'How is the loading of the remedies going?' Diane asked, catching Duncan at the entrance to the castle. 'Need any more people?'

'No, not as far as I'm aware,' Duncan answered. 'I'm going down there to check right now. If everything is still going smoothly, we will be able to depart in two hours... three at most.'

'Alright, sounds good. Thank you,' Diane smiled and patted him on the arm before going to meet Gerardys. She was told by a servant that he wanted to speak with her and there was no need to postpone it.

Diane found him in the library. She was simultaneously surprised and pleased to see Daira and Dayra there as well. They were reading a book and taking notes while Gerardys supervised.

The twins were dressed way better than they had been the last time she saw them and they were both engrossed in a book but they looked up when they heard her approaching.

'Lady Diane!' the girl exclaimed, and both of the twins jumped to their feet and bowed to her.

'It is so nice to see you,' the boy added with a bright smile.

Upon closer inspection, the twins also seemed to gain a little bit of weight in a healthy way and their brown hair - that reached their shoulders - was carefully braided so it wouldn't get in their face.

'Please, do not interrupt your studies on my behalf,' Diane smiled, waving for the twins to sit. 'I just need to have a quick chat with your mentor,' she looked at Gerardys who got up to his feet.

'May we talk in the next room, my lady? I don't want us to be overheard,' the maester said.

'Of course. No problem at all.'

They moved to the next room which was technically an extension of a library but was more secluded and had comfortable red armchairs. Diane sat on one of them and Gerardys sat on another next to her. The maester looked kind of nervous which was not a good sign because Gerardys usually managed to keep himself calm and collected. So Diane decided to start whatever conversation Gerardys wanted to have with something more light-hearted.

'I see Daira and Dayra are getting accustomed to living in the castle rather well,' Diane said with a small smile. She had been surprised to hear that instead of finding the twins home in one of the villages, Gerardys decided to house them in the castle itself. Not like Diane minded. Gods know, the castle had enough room to house the whole of the Red Keep and then some. Two children wouldn't even start to make a difference.

'Yes. Yes, they do. I have been looking into finding myself help for a while. Our budget is growing as well as the amount of people and it gets harder for me to keep track of it all on my own. And the twins are... they are lacking education, that is true, but they are quick and smart, and I decided I should rather teach them from the start than try to... I know I should have consulted you beforehand but-'

'Nonsense,' Diane cut him off. 'Gerardys, you are the closest person I have to a Hand. I trust your judgment. And if you think the twins will be useful to you, then I fully support your decision.'

'Thank you, my lady. That truly means a lot to me,' Gerardys said and touched his maester chain with a sigh. 'There is something I should let you know.'

'What is it?' Diane asked, hoping it wasn't something bad.

'I have been... struggling with my faith lately,' the maester confessed. 'The doubt... I admit, it has always been there. Even before I took my vows as a maester but I had always managed to brush it off. But after years of living here, amongst people of another faith and different values... the doubt became the strongest it has ever been. The septons would be fast to declare Dragonstone a sinful place but how could it be when I see how many lives it saved and how happy people are here? Even more so after you, my lady, took the burden of the ruling. How can I claim it's an abomination when I know in my heart that it is not?'

Diane searched the maester's face before asking, 'Something happened, am I right?'

Gerardys sighed again, 'I got the letter from the Citadel. They say I am condoning your actions too much and that my position should be upheld by someone who can push against the influence of false Gods.'

'And what of you?'

'They command me to go back to Old Town so I would be able to renew my devotion to the Faith. And they will send another maester to replace me. They wish to do it as soon as possible.'

'I do not care for the Citadel's wishes,' Diane said. 'They are not in charge either of me or this island. King Jaehaerys gave us autonomy to make our own choices to preserve Valyrian culture which the Faith of Seven has no say in.'

'To be frank, I thought you would say something like that,' Gerardys smiled a little. Diane's devotion to her people and Valyrian legacy was truly something to be admired.

'So what do you wish to do?' she asked. 'No other maester is coming here, that's for sure. It would be extremely unfair to let a rabbit into a snakes' den. We would eat him alive,' Diane added, making Gerardys chuckle. 'But if you wish to leave... I will respect your decision, even though it would be a great sorrow not only for me but for everyone here.'

