Son of a legend

by Majannajsnns89

Ever since he was a kid he had always dreamed of being a WWE superstar just like his mom, he wanted to be idolized and become a Champion.

2. Be

Right from their wedding night Rhaenyra and Laenor tried everything they could think of to copulate, going from using wooden toys to drinking cocktails that allegedly brought arousal to the ones who drank it.

Nevertheless, nothing worked.

They were both getting desperate; Rhaenyra had a duty as the Crown Princess to produce Heirs to support her claim to the throne and Laenor to continue his Velaryon lineage and give his father a boy to raise to become the next Lord of the High Tides.

Soon, three months had passed and the rumors started. No one would dare to say it to their faces, but they could feel the stares. It was rather hard for both of them because half of the servants knew and blamed Laenor for his inclinations and the other half pitied the Princess, wondering if her mother's birth issues were passed on to her and fearing for her health shall she continue her attempts to have a baby.

Not even her dragon, her beautiful Syrax, could assuage her fears. She would feel better while her girl kept her company, but she could not possibly be with her dragon all the time and whenever she left, the melancholy would once more take over her, bringing with it a restlessness that did not allow her a good night of sleep.

Rhaenyra had taken to hiding in her rooms every night, weeping as quietly as she could so she wouldn't scare or worry her cousin, but in the night it completed two weeks of her withdrawing, Laenor put an end to it by holding her doors open until she crumbled against his chest, crying out all her anguish through sobs that rocked her whole figure till she had not more tears to shed and slept the entire night uninterrupted, curled against him.

On the morrow, she was awakened with news of an invitation; Lord Corlys and Princess Rhaenys were inviting them to commemorate their 22th.

The idea of seeing her adored cousin Laena, whom she loved so very much, and her adored uncle gladdened Rhaenyra. Albeit still being mad at him, Daemon always managed to bring her out of her shell whenever her thoughts consumed her.

They traveled together on the very next day, each riding their own dragon and landed on Driftmark just in time for lunch.

It had been a much needed break, for both of them. Laenor already felt lighter with his older sister by his side, Rhaenyra could finally ignore her pressing duties for the sake of simply having fun and when the night came, the married 'couple' got ready for the ball with twin smiles on their faces.

Rhaenyra had chosen a well-cut black dress to show her curves and Laenor wore a silver piece to match hers.

The feast had been a delight. She and Laenor danced together for a couple dances and then exchanged partners; Laenor with Laena and Rhaenyra being guiden by Daemon. Her uncle, obviously, used the dance as a chance to apologize, and she had been holding on to too many grudges to simply not give him her forgiveness. Daemon made her happier than she'd been in moons and soon the Princess found herself truly forgetting what she was trying so hard not to remember.

Once their dances ended, Rhaenyra parted ways with her uncle and went to locate her husband, only to find him in tears by his sister's side in the gardens.

Laena saw her before she could make her way back to the halls, extending a hand and signing her to come closer. After a quick look around to ensure herself no one was prying on them, Rhaenyra approached.

Discovering Laenor - in his drunk state - had told his Laena about the problems they faced behind doors had been humiliating. Rhaenyra always looked up to Laena; her cousin was so beautiful and had such a carefree personality she could not help herself from admiring her and did not like the idea of Laena looking down on her, much less the thought of her cousin thinking her incapable of successfully seducing a man. But Laena - beautiful Laena - simply laced her fingers to Rhaenyra's and told them both she had the solution for their problems.

Her cousin did not elaborate and simply asked the Princess to bring Laenor to their rooms and make him presentable before getting up, fixing her dress and her hair and, after looking at them with one last glance that was full of self-confidence, leaving the gardens in a poised walk.

That night, after helping Laenor bathe and regain his common sense, the 'couple' received a visit to their chambers; Daemon and Laena walked out of a secret passage by the fireplace.

Rhaenyra was the first to react, rising from where she was sitting. "What is the meaning of this?"

"Come now, cousin," Laena started, leaving an amused Daemon's side to come close to her. The woman, who had a few inches on her, looked down. "I've seen the way you look at me sometimes, whenever you believe I'm not looking."

Against Rhaenyra's wishes, her face began to burn. Laena grabbed her face by the chin and nodded her head towards Daemon. "And I've seen the way you look at my husband; it's the same look I've seen in my brother."

A strange noise escaped Laenor's throat as he tried to find something to say. He seemed to be fairing even worse than Rhaenyra, scrambling backwards as Daemon left his spot by the fireplace and approached him.

It feels like a feverish dream. Rhaenyra could not stop looking from Daemon to Laena, both standing there, imposing, so sure of themselves and on the success of their risky plan they seemed to not even care about the consequences should Laenor or she ever tell a soul what they just said.

"Do you know how I know about this?" Laena asked, staring straight into her lips while passing a thumb on her cousin's lips. Daemon chuckled from somewhere on Rhaenyra's right, but she couldn't take her eyes away from Laena now, not yet. "Because I know I also look towards you when you aren't looking."

It felt like being burned. She felt her body getting warmer, the beating of her heart rising unsteadily and by her side Daemon was whispering sweet dirty words to both Laenor and she, making it even harder to think.

The next hour passed fast after that, the four of them falling into bed in a mess of limbs and for the first time since their marriage, Laenor managed to climax inside of her, with Daemon coaching him from behind while Laena ordered them around from her place on the large bed, satiated.

They left three days later and once three moons passed, their prayers were attended; she was pregnant. Laenor had been extremely invested, and catered to her every need.

In two moons news of Laena's twins being born came through their exchanged letters, the four of them excited at the prospect that their children would be so close in age.

Once more she saw herself flying to meet her cousin and uncle. Laena was obviously tired, yes, but she had a bright smile on her face as she showed them her girls, two small bundles with faces' that looked so much like her cousin Rhaenyra almost cried. Daemon was running around to pamper Laena with sweets and water and when he wasn't getting something for her, he was sitting by her side, staring at the twins.

Later, while Laena rested, Rhaenyra had Rhaena in her arms while Laenor held Baela. They looked exactly alike and the princess could see her uncle's nose on both the kids.

It was only when Rhaenys and Corlys arrived that she realized they needed to return, they couldn't stay as long as they wanted because she had duties back in the Red Keep and she was already pushing it by coming to visit.

Her beautiful babe came to the world four moons later; her first-born son, Jacaerys, the picture of a pure Targaryen, her heir.

Laena had traveled all the way from Dragonstone with both Baela and Rhaena on her arms and spent Rhaenyra's entire birth hours together with her, holding her hand and trying to keep the Princess calm as she cried and feared facing the same trials her mother had. She would not survive if her baby was a stillborn, she wouldn't.

But Jacaerys came to the world screaming at the top of his lungs, as healthy as they came, with hair so white and soft she could not stop herself from keep touching it and pressing his small head to her cheeks.

With Jace in her arms, she could now face the lords of the Realm, the queen, the Hand and the servants with her head held right. She had done her part, fulfilled her duty and once again felt the pride of being a dragon again. On top of that, Syrax had just finished nesting three eggs - one of which was put on her babe's cradle and when ratched, would be Jacaerys'.

She'd kept her son hidden as long as she could, taking him only to see his grandsire before bringing him back to his chambers, but as Jace grew so did the need to take him out to see the world.

When the boy completed three moons, she began to take him into the gardens, spending her noons there with the babe on her lap. Laenor would be with them as much as he could, sometimes even taking the babe and she with him on short trips on one of his ships and he insisted on taking Jace for a ride in Seasmoke too, but she declined it, wanting Jace's first fly to be with her. Since Laenor already had taken him on his first sail, he consented and when her girl recovered from her nesting, the Princess took Jacaerys with her to overfly King's Landing.

With Jace being shown around, however, came vile rumors questioning her poor babe's paternity. The harsher ones suggested he was actually Daemon's child and could only have one source, but neither Rhaenyra or her husband could prove it so they endured the hushed out comments with practiced ease and settled for smiling falsely at the Hand whenever graced with an opportunity.

Alicent kept trying to talk to her when they crossed each other in the gardens. Her childhood friend seemed exhausted and was always surrounded by her two kids and babe, Rhaenyra's new brother who was just a few moons younger than her firstborn, Daeron. The princess was too upset to even try and pretend to accept the niceties and escaped as soon as she could.

The humiliation felt hot in her belly; while it was true she jumped on Daemon as a starved dragon, even in the middle of their euphoria that night her uncle had not come inside her. Jacaerys was not the first Targaryen-Velaryon to be born with only Targaryen's features and it was absurd to think differently. Yes, her son's skin was as light as hers, and his hair did not have the same texture as a Velaryon usually did, but his eyes and eyebrow had the same shape as his grandmother Rhaenys - a bit downwards.

Thankfully, upon hearing the rumors, her father was quick to define any comments regarding Jace's parentage treason; his grandson was Laenor's son and whoever dared to imply otherwise would lose their heads for it.

Life at the Keep was calmer after that. Jace was an easy boy to raise, mostly spending his days dozing off or giggling at his father's silly plays and was reaching each milestone from the books with at least a moon to spare.

Corlys and Rhaenys positively doted on him, - as did her father, giving Jace toys and sweets and talking about scheduled playdates all the time - sometimes bringing Laena and the twins with them since her uncle had once again been exiled. Rhaena and Baela were becoming even more beautiful as they aged and already were able to walk and babble some words. Jace was only now learning how to walk so he often followed the girls around by crawling, to their amusement.

But the Velaryon-Targaryen couple didn't visit only to see their grandson; they also wanted to encourage Rhaenyra and Laenor to have another heir - this one to be Laenor's successor as the heir of Driftmark. Corlys may not have said it, but the princess could feel it and Rhaenys had no qualms to ask her for another son when she managed to get alone with her a couple of nights later, so when they received the invitation to the Laena's name-day celebration, it felt like the Gods were offering the perfect excuse to spend a few days away from home.

Their stay at Dragonstone had once again been filled with sneaking around and jesting. Rhaenyra hadn't admitted it to Laenor, knowing it was difficult for him to be a part of that arrangement, but she had been dreaming about a repetition for moons now and being finally able to kiss Laena and Daemon again was all she could think about when she was alone late at night.

Jacaerys had also been ecstatic at the prospect of spending some time with his cousins; her boy absolutely loved the twins - he could barely understand what was happening around him, but once he was put close to the girls he had forgotten completely about his parents and had toddled around with them to here the maids were leading them.

It had been a wonderful week, for all of them, and as they flew back to King's Landing, Rhaenyra had a smug smile on her face and knew, by the way Syrax was sending static energy through their bond, that the seed had once again taken.

The confirmation came barely two months later, when she began to feel nauseous in the morning. Her father had been static, ordering a tourney to celebrate and congratulating his child and Laenor over and over again as they stood in front of him and the rest of the lords present.

After the announcement, the preparations began. She sent the news to Laena and Daemon to Laenor's parents and they all reunited a few moons later to celebrate and search for the new babe's name. It took them longer than Jacaerys' name because both her and Laenor wanted something close to Jahaerys when they picked their first-born name. Now, however, there were so many possibilities that it took several weeks of research for them to decide. Took them moons to finally make a decision; the babe would be called Visenya - a name she always loved and desired to put on a child in the event she had a girl - and Lucerys if it were a boy.

This time around her pregnancy passed as fast and smoothly and when the time came she was not as scared as before, when she feared to follow her mother's footsteps on her birthing bed. Still, the labor took hours to end and Rhaenyra was at the end of her forces when the child's head left her body. There were cheers and congratulatory words for a well done job at her direction as they took her child away for examination. Rhaenyra had yet to hear her child's cry and soon the thoughts of her dear late mother and the chain of still-born babes she had to endure invaded her delicate mind and she began to struggle to sit up.

Laenor had been in the rooms the entire time, holding her hand for support, and only left her to check on their child. The Maester in charge was pressing against the newborn's chest, trying to make him breath.

Rhaenyra was exhausted and already in the beginnings of a fit of terror - heart pounding desperately against her chest and breath coming short - as she tried to understand what was happening; no one in the room was telling her anything, for the maids holding her down also didn't know. There were a bunch of people surrounding the newborn and they couldnt see anything.

And then soft, weeping sounds began to sound from somewhere in the room.

"It's a miracle, a gift from the Gods!"

It was Laenor who acted, taking his child away from the nosy lookers as soon as the Maester that had been examining the babe allowed. The man then crossed the room in large steps and quickly put the small bundle in his wife's arms for her to look at.

"He's fine, 'Nyra, he's fine." He comforted, trying to calm her down but his words went above her head for she felt as if she were underwater, tears already wetting her red face as she he held the babe close, hands scrambling to take the cloth off his face to ensure he was safe and sound, but only truly began to get a hold of herself when the small mouth moved into a pout and she realized the sounds - the small whimpers and sniffs she had been hearing - came from the newborn babe.

A boy, Laenor said it was a boy. Her young Lucerys.

The Princess kissed his tiny head with a smile, rubbing her cheek against his as she laughed wetly. "Shh, Issa tresy, (my son)" She murmured, feeling the exhaustion taking a hold of her body as her eyelids became heavy. "Aōha muña iksos kesīr. (now mother is here)"

Her eyes closed against her will, but she feared not; she knew Laenor would protect their children.

Luke had been born dead. That was all Rhaenyra had thought about for the first week she had her babe in her arms, holding him closer each time she remembered it.

She did not wish to talk about it, but everyone kept bringing it up during the first moons of Lucerys' life, calling it a miracle, a gift from the Seven. Rhaenyra did not care what it was, she just wanted to forget those minutes of pure horror she felt and cherish her second chance.

And what a second chance it was. With Lucerys' birth, the rumors contesting his older brother's parentage disappeared completely. While Luke looked exactly like a Targaryen, with a skin whiter than hers and eyes a shade so unique of purple it looked almost blue, the charming mole underneath his eye that he shared with his grandfather and a reddish birthmark on his nape - at the same spot and with the exact same format as his father's - silenced anyone that still dared to comment on the subject.

Corlys had been extremely smug by the discovery, parading Luke around the Red Keep and putting his face beside the boy's every time he saw someone whom he had not yet shown the resemblance.

Jacaerys' attachment was even worse than when Luke was still on her belly; he followed his brother everywhere and wanted nothing more than to have him in his arms all the time, sometimes throwing a fit when not allowed to cuddle with Luke on the middle of his legs. It was always amusing to see a small boy of two name days with a babe between his legs.

Rhaenys was also taken by the newborn and always took him and Jace to stay around the gardens for a couple hours while Laenor and Rhaenyra collapsed in bed.

Being a parent was harder than any of them could expect, especially considering Lucerys was not exactly what one would call a normal child - the boy was too quiet for his own good, crying silently whenever he wished to be fed, or to have his clothes to be changed, or anything regarding him needing to be catered for.

Jacaerys, on the other hand, had always been the complete opposite and made sure to make his mind known. It was a strange contrast for her and she knew Laenor also struggled with it as he went to look for Lucerys every few minutes to check on the boy.

As the months passed and Luke still did not cry out loud, they started worrying something was wrong with his vocal cords. Rhaenyra took him to every Master she could find and when she was too busy with her duties, Laenor stepped in and brought Luke to the appointments.

In reality Luke simply did not seem to have any desire to fit the norm, as it was proved by the fact that after her son's egg was put into his cradle it only took a month close to the boy for it to hatch and a baby dragon - a pearl-colored small dragon - struggling to get off of it with high pitched cries that had woken the entire family and caused them to run through the Keep in desperation only to find the four moon's old babe curled around his dragon, sleeping soundly - the shells of the dragon's egg by his side.

The morning after, they tried to separate the boy and the beast by having the dragon keepers bring the small dragon to the Dragon Pit, but for the first time in his young life Lucerys bawled, crying himself straight into a point where he couldn't breath. It had been a disaster, they didn't know what to do, but at least now they knew there was nothing wrong with the boy's voice.

Rhaenys kept repeating they couldn't just keep a dragon - even if it was a babe one - on the Keep and Rhaenyra was inclined to agree, but once Laenor hurriedly entered the rooms, worried about what was happening, with Jace in his arms and her other boy also started crying, she had to give in.

In the end, they had taken the issue to her father.

"Your Grace, I cannot help but advise against it." Otto Hightower said.

"Nonsense, Otto. The boy is attached to his dragon and the beast is still too young to hurt someone, it'll be fine." Viserys had said, smiling down at his daughter before asking her to step closer and let him hold his grandson.

Luke accepted being passed on to her father without fuss and stood at the man's lap for the rest of the meeting, to the amusement of most of the court. Alicent, who sat at the king's side with her second son, Aemond, did not even try to hide her scowl; Viserys never took any of her children to sit on his lap during a meeting and barely gave them any attention.

The queen had been growing increasingly closed off the last few moons and while Rhaenyra didn't try or want to approach her, the Princess did feel a bit bad for the girl. From what the maids were saying, Alicent was now facing a mind illness that caused her supreme sadness and only spent time with her children.

Rhaenyra felt sorry for her siblings, she did. They had nothing to do with her father's fooleries or their mother's betrayal, but she was busier than ever these last few years with both her sons and duties in court, she couldn't take the little time away she had to spend with Jace and Luke from her children.

The whole family was in the gardens, aside from her father, and enjoying a nice warm summer day by drinking refreshments and eating delicacies that had just arrived the night before. Jacaerys was busy in a quest to find the most strange shaped rocks to show Laenor and Corlys, Rhaena was admiring some flowers and Baela was attempting to hide the rocks Jace found from him.

Her boy was the picture of a perfect heir and enjoyed having his hair just long enough to reach his shoulders. Jacaerys was still a few moons away from starting his classes as a prince, but her boy was already able to read small words and made friends with everyone he met, being absolutely loved around the Red Keep by all the inhabitants with very few exceptions.

As for Lucerys, having just completed ten full moons, was sitting as quiet as always in his grandmother's lap, playing with a bunch of colorful blocks. Laena had not yet stopped grabbing him every few minutes to smell his hair and coo over his cuteness, which made something Rhaenyra did not want to think about stirr in her belly.

Her sweet boy still woke up crying most of the days and sometimes he bursted out into tears so suddenly it scared her. Whenever he did cry while awake, he held on to his head. It worried her - it seemed she wasn't able to do much but worry about Luke - but she knew it couldn't possibly be healthy for him to grab into his hair and sob so quietly as he did, unconsolable for a reason they couldn't explain.

No matter how many Maesters they brought him to - Laenor even risked asking the Maesters from Dorne for help -, it seemed no one could explain what the problem was and the consensus was that Luke would face migraines his entire life.

She had broken out in cries for weeks after hearing the news, but after the babe completed nine moons they were finally able to offer Luke a respite to his suffering by giving him a few amounts of milk of the poppy.

"It's quite a feat," Rhaenys stated, talking about the boy's stocking-up-blocks skills. Her youngest had been fixated on the blocks for a while now. "Lucerys' a very smart babe."

Upon hearing his name, Luke looked up at Rhaenys. Seeing the queen who never was with Lucerys on her lap was an ominous experience, of sorts. She always noticed that Rhaenys had an intense gaze and so did Luke, who ever since he was able to open his eyes looked at her with eyes so deep she could not help but describe as mystical. With both of them looking at her now, she felt as if they were staring deep into her. Laenor, as if reading her thoughts, said the same thing in her ear.

This time around, Daemon was also in the Red Keep. Her father had once again uplifted her uncle's exile, so obviously the first thing Daemon did was to take his family to King's Landing so he could bother his older brother and the Hand.

Her father had been in a good humor these last few moons, though. After the whole situation with Lucerys' dragon, he started saying it was a sign from the Gods that he was on the right path. Rhaenyra did not know if she agreed, exactly, but anything that made him feel better was a bonus in her opinion.

As it is, Daemon was not having enough fun torturing lords at the court with his inane comments and so the best next thing was to try and find something else to entertain himself with. It seemed that something was to try and get Lucerys to speak.

She did not bother to tell him the babe was still too young.

"Skoros ēnka iksos bisy? (what color is this one?)" Her uncle asked, poking a red block on the top of Luke's little castle and Lucerys - once again maintaining his pattern of surprising everyone at the most unexpected moments, answered him back in the cutest high pitched voice.

"Mele! (red)" The boy said, looking up at his great uncle with a beautiful smile.

"Did you- did you hear that?" Laenor shrieked, his voice breaking in a few syllables from the surprise.

Corlys put all of Jace's rocks on the floor - to Baela's delight - and Laena almost fell in the rush to get closer.

"Yes, yes I heard it!" Rhaenyra almost shouted, putting the basket of sweets that were in her lap on the grass and moving towards her son. "Can you say it again, sweet boy? What color is it?" But Luke just stared at her, face back to that blank expression of always. Before she could even feel disappointed, Daemon nudged Luke's small foot.

"Se bisy? (and this one?)" He asked, this time pointing at a green block.

"Ka'ta! (green)" Luke immediately answered.

Daemon shot her a look so full of meanings Rhaenyra felt all the air leave her lungs. Could it be possible? "Lucerys," she started. The boy turned his attention from Daemon to her. "Kostagon ao vestragon muñnā? (can you say mother?)"

"Muñnā!" The boy shouted, little hands bumping on the small castle he made and knocking down the blocks. "Muñnā!"

"Can you say mother?" Laenor, who also picked up on the new development, asked. As expected, Lucerys did not even acknowledge him. "Lucerys, kostagon ao vestragon kepa? (can you say father?)"

"Ke'a. (father)" Luke butchered out, picking up a block and shaking it.

"Are you shitting me?" Laena asked, her mouth open in an undignified way.

"Laena!" Rhaenys and Corlys admonished her half-mindedly and before they could ask Luke to say something else, Daemon grabbed the babe, lifting the boy by his armpits until their faces were at the same level. Lucerys' hand shot up to grab his great uncle's hair. "Skorkydoso glaesā? (how are you?)" Her uncle asked.

"''ȳz! (good)."

Daemon turned to her, his face the smuggiest she'd ever seen - especially for someone whose hair was being stuffed into a child's mouth. "So, niece, how did you manage to raise a child that only understands High Valyrian?"

Notes:

lucerys/aegon the entire chapter: what did she sayyyyy

rhaenyra @laena: mommy, sorry, mommy? lmao i didnt mean to do it, my hands slipped

BTW Daemyra were never seen when they went out so Otto is still there

Chapter 2: Prologue pt.2

Notes:

I'm soooo sorry for the delay, I had a bunch of assignments to do these days and I couldn't take more than one hour to write per day so it took a long time for this chapter to get ready and then I had to fix it because english is not my mother tongue plus my vocabulary in english when it comes to formal stuff is basic at best so sometimes I use the same words repetitively and I end up having to search for synonyms and it is hard work, I'll tell you that. My internet history is basically "how do you say * in a formal way?", "* synonyms", "* antonyms" LMAO

Thank you so much for the comments! I loved every and each one of them!

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

There was nothing that could stop her family from rounding up on Luke and asking question after question to the boy. She had never seen Lucerys so happy, he was such a serious child. Now he was all smiles and giggles as he butchered his words, answering everything they wanted as best as he could, and it was adorable to hear her mother tongue in such a young voice.

Lucerys also had an accent different from almost everyone she'd ever met. The only person she had heard pronounce High Valyrian like that was her grandfather himself, Baelon.

Her son only understanding their ancient language was a problem, though, and she couldn't bear the thought that the boy may want to communicate with those around him but not be able to because he couldn't understand.

And what would be of Luke in the future if he never became fluent in the common tongue? Some Targaryen never truly learn High Valyrian, what if it's the same with her sweet boy and he found himself only knowing a few phrases? Luke would be lord of Driftmark one day, and he was a prince. He needed to speak the people's language.

Still, the matter of who taught Luke the language still stood, considering no one spoke the language around the boy apart from a few words exactly because they feared the child would pick up on the Valyrian language instead of the common tongue, the one the men spoke.

No one in the garden admitted having done it, so it could not have been them. Rhaenyra herself only talked to her children when she was saying good morning, good night or a few other greetings she thought they should know.

Of course, she sang to them the Valyrian songs her mother had sung to hear as a child, but she did not have long conversations with them in their ancient language and she definitely did not teach them color.

Laenor was not the best in High Valyrian – he had learned, it was expected of him as Heir of Driftmark – but years of not speaking the language made his fluency suffer a bit, therefore he was also ruled off.

