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Chapter Text

“I want to tell you a story,” the Lady Dawn stated as she looks up from her thick book to look at an unknown person.

Dawn smiles mischievously. “It is a story about the daughters and wives of a man with cruelness in him,” Dawn sang.

__________

Too Much Labour // Underneath them

Maegelle sings the song that Visenya, her grandmother, had taught her once to Maegor when he comes to visit his first wife and daughters.

Saera plays her harp while her other two sisters, Lynesse and Visenya (named after Maegor’s mother), dance for their father’s entertainment.

Maegor’s visits aren’t very often but whenever they do happen they are quite enjoyable for Visenya the younger and Maegells while Saera and Lynesse are wary of their father out of fear as they had heard many cruel things about him.

******* 

Viserys stays with Ceryse acting as her cupbearer when he is not with Maegor or being shadowed by Ser Olyver Bracken.

Viserys is of pleasant company and he serves as a good companion for Maegelle and Lynesse and Visenya as they are eager to know about their kingly father and his knights as well as stories of true knights saving the day.

Saera huffs and mutters that Ceryse’s kinsmen and the Warrior’s Sons are the best knights in the realm as she embroiders handkerchiefs for Alyssa and Alysanne who are at Dragonstone with Jaehaerys as prisoners in all but name.

Ceryse smiles at her third daughter and gently strokes her silver-white hair. Saera can be harsh with her words at times but she is a good girl.

”And what then, Viserys?” Maegelle inquires as she tries to split her attention between Viserys and her needlework.

”Then the true knights came and they killed the false knights as well as the tyrant king who had imprisoned the queen and her fair daughters,” Viserys told Maegelle eagerly with a faint smile.

Visenya giggled. “Again! Again! Again!” the little girl chanted as she clapped her hands in excitement.

”Visenya, darling, do not be so demanding with your cousin,” Ceryse gently scolds her daughter. “Let Viserys gather his voice before he can tell you the story again,”

“Yes Mama,” Visenya mutters as she presses her little knees against her little chest.

”It is much alright, Your Grace,” Viserys say as he looks at Ceryse with a faint smile. He is a very pretty boy and Ceryse wonders if he will stay pretty when he is a man grown.

******* 

“The White Queen,” Septa Arwyn murmurs as Ceryse’s household watches Maegelle mount her pearlescent white dragon.

”Starfyre is a very impressive she-dragon,” One of Ceryse’s ladies admitted as they watched Starfyre fly around with Maegelle riding her.

”Tis a good day for the Princess Maegelle for she has mounted her dragon,” One of Ceryse’s loyal knights stated.

”His Grace must be proud of his eldest daughter riding a dragon,” One of Maegor’s men say with a faint smile.

Ceryse wonders if Maegelle riding a dragon will make the tyrant think of his daughter(s) as less of a disappointment for not being born with something in between her legs.

She doesn’t think that Maegor will ever be satisfied with only the four daughters that Ceryse had given him.

******* 

Ceryse’s mother, the Lady Cerelle Lannister, comes to court one day with some of her female Lannister cousins who are her ladies-in-waiting since she first married Ceryse’s father.

”Daughter,” Cerelle says when Ceryse comes to greet the olde woman with her knights, ladies, and children.

Cerelle clicked her tongue. “You should have had a servant lead me to you, little tower,” Cerelle scolds her. “You are a Queen, and you should act like it,”

”Yes Mother,” Ceryse responded obediently as she grips Visenya’s hand in her own.

You would have called me cruel if I had actually had servants welcome you here, Mother, Ceryse thinks bitterly.

Visenya looks at her mother in slight confusion. “Mama?” the young girl whispered softly.

“Let me lead you to your rooms, Mother.” Ceryse says and she leads everyone away towards the castle. 

“Good,” Cerelle looked around and she had a look on her face that said that she was clearly unimpressed with everything around her so far.

••••••

“This is Maegelle,” Ceryse says as she puts her hands on her eldest daughter’s shoulders as she’s presenting her eldest to her lady mother.

Cerelle looks at the girl with her silver-white hair, light purple eyes with specks of green, fair skin, and curly hair that fell in ringlets. 

“At least your beauty is the only good physical trait that you inherited from your father’s family,” Cerelle said about her daughter’s firstborn.

”This is Lynesse,” Ceryse presents her second daughter who had honey-colored curls with streaks of silver-white. 

Lynesse had mismatched eyes as one of her eyes were green while the other eye on the other hand was purple.

”Your second chld inherited your looks for the most part,” Cerelle noted as she studied Lynesse from top to bottom. “And you also gave her a Reacher name,”

”This is Saera,” Ceryse presented her third child and daughter. Saera mostly had the typical Targaryen appearance but her hair was wavy like Ceryse’s own hair was and she also had Ceryse’s green eyes.

”She has different eyes from the others,” Cerelle frowned. “That is a bit odd,”

Saera looks down at her shoes and her ears are red from shame and embarrassment.

”Mother,” Ceryse hissed.

”What is wrong, little tower?” Cerelle questioned. “I said nothing wrong but the truth even if you do not love it,”

”I do not need to love the ‘truth’ to be wary of it,” Ceryse said.

”Good then,” Cerelle said, “because I am not apologizing for a sin I did not do,”

Ceryse wants to hang her head low but she instead simply squeezed Saera’s shoulders briefly in a comforting manner.

”And this is Visenya, my last child. Maegor named her after his mother the Dowager Queen Visenya,” Ceryse presented her youngest child to her mother.

Visenya had silver-white hair and was the most Valyrian looking child that Ceryse has. Although Visenya had a round face and round eyes like Ceryse.

”Hmm, she’s the most Valyrian looking child that you have,” Cerelle observed as she gazed at little Visenya.

Visenya, for her part, nervously shifted her feet on her spot as she was being presented to her mother’s mother.

“She has curly hair that falls in ringlets,” Cerelle added as she extended a hand and touched Visenya’s curls.

******** 

Ceryse holds her own court and it is a menagerie filled with her relations and of Reacher men and Reacher women.

Her mother insisted on staying at court and bringing some Lannister kin of hers. “You need more allies, girl,” Cerelle tells her even though Ceryse has not been a girl in such a long time.

”The Whore of Harroway floods the Red Keep with her blasted Harroway kin, so why should you not flood your court with Hightowers, Lannisters, and Reacher men and women?” 

“Mother,” Cerelle hissed, “do not let anyone hear you talking about Alys Harroway that way.” Ceryse frantically looked around and she swallowed back spit.

”The walls have ears and the animals listen,” Ceryse informed her mother, “and rats and other vermin are said to be the spies of the Mistress of Whisperers,”

*✨*✨*✨*✨*✨*

“Princess Saera, it is an honor to meet you,” Jorgen Velaryon said as he bowed his head when he first meets Saera one day.

Jorgen gently kissed Saera’s hand with a chaste kiss which made the princess’s cheeks become a rosy shade.

”Tis a pleasure to meet you my lord,” Saera replied with a soft smile.

Jorgen smiles and Saera thinks that she has seen one of the prettiest smiles ever in the Six Kingdoms.

Saera spends her time ever since then seeing Jorgen Velaryon either by pure coincidence or by fate. Which one it is, Saera does not know but she does not care to know much.

Alys Harroway (that damned whore is no queen) however takes note of Saera’s increasing fondness for the Lord Daemon Velaryon’s second born son.

”My sons will marry their full-blooded sisters and be princesses and queens unlike you and your sisters,” Alys said one day to Saera after seeing the girl walking along the halls of the Red Keep.

”You might marry some petty lord or even an oaf just like your maternal uncle!” Alys Harroway laughed cruelly.

And Saera hated the damned woman who tore her family apart even more than she did when Saera’s father chose the Harroway whore over his family with his first and only true wife.

”And what will those girls if half the realm thinks you not but a whore who takes with foreign witches,” Saera sneered as her hands ball into fists by her sides.

Two of her mother’s loyal Hightower and Lannister knights stand behind Saera and they are ready to draw their swords to protect their princess no matter what.

And despite Saera’s reservation about her father, Saera likes to think that her father, King Maegor, would avenge her death.

It is a nice thing to think.

Chapter Text

Maegor could feel a headache coming in. He stared at his wives and his children. His blood. The blood of the dragon.

”What has happened?” Maegor demanded as he glared at everyone.

The smaller children whimpered and clung to their mothers more. Aurion flinched and Alys’s grip on her son tightened.

The daughters that Ceryse had birthed clung to each other for comfort. Lynesse had a gash on her right side which was being stitched by a Maester.

Lady Cerelle fussed over her second grandson, Haegon, while Visenya the younger looked at her siblings with wide purple eyes.

”Aerion!” Ceryse cried as she immediately went to her son. “My son, my boy, my sweet boy!” Ceryse was on the verge of sobbing.

”Careful, Your Grace,” the Maesters warned gently. “The loss is fresh and will be very cruel to the prince. It is best to be careful,”

“Will it ever heal, my good Maester?” Ceryse’s voice came, tears in her eyes, as she gently stroked Aerion’s arm.

The Maester looked at Ceryse in an apologetic manner. “The flesh will heal,” he informed her, “but the eye has already been removed. The loss and damage cannot be unmade,”

Ceryse began to sob softly as her grip on Aerion’s arm tightened. “My boy, my sweet boy,” Ceryse whispered.

”Well?” Maegor harshly said. “Will no one tell me exactly why my eldest son is maimed and missing an eye?”

”T-They attacked us father!” Aerion cried out as another one of the Maesters stitch was given.

“What?!” Maegor could feel his blood boiling. “Who has attacked you? Who dares to do such a thing?” Maegor sneered.

He will kill whoever laid a hand on his heir and second son from Ceryse as well as his second daughter.

”It was Aurion, Baena, and Maenar!” Lynesse cried out as she clung to Maegelle who looked as pale as a ghost. “They attacked us when we went out with Haegon so he could get a dragon of his to claim,”

”Haegon almost killed our dragons!” Aurion shouted angrily.

”It’s not our fault that your dragons get scared easily!” Haegon cried out. A maester was cleaning his wounds.

”How is it our fault that Grey Ghost managed to scare off Shaelyx, Valys, and Onixa!” Lynesse sneered. “And what’s more you maimed Aerion because he was trying to protect Haegon from you! You would have maimed Haegon had it not been for Aerion protecting him from you!”

What? 

“And where were you?” Maegor looked at his knights in outrage. “Where were you when the heir was being maimed alongside his full blooded sister and brother? Where were the Kingsguard and knights assigned to them?”

”My apologies, Your Grace,” The Lord Commander says as he hung his head low. “But the princes and the princess slipped from our watch. Princess Lynesse has always been keen on knowing our schedule.”

”You dare accuse my daughter and blame her for your incompetence!” Maegor roared.

The knight became pale. “It is not an excuse, Your Grace. It is merely an explanation, Your Grace,” The Knight replied.

Maegor contemplated beheading the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard for a brief moment but (reluctantly) decided against it in the end.

He looked at his youngest son, Maenar. “You are the least injured, boy. Now tell me what happened, Maenar,” 

“What is there to tell when it is obvious for what has happened!” Ceryse cried out as she glared at Alys and Aurion angrily. “Their sons and daughter have maimed our eldest son, Husband! Our Aerion has lost an eye. And Lynesse and Haegon have been injured and maimed, and their children are responsible,”

”It was an accident!” Alys Harroway fiercely insisted. “It was your daughter that unsheathed my son’s sword without any training at all,”

”Dear, you make it sound as if the children broke an expensive vase and not maimed their elder half-siblings!” Cerelle Lannister, mother of Ceryse Hightower, exclaimed.

”We do not fully know what has happened,” Tyanna of the Tower said cooly as she had a pale arm wrapped around Maenar while the other held onto Baena. Tyanna’s grip on her children was possessive.

”We do not know? My son has lost an eye! And its your children who have played a part. And I demand to know who was the one to take my son’s eye,” Ceryse sneered.

“Then we should allow for my son Maenar to speak his part rather than stop him from speaking,” Tyanna replied with narrowed eyes.

Maenar looked pale and he swallowed back spit, he was trembling. “It…It was Aurion that attacked first!” The young boy confessed.

”Liar!” Aurion shouted. 

“Enough!” Maegor snapped. He looked towards his son by his Alys Harroway with a dark look. “I did not order you to speak, boy.”

Aurion flinched and so did his mother who pressed the boy closer to her in a protective gesture.

Maegor wanted to scoff at that. His sons are bring protected too much by their mothers. His daughters he can understand the reason for the overprotectiveness. 

But not fully with his sons.

His sons are of the blood of the dragon. They are descended from Visenya Targaryen and Aegon the Conqueror. Theirs is the blood of the dragon and of the Old Valyria.

They are dragon riders. All of them.

All of Maegor’s children are dragon riders.

Every single one of them.

Maegelle rode Starfyre.

Lynesse rode Greenfyre. 

Saera rode Starshell. 

Visenya rode Seashell.

Aerion rode Stormcloud.

Haegon now rode Grey Ghost (Haegon used to have a hatchling called Lightfyre but the Cannibal ate him and left a young Haegon without dragon).

Aurion rode Shaelyx.

Maenar rode Valys.

Baena rode Onixa.

And they do not need their mothers to protect them so much when they should face the cruelties of the world without protection from women not of the dragon’s blood.

“I did not mean to hurt Lynesse, please Father!” Maenar begged. “I was only holding her so she would not get hurt!”

”And yet she has been hurt regardless of what you had intended to do!” Ceryse cried out.

Ceryse looked at Maegor with pleading eyes as tears fell from her face. “Please, Maegor, my husband, I cannot stand this any longer! Your second wife has intended to take my daughters away and to usurp our sons. I cannot stand by and just let her son go unpunished for maiming our firstborn son. I have suffered her threats, insolence, and disrespect long enough! I will not stand for her son to get away with what he did to our Aerion!”

“You are just upset that he does not love you! You bitter pious bitch!” Alys cried out in anger as she shook and her grip on Aurion became much more protective.

“Alys,” Tyanna warned.

”And you are jealous that the King has not given you anymore children other than that boy of yours,” Cerelle Lannister remarked coldly.

”And what have you when your son has maimed my eldest son and taken his eye!” Ceryse shouted. “You make your way into my marriage with the promise of sons for my husband. You feel entitled to my daughters marriage decision and now your son takes mine’s eye. And even to that you feel entitled,” 

“Exhausting wasn’t it? Hiding behind a cloak of your own righteousness?” Alys sneered as she hid Aurion behind her.

”Dear, you make it sound as if we were planning on poisoning you and your son and denying it instead of demanding for something to be done because your son maimed the eldest son of the King!” Cerelle Lannister snapped.

”Enough!” Maegor roared. “This infighting must stop now! We are family and I will not have my household tear itself apart because of past grievances,”

Everyone became quiet but Ceryse and Alys glared at each other viciously and tried to bring their children closer to themselves.

”Tomorrow I will have everyone involved in the incident questioned until I know what has happened. But until then all of you will go get rest and will not attack each other! Am I understood?” Maegor looked around.

”Yes Your Grace,” Ceryse said, her breathing had become heavy.

The Next Day 

Maegor could feel another headache coming in and he wanted to smack his second wife. 

Alys had not taught her son manners nor had she had him properly disciplined if the current events were anything.

”Your Grace, there must be some form of punishment for the maiming of the Crown Prince at the hand of his half-brother from the second wife,” One of his lords urged.

”No one will take it lightly if nothing is to be done with Prince Aurion,” Another lord reminded him carefully.

”The people adore Queen Ceryse and her children. They will revolt if they see that justice is not served to their prince,” A lord warned.

Maegor cursed silently in valyrian his situation caused by his children and their mothers who spoiled them top much for their own good.

”Your Grace, surely you are not thinking of maiming the Prince Aurion as a punishment?” Lucas Harroway asked with unease heard clearly in his voice. 

“Is that not what should be done as Prince Aurion has permanently maimed the heir?” 

“But this is still too cruel a punishment for a child all because of an accident!” Lucas argued.

”Many lords would have cut the hand of anyone who maimed their heirs the way that Prince Aerion was maimed,” Someone scoffed.

”Yes, but still,” Lucas said dismissively.

”I must agree with this,” Aethan Velaryon suddenly said. “Prince Aurion has maimed the heir and must be punished accordingly. If His Grace does not do so wouldn’t it give the impression that House Targaryen can’t control its own members and children?”

Maegor narrowed his eyes at Aethan Velaryon who did not flinch at all but instead the Velaryon man appeared calm. 

“Well it is settled, Prince Aurion will have the hand which he used to maim Prince Aerion removed permanently,” Maegor declared.

”Your Grace, please reconsider this!” Lucas all but begged. 

“What is there to reconsider, my lord?” Aethan inquired.

”Prince Aurion is a child!”

”And so are Prince Aerion who lost his eye because of Prince Aurion and Prince Haegon who was the original target and now has a broken arm because of Prince Maenar and Princess Baena,” The Grand Maester replied.

Maegor swore that he could feel a headache coming in at the mention of his twins by Tyanna.

Maegor decided to ignore the topic of the twins from Tyanna all together.

Stormcloud was roaring.

”T-Tanwen…!” Aerion screamed as he trashed around in his bed. “Tanwen! Where are you my Stormcloud?”

Stormcloud roared again while Greenfyre, Lynesse’s dragon, roared back at her brother.

“What is wrong with him? Is he alright?” Ceryse asked the Maester. She was on the verge of tears for her eldest son.

”He must be hallucinating, Your Grace,” The Maester looked at her apologetically. “The prince and the dragon must be feeling the other’s pain,” The Maester theories.

”Or it could be because of the milk of the poppy,” A Hightower cousin that was there with Ceryse suggested. 

“That may be,” Ceryse murmured.

“Will Father punish Aurion for what he did to Aerion?” Saera whispered to Jorgen Velaryon, who looked unsure.

”I do not know, Aurion is still the son of His Grace,” Jorgen Velaryon whispered back to his princess.

”I hope he does,” Visenya muttered as she put seashells that Victor Velaryon, Jorgen’s younger brother, has given her on the windows for her dragon to see.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if the Harroway’s tried to convince Father not to punish Aurion,” Maegelle remarked as she tried to focus on her needlework.

”But what else is new?” Viserys asked dryly as he stood beside Maegelle, looking at her needlework. 

“Aurion has always been spoiled by his mother,” Jeremy Hightower, a son of Ser Morgan Hightower, mused out loud.

Saera scoffed. “The Harroway woman has only one child and she spoils him rotten because he’s her only claim to the Targaryens.” 

“The Mistress of Whisperers has two children compared to the one from Alys Harroway and the six of you from Queen Ceryse,” Cerelle Lannister, the maternal grandmother of the Targaryen-Hightower children, remarked. 

Chapter Text

That day, Aerea went to her father’s study with a purpose in mind.

Her heartbeat was ringing in her hears and her hands were bloody from all the biting that she had done before.

Aerea knocked gently on the door and her stomach felt like it was tied into knots. 

“Who is it?” Father’s voice called out, he sounded gruff.

Aerea swallowed back saliva (it tasted bitter) and spoke, “It is me father, Aerea,” Her voice sounded airy and she hated it.

”Aerea? Come in,”

Aerea entered the study and she saw that her father looked more withered than usual.

She almost left out of the rising guilt because she thinks that what she has to tell him is too much for him right now.

But when will you tell him that you don’t wish for this betrothal with Ser Tywin despite the admiration and flowery love for him? 

Tell him

And so Aerea decides. 

“My little dragon, what troubles you so?” Father asked her gently as he pushes away books and ledgers.

He looks withered. Father rarely holds court anymore and so that alongside other things are left to Aerys to handle.

”Father, have you heard of what is happening in the West?” Aerea asked as she walked towards her father.

Fathet nodded. “Yes, I have,” Father confirmed and then he smiled slightly.

Aerea could feel a shiver run down her spine. “Please, Father, I do not want this betrothal. Those things that Ser Tywin is doing are terrible!”

Tywin had beheaded Lord Walderan as well as his sons. Then he had Tarbeck Hall set ablaze.

”Set the stones ablaze and let the halls burn,” 

“I know that you might not agree now or ever with your future husband’s methods, my little dragon,” Father began. “But my future good-son is simply making sure that the realm does not dissolve into civil war and that the West is ready for you, my sweetling,”

”My sweetling, will you like for Mama to read you another story about brave knights who save the day and rescue a princess just like you?” 

Aerea wanted to cry at the memory of her beloved mother. Celia Tully was a kind woman with a love for everyone and a kind smile or word for all. 

Aerea misses her greatly but her Mama is in the Seven Heavens with Grandfather and Grandmother. 

“Please Father, I do not love Ser Tywin at all and I wish to marry for love,” Aerea all but begged her kingly father. “I do not want this arrangement and neither does he,” 

Ser Tywin would rather marry his cousin, the beautiful Lady Joanna Lannister. And Aerea does not wish to marry a man who will long for another as he beds her and begots children onto her.

”But yet you admire him, my little dragon,” Father pointed out.

Aerea wished to cry but she can not. “Admiration is not the same thing as love, Father,” Aerea whispered.

”And yet love can be build stone by stone, brick by brick, wood by wood, and splinter by splinter just like a house. It did for me and your mother and it will surely be the same between you and Ser Tywin, my little dragon,”

Aerea felt crushed. Lady Joanna will surely hate her now for this as Aerea has taken Ser Tywin from her. And Aerea loves Lady Joanna very dearly and she doesn’t want the older girl to hate her.

“Please, Father,” Aerea begged, “neither me or Ser Tywin wish for this,”

Jaehaerys II, her father, looked at Aerea kindly. “Give it time, child,” he said, “and love will surely grow between you two if you allow it to,”

Aerea wished for it to be true.

Years later, Aerea will bitterly wonder what might have happened had her kingly father just listened to her and freed both Aerea and Tywin from the betrothal. 

Tywin was no father to her children, he preferred to stay in the politics of Kings Landing and draw Aerea’s eldest daughter (her Cersei, her little lioness, her little girl) into it.

Cersei, Jaime, Loreon, Aegon, Betha and Joffrey are her world and her most prized treasures. 

Tywin is no father to the children, but Gerion and her brave (beloved) Ser Hallyne are. 

Chapter Text

Mountain Spring // You don’t need a thing

________

Here’s a funny thing, Daenerys Targaryen the daughter of the Mad King is born years earlier. And that changes many things with her being born earlier than she should have.

***** 

Daenerys is born screaming her lungs out while her mother is screaming in agony.

She was born amidst pain while her brother Rhaegar was born amidst sorrow.

**** 

Mother sobs as she holds Dany close to her. “Oh, my sweeting,” Mama whispers, “I’m so sorry,”

Dany only sees the sheets belonging to her mother covered in blood. 

Later, Dany notices how distant Papa is and she doesn’t understand why. Mama is sad and weepy.

And Rhaegar is sad as well but he’s always sad. 

Dany sees blood on her mother’s sheet a few more times after that.

*****

“Dany, my little dragon,” Aerys says gleefully, “you are to marry your brother Rhaegar to keep the bloodline pure,”

Dany stares at her brother and she doesn’t understand. 

“Why?”

”To keep our bloodline pure,” Aerys says, this time he looks displeased at having to repeat herself.

”Now don’t be a stupid girl and listen to you Septas and your mother because you’ll be taught how to be a good wife for your brother,”

*****

Lady Joanna is kind to her, and Dany likes her and she’s very pretty. Lady Joanna takes care of her mother alongside Princess Loreza.

”Courtesy is a lady’s armor,” Lady Joanna tells her with a faint smile, her green eyes were shining.

”The people matter, dearest princess,” Princess Loreza tells her as they are donating to charity alongside Dany’s mother. 

Dany learns that being kind gets people to trust you. Being thoughtful of your people earns you their support.

People need to eat and they don’t care for the political games of the high-born. The people only care for the well-being of their loved ones.

People only care that there’s enough food on the table and in their bellies.

People only care that theirs a roof over their heads.

People only care that their families are in good health.

People care that the laws of gods and men are being followed. 

And Targaryens are neither gods but instead they’re mortals just like everyone else.

”The first Rhaenys fell from her dragon because she was shot by the very people she had been trying to conquer in fire and blood,” Princess Loreza says, her eyes looked distant.

”The people rebel against rulers they detest and they resist their rule. No one would accept a bastard line on the throne over a true-born one, not while they can do something about it,”

Somehow, Princess Loreza’s words feel like they were predicting something that will come.

**** 

Father becomes more and more a shell of himself as he screams and accuses treason of everybody.

“Burn them all! Burn them all! Burn them all!” Aerys, Father, screams. “Burn all of these traitors at once!”

Mother screams when Shaena dies, the baby girl’s eyes had remained forever close and never to open at all.

Mother and Dany weep when Daeron dies after living for only half a year. Father had been happy while Daeron lived. 

Rhaegar had even smiled more.

Aegon lived the longest so far. Dany counted to only one when Aegon died.

Father became more and more cruel to Mother; he made her so terribly sad.

”All your, our, children die in the cradle or are born death,” Father sneered. “It must be because something is wring with you, Rhaella.” Father claims.

”It is never a woman’s fault if her children die,” Princess Loreza tells Dany one day with sad eyes. “It is never her fault when her children are lost to her. Only a cruel person would kill their own child and give them to the Stranger,”

Father roars in fury when Jaehaerys dies in his cradle. He had his mistress (“A mistress is someone loves and couples like a man would a wife. But a mistress is not a wife,”) and her family tortured and killed because of it as well as Jaehaerys’s wet nurse because surely her milk was poisoned.

Father had been kinder to Mother, Dany, and Rhaegar whilst Jaehaerys still lived before he died in his cradle. 

Daenerys sees smoke and burned bodies much more as time goes by. Daenerys had screamed and cried when she first saw a burned body.

Daenerys still saw the burned bodies and the green and red of the fire in mind and in her dreams whilst she slept.

”Princess, do not be so burdened by your nightmares,” Cersei Lannister whispers to her while they both slept in Dany’s bed.

”If only such a thing was possible,” Daenerys whispered as she looked at her shaking hands.

”Oh please do sleep. We will get lemon balm tea in the morning for all the ills that bad dreams cause,” One of Daenerys’s bedmaids murmured. 

Cersei rolled her eyes. “Some need it more than others,” she muttered.

”Now sleep all of you,” Princess Elia murmured with a yawn. “For we all need to prepare as tomorrow is an important day wether we like it or not,”

Daenerys almost feels sick at the remainder of how tomorrow she will get married to her older brother Rhaegar.

****** 

“Dragon eggs from the east, my good king,” The Spider proudly announced during Daenerys’s wedding.

Father looks eager and happy and…maniacal as he gazed at the dragon eggs in the chest with clear greed in his eyes.

”Ah, yes yes, good work Varys! You are a capable servant indeed!”

”Good gods,” Cersei whispers in an almost condescending manner.

Elia gave Cersei a look. “Careful with your words, my lady,” Elia reminded the blonde lady. “Lest the Mad King hears you and demands your head,”

Mother wants to shake her head as she holds Viserys close to her. Daenerys’ little brother is a happy boy and Mother tries to keep Father’s worst parts hidden away from Viserys. 

Daenerys wonders if that is right.

”My my, the King is very pleased,” Janna Tyrell whispered to Mina Tyrell.

”That is very obvious,” Mina Tyrell replied as she nervously fidgeted with her bracelet. 

Daenerys wondered if this was a good time for gossip from her ladies-in-waiting. But then again gossip is useful and a guilty pleasure of hers.

**** 

“Dany my daughter, you have hatched the eggs! You have revived the dragons! You are the dragon mother!”

”Dany!” Mother screams out of worry as Viserys looked at her with wide eyes filled with both shock and awe. 

“Dany!” Viserys shrikes. 

“Daenerys!” Elia shouted in panic, her eyes were wide as her husband, Baelor Hightower, tried to keep her away lest she be burned by the flames surrounding the Targaryen princess.

“Daenerys!” Cersei exclaimed as her twin brother, Lord Jaime, rushed towards her.

“Princess!” Mina Tyrell screamed in horror as she looked at the flames in fear and horror.

”By the Mother!” Janna Tyrell exclaimed.

Rhaegar stares at her in shock but he doesn’t seem as worried for her as everyone else does. (Later, Daenerys realizes she should have asked him if he was worried for her like all the others save Father who was insane)

Daenerys blinked and looked at the little creatures that were clinging to her. She felt warm all over as if she was next to a fireplace.

She looked at the creatures and she immediately knew what they were.“Dragons,” Daenerys whispered.

Chapter Text

The capillaries in my are are bursting 

”No it is not,” Alicent’s voice was filled with grief. “Rhaelor, our son has lost an eye, this is no simple matter!”

“Then what will you have me do, Alicent?” Rhaelor demanded in frustration. “Take Luke’s other eye? He is still a child!”

”Aemond is ten! He is a child as well just like your bastard!” Alicent exclaimed. 

“This is enough, all of you! Make your peaces with each other and show good will towards one another. Your father, your prince, demands it!”

”This is insufficient! My son has lost an eye and it is her children who have done it!” Alicent glared at Harra who had her children hiding behind her.

If our love died, would that be the worst thing? 

“Alicent!” Rhaelor screamed as Alicent approached Harra and her children with his valyrian dagger in her hand. 

“Mother!” Aemma exclaimed.

“Mother!” Aelora all but screamed as she held a crying Visenya who screamed for her mother in her older sister’s arms.

”Mama!” Alyssa wailed.

”Ma!” Daenerys, Daeron, and Daenys whined in distress. The triplets clung onto their sister Haerra for comfort as they wailed for their mother.

Helaena stared in silence as she realized that things that she had dreamt were staring to become too true. What else will become too real?

”Mother!” Aegon shouted as he held the twins Daella and Rhaelora who were only five years old.

“Mother!” Aelor shouted as he struggled in Ser Cristin’s grip. “Let me go Ser Criston! Let me go! That is my mother, I should be allowed to go fight for her and my younger brother just like any other older brother! Let me go Ser Criston!”

”I can not do that my prince!” Criston responded in a raised voice as he held the struggling prince.

”Aelor!” Baelor yelled as his eyes widened as he looked around and stared at the commotion around him.

”Baelor,” Aelora whispered as she held onto her twin brother with one hand while still holding a screaming Visenya.

”Aelora,” Baelor glanced at his twin in worry and then towards his and Aelora’s other twin, Aelor.

“You have gone too far, Alicent!” Harra exclaimed as she held Alicent’s arms tightly (leaving bruises) and blocked her from using the knife.

For someone I thought was my savior 

You sure make me do a whole lot of labor

”I? What have you done but fuck my husband and give him children and sons when my eldest was not sure to live!” Alicent shouted in anger.

“Forever upholding the law, where is duty? Where is sacrifice? All of it trampled under your pretty foot. You were like a sister to me! My friend! But what have you done but flaunt your affair with my husband in my face? You give him sons while I gave daughters and one of those sons of yours has taken my son’s eye. And even to that you feel entitled to!”

”Exhausting wasn’t it? Hiding behind a cloak of your own rightness?” Harra sneered as she managed to push Alicent back.

The calloused skin on my hands is cracking

If our love ended, would that be a bad thing?

Alicent dropped the dagger and it clattered to the floor. Rhaelor rushed towards Alicent but she would not even look at him. 

Finally, Aemond stood up. “Do not mourn me mother,” the boy said as he looked at his family and then at his father’s woman and other children.

”For I may have lost an eye but I gained a dragon,” Aemond declared. There was still blood on his face from the eye that he had lost. 

“He had to close an eye to gain a dragon,” Helaena whispered mournfully.

”Was it truly necessary for him to close an eye, Heli?” Haerra whispered as she looked at her twin sister with sad eyes.

”I do not know,” Helaena replied softly.

AUTHOR’S NOTES:

I’ll make a list of children that Rhaelor has with both Alicent and Harra here.

Alicent: 

- Aegon

- Helaena 

- Haerra

- Aemma

- Aelora

- Aelor

- Baelor

- Aemond 

- Alyssa

- Daella

- Rhaelora

- Daenerys

- Daeron

- Daenys 

- Visenya (she’s a baby)

- Aenar = currently in the womb

- Aegor (Aegon III equivalent) = currently in the womb

- Viserys (Viserys II equivalent) = currently in the womb

***

Harra:

- Daenel (he’s around in the middle of Aegon and Helaena & Haerra’s ages)

- Jacaerys

- Daekar

- Viserra 

- Lucerys 

- Joffrey

Chapter Text

 Calloused Skin 

______________ 

Rhaena wanted to scream as she saw Maegor’s six children from his first wife, Ceryse Hightower, in attendance to her ‘wedding’ to her tyrannical uncle (the father of the Targaryen-Hightower children). 

Maegor had taken Rhaena, Elinor Costayne, and Jeyne Westerling to wife all at once in order to triple his chances of getting more sons.

The son, Aurion, from Alys Harroway had been killed by someone with loyalty to Rhaena’s Aegon and to her father who had snuck into the Red Keep with the plan to kill as many children of Maegor.

The man had found his way to Aurion’s room and killed the boy who struggled so much that he made enough noise to alert the servants and guards that something was very wrong.

Aurion had just recently recovered from an illness as his health had been spiraling down ever since his mother’s death because of her unfaithfulness to Maegor which resulted in a monstrosity of a child being born from Alys Harroway.

Rhaena wasn’t sure if she believed the official reason why Alys Harroway was killed.

Elinor’s youngest child was wailing for milk throughout half of the marriage ceremony. 

Rhaena’s heart almost stopped when she saw Maegelle, Maegor’s eldest child, and the three children that clung to her. 

Maegor had Rhaena’s brother Viserys marry his daughter Maegelle so to avoid marrying the young woman out of the Targaryen family as well as to produce more descendants and to make those who opposed Maegor hesitate to support Aenys’s remaining children if Aenys’s second son had children with Maegor’s eldest daughter.

Maegelle is the eldest child of a supposed king, a princess, and a dragon rider; that alone is enough a reason for there to be many suitors for her hand in marriage.

Then there is her connections to the Hightower family and the Reach as well as the Lannisters and the Westernlands because her mother’s mother is a Lannister by birth.

Although Viserys was his good-son and the father of his grandchildren, that hadn’t stopped Maegor for having Viserys killed and tortured in response for Rhaena’s mother fleeing Dragonstone with Jaehaerys and Alysanne after the death of the Dowager Queen Visenya.

And after Viserys’s death, Maegelle has vowed to become a Vowess. Meaning she would not marry again and would devote herself to becoming closer to the Gods.

Though oddly enough, Maegelle had remained in court with her children instead of heading off to Oldtown.

(Most likely because Maegor still held a sway over Maegelle as her father. Maegelle was probably also rather terrified of disobeying him after what had happened to her husband.)

Ceryse Hightower was beautiful with her long blonde hair which was done in a low bun. She was also wearing the circlet that had originally belonged to Visenya Targaryen, Maegor’s mother.

The kin of Maegor’s first wife were in attendance simply because of Ceryse Hightower and her brood of children.

Rhaena remembered Mother telling her about how the Dowager Queen had given her good-daughter her circlet after the birth of the eldest surviving children of Maegor, Maegelle and Lynesse. 

All of Maegor’s surviving children were in attendance for the marriage ceremony of their cruel father and his three new brides. 

Tyanna of the Tower, that Pentoshi bitch, was there with her twin children, Maenar and Baena. 

Rhaena’s own twins, Aerea and Rhaella, were also in attendance as a way to ensure Rhaena’s submission and cooperation to her Uncle.

Rhaena wanted more than to rush towards her children, her baby girls, and embrace them after not seeing them for so long. 

But there were guards, men loyal to Maegor, surrounding the girls as to make sure that they didn’t slip away.

Rhaena wished to kill her uncle’s men but she feared what would be done to her beloved children in retaliation.

As Rhaena spoke her vows icily she couldn’t help but have her mind wander to her children and her brother Viserys’s children with Maegor’s daughter.

Rhaena wondered if Viserys too spoke his vows icily as he wedded the daughter of the killer of their brother Aegon.

Rhaena wondered what Viserys felt when he realized that he married the daughter of his killer and his children are the grandchildren of his jailer. 

When Rhaena and the other Black Brides are carried off to their marriage bed, Ceryse Hightower and her children as well as their retinues leave for their chambers.

“The Green Queen is leaving,” someone, perhaps most likely one of Maegor’s courtier, noted casually.

”The Greens,” someone scoffed, “Aerion Targaryen’s faction you mean,”

”The Greens, Prince Aerion’s faction, the Hightowers and or the bloody Lannisters, what does it matter?”

“Now the king has increased his chance of getting more sons from his Black Brides as Queen Ceryse can no longer birth any more children. And you remember the Harroways? With more princes from different mothers the sons of Queen Ceryse are put in a dangerous situation should they fall out of favor with their father and if their half-brothers decide that they want the throne,”

Rhaena wanted to throw up at the mere thought of having the children of her husband’s killer.

Maegor had left bruises all over her skin and Rhaena threw up after her uncle was no longer there with her.

The servants were nervous around her. Clearly, they had no idea how to approach her. 

Not that Rhaena wanted them to approach her anyway.

Maegor looks at her with lust in his eyes and that makes Rhaena want to throw up and burn him alive. 

”Our sons will be pure of blood, Niece.”

Rhaena wants to scoff at that. What about Maegor’s boys with Ceryse Hightower? Does Maegor see them as half-bloods?

Does he see the eldest boys as a shame to House Targaryen because of their mixed blood? What does he think about his first wife then? 

What about his daughters? Maegor had been disappointed with the daughters of Ceryse Hightower as they were not sons.

Was marrying Maegelle to Viserys a way to make his descendants blood purer so he can marry Maegelle’s children to any child that he gets on Rhaena’s fellow Black Brides?

Rhaena knows that her Uncle has some amounts of affection for his first Queen because of the six children (more specifically because of the two boys) she bore him. 

Maegelle is someone Rhaena doesn’t approach even if she looks at her younger brother’s children with some amounts of love. 

Ceryse and Maegor’s children are always surrounded by Hightower and Lannister men as well as high-born people from the Reach and the West.

And oddly enough, Jorgen and Victor Velaryon were always around the Green children (not that Maegelle and Lynesse were children anymore).

As much as Rhaena hated all of the sex that she was forced to have with Maegor because she was now his fucking wife and as good as his property now.

(And doesn’t that make Rhaena want to drown herself to get away from her Uncle. But she would be leaving her daughters all alone with Maegor and she doesn’t trust anyone in Kings Landing at all. Rhaena’s daughters are hers and no one else.) 

For some reason, Aerea has taken to chasing after Haegon and Visenya the younger. 

Rhaella, however, has decided that she much rather prefers Viserra, Maegelle and Viserys’ only daughter, over anyone else (despite Viserra being younger). 

Maegelle was a quiet person and was usually found doing some sort of needlework in a corner as she kept an eye on her children and the others as well.

It tended to freak Rhaena out as she knew nothing of Maegelle and what to expect of Maegor’s eldest daughter.

“Rhaella reminds me of Viserys at times,” Maegelle said absently as she stroked the hair of the sleeping Viserra. 

They had both come to collect the girls from their playdate as the maids had informed them that the girls had fallen asleep in the nursery room.

“What?” Rhaena stared at Maegor’s daughter.

”Viserys was quiet and shy while we remained in Father’s court,” Maegelle elaborated absently.

Of course he was, your father fucking killed our older brother Aegon! Rhaena’s eye twitched and she briefly considered smacking Maegelle over her pretty little head. 

Although Maegelle was wearing a distinctive black cap and veil as well as a black dress and just about all of her clothing was black.

Clearly, Maegelle was still in mourning for Viserys. That only made Rhaena angry as she saw Maegor’s daughter as having no right to mourn for Rhaena’s brother when it was Maegelle’s own father that killed Viserys.

But Jeremy Hightower, a son of Ser Morgan Hightower and kin to Maegor’s first wife, was always by Maegelle’s side.

Jeremy must suspect that Rhaena holds no love for his precious princess because Jeremy always looks at Rhaena with eyes filled with suspicions.

 Rhaena hears things about Maegor’s eldest child with Ceryse Hightower at court. 

“Maegelle the Vowess,”

”Maegelle the Widow,”

”Doesn’t Princess Maegelle wish for her only daughter to marry into the Lannister family to become family once again with the Lions of the Rock?”

“She wished to go to Oldtown with her children but her father forbade her to and she obeyed him out of loyalty to her father and out of fear,”

”Didn’t Princess Maegelle’s dragon, Starfyre, see combat when the king dragged her with him to squash rebellions against his rule?”

”The princess has never been the same after all the things that happened to her,”

”Her husband killed by her own father,”

”Her brother’s inheritance threatened by the possibility of younger half-brothers from different mothers,”

”After her husband died she has never been the same,”

”Her husband’s death killed much of the joy and happiness in her,”

Chapter Text

Rhaelor wanted to take off Alicent’s flapper dress from her body the moment he saw her in it the moment he spotted her dancing in the speakeasy.

“My aren’t you a darling?” 

Alicent giggled and walked ties him until she was standing by his side. “Would you like to see my dance for you?” Alicent whispered into his ear softly.

Rhaelor shivered and imagined putting her on his lap and feeling her body up. “I would but I don’t want to share you with anyone here,” Rhaelor whispered back.

Alicent smiled. “You wouldn’t have to because I’m all yours,” 

__________________

Years Later 

“Sorry gentlemen, but I haven’t been a flapper dancer in a good while,” Alicent tells the police officers who came into her home to ask questions.

”No worries ma’am,” one of the officers, Olyver, says. “That isn’t the reason why we are here,”

”Then why did you ask about it?” Alicent asked in confusion. 

“It’s no important matter,” The other officer, Oscar, said dismissively as he looked around Alicent’s home. 

There were many pictures hung on the wall of the house. Oscar spotted many pictures that showed girls participated in more lady like sports like tennis, golf, and field hockey. 

The house was very well furnished and very clean which spoke of the woman’s wealth as the wife of a rich man. 

Alicent Hightower had married the heir of Targaryen Industries years ago and she was formerly a flapper dancer alongside some friends of hers in a speakeasy where Rhaelor Targaryen had been known to frequent in the past.

(Whether both Rhaelor Targaryen and Alicent Hightower visited speakeasies often because of the other was an entirely different matter all together.)

After her marriage, Alicent Hightower had grown her hair long again and had become a well bred woman once again.

“We just have a few questions to ask you Ma’am,” Olyver explained as Alicent led them to her dining room.

“Take a seat then gentlemen,” Alicent said as she took a seat. 

“Thank you Ma’am,” 

The men sighed as they took a seat on the wooden chairs. 

“Now, Ma’am, let me ask you something. Have you seen your husband, Mr Rhaelor Targaryen, as of recently?” Olyver began.

”Surely you have seen him,” Oscar said.

Alicent was quiet but her eyes hardened. “No, I have not seen him recently,” Alicent said. “In fact, I haven’t seen him in almost a month,”

”And why is that?” Oscar asked.

”I don’t know,” Alicent replied as she looked at the older man. “Rhaelor said that he was going on a business trip to North Carolina,” Alicent looked a bit stressed.

“Ma’am?” Olyver asked politely.

”The last time R-Rhaelor went on a ‘business trip’, he ended up taking on a mistress and getting a bastard on her,” Alicent’s expression was conflicted.

”I need to make some tea,” Alicent said suddenly as she quickly stood up. “Excuse me gentlemen,” 

Alicent was quickly making tea as if her life depended on it. “W-Would you like some tea, officers?” Rhaelor Targaryen’s wife asked hastily from the kitchen.

“Yes please, Ma’am,” Olyver said, he felt a bit bad for the auburn haired woman.

Oscar looked at his partner in disapproval. “Olyver, what the hell are you thinking?” Oscar hissed.

“What if she poisoned the drinks?!” Oscar demanded. “What then? We’d be dead men in the home of Targaryen’s wife. And who would solve the case? Not those fuckers in the office because they sure as hell don’t know what the hell they’re fucking doing!”

”The tea is ready,” Alicent said as she entered the dining room carrying a silver tray with tea cups and napkins on it.

”Thank you Ma’am,” Olyver thanked the auburn haired woman with a smile as he politely accepted the tea. 

“My pleasure,” Alicent murmured as she took a seat again after putting the tray on the table.

Oscar stared at the wife of Rhaelor Targaryen as if she was a very dangerous public enemy; much to the annoyance of Olyver.

Alicent looked at her tea as if it held all the answers to her problems and began to quickly drink from it. 

“Gentlemen, ask away,” Alicent said, she looked like she wasn’t really there at the moment. It was more like she drank the tea to helo her be ready to deal with whatever the officers were going to ask of her about her husband.

“Can you tell of the events leading up to your husband leaving? Why did he leave? Do you know why?” Olyver asked.

”Rhaelor had been arguing with his mistress, an old friend of mine to be specific before she betrayed me by fucking my husband,” Alicent looked disgusted and she swallowed back spit.

”What was her name?” Oscar asked.

Olyver gave Oscar a nasty look.

”Her name was Laena Velaryon and she was a dirty little backstabber,” Alicent said in an almost blunt manner. 

“Can you tell us of of the events before your husband left?”

”Rhaelor seemed impatient and he wasn’t paying as much attention to our children as usual,” Alicent replied as she glanced towards the entrance to the dining room.

”I don’t know what was wrong with him but when I asked he’d either brush my concerns off or…” Alicent’s gaze darkened  as she trailed off.

”And?”

Alicent looked distant and if she wasn’t actually really there. 

“Ma’am?”

”H-He’d get a bit…physical,” Alicent said absently, she looked lost in her thoughts. “He’d have me in his bed and whisper about how he wanted me to be carrying more of his children even though I already have sixteen children with him and I don’t want to be pregnant again. Rhaelor always liked the idea of me being pregnant with his children,”

Oscar looked away out of embarrassment due to hearing Rhaelor Targaryen’s likes from the man’s own wife.

”What the hell does this have to do with anything?” Oscar muttered. 

“Well then Ma’am-“ 

“Mama!” A young girl’s voice called out.

Alicent flinched and she glanced towards the grandfather clock behind her. “By the Mother Above,” she muttered as she hastily stood up.

”Excuse me gentlemen,” Alicent gave the officers an apologetic look. “But my children need me,” 

Alicent hurriedly ran out of the dining room and the men watched her leave. 

“Mama! You’re finally here!” A little girl’s voice exclaimed. 

“Daella!” Alicent’s voice called out. “Why are you back so soon from Uncle Gwayne’s house?”

”Just now?” The girl -Daella- replied sheepishly. 

“The Miss is right Ma’am,” A woman’s voice was saying.

”Mama!” Another little girl’s voice was saying. “Look what Uncle Gwen bought us!” The girl squealed.

”Visenya!”

___________________ 

“Do you know what those officers were asking me, Father?” Alicent demanded as she spoke with her father over the candlestick telephone in her mansion’s drawing room. 

“Alicent please,” Otto Hightower said from the other line. “Please do not overreact. Those men were simply trying to do their job,”

”Doing their job? Those men were asking me about my husband’s mistresses!” Alicent exclaimed.

”Mother?” Aelora asked in surprise as she looked up at her mother from her book. 

Helaena was outside busy looking at the plants and the bugs so she could write about them in her notebook. 

Haerra was busy reading the newspaper that had been given to her by one of the maids who worked in the mansion. 

“Don’t mind me sweetie,” Alicent said as she glanced at Aelora in a rather manner. 

“Ora!” Aenar, the youngest of Rhaelor and Alicent’s children, squealed as he crawled over to where Aelora was and put his little arms on her knees. 

“Why would they ask about Rhaelor’s whores?” 

“I don’t know, I simply mentioned how Rhaelor left a while ago to visit his mistress the last time he went on a ‘business trip’,” Alicent muttered.

”Well no matter the case. What matters is that they are looking for Rhaelor and you have not seen hin?”

”I have not,”

“Those men won’t ask anything further of you as they simply see you as Rhaelor’s wife who has had to endure his unfaithfulness. They will think that you do know much or anything about your husband’s personal affairs,”

”Because I do not,” Alicent reminded her father with mild annoyance.

”Never the case, I think it best for you to take the children to visit Viserys,”

”You wish for me to visit my good-father?” Alicent demanded. “Viserys knows of Rhaelor’s affairs. And if I were in his house I would not have as much liberties to carry on Oldtown’s mission,”

It felt odd bringing Oldtown into this.

”Fine then,” Otto snapped. “But you do well to remember that Viserys is still your father-in-law and the grandfather of your legitimate children as I know that you have wishes to bear the bastards of Larys Strong,”

Alicent froze. “I-I will see to it that Viserys is to visit the children,” Alicent stammered out. 

Her mind was racing. How had her father known? Did he have spies in her home? Did the Lady Misery update him on her affair with the crippled second son of Lyonel Strong?

Damn it! Now Alicent was to be much more careful when going through with her affair with Larys Strong.

And then there is Mr Criston, Alicent thinks absently as her mind wandered towards the kind young man that acted as her bodyguard.

Criston had gone with Aegon to a party that the granddaughter of Mrs Redwyne had invited Aegon to. Lenna Redwyne’s motives for inviting Aegon was almost too painfully obvious.

”Good, because we will need the allies to stop the officers from getting into business that is not there’s,” Otto said from the other line.

”Yes Father,” Alicent said as she bit the inside of one of her cheeks. “Goodbye, I’ll meet you later,” Her voice sounded airy as she hung up.

Alicent sighed as she put her hands on the furniture where the candlestick telephone was placed at.

What am I going to do? Alicent thought. Larys will the officers if he sees them a threat to our peace.

”Mother?” 

Alicent turned around and saw her children that were in the drawing room with her giving her looks of concerns or confusion. 

“It’s alright sweetling,” Alicent insisted even though she didn’t particularly believe her own words. “It’s alright. Nothing is wrong. Mama is simply handling some adult business, that’s all. It is nothing for any of you to worry as long as Mama is here. Mama won’t let anything harm you at all, I promise,”

Chapter Text

111 AC 

Jaehaerys looked in awe at the knights and squires training in front of him. The knights looked regal as they trained.

“Look all those chickens!” Allard, Jaehaerys’ younger brother, giggled cheerfully. 

“They are knights, not chickens my sweetling,” Mother said gently, she was smiling faintly as she stroked Allard’s hair.

Alyssa, his younger sister, giggled softly. “The knights are so dashing are they not?” Alyssa mused out loud.

Rhea watched her cousin, Willam Royce, instruct the squires in the training yard with grace and patience.

Willam was good with a lance and a sword. Rhea found her cousin to be a very attractive (and loyal) young man.

”They are, darling,” Rhea agreed. 

“I’m going to be a great knight when I’m older!” Allard declared proudly with all the happiness of a boy of five.

”Well you better get a good balance then,” Jaehaerys japed. 

“Then I’ll never become a knight!” Allard declared in a depressive manner as he began to sulk and glare at the ground.

”I’m sure that you’ll eventually develop better balance, sweetling,” Rhea reassured Allard.

”I hope so,” Allard mumbled as he pouted. He looked at the knights and squires training with longing in his eyes.

******* 

Jaehaerys was born in 98 AC, the year before Princess Gael Targaryen tragically killed herself after birthing a stillborn babe sired by a singer.

The Good Queen had been broken by the death of her youngest child the year after Jaehaerys Royce’s birth but it was said that she had smiled again and wept when she held Jaehaerys in her arms.

(Jaehaerys was presented to the Good Queen when he was about one name day old as he was now old enough to travel long distances. So this presentation between the Good Queen and her great-grandchild would be somewhere in 99 AC.)

Alyssa was born in 103 AC, the same year that the Old King died. The Old King had mistaken Alyssa Royce for his daughter Alyssa, the mother of Daemon and Viserys I, when Rhea and Daemon’s girl was introduced to him. 

Allard was born in 106 AC, the same year that the War for the Stepstones began because Daemon and Lord Corlys Velaryon decided to carve out a kingdom for themselves.

And because of that, Daemon hadn’t been there for the birth of his second son in Runestone.

Or his other two children to be honest. Daemon had avoided his wife again after he was informed of her pregnancy because they had spend a drunken night together which meant that their marriage was consummated.

Much to the chagrin of both the Rouge Prince and the Lady of Runestone. 

“My husband would rather whore his way through the brothels of King’s Landing than be here with me. So why should he be glad for the living proof that our marriage can not be set aside or annulled?” 

Daemon wasn’t a very constant presence in the Targaryen-Royce children’s lives. Though he had shown interest at first when Jaehaerys was born, that did not last long (only a few months).

Daemon had also made his dislike for the appearance of his daughter and second son rather known.

Jaehaerys was the only Valyrian looking child born between Daemon Targaryen and Rhea Royce’s union.

Meanwhile Alyssa and Allard had their mother’s brown hair and dark eyes. Allard’s hair was curly while Alyssa’s hair was long and wavy with a slight bounce to it. 

Although technically, Allard’s eyes were a shade of a very dark purple that made his eyes look almost black.

The year following Allard’s birth, the Lord Yorbert Royce (the lord father of Rhea Royce) had fallen very ill. Though he recovered, the lord was left weak.

Rhea and her uncle Gunthor Royce ended up having to help her father in his duties as Lady Jeyne Arryn’s regent, much to the chagrin of some Vale lords.

Maester Ben frowned as he looked over his written work as he was writing all the events happening in the Royce family to put into written record. 

This record had to be perfect since Maester Ben was of the opinion that he did not want to waste much paper.

******* 

Daemon was of the opinion that his Bronze Bitch could fuck off forever for all he cared.

He’d very much like it if Rhea left him Runestone as well as all of their three children.

But the Bronze Bitch would probably insist on her bloody Bronze of a cunt of an uncle, Gunthor Royce, to be Jaehaerys regent if the Bronze Bitch died while their eldest is still a child.

Rhea might ship off their daughter Alyssa to the little Maid of the Vale to keep her away from Daemon.

As for their youngest, Allard, well Rhea might just leave her third child in the care of both her relatives and in the Eyrie. 

Daemon walked into his chambers in Kings Landing and saw a few scrolls laid on a table near the fireplace.

Daemon scoffed at the utter vulnerability of the scrolls placement. It would be easy to just steal the scrolls, Daemon mused.

Daemon snatched up one of the scrolls and began to read whatever was written on the scroll.

Oh, Daemon thinks. Mysaria’s spies are sending me information about the children with that Bronze Bitch of mine.

Mysaria had her little spies all over King’s Landing, which was very useful when it came to looking for any stains on anyone’s fucking prissy honor.

Daemon had commanded his whore, Mysaria the Lady Misery, to put spies in Runestone, the castle of his son Jaehaerys (and his Bronze Bitch of a mother) as well as Jaehaerys true-born siblings.

The spies kept Daemon informed of the children’s habits, friends, and toys as much as possible.

The Lady Jeyne Arryn has given Princess Alyssa some of her old dolls. The Arryn girl said that she was too old for dolls now and she’d rather they be given to someone who will play with them and pass them down to someone else down the line.

Daemon wanted to scoff. His daughter already had plenty of toys. He’d given her some of his mother’s old things and some things that Daemon himself had gotten from Essos. 

His daughter had no other need for the old toys of the Arryn girl to be a matter of fact.

Not to mention that there are plenty of toys made out of bronze that have been passed down in the Royce family for generations.

The eldest of the three children, Prince Jaehaerys, has been sending letters to the young Lady Arryn again. 

Of what they write to one another I do not know, my prince. But the little prince seems happy whenever letters arrive from the Eyrie. 

Daemon wondered if this little letter exchanges between his eldest son and the Arryn girl-liege had been encouraging by the dead father of his Bronze Bitch.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the old Bronze cunt had this in mind while he was the Arryn brat’s regent, Daemon thinks.

The third child however has taken an interest in becoming a knight when he is older, My Prince. He was very fascinated with the knights and squires training.

His mother’s cousin, Willam Royce, is the one who has taken to training the boy prince alongside the master-at-arms in Runestone alongside his brother.

Lady Jessamyn Redfort has taken an interest in arranging play dates between the little Royce boy and her brother, Adrian Redfort. 

Daemon raised an eyebrow as he read the information about his third child/second son from the spy. 

Is the lover of the Arryn brat trying to steal my second son from the Bronze Bitch? Or is she trying to put him up with her brother? Why is she putting her cunt of a brother with my son? Daemon thinks many things. 

But he kept reading the scroll.

While I know that my prince has no love for the Lady Rhea and wish for little to no mention of her on the reports.

Daemon scoffed and rolled his eyes. “Then why bring up my Bronze Bitch in this in such a manner?” Daemon muttered. 

However, there have been many mentions and times when the Lady Rhea Royce has called my prince “my cockless dragon” and “my flop wyrm” to many people in her household/court.

From what the maids say, the…monickers have come to be as Lady Rhea wanted to call my Prince something equally as humiliating in retaliation for being publicly referred to as my prince’s “Bronze Bitch” by my Prince (and others)

So the Lady Rhea has decided to make a mockery of my prince’s manhood and…ability to perform in the bedroom…

As well as because my Prince is rarely in the Vale with the Lady Rhea and the children born from both your and Lady Rhea’s union. 

That little- Daemon’s eyes twitch.

“That fucking bitch!” Daemon sneered as he harshly closed the scroll and harshly threw it on the floor in a fit of rage.

(Daemon completely ignored the other scrolls. One which was entirely dedicated to informing Daemon of all the meaningful glances shared between Rhea and her cousin Willam and a man from House Shett, which is sworn to House Royce.

Mysaria had her own copy of all the scrolls with information concerning Daemon’s lawful family back in Runestone.

Including the scroll theorizing that Lady Rhea Royce had something going on with her cousin Willam and that man from House Shett)

”Oh I’ll show her,” Daemon muttered darkly. “I’ll show my bronze bitch’s just how wrong she is,”

And with that, Daemon turned around and stalked off with a (dark) goal in his mind as he planned to head back to the Vale of Arryn and more specifically to Runestone.

And because he was so determined in his goal, he completely ignored just about everything around him.

Including his niece, Rhaenyra.

”Uncle-“ Rhaenyra seemed surprised at being ignored by Daemon who hadn’t noticed her in the hall as he was too busy stalking off to the direction of the Dragonpit so he could get Carax and fly off to the Vale and fight with his (estranged) wife.

Chapter Text

“Bastard brothers take their true-born brothers birthrights, Lysa.” 

The Riverlands are- have been wrecked by wars for centuries. Everyone knows that. Father as its lord knows that.

Uncle Brynden as a warrior knows that. 

Catelyn as the eldest girl and Father’s heir for a time before Edmure was born knows that.

Lysa knows this.

******* 

House Stark has never had a female ruler, a female ruler in her own right, before in its centuries of years of existence.

Cregan Stark’s granddaughters had their birthrights stolen by their uncles.

The Dance of the Dragons discredited female heirs for centuries to come. 

Girls have to fight for their birthrights against uncles and cousins and bastard brothers.

Girls have to fight so hard.

And Lysa won’t let anything happen to her daughter’s birthright.

******* 

Lysa sees the too Stark looking boy and she clutches her young daughter, Minarra (her name combined the names of both Eddard and Lysa’s mothers), closer to her.

”Please, send him elsewhere!” Lysa pleaded to her husband. “You can raise anywhere else! Anywhere else but here! Wha would people think if you raise your bastard son here! The lords might rally behind him and take Minarra’s birthright!” 

“He will not,” Eddard snorted. “No one will take Minarra’s birthright,” Eddard insisted stubbornly.

”Would your father have had his bastard if he had one here in Winterfall with you and your true-born siblings and your mother, your Father’s wife?” Lysa demanded. “Would he have shamed your wife with a bastard? Would he? Would he?!” Lysa all but screamed.

Eddard froze. Jon began to cry. Minarra began to whimper in Lysa’s arms.

“Jon will remain here,” Eddard insisted stubbornly. “I won’t change my mind. I…I…I won’t have him suffer for my sins,”

”Keeping him here will punish him even more!” Lysa snapped. “He will grow up feeling inferior because of the stigma of being a bastard. Nevertheless he will suffer if you keep him here besides true-born siblings. And what will that make of him? Will the feelings twist him into a person who will steal his sister’s rights if I birth no sons? Brothers if I birth boys?” 

“I shall hear no more of this, my lady,” Eddard turned away. “We shall discuss no more of this,”

Lysa wanted to scream again. And now Lysa decided that she will not rely on her husband.

The only one that will fight to the bitter end to secure Minarra’s position is Lysa herself as Minarra’s daughter.

****** 

Father was unhappy, most likely fuming back in Riverrun, when he heard about the bastard living in Winterfell alongside Minarra and Lysa.

”This is an insult against House Tully and you!” Father had said in his letter after Lysa wrote to him about what happened.

Does Eddard Stark not remember what happened to the granddaughters of Cregan Stark? 

A female heir is always in danger. But the Seven help her if she has a bastard brother raised alongside her! 

Look at what happened when a bastard was raised alongside his brother. Daemon Blackfyre and Bittersteel (mostly Daemon Blackfyre) sought to usurp their true-born brother Daeron II Targaryen (the only good Targaryen king if there ever was one). 

If you shall need of anything to deal with the…Snow, please do write to my Lysa. I will help you in anything 

Your Father

Hoster Tully

It’s nice to see that Father cares and will help me, Lysa smiled as she read her father’s letters in her room.

Minarra was with her as Lysa refused to have her daughter near Eddard’s bastard by blow that can threaten her claim.

******* 

Family, Duty, Honor, Lysa tells herself.

”It will be better if Benjen married,” Lysa tells her lordly husband.

”I can not force him to,” Eddard frowned. “And he has an opinion of heading to the Wall,”

”Eddard; you, Minarra, and…Jon are the only Starks in the main line until I birth more heirs. It is best to feel secure and have Benjen marry so there are more Starks around in case of tragedy,”

It felt difficult saying that. Lysa had no wishes to see anything happen to her little girl, her precious Minarra, or her husband’s boy for all that it was worth.

Lysa feels no love for Jon Snow. She sees only a potential (but real) threat to her baby girl. But she won’t wish death to him. 

“I’ll think of it,” Eddard said finally with a small tired sigh. 

Lysa saw it as a small victory.

-*-*-*-*-*-

Lysa’s moonblood did not come so she began to hope for much (mostly a son).

Benjen Stark returned, however. There is still hope, Lysa thinks (read: insisted) to herself as she held Minarra.

286 AC

Lysa births another daughter and she begins to fear much just as she deeply loves her second daughter.

Her little Sansa is a joy to Lysa. And much to Lysa’s relief, Sansa looks mostly Stark save for her eyes and face shape.

Minarra is happy to be a big sister. Minarra is now almost four name days old and very eager to explore everything around her.

Lysa has made it her personal mission to establish a sort of power base for her eldest daughter so Minarra has allies.

Lysa had the two Manderly girls, Wynafryd & Wylla, come to Winterfell to be companions to her little Minarra. 

Alys Karstark is a lovely girl as well. Lysa knows that Lord Rickard Karstark must be overjoyed about having his daughter serve as the lady-in-waiting to the current Heir of Winterfell.

There was no true-born Stark son (and heir) so far from Lysa for any of the Northern Houses to try and snatch up for a daughter of theirs. 

Being a lady-in-waiting to a lady from a powerful House was a thing of honor. And the Northerners are quite known for tending to their honors as carefully as farmers do to their crops. 

(Though the Starks are a lot more (in)famous for tending to their honor like farmers do their crops)

And Lysa herself already had some ladies of her own. They were mostly third or fourth or even second daughters of her Father’s banner men.

But Lysa doesn’t mind. She rather likes being surrounded by her own fellow Southron ladies. Even if the Northron raise eyebrows and mutter behind their hands.

Eddard had dedicated an entire rather large room to be made a place where Lysa can worship her own gods as Winterfell has no Sept.

****** 

Benjen had married that Cerwyn girl after all. Which made Lysa rather pleased to see her matchmaking had paid off.

Benjen had two healthy children of his own. Thankfully, both of Benjen’s children were daughters.

So now Lysa has less to worry about the lords rallying behind any son of Benjen to usurp her precious Minarra. 

Wynafryd is a comely girl of 6 and is like a big sister to the rest of the girls. Minarra looks up to the eldest Manderly girl like a younger sister (or any young sibling) would an older sister. 

And Lysa finds her mind wandering towards her girlhood days when she was a small child that clung to Catelyn who was a strange combination of an older sister and a mother to Lysa & Edmure after their mother died.

”Cat became more and more like a mother to me and Edmure after our lady mother had died trying to birth a spare for Father,” Lysa had said one day.

She had been making a small tapestry to hang on one of the walls of Winterfell. Lysa was trying to recreate as much as she could of her mother’s garden in Riverrun in the tapestry. 

“Truly?” Dacey Mormont asked. 

Although Lysa had her Southron ladies with her, that did not mean she had not taken Northron girls to be part of her household.

Lady-in-waiting is a position of honor and Northerners care much about honor. And Lysa wants as many allies for her daughter Minarra.

Maegelle Frey nodded. “Oh, I remember seeing Lady Arryn fussing over the little Lord Edmure like how a mother would fuss over her child,” Maegelle recounted. 

“Edmure was prone to getting into much trouble as a child,” Lysa said. “Cat always was more like a mother to Edmure than a sister. I think she was the closest thing to a mother that he had,”

”Lady Arryn was always better suited for the role of a mother as my lord Father had said often,” A Blackwood girl said.

”Oh enough of that. We all know how our lord fathers had felt about Lady Catelyn when she was going to inherit the Riverlands until Lord Edmure was born,” A Mallister girl said.

”I am the fair maid waiting to be rescued!” Wynafryd declared with a small giggle.

”I’ll save you!” Minarra declared boldly as she used her doll as a pretend sword.

”I shall be the loyal friend who comes with you!” Alys insisted.

”And I will be the evil dragon who stole the maid!” Wyalla puffed out her little chest proudly. 

Sansa laughed as she saw the girls and her sister play pretend. 

“And what will Sansa be?” Minarra asked with a small frown as she glanced at her younger sister.

”Perhaps Sansa shall be the wise crone who helped the heroes?” Wynafryd suggested.

”She’ll be the wisest!” Minarra sang.

Despite everything, Lysa still came to hate her husband for parading his bastard babe.

”Who is his mother,”

Eddard wouldn’t look at her.

Lysa wanted to scream. “Tell me who is his mother,” Lysa repeated. “I deserve to know,” 

She’d already bled trying to give him a son. Bloody sheets. Bloody sheets. Shouldn’t she at least be told the name of the mother of her husband’s bastard boy?

Many would prefer a bastard boy as lord than a true-born daughter. Why? Why should Lysa allow for her daughter to bd usurped because of her husband’s blindness towards the situation?

“He is of my blood,” Eddard simply said. He looked as if he didn’t want to be talking about this. “And that is all that matters, my lady.” 

No it doesn’t. Lysa wants to scream at him. Fool. Fool. Fool. FOOL. Fool. FOOL. FOOL. FOOL!! 

Lysa wouldn’t allow for this to carry on. His honor can be taken by Tyanna of the Tower, Lysa thinks bitterly.

She holds her three daughters. Minarra, Sansa, and Serena. Her only joys in this bitter world of ice.

What she would give to be a girl of only an age of a young maid once again! 

She weeps as she sees bloody sheets. She weeps when her rivers run red with the blood of babes that never got to be born.

She weeps. She weeps. She weeps.

Cat has written to her as much as possible. Her sister cares. Catelyn has always cared about everyone.

The Lannister Queen seems to consider her sister to be little fool for carrying the old Jon Arryn’s babes.

The Lannister Queen must be jealous that Catelyn can just flee back to the comfort of the Eyrie when Kings Landing becomes too much.

