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Chapter Text

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HELAENA XI

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129 AC

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Helaena takes a deep breath and smiles as Dreamfyre flies through the blue sky of a bright day.

Even in such worrying days, the princess still manages to find some childish joy while flying with her winged friend.

A moment of pleasure before returning to the lands of bitterness.

Helaena pulls her reins and Dreamfyre lets out a deep grunt before flying down, allowing her rider to take a look at the world below.

The vast and beautiful green fields of the Reach bring some peace to the troubled mind of Helaena Targaryen, who cannot stop thinking about everything that has happened, is happening and could happen around her.

A past full of wounds she wants to forget and sweet moments that turned bitter.

A present full of uncertainty about what needs to be done.

A future that will be written in blood.

The princess sighs and closes her eyes, enjoying the moment while she can. They are almost reaching their destination.

Helaena still remembers the promise she made to Lady Brianne Hewett, the mother of the late Lord Geryn Tyrell. The promise that she would not return to Highgarden, for the sake of Geryn's broken heart.

Now, she is about to break that promise.

Of course, Geryn's tragic death makes the promise's validity somewhat questionable. Helaena promised never to return to Highgarden, but she did so for Geryn. Without him, the promise is completely meaningless.

Either way, she will have to face the two widows of Highgarden.

Helaena frowns.

She learned from her grandfather that Lady Brianne is still alive and living in Highgarden. The princess feels sad for the woman. After all, she lost her only son. The most important person she had in her life. Helaena cannot imagine the older woman's pain, even if she still has a little grandson.

And then, Highgarden finally appears on the horizon. Helaena's eyes get softer as she stares at the beautiful castle of the ancient Gardener Kings. A place she hasn't seen in years.

It is still exactly the way she remembers. Something stunning in size and beauty. Everything about Highgarden is great in essence.

However, nothing catches the eye of the princess more than the very well-kept gardens that surround the entire castle, even extending over many walls.

The gardens are the heart of Highgarden. The symbol of all its power and glory.

Recovering her focus, Helaena pulls her reins. Dreamfyre grunts and flies towards the castle, flying around like a vulture as she searches for the right spot to land.

Helaena hears several bells across the castle town and many members of the smallfolk looking up and pointing at the dragon.

Ignoring all of that for now, the princess finally guides Dreamfyre to the right spot. The largest open space in the main garden of House Tyrell. The only place inside the walls of Highgarden that can comfortably receive a large dragon.

Dreamfyre lets out a deep roar to announce her arrival as she carefully descends on the field.

Helanea observes as many Tyrell guards appear with spears, keeping a safe distance from the winged beast.

Soon, Dreamfyre lands and Helaena is finally able to make her way out of her dragon's saddle.

At least she is not using a dress or armor. For diplomatic duty, her hunting clothes were the best choice and, in practice, the most comfortable choice for such a long flight.

The princess sighs in relief as her feet finally reach the ground, getting a very needed stretch after many hours in the same position. After stretching her body, Helaena moves her hands to her long hair, tying it up quickly to get it out of the way of her face. She can care about looking more like a proper princess later.

Dreamfyre moves her head around, grunting a bit as she observes the guards, who are inexperienced when it comes to dealing with dragons. Helaena walks forward, gently moving her hand through the side of Dreamfyre's head.

The dragon turns her head to look at her rider, receiving a firm gaze from Helaena. Dreamfyre calms down and rests her body over the grass, ignoring the guards.

Sighing, the princess looks at the guards with a bit of embarrassment.

"Please, put down your weapons. Dreamfyre gets angry when she feels threatened." The princess demands in a formal tone. One by one, the guards slowly move their spears out of the way, but a lot of them keep observing the dragon with cautious gazes.

And then, a small retinue of guards arrive, being led by a man of short brown hair and a full beard who is wearing a more refined armor. In his chest there is sigil composed by flaming arrows flying across a blue field. He is most certainly a minor noble that rules over the guard of Highgarden in the name of House Tyrell.

The knight makes a modest bow to the princess, showing the required respect.

"It is an honor to receive you here in Highgarden, Princess Helaena. However, your presence is certainly unexpected. Please, could you explain the reason for your sudden arrival?" The commander asks in a formal tone, but Helaena notices the cautious tone in his voice. When he looks at her, she can see that his brown eyes are sharp and observative.

"I have important matters to discuss with the mother-regent of Lord Tyrell. I would be more than grateful if you could take me to her, Ser...?" The princess asks in a calm tone, trying to learn the knight's name. The man takes a deep breath, showing that he is proud of who he is.

"Ser Noland Norridge, my princess. I serve as a knight and guard commander here in Highgarden. I would be delighted to lead you to Lady Tyrell, but she is currently very busy with some of her duties. I fear that you might have to wait a few hours." The man proclaimings, revealing himself and explaining the situation. Helaena nods.

"I see. Either way, I knew that I wouldn't be able to talk to Lady Tyrell so quickly. I will wait as long as I need. However, I might need a chamber to rest. The flight was long and I am tired." The princess declares in an honest tone, showing a bit of softness behind her words. Ser Noland nods.

"We are more than honored to receive you as my guest, Princess Helaena. Please, follow me. I will take you to one of the most comfortable bedchambers in the castle." The knight proclaims, bowing once again. Helaena smiles a bit.

"Sounds good to me. Take the lead, Ser." The princess declares in a relaxed tone. The noble knight nods and walks away with his small retinue, being followed by Helaena.

The princess feels uncomfortable while surrounded by guards, but she finds a bit of solace in the fact that things are going very well so far.

However, she still has a question in mind. An important one.

"Ser Noland, My brother Daeron had planned to pass through Highgarden on his journey back to Oldtown. Have you heard anything from him?" The princess asks in a formal tone, hoping for a good answer. The guard firmly nods, but keeps walking.

"Prince Daeron arrived here a pair of days ago with his dragon and a retinue. They planned to leave yesterday, but the prince ended up getting fascinated by the greatness of Highgarden and wanted to stay here a little longer, so the retinue left without him. He flew with his dragon a few hours ago, but he will return soon." The knight explains. Helaena smiles, satisfied by the information.

Daeron is still here. It makes things much easier for her. She can have a conversation with him to decide their first steps in the war that is approaching.

Helaena remains in silence as she enters the castle with the guards, feeling a bit more hopeful.

---

After arriving in one of the bedchambers, she had a few hours to take a bath, rest and prepare to meet Lady Tyrell.

As a princess seeking support for her House, looking elegant during negotiations is basically a necessity. Especially when she needs to settle terms with another woman.

Noble women in positions of power are usually very proud of their beauty, elegance, and careful use of words when expressing something. A game of deceit that Helaena hates.

The princess sighs as she stands in the bedchamber alone, facing a large mirror to take a final look at herself in the dress she brought from King's Landing.

A modest purple dress that almost reaches her feet, but lets her arms move freely. The golden sigil of House Targaryen is on her waist in a small size.

Her golden-silver hair is locked in a very elaborate braid that was made by one of the Tyrell servants. It is a bit much for Helaena, but she doesn't hate it either.

The princess smiles a bit as she looks at the mirror, admiring the purple and the gold in her dress. Colors that are important to her.

Gold is the color of Sunfyre. Her beloved husband’s beautiful dragon. A bloodthirsty beast who commands attention with his glorious scales that gleam in the sunlight. Vhagar may be the largest dragon alive, and Caraxes may be the King’s dragon, but neither has the majestic presence of Sunfyre the Golden.

Helaena’s family chose red as their defining color, but gold was chosen by fate.

On the other hand, purple became her favorite color in recent times for more than one reason. In the beginning, she liked it because of how it could represent a mix between the red color of her family and the light blue scales of Dreamfyre. A middle ground that she learned to love.

However, she can't deny the main reason behind her preference for purple.

The princess stares at the mirror in front of her, keeping her eyes on the amethyst necklace on her neck. Helaena gently moves her hand to the purple stone, carefully holding it as she smiles with affection.

She remembers the night she received the necklace of her father and how she felt. The warmth in her chest, the fast beat of her heart and the endless happiness that took over her. It was a great moment for her.

And then, things quickly changed when her father became unstable and demanded her to leave.

She still doesn't understand why he reacted this way to him after she declared that she would remain by his side until her death.

Does thinking about the death of a child affect him that deeply?

No. Helaena doesn't think that was it.

In fact, she believes it might be something more personal. Her words might have brought something bad from his past. A memory that stirs him. Something Helaena may never discover.

The princess sighs and walks to the nearby window. She stares at the blue sky and decides to remember the good moments of her life instead of the sad ones.

She smiles and feels a warmth in her chest when she remembers the reconciliation that she had with her father after Maelor's birth.

From now on, Helaena only wants to remember the father she has since the night. A man that pays attention to his family and respects their struggles, even if he doesn't understand them in a personal way.

Suddenly, the princess is surprised by a firm knock on her door. Cautious, Helaena looks at the entrance with a hesitating gaze. However, she takes a deep breath and holds her hands together, getting a bit more confident.

"Who is there?" The princess asks, skeptical about letting an unknown person enter her chamber in Highgarden.

"I am a messenger, princess. Lady Tyrell sent me here to tell you that she will meet you and Prince Daeron in the main hall." The voice of a formal man comes from the other side of the door. Helaena frowns slightly, getting a bit more serious.

"I will be moving towards the hall right now. I will wait for Lady Tyrell there." The princess declares in a firm tone.

"As you wish, princess." The man from outside the chamber says before Helaena hears the sound of his steps as he walks away.

Taking a deep breath, Helaena moves towards the door. She calmly gets out of the bedchamber and moves through the hallways.

In her way, the princess smiles and waves hands to everyone around the castle. However, her sweet expression hides the nervous thoughts in her mind.

She makes a silent prayer to the Father, asking for a just negotiation between her and the widow of Geryn Tyrell.

---

Helaena calmly walks through the hallways of Highgarden, relaxing a bit as she admires the beauty of the ancient castle. After all, she doesn't know when she will be able to have another chance of doing that.

After a while, the princess reaches the large doors of the main hall of Highgarden. Anpair of guards are protecting the door, but get out of the way once she walks towards them.

The two men in armor make short bows before carefully opening the heavy doors, allowing Helaena to take a look at the main hall after five years.

