Chapter Text
Rhaenyra is literally shaking with anticipation as she looks for the carriage with their family crest. She is all ball of nerves and anticipation, as she has been waiting for this moment for three long years, almost from the day one Daemon left on his great journey.
Of course, it’s not like all she did was waiting for him, but there was not definitely even a day she didn’t think about him: she woke up thinking about what Daemon was doing and fell asleep thinking about him, dreaming that he would come back soon and be literally a few seconds away from her, in the room across from hers.
“I think that since Daemon is back, we can begin planning our wedding.” Alicent says shyly, making Rhaenyra look at her. “It should be the most grandiose wedding of this season, right?” But despite shy demeanor, Alicent's smile is wide and her whole face is lit up with hope, as she looks at Rhaenyra’s parents, clearly waiting for their support.
And Rhaenyra … Well, she can’t even smile, because she knows her smile won’t be sincere. Alicent is her friend, that’s true, and she should be happy about that upcoming marriage between her friend and her cousin, but Rhaenyra feels sad because of that, and she envies Alicent. It would be better if Rhaenyra had no feelings for Daemon, but she loves him.
“It will be an amazing wedding, Alicent.” Her father answers. “The future Duke of Dragonstone and his future Duchess must have the wedding almost as grand as the wedding of the King and Queen.” It’s no wonder her father waits for that wedding, because marriage between Daemon and Alicent will unite House of Targaryen and House of Hightower. Her father and Lord Otto Hightower are old friends after all. And Alicent, Lord Hightower's daughter, is her friend, but it's hard to accept that Alicent will marry Daemon soon.
Rhaenyra had three years to get used to that idea, but as Daemon was away all those years, it was easy to pretend the wedding and marriage were just a bad dream, but as Daemon is just a few minutes to return back home, the wedding and marriage are plans to be completed soon.
“I don't think there's any need to rush the wedding. Daemon needs some time to get used to life in London. The boy was away far too long.” Her mother tells, with her opinion being opposite to her fathers.
And Rhaenyra is grateful for her mother's words. Although she knows perfectly well that this is just a delay as Daemon and Alicent will marry anyway.
And she doesn’t want that, but Rhaenyra has no say in this. It's her father's decision, after all.
“Do you think so, Your Grace?” Alicent asks. She seems to be not happy to hear that, all puppy eyes as she stares at her mother.
“Of course, Alicent.” Her mother nods. “In the end, Daemon and you will marry. And I think rushing your wedding is unwise. You know people will wonder why we rushed your wedding like that. And we don’t need any rumors about the reasons for such a hasty wedding even Daemon and you were betrothed for three years. Besides, you'll also need to get used to each other again.” Mother tries to reason them both.
And Rhaenyra agrees with her mother on this matter — there is no need for them to rush into marriage, but not that her opinion on that matters.
“They'll always have time to get used to each other in marriage.” Her father says.
“We can't rush such matters, dear. I think it would be ideal for the wedding place next year.” Mother says with a slight pressure in her voice.
“There will be plenty of time to prepare, Your Highness. But I think if we announce our wedding now, we will have a wonderful wedding by the end of August.” Alicent chirps, all positive about getting an August wedding. “What do you think, Rhaenyra?
And all attention comes to her. Rhaenyra doesn’t get an answer right away, as she looks slightly confused at Alicent, and then at her parents, who are standing behind Alicent and her. Why does Alicent want to know what she thinks? Rhaenyra doesn’t want this wedding to happen, but she can’t really voice that. It comes to her that it would be better without Alicent in their lives, as if she doesn’t exist, Daemon won’t marry her and Alicent won’t steal him from her. But then she feels bad about thinking like that. After all, Alicent is her friend, and it is not her fault their fathers decided that Daemon and Alicent were a good match. Even if Alicent hadn’t existed, Daemon will still have a bride, because being the Heir to Targaryen title and property means you can’t stay unmarried and without your own heir.
“I think it is worth asking Daemon's opinion, to be honest.” Rhaenyra finally answers.
She knows Daemon's opinion — he doesn’t want that marriage. Not that they discussed it, but he never once mentioned Alicent or that marriage in his letters, never asked about her, and Rhaenyra mostly tried not to mention her too.
