Chapter 30: Growing Tension
Alicent had once thought that Lilyanna would be her easiest child, the one who would try to bring the least amount of attention onto herself due to her circumstances.
Looking back, Alicent thought that she had been a naive fool for ever believing that her second daughter could be normal and easily overlooked.
"Mother? Are you alright? You haven't said anything in some time." Lilyanna said, looking at Alicent with worry, having just finished telling her mother why she snuck out and went to Shadecross earlier that day.
Of course, she had left out a few crucial details, like this not being the first time she has snuck out of a castle and gone to provide medical expertise to the smallfolk, along with her first interaction with the men who tried to attack her, and her suspicions of Hugh's origins. But overall, Lilyanna felt that she had been quite truthful in her retelling of the events.
Alicent had berated Lilyanna for that and was quick to ask how Lilyanna could have been sneaking in and out of Dragonstone for days without anyone realizing. And Lilyanna knew that her mother would be having a few words with the captain of the guards about the castle's lax security, especially as the castle was full of important nobles and the royal family.
But when she had gotten to telling her family about what happened when the Cannibal carried her away, Lilyanna saw how quiet Alicent had become, now staring blankly at her.
"Why wouldn't she be staring at you, idiot?" Aegon muttered, grinning when he saw Lilyanna turn her head to glare at him.
Aemond opened his own mouth to say something, but Lilyanna cut him off before he could.
"Aemond, you are the last person who should be speaking right now." Lilyanna said plainly.
"Well, I think that this is a momentous occasion." Viserys said from the head of the Painted Table, smiling at Lilyanna, "You finally claimed a dragon."
It was only the King, his younger children, and his wife who occupied the Chamber of the Painted Table, an illusion of privacy given after the mayhem that the day had brought.
Since they had arrived at Dragonstone, Viserys had been spending time here and in the castle's library, having been drawn to the importance of this room ever since he was a child, imagining what it would have been like to be there as Aegon and his sister-wives planned their conquest of Westeros.
And this was where Viserys had been when he received word that his daughter had been carried away by the island's most dangerous and malevolent dragon.
Alicent blinked, and a tired sigh escaped her lips as she fought the urge to scream at her husband. "Viserys, you cannot congratulate our daughter for this foolishness; she could have died when she approached that beast! Aemond could have died when he went searching for it as well; neither of them should be praised for what they have done."
Viserys frowned, "I suppose you are right, Alicent. And I will have to speak to or have Rhaenyra speak to the castle guards about this, allowing children to escape the castle unnoticed once is already unacceptable, but multiple times?"
I hope I didn't just get a bunch of people fired. Lilyanna thought, making a note to herself to talk to Rhaenyra about this later.
"So, you have a dragon now?" Helaena asked, whispering to her sister as their parents continued to talk.
"I do." Lilyanna grinned.
Helaena gave Lilyanna a grin of her own, "Can I ride her with you first?"
"Hey, I want to ride the Cannibal too." Daeron added, "And I should get to go first, I'm always last when it comes to riding with everyone."
"Daeron's right; why should Helaena get to go first? This feels like favoritism." Aegon said, slapping his hand against the table dramatically.
"Don't hit the table!" Viserys glared at his eldest son, viewing his action as disrespectful to the piece of history that they were sitting around. Aegon removed his hand, rolling his eyes when Viserys turned away.
"First of all, Helaena is my favorite sibling; the rest of you irritate me." Lilyanna said, ignoring the sounds of offense that her brothers gave her. "And secondly, the Cannibal doesn't even have a saddle yet, and I don't think that's going to change anytime soon."
Lilyanna could not imagine that the Cannibal would be all that keen on allowing the dragonkeepers anywhere near her, let alone near her long enough to attach a saddle to her back. She could only see that situation ending with fire and the deaths of a lot of poor dragonkeepers.
"Even if the Cannibal had a saddle, you certainly will not be flying on top of it anytime soon." Alicent said strongly, looking at her daughter pointedly.
Figures…
"How was it to claim the Cannibal?" Viserys asked Lilyanna, looking at her with an excited grin appearing on his face.
"It was…" Lilyanna tried to think of the right words that could describe the experience, "Warm, like being reunited with someone, but it's someone that I have never met before."
"The dragonkeepers have long since speculated on the dragon's true age and what has caused its temperament. I myself believe that it must have been born around the time my grandfather was a boy, but there have been theories about the Cannibal even predating our house's occupation of Dragonstone." Viserys rambled, "Perhaps now that it has a rider, the Cannibal will end its, well, cannibalism."
I probably should talk to the Cannibal about that. Lilyanna was not sure if the dragon would listen to her if she asked them to stop eating other dragons, but it was something she would have to do, especially if the Cannibal was going to come with her back to King's Landing.
The last thing she needed was for one of her nephews or Daeron to come running to her in tears, telling her that the Cannibal had eaten either Vermax, Arrax, or Tessarion.
Why is being bonded starting to become more work than I thought it would be?
The Next Day
"You know, you don't have to follow me so closely, right?" Lilyanna said, glancing back at the knight behind her.
"I don't know, princess. The second I step back, you might decide to climb out of another window." Rickard said dryly, practically standing over Lilyanna as they moved.
"I said I was sorry about that, Ricky." Lilyanna whined, "Why can't you just let it go?"
Lilyanna knew that she had gotten off easier than most people after everything that had happened over the last few days. She did not know if it was because of her injury or for some other reason, but she knew better than to question why her parents, specifically her mother, did not feel the need to have her locked up in her bedchamber or forced to do some kind of menial work like Aemond currently was.
Rickard stared at Lilyanna with the blankest expression the older knight could muster, showing the princess just how much he did not believe her.
Lilyanna pouted, "You're really hurting my feelings here, Ricky."
"I could be more inclined to forgive, my princess." Rickard said, "If you stop calling me Ricky."
Lilyanna stared at him blankly for a few moments, "Never mind, I'm content with your anger."
Rickard only shook his head as he continued to follow his charge, not surprised by Lilyanna's response.
"Where is she?" Lilyanna muttered, looking around for any sight of her older sister.
She and Rickard had just arrived at Aegon's Garden after asking a servant for Rhaenyra's whereabouts, and Lilyanna could not deny the beauty of the space. Surrounded by tall pine trees and towering thorny hedges, the garden was full of wild roses, impeccably green grass, and a small cranberry bog at its northern edges.
It was the only part of the island, besides a few sparse pieces of farmland, Lilyanna had seen that was teeming with plant life, an oasis within the grim, rocky, damp environment of Dragonstone.
When Lilyanna had finally found her sister, she saw that Rhaenyra was not alone and was sitting at a small table with Laena and Rhaenys. Servants and guards stood off to the side as two wet nurses handled the twins and Aethan on a blanket nearby.
"Lilyanna." Rhaenyra said as she noticed her sister approaching, "What are you doing here?"
"Cousin Rhaenys, Aunt Laena." Lilyanna greeted the other two women sitting at the table before grinning at Rhaenyra. "I have a proposal that I think you would love to hear about."
"A proposal?" Rhaenyra asked, "And is there a reason why you are bringing this to me and not our father?"
