The Dark Prince and Golden Lioness

Summary:

An errant Kingsguard is dealt with and Rhaegar makes his feelings clear, Elia deals with family and Rhaella learns some of Daemon's past. The joust begins and ends.

Kings Landing 300 AC.

Rhaella.

She had sat through the melee with her mood going from concerned to impressed, to terrified and finally settling on furious. Beside her Bonifer was equally as angry and as she turned to see Rhaegar, she caught Jon Connington's eye and her fury almost boiled over. Seeing her grandson win was overshadowed by both the blood coming from his hand and the fact that her other grandson had sought to shame and harm him.

She stood up as did Bonifer and stormed from their seats, glaring at both her grandson and the ginger lord as she did so. Rhaella knew exactly what her leaving would do, tonight at the feast she would be among the topics for gossip and that was good. Without her doing so they all would be talking about other events and she didn't wish for that, let people speak of her displeasure. Bonifer led her to the back where people were removing their armor, and on to the tent where Daemon was having his injury seen to. Thoros and Ser Arthur waiting with him, while Barristan stood guard as a Maester saw to Daemon's hand.

"How is he?" she asked Arthur when she got there.

"A small cut, it's nothing to worry about." Arthur said and she noticed the lack of his own worry in both his voice and expression, which relieved her.

"You saw?" she said without elaborating.

"I did." and this time the expression on the knights face was much different.

"And what do you intend to do about it?" she asked pointedly.

"He will not wear the cloak again my queen, of that you can be certain." Arthur said and she caught Barristan out of the corner of her eye nodding his agreement.

"Good." she said moving to Daemon as the Maester finished.

"Sorry." he said sheepishly as she reached him and sat down beside him.

"How is it?" she asked taking his hand in his.

"It's nothing, really, I've had worse." he said and she shuddered at the thought of it.

"What happened with Aegon's friends?".

"My brother wished to see me brought down a peg or two, nothing more. It's fine Thoros and I thought them a lesson they'll not soon forget." he said and she looked up and smiled at the Red Priest.

"I thank you for your part in keeping my grandson safe Thoros, here and while he was away from me."

"He is my prince too, my queen." Thoros said and she nodded.

Reaching out she touched the favor he had tied to his arm, crimson and gold, a young lioness cub's no doubt, she saw Daemon almost smirk before he blushed and then stood up and took her arm.

"Come grandmother, this is not where you wish to be, lets head back to the Red Keep." Daemon said and she nodded.

As they got up to leave she saw the white wolf, she had thought him a cover or a rug he had lain there so silently, not even breathing it seemed. But as soon as they rose so did he, as soon as they moved so did he, and as they walked from the tent he walked alongside her grandson almost looking at her to say, he had this. They were walking from the grounds when Ser Jaime and his nephew saw them and walked over, the young lad almost a mirror image of the disgraced knight.

The man who sullied his cloak, the man who broke his honor, people had called for his head, or at the very least his hand and that's when she intervened. Jaime had done her bidding, he had protected her family, just as he had her, the most honorable of them all. She smiled at him when he got close and saw him smile back at her and at Daemon too, while his nephew looked at her grandson like he was the warrior reborn.

"My queen, my prince." Jaime said and kissed her offered hand.

"Ser Jaime, Lord Tommen, a pleasure."

"I came over to congratulate you my prince, it was an honor crossing blades with you, perhaps we can do so again in the sparring grounds."

"I would be honored Ser Jaime, perhaps your nephew would grace me with a spar too?" Daemon said and the smile which appeared on the boy's face was pure Jaime she thought.

"Yes, I mean of course your grace, my prince." the boy stumbled through his words and she heard Barristan and Bonifer chuckle lightly at the hero worship, both having had their fare share of it over the years.

"Will you be attending the feast tonight my queen?" Jaime asked.

"I will, I hope to see you and your family there Ser Jaime?"

"I look forward to it my queen, my prince." he said as he bowed slightly and walked away, glancing at the favor Daemon wore with a slight smirk.

She knew then she'd also need to meet Myrcella, if the girl took after Ser Jaime, then she'd be even more pleased with the match she and Joanna had made all those years ago. As they passed the tent where some other competitors were having knocks, bruises, and the odd cut being seen too she saw them. Only Daemons arm wrapped in hers keeping her from going inside to give them a piece of her mind, when her grandson whispered in her ear though she laughed loudly gaining their attention.

"True enough grandson, they shall be walking oddly for a while yet." she said loud enough for them to hear as they moved on.

Once back in the Red Keep, Daemon and Thoros wished for rest before the night's festivities and while she allowed her grandson to go, Thoros she wished to speak to and so the Red Priest was asked to stay behind. She offered him wine which he declined and food which he accepted, surprising her when he joined her in drinking tea too. While she barely partook in the meal, he ate heartily, apparently hungry from the days events.

"Once again I wish to thank you Thoros, my grandson says he survived because of you and for that you have my eternal gratitude."

"The prince is far too modest my queen, I played less a role than he did in mine own protection."

"Daemon protected you? And please Rhaella, if anyone's earned the right to use my name its you." she said and he smiled at her.

"You saw the prince out there, saw how good he is, he surpassed my own skill level many years ago."