By the rules of elimination there was only one person left, which was why Laenor and she were bringing their children to the King's chambers after spending an entire afternoon of the adults, and children, fawn over their youngest's voice.

Jace had actually gotten into his first fight with the twins over Lucerys, because Baela and Rhaena decided Luke would now be their brother.

They only calmed down once Laenor said they could all be siblings together, and by the time they left the gardens Jace had started to call the twins his sisters and they were even closer than before.

"Rytsa, Luce! (hi!)" Jacaerys shouted again in her arms, his high voice right beside her left ear hurting her a little, but she ignored it. Jace became obsessed with speaking to his brother now that he knew the younger boy was capable of answering, but he didn't know many words in High Valyrian, so he kept asking her or his father to translate it to him.

It was the fifth time he said 'hi' to Luke, as always messing up his brother's nickname because he still couldn't make his tongue form the 'K' – something that always made her giggle and want to bite his puffy cheeks. Her babe boy was so cute it was unbearable sometimes.

"'y'sa!" Lucerys shouted back in his father's arms, Laenor walking slowly beside her, as amused as her. And that was another thing; Luke didn't seem to mind being greeted the same way again and again, he always answered with the same enthusiasm as the first time.

Jace squirmed in her arms, giggling. "Mama, he sai' it bac' again!"

The two of them had not yet stopped when they reached her father's chambers. Jacaerys momentarily forgot about the knowledge that his brother could now talk to him in favor of greeting Ser Androw and Ser Robert with a large smile and a bunch of questions. The two men smiled back, already taken by her son and his bright personality from the other times they met each other. Lucerys, on the other hand, just waved one hand at them, stuffing the other one in his mouth.

Jace had always been the extroverted one.

The knights didn't even ask her father if they were allowed in and simply opened the doors, Ser Androw announcing them just a few seconds before she entered.

Her father was staring at a few papers he had in his hand, but as she entered, he was already putting them down the divan and walking up to them, slowly and lethargic. "Rhaenyra, my child. Did I forget we had an appointment today?"

"No, father." Viserys was already extending his hands to greet Jacaerys with a handshake that only the two of them knew. Jace had a special handshake for everyone in the family, the newest addition being Daemon. "We- I found out something of importance today."

Hearing the worry she wasn't able to hide in her voice, the man signaled the chairs by his side, his expression closing off. "Well, sit down. Tell me everything."

Rhaenyra put Jace down first so she could gather her skirts, picking the boy up once she was sitting. Jace curled into her immediately, resting his head on her shoulder. He was probably tired after missing his afternoon nap, too excited to spend some time with the twins to care about sleeping. Luke on the other hand had nodded off quite a few times during their little picnic and was now wide awake. "Father, have you been talking to Lucerys in High Valyrian? Teaching him colors?"

Her father frowned, looking from her to Laenor in confusion. "Why? What's the matter?"

"It will be easier if we show you, Your Grace." Laenor put Lucerys on the carpet in front of them, the boy immediately using his hands to hold himself into place in spite of his father's leg being pressed against his back to support him right after. "Luke, skoros ēnka iksos bisa (what color is this)?" Laenor leaned down and pointed at the carpet.

"'āsos! (brown)" Luke exclaimed. "'āpa! (soft)"

In a flash, her father's exhaustion seemed to leave his body as he shoved himself off the divan and sat on his knees in front of Lucerys. "What is the meaning of this?"

"There's more, father."

"Lucerys, what colors is this?" Laenor repeated on the common tongue, pointing at the table. This time, Luke didn't answer, his eyebrows coming together as they always did when he was confused by something.

"What- how?"

"We found out he understands High Valyrian today, and only High Valyrian. No one fluent in the language admitted having taught him."

Wonder shined in the king's eyes. She had never seen him this way, not even when during those several times he found out her mother was once again pregnant.

"How is this possible?"

His reaction told her everything she needed to know, but she still asked. "It wasn't you, then? You didn't teach him?"

"I can't say that I have, no. I never speak our ancient language these days." His hands hovered over her son's small body as the man stared with awe. "It can only be a gift, a gift from the gods."

"How can it be a gift, father? He's unable to communicate with his peers. The first years are extremely important for a child's social development and Lucerys will be behind everyone else because he can't talk!" All the anxiety she felt ever since the discovery came out and she felt shame wash over her. All those years, all those betrayals she faced by her own father, and she still broke down at the first opportunity she had to be close to him.

"Rhaenyra, we will teach him." Laenor was the first to speak.

"What if we can't Laenor? He doesn't know a single word! He doesn't know mother, or father. He doesn't know what 'hi' means!"

Jacaerys seemed to understand something was wrong because he lifted his head and blinked worriedly at her. "Mama's sad?"

She laughed wetly, blinking fast to chase the tears away. "No, my love. Mama is fine, it's all fine."

Her firstborn kept staring for a few more moments before deciding she was telling the truth and laying his head on her shoulder again.

Her father came to stand in front of her and held her hands onto his. Laenor watched the scene from his place near Luke, his face almost a mirror of Jace's from a few seconds before.

"He'll learn, Rhaenyra. A child so young speaking like this? Lucerys is smart, he'll learn it in no time, I'll make sure of it." She bit her lip to stop it from trembling, gripping her father's hands tightly. "I'll hire the best tutors we have, all of them. Whatever is necessary, he'll have it, child. I promise you."

Part of her wanted to scoff at the promise, remembering how many times he broke it and left her to fend for herself. The many times he avoided her after the news that her siblings had been stillborn, the time after her mother died. The time he married her best friend and was too much of a coward to face her and admit his deceit.

Despite it all, he was all she had left. He was her only parent alive, her father, and she would always believe him.

"Alright, alright."

The king smiled, patting her knee softly before turning around to go back to Luke.

"Now I want to see what else my youngest grandson knows." He nudged Luke's foot the same way her uncle had hours ago. "Lucerys, gaomagon ao gīmigon qilōni nyke? (do you know who I am?)"

"Muñna ke'a! (Mother's father)." They laughed at that.

"Muñkepa, vēzos. (grandsire, darling.)" She corrected.

Luke crawled to his grandfather, climbing into the man's lap. "'I'pa Bae'ion! (rode Balerion)"

Her father laughed in delight. "Who taught him that? Yes, I did ride Balerion."

"It was probably my mother." Laenor laughed, but Rhaenyra for some reason felt a malaise install itself on her chest.

That very same night, when she put Lucerys in his cradle, Rhaenyra remembered the other problem.

The dragon.

The silver beast had been growing in an alarming rate and was now at the same size of a horse, despite having born barely three moons past, big enough to hurt someone but not to kill them.

Soon he would be too dangerous to be kept inside and Rhaenyra dreaded the conversation she would need to have with her boy regarding the dragon's new placement.

For some reason, Lucerys hated the pit. Every time Laenor or she tried to get the dragonkeepers to bring the dragon there, Lucerys would go from a quiet, calm babe to a raging 2,5 feet storm and since the beast had never hurt or tried to hurt anyone, she was willing to ignore it.

For now.

Rhaenys wasn't very much in agreement with her, but Rhaenys wouldn't be the one who had to deal with an angry Lucerys so she had no say in the matter.

They would need to solve the issue with the dragon soon, however.

As soon as Luke's bum hit the sheets, the boy turned around on his belly and crawled closer to his dragon, fitting his little hand between the bars until he could touch his dragon's muzzle.

"A'x!"

"Is that his name, sweet boy?" She asked, caressing her son's head. She would never get over how his and Jace's hair were soft.

"Mmmm, A'x!"

The dragon snorted, drops of mucus hitting the ground, but Luke didn't care and just giggled. Rhaenyra smiled, shaking her head. Nothing would ever make Lucerys happier than his dragon, it seemed.

She let them have a few minutes together before the tiredness in her legs turned too much. She had been walking around all morning to make sure all her duties were done and that she could spend the day with her family.

"Alright, love, now it's time to rest."

Luke went willingly, laying down unmoving as he waited for her to tuck him in, big eyes staring deep into hers and he blinked drowsily, little mouth opening in a yawn.

She bent over to kiss him on the forehead and began singing her favorite song as a child. Lucerys seemed satisfied by that and managed to stay awake just long enough for Laenor to come give him a kiss, a sleepy Jace in his arms.

She closed the doors behind her and turned to bump on her firstborn's nose, making him giggle. "Alright. Let's put this one to bed."

"Good morning." Was what Rhaenyra first heard as she came into consciousness. She scrunched up her nose, trying to hide her face on the pillow beneath her, only it wasn't a pillow because it was just the right amount of warmth and soft in a way only human flesh could be.

Oh, right.

That was why she was so well rested; all the exercise she had done the night before.

It had been her idea, this time. The danger of being caught by one of the many servants only making her feel hotter and the others, well, none of them seemed to care much about being seen in the first place.

Hands started massaging her head, then, and she hummed. "Good morning."

When Rhaenyra opened her eyes, she saw a pale chest on the corner of her eyes; Daemon. The man was still sleeping, face turned to the side to try and escape the sunlight.

The Princess turned around to see who had talked to her and saw Laenor sleeping with his head on Daemon's arm, but her attention was quickly stolen by Laena, who was walking around gloriously naked with a cup of tea on her hands and Rhaenyra felt more than a part of her awake at that.

She rubbed her legs together. "Fuck." She murmured quietly.

"You should have seen the servant's face when she saw me. I think she knows." Laena laughed, laying down on the divan to grab a bread made with cheese.

"You're insane." Rhaenyra whispered so as not to wake the others, laying back down on Daemon's chest. "They already talk, you know?"

"And what will they say? That we ditched our husbands to sleep together?" Laena giggled. "They may believe it when it comes to my little brother, but Daemon? He has quite the reputation."

"I care not for my reputation so long as you let me watch." Daemon's voice came out raspy in the way that made Rhaenyra's toes curl. "Good morning, my darlings."

"Be quiet, Laenor's still asleep." Rhaenyra kissed his lips.

Daemon tried to grab her with his free arm, but she kissed his chest and moved away, walking up to Laena, who offered her a cup of her own tea.

"Thank you."

"Ah, ah, ah." Laena moved the cup away. "A kiss for a tea."

Rhaenyra rolled her eyes, but the smile on her face betrayed her giddiness. "That does not rhyme."

"And yet I got my kiss." Laena brought one for Daemon, who was now cuddling a barely awake Laenor. The man held Laena's hand and gave it a kiss.

"I wish we could spend our mornings this way forever," Rhaenyra murmured, watching them together.

She was her happiest when she had them with her, all three of them.

"You'll be leaving today by night?" The Princess asked, already knowing she wouldn't be seeing them until then. Her morning would be busy after two days of relaxation and since it was a council day, so would her afternoon.

"Yes, we can't stay away for much longer."

The Princess nodded, of course. She understood.

A knock sounded through the room, so soft they almost didn't hear it, but the seriousness of the conversation made silence reign on the room.

Laenor, who was still in the process of waking up, jumped from the bed stark naked and went looking around for his trousers. "By the gods, you two need to go."

"Who is it? How do they just come in like that?" Laena whisper-shouted harshly as she put on her clothes.

This time the knock wasn't so soft. It was strong, so strong it made the door move and the walls tremble.

Rhaenyra jumped from her spot, grabbing onto Laenor's arm.

"Fuck, what was that?" Daemon grabbed Dark sister, signaling for the other three to stay behind him as he stalked closer to the doors.

Rhaenyra let out a suffocated scream when the doors and walls trembled again. Her uncle began to turn on the key. "Uncle, don't! Don't!"

"A'x, stop!" A tiny, high-pitched voice came from the other side of the doors and they all stared at each other in incredulity before Daemon quickly unlocked the doors and opened them.

There, standing in front of them was Lucerys and Ax, the babe using the dragon to keep himself standing.

"Lucerys!" Rhaenyra ran past Daemon and gathered her son in her arms. "What are you doing here? How did you get here?"

"D'os. (walls)" The babe pointed nonsensically. "A'x i'on (go)."

"What?" She asked, not understanding.

Luke ignored her question, his child attention spam making him squeal in delight when he saw Daemon and he waved at him, who confusedly waved back. To a child so wary of strangers, Lucerys got comfortable with her uncle fast over the last two days.

Laena looked short of passing out, but she still managed greet him with a kiss on the cheek. Luke, copying what she just did, smacked his lips together and made a 'mwah' sound, ripping a disbelief laugh from the people in the room.

Then he saw Laenor.

"Ke'a!"

"Lucerys." Laenor smiled, still clutching his sword at the scare.

Daemon shook his head in amusement and sheered Rhaenyra inside the rooms again, stopping by the door and looking at the dragon, who also stopped following his future rider to stare at Daemon.

"Why is your child bringing a dragon around as if it were a pup?" Daemon asked, then he sighed tiredly. "Zira. (enter)"

Ax huffed as he walked in, Lucerys bending down on her arms so he could touch his dragon. Her uncle closed the doors behind them.

Neither him nor Laena believed her and Laenor's talk about Lucerys' dragon not staying in the Pit until they saw it by themselves, but from that to Luke bringing the dragon from his room to theirs without causing a panic was a jump.

Rhaenyra sat down as soon as she came close to the divan, legs still weak from the scare. "Lucerys," She began.

"A'x." At that the boy babe-talked his way to the end of the phrase. "D'a'one."

"What did he say?" Daemon frowned.

"He said he wants Ax to go to Dragonstone." Laenor translated, pausing on his words as if he wasn't sure of what he heard.

But it was what they said, a parent always understands its child, and despite how confusing it was that Luke would rather have Ax go to Dragonstone instead of just staying close to him in the Dragon Pit, Rhaenyra knew that's what the babe meant.

Should she let him make that decision? He was too young to know how hollow it felt to spend so much time away from your dragon.

Daemon kneeled in front of Lucerys. "Jāhor ao daor miss zirȳla? Jāhor ao daor miss zirȳla Ax lo nyke gūrogon zirȳla rūsīr issa? (Won't you miss him? Won't you miss Ax if I take him with me?)"

"'essa. (yes)" Luke agreed in that strange overly serious for a child face of his, deep eyes staring right into Daemon's. "A'x...e'on 'i'a'on. (Ax has to go)"

"He said yes, but that Ax has to go."

Rhaenyra looked at the dragon, but obviously nothing in the beast's eyes made her confirm what Lucerys was saying. Whatever a dragon wanted, or felt, only its rider could tell.

"My very own babe talker." Daemon teased Laenor, watching him blush avidly, but when he turned to Lucerys, he stopped smirking, matching the babe's seriousness. "Nyke shall gūrogon zirȳla naejot Zaldrīzesdōron, pār. (I shall take him to Dragonstone, then)"

Luke seemed satisfied with that and stopped his stare match with Daemon to look at Laenor instead. "'epa?"

"Hm?"

"'rugh. (I pooped)" He deadpanned.

After talking to Laenor about it, they both decided to let Ax fly over to Dragonstone with Laena and Daemon. If Lucerys wanted the dragon back, they just had to fly there and take Ax back, no harm done, and as a bonus they'd see the couple again.

They were all just waiting for Luke to ask for Ax back one day, but the boy never did and with Ax in Dragonstone she didn't need to find a solution for the ever-growing dragon and could now focus on her other problem: Luke's inability of understanding anything in the common language.

Her father tried his best to find someone that specialized in teaching children the common tongue, but it was harder than one would think. Not only was it rare to find such people, but they also had to wait for the advisors to check on the teachers' past and reputation; Lucerys was a prince, after all, and for that he would make an expensive bounty.

Everyday Laenor and she made Lucerys repeat a few words and taught him the meaning of them, but she could tell it was hard for the babe.

The solution to her problem came in the manner of a heavy brown package that the Princess received a moon later.

Rhaenyra knew who it was from before she even opened it by the way it was horribly wrapped, with uneven edges and too many strings.

"Daemon?" Laenor asked, taking his eyes off his own work from his chair by the window.

They'd been doing this ever since they got married, sitting together in the office, that is. It was a way for them to easily appear together without trying to and since both of them enjoyed each other's company, there's no cons for it.

"Yes." She nodded and looked around the table for a cut letter knife.

By the format, it could only be a book, but she's still delighted when she saw which one. "A TALE OF OLD VALYRIA" was what stood in the title. She remembered this book, remembered spending days and nights reading it, completely obsessed with it since the day Daemon first read it to her. She did not remember much of the times he did because she was too little, but there's a vague memory of her younger self between her uncle's legs, staring at the book full of words she could not understand as Daemon read it.

It took him a moon just to finish the first chapter, having stopped in every sentence to translate them word for word – for the book was written in High Valyrian. At the time her knowledge of High Valyrian was smaller than her height, but by the time Daemon was once again exiled, she could not only understand, but already read it on her own.

As she took the book out of the package, a nostalgic smile on her face, she saw he had also put a letter there.

He started by stressing out a possessive pronoun, successfully achieving what he probably wanted; for Rhaenyra to roll her eyes.

'My dear niece,

I noticed you were worried over Lucerys and his inability to speak the common tongue. While I thought it exquisite, at first, I now understand the boy may later find himself in a difficult situation should he not learn it fast.

I suggest you read and translate every word and sentence to him every day. It was how I taught you High Valyrian when you were little, and it is how my youngest nephew will learn the common language.

As the heir to the throne, Jacaerys must also learn our ancient tongue. Read it to both of them, and the desired results shall be achieved.

Always,

Daemon'

Rhaenyra lifted it in her hands, and turned it around, admiring the red cover. The book was in the same state as before and it was as big and majestic as she remembered. She couldn't help but settle to read a bit.

In the end, Rhaenyra spent so much time reading that she had to rush through her papers to finish them in time to see her children.

She greeted the servants as she went, because her mother taught her they're the people who royals spend more time around apart from each other and therefore having a good relationship with them was important.

Her boys were in the nursery, being watched by handmaids. Ever since Lucerys was able to sit on his own, she began to let him out of her chambers so he could be supervised by a maid in the nursery along with Jace while she went to work on her duties.

The royal nursery was the place all child princes and princesses spent most of their days, but Rhaenyra had never seen any of her siblings because Alicent's illness had worsened and she never let them leave her rooms, so it was a surprise to see all four of them together, standing far away from each other.

Aemond was on the opposite corner of Aegon's, sitting alone as Rhaenyra heard from the maids was something he was bound to do every day. Her brother was staring at a book that she recognized as well as the one she was holding, having spent many hours staring at it too. It was a figure book, its size almost as big as Aemond and it contained many pictures detailing the most glorious events of Westeros.

Helaena's handmaid was trying to get her to play with some toys while her little sister just kept staring at the wall where a couple of ants were carrying small crumbles of food.

Daeron, her youngest brother, was ripping off parts of a trinket she knew nothing of, but that to him seemed was quite interesting.

Even more unexpected was the sight of her children and Aegon together. The three of them were whispering things around, Lucerys between his brother's legs as Jace hugged him tight from behind and Aegon sitting cross legged in front of them, showing objects and toys to her boys before putting them on the ground.

She inched closer, trying to hear what they were saying.

"Se bisa? (and this)?" Aegon asked, the words coming out in the strange, forced way they do when one is not familiar with a language yet, lifting a wooden horse toy.

"Anne. (horse)" Lucerys answered and Jace, whose part in this conversation was to be the translator, repeated the same word, this time adding the consonants to it although he himself couldn't pronounce them sometimes.

It never failed to impress her how good her firstborn was at understanding his brother. Jace was getting better fast at his Valyrian and wanted to learn it quickly so he could talk with his baby brother. He managed to understand the way to pronounce Lucerys' words even when he couldn't speak the language himself.

Aegon nodded his head, and when her brother spoke next his pronunciation was almost perfect.

She frowned, trying to understand how he could say words in their ancient tongue in such a proficient way at times while sounding just like a dragonkeeper at others.

The answer came to her as soon as the question materialized in her head and Rhaenyra flushed in embarrassment. Of course Aegon would not know the correct pronunciation for Valyrian words, there was no one to teach him, only the Maesters who trained him just enough to be able control his Dragon, Sunfyre. The men didn't actually know the language themselves and the words they spoke had no real meaning to them.

Oh, how ashamed she was of herself at that moment, of her father. How could they let their family go around so oblivious to their culture? It was outrageous.

Even worse was seeing the proof that Aegon wanted to learn High Valyrian, was trying to learn it by himself and now that he found out a source – as unreliable as Lucerys was, considering the way the babe could not yet pronounce every syllable – he was thriving, and Luke, who usually was quiet and distant when he didn't know someone, seemed as loose as he was with all the other members of their family, as if he knew Aegon and liked him.

As Lucerys moved in his brother's arms, the Princess realized the reason why Jace was holding his brother so tight; Luke was trying to reach out to Aegon. Jacaerys was incredibly possessive of his baby brother and did not like it when other children were closer to Lucerys than him – well, except for Baela and Rhaena, her firstborn now saw them as siblings, which made her feel all sorts of bubbles on her stomach.

"Ae'on, Ae'on!" Luke repeated, clapping his small hands and Jace tried to get the babe to say his name, unsuccessfully.

Biting down on a laugh, she made the first sound since entering the room by grabbing a drink from the table pushed all the way to the wall, casually drawing attention to herself and the children's eyes turned to her.

Once Jace saw her, he got up and ran, little legs working fast. "Mama!" He hugged her legs, looking up with a beautiful smile.

Rhaenyra was quick to put the book beneath her arm and crouched down, giving her firstborn a kiss on the cheek and rubbing his arms. "Hello, my darling. Did you enjoy your day?"

"Yes! I pla'd with un' Aegon!" Jace exclaimed and Aegon shrank on himself when she looked at him, prompting an uncomfortable feeling to rise on her. She was never mean or rude to Aegon – never gave any reason for the boy to be afraid or tense around her so why was he?

"You did, huh?" Rhaenyra smiled at her boy, trying to get rid of the nagging feeling. "And how about we spend some time together now?"

Jacaerys nodded his head fast, silver curls going everywhere, and she laughed, running her fingers through the strands to get them back into place.

The Princess held her son's hand and guided him towards Lucerys. Her boy only glanced at her before returning his attention to the dragon toy Aegon was showing him before she made her presence known. Her brother, on the other hand, tensed as she got closer.

She stopped a few feet away from the children and extended a hand for Lucerys to grab, not wanting to make her sibling afraid of her. She may be his sister but he did not know her. He probably was simply on edge after having only Alicent as an adult for company for so long – apropos, where was their mother? "Māzigon, Lucerys. (come)"

Her babe pushed his little hands against the floor to help him get up, but lost his balance and was about to fall on his bottom when Aegon stretched out his arm, helping Luke keep standing.

"'imvos'. (thank you)" Her boy thanked, politely, but considering the way Aegon frowned, her brother did not know what Luke had said to him.

"He said thank you. Kirimvose." She explained, watching attentively Aegon's timid body expression. The boy nodded his head but did not say anything, so she asked Luke to come again.

Lucerys did, but not before grabbing hold of Aegon's hand and pulling the boy with him. Aegon, surprised, let Luke drag him a few steps forwards before coming to himself and putting his feet down.

Rhaenyra carefully lifted Jace in her arms so she could hide her smile in the toddler's hair.

Lucerys tried to keep pulling him, but when he couldn't he turned to Aegon, puffing his cheeks out. "Mā'i'on, Ae'on! (come, Aegon)" And when Aegon still wouldn't move, her babe turned his small face towards her, pleading for help. "Muña!"

"You could come with us." Rhaenyra offered, putting Jace down and lowering herself to Aegon's level so she wouldn't be so intimidating. "I'm about to read a book for them, a story of the beginning of our Targaryen history. There are battles, and dragons and," Rhaenyra said in a louder voice and looked around, catching Helaena, Aemond and Daeron's eyes. Helaena was staring at her unblinkingly while Aemond pretended he wasn't listening, eyes hidden by his book but head inclining to her direction. Daeron had his hand shoved in his mouth, but he was listening attentively.

Even without knowing it, Lucerys was giving her the perfect opportunity to get to know her siblings better. "The three of you could come listen to it, too. It would be nice, wouldn't it?"

"Yes!" Jace answered, bouncing on his feet beside her and trying to get back into her arms. "Yes! D'gons and battles!"

