"The blood of Lucerys will be repaid tenfold. A brother for a brother."
In which Daenys Velaryon, the oldest child of Rhaenyra Targaryen and Laenor Velaryon, must come to terms with the fact that the man she loves has committed an unforgivable crime...
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"I will love you forever and we will never be in the same room again."
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As Daenys secured Floris in front of her on Silverwing's saddle, she felt the younger girl's grip tighten around her arms. She gently patted her hands in reassurance, silently encouraging her to relax.
"You've done this before, Floris. You're perfectly safe."
"Are you sure?" the girl inquired hesitantly.
"I wouldn't have agreed if I wasn't," Daenys muttered. "Now, Soves."
With a swift motion, Daenys gave the command, and Silverwing unfurled her massive wings, the sound of their movement echoing through the air. With a powerful leap, the dragon lifted off the ground, causing Floris to yelp in surprise. She instinctively clutched onto Daenys's forearms, her eyes squeezed shut tightly.
As Silverwing ascended into the sky, she gradually dared to peek open one eye, then the other. The sight that greeted her stole her breath away. Below them, Storm's End sprawled out like a magnificent tapestry, bathed in the soft, dusky light of the evening. The castle, with its towering spires and sturdy walls, looked like something out of a fairy tale, its beauty enhanced by the surrounding landscape. She never got tired of the breathtaking view and was once again reminded of why she had pestered the princess into taking her on a ride.
"It's... it's incredible," she breathed, her voice filled with awe. "I can't believe I'm seeing Storm's End like this."
Daenys nodded in agreement, though Floris couldn't see the gesture.
The younger girl turned her gaze back to the castle below, a sense of wonder washing over her. "You must feel so lucky to see this every day," she said, her tone wistful.
"I suppose I must."
Although, if she was being honest, Daenys found it quite difficult to consider herself lucky, all things considered. Sure there were things to be grateful for of course. Her mother was alive, and so were the rest of her siblings, and perhaps it was blasphemous to be ungrateful when there was so much else to lose, but none of it mattered.
"You know, my sisters would love this," Floris exclaimed, interrupting her thoughts with her usual chatter. "Especially Ellyn, she's always dreamed of riding a dragon. Can you imagine her face if she could see us now? She's too scared to ask, but maybe you could take her one day too?"
"Perhaps."
"Oh, and Cassie would probably be too scared to even look down, but she'd love the feeling of the wind in her hair. You spend so much time with her, have you ever taken her riding."
"I have not."
"Why not."
"You'll have to ask your sister that yourself, Floris," she finally mumbled.