"Can you tell me about him, about his time in Essos, what he saw, what he faced?" she asked her voice that of a concerned grandmother and not a queen mother.

"I cannot betray my prince's confidence, not even for his grandmother. I will though tell you what I can, I'm afraid the rest you need to speak to Daemon about."

He proceeded to tell her then of finding Daemon as a boy in Volantis, of bringing him back to his temple, of training him, guarding him. He told little of their adventures other than to hint they were numerous, little of the swords, armor or the dragon and shied away from speaking of things too personal. By the time he'd finished she had more questions than answers, though one thing was clear, Thoros looked upon Daemon as more than a prince, he spoke lovingly of her grandson, proudly, as if a father was speaking of a favored son.

"Why didn't you come to me when you arrived in Westeros, why didn't you tell me of my grandson's survival?" she asked her annoyance clear.

"I was sent here by my god, to do his bidding and by my prince commanded to keep his secrets. Daemon didn't wish for you to know of him while he could not be here himself, he feared what you would so with such information."

"He feared me." she said shocked and hurt and felt Bonifer's hand on hers.

"No, not at all, he spoke of you fondly often and it pained him terribly not to send you word I know this for truth, I swear it on my god's graces. He feared you knowing he was alive out there would lead to you scouring Essos for him, sending men to find him or perhaps coming yourself and he wished you no part of that place."

"Why?" Bonifer asked curiously.

"Blood is a powerful thing Ser and dragon blood the most powerful of it all, there are men and women in Essos who would go out of their way to obtain a drop of it, to have a queen who carries it in her veins would be far too tempting a prize."

"I don't understand, my family has traveled there before, we've never faced danger." Rhaella said.

"That was before a dragon was reborn." Thoros said.

She nodded and allowed the man go get some rest, she wished to speak to her son to ensure action was taken against Ser Daemon, she knew he'd not take much against the fools who went up against her grandson, they could claim it was a melee and they were trying to win. Nor in the end would he against Aegon and Jon Connington, the scandal would be too dangerous, far better to sweep it under the rug and try to forget it. Not that she'd be doing that, the griffin had more than earned her ire and he would suffer the consequences soon.

"What are you thinking my love?" Bonifer asked.

"Daemon has some explaining to do Bon, I need to know it all, everything."

"How shall we handle the griffin?"

"Leave him to me, find the man who tried to kill my grandson Bon, find him and deal with him."

"Daemon asked to do so himself." Bon said a small smirk on his face as he knew what she was thinking before she said it.

"Well, my grandson needs to learn you can't always get what you want."

Rhaegar.

He had called them in first, the Dornish he'd deal with when Arthur arrived back, but his errant son and Hand needed to be dealt with first. He drummed his fingers on the table, an angry habit that he only did when alone, as soon as the door opened and he saw their faces, a part of him wished for nothing more than to slap them both. But he held his temper for now and waited until they sat, while that disgrace of a Kingsguard was competing Aegon was guarded by knights of the Red Keep, who now waited outside.

He was about to begin when Arthur arrived and he was glad to see his friend, relieved he had sent him out on the field with Daemon, not that his son had needed his help in the end. Rhaegar was no slouch when it came to swordplay, he was no Arthur, but there was not been many who were a match with him. He had started late and it had become an obsession of his to improve, to wield the blade of Visenya, of Aemon the Dragonknight, you needed to be worthy and for a long time he was not, until finally he was.

But comparing his skill to those who carried the blade before was like comparing it to Arthur's, they were far advanced of his own talent. Daemon though, Daemon was one in a generation, seeing him out there he felt a pride he'd not felt in a long time. When Aegon was a young boy, when he was dutiful, Rhaegar felt pride in him, Rhaenys her mind, gods her mind, she had always filled him with pride, for many years though he'd not even looked at Daemon. He had not cared enough to know if the boy was talented, or smart, if he was good and true, seeing him out there on the field, facing Ser Jaime, facing Arthur, he realized he was proud of his son.

"What were you thinking?" he said looking to Aegon first and then Jon.

"Your grace?" Jon said as if he was confused.

"No Enough with the games I'll not have them any longer. I know it was you, both of you, what were you thinking?" he said angrily.

"It's his name is it not, the dragon he has, what's wrong with calling him it?" Aegon said flippantly.

"What's Wrong, What's Wrong, don't play the fool Aegon or I'll start treating you as one, and you are my Hand, not his. Remember that Jon, or you'll be riding to Griffin's Roost the next time and I'll shame you in front of the entire court before I send you on your way." he said his voice rising.

"You will apologize to your brother, you will do it today and you will be happy I do not have you do so publicly."

"I won't."

"Oh you will Aegon, I warned you what would happen, you will apologize or I'll ensure you pay the consequences publicly and irrevocably" he said staring intently at his son who turned his own gaze to the table.

"Very well." Aegon huffed.

"It had better be genuine too, now go wait outside this isn't all I've got to discuss with you, that little act your friends pulled will have consequences for you and them, not you Jon, you stay."

He waited until Aegon left and then turned to Jon, his anger clear in his expression.

"You disappoint me Jon and it stops now, the North, the Iron Born, Daemon since he arrived and now this. I'll not have it anymore, you are Hand because I choose you to be, I can unchoose you also, consider this a warning Jon, a final one, now get out of my sight before you wake the dragon further."

