It's been a few years since she saw Erik Snow, the bastard son of his husband, and her eternal shame. If she wasn't so weak that day, her son wouldn't have died, and her beloved would've not sought the skirt of a Northerner.
Even after she'd forgiven Jaehaerys and Erik's mother, she still holds a bitter resentment towards Jaehaerys that would take years to recover. Regardless, the past is the past, and she could look only toward the future. Erik's bastardy posed a problem to Jaehaerys as not only did her beloved become a target of scrutiny from those who still cling to the ideals espoused by those zealots that remained in the aftermath of the war, the nobles who still hold resentment against the Targaryens, especially those in the Reach, had used Jaehaerys' supposed 'infidelity' to attack his reputation.
There's also the fact that Erik caused a lot of tension within the Red Keep, mainly related to her disdain for Erik, which still causes her immense shame.
But she couldn't help it. It's almost as if the Gods cursed her by killing her son and seeing another being born from his husband's loins through another woman. Even after giving birth to four children, the stain of bastardry and her husband's shame would remain forever within the Red Keep.
Or so she taught.
The Shivers arrived on the continent, and the disease ravaged everyone: killing indiscriminately regardless if one was a highborn or smallfolk. She was saddened when the Shivers began to kill everyone within the continent, she was disheartened when some of the nobles within the Red Keep died, and her heart wept when the Shivers affected her sweet, little Daenarys. Her second child and the eldest of her litters, her smiles could make her smile, and her dear Jae would always try to make her happy despite not showing it.
When the news reached that Daenerys was afflicted with the Shivers, it was almost as if the Stranger walked the halls of the Red Keep, knowing it'll take the life of an innocent, young soul. For two days, she buried herself in her room, letting out her anger and grief to the Gods while her husband overworked himself, ignoring the fact that Daenerys was to die that day. The Lords and Ladies of the Realm sent their 'most sorrow' letters, her anger rising at the lords that tried to curry favor while using her daughter's impending death to gain an audience!
In her anger and grief, however, comes a surprise blessing in the form of Erik. When she saw Erik leave the room of Daenerys that day, she was weary of the bastard. After all, it's not often that her husband's bastard would wander to her half-sister's room without reason. It wasn't until she entered the room of her little star that her opinions of Erik shifted. When her daughter was afflicted with the Shivers, she was cold to the touch, almost as if the winter's grasp had manifested inside the person the Shivers had infected. When she saw Daenerys filled with smiles and giggles, she all but ran towards her daughter, tears flowing down her cheek as she reassured herself that she somehow managed to heal from the Shivers.
After a two-day celebration of her daughter recovering from the Shiver (which was a miracle considering that she's the only that became better from the Shivers), she and her husband asked her how she healed. After much prodding and a stern look from her father, her daughter collapsed upon herself, pouting and giving them teary eyes while she told how she recovered from the Shivers.
She told them how Erik used magic to restore her to health and remove the Shivers from her body. She told them the importance of his magic kept secret lest he disappears, like how people disappeared during Maegor's reign.
Jae grimaced while she remained silent, remembering her days at the Red Keep during her uncle Maegor's reign. If what she said about Erik was true, then he could change the future of House Targaryen forever.
Magic, in its base form, is dangerous. A great example of this would be the dragons. Dragons are creatures of fire personified. And without them, the Freehold and House Targaryen wouldn't exist. It's also known to them that her great-aunt, Visenya Targaryen, was devoted to the ways of magic and was supposedly knowledgeable in magic, most especially Valyrian magic.
Supposedly, much of the knowledge that the Targaryens had about magic was lost during Maegor's reign. Though it'd never been known to her, considering that she was rather busy finding ways to live and not get killed by her mad uncle.
Now though, with her daughter healed by Erik's magic, this left both her and her beloved in a mess. For one, Erik's a sharp child, and from how much Elysar enthused about Erik, there's no doubt in her mind that the child would hold a grudge towards her and his father. Secondly, they hadn't done much except give lodgings to Erik's mother and himself within the Red Keep. There'd also been reports that Erik's mother was relatively isolated within the castle, with most of the servants giving her mother an unwelcome time short of an actual beating upon her. All of these issues are enough incentive for Erik, alongside his mother, to move from the Red Keep and Westeros to find a home somewhere. And with the discovery (or rather, re-discovery) of magic flowing through Targaryen blood: this would give any nobles that marry into their line magic.
That was the reasoning that Jaehaerys gave her when they discovered how Daenerys healed. But she knew deep down in his heart that Jaehaerys loved Erik as much as their other children and that he was only contrite with how Jae's showing his feelings to his baseborn son. And she also couldn't help but feel sorry for how she acted toward Erik.
That's why over a year after the incident, both Jaehaerys and herself attempted to rectify their mistakes towards Erik. The appointment of Erik's mother becoming a handmaiden has caused controversy amongst the Kingdoms, with many of them trying to undermine her actions by causing amounts of gossip that harm her new handmaiden's reputation. Thankfully, her new handmaiden was made of sterner stuff and was actually able to do her duties quite well, which was a welcome surprise. Giving a stipend to Erik seemed to shine a bright smile upon her daughter's face, though how Erik reacted to the news was telling. The way Jaehaerys bungled his speech about duty to the house and Erik's stoic acceptance was also telling.
