This is the longest chapter so far. Have fun! <3

Trigger warning:
Many feelings and many tears..

｡･::･ﾟ★,｡･::･ﾟ☆ - ☆｡･::･ﾟ★,｡･::･ﾟ☆
🎼𝖫𝖯 - 𝗅𝗈𝗌𝗍 𝗈𝗇 𝗒𝗈𝗎🎼
｡･::･ﾟ★,｡･::･ﾟ☆ - ☆｡･::･ﾟ★,｡･::･ﾟ☆

After dinner, Rhaenyra and Laenor opened the dance floor with their official first dance as husband and wife. All the guests watched the young couple excitedly.

Aruna found them both attractive and could hardly take her eyes off them. Rhaenyra and Laenor danced in unison and it looked so beautiful. Like a dramatic play. She wished very much that the two of them would be happy, and maybe love would develop between them eventually?

She was almost envious of the two of them. She also wanted such a cooperative marriage. Aruna, meanwhile, had given up hope of marrying for love. All she cared about was a good husband who treated her well and allowed her to stay in King's Landing with Rhaenyra.

She simply could not imagine losing her best friend again. Besides, she had made new and old friends here in a very short time. She never had it too good in Highgarden as now here in King's Landing. How much would Aruna's life change when she would be here for years?

All the guests stood in a circle around the dance floor. Next to Aruna stood Daemon and Laena. Suddenly she wondered which of the two women Daemon would ask to the first dance. She looked up at Daemon and smiled at him. He had managed to get her hopes up again.

Daemon felt the look on the girl's face and immediately looked down at her. A smile could be seen on his face as well.

But before Daemon could ask her, another man came up to the three of them. "Are you giving me the first dance, Lady Aruna?" it was only at his voice that Aruna's eyes broke away from Daemon and noticed Brandon Stark. Aruna's thoughts were circling. She wanted so much to dance with Daemon again, but she couldn't turn Brandon away now.

And so Aruna put her hand in Brandon's and let herself be pulled onto the dance floor. Happily, the man looked at her as they began to move to the rhythm of the music. The girl had to force herself to look at Brandon.

She hadn't known he was here, too. She had enjoyed his company very much, but right now she preferred to be in Daemon's arms. To be led by Daemon and kissed again.

For a brief moment, she closed her eyes as she danced. Brandon led her confidently and held her tightly in his arms. Sadly, the Stark enjoyed the dance more than the Tyrell.

"It's good to see you again" Brandon breathed into her ear. Aruna got goosebumps all over her body. "I'm very honored that you're giving me the first dance".

Brandon was really making an effort for her, Aruna realized at that moment. She instantly felt bad and tried to make an effort as well. Brandon deserved a sincere and loving woman. But Aruna did not know if she was the right one for him.

This afternoon everything had been so easy between them. She had felt comfortable with him and had listened to him attentively to get to know him better. But Daemon's presence made her feel uncomfortable. Aruna wondered about him, about herself, and about everything, really. Most of all, she wondered if Daemon was mad or if she was getting her hopes up again.

"After all, you deserve it very much" Aruna said sincerely, looking into the green blue eyes of the Northerner. "I just hope I live up to your standards."

Brandon smiled and gently stroked her cheek. "I'm asking you not to pretend. I want to meet the real Aruna" The two stopped in their movements and everything seemed to blur around them. Suddenly Aruna wasn't thinking about Daemon anymore.

She was only thinking about the Stark's beautiful bright eyes and his efforts. He was giving her the attention she craved so much. Brandon was sincere and Aruna was sure he would love her.

Brandon could give her what she always wanted. Attention. Love. Freedom.

Brandon could give her a good life. Could Daemon do the same?

"And I want to meet you. The real Brandon Stark" she asked him and took his hand. Slowly the two began to dance again. "I'm glad you're here".

Not even beginning to know what her words triggered in Brandon. Laenor had been right with his words. Brandon had already fallen for Aruna and he would do anything to win her over. He just didn't know that he had competition.

"Do you already have plans for tomorrow?" he asked attentively. Aruna realized again that he was really interested in her life. Was interested in her. It was a new feeling for her and she enjoyed every moment more and more. "I'm afraid so... Lady Laena and I have arranged to weave baskets," she said.

"Weave baskets?" Brandon looked at her questioningly. "She asked me earlier and was so excited. I couldn't say no! I like her too much for that and who knows... maybe tomorrow I'll discover a hidden talent!" the girl smirked and Brandon smiled. "I really hope you will have fun though".

His words were melting and Aruna looked at him gratefully.

When the music ended they disengaged from each other and bowed in thanks. Then they walked together to one of the tables and sat down. "Do you have plans for tomorrow?" Aruna wanted to know and took some more of the cake. Brandon also took another piece.