"Because it has nothing to do with him, but you, the Princess of Dragonstone." Lilyanna said, and Rhaenyra had that Lilyanna had brought the journal she usually wrote her ideas in as she placed in on the table.
"Oh, mother, did you hear that? A proposition for the Princess of Dragonstone herself." Laena teased, her smile growing wider when Rhaenyra rolled her eyes.
Rhaenys did not say anything, instead continuing to stare at Lilyanna, waiting for her to speak.
Lilyanna opened her journal, showing the three women drawings she had made of glass windows, mirrors, jewelry, and other ornaments.
"I'm sure you know that most of the glass that Westeros uses comes from either Dorne or the Free Cities. And even the ones made here pale in comparison to them and are sold for cheap, so if you want anything fancy or for a more specific purpose, you will still have to buy from Drone or Essos." Lilyanna said.
"I do." Rhaenyra said, "But what does that have to do with-"
"But what if I told you that having to pay such exuberant prices wouldn't be necessary if you used the glass and the obsidian that naturally grows here on Dragonstone." Lilyanna said before Rhaenyra could finish her question.
"And how would that work?" Rhaenys asked before Rhaenyra could, "Do you genuinely think that such would be a worthwhile investment? I cannot claim to know much about the process, but I do know that the glass made here in Westeros is made in glasshouses with access to heavily forested areas, giving them the materials necessary for glass production. Can Dragonstone truly compete with the market that exists here, let alone the influx of glass imported from outside the continent?"
Doesn't know much about the process, my ass. Lilyanna thought, "You seem to know plenty, cousin Rhaenys. But the glass that is made by Westeros itself is considered Functional Glass; it doesn't compare to the luxury glass that most nobles import."
"What is the difference?" Laena asked, now invested in the conversation.
"Functional glass, or forest glass as it's more commonly known as, is made from less refined materials like sand, ash, and limestone, which causes imperfections and gives the glass a less pristine appearance. It's also what allows this type of glass to be produced in massive quantities and used in making things like windows, drinking glasses, and bottles. But luxury glass has a far more complex manufacturing process, has a clarity, brilliance, and unique design that normal glass lacks, and is the type of glass that I believe Dragonstone will be capable of producing and making a name for itself."
Lilyanna pushed forward a drawing she had made of an obsidian necklace, "Dragonstone would never be able to produce the amount of glass needed to completely overtake the market. The island, more specifically, the volcano that the island rests above, is not large enough for that to be possible. But I have spoken to Daven Hill, and he has a few artisans under him who believe that the obsidian the island makes can be a new type of luxury glass. Like the glass candles the Valyrians of old once made."
"Wasn't the process for making glass candles lost to time? Like that of Valyrian Steel?" Rhaenyra asked.
"It was, but I am not asking for us to figure out how to make glass candles; I was only using it as an example. Our ancestors used dragonglass, or obsidian, to make the candles; why can the same not be done again? Although with a different method to make it possible." Lilyanna said eagerly.
"What do you get out of this?" Rhaenys asked.
Lilyanna frowned, "I don't-"
"These little projects of yours are always made with the desire to help the peasantry or something similar." Rhaenys said, her tone pricking against Lilyanna's nerves for a moment, "So it is hard to believe that you have only come up with this idea due to a desire to increase Rhaenyra's personal wealth."
Lilyanna gave Rhaenys a sharp smile, "While I know that it is hard for others to understand, improving the lives of people who do everything for you makes things better for you as well. These things are cyclical in nature; the richer they become, the richer you become. A new industry would bring new occupations for the smallfolk, you would need people to extract minerals from the earth, to create the glass, to craft it, and then to sell and transport it after all."
The two princesses stared at each other, Rhaenys was expressionless, while Lilyanna was still giving the woman a fake smile.
"Well, I believe that is fine enough reasoning." Rhaenyra said, trying to cut through the tension, "But, Lily, do you truly think that Dragonstone can compete?"
Laena looked at her mother from the corner of her eye, wondering why Rhaenys seemed to be pushing Lilyanna as much as she was.
"I do." Lilyanna said as she turned to look at her sister again, "The volcanic glass here has a uniqueness that will have every person with coin to spare salivating at the thought of getting their hands on these pieces. If you need physical examples, I can write to Daven immediately and have his people prepare something."
Rhaenyra leaned back in her chair, "I suppose it can hurt to try."
Lilyanna grinned, "You won't regret this."
"I am not agreeing to anything just yet, Lilyanna." Rhaenyra argued, "Only giving you the opportunity to prove that this will be worth the trouble."
"And it will be. You'll be thanking me soon enough, sister."
"Wow, you're a wonderful artist." Lilyanna almost jumped out of her skin when she heard someone speaking close to her ear.
And she found herself glad when Joffrey and Visenya suddenly started crying, drawing everyone's attention, and allowing her to turn around and look at who had spoken to her. Behind her were Aerea and Rhaella, with Rhaella being the one leaning over her shoulder.
Lilyanna had forgotten about the new ghosts that were tied to her now, but in her defense, these past few days had been so hectic that it was easy to push past what was not right in front of her.
"Why are you wasting so much time on glass?" Aerea asked, walking past Lilyanna and Rhaella to look at the drawing herself. "Seems quite pointless and bland."
"Were you not listening? It would allow Dragonstone to further its trade abilities." Rhaella said.
"Dragonstone already trades with others, does it not?" Aerea asked.
"Hardly, most of the island's wealth comes from fishing and metalwork, and even in those areas of trade, Driftmark has Dragonstone beat." Rhaella explained, "The island's revenue almost entirely comes from the heir's allowances."
"I guess that would make more sense. I never heard mother speak much of Dragonstone's trade when she ruled the seat." Aerea said before turning to Lilyanna, "Why are you being so quiet?"
Rhaella sighed, "She can't speak to us publicly, do you remember what Visenya told all of us? No one can see us; people would think Lilyanna has gone mad if she started talking to us now."
Why is this my life? Lilyanna thought, walking around the table and over to Rhaenyra's side.
Rhaenyra immediately jumped to her feet when she heard her children crying, taking them from their wet nurses.
Joffrey had stopped crying once his mother started to rock them, looking up at Rhaenyra curiously. When Visenya started crying louder, and when it looked like her cries would lead to Aethan crying as well, Lilyanna held out her arms to take Visenya from Rhaenyra.
Rhaenyra sighed and allowed her sister to take her daughter, "I'm starting to think she prefers you over me."
"She doesn't, and even if she did, once Senya here is old enough, she will be following you around like a duckling." Lilyanna said, tickling Visenya's stomach, making the infant giggle.
Maybe Visenya just liked being in her presence, or maybe Visenya liked the way she smelled or felt. Children were smarter than they were often given credit for, but you can not truly say why they liked or disliked certain people.
"Why would your sister name her child after Visenya of all women?" Aerea asked, now being the one leaning over Lilyanna's shoulder.
"Perhaps she looks up to Visenya." Rhaella said, leaning over Lilyanna's other shoulder. "It is not the worst thing, although we should pray that this little one does not take after her namesake's character."
