Damned

Alicents chambers

Queen Alicent was fuming when she left her husband's room. The king had told her that he's considering marrying Heleana to Daemion, and she hated the thought of her daughter marrying an illegitimate boy. It took everything in her to not call the kings grandsons bastards.

"Your grace." Larys greeted as he was seated on a chair in her room. The clubfoot was eating food.

"Lord Larys." Alicent greeted him.

"I took the liberty of beginning without you, your grace." Larys said. "It would seem a sin to let the pie grow cold."

"You did wisley, Lord Larys. Though you had no such worry about the wine, surely. " Alicent said.

"Meat without wine is also a sin." Larys pointed out.

"Mm."  Larys poured Alicent a cup of wine.

"It has been my duty to tell you about the happenings of the castle, but tonight you seem to know something that I do not." Larys said. "The king had an audience with my father?"

"He attempted to resign his post." The Queen said.

"I thought as much. His honors always been a millstone about his esteemed neck. " Larys smirked. "Interesting, you said 'attempted'." He said.

"My Lord husband and refused to accept." Alicent said.

"I'm to assume he fell short of confessing my brothers... transgressions?" Larys asked.

"With his eruption in the yard, your brother all but confessed the truth himself."  The Queen said. "To make matters worse, the king wishes to talk to his grandson, Daemion, about marrying Heleana. He expects me to sit by and watch as my only daughter marries Rhaenyras... plain featured son." Alicent spat.

"Truth has many flavors, your grace. Do you expect the king to exile his daughter or even..." Larys was interrupted by the Queens lady-in-waiting, Tayla.

"Talya, not now." The Queen said. She bowed and left.

"It's a willful blindness. I mean, you'd surely suffer the same affliction if it came to it. " Larys said.

"I would not." Alicent interjected. "Lord Lyonel is to escort Ser Harwin back to Harrenhall to watch over his seat whilst he continues to serve as Hand." The Queen said.

"But the Hand is compromised by the acts of his son." Larys said, and Alicent nodded. "My father cannot give unbiased counsel to the king."

"It's days like this where I wish my father were here. If Otto Hightower remained hand, none of this would be happening." Alicent said.

"Forgive me, your grace, but I do not think that your father would be impartial in this matter." Larys said.

"No, but he would be partial to me!" Alicent yelled. "Of all of King's Landing, is there no one to take my side?"

Library

Daemion was reading a book to calm himself. He had just found out from his mother that Ser Harwin was leaving. Even though he suspected that him and his brothers shared different fathers, Daemion still liked Ser Harwin. He was always there to encourage him when Laenor wasn't around.

"Grandson?" Daemion looked up and saw his grandfather.

"You should be resting, grandfather." Daemion said.

"Yes, but I wanted to look in on you. I need to speak to you about something of great importance." Viserys said, and Daemion closed the book.

"What is it?" Daemion asked.

Viserys sat down on a chair opposite Daemion. "You are at an age where you see things differently and feel things for women." The king sighed. "Soon you will have to marry, but I promised myself that I wouldn't make the same mistake I made with your mother."

"What mistake, grandsire?" Daemion asked.

"Giving her a husband she didn't want." Viserys sadly said. "I have plans to marry you to a noble lady. A princess, but first I must ask you. The girl you made the frame for, was it Heleana?"

Daemion blushed and looked down. He then looked at his grandfather and smiled. "Yes, grandsire. I... I like her. I like talking to her. I like her interests, and she always cheers me on when I train. She has a good heart and a strong mind."

Viserys smiled at his grandson. "That is good to hear. I've decided to betroth you to her. You will marry when you come of age. Since she is two years older, you'll marry when you turn six and ten."

"I... I don't know what to say. I can't marry her if she doesn't agree to it." Daemion said.

"Very well. I shall speak to her." Viserys said.

"If it pleases you, grandsire, I'd like to speak to her myself. I have to hear it from her." Daemion said.

"Very well." Viserys smiled. "You're very smart for a boy your age."

"Mother says the same. She told me that I got from my father." Daemion said.

