Daemon arrived at Harrenhal shortly, he released a breath of relief at seeing Aemma alive. He has always had a closer bond with Alyssa but he loved all of his children equally. Daemon often struggled with emotions other than anger but the love and pride he had for his children was unmatched. His devotion to Shaera was what many dreamed of, despite any flaws.
"Father". Aemma stopped Daemon greeting him, her face stern until he pulled her into an embrace.
"My sweet innocent daughter, why have you done this? You have set a great fear upon us all, especially your mother and Alyssa",
"I know, I'm sorry. I thought if I put an end to his madness that you would all be safe and perhaps the drawing guilt over Lucerys would go away. I-i just wanted you all to be proud of me at doing everything I can to protected our family".
"We have always been proud and will always be. You needn't put yourself at risk of being killed for this",
"We are all at risk everyday, I at least want to die for something I believe in which is that the people I love will live to see the end of this war".
"As will you. I will protect you as you have tried for us, you have a life to live. I found my light in the dark, I found what makes my life worth living and you shall do the same. I would murder a thousand of the cunts they call men if they so much as displease you or your sisters in any way",
"I know you are not jesting but I how can I go on and be happy, how can any of us go on after you or mother leaves this world".
"You will because you can",
"Tis not that simple father and you know it".
"I do but that does not mean you can live in constant fear of what is to come, you must embrace it and do whatever it is that gives you the feeling of a thrill and contentment",
"I have heard stories about you, about your victories and of what people think of you. I didn't want to believe them because I did not wish to listen to rumours about you, my beloved father but what I cannot ignore what I have heard. I love you but I do not wish my life to become reduced to atrocities because what kind of a life is that?".
"What is it that you do not wish to believe?",
"I heard what happened to your first wife and your previous likings per say. I do not want my life to end up-".
"You do not want your life to end up like theirs and I can assure you that it won't. You will find someone worthy of you. I did not think I would have the life I have with your mother, at times I still think to myself that surely this goddess cannot be mine and yet she is. You have the right to a perfect life just as anyone else",
"Thank you father but you cannot change my mind. I do not want to die but I will for all of you".
"I cannot change your mind nor can you change mine. That one eyed cunt and his drunken brother will die and you shall live a long happy life",
"I do not know whether it is you or mother that is more stubborn".
"You are. You have the stubbornness of both of us",
"If either of us is to die because we will not it happen to the other, I have one question for you".
"Alright",
"Is Alyssa or Visenya your favourite?".
"I do not have favourites",
"That is what mother when I asked who her favourite was. I do think her favourite is Baelon and Rhaenyra, although Baela and Rhaena said her favourite is me".
"We do not have favourites , we love you all. I remember each of your births, I was afraid of what could have happened to your mother after what happened to my own but I know neither of us would trade it for the world because we have all of you",
"I wish we could met them, grandsire Baelon and Grandmother Alyssa. Tales of their love and what they were both like often remind me of you. I wish I could have met my namesake, I often hear mother and Nyra speaking to the stars".
"Your mother and I named you to honour your aunt after she died. Hearing her name is difficult even after all these years but it does not hurt her to hear because it is also your name",
"I love you father".
"I love you my dear daughter".
~
In Kings Landing....
"Alyssa please eat something and then rest, my darling", Shaera encouraged softly. Whilst she herself was worried about Daemon and Aemma, she was struggling with her concerns for Alyssa.
"I cannot. I have to wait for them to come back, if I sleep I could miss anything. If I take the time to eat or sleep, anything could happen. I missed that Aemma was leaving because I was asleep, I cannot allow anything of the sort to happen again",
"I understand your worry but that does mean you can neglect your own health. Aemma chose to leave when she did because she knew everybody would be asleep, not just you, she said so in her letters".
"I never finished my letter, I could not bring myself too. I read the beginning where she said she was leaving but never went further because even the limited words I managed to see, it felt like I was being abandoned by the other half of myself",
"You mustn't bottle these feelings up inside, my sweet girl. Fear only makes us stronger and Aemma would not want you to damage your health because of her".
"I know mother, I-im sorry",
"Nonsense my girl, you needn't be sorry for being worried about the people you love. Now, please make sure you eat something and then sleep, you look ill".
"Yes mother",
"I love you darling",
"I love you mother".
When Shaera left the room, Rhaenyra entered.
"Your mother is right Alyssa",
"As she often is".
"Indeed. Her concern for you is not ill warranted and I know this because both she and I have experience. When my mother died, when my father died, when I lost my boys and my daughter. All of those times i stopped caring about myself, I lost myself because I did not see the point of carrying on without them until your mother dragged me back to sanity to which I am grateful. Tis painful to lose those who make your life worthwhile but hurting yourself in any form whether it be not taking care of yourself or anything else will not stop the feeling of pain that you have",
"How do you do it?", Alyssa asked, her usually loud and soleful voice cracked as she timidly met Rhaenyra's determined eyes.
"Do what?".
"How do you stay so optimistic after everything that has happened to you?",
"I use my pain as motivation that I live to keep their memory alive until I eventually join them".
"You do not fear death?",
"No but that does not mean I want it to happen, I did when I lost people but your mother helped me see that no matter how much it hurts, we must live to tell the story of those who have fallen. She is worried that she will lose you if you continue to go on as you are".
"I do not know any other way",
"You can learn as I did that it is alright to struggle but tis not alright to put yourself in the way of harm to cope with it. Do you understand?".
"Yes Nyra, thank you",
"Do not forget that you needn't struggle alone".
YOU ARE READING
The Pyre for a hero
FanfictionShaera Arryn x Daemon Targaryen. The realms desire and the Rogue prince was the love story that everybody wanted for themselves. Chaos runs in their blood, they were drawn to the fire in the other. Many tried to keep them apart but they were drawn t...
