｡･::･ﾟ★,｡･::･ﾟ☆ - ☆｡･::･ﾟ★,｡･::･ﾟ☆
𝖮𝗇𝖾𝖱𝖾𝗉𝗎𝖻𝗅𝗂𝖼 - 𝖢𝗈𝗎𝗇𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖲𝗍𝖺𝗋𝗌
｡･::･ﾟ★,｡･::･ﾟ☆ - ☆｡･::･ﾟ★,｡･::･ﾟ☆

The feast was finished sooner than Aruna would have liked. The king left his guests free to leave or to continue celebrating with them. He promised that it would not end like yesterday.

Aruna's aunt Estella was one of the first to get up from the table. She was still deeply offended by the prince's words and had been talking only to her husband all evening. Few guests from the other houses got up as well, because it was still too unsafe for them here.

Jaro, his sons and Adrik also got up and said goodbye to Viserys for the night. Aruna got up very hesitantly and immediately missed the warmth of Daemon's leg against hers. She looked at him apologising as she moved her chair to the table.

Princess Rhaenyra looked to the Tyrell family. "Ser Jaro you are not leaving already are you?" Jaro and Estella stopped and looked to the woman. "I'm afraid we are. It is already very late and we have family business."

Aruna looked first at her uncle and then at her cousin in confusion. Elio beside her shrugged and put a hand on her back to lead her away. "I desire the presence of Lady Aruna and Ser Adrik this evening" Rhaenyra's voice muffled no rejoinders.

Estella could be seen thinking before she spoke. "It is a really important thing though" Aruna looked at her aunt stunned. Had she just talked back to the heiress? She shook her head slightly towards Rhaenyra. Aruna didn't want any trouble and especially didn't want her aunt to make a fuss in front of the royal family. The girl took her brother Adrik's hand and was already turning to follow her family.

"No matter is more important than the wishes of the Princess and Heiress of the Iron Throne Lady Estella" Rhaenyra raised her voice and stood up from her chair. Now all pairs of eyes were on her. "I have named Aruna my Lady and I do not want to hear any more rejoinders. You may leave now."

The Tyrell girl looked back and forth between her family and her friend. Had Rhaenyra really just done that?

As she left her family and walked back to the table with her brother, Aruna felt powerful. She had indirectly gone against her family and she liked the power. She desperately wanted more of that.

She exchanged a grateful look with her friend as her family finally moved away. Aruna and Adrik could already hear the shouting of their aunt and uncle. There would be trouble tomorrow. But there were still many hours to spend with her friends until the next day.

Aruna was glad that Adrik was with her. She exchanged a glance with her brother. He didn't look half as happy as she did. Under the table, she continued to hold Adrik's hand and squeeze it lightly.

She glanced briefly at Rhaenyra who was having a conversation with her father away from the table. Both looked angry as they spoke in Valyrian. Aruna would have loved to understand what they were talking about. "What are they talking about?" she asked Daemon, leaning a little across the table towards him.

Daemon also leaned forward, shaking his head slightly. "Don't worry, Lady Aruna," the girl sighed, "they're talking about us right?" Daemon looked first at Adrik and then back at Aruna. "Rhaenyra has everything under her control. You are her lady now" He winked at her.

Rhaenyra's lady. What would that mean for her now?

The Queen sent for a second dessert to bring the guests back to the important things. Quickly the guests seemed to have forgotten what had happened and the mood lifted again.

"It really is delicious, your Grace" Adrik smiled at the Queen. He had been looking at her secretly all evening and Alicent had even returned his gaze a few times. But Aruna didn't notice, because Daemon was leaning his leg against hers again.

Alicent smiled and she looked so beautiful as she did so. "Then I hope you'll have another slice?" The two exchanged a long look as Alicent pointed to the dessert. Adrik couldn't refuse her anything and put some more of the cake on his plate. Alicent's smile grew even wider.

After the second dessert, Rhaenyra came to the two Tyrell siblings and she put a hand on Aruna's shoulder. With a smile, she looked up at her friend. "Will you walk with me a little, Lady Aruna?"

Aruna escorted the princess out of the room, this time they were not accompanied by any guards. "How mad is your father?" Aruna was the first to break the silence as they stopped on a balcony. Both girls had placed their hands on the relling and Rhaenyra placed her hand on Aruna's.

"Please don't worry-" the girl with silver hair began, but for the first time Aruna interrupted the princess. "I am not worried about me, I am worried about you! What are the consequences?" Aruna squeezed Rhaenyra's hand.

"That is so sweet of you, but it was necessary. As my lady, you will always be near me and I wish no other." Rhaenyra looked at her friend and then rested her head on Aruna's shoulder. "I need you as a friend and ally here".

