Late 161 AC

Serenei of Lys

You are to be a mother, my dear, Grandmaester Alford had told her, smiling kindly.

Aegon had just left for Dorne, barely letting her know that he was going in the first place. Serenei hated him for that, and she hated him for not involving her in his endeavors. When they had been married, under the gaze of Yndros of the Twilight, Serenei had promised her god. She promised she would support her husband in all his travails and be the beam holding up his roof.

But Aegon had increasingly pushed her away. At first, it had confused her. Why would her husband not want her support? Then it irritated her, and later it angered her. Aegon pushed her to all the extremes of emotions that no one had before. And for all that she hated his actions, Serenei could not help but love him for it. Her heart beat faster as he thought of Aegon with her, holding her in his arms where she felt secure against King's Landing and this strange country she found herself in.

You must stay vigilant, my lady, the Grandmaster had said. Your constitution is not so strong. Your husband's great-grandmother was herself not possessed of a hale body. Take all required care.

Serenei scoffed. Who was the maester to tell her how she ought to be? She cupped her belly, which seemed to round out just a little, imagining the child within. It would be the son of a dragon. She had no reason to rest as the Maester said. That was for rabble, the smallfolk as these Westerosi called them. The dragonlords and their children, unborn or not, were exceptional.

Serenei shook her head, a smile blooming on her face. She would tell Naerys about this, and maybe Daena would be with her too.

Serenei left the Maester's chambers and sauntered towards Naerys's rooms. Her goodsister had been her ardent supporter in King's Landing. As she walked through the Red Keep, the Master of Laws passed her. He did not acknowledge her, but Serenei saw his lip curl. The people here hated foreigners. They would sooner die in their hovels in abject poverty than have an Essosi healer cure any ailment.

She shook her head. It would not do to dwell on the opinions of smallfolk. Her walk during her musings had brought her to Naerys's rooms. She stood while Ser Agramore Cobb, knight of the Kingsguard and her sworn shield, knocked on the door. Another knight stepped out from within.

"The Princess is in an audience with her father," he said.

Ser Agramore looked her askance. Serenei cleared her throat. "Tell Naerys I am without."

The whitecloak nodded and went back in. Serenei crossed her arms below her breast and tapped her foot on the ground impatiently. From the corner of her eye, she could see Ser Agramore smile. It pleased her to see the old knight smile. He was the oldest of the lot and had been appointed Lord Commander just a couple of years ago when old Ser Raynard Ruskin had given up the ghost. Serenei liked him. He treated her with the respect she deserved.

The whitecloak returned. "The Princess and the Lord Hand await you, my lady." He bowed.

Serenei would have huffed, but she was better than that. She gave a gracious nod and swept into the rooms, her skirts gathered in her hands. Ser Agramore stayed without, for it was not the prerogative of a Kingsguard to know what his charge was up to, nor was it his prerogative to care.

As Serenei walked in, the light from the window across the rooms hit her, and she scrunched her eyes, putting a hand up to her face to block the light from hitting her in the eyes. She heard a deep chuckle, a voice reminiscent of Aegon, a voice that made her yearn for her husband.

"Good to see you join us, Serenei," her goodfather said. "Come sit." He smiled and gestured toward a third chair around the table they were sitting at. Serenei took her seat. She was opposite the window, which looked down towards the training yard. Before she sat down, Serenei could almost make out the form of her nephew practicing at the blade under the guidance of Ser Brennar Brune, the master-at-arms. He was clumsy and the short blad he held seemed too long and too heavy for him.

"Jaehaerys seems to be hard at work," she said.

Viserys smiled. "He is a fine child and will grow into an excellent warrior." At that moment, Viserys wore his pride and his emotions on his sleeve. "A worthy wielder for Dark Sister."

Naerys hummed but did not say anything.

"My husband is very fond of him," Serenei said. "He wishes to leave everything he has to his nephew." She could not keep the bitterness out of her voice.

Viserys smiled, apparently pleased by his son's decision. Naerys frowned instead.

"Are you well, sister?"

Serenei took a deep breath. "I am with child." She smiled.

The effect this had on her family was instantaneous. Whereas earlier Naerys looked concerned for Serenei, she was now smiling so wide her cheeks were bound to hurt. Viserys, on the other hand, laughed openly. He clapped his hands together.

"How long I have waited for this news, child," he said. A true smile bloomed on his face, the first Serenei had seen on Viserys. His eyes moistened with emotion, and she felt tears spring to her own.

"My son is to be a father!" Viserys's voice sounded choked up. "Should the gods decide to strike me down now, I will die a happy man."

Serenei burst into tears, a smile on her face. Naerys stood up and walked across the table to take her into her arms.

"Your happiness matches mine, sister."

"Have you decided on what to name the babe?" Viserys asked.

"Viserys for a son and Larra for a daughter," Serenei lied. "Though my husband seemed sure it would be a son." She hated herself for lying to them. Aegon had not wanted children at all though that did not stop him from visiting her bed chambers every night. A part of her loved him for it, but another hated him for the same.