The hall is as large as she remembers, filled with many details in the wall that resemble roots, as if the whole hall was under a massive tree.

It is early in the night, so she isn't welcomed by the sunlight that would get through the huge windows of the chamber during the day. Instead, large torches are all around the place.

However, none of that steals her attention more than the only person standing in the middle of the hall. Someone that brings a smile to Helaena's face.

A young lad in a good form, wearing the dark red clothes of her close family. His golden-silver hair is short and he opens a bright smile upon seeing Helaena. His eyes are filled with the joy of someone that never lost the child inside him, even if he also looks confused by her presence here.

The fourth child of the Red King.

Her younger brother.

Helaena firmly holds her dress and walks towards her brother at a steady pace.

"Daeron!" The princess proclaims, throwing her arms around her brother as she hugs him as firmly as she can. Daeron hugs her back in a very similar way.

He always was the softest of Helaena's brothers and that never fails to bring a nice warmth to her heart.

Still holding his sister, Daeron decides to declare his confusion.

"What brings you to Highgarden so suddenly, Lena? Did something happen?" The rider of Tessarion asks in his sister's ear, clearly curious and worried about the possible answers.

Helaena takes a deep breath as their hug comes to an end. She frowns and looks at Daeron with an intense gaze.

"The day has come, Daeron. A sad day for many and a very important day for our family. Our father no longer sits in the same chair he used to." The princess whispers in a serious tone. Daeron's eyes get wide in surprise as he looks at his sister.

"Uncle Viserys... died?" The prince whispers in disbelief. Helaena nods as her gaze becomes a sad one.

"It happened the night of the same day you left. It was very sad, but I didn't have time to mourn. We need to move quickly. That's why I'm here to speak to Lord Tyrell's mother. Father thought you might be here, and it turns out he was right. Now, you can do your part too." The princess proclaims, gently holding the hands of her younger brother. Daeron slowly nods as he accepts what she is saying. Then, he looks at Helaena with a firm gaze.

"I will do everything I can, sister. What are father's plans for me?" The prince asks, showing the will to take action that he always had. Helaena takes a deep breath and looks at her brother with a thoughtful gaze.

"You must return to Oldtown as quickly as possible. House Hightower's troops must prepare and march towards the capital, making allies along the way and defeating those who rise up in support of Rhaenyra." The princess explains in a firm tone as she gently strokes the back of her brother's hands with her thumbs. Daeron frowns before slowly nodding.

"I understand. I am used to dealing with the nobles and commanders of Oldtown, and I am well aware of the power of House Hightower. It seems to be the most sensible course of action, but I can't ignore the feeling that the advance of the troops will be a nightmare. The path is long and will certainly be tortuous. And, sadly, I think that seeking support in the Reach will be more complicated than father imagined." The prince says in an honest tone. Helaena frowns, confused.

"What do you mean?" The princess asks, worried. Daeron opens his mouth to answer, but he is stopped by the doors of the main hall opening once again. The two siblings let each other go and focus on who is entering the chamber.

A pair of guards stand on each side of a young woman who Helaena assumes to be the widow of Geryn Tyrell and the regent of Highgarden. Lady Lyessa Tyrell, who was born a Caswell.

The woman is a bit taller than Helaena and wears a long green dress that embraces her slender figure, which has the hips of a young mother and a modest bust. She has long dark brown hair that is kept in the back of her head in a tight braid.

Her cold eyes are the color of amber and stare at the Targaryen siblings with caution. A serious expression remains in her face as she walks towards them with elegant steps. She stops in front of them, keeping her body straight.

"I apologize for my delay, Princess. I was visiting a minor vassal near Highgarden when I learned from a messenger that you had arrived unexpectedly." The regent proclaims in a formal voice devoid of emotion. Helaena feels a bit bothered by the coldness of the lady, but she opens a short smile either way.

"There is no need to apologize, my lady. I am glad to have your attention even under such... unusual circumstances." The princess declares in an honest tone. The regent nods before frowning a bit.

"Well, I will go straight to the point. I believe something important happened to justify your arrival. A crown problem that now extends to my son's lands. Am I mistaken?" The lady asks in a firm tone as she crosses her arms and stares at Helaena's eyes, expecting an answer. Helaena takes a deep breath and nods.

"Yes. It is a very important matter that needs to be dealt with quickly and objectively. Exchanging letters would waste precious time. As soon as you are ready, I would like to talk about it." The princess proclaims in a formal tone. The regent frowns for a moment before nodding.

"We can talk about it now. However, if the matter is that important, I want to do that in private. No guards and anyone else. Just me and you." The regent declares in a firm tone, keeping her eyes on Helaena's. The princess frowns for a moment, finding the wish of the lady a bit strange, but she understands the reasoning. The fewer ears around them the better.

However, when she looks to the side, she sees Daeron frowning, seemingly bothered by the fact that he is being sidelined. The older Targaryen rests a gentle hand on his shoulder to get his attention before she smiles.

"Don't think too much about it. I will talk to you right after we are done. I promise." The princess says with conviction. Daeron slowly nods before looking at the two women with a  calm expression.

"I will be leaving now." The prince declares, making a short bow before walking towards the doors of the hall.

Daeron leaves the room and the guards leave with him, locking the door behind them.

Now, Helaena is alone in the main hall of Highgarden with the mother and regent of the infant Lord Tyrell.

The widow of a man that shared a sad history with her.

The thought is enough to make Helaena tense.

Lady Tyrell takes a deep breath before looking at Helaena with her cold gaze.

"Say what you have to say, princess." The regent proclaims in a serious tone. The silence reigns for a few seconds before Helaena starts to speak.

"Dark days have come to the Seven Kingdoms, my lady. It is with great sadness that I announce the death of my uncle, King Viserys." The princess declares in a sad tone that is honest in nature. Despite everything, she still misses her uncle, who always was a lovely man with a kind heart.

However, Helaena is a bit surprised by the lack of surprise in the face of Lady Tyrell. She only frowns a bit more, thinking for a mere pair of seconds.

"I have not been Lady of Highgarden for long, but even I have heard of the more than delicate health of King Viserys. You have my condolences, but it does not explain your presence in Highgarden. What do you seek here, princess?" The young widow asks in a cold tone, looking at Helaena with a skeptical gaze. The Targaryen keeps herself calm as she faces the stern woman in front of her. Someone that clearly doesn't have the patience to use formalities at the moment.

And then, Helaena pulls a rolled-up letter from her dress. The object gains the regent's attention.

The princess looks at the letter that her father and grandfather prepared in order to present the views of her family to the lords of Westeros. Helaena frowns as she offers the papers to Lady Tyrell.

"This letter will bring the answers that you want much better than I could ever explain." The princess says in an honest tone. The widow frowns at Helaena before carefully taking the letter. She opens it and starts to read in silence.

As she reads, Helaena can finally see surprise emerging in the face of the regent. By the end, her surprise gives place to a thoughtful frown. She closes the letter and looks down for a time, thinking.

Helaena remains with her mouth closed, trying to restrain her anxiety as she observes the other woman finally getting to a conclusion.

Lady Tyrell looks at the princess with a gaze that is hard to understand.

"What do you know about me, princess?" The regent asks in a calm tone, keeping her serious expression. Helaena is a bit confused by her question.

"Not much, my lady. I met your late husband in the past and he was very sweet to me, but I did not hear about you until I learned about his death." The princess says in an honest tone. Lady Tyrell frowns a bit for a second before recovering her calm.

"And what did you know about my husband, princess?" The young widow asks in a dry tone. Helaena takes a deep breath, understanding that she is walking into a sensitive matter.

"Your husband was a handsome, determined, kind and passionate man. A gentle man who deserved better than the sad fate he received." The princess says in an honest tone filled with compassion.

The regent of Highgarden hesitates for a moment before she frowns at Helaena once again.

"My husband was a good man and a good lord. However, he was also a man full of dreams that brought only illusions and frustrations to himself and our family." The regent declares in a firm tone as her gaze becomes more intense. Helaena frowns at her.

"What do you mean, my lady?" The princess asks, curious and cautious about the intention of the other woman. Lady Tyrell keeps her stern expression, but Helaena can finally notice something in her eyes.

A restrained anger.

That confuses the Targaryen princess, but the widow doesn't give her much time to think about it.

"Do you know what my late husband's greatest illusion was?" The regent asks in a bitter tone. Helaena holds her hands together and tries to find an answer.

And then, she comes to a realization and looks to Lyessa with a gentle gaze.

"I... couldn't imagine things would turn out like this..." The princess almost whispers, out of words to say. However, Lady Tyrell seemingly has a lot to say.

The regent's gaze becomes an openly angry one as she walks forward, getting closer to Helaena. The proximity makes the princess even more anxious, but it is nothing compared to the raging storm of bad emotions in the eyes of the woman that was cold and serious just a few seconds ago.

"It doesn't matter what you imagined or didn't imagine. There is only one truth. You were the greatest illusion in my husband's life. The woman who ruined my dream." The  regent proclaims as bitter sadness takes the place of anger. Helaena frowns, getting even more confused.

"Your dream?" The princess asks, unaware of what the other woman means with that. Lady Tyrell grunts in frustration, but takes a deep breath to calm down and looks to the ground.

The young widow crosses her arms once more and Helaena finally understands why she does that. It is an act that comforts her and restrains her impulses by keeping her arms tied.

That makes Helaena quite sad. What did she do to this woman without even realizing it?

Lady Tyrell turns her back to Helaena and faces the modest throne in the chamber. The one that was once used by the Gardener Kings. Helaena observes the woman in a cautious silence.

"I met Geryn when we were still children. After all, my father is one of the most important bannermen of House Tyrell." The regent starts in a distant tone. Helaena looks at her with curiosity, but remains in silence.

"Geryn was a kind and polite boy who treated everyone around him with affection while I was a reserved and shy girl. In his kindness, Geryn approached me and we quickly became friends. His beautiful smile and cheerful attitude brought me out of my shell and made me the woman I am today. Even when we were apart, we still exchanged letters after letters talking about everything that was going on in our lives. We knew everything about each other." The young widow continues as her voice gets more sad. Helaena looks at her with a soft gaze, understanding the meaning of her words.

"You loved him."

Lady Tyrell turns around to face the princess, showing her teary eyes and bitter expression.

