I don't own the House of the Dragon.
Prologue
"The Dreamer's words stand as a warning. A prophecy. The Seven Kingdoms will fall. All of the House of Targaryen will fall. And our Dragons will be put to swords. For Kingslandings is a pile of stone and wood and cloth and dust. And, as dust, will vanish into the wind. Only the Dragons themselves exist, and the fate of the world hangs on their every syllable. Only the Targaryens exist, and only stout wooden ships can save them. Wooden ships, and a tidal wave of heroes' blood."
The entire court is holding a great meeting that would be written in history. All the important lords of the realm had placed their votes to declare their next King or Queen of the seven kingdoms.
"As the first century of the Targaryen dynasty came to a close, the health of the Old King, Jaehaerys, was failing. In those days, House Targaryen stood at the height of its strength with ten adult dragons under its yoke. No power in the world could stand against it. King Jaehaerys reigned over nearly sixty years of peace and prosperity, but tragedy had claimed both his sons, leaving his succession in doubt. So, in the year 101, The Old King called a Great Council to choose an heir."
Viserys and Aemma, along with his four-year-old sister Princess Rhaenyra. Their mother was already visibly pregnant again by the time the Great Council was called, yet Aemma was still well enough to travel.
Across to the other side of them, stood Princess Rhaenys Targaryen along with her husband, Lord Corlys Velaryon, and their children Laena and Laenor.
"Fourteen succession claims were heard, but only two were truly considered. Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, the King's eldest descendant, and her younger cousin, Prince Viserys Targaryen, The King's eldest male descendant."
Once the chest had been opened, the Old King steadily reached inside and unveiled a scroll. Though his hands shook with age, Jaehaerys narrowed his eyes for a much closer look. The message entailed, The lords here assembled name Viserys of House Targaryen, son to Princess Alyssa and Prince Baelon, grandson of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, Prince of Dragonstone and rightful heir to the Iron Throne. "It is declared by all lords paramount and lords vassal of the Seven Kingdoms," he announced, "that Prince Viserys Targaryen be made Prince of Dragonstone."
Applause echoed loudly throughout the main hall as Viserys was officially elected by the nobility as King Jaehaerys's new heir by a wide margin of twenty to one. Aemma congratulated her husband.
Princess Rhaenys who remained blank and was angry about her status will be forever known as the Queen who never was.
"Rhaenys, a woman, would not inherit the Iron Throne. The lords instead chose Viserys, my father. Jaehaerys called the Great Council to prevent a war from being fought over his succession. For he knew the cold truth. The only thing that could tear down the House of the Dragon was itself."
Despite that King Jaehaerys prevented another crisis and war, but he looked at his entire court. He began to slowly realize that it wouldn't be enough.
He felt it in his bones that war was coming.
He doesn't know who or when, but it's coming.
"The Greens and the Blacks may play political struggles for succession, but it is the Reds who hold real power to persuade everyone to declare sides or neutral. I am Princess Delaesella Targaryen, daughter of King Viserys I Targaryen and his queen consort Aemma Arryn. I am the leader of the Reds, and I am the one who gets to decide to choose the heir and next sovereign of the Seven Kingdoms. No matter what, I will prevent any bloodshed in the kingdom. Even if it means betraying one's blood."
The two pieces are placed on the chessboard. Two monarchs on the board. One King piece and the other queen stood until the screen turned black.
But the sound of the fallen pieces made a Click.
CLINK!
One rise. One will fall.
Nine years…
A little four-year-old girl is up to her mischief again. She is running away from her governess.
She spied on the shadows and quickly ran to hide.
Her governess and caretaker are Lady Margrethe Stark who came from the North and is a Branch family tree of the House of Stark. She is forty years of age and is a lady-in-waiting for Queen Aemma Targaryen.
"By Old Gods, she can be quite hyper when she wants to be." Lady Stark said this, but she is fond of her young ward.
"Come now, princess!" Margrethe called out to her ward. "We mustn't keep your lady mother waiting?"
