Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

(Otto Hightower)

Otto Hightower watched as the king moved to check on his newly born sons. Otto hadn’t planned or expected his daughter to birth twins, the first born who the king had named Aegon had been planned for. He had the maesters poison Amme to slowly kill her and every babe she had till she died and he could put his daughter in her place by the king's side. Aegon's younger twin was such a surprise to everyone who the king had named Vaelor.

Vaelor was smaller and slightly sickly said the maester, who mumbled about the babies temperature being too high. Otto would wait and see if the younger prince would live to see his first name day, then he would start his plans for the younger twin.

Otto frowned as one of the dragon keepers entered two eggs in his hands. One a shimmering gold with hues of pink while the other was as white as the clouds with hints of silver and pale sky blue. Such monstrous creatures would be bonded to his grand kids if they hatched, they would be powerful tools. Once he had his blood on the throne he would make sure to breed out their accursed valarian blood and make sure all the dragons were dead. But for now they were needed…he should make sure some of his daughter's children's eggs don’t hatch so they could claim some of the bigger dragons like vhagar or Silverwing, wouldn’t be hard with the dragon keeper he and the citadel have in there pocket, just make sure the warming bed didn’t get hot enough for the dragon to hatch.

Otto smiled as he thought ‘Yes, soon your accursed blood and queer customs and false gods will be no more, once I mold Aegon into the king I want I’ll rid it of the world and it’ll be the hightowers on the throne and worship the faith like it always should be.’

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(Viserys)

He finally had a son, but not just 1 but 2, Alicent had birthed twins to everyone’s shock. Aegon had been born first and they had all expected him, he was healthy and bright eyed and crying, his younger twin Vaelor had been totally unexpected, they thought Alicent was only having one so when Alicent had started screaming again and Vaelor came out everyone had freaked out. His second son was smaller and more frail looking, the maester said he was running far hotter then he should and likely had a fever and said it was unlikely Vaelor would survive the night. But when Viserys looked into the babes eyes he saw a fire burning far hotter and brighter than any he had seen before, he was certain Balerion wouldn’t claim Vaelor like he had his other dead sons and daughters and late wife Amme, at least not anytime soon.

He had sent word two the dragon keepers right away to bring over worthy eggs for the princes. He watched the keeper enter and handed him two eggs. One was a beautiful gold with streaks of pink the other a bright white with hints of silver and pale sky blue, both were warm and alive in his hands but the white one felt strangely hotter. He placed the gold one beside Aegon who giggles and eyed the egg curiously before placing a hand on it, then he placed the white one beside Vaelor who squirmed and hugged the egg like it was a stuffed toy. He hoped both their eggs hatched, then again they could always claim an already living dragon. He felt a plag of sorrow where his torn bond with Balerion the black dread remained, he wished he had had more time with the war hardened beast before she took him.

Anyway even now that he had sons he still planned to keep his daughter as heir, he has made that decision and would hold to that before the old gods and the new, as well as his ancestors Valerian gods. He wouldn’t budge about that decision even on his deathbed.

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(Rheanyra)

She carefully entered the room after her father had called her in, she avoided looking at Alicent as her eyes trained on her father next to the crib looking into smiling.

“Come here Rhaenyra and meet your new brothers.” Her father waved her over and she started, brothers, as in more than one? She slowly approached to look into the crib to see two babies. One healthy and strong laying beside a golden egg with hints of pink the other more frail and sickly looking but hugging his white egg with hues of silver and pale sky blue like it meant the world to him.

“Their names are Aegon and Vaelor Targaryen,” her father said, smiling brighter like he’d been given the best name day gift in all the known world. She eyed Vaelor with abit of worry, he looked so frail and she could hear murmurs about how he likely wouldn’t survive the night. She doubted that though as she'd been with Baelon after his birth and saw just how truly weak he was and he’d survived for a whole week after birth, she’d seen the same with another 2-3 of her past siblings whether they had passed away the day of their birth or for a few days afterwards. There had always been something clearly wrong, Vaelor looked frail and sickly yes, but she could see his strong breaths and how tightly he clung to his egg, tightly enough in fact to cut himself, a drop or two of blood having already slipped onto the eggshell slowly being absorbed into the it’s glistening surface. Looks can be deceiving and she was certain the same was true about Vaelor, he’d live she was certain of it, unless some unfortunate accident occurred.

