Her children were waiting for her.

Fresh and bathed, they sat together on her and Rolf's bed, awaiting their usual storytime. So old they were getting, and still they would not be denied an hour or two of peaceful time together, where none could disrupt them. It was familytime, where their only duty was to each other. She liked that they had that, and wondered if her mother would have done the same with her and her brothers if she'd lived to raise them.

While Bertram read aloud from A History of Dragons: The Old Beasts and New, she braided Gemma's clean curls while Rolf brushed Alyssa's silky locks. Cliff and Aenar entertained themselves standing, with a sword-less and shoe-less mock battle, miming what their swords would do if they had them in hand.

She felt Gemma leaning sleepily, and one by one they escorted the children to their rooms, kissing them on the foreheads as they tucked them into bed. Silence carried through High Tide once Rolf and Daenys slipped back to their room.

It was too quiet for her tastes, and equally as dreary for Rolf. She'd turned to face him, staring at him through the dark, until he leaned over and kissed her lips, his hand resting against her hip. Even at the age of two-and-forty, Daenys had not lost her energy when it came to showing her husband love. She crawled onto him, kissing him fervently as he lifted her nightgown, pulling his breeches down to push himself into her.

Daenys had never thought that she would like a man so much. As a young girl, she'd have done everything to avoid being married to one. Gareth Tyrell had served his purpose for her pleasure, but she couldn't say she had liked him enough to have wanted to have this many children with him. If she'd had to, she would have given him an heir and a spare and no more.

Yet with Rolf, she often wished she'd have been younger when she met him. Perhaps if they'd met the year of the Great Council, when they'd been in close proximity but she hadn't known he was admiring her from afar. She might've married him when Viserys ascended the Iron Throne, and brought Rolf to live with them from early on. Her own mother had wanted to give Baelon twenty sons, and Daenys admittedly might've given Rolf much more than five children if she'd been in the prime years of her youth.

She liked seeing him as a father, still firm with their children but always lending his ear and never letting them forget that he would always support and protect them. Not once had he ever been too busy to hear Bertram's many facts, to teach Cliff a new skill, to help Gemma in her art projects, to listen to Alyssa's complaints, or to discuss with Aenar all the things a growing boy was coming to wonder about the world.

"Gods." Rolf threw his head back as he climaxed, gripping her hips bruisingly tight. "If you'd told me when I was a young man that we'd one day be married with five children... I'd not have believed you."

She continued to undulate her hips, seeking her own climax, and let out a laugh. "I still remember how you revealed yourself as my secret admirer. I could scarce believe it, either." She leaned down to whisper in his ear, but kissed his jaw first, "I am not too old. Perhaps we could have another babe. Would you like that, my love?"

He let out a whimper– he often did, never one to conceal the noises she brought out of him. She'd always liked how he could be submissive with her, save for moments where he became upset enough to pin her down as if he were the dragon. "I would like that only if you would," murmured Rolf, but she could feel him twitching within her as if the idea reanimated him. "I can imagine–"

There was a hard tap on the door. Daenys slowed to a stop, Rolf whining in protest. "Who is it?" called Daenys, smirking down at Rolf to tease him.

"Mother, I need to speak with you."

Rolf groaned as Daenys crawled off of him. With a low curse, he slipped out of bed, pulling on his breeches while Daenys slid into her robe. "Aenar." He went to the door, poking his head out, "Gods, son, this had better be an emergency."

"It is," said Aenar, pushing his way into the room. "Vermithor has taken flight, Alyssa saw him. We went to tell Cliff and Bertram but they weren't in their rooms."

"Gods be good," said Daenys, grabbing her sword as Rolf scrambled to fetch his shirt. "What of Gemma?"

"She's awake. She said they told her they were going to find a library. Bertram wanted to explore, and Cliff is escorting him."

Rolf and Daenys shared a look. Bertram's intentions might be true, but if that were the case, he would have asked his parents to take him. Cliff would easily take a detour– in a castle the boys hardly knew to begin with– for his own mischievous ideals. Him being out of bed made the matter exponentially worse.

"Keep your sisters here," said Rolf firmly. "I mean it, Aenar, I will not have any of you wandering about anymore. Your mother and I told you all not to go exploring because we don't trust the people here. Your brothers are on their way to earning a firm clout in the ear." He'd never once hit the children, nor had Daenys, but this could go very badly veryquickly.

"I'll try," said Aenar. "But Alyssa has half a mind to crawl out the nearest window." When he saw Rolf looking as if he was ready to fling himself out the nearest one as well, he said, "Don't worry, she won't go anywhere under my watch."

