VISENYA TARGARYEN AND DAENERYS TARGARYEN

When you are born only moons apart it is hard not to be compared to one another. Especially when you look similar if not the same. It was what had happened with Visenya and her aunt Daenerys, known as Dany by most in the family. When they were both babes, Visenya being the elder one by only seven moons, people said it was hard to differ between the two - an exaggerated lie. As they grow up, it was obvious that their beauty was the first thing discussed for what do people look for in ladies if not beauty. A crooked idea, leading to a crooked practice.

They had both taken the classical Targaryen features of violet eyes, pale skin and silver hair. Yet, they were different. Visenya's eyes were more purple than violet, big with long lashes like her mother's, while Dany's were smaller and violet. Dany's hair was silver-gold like her father's while Visenya's were pure silver, thick and slightly wave like her mother Elia's. Both Rhaenys and Visenya had inherited their mother's high cheekbones, a feature that Dany did not have.

As a little girl, Visenya had to constantly remind herself to call a girl younger than her as Aunt even though that habit never really stuck. They had grown up together, Dany and Visenya, aunt and niece raised from the cradle together. When they were only little girls hidden in the nooks and corners of the Red Keep, away from people and their whispers and taunts, Visenya and Dany would play together, laugh together, take turns being the Princess for Aegon to rescue. Little girls with no care in the world. They had spoken of almost everything, despite the fact that Visenya was much more closer to Aegon and Rhaenys, probably because they were her siblings.

"You think he was mad?", little five name-day old Dany had asked Visenya as the two girls were walking down to their bedchambers.

"Who?", Visenya, who had turned six today, asked.

Dany looked around her before whispering, "My father."

"I do not know. Father says he was.", Visenya answered in a voice equally low, as if the dead would rise if they such words.

"Rhaegar said the same thing to me.", Dany answered sadly, before departing to go her separate way.

The girls had shared every secret simply because Dany had no one else to speak with. Rhaenys was three years older and was often seen with Uncle Viserys, if not with her small posse of friends or her own siblings. Aegon had recently acquired a practice sword and had taken to run off to practice sword fighting any time he could.

Within a few months even Dany had turned six and Visenya's mother had arranged for a big celebration for it. It was remarkable how instantly Dany had taken to viewing the Queen as her own mother too. Yet, on the name-day celebrations things changed. Visenya could never remember the details but she knew her Uncle Viserys had said something about "Queen Elia is not your mother" to Dany which had caused her father, the King, to send Uncle Viserys away. Within two days Uncle Viserys had left for Dragonstone and Dany had grown sad. Visenya knew heated words had been exchanged between her father and Uncle but the actual conversation was not something she had known.

"I have lost the one brother I knew.", Dany had told her sadly, and Visenya had to remember that her own father, inspite of being two decades older was a brother to Dany.

"You have me.", she had reminded Dany and the girl had smiled before answering, "Sometimes you need a brother."

"Well I have a brother. I will speak with Aegon. He will be your brother too.", Visenya had answered wisely, as if she had the solution to all the problems of life.

It was a beautiful relationship, untainted and pure. Yet, it had crumbled so quickly that one could be mistaken for thinking that the two girls had never spent a day together.

When Uncle Viserys had returned two years later, he had come a changed man. Many said, a better man. There was something in him, something remarkable that none could figure. A grown man of ten-and-a-six who had spent the last year travelling. Her father had been impressed and ordered for Summerhall to be reconstructed for his younger brother. Visenya remembered how her sister Rhaenys had hung on every word Uncle Viserys had spoken, how at night Visenya herself had tried to picture these strange foreign places her Uncle had spoken of. Aegon had been promised a trip to Lys by Uncle Viserys. Only Dany hadn't been charmed.

"What is it?", Visenya had asked, troubled by her friend's lack of enthusiasm.

"Nothing." had been the evasive answer for a while before finally Dany had informed her.

"Rhaegar wants to send me to Summerhall when it is done.", Dany had told her sadly but Visenya could only smile.

"That is wonderful. It sounds so lovely. I heard father speaking of it. It will be a splendid castle. Perhaps I could ask father if he will send me too. I am tired of being in the Red Keep all the time.", Visenya had chattered on excitedly.

"You don't understand. I don't want to go."