She was forced to clear out of the room while someone said the twins should be left to rest the same as their mother.

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(Vaelor)

He shifted and hugged the warm thing closer, it felt like it was a part of him, meant to be his. The loud beings had left and he could sleep with warm thing. But after he fell asleep he was awake again, warm thing was gone, everything felt weird, he cried out to voice his discomfort and continued for a while till strong warm arms wrapped around him and pulled him close a powerful familiar but different dedum dedum dedum came from with them, he quieted down, it felt safe, and right.

“How did he get here, he can’t be dead can he?” A feminine voice to the side spoke with worry.

“No he isn’t dead, he’s somehow ended up here while he dreams, but I’ve never heard of someone being able to do that.” Another feminine voice came from the other side ripe with intrigue.

“It doesn’t matter how or why he’s here, he’s still a babe who needs to rest.” Came a deep rumbly voice from above that was both kind and fierce, the warm protective arms shifted to bring him higher before warm hot breath was felt on his forehead as the one above gave him a comforting kiss to the forehead. “Rest sweet little dragon, there’s nothing to worry about, Aegon the conqueror and his wives will protect you here while you sleep.”

Chapter Text

(Vaelor)

He awoke with a jolt and a strangled gasp, head and eyes darting around his dark room, after a moment he quickly got to his feet and got dressed. The images of Viserys, his father, collapsing at dinner two days ago are still fresh in his mind and he knows there’s something wrong. Something was going to happen and he needed to be ready, he knew it by the way his blood in the magic within churned and boiled, after dressing he moved to a section of the wall trailing his fingers along it till he found the secret switch and opened the secret passage and slipped inside, closing it behind himself. With a wave of his hand fire ignited to life on his hand dancing along his skin turning his hand into a torch, the light illuminating the passage as he quickly stalked through the tunnels that he knew like he’d built them himself, courtesy of Maegor showing him the maps that resided in his room in the Afterkeep.

Soon he reached the tunnel that led him right to the king's chambers, he reached out and opened one of the spy holes so he could watch and listen in. He could see his father lying on his bed looking even worse than he did 2 days ago. A maester watching over him, and Alicent, he watched in silence for a while then the maester left. He watched Alicent, his mother, lean in trying to tend to father. Viserys started murmuring with weird delusions, if Vaelor had to guess his father was murmuring about the prophecy of fire and ice Aegon the conqueror had had. Then he watched as his father took his last breaths, Vaelor should be sad, he knew he should be, but he knew he could so easily meet his father within the Afterkeep after he passed through Balerions gates. 

Vaelor watched as his mother cried with little care, she didn’t care for him so why should he care for her. Then she called the Maester and her father and they talked. He heard them plan and plot, they wanted to put his older twin Aegon on the throne, usurp their sister’s rightful place. About how they’d have to put Rhaenys either under house arrest in her room or in the black cells.

“We'll need to get rid of Vaelor as well,” Otto said, making Vaelor bristle, “He’s too much of a wild card, he could easily side with Rhaenyra and her bastards and turn against us.”

Alicent said nothing only nodding, acting the exact opposite of what a caring loving mother should, “we could blame his death on Rheanyra, say she sent an assassin after him and his siblings the second she learned of her fathers death, and Vaelor stopped the attempt at the cost of his life.” She offered.

Vaelor step back with the wall, this wasn’t the first time they’d attempted to take his life. They’d tried to poison him when he was 12 and nearly succeeded, but luckily the fire in his blood was hot enough to combat the poison and boil it out of his bloodstream, after that he’d kept his head down and did his best to avoid making himself a target. He turned and sprinted down the secret passageways to his twin room; they needed to leave King's Landing before Otto got the chance to crown him. 

He opened the door to his twins room to find him half conscious on his bed, likely partially drunk. Vaelor dragged his sibling out of bed as they jolted away confused.

“Vaelor what, why are you here, how are you here?” Aegon stammered then looked at the secret passage in awe. “w-What’s going on.”

Vaelor dragged Aegon into the secret passage closing the entrance behind them then turned to his twin to sign, “father is dead and mother and grandsire want to put you on that accursed throne, we need to get everyone and leave before they realize what we’re doing.” 

