A/N: I do not own anything or anyone you recognize. All I own is Matarys, Aella, Jaehaerys, Alysanne, Visenya and Shaena.
Note: so, this is a Shaena Targaryen fanfiction, as you can see. It involves a bunch of made-up characters, and is pretty short, but I'm of the humble opinion that it turned out okay. Do tell me your thoughts in the reviews.
Shaena I
It was horrible. Within moments she heard about her father's murder by the Kingslayer, Jaime Lannister – a member of the Kingsguard; it seemed Westeros had an Oathbreaker on their hands.
In the span of five minutes, she became Queen Shaena Targaryen, sister-wife to King Rhaegar Targaryen, First of His Name, and Mother of Crown Prince Jaehaerys while her lady mother became Dowager Queen Rhaella, mother of the King and Queen.
A while later, the page came in and said, "My Lady, I'm afraid King Rhaegar has been defeated and killed by Robert Baratheon in battle."
She wondered if that was how the country and history would remember her: a queen for ten minutes. If it would remember her at all.
Because in the span of another ten minutes, she had become Dowager Queen Shaena Targaryen, Mother of King Jaehaerys III and his Queen-to-be, Princess Alysanne.
It seemed fate liked the number two for the House of the Dragons: two of them kings who were killed in this Rebellion, two children of seven, two toddlers and two widows.
Or perhaps that was about to change.
Princess Daenerys Targaryen was born during a storm, thus the name 'Stormborn'; in that very birth, Dowager Queen Rhaella passed away.
Fate was cruel to House Targaryen, it seemed, because there was only one grown person left in the house filled with two toddlers, one infant and two children.
In her last moments, Mother betrothed Jaehaerys and Alysanne. But she died too soon, leaving Shaena to complete the 'ceremony'.
"Jaehaerys Targaryen, Third of Your Name, son of King Rhaegar and Queen Shaena, I proclaim you King of the Andals, Rhoynar and First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm." She took a bit of her little son's blood, and how it pained her to do so, and drew three lines across his cheek.
She took a deep breath.
"Visenya Targaryen, Third of Your Name, I proclaim you Princess of Dragonstone, Heiress to the Iron Throne." She took their blood and drew two lines across her cheek.
'Serys and Dany wouldn't have to participate in a ceremony just yet.
The Usurper's younger brother, Cousin Stannis, was marching to siege the island, she knew, she she fled alongside Ser Willem Darry.
"My Lady, I believe we should go to Braavos. Everything has been arranged."
"Braavos?! By the Seven, are you mad? You know as well as I do, they hate Targaryens. No, we shall go to Volantis."
"My Lady? Are you sure? They heavily practice slavery, and I cannot let you, the prince, the princesses and the King be harmed."
Shaena smiled at the old man's dedication, it warmed her to know that there were still loyalists ready to call the dragons' banner. "We are of the Old Blood, as those Volantenes call it, furthermore, the Targaryens are one of the Forty – I'm rather sure we'd get safe conduct. If it does not happen, Myr or Tyrosh seem like suitable choices. The Summer Isles aren't so bad either." It hurt her to lie to him like that, but she remembered her father and king's orders.
Don't let anyone know of this until you do the deed and succeed. Our blood will prevail; go seek protection from King Matarys and Princess Aella. I know what these petty lords think. Her father may be mad and overly paranoid, but he wasn't wrong about the Rebellion, except it was sparked by his and Rhaegar's actions. And she'd follow his instructions when they were right. Princess Aella and her father may or may not provide a fleet or armies, but they would provide protection.
Oh Rhaegar… no, she did not have time for lamenting on should've-beens, could've-beens, and never-weres. Right now, she had to secure her family.
-The Kingmaker-
"Dowager Queen Shaena Targaryen, daughter, sister, wife and mother to kings; daughter of Mad King Aerys II, Mother of Toddler King Jaehaerys III, Queen and sister-wife of the Defeated King Rhaegar I and the Queen for ten minutes. To what do I, Haeron II Blackfyre, owe the pleasure of meeting you, my kin?"
