Chapter Text
A week after I saw my husband I quietly move through the moon lit hallways of the Tumbleton keep. I peek into the different rooms I come across, but Daeron is in none of them, causing my irritation to spike. The longer I spend in here, the bigger the risk that I get caught.
I softly push open another door and scan the dimly lit room. A relieved sigh leaves my lips as I spot Daeron fast asleep in the bed. I watch him sleep for a bit, smiling at how much I see Gwayne in him. I kneel next to the bed and softly tread my fingers through his hair. Daeron stirs softly before he startles awake. He looks scared as he sees a hooded figure next to his bed and lunges for his dagger, holding it in front of him protectively.
“Daeron it’s alright, it’s me,” I quickly shush him before he draws too much attention. “Muña?” his voice shakes slightly. “Hello my little dragon,” I smile, cupping his face in my hands. Daeron relaxes for a second before his body tenses again. “Muña, you can’t be here, Ormund will hurt you if he finds you.” “I know little dragon, I talked to Gwayne and we decided that we’re going to leave, just the three of us.”
Daeron’s eyes widen, hope shining in them, “you talked to Kepa? Is he coming here?” I shake my head, “we haven’t gotten that far in the plan yet, our first priority was to get you out.” The boy moves up from the bed and wraps his arms around me, burying his head in the crook of my neck. “I missed you Muña.” His words are muffled as I hug him back tightly. “I missed you too sweetheart.” I pull back, cupping his face once more, “gather everything you need, I’m getting you out of here.”
“Tessie as well?” He darts around the room to stuff some trinkets into his bag.” “Tessie as well,” I confirm. He lets out a sigh of relief, but hesitates after. “Ormund will claim that you kidnapped me to use me as leverage.” Shit, I hadn’t thought of that. “Writing a note to say that you left willingly won’t work, he’ll either claim that there was no note or that you were forced to write it,” I muse, “we can’t do it publicly, but we need witnesses.” Daeron shifts nervously on his feet, then his eyes light up. “Lord and Lady Footly, we can go to them, tell them that I’m leaving willingly. They both support Rhaenyra. Lord Footly might be terrified, but his wife has much more spine than he does, she’ll tell the truth.” I nod thoughtfully, “that might work.”
I move quietly through the hallway again as Daeron clutches the back of my jacket. “Which way?” I whisper to him. We duck behind a wall as a patrol of Hightower soldiers passes by. “This way,” Daeron whispers, leading the way, “Ormund kicked them out of their chambers, they really don’t like him.” He knocks on a large door, which is opened by a stern looking lady. “What in the Seven Hells are you doing here at this hour, young prince?” Her eyes fall to me with suspicion. “And who are you?”
I push the door further open and lead Daeron into the room. “You don’t mind if we come in, do you Lady Footly?” I tell her as I close the door behind us. The room we are in is definitely not fitting for a Lord and Lady of a noble house. My eyes sweep the room and land on Lord Footly. The man looks scrawny and for some reason his face reminds me of the mythical dwarves of the stories I was told as a child.
“What is the meaning of this,” Lady Footly hisses from behind me. Daeron looks at me and I gesture for him to lead the conversation. “Lord Footly, Lady Footly, I apologize for interrupting your evening, but this cannot wait.” He gestures to me. “This is my mother and she-” Lady Footly interrupts him, “I thought the queen dowager was your mother.” The woman looks more and more suspicious with each passing second. “Well yes, she is my birthmother,” Daeron stammers slightly. “But I was sent to Oldtown to live with my uncle and his wife as a babe, they raised me, she raised me.” He gestures to me. “Therefore this is my mother, not queen Alicent.”
Lady Footly’s eyes soften slightly, but she still looks suspicious. I sigh and lower my hood, showing my silver hair. “You’re a Targaryen,” Lord Footly realizes and I nod. “Yes, Daeron tells me that you support the rightful queen. My sister, Rhaenyra Targaryen.” Lord Footly scrambles to his feet and bows clumsily in his haste. “Daeron is my son in all but blood and I wish to take him with me to safety.” “Of course,” Lady Footly says, much more gentle this time, “young boys don’t belong in war, no matter what everyone thinks of it.”