He watched the flustered look on Jon's face as he left, had Arthur keep the door open so he could see him walk past Aegon, when his son tried to come back in Arthur looked to him and he shook his head, not ready yet to do what needed to be done. Arthur came back and sat down and he looked to him, a sad smile on his friends face.

"Speak your mind Arthur."

"You should have taken his pin."

"I know, but he has served me loyally too."

"Lately?"

"He's been warned Arthur, I meant what I said, one more and he's gone, we'll see if it takes, besides he has far bigger problems than me to worry about."

"Your mother." Arthur said and then both of them laughed breaking some of the tension.

"Ser Daemon?" Rhaegar asked.

"I'll strip him of the cloak myself, public or private?"

"Private, the word will spread anyway no doubt, I want him gone Arthur and not just from the order, he's not to stay in this city, he's no longer welcome here."

"Aegon?"

"We'll find him another. I…I..feared for him Arthur, feared I was to lose him again."

"He's well able to take care of himself Rhaegar."

"I saw that." he chuckled before turning serous "An assassin, then this, Aegon's jealousy and Rhaenys, I've no idea what my daughter thinks of it all, what her own plans are."

"Seeing him out there, with that Red Priest, seeing him later with his wolf, he's not a boy anymore Rhaegar, we can't protect him and he doesn't need us to, all we can do is play our part." Arthur said and he nodded motioning to the door.

Aegon's reaction was furious, he moaned, whined, he complained, he claimed he had sent Daemon to protect Oberyn and Obara, that seeing that Daemon had Arthur he felt that he was well protected.

"Oberyn is not the Kingsguard's responsibility, nor is Obara and Daemon Sand is no longer a Kingsguard." he said looking to his son.

"He was following my orders." Aegon said and Arthur shook his head.

"Even when he attacked your brother my prince?" Arthur said.

"It was a melee, Daemon was a threat so they ganged up on him and that Red Priest of his, Ser Daemon more than likely went to help him and the fool overreacted."

"Your brother defended himself and that wasn't the normal actions of a melee, I've told you once Aegon stop acting a fool and if you won't, then stop thinking I'm one. I warned you there would be consequences and there will be."

"What are you going to do?"

"At the feast tonight all four of your friends and Ser Daemon will apologize to your brother, if he accepts it then I'll not take further action on your friends, but Ser Daemon is done, as of tomorrow he's no longer welcome in Kings Landing."

"Dorne won't be happy with this, Oberyn and Doran will see it an insult." Aegon said.

"The only insult is that man to the white cloak and it's a Dornishman who made the decision." Arthur said firmly.

"Who will you get to replace him?" Aegon said then deciding the battle was lost.

"That will be up to Arthur to decide."

"What of Ser Loras?" Aegon said.

"No." Rhaegar said.

"My king?" Arthur said though he know what Rhaegar's objection was.

"Not at this time, no." Rhaegar said and he nodded as Aegon huffed and stood up.

"My room tonight Aegon before the feast, you have your own apology to make."

He watched as his son tried to storm from the room, looking every inch the young child he had once been and he felt the regret at failing yet another son. Sighing he turned to look at Arthur and nodded sending him to ready Ser Daemon's dismissal. When his friend had left he sat back in his chair, his son had won the melee, his son, their son, he thought as he smiled.

Elia.

She had gone to speak to her brother of Rhaegar's decision, knowing how angry she'd find him, when she got there she found him, his daughters, Ellaria and Rhaenys all with varying degrees of anger. She didn't bother to take a seat, Lewyn standing with her and she waited for the inevitable explosion to come, she didn't have long to wait.

"Who does he think he is, Dorne will not accept this insult, I'll not accept it." Oberyn shouted as he stood up

"Ser Daemon was doing his duty, he was following orders." Obara said joining her father's rant.

"Enough, both of you act like petulant children, sit down Oberyn." she said loudly and he looked to her "That's an order from your queen." she said and all eyes in the room turned to her then.

"As you say my queen." her brother said through gritted teeth, his fangs still showing.

"Ser Daemon disgraced us today, he disgraced Dorne, he disgraced our house, he disgraced me and if Rhaegar had not ordered him stripped and sent home in disgrace then I would have. You will ensure he and all of you are at the feast tonight, you will ensure his apology is genuine and you will then ensure he is gone from this city on the morrow, am I understood?".

"Mother…"

"Am I understood?" she said her voice determined as she interrupted Rhaenys.

"Yes." Oberyn said through gritted teeth.

"Last night someone attempted to kill Daemon, using a poisoned arrow they tried to kill a prince of the realm, when news of that gets out and it will, who do you think people will look to first?" she said looking around the room.

"We played no part in that." Oberyn said and she saw he was being truthful.

"It matters not, who will people look to when they hear of poison Oberyn? Now with this, who would they look to after this? A Kingsguard not only leaving a prince unguarded on the field, not only making it clear his loyalty ran elsewhere, but then attacking that prince. Ser Daemon is luck to keep his head, let alone be allowed to return to Dorne."

"I never asked for his help." Oberyn said and she nodded.

"Oh don't worry I'll be dealing with Aegon too. This stops now, I've tried to play nice, tried to get you to understand but I tell you all, this stops, this hostility with Daemon it ends, or when it comes out you'll find I stand with my family and he is part of it too. Rhaenys, come with me." she said turning and not waiting for a reply.