She smiled sweetly. It took all in her to not outright slit the traitorous pretender's throat, but alas, she was held back by the very guest right that protected her. And he very subtly reminded her that the Blackfyres were still kin, unfortunately for him, it went both ways.
Right, she'd have to get Jae to disown or delegitimize (preferably the former) these traitorous bastard Blackfyres who thought they deserved the Iron Throne. Maybe even those three Baratheon brothers, though not their father or grandmother – those two were good subjects, loyal to the core. Rhaelle had to pay for Daeron's petty mistake, unfortunately, and then came those three traitors.
How to get the sword? She honestly did not know what Aegon IV 'the Unworthy' had been thinking, giving the famed 'sword of kings' to an illegitimate offspring.
Regardless, Blackfyre would be back in its rightful and true hands very soon.
Oh how she wished she could end this quickly by just slitting his throat. Ah well, can't have everything. At least Ser Willem is – quite rightfully – frightened for my life and standing guard while guarding the children.
They had some more pretty words, a little food (her father, before going mad, had been truly protective of his children, and she knew how to identify poisons just by looking at the food) and 'smiles' – if one could call them that.
"My Lady, I have a proposal for you," a Blackfyre proposing something to a Targaryen? Why, this had to be a plot.
"Do speak, Ser Haeron," Certainly, he did not like to be reminded of the fact that he was just a knight from the house of a legitimized bastard, and not the King of Westeros.
"I propose you marry me." Shaena ground her teeth. "Not only will this join our long quarreling houses, but it will provide you and your family protection and support from Volantis."
While the idea was legit, what part of 'long quarreling houses' didn't he understand? And the fact that this proposal was a slight upon her honor; she'd been a widow for only a day!
"Ser, I have only been a widow for a day and am still in mourning for my lord husband; surely you understand, yes?" It took all her power to not just scream 'No!' to his face – no self-respecting Targaryen would marry a Blackfyre, much less the Dowager Queen!
It seemed he did not like that answer as he raised his sword. So much for guest rights.
She got up as well, and defended herself wonderfully.
In no time, Ser Haeron was on the ground and the sword he used to strike Shaena in her hand. She examined the blade, "Blackfyre…" she murmured. How ironic that the sword of her ancestor, the sword that should rightfully belong to her family was the blade that was used in an attempt to kill her.
Would the man truly become a kin-slayer for the throne?
Oh, who was she kidding? He is a Blackfyre; the Fourteen know they have no honour.
Next, she had to find any heirlooms – heavens knew Aegon IV favoured Daemon far too much to not have given him anything aside from the sword.
She did find a few Valyrian Steel/dragonsteel weapons, and King Aegon III's and Princess/Queen Daena's dragon pendant necklace.
After that, she came out, "Ser Willem, we need to leave post haste."
The dutiful, loyal knight followed her orders without questioning.
_-the Kingmaker-_
The coast of Imperia was filled with hassle.
She supposed it would be, considering how vast the city of Imperia was. The Mad King's daughter called one of the guards, "Ser?"
"Yes, Lady…?"
"Dowager Queen Shaena Targaryen."
His eyes widened; it wasn't every day that a person from the only family equal to the King's visited.
"We wish to meet His Excellency, King Matarys, or Her Grace, Princess Aella."
They were surprisingly quick in arranging the meeting, somehow, with both of them.
"Queen Sh-,"
"My apologies for interrupting, but I am not a queen, merely a dowager, Your Excellency. My son is the rightful King of Westeros."
"Very well; Dowager Queen Shaena, to what do we owe the pleasure?" King Matarys asked.
"Your Excellency, the lords of Westeros rose up in Rebellion against Father, the king. Of course, it was his actions, and that of Rhaegar's, that prompted the rebellion, but that does not excuse the fact that a traitor, usurper and kin-slayer sits upon my family's – my son's – throne."