Aegon stiffened in shock as Vaelor turned and headed down the corridor heading for Aemonds room. “Wait, wait so we’re just leaving, you're not going to try and force me to wear the crown or sit on the dumb hunk of metal. What of our older sister killing us to solidify her claim to the throne.” His twin stammered out jogging after him.

“Of course not, you’ve made it clear you do not seek the throne nor do you care for it, as for our sister, the blood of dragon runs thick, she will not threaten our lives aslong as we kneel to her, and do not threaten to harm her or her children.” Vaelor signed “It’s more than can be said for mother and grandsire, they’ve already made one attempt on my life when I got too close to our sister, and already plan to get rid of me when they crown you and blame my death on our sister.”

Aegon coughed and sputtered when he realized what his twin just said, “They’ve?!? They’ve actually tried to kill you?!?”

“They’re the ones that poisoned me, too bad poison doesn’t exactly work on me, hurt like a bitch though. After I survived they couldn’t really try again as I laid low, me ending up poisoned can easily be blamed on someone having been just trying to poison one of us and I just happened to be the unlucky one to end up poisoned. If they’d tried again it’d be harder to explain why someone would want me dead, after all I’m just a second son, a strange one but a second son nonetheless.” I signed as we reached the secret entrance to Aemonds room and opened the door, finding Aemond inside reading a book, I let out a soft whistle to get his attention then motioned for him to get inside the secret passage, he looked up from his book with a confused expression the candlelight that he was using to read illuminating his face and the light shining off his Sapphire eye but he got up and moved into the secret passage and then closed the door behind himself and let Vaelor explain the situation to him as quickly as possible. Aemond frowned, stating he didn’t trust Rhaenyra but admitted their sister was a better option than staying in kings landing, especially when he learned they were going to try and take Vaelors life again.

They quickly made their way over to Helaena’s room, opening the passage to find her inside, looking calm. She looked at them like she knew they were coming and stood holding little 1 year old Maelor in her arms, the twins Jaehaerys and Jaehaera on either side of her. Daeron, not far from her, had jumped up out of his seat in shock, staring at their arrival, looking in awe at the secret entrance.

“Daeron?!? Shouldn’t you have been on your way back to Old Town by now?!?” Aemond asked curiously.

“Do not fret Aemond, I asked Daeron to stay another day to bond with his niece and nephews who he hasn’t even gotten to meet until 3 days ago.” Helaena said with a pleasant voice, “and it felt right and important that he stay awhile longer.”

“It saves us having to send a raven or fly to the old town, come on we gotta go,” Aegon said, moving forward to pick Jaehaerys up who got fussy at being suddenly picked up. After all Aegon rarely spent time with his wife or kids, part of that could be blamed on the fact he was miserable and drowning himself in wine to try and forget. Another could be the fact he never loved Helaena like one should love a wife, they’d been forced to marry by Alicent and Otto who wanted to make Aegon's claim stronger, but at least he’d tried to be there for them when he could. 

“Wait what, what’s going on,” Their little brother stammered, his voice cracking ever so slightly as he watched Aemond move to pick up Jaehaera and then retreat into the secret passage.

“Father is dead and they're planning to crown Aegon king and kill Vaelor and blame it on our older sister.” Aemond said, closing the passage behind them as they quickly moved down the passage Daeron eyes widening in horror. 

“If the sun gold dragon is crowned, the dragons will dance till ruin and only pain and sorrow will remain, follow the cloud white dragon and the kin of black and green will find salvation for the 14 flames and rekindle what was once lost.” Helaena said quietly, eyes glazing over just slightly as she did.

When they opened the entrance to Rhaenys’ room they found her scowling and in a foul mood, having been yelling at her locked door about how she was going to feed those scheming traitors to Meleys. She had jolted and turned around to see the secret entrance open with a confused glint in her eyes. She joined them in the passage eying them warily as the entrance was closed behind her. Though she’d been pretty surprised when Jaehaerys was put in her arms, she shifted to properly carry the 2 year old. “So you're not siding with your mother and grandsire?“ she asked skeptically.

