shouldn't this Tarly girl be finding herself a husband by now? She was older than her brother Dickon...
"I didn't see the king today. It almost feels sadder without Your Majesty's grace in sight, but yesterday he looked so handsome during dinner..." the young Tarly began.
"Daemon has his charm," Daenerys replied with a smile that never reached her eyes.
"Your Majesty is so fortunate," the girl continued, while the others let out soft little giggles. "Everyone seemed so uncertain about Your Majesty's rule, but the king has proven himself to be a wonderful ruler. And he's still as handsome and strong as he was during the war. I still remember... I was only sixteen when my brother brought me to kneel before him. I was completely captivated."
Daenerys arched an eyebrow, and under the queen's piercing gaze, the young woman became slightly embarrassed.
"The queen is a very lucky woman..." the girl muttered awkwardly.
Before she could respond, Daenerys noticed someone entering the garden. A much more genuine smile appeared on her face.
Her salvation had finally arrived, taking the form of her handsome white knight who had saved her years ago.
"Well... My husband remains as charming as ever. As you can see, he has just arrived," she replied with a brighter smile.
All the women immediately turned their eyes toward the direction she had indicated. There was Daemon, carrying Aegon in his arms while the two of them talked, with the direwolves following behind them alongside the Kingsguard, and the servant Mary.
All the ladies immediately rose to their feet. Only Daenerys remained seated.
"Daddy!" Rhaella shouted, even dropping her little cup of sweets.
"Wait, you haven't finished eating yet," Daenerys said, gently holding her daughter, who still tried to wriggle free and looked at her mother with a tiny pout.
"My ladies," Daemon greeted them with a polite smile.
Even though that had not been his original intention, it only took one look at Daenerys's exhausted expression for him to understand the situation. "May I be excused? I would like to spend some time with my wife and our children."
In other words, leave. The King of Westeros needed to enjoy some time in the garden with the queen and their children.
The women quickly agreed. Lady Talla Tarly, in particular, kept staring at Daemon with a sparkle in her eyes that did not go unnoticed.
'That woman really doesn't know how to hide her interest. Looking so shamelessly at the king like that, no one will want to marry her once the rumors start spreading. After all, everyone has eyes and can see what's happening here. Does she ignore the fact that it may have been Daemon who killed her father?' Daenerys thought, satisfied to finally be rid of such irritating company.
As the ladies began descending the garden steps, Daemon turned to Lady Velaryon. She was Bethany Blackwood, the youngest daughter of Tytos, whose marriage to the young Velaryon boy Daemon had arranged. He had believed the match would work well, and he had been proven right.
"Lady Velaryon, tell your husband that I will receive him before nightfall." He still had the small council meeting and several documents to review, which would consume much of the afternoon. Even so, a meeting at the end of the day would be enough to discuss the issues involving the Stepstones.
The woman nodded, visibly pleased. "Yes, Your Majesty. I will inform my husband."
"Excellent. I hope you and your House's heir are doing well." Daemon asked about the child she was carrying in her womb.
"Thank you for your kind words, Your Majesty. The king is most gracious," she replied before taking her leave.
Shortly afterward, all the noblewomen had left the garden.
Sandor Clegane, Ser Orys Morrigen, Ser Barristan Selmy, and Ser Addam Pyne, all members of the Kingsguard assigned to protect the royal family, remained only at a distance, discreetly watching over them. The servant Mary also stepped back, joining the other maids responsible for attending to the queen and little Rhaella.
"Daddy!" Unable to hold herself back any longer, Rhaella jumped down from Daenerys's lap after setting her cup of sweets on the table and ran toward her father, wanting a hug as well.
Daemon picked her up with his free arm, holding both of his children together. The difference in their size was still quite noticeable. Aegon had already celebrated five namedays, while Rhaella was only two.
The little girl smiled before giving her father a kiss on the cheek. "Daddy, when are we going to fly on the dragon?" she asked excitedly.
Daemon raised an eyebrow and shot Daenerys a questioning look, but she merely sighed.
"She woke up today with the idea that you could take her flying," she said.
"But I heard you took Aegon flying when he was just a baby!" Rhaella replied immediately.
"Well... We'll see about that. But only if you behave." It was not uncommon for two-year-old children to fly on dragons. Aegon had flown many times over the years so he would become accustomed to it before his own dragon grew large enough for its first flight. And now that summer had finally returned, it would not be unusual to take them on a short flight as well.
"Yay!" the little girl cheered.
Daemon simply smiled. Then he set both children down on the ground. Instead of remaining seated a little apart from his wife, he pulled his chair right beside hers, paying no mind to formalities. The children also came closer.
"Isn't your meeting about to begin?" Daenerys asked curiously.
"In a little while. I still have a few minutes to spare. I wanted to spend them with my wife." Hearing that, a smile immediately appeared on her face.
"But it seems I ended up rescuing you. From what I saw, I arrived at just the right time," Daemon added.
"You did, and I'm grateful for it, my love," Daenerys replied, her smile unchanged. Seeing Rhaella wanting to climb back into her father's arms, silently asking with her eyes, she took the opportunity to pull Daemon closer as he tried to drag a chair over to them.
"Hey, wait! Let me sit down too!" Aegon complained as he felt his mother's arms pulling him in.
"Oh? Weren't you clinging to your father's lap until just now? Why can't I hold my son in my lap too?" Daenerys replied, pretending to be offended.
"Mother... They're watching. I want to sit by myself too. I'm the Prince of the Seven Kingdoms."
Daemon smiled beside them. "Let him. He wants to show a little dignity. Otherwise, they'll say he's being spoiled too much."