Helaena, surprisingly, was the first one of her siblings to stand. "I would like to hear your story, sister." The girl stated, looking straight at Lucerys.

Seeing Helaena in the vicinity of Rhaenyra with no repercussions whatsoever gave Aemond the courage to get closer, the figure book clenched in his small hands and Daeron followed him right after. The only one left was Aegon, who seemed the most skittish of them. Luke had the babe-grab in his hand and wasn't letting go of it anytime soon, however, no matter how much her brother tried to free himself.

Rhaenyra didn't let the awkwardness build up; she rushed to grab a few blankets from the stages and, with the handmaids' help, she created a comfortable space for the children to sit around.

She chose the place in front of a column so she could have a support for her back and sat down, helping Lucerys sit by her side and Jace in her lap. The boys were so small Daeron could easily fit in, and Helaena pushed their youngest brother's back so he could get by Jace's other side, the girl herself standing a few inches away from her leg. She didn't get any more near her no matter how many times Rhaenyra tried, but the Princess didn't take it to heart since the handmaid told her Helaena didn't enjoy being touched a lot. Aegon, whose hand Lucerys still held on to, had no choice but to sit beside the babe, body taut as an arrow.

Aemond hovered awkwardly for a few seconds before she patted down on the space beside Daeron, on her left side. The four-year-old sat down quickly, seeming to have been only waiting for her permission to move closer.

Rhaenyra made a show of opening her arms with a long yawn that caused both Jace and Luke to giggle, already knowing by experience what was about to happen, before putting her arms around the five boys, pressing them against each other by the shoulders and bringing them closer to her. After that, her sons were not the only ones laughing as she heard Aemond and Daeron let out a surprised squeak and Aegon huff a small laughter. Helaena smiled from her place, leaning her body further until her elbows were pressed against her little tights.

"Alright, alright, let's begin." Rhaenyra opened the large book and put it in her lap, clearing her throat and beginning. "In the ole days, Old Valyria was a prosperous realm said to be on its path to become the richest land in the world." The words, spoken in High Valyrian came out with the suavity of a song.

She explained what every word meant, then, both to her siblings and Jacaerys' sake since they didn't yet understand High Valyrian completely and to Lucerys', who hopefully would also make the connection between the two languages. None of the children say anything, completely entranced by the story and the intricacies of their ancient tongue.

Was this what Daemon felt when he taught her? Powerful, admired?

As she read, Rhaenyra raised her arms, making wild gestures and strange voices until all of them were giggling, not caring for the amused stares of the maids present, and only stopped when the night came, and the maids started to light up the candles.

By the time they left the room, Aemond was walking closely to her, and Daeron was clutching the fabric of her skirt, Helaena showing her a small centipede on her hands.

Aegon was the only one that did not approach her willingly that day.

Notes:

The devil works hard but Lucerys/Aegon works harder lmao that is child exploitation, I say

I'm sure y'all noticed but I absolutely LOVE Laena, she's just like, wow, y'know? She wanted Vhagar, she got Vhagar. She wanted Daemon, she got Daemon. Even her death went the way SHE wanted. She is and always will be The It Girl

/

Luke, hearing Aegon's name for the first time; why does this sound familiar...

/

Luke trying to tell them his dragon's name is Arrax:

Everyone thinking its Ax: cool cool cool cool cool

/

Rhaenyra, after a night of multiple rounds of sex; is this heaven?

/

I'm so happy Luke will know more of the common tongue next chapter so I can finally stop having to write in high valyrian. Anyways, hope you liked it!

Chapter 3: Prologue pt.3

Notes:

HI! I'M BACK!

I got both my period and a cold on the same week, it sucked, I'll tell you that.

I was running on a fever and thought the tiredness was normal cause I usually feel exhausted like that lmaoooooo

Anyways, thank you for the comments! I loved every and each one of them!

I hope you like this chapter!

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

After taking so long to come around, Aegon was quick to warm up to her in the ensuing of her stopping Otto Hightower from harshly dragging Aegon back to the Maester's rooms after her brother tried to escape from his lessons.

Laenor was the one to see it, but before he could even act on it, she was already ordering her father's Hand to let go of her brother.

The man had persisted a few times, but Rhaenyra made sure to remind him she was the heir and therefore above him and her orders could only be overruled by the King himself. He had let go of Aegon with a sour face and excused himself, parting after exchanging a few words of respect in her direction.

Aegon was the one closest to her that day, even more than his younger brothers, who craved a mother's attention so badly they seemed to sometimes forget Rhaenyra wasn't their mother.

During the past few moons she found herself spending almost every afternoon with her siblings, reading to them and her children.

She even managed to bring them for a ride on Syrax, showing them how the world and their home looked on the skies, with Laenor's help, because Syrax could only carry up to two children at once.

Alicent was pregnant again, but this time her mental state was bad and the maids said she didn't leave her bed for weeks at a time, hence why the children were mostly left on their own.

Rhaenyra tried not to think much of it. Alicent wasn't her friend anymore, but she still worried regardless, especially when she was reminded of the woman everyday through her siblings.

Despite their Valyrian traits, all four of them desired love and attention more than anything in the world, just as their mother once did. It had been displayed to Rhaenyra through Alicent's love for romantic stories, something that the Princess once thought childish, but now understood it was the girl's way to escape the reality of their situation.

And yet, Rhaenyra could also see a lot of herself in them. She could see herself in the way Aegon acted out, just as she did, pretending to be tougher and harsher than he truly was in order to protect himself or in the way Helaena secluded herself whenever she felt confused or scared, but still allowed to be comforted by determined people.

She saw herself in Aemond and his desire to prove himself, trying over and over again, desperate for just a bit of affirmation and even in Daeron, who had many of her mannerisms, even though they barely encountered each other before meeting on that afternoon, now moons ago.

Because of the readings Jacaerys, Daeron and Aemond had taken to High Valyrian wonderfully. The three boys fought more often than not, although usually it was only Daeron and Jace, because Aemond still spent the time she wasn't reading to him and the others with his head shoved into a book.

It was a strange relationship, the one between her younger brother and her firstborn. They did not get along at all but were always seen together even if the peace between both of them only lasted a little while.

Laena, Laenor and told her it was normal, however, but she always kept an eye on them, especially when they formed a brief alliance with Aegon to try and bother Aemond.

When it comes to Helaena, she preferred staying silent rather than talking, but Rhaenyra knew she understood everything – or at least most of it – she said in High Valyrian but she had yet to see her sister speak it. The girl was even quieter than Aemond, but her attitude, unlike her younger brother's one, was more aloof than standoffish.

"He's between us," Helaena had said once, when Rhaenyra was reading about the beginnings of Aegon the Conqueror's conquest. Her sister had been looking at Lucerys, the boy having barely blinked since she started. "The first Dragon." And then proceeded to turn her attention back to Rhaenyra and listen to the story as if she had never said anything.

She began to see how her sister reminded her of Lucerys, then. Both of them seemed to be lost in time sometimes, but it was different with Helaena. The girl always seemed far away and most of the time when she spoke, the words came off as advice or a warning – a foresight –, alas Luke wavered between the present and whatever was on his mind.

Her youngest had his first name day a couple of moons earlier and had behaved wonderfully through the feast, allowing the guest to fawn over him and to be passed around without complaints. His little face was solemn as always as he observed everyone around him, but he spent more time on his grandfather's arms than anyone else while Jace ran around, pulling on people's clothes to catch their attention and making friends with everyone.

Unlike Jacaerys, Lucerys had no quarrels with any of his uncles or aunt.

Daeron was the one who approached first, no doubt as a way to annoy Jacaerys. She found both children holding Lucerys' arms, the babe having the most bewildered expression she had seen on him as his brother and uncle pulled him as if he were a toy.

Jace had cried, hot and angry tears falling on his cheeks, when she told him and Daeron to let go and spent the day whining and trying to go back to Lucerys, whom Helaena had called to play ants with.

Lucerys' relationship with Aemond, however, started in a turbulent event.

She found Laenor silently losing it outside of the nursery. When she looked past him, she saw it was because Luke had Aemond's figure book and Aemond was trying to get it back. Well, the book wasn't Aemond's, per se, but her brother had it all the time so everyone steered away from it. Even Aegon, who loved to pick on the younger boy – something that Rhaenyra was trying to stop him from doing –, avoided picking up the book.

Aemond was trying to pry the book away from Lucerys' hands but Luke, with the inhumane force babes possessed, had a really strong grip on it and no matter how much Aemond pulled, the babe didn't let go.

All of the other children simply watched as Aemond's face turned red and he struggled not to cry, but before she could intervene and maybe get one of them interested in something else, Lucerys let go.

Aemond didn't forgive the boy, however, and sneered at him before taking his book to the other side of the room. Her brother was quite the defensive one and by the way he glared at the others, he thought one – if not all – of them had something to do with it.

Walking to the furthest corner of the nursery didn't save Aemond from having to deal with Lucerys, however. The babe got up and followed him.

She was ready to enter the room before the two of them fought, but Laenor held her back. "Let them solve this by themselves."

And solve it they did.

Aemond, despite not being happy with having Lucerys close to him, let the babe sit by his side with a wary look that vanished when Lucerys pointed at one of the pages. "Ba'e'ion!" He exclaimed, shoving his head between Aemond's arm and tight to see closer.

"Yes!" Aemond's demeanor changed immediately, always happy at a chance to talk about dragons, and completely forgot his earlier annoyance with Lucerys and started throwing information around that he heard in his classes. "And this one is Caraxes, the Blood Wyrm. Our uncle rides it!"

When Jacaerys got into the room after his nap, Aemond was still with Lucerys by his side.

Her firstborn did not like that very much.

Laenor, however, continued to find it hilarious. He'd also gotten closer to her siblings and sometimes came to read for them, regaining his High Valyrian fluency quickly.

It was Laenor who gave her the idea to try and get her father to come spend an afternoon with them. The children would love it.

And yet, the opportunity never came.

"Where is he? Where is my son?" Rhaenyra shouted, enraged. Her cry echoed through the common hall and the culprits trembled in front of her. She could feel Syrax respond to her feelings through the bond, her roar reaching the Red Keep all the way from the Dragon Pit.

The maids responsible for Lucerys were in tears in front of her, already kneeling and begging for forgiveness. Rhaenyra didn't care. How could a babe, a boy that had yet to reach his second name day, outrun two grown women?

"Princess, if we could maintain the calm-" Otto Hightower tried to say.

"Your Hand better not be about to ask the Princess to keep calm at my grandson's disappearance, cousin!" Rhaenys loudly said, punctuating her every word.

The king massaged his temples, looking ready to succumb to his panic, but managed to send Otto a disapproving look.

The Hand nodded demurely, bowing his head.

"I apologize, Princess Rhaenys." He then turned to the other woman. "Princess Rhaenyra."

Rhaenyra didn't even look at him, his words having flown through her head as she was swallowed by her worries.

"I do not want your apologies. I want to know where my grandson is!"

Somewhere in the past twenty minutes Lucerys had disappeared from the nursery room. A boy who still lacked four moons to his second name day somehow managed to get past four grown adults, two maids and two guards. No, Rhaenyra didn't believe that for one second and from the downcast faces around her, neither did anyone in that room.

Laenor had left as soon as he heard of Luke's disappearance and went to search through every rock in that castle along with all the knights, which was what Rhaenyra should be doing if it wasn't for Otto Hightower saying that it could be dangerous and that the Heir to the Throne should be kept safe.

Enough was enough, however. No news had come in yet and she was going to search for her baby whether the lords liked it or not.

"Rhaenyra-"

"No, father. I am his mother. If anyone is to find me it'll be me or his father."

"I'll stay with Jace." Rhaenys told her. The boy had cried himself to sleep and now was laying on one of the chairs by the wall so as not to be woken by all the discussion.

Her siblings were on the other side of the room, the youngest ones asleep while Aegon watched in apprehension.

"Can you watch over them too?"

If Rhaenys was surprised, she didn't let it show. Rhaenyra had told her she was closer to her siblings now, but not to such an extent.

"Of course, cousin."

She nodded, thankful, and left the room in large strides with Ser Harwin behind her.

Ser Harwin stopped her every time she went past a good hiding place, checking it himself before following her wherever she wanted. In another world, they could have been closer. Rhaenyra had once felt an attraction to him and the man was one of the most honorable ones she'd ever met.

There probably wasn't a place that hadn't yet been looked at, but she still pushed away curtains, bended down to see under some mobile and searched behind statues.

It was like Lucerys had disappeared.

Rhaenyra bumped on Laenor when she was about to round a corner. She stepped back quickly, looking him up and down but his hands were empty. Luke wasn't with him.

"The only place I didn't look is the King's wing." Laenor said, running his hands through his hair desperately.

Rhaenyra was already turning around, gathering her skirts, and rushing to her father's rooms, located on the other side of the castle, the other two right behind her. "Do you think he might have gone there?"

"Maybe. He may have wanted to talk to the King." Laenor heaved and she turned to look at him as they ran past a large corridor. She hadn't noticed before, but he was drenched in sweat, having probably ran all over the castle to find their babe.

He didn't let the tiredness slow him down, however, and kept up with her rhythm.

The knights that usually stayed there had been moved to search for Luke outside the castle. Rhaenyra expected many things when she opened her father's door; for Lucerys to be there alone, for him to not be there…

What she didn't expect was to find Alicent, of all people, sitting in the main room's chair with Lucerys on her lap.

"Mama!" Luke shouted when he saw her, squirming to be let go off and seeming completely oblivious to the scandal he had caused and the limits he had crossed. "Down!"

Rhaenyra tried to find something to say over the storm of sheer relief and horror that hit her. She grabbed the door handle when her legs threatened to lose their strength.

She hadn't seen the woman ever since her pregnancy, and now that the queen birthed a stillborn, the amount of times Alicent left her room were reduced to none.

"Rhaenyra." Alicent was the first to speak, her voice raspy. She put Lucerys down and the boy came running to her as fast as he could. "He's only grown more beautiful." Her childhood friend complimented, hesitantly.

"How- thank you, Your Grace." Her voice cracked and she gathered Luke in her arms, Laenor coming to her side to touch him and certify himself that their boy was alright.

"We apologize on behalf of him, Your Grace." Laenor came to her rescue. "He should not have bothered you, he must have been searching for the king."

"Yes, he did ask for Viserys." Alicent agreed. The other woman's face was pale and was thinner than Rhaenyra had ever seen her.

She never thought she would see her childhood friend this way, a shell of herself, and Rhaenyra could already feel the pain from the memories coming to reach her. They needed to leave, she needed to leave now.

"He wasn't a bother, he's a very polite babe."

"'ank you." Lucerys said, just as she had taught him and she felt so proud. She kissed the babe's head and felt Laenor's hand on her shoulder, giving her the strength she so desperately needed.

"He gave me a gift." Alicent continued and when Rhaenyra looked back, she could see the other woman's hands were trembling as she extended the drawing to her to take. Her face was so, so thin. The lack of food made her brown eyes pop in an unnatural way. "He knew where the drawing utensils were and he asked if I wanted one."

Every step away from the door made it harder for her not to leave, for her not to sit down beside her childhood friend and try and reach out one last time.

Years ago, all Rhaenyra ever wanted was an apology. An explanation on the whys Alicent would stab her in the back that way.

The drawing made almost no sense, but she could see that there were two heads, one with brown hair and other with white. Rhaenyra felt her lump form on her throat.

"It looks like a beautiful, sweet boy." She said, voice charged with the storm of emotions that was happening inside her. Then she gave the scroll back. "Thank you for taking care of him, but we must leave now."

"Wait, please." Alicent shouted, but the Princess didn't look back. She couldn't do it, couldn't allow herself to be worried over a person that only brought her down. "Rhaenyra, please!"

Fuck.

"What is it that you want, Alicent?"

She turned around to face the girl she thought she knew her whole life. Alicent had only hurt her in the past few years and yet she couldn't stop herself from caring.

"Thank you, Rhaenyra. For caring for my children when I myself couldn't do it."

"It was nothing, I'm their sister."

"Stay for a while." Alicent asked just as her hand touched the doorknob. "Please, tell me how they're doing."

"Rhaenyra." Laenor's voice was worried as he waited for her to decide, but the intonation made her remember the two times, right after birth, that Alicent made her leave her birthing bed so she could see her babes.

It made her remember him by her side as she walked with Lucerys, the worst of the two to birth, only a couple minutes after she woke up. It made her remember that Alicent had done it to her when she knew Lucerys was born dead, when she knew it was the one thing Rhaenyra feared the most.

Her babe came back to her and Alicent's didn't, but it could easily be the other way around. Rhaenyra could easily have died herself from the exertion she put her body through due to Alicent's pettiness.

No. The romantic, sweet girl she knew in her youth was dead and the girl Rhaenyra once was had been buried with her.

Alicent could ask the maids about her children.

As the Princess opened the doors, she didn't look back. "I'm sorry, Your Grace, but I can't. I wish you a fast recovery."

"It's my fault, I shouldn't have said that." Her voice choked. "I should have just stayed."

"You couldn't have possibly known that." Laenor comforted her, putting an arm around her shoulders. He looked exhausted, with large eye bags beneath his eyes. She knew if she were to look at the mirror she'd see the same thing.

"No, I should have known." She shook her head. "She's been this petty before."

An assassin had supposedly invaded the castle and even after hurting the queen with a clear cut, they still managed to escape. Alicent had thrown a fit and now was prohibiting her children from leaving her room.

How an assassin could just enter the Red Keep and leave unseen, without killing their target was a mystery.

Rhaenyra hadn't been able to catch even a glimpse of her siblings in a week and after moons of seeing them everyday she now felt a hollow spot on her chest every time she brought the books for her children to read.

There was so much she hadn't taught them, so much of their culture they still didn't know. She had taken those days for granted, had taken their presence for granted and because of a stupid mistake they were now being kept away from her.

She knew who was behind all of it, too. Alicent wasn't deceitful enough to plan it all on her own. She had to have her father's help, that unscrupulous, greedy cunt. They both managed to manipulate her father's emotions so well, she couldn't believe he didn't realize it.

She had tried to talk to him, to get him to let her at least see her siblings, but he told her Alicent's mental state was worse than ever before and that the Maesters had advised her to be kept as calm as possible.

It was barbaric that he couldn't see the truth, couldn't see how strange it was for the woman to go from not wanting to see her children for moons at a time to not wanting them out of her sight.

And if it pained Laenor and her to not see them, it pained her boys even more. Jace was inconsolable, crying everyday he got out of his classes and entered an empty nursery.

Lucerys didn't even get the chance to miss them yet. Her youngest had been plagued with migraines that didn't leave him even with the milk of the poppy. It had been almost a year since the last time he had a single one of those, she had even started to think he'd somehow gotten cured of them, but he didn't.

Right after she left her father's rooms that day, Luke had gone back to holding his head between his hands as he cried silently, but as the days passed he became unable to hold back his pained whimpers.

"You can't blame yourself, Rhaenyra. You were more than in your rights to react as you did."

She broke down crying again, caressing Luke's locks as the boy got a brief relief of the pain by sleeping. "I miss them."

Laenor only hugged her tighter.

"I miss them too." He whispered. "She won't be able to keep them with her forever."

She wanted to believe him, she did.

But she knew it wasn't true. As long as Alicent and Otto Hightower had her father's on their clutches, she would never be close to her siblings again.

Moons later, she was laying on the divan with Daemon on top of her, his head resting above her breasts as she caressed his locks.

"Say the word and I'll kill him." Her uncle whispered to her, his words dripping with vicious intent.

It had been Jace's fifth birthday that day, and despite all the time that had passed since the last time her boy had seen his uncles and aunt, he still asked if they weren't coming.

Rhaenyra felt as if she were being stabbed by a dagger.

Her uncle hadn't understood how fast she'd gotten close to her siblings at first, but he'd been choleric all the same when he heard of what happened.

"And have you got caught and killed?" He opened her mouth to take her thumb in and her breath hitched.

"If I were caught, Viserys would just send me to Dragonstone again." He bit on her finger. "But I wouldn't get caught because then I wouldn't have you."

She couldn't simply not smile at that when he repeated the gesture, she caught herself thinking of Luke. Rhaenyra rarely got the chance to look at Daemon from an upside perspective, but his smile looked a lot like Lucerys', now that her boy had a full set of teeth. Even the way his lips twitched as he tried to contain his amusement was the same.

She traced his mouth with her thumb, still getting the same bubbling feeling on her stomach every time she realized could touch him like this. Almost six years had passed since the first time she bedded him, and yet she still felt the same unrestrained desire.

"I wish you could stay with me forever." She said, changing the subject and the air around the conversation both because she didn't want to talk about Otto and Alicent anymore, but also because it was the truth. It was a feeling that stayed with her at all times, embracing her body, suffocating her slowly every day she had to spend away from him, from Laena.

"When you are Queen, no one will even think of coming between us," He promised, and unlike her father, she didn't have to fight herself to believe him. Daemon always kept his words and he had proved it to her many, many times.

"I'll have you, Rhaenyra. I'll be at your side, just as Laena and Laenor will." His face was serious, gaze intense as he stared at her and his mouth opened a few times as he pondered whether or not to tell her something when a blood-curdling scream cut through the silence of the night.

They both immediately sat up. Rhaenyra felt her head swim with the whiplash of going from relaxed to alert so suddenly.

She pulled on her nightdress as Daemon put on his trousers, but the silence stretched on and the two of them looked at each other, wondering if they had imagined it.

Just as Rhaenyra's heart began to settle, another scream sounded, so horrifying she felt the hairs of her back stand on.

The doors leading to where Laena and Laenor slept opened, her husband leaving the rooms in a panic while Laena came after him, eyes wary.

When the scream sounded again, it was in the form of a word. "No!"

"Lucerys." She recognized, getting up and running out of the room as fast as she could, almost hitting the door in her frenzy.

Laenor overpassed her quickly, strides long and fast as he ran through the corridors with a speed only a man could be capable of.

Her son's room was not far away from hers, she'd never allow it, but the single seconds it took for her to reach her child' chambers felt like a lifetime.

Laenor was already by Lucerys side, trying to take the boy away from his brother's arms as Jace cried and tried to hold on to him, having probably gotten to Luke's room just seconds earlier.

Daemon started to inspect the room for intruders but the Princess knew this wasn't a man or woman's doing. Luke always faced nightmares – night terrors, was what the Maesters called them – but it was never that bad.

"Let me have him, Jace, it'll be okay, I'm here now." Laenor asked. Luke screamed again, contorting himself out of Jace's embrace. The vein on his neck stood out in a horrifying way.

Rhaenyra put her hand on her mouth, controlling a sob and threw herself on the bed, pulling Jacaerys away from his brother and wrapping herself around the boy so Laenor could try and calm Luke down, but nothing was working, the babe was still crying himself into such a state of distress he was starting to have difficulty breathing.

The last time that happened was when they tried to take her babe's dragon away from him, but there was no sign of anything that could have made Luke be in such shape.

"Let me hold him, Laenor, take Jace and let me hold him." She cried, extending her arm so her husband could give her Lucerys. Jacaerys went to his father easily, and Luke, still trapped inside his dream, did not react as he was passed over.

"Winter… men…" The boy babbled against her ear and she moved him over, putting him on her lap. He went from mumbling things to straight up screaming in a matter of seconds and no matter what she did he did not wake.

Rhaenyra was already trembling, barely able to hold the boy on her arms as he writhed on her arms when Daemon walked over and began to give weak slaps on her babe's cheek, calling out his name.

Rhaenyra covered Lucerys' face, fear being overtaken by rage. "What do you think you're doing?" She spat.

Her uncle stared at her, unmoving in face of her anger. "We need to wake him up now, if he continues this way he won't be able to breathe anymore."

Lucerys began to scream once again, trashing in her arms and choking on his own saliva. She rolled him over, begging him to wake up over and over, despair rising inside her as Luke only continued to scream and Jace started to turn hysterical on Laenor's arms, who was trying to cover the boy's ears. Rhaenyra herself was reaching her breaking point fast, she needed to think.

"Laena, Laena, take him away from here, take Jace with you." Laenor begged his sister, and Laena was quick to comply, grabbing Jacaerys from his father's arms and getting him out of the room.