"What? Why not?" Visenya asked, scrunching her face up in question.

"They will wed me to Viserys when I am older." Visenya mouth formed an 'o' at such an answer. She didn't think that would happen.

"You don't want to marry Uncle Viserys.", she spoke, finally understanding the trouble.

Before any word could be spoken Aegon had come passing by and Dany had run off to Aegon. Visenya stared at them for a long time before realising the biggest secret Dany had been hiding from her.

It was the following day that she confronted Dany, stopping her after they were done with their lesson with the Septa.

"You like Aegon.", Visenya had stated simply. The concept of liking somebody with the desire to love was very new to Visenya. It had cropped up when Jon Baratheon had visited six moons back and her mother had told her that he was to wed Rhaenys.

Dany had stared shocked before trying to run off. Unfortunately for her, Visenya was a quick little girl who had only just recovered from her sickness and taken full advantage of it.

"You can't like Aegon!", Visenya enforced.

"Why not?", Dany had questioned back.

"Because Aegon is my brother. I will never speak with you if you don't stop liking him this instant.", Visenya said, making it clear that she was serious.

"Then don't. You will see someday when Aegon and I marry. I will be his Queen and he my King.", Dany had spoken as if reading the words of a prophecy.

That was the end. Their friendship was broken over a petty squabble and none of the girls told anybody the reason for it. Not even Visenya, who could gain much by embarrassing Dany, because she remembered that Rhaenys had taught her that friends kept each other's secret.

However, when the fateful day comes, Dany stills leaves for Summerhall and even if there are tears in nine name-day old Visenya's eyes she hides them away. They do not see each other for a year following which Dany comes back to the Red Keep for the Queen funeral. If Visenya could bring herself to care then she would speak of how Dany's attempts at consoling Aegon were pathetic. All Visenya feels is betrayed because Dany was supposed to be there for Visenya first. Yet, Visenya hides away behind her father's heavy cloak, in her sister's shadow, in her brother's embrace as her mother's body is taken away.

Dany stays with them from then and only comes once to speak with Visenya. It is on the day of her mother's funeral.

"Queen Elia was a sweet and gentle woman.", Dany had spoken as the sun set over the Red Keep on the day of her mother's funeral.

"Uncle Oberyn says that mother was the sun. And when tomorrow the sun rises, it will have lost its shine.", Visenya speaks, her eyes fixed on the horizon greeting the sun farewell as if the sun were her mother.

"Aegon once told me you are the sun for him.", Dany answers coming to stand beside her on the balcony.

"Mama used to say that. She said Rhaenys was fire, Aegon a dragon and I the sun.", Visenya answered as the last ray of the sun cast its golden glow upon the two girls in the balcony.

"I will stay here for now. Rhaegar said it would be good for the family.", Dany answered softly, trying her hardest to not affect the serenity of her surroundings.

Visenya finally turned away as the sun hid completely, "Will you try to impress Aegon while you are here?"

Dany didn't answer, her gaze still fixed on the horizon.

"You can, you know. I just want you to know. It wouldn't bother me.", Visenya replied instead. The day after Dany had left for Summerhall Visenya had wanted to write to her, to tell her to come back and wed Aegon this instant because Visenya wanted her friend. It was pride that had stopped her then.

Dany slowly turned and smiled at Visenya and just like that all was well between the two. And yet, neither realised it was the calm which came before the storm.

Within months Aegon is gone from the Red Keep and Dany leaves immediately, telling Visenya that King's Landing is not her home anymore and if she wanted, Dany would visit her. Yet, they part on better terms than last time for this time there are ravens which fly back and forth from the Red Keep to Summerhall.

Nine moons later when Aegon returns from Dragonstone, Visenya speaks to him about Dany.

"Dany told me you do not reply to her letters.", she brought up casually as the two sat in the library.

"I am not her friend. You are. What can I speak to her about anyway?", Aegon answers, not once looking up from the book he was reading.

"Anything. Surely you can find something to speak of with her if she can." It is Visenya's duty as a friend to encourage Aegon, or so she has been told by Dany.

She only receives a vague nod from him in reply and she isn't even sure if he is answering her or nodding at his book.

"Aegon!", she calls again, taking the book out of his hand and sitting down beside him. "Have you been listening to me? Alright, do you like Dany?"

