CHAPTER THIRTEEN

NEWS OF Otto Hightower's leave was spread widely throughout the Keep — Roseva had barely left her chambers since he was removed and Steffon had kept watched outside the door as always.

Rhaenyra had been sent away with her father to Driftmark where they would offer up a proposition to wed the Princess to Ser Laenor Velaryon.

On the night of the feast for Laenor and Rhaenyra's union, Alicent Hightower knocked on her step—mothers chambers quietly, licking her lips under the gaze of Steffon Baratheon.

The door opened and Roseva smiled fully at the sight of her step—daughter and Alicent returned it and smiled even brighter at the sight of her brother resting on Roseva's hip but she quickly frowned at the red hand mark on the woman's neck that had been slowly healing over the time that had passed.

Roseva noticed and spoke quickly, "Alicent, what a lovely surprise. Please come in", the woman stepped aside and let the young woman come into the room.

The woman closed the door behind her to see Alicent standing by the round table in her room. "Is something the matter, my child?", she crossed the room to meet her once she noticed the look on Alicent's face.

"Mother . . .", she grabbed Roseva's free hand, "I am so so sorry". Alicent had felt guilt ridden, so much to the point where she hadn't brought herself to see Roseva.

The woman furrowed her brows and placed Robert in his cot before taking both of Alicent's hands, "It wasn't your fault, I kept it a secret, it was of my doing".

"I should have known, he was my father and I should've done something".

Roseva smiled gently, "How could you of known, sweet girl? If anything . . . I should be the one to apologise".

This time Alicent looked confused, "For what?".

"I have not been a good . . . mother figure to you as I should have been. I have spent so much of my time worrying over Rhaenyra and Robert when I should have also been looking after you".

"Speak nothing of it, we have both made mistakes. We should start afresh", Alicent looked at her doe—eyed making Roseva run a hand down her face gently in admiration.

"Of course, daughter".

"I love my father", Alicent said after a moment of silence, her fingers playing with her green dress, "But . . . you should be with Daemon".

Roseva's eyes widened, "Alicent—".

"I have spoke with the King, he has agreed to annul your marriage to my father, now that he is gone you can wed Daemon or remain here under Rhaenyra's service as you have done since you were a girl. I even took in the liberty of making sure Robert stays by your side. You birthed him, it's your right. I don't know what I would do if someone tried to take my children from me".

"How did you get Viserys to agree?", she asked, she had resented him for years now, she wondered what Alicent had to do for him to agree to something she wished he had agreed on before she had to go through everything he put her through.

But then she wouldn't have Robert and he was the light of her life. It was the only thing she would ever thank Otto for.

"I believe the King has a lot of . . . regret and has come to an understanding of things he wished he had done a long time ago".

Roseva walked forward and hugged her daughter, Alicent smiled and rested her head on the woman's chest, "Thank you, Alicent. I owe you a debt I could never repay".

The pair pulled away but continued to hold hands, "There is no debt, mother. I only ask for your forgiveness".

"Rhaenyra and I will never see eye to eye again, whatever misshapes that may occur between us, I only ask of you that you do not hold it against either of us".

Roseva furrowed her brows but nodded reluctantly — only in the years to come would she begin to wish she hadn't.

⸺

Daemon walked through the open hall that was his nieces wedding feast. The room was packed with lords and ladies from all around the Seven Kingdoms — it made him want to roll his eyes though he only smirked.

His eyes wandered to find his Rose but once he met Rhaenyra's eyes he soon realised she hadn't arrived yet.

He walked up to the platform — everyone was dead silent waiting for the King to react whom had been watching his brother with an indescribable look before he waved a hand and a chair was placed on the left end of the table.

"Be welcome, as we join together in celebration. Tonight is only it's beginning. We honour the crown's oldest and fiercest ally, House Velaryon. Reaching back to the days of Old Valyria and the Age of the Dragons. With House Targaryen and—".

Viserys stopped his speech, the guests looked at him oddly before turning to see what he was looking at but once they saw it was who he was looking at.

His wife — the Queen Alicent Hightower wearing her original house colours — the colour they would beacon when they called for war.

And next to her was standing the Lady Roseva Baratheon in her house colours — an off the shoulder black dress with gold strips going down starting from her waist — Steffon stood promptly behind them in tunic and pants that matched Roseva's design.

The guests stood as Alicent walked down the isle, smiling at her family when she walked passed them and up the stairs to Rhaenyra, "Congratulations, stepdaughter. What a blessing this is for you", she spoke in fake warmness before kissing her husbands cheek and sitting down.

