｡･::･ﾟ★,｡･::･ﾟ☆ - ☆｡･::･ﾟ★,｡･::･ﾟ☆
  𝘒𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦 - 𝘉𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳
｡･::･ﾟ★,｡･::･ﾟ☆ - ☆｡･::･ﾟ★,｡･::･ﾟ☆

After twelve long years, Aruna's deepest secret was out. Daemon now knew that Edith was his daughter. But Aruna's guilty conscience did not leave her.

She had taken the children to one of the reading rooms with a fireplace. They had warmed up and when Rhaenyra's sons joined them, the children went outside to play. The emptiness that enveloped Aruna then was indescribable.

Rarely did she have even a moment to herself, she only enjoyed them even more for that. But right now the room felt too small and the fire in the fireplace was far too warm.

Aruna took her cloak in her hand and left the room with quick steps. She wandered aimlessly through the corridors, in which she unfortunately did not know her way around at all. Everything looked the same and so she quickly lost her bearings, but she didn't mind. Aruna had far too much energy.

"Lady Tyrell?"

The woman stopped and waited a moment. She was beginning to think she had misheard when someone called her by her maiden name again. Slowly she took a few steps back until she stood in front of an open door, which she had not seen before.

She entered the room where the king was sitting on a chair. No doubt these seemed to be his chambers during his stay.

"King Viserys." She greeted him with a bow. "Good to see you once more before your departure."

"Ah my departure. I would love to stay longer." Viserys pointed to the door behind Aruna and a servant immediately left the room, closing the door behind him.

"Can't you delay your departure? After all, you are the king." Retorted the lady. When she had spent her childhood days in King's Landing, she had spent a lot of time not only with Rhaenyra and Alicent, but also with Viserys. There had been a point in her life when she had looked up to him as if he were her father since she no longer had hers.

"My wife thinks it's the right thing to do." Viserys coughed hard and Aruna immediately rushed to him. She gave him a cup and a towel, which he accepted gratefully. The king shivered and took a long time to calm down.

Aruna had not been aware of how sick Viserys really was and it saddened her.

"Then we should not doubt her decision." She didn't believe herself and she didn't believe Alicent. The Queen just wanted to get out of here as soon as possible and after last night Aruna wasn't sad about it.

Alicent had shown her true colours and attacked Rhaenyra. She wanted to punish an innocent child because of an accident.

Visery's trembling hand reached for Aruna's and he looked up at her. "No man should doubt the wisdom of a woman." The king was a good and wise man. The woman had greatly missed her conversations with him she realised at that moment.

"My king." Started Aruna and immediately improved. "Viserys... it hurts to see you like this."

"Oh my child. Do not worry about an old man." He immediately rebuked her. But his appearance still made Aruna worry. His skin was even much paler than usual and sallow, he didn't look well at all and the events seemed to have robbed him of his last strength.

"I want to thank you for all you have done for me and my family many years ago." She said honestly, changing the subject. She owed him so much.

Her uncle had taken her and Adrik to King's Landing as children because he had a debt to pay there. Aruna still did not know why and what he had actually done there. She had spent many years there and Viserys had never allowed anyone to judge Aruna and Adrik because of their family's dealings.

Viserys looked at her with a loving gaze. With a look like a father looks at his daughter. "You were just a child." He began, remembering dreamily. "There is no need to thank me. You were good to my daughter, so it was the least I could do for you."

Aruna returned his smile and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "I wish you a pleasant journey, my king. May we meet again soon."

"I will pray for that, Lady Tyrell." That he still addressed her by her maiden name made her smile widen.

She bowed again and then left his chambers. Carefully she closed the door and then leaned against the cold stone wall, fighting back tears. It had hurt so much to see him so sick and vulnerable. He had once been such a strong man and now he was just a shell of himself.

Aruna also realised how much she had missed being addressed as Lady Tyrell when she was shortly addressed by her new title. "Lady Stark. What are you doing here?"

She took a quick breath and suppressed the tears that burned in her eyes. "I am lost, Your Grace." She lied to the Queen. She didn't want to tell her the truth, and her statement wasn't entirely a lie.

