Chapter Text
Rhaenyra put Daenerys down near Joffrey so they could both play together as she listened in Jace´s lesson. Her son had some problems in pronunciation, but otherwise he was a good student. She was so proud… he was going to be an amazing King one day… that if Alicent doesn´t use her blasted offspring to usurp him… and her. Not for the first time, she thought about them when they were younger, of all the things they have told one another and the time spent together. Where had those two girls gone? Otto Hightower and his lust for power had killed them both.
“Mother?” Joffrey distracted her and his brother from the lesson. “Dany doesn´t want to give the dragon back.”
The princess´ eyes turned to her daughter. Since the moment she had appeared in Driftmark´s halls, the little girl had been a blessing for both her and her husband. Daemon had practically been a father to her, and his girls were also very good with her. The only bad thing was that the King had demanded their presence every few months, fascinated with Daenerys and her mysterious appearance, which puts their little charge in danger. And no one understood that more than Daemon and Rhaenyra
“Otto Hightower is going to try something again” Daemon told her as they prepared for bed that night. The next morning they were going to depart to King´s Landing with their children… which meant they would have to face Alicent and the cunt of a Hand. “I´m sure.”
“You are not the only one”
At first, the Hand, Otto Hightower, considered Daenerys as a minor thing that could be dealt with later, if ever. At first, he convinced Alicent of that, but the news of her mysterious appearance has spread to the people of King´s Landing. Now, some of them considered baby Daenerys a saint and others a demon. The High Septon himself had gone to King´s Landing from the Starry Sept and demanded to speak to the King, accompanied by the Septon of King´s Landing and some of the Most Devout. They only talked about how it was Rhaenyra´s fault and blasphemy and several other things that Viserys faked listening, but didn´t really paid any attention. Of course, Alicent started to scream when she heard that her husband had thrown the septons out without a single answer. She told the Viserys that he must hear to the holy men and that they were passing the message of their gods. That this was surely a trick from Rhaenyra and Daemon, using their bastard to gain public favor. Otto Hightower had been there too, but didn´t say a word. He still didn´t thought the girl would be a problem… until the backing for the Crown Princess grew between the smallfolk. Normally he wouldn´t pay attention to that, but suddenly some minor nobles that were from the Green faction started to dress themselves in black. So he ended up deciding the girl needed to go. There had been two attempted assassinations. Daemon and Rhaenyra were sure that Hightower or Larys Strong were behind them, but despite Daemon´s best efforts, they weren´t able to find evidence that they were behind the attempts.
“You know, this would be very easy if we simply remain here. Viserys will have to understand, the wetnurse was very close to kill both Dany and Joff” the Rogue Prince reminded her.
“I need to be there. If not, the Hightowers are going to win more influence at court. Then all of us are going to be in mortal peril” the princess huffed. “Besides, we have other problems we have to deal with at court. Like Vaemond Velaryon saying again and again that Lucerys is a bastard and he the true heir to Driftmark. Lord Corlys says he has him under control, but…”
“I will cut his head off for you”
“I don´t think we need to go that far, not if my father says something about it” she crossed her arms. “You know that Vaemond also said that Daenerys should be put under his own protection and not ours? As if he is worthier than us.”
“Can´t I really take his head? I´m sure it would look pretty near Otto Hightower´s and Ser Crispin´s.”
“No, I will handle it” she needed to. If not, then she didn´t have what was needed to become the first Reigning Queen.
Many leagues away, in King´s Landing, Alicent Hightower was kneeling in front of the altar in her room. She was praying for the Father to shed light over her husband so he can see Rhaenyra´s plot, Daemon´s cruelty and Aegon´s value. She also prayed that he saw his own value, that he was born to be King. She asked the warrior for strength for her children and to protect them from anyone that wished them wrong. Finally, she asked the Stranger to take Rhaenyra´s bastards, specially the one that she used to deviate so many people from the right path. How was her name? Yes, Daenerys… she prayed for Daenerys´ death.
