Chapter Text
Daisy was born in a backwater keep of a minor Riverlord. Dunk had helped the man with some of his smallfolk disputes and as a favor allowed him to give birth in the keep, even though the hedge knight had assured the lord he could make do outside. Once Dunk was healed enough to sit ahorse, he swaddled the babe to his chest and continued North with Egg. The wet nurse at Winterfell insisted that Daisy be left there as they went to the Wall, though Dunk was loathe to part with her. He and Egg traveled to the Wall and on their way back South picked up Daisy along with a royal summon, announcing Duncan the Tall as an appointment to the Kingsguard.
Omega knights were uncommon, but not unheard of. However, Duncan was the first omega to have given birth to be appointed to the Kingsguard and was therefore not expected to set the babe aside as alpha or beta men who had sired children were sworn to. There were questions asked of Daisy’s sire but Duncan refused to answer, stating simply that she was his daughter. The court called her Daisy Waters but those who knew her called her Daisy the Tall because the girl grew to be a spitting image of her father.
Whoever her sire was, their genetics had not put up a fight. Daisy grew like a weed with the rich foods of the Red Keep and regular exercise of running around with the other children. Her long reddish hair and sparkling azure eyes were that of her father, and she suspected her nose although Dunk’s had been broken too many times to know for sure. Her alpha–or beta– sire had perhaps given her some refinement in her chin and cheeks, but her face gave no hints of her parentage.
Daisy inherited her father’s love for animals; helping with the horses and chasing cats around the keep, even managing to charm the old hoary tomcat that hissed at everyone into playing with her. (When she told her father this she did not see the sly smile that Lord Bloodraven shot at Duncan.) She enjoyed being out in the gardens, asking anyone who was near about a flower or bird she found exciting, and begged her father to take her out of the city as often as possible. Near her sixth nameday Duncan had taken a half-year leave of absence to take the girl around the Reach and Stormlands, giving her stories abound when they returned. Lord and Lady Fossoway had let her climb the apple trees and Lord Lyonel had showered her with gifts, watching her closely and occasionally giving her father a questioning look–which was ignored.
She and her father kept a small apartment in the servant’s quarters but she was also close with the royal children, particularly Egg who considered her another sister. When she presented as an omega at two-and-ten she was allowed to become a handmaiden for the beta Princess Rhae and the two became inseparable, seen whispering in the hallways and sewing together in the parlors of the maidenvault. When Betha arrived at court she praised Daisy’s embroidery and singing talents, leading her to become a popular companion for even the highborn ladies who initially turned up their noses at her. Most shockingly to some, King Baelor seemed very fond of the girl. Some scandalous rumors abounded that the king meant to take her to wife, but the more widely accepted rumor was that he was her alpha sire.
At seven-and-ten Daisy was a woman grown, her scent developed into a facsimile of her father’s sweet maple. She had charmed her way through the court of the Red Keep and was a sweetheart of the city. She was fond of singing in taverns, often sneaking Egg out with her as he enjoyed being with the smallfolk, which is where she had met Ser Damon Snow. A good head shorter than her, Damon was an alpha out of the Neck and had made his way South to find work. He was skilled with a polearm despite his small stature and had been knighted by a Mooton after doing some guardwork in Maidenpool. He had been enchanted by Daisy’s singing and her stories of growing up in Kings Landing. After soothing a misunderstanding regarding Egg who had been lurking threateningly over his adopted-sister’s shoulder, the two began a sweet courtship and after five moons Ser Damon asked Duncan for Daisy’s hand.
The wedding was approaching and Daisy was nervous for reasons outside of standing in the sept with Damon. She loved Damon, she loved her father, but she had sent out two letters after carefully mimicking Duncan’s wobbly writing and was sure that their intended recipients would arrive.
Daisy ran through the service stairways of Maegor’s Holdfast until she reached Rhae’’s room. As she flew through the doors she nearly collided with Prince Maekar on his way out.
“Oh! Your Grace. Apologies.” She curtsied hurriedly and tucked the book under her arm tighter against her body.
