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Daemon stood in front of the large map showing the entire continent, pondering his next steps.
For an entire night and a good part of the morning after returning from rescuing Lucerys, Rhaena was bedridden with a fever from the storm she had endured and the freezing temperatures Vermithor brought her to without being there prepared.
As proud as he was of his daughter, he also wanted to strangle her. Oh, how Grandsire must have been laughing. This was his curse: "I wish you children exactly like you."
First Baela had been an absolute terror. Daemon had no problem teaching her how to use a sword, there was actually something very satisfying about it, but letting her ride her dragon into war ? Moondancer was just barely big enough to start practicing some of the aerial maneuvers! and fight with the cavalry? Absolutely not.
The point of finding more dragonriders wasn't just to intimidate usurpers it was that in case they had to throw dragon against dragon they only had two dragonriders and battle proven dragons.
Now Rhaena had claimed Vermithor, and as happy as the father was in him, the general-turned-king was less pleased.
Knowing when to let the dragon take over and when to curb its bloodlust was half the job of riding a battle-tested dragon when the rider them self was inexperienced. The bond could be unpredictable as the Daemon himself discovered in their first battle when Caraxes nearly turned on his rider's own army. Subduing his dragon's instincts too much was also not a good idea as his uncle Aemon had fatally discovered. Laenor and Seasmoke had had a much easier learning curve from what Daemon could tell.
That was the result that Daemon wanted to replicate with Jace, Luke and Baela but the three were not tested yet and Luke had already demonstrated the danger of the dragonrider panicking. Corlys's idea of having Laenor prove himself in battle first before flying off with Seasmoke to provide air support seemed to have been the right thing to do, but Rhaenyra would not allow either child to take such chances. She needed to be convinced.
Now one of the oldest and largest dragons had been claimed by a rider who had learned absolutely nothing of the art of war. That potentially made Vermithor as useless as the Dreamfyre Held by Helaena Targaryen.
It was quite possible that they would have to continue to use Arrax as a messenger, much to Baela's dissatisfaction that would also be their role. Jace's Vermax had satisfactorily complied with Daemon's imposed practices and his stepson didn't seem intent on leading from the rear. Well, that would make him a beloved leader.
Merleys and Rhaenys would surely stay by Corlys's side, he had already sent a message to his friend from the east (and that wasn't going to be fun), comfort Joff and assure him that even though he couldn't join the battles now he and Tyraxes would still be able to be helpful. How? That was a problem for the Daemon of tomorrow.
Joff was old enough to be a squire but being a squire and having a dragon was more difficult. Daemon would not be able to continue teaching Joff while waging war and the boy would be very vulnerable if someone decided to betray them and kidnap him.
Syrax and Rhaenyra would be another problem. Neither were wars no matter how fierce his wife was and she really should n't be flying right now. Besides, Daemon preferred that she leave the dirtiest part of the war to him. They couldn't afford to lose their queen no matter how many heirs she had.
Daemon had already taken all the dragons except the Cannibal (The very rude one had tried to eat Caraxes, is it that no one taught that dragon manners ? ) from their caves and they were ready to try to match them. A young woman had introduced herself as dragon seed along with three other men and more were on the way. Corlys had spoken that he knew a boy who was on his way to try it, the son of an old personal friend of his.
With a sigh Daemon went to look for his young. He'd have to bring Rhaena up to speed, hope that didn't end in sibling jealousy, and increase Baela's and Luke's sections on delaying and dodging tactics.
Gods save him from the young greens.
***
"One more time" ordered her kepa implacably.
Rhaena groaned in annoyance, fighting the urge to drop to the ground and refuse to move. However, she pays attention to the dominant tone of her Kepa 's voice . This is not her Kepa who read to her before going to sleep, who took her to fly on the back of Caraxes or placed a kiss on her forehead and told her that he loved her. This was Daemon Targaryen, captain of the city guard who had transformed them into a terrible elite, king of the narrow sea, general tested in many wars. A horrible and relentless man .
For the past four days Daemon had woken her up before dawn to go out with her and Vermithor. They spent two hours training her on the commands while they were on the ground before she was allowed in for breakfast. Then he would meet with Baela and Luke to practice getting on and off their dragons over and over and over and over and over again with the intention of getting them to do it in the shortest amount of time possible. Her absolute insane father had wanted her (with the biggest and tallest dragon ) to do it at the same time as Baela (with the smallest dragon).