Lysa burns in envy as she reads of her sister birthing yet another child for the old Jon Arryn.

How many children does dearest sweetest Cat have now in comparison to Lysa?

Rodrick Arryn for some dead Arryn cousin.

Alys Arryn for the Alys Arryn that was the only sister of Jon Arryn.

Hubert Arryn for the Arryn ancestor who’s line Jon Arryn descends from.

Alester Arryn for an old Arryn king from before the Targaryen Conquest.

Osric Arryn for an old Arryn king before the Targaryen Conquest.

Teora Arryn for the wife and queen consort of an Arryn king from before the Targaryen Conquest.

___________________

Bloody sheets. Bloody sheets. Dead babes. Dead babes. Dead babes. Living girls. Living girls. Living girls. Living babes. Living babes. Living babes.

Lysa made a choice and she was probably going to hate herself for it. Probably.

This is for my daughter so she is not usurped because her Father raised a bastard son as good as true-born just like her in all but name.

Lysa tells herself that over and over again as the boy, the bastard, dies. She doesn’t regret it, not when it’s for the sake of her little girls.

Her precious girls. Her only joy in a marriage where her husband disrespects her by having his bastard in her home.

Bt having a bastard treated as true-born and given the tools to usurp Lysa’s eldest daughter as she had no sons and bastard brothers usurp their true-born siblings.

“Bastard brothers steal their true-born siblings inheritance, Lysa.” That’s what the Septas, and everyone, always said.

“Daemon Blackfyre tried to usurp his true-born brother. The Unworthy did nothing to teach Daemon Blackfyre of his station in life as a bastard. A bastard brother tried to usurp a true-born brother and people suffered,”

My daughters won’t be usurped by my husband’s bastard, Lysa tells herself as she gave some coins to some spurned men to try accuse a maid that was obsessed with Eddard of the boy’s death.

Eddard cut the girl’s head off with that ancestral sword of his. Lysa doesn’t regret a thing.

The girl didn’t know her station. Lysa saw the resentment in the girl’s eyes towards her. She doesn’t regret it.

Eddard had been in the crypts of the castle for longer than usual, Lysa noted.

”What did you say to them?” Lysa asked him carefully as she held Serena while Minarra read to Sansa.

Robert, only four name days old and their only son, was in Eddard’s arms. Her husband seemed distant, he even looked it.

“I spoke to my sister of broken promises,” 

Chapter Text

Robert felt a headache coming in as he looked around the cramped tent. What the fuck had his stupid heir been thinking when he angered two Great Houses?

The Vale and the North currently held the most swords at the moment in the halls. The Vale knights had always been formidable.

And Robert doubts that the Lannister cunts can even actually stand against them.

Wolves. Falcons. Wolves and Falcons currently surrounded him like a pack to avenge slights done again them.

Jasper and Arwen Arryn, Jon Arryn’s eldest surviving children, were standing stiffly next to the other.

Arwen had inherited the chestnut brown hair that one of Jon’s ancestors possessed. But the Arryn girl’s eyes were that of a Tully blue.

Jasper had dark auburn curls, Jon Arryn’s eyes, and Jon’s sense of loyalty to his people.

The Arryn lord and his sister were dressed in the colors of House Arryn as a Waynwood girl clung to Arwen.

“It’s alright, sweetling. Jas and the brave knights won’t let anything happen to us,” Arwen reassured the Waynwood girl who Robert assumed must be her ward. “It’s alright Carolei,”

The Waynwood girl -Carolei- nodded sheepishly. “Yes my lady,” the girl whispered.

“Mayhaps we should get started?” Cersei, that insufferable woman, suggested. “Lord Stark seems to be talking his sweet time,”

”Quiet! Damn it woman, I won’t start until Ned comes!” Robert wished to be drinking the day away alongside his dearest old friend.

And maybe Jon’s boy. And maybe his own eldest daughter.

Speaking of his eldest.

Cassana was currently standing besides Jon’s daughter who was still comforting that stupid Waynwood girl.

There was an Estermont girl with his Cassy. Gods, he hasn’t seen his eldest in a while.

Cassana looked every inch a Baratheon princess but her eyes made it obvious that he mother was a Stark.

Lyanna. 

Oh how the gods have been cruel! His first wife dead in some tower. Even if they had not particularly gotten along. Lyanna was still Ned’s sister and that meant something to Robert.

And she was still the mother of his eldest living child. He’ll always love her for that.

But currently, Robert was facing a headache because of the Lannisters, Starks, and Arryns. 

Ser Barristan was eyeing the Arryn man carefully as one of the Arryn knights glared at the Lannisters. 

When Ned did come in, he was holding his red-headed daughter and his other daughter, the one that people said resembled Lyanna.

Ned’s two other girls, Minisa and Lyarra, were both flanking him with their direwolfs walking loyally next to them.

The other red-headed girl, Minisa was her name if Robert remembered right, was holding a bundle in her arms covered in soft greys and Arryn blue.

”Is that…?” Jon’s girl whispered as her eyes widened. She was staring at the bundle in Minisa’s arms.

“I-I…I think so,” Jasper replied back as he too stared at the bundle. “I believe that is Alys,”

”By the gods,” Arwen looked at her older brother. “You don’t think that…?”

”I hope not,” Jasper replied stiffly.

”My lady?” the Waynwood girl looked at Arwen in confusion.

Arwen simply held Carolei closer to her.

”By the gods,” Cassana muttered.

The Estermont girl looked unsure.

”What’s the meaning of this, Robert?” Ned asked as he held his younger red-head daughter. “Why was my daughter not brought to me as my son lays on injured on death’s door?” 

“How dare you speak to the King in such a manner!” Cersei exclaimed as she held her eldest brat.

“Oh for gods sake, be quiet for once’s woman!” Robert snapped as he glared at his wife before glancing back at Ned.

“Sorry Ned but I wished to get this over with as soon as possible,” Robert replied. “We all wish the best for your boy,”

“Thank you, Your Grace,”

“Now,” Robert turned towards Ned’s younger pretty redhead daughter. “Tell me what happened, girl. To lie to a king is a grave crime,”

The girl looked at Ned with pleading Tully blue eyes. “Please Father, I want to go back to Bran. Please,” the girl all but begged.

Ned gave her a look of encouragement. “It’s alright Sansa, do as the King says,”

The pretty girl, Sansa, looked as she had given up. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying. “Yes Father,” 

Sansa turns towards Robert. 

“I-It happened so fast,” she whispered shakingly as she stared at Joffrey with wide eyes. “I-I…don’t know! It happened so fast and Bran was bleeding…”

”LIAR! LIAR! LIAR!” Ned’s other daughter screamed out in outrage as she lunged at her older sister. She began to punch and hit the older girl.

Sansa screamed. “Get off!” Sansa wailed as her face and stomach was being hit by her younger sister. Sansa began to cry out in pain.

“Arwen, get back!” Jasper Arryn calls out as he jumped in front of his younger sister in order to shield her away from the fighting between their cousins.

Jasper had a hand outreached like a wing. “Ser Bryen, Ser James, Ser Alfred, Ser Matt, and Ser Ben; guard my sister, Carolei, and the Princess! Make sure that nothing happens to them,” 

Carolei whimpered as Arwen gripped her tighter as Jasper and the knights shielded them.

”Don’t look, sweetling. Do not look,” Arwen whispered as she closed her eyes as she clutched her young ward close to her chest.

Cassans grabbed onto Arwen’s sleeves as she refused to look at the infighting going on in the Stark Household.

”Arya stop!” Minisa shouted.

”Fucking hell!” Lyarra shouted as she lunged for her younger sister, Arya, and dragged the girl away from Sansa.

Ned immediately went to his pretty daughter, Sansa, who was crying heavily. Her hair was messy and she was bleeding a bit.

Sansa was hugging herself and she was shaking heavily, almost as if she was freezing.

”It’s okay, it’s okay,” Ned tried to calm his daughter as he held her in his arms and picked her up like a maiden in distress.

”Calm down!” Lyarra was angrily saying to her younger sister, Arya. 

“Sansa is a liar!” Arya snapped as she glared at Sansa. Arya’s grey eyes were filled with anger. 

“She’s still your sister no matter what. And the only thing she said was that Bran was bleeding and that it happened so fast. So calm the fuck down for the Gods sake!” Lyarra exclaims.!

”But it didn’t happen so fast! She’s lying!” Arya shouted. “She’s a liar!”

”Do you want me to beat you within an inch of your life like you did to poor Sansa?” Lyarra threatened. “If you don’t calm down I’ll have Dawn drag you by the feet with her teeth. It would be fair, wouldn’t it? Beating for beating,”

Arya froze. She clearly wasn’t expecting for her older sister to threaten her like that at all. 

“Lya,” Cassana said carefully.

”Lyarra, you will do no such thing!” Ned snapped. “One of your younger sisters has been bruised already,”

”And it was a younger sister of mine that did such beatings and bruising to Sansa,” Lyarra reminded her father.

“Beating for beating. Mayhaps this will teach Arya to use her head and not let her temper run,” Lyarra smiled faintly, showing teeth that looked a bit like canine’s teeth.

”Enough of this!” Cassana looked at the Starks. “You are in the presence of your King. You must remember your manners and put aside this bickering for later when you are in private. And not in public!” Cassy commanded.

”Yes, Princess,” Lyarra muttered as she shamelessly unceremoniously dropped her sister on the floor. Lyarra didn’t seem to regret it at all.

“Hey!” Arya protested as she hit the ground. “Ow,” she muttered, glaring at her older sister.

”You do harsh things to others, like beating them up, and harsh things will happen to you,” Lyarra reminded her sister. “Karma likes to collect debts after all, sooner or later doesn’t matter,”

Arwen and Jasper flinched in unison. “Karma will collect her debts! You stole the life meant for my son!” The elder Arryn girl looked shaken. 

But then again, Arwen Arryn had always been a skittish and soft thing that was easily scared and much preferred familiarity over anything new.

”Lya,” Minisa hissed.

“Yes the princess is right,” Cersei said carefully as she eyed up Cassana (who went rigid under Cersei’s gaze) before turning her green eyes to look at the Starks.

Cersei and Joffrey smirked. Clearly they were pleased with Ned’s daughter for loosing her temper.

”The girl is a wild animal. I want to see her punished,” Cersei declared. “She is as wild as that beast of hers,”

Cersei looked at the direwolfs in disdain. The wolf that belonged to Lyarra has made her way to the girl and was showing her teeth at the Lannisters. 

It was as if the wolf was issuing a challenge. Robert wanted to shake his head at Ned’s children.

”Oh for heavens sakes woman, did you not see how Lyarra dropped her sister on the ground? I say the fall was enough of a punishment for her. And besides, tis only children’s fighting,” 

I could really go for a drink, Robert thinks tiredly. I just want to eat, feast, and hunt with my best friend. How can the Gods be so cruel to deny me that? 

Cersei glared at him while Joffrey glared at the Stark girl that supposedly resembled Lyanna.

“Now,” Robert turned towards Ned’s younger daughter. “What happened? You better not fly into a rage and attack me like you did your sister. Or else I’ll have to punish you,”

”Go on,” Lyarra said, eyeing her sister.

Arya gave Lyarra a dirt look. But she told Robert what happened. 

“Liar!” Joffrey shouted.

”Hold your tongue, boy,” Robert glared at his son. “You will get your chance to complain to me after she finishes speaking,”

Joffrey paled and stepped back into his mother’s arms. Cersei gave Robert a dirty look. She clearly wanted to slap him, Robert mused.

Chapter Text

Cersei admired the new portrait that was hung in the main drawing room in Summer Hall. 

The portrait was of a pearlescent white dragon admits the dark green of the trees and plants around it.

The dragon was looking a bit up from the small boats filled with two to three passengers all wearing white cloaks that completely covered them.

There was a small white plant that glowed and lit up the path a bit in the portrait.

There were bits of sunlight that hit the giant white dragon, making it shine. 

“A fascinating painting,” Cersei mused as she held the two year old Baelon in her arms. 

“It is,” her good-mother, Queen Rhaella, agreed as she admired the painting. “Aerys would love to hang this in his chambers,” Rhaela noted.

”My good-father loves anything dragon related,” Cersei reminded Rhaella flatly.

“That is true…” Rhaella murmured.

“Mama! Mama! Mama!” Rhaenys wailed as she burst into the room with Aegon, Viserys, Myriah, and Mya Stone.

“Rhaenys?” Cersei turned around to look at her daughter. “What is wrong? And where are your manners?” 

“S-Sorry, Mother!” Aegon apologies as he’s panting, trying to catch his breath.

”M-My apologies, princess!” Mya stammered out.

Myriah apologized quickly and so did Viserys. “I’m sorry!”

”Now what is going on, children?” Rhaella asked. “What has caused you to run so much like that?”

”F-Father is h-here!!” Aegon exclaimed. His purple eyes were shining with clear excitement.

”What?” 

********** 

“I did not know that you would be coming so unexpectedly, Husband.” Cersei said after she greeted her husband.

“I was going to inform you,” Rhaegar said as he looked around Summer Hall as they walked through the halls.

Rhaegar was holding Rhaenys in his arms. Aegon was walking in between them as he held onto both of them, well mostly Cersei.

”It was a pleasant surprise,” Rhaella smiled as she walked alongside Cersei while Viserys held her hand.

”I was hoping for that,” Rhaegar replied with a faint smile. 

“Well surprise delivered,” Cersei said.

Rhaegar sighed in slight exasperation. Rhaella seemed to be ignoring them in favor of admiring Summer Hall.

”I heard you hung a new portrait of a white dragon in the main drawing room here,” Rhaegar began.

“Yes, I did,” Cersei confirmed smugly. “A merchant from Essos came last week with new portraits to sell. And among those portraits was the one of the white dragon that I hung in the drawing room,” 

“Oh,” Rhaegar said. “I wonder how they could have painted the dragon in such a detail, though.”

”Oh I wonder that as well,” Rhaella spoke up. 

They rounded a corner and entered the drawing room where Rhaella and Cersei had been in earlier before the children came in.

“Fascinating,” Rhaegar said as he looked at the portrait. “How utterly fascinating,”

Viserys rolled his eyes. “You love anything dragon related,” he muttered.

”Dragons are cool,” Aegon piped up, giving his uncle a smile. “Everyone thinks that dragons are amazing,” 

The children went towards the couches and they settled there. Rhaenys was still in Rhaegar’s arms and so was Baelon in Cersei’s arms.

”Snakes are the best, especially the big ones!” Myriah protested. “But to each their own I guess,”

Viserys scoffed. “Don’t be stupid, Myriah. Everyone knows that dragons are so much better than snakes,”

”But snakes are better because they’re real!” Myriah went for the weak spot. “Everyone knows that the dragons went extinct during the Dance of the Dragons between Harra Strong’s bastards and the true-born children of King Rhaelor and Queen Alicent Hightower,” 

“Stupid bastards,” Viserys muttered. “It’s their fault the dragons went extinct,”

”It’s Harra Strong’s fault for insisting that her children should fight their siblings,” Aegon reminded his uncle.

”It’s Rhaelor’s fault for legitimizing his Strong bastards and giving them dragons of all things,” Myriah pointed out.

”That as well,” Viserys muttered with a small huff.

“You’re right,” said Aegon.

”The grown men should have done something,” said Mya.

”But who?”

”The King Viserys, the first of his name,” Mya responded as she fidgeted with her slightly dark yellow dress.

“He was the king, so surely he could have done something about the bastards living in the Red Keep. Or about them being legitimized and giving dragon eggs,” the Baratheon bastard girl elaborated to her friends. 

“The Strong bastards gave bastards a bad name for centuries to come forever,” Mya muttered.

************* 

“Mother, is the dragon in the painting Starfyre, Princess Maegelle Targaryen’s, daughter of Maegor, dragon?”

Cersei blinked. She glanced at her twins who were sitting on a couch together with Myriah and Mya.

Baelon was asleep in his crib. 

All of them were in Cersei’s solar, they were still in Summer Hall. Rhaegar had left earlier to walk around the gardens.

Viserys and Rhaella had gone to bed early because tomorrow they would be going back to Kings Landing because Aerys ordered them back by tomorrow.

”I actually don’t know,” Cersei answered. 

“It did look like what I heard Starfyre looked like,” Mya noted.

”Or it could be Arrax,” Rhaenys pointed out. “Lucerys Strong’s dragon was pearlescent white as everyone says,”

”But Arrax had a golden chest,” Aegon reminded his twin sister. “And Arrax had yellow eyes. So it can’t be Arrax,”

“It could be modeled on Arrax,” Myriah suggested neutrally. She had been smoothing out her red and yellow dress and picked up a book from Jaime to Aegon.

”Or it could be modeled on Starfyre,” Aegon countered. Aegon seemed slightly smug with himself for making a good argument.

”Whichever one it is, I do not know,” Cersei said flatly. “And the merchant that sold me the portrait most likely does not know either,”

”Pity it is,” Aegon said with a small sigh.

”Pity it is, truly,” Cersei said as she looked at her eldest son and then at her letters/reports from her father’s spies in Kings Landing. 

Chapter Text

Screaming was the only thing that was heard in Alicent’s chambers as she was giving birth to three boys in a single birth.

“She’s loosing a lot of blood!”

”Make sure that the children are alright,”

”Hang on Your Grace!”

“Your Grace!”

”Hang on just a little bit more,”

”Please don’t die!”

”Mama!” 

“Alicent!”

”Mother!” 

“Alicent!” 

“C-Children,” Alicent weakly extended a hand towards where she saw an illusion (hallucination) of all 15 of her children. 

“Yes, the children,” Rhaelor agreed shakingly as he held Alicent’s hand in his own. He was crying softly.

“Please don’t close your eyes, my love. Otherwise we won’t be able to spend time with our children,” Rhaelor was shaking so terribly as he held Alicent’s smaller snd gentler hand.

“So please, don’t close your eyes,” Rhaelor begged her desperately.

Secret/Private Safe House (read: residence/apartment) of Prince Aegon somewhere in Kings Landing

Aegon was trying to teach Aemond how to make a drink made out of grape, water, honey, and something else.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t going as good (or well) as either of them had hoped it would.

”No, no, no! You need more water than that, Aemond!” Aegon said in exasperation.

“Well how am I supposed to know that?” Aemond protested. “This isn’t something that I know how to do!”

”Which is why I’m teaching you exactly how to do it,” Aegon replied with a sigh, he rolled his eyes. 

Aegon wiped his mouth with his hand and then he put a spoonful of honey in his drink. “I could be doing something much more useful right now instead of being with you,” Aegon muttered.

Aemond glared at his older brother. “Then tell me why, ‘wise old sage’, you’re teaching me whatever the hell we’re doing!” 

“Because, little brother,” Aegon began as he gently smacked his younger brother’s head.

“Hey!” the younger boy protested.

”I need to pass on my drink making knowledge into someone of the family,” Aegon explained as if it all made sense.

”Then why did you pick me?” Aemond demanded as he glanced at the cups in front of him. “Couldn’t you have picked another one of our sibling who’d actually like learning this rubbish?”

Like…Like the bastards. Aemond swallowed back spit at the thought of his bastard siblings.

He hated them. He really did. He hated just about all of his bastard siblings. They were cruel, the majority of them (the bastard) were. 

Joffrey Waters (or Rivers, he didn’t really know or care) was the only one that Aemond was actually kind of all right with. 

With Joff being his father’s latest bastard and proof of his unfaithfulness (and his mother’s humiliation) and all of that baggage.

”Because,” Aegon sighed in exasperation, “no one else would actually want to learn about my amazing knowledge,”

”And what makes you think that I would want to learn about this?” Aemond grabbed one of the cups and shoved it underneath Aegon’s nose. 

Aegon frowned as he took the cup from Aemond’s hand. “It could use a bit more honey and spice,” Aegon muttered.

“Seriously?” Aemond demanded in disbelief as he watched his brother put some more honey and powdered spices in the drink.

”Yes seriously little brother,” Aegon drawled as he took a small sip from his strange drink.

Aemond gave his brother a look of disgust. “How can you drink that, I do not know,” Aemond muttered.

“Oh shut it Aemond,” the elder brother rolled his eyes again. “You’re just jealous that you can’t make drinks as eye-watering as me,” Aegon said smugly.

”Oh please,” Aemond scoffed. “As if anyone gives a crap about your stupid drinks other than that you’re a prince,”

”Says the brat that has to figure out what to do with his life since he’s fourth son,” Aegon mocked.

Aemond glared at his brother. “Says the irresponsable fool who doesn’t take his duties seriously,” Aemond sneered.

Aegon scoffed. “For your information, I’m the one that taught Baelor and Aelor all that they know. Not that you seem to remember that,” Aegon said bitterly.

”But unlike you, Baelor and Aelor aren’t cruel to me with the bastards,” Aemond retorted.

Aegon sighed. “You aren’t going to let me forget about it, are you?”

”No, never,” Aemond (agreed) confirmed. “I don’t think that I can ever forget about something like that,”

Aegon sighed again. “Well there’s nothing that I can do about it,” Aegon muttered softly as he looked at his drink with a small hint of sadness.

”What did you say?” Aemond asked curiously as he looked at one of Aegon’s books filled with instructions on how to make one of his (in)famous drinks. 

“Hmm?” Aegon almost fell due to his knees locking themselves. “Uh, nothing,”

“Right,” Aemond looked at his older brother with a hint of suspiciousness.

There was a sudden knock heard on the door of the ‘experiment room’ in Aegon’s (private/not-much-of-a-secret) safe house. 

The brothers both glanced towards the door at the same time. 

“Who is it?” Aegon called out. “It better not be my landlady! Or else I must sincerely fear that unfortunately I do not have much money on me currently!”

”Are you behind paying for this junk?” Aemond looked at his brother in clear disapproval. “Some king you will make,” Aemond muttered with a scoff. “I dread your reign and what Mother and Father will think of this,”

“Oh shut it,” Aegon glared at his brother. “I’m not behind paying my rent for this place!” Aegon insisted. “And I don’t want to be king anyway!”

”Well good luck shmucker,” 

Aegon huffed. “Some apprentice you are,” Aegon muttered. 

Aegon carefully set down his cup on the kind of cramped table, grabbed a dagger, and jogged over to the door. 

”Some king you will be,” Aemond mocked without a drop of regret for his words to his brother.

“Shut up,” Aegon muttered, he gave his younger brother a dirty look. Before he put a hand on the wooden door and lifting his dagger.

”Who is it?” Aegon repeated. “I have a dagger here that I’m not afraid of using. And my apprentice has a strange concoction in hand which will blind you if tossed in your eyes!”

Aemond raised an eyebrow at that. ”Can your drinks actually do that?” Aemond asked gently.

Aegon gave his brother a look. “They can if you put certain things in them!” Aegon hissed. “Now shut it! We are possibly dealing with a burglar,”

”What would he steal though?” Aemond wondered out loud.

Aegon gave him an exasperated ‘are you serious look’ as he gestures towards the wooden door.

“I mean, it’s not like you have much or anything worth stealing here in your crappy escape place anyway,” Aemond shamelessly said as he look around his brother’s badly lit drink making room.

“It’s not like anything is worth stealing here in this cold room. The only things worth stealing might be your alcohol, tapestries, and furniture. And maybe your whores and erotic paintings that you hid-“

”Will you shut up!” Aegon hissed. “You little-“

”It’s me, Viera Waters; my prince,” The voice on the other side of the door responded in exasperation. 

“Viera?” Aegon muttered. What the hell is she doing here? Isn’t she supposed to be with that Dornish whor- MISS, lady, and the Dornish woman’s fellow coworker? Why she back so soon? Did she run out of money while on her little ‘date’?

“And do tell your…’apprentice’ to put away whatever hellish concoction you are creating in your hell lab,” Viera called out.

“Viera?” Aemond looked at his brother in a questioning manner. “Have you been bringing your whores here, brother?” Aemond gave Aegon a look of clear disapproval.

”Oh shut it,” Aegon grumbled. “Viera is not my whore,” Aegon sighed in exasperation. “She’s…”

Aegon struggled to come up with an appropriate word to discuss what Viera was to him. 

”She’s…?” Aemond crossed his arms. “Come on now, brother. I’m waiting,” Aemond put emphasis his last word.

Aegon rolled his eyes. “Viera is…a friend that lives with me here,” Aegon trie to explain. His mind wandered to the times they have been intimate but with no romantic feelings, only those of friendship.

That means that we are close friends, right? A very special type of close friends! Right? Aegon swallowed back spit and wondered what Viera would call their relationship.

”She lives with you?” Aemond seemed scandalized as he looked around. “She lives with you in here?” 

Aemond seemed more shocked that Viera would live in Aegon’s ‘secret’ residence than the fact that she was living with Aegon.

”Oh shut it you prude,” Aegon sighed in exasperation at Aemond’s expression. “It isn’t bad at all,”

Aemond seemed unconvinced. “Yeah, well-“

There was loud slamming heard on the door and the brothers were startled. “What the hell?” Aegon muttered.

”Open up! Aegon, open up!” Viera shouted on the other side. “Open up or so help me gods-!”

”Coming coming!” Aegon called out as he hurriedly removed the locks on the door.

”You were scared of her? Some brave prince you are, brother,” Aemond said dryly. “She has you completely wrapped around her little fingers,” 

“Oh shut it, Aemond,” Aegon muttered as he opened the door wide open. “Viera-“

Aegon’s eyes opened when he saw Ser Criston Cole and another kingsguard as well as some Gold Cloaks standing behind Viera Waters.

”What the hell?” Aegon said softly in disbelief as he stared at Ser Criston and at the other men, the kingsguard and the gold cloaks. 

”Aegon?” Aemond called out. “What’s wrong? And is that Ser Criston?” 

Criston sighed before he bowed. “Your Graces, the King has ordered for us to bring you back to the Red Keep at ounce,” 

“Why would Father want for us to come back?” Aemond asked as he walked over to where Aegon was standing at. 

“I don’t know,” Aegon looked at his brother before he turned his gaze towards the pretty young woman in front of him.

The woman, who Aemond assumed was Viera Waters, had long brown hair that was pulled back in a long braid.

She had pretty almond shaped eyes. Her skin was a bit tanned as well from being under the sun for periods of time. She was dressed very simply. She dressed a bit better than some of the smallfolk that Aemond had seen.

But the way she dressed made it clear that she at least had some money if she could afford her leather gloves.

And the fact that her clothes weren’t particularly dirty or that her clothes didn’t look very worn out or old.

Clearly Aegon spends some amount of money on her, Aemond mused. I wonder how Mother would feel about THAT. 

“Viera, did they tell you to lead them to me?” Aegon asked. Aegon gave his father’s men a look of slight wariness. 

Viera glanced at the men and then back at Aegon. She looked a bit guilty but Aemond did not know why.

”I’m sorry, my Prince,” she began. “I know that this place is supposed to be a secret-“

”It is?” one of the gold cloaks murmured to his fellow gold cloak. 

Aegon gave the gold cloaks a dirty look before looking at Viera and gesturing with his hands for her to continue.

“T-The Sers found me in the market,” Viera continued. “I don’t know how they knew, but they knew that I know where you are so they told me to bring them to you, my Prince,” 

“Lord Larys probably told them where to look,” Aemond whispered to his older brother. “Lord Larys knows a lot of things, you know. He’s like a rat that knows too much, that man,” 

“Yes well whatever the case, they found my place,” Aegon whispered back to Aemond. 

Aegon looked at Ser Criston who was looking at them patiently, like a Father would. Which made Aegon feel weird all over again.

”My Princes, we should go now,” Criston said. “His Grace is waiting for us,”

”And your sisters as well,” a voice that the Targaryen princes knew very well called out from the living room. 

Aegon groaned and he gave Ser Criston a pleading look. “Ser Criston, please tell me that my sister Alyssa isn’t here!” Aegon pleaded.

”Why would Alyssa be here?” Aemond asked with a frown. “Shouldn’t she be in the Reach being fostered in High Garden? Mother sent her there last year,” 

Criston looked mildly uncomfortable at the mention of Queen Alicent, the mother of King Rhaelor’s true-born children. 

That only made Aegon feel rather suspicious about whatever the hell was going on back home.

Ser Criston is never uncomfortable when my Mother is brought up. He down right worships the ground that she walks on; much to Father’s chagrin. Something’s not right here. 

“Yes, I should be at High Garden with Haerra,” Alyssa’s voice agreed.

Suddenly Alyssa was standing by the edge of the door. She had quickly made her way towards them.

Alyssa smiled. Her hair was a bit loose from its long braid and her eyes were twinkling. 

“Haerra is visiting because that friend of hers is death,” Aemond reminded Alyssa. “She, our sister’s friend, was getting her marriage annulled and suddenly she’s death, it’s all very suspicious,”

Aegon rolled his eyes.

”Haerra is fostering at Casterly Rock because she’s going to marry some Lannister or Reyne boy,” Aemond added.

“And Aemma should be in Driftmark with that Velaryon husband of here,” Alyssa’s mismatched eyes darkened at the mention of their sister’s husband.

”You mean Father’s bastard with that Velaryon woman?” Aemond scowled a bit at the mention of their bastard brother.

”Yes, him,” Aegon rolled his eyes.

”What was his name again?” 

Alyssa frowned. “I don’t know but it doesn’t matter,” she replied.

“He’s still our sister’s husband,” Aegon reminded his sister.

”He’s still our Father’s bastard with the Velaryon whore who tried to usurp you,” Alyssa reminded her older brother, she was scowling.

”Laena Velaryon was sent away back to Driftmark,” Aegon reminded his siblings with a small shrug.

Aegon didn’t really care much about his Father’s affairs as much as some of his siblings (and other people) did. 

Aegon was the one that got along better with their bastard siblings out of all the true-born children of Rhaelor Targaryen.

”After she almost caused the deaths of you and Haerra so her whelp could become heir,” Aemond said flatly. “Or so he could marry Helaena and usurp her if Father didn’t name her bastard as heir,”

”Yeah yeah yeah,” Aegon ran a hand through his dark hair. Aegon had inherited Alicent’s hair color just like his sister Haerra.

”Your Grace, we should leave,” Ser Criston said a bit impatiently. “The King is waiting for us,” 

“Fine,” Aegon muttered. “This better be important since you made my beneficiary lead you here to me and my brother,”

Criston glanced at Viera and wondered what her relationship was with Crown Prince Aegon. 

Are they lovers? He wondered. He called her his beneficiary so possibly not…but still, they are definitely quite close since she knew about this place at all… 

The Riverlands 

“My prince, your Father, the King, has sent a raven commanding for you to go back to Kings Landing. His Grace says that it is most urgent,”

Baelor raised an eyebrow at that. “Has something urgent happened?” Baelor asked gently.

The brown-haired with white highlights and purple eyed Targaryen prince turned around and away from tending to his dragon, Hawthorn.

Hawthorn blew air from their nose which made the prince’s hair become a bit messy. 

Baelor glanced back at Hawthorn and smiled. “Easy there, girlie,” Baelor petted the dragon’s nose. “No need to get jealous,” Baelor japed.

Baelor glanced at the messenger who was looking nervously at the dragon with golden cat eyes.

”How soon does my kingly father wishes for me to be back in Kings Landing?” Baelor asked.

The messenger coughed. “I-I do not know,” They stammered.

Baelor frowned slightly. 

“Baelor,” Kermit called out. The Tully heir was on his horse, a brown mare named Bella who was infamously nicknamed “Widowmaker” by some. 

Baelor glanced towards his friend. “Kermi,” Baelor responded. His purple eyes seemed to become softer.

”I’d say that you take Hawthy and fly as soon as possible to Kings Landing,” Kermit said. “His Grace must have good reason to send for you, my prince,”

Baelor sighed softly. “Are you eager to send me and Hawthy off?” Baelor japed softly.

The messenger felt weird being here and he wondered if there was something going on between the Prince and the Tully heir.

”Aye, I would be so the King is not angered because we did not send you off much earlier,” Kermit said bluntly.

Bella whined as much as a horse could. “Easy there, girl,” Kermit said as he held on the reins of his horse. “Steady,”

”Look Kermi, Bella does not wish for me and Hawthy to leave for Kings Landing,”

”Bella likes everyone,” Kermit reminded his prince. “But she especially loves you and Hawthorn,” 

“See? She wishes not for my departure,”

”Bella wishes for things to remain the same,” Kermit mused out loud. His red hair seemed messier than usual.

Bella huffed and she seemed fed up with just staying still on the outdoors. They were after all close to a river if the messenger remembers right.

”Tell him, girl. That you don’t wish for your other father to leave,”

”Other father?” Kermit raised an eyebrow. “Have I broken my betrothal against my duties to my family and wed you, my prince?”

Baelor sighed. He looked as if he wished that what Lord Kermit said was true. If only, Baelor thought mournfully.

“Perhaps she sees us as such,” Baelor suggested in a good-natured manner. He seemed a bit sad though.

”Then Bella has need of studying the laws of our kingdom then,” Kermit japed with a smile. “For such a marriage will never be allowed,” He looked very handsome when he smiled.

Not that the messenger fancied men, mind you. The messenger much preferred fair maidens then dashing knights.

But men like Kermit were very attractive and that must be acknowledged by both the sexes.

The Tullys have always been well known for producing very good looking offsprings. 

Kissed by fire, people said about the Tullys because of their famously well known red hair.

The Red Keep 

Daella was wishing that her mother was here with her again for the who knows how many times of the day.

But Daella’s mother was currently giving birth to Daella’s youngest sibling. Or siblings, nobody actually knew if Mama will have a multiple birth like in previous times.

But with just how big Mama’s belly had become, it wouldn’t surprise Daella (or everybody else) that Mama ended up having more than one baby.

”Dalla!” 

Daella glanced towards the floor and noticed that Daenys, one of her younger siblings, had crawled over to her and was trying to crawl on top of her.

”Daenys,” Daella acknowledged her youngest sister. She put aside her book and helped the toddler onto her lap. 

“Be careful,” Daella said absently. “We don’t want you to fall and hurt yourself,”

The door to the drawing room opened so suddenly that it caused Daella to flinch. Daenys whined and she turned to look at the door with teary eyes.

Daella glanced towards the door and saw her twin sister Rhaelora and some of their younger siblings. 

“Lora,” Daella said as she held Daenys.

“Ella,” Rhaelora responded as she stared at her twin sister.

”Dalla!” Daeron squealed as he and Daenerys clung to Rhaelora.

”Alla!” Daenerys chimed in cheerfully.

Daella smiled at her siblings. “Are you not going to come in?” 

“Right,” Rhaelora muttered as she realizes that she had just been standing there like a weirdo. 

“Come on, little babes,” Rhaelora said as she held one of both Daeron and Daenerys little hands and led them to Daella and Daenys.

************ 

“Floris!” Cassandra Baratheon called out for her younger sister. “Oh where is she?” Cassandra muttered. “Where is that girl? She better not be off doing something that she shouldn’t!”

Cassandra wandered around the Red Keep looking for her younger sister. “Oh, where is that girl?” Cassandra muttered.

Cassandra sighed in exasperation and decided to check the spots where Floris like to frequent.

Cassandra eventually found her younger sister in the library looking at some books that Prince Aemond had been known to read often.

”Floris!” Cassandra said, “there you are! I’ve been looking all over the Red Keep for you!” 

Floris looked up from her book. “Why were you looking for me?” the youngest of the Four Storms asked.

”Isn’t it obvious?” Cassandra raised an elegant eyebrow in a questioning manner.

“No, it is not?” Floris replied bluntly.

”This little…” Cassandra muttered before she sighed. “I was looking for you because Lady Alla was trying to gather all of Her Grace’s ladies and keep an eye on us because Her Grace is in labor,”

Lady Alla was a Hightower cousin who had found herself widowed a few years ago after her husband died of a broken neck after falling very badly.

Of course, some suspected Lady Alla of pushing her lord husband to fall to his death so she could be the regent for her then underaged son. 

But Lady Alla had been giving birth to her lord husband’s second surviving true-born daughter when her husband had a fatal fall in which the Stranger claimed his poor soul.

Floris frowned. “Does Lady Alla wish to make sure that there isn’t a repeat of what happened to that Fossway girl?”

”Yes, that daughter of Lord Owen Fossway that was sent to a Motherhouse in disgrace after birthing a bastard babe,” Cassandra confirmed.

”Well Lady Alla is the Cheif Court Mistress, the most senior lady-in-waiting, and she is in charge of Her Grace’s ladies after all,” Floris mused.

”Yes yes,” Cassandra said dismissively. “Now come with me because Lady Alla wishes for Her Grace’s ladies to be within eyesight,” 

“Fine,” Floris muttered as she closed her book and put it back in the book shelf where she had gotten it from.

Cassandra grabbed her sister’s arm and promptly dragged her away. “Come now,” the eldest Baratheon girl said, “we wish not to be late,”

Floris glared at her older sister. “You mean you wish to catch Prince Aegon’s sight,” Floris accused her sister.

”Well what is wrong with that as well?” Cassandra replied. “Prince Aegon is the eldest true-born son and my betrothed. So I am meant to be his queen when he ascends the throne,”

”The Velaryons are rumored to still wish for Lord Aethan to succeed His Grace,” Floris reminded her sister.

”Nothing but wishfull thinking on the Velaryon’s side,” Cassandra stated. “His Grace will never break the laws of Westeros to give the crown to the child of his former mistress,” 

“Wishful thinking makes men do very shocking things,” Floris pointed out to her older sister. “And the Velaryons have always hated Her Grace and Ser Otto. They blame them for Laena Velaryon being sent away with her bastard,”

“King Rhaelor would rather have the head of his former mistress and his bastard by her on a spike outside the Red Keep than let anyone steal the crown and throne from Queen Alicent’s children,”

Cassandra made no comment on the Velaryons (Corlys & Laena, but mostly Corlys) feelings towards Queen Alicent and her father, Ser Otto.

”Reluctantly at that,” Floris said. “But you are not wrong about His Grace being willing to put the heads of anyone who tried to steal the crown from Queen Alicent’s children on spikes,” 

“That’s because everyone knows it,” Cassandra replied flatly. “Including the Velaryons, much to their heavy chagrin,”

2 Years Later 

Aegon felt a bit unnerved as he looked at the statue of the Mother in the Red Keep’s sept. 

The statue looked like his death mother…

Which wasn’t very surprising as his Father had some statues of the Mother redone in the image of Aegon’s deceased mother, Queen Alicent.

Which was of course done with the permission from the Faith of course. 

Mother had died giving birth to the triplets Aenar, Aegor, and Viserys. After so many children, it seemed so preposterous that Mother would end up dying in childbirth. 

But yet, she did. 

And Aegon felt like the world was closing in on him. Despite their differences, Mother was still his mother.

Haerra had taken to taking on some of mother’s queenly duties after her death alongside Helaena as the eldest daughters.

But when Aegon married Cassandra Baratheon, his mother’s duties started to be done by Cassandra.

The younger siblings had cried and cried and denied that Mother was dead. Which Aegon couldn’t blame them for.

”She’s not dead! She’s not dead!”

”Mama isn’t gone!” 

Of course then the mess in Driftmark happened when Lady Laena died and everyone had went to her funeral happened.

Including Harra Strong and her bastards with Aegon’s father.

Aemond lost an eye and the Strong woman and her children ended up banished from the capital. 

Aegon hadn’t known what to do. Cassandra had been in left behind in the Red Keep as she was pregnant.

Aegon’s sister Aemma had been crying throughout the fight where Haerra and Grandfather Otto had demanded an eye for an eye.

”There is a debt to be paid, my king. Aemond has lost an eye because of Lucerys Waters, so he should lose an eye in exchange. An eye for an eye,” 

“My younger brother has lost an eye, Father! I demand for Lucerys Waters eye in return to pay the blood debt that he owes my brother, your son from my mother, your wife,” 

“Mother would have demanded for the debt to be paid. For Aemond to be avenged if he can not be made whole again,” 

That was perhaps the first time that Aegon had seen his second sister be so vengeful like that.

”I? What you done but try to take my mother’s place when she has not been dead for long! What have you done but flaunt your bastards in my mother’s face whilst she lived? You try to take my mother’s place and now your bastard by my father takes an eye from my younger brother! What is there to do but seek justice for my younger brother Aemond if my Father will not give it?” 

“What would you do if you were still here, mother?” Aegon whispered as he looked at his mother’s face in the Mother’s statue.

Mother looked mournful and weepy to him as she had her hands in the praying form. 

Father had supposedly remade the Mother’s statues to be in the image of Aegon’s happy mother. 

But it didn’t seem that way to Aegon as he looked at his mother’s face in the Mother’s statue. 

The dragons of the Rhaelicent (Rhaelor x Alicent) kids 

Aenar: Whitefyre, a silver-white dragon

Daenerys: Vigilance, a green male dragon

Daenys: Vyara, a light yellow dragon

Daeron: Tessarion 

Rhaena Velaryon (Aethan & Aemma’s kid): a hatchling named Morning (after Canon Rhaena’s dragon) 

Aemma: Silverfyre, a young male pearlescent white dragon with a silver chest

Baelor: Hawthorn

Aelor: Goldenfyre, a golden yellow dragon

Rhaelora: Gaelithox, a young male red dragon nicknamed in the future as “the Red Fury” or “Redfyre”

Alyssa: Silverwing

Aemond: Undecided, but he definitely has a dragon 

Helaena: Dreamfyre 

Aegon: Sunfyre

Aegor (Aegon III): Stormcloud aka Egg III’s canon dragon

Chapter Text

Laena is twelve years old when Viserys accepts to marry her and make her queen.

“What a good decision, Your Grace!” 

Corlys was celebrating and cheering when he informed his family about the great news to restore Rhaenys legacy.

Corlys was smugger than ever as he enjoyed Otto Hightower’s annoyed face at his daughter being passed over.

Rhaenyra seemed furious about Viserys marrying Laena, a girl a few years younger than her. 

Laena’s first born is a pretty little babe. A strong boy babe with a strong pair of lungs in him. 

”Aegon,” Laena decided as she held him. Laena is only 16 years old. It had taken four years but now the Velaryons chance to get the throne was made flesh. “And Rhaena,” Laena says as she smiles fondly at her sleeping daughter. 

Aegon and Rhaena had the Velaryons dark skin and Corlys could make hints of silver-white hair on the baby’s head.

“What a good name for him and her,” Corlys agreed as he smiled at his grandson and granddaughter.

Aegon will make a fine king in the future, Corlys thinks. Rhaenys’ legacy and our line will be restored to the Iron Throne where it belongs. 

“How is Alicent?” Corlys abruptly asked his daughter. 

Laena smiled faintly. “Alicent is doing alright,” Laena told him. “Her children, Aelor and Helaena, are very lovely children,” 

Aelor & Helaena. Daemon’s children, or the Greens as the court has taken to calling them. 

“What about the third child?”

“Aemond?” Laena raised an eyebrow. “Aemond has just started to learn how to write and read alongside his twin sister Alysanne. He’s still young after all,”

“Is Otto’s girl expecting another one of Daemon’s children?” Corlys asked as he took a seat on the chair next to his daughter’s bed.

Laena frowned slightly. “Alicent hasn’t mentioned anything to me about it. But I believe that she has suspicions that she’s pregnant again.”

I hope it’s not a boy again. Corlys was not going to deal with Otto Hightower’s machinations to try and put Aelor on the fucking throne when the Iron Throne rightfully belongs to Laena’s Aegon.

”Father?” 

Corlys looked at his daughter’s worried look. “I’m all right, my little sailor,” Corlys said gently.

Laena smiled but she looked tired. There were circles underneath her eyes. The birth must have taken much out of her.

”I’m glad,”

Corlys stared in disbelief at the sight in front of him. Does Rhaenyra think that the world is a fool? 

Corlys wondered if all the sister-fucking going on in the Targaryen family resulted in the Targaryens loosing a lot of their intelligence.

This child is a clear bastard!! Corlys wanted to gag as he stared at Rhaenyra who was parading her bastard as a Tully babe, as a trout-dragon. 

Is she an imbecile? That babe looks nothing like a Tully! My gods, what will happen to us if Viserys doesn’t replace this idiot as the heir?

Corlys spotted the Tullys looking displeased but trying to hide it as well as they could.

Hmm, the Trouts must not fully buy Rhaenyra’s bullshit lies. Corlys noted silently as Rhaenys shaked her head at Rhaenyra by his side. 

“I can use this…” Corlys muttered.

”Father, look; it is Princess Alicent,” Laenor whispered to him as he gestured towards the Hightower girl and her brood fathered by Daemon.

Corlys glanced towards the Greens’ matriarch and saw that she was quietly speaking with Jaehaerys Royce, Daemon’s firstborn from the late Lady Rhea Royce.

Wasn’t it rumored that Daemon killed the Lady Rhea so he could be free to marry that idiotic Rhaenyra around the time Aemma Arryn died? 

Corlys should really look at the official records by the Maester concerning the Targaryens drama. 

“Why would Princess Alicent be speaking with her husband’s eldest son from his first wife?” Daemion, a son of Corlys’s brother Vaemond, whispered.

“Perhaps to make alliances,” Corlys murmured out his response.

”Or for another reason,” Laenor suggested. “Laena has told me that Princess Alicent is taking care of her husbands bastard daughter, Baela, for some reason,” 

“I still can’t believe that she’s Otto Hightower’s daughter,” Daemion muttered. “She’s too sweet to be that green snake’s hatchling,”

”A child is not to be judged by the sins of their parents,” Rhaenys reminded Daemion with a judging look. 

Corlys scoffed. “Tell that to all of the people who have punished entire families for the sins of a relative before,” Corlys said flatly.

Rhaenys bit her lips. “I won’t change my mind, Corlys,” Rhaenys insisted.

”And I won’t change it,” Corlys replied as he focused on the Royce-Hightower interaction. 

What is Otto planning? Is this part of that asshole’s plans? Or is his daughter starting to make her own plans independent from Otto like when she insisted on keeping her husband’s bastard girl much to Otto’s chagrin. 

It was fairly easy to get Otto (and Alicent) to agree to betroth Helaena to Aegon, much to Daemon’s annoyance.

”My wife and her cunt of a father are making decisions that should rightfully be done by me,” Daemon had been heard protesting.

Corlys simply scoffed. “Daemon hardly pays attention to his half-Hightower children,” Corlys said dryly. “So why should Alicent and Otto care about his opinion concerning the children?”

”That’s what I told Rhaenyra,” Laena said as she looked at some documents as her ladies chatted among themselves while they attended to her. 

Corlys raised an eyebrow. “Rhaenyra confronted you about the betrothal?” He asked incredulously.

”Yes, she did,” Laena shook her head slightly in annoyance. “Much like how she confronted Alice about her keeping Baela in her household,” 

“Alice?” Corlys mused in mild amusement. “You and Alicent have gotten close enough that you have given her a nickname?” 

Laena’s cheeks reddened. “I…W-Well we are very close and we are to share grandchildren in the future,”

”All right then,” Corlys decided not to ask about that anymore. “I am just glad that you have gotten Alicent, and thus the Greens, to our side. We have taken Rhaenyra’s former staunchest supporters turned neutral to our, Aegon’s, side,”

Corlys looked like a bloody peacock with how smug he was about Laena keeping Alicent and Rhaenyra separated and thus denying Rhaenyra of the Hightowers.

Technically, we didn’t have to do anything or get our hands dirty. Rhaenyra’s treatment of Alicent because of her marriage to that warmonger Daemon made it possible for us to steal Otto’s girl from that idiot Rhaenyra. 

“All birds have wings, but yours were clipped long ago,” 

“All birds have wings,” Helaena and Baela looked at their brothers Aelor and Aemond and sister Alysanne.

Aelor nodded and Aemond’s particularly pretty purple eyes shone with determination. 

“But ours were never fully clipped long ago,” The boys, the brothers, said in unison. 

“Neither by the father or the Stranger,”

The Greens stood in unison beside each other with Helaena and Baela standing to the left while Aemond and Alysanne were standing to the right. And Aelor was standing in the middle.

”Then will you stand against me, cousins?” Rhaenyra demanded. She narrowed her eyes as she gazed at Daemon’s children. 

And Alicent’s children, Rhaenyra swallowed back bile. Daemon’s children were supposed to be mine! But that was stolen from me by Alicent. Just like my throne is being stolen by my step-mother’s, Laena Velaryon, whelp. 

And now Daemon’s children which were supposed to be hers after Rhea Royce died and Daemon was left widowed. 

“Aemond’s eye was taken by Jacaerys when he tried to protect me,” Aelor reminded his cousin coldly. “Why should we support you?”

Rhaenyra flinched and so did her bastard that was being parades as a Tully. 

“I am the rightful heir,” Rhaenyra said through gritted teeth. “To stand against me is treason itself! And your father, Daemon, supports me!”

”And should we care of what our whoremonger of a father thinks?” Aelor replied coldly. “Daemon is little more than but a stranger to us,”

”He is still your father!” Rhaenyra insisted. And I should have been your mother, Rhaenyra bit the inside of her cheek.

”No more than he is our sire and a prince,” Baela sneered. “Daemon is simply our sire. Ser Criston is more a father to us than our actual father,”

Criston. Yet another traitor!

Daemon’s children are surrounded by traitors by all sides! They were raised by traitors, Rhaenyra thinks. This would have never happened if they were mine and I was wed to Daemon as I should have had it not been for my Father’s decision against it! 

“Don’t forget about Lord Larys,” Helaena chimed in. “Lord Larys is kind to us and our mother,”

Baela scoffed. “Larys is creepy,” she muttered. “He gives me the creeps,” Baela shivered as she remembered Larys looking at her with cold eyes.

”That’s because Lord Larys hates our father,” Aelor explained.

”He still gives me the creeps,” Baela huffed as she crossed her arms. 

Alysanne giggled. “That’s because Lord Larys give many the creeps,”

“I refuse,” Jaehaerys Royce said finally.

“What?” Jacaerys could hardly believe what he was hearing. 

“I said what I said, my prince,” Jaehaerys Royce moved a wooden ship figurine across the board. 

“So you will not support my mother, your rightful queen?” 

“Yes,” Jaehaerys stated. “I will not support the second coming of Maegor. Or should I say the third Maegor since my Father, Prince Daemon has that monicker of the second Maegor? Nevertheless, I stand with my half-siblings mother, my stepmother the Princess Alicent Hightower,” 

“Then you side with the Blues?” Jacaerys demanded. “With Aegon the usurper?” 

“An usurper? Let me ask you something, my prince.” Jaehaerys looked up to make eye contact with Rhaenyra’s eldest.

“If your lord father had a daughter from a previous marriage had he had one, would your mother insist on your younger brother being the heir to the Riverlands over your older half-sister if you had had one from your father’s side of the family?” 

“I…” Jace had no answer to that. He didn’t actually know. 

Would Jace’s mother insisted on Luke being the heir to the Riverlands even if Father had a daughter from a previous marriage if Father had had a first marriage? 

Jace didn’t know.

Jaehaerys studied Jacaerys Tully (or well Jaehaerys supposed that the right name would be Waters) carefully. 

“I take your silence as the answer,” Jaehaerys Royce sighed. The son of Rhea Royce looked at the toy war ships on the table. 

“A woman the eldest Princess is. But if she protest so much about being challenged for the throne by a younger brother then why would she deny those two women who petitioned to be made their fathers heirs over a younger brother the thing that was given to her so my Father won’t be the heir and then king?” 

Jacaerys Tully didn’t answer.

And I won’t fight against my siblings, Jaehaerys thinks as he looks at the table which was similar to the Painted Table in Dragonstone. 

Or my siblings mother. Jaehaerys swallowed back spit. He wondered what his lady mother, Rhea Royce, would have done had she been in his position.

Would Jaehaerys’s mother support the woman who wanted to have her lover’s (Rhea’s husband, Jaehaerys father) child tortured? 

(Jaehaerys youngest brother from Fath- Daemon’s, from his sire’s second wife could have died from blood loss and infection in the lost eye.

How could Jaehaerys have lived with himself if his brother died because of Princess Rhaenyra’s spawn? Why did his sire do nothing? Did he hate his half-Hightower children so much? What did that say about Daemon’s relationship with his Royce offspring? Did Father hate all of them?

Did Father only care for his children when they had dragons and looked perfectly Valyrian like Aelor, Helaena, and Jaehaerys?)

Or would she have supported the drunken prince with an overly ambitious snake of a grandfather?

Jaehaerys wouldn’t never know. His mother had been dead for years. Jaehaerys will never know. 

But his Mother isn’t here. So Jaehaerys must make his choice on who to lay down his life for.

And Jaehaerys chose to side with his stepmother and her side. Jaehaerys threw his lot in with his father’s unfavored second family. 

So Jaehaerys chose to dye the beacon and banners blue (and green)

Princess Rhaenyra was found dead on her bed in her bed at Dragonstone. There was blood pooling around her neck as she had died from her throat being slit.

Viserys I screamed when he was told his daughter and preferred heir was dead. 

“Find whoever did this!” The grief stricken king had ordered. “Have them tortured and beheaded!”

Whispers about how the Blues, the faction of the King’s eldest surviving son -Aegon- by the King’s second wife Laena Velaryon, which was headed by Lord Corlys Velaryon and Queen Laena Velaryon, had been the ones to have the Princess killed. 

For Prince Aegon to be king and heir. Much to the elder prince’s chagrin. 

But such whispers never seemed to have reached the grief stricken king who’s condition quickly deteriorated to the point that he couldn’t leave his bed. 

The whispers also didn’t last for long. As there were evidence found which revealed that Lord Unwin Peake had been the one who had hired the assassin to kill the Princess Rhaenyra. 

Unwin Peake had had the princess killed in revenge for his death father, the previous Lord Peake, who had been executed for plotting to assassinate Queen Laena Velaryon and Princess Rhaenyra so his (now married) daughter could be queen. 

What made the deceased Lord Peake think that his daughter will be queen after the deaths of Queen Laena and Princess Rhaenyra are up to (heavy) debate. 

Nevertheless, this was awfully convenient for the Blues who had been relentlessly trying to make Prince (then King) Aegon his father’s heir ever since the prince’s birth when the Queen was sixteen. 

The Velaryon Queen herself had been visiting Oldtown with her close ally & friend, the Princess Alicent Hightower who had was the wife of Prince Daemon Targaryen -known as “the Rouge Prince” by the entire realm- who was a staunch supporter of Princess Rhaenyra, his own niece.

Neath less to say, this is reported to have put much tension between Princess Alicent and Prince Daemon. 

As the Prince had wanted for their eldest daughter, Princess Helaena Targaryen, to marry one of Princess Rhaenyra’s sons.

Though the prince had originally wanted for his daughter to marry an old lord old enough to be her grandfather (who by the way, had many heirs of his own as he had been widowed thrice by the time Daemon wished for his daughter to marry the old fat lord). 

The lord was by the way, a staunch and loyal supporter of Princess Rhaenyra to succeed her father, the King Viserys I (who was reported by someone to be weak), on the Iron Throne. 

It was said that while Lord Otto Hightower was the king’s Hand, his daughter, Princess Alicent, was the Velaryon born Queen’s own Hand. 

Princess Alicent was a rather loved figure for the Smallfolk of King’s Landing. Queen Laena and her children (Aegon II, Rhaena, Aethan, and Daelyx) were as well.

But none could match the love held by the Smallfolk for The Green Bride -or Princess or Hand- (as Alicent Hightower was called) and her daughter The Green Queen (Helaena Targaryen).

It is to be noted that Princess Alicent’s eldest stepson, Lord Jaehaerys Royce, had been with her and the Queen in Oldtown. 

In fact, the Queen had left for Oldtown an entire month before the death of Princess Rhaenyra during the death of night at Dragonstone.

— Excerpt from “The Blues, or King Aegon II Targaryen’s faction”

Written by Maester Arlan Waters

Author’s Notes:

The Blues & Greens dragons—

Aegon: Sunfyre

Helaena: Dreamfyre 

Aelor: Goldenfyre

Aemond: (The) Cannibal 

Laena: Vhagar 

Daenerys: Vigilance

Daeron: Tessarion 

Jaehaerys Royce: Silverwing 

Alysanne: Vermithor 

Baela: Moondancer 

Rhaena: Morning 

Aethan: Seafyre

Daelyx: Stardancer

Rhaenys: Meleys 

Laenor: Seasmoke

Daenerys: Vigilance 

Chapter Text

Baela swallowed back the bile in her mouth. She hated this, she really did. Baela glared at the ‘Tully’ boys with clear anger. 

The bastards shrank back and clung to their mother’s skirts. Jacaerys ‘Tully’ glared at her from his place besides his mother. 

The bastard had a slightly bleeding lip and some bruises on his stupid face. Idiot, he looked nothing like his supposed Tully father. 

Who did Rhaenyra think that she was fooling? The court? Everyone whispered that her Tully children are actually Strong bastards fathered by Ser Harwin Strong.

Baela had heard the rumors as she and her sisters looked at their brothers training with the sword under Ser Criston’s watchful eye.

The only ones who might believe the bullshit lie about Rhaenyra’s children being true-born are King Viserys and maybe the Smallfolk who don’t care about the lords petty games over the throne.

But then again, the Smallfolk still followed the Seven. Believing in the Seven gave the Smallfolk hope of their lives become better.

Religion gave many hope in bad times. That’s why it was such a powerful weapon. Religion and her rules.

And Baela haughtily raised her chin. The way she looked at Jacaerys made it clear that she was challenging him.

Jacaerys flinched and glared at her again. He looked like he wanted to hit her. Not that he would be able to of course. 

Baela was better than the ‘Tully’ boys with a sword. Because Baela was no princess (like her sisters and cousin Rhaena) or lady, nobody really cared if she swung a sword. 

Baela was a bastard girl. The base born daughter of a Targaryen prince and a Velaryon cousin from a lower branch. 

Her mother birthed her then she died of childbed fever. And Baela was taken to Kings Landing when she was about a year old. 

Ever since then, Baela has been taken care of by her father’s second wife since the first one died half a year before her father was forced by the King to remarry to Alicent Hightower who became the second wife of the Rouge Prince, Baela’s princely father. 

“I didn’t intend for her to get hurt, I swear it!” 

“The Stranger takes your promises!” Baela screamed at Jacaerys Tully as she threw Alysanne behind her. 

Baela didn’t want Alysanne to fully see what was going on or to be in the front where all the arguing was going on. 

“Baela!”

”Baela, don’t yell,” Alysanne whispered. 

Baela tried to calm down but she couldn’t. Her breathing was heavy and her body was stiff.

She was glaring at Rhaenyra’s sons with the clear intend that she wanted to bash their stupid little heads. 

“Baela, stop.” Father said with slight exasperation as he glanced at her neutrally. 

Baela held in a scream. Aemond has been maimed by…by those bastards! They give bastards a bad name by pretending to be true-born and usurping the Riverlands. 

Baela glared at the Strong boys and held Alysanne closer to her. Aelor put a hand on one of her shoulders and gently squeezed it in a reassuring manner.

”Calm down,” Aelor murmured softly. “Anger won’t help us right now. Not when we’re trying to get justice for our maimed brother,”

Baela bit the inside of her cheek gently. Her hands had formed fists as she held onto Alysanne and Daeron.

Aelor was holding Daenerys while Helaena stood besides him. Helaena was staring but her hands were holding onto a small ball of yarn. 

******** 

“My sons legitimacy was questioned,”

”He is your son, Daemon. Your blood,”

”You are all family!”

”Cease with all of this fighting, wife.” 

“Where is consideration and empathy amongst family then, Husband? My Cousin has just died! And here in my own family’s home Rhaenyra’s son thought it best to maime his own cousin,”

”My sons were defending themselves!”

”Of what?”

”Vile insults were levied against them tonight. Their legitamacy was called into question,” 

“And so my son’s eye was taken from him over a mere insult?!” 

“This fighting is ridiculous,” Father says, he sounded bored out of his mind.

Baela wanted to hit her father. Why was he acting so bored? Why wasn’t he acting like he cared even a bit for Aemond’s maiming by Rhaenyra’s spawns?

Why? Just why? Did Father not Aemond? Did he not love them? Did he not love all of his children? Did he not love them despite their different statuses?

Sure, Father had favorites among his brood of children from three different women respectively. 

Jaehaerys was Father’s obvious favorite as the eldest son with the dragon as majestic as Silverwing. 

Aelor’s dragon, Goldenfyre, was a splendid and beautiful creature. Father was proud of his son having a bond to such a creature.

Helaena had strange dreams and whispered cryptically of things that they did not understand. She had Dreamfyre at her command. 

Alysanne had Vermithor, the mount of the Old King Jaehaerys I who was one of the greatest Targaryen kings so far.

(“Aegon can be just a good a king if he wasn’t so much a drunkard,” Aelor had mused before. “Aegon has a good head on him and he has two very good advisors by his side in the form of Lord Corlys and Queen Laena,”

”Don’t forget about Mother. She’s the Queen’s Hand in all but name. She’s as much an advisor to Aegon as our Grandfather is,”)

Daeron and Daenerys had two cradle eggs that hatched into Tessarion (the Blue Princess as she was called so she wasn’t confused with Queen Laena) and Vigilance. 

All of Father’s half Hightower children had dragons to their name. So why did Father still see them as not fully Valyrian?

And Baela, despite being a bastard daughter, was given a cradle egg which hatched into the she-dragon Moondancer. 

And Aemond, who had been the only half Hightower child of Father without a dragon for a long time, now rode the Cannibal, probably the most dangerous wild dragons. 

Almost all of Father’s children had dragons to their names. So why did Father not care about Aemond’s maiming at all?

Wasn’t Father proud of his dragon riding children? Didn’t he prefer his dragon riding sons over daughters? 

Baela sometimes liked to think that she was Father’s favorite daughter but she was a bastard daughter. 

Helaena, Alyssa, Alysanne, and Daenerys are true-born. Helaena has dreams that seem to come true so Uncle Viserys favored her alongside Alyssa and Daenerys.

Alyssa likes history and she is the eldest girl, so Uncle Viserys knew her longer. 

Daenerys was young, Uncle Viserys liked her because she was cute little girl who loves dragons. 

Uncle Viserys favorite nieces are Helaena and Alyssa. There really isn’t much room for Baela and Daenerys. 

Uncle Gwayne likes Allard and Baela. Gwayne is Baela’s favorite uncle even if he technically isn’t her uncle. 

Jaehaerys was Father’s favorite child as the oldest son. The Royce lords descending from Jaehaerys would be of Father’s line with Lady Rhea, his first lady wife.

Aelor was the second favorite child of Father since he was a boy with a beautiful dragon and he had Father’s name unlike Jaehaerys who had his mother’s name. 

Aemond now had a dragon. A dangerous and formidable dragon as he has the Cannibal now. 

So shouldn’t Father be proud of Aemond now as much as he is of Jaehaerys and Aelor? Even if Aemond is a third son.

Why wasn’t Father defending Aemond?

Why was he siding with the whore of Dragonstone who was usurping the Riverlands from the Tullys with her Strong bastards?

Was Harwin Strong trying to usurp the Riverlands when he sired his mistress’ bastard sons? 

Was he an utter idiot who was simply thinking with his cock when he was fucking bastards into Rhaenyra?

Why didn’t Lord Lyonel Strong do anything about his first born’s treasonous actions with Rhaenyra? 

They were hoodwinking the succession by propping up bastards as the heirs. It’s one thing for a woman to inherit over a son. But it’s another thing to pass of a bastard as true-born.

Didn’t Rhaenyra know that everyone must follow the law? That’s why laws are made, so people can live a lawful life.

If the Heiress breaks an important law and disregards the law, then why should they follow someone with no respect for the law that they all follow?

Did she think herself special or above the laws of Gods and men? Was she truly so arrogant?

Why should they follow a law breaking woman?

If she broke such a law about passing of bastards as true-born, should they even trust her? 

Why should they follow someone with no regard for the laws that they all followed? Why should they even trust her when she passes off bastards as true-born?

Was Lord Larys the only smart one in his immediate family besides his bastard sister Alys Rivers? 

If Lord Larys is the only one with a brain in the men of the main Strong line then Baela is glad that he’s Mother’s friend.

Mother needs a smart friend who isn’t a complete idiot like Ser Strong is. ”Golden Boy Frat Bro,” a maid named Era had muttered about Ser Harwin. 

Baela didn’t know what it meant but she thinks that the maid’s words describe Ser Dragonsire (as some have taken to calling Ser Harwin) rather well. 

“Ridiculous?” Mother demanded in disbelief and outrage. “Your son has lost an eye. How is any of this ridiculous?”

Why aren’t you doing anything, Father? Baela thought as she stared at her father. Don’t you love us? Don’t you care about us at all, Father?

Baela swallowed bile. Did her Father not love any of them? If Father loved them all like he said he did why wasn’t he defending Aemond? 

Why wasn’t he siding with Mother? Aren’t married people supposed to be a sort of team even if the man was always the leader like the Septons always said?

Why wasn’t Father agreeing with Mother here? Aemond was maimed by Rhaenyra’s fake dragon-trouts, so why was he siding with that bitch? 

“This is insufficient! My son has lost an eye. I demand for some amount of justice be delivered,”

”Against the son of the heiress?” Father scoffed as he raised an eyebrow at Mother. 

“My son will not be punished for what happened today,” Rhaenyra sneered as she held her stupid eldest spawn. 

“Vile insults were levied against them tonight. My boys were simply defending themselves. My son will not be punished for maiming a third son that’s so far down the succession line,”

Father glanced at Rhaenyra and narrowed his eyes at her. Father’s expression darkroom slightly.

Is Father mad that his precious Rhaenyra reminded him just how far down the succession he and my siblings are? Baela thought almost bitterly.

But she had a bad taste in her mouth. Was being reminded of how far down we are from the Iron Throne all it takes for him to narrow his eyes at the bitch? 

If that was true, then Baela hoped that Rhaenyra sabotaged herself as much as possible as she had previously done when she birthed her bastards.

******** 

Fuck her! Fuck Her! Fuck her! Fuck her! Fuck her! Fuck her! Fuck her! Baela mentally screamed as she was violently beating up a training dummy in the training yard. 

Fuck that bitch to the Seven Hells and back! Baela wanted to scream out but she couldn’t because if she did then people might figure out that she’s talking about Rhaenyra. 

Fuck that bitch! Baela cursed as she repeatedly punched the dummy. The Ser Pell Number 4, as she called the dummy, was probably pissed that she was mistreating him.

But training dummies weren’t alive. So he couldn’t complain unlike that bastard Jacaerys ‘Tully’.

Honestly, why did that asshole even have a name that was similar to Jaehaerys’ name anyway?

Jaehaerys should have protested about it anyway. But it would probably be seen as dumb anyway.

Not that my Sire isn’t dumb, Baela scowled. Fuck the old man. Fuck that old man! He didn’t do anything to defend Aemond after Jacaerys maimed him! He’s OUR Father, not of Rhaenyra’s bastards! Aemond is the one that he should have been defending, not the bitch and her brother-maiming bastard! 

Baela screamed as she grabbed a dagger and stabbed Ser Pell Number 4 in the face. She imagined that it was Jacaerys face that she was stabbing as she plunged her dagger into the dummy.

That probably calmed her down a bit. But she was breathing heavily and she was sweating. 

Her body felt tense as she stared at the completely wrecked dummy. Her heart was beating repeatedly and rapidly. 

“Baela?” A voice that Baela knew very well called out in slight disbelief. “What are you doing here? And what did you do to the dummy?”

Baela turned around and saw Ser Criston walking towards her.

Chapter Text

Lucerys breathing was heavy as he stepped forward and entered the large and richly decorated room.

