For the past few days, Rhaenyra had disappeared. Both Jacaerys and Elaena were extremely for their mother. It wasn't like her to just leave without saying why.

They all stood at the council table, trying their best to continue their plans without their queen present.

"Ser Criston Coles host has taken to exploiting the tree cover, to conceal his movements. He now only travels by night, to confound our dragons" Elaena explained.

The last few days she had gone back to where she had found them in one of the fields, but each time she did, they were hidden in the trees. And she couldn't see them at nightfall.

"And what is Cole's heading?" Lord Celtigar asked.

Elaena sighed as she stood beside her husband "It is difficult to say, but there were signs of an army moving northwest, I believe" Elaena answered nervously.

She was trying to stay strong, and look like a good leader, but it was hard. She missed her mother and was very worried for her.

"She believes" one of the lords laughed.

Jacaerys saw this and glared, wanting to yell at the man for disrespecting his wife, but he held his tongue, knowing Elaena would only scold him for it.

"You should've burned them when you had the chance" Ser alfred said, making Elaena sigh and look down.

"Watch your tongue, ser" Jacaerys warned making Elaena give him a look.

"Perhaps you should, ser Alfred, when you next sight them on your dragon" Baela said making Elaena give her a smile of gratitude, as Rhaenys laughed softly.

"The only reason we know any of this, is because of Elaenas efforts" Jacaerys said staring coldly at Ser Alfred.

"What do we know, my prince? If you ask me, it is a little and less" One of the lords said.

"We know that Cole possesses a host that is growing in strength, and that is it a problem" Rhaenys said.

"Can Daemon hope to meet it with his own in time?" Lord Celtigar asked.

"I know he has more disentangling ahead of him than the end of a lyseni orgy" he added.

"Have you heard word from your father?" The maester asked, making everyone look at Baela.

She nodded her head "No"

Elaena saw her cousin with a sad look on her face and gently took her arm in her own, sending her a smile. Elaena then looked up to see Rhaenys smiling at her.

"Ravens were sent to Harrenhal. None yet have returned" the maester added.

"Just so, an enemy host growing in constitution, marches somewhere in the vastness of the crownlands" Ser Alfred began.

Elaena looked to her right to see Jacaerys with his hands on his sword, looking both angry and stressed. She put her arm around his side, leaning into him. He smiled down at her quickly as he placed an arm around her too.

"We could, perhaps act, if only we had a host of our own, or someone here to lead us" Ser alfred making Elaena swallow. His words reminding her that her mother was still missing. Jacaerys caught onto this and took his anger out on ser Alfred.

"Mind your tongue, ser Alfred" Jacaerys said looking at the older man.

"Does is speak falsely, my prince? This council, is rudderless" Ser alfred said, raising his voice at the end, staring daggers at Elaena and Jacaerys.

"I'm doing my best to steer it, Ser Alfred" Rhaenys said.

The man then stood, making Elaena widen her eyes in surprise. It is seen as rude for a member of council to stand in front of any royals.

"Why should your voice be any louder than ours, princess? The queen did not name you hand! It is her voice, and that of the king consort, that we need to raise our alliances, and command our vassals. But they are gone!" He yelled at the princess but was quickly cut off.

"What has come of this council?" Lord Corlys yelled making Elaena smile as Ser Alfred back down.

"My lord" He muttered nervously, as he sat down again.

"Our enemy, is on the march. Is there naught to be done in the absence of the queen, but to grouse and claw for power?" Lord Corlys yelled.

Elaena smiled in satisfaction as all the lords sitting down sighed defeatedly, too scared to speak against lord Corlys.

"We do not know the queens doings. But we must trust that she seeks the same as each of us at this table. An end to this conflict" Rhaenys said.

A few minutes later, Rhaenys decided to end the meeting, seeing how Elaena and Jacaerys were not in the right mind, they were too worried to think clearly.

As they left the council room, Elaena turned to go to her chamber, when Jacaerys pulled her arm

"Jace?" She asked with a look of surprise.

"Come with me" he said before pulling her arm as they walked down the corridor, making her giggle loudly.

"Where are we going?" She laughed with a questioning look.

"Come with me for a ride?" He asked, more like begged. They handy joined each other for a ride in weeks and he missed it.

She sighed "I don't know" she mumbled looking down.

"Come on El, it will take your mind off of mother for a while" he said cupping her cheek.

Eventually she nodded, a smile now forming on her face as she grabbed his hand running with him.

_________________

An hour later they were in the skies, riding on Pearl and vermax, going so high they could reach the clouds.

Vermax breathed out fire, and Elaena rode up through it, making the two of them laugh. Any regular person would be ashes, but Targaryens aren't hurt by fire.