It took all of Rhaenyra not to ask her cousin to come back once Jace begged to stay. She did not want her boy to see this, he was too young, he should not witness any of it.

Laenor came by her side as soon as Jace was out, and tried to throw some water on their son's face to rouse him, but it was also fruitless and Luke was already turning purple, movements growing slowlier as the strength left his body.

Then he stopped breathing altogether.

Notes:

DID YOU REALLY THINK THEY'D BE HAPPY SO SOON? No.

Anyways, up to this chapter we were still on the prologue, that's why it may feel rushed. NOW the story truly begins.

I have a cookie for whoever finds out what Luke was dreaming about...

LUKE'S POV NEXT WEEK GUYS!

/

Petty bitch Alicent: i bet you thought you'd seen the last of me

Don't mind me making Aemond infodump people on his knowledge . It's his special interest, okay?

I hope you liked it! I'll try to come back in a week but I have a deadline for next sunday so who knows if I'm gonna make it

Leave a comment if it pleases you! Have a good weekend!

Chapter 4: The charcoal incident

Notes:

Thanks so much for the comments! Sometimes I get insecure about my writing cause I can't express myself as well as I wish I could in English, so yeah thanks!

When this fic idea came to me, it came in a flash. I had the main idea (the 'Aegon reborn as Lucerys' prompt) and six scenes already writing themselves in my head. Two of them you've already seen (Luke only speaking High Valyrian as a baby and Rhaenyra reading to her siblings). You shall now see the third one.

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Someone was there, with him. Someone he knew, but their voice was muffled, as if coming from underwater.

Wake up. The feminine voice blew, as if it was part of the wind, only there was no wind.

"Mother?" He tried to call, but even though he felt the air leave his throat and his tongue form the words, no sound came out.

Looking around was also fruitless, there was nothing there. The sky was starless, and the moon was nowhere to be seen.

He could feel something around his legs, wrapping itself around him with every step he took. A sensation so dull his legs could only be asleep, but while he had never seen or felt it before, he knew it was the snow that was making it difficult for him to walk.

Wake up. It said again, sultry this time. A flash of laughter and long, braided silver hair crossed his mind. He'd seen that someone on his dreams, a woman so beautiful it reminded him of his mother.

"Who are you ?" He asked, but once again he didn't hear his voice and his question went unanswered. "Why am I here? Who are-"

A black light shone so brightly in front of him he immediately pressed his eyes together, moving his head away to protect himself from the onslaught.

How was it he could see such a dark light in the middle of this darkness?

It's too soon, Aegon. Turn around.

He almost planted himself face first on the ground when he heard the name. It had been a long time since he heard it. He used to hear it all the time, but it wasn't his name, it was his uncle's name, it was his name, it was… but it wasn't, it was his uncle's. It wasn't his. It wasn't. Itwasitwasitwasn'titwasn'titwasn't-

Lucerys.

The light came again, and this time he realized what it was. A fire. A dragon's fire. He gawked at the sight, and it was as if his father had put his blanket of safety over his shoulder as a calm passed through him. Where there's a dragon, there was family.

No! No! Stay back!

He was running before he could even think more about it, ignoring the voice's calls. Maybe it was Jace! Vermax was now able to set fire to a horse, after all! Grandmother said so!

He didn't stop even when he tripped on the branches, his legs too small for him to jump over them so he had to use his hands to climb over it, and he didn't stop when he reached a lake – his bare feet sliding on the ice.

He had been here before – had seen it all before, but when? And what was it?

The images blurred together in his mind, but the branches on the tree beside him seemed bigger, higher than before. He stopped to stare at it, but then shrugged. It was a dream, and Luke knew they didn't always make sense. He dreamed of a lot of things, mostly good dreams. Dreams so good he didn't want to wake up, but when he woke, he couldn't remember what they were about, only the pain, an ache on his chest that he only realized what it was when his mother told him he wouldn't be seeing his uncles and aunt again for a while. The loss of missing someone.

The trees on the other side of the lake were all on fire now and in spite of the lack of wind, the fire seemed to be catching quickly – the smoke rising above in a dark, gray cloud. The feminine voice on his head seemed to quieten the closer he got.

When he finally touched the other side of the border, he was overwhelmed when all five senses came back to him, as if a wave had just splashed on his face. He could smell the blood, the burning trees. Then he started hearing the painful screams. Screams of anguish, of loss. Of unending terror. His body locked and Luke crashed full force into something huge, his small body falling behind on the dense snow and the first gush of air in this dream hit his face, something warm.

A dragon roared above him, a roar he knew just as he did many things.

He opened one of his eyes, meeting yellow eyes the color of the sunset. The dragon's snout was shoved close to his chest, his black head much bigger than Luke's body. One bite and he would be swallowed whole, but Luke wasn't scared, having this dragon close to him felt good, felt safe just as he did close to his own, Arrax.

A word, a name, passed through his head, but he didn't know how this dragon could be here right now, in this dream. He'd heard of his death. He was the last dragon to see Old Valyria, he was his grandfather's dragon. Aegon's dragon.

With his heart beating on his ears, he formed the word and this time he heard it. "Balerion."

The dragon roared again, head pressing against Luke's chest once again and the boy giggled, forgetting completely about the fear he felt earlier as he rubbed his hands on Balerion's side and under his chin.

A dragon is not a pup, he remembered someone saying. Luke didn't know who or why, dragons weren't pups or humans. Dragons were dragons, a companion for life, creatures made by the gods old Old Valyria to be cherished upon and to help the world of men to survive.

Help the world of men to survive. He didn't know where the thought came from, but when Balerion rubbed his nose against Lucerys' again, lifting hi slightly by the chin, he knew the dragon was urging him to get up. He was half buried under the snow and moving was a struggle, but Balerion's breath helped as he melted the snow a bit, and Luke felt sweat growing on his skin.

Finally managing to get up, Balerion pushed him to the side with his paw, and Lucerys almost flew over to the ground from the brute force of it.

"Oof!" He let out, staggering to keep on his feet to keep standing and Balerion stopped. Luke looked back just enough to scowl at the dragon, his bottom lip jutting out slightly as he always did when he was upset by something. He almost fell!

Balerion snorted and went to shove him again with his snout, but Luke ran towards the ladder thrown around the beast's waist. If Balerion pushed him again he'd hit the snow once more!

As he got closer, he noticed there were cravings on the wood of one of the shortest steps and the burning trees served as light for him to see while his fingers traced the A.T… V T… R T… and right to the side, he circled an O.B, a B he could barely see or feel because it was mixed up with T, having been craved right over with a violence that made the letter deeper than the others.

Balerion made a clicking noise, head turning to the side as he heard something and his nostrils flared, a puff of smoke coming out of them as if he knew something dangerous was coming. Feeling his breath catch from the sudden fright, Luke began climbing. It was as difficult as he thought it would be, but as he did many times, he trusted his body to know what to do, where to hold. To know which parts of the steps should be avoided.

Lace the strings around your arms. The voice from before advised, sounding resigned. Luke had just sat on Balerion's saddle, the world bellow him seeming small despite them still being on the ground.

He did as he was told, remembering the knots his grandfather had taught him and his big brother a moon ago.

Tighter. The voice ordered again.

Lucerys obeyed, heart beating even faster than before and when Balerion began moving, the ground shook underneath them and when the dragon took fly, he was grateful for the knots; he wasn't able to hold himself up with the wind being so strong and actually was lifted off his seat on the climbing, mouth opening on a scream of excitement.

The black dread snorted and Lucerys was pretty certain the dragon was laughing at him, but he didn't have the time to get annoyed, it was hard enough to keep holding on.

Balerion spit a bit of fire, lighting the way and Luke saw they reached above the trees and they were on the edge of true winter; the forest was ending and after that there would only be a sea made of white and ice blue.

As they continued flying, he grew more calm. Nothing bad would ever happen to him while he stood above Balerion.

He looked back, watching the trees burning behind him, the smoke that hit the skies thick and as dark as Balerion's wings.

Lucerys had dreamed of this before, he was sure of it.

Just as they were passing the last trees, Balerion violently trembled and when Luke looked down to see what happened, he almost cut his eye off in a spear that was pointing to him, inches away from his face from where it had pierced through Balerion's body.

"No!" He shouted, terror rapidly consuming him, but the dragon trembled once again, flapping his wings uncoordinatedly before losing his strength. "Balerion, Balerion !" He cried, little hands pressing against the dragon's wound, but the beast roared in pain. "Daor!"

They were descending fast and as he looked around, eyes already filled with tears, Balerion let out one last blast of fire that hit the line of trees separating the forest from the ice desert and the last thing Lucerys saw was that the ice and snow he had seen from the skies was actually a hoard of winter people.

They crashed onto the lake together, a gush of water trespassing blocks of ice that had been broken by the impact.

His tears had already dried on his face, but that didn't stop them from coming as he watched Balerion sink slowly, his yellow eyes glued onto Luke's, a dreadful acceptance on them – as if the dragon had knew it all along.

Luke had almost went under with him, but the knots he'd made on himself were easy to undo and the voice was screaming at him now, to swim, to hide, to wake up.

Luke couldn't do either, he'd been trying, he was trying. He wanted to go back, to wake up on his father's or his mother's arms. To hug Jace, Baela and Rhaena and hear his Aunt Laena laugh at his uncle Daemon's battle stories.

Instead, he could do nothing but hold on to one of the ice blocks, teeth chattering as he stared at the border of the lake where the winter people were waiting, watching him passionlessly.

They were so many, so, so many.

He looked left, but the lake's border was filled with them, standing abreast to each other, behind one another, until Luke could only see their shape and – to the ones closest to him, their legs.

Fear had a tight grip on him as turned his head the other way, finding himself completely surrounded, struggling to keep his head above the water, but they just kept watching him, unmoving.

He wanted to ask for help, but everything in him was screaming to get away, the same way he had felt when he saw the ugly lizard Jace had kept as a pet.

Don't leave the water. The voice warned. Stay on the water.

He sobbed, the tip of fingers already turning purple. He was so, so cold.

"Help me," He whimpered. "Help me."

Stay with me, little brother.

It was starting to become difficult to move his fingers and he fumbled with the border of the ice block.

The people watching him began to move, forming a path between them for a man – a man with cold, terrifying and stark blue eyes to step further, a spear alike to the one that killed Balerion on his hands.

The cold that overtook him then wasn't a cold made by the extreme climate conditions anymore, but by terror – a terror so deep it made it hard for him to breathe.

The man raised his arm, weapon pointing onto Luke's direction, and threw the spear.

Luke let go of the ice block and sank onto the freezing water with a soundless scream.

"He isn't breathing." Rhaenyra gasped.

"What ?" Laenor asked, his ears picking up on the words but his mind struggled to make sense of them.

"He isn't breathing!" She shouted. Then she started shaking Luke, trying to rouse him. "Wake up, Lucerys. Wake up, sweet boy, look at me, look at muñna."

Larnor threw himself over the bed and put his finger underneath Lucerys' nose, hoping for the gods she was wrong. She wasn't, Luke really wasn't breathing.

His body was moving by its own as he took his son from her arms and quickly laid him in the bed, the boy's head lolling around in a sickening way.

His mind was already running through all of the possibilities and he could feel Rhaenyra containing herself to stay strong and not to break down crying. He himself was barely able to find apart from the need to get Luke to breathe.

"What is wrong?" Rhaenyra's voice broke mid-sentence. "Laenor, what is wrong with him?" This time she couldn't keep the worry from showing up, her words coming out choked up.

"I don't know." He choked out, tears already beginning to from on his eyes.

Daemon crossed the room in large steps, putting both his hands on Rhaenyra's shoulders.

"Rhaenyra, go get the Masters. Get all of them." He told her firmly and Rhaenyra, for all her incessant need to always know what was happening, was quick to comply; running out of the room.

"Laenor." Daemon turned to him. "He needs to breathe, can you do the compressions?"

"What?" He sniffled, eyes flickering on Lucerys' face. He looked so peaceful, as if he were sleeping, but his face had a strange tenseness to it.

"The compressions. I've seen sailors do it sometimes, but I don't know how. Do you?"

He looked at his hands, trembling non-stop close to Lucerys' chest, mouth opening and closing by itself as he tried to think of what to say, of what to do.

"Do you?" Daemon asked again, lilac eyes searching for his own purple ones and Laenor took a deep, trembling breath. Daemon was right, he needed to remain calm now, it wasn't the time to let emotions get on the way.

Lucerys' needed to breathe and he needed to breathe now.

"I do." He nodded and grabbed a hold of his son's shirt by the collar and pulled it, ripping it open so he could reach Luke's chest without obstructions.

"You will need to breathe on his mouth when I tell you to." He said, voice firm in way he didn't think he was able to achieve at the moment. Daemon nodded.

Putting both his hands above the boy's chest, he started pressing onto it as he had seen sailors do sometimes when one of the men drowned, but as he counted to ten on his head, he realized there was something missing.

There was no heartbeat coming from Luke.

Putting his ear close to the boy's heart, Laenor felt as of his world had stopped when he didn't hear anything. He took Luke's pulse, thumb pressing against the child's wrist. Nothing.

He shoved his ear close to Luke's heart again, feeling as if he had eaten a jar of sand. There was nothing.

"Laenor." Daemon stood by his side, voice solemn as if he knew. He probably did.

His lover's hand touched his shoulder, pulling him away from his son, his youngest. His baby. "No ! I'm – I have to –"

"I need to check his airways." Daemon pushed him roughly to the side and opened Lucerys' mouth, trying to get a look at the boy's throat. Laenor watched it all with a mixture of hope and despair that made him feel sick.

Daemon seemed to get to the same conclusion as he did because he pressed two fingers on Luke's neck, right where it reached the boy's shoulder.

"He doesn't have a pulse." Daemon whispered and Laenor didn't think the man could pale, but he did. "How is this possible? He was fine just now."

He went back to pressing both his hands on Luke's chest, the boy's skin unnaturally cold and sobbed, halfway into hysteria. He was fine just now. He was fine, warm, crying, but alive.

Laenor couldn't bring himself to look at the boy laying still on the bed.

Luke was so cold, so, so cold.

"Now." He told Daemon, watching as the man blocked out Luke's nose with his thumb and index finger and breathed in.

"Again." He needed to keep trying, he would never forgive himself otherwise. What would he tell Rhaenyra? What would they even tell Jacaerys? His parents? Laena, Rhaena, Baela, Viserys.

Lucerys was loved by so many people, he had his entire life in front of him.

His boy. His heir. How could he be so cold.

"This way!" He heard Rhaenyra shout and in seconds she was bursting through the door with a group of Masters behind her.

He recognized the man that Rhaenyra always went to whenever their boys got sick ; Master Geradys. The old man came to the other side of the bed and checked upon Luke. "How long have you been doing this technic?" The man asked him, voice strangely hopeful.

"Two minutes or so, I believe." It was Daemon who answered.

Whatever hope the old man had seemed to go extinguish after that, his face falling. The others also didn't seem to know what to do after taking Lucerys' pulse and learning his heart wasn't beating.

The men tried to keep the truth of the situation from Rhaenyra, as if she would grow hysteric, but Daemon pulled her to the side to tell her.

"Tell me what to do." She asked him, stopping by the other side of the bed. Her face was set into marble, the same determination, the unwillingness to simply accept whatever fate was being forced upon them painted into her expression.

He stared at his wife, gaining strength from her. Rhaenyra and he may not be made for each other in a romantic sense, but they completed each other. "Breathe on his mouth when I tell you to."

Grabbing a hold of Luke's hand, she nodded, and when he told her, she pressed onto Luke's nose and breathed in.

The King appeared right after, looking the most frail Laenor had ever seen him as he got close to the bed and stared at Lucerys, face set into plain grief. He had fell into a chair not long after that, one hand covering his face.

In all his years at the sea, Laenor had never seen someone last over four minutes without a heartbeat, but it must have been close to that when Laena showed up, eyes puffed out by all her crying. Someone must have told her.

Laenor was exhausted, his face was dripping with sweat, but neither him or Rhaenyra stopped. His hand were so, so very cold it had started to feel like burning.

"Laenor! Your hands!" Laena gasped, pointing at them as she came closer and when he looked down it was to see that his hands had taken to a blue coloring, a thin layer of ice over them.

It was when he lifted his hands and saw where the ice was coming from that he truly began to panic. On Luke's chest, right where the heart was, a thin layer of ice was spreading over his shoulders and arms in a strange but unique form that he only saw on books; a snowflake.

The boy's face had turned into an unnatural blue, his lips and fingertips purple. Laenor had never seen anything like this before, they were on tropical lands, there wasn't snow anywhere close to where they lived.

Rhaenyra was the one to act this time, picking up Luke's limp body on her arms and crossing the room in a sprint. She threw herself on the floor, her knees making a painful noise, and scooted closer to the fireplace.

Laenor was still frozen in place as Daemon began to put more wood into the fire, but once he realized what they were trying to do he ran across the room to help.

"Princess Rhaenyra, I don't believe this will be of any help." A Master said, tentatively. Laenor would remember his face later.

"I don't believe I asked for you opinion on this." She snapped. "I didn't see you have any ideas on how to make my son better."

Then, as a dragon who held to its treasure, she pulled Lucerys closer, her arm almost touching the fire.

He kneeled beside her, holding on to Luke's foot – such a small thing on his hand – and struggled not to cry as time passed with no changes. It had been a leap, yes, but for a moment he really believed the fire would help.

He couldn't believe this was happening, his mind couldn't quite understand what his eyes were seeing. The tears came and went away at some point, falling silently and he watched unattached as people began to enter and leave the room in quiet steps, already mourning.

It was the first time on his life that he saw his sister crumble as she had. Laena had always been a pillar for him, and he never outgrew the belief that she was as strong as the waves of a violent sea, but he could hear her sobs even from outside of the room.

Rhaenyra had completely shut down, not wanting anyone near her apart from him, and Laenor suspected that had he not been Luke's father, he wouldn't be allowed inside neither.

Bit by bit, everyone left them. Daemon pressed his shoulder with a tenderness he didn't thought the man had, telling he was going to help Viserys to return to his rooms and them Laena and he would check on the children.

Laenor grabbed onto Daemon's hand, stopping him from leaving and looked up.

"Don't tell Jacaerys." He asked. "I'll tell him."

Daemon turned his face away, his jaw clenching and unclenching.

"We won't. He will know from you, I promise." Laena said hoarsely. There were tracks dry of tears on her cheeks and there was so much pain in her eyes he had to look away.

They were finally alone then. Laenor didn't know how much time had passed, but he was almost asleep when he felt something start to shake from under him and heard gasps for breath. Then a weak, but growing steadily strong, thump started against his hand. He shook himself awake with a start, fingers curling around his son's ankle. Luke's pulse was coming back.

"Laenor." Rhaenyra breathed softly and when he lifted his head – afraid of what he wouldn't see, hopeful for what he may see – he was met with drowsy purple eyes, a shade he'd only seen on one person.

Luke's breath was coming out raggedly, each inhalation making his small body shudder violently on his mother's lap and a small cry left his lips. "Fire." Luke whispered croakily, a tear falling from each of his eyes. "I'm home."

Laenor laughed wetly, incredulous and started pawing at Luke's legs, feeling it shaking under his hands. Another disbelieving laugh left him.

More tears fell, from the three of them, and Luke tried to bury himself further into his mother's arms, eyes darting around the room. "I'm scared." He sobbed.

Rhaenyra curled herself around the child, her shoulders shaking as she held him close and tight and Laenor held on to the boy's face, meeting Luke's terrified eyes. The boy's pupils were almost disappearing by how small they'd become. "You're alright, you're here with us." He stated. "Whatever it is, you have nothing to fear while we're here, we'll protect you."

"Always." Rhaenyra promised, mouth coming close to Luke's ear. "We're dragons, nothing in the world can stand against us."

Luke was still shaking, making noises every time he breathed.

"I'm scared." Lucerys said again. "I saw- I saw-"

"Shhh," Rhaenyra quietened him. "We're here now. I'd sooner die than let anything happen to you, sweet boy. Do you understand me?"

Luke turned to stare at her, his smart eyes holding that strange, analytical light to them and then his boy turned to him again, searching for something Laenor didn't know if he'd find. It seemed that he did, though, because Lucerys nodded, taking one last harsh breath before his heartbeat began to decrease and his body relaxed against his mother's.

Laenor held on to the boy's ankle as if it was his lifeline, a haven in the middle of a strong storm. And it was. He didn't know what he would do, what would happen to him had the boy truly left him and Rhaenyra- it was like Rhaenyra still didn't believe he was there, talking to them, her eyes flickering to every part of their child's face as her hands hovered over him.

"Seven hells!" One of the maids who was bringing them water dropped the tray she was holding when she saw Lucerys, the glasses falling onto the floor in scattered pieces as she only managed to hold the jar.

"Get me a blanket!" Rhaenyra asked loudly and when the woman brought one from Lucerys' bed, Rhaenyra put it above Luke's trembling body. His shaking was getting better, less violent and taking longer to come and now that his youngest was breathing in front of him, alive and moving, Laenor felt all his stress leaving his body at once and he bent forwards, resting his head above Luke's knees.

Everything after that was a blur. He paid no mind to the noise around him as people started to reenter the room, nor about the blessings and the praises to the gods the people on the room were shouting.

Laenor didn't pay attention to the king, even as the man pressed himself to his side to touch Lucerys' cheek and chest to feel his heartbeat.

He barely paid attention to Laena and Daemon around them either, their hands patting him on the back and on the shoulder, his sister's voice choked up as she told him over and over how glad she was for Lucerys to be alright.

Daemon's questions were answered by Rhaenyra as he couldn't keep his eyes away from Lucerys' little face. His cheeks were growing pinker by the minute, his hands returning to their normal pale coloring. Even the ice on his chest had melted, leaving water in its place.

He came back. He thought, his mind repeating these words again and again.

Rhaenyra every now and then kissed Lucerys' face, pulling their son's sweaty hair out of his forehead every few seconds. Luke let her fuss over him as he was bound to do, but this time he was holding her back, his eyes darting around the faces in the room, shining brightly every time he recognized someone and they were so preoccupied with Luke being alive, with touching Lucerys' pulse and feeling its beat, fast and strong as every health child's was, that none of them noticed the smell of burning or the smoke coming out of his son's arms until the Lucerys' sleeve was on fire.

"Lucerys, let it go!" Rhaenyra cried out to no avail. Luke's small face was hardened into a determined expression, the same one Laenor saw so many times on her face when she was set onto doing something, – usually something harsh and impulsive that she would come to regret later.

Laenor himself was having a hard time at dealing with what he was seeing, his energy all set into not going into complete hysteria. His heart couldn't take it anymore, he felt faint, and his breaths were already coming out short.

Luke would be the death of him, he would be the death of them all.

The boy didn't seem to care about his family's sanity, however, and continued holding onto the charcoal, the charcoal he had shoved his hand into the fire to pick and that was still burning by the way they could see the smoke coming out of his fist.

What was worse, Luke didn't seem to mind. He showed no sign of being hurt at all and none of them could get him to open his hand and let the damn thing go.

They had beaten onto the boy's sleeve, fearing he'd been harmed on Rhaenyra's hush to get him closer to the fire, but his forearm as unhurt.

"Lucerys, please, give it to kepa." He tried, extending a hand and trying to grab him, but the boy stepped away, shaking his head. Laenor couldn't wrap his head around the fact that he was already standing and showing so much strength after having no heartbeats for hours.

Daemon had tried to force him to open his hand, had even managed to pry two of Luke's fingers out of the blazing rock before he burned own his hand and let go with a pained grunt. Laena had tried to bribe him with sweets, but Lucerys only opened his mouth for her to put the sweet in and his sister, as weak as ever for his son, obeyed. The King himself had offered his crown for Lucerys to hold, to the horror of the Septons and Masters around him, but not even that was an interesting trade for Luke.

"He's going to burn through the skin of his hand, he needs to let go." Was what Master Geradys said and continued saying for the last fifteen minutes.

"Throw water on his hand." Laena was trying to say all of her ideas out loud to see if any good ones would appear and Rhaenyra shouted at one of Septons to grab a jar of water.