”Lucerys Waters is here, Your Grace,” The person who was escorting him declared to the people in the office. 

Lucerys internally cringed at hearing the person referring him as Lucerys Waters. A bastard, Lucerys swallowed back bile.

He wasn’t a Velaryon, even of he technically was only Velaryon in name in his original life, in this life.

Lucerys saw his grandfather sitting on one of the chairs besides a woman in a green dress that Lucerys immediately recognized. 

Alicent Hightower was as beautiful as she infuriatingly was back in Lucerys’ original life were he was a Velaryon. 

She was wearing a dark green dress with pearls on the sides along the v-cut of her dress. Thankfully her breasts were covered by a white dress underneath her scandalous green dress. 

But her stomach had a bump and Lucerys immediately knew that the Green witch was a few months pregnant. 

Lucerys cheeks became red and his face fell warm all over. His mouth felt dry and he pointedly tried to not look at the Hightower witch and her stomach.

Then there was a man with the traditional Targaryen and Valyrian appearance, fair hair and purple eyes and all that.

He looked like Lucerys original mother, Rhaenyra, and Lucerys almost chocked up at the thought of his original mother.

Lucerys liked his current mother, Harra Strong who was technically Ser Harwin Strong in Luke’s original life, well enough.

But he still missed his original mother. 

The man who looked like Rhaenyra looked at Lucerys and his eyes widened in realization and a bit of dread.

Lucerys wondered about that. Did he know this Rhaenyra lookalike? 

Was he connected to him somehow? 

“Please sit boy,” An middle aged man who looked about Grandfather Viserys’s age said as he gestured towards an empty chair on Luke’s left side.

Lucerys nodded and numbly went to the chair and quietly sat down. 

He looked at the Valyrian men and the Green witch who were sitting across from him.

Grandfather Viserys was the one sitting the most close to the middle aged man who was sitting in a desk near the large windows behind the desk at the back of the room/office. 

“Is the boy’s mother coming at all?” The man asked as he looked at Lucerys in a way that made him wilt.

Grandfather Viserys sighed in an almost apologetic manner as he looked at the man. 

“My apologies Mr Mellos for the inconvenience,” Grandfather said. “But I believe that Miss Harra will come soon,”

Mellos scoffed. “Viserys,” he began. “As much as I respect you and your daughter-in-law, I won’t allow for leniency towards your son’s mistress with her being late to the meeting to answer for her bastard’s ill behavior,” 

“I don’t think we should talk about this here with Lucerys here-“ the Rhaenyra lookalike began. 

”Rhaelor,” Alicent Hightower hissed and interrupted the Rhaenyra lookalike. “It is all said and done! The boy knows,” 

The Rhaenyra lookalike, Rhaelor as he is called, promptly shut up after that. The Green witch’s body was stiff.

Lucerys mind began to race.

So this world’s Ser Harwin is a woman named Harra and she’s his mother.

The Rhaenyra lookalike sitting across from him was named Rhaelor. 

Rhaelor is apparently Lucerys’s father. 

Lucerys did something to warrant being send over here in some sort of audience with Grand Maester Mellos acting as the judge and king. 

Alicent Hightower is the (currently pregnant) wife of Rhaelor, Luke’s father.

And Lucerys is a bastard. 

******* 

“Right this way, Miss,” The man said softly as he led her towards the Principal’s office. 

“Thank you,” Harra Strong replied with a faint but tired smile. 

“Tis only my duty Miss,” the man said.

Harra tensed a bit at the mention of duty from the man. She swallowed back spit. Duty was something that Harra had always been told to take seriously. 

Whether it was her position as a lady-in-waiting to the death Queen Aemma.

Or being the eldest Strong girl. 

Or being an older sister to a crippled younger brother. 

Hara was always supposed to be mindful of her duty by her father. And having bastards with a man younger than her who’s the son of her father’s boss isn’t in the description of ‘duty’.

So here was Harra.

On her way to the principal’s office of her second son’s school to see what the fuck he did now. 

He better not have been picking on Aemond again…Or else I swear to the gods that I will- 

Harra’s train of thought was interrupted by a door opening in front of her. The man that was guiding her said, “Harra Strong, the mother of Lucerys Water,”

Clearly he was introducing her to the people in the room.

She stepped into the room and saw the last people that she had wanted to see right now. 

Alicent Hightower, scorned wife extraordinary with issues and is definitely having an emotional affair with Criston Cole and Larys Strong

Viserys Targaryen, father trying to cover up his son’s screw ups and trying to make sure his daughter-in-law doesn’t decide to just kill Rhaelor and make herself a widow

Rhaelor Targaryen, cheating husband who slept with an older woman (Harra) and got her pregnant multiple times and is on thin ice with his wife and children (and everyone else) 

Fuck. Lucerys was definitely picking on Aemond again despite being told NOT to multiple times. 

And of course, despite Aemond having been pretty unwilling to press charges before. That isn’t the case with Aemond’s family. 

Especially Aemond’s maternal family, the Hightowers of Oldtown. 

The people here at this private school being the lackeys/cronies that they are, aren’t going to risk the liability of something happening to a child of the Crown Prince and his very well loved wife under their care. 

And to boot the PR hell that the Hightowers will rain on the school if they fail to do something should anything happen to any of Alicent Hightower’s half Targaryen offsprings. 

After all, the school has had the pleasure (and honor) to have the royal children being sent here to study because Alicent thought the school will be good for her Targaryen children. 

Chapter Text

Alyssa could feel a grim and dark sort of satisfaction as she watched the head of the last traitor be separated from their body. 

She was standing in the balcony as she watched as the traitors be executed.

Her only remaining younger brothers, Aegor and Viserys, were standing with her. 

So was Rhaelora, Daella, Baela, and Rhaena as well as her cousins Alyssa Royce. 

Baelon is only 7 while Maelor is 5. Alyssa thinks them much too young (and scarred from the war) to be watching the executions. 

Her sister Aemma’s only surviving children (Baela and Rhaena) stood together as they watched the remaining supporters of the Reds and Blues and Daemon be executed. 

I hope you are watching in hell, Laena Velaryon. Alyssa thinks as she smiled as the burnt body of the Queen Who Never Was was brought in a coffin. 

Laena thought herself so clever when she had her bastard son with Alyssa’s father, King Rhaelor, betray the Greens (the faction that Alyssa and her siblings belonged to). 

Aethan Velaryon, that ungrateful bastard, declared himself king after the deaths of little Vaegon and Corgon. 

What possessed him to declare himself king, Alyssa would never know. And she didn’t think that she actually cared. 

Especially not when it was because of Aethan, his whore mother, and snake of a grandfather that resulted in the deaths of Daeron and Daenys. 

Baelor and Aelor died during the war that everyone was know calling the Dance of the Dragons. 

Aelora threw herself from her balcony after the deaths of Helaena and her children. 

Cassandra died of an illness leaving her and Aegon’s children (Jaehaera, Jaehaelor, and Mael) orphaned since Aegon had died as well from poison. 

Then Jaehaelor had fallen so utterly terribly and broken his neck, he died almost instantly. 

Mael had died from a childhood illness following Jaehaelor’s death.

Of Aegon and Cassandra’s children, only Jaehaera remains alive. Her brothers died as children during the Dance of the Dragons.

Haera had been killed by Blood and Cheese just like Vaegon had been. 

Aemond and Aemma had killed that monster Daemon at the same time that Daemon had killed Aemond. 

Aemma had drowned after falling from her dragon while fighting against Jaehaerys Royce, Daemon’s eldest son. 

Vaegon had been killed by Daemon’s men in retaliation for the death of Allard Royce, Daemon’s youngest son who had a hatchling named Rheaxes. 

Jaehaerys Royce himself had died from his injuries sustained from fighting Aemma on dragon back. 

Helaena was thrown from a window by an assassin after the deaths of her children Jaehaerys and Aela. 

Baelon and Maelor are the only children of Helaena left alive that survived the war. 

Visenya died from smallpox. 

Aenar died from a brutal fall from his young dragon, Viserax, during the riots that killed Harra Strong’s only daughter: Viserra Waters.

Mother, oh her sweet and kind snd gentle mother who loved them more than anything, died such a horrible death that Alyssa could only recall blurry images and tears.

Father, oh her father that she both loathes and loves so much that tears at her heart and leaves her shaking. 

Father had went insane after Mother’s death. He’d screamed in agony when he was presented her corpse. 

Father had killed anyone who he thought was even remotely involved in Mother’s death. It was a brutal time where you could hear the wailing of the condemned.

Ser Criston, the brave and loyal knight of Mother and Alyssa’s family, died trying to protect Mother. 

Daenerys and everyone else that still remain at that time had screamed when Ser Criston’s body and Mother’s body were presented. 

United even in death they were, Ser Criston and the Queen Alicent Hightower.

The dragons of their dead siblings had perished with them fighting against the Blacks and Blues. 

Aethan had died from his wounds after fighting the combined forces of Jaehaerys Royce and Aemond. 

Daemon had died fighting Aemond on dragon back alongside Aemma who had come to kill them both. 

Baela’s dragon, Moondancer, had perished while fighting against Daekar with Rhaelora and her Gaelithox. 

But before that, Moondancer had attacked Aegon and Sunfyre before they both died. 

Of course, Sunfyre had knocked Moondancer out of the air since he was much bigger and older.

Daeron had died trying to protect Aegor and Viserys alongside Daenys had been on a ship heading to Essos for their safety by Father’s insistence. 

The Triarchy had captured their ship, the Green Lady, and Aegor managed to escape by flying in his dragon Stormcloud.

Aegor had never rode on Stormcloud until then and the flight had left him heavily shaken. 

Viserys managed to escape by ridding with Daenys on her young but big yellow dragon, Vyara. 

Stormcloud was heavily injured when they arrived on Dragonstone. Vyara had been injured as well but not as much as Daenys. 

Stormcloud had died an hour after arriving on Dragonstone. Aegor never rode another dragon since.

Aegon and Sunfyre had killed Jacaerys Waters and his dragon, Princess Rhaenys and Meleys, and they had burned part of Harrenhal to a crisp. 

But somehow Harra Strong had managed to survive it all while her uncle and cousins didn’t.

Aegon and Sunfyre had even managed to kill some of Lord Vaemond’s sons and plenty of Velaryon men as well as many of the Iron born during the war. 

Baelon and Melor’s dragons had died during the riots alongside Shrykos and Morghul and so many others. 

“Harra Strong! The whore of Harrenhal!” 

Harra Strong was dirty and too thin as she was dragged onto the platform where she would be executed. 

“Usurper!”

“Whore!” 

“Slut!” 

“Fake queen!”

”Whore queen!”

”Murderer!” 

“My daughter died because of you!” 

“My son died fighting in the Riverlands during the war because of you!”

“You’re the reason Her Grace and the princes and princesses died!”

”You’re the reason for the war!”

”May you and the Velaryon whore burn in the Seven Hells!” 

“I hope your ungrateful bastard children are rotting in hell!” 

Alyssa smiles cruelly as the Strong bitch is booed at, thrown rotten food at, and hurled insults at. 

“His Grace, King Aegor the first of his name will know speak and give the witch’s sentence,” 

Everything became a bit quiet after that as everyone looked towards Aegor who was dressed in green and black and wearing a simple circlet as his crown.

“I have an announcement to make,” Aegor spoke up. His voice boomed despite only being a boy of only 12 name-days. 

Aegor looked at the Strong bitch and Alyssa could see the clear hatred in his purple eyes that reminded her of Father.

Father too had died during the war. He and Laena Velaryon had mutually killed one another on dragon back. 

“The witch is to be burned at the stake,” Aegor, her kind little brother who had always been trailing after Mother and their older siblings and Father, declared to the people. 

There were cheers and the firewood began to be gathered almost immediately so Harra Strong could be burned alive. 

********** 

“My princess,” Tyland Lannister said after the executions, including that of Harra Strong, were all done. 

“Ser Tyland,” Alyssa turned around to look at Ser Tyland. “Is something of the matter?”

Tyland Lannister had served Alyssa’s grandfather, then her father, and then her older brother Aegon. 

Ser Tyland had lost a hand during the war and Alyssa would rather not know of the details. 

“The council wants for there to be a decision about who your grace is to marry,” Tyland said. “The realm desperately needs peace and marriage will do it,” 

“Has Rhaena made it known that she will marry that little Corbray lordling of hers,” Alyssa mused out loud. 

“I wouldn’t call Ser Corbray little, princess.” Tyland sighed. “But it’s better than what Lady Baela did,” 

“Ah yes, my little eldest niece ran off with Ser Laenor’s only remaining legitimized bastard son and married the fool Alyn Velaryon,”

Alyssa smiled in amusement at the memory of the council shaking their heada and arguing about what to do concerning Baela running off with the legitimized Alyn Velaryon. 

Tyland groaned slightly at the mention of Baela. “That girl gives everyone headaches,” The younger lion muttered. 

Alyssa laughed softly. “That’s what Aemma had always said to me before,” 

Alyssa froze as soon as she had mentioned Aemma and the past. Tyland winced a bit. 

Alyssa ignored the way her heart felt like it was being squeezed from the inside. Her stomach felt uneasy, almost as if she would throw up. 

“L-Let’s go to the council chamber,” Alyssa stammered out as she looked at her feet. “It’s b-better if we go now,”

”Y-Yes,” Tyland nodded slightly. “Right this way, Your Grace,” 

Alyssa followed Tyland Lannister to Small council to decide to who she will marry to secure an alliance for her younger brother’s new reign. 

___________________ 

Princess Alyssa Targaryen, the eldest surviving daughter of King Rhaelor Targaryen and Queen Alicent Hightower, was said to have been a hard woman who rarely smiled after the Dance of the Dragons, the civil war that doubled as a war of succession that tore the realm in half. 

She was very loyal to her younger brother Aegor’s reign after the boy ascended the throne following the deaths of his older brothers and father during the Dance of the Dragons. 

Princess Alyssa forbid anyone of wearing the colors blue and red because of its association to the Blues and the Reds who has fought against the Greens, who were King Rhaelor’s rightful heirs, in the Dance of the Dragons. 

Despite the grumbling from some people, the young King Aegor didn’t protest against his older sister’s ban on wearing blue and red. 

In fact, King Aegor seemed to pretty willing to enforce the ban. This was unsurprising since the king had been hit hard by the Dance of the Dragons where he watched many of his family members die one by one.

— Excerpt from “The Regency of King Aegor I, Chapter 2: Alyssa the Advisor” 

Chapter Text

Aegor Rivers, also known as Bittersteel, was a bit too busy trying not to gwak at some of the portraits of the Green Queen.

Queen consort Alicent Hightower, wife of King Rhaelor “the Black King” Targaryen, and the mother of kings. 

The Hightower Queen was the first fully blooded Andal queen that the Seven Kingdoms has had. 

Aegor knows that the Hightower family is very proud of their Green Queen and her children. 

For she and her children are proof of Andal (and Hightower) blood being on the Iron Throne. 

Aegor’s own father, King Aegon IV, is technically the Green Queen’s own grandson as his father, Viserys II, was the Hightower Queen’s son. 

It was a bit odd seeing the portraits of his Great-Grandmother who is very well known throughout the entire realm. 

There isn’t really anyone left that knew the Green queen save some really old Septas and maybe some Maesters. 

Now, Alicent Hightower has simply become immortalized by the people as the noble and tragic wife of the Black King, a highly fertile wife, and the mothers of kings. 

Many women look up to her as she was a very popular and loved queen whilst she lived before she died in the Dance of the Dragons and she was blessed with many children.

She gave birth to 18 children. Then there was the child that she lost during the Dance of the Dragons.

Aegor knows that some people have started to portray her relationship with her husband the Black King as a tale of obsession and what some are calling possessive love. 

That the Black King loved her more than anything else in his life and he had no desire for his wife to be had by someone else. 

She was like a princess locked up (imprisoned) in a tower and being jealously guarded by a dragon.

“Aegor, are you looking at the portraits of the Green Queen?” 

Aegor turned around and saw his half-brother Daemond coming over to stand besides him until he was.

Daemond is their Father’s favorite bastard son but even then Daemond is rarely at court due to not wanting to remind people of the last time a Targaryen king’s bastards with high-born ladies were kept at court. 

The Black King and his great bastards have truly left a mark on Westeros and on bastards. 

Aegor doesn’t know if he should be annoyed about how the Great Bastards of Rhaelor Targaryen for making laws against bastards stricter.

“Aye, these are the few portraits from the Black King’s personal portrait collection about his wife that have been allowed to be shown to the public,” 

Daemond frowned. “They even built a whole building to house portraits about the Green Queen and her brood,” 

“What did you expect?” Aegor scoffed. “The Green Queen has been glorified by everyone and our kingly Grandsire and King Aegor the first as well as Princess Alyssa the Advisor did everything in their power to immortalize their mother in the people’s mind,” 

“King Aegor the first,” Daemons looked at the portraits of their Great-Grandmother. “Isn’t he our Grandsire’s elder brother who you’re named after?” 

“Aye, I am,” Aegor nodded proudly. “My mother named me after a king,” 

“She named you after the Dragonbane,” Daemond said flatly. 

Aegor glared at his brother. “And who are you named after?” Aegor demanded. “Doesn’t your named sound oddly like the Rouge Prince’s name?” 

And there are two dragonbanes. Aegor I and his eldest son Aegon III from his wife, Queen Jaehaera Targaryen.

Daemond’s expression hardened and he glared at Aegor. “My mother named me after Prince Aemond, the rider of the Cannibal,” Daemond sneered. “My mother just put a ‘D’ as the first letter of my name to symbolize her name, Daena,”

”She named you after the One-Eyed?” Aegor raised an eyebrow at that. “Isn’t that like naming your child after the Stranger?” 

Daemond scoffed and crossed his arms. “Please, no one’s dumb enough to do that. And it’s not Prince Aemond’s fault that the Reds killed some of his siblings,”

”He gained his reputation by killing Velaryon men after Aethan Velaryon declared himself king after the Greens were crippled because of the Green Queen’s death not long after Prince Daeron was killed by the Triarchy and by Jacaerys Rivers and some Velaryon bastard,” 

“He was getting revenge for his younger brother and some of his other siblings deaths,” Daemond said.

”Like when the Velaryons shot Prince Baelor from his dragon after he flew too close to them because he was burning down their ships?” Aegor looked at the portrait of the Green Queen. 

“It was war, of course he was doing things like that especially after Princess Haera’s death by those assassins,” Daemond pointed out.

“Didn’t everyone think that it was the Velaryons who killed Princess Haera until the Rouge Prince admitted to having had the princess killed?” said Aegor.

Daemond winced. “It was war and Jaehaerys Royce, Aethan Velaryon, and Aemma Targaryen had just died before that,” 

“No,” Aegor frowned. “Jaehaerys Royce and Prince Aemond had killed Aethan Velaryon but then Aethan Velaryon’s wife, the Princess Aemma, came to kill them both in revenge.

”Before that, it was revealed that the Rouge Prince had raped Princess Aemma and her younger sister the Princess Daella which was why she was so gloomy and weepy.

“Jaehaerys Royce had been in denial because he couldn’t believe that his father would do such a horrible thing but then it was revealed that Daemon had Princess Haera killed as well as the sons of Aethan Velaryon and Aemma Targaryen. 

“Jaehaerys Royce vowed to redeem himself and to prove that he was loyal unlike his monster of a father after he realized what a monster his father was and that Daemon had killed Jaehaerys Royce’s mother, the Lad Rhea Royce. 

“The Blues kept attacking as well as the remaining Reds. So Jaehaerys Royce and Prince Aemond vowed to stop the bastards attacks by confronting Aethan on dragon back. 

“They fought and it ended in a battle to the death where all of them fought against the other. Aethan was far more experienced than Jaehaerys was on dragon back so Jaehaerys struggled and only survived because of Prince Aemond.

”Jaehaerys Royce and Prince Aemond ended up killing Aethan Velaryon and his dragon and they thought it all over. So Jaehaerys returned to treat his wounds.

”But then Princess Aemma attacked him while he was flying back home to treat his wounds and deliver the news of Aethan Velaryon’s death. 

“Jaehaerys was already heavily wounded and tired as well as his dragon. So both him and Silverwing perished in the fight between them and Aemma Targaryen and her dragon Silverfyre. 

“Aemond had been flying to catch up with Jaehaerys and what he saw was his sister killing their innocent cousin so they fought until Daemon came and almost killed Aemma because of a surprise attack. 

“In the end, Aemond saved her and together they killed the Rouge Prince who died begging for his life. But it all came at a cost as Aemma fell to her doom and drowned. 

“Prince Aemond was the only one to come back to Kings Landing alive to deliver the news of the deaths of Aethan Velaryon, Jaehaerys Royce, Princess Aemma Targaryen, and the monster Daemon Targaryen.” 

Aegor recounted the deaths of the Blue King (Aethan Velaryon), the Lord of Runestone (Jaehaerys Royce), and Princess Aemma Targaryen straight from his history books. 

Daemond rubbed his nose. “Did you memorize all that?” the Valyrian looking Targ bastard asked. 

Aegor nodded proudly. “I did,” 

Chapter Text

Rhaelor watched as Alicent’s eldest daughter, Helaena, kept to herself as she wept softly every now and then. 

Two of Alicent’s younger sons, Geoffrey and Aenar, were in her arms as they cried for their now death father. 

Alicent’s brother Gwayne was holding little Daenerys while her other brother Brynden held Alicent’s second daughter, Velaena. 

Corlys, Rhaelor’s good-father, was standing besides Laenor’s eldest son and heir, Vaegon who is Velaena’s twin. 

Meanwhile Rhaenys, Rhaelor’s good-mother, held onto her granddaughter Alysanne as the girl looked so utterly lost. 

Laenor was, is, death. 

It seemed almost impossible to see his old friend and good-brother’s sarcophagus being dropped into the sea per Velaryon customs. 

But here is Rhaelor currently. Watching as his old friend and good-brother’s sarcophagus is being dropped into the sea to be laid to rest. 

Laenor truly was death. 

Aemond, Laenor’s second son, was crying inconsolably as Alicent’s third brother, Ser Owyn Hightower, held onto him for dear life. 

Ser Joffrey Lonmouth, Laenor’s old friend, was holding little Daeron while Lord Larys Strong held little Laelys in his arms. 

Oddly enough, both Alicent and Laenor had befriended Harra’s younger brother, Larys Strong, despite the tensions between Laena and Harra at court. 

Laena had complained about it before as she didn’t trust anything Strong related but in the end, both Laenor and Alicent saw Ser Larys as a good friend and refused to send him away from Driftmark.

For the past years, Ser Larys had spent more time in Driftmark with Alicent and Laenor and Ser Joffrey than he does in Kings Landing and let alone Harrenhal, his family’s seat and the castle that he will rule after his father since Larys is the heir of Lord Lyonel. 

It was nice seeing Larys here though, even if only for his friendship with Laenor and his family, in Driftmark despite the tensions at court between the Strongs and the Velaryons. 

Vaemond, Laenor and Laena’s uncle, is the one to deliver Laenor’s eulogy. 

“To the Sea we came, to the sea we shall return,” Vaemond chanted. 

“To the sea we belong, to the sea we shall return,” the rest of the Velaryon family chanted all at once, united.

Even Laena and the twins Baela and Rhaena called out the mantra in unison with the rest of the Velaryon family. 

Oddly enough, even Ser Joffrey Lonmouth and Lord Larys chanted the mantra as well as they hold Laenor’s children. 

Though both Ser Joffrey and Lord Larys  do chanted the mantra softly. 

“Rest in peace, Laenor Velaryon,” says Vaemond Velaryon. 

“Rest in peace Laenor Velaryon, the kindest and greatest man to ever live,” Alicent chocked out as she was sobbing softly. “And the best husband a woman could ask for,” 

It hurt seeing Alicent hurting like that.

“Rest in peace Laenor Velaryon, the greatest friend and companion ever,” Ser Joffrey said, his pretty eyes are filled with grief. “And one of the best men to ever live,” 

“Rest in peace Laenor Velaryon, a clever friend and kind person,” Lord Larys said, he looked a bit sad. But he was after all the best at handling his emotions. “One of the most loyal men ever and a good friend,” 

“Rest in peace Laenor Velaryon,” Laenor’s children who could speak said, their grief and moods varied from barely consolable (Aemond) to quiet and withdrawn (Helaena). “The best father ever,” 

Larys and Ser Joffrey hovered near Alicent, each holding one out of the 11 children that Laenor had sired on Alicent. 

And with great difficulty, so Laena had told him. “They had such a hard time having children originally. With Laenor being how he is. But eventually, they managed to figure it out and boom. Eleven children later and I’m sure that Father feels glad that he chose to marry off Laenor to Alicent. And so does my brother and his wife, they are as happy as they can be,” 

Looking at Laenor’s family, his wife and many children, Rhaelor could definitely see it. 

So many Velaryon children. Alicent had given birth to so many children for her husband’s family. 

Rhaelor briefly wondered if he would have had as many children with Alicent had he decided to marry her instead of Laena. 

(There was a hungry sort of feeling as he looked at Alicent and her children. A hungry sort of feeling that left him with his mouth dry as a desert)

He bit the inside of his cheeks. It seemed insensitive wondering things like that about the widow of his good-brother, especially at Laenor’s own funeral and with the loss so recent. 

Speaking of losses. 

Rhaelor glanced at his wife and saw her comforting both Baela and Rhaena who clung to her. 

Aegon was standing besided Rhaelor’s father and his younger brother Viserys was standing beside Aegon. 

Daelyx meanwhile was with Daemon as none of Daemon’s children had come to attend the funeral. And Daelyx has always been the closest to Daemon.

All of his children seemed lost just like Laenor’s own children. 

It broke Rhaelor’s heart seeing both his and Alicent’s children so dejected. Usually all of them are such happy children.  

(Rhaelor didn’t really register the presence of Harra and their children until much later in the day. Despite the tension with Laena at court, Harra had known Laenor for a long time. Even before everything became bitter between Harra and Laena and the rest of the poor children)

*************

Rhaelor thought he might be hallucinating, but he wasn’t. (Maybe he was, maybe he is.)

Looking at Alysanne, little Geoffrey, and Laelys made it obvious that Laenor wasn’t really their only father. 

(At least not really)

Alysanne had mismatched eyes, one light green and the other purple. Ser Joffrey had slightly dark blonde hair and dark green eyes. 

Alysanne had silver-gold hair but sometimes it looked like Ser Joffrey’s hair. But she had Alicent’s face and Laenor’s nose. 

Laelys had curly brown hair with streaks of white in it and purple eyes. But his face sometimes eerily reminded Rhaelor of his children with Harra. 

Little Geoffrey was probably the oddest case yet. He looked like an odd combination of all four of the adults in Laenor’s household. 

Geoffrey had dark hair as well like Laelys but his was more a mop though it was curly at the ends. His eyes were mismatched with one being dark green while the other a lovely lilac color. The boy also had chubby cheeks and he too reminded Rhaelor of his children with Harra Strong.

Rhaelor didn’t know what was going on but all he knew was that something had definitely been going on between Ser Joffery, Laenor, Alicent, and Larys. 

As he watched Ser Joffrey loyally stay with Alicent and the children and entertained the little ones which reminded Rhaor slightly of Ser Criston and Rhaelor’s own children by Laena. 

Larys meanwhile spoke gently to Alicent at times or he made jokes to try and make her and Ser Joffery smile, even if faintly. 

Larys, curiously enough, seemed closest to Helaena, Alicent’s eldest, and to little Daenys. 

Sometimes Rhaelor would find Larys standing near Helaena who’d be on her knees on the ground looking for bugs since she was so fond of them. 

Ser Joffrey, Alicent’s brothers, and Larys would look after Laenor’s boys and some of the girls while Alicent and Rhaenys kept an eye on the girls. 

It wasn’t odd to find Ser Joffery occasionally carrying around one of the younger boys or one of the girls in his arms. 

It wasn’t odd to catch Larys reading books to Laenor’s children or to see him talking about bugs to Helaena who much rather preferred bugs to anyone who she didn’t really know. 

It wasn’t odd to sometimes see Ser Joffery, Alicent, and Larys all together either with the children or not. 

It wasn’t odd to see Ser Joffrey chasing after little Daeron or Aenar whenever the boys tried to be mischievous or stole their mother and grandmother’s jewelry. 

It wasn’t odd to see all three of Laenor’s closest people all together with the children, like a unit. 

It wasn’t odd to sometimes see Larys helping out Vaegon with his studies alongside Corlys. 

It wasn’t odd to see Rhaenys trying to entertain Laelys with a toy dragon while Ser Joffrey and Alicent tried to get Aenar and Geoffrey to stop fighting over a beautiful painted seahorse toy. 

It wasn’t odd to see Ser Joffery and Ser Daeron, one of Laenor’s cousins, helping Aemond and Vaegon with their sword lessons. 

It wasn’t odd seeing one of Vaemond’s granddaughters swimming alongside Alysanne and Velaena. 

It wasn’t odd seeing Ser Daeron’s wife walking with Helaena on the beach picking up seashells and critters. 

************ 

“They managed to make it work, all four of them you know,” Laena said as she picked up a blue quilt. 

Rhaelor blinked dumbly and he glanced at his wife. Both him and Laena were now in their chambers as it was nighttime now. 

Surprisingly, Laena hadn’t gotten separate chambers from him like she does back in Kings Landing. 

“What?” 

Laena looked ready to shake her head at him. “I mean my brother, Ser Joffrey, Alicent, and Lord Larys Strong,” 

“Oh, what about them?” Rhaelor asked.

Laena gave him a small exasperated look. She looked tired with her eyes being red and puffy from crying but she was still beautiful. 

“My brother loved Ser Joffrey dearly, to me it seemed clear that he loved the Knight of Kisses as more than simply a friend,” Laena mused out loud as she sat down on the bed and wrapped the quilt around her body. 

“I could always see that Lord Larys was fond of Alicent back when we were younger,” Laena continued but her eyes became slightly darker. 

“Although I wasn’t expecting for Lord Larys to come with Alicent to Driftmsrk let alone befriend Laenor and Ser Joffrey and become close to them,” Laena frowned slightly. 

Her hands tapped slightly on the blue quilt that is wrapped around her body, fidgeting with it. 

“My father was displeased,” Laena added. The unsaid ‘you know why’ hung in the air like an unwanted cloud blocking the sun.

“Life can be full of so many surprises,” Rhaelor mused as he swallowed back spit as he looked at his lady wife. 

Rhaelor could still feel the feeling of emptiness and the feeling of hunger when he saw Alicent with her children. 

It was wrong to think of poor Alicent like that when his wife was here and Alicent’s own husband had recently died. 

And then there was also the fact that Alicent’s husband was Laenor. 

Laenor wasn’t just anybody, he was Rhaelor’s old friend and his good-brother. And Laena was just telling him about Laenor’s marriage to Alicent. 

That didn’t stop the burning feeling to stay with Alicent and be with her. It was an all consuming feeling that threatened to burn down all of Rhaelor’s bridges. 

************

“How dare you!” Both Aemond and Baela screamed out. Both the cousins were clearly furious. Alysanne and Rhaena, their twin sisters, were with them. 

Daekar, Viserra, and Lucerys turned around to look at their true-born sisters and their cousins. 

Viserra, having had been dragon-less for years since her dragon egg did not hatch, had sneaked out with some of her siblings in order to try and claim Seasmoke, the dragon of the recently deceased Laenor Velaryon.

“Seasmoke was my father’s dragon!” Aemond snapped as he glared at Viserra. “He was mine or Rhaena’s. He wasn’t yours to take!” Aemond was a mix of grief and anger and rage.

”Aemond’s right,” said Baela as she stood besides her maternal cousin and glared at her bastard sister. “Seasmoke was my uncle’s dragon,” 

“And now he is my dragon,” Viserra impulsively said to the true-born Velaryon and Targaryen children. 

“But he wasn’t yours to take!” Rhaena snapped. 

“He is mine now whether you like it or not,” Viserra shot back. “Seasmoke is mine now. If you’d claimed him after Ser Laenor died then maybe he would have been yours,”

Daekar glanced at his sister and hissed out, “Viserra! Mother says things like that are insensitive!”

“Viserra, you can’t say impulsive things to anyone. Sometimes you come of as… insensitive, which isn’t good,” 

Viserra internally winced when she remembered her mother’s words. Was she being insensitive now? Was she?

Aemond’s father had died recently and Viserra knows that both Aemond and Rhaena have always wanted a dragon if their own.

She’d accidentally heard Aemond telling Rhaena that he felt lost as the only dragon less older boy in his family. 

(And Lord Corlys wished for all of his grandchildren to have dragons. He didn’t even bother to hide the fact that he was proud of Helaena, the twins Vaegon and Velaena, and Alysanne for being dragon riders- and Helaena having Dreamfyre is part of the reason that she’s betrothed to Aegon. 

Even the little triplets, Daeron and Daenerys and Daenys, had dragons that hatched from dragon eggs since Helaena had put some of Dreamfyre’s eggs in their cribs. And little Laelys’s egg had hatched into a pretty periwinkle dragon with a white crest and horns. There’s a high chance of Aenar and Geoffrey’s own cradle eggs hatching.) 

He was jealous of his siblings for their bonds with their dragons just like with his cousins, Viserra’s half-siblings.

Rhaena was much the same story as Aemond. Maybe that’s why they both get along so well. 

They’re both dragon less in a family of dragon riders and they feel as if only they can understand each other in that. 

But at the same time, Rhaena and Aemond are both true-born. They have everything handed to them on a silver plate. 

They already have everything that they could want. Everything that Viserra and her siblings can’t have as they’re bastards. 

People’s respect. Being able to be freely loved without people whispering behind their backs. 

The protection of someone powerful who isn’t willing to let anything happen to them at all. 

Rhaena is Grandfather Viserys’s favorite granddaughter since she likes history just like Grandfather. 

Rhaena is true-born and so she doesn’t face the things that bastard girls like Viserra do. 

It’s one thing being a bastard son because at least you can become a brave and famous knights like other bastards before. 

But what about bastard girls raised alongside their true-born sisters? 

Despite being treated better than most bastards it didn’t change that Viserra was a bastard and not true-born. 

No one would want to marry her due to her bastard status. Not when there’s perfect true-born daughters around like Rhaena and Velaena and Helaena. 

Aemond is a true-born son. People paid attention to him and didn’t ignore him in lessons in favor of true-born brothers. 

Aemond saw red at Viserra’s word. All he wanted to do now was hurt her and her siblings. Just like his Aunt Laena hurt because of them and their whore mother. 

“And what should you know about dragons? You and your siblings only got dragon eggs because everyone said that you bastards aren’t actually the Prince’s children!” Aemond sneered. 

He’d heard the whispers and rumors from his family and from the servants when they thought he and the other children weren’t listening. 

Grandpa and Grandma didn’t like talking about things like that in the presence of Aemond and his younger siblings because they’re children. 

Although people talk a bit more about things like that in front of Vaegon and Velaena because they’re older. And Vaegon is the heir of Grandpa’s heir. Although now Vaegon is Grandpa’s heir since Father is death. 

Aemond has to swallow back bile as the memory of his father’s sarcophagus flashed through his mind. Don’t think about it. Don’t think about it. 

Father is death. His father is death. Aemond’s father is death which means that he’s never coming back home. 

“Shut up!” Daekar screamed. “Shut up! You and Rhaena don’t even have dragons! You’re just jealous that we do,”

”Why would we be jealous of you bastards?” Alysanne demanded. “We’re not the ones with a whore for a mother,”

”You take that back!” Lucerys shouted. 

“My mother isn’t a whore,” Viserra sneered. 

“Then why is she a married man’s mistress then if she’s not a whore?” Alysanne demanded. 

“Then why would she have bastards if she wasn’t a whore?” Baela snapped. “Everyone knows that whores have bastards from different men. Who’s to say that you bastards aren’t that?” 

“It wouldn’t be the first time a mistress passed of another man’s bastard as her lover’s bastard,” Rhaena spoke up.

“Shut up!” Lucerys screamed as he lunged at Rhaena and tackled her to the ground. 

“Rhaena!” Baela screamed.

The eldest Targaryen-Velaryon princess immediately went to help her twin but at that moment Daekar grabbed her and tossed her to the floor. 

“Get away from her!” Aemond shouted.

Aemond lunged at Lucerys until he and Alysanne managed to peel him off from Rhaena who was bruised and whimpering on the floor. 

Aemond dropped Lucerys on the floor but then Viserra came out of nowhere and she punched Aemond in the face before pushing him to the ground. 

Alysanne screamed and lunged at Viserra immediately. Viserra screamed in surprise and she fell to the floor as Alysanne punched her. 

“Get away from her!” Daekar snapped as he made his way towards the fighting girls. 

But then Baela tackled Daekar to the ground and start beating him up. Baela’s hair and face was covered in dirt. 

Lucerys grabbed a small rock and threw it Alysanne which caused her to stop hitting Viserra for a moment.

That gave Viserra enough time to violently throw Alysanne off of her. 

Alysanne managed to shakingly stand up before Viserra tackled her to the floor and started hitting her on the sides. 

“Hey!” Aemond grabbed a small rock and threw it at Viserra’s back. “Get away from my sister!” 

Aemond ran over to his sister’s side and managed to throw Viserra off of his twin sister. 

Lucerys looked around for a rock to throw at Baela who was still angrily hitting Daekar. 

Then Lucerys saw something shine. It was a dagger. 

Lucerys immediately recognized who the dagger belonged to. It was Daekar’s dagger that Jace had given to him for his last name-day. 

Lucerys swallowed back spit but he immediately went towards the knife and grabbed it. 

“Get away from my brother!” Lucerys shouted as he went towards where Baela and Daekar were still fighting. 

Although it wasn’t much of a fight with Baela angrily hitting Daekar and Daekar being unable to throw her off. 

The Velaryon twins looked at Lucerys and saw the knife in his hands. Their blood ran cold when they realized he was walking towards Baela. 

“Aemond, he’s going to hurt Baela!” Alysanne said frantically as she tried to get up. 

Aemond quickly helped her get up. “Let’s go,” Aemond said. 

Alysanne nodded and the twins tried to ran towards Baela to stop Lucerys from hurting her with the knife. 

But then Viserra tackled Alysanne towards the ground which caused both the twins to fall. 

Alysanne managed to get Aemond away from Viserra’s grip and the boy rolled away before he looked at his sister in confusion

”Come on!” Rhaena shouted as she came from basically out of nowhere after having had been out of action. 

Rhaena forcibly helped Aemond up and dragged him over to stop Lucerys. 

********** 

Aemond ended up loosing one of his eyes because of Lucerys. 

And Rhaena ended up with a gash on her face which would leave a scar that will never heal at all.

(And Aemond still lost his eye to Lucery in this universe)

The main lines of the main families this AU is about.

Velaryon 

* Lord Corlys m. Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, daughter of Prince Aemon

- Laena Velaryon m. Rhaelor Targaryen

- Laenor Velaryon m. Lady Alicent Hightower 

—— Helaena Velaryon

—— Vaegon Velaryon (twin to Velaena)

—— Velaena Velaryon (twin to Vaegon)

—— Aemond Velaryon (twin to Alysanne)

—— Alysanne Velaryon (twin to Aemond)

—— Daeron Velaryon (twin to Daenerys & Daenys) 

—— Daenerys Velaryon (twin to Daeron & Daenys) 

—— Daenys Velaryon (twin to Daeron & Daenerys) 

—— Geoffrey Velaryon (twin to Laelys & Aenar) 

—— Laelys Velaryon (twin to Geoffrey & Aenar)

—— Aenar Velaryon (twin to Geoffrey & Laelys) 

Targaryen 

* Viserys I Targaryen m. Queen Aemma Arryn

- Rhaelor Targaryen m. Laena Velaryon

—— Aegon Targaryen 

—— Baela Targaryen (twin to Rhaena)

—— Rhaena Targaryen (twin to Baela)

—— Daelyx Targaryen 

—— Viserys Targaryen 

* Daemon Targaryen m. Rhea Royce 

—— Jaehaerys Royce

—— Alyssa Royce

—— Allard Royce

Strong 

* Lyonel Strong m. Unknown 

- Larys Strong 

- Two other daughters 

- Harra Strong ~ Rhaelor Targaryen 

—— Daenel Waters

—— Jacaerys Waters

—— Daekar Waters (twin to Viserra)

—— Viserra Waters (twin to Daekar)

—— Lucerys Waters

—— Joffrey Waters 

Chapter Text

“Why should I give up my sons birthrights to that upstart boy?” Princess Maegelle, the daughter of King Maegor the Cruel by his first wife Ceryse Hightower, is said to have told anyone who asked her about her decision to oppose her cousin Jaehaerys Targaryen ascension to the Iron Throne. 

“Aegon and Maelor are the sons of Viserys, the second son of King Aenys and the older brother of Jaehaerys,” the Princess said.

“Even though men do not recognize me and my sons as my Father’s heir as he was an usurping man. They can not deny that Aegon and Maelor have more right to the throne as the sons of the second son of King Aenys than the third son, an uncle,” The Princess reminded everyone.

The Princess was not wrong, however. 

With Prince Aegon the Uncrowned dead and without any male heirs of his own, the crown, to many, naturally went first to the line of his younger brother Viserys before it would ever come to Jaehaerys.

Although Prince Viserys was dead, he had sire two sons and a daughter on the Princess Maegelle, his wife, the eldest daughter and child of Maegor the Cruel. 

And so the crown would pass onto his two sons, Aegon and Maelor, before it would ever pass to Prince Jaehaerys- the third son of King Aenys. 

“And I have no intention to give up my sons birthrights to that upstart boy trying to usurp my sons as the heirs of Viserys, the only son of King Aenys who has sired male heirs,” Maegelle concluded. 

The faction supporting the little Prince Aegon to the throne were monikered as the Greens because Princess Maegelle had taken to dressing both herself and her children in the green of Oldtown when it calls its banners to war. 

The houses that were the little Princeling’s biggest supporters were House Hightower, the family of Princess Maegelle’s mother -the Queen Ceryse Hightower, first wife of Maegor the Cruel.

And House Lannister, the house of the maternal grandmother -Lady Cerelle Lannister- of Princess Maegelle. As Lady Cerelle is the mother of Queen Ceryse Hightower, the mother of Princess Maegelle. 

It should be noted that the little Prince Aegon was betrothed to a daughter of House Lannister. 

So that would explain House Lannister’s loyalty to the cause of Princess Maegelle and the claim of her son, the little Prince Aegon. 

For when Prince Aegon took his rightful place as the King of the Seven Kingdoms, it would be that Lannister maiden that will be Prince Aegon’s queen. 

Meanwhile, the biggest supporters of Prince Jaehaerys Targaryen were House Velaryon, the house of the prince’s mother the Dowager Queen Alyssa Velaryon, the wife & widow of King Aenys I Targaryen. 

And House Baratheon and its head, the Lord Rogar Baratheon. Lord Rogar himself was the first great lord to declare for Prince Jaehaerys against the prince’s uncle Maegor. 

Although officially House Baratheon supported Jaehaerys claim. Some of Lord Rogar’s younger brothers were against their older brother’s decision to support Prince Jaehaerys, King Aenys third son, over Prince Aegon, the eldest son of the second son of King Aenys. 

“It is usurpation what you are trying to help, Brother,” Ser Garon Baratheon, a younger brother of Lord Rogar, was claimed to have told his older brother and lord. 

“And it was usurpation what Maegor did,” Lord Rogar reminded his two younger brother. “And it usurpation what Maegor’s eldest girl and whelp is trying to do,” 

“Garon is right, and you know that Rogar,” Ser Borys, another younger brother of Lord Rogar, simply said. 

“Both you and I know that Viserys and Maegelle’s boys have a better claim to the Iron Throne than Prince Jaehaerys does,” Ser Borys added. 

“And they, the Greens, have more dragons than Prince Jaehaerys’s faction does,” Ser Garon reminded his brothers. 

“But Vermithor is much bigger than half of their dragons,” Lord Rogar pointed out. “He is a great and fearsome beast,” 

“And Starfyre, the dragon of Princess Maegelle, has seen combat before and is as vicious as Vhagar is,” Ser Garon reminded his older brother. “And twice as big than Vermithor despite not being as beastly looking as Vermithor,”

“And so is Greenfyre, the dragon of Princess Lynesse,” Ser Borys added. “And I refuse to end up as Mern IX and his family did when he fought against the Targaryens and their bloody dragons,” 

“And I will not take back my decision to support Prince Jaehaerys to ascend to the Iron Throne despite what you two protest,” Lord Rogar declared. 

The realm and the lords were divided on who to support. Prince Jaehaerys or young Prince Aegon. 

The little Prince Aegon had more a claim to the throne by law and custom. But the young prince was a child who’s mother, the eldest daughter of Maegor the Cruel, will rule in his name until he came of age.

His regency will be a bit long, many whispered. Is the realm truly ready for a long regency headed by a woman?

Prince Jaehaerys meanwhile was much older than his young nephew. Jaehaerys’s regency will only last a handful of years. 

Jaehaerys’s regency will not be as long as the little Prince Aegon’s regency will be if he ascends to the Iron Throne.

— Excerpt from “The Dance of the Dragons, or the War of Succession between Aegon Targaryen and Jaehaerys Targaryen” by Maester Arys and Maester Addam Waters. 

Chapter Text

113 AC

“I will marry the Lord Alester Hightower,” Rhaenyra declared. 

Alester, her sweet childhood companion, looked as if the Seven themselves had appeared in front of him. 

Rhaenyra supposed that it was to be expected after all if she is to be honest. 

Sweet kind and noble and dutiful Alester Hightower, the fifth son of a second son, had never imagined that he would be chosen to become the prince consort to the future first ruling Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. 

Her father seems to be glad about it. “Alester is a good boy, he’s kind and dutiful,” Father smiled gently. “He’ll be good for you, Rhaenyra. What better choice for a Targaryen Queen than a Hightower boy?” 

Father laughed softly. Father loves Alester in a way. He’s Ser Otto’s boy after all. And Ser Otto is a good friend to her father. 

Alester is kind and dutiful and an obedient son, everything that someone would want in their child. 

“I believe that this will set to right all the wrongs that happened with Maegor and Ceryse,” Father said. “We both know Alester very well. He’ll stand by you and with him we’ll bring the Reach and Oldtown to us,” 

And a fifth son of a second son, so far down the succession and with so little prospects, has little power and pride to oppose Rhaenyra. 

Not everyone was pleased with Rhaenyra’s decision to choose Alester as her prince consort, however. 

Lord Corlys, for instance was angry that Rhaenyra had chosen Alester over Corlys’s own son, Laenor Velaryon. 

Despite how Corlys had already managed to make his daughter Laena queen.

And many whispered that the Lord Hand was overreaching himself. They whispered that Lord Otto had brought his youngest son, his fifth to be exact, for the sole purpose of marrying him off to the only Targaryen princess. 

And then there was Rhaenyra’s uncle Daemon as well. 

**********

“T’is a bloody insult, that’s what this is!” Corlys raged. “It should be Laenor marrying Rhaenyra, not Otto Hightower’s mousy fifth son!” 

“What is done is done, Corlys,” Rhaenys told her husband. Rhaenys was dressed in Targaryen red and black. 

Laena sighed. “There was very little we could do to try and convince Rhaenyra about Laenor anyway,” Laena pointed out to her father. 

“And Viserys himself allowed her the ability to chose who she wanted to marry,” Rhaenys added. “There was very little we could do anyway,” 

“Not to mention that Rhaenyra has become wary of us after Laena married the king,” Laenor spoke up. “Especially after the birth of Laena’s son Aegon,” 

As if on cue, little Aegon wailed a bit, drawing the Velaryon family’s attention to the young male babe. 

Corlys sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “This still doesn’t change the fact that we were passed over and slighted in favor of Otto Hightower’s mousy son!” 

“Alester isn’t so bad,” Laenor hesitantly offered. “He’s kind and has a good head for politics on him. We can try to convince him try to encourage Rhaenyra of wedding Laena’s daughter to their oldest son,” 

“That is not a bad idea,” Rhaenys said. “We both know Otto’s boy, Corlys,” Rhaenys looked at her husband carefully. “He will not want there to be feuds, we both know that. Alester might even suggest marrying Laena’s eldest daughter to his and Rhaenyra’s firstborn son,” 

Corlys shook his head. “That is not enough,” Corlys said. “We have been slighted and passed over enough times. First, the realm passed you over and crowned Viserys instead. Then Viserys refuses to name Laena’s Aegon as the heir as he should, instead he keeps his daughter as the heir when it should be Aegon who is the heir. And now Rhaenyra has chosen Otto Hightower’s mousy fifth son of all people as her consort over Laenor,” 

Rhaenys sighed. “And will it be any better if Rhaenyra chooses someone else as her firstborn son’s bride?” Rhaenys asked. “The peaceful choice to mend the bridges will be if Laena’s eldest daughter marries Rhaenyra and Alester’s eldest son. Yet you will not choose that?” 

Laena stayed quiet as she simply looked at her infant son who had calmed down now. Laenor tried entertaining little Aegon as well as he could by making silly faces for the babe to giggle at. 

Corlys glared at his wife. “It seems that sometimes I think that I am the only one with the dragon’s blood between the both of us!” 

“And being stubborn about any chance of reconciliation is having the dragon’s blood?” Rhaenys protested. 

“I must tell Viserys just how insulted I feel about this!” Corlys insisted. “I must show him that he insults us!” 

“And resigning as Master of Ships is the right choice?” Rhaenys demanded. 

“What other way is there to show Viserys just how insulted I feel about this slight done against us?” 

“I do not know,” Rhaenys admitted. “But by resigning you open the door for Rhaenyra to fill that office with someone completely loyal to her,” 

Corlys scoffed. “Rhaenyra will not think so far ahead and you know it,” Corlys’ voice was filled with disdain. “The girl is not much of a politician,” 

“But Otto Hightower is,” Rhaenys reminded her husband. “And it is his son that is marrying the Crown Princess of the Seven Kingdoms,”

”And who will Otto fill my office with?” Corlys grumbled. “A blood Lannister? A fucking Greyjoy? I think not!” 

Rhaenys sighed. “His-“ 

“Alester’s mother was a Redwyne,” Laena spoke up suddenly.

The Velaryon family turned to look at Laena. Even the little baby Aegon looked at his mother a bit curiously. 

“Alester’s mother was a Redwyne of the Arbor,” Laena repeated again. “And Ser Otto’s own mother was a Tarth of the Sapphire Isle. Lord Otto has a choice of people of who to fill the office of Master of Ships if Father resigns,” 

Rhaenys sighed again and she looked at her husband a bit critically. “See? Otto has plenty a choice of who to replace you with if you are to resign,” the Targaryen princess said flatly. 

Corlys glared at his wife. And Laenor looked at his parents nervously. 

“Spare me the words, wife,” Corlys muttered. 

“Otto can and would and will fill your office with his wife’s Redwyne kinfolk or mayhaps with his own mother’s Tarth relatives if you are to resign,” Rhaenys went on. “And you resigning will mean giving up some power to Rhaenyra’s faction,” 

“That will make Aegon’s base a bit weaker,” Laena pointed out with a small frown. 

“Exactly,” said Rhaenys. “If we are going to the route of making Aegon the king or heir over Rhaenyra,” 

“Nevertheless, Rhaenyra’s claim will always be shaky as long as she has younger brothers around,” Laena carefully pointed out. 

Laena tightened her grip on her infant son who simply giggled as he played with his mother’s hair. 

Corlys looked at his wife. “Exactly,” he said flatly. “And gods knows that Otto Hightower will not hesitate to eliminate any potential chance of Rhaenyra and her children by Alester Hightower, Otto’s own son, being removed from the succession,” 

“Y-You don’t think that Lord Otto would have Laena’s children k-killed so his own grandchildren are not threatened in the succession, do you Father?” Laenor’s eyes widened. 

Rhaenys looked at him tiredly and Laena swallowed back bile at her father and brother’s words.

Corlys scoffed. “A female heir is never safe in her claim and position as long as there are living claimants around,” Corlys reminded them. 

“Corlys,” Rhaenys whispered a bit harshly. 

“Just remember Jeyne Arryn and her male cousins and you know what I mean,” Corlys replied. 

Rhaenys sighed, but this time it was a tired sigh. 

************ 

“Dragons did not, do not, mate with the beasts of the field, with mere sheep,” Daemon told his older brother, the King Viserys I Targaryen. 

Viserys sighed. “Daemon, how many times must we go through this?” The king and the elder brother mourned. 

“As long as it needs till you see the reason and logic in my words and see that marrying off your daughter and heir to Otto Hightower’s mousy fifth son of all people is illogical,” Daemon replied. 

Viserys looked at his brother sharply. “Daemon, this marriage to Ser Alester Hightower was Rhaenyra’s own choice,” Viserys reminded his brother. “I have little say in this when I have allowed my daughter the right to choose who to marry,” 

Daemon almost rolled his eyes at Otto Hightower’s blasted mousy fifth son being referred to as ‘Ser’. 

The boy had only been knighted because everyone thought it was only proper if the future prince consort was knighted. 

“But you can stop the betrothal as her king and her father,” Daemon pointed out. 

“Enough!” Viserys glared at his brother. “I will hear no more of this talk of stopping Rhaenyra from marrying the man that she choose when it was I, the king and her father, who allowed her that ability to choose,” 

“Dragons do not mate with mere sheeps,” Daemon repeated stubbornly. 

“Enough!” Viserys exclaimed. “What is done is done, Daemon! I will not stop my daughter from marrying the man that she herself chose to marry because I allowed her to choose!” 

Viserys sighed tiredly. “I wish to hear no more of this,” The king said finally before he glared at his brother. “Daemon, you better do absolutely nothing to Ser Alester or so help me gods!” 

Daemon scoffed. “I’m offended that you think that I will waste any gold on Otto Hightower’s cunt of a fifth son,” 

115 AC

Currently, Rhaenyra’s maids were putting on a dress on her for the banquet in honor of the nameday of one of Rhaenyra’s half-siblings. 

And Rhaenyra was going to wear the black and red dress with green embroidered in it that she had wore when she had been pregnant with her and Alester’s firstborn and her father had hosted a banquet to celebrate his first grandchild from Rhaenyra. 

The main reason she was going to wear that dress was that she was pregnant with her third child from Alester. 

Rhaenyra frowned. “Why must I take on new ladies in waiting?” Rhaenyra asked. “The ones I have right now are plenty enough,” 

Rhaenyra preferred not having many ladies. She quite liked both Gwen and Arra Strong, the two daughters of Lord Lyonel Strong, well enough. 

But both her father, her husband, and her good-father were suggesting some new ladies and maids in waiting. 

Alester hummed as he played with Baelon as their daughter Helaena was asleep in her cradle.

“Well, think of it as making friends with the lords,” Alester said. “It’s like when taking squires. You bestow on that noble family an honor but at the same time should anything happen, the squire or lady-in-waiting is a hostage,” 

“Get Her Grace’s black and red jewels as well as some green ones!” A lady in waiting called out to the maids. 

“You think very pessimistically,” Rhaenyra mused with a faint smile as she watched her husband and their son. 

Alester coughed a bit awkwardly. “A wise maester once said that a ward is as good as a hostage,” Alester admitted sheepishly. 

“What a wise man he was then, that Maester,” Rhaenyra smiled in good nature. 

“Well who would I to be if I did not speak to my lady wife of the wisdom of the Maesters when such wisdom can help her increase her allies and friends for her cause?” Alester replied with a smile. 

Before the Dance of the Dragons started 

“Mother,” 

Rhaenyra turned around and was faced with her young third son, Aelor, behind her. 

“Aelor,” Rhaenyra said as she walked towards the boy. “What is wrong, sweetling?” 

“A-Are you sure about sending me Casterly Rock to make an alliance?” Aelor asked hesitantly. “W-Wouldn’t someone older like Aemond or Helaena or even Ser Joffrey make more sense?” 

Rhaenyra nodded as she put her hands on her son’s face. She cupped and held Aelor’s face in her arms. 

Rhaenyra understood Aelor’s insecurity concerning being a diplomat. He felt ill suited for this new role. 

She will give it to Ser Joffrey Arryn, the husband of her sweet Helaena and cousin to Rhaenyra’s cousin Jeyne Arryn, that he was good with words. 

“I am sure about this,” Rhaenyra reassured her sweet son. “You will do just fine in Casterly Rock. I know you will,” 

And Helaena and her husband are much too far away all the way in the Vale. Though Rhaenyra often received letters from Helaena, Jeyne, and Joffrey Arryn. 

And Helaena visited when she could, she would even bring her children with her at times as well. 

Aelor smiled gently as he put one of his hands over Rhaenyra’s own hand. And for a moment, Rhaenyra saw her beloved Alester in him. 

Oh Alester. I wish you were here with me and our beloved children. Rhaenyra silently mourned her dead husband. 

Oh how the gods hade been truly cruel to the both of them! 

Her beloved husband that she had loved since she was a girl, dead because of that Strong knight -some cousin of Harwin and Larys Strong- that Alester was so fond of. 

Rhaenyra and the Crown and the Hightowers had offered ten thousand golden dragons to whoever would diver the head of or simply gave her a living Cleos Strong. 

Cleos Strong was never found. 

Rhaenyra had wailed and raged, demanding for there to be justice for her murdered husband. 

In the end, the tongues of Cleos Strong’s brothers had been removed in retaliation for the murder of Prince Consort Alester Hightower by Cleos Strong. 

Rhaenyra didn’t regret it one bit. Although she saw the punishment as being much too light for the crime committed by Cleos Strong. 

Alester was hers, even if there had been shadows in their marriage. He was still hers no matter what. He was her husband, her consort, the father of her children.

(Even if he didn’t want to be hers anymore by the end of it.) 

And dragons can be rather possessive of what they see as belonging to them. And Alester belonged Rhaenyra, he was hers. 

Rhaenyra had seen nothing wrong in having an affair with other men while married. 

Men almost always had affairs despite being married. So why shouldn’t she? She’s the Crown Princess and a dragon, she can do whatever the fuck she wants. 

Alester never really knew about the affairs that Rhaenyra had. Save for the short affair with Ser Criston, and maybe the one with Harwin. 

It had been the birth of Rhaenyra’s death child by Harwin that had made Alester realize the truth about Rhaenyra’s affairs.

”I know you won’t stop your affairs, Rhaenyra. But please, it will be better if you take moon tea when you have your…meetings. Your claim to the Iron Throne is already shaky enough as it is because of both your gender and the existence of your younger brother Aegon. Giving birth to bastards will weaken your claim and turn the lords even more against you, for they are already reluctant to accept you as heir while a male heir lives,” 

Despite Ser Criston abandoning Rhaenyra in favor of Laena Velaryon and her son, Alester still stubbornly maintained a good relationship with Ser Criston. 

Rhaenyra didn’t know why, but Alester had always remained in high standing with the Lord Commander while Rhaenyra herself was treated with a cold politeness. 

But then again, Alester has always been that way. Alester has always been rather easy to love. 

While alive, Alester had been very well loved by the people. The Smallfolk absolutely adored Alester and Helaena. 

Alester was the “People’s Prince” while Helaena was the “People’s Princess”. Rhaenyra suspects that it was always Ser Otto’s intentions for the people to adore Alester and their children. 

“Nothing will happen to you while at Casterly Rock,” Rhaenyra told her son. “You will be safe there,” 

Somehow, Aelor looked eerily like Alester and Rhaenyra felt a shiver go down her spine. 

Rhaenyra saw the image of Alester’s pale face after he died because he bleed to death overlap with Aelor’s sheepish smiling face. 

After her son had left for Casterly Rock, Rhaenyra touched the seven pointed star that Alester had given to her when they first married which hung around her neck.

“This was originally my mother’s necklace. She always wore it and she used to hold it in her hands while she prayed to the Seven. This was one out of a set of seveb. One for my father, one for her, one for each of my brothers, and one for me. And now her necklace is yours. My mother believed that the necklace will keep you safe,” 

Rhaenyra felt as if her fingers had been pricked. She looked down at her hands and saw that her hands were bleeding as they held the Seven Pointed Star necklace. 

The Seven pointed star that Alester hsd given her when they were young and half in love was covered in Rhaenyra’s blood after she had seen her third son leave. 

———————————

The dragons of the two factions during the Dance of the Dragons

Blacks: 

Rhaenyra:  Syrax

* 1st husband: Alester Hightower (children by Alester: Baelon, Helaena, Aemond, Aelor, Visenya, Aemma, Daenys, Daeron, Daenerys, Aegon, Viserys, and legally Joffrey)

*2nd husband: Harwin Strong (children by Harwin: Jacaerys & biologically Joffrey) 

Baelon (Aegon II equivalent), twin to Helaena: Sunfyre 

- Rhaegon, twin to Alerie and son of Baelon & Cassandra Baratheon: Greenfyre 

- Alerie, twin to Rhaegon: Starlight

- Rhaella, daughter of Baelon & Cassandra Baratheon: Starshine 

- Rhaelys: Moonlight

Helaena, twin to Baelon: Dreamfyre 

- Jaehaerys, twin to Alester and son of Helaena & Ser Joffrey Arryn (the heir to Jeyne Arryn, not an OC): Shrykos 

- Alester, twin to Jaehaerys and son of Helaena & Ser Joffrey Arryn: Brightfyre

- Maelor, son of Helaena & Ser Joffrey Arryn: An unhatched dragon egg

Aemond - (The) Cannibal 

Aelor, twin to Daenys and Visenya: Goldenfyre 

Daenys, twin to Aelor and Visenya: Vyara

- Lester, son of Daenys & Luthor Tyrell: Lightfyre 

- Rhaelicent, daughter of Daenys & Luthor Tyrell: An unhatched dragon egg

Visenya, twin to Aelor and Daenys: Redfyre 

- Patrix, son of Visenya & Ser Gilbert Redwyne, heir to Lord Redwyne of the Arbor

- Desmaera, daughter of Visenya & Ser Gilbert Redwyne: Gaelithox

Aemma: Silverfyre 

Daeron, twin to Daenerys: Tessarion 

Daenerys, twin to Daeron: Vigilance 

Aegon (Aegon III equivalent): Stormcloud 

Viserys (Viserys II equivalent):  An unhatched dragon egg

Joffrey: Tyraxes 

Jacaerys: Vermax 

Ulf White: Silverwing 

*He eventually switched to the Blues

Hugh Hammer: Vermithor 

*He eventually switched to the Blues

Blues: 

Laena: Vhagar 

Rhaenys: Meleys 

Aegon: Ironclaw 

- Jaehaera, daughter of Aegon &  Alysanne Blackwood: Morghul

- Aerys, son of Aegon & Alysanne Blackwood: Seafall

- Rhaegar: An unhatched dragon egg

Aethan: Seafyre 

Daemon: Caraxes

Aerea: Merasea 

- Aerion, twin to Alyssa and son of Daemon & Aerea: Starcloud 

- Alyssa, twin to Aerion and daughter of Daemon & Aerea: Sunshine

Aenar: Whitefyre

Baela, twin to Rhaena: Moondancer 

Rhaena, twin to Baela: Morning (their egg was a gift from Helaena, the egg was from a clutch from Dreamfyre) 

Daelyx: Stardancer

Lucerys ‘Luke’ of Hull, bastard son of Velaena Velaryon & Harwin Strong: Arrax 

Addam of Hull: Seasmoke 

Ulf White: Silverwing 

*Switched from the Blacks

Hugh Hammer: Vermithor 

*Switched from the Blacks

Chapter Text

298 AC, Kings Landing

Cassanna Baratheon could only stare as she watched Arthur Lannister train besides Lancel Lannister and Cassana’s younger half-brother Steffon in the training yard. 

Arthur’s twin sister, Lelia Lannister, stood besides Cassana. Lelia was a pretty girl with emerald green eyes with soecks of blue and thick Lannister golden curls which were elegantly braided today.

Minisa and Lyarra were busy dealing with their direwolfs, Blue Rose and Dawn, since the pups weren’t very used to Kings Landing. 

Cassana had found herself becoming fond of the two direwolfs that belonged to her two most favored ladies. 

But she still couldn’t help but find herself annoyed with the wolflings. If it hadn’t been for them, Minisa and Lyarra would have been here besides her where they belonged. 

She didn’t have anything against Lelia Lannister, but she wasn’t her Isa or Lyra. No one could replace Minisa and Lyarra to Cassana. 

“The knights are so dashing, aren’t they?” A small girl’s voice chimed in softly. 

Cassana glanced around in confusion until she realized that the voice belonged to the eleven namedays old Celia Lannister, the little sister of Arthur and Lelia Lannister. 

Lelia Lannister nodded as she tucked her younger sister close to her side until their shadows were one. 

Celia Lannister had her Tully mother’s long auburn hair, though hers was curly because she was half-Lannister. 

Celia Lannister’s eyes were mismatched. One of her eyes was greens like a typical Lannister. While the other was blue like a Tully.

“Your grip on your wooden swords is lacking, my lord Lancel,” 

Cassana glanced towards the training yard and saw a tall man with brown hair that barely touched his shoulders and green eyes that sometimes seemed to shine in a lighter shade of green. 

“Ser Allister Vance!” Celia Lannister said happily. Her eyes seemed to shine with excitement as she looked at the knight. 

“Yes sweetling,” Lelia murmured to her sister. “That is Ser Allister Vance, our brother Arthur’s sworn shield,”

Celia giggled. “He loves our mother,” she said with a smile. 

Lelia’s eyes hardened. “Celia,” she hissed. “Don’t speak about such things in here,” Lelia’s eyes darted around, anxious as they looked around. 

Celia’s eyebrows knitted together in confusion and she frowned. “But-“ 

“Do not say such things in public, or anywhere where the wrong ears shall hear you,” Lelia said firmly. “Our lady mother doesn’t deserve for people to have the wrong impression about her and her sworn knights,”

”Yes Lelia,” Celia murmured as she looked down. “I understand,”

”Good,” said Lelia as she looked towards her twin brother, cousins, and Ser Allister in the training yard. 

“I think that Lord Lancel should have more practice with the sword. Come, let’s spar again my lords. Lord Arthur against Lord Lancel,”

Lelia recognized the voice immediately. It was Ser Arnold Flowers, a bastard of a lord from the Riverlands.

He had been in service to the Tullys just like Ser Allister Vance that had been in service to the Tullys until he departed for the Westerlands as part of the entourage of Lelia’s mother, Lady Lucinda Tully, when she was to wed Lelia’s father, Ser Jaime Lannister. 

Ser Arnold is an exceptional knight and very loyal. He was a small handful of years older than both Lelia’s lady mother and Ser Allister Vance. 

Ser Allister scoffed. “Do you think it wise, my dearest Ser Rivers? Lord Arthur is much better with a sword than Lord Lancel is. It is an uneven match I say,”

Lelia frowned. Ser Allister and Ser Arnold didn’t always get along, especially when it came to Lelia’s mother. 

But ever since Lelia’s mother died, they both seemed to not fight as much as they typically do for some reason. 

Lelia suspects that it’s because since her mother died, Ser Allister and Ser Arnold called a truce. 

After all, their lady’s children needed them right now since their lady’s husband couldn’t particularly bother to be there for his children. 

Since her mother died, Ser Allister became Arthur’s sworn shield while Ser Arnold become Lelia’s own sworn shield. 

“I can do it!” Lancel suddenly said stubbornly. “I-I’m just as good as Arthur is with a sword!” 

Lancel seemed determined. His green eyes shone with stubborn determination to prove to himself. 

