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CHAPTER SIX
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AENORA STOOD NEXT TO RHAENYRA
at the funeral. It took every bit of Aenoras strength to even stand, it was by the Gods grace she was even there. For the past few days Aenora had slept. She had not eaten, nor spoke. Both Lydia and Rhaenyra had to force her out of her bed and dress her.

Aenora could not look at the corpses that lay on wood in front of her. She looked out to the sea, listening to the wind. She knew everyone was waiting on her, but she wasn't ready to say her last goodbye. But she also knew, she'd never be ready.

Daemon stepped up behind her, "You cannot let them lie there forever, Nora."

"He did this to them," Aenora spoke in Valyrian. "He did this to her, and still he has no heir."

"Your father is in pain just as much as you," Daemon said. "As his eldest, he will need you."

"I will never be a son," she said before taking a few steps forward.

She looked to her father and all she felt was anger. She allowed that anger to consume her. She allowed hate to fill her heart. She saw how miserable Viserys was, and in her mind he deserved it. All things have consequences. That pain he was feeling was his.

Aenora no longer felt bad for living instead of her twin. That was fate, Viserys's fate.

The Princess looked up to Vyr, and as the pain and anger collided she spoke clearly, "Dracarys."

With that simple word Vyr climbed down the hill and let out a terrifying roar followed by fire.

Aenora looked back to the sea as the fire turned Aemma and Baelons corpses to ash.

It wasn't long after Aenora returned to the Red Keep that a Small Council meeting was called. She already knew what it was about. They wanted to know who would be heir.

Aenora was one of the first people in the room, aside from Otto. She said nothing to him when he tried to console her. He told her about his wife and how he knew how she was feeling, which she highly doubted. She did not doubt that he knew pain, he just didn't know hers.

Aenora stayed seated when her father entered. She was still angry, and she would be for a very long time.

He did not say anything when he saw that she did not stand.

"Where's Rhaenyra?" Viserys asked his daughter.

"This is the last place any of us wish to be. She should not be here, Your Grace." Aenora told her father.

Viserys nodded in agreement.

"This is also the last thing any of us want to discuss but I consider the matter urgent," Otto said, causing Aenora to look at him with disgust.

She wanted to know exactly why this needed to be discussed then and not at least in the morning.

"What matter?" Viserys questioned.

"That of your succession. These recent tragedies have left you without an obvious heir."

"The King has an heir, my lord hand." Corlys said.

"Despite how difficult this time is, Your Grace. I feel it's important the succession be firmly in place for the stability of the realm." Otto continued.

"The succession is already set... by precedent and law." Lyonel said to Otto.

"Shall we say his name? Daemon Targaryen" Corlys sat back in his seat, "His claim is even strong now that you are marrying him to Princess Aenora."

Though Aenora had no interest in being heir, she was a annoyed that none of them even gave her claim a thought.

"If Daemon we're to remain the uncontested heir, it could destabilize the realm." Mellos stated.

Aenora rolled her eyes at the statement.

"The realm? Or this council?" Corlys asked.

"No one here could know what Daemon would do were he king, but no one can doubt his ambition."

"Look at what he did with the gold cloaks. The City Watch is fiercely loyal to him. An army of two thousand strong," Otto said.

"An army you gave him, Otto. I named Daemon Master of Laws but you said he was a tyrant. As Master of Coin, you said he was a spendthrift that would beggar the realm. Putting Daemon in command of the City Watch was your solution!" Viserys exclaimed.

Aenora watched the men argue over the man she was soon to be married to. She was quite entertained.

"A half-measure, Your Grace. The truth is Daemon should be far away from this court," Otto explained.

"Daemon is my brother. My blood. He will have his place at my court," Viserys said.

This was the first time Aenora had really seen Viserys defend Daemon on, and mean it. She would do the same if she could. But her father had only placed her there to learn.

"Let him have his place at court, Your Grace, but if the Gods should visit some further tragedy on you, either by design of accident--" Mellos was cut short.

"'Design'? What're you saying? My brother would murder me, take my crown? Are you?" Viserys paused for a moment, "Please. Daemon has ambition, yes, but not for the throne. He lacks the patience for it."

Aenora had to cover her small laugh with a fake cough, which no one paid mind to.

"The Gods have yet to make a man who lacks the patience for absolute power, Your Grace."

"Under such circumstances, it would not be an aberration for the King to name a successor." Mellos said.