Luke watched them like a hawk, hand going behind his back. "Daor!" He shouted, his voice coming back strong along with his stubbornness.

Laenor exchanged glances with his sister, having a quick silent conversation with her while Luke divided his attention between them and his mother, who was holding the water. While Laena distracted him with a few offerings, Laenor grabbed his hand from behind and forced the boy to extend his arm.

Luke started screaming, squirming to get away and Laenor had to grab him by the torso to keep him in place, just barely managing to hold his arm long enough for Daemon to take it and hold it in place so Rhaenyra could come closer in a blur of red cloth.

What left Lucerys' mouth when his mother dropped the entire jar of water on the hand he was using to hold the charcoal was a hoarse cry that reassembled a dragon's roar. "Daor!"

Rhaenyra' grabbed onto his wrist. "Open your hand." She ordered, firmly.

Luke's small face scrunched up in fury, but he obeyed, his little hand opening and letting the wet charcoal fall, its tiny pieces disintegrating into ashes when it hit the ground.

Laenor let go of him to check on his hand, looking for a gruesome burn or skin falling off. Instead, he passed his fingers through an intact palm, feeling it warm, but no marks were there; his skin was as soft as it had always been.

He let go Lucerys' wrist for the others to touch and see it for themselves and when his eyes met Rhaenyra's, he could see the same confusion in hers.

"But it was hot, wasn't it?" Laena wondered out loud. "Daemon even burned his hand."

"I've heard tales, tales of some Valyrian riders who were more dragons than their peers." Viserys was watching Luke's hand with awe, his fingers dragging along the pink palm. "Perhaps we should let him-"

"Let him?" Daemon asked incredulously even before Rhaenyra could show her anger herself – Laenor could see her hands trembling as she held on to the jar of water. "Your days as a ruler must have left you insane, brother, for you to suggest we let a child hold on to burning charcoal."

"He isn't hurting himself, Daemon, don't you see?"

The one second it took for them to get distracted by the fight, was the time Lucerys used to step back into the fireplace and once again shove his hand onto the fire.

"Luke, no!" Rhaenyra shouted, but the boy was already gripping another charcoal, little hands curling onto it. She started to walk towards him, but Luke stepped back – closer into the fire.

Rhaenyra lifted both her hands in surrender and glanced at him, her eyes darting to the side, head tilting slightly.

Oh.

Laenor started to make his way to Lucerys' other side, mindful of the boy's eyes darting between him and his mother, always too smart for his own good.

"Luke, it's alright. It's alright." He tried to placate, but the boy was already wary of them, both his little hands curling around the charcoal this time and he turned his body to the side so he could keep both of them in his line of sight. "We just want the charcoal. Father needs it to set fire onto another room, can't you give it to me?"

Laena, Daemon and Viserys stood close, the ones who weren't family members watching the scene from further into the room, unmoving in fear of making the situation worse.

"There's more in there." Lucerys called on his bluff, one hand letting go of the charcoal to point at the fireplace and Laenor wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it, but the fear of seeing a burning mark on the boy's hand this time around stopped him from it.

"But we need this one in particular, sweet boy." Rhaenyra tried, taking another step further, causing Luke to step back once more, his back hitting the fireplace's stone.

They should have listened to Viserys or perhaps they shouldn't have waited and tried to get Luke to give the charcoal to them. They should have tried many other moves other than circling the boy and cornering him as they did.

Perhaps if they did his son wouldn't have opened his mouth, shoved the still burning charcoal in and started chewing onto it with his tiny milk teeth.

Notes:

WE GOT LAENOR'S POV YAY

The scene I talked about on the beginning was Luke's body being taken by ice and him eating a charcoal to warm himself over and everyone having a meltdown about it.

At first I wanted the Night King to stab Luke through the chest, but then I was like 'nah, he's a toddler' and then I thought 'let's age him up', but for plot reasons I can't do that yet, so I spent days trying to figure out what else would scare someone so much for them to take over an entire continent trying to stop this dream from happening (and Luke still didn't see everything from the dream cause he's still too young)

Then I watched 'US' and that ending scene gave me the heebie-jeebies so I thought 'how about this, but they're all on the same place and there's so many you could confuse them with snow if seen from too far on the skies'. Yeah, that's enough to scare the shit out of a grown man with the biggest dragon on the world.

/

Everyone: please don't hold the burning charcoal, Lucerys

Lucerys: alright

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Rating:

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Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Categories:

F/FF/MM/M

Fandom:

House of the Dragon (TV)

Relationships:

Aemond "One-Eye" Targaryen/Lucerys Velaryon (Son of Rhaenyra)Daemon Targaryen/Rhaenyra TargaryenRhaenyra Targaryen/Laena Velaryon (Daughter of Corlys)Daemon Targaryen/Rhaenyra Targaryen/Laena Velaryon (Daughter of Corlys)/Laenor VelaryonDaemon Targaryen/Laenor VelaryonAegon II Targaryen & Lucerys Velaryon (Son of Rhaenyra)Jacaerys Velaryon & Lucerys Velaryon (Son of Rhaenyra)Daemon Targaryen/Laena Velaryon (Daughter of Corlys)Rhaenyra Targaryen & Laenor VelaryonDaeron Targaryen (Son of Viserys I) & Lucerys Velaryon (Son of Rhaenyra)

Characters:

Lucerys Velaryon (Son of Rhaenyra)Aemond "One-Eye" TargaryenRhaenyra TargaryenDaemon TargaryenLaenor VelaryonJacaerys VelaryonBaela TargaryenRhaena Targaryen (Daughter of Daemon)Laena Velaryon (Daughter of Corlys)Corlys "The Sea Snake" VelaryonRhaenys Targaryen VelaryonViserys I TargaryenAegon II TargaryenHelaena Targaryen

Additional Tags:

Time Travel Fix-Itof sortsManipulative Lucerys Velaryon (Son of Rhaenyra)Lucerys Velaryon is a dreamerNo Dance of the Dragons War For Succession Between Aegon II and Rhaenyra Targaryen Never HappensProtective Lucerys Velaryon (Son of Rhaenyra)Lucerys Velaryon (Son of Rhaenyra)-centriche'll stop the dance and he'll kill anyone who tries to stop himOtto Hightower Being an AssholeBAMF Lucerys Velaryon (Son of Rhaenyra)Protective Aemond "One-Eye" TargaryenEveryone Loves LucerysCrackReincarnation

Language:

English

Collections:

HODnaik926, Team Black Does Better (HOTD)

Stats:

Published:2023-03-06Updated:2023-06-26Words:48,083Chapters:8/?Comments:501Kudos:2,360Bookmarks:689Hits:50,917

Lucerys' Dream

Sawsomethingdumb

Summary:

Gods only exist so long as their people worship them.

After the Dance of the Dragons, the gods of Old Valyria lost the rest of the humans that believed in them and were forgotten by all. In an attempt to prevent it from happening, they take the opportunity when Lucerys Velaryon is born stillborn and offer the only Targaryen capable of stopping the war for succession a chance to go back.

AKA the Aegon The Conqueror is reborn as Lucerys Velaryon AU!

Chapter 1: Prologue pt.1

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

Right from their wedding night Rhaenyra and Laenor tried everything they could think of to copulate, going from using wooden toys to drinking cocktails that allegedly brought arousal to the ones who drank it.

Nevertheless, nothing worked.

They were both getting desperate; Rhaenyra had a duty as the Crown Princess to produce Heirs to support her claim to the throne and Laenor to continue his Velaryon lineage and give his father a boy to raise to become the next Lord of the High Tides.

Soon, three months had passed and the rumors started. No one would dare to say it to their faces, but they could feel the stares. It was rather hard for both of them because half of the servants knew and blamed Laenor for his inclinations and the other half pitied the Princess, wondering if her mother's birth issues were passed on to her and fearing for her health shall she continue her attempts to have a baby.

Not even her dragon, her beautiful Syrax, could assuage her fears. She would feel better while her girl kept her company, but she could not possibly be with her dragon all the time and whenever she left, the melancholy would once more take over her, bringing with it a restlessness that did not allow her a good night of sleep.

Rhaenyra had taken to hiding in her rooms every night, weeping as quietly as she could so she wouldn't scare or worry her cousin, but in the night it completed two weeks of her withdrawing, Laenor put an end to it by holding her doors open until she crumbled against his chest, crying out all her anguish through sobs that rocked her whole figure till she had not more tears to shed and slept the entire night uninterrupted, curled against him.

On the morrow, she was awakened with news of an invitation; Lord Corlys and Princess Rhaenys were inviting them to commemorate their 22th.

The idea of seeing her adored cousin Laena, whom she loved so very much, and her adored uncle gladdened Rhaenyra. Albeit still being mad at him, Daemon always managed to bring her out of her shell whenever her thoughts consumed her.

They traveled together on the very next day, each riding their own dragon and landed on Driftmark just in time for lunch.

It had been a much needed break, for both of them. Laenor already felt lighter with his older sister by his side, Rhaenyra could finally ignore her pressing duties for the sake of simply having fun and when the night came, the married 'couple' got ready for the ball with twin smiles on their faces.

Rhaenyra had chosen a well-cut black dress to show her curves and Laenor wore a silver piece to match hers.

The feast had been a delight. She and Laenor danced together for a couple dances and then exchanged partners; Laenor with Laena and Rhaenyra being guiden by Daemon. Her uncle, obviously, used the dance as a chance to apologize, and she had been holding on to too many grudges to simply not give him her forgiveness. Daemon made her happier than she'd been in moons and soon the Princess found herself truly forgetting what she was trying so hard not to remember.

Once their dances ended, Rhaenyra parted ways with her uncle and went to locate her husband, only to find him in tears by his sister's side in the gardens.

Laena saw her before she could make her way back to the halls, extending a hand and signing her to come closer. After a quick look around to ensure herself no one was prying on them, Rhaenyra approached.

Discovering Laenor - in his drunk state - had told his Laena about the problems they faced behind doors had been humiliating. Rhaenyra always looked up to Laena; her cousin was so beautiful and had such a carefree personality she could not help herself from admiring her and did not like the idea of Laena looking down on her, much less the thought of her cousin thinking her incapable of successfully seducing a man. But Laena - beautiful Laena - simply laced her fingers to Rhaenyra's and told them both she had the solution for their problems.

Her cousin did not elaborate and simply asked the Princess to bring Laenor to their rooms and make him presentable before getting up, fixing her dress and her hair and, after looking at them with one last glance that was full of self-confidence, leaving the gardens in a poised walk.

That night, after helping Laenor bathe and regain his common sense, the 'couple' received a visit to their chambers; Daemon and Laena walked out of a secret passage by the fireplace.

Rhaenyra was the first to react, rising from where she was sitting. "What is the meaning of this?"

"Come now, cousin," Laena started, leaving an amused Daemon's side to come close to her. The woman, who had a few inches on her, looked down. "I've seen the way you look at me sometimes, whenever you believe I'm not looking."

Against Rhaenyra's wishes, her face began to burn. Laena grabbed her face by the chin and nodded her head towards Daemon. "And I've seen the way you look at my husband; it's the same look I've seen in my brother."

A strange noise escaped Laenor's throat as he tried to find something to say. He seemed to be fairing even worse than Rhaenyra, scrambling backwards as Daemon left his spot by the fireplace and approached him.

It feels like a feverish dream. Rhaenyra could not stop looking from Daemon to Laena, both standing there, imposing, so sure of themselves and on the success of their risky plan they seemed to not even care about the consequences should Laenor or she ever tell a soul what they just said.

"Do you know how I know about this?" Laena asked, staring straight into her lips while passing a thumb on her cousin's lips. Daemon chuckled from somewhere on Rhaenyra's right, but she couldn't take her eyes away from Laena now, not yet. "Because I know I also look towards you when you aren't looking."

It felt like being burned. She felt her body getting warmer, the beating of her heart rising unsteadily and by her side Daemon was whispering sweet dirty words to both Laenor and she, making it even harder to think.

The next hour passed fast after that, the four of them falling into bed in a mess of limbs and for the first time since their marriage, Laenor managed to climax inside of her, with Daemon coaching him from behind while Laena ordered them around from her place on the large bed, satiated.

They left three days later and once three moons passed, their prayers were attended; she was pregnant. Laenor had been extremely invested, and catered to her every need.

In two moons news of Laena's twins being born came through their exchanged letters, the four of them excited at the prospect that their children would be so close in age.

Once more she saw herself flying to meet her cousin and uncle. Laena was obviously tired, yes, but she had a bright smile on her face as she showed them her girls, two small bundles with faces' that looked so much like her cousin Rhaenyra almost cried. Daemon was running around to pamper Laena with sweets and water and when he wasn't getting something for her, he was sitting by her side, staring at the twins.

Later, while Laena rested, Rhaenyra had Rhaena in her arms while Laenor held Baela. They looked exactly alike and the princess could see her uncle's nose on both the kids.

It was only when Rhaenys and Corlys arrived that she realized they needed to return, they couldn't stay as long as they wanted because she had duties back in the Red Keep and she was already pushing it by coming to visit.

Her beautiful babe came to the world four moons later; her first-born son, Jacaerys, the picture of a pure Targaryen, her heir.

Laena had traveled all the way from Dragonstone with both Baela and Rhaena on her arms and spent Rhaenyra's entire birth hours together with her, holding her hand and trying to keep the Princess calm as she cried and feared facing the same trials her mother had. She would not survive if her baby was a stillborn, she wouldn't.

But Jacaerys came to the world screaming at the top of his lungs, as healthy as they came, with hair so white and soft she could not stop herself from keep touching it and pressing his small head to her cheeks.

With Jace in her arms, she could now face the lords of the Realm, the queen, the Hand and the servants with her head held right. She had done her part, fulfilled her duty and once again felt the pride of being a dragon again. On top of that, Syrax had just finished nesting three eggs - one of which was put on her babe's cradle and when ratched, would be Jacaerys'.

She'd kept her son hidden as long as she could, taking him only to see his grandsire before bringing him back to his chambers, but as Jace grew so did the need to take him out to see the world.

When the boy completed three moons, she began to take him into the gardens, spending her noons there with the babe on her lap. Laenor would be with them as much as he could, sometimes even taking the babe and she with him on short trips on one of his ships and he insisted on taking Jace for a ride in Seasmoke too, but she declined it, wanting Jace's first fly to be with her. Since Laenor already had taken him on his first sail, he consented and when her girl recovered from her nesting, the Princess took Jacaerys with her to overfly King's Landing.

With Jace being shown around, however, came vile rumors questioning her poor babe's paternity. The harsher ones suggested he was actually Daemon's child and could only have one source, but neither Rhaenyra or her husband could prove it so they endured the hushed out comments with practiced ease and settled for smiling falsely at the Hand whenever graced with an opportunity.

Alicent kept trying to talk to her when they crossed each other in the gardens. Her childhood friend seemed exhausted and was always surrounded by her two kids and babe, Rhaenyra's new brother who was just a few moons younger than her firstborn, Daeron. The princess was too upset to even try and pretend to accept the niceties and escaped as soon as she could.

The humiliation felt hot in her belly; while it was true she jumped on Daemon as a starved dragon, even in the middle of their euphoria that night her uncle had not come inside her. Jacaerys was not the first Targaryen-Velaryon to be born with only Targaryen's features and it was absurd to think differently. Yes, her son's skin was as light as hers, and his hair did not have the same texture as a Velaryon usually did, but his eyes and eyebrow had the same shape as his grandmother Rhaenys - a bit downwards.

Thankfully, upon hearing the rumors, her father was quick to define any comments regarding Jace's parentage treason; his grandson was Laenor's son and whoever dared to imply otherwise would lose their heads for it.

Life at the Keep was calmer after that. Jace was an easy boy to raise, mostly spending his days dozing off or giggling at his father's silly plays and was reaching each milestone from the books with at least a moon to spare.

Corlys and Rhaenys positively doted on him, - as did her father, giving Jace toys and sweets and talking about scheduled playdates all the time - sometimes bringing Laena and the twins with them since her uncle had once again been exiled. Rhaena and Baela were becoming even more beautiful as they aged and already were able to walk and babble some words. Jace was only now learning how to walk so he often followed the girls around by crawling, to their amusement.

But the Velaryon-Targaryen couple didn't visit only to see their grandson; they also wanted to encourage Rhaenyra and Laenor to have another heir - this one to be Laenor's successor as the heir of Driftmark. Corlys may not have said it, but the princess could feel it and Rhaenys had no qualms to ask her for another son when she managed to get alone with her a couple of nights later, so when they received the invitation to the Laena's name-day celebration, it felt like the Gods were offering the perfect excuse to spend a few days away from home.

Their stay at Dragonstone had once again been filled with sneaking around and jesting. Rhaenyra hadn't admitted it to Laenor, knowing it was difficult for him to be a part of that arrangement, but she had been dreaming about a repetition for moons now and being finally able to kiss Laena and Daemon again was all she could think about when she was alone late at night.

Jacaerys had also been ecstatic at the prospect of spending some time with his cousins; her boy absolutely loved the twins - he could barely understand what was happening around him, but once he was put close to the girls he had forgotten completely about his parents and had toddled around with them to here the maids were leading them.

It had been a wonderful week, for all of them, and as they flew back to King's Landing, Rhaenyra had a smug smile on her face and knew, by the way Syrax was sending static energy through their bond, that the seed had once again taken.

The confirmation came barely two months later, when she began to feel nauseous in the morning. Her father had been static, ordering a tourney to celebrate and congratulating his child and Laenor over and over again as they stood in front of him and the rest of the lords present.

After the announcement, the preparations began. She sent the news to Laena and Daemon to Laenor's parents and they all reunited a few moons later to celebrate and search for the new babe's name. It took them longer than Jacaerys' name because both her and Laenor wanted something close to Jahaerys when they picked their first-born name. Now, however, there were so many possibilities that it took several weeks of research for them to decide. Took them moons to finally make a decision; the babe would be called Visenya - a name she always loved and desired to put on a child in the event she had a girl - and Lucerys if it were a boy.

This time around her pregnancy passed as fast and smoothly and when the time came she was not as scared as before, when she feared to follow her mother's footsteps on her birthing bed. Still, the labor took hours to end and Rhaenyra was at the end of her forces when the child's head left her body. There were cheers and congratulatory words for a well done job at her direction as they took her child away for examination. Rhaenyra had yet to hear her child's cry and soon the thoughts of her dear late mother and the chain of still-born babes she had to endure invaded her delicate mind and she began to struggle to sit up.

Laenor had been in the rooms the entire time, holding her hand for support, and only left her to check on their child. The Maester in charge was pressing against the newborn's chest, trying to make him breath.

Rhaenyra was exhausted and already in the beginnings of a fit of terror - heart pounding desperately against her chest and breath coming short - as she tried to understand what was happening; no one in the room was telling her anything, for the maids holding her down also didn't know. There were a bunch of people surrounding the newborn and they couldnt see anything.

And then soft, weeping sounds began to sound from somewhere in the room.

"It's a miracle, a gift from the Gods!"

It was Laenor who acted, taking his child away from the nosy lookers as soon as the Maester that had been examining the babe allowed. The man then crossed the room in large steps and quickly put the small bundle in his wife's arms for her to look at.

"He's fine, 'Nyra, he's fine." He comforted, trying to calm her down but his words went above her head for she felt as if she were underwater, tears already wetting her red face as she he held the babe close, hands scrambling to take the cloth off his face to ensure he was safe and sound, but only truly began to get a hold of herself when the small mouth moved into a pout and she realized the sounds - the small whimpers and sniffs she had been hearing - came from the newborn babe.

A boy, Laenor said it was a boy. Her young Lucerys.

The Princess kissed his tiny head with a smile, rubbing her cheek against his as she laughed wetly. "Shh, Issa tresy, (my son)" She murmured, feeling the exhaustion taking a hold of her body as her eyelids became heavy. "Aōha muña iksos kesīr. (now mother is here)"

Her eyes closed against her will, but she feared not; she knew Laenor would protect their children.

Luke had been born dead. That was all Rhaenyra had thought about for the first week she had her babe in her arms, holding him closer each time she remembered it.

She did not wish to talk about it, but everyone kept bringing it up during the first moons of Lucerys' life, calling it a miracle, a gift from the Seven. Rhaenyra did not care what it was, she just wanted to forget those minutes of pure horror she felt and cherish her second chance.

And what a second chance it was. With Lucerys' birth, the rumors contesting his older brother's parentage disappeared completely. While Luke looked exactly like a Targaryen, with a skin whiter than hers and eyes a shade so unique of purple it looked almost blue, the charming mole underneath his eye that he shared with his grandfather and a reddish birthmark on his nape - at the same spot and with the exact same format as his father's - silenced anyone that still dared to comment on the subject.

Corlys had been extremely smug by the discovery, parading Luke around the Red Keep and putting his face beside the boy's every time he saw someone whom he had not yet shown the resemblance.

Jacaerys' attachment was even worse than when Luke was still on her belly; he followed his brother everywhere and wanted nothing more than to have him in his arms all the time, sometimes throwing a fit when not allowed to cuddle with Luke on the middle of his legs. It was always amusing to see a small boy of two name days with a babe between his legs.

Rhaenys was also taken by the newborn and always took him and Jace to stay around the gardens for a couple hours while Laenor and Rhaenyra collapsed in bed.

Being a parent was harder than any of them could expect, especially considering Lucerys was not exactly what one would call a normal child - the boy was too quiet for his own good, crying silently whenever he wished to be fed, or to have his clothes to be changed, or anything regarding him needing to be catered for.

Jacaerys, on the other hand, had always been the complete opposite and made sure to make his mind known. It was a strange contrast for her and she knew Laenor also struggled with it as he went to look for Lucerys every few minutes to check on the boy.

As the months passed and Luke still did not cry out loud, they started worrying something was wrong with his vocal cords. Rhaenyra took him to every Master she could find and when she was too busy with her duties, Laenor stepped in and brought Luke to the appointments.

In reality Luke simply did not seem to have any desire to fit the norm, as it was proved by the fact that after her son's egg was put into his cradle it only took a month close to the boy for it to hatch and a baby dragon - a pearl-colored small dragon - struggling to get off of it with high pitched cries that had woken the entire family and caused them to run through the Keep in desperation only to find the four moon's old babe curled around his dragon, sleeping soundly - the shells of the dragon's egg by his side.

The morning after, they tried to separate the boy and the beast by having the dragon keepers bring the small dragon to the Dragon Pit, but for the first time in his young life Lucerys bawled, crying himself straight into a point where he couldn't breath. It had been a disaster, they didn't know what to do, but at least now they knew there was nothing wrong with the boy's voice.

Rhaenys kept repeating they couldn't just keep a dragon - even if it was a babe one - on the Keep and Rhaenyra was inclined to agree, but once Laenor hurriedly entered the rooms, worried about what was happening, with Jace in his arms and her other boy also started crying, she had to give in.

In the end, they had taken the issue to her father.

"Your Grace, I cannot help but advise against it." Otto Hightower said.

"Nonsense, Otto. The boy is attached to his dragon and the beast is still too young to hurt someone, it'll be fine." Viserys had said, smiling down at his daughter before asking her to step closer and let him hold his grandson.

Luke accepted being passed on to her father without fuss and stood at the man's lap for the rest of the meeting, to the amusement of most of the court. Alicent, who sat at the king's side with her second son, Aemond, did not even try to hide her scowl; Viserys never took any of her children to sit on his lap during a meeting and barely gave them any attention.

The queen had been growing increasingly closed off the last few moons and while Rhaenyra didn't try or want to approach her, the Princess did feel a bit bad for the girl. From what the maids were saying, Alicent was now facing a mind illness that caused her supreme sadness and only spent time with her children.

Rhaenyra felt sorry for her siblings, she did. They had nothing to do with her father's fooleries or their mother's betrayal, but she was busier than ever these last few years with both her sons and duties in court, she couldn't take the little time away she had to spend with Jace and Luke from her children.

The whole family was in the gardens, aside from her father, and enjoying a nice warm summer day by drinking refreshments and eating delicacies that had just arrived the night before. Jacaerys was busy in a quest to find the most strange shaped rocks to show Laenor and Corlys, Rhaena was admiring some flowers and Baela was attempting to hide the rocks Jace found from him.