“But why have you come here?” Lord Footly asks. “Lord Ormund will twist the truth when he finds out I’m gone, he’ll claim that I was forcefully taken by Rhaenyra. I’m here to tell you that I’m willingly leaving with my mother.” I nod sharply when Daeron looks at me questioningly, asking if he did it right. “You are the witnesses that Daeron was not forced to leave with me.” I look at Lord Footly. “Do your Maesters have access to ravens?” The small man nods. “Send out ravens to the other Lords, tell them that Daeron willingly left the Hightower army.”
“Lord Ormund will not let this go unpunished,” Lady Footly says. “Then send word to Hugh and Ulf as well, they are guarding the city outside on their dragons. Tell them that they are to interfere if Ormund tries to harm you, or any of the citizens in Tumbleton, by the order of queen Rhaenyra’s sister.” Lady Footly narrows her eyes at me, “You are not the queen, so why would they obey your order.” “Because my family is the reason they were allowed to bond with a dragon.” Lord Footly nods, bows clumsily again and hurries out of the room.
I pull Daeron closer. “Go get Tessie, then we’ll find a way out.” “There is a hidden doorway that leads outside,” Lady Footly informs us. “I’ll take you there.” She turns to Daeron, “you remember the large tree next to the fountain in the gardens?” Daeron nods. “Get your dragon and meet us there.” I pull Daeron into a firm hug before he makes his way to wherever Tessie is. Then I follow Lady Footly.
“Why are you helping us?” I ask the woman. “Like I said, little boys don’t belong in war.” She looks at me with a dark look. “And I’ve seen the way Lord Ormund treats your son. He might care for him in some way, but it’s not normal for a boy to know the signs when a grown man is about to throw a tantrum like a young child.” My jaw clenches as we hurry into the cold night air. We dodge the Hightower guards and make our way to the tree Lady Footly told Daeron about.
Luckily it doesn’t take long for Daeron to show up, an agitated Tessie behind him. Her growls and hisses echo softly through the night, followed by Daeron’s desperate shushing. The blue dragon chirps in greeting as she sees me and bumps her head into Daeron’s chest, almost like she is relieved. Behind me Lady Footly moves away the plants that cover the wall to reveal a door. It’s just large enough to fit Tessie.
“Go now, before the guards find you,” Lady Footly ushers us through the door. I let Daeron manoeuvre Tessie through first and give the Lady of Tumbleton a grateful nod. “Thank you, Lady Footly. She nods once, then closes the door behind us. Daeron looks at me expectantly, “What do we do now?” I let out a low whistle to call Mirrax to me. “We go to King’s landing.” His eyes widen and he looks almost scared. “I can’t go there, they’ll kill me Muña.” I shush him gently. “I know that you’re scared my little dragon, but if we want to get out, we have to do this the right way.”
Mirrax lands next to me, cheerfully greeting Daeron and Tessie. I gesture for Daeron to climb onto the saddle, making sure he has fastened the straps. He swats my hands away with a smile, “Muña I know how to do it.” I climb into my own saddle, “sōvēs,” I tell her. With that, she takes off into the night sky, Daeron and Tessie following close behind. I hear Daeron laugh freely and look back to see him spread his arms as he enjoys being in the air again.
-
It takes us half a day before we reach King’s landing. We land outside the city, making sure our dragons aren’t noticed and make our way into the Red Keep. I ask a member of the queensguard where my sister is and make my way to the small council’s meeting chamber. Daeron looks at the hallways with amazement and I smile. He was so young when he went with me and Gwayne to Oldtown, it doesn’t surprise me that he doesn’t remember the Red Keep. I pull his attention to me when I put my hand on his shoulder, “when we enter the meeting chamber you stay behind me, alright? Let me do the talking, I’m sure it’ll all be alright.”
Two guards spot me approaching and open the doors, allowing us to pass while sharing suspicious looks when they don’t recognize Daeron. I quickly move up the steps, Daeron staying a distance behind me like I told him. By the table Rhaenyra looks up, smiling as she spots me. Next to her Daemon, Mysaria, Alyn and two others look as well.
I bow quickly, greeting my sister and queen. “Sister,” Rhaenyra smiles, “I couldn’t find you, where have you been?” I take a deep breath. “I was at Tumbleton,” I tell her. She frowns, “Why? Hugh and Ulf have the situation under control there.” “I know,” I hesitate. Rhaenyra would hear me out, but Daemon is a loose cannon and my sister’s control over him isn’t what it was.