Naerys smiled. "I am glad for your good fortune, sister," she said. "My brother did not seem to want children when we last spoke.

Both Viserys and Serenei frowned, each for reasons of their own.

"My grandson will be lord over Dorne," Viserys declared. "Fret not, my dear. Your son will know luxury and power. I swear it. The King will not refuse this of Aegon."

Serenei smiled then; her worries melted away. "You have my thanks, my lord," she said. "And those of my husband as well as well." Another lie. "He would be glad to hear that you care for him thus."

The smile on Viserys's face turned into a grimace. Serenei chose not to say anything. Naerys was not so silent.

"What is your problem with Aegon?" Naerys demanded. It was something Serenei would have asked her godfather if not for Aegon's insistence on not approaching his father at all.

Serenei kept quiet and looked out of the window. Young Jaehaerys was swinging a hand and a half sword, no doubt preparing to wield Dark Sister. Serenei felt anger rush through her. Her son deserved it, not some fatherless orphan.

"My dear child," Viserys began, looking at Naerys and her with sorrowful eyes, "do you believe I hate my son? That I think him incapable?"

"He is a better man than I will ever be. A greater and more capable man," Viserys continued. "And there lies the problem." Her gododfather's eyes glistened with emotion. "If I praise him now, my son will see me as someone who cares more for power than his family."

He looked straight at Serenei. "Do you think I do not love my son?" he asked. "I would rather die than let him suffer." He reached across the table and took Serenei's hands in his own. "My own son and I pushed him so far away I cannot even talk to him straight." Serenei had never seen a person so distraught. "Ensure that he knows no suffering, my dear. You will treat him better than I ever can." His voice grew thick with emotion

"Should anyone speak ill of Aegon, I will have their tongues pulled out!" he declared. "Oh, my son, I hope you find it in yourself to forgive your foolish father!" He was lost in his own passion.

Serenei nodded, words caught in her throat. This was not what she expected her goodfather would say. Her husband had poisoned her against his father, and Serenei knew why. Viserys had always controlled his son. But it was too late for the father and son to reconcile. Any overture now would make Aegon more distrustful than the continued appearance of control ever would. Naerys reached over and took her hand in her own.

"The way my son looked at me when he said he was to be the Governor of Dorne," Viserys said, lost in his own thoughts, "Still the little boy looking for my approval, for me to tell him I was proud of him. I wanted to take him in my arms and tell him. I knew it when he was born; my son was destined for great things."

This was not the Viserys Targaryen Serenei knew. He seemed more broken than she could have ever imagined.

"Then why do you always denigrate him?" Naerys asked. "You always put him down. Regardless of what he has done."

"What else would you have me do?" This seemed to draw Viserys out of his spiral. "You know your brother. Should I praise him? You know as well as I do that he is sure to get a big head."

Viserys daubed at his eyes with the sleeve of his doublet. Serenei pretended that she had not seen this moment of weakness. He spoke to Serenei. "My child," he said, "You will want for nothing. Not now, not ever."

Serenei nodded. She did not trust her voice to speak.

"Aegon yearns for your approval. He yearns for revenge against the Braavosi," Naerys said. "That is the reason he is hostile to you, father. His thoughts are still clouded with vengeance." As are mine, went unsaid.

Viserys chuckled, full of self-deprecation. "There is nothing more for me to do," he said. "My time is done." He leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms across his chest. "It is Daeron's and my son's time. I am only the Lord Hand as long as my nephew does not deign to replace me."

Neither knew how to respond. A heavy silence settled on them.

"Did you speak to the Grandmaester?" Viserys asked suddenly.

"Yes, my lord."

"Good. Take care of yourself," Viseryts said. "I know not if my son shows it to you, but he cares for you deeply."

Serenei smiled. "You are too kind, my lord."

Viserys smiled back at her and stood up to leave. "Do not hesitate to call upon me should you need anything, child," he said. "This is your home now."

Serenei did not want it to be her home. She did not like this place at all. She forced herself to keep up the smile, though she was sure it turned into a grimace. "It is my honor to be here."

Viserys nodded, gathered his cloak around himself, and left. Serenei turned towards her goodsister. They were alone.

"I am afraid," she confessed, "of what this entails." The grandmaester's words weighed heavily on her.

Naerys took her into her arms. "Do not fret, dear sister," she said. "I am here for you."

I wish it were Aegon instead.

—-

A/N: That's another chapter done. I wanted to explore a side of Viserys that he shows to his closest family when he is at his most emotionally fragile. Let me know how I did. Also, Serenei is pregnant. What does this mean for Aegon? For Jaehaerys? For the Targaryens? For the Seven Kingdoms? I have plans that would take our story in exciting directions. So, stay tuned for the next update!

Anyway, let me know how the chapter was. Like it? Hate it? Want to complain? I thrive off of feedback so do let me know