“Why would I side with the man who had already made an attempt on one of my siblings' lives, and plans to kill them off and blame Rhaenyra.” Aemond grumbled, “while I do not trust our older sister she’s a better option then staying here and starting a civil war. The only time she’s ever harmed us is when Luce took my eye, and after so long I can acknowledge it was an accident, my nephew was only 6 years old after all.”

Rhaenys’ eyes widened slightly at that as they quickly made their way through the tunnels Vaelor leading the way hand suddenly alighting in flames lighting up their path, a few of Vaelors siblings gasped at the sight never having seen such a thing. “Daemon was right, You are a complete wildcard.” Rhaenys said with an amused chuckle.

They emerged into the dragon pit to find their dragons all ready and waiting for him, the dragon keepers that were there eying the dragons confused at why the beasts were all awake and seemed agitated. Vaelor rushed to where they kept the eggs, picking Maelors cradle egg up out of its warming bed and still ablaze with flames as he held the egg close to keep it warm with his own fire as he rushed back to the dragons. Moving to climb into his white beauties saddle, Aegerax shook himself with a shriek as he fastened himself into the saddle.

Rheanys was ordering the dragon keepers to collect the rest of the eggs, useful equipment, valyrian artifacts, and information they could carry and get to a ship to head to Dragonstone, then she moved to climb into Meleys’ saddle little Jaehaerys infront of her. Aegon was climbing into Sunfyre’s saddle, the golden beast letting out an excited shriek and whistle. Aemond was helping Helaena fasten herself, Maelor, and Jaehaera into Dreamfyres saddle, he would’ve taken one of the kids with him on his dragon, but Gaelithox was barely 9 years old and barely big enough to carry himself let alone an additional kid. Once he was done he moved and climbed into his dragon's saddle, she shook herself as she let him in the saddle. Tessarion shifted thrilling and chittered as Daeron finished buckling himself into her saddle, the blue beauty was rather distant with the other dragons having never interacted with any of them having grown up practically all her life in Old Town sense Daeron was fostered there.

The twin dragons Strykos and Morghul chittered and shrieked. They were barely a few months old and a long way away from being able to be ridden, so all they could do was eye and watch their bonded as they were strapped into Dreamfyre and Meleys’ saddles. Suddenly Vaelor let loose a loud whistle that started normal the suddenly went higher and sharper, Aegarax responded instantly lurching forward and quickly with a beat of his large white wings taking to the sky, the rest of the dragons followed as their riders commanded them to take flight, all 8 dragons ascending through the clouds and shifting into a formation and turned towards the sea heading for dragonstone. 

The dragons leveled out and glided over the sea, kings landing slowly disappearing behind them. It was a rather peaceful flight, Vaelor was excited to finally be able to explore Dragonstone, he’d never gotten the chance to whenever they were there as they were always brief visits. Though he was drawn from his musing by Maelors egg which shook in his arms, he shifted in Aegarax’s saddle and held the egg with both hands, the flames he was producing from his hands helping keep it warm. The egg shook again then cracked a chattering coming from within. It was hatching?!? Now of all times, high above the ground, above the clouds with the wind whipping past. As Vaelor watched the egg crack and break and the little hatchling emerged, Vaelor nearly yelped as he had to catch the hatchling when it tried to jump from his grasp and into the open sky, likely in efforts to try and fly, which wouldn’t be possible for a baby drgaon that just hatched. 

After managing to get ahold of the new little addition, Vaelor took in its appearance, it was mostly a dull grey and light brown, with orange and light blue accents. It had one set of small stubby horns that splayed out to the sides, a ridge over either eye, a row of spikes running down its back, a cross-like tail fin, and most striking of all was that it possessed 4 wings. Vaelor thought it looked built to fly and rule the skies.

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(Daemon) 

He was outside tending to Caraxes when the blood wyrm’s head shot up staring at the sky then let out a shrieking whistle as it got up. Daemon turned to where his great beast was watching to see a group of dragons heading towards them from the direction of Kings Landing, they were coming lower and seemed to be preparing to land. He headed over in their direction, hand on his blade Caraxes following after him. He didn’t know why his nieces and nephews were here but to arrive on dragonback with no word ment something was up. Meleys was with them as well as a few small dragons he hadn’t actually seen before.