“I went to find someone,” I announce. The members of the small council frown in confusion. “Do you mean Gwayne?” Rhaenyra questions and I shake my head, gesturing for Daeron to join me. “Sister, this is Daeron Targaryen.” I wrap my arm around Daeron’s shoulder as Daemon jumps up from his chair, drawing his sword. “You dare bring him here, you dare betray your sister?” he hisses angrily. I quickly move Daeron behind me, shielding him with my body. “If you lay a hand on my son I swear I will kill you, uncle.”
Rhaenyra stands from her chair, betrayal in her eyes. “You would betray me,” she whispers. I shake my head desperately, “no sister, I would never, I promise.” “Then why would you bring the boy here,” Daemon snaps. “Because he is my son Nyra, I need him safe.” I ignore Daemon, pleading with my sister instead. “I couldn’t take the risk that he would get hurt or worse, killed.”
Daemon turns to Rhaenyra, “the boy is a challenge to your rule, Rhaenyra, you need to kill him.” My blood runs cold, my mind screaming at me to get Daeron out, but I stay still, shielding Daeron with my body. I knew that this part would be hard. Rhaenyra holds up her hand, shushing her husband. She sits back down in her chair, a wary hesitance in her eyes as she looks at me. “Why did you bring him here?”
“I support your claim to the throne Rhaenyra. There hasn’t been a single day that I haven’t supported you after our father made you his heir. But this war has torn apart my family. I still love Gwayne and Daeron with all my heart and we don’t want this life. Gwayne and I talked at Harrenhall and we want Daeron to grow up somewhere safe, somewhere he can be whoever and whatever he wants to be.” Daeron squeezes my arm, offering silent support.
“You talked at Harrenhal?" Daemon echoes, seemingly intent to prove my betrayal. “Yes, we talked at Harrenhal." I glare at him before turning back to my sister. “I went there to kill Gwayne. I was prepared to kill my own husband for you Nyra, that is how loyal I am to you.” Behind me Daeron’s body tenses and I see him look at me with a shocked expression. “And did you kill him?” Rhaenyra questions. I shake my head, ignoring Daemon’s scoff. “I couldn’t do it and I’m not sorry, Rhaenyra. Would you be able to kill your husband?” Rhaenyra looks at Daemon and shakes her head.
“We ended up on opposite ends of this damned war because we both wanted to honor the vows we made to our Houses, but ignored the vows we made to each other in the process. So when I went to kill him, we talked. About how we mean everything to each other. How Daeron is our son even though we did not conceive him. And in the end, we came to the conclusion that we need to leave, no matter how hard it would be.”
Rhaenyra looks taken aback. “You want to leave me?” she questions. I shake my head. “Want? No, of course not. But I need to.” I raise my head higher. “Your Grace, I hereby ask for permission to leave this court. Gwayne, Daeron and I will leave Westeros to live out our lives somewhere else, never coming back.” “Rhaenyra, the boy is a threat to your rule,” Daemon argues, “you can’t let them leave. What is to stop them from raising an army to challenge you?”
Before I can answer Daeron steps in front of me, ignoring me as I hiss for him to get back behind me. He walks up to Rhaenyra’s chair, foolishly paying no mind to Daemon, who points his sword at my son’s chest. I draw my own sword and hurry after him. Once he stands next to her, he kneels on the floor while he looks at her with a challenge in his eyes.
“Rhaenyra, you might remember me from when I was a baby, but I don’t, so in my eyes this is the first time we meet. I was raised by your sister with stories about her loving and fierce sister, my aunt Rhaenyra. Throughout my youth I was told both sides of the story. One side where you are the rightful heir and the other side where Aegon ascends the throne.”
My son looks at me, an apology in his eyes. “I am sorry, but I can’t swear my loyalty to you.” I step closer to Daeron, keeping my eyes locked onto Daemon. “But I can’t swear my loyalty to Aegon either,” Daeron continues, making the room pause. “However, what I can do is swear my loyalty to my Muña and Kepa, to the people who raised me. I have no desire to be king and I am prepared to renounce any claim to the Iron Throne if you let me and my Muña and Kepa leave like she told you.”
The room is utterly silent. Rhaenyra stands from her chair and Daeron follows. “You remind me of my son, Jace,” my sister smiles softly. “Should things have gone differently I think that you and him would have been good friends.” She looks at me. “Your parents have raised you beautifully. Therefore I accept your offer. You renounce the throne and the three of you will be allowed to leave Westeros.” Daeron gives Rhaenyra a polite nod and returns to my side, hugging me tightly. “Thank you,” I mouth to my sister as I tread my hand through his hair.
