! Possible spoilers from
episode 1x7 of Hotd !

｡･::･ﾟ★,｡･::･ﾟ☆ - ☆｡･::･ﾟ★,｡･::･ﾟ☆
𝘊𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘑𝘰𝘺𝘴 - 𝘍𝘦𝘢𝘳
｡･::･ﾟ★,｡･::･ﾟ☆ - ☆｡･::･ﾟ★,｡･::･ﾟ☆

For a long time, the two lay together and could not take their fingers off each other. But eventually it was time to return to reality.

They helped each other get dressed and then left their shared safe place. Only on the long way back did Aruna realize how far they had run from the Sea Serpent's house.

Fortunately, thanks to her cloak, which she had been lying on, she had no sand hanging anywhere.

A loud flapping of wings made the two lovers startle and look up into the sky. Above them flew the largest dragon Aruna had ever seen. As if hypnotized, Daemon looked up into the sky and gazed at his late wife's dragon.

"Whose is it?" asked Aruna fearfully, holding onto Daemon's arm. She had seen dragons before, but never one this big.

"Not Laena anymore." He answered her and his features became serious. It was clear he wasn't thrilled that someone else had claimed Vhagar.

"Is it one of your daughters?" The woman really hoped so, because she wanted to avoid trouble as much as possible. She didn't want to imagine what Daemon would do to the new rider. "No. You would never have done this alone. They would have wanted me there."

Vhagar flew over Driftmark with his new rider until he eventually lowered the rider.

Daemon and Aruna hurried back to the castle as quickly as they could to still be able to obliterate the rider.

Once there, the two were met by guards and led directly into one of the halls. Quickly Aruna had combed her hair, which had been disheveled by the wind, then she kept her distance to Daemon so that no one would notice what they had done.

The entire royal family was spread out in the room, and to Aruna's amazement, so were all the children. Even her own. At the sight of her daughter, she let out a startled sound that only a mother could make. Aruna ran to her children and immediately knelt in front of her daughter to check her for injuries.

Edith was sitting on a chair and was being treated by one of the maesters. There was blood all over her face and clothes, but the worst was her arm. A large wound could be seen on her wrist and blood was running down her arm, so it was hard to see where it was actually coming from.

Aruna felt sick and dizzy at the sight and tears came to her eyes. "What happened?!" the Stark demanded to know, looking around the room. The other children also had injuries and had blood everywhere.

Then Aruna's eyes fell on Aemond. Another maester was kneeling in front of him. He dabbed at his face with a cloth and when he took the cloth away, Aruna winced once more. Aemond had only one eye left.

"What happened?!" she repeated again emphatically.

"The children attacked each other." Nia reported to her. She held little Cassian in her arms and held him so he couldn't see.

"You swore oaths to protect and defend my blood!" King Viserys stood up from his chair, having to support himself on his cane. Viserys was furious and raging. Aruna had never seen him like this.

"The Kingsguard has never had to defend princes from princes, your Grace." Defended Ser Criston Cole himself and the Kingsguard, but the king was not satisfied with this answer. "That is no answer!"

The children all looked frightened by the night's events. Edith tears mixed with the blood on her cheeks when she saw her mother. "I'm sorry, mother."

"Shh." Aruna stroked her daughter's light hair and instructed her to be silent. They would have time to talk about everything later. Right now it was important that someone took care of her wound properly.

The woman didn't know how to explain this to Brandon.

Except for Aemond and Edith, no one seemed to have a major injury. Her eyes wandered to the two twins, who were in their father's arms. Daemon returned the eye contact, but Aruna could not understand it.

"It will heal, will it not, maester?" Alicent's voice now resounded through the room and the other voices fell silent. She was also kneeling next to her son with tears in her eyes. "The flesh will heal." Began the maester. "But the eye is lost, Your Grace."

A startled sound could be heard from everyone in the room. Aruna took her daughter's healthy hand and kissed her temple as the other maester spoke. "Her flesh will heal as well, but a big scar will remain."