Well, I've never heard Visenya giggle and rarely see her smile, so I think my niece is already proving not to be like her. Lilyanna glanced at the two ghosts, continuing to rock Visenya.
At least it's just these two, I don't know how I would be able to handle the rest of them being here. Wait, what are the rest of them doing? Lilyanna sighed, feeling far older than she ever had since being reborn.
As Lilyanna left Aegon's Garden and began making her way back to her bedchamber, she noticed that Aerea and Rhaella were still following her, not having disappeared yet.
Aerea carried the conversation, either forgetting or not caring that Lilyanna could not respond to her, or that Lilyanna did not seem to care much for what she was saying.
Rhaella kept looking around, her eyes focused on the castle's architecture and the people who occupied it, her eyes wide and curious. Lilyanna briefly wondered how much the castle had changed since Rhaella was alive, given how Rhaella was acting.
When Lilyanna reached her room and closed her door, ignoring the pointed way Rickard looked at her as she did, Lilyanna let out a loud groan. "What are you two doing here?"
"We came to cure our boredom. With the others choosing to argue with each other and mother being mother, your brain is an unrepentant hell." Aerea frowned, looking around Lilyanna's room, "Your room is bland too, all you have is a cauldron, books, and a bed!"
"What do you mean by everyone arguing in my brain?" Lilyanna asked, ignoring the latter comment.
"Our family has a lot of issues, I'm sure you're aware." Aerea shrugged, "What with all the lying, murder, rape, torture, and theft."
"And about your mother acting like your mother?" Rhaella was the one who answered instead of her twin, "Mother feels guilty, she believes that her actions are what led Aerea to claim Balerion and her eventual death. Aerea is acting like a child and refusing to speak to her about it."
"Because I don't need a bunch of apologies!" Aerea yelled, glaring at Rhaella, "And I certainly don't need the looks she keeps giving me. She's so, ugh! Now she wants to feel bad? She was the one who pushed our uncle and aunt away, she was the one who trusted Elis-that woman and locked me inside this wretched place because of it all! And now she's sorry?!"
Huh, that was a lot. Lilyanna thought, staring at Aerea, but remembering that Aerea was a fourteen-year-old girl, one who was hurting and could not fault her for her outburst. Especially as from what Lilyanna was able to see, each of the ghosts besides the Conquerors found themselves tied to her in what was to them the immediate aftermath of their deaths.
Unlike Rhaena, who had outlived her eldest daughter by almost two decades, Aerea did not have a lifetime of regrets to look back on.
"I can't speak for Rhaena, but I know parents can be... assholes when they think they're doing something to protect you or for what they think is your own good." Lilyanna said, "And most don't care or realize how you feel until it's too late."
"So what? You think I should just forgive her? Because she feels bad?" Aerea spat, turning her glare onto Lilyanna.
"If you want to." Lilyanna shrugged, "But you won't be able to avoid her forever, you're stuck with her as long, well, as long as I'm alive."
Aerea's glare lessened, and she looked out the window, processing what Lilyanna had just said.
"And your mother most likely heard everything you just said." Lilyanna added.
"What?!" Aerea exclaimed.
"Aegon, Visenya, and Rhaenys once explained to me that they can usually hear everything that goes on around me, unless they are distracted or actively choosing not to listen. I don't see why it would be any different for you and the others."
Aerea began to blush, embarrassed and worried not only about Rhaena but everyone else hearing her complain and whine like a child.
Rhaella looked at Lilyanna, more specifically her skull, "So, most likely, they have-"
"We heard most of that, yes." Lilyanna jumped when she heard Visenya speak from behind her.
"Stop fucking doing that!" Lilyanna yelled.
"It's been years, Lily. You should just get used to this, especially now." Rhaenys chuckled from Visenya's other side, smiling when Lilyanna turned to glare at her.
Unfortunately for her, everyone had decided to follow the Conquerors out of her headspace and now found themselves inhabiting her bedroom. If it were not for the fact that their bodies were intangible, Lilyanna would have complained about the lack of space in the room.
Aerea's blush grew more pronounced when she made eye contact with Rhaena, quickly turning away from her. Rhaella could only shake her head from where she stood, knowing that things would be easier if her sister and mother simply talked to each other.
Lilyanna sighed as she looked at the man, "I have spoken to my sister about harvesting the island's dragonglass. But you know that the glass won't be all that useful against the Others for another two hundred years, yes?"
"Our house is beginning to see the value in the material will be enough. Innovations will come with time, especially if the dragonglass is allowed to spread further across Westeros than it did in my dreams." Aegon said.
"Let's hope so, it doesn't take a genius to figure out that glass knives and swords will not make effective weapons. And will dragonglass even be necessary with dragons still around?"
"Your work persists, Lilyanna. Nothing is set in stone as of now; dragons are not impervious to harm, and machinations can still be made to tear our house apart."
"This dragonglass is for... for those creatures you spoke of?" Aenys asked, "How would that even be possible?"
"We do not know what has gone into it to make it so, but dragonglass has magical properties within it that can harm the Others." Aegon answered his son.
"It is still hard to believe what you have told us." Aenys muttered, a shiver racing down his spine at the thought of the world being ended, as unholy creatures roam what once belonged to humans.
"I almost did not believe it myself when your father told Visenya and me about his dream. It can be a lot to take in." Rhaenys said, placing a hand on Aenys' arm, smiling at him.
Aenys stared at his mother wide-eyed, and slowly a smile crept onto his face. He had always imagined what it would be like to speak to his mother, even for just a moment, and had found himself emotional over the last few days.
Rhaenys, as if sensing his thoughts, smiled again at him, rubbing his arm gently.
"When you passed down the prophecy, you never mentioned just how dire it truly was." Maegor said, his eyes falling upon his father. "All you told us was that a Long Night would come to the world and that a Targaryen must be seated on the throne to prevent it."
"The finer details of the prophecy were not necessary for you all to know." Aegon said.
"Is that so?" Maegor asked bitterly.
Aegon was calm in his response, "Look at every action you took with what little you did know about it, Maegor. You cannot fault me for not being so liberal in telling you and your brother the truth, neither of you was ready to know."
Maegor scowled at his father, at how passive his tone was, at how Aegon seemed to be looking through him instead of at him, and putting him in the same tier as Aenys when it came to how little faith Aegon admitted to having in them.
"What is the point of keeping it secret?" Aegon's namesake asked, "Did you not think that we would do what was needed to ensure that no divisions could be found within us? That we would not try to tear ourselves apart?"
"And have each of you and our descendants believe that they are the Prince Who was Promised? That they were the destined hero who would save the world? Everyone believes that what they are doing is necessary, both to the realm's benefit and detriment. It is what your father and uncle did, it is what you, your sister, and mother did, it is what your youngest brother did, and it is what my sisters and I did. Speaking the truth would have been a foolish endeavor from what I have seen of each and every one of you."
A silence filled Lilyanna's bedroom, and everyone's eyes were locked on the first Targaryen King, Aegon's face was still blank and unrepentant.
I'm sure they're all going to take this well. Lilyanna thought just as most of the ghosts around her started voicing their displeasure.