Roseva wasn't far behind her with Steffon by her side, she had noticed Daemon still sitting and fought back a knowing smile when he hasn't stood for his Queen like everyone else had.

She passed the Velaryon table, her hand grazing Rhaenys' shoulder — the older woman smiled at her before looking at the scene unfolding once more. Roseva reached Rhaenyra with a proud smile, "Congratulations, my dove", the princess's past frown quickly went up into a smile and kissed the woman's cheek before sharing a quick glance to Steffon when the two began walking away.

Steffon grabbed a seat from the side and placed it in between Daemon and the new Hand of the King. Roseva watched the Prince move his seat further so she had more room to sit — his eyes piercing over her frame like a dog with a bone it made her feel hot.

"Prince Daemon", she spoke in a hushed tone, it being covered up by the fact she was moving to sit down. She had heard of his wife's tragic passing from Alicent moments before they entered the hall and wondered if he had something to do with it but deep down she knew he had.

She felt like a terrible person for not feeling sad about her death because Daemon was no longer wed — free to do as he pleased more so now than ever. It made her feel excited in hopes he'd carry her out of the hall but on the other note she was still angry with him and hoped he'd understand her point of view.

Daemon smirked immediately and casually brushed his hand over her covered thigh from under the table, "Lady Rose".

"Roseva", the man covered a smile as he remembered the last time she had said that — when he first came home all those years ago.

"Please be seated", Viserys spoke awkwardly and everyone sat. "Where was I?", he began to cough slightly as he mumbled the question to his Hand.

"The joining of the two houses, Your Grace", Lord Strong spoke.

"Yeah", Viserys cleared his throat, "Yes. With House Targaryen and House Velaryon united, I hope to herald in a second Age of Dragons in Westeros", claps plummeted through the room — echoing off the high walls.

Roseva smiled and winked at Rhaenyra who bashfully smiled back at her. The woman could tell the princess didn't want to be wed to Laenor but she also looked as though she didn't mind and neither did he.

She began connecting dots when she noticed Steffon glancing at Rhaenyra and she glanced back.

Oh?

Things were confirmed when she noticed Laenor glancing at a young man on the side and the young man glanced back.

Ohhhhh.

"And after tonight's small affair . . .", Viserys spoke sarcastically and the people laughed though Roseva hadn't and she knew the others only did because he was King. "Seven days of tournament and feasting. At the end of it all . . . At the end of it all, a royal wedding . . . between my daughter, my heir . . . your future Queen . . . and Ser Laenor Velaryon, the heir to Driftmark"

Roseva clapped with a light smile as everyone else applauded, she turned to face Daemon to see he was already looking at her and nudged him when she noticed he wasn't clapping making him roll his eyes with a small smile before raising a hand and banged on the table a few times.

Rhaenyra stood as did Laenor and they took each others hands before walking down the centre — beginning their dance when the music started.

Daemon turned to Rose who was watching the pair closely, "A fine match?".

Roseva pulled her eyes away from the couple and took a sip of her wine, "I suppose, though just between us, I think they're both more suited with other people", Daemon raised his eyebrows curiously so she tipped her head casually towards Steffon whose eyes had grown darker as he watched the couple dance before tilting it to the young man sitting amongst the crowd with an almost exact same expression.

Daemon's head tilted as he laughed, understanding what she was getting at and nodded, "I see. You always did have a keen eye".

Rose blushed deeply before a cough disturbed their flowing conversation, "In the Vale, men are made to answer for their crimes. Even Targaryens".

Daemon looked up through his faint eyelashes with a bored expression — very displeased that this man had interrupted his conversation with Rose, "Who are you?", he drawled out with clear lack of interest.

"Ser Gerold Royce of Runestone".

Roseva pulled a face but hid it behind her cup of wine, she tried not to laugh, and again she felt like a terrible person.

"And?", Daemon asked, sitting back in his chair.

The man stood up on the platform to speak closer to the Targaryen prince, "I am cousin to your late lady wife".

"Ah yes. Terrible thing. I'm positively bereft. Such a tragic accident", Daemon feigned innocence and sadness but everyone could see he didn't care one bit as he mindlessly played with a fork.

The man scowled deeply, "You know better than anyone, it was no accident".

"Are you confessing some guilt, Ser Gerold?".

"I am making an accusation".

"One that could cost your head, Ser?", Rose spoke before sipping her wine. Daemon turned to her before looking back at the man with a smirk.