He watched and waited as they landed, Dreamfyre first her pale blue and silver scales glistening in the sun, 2 small dragons that had to be barely a few months old landed as well looking exhausted, one was a beautiful dark storm gray with minor dark yellow gold accents while another was green with gray accents, Morghul and Strykos he assumed, the dragons of his younger nieces twins. Meleys landed after them and he could see both riders had passengers as the young twin dragons rushed to the side of the larger dragons to check on their young riders. Sunfyre and Aegarax landed in near unison and were followed by two dragons he had heard about and seen glimpses of but hadn’t truly gotten a good look at. Gaelithox, his third nephew's dragon, was a unique beauty on par with his own Caraxes, he had to admit. She was mostly black, but on her left side she looked like she’d been hit and splattered with white paint or ink, from the side of her head, down the side of her neck, her left wing and side of her body and down the side of her tail, and all the fins/spines/spikes on her left side as well. Her right eye was a glowing molten gold while her left was as blue as a sapphire, and her horns and spikes, those on her right side were long and sharp while any on her left side were half the length of the ones on the right side and more rounded, he’d heard she had hatched from Aemonds cradle egg only days after Laena’s funeral and the incident that cost his nephew his eye. Last but not least was the long slender blue beauty ridden by his youngest nephew, she was slightly bigger than Gaelithox but had a closer build to his Caraxes with a long slender neck slender body and long tail, her scales were a beautiful blue with the additions of a rusty red color over her snout horns down her back along her fins and edges of her wing membranes.

He watched his kin dismount their dragons, eying them all, wondering why they would all be here instead of king's landing. Rheanys put little Jaehaerys down as Strykos sniffed and nuzzled at his bonded confirming he was ok, Morghul did the same when they’re bonded was put down on the ground. As Vaelor got down from his dragons back something caught Daemons eye, a small hatchling, one that looked like it had just hatched was squirming in his nephew’s grasp as he heading over to his sister putting the hatchling in her arms as the little whelp instantly clung to its bonded, little Maelor. Though he was distracted by Rhaenys coming his way followed by the rest of the group.

“Daemon your brother is dead and that cunt Otto and his bitch of a daughter are trying to steal the iron throne which belongs to Rheanyra.” She hissed causing Daemon to tense at the words, his brother was dead.

“Not like they can sense we’re here and not in King's landing where he could force a crown onto one of our heads.” Aemond grumbles keeping an eye on Helaena and her kids as the twins toddled after their mother, their bonded dragons following close on their heels to keep an eye on them.

“And why may I ask, are you here?” He asked, gripping the hilt of his blade eying his nieces and nephews. “I doubt that cunt of a hand and his bitch of a daughter would allow you out of their sight.”

“None of us want a civil war, or even want the stupid throne.” Aemond said, crossing his arms and looking away. “You and our sister are a better option, you haven’t actually tried to kill any of us unlike our grandsire who has poisoned Vaelor once and was plotting to get rid of him and frame our older sister with his murder when they crowned Aegon.”

“Vaelor's also was the one who learned father died and helped us all escape the keep through the secret passages.” Aegon mumbled looking tired with a headache.

“Wait, Vaelor got you all out through the secret passages.” Daemon asked, ignoring the fact Otto had been plotting to kill Vaelor again, he remembered the times he and his brother used to explore the secret passages when they could and it seems Vaelor did the same but to a far greater extent.

“Daemon you were right when you said he was a wild card, because apparently there was a secret passage directly to the dragon pit that I doubt even you knew about and apparently he also has valyrian fire magic.” Rheanys said looking a bit annoyed.

Vaelor as if to demonstrate waves his hand and flames came to life on it dancing all over the skin of his hand and forearm. Daemon started awestruck and at a loss for words.

“But we’re here to seek refuge with our sister and will give our loyalty as long as she doesn’t harm us.” Aemond said.

“Well, I’m sure she’d be happy to have you by her side when she goes to claim her rightful throne.” Daemon said relaxing his grip on his sword. He eyed the dragons as they interacted, Caraxes moving to meet those he had yet to, Vermax, Arrax and Tyraxes moving over to meet them as well having heard the commotions, Syrax was off somewhere preparing to lay another clutch of eggs.

“We shouldn’t reclaim the throne right now,” Vaelor signed with a serious expression. “Or we set up to rule from Dragonstone instead of Kings Landing.”

