Black light&color

105 year from A.D.

As soon as the iron doors of the throne room opened, Daemon Targaryen, better known as the Corrupt Prince or the Prince of Flea Bottom, walked inside and before his eyes appeared his brother the king, proudly sitting on the iron throne and burning him with an evil look. However, the evil look of his older brother did not cause Daemon fear, for of all people, the Corrupt Prince was not afraid of his brother. The only thing Daemon was afraid of was falling into disgrace with his brother, and his place next to Viserys would be taken by that bastard Otto Hightower, who dreamed of great power. — You look like the Conqueror, brother! — Daemon grinned, coming closer to the throne. However, Viserys, seriously angry with his brother’s actions during the day, had no time for his stupid jokes. He glared at his younger brother and gripped the hilt of his sword with all his might, barely holding on so as not to cut his throat right then and there. — You said that? — I don’t understand what you’re talking about, brother, — Daemon exclaimed, making a puzzled face. Although in fact the man understood perfectly well what his weak, in terms of mind, brother was talking about, but he did not want to show him this understanding, so he behaved as he considered right at the moment. However, the Corrupt Prince always behaved like this, but if earlier this did not cause any reaction from his older brother, now Viserys gripped the hilt of his sword even tighter, and his gaze filled with even more malice. — Address me as “sovereign”, otherwise I will have the guards cut out your tongue, — the eldest grandson of Jaehaerys I the Peacemaker firmly stated, — “Heir for a day”, is that what you said? “Yes, I said it, and I do not regret it!” — he smiled slightly to himself, but in reality he remained unmoved. — Everyone grieves in their own way, my lord, — Daemon replied, looking around at the guards. — My family was destroyed, but instead of being with me or Rhaenyra… — Viserys gripped the hilt of his sword even tighter, — You gathered your whores and lackeys to celebrate your rise! — His voice broke into a scream, — You have no allies at court but me! I have always protected you! But you throw everything I have given you back in my face! — You always try to send me away: to the Vale to the Bronze Bitch, to the city guard, anywhere, as long as I am away from you and your family! — Daemon countered, — You have sat on the Iron Throne for two years now and never once offered me the post of Hand! — Why would I do that? — the king asked incredulously. — Because I am your brother, — Daemon’s voice softened, — And dragon’s blood is not water. — Then why do you hurt me so much? — Viserys asked, leaning forward. — I told the truth, — Daemon stated the fact, — I see through Otto Hightower… — That he is a loyal Hand? — No, — Daemon shook his head, — That he is a bastard! A second son who will inherit nothing unless he snatches it himself! Viserys sighed deeply. — Otto Hightower will never be a hundred times nobler than you. — But he will not protect you as I will! — From what? — From yourself, — Daemon answered, — You are weak, Viserys, and the leeches in your council know it, that’s why they have sucked on you. Viserys twirled his sword and turned to his wayward brother again:       — I have decided to name an heir. — It is I, — Daemon said confidently and with a smile. — Not anymore, — Jaehaerys’s eldest grandson watched with undisguised pleasure as the smile slowly disappeared from his brother’s face, — You will immediately return to the Runestone to your lawful wife and be her faithful and loving husband! And I will not listen to any objections about this! This is your king’s order, and the king’s orders are not to be questioned! Glancing angrily at his brother, the man stepped forward, intending to approach, but the guards standing on either side blocked his path. “So that’s how it is…” — Sire, — Daemon turned around and, without wasting a second, headed for the exit. The king irritably hit the armrest of the throne with his left hand and brought it to his forehead, wiping away the sweat that had appeared, but then quickly removed it, carefully examining his fingers, in which he felt a slight tingling sensation.

