Their plan was in motion.

Harwin and Lyonel had set out days later for Harrenhal, much to the obvious dismay of Rhaenyra and the boys. Daella had stood in the Tower of the Hand, looking down upon the carriage that drifted slowly behind Harwin and his horse. Her lips curled up with interest, seeing Jacaerys and Lucerys lingering on the ramparts over the yard.

Rhaenyra had grown desperate to fix her image after Harwin's outburst, having spoken in the Small Council prior to Lyonel's attempt to resign. Alicent had found Daella in the sept when she brought Helaena for prayer. Kneeling together where her little sister couldn't hear, Daella listened to Alicent mutter how Rhaenyra had dared suggest that they betrothe Jacaerys to Helaena or Aelora. Viserys had found it amusing, but Alicent had been disgusted.

"Of course she'd like to pawn one of our daughters off for her bastard to strengthen his pitiful claim," said Daella coldly. "Neither of them will be wasted on that boy." She clasped her fingers together, gritting her teeth. "I say we have no choice. We must announce the plan your father has had. Make it known that Aegon and Helaena will wed. In fact, we ought to wed them as soon as we can... though they ought not be made to lay together until she is older." There goes my wish to wed Aegon to Aelora, but I cannot change Otto's mind about this.

Apparently, their refusal had not sat well with Rhaenyra. She'd packed up her family and decided they would henceforth live at Dragonstone. Daella couldn't contain her glee this time. Rhaenyra, fleeing like a dog with its tail between its legs. She was admitting the truth with her move, because why else would these whispers in the corridor bother her so? If one had nothing to hide, one needn't worry what was being said. Gossip could not be eradicated... but some things were gossip, others were merely truth-telling.

How quickly Rhaenyra would turn her back on any affairs of state, to turn her back on the people she sought to rule. She'd make no contributions, yet expect them to welcome her with open arms. She'd hide her sons away from court, let them not be seen as anything but what they were... bastards. Soon, all anyone would remember was that the boys had not looked like Targaryens at all. Her claim would weaken now, and she would leave her father behind, knowing he was slowly getting sicker and sicker.

As soon as Rhaenyra left, Daella had made her moves. She'd spoken to the Small Council members she knew would cleave to her will. She proposed to them this: she would hold a seat on the Small Council so that a Princess would continue to speak out, and Aegon would be brought on as cupbearer to begin hearing what these meetings were like. Additionally, she made sure to ask what they thought about this business with Harwin and Rhaenyra... whether they still thought Lord Lyonel could give unbiased counsel to her father. When all thought him compromised, she made sure to remind them that the old Hand was only a raven away.

They'd agreed, and two days after Rhaenyra's departure, Daella had her seat while Aegon's task list grew. Her little brother hadn't been happy, but Daella had promised he would now be free from attending dragon lessons with the other children– he would be allowed to fly at the same time as Helaena and Dreamfyre, unbothered by the younger boys. That had certainly made him smile.

In another week, they struck gold. A letter came from Ser Simon Strong, informing them of a terrible fire that had taken place at Harrenhal and claimed the lives of Lord Lyonel and Ser Harwin. How devastating indeed. Daella had met with Larys at once, and he told her he'd paid men from the Black Cells to do this for him... the only thing they had to subject themselves to was losing their tongue, and none knew how to write to say what they'd been asked to do. They were free now, to live as they pleased, and the lordship was his.

Daella had cried to her father the way she used to when she was very little. She knew how to tug at his heartstrings. She'd come to see him with little Aemma and burst into tears, laying her head on his knee and telling him what a terrible thing this was to hear, that it reminded her of the day they lost their mother. Her little girl had cried, too, because she didn't know why Daella was so upset. Viserys had been moved, and had immediately asked what he might do to make her feel better.

How quickly he does whatever he can to keep me happy when Rhaenyra is no longer around to be his favorite. She'd shook her head, she'd cried that there was nothing that could make her feel better, that it was him she worried about. Whatever rumors there were with Harwin, Lord Strong had been a good man, and she worried that her father needed to be surrounded by good men. Good men, she told him, like Otto Hightower, who had once given him such great counsel. She reminded him how kind Otto had been to her when her mother died, how he used to speak with her about her grief. How he was Gwayne's father, Alicent's father, his old friend. How could they ever come back from such tragedy without his wit, without his strength?