Her boy was the picture of a perfect heir and enjoyed having his hair just long enough to reach his shoulders. Jacaerys was still a few moons away from starting his classes as a prince, but her boy was already able to read small words and made friends with everyone he met, being absolutely loved around the Red Keep by all the inhabitants with very few exceptions.

As for Lucerys, having just completed ten full moons, was sitting as quiet as always in his grandmother's lap, playing with a bunch of colorful blocks. Laena had not yet stopped grabbing him every few minutes to smell his hair and coo over his cuteness, which made something Rhaenyra did not want to think about stirr in her belly.

Her sweet boy still woke up crying most of the days and sometimes he bursted out into tears so suddenly it scared her. Whenever he did cry while awake, he held on to his head. It worried her - it seemed she wasn't able to do much but worry about Luke - but she knew it couldn't possibly be healthy for him to grab into his hair and sob so quietly as he did, unconsolable for a reason they couldn't explain.

No matter how many Maesters they brought him to - Laenor even risked asking the Maesters from Dorne for help -, it seemed no one could explain what the problem was and the consensus was that Luke would face migraines his entire life.

She had broken out in cries for weeks after hearing the news, but after the babe completed nine moons they were finally able to offer Luke a respite to his suffering by giving him a few amounts of milk of the poppy.

"It's quite a feat," Rhaenys stated, talking about the boy's stocking-up-blocks skills. Her youngest had been fixated on the blocks for a while now. "Lucerys' a very smart babe."

Upon hearing his name, Luke looked up at Rhaenys. Seeing the queen who never was with Lucerys on her lap was an ominous experience, of sorts. She always noticed that Rhaenys had an intense gaze and so did Luke, who ever since he was able to open his eyes looked at her with eyes so deep she could not help but describe as mystical. With both of them looking at her now, she felt as if they were staring deep into her. Laenor, as if reading her thoughts, said the same thing in her ear.

This time around, Daemon was also in the Red Keep. Her father had once again uplifted her uncle's exile, so obviously the first thing Daemon did was to take his family to King's Landing so he could bother his older brother and the Hand.

Her father had been in a good humor these last few moons, though. After the whole situation with Lucerys' dragon, he started saying it was a sign from the Gods that he was on the right path. Rhaenyra did not know if she agreed, exactly, but anything that made him feel better was a bonus in her opinion.

As it is, Daemon was not having enough fun torturing lords at the court with his inane comments and so the best next thing was to try and find something else to entertain himself with. It seemed that something was to try and get Lucerys to speak.

She did not bother to tell him the babe was still too young.

"Skoros ēnka iksos bisy? (what color is this one?)" Her uncle asked, poking a red block on the top of Luke's little castle and Lucerys - once again maintaining his pattern of surprising everyone at the most unexpected moments, answered him back in the cutest high pitched voice.

"Mele! (red)" The boy said, looking up at his great uncle with a beautiful smile.

"Did you- did you hear that?" Laenor shrieked, his voice breaking in a few syllables from the surprise.

Corlys put all of Jace's rocks on the floor - to Baela's delight - and Laena almost fell in the rush to get closer.

"Yes, yes I heard it!" Rhaenyra almost shouted, putting the basket of sweets that were in her lap on the grass and moving towards her son. "Can you say it again, sweet boy? What color is it?" But Luke just stared at her, face back to that blank expression of always. Before she could even feel disappointed, Daemon nudged Luke's small foot.

"Se bisy? (and this one?)" He asked, this time pointing at a green block.

"Ka'ta! (green)" Luke immediately answered.

Daemon shot her a look so full of meanings Rhaenyra felt all the air leave her lungs. Could it be possible? "Lucerys," she started. The boy turned his attention from Daemon to her. "Kostagon ao vestragon muñnā? (can you say mother?)"

"Muñnā!" The boy shouted, little hands bumping on the small castle he made and knocking down the blocks. "Muñnā!"

"Can you say mother?" Laenor, who also picked up on the new development, asked. As expected, Lucerys did not even acknowledge him. "Lucerys, kostagon ao vestragon kepa? (can you say father?)"

"Ke'a. (father)" Luke butchered out, picking up a block and shaking it.

"Are you shitting me?" Laena asked, her mouth open in an undignified way.

"Laena!" Rhaenys and Corlys admonished her half-mindedly and before they could ask Luke to say something else, Daemon grabbed the babe, lifting the boy by his armpits until their faces were at the same level. Lucerys' hand shot up to grab his great uncle's hair. "Skorkydoso glaesā? (how are you?)" Her uncle asked.

"''ȳz! (good)."

Daemon turned to her, his face the smuggiest she'd ever seen - especially for someone whose hair was being stuffed into a child's mouth. "So, niece, how did you manage to raise a child that only understands High Valyrian?"

Notes:

lucerys/aegon the entire chapter: what did she sayyyyy

rhaenyra @laena: mommy, sorry, mommy? lmao i didnt mean to do it, my hands slipped

BTW Daemyra were never seen when they went out so Otto is still there

Chapter 2: Prologue pt.2

Notes:

I'm soooo sorry for the delay, I had a bunch of assignments to do these days and I couldn't take more than one hour to write per day so it took a long time for this chapter to get ready and then I had to fix it because english is not my mother tongue plus my vocabulary in english when it comes to formal stuff is basic at best so sometimes I use the same words repetitively and I end up having to search for synonyms and it is hard work, I'll tell you that. My internet history is basically "how do you say * in a formal way?", "* synonyms", "* antonyms" LMAO

Thank you so much for the comments! I loved every and each one of them!

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

There was nothing that could stop her family from rounding up on Luke and asking question after question to the boy. She had never seen Lucerys so happy, he was such a serious child. Now he was all smiles and giggles as he butchered his words, answering everything they wanted as best as he could, and it was adorable to hear her mother tongue in such a young voice.

Lucerys also had an accent different from almost everyone she'd ever met. The only person she had heard pronounce High Valyrian like that was her grandfather himself, Baelon.

Her son only understanding their ancient language was a problem, though, and she couldn't bear the thought that the boy may want to communicate with those around him but not be able to because he couldn't understand.

And what would be of Luke in the future if he never became fluent in the common tongue? Some Targaryen never truly learn High Valyrian, what if it's the same with her sweet boy and he found himself only knowing a few phrases? Luke would be lord of Driftmark one day, and he was a prince. He needed to speak the people's language.

Still, the matter of who taught Luke the language still stood, considering no one spoke the language around the boy apart from a few words exactly because they feared the child would pick up on the Valyrian language instead of the common tongue, the one the men spoke.

No one in the garden admitted having done it, so it could not have been them. Rhaenyra herself only talked to her children when she was saying good morning, good night or a few other greetings she thought they should know.

Of course, she sang to them the Valyrian songs her mother had sung to hear as a child, but she did not have long conversations with them in their ancient language and she definitely did not teach them color.

Laenor was not the best in High Valyrian – he had learned, it was expected of him as Heir of Driftmark – but years of not speaking the language made his fluency suffer a bit, therefore he was also ruled off.

By the rules of elimination there was only one person left, which was why Laenor and she were bringing their children to the King's chambers after spending an entire afternoon of the adults, and children, fawn over their youngest's voice.

Jace had actually gotten into his first fight with the twins over Lucerys, because Baela and Rhaena decided Luke would now be their brother.

They only calmed down once Laenor said they could all be siblings together, and by the time they left the gardens Jace had started to call the twins his sisters and they were even closer than before.

"Rytsa, Luce! (hi!)" Jacaerys shouted again in her arms, his high voice right beside her left ear hurting her a little, but she ignored it. Jace became obsessed with speaking to his brother now that he knew the younger boy was capable of answering, but he didn't know many words in High Valyrian, so he kept asking her or his father to translate it to him.

It was the fifth time he said 'hi' to Luke, as always messing up his brother's nickname because he still couldn't make his tongue form the 'K' – something that always made her giggle and want to bite his puffy cheeks. Her babe boy was so cute it was unbearable sometimes.

"'y'sa!" Lucerys shouted back in his father's arms, Laenor walking slowly beside her, as amused as her. And that was another thing; Luke didn't seem to mind being greeted the same way again and again, he always answered with the same enthusiasm as the first time.

Jace squirmed in her arms, giggling. "Mama, he sai' it bac' again!"

The two of them had not yet stopped when they reached her father's chambers. Jacaerys momentarily forgot about the knowledge that his brother could now talk to him in favor of greeting Ser Androw and Ser Robert with a large smile and a bunch of questions. The two men smiled back, already taken by her son and his bright personality from the other times they met each other. Lucerys, on the other hand, just waved one hand at them, stuffing the other one in his mouth.

Jace had always been the extroverted one.

The knights didn't even ask her father if they were allowed in and simply opened the doors, Ser Androw announcing them just a few seconds before she entered.

Her father was staring at a few papers he had in his hand, but as she entered, he was already putting them down the divan and walking up to them, slowly and lethargic. "Rhaenyra, my child. Did I forget we had an appointment today?"

"No, father." Viserys was already extending his hands to greet Jacaerys with a handshake that only the two of them knew. Jace had a special handshake for everyone in the family, the newest addition being Daemon. "We- I found out something of importance today."

Hearing the worry she wasn't able to hide in her voice, the man signaled the chairs by his side, his expression closing off. "Well, sit down. Tell me everything."

Rhaenyra put Jace down first so she could gather her skirts, picking the boy up once she was sitting. Jace curled into her immediately, resting his head on her shoulder. He was probably tired after missing his afternoon nap, too excited to spend some time with the twins to care about sleeping. Luke on the other hand had nodded off quite a few times during their little picnic and was now wide awake. "Father, have you been talking to Lucerys in High Valyrian? Teaching him colors?"

Her father frowned, looking from her to Laenor in confusion. "Why? What's the matter?"

"It will be easier if we show you, Your Grace." Laenor put Lucerys on the carpet in front of them, the boy immediately using his hands to hold himself into place in spite of his father's leg being pressed against his back to support him right after. "Luke, skoros ēnka iksos bisa (what color is this)?" Laenor leaned down and pointed at the carpet.

"'āsos! (brown)" Luke exclaimed. "'āpa! (soft)"

In a flash, her father's exhaustion seemed to leave his body as he shoved himself off the divan and sat on his knees in front of Lucerys. "What is the meaning of this?"

"There's more, father."

"Lucerys, what colors is this?" Laenor repeated on the common tongue, pointing at the table. This time, Luke didn't answer, his eyebrows coming together as they always did when he was confused by something.

"What- how?"

"We found out he understands High Valyrian today, and only High Valyrian. No one fluent in the language admitted having taught him."

Wonder shined in the king's eyes. She had never seen him this way, not even when during those several times he found out her mother was once again pregnant.

"How is this possible?"

His reaction told her everything she needed to know, but she still asked. "It wasn't you, then? You didn't teach him?"

"I can't say that I have, no. I never speak our ancient language these days." His hands hovered over her son's small body as the man stared with awe. "It can only be a gift, a gift from the gods."

"How can it be a gift, father? He's unable to communicate with his peers. The first years are extremely important for a child's social development and Lucerys will be behind everyone else because he can't talk!" All the anxiety she felt ever since the discovery came out and she felt shame wash over her. All those years, all those betrayals she faced by her own father, and she still broke down at the first opportunity she had to be close to him.

"Rhaenyra, we will teach him." Laenor was the first to speak.

"What if we can't Laenor? He doesn't know a single word! He doesn't know mother, or father. He doesn't know what 'hi' means!"

Jacaerys seemed to understand something was wrong because he lifted his head and blinked worriedly at her. "Mama's sad?"

She laughed wetly, blinking fast to chase the tears away. "No, my love. Mama is fine, it's all fine."

Her firstborn kept staring for a few more moments before deciding she was telling the truth and laying his head on her shoulder again.

Her father came to stand in front of her and held her hands onto his. Laenor watched the scene from his place near Luke, his face almost a mirror of Jace's from a few seconds before.

"He'll learn, Rhaenyra. A child so young speaking like this? Lucerys is smart, he'll learn it in no time, I'll make sure of it." She bit her lip to stop it from trembling, gripping her father's hands tightly. "I'll hire the best tutors we have, all of them. Whatever is necessary, he'll have it, child. I promise you."

Part of her wanted to scoff at the promise, remembering how many times he broke it and left her to fend for herself. The many times he avoided her after the news that her siblings had been stillborn, the time after her mother died. The time he married her best friend and was too much of a coward to face her and admit his deceit.

Despite it all, he was all she had left. He was her only parent alive, her father, and she would always believe him.

"Alright, alright."

The king smiled, patting her knee softly before turning around to go back to Luke.

"Now I want to see what else my youngest grandson knows." He nudged Luke's foot the same way her uncle had hours ago. "Lucerys, gaomagon ao gīmigon qilōni nyke? (do you know who I am?)"

"Muñna ke'a! (Mother's father)." They laughed at that.

"Muñkepa, vēzos. (grandsire, darling.)" She corrected.

Luke crawled to his grandfather, climbing into the man's lap. "'I'pa Bae'ion! (rode Balerion)"

Her father laughed in delight. "Who taught him that? Yes, I did ride Balerion."

"It was probably my mother." Laenor laughed, but Rhaenyra for some reason felt a malaise install itself on her chest.

That very same night, when she put Lucerys in his cradle, Rhaenyra remembered the other problem.

The dragon.

The silver beast had been growing in an alarming rate and was now at the same size of a horse, despite having born barely three moons past, big enough to hurt someone but not to kill them.

Soon he would be too dangerous to be kept inside and Rhaenyra dreaded the conversation she would need to have with her boy regarding the dragon's new placement.

For some reason, Lucerys hated the pit. Every time Laenor or she tried to get the dragonkeepers to bring the dragon there, Lucerys would go from a quiet, calm babe to a raging 2,5 feet storm and since the beast had never hurt or tried to hurt anyone, she was willing to ignore it.

For now.

Rhaenys wasn't very much in agreement with her, but Rhaenys wouldn't be the one who had to deal with an angry Lucerys so she had no say in the matter.

They would need to solve the issue with the dragon soon, however.

As soon as Luke's bum hit the sheets, the boy turned around on his belly and crawled closer to his dragon, fitting his little hand between the bars until he could touch his dragon's muzzle.

"A'x!"

"Is that his name, sweet boy?" She asked, caressing her son's head. She would never get over how his and Jace's hair were soft.

"Mmmm, A'x!"

The dragon snorted, drops of mucus hitting the ground, but Luke didn't care and just giggled. Rhaenyra smiled, shaking her head. Nothing would ever make Lucerys happier than his dragon, it seemed.

She let them have a few minutes together before the tiredness in her legs turned too much. She had been walking around all morning to make sure all her duties were done and that she could spend the day with her family.

"Alright, love, now it's time to rest."

Luke went willingly, laying down unmoving as he waited for her to tuck him in, big eyes staring deep into hers and he blinked drowsily, little mouth opening in a yawn.

She bent over to kiss him on the forehead and began singing her favorite song as a child. Lucerys seemed satisfied by that and managed to stay awake just long enough for Laenor to come give him a kiss, a sleepy Jace in his arms.

She closed the doors behind her and turned to bump on her firstborn's nose, making him giggle. "Alright. Let's put this one to bed."

"Good morning." Was what Rhaenyra first heard as she came into consciousness. She scrunched up her nose, trying to hide her face on the pillow beneath her, only it wasn't a pillow because it was just the right amount of warmth and soft in a way only human flesh could be.

Oh, right.

That was why she was so well rested; all the exercise she had done the night before.

It had been her idea, this time. The danger of being caught by one of the many servants only making her feel hotter and the others, well, none of them seemed to care much about being seen in the first place.

Hands started massaging her head, then, and she hummed. "Good morning."

When Rhaenyra opened her eyes, she saw a pale chest on the corner of her eyes; Daemon. The man was still sleeping, face turned to the side to try and escape the sunlight.

The Princess turned around to see who had talked to her and saw Laenor sleeping with his head on Daemon's arm, but her attention was quickly stolen by Laena, who was walking around gloriously naked with a cup of tea on her hands and Rhaenyra felt more than a part of her awake at that.

She rubbed her legs together. "Fuck." She murmured quietly.

"You should have seen the servant's face when she saw me. I think she knows." Laena laughed, laying down on the divan to grab a bread made with cheese.

"You're insane." Rhaenyra whispered so as not to wake the others, laying back down on Daemon's chest. "They already talk, you know?"

"And what will they say? That we ditched our husbands to sleep together?" Laena giggled. "They may believe it when it comes to my little brother, but Daemon? He has quite the reputation."

"I care not for my reputation so long as you let me watch." Daemon's voice came out raspy in the way that made Rhaenyra's toes curl. "Good morning, my darlings."

"Be quiet, Laenor's still asleep." Rhaenyra kissed his lips.

Daemon tried to grab her with his free arm, but she kissed his chest and moved away, walking up to Laena, who offered her a cup of her own tea.

"Thank you."

"Ah, ah, ah." Laena moved the cup away. "A kiss for a tea."

Rhaenyra rolled her eyes, but the smile on her face betrayed her giddiness. "That does not rhyme."

"And yet I got my kiss." Laena brought one for Daemon, who was now cuddling a barely awake Laenor. The man held Laena's hand and gave it a kiss.

"I wish we could spend our mornings this way forever," Rhaenyra murmured, watching them together.

She was her happiest when she had them with her, all three of them.

"You'll be leaving today by night?" The Princess asked, already knowing she wouldn't be seeing them until then. Her morning would be busy after two days of relaxation and since it was a council day, so would her afternoon.

"Yes, we can't stay away for much longer."

The Princess nodded, of course. She understood.

A knock sounded through the room, so soft they almost didn't hear it, but the seriousness of the conversation made silence reign on the room.

Laenor, who was still in the process of waking up, jumped from the bed stark naked and went looking around for his trousers. "By the gods, you two need to go."

"Who is it? How do they just come in like that?" Laena whisper-shouted harshly as she put on her clothes.

This time the knock wasn't so soft. It was strong, so strong it made the door move and the walls tremble.

Rhaenyra jumped from her spot, grabbing onto Laenor's arm.

"Fuck, what was that?" Daemon grabbed Dark sister, signaling for the other three to stay behind him as he stalked closer to the doors.

Rhaenyra let out a suffocated scream when the doors and walls trembled again. Her uncle began to turn on the key. "Uncle, don't! Don't!"

"A'x, stop!" A tiny, high-pitched voice came from the other side of the doors and they all stared at each other in incredulity before Daemon quickly unlocked the doors and opened them.

There, standing in front of them was Lucerys and Ax, the babe using the dragon to keep himself standing.

"Lucerys!" Rhaenyra ran past Daemon and gathered her son in her arms. "What are you doing here? How did you get here?"

"D'os. (walls)" The babe pointed nonsensically. "A'x i'on (go)."

"What?" She asked, not understanding.

Luke ignored her question, his child attention spam making him squeal in delight when he saw Daemon and he waved at him, who confusedly waved back. To a child so wary of strangers, Lucerys got comfortable with her uncle fast over the last two days.

Laena looked short of passing out, but she still managed greet him with a kiss on the cheek. Luke, copying what she just did, smacked his lips together and made a 'mwah' sound, ripping a disbelief laugh from the people in the room.

Then he saw Laenor.

"Ke'a!"

"Lucerys." Laenor smiled, still clutching his sword at the scare.

Daemon shook his head in amusement and sheered Rhaenyra inside the rooms again, stopping by the door and looking at the dragon, who also stopped following his future rider to stare at Daemon.

"Why is your child bringing a dragon around as if it were a pup?" Daemon asked, then he sighed tiredly. "Zira. (enter)"

Ax huffed as he walked in, Lucerys bending down on her arms so he could touch his dragon. Her uncle closed the doors behind them.

Neither him nor Laena believed her and Laenor's talk about Lucerys' dragon not staying in the Pit until they saw it by themselves, but from that to Luke bringing the dragon from his room to theirs without causing a panic was a jump.

Rhaenyra sat down as soon as she came close to the divan, legs still weak from the scare. "Lucerys," She began.

"A'x." At that the boy babe-talked his way to the end of the phrase. "D'a'one."

"What did he say?" Daemon frowned.

"He said he wants Ax to go to Dragonstone." Laenor translated, pausing on his words as if he wasn't sure of what he heard.

But it was what they said, a parent always understands its child, and despite how confusing it was that Luke would rather have Ax go to Dragonstone instead of just staying close to him in the Dragon Pit, Rhaenyra knew that's what the babe meant.

Should she let him make that decision? He was too young to know how hollow it felt to spend so much time away from your dragon.

Daemon kneeled in front of Lucerys. "Jāhor ao daor miss zirȳla? Jāhor ao daor miss zirȳla Ax lo nyke gūrogon zirȳla rūsīr issa? (Won't you miss him? Won't you miss Ax if I take him with me?)"

"'essa. (yes)" Luke agreed in that strange overly serious for a child face of his, deep eyes staring right into Daemon's. "A'x...e'on 'i'a'on. (Ax has to go)"

"He said yes, but that Ax has to go."

Rhaenyra looked at the dragon, but obviously nothing in the beast's eyes made her confirm what Lucerys was saying. Whatever a dragon wanted, or felt, only its rider could tell.

"My very own babe talker." Daemon teased Laenor, watching him blush avidly, but when he turned to Lucerys, he stopped smirking, matching the babe's seriousness. "Nyke shall gūrogon zirȳla naejot Zaldrīzesdōron, pār. (I shall take him to Dragonstone, then)"

Luke seemed satisfied with that and stopped his stare match with Daemon to look at Laenor instead. "'epa?"

"Hm?"

"'rugh. (I pooped)" He deadpanned.

After talking to Laenor about it, they both decided to let Ax fly over to Dragonstone with Laena and Daemon. If Lucerys wanted the dragon back, they just had to fly there and take Ax back, no harm done, and as a bonus they'd see the couple again.

They were all just waiting for Luke to ask for Ax back one day, but the boy never did and with Ax in Dragonstone she didn't need to find a solution for the ever-growing dragon and could now focus on her other problem: Luke's inability of understanding anything in the common language.

Her father tried his best to find someone that specialized in teaching children the common tongue, but it was harder than one would think. Not only was it rare to find such people, but they also had to wait for the advisors to check on the teachers' past and reputation; Lucerys was a prince, after all, and for that he would make an expensive bounty.

Everyday Laenor and she made Lucerys repeat a few words and taught him the meaning of them, but she could tell it was hard for the babe.

The solution to her problem came in the manner of a heavy brown package that the Princess received a moon later.

Rhaenyra knew who it was from before she even opened it by the way it was horribly wrapped, with uneven edges and too many strings.

"Daemon?" Laenor asked, taking his eyes off his own work from his chair by the window.

They'd been doing this ever since they got married, sitting together in the office, that is. It was a way for them to easily appear together without trying to and since both of them enjoyed each other's company, there's no cons for it.

"Yes." She nodded and looked around the table for a cut letter knife.

By the format, it could only be a book, but she's still delighted when she saw which one. "A TALE OF OLD VALYRIA" was what stood in the title. She remembered this book, remembered spending days and nights reading it, completely obsessed with it since the day Daemon first read it to her. She did not remember much of the times he did because she was too little, but there's a vague memory of her younger self between her uncle's legs, staring at the book full of words she could not understand as Daemon read it.

It took him a moon just to finish the first chapter, having stopped in every sentence to translate them word for word – for the book was written in High Valyrian. At the time her knowledge of High Valyrian was smaller than her height, but by the time Daemon was once again exiled, she could not only understand, but already read it on her own.

As she took the book out of the package, a nostalgic smile on her face, she saw he had also put a letter there.

He started by stressing out a possessive pronoun, successfully achieving what he probably wanted; for Rhaenyra to roll her eyes.

'My dear niece,

I noticed you were worried over Lucerys and his inability to speak the common tongue. While I thought it exquisite, at first, I now understand the boy may later find himself in a difficult situation should he not learn it fast.

I suggest you read and translate every word and sentence to him every day. It was how I taught you High Valyrian when you were little, and it is how my youngest nephew will learn the common language.

As the heir to the throne, Jacaerys must also learn our ancient tongue. Read it to both of them, and the desired results shall be achieved.