Edith would only get an ugly scar and not lose her arm or hand thankfully. Relieved, Aruna exhaled.

"What will father do when he sees me like this?" the little girl asked with fear. Aruna would have liked to give her an honest answer, but she couldn't. She didn't know herself what Brandon will do. "Don't worry, my darling. Everything will be fine." With her words, she also tried to reassure herself.

"Where were you?" Alicent had gotten up and gone to her oldest son as the two Starks talked. "Me?" asked Aegon, confused. Apparently it was not the answer Alicent had wanted and her hand slipped. Startled, everyone looked at the queen, who had just slapped her son. "What was that for?"

"That was nothing compared to the abuse your brother suffered while you were drowning in your cups, you fool!" Alicent was understandably angry, but that in no way excused her behavior.

"What is the meaning of this?" Corlys and Rhanys entered the room and rushed to their granddaughters. "Baela, Rhaena! What happened? What happened?"

Another door opened and Rhaenyra entered the room. "Jace?" Searchingly, she looked around the room and got an overview before running to her sons. "Luke!"

The two boys stood terrified and Luke held his hands in front of his bleeding nose. "Show me. Show me." Asked Rhaenyra, taking his hands away from his nose. "Who did this?"

"They attacked me!"

"He attacked Baela!"

"He broke Luke's nose!"

"Edith hit me!"

"He stole my mother's dragon!"

The children shouted wildly, accusing each other. You could hardly understand a word they were speaking so loudly and hysterically.

At least Daemon and Aruna now knew who had flown Vhagar. Aemond had claimed the dragon and started a fight between the children.

"Enough." Commanded the king, but no one could understand him. "Enough."

"He called us-"

"Silcence!" shouted Viserys angrily now, and everyone in the room fell silent.

"He called us bastards." Jace whispered to his mother. The three were standing right next to Aruna and Edith, which is why she could understand the boy. Then Rhaenyra stood up angrily, but no one turned their attention to her, but to her father.

"Aemond. I will have the truth of what happened." Commanded the king to his second-born son, but Aemond remained silent. "Now!"

"What else is there to hear? Your son has been maimed. Her son is responsible." Answered Alicent for her son and was immediately undercut by Rhaenyra. "It was a regrettable accident."

"Accident? The Prince Lucerys brought a blade to the ambush. He meant to kill my son!"

"It was my sons who were attacked and forced to defend themselves." Rhaenyra and Alicents defended their children as if they knew exactly what had happened, but neither had been present when Aemond lost his eye. "bad Insults were levied against them."

"What insults?" asked the old king, though everyone knew what was meant. Before Rhaenyra answered her father, the room was very quiet for a moment.

"The legitimacy of my sons' birth was put loudly to question." Rhaenyra's voice sounded a little uncertain and her posture was not as straight as usual. "What?"

"He called us all bastards." Jace repeated his words louder now. Little Luke clung to his mother's hands while his older brother just stood there.

Aruna could only close her eyes. She didn't know why, but she feared this conversation would not end well.

"My sons are in the line to inherit the Iron Throne, Your Grace. This is the highest treasons." The voice of the heiress sounded again as strong as usual. Automatically, Rhaenyra straightened up. "Prince Aemond must be sharply questioned so we might learn where he heard such slanders."

"Over an insult?" asked Alicent sarcastically, joining in the conversation again. "My son has lost an eye."

Uncertainly, Aruna and Daemon exchanged a look again. Most of all, the Stark would like to take her children and leave the room. "Mother." Edith whispered, but Aruna instructed her daughter to be quiet.

"You tell me, boy. Where did you hear this lie?" Tensely, everyone looked to Viserys and Aemond. "Aemond. I asked you a question."

"Where is Ser Laenor, I wonder? The boys' father? Perhaps he might have something to say in the matter." The queen said, trying to distract from her husband's real question.

"Yes where is Ser Laenor?"

"I do not know, Your Grace. I could not find sleep. I had gone out for a walk." Rhaenyra defended herself and instantly Aruna wondered if Rhaenyra was speaking the truth and if so, where was she walking? She really hoped she hadn't seen or heard Daemon with Aruna.

