Author's Note: Hey y'all! I am a HUGE Game of Thrones fan, and the release of HBO's House of the Dragon has me in a downward spirl back into my obsession with the world of Westeros. This story will be following in timeline order alongside the show, with the addition of an original character (Elaena Targaryen) thrown into the mix. Events will be in tune with the show's, but of course the addition of this character will certainly change things up! Happy Reading!

WARNING: Game of Thrones from start to finish has always been a show filled with mature adult themes. My story will naturally carry some of those themes, but I have given it a T Rating, since when I was first watching the show I was a teen as well. Should there be any triggering themes in a chapter, I will be sure to put a disclaimer of trigger warnings before each chapter. So please, read with caution and at your own discretion.


THE DRAGON & THE ROSE - EPISODE ONE/PART ONE


The carriage rocked back and forth, bumping around those inside as it made its way through the rocky streets of King's Landing. Elaena Targaryen slowly leaned forward, peering through the sheer curtains on the iron windows. The city was alive, breathing people in and out of the buildings as they all went about their days. Fishmongers cleaved the heads off their catches of the day, flinging the soon to be rotting flesh into bins. Women carried large pails of water or baskets full of clothing on top of their heads, their hands laced together with those of their children. Bakers stood watch over their goods with paranoid eyes and a staff in hand, ready to beat back anyone who might dare to steal from them. Everyone was so busy; a thousand tiny little gears spinning around in the great contraption that made up the whole city.

Elaena envied this business. She envied what it might be like to be a part of something where her presence was needed every day, where she might be useful for something other than sitting and stitching flowers onto doilies.

"Sit up Elaena." Lynara Stark instructed firmly. "You're going to end up with a crooked neck and a hunched back if you don't mind your posture."

Elaena remained silent as she sat up, but didn't take her eyes off of the city around them.

"And quit squinting at those people, you'll give yourself wrinkles."

"Can't you just leave me be?" Elaena asked bitterly, turning to face her step-mother.

Lynara let out a huff, looking away from her. "Gods be good, if I had spoken to my mother that way she would have had the Septa after me with her cane."

"You're not my mother," Elaena said, staring at her with fierce eyes.

Lynara sighed, and Elaena could feel her disdain and dissent seeping out from every inch of her being. The carriage came to slow stop, the bumpy ride officially over.

"Finally." Lynara exhaled, "I couldn't stand the smell of those streets. I'll need to bathe twice a day for a week to get rid of the stench."

Elaena was about to quip back with something smart, but decided she needed to give it a rest. She'd been on the King's Road fighting with her for three months now. She didn't want to fight anymore. Their guard, Ser Cley Karstark, rode up next to them and dismounted from his horse to open the carriage door. He first gave Lynara a hand to exit the carriage, then offered it to Elaena.

"Thank you, Ser Cley." Elaena smiled at him, then looked up at the gloriousness that was the Red Keep.

"Welcome home, Princess." he smiled.

Outside of the carriage she immediately spotted her cousin, Rhaenyra. Both of their faces lit up in seeing each other, as it had been so many years since their last meeting.

Though Elaena was technically King Viserys' cousin and Rhaenyra's second cousin, the two had grown up in the capital together like sisters when they were little. Both born in King's Landing, Elaena's father Vaegon had been the Hand of the King to Jahaerys Targaryen. Jahaerys was grooming him for rule, for Vaegon was the eldest surviving heir to the throne. But when Elaena was only eight, her mother died quickly into the night.

Elaena and her older brothers didn't want a new mother, not in the slightest, but her father married Lynara Stark only six months after their mother's death. He claimed at the time that it would be wise to strengthen the alliance of the North and South, so the Warden of the North's sister was to be their new mother and his new wife. Her brothers all married before she was nine years old, leaving her alone in the capital with only her father and Lynara. And less than a year into their marriage, it was discovered that Vaegon had been the one to poison Elaena's mother, so that he might marry Lynara instead, who was a younger and prettier version of her mother.

He was immediately sent to the wall by Jahaerys, losing his title and claim as the first heir to the iron throne, leaving the young Princess alone with Lynara at the age of nine. In the span of two years she lost a mother, a father, and both of her brothers. Rhaenyra and her parents become the closest thing to a sister she never had once that happened. And then they too were ripped away at the age of 10 when Jahaerys died, naming Viserys his heir. With no position of her own at court, Lynara decided to go back home to Winterfell, taking Elaena with her. They'd lived there for nine years until now. Elaena was 19 years of age, and still not wed, much to the anger and frustration of Lynara who wanted her gone. Elaena refused every match brought forth to her, knowing that none of them would take her to where she wanted to be: The Capital.

