Chapter 1
AN: I will follow the ages of the television show (since it is not really clear what age they are). I know Rhaenyra is supposed to be in her early teens (14 or 15). Some sources say Alicent on the show is the same age or 17/18. I might tweak some things such as age and storyline as the show continues and that information becomes clearer ^^.
Maegelle is four years younger than Rhaenyra, so she should be 10-ish years old.
The silence in the carriage is always so awkward when Maegelle comes with. Alicent is sighing again, the fifth or sixth time in 10 minutes. Maegelle can understand somewhere in her young mind.
She is after all only 10 and Rhaenyra and Alicent are going towards their mid teens. Maegelle gets that Alicent does not wish to have her friend's younger annoying sister accompanying them all the time. That there are certain topics she cannot talk about but still... Maegelle always feels so unwelcome when she is alone with Alicent. Though she does think Alicent does not wish to come over that way.
It just makes her feel miserable and already worse than she feels right now.
Rhaenyra has seen the worry that plagues her younger sister, everytime their mother approaches the end of a pregnancy. That is what several stillbirths and deaths of a sibling will do to you.
Because Rhaenyra knows her sister, just like her, worries her mother might not make it out alive. Not this time.
So Rhaenyra has taken Maegelle with her, these last few weeks, since Laena and Laenor are not here to keep their cousin company. Queen Aemma is too tired to look after her youngest, and Maegelle is tired of only being kept company by her septa and attendants.
The door of the carriage flies open as Alicent smiles at Rhaenyra, Maegelle's younger head peeking underneath her friend's arm.
'Syrax is growing quickly. She will soon be as large as Caraxes.' Alicent greets her friend, a smile creeping on Rhaenyra's face. 'That's almost large enough to saddle two.' Rhaenyra answers, winking at her younger sister.
'I believe I am quite content as a spectator, thank you.' Alicent huffs playfully.
'I have another willing participant, you do not need to worry about that.' Maegelle lets out a small cry of delight. 'Yes, please! I would love to go flying with Syrax and you. Please, please, Rhaenyra!'
Rhaenyra shoos her sister out of the way, so she can sit next to her. 'Soon, Maegelle. Syrax needs to grow a little bit larger still. You do not want her to get hurt if we try before that, right?' Maegelle nods, turning her attention back to the doll she had brought with her.
'Do you not want to have your own dragon, Maegelle?' Alicent asks curiously, Rhaenyra giving her a warning look as Maegelle's face grows dark. She is clearly sulking. It is a bit of a sore spot for Maegelle. Alicent furrows her brows and gives Rhaenyra a look that clearly says 'Sorry, I didn't know!'.
'She will bond with one soon enough.' Rhaenyra answers for her sister, patting her on the head, shaking her head at Alicent that it is allright, she did not know. 'It just needs some time. There is one out there for you, sister. In the meantime, patience is a virtue, right?'
Maegelle starts giggling as her older sister impersonates her septa, who has a tendency to give such wisdoms at the most odd times.
Maegelle trails after her sister and Alicent towards her mother's chambers. Her mother seems even more tired and worn out than usual.
'Did you sleep?' She hears Rhaenyra ask her mother, Aemma giving her a tired smile. Maegelle slinks closer to her mother and Rhaenyra, who are once more going through their debate of childbed and knighthood both being a battlefield.
The youngest Targaryen knows Rhaenyra wishes to be a knight and certainly not birth any children in the near future. To Maegelle, that is a concept she does not even yet think about.
'Maegelle.' Aemma calls for her youngest daughter, opening her arms so she can sit next to her mother's growing belly. Her mother sighs as she combs through her hair. 'You look like you fought with a dragon and lost.'
Maegelle blushes, Rhaenyra squeezing her shoulder as she and Alicent file out of the room. It is time for her cupbearer duties, apparently.
'You should leave your mother to rest, my lady.' One of the attendants says, but Aemma shakes her head. 'No, she can stay. I have not seen you much these last few days, did I, my dear?'