Her father had agreed that this was the right thing to do. He remembered Otto fondly, he said that time had passed and that he knew Otto would serve him well. Daella could hardly hold back a smile. For years she'd been whispering to her father how much she missed Otto, what a good Hand he'd been, and now without question he agreed. He'd written to Otto at once, and Daella had carried Aemma back to her rooms to write him a letter as well, to tell him all the wonderful things she'd done.

She told him how she'd 'taken care' of these rumors– when he was here in-person, she'd tell him that she'd made her little deal with Larys, but spare him the other... details. She told him how she'd 'cleared' the right path– she'd show him proudly Aegon as a cupbearer, Aegon in the room he always should've been allowed into. She told him about the betrothal she and Alicent drafted and announced– Aegon would wed Helaena in two years' time, when he turned fifteen and she thirteen. She even told him that she'd refused to wed Jacaerys to Aelora– what a joke that was.

To her great surprise, Otto had replied with less pride than she expected. He had more questions, questions that she couldn't answer in a letter, lest it fall into the wrong hands. Her eyes had widened and filled with tears to see that he did not agree with her refusal to betrothe Jacaerys to Aelora. Helaena was out of the question, but Aelora could be betrothed if only in name. She'd nearly shredded the paper with her nails and teeth.

'It is no waste to see Aelora betrothed to Jacaerys. Naught would come of it, but if it did, the loss would not be so great. Should we encounter opposition, we will need someone within to turn the tides in our favor. Aelora could have been prepared for this duty. You and I will need to speak of this when I return.'

She'd ripped her curtains that day, furious that he wasn't fully happy with her. She hated when he made her feel that she hadn't done something right. She needed him to see, to see that she was fully devoted to him, that she'd do anything for their cause, that she was doing everything he wanted her to do, that she was here, suffering King's Landing away from him because he needed someone there to tell him what was happening. How couldn't he see, how couldn't he see?

The worst news came when he had nearly returned from Oldtown. Just as she was becoming excited at the prospect of being near him again, a raven came to tell them that Laena had died in childbirth. Her body would be brought to Driftmark from Pentos, and they were all invited to come pay their respects as she was laid to rest in the sea with the rest of her family.

The shock of it all made her murderous. She'd gone out on Vermithor for hours and made him land on the same cliff where her mother's body was given to the gods so she might scream out into the sky in fury. She hadn't been close to Laena in recent years; her old friend had never seen her the same after what happened with Ser Criston. But she had still been her friend, her cousin. Daemon was at fault for this, Daemon had taken her to Pentos and isolated her from her family, had impregnated her again though Baela and Rhaena's birth had been difficult on her. It wasn't fair, it wasn't, it was cruel. Laena had deserved better, far better.

Otto had returned mere days before they were set to leave for Driftmark. She was angry with him, despite how happy she was to see him. She wanted to hurt his feelings the way he hurt hers. He'd surmised as much during their first encounter, when she'd pulled a knife on him again and sneered in his face that she'd been doing everything here, enduring everything she was trying to escape, all for him to go and say that it was not enough. He'd twisted her wrist until she let go of the knife and placed her hand on his throat instead. He let her smack him across the face and shake him until his teeth chattered, and when her anger dissipated, he kissed her hard and fucked her until her legs ached. She loved how he made her hurt this way.

They traveled together to Driftmark, all the children glad to see Otto again. Helaena, Aelora, and Aemma had put flowers in his hair the second day he was there. Aeneas had talked to him for so long, Daella wondered if Otto would grow irritated. But how could he? His son was as clever as him. Gwayne, Norman, and Bryndon had all taken after their mother in that regard... only Aeneas and Alistair had shown signs of being as well-studied as Otto, and Aeneas alone showed he had the cunning that it took to succeed with one's mind.

Her father was unwell the entire voyage. She'd helped him get settled into his room, Aemma hiding behind her skirts and shyly watching as Rhaenys held Viserys's hands, the two whispering some words to each other for comfort. "Rhaenys," said Daella when she had a moment, striding to her aunt. "Truly, I wish to all the gods that I could bring her back to you. I am sorry."

The look that Rhaenys gave her wasn't one Daella could understand. She didn't seem pacified. "Thank you," she said, somewhat stiffly. "I am glad that Laena had you as a friend..." The way her voice dragged, Daella couldn't help but wonder if she meant to add, 'For a time.' It wasn't as though Rhaenys didn't know that they hardly wrote to each other in these last years. Nothing had been the same since Rhaenyra and Laenor's wedding, nothing.

