｡･::･ﾟ★,｡･::･ﾟ☆ - ☆｡･::･ﾟ★,｡･::･ﾟ☆
  𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘥 - 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩
｡･::･ﾟ★,｡･::･ﾟ☆ - ☆｡･::･ﾟ★,｡･::･ﾟ☆

The next day dawned far too quickly and the castle's residents and guests had to get up. The night had been far too short for all the events. Hardly anyone had been able to rest or get much sleep in the last hours.

Aruna was the first to wake in her chambers. Not wanting to wake Nia, she quietly got ready by herself. She tied her long hair into a simple bun.

For her journey, she had chosen clothes that had hardly any colour. Deep down she had known the seriousness of Laena's situation. The dress she wore today was a colourless grey with black embroidery.

"Mother?" the little person in bed sleepily straightened up and looked around for her mother.

"I am here, my darling." Aruna got up from the dressing table and sat on the edge of the bed. "How are you?" she asked, looking at the injured wrist. The maester had bandaged it yesterday with wires and bandages.

"It burns and hurts." Confessed the little girl.

"We'll go to the Maester right now." Decided Lady Stark and stood up again. "Come on. We'll get you ready quickly."

Aruna helped her daughter to wash and get ready. Of course, the bow in Edith's hair was not to be missed. Together they went to see the Maester of Driftmark, who immediately gave Edith something for the pain and looked at the wound again.

She was embarrassed, but Aruna could not look at the wound for long without feeling sick. Nevertheless, she stayed by her daughter's side.

By the time they arrived back at her chamber, Nia and Cassian were also awake and already dressed. "Good morning, my lady. Were you able to sleep well?" her maid asked Nia as she did every morning. "Only very little. Yesterday was an eventful day." Aruna greeted her son with a kiss on the forehead as she answered Nia.

"That is more than understandable. Shall I bring breakfast here?" Nia made Aruna's bed and put away yesterday's clothes.

"No, thank you. We will keep the Velaryon family company." Replied Aruna. Cassian was still visibly tired and resisted Aruna's attempt to put a coat on him a little, but her mothering skills managed to get him to put the coat on. "Where is the family having breakfast?"

"I heard from the other maids that they want to eat outside today. Where the celebration in honour of Lady Laena was held yesterday, on the highest platform." Nia informed the small Stark family.

Aruna thanked her and also put on a coat herself, as Edith also put on a coat. Together the three then went outside to the platform. Except for Rhaenys and her husband Corlys, as well as their two granddaughters, there was no one at the much too large table.

"Good morning. May we join you?" asked Edith before Aruna had a chance to say anything.

"But of course. Come sit with me." Rhaenys pointed to the empty seat next to her and Edith immediately sat down by the beautiful woman. Aruna had to smile and sat down next to her daughter, taking Cassian on her lap to better help him eat.

"I hope you were able to get some sleep?" Aruna looked at those present and then eyed the twins worriedly. Rhaena and Baela looked tired and barely touched their food.

"Very poorly, I'm afraid. I suppose you are all feeling the same?" Corlys put down his teacup as he looked at his guests. Everyone at the table looked tired and weakened. Aruna took a cup of tea hoping it would wake her up and could only nod. "Is King Viserys still here?"

"As a matter of fact, yes. A servant has informed us that his health has worsened. The royal family will leave as soon as possible." Rhaenys looked neither pleased nor sad about the impending departure.

"That doesn't sound pleasant." Commented Aruna as she cut her son's bread.

"My brother is tough. He will also survive this illness and outlive us all." Prince Daemon interjected into the conversation. He took a cup and poured himself some tea, then propped his free hand on Baela's back.

Those present looked at the newcomer speechlessly. Daemon was right, but no one would utter those words. But the Targaryen man had always had a special status and was allowed such impertinent answers.

"Prince Daemon." Rhaenys addressed the rebel. "Won't you join us?"

"I am touched by your kindness, but I prefer to stand." Daemon replied, stroking his daughter Baela's hair. "What do you two think of a little flight?" he whispered to his girls as he leaned towards them.

The two sisters looked at their father enthusiastically and nodded. "Oh yes!" Rhaena immediately stood up, but Daemon gently pushed her back in her chair. "Not until you have finished eating."

Fascinated, Aruna watched her lover with his daughters. He was so affectionate with them which made her heart beat faster.

"May I see the dragons too?" Edith had also overheard the private conversation and was now looking at the prince with wide eyes. Daemon immediately noticed the resemblance between Edith and her mother.

"You can't do that, little fighter." Daemon replied to Edith after a short pause. "It's too dangerous for you."

Edith was clearly not amused and looked sadly at her breakfast. Her bright curls fell into her face as her head was lowered, so low that her bow in her hair could be seen. "Oh my dear please don't be sad." Aruna stroked Edith's cheek with her free hand. "The three of us will go for a walk on the beach later. That will be fun too!" she tried to cheer the girl up.

"I don't want to go for a walk." Edith's voice was sad. Her brother Cassian, on the other hand, was smiling playfully with a spoon in his hand. Aruna still had the little one on her lap.