She looked through the tapestry, and curtains and found not one silver hair.
"Princess Delaesella? Delaesella, I know you are there, child."
POP!
"No, you don't, Maggie!" Delaesella came out of the trunk.
Lady Stark let out a shriek in fright, but then she relaxes as she sees the princess. Though the princess dress is in a mess right now.
" Delaesella! You've become a dreadful mess!" Margrethe rushed to her. She picked up the princess from the trunk and placed her on the ground.
"Oh no, child!" Margrethe hands wavered over Delaesella 's dress. "You've ripped the only pretty gown."
"Oh, Maggie, you worry so much! I have a closet of gowns!" Delaesella said so.
"No, child. Those are from when you were smaller. Much too small for you now." Maggie's eyes shined with worry. Katherine frowned.
"Can we play now?"
Margrethe frowned, "Afraid not. Your mother the queen is expecting us. She finally awakes enough to see you now."
Delaesella frowned as well. Nobody told her much, but her mother is barely awake anymore. Maggie and others tried to explain to her that she is going to have a baby brother soon.
In truth, she was used to the idea of having her mother, father, and Rhaenyra's attention. Now there is going to be a new baby. Nobody has time to play with her now.
Margrethe noticed and said, "Now, now. My princess, there is no need to be upset. The queen must rest because well…for women, especially in our position. We take our pride and honor to bear our husband's children. This pregnancy does take a toll on us. But don't you worry, no one has forgotten you nor Princess Rhaenyra?"
She combed the princess's hair to calm her down.
Delaesella had a shy smile, "Can we please play?" The four-year-old girl stuck a lip out, desperate.
Maggie sighed, "You may but only until I bring you to the queen. Plus, your older sister Princess Rhaenyra is coming as well."
Delaesella cheered, "Rhaenyra is here now?! Let's go!" Lady Stark laughed as she was being dragged by the princess.
She is a child. That was her first thought. Delaesella has such an innocent, bubble personality. No one could deny her. All the princess had to do was smile at them and they wouldn't say no to her.
As they walked through the halls, they reach for the queen's private birthing chambers.
Queen Aemma groaned as she adjusted herself to make herself more comfortable. Aemma's hair was swept across her left shoulder, and her red and golden dress was slightly parted - allowing her very pregnant belly to acquire more comfort. She was being tended to by her handmaidens and fanned herself.
"Muña!" Delaesella called out to her mother. Aemma smiled as she saw her youngest running towards her.
"Ah, my queen." She cooed as she kissed her youngest forehead. Aemma called her youngest a pet name, My Queen. Lady Margrethe Stark curtsy and said, "My queen."
"My thanks, Lady Stark for bringing my youngest to me." Aemma thanked her. "I hope she wasn't too much trouble for you."
"My queen, children will want nothing more but to play. It is natural evidence that she is healthy and strong. She will grow out of it. It did for my daughters and I'm sure it was the same for Princess Rhaenyra." Margrethe replies to the queen.
Aemma hummed and replies, "Knowing my daughter, she will have to understand soon."
Upon returning from another of her mid-morning adventures throughout the Crownlands, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen landed near the Dragonpit atop her dragon Syrax. Once the Dragonkeepers were able to calmly guide Syrax back into the structure, both Rhaenyra and Alicent were escorted back to the Red Keep. Both the girls were now fifteen years old and maturing into young adolescents. And throughout the years, their friendship was heightened where they each considered the other as sisters they never had.
Hooking their arms with the other, both Rhaenyra and Alicent climbed the stairs into one of the royal apartments in Maegor's Holdfast to pay their respects to the heavily pregnant Queen Aemma Arryn.
"Ah... Rhaenyra," she greeted. Lady Stark and Delaesella looked behind them as Princess Rhaenyra and Lady Alicent Hightower came.
"Princess Rhaenyra," Lady Margrethe curtsied before the royal princess. "I trust you are in good health."
"Yes, I am," Rhaenyra replies.
