Return To War (Page 88)

~~~(POV: Raenon Targaryen)~~~

~~~(Location: Open Area Near Castle, Narrow Sea, Dragonstone)~~~

~~~(Current Age: 18 Years)~~~

~~~(Date: 302 AC)~~~

"How long until you leave..."

The question reverberates in my mind over and over. Bouncing around. I stare off into the ocean with Dany at my side. She's watching me closely for any reactions that could tell her what my answer is.

Holding out hope that I'm not leaving soon.

Breaking the hearts of the people I love aren't things I enjoy doing. Disappointing them with the answers they don't want.

But as the head of House Targaryen and a Father. I have my duty. I'm not longer the most important person in our House anymore. The bloodline has been reborn and reforged. Dany and I rule now, but the time will come when we won't.

"Rae... How long..."

My enduring silence forces Dany to move a step closer. Her voice is shaking and her hands find their way on my chest. I slowly turn my head to look at her and see the tears forming.

"Now."

Instantly closing hers and on the verge of crying. Leaving this time is different. I don't know when I'm coming back. I don't know when I'll see my family again. For Dany and Mary, they knew I was coming back for the twins' birth.

They knew when I was coming. But now, that's changed. When I leave on Rhaenys, it could be a month or a year before I see them.

Her shaking chin and pouty lips aren't a sight I see often. She chokes out a few almost silent cries. Doing her damndest not to look weak in front of me. Instead of saying anything, I wrap my arms around her. Gently rocking her side to side.

"You'll have to be strong for everyone here, Dany. Mary will need you. I don't know when I'll see you again, but you'll never be far from my thoughts."

As the words slowly and calmly leave me, I feel her arms tighten around me. We've been together since Essos. We've built our House from the ground up. Armies, allies, and wealth. Just the two of us.

Going through that with someone you love creates a powerful bong. We're brother and sister. Husband and Wife. And parents.

"I don't want you to go..."

Her voice is weepy and croaky. The life we have will be one that secures the future of our family.

The life we had lived before the one now...

That's one that'll always be special.

The wood shack we build in the Qohor Forest... I miss that more and more...

"Oh, my Dragoness... My Queen... My sister..."

My hand glides through her long white-gold locks. Never catching on a single strand of hair. She buries her head deeper in my chest. Listening to my heart and breathing as she does.

"I have to."

Those three words have a great effect on Dany. This is the weakest I've ever seen my twin sister. The weakest she's ever let me see her. She's always been strong. But in this moment, it's okay. She needs to let it out.

If she doesn't, it'll eat her up from the inside until the day I see her again.

As she regains strength in her legs, she's able to stand on her own feet again. After breaking apart from our hug, we look into each other's eyes. Hers are red and puffy from crying. Strings of hair slightly hang from her head over her eyes.

"Promise me..."

She does this every time. Whenever a time I could lose my life comes around, I have to make impossible promises. My thumb gently caresses her cheek. Wiping away the tears and their trails as I do.

"Promise me that'll you come back..."

Her eyes bounce back and forth as they stare into mine. Searching for an answer before I can give one.

"I can't."

She diverts her eyes for a split second and looks back at me angrily.

"How dare you."

The fury in her voice almost matches her sadness. The tone isn't loud or forceful. It's a mixture of powerful and hasty. Her face begins quivering and shaking as she struggles to hide her pain from me.

I've never faced an opponent like Tywin Lannister before. He knows how warfare works. More than any enemy I've faced. I've beaten my brother. I've taken Freedom Bay. I burned Braavos to the ground.

But all of that.

It was against men who sat on thrones with nothing but fat bellies and beautiful women.

When I came to Westeros, I faced Stannis. But he had lost so much of his strength already from fighting his wars with the Lannisters.

"How dare you say that to me!"

Her voice comes out as a growl with her teeth clenched. Tears still streaming from her eyes like there is no tomorrow. I don't want our nameday to end in sorrow, but there is no other option.

"I dare not lie to you, sister."

The anger melts away, and her eyes widen slightly. Searching for an explanation within my features.

"I will take back the Iron Throne in our name. In our children's name. But Tywin will have a plan. If I survive that, I don't know. If I need to die so our family rises, I will."

SLAAAP!

She immediately lifts her hand and harshly impacts her open palm against my face. But as I turn with a surprised expression, she throws her arms around me and takes me into a deep kiss.

Instead of thinking about the slap, I just sink into the moment. Wrapping my arm around her, and holding her close. Our lips move with passion and aggression, but we start to slowly calm our movement after a few seconds.

We pull apart for air and lean our foreheads together as I hold her in my arms off the ground.

Her hand comes up and gently rests where she slapped me.

"I'll never forgive you if you don't come home to me."

Her voice is a whisper, and she steps away as we pull apart. I close my eyes, and after a second, Rhaenys makes her way over to us from her place in the sky. She lands with a perfect landing, and the ground rumbles as does.

I make my way over to Rhaenys, and I climb atop the large leather saddle. Looking down at Dany as she wipes the tears from her eyes. I turn my attention to the sky.

"Sōvegon Rhaenys."

The words come out easy and precise.

RRRRRRRHHHHHHHHAAAAAAGGGGGGGG!!!

My she-dragon releases an Earth-shaking war as she starts running and flapping her wings. After a few seconds, we're flying in the sky. Heading toward Westeros.

To my armies.

To my enemies.

To my Throne.

~~~(POV: Daenerys Targaryen)~~~

~~~(Location: Castle, Narrow Sea, Dragonstone)~~~

~~~(Current Age: 18 Years)~~~

~~~(Date: 302 AC)~~~

The listlessness in my steps is seen by all as I walk down the hall back to Margaery's room. My brother has left back to the war to reclaim what was taken from us. Taken from our family long ago.

But I'd stop this pursuit for a crown.

For a Throne.

If it just meant that he could stay and we be a family...

Jae... Aly... Daenys... Rhaella and Rhaegar...

Mary...

Me...

My time as a Mother has softened me... I remember the time I wanted to be my Rae's side in combat, but that changed when I became pregnant with Aly...

We both realized it wasn't about our best interests anymore. It was about our children. The family we leave behind.

The thought of him not being a part of...

I have to stop and lean against a wall. Taking deep breaths as I do. I don't know how long I stay like this, but after a while I see a figure standing in the middle of the hall ahead of me.

Our eyes lock, and I can see the sad expression on her. She's as heartbroken as I am.

"He's left, hasn't he..."

After pushing myself off the wall, I make my way over to her and wrap my sister in a hug. The only people we have now are each other.

"He didn't even say goodbye to me..."

All I can do is hug Mary harder as she cries. Rae has made it clear that, above all else, getting the Iron Throne back takes priority.

Even over saying goodbye to one of his wives.

I know that he's doing it for the good of the family, but it still hurts.

"C'mon, let's get something to eat. I need something in my stomach before I lay down."

The need for sleep is starting to weigh on me. Mary and I pull apart and we make our way to the room. Freshly made food is soon made and brought to us. It's just the two of us as we silently eat. There is no awkwardness since we're both too lost in our own heads.

My hand gently glides down to my navel. Making small circles and strokes. Rae and I had a chance to be intimate on the balcony.

I'm not sure if a child will come from it, but I can hope.