“Mother?” Aemond asked, entering her room. “Is everything alright?”
“Yes, my sweet” she answered, rousing from her knees. “Is Aegon on the Keep?”
“Yes, I made sure of that… but that doesn´t mean that he isn´t drinking” he rolled his only eye. “Ser Criston is going to make sure he stays in his room for the night.”
“Good” the Queen said, knowing that it was probably the best she could hope in that moment. “Go to sleep, Aemond, tomorrow we have to go to the Sept for the service as a family. It´s an important date after all.”
“Good night then, mother”
The Queen watched her favorite son walk away with a smile on her face. Sometimes he wished Aemond had been born first. Aegon was… sometimes he was difficult and she believed that he was never going to grow up, but he needed to. He was going to be King, so he better stop feeling sorry for himself and act like the monarch she knew he can be. Alicent went to bed with that in her mind. When she woke up, she was fresh. She called for her handmaidens and donned her best green dress to go to the Sept. She reunited with her children and father to break her fast and then they all went to the Sept. Aegon was hungover, she could see how he was trying to protect her eyes from the sun. She sent him a reproving look.
The Greens entered the sept and positioned themselves in the front row. The High Septon himself, who officiated the ceremony, gave them a nod of recognition. He started the service, his words boring Otto Hightower. The Hand of the King wondered not for the first time why he had to humor his daughter and attend these ceremonies when he had so many things to do, so many more important things to do… then he remembered that his daughter was his best political pawn and that most of his allies were religious people. Seeing him and the future King they were supporting in the Sept made them more loyal. Besides, the Faith itself was one of his best supporters, if only because of the power they would get from having a Hightower King on the Throne.
“… reunited here in the Light of the Seven…”
NO… NO LIGHT… YOU ARE IN DARKNESS… IN THE DARKNESS OF AMBITION…
The High Septon froze with both his hands over his head. The Queen also did so, while the Hand looked around to see who had dared to say something like that. Someone was going to pay for this, he was sure of that. At least until he saw the statue of the Father moving. And it was not the only one. Just what the…
DO YOU BELIEVE NOW, OTTO HIGHTOWER, THE FAITHLESS MAN? DO YOU BELIEVE NOW THAT YOU HAVE SEEN?
The Hand of the King couldn´t answer to the statue. He had been a faithless man, one that only believed because it was useful to present himself as man of faith. And how could he believe in such nonsense? Everything he had, he had gotten with his own hard work. The gods had never given him anything, so he didn´t have any reason to believe… until now. The statue of the Mother was the next one to talk, pointing at him with an accusing finger.
YOU TRULY ARE GREED INCARNATED, ALWAYS LUSTING AFTER THINGS THAT ARE NOT YOURS TO TAKE, THINGS THAT ARE NOT FOR YOUR BLOOD TO TAKE. WE DECREED LONG AGO THAT A QUEEN WOULD REIGN NOW, A QUEEN TO SHOW THAT WOMEN ARE AS CAPABLE AS MEN.
“But… but a woman should always be ruled by a…” the Maiden interrupted Alicent.
LIES!! LIES AND NONSENSES!! IT WAS NOT WRITEN IN THE FIRST BOOKS, THE ONES WE GAVE TO MORTALS. THOSE DAMN MEN ADDED THEM LATER!!!
The Queen´s eyes lowered, scared. If that was true then she… the Crone picked up the conversation before she could say something else.
IT IS NOT ENTIRELY HER FAULT SHE IS POISONOUS. WE CALLED HER THE GREEN POISON FOR THE DRAGONS BECAUSE HER ACTIONS AND WISH TO SEE HER SON UPON A THRONE THAT WASN´T HIS CAUSED THE END OF THE DRAGONS AND EVENTUALLY THE FALL OF MANKIND, BUT IT WAS NOT ENTIRELY HER FAULT. HER FATHER CORRUPTED HER, USED HER, WHORED HER TO A GRIEVING MAN. A GRIEVING MAN THAT WASN´T SUPPOSED TO HAVE A GIRL LIKE HER.