'You were tired and needed rest, mother.' Maegelle says, but her mother can see she is feeling a bit left out. 'Your cousins will arrive in a few days. In the meantime, you can keep me company.'
'Go and ask your septa to bring the book with those legends you have been reading. I am tired of lying here. A good story might distract me and keep your sibling calm.' The queen gives an indulgent smile as Maegelle runs out of the door to her room, dragging her septa and the gigantic book with her back into the room minutes later.
In the end, it is Aemma that reads out of the book, Maegelle falling asleep next to her mother, the kicking of her unborn sibling against her side lulling her to sleep.
The following days are spent much the same, as Rhaenyra is busy with other duties. It will be some of the memories Maegelle cherishes the most over the coming years, since not much later, her mother would no longer be present.
Maegelle is happy to see her cousins again, her aunt Rhaenys giving her a warm greeting as Maegelle sits next to Laenor. Uncle Corlys ruffles her hair before returning to his seat.
Alicent nods at her in greeting, but looks back to the spectacle in front of them.
'You look pretty today, cousin.' Laenor says, as Laena also hums in acknowledgement. 'Thank you, though I hate having my hair styled like this.' Maegelle pouts, pointing at her hair.
She has the same hairstyle as Rhaenyra and the same dress, but where as her sister's clothes are in red, Maegelle is dressed in green. She wears the bracelet of Valyrian steel her uncle Daemon had given her, and if her father notices, he says nothing about it. He gives her a warm look with cringled eyes and a small smile, one that says he knows, and than motions for her to look back at the tournament.
'I like my hair to be lose, like Laena.' Maegelle says. She and the twins are soon engrossed in their own conversation, only stopping when the first knights get ready to battle.
'Keep your attention on the tournament, Maegelle.' Alicent whispers, giving her a smile. 'Don't you find it thrilling?'
Maegelle furrows her eyebrows at the difficult word, but nods all the same, not showing she does not understand what Alicent means.
Time passes quickly, Maegelle engrossed in the tournament, though she does have to close her eyes sometimes when there is too much violence. She can take only so much, thank you.
'Nicely done, Uncle.' Uncle Daemon nods. 'Thank you, princess.' His eyes fall on Maegelle. 'Do you like the tournament, Maegelle?' His niece nods, her uncle winking at her.
After getting the favor from Alicent, he turns and readies himself for another round.
Maegelle does not see her father leaving, nor does she see the worried look her aunt Rhaenys throws to the king's retreating back.
As the fight underneath them turns brutal, Maegelle grabs her cousin's arm, Laena doing the same on his right side. She turns her head and closes her eyes, forehead falling against Laenor's shoulder.
Her cousin gives her a pat on her arm, signaling the worst is over. 'I like tournaments.' Maegelle whispers to the twins. 'But I do not like the violence and brutality.' Laena nods as well, both girls smiling at each other and giggling. She does not see what is happening around her.
It is only than, that she hears the silence. Her cousins are looking at her with sorrow in their eyes, Alicent giving Rhaenyra a worried look.
Maegelle's smile vanishes, head turning as a strong and warm female hand grabs her shoulder.
'Maegelle.' The youngest Targaryen is reeling, heart beating almost out her chest, lips quivering as she looks at her aunt. She knows something is wrong.
Aunt Rhaenys gives her a sad smile. 'Something happened to your mother, Maegelle. She...'
The rest of the words are lost as a ringing fills her ears, another hand grabbing her arm. It is Rhaenyra, giving her a worried look. Laenor tries to get her to stand, to whisk her to her room where she can grief in private. But Maegelle seems to be chained to her seat.
In the end, it is uncle Corlys that comes to fetch her, hoisting her up in his arms before she can start bawling and screaming in front of the whole population of King's Landing. She does not remember much of those moments, waking up hours later in her own bed, Laena and Rhaenyra laying next to her on her bed on her right side, aunt Rhaenys sitting on her left side, deep in thought.