They walked to her private rooms, they would head to Rhaegar's in a moment to deal with Aegon's apology, but for now they stayed in hers and she waited until Rhaenys was sitting.

"Have you spoken to your brother?"

"I have no idea what Egg was thinking." Rhaenys said.

"I was speaking of Daemon, have you spoken to him?"

"No."

"Why not?".

"I..I don't know what to say, I don't know what to think of him."

"Why do you hate him so? he is your blood Rhae, your blood as much as Egg or I."

"No he's not, not like you or Egg, he's…he's different."

"He is your brother and I meant what I said in there, it ends now, speak to him, find common ground, perhaps you'll find he seeks a sister too." she said and her daughter looked at her, though she couldn't tell what she was thinking.

They left her room then and walked to Rhaegar's. Aegon was standing beside his father, she walked to her husband and kissed his cheek and turned to look at her son who refused to look her in the eye. It took a few moments until Daemon arrived, Rhaella walking with him along with Barristan, Rhaegar sent all the guards outside, even Arthur and turned to Aegon.

"Aegon you have something to say to your brother."

"I do, I'm sorry Daemon, I meant no insult with the name, but I see how foolish it was now and I beg your forgiveness."

"There is no need brother." Daemon said and she could see both boys were almost daring the other to say something out of turn.

"Aegon." his father said.

"I also want to apologize for my friends actions, it was uncalled for and I and they are sorry."

"A sorry bunch the lot of you." Daemon said with a smirk and she glared at him before he looked at her apologetically "I accept your apology brother, as it turns out they're not very good anyway."

"Are we done with this foolishness?" Rhaella said and Rhaegar nodded.

Both Rhaella and Daemon turned to walk from the room not staying any longer than was absolute necessary and she saw the disappointment on her husband's face, saw the half smirk on Aegon's.

"Daemon I wonder if you would stay for a while before the feast, you too Rhaella, we'll have no time for talk later on."

"As you command my queen." Daemon said.

"Daemon." she said chidingly and he smiled at her.

In the end it may have been better if they left, Daemon barely spoke to Rhaegar, not at all to Egg and Rhaenys and he only generally. When they did leave she turned to speak to Aegon only to fund him speaking quietly to his father, who almost stormed from the room. Rhaenys quickly running behind him clearly wondering what had upset him so, she too almost went after him, but cornered Aegon instead.

"What did you say?" she asked.

"What, oh that, that was nothing."

"Egg, enough." she raised her voice.

"I just told father that apparently Daemon knelt to his uncle in the North, offered himself and his dragon to be at their service, strange don't you think, after all he refused to kneel to father."

"You really are a fool aren't you, gods how did I raise you to be this much of a fool." she said walking from the room leaving him there looking at her in shock.

It took her some time to find her husband, he had sent Rhaenys away and was standing on the balcony looking out on the city. He had passed anger though, instead he had gone where she feared he would and she could see the sadness in him as he watched the sky darken.

"Come inside Rhaegar we need to get ready."

"Egg told you?".

"He did."

"I was so proud of him you know, when he refused to kneel, he had grown so much, from how he once was, from how he had once acted, he was now confident, cocky even." he said smiling.

"We don't know the truth of things, maybe there was a reason for it?".

"He hates me Elia, he's right to do so, but I…"

She held him in her arms for a few minutes and felt him come back some, but she knew he'd be like this until he spoke to Daemon, until they got past what it was between them and she feared that would not be an easy path.

They readied themselves and went to meet up with the rest of their family for the feast, Aegon would escort Rhaenys and Daemon would escort Rhaella, while Daenerys and Viserys would escort each other. As they lined up she saw how Egg smirked at Daemon, how Daemon glared back, she saw Daenerys look to her mother while Viserys looked anywhere but. Rhaenys kept glancing between her father and Daemon and when Egg saw her face as she looked at her other brother, his smirk turned to a frown.

As they were introduced she sighed, this was her family and right now it was broken and she wondered if she had it in her to fix it.

Rhaenys.

Though not one for tourneys she did love jousting, the pageantry of it, the sheer scope of it, she knew her uncle preferred the melee, obviously after yesterdays performance Daemon did too. But for her it was the shininess of the armor, the way the horses were decked out in the elaborate barding, the sound of the charges and the crashing of the lances that made her blood stir.

While Ser Arthur would wear his Kingsguard armor and Daemon his Valyrian, while Ser Loras would be decked out in more jewels than anyone and would wear his cloak with it's forget me nots. As she looked out it was Ser Jaime who's figure seemed the most impressive. His golden plate was adorned with prancing lions, his enameled red and gold rondels, the lion's head helm with it's rubies, his shield with the Lannister Lion proudly displayed. If ever there was an image of how a knightly jouster should look, to her it was Ser Jaime.

She looked to the Lannister section expecting to see all eyes on their golden lion, yet found to her surprise only some, his sister and brother looked to him, but his nephew and niece stared at her brother and she looked then to see the favor on his arm. It was further evidence that Daemon favored the Lannister girl, as if last night had not been enough of that.