Alicent stood before her with her head held high. Behind her stood Aruna's brother in his armour. Aruna felt sick at the sight of the two of them. She loved her brother, but she couldn't look him in the eye.

"Excuse me." She stood up straight and was already turning to leave when Alicent grabbed her hand and held it tightly. "No."

"No?" The dark-haired one turned to face the queen. Adrik stood now behind his sister, blocking her way. "What is this, brother?"

" Aegon and I are sorry for what he said to your daughter, Aruna." Explained Alicent, continuing to hold Aruna's arm. She looked tired and dark circles could be seen under her eyes. Alicent looked broken, but Aruna felt no pity for her.

"That doesn't excuse his behaviour. Because of him and your other son, Aemond, my daughter almost lost her hand!" Lady Stark replied to the Queen, wrenching herself from her grip. She backed up to put distance between herself and Alicent, but she bumped into her brother's chest. "Tell those two to stay away from her."

Alicent looked at her friend with wide eyes and took a moment before she could reply. "They will, I will make sure of that, I promise."

"I'm not interested in your promises." Aruna's voice was gruff and she didn't care that she was being disrespectful. She was angry and disappointed and her anger was high. "Now let me go."

"Don't talk to your queen like that." Adrik instructed her and Aruna immediately looked startled at her brother, as he was proving his loyalty to Alicent and not his sister with his words.

"Her son hurt your niece!" Aruna stood between the two, feeling cornered. Behind her was only the wall and she would only get out of the situation by force, but unlike her brother she was not armed. Besides, she didn't want to lose her head, so she tried to fight back with words. "Let me go, brother."

Adrik looked first at Alicent who shook her head and then at his little sister. "The prince had a right to defend himself." Aruna had never seen her brother so cold. Yesterday he had held her children in his arms and now he didn't care what happened to them. "Your child, like the other children, has not behaved rightly."

"What are you talking about?" she wanted to know, looking up at him. Adrik, with his long hair and beard, not only looked like a new person, he was a new person. One that Aruna didn't know. "You can't think this is right. You did something wrong yourself, if I may remind you."

"What are you talking about?" demanded Adrik, holding Aruna by her shoulders. His grip hurt, but she dared not show him.

"Daeron." That was all the Stark needed to say and they both understood immediately what she meant. For her wicked tongue, Adrik slipped his hand at his sister for the first time and then let him go. Startled, she looked at her brother and held her cheek.

"You chose your side." Alicent realised, startled, shaking her head.

"I didn't choose a side! There is none to choose. The North is neutral and we care nothing for your games." Furious, she looked at the Queen and took a step towards her. Aruna had never spoken to her friend or her brother like this before, but she didn't back down. Finally, she could take her anger out on someone. "You two should have stopped me then! But no! You let me go waving north to my misfortune!"

It had been her who wanted to go north, but she had been so young, so inexperienced and hurt and no one had stopped her or talked sense into her. And Adrik had been so much in love with Alicent by that time that he had done everything for her.

Even sent his sister away.

"You are unhappy? Brandon Stark is a good man you said so yourself-" Aruna interrupted Alicent immediately. "But he is not!"

"Give me your trust and I will free you from your marriage." Alicent promised her with tears in his eyes. But Aruna could only laugh at her words.

"I don't need your help anymore. You have done enough." She replied to her and pushed past Alicent. This time the queen let her pass. "Have a good journey. Your Grace. Good journey, brother." She still taunted and hurriedly walked away.

It was an impertinence of both of them to offer her such a thing and Aruna felt it was neither gracious nor kind. She felt betrayed and left alone.

"Where are my children?" she asked the next servant she saw on her way. But he could not give her an answer. Aruna had to ask two more servants before she got an answer. "Someone saw them outside a few minutes ago."

By now her anger had turned to worry and she hurried to get outside. And then when she saw who or what was with her daughter she felt sick and her steps quickened. "Edith!"

"Mother!" Edith's voice sounded excited when she saw her mother. "Look a dragon!"

Her daughter was standing with the twins in front of a dragon. He was not much bigger than Edith herself, but already very scary. He was a slender green creature with pointed horns and sharp wing bones.