Lilyanna ignored most of this and went to the eldest Targaryen Queen's side, as she too was watching the chaos unfold from the sidelines, looking at them all like she thought they were idiots.
"I have yet to commend you for claiming your dragon. I must admit I was not expecting it to be the Cannibal, but that only adds to the strength of your feat." Visenya told her.
"I can't say I was expecting it either, or how it happened." Lilyanna smiled, "But I am really happy about it, is that strange?"
"No, I remember feeling the same when I claimed Vhagar." Visenya said, a rare and soft smile appearing on her own face. "It was as if I had found my missing half, as if no other bond I had could ever compare to what I had gained with her."
"Is she smiling? What fresh hell have we entered?" The younger Aegon said, looking at Visenya as if she were a horrifying beast.
The smile on Visenya's face immediately fell away when Aegon spoke, replaced by her typical scowl, "Are you children done with your scabbling yet? Yes, my brother did not feel deigned to clarify his dream, but it does not matter anymore."
"Why should we listen to you?" Alyssa Velayron spat, scowling at the older Queen, "After what you have done, you have the nerve to act as if you have this realm's best interests at heart?"
"Alyssa is right. You and Maegor betrayed this family, why should we act like everything you have done has not happened?" Aenys said, glaring at both Visenya and Maegor before turning to his parents, "And how can you two just ignore that? How can you stand there treating them like they are one of us?"
"Because they are." Aegon said, "I do not agree with what your aunt and uncle have done, and I, too, was furious and terrified when I learned the truth of it all, but I do understand why they felt the need to act."
Aenys was devastated, "How can you say that?"
"Aenys." Rhaenys spoke out, "My siblings and I have spoken about the past, about everything, and we have moved beyond those issues. We cannot change the actions we have already taken; we can only move forward, especially in the light of what is to come."
Aenys pulled his arm out from his mother's grasp, further devastated by what he saw as his mother's lack of understanding.
Rhaenys frowned but allowed her son to move away from her and closer to his wife, "All of this is still fresh for you all. As time goes on, you will see it as we do."
"That is quite an assumption to make, grandmother." Rhaena scoffed, not seeing a day that she would ever be able to move past what certain people in this room had done.
Lilyanna sighed, moving across her room and grabbing her bag, and walked out of her bedchamber, wanting to get as far away from her feuding relatives as possible. She knew it was a pointless endeavor, as she knew from years of being around Aegon, Visenya, and Rhaenys that they could only be about thirty feet away from her before being pulled towards her like they were tethered to her by a rope, but it was still worth a shot.
"You Grace?" Rickard asked.
"Come, I need to go see Helaena." Lilyanna said.
"Oh, are we going to see one of my other granddaughters?" Lilyanna looked to the right from the corner of her eye, seeing Alyssa standing next to her, smiling brightly.
Lilyanna did not respond due to Rickard walking behind her, but she noted that Alyssa's siblings, half-aunt, niece, and younger uncle had followed her.
I guess they were tired of all the arguing as well.
Lilyanna did not knock when she reached Helaena's bedchamber, simply opening the door and closing it behind her. When Lilyanna opened the bedroom door, she caught sight of Helaena sitting on the floor with a few spiders dancing between her fingers.
"What is she doing?" Viserra asked, visibly disgusted at the sight.
"You could leave if bugs bother you." Lilyanna said, ignoring the glare she was given in response.
She did notice that Daella and Gael looked disgusted as well at the sight of the spiders, choosing to take a step back. And she also noticed that Aemma was staring at Helaena more intently than everyone else, making Lilyanna wonder if she was picking up on the physical similarities that Helaena shared with their mother.
"Who are you talking to?" Helaena asked.
"Viserra." Lilyanna said plainly.
Helaena's brow furrowed, "Our great aunt Viserra?"
"Oh, right, I haven't told you about my new ghosts." Lilyanna said before going on to explain the new development.
Helaena stared at her twin for a moment before sighing, "This could only happen to you."
"The way you said that felt like an insult."
"It was supposed to be."
"Ah, just making sure."
"Baelon, look, they're just like us." Alyssa told her husband playfully.
Lilyanna's face scrunched up in disgust, "We are not."
Helaena looked at Lilyanna, confused about the conversation she could not understand due to only hearing Lilyanna's responses.
Lilyanna rolled her eyes, "Alyssa, our grandmother, is comparing us to her and Baelon."
"Oh." Helaena said, "But you and I do not have romantic-"
"I know, Hels. She's just talking out of her ass."
"Rude." Alyssa said, although Lilyanna could see she was hardly offended.
"Are you sure you will be able to deal with all of this?"
Lilyanna could shrug, she had gotten somewhat used to the Conquerors and their occasional presence, although from the looks of it, everyone else did not look keen on not invading her space frequently.
It's not as if I have a choice anymore, not unless I can somehow contact the Gods and ask to get rid of them. Lilyanna thought, "Anyway, I wanted to ask if you could help me something."
"With what?" Helaena asked.
"Visenya has been pestering me about getting some things from her old bedroom. And I can't really sneak in there without being noticed by Daemon, Laena, one of the twins, or any of the servants, so I need to create a distraction."
"And what exactly would this distraction be?"
Lilyanna smirked, "Revenge."
"On Uncle Daemon?"
Lilyanna's smirk grew when she saw her sister's eyes light up with interest, "I might as well kill two birds with one stone."
"Now wait a minute." Baelon stood in front of Lilyanna, looking down at her with worry, "Now I know that Daemon had been out of line-"
"Look, grand-Baelon?" Lilyanna frowned, not knowing what to call the man given their close relation, but deciding to ignore it for now. "This is happening, you're not going to talk me out of this, your son is a spoiled cunt, and he needs to pay for what he did to me. So, you can keep talking to the wind because that's the only thing that cares about your opinion on this matter, or keep quiet and turn the other cheek because this is happening regardless of your feelings."
Baelon could only gape at Lilyanna, having not expected her to be so openly hostile. And this was not helped when he heard Alyssa laughing behind him.
"What a strange child you are." Maegelle said softly, tilling her head as she looked at Lilyanna.
Lilyanna moved her head to look around Baelon and towards Helaena, "So are you going to help?"
Helaena thought about it for a moment before nodding her head and standing up, "Where do we start?"
"Wait!" Baelon called out, watching the two girls preparing to leave the room.
"I don't think you're going to change their minds, brother." Aemon said, amused by it all, "They seem to be quite determined."
Baelon sighed, letting his head drop, "That is what I'm afraid of."
"The first place we need to go to is the Dragonmount." Lilyanna told her sister.
Helaena looked at her sister questioningly, "First place?"
"We're going to be making a couple of stops to get what I need."
Helaena did not know what Lilyanna was planning, but if the growing smirk on her face was anything to go off from, it was going to be quite terrible for their uncle.
Hours Later
When Rhaenyra agreed to Lilyanna's glassmaking endeavor, she should have expected that her sister was already preparing for it, assuming that her answer would be yes.
Do I even want to know when she found the time to bring this much dragonglass from the Dragonmount? How and when did she put it here without anyone noticing? Rhaenyra thought, looking at the pile of glass that now sat on the table of her solar.