-
Two days later Daeron and I arrive at Gulltown, a harbor town in the Vale, where Gwayne is waiting for us. Daeron beams with excitement as he spots Gwayne from a distance. “Gwayne!” he calls out joyfully as we close in on him. Gwayne looks up and smiles. Daeron reaches him first and Gwayne wraps him tightly in his arms. “You made it,” he breathes, “I was getting worried.” He pulls me into him and kisses me. I briefly let myself relax in his hold before pulling back.
“I have arranged for a ship to take us to Pentos,” Gwayne tells us, “from there we’ll make our way to Norvos.” “We’ll go that far?” Daeron questions. “We have to, little dragon, we have to go somewhere they won’t recognize us and somewhere remote so that the dragons will be free to roam.” I nod in agreement to the plan, “and the Hills of Norvos are the perfect place for that.” Daeron hesitates, folding his hands behind his back. “But if we go by boat, will Tessie and Mirrax be able to find us?”
I nod, “they’ll find us near Pentos, from there we’ll fly to the Hills.” “Are you sure?” Daeron questions. I move closer to him, cupping his face in my hands. “I’m sure of it. We’re Targaryen, you and I, our dragons will always be able to find us wherever we go.” “Alright then,” Daeron agrees. Gwayne smiles at the both of us and we make our way to the harbor.
“What happened with your sister?” Gwayne asks as he walks next to me, holding my hand in his. I give him a brief rundown of the events. He looks concerned when I tell him of Daemon’s reaction and proud when I mention what Daeron told Rhaenyra. “So he officially renounced any claim to the Iron Throne?” I nod, “he went through the ceremony yesterday, I’ve never seen him so nervous, but he endured it like a true warrior.” I smile and watch as Daeron walks ahead of us, looking with curious eyes at everything there is to see. Gwayne nods proudly, “our son is a warrior.”
-
In the end we find a cozy house in the Hills of Norvos. It’s very different from what any of us are used to, but it’s perfect. There are many caves nearby where Tessie and Mirrax can make a home and it’s remote enough that Daeron and I will be able to fly freely without worry that anyone will see us.
I step out onto the front porch where Gwayne sits in one of the chairs, a book on the Valyrian language in his lap. “Are you really trying to learn High Valyrian?” I ask him. Gwayne nods without looking up and he holds out a hand for me to take. He pulls me into his lap, resting the book on my thigh. “Both my son and wife speak High Valyrian, so I figured that I should know it as well.” I hum, combing my fingers through his hair. “That sounds fair to me.” I look at the mountains stretching around us. “Do you think that we’ll ever find out who will win the war?”
His hand stills on the page. “Honestly? I hope not, I’m done with that mess.” He admits. “Me too,” I lay my head on his shoulder. “We’re going to need animals if we want to be self-sufficient,” I tell him. “I’ll see if I can buy some in the village tomorrow.” “We’ll at least need horses and chickens.” “Of course, my love,” he agrees, sounding distracted. “And I want a dog and a cat.” “If that’s what you want.” I roll my eyes, leaning back to look at him.
“I’m pregnant.” Gwayne hums in response, then he seems to choke on air and he looks at me with wide eyes. “What?!” I smile, stroking his cheek, “I’m pregnant,” I repeat. “You are?!” His voice goes up a few octaves. “Gods Gwayne,” I laugh, “I thought a knight could never be caught off guard.” I tap him on his cheek to snap him out of his shock. He smiles, love and adoration in his eyes. “You’re pregnant,” he smiles. “That’s what I just told you. Twice.”
“Oh shush woman.” He kisses me deeply. “We’re having a baby,” he mutters against my lips. Behind us the door opens and Daeron steps out. The boy lowers himself in the other chair and stretches out his legs. “Why are you so happy Kepa?” he asks. “Hang on,” Gwayne mutters, grabbing his High Valyrian book again. He flips eagerly through the pages, trying to find the right words as Daeron and I exchange amused looks.
“Your mother is pregnant, you’re going to have a baby sibling,” Gwayne says, stumbling over the words and I laugh at his pronunciation. Gwayne looks at Daeron with a bright smile, waiting for his response. “You need to work on your pronunciation, Kepa,” Daeron tells him as he gets up. He bends down, wrapping his arms around the both of us and I hug him back. “I want a baby sister,” he states, which Gwayne immediately agrees with.