Elaena watched as her mother walked through the council room doors. She had many knights around her. Elaena could tell her mother was nervous, she would he too. It was her mothers first day as queen.

"Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen, first of her name. Queen of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the first men. Lady of the seven seas, and protector of the realm." Daemon announced and they all bowed their heads respectively.

"Your grace" Daemon said as Rhaenyra stood at the entrance.

Rhaena walked over to her "Wine, my queen?" She asked her with a smile, and Rhaenyra took the cup.

"Thank you rhaena, come" She told her, nodding for Baela to join them at the table as well.

The two Velaryos stood at the table, and Elaena sent them both a small smile, to which they reciprocated.

"What is our standing?" Rhaenyra asked after a moment of silence.

"We have thirty knights, a hundred crossbowmen and three hundred men at arms. Dragonstone is relatively easy to defend, but as an instrument of conquest, our army leaves a lot to be desired. I have sent words to my royal men in the city watch. I'll have some support there, but I cannot speak to the numbers" Daemon explained.

"We already have declarations from celtigar and staunton, Massey, Darklyn, Bar Emmon" A maester told them.

Jacaerys walked over to collect some steel markers, before coming back to his spot beside Elaena and placing them on the placed where the maester had just named.

"My lady mother was an Arryn. The Vale will not cloak against their own kin" Rhaenyra added.

"Riverrun was also a close friend of your father, your grace. With prince Daemons acquiescence, I've already sent ravens to Lord Grover" The maester said.

Elanea took a marker from Jacaerys hand, sending him a small smile before leaning over the table, to place one down. When she looked back up and stood again she noticed Jacaerys looking at her, and licking his lips, making her laugh silently.

"Lord Grover is fickle and easily swayed. He will need to be convinced of the strength of our position. And that we will support him should it come to war" Rhaenyra said.

"I'm going to treat him with myself" Daemon announced.

Elaenas eyes snapped up, now sending the tension between her mother and uncle, and looked to Jacaerys who was already looking at her.

"What of storms end and winterfell?" A man asked.

"Here has never lived a stark who forgot an oath, and with House Stark the North will follow." A man said.

"Lord Borros Baratheon will need to be reminded of his father's promises" Rhaenyra said.

There was a moment of silence as more markers were placed on the large table that was also a map.

"What news from Driftmark?" Rhaenyra asked, turning around to Rhaenys.

"Lord Corlys sails for Dragonstone" Rhaenys said.

"To declare for his queen" Daemon spoke

"The Velaryon fleet is in my husbands yoke. He decides where they sail" Rhaenys said to Daemon.

"We shall pray for both you and your husbands support. Just as we prayed nightly for the sea snakes return to good health" Rhaenyra said.

"And our enemies?" Rhaenyra asked.

"We have no friends among the Lannister's. Tyland has served the hand too long to turn against him. And Otto Hightower needs the Lannister fleet" Daemon said.

"Without the Lannister's we are not like to find any allies west of the Golden Tooth" Rhaenyra said.

"No. The river lands are essential your grace" Daemon said staring at the ground.

"Pardon my bluntness your grace, but talk of men is moot. Your cause owns a power that has not been seen in this world since the days of old Valyria, Dragons." A man on the left said.

"The greens have dragons as well" Rhaenyra said but was cut off by her husband.

"They have three adults, by my count. We have syrax, caraxes, and meleys. Your sons have vermax, Arrax and Tyraxes. Elaena had pearl, whom is close is size with vhagar! Baela as well has moondancer" Daemon said.

"Daemon none of our dragons have been to war" Rhaenyra said.

"There are also unclaimed dragons. Sea smoke still resides on Driftmark. Vermithor silverwing dwell on the Dragonmount, still riderless. Then there are the three wild dragons, all whom of nest here. Cannibal, the biggest dragon I've even laid eyes on, nests here" Daemon said.

"And who is to ride them? Who would dare go near cannibal?" Rhaenyra laughed.

"Dragonstone had thirteen to their four. I also have a score of eggs incubating in the dragonmont. Now...we need a place to gather, a toehold large enough to house a sizeable host, here, at Harrenhal. We cut off the west, surround the kings landing with the dragons, and we could have every green head mounted on spikes before the fucking moon turns" Daemon said.

