Authors Note: I do not own any aspect of A Song of Ice and Fire, or House of the Dragons. Any recognizable characters belong entirely to George RR Martin, with Daenora Velaryon being a creation of my own. Potential TW: canon typical incest, angst, depression, s*xual assault/r*pe, mature themes, sexual themes, swearing/mature language, etc.
"Daenora!"
"Daena!"
The young girl's lavender gaze lifted from the pages of her book up to the two boys rushing toward where she sat in the garden. Her uncle, Aemond, and her twin brother, Jacaerys, looked excited and happy. It made her own expression lift with curiosity and happiness as well.
"Yes? What is it?" Her voice sounded lyrical, pretty as bells and it melted into giggles when her brother suddenly tackled her into a hug.
"Grandfather wants to see you, sweet sister." Jacaerys responded, reaching and tugging at his twin sister's hand so that she would rise and stand from her seated position.
"Kepa ? Whatever for?" She asked, one brow tilting up in question. Aemond was urging her forward, as well, his hand catching her arm as he tried to get her to move forward.
"He wouldn't say, Daenora. But it seemed important. You know we can't keep the king waiting!"
The three walked to King Viserys's chambers talking quietly about what they think he might want her for, but it wasn't unusual for the king to randomly summon his only granddaughter to his presence - ever since she'd been only a few days old and opened her lavender eyes and smiled at him for the first time in her short life at the sound of his voice, she'd had him wrapped around her finger. It only grew from there when one of her first words was the High Valyrian word for 'father' which she only seemed to use for him even when her actual father, Laenor, was in the room, and she'd taken a vested interest in Old Valyria much like he had. She'd spend hours upon his lap, listening to him and asking questions in High Valyrian about the place where the dragons had come from, where the Targaryens had come from, and he'd indulge her gladly. Now, at 8 years old, the only Velaryon princess had been labeled a genius and was far more fluent in the language than any of the other children; she had even taken lessons with her uncles and twin brother Jacaerys despite the fact that princesses usually received a different education altogether.
Her grandmother, Queen Alicent, had raised some of a fuss, stating it wasn't proper for a princess to take lessons with the princes, but Viserys had insisted that her uncommon intelligence needed to be properly attended to and grown rather than let sit and rot around an embroidering circle. It was accepted, not only because he was king but he tended to do things that weren't in accordance with tradition; naming Daenora's mother as his heir had been an example of that.
"Good evening, Ser Harrold!" Princess Daenora greeted with a nod and a genuinely happy smile. She had always been fond of Ser Harrold, an honorable man with a pleasing voice and a calm demeanor that always made her feel safe and she felt comforted knowing such a man guarded her grandfather. The Lord Commander of the Kingsguard smiled fondly at the princess, nodding to her and the two princes behind her.
"Greetings, Princess Daenora. Prince Aemond, Prince Jacaerys, the king has announced he wishes to speak with the princess alone."
"But," Aemond began to protest, "we also wanted-!"
"My apologies, my prince, but he made it clear that this was to be private between himself and his granddaughter."
Daenora reached over and grabbed her uncle's hand, squeezing it reassuringly. Aemond's amethyst gaze found hers, and they shared an unspoken word before he nodded and looked back at Ser Harrold Westerling.
"Alright, we will be back soon. Come on, Jace, let's go find Aegon."
"Ugh, but why ?" Jace complained as they turned and took off down the hall. "He's been in such a mood lately!"
Princess Daenora waited at the door while she was announced, walking in when she heard her grandfather's voice bid her to come in. She curtsied low to him, bowing her head in respect as gracefully as her little eight year old frame could manage.
"Greetings, my king, you summoned me?"
"Yes, Daenora. All of you, you may leave."
Any of the maids and servants who might've still been around in the room bowed and curtsied before leaving it, shutting the doors to give the king and princess some privacy. Once the doors were closed, Daenora practically launched herself at her grandfather, wrapping her skinny arms around him as he wrapped his one good arm around her.
"Oh, I missed you, my girl."
"Kepa, you just saw me for dinner last night!" She laughed into his chest and she felt his responding laughter rumbling in his chest against her cheek.
"From then to now was still too long for me. Come, have a seat." He pulled back and nodded at the chair sitting directly across from his, still within reach. She sat quickly, looking at him expectantly. He reached for her hands which she used to grasp his one good hand in between them.
"What did you want to talk about, grandfather?"
"I've been putting this off for years now. Perhaps a part of me simply wanted to avoid thinking about the day you'll become a woman and leave me."
"I never will!" She responded quickly which made him smile in amusement.
"Tell me, little dragon, do you know how each Targaryen can help our House and family?"
She thought long and hard for a moment before responding, "I think it is by marrying well, having healthy children, raising strong dragons. We bond with dragons that allow us to ride them and we can use their power to help protect our kingdom from her enemies."
"As always, you're exactly right, my girl. By now, a princess in your position would have already been betrothed to one of your brothers, specifically your twin brother, Jacaerys."
