Rhaella's eerie silence greatly perturbed Talya.

The resounding sounds of crunching footsteps were scattered round about them as the two women made their way through the streets of Flea Bottom.

Talya momentarily paused, eyes shifting to Rhaella tersely. The girl hadn't uttered a word since her savage outburst. Her violet eyes had glazed over, catatonic to the world.

Lips pressed into a line from worry, Talya turned away. She could not deny the cold fear that ran through her. She wondered what the white worm would want with such an unstable individual.

Stopping in front of the brothel doors, Talya escorted Rhaella inside, rushing her by all the numerous ladies of the night who were curious at the sight of the highborn girl's entrance.

"Here, sit," Talya said. Rhaella obeyed the command, weakly situating herself onto the ragged wooden chair.

Rhaella's brown hands trembled profusely. Talya's eyebrows furrowed in concern but fought the desire to comment.

Talya disappeared behind the sheer curtains, leaving Rhaella alone with her thoughts.

Or lack thereof.

The blood stains on the dress she wore had since dried, crusting over uncomfortably. Rhaella hadn't noticed nor reacted to the figure that made her way across from her.

"My lady?" A soft voice called out.

Rhaella knew that voice. It poured out like gentle rain, washing over her senses. Her eyes snapped up to the sound.

"Astris." Rhaella breathed out. The first word she had uttered since the incident.

"Oh." Atris cooed. Her pale hands engulfed Rhaella's, putting a stop to its exertion.

Rhaella's eyes raked over Astris. She had hardly changed, her hair was still black as the night sky.

"Your hair's grown," Rhaella murmured. Astris smiled softly, it was all she could do.

"And yours is as lovely as I remember," Astris replied.

Despite her frayed state of mind, Rhaella managed to conjure up a small smile just for her.

Their reunion was cut short by the curtains shuffling back. Astris's soft gaze hardened as she stood up from the seat.

The woman; Tan and slender with brown locks of hair fastened to the middle of her head. That wasn't what pulled Rhaella's attention. No, it was the calculating dark eyes that caused her alarm.

"Rhaella Targaryen, I see you've found your way," Mysaria said, voice thickened with accent.

Rhaella did not speak for a moment. This woman was not to be trusted.

"There's nothing white about you," Rhaella said finally.

Mysaria smirked slightly.

"You must be hungry, Talya informed me you had been imprisoned almost a day's end," Mysaria said.

She gestured to a girl, no more than ten, Rhaella was sure, who brought forth a steaming bowl of porridge unfamiliar to Rhaella's nose.

"No, thank you," Rhaella said, pushing the bowl to the side.

In truth, Rhaella was starved beyond belief. But she was unsure if stomaching food was a possibility right now.

"I understand," Mysaria said, eyes darted to her blood-ridden dress.

"I suppose murder would kill the appetite."

Rhaella glanced at Talya. It was reasonable to believe that she must have told the white worm many things regarding her.

"You've brought me here, for what purpose?" Rhaella asked.

Mysaria smiled. Not one of endearment or comfort. The action unnerved Rhaella. She truly regretted not bringing the wooden stake with her.

"I need you to pass on a message to your father," Mysaria said.

Rhaella glanced at Astris, whose face gave away nothing. There was no saving grace in this room. Rhaella Targaryen would once again be a pawn.

She was in no frame of mind to accept this.

"You know my father?" Rhaella figured it was entirely possible. She had been vaguely aware of his previous doings. Brothel whores were certainly not beneath him.

Mysaria nodded. "He and I were quite close at one time."

Rhaella's blooded hands clutched her dress. The bitterness she wielded against her father was only bolstered by the statement.

"I see you have a multitude of spies." Rhaella inquired, eyes moving between Talya and Astris.

"Why use me?" Rhaella asked.

Mysaria stood abruptly, moving to the opposite side of the room. Rhaella watched as she poured some sort of liquid into a cup.

"I wished to satisfy my curiosity," Mysaria said. She slid the cup in front of Rhaella, the vague smell of mint wafted to her nose.

"Regarding?" Rhaella questioned. She eyed the cup suspiciously, having half a mind to fling it at Mysaria.

Mysaria's eyes sparkled clear with entertainment.

"I wanted to see how a spoiled Targaryen girl would fare in the face of danger," Mysaria said.

Her? Spoiled? Rhaella thought less so. She had no mother, lords and ladies whispered about the state of her mind. And of course, she was dragonless.

Some spoiled Targaryen she was...

" Tell your father I am willing to extend my help, should he need it," Mysaria said.

War was indeed coming. However, Rhaella held no such desire to be a messenger.

"Tell him yourself, surely you have access." Rhaella retorts.

"You'd want to drink that." Mysaria hummed, waving to the cup.

"It's moon tea."

Rhaella froze. Yet again, she was the fool, Paying the price for her vulnerabilities.

"No." Was the brilliant response Rhaella could snide.

Mysaria raised an eyebrow. "Then, you are content with baring a child out of wedlock?"

Rhaella's hand moved to her womb. The humiliation would be much too great.

And what of Aemond? Was his intention to trap her this way?

Her father was right. Her weakness made her sick.

Rhaella seized the cup, downing it with little hesitation. She would bite her tongue and do Mysaria's bidding.

Rhaella glared at the White worm, clear with hatred. She loathed it, She was no more than a tool for use.

Mysaria watched on in satisfaction. Rhaella had relinquished all fight she might have clung to.

"They say when a Targaryen is born, the Gods flip a coin." Mysaria mused, almost to herself.

There were no Gods in this world, none that could spare Rhaella from this anyhow.

"I am eager to see what side you shall land on."