“Why is that dear nephew?” Daemon asked face pinching a bit as everyone turned to look at Vaelor.

“There are hundreds of vipers infesting Kings landing just waiting for the opportunity to strike, Otto is a rather obvious cobra, but there are so many more just as dangerous as him lurking in the shadows. If we reclaim it now we risk our entire family or even the vipers changing their plans and a generation or two from now we’ll be in the same situation as we are now on the brink of civil war due to their actions.” Vaelor signed “we need to remove ourselves from this equation entirely, leave King's landing to the vipers and once they realize we are no longer they’re obstacle they will turn on eachother. While they’re rooting each other out while we focus on gaining strength and set ourselves to rule from kingslanding later or from Dragonstone, Dragonstone was meant to be a stronghold for Valyria after the doom yet it’s been neglected, now is the time to rebuild it and make it what it was meant to be. Once we are ready and the vipers have thoroughly weakened themselves we could perform a conquest like Aegon before us, and fully drive the point home that we are not to ever be messed with, to get rid the ones shoved harmed or threatened us, to the point no one will ever think to challenge us again.”

Daemon stared at Vaelor doing his best to keep up with his signing, he knew his nephew wasn’t stupid but he didn’t realize he was this intelligent. But thinking over what Vaelor said, it made sense, their family fought over the throne enough already, removing it from the equation or atleast the family from the vipers nest and focusing on rebuilding family bonds and building up Dragonstone itself would be a better option, but Daemon had to wonder what other vipers were there. He didn’t trust the maesters, nor club foot. They’d have to ask Vaelor later as his nephew seemed well informed more so than him.

“Ok, I’m actually impressed, he’s smarter than I thought” Rheanys admitted “So we work and rebuild and strengthen our ties likely through marriage, and hatching more eggs.”

“Come on, let's head inside, get something to eat and let you all sleep, you likely had an exhausting journey. We’ll come together to discuss the situation later today or tomarrow” He said turning and heading inside the other following, Rheanys heading off to find her husband.

Vaelor caught up to keep pace beside him and started to sign “you should send a raven to call Laenor back from wherever he’s run off to, we aren't following the faith here so his marriage to Rheanyra does not count, only yours in valyrian customs.”

Daemon nearly stumbled when he registered what Vaelor said, “how do you know that?!?” He asked a bit stunned that his nephew even knew Laenor was alive when that was a secret only Daemon, Rheanyra, and Jace knew about, and Luce probably soon as he was old enough to understand why he faked his death.

“I dream, not like Helaena, but I can go where our dead kin reside in Balerion’s realm, I call it the Afterkeep. I can talk with any of our ancestors as far back as Aegon the Conqueror. Any further back and they’re affected by what happened during the doom, I can somewhat see then and barely interact with them but they cant pass me information, Aegon and anyone born after him can't interact with them either, I’ve interacted with Daenys the dreamer and Aegon the conquerors parents once or twice but it was always weird and the gods gave some help.” Vaelor signed “The Afterkeep has sections for all the houses of old Valyria, including the Velaryons and Celtigars, it’s how I know Laenor wasn’t dead, he’d have shown up in the after keep. Like Vaemond did, like Laena did, like Viserys will, though I won’t meet him right away, Quite a few of our kin want to have some words with him, including Aemma, I know it won’t be pretty so I’ll just wait till the dust settle….though I do want some words of my own.”

Daemon’s head was spinning, Vaelor could talk with their ancestors, just by dreaming. That…that was absurd, but it would explain why Vaelor seemed so smart, if his ancestors talked to him and taught him. It would also explain why he knew of secret passages even he didn’t know about, Maegor the Cruel would know every one of his passages and could’ve told his living kin about them to help keep them safe, that’s assuming he chilled out after his death, though given Vaelor said his ancestors were also going to have some words with Viserys it’s possible he had sense beaten into him after dying.

“How do I know you're not making this up?” Dameon asked, eyes narrowing.

“Well…” Vaelor signed then grinned devilishly. “Your father did tell me quite a few stories, like how adventurous you were when you were younger, especially with who you’d take to warm your bed. There was the one time he caught you and one of the stable boys in….”