They stood together as a family– what shreds of it they were– when Laena's body was brought to them in a stone coffin that did not bear her likeness. Corlys's brother, Vaemond, presided over the ceremony, speaking to all, "Tubī Velario Lentro Ābrāzme Laene iēdrarta mōrqittot, māzīlarē tubirri Elēdrion ziry umīsilza luo dāriot, hannagon Embrurliot gierūlti. Solion tolijor zijosy pradarose, Ābrāzma Laena rāeniot hen eglio ilvot lanto taloti hembis. Pōja muña hen zȳho solio āmāzīlus daor, yn ānogrosa gierī ozletaksi humbilza." (T: We join today at the Seat of the Sea to commit the Lady Laena of House Velaryon to the eternal waters, the dominion of the Merling King, where He will guard her for all days to come. As she sets to sea for her final voyage, the Lady Laena leaves two true-born daughters on the shore. Though their mother will not return from her voyage, they will all remain bound together in blood.)

Daella noticed the way he glanced at Rhaenyra and her three sons as he said, "Velario ānogro rȳ lopor ojāris. Īlvon qumblī iāris. Īlvon drējī iāris. Se dōrī vajiñagon īlvon bēvilis." (T: Salt courses through Velaryon blood. Ours runs thick. Ours runs true. And ours must never thin.)

So, he knows, too, thought Daella. Her lips almost curled, but she kept her arms tight around her children, prompting them to look on as Laena's coffin was moved into the sea. She heard Daemon let out a laugh, one as cold as the sea his wife's body was about to plunge into. Gods, how she hated him. Vaemond spoke, "Talus mandus ñuhus. Inkoso kostōbāpis aōhis jelmīs sagon, gīso lykāpas aōhas embis, se prūmȳsa lēdāpas aōhas manengīs." (T: My gentle niece. May your winds be as strong as your back, your seas be as calm as your spirit, and your nets be as full as your heart.)

A part of her died as she watched Laena's coffin sink into the waters, listening to Vaemond conclude, "From the sea we came. To the sea we shall return." She remembered how they used to gossip together, how Laena used to make her laugh, how they ran around as little girls and flew together on their dragons. Vhagar had accompanied Laena from Pentos, not bearing to stay in Essos without her. Daella had heard her mournful song in the night. Goodbye, Laena. I miss what we used to have.

A dinner was held after the family had time alone at the docks to pay their respects. Daella waited to approach Laenor then, bringing her children with her to express her condolences. He hardly seemed to hear her, so lost in his own world. She missed the friendship they had had, too. She knew more than anyone how close he and Laena had been– until she'd left for Pentos, they'd been inseparable. She remembered Laenor taking care of them when they were younger. Laena had been his best friend, and here he was stuck in a loveless marriage pretending to be a father to bastard children.

"Will she see the others in our family, if she is buried at sea?" asked Aeneas as Daella sat the children down by the balcony overlooking the water. "Do we all see each other, when we die?"

"I do not know what lies beyond for us," said Daella. "I've never fully decided for myself what it is I believe about the afterlife. But I do hope there is peace. Laena was a fierce dragonrider. I know that wherever she is, she has seen others of her kind again. Met her grandfather, Prince Aemon, and been able to hold the babe she could not birth." Mostly to herself, she added, "My mother will be there to soothe her."

She did not let them linger long after dinner, sweeping them back into the castle before her father could think to corner her and Rhaenyra for any sort of conversation– she didn't want it. Despite their many complaints, she put her children to bed first, then fetched Aegon, Helaena, and Aemond. It was better they were not with the adults– nowhere near Daemon. Helaena levied no complaint, but both Aegon and Aemond thought themselves too old to be ushered away. She smelled wine on Aegon when she gave him his goodnight kiss, and warned him about his indulgence. He was a prince and ought to be seen to behave as such. No one wanted a drunk for a king. He rolled his eyes at her and turned his head to let her kiss his cheek again.

She retired to her rooms whilst Gwayne still lingered out with Alicent and Otto. Driftmark wasn't the same without Laena– she'd never been here without her. She was looking forward to returning to the castle, to being away from these memories, away from Rhaenyra. Sleep called to her, and she decided not to wait for Gwayne– after all, he was not the sort to make her want to remain awake.

It felt as though she'd hardly slept when she heard shouting. Her blood ran cold, and she shot up, the clang of knights' armor and the swish of their swords ringing harshly through the night. As she ripped out of her room, she felt that tug in her gut, the one where Vermithor would feel her emotions and prime her anger to rise– he knew she was about to find something she wouldn't like.