Daenora thought of it for a moment before she nodded. "Yes, I had thought the same."
"Your mother has been pestering me for years to make your betrothal to your twin brother official to help strengthen her claim, and by extension yours and Jace's, to the throne but I've been denying her each time. I always gave an excuse about there being plenty of time, but now, I realize that decisions need to be made. Normally, a husband would be chosen for you to wed upon your flowering and becoming a woman-grown; however, as I once gave your mother the chance to choose all those years ago, I'm also giving you the chance to choose your own suitor."
Daenora's eyes widened and her mouth popped open slightly in surprise. She could recognize the gift he was giving her; she was always ready to do her duty from the first moments she'd been made aware of it. Despite her uncommon studies and hobbies, she had studied how to manage a household, read books on childbirth and child rearing, had even sneaked some forbidden texts on the acts that lead to how children are made - some had been very clinical, others had made the act seem sinful but enjoyable, she didn't quite understand them but she stored them away to memory nonetheless. Daenora hated not knowing something, and she'd be damned if she went into marriage without realizing some of what it entailed.
Images flashed across her mind's eye, images of freezing ice, breath in the snow, flames licking across stone, the scene of two dragons fighting each other bitterly.
"I…I don't know what to say." She said softly, glancing down at where their hands were joined. His thumb was rubbing comforting paths across her knuckles.
"That's not usual for you, Daenora, what is it that's staying your tongue?"
His joke made her smile ever so slightly before she replied, "I just…it's a big decision. I'm very grateful for the gift you're offering me, it's not often a woman gets to choose her husband, much less a princess such as I. I just don't want to disappoint you with who I choose."
Viserys brought her hand up and pressed a kiss to it, smiling gently at her, "Daenora, I often joke that you could murder a man in front of me and I'd still say it was his fault, but, frankly, that 'joke' is not far from the truth. I trust you and your judgment, little dragon; you're the brightest, most discerning child I've ever met in my life. I would not give this choice to any other, as you know."
"Yes, my king. I promise I won't choose lightly."
"Well, then, think about your choices and tell me who speaks to you."
"I will. Thank you, I'm blessed to have a grandsire and king such as you. I'm the luckiest princess to ever live."
Viserys's smile was gentle and loving as he gathered her up into a hug. She could feel his shoulders shake slightly with emotion, she could hear him sniff once or twice, and she knew he was probably crying a little. He didn't like to let her see him have those emotions, but all it did was endear him to her and remind her that he was a person just like she was. A king, a father and grandfather, and he was hers.
"Not so lucky as I, sweetling, I promise you. Now, go, speak to your brothers and uncles, and perhaps your mother. Beware, though, she will try to sway your mind to her decision."
Daenora laughed as she pulled away, dipping a curtsy to him in farewell before saying, "She always has, grandfather, and she hasn't succeeded yet."
Viserys laughed heartily as he dismissed her, reminding her that he loved her which she reciprocated before she left the chambers with a pensive expression on her face.
"Quite the serious expression, my princess." Ser Harrold said as she walked past him. She nodded in response to him, still quiet with thought.
"His grace gave me a lot to seriously think about, Ser Harrold."
"Well, then, I'll be pleased to see how you figure it out just as you have with everything else put before you."
She beamed at him, her nut brown skin blooming with a slightly embarrassed but pleased rosy pink as she replied, "I'll be sure to let you know how I solve it, Ser Harrold, supposing you don't hear about it before I get the chance. Good day!"
Daenora sped away as much as was proper, an excited smile on her face as the options ran through her mind. Of course, the most obvious one was Jacaerys, her twin. She loved him dearly, he was a handsome and kind boy and by marrying him she would eventually become his sister-queen, but was that the best option for her? The next was Aegon - he was her oldest uncle, 4 years older than her and he liked to play pranks but he enjoyed playing pranks with her rather than playing them on her, which she appreciated. He'd always been there to help pick her up and make her laugh, and had even allowed her to pet his beautiful dragon Sunfyre whenever she was sad about the fact that no dragon had hatched for her or would bond to her.
Which led to Aemond. He was a little over 2 years older than her and Jacaerys, and ever since she could remember Aemond was at her side. When they were babes they napped in the same bed, shared toys and started lessons together when she was 4 and he was 6, and he was the only one in the family that could understand the hollow pain of being unable to bond with a dragon. Mother had Syrax, father had Seasmoke, Jace with Vermax, Luke with Arrax, and Baelon with Aelyx. Even Helaena had Dreamfyre and young Daeron had the blue beauty Tessarion, but she and Aemond had no one. No dragon would heed them, and the feeling of humiliation and failure she felt from that fact was something only Aemond could understand.
"Well, then, little one, where are you wandering off to?"
Daenora stopped in her tracks, turning to her right with a brilliant, overjoyed smile as she ran toward her father with open arms.
"Father!"
