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Chapter Text

“Ser Criston, bring me the eye of Lucerys Velaryon”

Rhaenyra could feel her blood run cold as that was said. Between all the thing she has expected Alicent to say… she knew that the relationship with her former friend had turned cold over the years, but she had never thought Alicent would hurt a child, moreover, her child. Immediately, she used her own body to cover her son, who was trembling. Her father was looking between his wife and his daughter, not knowing what to do. Should he listen to his wife or to his daughter? Certainly, he didn´t his grandson to be harmed. His son was harmed, yes, but… hurting more children of his blood surely wasn´t the answer. He turned to Alicent, determined to make her see reason, but she continued without mercy.

“He can choose which eye to keep, a privilege he did not grant my son.”

“You will not do such a thing” Rhaenyra stated, her eyes glistening with protective fury. She won´t let that woman or any of her goons put a hand on her boy.

As the argument got heated, an argument where even the paternity and legitimacy of Rhaenyra´s children was put into question, where Alicent asked her where was duty and Viserys screamed for them to stop, not doing anything more than that… why was her father not helping her when she needed him? Her uncle Daemon was of more help than him, keeping Ser Cole away from her and Lucerys. The knight had declared that he won´t take an eye from her boy because of the order of the King, but she didn´t trust him to actually keep his word if it meant that he would have an opportunity to get revenge on her. Princess Rhaenys and Lord Corlys had the other children behind them, so she couldn´t ask them for help. Where was Laenor? Where was he now that their son needed him?

Alicent suddenly took the dagger from her father´s waist and went to do the deed herself. Rhaenyra put herself between her boy and the madwoman again, getting cut by the dagger. Her former friend froze for a moment, looking at Rhaenyra with scared and wild eyes. She certainly never wanted to hurt her… the dagger, still dripping Rhaenyra´s blood, was then taken from Alicent´s hand and flung away by someone, neither of the women noticed who. They could barely heard the clang as it collided with something metallic in the room… then the sound of a fire starting got capitate the attention of everyone in the room. The dagger had collided with a great, antique, Valyrian Steel chandelier that Lord Velaryon had in display, the blood of the dragon touching it. Before anyone could say something else, another flame appeared. And another and another… all the way until they were fourteen.

“Lord Velaryon…” Viserys started.

“Corlys…” Rhaenys grabbed her husband´s arm in fear. The Sea Snake covered her hand with his own, as scared as her. Both of them knew what that chandelier was. It was a relic from old Valyria, used to pray to the Fourteen Flames. It hasn´t been used since the Doom, but now… now it was…

BLOOD OF A QUEEN… BLOOD OF DRAGONS… BLOOD OF HERS…

Everyone was dumbfounded at the voices that seemed to come from the flames. Alicent was the first one to recompose, or at least to lose her wits because of her religious fanatism.

“Lord Velaryon, what is this blasphemy?! End this…”

YOU!!!

The fire covered all the stance. It was no longer small flames in a chandelier, with a fire angry with the rage of an offended god. An offended god who decided his target was Alicent Hightower. The flames covered her, threatening to burn her alive, showing her horrifying images of her children screaming, the dragons screaming, her children and grandchildren dying and finally her own end. She screamed and covered her ears, closing her eyes so she could not hear or see those visions that the Fourteen Flames decided to torture her with. Ser Criston unsheated his sword, decided to protect her, but the steel weapon heated so much that he had to drop it to the floor, where it melted.

YOU!!! GREEN WOMAN!! GREEN POISON FOR THE DRAGONS!! DAUGHTER OF INCARNATION OF GREED!!!! OF HE WHO MUST BE CURSED UNTIL THE END!! CULPRIT OF THE END!! THE LONG NIGHT COULDN´T BE STOPPED BECAUSE OF YOU AND YOUR FATHER!! THE DANGER BEYOND THE WALL WILL SUCEED THANKS TO YOUR GREEN POISON!!

Alicent continued screaming, screaming that it wasn´t real, that this wasn´t happening. Otto Hightower watched his daughter in horror and amazement. What were the Velaryons playing at? Or… there was a chance that it was not them… maybe it was just Rhaenyra… because… there was no way the gods themselves were intervening… the gods didn´t exist… or if they exist, they didn´t meddle in the affairs of men, they didn´t…

“Please…” Rhaenyra approached the chandelier, equally as scared as everyone else, but trying to show bravery. She was the Heir of the Iron Throne and won´t be intimidated even by gods. “Please, give us a chance… give us a chance to make things right…”

CHILD OF US, CHILD WHOSE BLOOD CALLED TO US… LAST OPPORTUNITY… LAST CHANCE…

The flames suddenly left Alicent to circle Rhaenyra, then slither to the floor in a circle of fire. Before the stupefied eyes of everyone, in the middle of the circle appeared a newborn. The child, a girl, started crying in her crib of fire, her voice making all the dragons in Dragonstone roar. Rhaenyra, giving a reassuring squeeze to Lucerys, approached the flames and cradled the girl in her arms. This one stopped crying and looked at her with her deep purple eyes. She was cold despite having just been surrounded by fire, so cold as if she had been outside in the snows of the North.

HER NAME IS DAENERYS… BLESSED CHILD OF OURS… ONE OF THREE… SHE WHO IN THE FUTURE SHALL BE QUEEN AND BRING DRAGONS FROM STONE… REMEMBER, RHAENYRA, CHILD OF US, LAST CHANCE… LAST CHANCE… OR THE LONG NIGHT AND DARKNESS WILL EAT US ALL…

The flames went off, leaving not even the burn marks of their presence in the room. The chandelier also was completely cold when Lord Corlys approached it. The only sign of their presence still there was little Daenerys, whose hands were trying to grab Rhaenyra´s locks, and ser Criston´s melted sword in the stones of Driftmark´s hall. For once, Viserys put his foot down and demanded for everyone to leave except for the adult members of his family. Which of course included Rhaenys and Corlys. Otto Hightower tried to get in too, but he was told to leave by the King. The Kingsguard also went outside and guarded the doors.

“Viserys, surely you are not going to believe it, they surely staged this all to…”

“And how could we have staged all of this, you stupid girl?” Princess Rhaenys asked, her fingers intervened with her husband´s. “That chandelier practically hasn´t been touched since the Doom of Valyria… how do you think we could have done something like this?”

“I… I don´t know, but… but you surely did it!! And blasphemed against the Seven…”

“Quiet, Alicent” Viserys ordered, cold towards his wife. The Queen looked at him in disbelieve. He then approached the baby girl that was still in his daughter´s arms. “Let me see her.”

“Here, father” Rhaenyra passed Daenerys to her father. Such a little girl… with such a big destiny waiting for her. He put her back on his daughter´s arms, thanking the gods for letting them have this last chance and this small blessing. He promised not to disappoint them. The King looked up to his daughter.

“What should we do from now on, Rhaenyra?”

“What, father?” the Princess asked, confused.

“The gods decided to put this girl in your care, so you decide how we will proceed from now on” Viserys said to his daughter. Alicent snorted. “How should we proceed?”

“I… I think the maester should take a look at her, to tell us if she is healthy. Then… we should get clothes for her” Rhaenyra looked down at the girl, who yawned. “Joffrey´s wetnurse should be informed that there is another babe to take care of until we can find one for Daenerys herself…”

“Viserys, we should…”

“You may leave, Alicent” the King said to his wife, turning back to his daughter. Rhaenys also ignored the Queen in favor of ordering the servants to put another crib in the nursery. Corlys didn´t even seem to notice her presence anymore, focused on the chandelier. Daemon offered her a smirk, but it was more mocking than anything.

Dejected, Alicent Hightower left. Her eyes were flaming with fury. This was surely another of Rhaenyra´s ploys to have one of her bastards passed as legitimate. The bastard in question might look like a Targaryen, but that didn´t fool her. The only question was who the father of this girl was. It couldn´t be Harwin Strong, he had been dead for too long to be Daenerys´ father. Then it struck her. Daemon, it was surely Daemon. Hadn´t Rhaenyra, Daemon and Laena spent time together during her pregnancy. Besides, Daemon, Daenerys… yes, that was it!! Rhaenyra had planned everything to pass her bastard with Daemon as legitimate!! That whore was so sure…

“Alicent” her father´s voice returned her to reality. She stopped and faced Otto with her head low. “What was said there?”

“Only that the bastard girl was to be taken to the master and then to the nursery” she informed him.

“Bastard?”

“I´m sure this is an elaborate ploy to pass another of Rhaenyra´s bastards as legitimate, father” she said, very sure of herself. “The father is probably Daemon… or perhaps a dragonseed hence her appearance… but I´m sure it´s most likely Daemon. It matters not, the girl is a bastard just like the other three and…”

“We will have to see, daughter” the Hand of the King stopped her. “In the meantime, we should keep an eye on this girl and her growing, so there are no surprises.”

-In Dorne-

Alliandra Nymeros Martell was taking a boat down the Greenblood, thinking about her own future. With her father dead, the young princess had inherited the throne of Dorne, and with it, the power she had always coveted to have. She, the new Nymeria, would guide the dornish towards victory and gain more fertile lands for her Kingdom. Right now, she was on a trip to meet with some of her principal lords to talk about a possible invasion of the Reach. Most of them were already eager… so was she. She went for her chalice… when the ship came to a complete stop, shaking her and making her splash her dress with her wine.

“What´s the matter, captain?” the princess asked, trying to dry her silken shift with a napkin. “Did we hit something or get stranded?”

“No, my princess, we just… I don´t know” the sailor said, also trying to see what was happening to his vessel. “We have… stopped… it´s as if the waters are commanding us to stay in this place.”

“That´s ridiculous, why…”

ALLIANDRA

“What is that?” the Princess of Dorne asked, having heard the voice in the air. Her head moved all around, hoping to see who had talked to her, who had dared to use her name and not her title to address her. “Show yourself!!”

ALLIANDRA, CHILD OF MINE

“I order you to show yourself!!”

As soon as the woman made this demand, the river started to shift under the vessel. The waters retire and converge in one point. As they ascended, Aliandra took a few steps back, falling on her rear as she tried to get away. The river itself seemed to have woken up from it´s slumber to take a form. First it was difficult to know the shape it was going to take, but then they could see it´s waters form a humanoid body. Clearer waters formed a dress that seemed both simpler and more majestic than anything the princess or any of her court members or servants had ever seen before. Dark green waters formed the hair of the woman, because the river has indeed turned into a woman, and a group of swimming turtles formed a necklace around her neck.

“This can´t be” Alliandra said, failing to stand again and falling on her knees.

ALLIANDRA, CHILD OF MINE, COME TO THE FORTH. YOUR MOTHER WISHES TO SPEAK TO YOU, GIRL OF MY BLOOD.

“Mother… Mother Rhyone, Goddess of my ancestors” the princess rushed as much as she could on her knees to the front of the deity. How was she supposed to address her? Had she known that she would be facing the Goddess of Ny Sar one day, she would have found one of the orphans of the Greeblood to teach her the ancient traditions. “Talk, Mother of Mine, that your child is listening.”

MY DEAR GIRL, SO FULL OF IDEAS, SO FULL OF LIFE. AS I EXPECTED, YOU ARE THE RIGHT ONE FOR THE MISSION I AM TO ENTRUST YOU. YOUR PEOPLE ARE AT GREAT PERIL, MY CHILD, A DANGER THAT WILL NOT COME FOR MANY GENERATIONS, BUT WILL COME AND WHEN IT HAS, YOU WON´T BE ABLE TO FACE IT ALONE. NO ONE WOULD BE ABLE TO FACE IT IF THINGS HAPPEN AS THEY ARE PLANNED.

“Say my mission, Mother, and this child of your will obediently do everything so it comes to fruition” Aliandra continued, hoping that the Goddess didn´t ask for something that would hinder her plans.

DARKNESS IS WAKING UP, THE ENEMY OF THE GODS IS STIRRING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WALL IN THE DISTANT NORTH. AND WHEN HE WAKES UP, HE WILL TRY TO SWALLOW THE WORLD AGAIN. MANY HEROES WILL TRY TO STOP HIM, BUT WITHOUT PEOPLE LISTENING OR THE WEAPONS NEEDED TO SUCEED, THEY WILL FAIL. THAT´S WHY… EXTEND YOUR HANDS.

The goddess extended a hand towards Alliandra, who remained kneeled as she extended her hands. A sphere of water, almost like a pearl but with whirlpools of liquid fighting inside of it, was put into the woman´s arms. As soon as the princess watched it, the sphere seemed to burst, water failing to the ground to reveal a baby where there was only liquid before. The small boy, newborn by his size and the cord still attached to his belly, breathed his first breath of life and cried. The princess opened her eyes in wonder. The boy had silver hair and purple eyes, but the skin of the Rhyonar. A perfect Valyrian Rhyonish mixture.

HE HAS THE NAME OF A CONQUEROR, OF THE CONQUERORS THAT DESTROYED MY PEOPLE AND FORCED THEM TO FLEE AWAY FROM ME, BUT IT´S STILL A CHILD OF MINE. A CHILD THAT HAS TRAVELLED THROUGH MY WATERS AND SEEN THE WONDERS OF OUR PAST. HE HAS CROSSED THE HOME WITH THE ORPHANS AND SHARED THE TABLE WITH DRAGONLORDS, THE SANDS OF DORNE IS IN HIS VEINS. EVEN YOUR BLOOD IS IN HIM.

