｡･::･ﾟ★,｡･::･ﾟ☆ - ☆｡･::･ﾟ★,｡･::･ﾟ☆
  𝘋𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘰𝘥𝘦 - 𝘌𝘯𝘫𝘰𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦
｡･::･ﾟ★,｡･::･ﾟ☆ - ☆｡･::･ﾟ★,｡･::･ﾟ☆

"You should drink some water." Aruna pleaded with the man whose side she had not left.

The two had stood and talked in the water for a long time until the woman was able to convince him to get out of the cold water. Some servants had already waited for the two on the beach with blankets.

Aruna had dried her feet and then put on her shoes again and her cloak with the Stark brooch. She had then put one of the blankets around Laenor, since he was much wetter, and had slowly led him up the stairs.

Now she handed Laenor a pitcher of water, which he drank empty with drooping shoulders. He was no longer crying, but neither was he speaking. It seemed as if the man was empty and not present.

Aruna was very worried about her friend and then instructed him to sit down before he fell over. Laenor responded to her voice and sat down, but showed no further reaction.

"Thank you for getting him out. I had already been looking for him."

The voice would be instantly recognizable to Aruna among all the voices in all of Westeros, even if it didn't sound as youthful as it once did.

"It was the least I could do, Princess." Aruna's heart pounded loudly as she bowed her head. She showed her respect by doing so, despite herself, though she really only lowered her head to avoid looking at Rhaenyra.

"I am surprised to see you here, because I have not received an answer from you." Spoke the princess and heiress of the iron throne further. Somehow she acted as if nothing had ever happened and that annoyed Aruna a lot.

"There was no time for that. It was a long way to get here." Answered the dark-haired tersely and eyed Laenor anxiously.

Rhaenyra didn't miss her distant behavior and that made her sad. "Thank you for being here. I'm glad to see you again."

Aruna nodded and finally looked at her former best friend. "I'm here because of Laena and Laenor. Not for you."

The two had been inseparable as children and had rekindled that friendship as teenagers, yet lost it again.

So much time had passed, but time, as we all know, does not heal all wounds.

"I know." Replied the woman with silver hair, nodding. "I'm glad anyway." Rhaenyra placed a hand on her husband's shoulder and spoke well-meaning words to him in Valyrian.

Aruna then left the two alone, not wanting to eavesdrop. She had only spoken to Daemon in Valyrian once before, however, she didn't know if Rhaenyra was aware that Aruna could speak the language as well.

"Where is Edith?" asked Aruna immediately when she saw only Cassian with her brother.

"She's playing with the other children." Adrik looked at her reassuringly, but Aruna was immediately concerned for her daughter. "Where is she?" she wanted to know as she looked around.

"Why are you so worried? She's one platform down." Without understanding, Adrik looked at his sister.

"Because my daughter doesn't play with other children!" Aruna knew her daughter better than anyone, and alarm bells immediately went off for her. Edith was more of a loner and when she did play with other kids, there was always trouble.

She lifted her skirt as she ran down a flight of stairs. Fortunately, she didn't have to look for her daughter for long. Relieved, she slowed her steps and put a hand on Edith's shoulder. "Here you are!"

"Uncle Adrik said it would be okay if I talked to the others." The girl immediately defended herself to her mother, although there was actually no reason for it.

With her were Alicent's children and Rhaenyra's two oldest sons.

"It is, dear." Aruna's voice was affectionate as always when she spoke to her children. Curious, she then eyed the other children, who were quite still.

Helaena sat on the ground and held a stone in the air, which she admired very much. Her brother Aegon did not look at her with an affectionate gaze and Aemond, on the other hand, looked curiously at Aruna. Jacaerys and Lucerys kept their distance from the Targaryen children and Edith stood right between the two fronts.

The Stark was critical and then eyed her daughter carefully. Edith did not seem upset or seem to be looking for a fight.

She was a well-mannered girl and acted like a lady. But Aruna and Brandon had different ways of raising the children, for Brandon, for example, often treated her like a son and taught her to fight.