"I humbly apologize my prince, I let my excitement of the melee and my opportunity to cross swords with you cloud my judgement. I hope you accept my words in the manner they're given and that we can cross swords in the future on friendlier terms." Ser Garlan said as gallant as always.

"It's quite understandable Ser Garlan and as I said to your brother I feel you have nothing to apologize for, but I accept it all the same and look forward to crossing blades in a friendlier fashion." Daemon said with a smile.

He had been less gracious to the Darkstar and Ser Daemon and had downright sneered at Ser Harrold, which she had actually found herself agreeing with, the man was an arse. After that he had spent the rest of the night speaking to the lions, laughing with Tommen and Ser Jaime, drinking with Tyrion, but mainly dancing with Myrcella and she found herself thinking they looked good together. Found herself wishing she had someone who looked at her like that, someone who danced with her and wore her favor.

She shook her head from these thoughts as the first joust began, while the names weren't that exciting to her, or any were among the favorites, she enjoyed the sight of it. Eventually it came to the first real match and she looked on as her uncle took on Ser Patrek Mallister, the Riverlander a decent jouster, but Oberyn would take it she knew.

"He'll take him in less than three." Tyene said beside her and she nodded in agreement.

"It'll take more than that." Obara said and she looked at her surprised, Obara was usually her father's biggest fan.

"Why do you think so?" she asked and Obara explained how Arthur had caught her uncle's shoulder the day before and he was still feeling it.

In the end Obara proved right, the two horses raced down to four tilts, before finally on the fifth Oberyn unhorsed him. Ser Loras won his first one and Thoros of Myr his own, Daemon's Red Priest being of great interest to her, the High Septon too looking at the priest curiously. Ser Arthur, Ser Barristan, Ser Arys each won, as did Ser Brynden Tully to boos, his family still not forgiven for their part in the rebellion.

When Daemon rode out she looked on eagerly as he faced Ser Robar Royce, the Vale lord even less popular than usual seeing as he was facing a prince. She listened as around the ground excited cheers were made when Daemon rode by, some chants of White Wolf being heard when he took his lance. Lady Myrcella was almost on the edge of her seat when Daemon began to ride down and while it was clear he was an excellent horseman, her brother looked uncomfortable with the lance.

The crash as Robar's lance hit home and Daemon's missed was heard around the grounds and she winced and closed her eyes, expecting to see her brother on the ground when she opened them. But he was still on his horse and it looked as if the lance had done no damage. The second tilt her brother seemed to hold his lance a bit better and at least stuck the shield of Ser Robar but once again the hit he took would have unhorsed a lesser rider.

"He has courage I'll give him that." Nym said and she nodded.

"Won't help if you can't use a lance." Obara sniggered and she turned and glared at her cousin, unsure why she did so.

On the third tilt, both lances hit home and she expected both men to fall, but only Robar did, her brother remained on his horse and had taken the match and she found herself smiling a little. The tilts went on, all three of the Kingsguard and her uncle making it to the next round, Ser Jaime winning his with ease, as did Ser Loras, Ser Byrnden won, as did Tommen Lannister who she'd not even noticed had left his seat and was competing.

Thoros defeated a large knight from the Stormlands and then the crowd hushed as he brother came out once again, the hushes turned to gasps at his opponent and she looked to her parents and to Myrcella who looked panicked. Ser Gregor wasn't called the Mountain for nothing, the man was over seven foot tall, his horse dwarfed Daemon's let alone with him riding on it. She looked around to see Egg smirking as was Connington and she wondered would they dare fix the draw?. But it was seeing Olenna's face which gave her pause, had it been the Queen of Thorns?.

She didn't hear the herald announce it, couldn't hear anything over the loud beating of her heart, seeing her brother race down the field towards the Mountain that Rides, she almost felt ready to panic. The Mountain's lance hit her brother's shield hard, almost making him turn in his saddle, his own lance glancing harmlessly off the Mountain's armor. She looked to see her grandmother's hand been held tightly by Ser Bonifer as he whispered in her ear and the next tilt began.

This one had people to their feet and shouts ringing around the grounds, instead of going for Daemon, the Mountain lowered his lance and caught Daemon's horse, Daemon's own lance though catching the Mountain so square and true that he was sent flying from his horse. Not that it made a difference as everyone watched on in horror as Daemon's horse flipped and Daemon was thrown to the air, she couldn't look as he crashed to the ground, only to find it was cheers she heard as she turned her head back to see.

"How did he do that?" Obara said in disbelief.

"What, what did he do?" she said looking to her brother who was standing facing the Mountain who moved towards him.

"He rolled, he landed and rolled, I don't know how, I don't know how he did it." Obara said.

Not that it mattered, the Mountain it seemed was taking this forward and it would be a battle on foot now, she looked at he sword he was carrying, it was almost as big as himself, she saw her father jump to his feet and then a shout was heard. Within the blink of an eye there was a white blur racing across the grounds, the wolf was far quicker than he should be, running from behind the stands he came and stood in front of her brother, his fangs showing and his stance crouched, he waited poised to attack.

"Clegane, stop this at once." Tywin Lannisters voice was the epitome of his words, as he roared across the grounds.