Daenys and Rolf slipped out, badly dressed but well armed, splitting halfway down the hall to try and locate the boys. She moved swiftly, dodging past rooms she knew to be occupied. Rolf's path would take towards the library, which may in fact be where the boys were if Bertram had his own little plan, but hers was more like to take her out of the castle and onto the beach– if Cliff had seen Vermithor flying, he must have wanted to go to Goldhorn.

Her steps echoed over the stone, moisture clinging to the walls. The smell of the sea was strong even within High Tide, growing on the tip of her tongue as she neared the edge of the castle. Then, she heard screams on a floor below. They were not terrified screams, but angry ones, and she recognized one voice within them. It was the last thing a mother wanted to hear when looking for her misplaced children.

She darted down the nearest staircase, calling, "Cliff! Bertram!" The screams persisted, none answering her. Many young voices were layered together, some of the shouts sounding like Rhaenyra's sons. What the bloody hell were they up to?

Then, one shrill cry tuned out all the others. It didn't sound like one of her sons, but it did sound agonized– pained. She broke into a run, not stopping until she came across the Kingsguard in a tunnel that fed out to the beach. Ser Harrold Westerling was carrying a silver-haired boy– Aemond– while the other Sworn Brothers had the other children restrained.

"Boys!" Daenys swept Cliff and Jacaerys into her arms. She almost had it in her to strike them, for she was so upset that they would be here at all. "Gods!" She saw Lucerys was bleeding, a knife wrestled away with him by the Kingsguard. "Baela, Rhaena, come here. Where is Bertram?"

"Right there!" Cliff pointed at Ser Harrold. She saw his body had shielded Bertram, who was walking backwards and had a cloth pressed gently over Aemond's eye. She could see it damp with red, thick blood– her son was trying to stop the bleeding.

Bertram looked up at her, face white with fear. "Mother! Mother, he's bleeding too much!"

"Are you daft?" she told the Kingsguard. "Someone, fetch the bloody Maester!" One of them ran ahead. "Find their parents, have them come to the Hall of Nine."

She rushed them there, Ser Harrold setting Aemond in a chair. Daenys snapped at the children to be quiet as they started to shout amongst themselves, kneeling beside Bertram and having him remove the cloth from Aemond's eye for a moment. The gash was wide and went into the eyeball– he would surely lose the eye, but she worried that if the maester didn't come soon, he'd bleed out entirely.

"Well done, my boy," she told Bertram, who she handed a fresh handkerchief to. "Your quick thinking might have saved his life." She held Aemond's hand tight, the boy crying and moaning in pain.

At last, people began to stream in. Rolf was the first to arrive, sweeping the children to the side as the maester followed behind, immediately taking Bertram's place and examining Aemond. Bertram moved to Lucerys, helping him stop the bleeding on his nose. Then came Alicent, falling to her knees beside her son and holding him tight. Her maid, Talya, brought Aegon and Helaena with her– they'd likely still been awake.

Otto arrived, Ser Criston Cole, and finally the King, but Daenys did not see Rhaenyra or Daemon among them. Even the servants had streamed in, along with some other guests of the court. The maester had begun to stitch over the wound; the eye would be lost but could not be removed while the prince was so weak. For now, Bertram had saved him.

"How could you allow such a thing to happen?" demanded Viserys once she'd briefed him on what occurred. "I will have answers."

"The princes were supposed to be abed, My King," said Ser Criston.

"Who had the watch?"

Ser Criston replied carefully, "The young prince was attacked by his own cousins, Your Grace."

Viserys shouted, "You swore oaths to protect and defend my blood!"

"I am very sorry, Your Grace," apologized the guard. "The Kingsguard has never had to defend princes from princes."

"That is no answer–"

"It will heal, will it not, Maester?" pleaded Alicent.

The maester murmured over the jagged stitched scar, "The flesh will heal. But the eye is lost, Your Grace."

In her anger, Alicent stood. She had been crying, but whirled to Aegon. "Where were you?" She smacked him across the face, much to the embarrassment of those gathered. The boy exclaimed, "What was that for?" Alicent snapped, "That was nothing compared to the abuse your brother suffered while you were drowning in your cups, you fool!"

Lord Corlys stormed in from upstairs, shouting to all, "What is the meaning of this?" Rhaenys ran to her granddaughters, hugging them and begging for an explanation. At last, the doors opened, Rhaenyra coming in followed close by Daemon– the two of them still dressed as they'd been for the funeral. Daenys found it odd that Ser Laenor was not with them.