"Calm down, Aruna." Only now did she notice Daemon, who was now standing next to her. "Have you gone mad too now?" she asked him, waving her daughter over. Aruna was far too frozen to move an inch closer to the beast. "Edda come here!"

Even though there was no danger from the dragon, Edith immediately came running to her mother.

"Moondancer is well behaved." Daemon added. As almost always, he stood with his hands clasped behind his back and seemed very convinced.

"She is my dragon, Lady Stark!" announced Baela proudly, stroking her dragon's head. Her sister Rhaena stood beside her, watching the two of them.

Aruna put her hands on Edith's shoulders. "Are you hurt?" she asked worriedly, kneeling in front of her daughter to better scan her for injuries. "Just my hand, Mother. Don't worry." Edith looked so carefree and happy that Aruna suddenly felt embarrassed about her oversight. "Okay."

Daemon held out a hand and helped the lady up again. Gratefully, Aruna accepted it.

"You left." Aruna remembered the scene a few hours ago.

"I needed to think." Daemon squeezed her hand as he replied. "I want to be a part of her life." He then whispered to her and his words made Aruna's cheeks glow. She was glad of his change of heart.

"Have you told her?" the dark-haired woman wanted to know, but the man shook his head. "No. I thought she'd figure it out on her own." Daemon pointed at his daughter and Aruna was startled to see her reach out to the dragon.

Moondancer breathed loudly and turned his head away several times, but then he put his head in Edith's hands and stopped snorting. He sat peacefully in front of her and sniffed at her injured hand.

Quite fascinated, she watched the scene in front of her and slowly calmed down. "She's touching him!"

"It is as if he already knows her, yet it is only her blood." Breathed Daemon to her with a smile. He and Aruna stood a little distance from the dragon. She was Edith's mother, but Daemon didn't want to take any risks. "She's doing really well."

"Looks like she has something of her father after all." Aruna commented, alluding to this morning's conversation. The two smiled proudly at each other.

"He's still too little, I can't fly with him yet and I can't wait." Baela and Rhaena talked proudly about Moondancer and told Edith a lot about dragons. The two girls talked quickly and excitedly. "And when the time comes, we'll take you with us!"

"Where is Cassian?" asked Aruna then. She couldn't see her youngest anywhere.

"With Jace and Luke. They're playing inside." Edith answered her mother quickly and then continued talking to the girls. It was indescribably lovely to see the three girls together.

"We should go to them now. Rhaenyra is waiting for us." Daemon went to his daughters and sent the dragon away. Fascinated, Aruna watched the green creature fly away, seeming to know where he was going. Only when he was gone did she become aware of the man's words. "What does Rhaenyra want?"

"You will see then. Come." Replied the Targaryen, placing a hand on each of Baela's and Rhaena's shoulders. Edith took Aruna's hand and together they went back into the house.

Daemon seemed to know exactly where Rhaenyra was waiting for them and led the women to her. Rhaenyra was waiting in her own chambers there. With her were her two eldest sons and Cassian. She held her youngest son Joffrey tightly in her arms as she sat by the fire.

"Princess." Aruna greeted the woman with silver hair. Cassian immediately ran up to his mother and sister and held out his arms, immediately Aruna took him in her arms.

The two women looked at each other for a long time. So much had happened and yet yesterday the tide had turned.

"Lady Stark." Rhaenyra greeted her former friend. Aruna was so fixated on the princess that she didn't see Daemon give his niece an annoyed look at the title. "I heard you were with my father."

"I was. He called me to him as I walked by looking for my children." Answered the dark-haired woman immediately. Unlike her conversation with Alicent, this time she answered honestly.

"He was very happy to have your company. Thank you." Rhaenyra smiled at Aruna. "Daemon, Aruna please sit down. Children please go to Jace's room."

The children replied nothing and obeyed the princess and mother. Aruna set Cassian back down and he followed his sister outside while Aruna sat down on a couch.

Daemon sat down on an armchair between the two women. He sat right in front of the fire and the warm light only made him more attractive, but Aruna forbade herself those thoughts now.