***

Once in the dragon’s lair, Daemon gripped Caraxes' reins with all his might, injuring his hands. He was angrier at his brother than ever. Not only had Viserys ordered him to return to the Bronze Bitch again, but he also didn’t want to hear or admit the truth. Damon was ready to forgive his brother for the first, for he had long since gotten used to Viserys constantly sending him away, but Daemon was no longer able to forgive his brother for killing Aimma. Aimma could have lived and raised Rhaenyra to be a worthy lady, but because of Viserys’s desire to have a son, an heir, his six-year-old niece was left without a mother, and the kingdom without a queen, and now that he will not be in King’s Landing, this Hightower bastard has a chance to gain more power by throwing his daughter, Alicent, into Viserys’s arms, and Daemon is sure that Otto will not miss this chance and then the Targaryen dynasty will come to an end, for the Hightower blood is a tart poison that sows discord everywhere and anywhere. However, Daemon, unfortunately, cannot prevent this, because he will right now mount his dragon and return to the Runestone to the Bronze Bitch. This time, he does not intend to disobey his brother’s orders. Let Viserys understand that the Red Keep is bad without him. Let Viserys see how defenseless he is. Let him realize his mistake when they start looking for a bride for him. Let him suffer and bring him back to King’s Landing. For this, Daemon is ready to endure the company of his hated wife. For this, he is ready to pretend to be a faithful and loving husband. For this, he is ready to suffer in the Runestone. Daemon knows very well that after suffering comes relief, so he is ready to be in the Runestone and endure insults from his “beloved” wife and her relatives, who are just waiting for the moment when he loses his brother’s favor. And Daemon will give them this false hope. Let them rejoice and laugh, but he who laughs last laughs best, and it will be Daemon who laughs last when those damned Royces lose their beloved Lady Rhea and the Runestone. Then Daemon will enjoy their angry faces and looks to his heart’s content, and for these few days let them rejoice in what they were expecting. Smiling to himself, Daemon mounted his dragon and left King’s Landing.