Laenor chuckled as he accepted her hug, lifting her happily into the air as he pressed kisses against her cheeks. "My dearest girl, how are you on this fine day?"
Daenora had his skin tone, his sister's full and curly hair, his lavender eyes, and the bright white smile of the Velaryon's - the rest of her features favored Rhaenyra greatly, in fact both she and Jacaerys were said to look very much like Rhaenyra though Jacaerys had paler skin than Daenora, and the two of them were described as the beauties of the Red Keep.
"His grace has given me a great opportunity, papa." She said in a conspiratorial whisper and he nodded seriously.
"I see. I'm sure you've half-way solved it already, daughter. Do you want to tell your old man what task the King gave you, or is it still to be kept a secret?" Laenor set her down, holding her hand as they walked calmly through the halls of the keep. She glanced around to ensure they were alone before she nodded and motioned for him to come a little closer. Laenor obliged, bending slightly to the side so his head was closer to hers.
"Grandfather has let me choose who I am to marry. He told me that Mother will be quite cross if I don't choose Jace, but I have to consider all my options, as you know. It's the smart thing to do."
Laenor paused slightly in his stride, clear surprise crossing his features as he glanced at his daughter. "Has he really? Are…are you sure you're up for the challenge?"
Daenora gave her father a flat look and he sighed, "Ah, of course, silly me for asking, really. If you wish for any advice from me, your father, then you need only ask. I would fly into the sky and retrieve the moon for you if you asked."
She giggled and leaned into her father's side, "You really are silly, papa. I have no need for the moon, but your advice will be a great help. Thank you."
"Anything for you, little one."
She spoke to Jacaerys first, separately. When she asked him about marriage, he paused in his reading, looking up from the book with a confused expression.
"I thought we would marry one another?"
"We don't have to, you know." Daenora explained. "Is there any other girl you might like?"
Jacaerys thought for a moment before he smiled shyly (uncharacteristic for him), his cheeks tinting with a pink blush as he leaned conspiratorially toward her. "Do you remember when Aunt Laena visited a couple years ago?"
"We were 6, right?"
"Yes. I thought the twins were quite pretty."
Daenora smiled, her mind decided. "They were, weren't they?"
She spoke to Aegon about marriage next and he scowled slightly at the mention of it.
"Oh, don't tell me you're like all those other stupid little girls who only care about marriage and knights and all that shit?"
Daenora laughed, shaking her head, "No, Aegon. I was just wondering what you thought of it."
Aegon's moody, 12 year old face pouted slightly, his pale cheeks turning a bit red as he looked away from her, "I don't think about it. I'd rather not - it's all mother will talk about recently, it makes my stomach curl."
Marriage with him might be interesting, but Aegon was moody and temperamental, so she docked that choice. She went to Aemond next while they were practicing shooting bow and arrow. When she broached the subject, he lowered his bow and looked at her with some confusion.
"What do you mean?"
"Haven't you ever thought about who you might marry, uncle?" She asked him before she released the arrow. It landed slightly short of the center but that just made her 'tsk' with displeasure and readjust her drawing arm which she'd felt was wrong just before she released the arrow.
"No, I haven't, because I always knew who my wife would be."
Daenora looked at him curiously, but he wasn't looking at her, his cheeks were dark red, as were his ears, and he was focused entirely on the target in front of him. He shot, the arrow hitting a worse spot than hers did, and their instructor gave him a suggestion of something to try instead of what he was currently doing, but she could tell Aemond wasn't all that interested in it. He was far more interested in swords, anyway, and he was far better at them too. At the end of their practice, as they walked away down the hall, he tugged her arm suddenly after looking around to ensure no one was following them closely. She gave a small sound of surprise but followed him willingly into a nearby alcove hidden partially from sight - she and Aemond knew this castle like the back of their hands, by now, having snuck away from their maids and knights with Jacaerys and Aegon too many times to count. Aemond looked at her seriously and she looked back at him in surprise. He was holding her hand, and she let him, curious as to what he was doing.
"You asked me about marriage earlier, about who my future wife might be?"
Daenora nodded, smiling slightly, "Yes, I did. What of it?"
"Since I knew what marriage was, all I knew was that I could only ever marry you. I will be your husband, and you will be my wife." Aemond said decisively. Daenora blushed and blinked at him in surprise, giving him a shy smile - it was arguably one of the first 'shy' things she'd ever done in her life because she had always been certain, outspoken, and far too sure in her intelligence than was good for her.
"Really?"
He responded with a smile as well, leaning toward her. "Really."
Aemond pressed a hesitant, chaste kiss against her lips before stepping back and smiling at her looking flushed and very pleased with himself.
"Prince Aemond! Princess Daenora!" A kingsguard called out.
"Oh, gods, these children are turning my hair gray." A maid fretted nervously. Aemond and Daenora giggled before they ran out of the alcove, hand in hand, laughing as they evaded their pursuers. For as long as Daenora would live, she would hold this memory close to her. Her first kiss, and a time when she was truly, naively happy.