"I'm going to see the royal blacksmith tomorrow. I've heard a lot about his art and I'm really excited!" he told her and poured himself and Aruna a goblet of wine.

"My brother got his first practice sword from the blacksmith here. That was many years ago, but the steel still looks like new." Told the girl as she ate her cake. The cake here was so damn good, but wouldn't do her hips any good in the long run.

She thought about Adrik's first sword. He had taught his sister a lot with it and she had loved it. By now the sword was hanging in her chambers in Highgarden. After a practice lesson, she had not given it back to him and had simply kept it. Adrik had only smiled at her behavior then.

Aruna had not held a sword in her hand for far too long. She resolved to make up for it soon.

"That sounds promising. I'm looking forward to tomorrow" Brandon smiled honestly. The two young people sat close together. Unlike the royal family's table, the guests' tables had only benches and no chairs.

"Sorry but..." Brandon hesitantly put his hand on her cheek, trying to stifle a laugh. Aruna looked at him questioningly, unable to comprehend his reaction. "You have something there."

"What, where?" she asked in shock, his thumb already stroking her lip. Wide-eyed and heart pounding, she looked at him. "Cake crumbs" Brandon replied, releasing her more hesitantly.

Aruna looked around cautiously to see if anyone had been watching the two of them. His thumb on her lip had felt surprisingly intimate and she was afraid someone was thinking something suggestive!

"Thank you" she murmured softly and put her spoon on the plate. Suddenly Aruna was quite full and the delicious cake was no longer tempting.

"I shouldn't have done that, I know. Please forgive me" Brandon also put down his spoon and took Aruna's hands tightly in his. He very much hoped he hadn't ventured too much. "It was just so... tempting and it looked so cute".

His words didn't help Aruna, as his warm hands distracted her. She didn't find the situation bad or unpleasant. On the contrary, she found it very amusing and his laugh had sounded so nice. At least that's what she tried to tell herself. Because deep inside she would have liked to feel Daemon's thumb on her lips.

"Don't you worry about a thing. All is well, Ser Brandon" Aruna squeezed his hand before turning to the dance floor. The first person she spotted was Rhaenyra, who was dancing with her father. She also spotted her brother shortly after, dancing with a lady. Curiously she watched the two. She would like to know who the lady in his arms was.

As her gaze wandered further over the dancing, she found Lady Laena in the arms of Prince Daemon.

In the few days she had been here, she had felt more emotions than ever before in her life. Not only the emotions, but also the many new people, the new old place and everything around slowly overwhelmed the Tyrell girl.

She reached for her goblet and drank the wine in one gulp as jealousy slowly rose in her. Her heart ached at the sight of Daemon and Laena and her stomach tightened.

"Excuse me please" Aruna didn't give Brandon a chance to reply, she stood up. Just as the song ended she arrived at her brothers side. "May I?" Even now she didn't wait for an answer and just took the unknown woman's place.

"Aruna! What are you doing?" asked Adrik, annoyed. But Aruna did not let herself be put off. She needed her brother now, although she would like to be alone with him now. "Adrik I need you now" she whispered to him.

Immediately Adrik looked at her worriedly and when the music started again, it was the sister who led the brother. She still hadn't told him about her and Daemon, but neither had she about Brandon. "What's wrong?"

"I think I'm overwhelmed, Ad" Aruna made an effort not to look at her brother. "With my feelings" she supplemented quietly.

Adrik nodded and pulled his sister to him. He tried to reassure her and stroked her back. "Did someone hurt you?" he wanted to know worriedly.

YES! She wanted to scream across the hall, but she didn't. "No, but I'm afraid soon. I like someone there..." Aruna sighed and looked her brother firmly in the eyes now. "But I don't think he likes me, and then there's someone else who likes me, but I don't know what to feel towards him!"

The two talked quietly to each other and danced on the sidelines, trying to keep as much distance as possible from the other dancing couples.

"Sounds like a dilemma" her brother commented, thinking about what to say so as not to hurt her. Adrik was not blind and had watched his sister and heard rumors. Of course he knew what men she was talking about.

"You should talk to the prince urgently before you get involved with the Stark" Aruna looked at her brother in shock. She should have known he knew who she was talking about! He was her brother, after all, and knew her best of all the people in Westeros. Besides, Adrik was an exceedingly clever young man, almost wise.

"Why should I get involved with Ser Brandon?" questioned the dark-haired one. Adrik sighed and tilted his head. "I really don't want to talk to you about men, sister."

She could only roll her eyes at his words. "Adrik!"