Gerardys nodded and kept quiet for a while, his fingers fumbling with his chain, before saying, 'A maester cannot disobey Citadel's orders. That's a part of our vows. We swear to serve God in all of their faces which means serving the Citadel.'

Diane had a lot of issues with that statement alone but she kept her mouth shut, letting Gerardys finish.

'However... If I am not a maester anymore, I do not have to obey their orders.'

Diane blinked, a pleasant surprise blooming in her chest when she realized that this conversation would probably not go the way she expected it to but in the best possible way.

'Do you wish to renounce your vows?' she asked.

Gerardys chuckled. 'I appreciate you choosing this particular turn of phrase, my lady, but yes. I believe it is long overdue,' he then proceeded to remove the chain from his neck and just held it in his hands for a few seconds. 'I've spent so many years devoted to this path. I am frankly not sure what else is out there.'

Diane smiled gently and reached out to cover his hand in a supportive gesture, 'I think this world might just surprise you. And whatever path you might choose, there will always be a place for you at Dragonstone and the Dragon Council. After all, we need our own Master of Coin now more than ever.'

Gerardys smiled. 'Thank you, my lady,' he put his chain in her hand. 'I know how much you love to make a good scene so if you want to, perhaps, send this chain to Old Town to rub it in the Citadel's faith... I am not gonna stop you.'

Diane's smile turned into a grin, 'You know me too well.'

'That's a part of my job,' Gerardys said and got up. 'Now, if you will excuse me, I need to continue my lesson with the twins.'

'Of course,' Diane nodded, looking down at the chain in her hands and already composing a snarky letter she would definitely attach to it in her mind.

'And, Lady Diane?' Gerardys suddenly called, making her look up at him. 'My name is Ser Gerardys Brune. I am the third son of the late Lord of the Dyre Den. My nephew currently holds that title.'

Diane smiled at that, 'It is nice to meet you, Ser Gerardys Brune.'

***

'Isn't it the little troublemaker that I'm seeing?' the old woman said, getting off the ship. She was wearing a dark red tunic with a golden thread and hood that was now down. Mandias and lēkias didn't have a uniform precisely (as holy brothers and sisters of the Faith of Seven did) but they usually wore tunics of dark red color to show unity in their devotion to the Gods or in case they needed to stand out. As of right now, all the healers and their apprentices wore dark red so it would be easier to spot them in a crowd and the small folk would know who to turn to for help.

Diane's lips stretched into a smile. 'Kaerinna,' she said and came closer, letting the mandia hug her. 'I didn't know you were coming.'

'Even a woman as old as me needs to get out from that island once in a while to see the world.'

'I don't think King's Landing is far enough to be deemed "the world".'

'Oh, shoosh. Do not dampen my adventurous spirit!' Kaerinna smacked her on the arm.

Diane smiled, 'I'll keep my mouth shut.'

She then proceeded to escort Kaerinna to an empty building that they decided to use as a temporary healer base to give away remedies and - if needed - swiftly treat people who needed immediate medical attention.

The healers from Dragonstone organized themselves rather efficiently and Diane was once again surprised by how her community was able to make the best of what little they had. Now with the money coming in, Dragonstone was starting to flourish. They were able to build new housing, fix roads, clean the streets, provide the people with clean water and good food... but when Diane was growing up, Dragonstone was surviving on the will of people who refused to give up and a tight-knit community who upheld their morals and helped each other in the time of need. She hoped to preserve that spirit even with success coming their way.

Diane was pulled from her thoughts by some commotion that was happening at one of the entrances and went to investigate so that the healers wouldn't be pulled from their work.

'There is a line here!' a male voice rumbled which was followed by a rather deep cough.

'I know- I'm sorry but- my daughter! Please, she can't breathe! Please, please, someone help me-' the woman sobbed, obviously terrified. She couldn't be much older than twenty. Her clothes looked old, torn, and stitched back over and over, but clean and put together. She looked like a woman who tried to do her best in a crippling poverty.

Diane pushed through the crowd. People tried to protest but then recognized who she was and shut their mouths very quickly. You do not bite the hand that feeds you, after all. And they knew that the only reason they were getting help was because of Princess Rhaenyra's charity and the generosity of the Lady of Dragonstone.

