That fateful day at Driftmark two very important things happened and only one thing changed the course of Daemons life.
The first thing that happened was Aemond, his nephew, lost his eye. Very gruesome. Very sad. Very bad. Moving on.
The second and most important thing to happen was the presentation of Rhaena, his youngest daughter, and Lucerys, his great nephew. The screams, the chaos, the anger, the fear and the bloodshed drove the two into early presentation.
Rhaena and Lucerys were Omega's. Not just any Omega's though.
Royal Omega's descended from the Targaryen and Valeryon bloodlines.
The last Omega royal in Westeros was Rhaenys Targaryen, beloved sister-wife of Aegon the conqueror.
So, when Daemon and Rhaenyra entered the hall the first thing the Alpha prime picked up on was the scent of distressed Omega's. Distressed children, their scents still had that milk and honey after tones most pups had and so he stood closer and released calming pheromones.
Not exactly something he uses a lot but if he had to do so to calm the little ones he would.
He first looked at his youngest daughter, crying and shaking but no longer hysterical within her grandmothers' arms. She smelled of Seabreeze, from her alpha mother, fire, from him, and exotic fruits. The ones that were always sweet. She glanced at him, and he gave her a nod of reassurance. She would be safe for he was here, and he would kill anyone who came close to her.
Once she looked away and had fully burrowed into her grandmother's side did, he look away and his nose led him to the second scent and oh wasn't that a surprise.
Sea salt, from Laenor, Fire, from Rhaenyra, and Citrus fruits. The boy was a Valeryon with Arryn colourings. How fitting that the Omega would take after his grandmother more than his mother.
Rhaenyra was stepping forward and talking, they were all talking, discussing the missing eye and the fight but Daemon did not care.
Could they not open their eyes and look at the two most important beings right in front of them?
Both born from Targaryen and Valeryon bloodlines! Both presented at the same time! This is what Daemon would call a sign from the God's!
Then it happened those words shot through his ears like an arrow.
"Ser Criston bring me the eye of Lucerys Valeryon!" Alicent said and before the knight could set foot near the young Prince, Daemon had drawn dark sister and run him through.
He put his sword through the man's abdomen and angled it up towards one of his lungs. As soon as it was pierced the hall fell silent and they listened to the Knights sick gurgling as he choked on his own blood.
Daemon watched the life drain from his eyes before he removed his sword. He used his shirt to remove the blood before sheathing the sword and looked up.
The hall had gone still and silent.
Alicent had gone for Viserys's dagger, and Rhaenyra, the she-dragon she was, was ready to defend her sons with her own body, Corlys had dragged Lucerys and Jacaerys behind him while the Driftmark soldiers surrounded them, Rhaenys had covered Baela and Rhaena's ears and eyes before she too was surrounded by guards.
Otto Hightower stepped forward to speak, most likely smooth over the fact that his daughter tried to hurt the heirs to the throne's son and the heir to Driftmark, but Daemon held his finger up, telling the man to hold his tongue.
He looked around him and could see the little ones peeking out from behind their protectors.
"It absolutely sickens me what is happening here," he started and as soon as Alicent went to yell at him he held his finger up to her as well.
"I feel for the boy who decided to claim a dragon, truly I do. My brother and I can attest that we have done the same bull-headed thing but what I do not sympathize with is his way of doing so. Syrax has laid another clutch, Rhaenyra had told me she wished to give one to Rhaena, my daughter was made aware. This boy took a dragon, commendable on his part, truly brave, but then he proceeded to gloat of it and call into question the legitimacy of his nephews, which could have them put to death. He spits fire and brimstone at them, and they are expected to take it. To make matters worse they fight, as all children do and when That boy, a boy of ten holds a rock over the heirs, heir prepared to bash his skull open, what did you expect to happen?!" Daemon seethed at the people around them.
He turned his attention to the youngest of his nephews.
"Who told you these vile rumours about your nephew?" Daemon asked.