"Is that a threat?", Ser Gerold replied with offence but Roseva merely shrugged making him step closer to the table in anger.

The man stopped and looked passed Roseva to Steffon who had now come up behind her chair with a threatening look. "I'm not, I'm merely a Lady but my cousin however . . . he's rather protective of me so you might want to step back a little".

"You bi—".

Daemon tutted, "In King's Landing, men are made to answer for their slanders", he repeated what Ser Gerold had said to him. "Even old bronze cunts like you. The truth is, I'm glad you've come. I wish to speak to you about my inheritance"

"What inheritance?".

"Lady Rhea and I had no heirs. As her husband, whatever she was due now passes to me. She stood to inherit all of Runestone. Did she not?", he raised his eyebrows at the last part.

Ser Gerold opened his mouth but no words came out to he continued, "After my niece's wedding, I plan to fly to the Eyrie and petition Lady Jayne myself. Perhaps I'll see you there, Ser Gerold".

The Royce man took his defeat and lowered his head and walked shamelessly back to his seat. Once he had left Roseva snorted causing Lord Strong and Viserys to look at her in bewilderment whereas Daemon and Steffon smiled.

"I apologise but did you see his face?", she giggled under her breathe which caused Viserys to hide a smile and the Hand to side eye both her and Daemon heavily but she didn't mind.

As the dance continued, Daemon rose from his seat and turned to Rose with a silent question. The woman hesitated but eventually slipped her warm hand through his cold one — his rings maker her skin become even cooler under his touch.

The two made their way through the crowd before stopping in the centre and began walking around each other in the movement of the music and the people around them, "I was sorry to hear of your lady wife".

Roseva spoke but Daemon could tell by the look on her face that she wasn't, "Don't be. I wasn't. My lady was never very kind to me".

Daemon took her waist and lifted her in the air before placing her back on her feet, "I do wonder . . . how she came to pass. Word has it that she was a very skilled rider".

"Perhaps the Gods were eager to release me from her so I could wed another", Roseva's eyes snapped to him quickly as he twirled her in his arms. "But it seems like the one I crave for doesn't seem to want to know me".

The woman walked around him as he stood still, "I believe she does . . . She's just scared to get hurt again".

Daemon lifted both his arms as did she when they stood opposite each other, a small smile grazed his face, "I don't believe I am the same person who left all those years ago and I would never hurt her again".

Roseva thought for a moment as the song came to a slow and the next one began playing, the two stood in front of each other as everyone danced around them — too invested in their movements to notice the pair but Steffon, Alicent, Viserys and Rhaenyra did — the two women and Steffon were eager for the two to reconcile their differences and the King simply too tired to stand in their way.

"Perhaps if the Lady heard three words she'd be more inclined to believe him", their bodies were inches from each other, the air becoming thick and hot around them.

Daemon cupped her face causing the four on—lookers to stop what they were doing, "I . . .", Roseva stopped breathing, "love you, Rose. Of course I do".

The Lady's brown eyes grew soft and doe—like and he smiled gracefully down at her. She took his hand and led him out of the hall. She grabbed a hold of his face when they were hidden in the corner and kissed him.

Daemon grabbed her waist and pulled her closer to him, never wanting to let go. He groaned softly over her lips before kissing her again. All he could smell was roses, it was on her body, in her hair — it caked over him like a cloak — a cloak he never wanted rid of.

"Say you mean it", she said against his lips between kisses, "Say you meant the words".

"I meant the words. Marry me, Rose. Allow me to take you as my wife, allow me to raise Robert as my own. I swear it by the Gods that I will".

The woman pulled away at the mention of her son and Daemon rubbed her cheek with his thumb as they caught their breath, "My son is my life. He saw Otto . . . hurt me. I never want him to see something like that again".

Daemon furrowed his brows and kissed her gently this time and they both savoured it, "And he won't. Allow me this and I will look after you . . . even when I take my last dying breath from this world I will look after you while I'm with the Gods because you Roseva Baratheon . . . are the very heart that beats in my chest".

"I love you", Rose smiled, her dimples coming through eagerly and he leaned down to kiss them before taking her further down the hall.

Roseva didn't know where the hall would end but she knew for certain this time that as long as she was with her son and Daemon — she would be safe and happy.

* AGHHH ACT ONE IS DONEEE. My babies are finally together, what a crazy life these two have been through. I'm so excited for you all to read act two and meet their children and watch my baby Robert grow. Enjoy the next act my loves <3 *