✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: - :･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: - :･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ✧
𝘐𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘋𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘴 - 𝘉𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴
✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: - :･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: - :･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ✧

It was still very early in the morning and the sun had not even risen when Edith was woken up by her father. She was immediately wide awake and had feared the worst. Her father had only put a finger to his lips and indicated that she should be quiet, then he handed her her coat. As she pulled it over her nightgown she could also see her two younger sisters at the door. Rhaena and Baela also seemed to have been woken by Daemon.

The girls exchanged a glance among themselves, but neither seemed to know what their father was up to. Not even when they arrived at the dragon pit did Daemon say anything. "Where's mother?" wanted Edith to know and although the four of them were alone she whispered. "She's still asleep." Daemon answered his eldest daughter, as if it was a matter of course.

She looked at her father without understanding and shook her head slightly. "And why aren't we allowed to sleep anymore?" now Baela asked in a sleepy voice. Rhaena, on the other hand, had to fight not to yawn. Daemon eyed his daughters as they stood in front of the pit. "Wait here." Daemon said before going down into the pit to the dragons. The three girls were left confused.

The dragon pit was an old vault-like building in King's Landing. There used to be a memorial temple here, built during the reign of Aegon the Conqueror. But it was destroyed by King Maegor I Targaryen, who burned it down on the back of the dragon Balerion, while hundreds of members of a religious order prayed inside. Now the dragons of the family lived under the pit, guarded by dragon keepers. But right now there was no one to be seen.

Edith looked around the dark vault while the three waited for their father. It was dark, only the flaming torch in Baela's hand gave some light to look around. None of them could imagine what had happened here. Edith remembered reading that the famous Golden Wedding of Queen Regent Alyssa Velaryon and her second husband Lord Rogar Baratheon took place here around 49 AC, before the building was completed, with an audience of supposedly forty thousand. It must have been a magnificent celebration.

Each of the girls was lost in her own thoughts when a loud roar was heard from the pit, shortly followed by a beautiful green dragon flying out closely followed by a much larger red dragon. Startled, Edith looked down, but immediately calmed down when she saw her father and no other dragon come out. In his arms he held an oblong trunk.

Moondancer and Caraxes circled around and then settled down beside the Targaryens. "What are you up to?" asked Rhaena, walking towards her father after taking the torch from her sister Baela. Edith also walked closer to Daemon while Baela stood by her dragon, watching the scene curiously.

Daemon placed the box on the floor and then looked at his daughters with a slight grin, then he knelt down and opened the trunk in which there were three boxes. "As you know, Syrax has given us three eggs, which are in my care." Explained the man with silver hair, but didn't answer on of his daughters' many questions, so he continued. "Soon I will have four children and only one has a dragon. I want to change that."

Slowly, Rhaena and Edith seemed to understand the situation. Their father gave the two of them dragons. The two girls knelt in front of the trunk and eyed the three individual boxes curiously. Daemon took out the first box and gave it to Rhaena, then took the second box and gave it to Edith. "Over the past few years I have shared my knowledge of this beautiful creature. I am sure you will take good care of the eggs and treat your dragons well." Added Daemon proudly, stroking the third and final box, which was meant for his unborn child. Now all his children would have a dragon and he couldn't be prouder.

When Baela and Rhaena were born, Daemon and Laena had laid dragon eggs in their cradles. Baela's egg had hatched quickly and her dragon Moondancer had survived, but unfortunately Rhaena's had not. Edith had never had the chance to have a dragon from birth. Her little half-brother was the son of Ser Brandon Stark of Winterfell and possessed neither Valyrian blood nor dragon's blood, so he had no right to a dragon of his own.

What Edith did not know at the time was that her mother Aruna was the true daughter of King Viserys and therefore also a Targaryen by birth. But she had only known this secret for a short time and could not yet tell any of her children. Aruna had somehow hoped that Viserys would at least announce it in front of the family at dinner so that everyone would know, but disappointingly he had not. Then, when he had to rest because of his condition, she didn't dare reveal it herself in front of the others. Only Rhaenyra and Daemon knew about her true blood.