His lone eye looked left to right before settling on a figure, "Aegon told me,” He said and Daemon saw Viserys grow angry.
"Aegon who told you these things and don't think of lying to me like your brother just did. I am not your father nor am I one of your guards, I will beat it out of you, I am a Prince as well."
Aegon looked around before finally meeting Daemons eyes and the older man could see the young man realizing it's not worth it.
"Mother and Grandsire told us that our nephews are bastards because of their hair and because none of them look like Ser Laenor," Aegon said and there flew the gasps and the whispers.
Daemon looked around before clearing his throat.
"Need I remind all of you that Aemma Arryn, our Good Queen who was taken too soon, had brown hair before it turned Targaryen white? Or that Rhaenys Valeryon, our Queen who never was, had her mother, Jocelyne Baratheon's brown hair before it turned Targaryen white? Both after they gave birth to their firstborns?" Daemon asked and once again the cogs were turning the dot's connecting and conclusions drawn.
"Now that it has all been cleared up, I would like to know why is it that when in danger the Princess is surrounded by the Driftmark guards, all of whom looked ready to kill should any harm come to her, and not by the Kings guard, those sworn to protect her?" That made Viserys pause before he looked around. The idea was planted.
"Now back to what I really wanted to discuss. You all stand in the presence of not one but two, newly presented royal Omega's. Rhaena and Lucerys have presented and all you can do is trade insults, spread rumours and try and kill each other. Show some decency for fuck's sake!" He yelled at them.
At least they had the decency to look ashamed.
He turned his back on them all before he held out his arms.
"Rhaena, Lucerys, come here," he beckoned them and before Lucerys left Corlys's side he nodded to the man. Telling him to ensure the Queen does not try running at Lucerys again.
The two Omega's stepped closer and Daemon scooped them up, one on each arm before he turned and faced Viserys and the rest of the court.
"Tonight, has been a long night and it has also been a tiring day. My daughters lost their mother, and my great nephews were attacked. I would like for us all to be dismissed and go back to bed so that we might continue this conversation tomorrow without having to worry about anyone running at children with swords," he did not give them time to respond, only turned around and walked out of the hall with the two Omega's in his arms and the other children following closely behind, even his nephews.
He led them to the nursery, where little Joffrey was sleeping soundly in his crib before he sat the two of them down on the blankets and pillows that were on the floor. The makeshift nest made for all the pups.
He tucked Rhaena and Luke in before he did the same to Baela, Jace, Heleana and her worm, for some reason, before he turned to Aegon.
Aemond would only be allowed to join them when the Measters were done with him but up until then he would stay within the measters chambers to recover.
Aegon looked as if he would rather be anywhere else.
Daemon approached him, he smelled of wine, he looked more sober now than ever and given tonight's events he most likely was.
He looked down on the young boy and he saw him squirm.
"You are an Alpha of house Targaryen. Younger brother to the next Queen. Pull yourself upright and start acting like it." Deamon ordered.
Aegon went to protest, all he ever did was protest, it seemed but Daemon cut him off.
"You might not realize it but these little ones behind me are your charges. As their older Uncle and brother, it is up to you to protect them and break up their fights when needed. You are their protector, and they do not need a drunk protector. They need their Uncle Aegon to be there for them."
Aegon's mouth fell open before he nodded his head and walked past Daemon towards the nest.
There were no discussions held the next morning for Laenor had "died". Daemon had no idea how it happened, but he was very certain that the corpse was not Laenor.
He and Rhaenyra married later that week, Corlys was against it at first but upon realizing that it would keep his granddaughters closer to him he insisted on officiating the wedding to ensure it was done right.
After the wedding, after Daemon and Rhaenyra bedding each other frequently it happened.
Daemon 'the rogue prince' Targaryen would be found at Dragonstone or Driftmark doing whatever Lucerys and Rhaena wanted.
If Rhaena wanted him to help her buy dresses he would do it. If Lucerys wanted him to take him flying, he would do it.