The Warrior looked at them next.
HER FATHER COULD BE THE ORIGIN, BUT HER OWN EVIL CAME FROM HERSELF. SHE WAS THE ONE THAT BETRAYED HER BEST FRIEND BY MARRYING HER FATHER, THE ONE THAT CORRUPTED HER CHILDREN AGAINST THEIR OWN RELATIVES, KNOWING THAT IT WOULD LEAD TO KINSLAYING. SHE WAS WILLING TO MAKE THEM KINSLAYERS… TO APPEASE HER OWN FEARS. THE FUTURE WAS SHOWED TO HER AND EVEN LIKE THAT, SHE DIDN´T STOP.
“I… I only wanted…” the Smith continued.
EVERYBODY FORGED THEIR OWN PATH. SHE COULD HAVE SAID NO IN ANY MOMENT, SAID NO WHEN HER FATHER ORDERED HER TO DO THINGS SHE KNEW WERE WRONG. STOP HERSELF WHEN SHE KNEW SHE WAS DOING WRONG.
“I… I didn´t do anything wrong… I was Rhaenyra…” the cloaked figure of the Stranger now rained wrath on her.
WAS RHAENYRA WHO SEDUCED A GRIEVING, OLD MAN NIGHT AFTER NIGHT? WHO RAISED THE INCARNATION OF AMBITION HIGH? THE ONE THAT KILLED CHILDREN IN THE WOMB BECAUSE SHE COULDN´T ACCEPT HER OWN SON´S FAULTS? THE ONE THAT STARTED RUMORS AND BETRAYED ONE WHO ONCE LOVED HER THE MOST? THE ONE THAT FORCED A DESTINY ON HER SON, ON ALL OF HER CHILDREN, WHERE THEY WOULD SUFFER AND DIE SCREAMING KNOWING WHAT WAS GOING TO COME? THE ONE THAT PRAYED FOR A CHILD´S DEATH?! A CHILD LOVED BY US, A CHILD DESTINED TO BE A SAVIOR?!!
“I… I´m sorry… I… if only I had a clear sign…”
THERE WERE MANY SIGNS, ALICENT HIGHTOWER, AND YOU IGNORED THEM ALL. YOU WOULD HAVE LET YOUR FATHER´S INSATIABLE AMBITION TO RUIN YOURSELF AND THEM ALL AND EVEN CONDEMN THE WORLD OF MEN… WE EVEN GAVE YOUR DAUGHTER THE GIFT OF FORESIGHT SO YOU COULD STOP, BUT YOU NEVER LISTENED. SO, WHEN YOU PRAYED FOR THE BLESSED QUEEN TO DIE, WE CAME TO A CONCLUSSION…
Otto and Alicent Hightower didn´t know what to do. In front of the horrified eyes of nobles and servants and even the High Septon himself, the stained glass windows from the sept shattered in thousands of colorful pieces. Most felt on the floor, but fourteen of them remained in the air, showing the Seven´s power. The glass pieces flew through the air and collided with the Hand´s and the Queen´s bodies, generating seven injuries in each. Otto Hightower tried to remove them, but they only buried even deeper into his flesh, causing him to scream. Alicent tried to catch her seven pointed star pendant with her hand when one of the glass pieces pierced the chain. She let go when the sacred symbol burned her. The statues pointed to the door of the sept as one, their angry glares on father and daughter
GO AND NEVER COME BACK. YOU ARE NO LONGER WELCOME INTO OUR LIGHT, INTO OUR HOUSE AND OUR TABLE.
All the people stayed frozen for a long time after the statues recovered their inanimate state, even the Queen and her father. The knights of the Kingsguard, lead by Ser Criston Cole, were the first to react, grabbing the royals so they could get them to safety before the others react. The septons were the next one, including the High Septon and, as they couldn´t deny what had happened there, he declared the Queen and Otto Hightower heretics and blasphemous and ordered for someone to imprison them. The knights and guards of the Red Keep defended the royals, not knowing what else to do. Some of them even seemed to want the mob to get the Queen and disgraced Hand.