Rhaenyra figured that this would be something to look over tomorrow, and as quickly as she entered, she left the room.
"You seem to be quite busy so late at night, dear niece." From the shadows, Daemon made himself known, his usual smirk resting on his face.
Rhaenyra did not react to his sudden presence, having long since grown used to such behavior from Daemon. "And you seem to have nothing better to do than to hide in the darkness like a foul lurker, uncle."
"You have grown meaner over the years, Rhaenyra." Daemon said mockingly.
"Bother someone else, Daemon." Rhaenyra said, walking past Daemon, intending to get as far away from him as possible.
"You are still angry over that nonsense with the Queen's daughter?" Daemon scoffed, "Is that why you are acting like this?"
"You could have killed her!" Rhaenyra spat, glaring at Daemon, "You could have killed her, and you don't even care! Why would I not be angry with you? I had always known that you were impulsive and brash, but I had always claimed that people misunderstood you, but now? Now I see what everyone else does."
"You mean you let these Andal upstarts and the Hightower cunt leading them, poison you against me, against your blood." Daemon hissed.
"Do not speak of Alicent like that again!" Rhaenyra yelled.
Daemon laughed viciously, "And why shouldn't I? She is a snake groomed by her father to take everything from our house, and yet you and Viserys refuse to see what lurks beneath her facade. My brother allowed himself to be led astray by her pretty face and tight cunt, and he does not see that he is all but handing the throne over to her and her spawn. Is this what has happened to you as well, Rhaenyra? Have you too found yourself bewitched by what lies between Alicent Hightower's legs to the point that you can't see reason?"
"How dare you?! What right do you have to accuse Alicent of trying to fuck her way to the throne as if you did not try the same?!"
Daemon froze for a moment, while he knew that Rhaenyra would still be upset about everything, he did not expect Rhaenyra to acknowledge their night in the brothel outright.
It was Rhaenyra's turn to laugh, years of resentment and anger coming to the surface, "Was that not why you tried to fuck me in that brothel? Why you lied to my father about it? Why you waged war in the Stepstones for as long as you did? Were these not ways to reclaim a title that you believe was stolen from you and to infuriate my father? You claim that my father and I are being used by Alicent, but what makes what you did any different? You used me when it was convenient for you, then you threw me away as if I was trash."
"Because I was trying to protect you! All I wanted to do was protect you!"
Rhaenyra scoffed, "Protect me? By leaving me alone in the slums, surrounded by people who could have done anything they pleased with me? By trying to ruin my reputation? And even now, how does trying to bash my little sister's skull open protect me?"
Daemon growled, "Because with the way you are now, you can't be expected to lead this family! You don't have the strength, the fire within you, and certainly not the ability to do what is necessary. You need someone who can-"
"Who can what?" Rhaenyra asked, her voice eerily calm, "Rule for me? You think I am some weak, pathetic, stupid woman who cannot rule effectively on my own? You think I need someone like you?"
"I know you do." Daemon said strongly, "I know you need me; you would falter without a strong hand to guide you, you don't see the danger that everyone on this Gods forsaken continent poses towards us. Without me, you would be a ruler just like my brother, weak and easily swayed, that's if the Hightowers even allow you to ascend before they kill you off to ensure their rise."
"You know what I think?" Rhaenyra clenched her fists, walking back towards Daemon, only leaving an inch of space between them. "I think you are a second son so jealous of what his brother, what I have been given, that you have deluded yourself into thinking that you are superior to us. You need to be seen as valuable, as someone needed, because without that, you are an insecure, pathetic man who only cares for himself and his own desires."
Daemon stared at Rhaenyra, not knowing what emotion to express. Anger, shock, and embarrassment swirled within him like a hurricane.
Rhaenyra did not wait for Daemon to respond, turning on her heel and leaving him behind in the empty corridor.
So lost in her anger, Rhaenyra did not notice Alicent and Criston ahead of her, nearly colliding with Alicent as she quickly walked past them.
"Rhaenyra." Alicent called out to the other woman but was ignored, watching as Rhaenyra disappeared into another corridor.
"Your Grace, I believe we should keep going." Criston said, his voice steely as he took notice of Daemon nearby.
The knight still burned every time he looked at the prince, desiring nothing more than to cut him down for what he did to Lilyanna.
Daemon glared at the other man when he heard him speak, "If you have something to say, Crispin, you should say it."
"Let us go, Ser Criston." Alicent said before Criston could lose control over his temper.
Daemon sneered at Alicent, the sight of her boiling his blood, "You must think so highly of yourself."
"Excuse me?" Alicent said, not understanding what Daemon was implying, but knowing that he was insulting her.
"Your father's daughter through and through." Daemon spat, walking past the Queen and her protector without another glance.
Alicent frowned, "What was he talking about?"
"I do not believe that you can ever know what goes on in the mind of such a man, my Queen." Criston said, still glaring at the last place he had seen Daemon.
"I suppose you are right." Alicent murmured.
She quickly assumed that Rhaenyra and Daemon must have been conversing before she and Criston arrived. And she was sure that whatever they were talking about caused their obvious anger, along with being sure that the conversation had something to do with her.
A part of her wanted to go find Rhaenyra and ask her, but Alicent was not sure she could face Rhaenyra right now, not after what had happened between them at Lilyanna's bedside. Even just the thought of facing Rhaenyra, made her stomach turn.
My life feels as if it is unravelling with each passing day. Alicent thought as she and Criston continued their walk towards her bedchamber.
Daemon groaned as he woke up, rolling onto his back as he stared up at the ceiling, thinking about the argument he and Rhaenyra had last night.
You are an insecure, pathetic man who only cares for himself and his own desires. Daemon clicked his teeth as Rhaenyra's words repeated themselves in his head, wondering just where his niece got off speaking to him like that.
As he readied himself for the day, Daemon wanted to scream, to tear something or someone apart so as to release his built-up emotions. He managed to hold himself back from doing so in front of the servants moving about the room, but glared each time one of them met his eye.
And when Daemon walked out of his bedroom and into the adjoining room, he was not expecting to see his wife sitting on one of the couches, clearly waiting for him.
"I heard that you and Rhaenyra had gotten into an argument last night." Laena said in lieu of a greeting.
"And what little rats have been gossiping about me and my niece? Quite fast work of them, given how long it has taken you to hear of it." Daemon said.
"No rats, although I suppose if what I was told about screaming was true, it may well be only a matter of time. Laenor was the one who told me, apparently, Rhaenyra told him and had come back to their chambers in a rage." Laena answered.
Daemon chuckled, "Rhaenyra has always been passionate. Are you speaking to me again because you have let go of your anger, or to fish for details about a matter that you already know?"
Laena stared at him for a moment before sighing, "This isn't amusing, Daemon. Nothing you have done these past few days has been."
"Laena-"
"When you agreed with me that we should return to Westeros, I thought that you would at least try to... I don't even know what, but not this. You attacked a child, do you not see anything wrong with that?" Laena asked.
