steps

Rhea read through the newest reports she had received from her treasurer; the numbers were encouraging, in the last quarter they had seen an noticeable increase revenue from the taxes they collected from the merchants that were selling their goods made within Runestone and its holdings to elsewhere. Much to both Rhea and her treasurer's joy the trend seem to continue if only slightly.

Still this is welcome news.

Throughout history; from the age of heroes, the Bronze kings to becoming vassals to House Arryn, their family had been notable for its wealth and power, even among those lords in the Seven Kingdoms. But for Rhea, this hope for it to continue, she knew they could become greater than before.

"There have been some costs that must be bared." Her treasurer, Jafer whose family came from a minor knightly house close to Runestone, spoke "At the moment it seems that the new items produced within our holdings have been popular among other nobility and even in Essos for the time being." He flipped through more parchment "And fortunately this has also led to an increase in services being paid for in a few towns which provide the labour and material needed, namely woodcutters and blacksmiths." He flipped over a few more pieces of parchments "However I should mention this occurred entirely in larger towns, my Lady." He explained "Villages and Hamlets have yet to experience this."

"What would you suggest?" Rhea asked, leaning forward in her chair. 

"An improvement is needed on the roads to these holdings, which given our revenues we could afford to do, though it will take time." Jafer explained "By then however I fear that the designs of these goods will be stolen and blacksmiths across the land will produce it themselves, we are already seeing some replicates in the Reach such as the parchment clips."

Daemon has spoken of this, these designs were meant to be short-term ways of raising treasure for larger ideas.

At the start it had perplexed her that Daemon would invite merchants from Runestone, Gulltown and even outside of Westeros to meetings. When he had told him of his grand ideas and plans she believed her husband to be, at best, overly ambitious or perhaps a naïve fool; the latter more concerning being the father to her son, yet when he assured her that his first ideas were merely small creations and he'd only use what resources he'd have available to him without needing to take from Runestone's coffers that had given her some relief.

And now it brings me just a bit more silver stags and golden dragons each month. 

"I suppose we shall be needing new roads and bridges in future regardless, allocate the necessary treasure towards it." Rhea ordered. "I shall speak with my husband, no doubt he will be pleased by this mayhaps another idea he and his team of craftsmen can organise to replace any losses we may have to face." 

"It shall be done, my Lady." Jafer stood up from his seat and bowed his head, quickly marching the door of her solar and leaving the room. Rhea leaned back in her chair, playing with the ring on her finger; a strange gift, once more from Daemon, a plain ring made from Valyrian steel he had requested from the Citadel in Oldtown he had commissioned for her with strange Valyrian writing on it with another ring made of Bronze for himself, Runic words written on his saying 'My Lady Love.'

A smile crossed her face at the thought, she had asked him what the Valyrian writing on her ring said and all he would do is laugh and ask her to find out herself.

I must ask Maester Hugo one day.

The thought crossed her mind that he might be playing a little jest on her and yet she had not removed the ring from her finger and she assumed neither had Daemon with his own. She stood up from her chair and left her solar.

Walking through the halls of her home she made her way to her husband's own personal solar. A part of her still felt guilty for placing him in that room; at first she had only done it in order to humiliate him, make him suffer some indignity, she had originally hoped to see him rage and for the two to argue, an opportunity for her to confront him about the humiliation he had inflicted upon her.

Yet when he was introduced with the room that had once served as one of the storage rooms for the castle's servants he merely smiled and commented 'I have quite a bit of work ahead of me.' Before thanking her for it.

After they reconciled she had offered him a number of times to change his solar for a different room, one perhaps more fitting for his station, yet each time he refused; Rhea wondered if he only did this as a plan to use it as leverage against her one day or to stoke the guilt she felt.

But yet…

She saw Cley stand by the door, she had assigned as her husband's guard to keep an eye on him; watch his activities and see if he had planned anything that would undermine her or she could find something that might be used as a grievous insult to herself and her house to force the king to annul the marriage. Again, she had found neither.

Now she could not even imagine the possibility of finding anything of that matter.

"Lady Rhea." Cley said, bowing his head. "Prince Daemon is inside, as too Lady Perra and Lord Baelor." It sent her heart almost fluttering just at the mention of his name.