All of Rhaena's muscles ached so badly she didn't want to move by the time they were done and yet Daemon insisted on stretching after they were done.
The day before he had added jump out of the damn dragon . what the hell ? ! When would they have to do that ? ! Yes, they did it in the water and they had jumped from cliffs into the sea since they were children, but Baela had commented that he believed that at some point he intended to teach them how to do it so that they would jump to land.
When they finally finished, the four of them had to run to get rid of the dragon scent and attend black council meetings. Rhaena was glad for once that she was no longer her stepmother's cupbearer because she was afraid she would drop the mug with how tired her arms felt. No matter how much she wanted to fall asleep, she forced herself to pay attention. It was a great honor to be included in these meetings.
In the afternoon the three of them would take turns going with the queen, the king consort, Lord Corlys, or Princess Rhaenys. None were the tutors she was used to. It wasn't her stepmother, her father, her grandfather or her grandmother. They were stern masters who strove to shove the most knowledge into them in the shortest amount of time.
The night before she had come out with tears in her eyes after not understanding the various battles her father had forced her to study. They were all confused in her head. However, she did not give up. She drank some hot, highly spiced Volantis tea and kept going until her head swam and his father allowed him to go to sleep.
But she was damn tired. She glared at the ropes in front of her face and Vermithor gave a small, comforting growl that gave her strength. She put out a hand and rose, working twice as hard as Luke and Baela to achieve her goal.
Daemon looked at them from above Caraxes. He didn't always do the exercises with them but he also practiced. Let it not be said that he was not willing to do what he demanded of them. He looked at them sternly and smiled slowly in approval. Rhaena's heart warmed. Oh, how she craved Kapa 's approval .
"Very well. Baela and Rhaena get down and start stretching. Luke,” Rhaena watched her fiancé gulp as he looked at Daemon waiting for his new order. “Keep your mind clear, focus. You're going to fly and I'm going to chase you with Caraxes. Your goal is to evade me without going ashore for as long as possible.”
Rhaena exchanged a horrified look with her sister but when she opened her mouth to say something Baela shook her head. It had already been decided that Lucerys would remain a courier, they had to avoid another incident like the one at Storm'sEnd where it was more likely that this time she would not have backup.
Resigned, she smiled at her fiancé trying to give him strength, she trusted him.
***
Luke's face had another touching encounter with the beach floor. He was beginning to dislike his stepfather that he had never felt even when he was 7 and truly believed that he had killed his father to marry his mother.
He brushed aside the damned grains of sand and sat up, ignoring the stinging of his scraped skin.
"This is useless, I have no remedy"
"And you will never have him thinking that way, Baela is better than you."
Luke let out an amused snort despite himself. "She is the cursed Visenya reborn."
Daemon gave a half smile. He could claim all he wanted to play no favorites but he exuded pride in his eldest daughter.
“Luke, I need you to survive. You can't keep refusing to fight."
"I don't refuse to fight." Luke knew he was being intransigent because he did refuse to wield a sword. There were still days when lunging upward would remind him of that moment seven years ago and make him want to vomit.
He never wanted to hurt someone again the way he hurt Aemond.
"You have to get over it, I can't keep coddling you"
Luke knew this too. For years Daemon had only intervened once to make it clear that he would not allow him to pick up bad habits in his reluctance to be a swordsman. It had been Jace who had refused to let him quit.
With a long sigh, Luke rolled his shoulders to relax them and put himself on guard. He nodded at his stepfather. "One more time."
Daemon lunged forward, and Luke tried not to feel embarrassed by the fact that his stepfather was telegraphing his moves as if he were training Joff . Despite himself, irritation took over and he went on the offensive trying to disarm his stepfather. Daemon grimaced a little before doubling his speed and Luke was back on the defensive taking the barrage of blows.
A minute later his sword went flying and Daemon looked at him in exasperation. “Don't stand still, boy. Do you think your opponent will stop because you no longer have a weapon? Take out your dagger, find another weapon and continue . Or dodge and take cover but don't just stand there like an idiot ! ”
Luke only bent down to pick up his sword from the sand already psyching himself up knowing that Daemon would attack him before he was fully on his feet.
Sadly these practice sections were better than the diplomacy ones with her Lady grandmother. That woman was absolutely ruthless, throwing arguments and counter-arguments one after the other so that Luke would be prepared for whatever response he received next time.
