She wasn't only a threat, she was THE threat.
If only with her own blood, she kept herself young for so long, when she'll start luring others, she'll be able to achieve many things.
It was a matter of time until the greens found out about her, they had to keep her on their side at any cost, even unite the two houses if it was needed.
They were to show up in King's Landing tomorrow, they couldn't bring her there only if they would have presented her as Jacaerys betrothal since they appeared to be around the same age. Well...she looked older by one year or two but that didn't matter enough for anyone to actually care, and with such a dragon as Grey-Ghost, she wouldn't have remained there either.
The girl seemed eager to meet as many dragon riders as possible, rebond with her lost culture, the ones she shared the same blood with.

"Well?" The girl broke the silence and remained staring for another few moments at the couple situated in front of the fireplace as she stood still in front of the painted table.
They were whispering to each other back and forth, from time to time glancing at her but none of the white-haired couple showed any signs of addressing her a word.
"Can I at least get some food? You two don't seem to stop anytime soon and I'm not gonna lie that I'm quite starving."

Rhaenyra was the first one to fully turn her attention over her, she cleared her throat and walked over to her.
"Of course, it's almost mealtime. We'll all gather together and dine, you'll be our guest."

Merilya nodded as a thought couldn't leave her head, so she finally mustered the courage and asked since no one was gonna bring it up.
"Do you believe me?" She asked in a trembling voice not sure if she'll react the same as the man did.
She always feared that people would never believe her, first her family and now she was fearing that the ones she was sharing the same blood with, won't either.

"It's somewhat hard to do, but I suppose nothing is impossible."

"Believe it or not, I am telling the truth."

"Then how have you managed to survive the doom, girl?" Daemon eventually spoke.

"Back then, magic wasn't such a rare thing, we indeed used it for bonding with our dragons, not in my case though because I've only claimed my dragon after the doom, being apart of one of the most important families from Valyria, I had access to the most secret spells and rituals. While the others were occupied with their dragons, I was learning those…I had a vision, just as your ancestor, Daenys the Dreamer, your house had left for Dragonstone when no one listened to them since they weren't a noble house, there was no point in trying myself as well. I wasn't even bonded with a dragon, everyone would have called me mad.
I started with candles at first when I had casted the first spell, then casted spell after spell using my actual blood in rituals until the fire didn't have any effect upon me, so I waited, I wanted to live more than anything, I was fearing the stranger, but if my time was to come, I would at least go along with my family.
It was pure cruelty, seeing your loved ones burn one after another. I curse the gods every single day for taking everyone away from me and leaving me all alone."

"I believe her, Daemon. This is no story you can simply make up from learning history books" Rhaenyra stated, placing her hand over the man's and stroking it.
"I'm sorry for you, child, you went through a lot."

"Technically, she's older than us." Daemon whispered to her and Rhaenyra nodded, clearing her throat.

"Both of you are dragon riders…are there others?" She asked, watching them with prying eyes hoping to be true. At least she knew of one more, the one Grey-Ghost took her away from, that was clearly a dragon roar.

"My sons are dragon riders, they'll show up for dinner and you'll be able to meet them, Daemon's daughters are also, and…there are more."

"Will I be able to meet them as well?" She raised her eyebrow

"It's better for you to not." Rhaenyra responded to the girl as she glanced at Daemon who was already annoyed by the girl's curiosity.

"Why? Are they dangerous? Do they have bigger dragons than you and you're fearing them?"

Jacaerys walked inside the room after the girl's question and that stopped the two answering it "Mother, I am hungry, when will dinner be served?" Asked the boy without bothering to plead his respects.

"Seven hells, I'm sick of all these kids" Daemon mumbled under his breath and Rhaenyra death glared at him.

"Soon, sweet boy, I'll send Daemon to check if it's ready." She turned her attention back to the white haired man.
"Make yourself useful and go check when the dinner will be served. The boy's hungry, and our guest as well."

"Lucerys mentioned a girl earlier when we were training, is this her?"

"Yes, Luke, this is Merilya of House Dragonlord. Merilya, this is my oldest son, Jacaerys Velaryon."

Merilya masked a slight smile on her face as Jacaerys bowed his head.

"I'm curious about something." Merilya asked

"What is it?" Rhaenyra asked

"While I was in Yi Ti, I heard the roar of a dragon. It didn't seem like a young one but it was also not a very old one.
I couldn't see it since Grey-Ghost brought me all the way to an island and not the actual capital but I was still able to hear it since it had woken me from my sleep. Years ago, before Grey-Ghost came to Valyria, a black dragon showed up there with a little girl. Do you think it might've been that dragon since Westeros is so far away from Valyria?"