She remembers Daemon’s reaction when it was announced — he was obviously upset by that news. And not that anyone but her father and Lord Hightower knew about it, when father made the announcement at dinner, with Lord Hightower and Alicent present too. Rhaenyra clearly remembers Daemon’s face, it was full of disappointment and melancholy, while her father looked very inspired and happy. But Daemon wasn’t inspired or happy, he forced a smile, and then, literally a few minutes later, he left the dining room, with no real excuse to do so. It was different from Alicent’s reaction to that, as she seemed like she was about to jump from joy and happiness. And she remembers her mother’s polite smile and her words of congratulations that lack any warmth. Her own congratulations were dull, even she tried to look joyous over that marriage.
But she really couldn’t be joyous over that, because just a month prior to that she told Alicent she liked Daemon more than she should. They were both drunk on wine Rhaenyra took from the cellar, and she confessed that to Alicent. But they were both drunk enough that Alicent might have forgotten that confession.
At least, Rhaenyra hopes that Alicent doesn't remember.
Anyway, after the marriage announcement, just two days later, Daemon left for the journey that lasted a very long three years, with him traveling around the world, and not returning back to London.
Of course, they wrote tons of letters to each other, they were going back and forth between them as fast as the postal service could deliver it. But letters, no matter how long and detailed they were, will never be able to replace them talking to each other side by side.
It wasn’t supposed to be like that, Daemon and her meant to grow apart as they were second cousins and a boy and a girl, living in different countries. Daemon’s mother Vaella, Princess Saera’s daughter, was Rhaenyra’s father's cousin, and she opted to live in Spain, at the Mediterranean Sea shore, away from the British court. Daemon was supposed to stay in Spain until his 21st birthday and then move to England, because he was meant to become the heir to the Duke of Dragonstone title and he needed her father's guidance to know everything about the role he will have when her father dies. But Vaella died in a tragic event — it was a boat trip she never returned, leaving Daemon alone, as his father, one of the Spanish minor Lords, died when Daemon was around five years old.
Daemon was meant to become her father’s heir anyway, but he lived with his mother. However, with his mother's death he moved with them. It was 8 years ago, when Daemon was 13, and she was 10, and she can’t say his arrival changed the household much, but it drastically changed her own life, because something in Daemon pulled her in and never let her go.
Rhaenyra sees a carriage with their crest when it pulls on their street. It’s not yet there, but she almost breaks away from her spot. She wants to run out of the gate of the house and meet Damon right on the street, and to finally end up in his arms. Rhaenyra dreamt about that tonight actually. It was a nice sweet dream that ended right on the moment before they kissed, because Elinda came to wake her up, ruining her only chance to know what Daemon’s lips taste like. She hopes maybe one night her dream will end with kissing him, because she can kiss him only in her dreams.
Rhaenyra is really almost ready to bolt, she wants be the first one to greet Daemon when he steps from the carriage, but her mother puts a palm on her shoulder, the touch is light and fast, she she removes her hand instantly, but this makes Rhaenyra’s ardor to cool down.
This kind of attitude was almost tolerated if she was ten, but she isn’t ten anymore, she is eighteen, and rushing to meet Daemon, even though he is her family member, it’s barely acceptable. He isn’t her father or brother, thus it was acceptable, but Daemon is her cousin.
Although she doesn’t have the best reputation in society, like Alicent or other ladies. She tends to say what she really thinks, and sometimes she can be really mannerless, they call her open minded. In total, not demur girl society wants to see. But having the Duke as the father and being a member of the Royal family, as her great-grandparents were the King and the Queen of England, it gives her some immunity.
Her leg bounces a little as the carriage approaches and it moves a little too slowly for her taste as she burns in anticipation of seeing Daemon. And when finally the carriage stops, she stops breathing for a few seconds until the carriage door is opened by the footman and Daemon steps out of the carriage.
She suspected him to grow and change, as she grew and changed too over these years, with a little bit of height to add and her boyish figure has ceased to be so, having added more to her chest and hips, but Daemon’s changes - she looks at him with her mouth slightly open.
His face is almost the same, but his cheekbones are sharper, and he seems to be as tall as her father and his shoulders are broader than she remembers. Rhaenyra knows people from their society didn’t consider him handsome. She heard whispers of young ladies and adult matrons whispering among themselves that he was lucky to be born rich and be an heir to a title, as it would give him more opportunities to get a wife in the end. Rhaenyra never thought like that, he never saw him as an ugly boy, and with how he looks now, oh Lord, matrons will push their daughters his way, and young ladies will be happy to get his attention.
Anyway, she can’t really hide her emotions well, as she is just so delightful to see him:
“Daemon!” She squeals, when Daemon is finally on the ground, and her squeal attracts attention to herself. Not that she cares that it’s almost un lady-like, because it catches Daemon’s attention and he finally looks in their direction.