Aruna was often afraid for them. She usually tried not to have the fights with Brandon in front of the children, but this was not always avoidable and Edith seemed to pick up on some of it.

Children could also be mean and the girls and boys from Winterfell often made fun of Edith when she held a sword in her hands. To top it off, she was very petite and could hardly fight back, but she usually tried to anyway which didn't always end well.

"I'll be one platform higher if you need me." With a heavy heart she left her daughter alone and went back up the stairs, hoping that the other children would finally treat Edith well.

Aruna hated herself for allowing Edith and Cassian to be treated so differently and unfairly by everyone. She had once spoken out against the Stark about it and had been slapped on the cheek for the first and only time by her husband.

"Are you all right?" asked Adrik. He had been waiting for his sister at the top of the stairs. Aruna nodded and took Cassian in her arms. "Yes all good."

After a few minutes Adrik had to leave his sister and nephew alone when the queen asked for him. Aruna didn't know if she should tell him that she knew Daeron was his son.

All this time she had been a real aunt and had not even known it.

With Cassian in her arms, she went to one of the long tables and gave her son some grapes to eat. Unlike Edith, he was a very quiet child and didn't look for trouble.

Sometimes he was far too quiet and only made Aruna worry more about her children.

This time, when she turned around again, her blue eyes met a pair of violet ones and instantly her stomach tightened.

Daemon stood there with his arms propped on the wall and seemed to have been watching her. His silver hair reached his shoulders and he didn't look a day older. Aruna was immediately envious of the Targaryen genes.

She didn't quite know what to do now. Neither of them broke eye contact and she knew no matter what she did now there would be consequences.

Cassian then moved in her arms and turned the attention back to himself. His mother looked at him with a smile and helped him remove the grapes from the rope. When she next looked up Daemon was gone.

The platforms were full and everywhere were people who cared about Laena. Every now and then the cups were raised in honor of the deceased and memories were exchanged of her.

Aruna wanted to listen and show her respect to her friend, but the words of the others increased her own grief. She could not imagine how much Laena's family was suffering.

It was not difficult to spot Laena's two daughters. They were sitting on a bench among all the many people, yet they were all alone. Her mother's heart bled for them both and she went to them.

"My deepest sympathies on your loss." Aruna's words were soft and gentle and she knelt down in front of the two girls. Cassian stood beside his mother and continued to eat his grapes.

No words in the world could bring Baela and Rhaena back their mother or give them comfort, Aruna knew. Looking into the wet faces of the two she could detect Laena in them and was willing to do and forget anything for them.

"Thank you, Lady Stark." Answered Rhaena in a trembling voice and lowered her head further.

Aruna couldn't help herself and wrapped the girls tightly in her arms. Immediately, Rhaena and Baela leaned against the woman and seemed to finally collapse. Aruna didn't know how long the two had been sitting alone, but they seemed to have more than needed a hug.

The girls clung to Aruna and let the tears run free. But the lady didn't mind that her clothes were getting wet. She held the two until not a single tear was left.

Rhaenys, the grandmother of the two, suddenly stood beside the four. None of them had seen or heard her coming.

"Thank you for your comforting shoulder, Lady Stark." Rhaenys' voice was sincere and she looked sadly at the Lady. Aruna stood up and stroked the girls' cheeks once more, then leaned forward. "I am here for you." She whispered to Baela and Rhaena, then straightened up.

"Come on you two." Rhaenys took the two girls' hands and led them inside.

The sky grew darker and darker until only the moon gave some light. Finally Edith rejoined her mother and the little family went inside.

Corlys had allowed her to stay with them as a guest as long as she wanted and Aruna was very happy about that.

Together with Nia she put her children to bed after a short meal. Aruna tried to get some sleep herself, but she was still too upset and had to think about Laena's daughters all the time.

The woman looked again at her children and at Nia. All three were deep asleep. Aruna then got dressed again and left her chamber to go to the beach.

The sound of the water calmed her thoughts and her feelings and instantly she wished for such a big sea in Winterfell as well, even if it would not make her life easier.

She had taken off her shoes and socks so that she could feel the cold wet sand against her skin. She was rarely all alone, and she enjoyed the quiet all the more.