***

Every morning in the Runestone was calm and quiet, but this morning was completely different — now here, in a place that was calm a few days ago, there was a bustle, which did not please the Lady of the Runestone and the wife of the Corrupt Prince — Rhea Royce, who was never distinguished by a meek and patient disposition, and who on her favorite horse furrowed the expanses of her kingdom, if the Runestone could be called that, periodically casting an indifferent glance towards the servants who ran along the street, almost rolling out a red carpet for her “beloved” husband, and shooting from her favorite bow. Rhea did not look like any other girl. She wore men’s clothing and was engaged in exclusively male activities — archery, sword fighting, hunting, fishing, fighting with someone and many other things, and waited, like many other girls, for a knight on a white horse. All female activities and even clothes were alien to her. She loved to rush through the forest on her beautiful white horse and feel her hair fluttering in the wind, like arrows flying at the same speed to the target. The Lady of the Runestone did not even need a whip for her horse. She was in harmony with Freedom, as the girl called her horse long ago in childhood. Freedom literally carried the girl in the wind, while trying not to knock her mistress off herself. Rhea trusted her horse and did not even hold on to the reins while galloping. The girl saddled this beautiful black horse at the age of five — when this wonderful horse was still a foal and Rhea still cannot forget this wonderful moment: The young heiress of the Runestone sat on the left hand of her mother, Aliandra Royce, who was glaring at her father’s mistress, whose name Rhea, unfortunately, did not know, but she knew that her mother hated this girl, because she had taken her lover away from her. And Rhea had a fierce desire to kill her father’s mistress, because as soon as this girl became pregnant, Rhea’s father, Roland Royce, seemed to forget about the existence of children from his legal wife, but Aliandra always stopped her daughter, saying that she should not dare touch her father’s mistress, because she was carrying an innocent child under her heart. And Rhea always obeyed her mother. But now she didn’t want to hear that phrase again, so she turned her gaze to the tournament field, where some man was trying to break in a black stallion, but couldn’t even make the first jump on it, because the colt dropped him on the ground, which made Rhea’s father laugh loudly:       — And that's all you can do, Osgood?! — Roland squeezed the hand of his mistress standing next to him, — Go back to your wife and children, since you are not capable of anything other than leading a quiet, calm and measured family life, — Rhea, who was listening attentively to her father, grinned, — I will take care of this stallion myself. — He can't be broken in, your grace, — Osgood hastened to assure, — And with your leg. This beast has been beaten too often. Osgood stood behind the king, and the man's mistress again crossed eyes with Alianda, who smiled, finally noticing the presence of her daughter. — Your Grace, this is a noble stallion, — the stallion's trader addressed Roland, — Yes, he is frisky and worthy of Roland, the ruler of Runestone, — Roland grinned and looked at his mistress, who was smiling at him, — Only five and a half talents, — Roland turned his gaze to the trader, — I would not have been able to make money on him anyway, but I will sell him to you, or rather her, since she is a girl, at a good price. — Why do I need this stubborn animal? — Roland asked, — My own horses are quite enough for me. However, there was no answer to his question. Then the Lord of Runestone went down and tried to saddle the stallion, but she only stepped back. — This is a horse for suicides, and I do not need such. — Father, — Rhea, who had been silent until then, called out to the man, — Buy me this horse. The Lord of Runestone, and not only he, looked in her direction in surprise. His gaze showed that the man did not believe that he was hearing these words from his daughter. — I will break her in! — The girl continued, causing everyone to laugh. — And if you can't do it, daughter? — Then I will pay for it myself. — With what, may I ask? — Roland did not stop him, — With the dresses that your mother so often sews for you. — I will pay! — Rhea did not lag behind either. — This horse cannot be broken in. Its madness is obvious. — Do you need to break it in? — A nod followed in response, — I can do it. — If you do it, I will let you study with your brother. After these words, Roland returned to his place, and Rhea, not hearing the whispers behind her back, approached the stubborn horse, which continued to resist, and put her hand on its muzzle. Everyone expected that the horse would now throw off the hand of the young heiress of the Runestone, but what was the surprise of those present when the horse calmed down, stopped resisting and now stared at Rhea. The girl smiled and pointed the horse at the sun, and then jumped on it and, bending over the horse's neck, quietly said:       — Freedom — that's what I will call you. You are strong and stubborn — qualities that a living creature acquires in freedom, — the girl stroked the horse's neck, — Freedom and Rhea, — she looked at everyone and said louder: — Well, let's try. The horse galloped forward, and Rhea slightly squeezed the reins so as not to fall, but after some time she lowered them, realizing that the black beauty would not throw her off. They galloped for a long time, or rather as long as Rhea liked, because this was her first experience of riding a horse and she wanted to feel all the delights of this activity. However, the girl understood that she needed to go back, so when she galloped across some field, she asked the horse to turn around and when they returned to the place where it all began, everyone greeted her with applause. That day, Rhea calmed, saddled and broke in the most stubborn horse in the Runestone, so she cannot forget this beautiful one, because now this stubborn horse not only serves her faithfully, but is also her friend. It is worth noting that the girl, like her relatives, learned that her husband, by order of his brother the king, was banished here and was flying here on his dragon. And here, in the Runestone, it was no secret to anyone that Rhea hated her husband and wished only one thing for him - death. And having learned that her husband was flying here on his dragon, the one in whose veins the blood of the first people flows, grinned, clenched her fists and said:       — Since my husband cannot part with his dragon for a minute, then let him sleep on his dragon! But Gerold Royce, Rhea's brother, calmed his sister down and ordered the best chambers to be prepared for Daemon, which angered her sister greatly, for she knew that her brother also hated her husband and simply could not believe that her brother was not on her side. However, Gerold found words again to at least calm his sister down a little. The man said that this was an order from King Viserys, which was written in a letter that had arrived the night before. And Rhea really did not quarrel about this anymore, because she respected her brother-in-law and did not dare to dispute his decisions. And the girl really kept herself in check until she went out of the castle with her brother and other relatives to meet her husband and a red dragon with a silver-haired man proudly sitting on it appeared in the distance. Now Rhea was overcome with anger and mockery. «You don't lose your pride, even when you fell into disgrace with your brother,» — mocking smile appeared on the girl's face, and she clenched her fists, feeling a surge of hatred, — «But I won't remind you that without your brother you are nothing, dear husband.» While Rhea was lost in her thoughts, Damon landed, got off his dragon and greeted his wife's relatives with a smile on his face. They responded with the same smile, although both Damon and the Royces understood perfectly well that such a warm greeting was a lie and in fact they hated each other. — I am glad to see you in full health, dear wife, — Damon said, smiling hypocritically. — I cannot reciprocate, husband, — Rhea also smiled hypocritically, — However, I hope that you will stay here for a long time, because this is your home too. Targaryen grinned. He knew that he was facing impenetrable, solid bronze, but he should not forget that silver is much nobler than bronze. It was, it is, and it will always be. And Damon will remind her of this all the time he and Rhea are under the same roof, in order to hurt her. His «dearest» wife is proud that the blood of the first people flows in her veins, but Damon will remind the girl of his origin, so that she does not dare to point out to him that he is a coward. For him, hearing this word, even from the lips of his hated wife, was insulting, and if he tolerated it before, then in these few days he does not intend to tolerate it. Not wanting to talk to his wife or look at her anymore, Damon left the dragon by the tree and went to his chambers.