His gaze is cautious and assessing, and before he sets eyes on her, he briefly looks at parents behind her back. Daemon seems to be cold and distant, but when she smiles, not hiding how happy she is to see him, he breaks into a smile too. And well, his smile seems to light up the entire street. Now he doesn’t seem cold and distant to her, it’s Daemon she knew, it’s her Daemon. And no, she acts like she wants to act — and it’s running to him and forgetting all about propriety, as she throws herself into his arms and his arms wrap around her waist as soon as she is there. Daemon lifts her up so easily, spinning her around a few times before setting her down, but not letting her go. Not that she wants him to let her go. Rhaenyra looks up and when she meets his eyes she is fast to say:
“I've missed you terribly and I'm so glad you're back.” And Rhaenyra hopes he won’t leave this far ever again.
“I missed you too, my dragon.” Daemon caresses her cheek lightly, as she holds his forearms.
Hearing “my dragon” makes her blush, because it was nickname when she was just a young girl, both fascinated by stories of dragons and having fiery temperament, which was more suited for a boy than a girl. As for the first one, Daemon was there for her to explore every story they both could find, to her father's annoyance because he thought that was stupid. As for the second, she knew father wished to have a son, and here she was, a daughter.
“Ah. Don’t call me. I’m too old for that nickname.” She whispers to him.
“So we should find you another one.” He leans to whisper it back, and it’s just a few inches between them. Her blush is deeper because he is so near to her, more than a head taller than her, and he smells very nice. She wants to lean into him and hug him again, but her father voice stops her from doing that:
“Rhaenyra.” Her father calls her, and Rhaenyra has no other options but to turn to him. And it is clear from his face that he isn’t pleased with this display of her affection, but she doesn’t regret it at all. “And Daemon.” He says Daemon's name with a satisfied smile. “We are glad you have returned.”
“Glad to be back, Your Grace.” Daemon slightly bows to her father and then to her mother, who has a gentle smile on her face.
It’s time to move back to the house, and Rhaenyra takes a first step, turning to Daemon, who starts moving too, and they go hand in hand until they reach her parents and Alicent. In fact, Rhaenyra forgot about her altogether.
“Daemon,” her mother tells in a gentle voice. “You have matured so much and grown that tall, now even taller than His Grace. We sent a boy on that journey, and you have returned as a man.”
Rhaenyra watches Alicent and she sees how greedy her gaze on Daemon is. And she wants to take Daemon away from here, so that Alicent won’t look at him like that.
“Welcome back, Lord Targaryen.” Alicent finally says, and she makes it sound way too sweet.
And now Daemon can't ignore her. She can feel him tense beside her and he is really forced to look at her, giving her a tiny fast nod:
“Thank you, Lady Hightower.”
“We've all missed you very much. And we've prayed for your safety on the journey for God to bring you back safe and sound.” She makes her voice unusually soft, but the look she gives Daemon is very tenacious.
“Thank you, Lady Hightower.” Daemon says the same phrase again.
He doesn’t seem to be interested in her at all, and his voice and the way she looks past Alicent shows his detachment from her. But that isn’t surprising, because marriage between them made Daemon leave for that three year trip.
And he didn’t write her even one letter, not a single once. And Alicent complained about that a lot, asking Rhaenyra how often Daemon and her exchanged letters. Of course, Rhaenyyra wanted to boast and say that the letters between them were as frequent as possible, but she did not, answering each time that letters from Daemon didn’t come that often, which made Alicent sighed sadly. She asked several times to read his letters, but of course Rhaenyra didn’t share them. After all, it was personal.
“I hope to learn all about your travels over dinner.” Despite Daemon's coldness towards her, Alicent still talks very sweetly.
“Time to move inside. And I’m glad our family is all united from now,” her father turns to the slightly open door which opens when he faces it, moving inside with her mother first.
Well, she hopes father didn’t mean that Alicent is part of their family. Alicent is her friend, yes, but definitely not part of the family yet.
Alicent follows her parents, and it breaks the hierarchy as Alicent is below them all in status. Does she already feel like a part of the family? But actually Rhanyra doesn’t mind Alicent doing that, as when they step inside the house and the door is closed behind them, she reaches for Daemon’s hand, and he meets her in the middle, taking her hand and squeezing it.
And when she looks at him, Daemon winks at her.
Well, maybe with his return she will be more happy at least until he is married to Alicent.
At least she will have a little time to make more good memories with him.