DISCLAIMER: I don't own Game of Thrones if I did it would have ended differently! I despise D&D for that. I didn't like how my last one turned out so I rewrote it. And do not worry, I will keep the old version on the site, I know a lot of people like it ^.^

Chapter rating: T

Word Count: 3,161

I

Stannis was a war riddled man, but as he stood, staring at Rhaella Targaryen. Maids were rushing about trying to ease her passing. It was clear with the soft prayers of the maids and her breathing was struggling. The newborn babe on her chest wailed as she could not comfort it.

"Please… please take her," Rhaella begged as she panted. "They… took my son and m-my other daughter," her voice was straining with her talking.

"Be easy, My Lady," Stannis urged as Ser Davos hovered, he paused before softly taking the newborn from the former queen. She watched as the sailor softly shushed the whimpering girl, she fussed a moment before Stannis took her.

"S-She doesn't need her last name, our f-family name." Rhaella struggled as she coughed softly. "Rhaenyra Stormborn," she finished as they nodded.

"Your-your Grace please, don't strain yourself," the maid spoke in quick tones, from her coloring and attentive focus on the dying woman spoke volumes to the men. She was a Targaryen woman as well.

"My Lord," Rhaella called weakly, he came closer as her daughter was given to the maid who softly rocked her. "Promise me you will protect her. S-She is a newborn b-babe," she stuttered as she struggled. "She i-is an innocent-"

"Yes, My Lady, she is an innocent child." Stannis realized the woman was going into a small hysteria which would just exhaust her already fading body. "I, Stannis Baratheon, swear that your daughter Rhaenyra Stormborn will be raised by a noble house," he swore as he softly took her hand, she weakly looked to him, eyes dull as the maid who held the newborn, cried softly. As Rhaella took her final breath Stannis and Ser Davos bowed their heads as the maid kept her head down, soothing the babe. "Summon another maid, loyal to the family. So that the former Queen may be buried among her kin and seal the tombs, no one will desecrate or destroy the historical remains," Stannis ordered as the maid nodded and left, taking the newborn with her. "Beware, the child will be leaving with me when I leave Dragonstone," he was surprised when she looked to him, eyes burning.

"Excuse me, My Lord, but this babe is my kin and blood, I will make sure she is protected and kept safe. So when you are to leave for King's Landing, I hope to travel as well so that I can care for her," the woman spoke as Stannis turned to her. "I am her last living kin, I do not know her twin and brother's whereabouts, they might not make it East or if they do she will never see them again," the woman spoke as she rocked the newborn who whined softly.

"What is your name girl?" Stannis requested.

"Valaena Velaryon, only cousin to Rhaella and Aerys Targaryen," she spoke, pride in her tone. Stannis could not blame her, her family was old, powerful and very strong, despite the few ill tolerances that came from their bloodlines from Old Valyria.

"You will be charged with caring for the newborn, Rhaenyra Stormborn of the House Targaryen," Stannis decided as she nodded, relieved that he would allow her to stay with her kin. "Gather what you will," he ordered as she nodded and bowed, carrying the babe with her.

"Poor thing," Ser Davos spoke softly as he laid a blanket over the former queen as another maid entered and gave a soft sob as she requested help from two guards who stared at their Targaryen leader who they loved dearly. Together the three began to tend to her burial rights, Stannis sighed softly as he watched, feeling sorrow for the child. "Will your brother, excuse my pardon, King Robert," he breathed, not believing his words like his lord who nodded, understanding his disbelief. "Allow the small child to live?" he questioned as Stannis frowned.

"I do not know," Stannis spoke as he left the rooms, looking to the dead servants who had tried to barter to the Lannister men. "But if he does not, then I will take her and raise her, I will keep my word to her mother," he swore as Ser Davos followed.

"I hope for the same," the man spoke as they followed before spotting Valaena rocking Rhaenyra.

I

"STARK! Get in here now!" The booming voice of their new king awoke the infant in Eddard Stark's arms as he quickly passed him over to the knight who shushed him and gently soothed him as he went to go wait for his lord's dismissal.

"My Lord," Ser Barristan Selmy greeted his former enemy with a respectful head nod.

"He sounds like he is in a mood," Ned commented as the knight sighed softly.

"You will see when you meet her," the aged knight spoke as he paused. They walked into the throne room that once was the showroom when Tywin Lannister showed off his loyalty by showing off the bodies of Rhaegar's family. His wife, Elia Martell, had been brutally raped and murdered by Gregor Clegane and their children Rhaenys and Aegon. Ned remembered the horror that came across the people there; the Starks and Baratheons, the Arryn and even some of the Lannisters, Jaime included, if the Lord had seen right. But now he watched the newly crowned King pacing as his brother glared at him, their youngest brother Renly sat on a table swinging his legs, he had been in hiding until Stannis retrieved him once the fighting was done. He had been in the same company of the newborn Targaryen child, having heard of her from the guards.

"You are a pain in my ass Stannis," the man growled before his brother snarled back.

"Give her back then! I will take her." Stannis turned on his brother as Jon came closer to soothe any fights.