The eldest of the three girls could barely hide the tears of joy in her eyes as she opened her box. "Are you serious?" she asked quietly as she looked at her dragon egg in awe. It was the most beautiful thing the young girl had ever seen. Carefully she stroked the pink egg. "It's quite warm." She observed.

"They're all yours." Confirmed Daemon with a laugh. Happily, the two girls embraced their father and promised to take good care of their dragons and protect them. Baela also came closer now and looked proudly at her sisters and let them show her the dragon eggs. "I love you all. Please don't forget that."

The four of them stayed in the dragon pit with the dragons and eggs until sunrise. Daemon had never been good at expressing or voicing his feelings. This morning with his daughters and the eggs as gifts were his way of showing his love. It meant so much to Edith to feel and hear his love. Her heart ached terribly at the thought of soon being alone here. Once again she had to leave her father for an uncertain time and with him her siblings and her beloved mother.

It was difficult for each of the four to return to the Red Keep when the time came. Each went to their room to freshen up and get dressed, as each wore only their sleeping clothes under their cloaks. Edith hid the box with her dragon egg under her bed, as she was afraid someone might steal her egg when she was not in her room.

Finally, the Blacks' closest family gathered for breakfast. For a moment, the drama of last night was forgotten, as was the worry about the sick king. She had never enjoyed being with her family as much as she did now, and it was all the more difficult when she had to watch her parents pack a little later.

Edith sat on her parents' bed with her little brother Cassian on her lap while Aruna packed the last pieces. It hadn't really been worth unpacking everything, after all they had only been here for two days. Next to Edith sat her sister Rhaena, while Baela sat with Daemon on two armchairs, talking quietly. Daemon would have to leave two daughters because Baela would be travelling back to Driftmark today.

The man did not have a good feeling about this, especially as he had to leave his daughters with a difficult task. One of his daughters had to make sure that there would be no more uprisings in Driftmark and the other... the other had to prevent Aegon from taking the throne. More precisely, Edith had to somehow prevent a war.

But neither of them knew how to accomplish these tasks.

Edith held her little brother tightly in her arms and sadly she had to realise that he wasn't so little anymore. Soon he would celebrate his eighth name day. Another event in which Edith could not participate.

Edith held her little brother tightly in her arms and sadly realised that he wasn't so little anymore. Soon he would celebrate his eighth name day. Another event in which Edith could not participate.

"It hurts me to have to leave you alone. You have to take care of yourself now more than ever, my dear Edda." Her mother began again. She couldn't help warning her daughter over and over again. Aruna was already terribly afraid for her daughter, although nothing had happened yet, and yet she tried to give her daughter important things on the way, which could be useful. "And you will write to me, do you hear?"

"Yes, mother. Please... don't worry." Edith asked her mother. By now the worry was rubbing off on Edith too. She didn't want to admit it, but Edith was scared shitless. "At least I won't be alone for long. I'll have a dragon soon." Aruna reminded her. She had only been in possession of the dragon egg for a few hours and already she was excited and couldn't wait to finally meet him or her. With a dragon, she had the chance to become a dragon rider and would finally be able to be a real Targaryen.

Aruna smiled lovingly at her daughter. Her husband had already told her that he wanted to give one of the eggs to his firstborn daughter, but she hadn't expected it to happen so soon. She herself couldn't wait for the dragon to hatch either, because then Edith would have company and a distraction here, even if she would unfortunately have to wait until she could fly it.

"You will be a great rider! Maybe the king will allow you to help in the dragon pit too? Yes, maybe you can fly one too?" said Rhaena then quite excitedly. The girl was just as excited as her sister about the eggs. Edith had to admit that she liked Rhaena's suggestion. "You're right. I should ask him sometime." Edith mused thoughtfully.