"I think she's talking about Vhagar, mother, maybe Aemond was sent after her since none of us would go all the way there."

"It might be."

"But the one with the little girl, didn't Princess Rhaena's daughter steal Balerion many years ago? I've read that when she returned with the dragon, maester Benifer thought Balerion brought her to Old Valyria. Wait a moment, we're talking about Old Valyria here, and you said you were in Valyria when that happened? And you're still alive, untouched and not old?" He almost shouted at the realization.

"That's because I…" The red-headed girl started her sentence but out of nowhere was interrupted by Rhaenyra.

"She's very interested in history, Luke, right Merilya? You got it all wrong, she read it as well." The white haired princess glanced at the girl and she nodded.

"Oh…alright then. But why is her hair red? Where is she from?"

"Essos. And she's our guest here."

"But aren't we going to King's Landing tomorrow? Will she accompany us?"

"Yes Luke, but both of you have to promise me something so we won't risk her getting hurt anyhow, since it seems that your uncle was after her."

"Promise what?" Both asked at the same time then looked at eachother with confused looks.

"You'll have to pretend that you're betrothed, and that's why we brought her along."

"Isn't he a child?" Merilya whispered to Rhaenyra.

"Actually I might be the same age as you, you don't seem much older than me." Luke spoke a bit annoyed that the girl thought of him unfit for this job.

"Whatever you say then, and what will we do there? Will I be able to meet more dragon riders?" She addressed to Rhaenyra

"Yes, you will. But we aren't going there for that, but for my father's name day, The King, I'm afraid it might be his last, I can't let him pass without seeing each other one last time. If everything goes well, we might as well remain for a longer period of time, so we'll be there in his last moments as well."

"Mhmm, I see."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lady Merilya." Prince Aemond addressed to the girl

She, along with the Targaryens arrived for almost one hour and while Prince Daemon and Prince Rhaenyra went on their business, she was told that there were three kids of the Queen and King whom she can hang around with since they were "her age".
She was greeted by the three of them in the gardens, where she was followed by the two Velaryons brothers who were just catching up after her, they remained behind only to explore and see what had changed since their last visit there

"Back off, I've seen her face" Prince Aegon nudged his younger brother

Helaena just slightly bowed her head with a lightly smile, greeting and said no more words, her attention getting caught by a butterfly that just landed on Aegon's head.

"Aegon, don't move." She whispered

"What? What is it?" He turned around towards her, scaring the butterfly away with his gesticulation.

She sighed and faced the ground "Nothing" She spoke in a soft voice.

"Hello, my name is Merilya."

"The hunt will become prey." Helaena whispered and walked away.

"What is wrong with her?" Aegon mumbled, then stepped forward towards Merilya.
"Why haven't I seen your face around here?"

"Because I am from Essos, my prince."

"And what brings you here, Merilya?" Aemond asked.

"I came along with House Targaryen, I am Jacerys betrothal."

"Ah, I completely forgot our step-sister was coming today with her bastards." He smirked when he noticed Jace and Luke coming right after Merilya.

"I dare you to say that again!" Jacerys threatened him.

"Or what? You'll embarrass yourself in front of your betrothal? She might break off the engagement when she sees your poor skills in fighting, Strong boy." Aegon kept going.

Aemond seemed un-bothered and from time to time, he was glancing at the girl.

Jace threw a punch at Aegon and he returned it with the same rage, Aemond stopped Lucerys when he wanted to involve himself as well by getting in his way.

Merilya watched, is this what had become of her blood? Fighting between each other, holding hatred one for another?

"What's with this behavior?" Alicent questioned the boys from her balcony.
"Aemond, get Aegon and come, your father's waiting for everyone."

"Hm.." Aemond mumbled and grabbed Aegon by the back of his collar, practically dragging his older brother after him.

"Luke, Jace…are you two alright?" Merilya asked checking up on Jacaerys whose nose was bleeding.

Jace nodded "I'm fine, don't worry."

"Shall we see a maester? What if it's broken?"

"It's not, I said I'm fine."He sighed.

"Why did he call you bastards? Isn't Daemon your father?"

"No, he only married our mother after our father died, it's complicated."

"Lya, come, mother must be waiting for us since that witch called for her sons as well." Lucerys said while he took Merilya by the hand to lead her.

The servants came with a few more plates while everyone was focusing on their little talks with each other, eating or drinking.
Lucerys's laugh followed shortly after that, he was looking directly at Aemond with a mocking expression.

Aemond's fist slammed down onto the table, which made everyone turn their attention to the white haired prince
"I want you to take out your eye." He drew his dagger and before anyone else could even react, he grabbed Lucerys by the collar pulling him over the table.

"Aemond!" Alicent shouted at her son.