“Mother, what am I…”

TAKE CARE OF HIM, NURTURE HIM, TEACH HIM TO BE GREAT RHYONISH PRINCE… AND WHEN HE IS READY, SEND HIM TO HIS RELATIVES OF FIRE SO HE COULD LEARN FROM THEM TOO, BECAUSE HE IS ONE OF THREE THAT SHALL BATTLE DARKNESS IN OUR NAME. FROM NOW ON, I´M PUTTING THIS CHILD UNDER YOUR PROTECTION, DEAR ALIANDRA, FOR HE WILL NOT ONLY REIGN IN THE SKIES, BUT RETURN THE MAGIC THAT SEEMED TO BE LOST TO MY ORPHANED CHILDREN. FAIL, ALLIANDRA, AND THE FALL OF THE LIVING WOULD BE IN YOUR SHOULDERS TOO.

“I… I won´t fail, Mother” she promised. “It will be done as you have said.”

The goddess then smiled and returned the waters to their place, the turtles dispersing. The only trace left behind of her presence were a ship full of scared people and the babe in Alliandra´s arms. She looked down at the child again. Has she really heard well? Was this child… both a dragonrider and a water magician? And how was she going to raise him? Don´t misunderstand her, Alliandra had always known that someday she will have to had children to continue the Martell bloodline, but she thought that she still had time. At only ten and six namedays old, she wasn´t ready to raise a child on her own. But, at the same time…

“My princess, we are moving again” the captain informed her. “It would be only a matter of time before we reach…”

“Forget that” the woman said, snatching a silk from the table to cover the babe from the sun. He had Rhyonish skin, but she didn´t want him to get affected by it´s rays. “We return to Sunspear immediately.” She turned to Ynis Allyrion, one of her handmaidens. “When we return, get me a wetnurse immediately.” Then turned to Falena Vaith. “You will order the servants to prepare a nursery in the palace.”

“Yes, my princess.” Both handmaidens bowed.

Aliandra looked down at her new charge, who was playing with an extreme of his silken cover. There would be many changes to do and perhaps more than one delay to her original plan, but, in the end, everything will work out. The Goddess of the river Rhyone had just given her a gift better than any golden or silver trinket her lords could give her and she would see to it that her little miracle was nurtured into the greatest Rhyonish Prince there ever was. And, maybe one day, King.

“The name of a Conqueror… Aegon” she smiled at the babe. “Aegon Nymeros Martell, my son. You will give us victory.”

As she entered Sunspear, Aegon in her arms, everyone received her with a surprised look. To the knowledge of even the most intimate servant, the princess hasn´t been pregnant when she decided to leave a few weeks ago, at least not enough to have given birth during her few weeks trip. She had paramours, of course, but she had always been careful not to get pregnant before wedlock. Many people also marveled at the looks of the child, who looked both Valyrian and Rhyonish and wondered when their princess could have met a man of Valyrian roots that took her fancy.
Alliandra, for her part, didn´t care about the rumors. She dressed Aegon in the clothes her handmaidens had busied themselves sewing during their hastened return and settled him down in the crib in the nursery. As she watched the wetnurse feed her little one, she decided that there were few things she could teach him if he remained in a room.

“Bring two cribs, one for my solar and one for my throne room. Aegon will accompany me from now on” she ordered.

The next day, Alliandra Nymeros Martell received petitioners and guests with little Aegon Nymeros Martell by her side. The child observed, strangely attentive, from his crib as the princess answered petitions. Alliandra rocked him from time to time, smiling at her visits as she answered them. In the middle of that, much to the surprise of everyone in the court, a group of Orphans of the Greeblood appeared. They kneeled in front of the princess, who gave them leave to speak.

“I am Yandras, leader of our village” “It has come to our knowledge, princess, that our dear Mother spoke to you. And not only that, but that she blessed a child of yours with the magic that once belonged to our ancestors.”

“I wonder how you came across such a tale” Alliandra said, her eyes turning to Aegon. How indeed. She swore every person in the boat to silence, not wanting news of her encounter with the ancient River goddess to be publicized. It can become dangerous to both her and her charge if it was. “If that´s all you came to tell…”

“This is the child?” Yandras asked, his eyes landing on the small, sleeping babe on the crib. “May you receive many blessings, little one, and the Mother remain with you for the rest of your life. You have blessed us and your mother with your arrival, the first water mage to be born in this world since we left the river Rhyone behind.”

The princess wanted to say something more, but the orphans started to kneel towards both her and Aegon. After a moment of pondering, a smile came to her face. Whatever she planned now, she would have both the lords and the orphans of the Greenblood behind her. That was surely enough to conquer the Marches and the Reach. Now, with a dragon on her side… victory will truly be hers. But she should be careful, at least until Aegon was a little bit older. Until then…

“What´s the rush?” Alliandra asked her lords when they asked about an invasion, rocking her son´s crib. “We have time”

-In the North-

Cregan Stark was sharpening his sword. That same afternoon, the entire nobility of the North had witnessed the execution of Bennard Stark and his sons. He had not done the deed himself, of course, as traitors or not, they were still his kin, but still… that was why he was there, praying to the weirwoods and cleaning his family´s sword to calm down and think on everything. His marriage to Arra was one of few things that brought him happiness in the recent days. Knowing that the Stark line will soon be secured and his House would flourish, his LINE would flourish even after his uncle´s attempt to usurp him.

STARK… CREGAN STARK, WOLF OF THE NORTH…

Cregan was on his feet and wielding his family sword in a second. Who was there? The next thing he noticed were howls. Wolves? Wolves in the Godswood? No, that was impossible, wolves could never… before he could even finish that thought, the figures of wolves with the size of horses started to appear from everywhere. Direwolves. Direwolves like his family sigil, all of them white as snow. How was he going to get out of this one? It would be quite a disappointment to have fought so hard to recover his place as Lord of Winterfell only to end up in the belly of a wolf. To be remembered as the Stark that was eaten by direwolves… the wolves suddenly stopped and howled at the same time, making Cregan shiver. What was happening?

CREGAN STARK… WOLF OF THE NORTH…

The Lord of Winterfell turned around and saw the heart tree. Only that… this heart tree seemed… alive. He guessed that it was always alive, but right now, it really seemed… alive. It´s tears of red sap were flowing freely. Cregan realized then that it wasn´t a mortal being that he was hearing. After centuries or even milenia, he was the first northman to hear the voice of the Gods of the First Men. He immediately went to his knees, his sword in front of himself. Whatever the Gods wanted to communicate, there seemed to be anger in their voice. And that wasn´t good.

“I am here, a wolf of the north, blood of the First Men and the Children of the Forest, ready to hear you”

STARK… WINTER IS COMING… YOUR WARNING… AND YOU FAILED!!!

Cregan shuddered as he heard the accusing scream of the Gods. He wanted to cover his ears, but he realized that would be a great mistake. Whatever he or his whole family had failed at, he needed to hear so it wasn´t repeated.

“Tell me, revered ones, where did I fail? When did House Stark failed and I assure you that it will be corrected!! I will make sure it will be corrected!!”

Cregan was suddenly pulled out of his body. He screamed, not knowing what was happening, only to see a Raven with three eyes taking flight from the weirwood and guiding him through what seemed like a myriad of images. And then he saw them… he saw Brandon Stark fighting the darkness and saw the Others with their undead, bright blue eyes. As blue as their undead thralls, bringing a night so dark with them that it seemed to swallow all living things and a winter so cold that everything froze. He saw that danger being defeated and retreating, that winter giving way to Spring and then Brandon building the Wall with the help of the Giants.

“Winter is coming… always” Brandon said when it was completed. “And House Stark´s duty is to keep it from destroying the word of the living.”

The images turned fuzzy again, as Cregan was taken through time and space again by the Raven. He saw images of many times, some even of himself, until the bird stopped at a certain place. Winterfell. From his place he saw a wolf with southern ambitions hearing to the whispers of a grey rat and selling his only daughter to a man unworthy in all senses. He saw a she-wolf, angered at the selling and strong as warrior, taking sword, lance and armor to teach some unruly squires honor. He saw the she wolf and the silver dragon meeting and falling in love, the madness of the dragon´s father, an elopement turned into a kidnapping by those who wanted to overthrow the dragons, two wolves dying in the Red Keep, a Rebellion erupting and ending up with the unworthy stag on the throne… and finally, he saw the Quiet Wolf, Eddard Stark, receiving his sister´s child and promising to protect it… but did he truly protect him, his flesh and blood? Or was he protecting his goodbrother´s killer, the unworthy stag that dilapidated the gold of the Realm and drowned them in debt? The whoring and drunken king that he called a brother in all but blood?

“Eddard Stark failed and his children failed since before they tried. By the time everyone was aware of the danger coming to them, it was too late. They didn´t have the strength… and with a Mad Queen opposing to them, they failed… and her after them. Eddard Stark died a miserable death far away from his home, beheaded at the order of a bastard that thought himself a King… and plunged the Realm into War because he wanted to be honorable.”

Cregan turned to see the Raven, who had stopped cawing and now spoke with the voice of a man. Now he didn´t look like a bird at all… he meant… it kept the dark wings of his avian kin and three eyes, but now had a humanoid body. A body enveloped in a black tunic that changed as it talked. First, it was that of a Child of the Forest, but suddenly it turned into that of a Man. And another and another.

“A war broke out because Eddard Stark wanted to keep his honor and the World of the Living paid for that. As when the Prince called for help against the Long Night, there wasn´t enough troops or people that answered. He failed and fell… and so did House Stark…”

It has turned now into an albino man with long white hair, a birthmark staining his face, and an eye empty. Now it became a young boy that had barely come into manhood, copper hair on top of his head, but with Stark features.

“Who are you?” Cregan asked.

“I´m the three Eyed Raven, Oracle of the Old Gods, and I have been entrusted to show you what will come to pass… so you take a decision.”

“What decision?” he certainly didn´t know how anything he did could have repercussions in a time so long after his death. He certainly couldn´t do anything now to prevent Rickard Stark´s southern ambitions or make Eddard Stark realize his honor is not worth enough to start a war. And if three children need to die so thousands more could live, then so be it. He didn´t like it either, but sacrifices need to be made for the greater good.

“To accept the mission that the Old Gods give you” the boy continued. “A last chance to undo what was done. A chance for House Stark to flourish to see the new dawn as it rose after the Long Night is over.”

“Then I, Lord Cregan Stark of Winterfell, accept this mission and duty.”

Cregan was pushed back into only his body in that moment. It seemed as if it hadn´t happened even a minute since he had kneeled in front of the weirwood. The direwolves were still there, and they howled again as the sap started to form a circle in the roots of the heart tree. Then it formed a sphere and this one solidify. The Lord of Winterfell didn´t dare to move from his place until the sphere burst and revealed a baby. This one cried and the wolves howled again.

HIS NAME IS DAEMOND AND HE IS ONE OF THE THREE… YOU MUST PROTECT HIM AND TEACH HIM TO BE A RULER, A TRUE LEADER OF THE NORTH, SO HE COULD GUIDE THEM IN DEFENCE OF THE LIVING IN THE ONLY WAR THAT MATTERS… EDDARD STARK FAILED AT THIS, DON´T FAIL OR YOUR HOUSE WILL BE TRULY LOST. DON´T FAIL, CREGAN STARK, AND WHEN HE IS READY SENT HIM TO HIS RELATIVES OF FIRE SO HE COULD CLAIM THE SWORD OF A SAVIOR. DON´T FAIL, FOR THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE.

“It will be done as you said”

Cregan assured and once more the weirwood and entire godswood became silent. Even the direwolves were gone. The Lord of Winterfell went and grabbed the babe, noticing it was a boy. He had dark eyes, so dark purple that they seemed black, and dark hair. He raised his head and for the first time noticed that he was not alone. His betrothed and several guards and servants were there too. They all looked in wonder at the child that the gods had just gifted their Lord.

“Arra, come” he asked his future wife, who did it immediately. “Say hello to our new son, Daemond.”

“Hello, little one” she said as she caressed his hair. “I will prepare the nursery immediately”

A few moon turns later, Cregan Stark got married to Arra Norrey under the weirwood, in the presence of Daemond, who looked attentively at them from the arms of his wetnurse. Despite the Lord of Winterfell´s swearing to silence everyone around him during the event, the rumor had spread like wildfire over the keeps on the North about the child blessed by the Old Gods, delivered to the new Lord of Winterfell. Every Lord attended the wedding, all of them more interested in the boy than their liege´s wedding. After the ceremony as a toast, the Lords yelled…

“To the Lord and Lady of Winterfell… and their Blessed Child!! May they live long!!”

“Cheers!!!”

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.”

Chapter Text

Aegon looked through the window of the Keep at the income of noblemen and women, many of whom had come to see the fall of his mother. It was strange how the wheels of fate turned. Yesterday, many of them were at his feet because he was the King´s eldest male heir, now they cursed him and want to bring him and his family down. Well, he guessed he got his wish now, he didn´t have to be king. But he also didn´t have many of the privileges he used to enjoy. He was given only watered down wine and was confined to his room, with not even maids to distract himself with. And, even without the wine and sex, he had been feeling better than in a long time. He didn´t have the pressure of his mother or his grandfather anymore, he was… he was free. It felt better than he believed. If only he could celebrate it with Sunfyre…

He was so focused on that amazing feeling that he got startled when one of the walls in his bedroom opened and his brother and sister got into the room.