So with the King and Queen's consent, Lynara and Elaena were brought back to King's Landing, with the intention of marrying Elaena off and furthering the Targaryen line. Though this was her reason for being here now, she didn't care. All she wanted and cared about was being reunited with Rhaenyra, Daemon, Viserys, and Aemma. They were truly the only family she had left, and being back with them helped a piece of the pain in her heart begin to mend itself.

Rhaenyra marched forward ahead of her father, enveloping Elaena in a tight hug. "I'm happy to see you cousin."

"Not more than I am." Elaena smiled, pulling back to look at her. "You've grown up so much, the last time I saw you you were only six and still playing with dolls."

"Well you've grown up as well. The last time I saw you you were only ten with your nose in a book." Rhaenyra smirked, linking arms with her. "We have much to catch up on."

The two walked arm in arm towards the King and Queen, then let go of each other so that Elaena could curtsy.

"It is good to see both again, Your Graces." Elaena beamed, looking up to her cousins. "Thank you for inviting me to return to the capital, I have longed to see you all again."

"It should have been done long ago," Viserys said with a warm smile.

"We have all missed your presence in the Red Keep, my darling. Welcome home," Aemma said, placing a hand on her cheek to examine her features. "You've grown so much, you look like your mother."

Elaena smiled at Aemma, feeling tears well in her eyes. But behind Elaena, Lynara's smile faded a bit, turning sour at these words.

"And of course, we are happy to welcome her beautiful step-mother as well." Aemma smiled graciously, turning from Elaena. Aemma extended a hand, the other resting on her swollen belly. "Come, Lynara. I'll show you to your chambers so you can rest and wash up."

"And you come with me," Rhaenyra said excitedly, looping her arm back through Elaena's. "I can show you to yours."

"Oh please, can't we do something more exciting than looking at my bedroom?" Elaena asked, walking up the stairs in perfect unison with Rhaenyra. "I've been stuck in that carriage for months and before that I was stuck in the north with nothing to do but long to be back here."

"Then I have just the thing." Rhaenyra smirked, tugging her cousin, "Feel like a race?"

Elaena's eyes lit up, accompanied by a smile. "Try and keep up."

The two girls began to run side by side, skipping over loose rocks on their path towards the watchtower. The sun beat down on their skin, warming them and reddening their cheeks. They sprinted up the spiraling staircase just as they did when they were young children, jumping up by two steps every now and then to race each other to the top. Guards stationed along the watchtower windows smiled and bowed their heads as the two girls bounded past them, laughing loudly.

"Slow down! When did you get so fast?" Elaena laughed, completely out of breath.

"I've practiced since you've been away, so I can finally beat you!" Rhaenyra shouted back behind her, holding her skirt up to finish the last few steps.

Elaena ran her hand along the wall for support through the last few steps, the other hand pressed into her side where the stitch was in her stomach.

"Gods be good!" Elaena laughed, panting a little as she collapsed to the floor. Rhaenyra laid down beside her, both of their chests rising and falling deeply as they looked to the open sky of the watch tower. "That didn't used to be so exhausting."

"Being four years older you always had longer legs than me growing up." Rhaenyra sighed, smiling to herself. "I never beat you once because of it. So I practiced once you left, waiting for the day you came back. And now I've done it. I've won."

"I nearly beat you, you know." Elaena laughed, poking Rhaenyra in the shoulder. "I'm still taller than you."

"But not faster." Rhaenyra said cheekily.

"No, not faster." Elaena sighed, turning her head to look at Rhaenyra. The two girls looked at each other for a moment, examining each other's faces to fill in the blanks that time created. "I've missed you. More than you know."

Rhaenyra smiled sadly at her, clasping Elaena's hand into her own. "Me too. Don't ever leave again. Letters every few weeks for years on end are not enough."

"Trust me, they'll have to drag me kicking and screaming if they ever want me to go back to the North. It's a bloody dreary place. You'd hate it even more than me."

"That I do know." Rhaenyra giggled lightly. "Don't worry, I won't let them take you. Especially not with that ugly cunt you have to call mother."

"Rhaenyra!" Elaena gasped, sitting up with a shocked smile.

"From what you've written about her in your letters she deserves the title," Rhaenyra said with raised brows, sitting up as well. "And seeing her in person now confirms it all. How'd her face get all crooked and pinched? Is it always like that?"