Sure it was the wine talking from Rhaenyra and Aruna, but it was the truth. They needed each other. Now more than ever. They had been alone for far too long.

"I'm scared about tomorrow... I'm sure I'll get in trouble for doing this" the girl with dark hair confessed, resting her head on her friend's. "As long as I'm with you, you'll never have to be scared again, Runa. I promise you."

When they came back into the hall more guests had gone to bed and there were hardly any people left. The king had also left.

Rhaenyra squeezed Aruna's hand one last time and then went to Laenor to leave with him as well. Aruna herself sat back down in her seat. Luckily Daemon and her brother were still there. "Welcome back," the man with silver hair greeted her. "What did I miss?" Aruna wanted to know.

Daemon pointed his head at her brother and at their queen. The two were still chatting well with each other and Daemon was more than bored sitting next to them. "I'm glad you're back. It was very dull without you" Aruna's cheeks blushed at the man's words. "What do you think about a walk tomorrow? I would like to show you something"

"Lady Aruna certainly has no interest in seeing your bedchamber, dear brother-in-law" Alicent had apparently overheard the two and now looked at Daemon with an annoyed expression. Surprised, Aruna looked to Alicent.

"What a shame," Daemon replied, leaning back in his chair. "I'm sure she would have liked my furniture and the beautiful carpets too" Daemon winked at his sister-in-law and then looked at the Tyrell siblings. Adrik looked angrily at the prince. "Don't drag my sister into your games, Prince Daemon".

Aruna could only roll her eyes. Even when her brother was upset he had decency and remained polite. Why did everyone think they could judge and determine Aruna? She hated it!

"Okay stop! I am also sitting here and I can hear all of you!" Aruna looked at the three in front of her and slowly she was getting angry. She was tired of everyone seeming to know her better than she knew herself. "I can make my own decisions. Thank you."

Aruna stood up and now left the hall as well. "Aruna!" The walk to her chamber seemed incredibly long and she was glad that no one was following her. Angrily, she closed the door and pulled the jewellery and ribbons out of her hair. She stroked her face and would have liked to scream out loud.

Aruna wanted nothing more than to finally make her own decisions about her life. She wanted to achieve something herself and change her life. Aruna was never allowed to decide anything, not even what tea she wanted for breakfast in Highgarden. She had never learned to decide anything for herself. Aruna didn't even know how to do that!

The girl flinched when she heard a knock on the door. "I'm already asleep! Go away!" She had no intention of seeing anyone else today. Aruna was finally alone after a long time!

"I didn't know you talked in your sleep, my lady!" Of course Daemon had come after her! She yanked open the door and glared angrily at the Targaryen. Why didn't he give her a time out?

His violet eyes had a hypnotic effect on her as he pushed past her into her chamber. "Wait a minute. What are you doing?" Aruna looked outside into the hallway, but thankfully couldn't see anyone. "Did anyone see you?"

Daemon sat down on the chair in front of her mirror and looked at her almost waiting. "What's wrong?"

Stunned, she looked at him and quickly closed the door. "I hate it when everyone talks about me like I'm not there!" she blurted out. Sighing, she leaned against the wooden door and looked up at the ceiling. "Even now that we're here in King's Landing..." Daemon looked at her patiently, listening intently. Until now, only her brother had ever done that. "Even you are here now without my permission Daemon".

The man got up from his chair and joined her at the door. "Do you want me to leave?" asked Daemon, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. "Or would you rather talk?"

Aruna looked up at him. She had never noticed how much taller Daemon was than her. "I just want to finally make my own decisions about my life" she whispered. He must have thought she was crazy. No woman was allowed to decide about her own life. Not even a queen was allowed to and Aruna hated this male-dominated world. "Forgive my foul words"

Daemon put both hands to her cheeks and forced her to look at him as her eyes closed. "There is no need to apologise. The world is unfair, but we can try to make the best of it."

"And how do I make the best of it?" Aruna leaned her face in his hands. Being close to him didn't let her think straight and all the wine she had drunk all day didn't help. "You alone know what is best for you, My Lady" Daemon answered her softly. Aruna couldn't help herself and hugged him.

Caught off guard, the Targaryen stood still as the girl wrapped her arms tightly around him. And when Aruna realised that, she quickly let go of him. "Forgive me, Prince Daemon! I shouldn't have-"

Daemon didn't let the beautiful Tyrell finish and placed his lips on hers. Like last night, Aruna's heart skipped a beat. It was her second kiss and this one she shared again with Prince Daemon Targaryen with his many titles.

Aruna returned the kiss and stood on her tiptoes. She pressed her body against his and Daemon pressed her firmly against the chamber door. This kiss was much more intense than the first almost shy kiss.