The time between herself being taken to the birthing bed to him now being over a year old had seemed to pass them by. 

"You have my thanks, Cley." She said as he opened the door for her.

As she stepped inside it still amazed her how much it had changed; the room was still a small space and yet it felt warm and homely. Book shelves filled with parchments and journals and draws lined the walls, lamps hung from the some of the corners of the room to illuminate it when dark, the desk sat near the door and in the centre of the room was a large fur carpet.

Where Daemon sat down on a chair while Perra held Baelor in a sitting position as the two listened to him read one of his stories from a book, various toys laid out beside them while a maid sat down to attend them.

My boy…

When he was still in her womb both her and Daemon agreed that while their children will carry her name, their first names will be of Valyrian origins; a way of keeping them in touch with their heritage.

My son's name will remind everyone who might look in envy or hostility of their position and standing just who his grandfather is.

They could not take the name 'Baelon' as Daemon had explained that his own brother had dreams of naming his son as such, but Baelor served well enough as a reminder.

At a glance there seemed to be so little of his father in his face; his hair, while not as dark a brown as her own, was still a closer shade of colouring to her own as well as its noticeable curls.

He was but a mess of brown hair when I received him.

He lacked the pale complexion of his father and, if Maester Hugo was correct, he would also grow into his ears much as herself and Perra did as babes.

Yet up close she could see the features of Daemon; the delicate shaped nose, Hugo had said he will likely grow into a longer face as he himself grows into a man and his eyes were unmistakably Daemon's deep violet.

"He will break many a heart." she thought back to the words of Baelon, complimenting his grandson; a future Royce prince to the Crown

"Rhea!" her sister exclaimed, both Daemon and Baelor's heads turned to her, her son reaching his small arms out to her, only further melting her heart. Daemon smiled at her, picking up Baelor from Perra's arms and carrying her child to her. Daemon placed a quick kiss on her lips before placing Baelor in her arms.

"I hope you have been good little one." She asked Baelor as he wrapped his arms around her neck. "And what has your father being reading to you this time?"

"Daemon was telling us the story of Perceus!" Perra said, jumping to her question.

"Perceus?"

"Story of a Hero who slays evil monsters with the help of the Gods of his land." Daemon said "One being the Goddess of wisdom and strategy which reminds me of a certain someone." He wrapped his arm around her as she held Baelor.

Rhea rolled her eyes but giggled.

"He slays an evil monster who turns people to stone, rode a horse with wings over the ocean and killed a giant sea monster saving an innocent maiden!" Rhea exclaimed, summarising the story. Rhea looked at Daemon who watched the floor sheepishly.

"And where did you get the inspiration for this?" she asked.

"Not from myself, that I promise you." Rhea narrowed her eyes as she looked at him "You're doing it again." He said, the corners of his mouth moving up to form a sly smile.

"Doing what?"

"Whenever you have suspicions of someone or something you narrow your eyes at them." Daemon explained. "That or you just dislike them."

"I do not!" Rhea exclaimed.

"Sweet sister, does she or does Rhea not narrow her eyes at people whenever she dislikes them or they something she disapproves of."

Perra giggled and nodded her head in agreement.

Rhea narrowed her eyes at her.

"See! You're doing it now!" Daemon laughed as Perra joined in, Rhea now felt a little flustered until Daemon pulled both her and Baelor to him and kissed her head. "Is all well?" he asked her.

"All is well, I had only wanted to see our son." Rhea said, rubbing her son's back. "Perra, you have lessons with the septa to attend now."

Perra groaned "Must I go?" she asked "Septa Della is such a bore."

"A bore she may be but you must attend your lessons." Rhea reiterated "Go now, I have had to tell father that you have been good, will you make a liar out of me?" Perra shook her head and conceded defeat, walking out of the room with her head down. "Helya escort her." The maid bowed her head and followed her sister.

"Must you be so strict with her?" Daemon asked.

"You know I must, she will be six and ten soon enough and wedded to a lord one day, she must be ready." Her husband grimaced. "You disapprove?"

"Six and ten is still so young, if your father does arrange a match for her, what is the harm in waiting until she is maybe eight and ten or maybe even later?"

"Daemon, we had married at six and ten." Rhea pointed out "It is only two years less."