"Jace," called Rhaenyra, running to her boys. When she saw the youngest boy being tended to by Bertram, she cried, "Luke! Show me, show me– who did this?"

"They attacked me!" shouted Aemond angrily.

"He attacked Baela!" retorted Jacaerys. "He broke Luke's nose!"

The children began to shout at each other at the same time, even Cliff snapping with them. There were accusations of Aemond having claimed Vermithor, something about Rhaena being upset, a rock and a blade. "Enough!" shouted Viserys, ignored the first and second time. Even Alicent had begun to cry out when Lucerys accused Aemond of being about to kill Jacaerys, "It should be my son telling the tale–"

"SILENCE!" Viserys's voice thundered through the hall– it must have taken every bit of his strength to do so. He leaned on his cane, weary. In the doorway, Daemon seemed calmly interested. Daenys cast him a suspicious look, wondering why he'd been with Rhaenyra. He refused to meet her gaze.

Beside her, Daenys heard Jacaerys whisper to Rhaenyra, "He called us bastards." She saw Rhaenyra's face harden, and she stood, furious.

"Aemond," said Viserys. He limped towards his son, who still shivered from pain. "I will have the truth of what happened. Now."

"What else is there to hear?" said Alicent. "Your son has been maimed." Your son as well, Alicent. Let us not pretend Viserys remembers Aemond is his child half the days. "Her son is responsible."

"It was a regrettable accident," said Rhaenyra defensively.

"Accident?" Alicent seemed to want to laugh mirthlessly. "The prince Lucerys brought a blade to the ambush. He meant to kill my son."

Rhaenyra revealed, "It was my sons who were attacked and forced to defend themselves. Vile insults were levied against them."

"What insults?" asked Viserys. Otto leaned in, interested. She saw him looking down at the boys, who looked shamefully at their feet. Cliff's jaw was tight, he was growing more upset and restrained only by Rolf's hand on his shoulder.

"The legitimacy of my sons' birth was put loudly to question." Is it a question or is it fact? It worried Daenys that even the children could see it, unless Alicent had been telling them directly.

Even Viserys seemed surprised. "What?"

"He called us bastards," admitted Jacaerys.

The hall was silent. When no one made a move to speak, Daenys pulled Bertram away from Lucerys. All watched as she knelt before her son. "Bertram," she said, giving him a firm look, "you will say the truth of it, now. Exactly whathappened out there?"

Bertram pursed his lips. "Your Grace," he looked to his uncle, "Cliff and I were looking for the library when we came across our cousins. They were going to the beach. Vermithor was seen flying. I tried to tell them that Vermithor flew away to Dragonstone when my mother's grandsire died, she told me the story herself. But the twins insisted they'd seen Vermithor with a rider."

"Go on," prompted Daenys when he seemed hesitant to continue. "The truth. No matter what it is."

"We found Aemond coming back to the castle," said Bertram. "He was riding Vermithor. He claimed him. Rhaena was upset that he'd taken her mother's dragon, and Aemond started to say she should have claimed him herself. Rhaena attacked Aemond first. Cliff tried to stop her before she reached Aemond, but Aemond threw her down." He started to speak faster, "Everyone started to hit each other, Aemond said he'd feed them to his dragon if they hit him again. Cliff said there was no changing things, that the dragon was claimed and this wouldn't change anything, but no one was listening and Aemond had a rock and he was going to beat Luke's head with it, then Jace had a knife and Cliff wrestled it away from him, but Aemond called them bastards so Cliff got upset and he said he'd settle the matter in single combat with Aemond but then Luke cut Aemond."

Daenys cupped his face. "Thank you for your honesty, my boy."

Rhaenyra seemed satisfied with Bertram's confession. "My sons are in line to inherit the Iron Throne, Your Grace. This is the highest of treasons. Prince Aemond must be sharply questioned so we might learn where he heard such slanders."

Daenys wouldn't have taken it so far, because everyone knew where he might have heard those things– two of them were standing in the same room. It came as no surprise to her when Alicent grew angrier, "Over an insult? My son has lost an eye."

Bertram shot out, "With all due respect, Your Grace, losing an eye is nothing when he aimed to take the life of his nephews. I think the consequence was well-matched to his actions."

"Bertram," said Rolf sharply.

"No," said Bertram. "If I'm to tell the truth, I tell the whole truth. I said what happened. Aemond didn't listen to Cliff when he said it didn't matter. He still wanted a fight. They shouldn't have attacked Aemond but they're littler than him and they are mourning. He made threats first, he said ugly things first, he picked up the rock before Jace drew his blade. And Jace only had a blade because we might've needed to protect ourselves from a stranger. Mother said not to trust anyone here, not even our own kin."