Despite that, everything's going well since the end of the Shivers: the house remained steady as her little star's smile began to light the halls of the Red Keep once more, stability began to return back to the Kingdoms, and most importantly, House Targaryen remains at the peak of their power, their authority answered to by everyone.
Then, the Starks rode South.
Alaric Stark holds bitter resentment towards the New Gift issue, which she could only scoff. It wasn't her fault that the Northerners failed to cultivate the lands and actually make use of it. It's better for the Watch to have it instead of being neglected by the Northerners. In any case, Alaric didn't ride south for the New Gift, thank the Gods, but rather for a different matter entirely. A famine had hit the North, and Jaehaerys guessed that Stark was riding south to request a tax break for food shipments from the Riverlands and the Reach. His guess was confirmed when Alaric asked her husband for a tax break when he arrived at the Red Keep.
The talks lasted almost a week, with Alaric and Jae haggling, debating, and almost crossing blades with one another if the Kingsguard that attended the meeting said was true.
Then, almost like a miracle, Alaric was suddenly amicable. Though, that is without reason. And it was because of Erik.
For dropping the issue of the New Gift altogether and renewed loyalty to the Iron Throne, the cost would be Erik being a ward of House Stark. When her husband asked why Erik needed to be a ward, Alaric espoused that he's a Northern regardless of the blood and deserves to return home North. Jaehaerys agreed with his condition. Erik's departure from the Red Keep caused displeasure, primarily from his eldest daughter, who implored Erik to remain within the castle. Jaehaerys, the stubborn dunderhead, kept reminding Daenerys of Erik's duty, to no avail.
In any case, Erik left for Winterfell and remained there for three years. Oh sure, Erik remained in contact via the ravens, however for her little daughter, it doesn't beat the fact that it's better if he's there personally: regaling his half-siblings of fantastic tales such as the tales of Tiber Septim and the reigns of the Dragonlords that came after him.
That's why when her eldest daughter requested for Erik to come home and celebrate her tenth nameday, it couldn't have come for a perfect moment: seeing that it's been three years since one of her handmaidens, Alarra Stark, returned home to heal from her injuries. Alarra Stark returning to her role as handmaiden is a perfect excuse for Erik to return back to the Red Keep.
And now, with every member of the Royal family waiting at the hall of the Iron Throne, she could only feel trepidation from her husband. Though, it's a different matter for her little Daenerys, looking at the massive door with excitement.
As the door opened, it revealed the Stark contingent, with Alarra Stark blazing on through while her household guards could only shake their heads at Alarra's misdemeanor. Alongside her was Erik, who's clearly been practicing in the yard given how despite being only ten years of age has the physique of a ten-and-four boy. As the two marched closer to the Iron Throne, Daenerys couldn't help but squeal as she ran towards Erik, disregarding court etiquette and her father's gaze to give Erik a hug. For all of his stoicism, Erik couldn't help but smile as he ignored court etiquette and hugged Daenarys with all his might.
Murmurs roamed the room, with numerous nobles looking at the two with confusion, envy, or a combination of both. Before it could take off, however, Jaehaerys thankfully dismissed the court, with those remaining in the hall being the Kingsguards, her family, and, Alarra, who's giving Erik an amused look. As the rest of her children surrounded Erik, with joys of laughter and smiles plastering their faces, Jaeharys coughed, shifting the attention of his children towards him. Erik bowed again, causing a minute shift on her beloved's face before reverting to neutrality.
"Erik, it's good to see you home." Jaehaerys started, as the children allowed them space to talk, though not without trouble, as her current second youngest continued to cling on to her half-brother's leg.
"It's no trouble, your Grace. I enjoyed my time in Winterfell immensely. Lord Stark has given me the most wonderful of experiences." Erik replied, the grimace on Jaehaerys' face quickly surfacing before resetting. Thankfully, it was only her that saw it.
"Is that so? Then I'd best send a letter to Lord Stark." Erik nodded stoically. Before any awkward moments could appear, she entered the stage, coughing to gain the attention of the two.
"It's good to see you well, Erik. Your mother is quite happy when she heard you're returning for Daenarys' nameday." Erik let out a surprised sound upon hearing her words, with Erik's mother giving him a happy look on the side.
"It's also good to see you well, your Highness. I do hope that your childbirth is a smooth one." She hummed at his words, her hands caressing her stomach.
"I concur with your words, young Erik. In any case, I do hope that you enjoy your time in the Red Keep. Daenarys' nameday is a few days ahead, so you still have time to re-integrate on the Red Keep." Erik nodded as her children bombarded Erik with questions.
As the children distracted Erik, she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned to look at her husband, who gave her a loving look, "Don't worry, dear. I'll ensure that Erik remains for a year before he returns back to Winterfell. If Erik could heal back Daenerys from the brink of death, then so too can Erik heal your health."
She could only nod at her husband's words, cuddling closer to his warmth as they looked at the children.