"No," Robert simply said, silencing them all. "Ned, follow," he ordered as he led Jon, Ned, Barristan, Stannis, and Renly to a secluded room. There was a cradle, an Arryn guard standing there before he moved away at his lord's request.

"What is this?" Ned asked, confused as Renly ran around to one side, peering inside with a small smile. A soft coo caught his attention, slowly he approached before spotting a child, purple-eyed and pale hair. "Gods," he breathed in shock. Most babies were naturally blue-eyed, then their eyes would change color to their family color. But Targaryens must be different as this child had her Valyrian heritage showing bright and true.

"Her sister and brother fled to the East by a loyalist, but she had still been in her mother's arms. My men had prevented her from being taken as well, the knight was wounded in his flight," Stannis explained as Barristan came closer before staring in awe at the former princess of a long powerful dynasty.

"Stannis wants to keep her," Robert spoke up as Jon joined in staring at the girl, a soft look on his old wrinkled face.

"By the Gods, Robert she is just a babe! An innocent child." Stannis was trying to point out the negative outcome.

"A Targaryen!" Robert's voice boomed, alarming the baby. "When she grows up, she can take back the Iron Throne!" he spat as Jon got Ned's attention.

"And if you kill an infant?!" Stannis roared back. "Do you not know what they call you now? After what happened to Rhaegar's family? Usurper, do you wish to add Baby Murderer to this list?" Stannis and Robert's fight was being ignored by the Northerner who looked to his former caretaker.

"A child of Valyria for the North, you can raise her to be loyal and a good person." The old man must have gone crazy. A Targaryen in the North after what her father and brother caused? The poor thing might be killed. "She is just a babe! One of high blood!" Jon whispered allowing Ned's thoughts to wonder.

"Robert," Ned started as his friend turned, face starting to turn a brilliant shade of red.

"What?" He demanded.

"What if I were to raise the girl? Have the girl be bound to my newborn son in the North, far away from the South?" Ned asked as Robert looked at him funny.

"Are you mad? Did you forget what her family did-"

"I will never forget what her family did to mine!" Ned quickly deflected that excuse. He would not condemn a babe to her father's actions. "But I refuse to put their actions on her, she was not even born yet Robert. The only crime she is even capable of carrying is the result of having Targaryen blood. But she is innocent," Ned defended the newborn, knowing he needed to. Robert's face continued reddening by the minute as they all waited for his verdict.

"Get her out and stay out!" He roared as he stormed out the doors busting over making the baby cry out as Ser Barristan softly picked her up. Being mindful of his armor and wounded shoulder.

"I shall have a maid prepare everything that I brought for the child," Stannis planned on making sure Valaena left as well. Ser Davis has been intent on keeping her hidden, doing a good job at it, he made sure to keep her quiet when allowing her to nurse her cousin after sneaking her in.

"Thank you, My Lord," Ned thanked the brother of his best friend, as Renly continued cooing to the baby when Ser Barristan put her back in her basket.

"She's cute," he smiled to the Northern man who smiled as well.

"Yes, Renly. That she is," he agreed before realizing he was going to have to explain this to Catelyn, along with Jon who he already had to think about. Once he reached Winterfell he will have three newborns to care for, Gods help him.

I

Valaena felt nauseated as she dismounted with a guard's help. After thanking him and asking where her new wards were the man pointed her in a direction. Valaena had snuck into the army and posed as the two babes new wetnurse, it did not bother her to nurse both. She was not aware of Ned watching all his people as two maids took the babes to Maester Luwin. He was checking on them and asking how the people took the travel but he did a double-take on a woman whose hair fell from her hood. Golden-white, not Lannister gold though. Quickly grabbing her arm, he led her away as a guard followed. He removed the cloak's hood as he stared at the bright blue-eyed woman who held near-white hair, her resemblance to the former queen was a bit unnerving, she wasn't direct kin but close to it.

"Who are you?" he asked firmly.

"Valaena, My Lord," she curtsied as he narrowed his eyes.

"Family name?" he demanded as she paused.

"House Velaryon of Driftwood, last of my family," she spoke cautiously before he looked down.

"Until your little one comes," he revealed as she looked up shocked. "The way you curtsied and how pale you're becoming, it's only common signs in pregnancy," he revealed as she looked down. "Was he in King's Landing?" He asked as she swallowed thickly.

"He still is," she claimed. "He never left the capitol. He doesn't know," she spoke softly as he frowned.

"A guard?" he questioned.

"A Kingsguard," she finished as he sighed, knowing the father will never be able to claim both as his so her child will be born a bastard.

"Will you stay on as a wetnurse to the girl? And my son?" Ned asked as shed paused, not having expected him to allow her to stay or to allow her to nurse his boy.

"Of course, I will care for him like my own," Valaena promised as he nodded, welcoming her into his home.

I

Catelyn had been beyond stunned, and slightly horrified, at her new husband returning with two babes and a young maid from the Targaryen household, one was his bastard son, the other the former princess, the firstborn daughter of Rhaella and Aerys Targaryen, and the maid was the kin to the former royals, cousin to their mother. It wasn't long before she was showing and her reassurance that it wasn't Lord Stark's, a former knight who she didn't know if he survived the attack on the King or not. Catelyn believed her when the babe had been born blonde-white haired bright blue-eyed baby girl, a Stark was born with dark features, as Jon was, she would think for some moments.