"Aruna." A voice broke through her longed for silence and the peace she had briefly.

The dark haired one instantly turned to face him. Daemon approached her with slow steps and stood next to her. Apparently he couldn't sleep either.

"Daemon." The woman replied and looked at the water. The sea didn't seem to be resting and the water was making waves while the wind blew and made Aruna's hair fly. "My condolences on the loss of your second wife." She knew it was mean, but she couldn't help herself.

Laena's death sentence had been childbirth and eventually the fire of her dragon. Daemon's first wife was supposed to have had a riding accident, but there were rumors that still said otherwise.

"Why do I just not believe your condolences?" His voice, as always, had a slightly sarcastic undertone. At the same time, his voice brought back memories in her.

"Oh my condolences are real." She replied in a raised voice. "For your daughters and their family."

A brief soft laugh escaped the Targaryen before he became serious again. "I've seen you with my girls. Thank you."

Aruna could say nothing in response. She hadn't done it for him. Everything she had done today had been for Laena and she would be there for her family for as long as they needed her.

"I saw you comforting many today, but did anyone ask you how you were doing?" he wanted to know, but didn't give her time to answer because he immediately continued talking. "How have you been in the last few years?"

"I'm still alive. I'm married. I have children." As if automatically, she answered him, her voice slightly bitter. She didn't know when someone had last asked her honestly how she was feeling. "I guess I could have been worse off."

The moon made Daemon's eyes shine and after a quick glance she forbade herself to look at him. His presence gave her goosebumps and whether she wanted it or not she enjoyed the conversation and his closeness very much.

"That sounds convincingly learned." Daemon commented and slowly walked past Aruna and continued his walk.

Confused, Aruna looked after the man, because she couldn't believe that he just left her standing there. They hadn't seen each other for years! His presence had made her completely forget her frustration towards him and his betrayal at that time.

The woman took her shoes in her hand and ran after him. When Daemon heard her run after him, he smiled and sped up a bit.

Stunned, she stopped and shook her head. "What are you doing?"

"You know very well." He answered her with a grin and took off his shoes as well. There were several meters between them, so they had to speak loudly.

Aruna went closer to him, but in right time Daemon went further and when she got faster, so did he and finally the two of them ran across the beach.

"You're an idiot!" With her skirt up and her shoes in her hand, she ran after him.

"Can you say that to my face too?" he shouted provocatively as he stopped and turned to face her. However, he didn't expect Aruna to be very fast and actually so close already.

The woman could not react and stop that fast and ended up running against him. Together, the two then fell into the sand and started laughing. They laughed like they hadn't in a long time in their lives.

Aruna then turned her head to him. "You're still an idiot!" she repeated, still laughing. Daemon also turned his head to her and eyed her beautiful face. His laughter died away, but there was still a smile on his lips. "Thank you for reminding me."

"You're welcome." She replied sarcastically and sat up. From walking and laughing, the two were quite out of breath. "Will you also tell me how you-" Aruna stopped in her sentence as she felt two arms around her.

Daemon had also sat up and was now hugging her from behind. He rested his head on her shoulder.

She hadn't realized how much she really missed him. Not only his touch, but especially the conversations and the many laughs with him had been missed. Once again her heart opened to him and she leaned into his arms.

"You were right." He then said after a few minutes of silence without moving. " With what?" She honestly didn't know what he meant and waited curiously for his answer.

"I should have told you then. What was with me and Rhaenyra before you came." He clarified her in a calm voice and finally loosened the hug so he could look at her. "But I was so afraid of losing you, and by my silence I did anyway."

"Oh Daemon." Aruna found no words for his confession. She had thought a lot about the situation then, and a lot about her hasty departure to the north in the last few years.

She had gone through every possibility, but no matter how she had never seen a future with Daemon. Eventually she had accepted it all and admitted to herself the real reason for her behavior.

For a long time she had told herself lies and blamed it on the Targaryens' special relationships and traditions. But actually she never wanted to stand in the way of the love between Daemon and Rhaenyra. Instead, she had renounced her actual happiness with him.