“Lady Waters.” The stern prince nodded at her as he departed and left his smoky scent lingering.
Daisy felt her face flush in embarrassment until the doors closed behind Maekar and she heard Rhae giggling with another one of her handmaidens.
“Is there a fire? Has Balerion come again?” Rhae teased her but patted the seat next to her. There was a tray set out for tea laden with cakes and fruits.
“Are you well?” The other handmaiden Corrin Martell, an omega cousin of Rhae’s through her grandmother, asked. The three were close friends and spoke as near equals in confidence.
“I’ve done something horrible.” Daisy giggled. She produced the book that had been wedged under her arm. Upon closer inspection it was a simple leather bound journal. “Months ago, when Damon and I were still courting, I was returning some embroidery to Betha’s room and saw a number of journals. I know it’s incorrect to snoop! But I saw this one stamped with fathers sigil! It’s Egg’s, from when he was traveling with father.”
The other two girls looked mildly interested but anyone who lived in the Red Keep had heard countless stories from Egg about his travels with Duncan. At their lack of enthusiasm Daisy huffed and opened it, clearing her throat to read aloud.
Ser and I were traveling through the Reach for many moons. A raven managed to find us to summon Ser to Kings Landing during uncle’s coronation. We started into the Stormlands and stopped to stay with Lord Lyonel. He insisted that we travel to the capitol with his retinue. While we were waiting to depart Lord Lyonel gifted Ser many clothes and a dagger. I may not have presented yet but I can tell Lyonel's scent changes around Ser. I told Ser Duncan that Lyonel was courting him and he said he’d give me a clout on the ear if I didn’t mind my business. We’ve been traveling for a sennight and Duncan has stayed in Lyonel's tent for many nights. I think they were sparring one night. I told Ser the next day that surely it would be better to spar during the day and he said I needed a clout in the ear.
“Wait.” Rhae sat up quickly. “Uncle Baelor’s coronation that was-“
“Nine moons before I was born, aye.” Daisy emphasized meaningfully.
“And your father was ‘sparring’ with Lord Baratheon at night?” Corrin giggled. “Does that mean Lord Lyonel is your sire?”
“Just wait, listen.” Daisy flipped a few pages of the book.
I hate the capitol. It’s hot and stinky here and everyone wants me to wear uncomfortable clothes. Father wants me to start looking for a marriage arrangement and I said I wanted to join the Kingsguard. Valarr will never regain the strength he once had after being so sick and will need good knights. I told father that I thought Lord Lyonel was courting Ser and he actually laughed out loud and told me not to tell uncle. I think uncle means to make Ser Duncan a Kingsguard when Ser Gwayne dies. He never recovered from the sickness either and is rather old. Ser would be well suited for the Kingsguard but I would rather us be in Storms End than Kings Landing. Uncle supped privately with Ser Duncan two nights past and Ser returned to our quarters late that night. He smelled different and had an odd red spot on his neck but when I told him so he said he’d give me a clout in the ear.
“Aye we’ve all heard the whispers that you’re a dragonseed.” Corrin nodded and took a sweet from their tea tray. “The king’s never done much to quell the rumors, but never acknowledged you either.”
“Grandfather was very stern with my father and uncles, regarding bastards.” Rhae pointed out.
“If father hadn’t been appointed Kingsguard, the king would never have known I existed. I was born on the road. Father would have stayed a hedge knight and I would have been raised on the road with your brother. I knew Lord Lyonel was fond of him, father talks of him often and when he learned his letters they began writing frequently.” Daisy ran her fingers along the writing and grinned wickedly. “But there’s more.”
The other girls gasped and leaned forward to listen. Egg’s stories of his travels were thrilling there was no doubt but the juicy gossip found in his journal was much better for the young women.