"And perhaps we should have waited those two years, look how much had changed." Daemon countered "All I am saying is that she is still so young, we should let her enjoy her life for now."

"Do you expect a brick to fall on the head of Perra's betrothed and make him into a better person?"

"Maybe?"

Rhea sighed "I shall think on it and write a letter to my father if need be." Rhea said, pressing a kiss on Baelor's head "I hope you do not plan on letting myself become the strict parent and yourself the one our children seek comfort in."

"Of course I plan on being the fun parent among the two of us." He laughed, Rhea narrowed her eyes "I jest dear wife, I promise you we shall share these burdens."

"Speaking of parents, perhaps we should organise a trip to the Eyire, no doubt my father will like to see his grandson once more." Rhea said; he had not seen him since possible a month after the birth when he allowed himself leave from the capital to visit her and Baelor, dotting on them both.

How I wish mother had been there too.

"We should arrange that." Daemon agreed "I would also like to arrange another trip to Dragonstone or King's Landing, it has been a while since Baelor has seen his grandfather, and no doubt both Viserys, Aemma and Rhaenyra will be pleased to see him again."

Just a week after Rhea's father had left back for the Eyire Daemon had arranged for them to visit Dragonstone; he was frantic state about going to visit his grandmother that she worried if he might just take Baelor and ride them both on Caraxes to the island himself.

Yet the memory of that visit still left both a warm touch and ache in heart; it had turned out that the Good Queen Alysanne was slowly dying of a wasting illness, when they arrived on the island the maester had already declared she was bedridden and may not have much time left.

To see the old Queen hold her great grandson in her arms, weeping as she did, had reduced both her and Daemon to tears too. And meeting her good-father and good-brother was a joyous occasion; the crown prince was certainly enamoured by his grandson and so was his heir who tried numerous times to arrange taking her boy as a ward and squire when he came of age. 

In the end they were incredibly fortunate to reach her just in time, it was within less than a month later she had passed away from her illness, had they hesitated or the winds not been in their favour then Baelor would never had met the good Queen. 

"Yes, that would be good." Daemon gently embraced the two for a moment "Oh wife, I must show you my new plans." He quickly rushed over to his desk; Rhea frowned, Daemon always seemed to keep his desk looking untidy, she wondered how he was ever able to organise anything. "I think I've figured out a way to make use of the hills and mounds." He excitedly showed her a large drawing on parchment; it depicted a mound, cleared of rocks and grass and instead formed into different layers going upwards with each layer holding rows of crops. "I call it, Terrace farming."

"Terrace farming?"

"Most of the land in the Vale is taken up by mountains, hills and mounds. Good to defend against invaders but for farmland it limits our potential, if we were able to start using that land however…"

"It would increase the value of the lands." Rhea finished "We would produce more crops and increase our revenues." Runestone and it's holding was fortunate as having a good portion of flatlands which could be farmed, more so than other Vale lords who had mountains to contend with but with this.

"I'm still going through most of the details with the farmhands about what would need to be done, what tools would be need and I will have to speak to Gilwood and Horton to see if they can provide them and then there's Donnel, I will need him to help build any supports needed for each layer." Daemon, as Rhea noticed had always done when speaking about his ideas, rambled on and on. "Of course there is also hiring the labourers, this is all in the planning process for now before can try with a suitable strip of land which I will speak with Albar about, and that's not even thinking about hiring the labourers needed."

"If you need labourers then I am sure there are smallfolk who can work in order to pay off their debts." Rhea suggested, Daemon grimaced.

"I would prefer if those working for me were paid for their work." Daemon said "I will not be taking unpaid labour from anyone."

"Will you require money from the treasury?"

"For now I can likely pay for the idea with the money I get from our other ventures, should I be in need to more than I shall have that conversation with you and Jafer." Daemon rolled up the parchment "What do you think?"

Rhea was silent, Baelor had fallen asleep in her arms as she continued to gently rub his back "This may be worth pursuing, you have my support."

"When do I not?" Daemon kissed her gently.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door.

"Truly have we ever had an undisturbed moment?" Rhea muttered.

"I can think of one occasion." Had Baelor not been sleeping peacefully in her arms he would have slapped his arm, instead the two smiled at each other. "Enter."