"Do you still love Rhaenyra?" the woman with dark hair asked softly.

"Not since you entered King's Landing fourteen years ago, my lady." Daemon looked at her sincerely and leaned his forehead against hers. Immediately Aruna's hands sought his and she squeezed his hands lightly.

"I'm so sorry." She breathed and closed her eyes. She blamed herself for not having reacted differently back then, then surely she would have spent the last years happily in the capital. Otherwise, she would never have had Cassian then.

"It shouldn't." Daemon breathed a warm kiss on her forehead. "Everything happened for a reason."

Not even an army could have stopped Aruna in her next act. The woman broke through the last few inches to him and put her lips on his lips again after all this time.

Immediately the man returned the kiss, which he had wanted for so long.

After her departure, he had married Lady Laena. It had been more a marriage of convenience than a love match. The two had always been happy together, she had been good company and had given him two daughters.

But Laena was not Aruna.

He had missed the woman very much and was not ready to let her go ever again.

Only with difficulty could they break the kiss. "Daemon, my dearest." Lovingly she stroked his cheek. The way he was looking at her right now, Brandon hadn't looked at her in ages. Daemon's hands ran over her body so gently and lovingly, making her forget everything.

"Forgive me." He asked her, kissing her over and over again. Aruna returned each kiss and nodded. "Let's forget everything, please."

Neither of them wanted to think or talk about the past anymore. The past had not been good to either of them, and all the more they would strive to make the future - perhaps a shared one - better.

Together the two got up and walked to a cave made of single boards and branches. It was large enough for both of them to stand, but that was insignificant to the two of them. Holding hands and without words, they had walked in here to find shelter.

Daemon bent down to the woman and kissed her again, his hands wandering over her body. Aruna was only too happy to lean against him and put her head to the side as he began to kiss her neck and undo her dress.

Her hands also started to undress the man and so she opened the strings of his jacket and his shirt and took them off at the same time.

The coat with the woman's fur collar they put under them and continued to undress. Her dress slipped off Aruna's shoulders, exposing her round breasts.

By now the two were kneeling on the coat and Daemon had leaned over and was caressing her breasts with his mouth and tongue. Only with difficulty could Aruna stifle a loud moan.

Finally she felt desired again and like a real woman instead of always being a mother who has to bear more children.

Daemon made her feel long forgotten things with his loving way and with his warm lips.

Carefully she pushed him away from her and onto the floor, then she opened his pants and took them off so that he was also completely naked like her. In contrast to their first time, Aruna was now much more confident about sex and also a bit more experienced.

This also became clear to Daemon when the woman sat on him and kissed him. With her hand she massaged his penis which made him moan. Then Aruna lowered her hips and let him enter her.

She stroked her hair over her shoulders and straightened up while her hips kept rising and falling. She really loved being in control, but was never allowed to act it out. Daemon, on the other hand, let her do all the things she wanted.

Worshipfully, he looked up at her. His hands grabbed her butt and he assisted in leading her, her hands clawing into his shoulders as he did so.

The scars on his body had grown more than the last time Aruna saw them, but each one told a story. She slowly ran her fingers over a scar on his shoulder, looking at him with lustful eyes.

Neither of them could get enough of the other. They stroked each other's bodies, they kissed long and hard and looked deep into each other's eyes as they made love.

So many feelings were experienced by the two and yet there was not a single thought in their minds.

Then the two exchanged positions as Daemon turned them both. Now he leaned over and thrust into her.

Aruna's hands pulled him further down to her until he was completely on top of her, circling his hips and making not only her but himself moan. They both tried to be quiet so as not to be discovered, even though they were far from the castle.

Her legs wrapped around his hips and her fingers ran over his scarred back. She quickly found that he didn't mind and actually seemed to like it. Moaning, he put his head in the crook of her neck and kissed her neck and shoulder.

Aruna also moved her hips under him while he was still thrusting into her. Sometimes slow and loving and sometimes fast and hard. Just as they each needed it right now until they triggered even more feelings in each other and finally shared a moaning climax.