She, her father, the whole crowd looked on as Clegane stopped and turned to walk away, her brother looked to the retreating man, before shrugging his shoulders, nodding to Tywin, and then walking to check on his horse. Her father called an end to the events for the day after that and she was glad of it, riding back to the Red Keep she sat silently, she had felt worry, concern for him, for her brother, and she didn't know what to make of it.

She ignored her cousins for the rest of the night, didn't speak to her uncle, why she wasn't sure but a part of her wondered if she was afraid they'd say something about Daemon, if she would have felt the need to defend him. Would that be so wrong? To stand up for her brother, to defend him? Isn't it what her mother wished for her to do? She fell asleep and dreamt of a small crib, a dark haired babe and a little girl smiling at him as he laughed while she played with his fingers.

Daemon.

Dinner that night was a quite affair, he ate and drank in silence, while his grandmother didn't eat at all, instead she sat over her plate and Ser Bonifer looked worried, nodding to Thoros he turned to the knight.

"Ser Bonifer I was wondering if I could have a moment alone with my grandmother."

"Of course my prince, I shall return later my queen." Ser Bonifer said bowing to the queen

Daemon bit back the urge to smirk, for all their relationship was, even in private like this Ser Bonifer played the dutiful knight, rather then the love of his grandmother's life. He hoped to find something like they had one day, wondered if he may be on the way to with Myrcella, smiling as he thought of her, something his grandmother picked up on.

"Thinking of her again are you." she said and he smiled more as he nodded.

"Good, I want to see you happy Daemon, I.." she said and he moved from his seat.

"Grandmother I know today was hard, I know with the attempt on my life it's only making it feel harder. I promise you I'm safe and well and it'll take a lot more than that to end me."

"It only takes a second Daemon, you're far too casual with this, you could have been killed, twice since you came back here."

"I call that a good week grandmother." he said laughing though she didn't join him.

"It's not funny Daemon."

"I know, grandmother I arrived in Essos alone, a nine name day old boy, with nothing, no idea of where I was, how to get back here, or how to find you. By all rights I should have ended up dead or sold into slavery, but I didn't, I'm here, I'm alive and it'll take more than a failed assassin and a large angry man to end me, believe me."

"What happened to you over there, why didn't you contact me, why didn't you let me know you were alive and well?" she said her voice full of accusation.

"The first few years I couldn't come back, couldn't send word, had I been able to then I would have."

"After that though, Thoros tells me you told him not to speak to me, not to tell me of you."

"I did." he said and saw her almost shrink on herself, he quickly moved to hug her and though she resisted at first she allowed him to later.

"There are things there grandmother, things you may not understand, with Lyanax back in the world things have changed, dragons are magic and those who control them more so. There are people who seek to use that for their own ends."

"I wouldn't have come alone, I'd have brought guards, the hundred, some of the loyalists."

"It wouldn't have helped, men are no use fighting things that aren't men."

"I don't understand."

"When I arrived Thoros met me, we hit it off and he brought me back to their temple, after a while it became clear there was more to it than a fortuitous meeting."

"He planned to find you?"

"Not him, his god, R'hllor was looking for me, for his chosen."

"His chosen?"

"One of the blood, one with fire and ice in his veins, the prophesied prince, the song of ice and fire." Daemon said and she looked at him like he was crazy "I know it sounds mad, but I've seen it, seen what's out there and what would happen to those not protected by a god and a dragon."

"But how would this affect us, if you're the prince, then why would me going create a problem?"

"We're of the same blood, while you're won't be as powerful to them, it can still be used, should you have come to me, they'd have sought you out, tried to use you, both for your own blood and to get to me."

"So you let me believe you were dead, to stop me going to Essos?"

"Had I sent you a letter telling you not to come would you have listened?" he said not needing to hear the reply.

"Are we safe here?" she asked.

"Yes, they have no power here, no support, should they cross I'd know."

"How?"

"R'hllor."

"What if we had gone to Essos anyway, a trade deal, a visit?"

"I'd have known."

"Oh god Dany." his grandmother said worriedly.

"What about her?"

"Her friend is Essosi, she could she be working with these people."

"No Missandei is fine, she's more than safe with her."

"How can you know? How can you be sure?"

"Because I was the one who sent her here."

Astapor 296 AC.

Lyanax flew over the city and he looked down upon it, behind him Thoros held on while Melisandre did not, he landed a few miles away and patted his dragon's back as she flew off.

"What's the plan my prince?" Melisandre said.

"As R'hllor showed us, a dragon for an army."

"You think they'll take the deal?" Thoros asked.

"Wouldn't you?"

They walked to the gates and then to the largest pyramid. Kraznys Mo Nakloz, the purveyor of the finest slave soldiers in the world and one of the fattest man any of them had ever seen, he distrusted them immediately. The Red Priests being with him not allowing for much subterfuge, he had no choice but to rely on the man's greed.

"I've come to discuss a trade deal with the Good Master." Daemon said his Valyrian terrible by design.

The Master didn't speak to him personally, instead turning to talk to the dark skinned girl beside him, her smiling face soon replaced by a frown.

"Master Kraznys Mo Nakloz says you and your false priest's are not welcome here, begone as you've nothing of value to offer him." the girl said.

"I wish to purchase every unsullied he has, both those in training and those without."

The fat man laughed and Daemon smirked too and turned to Melisandre.