***

The Lady of the Runestone was getting ready to go to bed and had already changed her clothes, when suddenly a drunken Daemon burst into her chambers and locked eyes with her, then staggered up to her, encircled her with his arms and bit her lips, causing Rhea's face to distort with fear and a fire of anger to flare in her eyes. She knew what her drunken husband was capable of with his mistresses and did not want the same for herself, so she abruptly pushed the silver-haired man away from her, as a result of which the Targaryen almost fell to the floor, but miraculously stayed on his feet. — You'd better go fuck one of your whores on Silk Street! — Rhea shouted. — No, — Daemon said hoarsely and indistinctly, — It's time to consummate our marriage, dear wife. After these words, Daemon picked up his wife in his arms and put her, or rather threw her, on the bed, which made Rhea scream and try to get out of bed, but the younger brother of King Viserys prevented her — he put his hand on her chest, thereby throwing her back onto the snow-white sheets. — Stay away from me, dear husband, — the girl began, crawling back, — I, the Lady of the Runestone, — Daemon, as if he had not heard her, continued to lower her onto the bed after each of her attempts to get up, — And my relatives will bring all their anger down on you for your actions! Damon grabbed his wife by the throat with one hand, and with the other — pressed her left hand to the sheets. Rhea tried to push her husband away from herself with her free hand, but her attempt was again stopped: the Vicious Prince removed his hand from the girl's throat and pressed her wife's right hand to the sheets with it. — My brother lost his son, but I will definitely have one, — Targaryen said, pressing the body of his hated wife harder to the sheets, — And you will bear this son. Hearing the last words, Rhea hit her husband in the thigh with all her strength with her knee, but it did not produce any result. Damon only smirked and, not paying attention to her screams, abruptly entered her, causing severe pain. And no matter how Rhea tried to break free, it was all in vain. A few hours later, having finished his business, the Corrupt Prince left his wife's chambers, leaving her to think about how she should live on and how to tell her brother about what happened.

***

Nine months later.