Daenys wished he hadn't deigned to include that last bit, but she could not pretend it wasn't what she thought. As eyes turned to her, she stood firm. "You always say we should never hit girls even if they hit us," said Bertram to Rolf. "You and Mother say that we should be gentlemen. Aemond could take the dragon, but he should not have hit Rhaena or Baela. He shouldn't have said what he did."

Aemond was growing more upset. He didn't seem to understand why Bertram had even bothered saving his life if he was going to immediately say he deserved what happened to him. Yet, Daenys knew that went to show how realistic Bertram was in comparison to his peers. She was even proud that Cliff had been more eager to stop the conflict until he heard Aemond's insults. He'd restrained himself better than she would have at their age. If she'd been Rhaena, she probably would have cut Aemond from the first with her own knife.

Viserys seemed to agree with Bertram. "You tell me, boy," he said to his son, "where did you hear this lie?"

"The insult was training yard bluster," Alicent tried to say. "The lot of boys, it was nothing–"

"Aemond," pressed Viserys. "I asked you a question." He knew as well as all of them that it was no bluster. Even Daenys's children knew to never use that insult on someone.

Alicent attempted to pull attention away again, "Where is Ser Laenor, I wonder? The boys' father? Perhaps he might have something to say in the matter?"

Wouldn't you like that. Viserys, however, did seem to wonder, if only because his presumed sons were being questioned, "Yes, where is Ser Laenor?"

"I do not know, Your Grace," admitted Rhaenyra. She looked mildly embarrassed. "I... could not find sleep. I had gone out to walk."

Alicent's voice was laced with malice, "Entertaining his young squires, I would venture."

Viserys tired of the subject of Laenor. Once more, he stared down at his son, "Aemond, look at me. Your king demands an answer. Who spoke these lies to you?"

The scared boy looked at his other first; everyone noticed it. At last, he decided, "It was Aegon."

Aegon looked as though he'd been slapped again. "Me?" He was so confused, anyone with the slightest bit of perception could see that. Daenys was glad that Aenar and Alyssa weren't present, they might have shouted that fact out for all to hear.

Viserys did not appear to doubt this. "And you, boy? Where did you hear these such calumnies?" When the boy didn't immediately reply, he shouted in his face, "Aegon! Tell me the truth of it!"

The boy cringed, startled. He found the courage to say, "We know, Father. Everyone knows. Just look at them."

No one else dared to speak on the matter. "This interminable infighting must cease!" yelled Viserys. "All of you! We are family. Now make your apologies and show good will to one another. Your father, your grandsire, your king demands it."

Alicent was still near tears of frustration, not satisfied. "That is insufficient," she called as Viserys began to walk away. "Aemond has been damaged permanently, My King. 'Good will' cannot make him whole."

"I know, Alicent," he replied. "But I cannot restore his eye."

"No, because it's been taken!"

"What would you have me do?!"

"There is a debt to be paid." She faced Rhaenyra. "I shall have one of her son's eyes in return."

"My dear wife," pleaded Viserys, thinking her too angry. Only Daenys seemed to understand how dangerous Alicent was in this moment. She pushed Bertram towards his father and held tight the hilt of her sword.

"He is your son, Viserys," begged Alicent. "Your blood."

"Do not allow your temper to guide your judgment..."

She straightened up. "If the King will not seek justice, the Queen will. Ser Criston, bring me the eye of Lucerys Velaryon. He can choose which eye to keep, a privilege he did not grant my son."

"That's not fair!" Cliff shouted as Rhaenyra's boys jumped behind her. "Aemond's lucky it was only his eye, it should have been his fucking throat Lucerys cut for trying to kill his own blood! There is none more accursed than a kinslayer, and he was ever willing!"

Rolf clamped his hand over his son's mouth before Alicent could start demanding Cliff's tongue as well. "Stay your hand, Cole," said Rolf, glaring at him. "My wife's broken your nose once before."

Ser Criston didn't seem as though he'd been remotely considering Alicent's ask. Rolf's words only seemed to make her more wroth, "You are sworn to me!"

"As your protector, My Queen," he clarified. Not as your executioner.

"Alicent," pleaded Viserys. "This matter... is finished." He was exhausted, clearly. "Do you understand?" She glared at him silently. "And let it be known, anyone whose tongue dares to question the birth of Princess Rhaenyra's sons should have it removed."