Daemon loved all the children equally and fully, but everyone agreed that the two Omega's had him wrapped around their pinkie fingers.
Most of the realm held the belief that Daemon would kill Rhaenyra's older boys to ensure his children sit the thrown but those were all snuffed out when the Princess and her brood attended a tourney in the Vale.
House Arryn were celebrating a marriage, and the entire realm was invited.
King Viserys, as weak, as tired and sick as he was, attended along with his second wife and their children.
Daemon, to the disappointment of everyone, refused to enter the tourney stating he had other things to do.
Rhaena, the sweet girl, was wrapped around her stepmothers middle the whole day and refused to let go of the Alpha woman for more than a few seconds, the Princess indulged her stepdaughter to no end and continued with her day as if nothing was amiss.
Daemon Targaryen was walking around the camps with nine name days old Lucerys, tucked safely within his arms, indulgently answering any questions the young Omega's asked him. Even going so far as to buy him whatever he wanted from the stalls.
It would be later in the tourney, the fifth day, that Deamon Targaryen would beat a Lannister Knight to death with his bare hands that the entire realm exhaled at the idea of the Rogue Prince killing any of Rhaenyra's boy's.
It is said that after consuming copious amounts of ale the Knight sat himself down next to Daemon and started talking like no other. It was only when the Knight started talking of Lucerys that the prince paid attention. The Knight spouted off and on about how the young Omega would make a good bargaining chip and that any Lord would be lucky to have his womb, then proceeded to say that the prince would have to find a good match for the boy unless he wants to be sat with a useless Omega son.
It was gruesome, to be sure, but everyone agreed then that Daemon would rather kill than sell any of Rhaenyra's boys off like cattle.
Then came the realms horror.
Daemon raised Rhaena and Lucerys to be every bit Targaryen as they were meant to. The two Omega's were considered to be the most spoiled to ever live, and some of the Omega's in Essos were given whatever they wanted for free.
Rhaena "The Bejewelled" Targaryen-Valeryon was named that because whenever one would see her, she would have jewels on. On her fingers, around her ankles, around her wrists, up her arms, around her neck and in her hair. A seamstress from Essos had been commissioned to make her a dress made from the finest jewels for the girls fourteenth name day. She only had the most expensive and lovely perfumes gifted to her and her grandfather even went as far as commissioning a ship in her name. The Jewelled Rhaena was best known for its reflection. Corlys has asked the boat builder to put only the best and brightest jewels into the mast.
Lucerys "The Pearl of Driftmark" Valeryon was named as such for his pale skin, resembling a pearl, his dragon Arrax, smaller than Syrax but somehow more spoiled than she, and all the pearls he had. Lucerys always wore pearls within his hair. His sword, something Omega's never wore for it took away from their beauty, had a hilt of pearls. The same Seamstress from Essos commissioned to make Rhaena's dress made Lucerys's dress shirts, tunics and pants. There was one pair of pants the entire realm adored. Tight black leather pants and on the outside seams, on each side, sewn into the fabric were some of the tiny but beautiful pearls ever found. Corlys, never one for small gestures, build a ship for his grandson as well. The Pale Pearl had big and small pearls encrusted into the ships wheel.
Both The Jewelled Rhaena and The Pale Pearl could always be seen traveling the same routes together and like all in the Valeryon fleet the sailors onboard the ship always held it up like a badge of honour.
Just like the two ships you could always find Rhaena and Lucerys together. Always busy with something important.
Spoiled to no end by their families the two Omega's have never been told no. Daemon Targaryen being the biggest supporter of such rule for his two Omegan children would indulge them even into his old age.
Lucerys and Rhaena had travelled all the Seven Kingdoms, something no one could say no to when they asked, they stayed with Lords and Ladies, dined with them, traded with them and even stolen a few hearts.
Out of all the Targaryen children, all who came before them really, they were given much more freedom and leeway, and the Realm loved and hated it.
For the two Omega Royals could smile so pretty, as they set ablaze an entire castle.