“Alicent!!” the Hightower woman´s eyes raised when she heard that voice. Rhaenyra was coming her way, followed quickly by a confused Daemon. Why were they here? Why wasn´t the princess leaving her to her fate? It should be what she always wanted… “What is happening here?!”
Alicent opened her mouth to answer to the princess´ demand.
“YOU!!! It has to be your fault!!”
Ser Criston attacked before either woman could say something, pointing his sword towards Rhaenyra. Daemon got in his way, Dark Sister already in his hands. The two battled until the Rogue Prince managed to knock the sword out of the Kingsguard´s hand. He was about to kill him when Ser Harrold Westerling stopped him and ordered Ser Criston to be arrested and sent to the Black Cells. Otto Hightower watched everything happen and how the rest of the Kingsguard positioned themselves behind the princess. So it was over...
-In the Red Keep-
“So that´s what happened” Daemon said after he, his brother and his wife listened to the history from the mouth of Ser Arryck, who had been in the sept when the event happened. “I told you he was a cunt” he started saying, pointing at Viserys. “I told you!! Rhaenyra also told you!! But did you listen? NO!!!”
“Yes, Daemon, I know” the King said. The first thing he had done after the incident was to take Otto Hightower´s pin and send him to make Ser Criston company in the Black Cells. The next one was to confine Alicent to her rooms, her children too… and to held council with his daughter and brother. “I should have never married her. Otto and his blood are poison.”
“Alicent was poisoned by her father, even the Seven said that” Rhaenyra put a hand over her father´s. “Maybe if she had noticed his evilness, then she would have been saved too” she remembered the girl who used to be her best friend. “What is going to happen to her now? To all of them?”
“The Faith, who normally is aligned with House Hightower, has abandoned them and now claim for their blood” Viserys sighed. “They demand that Otto, Alicent and the children are given to them, so they could be punished for their sins.”
“Good, let´s do that”
“They want to burn them alive, Daemon” the King said, glaring at his sibling. “I have written to Lord Hightower to ask him if there is something he could do…”
“The asshole will probably abandon his brother and niece too”
“You are probably right, but that doesn´t make our problems go away” the older man put a hand over his eyes. “Otto Hightower was practically declared guilty of High Treason by the Seven themselves, so he will be executed in the morning along with Ser Criston for attacking you, my dear.”
“Great, Caraxes has wanted a threat for some time”
“By the sword, Daemon, I´m not making this more painful than it already is, no matter what Otto and Ser Cole deserve” Viserys bit his lip. “Alicent… I don´t know what to do with her. She is still my wife and I should protect her…”
“The Green bitch deserved it”
“Otto deserved it, but Alicent was merely obeying him like any good daughter would. And did what she thought was right by the children. I think we should… give her a lesser punishment”
“Yes? What?” Daemon asked. “She can´t become a septa with how the Seven publicly expelled her from the Faith or a Silent Sister because of the same reason. A woman can´t become a master, no matter what…”
“What should I do then, Daemon? Kill my own wife? Become a kinslayer? Allow you or Rhaenyra to become one?” Viserys actually glared at him. “And while you are at it, tell what should I do about the children. They are demanding their blood too, you know. They said that, as they were born from greed, they were sinners too and should be burned in the stake too.”
“What?” the princess intervened, stopping whatever her husband was about to say. “They wanted the children dead too? Why? They haven´t done anything.”
“There are… rumors circling around. About them”
“What kind of rumor?”
“That they destined to become kinslayers” the King answered, lowering his head. “At least the boys. About Helaena… I don´t know, the only thing I have heard is that they don´t want her dead. I guess that by tomorrow we will have more news.”