What she does remember is her family keeping her company, and she often wonders in the later years if she would have been able to get over her mother's death, if it had not been for her sister, her cousins and her uncle and aunt.
It is a beautiful day when her mother and brother are put to rest. She stands next to Rhaenyra, her gaze sometimes falling on her father. He has not spoken a word to her since her mother's passing.
Uncle Daemon comes close to Rhaenyra. 'They're waiting for you.' Maegelle takes a step back, her uncle nodding at her in greeting. He seems distant and put together, but there is sadness in his eyes, that is clear even to her. 'I wonder if, during those few hours my brother lived, my father finally found happiness.'
Maegelle is young, and her Valyrian is not perfect yet, but she can understand most of it. And she can hear the bitterness in her sister's voice. 'Your father needs you now more than he ever has.' Uncle Daemon tries to placate Rhaenyra.
'I will never be a son.' Rhaenyra says, her gaze falling on her father. Maegelle hears the unspoken words her sister means. I will never be what he wants me to be. Nor will Maegelle.
'Than be strong for your sister. She is still young, and you are the only one she has left that resembles a mother figure.' Rhaenyra snaps out of it, grabbing Maegelle by the hand and taking her sister with her.
The words seem stuck in Rhaenyra's throat. It is the squeezing of her hand that makes her look at her sister, where red-rimmed eyes give her small nod.
'Dracarys.'
Maegelle looks to the sky when her mother is engulfed in flames, hoping she and Baelon are at peace now.
The Red Keep has lost it's shine after the queen's passing. King Viserys has spoken to neither of his children, locked away in his chambers, grieving for a wife and heir that he no longer has.
Maegelle is left to her own devices, sitting for hours on end in her chambers, no one bothering to come find her. It is eventually Rhaenyra that comes to find her, knocking on her door.
Her older sister sees Maegelle's unkempt state, still in her sleeping gown, hair not brushed. It strikes her, how young and lost her sister really looks. She has only just turned 10 after all.
Rhaenyra plasters a smile on her face, crouching in front of her sister, who had been playing absentmindedly with some dolls in her dollhouse her father had carved for her so many years ago.
'I have a surprise for you.' Rhaenyra says, grinning when interest flickers in her sister's eyes. 'A surprise?' Rhaenyra nods, but points to her sister's clothes. 'Yes, but first you need to bathe and get ready.'
Maegelle nods, running to the attendant that had been trying to get her to take a bath. An hour later, Maegelle is ready, hand securely in her sister's.
Rhaenyra tells her to get into the carriage, binding her sister's eyes with a blindfold. The ride seems long, Maegelle's excitement getting higher and higher.
When the carriage stops, Rhaenyra takes her sister's hand and helps her down the steps. The light is blinding when Maegelle can see again, but her stomach makes an excited flip when she sees Syrax.
'I know Syrax is still young, but I have asked around, and she should be able to carry the two of us.' Rhaenyra smiles when Maegelle let's out a happy screech. 'Why don't we try?'
'Yes, yes, please, please!' Maegelle is jumping up and down in excitement, hugging her sister in gratitude.
'Great, come on.' Rhaenyra puts on her gloves, and pats Syrax on the head, Maegelle looking on with big eyes. Rhaenyra pushes her forward so that Maegelle touches Syrax, the dragon keening softly, well aware of her charge's and her charge's sister's feelings.
Rhaenyra is able to hoist Maegelle up with help of Ser Harold Westerling, even though she can see the disapproval in his gaze. Maegelle is silent, getting used to sitting in the sadle. Her sister comes up and slides behind her.
It is a tight fit, but Rhaenyra slides her arms around Maegelle and takes the reins. 'Hold on tight, Maegelle.' Rhaenyra whispers. She gives Syrax the sign to set off and Maegelle's stomach flips, the butterflies reaching a crescendo.
