He had watched with quiet fascination as bright eyes looked up at him. He found the chubby little flailing legs to be so comical, each little toe seemingly holding a new flavour as they were each tasted in turn by the squirming infant. He was a man now and knew of course where babies came from but this was still so curious. Were dragon children born the same way? His father had often told him that Targareyns were forged in the fires of dragons, their eyes burned to the brightest opals that would forever reflect firelight. But this little baby was fat and seemingly stupid as it did nearly everything it could to get itself killed. It rolled over and couldn't turn back, it squawked and brought the attention of the dogs. All of this brought a protective feeling over him as he looked at his little sibling. This one still alive. Perhaps they were indeed a dragon.
His mother lifted the little bundle and snuggled it close. It was only a matter of time before it would be taken from her. He looked at his mother with sympathy for his father had already decided her to be unfaithful, the child's life under threat. The seventeen years from his own birth had been filled with still born children and miscarriages, early death and sickness. But this one lived and was so very beautiful.
"Would you like to hold the baby?"
"Yes."
He sat next to her amongst the folds of her gown and took the creature in his arms. He let it grasp at his hair and he thought to himself that he had never held something so irritatingly perfect. The tiny little nose and purple eyes, purple already! Whisps of white hair and a perfect cupid's bow mouth. He cooed at it and it smiled.
"Viserys," his mother said.
"Will he be a dragon?"
"He will."
"Like me?"
"Yes. You must help him to become strong. You must protect him. He is your blood."
"Will he be a King?"
"After you, yes."
Rhaegar flinched as the baby tugged his hair.
"What if he dies?"
"Then he will not be King."
"What if he does not wish to be King," he asked quietly, thinking less about little Viserys now.
"Then he is nothing."
The blonde locks were a tangle in his fingers. No matter how he tried, he could not master the art of braiding. They turned out misshapen on one side or too full on the other. She would have to make do as she was because they had more pressing issues to contend with. There were no other doors to knock and no more warm welcomes. They were alone and desperate and at that time Viserys cared little for the styling of his sister's hair besides trying to hide the dirt it contained. The only benefit of the grime was the anonymity it provided them, masking their white blonde locks but never hiding the violet eyes.
Together they headed out into the streets, Daenerys clinging to his neck, her small legs wrapped around his waist as she kept a look out for a potential meal. Sometimes they went days without food. They had been lucky of late with the recent rat epidemic.
Now, however, they were not so lucky. For half the day they searched the markets, finding nothing more than breadcrumbs that they ate with enthusiasm.
It grew dark and Daenerys had grown listless and pale in her hunger. Viserys found a prime location, climbing the multitude of steps to the large black door. He knew he had seen it somewhere before. He had always found that cleaner beggars made better fare so he had tried to make them as presentable as he could though he was nervous as they knocked. A large creak sounded as the door opened, a kindly man standing a head shorter than Viserys, looked at them with obvious concern.
"Might you have any charity for my sister and I?"
The man was of course surprised at the refined voice and sharp features.
"Charity? We don't do charity, boy."
"What about work? We could work for a meal!"
The man seemed to consider them both a long moment, appraising the sorry state of the little girl and the desperation in the young man's eyes.
"Come in."
Taking Dany's hand, they followed into the darkened corridors.
"Please, my sister is very tired. Is there somewhere she could rest?"
"Aye," the man said with a smile, showing them to a room with beautiful beds. Dany didn't complain about the other people already asleep there, they had stayed at Innhouses before and crawled onto the nearest one, glad of somewhere soft to sleep. She smiled at Viserys as she curled amongst the satin pillows.
"Stay here, Daenerys," he said sleepily. "I'll join you soon." Then he followed the man from the room, no doubt copying out letters and tax forms for the man. Viserys was very intelligent and always seemed to find work wherever they went. She worried for him though when he came back exhausted and his eyes puffy and red from working by candlelight for so long. She hoped they would let him rest tonight.