“I still wish to talk to Alicent…”
“You really shouldn´t, my dear, she is… sensible right now”
“Which means she is probably praying like a madwoman” the Rogue Prince added. “She should, now that everyone knows what a wretched woman she is…”
“She is not wretched” Rhaenyra tried to defend her former best friend.
“She wished dead upon our little Daenerys, a little babe that didn´t do anything to her, what would you call someone like that?” the princess didn´t seem to find an answer to that. “The Green Bitch will have her just deserve, as I told you she would...”
“But that doesn´t mean that she is without followers, as Ser Criston showed us” Viserys added. “So I´m putting more guards around you and the children, specially them. Daemon, appoint some that you know are loyal and start rooting out any allies Otto might still have at court. We can´t leave anything to luck.”
“Finally, something we agree on, brother” the Rogue Prince nodded. “But I would also put special attention on Daenerys. Hightower attempted to have her killed before.”
“Yes, I instructed Ser Harrold to guard her and Rhaenyra´s old wetnurse to see to her every necessity. Joffrey is also with her, so they are both safe.” His daughter didn´t seem so sure. “Rhaenyra, you need to think of something to tell to the people. The Seven called Daenerys the Blessed Queen and they want to see her. And you.”
“Yes, there are some things I have to think about” the princess said. “About Daenerys, specially”
“Rhaenyra, what are you saying?”
“The Fourteen flames called her one of the three” the Heir to the Throne continued. “If she is one, where are the other two?”
-In Dorne-
“So the little Green Queen has found her ruin, no?” Alliandra Martell said when the news reached her ears. She was in one of the pools in Sunspear, enjoying the cold water as Aegon played with the water near her. “You said she tried to kill someone like Aegon, no?”
“She prayed for her death, Princess” the orphan of the Greenblood that brought her the news answered, showing disgust in his face. “Wretched woman, she will receive her punishment soon.”
“Had she tried to do something like that to my son, she would already have” the Princess of Dorne smiled, extending her hands towards her little dragon. Aegon went to her and she embraced him. “This is beneficial too. Having a Queen from the Reach put us in too much danger. Like this, my plans can flow easier.”
“I think so too, princess”
“By the way, how is the search for our missing third head? I have Aegon and there is that girl in King´s Landing… but nothing on the third one.”
“Our agents are still questioning, we will have an answer sooner than later.”
“I hope so, it would be good to have all three reunited”
-In the North-
“Mama” Daemond said from Cregan Stark´s arms as Arra Norrey´s body was laid to rest in the crypts at Winterfell. The little boy was crying, Lady Arra had been a mother to him, the only one he had ever known… and she was dead now. Yes, he had a new little brother, but that wasn´t a compensation for what he had lost. “Mama”
“I know, son, I know” the Lord of Winterfell answered, hugging his boy closer to his chest. “I miss her too.”
They went inside the castle again. The two of them broke their fast together and went to visit little Rickon in the nursery, his older brother singing little nursery sons for the newborn. It was strange to believe that Arra was no more when she had been such a constant in Cregan´s life… strange to believe that he wouldn´t see her again. Cregan allowed Dae to sleep with him that night, as he didn´t want to be alone with his nightmares or to leave him alone to his own. He felt he barely had closed an eye when, in the middle of the night, his maester woke him up with a raven scroll from King´s Landing.
“She seriously asked for her death? The death of a baby?” the Warden of the North asked, not understanding how the Queen could wish for such a thing. “Was it because Daenerys was…”
“No, apparently Queen Alicent believed she was a bastard of Princess Rhaenyra” the old man answered. “But that´s not everything. At the insistence of the Faith, the Small Council and the people, the King is going to put his wife on trial for attempted murder. He has summoned you, my lord, to act as one of the judges.”
“I can´t disobey, I will have to go.”
“Will you take Daemond, my lord? It could be beneficial for him…”
“No” Cregan said firmly. “I promised that I will take him to his dragon kin in the future… when he is ready” he turned around. “Pack my things in the morning, I will depart for King´s Landing as soon as I can.”