'Hey, hey, deep breath,' Diane said, finally getting to the woman and steadying her by the shoulders. 'Deep breath, come on. It won't help your daughter if you let panic suffocate you.'

The woman took a shaky breath with her eyes wide. It wasn't precisely deep but it was all that she was capable of so Diane counted it as a win.

'Now, where is your daughter?' she asked.

'At home, two streets over. Please, please, I need help,' the woman pleaded.

Diane looked around but all the healers seemed to be too busy to leave right this second so she turned to the woman and said, 'Alright, I'll come. Lead the way.'

The woman blinked in pure shock, 'Y-you?'

'Yes. I know I'm not a healer but I was raised amongst healers. I want to think I'm not completely incompetent,' Diane smiled as reassuringly as she could, grabbing one of the bags with healer necessities on her way out.

It took them around five minutes to get to the building and then a few to get to the third floor by the stairs that had definitely seen better days. The room the woman led Diane to was small and somewhat empty but tidy and looked after. As soon as Diane walked in, another woman jumped from the bed. She had dark brown skin and curly hair that was tied up. Her clothes looked like something a merchant would wear but the state of them told Diane that her business - whatever it was - was not doing great.

'Marianne, she can't stop cough- holy fuck!' the woman exclaimed as soon as she saw Diane. Her eyes widened in pure disbelief.

'I prefer when people call me Lady Diane,' Diane nodded to her and then walked around to the girl who was sitting on the bed. She was around the same age as Aegon, maybe slightly older. By the looks of her, she had a high fever and a persistent cough. 'Hi, sweetie. I'm here to help you feel better. You don't mind, do you?'

While Diane was examining the girl, the woman approached Marianne. 'What is she doing here?'

'Be quiet, Jay,' Marianne shushed her. 'She is here to help.'

Jay scoffed, 'Much help she will be. Royals can't even tie their own clothes, what makes you think she will be of any use?'

'Don't say that!' Marianne exclaimed quietly, her eyes wide. How could she say anything like that in front of a member of a royal family and not fear repercussions?

'I assure you, we know how to tie our own clothes,' Diane said with a chuckle, making the women whip their heads in her direction. 'But if we hire help to do it for us, it just creates more jobs for commoners, does it not?' she glanced at Jay who looked quite taken off guard by that answer and then returned her full attention to the little girl. She seemed to have some trouble breathing that seemed to be coming from her throat. As if there was a lump she couldn't quite swallow.

Diane proceeded to give the girl the remedies for the fever she brought with her as well as try to encourage her to drink warm water. While Marianne was putting a damp cloth on her daughter's head to bring the fever down, Diane opened a window to let the fresh air in, hoping it would help the girl breathe better and wondered if there was anything else she could do. The remedies she brought were good but they were no magic and with how ill this girl seemed to be...

There was a sudden wheezing sound, and Marianne exclaimed, 'Lady Diane!'

'On the table,' Diane immediately commanded.

'What?' Jay and Marianne asked simultaneously.

'Get her on the table. Now! Come on, she is suffocating,' Diane said, grabbing a blanket from the bed and putting it on the table so the girl wouldn't have to lie on just the hard surface.

Diane heard the cluttering of metal cutlery as Jay pushed the things from the table right to the floor. Marianne lifted her daughter from the bed and Diane helped to put her on the table on her stomach and then slide her down so the top half of her was hanging down. 'Hold her legs,' she instructed and Jay and Marianne immediately grabbed one leg each. The girl kept wheezing, trying to get some air into her lungs and failing.

'I just need you to cough. Come on, dear, come on,' Diane muttered, hitting the girl's back with the sides of her hands. The build-up from the cold got too dense for her to swallow so unless she coughed it up, she would not be able to breathe. And Diane did not need a dead child on her hands.

'She is not breathing!' Marianne said and she looked like she was about to cry again.

'Come on, come on, come on, dear,' Diane encouraged. 'Help us out here. Cough!'

There were a few rasps and then the girl finally coughed, spitting excessive build-up right on the floor. And then she took a raspy breath, signaling that her throat cleared up enough to breathe again.

'That's it. Good girl,' Diane praised, rubbing the girl's back before she helped Marianne and Jay to pull her back up. 'In my experience, she should start getting better now,' Diane added as Marianne hugged her baby tightly to her. 'If you keep giving her the remedies, of course. They help a lot.'