"You are a dragon, not a pushover that lesser lords can boss around at will." She told him sternly last time when Luke started stuttering.
Luke was beginning to miss when she ignored him.
***
Rhaena flopped onto her bed with a groan. After a long night of diving and trying different tricks getting close to and away from Merleys and listening to Grandsire discuss with the three of them the advantages of a dragon as support if they were engaged in a sea battle, Rhaena was ready to sleep, but her brain alternated between telling her how very tired she was and desperate for not being able to fall asleep.
It would be one of those nights then.
She heard a knock on the door and let out a groan. She wasn't in the mood to be nice.
The person on the other end opened the door anyway. It was her fiancé.
" Hey ," Lucerys smiled softly at her.
“ Hey ” she repeated with her own smile, but she didn't stand up. She. Was. So. Tired.
"The Maester just prepared an ointment for muscle pain; I thought you might like some."
“Oh gods, yes please”
Her fiancé gave her his most charming smile and walked over to the bed. He took her right leg and delicately began to massage from the sore foot to the doubly sore calf.
Rhaena let out an obscene moan of pleasure as the cream began to cool her skin and numb the pain. Her cheeks felt hot and she saw her fiancé's cheeks and ears glowing red.
With a sigh Rhaena looked at him tenderly. “Did I ever tell you that I have the best fiancé in the whole wide world ? ”
Lucerys laughed and leaned in to drop a kiss on her forehead. "A very lucky man, I'm sure"
***
Daemon corrected his daughter's posture again as Rhaenys watched her carefully put the dagger back into her riding habit.
“I don't understand what the goal is, this won't work while I'm flying. I should keep practicing with the whip.”
"And also with the bow, it was one of Prince Jacaerys's ideas before he left," Rhaenys pointed out dryly as Daemon avoided smiling. Rhaena wasn't very good with a bow, none of the children but Luke were.
"I prefer that if you find yourself in a position where you have to defend yourself by your own means, you are able to do it"
Daemon went from leaning comfortably against a pillar in the weapons room to moving in the space of half a second, forcing her to drop the dagger with a scream.
“Preferably without being disarmed for not knowing how to grab it correctly”
"One dagger served another Rhaena," Rhaenys added.
His daughter nodded and reached down to pick up the gun again.
***
Jacaerys had come with good news about her allies being greeted with a grand dinner and the queen's overflowing joy (the mother in her must be glad to have all her children under one roof again, that wouldn't last). The North remembered its promises (unlike certain lying and oath-breaking lords of Stormland ) and Lady Jeyne would support her cousin Rhaenyra (as she should) but ask that a dragonrider be sent to protect the Vale ( very sensible thing to do). The problem was that Kepa (very treacherous) wanted to send her and Jace (double traitorous) agreed.
"I have more flying experience than Rhaena," she tried to argue as she faced her kepa across the table. She glanced at her grandmother hoping for some kind of support (grandma was silent during these sections, forcing them to defend their points on their own (she was trying not to feel abandoned)). Rhaena was a sweet and proper lady, surely she would do her guest role much better than her. As her own fiancé had pointed out (lovingly) she was somewhat abrasive and bellicose (she thought people were idiots and had no problem telling them so), traits unsuitable for a diplomatic envoy (but excellent for a queen, thank you, She'd cut out the tongue to the next idiot who said her Jace needed someone softer and the brothers were marrying the wrong sister).
"The Valley must be well protected, there and in the riverlands are the most vulnerable territories" Her Queen pointed out.
"All the more reason they should send me" Rhaena seemed to be thinking similarly to her sister (dear Rhaena who knew how much she wanted to fight by her Jace's side and was willing to give up being close to her own fiancé to be a good sister) . "Vermithor is big enough to take on any dragon that appears."
Daemon shook his head. “You need more practice. Baela can continue training on her own and in a few months Moondancer will be a decent size.” ouch . Her dragon was a more than acceptable size (it was barely smaller than Lucerys's by a head or two ! ), it wasn't her fault that her uncle only thought of giving her and Rhaena their eggs when they were five years old (Maybe someone didn't think so must have been so spiteful because he wasn't consulted about the wedding. Grandfather Corlys didn't either and he never hold a grudge). “They'll be fine, especially if we send her out with a second dragonrider . We might need you."