"I think she's looked at me so often with sourness that one day it just stuck in place." Elaena laughed lightly, "She'll be in the grave looking like she's smelled a wet shit."

The two burst out laughing together, holding onto each other's hands as they tried to find their breath again. But a foreign voice interrupted the two of them, traveling up the stairs to meet them.

"It's been 9 years since I've seen my cousin only to hear that she's in the Red Keep sprinting like a madman. And when I come to find her I hear her talking about wet shits," the voice said, revealing himself at the top of the stairs.

Elaena turned over her shoulder and smiled, "Daemon?"

She stood up with Rhaenyra and walked over to him, looking him up and down. She hardly recognized him. Though the last time she saw him he was already a man, he too seemed to have grown up.

"And here I was thinking I'd be reunited with a stiff northern girl with sense of fun for a cousin," Daemon said, looking down at her with a small smile. "I'm glad that's not the case."

"And I thought I'd be reunited with a pompous southern prick who couldn't care less that his own cousin was back," Elaena said flatly, trying to hold her smile back. "I'm glad that's not the case either."

Their smiles cracked open, both of them moving towards each other for a hug. He lifted her off the ground and spun her around once before setting her down for a kiss on the cheek.

"Welcome back, Elaena."

"I hear you're being welcomed back to court as well." Elaena raised her eyebrows, "What did you do to get sent away like me?"

"You know my uncle," Rhaenyra said, stepping forward, "He's always had a talent for flair."

"What does any of it matter?" Daemon asked, a glint in his eyes. "We're all back. And I have a gift."

"Really?" Elaena asked, here eyes lighting up.

"For which one of us?" Rhaenyra asked, looking up at him with her arms behind her back.

"One for each of the beautiful princesses, and one for us all to share."

Rhaenyra and Elaena exchanged a glance with small smiles and then looked back to him as he pulled out two small cloth bags. Inside each were matching necklaces made of steel. Rhaenyra's was adorned with rubies, while Elaena's was with pearls.

Elaena held the cold metal in hand, looking at the Targaryen crest before looking up to Daemon. "Valyrian steel?"

"Very good eye, cousin," Daemon said, lifting the corner of his lip up into a small and crooked smile. "Turn around the both of you."

"Help me with clasp," Rhaenyra said, turning for Elaena to help take off the gold necklace she was already wearing. Elaena unclasped it and held onto it as Daemon helped her put on the second one. Elaena handed Rhaenyra her golden necklace, and then turned away to lift the silver hair off of her neck. The metal was cold on her skin as he placed it on her, giving her goosebumps on the back of her neck. She felt his hand rest on her skin, warming the area around the chain before he took a step back. Elaena rested her fingers on the skin around her neck as she turned to face him. He looked at each of them and then smiled a little with approval.

"Now we all have a piece of our Valyrian ancestry with us."

"It's beautiful." Rhaenyra smiled. "Thank you."

Elaena remained quiet, admiring the valyrian steel sword that hung on his hip.

"You don't like it?" Daemon asked, looking at her with narrowed eyes and a small smile.

"No I do, it's beautiful..." she said, looking back up at him with a glimmer in her eye.

"But?" he asked, narrowing his eye a little.

"But Dark Sister would have been a better present for my homecoming if you wanted to gift Valyrian steel." she smiled cheekily, knowing he would never let go of that precious family heirloom.

He laughed a little, nodding, "Yes, it would have been. But I'm afraid she's mine for now."

"You wouldn't be up for a trade?" Elaena asked. "A lovely necklace for a lovely sword?"

"Only for Blackfyre, the sword's twin brother." Daemon smiled. "You don't mean to say that you have that packed with your things from Winterfell do you?"

"No I'm afraid not."

"That's too bad."

"It's alright," Elaena said softly, cocking her head to the side as she looked at Dark Sister. "There'll come a day when she's with me."

"Women shouldn't be fighting, that's what we men are for," Daemon said, resting his hand on the ornate hilt.

"Oh I don't know." Elaena turned to Rhaenyra who was already smiling at her with a knowing look. "After all, she was first wielded by Visenya-"

"Whom last I checked was a girl, right Elaena?" Rhaenyra asked, finishing her sentence. The two girls turned to Daemon, their heads tilted and eyebrows raised.

"Alright, I see your point." Daemon laughed, "I promise that one day the three of us will fight together on dragonback. Of course with Dark Sister by your side and Blackfyre at mine. Sound good?"

"Perfect." Elaena nodded. "I'll make sure to hold you to that promise."

"We can solidify it with the next gift, the one for all of us." Daemon sighed, pulling out a large flask from his cloak. "Dornish wine."