She grabs the front of the saddle tightly, her sister securely sat behind her. Just as Syrax begins running, Alicent runs out of another carriage. 'Rhaenyra! It is too dangerous!' Rhaenyra looks down, Alicent taking a step back as Syrax starts running.
'If we don't try, we will never know!' Rhaenyra shouts back, Maegelle's eyes falling on Alicent. 'The King will be angry!' Alicent shouts again, but Rhaenyra shrugs. 'Than father can take it up with me!'
Alicent remarks for the first time in weeks, there is some light back in the youngest Targaryen's eyes.
With the first beating of Syrax' wings, Maegelle looks up into the blue sky, as they go higher and higher. Rhaenyra's arms tighten around her as Syrax gains height, flying over streets with vendors and people alike.
'One day, you will do the same with your own dragon.' Rhaenyra whispers into her sister's ears, when they are surrounded by nothing but blue sky and white clouds. 'Until then, you can come as often as you wish with me and Syrax. You only need to ask.'
Maegelle squeezes her sister's arm, her way of saying thank you.
And if in the weeks that follow, Rhaenyra more often than not takes her sister out flying, to great disappointment of their farther, that is nobody's business but their own.
It is a while later, when Maegelle has already gone to sleep, that Rhaenyra wakes her up. 'Father wants to see us.'
Maegelle is still half asleep as her sister drags her towards Balerion's skull, the candles giving it an eerie look.
Is he going to scold them for flying on Syrax?
'When you look at the dragons, what do you see?' Rhaenyra seems to bristle when her father asks that question, gaze hardening. 'What?!'
'You have not spoken a word to Maegelle or me since Mother's funeral, too busy mourning while you should have remembered you have a 10-year-old daughter that still needs a parent!' Rhaenyra explodes, Maegelle hiding in her sister's side.
It is harsh, but it is true. 'I have been more of a parent than a sibling to her than you, and now you ask me such a stupid question?!'
Viserys sighs, stepping towards his eldest daughter. He wordlessly takes Maegelle to his side, allowing her to hug him. 'I know, Rhaenyra. But it is important.' Her father pleads, her younger sister just as confused as she is.
As Rhaenyra goes off into an explanation why House Targaryen is nothing without their dragons, Maegelle's attention shifts to Balerion.
'Daemon is your heir.' Rhaenyra's confused voice makes Maegelle look back to her father, who shakes his head. 'Daemon is not made to wear a crown. But you were.'
He looks at his youngest daughter, patting her on the head. 'You will be my new heir, Rhaenyra, and your sister is here as our witness.'
Maegelle does not know what it means, but she can feel it is something important.
Rhaenyra is silent when Alicent helps her put her clothes on, her gaze falling on Maegelle. Her younger sister is wearing the same outfit she is, though it is less opulent than hers.
As Alicent puts the crown on Rhaenyra's head, Maegelle joins her sister, the same crown she wears quite heavy. She is not used to wear such opulent styles, nor is she used to wear so much jewellery.
Rhaenyra clicks the necklace into place, giving her sister a once over and than giving her a small nod.
She has a good view up here, standing next to her father as he sits on the Iron Throne. Maegelle's gaze falls on Bormund Baratheon, who seems to hesitate for just a second. Rhaenyra's head moves just slightly, as if to say 'well, what are you waiting for?'.
Lord Baratheon's feels a glare on him and when he looks up, he sees the youngest princess glaring at him, her eyes moving a split second, as if saying 'bow down or else.'
He eventually does and as he pledges his loyalty, he can only think, how dangerous Rhaenyra could be.
Not only because she is named heir, but because she is fully backed by her younger sister, whose devotion and loyalty are crystalclear to everyone in the room.
And as King Viserys stands, his youngest daughter proudly standing next to him, exclaiming his youngest daughter as Rhaenyra's witness as named heir, Boremund Baratheon wonders.
If Maegelle's devotion and loyalty are only a good thing. A good thing, it surely is. But blind loyalty and devotion are also dangerous. Very dangerous.
How dangerous it will turn out to be? He supposes only time will tell.