“What…”

“Daemon is not the only one that knows how to use the secret corridors of this place, you know?” Aemond answered, helping Helaena out of the secret passage. “We came to ask you if you know something else. They don´t let me visit mother…”

“You asked to visit her? After everything that happened yesterday?” Aegon rolled his eyes. Their mother hadn´t even looked back at them since her precious Seven ran them out of the Sept. “For me, she and grandfather can go rot…”

“Unfilial son”

“Mommy´s boy”

“You drunk…”

“Silence” Helaena talked for the first time since she entered the room, then peered through the same window that Aegon was using to watch the people entering the Red Keep. “They should be about to appear.”

“Who?” Aemond´s question was answered by a roar. “Was that…”

“Tessarion” Aegon finished for him, pushing Helaena to catch the Blue Queen as she landed on the Dragonpit.

A smile came to his lips, he hasn´t seen Daeron since he was practically a toddler, when he was shipped off to the Hightower. He must have grown a lot, specially considering the size of his dragon, an image of not only strength but beauty. Aemond quickly excused himself to go bring Daeron into their little secret meeting, leaving Aegon and Helaena alone. It was not the first time they were alone, they were married after all… were they still married? With how much the Faith hated the Greens now, he would not be surprised if they weren´t anymore. Would that make the twins bastards now?

“They are okay” the princess assured him. If they ever agreed on something, it was on their children being the most important thing. “Sleeping right now. And father assured me that, happen what happen, he won´t allow anyone to touch them.”

“I´m glad” Aegon answered, for once giving her a sincere smile. “I should say I´m sorry, but I can´t. I feel relieved for this situation.”

“As you should, you were never supposed to be King”

“Tell that to grandfather and mother…”

“It´s a pity that they didn´t understand when there was still time” the dragondreamer said, her intuition as sharp as ever. “But it´s better than the future I foresaw if we continue down this road. Our souls would have been dammed.”

“That bad?”

“Why do you think I always woke up screaming from sleep?” Aegon swallowed hard. She better not be saying… “I dreamed of the future every night, a future where our children died early, miserable deaths filled with terror and desperation, where Aemond is dammed as a kinslayer and where you finally died alone and as miserable as you ever were.”

“Then there was no hope for mother´s dream?”

“The throne was to ever belong to Rhaenyra or a descendant of hers. That never changed” the princess served herself a bit of water. “Now there is an opportunity that we can leave this war alive, it´s a gift from the Gods for me.”

“All of us?”

“Grandfather has much to answer and Mother… Mother will have to face consequences of her betrayal. As for us… that path is still open. I haven´t dreamed anything about it.”

Aegon and Helaena stopped talking in that moment, preferring to watch what was happening from the window. Their grandfather was to die that afternoon and there was nothing that anyone could do to avoid that. According to a servant, Ser Criston was to be sentenced to the chopping block or to the Wall for attacking the Crown Princess. He was really sorry for his old sword teacher, but the idiot knight had pointed his sword at Rhaenyra in front of everyone, so nothing could save him from his punishment. As for their mother… they had heard that she was going to have a public trial when all the lords arrived, but that would still take time. Aegon was still pondering on the fates of the Greens that remained when Aemond returned with Daeron still in his ridding clothes and smelling of dragon.

“Look at you, all grown up!!” Aegon sincerely greeted his youngest brother with a hug. “How did no one noticed that you escaped your room with that smell following you?”

“Same as you, I guess” he sighed. “I´m afraid that you should forget about going to the Dragonpit for a season. Daemon has put Caraxes on guarding duty there and he seems to be taking that a little bit too serious, just so you know.”

“Daemon or Caraxes?”

“Both”

“Vhagar can take him”

“Don´t you even think about it” Helaena hissed at Aemond, who looked at her utterly surprised. It was the first time their sweet sister had such an aggressive reaction over it. “I have had my fill of watching you dying on Vhagar´s back against Caraxes and Daemon.”

“He was going to kill me?!” Aemond´s hand went to his sword, then he remembered he wasn´t allowed to carry any weapons. “I´m going to…”

“You are not going to do anything” Daeron stopped whatever his older brother was going to say. “We are in a precarious situation, if you haven´t noticed, and I would hate for to turn even worse because of you.”

“How could it be more precarious than now? Explain”

“Yes, what do you know?” if his head was going to chopped off sometime soon, Aegon wished to know.

“First of all, our uncle was all for still supporting us until a notice arrived by raven to the Hightower with the signature of the High Septon. Then he threw me out” the youngest said, shaking his head. “He said he didn´t have time or space for a bastard.”

“A bastard?” Aemond said, raising his eyebrow. “But you are prince”

“Not anymore. And neither are you all” he sighed. “The High Septon himself has annulled the marriage between King Viserys Targaryen and our mother on the grounds that the Seven themselves declared her a heretic. It´s as if it hasn´t happened, as if she has ever been a mistress. She is just Lady Alicent Hightower now and we her bastard children with the King.”

“This can´t be happening”

“And us? What is going to happen to us now that we are bastards?” asked Aegon while Aemond wallowed in his misery. “Is Rhaenyra going to send us to the chopping block now that no one would bait an eyelash at that?”

“Surprisingly, Rhaenyra is our main protector now. She and father” Daeron crossed his arms. “She said that, even if grandfather and mother did wrong, we are innocent and not to be punished for their wrongdoings.”

“And grandfather said that she would jump at any opportunity to see us all dead”

“On another note, Daemon wants us all dead, so…”

“That was to be expected” Aegon looked around the room. He got what he wanted, he was free from any obligation. As a bastard of the king, he could do whatever he want, go wherever he wanted and no one would say anything. He could travel the Seven Kingdoms and be a hedge knight… if only he were to survive this first few weeks. “Have you met Father?”

“This is taking a toll on him, won´t be long before Rhaenyra becomes Queen”

“That will be good”

“You are only saying that because you are the only one smallfolk doesn´t want dead” Daeron said, shuddering.

“What?!” Aemond exclaimed.

“Shhhhhhh” Aegon said before turning to Daeron. “Explain”

“Well… it´s only something I heard while coming from the Dragonpit, but… the people are very angry. They all heard what happened in the Sept, that the former Queen awoke the ire of the Gods with her crimes, that she was declared a poison by the Seven and that her blood would cause the eventual end of mankind… or so are the septons preaching…”

“To the point, Daeron”

“The Septons are demanding that both she and us burn on stakes as heretics. And the smallfolk are with them” they all were struck at their reality. They couldn´t believe how much things have changed since yesterday. “Rhaenyra and father are doing their best, but the people are turning more and more violent and demand blood. Otto´s execution is probably going to buy us time, but… it doesn´t look well for us.”

“But… you said that…”

“The High Septon said that as Helaena Waters was given a gift by the Gods, she should use that gift for everyone and join the Faith as a septa. But the rest of us…”

A damming silence descended over the children of former Queen Alicent. Aegon didn´t know what to do, the only thing he knew was… was that he wanted to live. And his little brothers and sister and children… he wanted all of them to live. They haven´t done anything to deserve death, that was his grandfather and mother…

“Listen” he finally managed to talk, taking control of their conversation. “There is nothing we can do for now. You return to your rooms and wait for the night there. Once it´s dark and no one can see you, come to this room. It´s safer to sleep all together and I have a knife under my bed that they haven´t taken.”

“Why do you have a knife?”

“That´s not important now” Aegon tried to deviate the conversation. He also didn´t want to admit that it was considered a security measure with the amount of whores he sneaked into his room. “What´s important is that I have one and we need to be safe. So you come here when it´s dark and sleep here. Helaena, bring the twins. Okay?” he hugged them all. “See you all later.”

They all nodded. Once his siblings left, Aegon grabbed every pillow he had in his room and arranged extra sleeplaces for the others that would come later. His bed was big enough for him, Helaena and the twins, but Daeron and Aemond would need other accommodations. The night arrived earlier than he would have liked, and with it his family. Aemond and Daeron scoffed at the prepared sleeping place but didn´t complain. As everyone settled down for the night, Aegon closed his eyes first… and opened them again when it was still dark. He looked around the room, seeing Daeron in his pillows and Helaena with the twins in the bed alongside him… no trace of Aemond. Shit!!!

Aegon immediately was out of bed. Having an idea of where his little brother had gone, he used the secret passage and a candle to follow the trail. And he wasn´t mistaken. He didn´t know how he had done it, but he managed to catch up to Aemond in former Queen Alicent´s room. He arrived practically in time to see Alicent striking Aemond in the face, something she had never done, and screaming at his face that she should have never gave birth to him, the wretched monster he was. That his birth was the one that shamed her the most, even more than her drunkard of a brother. She was about to strike him again, in his bad side, when Aegon caught her and practically threw her away from his shaken brother. He could have done more, but he choose to grab Aemond and drag him to the secret passage before anyone could enter the room and see them there. Just in time, because Ser Arryck entered in that moment to see if there was anyone there. Alicent´s mad behavior worked in their favor, because, along with them not being there, made the Kingsguard believe that she was talking alone. He left and Aegon finally dragged Aemond towards the room.

“What are you doing, we should…” SLAP!!! Another strike on his good side silenced Aemond. His hand flew to his cheek. “Aegon, why…”

“There is nothing we can do for mother right now. And, if you haven´t noticed, her precious Seven threw her out of the Faith because she married father and had us, so we are the last people she wants to see now” Aegon said. “Right now, we need to at least act as if we are following father´s orders by the letter, so we don´t need you making everything worse by visiting her” he tried not to scream with all his might. “Please, Aemond, I´m trying to make sure we get out of this alive, all of us… don´t make things worse.”

“Al… alright…”

“Good, now follow me” the two brothers walked through the hallways back to his room. In the middle of the way, he noticed how his brother was looking at him. “What?”

“Nothing, it´s just that… it´s… it´s strange.”

“What´s strange?”

“Seeing you acting like the older brother” Aegon stopped cold. He… he was truly… truly acting like an older brother. Like the oldest brother he was. So strange that something like this had to happen for him to actually mature.

“Well, father forced me to stay sober and if I can´t get out of my room, I can´t get a whore, so… I also like to stay alive” he opened the door for Aemond to get back into the room. “Now come, we have to get up early in the morning so no one knows you are sleeping here.”

“Right… older brother.”

Aegon sighed and also entered. Once he was sure Aemond was safe, curled in his own nest of pillows near Daeron, he returned to his place. After failing to get asleep on the bed, he dragged a chair in front of the door and sat there with his knife. His eyes closed and he lightly slept as he guarded his family.

-In another place-

Daemon had accepted the delay of Otto Hightower´s execution not out of the kindness of his heart, but as a political move. It was better to kill a traitor when all the Lords of the Realm were there to witness his demise. In the meantime, he was going to enjoy it for a bit. His dear wife and brother wanted to spare the Green Bitch and her spawn, but he knew that they would always be a problem for her and their dear children. No, it was better to cut them down now, all of them. Prevent the poison from spreading. And for that he must do some things that might appear… ruthless. Also he liked gloating.

“You look horrible, Otto” he said, a torch in his hand. The Black Cells were so dreary, so dark and damp… living there would be a punishment. “You as well, Ser Crispin”

“You damn…”

“If you have come to gloat, Prince Daemon, then do it and go away. I don´t have time to waste listening to that” the former Hand of the King said from his cell.
Daemon frowned when he saw him. The Hightower Wretch looked terribly smug for someone that was going to be executed in a few days. The Prince didn´t like it. The last time he had that kind of smile, his newest daughter almost died. Had he planned something for little Daenerys? Should he put more security to his children? He doubted that, Otto Hightower was now without power. So why was he looking so smug?

“Aren´t you here to gloat, my prince? Then go away, I have to think about something to say before the sword falls over my neck. Something fitting for my legacy.”

“Your legacy is going to be erased.”

“You think?” the man continued, his smirk widening. “You can kill Gwayne, Alicent, even Aegon and all of the children… and it won´t matter. It won´t matter because my legacy is already set on stone. Everyone know my name. Soon, it will be written in the pages of history and no one will ever forget me.”

Daemon cursed when he realized that it was true. Rhaenyra could go down in history as a great queen, the first reigning queen, but her name, hers and Viserys, would always be linked to Otto Hightower. He could be a cursed figure, but he would always be remembered… and that seemed enough for the wretch.

“You can rest assured, Prince Daemon, if your children and stepchildren were the ones you were worried about. I´m not going to do anything to them” the former Hand continued, laugher coming to him. “I prefer to spend my time thinking about what is about to be written of me!! Ser Otto Hightower, the second son who rose to be the Hand of the King!! The most powerful man in the Seven Kingdoms!! The greatest Schemer!!! So great that the Gods themselves had to break their eternal silence to bring him down!!”

“You were brought down anyway”

“Does it matter? The Gods themselves had to deign themselves to do it and no simple mortal could do it. Not even the House of the Dragon, who I was about to leave without their greatest weapons, that I was about to bring to their knees. In my eyes, that puts me directly under the Gods, makes me the greatest of mortals… or the foulest, but that didn´t matter” he laughed. “To think that my greed for power nearly destroyed mankind!! That´s being the greatest man!!”

“You are sick”

“I´m a man, my prince, and what does a man want? Being powerful while alive, being remembered when he is dead. And not only by family, but by history” Otto continued. “So go ahead, prince Daemon, gloat and do whatever you want. Kill my son, my daughter, my grandchildren… it doesn´t matter anymore.”