The tourney has been most exciting. Ser entered the lists and has won a few tilts. He told me that uncle did talk to him about being a Kingsguard but I don’t think Ser believes him. He keeps talking like we will remain on the road but I do not think Ser Gwayne will survive the year. Lord Raymun and Lady Red have arrived and set up a cider tent alongside their pavilion. We were drinking with them when Dame Webber arrived! We saw her not two months past and she made no mention of coming to the coronation, she even said once she cares not for jousting. She said she intends on entering the archery tournament as she is quite skilled with a bow and hopes to petition uncle to put aside her late father’s will making her marry. I know she had told Ser that if he were highborn she would have married him and she had thought to marry Ser Eustace but he was a beta and she would likely have difficulty carrying his child as an alpha. I think she fancies Ser but he’s now compelled to the Kingsguard and can’t marry. They were talking very close and Ser even told her he’d plead her cause to uncle too, I think they forgot I was there. Dame Webber was sitting rather close to Ser and they were making eyes at each other like grown folks do. I cleared my throat and Ser sent me off without even threatening to clout my ear and did not return to our tent until the next morning.
The girls were dissolved into giggles after Daisy’s reading when the door to Rhae’s chamber opened and Betha strode in, cradling her heavily pregnant belly.
“Oh I had wondered if you found that.” She smiled and sat down heavily, her developing maternal scent billowing around her. “I thought you might enjoy it and noticed it had disappeared after you had embellished my riding cloak.”
“Apologies my lad-“
Betha waved her hand. “I knew you would find it. I wanted you to. My husband was most embarrassed when I read passages aloud after finding it myself.”
“So your sire could be… Uncle, Lord Lyonel, or this Dame Webber? I know her not.” Rhae frowned a bit.
“The widow of Coldmoat.” Betha smiled, having heard the story many times. “She’s an alpha and has had several of her husbands die unfortunately.” She nodded at Daisy. “Your father once defeated a man who meant to marry her by force and brought peace between her and a neighboring keep. Egg always thought they fancied each other but Dame Rohanne has never married again, just remained on her own since.”
“And they say I’m an old maid.” Rhae grumbled. “That’s why father was here earlier, trying to compel me once more to marry.”
Daisy smiled sympathetically. At nearly twenty years of age, Rhae’s refusal to marry was a frequent topic of discussion among court gossips. She was free to marry for love, being a second daughter of a fourth son, but had not made a great effort to find someone who pleased her. Daisy suspected that the princess rather enjoyed not being attached and would miss the Red Keep even if she found an alpha to marry.
“So why bring this up now?” Corrin asked. “You said you’d done something horrible.”
Daisy buried her face in her hands and mumbled something.
“Didn’t quite get that.” Betha said as she helped herself to a cake from the tray.
“I invited them to the wedding!” Daisy wailed. “I imitated father’s handwriting and wrote to Dame Rohanne and Lord Lyonel inviting them to my own wedding!”
“Oh… Why?” Rhae asked rather bluntly.
“I…” Daisy hesitated. “I want my sire to be there to see me get married. So I had to invite all the possibilities. I believe they’re both due to arrive on the morrow and I am scared I’ve done something horrible. What will happen when father finds out? Or when the king finds out?”
Corrin set her hand on Daisy’s knee and sent out her calming jasmine scent. Daisy relaxed a bit, not realizing how agitated she had become and settled back in the chaise to eat an orange.
“It was reckless, no doubt.” Betha admitted. “Your father will be surprised but he can never stay mad at you. He will be glad to see Lord Lyonel when the shock wears off but has he corresponded with Dame Rohanne often?”
“No, I think it was a fleeting fancy.” Daisy worried her lip between her teeth. “He only had mentioned her in regards to his story defeating the Longinch.”
“Seeing her will be a shock, no doubt.” Corinn concluded.
“As for the king…” Rhae started and let her voice trail off.
The ladies silently stewed over the thought. It was no secret that King Baelor was fond of Ser Duncan. The rumors of Daisy’s parentage did not come from nowhere, as Baelor had doted on her since she was a young pup. Additionally, Dunk brought out a tenderness in the king that had not been seen since his wife had passed. Duncan was well liked and respected by the others at court and in the Kingsguard, but the king's blatant favor towards him could not be ignored. King Baelor was a Targaryen alpha, and he had clearly claimed Duncan and Daisy in his own way and only the Seven knew how he would respond to that claim being challenged.