Chapter 27 Awake

Rhaenyra pondered the letter handed over from her father, wondering why he was so upset, dispatching soldiers and the city watch to find her sister throughout the Red Keep and beyond. The letter clearly stated her sister had gone to Dragonstone with their uncle Daemon. Trusting her uncle, the idea of him harming her sister never crossed her mind.

Before she could speak, Otto Hightower, the Hand of the King, entered the Throne room, saluting both the king and Rhaenyra. Viserys asked for any leads on his daughter's whereabouts.

Otto confirmed that the princess had willingly accompanied Daemon, as witnessed by the Dragon Keepers. However, it was uncertain if they had truly gone to Dragonstone, and the princess's current situation remained unknown.

In response, Viserys ordered Otto to urgently sent a raven to Dragonstone and ordered the preparation of ships and knights to bring back Deamon and his daughter.

Determined, Otto promised to lead the soldiers personally and bowed before leaving the throne hall.

Alone in the Throne room, Rhaenyra voiced her thoughts to her father, "Father, I understand your worry about Valarissa's sudden departure, but the letter clearly states she went to Dragonstone with Uncle Daemon, and witnesses confirm it was voluntary. Why are you still so anxious? Do you really believe that Uncle Daemon would harm Valarissa?"

Viserys, looking troubled, replied, "Rhaenyra, Daemon is my brother, and while I know him, his unpredictable nature, fueled by anger and ambition, could turn even the wisest to a demon. People's hearts are unpredictable, and with Daemon's nature, I fear for my daughter's safety."

Expressing her trust in Uncle Daemon, Rhaenyra declared, "I will go to Dragonstone in person and bring back Valarissa." However, Viserys, with anger in his voice, sternly rejected her plan, "No! You will do nothing of the sort; you will not leave the Red Keep! I can't allow you to be near him."

Questioning her father's concern, Rhaenyra asked, "Do you really think he will harm us?" The answer was evident in Viserys's eyes and expression. Disheartened, Rhaenyra turned away, leaving the Throne room, saying, "Father, I believe in Uncle Daemon as I believe in you and Valarissa. We are all blood of House Targaryen, and if he wanted to harm us, he had plenty of opportunities." She left Viserys alone in the Throne room.

Mumbling to himself, Viserys admitted, "Maybe you're right, but I can't take that chance." He left the Throne room and retreated to his chambers.

Inside, Alicent awaited him, and a discussion about Valarissa unfolded. Unlike Rhaenyra, Alicent leaned towards Viserys's perspective, expressing her concern for Valarissa's safety. Unbeknownst to them, this conversation brought them a bit closer.

Meanwhile, Otto Hightower, who had sent his daughter to comfort the king, had already dispatched a raven to Dragonstone and ordered the gathering of ships and men, ready to seize the opportunity to suppress and deal a heavy blow to Daemon. The wheels were set in motion for the unfolding events.

In Valarissa's chamber on Dragonstone,

 she lay unconsious, sleeping soundly. Perhaps it was the mana, her Targaryen bloodline, the water from the jade space, or a combination of all these factors, coupled with the various medicines supporting her. 

Miraculous changes were occurring within her. The fine cracks on her bones were healing, muscle contusions were repairing themselves, foreign particles and germs were being eliminated, and burned skin and muscles tissues were shedding away as new ones grew. This rapid healing process, which might take a normal person four or five months, was accelerated to just a day for Valarissa. The room held an air of supernatural transformation as her body underwent profound changes.

Late into next morning,

Waking up with an itchy sensation, Valarissa sat up, stretching her body, and surprisingly, creaking sounds accompanied the movement. Remarkably, she didn't feel the pain or discomfort of broken bones or muscle contusions, just a bit stiff.

Looking at her hands and feet wrapped in bandages, memories of the previous night rushed back. She remembered falling unconscious while talking to her uncle, the result of significant blood loss from wounds sustained during her dragon claim.

Unable to tolerate the itching, she unwrapped the bandage on her hands, revealing the shed layer of dead skin and tissue clinging to the cloth strips. It was visually unpleasant, but the rapid healing process spared it from being as repulsive in smell as it appeared. Unwrapping both hands brought relief, exposing nearly healed skin with lingering burn marks requiring more time and care.

Moving on to her legs, she found her hands completely healed. Surveying the remnants of dead skin and muscle tissue, she decided a bath was necessary. Eager to leave Dragonstone Island and not worry her father, Valarissa prepared to call for the maids.

Fortunately, the two maids assigned to Valarissa's care were in the chamber and they woke up upon hearing her movements. Witnessing Valarissa sitting up and removing the cloth strips without the maester's care, both maids widened their eyes in surprise. 

"Princess, don't!" they exclaimed as they rushed towards Valarissa.

"Princess, you can't move around like this. The maester instructed that you can only stay in bed for the next few weeks," the older maid said as she pushed Valarissa back to lay back down, expressing responsibility for Valarissa's well-being.

"Go, get the maester, and inform Prince Daemon of the princess's situation," the older maid instructed the middle-aged maid, who hurriedly left. The events unfolded in seconds, leaving stiff Valarissa unable to react.

Finally lying back, Valarissa looked at the nervous maid and said with some helplessness, "You leave me be and go prepare some hot water for me to bathe," commanding with authority.

"Ah, Princess abiu6that I can't do that, but I can prepare the hot water as soon as the maester comes. I am ordered not to leave your side," the maid said with hesitation.

Seeing that her precious time was being wasted, Valarissa ignored the maid, pushing her aside as she stood up from the bed, startling the older maid.

"As you can see, I'm perfectly fine. Now, this is my order. Go prepare water for me," Valarissa said with a serious expression that left no room for refusal. Reluctantly, the older maid accepted her orders.