The southern night was warm and bright; the Runestone did not plunge into darkness, but only acquired a bluish tint after the sun set behind the horizon. Moonlight streamed silver through the windows, the reflections of the flames trembled on the walls. However, pregnant Rhea Royce could not enjoy the beauty of nature - the time had come for her child to be born, or rather, as she said, her husband's child. She found out that she was pregnant two moons after a drunken Damon spent the night with her, thereby consummating their marriage, which Rhea was not very happy about. She saw through her husband and was sure that he would never consummate this marriage, but on that fateful night Damon decided differently and Rhea still curses him for it. Rhea never wanted to have a child from Damon, because she did not want to give birth and raise his copy, but that night ruined everything. And now Rhea was only happy that she was giving birth and would finally get rid of the child in her belly, so the woman did not pay any attention to the sweat pouring down and the burning of her lungs from the lack of oxygen. She screamed and prayed for it to end soon. However, time seemed to be working against her: minutes slowly flowed into hours. The birth was difficult, exhausting, and the brunette felt like her belly was bound by a hot hoop, and only the desire to quickly give birth to this child helped her stay conscious. The pain was getting worse, and Rhea could no longer concentrate her gaze on faces or understand what they were saying to her. She screamed and screamed and screamed, squeezing her left hand painfully in her right. And then, after a few minutes of exhausting labor, a child's cry was heard and Rhea leaned back on the pillows, closing her eyes. But she could no longer open them. Herald, who ran into the chambers, immediately checked his sister’s pulse and froze in his tracks. «His sister is dead.» — Who was born to my sister? — Royce Sr. asked the midwife holding the newborn heiress of the Runestone and King's Landing. — A girl. — The midwife answered briefly. The herald, without saying anything, approached the midwife and took his newborn niece in her arms. Sapphire eyes looked at him from the bundle, and a snow-white bun was on her head, which clearly indicated who the girl's father was. Royce Sr. wanted to name his niece, but he understood perfectly well that the girl's name should be given by her father, so the man handed the bundle to the midwife and turned to the guard:       — Tell Prince Daemon about the birth of his daughter and tell him to come here. The guard bowed and hurried to the prince's chambers. A few minutes later, Daemon appeared before the eyes of his brother-in-law, who looked at him with a sad look, but even in this look, Targaryen Jr. caught a little anger and grinned, but quickly became serious when the midwife handed him the bundle. Now he did not want to take his newborn daughter in his arms, because he did not want to see a copy of his hated wife, but after a minute he still took his newborn daughter and froze, unable to take his eyes off her. Bright purple eyes and snow-white hair - everything about this girl said that this girl was his daughter, his blood and flesh. There was nothing of Rhea in the newborn — the girl was the spitting image of her father and Damon had no doubts about it. He smiled, hugged his daughter to himself and whispered that he would never allow anyone to hurt her. — What will you name her, Your Highness? — Asked Gerold, who, frankly speaking, was already tired of watching this picture. — Daela, — Damon answered without thinking and smiled, — In honor of my aunt and my niece's grandmother — Princess Daela.

***

Since the birth of the second Daela in the Targaryen family, much has changed. Daemon's world has changed. Once a cold and impenetrable man, except for love, now protected, loved, defended and did not let anyone hurt his daughter. Daemon literally snapped his fingers and turned into someone who always loves and protects his family. Although he had been like that before. But before, he only wanted to prove to Otto Hightower that even the most callous person is capable of love, but now Targaryen sought only to protect, guard and simply be close to those whom he loves more than life — his daughter and niece. But of course, the man loved both in different ways: he had exclusively paternal love for his daughter, but for his eight-year-old niece — Rhaenyra, he felt far from family feelings. True, he was afraid to admit this to himself, always writing off these feelings as family ones. Viserys, when he learned of Daela's birth, was incredibly happy about it and even intended to send a dragon egg from the recently laid clutch of Silverwing, the dragoness of the late Alysanne Targaryen, to the Runestone as a sign that he forgives his brother and wants his niece to grow up with a dragon, but Daemon sent his brother a letter in which he asked Viserys not to do this, saying that he wanted his daughter, like Rhaenyra, to ride a dragon, and not grow up with it. And Viserys found nothing more correct than not to argue with his brother, after all, the newborn Daela is his brother's daughter and only Daemon can decide how his daughter will grow up: with a dragon or not and no one has the right to tell him. Eight-year-old Rhaenyra, having learned about the birth of her cousin, jumped for joy for several days, all the while writing and still writing letters to her beloved uncle with a request that he bring his daughter to King's Landing as soon as possible. The little princess constantly says in her letters that she is bored at court. In response to her request, Daemon replies in all his letters that Daela is still too young to end up in such a large castle. And even more so, her maternal uncle will not let the girl leave Runestone until she is at least five years old. However, both Daemon and Gerold Royce understood perfectly well that their daughter and niece would leave their home before she turns five.