╔═══════๑♡๑═══════╗
CHAPTER NINETEEN
╚═══════๑♡๑═══════╝

IT HAD BEEN TWO MONTHS SINCE THE HUNT. When they had returned Viserys had made her aware that he had sent help to the Stepstones. She knew well enough, Daemon was not going to accept that because of his stubbornness. He would sooner die, as her father said. But she was thankful to her father, even if Daemon wouldn't accept it, she accepted the gesture.

But Aenora and her father did not stay on good terms for long. Only two weeks after the hunt, he had sent Rhaenyra off in hopes of finding her a suitor. Though, Aenora knew marrying was a tradition, she was very protective over her sister. She knew how men could be.

Aenora smiled in the mirror to her daughter, she was brushing Aevas hair and watching her sons play on the bed. It was late in the day, but she had chose to let herself, as well as the children, sleep in. She had sent Lydia and Emely away when they had came to get them ready for the day. It wasn't often Aenora readied her own sons an daughter, and she didn't like that. She decided that from now on, she'd be the one to dress them and fix their hair.

Aenora had already dressed her sons and was just about finished with Aevas hair when Lydia, Emely, and another maiden brought in their lunch.

Rhaemax and Jaelyx were quick to run to the table where the food was set. Aeva waited til her mother was done with her hair before also running to the table.

"They are so grown." Lydia sat down next to Aenora.

"I know. Soon they'll be able to take care of themselves." Aenora joked as she watched her small children stuff their faces with foods.

"Max especially." Emely grinned at her Princess. Rhaemax was making a mess of his face as he ate.

"If you're hungry I suggest you go eat before there's nothing left." Lydia said.

Aenora went to pick up a bowl of mixed fruits, then sat back down with her friends. She never seemed to be hungry in the middle of the day, but it was a different story at night.

"I would like to thank the two of you for being my friends, especially now. You've helped me with my two sons and daughter, who mean the absolute world to me. I appreciate you both more than you'll ever know." Aenora told the two maidens as she took their hands in hers.

Both Lydia and Emely smiled at her. They too appreciated her, and not because she was simply kind to them but because she made them apart of her family.

When they were all on Dragonstone, Lydia met Emely, who was another handmaiden. The two fell deeply in love in a short time. Aenora immediately accepted Emely into her small family as soon as she saw how happy Emely made Lydia.

Aenora brought Emely into her service so that she and Lydia could be together at almost all times. On Dragonstone they didn't have as many duties as they did in King's Landing, which was only for a cover up and because they were the only other people Aenora trusted the three children with besides Daemon and Rhaenyra.

"As do we, Nora. We thank you for letting us be happy together." Emely brought Aenora into a tight hug.

"And for letting us be apart of your family." Lydia added.

"I don't think I'd be who I am without you, Lydia. You've taken care of me ever since we were both young." Aenora reminisced about her childhood. "I am glad you've found companionship in this wonderful woman, Emely."

"So am I." Emely gave a smile to Lydia.

"Me too." Lydia said, causing the girls to laugh.

After Aenora had put her children to sleep in their rooms, she walked down the long hall regretting letting them sleep in so late. It took her a long time getting Rhaemax and Jaelyx to sleep, and twice as long for Aeva. It didn't help that they liked to fight their sleep and ask many questions before they were even ready to lay down.

She was sure that one, or all of them, would end up in her bed later that night.

"Goodnight." Aenora said to the guard that was posted outside of her door.

"Goodnight, Princess." The man gave her a nod as he opened the door for her.

When Aenora walked into her chambers she set the book she had been carrying on one of the tables. But when she turned to walk towards her bed, her heart dropped at the sight of a shadow standing in the balcony's doorway.

She froze out of fear, unknowing of what to do.

Aenora cursed herself for blowing out all the candles before she left to put her children to sleep.

As the figure walked closer to her, she began praying to the Gods for their forgiveness in case she were to die that very night.

"Seven hells." She whispered to herself.

A familiar laugh came from the man, "You scare so easily, my love."

Aenora took off the hood that was covering her husbands face. "Daemon! What in Gods name are you doing in a cloak, in the shadows of my room?"

Daemon smiled down at his wife, who he missed more than words can explain. He placed his hands on either sides of her arms and admired her for a moment before speaking again.

"Are you angry with me, Nora?" He questioned, still smiling at her.

Aenora tried to appear angry but it was no use, a smile crept onto her lips. She melted into him. Love, joy, and excitement filled her entire being.

"I guess not." Daemon said.

Daemon put a finger under chin, making her look up at him. He ran his thumb over her lips before pulling her to kiss him.

Daemon could not explain how much he yearned for her while he was away. He missed everything about her; her voice, her smell, her touch, and simply just her presence.

"I've missed you, Daemon." Aenoras voice was soft, almost a whisper. She looked up into his eyes, happiness clear in her own.

"I don't think you'd believe me if I told you how much I missed you." Daemon told her, placing his hands on the sides of her face. He examined her face for awhile.

"Why are you staring at me?" Aenora laughed.

"You look different, more mature." Daemon paused. "You've changed."

Daemon was a bit saddened, before he left she still had a young mentality. Now, just by her demeanor he could tell she has grown. He wished he could've seen the change in his wife, instead of coming back to it.

"Of course I have, I've been raising our three young children. Though, it seems I'm not the only one who's changed." Aenora ran her fingers through Daemons, now short, hair.

Daemon smiled and the thought of his children. He couldn't wait to meet them. To see how they've grown. And to see their personalities, he wondered if they were like Aenora or himself. He had loved them from a distance for three years, he was ready to be a father to them.

"The children; Max, Alex, and Aeva. Tell of them. What are they like? How have they been?" Daemon asked as he sat on the bed.

Aenora was about to move to sit next him when the large door opened and the said white haired little children came running in, with Lydia and Emely running after them.

"I'm sorry, Nora- Daemon?" Lydia smiled widely once she saw her friend.

But Daemon payed no mind to her, his gaze was focused on his not-so-small children.
He too began to smile.

Rhaemax, Jaelyx, and Aeva all hid behind their mothers dress.

Daemon kneeled to their level.

Aenora picked up Aeva and brought the boys in front of her. "Little ones, this is your father."

Immediately, Rhaemax and Jaelyx ran and hugged their father. In their hearts they could feel the bond that was once there.

Aeva only hid her face in Aenoras shoulder. She did not know him. Aenora knew Aeva would be the hardest.

Daemon stood up and looked at his daughter.
Aenora tried to hand the small girl to him, but she began to cry and cling to her mothers neck.

She was scared of Daemon.

Daemons gaze went from his daughter to his wife. It wasn't often Aenora saw Daemon sad, he usually hid his emotions. Especially sadness. But she saw the hurt on his face quite clear in that moment.

Lydia and Emely looked to one another, they knew that's how Aeva was going to react. Aeva had always hated meeting people.

Aenoras fear had came true.

"I'm sorry." Aenora whispered to Daemon.

▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

AUTHORS NOTE
i think i fixed my sleep schedule to some extent. but sorry for not posting yesterday, i was way too tired to even think. But part two to this chapter will either be out tmr or later tonight.
thoughts?