chapter 9

It's been a week since Daemon and his family arrived at Storm's end, and today was the last day before major lords arrived on the morrow. So far only bannerman and knightly houses had arrived, and they were too busy either trying to prepare for the tourney or trying to gain some favor with Lord Baratheon and my father, He walked with his mother on his arm, flanked by Ser Barristan.

He saw servants and knights bow their heads as they passed. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw four women wearing dirty dresses covered in dirt trying to gather children dressed in rags and looking malnourished. 

"Let's see what's going on," he said as his mother looked to where his eyes wandered. She smiled when she saw his intentions. 

"Very well, my son." Rhaella knew the rumors that were being spread around the realm, some said that her son was just a 'big brute' whose magical power was a curse, and they should be weary of him. While others wanted to gain his favor in hopes of using him or seducing him, there have been offers from every kingdom and across the narrow sea promising anything in hopes of a child that inherits his magic. 

As they approached the orphans and their caretakers, they noticed them arrive and saw the women's panicked faces and the children's wide-eyed stares.

The older woman in the front quickly instructed everyone to bow but Daemon stopped them. "That's not necessary; please raise your heads, I simply wish to know your names and why you and the children aren't in proper homes with food." 

The woman shuffled nervously but responded, "My name is Rose and me and these four others try our best to raise the kids that don't have no home or parents that died or didn't want them Your grace but you see, with the tourney and all the lords coming in with their coin and taking up all the rooms and ins, we don't have enough coin to contend with the lords" she said sadly. 

One of the children broke free from the group and rushed to him with a wide smile, grabbing his leg. "Are you a DRAGOWN PWRINCE?" she shouted with a missing front tooth that gave her an adorable look. Rose quickly rushed, looking pale at the thought of the child getting dirt on Prince Daemon's clothes. 

Daemon patted his mother's arm, releasing himself, and, to the surprise of many, picked up the little girl, who smiled with happiness. "Why yes, little one, my name is Daemon, and may i ask your name?" he smiled at her, getting another giggle out of her, "my name is Milly, prince Dae!' she exclaimed, mispronouncing some of the words but not caring either way. Daemon smiled and turned to Rose. 

"I will have several tents set up next to mine and will provide baths and fresh clothes and i invite you to come to King's Landing to stay in one of my orphanages, it is newly renovated, and you will be provided with a monthly allowance.

If you can find anyone else in need, feel free to invite them." His business was producing a lot of coins which led him to buy up several businesses and buildings to do with as he pleased. He had already established two newly built orphanages to help children and women have a roof over their heads. The women had teary eyes and the children that could understand were being restrained from jumping up and down. 

"Seven blessings, my prince!" 

"Thank you!" 

He heard them say and some tried to kneel in gratitude, but he quickly waved them off and had a guard send a message to set up more tents for them as he tasked Ser Barristan and some guards to escort them. 

With Milly rejoined with the other children, his mother, with a kind smile, looked up at him and spoke, "You have a kind heart, my son, caring for women and children; not many people would offer that unless they get something out of it," she said as she squeezed his arm. 

Daemon smiled at his mother and said,"Well, I learned it mostly from you, mother; after all, you, are the mother herself. Why would I not try to help people who need it? Children and women do not need to suffer or be looked down upon simply because they are not nobility." 

His mother gave him a soft smile but then got anxious and tried to hide but daemon noticed. "What is was wrong Did something happen?" 

Rhaella sighed as she knew her son would catch on to her worries. "I hope your father does not do 'something' while Lady Joanna is here and Lord Tywin is in the capital, Me and your father have a respectable marriage and I love you and your brother and sister but your father longs for Lady Joanna since he was a young man and now that he is King, His attempts to draw her attention will only worsen an-" He cut her off and placed his hands over his mothers. 

"Did Lady Joanna share the same feelings as my father does?" he asked in a low monotone. His mother replies hastily at his tone, "No, me and Joanna have been good friends, along with the princess of Dorne. She has reassured me that nothing has ever happened, and I believe her." 

"Then I will make sure nothing happens during our stay here, You and Visenya, Just enjoy your time and let me handle Father, I have noticed his temper has only gotten worse; he's gotten short with Visenya as of late and he tried to embarrass you earlier this year," he said with heat in his voice. His father attempted to make a joke about his mother getting old in front of the court, but daemon quickly dissuaded his father and those who saw fit to laugh that day had magically been found dead in streets. 

His mother had unshed tears in her eyes. "Your sister has the blood of the dragon and wants to be like her brothers and wield a sword and wear breeches, but your father has warned her of her behavior and tried to strike her, but I didn't let it happen; that only angered him more as he saw it as denying him." Their walk took them to a secluded place, and he hugged his small mother as she tried to wipe her tears. 

Daemon grits his teeth in anger, as he wasn't made aware of this. A year ago, some of the servants weren't under his command but still he blamed himself. "Do not worry, I'm sure I can help tutor Visenya in the way of the sword and if father decides to dishonor you again or our family-" 

The queen of the seven kingdoms suddenly found her strength and cut him off. "You must not speak of treason, my son; you do have influence, but your father is still the king." 

"I do not worry about what my father will do; I will simply do what I must to ensure our family's happiness and safety." 

Rhaella suppressed a shudder at her little boys' words, She knew of the 'realms delight' side of her son, the boy who would make friends, captivate everyone with his smile and sway the hearts of maidens alike, but she also knew of the other side of her sweet boy. The darker side of her son, she wasn't foolish enough to think that those who would mock her with her husband in hopes of gaining his favor suddenly were found dead in the streets or how guards would suddenly stand straighter and start to sweat when her son would walk into the room or how, in all her years, she had never seen Lord Tywin look nervous, not even in front of her husband and his tantrums but often times when speaking to Daemon, she would notice the Lion look nervous and eyes start to wander anywhere but her sons. She knew he tried to hide it from her in fear of her rejecting him, but she could never unlove her children, who she fed at her own breast and watched grow. No, she loved her children and would continue to love them no matter what they became.