"More than anything in this world." The regent says in a low tone filled with bitterness. Helaena slowly nods, feeling a bad taste in her mouth as she looks at the other woman.

"Did he know about this?" The princess asks in a modest tone. Lady Tyrell sighs and looks down, facing the ground with a distant gaze.

"No. I was afraid of being rejected. After all, I am not the princess he dreamed of. So, I decided to wait for a better time. A time when he would give up on this wish of his, allowing me to open my heart to him."

The regent says in a sad tone before frowning, changing to a more frustrated tone.

"However, a letter from him reached me before that. In this letter, he said that the Rogue Prince's two eldest children would come to Highgarden during their travels around Westeros. Among them, a beautiful princess in search of a husband."

The young widow says with disgust by the end. Helaena frowns with sadness, looking at the woman with compassion.

"He thought it was destiny. He thought he would finally have the chance to win the perfect wife of his dreams. The wife I could never be."

A pair of tears roll down from the face of Lady Tyrell after she whispers the last phrase.

Helaena wants to comfort her, but she can only remain in silence as the other woman looks at her with a resentful gaze.

"He wrote me several letters about everything he could learn about you before your arrival. Your appearance. Your tastes. Your personality. Everything. You became the greatest obsession in his life and it consumed me. I lost count of how many times I cried reading those letters, repressing my sadness and jealousy to allow my beloved to be happy, even if it was in the arms of another woman."

Lady Tyrell takes a deep breath before frowning at Helaena with frustration.

"In my mind, he would get what he wanted. What woman in the world would dare to reject a man as wonderful as him? Well, I found out the hard way that there was a woman who would reject my Geryn. And now, she is in front of me." The regent proclaims in a bitter tone, seemingly restraining her sadness and tears.

After a long silence, Helaena takes a deep breath and decides to say what is stuck in her throat.

"I am so sorry that I caused Geryn and you so much pain. Causing pain in others was never my intention. I just wanted to follow my heart." The princess declares in a soft and honest tone as she looks at the teary eyes of the young widow.

However, Lady Tyrell grunts.

"Your intentions don't matter to me, princess. You don't understand how many lives your heart ruined!" The regent proclaims as her voice gets filled with more anger. Helaena takes a step back and moves a hand to her chest. She is in a shocked silence.

Lady Tyrell takes a deep breath before continuing her speech.

"Even after your rejection, Geryn continued to hold out hope that he could convince you that he was everything you could ever want in a husband. That hope was shattered when you announced that you were marrying your own brother. This changed my beloved Geryn permanently."

Helaena hears the bitter words of Lady Tyrell in silence, feeling guilt taking over herself. Maybe that is a suffering that she deserves.

Lady Tyrell holds herself more firmly and continues.

"Even after several moons, Geryn refused to leave the castle and his letters became short and sad. Desperate, I talked to his mother and we came to an agreement. I would marry him and do my best to drive away the ghost of Helaena Targaryen. And so it was done. It was a modest and sad wedding. My dream wedding had become an attempt to rescue my beloved's soul. An attempt that failed." The regent says as her lips start to tremble. She is clearly resisting the urge to cry.

Helaena feels her own eyes getting teary as she looks at the woman, understanding her pain.

Lady Tyrell grunts once again, frustrated by her lack of control over her emotions by this point.

She looks at Helaena with both anger and sadness behind her amber eyes.

"I tried everything. I comforted him, professed my love, took him to every beautiful place I knew and provided him with every imaginable pleasure in our bed. Yet, I only received his pity. In the end, he could not return my love when he still loved... you." The young widow says the last word with disgust as she frowns at Helaena.

Tears start rolling down the eyes of the regent as she trembles. Helaena resists her own urge to cry and looks at the aggressive woman with a sad gaze. Her words are once again stuck in her throat. Lady Tyrell continues.

"While you were being fucked by your own brother, I was suffering alongside Geryn, trying to rescue his lost soul. However, things only got worse over time. His sadness grew and he missed you more and more, until one night my heart was shattered into a thousand pieces because of you."

The regent gets closer to Helaena, looking at the princess with a gaze filled with endless anger and sadness. Tears keep rolling down from her swollen eyes.

"Tell me, princess. Has the love of your life ever moaned another woman's name while fucking you?"

Lady Tyrell says that in a voice filled with the deep sadness of a broken heart before she starts to openly cry, letting her emotions go.

Helaena feels her heart sinking in her chest as she looks at the young widow. Her whole body trembles and she starts to cry as well, trying her best to at least say something.

"I am sorry..." The princess whispers, moving her arms to hold Lady Tyrell. However, the regent grunts and pushes her away, taking Helaena by surprise.

The young widow frowns at Helaena and grinds her teeth as anger takes over her.

"I gave him everything. My love... my body... a son... everything! Yet his heart still longed for YOU!" The regent of Highgarden screams in her wrath, looking at Helaena with eyes filled with hatred. Helaena takes a step back, scared and too sad to say anything.

Lady Tyrell sniffs and takes a deep breath before looking at Helaena once again.

"Even though he was dying from that terrible disease, he still spoke of you. Even if thinking about you consumed his will to live and made him succumb to the disease, his last word was your name. Your cursed name."

The young widow grunts before she wipes the tears from her eyes and looks at Helaena with a more restrained gaze of anger.

"For everything your heart has done to me, to the love of my life, to Lady Brianne, and to my son who will grow up without his father, I tell you one thing."

Lady Tyrell takes another step forward as she stares at Helaena with her teary eyes from a close range.

Helaena feels her heart sinking harder in her chest. She never saw someone with such a hateful gaze in all of her life. It scares her to no end.

Her words are filled with disgust and hatred.

"I will hate you until the day I die, Helaena Targaryen."

Lady Tyrell takes some distance from Helaena, her body still trembling because of the emotions that she is restraining at the moment.

Helaena keeps a hand on her chest as she tries to deal with the words that wounded her gentle soul.

She feels like the worst person in the world.

Helaena's lips tremble while tears fall from her eyes, but she manages to find enough will to look at the woman that she broke.

"So you will ally with Rhaenyra because of me? So that you can target me for your revenge?" The princess asks in a firm tone, worried about what happens from now on.

Lady Tyrell grunts in anger, looking at Helaena with a frown.

"House Targaryen has taken too much from me. I will not allow them to take more. Highgarden will remain neutral in this foolish war your father is waging. My bannermen may declare themselves to whomever they wish. I don't care. I will stay here with my son and pray for our safety. When the war is over, I will kneel to the victor, if there is one left." Lyessa Tyrell says in a bitter tone filled with conviction.

Helaena gasps, shocked by her last phrase. She takes a deep breath and stares at the regent with a firm gaze.

"The tragedies of your life have darkened your soul, but I have hope that things will get better for your family in the future, regardless of what happens in what is to come. You and your son will be in my prayers, Lyessa." The princess says in a firm tone filled with faith as she stares at the eyes of the woman, using her first name to show her honesty.

Lady Tyrell frowns at Helaena, looking conflicted for a moment before she snorts and calms down.

"Do as you wish, princess. You and your brother can leave tomorrow morning. There is no reason for either of you to stay here any longer." The regent declares in a dry tone, letting go of her hatred to return to her serious expression. Helaena sighs in relief and nods.

"Of course. I don't want to keep bothering you. Good night, Lady Tyrell. I hope that you find comfort under the light of the Seven." The princess says in a gentle tone before wiping the tears from her face and making a short bow to the young widow.

Helaena walks towards the heavy doors with firm steps. However, she stops in her way when she hears the voice of Lady Tyrell.

"If you really want to understand the damage that you caused to House Tyrell, you should visit Lady Brianne's chamber. She has a lot to say." The regent proclaims with a dry and distant voice.

Helaena doesn't turn around to face the lady. Instead, she just takes a deep breath and answers with conviction.

"I will."

With that the princess leaves the chamber, entering the main hallway of Highgarden to see her brother and the two guards that are protecting each side of the entrance to the main hall.

Daeron looks at his sister and frowns, seemingly concerned after seeing her tearful eyes, wet face and thoughtful expression.

"Did something bad happen to you? I heard a scream from inside the chamber, but the guards wouldn't let me enter." The prince asks in a firm tone, gently taking the hands of his sister and looking at her eyes. Helaena smiles a bit, feeling comforted by the warmthful presence of her younger brother.

"I will explain to you, but we need to keep moving. I have a place to get to." The princess declares in a soft tone, but still filled with conviction. Daeron frowns, but nods in agreement.

The two siblings walk away, leaving the guards behind.

As they walk through the hallways of Highgarden, Helaena takes a deep breath and starts to explain everything to her brother whenever no one is around them.

It is a long story, but so is the size of Highgarden.

Especially when you don't know where to go.

---

During their long walk to find the chamber of Lady Brianne, Helaena explained everything that happened inside the main hall of Highgarden. Daeron frowns in anger after she is done.

"How dare she blame you for all the sadness in her life? What could you have done to stop it? Marry the man she loved? I doubt she would be happy about that." The prince proclaims in irritation, seemingly trying to keep his temper under control as they keep walking through an empty hallway. Helaena sighs.

"Honestly? It seems so. Her love seemed very genuine, which devastates me. She deserved to be loved, and so did Geryn. My first arrival at Highgarden was truly a curse for House Tyrell." The princess proclaims in an honest tone filled with bitterness.

Suddenly, Daeron gets in front of his sister, forcing her to stop walking. He stares at her eyes with a firm gaze.

"Don't let her words make you feel guilty, Lena. You were under no obligation to marry anyone, nor could you have foreseen what would happen. We can only be sad about what happened and pray for Lord Geryn's soul." The prince says with conviction. Helaena smiles a bit after hearing his last phrase.

"I am glad to hear about prayers from you, Daeron. It is good to have a man of faith in our family. Aegon and Aemond are not like that, even if they visit the sept regularly." The princess declares in a soft tone. Daeron relaxes and nods, looking proud as he opens a short smile.

"Spending many years in Oldtown has certainly made me more connected to my faith. I want to follow the doctrines and become a man of virtue who does not bow down to evil." The prince declares with a passionate conviction. Helaena laughs a bit.

"Your will is admirable. I wish I had half of it right now. Talking to the late Lord Tyrell's mother will be... painful." The princess declares as her smile fades away. Daeron frowns slightly.