She ran to her children first, to gather them and keep them out of harm's way. She had gone to Aemma first, and found her still asleep. Alistair was awake, but in his room. It was Aelora and Aeneas that were gone, and that chilled her further. The shouts, they had something to do with the children, she was sure of it.

She didn't bother to see that Gwayne was running behind her, asking what was wrong. She didn't care that her curls were a mess and that her nightgown was slipping off her shoulders. She grabbed her skirts and ran, ran following their voices. One of the knights found her as she turned a corner, told her that they were bringing the children to the Hall of Nines. He seemed disturbed– what could have happened?

She nearly shrieked when she skidded in and found Driftmark's maester leaning over Aemond, sat in a chair with blood pouring down his face. Aeneas was beside him, knuckles raw and bleeding. Aelora's face was red, red with anger, and there they were– Rhaenyra's bastard sons and Laena's daughters, all with some sort of scrape on them. "Aemond!" She dropped to her knees, the cut of the stone nothing compared to what her brother must be feeling. "Gods, what has happened?"

The children were all trying to explain at once, and she could not hear them. She took his hand, squeezed it, and looked on as the maester poured some ointment over the swelling where his eye had been– the cut was jagged, and his good eye swam with tears of pain. Behind her, she heard Alicent and her father arriving. She did not move far out of the way as Alicent reached her son, equally as disheveled as Daella but caring nothing for it when she saw her boy.

The guards began to explain something to the King, how the children had been found out of bed, they were fighting– none of it made sense. "How could you allow such a thing to happen?" said her father angrily. Daella looked over her shoulder, the children watching on. Lucerys was holding a cloth to his nose– it appeared to be broken. Gods, a pity for a boy with already so pug of a nose. "I will have answers."

She felt Otto and Gwayne's presence behind her, examining her own children for any harm. Aegon had come, too, likely not having been asleep. He poked at Aelora's shoulder, but it did not stop her from looking enraged. Aeneas watched on so seriously, Daella knew that the cuts on his hands were not bothering him in the slightest. Something had prompted this, something. "The princes were supposed to be abed, my King," said one of the guards shakily. Her father snapped, "Who had the watch?" The guard replied, "The young prince was attacked by his own cousins, Your Grace."

Cousins? Thought Daella. That meant Laena's daughters had been the instigators. Gods, had Aemond said something insensitive? She wouldn't put it past her brother, so accustomed to having to defend himself. She heard her father spit, "You swore oaths to protect and defend my blood!"

The Kingsguard apologized, "I'm very sorry, your Grace, the Kingsguard has never had to defend princes from princes."

Viserys began to thunder, "That is no answer–" Gods, Daella couldn't remember seeing him so angry in a long time. Alicent interrupted, questioning to the maester, "It will heal, will it not, Maester?" The man sighed. "The flesh will heal. But the eye is lost, Your Grace."

Alicent drew away from Aemond, who had closed his good eye and kept a tight hold on Daella's hand for comfort. She watched Alicent stride to Aegon and smack him across the face. "Alicent!" she exclaimed in disbelief as the Queen snarled, "Where were you?" as Aegon complained and questioned what he'd been struck for. "That was nothing compared to the abuse your brother suffered while you were drowning in your cups, you fool!"

He'd probably slipped out of bed the moment Daella put him to sleep. "Alicent," said Daella much sharper, standing and keeping her hold on Aegon. She glared at the woman until she took a step back. Corlys and Rhaenys had arrived by then, equally infuriated. "What is the meaning of this?" The Sea Snake demanded as the Princess rushed to her granddaughters.

The doors behind them opened. In one glance, Daella saw Rhaenyra entering with Daemon close behind. What those two had been doing together, she did not wish to know, but she knew, she knew... gods, her sister must have run to Daemon knowing she could no longer bed Harwin now that he was dead. And with Laena out of the way... Rhaenyra's whoring knew no end.

Her lip curled unintentionally into a sneer as she watched her sister run to her bastards, coddling them without so much as a care for Aemond. Daella remembered how it was when Alicent's children were born– she had always called them brothers and sister, but Rhaenyra kept the 'half' as a mandatory part of the statement. She'd never cared for them much, kept her distance as often as she could. Aemond was nothing to her. Daella couldn't remember the last time Rhaenyra even spoke to them.