The girls laughed with happiness, Rhaenyra immediately grabbed the flask and took a large drink before passing it to Elaena.

Elaena took a small swig, feeling an immediate rush of warmth to her skin. Daemon followed suit as the three leaned onto the edge of the wall that looked over the city.

"I forgot how strong-willed the two of you were, and how much more so when you were together, even as children." Daemon shook his head, throwing the flask back on more time.

"What can I say," Rhaenyra said, grabbing the flask to lift in the air for a toast, "We're stronger together than apart."

"Right you are, Rhaenyra." Elaena nodded.

"So come on, enough bantering with me," Daemon said more seriously, looking at Elaena with solemn eyes, "How have you been since last we saw you?"

Elaena slowly took the flask, taking a long and deep drink before meeting their eyes again. "I've been better. It was... incredibly lonely in the north without you all."

"My father never should have sent you away. Once your father was sent to the Wall, you should have remained here-" Rhaenyra shook her head angrily. "-with me. And so do you Daemon. My father shouldn't have sent you off to marry Rhea."

"Rhea Royce? Of the Vale?" Elaena asked, her eyes wide. "No one ever told me."

"I sent you letters, inviting you to come visit. Just as you were alone in the North, I was alone in the Vale," Daemon said quietly, "But you never responded."

"I never got any letters from you." Elaena shook her head, feeling a pit in her stomach. "Did you not get my letters either?"

"Not one," he said, a look of anger washing over his face.

Elaena felt that same anger, accompanied by confusion.

"Do you think someone intercepted them?" Rhaenyra asked, her whole body still as stone.

"I think I know who," Daemon muttered. He quickly took one last drink of the wine, then began to turn to leave.

"Where are you going?" Rhaenyra asked. "You've only just arrived!"

"To talk with my brother. Keep the wine, catch up with each other. I'm sure I'll see you both soon enough."

He started down the stairs, leaving the two girls standing together in silence.

"Why would your father have the letters intercepted?" Elaena asked.

"I don't know."


Later That Night

With a basket of mixed emotions and a wine drunken mind, Elaena climbed the staircase up to her chambers alongside Rhaenyra.

"Well goodnight," Rhaenyra slurred a bit, giggling a little as she hugged her cousin. "I'll send a maid in to draw you a bath."

"No, no, please don't." Elaena shook her head, "I'm so tired I'm just going to go to sleep. Besides, it'll bother Lynara more if I sleep in the bed without a proper bath first."

Rhaenyra let out a singular laugh and nodded, "Alright then. I'll see you in the morning."

"See you then."

Elaena stepped into her old chambers and suddenly felt filled with nostalgia. They hadn't changed her room one bit from what it used to be. The large bed still had a sheer white canopy over it, the wooden wardrobe was still carved with the Targaryen sigil for her father and Tyrell sigil for her mother. She walked over to it and ran her fingers across the smooth rose, tracing the petals.

Her vanity still had some of the old perfume bottles she had left behind, sitting in front of the mirror as if she had never been away from them. She slowly picked one of the bottles up and smelled it, inhaling the comforting scent.

"Rhaenyra wouldn't let anyone touch a thing in here, except for cleaning of course, in case you were to come back home."

Elaena jumped up a little, turning around to see Queen Aemma standing on the balcony with a sad look on her face.

"You scared me, Your Grace," Elaena said, setting the bottle down to join her. The night had cooled the air by at least 10 degrees, and the stars sparkled down at them in a cloudless sky.

"I'm sorry we sent you away, Elaena."

"It's alright," Elaena said softly, holding onto the stone rail as she looked out at the city. "I'm here now, that's all that matters."

They stood in silence for a moment before she could muster herself to speak again.

"Can I ask you something, Your Grace?"

"Of course."

"Did you know that Daemon wrote to me? And I to him?"

She looked forward silently, waiting for her to continue.

"And yet none of our letters ever found each other. Rhaenyra thinks they might have been intercepted... do you know anything about that?" She avoided her eyes, for while she easily contested and stood up to her step-mother, she knew better than to with Aemma.

"I do," she said quietly, pausing to collect her thoughts. "We did our best to keep Rhaenyra from him as well."

"Will you tell me why?" she asked, fiddling with the ring on her thumb to keep her anger from growing. Rhaenyra and Daemon were right, they had been the one to block them from each other.

"I don't want Daemon wrapping you two up in his games that he likes to play," she said with more strength behind his voice. She turned to face her, leaning on the rail. "He's always up to some sort of trouble that turns dangerous. The last thing your mother would have wanted is you getting involved in it."