Now it was Adrik who rolled his eyes. "I leave the choice for your husband to you alone, Runa. You must like him and spend your life with him." His words really didn't help and Aruna regretted bringing up the subject.

Adrik had always tried to stay out of problems or difficult decisions. In that sense, neither had learned to solve problems or decide anything. The two orphans looked at each other. "But how am I supposed to decide if you don't help me?"

"You should let your mind and heart help you" replied the young man.

She realized that her brother did not understand her. Her heart and her mind wanted two different things!

"But I think you are worrying all for nothing, Runa" Her brother then gestured to the door and looked at his sister with pity. Aruna followed his gaze and spotted Daemon. He held Laena's hand tightly in his and led her out the door with a laugh, looking so happy. "One of them just made the decision for you".

Slowly his sister nodded and swallowed the pain. She begrudged Laena all the happiness in the world, but why did they have to like the same man? Because Aruna was aware of having no chance against Lady Laena!

"Ser Brandon is trying hard." She reported to Adrik, still looking at the door for a long time, yet the two had disappeared long ago. Adrik stopped the dance and hugged his sister tightly. A warm tear ran down her cheek and she hid her face in her brother's shoulder.

~~~

The next morning, the young Tyrell was awakened by one of the maids. She had difficulty opening her teary eyes. Exhausted, she stroked her face and then got into the already prepared tub.

The maid had brought her breakfast and prepared a tub for her. By now the servants knew that Aruna did not like to be helped, so the maid said goodbye and left the lady alone.

Aruna washed and then ate her breakfast, trying hard not to think about last night.

After the dance with her brother she had gone to her chamber. Her brother had accompanied her and together they had drunk a cup of tea and talked.

She had also asked her brother at some point about his dance partner, but it had only been a lady, which he had asked out of decency. Besides, Aruna learned that Adrik is also interested in a lady. But his situation is much more complicated, because the lady was married.

Aruna had really tried everything to learn her name, but Adrik had remained steadfast and had not revealed it to her.

She left her long hair down today, tucking away only her front strands. Aruna opted for a yellow silk dress today. With it she put on a discreet chain and a arm bracelet.

Finished dressing, she then reached for her tea and discovered a card underneath. Curious, she took the card and was immediately reminded of Brandon's card yesterday.

Good morning Lady Aruna,

I hope you are awake and looking forward to our meeting like I am.

Meet me as soon as you are ready at the entrance of the Red Keep.

Love, Lady Laena

Lady Laena... She was much too nice to Aruna! She would have loved to curse and hate her, but she just couldn't.

She put down the cup and the card and then left her chamber with a strange feeling in her stomach. Aruna was far too much like her brother and would have preferred to run away from her feelings, but she gathered all her courage and self-confidence to get through this day.

"Lady Laena! I wish you a good morning!" greeted Aruna the younger girl as she arrived at the entrance. Laena kissed her cheeks in greeting and smiled warmly at her. "Good morning, Lady Aruna. I actually didn't expect to see you so soon."

"I just couldn't wait. You were raving about the place yesterday" An outright lie, but Laena seemed to believe Aruna. The two girls actually had to wait a while for Rhaenyra to join them as well.

Accompanied by the guards, the three women went into the city and a little later they were all seated at a large round table.

Aruna had only been able to see a little of the city, but at first glance nothing seemed to have changed.

A Mistress instructed the women in the art of weaving, although each of them had had to do it many times before. Rhaenyra and Aruna exchanged a meaningful look and had to stifle their laughter from time to time.

It was only Lady Laena who seemed to really enjoy the craftsmanship. For Aruna, however, it was nothing. The material pricked, it broke quickly and she even cut herself once. The Tyrell was too impatient for such work, but she liked how the shape of the basket gradually appeared.

With a loud bang the door swung open and Aruna's heart stopped for a moment when she saw who came in. Daemon Targaryen and Laenor Velaryon.

None of the three women moved and just looked at the men in confusion. "For what reason do you pay us a visit?" Rhaenyra wanted to know, looking alternately at her husband and her uncle.

"We wanted to keep you company, dearest wife" replied Laenor, kissing Rhaenyra's forehead. "I hope that's all right with you all?"

"But only if you join us as well!" decided Lady Laena instead of the princess. The Mistress of Instruction brought the materials for the men and then left the group alone.

Laenor sat down between Rhaenyra and his sister and Daemon, on the other hand, between Laena and Aruna. Suddenly the round table was much too small for the five of them and Aruna felt uncomfortable. She had cried for Daemon the previous night and now he was sitting so close to her. And next to Laena. The woman he had disappeared with yesterday.

I wonder what the two of them were doing?