"Well, who else would have a claim?" Lyonel asked.

Everyone looked at Mellos, including Aenora.

"The King's first born child," Otto answered.

Aenora stared down at her hands. She knew what the others were about to say about a woman ascending the throne. At that moment she wished she had stayed as far away from this meeting as possible.

"Aenora? A girl? No queen has ever sat the Iron Throne." Lyonel told Viserys.

"That is only by tradition and precedent, Lord Strong." Mellos explained.

"If order and stability so concerns this council, then perhaps we shouldn't break a hundred years of it by naming a girl heir." Lyonel said to Mellos. "And we'd still be giving Daemon power, he would be King Consort."

"Daemon would be a second Maegor, or worse. He is impulsive and violent. It is the duty of this council to protect the King and the realm from him." Otto spoke, irritation clear in his voice. "I am sorry, Your Grace, but that is the truth as I see it, and I know the others here agree."

Viserys looked to Aenora, who was still looking at her hands. "Aenora? What do you make of this?"

To say the least, the men were shocked that Viserys would ask the opinion of her.

Aenora pondered on the question for a moment before answering. "It is your choice, father. Either way, Daemon and I are to be husband and wife and the both of us are the worst possible choices as heir in the eyes of your council. But in all honesty, I do not want to be queen. I feel I'd be an awful ruler."

"I will not be made to choose," Viserys shook his head.

"You wouldn't have to, Your Grace, there are other who would have a claim." Corlys said.

Lyonel laughed, "Such as your wife, Lord Corlys? 'The Queen Who Never Was'?"

"Rhaenys was the only child of Jaehaerys oldest son. She had a strong claim at the Great Council and she already has a male heir." Corlys did not like how his wife was being spoken of.

"Just moments ago, you announce your support for Daemon!" Otto chuckled.

"If we cannot agree on an heir then how can we expect--"

"My wife and son are dead!" Viserys shouted. "I will not sit here and make myself and my daughter suffer crows that come to feast on their corpses!" Viserys got up angrily and walked of the room.

Aenora left shortly after, as well.

As she was walking down the hall to her chambers she thought about the conversation she had just endured. No matter who would become Viserys's successor, none of them would be happy. But really, Aenora didn't care. She might hate her father for what he did but he was not stupid. He would make the right choice, whether it was her, Daemon, Rhaenys, or anyone else. But she prayed that it was not her.

Once she walked into her room she saw a shadow out on the balcony.

"The violent and impulsive King and the soft and gentle Queen. I like the sound of that, actually." Daemon said as he came into the light.

Aenora furrowed her eyebrows, "You were listening?"

"You wouldn't make a terrible queen," Daemon told her.

"I only said that so they don't make me queen," Aenora said as she began taking down her hair.

Daemon sat at the edge of her bed, watching her.

"You really have no interest in the throne, do you?" He asked.

Aenora went to sit by him, "Power does something to people that I do not wish to see happen to myself. I am fine with being a princess on an island far, far away from that damned thing."

Daemon laughed, he never heard Aenora talk out of line.

"You left me the other day," he stated.

"I pushed you, then left you." Aenora smiled at him.

Daemon rolled his eyes before getting back up and walking out to the balcony, in which she followed. Aenora looked up at the sky and admired all of the stars. Daemon watched her for a moment before placing his hands on her hips and pulling her to him.

"Less than a day before we are wed." Daemon said, causing her to look at him.

In the midst of everything today, she had almost forgotten that they are to be wed tomorrow. Sadness hit her once again. How was she to do it without her mother, she thought.

Aenora placed her hands on the sides of his face and pulled him to kiss her. This time it was sweet and soft. Daemon knew she was still heartbroken over her mother and that she was only doing this to feel something. He knew her well.

She tugged on his shirt, signaling for him to take it off. Which he did. This time, Aenora was the one kissing at his neck and chest. He led her back into the room while still kissing her and began undoing her dress. Once the dress was completely off he had lifted her onto the bed. They both knew this was wrong, but they were impatient and simply couldn't wait any longer.

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Authors Note:
First question: do y'all want smut..? Cause I can, it might not be amazeballs but it'll be.. yk.
But, unfortunately, for those who wanted the drama, there will be no "heir for the day" cause like it don't make sense to me that Daemon would be whoring around town when he's getting married the next day. So yea. but hennyways, what else do y'all want to see in the story?
Thoughts?