The Targaryen lit a fire in the young woman and she couldn't get enough. Her hands moved shyly up Daemon's arms to his neck and into his hair. His hands also wandered over her body, stopping first at her bum, which he massaged through the fabric of her dress. A surprised moan escaped the girl. She had never felt or made such sounds before!

Out of breath, the two broke away and looked deeply into each other's eyes. Daemon had a satisfied smile on his lips as he stroked her cheek with one hand. For a brief moment, she closed her eyes and enjoyed the long-awaited silence in her head.

Slowly, Daemon broke away from the Tyrell, took her hand and led her to the mirror. Gently he pushed her shoulders down so that she had to sit on the chair. The man took her brush and began to sweep her long dark hair. "What are you doing?" asked Aruna confusedly, looking at Daemon through the mirror.

"You told me this afternoon that you never had a handmaiden," Daemon began, concentrating on her curls. "It's about time someone took care of you too and you decide for yourself. I am at your disposal for that." Now he too looked at her through the mirror. Aruna was touched by his words and there was a warm feeling in her stomach.

There were so many things she wanted to say and show him how she felt, but how did she do it without scaring him away? Aruna liked Daemon and she really wanted to know him more.

"Thank you, Daemon" Aruna smiled at him and stood up from her chair. "I want you to be well, my lady" the man whispered and rested his forehead against hers. Aruna put her arms around his neck and gently pulled his head down to her, placing her lips on his again. She loved the feeling of his lips on hers and it was almost addicting. Addicted to him. Addicted to more.

Even though he had promised not to refuse her anything, he was doing this willingly. He hadn't been able to stop thinking about the beautiful woman from Highgarden yesterday and after their kiss yesterday, in front of the fireplace, he had almost gone crazy. Daemon had been looking for her all morning to talk to her. Only to find her in the garden with Rhaenyra.

As if the whole thing wasn't already complicated between his niece and him, her friend showed up and drove the man crazy.

Daemon brushed her hair over her shoulder, exposing her neck. Aruna looked into his violet eyes and literally melted under his gaze. He leaned down and began to cover her naked neck with kisses. Aruna put her head back when he started sucking on her skin in some places.

The girl let out a joyful noise and closed her eyes in pleasure. "Daemon," she sighed. Her knees began to soften and she held onto his strong shoulders. Her sigh drew a satisfied smile to Daemon and he looked greedily into her eyes.

Aruna pulled him by his shoulders to her bed and onto it with her. As Daemon leaned over her he stopped for a moment and let go of her. "We shouldn't be doing this" The man came to his senses first. The two of them were not allowed to cross the line. Daemon liked the girl under him far too much that he wouldn't ruin her for the world.

"yes... we shouldn't..." Aruna looked at him with wide eyes and put her lips on his again. But he turned his head away. He really was right, but the pleasant tugging in her lower belly said otherwise. The Targaryen had managed to throw all her morals overboard with just a few touches. She was ready to let him ruin her.

Her wide eyes almost made Daemon rethink everything. He would give anything to have this woman and to be able to hold this woman in his arms. Daemon lay down next to her on the bed and looked at the ceiling.

She should think about the consequences. To send Daemon away immediately and never let him get this close to her again, but her heart and the warm feeling in her stomach won out over her mind. Aruna leaned over the man to kiss him again, only this time Daemon didn't return the kiss and gently pushed her away. "I'm sure of it"

"You shouldn't be" the Targaryen replied, looking into the Tyrell's blue eyes. "I know your marriage plans and this between us would ruin everything. I would ruin you Aruna" Daemon stroked her hair over her shoulder. Aruna stroked her fingers across his cheek.

"Then make me your wife. We could escape to Dragonstone and I wouldn't have to look for a husband" Aruna was sure. She wanted Daemon and he would surely make a good husband for her. They got along well and his kisses felt special. He would treat her well and honour her, she was sure. And she was sure she wanted him.

"Was that a proposal?" asked Daemon with a grin. He gently pushed Aruna off him and sat up. "I don't think that's a good idea, Aruna" It took a lot of effort for Daemon to say those words and stand up.

It broke Aruna's heart to hear that and she watched him walk to the door. "Daemon wait. Let's talk about this" But Daemon didn't wait and left her room without turning around. Aruna felt stupid. She had literally thrown herself at him, but he seemed to have no interest in her.

The Tyrell dropped onto her bed and would have liked to scream.

It all made no sense. He had defended her from the beginning, had always talked her through her ideas and had gone after her to support her with her feelings. And where was he now?

They had made out and she had been ready to give Daemon her innocence.

***

O.o what do you think?