"Rhaenyra and I grew up like sisters, and he like our brother despite us all being uncles and cousins and aunts by technicality," Elaena said defensively, "Yes he enjoys a bit of trouble, but he wouldn't ever put us into a situation where we were in danger."

"No? You two girls weren't getting drunk with wine he supplied and then walking through the castle at night without a guard?" she asked, keeping his composure.

Eleana bit her lip and turned to look back out into the night. "It was a harmless bit of fun."

"You may have forgotten but I know," she said more sharply. "The capital is a dangerous place full of people who want to see our family hurt. It's full of people looking for the soft spot on the belly of the dragon so they can lunge and attack where we're weakest. You may be nearly 20 years of age and a princess, and I am not your mother, but I did promise her to watch out for you as if I were before she died."

"So why did you send me away? I lost everything, and what I little I had here in the capital was taken as well when I left," Elaena whispered, trying to cry.

"You have to understand, my dear," she said slowly. "You were so sad...words can't describe how it felt to watch you day to day. I had never seen a child carry so much grief in one little body. We wanted you to have a fresh start, away from court and all the rumours surrounding your parents."

"Are you going to make me marry? Will I have to leave again?" Elaena asked, fear rising in her gut.

"Not yet," Aemma said, resting a hand on Elaena's. "But you know that one day you must. We women all must."

"I don't want to be married...I'm not ready."

"We never are, my dear, but this isn't something for you to think about tonight. Get some rest, be ready for the morning. Ser Cley will be outside your door if you need anything," Aemma said, wrapping Elaena into her arms as tightly as she could over her pregnant belly.

"You don't have to leave a guard outside my door, I won't leave on anymore excursions for the night, I promise."

"It's not to keep you in, it's to keep others out," Aemma said cautiously, "Mind what I said about Daemon, yes?"

Elaena nodded, watching as Aemma left, leaving her alone to her thoughts.


The Next Morning

"I swear she is the laziest thing I've ever met," a grating voice said, sharply awakening a very groggy Elaena.

She rolled onto her back and put a hand over the pulsing pain in her forehead.

"Get up, Elaena," Lynara griped, ripping the blankets off of Elaena's body. "Gods be good, she's gone to sleep in her clothes from yesterday. Go fetch the water and tub."

"Lynara what are you doing, the sun's barely risen..." Elaena grumbled, propping herself up on her elbows as she watched five maids run around the room. They were all unpacking her things and running around to get things ready for the day.

"You already made me look bad without your presence at dinner last night, you won't be doing it again. And let's just say I had a feeling last night that you would need a bath," Lynara said snootily, patting the chair in front of the vanity for Elaena. "Now get up, you smell of wine and sweat."

Elaena rolled out of the bed and sighed, walking to sit in front of the vanity. "How would that have made you look bad? Me not being at dinner?"

"I know you don't see me as your mother, I know you resent me, but I am still responsible for you," Lynara said, her eyes turning a bit sad as she pulled the tangled pins from Elaena's hair. "For the rest of days that the Gods give us together I am responsible to act as a mother to you."

Elaena looked at her through the mirror, watching Lynara as she slowly worked her fingers through the frizzy braids. "I'm sorry."

"It's alright." Lynara sniffed once, her face returning to its stony nature. "Just see to it that it doesn't happen again. Now stand up, you need to wash up. I had a dress made for you that you should wear to breakfast, everything of yours is too old or isn't suited for the south like it was in the north. When I'm back I'd like to see that you've washed your hair. It's an absolute bird's nest."

Elaena nodded, not responding. She wasn't sure how to respond to this behavior from Lynara. While it seemed like she was trying to be kind, she couldn't help but notice how she threw in a snide remark or two.

"Ona?" Elaena asked her maid once Lynara had left.

"Yes Princess?" Ona looked up to her as she poured the hot water into the bath tub with shaky and wrinkled hands.

"Would you mind helping me out of this dress?"

"Of course." she nodded, motioning for one of the Red Keep's maids to continue filling the tub as she walked to Elaena.

"Thank you," Elaena said softly, turning around.

Ona untied the end of the strings to the corset, then began pulling it through the loops to take it off. "I hope I'm not speaking out of turn, Your Grace, but I thought you should know what happened with Lady Lynara last night."

Elaena's eyes widened a bit, "What happened?"

"My Lady seemed to have a fit of panic when you didn't show up for supper." The old woman's voice shook a bit. "Kept going on about how she thought something bad had happened to you. We had to give her milk of the poppy to calm her nerves."

