Year: 117 AC

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"Daenys! Hey, Daenys, wake up!"

Daenys groaned, eyebrows furrowing as she shook her head and burrowed it deeper into her arms. The dim candlelight cast flickering shadows along the stone walls of the Red Keep, the silence only broken by the young princess's incoherent mumbles as she lay curled up on the cold stone floor. 

"Daenys...get up!" 

This time, it was a different voice, followed by a sharp knock to the back of her skull. Daenys flinched and when she groggily blinked awake, she came face to face with her younger brother. Luke was crouched down, his small frame hovering just inches from her. He studied her with wide-eyed curiosity, blinking innocently when she scowled at him.

"It was Jace!" he blurted out immediately, sensing her disapproval. "He's the one who hit you."

"I did not!" 

"Yes, you did!"

Daenys rubbed her eyes as her scowl grew deeper, "And is there a reason you two felt the need to bother me at this hour."

"Why are you sleeping on the floor?" Jace piped up. 

"Oh," she looked around her in surprise, stretching out her arms over her head as she surveyed her surroundings. "I didn't realize..."

"You can come to say goodnight to the baby with us since you're here," Luke bounced on his feet as he held out his hand for her to take. 

"Is that why you're both here then?"

Jace nodded solemnly, "We have to greet the baby every morning and every night so he remembers our faces."

Daenys snorted, "And who told you that?"

"It's just true okay!"

"Just come on!" Luke whined, flapping his hand more insistently in her face until she took it. 

"Just so you know, I never did that with either of you and you seem to remember me just fine," Daenys yawned. 

"You should have. Now I'm going to forget you when I get very very old."

"Is that so Lucerys?"

"Yes. Grandsire says when you're that old, you start to forget things. Sometimes he forgets the way Queen Aemma used to sound and then he has to think very hard to remember again. When I'm very very old, I'm going to forget your face so you have to visit me every morning and night to make sure I remember okay."

"Ha! You know if you're that old, I'll be even older. I might not even be there at all," Daenys chuckled. 

Luke's grip on her fingers tightened as he peered up at her, eyes fierce.

"Don't say that! You have to be there. We have to be very very old together and visit every day so we don't forget each other's faces!"

Daenys laughed even harder, "Okay, okay."

Luke groaned dramatically and smacked with his fist.

"Ow! What the-why are you hitting me?"

"Promise! You have to promise that we'll all grow old together and never forget each other."

"Alright, alright, I promise Luke!" Daenys giggled, pinching her brother's sullen cheeks. "Now if you don't stop hitting me, I swear I'll-"

"You two talk too much!" Jace declared, pushing open their mother's chambers. 

Daenys's heart jumped in her chest, remembering the scene she had witnessed earlier. She stretched out her hand to slam the doors shut and prevent her brothers from seeing, but Jace was already making his way toward their mother. Ser Harwin stood a respectable distance away, simply observing them, and Daenys heaved a sigh of relief. 

"Jace," Rhaenyra smiled, ruffling his hair as he approached to stand by her side. 

She had tears in her eyes and a melancholy expression haunted her visage. She rocked baby Joffrey in her arms, watching as Luke ran up to Ser Harwin. 

"Be good to your mother, lads," Ser Harwin clapped Luke on the shoulder. "Do not give her much trouble."

"We heard you were leaving. Will you visit?" Luke asked hopefully. 

Daenys stood in the doorway, mouth agape. Ser Harwin was leaving. Why would he leave? He was her mother's sworn shield. He was even more than that if her own eyes were to be believed, so why would he have to go? Somehow her brothers had known about it before her, and they hadn't even bothered to tell her. It stung a little no matter how much she tried to swallow her disappointment. 

"I'll visit when I can," Ser Harwin was saying. "But that may be some time. I am needed in Harrenhal, my princes."

Daenys watched her mother's jaw clench as she blinked back tears. Ser Harwin then turned his attention toward Jace, approaching him slowly to take his chin between his fingers. Jace's head remained bowed low, eyes glued to the floor but Ser Harwin tipped his face up to meet his gaze. 

"I will return. I promise," he swore. 

Jace managed a miserable nod and Ser Harwin allowed himself a fond smile. Daenys had never seen her brother this upset before. He seemed to be taking Ser Harwin's departure the hardest.

"Do you...do you have to leave?" his voice trembled as he spoke. 

"That I must, my prince. I do not wish to leave but duty calls I'm afraid."

Eventually, Ser Harwin's gaze fell upon the bundle in Rhaenyra's arms. 

"I will be a stranger when we meet again," he whispered, bending down to kiss the babe's forehead. 