"You wanted to see us." Spoke Aruna the obvious and waited anxiously. Suddenly she couldn't help but think of the last conversation the three of them had had. She had left for the north after that.

"Daemon told me about the two of you and asked for my help." Rhaenyra continued to hold her young son tightly as she spoke, but her gaze was fixed on the other woman. Shocked, Aruna looked from Rhaenyra to Daemon. "How could you?"

"He had no choice." The princess defended her uncle, sitting in her chair. "And I want to help you. Sincerely. I owe you that. We owe you that."

Nodding in agreement, Daemon bent down to take Aruna's hand. "We could escape to Essos together. You, me and the children."

"We could fake your deaths." Added Rhaenyra to Daemon's words.

Stunned, she looked at the two Targaryens. " What?" she asked again. "My husband would never believe you." Daemon's hand tightened around hers at the word husband. He truly loved the woman and it made him unhappy and angry to hear how she belonged to someone else.

"And at the same time, he would never leave you with us. Not even with me." Sadly, Rhaenyra looked at her. She had thought about it all long and hard, but had come to no other conclusion. "What about your brother?"

"We shall not expect any help from Adrik. He is clinging to Alicent's skirt." Retorted Aruna angrily. She was hurt at her brother's betrayal and dared not continue to call him her brother. "Did you two know about Alicent's youngest son?"

Curious, the two looked at the lady. Apparently they did not know.

"Adrik is not only her knight, but also her lover. He is Daeron's father." Even though Aruna was guarding her own secret of the paternity around her daughter, she couldn't live with Adrik's secret. She had to get rid of it and maybe this information would come in handy someday. "I found out yesterday."

"Thank you for your trust. We could use that against the Queen at a bad moment for us." Rhaenyra credited her for the trust and was grateful. So she did hope very much for a new bond with the woman.

Aruna wished she didn't care what would happen to Adrik then, but it wasn't, He was still her flesh and blood.

Even though he had betrayed her and her children.

"I could talk to Brandon. Difficult times are coming and it would be good to have the North on our side." Again there was talk of sides, and Aruna did not like this at all, but she continued to listen to the princess anyway. "He can show his goodwill by leaving you with us."

"I really appreciate your efforts, princess. But I cannot accept this. There would only be war." Retorted Lady Stark. Her heart wanted to carry out the plan, but her mind forbade it. She wanted too much to stay here or flee to Dragonstone or to Essos, but she could not. She also had to think of her children's future and she wanted them to grow up safely.

"No matter what. There will still be war." Rhaenyra sought to look at her old friend. Both women looked exhausted and dissatisfied.

"Please think about it again. I want you and my daughter with me." Daemon's words touched her deeply and it didn't bother her at all that he admitted it in front of Rhaenyra. She didn't seem surprised and Aruna only hoped that her secret was safe with the princess.

"And what about my son?" wanted Aruna to know.

"He belongs to you and therefore to me, my lady." At his words, she didn't know what else to say and fell silent. But Rhaenyra then thankfully took the word. "What do you wish to do?"

For this answer, Aruna had to think for a long time and she sighed in disappointment. She did not know herself. All she wanted was the best for her children.

"I will return to the north with my children." She decided then, sounding much more confident than she felt. Daemon and Rhaenyra were clearly not pleased with her answer, but Aruna kept talking anyway. "It's the safest place for them there."

"But not for you!" the man reminded her and stood up angrily. He walked to the window and turned his back on the two women.

Rhaenyra sat back and rolled her eyes at her uncle. "It's her choice."

"Her decision is not the right one. You know that and she knows that!" retorted Daemon sourly, looking out the window.

"Of course I know that." Retorted Aruna cheekily. "I would love to stay with you, my love. But it's not the right time."

At last Daemon turned to her and looked at her with his hands on his hips. "And when is the right time?" he demanded to know. He didn't seem angry anymore, just tired.

He too was exhausted from the last few days and for nothing in the world would he let Aruna go.

"Do you trust me?"

***

It breaks my heart to make Adrik the bad guy, but it was predictable. BUT he wasn't the only one I made into a villain... stay tuned!