"I wonder if the prince can determine such things?" asked Rhaena then, as she now helped her pregnant stepmother to pack. "The prince is a fool! You shouldn't be near him. You saw Luke's eye this morning!" Baela advised her sister, now joining in the girls' conversation. Baela was right. The scuffle between Luke and Aegon had given the younger of the two a black eye.

"That's right... you'd better be good with him." Rhaena advised her older sister. "And better with his brothers too. You might have to marry one of them." Baela added, rolling her eyes. During the girls' conversation, Aruna and Daemon listened intently and exchanged just a glance.

"You said it; maybe! Whereas you definitely have to marry Jace and Luce. Doesn't that bother you at all?" asked the girl with the brownish hair. She had been wondering about this ever since the announcement. It was true that her two sisters looked shocked at it, but last night they had enjoyed the evening with their betrothed as if they had chosen their grooms out of love.

"Edith please." Her mother encouraged her carefully, as it was a sensitive subject for all of them and Daemon in particular was plagued with strong feelings of guilt.

"I think I speak for both of us when I say that it could have been worse for us. Jace and Luke will be good men one day." Rhaena closed the box she had packed with Aruna, then sat on it as she spoke. Her twin sister momentarily agreed with her.

Edith was almost glad that the twins would marry the two boys, like Rhaena had said they would make good men. Besides, they were Rhaenyra's sons and knew how to treat a woman. On top of that, the four of them knew each other. Edith knew neither Aemond nor Daeron. That she was allowed to choose between them was no consolation to the girl.

"I'm sorry." Rhaena immediately said guiltily when she saw the look on her older sister's face, who looked sad.

"It won't come to that. Not even if you fall in love with one and want to marry him, will I let that happen." Daemon promised his daughter, which was also a threat. Gently he stroked her curly hair and then kissed her forehead. "I'm only a letter away."

Edith couldn't help herself and hugged her father tightly. "Thank you. I promise to always do my best." She promised him with tears in her eyes. It wasn't long before her sisters joined them and then her mother and little brother and it became a big group hug. "I love you all so much."

~~~

As with their missing greeting when the black ones arrived, they were now also not seen off when they left. Edith and Princess Rhaenys were the only ones who said goodbye to their family. Edith hugged each of them long and tightly and in her mother's arms the girl broke down when she could not hold back her tears.

Comfortingly, Aruna stroked her daughter's back to calm her down, even though she herself was crying. Now the time had finally come and Brandon's plans before his death were coming to fruition after all and that annoyed Aruna so much. "Please be safe. Be careful." Aruna asked her eldest and kissed her forehead. "I love you, my dear child. Don't let them get you down and write to me about the beautiful flowers in the garden." Flowers. As her mother was born in Highgarden she grew up with a lot of knowledge about different flowers, which knowledge she had passed on to her daughter.

Each flower was a symbol of something and had a meaning. The two women would take advantage of this when they wrote letters to each other, because they were sure that the letters would be read by others beforehand and no one should know about Edith's real reason for staying.

"I won't, Mother. I'll write to you about every beautiful flower I see, I promise! I love you too." Edith promised her as the two slowly pulled away from each other. "And before anything happens to me, someone else will lose their eye." She joked, managing to make her family laugh. Once more she hugged them all and then said goodbye to her sister Baela who would be flying back to Driftmark.

"Travel safely." Edith asked as she watched her family get into the carriages. "Write to me!" she called after them as the carriages drove off. With a sad look, her family waved out the windows and Edith and Rhaenys waved too, while the older woman had her arm around the young girl.

~~~

"I can't believe it..." then Edith breathed to herself as they walked back into the Red Keep, but Rhaenys could understand her and looked at her encouragingly. "The first goodbye is always the hardest. It gets easier." Advised the princess. Thankfully, Edith then looked at her.

"Lady Edith." Another princess now greeted the girl with a smile as she stood with the two women. "I just saw your family already leaving. My regrets."