“You are sick”

“Like I said before, I´m a man. Right now, being remembered as great it´s the only thing I can aspire to… that you can´t take from me.”

Daemon turned around and left the Black Cells without another look to the disgraced Hand or the fallen Kingsguard. Soon they would be rid of both of them, so there was nothing to be concerned about them. As he passed the room of each of his children, he stopped in front of them to see them sleep. Poor things, they look exhausted. As he entered the nursery, he watched Joffrey and Daenerys curled into each other, sleeping.

“Sleep, little dragon, you are safe now” he said, giving the silver haired babe a kiss before leaving the room to find Rhaenyra.

-In the North-

“Don´t worry, my lord, I will take care of everything while you are away” his steward assured Cregan as he said his final goodbyes. “You will find Winterfell as you have left them when you come back.”

The Lord of Winterfell hugged Daemond one last time and held baby Rickon in his arms before getting into his horse and setting off with his men. In the way, Lords of the North joined him in his march for King´s Landing, talking about Queen Alicent. The North have never seen her in good eyes. For starters, she was a fanatic of the Seven that wanted everyone to follow the same doctrine as hers. She considered the northerners heathens and would have oppressed them to force them to convert to her beloved Seven. She also seemed all too willing to kill her stepdaughter and her husband or raise one of her children to do so. No matter that they have been friends when young. That told a lot about her character.

“Lord Stark, what do you think about the Queen and her father?”

“You mean Lady Alicent and Ser Otto Hightower?” even as furthest as the North, news of the annulment were heard. “I think we would have never supported her son. Not when she hates those that worship other Gods that aren´t hers.”

“Of course not!! We are not going to renounce the Old Gods!!”

“Aye!!!” was heard everywhere.

“But that doesn´t mean that she has to die. Or her children and grandchildren” Cregan stated. “If that is going to be debated in the trial, then I´m not going to be in favor. The Green Lady is going to be punished for her sins and her father will lose his head, but the children are other thing.”

“You thing they are going to behead them, Lord Stark? Aren´t they going to burn them?” Lord Glover asked.

“If it´s that way that Targaryens administer justice, then we will have to be prepared to witness it. I heard that is something… hard to see.”

Cregan was beginning to doubt if he should ever send Daemond to the Targaryens, but that was the will of the Old Gods, so he was going to have to obey. Apart from that, he was curious to see the other Blessed Child that the Targaryens have with them. Was she like Daemond? Or was she more mystical? Whatever it was, he couldn´t pass this opportunity to see the Blessed Queen with his own two eyes.

Chapter Text

“I want to see Helaena”

When her father said that, Rhaenyra´s first feeling was that of relief that he wasn´t talking to her late mother or to his reconstruction of Old Valyria only when in private anymore. Then she became dumbfounded. Yes, they had all been very busy lately, with Small Council meetings, choosing a new Hand, attempting to pacify the city before they killed someone that wasn´t guilty of anything and formally greeting the visiting lords from all corners of the Seven Kingdoms… If Rhaenyra had considered the attempts of different lords to win her Hand tiring, then this was more than exhausting. She had shaken so many hands that she didn´t feel her wrist anymore… but even so, his father hasn´t paid Alicent´s children any more attention than the needed to reassure them that he wasn´t going to hurt them. It was unfair, but… perhaps it was probably better.

“Helaena?” the Crown Princess asked, raising a silver eyebrow. “Has something happened to the twins, Father?”

“No, but… I have something for her and want to deliver it myself.”

“What is it, Father?”

“That´s between your sister and I, darling, but don´t be too concerned by it. You are still my heir and need to attend royal duties” he called for a knight. One that was unquestionably loyal to him and Rhaenyra. “Ser Errick? Bring me Helaena Waters.”

“Yes, your Grace”

“Daughter? Please don´t let me keep you from your duties. I just mean to have a friendly conversation with your sister. You have to break your fast before going to receive the lords.”

“I haven´t woken very hungry, Father, so let me fetch Helaena myself. Then I will have plenty of time to go and talk with the arriving Lords.”

And also find out why Viserys was so interested in the former Princess. She doubted it was because of the crown, her father would never pass her over, much less for Helaena, but… something told her that this was an issue she should pay attention to. So she accompanied Ser Errick to the chambers of his newly-made bastard sister and knocked on the door. The woman answered, still clad in her sleeping wear.

“Yes?”

“Dear sister, you have been called by our father” Helaena didn´t seem to be joyous about that, even if someone in her situation should be. “Dress yourself quickly and come with me to his room.”

“And the children?” she asked anxiously. She couldn´t say no to the king, specially not now that she was not a princess anymore, but she didn´t seem to be willing to leave her children either. “Who is going to look after them?”

“I can call for a wetnurse…”

“I don´t trust anyone not my blood with my children” the younger woman answered, looking inside her room anxiously. “I fear what they could do to them, specially the servants. Most of them are smallfolk, so…”

“Helaena, the King summoned you, you have to go.” Rhaenyra stated the facts.

“Why don´t you let them see Aegon? I doubt he would cause any troubles and the twins miss their father and I won´t have to worry about their safety if they are with him” she proposed. “Please, Rhaenyra, let them spend the time I´m with Father in Aegon´s bedroom.”

“Look here, girl…”

“I think it´s a good plan” the Crown Princess said, stopping Ser Errick´s outburst. “Aegon´s room is on the way to father´s. Go change and do the same for the twins, I will personally escort you to drop them at Aegon´s.”

Helaena smiled one last time and went inside to dress herself. The former princess emerged after a few minutes in a simple green dress with her twins by the hand. Rhaenyra didn´t say anything more, simply took them to her half-brother´s room. Aegon was a little surprised when she knocked at his door, but his eyes glowed with happiness when he saw his children. He made them enter quickly, happily declaring that they were going to spend the day with kepa. As he closed the door, he sent a last look to Helaena, one more guarded. Was he planning something? The princess didn´t have time to decipher it, as she was running a bit late now. She took Helaena to Viserys´ room, trying to find out what he wanted with her, but she couldn´t. He closed the door too quickly. And she had to rush anyway. She had to hunt Daemon down before going to meet the arriving Lords. Yes, she knew that as consort his duties were not as formal as the heir to the Throne, but his presence was still needed by her side when she was receiving her bannermen. Yes, she knew that he was still needed to pacify King´s Landing before another riot erupted!! But that doesn´t mean he could skip all his duties as her husband!!

The days went on and on as that new routine was instated. Rhaenyra would always knock on Helaena´s door first thing in the morning and accompany her to drop her children on Aegon´s room before taking her to their Father and then she went straight to attend the Lords, as more and more of them arrived to witness Otto Hightower´s execution and Alicent´s Trial. Between all her duties, she didn´t have much time to even take care of herself, which was why she took so long to realize that… Helaena´s health was declining. She looked awfully pale, with rings around her eyes that became deeper with each day that passed. And her lips were starting to take a blue tone. Everything happening since she started to visit King Viserys daily. Once it was noticed, Rhaenyra started to send maesters and nutritious foods to her half-sister´s bedroom, but none of them seemed to improve her health. And Rhaenyra herself was so busy… so busy that she didn´t noticed the WHY until…

“I can´t believe he forgot the Small Council session. He said he was going to be there for this one!!” the Princess said as she walked towards her father´s bedroom. She knocked on it. “Father, are you there?!! We have a Council session” she walked in when no answer came. “Fa…”

“Hand turns loom; spool of green, spool of black. Dragons of flesh, weaving dragons of thread!!!” Rhaenyra froze when she the scene there. Viserys was in front of his Valyria replica, watching Helaena with wide eyes as she seemed to be in trance. “The Gods awake, pulled the threads, the tapestry falls, shiny blessed threads added!! It changes, changes, changes!!”

“Concentrate, Helaena” the King demanded as his youngest daughter dropped something she had in her hand. A bottle. His oldest continue to watch in horror and amazement. “We already know that. What I want you to see is the Prophecy of Aegon. I want to know what the danger he saw was, where is it now, why is it so important to stop it… please, daughter, show me.”

“Stop it!! Stop it, you are hurting me!! They hurt!!” Helaena pleaded.

“Tell me of the Enemy!! Then we can stop!!”

Rhaenyra continued frozen in her place, watching her little sister writhe in her chair. She knew that King Viserys didn´t care for his children with Alicent in the same way that he cared about her, but forcing Helaena to use her gift of prophecy in that way… the young woman howling in pain made her move again. She ran to her side as Helaena started to tremble in an erratic way, her pupils completely dilated. Her held her head, trying to stop her.

“Rhaenyra!! What are you doing?! We were making…”

“Call the maester!! I think she is having a seizure!!” she screamed at her father. This one seemed about to retort, but then the girl´s tremble started to get worse and he called for Gerardys, who his daughter brought from Dragonstone. Rhaenyra concentrate on her sister. “Helaena… Helaena, can you hear me? Everything is going to be alright, you only…”

“They burn… they are so cold that they burn me… even in my dreams, they burn me…” she continued rambling. “It was our fault, we danced and lost the dragons. Without enough dragons, there is no way to stop them.”

“Helaena…”

“They burn, they burn, THEY BURN!!!” the former princess screamed, catching her father´s attention again. “THEY BURN WITH THE COLDNESS OF ICE, THE WINTER ACCOMPANIES THEM FROM THEIR HOME OF ALWAYS WINTER!! DARKNESS FOLLOWS AS THE CHILLING WINDS ADVANCE WITH THEM!!! THEIR EYES ARE BLUE STARS, THEIR SKIN AS WHITE AS THEIR SNOWS!! IN THE FAR NORTH THEY DWELL, WAITING FOR THE TIME TO ADVANCE ON THE WORLD OF THE LIVING AGAIN!!”

“That´s… that´s it… the Conqueror´s prophecy…” Viserys approached his daughter. “What else, Helaena? What else do you see?”

“COLD WINDS BLOW, THE DEAD ROSE FROM THE TOMB AND WALK WITH THEM, A HORN BLOWS AS A WALL OF ICE FALLS!! A CHOSEN SAVIOUR CALLS FOR HELP, BUT NO ONE LISTENED!! WITH HIS SWORD HE BATTLES TO SAVE THE REALM, BUT HE DOESN´T HAVE THE WEAPON!! THE CHOSEN KING AND THE QUEEN SAW HIS WORDS FOR TRUE… TOO LATE!! TOO LATE AND THEY ARE DEFEATED EVEN WITH DRAGONS!! TOO YOUNG!! TOO FEW!! THEY FALL AND WITH THEM THE LIGHT!!”

Rhaenyra tried to make sense of what she was listening. What? Too… few dragons? What had happened with the dragons? She was interrupted when Helaena´s seizure became worse, making her fear for her life. Geraldys arrived in that moment and started to treat her. As her body finally stopped trembling and her sister slipped into unconsciousness, Rhaenyra turned to her maester. She was about to ask what had happened to her when she saw Geraldys examining the bottle Helaena had dropped earlier.

“Shade of the Evening” the schoolar said. “It´s a potion the warlocks of Qarth said, they say that to have visions” he turned to the King. “Your Grace, have you been giving this to the… your daughter?”

“Yes, I wanted to hear the Conqueror´s prophecy and…”

“How long has she been using it?”

“A few days, I…”

“It´s been too much” Geraldys explained, frowning at the unconscious girl. “Normally I would say that all this magic stuff is horseshit, but with what we have been experiencing lately and what was revealed about her… I would say that Shade of the Evening would actually maximize the P… Helaena´s abilities, but it has to be threated carefully. It apparently can also induce seizures if she has an overdose.”

“What do you suggest, maester?” Rhaenyra asked.

“To let her rest. And I would suggest she doesn´t take more Shade of the Evening for a few days. It could cause another seizure and kill her.”

“When do you think she is going to be fit enough to take it again?” Rhaenyra sent Viserys an unbelieving look when she heard him say that. Was the Conqueror´s prophecy worth sacrificing his daughter´s health?

“Give her two weeks, then I will examine her again and determine if she is fit to take it” the maester turned to the Princess. “Can you and your Kingsguard help me take her to her room, Princess? She needs to sleep in a comfortable bed to recover.”

“Excellent idea, maester” Viserys said as he difficultly got up. “I will help you…”

“Father, we are running late for a Small Council meeting. A meeting you promised to be in” his darling daughter reminded the King. “Go now, I will catch you up once I finish dropping Helaena in her room.”

It took some convincing, but Viserys finally nodded and walked away in the company of Ser Harrold Westerling. When he was finally out of view, Rhaenyra motioned for her Errick and the maester to move. But she didn´t take them to Helaena´s room. No, she took them straight to Aegon´s room. As Ser Errick deposited the young woman in the bed, the Princess made a sign for her half-brother to come with her. They stood face to face near the door, something they had not done since he was very young. Definitely not since the tensions in their family began and he tried to usurp her.

“What did you do to her?” he finally broke the silence.

“Me? I didn´t do anything”

“Then what did your husband do to her?”

“Daemon didn´t even got near her, he is too busy in the city” Rhaenyra crossed her arms. “Aegon, I… don´t know how to put it, so I´m going to be direct. Our Father did it” his eyes went wide. “He seems fascinated with Helaena´s prophecy abilities, so he got some potion from Qarth that can cause visions. He made her drink it for days and eventually she had a seizure for the effort it put her through. Geraldys said it was too much for her.”