With the influx of adults, the children were demanding to be heard again, one saying something about an attack, another about a dragon. Daella could hardly focus, she wanted to tell them to be quiet, but she saw the look in Aeneas's eyes, the way he kept silence, and she knew that he was the only one who would be calm enough to tell them the truth.

At last, her father shouted for silence. "Aemond," he said, limping towards him. "I will have the truth of what happened. Now."

"Father," said Daella defensively. "My brother has lost a great deal of blood, let him be." At this, Alicent added sharply, "What else is there to hear? Your son has been maimed. Her son is responsible." It was Lucerys everyone had incriminated, even in all the shouting– he'd brought a knife to Aemond's eye.

"It was a regrettable accident," replied Rhaenyra defensively, her hold tight on Lucerys. Daella couldn't believe what she was hearing. How could it be accidental when all the children said something of an attack, and Aemond was here, without an eye?

Alicent scoffed. "Accident? The Prince Lucerys brought a blade to the ambush. He meant to kill my son."

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

Daella wanted to roll her eyes. Viserys questioned, "What insults?" So quickly, so eagerly, Rhaenyra said, "The legitimacy of my sons' birth was put loudly to question." When their father questioned this, Jacaerys said softly, "He called us bastards."

The hall was silent. Daella shut her eyes, upset that Aemond had not contained himself. It was no reason to bring out a blade, but she knew her brother could not hold his tongue. A punch would have sufficed, though his words brought no lies. "My sons are in line to inherit the Iron Throne, Your Grace," said Rhaenyra. "This is the highest of treasons. Prince Aemond must be sharply questioned so we might learn where he heard such slanders."

Prince Aemond, you call him. He is our brother, a brother you allow your children to bully, a brother you neglect. A brother who sees the truth of what you are, you vile whore. How little you care that our little brother is hurt. Your son's ugly nose will heal even uglier than it already was, uglier than you made it because you bedded a Strong. But our little brother has lost a bit of what he needs simply to navigate this world.

Alicent seemed offended. "Over an insult? My son has lost an eye." But it was clear that Viserys was going to side with Rhaenyra– he always did.

He leaned over Aemond with little regard for his current state. He looked at Daella as if she was hindering his honesty, but she did not step away nor let go of his hand– he needed her, and their father had shown little care. He had chosen to side with Lucerys over his own son. "You tell me, boy," demanded the King. "Where did you hear this lie?"

"The insult was training yard bluster," Alicent tried to intervene. "The lot of boys, it was nothing–" The King continued to glare at Aemond, ignoring his wife. "Aemond, I asked you a question."

Alicent was now trying to stop the conversation altogether. Daella understood why– both she and Alicent knew what the boys were, but she imagined Alicent threw the words around more freely than she, and likely never reminded the boys that those words were not to be said where the Strongs could hear. "Where is Ser Laenor, I wonder? The boys' father? Perhaps he might have something to say in the matter?"

Daella was curious about that too. Where was he, when his 'sons' needed him? This had at least piqued her father's interest. "Yes, where is Ser Laenor?" He looked to Rhaenyra for an answer.

Guiltily, Daella could see, she replied, "I do not know, Your Grace. "I... could not find sleep. I had gone out to walk." Under her breath, Alicent muttered in a tone laced with malice, "Entertaining his young squires, I would venture."

Daella tired of this. Of Alicent and Rhaenyra's combined indifference– neither cared enough. "Aeneas," said Daella sharply. "The truth of this, now." Her son gave a slow nod.

"Aemond came to find us," he said honestly, glancing at his uncle without regard for the truths he told. It was something Daella knew he got from Otto– he would say the truth no matter how another felt hearing it. "He wanted company, said he would go and see Vhagar. Aelora and I went to keep him company. He claimed her, he flew on her. We were returning to the castle when they found us. Rhaena and Baela were upset, they said Vhagar should have been Rhaena's. Aemond said she should have claimed her if that was the case. He said her cousins could find her a pig to ride. So she hit him."

He seemed to glare at Jacaerys and Lucerys now. "They all started fighting, and no one seemed to care who started it all. I don't know what Prince Daemon teaches his daughters, but I was taught you don't start a fight you cannot win. They pushed Aelora when she tried to stop them, and that wasn't alright with me. Aemond called them bastards after they shoved me into the stone. He didn't mean it about their birth, he meant the way they were acting."

"That's a lie," said Jacaerys angrily. "You know what he meant!"