Aruna didn't want to imagine!

She stayed out of the conversations and tried to concentrate completely on her basket. Aruna honestly wasn't listening at all either. She would prefer to be alone right now.

Ser Laenor was very clever with the material and pricked himself much less than his wife. Daemon, on the other hand, worked precisely, but even he could be seen to dislike being here. Laenor must have pretty much talked him into coming here.

"Are you not well, Aruna?" asked Laenor straight out. Rhaenyra had noticed long ago that something was wrong, but resolved to talk to her friend alone later. She nudged Laenor with her elbow and tried to silence him.

Aruna looked up from her basket and saw that all four were looking at her silently. " Yes, of course I am! Thank you for asking, but I was just a bit lost in thought..." she replied to the Prince Consort.

Laenor nodded slowly, not daring to say anything else at the look Rhaenyra gave him.

The girl with the only dark hair in the room looked at the baskets of her friends. Laena's looked by far the best. Surprisingly, Daemon's basket looked even better than Aruna's.

She wondered if there was something he couldn't do? Immediately she thought of a sarcastic answer: he couldn't love her.

"Lady Laena. We missed you quite a bit at the feast last night. Did you go to bed early?" Rhaenyra wished to know. Aruna looked at her friend. What was that all about? the girl asked herself. Rhaenyra knew exactly where her sister-in-law was!

"Oh..." Laena's cheeks turned red and she became quite embarrassed. Even now, she looked beautiful. "Prince Daemon had invited me to go for a walk."

Laenor looked at Daemon questioningly, then looked at his sister, and then at Aruna.

Aruna rolled her eyes and turned her concentration back to the half basket in front of her.

Sometime around afternoon, they were reasonably finished with the baskets. They had all spoken little and superficially to each other. It was nowhere near as entertaining and fun as Lady Laena had promised her entourage. The owners of the store had even brought over some food and drink for their guests in between, but even that couldn't lift the mood.

Aruna's basket wasn't the best it had ever been, but it was self-made and she was proud of herself and her work, in a way.

Making their way back to the Red Keep, Daemon dropped back to walk beside the beautiful southern woman. "What ruined your day?" he asked quietly and directly. His gaze was directed forward almost as if his words had not been meant for her.

"If I may speak openly? Then you, Prince Daemon" Aruna also looked stubbornly forward. "Me?" the Targaryen asked. The girl could not interpret his voice. It sounded arrogant, confused and somehow also sarcastic.

"You confuse me with your actions!" At last she spoke the words that tormented her so. Aruna stopped and waited for a reaction from Daemon. He stopped as well. Her friends and the guards actually did not notice and continued walking.

"What actions?" His questions provoked the girl. "You still have to ask that?"

"Apparently so!"

Aruna was hurt and angry and could only shake her head at his ignorant manner. "You're playing with me, Daemon! And I want this to stop. You obviously and publicly chose Lady Laena. Why can't you just leave me alone already?"

Daemon pulled her into a deserted alley so that not everyone would see their argument. Aruna didn't resist his grip and followed him.

"Because I just can't" Daemon put his hands around her face. Almost like their first night together only now he held her face much tighter and no longer lovingly. "I can't give you up."

"And yet you don't want me" Aruna stated. Again she had to fight the tears in her eyes.

"I want you, Aruna. You wouldn't believe how much!" he declared seriously, leaning his forehead against hers. Aruna's hands wrapped around his wrists almost as if she had to hold onto him.

Her head and mind were also fighting a battle at that moment. Daemon was making it really hard for her. He finally admitted his feelings, but Aruna couldn't be happy about it.

She thought of her brother's words and she thought of Brandon. And she knew that her decision now would decide everything and it was anything but easy for her to say it.

"Maybe you want me today, but tomorrow you will choose Laena again" Now Aruna couldn't hold back her tears anymore.

Daemon looked at her speechless and Aruna managed to free herself from his grip.

"Aruna... that's not true" the Targaryen brought out. Almost in despair, he looked at the woman in front of him. He had not known how much he had hurt her. Daemon had made a promise to her, but had broken it the same evening. All he wanted was to see her happy.

"I want you to stay away from me, Daemon," Aruna said firmly. "I don't want any more advances from you, and I don't want to feel your leg against mine at dinner." The very moment Aruna spoke the words, she deeply regretted them.

But she had made up her mind. Aruna had decided for her mind.

"What can I do to make you forgive me?" he wanted to know. Aruna had not expected a reaction and certainly not such a question from him.

"Even if you get me the crown of an unknown enemy tribe, I wouldn't forgive you. Just let it go, Prince Daemon" She wiped the tears from her cheeks and left the alley alone.

Only softly could she still hear his voice as she mingled with the people. "As you wish, my lady"

***

what do you think so far?

<33