Arthur seemed slightly worried. “Lance,” he said. “Try not to hurt yourself,” Arthur’s blue eyes were soft and filled with worry. His voice was gentle and soft. 

Lancel shook his head. “I can do it,” Lancel stubbornly repeated. “I can do it,” Lancel looked up from his wooden sword to Arthur. 

“I can be just as good as you, Arthur,” Lancel said. “I know I can. I…I can be just as good as you, I promise,”’

”I can be just as good as you in Grandfather and Father’s eyes!” 

Lelia almost flinched as the soft voice rang in her ears. She clutched Celia closer and tighter. 

“L-Leli!” Celia squealed. 

Cassana watched the Lannister girls from the corner of her eyes. So there is something going on in the Lannister family, Cassana mused. 

But I always did know that something was wrong with them, Cassana sighed. Their hair is too god and they’re pompous and self-absorbed fools. 

Cassana silently watched Arthur and Lancel Lannister. Arthur is pretty, she noted. He had Tully blue eyes, his mother’s eyes. 

His eyes are like Lyarra’s eyes, Cassana thought. But then again, Lyarra and Arthur are cousins as their mothers are sisters. 

All of the Stark children and Jaime Lannister’s children are cousins as their mothers are sisters. And so are the Arryn siblings related to them, Cassana silently wondered if this was Hoster Tully’s final plan. 

For his descendants to be in power in 4/7 kingdoms out of all the entire Seven Kingdoms. 

After the execution of Eddard Stark

Casterly Rock 

“And what am I to do there?” 

“Rule,” Tywin said curtly. “And you will keep an eye on Arthur, Lelia, and Celia while you’re there until I can bring them all back to the Rock. And keep your savages away from them. I won’t have your savages near my grandchildren if I can help it,” Tywin scowled. 

Tyrion laughed. “My sweet sister will have some words to say to that! And I wager that Lucinda will rise from her grave and have my head if I let anything happen to her and Jaime’s children. Besides, they have Ser Allister Vance and Ser Arnold Flowers with them. I do not doubt that Cersei will have Lannister men guarding Jaime’s children,” 

Tywin scoffed. “If Cersei won’t take her son in hand, then the least she can do is keep Jaime’s children safe while they are at Kings Landing. 

“I do not doubt that Joffrey has most likely thought to do something towards Jaime’s children as they are the nephew and nieces of Stark’s wife and cousin to his children. 

“Eddard Stark died a traitor and his eldest sons are now rising in rebellion for their father’s death. Jaime’s children are related to traitors because their mother was Lady Stark’s younger sister.”

Tyrion’s mind wandered towards his deceased good-sister, Jaime’s lady wife- the lady Lucinda Tully who was the third daughter of House Tully and its lord. 

Lucinda was sweet with thick auburn curls that were seen in her fourth son Edmyn and second daughter Celia by Jaime. 

Her Tully blue eyes were to be gazed at in the faces of Arthur and Celia. Although Celia had mismatched eyes, one Lannister green and the other Tully blue.

Lucinda had treated Tyrion kindly, like a younger brother. But then again, she had a little brother herself. As Ser Edmure Tully was the youngest of Hoster Tully’s brood and the only son to live. 

And just like how Tyrion loved Jaime, Tyrion had loved Lucinda more than he had ever loved Jaime. 

Just like how Jaime had shown Tyrion the smallest bits of affection and respect during the terrible long years of his childhood and Tyrion was willing to forgive him most of anything, the same rang rather true with Lucinda. 

Although, Lucinda was sweeter and kinder. She had a big heart and always felt the most comfortable with who she saw as family. 

Tyrion supposed that was the reason why he was so fond of Jaime’s children. Lucinda’s sweetness had been passed down to all of her children. 

Even the fussier of Lucinda and Jaime’s children, which was definitely little Edmyn and the little baby Hoster, named after Lucinda’s lord father.

Even if Lord Tywin disapproved of Tyrion’s closeness to Jaime’s children, that didn’t stop them from coming to him calling him ‘Uncle Tyrion’. 

Tyrion supposes that he is the childrens favorite Lannister uncle. And between him and Edmure Tully, Tyrion wagers that he is the favorite uncle. 

“And Cersei won’t curb her son. Joffrey has helped kickstart this war with the Starks by killing Eddard Stark and I do not doubt that they want those girls of theirs backs.”

Tyrion didn’t pay much mind to hid father’s ranting about Joffrey’s advisors (most notably ‘the venerable’ Grand Maester, Varys ‘the cockless wonder’, and ‘our friend’ Petyr ‘Littlefinger’ Bealish) as well as Janos Slynt who was made a lord and given Harrenhal as his seat. 

“Joff gave him Harrenhal?” Tyrion raised an eyebrow at that. “What possessed him to do such a thing? And doesn’t Harrenhal belong to the Whents and aren’t Jaime’s children related to them because of Lucinda’s mother?” 

“That is what I said,” Tywin looked at Tyrion in a slightly disgruntled manner. “And yes, Lucinda’s mother was a Whent of Harrenhal. The line is dying and I had half a mind that I might be able to make Harrenhal be given to either Lann or Edmyn since they have a drop of Whent blood running in their veins,” 

“They do have a claim to that accursed castle,” Tyrion mused. 

“That is simply a legend that people repeat,” Tywin scoffed slightly. “And it was the seat of kings, it’s good enough for them,” 

Nothing but the very best for your favorite grandchildren besides Cersei’s younger children, Tyrion mused. 

Tywin looked at Tyrion but the light made the Old Lion’s eyes seem a bit more golden than before. 

It felt as if Tywin was staring into his soul. And that unnerved Tyrion far too much for his liking. 

“You will also try and get the Arryns to join the war,” Tywin said. “Arthur is betrothed to Jon Arryn’s only daughter, Arwen Arryn. Remind Lysa Tully of that, or her daughter’s betrothal will hung in the balance,” 

Tyrion wanted to sigh. “Do you want the marriage to be rushed so we have House Arryn in the fold?” 

“Correct,” Tywin answered. “Lysa Tully is regent for her son, Jasper Arryn, who spent years in court and years being in contact with Arthur. That attachment to Arthur and the betrothal between Arthur and the younger sister of the Arryn boy lord will make Jasper Arryn consider joining us. And the Starks are traitors against the Iron Throne, and the Arryns have always cared a great deal about honor,” 

Tyrion felt that something was off. “And what else? Is there something else that you wish for me to do while I’m at Kings Landing,” 

“Yes,” Tywin nodded. “While you’re in Kings Landing, you will curb Joffrey before he ruins us all. And you will break Cassana Baratheon’s betrothal to Willias Tyrell. I won’t give the Tyrells the impression that they will have a princess for their heir after they and Renly are defeated.” 

“Who will you give Cassana to, then?” Tyrion asked. “Arthur is meant for Arwen Arryn, that is unless the betrothal is annulled. And Loren and Lann are only ten and one, they’re much too young for Robert’s daughter,” 

“Stafford is unwed,” Tywin said simply. 

Tyrion’s eyebrows went up at that. Uncle Dolt? “Uncle Stafford?” He asked in disbelief. “You’d have Robert’s daughter be married to him? And isn’t he married?”

”He’s recently widowed,” Tywin answered. “Or the girl can be married to the head of House Lannister of Lannisport. Either way, she will belong to the Lannisters,” 

Was this Cersei’s idea? Tyrion wondered. He knew that his elder sister held no love for Robert’s daughter from his first marriage to the dead Lyanna Stark. 

Out of all of his children, Robert only paid attention to Cassana, Steffon, and Myrcella as well as Cerelle. 

Sometimes it seemed to Tyrion that Robert even forgets that both Tommen and Loreon, his two youngest children, even exist.

But nevertheless, it couldn’t be argued or denied that Robert’s favorite child was Cassana, his daughter from his dead first wife. 

Cassana had the Starks grey eyes even if everything else about her was completely Baratheon in appearance. 

“And you will make sure that Steffon and Cerelle are not taken by anyone loyal to Renly,” Tywin said. “It was a bad idea to have the twins fostered with Renly. Now Cersei says that they behave like strangers to her, wishing to be back at Storms End with their ‘Uncle Renly’, ‘Cousin Edric’, ‘Cousin Borros, ‘Cousin Rogar’, ‘Cousin Argella’, and their ‘Aunt Cyrenna’,” 

Are you afraid that the twins loyalty to Renly will make them abandon us? It seemed silly though. Tywin Lannister was afraid of no one. 

But still, it was an annoyance that two of Cersei’s children were so deeply attached to Renly and wanted to be with him. 

Despite being a bit distant from her Baratheon looking children, she was still possessive of them. 

So Tyrion can only imagine the amount of rage that Cersei must feel that her children prefer someone else, and especially a traitor to the Iron Throne, over her.

And do they prefer Cyrenna Penrose and her bastard children, Borros Storm and Rogar Storm and Argells Storm, as well? Tyrion wanted to laugh in his sister’s face and see her reaction. 

Cyrenna Penrose was long since rumored to be Robert’s woman and that her bastard children were said to be Robert’s, despite the fact that Borros, Rogar, & Argella Storm were claimed as Renly’s bastards to the realm. 

Cyrenna lived at Storm’s End as part of Renly’s household. She was there because officially she was the mother of Renly’s bastards.

Renly left the role of Lady of Storm’s End to Cyrenna to fulfill. And despite all that, Renly and Cyrenna behaved simply as very close friends. They behaved like family.

Some whispered that she was more akin to a mother or an older sister to Renly Baratheon than anything else. 

After all, hadn’t Cyrenna Penrose know Renly since he was young? Cyrenna was also rumored to have always loved Robert ever since they were young. 

And if Tyrion remembers right, Cyrenna also acted as a mother to Robert’s bastard son, Edric Storm, with Delena Florent. 

In the end, it didn’t really matter. To the realm, Cyrenna Penrose is Renly Baratheon’s mistress and her children, Borros and Rogar and Argella Storm, are Renly’s bastards. 

Renly certainly has kept up appearances to a degree. Half the time Renly is seen attending any event, Cyrenna Penrose is seen in his arms looking as prim and proper as any highborn lady. 

And it’s not as if House Penrose has much to complain about. As Renly remains unwed and without a legitimate heir, it is likely that he will petition for Cyrenna’s son to be made legitimate and to be his heir. 

Cyrenna’s son will inherit the Stormlands from his father. And the boy is so painfully and obviously Baratheon that it doesn’t really matter if Robert is his sire rather than Renly. The boy is a Baratheon, even if he is base born.

Though with Renly’s recent marriage to Margaery Tyrell, it seems that Cyrenna’s boy won’t inherit Storm’s End from his father after all. 

“Anything else?” 

“Yes,” The Old Lion’s eyes were hard and cold. “If any of Joffrey’s councilors are leading us for false…” 

Tyrion knew. “Heads,” He sighed. “Walls. Spikes,” 

“I see you have taken a few lessons from me,” Tywin seemed to be assessing Tyrion, and Tyrion thinks of Jaime’s eldest son, Arthur who isn’t a lad older than ten and four. 

“More than you know,” Tyrion quietly replied. He wonders if Arthur has also taken in a few lessons from the Old Lion just like Tyrion. 

Tyrion thinks that Tywin Lannister would definitely prefer that. After all, Jaime and Arthur are the Old Lion’s immediate heirs. 

Even if anything horrible fell on both Jaime and Arthur, the ones to succeed them as Tywin’s heirs would be the twins Lann and Loren and then after them Edmyn and the babies Tyler and Hoster. 

Tyrion had fallen even further from the line of succession to Casterly Rock ever since the births of Jaime’s second set of triplets. 

Having the Rock was now nothing but a fantasy to Tyrion. And even then, Tywin Lannister might just have his brothers line succeed him. 

Although Tyrion wasn’t too sure on how likely it was for his lord father to do such a thing. 

Tyrion finished his wine and set the cup aside. A part of him was much more pleased than he cared to admit. 

But another part of him was remembering the battle upriver, and wondering if he was being sent to hold the left again. 

“Why me?” Tyrion asked, cocking his head to one side. “Why not my uncle? Why not Ser Addam or Ser Flement or Lord Serrett? Why not a…bigger man?”

Lord Tywin rose abruptly. ”You are my son,” 

That’s when he knew. You bloody bastard, you’re giving up Jaime for as good as dead, aren’t you? Tyrion wanted to shout at his father that his brother wasn’t death. 

You have given up Jaime for lost, so I’m your only remaining son left. And Arthur is your immediate heir. That’s why you want for him and his sisters to be back here at the Rock. You don’t want to loose any of them, especially Arthur, because they’re Jaime’s children. 

Tyrion wanted to slap him, to spit in his face, to draw his dagger and cut out the Old Lion’s heart to see if was made out of old hard gold like the smallfolk say. 

________________

Royal family and Great Houses family tree

Baratheon of Kings Landing 

• King Robert I Baratheon

** First wife: Lyanna Stark 

—Cassana Baratheon (born 282; 16 years old)

** Second wife: Cersei Lannister 

—Joffrey Baratheon (biologically Jaime Lannister’s son) 

—Steffon Baratheon, twin to Cerelle

—Cerelle Baratheon, twin to Steffon

—Myrcella Baratheon (biologically Jaime Lannister’s daughter) 

—Tommen Baratheon (biologically Jaime Lannister’s son)

—Loreon Baratheon 

Lannister 

• Tywin Lannister m. Joanna Lannister 

~ Cersei Lannister m. King Robert I Baratheon 

~ Ser Jaime Lannister m. Lady Lucinda Tully (died from an illness that left her bedridden with a high fever, coughing up blood, and weak in the body half a year after the birth of her youngest)

—Arthur Lannister, twin to Lelia (14 years old) 

—Lelia Lannister, twin to Arthur (14 years old) 

—Loren Lannister, twin to Celia & Lann (11 years old)

—Celia Lannister, twin to Loren & Lann (11 years old)

—Lann Lannister, twin to Loren & Celia (11 years old)

—Edmyn Lannister (8 years old)

—Joanna Lannister (4 years old)

—Tyler Lannister, twin to Rohanne & Hoster (2 years old)

—Rohanne Lannister, twin to Tyler & Hoster (2 years old)

—Hoster Lannister, twin to Tyler & Rohanne (2 years old)

~ Tyrion Lannister

Arryn 

* Lord Jon Arryn m. Lady Lysa Tully 

—Jasper Arryn, twin to Arwen (14 years old)

—Arwen Arryn, twin to Jasper (14 years old) 

—Robert Arryn (7 years old) 

Tully 

* Lord Hoster Tully m. Lady Minisa Whent

- Catelyn Tully m. Lord Eddard Stark

- Lysa Arryn m. Lord Jon Arryn

- Lucinda Tully m. Ser Jaime Lannister

- Edmure Tully m. Lady Leyla Hightower

—Grover Tully, twin to Elmo (8 years old) 

—Elmo Tully, twin to Grover (8 years old)

* Ser Brynden “the Blackfish” Tully, brother to Hoster Tully

Tyrell

• Lord Luthor Tyrell m. Lady Olenna “the Queen of thorns” Redwyne 

* Lord Mace Tyrell m. Lady Alerie Hightower

—Willias Tyrell

—Garlan Tyrell m. Leonette Fossoway

—Loras Tyrell

—Margaery Tyrell 

** Lady Mina Tyrell m. Lord Paxter Redwyne

** Lady Janna Tyrell m. Lord Ser Jon Fossoway

Martell 

• Princess (regnant) Loreza Martell m. Mors Jordayne

* Prince Doran Martell m. Mellario of Norvos

—Arianne Martell

—Quentyn Martell

—Trystane Martell

* Princess Elia Martell m. Prince Rhaegar Targaryen 

- Princess Rhaenys Targaryen

- Prince Aegon Targaryen

* Prince Oberyn Martell ~ Ellaria Sand

—Obara Sand (by a whore from Oldtown)

—Nymeria Sand (by a Volantene noblewoman)

—Tyene Sand (by a Septa from the Reach)

—Sarella Sand (by a Summer Islander captain)

—Elia Sand

—Obella Sand

—Dorea Sand

—Loreza Sand

Stark 

• Lord Eddard Stark m. Lady Catelyn Tully

—Robb Stark

—Cregan Stark

—Torrhen Stark

—Minisa Stark

—Lyarra Stark

—Arnolf Stark

—Sansa Stark

—Alaric Stark

—Arya Stark

—Edwyle Stark

—Kyle Stark

—Bran Stark

—Erena Stark

—Rickon Stark

—Serena Stark

- Jon Snow, Eddard’s bastard by an unnamed woman

* Benjen Stark

Baratheon of Dragonstone

* Lord Stannis Baratheon m. Lady Selyse Florent

—Shireen Baratheon

—A two year old baby girl

Baratheon of Storm’s End 

* Lord Renly Baratheon ~ Cyrenna Penrose, officially Renly’s mistress and the acting Lady of Storm’s End and mother of his bastards

—Borros Storm, 6 to 7 years old and twin to Rogar & Argella (biologically Robert I Baratheon’s son)

—Rogar Storm, 6 to 7 years old and twin to Borros & Argella (biologically King Robert I Baratheon’s son)

—Argella Storm, 6 to 7 years old and twin to Borros & Rogar (biologically King Robert I Baratheon’s daughter)

- Edric Storm, bastard son of King Robert I Baratheon (11 years old)

* Ser Loras Tyrell, Renly’s squire and secretly his lover

* Cortnay Penrose, castellan of Storm’s End and cousin to Cyrenna Penrose, he has guardianship of Edric Storm, Borros Storm, Rogar Storm, and Argella Storm should anything happen to Cyrenna

Chapter Text

300 AC, Casterly Rock

Lann did not care much for songs or music like his siblings did.

Arthur and Mother had loved songs so much that they had kept a permanent singer to sing and play for them. 

Jesper had been that minstrel’s (or troubadour, Lann didn’t care to know) name. 

And he was originally from the Reach. He was the third son of a second son likely to inherit next to nothing. 

So he turned his talent for music and singing into his life’s work. And he was bloody good at it (and he knew it).

How else would Jesper have managed to become a permanent fixture at Casterly Rock in the household of its heir’s wife and eldest son?

Though Jesper was certainly young, he was talented and he has skills.

His voice is pretty and lovely and like honey, Lann had heard from both his mother and older brother whilst they had both lived. 

“He is like a songbird,” 

‘Lark’ is one of the things that Jesper is oftentimes called by others when they’re calling him a bird.

Songbird

Lark

Pretty bird

Common Nightingale

Thrush 

Canary

Singing bird

And mostly, The Lion’s Songbird.

It was funny knowing that Jesper was always being called a domesticated bird, much to Jesper’s slight annoyance. 

“I am a free man! None shall shackle me down to their earthly pleasures!” Jesper had hotly said once. “None shall tame Jesper the singer! None shall-“ 

“Are you done?”

”So rude of you, good Ser,” Jesper pouted. “You are a very bad knight!” 

Ser Arnold huffed. “Piss off Bard,” 

“Oh so rude of you as well, Ser Flowers!” Jesper wailed dramatically. 

There wasn’t much now that Lelia particularly loved anymore ever since her twin brother Arthur’s death. 

But there are things and people that she does have a fondness for. 

And a certain singer from the reach is one of those few people she trusts enough to be vulnerable. 

Jesper the singer was the only person who could make her smile with his songs and music and tales. 

“O’ Mother o’ Fair

Fairest of them all

None could compare 

To your beauty and you!” [1]

Celia giggled from her place between two cousins from Lannisport. Her mismatched eyes shone with glee. 

The Lannister-Tully children were in The Stone Garden playing hoodman blind with some visiting cousins and children of their grandfather’s banner men. 

Lann was leaning against a white statue of a sleeping lion with a book in his hands and a slight scowl on his face. 

Loreon, who was staying in Casterly Rock instead of at Kings Landing with his mother and siblings, was much too busy entertaining little Rohanne and Hoster. 

Rohanne and Hoster carefully sat on the lower and thicker branches of the twisted heart tree in The Stone Garden despite the presence of Valyrian couches. 

Lord Tywin had had plenty of the heart tree’s roots be cut so The Stone Garden could be made into a nice quiet place to relax for his grandchildren. 

Now, The Stone Garden looked a lot like a garden. Though the weirwood’s roots are still tangled and the heart tree itself is still large and twisted. 

Loren, Lann and Celia’s twin, was much too busy playing hoodman blind with the other children to care of Lann’s scowl. 

The children laughed as they played and Jesper the singer sang and played that lute of his with a huge grin. 

“Lords and ladies, please toss a coin for me and enjoy the show!” Jesper laughs happily. 

“Toss a coin for your singer!” Lann called out from his seat. “Oh toss a coin to your singer. Oh valley o’ plenty, oh valley o’ plenty!”

Jesper plays at his lute and the tone of the music changed.

“All those lonely miles that you ride

Now you’ll walk with no one by your side

Did you ever even care

With your sword and your stupid hair?” [2]

Lelia almost flinched when she heard the song and realized what Jesper was singing to them. 

Is this the song written for Arthur and Father? Lelia mused silently as she swallowed back the lump in her throat. 

”I sing of universal matters, my dearest lady! My songs can be about just anyone and anything!”

Lelia’s mind was working slow as her thoughts seemed to have crashed together and her mind went blank.

“Now watch me laugh as I burn all the memories of you,” 

That line sounded a bit sad and so did the way that Jesper played his lute. 

“Ladies and lords, you have been a most gracious audience!” Jesper said suddenly and his voice boomed throughout the cave where The Stone Garden is located in. 

Jesper sounded merry but Lelia didn’t know if that was how the singer truly felt at the moment. 

”What for do you yearn?

”It’s the point of no return,”

Lelia wanted to flinch but she simply stayed still and went rigid in her seat on one of the Valyrian couches. 

It was the point if no return all right.

With Joffrey dead at his own wedding and Arthur a bit long since dead, killed at that horrible battle during the War of the Five Kings. 

Now Steffon is king in place of Joffrey, much to Aunt Cersei’s grief over her little horrible gremlin of a son. 

And Lelia was going to marry Willias Tyrell, the original betrothed of Princess Cassana Baratheon- Arthur’s widow and mother of his twin children. 

Her cousin Robb Stark and his twin brothers Cregan and Torrhen laid dead, slaughtered at the infamous Red Wedding in the Riverlands. 

“After everything we did, we saw

You turned your back on me

What for d’you yearn?” 

Lelia’s father was off in gods knows where after he disappeared with some high born maid named Brienne something of Tarth in the Riverlands. 

Well good riddance for him, Lelia swallowed back spit. ‘I hope he’s dead and rotting, wherever he is,’ Lelia thinks bitterly as she fights back the tears in her eyes. 

Lann silently observed his older sister, his sea foam green eyes -so much like Lord Tywin’s- were unreadable. 

“Watch that butcher burn!”

Lelia really did flinch at the ‘butcher’ part of the song. “Why should that butcher’s heirs live whilst the King in the North lays death?” [3] 

“At the end of my days when I’m through 

No word will ring quite as true as ‘burn!”

Jesper jumped onto one of the thick and twisted weirdtree roots and dramatically spun around to face them as he kept playing his lute and singing. 

“Watch that butcher burn! 

Burn butcher burn!

Burn butcher burn!

Burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn,”

Jesper sat on the twisted but thick weirdwood roots that seemed somewhat like an actual wooden bench. 

Jesper’s voice had started to become softer and softer till his last repetition of ‘burn’ were but a whisper. 

“Watch me burn all the memories of you,”

Jesper softly played his last musical note concerning the song on his lute. His voice was soft and the look in his eyes screamed of him being lost. 

Jesper looked up and met Lelia’s eyes and they both knew that Jesper had sang of Arthur’s killers and of Lelia’s father who she knew nothing of. 

Though originally the song had been about how Aerys Targaryen was a butcher as much as he was a madman. 

And how the Mad King’s heir, Prince Rhaegar, was burning somewhere in the Seven Hells in his afterlife. 

King Robert had always had some fondness for that song and the way Jesper performed it. 

“You’re a pretty little songbird all right, with the way you sing for the Kingslayer’s wife and son,” Robert would laugh whilst he drank too much wine. 

Fuck the North.

Fuck Joffrey.

Fuck the Seven Kingdoms.

Fuck Jaime Lannister.

And fuck especially the gods damned War of the Five Kings. 

And fuck Lelia’s unwillingness to do anything but stay silent and do as she was told. 

At least Minisa and Sansa and Lyarra were no longer in King’s Landing. 

Minisa was hiding somewhere in the sands of Dorne with Tyland Hill. 

Lyarra and Sansa had disappeared after Joffrey’s death and neither Cassana or Lelia knew anything of either of them. 

Blue Rose and Dawn had disappeared into the woods and it had been so long since Lelia had seen the direwolfs. 

All Lelia knew was that there were rumors of three she-wolves roaming around the wild with a pack of wolves. 

“Oh, Fishmonger’s daughter 

Oh, Fishmonger’s daughter,” [4]

By the time Lelia snapped out if it and paid attention to her surroundings again, Jesper was laughing as he sang a bawdy song about getting pleasured by a fishmonger’s daughter. 

Lelia’s ears went red and her mouth felt dry. Her singer was singing a bawdy song to a bunch of children. 

But then again she wasn’t very particularly surprised by the sheer audacity of Jesper. 

Jesper could be ballsy when he wanted to be or jus didn’t have any preservation instincts in him. 

Like how he kept pestering that intimidating Esossi man who was built like the warrior. 

How Jesper befriended that stern and rarely smiling Essosi man with Valyrian traits that is now apparently part of Lelia and her siblings household is beyond anyone’s understanding. 

(The Essosi man’s started with a ‘G’ and was actually there at The Stone Garden but Lelia had completely forgotten that he was actually there)

Chapter Text

305 AC, Winterfell

Kyle Stark had been in the godswood with his direwolf Silver keeping him company and cleaning his sword in front of a heart tree  when his twin brother Edwyle came looking for him. 

Silver had realized that Edwyle was in the godswood before Kyle heard his footsteps. 

Silver barked and nudged one of Kyle’s leg. Silver gestured towards Edwyle’s direction with his head. 

Kyle glanced at his wolf. “What is it, boy?” 

Silver would have rolled his eyes if he could. Silver gestured towards Edwyle’s direction again. 

Kyle glanced behind him and heard the crunching of twigs underneath someone’s feet. 

“I figured that I would find you here, Kyle.” Edwyle said with a smile as he walked towards where Kyle was sitting. 

Silver patted Edwyle with his tale before he rested his head on his front legs and closed his eyes.

“Lye,” Kyle smiled. 

“Yle,” Edwyle returned the smile and sat down besides Kyle. 

Edwyle breathed in the cool air and then exhaled. “The air is so cold,” Edwyle murmured softly. 

“The cold has never truly bothered us Starks,” Kyle reminded his brother. “The cold is in our bones just like the snow is,”

Edwyle hummed. “Cregan and Father and everyone else say things like that,” 

“Everyone says that,” Kyle laughed softly. “It is like our common saying, like that one that Mother used to say,” 

“The Seven have mercy?” 

“That’s the one,” Kyle nodded. 

They grew quiet and simply stared at the heart tree. 

“Has news from Kings Landing arrived?” Kyle asked suddenly as he put his sword back in its sheath. 

Edwyle’s expression hardened and Kyle knew that something was wrong. Kyle wondered what the letter could have said that made his twin react like that.

“A letter with a Targaryen seal has come,” Edwyle looked at the heart tree with a conflicted look in his pretty blue-grey eyes. 

“How is that possible?” Kyle’s eyebrows knitted together. “Why would the last Targaryen write to us?” 

“I do not know,” Edwyle admitted softly. “The letter just arrived. But I do not like it. She calls herself a queen. The queen,”

Kyle frowned. “Is she calling herself the queen of all the seven kingdoms? Of all Westeros?” 

“She is,” Edwyle confirmed. “She calls herself our rightful queen,” 

“The North does not acknowledge Targaryen rule over us,” Kyle sneered. “We gained our independence fairly. She has no right to our kingdom when her family was overthrown and we left the Seven Kingdoms,” 

“If we did recognize any outsider rule over us, that would be that of our cousin Steffon and Cassana,” Edwyle quietly said. 

“But we do not,” Kyle pointed out. 

“We do not,” Edwyle agreed. 

“Will you wish for me to be an envoy and converse with this self proclaimed Dragon Queen, dearest brother?” 

“She has dragons,” Edwyle looked at Kyle with unreadable eyes. “Jon says that her dragons can help us against the White Walkers,” 

“So we need her help,” Kyle scowled. “We need her dragons to burn those ice fuckers,” 

“Unfortunately,” Edwyle said in resignation. “I do not like this anymore than you do. Sansa, Minisa, and Lyarra don’t trust her and Wynafryd even less. Jasper has suggested sending Jon as an envoy,” 

“I can go with Jon,” Kyle offered. “I will bring Silver with me. I do not trust the Targaryen woman,” 

“And neither do I,” Edwyle replied as he gently patted Silver’s head. Silver leaned into his touch and that brought something warm into Kyle’s heart.

“Where is Oak?” Kyle asked. “Why is he not with you, brother?” 

“Oak is…tired,” Edwyle answered. “Summer and Oak rest with our sister Minisa, our brother Bran, and our good-sister Wynafryd and their children,” 

“Are Minisa’s twin boys and Wynafryd’s triplets doing all right?” Kyle’s mind wandered towards his sister and brother’s children. 

When Torrhen had died, he had left Wynafryd Manderly a pregnant widow at White Harbor. 

Minisa had been married as soon as possible to Domeric Bolton before Ramsay had killed him. 

He would have killed Minisa had it not been for Minisa’s direwolf -Blue Rose- tearing the Bolton Bastard to shreds. 

Minisa had then fed Ramsay’s remains to his dogs before having the dogs poisoned and buried. 

Lyarra stayed with their sister as much as she could. Those two had always been inseparable. 

But once upon a time, it had been a Southron princess that they had loyally followed. 

Kyle wonders how Cassana is holding up all the way in Kings Landing. Cassana ruled as Princess Regent as Steffon was unable to properly rule. 

Steffon had been left disoriented and unable to leave his bed for a time. He was recovering, but he could not walk and needed a wheel chair to get around. 

The advisors didn’t think he could rule, and at the beginning that had been particularly true. 

Cassana had been appointed as Princess Regent. From what they knew, Steffon was well enough that he could read reports and sign documents. 

But he was easily tired and unable to fully focus. So Cassana and the Small Council were left to do the majority of the ruling. 

Steffon’s wife, Margaery Tyrell, was rumored to be in a power struggle with Cassana who didn’t trust the Tyrells very much. 

Their cousin Lelia Lannister was currently serving as Regent of Casterly Rock as House Lannister’s lord -Gowen Lannister son of Arthur Lannister and Cassana Baratheon- was a babe in arms. 

The current Lannisters weren’t very involved in the kingdom’s affairs and were only kept involved because of Steffon and his siblings and Cassana’s children with their cousin Arthur Lannister, Lelia’s twin. 

The Lannister children rarely left Casterly Rock these days. They had not been the same after Arthur’s death.

And it was a good thing that Cersei Lannister had long since been killed. By a younger brother, Cassana had written to Minisa and Lyarra. 

“The children are doing good,” Edwyle answered. 

“Good,” Kyle hummed. 

“We will need you at the library in twenty minutes,” Edwyle changed the subject of their conversation. “We will discuss the letter from the Targaryen queen with our entire family,”

”We should bring Uncle Benjen, Uncle Brynden, and Uncle Edmure into the conversation,” Kyle hummed. 

“Uncle Edmure and Uncle Brynden would take much too long to come,” Edwyle shook his head. “But Uncle Benjen will be included,” 

“You must still write to our uncles from Mother’s side of the letter and our decision,” Kyle insisted. 

“Of course I will,” Edwyle smiled faintly. “Why should I leave out our uncles who belong to this family and kingdom?” 

Kyle laughed gently. “Family, Duty, Honor,” Kyle mused out loud to his twin brother.

“Winter is coming,” Edwyle repliec with a small smirk and his eyes were laughing. 

“The lords will be informed as well,” Edwyle added after a moment. 

Kyle nodded. “Hmm, I wasn’t expecting less. Especially when you have our sisters and good-sister in your council. The are very wise women,”

”All women are wise,” Edwyle pointed out. “Sometimes I think that they are much wiser than some men,” 

“Women use their wits more than men as our society refuse to let high born ladies wield a sword,” Kyle said. 

“Arya will definitely want to teach the younger girls to fight with a sword,” Edwyle mused. 

“Putting a sword in her hand kept her alive,” Kyle’s expression saddened. “The same goes for us,” 

“Trickery did as well,” Edwyle whispered. “And thank the gods above that the bastard that tried to use me is dead,” 

Edwyle had pretended to be Eric Rivers just like Sansa had pretended to be Alayne Stone, Kyle remembered.

“Regardless of how we feel about her, if Daenerys Targaryen is as good as the imp says then it is wise to ally ourself with her and discuss peace,” 

Kyle quietly observed his elder brother. It was during moments like these that Kyle thought that Edwyle heavily resembled their lord father. 

“But nevertheless, we must prepare for the chance of the Dragon Queen being like her father,” Edwyle’s expression became cold and serious.

His expressions are so much like Father, Kyle thought. He wondered if the other lords thought the same. 

“I will write to the North if Daenerys Targaryen as as good as the imp says. But if I do not write after a month’s time, then assume I am either dead or being used as hostage by her. In the event of that happening, I have made a will to iron out the succession of leadership for the North.”

Here it is, it’s coming, Kyle thought and he tried to ready himself for his brother’s proclamation. 

“After my death the crown will pass to my brother Kyle and then to Rickon if Kyle produces no children. If Rickon’s line ends then the crown will pass to my brother Torrhen’s children with Lady Wynafryd. Then to my sister Minisa and her children. Then to Lyarra and Sansa and finally to Arya and Erena and then to Serena and finally to my brother Jon,”

There were murmures going on and people stared at Wynafryd and her three young daughters. 

Edwyle’s Glover lady sniffled softly and Edwyle gave her a kind look. Oak, Edwyle’s direwolf, gently licked Erena Glover’s hand.

Kyle only stared at his brother in a slightly defeated manner. He had offered to go to Dragonstone but Edwyle refused to let him go. 

“Me and Jon will go to Dragonstone,” 

“It’s better if I go. If I die then it won’t be too bad. Kings have died before, and I expect to maybe die by the Targaryen woman’s orders,” 

“You are foolish if you think that the North, the Riverlands, and the Vale won’t be enraged if you are to be killed by the Targaryen woman,”

”I know,” Edwyle smiled softly but sadly. “But I am a coward and I have made my peace with my potential death. I had to,”

”And what shall we do while you are away, Your Grace?” Lord Manderly asked.

”Prepare. Prepare for war,” Edwyle said.

Dragonstone looked so utterly dreadful and gloomy, Edwyle Stark noted. It reminded him of Harrenhal if he was being honest.

“We’re almost there,” Amos Waters, a smuggler that Kyle was friendly with, informed Edwyle. 

Edwyle simply hummed and gently stroked Oak’s fur. “You hear that? We’re almost there,” 

Oak nodded but Kyle knew that he was relived. Oak and Silver had never particularly liked being on a boat. 

“I still can’t see why you would come,” Jon told him grimly. “You are a king, you could have simply ordered me and Kyle to come and we would have happily obeyed,” 

“I know, but I have to do this Jon,” Edwyle replied. “Though I do regret that I left Eren in a very sad state,” 

“Erena Glover?” 

“Yes, that is her. My Eren. My silver lady,” Edwyle’s blue-grey eyes turned soft and loving. 

And Jon knew that his brother was in love with Erena Glover just like their brother Torrhen had loved Wynafryd Manderly before he rode to his death. 

Jon shivered silently. And what of Edwyle? Will he too ride to his own death? Will he willingly sail to his own death despite the weight of his crown and his love for our family and Erena Glover?

Jon looked at his brother and thought, What has made him seek his death so willingly and so calmly like this? 

Edwyld has always been sweet and soft spoken. But now, he resembled Lord Eddard in mannerisms more than anything. 

That quiet acceptance of things. 

“We have arrived, Your Grace, my lord,” Ser Davos told them. 

“Thank you Ser Davos,” Edwyle said kindly with hints of a smile. “And thank you as well, Amos,” 

Amos simply nodded. “Don’t mention it my lord. Though I suppose I should be calling you Your Grace,” Amos mused with a smile that showed his teeth. 

Edwyle chuckled. “I suppose so, but I do miss it when you would mockingly call me my lord and I was but Eric Rivers,” 

Edwyle looked melancholic and wistful and Jon felt uncomfortable. 

Amos huffed. “I was working you till you were bloody and sore,” Amos reminded Edwyle flatly, though there were flashes of guilt in his black eyes. 

“Oh I know, and I’m just glad that you were honest to me,” Edwyle admitted. “Even if it was painful, you always told me what I needed to know. And I’m very grateful for that,” 

Amos huffed and simply flicked Edwyle’s hair in response. “You never fail to confuse me, chamaquito,” 

They tied their rowboat to shore and Jon wondered if it was wise to simply bring two guards with them. 

Though Jon did not doubt Ethan and Ben’s loyalty towards Edwyle and the North. 

It was just that when he saw who he assumed were the Targaryen queen’s Dothraki guard, he remembered what people had said of the Red Wedding.

“Edwyle Stark. Jon Snow. Pleasure it is to see you two,” Tyrion Lannister said when they came face to face. 

“Last time I had seen you two you were both green boys,” Tyrion looked at Edwyle. “And you were following your mother and uncle around,” 

“And last time I had saw you my lord, you were without a few scars,” Edwyle mused out loud. 

“And you as well,” Tyrion noted as he examined Edwyle. “You were a little lordling trailing after those older than him and dreaming of adventures. Then you were a missing boy presumed to be a corpse alongside your wolf,”

Tyrion looked at Oak who stood loyally besides Edwyle. Oak showed Tyrion his teeth in an almost jokingly threatening manner. 

“And you are a king now,” Tyrion ended as he inched a bit away so to put more distant between him and Oak. 

Jon was glad for Oak, he could do what Jon couldn’t at the moment. Which was to subtly threaten any potential dangers to Edwyle.

”And you were both a kinslayer and a kingslayer,” Edwyle replied in an almost dry manner. “And yet now here you are, hand to a queen,” 

“I see you have more of your mother than your father in you,” Tyrion muttered. “Maybe even your aunt Lucinda’s,” 

“I do fear to disappoint you my lord, but I remember my mother’s younger sister very scarcely. I fear that she is but a stranger to me now,” Edwyle said calmly. “And besides, it seems I have their distrust towards strangers and one of Lord Tywin’s children as well,”

“It seems so,” Tyrion simply said.

“Me and my brother are only here because it is necessary for the great war that is to come,” 

Tyrion raised an eyebrow. “I did not know that you and your family and perhaps the North were interested in the war for the Iron Throne,” 

Edwyle’s lips formed a thin line at the mention of a war for the Iron Throne. Would everyone just stop fighting over that damned chair? Edwyle and Jon thought bitterly. 

“That accursed chair is nothing to me and the entire north,” Edwyle sneered. “We bleed and died because of the Iron Throne. The affairs of whoever rules in King’s Landing is not our business. And that war you speak of is not the reason as to why I am here,” 

“And what war is that?” 

“It is a war much bigger than anything else. A war much bigger than the one you speak of fighting over a cursed chair made out of the blood and tears of people who would not bend like the North and Dorne refuse to now,” 

“Dorne?” Tyrion looked shocked. 

Edwyle wanted to laugh. “Did you know that Dorne demanded independence and that they refuse to bend ever again to the Stags like they did to the Dragons for centuries before they were brought into the fold via a marriage?” 

Tyrion looked grim. “I did not know,” The imp admitted. “I am Tyrion Lannister,” He turned towards Davos and Amos. 

“Davos Seaworth,” 

“Ah,” Tyrion said. “The Onion knight, I remember you now. We fought on opposite sides during the Battle of Blackwater Bay,”

”Aye,” Davos said, his eyes darkening a bit. “My son died in that battle. Killed by your green fire to be exact. And now you serve a queen with dragons at her command like her ancestors,” 

Tyrion coughed before he looked at Amos who just stared at him looking completely unimpressed. 

“And you are?” 

Amos spat on the sand before looking at Tyrion. “I’m a smuggler and a captain and a sailor that used to work with the cursed hag you called a sister before she killed some of me boys and girls. Never forgave her for that, never forgot either,”

Everyone just stared at Amos who in turn  just gestured towards Edwyle and said, “And that one was one of me boys till a while. And now he’s a bloody king. So now I can’t boss him around anymore,”

”By the Seven,” Davos muttered in exasperation. 

Edwyle looked amused at his old employer’s audacity towards Tyrion Lannister. 

“Amos,” Edwyle said. “Ahorita no es el tiempo or momento apropiado para esto, por favor,” 

Amos grunted. “Fine,” He muttered before giving Tyrion a slight bow. “My apologies, m’lord,” Amos did not really sound sorry at all. 

“My apologies for that Lord Tyrion,” Edwyle turned to look at Tyrion again. “I’m afraid that I forget to tell you that Amos speaks his mind freely without fear of consequences. How he has survived this long is beyond me,” 

“Fuck you too, Edwyle,” Amos muttered as he crossed his arms and looked towards the rocks to glare at them.

“Yes well,” Tyrion coughed before he gestured towards a foreign young woman standing besides him. “This is Missandei, the queen’s most trusted advisor,” 

The woman smiled. “Welcome to Dragonstone. Our queen is thankful for the two of you coming despite the long journey. She appreciates the effort made by you all on her behalf. If you wouldn’t mind, can you please hand your weapons over to Her Grace’s Dothraki guards?” 

“May I ask why we should?” Edwyle asked as he looked warily behind the people on the beach. 

Missandei seemed surprised at Edwyle’s question. 

“We are not in neutral grounds even if we come to negotiate. And we are strangers with no ties to one another,” Edwyle said as he kept looking behind the people in front of him. 

“You have archers here, I can see them. As well as Dothraki guards, which I assume is a safety measure just like my men and Oak. Your men are armed and your archers would kill us at the first signs of battle or hostility,” 

Jon looked around as much as he could behind the Targaryen woman’s people and realized that Edwyle was speaking the truth. 

There were arches on the outer wall. 

And Jon wondered how he could save his brother before an arrow could kill him. Ethan and Ben would die for Edwyle, no questions asked. 

Ser Davos is an honorable man and Jon trusts him enough with Edwyle’s safety even if Kyle wouldn’t. 

Oak is obvious enough. 

And Amos has his loyalty towards Edwyle despite everything else. 

“Why should me and my men be defenseless in unknown territory surrounded by armed strangers who follow a queen we have no intention to follow and who surrounds herself with people we are not inclined to fully trust.” 

“I…” Missandei seemed at a loss for words. Jon guessed that she had been expecting for them to surrender their weapons with no questions asked. 

“I mean no disrespect towards you my lady or your queen. But your queen must realize that I do not fully trust her as she does not fully trust me either. The last time we hung our weapons on a keep with talks of peace, our men were slaughtered mercilessly.

“My three eldest brothers and their men had hung their weapons on the door as it was a wedding, the second of my eldest brothers was even getting married alongside out mother’s younger brother as it was a double wedding. The third one had been married for a time as was my eldest brother. 

“And in return all three of them, most of their men, two of the wolves with them, and our lady mother were murdered and one of my sisters was forced into a marriage she did not wish for while two others were almost raped by a son of a man believed to be our ally. While my good-sister and her children with my third eldest brother were almost murdered,” 

Jon tried not to look sick at the mention of the Red Wedding, Minisa and Sansa’s marriage, and what had almost happened to Erena and Lyarra. 

“So do forgive me for being reluctant to surrender my sword and that of my men,” Edwyle looked at Tyrion in an unreadable manner, the light of the sun seemed to make his eyes an almost clear water blue color. 

But Jon thought that Edwyle was subtly and silently challenging Tyrion Lannister to take their weapons away after hearing of what the Lannisters had done to them all those years ago. 

“I did not bring my men here to be killed as our brothers and fathers and cousins had been years ago. We did not march so far south to simply die and walk to our graves, never to see the North again,” 

Edwyle glanced briefly towards the sea behind them before looking at Tyrion again and smiling slightly in an ironic manner. 

Tyrion’s green eyes narrowed and Edwyle was briefly reminded of Lord Tywin Lannister and he shivered slightly. 

Edwyle raised a hand and gestured towards one of his eyes, it was the one slightly lighter in color and where he had a scar on his skin all the way across the eye. 

“I am half blind in this eye, you know,” Edwyle mused out loud. “And I am no warrior, I never have been,” 

Edwyle’s hand touched his scar. “This proves it,” Edwyle added. “Sometimes I forget where I am and seem to get easily lost in unfamiliar places. I brought only two guards. Amos and Ser Davos are older men not in their primes anymore. And Oak has always avoided conflict, he used to taking any abuse from strangers in order to avoid being put down like his litter sister was and now he is not as strong as he used to be. So tell me my lord, what does your queen have to fear of me and my men?”

Amos winced slightly at the mention of Edwyle being half blind in one eye. Though he was slightly offended at being called an older man no longer in his prime alongside Ser Davos.

Tyrion sighed. “Let them keep their weapons, they have right to be catious,” Tyrion orderd before looking at Oak.

“Keep your dog on a leash,” Tyrion’s eyes wandered towards Amos who simply raised an eyebrow as if demanding Tyrion to say something and insult him, “and him as well,” 

Amos grunted in a slightly offended manner and his expression screamed Seriously? 

Jon was slightly smug at seeing Amos be so offended by Tyrion’s words. So they followed the imp and the others towards the Targaryen queen’s castle. 

Edwyle hummed. “Thank you my lord,”

Missandei didn’t seem to like this very much though. “Once you meet our queen, you will realize that you are safe and have nothing to fear,” 

“Then your queen has much to do to prove that to us,” Amos said flatly. “The last person that said that had me boys and girls killed as well as their,” Amos gestured towards Edwyle and Jon, “remaining two brothers, leaving Edwyle, Snow, the crippled one, and the feral little boy as the remaining sons in their family. And it was people who were following a queen the ones that told us that,” 

And Edwyle thought about Gwayne Flowers -Allister Vance’s secret bastard with a Hightower girl- and Orryn -one of King Robert Baratheon’s many bastards- and of working in the docks. 

Gwayne and Orryn waited for him back home in Winterfell alongside his family and Eren. 

He remembers saying goodbye in his bedroom and how good it felt when Gwayne and Orryn took him apart and made him feel blissed out. 

And how good Erena had made him feel as Gwayne kissed her and Orryn stroked Gwayne beautiful brown curls.

“Perhaps so,” Missandei said and then she motioned towards the stairs. “Please, this way,”

Edwyle was quiet at the mention of Arnolf and Alaric’s deaths at Cersei Lannister’s encouragement. 

He forgot about either Kyle or Rickon since they both qualify as feral little boys to him, Edwyle noted.

“And I believe it was your sister that ordered and signed their death warrants,” Amos looked pointedly at Tyrion’s back. 

“Cersei is no sister to me,” Tyrion scowled at the mention of his sister. 

And she is dead, Edwyle thought. And gods bless them for that. 

Jon looked back and even though they had been allowed to keep their weapons the Dothraki still took their boat. 

So now they had no way of getting back home. They were stuck here at Dragonstone and Jon silently gritted his teeth at the thought of being at the Dragon Queen’s mercy. 

“Dragons show no mercy to those they see as lesser or a threat than them,” Old Nan had once told him. “Beware of the dragons,” 

And that’s when he heard the roar. It was completely unlike anything he had ever seen. 

The fear spiked in his chest almost out of nowhere and immediately Jon, Edwyle, and the men dived towards the ground.

The Targaryen queen’s men remained calm as the dragons flew overhead. 

Tyrion smirked and offered Jon a hand whilst Missandei gently helped Edwyle get up whilst Oak nudged him gently.

“I’d say you will get used to them, but truly you never actually do,” Tyrion mused out loud as he looked up. 

The Northern men plus Davos and Amos looked up and saw the giant black dragon souring above them in the sky. 

“Come now, their mother is waiting for you all, especially you King in the North,”

Chapter Text

“Look after them, Alec,” Hoster Tully murmured softly to the young black haired and blue eyed man kneeling by his bed side and gently holding his hand. 

“By my word my lord,” Alec said softly. His hands were shaking as he tried not to squeeze the hands of the dying man. 

I’ve loved you for years, I’ve loved you like I never thought I would with anyone else. So, please don’t go. Please don’t go.

Please don’t leave me. 

My lord, please don’t leave me. 

For what am I to do without you? 

Alec had to choke back the sob that threatened to come out of him. His blue eyes were shining with unshed tears. 

“I..I promise my lord. I vow you my lord to protect your family even if it shall cost me life,” Alec’s voice was breaking as he made that vow to the dying Hoster Tully. 

Hoster looked at the young man with slightly dull blue eyes and Alec wanted to scream at the look in Hoster’s eyes. 

This isn’t the same man that took me, an unwanted bastard between a distant Tully and a Blackwood cousin, in and rose me up to guard. 

But, this old weak dying man was still Hoster Tully, the proud Lord of Riverrun and Lord Paramount of the Trident. 

And Hoster Tully was rightfully due Alesander “Alec” Rivers’ loyalty. 

And Alex would glad fully give all of himself up to Hoster Tully without a single question. 

“Take my boys, Grover and Elmo, to Oldtown- to their mother’s, to Leyla’s, family. Please, I beg it of you, Alec,”

Alec was baffled, why would his Lord Edmure, always prideful in the way that lords are, would be begging. 

Lord Hoster would never beg, Alec silently thought but he pushed that thought away. 

“M-My lord,” Alec stammered out as he tried to calm down a clearly upset Edmure Tully. “C-Calm down, please,” 

Edmure was shaking and he looked up to make eye contact with Alec. And Alec felt his breath stop when he looked into Edmure Tuly’s pretty dark blue eyes that seemed to shine in the poor light. 

Lord Edmure was so pretty… 

Focus Alec! Alec wanted to smack himself and his mouth felt very dry. “T-Tell me what is wrong, my lord?” Alec asked, he wanted to distract himself. 

“I…I don’t trust Lord Walder Frey, or any of his family,” Edmure shook his head. “Lord Frey doesn’t forget a slight, real or not, and Robb has slighted him all right. This damn marriage to that Frey girl to me, a lord, while she could have been a queen.” 

Alec hummed softly as he gently patted Edmure’s back in order to calm him down. A wise decision, my lord.

“The Freys might hurt Lord Grover and Lord Elmo in order to get Lady Roslin’s child on the seat of House Tully,” Alec guessed. 

“That too, but I don’t want them here in the Riverlands. Not with the war with the Lannisters going on,” Edmure said. 

“Aye, I think it’s wise not to want children anywhere near a fighting zone. Children have no room in a war, they don’t belong in it,” 

Alec thought of the dead body of his fellow Tully guards. Lenny, eyes bulged out and milky white. 

Jon, body broken and limp and bloody. 

Edmure hummed as he suddenly, completely out of the blue, tightly embraced Alec. 

“Please protect my children,” Edmure whispered into Alec’s ear. “Please, I beg it of you, they’re all that I have left,” 

Alec’s breathing was heavy and he wanted to cry at the unfairness of it all. If they were to die in battle, Alec wanted to die in Riverrun. 

Bastard of Tully and Blackwood blood, you’ll never truly fit in no matter how much of yourself you devote to your birth family.

The Bastard of Riverrun tasted so bitterly yet so addicting to Alec in his mouth. Alec was of Riverrun, he belonged to Riverrun and its Tully masters, and his monicker acknowledged it more.

But Alec Rivers was so utterly weak towards the Tully family. He could never deny them anything that they ask of him.

Even if it is his own life, Alec would gladly carve out his own heart and present it to the Tullys. 

Alec took the Tully boys on horse back a day before Edmure Tully and Cregan Stark’s wedding to a Frey girl. 

Then, the news came. 

The King in the North and his men were slaughtered in the wedding of his brother and maternal uncle. 

Alec had felt numb and dead as he thought What of Edmure? Lady Catelyn? Prince Cregan? Prince Torrhen? What of the Tullys? 

Alec numbly looked at the two young boys with their auburn hair and fine Tully features that Alec had always noticed on Edmure Tully.

“And who the hell are you?” Alec demanded angrily as he tried to keep the boys behind him. 

The strange handsome brunette man with light brown almost amber eyes simply scoffed. 

“I am Ser Garett from Pinkmaiden castle, and I serve the Pipers of Pinkmaiden castle,” the man -Garett- declared. 

Alec let out a small ‘Hmp’ in response.

Garett narrowed his eyes at Alec. “What is that supposed to mean?” Garett demanded as his horse seemed to be a bit uneasy.

”It means I don’t give a crap about who the fuck you are and who you serve,” Alec snapped. “All I care is taking Lord Tully’s boys to Oldtown for their safety,”

Garett gave Alec a dirty look. “And I’ll have you know that I am meant to help you,” Garett said derisively. 

“You?” Alec looked at Garett up and down. “You’ll bring the Lannisters and Freys on us more likely!” 

“Says the bastard that is going around killing any random Frey he finds and can barely keep himself and the boys he’s supposed to protect alive,” Garett sneered. 

Alec stiffened. “I did what I could! The Freys deserve to burn for what they did to the Tullys,” Alec said hotly. 

“And yet you don’t deny that you have barely kept Lord Tully’s boys and yourself alive,” Garett pointed out. 

And at that Alec had no real answer to. 

Grover was getting sick and Elmo had constant nightmares of that nasty encounter with a man that Alec suspected belonged to Gregor Clegane. 

“I still can’t believe that you somehow managed to keep ‘em alive,” Garett grumbled as he tucked Grover and Elmo to sleep. 

“Yeah well fuck you too,” Alec murmured as he put more wood into their fire.

“Jaskier,” Alec breathed in heavily. “Jaskier,” 

“Alec,” Jaskier smiled sweetly and the light seemed to shine into him, surrounding him, like a halo. 

“My Alec,” Jaskier whispered into Alec’s ear. 

“I love you,” Alec blurted out suddenly as he held Jaskier tightly and inhaled his scent of flowers. 

Jaskier hummed softly as he gently ran his fingers through Alec’s inky black hair. “I love you too,” 

They fell into each other.

Garett was quiet as he watched Alec staring silently at their campfire. Both Grover and Elmo were peacefully asleep in their bed rolls. 

“I wasn’t sure that you’d actually come and not just stay with your bard lover,” Garett eventually said. 

Alec glanced at Garett and Garett’s breath was caught in his chest. The fire made Alec look beautiful. 

Garett silently cursed himself for thinking that of his companion. 

“I wanted to,” Alec admitted quietly. 

“Then why didn’t you?” Garett murmured as he looked away from Alec’s pretty eyes and at the campfire.

”Because,” Alec said as he looked at the fire as well, “I couldn’t just leave them.” Alec’s voice was a bit broken.

Was it because of Lord Edmure and Lord Hoster? Garett wondered. Would you have left me and the boys had it mot been for your vow and the boys being Tullys and so you think they are owed your undying loyalty? 

Garett tasted a bitter taste in his mouth.

”Alec, stop!” Garett shouted as he grabbed Alec and kept him from stabbing that asshole to death. 

“Let me go!” Alec screamed. “Let me go, Garett!” 

“I won’t!” Garett replied loudly as he pinned a wildly trashing Alec to the ground. 

“Grover, don’t cry,” Elmo whispered to his twin. “Ser Garett will calm Ser Alec down like always,” 

Grover whimpered softly. “I hate it when they fight,” Grover muttered dejectedly.

”You’re scaring the boys damn it!” Garett shouted angrily. “You stupid fucker! You’re scaring them!” 

Garett’s grip on Alec tightened and he essentially roughly threw Alec against a tree in order to calm him down. 

Alec stopped trashing around at Garett’s angry words. Garett scoffed in irritation. “You have no standards, you hypocrite,” Garett sneered. 

“That hurt you fucker,” Alec glared at Garett in irritation. “Next time don’t toss me like that,”

”Next time don’t go into a killing frenzy and scare our boys, you idiot,” Garett bit back.

”They aren’t our boys, their Lord Edmure’s boys,”

”Yeah, well they’re ours as well,”

“Ser Garett, do you love Ser Alec?”

Garett looked at little Elmo in clear bafflement. “What makes you think that I love him romantically?” Garett asked. 

Elmo was riding with Garett on Garett’s beloved female horse, Roche. Meanwhile Grover rode with Alec on Alec’s horse, Tory. 

“Aye, I remember when Tory’s mother, Quicksilver, still lived,” Alec was wistfully saying to an extremely bored Grover. 

“Oh she was the finest ride in all the Riverlands she was,” Alec continued to be wistful about his horse. “My Quicksilver,”

Grover rolled his eyes. “Alright Ser Alec, I get it. Your old horse was the best and prettiest horse ever,” Grover grumbled. 

“Oh you give my old Quicksilver some show of respect, little lordling,” Alec gave Grover a pointed look.

“And besides, Alex loves his horses more than he loves anyone else,” Garett bit the inside of his cheek. 

More than his precious Lord Hoster or Lord Edmure? Alec’s precious Lord Tullys? Garett thought slightly bitterly.

“You called Ser Alec ‘Alex’,” Elmo observed. 

“Yeah and what is it to you, lordling?” Garett felt silly for arguing with a nine year old boy. 

Goodness, it reminded him of arguing with Jaskier the bard thar worked for House Vance. 

The thought of Jaskier made Garett feel slightly irritated and bitter since he still hated the bard for making Alec even stupider than usual. 

“I’ll have you know that I care about my knights!” Elmo protested. “They’re my people and I have a duty to them,”

”Did your lady mother tell you that?” Garett asked in mild amusement.

”Yes, and so did my lord father,” Elmo said. 

Of course Lord Edmure said that, Garett thought in slight exasperation and he sighed in resignation. 

Garett could never measure up to either Edmure Tully or Jaskier the bard in Alec’s mind.

Chapter Text

“You! You bastard!” 

King Maekar shouted as he punched the just recently arrived in the afterlife Rhaegar Targaryen in the face. 

Rhaegar was sent a few steps back and he weakly fell to the ground, clutching his chest as he groaned in pain.

”How could you loose the Iron Throne like that? And for such a stupid fucking reason?!” Maekar roared in rage. 

Rhaegar coughed up blood and he tried to stand up but he could not. The wound that Robert had delivered still felt fresh to him.

”Mercy, Grandfather,” Jaehaerys II pleaded weakly for his grandson. “Have mercy on him. He has just arrived,”

”And care do I have for him just arriving when he cost us our descendants and the realm?” Maekar barked as he glared at his grandson.

”I say we should just toss him to Maegor,” Aegon II suggested from where he sat besides his wife Cassandra Baratheon who had come back from visiting her family in their afterlife.

“Maegor will eat him alive,” Cassandra said with a small scoff as she held her young son Jaehaelor. 

Aegon II held little Mael and Jaehaera sat between her parents holding her little grey kitten named Storm.

Though Jaehaera looked like a woman-child instead of the woman that she had been whilst she lived.

But Jaehaera was a broken woman for her entire life after the Dance of the Dragons.

Her husband, King Aegor, looked about the same age as Jaehaera did from where he sat besides his brother, Viserys II.

Viserys II looked like he did in his portrait from when he became king. An old and slightly frail looking man who seemed tired but had a calculating look to him. 

“Let that usurper eat him alive for all I care,” Baelor -the Black King’s son- sneered from where he stood besides his twins Aelor and Aelora. 

“He cost our family everything we had left after the disasters that were the fifth Aegon’s children -except Rhaelle- and grandson,” Aelora said.

Aegon V winced at his distant ancestor’s scathing words about his descendants. Betha Blackwood gave her Aegon a sympathetic look. 

“Your descents are a disappointment, Uncle,” Aegon III said to his uncle Viserys II. 

Viserys II scowled but didn’t argue about that. “That’s why I didn’t want to rule but after you and your brothers died but the lords didn’t want Daena on the throne because of her bastard with my son,”

”The lords saw her as uncontrollable and too much like Rhaelor Targaryen,” Daeron II mused out loud.

”My Rhaena was a Septa,” Aegor remembers. 

“And Elaena too young and unfortunately involved with Alyn Velaryon,” Jaehaera mused out loud.

Aegon II scowled. “Not another fucking Velaryon,” 

“Aegon, language,” Alicent Hightower scolded her son from where she sat on a large couch with her younger children.

Rhaelor Targaryen -Alicent’s husband and also known as the Black King- had been banned from being within 5 feet near her. 

So the Black King was leaning against a large rock on the beach looking both wistfully and regretfully at his wife and children, including some of his bastards.

Though Rhaelor was glaring at Ser Criston Cole, who stood loyally besides Alicent. 

Criston had been so loyal to Alicent and her children that he had followed them into the afterlife. 

Which was very much to Rhaelor’s chagrin and his utter rage at the audacity of Criston Cole. 

The darker part of Rhaelor -the Black King part- was raging an inferno at Criston’s audacity to be so close to his wife and children.

Of course he really couldn’t do anything against it since the lat time he did, it didn’t end very pretty.

And Rhaelor still had flashbacks to last time he had bedded Alicent. It had been during the Dance of the Dragons, Rhaelor had already started to become insane and people were calling him the Black King because of it.

As the Black King, he had but all forced himself onto Alicent whilst Ser Criston was asleep in his room.

Rhaelor remembered whispering to Alicent about how maybe he should make Cole watch and see if he would attack Rhaelor in rage of what Rhaelor was doing to Alicent. 

Rhaelor -the Black King- had whispered of how maybe Alicent will get pregnant from that encounter. 

Rhaelor likes seeing her pregnant with his children, she was so utterly beautiful when she was heavy with child. She looked like the Mother Above. 

And then Alicent had died not long after having miscarrying the babe that Rhaelor had gotten on her from when he basically forced himself on her. 

Aemond and Aegon had killed him first chance they got when they reunited in the afterlife. 

Aegon the Conqueror had strangled him while the original Visenya had beheaded him and then Alicent’s brother Gwayne and the rest if Alicent’s relatives had come from the Hightowers afterlife simply to murder him with their own two hands. 

Rhaegar managed to recover some of his senses and he looked up and realized that he was looking at long since dead Targaryens. 

He was also in what looked to be Dragonstone, except it was much bigger than the actual Dragonstone. 

“Took him long enough to get lucid,” Aemond muttered as he held his younger sister Visenya in his arms. 

Visenya looked at the armored man laying on the sand. “He looks like a chicken,” the young girl said.

Most of the Targaryens gathered on the beach either laughed or smiled at that. Even Maekar did. 

“Yes sweet girl, he does look like a chicken!” Aemond laughed and he kissed Visenya’s cheek. 

Rhaelor and Alicent’s Aenar giggled at his sister’s comment. “Visenya is funny!”

”Visenya…” Rhaegar croaked out and he looked at the young girl in Aemond’s arms. 

Aemond glared at Rhaegar. “Oh you keep your creepy eyes away from my little sister, you piece of shit.”

“Aemond!” Alicent scowled. 

“Apologies mother,” Aemond winced slightly.

”Still a mommy’s boy I see,” Jacaerys Waters taunted from where he stood with his biological siblings.

Aemond gave the Strong-Targaryen bastard half-siblings a dirty look. “Still trying to seem stronger and more worthy I see,” Aemond said flatly.

Jace scowled. “You’re an unworthy bastard, that’s what you are!” Those words rang in his ears.

”Jace,” Daenel said as he put a hand on his brother’s shoulder. “Not here,”

“Aren’t you all a bunch of mommy’s boy?” Aerion Brightflame demanded. “You lot went to war because your mothers hated each other,”

”And for good reason,” Aelor the Golden -the Black King’s son- said flatly as he threw a side look at his father. 

“Isn’t this descendant a bit too…dumb to be Vissy’s descendant?” Daeron the Daring asked a bit hesitantly. 

“You tell me,” Aegon II sniffed in a stuck up manner as he looked at Rhaegar in disdain. 

“Sometimes I wish your Aegon had had a son,” Viserys II told Aegor I. “We should have gotten that boy a wife before you died,”

Aegor winced slightly. “Same for my other sons,” Aegor looked at his Daeron and Baelor snd shook his head. 

“Baelor was a lost cause since he decided to become a Septon,” Viserys II pointed out. “But your Daeron on the other hand,” Viserys II glared at Daeron the Young Dragon.

The Young Dragon looked at his uncle in bewilderment. “What?”

Viserys II sighed. “I don’t know what I was thinking when I didn’t force him into a betrothal,” The old man muttered.

”Or when you had your Aegon marry Naerys,” Baelor the Bold -the Black King’s son- said.

Viserys winced. “I was trying to get him away from other high-born ladies. He would have made us loose face,”

“And marrying him to poor sweet Naerys was the way to go?” Alicent raised an eyebrow at that.

”I’ll admit, that was not my sharpest moment ever,” Viserys II admitted sheepishly as he glanced towards the Dragonstone castle.

”At least you admit that my parents marriage was ill-fated, Grandfather,” Daeron II said quietly from where he sat with his wife, Myriah Martell (who was glaring at Rhaegar with the force of a thousand suns). 

“Oh enough of this depressiveness admittance to what we wouldn’t whilst we lives!” Jaehaerys Royce protested. “I still want to bash this bastard’s head in for what he did and for his treatment of his wife and doing nothing for his mother!” 

Myriah’s face darkened. “Of all the things my descendants could do,” She muttered darkly as she glared at Rhaegar. 

“Wait till Aerys the Mad gets here, Myriah, Dyanna, and maybe their boys will have his head for his treatment of Princess Elia and her Rhaenys,” Aegor muttered to Viserys II.

”I don’t doubt it,” Viserys II scoffed. 

”Oh I want to bash his head against a rock for his treatment of his lady wife and his children,” Aegon II muttered darkly.

”We can feed him to Cannibal if you want to,” Aemond suggested. 

“That’s a bit much isn’t it?” Prince Duncan muttered. 

“Oh shut it you irresponsible fool!” The Old King -Jaehaerys I- barked as from where he sat besides his wife Alysanne. 

“I hope my brothers feed you to their dragons,” Alyssa the Advisor -the Black King’s daughter- said darkly from where she sat near Aemond. 

Aemond was actually standing besides his twin sister’s couch holding little Visenya in his arms. 

Duncan flinched as he stared at the woman with gold-silver hair and mismatched eyes. 

“I should remind you, dearest Duncan. That women in our family tend to have a certain bite to them,” Aerea said from she sat besides her mother, Princess Rhaena, and her twin sister Rhaella.

”And I imagine that Baratheon women do as well as a drop of Targaryen blood flows through them and we all remember Argella Durrandon,” Aerea added.

Rhaena scoffed. “Baratheons, they’re all bloody trouble I tell you,” 

Cassandra glared at Princess Rhaena. “Fucking Targaryens,” Cassandra muttered darkly. 

Aegon II rolled his eyes but he did give Princess Rhaena a dirty look for her comment on the Baratheons.

”Well at least the Baratheons did something right when Rhaelle’s grandson caved in this one’s chest before he could run the kingdom to the ground with his prophecy obsession,” Baelor said as he walked over to Rhaegar and kicked him down before returning to his original place.

“You forget about me and my children, Good-Brother,” Cassandra said flatly. “My family is perfectly fine. Save of course for whatever the hell Robert is going to do now with his newly acquired kingdom,”

”Don’t reminded me of that,” Jaehaerys I muttered as he put his face in his hands in utter despair. 