“And why should I believe you?”

“Truly, Aegon? I can´t tell you anything else but that I´m telling the truth. Believe it or not, it´s your choice. But know that I never wanted to do any harm to you or yours… at least not if you don´t usurp me” she turned around. “Have this in mind, choose wisely. From that it would depend if you can protect your family or not.”

“It´s easy for you to say, you are still a princess and heir to throne… what could a lowly bastard like me do against you? Or against the King if you are telling the truth?”

“I don´t know, but you can probably think of something”

Rhaenyra and her companions left, Aegon dropped to the floor. Then he watched as the twins curled on Helaena´s sides. He needed to call for a family reunion, but it was too close to lunch to even dare… as his half-sister brought Helaena into the room, he thought that no one would say anything about her being there, but the others… the twins started to look and him with worry, so he smiled and dragged himself to a chair. He would worry about it after they had all eaten something.

In the end, he didn´t get the family reunion until late in the night, when his children were already asleep and his brothers showed up to do the same. Aemond was the first to notice that Helaena didn´t seem well and Aegon had answered with the tale of what had happened earlier. It had digressed into right fight as his brothers snapped to one another, trying to decide if Rhaenyra was telling the truth or not. As if that was what really mattered there, their older brother thought as he got up from his seat.

“SHUT. UP” he finally ordered. Aemond and Daeron´s eyes turned to him. “Do I need to remind you the importance of keeping your voices low when you are here? We will get into trouble if the wrong person learns about this and we don´t have the protection of being royalty anymore, have you forgot?”

“I… sorry, brother” Daeron said, lowering his head.

“Yes… sorry” Aemond conceded, looking scolded.

“It´s alright, so long as you remember to keep your voices low from here on” the oldest finally answered, letting himself fall back into his chair. He buried his face in his hands. “That being said, we are in a big trouble here.”

“Yes, Rhaenyra is already moving to get rid…”

“Have you ever considered that, despite what mother says, Rhaenyra is not the root of all our troubles, Aemond? Or that she might be telling the truth and is not behind what happened to Helaena?”

“If not her, then Daemon. He…”

“You are talking like mother, now, you know that?” Aemond looked as if he was slapped. Alicent was a touchy subject for him since she that fateful night. Aegon could tell why. “Have you ever considered that she might be telling the absolute truth?”

“Why would Father…”

“I don´t know, because he is obsessed with Old Valyria and everything that came with it? Like dragon dreamers? Helaena is the first one to be born probably since Daenys the Dreamer, it´s not so farfetched that he might get interested in her, not because she is his daughter and more because of her powers” it dawned on his brothers then. “And we all know how Rhaenyra is the only one of us he truly loves.”

“But… but he never…”

“He probably didn´t think that he was hurting her, but he wanted to see her powers at work. I… Mother better not know that I´m saying this… but thanks the Gods for Rhaenyra. She managed to stop him before the worst could happen.”

“Yes, but the question is, how much we can trust in Rhaenyra to stop him?” Daeron asked, looking equally as consternated as Aegon. “I… I know she is a princess and everything, but… a princess is nothing against the King, she can´t stop him if he is really determinate to do something despite what happens to Helaena… if Viserys wants to do something like this again… and that´s in case she could catch him at work again before Helaena…”

“We need to leave” Aemond declared, suddenly getting up. “The sooner the better. Grab our dragons and escape across the Narrow Sea. To Pentos or the Triarchy…”

“Are you insane?” Aegon intervened.

“The only thing insane here is to remain when the King is willing to hurt our sister” the one-eyed brother paced around the room as he talked, anxious. “We can take as many clothes and jewels as we can, so support ourselves, and you and Helaena can carry the twins in your saddles. Shrykos and Morghul can go in your saddle bags…”

“It´s madness, Aemond.”

“No! Madness is remaining here when even Father is willing to hurt us!!”

“Shhhhh!” Aegon reminded him. “No, it´s not. Madness is to think that we can just dash through a city that hates us, mount our dragons and leave. If you haven´t noticed, we are not really inconspicuous and the smallfolk hates us. How are you planning on getting all of us out of King´s Landing alive?” Alicent´s former favorite shrunk on himself. “And, even if we somehow managed that, there is still the City Watch and the dragonkeepers guarding our babies. Also, if you haven´t forgot, Daemon has put his own guard dog on the entrance. His big, red, scaly and fire breathing guard dog. It´s named Caraxes, remember?”

“I… we have to…”

“And that´s only the beginning” he continued, implacable. “What if they have moved our saddles and other ridding implements to another place? You have ridden without a saddle, you know how uncomfortable and dangerous it can be. It´s nearly impossible and too dangerous to do with children and baby dragons on us. And we would escape with only the clothes in our backs in that case. How do you plan us to pay for anything in that case? That if the other dragonridders don´t chase us and this becomes a deathly race or a mortal aereal combat…”

“I hate when you are right” Aemond said after a short, pregnant silence. “Then what do we do?”

“We… stay where we are and resist… until what is to be done with us is decided... and try to defend ourselves the best we can” Aegon buried his face in his hands again. “I don´t know what else to do” he sighed. “Aemond, Daeron, I want you to steal whatever blade you can from now on. Even if it´s a simple meat knife. Do it in a way that the servants don´t notice it.”

His brothers nodded. Even so, they were all tense. It showed in how Helaena and the children were the only ones sleeping that night. Aegon reassumed his post by the door, but Aemond and Daeron moved to where the entrance to the secret passage and the window were. Damn, they were truly doomed, no? It was almost as if they were under siege, completely surrounded by enemies and their home in danger of being taken from them. No, the Red Keep was not their home anymore. And everyone inside was an enemy. He had to keep his head concentrated on the problem. He had to protect his family… what remained of it. He couldn´t lose them…

-In another passage-

“Why have you taken me from my rooms, Daemon?” Viserys asked for the tenth time in the hour they have been walking on the Keep´s secret pathways. “Not that I´m not surprised you knew Maegor the Cruel´s pathways as well as the palm of your hand…”

“I needed them when I was leader of the City Watch” his brother answered, rolling his eyes. Then dragged him further. “Come, there is something you need to see.”

The Rouge Prince smirked in anticipation. He had expected this to happen for a long time, for the Green Bitch to grow impatient for her fate and leave her prayers for a moment to contact one of the Green´s greatest assets for information. One that didn´t do anything without payment. A payment that he thought included something that not even Viserys was going to tolerate. Tonight, Otto´s little favorite piece was going to fall. So he waited and retained Viserys until what he expected happened. The Kingsguard let him pass as he instructed. Larys Strong.

“What are we…”

“Shhh.”

Daemon smirked as he watched their conversation unfold. Larys was giving the former Queen information that was supposed to be privy to the Small Council. Just as he expected. Ser Larys then tried to press her into recovering a bit of her power, in reminding the King the good times with her. And the Prince could tell why. The damn roach had lost a lot of power at court now that his patrons had fallen and he couldn´t win the Black´s trust because of his link to the Greens. He was willing to do whatever he could to keep his grasp on power. Including taking dubious information planted by Daemon himself.

“Is this what you wanted to show me? Lord Strong committing treason?” Viserys asked.

“Wait…”

Then it happened. Alicent finally sighed and took off her shoes, lifting her skirts to show Ser Larys her feet. This one approached as she looked another way, obviously disgusted, but didn´t make anything to stop him as the man started to touch himself while smelling and licking her feet. Daemon had to actually fight the howling laughter that threatened to emerge from him at the sight. He had expected them to fuck, but this had developed into a kinkier kind of sex than he could ever imagined. Satisfied, he turned to his brother to see his reaction. He was seething. Oh, jo, the Green Whore was over now!!

“Calm down, brother, you are going to pop an eye or something like that”

“I won´t calm down, Daemon!! That´s… was MY WIFE!! It´s obvious that this is not the first time she´s done this!! Under my nose!!” he started fumbling around, coughing as he made the effort to get in. “Where is the opening, Daemon?!! I´m putting a stop to it!!”

“You only had to ask.”

The Rouge Prince carefully opened the entrance to the room, allowing Viserys to barge into the room, startling Alicent and Larys. They both tried to explain, but the King was listening nothing of it. He yelled for the guards and ordered them to arrest the two and put them into the black cells. Daemon listened to everything, smirking at the Green Bitch´s tears. Now that her golden confinement was over, she was finally going to get her just deserve. He even accompanied the guards to the Black Cells to enjoy the sight of Otto and his spawn reuniting.

“Oh, you are here” the Hightower Cunt said when he saw his daughter being led there. “I wondered when you were going to arrive.”

“And I if you had repented after being showed your evil ways by the Gods” Alicent answered, seething at the sight of her father. Sight she still had because of the guards’ torches. “Wasn´t it enough to fall so far away from the Light of the Seven that you would whore your own daughter for power?! To make me birth children born of sin?!!”

“No, why should I?” Otto answered, his daughter glaring at him. “Face the reality, Alicent, we are all pieces in the game of someone else. Pieces so they could get into power. And you, my daughter, were a convenient piece in that moment. Nothing more, nothing less.”

Daemon thought for a moment about ordering the father and daughter pair to be put in the same cage so they could gouge each other´s eyes, but in the end, he didn´t. He will have to wait for the main course until the appropriate moment. And the Trial was surely going to be exquisite, even if he didn´t see those two murdering each other. He would just have to wait.

-The Next morning-

“Good morning, Lord Stark” The Crown Princess saluted Cregan as the got out of the ship with the Lords of the North. “We are honored to have you here for the Trial.”

“I´m honored too” the Wolf Lord bowed at her. “Is there somewhere I could refresh myself and rest? It´s been a long journey.”

“Yes, follow me. Accommodations have been prepared in the Red Keep for you and the Lords.”

Cregan nodded and followed her as he looked at the Capital. Everywhere, black banner were hung and green ones were being stepped in. and grafittis were on every wall, cursing the Hightowers. This city had chosen a side, he saw. Well, this was surely going to be interesting. He couldn´t wait until the Trial.

Chapter Text

“Aegon, are you awake?” Daeron asked, whispering into his older brother´s ear. This one opened an eye, he was never truly asleep since all this mess began. “The Lords of the North have just arrived, I thought you should know this.”

“Then time has finally arrived”

Aemond approached too, clearly worried. He must have seen the banners of the Lords arriving to the Keep and gotten the same information as the youngest of them. Aegon heard footsteps coming and, with a shake of his head, sent both his brothers into the hidden pathway. He removed the chair from his door just in time for Ser Arrick (traitor, the asshole hadn´t even waited a day to turn his cloak and swear his fealty to Rhaenyra after Alicent´s Fall) to enter the room. He looked at him with disdain, as if waking him up was below him when a few weeks ago it would be considered an honor for him.

“Get dressed, you are required in the Throne Room” Aegon nodded, his grip in the door tight. “Wake up the other bastard and your spawn too, you are all required.”

The Kingsguard left and Aegon returned inside. He gently woke Helaena up, then walked to his dresser and pulled out his most simple attire. As his wife rose the twins to take them to her own rooms, where they could change, he quickly dressed himself. His clothes weren´t as rich as the ones he used to wear, but that was the point. He wished they would be another color, but his mother had only ever allowed him to wear green since he reached manhood and he didn´t have anything in another color. At least these ones were dark enough to be confused for black if you didn´t see careful. That should be enough, no?

“No, wait here” he told his sister when she rose to take the children to her chambers. “I will go bring your things.”

When he stepped out of the room, Daeron was already there. He was also dressed in one of his darker shades of green attires and looking simply in comparison to what a prince should. Aemond caught up to them a few minutes later, already carrying clothes and jewelry for Helaena and the twins in his arms. Aegon shook his head when he saw the ornaments. They couldn´t adorn themselves, not in this occasion. It was practically a funeral… and they need to show humility if they were to survive. Aemond was dressed in his usual clothing, but his all-black style seemed to fit the occasion, so he didn´t comment. He nodded, then took the clothing and walked into the room again.

“Here, this will fit you” he said, handing Helaena a dark green dress that would have been more appropriate for a funeral than a court meeting. She took it and get dressed. He helped Jaehaerys into his own clothing, the toddler more obedient than he normally was, and did the same for Jaehaera, even braiding her hair into a simple, messy style.

“Can you help me with my hair?” his wife asked. Aegon nodded and braided her hair into the style she favored when young. In the middle of that, she spoke again. “Do you have something to ask me?”

“Are you okay?”

“Seriously that´s what you want to ask me now, husband?”

“I have many questions to ask, Helaena, but right now I´m more worried about about your health. I… Rhaenyra told me about Father and his… new interest in you” the woman looked at him, not understanding. “You convulsed, Helaena, and then spent nearly a whole day asleep. I´m worried, okay? And not only as your husband, but as your brother… mainly as your brother. The others are too.”

“I´m fine, Aegon” she answered, smiling weakly. “It´s not the first time a vision causes my body to seizure.”

“What?! When?”

“It mostly happens when I sleep, so none of you noticed… and the insects helped me a lot when I was awake… if only she could stop trying to touch me” she muttered. Aegon looked at her with curiosity. “Mother, I mean. She… when she touched me, I would have the most horrible dreams. She and grandfather… everything their decisions were going to cause.”