"Do go on," Elaena said softly, hearing the hesitation in Ona's voice.

"I was there the night you were born with your mother," Ona said gently, "I was the first person to hold you after the maester and your parents. Your mother was a lovely woman, a woman of great respect and kindness... I know that Lady Lynara is not your mother, and she knows that too."

"Of course not, she's young enough to be my sister," Elaena said, pinching her lips together.

"Yes, of course, Your Grace. That is exactly my point. She isn't your mother, but I think she's trying the best way she knows how to act like one for you," Ona said, placing her hands on Elaena's shoulders.

Elaena nodded, looking at Ona through the reflection of the mirror.

"I know it's been a long time since she's married your father, and they weren't married for a long time either. And in all those years of her presence and your parents absence you've done nothing but quarrell with each other. But you're a young woman now, the two of you need not always quarrell with each other just for the sake of it... I hope you don't think I'm being too forward."

"No, no of course not, Ona," Elaena said, "You know I always value your advice."

"I'm glad to hear it my dear."

"Shall I get washed up then? I don't want to make us all late."

"Arlight." Ona smiled, patting Elaena's shoulders once, "Let's get you washed up."

Elaena shrugged off her slip and then stepped in the boiling hot bath. The heat felt good on her skin, but all the wine from the night before mixed with it made her a bit nauseous. Normally she loved to sit and enjoy a bath, she like to take her time and soak up every bit of heat she could get, but today was not going to afford it. She grabbed the bar of soap and ran it over her body as the maids collected the sheets from her bed to put fresh ones on. The others continued to unpack her trunks, all of them examining the foreign northern patterns and styles with interested eyes. Lynara was right, nothing she had from Winterfell would be suitable for the South, especially in the summer. Though Elaena wasn't a complete lady like Lynara, she still enjoyed girly things in life, and getting a dressmaker to have a whole new wardrobe would be another thing to look forward to now that she was back home.

"Here it is," Lynara said, walking in with a beautiful gown in hand. "Freshly pressed."

Elaena looked up from her tub as Lynara held the gown up for her to see. Elaena couldn't help but feel her jaw drop a little as she loooked at it, for it was truly beautiful. It was a white colored gown with a square neckline and a silver lace trim. The sleeves were made of the same fabric but sheer, long and large, draping down like a cascading waterfall.

"Would you bring it closer?" Elaena asked, squinting at the fabric. Lynara walked forward quietly, holding the fabric close to Elaena.

It had tiny little silver roses embroidered into it, too small to see if you weren't staring directly at it, but large enough to know they're there.

"I know your mother was a Tyrell," Lynara said, sniffing once with a stiff voice and straight face. "I thought you should have a piece of her with you now that you've returned to the capital."

"Thank you, Lynara," Elaena said, looking up to her with appreciation. "Truly."

"It's nothing." Lynara sniffed once more, turning away to set the gown on the bed. "Just a piece of fabric. Come on now, you need to get dressed so we can do your hair. It should be worn the southern way now."

Lynara stood with her back to Elaena as she stood from the bath, pretending to fiddle with the hem of the dress.

Elaena quickly dried herself off, then wrapped her long silver hair in the towel to dry. Ona collected fresh undergarments and a corset, then helped Elaena into it, pulling the corset tightly across her body. Elaena inhaled sharply, gripping her waist as it was being tightened. "Would you let it out a little, Ona, I can hardly breathe and I've not even eaten yet."

"You'll do no such thing." Lynara turned to Ona, watching each pull of the silk fabric. "This is why you shouldn't drink more than one cup of wine in one sitting, it makes you bloated."

Elaena inhaled again, preparing herself for the last pull before Ona tied it off. Once it was done Lynara helped her into the dress, pulling it up over her shoulders to be tied up over the corset. It was more beautiful on than she could have thought it'd be. The white and silver colors made her skin and hair radiate like the stars. Even though it was roses and not dragons printed on the fabric, she had never looked or felt more like a Targaryen in her life.

"Are the sleeves cool enough? I wanted to make sure the sheer would be light enough for the heat that you're not used to," Lynara said, stepping in to finish tying it off so that Ona could take the towels away.

"It's perfect," Elaena exhaled lightly, unable to quit looking at it in the mirror. "Besides, heat and fire cannot hurt a dragon."

Her pale skin glowed through the sheer sleeves, moving like a ghost in the clouds, and she couldn't believe how small and tight the corset made her waistline before flowing out into a loose skirt. Her collarbones and neck looked longer than they actually were from the square neckline, and her shoulders were just barely covered to further propogate that illusion.