But as Rhaenyra grew, the apprehensiveness and hate in the north slowly faded as the gentle and 'queenly' nature came out as she would play with children and would talk with others lower in status. She saw them as others to talk with, thinking it was something all nobles should do, Ned agreed with her. To an extent.

Since their infanthood, Robb, Jon, and Rhaenyra were inseparable, best friends and troublemakers, and when Ned returned from the Greyjoy rebellion, he brought home their fourth member, Theon Greyjoy, last surviving son of Balon Greyjoy, Lord of the Iron Islands. He had been nervous and skittish at coming before Rhaenyra had encouraged him to play, seeing if he wanted to go horseback riding with them when Ned took them through the Godswood and they sat together during Maester Luwin's lessons. Catelyn had been nervous with the young ward but Ned loved watching them, he treated Theon like his own like he did with Rhaenyra. The former princess and future Lord of Winterfell knew they were to be wed when the King deemed it fit. They didn't mind, they liked each other and knew one another very well, Robb was protective of her and would show it. Slowly, the North started to see the future Lady of Winterfell in Rhaenyra Stormborn, House of Targaryen, but many others out of their territory saw her as spawn and tainted blood. Ned had a personal guard sent from his most loyal house, House Karstark, his kin whose Lord had met and fallen in love with the young girl and considered her a great future leader. Rickard Karstark had asked his nephew, who had no interest in marrying but doing his duty to the north, his people and liege lord. Raynor Karstark, a young man of twenty summers, who, like many, adored his future lady. The young girl was not what many spoke of or cursed about, she was different, kind-hearted, compassionate and brave of heart. Nothing had happened yet, but Ned had a bad feeling and on her seventh name day, he had never been more grateful for his instincts. An assassin had posed as a guest and when she had finished dancing with her guard who slowly started to see her as his own, he had given her to another lord who wanted to dance with the young girl as well and went to retrieve her drink. Rhaenyra had been taught to only drink and eat certain things when in public at Catelyn's request, it was for her safety as she knew, Ned didn't hide anything from her as she grew. Why would he when she could find out by the whispers and sneers about her father and brother? But when the Lord finished and they bowed/curtsied to each other in goodbye, a man jumped from the crowd, knife poised to stab the little girl who screamed. Raynor shoved himself between the attacker and his charge, taking the knife to his arm with a harmless wound before ramming his knife into the man's rib cage as Rodrik and Jory intervened as well. Raynor ordered Robb and Theon to take her to Catelyn as Jon gathered the younger siblings and corralled them to their mother.

Quickly the party was done as Rodrik had the Starks and children hidden away as Ned dealt with the assassination attempt. Her maids were, in fact, Valaena, Lynara, who has known Ned since they were children, he trusted her above all others and her third was Baela, Valaena's daughter who took after her mother in all ways. It wasn't as obvious but Valaena has shown true loyalty to Rhaenyra as her leader, while she was loyal to the Starks, Ned knew she'd protect her blood before anything else. Many suspected the attack to come from the Lannisters but no one truly spoke out, not even the young girl herself. She worries for her guard and family's safety now, despite their attempt to soothe her, by her tenth name day she has become like a secondary shadow to Catelyn in personality. But it was on this day that her savior, 'Uncle Jon,' gave her the most precious and wonderful gift one could give her. Three beautiful stoned dragon eggs, ancient and fossilized but still among the most beautiful things ever. She even gave them names, girl names but she still named them; Rhaella, her deep ruby red egg, Rhaenys, her molten-gold egg, and Alysanne, her pale-sky blue egg. Rhaenyra never understood her urge to give them names but she did. No one but her caregivers knew about her eggs, they had been given to her in private with Ned as a witness. But what Rhaenyra spoke about is that she started having weird dreams, dreams that would meld into ones with dragons and fire in them. Fearfully she spoke only to Valaena who soothed her claiming that those with Valyrian blood like them could have odd dreams, many that revolved around their historical beasts or prophecies as one had saved their house three hundred years ago in Valyria.

Rhaenyra could only hope that she could continue to grow into a good leader for her people to follow, growing up with her three best friends, one of whom will become her husband. But growing, they caused terror throughout the halls and fields of Winterfell. Another would say she had grown content with being the future lady of Winterfell, trying to do what she could to do and what Catelyn needed her to do. What many would never say is how her being there seemed to ease Catelyn's anger about Jon, just a bit but not a lot, she still was angry he was there but Jon and Rhaenyra were best friends and Jon was Robb's brother, they would die for one another. Theon was another ward but he was also their brother as well, Rhaenyra would show that she saw him as her brother and one of her closest friends. But Rhaenyra was happy with how settled her life was, waiting for her chance to marry her future husband who adored her and showered her with attention, treating her like his wife except in a few parts. Only they were unaware of the future barreling towards them, but they hoped that they could survive the oncoming winter.

I

End of chapter! I hope you all enjoyed it!

So what did you guys think? Please review!

~Rusty14~