“Almost three hundred years,” Aegon the Conqueror sighed. “We couldn’t last three hundred years,” 

“Well that is what happens when your descendants become so full of themselves that they think they are close to gods than men,” Myriah Martell scowled as she glared at Rhaegar and Aerion Brightflame. 

“Or when they become insane due to too much inbreeding in the family,” Daeron II muttered as he gave Rhaegar a hard look.

“Or when they see themselves above ‘mere sheep’ as they say,” Alicent gave Rhaegar a hard look. 

Chapter Text

“You! You utter good for nothing imbecile!!” 

The gathered Targaryens made way for the original Rhaenys as she ran towards Rhaegar with a sword in her hands. 

The original Visenya was speed walking behind the original Rhaenys and looked as aloof as ever.

But the original Aegon knew that Visenya was as furious over Rhaegar’s actions as everyone else.

”And that’s my cue to leave,” Alicent murmured as she stood up from her large couch. 

“Come on children, let’s go back to the castle,” Alicent said as she took her children off the couch and started to head towards the castle.

“But Mama!” Aenar whined. “I want to see the original Visenya!” 

“Me too!” Alicent’s Daenerys said. 

“Me as well!” Rhaelora protested. 

“No, I’m not having you witness any violence here,” Alicent said firmly. “Aelor, Baelor, Aelora; help me with your siblings,”

“Yes mother,” Baelor grumbled as he and his siblings went over and picked up their younger siblings. 

“Aegon, can you take our Jaehaelor and Mael inside?” Cassandra asked her husband. 

“Fine,” Aegon II sighed. “But tell me what they do to my brother’s idiot descendant,” 

“All right,” Cassandra smiled as she handed Mael to her Aegon before she turned to her daughter. 

“Do you wish to leave, sweetling?” Cassandra asked her daughter who was still playing with her kitten. 

“Mmh,” Jaehaera hummed as she got off the couch and went to hold hands with her twin brother as they left with their father. 

Aegor I watched his queen leave and sighed. 

Viserys II looked at his brother. “Do you want to leave with her?” 

“In time,” Aegor hummed. “I want to watch Rhaegar’s beatings,”

Viserys II sighed. “You always were bloodthirsty when it involved people like Harra Strong and Rhaegar,”

”Don’t mention that woman,” Aegor scowled. 

“Apologies,” Viserys II said.

”Oh he’s gonna get it now,” Lucerys Waters muttered to his siblings. 

“I was waiting for this,” Daekar muttered as he scribbled on a small book filled with to the brim notes. 

“We all were,” Daenel sighed. 

“I was waiting for Rhaenys to come,” Aegon the Conqueror said as he watched his sister-wife attack Rhaegar and essentially behead him. 

“Good thing as well,” Aerion Brightflame muttered as he crossed his arms. “I want to see him burn for what he did to the House of the Dragon,” 

Daeron the Daring warily looked at his younger brother’s descendant. “Isn’t he the one that drank fire?” Daeron whispered to Bloodraven. 

“Fortunately,” Brynden Rivers said.  

Daeron the Daring shivered slightly. “Another Daemon?” Daeron sighed tiredly. 

“Worse,” Brynden said. “More like Mad Aerys I’d say,” 

“Oh gods,” Daeron the Daring groaned.

“I hear that my younger brother’s disappointment of a descendant has arrived now,” Viserys, son of Aenys, said nonchalantly as he walked over towards where Aegon V was sitting at. 

“Un, hello there,” Aegon V said a bit nervously as he looked at this very distant ancestor. 

“Hello there to you as well,” Viserys smiled and his son Maelor with Maegelle -the eldest daughter/child of Maegor- giggled in his arms. 

“Viserys,” Jaehaerys I stiffened as he looked at his barely twenty looking brother. 

“Jaehaerys,” Viserys voice was tight as he glanced towards his estranged younger brother. 

“Uncle!” Viserys’s Maelor giggled.

“Uncle Viserys,” Prince Aemon, son of Jaehaerys I, looked at his uncle nervously. 

Aemon was sitting next to his wife, Jocelyn Baratheon, who was glaring at both Rhaegar and Duncan. 

You see, Lady Jocelyn had never gotten over Duncan eloping with Jenny of Oldstone and making his original Baratheon betrothed (who was also named Jocelyn) be the laughing stock of the Seven Kingdoms. 

And in turn, she hated Rhaegar and Aerys for their part in sparking a war with her brother’s descendants and how Rhaelle had died in the Siege of Storm’s End whilst poor Renly and Stannis and their men starved because of the Tyrells.

Jocelyn also hated Aerys for essentially getting Steffon Baratheon and his wife Cassana killed because they drowned in Shipwreker’s Bay after coming back from Essos looking for a wife for Rhaegar.

Only for the ungrateful bastard playing at being some savior to abandon his legal wife and children for some woman-child!

She also did hate Aerys for making Steffon and Cassana’s death worth nothing in the end when he got a Martell bride for Rhaegar. 

Jocelyn ALSO resented her good-father/older half-brother on her mother’s side -Jaehaerys I- for passing over her daughter Rhaenys in favor of Viserys I.

Aemon himself also did resent his father for passing over his daughter and only child in favor of Aemon’s younger brother and his sons.

When Rhaegar regenerated from being beheaded by the original Rhaenys, he looked up and saw his famous ancestor. 

Rhaegar’s eyes were blown wide when he realized again where he was. “Am…I dead?” Rhaegar whispered. 

“Of course you are, you imbecile,” Aemond said flatly as he still held his younger sister Visenya. 

“What did you think would happen when you fought Robert Baratheon on the Trident?” Daeron II demanded. “That you would somehow make it out alive?”

”Please, my brother’s descendants are strong enough to kill you with a single blow from their weapons,” Jocelyn Baratheon scoffed. “I’d be offended if the future Baratheons are weak,” 

Duncan winced. “I’m glad I didn’t marry into that family,” 

“Oh well you should have!” Jaehaerys I glared at Duncan. “You would have had allies to begin with. And your two irresponsible siblings wouldn’t have eloped either! We wouldn’t have ended up with him,” 

“Oh be quiet it you stuck up and idiotic good for nothing knave,” Cassandra sneered.

Cassandra and Jaehaerys I glared at Rhaegar before turning back to a scolded Duncan. 

“And Rhaelle’s grandson wouldn’t exist either! And neither would the Mad King,” 

Cassandra then turned towards Jaehaerys II and his wife Shaera Targaryen. 

The second Jaehaerys withered as Cassandra Baratheon’s piercing glare was fixed on him and his sister-wife.

Even Shaera -once bold and unafraid to speak her mind- was afraid of the uncrowned Queen Cassandra Baratheon, the wife of the short reigning King Aegon II. 

“I hope you’re happy now that a prince that was promised was born to your Aerys and Rhaella’s line,” Cassandra said coldly. 

Shaera bristled at the perceived insult. “Are you insinuating that the prince that the Jenny’s witch promised would be born from Aerys and Rhaella’s line was Rhaegar?” Shaera demanded. 

“Mayhaps,” Alysanne the Good Queen said snidely as she turned her nose at Shaera. “But we shan’t ever know as who knows if that woods witch from that wench was even telling the true in the first place,” 

Duncan looked vaguely uncomfortable at the mention of the ghost of high heart but he looked offended at his Jenny being called a wench. 

“Jenny is not a-“

“Close your mouth or so help me gods!” Alyssa the Advisor raged in anger and frustration and in grief at seeing her hard work be destroyed by the descendants if her family.

“I did not marry a fucking Tully and sacrifice what remained of my youth for my brother’s kingdom only for ungrateful and insane descendants to ruin it all!” Alyssa all but screamed as her voice broke. 

“And our Daella and Baelon did not marry a bloody Lannister for utterly nothing,” Aemond murmured. 

Jaehaerys Royce rolled his eyes at his family’s fighting, though he gave his cousin (or was it niece?) Alyssa a sympathetic look. 

Rhaelor gave his daughter a sad and mournful look filled with many but many regrets. 

Jaehaerys Royce sighed and stalked towards a wide eyed Rhaegar who was gawking at Alyssa the Black King’s daughter. 

“This is for Elbert and Denys Arryn,” Jaehaerys Royce spat as he smashed Rhaegar’s head in with the bronze helmet from his armor. 

Rhaegar crumbled onto the floor, his head a bloody mess as it had been cracked open like an egg. 

Blood poured from Rhaegar’s head wound and he laid still in the beach that became bloody with his blood. 

Everyone -minus little Visenya who’s eyes were being covered by Aemond- looked at Rhaegar’s crumbled form. 

“You couldn’t have done it better, Jae.” Alyssa the Advisor said in approval of her cousin’s (uncle’s?) actions. 

Prince Aemon and Prince Baelon -sons of Jaehaerys I- nodded in grim approval of Jaehaerys Royce’s actions. 

“Who wants to murder him after he regenerates?” Aemond asked.

“I will,” Myriah Martell sneered.

”As will I,” Betha Blackwood insisted firmly. “I shan’t allow for him to go unpunished like his grandparents as me and my husband didn’t punish them for their actions,” 

Betha leveled a glared at her son Jaehaerys II and her daughter Shaera Targaryen. 

“I’d say we all kill him at least twice,” Aerion Brightflame cackled. 

“I’d say Maegor will quite like that,” Aenys’s Viserys mused out loud. 

“Of course he would,” Princess Rhaena scowled and Jaehaerys I’s expression darkened. 

“Do not pretend that neither of you want to have Rhaegar beheaded,” Aenys’s Viserys said flatly. 

Chapter Text

“Your Grace, your brother Prince Aerion is here to see you,” the young page announced. 

“Let him in,” Maegelle said, though she did not look up from doing her paperwork and looking over reports. 

“Yes Your Grace.” The page said and he bowed slightly before he opened the door so Aerion could step inside. 

“Sister,” Aerion said. 

“Aerion,” Maegelle replied as she kept looking at her documents. 

Aerion glanced towards the young page. “Leave us,” Aerion said. 

“Yes Your Grace,” the page said with a bow and then he left and closed the door behind him. 

Aerion turned back towards his elder sister. Maegelle’s curly hair was elegantly tied into a bun though Maegelle still wore a small cap with a back veil. 

Her dark crimson dress had white fur in the front on the parts that framed her breasts. 

“Lynesse has come back,” Aerion said in an attempt to make small talk and break the silence. “And so has our brother Haegon from dealing with the Velaryon encroaching,”

“I know,” Maegelle replied. “I am reading the report of the battle,” 

Of course you are, Aerion thinks. It seemed a bit odd seeing his elder sister here in their father’s solar looking over official documents that demanded her attention. 

That had been something that Father had done for most of his time as king. Apart from building and suppressing rebellion against his rule. 

“This will be your kingdom, son,” Maegor would say to Aerion whenever he was trying to teach Aerion the reins of government. 

“Soon, perhaps- though I won’t die anytime soon. This will all be yours, Aerion. After my death, you will rule as king and sit on the Iron Throne,” 

I shan’t ever sit on the Iron Throne like you said I will, Father, Aerion thought. I shan’t ever sit on the throne whilst we champion the right of Maegelle’s sons to the throne as the children of Viserys- the second son of Unc- of Aenys. 

Aerion had already accepted this new change in succession. He had to.

Maegor had only been king for six years. 

His sister Visenya had only been barely a year old when Maegor had been exiled to Essos by King Aenys in 40 AC

Haegon’s third nameday had only been few weeks away.

Aerion had only been five namedays old.

Saera was only seven years old.

Maegelle and Lynesse had been the same age as their cousin Viserys, Aenys’s second son. So they had been about eleven years old or so. 

“Shall I send Jeremy to the apothecary and get a little something for the pretender against little Aegon?” Aerion spoke up. 

Maegelle stopped what she was doing and looked up to meet her younger brother’s gaze. 

“Poison?” Maegelle hissed out in their father’s High Valyrian. 

“Yes,” Aerion said simply with a straight face. “Poison will get rid of the nuance  that is Jaehaerys,” Aerion continued in High Valyrian. 

Maegelle seemed troubled. “Jaehaerys is our cousin, and my good-brother, as well as the uncle to my children,” 

“And so are me and Haegon,” Aerion said. “Jaehaerys does not know the boys or Viserra. To him, they are simply the children of Maegor’s eldest and of his dead older brother who was forcibly married to you,” 

Maegelle looked a bit pained at the reminder of the way that she and Viserys had been wed. 

“But won’t everyone know that it was us who poisoned him if he shall drop dead like a fly?” Maegelle pointed out.

“Words are wind,” Aerion said.

”Words are much more than wind if you make them so, little brother,” Maegelle reminded him. “Words are powerful and they are power instead of wind,” 

“Then we shall make them so,” Aerion leaned in closer to his sister over her wooden desk. 

Maegelle simply looked at him.

”We have yet to give our dearest cousin Jaehaerys peace terms of our own,” Aerion began. “We rejected his, now it’s our turn to offer terms and claim we tried to play at peace,” 

“Just like he did,” Maegelle noted dryly.

”Just like he did,” Aerion agreed as his lips twitched into a small smirk. “Tell Alyssa Velaryon that if she and Jaehaerys do not stop this, then they are usurping the birthrights of Aegon and Maelor as the children of her and Aenys’s second son. If Maegor -our father- is an usurper for what he did to Aegon the Uncrowned, his own nephew, then what Jaehaerys is trying to do to Aegon and Maelor, his own nephews, is just the same,” 

Maegelle studied her younger brother. “A clever little one you are, brother,” Maegelle said and then she smiled slightly. 

“I take after our mother and grandmother after all,” Aerion smiled. 

“And hopefully so will Aegon, Maelor, and Viserra,” Maegelle smiled fondly. 

“Oh, and send Haegon to deliver peace terms,” Aerion added with a smirk and mischief in his eyes. “That shall keep him occupied and less depressed about his failed relationship with that Velaryon girl,”

“I see that you will be leaving now, Your Grace,” Elinor Tyrell said as she watched Aerion stroke his dragon’s nose. 

“You are very correct, my lady,” Aerion said as his dragon -Stormcloud- nuzzled him gently.

“To where shall you go to, my Prince?” Elinor asked as one of her hands clutched her mellow green and yellow dress. 

“To war, my lady. That is where I am going,” Aerion answered with a very slight smile. 

Elinor bit her lip gently and her grip on her dress tightened. “Shall Your Grace go to fight for King Aegon’s throne?” 

“Aye,” Aerion patted Stormcloud’s nose. “I shall go off to fight for my young nephew’s throne,” 

And that throne had once been mine as it had been promised, Aerion couldn’t help himself from smiling a bit at the slight irony. 

“Your Grace, won’t you come back?” Elinor whispered out and then she got out the small favor that she had made.

”Elinor?” Aerion asked with a raised eyebrow as he turned around to face the young lady. 

“Y-Your Grace, I hope it’s not too presumptuous for me to ask if you shall carry my favor with you,” Elinor said a bit nervously. 

Aerion hummed. “I humbly accept your favor, my lady,” Aerion said as he took the offered favor from his sister Saera’s favorite lady-in-waiting.

”There you are! I knew that I would find you here after all!” 

Aerion glanced behind Elinor and Elinor for her part turned around to see who had been calling them. 

“P-Princess Saera!” Elinor squeaked. Her soft brown eyes were blown wide at the sight of her princess. 

“Elijah,” Aerion said calmly as he looked at his Tyrell lordling of a friend who was walking besides his older sister.

”My prince,” Elijah said as he came face to face with Aerion. “I see you were planning on leaving without so much as a word to us,” 

“Nonsense, I would never,” Aerion laughed softly. 

“Oh but you were, my dearest little brother,” Saera said. She was hugging Elinor very tightly, almost as if she was trying to keep the Tyrell girl to herself.

”And what makes you think that?” Aerion asked, he raised a perfect eyebrow in a questioning manner. 

“Well the fact that you were out here about to go flying into the sunset with Stormcloud with only Elinor to see you off,” Saera replied, she was still hugging Elinor tightly. 

“It would have been a great romantic send of for you, my prince,” Elijah snarked as he inched a bit too closely to Aerion. 

Aerion whirled around to protest to Elijah about him insinuating a romance between Aerion and Elijah’s sister Elinor but unfortunately Elijah was too close to Aerion so he ended up with his face practically touching Elijah’s by their noses. 

“Ah…you are a bit too close to me, Elijah,” Aerion said, glancing to the side and feet shifting a bit. 

“And what if I don’t want to move away from you, my prince?” Elijah replied matter of factly. 

“Well…Um…” Aerion stammered out, his cheeks blushing a little and he was feeling as if his face was warm all over. 

“Oh my gods, are you for real?” Saera muttered as she looked at her brother and his friend with a judgmental look in his eyes. 

However Saera was still very tightly hugging Elinor Tyrell, her very dear friend and her very favorite lady in waiting. 

“P-Princess, c-can you please let go of me?” Elinor stammered out her plea. Elinor was not a thin lady, she had a slightly plump and round figure. 

“No,” Saera said with a smile as she turned towards Elinor and very quickly gave her a peck on the lips before burying her face in the crook of Elinor’s neck. 

Elinor squealed but she simply put a hand on Saera’s back and gently patted her and accidentally touched Saera’s braid. 

She has such nice curly hair, Elinor thought as she looked at Saera’s pretty shiny silver white hair. 

Saera’s curly hair was definitely something that she inherited from her maternal grandmother, the Lady Cerelle Lannister. 

Stormcloud just looked at their human being flustered as he was too close to that pretty brown haired human wearing green and yellow the same color as the brown haired human female. 

Stormcloud sniffed the air in the direction of the human close to their rider and immediately recognized that sweet scent. 

Elijah, Stormcloud remembered their rider whispering and sighing that name in both his usual words and in the High Valyrian that Stormcloud was used to hearing from them. 

The brown haired human in bright green and yellow, Stormcloud remembered him and the hesitant look in his soft cow brown eyes. 

Their rider -their Aerion- was mated to that human male- to Elijah; of that Stormcloud was very much sure of. 

Stormcloud has been certain of their Aerion being mated with Elijah ever since perhaps three years ago when Stormcloud had smelled Elijah’s scent all over Aerion in the way that Vhagar and Balerion both smelt of each other and of Meraxes- just like their riders. 

Like how Dreamfyre had smelt of Quicksilver when Rhaena and Aegon had them. 

It wasn’t odd, sometimes dragons who’s riders were mates would mate with each other themselves. 

Though Stormcloud wondered if it had something to do with the bond with the rider that allowed them to feel what the other was feeling and sense it. 

Of course, they didn’t know and nor did they really care about it to be perfectly honest. 

Stormcloud was just glad that the brightly dressed human that is mated to their rider is still around. 

Both because they have a slight fondness for Elijah because he gives them ’treats’ (or bribery as Starshell calls them) as Aerion called them; and also because Aerion really loves Elijah as they’re mated. 

And besides, Stormcloud could also tell that Starshell’s rider was mated to the female wearing dull green and yellow that looked a bit like Aerion’s beloved Elijah. 

Chapter Text

Rhaella is nineteen namedays old when she marries Doran Martell and he is sixteen. 

Aerea is sixteen namedays old when she marries Tywin Lannister and he is twenty to twenty one years old.

Aerys is nineteen namedays old when he married Mina Tyrell and she is only sixteen. 

Rhaella is afraid.

She has never seem her grandfather as enraged as right now.

And her grandfather’s rage is directed at her parents. 

“Of all the irresponsible things to say!” Aegon V began, his eyes were filled with clear anger. 

“F-Father!” Jaehaerys -Rhaella’s father- tried to reason. “The prophecy-“

”Can go to hell for all I can care!” Aegon shouted at his second son. Jaehaerys flinched at his father’s words. 

Rhaella stood frozen like a statue. Her grandfather had never yelled in such a tone or said such words. 

“Father you have to understand,” Shaera -Rhaella’s mother- spoke up in defense for her and her brother-husband’s plans for their eldest. 

“Understand? Understand what exactly, Shaera?” Aegon demanded and he glared at his eldest daughter. “That you would have Rhaella and Aerys marry one another against their will?” 

“It’s for the good of the realm!” Shaera exclaimed in frustration at her father’s unwillingness to understand. 

Why couldn’t he see it? Everything was going to be perfect when Aerys and Rhaella were wed. 

The Prince that was Promised would be born from their line. So surely that must mean that Aerys and Rhaella shall wed. 

“For the good of the realm?” Aegon repeated, but his voice was low and held hints of both disbelief and coldness. 

Shaera felt the uneasiness fill her. “For the good of the realm,” Shaera reassured. “Aerys and Rhaella’s line will produce the prince that was promised,”

“Yes, Father,” Jaehaerys seemed to get his confidence back because he smiled as he stood proudly besides his sister-wife. 

“The prophecy must be fulfilled,” Jaehaerys said confidently. “Aerys and Rhaella will produce the prophesied savior of Westeros,” 

“Savior to Westeros? Is that what you tell yourself in order to justify your insanity?” Aegon demanded with eerie calmness. 

Both Jaehaerys and Shaera seemed startled at their father’s words. They clearly were not expecting to be called insane.

”F-Father?” Jaehaerys stammered.

Shaera turned red in anger. “This is not insanity, Father!” Shaera hotly said. Her eyes were filled with indignation. 

“Then what do you call trying to force your children to marry each other simply because an old woman told you that some legendary savior from the old fishwives stories will be born from their union?” Aegon sneered. 

“B-But-“

”No buts!” Aegon snapped and he fell back into his chair. “Oh my children, where have I failed you?” Aegon was mournful as he looked at his two incest obsessed children. 

“Father you have not failed us!” Jaehaerys insisted. 

Except that he won’t see reason in why Aerys and Rhaella must marry each other, Shaera thought almost critically.

”If I had not failed you then neither of you would have broken your betrothals and incurred the outrage of the Tyrells and the Tullys!” Aegon hissed, he looked tired. “And neither would you have tried to have your eldest marry each other simply because some old witch that eats her own shit told you some outrageous tale!” Aegon was fuming now. “And at your mother’s dead bed!” 

Aegon sighed and tried to regain his breath. Jaehaerys was pale and looking down in shame, like a scolded child. 

Shaera’s face was red and she looked angry at being chewed out by her father like a misbehaving child. 

“No more,” Aegon said. “No more of this prophecy madness. Aerys will be betrothed to Lady Mina Tyrell, the daughter of Lady Olenna Tyrell -Daeron’s original betrothed- and Lord Luthor Tyrell, your original intended Shaera,” 

Aegon gave Shaera a critical look and then he gave Daeron a slightly understanding but still slightly disappointed look.

Daeron winced slightly. Shaera looked up quickly towards her father and Shaera looked outraged at the humiliating notion of her son marrying the daughter that her former betrothed had with the former betrothed of her younger brother. 

“Mina Tyrell?!” Shaera exclaimed in outrage. “You will have Aerys marry the daughter of that fool Luthor Tyrell and that thorny bitch Olenna?!” 

“Shaera!” Daeron shouted angrily in defense of his original betrothed. “You leave Lady Tyrell’s name out of your mouth! Have some respect for the wife of a Lord Paramount,” 

Aegon looked at his eldest daughter critically. “You do well to remember that the Redwynes have one of the biggest fleets in the kingdom and are very wealthy whilst the Tyrells have a large store of grain and plenty of coin,” 

Jaehaerys was staring at his sister-wife in a startled manner with his mouth hanging open like a gaping fish. (He looked silly)

Like Celia Tully was a stupid fish useless for anything other than being bred like a cow being sold to the highest bidder to be used to pop out babes for the rest of her miserable little life, Shaera thinks bitterly. 

“This will end now,” Aegon promised. “Aerys will marry Mina Tyrell when they come of age. Rhaella will marry Prince Doran Martell and Aerea will marry Tywin Lannister,” 

“Even Aerea will marry?” Jaehaerys was surprised at that. His youngest had nothing to do with the prophecy; so why was his father planning on marrying her off to the Lannisters?

“Yes,” Aegon confirmed. “Even Aerea will be formally betrothed and will marry into a Great House that will ally with our house,”

“The Tyrells will rid Mina of her husband when she feels more secure with producing male heirs,” Tywin said bluntly.

”Poison?” Genna didn’t ask so much as guess.

”I bet they’ll arrange for a convenient accident to befall Aerys,” Tygett grunted as he crossed his arms.

”I say it’ll be a mix of both,” Gerion stated as he bounced baby Joffrey in his arms. 

Little Joffrey had his little hand put in his mouth as he giggled at Gerion bouncing him in his lap. 

Tywin and the other two Lannister siblings all looked at Gerion who simply looked at them curiously and asked, “What?”

Tywin scoffed and simply rolled his eyes. “Why must you bring Joff here, Gerion?” Tywin sighed.

”Yes Gerold. Why can’t you just hand little Joff to Ser Hallyne? Isn’t he Aerea’s sworn shield?”

”Oh you mean Hal?” Gerion asked off handedly. 

“Yea, him,” Tywin said dryly.

Mina could only see the bloody sheets.

Bloody sheets. 

Bloody sheets. 

Bloody sheets. 

“Just pray for another boy,” Janna -her sister- whispered in a comforting tone. “Just a little bit more, just a little bit longer, dear sister,” 

Mina can only nod numbly and her pretty brown eyes are dull and hollow. Her hair has lost its shine even if it’s still curly. 

“Soon, the Mad Dragon King will fall and the Rose Queen will rule,” 

Dead babes.

Dead babes. 

Dead babes. 

Mina smiled creepily and Janna shivered silently. Janna swallowed hard and she thought, What has happened to you, dear sister? 

“Aerys will be suffocated by the roses,” Doran said bluntly. “And the lions will try and get what they can from the dragon’s carcass,” 

Rhaella wanted for her husband to be lying ir at least wrong. But she knows that Doran is not the type to lie to her. 

Rhaella watched her children and nieces and nephews play in the water gardens. The ghost of the crown’s weight was felt on Rhaella’s head. 

“Seven help us,” Rhaella whispered. 

“Only time will tell,” Doran watched his family. “But we won’t get involved in the affairs of our neighbors,” 

Family trees 

Targaryen 

• King Aegon V m. Betha Blackwood

* Duncan Targaryen m. Jenny of Oldstone

* Jaehaerys Targaryen m. *Shaera Targaryen

- Aerys Targaryen m. Lady Mina Tyrell 

——Aelor Targaryen (died when his brother Rhaegar was born)

——Shaena Targaryen (stillborn)

——Rhaegar Targaryen 

——Miscarried baby

——Baelon (born sickly) 

——Miscarried baby

——Miscarried baby

——Viserys Targaryen 

- Rhaella Targaryen m. Prince Doran Martell 

- Aerea Targaryen m. Lord Tywin Lannister

* Daeron Targaryen 

Martell 

• Princess Loreza Martell m. Mors Jordayne

* Doran Martell m. Princess Rhaella Targaryen

— Arianne Martell, twin to Morgan 

— Morgan Martell, twin to Arianne

— Daeron Martell

— Coryanne Maryell 

— Quentyn Martell

— Trystane Martell 

* Mors Martell (died as an infant)

*Olyvar Martell (died as an infant)

* Elia Martell m. Baelor Hightower

——Deria Hightower

——Gwayne Hightower, twin to Mors

——Mors Hightower, twin to Gwayne

* Oberyn Martell

- Obara Sand

- Tyene Sand

- Nymeria Sand

- Sarella Sand

• Lewyn Martell, brother to Loreza

Lannister

• Tytos Lannister m. Jeyne Marbrand 

* Tywin Lannister m. Princess Aerea Targaryen 

— Cersei Lannister, twin to Jaime

— Jaime Lannister, twin to Cersei

— Loreon Lannister 

— Aegon Lannister, twin to Betha

— Betha Lannister, twin to Aegon

— Joffrey Lannister 

* Kevan Lannister 

* Genna Lannister m. Ser Emmon Frey

- Cleos Frey

- Lyonel Frey

- Tion Frey

- Walder Frey

* Gerion Lannister 

* Tygett Lannister 

Tyrell 

• Luthor Tyrell m. Olenna Redwyne

* Mace Tyrell m. Alerie Hightower

— Willias Tyrell

— Garlan Tyrell

— Loras Tyrell

— Margaery Tyrell

* Mina Tyrell m. King Aerys Targaryen 

* Janna Tyrell m. Ser Jon Fossoway

Baratheon 

• Lyonel Baratheon m. Lady Baratheon 

* Ormund Baratheon m. Princess Rhaelle Targaryen

— Steffon Baratheon 

— Lyonel Baratheon (stillborn)

— Cass Baratheon 

— Gowen Baratheon (died as an infant)

* Jocelyn Baratheon m. Lord Penrose

— Jon Penrose

— Ronnel Penrose

— Ella Penrose 

Stark 

* Lord Rickard Stark m. Lyarra Stark

- Brandon Stark

- Eddard Stark

- Lyanna Stark

- Benjen Stark

Tully 

• Lord Tully m. Lady Lollys Piper

* Gonzo Tully m. Lady Jirelle Mooton 

- Hoster Tully m. Lady Minisa Whent

—— Kermit Tully (died as an infant)

—— Gonzo Tully (died during infancy)

—— Catelyn Tully 

—— Lysa Tully

—— Lucinda Tully

—— Edmure Tully

—— Stillborn daughter 

- Brynden Tully, brother of Hoster 

- Oscar Tully, son of Gonzo Tully & Jirelle Moooton m. Lady Lucy Vance

— Elston Tully

— Lucinda Tully 

— Elly Tully

— Axel Tully

* Floyd Tully m. Lady Barbara Bracken

——— Serra Tully

——— Benedict Tully

- Edmyn Tully (died as a teen)

* Celia Tully (ended up running a Motherhouse and helped a lot of people and then came back to help run Riverrun when Minisa died) 

* Ser Kermit Tully m. Lady Bethany Blackwood 

———— Betha Tully

———— Edmyn Tully

———— Hostella Tully

* Oscar Tully (stillborn)

Chapter Text

After the sudden death of King Rhaelor Targaryen (the Two Year King), the crown fell to his eldest son, young Prince Aegon Targaryen, by his wife- Alicent Hightower. 

Prince Aegon was only thirteen years old at the time of his father’s death. His three younger brothers -Aemond and Daeron and Dorian- were only 9 and 6 years old respectively. 

Whilst Aegon’s younger sisters -Princess Helaena and Princess Aemma and Princess Daenerys- were only 11, 9, and 6 years old respectively.

At the time of Rhaelor Targaryen’s death his eldest son, Prince Aegon, was at Dragonstone being taught how to rule by teachers handpicked by his father and mother. 

Among those teachers was Ser Gwayne Hightower, the brother of Alicent Hightower and the uncle of Prince Aegon. 

Ser Gwayne was one of the main people in charge of the young prince’s education at Dragonstone, the seat of the heir to the throne.

So Gwayne was powerful as he had been appointed to such a powerful and influential position of honor within the household of the young Prince of Dragonstone.

And that would prove to be Gwayne’s downfall when Aegon’s other uncle, Daemon Targaryen, usurped the throne from Aegon and his siblings.

Transcript of Episode 16: The Princes in the Tower

Show: The Targaryen’s Bloody Crown

Host: Dan Joens 

Guest Speakers: Alyn Longwaters, Rhea Velaryon, Alicent “Alice” Tyrell, Margaery Rosehill, Uthor Hightower, Maester Lyman Flowers, and Maester Rhaenar “Rhoy” Targaryen

[ 

Recap: Up until now, we have covered the conquest of Westeros, the reign of Aegon I, the reign of Aenys I, the reign of Maegor I and his usurpation of his brother’s son who was the rightful heir, the lives of Rhaenys and Visenya Targaryen- the sister-wives of Aegon I, the reign and lives of Jaehaerys I and his sister-wife Alysanne, the Great Council of 101 and what led to it, the reign of Viserys I, and the life and short reign of Rhaelor Targaryen.

Now we will look at the usurpation of Aegon II Targaryen by his uncle Daemon I as well as the murder of Aegon and his younger brothers Aemond and Daeron and Dorian, most likely done by Daemon himself. 

Dan Joens: We are here in the Black Tower, the place where the Princes in the Tower where imprisoned. These rooms where once used by Tyanna of the Tower, the third wife of Maegor the Cruel. Here is where the young king and his brothers were held prisoner and most likely killed by their own uncle. 

…] 

**************

[

Alyn Longwaters, Targaryen Historian: In recent years, Daemon has been thrown into the spotlight. There have been many books about Daemon Targaryen in which they try to clean up his reputation. But unfortunately this comes at the expense of whitewashing Daemon; who we know for a fact tried to marry his very underaged great-niece Princess Aemma, often took the virginity of rather young Valyrian looking prostitutes, and failed in the offices given to him by his brother Viserys I, and was violent and arrogant and believed in the blood purity of the Targaryens and of Old Valyria. 

Daemon is definitely someone who was not entirely innocent of anything. Even in his time, he was very unpopular with the nobility and the common people. Especially with his failed war in the Stepstones against the Triarchy. 

….]

************* 

[ 

Rhea Velaryon, Author of the best-selling “The Rouge Prince, a biography on Daemon Targaryen”: Daemon was in short, the monster hidden underneath the floorboard. There is no other way to describe what Daemon was to his relatives after he imprisoned his young nephews in the Black Tower. 

Gwayne Hightower had been heading to King’s Landing with Aegon and many knights in tow for the funeral of Rhaelor I and for Aegon’s coronation. 

Daemon intercepted them at the Kingsroad. He offered Gwayne to dine with him and his men to lower his guard.

************

“We shall ride with you to King’s Landing with my nephew’s boy, Ser Hightower,” Daemon is claimed to have said. 

***********

Gwayne agreed to combine his men with Daemon’s party and ride to King’s Landing together with Aegon for Rhaelor’s funeral and Aegon’s coronation.

But that was not to be. 

Daemon had Gwayne and his men arrested, supposedly under charges of treason, and Aegon taken into custody. 

Daemon told his great-nephew of the charges placed on Aegon’s uncle Gwayne but to Aegon who had been looked after in Dragonstone by his maternal uncle and now saw the honorable man unlawfully arrested under charges of treason by his father’s uncle, it very much seemed that it was Daemon who had committed treason. 

…]

************** 

“My Uncle Gwayne is not that sort of man,” Aegon said as he looked at his kneeling great-uncle and the gold cloak besides him. 

“It is very hard for us to come to terms with the wrongs of our loved ones, Nephew,” Daemon replied. 

”My Uncle is no traitor,” Aegon repeated, this time with hints of irritation towards his father’s uncle. 

”Your Grace,” said the gold cloak.

“Yes I imagine it must be hard for you to understand nephew but-“

”My Uncle Gwayne is not a traitor!” Aegon scoffed. “It seems to me that it is you, Uncle Daemon, that is acting treasonous,” 

*************** 

[

Alicent “Alice” Tyrell, Profesional Historian on the reign of Rhaelor I: I think what one needs to understand when discussing Daemon’s reasoning for imprisoning his great-nephews is that he did not like their mother’s family. 

Daemon hated Ser Otto Hightower, the maternal grandfather of Rhaelor’s children. And that hate transferred to anything Hightower related. Including Gwayne Hightower, who was Otto Hightower’s youngest son.

And to Daemon, the Hightowers -mostly Otto’s line- where overreaching themselves. A Hightower had married Rhaelor I Targaryen, Daemon’s nephew.

The Hightowers and their influence filled the royal court. Reacher cuisine was popular, Reacher fashion was trendy, Reacher and Hightower goods flooded the Red Keep, the Faith was a very string presence because of Rhaelor’s queen- Alicent Hightower the daughter of Ser Otto Hightower. 

…]

************** 

[

Margaery Rosehill, History Professor at Queen’s College: Daemon very much believed in Targaryen exceptionalism. He saw that the Targaryens were superior to everybody. They had dragons, they conquered an entire continent with dragons. They were dragons in Daemon’s mind. 

But following Gwayne Hightower’s imprisonment and Aegon being taken into custody, it seemed very likely that Daemon realized that the Hightowers would do everything they could to see him removed from his position as Prince Regent to his nephew Aegon. 

Rhaelor Targaryen, Daemon’s nephew, named him regent over his father-in-law, Ser Otto Hightower, or his wife, Queen Alicent Hightower. 

A move that was very unpopular with many. And of course at the time the Hightowers also had to deal with their worry and anxiety over what Corlys Velaryon would do. 

…] 

*************** 

[ 

Uthor Hightower, Author of “Scandal, affairs, betrayals, and life in the court of Rhaelor I Targaryen”: Corlys Velaryon was the Lord of Driftmark, the head of House Velaryon, and the Master of Ships during the reigns of Viserys I and Rhaelor I. 

He was also the father of Laena Velaryon, a former mistress of Rhaelor and the mother of three of his children. Aethan, Baela, and Rhaena. 

Corlys was an ambitious man who had traveled farther and wider than everybody had ever done before him. 

He traveled to Qarth, Assahi, Yi Ti, and Leng in what become known as his great Nine Voyages. He was immensely wealthy from his travels. He was also very proud and powerful. 

Corlys had wanted to make his daughter Laena become Rhaelor’s queen and constantly pushed Rhaelor’s father, Viserys I, to formalize an engagement between the young Laena and Rhaelor. 

But Viserys refused Corlys’s attempts because he thought that his son was much too young for that, much to Corlys’s frustration. 

During Rhaelor’s affairs with both Laena Velaryon and Harra Strong, their fathers -Corlys Velaryon and Lyonel Strong- had positions at court. 

Corlys was caught in a sort of power struggle with Otto Hightower. Corlys wanted to gain as much influence as possible at court with his daughter being only a mistress rather than the queen that Corlys had hoped to make her. 

Lyonel Strong was the only one that wasn’t engaged in an active rivalry with either of them. Though his relationship was strained and awkward with Corlys and distant and wary with Otto. 

Corlys and Otto downright hated each other. Corlys thought that his daughter should have been queen instead of Otto’s own daughter. 

But no matter this petty rivalry between ambitious men, it all came to an end when it was rumored that Lord Corlys and his daughter Laena had tried to poison Prince Aegon, Rhaelor’s eldest son by his wife, and his mother Alicent Hightower- Rhaelor’s own wife. 

As Rhaelor’s mistress, Laena appointed her relatives to positions in her household at court. She had formed her own faction at court that had a tense relationship with Alicent Hightower, Rhaelor’s wife and mother of his trueborn children and heirs. 

There were certain feelings of betrayal and anger between both women. Laena resented Alicent for being Rhaelor’s wife and queen, something that Laena had been told would be her position. 

Alicent resented Laena for sleeping with her husband and challenging her authority at court. As well as for making her feel threatened of her position and her children’s position. 

So when Laena was suspected of attempting to harm her and Aegon, Alicent reacted without hesitation. 

Laena and her family were banished from court, Laena’s children were separated from her and sent to foster with noble families loyal to the Crown, but most importantly to Alicent and her family the Hightowers of Oldtown. 

…]

***********

[

Maester Lyman Flowers: This was a nightmare for the Greens, Queen Alicent Hightower’s faction. Prince Aegon has been taken by Daemon and Ser Gwayne has been arrested by Daemon. 

And Daemon must have realized that the Hightowers would do everything in their power to see him removed as Lord Regent. 

And Aegon, who was the new king, would very likely strip Daemon from his office and sent packing to his eldest son’s -Jaehaerys Royce by his first wife the Lady Rhea Royce- lands in the Vale. 

Daemon does not want to give this, the possibility of getting rid of the Hightowers from power and to ‘save’ House Targaryen from the influence of mere ‘sheep’, up. He does not want to give this up.

This new power is something that he will cling to so desperately, even if it becomes the death of him. 

So he pushes for Gwayne and his men to be executed for treason and claims that they had been plotting to kill him, the Lord Regent for the new king, his great-nephew Aegon II. 

Daemon came with his many men and his dragon Caraxes to take control of the regency council of Aegon II and to “dethrone the Hightower sheep’s from power”.

Queen Alicent had taken all her remaining children with her and sought sanctuary in Alysanne’s Motherhouse, likely fearing that Daemon would take away her remaining children from her. 

Daemon fought with the council and then he murdered Otto Hightower and Lord Jasper Wylde, the Master of Laws, to scare the rest of the council into submission. 

But there was still the very real threat of Queen Alicent Hightower deciding to fight and raise an army for her sons. 

As long as Alicent held her remaining three boys, Aemond and Daeron and Dorian, she was a very real threat. In fact everyone was a threat. 

So Daemon had his gold cloaks go to Alysanne’s Motherhouse and retrieve the boys from Alicent. 

And Alicent knew very well that Daemon was someone that she should be afraid of and she knew that Daemon would not care for laws of sanctuary. 

So she ended up having to hand over her remaining three sons to Daemon’s men, though very reluctantly. 

And as if that was not enough, Daemon claimed to have found a betrothal contract between Rhaelor and a woman named Bridget Strong, a deceased member of House Strong of Harrenhal. 

Daemon declared all of Alicent’s children as illegitimate and thus unable to ascend to the Iron Throne. And then Daemon declared himself as the new and rightful king. 

Then later in the summer of that year all four of Alicent Hightower’s sons with Rhaelor I Targaryen went missing. 

Daemon was rumored to have had the poor boys killed. And it made him even more unpopular than he was before. Now, Daemon was hated by the people. Because the people loved Alicent Hightower and her brood. 

They adored Aegon and his siblings, particularly his sister Princess Helaena. They didn’t care that Daemon had declared the Green children as bastards.

To them the Greens were legitimate. To them it was Daemon that had usurped the throne, not Alicent’s children. To them Daemon was not the rightful king. 

Aegon was the rightful king and his younger brothers and sisters were his heirs till he had children of his own.

And so riots broke out throughout Kings Landing and in the rest of the kingdom. People rebelled and Daemon tried to stop them by brute force.

…] 

************

[

Maester Rhaenar “Rhoy” Targaryen: The main comandar of the army that opposed Daemon and rebelled against him was headed by Lord Jaehaerys Royce the Lord of Runestone, Daemon’s own son. His firstborn to be exact.

Daemon had invited his children by his first wife to Kings Landing for his coronation but only the eldest, Jaehaerys and Alyssa, came and reluctantly at that.

After the coronation, the siblings headed back to the Vale almost immediately. Daemon was disappointed and annoyed at his children’s behavior. 

But he had more pressing matters, such as the riots breaking out throughout the kingdom and him being dragged through the PR mud

Meanwhile in the Vale of Arryn Jaehaerys Royce informed his liege, the Lady Jeyne Arryn, of what had happened as well as the status of Dowager Queen Alicent Hightower and her children. 

Jaehaerys’s eldest son, Baelon Royce, was betrothed to Prince Helaena. So Jaehaerys was most likely annoyed that his son’s royal bride, with a dragon of her own, was declared a bastard and now too lowly in status for Baelon to marry as she was now a king’s bastard rather than a Targaryen princess. 

Jaehaerys was also a very loyal man. He was loyal to his cousin Rhaelor, to Alicent, to Rhaelor’s trueborn heirs, to the Crown, to his liege Lady Jeyne Arryn, to the laws of Westeros, and to his family and house and their interest. 

Jaeherys’s sister, Alyssa, managed to provide communication with Alicent who still resided with her daughters in Alysanne’s Motherhouse. 

The Royces were the ones who carried the communication between Alicent Hightower and Lady Jeyne Arryn. As well as to the Hightowers. 

In the end, it was agreed that Daemon will be overthrown. Jaehaerys will head the attack on his dragon, Silverwing, and that they would fight for the claim of Helaena, Rhaelor’s surviving eldest child and now his heiress with her trueborn brothers presumed dead. 

Of course, Jaehaerys didn’t do this without getting something out of rebelling against his own father. 

Jaehaerys’s firstborn, Baelon Royce, would marry Princess Helaena and they would be joint rulers. 

Jaehaerys would be part of their regency council alongside Alicent Hightower and other lords that they would select later. 

…]

Chapter Text

It had happened completely by accident, really. 

Cregan had ended up drunk by accident. Him and his men were with the Riverlanders who were very eager to celebrate the end of the Dance of the Dragons. 

René, the firstborn child of Lord Elmo Tully, was at the celebration by her fellow Rivermen.  

The girl had not been allowed to participate in the war by her lord father but she still found a way to get involved.

It was inevitable since the Dance of the Dragons had dragged everyone in Westeros into it.

Alysanne Blackwood -commonly called Black Aly- had been the one to smuggle the girl into the fighting without her father knowing of it. 

Though that would not matter in the end since Elmo Tully died forty-nine days after inheriting the Riverlands from his elderly father. 

Though the Lady René Tully still ended up fighting in the battle against Lord Baratheon and his army. René ended up being the one to kill Lord Baratheon with her morningstar.

They were currently in Kings Landing celebrating the end of the Dance of the Dragons. Cregan didn’t care much for the celebrations in all honesty but his men certainly liked all of the celebrations. 

There was drinking, women, food, dancing, singing, and many others thing that they hadn’t expected to experience in the South at all. 

After all, they had come marching down South expecting to die honorably in battle fighting for the claimant that Cregan had decided to support because of vows that need to be honored.

“My lord, care for a dance?” 

Cregan looked away from his wine and saw little flush faced young René ‘Storm-killer’ Tully smiling up at him expectantly.

”I am not much of a dancer, my lady,” Cregan admitted simply. “I am sure that I wouldn’t be able to keep up with you as I am unaccustomed to dances in the South,”

And I’m sure that there are other young lords much better suited for dancing with you, Cregan thought.

“That’s all right, I can teach you my lord. I’m a rather good dancer, the ladies and my Septa say so,” René said, still smiling so happily. 

Her red hair was loose and very bouncy as it was rather curly, though not as curly as Black Aly. Her blue eyes were shining and Cregan had never seen a prettier or shinier set of blue eyes. 

She was dressed in a her house’s colors. Tully red and blue. She was rather pretty, beautiful even. She also had freckles. Tiny little dots -like stars- on her face, mostly around her cheeks and across her nose.

“I see that you are determined to get a dance from me, aren’t you my lady?” Cregan looked at the young Tully lady in slight amusement.

René simply smiled sweetly at him, but her eyes held hints of mischief in them. “You are right in that, my dearest Lord of Winterfell,” 

“Can I ask you something, Lady René?”

René cocked her head to the side slightly at that. “Why not, my lord? Will I get a dance in return? Just one will do just fine for me,”

“It depends on the answer, my lady,” Cregan said a bit dryly. This woman is not backing down after putting her mind on something. She’s a stubborn one. “I suppose so.”

“Then ask away, Lord of Winterfell. Ask me anything that you wish,” said René. 

“Why do you want to dance with me, my lady?” Cregan asked. He’d been wondering this ever since Lady René the Storm Killer had kept trying to get a dance from him. 

“Surely there are other young high-born lads much better suited for you? Your brother’s banner men, perhaps? Those Valemen that look at you with astonishment in their eyes. Of how they whisper about how this young Riverlander lady was the one to slay Lord Borros Baratheon, father of the infamous Four Storms who would have wedded dragon princes and a king.”

René looked at him quietly for a moment. And Cregan saw how she looked at him as if she was trying to figure him out. 

Have you lost your fire now, Lady René Storm Killer, because of a simple little question from me? Cregan almost wished that he could smile at that. 

“Well, my lady? Will you answer my question? I thought that you wanted a dance from me at all cost,”

Cheeky aren’t you? René thought. Well who would have thought that the Wolf of the North could be cheeky!

René’s pretty eyes were filled with slight amusement at that. “If I didn’t know any better, my lord. I’d say that you are trying to convince me to go and pick another handsome lord to dance with,” 

“And are you then? Have I convinced you to pick another lord to dance with? Perhaps someone closer to your age?”

René smiled slightly at that. “My, my, my lord. Are you calling yourself old now?” René held back a giggle. “But you’re so handsome and easy on the eye!” 

Cregan’s eyebrows knitted together at that. “I am not calling myself old,” He said flatly. “And I believe that I’m only a hand full of years younger than your own father, my lady,”

And doesn’t that bother you so, René the Storm-Killer? Cregan thought. A man so much older than you. Old enough to be your father. No young maid wants that. 

But do you? Cregan swallowed back the intoxicating taste of his wine. Why was his wine Reacher wine? 

Didn’t they have their own sort of wine in the Crownlands? The last time Cregan tasted Reacher wine was when he came to Kings Landing for that tournament in honor of one of Rhaenyra’s boys. 

Was it the eldest, Jacaerys (“Call me Jace, my lord and lady,”), or was it for the second lad- the one killed by Aemond One-Eye on dragon back by Storm’s End?

“So, are you going to answer my question, Storm-Killer René?” Cregan asked, lifting his chin a little. 

For some reason, he wanted the Storm-Killer to answer his question. Even if that meant dancing with her while everyone looked at them in the ballroom. 

There goes Lord Cregan of Winterfell, more ice statue than man, preying on a pretty young pious Southron lady to take back home to the freezing North to warm his bed. 

It made Cregan taste acid in his tongue.

”Well my lady? Will you answer my little question to get that dance that you so desperately desire or will you keep quiet and go away?”

”I want a dance with you my lord simply because I find you handsome,” René said. Her cheeks and ears turned a bit red as she spoke. 

Cregan blinked once before René’s words properly sank in. “What?”

René frowned a bit, looking a bit annoyed at having to repeat herself. “I said that I want a dance with you my lord because I found you handsome,”

Surprisingly, René thinks, feeling a bit snarky. 

“All right then, I suppose that I owe you a dance then,” Cregan said, lips twitching very briefly into a very small smile. 

“Yes, I suppose you do,” René smiled. She was happy at finally getting her dance from the handsome (if rather prone to brooding) Northern lord that she had seen just standing there against a pillar watching everyone dance and glaring at his wine. 

One thing let to another, that was perhaps the best way to describe what happened after. 

Cregan drank too much wine and it didn’t help that his friend Lord Cley Cerwyn insisted on drinking while telling stories and making bets. 

“Five silver stags on that lad in purple asking the Storm-Killer for a dance,” Cley laughed as he gestured in the general direction of a son of Lord Mallister who was looking longingly at René Tully. 

She’s found others to dance with it seems, Cregan noted. And for some reason he couldn’t hell but wonder if she found them all handsome. 

”I want a dance with you my lord because I found you handsome,” 

René’s words rang in his head for some reason and Cregan groaned at that. The growing feeling that made him want to squirm in his seat was not welcomed.

”Cregan? Cregan? Cregan!” 

Cregan was very rudely interrupted from groaning into his wine by being rather violently shaken by Cley. 

Cley’s pretty brown eyes were filled with concern and his face was flushed from drinking all that wine. 

He shouldn’t be drinking so much, Cregan thinks. And neither should I, Cregan thinks a bit distantly. But he wasn’t really going to focus on that right now, was he?

Cley has a reputation to uphold as a Northron lord. But then again Cley has never really cared for that. And Cley’s the type to easily make friends and charms the trousers (and petticoats) out of anyone. 

“What?” Cregan groaned, feeling out a bit of it. It was probably the wine. It was definitely the wine. “What?”

“Didn’t Lord Stark dance with the Lady Storm Killer?” One of the soldiers, a man of twenty and the youngest of four sons, asked despite hiccuping a bit. 

“I think you drank too much wine,” Cley said. 

Cregan scoffed at that. “No shit,” Cregan muttered. He sounded a bit like a cranky old man. 

Maybe I am an old man, Cregan thought. An old man who’s thinking about the words of a maid much younger than him.

“She’s a pretty one isn’t she?” Rick, that same twenty year old soldier from earlier, drawled with a small grin. 

“The prettiest thing I’ve ever seen in…in,” Rick hiccuped again. “In the sssouth! Yeah, in the s…sssouth!”

”I think I wan…want her. Ya, want her,” Edric Snow groaned, he was having an unpleasant headache. “In my…in my bed!”

”Like hell you-you…you’re g-getting in a R-René’s bed!” Cregan managed despite how he was slurring his words a bit. 

“What?” Edric glanced towards Cregan’s general direction but looked behind him and blinked dumbly. 

“The fuck is that cat doing?” Edric whined out. “It…It isn’t fucking winter!” 

Cley sighed. “I think I got him too drunk,” 

“No shit Jaehaerys,” Cregan muttered before he fell over. Cley caught him and hesitantly sat him down.

“Easy there Cregan. Easy there wolf,” Cley said, trying to be soothing towards his inebriated friend. 

“Tis all your fault,” Cregan whined. “All your fault Cley. You and your stupid fucking bets and René and her stupid little games about wanting a…a dance and and finding mee handsome,”

Cley rolled his eyes. “Yes yes it’s all my fault for getting you drunk,” Cley smiled in amusement. 

Cregan scowled harder. “I wanna go to René,” He admitted, despite the scowl. “I liked d-dancing with her,” He tasted the truth in his mouth.

It was sweet, like wine. 

It was definitely the wine. 

Stupid fucking Reacher wine, Cregan thinks sourly. And stupid René for making…making me feel like this! 

“Oh really?” Cley raised an eyebrow.

”Yess,” Cregan nodded, his grey eyes were looking aimlessly. He swallowed back spit. “I’mmm too d-drunk! For this,”

”That I think you are,” Cley mused. “Well I suppose I should take care of that before you see your little trout lady,”

Cley looked far too amused with this for his own good. Who would have thought, brooding and serious Cregan Stark taking a fancy to some Southron lady? But not just any lady, but the lady that killed Lord Baratheon in battle. The Storm Killer herself! Storm-Killer René! 

“Here drink this,” Cley gently put a flask of water in Cregan’s hands. He kept holding onto it so Cregan wouldn’t drop it on the floor.

“What’sss thiss?” Cregan looked at the water very blankly. 

“Water,” Cley said simply. “It’ll help you sober up if you want to talk to your little Storm-Killer lady,” Cley smiled.

”I don a think so,” Cregan muttered.

”Yes it will,” Cley insisted. “Just trust me,”

Cregan looked at Cley as if debating what  to do. I don’t think I trust you right now Cley, Cregan thinks. 

“Oh just drink it!” Cley hissed as he made Cregan drink the water. “You’ll thank me later when you get your little Storm Killer lady,”

Cley grinned from ear to ear. You see he was very happy at possibly playing match maker for his grumpy friend. 

René, as it turns out, was also a bit on the drunk side of things. So Cregan wasn’t the only one that was drunk.

”Dance with me?” Cregan muttered. His face was a bit flushed from the wine and he was feeling very hot in his clothes.

René blinked as she looked up at him, not really hearing what he was saying at all. “What?”

”Dance with me?” Cregan repeated.

”I can’t hear you!” René protested.

Cregan’s face became redder. This girl! Cregan thinks, eyes twitching. “I said dance with me!” 

“What?” René whined. “What are you saying? I can’t fucking hear you!!”

”I said dance with me!” Cregan shouted back. “I said dance with me, little girl. Will you dance with me?”

René giggled. “You’re funny,” Her face was flushed and her eyes were shiner for some reason. “Come here,” 

René grabbed his hand and dragged him around to the edge of where people where dancing. 

“Here,” She put one of his hands on her waist and the other in her right hand. “You take one step there and another one there,” 

They were dancing slowly, if a bit clumsily compared to much earlier. But Cregan didn’t really mind. In fact he rather much preferred this pace. 

René was giggling as she was cocking her head from side to side. “You know, I think that Black Aly like likes you, my lord,” She said a bit cheerfully. 

Cregan frowned. “Who?” 

René frowned a bit. “Black Aly? Aly Blackwood? Ben’s auntie? She’s about my age, I think,” 

“Isn’t she sixteen?”

René shrugged. “I donna know. I was nineteen when my f-fatherr died. I don’t remember,” 

“You have shitty memory then,”

René kept giggling. “You’re so serious, it’s…it’s almost funny! Really, I mean it!”

”Wanna go somewhere?” Cregan muttered.

René blinked. “What?”

”Nothing,” 

René smiled sloppily. “I see! You…You wanna go somewhere with me! And do something!”

”I…No! No!” Cregan’s face became as red as a tomato. As red as René and het brother Oscar’s Tully red hair. 

“It’s…It’s not appropriate!” Cregan insisted, despite how René was giggling at him in a silly manner. 

It was the wine, it was definitely the wine. That’s what Cregan kept telling himself. 

“Who cares about what’ss appropriate or not,” René emphasized her ‘t’s’. “Everyone’ss drunk here. No onnne will notice! I can just marry you if anything happens!” 

“I…What?” Cregan blinked dumbly. They had stopped dancing then. He was a bit disappointed at that but he needed to rearrange his thoughts. 

“Let’s go then!” René smiled sweetly as she held onto him. She started dragging him to a more discreet place. “Let’s go! Let’s go! Let’s go!” 

“Fine,” Cregan whined. “But only…only if you stay with me,” 

“ ‘Course I will,” René drawled, still smiling happily. “Why shall I leave?”

René’s moans were like music to his ears as Cregan shaped her insides to fit him and only him. He rather liked that. 

“Mmm…my-my…my lord,” René whined, her breathing was heavy as she looked like she wasn’t completely there. 

Cregan himself wasn’t all there either. They both weren’t really all there anyway. He was simply grunting as he kept going int her. 

She was warm and all encompassing and Cregan was drunk on the sensation of her as much as she was of him. 

The world seemed to blur into the background as they fell into each other in the bed. 

Come morning, after they had regained their senses (and gotten over the initial shock of waking up with Cregan buried deep inside of René); they were panicking. 

War is better than this, Cregan kept thinking. War is so much better than this. At least I know what to do in it!! 

“No one can know,” René was saying. “No one can know! I’ll…I’ll be ruined. Ruined. What will my brother say?” René whimpered, burying her face deep in her hands. Her hair was like a curtain.

René was shaking terribly and Cregan could do nothing as he kept feeling the shame wash over him. 

I did that, He thinks, swallowing back bile. I did that. I ruined her, René the Storm-Killer, one of the bravest women ever. I defiled her forever. By the Old Gods, what have I done? 

And Cregan knew, that he had to make it better. That he had to do something to help René. Something to protect her. 

Anything. 

And something rang in Cregan’s mind. ”I can just marry you if anything happens!” René’s drunk ramblings were ringing in his head. 

“Cregan?” 

Cregan blinked and looked at René. She was sitting on the bed, covering herself up with the blanket. 

And Cregan very briefly remembered the soft feeling of René’s breast and of him sucking on them. 

Cregan’s face went a bit red and he felt blood pool down south, down Cregan's. The thing that had caused this whole mess.

Now’s not the time, Cregan! Get it together, for fuck’s sake! I need to keep an even head if I want to find a solution to the mess I made. 

“Cregan?” René repeated, biting her lower lip softly. “Are you all right? W-What’s the matter? Is…Is something wrong?”

”No, nothing is wrong my lady. I’m perfectly fine,” Cregan said hoarsely. 

René sighed in relief. “Well good for you since I am not!” René sighed again, but this time in resignation. “What am I going to do?” She muttered. 

“I could marry you,” Cregan said before he could properly think of what to say to the Storm-Killer. 

René blinked and looked up at him. “What?” 

Cregan took a deep breath to steady himself. “I could marry you my lady,” Cregan repeated. “It would restore your honor and make sure that you are not disgraced. And…and it’s only right that I do so since you I was the one to you,” 

René breathing was heavy but it was steady. “That…that is not such a bad proposal in all actuality,” She whispered.

Cregan nodded. It is the least that I could do for you, my lady. Especially after what I did to you. 

“So what do you say, my lady? What will it be?” Cregan asked. He wanted her explicit comsent concerning this. 

René looked at her hands and sighed before meeting his gaze. Her eyes shone with determination. “I accept,” said René, her back straigh and an air of dignity surrounding her. “I will marry you, Lord Cregan Stark of Winterfell,”

“And I do as well; my Lady René Tully of Riverrun, the Storm Killer,” Cregan replied. 

René smiled. “Good because there is something else we need to discuss,” Her body became a bit tense. 

Now what? “And what is that, my lady?”

René softly bit the inside of her cheek. “My brother,” she said, “We will have to talk about this to my brother Oscar. He’s the head of my house and we will need his permission to wed, as is proper,” 

And I want my brother to know that I am getting married, René thinks. 

The brother, of course. How could I have forgotten about Lord Tully? Cregan breathing became a bit heavy. “Yes if course,” he said. “Your brother will be informed. And I’ll ask him for your hand in marriage, my lady,” 

René smiled slightly at that. “Thank you my lord,” 

“You need not thank me, my lady. I’m only doing what honor demands of me to do. And it is only right that I do this for you after what I did,” 

Chapter Text

Rowlf Stark could only stare at the woman being given away by her brother in marriage to Rowlf’s own father. 

“I don’t like this,” Benjen muttered as he crossed his arms in distaste of their father’s new marriage. 

“I know,” Rowlf quietly said as he watched his father speak his vows to his new wife, Lady Lynara Stark. 

“But we can’t say anything, can we?” Benjen smiled bitterly. 

“You know as well as I do that we have no power to go against our Lord Father for his decision to remarry after our mother’s death,” Rowlf looked at his father and new stepmother with an empty look in his grey-blue eyes. 

“That does not mean that we have to like this or her,” Benjen muttered as he vaguely gestures in Lynara’s direction. 

“Just…” Rowlf hesitated. 

“Just what, Brother?” Benjen raised an eyebrow at his twin. 

Rowlf swallowed back spit. “Just…Just do not be insubordinate or insolent towards our Lord Father’s new wife,” 

I don’t think that he would forgive us for that, even if he claims to love us and Mother. Duty demands that we show respect and obedience to the new Lady Stark, even if we don’t like her or if she walked over the corpse of the previous lady to get the lord’s cloak drapes over those scrawny little shoulders of hers. 

Rowlf swallowed back the bile that rose in his mouth due to his thoughts. Duty, what a horrible word it seemed right now to young Rowlf Stark. 

And Father has always cared about duty. And a scary thought came over him, Even if that meant walking over the corpse of his deceased wife that hasn’t been dead for very long?  

It was such a terrifying thought that Rowlf found himself being unwilling to truly think about it. 

Benjen gently bit the inside of his cheek. “I will not be unfilial, but I will not be that woman’s son,” Benjen’s blue eyes hardened and they were as cold as ice.

That whore made her way to Father’s bed while my mother was trying to fight off the Stranger. My poor mother died believing that Father loved her still while he was busy bedding a distant cousin. 

‘And getting her with child…’ a voice whispered darkly, practically taunting him, in the young lad’s mind. 

Benjen’s breathing was heavy and his body was shaking as he looked away from the wedding ceremony.

“I wouldn’t ask that of you,” Rowlf sighed. “That would rather be too much, I believe,” 

”Rowlf, Benjen, I want to tell you two something,” said Rickon. 

“All right then, Benjen shrugged. 

“I see no issue in this,” Rowlf said simply.

“Right then,” Rickon led his two younger brothers towards his study room. The room was spacious and filled with books and maps and furniture and tapestries. 

Rowlf recognizes some of the tapestries as having been made by his deceased mother, the late Lady Renè Tully. 

I am glad that my brother Rickon has kept something of my mother in his study room. It is nice to see that my Mother is still being remembered. 

“So, what is it that you need to discuss with us, Brother?” Benjen asked. 

Rickon coughed a bit. “Well I just have to say that in case Jeyne and I have no boys, I want you two to promise me that you will support my Sansa’s claim to Winterfell and the North,” 

“What?” Benjen frowned. “You think that we would usurp Sansa if you die without getting a son on Jeyne?” 

“N-No, of course not!” Rickon hissed, his cheeks became flushed due to simple embarrassment. “It’s just that…well I don’t want to take my chances,” 

“I understand,” said Rowlf. 

“You do?” Benjen turned towards his twin brother. “Rol, you do know that Rick is accusing us of possibly usurping little Sansa if he dies without a son on Jeyne,”

”I said it was not like that!” Rickon protested vehemently. 

“For one, there has been a history of female heirs having their father’s lands and castle taken by an uncle or a male cousin,” Rowlf reminded Benjen. 

Benjen nodded grudgingly. “Fine, you are right about that,” 

“Mother once told us that there had been a Bracken lady who was her father’s only child and that the deceased lord had intended for everything to go to her despite the protests from relatives. But unfortunately for her, the Blackwoods led a raid on Bracken land over disputed territories and got the poor lady killed as she was visiting those lands. A cousin inherited the title and everything, the Brackens added that to the list of reasons of why they hate the Blackwoods while the Blackwoods ended up having their lands raided in retaliation,”

”The Riverlands seem to have a very bloody history,” Rickon mused out loud. “Wasn’t there a few peace treaties involving a couple of marriages between the Brackens and the Blackwoods?” 

“Yes, I believe that the incident with the death of the would be ruling Lady Bracken ended up leading to a peace treaty sealed with a marriage,” Benjen said. 

“I’m surprised that you listened to Mother’s lessons on history of the Riverlands, Brother,” Rowlf teased with a smile. 

Benjen glared at his twin. “I’ll get you back for this brother,” Benjen warned. 

“I would like to see that,” Rowld smiled.

”While this is a lovely brotherly moment between you both to see, I must get an answer from the both of you,” Rickon interrupted. “Can you two make me an oath that you will support my daughters claim to Winterfell if I die without having a male heir?” 

The twins looked at each other before looking at their elder brother with a small smile. “We vow to support Sansa and Serena’s claim to the North if you are to die without a male heir,” Rowlf promised.

”Good,” Rickon sighed in relief. And it seemed as if a large burden had been lifted from his wonderful broad shoulders that he inherited from his lord father. 

“We can kill whoever tries to steal Winterfell from your daughters if you want us to,” Benjen offered with a grin. 

“Ben,” Rowlf looked at his twin in slight disapproval. 

“Oh by the Old Gods, Ben no,” Rickon’s eyes widened in slight horror. “I don’t want for you to become a killer, even if it is for my daughters sake! I shan’t ask of you such a large thing!” 

And Moth-…I mean Mutti Renè would have never wanted for her son, or any child of hers, to become a killer. Even if she was the one to kill Lord Borros Baratheon during the Dance of the Dragons… 

Rickon could never forgive himself if his brothers ended up becoming killers in order to protect his daughters Sansa and Serena. Rickon will never forgive himself if such a thing happened. 

“D-Damn…Damn it to Seven Hells!” Benjen spat as he struggled to stay awake admits the chaos surrounding him. 

We should have never left the North to fight for Daeron Targaryen, a simple mere green-boy with no experience of true warfare. 

“B-Ben…jen…” Rickon croaked out and he spat out some blood as he laid down on the ground dying from blood loss and with one of his legs broken. 

Benjen, where are you brother? Are you dead? Have you been killed by those bloody Dornishmen? Oh brother please do not die. 

And Rickon thought that he should have never allowed for Benjen to come with him down south to fight in the Young Dragon’s conquest of Dorne.

“R-Rick…!” Benjen panted as he crawled around the sandy ground, trying desperately to look for his brother’s body among the corpses littered the floor. 

When Benjen found his brother’s body, he draped himself over Rickon’s brother and listened to his heart beat as he panted and his breathing became heavy.

“D-Don’t die Rick,” Benjen panted out. Do it for Jeyne and your girls if not for us and for Father. 

“…mhm…S-Sorry,” Rick coughed on some of his own blood and weakly turned around in order to spit it out.

Some of the blood ended up getting on Benjen, unfortunately. 

“S-Sorry…that,” Rickon’s brown eyes (so much like his mother’s, the Lady Arra Norrey, eyes) with specks of grey were very apologetic. 

“Tis good,” Benjen winced at the pain that he felt all over his too sour and tired (and worn out) body. 

I should have never dragged you with me to war, Rickon thinks as he struggles to keep his eyes wide open. You should have been back home helping Father by touring the North to make sure that everything was in order alongside dearest Rowlf and then visiting Riverrun, the home of your mother’s family. 