Viserys chuckled. "I should get to bed. You should as well. I'm sure your mother will be looking for you."

"Of course." Daemion put the book back on the shelf. "Let me walk you to your room, grandsire." Daemion walked the king to his chambers and went to his room, where he found Ser Harwin saying farewell to his mother and brothers.

"Daemion. I was just about to leave." Ser Harwin said. "Be good to your mother, lads. He told Daemion, Jace, and Luke. I'll return when I can, but that may be some time." He then looked at Daemion. "You need to be strong for your brothers. Protect them."

"I will." Daemion assured. Even though he had supected that Ser Harwin wasn't his father, but his brothers, Daemion still cared about Harwin Strong. Jace ran to his mother, and Ser Harwin walked to Rhaenyra, who was holding Joffery.

"I will be a stranger the next time we meet." Ser Harwin planted a kiss on Jofferys forehead and looked at Rhaenyra. "Princess." Ser Harwin then left the room.

Daemion walked to his mother. "Is Harwin Strong, my father?" He asked, and Jace heard. "Are we all bastards?"

Rhaenyra looked around to see if anyone heard Daemion. She heard the specifics of how Daemion asked his Harwin Strong was his father and if him and his brothers were bastards.

"You are a Targaryen. That's all that matters." Rhaenyra assured her oldest son but could tell that this was bothering Daemion.

"That's not enough." Daemion said. "I'm going to see Heleana."

Rhaenyra had noticed a change in attitude from Daemion. He'd spend most of his time either in the library or in the Kingswood or even in the training yard. It was as if he had an anger in him, and she knew why. He wasn't a little boy anymore. He's becoming a man and can see the world around him for what it is.

Heleanas chambers

Heleana was brushing her hair and preparing for bed. She then heard a knock on her door.

"Come." Heleana said, and Daemion entered her room.

"Apologies for the late hour, princess." Daemion apologized.

"It's quite alright. I was brushing my hair before going to bed." Heleana smiled at Daemion.

"I've come to inform you that my grandsire wants to betroth us... to marry when we come of age." Daemion said. "I told him that I'd only agree to it if you do."

"What if I say no?" Heleana asked.

"I would never force you to do anything that you do not wish to. This has to be your choice, princess." Daemion said. "You deserve nothing but good in this already damaged world."

Heleana smiled at Daemion. "Thank you for giving me the chance to make a choice, Daemion. I consent."

"Are you certain?" Daemion asked.

"I am." Heleana couldn't stop smiling at Daemion. He was the only one who made the effort to spend time with her when they were younger. He never judged her for playing with insects. Instead, he asked to play as well. She knew that he would protect her and love her.

"I have something for you. I made this yesterday in the Kingswood." Daemion handed her a portrait of her.

"It's beautiful." Heleana smiled. "It smells like berries." She giggled.

"Yes. I crushed some and used it as the background." Daemion said.

"I love it." Heleana said.

Daemion smiled. "Sleep well, princess. He turned to leave the room."

"Heleana. You may call me Heleana." Heleana told Daemion.

Daemion turned to face her and smiled. "Sleep well, Heleana." Daemion then left her room. Heleana went to bed, clutching the portrait that Daemion Velaryon painted for her.

Tyland Lannisters chambers

"You wanted to see me, Lord Larys?" Tyland inquired.

"I did, my lord." Larys said. "As you understand, the queens daughter is to marry Daemion Velaryon."

"I'm surprised the queen allowed it." Tyland drank some wine.

"She didn't." Larys said. "She was overruled by the king."

"He truly loves his daughter and grandsons." Tyland pointed out.

"Love is a weakness that is more powerful than reason." Larys said.

"Why did you come here, my lord?" Tyland asked.

"The queen needs allies to strengthen Aegons' inevitable ascension to the throne. I've come to make you an offer." Larys said.

"What offer is that?" Tyland asked.

"You have a daughter, do you not?" Larys inquired.

"I do." Tyland said.

"Have her marry Aegon. Your house will pledge its undying devotion to the Hightower cause, and your house will have dragons." Larys said.