"It seems we were mistaken, Master Kraznys is not the wise and good master we heard he was, for surely this man is a fool when he can't sense the opportunity that stands in front of him."

At a flick of the whip he carried. all the unsullied in the room lowered their spears and Daemon laughed loudly now.

"Impressive Master, but if you wish to see true power, if you wish to see what it looks like. To see the opportunity you wish to deny yourself, you need only have asked." Daemon said.

A moment later the dragon roared and even the unsullied looked to each other, all of them as one shaking their heads, not in fear, but in confusion. Daemon looked to see the girl look at him nervously and then he saw the greed in the man's eyes and knew he'd won.

"A Dragon, you have a dragon?" Kraznys asked.

"You could have her if you wished." he said and turned to walk away.

"Two Thousand." Kraznys said.

"All."

"Four Thousand."

Daemon had reached the door now and heard himself being called.

"How big is the dragon?" Kraznys asked.

"Look out your window." and as he said it the dragon flew by and no sooner had she than Kraznys was agreeing to it all, even giving him the girl, Missandei to sweeten the deal.

Three days later Daemon flew from Astapor, Gery Worm was in charge of restoring order in the city, Astapor was now a free city and Missandei came back to Volantis with him, R'hllor it seems had a plan for the girl and the slaves and Daemon would only be shown the full truth of it when the time was right, no matter how much he argued with his god.

In the end he was to send her to Westeros and so just after Thoros had left, so had Missandei, he had not spoken to her since then and but for a quick glance had not seen the girl since he had arrived here. His grandmother looked at him strangely and he swore to tell her of all of it, everything, even the darkest parts, though he feared how she may react.

Myrcella.

Her grandfather had been furious with Lord Clegane, ordering him back to the West, at dinner that night he had spoken to her uncles and all three of them looked concerned, Joffrey had been quiet and sullen and barely spoken to any of them for days, even her mother had grown tired of dealing with him, so it was left to her and Tommen to speak to each other.

Something she was looking forward to ever since finding out about her brother's crush, while she was not a fan of Lady Margaery when both of them were competing for Aegon's favor. Things had changed with Daemon's arrival, she no longer became an obstacle to the rose of Highgarden and so she acted friendlier around her. Knowing her brother was interested was fun to her, especially since it was no longer she alone being teased about their interest in someone.

"Will he crown you if he wins?" Tommen asked.

"I thought you were going to win and crown Lady Margaery."

"I would, but if I don't I'd like it to be him, only if he's crowning you though." Tommen said and she smiled at her brother.

"I think he would yes."

"He liked dancing with you." her brother said smirking.

"What makes you say that?"

"He only danced with you and his grandmother."

She smiled at that, he was right, at the opening night feast he had danced with her whenever she wished, only stopping to dance with his grandmother. When he had won the melee and she saw him take her favor and tie it to his arm she had felt almost breathless, all the eyes in the grounds were on her and all she could see was his dark ones. He had whispered in her ear when dancing, told her that he had carried it close to his heart and it had helped him win, so tying it to his arm was the least he could do.

But it was the kiss they had shared later that night that she kept going back to, her uncle had been speaking to her mother, Tommen to her grandfather and when Daemon saw them he moved her to the door, and then they were alone on the balcony. The white wolf standing guard and keeping anyone from joining them, he stood facing her and she felt his eyes on her lips, drawing her own to his, then as he finally leaned in and kissed her it felt like time stood still. The world around them just disappeared and both of them looked at each other when they broke away, their eyes telling them that they'd each felt the same.

"You're doing it again." Tommen chuckled.

"What?"

"Drifting off and dreaming of Daemon Targaryen."

"No I'm not."

"Cella, you are." Tommen giggled and so did she.

She slept well that night and by the time they made it to the grounds the first tilt was taking place, there were sixteen men left and she was torn who to cheer for, her uncle, her brother, Daemon, she hoped they'd all make it and not face each other. In the end Tommen fell first and she was glad to see her brother unhurt, that it was Ser Loras who beat him wasn't lost on either of them, and she wondered had Aegon put him up to it.

Ser Brynden bear Ser Arys in five tilts, much to the crowds annoyance and she watched Jaime beat Lord Beric in two tilts and then Ser Barristan beat Thoros of Myr, Daemon watching on and making sure his friend was well. Ser Arthur beat Lord Bryce Caron and made it look easy, unhorsing the man in the first tilt. Sandor Clegane beat Ser Lyle Crakehall in four titlts the sounds of the impact of their lances far louder than any so far.

Then Prince Oberyn rode out against a man from the Reach and as Ser Baelor rode towards him she could hear the hushed voices as the crowd attempted to sneak looks at the Tyrells. In the end though there was nothing to be fearful of and after breaking four lances, Oberyn unhorsed the heir to Oldtown who took the loss far better than she expected.

Daemon was up next and his opponent was Ser Balon Swann, the joust went seven tilts, neither able to get the better of each other. As the King looked ready to make a decision they rode once more and this time Daemon moved in his saddle as the lance came toward him, forcing Balon to miss. Daemon's lance was luckier though and he hit clean unhorsing the man, she cheered as loudly as the crowd did at the prince's victory.