Rickon threw up some blood. 

“R-Rick…” Benjen whimpered out weakly.

Oh brother you should have been back home training to become Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North and spending time with Jeyne and the girls, not fighting and dying in the sands of Dorne for a lost cause… 

(“Oh and I’ve dug two graves for us my dear…”)

And Benjen briefly thought that he never should have gone south to fight for King Daeron I, the son of Aegon III who their father had faithfully served briefly as regent before he went back home to the North with his new Southron wife from the Riverlands who fought in the Targaryen War for Succession in tow. 

Will Father make statues of us, his two sons that died in Dorne fighting for their king so he could bring Dorne to heel under the blasted Iron Throne and uniting all of Westeros once and for all?

”Ah, will you dig two graves for us if we are to die together?”

In the end, neither Rickon or Benjen Stark made it out of Dorne alive. 

Ever since Rowlf’s father died, everything had started to go to absolute hell. 

For one, his younger half-brother Jonnel rebelled against the decision for young Sansa (the eldest daughter and child of their elder brother Rickon) to be made ruling Lady of Winterfell and the Wardeness of the North in her own right as the eldest living child of the previous lord’s own heir. 

Something that had been supported by Lord Cregan Stark, Rowlf’s father and Sansa’s grandfather, after Rowlf had told the old man of him and Benjen’s own promise to Rickon before their (Rickon and Benjen’s) unfortunate deaths in Dorne during the failed Conquest of Dorne by Daeron I Targaryen. 

Oh Gods, Benjen, Rowlf sighed as he ran a hand through his reddish-brown hair. He hadn’t thought about his dead twin brother in some (dreadful) time. 

Probably because he was too worried and preoccupied with dealing with Jonnel (and his full-blooded brothers) rebelling against Sansa and her new rule. 

(Then there was the grief over his father. Then there was the worry over his sister-in-law Jeyne Manderly’s -Rickon’s widow and the mother of his daughters- health)

Really, at this rate Rowlf might just die instead from stress instead of dying because of his younger half-brother’s like he had been thinking he might! 

Then Rowlf heard a knock at the door.

He straightened his back and said, “Come in,” 

The door opened and in walked Sansa Stark, daughter of Rickon Stark (son and heir of Cregan Stark). 

“Sansa,” Rowlf’s eyes widened, “what brings you here, dearest niece?” 

“I have come to ask you of how fares our campaign against Uncle Jonnel,” Sansa replied. 

Rowlf frowned. “That is all that you came in to ask me, dearest niece?”

”You say that as if it is a bad thing, my dearest Uncle Rol,” Sansa mused with a slight smile. “Is capturing Jonnel not of the highest importance? So long ad he remains free to wander around, my claim is not fully safe.” 

Rowlf sighed. “You are not wrong, dear niece of mine. So long as Jonnel remains free, we have on our hands a situation similar to that of Jeyne Arryn and her cousins who rebelled against her rule several times,” 

Sansa nodded grimly at that. “I have hope that I will not have to constantly keep an eye out for my uncles and cousins in case they decide to betray and usurp me for their own simple greed to claim my birthright,” 

“I hope so as well Sansa,” Rowlf looked at his mother’s tapestry that featured five wolf pups playing in a snow filled wood with a heart tree behind them and with a river in front of them. 

His mother had made this tapestry not that long after the birth of little Elmo (who died as a child and was named after her own father). 

The wolf pups represented Rickon (the oldest and the biggest of the pups), Rowlf himself and Bejen, Sarah, and sweet little Elmo (the smallest of the wolf pups). 

Obviously, this tapestry had been done some time before the births of the twins Alaric and Celia, the last children that Rowlf’s parents would have.

Chapter Text

When young Mya, the daughter of an apothecary, was brought into the chambers of the Princess consort of Dragonstone she immediately knew that something is wrong. 

Of course she knew that something is wrong since Prince Rhaelor’s steward -Alton Celtigar- personally brought here in order to figure out what sickness the Princess consort had ended up with that left her near the Stranger’s door. 

Mya examined the weakened body of the Princess Consort. The Princess’ body is dangerously thin for a lady of her station, her eyes are sunken and Mya can even see the bones of the princess. 

Her long thick curly brown hair had lost its shine and her breast seemed to be sagging and a bit wrinkly from what Mya could see from what skin showed underneath the nightclothes. 

And the Princess’ large soft brown eyes with tiny little specks of green are now dull and they are no longer filled with life as they had been before. 

The once beautiful princess consort now looked no better than a corpse. 

Pale face.

Bloodless skin. 

Sunken eyes. 

And a body unable to eat. 

She looks like a dying woman. 

(A sleeping corpse)

How has she gotten this sickly? Mya thinks as she attempts to gently feed the ailing princess some warm fiver filled porridge. 

Earlier, Mya had observed how the Princess Consort had been unable to stomach down the rich food that had been gently fed to her by the efforts of her chief lady-in-waiting. 

“How does the Princess fare?” Alton Celtigar asked a bit hesitantly. 

“She has eaten the porridge,” Mya says simply. “But her body is too weak to accept any sort of rich food like her grace is used to,” 

Alton sighed in relief. “Thank the Gods that she is able to eat,” He looked at the dark haired girl. “So will Her Grace’s condition improve?” 

“It might,” Mya replied as she continued to feed the weak princess. I just have to find out what made the princess end up in such a state in the first place… 

Mya’s mind wandered towards the Prince of Dragonstone -Rhaelor Targaryen- and of how the prince had personally ordered her to attend his sickly wife and find out what was wrong with her. 

Unless I want to loose my head, I should find out what caused the princess to end up like this. Mya shivered a bit at the mental image of a very menacing looking Prince Rhaelor. 

Ah, what a creepy man, Mya thinks and then she realizes that the princess looks too pale for her own good. 

She looks as pale as a ghost, it reminds me of that powder makeup that the brothel girls wear…Wait a moment! 

Mya’s eyes widened and her breathing became heavy as she used a stiff hand to caress the princess’ cheek. 

And there was powder, white powder on Mya’s hand from the princess’ cheek. And suddenly it all made sense. 

Mya didn’t clean her powder filled hand but instead she turned around towards the others gathered in the princess’ large bedchamber. 

“M-Mya? Is something wrong?” Alton asked. His blue eyes glanced towards the weakened princess and he shivered at the sight of the pitiful wife of the heir to the Iron Throne. 

Oh Alicent, what has happened to you? Alton mourns silently. Prince Rhaelor hasn’t been the same since Alicent was left bed ridden and possibly awaiting a visit from the Stranger. 

“W-Why is she coming closer?” Cerelle Lannister, one of the younger ladies-in-waiting being fostered by the Princess Consort Alicent, whispers to the lady standing beside her. 

“I do not know,” The other lady whispers back to her coworker. “But I do not like this at all,” 

Mya walked towards the lady-in-waiting and stiffly asked them, “Who here is in charge of Her Grace’s makeup?” 

“I am,” a slightly tall blonde woman with large brown eyes dressed in a lovely dark green dress spoke up. “We want for Her Grace to be at her most beautiful,”

Young Bethany Hightower chimed in happily, “That’s right! It’s all for Her Grace’s sake!” 

“Good then, so you are the main idiot that is responsible for this,” Mya’s brown eyes hardened. 

“W-What?” The lady seemed completely taken back by Mya’s words, her tone, and her angry stare. 

The lady’s eyes became angry. “What is the meaning of such disrespect! I shan’t be disrespected by a lowly thing like you of all people!” The lady sneered. 

“I see,” Mya said coldly and then she slapped the lady across the face in a very harsh manner. 

The lady-in-waiting (a certain Lady Ceryse Beesbury that married Ser Gwayne Hightower, the younger brother of Princess Consort Alicent Hightower) promptly fell to the floor due to the sheer strength of the slap. 

Everyone in the room watched in stunned silence as the tiny apothecary’s girl that had been taken in by the Grand Maester as his assistant dragged the lady-in-waiting towards where the makeup used by the Princess consort is kept at by her hair. 

“L-Let go of me you…you lowly thing!” The lady -Ceryse- screamed in anger. Her beautiful blonde hair was now both unkept and completely out of place. 

“Lady Ceryse!” 

Alton recognized the voice of Ser Criston Cole of the Kingsguard, the sworn shield of the Princess consort Alicent. 

Alton’s eyes darted towards the knight and he immediately called out to him, “Stand down Ser Criston! Do not think on interfering with this,” 

Criston whirled around towards Alton. His eyes were wide in disbelief. “Are you mad, Ser Alton?” Criston demanded. “That girl is attacking the Lady Ceryse!” 

“That girl is an apothecary’s apprentice and the assistant of the Grand Maester,” Alton snapped. “She has ample medical knowledge that we do not possess. She must have a reason for her reaction,” 

Mya opened the drawer and when she found a little round silver container she picked it up and opened it. 

White powdered makeup, Mya thinks grimly. Just like she had thought. She took the makeup and dumped the powder all over Ceryse. 

Criston glared at Alton. “And you still want me to stay neutral despite this?” Criston whispered harshly. 

Alton’s eyes hardened as he met Criston Cole’s eyes. “As the steward to Prince Rhaelor and someone given authority by the King himself to find out what ails the Princess consort at all cost, I say to stand down Ser Criston unless you want me to take this to both the King and the Prince themselves,” Alton threatened. 

Criston looked away in anger and instead he fixed his gaze on the wilting form of the Princess Consort of Dragonstone. 

Alton watched Criston with cold eyes. Are you in love with the Princess consort, Ser Criston? Alton tasted bile in his mouth. It is treasonous to love your master’s wife in an improper manner like you do with Princess Alicent. 

And both the King and Rhaelor will have your head before they allow the honor of the Princess consort to be called into question, Alton thinks distantly. 

And say nothing of the children of Princess Alicent by Prince Rhaelor. Both the King and the Prince would never allow for anyone to question the legitimacy of Alicent’s children. 

“The poison in the powder will infect your entire body after a while,” Mya said coldly as she knelt down to look at the now extremely wide eyed Ceryse. “But you should be glad, for you will still look as pretty as your beloved Princess consort!” 

Mya grabbed onto Ceryse’s hair and forced the woman to look at the dying form of her beloved princess consort and sister-in-law. 

Ceryse’s brown eyes were wide and filled with horror as she looked at Alicent’s dying body. “A-Alicent,” Ceryse whispered with tears in her eyes. 

“You idiot! You absolute moron! Have you no brain or thoughts in that head of yours at all?” Mya demands in a harsh voice. “That powder was banned for a reason! That powder was brought to the market by the ships carrying goods from Yi Ti that Lord Velaryon had brought back with him, as well by way of the ships trading goods in Oldtown- the home of the Princess consort! And the high-classed brothels and courtesans popularized the powder because it seems to make the women more beautiful. But unfortunately that power contains poison in it and when used for too long it leads to the users being poisoned and dying a slow and painful death,” 

Alton’s breath hitched and Criston was frozen in place with a look at horror as he looked at his precious Alicent. 

Oh Your Grace, you have been slowly dying from the poison that was inside of the makeup that you had used! 

“I…I didn’t know,” Ceryse choked out. “I did not know!” Her large brown eyes were filled with tears that began to go down from her eyes. 

“Well now you do,” Mya replied, giving both Ceryse and the Princess consort a look of pity. 

“I…I thought that Ali would be h-happy!” Ceryse sobbed out as she looked at her powder covered body with a mournful and regretful look. 

“I said that it’s poisonous,” Mya has to stop herself from screaming at the lady on the ground. 

Mya knelt down and scooped up some if the powder with her right hand. She then roughly pressed said powdered covered hand to Ceryse, practically slapping the beautiful blonde Reacher-woman again. 

“Have you no thoughts in that fucking head of yours, woman?!” Mya’s breathing was harsh and she hold back a scream for the up-tenth time today. 

“You think you know everything. But this was banned for a reason! And who in their right mind would be happy to be slowly poisoned by the same thing that killed their newborn son!” 

That last sentence seemed to have broken something in Ceryse Hightower of House Beesbury. 

Alicent’s breathing is shallow and she weakly looks at the ceiling of her red canopy bed with dull eyes. 

Ceryse began to weep and Mya stood up with her entire body being tensed. “This is no good for Her Grace or anyone else in the room,” Mya said and she looked towards the ladies-in-waiting (who all shrink back under the intense gaze of the young apothecary). 

“Hey, get some maids to clean this up and also rinse and wash the Princess as well as this dense lady,” Mya gestured towards the Princess consort and the weeping lady-in-waiting filled with a lot of regrets and grief. 

“Y-Yes!” Some ladies exclaimed.

Ah look at them, those haughty and beautiful high-born ladies, taking orders and being scared of someone like me. How ironic, Mya mused before sighing. Now’s not the time, I need to focus on what medicines to make for the Princess in order to cure her. 

“Hold on Auntie Ceryse!” The young Bethany Hightower exclaims as she quickly starts to wrap a blanket around Ceryse’s shoulders. 

Ah, so those two are related, Mya notes. She’s a bit young but I’m guessing that she’s also a playmate for some of the younger princesses. 

Mya sighs before looking away from the weeping Ceryse who was being calmed down by Lady Sansara Tarly and the young Bethany Hightower. 

And that’s when Mya realized that Alton Celtigar and Ser Criston Cole are also in the Princess’s chamber. 

Oh, I think that I really did it now didn’t I? Mya thinks as she stared at Ser Alton Celtigar and he stared back at her with wide eyes (filled with amazement). 

Chapter Text

Daenerys had wanted to know more for a time now about the Targaryen dragons of the past, before they all died. 

“Ser Barristan, can you tell me more about the dragons of the previous Targaryens?” 

Barristan coughed a bit because of the question but he shook his head. “I am afraid that I do not know much about the Targaryen dragons, Your Grace,” Barristan admitted apologetically. 

Dany frowned. “But what do you know about them, Ser Barristan?” 

“Well…I know that dragons are creatures that man can not possibly understand with full certainty,” Barristan began. “For one can not possibly truly understand the heart of a dragon,” 

“Yes, but many know that,” Daenerys said as she stroked the head of Drogon whilst Viserion and Rhaegal crooned and seemed to bicker with their brother over him getting stroked by their mother. 

“But surely you can tell me stories of my ancestors and their dragons?” Daenerys asked. “Perhaps Aegon the Conqueror and Balerion the Black Dread. Or Queen Visenya the Conqueror and Vhagar. Or the first Jaehaerys and his dragon,” 

Barristan thought about it and decided that maybe he did have a story or two to tell about the Targaryens and their dragons to the young Dragon Queen. 

“I may not know much, but I do know that King Rhaelor and his dragon, a yellow she-dragon named Syrax, had a close bond that led to Syrax being very loving towards Queen Alicent, Rhaelor’s wife and mother of his heirs,” 

“Really?” Daenerys looked as if she had never heard about Syrax and Rhaelor the Black King’s extreme attachment to Queen Alicent Hightower. 

And extreme attachment is just one way to call the relationship between Rhaelor Targaryen and Alicent Hightower, Ser Barristan mused. 

The old knight had heard about the Black King’s obsession with his queen on more than one occasion while he served under the previous Targaryen kings and all the way to Robert’s Rebellion and then to Joffrey Baratheon after Robert’s death.

”The Black King consumed the body, the soul, heart, and mind of his Green Queen till there was no more of her but ashes and then he went mad with grief over her and their murdered children,” 

Barristan shivers slightly at the memory of the second Jaehaerys speaking to him of Rhaelor Targaryen and his queen, Alicent Hightower, as they and the rest of the court watched a mummer’s play on the Dance of the Dragons. 

Though Robert had hated anything even remotely related towards the Targaryens in any shape or form, he had been amused by the plays that mocked Rhaelor and his children (most notably the bastards born from the two high-born mistresses) as well as the rest of the Targaryens. 

“Yes, Rhaelor and his dragon Syrax both loved Alicent Hightower dearly. And when she died, it is said that Syrax roared in grief and anger while her rider screamed in grief and fury,” 

Daenerys’ breath hitched at that. “I did not know that,” She admitted, looking at her three dragons. 

“In all honesty, what little I know of the Dance of the Dragons is that it was a war between Rhaelor’s children, both true-born and bastard born, that tore the realm in half and ended with all of the dragons dead,” Daenerys says. “That is all that Viserys would tell me of it for a while, especially after he turned cruel,”

Barristan’s eyes turned gentle. “Your brother had a simple right description about the Dance, Your Grace,” Barristan says kindly. 

“So there’s something else to the Dance of the Dragons?” Daenerys asked. 

“Aye, Your Grace,” Barristan agreed. “When Allard Royce, son of Prince Daemon Targaryen and the Lady Rhea Royce, was killed by his cousin Aethan Velaryon, the legitimized son of Rhaelor Targaryen by his mistress the Lady Laena Velaryon, during the second name-day celebration of the second Aegon’s son Mael by his wife Cassandra Baratheon, that is told by many to be the incident that helped trigger the Dance of the Dragons,”

”Cassandra Baratheon?” Dany’s eyes widened at the name of the wife of the second Aegon. “A Baratheon has married into the Targaryens?

”Your Grace, I must let you know that during the reign of your father’s grandfather, that being the fifth Aegon, a Baratheon married the youngest daughter of Aegon the Fifth,” Baristan said as he began to explain the Baratheons relation to the Targaryens. 

“So…the Usurper is my…cousin,” Daenerys eyebrows knitted together and she looked sick to her stomach.

Barristan nodded grimly. “Yes Your Grace, unfortunately the current Baratheons are your cousins through Princess Rhaelle, the daughter of the fifth Aegon and the aunt of your father and mother,” 

“Oh my Gods,” Daenerys looked shaken completely to her core. 

Barristan looked at his young queen with pity in his eyes. The poor girl, it must be hard finding out that the one who overthrew your dynasty is actually your cousin because of a previous marriage made to smooth over some ruffled feathers, Barristan thinks. 

“…Would Your Grace like for me to tell you more stories of the past Targaryen dragons?” 

Daenerys nodded weakly. “Y-Yes, that would be rather lovely,” 

Barristan nodded and proceeded to tell Daenerys Stormborn the stories that he knew about the previous Targaryen’s and their dragons. 

“They say the when Cassandra Baratheon was killed by Daemon’s assassins, Sunfyre -Aegon’s dragon- screeched and roared in a manner that mirrored his rider’s grief and anger over the death of his uncrowned queen,” 

“Uncrowned queen?” Daenerys frowned. “Was Cassandra Baratheon never actually crowned as queen consort? But how is that possible if her husband was the ruling king? Wouldn’t she be crowned as the queen?”

”Yes that would be the case,” Barristan admitted. “But Cassandra dies before her Aegon ever became king so she was never properly crowned queen,” 

Dany began to fidget with her hands, picking a bit at them and at her nails. “Wasn’t…Wasn’t there a rumor that-that the second Aegon brought his wife’s corpse and had it crowned as queen during his own ceremony?” 

Barristan’s eyes widened at that. “I…I do not truly know how truth that rumor is in all that,” Barristan admitted.

”Oh,”

“But I would not lead any credence to those rumors Your Grace. I believe that they were started by the second Aegon’s enemies as well as by those that resented House Targaryen,” Barristan insisted a bit too fiercely. 

So the Usurper and his dogs were behind this as well, Daenerys thinks a bit bitterly as she laid the blame for the really bad rumor at Robert’s feet.

Chapter Text

The marriage only happened because Cassandra’s lord father, Borros Baratheon, ended up dying unexpectedly.

”You must marry someone of your age and with enough power that he will not force the marriage to be consummated unlike those cruel and greedy men that would make you a mother at too young an age, sweetling,” 

Her mother tells her that as she strokes Cassandra’s hair and looks at her with red puffy eyes filled with a certain type of sadness and hollowness. 

Even if her mother meant those words in a manner as to protect her by having Cassandra aware of what is going on.

That did not stop Cassandra from being fearful of being around strange older men for too long without anyone that she trusted dearly. 

Will you force me into a marriage to act as a woman grown while I am not that? Will you make me die as a young mother as my grandfather’s mother did? 

Cassandra is sure that there are other high-born boys that could fit her mother’s (and the Maester and Father’s…Cassandra’s banner men- who are often competing to try and marry off a son of theirs to Cassandra) criteria for Cassandra’s future consort/husband. 

(“A boy your age and one that fits this criteria can’t hurt you, Cass. It’s for your own good sweetling,”)

1. Has to be high-born enough to be appropriate to be the consort of the Lady Paramount of the Stormlands. 

2. Has to be the same age or at least around Cassandra’s age. 

3. Has to be from a powerful enough family that they wouldn’t feel the need to kidnap Cassandra in order to force the marriage to be consummated. 

4. Has to be of a pleasant enough character and educated enough. 

(And this is just really Cassandra’s criteria but Number 6 is basically Has to be handsome enough. But Cassandra’s mother and advisors don’t really think that her suggestion is really that important enough)

And so when the Princess Consort Alicent Hightower came to give her condolences to Cassandra’s family, her mother saw a chance to get closer to the royal family and she took it very eagerly. 

And the rest is, as they say, is history. 

(Though Cassandra really wants to know just how her mother managed to get the hand of Prince Aemond, the second true-born son of the Prince of Dragonstone, in marriage to Cassandra) 

The marriage ceremony (the first one at least, saying that the Targaryens would definitely want to have a ceremony in King’s Landing -or maybe in the Starry Sept in Oldtown since Prince Aemond’s mother is a Hightower of Oldtown- since Aemond is the first of the royal children to get married) was conducted in the Sept at Storm’s End. 

And that was the first actual time that Cassandra got to get a good look at the Prince Aemond, the second Targaryen prince (and the first one in his family to get married in this generation). 

The first thing that the young Cassandra thinks when she first sees her husband-to-be is, ‘Pretty. He is so pretty,’ 

Aemond Targaryen is without a doubt, one of the prettiest boys that Cassandra has ever seen in her entire life. 

Aemond’s white hair is shiny and looks so soft to the Baratheon girl. His round eyes are a lilac shade and so utterly pretty. 

When Cassandra looked at her husband, Aemond blushed a very pretty color and it looked as if he was swallowing back spit or something like that. 

I think that I am going to like being married after all, Cassandra thinks as she meets her new husband’s shy eyes. 

Aemond after all, fits all of the criteria that her mother (and the rest of the advisors) had set up for Cassandra’s intended husband.

And maybe Cassandra’s just a little bit happy that Aemond fits her specific part of the criteria. (And maybe well as the fact that she is marrying a prince like in the stories). 

During the ceremony, Cassandra feels her hands become clammy as she feels all the eyes in her. 

”I take this man to be my lord and husband,” Cassandra recites her wedding vows to the young boy in front of her. 

The words seem foreign to her and she hates how all these strange men look at her in her ivory white wedding dress. 

(The dress is only white because a white dress is a show of the wealth and status of Cassandra’s family because keeping a white dress like hers clean is expensive and difficult.) 

Aemond swallows back spit. “I take this woman to be my lady and wife,” Aemond says as his breathing becomes heavy and he stares at Cassandra’s beautiful stormy blue eyes. 

They come from the Sept on horseback with the Prince of Dragonstone flying above them on his dragon Syrax. 

The Princess Consort is riding on horseback beside Aemond since she is his mother. While Cassandra’s own Lady Mother rides beside Cassandra on horseback. 

Of all the other princes and princesses of House Targaryen, only the eldest is riding beside them. The eldest of the children, Prince Aegon, looks completely bored as he rides on his horse. 

I want to go home and get this over with was written all over Prince Aegon’s pretty heart shaped face and his lovely purple eyes.

Meanwhile Princess Helaena, Princess Aemma, Prince Daeron, Prince Dorian, and Princess Daenerys were all in the Targaryen’s carriage alongside King Viserys- the children’s grandfather. 

The same thing went for Cassandra’s three younger sisters (clever Maris, pretty Floris, and the youngest of the sisters being Ellyn), so all three of them were in the Baratheon’s carriage. 

(Much to their frustrations -the angry protests were loud enough to be heard all the way to Dorne- which Cassandra doesn’t want to deal with right now and is more than happy to leave it to her mother to deal with)

Cassandra doesn’t have to look up to know that the Rouge Prince is flying on Caraxes’ back up in the sky alongside the Prince Rhaelor of Dragonstone, Aemond’s lord father. 

Prince Daemon’s two oldest children, Jaehaerys and Alyssa Royce, are both riding on horseback near the Princess Consort. 

And just like their mother, the Royce children are very good on horseback. And speaking of Lady Rhea Royce, she’s also in attendance. 

The ruling Lady of Runestone herself is expertly riding her horse by the side of her two eldest children’s sides as she gives both Caraxes and the sky above the occasional pointed glare.

And after them comes all of the lords and ladies invited to attend the rather large wedding of the Lady Paramount of the Stormlands and the second son of the Prince of Dragonstone. 

      * * *  ⚜️   🌸   ⛈️  ⚜️  * * *

During the wedding feast in the Great Hall of Storm’s End, the King sits at the head of the high table facing all the other long tables being used to host the visiting nobles. 

Sitting right next to the King’s left side is the Lord Hand Ser Otto Hightower, the father of the Princess Consort. 

To the King’s left (and right beside the Lord Hand Ser Otto Hightower) sits both Aemond and Cassandra, sitting together as the wedding feast is theirs. Since they’re the ones that just got married in the eyes of the Seven Who Are One. 

Next to Cassandra and Aemond sits Cassandra’s own lady mother, Dowager Lady Baratheon Elenda Caron. 

And next to Elenda sits all three of Cassandra’s younger sisters (who all chatter and look at the too many courses of rich food and as well as the wine with wide eyes). 

(Though Cassandra’s mother and the Princess Consort as well as Lady Rhea frown a bit at the sight of the wine being given to the children)

And to the King’s right sits the Prince of Dragonstone -Rhaelor Targaryen- and his wife Princess Consort Alicent Hightower. 

And next to them sits the rest of Aemond’s true-born siblings (Aegon, Helaena, his twin Aemma, Daeron, Daenerys, and Dorian), from the eldest to the youngest. 

Aemond is sweet and obedient and Cassandra thinks that if the second prince had been born as a girl, he would have made for a most very fair princess. 

(And perhaps Cassandra herself would have been a boy like her late father had wanted. And she would have married the then Princess Aemond) 

But Aemond is also rather shy and he seems to be struggling to put certain things that he wants to say into words. 

(Though Cassandra finds her young husband to be so utterly adorable as he struggles to express what he wants. Her Aemond just looks so pretty as his face flushes in frustration and his pretty eyes scrunch up into a thinking face)

So Cassandra decides that she’s going to take the lead in their marriage. After all, Cassandra Baratheon is a crowned doe and a storm in her own right as well. 

She is also the Lady Paramount of the Stormlands in her own right. And Aemond is now her consort. 

“M-My lady, do you…do you like roasted peacock?” Aemond stammered out his question as he shyly looked at her. 

Cassandra hummed. “Yes, I have tried it before,” she replied. “It is a delicacy that I find myself having fond memes of,” Cassandra smiles. “And what of you, Husband? Do you like roasted peacock?” 

Aemond nodded. “I do,” he says. “My Grandfather the king has said that the wealthy Valyrian’s of Old Valyria had been fond of eating peacocks,” 

“Oh? Really?” Cassandra raises an eyebrow at that. I suppose that I should not be so surprised. The King is said to be fond of telling his true-born grandchildren tales of Old Valyria. 

Aemond nods again. “Aye, Grandfather has even shown us old tomes in High Valyrian that tell of an old legend,” 

Aemons’s pretty lilac eyes are shining as he speaks to her of what he knows of that old ancient Valyrian legend. 

And then Cassandra realizes that her new husband is fascinated by history and rather enjoys books as well. 

Then he will like the books in the library of Storm’s End. For they host great stories and information, Cassandra thinks. And the thought that Aemond will most likely get along with Maris who likes books briefly fills her mind. 

”My own late father used to tell me and my sisters stories of Elenei and Durran Godsgrief,” Cassandra began as she took a very small sip of her wine. “There are old books detailing stories of the family of my ancestor Argella Durrandon,” 

Aemond’s eyes take a certain shine. “C-Can I be able to see them sometime, my lady?” Aemond asks. 

“Of course you can, it is well within your rights as my consort since I am the Lady Paramount of the Stormlands,” Cassandra replied. 

“And I believe that I should show you those old tomes that I have mentioned, my lady,” Aemond smiled. 

“Yes I would like that. And you can call me Cassandra, after all we are husband and wife now,” Cassandra insisted with a certain conviction in her voice and determination in her eyes. 

Aemond’s breath hitched. “Cassandra then,” he tasted the way her name felt being said by him and Cassandra rather liked it herself. 

“Then you may call me Aemond then,” 

“Aemond,” Cassandra tried her husband’s name and she found that she did not mind the feel of his name on her mouth.

”Cassandra,” Aemond says in return and he smiled at how right it felt to say his wife’s name. 

Chapter Text

Rhaenyra hadn’t particularly wanted to be here, in Alicent’s school for Mutant children that was originally her mansion, and she knows it.

The mansion where they took the original recruits of Alicent’s X-Men. 

Where they trained the children that they had found on their wonderful little road trip across the country. 

Sam Casein. Arra Surroton. Gwayne. Denys Longwaters. Bridget Strong. Edith Flowers. Velaena Velaryon. Criston Cole.

The Original X-Men.

Then there was that annoying agent named Tyland Lannister. 

(Was he still around Alicent? Rhaenyra had observed some sort of tension going on beneath the surface between the two back when they were all together. A very selfish part of her wishes for Tyland to stay away from Alicent and to stay as an agent with the government. 

Rhaenyra had never liked that pompous and self-confident blonde cat. He was only involved because he just happened to have witnessed Daemon’s minions. Otherwise he never would have gotten involved with mutants and very much less with Alicent.)

Sam very much had loved showing off her powers to Arra in the courtyard, Rhaenyra muses as she looks around the land outside of mansion in what is basically a park. 

There are so many young children that she sees running around the green spaces that Rhaenyra wonders if Alicent remembers the names of all these children. 

(Briefly, Rhaenyra is reminded of her son Joffrey and of watching him talk with the animals that flocked around him back in the little cottage in Essos.)

There are so many of them, so many mutant children. Alicent couldn’t possibly remember all of their names. But she’s a telepath. So I would not be surprised if she did. 

She can hear bits of conversation from many of them. Trivial and insignificant things that seem to major at that age. 

“Hey Mary, can you help me with my homework later? I really don’t want to disappoint the Professor,” 

“So I said no fucking way man! That is completely unacceptable!” 

“Race you to the Satellite, Peter!”

Rhaenyra sighs. The mansion had changed so much over the last few years that she could barely recognize it. 

But it’s a good change at least. 

Rhaenyra wants it to be. 

It’s so much more bearable if all these gigantic changes in Alicent’s home are for the good of mutants. 

Rhaenyra had glanced around earlier and sees that the Satellite that she had moved with her gift is still there. 

Rhaenyra had loved the woman that fished her out of the ocean by herself, the one who believed in everything and in everyone, the one with shining brown eyes with specks of green. 

The one with the overwhelming faith in humanity whilst Rhaenyra herself did not believe in any of those hateful humans. 

”Not all humans are Tyland,” Rhaenyra had told Alicent back before their fight with Daemon in Dragonstone all those years ago. 

”And not all humans are Daemon,” Alicent had replied. So very confident in her hope towards the humans. 

Though perhaps Daemon fucking Targaryen is not a good comparison since Rhaenyra’s uncle had been a mutant. 

But for a good amount of time, Rhaenyra had thought that her uncle had just been an ordinary person. A human. 

A cruel human. 

“Ah, there you are old friend,” She recognizes that lovely voice almost immediately. And how couldn’t she? 

Alicent’s voice had haunted Rhaenyra’s dreams 

Rhaenyra turns around and sees Alicent in a white wheel chair with an X on the wheels heading her way. Rhaenyra zeroed in on Alicent almost immediately after hearing the other woman’s sweet voice again. 

Alicent with her much too short and barely growing back curly brown hair. I should have killed Apocalypse earlier after what they did to Alicent. Taking away her beautiful brown curls simply to possess her body. 

Aliceny with her bright and sparkling pretty brown eyes with little specks of green in them. 

Rhaenyra smiles as she greedily takes in the sight of Alicent. She’s as beautiful as ever. “Alicent, it’s so good to see you,” 

It should have been just Alicent coming to talk to Rhaenyra. It supposed have been just the two of them. 

But unfortunately for Rhaenyra, it isn’t the two of them right now. 

There’s a white-haired young man dressed wearing a green polo shirt, jeans, a black jacket and a pair of sunglasses that’s walking beside Alicent. He wears around his neck a pretty silver necklace of a six pointed star with rubies filling up half of the star points. 

Who is that? Rhaenyra had to hold back the frown but her eyebrows do knit together at the sight of the young man.

For some reason, he looked eerily familiar to Rhaenyra. But that is probably because of the young man’s hair. 

“And it is lovely to see you as well, old friend,” Alicent smiles, completely oblivious to Rhaenyra’s thoughts towards the white haired young man. 

Rhaenyra smiles at the sight of Alicent, but her eyes temporarily glance towards the young man beside the professor. 

Alicent must have been sensing Rhaenyra’s curiosity of the man, or she could have just read Rhaenyra’s mind. But that is unlikely since Alicent had long ago, back when they were just a duo recruiting fellow mutants, promised not to get inside of Rhaenyra’s head. 

“This is Aegon,” Alicent said, gesturing towards the young man. She is introducing them now, Rhaenyra mused.

But the name is unexpected. Aegon, why would he have a Valyrian name? Is he perhaps Valyrian then? Well that would certainly explain the hair.

The man simply said, “Aegon Hightower,”As if it was a normal thing to have those two names while being introduced to a wanted person. 

Aegon Hightower, so is he related to Alicent then? But that really only raises more questions than answers. 

But looking at this Aegon Hightower much more closely, Rhaenyra found herself looking at a Valyrian man with Alicent’s facial features. 

He has Alicent’s face, Rhaenyra realizes with a slightly sinking feeling. Why does he have Alicent’s face? He shouldn’t have Alicent’s face unless… 

Oh. 

And that’s when it started to sink in why this Valyrian looking young man with Alicent’s last name looks so much like Alicent does. 

OH. 

OH. 

He is her son, Rhaenyra feels a sinking feeling in her gut and she feels as if someone is squeezing her heart. 

“Rhaenyra?” Alicent frowns slightly. “Are you all right old friend? You do not look so good there,” 

The Valyrian man -Aegon Hightower- looks at Rhaenyra a bit apprehensively. Are you sure it was a good idea to have her know about me, Mother? Aegon asks his mother mentally.

I didn’t know what to expect and I don’t really think that she would connect anything at all, Alicent responds. 

Aegon holds back the scoff. Magneto may be unhinged but she is not particularly much of an imbecile Mother. 

Alicent gives her son a look. Do not call her that Aegon. That is not polite. And anyways, Rhaenyra is not mentally unstable. She is just…

A crazy bitch that left you paralyzed on a beach and became a terrorist, killed a president, almost killed another president as well as that mutant hating inventor, and then went off the grid for a few years before coming back SIMPLY to kidnap you so an ancient megalomaniac could posses your body and kill every human alive after some guys killed her new beau and child. Yeah mom, it does not look so good. 

Alicent sighs. Her son isn’t exactly wrong but that just makes it all the more worse in regards for any potential relationship forming between Rhaenyra and Alicent’s four children. 

Aegon & Helaena. Aemond. Daeron. 

Not to mention that she got Arra killed in the explosion that happened because she kidnapped you, Aegon added. So now Theresa is an orphan. Sara hates her guts and Jace is conflicted over reveling their parent-child relationship. 

“Rhaenyra,” Alicent gently tugs on a small part of Rhaenyra’s overcoat. “Old friend, are you all right?” 

Rhaenyra takes in a sharp breath, her purple eyes looking between Alicent and Aegon Hightower. 

“I’m…I’m all right,” Rhaenyra stammers out, looking at her boots for a moment before she met Alicent’s gaze. 

Very pointedly ignoring Aegon’s critical sunglasses covered gaze. 

“I’m glad,” Alicent smiles in relief. 

“Well then,” Aegon sighs, glancing away from his mother and her ex. “Should we go inside the mansion?” 

Alicent hums. “That would be good,” She looks at Rhaenyra and asks, “Would you like to come inside?” 

“Yes, that would be lovely,” Rhaenyra coughs into her left hand. “I think that I would like that,” 

AUTHOR’S NOTE 

So Aegon is also a mutant (as well as all of his siblings), his powers are basically just telekinesis with very weak telepathy. 

Helaena has her precognition. They get more specific, a bit more vague, and a lot more powerful as she gets older. 

I still haven’t decided on what Aemond’s powers should be. BUT I have decided on the fact that his mutation kicks in when he’s a bit older instead of showing up early like with the rest of his family. 

Daeron is an empath. He’s also the youngest of Alicent’s children. Daeron can feel the emotions of the people around him within a certain radius. He can influence their emotions to a certain degree. As he gets older his powers get a lot more powerful.

Aegon and Helaena are twins. Aemond is from half a year to a whole year younger. And Daeron is some years younger than Aemond. 

Jacaerys has super speed and he’s also Rhaenyra’s kid from an unknown Strong parent (50/50 chance that it’s Harwin). 

Rhaenyra dropped him off with his supposed father (Cleos Strong) because she knows that she couldn’t take care of him and that he wouldn’t be safe with her because of stuff that was happening at the time. 

Larys and Lyonel are the ones that mainly take care of Jace. With Alys occasionally babysitting. So Jace is basically Peter Maximoff/Quicksilver. 

Lucerys exist somewhere in the family tree but no one knows that he is actually Rhaenyra’s child with a rando Strong guy. Said guy refuses to say who’s Luke’s mom. All he had said so far is that it was a blonde woman named Rachel who he dated for like half a year. 

Lucerys is just -to everyone’s knowledge minus Luke’s Dad- Jace’s very normal cousin with a mom who just dropped Luke off with the dad and that’s he’s very supportive of Jace and is very close to Jace himself. Luke also is not a mutant.

Joffrey could speak to animals and they all love him. He was basically Nina from X-Men: Apocalypse. About the same stuff that happens with Nina and her mom happens but this time it’s with Harwin and Joffrey.

Chapter Text

The smoky scent as well as the choking bittersweet smell of wilting roses is the only thing that Aegon could smell from where he stood. 

Aemond’s scent. Aemond’s scent, His mind chanted almost as if Aegon was bewitched by the scent of his younger brother Aemond. 

But there is also another smell that is overwhelming Aegon’s nose. 

The scent of blood. 

Aemond’s blood.

Fuck, he’s in deep if he’s feeling like this already. And Aegon knows that. His breathing is heavy and he has to take deep breath’s in order to keep himself in place. 

“Aemond!” The clear smell of distress coming from his mother reminds Aegon of cold water. 

It makes his head feel a bit faint but he can steady himself somewhat. Unlike with Aemond’s scent that threatened to consume Aegon in its entirety. 

The King comes walking in and demands to know what has happened. Aemond had lost an eye and Rhaenyra’s eldest two are bloody and bruised. 

And Aegon hasn’t even bothered looked at Daemon’s twin daughters (what were their names again? Bale…a? Raíl-ley? Edna? Bailey?). 

Aegon drowns out the conversations that are being had as his omega mother begs for Aegon’s father to punish Aemond's attackers and his maimer. 

“He’s your son, Viserys.” His mother pleads, and Aegon can clearly hear the tearfulness brokenness in her voice. 

“Your blood,” 

Blood, what does blood matter anyway? Why does this matter? Aegon’s lilac eyes wander aimlessly towards the fireplace. 

The fire is just enough to keep warm. It is not very big or very intense in its heat. It’s just there. It’s just there. 

(Like Aegon himself is) 

“He called us bastards!” One (was it Luce? Or maybe Jase?) of Rhaenyra’s boys exclaims. As if that little thing justifies everything. 

Maybe it does, at least to Rhaenyra and Viserys and those boys that Aegon had bullied his own brother with. 

Silence. 

And then: “My sons are set to inherit the Iron Throne, Your Grace. This is the highest of treasons. Prince Aemond must be questioned sharply so we can might learn where he has heard such treasonous slanders!” 

WHAT?

And all hell broke loose. 

The King, Aegon and Helaena and Aemond and Daeron’s own father, immediately bended to his eldest child’s (his favorite child, his sweet darling and beloved Aemma’s child, his golden child, his only child) will. 

“Aemond! Look at me!” Viserys turns to face the still bleeding Aemond. “Your king demands an answer!” The feeble king’s voice is hard and there is no empathy for the whimpering and freshly maimed unwanted omega son from an unwanted omega second wife. 

And that’s when everything finally set into a horrifyingly clear understanding for the young Aegon. 

Father doesn’t care for any of us, only for his precious Rhaenyra from sweet and beloved Aemma. And for Rhaenyra’s children, even if they hurt us. 

It doesn’t matter that Aegon and his brothers are the sons that Viserys has always wanted for so very long. 

The sons that sweet and beloved and precious Aemma died for but could never ever produce. 

It doesn’t matter that all the laws and customs of Westeros say that the throne belongs to Aegon as the eldest son. 

It doesn’t matter that Viserys remarried to Aegon’s mother on his own free will against the push for Laena Velaryon to be the one taken to wife by the king.

It doesn’t matter that it was Lucerys that has maimed Aemond for life (and that Aemond might die from infection). 

It doesn’t matter that Aemond had been  ambushed by four kids (Jave, Luce, and both of Daemon’s daughters). 

It doesn’t matter. 

It doesn’t matter at all!

It doesn’t matter because Rhaenyra has weaponized the very word treason and their father’s favor. 

Then the crippling acid and smoky smell hit Aegon’s nose as soon as he inhaled. Aemond’s distressed, his mind tells him.

And everything in Aegon’s very being kept telling him: Comfort him. Omega’s distressed. Omega’s hurt. He needs you! Help Omega. He needs you! 

Fuck. Aegon is in deep and there is no going back from this at all. And especially not with what’s happening.

”Aemond, answer me! Where have you heard such slanders!” Viserys demands, ignoring his wife’s pleads and Aemond’s pained filed face. 

“It was me,” Aegon said before he could properly think of anything else to say. But all that he could think of was getting his father to stop intimidating the bleeding Aemond. 

Viserys’ eyes wandered towards Aegon, and there was nothing but steel in them. He really doesn’t care for us unless we’re his precious Rhaenyra, the pup part inside of Aegon cried at the unjustness of it all. 

But the part that was the alpha snarling in anger at Aemond’s treatment and insisting on going to his wounded brother snaps at the pup in warning. 

“Aegon, answer me! Where have you heard such slander and why have you spread such treasonous words!” Viserys demands as he gets in Aegon’s face.

Up close, Aegon can see very clearly his sire’s wrinkled skin and his floppy white hair that looks ready to fall off the king’s head. 

Aegon holds back the urge to cringe as his eyes look at both his father and mother. Gods, the contrast between the both of them is startling and it makes a part of Aegon feel sick. 

“Aegon, answer me! Your king demands an answer!” Viserys tries to bellow, tries to intimidate his unwanted eldest son. 

Aegon’s lilac eyes flick towards Viserys and there is only resignation in them. “Do you truly want to know, Father? Your Grace?” Aegon says simply. 

“I must know who has spread such slander and treason against Rhaenyra and her heirs,” Viserys’ eyes flicker towards Aegon’s mother and they’re filled with barely hidden accusations. 

And what of Aemond’s eye? 

Rhaenyra is smug as she holds her brown haired and pug noses sons who look nothing like the Velaryon’s or the Baratheon’s or the Targaryen’s. 

Fine, if Rhaenyra can lie her ass off to protect her would-be-brother-killing kin slaying whiny brats and get away with it because of Father. Then I’ll lie my ass off to protect my brother.

“I suppose I should start chronologically in order to throw it all out for everyone to know,” Aegon smiles mockingly at his father who bristles at Aegon’s response. 

Aegon takes a deep breath and starts, “Earlier while I was walking around I overheard Ser Vaemond and Rhogar Velaryon tell Lord Corlys to change the line of succession as my sister’s children are not true Velaryon’s but Strong pups sires by Harwin Strong. Lord Corlys’ response was that history remembers names and not blood, he did not however deny that Rhaenyra’s pups are not true-born Velaryon’s,” 

Horror colors Viserys’ face as his grip on the cane tightens significantly. The king’s knuckles become pale. 

Rhogar Velaryon is not here right now but Ser Vaemond is. As is Lord Corlys. They could both speak, and Aegon could allow it. 

But what does any of that matter when the politically incompetent Sea Snake will accept Rhaenyra’s brats without a second thought out of need to salvage his pride so no one can mock his house or his son for being usurped by bastards and cucked for all the realm to know? 

If Rhaenyra can lie to everyone about her brats and get away with it because of their father and demand that Aemond be tortured for throwing that dreaded word back in her brat’s face. 

Then Aegon can also lie and play with the truth in order to protect his freshly maimed omega younger brother.

“Lady Merryweather once gossiped to Lady Crabb about how perhaps Lady Arra Strong will birth a babe with that resembles her cousin than her husband since she always seems to prefer Ser Harwin’s company when he’s not with Rhaenyra as her belly has begun to swell. And her husband has been away for five months. Lady Crabb then said that only princesses can do such things to their husband’s with no consequences and that Arra Strong better find a midwife or some moon tea,”

Both women had husbands of the Black faction, will Rhaenyra punish them and risk loosing the support of both their husbands? 

Watch sweet sister of mine as I smash your trust for your faction into a million little pieces. 

Oh, Aegon is going to enjoy this. 

“Lord Borell once joked if breaking oaths was a thing that ran in the Strong family or if it was just a thing that those related to Lucamore Strong had. Lady Borell once said, What is a pretty name for a whore? And one of Lord Celtigar’s son responded by saying, Princess.” 

The Celtigar’s are loyal to Rhaenyra while Lord Borell is related to Lady Crabb, who’s husband’s house is also loyal to Rhaenyra. 

“Lady Hayford once wondered if being born as a princess meant that you could commit treason if you wished to so long as the king favors you. Lord Grey once japed while drinking with Lord Frey if everyone in the realm could be counted as a Velaryon if Princess Rhaenyra’s sons could have brown hair and brown eyes. Lord Frey replied with saying Only if you look like a bloody First Men!” 

Of course, Lord Grey was very deep in his cups when he had made that joke to Lord Frey. So you could technically say that he didn’t mean to because he was drunk out of his mind. 

BUT, Aegon is going to bend and stretch the truth so far that Rhaenyra will be left thinking that her entire fucking faction is undermining her and her brats.

Rhaenyra’s supporters look at each other nervously, wondering if the eldest of the Green Princes has overheard all of theirs conversation. And the tension is so high that you could cut it with a knife. 

Like they cut Aemond. 

It was a horrible thought.

So instead Aegon simply went back to destroying Rhaenyra’s trust in her entire faction with a couple of words. 

“Lord Charlton once japed if all beautiful and proud princesses are whores with bastards. Lady Alora Fell once said if all husbands who preferred the company of men would accept boys who do not look even vaguely like them for heirs.” 

Lord Charlton is a vessel to the Frey’s and kin to them because of a few past marriages between them. 

And Alora Fell is the head of House Fell of Felwood from the Stormlands and the aunt of Ser Willis Fell of the Kingsguard. 

Perhaps I should go on?

And he does, Aegon brings up some more jokes and out-of-context words to drill it in to everyone present that the illegitimate status of Rhaenyra’s brats is known by everyone. 

Including Rhaenyra’s own supporters.

And Aegon even adds the name of a prominent Green courtier and someone else powerful enough to escape arrest because of their words:

“When Lady Elenda Baratheon and Dowager Lady Redwyne were informed of how Joffrey had brown hair and eyes as well as a pug nose, Lady Baratheon demanded to know of the Princess will claim that the Baratheon’s are descendants of the First Men rather than the Durrandon’s and the Valyrians because of Argella Durrandon, Orys Baratheon, and Alyssa Velaryon. 

“Meanwhile the Dowager Lady Redwyne snidely asked if the Princess thought them all for fools and blind cripples. Lady Cuy warned Lady Redwyne that the Queen will not hear any words against the Princess Rhaenyra. Lady Redwyne scoffed at that and said that the Queen can not allow her past feelings for her childhood companion to make her blind to the mistakes of others around her,”

Arresting Lady Baratheon would be a quick way to greatly anger Lord Borros Baratheon and the entirety of both House Baratheon and the Stormland’s. 

That tidbit about Aegon’s mother would throw Viserys and Rhaenyra away from accusing his mother for the rumors. 

After all, if the Queen has tried to quell the rumors of the Crown Princess’s very obvious crimes. Then how can they blame Aegon’s mother for the fact that people have eyes and a tongue to talk? 

He mentions the Gold Cloaks and how one had joked about wondering if the heiress to the throne moans and squeals just like his favorite Valyrian whore does.

He mentions how a whore in Flea Bottom had once loudly said that the Princess of Dragonstone should leave her castle to come and help the pleasure-houses make money as the Princess is also a whore. 

A costly whore. 

“The most expensive and the richest whore there ever was!” 

By the time that Viserys demands that he stop throwing the Black courtiers’ dirty laundry into the air, it’s far too late. 

The brats are whimpering and cowering as they cling onto the skirts of their mother who had set them to fail from as early as their conception by making them bastards sired on her by a man that is not her husband. 

The king is angry and afraid, now very well knowing that his precious Rhaenyra’s crimes and wrongdoings are a very known fact among even her supporters.

What will you do know Father? Everyone knows of it, just look at them. Neither of the two of them or the other one look anything like me or Helaena, Aemond, or Daeron. And they look nothing like the Baratheon’s or the Velaryon’s. They don’t look Valyrian or Baratheon. They look like First Men, they look like the Strong’s. 

Aegon raised his chin and simply says, “Everyone knows Father, Your Grace. Just look at them, the people have eyes. And they talk, Father. By the Seven Above, the people talk,” 

Viserys sputters and steps back. There is horror in his dark purple eyes and his eyes dart around the room. 

Traitors everywhere. 

Traitors everywhere. 

“This…This division in House Targaryen must stop!” Viserys exclaims as loudly as he can, his breathing is heavy. 

Conveniently, King Viserys does not bring up the comments made by Rhaenyra’s own courtiers and of the people in King’s Landing concerning her obvious bastards.

“We are all family! We must stop this infighting once and for all. The House of the Dragon can not stand to be dived by its own members!”

“But what of Aemond’s eye, Viserys?” His mother whispers. Her soft brown eyes are filled with grief as she holds Aemond.

Aemond for his part, squeezes his mother’s hand tightly. And that seems to be the thing that centers Alicent.

”It…It was an accident,” Viserys says lamely, not looking at either his wife and queen or his freshly maimed second son.

”A most regrettable accident but-“

”Aemond has lost an eye!” Aegon’s mother -Queen Alicent- screams out on both rage and grief. “And you would do nothing to avenge him? To give him any sort of justice? He is your son, your blood!” 

His mother glares at Rhaenyra and her two bastard sons with hatred and anger in her large brown eyes. 

“And it is her sons who have maimed our son Viserys! Their own uncle. And you would try and intimidate our omega son for insults thrown?” 

“Lines are drawn, lines are cut. Nothing will ever be the same again,” Helaena whispers softly.

Aegon has to hold back a groan. “Not right now Hel. Please, don’t let them hear you,” Aegon whispers. 

Especially not the King. 

His mother -the Queen- is shaking now and Aemond can barely stop himself from wincing as his mother’s grip on him tightens significantly. 

Enough to leave mark. 

Aemond breaths heavily and looks at his mother. “Do not mourn me Mother,” He says, “I might have lost an eye but I gained a dragon. It was a fair trade,”

But he winces from pain as he says so. Aemond, he’s in pain. He’s in pain. Aemond is in pain. Omega is in pain. 

Fuck, not again. 

At this point Aegon has resigned to himself that he’s too far gone now in terms of his feelings for Aemond. 

The alpha in him is reacting to Aemond and Aemond’s pain. And they’re brothers anyway. A reaction was always going to happen for Aegon. 

So Aegon moves and now he stands besides Aemond, trying to seem enough to protect his maimed little brother from the people that they shouldn’t need protection from in the first place. 

What a cruel jape the Gods have made of us, brother, Aegon thinks. 

“No, this is no fair trade!” Their mother denies, refusing to take Aemond’s reassurance. She turns towards Viserys and her expression changes to one of anger and grief. 

“The king will not deliver justice, not even to his own blood. So how can we expect him to give justice to anyone else in the kingdom?” The Queen spats. 

Her eyes are filled with the fire of her anger and hatred and her grief. The banners have been called and the beacon has been lit. 

Viserys seems to understand that his queen is undermining him by using his choices and turning them against him.

”Alicent, enough,” Viserys sighs. 

As if this is not important at all, their second son’s maiming. 

And that only drives the Queen further.

”The king gives justice. The king gives us wisdom. The king is wise. The is just they say! But he denies his own son, his own blood, any sort of justice for his lost eye. An eye taken by the king’s own grandchild.” Alicent looks at all of the people gathered. 

Viserys’ eyes flicker in flighty motions. He licks his lips. “Alicent that is quite enough now,” 

“Our king is peaceful. But he intimidates his freshly maimed omega child in order to silence him simply because of an insult thrown that should not have mattered at all if they had nothing to fear!” 

“Alicent!” Viserys roars. “Enough of this. Stop it all now,” 

“I can not stop it now Husband,” Mother says coldly, facing the King with her chain raised and her back straight. 

The very image of a queen. 

The queen. 

The Green Queen. 

“Maegor thought that because he had the Black Dread, the people would not stop demanding for justice against the monster who slayed his own nephew and usurped the throne. You do not have Balerion now Husband. Our omega son has been permanently by your grandchild from your eldest child and you would deny our poor Aemond justice.” 

Mother looks around and gestures towards Aegon and his siblings as well as Ser Criston and Grandfather Otto. 

“If I will not get justice from my own lord husband and king for our son’s maiming then I see no more reason to stay here in this place where me and my half-Andal children are not wanted because we are not fully Valyrian,” Alicent scoffs. 

She holds Aemond and helps her maimed child get up from the chair. And Aegon immediately helps her with Aemond.

Aemond looks at Aegon a bit warily but ultimately swallows back spit and lets Aegon put his hands all over Aemond’s body in order to help him. 

“Alicent,” Viserys says.

The Queen ignores him and starts to leave the hall with her children, father, and sworn shield in tow. 

“Alicent!” Viserys says louder. 

“Good night to you Your Grace,” Mother says coldly without so much as looking back to look at her deadbeat husband.

They -the Green family- were all in his mother’s bedchambers when Aegon made the decision that will impact their entire family. 

“Oh Aemond, what will we do now?” Aegon’s mother whispered as she stroked Aemond’s silky white hair. “You’re still so very young and with a life ahead of you. If I could take your pain away I will, but what will we do? And what of any of your future prospects? A male royal omega with a wound like this…” 

“Do not fret over me, Mother,” Aemond tries to reassure his mother, placing one of his small pale hand over his mother’s own warm hands. 

“Do not mourn me Mother, I may have lost an eye but I gained a dragon,”

“I ride a dragon now, Queen Visenya’s own dragon. And I can still learn to fight under Ser Criston, even with the loss of my eye,” Aemond insists. 

But Aegon still smells the dying flowers being set on fire and of that cold water being dumped over burning wood. 

“I can marry Aemond,” Aegon says suddenly, drawing the eyes of everyone in the room. 

Aemond’s sole lilac eye widens in both surprise and disbelief. Their mother also looked surprised while Grandfather had that look in his face that indicated that he was thinking about Aegon’s proposal. 

“But you are to wed Helaena,” Alicent says, glancing towards Helaena. Aegon’s little sister was putting a piece of cloth into water and then using it to clean Aemond’s hands. 

“Break my betrothal to Helaena and betroth me to Aemond, Mother,” Aegon suggests. “Helaena is our only sister and a beta. She will have better prospects than Aemond will. And we have Daeron as well for marriage alliances,” 

“Aegon is right,” Grandfather says. “With his injury, Aemond’s marriage prospects have plummeted. Even with being an omega with royal blood, no one would want a one-eyed omega,” 

Aemond’s eye look downcast, his small hands tighten into fists. And Mother glares at Grandfather. “Do not speak of my own child like that Father,” Their lady mother hisses. 

Aegon however is too focused on Aemond to care for his mother and grandfather’s arguments. 

Aemond didn’t smell repulsed at the idea of marrying him. And that is good, right? It’s good that Aemond isn’t repulsed with marrying him despite the bullying, right?

Aegon holds back the wince. I’m sorry Aemond, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have treated you like that just for not having a dragon at all. 

“Aemond,” Aegon says, inhaling his brother’s smell of firewood and of books and of incense and sweetness. 

Aemond looks at Aegon and his lips become a straight line. “I do not want you to marry simply because you pity me, Brother,” Aemond says, breathing heavy as Helaena washes his face gently and as their mother strokes his hair with sorrow on her face.

“I’m not doing this because of pity,” Aegon replies, lilac eyes locked onto Aemond’s only eye. “I’m doing this because I want to and I want to protect you, even if you don’t believe me,”

Aemond’s eye searched Aegon’s and he inhaled Aegon’s scent. Wine, grapes, smoky, perfume. Seven Above, he smells so good. It’s like his scent is supposed to calm me down. 

And Aegon’s scent is sincere.    

“I believe you,” Aemond says. 

Aegon inhales and it’s like a deep burden has been removed from his shoulders. He believes me. He believes me. He believes me, the alpha in Aegon chants happily.

Aegon steps closer to Aemond, Mother, and Helaena till there just an inch that separates Aemond and Aegon. 

“Oh my brave sweet boys,” Their mother whispers as she uses one hand to hold onto Aegon’s sleeves and the other wrap around Aemond and faintly brush against Helaena’s long silvery hair. 

“We all must stand with each other no matter what. Do you understand now, Aegon, Aemond?” Their mother’s eyes are filled with sorrow and resignation. 

“Yes Mother,” Aegon says, swallowing back the bile at the memory of Aemond’s bloodied face and of Viserys -their own father- siding with Rhaenyra and her brats in order to silence them because of Rhaenyra and her brats. 

“We promise that we do,” Aemond says, sole purple eye locked onto Aegon’s own lilac eyes. 

“I promise,” Aegon echoes. 

Time flows by after the night at Driftmark and the Greens make good on their promise to stay united. 

Grandfather Otto wastes next to no time on spreading the story of what happened on Driftmark that night by way of the servants. 

And it’s not like it’s hard anyway. 

The servants had already seen Aemond’s maimed face and of how he collapsed not long after. 

Mother had screamed and Ser Criston had immediately rushed Aemond to a Maester. Helaena had ended up staying with Aegon and with Dreamfyre. 

And soon everyone knew the story of how Aemond had lost his eye. 

Neither Lucerys or the Blacks as a whole would ever recover from the fallout of the night at Driftmark after the Greens are done with them. 

“Aemond, are you sure about continuing with training under Ser Criston?” Alicent frowns. “You are an omega my boy, and you will be Aegon’s consort,” 

“I insist Mother,” Aemond replies, using a cloth to make his sword look cleaner. “I may be an omega and Aegon’s future consort. But I am a Targaryen with a dragon, Visenya’s own dragon. I mean to be as strong as her in order to serve my brother-husband and future king,” 

“Mother, let him,” Aegon says, flickering through pages of an old book and glancing wistfully at the wine that his mother had confiscated from him.

”I do not mind and Aemond likes it. And Visenya was formidable.” Aegon takes a small sip of his watered down wine. “You do not have to fret so much over Aemond’s unconventional behavior,” 

Ever since Driftmark, the Greens (and Aegon) had amped up the politicking and had begun to forge ties with the other houses by fostering. 

Daeron had been recalled from Oldtown and sent to Storm’s End to be fostered with Lord Borros and betrothed to his heir presumptive, the beta Lady Cassandra Baratheon. 

(If Daeron has often times brought up his sailor friend from Hull and looked very memorized then only the Green family knows of Daeron actively disappearing for a few good moments and smelling of the sea and of spices. Cassandra does not care about her betrothed’s high fondness for that Hull sailor so long as she does not meet him)

Cerelle and Tyshara Lannister, the eldest two daughters of Jason Lannister, have come to court as ladies-in-waiting to Aegon’s mother. 

Lord Tully’s granddaughter -Lucinda ‘Luci’ Tully- and sister to his heir Elmo Tully has also been taken into the Queen’s service as part of her household. 

(Cassandra may or may not have taken a special interest on Helaena, finding her amusing and fascinating. While Cerelle has been actively trying to get into Helaena’s good graces, looking at the Green princess with sparkling eyes.) 

And Aegon may or may not have suggested on his cousin Lyonel Hightower coming to court as a fellow squire with Aemond to Ser Criston. 

A (Lannister) cousin of Lord Jason -a certain Tion Lannister who is very good with a fiddle- was also one of Aegon’s favorites and companions. 

And Tion may or may be the reason why a few certain songs that may or may not be poking at of Rhaenyra are currently very popular at court. 

(Viserys grumbles at the songs but Tion simply insists that the songs make fun of an ancestor of his. The Lannister king that dressed up in whore’s drag and walked around Casterly Rock full of pride as if nothing could touch him) 

Casper Wylde -one of Ironrod’s many but many children- is also among Aegon’s favorites. 

Also among some of Aegon’s favorites-shash-companions are Loras Cuy, the Mallister Heir, Luthor Tyrell- a Tyrell cousin of the main line, Patricia Redwyne (Lord Redwyne’s alpha daughter who Aemond had also become somewhat fond of and admired for her talent with a bow). 

Alicent sighs. “Very well, I suppose that I should have expected this. After all when either of you set your mind to something you will not go back in it,” 

“You know us Mother,” Aegon laughs.

Aemond hums, smiling at his elder brother/betrothed and his mother. 

Alicent smiles in fondness at her sons. 

Chapter Text

“My bounty is as boundless as the sea, Mty love as deep; the more I give to thee, The more I have, for both are intimate,”

It started out first as a few pacing glances at each other, shy and sweet and so very innocent in its nature. 

(It didn’t stay innocent for very long)

Addam’s mother is a merchant and the captain of her own ship, Mouse, and six other ships that both Addam and his little brother Alyn work on. 

Daeron is a Prince and the youngest child of the king as well as the youngest child from the king’s second wife. 

When they first meet, it’s in Oldtown. 

Daeron is being fostered with his maternal family away from the Red Keep in King’s Landing. 

And Addam is with his mother’s right hand man and best friend, Cleos of Hull, doing business in Oldtown. 

Addam of Hull is fifteen years old when the Dance of the Dragons conflict breaks out between Rhaenyra and Aegon. 

He’s fifteen years and has given birth to a child -a son, a bastard just like him, a dragon-seed- just a few months ago. 

He’s fifteen and he misses Daeron. 

His beloved. 

His Prince.

His Oldtown sweetheart (as his younger brother Alyn likes to teasingly refer to Daeron). 

His alpha. 

The father of his child. 

The love of his life. 

The first time they fell into the other’s bed is when Daeron’s maternal cousin Jon Hightower -a skilled painter of good enough fame- invites Cleos and Addam to dine at his manse.

Cleos has a few paintings in one of Addam’s mother’s ship -Full Tide- that Lord Jon Hightower is interested on purchasing. 

Jon’s companions, Patrick and Eustace, talk with Cleos and Jon. They are discussing the portraits that Cleos has brought to Oldtown. 

There was wine being drank. Arbor Gold and sweetened wine from the city of Oldtown itself. 

“Nothing beats Oldtown wine,” Patrick jokes as he laughs, raising his cup in toast. “Except Arbor Gold perhaps,”

”Or Dornish Red, perhaps,” Eustace says, helping himself to some tasty looking honey sweets.

“Certainly not wine from Kings Landing,” Cleos huffs. “The wine there’s too fucking strong for me,” 

One day, Lord Corlys Velaryon comes to their home.

”M-My lord!” Addam’s breathing is heavy and the seven-pointed-star necklace from Daeron feels warm underneath Addam’s shirt. 

Lord Corlys is dressed as richly as a high-born lord with a castle full of coin and wealth and treasures would. 

And Addam feels strangely conscious of himself next to such a richly dressed lord with an air around him. 

“Addam? What is going on?” 

That’s Alyn’s voice, Addam thinks, swallowing back spit. And little baby Laenor whimpers in his wooden crib. 

No, not now. Please not now. Sweetling, you can’t start up now. You can’t draw attention to yourself now, Addam feels a sinking feeling. 

Lord Corlys must have heard the baby’s soft whimpers because his eyes then go towards the source of the whimpers.

Corlys’ purple eyes widen a bit at the sight of the completely Valyrian babe in the wooden crib with carvings on it.

The crib had been a gift from Cleos for the baby after he had found out about Addam being with child. 

”I’ve known you ever since you were in your mother’s womb, little sailor. I know that you’ve got that Oldtown prince of yours and that he’ll probably give you expensive stuff after he finds out about the kid. But I want to give you something for your child, even if it’s something as small as a wooden crib. I did the same for your mother back when you and your brother were born.” 

“Is he yours?” Lord Corlys asks after a moment. The proud Valyrian lord had just been staring wordlessly at Addam’s Laenor as if he was seeing a ghost. 

“…Yes, he’s mine,” Addam replies, his purple eyes narrowing. His scent is high with unease and Corlys must have picked up on it. 

Because Corlys simply sighed and held up his two hands in a peace motion. “I have no intention to hurt the child,” Lord Corlys reassures Addam. 

“Addam? Is someone in the house?” 

That is mother’s voice, Addam thinks immediately as he hears the voice of his mother behind him.

He turns around and sees his mother Marilda of Hull and younger brother Alyn coming closer. 

“Brother what is wrong? And why do I smell a rich alpha in the house?” Alyn is saying until he sees Corlys. 

His eyes go wide and Mother freezes in place. Her entire body becomes stiff as she stares at the high-born lord in front of her and her sons. 

Corlys sees Marilda and his lips form a thin line. “Marilda,” Lord Corlys says simply, looking at Marilda and then at Alyn who is standing beside their mother with wide eyes and an open gaping mouth like a fish. 

“Corlys,” Marilda of Hull, Addam and Alyn’s mother, says finally after a moment. 

Daemon scoffs, crossing his arms. “So the Sea Snake has requested for both of Laenor’s supposed bastards to be legitimatized?”

Rhaenyra clicks her tongue. “Yes, as well as Addam of Hull’s bastard child. What is making another bastard legitimate?”

”So Corlys wishes for the Velaryon line to run through the bloodied cunt of his supposed bastard omega grandchild?” 

“Supposed?” Rhaenyra simply raises one eyebrow. “Addam has claimed a dragon, Laenor’s own dragon Seasmoke. He is Laenor’s bastard, he is of the dragon’s blood,” 

“And so are Jacaerys and Joffrey,” Daemon says with a small huff. Though I suppose that I should thank that omega bitch. Had it not been for him, Joffrey would be in line for Driftmark and we would not have had Seasmoke or a loyal soldier. Now I only have to wait for the eldest of Rhaenyra’s Strong pups to die in the war before I can rid myself of Joffrey once and for all so my Aegon can claim his rightful place as Rhaenyra’s true heir. 

Rhaenyra scowls. “Joff is my Jace’s heir till he marries Baela and sires true-born children on her to continue the line,” 

“Yes, that,” Daemon rolls his eyes. 

“Daeron, Daeron, Daeron, Daeron, Daeron, Daeron,” Addam chants as he gasps. “Oh Gods…Nggh!” 

He could feel it, everything. 