"Entertainig his young squires, I would venture." Blurted out Alicent.

"Ser Laenor has recently lost his beloved sister. He deserves to have time to mourn!" Now Aruna joined in the discussion and stood up. She could not continue to just listen.

No one dared to say another word about Laenor's absence then.

"Aemond look at me. Your King demands an answer. Who spoke these lies to you?" Again Viserys tried to get an answer from his son. This time he also got an answer after being silent in the room again for quite a while. "It was Aegon."

Now all eyes naturally turned to the firstborn son. "Me?" the latter asked again. From afar, Aruna could see the fear in his eyes.

"And you, boy? Where did you hear such calumnies?" Viserys hobbled over to Aegon using his cane as a walker. His wife Alicent stood by, helpless and agitated, and something about the look on her face made Aruna doubt Aemond's answer. "Aegon! Tell me the truth of it"

"We know, Father. Everyone knows. Just look at them." Answered Aegon, looking at the two boys and not at his father. Viserys followed his son's gaze and eyed his grandsons. Rhaenyra held them both tightly in her arms with tears in her eyes. "Look at the three of them."

"Three?"

The Stark's heart stopped beating for a moment. Everyone looked at Rhaenyra's two sons, but when they didn't see her third child, those present looked for another third child and their eyes fell on Edith.

"What are you implying?" asked Aruna, standing in front of her daughter to shield her from view.

"She is a bastard, as well as my sister's children!" Aegon looked past his father to Aruna. The lady got angry and was about to storm towards the boy, but she was suddenly held by Daemon's arm.

"Say that again about the daughter of the heir of Winterfell and I'll cut your-"

"This interminable infighting must cease! All of you! We are family!" Viserys was still angry and displeased. "Now make your apologies and show good will to one another. Your father, your grandsire, your king demands it!"

Many emotions were in the room and the thoughts of those present were almost loud enough to be heard.

"That is insufficient. Aemond has been damaged, permanently, my King." The discussion was almost over, when Alicent raised her voice again. "Good will cannot make him whole."

Aruna finally wanted it all to be over and to go to bed. She didn't want anything more to come out that night. Aegon had spread a rumor with his statement and Daemon holding her almost confirmed the rumor.

"I know, Alicent, but I cannot restore his eye." Now Alicent continued to argue with her husband the king. Viserys did not know what to say anymore. He too was tired and exhausted by the events.

"No, because its been taken."

"What would you have me do?" asked Viserys challengingly. "There is a debt to be paid." Answered his wife quickly. "I shall have one of her son's eyes in return."

People around them began whispering. Aruna instantly tore herself away from Daemon to stand protectively in front of Edith, Nia and Cassian again. Because Rhaenyra was standing right next to the four of them with her sons, and Aruna didn't want to take any chances.

"My dear wife-"

"He is your son, Viserys. Your blood!" she interrupted him again.

Aruna could understand Alicent's pain, after all her own child was also hurt in the attack, but she couldn't understand the reason for her friend's behavior and barely recognized her.

"Do not allow your tempert o guide your judgement." King Viserys spoke out what most in the room were thinking. But many agreed with Alicent's request. "If the King will not seek justice, the Queen will. Ser Criston. Bring me the eye of Lucerys Velaryon." Commanded Alicent, giving everyone in the room goosebumps with her words.

"Mother!" Luke looked at his mother fearfully. He was still so small. He was just a child! He shouldn't have to pay for an accident!

"He can choose which eye to keep, a privilege he did not grant my son."

"You will do no such thing." Rhaenyra took a step forward. She was visibly angry and immediately shocked by what was said.

Viserys ordered Ser Criston to stop as he walked toward his daughter and toward his grandsons, but again Alicent contradicted her husband. Criston stood silently for a moment, looking back and forth between the king and queen before making a decision. "As your protector, my Queen."