If the crowd was on edge during Oberyn's last match, when this one was announced it was even more so, she looked to see both Lady Olenna and Lady Margaery look on nervously as Ser Loras lined up to face the viper. Both men missed their strikes on the first and second tilt, Loras was almost unhorsed to loud gasps on the third, but he soon righted himself to relieved sighs. She was joined by Tommen for the fourth and they watched as Oberyn flew from his horse, Tommen looking up to see a smiling Margaery cheering for her brother.

"I think the roses enjoyed that one." Tyrion said from above them in the stands and Myrcella laughed knowing that was the truth.

Up next was Sandor versus Jaime and she looked on eagerly, the first two were shared as was the third and fourth, but the strike her uncle caught him with on the fifth was just incredible, Sandor didn't stand a chance and thankfully fell favorably. Her uncle raised his helm, smiled and then rode off, leaving her, her mother, Tommen and Tyrion cheering wildly, her grandfather sitting with a smile on his face.

"That was incredible, did you see how he caught him, it was perfect, it's Jaime's tourney no doubt." Tommen said and she felt he may be right.

Ser Barristan faced Ser Brynden, the two oldest men in the field, though you'd not know it given how they rode. Six tilts, shared equally, three strikes each, the seventh a win for Barristan and Tommen began to change his tune.

"I don't know if there is anyone who can unhorse him, he's just too good."

Not that she was listening as Ser Arthur faced Daemon next, she watched as the two of them rode out together, side by side both of them laughing and joking with each other. The ride began and as they raced down towards each other she saw the moment Daemon lost, his lance was just a bit too low and it glanced harmlessly off Arthur's shield. Arthur's was one of the truest strikes she ever seen, Daemon wasn't just unhorsed, he flew through the air, landing almost twenty feet back.

She like most of the crowd jumped to their feet, the King, the queen, his sister and aunt, his grandmother all of them looking on as Ser Arthur jumped and ran to the immobile Daemon, it took a few moments until they heard it, the crowd so silent it carried around the grounds. They were laughing, they were actually laughing and as Ser Arthur helped the prince to his feet he turned to look to the crowd.

"It seems his grace now calls it one to each of us and says we must in the future have a deciding match, he suggests something less physical though, embroidery I think it was." Arthur said as the crowd laughed.

She too was laughing as they left the grounds, while upset he'd lost, she was glad he was well enough to jape and before she knew it he was sitting beside her as the semi finals were ready to take place.

"How are you feeling?" she asked.

"Like I've been knocked from a horse and landed on the ground really hard." he said with a smirk.

"You were."

"You mean that wasn't just a terrible dream." he chuckled and she hit him on the shoulder.

"Ouch, in pain her remember." he said still laughing.

"You rode well."

"Not well enough, it seems I need to practice more if I intend to crown you queen of love and beauty."

"So it was me you intended to crown then?" she asked eyebrow raised.

"Of course, I'd not crown another." he said looking directly at her.

Had Tommen not coughed right then she'd have no doubt kissed him, but the first semi final was to begin, her uncle against Ser Loras. She turned to Daemon to ask who he thought would win, but Tommen beat her to it.

"My prince, who's your pick?"

"Your uncle will take this, Loras is good, Ser Jaime is far better."

So it proved to be true as her uncle took it in six, even if Loras had taken four of the strikes with his lance, they had all bee good hits, but it was like her uncle was allowing them, as if he was laying a trap. The sixth tilt proved that to be the case as Loras's strike aimed for where her uncle was, but stuck air, Jaime's however was true and Loras fell. It was to be Arthur against Barristan next and Daemon moved to the edge of his seat this one being the one which interested him the most.

"This one?" Tommen said and she glared at him for not using Daemon's title "My prince, forgive me." her brother said and she watched as he just nodded it off.

"On this one, I've no idea."

Arthur rode well and they shared the strikes, but in the end it was the Bold who prevailed, five tilts was what it took and Arthur fell and was up on his feet japing with his brother before walking from the field. It took a few minutes for the final to be set up, when it was ready she looked on eagerly, cheering her uncle on. Daemon almost made her annoyed with him when he began to cheer for Ser Barristan, but then she remembered he was the knight he knew best.

The lances broke on the first tilt, her uncle hit the shield hard on the second, and then Barristan caught him on the third. Finally on the fourth the match was decided, both horses raced down toward each other moving so fast, but Barristan's was going a little faster than her uncles was, his lance struck as Jaime was trying to maneuver his own. The lance caught him and he stumbled, tried to hold on, and for a horrifying second she thought his leg was going to get caught in the stirrups, she instinctively grabbed Daemon's hand, only to see her uncle fall.

She waited until he rose and then breathed a sigh of relief, upset he had lost, but glad he was unharmed, Ser Barristan nodded to him and took the garland, riding to Daemon's grandmother he offered it to her.

"My queen, I would name you the queen of love and beauty." he said and she saw Daemon smile fully at the sight.

He turned to her and looked at her, before leaning in close to whisper in her ear.

"Seeing what it means to win, what it looks like, now I'm even more determined to crown you my queen."

Notes:

Up Next, the feast brings some interesting conversations and Daemon meets a Riverland legend. The net closes on an assassin and Rhaella learns more of Daemon's past as some faces from his past arrive.

My timing in updating, may be a little off for the next week or so, the updates will continue but like this one, may be up just a little later.