“Helaena…”

“In a way, I´m thankful with the gods for intervening, for sparing this family of that destiny… are you not, Aegon?” he was… he shouldn´t be, but he was. “But now, with that blue thing Father made me drink… I saw too much, saw too far, into a future so horrible that you couldn´t believe. Everyone dead… and it would have been our fault.” She grabbed his hand. “That´s why you can´t hope to save them. Mother and grandfather… they have to pay for the future and lives they indirectly took.”

“I doubt anything I could say would spare them”

“But you can´t even try, that´s what I am asking you. And you can´t let our brothers try either, that would be their ruin.”

“I will do as much as I can, but I don´t think Aemond is going to listen to me ever.”

“You underestimate yourself” she smiled sweetly at him. “Since you were freed from our mother´s and grandfather´s constant expectations, you have grown up a lot. They realized that and now see you as someone to look up to and trust in. Their older brother.”

“Maybe, I… I have… have grown up a bit, but I´m not sure…”

“You will do” there was a knock on the door and a bark from Ser Arryck to move. “It´s time, let´s go”

The siblings followed the Kingsguard to the Throne Room, Jaehaerys and Jaehaera in Aegon´s and Aemond´s arms. Helaena followed them quietly. She would have carried her daughter herself, but considering Viserys new interest in her and how it had ended up, they decided against her catching any type of attention and that included carrying a child. Her brothers were also around her, trying to hide her from view. The children were unruly and seemed to want to get down, but Aegon told them to stay. If something happened, it would be better if they were in arms.

“Helaena, boys, we were waiting for you” King Viserys greeted them when they entered the room. “Have you already greeted your nephews? I think you didn´t have the opportunity to greet them when they arrived.”

Rhaenyra and her family looked awkward… well, all of them except for Daemon and the two babies. They were too young to truly understand what was happening there or do practically anything but suck on their wetnurses´ teats and babble nonsenses. Or, in little Viserys case, less than that. Their father, on another note, seemed happy. Way too happy for something good to have happened, at least in the Green´s cases. Aegon´s hands clenched around his son and he had the impulse to grab his whole family and run. The twins weren´t enjoying this as much as their progenitor and seemed to want to say something about it. The Strong boys too, or at least Jacaerys with his apologetic look directed straight at his former childhood friend. Rhaenyra herself seemed to think the same as her bastards and stepdaughters, but before she could say anything, Daemon turned to his brother.

“Brother, we are all already here and we are kind of in a tight schedule. The Lords are already waiting for us in the site.”

“You are right, Daemon” the King suddenly got serious. “But don’t dare to turn this into some kind of spectacle. I left the preparations to you, don´t make me regret it.”

“I wouldn´t dare”

“Husband, I think they could…”

“They need to be there, wife” the Rouge Prince continue. “Everyone needs to know what happens to traitors.”

Traitors? It dawned on Aegon. An execution. They were called there to witness an execution. And there was only one that was important enough so everyone would be called to witness it. He felt the need to run with his family again… or get on his knees and beg Viserys to spare his children from witnessing something like that. They were too young, they should be there when their great grandfather lost his head. Unfortunately, Viserys decided to ignore him like always and all of them were conducted to the Traitor Walk. Daemon had prepared everything at the end, a perfect scenario where the smallfolk and the highborn equally could see the beheading of the former Hand of the King. Only that Otto… Otto was not alone where the City Guard was waiting to bring him. Ser Criston Cole was with him.

“Daemon, we have talked about this” Viserys whispered as he took his place at the center of the congregation of highborn. “Otto is going to die, but Ser Criston was offered the chance to take the Black and…”

“I´m just helping Ser Crispin to make his decision instead of slowly dying in the Black Cells as he seemed to want” the Prince answered, carrying Aegon the Younger. Rhaenyra was openly glaring at him now while carrying baby Viserys. Jacaerys too, practically hiding Joffrey´s face on his stomach. It seemed that they shared the Green´s opinion about children and executions. Daemon looked down at his son. “You don´t mind this, don´t you”

“Kepa, you have to head down there” Baela intervened, holding her arms out so her father could give him the baby. “Give me.”

“Alright, darling” he handed the girl her brother and abandoned his place among the highborn for the yard. Once he was there, the guards brought Otto Hightower.

“Aemond” Aegon started to whisper as Daemon started to give a small speech about treason against the crown. “When he pulls out the sword, hide Jaehaera´s face into your chest.”

“We can´t look away, it can´t be used against…”

“I know” as adults they can´t look away. But the children were a different thing. “I´m not telling you to look away, only that you prevent my daughter from seeing something like a beheading at six namedays old. So do it.”

“Aemond…” Helaena also pleaded with her brother.

“I will” the one-eyed man said, already grabbing his niece´s head so it could be directed to his chest easily and also cover her ears, just in case. Aegon imitated him, if only to prevent the sound from scarring his son anyway.

Daemon´s speech came to an end soon and he took Dark Sister out of the scabbard. As he prepared for the beheading, the guards made Otto Hightower kneel in front of the Prince, with his head looking down. Aegon and Aemond pushed the twin´s heads against their own chests in synchrony with Rhaenyra, Baela and Jacaerys. It seemed that only Daemon thought that a child should witness something like this. The adults didn´t dare to look away. The Rogue Prince raised his sword high and looked at the King, who nodded. The sword came down and severed the disgraced Hand of the King´s head. The head rolled away and the body fell to the ground. It was over.

“Thank the Gods it´s over, I really thought that Daemon might…”

A roar was heard on the sky, making everyone turn their eyes towards it. Caraxes descended from the sky as Daemon and his guards walked away. The order Dracarys was heard and the Blood Wyrm rained fire over the corpse of Otto Hightower, reducing him and the stand he had died on to cinders. Aegon held Jaehaerys, face firmly on his chest, trembling. Between all the thing he could see… but didn´t dare to look away. Not even when Caraxes finally attacked and swallowed whatever remained of his grandfather, his hated grandfather, who had ruined them all in search of power and personal glory. He wondered what his mother felt now… in fact, he was surprised that she was not there.

“Aegon” Daeron shakily told him, signaling where Ser Criston had been. “Look”

He did. And noticed that the disgraced White Cloak was not the only one there. Their mother was there too, along with Larys Strong, his uncle and other former Green Supporters. Gwayne at least looked horrified, but Alicent… Alicent looked as if she took some kind of perverse pleasure in seeing her father´s horrific end. Ser Criston seemed about to faint, as was the dispossessed Lord Strong. It was obvious that neither of them wanted to follow Otto Hightower into his grave. Or whatever grave he would have in the belly of Caraxes. Viserys was seething, he apparently hadn´t give Daemon permission to mount such a spectacle. With the traitor executed, the King dismissed the crowd and announced that former Queen Alicent´s Trial will be held in the throne room in a few hours. Everybody, smallfolk and highborn alike, started to leave.

“Alright, there is nothing more to see. Back to the Keep” Ser Harrold Westerling said, pushing the Green siblings towards Ser Arryck, who would guide them back to their rooms. “Go with him, my… Aegon, Aemond, Daeron and Helaena.”

“Thank you, Ser” Aegon finally let Jaehaerys´s head go when the burning remains of the scenario weren´t in view anymore. The child didn´t seem affected by anything, which relieved the parents a lot. He hadn´t seen nor heard anything. Aegon passed him to Helaena and turned to Daeron. “Trial? What Trial? What has mother done?”

“I don´t know” this one whispered back.

“Oh, so you didn´t know?” The Kingsguard interrupted what should have been a whispered conversation that only the six of them should hear. “I thought everybody already knew, with Prince Daemon and his jokes...” he shrugged. “Anyway, I will tell you. Your whore mother was caught last night with a man not her husband. By how they behaved, it was clear that it was not the first time they had such encounters.”

“Mother is not a…” Aegon bumped into Aemond to shut him up before he got himself beaten by Cargyll. Helaena took Jaehaera into her arms too, as another precaution.

“Who was this man?” the former Prince asked their custodian.

“Ser Larys Strong”

Ser… Larys Strong?! The creep Larys Strong?! Harrenhal´s Lord Larys Strong?! Ser Harwin, the Bonebreaker, brother Larys Strong?!! But… what the freak happened to Targaryen wives and Strongs? He meant… Harwin he could understand, even if he had to admit that Rhaenyra had taste too (which she had, because… damn, Harwin and Daemon were gorgeous. He would have fucked either of them if he wasn´t afraid of getting killed by them just by opening his mouth), but Larys? The man was a creep, he didn´t know what in the Seven Hells his mother could have ever seen in him… no, he lied. Larys was a slimy, terrible bastard, but he was a useful one. He knew more things than anyone in the Red Keep, information he could exchange for anything he wanted to the right people.

Humm, so that´s what happened. Saint Alicent, so devout and obedient, sleeping with another man for information. So much calling Rhaenyra a whore, when she was the one whoring herself for information. Wait… does that mean that they were going to have their own little Lord Strong soon? He really hoped that no, he didn´t need more kids to take care of for now. Should he ask for moon tea on Alicent´s behalf? He didn´t know what to say, so he said the first thing that came to his mind.

“What jokes?”

-In the Throne Room-

“Hey, Viserys, do you think Alicent´s and yours marriage began with the wrong foot? It certainly must, as she didn´t look nearly as satisfied with you” Rhaenyra and her father looked too much alike in that moment, and also felt the same. With a headache and about to explode. “Maybe she needed your toe down them?”

“Daemon…”

“Enough with the feet jokes, husband” the Princess finally decided that it was time to finish that. She might actually give Daemon a black eye if he didn´t stop.
“I was just saying, she seemed to be more a feet woman than…”

“Conclude that and you will be sleeping with Caraxes until Viserys is married” Rhaenyra threatened, nursing a cup of wine.

She finally got her husband to shut up. At least for a second, because then the Rouge Prince exploded into a howling laughter. He had been like that since Alicent´s fall, alternating between smug smirks while silent and a loud laugh when not. He was so happy about the Hightowers finally getting what they deserved that he didn´t bother hiding it. And, while his wife was also glad that her former friend didn´t have a chance to usurp her, she didn´t show it so openly. Or showed happiness. She pitied Alicent more than she was happy by her fall… and there were also her children to think about. Her siblings and niece and nephew, who weren´t guilty of anything. She couldn´t in good conscious let them be punished for something they haven´t even done…

“Daemon, control yourself” Viserys finally put his foot down, putting his own cup of wine away. “You already made a damn circus out of that execution. Now there is no way people are going to forget that I let that snake become my hand!! Or that I allowed it´s spawn into my bed!!”

“Oh, but there is one” the Rouge Prince smirked. “One that is as old as those histories you like so much.”

“It is?” Rhaenyra asked, surprised. Until then, she had thought that there was no way for Otto Hightower to lose, as his final wish was that his memory remained as the man who made the Gods talk to stop him, but apparently, there was. She turned to the King. “Father? What is he talking about?”

“I don´t…” it downed on Viserys. “Are you talking about that, Daemon? About… Qrimbrōzagon naejot memoriae?”

“What is Qrimbrōzagon naejot memoriae?” the Princess asked.

“It´s a Valyrian practice, or, as it should be better said, punishment. Reserved for the worse of the worse of the powerful. Even Emperors used to be given that in the time of the Old Empire… if their reign had been especially cruel or terrible” Viserys said, frowning. “The condemnation to memory, to be erased from history. Signatures, books, genealogy, even portraits or the simple mention of their names… erased.”

They expect the next few hours discussing that. The curse to memory seemed like a harsh and difficult to hand punishment, considering that the Hightowers were intimately linked, as Lords of Oldtown, to the Citadel and the maesters kept multiple records of everything. Daemon signaled that there was no reason they couldn´t try and edit everything that had Otto´s name in it. He suggested Geraldys or someone he knew, someone he would personally vouch for, to see to it in the Citadel, as he didn´t trust anyone outside of the maester of Dragonstone to do it and actually do a good job between the grey rats now that their uncle was dead. Viserys, surprisingly, agree and, after a bit of thinking, Rhaenyra also agreed. None of them thought the smallfolk or the highborn would mind, or even defend the old Hand of the King. Neither would the Faith. Otto Hightower´s memory was cursed in their eyes since the Gods broke their silence to denounce him, so a punishment that would erase him from history would look like a just one to them.

“Your Grace?” Ser Harrold Westerling´s voice came from the other side of the door, interrupting their conversation. “Lord Cregan Stark is here and asks for an audience.”

“Let him enter”

“Brother…”

“I can´t slight all the Lord Paramounts from the Reach to the North, Daemon” he turned to the Kingsguard again. “Let him in, Ser.”

The Lord of Winterfell got in, dressed in lighter if simple for a highborn, clearly northern clothes. Some people would scoff at that, but the northern austerity had it´s perks. Specially in the hard winters, when the snows fell and the winds blew so hard and freezing that a man could become stone cold in a second. And it would continue working when the Walkers returned. Lord Cregan bowed in front of each of the royals.

“My King, my Prince, my Princess” the northerner said. “There is much we have to discuss, but first… may I see the Young Princess?”

Daemon jumped, ready to deny or even unsheat his sword on Lord Cregan when he realized he was speaking about his youngest daughter, but Viserys stopped him. After a few words, the King decided to grant him access to the child under Daemon´s, Rhaenyra´s, the Kingsguard´s and his own supervision. The northerner accepted and they all left the King´s solar to see to the child. Daenerys was on the floor with Joffrey and Aegon the Younger, being carefully seen to by the wetnurse. They all had dragon figurines that the children were making fly. Lord Cregan stood on the door of the room, watching them carefully, his eyes never leaving Daenerys. It was as if he was expecting something.