"You don't have to do this, Lena. You don't owe her anything." The prince proclaims in a firm tone, concerned. Helaena smiles a bit, showing a bit of her own conviction.

"I need to see her, Daeron. She has suffered greatly in recent years, so I want to at least bring her words of comfort. If she wants to call me names, that is fine. I will listen and take the weight off her shoulders." The princess says in a firm tone, determined to her cause. Daeron frowns, skeptical.

"So, let me come with you. I promise not to say anything. I just want to make sure you are safe." The prince says in a soft tone, trying to convince his sister. Helaena smiles, touched by the intentions of her brother.

The rider of Dreamfyre takes the prince by surprise with a hug. She smiles while gently pressing her cheek against his cheek.

"You have a golden heart, my dear little brother. If being by my side brings you peace, who am I to deny it?" The princess asks in a playful tone as she strokes the back of her brother's head. Daeron takes a deep breath and hugs her back.

"Thank you." He says in a firm tone, relieved. Helaena laughs a bit and kisses the top of his head, making Daeron blush a bit.

With that, the two siblings keep walking for a bit more until they finally arrive at the door of Lady Brianne's chamber.

The wooden door is protected by two guards that observe them in silence, showing no objection as the siblings approach the door.

The Targaryens exchange a final gaze before Helaena knocks on the door.

After a few seconds of silence, they hear a long grunt from inside the chamber.

"Go away!" The angry voice of a woman comes from inside the bedchamber. Helaena can tell that the voice belongs to Lady Brianne Hewett, the mother of Geryn Tyrell and the grandmother of the current Lord Tyrell.

Helaena remembers the promise that she made to that same woman. A promise that she broke in the name of her family. It is not going to be an easy meeting.

Ignoring her fears, Helaena takes a deep breath and stares at the door with a firm gaze.

"Lady Tyrell, it is Princess Helaena Targaryen. I came to settle some important matters and I thought that you might need a friendly visit from someone during such a daring moment in your life." The princess declares in a firm tone.

After a few more seconds, a long grunt comes from inside the chamber. An angry one.

"You can enter, if you have enough courage to face me... girl." The older woman says, using the last word with disgust. Something that Helaena decides to ignore for now. She understands that she will hear bad things. It doesn't matter to her.

Helaena takes another deep breath before carefully opening the door.

As soon as the door opens, the princess sees a deep darkness that covers the entirety of the large bedchamber. The only source of light is the sunlight coming from small parts of the windows.

However, Helaena can see a slender figure seated in the large bed of the chamber. When the princess looks at that person, she is surprised and almost horrified.

The rider of Dreamfyre remembers the appearance of Lady Brianne very well. After all, she met her only four years ago on the day after her wedding.

The mother of Geryn Tyrell was tall and slender, but pretty and especially elegant. A lady in more than just a title.

The woman seated on the bed is almost unrecognizable to the princess.

The slender and gracious body of Lady Brianne faded away to give place to a body that seems to have only skin and bones. It looks like she had spent a long time inside a cell, forgotten by everyone and left to die of starvation.

She is wearing a long greenish blue dress that is severely wrinkled, showing that she didn't change it for some time.

The blonde hair of the lady is long, messy and dry falling over the lady's face, hiding the most empty gaze that Helaena ever saw.

The cold blue eyes of a woman that has nothing to lose, but everything to hate.

Brianne Hewett let out a long and angry grunt as she moves her thin body to get closer to the edge of the bed. Her cold eyes remain on Helaena as she grinds her teeth and stabs her long nails in her bed.

"Why are you here, you damn princess? You promised you wouldn't come! Never! You enjoy torturing my family, is that it?!" The older woman proclaims, enraged as the coldness in her blue eyes fade away to give place to something worse.

The intense gaze of a mad woman.

Helaena takes a deep breath to calm herself down and takes a step back.

"I know I broke my promise and I am sorry for that. However, I did it for a very important cause. I had no other choice, my lady." The princess proclaims in a soft tone, trying to argue with the older woman. Brianne grunts in anger, grinding her teeth as she looks at Helaena with a furious gaze.

"I don't care about your justifications! The only thing that I care about is everything that you caused and keep causing to my family, monster!" The woman proclaims with disgust. Helaena's eyes get wide out of surprise. However, she restrains her emotions and keeps looking at the blonde woman.

"What did I do to be called a monster, my lady?" The princess asks in a soft tone, letting Brianne speak what is stuck inside her throat. And that is what she does after grunting once more.

"Breaking the sweetest heart in this world isn't bad enough for you?! He was all I had and I watched him slowly crumble until he gave in to a disease he could have beaten!" The older woman proclaims in anger before she manages to stretch her thin legs and get up, looking at Helaena with a gaze of pure hatred. The princess feels a bitter taste emerging in her mouth as she takes a complete look at the destroyed body of Brianne Tyrell.

A body that turned to dust under the massive weight of grief and wrath.

"We talked about all this after the wedding, remember? You said you didn't blame me for following my heart! What changed?" The princess asks in a firm tone, confused about the situation and concerned about the woman in front of her. The lady grunts in anger once again, taking a step forward.

"Time has shown me that the damage his choice caused was far worse than I could have imagined. With each passing day, my beloved son became sadder and less himself. My endless prayers did nothing! And then... everything made sense!" The former Lady of Highgarden proclaims before she opens her thin arms and opens a broken smile full of irony and bitterness on her face.

"Fate has chosen to condemn my family to an endless nightmare! A sick joke for the gods who see us as mere toys! There is no hope! There is no happy ending! Only the misery that began with YOU!" The older woman proclaims as she takes a pair of steps forward to stand closer to Helaena. The princess feels tense, but remains in place to face the older woman.

A bit distant from them, Daeron observes everything with a cautious gaze. Lady Brianne seemingly didn't even notice the prince there after getting her eyes on Helaena.

Looking back at Lady Brianne, a softer expression on Helaena's face.

"My heart aches for everything that has happened to your family, Lady Tyrell. But I ask you not to lose hope. Things will get better one day. I am sure of it. No one is condemned to a life of misery by the whim of the divine. The Father will bring justice and the Mother will offer you her holy mercy." The princess declares with conviction, trying to bring some light to the darkness.

Lady Brianne trembles and lays both hands over her head, violently stroking her head. Her blue eyes are filled with an endless amount of anger and sorrow.

"Shut your mouth! There is no hope! There never was and there never will be!" The older woman proclaims in a desperate tone. Helaena steps forward, looking at the woman with compassion.

"Please, I ask you to take a deep breath and try to find the light of truth. There will always be a new day. A new beginning. Instead of dwelling on your son's tragedies forever, you can give your grandson a better life. How does that sound?" The princess asks in a gentle tone, slowly moving towards the trembling woman.

Lady Brianne grunts once again before looking at the ground in silence, slowly removing her hands from her head. Helaena smiles at that.

"That is a good first step. You need to learn to move on and remember the people you lost not with bitterness, but with affection and love. You and your family deserve to start again and leave the sufferings of the past in the past. So, how about we start with a hug?" The princess offers opening her arms and smiling to the older woman with compassion.

Lady Brianne looks at her with a conflicted gaze before she slowly stands up. The thin woman slowly approaches Helaena.

And then, the older woman screams in anger before grabbing Helaena's neck with both hands.

The eyes of the princess get wide in shock as the woman squeezes her throat with unbelievable strength. The air leaves her and her face immediately starts to turn red. She can't even react while Lady Brianne keeps screaming and shaking her by the neck.

However, Daeron is there.

The prince runs towards them and firmly holds the arms of the older lady.

"Let her go!" The young lad proclaims, struggling to free his sister from the mad woman, who keeps screaming.

"YOU'RE TO BLAME FOR ALL OF THIS, YOU WHORE! YOU KILLED MY SON! YOU DESTROYED OUR LIVES! YOU DESERVE TO SUFFER WHAT I SUFFERED!" The mad lady proclaims while violently shaking Helaena's neck. The princess feels her vision getting twisted as she struggles to breath and is unable to find strength to resist.

And then, Daeron grunts and is finally able to free his sister's neck and push Lady Tyrell away, making her fall.

Helaena falls to her knees, breathing as deep as she possibly can while moving a hand to her burning neck. Tears of sadness and relief fall from her eyes as she trembles.

She can't even believe what just happened.

The princess keeps crying and trembling as she looks at her brother and the lady that just tried to choke her.

The crazed woman screams and keeps her violent streak, ignoring Daeron and trying to reach for Helaena once again.

To continue what she started.

The scared princess crawls away from the woman, who is quickly held by Daeron, who firmly hugs her thin waist and raises her from the ground.

The mad lady lets out another angry scream and starts scratching Daeron's arms with her nails. Daeron grunts.

Suddenly, the door opens and the two guards quickly make their way inside.

Helaena can't believe how long it took for them to take action. It is almost like...

Her thoughts are interrupted by the moment Daeron throws the lady on the bed.

The mad woman tries to get up from there, but the two guards hold her back, keeping her in the bed.

"BURN IN THE SEVEN HELLS, WHORE!" The mad woman screams as she keeps trying to resist the guards. Soon, she starts to loudly cry as well.

Helaena is shocked by everything that happened. Her body is trembling and her throat still hurts.

Daeron walks to his sister and firmly holds her arms, looking at her with a worried gaze.

"Let's get out of here." The prince proclaims as he helps Helaena to stand up. She struggles a bit, but is able to do so.

The two siblings leave the chamber together, closing the door behind them.

As they walk away from the door, Helaena starts to cry.

"I don't know what to feel anymore..." The princess whispers as she cries, lost in the many emotions that she is feeling right now. Daeron keeps a firm arm around his sister, comforting and helping her to walk.

"Don't think. I will take you to your room and you'll sleep. Tomorrow morning, we will leave this cursed place." The prince proclaims in a firm tone, taking the authority in his hands. Helaena slowly nods, unable to disagree with him.

The princess tries to calm down, but a single feeling keeps burning in her chest no matter what.

Guilt.

---

Soon, Helaena and Daeron arrive at the door of the bedchamber that was given to the princess. By now, she is already able to walk on her own, even with her broken heart and the pain in her neck.

Helaena smiles at her younger brother.