"Baela is a better fighter than Rhaena," Lucerys intervened. He was leaving in two days to visit some lords in the riverlands, he had looked a little pale when they announced it but so determined to be brave (Baela was very proud of the security her cousin had gained in the last two weeks.) “But for now we are not in open war. Until that happens we won't really need it. Rhaena will be more useful showing everyone Vermithor, he is the old king's dragon after all” Baela withdrew any positive thoughts about Lucerys (perhaps he didn't want to part with his beloved either). “Also,” he added, looking directly at her as if sensing the uncharitable thoughts she was sending him even though Baela knew her face was perfectly courteous. " I think that if we really need to fight the dragons, it should be Vermithor who stays in the Valley to safeguard it"
Jace did not agree. "Two smaller dragons would be more effective, Vermithor will be more necessary if we are really to fight."
"Vhagar can only be fought by Caraxes, Merleys, and Vermithor." Rhaena denied. “The fleet must be protected, the valley must be protected, and we all know that you will go where you are needed most, father. I already faced Vhagar, if Aemond wants to make our allies reconsider I am more than adequate to protect our interests.”
Baela felt the desire to shift uncomfortably. There was something a little bloodthirsty about Rhaena whenever she spoke of Aemond. Her sister had become very good at pretending not to hold a grudge against her cousin ( Ha ! He didn't deserve to be considered family after what he did seven years ago) and saying that she understood that dragons weren't slaves and both had equal rights ( it hadn't even been a bloody day since her mother's funeral and that was an anger Baela understood intimately) but Baela thought Rhaena would never truly forgive him (hate ran in this family as strong as love). And after almost killing Luke? Rhaena wanted blood.
"It was lucky." His father's tone was ruthless. "Vermithor managed to distract Vhagar but you didn't know how to deal with him"
"I know now."
“Enough, the plan is not to attack. Not yet." Rhaenyra chided, Baela focused on not yet even a month ago the plan was never to attack (even Grandmother was unhappy with Aemond's actions, the greens wouldn't be as forgiving as they had tried to be).
“I too will continue as a messenger ? ” her Jace had been splendid in his role but she knew that he wanted to be at the forefront of battles, he had to prove himself. The queen had unfortunately made sure her sons didn't have it easy (why should dragons be questioned ? ).
The adults shared a look. The queen's lips were a thin, discontented line.
"Tomorrow the possible riders will be tested, tonight we will have dinner with the last one"
Baela saw her grandmother raise an eyebrow from her place at the table next to her husband. She, Kepa, and Jace had met with all the possible riders (Baela found some of the men who showed up unpleasant, no matter what her father said, she didn't feel comfortable trusting mercenaries instead of loyal men.) but only they had dined with two. Nettles who had actually been invited by Rhaena (Lovely girl, she and Rhaena hoped she would bond with one of the dragons.) and Alyn the apparently Uncle Laenor's bastard (Grandmother and stepmother's faces hadn't exactly been warm towards the grandfather but she and the boys had gotten along like a house on fire with the young man). Who was the last one her father had been waiting for must be important .
"After that the plan is to keep raising allies, try to get the greens to call a council." His father's face showed how much he disagreed, the grandfather didn't seem to think better of that idea (a council had already ruled against a woman ruling). "That 's why most of you will be messengers."
"Except for me" Baela could not hold her tongue.
His grandfather sighed, giving him a look that was part tender and part exasperated (he said it reminded him of her mother). “Our spies say that the Hightowers are already gathering an army and Prince Daeron will accompany them to the capital, we are already moving to block King'sLanding and Storm'sEnd, Aemond has already attacked a courier. This pause is temporary and if we don't have a plan we will be taken by surprise."
His tone had the undertone of something discussed earlier. She looked at Jace who subtly shook his head. So he didn't know either.
The queen seemed even more unhappy if possible (she missed seeing their smiles, she hadn't smiled since Visenya 's death ). Her grandmother took her hand and her stepmother nodded.
“If there is a war, the Daemon will take two or three other dragonriders with him. Baela, you and another rider will remain in the Eyrie.” Baela tried to sigh subtly. “Rhaena, we will need you with the second part of our army if it must be divided. You will be with your grandmother.”
Baela looked at her grandmother, she thought that she would stay by Grandfather's side (why would they separate if they had the opportunity to fight side by side ? That was what she wanted with Jace) Her grandmother didn't show anything on her face. They had already discussed this, she realized. Only now were they being informed (Rhaenyra must not have believed that they were far from using their weapons if they already had such an advanced plan. The army of the greens were a bigger problem than stated ? ) “Luke, you and Seasmoke's rider will be with Lord Corlys.”