"Nyra!" Delaesella happily called out her name. Rhaenyra said, "Little hatchling." She petted her head.
It is a typical older sister greeting her. Delaesella pouted at her sister.
"You know I don't like it when you go flying while I'm in this condition," she points to her swollen belly.
"You don't like me to go flying while you're in any condition, Mother," Rhaenyra countered.
Another handmaiden went behind Aemma to adjust a pillow for her aching back.
"Your Grace," Alicent curtsied.
Good morning, Alicent," Aemma acknowledged.
"Did you finally get some sleep?" Rhaenyra inquired.
"I did."
"For how long?"
"I don't need more mothering, Rhaenyra," Aemma shook her head. Lady Stark moved her young ward to sit on another stool.
"Well, here you are, surrounded by attendants, all focused on the baby," Rhaenyra pointed out. " I am just as concerned about you in this state, Mother. Someone must tend to you in your time of need - why not your children instead of them? We're more than willing to care for you."
Lady Margarethe could understand that feeling, but they cannot show worry. She went to pour some tea for the queen. The queen will need lots of rest.
You," the queen tapped her bare foot on her daughter's knee, "and your sister will lie in this bed soon enough, Rhaenyra. This discomfort is how we serve the realm."
"I'd rather serve as a knight and ride to battle and glory," she replied cheekily.
Delaesella raised her hand, "I want a dragon."
The women laughed at the cuteness of the youngest princess. Delaesella's egg had turned stone cold and Viserys wanted to make her wait until she is older before she can claim a dragon.
"We have royal wombs, you, Delaesella, and I," Aemma continued in her lecture. "We have our duties, your father and brother have theirs. The childbed is our battlefield, the court is theirs. We must learn to face it with a stiff upper lip and support them as best we can, Rhaenyra."
Delaesella didn't understand that time, but years later.
She did.
"But I―"
"Trust me. You will get your chance for excitement soon than you might expect it. But until then, our duty to our family must always come first." Aemma sniffed and slightly scrunched her nose. "Now before you see your father, I need you to take a bath. You stink of a dragon."
Rhaenyra coyly shook her head. "Come on, Mother, I take great care of my personal hygiene."
"Well do it again. The smell is making me somewhat nauseous."
Rhaenyra left after kissing her mother and little sister. Lady Margrethe curtsy as the princess left with Alicent.
Delaesella watches as Lady Stark and her mother routine in the room.
Aemma Arryn is always grateful to Lady Stark. She is her lady-in-waiting and consider her a closet friend in the court.
When she first came to the Kingslandings to serve the queen, she happily accepted Lady Stark into the position because Margrethe lost her husband during the shivers epidemic, and they are in desperate need of money to marry her daughters to their prospected Norther husbands. Margrethe had four daughters, but they are married away from a young age.
Lady Stark admits that she misses all her daughters and grandchildren. As if her prayers were answered the Queen gave birth to a healthy baby, but it wasn't a boy.
Princess Delaesella Targaryen was born small and sickly.
Margrethe developed an attachment to the princess as a mother would. She never believed Maesters words when he said, "This child will die if she is that small."
'No! I don't believe that!' That was her first thought.
Margrethe quickly begged permission from the Queen to watch over the princess to tend to her needs.
Queen Aemma soberly accepts her permission. Perhaps in a way, Aemma doesn't want to get attached to her second daughter for fear she may die in her cradle as well.
Day in and day out, Margrethe would care for the princess' needs and even sing her lullaby from the Northern realm. She firmly believes that if the seven gods won't heal the princess, perhaps her Old Gods will.
For moons, the princess is growing stronger and happy every day. Lady Margrethe looked down at the babe happily humming songs from the north.
But she was reminded again. That she is not the princess's mother. Both King Viserys and Queen Aemma expressed their gratitude towards her financing the dowry for her four daughters and herself. But Margrethe can only accept the dowery for her daughters and asked to remain here to tend to the queen.
Now she can hope that she had done her duty of giving her husband a son and heir.
Aemma can only hope that she lives a long and happy life.
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