"Thank you for everything, my beloved little brother. I don't know what would have become of me without you and with the delay of those guards." The princess says in a low tone, still bothered by the event. Daeron slowly nods, frowning a bit.

"Don't think about it too much, Lena. You need to rest." The prince declares in a worried tone. Helaena nods, but she frowns when the fear doesn't go away from her heart. She looks at her brother with a concerned gaze.

"I don't feel safe sleeping alone, Daeron. Not after years of sleeping next to Aegon and after what just happened. Could you... sleep next to me?" The princess asks in a gentle tone, firmly holding the hands of her brother. Daeron frowns, looking hesitant for a moment. However, he soon nods.

"If it will make you feel safer, then I will." The prince declares in a soft tone. Helaena smiles, feeling relieved.

"Thank you..." She whispers before the two of them enter the bedchamber together.

The whole chamber is mostly dark, with only the weak moonlight coming from the large window there.

The two siblings sit on the large bed and remove their shoes. Helaena also moves a hand to the back of her head and frees her hair, letting it flow behind her back.

In silence, the two siblings lay side by side in the bed, looking at each other one last time before they go to sleep. However, Helaena still has one wish.

"Can you cuddle with me?" The princess asks, a bit shy. Daeron looks a bit bothered by her request, but nods..

At first, the prince struggles a bit to hold his sister in his arms comfortably, but he eventually manages to do so. Helaena smiles a bit as she presses her head against her younger brother's chest.

"Good night, my sweet brother." The princess whispers in a gentle tone. Daeron moves a bit.

"Good night, sister." The prince whispers back in a similar tone before both of them close their eyes.

Helaena feels the warmth of Daeron's body and his gentle arms around her. She enjoys it, but she can't deny the truth.

It is not the same thing without Aegon.

Helaena sleeps thinking about her beloved family.

---

Helaena yawns as she walks to the outside of the castle with Daeron and some guards.  She frowns to protect her eyes from the sunlight of a bright morning.

She slept for a few hours and woke up in the middle of the night, struggling to sleep again due to the many thoughts emerging in her mind.

After a bad night of sleep, Helaena feels like she is going to fall apart at any moment. She needed more rest before such a long flight, but she can't remain in Highgarden for much longer. Not after what happened with Lady Brianne.

The princess moves a hand to her neck, which got some red marks from the tight grab of the mad woman. The fresh memory brings shivers down the spine of the princess.

Helaena sighs and moves her hand away, looking at her hunting clothes. As much as she loves dresses, she finds a bit of relief in the freedom that her body has now.

She moves her eyes to the side to look at Daeron, who is looking at the ground with a thoughtful expression. She gets closer to him.

"What are you thinking about?" The princess asks, curious. Daeron frowns for a moment before sighing and looking at his sister with a concerned gaze.

"I am just worried that I might not be ready for what is coming. I am not even a knight yet." The prince whispers in an honest tone. Helaena slowly nods before opening a short smile.

"You are a very talented young man, Daeron. You may not have the battle experience and knighthood that Aegon and Aemond possess, but you are dedicated and clever. I am sure you will do well." The princess proclaims, certain of her words. Daeron frowns, looking a bit skeptical.

"It's not that easy. As a dragonrider who has been trained for years to be a knight, I need to show results in battle. As a woman, you don't have the same pressure and you even ride a much larger dragon. Our men don't expect leadership from you. They just expect you to fight alongside them." The prince proclaims in a firm tone filled with honesty. Helaena frowns a bit before taking a deep breath and looking forward.

"Make no mistake, Daeron. To our men, I am a delicate princess and you are just a boy. There is not much difference between us." The princess says in a firm tone. Daeron looks away and remains in silence, thinking about what his sister said.

The two siblings reach the huge gardens of Highgarden after some time walking in silence. There, they meet a huge beast that is laying on top of burned grass in a more isolated part of the garden.

The light blue scales of Dreamfyre shine under the sunlight as the dragon remains coiled. She raises her head and observes the two Targaryens approaching. Seeing her rider, the old dragon starts to move her large body from the ground, which brings a smile to the face of Helaena. She approaches the dragon with open arms.

"Iksā jurnegēre gevie tubī, ñuha dōna raqiros! (You are looking beautiful today, my sweet friend!)" The princess declares in her ancestral language before gently hugging the snout of her dragon, who makes an appreciative sound from her throat as Helaena carefully scratches the right parts of the dragon's chin.

Daeron approaches his sister and the old dragon with a soft smile on his face.

"Dreamfyre is quite affectionate, isn't she?" The prince asks in a playful tone. Helaena smiles at her brother while she keeps stroking the scaly chin of her dragon.

"Dreamfyre is the dragon that has laid the most eggs since the conquest. I see her as a beast that possesses the loving spirit of a mother. Since having children of my own, I understand her better than ever." The princess proclaims in a proud tone as she looks at the eyes of her dragon. Dreamfyre might not understand what she just said, but she understands how she feels through their bond. The dragon let out a snort of hot air from her nostrils while gently pressing the end of her snout on Helaena's belly. A clear and modest sign of affection.

Suddenly, all of them are surprised by a screeching roar coming from the sky, forcing everyone to look up. Dreamfyre raises her massive neck to look up as well.

A dragon comes from the east, descending from the sky in a graceful manner to land near them, moving her smaller body with ease.

Tessarion.

The dark blue color in the scales of the dragon is much stronger than the colors of most other dragons. The only other dragons that bear that same trait are Sunfyre and Meleys.

As such, from a young age the female dragon received an appropriate nickname inspired by her much older rival in color.

The Blue Queen.

Tessarion lets out a long grunt as she moves forward, getting closer to Daeron, who smiles at her.

"Sȳz ñāqes, riña! (Good morning, girl!)" The prince proclaims in an excited tone that Helaena was starting to miss. Tessarion let out a calm grunt, moving her head down, allowing her rider to rub the scales around the spikes of her head, getting a satisfied grunt from her. Helaena smiles at them.

"She is such a beautiful dragon. I love the two colors of her scales and how it changes so naturally." The princess points out, looking at the lower part of Tessarion's body, seeing the cream scales and also the point where there is a line of scales that bear both colors. Daeron nods in agreement, still rubbing the top of Tessarion's head.

"She might not be as shiny as Sunfyre, but in my eyes she is much more beautiful in her own unique way." The prince says in a gentle tone before letting his dragon and walking towards his sister.

Helaena and Daeron stand in front of each other, exchanging a gaze that is both affectionate and sad.

It is time for a farewell... which could be the last.

Helaena takes a deep breath and looks at her brother with a firm gaze and a gentle smile.

"Be careful and keep your faith strong, brother. We must fight thinking about the great days of a bright future. Hope is the last thing to die." The princess declares with conviction. Daeron smiles with confidence.

"I want to believe in you more than anything, sister." The prince says in a soft tone before he gently takes one of Helaena's hands and holds it with affection.

And then, Helaena hugs her brother as tight as she can, letting his head rest on her shoulder as she strokes his hair.

"Be strong, Daeron. I will be praying for our family and I am sure our mother will do the same. After the war is over, we will return home together." The princess whispers in an emotional tone, holding her brother more tightly. Daeron hugs her back.

"I will fight for this dream until my last breath, Lena. I swear." The prince whispers with conviction. Helaena sighs and opens a sad gaze.

"I believe in you, little brother." The princess says before letting their hug end. The two siblings separate and exchange a final gaze. Daeron takes a deep breath.

"I will see you soon." The prince declares in a restrained tone before walking towards Tessarion. Helaena smiles in appreciation.

"I will see you soon..." The princess whispers to no one.

Helaena takes a deep breath to calm down her troubled mind before she walks to Dreamfyre.

The light blue dragon quickly understands the demands of her master and bows her massive body to allow Helaena to get on top of the dragon's saddle.

After mere instants, Helaena locked her legs in the saddle and took the reins of her dragon. However, before she can do anything, Tessarion rises to the sky, letting out a screeching roar.

Observing the smaller and more excited dragon, Helaena finds a new motivation. She holds her reins more tightly before looking at Dreamfyre and giving a single command.

"Sōvēs! (Fly!)" The princess proclaims. Dreamfyre grunts as she moves before stretching her wings and raising her heavy body to the sky.

Helaena can easily see the difference in size between Dreamfyre and Tessarion. The Blue Queen makes up for her lack of size by moving quickly and with great ease, almost dancing through the sky.

The older dragon tries her best to follow the younger one, flying around even if she lacks enough speed to catch up.

And then, the two dragons take different directions, flying towards their own duties.

Helaena takes a deep breath and looks at the horizon, admiring it and enjoying the peace that she still has.

---

The flight was long and exhausting. Sometimes, Helaena thought that it would never end. So, when she saw King's Landing, joy filled her soul and gave her some strength that she didn't know that she still had.

Dreamfyre flies above the city, letting out a roar to announce their return. And then, Helaena guides the light blue dragon to the Dragonpit.

The one century old dragon lands outside of one of the entrances. Many dragonkeepers soon arrive, surrounding the dragon.

Helaena frees herself from the saddle and finally touches the ground, almost falling due to the ground after many hours of flight since her last stop.

The princess grunts as she stretches her body and looks to the sky. It is getting late and soon it will start to get dark. She needs to go to the Red Keep before that.

However, before she can move, one of the dragonkeepers approach her and makes a short bow.

"It is good to see your return, princess. Do you need a horse?" The older man with a gray beard asks in a humble tone. Helaena nods, smiling a bit.

"Yes. Thank you." The princess says in a gentle tone. The man nods and guides her to another part of the area surrounding the8 Dragonpit.

There, Helaena meets the several horses used for transportation. She quickly makes her choice and approaches a white horse. She looks at the dragonkeeper one last time after getting on top of the horse.

"Ēdrurzys jorrāelagon hae olvie havor hae kostā tepagon naejot zirȳla. Gūrogon care hen zirȳla. (Dreamfyre needs as much food as you can give to her. Take care of her.)" The princess declares in a firm tone, using the old tongue of her ancestors. The dragonkeeper nods.

"Aōhoso, dārilaros. (As you wish, princess.)" The man declares in a formal tone. Helaena smiles a bit before taking the reins of her horse.

The princess looks to the Red Keep in the distance and takes a deep breath. She is almost there.

Anxious, Helaena commands her horse to run, moving out of the Dragonpit and starting their path down the mount.