"Would you want to design the other gowns I'll need with me and the seamstress? I don't think I've ever had a dress so wonderful before," Elaena said softly, admiring the way it looked in the fresh morning light.

Lynara looked a bit shocked, her eyes wide and lips relaxed. But she quickly shook her head and then said, "Of course, if you wish."

"You should wear the silver chain you got for your name day last year, it will accent it perfectly-"

"No," Elaena said quickly, then stopped herself, "I mean it would look nice but I have something else in mind."

She walked to her nightstand and picked up the necklace Daemon had given her and clasped it around her neck.

"When did you get that?" Lynara asked, looking at it closely. "It's perfectly crafted, it couldn't have been made by the jewelrs in Winterfell."

"No, it couldn't have been," Elaena said with a small smile, running her finger of the tiny pearls. "Daemon got one for both me and Rhaenyra. It's Valyrian steel."

Lynara stood silently, her mouth agape as she cautiously chose her next words. "Well it's beautiful, a lovely gift... How should we do your hair? I was thinking long in the back with a braided crown on top."

"Whatever you want to do," Elaena said, holding her hand over the pendant of the necklace.

"Alright, sit down then. It may take a few tries for me to get it right."

The two of them remained together in silence as Lynara worked, pulling the hair here or there and then taking it all out. After seven attempts to get it right with the help and assistance of one of the southern maids, Lynara pinned in the last hairpiece to keep it all up. It was strange to see Lynara this involved with her. Back in Winterfell she felt that Lynara couldn't have been even slightly interested in her, but then again, maybe Ona was right. Elaena had gone out of her way more than once to avoid Lynara. Maybe she should give her a chance. She would never be her mother, but that didn't mean they couldn't get along with one another, or even one day, care about each other.

Once they had finished the two of them left to go down to breakfast, joining everyone else at the table.

Rhaenyra looked up as the two walked in with a cheeky smile. Elaena walked quickly over to sit across from her, leaving Lynara to join Queen Aemma and King Viserys.

"Well don't we look lovely this morning." Rhaenyra smiled, handing Elaena a plate with bread on it. "Is mummy dearest making an effort?"

"Shut up," Elaena laughed lightly, ripping off a piece of bread. "It's so tight I can barely breathe."

"Welcome to the capital," Rhaenyra said lavishly, a hint of a laugh behind her words. "Did you get a long conversation from my concerned father last night as well?"

Elaena lifted her eyes up at her and smiled softly, "Your mother, actually. Stay away from the big bad cousin."

"Do you plan to?" Rhaenyra asked quietly, narrowing her eyes slightly.

"No, do you?"

"No." Rhaenyra smirked.

"Good."

"So are you looking forward to the tournament for the new heir?" Rhaenyra asked. "Mother started her labours this morning so it'll be today."

"She did?" Elaena asked, reaching forward and putting a hand on Rhaenyra's. "Congratulations."

"Father thinks- no, he knows, that it's a boy, but I think I'll have a sister by the end of the day. I've already picked out her dragon's egg for the cradle."

"Either way, you get another sibling."

"I suppose." Rhaenyra sighed, raising her eyebrows a little. "Part of me wants it to be a boy so that father can just get what he wants and move on with it. I'm tired of being the constant disappointment of his life."

"Rhae, you know that's not true," Elaena said quietly, "He loves you very much."

"I know he loves me," Rhaenyra said flatly, "But he wishes I weren't a girl."

Elaena sat still, not knowing what to say. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be," Rhaenyra said, shaking her head, "I'm fine. I'm used to it."

"Those are lovely necklaces you two have on," King Viserys said, projecting his voice across the table to the girls. "Did you have them made when you were young to match, I don't remember seeing them before."

"No, Your Grace," Lynara said a little louder than expected, "Elaena told me just this morning they were a gift from Daemon."

"Just when I was starting to like her a bit more," Elaena mumbled to herself only loud enough for Rhaenyra to hear.

"Speaking of," Rhaenyra said, "Where is my uncle? Why isn't he with us for breakfast?"

"I haven't seen him since his theatrics last night," Viserys said, taking a large bite of sausage.

"Theatrics?" Rhaenyra scoffed a little. "I hardly think a glass of wine with my uncle is theatrical."

"We're not talking about you three," Viserys said coldly, "It's no matter for you to be concerned with."

Rhaenyra and Elaena turned to each other and exchanged a confused look, silencing the matter as they all finished their breakfast.