Maester Hugo entered the office "Lady Rhea, Prince Daemon." He greeted them, bowing his head "My apologises for disturbing you both, but we have received a raven from the Eyrie." He said holding the unopened parchment in his hand "Your father's seal is on it."

The air from the room seemed to have been sucked out entirely.

"Close the door." Rhea ordered, her tone becoming sterner, Hugo shut the door as he handed the parchment to Daemon who broke the seal and unravelled it.

Both her and Daemon read the letter, their eyes moving across each sentence and every paragraph.

"How long ago was this?" Rhea asked Hugo, almost demanding an answer from him. 

"We had only received the raven today, my lady." 

"Gunthor may have gotten enough support from different Vale lords to usurp Jeyne from the Eyrie." Rhea said, both Daemon and Hugo were silent at the revelation.

"The question is what Lord Gunthor plans on doing now with this support." Hugo said "He may advocate for those lords to raise their banners to forcibly install the young lord Arnold as lord of the Eyrie." 

"My father will never allow that, he will resist any attempt by my uncle and his allies install Arnold." Rhea said "He is honour and duty bound to protect the rights of Lady Jeyne, this may end up forcing his hand." 

"The kingdom might be plunged into a civil war in that case." Daemon pondered, the observation hung over them like a large shadow casting them in darkness. 

"If my father calls for it, I shall call our banners and rally to the Eyrie's defence." Rhea declared "The traitors will think twice if the might of our house comes to my father's aid."

"We do not know the strength of this alliance of Gunthor's yet, his supposed support may perhaps be a farce." Daemon suggested "Or he may have enough support that could rival both our and the Eyrie's levies."

"What do you suggest then?" Rhea questioned, frustration now seeping into her voice. 

Daemon was silent for a moment, likely pondering what to say "Let me go to the Eyrie, I shall offer what support and council I can provide to your father." He said "I shall take Caraxes with me too; I'll shall reach the castle faster that way and those Vale lords who might seek to march on the castle mayhaps think twice about moving against your father if he has the support of a dragon rider and Prince behind him." he advised them "Let us not forget, that to declare war without the King's leave is to break his peace, that is akin to treason." 

This time it was Rhea who took a moment to ponder.

Any traitors will be hesitate to summon their banners if they knew that my father and Jeyne had the support of House Targeryen. 

"That may work, should they move against Jeyne it will be far clearer to them that they will be breaking the King's peace." Rhea said.

"There is one issue." Hugo stated "Should this matter be brought to the King and council, the precedent that had been set will likely force his Grace to rule in favour of Arnold over Jeyne."

"The King and Council may seek to wash their hands of this to avoid creating a political headache." Rhea commented, the growing pit of worry in her stomach grew deeper and deeper as she contemplated this.

"To make a different ruling will likely raise the question of Rhaenys and her children's claim to the throne." Daemon added. "Still, I shall go, hopefully we can resolve this while avoiding any political upheaval by involving my grandfather and the council or, Gods willing, a possible conflict."

Daemon looked to Rhea, she swallowed slightly as she fought back the fear that tried to claw at her "Then I give you my leave, husband." She said.

"I shall write a letter to Lord Royce to expect your arrival." Hugo said "By your leave, my lady." He said bowing his head, leaving the room.

Rhea and Daemon looked at each other silently, finally a moment together yet tension straggled whatever elation they shared. "We should head to your apartment." He suggested, Rhea nodded her head.

The two made their way back to their own private quarters; she had handed Baelor to one of the maid to be placed in his nursey to sleep as the two went to her chambers. There they lay in bed, holding each other in silence, hoping to immortalise the moment of peace between them as they had tried to do many time over.

She lay her head on his chest as the two wrapped their arms around each other.

"Please… do not do anything foolish, Daemon." Rhea spoke, breaking the silence as she looked at him, holding him tighter.

"I promise I shall not." He assured her, he gave her a sullen smile "Did you ever find out what writing on your ring said?"

Rhea raised her eyebrow "No, not yet, I do know that yours says 'My Lady Love." She took his hand with the ring on it, looking at the runic words "I would guess that mine says a similar message?"

"No quite." Daemon said, his finger rubbing the Valyrian steel band.

"Then what?"

"My Leal Servant."