Daemon hated the way Laena was looking at him and had been looking at him ever since, like he was this feral creature that was seconds away from attacking. It was a look he had gotten from others, but never from her.
"Her age doesn't matter, not when she's a Hightower." Daemon said, "Who knows what she will do in the future."
"Exactly, who knows what she will do, and that includes you, Daemon. You are making assumptions because of hatred of the Queen's father, but Lilyanna has not shown to act like him."
She will, along with her siblings, why can't you all see that? Daemon thought.
"And even then, you talk of birthrights being stolen in the future, but have you not done the same to our daughters and son? Aethan may never have a dragon now; you could have risked him getting further treatment from the very person whom you hurt."
Of course, Laena was horrified that her husband would beat down a child because said child knocked him over in a spar, but she had also been worried that Lilyanna would take whatever anger she felt towards Daemon out on Aethan.
She feared that should something happen to Aethan, then Lilyanna would refuse to treat him, and with the maesters and healers they have gone to so far showing that they had no idea how to help Aethan through the issues he had faced so far, this was not something that they could afford to risk.
"We have not found a maester that can help Aethan yet, but we will, all of them cannot be as useless as the ones we have encountered. And Viserys is not going to remain angry for long; he says that he will not allow Aethan or any of our descendants to claim dragons, but he will not maintain such foolishness for long."
Laena scoffed, "Is that what you told yourself when Viserys named Rhaenyra as his heir over you?"
Daemon's jaw clenched, "This is different, Laena, and even if he does not change his mind, he cannot stop a Targaryen from having a dragon. Aethan can be given a dragon egg by one of the twins' dragons when they grow old enough. Or from Vhagar or Caraxes."
"It would take well over a decade before Moondancer or Morning would be capable of laying eggs. Even then, there is no way of knowing if those eggs would hatch or if any dragons that are born would bond with Aethan or any of their children. And Vhagar has not laid a clutch since the days Visenya was her rider, and worse off, Caraxes has never laid one himself."
Daemon exhaled deeply, "What do you want me to do, Laena? Apologize? I have done so already, to my brother, and to the girl."
"I would ask you to never do something like this again, but I don't know if that is a promise you will keep." Laena said, looking away from him.
"So, you would rather I sit back and allow our family to be destroyed by them?"
"I would rather you learn to temper your emotions. Even if you believe yourself to be right, is that how the game should be played? Do you think anyone sees you as a righteous protector, rather than a man whose rage is so great that he would attack a child? You have not done anything that would prove your beliefs true; if anything, you have made yourself into a villain for everyone to despise."
"Is that how you see me?" Daemon finally asked.
"Of course not, but you make it so hard to defend you!" Laena exclaimed, "It feels like, at times, that you are not aligning your priorities with your responsibilities to this family. Like being right is more important than doing what is best for us."
"I love this family." Daemon said, stalking towards her, "I would do anything for this family."
"Then act like it. Act like it, Daemon." Laena whispered.
Daemon looked away from his wife, "What you're asking me is contradictory."
Laena stood up, grabbing one of his arms, "I'm asking you to stop being so suspicious, for it is harming your children and your relationship with the rest of our family."
Daemon stared at Laena, allowing her to cup the sides of his face with her hands. "I... I will try."
Even just letting the words pass through his lips was torturous to Daemon, and he was sure that it showed on his face, given the exasperated look Laena had.
"I suppose that is all I can ask of you, isn't it?" Laena asked.
Daemon kissed Laena's forehead, leaning down and speaking softly into her ear, "I am sorry, Laena. For what I put you through these last few days. I just... I just... The idea of anything happening... It feels as if I am the only one with my eyes open."
Laena pressed her head against his shoulder, "Do you regret allowing me to bring us back here?"
"No, no, I don't." Daemon said, "You were right, about me being meant for more than life as a fat tool for the Pentoshi to use. I could think of no other place that I would rather be. And outside of the obvious, I think being here in Westeros was needed for us."
Laena lifted her head and stared at him, "Good."
"Good." Daemon said back, "Does this mean that I am forgiven? Or do I have a few days left of you refusing to speak to me? If so, may I ask for a moment to brace myself for the terrible onslaught to come?"
"Stop being an ass." Laena said, she tried to sound as if she were admonishing him, but Daemon could see the smile that she was fighting to keep down.
Daemon smirked, "Sorry."
Laena rolled her eyes and stepped away from Daemon, "We cannot stay here all day."
"We can't?"
"Behave yourself."
Daemon walked towards the main door of their chamber, opening it and still smirking at his wife, "I am only saying that-"
Just as Daemon stepped out of their chamber, he felt his leg catch on a wire, snapping it as pressure was applied to it. In an instant, a torrent of viscous, brown liquid was dropped on Daemon from above, covering him from head to toe.
Daemon heard Laena gasp as he stood there frozen, he winced when he smelled the foul substance that marked his body, and gagged when some of it entered his mouth, having never tasted something so disgusting in all his life.
"What?! What is this?!" Daemon roared, throwing his arms down, causing droplets to fly off his body and onto the floor. When he looked up, he saw that two large buckets were hanging over his head, with a wire connected to the bottom that led to a wire that he had broken when exiting.
Just as he said this, Daemon took a step forward, triggering another wire trap, but instead of having something else dumped on him, the second bucket turned over, and a piece of parchment fluttered down from inside it.
Laena pushed herself against the wall as she left the room to avoid both the stained floor and her husband. And when she looked down at the parchment that now rested on the growing puddle around Daemon, she saw that there were words written on it.
"Dearest Uncle Daemon, I hope that you have taken a liking to the special present that I have given you this day. I had spent most of the previous day making it just for you, and I hope that you feel everything I feel for you washing over you in this moment, covering you completely and wholeheartedly. After everything you have done, I believe that no one deserves this more than you. Sweet regards, your loving niece, Lilyanna." Laena read aloud, wincing to herself when she got to the end, knowing that Daemon was going to explode.
"I'm going to kill that worthless little half-breed." Daemon seethed.
"Daemon-"
"I'm going to kill her!" Daemon yelled, immediately storming off to find Lilyanna.
"Daemon! Wait!" Laena called after her husband, rushing to keep pace with him.
Once the pair were gone, Lilyanna started to laugh hysterically, holding her sides and falling over herself.
"Was it truly necessary to leave the note?" Aegon asked the young girl.
"No, but did you see his face when Laena read it?" Lilyanna said, still laughing herself silly.
"Lilyanna, you have had your fun, but you are wasting time." Visenya said, trying to move Lilyanna along.
"Alright, I'll go." Lilyanna said, still smiling.
Lilyanna quickly made her way into the chamber, going straight for the bedroom that Daemon and Laena slept in. "So, what am I looking for exactly?"
"Press your hand against that wall." Visenya said, pointing to the wall on Lilyanna's right, "You should find a latch hidden among the bricks."
Lilyanna did as she was told, moving her fingers along the grooves of the bricks, eventually brushing against something small and metallic.
She pulled it out, and when she did, a door slowly revealed itself, opening over a staircase that disappeared into the blackness below.
Lilyanna huffed, "Is this where Maegor got his idea for the tunnels in the Red Keep?"