"Thank you, my princess." She thanked her, and even managed a slight smile. "Would you join me for a walk?" Helaena looked at Edith sincerely. The princess was an emphatic person and saw immediately how someone was feeling, so now she tried to cheer the other girl up. "I would love to, thank you very much." The two girls said goodbye to Princess Rhaenys before Helaena showed Edith around a bit.

Even though the two girls were walking alone, they did not feel alone. Everywhere Edith could spot guards who seemed to be watching the two. "The eyes of the third are everywhere." Whispered the princess softly. "The third? Do you mean the guards?" asked Edith, confused. Even back in Driftmark, she noticed that Helaena often spoke of something no one understood. Even now Edith did not know what she meant.

"They are watching me." Helaena answered the only obvious thing. Edith looked around the courtyard and could see a guard at almost every corner. She was actually not surprised, because Helaena was the king's daughter and had to be protected and the further they went, the more she realised that the princess was not the king's only child here, which again explained the many guards.

Almost amused, she imagined how the princes had to be protected. She was thinking about how embarrassing it would be if they couldn't defend themselves. The two girls walked closer to the show that two of the three princes were giving. Around them stood some spectators and admirers. As if it were a matter of course, Helaena stood next to her husband and brother while she silently watched her two little brothers. Edith noticed the grim look Aegon gave her, but she chose to ignore it as she also stood silently beside Helaena.

"What are you doing here?" he asked his wife roughly. Helaena did not look at him and also made him wait a long time for an answer before she finally said something. Edith thought Aegon's head was about to burst as red as it was. A funny idea. "I'm showing my new friend the court."

"Of course she's your new friend." Retorted Aegon sarcastically, rolling his eyes. This did not escape Edith at which she looked at him challengingly. "At least she has a friend. Can you say the same, Prince?" she wanted to know from him, taking a step closer to him. Sometimes she really was her father's daughter. Aegon just chastised her with a sour look.

"Can you stop chatting? You're interrupting." Aemond snarled at the two of them. Helaena flinched between Edith and Aegon, startled. Daeron and he stood in a circle of people, surrounding each other as they kept attacking the other.

"Why? Can't you concentrate otherwise?" she joked, eyeing the tall young man with folded arms. "I hate to break it to you, but in a real fight, there's no silence either."

"Yeah, but in a fight there are no annoying little girls." Aemond said back snappishly, interrupting the training battle with his brother by raising his hand.

"Are you saying women can't fight?" she asked challengingly as Aemond walked grimly towards her. It was already a frightening sight, since Aemond was very tall, well-built and with his eye patch and long sword he looked dangerous. "Edith." Helaena gently put a hand on Edith's arm and the sudden physical contact from the princess surprised her now, as she had not wanted physical contact last night.

"Yes Edith. You should listen to your friend." Aegon now also teased at the new girl. She felt instantly like a child again. None of the silver-haired Targaryens had ever liked her. In fact, no child had ever liked Edith and she had never understood why. At some point she started to become mean towards others as well, to protect herself.

"Are you challenging me?" Aemond raised his sword so that the tip almost touched Edith's chest. "Not that you'll get your pretty dress dirty." Slowly she looked up from the tip of the sword to Aemond's eyes, then smiled cheekily. "You think my dress is pretty?" she asked, playfully naïve, demonstratively stroking the golden dress she was wearing today. It really was a pretty dress.

"Mm." Aemond snorted and looked at her angrily. "It's not." Aegon then replied for his younger brother. You could see he was about to say something else mean but was then interrupted by one of the knights. "Okay my princes that's enough now." Ser Adrik said, putting his hand on the shoulder of Prince Aemond and Prince Aegon. Only slowly did Aemond put his sword down.

Edith let go of her dress and eyed the man with the dark shoulder-length hair and thick beard. Adrik Tyrell. Her mother's brother and therefore her uncle. She had only seen him a few times in her childhood until her mother and he had fallen out. Aruna had once told her why, but Edith couldn't make sense of it.