"Prince Daemon is right, little Edith." Corlys now addressed the girl after Aruna's attempt at encouragement had failed. "Dragons are not kind to people without Valyrian blood and I'm sure you don't want to cause your mother any grief."

Corly's words seemed to do something in the girl and she looked up from her breakfast. Edith wasn't crying, but still her pale cheeks were red. "I guess a walk does sound good, Mother."

"Can we go with them, Father?" asked Baela immediately. "We want to show her something!" The twins looked questioningly at their father. By now, the two of them had quickly finished eating and drunk their tea. Corlys and Rhaenys stayed out of the conversation and watched with more interest.

"If the ladies and the little lord don't mind, then very much." Daemon smiled at Aruna. Again, that made her heart beat faster. It was incredible how much effect he was having on the woman again.

"Will you accompany us?" asked Aruna politely of the landowners. She didn't want to exclude the two of them, even if she would like to be alone with Daemon. "I'm afraid we have a lot of work to do." Perhaps it was disrespectful, but Aruna was relieved at Corlys answer.

After breakfast, the two adults and their four children set off for the beach and they walked along the same path Aruna had followed Daemon down last night.

"How is her arm?" The girls were already running ahead and playing catch with each other. Cassian was far too reserved for that and was walking by his mother's hand, which was why she couldn't walk fast, but that didn't seem to bother Daemon. He had his arms folded behind his back and walked comfortably beside the two.

"She slept very restlessly and kicked me in her sleep. Edith was in such pain this morning that we had to go and see the maester." The lady told the prince. Edith had been crying overnight and Cassian had also been awake several times.

"That doesn't sound good. The wound looked very bad." Commented the Prince and sighed before continuing. "She sleeps in your bed?"

The woman nodded and sighed as well. "Yes, it's her first time away from home. Edith has never had it easy." Daemon looked at the woman of his heart with interest. She wasn't the only one who had missed togetherness and conversation. "It's nice to see her with your girls. I've never seen her like this before."

Daemon's gaze immediately moved to the three girls. They had sat down in the sand and were now playing with it. "I guess she inherited more of her mother's Southern genes." Smirked the Targaryen cheekily.

Aruna looked at the man with amusement. "If that's the case, then Edith is a second version of me." The two had to laugh and Daemon agreed with the Stark.

The three arrived at the girls' and Cassian sat down with them and was greeted kindly by them. Daemon and Aruna took a few steps away from the children to continue talking in peace.

"I can't get all of yesterday out of my mind." The man with silver hair then admitted. Aruna would have liked to give him a hug, but didn't know if they might have been watched, and didn't want to give false values. Daemon had not only buried his wife yesterday, but his daughters had also fought with the other children, Vhagar was stolen from the family and he had reconciled with the woman of his heart.

"I can understand that... It was falling all at once." She couldn't help herself and stroked his arm and then took his hand, as she wanted to give him comfort despite her uncertainty. Daemon looked at their joined hands and had to smile.

"Do you regret it?" she asked softly.

The man's smile vanished instantly. "What's the point of asking?" Aruna gave him a meaningful look and tilted her head. "I don't regret it. I'm glad it happened, my lady."

"I'm relieved to hear that." She agreed and exhaled. The tension in her fell as quickly as it had come with his words. "I thought it was very lovely."

Nodding in agreement, Daemon kissed her temple, then leaned down to her ear. He didn't care if anyone could see her or not. He would do anything for this woman and he was willing to show it. "Then let's do it again?"

"Now?" she inquired incredulously, looking around. The children were far enough away that they could not hear her.

"Why not?" Challengingly, he looked down at her, looking so seductive that Aruna was willing to risk it. His words stirred something in her, which was why she squeezed his hand.

His free hand, on the other hand, was on her ass, which he gripped gently. Only with difficulty could she keep from making a startled sound. "Daemon!"

"Not a good time?" He pulled her closer to him and looked into her blue Tyrell eyes.

"What about the children?" she asked, looking to the children, but Daemon turned her head back to him. "We can't do it here-"

"Maybe you're right, but don't think I'll accept an excuse later." He whispered in her ear and then let go. Aruna's heart only beat faster now.

She was willing to risk everything with him and stay with him, but she didn't know how to do it. Brandon would search for her and send the whole north to bring her and her children back. She was very afraid of what would happen then.

"I'm afraid to go back." She then admitted. "I imagined the North very differently." It was no secret that she was unhappy. With Daemon, she had finally found someone to talk to. While she could always talk to Nia, it wasn't the same.

"Did you imagine the north to be warmer?" he joked, crossing his arms behind his back again. Aruna could only roll her eyes. "Yeah, but no." Smirked Aruna and nudged him gently. "Brandon will blame me for Edith's injury."

Understanding, Daemon nodded, imagining the worst. He had always disliked the Stark. He had always been jealous of him. Not only had he been his competitor, but he had been able to win Aruna over. He was allowed to make her his wife. Was allowed to give her children. He had the perfect wife and didn't seem to appreciate it.

Aruna seemed afraid of the North, Afraid of him and it made Daemon angry.

He wondered what he had done to her over the years. He was ready to go to war with the Starks for Aruna and bring her Brandon's head on a lance.