"Lilyanna, walk down the fucking stairs." Visenya said.
"That wasn't a no." Lilyanna said before grabbing an unused candle from the bedroom's far-off table, lighting it, and descending into the darkness.
Lilyanna had to use her hand to swipe away cobwebs and dust, showing just how long it had been since a person had walked down these steps.
It did not take her long to reach the bottom, and when she did, Lilyanna found herself in standing within a small room with a large cauldron sat in the center, its walls lined with books, glass candles, dragon scales, and vials of different colored liquids. In the far-right corner sat a table that was covered in various knives and swords, with a tapestry over it that depicted a dragon burning a man.
"Are those bones?" Lilyanna asked, pointing to a literal pile of bones that she saw sitting next to the caldron.
"They are not human bones." Visenya said.
"Why would that make things any better?" Lilyanna asked.
Visenya walked over to one of the book-lined walls and pointed to a thick book with a purple spine. "This is what we're here for."
Lilyanna pulled out the book, finding the book to be larger than it first looked, and found that there were no words on the cover. "What is it-"
"It's a book about blood magic." Visenya said before Lilyanna could finish her question, "It's what I first read when my father started teaching me. There are other books that come after it for more advanced learning, but I doubt you will need them currently."
"So, it's Blood Magic for Dummies Volume One?" Lilyanna muttered, "Wait, you want me to learn blood magic?"
Living in this world, she thought about magic, but she never believed it was something she could consciously do.
"It is a useful skill to have in your repertoire."
"You just want Lilyanna to continue your research." Rhaenys teased, remembering the conversation they had about Aethan.
"It is a useful skill to have in your repertoire." Visenya repeated, glaring when Rhaneys smiled at her, "You cannot rely only on any physical ability you may have; your uncle has proven this."
"I guess that's true, but I don't think I'll be all that good." Lilyanna said, brushing her fingers against her still bandaged head, looking around the room. "How long has this witches' den been here?"
"Yes, sister. How long has this been here? And why is it that you and father seemed to know about it?" Aegon asked, an eyebrow raised as he looked at his elder sister.
"This room has been here since the castle was first built centuries ago, it was made specially so blood rituals could be held. You and Rhaenys were never inclined towards the arts, so father did not feel the need to take you here." Visenya answered.
"I suppose you and father always had your secrets; you were his favorite after all." Rhaenys said playfully.
Visenya rolled her eyes, "I was not his favorite."
"That is exactly what the favorite would say."
Lilyanna shook her head, tuning out the sounds of the sisters arguing as she placed the book inside her bag.
"So, what did you say to keep the others at bay?" Lilyanna asked Aegon, wondering why she was not surrounded by the other ghosts right now.
"We explained to them that if so many of them came out at once, it could overwhelm you, and you have yet to get used to their presence and the issues they all bring." Aegon said.
Understatement of the fucking century. "Thank you."
A small smile appeared on Aegon's face, "We cannot have you losing your mind just yet."
"Did-did you just make a jape?" Lilyanna asked, visibly shocked.
Aegon pursed his lips, "I can make a jape. I have been told that I am quite funny."
Rhaenys let out a snort when he said this, "Aegon, my dear, you are many things, great things, but funny is not one of them."
"Whoever said you were funny was clearly lying to your face." Visenya added.
"Both of you don't know what you're talking about."
"Maybe Helaena was right when she called me a bad influence, I think I'm rubbing off on all of you." Lilyanna muttered.
Lilyanna watched as Aegon rolled his eyes, which only cemented her growing belief that she was influencing the siblings as she had never seen Aegon do such before.
"Where is she?!" Everyone in the great hall jumped as the doors slammed open and Daemon's voice carried throughout the room.
"Daemon, what are you-what-what are you covered in?" Viserys asked, staring at Daemon in shock.
Daemon glared at his brother, "Where is your fucking daughter, Viserys?!"
"Why would you-"
"Who else do you think did this to me other than that little red-haired shit?"
"Daemon, calm down." Laena said as she finally caught up with her husband.
"Lilyanna did this?" Alicent asked, recoiling when she caught a whiff of Daemon even from as far away as he was.
Daemon's glare became downright venomous as he looked at Alicent, a reaction which caused Criston to stand closer to Alicent, placing a hand on the hilt of his sword.
Viserys cleared his throat, turning to his second daughter, "Helaena, do you know if Lilyanna did this to your uncle?"
"She did, she set up the trap this morning." Helaena said plainly, pausing for a moment, "Lily asked me to help her get the things she needed yesterday."
"And what did this trap entail? And what did your sister cover your uncle in?" Viserys asked, glancing at his brother and finally smelling him, almost covering his nose instinctively. Viserys could see that whatever the liquid was, it was starting to dry and harden on Daemon's skin, clothes, and hair.
"She gathered expired meat, fish, hair, mud, oil, sand, onions, and feces."
"I-I'm sorry?" Viserys asked, wondering if he had misheard the last thing his daughter had said.
"Lily had gotten some of Dreamfyre's dung to add to the mixture." Helaena said calmly, "She also went to the servants' quarters and asked them to give her their full chamber pots. Once she had this, she boiled the feces together with the other things I mentioned before, pouring it in a bucket and hanging it over Uncle Daemon's door."
"Lilyanna dumped shit on Uncle Daemon's head?" Aemond whispered, his voice carrying due to how quiet the hall had become. He did not know whether to be disgusted or impressed by his sister's insolence.
A snicker escaped Aegon's lips, and he had to cover his mouth with his hands to prevent more of his laughter from being heard. It was clear he failed in this as Daemon's glare quickly turned onto him, but Argon could not help himself and quickly broke, unable to fear his uncle's gaze with the knowledge that he was covered in human and dragon poop.
"Who even thinks of dumping warmed shit on a person?" Laenor asked.
Has Lilyanna been planning this since she woke up, or did it just come to her yesterday? He thought, and Laenor did not know which was more terrifying. Although he was also glad that Lilyanna had never thought of doing the same to him, no matter how annoyed at him she often was.
Rhaenyra forced herself not to smirk as she looked at her uncle, viewing this as a rightly deserved punishment for Daemon.
"Your brat did this to me, Viserys. Do you have no control over your worthless offspring?" Daemon growled, stalking towards the high table.
"Perhaps you should stay where you stand, cousin. You are spreading your mess around and making a trail." Rhaenys said, her tone and expression were flat, but there was obvious amusement shining in her eyes.
Viserys groaned as Daemon started yelling at Rhaenys, although the woman was not bothered by it, still looking at Daemon, amused. He thought that the animosity between his brother and youngest daughter had been put to rest, but it was clear that he was wrong.
"Perhaps, Prince Daemon, you should return to your chambers, and the servants will prepare a bath so that you may clean yourself." Alicent voiced.
A part of her was exasperated as Lilyanna was once again causing trouble, but secretly, she could not deny the vindictive joy she felt as she watched Daemon standing there humiliated.
Daemon glared at her again, "Why, so you can hide your little beast?"
"The… mixture already looks to be hardening, I imagine it will be harder to remove the longer you wait." Alicent said plainly, "And with the risk of illness, given its… contents, bathing would be the correct choice, no?"