"Thank you, Father," said Rhaenyra gently. She made to lead her boys away, but Alicent would not have it. In a split second, the Queen seized the blade at Viserys's belt, storming towards Lucerys with it raised. There were shouts, the Kingsguard leapt to defend Viserys, Rolf pulled the boys as far away from Alicent as possible, Ser Criston rushed to defend Alicent and Daemon shoved him aside. Daenys unsheathed her sword and shoved the blade right under the knife to stop its path as Rhaenyra seized Alicent's wrists, Bloodrain the only thing that kept Alicent from cutting into Rhaenyra's eye.

"Girls," pleaded Daenys. "My girls. Step away from each other, now."

"You've gone too far," said Rhaenyra in disbelief.

"I?" shrieked Alicent, her blade grinding against the edge of Daenys's sword, a high-pitched cry of mourning for the girls that would never again bear love for each other. "What have I done but what was expected of me? Forever upholding the kingdom, the family, the law. While you flout all to do as you please!"

"Alicent, step away," begged Daenys. She could tilt her sword and cut Alicent's hand without difficulty, but she did not wish to maim her.

"Where is duty?" she continued to shout at Rhaenyra. "Where is sacrifice? It's trampled under your pretty foot again!"

Even Otto seemed eager to end this, "Release the blade, Alicent." His eyes met Daenys's. She wondered if he remembered how she used to run after her little girls, how she'd carry them on her shoulders and let them pretend she was their dragon. How she'd comforted them after nightmares and loved them as her own.

Alicent would do no such thing. "And now you take my son's eye, and to even that, you feel entitled."

"Exhausting, wasn't it?" challenged Rhaenyra. "Hiding beneath the cloak of your own righteousness. But now they see you as you are."

Alicent made to strike, but Daenys turned her sword up. The blade clattered to the floor, and Daenys was quick to kick it away. Rolf caught it with his foot, lifting it carefully and returning it to the king.

"Do not mourn me, Mother," said Aemond once Daenys had pushed Alicent away, the Queen's chest still rising and falling in fury. "It was a fair exchange. I may have lost an eye, but I gained a dragon."

He looked at Cliff with what remained of him. Daenys knew Aemond would not forget the way Bertram and Cliff both spoke against him. Bertram seemed mildly ashamed, but Cliff glared at his cousin without an ounce of regret.

It was a silent challenge only Daenys could see, because she alone knew the stare that Cliff sent back at him. It was the same way she'd looked at Otto the day he betrayed her. The day she knew that the next time a conflict between them arose, only one would live to tell the tale, for she'd never tolerate a second slight.

"This proceeding it as an end," said Viserys. He limped away, the Kingsguard close behind him. Daenys ushered Rolf and her sons back to their rooms, not speaking to either until they were safe there.

Her other children were awake and waiting for them. "I do not have it in me to be angry at either of you, despite the fact you disobeyed me," said Daenys to her boys as she sat them down. She looked at them, their little faces of quiet shame. "I am... proud. You both defended your family fiercely today. You defended what was right, regardless of who you care more for. I know how close you were to Aemond, Cliff, and still you spoke about his wrongs. And you, Bertram, where you could have chosen to defend the honor of Rhaenyra and Daemon's children by placing all fault on the cousin you hardly know, you said honestly who had done what."

Rolf placed his hand on her shoulder. "My love... they are old enough. They should know the full truth of this... where we stand. All the truth, especially considering the words that were used today."

She knew he was right. "All of you, sit down." Aenar, Alyssa, and Gemma joined them. "We do not know for certain what is to come... we only have an idea that war will be inevitable. I've taught you all much about my grandsire's reign, about the fact I might've been heir to the Iron Throne. But I've neglected to tell you about the players in this strange game, a game I was forced to start playing as a young girl and have not stopped playing now."

She took Aenar and Alyssa's hands. "It is a game that continues with a story... of two little girls and a man I once trusted."

-

A/N: Happy 200 pages! In preparation for the timeskip next chapter, these are the grown faceclaims for Daenys's children: Aenar is played by James Northcote (Aldhelm in The Last Kingdom, I just feel like he looks a lotttt like Rhys Ifans). Alyssa is played by Millie Brady (Aethelflaed in The Last Kingdom). Cliff is played by Marco Ilsø (Hvitserk in Vikings). Gemma is played by Isabelle Connolly (Antonina in Domina, 2021). Bertram is played by Harry Gilby (Athelstan in The Last Kingdom). Pretend they are all a little younger to fit with the ages they will be at the start of the next chapter: the twins 20, Cliff 19, Gemma 18, and Bertram 17.