A marriage question at dawn

The morning light at Red Keep always arrives softly, filtering through the carved windows into the bedroom, carrying with it a faint smell of sulfur wafting from the direction of the Dragonpit.

Daemon opened his eyes, and just as he was about to stretch, he felt that the bed beneath him was unusually crowded. A Gael was curled up beside him, her light purple skirt brushing against his arm. She was breathing evenly, and there was a faint smile on her lips. She was obviously still asleep.

Mysaria leaned against the foot of the bed, holding Daemon's copy of "The A General History of Westeros," which he had casually placed beside the bed the night before. The page was still on the chapter he had last read, "Aegon's Conquest of the Riverlands."

Johanna lay on the other side, clutching a half-finished silk handkerchief with a simple sketch of Glutton she had just learned. The stitches were crooked but showed her earnestness.

What made Daemon both amused and exasperated was Jeyne. The little duchess of the Vale had somehow rolled into the middle of the bed, her little head resting on his waist, muttering, "Little Daemon's wooden dragon."

"Really—" Daemon sighed helplessly, carefully trying to pull his leg out from under Jeyne, his movements as light as if afraid of startling a butterfly.

He recalled that after the banquet last night, Gael, as usual, dragged Mysaria and Johanna to find him, saying, "I'm afraid you'll be cold sleeping alone." Alicent even smiled and led the way for them. On the way, they bumped into little Jeyne, who had secretly run away, saying, "Uncle Yobert is taking her back to the Vale, and she wants to spend a little more time with Little Daemon." As a result, the group ended up squeezing into his bed, and even Brienne and Lia were Gael to guard her empty room, euphemistically called "creating opportunities."

Turning his head to look at the balcony, Daemon was stunned again. The Grey Ghost had been lying there at some point, its light gray-white scales gleaming softly in the morning light. Its head was resting on its paws, and it still had half a dried fish left over from last night in its mouth. It had obviously sneaked in under the cover of night.

Hearing Daemon's movement, it raised its head, purred softly, and then buried its head back down, looking utterly innocent, as if to say, "I'm just here to sunbathe."

Daemon suppressed a laugh, slowly moved to the bedside, and as he put on his coat, he remembered the Small Council that morning—

Baelon is expected to preside over a discussion today about the deployment of troops in the Joint Fleet. Leonno is waiting for him to confirm the intelligence on the Triarchy, but judging from the scene inside, it would be difficult to sneak out.

He gently opened the door, and as soon as he peeked out, he froze on the spot.

At the end of the corridor, King Jaehaerys leaned on his ruby scepter, with Queen Alysanne on his arm beside him, the elderly couple slowly walking toward them.

The morning light shone on Jaehaerys's silvery hair, as if it were plated with gold;

Alysanne's silver-grey skirt swept across the ground, carrying her usual lavender scent.

Upon seeing Daemon, the old king stopped, a meaningful smile playing on his lips, "My grandson, how did you sleep last night?"

Alysanne, suppressing a laugh, her eyes brimming with the knowing wisdom of someone who's been there, gently patted her husband's hand. "You old man, you're just pretending to know the answer."

Daemon's face instantly flushed, and he subconsciously glanced back at the tightly closed door, afraid that the person inside might wake up.

He quickly stepped forward, blocking the doorway, and coughed awkwardly twice. "Grandfather, Grandmother, good morning. I—I'm on my way to the Small Council."

Jaehaerys looked at him and chuckled softly, his wrinkles radiating warmth. "Looks like you slept well. Don't worry, I'm not so old as to be senile. I know you didn't do anything— Alicent reported it to us last night. If you had overstepped your bounds, how could we be smiling at you now?"

Alysanne added with a laugh, "Alicent said that Gael even got up in the middle of the night to cover Jeyne with a blanket. It seems that this shy girl is becoming more and more thoughtful and caring."

Daemon's anxiety eased slightly, but when he heard the King and Queen deliberately mention the name "Gael" this morning, he felt somewhat at a loss.

He had lived two lives. In his previous life, he was in the "cage" of King's Landing. Whether it was due to responsibility and marriage, his relationship with Tyrothy Rohanne and Daenerys was complicated. In this life, he had been traveling in the past hundred years for less than two years. He spent half of his time traveling in place of the royal family and dealing with the lords. Relationships had never been his forte, let alone facing the king and queen's blunt questioning. He had never even imagined such a situation.

Jaehaerys's smile faded, his gaze softening yet becoming serious. "We, your wife and I, came to see you this morning, not to tease you. We wanted to ask you what you think of your Aunt Gael?"

Daemon felt like something was blocking his throat; he opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say.

He recalled the time he woke up in Silk Street, Gael rode Dreamfyre to find him for the first time. Her pale purple eyes were full of worry, and she looked at Daemon Targaryen, who had led him astray, and spoke loudly and angrily for the first time in her life.

I remember in Rosby, Gael and Mysaria chased after him, saying they were bringing him winter clothes, saying "I'm afraid you'll get cold," but they ended up traveling with him throughout the Seven Kingdoms;

I remember that late night in Maidenpool, when Gael first sneaked into his room and stayed up talking with him until dawn, saying, "You're not alone."