"Release the blade, boy." Otto continued

"Don't you dare to touch him!" Merilya raged up from her chair, she didn't knew in what situation she was putting herself in or why the boy reacted the way he did, but she was certain of one thing, the one-eyed prince meant no good and she wasn't going to let him have the eye of the only one who treated her as his friend at Dragonstone.

"Or what? You'll do your little magic tricks and disarm me? Hurt me? Kill me perhaps?"

"First of all I want to know the reason why you want his eye?" She showed up in the next moment behind him sliding her hand onto his arm to reach the dagger. He didn't do no move, he was standing still, only eyeing her every move, but still holding tightly onto the dagger.
There was something about her that caught his curiosity, he was curious of her next move.

"He is the reason I am without one eye. The time had come and now he has to pay. An eye for an eye."

Everyone at the table was only startled, how could she have appeared behind him like that? Was it all true that she was able to do witchcraft?
No one was doing anything about the fact that Aemond still had Lucerys on his grip.

The girl pondered the situation, it was a fair exchange, but that wouldn't stop her from protecting her new friend.

"Have my eye instead." She grabbed onto the upper part of dagger with her palm, letting it cut her deeply, she didn't screamed, not even whined of pain, instead she placed her other hand on the bottom part of the dagger, somehow touching Aemond's hand now, that was the moment when he released the blade.

"I won't have your eye, it wouldn't be a fair exchange." He said without glancing at her, "..Next time" He looked at Lucerys then let him go of his grip.
The One-eyed prince left the room, Rhaenyra hurried over to her boy and cupped his cheeks taking a good look at him to make sure he wasn't hurt anyhow, then pulled him into a bear hug.
"My sweet boy." She whispered afterwards a "Thank you" to the red-headed girl who stopped the fight that was about to take place.

Merilya was tired, but she needed some fresh air, she felt like she was gonna suffocate if she remained one more minute in The Red Keep.
That place felt so inhospitalier, nothing like what she was used to, she felt trapped between those walls, even at Dragonstone she could be more carefree.
She left her room a while ago and tried to not make much noise, being aware that everyone was asleep.
All the candles were unlit, and she was barely able to see anything.
She lit up the candle with a spell and picked it up, continuing to walk, she found the door that was leading to the garden where she had been earlier before the dinner.
Closing the door slowly behind her, she turned around, at the sight of the one-eyed prince, she suddenly got startled when he turned around and dropped her candle on the steps right on his hand.
He was sitting one step before her, she backed up into the door frightened of his reaction.
He didn't react anyhow though, but instead he got up, taking away the starlight of the moon that was reflecting onto her when he took a step towards her.

She took out his dagger that she had brought with her to protect herself in case she would have ended up in a situation, and here she was, pointing his own weapon at him.

"Take one more step and I'll blind you!"

"Do it, I'll still be able to kill you, I can sense your fear."

"I'll kill myself then, I won't give you the satisfaction to kill me, I would be to die after all the sacrifices I have made in this lifetime, I would die at my own hand" She pressed the dagger.

He scoffed and disarmed her grabbing both of her hands in his and held them both above her head, pressing her against the door.
"Why aren't you trying to bewitch me, hmm?"

"I might…" She leaned forward with a devilish smirk on her face.
The next second, she had her arms wrapped around his neck, lightly, he was looking down on her knowing that she was gonna pull something but there was no need to worry, she looked like she couldn't kill a goddamn insect but someone like him.
He was desiring her and was so sure of himself that he'll get what he wants, they kept the eye contact for good moments, until she grabbed back the dagger and was able to only slit his wrist open before he had hit the dagger with his knee at the realization of what she was trying to do.

"How dare you!?" He yelled annoyed

"How dare you think that I would actually let you touch me?" She grinned and placed her head on his shoulder glancing at his face.
"You're either a fool, my prince, or someone who thinks way too highly of himself."

"Seven hells! I won't let this incident slide so easily, you'll pay greatly for this one, devil."
He pushed her away from him, opening the door about to go back inside since he couldn't stand one minute being around her.

She narrowed her eyes at his reaction, crossed her arms and choosed to mock him instead of letting him go so easily.
He barely seemed affected by the fact that his wrist was cut open and was bleeding everywhere on the steps.
"Weren't you the one who wanted to be bewitched by me? What, did a little bit of blood frightened you?"

He clenched his jaw and turned around grabbing her by the throat with both of his hands, picking her up at that time a few inches from above the ground only to pin her against the door and make a muffled sound out of it.
"I don't care who you are, I don't care where you come from, but If I hear one more thing from that annoying mouth of yours…"

"What? Will you set me on fire?" She chuckled.

She was enjoying this way too much to simply let him go like that, for the first time in so many years, she was having fun.