"Do I?" asked Aeneas, a smirk quirking on the edge of his lips. "We call people bastards all the time simply for being obnoxious. That's what you all were doing, behaving like common dogs. My mother taught me not to start scraps and raise my hands to girls. You hurt my sister, you behaved in a way that was embarrassing for an heir to the throne. Even worse, your brother brought a blade out simply because you were going to lose."

"That's not true!" Jacaerys was fuming, but Daella knew her son had chosen his words well... no one was going to believe much of anything Jacaerys had to say now that Aeneas had reminded them that he'd been acting like a little boy.

Her father was at his wits end, she knew. He shouted once they quieted, "This interminable infighting must cease! 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 near tears, as if this resolved nothing. She clearly hadn't seen how clever Aeneas had been in covering for Aemond. "That is insufficient," she said as the King began to walk away. "Aemond has been damaged permanently, My King. 'Good will' cannot make him whole."

"I know, Alicent," said the King, "but I cannot restore his eye." She snapped, "No, because it's been taken!" He almost seemed ready to roll his eyes, he was so exasperated. Daella knew he didn't care to be there a moment longer. "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."

Even Daella wouldn't have gone so far. What did that change? What did it prove? Alicent could be too quick to react at times. "My dear wife," said Viserys calmly, seeing the anger in Alicent's eyes had not dissipated.

Alicent was crying, but Daella thought the tears were more of shame, for not having done anything for her son. "He is your son, Viserys," cried Alicent. "Your blood."

He warned, "Do not allow your temper to guide your judgment." She was not having it. Turning to one of the Kingsguard, "If the King will not seek justice, the Queen will. One of you, bring me the eye of Lucerys Velaryon." When none moved, she looked to Daella. "You, with your hidden blades, bring me his eye. Let him choose which eye to keep– a privilege he did not grant my son."

"Gods, Alicent," said Daella, exasperated. "There is no point to this. It has been done. I should expect the boy's mother will give him the consequence that is deserved." Her eyes flickered to Rhaenyra, who looked furious– she knew very well how Aeneas had defended Aemond, and Daella knew her sister didn't like it one bit.

"Alicent," said Viserys. "This matter... is finished. Do you understand?" She glared at him, dissatisfied. "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, satisfied. She made to lead her children away, to safety. But Alicent would not have it. She grabbed the knife in the King's belt, storming toward Lucerys. There were several shouts, the Kingsguard leaping to defend their King and to try and prevent bloodshed, and even Daemon had drawn his sword when Otto moved towards his daughter.

Daella had moved fastest, but not to intervene– she didn't care, once she saw Rhaenyra had jumped to defend her son. She pulled her children away, pushed Aelora into Aegon so she might be kept away from the blade. Rhaenyra had caught Alicent's arm as she made to swing the blade; a pity Alicent hadn't known any better. If Daella had wanted the boy's eye, a simple flick would've gotten it for her.

"You've gone too far!" said Rhaenyra in disbelief, struggling to hold Alicent back. Her sister was so weak, Daella would have been able to throw Alicent aside already, blade or not.

"I?" shrieked Alicent. "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, let her go!" demanded Viserys.

"Where is duty?" cried the Queen. "Where is sacrifice? It's trampled under your pretty foot again!"

"Release the blade, Alicent," said Otto in a warning tone. He glanced at Daella with a strange curiosity– perhaps he was seeing potential in his daughter to enter their plan, which thus far had hardly been shared. Alicent could not always be trusted.

She wouldn't listen to her father, or to anyone at that point. "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 snarled, swiping the knife down. Rhaenyra staggered back as Viserys took hold of the Queen. The Princess dropped her hand, blood leaking onto the floor as Lord Corlys held her steady. The Queen let the knife clatter to the floor, and Daella was quick to seize it, sliding it back to her father and glancing to where Rhaenyra's arm continued to bleed.

If it were me, I would've gone for the throat. "She is upset and hysterical with the injury done to her boy," said Daella smoothly to her father. "She is lacking sleep, she doesn't know what she's thinking." Whatever it took to prevent consequence to Alicent. But Rhaenyra was not brave enough to demand anything further– at least in that she'd been smart. Daemon was right beside her... keeping her safe. Gods, they sickened her.

"Do not mourn me, Mother," Aemond tried to say once they'd moved the two women away from each other. "It was a fair exchange. I may have lost an eye. But I gained a dragon." He waited for them to begin escorting his mother away to whisper to Daella, "Now I'm like you."