Chapter 138: The Ambition of Return
"Laena, calm down," Rhaenyra said, understanding her friend's distress. "The children will return to King's Landing, and naturally, as their mother, you can follow, care for, and be with them."
This arrangement had been part of the initial plan she and Rhaegar had devised.
The presence of a strong dragon rider and two new Targaryen heirs would be in the royal family's best interest.
Laena's frown deepened, her eyes flickering with mixed emotions. She understood Rhaenyra's reasoning, but it didn't make the situation any easier.
Her children were indeed Targaryens by blood, born into the royal family.
"Wait," Daemon interjected, frowning and resting his chin on his hand. "When discussing the future of my daughters, shouldn't my opinion count?"
Rhaenyra glanced at him with a bemused expression, unwilling to engage. In her eyes, Daemon's words carried no weight.
"Prince Daemon, you are a wanted criminal of the kingdom," Lyonel said, his face furious. "Allowing you to sit at this table is already a courtesy for Princess Rhaenys's sake."
"It's ridiculous that you're fighting over my daughters and yet won't allow me, their father, to voice my opinion?" Daemon mocked, leaning down to kiss his daughters' cheeks.
"Daemon, what is your true purpose for being here?" Rhaegar demanded, his patience wearing thin. Daemon's sudden appearance was too suspicious to ignore.
The room fell silent as everyone turned to Daemon, curiosity and skepticism in their eyes. Returning home seemed impossible for him. Since his betrayal, he lost his position.
Daemon's arrogance melted away as he bowed his head and looked at his daughters. After years of wandering through the Free Cities, he was uncertain about what to do next.
He and Laena, with their unbeatable dragons, were in high demand. Princes, nobles, and wealthy merchants were eager to offer them estates and riches.
Daemon knew this was just a business transaction. He couldn't suppress his pride and submit to a foreign kingdom for wealth, using dragon power in exchange for comfort.
He was of dragon blood, a pure Targaryen. The people of the Free Cities were unworthy of his service.
In his dreams, he often recalled the glory of old Valyria, where the Free Cities once belonged. Those fat-bellied fools should have been slaves to the House of the Dragonlords.
He then warned Daemon, "As for you, you'd better leave before the feast is over."
"Well said. Targaryen has no shortage of bloodthirsty men," Rhaenys, who had been watching silently, applauded. She then glanced at Daemon, her expression stern. "Daemon, adjust your attitude. No one is indispensable."
She was reminding Daemon that if he wanted forgiveness, he needed to humble himself and seek Viserys's mercy, not negotiate with the younger generation.
Daemon, anticipating rejection, remained silent. He knew he should have approached his brother Viserys to make peace, even if it meant risking his life. Anything was better than wasting his time here.
Once again, the atmosphere dropped to a freezing point.
Laena nudged her husband, urging him to leave. Daemon, however, remained seated, defiant.
"Rhaenyra, I won't leave my children," Laena asserted, "but I'll consider your offer carefully."
Rhaenyra reiterated her proposal. "If you are not sure, I can adopt the children myself."
"But you're not married," Laena pointed out.
"It doesn't matter," Rhaenyra replied with a slight smile. "I have Dragonstone as my fiefdom, and I am qualified to adopt a daughter. As their adoptive mother, I will place dragon eggs in their cradles."
"Dragon eggs..." Laena was a bit taken aback by the mention of such a precious gift.
Restoring her children's royal status was important, but securing dragon eggs was equally critical. Several dragons resided on Driftmark. Vhagar, the Mother of Dragons, had laid many eggs. Dreamfyre, Vermithor, and Silverwing were her direct descendants.
Though by the time Laena tamed Vhagar, she was too old to lay more eggs. Sea Smoke and Caraxes had never laid eggs.
Meleys, known as the Red Queen, had a connection to egg-laying due to her distinctive red scales, but the royal family controlled all her eggs strictly, taking them all.
To place dragon eggs in her daughters' cradles, Laena knew she had to seek the royal family's forgiveness and secure the eggs from them. This was a rare opportunity, and Rhaenyra's offer was tempting.