I remember during the martial arts tournament, Gael clutched her handkerchief, so nervous she almost tore it apart. When she saw him win, the light in her eyes shone brighter than the sun.

These images flashed through my mind like a revolving lantern, each one carrying Gael's unique gentleness, as she constantly changed for herself.

But when it came to actually saying it to his "grandparents," he could only nod and smile awkwardly, unable to utter a complete sentence.

Looking at him like this, Alysanne couldn't help but laugh, "It seems our grandson is so impressive on the battlefield, but when it comes to this, he's like a greenhorn."

She stepped forward, gently patted Daemon's shoulder, and softened her tone, "Actually, I've talked to Jocelyn and Rhaenys. Jocelyn said you're just like Aemon, both exuding a reassuring aura; Rhaenys, needless to say, you're her own brother. If Gael marries you, she'll be the first to be happy."

Daemon felt a warmth in his heart— Jocelyn's gentleness and Rhaenys's protectiveness were the warmth he had felt since his transmigration.

He thought of Jocelyn; ever since he recognized her as his "mother," she had recently brought him things from Prince Aemon every time they met, saying, "If your father were here, he would definitely like you."

I recalled Rhaenys's first encounter with him on Dragonstone, where she defended him, saying, "He is Targaryen, he is my brother."

Jaehaerys chimed in, his voice full of expectation. "I've already spoken to Baelon. I imagine he's talked to you too. He said he's very relieved that Gael is marrying you, as her older brother."

These words were like a reassuring pill, reminding Daemon of what Baelon had said to him under the moonlight, "Take good care of Gael, don't let her suffer."

At that time, he did not fully understand Baelon's deeper meaning, but now he understands that this "uncle" had long regarded him as Gael's support.

"So," Jaehaerys looked into Daemon's eyes and asked, enunciating each word clearly, "Will you marry my daughter, your aunt Gael?"

Daemon's heart pounded, and memories of his time with Gael flooded back. He remembered the cloak Gael had knitted for him, embroidered with the image of the Glutton;

He recalled the honey cake that Gael had quietly handed him while he was processing intelligence;

I remember Gael riding on the Dreamfyre, calling out to him, "Daemon, I'll go with you."

I recall the tears in her eyes when he Gael "Queen of Love and Beauty" yesterday, and the soft "That's wonderful" whispered in my ear.

In his memories of both lifetimes, he had never felt such longing. It was not a desire for power, nor a wariness of war, but an impulse to protect the other person behind him and to spend every dawn with them.

He took a deep breath, no longer embarrassed or hesitant, raised his head, looked at Jaehaerys and Alysanne, and nodded seriously. "I do."

Alysanne's eyes lit up instantly, and she quickly grabbed Jaehaerys's hand. "See, I told you this kid knows what he's doing!"

Jaehaerys smiled, his wrinkles smoothing out. "Good! Good! While we old folks are still in good health, we'll hold a wedding for you next year when you turn fourteen. We'll have Baelon officiate, Aemma escort Gael to her wedding, Jocelyn and Rhaenys drape Aemon's old cloak over you, and Viserys and Big Daemon as your best men—a child of our Targaryen, the wedding must be a grand affair!"

Daemon felt incredibly happy, and even his previous embarrassment vanished.

He remembered Grey Ghost still on the balcony, he remembered Gael and the others still asleep inside, he remembered the future of the Joint Fleet, he remembered the future and peace of the Seven Kingdoms he had to protect—

At that moment, he suddenly felt that these were no longer heavy responsibilities, but had taken on a warmer meaning.

Just then, the door creaked open, Gael, hearing the noise outside, rubbed her eyes and came out, followed by Mysaria and Johanna. Jeyne was still yawning in Mysaria's arms.

Upon seeing the King and Queen and Daemon in the corridor, Gael's face instantly turned red, and she instinctively wanted to hide away.

Alysanne smiled and beckoned, "Gael, my youngest daughter, my Child of Winter, come here, come to your mother."

She took Gael's hand, then held Daemon's hand, and placed their hands together. "From now on, you two will have to take care of each other."

Gael's fingertips trembled slightly as she looked up at Daemon, her light purple eyes filled with shyness and anticipation.

Daemon squeezed her hand and whispered, "From now on, I'll protect you."

Gael, feigning composure, stood on tiptoe and patted Daemon's head, replying, "Didn't you protect me before? I'm your aunt, from now on I should be the one protecting you, my Little Daemon."

The roar of Glutton dragon echoed from the distant hills. The Grey Ghost on the balcony raised its head, and the cowardly dragon let out a soft "call," as if celebrating something.

The morning light shone on the two of them, carrying a warm glow. The corridors of the Red Keep were filled with the nascent happiness of this young couple.

Looking at the scene before him, Jaehaerys whispered to Alysanne, "Look, our youngest grandchildren have finally grown up."

Alysanne nodded, looking at her young daughter who was constantly changing because of Daemon, her eyes filled with relief. "Yes, with them around, the future continuation of the family has another layer of security."

Daemon held Gael's hand beside him, his resolve growing stronger.

He not only had to stop the Dance of the Dragons and defend against the threat of the White Walkers, but also protect this hard-won happiness, so that Gael would always be like this, with her eyes shining and smiling at every sunrise.