Both Rhaenyra and Ser Harwin avoided looking at each other, interacting with their children only, but he finally lifted his face to greet her trembling form. Her eyes were downcast, lips pressed thin. Her entire body was tightly wound, almost shaking with the effort it took to hold back her emotions. His eyes bore into hers, prompting her to meet his gaze. 

"Princess," he said softly, offering her a solemn nod. 

It was only a single word but it was woven with emotion, carrying within it the immense weight of his unwavering devotion and affection. That one word cradled his heart in its syllables, a message only for her to understand. 

And understand she did, her eyes filling with fresh tears as he turned away from her. He gathered his sword and left the room, pausing momentarily at the doorway. 

"And how could I forget, my favourite princess..." he bent down to cradle Daenys's face in his large hands, brushing away the wetness from her cheeks. 

She blinked in surprise. She didn't even realize that she was crying, but the tears were indeed there, streaming down her face. She had been watching the farewells from the doorway, feeling like a spectator, but now the reality of his departure began to set in. 

"You can't go!" she exclaimed. "There's so much you haven't taught us. There's so much you haven't taught me. You said...you said you'd teach me how to spar."

Ser Harwin's responding smile was kind.

"I am sure Ser Laenor will raise you to be a fine fighter, princess. Perhaps it will be you who will teach me a thing or two after I return."

"Don't go! My mother will miss you. My brothers look up to you!"

Don't go! I will miss you. I look up to you. I don't know enough about you. 

"You have to take care of your brothers and your mother for me, alright?" 

Daenys only stared at him, unmoving. 

"Promise me, Daenys. You have to protect them."

Daenys blinked. That was the first time he had ever called her by her name. She couldn't help but nod. He smiled at her response, pressing a kiss to her forehead. He knew that there were lines that he must not cross, but he could not help but indulge, just for today. He truly believed that he wouldn't be able to see his beloved children, for quite some time, so he savoured each interaction, allowing himself the small pleasures that he had only ever dreamed about in the past. 

"That's my girl," his voice was low, a mere mumble under his breath, mostly to himself as he stood.

Still, Daenys heard it all the same, and she was old enough to put two and two together. 

When Ser Harwin walked out the door, Jace broke away from Rhaenyra's side to chase after him momentarily. Daenys watched him run past her, wondering if he had come to the same conclusion that she had. Rhaenyra followed him, slowly. 

"We will exchange letters by raven. Won't that be fun," she tried to reassure her eldest son, running a hand through his hair. 

Jace was silent, clearly wrestling with something in his mind until he finally made up his mind and spoke. 

"Is Harwin Strong my father?"

Rhaenyra looked taken aback. Her eyes flitted frantically between her son and the empty corridor. 

"Am I a bastard?" Jace spat out more forcefully.

"You are a Targaryen," she stated with finality. "That's all that matters."

She then ruffled his hair and kissed his forehead, sending him back to his chambers along with Luke. 

"Mother..."

Rhaenyra looked down at the timid voice, feeling gentle hands tug at her skirt. Her eyes softened. 

"Mother...I-I am sorry," Daenys mumbled. "For earlier."

Rhaenyra sighed, "Oh, if anyone should apologize, it is me, sweet girl. I apologize for taking my frustrations out on you."

"You'll forgive me right, Mother. I swear I didn't mean to upset you. I'll do as you say, so please, say you'll forgive me!"

"There's nothing to forgive Daenys. And I promise I shall take your wishes into account in the future, so no more crying alright?"

She brushed the tears from her daughter's face and took her hand.

"Can I...can I stay with you tonight?"

"Of course, my love. You would stay with me forever if I had it my way."

Daenys giggled softly, "I will stay with you forever then, Muña. Where else would I go?"

Rhaenyra led her back inside her chambers, their hands still joined. 

"Muña..."

"Hmm?"

"You...I...I know I said I'd do whatever you say, but...please, oh please, don't make me marry Aegon!"

A chuckle burst out of her mother at that. 

"Oh, I do not think that is going to happen anymore, love."

"Really? You decided not to go through with it after all!"

Daenys turned to look up at her, relief and hope painted clearly on her face, and Rhaenyra didn't have the heart to tell her daughter that it wasn't for a lack of trying on her part. It was Alicent who had made abundantly clear what she thought of a union between her royal children and Rhaenyra's bastards, although her words were masked behind honeyed words as usual. Rhaenyra pushed away all thoughts of the disastrously embarrassing council meeting and caressed her daughter's cheek affectionately. 

"Of course my love. Although you will have to wed someone eventually. But for now...for now, you're just mine."

"Yes, Mother!"