“She is beautiful” he finally said. “I must say I expected something more… but I guess I shouldn´t. After all, I have my own and he hasn´t done anything fantastic yet.”

“What?” Daemon asked.

“Maybe this is a conversation that we must have in private” the Wolf of the North told them. The entire group returned to the solar. There, Cregan put a small portrait in a table. It showed a child. “Years ago, when little Daenerys appeared in Driftmark, the Old Gods spoke to me in the Godswood of Winterfell and entrusted me with my own Blessed Child” he looked affectionately to the portrait. “His name is Daemond. Daemond Targaryen.”

“And why” Daemon asked, anger in his voice. “would we believe you? That the Gods would entrust a Targaryen child to anyone not ourselves?”

“I have proof, my Prince, every Lord I brought with me is willing to swear over the Old Gods and the New that he was… and he has the same eyes as you, my Prince. You are welcome to check yourself any time.”

“You have not asked my husband´s second question, my Lord”

“It´s because he is my kin too, Princess” the Lord answered. “Daemond was born to a Targaryen Prince who married a Stark daughter. He shares our dark hair and some of our features… and was fostered in Winterfell with his Stark uncle. Winterfell was his home.”

The Rouge Prince was about to say something, but again his brother shut him up. Viserys, for his part, was thoughtful. Daenerys was sent to them, perhaps because she was the product of one usual Targaryen marriage, brother to sister, so they were his only family. Both her father and mother were Targaryens… Daemond was not. If the Blessed Children were being taken to their mother´s kin, then the third child could be any…

“All is well, my lord” Rhaenyra interrupted his thoughts. “But I´m sure you would understand if we fear for little Daemond´s safety. I know you are perfectly capable of seeing to the safety of our kin, but me and the Crown would feel more relieved if you allow us to have one of our own guards protecting and training him.”

“I accept that, my Princess, and would be honored to host your envoy, Your Grace”

“Yes, I agree that a guard should be sent along with you, especially as Ser Criston Cole and Larys Strong are also being sent North. They would be too close to him, even at the Wall.”

“Like I said, I agree to host a guard of your choice to be Daemond´s sworn shield” Cregan repeated, always respectful. “And I also agree that he should be sent here so he might learn from you and yours, my King… but once he is older.”

They talked about it for a moment. Lord Stark finally agreed to send the boy to King´s Landing when he reached the age of ten. Also that the King would ultimately choose the sworn shield that would be sent North among the greatest swordsmen under his orders. As they all knew that the threat of the Prophecy of Aegon would come from the North, they also agree that the dungeons of the Realm would be emptied and their occupants would be sent to the Watch to reinforce it. Also that the Crown would be financing the rebuilt of the castles along the Wall and the settlement of the Gift so it´s taxes could help strengthen the Night´s Watch.

“It´s getting late and I would wish to rest. We will restart this conversation once the Trial is over, my lord” Viserys ordered. “I will go to my chambers now, I want to be at full strength tomorrow during Alicent Hightower´s punishment.”

“Punishment? Father, the Trial hasn´t happened yet” Rhaenyra said, alarmed.

“I know, but, as an adulteress, there is one punishment according to her own Faith that must be delivered.”

-The next day-

Alicent had lost count of the days that passed since she was taken to the Black Cells when the septas irrupted there. They grabbed her and practically dragged the disgraced Queen to the sept. There, she was scrubbed clean rudely and her hair was cut. A simple robe of sack was put over her body and she was harshly taken outside. The High Septon was already there, as were Rhaenyra, Daemon, Viserys… all the Royal family. At the King´s nod, the High Septon started to preach about the duty of a wife and the sin of lust, calling her a whore and an adulteress to the whole of King´s Landing. Before Alicent could defend herself, her robes were torn, she was stripped naked and pushed forward, make to walk through the city naked. Then she realized what was happening. A walk of atonement.

“Harlot!!”

“Adulteress!!”

“Blasphemous!!”

“Sinner!!”

Smallfolk and highborn alike delighted in her humiliation and threw things at her. Alicent could only receive them and walk. She couldn´t even cover herself, as the septas would beat her hands every time she tried. After nearly an entire day, she was finally taken back to the Red Keep and thrown back into the cells. Like she was, not even allowed a better dress or a bath. Alicent sobbed, louder and louder. How many times had she imagined Rhaenyra doing that, after being found as the harlot she was? Her triumph in those dreams, her smugness as she was humiliated… and in the end, it was her that suffered that punishment. And it was just. She betrayed her friend, she whored herself to a man that should never had been just, felt satisfaction in the death of her father… because Otto could be a heretic, but he was still her father…

“I wish I was dead” she said before falling into deep slumber.

Chapter Text

Rhaenyra didn´t know why they were doing this. Yes, she was angry at Alicent and believed she needed a punishment, but with what happened at the Sept and earlier, she thought that her former friend had more than gotten her just deserve. If it was up to her, she would have left Alicent go back to the Hightower in disgrace, her brother and children with her. Unfortunately, Viserys didn´t look that way. His finding out that his wife was sleeping with other man, or as close as it was, made him turn entirely against Alicent. And made him want to hurt her as much as she hurt his pride. Rhaenyra truly wished she could stop this… if only that wouldn´t mean to risk her own head too.

“Mother?” Jacaerys asked from the door. He was dressed better than most days, with a blue Velaryon cloak and pin with a seahorse over a dark get. It made him look like a Prince out of a fairy tale… a very worried Prince. “Grandfather said that they are ready.”

“And your father?” Daemon hasn´t truly been good company since he uncovered the whole Alicent Larys issue. He was too giddy and happy… as if he hadn´t just sentenced a woman to death.

“Already there, they are all waiting for you”

“Alright”

Rhaenyra left the room, followed by her ladies. Now, as the undisputed heir to the throne, she had several to help her on her daily issues. Cassandra Baratheon, probationally named heir to Storm´s End after Lord Boros Baratheon finally decided to recognize her intelligence (and probably after having heard about what happened at the Sept), was one of them. A gifted plotter herself, she could smell a conspiracy like no one else and seemed to be content enough with the prospect to inherit Storm´s End. Lord Jason Lannister didn´t have any trueborn female relative of age to serve as her lady, so he sent his wife Johanna´s sister, Lady Myrielle Westerling, to court to serve. Not as witty as Cassandra but with an undoubted good taste in clothing and jewelry, the girl could take care of what Rhaenyra was going to done for the day while she talked to her other ladies, Daemon or Mysaria. Lady Bethany Tully was a rather new addition. Apparently, Lord Grover Tully had wanted to support the Greens, but his son and grandson considered it prudent to wait. At the end, Ser Merlyn and Ser Elmo proved right, because the incident in the Sept happened when Lord Grover was about to announce his support. The old man had suffered a stroke when he heard and dropped dead, which allowed Ser Merlyn full control of Riverrun. He promptly sent an apology letter and a proposition to have his daughter as lady in waiting of the Crown Princess to show his loyalty. Viserys let the incident go without more of a consequence than more taxes for the Riverlands. Rhaenyra at first mistrusted her, but then realized Lady Bethany´s worth. The girl was so much into gossip, even with the servants, that she was as effective to keep Rhaenyra informed as Mysaria. And she only had to take tea with her and the others. The last was the recently legitimized Lady Lady Sara Stark. Not as used to the South as the others and a little bit shy in the new environment, the girl was still getting used to her new duties. Her legitimization was a reward to the Starks for remaining one of her staunchest supporters through the whole ordeal, along with the Pact of Ice and Fire. The girl and Jacaerys seemed to have got on well, too well in Rhaenyra´s mind, so she made sure to keep them apart. He still needed to marry Baela… and she needed a betrothed too. Apart from that, Rhaenyra enjoyed her company. The girl had a mind worthy of a maester, she was helping lots in the investigation about the danger in the North that was coming their way.

If only her other ladies could leave her alone.

“Please, Lady Sara, would it kill you to wear other colors than grey?” Cassandra asked in a low voice as they quietly advanced through the corridors to the Throne Room. “I know you northerners appreciate austerity, but how do you expect to attract a good man if you don´t wear something livelier?”

“Yes, Lady Sara” Myrielle continued, giggling a bit. “Why don´t you join me on my next date with my seamstress? I´m sure she can do something to make you look… better. And my hairdresser can also come!! What do you say?”

“I think I´m fine as I am, thank you, my ladies”

Rhaenyra tried not to get distracted as she and Jacaerys went to find her husband and father. But, considering what was happening lately, it actually freshen her up that her current problem was a squabble among ladies. Alicent´s and Larys Strong´s affair being exposed, Otto Hightower´s execution, Helaena being in danger from her father, the other Greens being in danger from the smallfolk and some of the highborn, her new duties that she had been neglecting for some years… and, even with all of that, she had to send nearly half of her family away. She never trusted the plotters from the Red Keep and, after a few tea times with Lady Cassandra, she finally decided to send Aegon, Viserys and Daenerys back to Dragonstone with their wetnurses. After the show Daemon put up in the execution, no one would think bad of her because of that. Aegon´s and Helaena´s twins went with them. Hostages, many would say, to ensure the newly made bastards´ cooperation, but she only wanted to keep them safe. Children should never be punished for their parents´ sins. Her three eldest and Daemon´s daughter were old enough, even Joffrey, so they had to remain. Even so, even with all the reasons they had to send them to safety, it was sad to part with so many of her children. It was also hard for Helaena and Aegon, but they had to agree. It was too dangerous there in King´s Landing.

“You look beautiful no matter what you wear, Sara” Jace´s voice took her out of her inner thoughts. Her hand clenched around her son´s arm. And here it was again, the sweetness she detected between Jace and Sara. “I´m sure you are going to get a good match.”

Rhaenyra kept her face straight but she reminded herself to scold her eldest later. He shouldn´t let his feelings for pretty Lady Stark be in the open for the entire court to see and gossip about. They might have control of it for now, but later things could change. And the rumors of the bastardy of her three eldest haven´t been smothered, so he and Lucerys needed to marry Baela and Rhaena. Besides, if a rumor ever go around that Jace had taken Sara´s maidenhead, it could harm her firstborn´s reputation and her Lady´s prospects of marriage and that couldn´t happen. It will ruin their relationship with the Starks. They needed the North on their side, not only because of Daemond, but because the North would be the place where the Battle for the Dawn will take place. It would be easier if they had good relationships with it´s Lords.

The Princess mind turned to Sara again. Her legitimization had been mostly because Lord Stark didn´t have a trueborn female relative and they needed to start forming stronger ties to the mostly isolated North. Which meant, Sara needed a southern match. She knew that until lately the girl didn´t have many prospects, even between the Northern Lords, but things changed. As a Stark, there would be many that would overlook the fact that she was a legitimized bastard and marry her. In which Rhaenyra had to help. Part of having Ladies in Waiting was to find good matches for them, specially if you were a princess. Not Jace, of course, but she was already entertaining some possibilities.

Well, everything regarding her Ladies and their engagements can wait. For now, her main concern was…

“My dear, you are already here” Viserys smiled when she reunited with him and Daemon. Baela was already there too. Luke, Rhaena and Joff were not, but they were supposed to enter with Princess Rhaenys and the Velaryons. “I was about to send someone to find you.”

“There is no need, father” she returned the gesture. “Should we start?”

They entered the room and the herald announced them.

“Presenting” the man said at the top of his voice. “King Viserys of House Targaryen, First of his Name, King of the Andals, the Rhyonar and the First men!! His daughter, Crown Princess Rhaenyra, Princess of Dragonstone, and his Consort, Prince Daemon, Prince of the City!!” he continued as Jacaerys and Baela walked behind them. “Prince Jacaerys Velaryon, Heir to Dragonstone, and Lady Baela Targaryen.”

The Lords reunited there bowed to the royals. Viserys took his place in the Iron Throne, looking as tired as ever but determinate. Specially when he landed his eyes on Alicent, head shaved and dressed in a simple green dress, near Larys Strong. Rhaenyra actually felt pity when she saw her former friend like that. She turned to her father but only saw anger in his eyes. The Princess looked back to the deposed Queen. Yes, Alicent had betrayed her and tried to usurp her, but she couldn´t help but remember the good times they spent together. And her father… well, what was he expecting? Did he really believe that a girl his daughter´s age had fallen in love with him? That Alicent had only betrayed him for information was actually a miracle, many other young women in her situation would have found lovers they actually like. Rhaenyra knew she would have, that´s why her deal with Laenor worked. But that didn´t matter now, she thought as she sat in the ornate chair reserved for her near the Throne. Viserys was angry and injured in his pride, no one would save Alicent.

“We have reunited here to judge the Lady Alicent Hightower, former Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, and Lord Larys Strong of Harrenhal for the crime of adultery and high treason” Lord Corlys Velaryon, new Hand of the King, stated. “The two were found together by King Viserys of House Targaryen, her former husband himself, and Prince Daemon of House Targaryen.” The Seasnake took a pause before continuing. “They were found in an indecent state, engaging into activities that would be more fitting for a whore of the Street of Silk with her client than a highborn Lady…”

“Yes, but I don´t know how this is a crime of my niece´s” Lord Hightower raised his voice from where he was. “She committed the sin of fornication, there is no denying that, but by the time the King found her in her room with Lord Strong, she was no married woman anymore. Nor a maiden…” Alicent actually looked relieved. “She sinned and was punished as the Faith demanded, there is no need for a Trial.”