Rhaella let out a little giggle, already nestled in her father's arms. "Aegon's spoiled!"
Aegon immediately looked at his sister in outrage. "Who's spoiled, you silly girl?" he grumbled.
"Aegon, don't speak to your sister like that. And you, Rhaella, don't call your brother spoiled either," Daenerys scolded, finally letting her son go.
The boy simply pulled over a chair, dragged it beside his mother's, and sat down.
"How has your day been, my love?" Daenerys asked, turning her attention back to Daemon.
Meanwhile, Rhaella picked up her little cup of sweets again and continued eating, once more smearing a bit around her mouth, and now it was Daemon's turn to wipe it clean.
Both children had inherited the Valyrian features of House Targaryen. They both had silver hair. Aegon had inherited his father's eyes, while Rhaella had her mother's, a lighter shade of lilac. She was the very image of the former queen, just as Barristan Selmy and others who had known her had said, making the name Rhaella especially fitting.
Daemon turned his attention back to his wife. "Quite tedious, as always," he replied with a sigh. "I spent the entire morning stuck signing documents, and I'll spend the rest of the day reading reports and trying to find our Master of Coin..."
"Ruling was never really your dream, was it, my husband?" Daenerys asked with a faint smile.
"Ah, is it really that obvious?" Daemon grumbled.
"How could it not be? When we first met, you clearly looked like you wanted to put a crown on my head and leave," Daenerys replied.
"Dad did that?" Aegon asked in horror.
Even though he still didn't fully understand those words, the boy couldn't help commenting. Daenerys smiled and gently stroked her son's hair.
"Yes. Your father and I met under rather unusual circumstances, as you've already heard, when he came to rescue me that night and fought the greatest khal of the Dothraki, killing him in single combat to take me away from Essos. But I don't think I've ever told you that he wanted to make me Queen of Westeros, leave all the responsibility to me, and simply go away."
"I didn't say exactly that," Daemon grumbled, looking at his wife.
"You wanted me to shoulder all the responsibility. But I'm glad you changed your mind. You've been a wonderful king these past five years," she replied with a gentle smile.
"Really? What made Dad change his mind?" Rhaella asked curiously.
The two adults looked at the little girl. Even Aegon leaned forward a little, eager to hear the answer.
"Let's just say your mother had a very positive effect on your father," Daemon replied.
"That's exactly what happened," Daenerys agreed. "I confessed my feelings to him, and naturally, we began to be together. After that, your father followed the path of conquest and eventually became king. It was much easier than trying to make me queen while he disappeared across the world. By then, we were already together, so everything happened quite naturally. I became pregnant with you, Aegon, and we were married soon afterward, in Winterfell." She smiled as she remembered those memories.
Daenerys had not taken part in the War of the Five Kings, entering battle only during the War against the Dead with her dragon. At the time of the war, the Blackfyre dragons did not yet exist, and she was pregnant with Aegon, while Daemon rode south to conquer the Seven Kingdoms. She remained in Winterfell, with Daemon visiting them from time to time on Winter. It was a story their children knew very well, as they loved hearing it over and over on the nights when the family spent time together in their chambers.
"I can't say that was exactly my plan," Daemon admitted. "But I ended up growing attached to certain things. Your mother managed to win your father's heart. I could no longer simply leave the kingdom to her. Besides, our family had fallen. I needed to restore it. I knew I had to take the reins when our family still had so much unfinished business in these lands from the time of our parents..."
"I've heard that Mommy's father was very bad..." Aegon muttered.
"Yes..." Daenerys murmured, having known for a long time that her father had been a monster.
As she spoke, her eyes followed the direwolves playing over the last patches of snow. Several pups were running through the garden. Ghost was among them as well, accompanied by the other adult wolves.
The presence of those animals had already become something common within the Red Keep. No one found it strange anymore to see creatures over a meter tall roaming freely through the castle.
"But anyway..." Daemon decided to change the subject. Aerys was far too delicate a topic for children so young. "...even though I never planned any of this... I'm happy we ended up here." Daemon looked at his two children. "I have you... and your siblings."
The two children smiled. Daenerys then gently took her husband's hand, intertwining her fingers with his. A glow of happiness shone in her eyes.
Daemon looked at his family for a moment. He had a wonderful wife, healthy children, and a kingdom to rule that was becoming more stable with each passing day.
The systems he had built over the years had profoundly transformed Westeros, precisely so that his descendants would never have to face the same hardships their ancestors had known.
Daemon remained there with his family as they talked. His children ended up keeping the king and queen in that garden longer than expected, but moments like those were rare.
It was difficult for them to spend time alone outdoors without someone interrupting them. Perhaps it happened only once a week. Most of the time they spent together was inside their chambers or in one of the halls of the Red Keep, always surrounded by guards, servants, councilors, or members of the court.
That was why Daemon made a point of making the most of those peaceful moments with his family. Dealing with the court was never easy. Even so, he had to admit that his was far better than the one Robert Baratheon had ruled years earlier.
That day, no further problems arose while he enjoyed those last moments before the small council meeting. They simply remained together, talking about stories from the past, watching their children play, and gradually teaching them small lessons about the world.
It was an enormous change for someone who had once possessed everything in Tamriel and had chosen to abandon it all and return to his own world with nothing but his powers.
Now, he was no longer just Jon Snow, the Bastard of Winterfell, or the Dragonborn, the hero Jon of Tamriel.
At that moment, just as he had been for the past eight years, he was Daemon Targaryen, and although he was still the great Dragonborn, he could no longer imagine a life without that family. Everything he had fought for over the past years was right before his eyes, and for the first time in a very long while, he truly felt that this was his home.
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