'It won't... happen again?' Jay asked, and she looked shaken even though she was trying to hide it.

'Let's hope not. But even if it does, you know what to do now.'

'Thank you,' Marianne said, rocking her baby in her arms. It seemed like she wouldn't be able to let go of her daughter for a while.

Diane smiled a little, 'I am glad I was of use.'

'I am- um- I apologize for my behavior earlier, my lady,' Jay started as Marianne took her daughter back to bed. 'I did not wish to insult you-'

'No need,' Diane interrupted her. 'Believe it or not, I understand. Mothers always get protective of their children.'

'No, I am not- Marianne is the mother, I am just a friend,' Jay was all too fast to correct her.

Diane chuckled, 'Could have fooled me.'

She then picked up the bag she had brought with her and left. It would be only an hour later that Marianne would find a handful of golden dragons on the table right next to the remedies Diane left for her daughter.

***

The knock on a door made Rhaenyra look up from the book she was currently reading. She was lying in bed because she felt really tired that day and her back hurt a lot so she decided a lazy day was long overdue.

Daemon - who was actually doing his work but looked like he was just shuffling papers all around the table - got up to open the door.

'I hope it's not an inconvenient time,' Rhaenyra heard Haisa's voice on the other side of the door.

'No, you are alright. Come on in,' Daemon said and stepped to the side.

Haisa walked inside the room with a girl who was around four and ten following her. Rhaenyra figured it was Bianca, Haisa's daughter. The princess set up a little straighter in her bed.

'Good day, Your Grace,' Haisa smiled. 'How are you feeling?'

'I have been better but I shall get through it,' Rhaenyra smiled, caressing her belly. Everything considered, she had a rather easy pregnancy so far so she didn't feel like she had a right to complain. 'Is there a reason for your visit other than checking on me?'

'Yes, there is, actually,' Haisa nodded. 'May I inquire if you have found a wet nurse for your child yet?'

Rhaenyra shook her head, 'Not yet. We have been looking but-'

'Our trust is not that easy to earn,' Daemon finished, going back to the table to shuffle the papers some more.

They had an idea to hire Frella but she was already way too occupied with Aegon and Aemond and it wouldn't be fair to take her away from the boys. There were good wet nurses out there but Daemon and Rhaenyra's main concern was their loyalties. Would they be loyal to them personally or to the crown? Because they couldn't possibly trust someone who could listen to the orders of Queen Alicent just because she technically outranked Rhaenyra. They needed someone loyal to them personally - like Haisa, Frella, or Athelstan - or at least someone with ties to Dragonstone because only a fool would want to get on Diane's bad side.

'May I offer you my daughter's services?' Haisa said. 'She is young and she won't be able to breastfeed but as far as I understand, Your Grace, you plan on doing it yourself?'

'Yes,' Rhaenyra nodded. She felt like it would be an important part of her connecting with her child and she wished to do that if she was able to. 'You have an experience of looking after children... Bianca, right?'

'Yes, Your Grace. I have been helping with little children since I was ten. And ever since I moved to the Red Keep, I have been looking after servants' children during the day. I've also read a couple of books on child rearing so I feel confident in my skills to look after the little prince or princess,' Bianca said, and even though she looked slightly nervous, Rhaenyra got a feeling that the girl was up to the task.

'I can personally vouch for her, of course,' Haisa added.

'I thought you were going to become a healer,' Daemon pointed out. 'Like your mother, Levi, and Faith.'

'I don't seem to have a talent for it, Your Grace,' Bianca smiled shyly. 'But I am good with children and I enjoy looking after them.'

Daemon looked at his wife, 'What do you think about it, my little dragon?'

Rhaenyra smiled, 'I think it's a sign from the Gods,' she then looked at Bianca and said, 'I believe we will take you up on that offer.'

A bright smile appeared on the girl's face, 'Thank you, Your Grace. I promise I won't let you down.'

***

'So do you think he is more of a roses or tulips kind of guy?' Gwayne asked thoughtfully, making Diane smile.

'I think he will appreciate it either way.'

Gwayne pouted, 'You are not being very helpful.'

'And you are overthinking it way too much. Athelstan will be grateful either way.'