"You two should better go back to the Red Keep." Another knight now interfered. Like Adrik, he wore the silver uniform. Edith recognised him as Ser Criston Cole. her mother and Rhaenyra had informed her earlier of the most important people here and also warned her against them. Cole was one of them. "Edith please come." Helaena asked again, but Edith wasn't thinking about it now. She did not want to leave the princes victorious.

"First I need to make something clear." Explained Edith, snatching Ser Adrik's sword from its holder in one swift and deft movement. With her posture straight and her sword raised, she then approached the tall prince and urged him back to the training ground. "No need to be fearful, Prince Aemond."

"Lady Edith!" her uncle spurred her on, trying to stop her, but Aemond quickly raised his hand and indicated for the spectators to make way. "Don't worry. This should be quick, Ser Adrik." He replied only with a cheeky grin.

She said nothing in reply to his words, because she wanted to keep a clear head during the sword fight. Feelings, no matter what they were, would only lead her to foolishness. It was one of the few things her late stepfather had taught her. Brandon had also had her forge her first sword and shown her how to use it. It had felt like a lifetime ago and it was a time when everything was still good. Before he had started to despise her.

"Watch your dress." He teased again before launching into the first punch. It was a light blow, which Edith managed to deflect without effort. The two circled each other with a sour look and kept going for the stroke. As time passed, Aemond's strokes became harder and Edith's dress and corsage actually hindered her more than she had expected, but she tried not to let it show and lifted her skirt with her free hand so that she had more legroom.

A startled sound was heard when Edith's shoes and her bare ankles were seen. Aemond followed the spectators' gaze to see what horrified them so much and Edith immediately took advantage of this perfect moment and managed to hit the prince on the upper arm. It hadn't been hard, but still his leather top now had a hole in it. "What do you say now?" she asked him challengingly.

Without consideration, Aemond now attacked the lady. Ser Adrik's sword was heavy in Edith's right hand while she held her dress with her left. Her own sword in Dragonstone was much lighter and better balanced than this one. She knew with her own she would have finished him off long ago. For the spectators it was an interesting spectacle of the two young people, as it almost looked as if they were dancing with their swords, fighting each other without scruples.

But to Edith's regret, Aemond managed to grab her by her left hand, then turn her and pull her towards him. He then held her tightly in his grip and held his sword to her throat. "I have won. That' s what I say." He now replied. They both breathed heavily and it was almost like a reflex, but she instantly leaned her back against her enemy's chest.

"Well fought, My Prince." She then confessed to him and began to grin. Over her shoulder, she then looked at him and before she spoke further, they held eye contact for a moment. "But you shouldn't let your own guard down." She reminded him, demonstratively pressing her sword lightly into his side. He had indeed been so distracted that he had not seen her point her sword sideways at him as well. "If I go down, you go down with me."

He glanced at his right side and then pressed her sword sourly with his own away, then put distance between them. "You'll regret this." He breathed softly to her that only she could hear.

"It was an honour." She then only replied and bowed to the prince, but Aemond was already rustling away angrily.

"That was rather dangerous, Edith." Her uncle then hissed at her and picked up his sword again. "Don't ever do that again!" She turned to Adrik and eyed him. Slowly she understood why her father was so unwilling to be in King's Landing. The people here were all uptight and real jerks when it came to fun.

"Not again, until my own sword from Dragonstone arrives here." She retorted still sour from the fight. "You should go to the blacksmith and have your own sword rebalanced."

Now it was Adrik who looked pissed at his niece, then turned and left as well just as the prince had done just before him. In his place Helaena now stepped up to the girl who looked at her worriedly and at the sight of her the anger and any negative feeling in Edith disappeared. "That was incredible! But did my brother hurt you?"

"No. I'm fine." Edith said and smiled sincerely at the girl. "Shall we continue our walk?"

***

Information:
In this story Viserys will live a few weeks/months longer, because I don't want to rush anything here and I want Edith to experience a lot in King's Landing before the dragon dance.

I hope you liked the chapter?:)
What do you think of my photo edit?

Have a nice day / a good night♡♡