"Come." Viserys stood up, to which everyone else rose from their seats. "Let us go, the tournament will soon begin."

"Father, Elaena has barely eaten anything-"

"It's alright, really," Eleana countered, "I'm not very hungry."

"Then we shall go." Viserys smiled.

"Liar," Rhaenyra whispered, smirking. "You're just afraid of your belly poking out in that tiny silver dress."

"I am not!" Eleana laughed, looping her arm through her cousin's. "Come on, let's get to the tournament to watch the handsome warriors prep for the joust."

"They're not that handsome, and none of them are warriors, not really." Rhaenyra combatted.

"Well they have to be more handsome than the northerners, so indulge me!"

"I actually have to go do something before it begins, I'll see you there," Rhaenyra said quickly.

Before Elaena could protest, Rhaenyra had left, exiting through the doors and turning down the corridor towards whatever secret she was keeping. Elaena sighed a little and turned to follow the rest of the group. Her guard from Winterfell, Cley, walked a few paces behind her as she trailed behind the rest of her family.

"You're about to step on my heels Ser Cley, just come walk next to me if the King insists on constant supervision." Elaena smiled, keeping her eyes forward. Cley quickened his pace to catch up to her and then walked in rythm.

"I hope you don't mind, Princess Elaena, but I don't have much choice. If you're alone without your family you're not to be without me for protection," Cley said, his metal armour squeaking as they walked.

"Really?" Elaena smiled lightly.

"Yes, my lady."

"So as long as I'm with family, cousin Daemon, for instance, you don't have to be there?" she asked, knowing it would fluster him.

"I think it was expressed to be as long as you're with anyone but Daemon, Your Grace." Cley smiled down at her a little.

"We've known each other for a long time, Ser Cley, since I was only 10 and you were 19 in Winterfell. Can't you bend the rules a little for me? He's my family after all, there's no reason why I wouldn't be safe with him."

"Well I could," he said, playfulness in his voice, "If you don't mind seeing my head on a spike should anything happen to you and I'm not there. Personally I'd like to keep my head, but if you insist-"

"Oh, stop it, I'm only toying with you." Elaena sighed with a sad smile. "I wouldn't put you in that position. It just doesn't feel fair to me to be kept from my own flesh and blood."

He walked silently, his smile fading from his face as they walked. She looked up at him, but he wouldn't meet her eye.

"Well spit it out," Elaena said, trying to read his face. "Don't be shy all of a sudden."

He exhaled slowly, then said, "I don't mean to offend you, Princess, but I think it would be wise to listen to the King's warnings. It's been a long time since you've last seen Prince Daemon, you don't really know who he is like you used to."

"Well it's been a long time since I've seen Rhaenyra, the Queen, or the King... should I not trust them either?" Elaena asked, feeling a bit defensive.

"I only meant... Prince Daemon does have a dangerous side, from what I've heard."

Elaena could see that he was uncomfortable, that he didn't want to be pressed into saying anything more, but she couldn't help herself.

"What did you hear? Was it this so-called spectacle last night?"

"It's not something for a lady's ears, Princess."

"I don't care." Elaena insisted, staring at him as he stared forward. "What did he do?"

Cley swallowed roughly, then looked down at her once as they walked before returning his gaze in front of them. "He and the rest of the Gold Cloaks went through the city last night rounding up all the criminals. It was a slaughter put on stage for everyone to see... Dozens of men butchered like animals... they say it took a two-horse cart to clear the dismembered body parts."

Elaena didn't respond, not because she didn't want to but because she didn't know how. "Thank you for telling me, Ser Cley," she said softly, leaving it at that. The two walked in silence together as they approached the carriages. He gave her a hand up the stairs, then left her alone in the carriage. The ride to the arena was short and uneventful. Elaena enjoyed watching the crowds of people celebrating the Queen beginning her labors, but couldn't help but feel what Cley had said tug at the back of her mind.

Once at the arena, Elaena walked next to Ser Cley into the Royal Viewing Box. He escorted her to her seat in the front row and left her alone without a word, knowing her well enough to know that when she had a lot on her mind, she only wanted to be quiet and alone. Elaena stared blankly at the arena, feeling overwhelmed with thoughts.

"Let the games begin."


Author's Note: Hey y'all! I hope you enjoyed the first chapter! As you can see, there is much to cover in these chapters, so I'll be splitting each episode's events into two or more chapters depending on the length! The second part of this episode will be released immediately, and the chapters covering the second episode will be released in a few days. Again, I hope you enjoyed! Let me know what you thought about Elaena Targaryen and her story. - J❤️