"What did he do to you?" he wanted to know. His face was serious and his mood visibly deteriorated.

"Brandon didn't do anything to me." Something inside her didn't want Daemon to know that Brandon had once slapped her. Daemon had fought in wars before, even fought one for her to bring her a stupid crown. But she didn't want to imagine him as brutal as he really was. "We just fight a lot, but it gets better. The Starks have an heir to focus on and so I finally have my own bedchamber. I'll do my best and do everything for my children."

Married women were not entitled to their own bedroom until they gave their husband a son. A shared bedchamber was supposed to encourage sex and thus beget children, but since the two of them had Cassian and might otherwise kill each other in their sleep at some point, Brandon had given her her own space.

"He tries, but we're just too different and I've never learned to properly know him. " she added to her sentence. She knew she should be happy, after all she had chosen this future, but she wasn't.

"I don't want you to go back to him." Daemon said immediately, holding her hand. "I will kill him if he touches you even once more." His words were brutal and Aruna believed every word he said.

"I'm afraid I can't have my marriage annulled. Cassian is, after all, proof of a legitimate marriage." It burst out of her in frustration without giving further thought to her words.

"I'll think of something." He promised her, looking at her with his mesmerising violet eyes. "Cassian?" It wasn't until he asked that she realised what she'd said. He'd been especially struck by Aegon's statement that Edith should also be a bastard. "And Edith was what you were going to say, wasn't it?"

"Yes!" she replied quickly to his question, but his gaze pierced her. Aruna knew he had already seen through her. "No..."

"She's not Brandon's daughter, isn't she?" Daemon avoided her gaze now. Instead he looked to his daughters, who were playing with Aruna's children. He wondered to himself how he could be so blind. He eyed the two siblings who bore little resemblance to each other except for their blue Tyrell eyes.

Cassian's hair was as dark and straight as Brandon's and already he looked more like a Stark than a Tyrell. Edith, on the other hand, had light brown curls and a narrow nose. Her soft features resembled Aruna's but not Brandon's edgy ones and Edith's height also pointed to her Targaryen genes.

It was also unusual that she had neither the silver hair nor the violet eyes.

Aruna couldn't say the obvious out loud and she wasn't ready to admit it to herself again. Tears gathered in her eyes, which she struggled to suppress. "No."

The silence that followed was the worst Aruna had felt in a long time. Her gaze dropped quickly to the water so she wouldn't have to look at him or the children.

"Is she my daughter, Aruna?" he now asked the question of all questions, sounding so cold and disinterested. His demeanour gave her sickening goosebumps. Instantly, the mood between them was shattered again.

"What if so?" she wanted to know first. Neither looked at the other as they talked. The wind around them seemed to get worse the more the mood tightened and Aruna grew colder than ever.

Daemon did not answer.

He didn't know what to do himself. If Edith was his daughter, then he had one more. She seemed to be a wonderful and at the same time helpless child who could not do anything about her parents' mistakes. At the same time, he didn't know if he was ready for it.

Everyone thought Edith was Brandon's daughter. How was he supposed to treat the girl, knowing that she was his own flesh and blood? He would never be able to tell anyone and he wasn't allowed to treat her any differently.

"She's your girl." She then said softly so that only he could hear. Aruna felt relieved that it was finally out, but at the same time her shoulders were that much heavier now.

"She's not." His answer made her heart tighten. She had hoped for a different response from him after all.

"What are you saying, Daemon?" the lady demanded to know, finally looking at him. His gaze was still fixed on the girls. "She is yours and you know it."

"I don't know that." Replied the Targaryen man with a serious undertone. He turned his head to her and crossed his arms in front of his chest. "She is not and she should not be."

"Daemon! We can't change this." The new Stark reminded him, also crossing her arms in front of her chest. "Maybe not. But we can keep playing the game you've been playing for the last years. She's not my daughter." Daemon explained his point again and then left her standing.

He left his chosen lady and daughters standing on the beach because he couldn't bear his thoughts any longer. If she was his daughter, then he wanted her with him and to take care of her and spoil her. But the worst part was that he couldn't send her north to the man who was supposed to be her father.

Aruna rolled her eyes at his behaviour. Once again he ran away from everything and instantly she sarcastically wondered if and when she would see him again next. At another time she would have run after him or shouted at him, but those days were over.

In a way, she could understand. The events of yesterday were joined by new events today, which changed everything again. But on the other hand, they were all adults.

"Where is father going?" Rhaena was suddenly standing next to Aruna. She hadn't even heard the young girl coming.

"I don't know." She answered honestly and put an arm around her shoulders. "But we should go back too. It's getting pretty cold." Rhaena nodded and called for her sister. Edith and Cassian also joined them and together they went back to the Sea Serpent's house to warm them up with some tea by the fire.

Eventually Rhaenyra's sons kept the four of them company for a while until they found somewhere else to play.

Then suddenly Aruna was alone and while her thoughts drove her almost mad, there was no sign of Daemon.

***
The secret is out! O.o
What do you think about the new cover of the story? :)
Have a good day/night<3