Her heart beats faster with the desire to see her family again after days away. Especially Aegon and their babes.

She doesn't know how she will endure being away from them for long periods of time. But, she has to.

It is her duty.

---

Crossing King's Landing by horse is always an interesting experience. It is sad that she is too tired and focused to properly enjoy it.

A few guards ride near the princess, protecting her from the most curious of members of the smallfolk. Many of them stop in the streets to observe the arrival of the princess, whispering things.

Helaena looks down. She still gets shy when she is in the center of attention. That is something that she will need to change quite fast. After all, if everything goes well, she will be Queen consort one day.

Queen.

The word sounds great in her head, but, at the same time, it makes her think about the weight of such a powerful title.

The princess wonders if her mother is doing well. After decades as nothing more than a noble mother with more modest duties, Helaena wouldn't be surprised to see her mother struggling to deal with the fact that she is now the Queen consort.

The Red Queen of the Red King.

Helaena smiles. She really likes that thought.

After crossing the streets of King's Landing, Helaena finally enters the walls of the Red Keep. She gets out of her horse and makes a sign to the guards to let her walk in peace from now on.

The princess takes a deep breath as she walks through the front garden of the Red Keep, enjoying the graceful view of the place that represents the good parts of her childhood.

At the end of the stone path, Helaena sees a small retinue of guards and some familiar faces that make her smile.

Queen Alicent stands with pride in her long blood red dress filled in golden details. Her brown hair is kept on an elaborated braid and her modest crown is firmly placed on top of her head. She looks at her daughter with a short smile and a soft gaze in her brown eyes.

Standing by the queen's side is Viserys, who is wearing fine red clothes with a small golden sigil of House Targaryen on the left side of his chest. The young prince has golden-silver hair that reaches his shoulders and an observative gaze that shows a maturity that is rare to find in a boy of seven.

On the other side of the Queen stands Maris Baratheon, who is wearing a yellow dress. She looks at Helaena with a relaxed gaze on her blue eyes.

Seeing her best friend is always good, but Helaena feels even more relieved to see her now because it means that Aegon returned as well.

The princess approaches them, sharing an affectionate gaze with her mother.

"I am back, muña." The princess declares in a soft tone. The smile of the queen gets wider before she hugs her daughter.

Helaena closes her eyes and enjoys the tender touch of her mother. For a moment, she feels like the little girl that she once was.

"Welcome, my sweet girl. I missed you a lot. You may have been gone for a short time, but a mother's longing knows no bounds. I am sure you understand that now." The Red Queen whispers in a gentle tone. Helaena takes a deep breath and thinks about her own children.

"I do." The princess says in an honest tone before their hug ends. And then, she looks to her youngest brother with a short smile.

"I am happy to see my cutest brother so early. You look really handsome today, Serys." The princess says in a playful tone, gently moving a hand through the soft hair of her brother. Viserys looks a bit shy due to her compliment, but he still looks at the eyes of his sister.

"Muña won't let me go out without getting ready and getting ready is boring." The young prince declares in an honest tone, making his sister laugh and his mother frown slightly.

Finally, Helaena turns to her best friend with a bright smile on her face.

"How was Storm's End?" The princess asks in a playful tone. Maris snorts.

"Rainy. How was Highgarden?" The lady-in-waiting asks back. Helaena smirks.

"Sunny."

The two young women laugh together before hugging.

"I hope Aegon didn't give you any trouble." The princess whispers in a playful tone. Maris holds a laugh.

"He did well enough." The noble lady says in a playful tone before their hug ends and Helaena looks at the Red Keep once more.

"I want to see my children. Right now. I can talk with my father about what happened later." The princess says out loud, choosing her priority at the moment. Alicent looks at her daughter and nods.

"Very well. I will talk to your father and you can talk with him in around two hours. You and Maris can go to the children's chamber. I will also ask a servant to bring something for you to eat." The queen declares in a firm tone full of authority. Helaena nods and smiles a bit.

"That sounds great. Where is Aegon?" The princess asks, curious. Alicent frowns a bit.

"He was meeting the royal troops with Aemond and Ser Criston. Aemond will lead them towards Harrenhal in two days." The Red Queen explains. Helaena slowly nods, a bit surprised at how fast they were able to get the army ready. The years manipulating and preparing the forces of King's Landing are certainly bringing interesting results now.

"Well, I will be going to the chamber now. I will see you later, muña." The princess whispers, gently holding the hands of her mother. Alicent smiles and nods, remaining in silence.

Helaena lets the hands of her mother go and turns to her friend with a short smile. Maris smiles back.

"Ready?" The lady-in-waiting asks. Helaena smirks.

"To see my babes? Always." The princess proclaims in a proud tone. Maris laughs a bit and the two young women enter the Red Keep together.

---

Helaena and Maris arrive in front of the children's bedchamber after a considerable time walking and talking about more frivolous things, deciding to keep the more serious matters to a later moment.

The princess looks at the door of the bedchamber with an anxious smile before gently knocking on it.

Suddenly, Helaena hears something that she knows very well. The excited scream of Jaehaerys.

"Muña! Muña! Muña!" The boy screams from inside the chamber and even his loud steps can be heard as he runs to the door. Helaena feels a bit conflicted between being worried and finding it cute.

And then, they hear the whispers of a handmaid trying to handle the little prince so she can open the door. Helaena frowns at Maris.

"How did he guess it was me? Was it the way I knocked on the door?" The princess asks, curious. Maris looks at her with hesitation before sighing.

"If you keep making the same guess every time, you are more likely to be right once." The lady-in-waiting says in a distant tone, moving her eyes to the door. Helaena's eyes get wide as she understands the implications. She tries to restrain her bad emotions when the door opens slightly.

A brown-haired handmaid moves her head to look outside and her eyes get wide after seeing Helaena. She quickly opens the doors.

"Welcome, princess." The woman quickly says moving out of the way and letting a certain person walk forward with an unsteady pace.

Jaehaerys opens a large smile as he runs to his mother with open arms.

"Muña!" The prince screams as he hugs one of the legs of his mother with his tiny arms. Helaena feels her heart melting before she reaches for her son and takes him in her arms.

The young mother hugs the boy as firmly as she can, feeling the strong connection that she shares with her children.

"Muña missed you, my sweet little prince." The princess whispers, gently stroking the golden-silver hair of her son before moving him to look at his face, seeing his bright purple eyes that refuse to look away from her. She opens a short smile. "Did you behave well?"

Jaehaerys firmly nods, still looking at her while he moves a hand to his mouth, biting the skin of his scar. Helaena moves his hand away from his mouth before entering the bedchamber with her son still in her arms.

The princess sees two other handmaids there, taking care of the other children. They see her and bow in respect. Helaena smiles slightly.

"All of you are dismissed for now. We can handle them until dinner." The princess proclaims in a firm tone. The handmaids nods before they quickly leave the chamber.

Helaena moves her eyes to her only daughter, who is looking at her own image on a mirror, touching the glass to explore her reflection.

Jaehaera always was a very... unusual girl, but she is a sweet girl in her own way. Her smiles are rare, but that makes them precious.

"Era..." The princess calls in a low tone. Her daughter moves her head towards her mother. Her eyes shine with curiosity as she walks to Helaena.

Jaehaera is wearing a cute pink dress and her golden-silver hair flows freely, only being kept in place by a small tie. Her curious purple eyes look at the soft gaze of her mother.

"Muña..." The young princess says, looking at her mother with a shy gaze. Helaena smiles and gently touches the cheek of her daughter with her free hand.

"Hello my sweet princess." The young mother says before tickling her daughter's cheek with her fingers. Jaehaera giggles a bit and moves her face away, still showing a short smile that Helaena loves to look at.

Jaehaerys pulls his mother's hair with one hand to get her attention back. Helaena looks at her eldest son, seeing the jealous pout in his face. She smirks.

"Don't be greedy, Rys. Your siblings love muña just as much as you do." The princess says in a soft tone. Jaehaerys crosses his arms and frowns while keeping his pout.

"No! My muña!" The prince proclaims, stubborn. Helaena sighs before she has an idea.

"No behaving, no kiss from Muña." The princess says to her son with a sly smile on her face.

The pout and the frown of Jaehaerys fade away right after, making Helaena laugh and kiss the nose of her son, making him giggle.

"Good boy!" The princess says before carefully putting Jaehaerys on the ground. "Now, go play with your sister and let muña do what muña needs to do." The princess says in a gentle tone. Jaehaerys seems sad for a moment, but he nods and walks to Jaehaera, holding her hand and taking her to the pile of toys nearby.

Helaena smiles. She finds their connection very cute. Even when they are basically opposites, the twins are still able to interact with each other very well, as if they naturally understand how the other thinks. She wonders if they would make a good married couple one day.

And then, the princess hears the giggles of one more child that makes her heart get warm once again. Helaena turns around to look at the nearby cradle to see her youngest child looking at her.

Maelor is seated on the border of his cradle, looking at his mother with his large eyes and  waving his hand through the wooden bars.

Helaena walks to the cradle and carefully takes her babe in her arms, hugging him and kissing his cheek.

"Muña missed you too, little one! Every day that I don't hear your laugh is a sad day for me." The princess says to her second son in an affectionate tone. Maelor looks at her face before touching her face with his tiny hand and giggling.

"Mumu..." The prince mutters in an early attempt to say muña. Helaena smiles at him.

"You are almost there, dear." The princess says before taking his hand from her face and kissing it, making giggle again.

Still standing by Helaena's side during her moment with the children, Maris ends her silence.

"I think that Maelor know the right name of some things, but he struggles to say them properly. He is also struggling to walk because he is too used to use his hands to move around. However, we don't need to be worried. He didn't even get his first nameday yet, so he still has a lot of time to learn." The lady-in-waiting says in an honest tone. Helaena nods before looking at her son, who is looking at Maris with a curious gaze after hearing her voice. The only daughter of the Red King smirks and looks back to her friend.

"I am getting tired of holding children, Mari. Why don't you hold Maelor for me?" The princess asks, already giving the babe to Maris before she can answer. The lady-in-waiting struggles for a moment, but manages to hold Maelor in her arms.

The youngest of the Reds keeps looking at Maris with curiosity, touching her face and hair with his tiny hands and making babe sounds with his mouth. Maris frowns at Helaena.