"I'm not leaving until I find your daughter."
"If you think you are going to lay another hand on my child, you are surely mistaken." Alicent said coldly.
"Enough." Viserys said before either his brother or wife could say another word. "Any punishment given to Lilyanna will be ours to give, Daemon. While what she did was immature and petty, you will not do anything to her."
Daemon glared at Viserys before storming out of the hall.
"Ser Harold, have one of your men follow my brother. Ensure that he does nothing foolish." Viserys told his lord commander.
"Of course, Your Grace." Harold bowed his head and swiftly left the hall.
"Helaena, where is your sister?"
Rickard looked at his charge suspiciously, seeing the strangely good mood she had found herself in.
"Did something happen this morning, princess?" The knight finally asked as they made their way through the Dragonmount.
"What makes you say that, Ricky?" Lilyanna asked.
"You are happy, giddy even." Rickard said.
"I can't be happy now?" Lilyanna asked, glancing back at him.
Not this happy. Rickard thought, "If you snuck out again, Princess Lilyanna, I would least like to know so that I may brace myself for reprimand."
"I may have done something to my uncle." Lilyanna said, making Rickard sigh, "But you won't be reprimanded for it, Ricky, everyone will be too focused on me to care about what you."
"Princess, please stop climbing out of your window, I beg of you."
"I can't promise that." Lilyanna said, smiling when Rickard sighed again.
By now, Lilyanna was sure that Daemon had accosted the others looking for her, and she was sure by now that Helaena would have given up her location to their parents, so she had a limited amount of time to visit her dragon.
When they reached the opening of the Cannibal's cave, Lilyanna smiled brightly, watching as the dragon lifted its head to look at her properly, feeling the Cannibal's longing and excitement.
"Stay here, Ricky. The Cannibal doesn't like the presence of others, I have found." Lilyanna said as she started to climb down.
"Be careful, princess." Rickard said, looking up at the dragon with trepidation.
He knew that a dragon would not hurt its rider, and that Lilyanna was never in danger whenever she encountered one, but it was still hard not to grab his young charge and take her as far away from the fire-breathing, man-eating beast before him.
When she got to the bottom, Lilyanna could only take a few steps forward before she was swarmed by the black dragon, laughing as the Cannibal pushed her to the ground, nuzzling her with their snout.
"I missed you too. I'm sorry that I was not able to see you sooner." Lilyanna said, scratching the Cannibal's jaw.
The Cannibal pushed Lilyanna harder onto the ground, a low growling escaping their mouth.
Lilyanna could feel the annoyance the dragon had towards her, making her laugh. "I really am sorry; I was busy yesterday. But I have time for you now, at least for a short while."
The Cannibal finally lifted her head, only to bite down on the back of Lilyanna's cloak, carrying Lilyanna towards their nest. The dragon placed her rider down before curling her body around Lilyanna.
Lilyanna placed her head against the Cannibal's wing, "I've come up with new names I think you will like."
The Cannibal grumbled, closing her eyes as she laid her head down.
"How do you feel about Obsidian?" Lilyanna asked, having thought it would be an apt name given that the Cannibal 's scales reminded her of the mineral.
The Cannibal did not open her eyes or make a sound. Lilyanna huffed, "Alright, no to Obsidian. How about Bantāzma?"
It was High Valyrian for midnight, or long night, depending on how it was used grammatically. Of course, she would have to change it slightly if the Cannibal chose it to make it a proper name.
Again, the Cannibal gave their rider no reaction, showing how little they cared for the suggestion. "Arcanum? Sȳndor? Lux? Toothless?"
Lilyanna's last suggestion made the Cannibal open a single eye briefly, and the dragon glared at her before closing her eyes again.
"You're killing me here." Lilyanna muttered to herself, "Why do you have to be so picky?"
Why do you have to be so terrible at naming things? Is what Lilyanna could tell the Cannibal was asking her based on the look they were giving her in that moment, making Lilyanna snort.
That's quite impressive for someone lacking a lot of facial muscles. Lilyanna thought.
Lilyanna leaned her body fully against the Cannibal, closing her eyes and allowing herself to relax. Ever since she came to Dragonstone, it felt as if she was rushing from one place to another, having to make sure that everything was running smoothly to the point where she felt like her body was a bowstring that was about to snap.
A part of her wanted to drift off to sleep and lose herself in her dragon's warm presence, but she knew that she could not, or at the very least, she would not be able to rest for long if she did.
"I think I have the perfect name for you." Lilyanna said softly, turning her head to look at the dragon's face.
The Cannibal blew air into Lilyanna's face, causing Lilyanna to roll her eyes and feel the dragon's amusement through their bond.
"How about Nyx?" Lilyanna asked, "Where I am originally from, there are all these stories passed down from generation to generation about all kinds of figures like Gods, monsters, heroes, and Kings. One of them is Nyx, she's a primordial goddess, the personification of night, and is often associated with darkness, magic, and mysteries. Primoradials are like Gods among Gods, the first to come into existence, and super powerful. Nyx was said to be so strong that even a God who called himself the King of all the Gods feared to displease her. Even her own children represented some of the most prevalent constructions like death, pain, and fate."
Suddenly, the princess felt the dragon's acceptance of the name and was immediately nuzzled by the dragon.
Lilyanna laughed as she tried to hug the dragon's snout, "So, I take it you like the name?"
Lilyanna could feel the Cannibal's excitement as she pushed her onto the ground, along with the dragon's sense of pride.
"From this day forth, you shall be known as Nyx the Cannibal, the most ferocious and intelligent dragon in all of Westeros." Lilyanna proudly proclaimed.
Nyx preened, and Lilyanna never thought more than in this moment how much dragons reminded her of cats as she looked at her.
"Princess Lilyanna!" The girl in question looked up and found Ser Arryk standing next to Rickard, the man looked out of breath and frantic.
"Ser Arryk, I suppose my father sent you to retrieve me?" Lilyanna asked, standing up.
"Princess Lilyanna, you must come with me back to the castle, immediately." Arryk said.
Lilyanna knew that something was wrong when the man did not try to trick her into thinking that he was his brother.
Nyx growled when Arryk tried to take a step closer, wrapping herself protectively around Lilyanna.
"Calm, Nyx, calm. Arryk is not a threat to me; he knows not to get closer." Lilyanna whispered, rubbing her hand along the dragon's wing.
Nyx was not as tense as before, but she was still poised and ready to attack, if necessary, her eyes locked on Rickard and Arryk.
"I must go, but I will be back soon, I promise." Lilyanna told the dragon.
Nyx growled again, and Lilyanna could feel her anger through their bond, but Nyx allowed her to leave, taking a step back.
Lilyanna smiled before quickly walking towards the two Kingsguard, focusing on Arryk, "What is wrong?"
"You are needed in the castle, princess. The royal family has just received grave news from King's Landing." Arryk said, his face tight and his fists clenched at his sides.
Lilyanna frowned, wondering just what could have affected the man so, "What news?"
Arryk hesitated, clearing his throat before he answered, "Lord Lyonel and Ser Harwin are dead."