Always,

Daemon'

Rhaenyra lifted it in her hands, and turned it around, admiring the red cover. The book was in the same state as before and it was as big and majestic as she remembered. She couldn't help but settle to read a bit.

In the end, Rhaenyra spent so much time reading that she had to rush through her papers to finish them in time to see her children.

She greeted the servants as she went, because her mother taught her they're the people who royals spend more time around apart from each other and therefore having a good relationship with them was important.

Her boys were in the nursery, being watched by handmaids. Ever since Lucerys was able to sit on his own, she began to let him out of her chambers so he could be supervised by a maid in the nursery along with Jace while she went to work on her duties.

The royal nursery was the place all child princes and princesses spent most of their days, but Rhaenyra had never seen any of her siblings because Alicent's illness had worsened and she never let them leave her rooms, so it was a surprise to see all four of them together, standing far away from each other.

Aemond was on the opposite corner of Aegon's, sitting alone as Rhaenyra heard from the maids was something he was bound to do every day. Her brother was staring at a book that she recognized as well as the one she was holding, having spent many hours staring at it too. It was a figure book, its size almost as big as Aemond and it contained many pictures detailing the most glorious events of Westeros.

Helaena's handmaid was trying to get her to play with some toys while her little sister just kept staring at the wall where a couple of ants were carrying small crumbles of food.

Daeron, her youngest brother, was ripping off parts of a trinket she knew nothing of, but that to him seemed was quite interesting.

Even more unexpected was the sight of her children and Aegon together. The three of them were whispering things around, Lucerys between his brother's legs as Jace hugged him tight from behind and Aegon sitting cross legged in front of them, showing objects and toys to her boys before putting them on the ground.

She inched closer, trying to hear what they were saying.

"Se bisa? (and this)?" Aegon asked, the words coming out in the strange, forced way they do when one is not familiar with a language yet, lifting a wooden horse toy.

"Anne. (horse)" Lucerys answered and Jace, whose part in this conversation was to be the translator, repeated the same word, this time adding the consonants to it although he himself couldn't pronounce them sometimes.

It never failed to impress her how good her firstborn was at understanding his brother. Jace was getting better fast at his Valyrian and wanted to learn it quickly so he could talk with his baby brother. He managed to understand the way to pronounce Lucerys' words even when he couldn't speak the language himself.

Aegon nodded his head, and when her brother spoke next his pronunciation was almost perfect.

She frowned, trying to understand how he could say words in their ancient tongue in such a proficient way at times while sounding just like a dragonkeeper at others.

The answer came to her as soon as the question materialized in her head and Rhaenyra flushed in embarrassment. Of course Aegon would not know the correct pronunciation for Valyrian words, there was no one to teach him, only the Maesters who trained him just enough to be able control his Dragon, Sunfyre. The men didn't actually know the language themselves and the words they spoke had no real meaning to them.

Oh, how ashamed she was of herself at that moment, of her father. How could they let their family go around so oblivious to their culture? It was outrageous.

Even worse was seeing the proof that Aegon wanted to learn High Valyrian, was trying to learn it by himself and now that he found out a source – as unreliable as Lucerys was, considering the way the babe could not yet pronounce every syllable – he was thriving, and Luke, who usually was quiet and distant when he didn't know someone, seemed as loose as he was with all the other members of their family, as if he knew Aegon and liked him.

As Lucerys moved in his brother's arms, the Princess realized the reason why Jace was holding his brother so tight; Luke was trying to reach out to Aegon. Jacaerys was incredibly possessive of his baby brother and did not like it when other children were closer to Lucerys than him – well, except for Baela and Rhaena, her firstborn now saw them as siblings, which made her feel all sorts of bubbles on her stomach.

"Ae'on, Ae'on!" Luke repeated, clapping his small hands and Jace tried to get the babe to say his name, unsuccessfully.

Biting down on a laugh, she made the first sound since entering the room by grabbing a drink from the table pushed all the way to the wall, casually drawing attention to herself and the children's eyes turned to her.

Once Jace saw her, he got up and ran, little legs working fast. "Mama!" He hugged her legs, looking up with a beautiful smile.

Rhaenyra was quick to put the book beneath her arm and crouched down, giving her firstborn a kiss on the cheek and rubbing his arms. "Hello, my darling. Did you enjoy your day?"

"Yes! I pla'd with un' Aegon!" Jace exclaimed and Aegon shrank on himself when she looked at him, prompting an uncomfortable feeling to rise on her. She was never mean or rude to Aegon – never gave any reason for the boy to be afraid or tense around her so why was he?

"You did, huh?" Rhaenyra smiled at her boy, trying to get rid of the nagging feeling. "And how about we spend some time together now?"

Jacaerys nodded his head fast, silver curls going everywhere, and she laughed, running her fingers through the strands to get them back into place.

The Princess held her son's hand and guided him towards Lucerys. Her boy only glanced at her before returning his attention to the dragon toy Aegon was showing him before she made her presence known. Her brother, on the other hand, tensed as she got closer.

She stopped a few feet away from the children and extended a hand for Lucerys to grab, not wanting to make her sibling afraid of her. She may be his sister but he did not know her. He probably was simply on edge after having only Alicent as an adult for company for so long – apropos, where was their mother? "Māzigon, Lucerys. (come)"

Her babe pushed his little hands against the floor to help him get up, but lost his balance and was about to fall on his bottom when Aegon stretched out his arm, helping Luke keep standing.

"'imvos'. (thank you)" Her boy thanked, politely, but considering the way Aegon frowned, her brother did not know what Luke had said to him.

"He said thank you. Kirimvose." She explained, watching attentively Aegon's timid body expression. The boy nodded his head but did not say anything, so she asked Luke to come again.

Lucerys did, but not before grabbing hold of Aegon's hand and pulling the boy with him. Aegon, surprised, let Luke drag him a few steps forwards before coming to himself and putting his feet down.

Rhaenyra carefully lifted Jace in her arms so she could hide her smile in the toddler's hair.

Lucerys tried to keep pulling him, but when he couldn't he turned to Aegon, puffing his cheeks out. "Mā'i'on, Ae'on! (come, Aegon)" And when Aegon still wouldn't move, her babe turned his small face towards her, pleading for help. "Muña!"

"You could come with us." Rhaenyra offered, putting Jace down and lowering herself to Aegon's level so she wouldn't be so intimidating. "I'm about to read a book for them, a story of the beginning of our Targaryen history. There are battles, and dragons and," Rhaenyra said in a louder voice and looked around, catching Helaena, Aemond and Daeron's eyes. Helaena was staring at her unblinkingly while Aemond pretended he wasn't listening, eyes hidden by his book but head inclining to her direction. Daeron had his hand shoved in his mouth, but he was listening attentively.

Even without knowing it, Lucerys was giving her the perfect opportunity to get to know her siblings better. "The three of you could come listen to it, too. It would be nice, wouldn't it?"

"Yes!" Jace answered, bouncing on his feet beside her and trying to get back into her arms. "Yes! D'gons and battles!"

Helaena, surprisingly, was the first one of her siblings to stand. "I would like to hear your story, sister." The girl stated, looking straight at Lucerys.

Seeing Helaena in the vicinity of Rhaenyra with no repercussions whatsoever gave Aemond the courage to get closer, the figure book clenched in his small hands and Daeron followed him right after. The only one left was Aegon, who seemed the most skittish of them. Luke had the babe-grab in his hand and wasn't letting go of it anytime soon, however, no matter how much her brother tried to free himself.

Rhaenyra didn't let the awkwardness build up; she rushed to grab a few blankets from the stages and, with the handmaids' help, she created a comfortable space for the children to sit around.

She chose the place in front of a column so she could have a support for her back and sat down, helping Lucerys sit by her side and Jace in her lap. The boys were so small Daeron could easily fit in, and Helaena pushed their youngest brother's back so he could get by Jace's other side, the girl herself standing a few inches away from her leg. She didn't get any more near her no matter how many times Rhaenyra tried, but the Princess didn't take it to heart since the handmaid told her Helaena didn't enjoy being touched a lot. Aegon, whose hand Lucerys still held on to, had no choice but to sit beside the babe, body taut as an arrow.

Aemond hovered awkwardly for a few seconds before she patted down on the space beside Daeron, on her left side. The four-year-old sat down quickly, seeming to have been only waiting for her permission to move closer.

Rhaenyra made a show of opening her arms with a long yawn that caused both Jace and Luke to giggle, already knowing by experience what was about to happen, before putting her arms around the five boys, pressing them against each other by the shoulders and bringing them closer to her. After that, her sons were not the only ones laughing as she heard Aemond and Daeron let out a surprised squeak and Aegon huff a small laughter. Helaena smiled from her place, leaning her body further until her elbows were pressed against her little tights.

"Alright, alright, let's begin." Rhaenyra opened the large book and put it in her lap, clearing her throat and beginning. "In the ole days, Old Valyria was a prosperous realm said to be on its path to become the richest land in the world." The words, spoken in High Valyrian came out with the suavity of a song.

She explained what every word meant, then, both to her siblings and Jacaerys' sake since they didn't yet understand High Valyrian completely and to Lucerys', who hopefully would also make the connection between the two languages. None of the children say anything, completely entranced by the story and the intricacies of their ancient tongue.

Was this what Daemon felt when he taught her? Powerful, admired?

As she read, Rhaenyra raised her arms, making wild gestures and strange voices until all of them were giggling, not caring for the amused stares of the maids present, and only stopped when the night came, and the maids started to light up the candles.

By the time they left the room, Aemond was walking closely to her, and Daeron was clutching the fabric of her skirt, Helaena showing her a small centipede on her hands.

Aegon was the only one that did not approach her willingly that day.

Notes:

The devil works hard but Lucerys/Aegon works harder lmao that is child exploitation, I say

I'm sure y'all noticed but I absolutely LOVE Laena, she's just like, wow, y'know? She wanted Vhagar, she got Vhagar. She wanted Daemon, she got Daemon. Even her death went the way SHE wanted. She is and always will be The It Girl

/

Luke, hearing Aegon's name for the first time; why does this sound familiar...

/

Luke trying to tell them his dragon's name is Arrax:

Everyone thinking its Ax: cool cool cool cool cool

/

Rhaenyra, after a night of multiple rounds of sex; is this heaven?

/

I'm so happy Luke will know more of the common tongue next chapter so I can finally stop having to write in high valyrian. Anyways, hope you liked it!

Chapter 3: Prologue pt.3

Notes:

HI! I'M BACK!

I got both my period and a cold on the same week, it sucked, I'll tell you that.

I was running on a fever and thought the tiredness was normal cause I usually feel exhausted like that lmaoooooo

Anyways, thank you for the comments! I loved every and each one of them!

I hope you like this chapter!

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

After taking so long to come around, Aegon was quick to warm up to her in the ensuing of her stopping Otto Hightower from harshly dragging Aegon back to the Maester's rooms after her brother tried to escape from his lessons.

Laenor was the one to see it, but before he could even act on it, she was already ordering her father's Hand to let go of her brother.

The man had persisted a few times, but Rhaenyra made sure to remind him she was the heir and therefore above him and her orders could only be overruled by the King himself. He had let go of Aegon with a sour face and excused himself, parting after exchanging a few words of respect in her direction.

Aegon was the one closest to her that day, even more than his younger brothers, who craved a mother's attention so badly they seemed to sometimes forget Rhaenyra wasn't their mother.

During the past few moons she found herself spending almost every afternoon with her siblings, reading to them and her children.

She even managed to bring them for a ride on Syrax, showing them how the world and their home looked on the skies, with Laenor's help, because Syrax could only carry up to two children at once.

Alicent was pregnant again, but this time her mental state was bad and the maids said she didn't leave her bed for weeks at a time, hence why the children were mostly left on their own.

Rhaenyra tried not to think much of it. Alicent wasn't her friend anymore, but she still worried regardless, especially when she was reminded of the woman everyday through her siblings.

Despite their Valyrian traits, all four of them desired love and attention more than anything in the world, just as their mother once did. It had been displayed to Rhaenyra through Alicent's love for romantic stories, something that the Princess once thought childish, but now understood it was the girl's way to escape the reality of their situation.

And yet, Rhaenyra could also see a lot of herself in them. She could see herself in the way Aegon acted out, just as she did, pretending to be tougher and harsher than he truly was in order to protect himself or in the way Helaena secluded herself whenever she felt confused or scared, but still allowed to be comforted by determined people.

She saw herself in Aemond and his desire to prove himself, trying over and over again, desperate for just a bit of affirmation and even in Daeron, who had many of her mannerisms, even though they barely encountered each other before meeting on that afternoon, now moons ago.

Because of the readings Jacaerys, Daeron and Aemond had taken to High Valyrian wonderfully. The three boys fought more often than not, although usually it was only Daeron and Jace, because Aemond still spent the time she wasn't reading to him and the others with his head shoved into a book.

It was a strange relationship, the one between her younger brother and her firstborn. They did not get along at all but were always seen together even if the peace between both of them only lasted a little while.

Laena, Laenor and told her it was normal, however, but she always kept an eye on them, especially when they formed a brief alliance with Aegon to try and bother Aemond.

When it comes to Helaena, she preferred staying silent rather than talking, but Rhaenyra knew she understood everything – or at least most of it – she said in High Valyrian but she had yet to see her sister speak it. The girl was even quieter than Aemond, but her attitude, unlike her younger brother's one, was more aloof than standoffish.

"He's between us," Helaena had said once, when Rhaenyra was reading about the beginnings of Aegon the Conqueror's conquest. Her sister had been looking at Lucerys, the boy having barely blinked since she started. "The first Dragon." And then proceeded to turn her attention back to Rhaenyra and listen to the story as if she had never said anything.

She began to see how her sister reminded her of Lucerys, then. Both of them seemed to be lost in time sometimes, but it was different with Helaena. The girl always seemed far away and most of the time when she spoke, the words came off as advice or a warning – a foresight –, alas Luke wavered between the present and whatever was on his mind.

Her youngest had his first name day a couple of moons earlier and had behaved wonderfully through the feast, allowing the guest to fawn over him and to be passed around without complaints. His little face was solemn as always as he observed everyone around him, but he spent more time on his grandfather's arms than anyone else while Jace ran around, pulling on people's clothes to catch their attention and making friends with everyone.

Unlike Jacaerys, Lucerys had no quarrels with any of his uncles or aunt.

Daeron was the one who approached first, no doubt as a way to annoy Jacaerys. She found both children holding Lucerys' arms, the babe having the most bewildered expression she had seen on him as his brother and uncle pulled him as if he were a toy.

Jace had cried, hot and angry tears falling on his cheeks, when she told him and Daeron to let go and spent the day whining and trying to go back to Lucerys, whom Helaena had called to play ants with.

Lucerys' relationship with Aemond, however, started in a turbulent event.

She found Laenor silently losing it outside of the nursery. When she looked past him, she saw it was because Luke had Aemond's figure book and Aemond was trying to get it back. Well, the book wasn't Aemond's, per se, but her brother had it all the time so everyone steered away from it. Even Aegon, who loved to pick on the younger boy – something that Rhaenyra was trying to stop him from doing –, avoided picking up the book.

Aemond was trying to pry the book away from Lucerys' hands but Luke, with the inhumane force babes possessed, had a really strong grip on it and no matter how much Aemond pulled, the babe didn't let go.

All of the other children simply watched as Aemond's face turned red and he struggled not to cry, but before she could intervene and maybe get one of them interested in something else, Lucerys let go.

Aemond didn't forgive the boy, however, and sneered at him before taking his book to the other side of the room. Her brother was quite the defensive one and by the way he glared at the others, he thought one – if not all – of them had something to do with it.

Walking to the furthest corner of the nursery didn't save Aemond from having to deal with Lucerys, however. The babe got up and followed him.

She was ready to enter the room before the two of them fought, but Laenor held her back. "Let them solve this by themselves."

And solve it they did.

Aemond, despite not being happy with having Lucerys close to him, let the babe sit by his side with a wary look that vanished when Lucerys pointed at one of the pages. "Ba'e'ion!" He exclaimed, shoving his head between Aemond's arm and tight to see closer.

"Yes!" Aemond's demeanor changed immediately, always happy at a chance to talk about dragons, and completely forgot his earlier annoyance with Lucerys and started throwing information around that he heard in his classes. "And this one is Caraxes, the Blood Wyrm. Our uncle rides it!"

When Jacaerys got into the room after his nap, Aemond was still with Lucerys by his side.

Her firstborn did not like that very much.

Laenor, however, continued to find it hilarious. He'd also gotten closer to her siblings and sometimes came to read for them, regaining his High Valyrian fluency quickly.

It was Laenor who gave her the idea to try and get her father to come spend an afternoon with them. The children would love it.

And yet, the opportunity never came.

"Where is he? Where is my son?" Rhaenyra shouted, enraged. Her cry echoed through the common hall and the culprits trembled in front of her. She could feel Syrax respond to her feelings through the bond, her roar reaching the Red Keep all the way from the Dragon Pit.

The maids responsible for Lucerys were in tears in front of her, already kneeling and begging for forgiveness. Rhaenyra didn't care. How could a babe, a boy that had yet to reach his second name day, outrun two grown women?

"Princess, if we could maintain the calm-" Otto Hightower tried to say.

"Your Hand better not be about to ask the Princess to keep calm at my grandson's disappearance, cousin!" Rhaenys loudly said, punctuating her every word.

The king massaged his temples, looking ready to succumb to his panic, but managed to send Otto a disapproving look.

The Hand nodded demurely, bowing his head.

"I apologize, Princess Rhaenys." He then turned to the other woman. "Princess Rhaenyra."

Rhaenyra didn't even look at him, his words having flown through her head as she was swallowed by her worries.

"I do not want your apologies. I want to know where my grandson is!"

Somewhere in the past twenty minutes Lucerys had disappeared from the nursery room. A boy who still lacked four moons to his second name day somehow managed to get past four grown adults, two maids and two guards. No, Rhaenyra didn't believe that for one second and from the downcast faces around her, neither did anyone in that room.

Laenor had left as soon as he heard of Luke's disappearance and went to search through every rock in that castle along with all the knights, which was what Rhaenyra should be doing if it wasn't for Otto Hightower saying that it could be dangerous and that the Heir to the Throne should be kept safe.

Enough was enough, however. No news had come in yet and she was going to search for her baby whether the lords liked it or not.

"Rhaenyra-"

"No, father. I am his mother. If anyone is to find me it'll be me or his father."

"I'll stay with Jace." Rhaenys told her. The boy had cried himself to sleep and now was laying on one of the chairs by the wall so as not to be woken by all the discussion.

Her siblings were on the other side of the room, the youngest ones asleep while Aegon watched in apprehension.

"Can you watch over them too?"

If Rhaenys was surprised, she didn't let it show. Rhaenyra had told her she was closer to her siblings now, but not to such an extent.

"Of course, cousin."

She nodded, thankful, and left the room in large strides with Ser Harwin behind her.

Ser Harwin stopped her every time she went past a good hiding place, checking it himself before following her wherever she wanted. In another world, they could have been closer. Rhaenyra had once felt an attraction to him and the man was one of the most honorable ones she'd ever met.

There probably wasn't a place that hadn't yet been looked at, but she still pushed away curtains, bended down to see under some mobile and searched behind statues.

It was like Lucerys had disappeared.

Rhaenyra bumped on Laenor when she was about to round a corner. She stepped back quickly, looking him up and down but his hands were empty. Luke wasn't with him.

"The only place I didn't look is the King's wing." Laenor said, running his hands through his hair desperately.

Rhaenyra was already turning around, gathering her skirts, and rushing to her father's rooms, located on the other side of the castle, the other two right behind her. "Do you think he might have gone there?"

"Maybe. He may have wanted to talk to the King." Laenor heaved and she turned to look at him as they ran past a large corridor. She hadn't noticed before, but he was drenched in sweat, having probably ran all over the castle to find their babe.

He didn't let the tiredness slow him down, however, and kept up with her rhythm.

The knights that usually stayed there had been moved to search for Luke outside the castle. Rhaenyra expected many things when she opened her father's door; for Lucerys to be there alone, for him to not be there…

What she didn't expect was to find Alicent, of all people, sitting in the main room's chair with Lucerys on her lap.

"Mama!" Luke shouted when he saw her, squirming to be let go off and seeming completely oblivious to the scandal he had caused and the limits he had crossed. "Down!"

Rhaenyra tried to find something to say over the storm of sheer relief and horror that hit her. She grabbed the door handle when her legs threatened to lose their strength.

She hadn't seen the woman ever since her pregnancy, and now that the queen birthed a stillborn, the amount of times Alicent left her room were reduced to none.

"Rhaenyra." Alicent was the first to speak, her voice raspy. She put Lucerys down and the boy came running to her as fast as he could. "He's only grown more beautiful." Her childhood friend complimented, hesitantly.

"How- thank you, Your Grace." Her voice cracked and she gathered Luke in her arms, Laenor coming to her side to touch him and certify himself that their boy was alright.

"We apologize on behalf of him, Your Grace." Laenor came to her rescue. "He should not have bothered you, he must have been searching for the king."

"Yes, he did ask for Viserys." Alicent agreed. The other woman's face was pale and was thinner than Rhaenyra had ever seen her.

She never thought she would see her childhood friend this way, a shell of herself, and Rhaenyra could already feel the pain from the memories coming to reach her. They needed to leave, she needed to leave now.

"He wasn't a bother, he's a very polite babe."

"'ank you." Lucerys said, just as she had taught him and she felt so proud. She kissed the babe's head and felt Laenor's hand on her shoulder, giving her the strength she so desperately needed.

"He gave me a gift." Alicent continued and when Rhaenyra looked back, she could see the other woman's hands were trembling as she extended the drawing to her to take. Her face was so, so thin. The lack of food made her brown eyes pop in an unnatural way. "He knew where the drawing utensils were and he asked if I wanted one."

Every step away from the door made it harder for her not to leave, for her not to sit down beside her childhood friend and try and reach out one last time.

Years ago, all Rhaenyra ever wanted was an apology. An explanation on the whys Alicent would stab her in the back that way.

The drawing made almost no sense, but she could see that there were two heads, one with brown hair and other with white. Rhaenyra felt her lump form on her throat.

"It looks like a beautiful, sweet boy." She said, voice charged with the storm of emotions that was happening inside her. Then she gave the scroll back. "Thank you for taking care of him, but we must leave now."

"Wait, please." Alicent shouted, but the Princess didn't look back. She couldn't do it, couldn't allow herself to be worried over a person that only brought her down. "Rhaenyra, please!"

Fuck.

"What is it that you want, Alicent?"

She turned around to face the girl she thought she knew her whole life. Alicent had only hurt her in the past few years and yet she couldn't stop herself from caring.

"Thank you, Rhaenyra. For caring for my children when I myself couldn't do it."

"It was nothing, I'm their sister."

"Stay for a while." Alicent asked just as her hand touched the doorknob. "Please, tell me how they're doing."

"Rhaenyra." Laenor's voice was worried as he waited for her to decide, but the intonation made her remember the two times, right after birth, that Alicent made her leave her birthing bed so she could see her babes.

It made her remember him by her side as she walked with Lucerys, the worst of the two to birth, only a couple minutes after she woke up. It made her remember that Alicent had done it to her when she knew Lucerys was born dead, when she knew it was the one thing Rhaenyra feared the most.

Her babe came back to her and Alicent's didn't, but it could easily be the other way around. Rhaenyra could easily have died herself from the exertion she put her body through due to Alicent's pettiness.

No. The romantic, sweet girl she knew in her youth was dead and the girl Rhaenyra once was had been buried with her.

Alicent could ask the maids about her children.

As the Princess opened the doors, she didn't look back. "I'm sorry, Your Grace, but I can't. I wish you a fast recovery."

"It's my fault, I shouldn't have said that." Her voice choked. "I should have just stayed."

"You couldn't have possibly known that." Laenor comforted her, putting an arm around her shoulders. He looked exhausted, with large eye bags beneath his eyes. She knew if she were to look at the mirror she'd see the same thing.

"No, I should have known." She shook her head. "She's been this petty before."

An assassin had supposedly invaded the castle and even after hurting the queen with a clear cut, they still managed to escape. Alicent had thrown a fit and now was prohibiting her children from leaving her room.