“Ser Otto Hightower…”

“My brother was already punished and executed for his misdeeds. We even complied to King Viserys´ unusual… punishment and had his name removed from our genealogy and even currently, the maesters at the Citadel are working hard to eraser every mention of his name that ever was…”

“Oh, please, you are not really saying that this was a one-time mistake…”

“It could very well be” Hightower continued, crossing his arms. “A mistake born out of the despair and weakness of a woman who had lost too much and decided to seek… the embrace of a man that could protect her…”

Rhaenyra was feeling a bit relieved. Alicent´s family was actually defending her instead of just abandoning the former Queen to her fate. She looked around to see if there were others that agree with Lord Hightower, but only saw people looking away from them. They were also the only ones wearing green in the entire court. In fact, too little of the southern lords and ladies were wearing their own house colors. No, they were wearing black attires, ornamented with their own heraldry but black. As if trying to show they were part of the Princess faction when many of them in a beginning were against her. Rhaenyra bit her tongue. The Realm acknowledged her claim as the Heir to the Throne over Aegon, it was what she wanted. And no King ever had the loyalty of all his lords, there was always going to be at least one conspirator.

Meanwhile, the fight between Lord Hightower and Lord Corlys had intensified, as the Seasnake wanted to condemn the former Queen and Lord Hightower wanted to save her… or at least his family´s dignity. The Lords were watching the spectacle of both men shouting at each other… at least some of them. Lady Jeyne Arryn, Lord Cregan Stark and many of the Vale and Northern Lords didn´t look amused at all. In fact, none of the northerners seemed to be enjoying this. The stoic face of Cregan was actually twitching.

“Can we continue with this issue to end it before the day?” the Wolf of the North stated, interrupting both Hand and Lord. “We have other, more important issues to address during this reunion than a former Queen that was found in bed with her spymaster.”

“Take your words back, Stark!!”

“There is no way to deny that your niece was found by her own former husband in a scandalous position with Lord Strong, Lord Hightower. Normally, you southerners would send her to the Silent Sisters or arrange a marriage for her below her station, but I doubt any of your southern lords want a woman with four bastards and no religious order would receive a woman that was declared cursed by her gods as one of them, so the only option is for Lady Alicent to remain a prisoner of the Crown until her death.”

“And Lord Strong?” Viserys asked from his Throne. He had not yet gotten over the fact that his wife was having an affair under his own nose.

“Since when have men being blamed for fucking women not their wives?” Cregan lifted an eyebrow. The King could be humiliated, but he needed to hear the truth. “North and South, men do it all the time.”

“They were clearly fornicating while she was still my wife, to bed the Queen is high treason!!”

“Then you got your answer” the Wolf Lord continued, calm. “Execute him like you did Otto Hightower or send him to the Wall. It´s what is usually done with traitors.”

There was a mumble around. Some did not like it, but they agreed with the logic of the northern lord. Others, like Daemon, wanted nothing more than to see Alicent and Larys beheaded. Rhaenyra herself did not want that. Yes, she had dreamed about her former friend´s fall since she betrayed her, but she had never wanted to see her dead. She looked around for the three judges that were conducting the trial. Her father seemed to have softened a bit. He was humiliated, yes, but that didn´t mean he wanted Alicent dead either. With his anger calmed, Viserys agreed with the northerner more than with Daemon. Lord Beesbury and Lord Velaryon seemed of the same opinion.

“Great words, Lord Stark, but let´s hear some witnesses first” the Rouge Prince interrupted the talks, making a gesture for the door.

Cregan Stark nodded and kept silent as the witnesses Daemon reunited told of how Larys Strong and the then Queen Alicent had secret reunions. Some servants testified about Otto Hightower being in a few of them, but they mostly met in private. One of them even said that after those private meetings, the Queen seemed uncomfortable and was never wearing her shoes. Considering the rumors that had been going around the court, about how Viserys found his former wife with the Lord of Harrenhal and what Daemon had told her, Rhaenyra could tell why. Lord Hightower spoke in his niece´s behalf in any occasion he could, but the more Daemon´s witnesses talked, the more the Lords were convinced that Alicent and Larys Strong had an affair while she was still Queen. The Princess looked at Larys… he was too calm for someone about to be condemned to death or to freeze for life at the Wall.

“All is well, my lords. We were all convinced of the guilty of the former Queen and Lord Strong before these enlightening testimonies” Cregan Stark spoke again, cold as ever. “It doesn´t change the sentences that they are to carry for their treason.” He looked directly at Rhaenyra. “And, like I said, we have more pressing issues to address right now.”

“Oh?” Daemon stared at the northern Lord like a dragon at his prey. “And, please tell me, Lord Stark, could be more pressing than high treason committed by the Queen herself?”

“Perhaps the reason she was found out to be guilty? The reason why that girl of yours and my own blessed child end up in our custody?” a murmur went around the gathered lords. None of them had known about another child of the gods in the north. “The Long Night is upon us again, my Lords, and we have to prepare for it.”

“The Long Night?” Lord Corlys asked. “Are you asking us to believe in a child´s tale?”

“Why did the Gods, Old or New, decided to break their silence and bless us with their chosen ones? Why now? Why not before or after?” the Northerner looked around, silencing the voices. “Their Enemy is coming and He could only be battled in the Realm of Men. The Great Other, the Night King and their Army is returning, slow but sure, and only if we begin now we could prevent him from overrunning us.”

“Lord Stark, that´s nonsense…”

“Nonsense? It´s nonsense that the Gods broke their silence too? The tales that have been handed down as part of our culture since the first war with the Children of the Forest?” the Wolf Lord looked at the one who talked. “There is someone you need to hear before you decide if what I´m saying is nonsense or not. If you might, follow me.”

“Lord Stark…” Daemon started with a threatening voice.

“The person that you need to hear won´t talk unless we are in the Godswood. More so, won´t be able to” Cregan turned around. “If you follow me.”

The entire court wondered what was going on. There was something in the face of the northern lord that made even the King follow him. Or perhaps everybody felt that his mysterious friend, whoever he might be, had something very important to reveal to all the present. Even Alicent and Larys Strong were brought, surrounded by guards so they made no attempt to escape. Cregan walked to the center of the Godswood, where a Great Oak sat instead of the usual weirwood tree. Lord Stark then pulled something out of his cloak. It was a sapling. He collected it on the way to White Harbor to take the ship. On that trip, he had heard the voice of the Old Gods again telling him to bring a sapling to King´s Landing.

“So, Lord Stark, where is your…” Prince Daemon started.

“The Three Eyed Raven, last greenseer and Oracle of the Old Gods, wishes to address the Lords of Westeros directly”

The Northerners bowed their heads in respect as the southerners looked around to try and see the person Lord Stark was trying to introduce to them. They deduced by how the Warden of the North was introducing him that this person was the equivalent of the High Septon of the Old Gods, but no one was appearing. It was then that a voice was suddenly heard. All the hands flew to the swords, the knights and lords completely baffled. It was then that something invaded their minds, as if it was pulling them from their bodies and forced them to him. Suddenly, all they could see were images of the Wall. The Lords could feel the cold wind of the North as they flew over the great ice structure of Bran the Builder towards the Lands of Always Winter. There, they saw a shrine… it gave a strange, dark aura. Even Daemon seemed unwilling to enter the place. Sinister, white skinned, white haired, cold creatures were standing outside of it, their shinny blue eyes like stars unblinking. They heard a quack from a raven as another creature appeared from the shrine. But this was different. This one looked… haughty. Like a King addressing his troops. From his head, horns appeared, forming a crown. The Night King, as all the present realized with terror, lifted a hand towards them, trying to grab them… and suddenly they were again in the Godswood of the Red Keep, panting and heaving in deep, pure fear. Even Daemon seemed to have been struck by the terror of the undead creatures preparing to invade the Realm.

“They are coming for you” the voice of the Three Eyed Raven floated around the Godswood as a sinister goodbye.

“What was…”

“Look!!” a knight of House Blackwood pointed.

Rhaenyra lifted her head towards the heart tree the same as all the present. The great oak was on the floor, root and stem. In it´s place was now a completely grown weirwood, grown from the sapling Lord Stark had planted no more than a few minutes ago. There was no doubt, the Old Gods had been present in that moment. This was the final warning… what were they doing? Couldn´t the Lords see that they were running out of time? The Long Night was approaching, the Gods were warning them against the White Walkers… they were going to need all the time they got to prepare for it.

-Later-

“I thought you were never going to visit me… considering the circumstances”

And everything. Because, being frank, Aemond was the last child in Viserys´ mind. Even when you consider the amount of attention he gave to Alicent´s children. As far as he knew, Viserys at least made the effort to write to Daeron when he was in Oldtown once a month, also to stir Aegon towards Jace or to improve himself so he could serve in Rhaenyra´s Council one day… before completely giving up and abandoning him, that´s it… Helaena… even before he found out about her powers, he visited her plenty of times while Rhaenyra was not in the Keep, probably because she reminded him of his oldest daughter. Aemond was a complete other history. Since the beginning he was ignored by his father as if he didn´t exist. His needs were met, but the King didn´t send even a glance his way on a good day. No matter how strong, smart, good with the sword or dutiful he was… not even when Luke ripped out his eye and he was in pain… Viserys still didn´t see him. So why now?

“I know I haven´t been the best of parents to you, Aemond” Viserys spoke awkwardly, earning a raised eyebrow from his second son. That was an understatement, as he doubted the King had been a parent to any of his children not his eldest. “I was hoping you were still willing to do something for me.”

“It depends” which meant to ask if he really had an option. Viserys was King, he could just order him to do something and he would have no option but to do it. “What is it?”

“Lord Cregan Stark revealed that he is in possession of another Blessed Child” woow, this was a surprise. He thought that Daenerys was the only one they would have to worry about, but now there was another… ah, now that he remembered, they said that she was one of three. “His name is Daemond Targaryen.”

“Daemond… I guess he is from Rhaenyra´s blood” because all the Greens were to die screaming and their line doomed to end, not that Viserys cared. “Rhaenyra´s and Daemon´s”

“Yes” the monarch frowned. “We have reached an agreement with Lord Stark for the young Daemond to remain at Winterfell until he reaches the age of ten namedays. After that, he is to come to foster with us. We also convinced him to allow us to send someone to guard and educate him in the Valyrian ways.”

“Wonderful, what is that supposed to do with me?”

“I want you to be that guard”

Aemond got completely still. Was Viserys being serious? Did he really mean to entrust this special child sent by the Gods to Aemond of all people? Aemond, who was soon to be called the Kinslayer according to Helaena the Dreamer, the most loyal, the most dutiful child of the Queen Alicent Hightower, grandson of Otto Hightower, now reviled Hand of the King? Who said that he won´t just kill this child and be over with it? Because it didn´t make him any glad that he was to be stranded in the North, freezing for who knows how many years until a brat reached the age of ten. A brat that was surely going to look like Lucerys if he was given to the Starks.

“Why me?” he asked.

“You are the best swordsman and know your Valyrian really well, better than your own brothers.” The King answered quickly. “Normally, I would send Daemon, but he is going to be busy here supporting Rhaenyra and searching for the last child… and you don´t have anything to do as for now.”

“I…” Aemond calmed down before he could say something. “What about my siblings? And my mother? I can´t leave them like that.”

“I will guarantee your brothers and sister safety while you are in this mission.”

Only his brothers and sister? Well, Rhaenyra already made sure that his niece and nephew were taken care of in Dragonstone, away from the mobs of people who wanted to see them dead. And away from Daemon, who was probably going to stay in the capital for who knows how long with his wife and eldest children. But at the same times, Aemond would be too far away to help them if something happened. And his mother was not included in the deal. What was going to happen to Alicent? Yes, she had behaved horrible with him since the incident in the Sept, but that doesn´t mean he wanted to see her hurt. She was his mother and he loved her, even if she didn´t love him anymore.

“Think about it and give me your answer in the morning” Viserys left with those words.

That night, Aemond made the usual trip for Aegon´s room. Helaena looked pale again, but her lips didn´t have the shade of blue they would have if she had been drinking the Shade of the Evening. That made him worry, but Aegon told him she was like that because her babies were taken away from her. As Daeron prepared their places to sleep, he told them about the conversation he had with Viserys earlier.

“You are not really thinking about rejecting him, don´t you?” Aegon asked after he finished. The answer seemed to have been obvious in his face, because his brother jumped. “Aemond, he is the King. And you are a bastard.”

“I´m aware of that”

“Really? Because it appears you are not” the eldest of Alicent crossed his arms. “You know what could happen to us without his protection? No one would bat an eyelash if he throws us out and into the mobs that want us dead. And we wouldn´t even reach our dragons in time. Or if he were to send us away to some dark corner of the Realm” he shook his head. “With you in the North, he has a reason to keep providing for us…”

“I can´t leave you all alone in this situation”

“Aemond” his brother grabbed his hand. “We can take care of ourselves inside the Keep. And no one would dare to touch us while you are close to the Child. Even Viserys will have to watch himself with Helaena, so…”

Aemond nodded, already knowing what he had to do. It seemed that he was going to travel North. Wondered what he was going to see once he arrived there… were the northerners drunken savages as his uncle always said? He certainly hoped not. He looked at his black leather clothes. He was going to need to change them too. What did people wear in the North? Certainly something that would prevent them from freezing to death…