'I know! But I don't want him to just be grateful, I want him to like them. And before you say anything, yes, there is a difference.'

Diane chuckled, 'Try peonies.'

'The...'

'The white and pink ones.'

'Alright, then. What about blue? There are blue peonies, aren't there?'

'Yes. But stick to the white and pink ones if you can. You can ask my father where he buys flowers for Nyra 'cause the ones he brings are always fresh and look good.'

'Ha, that would be an interesting conversation to have with my Lord Commander but why not?' Gwayne chuckled. 'What do you think-' he then started but was interrupted by Otto who came literally out of nowhere.

'Son,' he nodded.

'Father?' Gwayne's acknowledgment sounded more like a question than anything.

Otto turned to Diane. 'Is there any particular reason my daughter thinks you are a witch?' he asked and he looked so done as if he wanted this conversation to end before it even started.

Diane blinked, 'I am sorry, what?'

'Did anything particular happen that made my daughter think that you, and I quote, "practice sinister magic and bring evil into this castle"?'

Diane giggled. 'I'm sorry,' she added when Otto let out a tortured sigh and then squeezed his shoulder. 'I'm sorry, no, I don't know. I didn't do anything. We haven't even crossed paths lately.'

'For some reason, I thought so,' Otto pinched the bridge of his nose.

'That might be my fault, actually,' Gwayne said, making Otto and Diane look at him.

'You told her I was a witch?' Diane asked, the laughter evident in her voice. Not like that was precisely wrong. She was half-Molfar, not a witch, but no one had to know about it. And not like she used the powers she possessed in any way lately. The only thing she truly did was keep the black roses fresh (unless Otto sent her a new bouquet which he did from time to time).

'No! No, why would I? I meant that I told her a few days ago that I converted to Valyrian Faith and this feels suspiciously connected,' Gwayne said. Then he realized what he said and looked at his father somewhat expectantly.

Otto sighed, 'You shouldn't have. Told her, that's what. I don't care what you believe in otherwise... as long as it's within reason.'

Gwayne perked up at that somewhat. His father not caring couldn't precisely count as support but he didn't seem to be mad at him or even disappointed which Gwayne took as a win.

'Does she really go around telling people I'm a witch?' Diane asked.

'I... don't think so,' Otto said but he didn't sound all too convincing. 'Surely, she must understand that it sounds-'

'Mad,' Gwayne supplied. He was still petty about how his sister had spoken about Athelstan.

'Unbecoming for a Queen,' Otto finished pointedly. She was still Queen, after all, and they couldn't talk disrespectfully about her... at least while in public.

'I hope she won't send septons after me or something. Because, as I am constantly reminded, killing septons is considered a bad tone in King's Landing.'

'Is there a place where it is not a "bad tone"?' Otto asked.

'Oh, you'll be surprised,' Diane smiled at him, her eyes turning wicked. Otto chuckled.

'Alright, I'm gonna go. Like right now,' Gwayne informed, starting to walk backward. 'Because despite me being supportive, I prefer not to witness...' he waved his hands. '...that.'

Otto rolled his eyes.

'Oh, Diane, don't forget that I'm picking up Athelstan at seven today,' Gwayne reminded, walking away.

'I remember. But you don't have to check in with me every time, I'm not his mother.'

'No, but you are like... a scary older sister. I'm being respectful!' Gwayne exclaimed before turning the corner.

Diane let out a laugh and looked at Otto. He glanced around to make sure no one was watching, took her hand in his, and asked, 'Do you have plans for tonight?'

'Not really. Why?'

'Would you like to join me for dinner? I promise to behave myself.'

Diane smiled, 'Alright. I'll put the boys to sleep and then join you.'

Otto smiled a little and leaned down to leave a fast kiss on her lips. 'I'll be waiting,' he then said and walked away.

Diane bit her lip, trying to suppress a smile, as she watched him leave. It felt nice to be properly wooed. And besides, as long as Otto was occupied with her, he wasn't occupied with plotting to usurp Rhaenyra's throne so that was a win-win.

Daemon, who was unfortunate enough to appear in the wrong place at the completely wrong time, sighed and left before his daughter could see him. Despite his own feelings about the scene he had just witnessed, he didn't have the heart to ruin Diane's mood. Because Diane was smiling, and Daemon had known her long enough to know that was her real smile.