Hey yall!

Ok so we're officially done with this story. This is the first fic I've ever written and I have been writing it since season 1 first came out, and I cannot thank you all enough for sticking with me so far. To all my old readers who have stuck with me through terrible update schedules and the rewrite, as well as all the new readers who have shown so much love to this story, I appreciate you all soo soo much. 

Lol it lowkey annoys me that the prequel and sequal aren't in the same book but oh well, that's what I get for bad planning. Anyway, as I have been writing this story, I realize there are some gaps in the prequel I want to fix. It won't be a full major rewrite, just a few added scenes here and there to add more depth to the characters pre-war. 

The main goal of this story was to be a study of grief (the grief of a mother, siblings, spouses, just all family relations and their grief) and I think the Targaryens especially are so fascinating in that way because when there are multiple family ties, you're mourning in several different ways and several different connections that have been severed all at once because it's the same person who as died (definitely a little weird lol but interesting from a psychological standpoint). There is also something so fun about a character that haunts the narrative long after they are dead and is in some way a catalyst for every single event that happens in the story (rip Daenys, you woulda loved Ouiji boards). 

I also wanted to explore all the characters and their internal thought process so it has become a little more than just an Aemond x OC fic lol, but I hope yall didn't find all the internal monologues too boring. 

As for the ending, I had several planned, but this one felt like it fit best. If you enjoy angst, feel free to imagine that after that reunion in chapter 50, they still went their separate ways (that's still a possibility), but for those of you who like concrete endings, the epilogue is for you lol. Themes and nuances aside, this is my first fic, and Daenys is my first girl, and I did not want her dead. And after all that grief, I think it is fair that we end on a hopeful note. 

Also while it may not entirely be logical for her to completely forgive Aemond for what he has done, Daenys is not a logical person. She is governed by her heart, and she is incredibly lonely and miserable while she believes everyone else has moved on (they haven't) she's just stuck and in a horrible twisted way, Aemond is the only one who understands. He's the only one who is as utterly alone and disconnected as she is, and they have both taken from each other, and in trying to forgive him, she selfishly thinks she might deserve to be forgiven too. They still fight and even years later they will say cruel things to each other but they find their way back. There is no one else. 

I think I might do a few extra chapters to explore random things like baela/jace and rhaena/addam kids, and Daenys just being everyone's fav childfree aunt LOL. She's collecting godkids like pokemon (it's my excuse to write more cuz I can't emotionally let go of this story just yet LOL). Let me know if there are any particular scenes/interactions you wanna see between any of the characters and I'll add them to my list of extras. These can be pre/post-dance.

Lol if you've made it this far, I wanna thank you all again. Your comments, votes, and interactions of any sort have made this journey an absolute joy. Thank you for remaining with me and thank you for giving my silly little story a chance. Feel free to share any final thoughts or questions you have about the story or about anything at all! And if there are any characters/songs/pairings you associate with Daenys or her and Aemond's dynamic, I'd love to hear them. If you wanna reach out to chat about the fic or about anything at all rlly, you can find me on instagram/tiktok/tumblr (same username). 

Much love <3

- Ace