Mysaria left Rhaella's company, exiting through that same curtain.

An overwhelming numbness had taken over Rhaella's form. She had tasted it at her mother's funeral. Anger combined with an immense dread.

Astris, who had been silent for the entire exchange, sighed. Her heart had longed to intervene, to protect her lady. Rhaella had not moved an inch, eyes deadened with unplaceable emotion. Her curls were tangled and streaked with blood. Astris took a hand to her head, attempting to smooth the frays down.

Grabbing a brush, Astris raked through Rhaella's silver curls, as she did when she was once in her service. Rhaella's eyes closed at the action, leaning back slightly.

"I am sorry for not seeing you all this time," Astris said. Her nimble fingers were magic, needling her thick locks into a braided style that Rhaella had favored in her younger years.

"It's not your fault, I'm sure," Rhaella responded. She imagined that a Pentoshi bastard like Astris hadn't been deemed the allowance to move freely.

Once Astris had finished, she placed her hands on Rhaella's shoulders, admiring her handiwork.

"You look pretty," Astris commented. A slight blush graced her cheeks.

Rhaella raised a brow in doubt. "Even like this?"

"Especially like this," Astris affirmed.

Rhaella had truly missed her. Astris seemed to always know just the thing to say.

"Astris?" Rhaella said. The dark-haired girl's head tilted in reply. She could practically see the wheels turning in Rhaella's mind.

"Have you done sorcery of any kind lately?"

Astris giggled in response. Even now, Rhaella's curiosity found its way.

"What would you like me to do for you, my lady?" Astris asked.

Rhaella mulled over her nightmares. The whispers of madness hissed inside of her.

She longed to make sense of it all.

"Aura reading," Rhaella responded. She already knew how to proceed, as they had done many times before.

Astris allowed her fingers to run across Rhaella's palms, eyes closed in concentration. Her eyebrows furrowed.

It was as if something was blocking her.

"I cannot..." Astris trailed off. It was not that she could not see. No, rather a presence had held her vision shut, forcing her to witness its overwhelming intensity.

Astris suddenly jerked her hands away from Rhaella, her dark eyes shook with panic.

"What?" Rhaella pushed. The reaction had taken Rhaella aback.

"There is a darkness here, in you," Astris whispered.

Outpours of questions scratched at Rhaella's throat. What will become of this? Of her?

"What is it?" Rhaella asked.

Astris tugged at her sleeve, perplexed. She parted her lips as if to utter something.

Whatever it may have been, she decided against it.

"It is beyond my understanding," Astris said finally.

Silence enveloped the two; Astris who would not speak and Rhaella who was tortured with thoughts.

"There is a boat here to send you back to Dragonstone." Mysaria's voice cut through.

It nearly made Rhaella jump out of her skin. She wondered how the women could move so quietly.

Rhaella's focus turned back to Astris, her black-haired beauty.

"I'll see you, sometime," Rhaella said.

"And I you," Astris said.

____

The rickety boat safely transported Rhaella to the bay of Dragonstone. Her hesitation became apparent as she lingered outside the doors. Rhaella took the liberty of entering, making little noise in the process. She could hear the voices of her family in the main room. Her grandmother's voice placed her at ease.

"Rhaella?" Princess Rhaenyra called to her.

Rhaella found the expression of shock to be slightly amusing. Her sisters ran to her, wrapping Rhaella in a bone-crushing hug.

"You will mar your dress," Rhaella said. Baela's grip did not subside nor did Rhaena's.

"Fuck this dress." Baela scoffed. "We thought you'd been killed."

Rhaella glanced around the room, the stares burned into her skin causing her discomfort. She caught the eye of her father, nearly missing the flash of concern that briefly presented itself.

"Baela was determined to fly to the keep on Moondancer," Rhaena added.

Rhaella appreciated the sentiment. However, Moondancer was no bigger than a Warhorse. The she-dragon wouldn't fit them both.

"Well...as you can see, I live," Rhaella said. Walking over to the painted table, her hands were enveloped with those of her grandmothers.

"Rhaella, the blood." Rhaenys gasped. The stains ran deep into the material of her dress. For some reason, she almost did not mind it.

"It isn't mine." Rhaella cut her off. She gave Princess Rhaenyra a pointed look

"I assume you were informed of the situation?" She asked. Princess Rhaenyra nodded.

"How did you manage an escape?" Jacaerys spoke up suddenly.

Rhaella looked to Daemon. She thought about Mysaria—their relationship.

Her eyes darkened.

" A friend of yours, Father," Rhaella said. "She showed me much generosity."

There was no need to elaborate on the matter. Daemon knew precisely as to whom she spoke of.

"Viserys has surely been slain." Daemon averts.

The room filled with discussion concerning how best to proceed. Rhaella slipped by her grandmother. Guilt laid heavy in Rhaenys's eyes.

"I wished to find you, but there was no time," Rhaenys said.

"I do not hold it against you," Rhaella said. Another thought fluttered to her mind.

"Grandmother, how did you flee?" Rhaella asked. Rhaenys recalled the memory, ghost of a smirk gracing her face.

"I broke through the dragonpit on Meleys during the ceremony," Rhaenys said.

The dragonpit? A realization took hold of Rhaella.

"There..is a beast beneath the boards," Rhaella muttered to herself.

Suddenly, a sharp cry was let out by Princess Rhaenyra. She clutched her stomach in pain. Rhaella looked down to see blood dripping onto the floor.

"The babe is coming." Rhaenyra wheezed out, doubled over in great agony.

Panic ensued, Rhaella felt the hands of Rhaena clutch her arm.

"Send for a maester," Daemon commanded.

____