Princess Aella did not like this fact either, judging by the way her face darkened, "Do you want our fleet, our support and/or our armies? I'm sure we'd gladly aid you in retaking the country."
In this, she'd not behave like her brother-husband or father would. She'd behave like her grandfather and great-grandfather would – Aegon V cared for the smallfolk of the country, and so would she.
"No, not yet, Westeros has just suffered a mini-war and my father had become quite careless and paranoid near the end of his reign due to the madness – I don't think the smallfolk could take an invasion on top of that. I wish to wait, and when we decide to retake the throne, it is completely your choice on whether you want to fight or not: I will not inflict a war that is not yours on your people. For now, I only seek your protection."
King Matarys seemed to ponder this, before finally speaking up, "We will, of course, willingly give protection to our kin. As for the alliance, you can have our support in reclaiming your kingdom on one condition: a betrothal."
That wasn't the worst thing that could happen; "Visenya and Daenerys are the only possible options." She admitted, "I am a widow of only two days, Jaehaerys and Alysanne are betrothed to each other and Viserys is betrothed in all but name to Princess Arianne of Dorne – I am considering a marriage pact between the two of them."
"I have a name-day old son, Aelarr," Aella offered, "Perhaps, the Princess Daenerys and he can be betrothed?"
Shaena would've proposed Visenya, because she was older, but maybe 'Senya could be married to Lord Tyrell's son? "They can, Your Grace."
Aella smiled, "There is no need for the 'Your Grace': we are to be goodfamily, after all."
_-the Kingmaker-_
It had been a year since they had landed in Imperia, and Ser Willem was doing amazingly at being her sworn sword.
Sometimes, the likeness between Visenya and Rhaegar gave her warmth, other times it pained her. Today was the day when Prince Oberyn of Dorne would come with his niece, eight-name-day-old Princess Arianne, the future Princess Martell of Dorne, and his sister, Princess Elia Martell.
She, Princess Aella, King Matarys and the children were waiting at the coast when the Dornish ship came, and the two royals of Dorne landed.
She smiled, "Prince Oberyn, Princess Elia, and Princess Arianne, it is an honour to meet you."
Elia smiled, "You as well, My Lady, it pleases me to know that you as well as the little princes and princesses are well." Elia had been a close companion of hers in King's Landing.
"Let's go inside, then?"
And so they did, they went to the dining table, sat down, and began their talks, while Prince Viserys and Princess Arianne were getting acquainted to one another.
"I suppose a marriage pact will do us good?" Shaena inquired.
"Yes, it would." Oberyn confirmed, but couldn't hide his curiosity, "Forgive me if I'm intruding, but who else do you wish to ally with?"
"Well, we have decided on a betrothal for Prince Aelarr, my son, with Princess Daenerys." Aella informed.
"And I was thinking of betrothing Visenya to Willas Tyrell," the rightful king's mother added.
Elia gained a calculative glint in her eye, "The Tyrells of Highgarden are loyal, and they are the richest house after Lannister." She spit the last word, "Mayhaps he can squire for Ser Willem Darry?"
"We will, of course, talk to Lady Olenna about this,"
King Matarys raised a brow, "Isn't Lord Mace the Lord Tyrell."
"He may be, but everyone knows the Queen of Thorns is the real power behind Highgarden."
After everything had been decided, Shaena privately grinned – she had allied with the most powerful Essosi kingdom, the second richest of the seven kingdoms and the one kingdom from the seven that couldn't be conquered.
Westeros wouldn't know what hit them.
A/N: Yes, Westeros wouldn't know what hit them at all...Mwahahaha!*laughs insanely at the future chaos*
Aerys: are you crazy?
You're one to say, Mr. Mad King.
Aerys: I'll have you know, I blame Duskendale and so should everyone else. Truth hurts, but it's the truth.
Famous last words...now get out, you pyromaniac!
Phew, he's out. I'm sorry about his unwanted arrival.
Please give me your feedback! It's very, very, very important to me and my conscience.