Her cousin showed surprise and her sister beamed at him (Baela tried not to be jealous).
"You are my heir, boy, the sea will be your place and your main battlefield."
Luke nodded showing that he understood the weight and the confidence that they were giving him. Grandma still didn't say anything (lingering resentment for Luke? Or the idea that Seasmoke had another dragonrider other than her son? (that would make her feel better, less petty)).
“Aren't they putting us too close together ? We have more dragons, we must take advantage of it.”
"Even Tessarion who is the age of your Vermax is bigger" Yes, because she is a female and they grow faster she swallowed the urge to bite (because her father was right). “I am increasing the chances not only that they will survive but that they will not be harmed.”
Jace disagreed (he felt spoiled and inadequate, Baela guessed) but conceded the point without further argument.
"What about Joff ?" Rhaena asked. The adults heaved exasperated sighs and Baela couldn't help but smile (an absolute terror, she was so proud. She had moved and thought fast the day Rhaena claimed Vermithor).
"He is as old as you were when you first flew to Syrax." Grandmother spoke for the first time. Her tone was soft and her gaze knowing. She had lost all her children, Joff was still a child (a very impressive one but still a child) but he didn't seem to want to sit still (that he would run away and face someone on his own had started to be a concern). "He could carry messages within the island himself."
“It's not much, but I hope he accepts it. Otherwise I will have to send him with you to the Valley.” Baela pursed her lips. It wasn't ideal but the Valley would presumably be peaceful and Joff had already started learning to fight with a sword and bow, Baela was good enough at both that she could entertain herself teaching him (and her little brother adored her, she always did he saw watching her train (what an intoxicating joy to be someone's role model)).
"Whatever you see most convenient, my queen" She said with deference to her stepmother. Rhaenyra's features softened and Baela was glad she had that effect (Rhaenyra was a second mother to Baela even if she didn't feel right calling her that).
"Very good" his father applauded loudly. "Luke to the pier with Corlys, girls come with me and Rhaenys, let's simulate a battle"
Baela shot her sister a smile. She loved that part, it reminded her of when her parents flew through the sky putting on a show (and wasn't it horrible that something so beautiful and joyful could be a facsimile of something as terrible as two dragons trying to kill each other ? ). She brushed past her Jace who placed a kiss on her hand and waved her off to stay with her mother to talk politics.
They both gave each other heated looks, Baela had pushed last night for them to get married as soon as possible with war on the horizon but Jace had turned its down (her wishes were always turned down these days) saying they would get married when things weren't so dangerous. (A part of her feared that Jace, who had committed Joff without consulting anyone , would have made a different decision than Luke if the alliance depended on a commitment, which was why she didn't want to be tied.) At least it gave them something good to look forward to.
Her grandmother put a hand on her shoulder and led her outside. Baela smiled at her and her grandmother knowingly smiled back (her grandmother may or may not have gotten it with Jace at a somewhat compromising moment).
"Everything will be fine."
It wasn't a promise she could keep (but Baela wouldn't hold it against him trying to comfort her."
***
Luke swallowed his fear, trying to give firm commands as Arrax passed between Merleys and a cliff dove to avoid Caraxes' low fire, and took flight with Vermithor circling each other.
Exercises had been fun before Aemond and Vhagar now Luke battled anxiety every day, steeling his nerves with sheer force of will. His only consolation was...
Rhaena winked at him from Vermithor as she brought her dragon in close until Arrax was forced to swoop in time with her.
"Lucerys, Rhaena," Rhaenys snapped in exasperation from her own dragon.
He and Rhaena really should stop doing mating flights on their dragons, it was incredibly distracting.
--
"I'm thinking of cutting it" Baela confessed to her sister. She looked at Rhaena from the mirror of her dressing table, her sister with an expression so, so soft (her twin, the one who understood her without even saying anything).
Rhaena sat down next to her and stroked the abundant locks (locks like Mom's).
“Why ? “There was no judgement, just curiosity. Where Rhaena had experimented with every hairstyle (some with disastrous results like the time she accidentally put too much oil on it and couldn't get it out of her hair) Baela used to wear it down unless she trained, even when she flew (it reminded her so much of how her own mother had seen, happy, content and free).