"Did you have to be so hasty? Ouch!" The lady asks, but she is suddenly surprised by Maelor pulling her hair a bit. He lets it go when Maris looks at him with a cold gaze. Helaena laughs.

"Sorry, but I just love seeing you a little surprised and out of place. Besides, it's always cute to see you fighting against the audacity of my babes, like a good aunt always does." The princess says in a playful tone. Maris snorts.

Suddenly, the door opens and someone enters the chamber.

Someone that never fails to make Helaena's heart get as warm as the deepest parts of the Dragonmont.

Her love.

Her Aegon.

The Prince of Dragonstone meets the eyes of his wife and smiles with affection, relaxing his previously tense shoulders.

Helaena smiles back at him, feeling like her world just became a bit brighter after seeing his face.

Without a word, Aegon walks towards his wife and hugs her as tight as he can.

Helaena hugs her husband back, enjoying the feeling of his arms around her and the unique warmth of his body.

And then she lets out a short scream when Aegon raises her from the ground and spins while holding her by the waist. She frowns at him in a playful way.

"Aegon! Don't do that so suddenly!" The princess declares, smiling a bit even in this situation. Aegon smirks.

The smirk that is only his.

The smirk that Helaena loves.

"Sorry. I couldn't resist the urge to celebrate the love of my life. And... there is one more thing that I can't resist..." The prince says in a low tone before moving his wife to the ground and claiming her lips in a passionate kiss.

Helaena lets out a surprised moan, but quickly wraps her arms around the neck of her husband, kissing him back with all the endless love and desire that she has for that man.

She could spend hours enjoying the taste of Aegon's lips and the firm touch of his hands on her skin, but her old shyness would never allow such a thing to happen in front of others. Especially their children, who are too small to fully understand what they are doing.

Blushing and struggling for air, Helaena keeps her hands around her husband's neck and looks directly at his eyes. Aegon laughs a bit.

"Your lips are better than any wine in this world, you know?" The prince asks in a playful tone, but Helaena can see the honesty in his eyes. She smiles at him with pure affection.

"Hold back, my love. This is not the time for this and you know it well." The princess says in a soft tone, trying to calm down the desires of her husband. Aegon snorts and gently lets her go.

However, the prince frowns when he looks at her neck. Helaena feels anxious, knowing that Aegon just saw the red marks in her neck.

However, Helaena shows hesitation through her eyes when they look at each other. Aegon slowly nods, understanding the message.

They will talk later.

Thanks, Maris sighs in relief and saves the mood.

"I was a bit worried that I would need to take the children out of the chamber. Sometimes, the two of you act like dogs in heat." The lady-in-waiting provokes with a short smirk. Helaena blushes and Aegon smirks back at the Baratheon lady.

"Our marriage can be intense at times, but it is all under control." The prince declares with confidence. Maris raises an eyebrow and crosses her arms.

"Most of the time." The lady adds in a calm tone. Aegon snorts, but remains in silence because of the lack of a proper answer.

Helaena blushes even harder than before, remembering the moments where she and Aegon went over the limit while... expressing their love.

Thankfully, the matter changes when Aegon approaches Maris to see Maelor. The father smiles at his second son.

"You look very happy today, little one. It's because your mother is here, isn't it?" The prince asks with a playful smile before tickling the belly of the babe, making him giggle and shake his tiny arms around. Aegon laughs.

Helaena smiles with that, appreciating how much of an affectionate father Aegon truly is. It is especially surprising coming from a man that has Daemon Targaryen as his father.

The princess looks towards the large window, observing as the sun slowly fades away in the horizon and the night comes. She sighs.

"Days come and days go. I still remember playing with bugs when I was little. Life was much simpler back then. Now, we have so many responsibilities and the good things seem to last so little." The princess says in a melancholic tone, still looking at the sky through the window. Maris slowly nods and moves to stand by the side of her friend, showing support while still carrying Maelor in her arms.

"Time may pass, but we are still here. We need to enjoy the time we have instead of regretting the time we lost. Make more good memories, so that we can one day die with a smile on our face. That is the meaning of life for me." The lady-in-waiting says in an honest tone, looking at her friend with her intense blue eyes. Helaena smiles at Maris.

"It is a beautiful way of thinking, Mari. I think that you are right." The princess says before moving her eyes to Maelor and gently holding one of his tiny hands with some of her fingers, admiring the innocence in his eyes.

And then, she feels Aegon gently laying his hands around her waist before hugging her from behind.

"We will live every second we have in the best way possible. Intensely." The prince says before kissing the top of his wife's head.

Helaena sighs and smiles with affection, enjoying the sweet words of the ones that care about her. The ones that live in her heart.

The princess looks to the sky once again, but the melancholy in her thoughts are gone.

Only hope remains.

As it should be.

---

After spending a few hours with her family and eating some things to delay their hunger, the young couple and their loyal lady-in-waiting were finally called to dinner at the throne room.

Helaena firmly holds the arm of her brother-husband while they walk through the hallways of the Red Keep with Maris by their side.

Thankfully, she had enough time to take a bath and put on a modest dress that was comfortable enough for her tired body, but much more fitting for a princess than her hunting clothes.

She is also grateful that the red marks in her neck are almost gone by now. Hopefully, no one else will notice it.

The three young adults stand in front of the huge doors of the throne room and make respectful bows to the two members of the kingsguard who are standing by the side of the door almost like statues.

The two white knights open the heavy doors and they are finally able to enter the throne room.

The chamber is mostly dark, as it usually is during the night. Several torches are all over the place to bring some light, especially around the big table in front of the Iron Throne.

The three of them approach the table and meet the rest of the royal family.

In the middle of the table there is a larger chair that is closer to the Iron Throne. The seat of the King. The seat of Daemon Targaryen.

Helaena looks at her father, seeing the dark red clothes that he usually wears, but with many golden details and the golden three headed dragon that he chooses to represent their side. He is also using a blood red cloak over his clothes and the crown of Aegon the Conqueror remains on top of his head as a permanent reminder of who he is.

Daemon has an observative gaze in his serious eyes, almost like he is trying to see if something happened to his children. Helaena just hopes that he doesn't notice the weakened red marks in her neck. They don't need this kind of drama right now.

Helaena looks to the side of her father to see her mother. She is using another red dress that is a bit more on the elegant side than the last one. The queen consort looks at her children with the short smile of someone that truly appreciates their arrival.

Sitting by the side of Alicent is Viserys, which surprises Helaena. He might be above the children of his age, but he is still young to hear what might be said here.

Sitting next to Viserys is Ser Otto Hightower, who looks at three that just arrived with a thoughtful gaze that is similar to Daemon's gaze, but much more restrained and calm, showing the vast experience of a man that remained as Hand of the King for decades. Something that old age is unable to take away from him.

On the other side of the Red King's seat is Aemond. The second son moves his lonely eye to them for a few seconds before looking back at his plate. He is clearly more interested in his own thoughts. Helaena wonders if he is worried about the duty that he will need to accomplish soon.

Standing outside of the table is Ser Criston Cole. As the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, he is guarding the royal family. However, he is also the Master of the Armies now. The leader of the royal armies that were built by Daemon and Otto over the years. So, he will certainly hear everything that is said in this chamber with a lot of attention.

The three that just arrived bows in respect to the King and the rest of the royal family before taking their seats. Helaena smiles at all of them, especially her father.

"It is good to return home." The princess says in a soft tone. Daemon nods and looks at his daughter with a calm gaze.

"It is good to see you returned safely, my daughter. However, I cannot deny my interest in knowing what happened in Highgarden." The Red King proclaims in a firm tone, looking directly at Helaena's eyes. She slowly nods.

"Of course, but can we get the food first? I am starving." The princess asks in an honest tone. The King nods, understanding her need.

"The food will arrive at any moment." The father declares. Helaena nods before moving her eyes to her one-eyed brother with a lot of curiosity and a modest smile.

"It is good to see you as well, Aemond. You and Ser Criston have been very busy with the troops, right?" The princess asks in a gentle tone. Aemond frowns slightly before nodding.

"Indeed. Preparing the troops in such a short amount of time is not an easy task, even with all the preparations that were made by father and grandfather over the years." The prince explains in a dry tone, seemingly still focused on his own thoughts. Helaena nods before looking at her grandfather with a gentle smile on her face.

"Grandfather, I assume the last few days have been stressful for you, haven't they? I can't even imagine the number of letters you must have written since the coronation." The princess declares in a gentle tone. Otto's gaze gets a bit softer.

"Everything I have achieved in my life has been through hard work, sweet girl. The last few days have been tiring, but I don't care. I have prepared myself for these days a long time ago to start complaining at the most important moment. My will is much stronger than the tiredness of my old body." The Hand of the King says in a firm tone filled with a stern conviction. Helaena smiles a bit, satisfied by his declaration.

Soon after, several servants emerge from the entrance of the throne room, bringing many kinds of food that fill the table. Helaena quickly fills her plate and starts to eat to put an end to her hunger.

However, as the family eats, the Red King decides to end the silence. He looks at his daughter with a firm gaze.

"How did the negotiations with Lady Tyrell go?" The Red King asks in a serious tone. Helaena takes a sip of wine to help her swallow the food in her mouth before she looks at her father with a firm gaze, trying to ignore the bad feeling in her chest. Now, she will face her own failure.

"Lady Tyrell was very serious and formal from the beginning of our conversation, which made me wary. After she read the letter, my fears were proven correct. She has no interest in supporting us or Rhaenyra. Her desire is to stay out of all conflicts and kneel to whoever wins. Her vassals will make their own choice, however." The princess explains in an honest tone.

Silence reigns in the chamber when everyone moves their eyes to Helaena. Some of them frown, getting worried about what it could mean to their side.

Daemon frowns at his daughter with clear frustration before resting his back on the chair, thinking.

"Sadly, the Tyrells and their short lineage don't have a daughter to offer as a marriage prospect for Maelor or Viserys. It would be ideal because Jaehaera is not an option. Marrying twins to each other is an old valyrian tradition and Jaehaera is a dragonrider. She is not marrying outside of our family." The Red King proclaims in a dry tone. Helaena sighs and looks at her father with a hesitant gaze.