Even though Aegon appears confused he answers her, "She is my aunt. Of course, I like her."

"No no no. I don't mean like that. I mean like, you know, like her. The way Jon likes Rhaenys.", she explains to her elder brother.

"You do realise what you just said, yes? She is my Aunt. Why would I like her that way? Now don't be foolish and give me the book back." As Aegon takes his book back and begins reading again, Visenya contemplates his answer. How could she write about it to Dany?

Shamefully, Visenya takes to not mentioning Aegon at all in Dany's letter, despite the latter's repeated enquiry about Aegon.

In the tourney held for the celebration of Rhaenys wedding Jon, Visenya's father announces the marriage of Dany and Uncle Viserys. It is worsened by the fact that as Aegon wins in the tourney, he crowns Visenya. Dany doesn't speak with Visenya at all, doesn't try to understand that the only reason Aegon did this was because of some foolish promise the siblings had made to each other when they were younger. Dany leaves for Summerhall and Visenya leaves for the Red Keep.

Three in a row, her father tells Visenya, on the eve of the grand fest for the celebration of Uncle Viserys's name-day. It takes till nightfall before Visenya understands that by three in a row, her father meant three weddings. The third wedding is to be Visenya and Aegon's two years later. As the news is announced Visenya becomes the envy of many ladies, all of whom had vied for the coveted title of Princess of Dragonstone. The girl who would wed Aegon would not only be a Queen-in-waiting but a Queen without coronation for the King's wife had been dead for years now. Yet, the only thing Visenya thinks of is the betrayal she gives to Dany.

Dany weds Uncle Viserys on the hottest day of the summer in the Sept at Summerhall, six moons after the announcement. Inspite of numerous protests, Visenya stands towards the back of the Sept because she knows that Dany doesn't want her here. But then Visenya also realises that it couldn't get any worse. Dany would see that it wasn't Visenya who wanted this. Visenya hadn't asked her father to wed her to Aegon. Dany was her friend, Dany would soon see the truth. Yet, the first thing she is taught following Dany's wedding is that from now on the girl in question is Aunt Dany. Aunt for the Uncle she wed. Three attempts later, Visenya doesn't try to speak with Dany on this day, preferring instead to sulk in one corner.

Three moons into their marriage, Aunt Dany and Uncle Viserys come to the Red Keep. All Visenya knew of the matter was that Uncle Viserys had come to speak with father on an urgent matter. Visenya hadn't bothered to greet Uncle Viserys the way she used to when she was younger. She is more busy crying and sulking away in her chambers because her father is a cruel man who will wed her to Aegon. Rhaenys was travelling with Jon somewhere near the Reach, Aegon had taken residence in Dragonstone once again and had promised that he would come back only two days before the wedding. Aegon didn't write letters to her anymore, Dany didn't write letters to her anymore, Rhaenys wrote an occasional letter only if she were free. Loneliness had been Visenya's new friend.

"I have been told you rarely leave your chambers.", speaks the voice Visenya hasn't heard in so long.

She turns instantly to greet her visitor, "Dan-, I mean Aunt Dany." The words seem foreign to Visenya. How could she call a girl she had grown up with, her aunt?

"There is no need for that. So is it true? You don't leave your chambers much?", Dany asks again. Visenya has to admit that Dany looks quite regal in this moment. She is dressed to the nine and as the gold in her dress glitters, Visenya thinks of her mother. Her mother would dress like this. That is what it was. Dany was dressed like the late Queen.

Visenya was so busy in thought that she hadn't even replied yet. However, the latter had accepted the silence as an answer. "I suppose that is a yes." Dany sighs before moving into the chambers and Visenya is surprised by how grown the girl before her looks. She looked like a true woman when she was a girl who had seen only ten-and-a-five name days.

Dany doesn't say anything else as she joins Visenya on the settee. The girls hadn't spoken to each other in months, what could they say now? Visenya was almost ready to leave but Dany spoke up, "I can't have children." The words are spoken in such a low tone that Visenya almost thinks she imagined it. Yet, the way Dany sat, all closed up and small, with tears that she tried to control, made Visenya realise that the words had truly been spoken into the air.