After an hour or two they landed on an island they had never been to before. Their favourite activity was discovering new small islands, they had started doing it when they were merely children.

They were now laying down on the cliffs of the small island. Elaena lay against Jacaerys chest as he sat upright.

She stared at the stars, examining all of them before turning to Jacaerys.

"Jace?" She whispered.

"Mhm" he replied, looking down at her.

"D-Do you think mother will return?" She asked worriedly.

He sighed down at her, his hand going to her cheek, and caressing it "Yes, I do" he said honestly.

"Why?" She asked him.

"Because I know her, you know her. She would never leave us, not for too long at least" he said offering her a smile.

"I suppose your right" she said smiling back at him and playing with one of his hands.

"I always am" he smirked.

She laughed, turning around in his arms "You think too highly of yourself" she teased leaning down closer to his face with a smile.

"Maybe so" he muttered, pulling her head down closer to his own, and kissing her.

The kiss started out innocent, both of them just happy to have some alone time, their arms tangling together, as the kiss deepened.

Elaena moaned as she left his leg poking between her legs, as his tongue entered her mouth.

His hand moved to the ribbon on the back of her dress, undoing it slowly "Do you want to" he asked in between kisses.

She nodded "please"

And so he complied, removing her dress, leaving in her under gown. He then removed his clothes too, kissing down her neck softly.

"Jace please" she begged pulling him closer to her.

"As you wish" he said kissing her one last time before slowly entering her, making them both moan loudly.

"Oh gods" she moaned, her eyes closed in pleasure.

He leaned down slightly, his head nestled between her neck, both of them breathing quickly.

He moved in and out of her, making them both curse out, their arms tangled together.

"Just like that" she cried.

He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer to him, making them both moan out loudly.

A minute later they both reached their peaks, yelling out for all creatures on the island to hear them.

Jacaerys rolled off of her, laying beside her. Both of them in their undergarments.

"That's a first" She mumbled laying on his chest.

"What is?" He asked her.

"Having sex on an island" she said.

They looked at each other before they both began to laugh, uncontrollably.

Pearl let out an odd sound, making the two of them turn to look at her. Vermax curled around her, purring.

"Their adorable" Elaena said.

"Indeed" Jacaerys said laughing at his dragon.

"I might be wrong, but.....they've been close lately, and have probably mated." She said.

"More than probably" he laughed making her laugh too.

"I think she may lay eggs soon" Elaena said making Jacaerys look at her surprised.

"What makes you say that?" He asked.

"She's been showing signs. She attacked one of the keepers when they walked near her stomach. And she's been eating a lot" she said

"Wouldn't that be something, more dragons" Jacaerys said laughing at the thought.

"Well, there can never be enough" she said, laying down on his chest again.

They ended the night talking about the different stars they could see in the sky, pointing at them, and admiring their beauty, before they both fell asleep together.

_______________

The next morning they woke. Elaena turned over to her husband who was already awake, and kissed him

"Good morn" he said kissing her back.

After a minute she pulled away abruptly, which a stressed look on her face. "Gods!" She yelled hopping up.

"What is it?" He asked worriedly.

"We spent the night here" she yelled, pulling her dress on again.

"Indeed" Jacaerys said casually.

She scoffed with a smile "Don't you think they'd be a little bit worried, with mother disappearing too?" She said.

"Oh" he said getting up as well, putting his clothes back on as well, before helping her tie the ribbons for her corset and dress.

"Come on" she yelled grabbing his hand as they ran back to their dragons.

_________________

The two ran into the castle when they arrived back. Hoping no one would notice them, but they sighed realising they were all in the council room, and they would definitely notice them.

Elaena gulped as they walked into the room, she tried to ignore the stares, from all the lords and sers as she walked up to the table, as Baela tried to hold in her laugh.

"Where, may I ask have you been, my prince?" Ser Alfred asked.

"You may not" Jacaerys said with annoyance.

Some of the other lords protested his answer, but they all stopped once Rhaenys said "Leave them be, they're here now, that is what matters" making Elaena send her a thankful smile.

"Has there...been any news on my mother's whereabouts?" Elaena asked hopefully.

"I'm afraid not, princess" the maester replied with a sad smile.

"A dragon must be sent to the vassals" Jacaerys said suddenly trying to change the subject, making Elaena turn to him.

"That's dangerous" she said sternly.

"I'm aware, but I see no other choice. We need to send a dragon" Jacaerys said.

"Where?" A voice asked from the door.

Elaenas head whipped around to see her mother, and she quickly ran over to hug her tightly. "I was so worried" She whispered.

"Yes, I'm sorry about that" Her mother replied guilty.