Elaena swallowed looking at Rhaenyras expression as she watched her husband act as if he was in charge, as if he was the king.

"Your grace, a ship has been sighted off shore, a long galleon, flying a banner of a three headed green dragon" a knight said.

"Alert the watchtowers, sight the skies" daemon said taking his sword.

__________________________________

Later that night they were all back in the council room. Otto Hightower had come to tell Rhaenyra that if she bent the knee to Aegon she'd get Dragonstone. She considered this offer, Daemon of course, did not.

"It is no easy thing for a man to be a dragonslayer. But dragons can kill dragons. And have. The simple truth is this. We have more dragons than Aegon." Daemon announced.

Viserys spoke often of the Valyrian histories. I know them well. When dragons flew to war, everything burned. I do not wish to rule over a kingdom of ash and bone" Rhaenyra told him.

"Are you considering the hightowers terms, your grace?" A man asked.

"As queen what is my true duty to the realm, lord Bartimos?" Rhaenyra asked.

"Ensuring peace and unity? Or that I sit the iron throne no matter the cost" Rhaenyra asked rhetorically.

"That's your father talking" Daemon muttered.

"My father is dead. And he chose me as his successor..to defend the realm, not cast it headlong into war"Rhaenyra said.

"The enemy have declared war! What are you going to do about it?!" Daemon yelled, making an uncomfortable silence overtake the room.

"Clear the room" Rhaenyra ordered.

Jacaerys took Elaenas hand in his own, leading her out the room with Lucerys with them.

Once they were out Elaena spoke "Daemon is acting a fool" she spat.

"I know" Jacaerys said with a sigh.

"Why must he always believe himself to be right?" Lucerys asked making them all sigh in unison.

"I think I shall go to bed" Elaena said, saying goodnight to her brothers.

Jacaerys watched her go before turning his head heading Lucerys snickering at him.

"What?!" Jacaerys yelled.

"Aren't you going to kiss her?" Lucerys teased his older brother, before smacking his back and heading off to his own room.

Jacaerys sighed, before running slightly to catch up with Elaena. "El!" He yelled seeing her at the end of the hall.

"Jace" she replied with a smile.

"Lucerys reminded me of something" he said with a smile.

"And what might that be, my prince?" She teased.

"I never kissed you" he said.

Before she had any chance to reply to him, he had leaned down and placed his lips upon hers, his hand going to her chin gently, the kiss lingering on slightly.

When he did eventually pull away Elaena laughed "Goodnight"

"Goodnight" Jacaerys answered her.

Just before he was about to turn and walk into his chambers, he saw her swallow nervously, looking like she wanted to say something else, but was to nervous to.

"What is it?" He asked placing his hands on her hips, giving her a knowing look.

"Could I maybe, it's ok if I can't, could I sleep with you tonight? It's just I feel like we could be attacked at any moment and I don't like being alone so-" she rambled.

"Lena, it's fine" he said kissing her head, before telling her to dress and come into his room when she was ready.

Around ten minutes later, she walked into his room, seeing him already in bed, and she ran up and jumped into the bed, landing on top of him as she laughed at his painful groan.

"What are you reading?" Elaena asked when she had placed her head on his chest.

"Some philology biography book I found in the library, I'm not really sure" he admitted.

"Read it to me?" She asked sweetly with a look.

"Alright" he said and began reading.

"Is it better to speak or to die? This question lingers in the minds of many, echoing the depths of human contemplation. To speak is to engage in the dance of words, to express thoughts, emotions, and desires. Yet, to die is to enter the realm of silence, where words hold no power but where peace may be found. The choice between speaking and silence, between life and death, is a profound reflection of the human experience. So I beg of you ask yourself, is it better to speak or to die?" Jacaerys read out loud.

"Is it better to speak or to die?" Elaena muttered to herself.

"To speak surely?" Jacaerys said.

"That is debatable" Elaena said with a teasing look on her face.

Jacaerys placed the book down, before turning over to her, kissing her forehead softly.

"If you ever feel afraid again, tell me" he ordered.

She nodded her head against his chest "I will jace, I promise"