"Are you… I mean… You are young. Don't these things take time? I mean… surely when you are older…", Visenya tries to sympathise but she trips over her words for she doesn't know what is happening all around her.

Dany barks out a laugh, a little too high-pitched, a little too forced kind of laugh, before speaking, "Are you truly going to pretend to be so naive? That is not how this works. I will never have children. That is what Viserys is here for." Dany rises from her seat and moves to pour herself some wine, finishing it in one gulp. "Viserys and I want to annul our marriage. We wrote to Rhaegar about it but he didn't agree. That is why we have come ourselves. So that is the reason of my misery."

Another glass of wine is finished by Dany before she speaks, "You can't really tell me marrying Aegon is yours. How could it be? After all you will be the next Queen. My, what a lucky girl you are." The last line is spit out like a curse and it makes Visenya's stomach turn. Yes, she will be the new Queen. My, how the idea had been thrown in her face. Everyone she met would say something along these lines. Aegon is such a handsome man. You are so lucky. The Crown Princess. The future Queen. Mother to a King. All these notions have been thrown in Visenya's face since the announcement of the betrothal and they all make Visenya want to scream her lungs out.

"Is this how little you think of me? That I hunger for a crown? I thought you would know better. I never asked for this. Never did I dream of this. I ha-", Visenya replies and is cut-off midway by Dany.

"Oh no no… Lovely little Visenya Targaryen never asks for something. She has it handed to her on a silver platter. The precious daughter of the noble King Rhaegar and gentle Queen Elia. Nobody remembers that she has the blood of a mad King. Why would they when they have the daughter of said mad King to spit at? You have always played innocent. Worked so hard, haven't you, to be loved by all? How did it feel to hurt me and betray me like this? I was your friend."

"What are you talking about? I didn't mean to hurt you. I didn't even know that father wanted this.", Visenya defends weakly because Seven Hells she doesn't want to wed her brother.

"Really? Did you not see this coming? You know you can tell me the truth. How did you do it? What did you tell Rhaegar? That you did not want to leave him or that you wanted to be Queen?"

"Enough Dany. I didn't do any of this. And if I could then I would take it all back but I am not going to put up with this. You cannot blame me for no reason. If you want to blame somebody, blame father."

Before any more words can be exchanged, there is a knock on the door and the seamstress enters without permission. "Your Grace, we just needed to confirm if you wanted silver or golden embroidery on your wedding dress?" There were those words - wedding dress. Everybody was so joyous around her, hyping it all up. People were already getting ready for the wedding even if it was almost a year away. And why wouldn't they? Visenya had been reminded well by her sister that it wasn't her wedding. It was the wedding of the heir to the Iron Throne. Since the moment her betrothal had been announced Visenya had stopped being a daughter of the King ; now she was the Princes who would wed the next King.

"I don't care.", Visenya replied harshly, "Leave." She doesn't need to be reminded again and again that now she has no worth of her own. That she would forever be linked with Aegon and remembered along those lines.

Once the seamstress leaves, Visenya turns to Dany, "If you do not have anything good to say then I think you should leave as well." Dany stares at her for a moment, and Visenya wonders what secret she was trying to discover, before getting up to leave. As a parting remark she mentions, "Silver. I always imagined myself in a white and silver dress when I wed Aegon."

Visenya weds Aegon in a white dress with golden patterns all over it. She weds Aegon in the presence of her whole family except Dany. She weds Aegon and it is a joyous occasion but Visenya's thoughts wonder to the three hearts that broke that day. From then on, Dany becomes a complete stranger. Dany remains cooped up in Summerhall while Visenya leaves for Dragonstone, the seat of her husband. Dany doesn't come when Visenya's father passes away.

The last time Visenya sees Dany is on the day the Kingdom celebrates the birth of Elian Targaryen, Crown Prince of the Seven Kingdoms, the son of King Aegon and his wife. In the few short years, Dany had somehow aged beyond her years. This Dany looked well into her forties. Visenya had always heard rumours of the wine affecting Dany over the years but it was only now that she saw the truth in those rumours. Dany had gained some weight and had become a stout woman now. She still held her beauty and yet it appeared to be hidden behind glasses of wine which Dany gulped one after the other. It was like seeing a stranger, a complete stranger and Visenya realised just how much damage her happiness had done to Dany.