Daemon jolted and grabbed Vaelors hands to shut him up, “ok ok, I believe you, but don’t tell anyone that I told him to take that secret to his grave.” Daemon said, then froze and let out a soft groan when he realized Baelon had taken it to his grave. “Please never tell anyone else about that.”

“Ok, I won’t, though….” Vaelor grinned again and Daemon realized his nephew was just as devious as his sons. “If Laenor returns and is still single I don’t think he’d mind being remarried to you and Rheanyra. Having heirs won’t be an issue with my Valyrian magic, I can do some stuff and allow you to be able to put a baby in him like you put a baby in Rhaenyra. No one can claim it’s a bastard if Laenor had it himself, and no one can complain about him laying with men when it still produces an heir.”

Daemon coughed and sputtered, his brain screeching to a halt, Vaelor could do what?!?!?! “You??? You can do that?!?”

“Why do you think Valyians didn’t care about gender, women and men were equal because they both could ride dragons and they both could bear children even with same sex couples. The only reason we can’t right now is because the doom weakened magic to the point our ability to do so isn’t active, but I can activate it with magic.” Vaelor signed “I’ll need to use it myself to have children as my interest lay with men, and I know Aemond has feelings for Luce that he won’t admit, feelings Alicent lied about and tried to twist that interest and into obsession or hate over losing his eye, I fixed it with the help of Helaena but he still has issues understanding his feelings especially with how stubborn and thick headed he is.”

“What..what about the risks of pregnancy and birth.” Daemon asked, he knew there were always risks because those risks seemed a lot higher among their house in recent generations. Though he filed away the idea that Aemonds dislike for Luce had been caused by Alicent making him think those feelings were dislike, hatred, instead of what they should've been as well as the desire to go into dad mode about the idea of Aemond dating Luce.

“Those issues are caused by our weakened magic which I can and will fix, and a certain group of ‘healers’ poisoning expectant mothers so the baby and sometimes the mother dies.”

Daemon stiffened his blood going cold at that and he stared at his nephew while his heart beating hard in his chest, he couldn’t mean what he thought he meant right? “The…the maesters?”

“Have been poisoning us for generations, some more often, some less, some not at all, but a great number of our kin have fallen victim to them. Specifically all the unborn and newborn babies, the Afterkeep is full of their wisps, babies who never got to experience life.” Vaelors signed scowling looking upset. “But we can’t take vengeance for them yet, we should focus on gaining strength first, so send a raven to call Laenor back, and send a raven to Vaegon and Saera too, hopefully they’ll return to Dragonstone.”

Dameon nodded and went back to walking as the group split up to eat and find somewhere to sleep, his mind swirling with a mix of emotions and thoughts. They needed to plan, make sure the Maester on Dragonstone was on they’re side and if not get rid of them, plan against possible assassins, and send ravens to his uncle Vaegon, aunt Saera, and Laenor. He knew Laenor would return, he missed Jace, Luce, and Joffrey, as well as Seasmoke who kept staring out over the sea in the direction of the free cities, and…he and Laenor had been exchanging a few letters and…flirting. Laenor was still single, and Daemon wouldn’t mind taking him as a husband, but it was up to Laenor if he was ok with that and having a baby put in him.

Daemon needed to talk to his lovely wife, and make sure she took all this news gently, stress was bad for the baby after all. As well as talk things over with her, like if she was ok with sharing him with Laenor and if she would be happy to have him back as friend and company.

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(Rhaena)

She woke up to the sound of chittering and something nipping her nose. She jolted eyes shooting open to stare into dark molten gray/silver eyes, she sat up with a gasp to stare at the small dragon, A HATCHLING. Her head immediately shot to look at the fire pit to see 3 eggs laying in the smoldering coals of the fire, and fragments of the 4th egg. She turned to look back at the hatchling that had moved to perch on her knee…she, because she felt like a she, which she could feel over the fledgling bond. She was a beautiful pale pink, her head was similar to Meleys her sire, pink with speckles of black, but her small nubby black horns pointed backwards similar to Gray Ghost, who laid her egg, along with the other 3. She had a row of spines running down the top and underside of her neck as well as along the top sides, running along each side of all the spines were rows of sharp black spikes similar to Meleys that she could flare out, she had more black spikes on her back and shoulders and black speckling along the edges of her wings and chest, she had a large pink fins/spines running down the sides of her tail with black spikes all over the last half of her tail which she could rattle together, near the end of her tail the fins grew larger and faded into black.