Every vein, every moment, every twitch.

And all that Addam could feel is Daeron’s cock inside of him. Just warming itself inside of Addam and making a home in Addam’s insides. 

“Shh,” Daeron whispers softly, gently placing a kiss on Addam’s neck. “You don’t want anyone to hear, do you love?”

Addam whimpers softly at that, wrapping his arms around Daeron’s neck. Daeron groans as he sinks deeper inside of Addam. 

“Seven Above, you feel amazing raqnon,” Daeron murmurs as he began to lovingly suck on Addam’s neck and leave hickeys.

Raqnon. Love.  

“I wish for Daeron to be spared, Grandfather,” Addam says firmly to his grandfather Lord Corlys’ Velaryon. 

“Prince Daeron?” Lord Corlys frowns. “Addam, I can not promise you anything of that sort. And especially not whilst the Prince fights us under the flag of Aegon the Usurper, and with his dragon as well.”

”I know,” Addam replies quietly, “But nevertheless I still beg for Prince Daeron to be given a choice to be able to surrender and bend the knee. Take him hostage if you must, but I beg of you my lord grandfather to ask the Queen to spare the life of Prince Daeron,” 

The Sea Snake’s purple eyes gazed onto Addam’s own purple eyes in search for something. In search of answers. 

Why does he wish for the Prince to be spared by Rhaenyra? What reasons does Addam have to beg for the survival of Daeron the Daring? Corlys wonders. 

“What is your son’s name Addam?” Lord Corlys asks as he holds Addam’s child in his arms with a smile on his face. 

Little Laenor simply giggled happily as he reaches out towards his great-grandfather with his little hands. 

“Laenor,” Addam says, watching both his paternal grandfather and his young son. “His name is Laenor,” 

For love and for Daeron, my boy’s father that he will probably never know just like I never met my father Ser Laenor Velaryon, Addam thinks with a sharp inhale. 

Corlys’s eyes widen at Addam’s words and he looks at the giggling robust babe in his arms. 

Of course, Corlys Velaryon most likely just assumes that Addam named his son after his father Laenor Velaryon, Corlys own son by his wife Princess Rhaenys.

But the truth is that Addam had actually named his child after the child’s father. Of course only Alyn, Cleos, Addam himself, and Addam’s own mother will ever know that.

The L in little Laenor’s name stood for love. 

While the ‘aenor’ part was just most of the name Daeron but without the ‘d’ and with the words switched around a bit. 

I did not name my son for a father that I never knew but for a man that I loved so very dearly for so long. But mayhaps history will not think so, Addam thinks. 

“I must leave for Oldtown soon,” Daeron sighs. “And I believe that we shan’t see each other for a while,” 

They’re on Driftmark isle on the farthest part of the isle, the most isolated part of the isle where not many live at. 

They’re hiding behind some of the bigger rocks not far from the beach. The rocks all bunch up together, making the perfect bidding spot.

“Must you leave?” Addam pleads. “We can still see each other in Oldtown-“

”Addam, raqnon, it is likely that I am leaving for war,” Daeron says gently, he ran a hand through Addam’s long silver hair. “And war is no place for love,” 

“For war?” Addam raises an eyebrow at that. “Why for war? There’s nothing to be fought for. Not Dorne or the Stepstones that Cleos fought in. The realm is at peace and has been for long, Daeron. So what war would you be fighting in?”

Unless it is an excuse and Daeron is simply telling him this because he does not know how to tell Addam that he has tired of him, tired of their relationship.

No, that’s not, Addam thinks desperately. Daeron is not like that, he would not do such a thing. And he loves me, he loves me so much. 

But does he? A treacherous part of Addam whispers in the back of his mind. He is a prince and a Targaryen at that. Surely his family have some high-born lady in line to marry him and produce true-born children with. He has no use of a lowborn bastard sailor, other than for pleasure and lust. 

No, no, no, no, NO! It’s not like that. It is not like that, Addam tells himself desperately as he swallows back bile.

“The realm is not at peace Addam,” Daeron frowns. “So long as my kingly father refuses to name my brother Aegon as his heir and instead keeps my sister Rhaenyra and her bastards pups by Ser Harwin Strong nothing is at peace,” 

“But don’t the sons of the Princess simply just take after Lady Velaryon’s Baratheon blood?” Addam frowns. “And the Princess has Arryn blood as well,” 

Daeron scoffs. “That would be true if they actually looked Arryn or Baratheon. They look exactly like Harwin Strong that it is almost laughable and insulting how obvious it is that they are not true-born,”

Bastards and true-born, such an annoying thing, Addam thinks. Why does all of that even matter anyway? I know plenty of bastards who are better than some lords. 

Duty is the death of love, they say and Daeron wants to laugh at that. He wants to scream at whoever came up with that hateful saying. 

But he can’t. 

Seven Above, he can’t. 

“With this kiss I pledge my love,” Daeron says, feeling empty inside as he stares into the blue eyes of his Baratheon bride.

His marriage to the beta eldest daughter of Lord Borros Baratheon is for political purposes only. That’s it. 

And she’s not Addam  

“With this kiss I pledge my love,” the Lady Cassandra Baratheon repeats, holding Daeron’s own gaze. 

“And I take you for my lady and wife,”

”I take you for my lord and husband,”

When Cassandra and Daeron’s child is born, it turns out to be a pair of twins that are named Aerys and Alerie.

Daeron himself personally places a dragon egg from Tessarion’s first clutch in the crib of his newborn children. 

Lord Borros is pleased with the twins. “Oh he’ll be a fine lad,” The Lord of Storm’s End laughs as he gazes at little Aerys sleeping peacefully in his crib. “A fine prince like his father and a dragon-rider! He’ll be the finest Lord of Storm’s End ever,”

And as for Alerie, the Lord of the Stormlands said: “A pretty babe! She’ll be a beauty all right. The most beautiful maid in all the Stormlands and the Seven Kingdoms. Just like her mother and my father’s sister Jocelyn!” 

When Cassandra, after recovering from the birth of the twins, hears of the names she simply comments on their daughter’s name: “Alerie? You gave her a Reacher name? Why not a Valyrian name, or even Argella for my ancestor like I have told you before?” 

“It was for my mother,” Daeron simply says, not commenting at all on the Argella part. “Her mother was the Lady Alerie Florent,” 

Cassandra simply clicks her tongue at Daeron’s response, perhaps in some annoyance. Whatever it is, Daeron does not know. 

And nor does he want to know. 

It doesn’t matter, to Daeron at least. The children have already been named and anointed with the seven oils by the Septon at Storm’s End. 

Why does it matter now?

Daeron and Cassandra do not love each other, that much is obvious. That much they both know. That much they’re both aware of. 

Daeron is polite and courteous to his new lady wife as is expected of him, as his own mother expects (wants) him to be.

But he does not actively seek out the Lady Cassandra’s company as perhaps another might have. 

Oh she is beautiful, there’s no denying that fact and Daeron will not deny it at all because his wife is beautiful and he can see it very well. 

He’s married to her for the Seven’s sake!

But Daeron does not love Cassandra as how she might have probably hoped for deep down. 

He can’t love her like how the knights love their chosen ladies in the songs and in the stories. 

Daeron does not love her like how his great-grandfather King Jaehaerys I loved his wife Queen Alysanne. 

He does not love her like how Aegon the Conqueror loved his sister-wife Rhaenys.

He’s polite and treats her as he should with all the respect owed to one’s wife, but he does not love her and it is very obvious that he loves another. 

But he does try to hide it. 

For better or worse, Cassandra is the woman that Daeron has taken to wife. And he would not dishonor her in such a manner. 

It doesn’t mean that Cassandra forgives Daeron for loving that low-born sailor from Hull. 

Slow to forgive and quick to anger, Cassandra is a storm in her own right. She is after all the eldest of the Four Storms. 

And there is a certain beauty to be found in a storm, as terrifying as it can be. 

“Fuck your sailor for all I care!” Cassandra spats at him, sneering and glaring at him as she scowls in disgust at the very faint scent of salt and sea clinging to Daeron despite how the prince desperately used perfumes to mask the scent of his beloved sailor. 

Of his beloved Addam. 

“But I refuse to have you make a damn mockery out of me and my own house for all the realm to laugh at! Keep them far away from me and I shan’t bother with them or any bastards that you might begot on them. Give your bastards coin to live, but not a single coin from the Baratheon coffers shall be given to your whore and her whelps! Bed him all you want and give them pups, but all that belongs to the Baratheon is meant for our children. For our sweet and precious Aerys, and I know just how much you love our pups, my Prince,”

Daeron doesn’t know whether to feel insulted that Cassandra, his own wife and mother of his children, would ever think that he would dishonor her and their own family in such a manner.

“You have nothing to worry about, my lady. For I know my duty very well and I will follow it, even if I shan’t want to. I am your husband and the father of your children, I have a duty to you. A lover is just that, a lover. But a wife is a wife and heirs are heirs. I shan’t ever dishonor you in such a fashion. My duty is to our family and I shan’t shrink it. My love for our pups is too much and it would break my heart to leave my children without their father. I shan’t ever abandon our pups or our family,” 

Both Daeron Targaryen and Cassandra Baratheon don’t love each other, but they do love their children. 

On that much they agree on. 

They don’t spend much time together. They don’t love each other but they can stand each other’s presence well enough.

They aren’t exactly the best match ever made in Westeros history, personally speaking. 

What with Daeron’s affair with his beloved sailor, and the resentment and anger that Cassandra feels whenever Daeron leaves on dragon back in the general direction of Driftmark isle. 

But they aren’t the worst match made in Westeros history in terms of personality and character or perhaps compatibility in terms of working together. 

After the Fall of Kings Landing

Before Nettles leaves with Daemon to hunt for Aemond and Vhagar

The Red Keep

“I want to give my son his own dragon egg someday perhaps,” Addam admits to Nettles, a fellow dragonseed sworn to Queen Rhaenyra. 

Nettles puts down her wine and turns to look at him with a raised eyebrow. 

“You have a son?” The young rider of Sheepstealer asks. “Since when? Does the Queen or Lord Corlys know?” 

Addam fidgeted with his bracelet made out of beads, each of them containing a symbol of the Seven Who Are One.

It had been a gift from Daeron before things had soured between them. Before the Dance of the Dragons.

Before Daeron wed the high-born lady chosen for him by his family (the Greens or King Viserys, which one Addam did not know) like Addam knew that he would. 

Before Addam bore Daeron a bastard son whilst Daeron’s wife gave him two true-born children that he could publicly acknowledge and be proud of and love. 

Before…Before both Addam and Daeron became enemies on extremely opposite waring sides. 

Before Daeron had sided with Aegon the Usurper and before Addam had sided with Rhaenyra. 

Before Addam became a dragon rider and finally knew just who his father was.

Before Addam and his younger brother Alyn experienced their first ever war. 

Before both Addam & Alyn were legitimized and given their true father’s family name. 

Before Addam was risen high as heir of the proud and ancient family of the Velaryon’s of High Tide (well, Driftmark in all actuality).

“Velaryon, you all right?” Nettles hesitantly raises a hand to pat Addam on the back as if she’s trying to help him not choke anything that he’s chewing. 

“I’m…I’m all right,” Addam coughs a bit awkwardly. He stops fidgeting with the bracelet that he had refused to take off.

Both Aerys and Alerie’s dragon eggs ended up hatching in their cribs. Daeron had smiled from ear to ear when the eggs had hatched.

I can teach my children on how to ride their dragons when they are older, Daeron had thought when he had first looked at the small hatchlings of his two newborn children. 

I can fly in the sky on Tessarion with my children and their dragons by my side, Daeron had cooed at the sight of the hatchlings curling beside the twins.

“I hear that my grandchildren’s dragon eggs have hatched!” Lord Borros exclaimed when he came into the twins nursery room. 

When he saw the hatchlings, Borros had looked in amazement at both Aerys and Alerie and their dragons. 

“What will you name them?” Lady Elenda Caron, the mother of Cassandra and her sisters, asked. 

Daeron and Cassandra glanced at each other for a moment. They held each other’s gaze without saying anything.

Purple bore onto Blue. 

“…I suggest naming Aerys’s dragon Stormfyre,” Daeron ended up saying, glancing towards his son’s dragon.

Aerys’ hatchling has dark blue color scales and with what will eventually be grey horns. The hatchlings tiny wings were light grey while the membranes were also dark blue like the rest of the hatchling’s scales. 

While Alerie’s hatchling had black scales with a copper chest and what would become copper horns. The hatchlings wings were yellow like the field on the Baratheon’s banner, while the wing membranes were black just like the rest of the hatchling’s body. 

“Then I’ll name Alerie’s dragon,” Cassandra says with a small huff. 

“As you wish, my lady,” Daeron replies simply, not fighting his wife on her decision at all. 

“What shall you name them?” Floris, the prettiest of Cassandra’s sisters, asks gently as she looks at the hatchlings with amazement in her eyes. 

“Elenei,” Cassandra proclaims, “I shall name my daughter’s dragon Elenei for daughter of the God of the Sea and the Goddess of the wind and House Durrandon’s most famous ancestor,”

”That is a good name,” Maris -the cleverest of the Four Storms- says, nodding at her sister’s words. “A dragon named after a goddess for a Targaryen-Baratheon princess,” 

“I think that she’ll make a fine queen for Prince Jaehaerys,” Ellyn -the youngest of the Baratheon sisters- giggles. 

Laenor of Hull (later on known as Laenor the Younger and Laenor the Daring) is born amidst blood and salt. 

Addam’s mother and a local midwife in Hull are the ones to help Addam during the entirety of the birth. 

When Addam’s son Laenor is born, it is amidst the blood and tears of the child’s omega mother. 

When Addam gets see his child after going through the excruciating pain of labour, he smiles despite the deep exhaustion felt in his entire being. 

Laenor is completely Valyrian with Addam’s silver hair but with Daeron’s eye shape. The babe’s eyes are purple and Addam can see his brother Alyn in him. 

When the twins Aerys and Alerie are born, it is amidst blood and a violent storm in Storm’s End. 

The Maester and numerous midwives are in attendance of the birth, helping the lady Cassandra in her childbirth. 

Cassandra screams her throat dry and curses her husband Prince Daeron for getting her pregnant and making her go through the pain of childbirth. 

But when she finally gets to see her children, when she finally gets to hold her beloved twins, she smiles so very happily despite the exhaustion. 

Aerys and Alerie have Cassandra’s Baratheon black hair but they have their father’s Targaryen purple eyes. 

“I do not wish to have His Grace meet Argaelic,” Daeron frowns slightly. “My father will scare him,” 

“Do not be ridiculous,” Cassandra scoffs as she picks up Argaelic from his crib. “Our son is not easily frightened, and your father is our king and Argaelic’s grandsire. It is expected for him to meet our son,” 

Daeron picks up Alerie in his arm. Alerie giggles and says, “Kēpa! Kēpa!” 

Daeron kisses his daughter’s cheek. “My little storm,” He smiles at his daughter’s happy giggles. 

“Come now Aerys, we are to see your father’s kingly sire,” Cassandra says to their eldest child. She grabs onto Aerys’ tiny hand and the boy simply nods. 

“Yes Muña!” Aerys exclaims. He grabs onto his mother’s hand and holds onto it very strongly. 

Chapter Text

When Jon arrives to Dragonstone in order to negotiate with the Targaryen Queen in the name of little Theomore. 

Kyle has come along with Jon as an envoy to Dragonstone to deal with the Dragon Queen alongside his direwolf Silver. 

“She calls herself a queen. The queen. Our rightful queen, she claims,” Edwyle had frowned as he read the Targaryen Queen’s letter. 

”The North has no queen!” Kyle had said hotly. “Much less a Targaryen queen. We only have a king. And that king is Theomore, not some Valyrian bitch playing at being the rightful ruler born from the cursed seed of Mad Aerys and his fucking sister-wife,” 

Perhaps Sansa would have been better as an envoy, Jon thinks as he watches his younger brother and his direwolf. 

Or perhaps even Arya. 

‘No, not Arya,’ Jon shakes his head. ‘She doesn’t have the patience for being an envoy. And nor does she have any real care for it that would be useful,’

Edwyle would have definitely worked. 

Minisa as well. But Minisa has lands to rule in the name of the eldest of her twin boys, Eddard- otherwise known as Ed, by the dead Domeric Bolton. 

So here are Jon Snow and Kyle Stark, on a Manderly ship headed to Dragonstone in order to try and negotiate with the Targaryen queen. 

“If it weren’t for the gods damned dragons and the fucking ice fuckers,” Kyle was muttering as he ran a hand through Silver’s lovely fur. 

Jon sighed and he felt Ghost nudging his leg gently. Jon looked down to look at his companion.

”What is it Ghost?” Jon asks. 

Ghost simply gestures on ahead towards the ocean and Jon glances as well. The air is cold and he can feel it in his bones.

It was a bit foggy and you could see nothing but ocean. Except that little dot far ahead that looked a bit too big. 

Amos Waters shouted, “OI! Land aho!”

”What is it with that man?” Kyke grumbles, glaring at Amos’s direction. I swear if it wasn’t for Edwyle and his boy-toys I would have killed him already. 

Silver growled in Amos’s direction while Ghost looked exasperated with his litter mate. If he could, Ghost would have had probably rolled his eyes. 

We’re getting closer to Dragomstone then, Jon thinks grimly. He turns towards Ghost -who looked at him- and pets him. 

“Thanks Ghost,” Jon smiles very faintly at his loyal companion. 

Ghost simply leans into the touch and nuzzles happily against Jon’s hand. 

Dragonstone is dreadful, Kyle thinks as he looks at the Targaryen’s ancestral seat with a scowl. 

Ethan Rivers, a knight send to accompany Jon and Kyle, stands behind both of the brothers and their direwolves.

Ethan is holding up the banner of House Stark while Ben -another knight sent with them to Dragonstone- was holding yet another banner. 

Silver nudges him and Kyle holds back a groan. “Yes, yes I know,” Kyle mutters. 

Jon gives him a look that Kyle very pointedly ignores. Good to see that he’s as joyless as ever, Kyle muses. 

“Kyle Stark. Jon Snow,” Tyrion Lannister says from where he stands on the beach beside a pretty brown-skinned young woman dressed in black. “Pleasure it is to see you two again,” 

There are also some men that are obviously guards. The Targaryen queen’s infamous Dothraki guards, Jon thinks.

Ah yes, the Imp, Kyle tries to fight back the scowl that threatens to overcome his features at the sight of Lord Tywin’s youngest son. 

“Imp,” Kyle says flatly. 

“Kyle,” Jon says disapprovingly. 

“Yes, well,” Tyrion coughed a bit in a very slightly awkward manner. “Well I see you have more of your mother in you,” 

“And it sees that I have my lord father’s distrust for one of Lord Tywin Lannister’s children,” Kyle replies, expression sour.

”Apologies for my brother’s rudeness,” Jon immediately butted in, giving his younger brother a very pointed look. 

Jon turns towards Tyrion. “We are here to negotiate with the Targaryen Queen in the name of King Theomore of the North, the First of his name,” 

“Ah yes, negotiating; I thought as much when the letter from the regency council of the little king of the North arrived,” Tyrion says. “But what have you come to negotiate?” 

“We are here because it is necessary for the Great War that is to come,” Kyke spoke up. 

“I did not know that the North was also interested in the Iron Throne,” Tyrion replies, his green eyes narrowing to study the Northmen carefully. 

Would everyone just STOP fighting over a cursed blood fucking chair? Kyle scowls slightly, his eyes darkening. 

“The North has no interest in the affairs of the fucking South,” Kyle replies with a small sneer. 

“Then what war are you speaking of if not the one for the Iron Throne?” Tyrion inquired. 

“The war we speak of is much greater than some squabbling over a stupid steel chair in the Crownlands build on the blood of those that would not bend as the North will not,” Jon replied in place of Kyle. 

Tyrion’s face is grim and so he turns towards Amos, Ethan, and Ben. “I am Tyrion Lannister,”

Amos spits on the ground and says, “Amos Waters, a smuggler and captain of his own ship and someone who used to work with yer witch of a sister,”

“Ah yes, the captain of Seastone,” Tyrion says, ignoring Amos’s rudeness. “I remember you. Cersei had you take Cerelle to Dorne,” 

“Fat load it did me,” Amos Waters mutters darkly. “Me boys and girls got killed in those gods damned riots,” 

“Apologies for Amos, he speaks his mind with no thought of consequences,” Kyle says with a small sigh. “How he has survived this long is beyond any of our understanding,” 

Amos glares at Kyle. “Vete a la chingada maldito cachorro,” Amos mutters under his breath in Rhoynish. 

Tyrion coughed at that. “Yes well,” Tyrion turns towards the pretty brown-skinned young woman in black with the poofy hair that Kyle found very eye-catching. 

I wonder if it’s as soft as her smile, Kyle thought distantly. It made him feel weird thinking about the young woman in this way. After all, Kyle has no interest in any sort of woman. 

But then again, the young woman in front of him is very pretty. Beautiful in a soft and warm way, Kyle muses. 

But if she’s here with the Imp, then that means that she’s important to the Dragon Queen like the Imp is. 

“This is Missandei, she is the Queen’s most trusted advisor,” Tyrion said as he introduced the young woman. 

Ah, that makes sense, Kyle thought. 

The young woman smiled as she began to speak, “Welcome to Dragonstone. Our queen knows that it is a long journey from the North to here. So Her Grace very much appreciates the effort made. If you would not mind, can you please hand over your weapons?”

”Why should we do that?” Kyle asked bluntly, before Jon could say anything. Silver narrowed his grey eyes at Tyrion and showed his teeth slightly. 

Tyrion glances at the direwolf as if knowing that Silver is looking at him. Tyrion inches a bit away from the Stark envoys and the direwolves. 

Missandei blinks and she seems a bit surprised at Kyle’s answer. 

“We are not on neutral grounds, and I can see the archers ready to strike us down at the slightest hint of battle,” Kyle points towards the castle and Silver lets out a small growl. 

Missandei’s eyes immediately flickers towards Silver and then to Ghost, who loyally stood silent next to Jon. 

The guards silently gaze at Silver, as if analyzing how much of a threat he is. Kyle can see how fast they’d jump into action and put Silver down if he attacked any of the Targaryen Queen’s advisors.

”Down Silver, down,” Kyle says, running his hand through Silver’s fur in an attempt to calm him down. Now is not the time, calm down boy. 

Silver hesitated but he ultimately stopped being vaguely threatening to the Dragon Queen’s advisors.

Kyle looked back towards the advisors of the Dragon Queen. “We mean no disrespect to your queen, but the last time we put down our weapons many of our people were slaughtered. And it was on the wedding of my brother Cregan and Uncle Edmure to Frey women in the Riverlands. My three eldest brothers were slaughtered alongside two of their direwolves, our lady mother, and many of our allies and comrades. We have no intention of being so vulnerable again.” 

Kyle’s grey eyes are sharp and cold and so very piercing. As if they can see deep into you and pierce through every single mask of yours. 

Jon swallowed back bile at the mention of the Red Wedding. And of the fates that fell on his brothers and their mother (Robb, Cregan, Torrhen, and Lady Stark), and so many northerners. 

Ethan and Ben had ashy faces.

Ethan’s grip on the banner tightened. While Ben looked just a little bit sick. 

“We are here to negotiate and your people are armed. And the Dothraki are infamous for conquest and war, from what I know. We do not trust you and neither of you trust us in turn. And I personally do not trust you, Lord Tyrion. I remember your father and his cruelty as well as that of your siblings. We will not be vulnerable with people that we do not trust and neither will you,”

“I…” Missandei seemed at loss for words. 

Tyrion sighs. “Let them keep their weapons, they have a right to be wary,”

And the direwolfs stay with us,” Kyle added, leaving nothing to be questioned. 

They are taken to what looks like a great hall but without any place to sit. No, this is more like an audience hall, Kyle muses as he looked around. 

Targaryen banners hang on the wall and Kyle has to suppress the shiver that runs down his spine. 

Silver growls very softly as his silver eyes dart around the cold foreign halls. “Easy there boy, we don’t want for anyone to have an idea to put you down,” Kyle says softly to his other half. His direwolf.

Silver huffs and looks on ahead. 

The Targaryen queen has many titles that seem a bit ridiculous to Kyle.

He wants to laugh in her face. And Amos barely holds back the fit of giggles at the long list of titles that seem so very silly to him. 

The boy called Steffon is king of the Seven Kingdoms, not some Valyrian girl with too many titles whose father got overthrown by Fat King Robert, Amos thinks in amusement, hiding his smile. The high-born and their love for titles.

The Targaryen Queen thinks that they should bend the knee and obey her simply because King Torrhen knelt to Aegon the Conqueror so his people will not be burned by the dragons. 

Kyle does not agree.

And neither does Jon or Ethan or Ben.

And hell, not even Amos agrees! 

So she keeps them on her castle, especially after the Spider came in saying that something happened with the Greyjoys. 

Fucking squids, Kyle groans. 

Jon meets the Dragon Queen -Daenerys- without Kyle and Silver being present and with only Ghost being with him. 

She talks of the dragons, all three of them, of how they are no mere beasts to her but her children. 

Did the past Targaryen’s feel like that about their dragons? I wonder, Jon thinks, without saying a word as Daenerys smiles while stroking the large black dragon. 

Then she talks about not changing her mind about which kingdoms belong to her and Jon replies that neither him or his brother Kyle have changed their mind about the North.

”My nephew is the King in the North,” 

“But he is but a child controlled by his relatives,” The Targaryen queen says.

Jon narrowed his eyes. “He is king never the less and it is our family that is heading his regency council,” 

Daenerys allows them to mine for the dragon-glass, but still refuses to let them leave the accursed volcanic island that is Dragonstone. 

At least the dragon-glass makes it somewhat worth it. It is what they came looking for after all. 

“Fuck yes! Fuck yes!” Kyle cheers as he gazes at the dragon-glass in an almost lustful manner. 

Daenerys Targaryen comes and sees the dragon-glass. “Is this what you both claim will defeat the Undead?”

”Yes, this is it,” Jon replies. 

“Is it truly so important?” 

“If it were not then we would not be here in the first place, so far away from our home and our family,” Kyle replies with a scoff, as sharp as always. 

“And you need my dragons?” Daenerys narrowed her eyes at Kyle. 

“It is all we need to save our people,” Jon says, ignoring his younger brother who does not forgive easily. 

“I will fight for you,” Daenerys says, “and in turn you will have your nephew bend the knee to me,” 

“Our people choose Theomore,” Jon says flatly. “Robb and Cregan had no children and only Torrhen had children from his marriage to Wynafryd Manderly. They were the eldest of us, the eldest sons. The North and Winterfell belong to our brother Torrhen’s Theomore by right,” 

“You speak of right and by that logic I am your rightful queen,” Daenerys argues.

“Your family never had a gods damned right to Westeros,” Kyle sneers. “You were foreigners coming to subjugate us simply because you wanted to and then you burned those who would not bend. Our ancestor King Torrhen bend the knee because he knew that the North would burn like Harrenhal and the people in the Field of Fire did if he did not. Then Robert Baratheon overthrew your father and slew Rhaegar, the latter who took our father’s sister against her will whilst she was betrothed to Robert Baratheon. Simply because he wanted to. And the former who burned and killed our grandfather Rickard and uncle Brandon,”

”You will not talk to me in such a way, Kyke Stark,” Daenerys sneers, glaring at the unyielding Kyle. “I am the queen and you will do well to remember that. As well as the fact that I am allowing you and your bastard brother to mine the dragon-glass in my domain,” 

“And perhaps Your Grace has forgotten how you have kept us away from returning back home to the North by taking our ship and keeping us as good as prisoners here,” Kyle spat back, his grey eyes filled with anger.

Silver growled, barring his teeth at Daenerys; mimicking his master’s anger at the Dragon Queen.

“Is the lives of your people worth less than your pride?” Daenerys demanded.

”And is the death of countless innocents worth less than your pride?” Kyle retorts.

In the end, there is an agreement and the northerns are finally allowed to go home by Daenerys Targaryen.

Daenerys herself has also decided to come North with her army to fight against the Undead. 

Kyle still does not fully trust her and he thinks that she will not give up or accept the North’s independence. 

Even Steffon and his bloody council has accepted our independence and not called his banners to war, Kyle thinks. 

But he does not trust the South either. 

He remembers the Riverlands far too much and far too well to ever be able to simply close his eyes and not be haunted by nightmares. 

And Jon, well Jon is just hopeful that everything will work out and that they will all survive the coming war. 

Jon just wants for everything to just work out well for once. 

Daenerys arrives to Winterfell on top of her larger dragon, the one named Drogon for that first husband of hers. 

The entire Stark family that had remained at Winterfell (Wynafryd, Theomore, Minisa & her boys, Lyarra, Sansa, Edwyle, Arya, and Rickon) as well as some of the Northern high born stood in the courtyard of Winterfell.  

The direwolve are also present. 

Blue Rose, Dawn, Frost, Oak, and Nymeria. 

Daenerys comes on dragon back, to make a statement or something. 

When she lands, everyone looks warily at the dragons. And Wynafryd’s grip on Theomore’s shoulders tightens.

Theomore simply gazes at the dragons in awe whilst Frost (Torrhen’s direwolf that somehow survived the Red Wedding) growls at the sight of the dragons and their mother. 

Chapter Text

They didn’t mean to, at least not truly.

At least at the beginning, at least not really. 

At least Alester didn’t mean for it to get so completely out of hand. He doesn’t know much about Rhaelor’s feelings on how things evolved. 

It started simple, with Rhaelor liking to bury his face in Alester’s neck and play with the Hightower boy’s curly and soft auburn hair whenever he was starting to feel overwhelmed because of his duties as the Prince of Dragonstone and heir to the Iron Throne. 

Then it evolved into Rhaelor hugging Alester from behind and picking him up while the both of them laughed. 

They would both ignore the whispers at court about the very close attachment between the Prince and the Lord Hand’s youngest son. 

(Well at least Rhaelor would ignore the pointed looks and the hushed whispers. After all, he’s a prince and the heir to the throne. And he’s a Targaryen, a dragon as Uncle Daemon says. Since when did a dragon care about the opinions of the people of the land?) 

Then it turned into Rhaelor begining to hug Alester from the front and settle himself in between Alester’s legs because it was so much more comfortable that way. 

Alester would hold back the whimpers that threatened to come out of his mouth and his breathing would become heavier as Rhaelor saw nothing wrong in burying his face in the crook of Alester’s neck and inhaling his friend’s scent. 

This is wrong, Alester would think as he closes his eyes tightly and tries not to focus on the warmth in between his legs or of the way that Rhaelor absently rocked against him as if nothing was wrong with he was doing. 

This is wrong. This is wrong. What would Father say about this? What would my Mother say about this? And my brothers? My uncle and aunt? My cousins? 

Then Rhaelor began to grab onto both of Alester’s legs and wrap them tightly -securely- around his waist. 

And Alester gasps, his eyes open widely. It feels so strange and just so wonderful to have Rhaelor anchoring him, holding him so intimately. 

But Alester finds himself loving it despite how he knows that deep down it’s just so very wrong. 

It is a sin after all for men to couple with each other as a man and woman are meant to. 

It’s wrong. 

It’s wrong. 

It’s wrong! 

And yet…And yet, for some reason despite knowing that it’s wrong; Alester allows for Rhaelor to continue rocking into him, in between his legs as if it was the most natural thing in the world. 

“Alester, can you promise me that you will never leave me?” Rhaelor mutters. His grip on Alester’s body tightens. 

Why are you asking me that? Alester thinks, blinking dumbly. “I won’t ever leave your side Rhaelor,” Alester whispers out instead. 

But you didn’t promise me on it, the boy-ish and more childish part of Rhaelor whines. 

“Promise me,” Rhaelor insists, he unburies his face from his friend’s neck in order to gaze into Alester’s pretty brown eyes. 

Alester blinks. “You want me to swear it to you?” 

“Yes,” Rhaelor nods, his hands are gripping on Alester’s clothes a bit too tightly for Rhaelor’s pride. 

“All right then,” Alester sighs. He looks into Rhaelor’s purple eyes, holding his friend’s gaze, as he swears, “I will never leave you. I promise to always stay by your side and never leave, Rhaelor,” 

As time goes on, things keep going like that between Rhaelor and Alester.

That is in private of course. 

After all, Rhaelor Targaryen the Prince of Dragonstone could not just be showing his depravity with his childhood companion for all the realm to see. 

Rhaelor might not care much for how the lords and the smallfolk see him, but Alester does care (so much).

But most of all, Alester prays. 

He prays whenever his cuticles from both hands are too bloody and feel too painful to keep biting at or to be pricking at. 

“Why do you destroy yourself?” His father asks him when he finally sees Alester’s ruined cuticles. 

The disappointment outweighs the worry and concern in father’s eyes. Alester is his youngest out of 5 sons. 

Brynden, Garlan, Owyn, Gwayne, and Alester. All of them Otto Hightower’s boys to the point that it hurts. 

(No wonder Prince Daemon dislikes them so much, especially Alester with his closeness to Daemon’s nephew when Daemon’s own son Jaehaerys Royce does not enjoy such…closeness to the Prince of Dragonstone. Maybe that’s why Daemon loathes Alester the most out of all his brothers, because he’s seen as a second Otto Hightower by the Rouge Prince.) 

He prays whenever he feels sick. 

He prays after waking up feeling the ghosts of Rhaelor’s oh so very loving touch on his skin.  

He prays in the mornings when he wakes up feeling sore because Rhaelor insisted on burying his face in Alester’s neck as they both slept in Rhaelor’s room. 

Without things becoming sinful of course.

Alester wouldn’t allow for it to get that far. He wouldn’t. He shouldn’t. 

He’d be damned in the Seven Hells if he did allow for things to go that far.

But isn’t he already damned?

Alester tries not to think too much on that. And especially not when Rhaelor is around. 

“You’re doing it again,” Rhaelor says suddenly, frowning a bit. His eyes are glued on Alester’s pretty face. 

Alester stops, his fingers are still on the collar of Rhaelor’s doublet. He had been adjusting Rhaelor’s doublet for tonight’s feast. 

The king had called for there to be a feast celebrating Rhaelor’s betrothal to his cousin the Lady Laena Velaryon.  

Lord Corlys will surely be celebrating in private if not in public about managing to make his daughter the future queen. 

Perhaps the proud Lord of the Tides had already begun to celebrate even before the betrothal was publicly announced. 

After all, with no sister anywhere in sight for Rhaelor to wed. And who else but a close cousin who is the daughter of the Queen Who Never Was and the only granddaughter of Prince Aemon Targaryen is a better bride for the current Prince of Dragonstone? 

“I’m doing what again, Rhaelor?” Alester asks as he keeps his eyes glued to the collar of Rhaelor’s doublet.

“Thinking,” Rhaelor replies, his eyes are still glued on Alester’s face. 

Alester stops what he is doing to at Rhaelor with a raised eyebrow in a questioning manner. 

“I believe that thinking is something that everyone does and so very necessary to do anything at all,” Alester replies in an almost flat manner.

“I didn’t mean it like that,” Rhaelor protests. 

“Then what did you mean it as?” Alester inquires. The red and black doublet feels silky and soft under Alester’s fingers. 

Rhaelor’s eyes go from his friend’s face to his fingers. The prince’s stomach feels like it’s squeezing and turning into knots at the sight of Alester’s bloody cuticles. 

He’s hurting himself again, Rhaelor swallows back spit. His hands fists together as he looked at Alester’s fingers.

The silence from Rhaelor made Alester look up at his friend. And the Prince’s breathing had changed. 

”Rhaelor?” Alester asks, looking at his childhood friend with worry in his eyes. “Rhaelor,” he repeats, “is everything all right?” 

“Hmm?” Rhaelor blinks, his breathing had become a bit heavy. “What is it?”

Alester looks into Rhaelor’s eyes for too long a moment, searching for something. It all made Rhaelor feel giddy at having Alester’s attention on him. 

One of Rhaelor’s hands ends up placing it’s over one of Alester’s own warm hands and his ruined cuticles. 

Rhaelor’s hand caresses Alester’s hand and his fingers softly. Alester’s hand feels warm and soft and dainty, and it just feels so very right for Alester’s hand to be held by Rhaelor’s. 

Alester’s brown eyes flicker towards his friend’s hand over his own and then right back to Rhaelor’s purple eyes. 

Rhaelor is starting back and Alester swallows back spit. His mouth feels just so very dry. 

His cheeks as well, for they start to turn a pretty pink shade that makes Rhaelor want to bite Alester’s cheeks. 

Alester’s breath hitched at the intensity of Rhaelor’s gaze. It felt as if the prince wanted to grab him and kiss him.

No stop it, Alester scolds himself almost immediately. He blinks, breaking eye contact with Rhaelor and he looks down to fixate on Rhaelor’s doublet. 

Almost as if he had heard Alester’s thoughts, Rhaelor leaned in closer and used his other hand to gently lift Alester’s chin so they were making eye contact.

”Look at me,” Rhaelor says softly, “Please look at me Lesty,” 

“I am looking at you Rhaelor,” Alester whispers. He’s frozen in place, gazing up at his childhood friend as if he was enchanted, mesmerized. 

Damn it, damn it, damn it! Alester feels like he might cry. Why must you do this to me, Rhaelor? Can you not see that we are not supposed to feel like this? 

(I can’t feel like this, a desperate part of Alester thinks)

”R-Rhaelor,” Alester thought that he sounded like he was choking over his words. “W-We can’t! We can’t do-“

”We can’t do what?” Rhaelor interrupts. I love you, I love you. So please don’t say that we can’t. Please don’t say that. You are all that I’ve ever wanted since I knew what wanting is, what it feels like to want something so desperately. 

So don’t say no, please. 

Alester closes his eyes tightly, his breathing feels heavy and loud and too much. 

Rhaelor begins to hate it when Alester closes his eyes like that. He can see the faintest hints of tears at the edges of Alester’s eyes. 

Don’t close your eyes. Don’t close your eyes. Please don’t close your eyes to me sweetheart. 

“Don’t close your eyes, Alester. I like- I want to see your pretty eyes, love,” Rhaelor’s hand holds onto Alester’s a bit more tighter. 

Alester’s eyes immediately widen at being called love by Rhaelor (who found his childhood love’s reaction endearing). 

Alester’s lips open, “Rhael-“

”Why can’t we do this?” Rhaelor interrups the auburn-haired boy. “Tell me why can not see each other like this?” 

Is it so wrong? 

“B-Because…Because it goes against the Faith!” Alester hisses out, his chest feels tight and he feels ready to cry.

“It is sinful and we are damned for the Seven Hells if we commit buggery!” And Alester’s mind wanders towards the memory of a Septon in his uncle’s service ranting about the sin of buggery and adultery.

“And…And we would be committing adultery by being together! You are to wed the Lady Laena! Being…Being with me would have you break yourself vows of marriage to her and…and…”

Alester’s brown eyes are so vey wide and they’re staring at Rhaelor with so much desperation that it hurts. 

“Fuck the Faith,” Rhaelor says impulsively and he closes the little space between him and Alester before the Hightower boy could even say What? 

Rhaelor’s lips are on Alester’s and it’s just feels so very warm and soft and Alester can only close his eyes and lean closer towards Rhaelor till their bodies are pressed against each other. 

Rhaelor grabs Alester in an attempt to feel all of him. And Alester can only wrap his arms around Rhaelor’s neck. 

Fuck the Faith, Rhaelor thinks as he pushes his tongue into Alester’s mouth, desperate to feel all of Alester.

If this is wrong and sinful then I don’t care. I’ve wanted this, wanted him for too long to ever care. Even if I marry Laena or take on a mistress, I won’t give Alester up. He’s mine and I am his. 

Chapter Text

High Tide, Driftmark 

All that Alicent could do is stare at the portrait of the entire main branch of the Velaryon family as she sat on a divan. 

The portrait consisted of Lord Corlys sitting on a silver chair encrusted with jewels with the design of a sea horse for handles on the back of the chair in the middle of the portrait. 

And to Corlys’ right, a bit farther away, sat Princess Rhaenys in a chair similar to that of her lord husband’s. 

Between Corlys and Rhaenys stood Alicent with her eldest daughter Helaena and the twins Vaegon and Velaena. 

Aemond and Alysanne stood in front the elder twins, holding each other’s hand and wearing matching outfits. 

To Corlys’ left stood Ser Laenor, one of his hand was placed in the top of his father’s chair.

The triplets Daeron, Daenys, and Daenerys stood beside each other; a bit in front of Laenor. 

Alicent sighs. The portrait will need to be done again sooner or later, the auburn haired woman’s hands go to stroke her large round stomach. 

And not to mention…

The door of the drawing room suddenly opened with a large bang, startling Alicent. 

Alicent turned around and saw her second set of twins, Aemond and Alysanne, standing by the open door. 

“Aemond? Alysanne?” Alicent raised an eyebrow. “What is wrong?” 

Alysanne was breathing a bit heavily and she looked a bit upset with her furrowed eyebrows and intense look in her eyes.

”Muña, is…is it true that Ser Joffrey has to go back to…to his home?” Alysanne demanded, her hands clenched into fists.

Ah…that, Alicent thinks. Of course they would ask me about that. After all, Joff means much to all of them. 

Alicent sighs. “Yes, it is true,” Alicent confirms, a bit reluctantly. 

Alysanne’s eyes widened and she looked down, eyes fixating on her pretty little teal slippers with silver buckles. 

Aemond looked at his sister and put a hand on her shoulder. “Sanne, I think we should go back,” Aemond mumbles. “Both Vaegon and Corwyn are waiting for us in the docks,” 

Alysanne kept staring at her slippers. “No,” Alysanne mutters, she shook her head and then looked up at her mother.

“Muña, why is Ser Joffrey going back to his original home?” Alysanne demanded. “This is his home! Why would he leave?” 

“Sanne…” Aemond glances at his mother.

Alicent sighs, shaking hear head. “While this not my place, I will say that Ser Joffrey has business in his family’s ancestral lands back in the Stormland’s,”

”What type of business, Muña?” Aemond asked, eyebrows knitting together slightly in confusion. 

“I believe that you two should go to your older brother and cousin,” Alicent replied, glancing back to the family portrait.

“But Muña!” Alysanne whines. “I want to know why Ser Joffrey is leaving!” 

“Me as well!” Aemond pitched in. 

“Go to Vaegon and Corwyn,” Alicent repeated. “You can ask your father or even perhaps Ser Joffrey himself. 

“Yes Muña,” Aemond nodded obediently. He turn towards his sister and took his hand away from her shoulder in order to place it on of her hands. 

“Sanne, let’s go,” Aemond said, tugging slightly on his sister’s hand. “Vaegon and Corwyn are waiting for us in the docks. They’ll be mad if we’re late,” 

“What’s the point?” Alysanne mutters, her gaze dropping down. She was staring at her teal slippers with silver buckles.

”Hmm?” Aemond blinks. “Did you say something Sanne?”

Alicent glances at her children from the corner of her eyes. She is going to have an outburst isn’t she? 

Alicent just wants to sleep. She is going to have another baby (or more accurately babies, knowing her luck) soon. 

And a part of her just wants the babe to be born already. So she doesn’t really have much patience for her daughter’s outburst about Ser Joffrey leaving to go see his family in the Stormland’s because his uncle and cousin died. 

Alysanne was shaking a bit and Aemond was starting to get worried. “Sanne, don’t think about it-“

“Alysanne, come over here,” Alicent said suddenly. “And you as well Aemond,”

Huh?

Aemond blinks, looking at his mother and then at his sister and sighs softly. “Come on Sanne, let’s go to Muña,” 

“I thought that we were going to see Vaegon and Corwyn, Aem?” Alysanne mutters. 

“Yes, but you’re going to end up yelling and getting inti trouble with Muña,” Aemond shook his head. 

Aemond tugs on his sister’s hand, leading her towards their mother. “Let’s just go to Muña,” 

“Fine,” Alyssane mutters, pouting a bit.

The twins make their way to their mother and each of them sit on one of their mother’s side. 

Alicent brings both children in closer towards her. Aemond places a hand on his mother’s stomach and strokes it gently with a smile on his face. 

“You’re going to have a babe, aren’t you Muña?” Aemond laughs softly. 

“Yes, I am,” Alicent hums, her eyes going to her young daughter. “And you two are going to be older siblings again,” 

“Ser Joffrey probably won’t be at the birth like he was last time,” Alysanne grumbles, glaring at her shoes.

Alicent sighs again. “Alysanne, I know that you aren’t happy with Ser Joffrey leaving-“

”Why does he have to leave?” Alysanne cries out. “Why does he have to leave us Muña?!!”

“Ser Joffrey isn’t leaving us Alysanne,” Alicent replied. “He is simply visiting his family for his own reasons,” 

“But we’re his family!” Alysanne protests.

”I understand how you feel, Alysanne. But Ser Joffrey has his reasons. We might be like family, but Ser Joffrey has his blood family. His father, mother, sisters, brothers, and cousins. Tis only natural that he would go see them,” 

Alysanne simply held on tighter to het mother, her eyes tearing up a bit. “I still don’t like this,” 

Chapter Text

Celia simply looks out of her window into the outside of Casterly Rock. The breeze is cold right now and the sun is starting to set down. 

Celia looks at the horizon on the outside of her family’s ancestral castle. It’s so beautiful, Celia thinks. 

There is a nock on the door of Celia’s room and the little red-haired girl turns around. “Come in,” she says. 

The door opens and in comes pretty Jeyne Marbrand, Celia’s current favorite companion. 

Jeyne curtsies and says, “Lady Celia,”

“Jey-Jey,” Celia says in acknowledgment. “Is something wrong?” 

Celia swallows back spit. Gods, that sounded so very childish. Jey-Jey, Jeyne hasn’t been called Jey-Jey by Celia since they were ten years old. 

Jeyne’s pretty brown eyes become filled with worry. She stops curtsying and she walks to her friend. 

Celia is still sitting on the divan where she was looking outside her window. But now she’s actually property sitting on the divan. 

Celia was looking down at her lap as her hands fisted on her red dress. Her red-hair was done up in a braided bun and she had braids done on both sides of her head. 

Jeyne sits down beside Celia and the Marbrand girl simply wraps her arms around Celia and brings her in closer. 

“What’s wrong Ce?” Jeyne murmurs just so very softly. That makes Celia’s breath hitch, just a tiny bit. 

“Why do you think that something is wrong Jeyne?” Celia mutters. 

Jeyne wants to roll her eyes, just a little bit. “Don’t try to fool me Celia, I know you better than your own twin brothers know you. I know when something -or even someone- is bothering you,” 

I bet that you know Lann just as well as you know me Jeyne, Celia thinks. She doesn’t know why, but she feels a bitter sort of pang in her heart at the thought of Jeyne and Lann. 

“Fine,” Celia mutters out with a sigh. 

Jeyne simply hums and she begins to gently stroke Celia’s back. Celia feels as if her entire body is sweating and her dress begins to feel a bit too tight. 

“Tell me what’s bothering you,” Jeyne murmurs. “And slowly, I want to understand you Ce,” 

Celia bites gently on the inside of her cheek. No one has really tried to understand me like Mother used to. 

And Celia wants to cry at the thought of her mother, her dead mother. And Celia remembers being in the Sept as the main Septon at Casterly Rock was talking on and on during the morning service for her now dead mother’s funeral. 

The smell of the incense and the flowers would always be permanently ingrained in Celia’s mind.

Once upon a time, Celia Lannister had rather liked the smell of incense. Her mother often smelt of it after all. 

And Celia has always loved her mother. 

Celia sniffles. Her eyes are wet. Her mismatched eyes are wet and she’s on the verge of crying. 

Celia was born with mismatched eyes. Her left eye was blue like her mother’s eyes (like Arthur’s eyes). While her right eye was green like her father’s eyes. 

Celia had never really liked her eyes. 

Other children had made fun of Celia for her mismatched eyes when she was younger.

Much younger since no one right now would ever dare to mock the second granddaughter of Lord Tywin Lannister. 

(But Celia’s Grandfather is dead now, killed on the privy by Uncle Tyrion. Such an undignified death for someone that was always so very dignified and in-control whilst alive) 

Now the current Lord Lannister is little Gowen, Arthur’s posthumous son by the Princess Cassana Baratheon. 

A babe. 

A boy lord. 

(”Boy lords are the bane of every house,” Grandfather had once said whilst Celia was talking to him about her history lessons with Maester Creylen)

Grandfather was gone. 

Neither Celia or any of her siblings had ever known their lady Grandmother. 

Mother was also gone now. 

Arthur had died fighting for Joffrey in the Riverlands. 

Uncle Tyrion had run away and no one knew where he was (and Celia isn’t sure if she even wants to know) 

Aunt Lysa was in the Vale. 

Ser Arnold and Ser Allister haven’t been the same anymore ever since Arthur died in Mother’s homeland. 

Aunt Catelyn was gone too and her children were either dead or missing for being traitors. 

(Celia tries not to think about her cousin Sansa who was her age and was married to Uncle Tyrion before Uncle Tyrion had killed Grandfather)

Uncle Kevan was in Kings Landing. 

Aunt Dorna is in the Rock but Lancel and Willem aren’t (and Will is dead).

“CeCe?” Jeyne whispers. “Why are you crying sweetheart?” 

What?

Celia puts a hand on one of her cheeks and wipes away a tear. Celia looks at her hand and thinks, Oh, I really am crying aren’t I? 

“Shh, shh, don’t cry love. I’m here, you can tell me why you’re sad,” Jeyne whispers as she has a hand on Celia’s hair and the other on Celia’s back. 

“I…I…I don’t…I don’t want to get married to Auntie Gemma’s grandson Ty,” Celia manages to get out. 

Jeyne feels as if cold water was dumped on her. “What?” The Marbrand girls manages to whisper out. 

No that’s not possible. That’s not- 

Celia is bawling now and Jeyne is snapped out of her train of thoughts. 

“I don’t…I don’t want to marry Ty!” Celia wails out. “I…I know that I’m going to marry because of my Tully blood since Riverrun was given to Ser Emmon for his loyalty to Joffrey and Steffon. B-But I don’t…I don’t want to marry Ty just because I’m half-Tully so I have a claim to Riverrun b-because of my Mama!” 

Jeyne says nothing and she simply tries to sooth her friend. She doesn’t know what to say anyway. 

Chapter Text

Saera was young when her father -Prince Maegor Targaryen- decided to choose being exiled to Essos over giving up on his mistress-turned-illegal-second-wife Alys Harroway as his brother King Aenys (and Saera and her sisters’ uncle) had insisted he did.

The only memories she has of her father are of a grim faced and serious man with Valyrian features. 

At least there are portraits of Saera’s father in Dragonstone (where Grandma Visenya lives for most of the time).

So at least Saera can pretend that she actually knows how her Kepa looks like. And he’s handsome, that’s what she thought at least when she first saw the portrait, really saw it, not just briefly glancing at it. 

Her father had been gone for a week now at least. Her mother had insisted on saying that Kepa has just left on a voyage to Essos for diplomatic reasons.

“Your father is doing something very important in Essos. That is why he can’t be here right now, sweetling,” Mother would quietly say as she brushed Saera’s hair. 

“But can’t Kepa just visit?” Saera would ask. “Uncle Martyn is busy ruling Oldtown but he always tries to visit us,” 

“…It’s a bit more complicated than that, Saera,” Mother replied. Her hands stilled and Saera felt that Mother had stopped brushing her hair. 

“But why is it complicated Mother?” Saera asked. She was starting to feel like her mother wasn’t telling her the full truth and that her father just didn’t want to come back home.

”Because that’s the way that things are, my darling girl,” Mother murmured softly. She sounded a bit sad. 

And Saera didn’t know why. 

Saera spends most of her time weaving and weaving. She weaves and she weaves till her hands are stiff and her fingers have some dried blood on them.

She embroiders little green sequins from Qarth onto Jorgen Velaryon’s sleeves. She keeps doing it until her mother catches her doing it in secret after Saera had ordered all of the maids and ladies out of her room.

Saera stops after Mother tells her of the implications and of what Father would do if he knew, if he found out. 

If Tyanna of the Tower found out. 

If Tyanna of the Tower were to ever find out because she finds things that people don’t want her to find.

Saera stops and tells Jorgen why.

He understands and simply tells her, “I do not want for there to be problems for you, because of me Your Grace,” 

Saera keeps weaving though. 

She doesn’t stop. 

She can’t.

It’s the only thing that she’s good at. 

The only thing that is purely hers. Purely Saera’s. 

Maegelle is the eldest, while Lynesse is the most warlike (the most like their grandmother Visenya), and their youngest sister -Visenya the Younger- is exactly that, the youngest. 

And Saera…

Well, Saera is the sister that is good at weaving. She’s also the third child. The third daughter.

And she’s not a son. 

She’s not the son that her father so desperately desires, wants, covets.

Saera is the middle child. The middle daughter. Her eyes are mismatched, one green and one purple.

Her long and wavy silver hair is pulled back into a long braid with pearls on it and she wears a veil that only reveals the front of her face and not the rest of her head. 

She likes lilac dresses and pale greens. She dislikes overly dark colors. Velvets look good on her though.

But it’s a bit too dark for her tastes while red is fine but Saera has mixed feelings on Targaryen red and she does think that her grandmother Cerelle’s Lannister red is much prettier. 

Saera weaves and weaves till she weaves a giant tapestry of her family. Specifically her more immediate family on her father’s side. 

And she even weaved her Father’s other wives (his concubines, Mother whispers very softly while kneeling before the Seven in prayer). 

They’re all on the right side while Saera, her mother, and her sisters are all on the left side of the tapestry. 

All of Father’s other wives are in order of which he married them. Alys Harroway, Tyanna of the Tower, Elinor Costayne, Jeyne Westerling, and cousin Rhaena. 

And obviously Father is in the middle of the tapestry, sat on the Iron Throne that puts him above everybody else. 

Elinor Tyrell is her good friend, her greatest friend, her most loved friend, her beloved. 

She’s the Rhaenys to Saera’s Visenya. 

The Jonquil to her Florian. 

The Maegelle to her Lynesse (it seemed a bit odd using Saera’s older sisters as an example). 

Elinor is Saera’s everything. 

Saera just hopes that she can keep Elinor safe from the purges ordered by Saera’s father. 

After all, Uncle Aenys’s Viserys wasn’t safe even though he was Father’s good-son because he was Maegelle’s husband and the father of her children. 

Chapter Text

Visenya the Younger does not remember her father -Maegor Targaryen- very well unlike her older sisters. 

She was after all a babe when Maegor was exiled to Essos by Uncle Aenys, who is the king of all Westeros (except Dorne of course).

Most of her memories are blurry.

The only reason that Visenya knows what her father looks like (to an extent) is because of the portraits in Dragonstone which is where Grandma lives. 

They don’t really visit Grandam a lot, well at least Visenya’s Muña doesn’t. Which Visenya can sort of understand.

Dragonstone is grim and boring in comparison to Oldtown where Visenya, Muña, Gelle, Sesse, and Sae live in the majority of the time. 

But Visenya and her sisters have dragons. So they have to be in the Dragonstone castle.

Visenya’s Seashell is tiny in comparison to Saera’s Starshell, Maegelle’s Starfyre, and Lynesse’s Greenfyre since they’re the youngest and they’re a hatchling.

Visenya loves Seashell, she really does. No one can compare to Seashell. But when Visenya sees her sisters flying in the skies on top of their dragons, she just can’t help but feel envious. 

Visenya had even told Grandma that when Grandma had come over to stand besides Visenya on the balcony to watch Maegelle and Lynesse and Saera fly with their dragons. 

Grandma had patted Visenya’s hair and said, “Seashell will grow in time little one, I promise. You just have to be patient enough,”

“But that’s so long Grandma!” Visenya had whined, pouting slightly. 

“Doesn’t your Mother and those damned Septons say that patience is a virtue?” Grandma had asked in slight amusement.

”Yes but, I don’t really want to wait,”

But Visenya has been waiting for a lot of things, really. Her father for one.

Though she doesn’t want to ask about her father to her Muña since that just makes her look sad.

And Visenya doesn’t want to make her Muñs be sad. Muña is always prettier when she’s happy.

Unlike Father in his portraits, he always does look so very grim and serious. 

Maegelle says that Father was serious but fair and that he loved them all very much.

Lynesse says that Father has always been grim and serious and to not listen to Maegelle. 

Saera just tells Visenya not to ask her about Father since she barely remembers him at all. 

“But you made Father in your tapestry of our family!” Visenya had protested.

“Yes because he’s still alive and he’s our father so I can’t leave him out of a family tapestry,” Saera had replied flatly. “That would look odd. Even with all that he did,”

”What did Fathe do?” Visenya asked. 

”…Nothing that you should know about,” Saera said quietly, looking away and completely refusing to look or respond to Visenya’s question. 

Chapter Text

Fire & Blood

The short, sad reign of Aegon II

& The Regency of Aerys I

— The Sad little boy Prince known as Aerys and the sad little Princess named Jaehaera

Aerys Targaryen had been no older than three or four years when his father -Prince Daeron Targaryen, son of Viserys I & Alicent Hightower- died in the war for succession that would come to be known as the Dance of the Dragons. 

Daeron burned to death as his tent caught on fire whilst he slept. And before he could escape to fight against the ambushing forces of Addam Velaryon. 

Aerys’ mother had been the Lady Cassandra Baratheon, the eldest daughter of Lord Borros Baratheon of Storm’s End.

He had three aunts on his mother’s side —Maris, Ellyn, and Floris— and two younger siblings —Alerie, his twin sister, and Argaelic, his younger brother.

As well as two aunts on his father’s side, Rhaenyra and Helaena. Though Aerys only ever knew Helaena as family and never Rhaenyra.

And perhaps that was for the best.

And finally, two uncles on his father’s side, Aegon and Aemond. 

As a child, Aerys had been given dragon egg to be placed in his crib. Straight from Tessarion’s -Daeron’s dragon- first clutch of eggs. As is the tradition for young Targaryen princelings. 

Even if those princelings’ Targaryen father was a consort to a would be ruling lady since he was a third son and his father had seen no need to give him an inheritance.

Or anything else for Aegon and Aemond as well for that matter. And their children as well. 

Not that it would matter in the end. 

For both Aegon and Aemond would perish in the Dance of the Dragons. Or at least Aemond would, fighting against their uncle Daemon Targaryen.

The very same one who had ordered for the death of Aegon’s young son, Jaehaerys, with Helaena.

And as the firstborn, Aegon had been meant to be king after his father. Any woman who would have married a king with no son would have expected such a thing for their firstborn son. 

And yet Viserys refused the order of things in favor of having his daughter from his first marriage -Rhaenyra- be kept as his heir as it had been when he did not want for Daemon to be king. 

(How foolish was that? Rhaenyra married Daemon in the end, over the ashes of both Laena and Laenor Velaryon, so in the end Daemon would have still been king. Even if only through Rhaenyra.)

So the Dragons Danced, and everything around them was set on fire and blood was shed. 

When Aegon II had his half-sister Rhaenyra fed to his dragon Sunfyre in front of her son, Aegon the Younger.

He had no sons left (Jaehaerys and Maelor, both butchered on orders of Daemon & Rhaenyra) but his only daughter Jaehaera still lives.

And he has two nephews, their names are Aerys & Argaelic, and a little niece, the girl named Alerie, from his younger brother Daeron.

So when Aegon II sits on the Iron Throne with his mother -Dowager Queen Alicent- and his Hand -Corlys Velaryon- on either side of the throne.

He names little Aerys as his new heir and decrees that the young boy will marry Aegon’s daughter Jaehaera with Helaena. 

“And what of Prince Aegon, Your Grace? What will you do with him?” Lord Corlys Velaryon is reported to have asked. 

“Mayhaps I should have his cock cut off or have him permanently imprisoned in his room or in a cell,” Aegon II mused, according to Mushroom.

While Orwyle insists that Aegon II replied with, “I have no use for my half-sister’s whelp. But I know that the boy shall not be allowed to breed, for my half-sister’s line must end. I’ll have the boy become a Maester or a Septon,” 

Nevertheless, it shan’t be denied that King Aegon’s nephew was named as the Prince of Dragonstone, Heir to the Iron Throne, and betrothal to the king’s daughter the Princess Jaehaera. 

Aerys wants to go home. To Storm’s End where his aunts, grandparents, mother, father, and siblings are all at.

And Jaehaera too, for a good amount of time, had lived with all of them back at Storm’s End.

Though Jaehaera hadn’t been as how Aerys remembered her at that family dinner in what seemed like ages ago now.

She had been sad, quieter than usual, and just had this so very haunted look in her pretty purple eyes. She hadn’t looked much like the Jaehaera that Aerys remembers. 

She hadn’t looked like the Jaehaera from before their family started dying.

But she’s still Jaehaera, his cousin.

His and Alerie’s and even little baby Argaelic’s cousin. 

And now she’s going to be his wife.

His wife.

His wife! 

Aerys swallows back spit. This isn’t like how everything was supposed to go. This wasn’t ever supposed to happen!

Jaehaerys should be king!

Jaehaerys should be the one standing in front of court, at the foot of the Iron Throne, with Uncle Egg declaring him as the Prince of Dragonstone and the Heir to the Iron Throne and all of Westeros. 

Jaehaerys should be…

Jaehaerys should be the one who is alive.

Jaehaerys should be here.

And not just Jaehaerys. But both Jaehaerys and sweet little baby Maelor. 

Not Aerys, definitely not Aerys.

Aerys, whose young Kepa died in the ‘Dance of the Dragons’.

Aerye, whose Kepa died with Tessarion and all the other dragons.

Just because the father of Aerys’s Kepa didn’t want to see the writing on the wall and because Rhaenyra -father’s older sister who’s not much of an older sister anyway- wouldn’t understand that Uncle Egg is the rightful king and because…

And because…

And because Daemon had decided that he just needed to hurt Aerys’s family, especially Auntie Hela and Uncle Egg. Specifically Auntie Hela and Uncle Egg.

And then he had Jaehaerys be hurt to the point that he was now dead just like Aerys’s Kepa. 

All because Uncle Emmy got justice for what one of the brown princes (as Jaehaera called Rhaenyra’s children once, because of their brown hair that looked like Lord Larys’s hair) did to him when they were also children. 

And now because of them, both Jaehaerys and Maelor are dead.

And so are both Aunt Hela and Uncle Emmy. And Uncle Egg is all burned scars and sad expressions instead of laughs like he always used to.

And now also Aerys’s Kepa is dead. 

Aerys has never felt so cold and lonely. Even with his family in the front of the audience as Aerys is declared heir and holds hands with Jaehaera. 

Chapter Text

It didn’t start at first, the possession. At first Daenerys was normal, completely normal as she could be.

At first that is.

At first, Daenerys was Daenerys.

Until the Old Knight died and Rhaella’s crown was sold off by Viserys for the sake of survival.

Viserys broke.

And Daenerys wept.

And Rhaegar’s memories flooded in.

Elia, that’s the first thing of Rhaegar that flooded in. A name. Her name. That and the vivid memory of being killed by Robert Baratheon and his war hammer. 

“Rhaegar! You’ll pay for what you did!” 

But then there is the memory -the image- of a dark-skinned woman dressed in dark red and golds, with dark hair and lovely dark eyes. 

She smiles sweetly and says, “Rhaegar,” with such fondness that Dany can’t help but blush as she sees the woman offer her a goblet filled with water. 

It keeps happening, the dreams.

During the day, Dany and Viserys would beg and try to find food in the unfamiliar streets of Essos.

Viserys rants about the dragon’s blood and of how ’The Usurper sits on our father’s throne. Our family’s throne by right! Our home!’

Dany can’t help but think that Viserys used to be so much kinder before, back in the past.

She wonders why she feels that way.

And sad because Viserys used to be so much kinder. Sweeter, happy to trail after Mother (Rhaella) and Rhaenys.

Rhaenys, Rhaenys, Rhaenys.

Dany tastes the name on her lips, smiling faintly about how the name feels. Sad but happy, warm and loved.

My daughter’s name, Daenerys Rhaegar thinks. A smile on their pale face. Yes, that is right.

Rhaenys is the name of their daughter!

”What are you smiling about?” Viserys demands, gruff and angry as always. Ever since he sold Rhaella’s crown.

”My daughter’s name is Rhaenys!” Dany declares happy to her brother. “Her name is Rhaenys and she looks so much like her mother!”

She smells Dornish! 

Dany frowns at the line said in her head by a cruel and awful voice. Dornish, what did that mean? 

“Dornish,” Dany mumbles, trying to see how that sounded in her mouth. It didn’t make her feel anything.

Maybe just a little excited, and eager.

But just a little.

And it wasn’t like Elia and Rhaenys did. 

“What did you say?” Viserys’s voice turns into a growl, angry and demanding. And so very accusing.

Dany blinks and looks at Viserys. Why is he so angry? She didn’t do anything wrong at all! She swears it on their Father’s throne! 

She swears it.

”Repeat what you said!” Viserys all but yells, grabbing Dany’s arm roughly. “Repeat it you stupid girl!”

”Dornish!” Daenerys wails out, tears start forming in her purple eyes. “I said Dornish!” 

Dany sobs and Viserys lets go of her. 

There are now some new fresh marks on Dany’s arm. 

“Stupid girl,” Viserys sneers. “Your stupid daughter is not going be Dornish. She’s going to be of the Blood of the Dragon because I’m going to be her father,”

Dany feels cold and she whimpers at Viserys’s words about her daughter. No, that can’t be possible.

”And not some stupid Dornish boy,” Viserys grabs Daenerys again and makes her look at him in the eyes. “Look at me! Look at me Dany!” He screams.

Daenerys sobs, she doesn’t want to. But Viserys is making her look at him. And his eyes are filled with a certain madness that makes Daenerys sick to her stomach at the sight of Aerys’s madness in Viserys’s once happy eyes. 

And all that Dany can do is stare at the face of madness as it wore eyes that look like hers and had a face similar to hers. 

When Rhaegar woke up, he looked at his hands and saw much smaller and dirtier hands that possibly be his own. 

This is not my body, Rhaegar thinks.

This is not his body.

This is not his body.

This body is not his.

This is not his body. 

This body does not belong to him.

“Dany, are you awake now?” A gruff and sour voice demands. “Come on you lazy good for nothing, we have to go find something to eat,”

Viserys?

Rhaegar turns and sees a small silver-haired boy with ratty hair dressed in ratty and worn out clothes that only the maybe poorest Smallfolk would wear. 

He was also a bit dirty.

”DANY!” Viserys (?) turns to look at her and scowls, his eyes angry and bitter. “The hell are you waiting for you stupid little girl? We have to go find food!” 

The beggar king.

”The beggar king,” Rhaegar (Daenerys) mumbles out, not thinking. Just trying to see how that feels in their mouth.

”What did you say!” Viserys screams out, rage and madness taking over. “What did you just call me you ungrateful girl!” 

Dany (Rhaegar) flinches back. She whimpers, shrinking into herself. “I…I…I’m sorry!” Dany cries out. “I’m sorry!”

Don’t hurt me, don’t hurt me, don’t hurt me. Please don’t hurt me brother.

I promise that I’ll be good. 

Elios Sand (Elia Martell) struggles against the chains that are wrapped around him. Blasted but blasted turn cloaks! 

Mother Rhoyne forgive me, Elios breaths in and out, trying to control his anger. But I hope that those bastards drown! 

“Still can’t believe that you’re one of King Robert’s bastards,” The young man that Elios is chained with mumbled out.

Elios scowls, trying to turn to look at that idiot archer. What was his name again? Davis? Dennis? Amstel?