"Alicent this matter is finished. Do you understand?" Viserys stepped between Criston and his wife as he spoke and looked at them both warningly. "And let i be known! Anyone whose tongue dares to question the birth of Princess Rhaenyra's sons should have it removed."

"Thank you father." Thanked Rhaenyra sincerely and exhaled in relief. Aruna could feel the weight falling from her shoulders.

Tears ran down the queen's cheeks and she had a frightened look on her face as she grabbed the special little blade from Viserys and ran towards Rhaenyra and her sons. "Alicent!"

"Hold your approach!"

The people around her started screaming and pushing each other away as Alicent attacked Rhaenyra. But the woman had seen her coming and was able to defend herself against the attack.

Aruna grabbed Luke and Jace by the shoulders and pulled them protectively towards her own children, putting distance between them and the two women. Then she stood protectively in front of them and spread her arms. Little Luke's scream of fear for his mother gave Aruna goosebumps.

Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Ser Criston walking toward the two women to help his queen, but Daemon cut him off and held him tightly in his grip.

"You've gone too far!" directed Rhaenyra, pushing Alicent's arm up with the blade.

"I?" the queen asked, stunned and crying. "What have i done but what was expected of me? Forever upholding the kingdom, the family, the law. While you flout all to do as you please!"

There was a conflict between the two former friends that had been going on for years and was finally coming out. Finally the two said to each other what was on their hearts.

"Alicent, let her go!" escaped Aruna. She didn't want to interfere and become the target of Alicent's anger herself, but she couldn't watch the scene any longer. The Stark was still standing in front of the children, but was dangerously close to the two women after all. "Please Alicent."

"Where is duty? Were is sacrifice? You Aruna should be as angry as I am. You went through the same thing! It was all trampled under Rhaenyra's beautiful feet!"

"Don't say something you'll regret later, Your Grace! You don't know what you're saying!" Aruna looked at Alicent warningly, but the queen turned her eyes back to those of her stepdaughter. "And now you take my son's eye, and to even that, you feel entitled." Alicent blamed the drama on Aemond's injury, but everyone knew it wasn't just about that anymore.

"Exhausting, wasn't it?" asked Rhaenyra with a superiority in her voice. "Hiding beneath the cloak of your own righteousness. But now they see you as you are."

Then everything happened very quickly and Rhaenyra could not stop Alicent's hand, so the queen went for the princess with the blade. Corlys pulled Rhaenyra back in time, but the blade had still hit and injured Rhaenyra's arm.

Shocked, everyone looked at the queen and the princess. Rhaenyra's forearm was cut open and blood was literally spurting from the wound.

Again, Aruna felt nauseous at the sight of such a large wound.

Alicent dropped the knife in shock as her son's voice broke the silence. "Do not mourn me, Mother. It was a fair exchange. I may have lost an eye but I gained a dragon."

Now even the last ones in the room understood what had caused the quarrel in the first place. Aemond had claimed Vhagar, although he had granted Baela or Rhaena, and Edith, Luke and Jace had only defended the two girls.

Aruna was proud of her daughter for standing up for something good, but the consequences and Aemond's loss had not been the right way. But the woman was relieved that Luke had taken Aemond's eye and that it had not been Edith.

"This proceeding is at an end." The king ordered and left the room for good.

Aemond took his mother in his arms, who still stood in the room shocked at herself. Luke did the same and hugged his own mother after running to her.

Daemon now let go of Ser Criston as well and stood with his niece and Aruna.

Unknowingly, Aruna had chosen a side with her few words and by protecting the children. She never wanted to be the one to decide such things, but she could not undo it.

Her fear of having to return to Winterfell soon grew even more.

She didn't notice her brother until he stepped up beside Alicent, took her by the shoulder, and escorted her out of the room. Alicent's children and Ser Criston immediately followed the two, as did Alicent's father Otto Hightower. Many of the others present now left the room as well, as the show was getting over.

Not only had Aruna just chosen her side, but Adrik had just as well, and that they were both on different sides felt shitty.

"Is everything okay?" she asked her children, eyeing them and her maid Nia carefully. Nia was still holding Cassian tightly in his arms as she nodded.