“Morning….” She said softly like the name had just come to her and the Hatchling chittered at the response to her name.

Rhaena carefully picked up the hatchling and bolted through the door. “KEPA MY DRAGON HATCHED MY DRAGON HATCHED!!!!”

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(Rhaenyra)

She sat at the dining table rubbing a hand over her belly to sooth the restless baby within, she was quite startled and shocked when Daemon had returned late last afternoon to tell her that her siblings were here seeking refuge and that her father was dead. That Otto and her old friend had planned to usurp the throne even when none of her siblings wanted it. She was glad that her siblings and their kids had gotten away and were on Dragonstone, but she was concerned about the path forward which would hopefully be addressed in the council meeting later today. She had already sent ravens to Laenor, Vaegon and Saera and hoped they'd arrive unharmed. 

For now it was time to eat and hopefully mend the shredded ties between the members of her family here. Corlys and Rhaenys were the first to enter followed by Baela which reminded Rhaenyra that she needed to tell them Laenor was alive before he returned, or she could wait and let them freak out. His sons Jace and Luce followed shortly after. Aemond entered just a minute later causing the room to grow quiet and silent as he walked to a seat at the furthest end of the table away from a glaring Baela and Corlys. Jace and Luce looked at each other then looked at her.

“Mother, why is Uncle Aemond here?” her sweet Luce asked. 

“He and the of your aunt's uncles and cousins arrives late last night and will be staying with us for the foreseeable future, on that note Jace, Luce you'll be needed in the council room later this afternoon, we have some major things to discuss, Aegon, Helaena, and Aemond will be there, and so will you and your sister Baela.” She answered as she went back to eating as she heard Luce ask if Aemond would like to join him later for a fly around Dragonstone with the they're dragons, she eyed them noticed a spark in her little brothers eyes and a dash of pink on his cheeks, hmm perhaps Daemon and Vaelor was right about there being more between them.

Daemon entered not long later with Joffrey, Aegon the younger and Viserys, Stormcloud and Tyraxes following and hopping along behind them settling under the table close to they're riders. Tyraxes was almost too big to let wander the keep and soon would have to start staying outside with Vermax and Arrax. Vaelor followed along not long after dragging his half awake twin, the 2 year old twins followed at their heels their dragons following close behind absolutely giddy to have been let to stay with they're riders through the night and in the keep. Helaena followed carrying little Maelor and the 1 year olds hatchling who'd been named Cloudjumper perched on her shoulder and Daeron brought up the rear. As they all found they're seats at the table Rhaenyra was glad shed asked the Dragon keepers to bring in more meat as they had 5 hungry dragons at the dinner table, she watched the twins dragons slip under the table and her them have a spat with Tyraxes, Stormcloud avoided the 3 bigger dragons by hoping up onto the table and laying down looking rather displeased at the amount of dragons he had to share the dining room with.

Finally Rhaena came bowling into the room boldly proclaiming “KEPA MY DRAGON HATCHED!!!” While holding up the beautiful pink hatchling with black accents.

“It certainly did Daughter, it certainly did, what is the little one's name” he asked, moving a chair beside him so she could join him which she did.

“Her names Morning and she's mine and she she's perfect I'm not made it took me this long to meet her” she said letting Morning down onto the table, the little dragon promptly hissed at Stormcloud and stole a chunk of meat right out from under the blue gray whelps snout, Stormcloud squacked indignantly only to have another piece stolen from his meal by Cloudjumper. Aegon the younger’s dragon whined, grabbed his meal, spread his wings and leapt off the table flying up to one of the ledges around the room to enjoy his meal in peace away from both bigger and smaller dragons. Looking for all the known kingdoms like he'd been deeply wronged which made a few of them chuckle.

“Morning no we don't steal food from other dragons, especially not when you have your own food” she scolded her young dragon in Valyrian, the hatchling swallowed it's stolen treat and whine going to eat out of the small bowl of shredded cooked meat for it and Cloudjumper.

The rest of breakfast went as usual, the young dragons occasionally begging or snatching bits of food either from they're bonded or the other young dragons, her kids talking and bantering with each other and her siblings cautiously joining.