Silver Stag

Conversations Before Battle

[North]

In the frozen wilderness of the North, Daemon Targaryen and his wife Aelinor snuck away on their dragons, seeking refuge in the secret cave they had discovered upon their arrival in Winterfell. The cave was a hidden gem, tucked away in the frozen mountains, and only accessible by dragonback. It was their sanctuary, a place where they could rest and hide from the prying eyes of their enemies, or allies, when they needed a break.

As they soared through the icy skies, Daemon and Aelinor spoke in hushed tones about the upcoming battle. They knew that the war against the Night King and the White Walkers would be fierce and unforgiving, and they were determined to do everything in their power to protect their children.

"We must be careful, my love," Aelinor said, her voice barely above a whisper. "We cannot lose ourselves in this battle. Our children need us."

Daemon nodded, his eyes fixed on the cave ahead. "I know, my queen. I will not rest until the Others are defeated and our children are safe. I will not let anything happen to them. Not after all we have been through."

Aelinor reached out and took Daemon's hand, her fingers intertwining with his. They had been through so much together, and yet their love had only grown stronger. Aelinor's son, Aegar, was not of Daemon's blood, but he had taken to raising the young boy as if he were his own, alongside his twin daughters, Rhyanna and Helaenyra. The three children were left on Driftmark with family friends while their parents fought the war, and Daemon and Aelinor had been careful to keep them safe, hidden away from the dangers of the world.

As they entered the cave, the warmth of the fire inside enveloped them, and they dismounted their dragons, embracing each other tightly, and entering the inner chamber.

As they rested in the secret cave, he could sense that something was weighing heavily on her mind. He reached out and brushed a strand of her silver hair away from her face, his fingers tracing the delicate line of her jaw.

"What's troubling you, my love?" he asked, his voice low and gentle.

Aelinor hesitated, her eyes darting around the cave before returning to his. "It's Gendry," she said softly. "He told me something yesterday."

Daemon's grip on her hand tightened. "What did he say?"

"He told me that he is my half brother," Aelinor revealed, her voice barely above a whisper. "He was born to one of my father's mistresses, and my father never acknowledged him as his son. He probably didn't even know about him. He wasn't the type to think of the consequences of his actions."

"How do you feel, my love?" Daemon asked, his voice soft and gentle. "The revelation of Gendry being your half-brother must be difficult for you."

Aelinor sighed, her shoulders sagging under the weight of her emotions. "I am conflicted, my love," she admitted. "On one hand, I am happy to have another sibling, someone who understands what it is like to lose those we love. But on the other hand, I am scared of losing another person I care about, like I lost Tommen."

Daemon nodded, his eyes filled with understanding. "I know, my love," he said. "But we must remember that Gendry is not just a sibling, he is also a friend and a ally. And he is here, with us, now."

Aelinor looked up at Daemon, her eyes filling with tears. "I know," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "But it is hard, Daemon. Losing Myrcella was so hard, and now to lose Gendry too... I cannot bear the thought of it. Everyone I love leaves, winds up hurt, or dead."

Daemon wrapped his arm around Aelinor, pulling her close. "Shh, my love," he whispered. "We will face this together. We will support each other, and we will get through this. And remember, Myrcella is happy in Dorne, and Gendry is here with us now. We have each other, and that is all that matters."