Aruna kissed first the head of her son and then the head of her daughter, then took Edith firmly in her arms. She did not like to imagine what else could have happened. How much her dear little daughter could have been hurt. "Does it hurt much?"

Edith shook her head and held onto her mother. "Mother?"

"Yes my dear?" replied Aruna, stroking her girl's cheeks.

"What's a bastard?" the girl with light brown hair wanted to know, looking at her mother with wide eyes. Edith had the same big blue eyes as Aruna.

The little girl's question shocked Aruna and some of the closer ones looked curiously at the Stark girl.

"Nothing to worry about, my dear." Aruna tried to talk her way out of it. The pairs of eyes falling on her made her quite nervous and she prayed that no one saw the resemblance of Daemon and Edith now that they were standing so close to each other.

"A bastard is a-"

"Jace! Watch your words." Rhaenyra warned her son, shaking her head slightly. She was glad that nothing had happened to her sons. She would rather take more stabbings than have one of her children hurt, and in this case, all three women were the same. "Thank you for protecting my children. That was very selfless of you, Lady Stark."

It was still unusual for Aruna to be addressed by that title, especially by her old friends. It felt right and important, but at the same time so wrong and made her unhappy.

"I was happy to do so, Princess." Aruna gave Rhaenyra a slight but sincere smile, which Rhaenyra returned, nodding at her.

"We should all go to bed. It's been a long day." Daemon raised his voice and now the last of the people were leaving, as well as the two women with their children and the Velaryons. "We should talk about everything again tomorrow before the king leaves." Lord Corlys opined, receiving nods of agreement from all.

"I am very sorry for the trouble in your house." Apologized Rhaenyra as the group walked through the halls. "You can't help the Queen's wrath." Replied Rhaenys calmly, holding her granddaughters' hands as they walked. "Say good night to your father. I'll put you to bed."

Baela and Rhaena not only hugged Daemon and wished him a good night, they also hugged Jace, Luke and Edith. Aruna had to smile as the three girls hugged each other.

None of them knew they were sisters and yet they had a special bond from the beginning. Aruna already sent Nia to the chambers to put Cassian down because he was very restless in her arms.

Lord Corlys went after his family and suddenly Rhaenyra, Daemon, Aruna and the three children stood alone in the hallway and were silent for a moment. In the last few hours so much had happened that they all had to process.

Early this morning Aruna had arrived and learned of her friend's death, then there was the memorial ceremony, then she had her reunion and reparation with Daemon, and suddenly the children were attacking and hurting each other. Not to mention Alicent's demeanor.

"What a day." Aruna muttered to herself, but the others heard her and agreed. "We should go to bed too." She said to Edith. The girl just nodded tiredly and yawned demonstratively.

This little gesture from the girl made Daemon smile unintentionally. "After such a fight you deserve your bed, little fighter." Shyly Edith smiled at the man who was her real father.

Aruna also had to smile at the little conversation.

Rhaenyra watched the scene carefully, but decided not to say anything.

"Good night, boys!" wished the girl with the curls and with the big bow in her hair. "Good night, princess." Edith had diligently practiced a curtsy on the way here, which she now showed. "Good night, Prince."

"Sleep well." Wished Aruna as well, placing a hand on her daughter's back and leading her down the hall to their chambers.

"Good night, my ladys." Replied Daemon and Aruna had to smile instantly, which fortunately he could not see.

Rhaenyra also wished everyone a peaceful night. To everyone's amusement, the children continued to wish each other good night until they could no longer hear the others.

"Good night, Luke!"

"Good night, Edith!"

"Good night, Jace!"

"Good night all of you!"

The two female Starks got ready for bed and Aruna pulled the curtains closed, since it would soon be daylight already. Then she lay down in her big bed, where her daughter was already waiting for her.

"Please let me know if the pain gets worse." She asked her daughter, to which Edith nodded. "I will, mother. Always, I promise!"

***

i love Edith so much! <33

i am thinking about writing a book with/about her. What do you think? O.O