Tyland smirked. He liked this plan. His house would be powerful with dragons, and his blood would be on the throne. "You want me to do what Otto Hightower did years ago to his own daughter?"

"She won't have to seduce Aegon. She'll just have to give birth to his children." Larys said.

"You understand that my daughter is older than Aegon?" Tyland asked.

"Two years make no difference. If anything, it works in our favor. She'll provide heirs faster." Larys pointed out.

"I don't think you understand. My daughter isn't Alicent. When her mother died, she became strong-willed. It will not be easy to convince her. Aegon won't be able to silence her." Tyland said.

"That's a fight for another day. For today, the queen needs you. Or would you rather live to watch Rhaenyra and her dark-haired son ascend the throne?" Larys asked.

"No." Tyland immediately answered.

"Very well then. I shall inform the queen." Larys then left the room, and Tyland wrote a letter to his twin brother.

A few days later

Rhaenyras chambers

"Why are we leaving?" Daemion asked his mother.

"It's only for a few days, I promise." Rhaenyra assured her son as her handmaiden was packing her bag.

"I want to stay with grandsire... and Heleana." Daemion told his mother.

"We will return home, I promise. You'll spend more time with Heleana and your grandsire." Rhaenyra said. "I was thinking we could get more eggs and dead dragonlings for Auroth on Dragonstone as well."

Daemion knew that the dragon eggs in King's Landing weren't enough for Auroth and was concerned if Auroth would try to eat Syrax or Seasmoke.

"Very well, mother." Daemion gave in.

Rhaenyra walked to her son. "I promise we won't be gone longer than a week."

"I understand, Mother." Rhaenyra then kissed her son on his forehead.

"You're growing so much taller and so quick. You're my height now." Rhaenyra chuckled. "Very soon, I'll have to stand on my toes to hug you."

"I'll still be your son, mother." Daemion smiled.

Just then, Ser Steffon entered the room. "Forgive my intrusion, princess. I bring news."

"What's happened?" Rhaenyra asked.

"Ser Harwin and his father have passed. A fire at Harrenhall." Ser Steffon said.

"No..." Rhaenyra shed a tear for her lover while Daemion hugged his mother.

"I'm sorry, Mother." Daemion said, and he was actually hurt by this loss. He remembered all the times when Harwin Strong was there for him.

The next day Daemion walked to his father's chambers, but was stopped by Ser Criston.

"Where are you going?" Ser Criston asked.

"I was on my way to see if my father is ready to leave." Daemion said. "Daor bona ziry iksos mirre hen aōha business." (Not that it's any of your business)

"Do you take pride when insulting a knight of the Kingsguard, boy?" Ser Criston asked.

"No. But you always pick on me. More than Jace and Luke." Daemion said. "Since I was a child, you've always hated me."

"You have a sharp tongue." Ser Criston pointed out.

"Are you going to remove it, Ser?" Daemion challenged.

"You're a lot like your mother was in her youth." Ser Criston said.

"I'm sure you'd know since you were her sworn protector once." Daemion smirked. "Why did that stop?"

"I was resigned to be the queens sworn protector." Ser Criston said.

"Why?" Daemion asked.

"You have a lot of questions, boy." Ser Criston said.

"And you have no answered Criston Cole." Daemion retorted.

"Go see to your father. You leave for Dragonstone today. It's best you have everyone ready." Ser Criston told Daemion.

Daemion smirked. "As I said. No answers." He then walked off to find Laenor.

Ser Criston looked at the boy, and while he said that Daemion was like Rhaenyra, he couldn't couldnt help but see himself in the boy as well. His skin was slightly darker than his brothers, as was his hair. These were Dornish features. Features that the Cole Knight has. Ser Criston started to wonder if this boy who he had been picking on out of anger towards Rhaenyra was his son.

Hi guys, here's another chapter of Dragons Rage

What did you think of Viserys betrothing Daemion to Heleana?

What did you think of Daemions gift to Heleana?

What did you think of Daemion and Ser Cristons' talk?

What did you think of Ser Criston suspecting that Daemion is his son?

I'm open to suggestions for this story

Please comment and vote

Thanks, guys