Elliot?

Lohan?

Arbold???

”And I wouldn’t have guessed you for a Frey bastard either,” Elios sneers. “You don’t look as ratty as the others that I have met,”

The young man scowls. “Says the snake of the river,” He sneers. “Did ya meet all those other Frey’s when ya killed them all with that spear of yours?”

Elios clicks his tongue in some slight annoyance. “I don’t kill them unless they want to kill me or unless Beric lets me,” 

And Lady Stoneheart, Elios thinks but does not add that little detail in. Both Kyle and Edwyle were still struggling to fully accept the fact that their mother had been resurrected and turned into a vengeance seeking monster. 

”They defiled my mother’s corpse! Bastards! I’ll kill you for this. All of you! She was my mother! You don’t get to do that to her! To hell with your Lord of Light! You get away from Yle and Lios or I’ll tear your throat out!” 

Eliot holds back the shiver at the memory of a rage filled and grief driven Kyle threatening Beric and everyone in the vicinity. 

“Lies,” the man sneers. “Everybody knows that Dornishmen lie,”

Elios’s body tenses and he wonders if he would get into more trouble for killing this bastard that he’s unfortunately chained to because they got captured.

”And everyone knows that Westerosi men don’t know when it’s better to not start a war with another land. Simply because you look down on them and want to prove your superiority,” Elios retorts.

And for good measures Elios adds, “And everyone knows that Frey’s are a bunch of backstabbing traitors and turn cloaks who break guest right,”

That seems to tick off the Frey. 

“You blasted little-“

The doors open and in comes in a bunch of Dothraki men, armed to the teeth. And Elios holds back a groan.

He’s tired. 

He got captured because a damn Frey bastard who doesn’t know when to shut up and stay still.

Kyle is probably threatening everyone under the sun in order to find him.

His older brother Gendry is probably worried sick.

And Orryn, his other brother, is probably no better off than bloody Kyle Stark is.

And Gawayne -Gwayne- Flowers is probably trying not to think about his worry by taking care of the others. 

And he’s probably going to get killed now by that Dragon Queen that everyone and their mother is worrying about.

Bloody Kyle, Bloody Kyle, are you going to save me like you always try to? Elios muses, despite how it’s not a really good time right now to be thinking of Kyle.

But Kyle…

Well Kyle is always someone that makes Elios feel just a little bit braver. And a little bit better in the fact that at least he’s not as reckless as Kyle Stark is rather infamous for.

”Her Grace the Queen will see you now, Elios Sand,” A brown-skinned young woman dressed in black speaks up.

Elios narrows his eyes.

So the Dragon Queen will kill him now huh? Just like she did with Steffon and his people when she took King’s Landing?

(Elios tries not to think of Steffon Baratheon, his legitimate half-brother and son of the woman who killed his mother. As well as the man who never cared about Elios or his siblings.

Or of the fact that Steffon was about Lady Sansa’s age. And that he wasn’t so much older than Elios is right now.)

”Do your worst,” Elios sneers in Rhoynish, lifting his chin and gazing defiantly at the Dragon Queen’s courtier.

Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken. 

When Elia’s reincarnation is brought in, Rhaegar can’t help but be excited at the prospect of being able to see her again.

Of course, he knows that Elia is now a man in this life. Well a young boy to be more specific. But it’s not like it matters in the end.

Since Elia is still Elia.

Even if she is now so very different than how Rhaegar remembers her. A Martell of Dorne, a flower of the river. 

(What was Elia’s reincarnation called? A snake of the river? A snake of the river. A Dornish snake. A storm to be reckoned with. A poisonous snake. An Orphan of the Green’s blood. An outlaw. A viper.) 

Mother of his children, his wife, the mother of Aegon and Rhaenys.

It was fate that they met again in this new life! Rhaegar and Elia.

Daenerys and Elios. 

Rhaegar will make Elia’s reincarnation remember their true memories. He knows that he can.

(He doesn’t think of the bits of dark blue, Storm Blue, in Elia’s -Elios’s- eyes as he held his spear. And he wore a beautiful crown of blue roses in his wavy black hair that curled at the end, and framed his face.

Rhaegar always found that Elia haunted his dreams. Always accusing him of causing the events that led to her death)  

After all, he was able to gain control of his younger sister Daenerys’s body. So why couldn’t Elia gain control of her reincarnation’s body?

Giddy filled Rhaegar. It will be a bit odd since he is now a woman and Elia is now in a boy’s body, but they can both make it work. 

He knows that they can. 

After all, he had seen in his dreams the boy that is now Elia holding two little bundles in his arms.

Rhaenys and Aegon will come back. 

Rhaegar will be with Elia again, like they were meant to before the Rebellion. And before Robert Baratheon killed them all.

Chapter Text

Living with your paternal half-siblings in a medium two-story house where the people living in the house shared rooms, bathrooms, kitchen, and a lot of other stuff because they lived together could sometimes be rather annoying. 

Especially in a household where tempers could run rampant because apparently your deadbeat father’s family had a habit of being bipolar. 

Sort of. 

Well no one really knows what’s up with the Baratheon’s habit of being mercurial and temperamental. 

And it’s not like Mya, Bella, Gendry, Orryn, Rogar, or Elios could just go up to Steffon Baratheon (a literal prince who also most certainly doesn’t even know that any of them exist and there’s also the fact that Steffon’s mother would kill them) or their uncle Stannis Baratheon (who doesn’t want anything to do with them) and ask what is up with the Baratheon’s always being bipolar. 

(And Mhaegen wouldn’t ever dare of approaching Robert ever again ever since Varys brought her to Robert to confirm the paternity of little Barra. Gendry remembers seeing her for the first time in the Council Room, Mya and Bella had come with him to get the hush money/child support alongside Rogar and Elios and Orryn.

Gendry remembers being taken aback about how young Mhaegen looked with her powdered freckles and light red hair that was very carefully braided. 

Bella had gone red with fury when she saw Mhaegen and little baby Barra -who had the same dark curly hair as the rest of them and the same blue eyes but had her mother’s freckles- while Mya had looked stone cold.) 

Mya might have some luck in asking Mr Varys (who’s the one giving them the damn child support/hush money that their mothers barely got) or old Lord Jon Arryn (who raised literally Robert Baratheon, but even he barely knows Robert these days) and maybe their half-brother Edric Storm who is public knowledge because his mother is a noble lady. 

But still, it’s not like any of them can just actually ask about that stuff to anyone who might know. 

Since all contact with anyone related to Robert Baratheon (publicly that is) is very strict and only in cases of official business. Like getting that damn child support/hush money. 

So that’s why Gendry finds himself in the kitchen of him and his siblings house, washing the dishes as the lasagna is being cooked inside the oven. 

It’s Saturday and it’s already 5:40 PM. Mya isn’t home yet and Bella’s shift at the hair salon will end in half an hour. 

The sun is already starting to set and by the time that it’s 6 PM, nighttime will have already come to the quiet town of Stone Valley, located somewhere on the edge of the Riverlands and close to the borders of the Vale of Arryn. 

The location is perfect, of all things are being considered. They’re all far but far away from King’s Landing and its gilded outdoor appearance that hid the festering corruption problems within the city. 

(Gendry remembers Tobho Mott and the marked day on the calendar with the words ‘Call Mr Tobho’ written in it in red as well as the way that the old workshop had looked before Mr Varys had dragged him away from the city and then handed him off to Yoren because the Queen had started to become restless and paranoid about her husband’s batards. 

He remembers the night where the officers had demanded that Yoren give him up, and Yoren’s stubborn refusal before the shots were fired, and then being dragged to Harrenhal were Lucan’s rough words and the sound of the metal being welded was the only thing heard. 

He remembers looking at the heated metal and thinking about Yoren’s blood on the ground and about Lommy’s body laying on the floor completely motionless and with blood all over and of the feeling of Praed’s weapon in his hands and Yoren hading it to him.) 

And people in the Riverlands are more likely to not bother with people unless they’re picking a fight over land, which is mainly a high-born and farmer thing. 

And they’re close to the train station that Mya takes in order to go to the Eyrie where she works at for the Arryn family (who are typically living in Kings Landing because Lord Arryn is in the Small Council as King Robert’s right-hand man) and the Royce family as someone who helps transport goods to the docks and as a tourist guide for people who want to go up the mountains, which usually involve the donkeys that Mya is way too fond of and looks after diligently. 

The TV in the living room is on and Gendry can hear the distinctive sounds of that show that Orryn and Rogar had gotten invested in. 

As well as the distinct voices of Rogar and Orryn as they began to argue about the show and the characters.

“The doctor is going to be evil, I’m telling you!” Rogar’s voice was heard from the living room. 

“No, it’s definitely going to be Joshua,” Orryn insisted. “Everything’s pointing to it being him!”

“Just because you want Mari to end up with Luca doesn’t mean that you can just accuse Joshua of being evil!” Rogar protested. 

“It’s not because of that and you know it!” Orryn snapped. “He has the motives and the means to be the traitor!” 

“Bullshit!” Rogar exclaims. “Ardien has even better reasons for being the traitor and I don’t see you accusing him!” 

“That’s because Ardien had literally been grieving his dead brother!” Orryn shot back. “Hal did not in vain just for you to accuse Ardien of being the traitor! Felix did not almost die for this. And both Cloe and Magami would have hated you for accusing Ardien!” 

There was an audible gasp heard from the living room and Gendry wondered how fast he could run from the kitchen to the living room.

”You take that back!” Rogar shouted. “You take that back Orryn!”

”Make me!” Orryn sneered, as stubborn and as willful as always. 

Gendry sighs and puts away the newly clean dish that he had been washing. He turns off the sink faucet. 

Thank the Seven for the fact that Elios is playing outside in the little tree house that isn’t actually on a tree in the -generous enough- backyard of the house. 

Thank the Father for the fact that Gendry had won the argument against getting a pet (a dog, a cat, a bird, or a fish was put forward by the boys as potential options for pets) when that argument had taken place about a year ago. 

“…And Thalia deserves better than what the writers did to her!” Rogar was heard yelling from the living room. 

Gendry holds back a sigh and makes his way to the living just in time to see Rogar holding one of the couch pillows raised over his head like a baseball bat while Orryn is standing not to far away, holding onto a pillow and in a defensive position. 

“Boys,” Gendry says flatly, a scowl forming on his face. 

Both Rogar and Orryn turn back to look at their older brother. There is a stretch of silence as the brothers (minus Elios who is still outside in the backyard) gaze at each other. 

Then the silence is broken by the almost immediate yelling of “He started it!” and “Rogar is a jerk!”

”Did not!” and ”I’m not a jerk!” 

Gendry’s eyebrows twitch as Rogar and Orryn yell at each other in the latest addition to their constant bickering and arguing. 

Eventually Gendry couldn’t take it so he shouted, “Shut up!” at both his younger half-brothers. 

Rogar and Orryn froze, stopping their shouting match in favor of looking back at Gendry again. 

Gendry sighs, pinching his forehead a little bit to remind himself not to smack both of his brothers over the head. 

Mya won’t approve of this, Gendry reminds himself despite how a part of his mind also whispered, “Bella would have approved of hitting them over the heads to teach them a lesson,” 

But Bella had questionable ideas on parenting to the point that Mya -who didn’t really like the idea of being responsible for a bunch of kids- and Gendry -who had never been left with a child in his care for longer than a few hours- had agreed to read books on parenting so they wouldn’t be split up the foster system that was already against them in fist place.

And it’s not like Mister Varys or Robert Baratheon will even really help then anyway. The child support/hush money is nothing more than a bribe to them so they cold lay low and keep their heads down so as to not kickstart yet another huge scandal for King Robert Baratheon in the eyes of the public.

(Robert’s sex scandals are already damning enough and the Baratheon king’s tendency for lavish spending and letting his wife’s family have too much of a grip over the government are a whole other thing. So a bunch of Affair Kids being brought into the spotlight by scoop chasing journalists and tabloids that really like stirring the tea in regards to the Robertian government because Robert Baratheon is easy prey for them to write scandalous articles about.) 

“Orryn. Rogar. What have I said about fighting over a show?” Gendry demands, looking at both boys.

Rogar and Orryn glance at each other briefly before looking back at Gendry. “…To not get into pillow fights?” Rogar spoke up hesitantly. 

“Uh ha,” Gendry crosses his arm. “Next time I hear you fighting, there’s not going to be TV before dinner,”

Rogar glanced down to avoid looking at Gendry. “Yes Gendry,” Rogar mutters, already resigning himself to his fate. 

But unfortunately, Orryn isn’t the type to be cowed by anyone easily. Because Orryn’s eyes were filled with indignation.

”Oh come on!” Orryn protested. “That’s not fair! I hear you fight all the time with Bella in regards to the latest scandal about Queen Cersei and the king!” 

“That’s different,” Gendry replied. 

“How is that different?” Orryn demanded while Rogar gave him a wide eyed look that screamed ‘The hell are you doing?!’ 

“For one, we’re arguing about politics over the table while we all trade stories about shitty coworkers and share a bottle of cheap Arbor Gold that we got from the convenience store,” Gendry replied dryly. 

“I can’t believe that you drink,” Rogar mutters quietly.

Gendry glances at Rogar. “That’s the best thing about being a legal adult,” Gendry admits. “You can drink alcohol, even if it’s just cheap stuff from the closest drug store, and no one will tell you anything,”

”Well I can’t wait to be an adult,” Orryn loudly declared.

Gendry’s gaze shifted towards Orryn almost immediately. “Don’t think that I’ve forgotten about you,” Gendry warns.

”Lucky me,” Orryn scowls.

It’s the winter holidays and Elios Sand (he’s refused to give up Sand, it was the surname -even if it’s only a bastard surname- that he had worn as a part of who he was because in Dorne there was no shame in being a bastard child, and he had used that name while his mother had lived) had always found the decorations that the rest of Westeros use for the winter holidays to be fascinating.

Bright, and sometimes multi colored, lights that hang on the roof of houses. On trees outside on the yard or inside of the house. 

The round globes that are sometimes decorated with glitter that are hung on a pine tree inside the house.

The little seven pointed stars that are hung around on every single imaginable surface they can be found. 

And the presents. 

Mother Rhoyne, the presents. 

Elios had never quite realized just how much Westerosi loved presents and being able to be obnoxious as they try to buy (and get) the biggest and the best of any presents ever.

There are way too many commercials about prices going down and ‘buy two and get one for free!’ type of deals for stores that are a 2 hour drive away from the typically quiet Stone Valley. 

Even if you take the freeway. 

The only thing that could top the gifts and the presents is perhaps the food. Seven Above and dear Mother Rhoyne, a part of Elios is now somewhat able to understand why the nobles love their feasts and celebrations so much.

There is nothing like the feeling of being able to put warm, delicious food that was made with love into your mouth and being able to consume it.

Even Gwayne Flowers’s obsession with doing the traditional Andal prayers before the meal whenever Orryn for some reason brought him home could not spoil the moment. 

So perhaps it was somewhat ironic that it was during a familial dinner (with, of course, Gwayne Flowers as a guest) during the last month of the year that the Stone-Waters-Sand children heard about the scandal that would rip the entire kingdom into pieces over the TV.

(Elios is convinced that the only reason why Gwayne keeps getting invited is because the brunet boy is Orryn’s only actual friend. Since Orryn doesn’t get along very well with many of the other boys his age at school, it’s gotten to the point that he’s getting in way too many fights with the other boys. Fights that Rogar and Elios have gotten dragged into and had to back Orrryn up only to end up in the principal’s office with Gendry and Mya and Bella sitting besides them after having to get out of work/the trade school in the nearest city.) 

”…Queen Cersei Lannister is scheduled for a court hearing after being found in bed with her brother Ser Jaime Lannister in Winterfell, not long after young Bran Stark -son of Lord Eddard Stark and Lady Catelyn Tully Stark- was rushed to the hospital after suffering a fatal fall from one of Winterfell’s old towers. His Grace King Robert Baratheon has demanded that a paternity test be done on all six of the children birthed by the Queen that have been given the name of Baratheon. The paternity test will be conducted in private and is scheduled to happen this coming week on Wednesday at 3:20 PM. More at eleven,” 

Everyone stared in silence at the TV, the delicious food temporarily forgotten in favor of staring at the TV in shock. 

Eventually, the silence as broken. 

By Rogar and his stupid questions. 

“…Does this mean that we can still keep getting the child support money without having to worry about the queen?” Rogar asked a bit hesitantly. 

Chapter Text

Driftmark

Laena Velaryon’s funeral

Alyssa Royce (daughter of Daemon “The Rouge Prince” Targaryen & Lady Rhea Royce of Runestone) watches with narrowed eyes as her scoundrel of a father whispers words into her cousin Rhaenyra’s ear. 

Her two young sons, Yorbert and Corwyn, stood beside Laenor, the boy’s father. As well as Corlys, Laenor and Laena’s father plus the children’s grandfather. 

While Alyssa’s twin daughters (her first born children) Rhea and Jocelyn Velaryon stayed glued to her side. 

Meanwhile Alyssa’s good-mother, the Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, was holding the twins Baela and Rhaena close to her in order to comfort the girls (Laena’s girls). 

While our father stands far too close to Rhaenyra instead of his own two precious pure blooded daughters while at his own wife’s funeral and Rhaenyra’s Baratheon husband and stepdaughter is nowhere to be seen, Alyssa observes cynically. 

“It is a horrible day for rain,” Alyssa’s older brother Jaehaerys murmurs softly, leaning closer to her.

”I know,” Alyssa replied softly, looking up at the foggy sky. “I know,”

Allard, their youngest brother, shifts underneath Jaehaerys’s iron-like grip over him. “I’m not going anywhere Jae,” Allard mutters. 

“I’m still not letting go,” Jaehaerys says flatly, casting a glare at their father who was with Rhaenyra.

”The shamelessness of that man,” Jaehaerys whispers his angry and judgmental sneer into Alyssa’s ear.

(Jaehaerys’s wife —Sharra Arryn, a sister of Ser Joffrey Velaryon— is not in attendance at Laena’s funeral. Since she had stayed behind at Runestone.

While only Jaehaerys did come to the funeral. So that meant that young Baelon, Rhaella, and sweet little Emma had stayed with their mother rather than coming all the way to Driftmark for the funeral of their step-grandmother.) 

“I know,” Alyssa replies with a very annoyed click of her tongue. Rhea and Jocelyn squirm underneath their mother’s iron grip. 

“I wouldn’t be surprised if he tries to do something at our stepmother’s own fucking funeral,” Jaehaerys scowls. 

“Don’t remind me that Laena was my stepmother as much as she was my good-sister,” Alyssa holds back a groan.

Damn the incest in this stupid family, Alyssa thinks angrily. This is why I am never letting my kids marry my father’s descendants. Or any of Rhaenyra’s stupid, idiotic, whiny little…brats. No matter my good-father’s wishes. 

At this point, the only Targaryen grooms available would be Alicent’s children. And that is another whole box of bronze weapons entirely. 

Since Daemon had decided to side with Rhaenyra (probably because of the Valyrian supremacy, lust for Rhaenyra, and general hatred for Otto Hightower’s line) he had betrothed his and Laena’s oldest daughter Baela to Rhaenyra’s son eldest son Jacaerys with her husband Borros Baratheon. 

That means that officially the Velaryon’s are allied with Rhaenyra’s Blacks via the future marriage between Baela and Jacaerys that is currently a betrothal.

That of course means that Alyssa is very often forced to socialize with Rhaenyra’s faction because she is the wife of the heir of Driftmark and Corlys (the head of the Velaryon family) decided to ally his ship to Rhaenyra.

So now Alyssa has to suffer being in very close proximity to her deadbeat father because he’s married to her good-sister Laena (Alyssa still doesn’t understand what brave sweet Laena even saw in Daemon).

While Rhaenyra (and Corlys) is trying to cultivate close friendships between the children and all of them. 

Which include many feasts, private family dinners, and plenty dragon racing since many of the children got dragon eggs. 

(Alyssa is just relived that Jaehaerys was more than happy and willing to give her Silverwing’s eggs so Alyssa wouldn’t have to suffer Rhaenyra trying to get closer by offering some of Syrax’s eggs to Alyssa’s two sets of twins and Lord Corlys actively encouraging it) 

And since Rhaenyra is trying her hand at politicking, she has sent many invitations to Jaehaerys (and Allard by extension) for any and all of the Black’s events. 

Alyssa very much resents how whenever she has her brother at Driftmark, after he found some time to leave Runestone in order to visit her and the children with Allard in tow.

Rhaenyra finds a way to drag Jaehaerys into her faction’s petty frivolous events where her father is 100% going to be at. 

Of course Jaehaerys very pointedly hates the mere idea of going against tradition by supporting Rhaenyra.

And he hates even more the idea of fighting alongside his father for his cousin’s claim to the throne.

Especially after said cousin disrespected their mother by fucking their father in a brothel. Not even two months after their mother died (because of their father). 

(Jaehaerys still hasn’t forgotten the scandal about Rhaenyra’s brothel affair with Daemon in part because Alyssa had been at Kings Landing when it happened because she couldn’t bear to be in Runestone any longer when her mother is no longer there anymore.)

Alyssa’s eyes wander towards where the Green Queen and her offspring are standing by the King, good ol’ Uncle Vizzy, mainly because they have to. 

Alicent looks much the same as when Alyssa last saw her at Prince Aemond’s name day ball hosted by the Greens and the Hightowers.

Because good ol’ Uncle Viserys couldn’t bother. And if it was entirely up to Alyssa then she would have sided with the Greens simply to infuriate her father.

And because Rhaenyra leaves a very bad taste in her mouth in regard to ruling.

(Not to mention the very different way that Uncle Viserys treats Rhaenyra and his other children leaves a bad taste in Alyssa’s mouth.

And it reminds her of seeing her father proudly praise Baela, while he had never ever done the same to her. His half-breed daughter from a filthy sheep, who doesn’t look Valyrian. 

Because she didn’t have a dragon. And because she looked too much like her mother, save for her purple eyes. His half-breed daughter from a filthy sheep, who doesn’t look Valyrian. )

Alicent’s red-brown hair is as beautifully curly as the last time that Alyssa saw her in a non-court setting.

And her green dress frames her body very wonderfully and her green wimple compliments her dress perfectly.

Alicent’s children are beside her and they all have varying expressions. Aegon, the oldest child, looks mildly bored and looks like he just wants to drink wine till he passes out (Alyssa recognizes the look very well).

Helaena, the only girl, has an unreadable expression on her face but she looks respectful enough on the fact that she’s in the funeral of a woman who she barely even knew (unlike her brother) even if she’s avoiding eye contact. 

While Aemond, the second son, is glancing down and avoiding eye contact with the other guests and is practically clinging onto his mother’s dress. 

And sweet little Daeron is nowhere in sight. Which isn’t surprised since Alicent had stashed him away in Oldtown with her family when he was only 8 years old. 

(Probably to get him away from Kings Landing and from Viserys. Which Alyssa can understand because she too tried to keep her children from her father.

But unfortunately her father married her good-sister and her half-sisters are also her nieces. And Alyssa is not very happy about that at all, which is not very surprising.) 

Rhea holds onto Alyssa and buried her face in Alyssa’s funeral dress, inhaling the smell of Alyssa’s expensive perfume made out of Edelweiss flowers (which only grew in the Vale). 

(Alyssa tries not think about her own mother’s funeral.

And being a young maiden.

Or about how her oldest girl looks too much like her dead mother.

And of the smell of Edelweiss being all over her.

Or how Rhea Royce had lavender flowers in her tomb, as she was buried in the crypts of the Royce’s of Runestone.) 

Jocelyn just stares at her aunt’s coffin as her mother caresses her head. Her silver hair done up in a braided low bun, black highlights displayed proudly in the sides of her hair.

Despite though her hair is covered by a black veil as they are in Laena’s funeral. 

Alyssa glances towards her husband and children. Yorbert, her second son and the only of her sons to look like a Royce of Runestone, has his eyes glued to Laena’s coffin as if hypnotized. 

While Corwyn, the only one of her sons to look entirely Valyrian, was looking past Laena’s coffin and is instead fixating his gaze on the sea. 

“Mother,” Yorbert begins as they all walk back towards the castle after having lowered Laena’s coffin into the sea, “do we have to go play with Jace and Luke?”

Rhea and Jocelyn had gone ahead with their father while Lord Corlys had stayed behind to talk with the royal guests (both the Blacks and the Greens). 

And Princess Rhaenys had banished back to Driftmark with the twins Baela and Rhaena, with Daemon nowhere in sight.

And Corwyn had run off with his cousin Laeros who is from one of the Velaryon’s minor branches of the family tree. 

Of course, Alyssa had insisted that Ser Joffrey, Laenor’s lover, accompany both Corwyn and Laeros in order to keep an eye on both of them. 

Corwyn had whined at that, complaining about the unfairness of it all when Jace and Luke -the sons of the Princess of Dragonstone- didn’t have knights following them at every corner of Driftmark. 

Alyssa wouldn’t hear any of it and remained firm in her command of Ser Joffrey accompanying both Corwyn and Laeros. Laenor had agreed with Alyssa but he had suggested that Ser Artos be the one to accompany the boys. 

“Ser Artos is staying with the girls,” Alyssa had pointed out. “And Ser Joffrey is the only that I trust with Cory and Laeros since none of the other knights know how to keep Corwyn from getting up to no good,” 

Laenor had relented while Joffrey had chuckled and playfully ruffled Corwyn’s silver curls. 

Alyssa glances at her second son and raises a questioning eyebrow. “While it is certainly not necessary for either you or Corwyn to go with Jacaerys and Lucerys. Your grandfather might suggest it,”

Yorbert glanced at the sandy ground and scowls slightly. Alyssa watches her son’s reaction with sharp eyes.

”I certainly won’t force you or your brother to socialize with either Jacaerys or Lucerys,” Alyssa proclaims.

Yorbert’s eyes snap towards her and his purple eyes are wide. “Really?” 

Alyssa nods, confirming her claim to her young son. “Yes, really. And if your grandfather has something to say about it then he can bring his complaints to me and your father and your uncle Jae’s dragon,” Alyssa smiles. “And maybe even your grandmother’s dragon,”

Yorbert looks up in amazement at his mother. The boy smiles and hugs his mother’s side. 

Yorbert’s purple eyes briefly wander towards where Aegon and Aemond were making their way to Driftmark castle and his eyes shone with a certain light before he looked away. 

“Mother! Mother!” Rhea exclaims as she rushes over to Alyssa and grabs onto one of her mother’s hand. 

It’s already nighttime and many of the people in the castle are going to sleep now. But the fire in the drawing room that Laenor and Alyssa use often for their little family is on. 

“Rhea,” Alyssa sighs as she watches her daughter giver her the puppy dog eyes while Jocelyn is furiously writing on some parchment, “Why are you and your sister not in bed?”

Alyssa can feel her bones aching to her very core. She’s wearing a dark blue dress with her brown hair done in a low bun with strings of pearls. 

And she’s wearing her mother’s favorite bronze necklace and ring alongside the aquamarine ring that Laenor had given her when their girls were born. 

The small idle tea sharing with Alicent had honestly been better than the family dinner with Rhaenyra and Daemon and the rest of the royal family. 

Alyssa had also not expected for Yorbert to get along so well with young Aemond, if her initial reaction to what everyone had been telling is anything to go by.

But she had seen the two of them not far from Driftmark, with Yorbert showing off his dragon Thalassa, with her turquoise scales and her light blue scaled crest and belly, to Aemond like a male bird trying to show off to a potential mate. 

Which is certainly a thought that will require for Alyssa to have that thought examined, analyzed, and then talked about with Laenor when he was feeling a lot better in general. 

Rhea winces slightly. “Well…”

”And does your father know?” Alyssa asks a bit sharply, eyes narrowing.

Rhea winces again. “…Father said that he was going to bed after putting Cory and Yor to sleep,” Rhea admits, shifting her feet a little on the turquoise carpet. 

Alyssa sighs, shaking her head slightly. I think I remember him saying something after that horrific dinner with Rhaenyra and my father. 

And Alyssa wouldn’t blame her husband. She remembers how her brothers had been when their mother died. 

Alyssa looks towards Jocelyn, who is still writing furiously on some parchment, and looks back at her eldest child. 

“Rhea, will you please tell me what you and your sister are doing?” Alyssa asks, trying to make her voice gentle. 

Rhea glances at her sister and then looks back at her mother. “We’re writing poetry,” Rhea admits.

”Poetry?” Alyssa raised an eyebrow.

Why would the girls do that? 

Sure, they had liked whenever Alyssa would read them some of the poetry from the bards and the Septa’s she likes to collect. As well as whatever Allard and Sharra had sent her.

But the girls seemed to like it as much as one would like reading. They enjoyed it but they would not write because they had no interest in it. 

So why would they be writing poetry right now? And especially at this hour when their brothers are already sleeping peacefully in their beds. 

“…Helaena said that when her great-uncle Hobert died, the Queen wrote some poetry in order to honor him,” Rhea mumbles, looking at her feet. 

Oh.

Oh. 

And Alyssa thinks about being younger and furiously writing poetry meant for herself and her brothers after Laena had gotten pregnant and then gave birth to Alyssa’s younger sisters. 

Alyssa remembers when Alicent had demurely tucked a little note into her hands during Aegon’s second nameday. 

Alyssa remembers writing something for her brother after brave little Rhaella had been born in Runestone. 

Alyssa remembers about how William had patiently read Allard a collection of poetry by Septa Hidelgard. 

Alyssa’s eyes soften. “…Can I hear what you both have written?”

Rhea’s purple eyes widen and then she smiles happily. She grabs her mother’s hand and drags her towards Jocelyn.

”Jocy! Mother asked if we can read her our poetry!” Rhea exclaims.

Jocelyn finally stops writing furiously on parchment and looks up. “Really?”

”Yes, sweetling. I wish to hear you both read the poetry that you have made,” Alyssa smiles.

Jocelyn looks at the parchment and scowls. “But I don’t think that it’s good. Not like Septa Hidelgard’s poetry,”

”Jocy, Septa Hidelgard was a septa. And she was much older than you and your sister are right now. She had years to perfect her craft,” Alyssa explains.

”Yes, but still,” Jocelyn wrinkles her face.

”Jocy, you shouldn’t wrinkle your face like that. Or you’ll get uglier!” Rhea giggles, poking at her sister.

”Shut up! You’re already ugly!” Jocelyn shot back.

”I am not!” Rhea protest.

”Girls,” Alyssa raises an eyebrow. “What have I said about fighting?”

”…To not to,” both Rhea and Jocelyn glance away in shame. 

“Good, now let’s focus. Weren’t you two going to show off your poetry?”

Rhea’s eyes brighten up. “Yes, that’s right!” Rhea exclaims happily, grabbing a parchment and rearranging her position.

Jocelyn sighs and she puts her quill to the side. “I guess that you should go first, Rhea.”

 Rhea nods wisely and clears her throat.

“And there she goes,

made from my body

and made from salt and sea.

Running on her toes,

running up that hill,

running into the sea.

And she’s singing

at the top of her lungs,

with flowers in her hair

as she dances on the beach

and as she rearranges

all of the rocks on the beach.

I feel as if my soul

has been ripped

straight from my body 

as I watch her spin and spin.”

“That one is for Grandma,” Jocelyn says quietly, shifting a bit on the carpet. 

“It’s beautiful,” Alyssa says. 

Rhea smiles, proud of herself.

“It’s my turn now,” Jocelyn says and clears her throat in a very professional manner. 

This isn’t the world

where I thought that

we would end up like this. 

I didn’t raise you for this 

and I wasn’t raised for this.

That wasn’t the way I was raised

and this isn’t the world

that I had thought that I lived in.

But if everything would

to turn into ashes,

and given back to the sea

of which we had come from,

and if all the stars are to fall,

and the rain turns into fire,

and the mountains crumble 

into mere rubble,

I just want you to know

that I love you 

far more than any treasure 

to be found in the sea

“That one is for Grandpa,” Rhea pitched in. And Alyssa knows that she means that it’s for Corlys.

”It was wonderful,” Alyssa tells her daughter, extending a hand to gently stroke her head. 

Jocelyn’s cheeks turn pink and she looks away in embarrassment. “Thank you, Mother,” she mumbles. 

“Do you have one for your father?” Alyssa asks out of curiosity.

Rhea nods. “Yes, we do! And in fact-“

”It’s not good!” Jocelyn interrupts. “And it is not finished.”

Rhea pouts at that. “But you said that it was finished already,”

”That is only because you were being so annoying about it,” Jocelyn scoffs.

”Hey! I am not!” Rhea protests. 

“Yes you are!”

”Am not!”

”Are too!”

Alyssa shakes her heads and she picks up a parchment as her girls glare at each other for dominance. 

If I could keep you with me

for all of eternity

I would but I know

that I can not do that.

You don’t belong to me

or by my side 

like we always had been.

You belong to the wind

and to the seas

as you run into the ocean 

with the win running 

through your hair

as free as you had always been.

You belong to the moon, 

and the stars,

and the sun.

You’re going to a better place,

where you will know no pain

and no heartbreak 

and no man that can hurt you.

You will be in a better place,

I know that you will.

But I just want to tell you

before you go to a place 

where I can’t follow you. 

I love you more than anything,

more than the seas,

and more than life.

We were special,

you and me,

two halves of the same coin.

In life and in death.

We were special,

you and me.

And we still are,

but right now you are gone

and I am still here.

But we will meet again

I do not know when

but we will meet again 

 in some sunny day.

“Laenor,” Alyssa feels the tears in her eyes as she thinks about her husband. 

Chapter Text

The Vale

Sometimes Jasper Arryn, the new (well not exactly that new) Lord of the Vale and Warden of the East wonders why he even bothers to listen to Littlefinger in the first place.

”A feast and a tourney will help liven up your subjects, my lord. And it will improve the moral with your troops,” Petyr Baelish had said while smiling a bit too friendly for Jasper’s tastes. 

Jasper clicks his tongue in annoyance as he watches the dancing lords and ladies while the new harpist (that he hired after the last one killed his mother was promptly executed much to Jasper’s dismay as he had rather quite liked that singer but he had to avenge his dead mother, even if he personally resented her) played an upbeat love song. 

“Oh I do love that song,” Jasper’s younger twin sister Arwen clapped happily as she watched the dancing pairs with glee. “Isn’t that just so lovely?”

Jasper hums as he takes a sip from his Arbor Gold. “I suppose that the song is not so bad,” Jasper muses.

”Oh don’t be like that brother,” Arwen gives Jasper a fond smile. “Liven up! This is a feast in honor of the prosperity of the Vale. It can’t hurt to be frivolous and happy now, can it?”

Jasper makes no comment about how the only reason the Vale is as intact as it is right now compared to the rest of the realm is because their mother had stubbornly refused to go to war and call the banners in the name of King Joffrey (although, thankfully, Steffon is king now and he’s much more suited for that stupid blasted crown) or even for their cousin Robb. 

And that stubborn refusal to go to war had resulted in Jasper loosing Arthur in the Riverlands against their maternal kin in the North. 

(Although perhaps Jasper had lost Arthur as soon as his mother had dragged them all back to the Vale before Jasper could properly process both his grief for the elderly father that had been mostly a distant figure in his life and the fact that he had impulsively told Arthur that he loved him whilst kissing him. 

Or perhaps Jasper had properly lost his longtime childhood friend the moment that Lady Lysa had refused to listen to Jasper’s desperate protest for the Vale’s banners to be called for war in honor of the new king -even if Jasper had hated Prince Joffrey to a great extend- and march with the Lannister army to the Riverlands and in the now rebelling Northerners who had crowned Robb as their new king. 

(And Jasper remembers reading one of the letters that Arthur had sent to him all the way from King’s Landing whilst Jasper had been imprisoned in his chambers by his own mother. 

They say that the Northerners all refuse to bow to a southern king when they can just crown Stark again and follow a Stark king once again like they had before the Targaryens had come to conquer Westeros and make this land their own. It is all just so very dramatic, don’t you think so Jasper?)

Or maybe Jasper had truly lost Arthur the moment that Lord Tywin had decided to wed Princess Cassana to Arthur in order to keep Robert Baratheon’s eldest child in the hands of the Lannisters now that the Princess’s engagement to Willias Tyrell had been broken because of the Tyrell’s deciding to ally with Renly.)

At least it had not been either Robb, Cregan, or Torrhen who had been the one to fire that flaming arrow at Arthur’s throat that sent him falling into the cruel and freezing river.

But that is only a cold comfort as Arthur is still dead, whether or not it was their Northern cousins who killed him in the Riverlands. 

“…Yes, I suppose so,” Jasper murmurs quietly, giving his silver goblet filled with wine a dark look. 

Arwen gave her older brother a curious look. “I feel like you are not being very honest with me, brother,” Arwen says in a very matter-of-fact tone.

Jasper sighs and looks up at the ceiling of the great hall of the Eyrie. “Yes, I suppose that I am,” Jasper muses. “And I apologize for that,”

Arwen observes her brother, as if she is searching for signs that Jasper is lying to her, and decides that he is being honest with her again.

”Good, I rather like that you are telling me the truth again brother,” Arwen says, smiling content as she takes a sip of her cider filled goblet.

”Why wouldn’t I?” Jasper smiles slightly, watching his sister with fondness. 

Arwen pouts at that. “Well I do not know, you tend to hide things from me a lot these days. Not to mention that you don’t always tell me the full truth,” 

Arwen’s clear blue eyes become filled with a certain sadness and her voice is filled with a bit bitterness. 

“…I am sorry, Arwen,” Jasper looks away from his sister. “…But there are certain things that as Lord of the Vale I can not tell you in fullness.”

”That sounds more like an excuse!” Arwen scowls angrily, stating at the many exquisite food in front of her. “And I do not like that,”

”…” Jasper looks at sister sadly and glances away from her, unable to properly face her right now.

At least Robert is now in bed right now instead of having to see us fight like how I always fought with Mother, Jasper thinks with some slight relief. 

But it’s a cold comfort, with Robert being such a difficult child at times. At least Baelish’s bastard daughter (some girl named Alayna whose eyes reminded Jasper a bit too much of Arthur) had some luck on dealing with Robert. 

Chapter Text

The gloominess of King’s Landing hung in the air and affected the remaining children in the Targaryen family.

Most of all on Princess Jaehaera, the only daughter of King Aegon II, only remaining child of the King, and the betrothed of young Prince Aerys- the new heir to the Iron Throne because all of King Aegon’s sons are dead. 

It seemed almost as if all of the grimness and the gloominess that now hung on King’s Landing following the Dance of the Dragons had been manifested on the little princess. 

Though all that gloominess didn’t mean that the remaining children of the Greens were spared of the grim atmosphere. 

After all what are broken children with nothing left of their fathers, mothers, siblings, and relatives but utterly horridly wretched memories and fancy urns filled with ashes of dead family and trinkets left behind as part of an utterly bloody inheritance but broken ghosts?

Aerys Targaryen, son of Prince Daeron ‘The Daring’ Targaryen and the Lady Cassandra Baratheon, spends most of his time hiding from the nightmares and the shadows of angry men that haunts his dreams.

He’s about three years old when his father dies by being burned alive in his tent in the Dance of the Dragons. 

And whenever Aerys finds himself screaming as the red eyes it the black shadowy figure gazed at him like how a predator would look at their prey; he thinks of his father. 

Dead and long since gone with what remains of his body (the ashes given back to his grim faced widow, wailing children in cribs, and broken older brother, a niece ridden of hope and a grieving and angry mother) in the Targaryen’s crypts 

They (everyone around him with either things to gain or nothing to gain other but in possession of the simple kindness that is rare to both have and give) say that Aerys father is -was- daring.

That he was the most loyal of princes, to his king, to his kingdom and realm, to his people, to the laws, to the Gods, and to his family. 

His father’s prayer beads, a gift from Father’s Great-Uncle Ormund Hightower when Father lived in Oldtown, are always tightly held onto by Aerys.

It’s one of the few physical things that Aerys has left of his father. Portraits can only do so much for a fatherless boy with few memories of the pretty, princely father that died when he was much too young and in war. 

So maybe the iconography, prayer beads, books, letters, sword, armor, and jewelry will be able to fill a void with no end. Even if just a little bit. 

Aerys last, hazy memory of his young father is of Daeron holding both him and his twin sister Alerie tightly in his arms.

The smell of dragon, rosemary, lavender, spices, rainwater, and home clung to the young Daeron Targaryen.

It was the last thing -the last genuinely alive smell- that Aerys associates with his dead father. 

The other thing that Aerys associates with his father is the overly strong smell of incense that filled the Red Keep’s Sept as his Uncle Egg conducted a small but packed funeral for Aerys’s father.

Prince Daeron’s face in Aerys’s mind is either the fuzzy, but overly played in his dreams image of the Prince’s gently smiling face, alive is the biggest thing that Aerys’s mind screams at that image.

But the top half of the Prince’s face is almost completely white so that means that Aerys can not remember how his father’s eyes look (pretty, amethyst and round like Alicent Hightower’s with little bits of green) or his face is shaped or how his wavy white hair frames his face just like how the portraits always show.

Aerys remembers his father but the memories are fuzzy and incomplete and only give him half of what he wants. 

Aerys can have most of their father’s remaining possessions, but Alerie can have her mother’s stories and the portrait tiny enough to fit into a simple bit beautiful golden locket that is always hung around Alerie’s neck. 

And the tapestries as well.

The tapestries are one of the few things that Alerie has left of her father. And she can hang the tapestries in her husband’s castle all she wants because she is Loreon’s wife. 

She can hang her queenly grandmother’s tapestries for her father in Casterly Rock and then in her quarters in the Red Keep all she wants. 

And the stories.

Oh the stories! 

Mother had told her whenever neither of her brothers were around that she had been the child that Father had kept closest to him.

While Mother had kept Aerys as the one closets to her in the period when Father had been alive and Uncle Egg was still not in the throne because Grandsire Viserys was on the throne still.

When Lae is born, he is simply called Laenor. Although his Grandma Marilda and the midwife who helped to deliver him would affectionately refer to him as Laenor of Hull. 

Although his family simply calls him Lae. 

He’s not even a year old when suddenly his ‘father’ Addam of Hull is elevated to knighthood by the Black Queen for claiming the dragon Seasmoke (which had previously belonged Ser Laenor Velaryon, the son of Corlys Velaryon & Princess Rhaenys Targaryen as well as the first husband of Rhaenyra Targaryen and the assumed father of her sons) and eventually the heirship of Driftmark and House Velaryon. 

The Sea Snake brings Lae’s father and uncle to Dragonstone to claim dragons to fight for the Black Queen’s claim to the Iron Throne and tells everyone that both are bastards sons of his own dead son Ser Laenor. 

Rhaenyra says nothing, most likely because Corlys Velaryon is her most powerful ally and without him and his house’s fleet she has very little power to wage a war against her younger half-brother Aegon for their father’s throne.

Maybe it’s true but maybe it’s not.

Mushroom, the Black Queen’s fool, certainly seems to think so as he claims that Addam and Alyn are Corlys’s get from pretty and young Marilda of Hull. 

And that’s when suddenly Addam’s young bastard son in the crib becomes relevant. Far too important for the young Addam to be comfortable with at the beginning.

Addam Velaryon, with his commoner upbringing and beliefs, and with no familiarity to the high-born’s ways. 

The first thing that Lae has left other than his inheritance over Driftmark is the very simple bead bracelet with symbols of the Seven crafted into it that had once belonged to Ser Addam. 

“Your dam got it from your blasted sire,” Uncle Alyn said after Lae asked him where his dam had gotten the bracelet from.

Because even with Grandma Marilda’s success as a merchant it was obvious that the bracelet was made of too fine materials for Marilda of Hull to be able to afford. 

Uncle Alyn hates Lae’s sire, that has been obvious to the silver-haired youth from a very young age. 

It was in the way that Uncle would sneer at the mention of Lae’s sire whenever the man who many knew nothing about would be brought up by anyone.

Even by Aunt Baela. 

And Lae has nothing but history, a bracelet, a portrait or two, some clothes, a hat, a shell necklace, prayer beads, and his uncle’s wistful stories about his dam, about Addam Velaryon. 

Aerys can have almost all of their father’s possessions and Alerie can have their mother’s stories, her little golden locket, and the tapestries while Argaelic left with only his mother’s inheritance and nothing meaningful from his father. 

Although yes, the shiny silver armor that Prince Daeron once wore while he had a portrait of himself and his wife done hangs in the armory.

Carefully polished and maintained and kept for Argaelic to gaze at while wondering about the young man that had once wore that armor.

It’s a nice armor, it’s perfect and shiny and meant to show off the wealth and power of its wearer.

And how can Argaelic’s father not have that? He was a prince, son of a king and a queen, and husband to a rich heiress from a powerful family, and then later in death his son -Aerys, the elder brother of Argaelic- was crowned as heir of his elder brother and then Aerys was king with Uncle Aegon’s daughter Jaehaera as his queen and wife. 

But the armor is meant for show, for a clear display. It’s not meant for either war or for a warrior, which Argaelic’s father had been. 

The armor is meant for showing and nothing else, which means that it’s very completely meaningless to Argaelic because it’s not a genuine possession from his dead father. 

It’s not like the books that Aerys greedily keeps in his private library that Jaehaera has also come to cherish just like she very fervently cherishes the toys that once belonged to her dead brothers Jaehaerys and Maelor. 

Or like the miniature portrait of Father that Alerie keeps in a pretty golden locket around her neck at all times. 

Or the armor that Father had worn to battle before he died that Grandma had decided to let Aerys keep. Argaelic had just been a babe in arms when that had happened so he couldn’t object to the decision of letting Aerys have more of what had once belonged to Father.

Or the elaborate tapestries that Queen Grandmother had given to Father and Mother as presents for their wedding and when Aerys & Alerie had been born that Alerie kept in Casterly Rock where she now lived with her husband Loreon Lannister.

Or the prayer beads and the iconography that Aerys likes to keep in his room where he has kept a small altar to the Seven Who Are One.

Or the stories that Mother had told Alerie because those stories where meant for Alerie only because she had been the child that Father kept closer as Mother kept Aerys close and Argaelic had been a baby when Father died. 

Or the jewelry that Aerys and Alerie divider among themselves with Aerys keeping some of the rings and a few brooches (especially the ones that were religious) while Alerie seemed to keep the rest for herself. 

While Argaelic only has Mother’s belongings and inheritance to comfort himself with. And a couple of portraits don’t show at all Argaelic what and who his dead father had once truly been. 

Gaemon was his mother Essie and Sylvenna’s child before he ever belonged to his ‘father’ (whoever that may be, either Aegon II or a Lysene oarsmen) and he has nothing of either of them left for him to carry on his personage other than the faint memories of childhood.

He sees Aerys (his cousin if Aegon II is really his father and yet probably not his cousin if the Lysene man is his father) always wearing Daeron the Daring’s green with silver and amber with black brooches no matter what elaborate and wealthy clothes he’s wearing.

Gaemon sees Jaehaera (his sister but maybe not his sister) with her actual brothers toys and then with her mother’s crown which makes Gaemon think of his own mother’s braided dark blonde hair. 

He doesn’t have anything of them to cling onto with the same desperation that Aerys, Alerie, Argaelic, and Jaehaera do. 

But he supposed that he can understand them in a way, as much a lowborn bastard smallfolk born from a whore can understand the four highest born people in the entire realm. 

Jaehaera is the only one left of her branch of the family and she feels it all too well when she looks at her cousins. 

Aerys, Alerie, and Argaelic all look very similar with their Baratheon inky black hair that curls at the edges and frames their faces even if it’s either wavy, straight, or curly. 

And with their purple eyes (Aerys & Alerie, twins just like her and Jaehaerys) and purple-blue eyes (Argaelic).

And then there’s their shared desperation to hold onto tiny trinkets that had once belonged to Uncle Dae.

On that at least Jaehaera can feel closer to her cousins. After all she cherishes the toys that had once belonged to Jaehaerys and Maelor who had been the baby. 

So Jaehaera holds her twin’s favorite wooden toy horse in one hand while holding the silver toy caterpillar that Maelor had loved. 

Chapter Text

Aegon Targaryen (son of Rhaelor Targaryen & Laena Velaryon) simply stayed silent as he sat on the benches inside the Royal Sept.

His childhood friend, Aaron Hightower (son of Alester Hightower, an old friend of Aegon’s father, and Joanna Lannister, the ruling Lady of the Westernlands) sat next to Aegon in silence as he was praying. 

Sometimes, Aegon couldn’t understand how someone who was overly fond of drinking wine and had been caught kissing some maid in a hallway corner could be diligent with his prayers to the Seven Who Are One.

Aegon thinks that it has something to do with Aaron’s parents (Ser Alester and Lady Joanna) who were pretty diligent with their prayers, even though Lady Joanna has always been very fond of wine and gambling at cards.   

Aegon even very distinctly remembers a time when his father had often sat with Lady Joanna to enjoy playing a good game of cards (much to the slight annoyance of Aegon’s mother and Ser Alester). 

Aegon clicks his tongue slightly and looks at the where the Septon of the Royal Sept is saying some prayers. 

Aaron has his eyes closed and his head bowed slightly as he prays silently. In his hands is the rosary that Father had gifted Aaron for his ninth name-day wrapped around those soft hands. 

“Here, this is for you Aaron. I know just how much your father loves to honor and pray to the Gods, so I am not surprised that he’s regularly dragging you and your siblings to the Sept. This for just for you to use tgat way you don’t have to constantly worry Alester about the rosaries and you loosing them, all right Aaron?” 

Aegon remembers his mother’s annoyed look at seeing Father give Aaron a rosary made out of fine rubies and silver. Her eyes had been hard and her mouth a straight, thin line. 

Ser Alester had been worried about Father giving Aaron such an expensive looking rosary at his age when he was more likely to lose it. 

“He will lose it in a month or so, Rhaelor. That type of rosary is too much for a child of Aaron’s age,” 

Father hadn’t been bothered at all and simply brushed aside all of Ser Alester’s worries, saying “No need to be so filed with worry, dearest Alester. Even if your Aaron does end up loosing the rosary like you say he will, it won’t matter because I will just give him another one,” 

Ser Alester had worried even more while Lady Joanna had been very amused and had joked that both she and Ser Alester should gift Aegon’s siblings dragon figurines made out of fine silver. 

Mother had found that a bit amusing since she had seemed to relax a bit more. She and Lady Joanna always had an odd relationship where it seemed like Mother couldn’t particularly stand Lady Joanna sometimes because of Joanna’s vanity, love for gambling and wine, and her obnoxious laugh but at the same time Mother was always discussing things like political tensions in the Riverlands, who to show favor towards, and what type of charity to sponsor. 

Although Ser Alester was always the best person to ask in regards to charity and how to deal with religious feasts. 

Ser Alester always had the best advice, everyone knew that even if some of the lords hated him because Father loves Ser Alester a lot due to their friendship from childhood, like Aegon and Aaron. 

Ser Alester had always been one of the people that Father listened to rather unconditionally even if he didn’t always agree with whatever Ser Alester said. 

Which always did seem to make Mother a bit exasperated but at the same time rather strangely content. 

Aegon supposes that it has something to do with how sometimes people don’t like to admit that someone else’s advice is really good because of pride, but they still listen to them. 

At least that’s what Uncle Laenor has sometimes told him. Aegon isn’t exactly too sure just how true is that statement in regards to his mother’s relationship with Ser Alester. 

“…May the Warrior bless us with strength and with bravery and may the Mother watch over us. Amen,” Aaron was saying softly, still praying to his Gods. 

Aegon glanced towards his companion and copied Aaron’s prayer gesture of making a seven pointed star with his hands before kissing his rosary. 

“Do you wish to go play cards?” Aegon asks. “Our lessons don’t start until later, so we have some time.”

Aaron smiles at that. “Are you ready to lose again, Egg?” His smile is teasing, very playful and filled with confidence.

”I do not always loose these games,” Aegon replies, scoffing softly. 

Baela has always loved the way that flying on dragon-back feels ever since she could remember. 

She had been very young (maybe a year old) when her mother had taken her flying on top of the mighty Vhagar for the first time. 

That had been Baela’s first true experience with flying and being on the back of a dragon. 

“Faster, Moondancer,” Baela calls out to her beloved dragon in Valyrian. “Faster! We have to impress Cerelle,” 

Cerelle is all the way down on the ground with the knights who accompanied them to the dragonpit. 

The blonde girl is looking up, gazing at Baela and Moondancer with amazement in her brown eyes with pretty little specks of green. 

Her curly hair is done up in a bun made out of elaborate braids with strings of pearls (a gift from Baela) keeping the bun in shape. 

Baela smiles in satisfaction as her dear Moondancer flies overhead in circular motions before flying above some of King’s Landing and landing back at the Dragonpit where Cerelle is waiting. 

“I believe that Moondancer might need to eat,” Baela tells the dragon keeper as she gets off her sadie. “She is always hungry after flying,”

Especially since I think that we did more maneuvers today, Baela thinks. But this will help Moondancer grow. 

Baela gently strokes her dragon’s snout as the dragon keeper nods, saying “Of course, Princess,” 

“That was certainly a show,” Cerelle says as she walks over towards Baela. “My dearest Baela were you hoping to impress someone?” 

“Did I accomplish my task then, my lady?” Baela asks, smiling as Cerelle stands beside her. 

“When have you not?” Cerelle asks in amusement. 

Moondancer croons at the sight of Cerelle and very eagerly pushes her snout towards the blonde girl.

”She wants your affection,” Baela says.

”It reminds me of someone,” Cerelle teases as she lovingly caresses Moondancer’s snout. “Who’s a good girl now?” Cerelle coos. 

Moondancer croons as she leans more into the warmth touch of Cerelle. We truly are one heart and one mind, Baela muses. 

Half of the time, Jacaerys can’t stand the way that Viserys smugly rubs in his face the fact that Lymond prefers his company over that of both Jace and his brother Lucerys. 

Lucerys in particular takes Viserys attitude a lot stronger and in the past has gotten into fights with their half-brother over it. 

It’s always hard to explain to their parents whenever it happens. Because Jace can’t exactly tell them (either of them, especially Father) that Viserys is a smug cunt that likes to run in both Jace and Luke’s faces the fact that Lymond likes him better. 

Mother would be impatient and angry, but not at Jace or Luke- usually. No, instead Mother would usually be angry at The Queen (who Mother always referred to as Laena) because the Queen is always angrily demanding that they be sent away from the Red Keep and even sometimes even at Ser Alester, who is the best friend of Father. 

Jace doesn’t always understand the reason for Mother being angry at Ser Alester. The Queen he can understand, because she’s angry and wants to send them away from the Red Keep. 

But Ser Alester isn’t usually angry (he’s a gentle person by nature, and he’s always given Jace and Luke a gentle smile) and nor is he demanding that Father send them away.

So Jace doesn’t fully understand why his mother gets angry at Ser Alester like she does with the Queen. 

But Mother says that it’s because Ser Alester is usually agreeing with the Queen when she’s demanding that they all be sent away from the Red Keep. 

“He insist on calling it fostering,” Mother sneers. “But it’s effectively the exact same thing as sending us away. But it’s worse because he’s separating us! He’s a damn snake just like Laena, Corlys, and Otto. But Rhaelor refuses to see it!”

Jace still doesn’t fully understand what his mother is saying because he can’t make the image of Ser Alester’s kind smiles and the image of the Queen’s enraged face into one image. 

But his mother isn’t wrong in the fact that Ser Alester and the Queen are usually agreeing with each other.  

In fact, both the Queen and Ser Alester are usually seen deep in conversation in the Queen’s drawing room that she often uses to hold court and entertain courtiers and other sorts of people. 

Other times, the Queen is often seen with Lady Joanna (Ser Alester’s wife) by her side in public. 

Then there’s also the fact that Ser Alester’s children with Lady Joanna Lannister (the ruling Lady Lannister) are companions to the Queen’s children.

Jace doesn’t understand why only the Queen’s children have companions in the form of Ser Alester’s children while Jace and Luke have to look for playmates from the courtiers children. 

Aegon has Aaron, while Baela has Cerelle, Rhaena has Helena, and Viserys has Lymond. Even Baelor (who’s only a few years older than Joffrey who’s a baby and Baelor is the Queen’s last child) has a companion in the form of little Donnel who is the same age. 

Only Jace, Luke, and Joffrey (the children of Harra Strong by Rhaelor Targaryen) are left out. 

Jace and Luke are as much Father’s children as the Queen’s children are. So why should only the Queen’s children have someone by their side like Ser Alester is for Father? 

And it’s just not fair. 

Family Tree: 

Targaryen 

*Viserys I Targaryen m. Aemma Arryn

- Rhaelor Targaryen m. Laena Velaryon

— Aegon Targaryen

— Baela Targaryen, twin to Rhaena

— Rhaena Targaryen, twin to Baela 

— Viserys Targaryen 

— Baelor Targaryen 

* Daemon Targaryen m. Rhea Royce 

- Jaehaerys Royce m. Sharra Arryn (OC sister of Ser Joffrey Arryn) 

— Baelon Royce

— Rhaella Royce

— Emma Royce

- Alyssa Royce

- Allard Royce 

Hightower 

* Ser Otto Hightower m. Helena Redwyne

- Ser Brynden Hightower

- Ser Owyn Hightower

- Garlan Hightower

- Owen Hightower (named for a family friend) 

- Ser Gwayne Hightower m. Ceryse Beesbury

— Sarella Hightower

- Ser Alester Hightower m. Joanna Lannister, Lady of Casterly Rock

— Aaron Lannister (Aegon II equivalent), twin to Cerelle

— Cerelle Lannister, twin to Aaron 

— Helena Lannister (Helaena equivalent) twin to Lymond 

— Lymond Lannister (Aemond equivalent), twin to Helena 

— Donnel Lannister (Daeron equivalent) 

— Loreon Lannister 

Strong

* Lyonel Strong 

- Harra Strong ~ Rhaelor Targaryen

— Jacaerys Waters 

— Lucerys Waters

— Joffrey Waters

- 2 other daughters

- Alys Rivers

- Larys Strong

Chapter Text

Princess Visenya “the Younger” Targaryen tends to spend most of her time in the company of her young dragon Seashell (who is still not large enough for the little princess to ride). 

Most days, the little princess is shuffled between the company of her mother Queen Ceryse Hightower and her father King Maegor Targaryen.

The King would typically go over court procedures with his youngest daughter in his arms, sitting on his lap like a pretty little porcelain doll in an elaborate dress with Valyrian inspired jewelry draped all over her tiny body.

Queen Ceryse’s personal fool, a dwarf by the name of Butter, would often jape about how the lords of Westeros should kiss the feet of the little princess because if it wasn’t for her presence Maegor would have surely had many of them executed and tortured. 

Of course it’s heavily debated wether this famous story about Maegor the Cruel and his relationship with his young daughter actually holds any weight as Maegor was known to have anyone who crossed him executed, regardless of any personal feelings that his wives or daughters may have for any of his victims.

Most famously is how Maegor had his nephew Prince Viserys (son of Aenys) tortured to death despite how the Prince was married to Maegor’s eldest daughter & heir presumptive Princess Maegelle and had fathered her twin sons Aegon and Maelor Targaryen. 

— Excerpt from “The Daughters of Maegor the Cruel” by Alayson Wiere

Most days, Visenya’s father is angry at someone. She knows because his eyes are angry and he holds her very tightly in his arms to the point that it hurts.

Most days when the Red Keep is filled with the screams of people that Visenya barely knows, she likes to hide in the corner behind her large canopy bed with the velvet curtains and golden embroidery on it. 

In these days, Visenya’s oldest and most senior lady-in-waiting (her mother’s cousin named Patrice Hightower) would always rush to lock the door of Visenya’s bed chambers while Visenya’s nurse held tightly onto her and prayed to the Seven for mercy.

Seashell would screech in defiance as they puff out their chest and spreads their wings to assert dominance. 

Muñāzma often tells her that it’s because Seashell is trying to assert their territory and trying to ward off any one that they deem as a threat.

Some days Visenya is with her older sister Saera (who’s always weaving or embroidering something in the safety of her room) when the Red Keep starts to be filled with the screams of servants or lords and ladies. 

Saera would turn a very pale color when they both hear the sounds of screaming and her hands would start to shake uncontrollably and she would look sick to her core. 

“Close the doors,” Saera would whisper before she’d furiously yell out, “I said to close the doors!” 

Jorgen Velaryon, Saera’s companion and one of her favorites, would be one of the first people to rush forward so the doors would be closed tight and the locks in place.

”No one will get in now,” Jorgen would always say, trying to reassure Saera. “They can’t get in, Your Grace,”

And Elinor Tyrell, Saera’s maid-in-waiting and other favorite, would always be by Saera’s side trying to calm her down by massaging her shoulders and whispering softly into her ear.

Visenya would always be sitting on the dark blue carpet in Saera’s room that had embroidered into it the meeting between their grandfather Aegon the Conqueror and their mother’s great-grandfather Lord Manfred Hightower when Aegon came to Oldtown and Manfred opened the gates and bent the knee because the High Septon had warned him that if Manfred fought the Targaryens then Oldtown would be bathed in the flames of the dragons. 

It was Saera’s favorite carpet and it had been a gift from their uncle Martyn for her birthday when their father had still been away in exiled in Essos.

There are times when Lynesse is with the both of them in Saera’s rooms and those days Lynesse is the first one to act and lock the doors.

Lynesse would even drag one of Saera’s chairs (which are always made out of the fine wood of an oak tree, have elaborate carvings in the handles and legs, and have the most expensive coushins on it) and put it against the door.

Despite how sometimes Saera would protest at how roughly Lynesse would drag her chairs over to the door, Lynesse would still do it.

”You don’t want them to get in, do you?” Lynesse would always retort to Saera’s protests (Saera is always shaking, her whole body is shaking while Lynesse is tense and her gaze is cold). 

“It’s extra reassurance that they won’t get inside,” Lynesse would always say. Her hands would always wander towards the handle of the sword made out of Valyrian steel that Father had gifted her during the first year of his reign. 

Rarely is Maegelle with them in Saera’s room. But when she is and the screams begin to fill every corner of the Red Keep, Maegelle would always stare blankly as she sat in her chair unmoving.

Her eyes would become distant and her face too pale for her own good. Both her hands would begin to shake much like Saera’s do, but Maegelle’s hands wouldn’t shake as uncontrollably as Saera’s.

Maegelle would simply close her eyes and breathe in and out, almost as if she wanted to calm herself and was trying to do so to the best of her abilities. 

Chapter Text

When Alester Hightower woke up from his sleep, he was laying on a large bed with silk velvet sheets. He looks around the dimly lit room, and swallows back the spit in his mouth. 

Where am I? Alester thinks, he slowly gets off the large bed. There’s a fireplace in the room and as Alester looks around again, he noticed the tapestries hung on the wall have dragons embroidered into it in a lovely pattern.

There is a giant black dragon breathing fire onto a small army while a small silver-haired figure dressed in a black scaly armor with a diadem on their head was riding on the dragon’s back.

It reminds me of Rhaelor and of the Red Keep, Alester thinks for a moment before he shook his head slightly. No, that can’t be. I would have recognized this place if it had been the Red Keep, and besides…

And besides, this couldn’t be the Red Keep. This strange dark place that Alester woke up in can’t be the Red Keep with its brightly lit hallways and richly decorated rooms and beautiful architecture that would make any proud architect from Oldtown weep in joy.

No, this place isn’t the Red Keep.

This place is far too dark, and gloomy, and completely unfamiliar for it to be the same red-walled castle where Alester had grown up with, alongside Prince Rhaelor Targaryen.   

Alester walks towards a large, oval-shaped mirror and stands in front of it, examining his reflection.

He’s still dressed in the same Hightower green clothes that he had been wearing while attending that hunt in honor of Lady Redwyne’s name-day. 

The same puffy sleeves.

The same gold buttons sewn onto the front of his outfit.

Alester hands go to his neck and his fingers feel cool to the touch as he tries to feel if there is any bite mark (a mating bite) on his neck.  

Alester breaths a sigh of relief when he realizes that there is no mark on his neck. He is still unclaimed, un-mated. 

He is still pure.

And he briefly thinks of Rhaelor, back facing Alester and silver hair flying freely because of the wind. 

Alester swallows back spit and shakes his head to get that image of his childhood friend out of his mind.

Don’t think about him right now, I have to find out where I am at the moment, Alester thinks, looking around the large gloomy room once again.

It is very clearly a bed chamber. 

He shivers a bit at the idea of whoever this bed chamber belongs to. His fingers roam the skin of his neck a once more, almost as if trying to reassure himself. 

And besides…

Alester inhales and exhales, glancing at the large wooden door that most likely leads out of this gloomy bed chamber.

And besides, Rhaelor doesn’t see me like that at all, Alester closes his eyes tightly for a moment. 

He opens his eyes and walks hesitantly b towards the door, he places a hand on it and pushes it, trying to open it.

The door swings open and Alester does not like the sound that it makes as it opens. He knows that doors often tend to make those noises but right now he very heavily dislikes them. 

Freedom, Alester can practically taste it on the edge of his lips. I can finally get out of this place. I can go home.

Home, yes that’s right.

He can go back home to Oldtown with his father and brothers (Brynden, Owen, Garlan, Owyn, and Gwayne) and his uncle and aunt and all his cousins. 

Alester can go back home, just like when he had been sent away from court because Rhaelor was going to get married to his cousin (Laena Velaryon or Alyssa Royce, whichever Alester was not quite sure). 

So Alester needed to go so the Prince would not be tempted into sin by the allure of his omega companion.

And people had started to whisper about the closeness between Rhaelor, an alpha, and Alester, a male omega.  

Father couldn’t have people questioning Alester’s virtue, his chastity, now that it was very clear that Rhaelor wouldn’t bother to marry him. 

Since Rhaelor doesn’t see him as anything other than a friend. Alester is glad for that, but a part of him hurts and he doesn’t know why. 

Alester needed to go so Rhaelor could focus on his upcoming betrothal to one of his two cousins (because Jaehaerys is an alpha, Laenor is a beta, and Allard is nothing more than an unpresented pup) for the sake of the Valyrian blood purity that the Targaryen’s care so much about.

Father will find someone for Alester, someone worthy and of high enough status to satisfy that ambition that Otto Hightower carries while Alester will do nothing else but smile and go along with his father’s schemes because what else can he do but obey?

What else is there to him but obeying?

There are already some offers coming in. Jason or Tyland Lannister were already suggested, and then there is a Tyrell cousin and a Redwyne cousin who has always looked at Alester kindly. 

Whoever is chosen, it doesn’t matter. Because Father will choose his spouse and Alester will simply obey. 

Alester shakes his head to concentrate and focuses on getting out of that horrid room that belongs to a stranger. 

He takes a step forward and then another and then Alester finds himself hurrying down the hallway. 

He doesn’t spot any servants and he is starting to get scared. Castles always have servants going about their duties, even small castles have that.

But this castle…

This gloomy, and dreary castle doesn’t have that. It’s almost as if this castle abandoned, and Alester doesn’t like the idea of being in the middle of nowhere with a stranger who might hurt him.

”Running already? Do you care so little about me, dearest Lest?” A voice (he knows that voice) calls out. “Must you be so heartless towards me Alester, your own mate?”

Alester stops in his tracks as soon as he heard that voice, rolling off the gloomy stone walls of the castle.

That voice…

His blood runs cold.

No, it can’t be…He wouldn’t…It can’t be him of all people. No, why is he here? Alester tastes bile in his mouth.