"It gets in the way every time I train, it doesn't let me see well" what Baela didn't want to say (although she knew she would find out anyway) was that Luke had managed to hit her that afternoon when they fought together because the strap she used to hold everything together had come loose (Or that same morning she almost crashed into the water because all her hair came to her face and she couldn't see Merleys anymore).
“Jace loves my hair” she told her with a small smile (she missed him so much and now she was the one walking away).
“I think he loves everything about you,” Rhaena replied mockingly. (She should stop telling her what she and Jace did, giving her own sister blackmail material was wrong .) Baela pushed Rhaena hard even though she was smiling.
" Leave me alone."
“You can pick it up . Queen Visenya wore it braided, Grandma always wears a crown to keep it off her face, and Uncle Laenor and Grandpa also managed to pull it up efficiently despite wearing it long.” None mention their own Kepa (he barely has hair ! Surely he didn't mind even if he wore it loose).
"I, I think I want a change" the confession was a whisper. Baela didn't even know where her interest in cutting her beautiful hair came from (only that it had begun to bother her, to resent it).
"It's your decision, sister"
It was. Baela loved her hair (the truth was, she was afraid that she would completely forget what her mother looked like, that the reflection of her and Rhaena would no longer be enough). No one would blame her, it was her hair. Jace would understand, Grandmother (who was always telling her how alike the two of them were) would understand. Baela had started to feel like her hair was getting in the way last year but she had been afraid to cut it (maybe she was afraid of change, maybe she wanted something under her control (maybe she was just being silly, it was just hair)).
She picked it up slightly, looking at herself in the mirror. It wouldn't be a very feminine look.
"What do you say? ”
"Beautiful as always" She assured her with a kiss on the temple.
***
Jacaerys had enjoyed himself in the north. There was a certain charm to its inhabitants, but he had missed his family with every breath. His mother's hug, training with his father, spending time with Luke, talking with Rhaena, teaching Joff his dragon commands , Playing with little Egg and holding little Vys , crying for never seeing little Visenya grow up . But above all there was the strange force of nature that was Baela. He didn't know how to explain to her what had happened in the north and it hurt so much how dull she looked lately, as if he, Luke and Rhaena were abandoning her.
This separation would be temporary, then the four of them would be back together in King'slanding as they always were meant to be.
But the guilt, anger, and helplessness that had built up in Jace over the last few weeks had turned a training session between him and Luke into a fistfight. Father let them take it all out and then kicked them out.
“Tell Rhaenys that you have my permission to interrupt her lesson and take the girls. Go, get distracted and by tomorrow morning I want you in optimal conditions. Is it clear ? ”
"Yes, father"
"Yes, sir"
He and Luke had walked without speaking, side by side, both furious, both brushing arms. The agony of wanting someone close but being upset with them.
"The four of us should go flying." Luke kept his eyes away from him as he spoke.
"Aren't you tired of it already ? “Jace had joined his father's tyrannical regime and as useful as he was Jace wishes he had been taught all this sooner .
Luke stopped and Jace faced him "Rhaena has hardly had a chance to fly for fun, the four of us have never flown together with her on her own dragon."
Jace nodded and placed a cautious hand on Luke's shoulder. "Then we'll do that."
His brother gave him one of his bright smiles and they headed off to find the girls. It felt like before, but better.
Hours later with the laughter of his best friends all around him, the wind in his hair, and the freedom and companionship that only flying on dragons could provide, Jace allowed himself to hope that they would be okay and see each other again. Even if Luke left soon and Baela soon after. Even with the threat of war and how uncertain life was.
Together they were stronger and together they would be again.
***
Rhaena flung herself into Vermithor's saddle, tying on the chains so she wouldn't fall off as quickly as possible.
“ Soves , Vermithor!” she yelled, gripping the reins tightly.
Merleys reached heaven first but Vermithor defeated Caraxes. Her job was to prevent Caraxes and Merleys from forcing Baela and Moondancer down before they circled the island three times. The little Moondancer had the advantage of having reached heaven before the three of them (it turns out that her father couldn't climb Caraxes with much advantage over Baela either). Two against one in training against Tessarion and Sunfyre .
Rhaena had failed three out of four attempts but she felt like she was getting faster. If she wanted to convince her father she had a chance against Vhagar and Aemond she couldn't afford to hesitate.
Aemond would learn to fear her, she would make sure of that.