After a moment they made their way back to the table. Elaena stood beside Rhaenyra, and Jacaerys stood at the opposite end.

He, clearly was not so quick to run into his mothers arms, and was annoyed at her for causing not just him stress, but his wife.

"So, where?" Rhaenyra repeated looking at her son.

"To support the war, that your vassals have been fighting in your absence...your grace" Jacaerys said with an attitude making Elaena give him a look.

"Cole's host has grown since riding abroad. He raised the levies of both Rosby and Stokeworth and, with their combined strength sacked Duskendale" Rhaenys said trying to break the awkward silence.

"Duskendale?" Once of the maesters that was with Rhaenyra asked worriedly.

"Many Darklyn declared for Aegon. Those who refused were put to the sword" Lord Corlys explained.

"What of my father?" He asked worriedly.

"He kept his oath. Cole took his head for it" Corlys explained, making the Maester place his hands on the table and sigh sadly. Elaena placed her hand on his back comfortingly, feeling awful for the man.

"Where have you been?" Jacaerys asked suddenly making Elaena send him a please stop look, but he ignored it.

"These last days?" He added staring at her accusingly.

Elaena sighed, walking over to her husband as he began to go off at their mother. By the time she had reached his side he was already talking again.

"You vanished without so much as a word" He said.

"Jace, please" Elaena said whispering to him, making him place his hand on her arm softly, nodding his head no at her, making her sigh defeatedly.

"Do you know how upset you made Elaena?" He asked angrily as he remembered when they first realised she was missing, Elaena had cried all night, still thinking of how Lucerys had died.

"Well I apologise for my absence and the secrecy, but such was necessary. I went to kings landing" Rhaenyra said.

Elaena was shocked but knew her mother was probably talking to Alicent, so she understood, however she knew her husband, would not.

"To what possible end?" He asked angrily.

"To meet queen Alicent and sue for peace" Rhaenyra said.

Elaena looked down as Jacaerys began to speak again "You say Alicent?!"

"Yes I did" Rhaenyra said plainly.

"You could've been taken or slain!" He yelled angrily and hurt by her words.

"I inherited 80 years of peace from my father. Before I was to end it, I needed to know that there was no other path" Rhaenyra explained.

Jacaerys stared at her wide eyed, before looking at the ground and shaking his head.

"And now I do" She added.

"Only one choice remains to me. Either I win my claim or die"Rhaenyra said.

Jacaerys had now lifted his head, and Elaena was worried he'd give out again, so she took his hand, giving him a stern look, making him sigh.

"We stand at the ready" He said emotionlessly.

"Cole's Victories have only emboldened him. He matches on rocks nest" Rhaenys said.

"Is host was just hours away when lord Stauntens ravens took wing" Lord Corlys added.

"Why rooks nest? After Duskendale? It is but a small coastal keep" Rhaenyra said confusedly.

"Cause Lord Staunton is a member of this council. And because his castle is small and vulnerable and there for the taking. Cole knows we have no army on the mainland." Ser Alfred said.

"We need to send a dragon" Jacaerys said making Elaena gulp.

"There are those who have mistaken my caution for weakness. Let that be their undoing. I will go!" She said suddenly.

Jacaerys rolled his eyes disapprovingly turning his head away.

"My queen.." Lord Corlys said.

"You cannot" Jacaerys said and Elaena nodded her head agreeing with him.

"I will not lose dragons to war whilst I hide here in my castle" Rhaenyra said.

"Our allies raise their banners for you, mother" Jacaerys said leaning down slightly to stare daggers at her.

"Yes they do" Rhaenyra said.

Jacaerys eyes widened moving his hand up in annoyance before yelling "If you die, all is lost. Send me" he said.

"No! Mother I'll go" Elaena said

"No!" Rhaenyra and Jacaerys said in unison.

"I will burn Cole's lines and withdraw before kings Landing. I found him before, and I will do it again." Elaena said confidently.

"You lack the experience" Rhaenyra said.

Elaenas face dropped. It hurt to know that her mother didn't think she was able to do that, that she didn't believe in her. She sighed looking away. Her mood now matching her husbands.

"You must send me, my queen. Although meleys is not as large as Pearl, she is still one of your biggest dragons, and no stranger to battle. I will meet Cole" she said.

Rhaenyra smiled for a minute not wanting to say yes, but then ultimately came to the realisation she was right. Although she did not say it, Rhaenys knew she wanted her to go, and left the room with a light smile.

Elaena shared a look with her, before she left the room. Elaena then sighed, she had a bad feeling, and in the past when she had gotten bad feelings, bad things happened.

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AN

DONT GO RHAENYS💔💔💔

This was such a long chapter I'm actually quite proud