Chapter Text
Rhea could not deny that she was somewhat disappointed that Daemon had not managed to bleed out on the journey and was in fact suspected to be able to make a full recovery, so long as he rested and kept applying the medicine that her maester had prepared. The gods were cruel to her indeed.
Perhaps he was her curse, some pox placed upon her House to torment her until the end of her days.
She was far too angry herself to go see him for the first few days, so she simply kept ordering the maester to go see him, for the servants to feed and water him. She kept the chains upon his arms for fear of him lashing out at her subordinates to get back at her. At this point, she would put nothing past him.
(Also, she had heard a rumor that he once beat a messenger to death for delivering him news he found unsatisfactory, so... she was fairly certain her worries were not unfounded.)
Rhea made no attempt to hide her actions from others. It was doubtful she could have even if she tried, what with all the subordinates she had involved with the matter of her husband. One of them was bound to talk, and talk they did.
The Sea Snake, who had eyes and ears in most places, caught wind of such news and did not hesitate to inform the king of this oddity upon his arrival at Driftmark.
"Daemon's wife, the Lady Rhea Royce, has imprisoned him at Runestone," Corlys supplied.
Viserys blinked in disbelief. Then blinked once more for good measure. "Are you... certain of that, Lord Corlys? You know how my brother is."
Daemon was most dramatic when it came to his lady wife. He considered even the briefest of time spent in her presence to be a true torment, which Viserys had never quite understood.
Yes, it had appeared they did not get along as he and his beloved Aemma had, but whenever he spoke to Lady Rhea, she had been rather decent company. His brother did enjoy spirited women, especially in his youth, so he was rather perplexed by how much he disliked his lady wife. If anyone was spirited, that was surely the Lady Rhea.
He had hoped that they might work out their differences at some point over the years, but they simply never did. Daemon fled from her so often that that was hardly a surprise. How could one expect a marriage to work if their spouse was always on the other side of the continent and refused to speak to them?
So no, Viserys's first instinct was to not take this news at face value. When it came to his lady wife, his brother was rather proficient at spreading false news and slander to sully her good name. This may even be a ploy to attempt to gain some sympathy from his elder brother, make him feel bad for sending him away. Viserys could put nothing past his brother, especially these days.
Not after what he'd done to his only daughter.
"The folk in the Vale say that Lady Rhea had him tossed in a cell in the dead of night," Rhaenys said. She was taking a sip of her wine when Viserys turned his gaze upon her.
"They also say that she claims he made an attempt upon her life," Corlys added, exchanging a look with his wife.
Viserys felt distinctly ill at this news, nausea roiling in his gut that, for the first time in days, had nothing to do with the choppiness of sea waves. He did not even require time to think about it, nor did he require any such proof. As with being informed of Daemon's misdeeds toward Rhaenyra, he knew in his heart that this was the truth.
It would appear that his brother, once again, took all the wrong words to focus on from their conversation. Viserys had spat in his face, knife pressed to his throat, and told him he was no conqueror. He could have no second wife. He could not have Rhaenyra.
Viserys may not be the most observant of men (an unfortunate fact that had become all too plain to him after... after all that), but he was no fool.
What precisely was Daemon hoping to accomplish from doing this? Was he hoping that ridding the first wife would force Viserys to reconsider, to tempt him into giving his daughter's hand to him?
"I am certain it is merely a misunderstanding," Viserys ventured, forcing a weak smile to his face.
Both his cousin by blood and his cousin by law looked unconvinced by his words.
"It is unfortunate that this shall put you at odds with Runestone," Rhaenys commented.
Oh, hardly.
Viserys was actually somewhat relieved, under all the guilt and anger, that his brother was locked away by the Vale's laws.
Daemon could not possibly ruin his daughter's chance at a future as of right now. (Although, again, he did know his brother. It was best to get the matter over with as soon as possible, lest he somehow inexplicably make his escape and do something dastardly.)
"Lady Rhea is a reasonable woman and a good wife to my brother."
She never strayed from the confines of their vows, and Viserys had never seen any evidence of her acting genuinely cruel to him, as he so often attempted to claim. It was true that the Lady Rhea did have a sharp tongue, but one would think that with a skin as thick as Daemon's and his utter lack of shame, that it would not prick him so easily.
It was rather bizarre how simple it was for Lady Rhea to get under his brother's skin. Once, he had been with them, and she had not said a single word. Yet Daemon still acted as though she had delivered him the worst insult of all and ended up storming off mid conversation.
"I trust her judgement. If she felt Daemon may do her harm, she has every right as Lady of Runestone to have him imprisoned," Viserys concluded.
"So you intend to leave him there?" Corlys asked.
It would do Daemon some good to reflect on his actions. Apparently, all the times Viserys exiled him had little effect. Perhaps this punishment would finally cause something positive to sink into that thick skull of his.
In all honesty, had Daemon not been his brother, Viserys would have had him gelded and whipped raw for defiling his daughter and heir as he did.
Of course, he could not say such things to his cousin and her husband. "I shall have words with them both to determine what the issue is and act accordingly." He cleared his throat. "Mayhaps we could turn toward happier pursuits?"
Rhaenys attempted to hand him a cup of his own, and he politely declined.
"What did you have in mind, your Grace?" Corlys asked.
"I wish to propose a marriage between your son, Ser Laenor, and my daughter and heir, the Princess Rhaenyra. It's long past time our Houses were united in blood. The last pillars of old Valyria."
Viserys walked out of that room after an expected bit of back and forth, clarifying matters of succession and whatnot, armed with the betrothal he had desired. He attempted not to dwell upon his own guilt regarding all that had transpired with the Lady Rhea and instead turned to thoughts of the wedding. He would give his Rhaenyra a wedding most befitting of his only daughter and the future Queen of the Seven Kingdoms.
Daemon could fend for himself for another few weeks, dwelling in the mess he had made for himself. And after that... well. Viserys intended to deal him a harsh dose of reality. Personally.