"Even if we had the opportunity to form a marriage alliance, she would not accept it." The princess says in a firm tone.

Silence reigns once more. Daemon frowns at his daughter, confused and frustrated.

"Why not?" The Red King asks in a gruff tone. Helaena takes a deep breath and keeps looking at her father despite her anxiety.

"She hates me."

The words of the princess make everyone in the chamber surprised. Daemon frowns harder, getting even more confused before he seemingly understands something.

The Red King grunts in frustration while resting his back in his chair.

"It is because of the late Lord Tyrell, isn't it? The one who had an interest in marrying you?" The father asks in a dry tone. Helaena nods before looking at her own hands, which she keeps over the table.

"He had more than an interest in me. From the letter I received from him and the words of his wife, it was clear that he had an obsession that affected his health and that of everyone around him. Lady Tyrell blames me for her miserable marriage and the death of the husband she loved since childhood." The princess says in an increasingly sad tone. Daemon grunts in frustration and firmly strokes his forehead as he thinks in silence.

Helaena is surprised by an arm around her shoulders. She looks to the side and sees Aegon looking at her with a reassuring gaze.

"Geryn Tyrell was a man with a sick mind and full of delusions. His family is already paying the price for it. We must not do the same. Don't feel bad for them, Lena." The prince declares in a firm tone, seemingly restraining his anger towards the Tyrells. Helaena slowly nods before sighing.

"Maybe you are right, but feelings are not easy to deal with." The princess declares in an honest tone, still feeling the cold sadness in her chest when she thinks about the Tyrells and all the bad events surrounding them.

For a moment, the princess feels an itch on her neck that sends shivers down her spine, something that makes her scared and even more sad.

How could someone as cunning as Brianne Hewett completely lose her sanity in so few years?

She will never understand that.

Daemon takes a deep breath and looks at his daughter once again after he is done with his thoughts.

"Forget about the Tyrell whore. We have more plans to make. Did you find Daeron in Highgarden?" The Red King asks in a firm tone, frowning. Helaena finds some relief when she nods in confirmation.

"I did. He remained in Highgarden for a bit longer than his retinue did. I told him about what happened here and gave him the order to return to Oldtown and help the Hightower army to march north." The princess explains, feeling more confident. Daemon nods, seemingly pleased by that information.

"Good. Aemond will march towards Harrenhal in two days. Aegon will need to move to his destination around the same time. We need to keep moving." The Red King proclaims, looking at Helaena and Aegon with a serious gaze.

Helaena looks at her husband, naturally worried about him taking another step into that war. Aegon holds her shoulder and smiles a bit, comforting her.

However, Helaena can see a bit of sadness in the eyes of her husband before he looks at their father with a firm gaze.

"Lord Borros has yet to advance his troops for fear of a sudden attack in Storm's End coming from the new Vulture King that emerged recently. A dangerous man that Borros wants to take down before anything else. Wouldn't it be better for me to go there to deal with this problem?" The prince asks. Daemon snorts.

"Dealing with the Dornish is always difficult. They will use dirty tactics and drag out the conflict until we grow weary. We cannot leave a dragon there for several moons. This is a problem Borros will have to deal with alone." The Red King proclaims in a dry tone. Aegon frowns, displeased by his father's decision. Helaena looks at him with a sad gaze.

Borros Baratheon is a good friend of Aegon. Someone that he trusts and really cares about. Not being allowed to help his old friend certainly bothers the Prince of Dragonstone.

Helaena looks to her other side and sees the worried and thoughtful gaze of Maris, who is staring at the table. She is certainly thinking about her family and their safety.

The princess moves her eyes back to her husband, who sighs and accepts his fate.

"Where do I go then?" The prince asks in a dry tone. Daemon takes a deep breath and frowns at his son.

"You will fly to the Westerlands and meet the Lannister army, which will be marching towards the Riverlands. You will probably find them already on their way north. We received a letter from Lord Lannister early this morning and he said that his first army was mostly ready, but that he needed a dragon. You will help his army to deal with rebellious lords and march towards Riverrun. With both Harrenhal and Riverrun in our control, the Riverlands will bow to us in no time and we will be able to destroy any attack coming from the Vale or the North." The Red King explains in a serious tone. Aegon slowly nods before taking a deep breath.

"Well, Lord Jason Lannister was nice to us when we met him in Casterly Rock. It could be much worse, right Lena?" The prince asks his wife with a short smile on his face. Helaena smiles back and firmly holds his free hand.

"I hope so." The princess says in a gentle tone, trying to restrain her emotional side. She knew that both of them would need to fight for their family, but the thought is still scary for her.

Helaena looks at her mostly empty plate and yawns, feeling tired after a long day. Seeing that, Aegon looks to their father.

"Anything else? I want to take Helaena back to our bedchamber." The prince asks in a formal tone. Daemon frowns for a moment, thinking.

"You two can leave. I just want Helaena to know that she will remain here, patrolling the nearby lands with me. Keeping Caraxes and Dreamfyre in King's Landing is the safety measure that we need for now before we can take our next step. Do you understand, my daughter?" The Red King asks, looking at Helaena with a firm gaze. Helaena nods, looking at the eyes of her father.

She is relieved by her father's choice. At least she will be able to remain close to her children by following those orders.

"As you wish, father." The princess says in an honest tone. Daemon sighs and waves his hand.

"You two are free to go." The King proclaims in a dry tone before looking at his plate to continue to eat. Helaena and Aegon stand together.

The princess looks at everyone at the table, receiving nods from some and smiles from others. The couple bow to their family before leaving the throne room.

Helaena holds Aegon's arm as they keep walking through the dark hallways in complete silence.

Both of them are lost in their own thoughts about duty and fear.

The princess firmly holds her husband's hand, finding a bit of peace in his warmth.

---

After arriving at their bedchamber, Helaena changed her dress for a purple nightgown made of silk and freed her long golden-silver hair from any braid, letting it fall over her back.

The princess lays with Aegon on the bed, moving her hand over his loose shirt to feel the warmth of his chest. She looks up and meets his affectionate eyes staring at her with something close to devotion. That makes her smile and get a bit shy.

"When you look at me like that, I feel like the most beautiful woman in the world." The princess whispers in a soft tone. Aegon laughs a bit.

"I look at you this way because you truly are the most beautiful woman in this world, Lena." The prince whispers back in a passionate tone as he keeps looking at her. And then, his eyes move down and he frowns slightly. Helaena knows that he is looking at her neck. She looks away from his eyes, unsure of what she should say now.

Aegon gently moves one of his hands to her neck, gently stroking the red marks in her skin. The princess frowns a bit when he touches her there. For a moment she remembered the pain she felt. Aegon notices that and looks at her with a worried gaze.

“What happened to you?” The prince asks in a low tone. Helaena hesitates for a moment, but she sighs in the end. Aegon deserves to know the truth, even if she wants to forget such a memory.

“Geryn’s mother didn’t take the sad fate of her son very well. She lost her mind and… did this to me.” The princess says, resisting a sudden urge to cry as she looks down. However, Aegon carefully holds her chin and makes her look at his eyes.

She sees the rage burning in his eyes, but Aegon is not letting it control him because his eyes are focused on her.

“I am tired of these Tyrell whores. Hurting someone like you should be a sin punished by death.” The prince says in a firm tone, gently moving his fingers through Helaena’s neck, sending shivers through her body. She sighs.

“Aegon…”

The prince presses a finger on her mouth and smiles a bit, getting her attention.

“Let me relieve a bit of that pain for you.” The prince says before gently kissing his wife’s neck. Helaena feels more shivers going down her body. He kisses another spot on her neck and the same happens.

Aegon kisses each one of the light red spots in her neck before moving up and claiming her lips in a kiss.

Helaena feels herself melting during the kiss. She firmly holds her husband's face as their tongues dance together. It is filled with affection, but not consumed by it. It is pure in essence.

When the kiss comes to an end, Helaena sighs and presses her head against Aegon's chest, letting him hug her and gently stroke her long hair.

The princess hears the soothing sound of her husband's heart and opens a sad smile. Her heart sinks inside her chest.

She needs to say what she feels while she can.

"I will miss you a lot. I will miss your voice, your touch, and your lips. I will miss the loving way you care for our children. I will miss the warmth of your body when I go to sleep and I will miss it when I wake up as well. I will pray for you every single night until you return to me." The princess says in an emotional tone as she looks up to her husband with teary eyes.

Aegon looks at her with an intense gaze filled with both love and fear that he seemingly can't restrain anymore once his eyes get teary as well.

"Spending even a day away from you brings emptiness to my soul, but I know we have no other choice. We must fight and hope that all the suffering will be worth it in the end. We need to believe that the days we spend apart from each other will be made up for by the decades we will happily spend together. Until peace comes, I want you to remember one thing, Helaena Targaryen." The prince whispers in a voice filled with passion, firmly holding his wife against his warm body. Helaena feels her heart beating faster inside her chest as she stares at Aegon's eyes with unquestionable affection.

"What?" The princess asks in a weak voice, too consumed by emotions to say anything else.

Aegon pulls her even closer to him. Their faces are so close that she can feel the warmth of his breath.

And the words he says send shivers through her whole body.

"I love you, bug lady."

Helaena can't resist the tears that fall from her eyes. She throws her arms around Aegon's neck and kisses him with all the love in her heart.

A kiss that says more than a million words.

This kiss is unlike any other. A kiss full of love and desperation. Two lovers who live every second as if it were their last.

Helaena doesn't want this moment to end. She wants it to last until the end of time.

Aegon holds Helaena by the waist and moves her to be beneath him, ending their kiss. The couple look at each other with a passionate gaze as they struggle to get air.

Helaena can hear her heart beating, but she doesn't care. She wants more. She needs more.

The princess gently holds the face of her husband and opens a sad smile.

"I don't care about sleep. The only thing I want tonight is you, my bright sun. I want a night to be remembered." The princess proclaims with love and desire running through her body.

Aegon smiles, melting what was left of Helaena's heart.

"As you wish, my sweet moon." The prince says in a low tone before kissing his wife’s neck.

Helaena moans and throws her arms and legs around Aegon, letting their love burn hotter and brighter than ever before tonight.

A night of love.

A night to forget the pain.

A night that will only end with the rise of the sun.

A night that means much more than Helaena can possibly imagine.

---