How an assassin could just enter the Red Keep and leave unseen, without killing their target was a mystery.

Rhaenyra hadn't been able to catch even a glimpse of her siblings in a week and after moons of seeing them everyday she now felt a hollow spot on her chest every time she brought the books for her children to read.

There was so much she hadn't taught them, so much of their culture they still didn't know. She had taken those days for granted, had taken their presence for granted and because of a stupid mistake they were now being kept away from her.

She knew who was behind all of it, too. Alicent wasn't deceitful enough to plan it all on her own. She had to have her father's help, that unscrupulous, greedy cunt. They both managed to manipulate her father's emotions so well, she couldn't believe he didn't realize it.

She had tried to talk to him, to get him to let her at least see her siblings, but he told her Alicent's mental state was worse than ever before and that the Maesters had advised her to be kept as calm as possible.

It was barbaric that he couldn't see the truth, couldn't see how strange it was for the woman to go from not wanting to see her children for moons at a time to not wanting them out of her sight.

And if it pained Laenor and her to not see them, it pained her boys even more. Jace was inconsolable, crying everyday he got out of his classes and entered an empty nursery.

Lucerys didn't even get the chance to miss them yet. Her youngest had been plagued with migraines that didn't leave him even with the milk of the poppy. It had been almost a year since the last time he had a single one of those, she had even started to think he'd somehow gotten cured of them, but he didn't.

Right after she left her father's rooms that day, Luke had gone back to holding his head between his hands as he cried silently, but as the days passed he became unable to hold back his pained whimpers.

"You can't blame yourself, Rhaenyra. You were more than in your rights to react as you did."

She broke down crying again, caressing Luke's locks as the boy got a brief relief of the pain by sleeping. "I miss them."

Laenor only hugged her tighter.

"I miss them too." He whispered. "She won't be able to keep them with her forever."

She wanted to believe him, she did.

But she knew it wasn't true. As long as Alicent and Otto Hightower had her father's on their clutches, she would never be close to her siblings again.

Moons later, she was laying on the divan with Daemon on top of her, his head resting above her breasts as she caressed his locks.

"Say the word and I'll kill him." Her uncle whispered to her, his words dripping with vicious intent.

It had been Jace's fifth birthday that day, and despite all the time that had passed since the last time her boy had seen his uncles and aunt, he still asked if they weren't coming.

Rhaenyra felt as if she were being stabbed by a dagger.

Her uncle hadn't understood how fast she'd gotten close to her siblings at first, but he'd been choleric all the same when he heard of what happened.

"And have you got caught and killed?" He opened her mouth to take her thumb in and her breath hitched.

"If I were caught, Viserys would just send me to Dragonstone again." He bit on her finger. "But I wouldn't get caught because then I wouldn't have you."

She couldn't simply not smile at that when he repeated the gesture, she caught herself thinking of Luke. Rhaenyra rarely got the chance to look at Daemon from an upside perspective, but his smile looked a lot like Lucerys', now that her boy had a full set of teeth. Even the way his lips twitched as he tried to contain his amusement was the same.

She traced his mouth with her thumb, still getting the same bubbling feeling on her stomach every time she realized could touch him like this. Almost six years had passed since the first time she bedded him, and yet she still felt the same unrestrained desire.

"I wish you could stay with me forever." She said, changing the subject and the air around the conversation both because she didn't want to talk about Otto and Alicent anymore, but also because it was the truth. It was a feeling that stayed with her at all times, embracing her body, suffocating her slowly every day she had to spend away from him, from Laena.

"When you are Queen, no one will even think of coming between us," He promised, and unlike her father, she didn't have to fight herself to believe him. Daemon always kept his words and he had proved it to her many, many times.

"I'll have you, Rhaenyra. I'll be at your side, just as Laena and Laenor will." His face was serious, gaze intense as he stared at her and his mouth opened a few times as he pondered whether or not to tell her something when a blood-curdling scream cut through the silence of the night.

They both immediately sat up. Rhaenyra felt her head swim with the whiplash of going from relaxed to alert so suddenly.

She pulled on her nightdress as Daemon put on his trousers, but the silence stretched on and the two of them looked at each other, wondering if they had imagined it.

Just as Rhaenyra's heart began to settle, another scream sounded, so horrifying she felt the hairs of her back stand on.

The doors leading to where Laena and Laenor slept opened, her husband leaving the rooms in a panic while Laena came after him, eyes wary.

When the scream sounded again, it was in the form of a word. "No!"

"Lucerys." She recognized, getting up and running out of the room as fast as she could, almost hitting the door in her frenzy.

Laenor overpassed her quickly, strides long and fast as he ran through the corridors with a speed only a man could be capable of.

Her son's room was not far away from hers, she'd never allow it, but the single seconds it took for her to reach her child' chambers felt like a lifetime.

Laenor was already by Lucerys side, trying to take the boy away from his brother's arms as Jace cried and tried to hold on to him, having probably gotten to Luke's room just seconds earlier.

Daemon started to inspect the room for intruders but the Princess knew this wasn't a man or woman's doing. Luke always faced nightmares – night terrors, was what the Maesters called them – but it was never that bad.

"Let me have him, Jace, it'll be okay, I'm here now." Laenor asked. Luke screamed again, contorting himself out of Jace's embrace. The vein on his neck stood out in a horrifying way.

Rhaenyra put her hand on her mouth, controlling a sob and threw herself on the bed, pulling Jacaerys away from his brother and wrapping herself around the boy so Laenor could try and calm Luke down, but nothing was working, the babe was still crying himself into such a state of distress he was starting to have difficulty breathing.

The last time that happened was when they tried to take her babe's dragon away from him, but there was no sign of anything that could have made Luke be in such shape.

"Let me hold him, Laenor, take Jace and let me hold him." She cried, extending her arm so her husband could give her Lucerys. Jacaerys went to his father easily, and Luke, still trapped inside his dream, did not react as he was passed over.

"Winter… men…" The boy babbled against her ear and she moved him over, putting him on her lap. He went from mumbling things to straight up screaming in a matter of seconds and no matter what she did he did not wake.

Rhaenyra was already trembling, barely able to hold the boy on her arms as he writhed on her arms when Daemon walked over and began to give weak slaps on her babe's cheek, calling out his name.

Rhaenyra covered Lucerys' face, fear being overtaken by rage. "What do you think you're doing?" She spat.

Her uncle stared at her, unmoving in face of her anger. "We need to wake him up now, if he continues this way he won't be able to breathe anymore."

Lucerys began to scream once again, trashing in her arms and choking on his own saliva. She rolled him over, begging him to wake up over and over, despair rising inside her as Luke only continued to scream and Jace started to turn hysterical on Laenor's arms, who was trying to cover the boy's ears. Rhaenyra herself was reaching her breaking point fast, she needed to think.

"Laena, Laena, take him away from here, take Jace with you." Laenor begged his sister, and Laena was quick to comply, grabbing Jacaerys from his father's arms and getting him out of the room.

It took all of Rhaenyra not to ask her cousin to come back once Jace begged to stay. She did not want her boy to see this, he was too young, he should not witness any of it.

Laenor came by her side as soon as Jace was out, and tried to throw some water on their son's face to rouse him, but it was also fruitless and Luke was already turning purple, movements growing slowlier as the strength left his body.

Then he stopped breathing altogether.

Notes:

DID YOU REALLY THINK THEY'D BE HAPPY SO SOON? No.

Anyways, up to this chapter we were still on the prologue, that's why it may feel rushed. NOW the story truly begins.

I have a cookie for whoever finds out what Luke was dreaming about...

LUKE'S POV NEXT WEEK GUYS!

/

Petty bitch Alicent: i bet you thought you'd seen the last of me

Don't mind me making Aemond infodump people on his knowledge . It's his special interest, okay?

I hope you liked it! I'll try to come back in a week but I have a deadline for next sunday so who knows if I'm gonna make it

Leave a comment if it pleases you! Have a good weekend!

Chapter 4: The charcoal incident

Notes:

Thanks so much for the comments! Sometimes I get insecure about my writing cause I can't express myself as well as I wish I could in English, so yeah thanks!

When this fic idea came to me, it came in a flash. I had the main idea (the 'Aegon reborn as Lucerys' prompt) and six scenes already writing themselves in my head. Two of them you've already seen (Luke only speaking High Valyrian as a baby and Rhaenyra reading to her siblings). You shall now see the third one.

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Someone was there, with him. Someone he knew, but their voice was muffled, as if coming from underwater.

Wake up. The feminine voice blew, as if it was part of the wind, only there was no wind.

"Mother?" He tried to call, but even though he felt the air leave his throat and his tongue form the words, no sound came out.

Looking around was also fruitless, there was nothing there. The sky was starless, and the moon was nowhere to be seen.

He could feel something around his legs, wrapping itself around him with every step he took. A sensation so dull his legs could only be asleep, but while he had never seen or felt it before, he knew it was the snow that was making it difficult for him to walk.

Wake up. It said again, sultry this time. A flash of laughter and long, braided silver hair crossed his mind. He'd seen that someone on his dreams, a woman so beautiful it reminded him of his mother.

"Who are you ?" He asked, but once again he didn't hear his voice and his question went unanswered. "Why am I here? Who are-"

A black light shone so brightly in front of him he immediately pressed his eyes together, moving his head away to protect himself from the onslaught.

How was it he could see such a dark light in the middle of this darkness?

It's too soon, Aegon. Turn around.

He almost planted himself face first on the ground when he heard the name. It had been a long time since he heard it. He used to hear it all the time, but it wasn't his name, it was his uncle's name, it was his name, it was… but it wasn't, it was his uncle's. It wasn't his. It wasn't. Itwasitwasitwasn'titwasn'titwasn't-

Lucerys.

The light came again, and this time he realized what it was. A fire. A dragon's fire. He gawked at the sight, and it was as if his father had put his blanket of safety over his shoulder as a calm passed through him. Where there's a dragon, there was family.

No! No! Stay back!

He was running before he could even think more about it, ignoring the voice's calls. Maybe it was Jace! Vermax was now able to set fire to a horse, after all! Grandmother said so!

He didn't stop even when he tripped on the branches, his legs too small for him to jump over them so he had to use his hands to climb over it, and he didn't stop when he reached a lake – his bare feet sliding on the ice.

He had been here before – had seen it all before, but when? And what was it?

The images blurred together in his mind, but the branches on the tree beside him seemed bigger, higher than before. He stopped to stare at it, but then shrugged. It was a dream, and Luke knew they didn't always make sense. He dreamed of a lot of things, mostly good dreams. Dreams so good he didn't want to wake up, but when he woke, he couldn't remember what they were about, only the pain, an ache on his chest that he only realized what it was when his mother told him he wouldn't be seeing his uncles and aunt again for a while. The loss of missing someone.

The trees on the other side of the lake were all on fire now and in spite of the lack of wind, the fire seemed to be catching quickly – the smoke rising above in a dark, gray cloud. The feminine voice on his head seemed to quieten the closer he got.

When he finally touched the other side of the border, he was overwhelmed when all five senses came back to him, as if a wave had just splashed on his face. He could smell the blood, the burning trees. Then he started hearing the painful screams. Screams of anguish, of loss. Of unending terror. His body locked and Luke crashed full force into something huge, his small body falling behind on the dense snow and the first gush of air in this dream hit his face, something warm.

A dragon roared above him, a roar he knew just as he did many things.

He opened one of his eyes, meeting yellow eyes the color of the sunset. The dragon's snout was shoved close to his chest, his black head much bigger than Luke's body. One bite and he would be swallowed whole, but Luke wasn't scared, having this dragon close to him felt good, felt safe just as he did close to his own, Arrax.

A word, a name, passed through his head, but he didn't know how this dragon could be here right now, in this dream. He'd heard of his death. He was the last dragon to see Old Valyria, he was his grandfather's dragon. Aegon's dragon.

With his heart beating on his ears, he formed the word and this time he heard it. "Balerion."

The dragon roared again, head pressing against Luke's chest once again and the boy giggled, forgetting completely about the fear he felt earlier as he rubbed his hands on Balerion's side and under his chin.

A dragon is not a pup, he remembered someone saying. Luke didn't know who or why, dragons weren't pups or humans. Dragons were dragons, a companion for life, creatures made by the gods old Old Valyria to be cherished upon and to help the world of men to survive.

Help the world of men to survive. He didn't know where the thought came from, but when Balerion rubbed his nose against Lucerys' again, lifting hi slightly by the chin, he knew the dragon was urging him to get up. He was half buried under the snow and moving was a struggle, but Balerion's breath helped as he melted the snow a bit, and Luke felt sweat growing on his skin.

Finally managing to get up, Balerion pushed him to the side with his paw, and Lucerys almost flew over to the ground from the brute force of it.

"Oof!" He let out, staggering to keep on his feet to keep standing and Balerion stopped. Luke looked back just enough to scowl at the dragon, his bottom lip jutting out slightly as he always did when he was upset by something. He almost fell!

Balerion snorted and went to shove him again with his snout, but Luke ran towards the ladder thrown around the beast's waist. If Balerion pushed him again he'd hit the snow once more!

As he got closer, he noticed there were cravings on the wood of one of the shortest steps and the burning trees served as light for him to see while his fingers traced the A.T… V T… R T… and right to the side, he circled an O.B, a B he could barely see or feel because it was mixed up with T, having been craved right over with a violence that made the letter deeper than the others.

Balerion made a clicking noise, head turning to the side as he heard something and his nostrils flared, a puff of smoke coming out of them as if he knew something dangerous was coming. Feeling his breath catch from the sudden fright, Luke began climbing. It was as difficult as he thought it would be, but as he did many times, he trusted his body to know what to do, where to hold. To know which parts of the steps should be avoided.

Lace the strings around your arms. The voice from before advised, sounding resigned. Luke had just sat on Balerion's saddle, the world bellow him seeming small despite them still being on the ground.

He did as he was told, remembering the knots his grandfather had taught him and his big brother a moon ago.

Tighter. The voice ordered again.

Lucerys obeyed, heart beating even faster than before and when Balerion began moving, the ground shook underneath them and when the dragon took fly, he was grateful for the knots; he wasn't able to hold himself up with the wind being so strong and actually was lifted off his seat on the climbing, mouth opening on a scream of excitement.

The black dread snorted and Lucerys was pretty certain the dragon was laughing at him, but he didn't have the time to get annoyed, it was hard enough to keep holding on.

Balerion spit a bit of fire, lighting the way and Luke saw they reached above the trees and they were on the edge of true winter; the forest was ending and after that there would only be a sea made of white and ice blue.

As they continued flying, he grew more calm. Nothing bad would ever happen to him while he stood above Balerion.

He looked back, watching the trees burning behind him, the smoke that hit the skies thick and as dark as Balerion's wings.

Lucerys had dreamed of this before, he was sure of it.

Just as they were passing the last trees, Balerion violently trembled and when Luke looked down to see what happened, he almost cut his eye off in a spear that was pointing to him, inches away from his face from where it had pierced through Balerion's body.

"No!" He shouted, terror rapidly consuming him, but the dragon trembled once again, flapping his wings uncoordinatedly before losing his strength. "Balerion, Balerion !" He cried, little hands pressing against the dragon's wound, but the beast roared in pain. "Daor!"

They were descending fast and as he looked around, eyes already filled with tears, Balerion let out one last blast of fire that hit the line of trees separating the forest from the ice desert and the last thing Lucerys saw was that the ice and snow he had seen from the skies was actually a hoard of winter people.

They crashed onto the lake together, a gush of water trespassing blocks of ice that had been broken by the impact.

His tears had already dried on his face, but that didn't stop them from coming as he watched Balerion sink slowly, his yellow eyes glued onto Luke's, a dreadful acceptance on them – as if the dragon had knew it all along.

Luke had almost went under with him, but the knots he'd made on himself were easy to undo and the voice was screaming at him now, to swim, to hide, to wake up.

Luke couldn't do either, he'd been trying, he was trying. He wanted to go back, to wake up on his father's or his mother's arms. To hug Jace, Baela and Rhaena and hear his Aunt Laena laugh at his uncle Daemon's battle stories.

Instead, he could do nothing but hold on to one of the ice blocks, teeth chattering as he stared at the border of the lake where the winter people were waiting, watching him passionlessly.

They were so many, so, so many.

He looked left, but the lake's border was filled with them, standing abreast to each other, behind one another, until Luke could only see their shape and – to the ones closest to him, their legs.

Fear had a tight grip on him as turned his head the other way, finding himself completely surrounded, struggling to keep his head above the water, but they just kept watching him, unmoving.

He wanted to ask for help, but everything in him was screaming to get away, the same way he had felt when he saw the ugly lizard Jace had kept as a pet.

Don't leave the water. The voice warned. Stay on the water.

He sobbed, the tip of fingers already turning purple. He was so, so cold.

"Help me," He whimpered. "Help me."

Stay with me, little brother.

It was starting to become difficult to move his fingers and he fumbled with the border of the ice block.

The people watching him began to move, forming a path between them for a man – a man with cold, terrifying and stark blue eyes to step further, a spear alike to the one that killed Balerion on his hands.

The cold that overtook him then wasn't a cold made by the extreme climate conditions anymore, but by terror – a terror so deep it made it hard for him to breathe.

The man raised his arm, weapon pointing onto Luke's direction, and threw the spear.

Luke let go of the ice block and sank onto the freezing water with a soundless scream.

"He isn't breathing." Rhaenyra gasped.

"What ?" Laenor asked, his ears picking up on the words but his mind struggled to make sense of them.

"He isn't breathing!" She shouted. Then she started shaking Luke, trying to rouse him. "Wake up, Lucerys. Wake up, sweet boy, look at me, look at muñna."

Larnor threw himself over the bed and put his finger underneath Lucerys' nose, hoping for the gods she was wrong. She wasn't, Luke really wasn't breathing.

His body was moving by its own as he took his son from her arms and quickly laid him in the bed, the boy's head lolling around in a sickening way.

His mind was already running through all of the possibilities and he could feel Rhaenyra containing herself to stay strong and not to break down crying. He himself was barely able to find apart from the need to get Luke to breathe.

"What is wrong?" Rhaenyra's voice broke mid-sentence. "Laenor, what is wrong with him?" This time she couldn't keep the worry from showing up, her words coming out choked up.

"I don't know." He choked out, tears already beginning to from on his eyes.

Daemon crossed the room in large steps, putting both his hands on Rhaenyra's shoulders.

"Rhaenyra, go get the Masters. Get all of them." He told her firmly and Rhaenyra, for all her incessant need to always know what was happening, was quick to comply; running out of the room.

"Laenor." Daemon turned to him. "He needs to breathe, can you do the compressions?"

"What?" He sniffled, eyes flickering on Lucerys' face. He looked so peaceful, as if he were sleeping, but his face had a strange tenseness to it.

"The compressions. I've seen sailors do it sometimes, but I don't know how. Do you?"

He looked at his hands, trembling non-stop close to Lucerys' chest, mouth opening and closing by itself as he tried to think of what to say, of what to do.

"Do you?" Daemon asked again, lilac eyes searching for his own purple ones and Laenor took a deep, trembling breath. Daemon was right, he needed to remain calm now, it wasn't the time to let emotions get on the way.

Lucerys' needed to breathe and he needed to breathe now.

"I do." He nodded and grabbed a hold of his son's shirt by the collar and pulled it, ripping it open so he could reach Luke's chest without obstructions.

"You will need to breathe on his mouth when I tell you to." He said, voice firm in way he didn't think he was able to achieve at the moment. Daemon nodded.

Putting both his hands above the boy's chest, he started pressing onto it as he had seen sailors do sometimes when one of the men drowned, but as he counted to ten on his head, he realized there was something missing.

There was no heartbeat coming from Luke.

Putting his ear close to the boy's heart, Laenor felt as of his world had stopped when he didn't hear anything. He took Luke's pulse, thumb pressing against the child's wrist. Nothing.

He shoved his ear close to Luke's heart again, feeling as if he had eaten a jar of sand. There was nothing.

"Laenor." Daemon stood by his side, voice solemn as if he knew. He probably did.

His lover's hand touched his shoulder, pulling him away from his son, his youngest. His baby. "No ! I'm – I have to –"

"I need to check his airways." Daemon pushed him roughly to the side and opened Lucerys' mouth, trying to get a look at the boy's throat. Laenor watched it all with a mixture of hope and despair that made him feel sick.

Daemon seemed to get to the same conclusion as he did because he pressed two fingers on Luke's neck, right where it reached the boy's shoulder.

"He doesn't have a pulse." Daemon whispered and Laenor didn't think the man could pale, but he did. "How is this possible? He was fine just now."

He went back to pressing both his hands on Luke's chest, the boy's skin unnaturally cold and sobbed, halfway into hysteria. He was fine just now. He was fine, warm, crying, but alive.

Laenor couldn't bring himself to look at the boy laying still on the bed.

Luke was so cold, so, so cold.

"Now." He told Daemon, watching as the man blocked out Luke's nose with his thumb and index finger and breathed in.

"Again." He needed to keep trying, he would never forgive himself otherwise. What would he tell Rhaenyra? What would they even tell Jacaerys? His parents? Laena, Rhaena, Baela, Viserys.

Lucerys was loved by so many people, he had his entire life in front of him.

His boy. His heir. How could he be so cold.

"This way!" He heard Rhaenyra shout and in seconds she was bursting through the door with a group of Masters behind her.

He recognized the man that Rhaenyra always went to whenever their boys got sick ; Master Geradys. The old man came to the other side of the bed and checked upon Luke. "How long have you been doing this technic?" The man asked him, voice strangely hopeful.

"Two minutes or so, I believe." It was Daemon who answered.

Whatever hope the old man had seemed to go extinguish after that, his face falling. The others also didn't seem to know what to do after taking Lucerys' pulse and learning his heart wasn't beating.

The men tried to keep the truth of the situation from Rhaenyra, as if she would grow hysteric, but Daemon pulled her to the side to tell her.

"Tell me what to do." She asked him, stopping by the other side of the bed. Her face was set into marble, the same determination, the unwillingness to simply accept whatever fate was being forced upon them painted into her expression.

He stared at his wife, gaining strength from her. Rhaenyra and he may not be made for each other in a romantic sense, but they completed each other. "Breathe on his mouth when I tell you to."

Grabbing a hold of Luke's hand, she nodded, and when he told her, she pressed onto Luke's nose and breathed in.

The King appeared right after, looking the most frail Laenor had ever seen him as he got close to the bed and stared at Lucerys, face set into plain grief. He had fell into a chair not long after that, one hand covering his face.

In all his years at the sea, Laenor had never seen someone last over four minutes without a heartbeat, but it must have been close to that when Laena showed up, eyes puffed out by all her crying. Someone must have told her.

Laenor was exhausted, his face was dripping with sweat, but neither him or Rhaenyra stopped. His hand were so, so very cold it had started to feel like burning.

"Laenor! Your hands!" Laena gasped, pointing at them as she came closer and when he looked down it was to see that his hands had taken to a blue coloring, a thin layer of ice over them.

It was when he lifted his hands and saw where the ice was coming from that he truly began to panic. On Luke's chest, right where the heart was, a thin layer of ice was spreading over his shoulders and arms in a strange but unique form that he only saw on books; a snowflake.

The boy's face had turned into an unnatural blue, his lips and fingertips purple. Laenor had never seen anything like this before, they were on tropical lands, there wasn't snow anywhere close to where they lived.

Rhaenyra was the one to act this time, picking up Luke's limp body on her arms and crossing the room in a sprint. She threw herself on the floor, her knees making a painful noise, and scooted closer to the fireplace.

Laenor was still frozen in place as Daemon began to put more wood into the fire, but once he realized what they were trying to do he ran across the room to help.

"Princess Rhaenyra, I don't believe this will be of any help." A Master said, tentatively. Laenor would remember his face later.

"I don't believe I asked for you opinion on this." She snapped. "I didn't see you have any ideas on how to make my son better."

Then, as a dragon who held to its treasure, she pulled Lucerys closer, her arm almost touching the fire.

He kneeled beside her, holding on to Luke's foot – such a small thing on his hand – and struggled not to cry as time passed with no changes. It had been a leap, yes, but for a moment he really believed the fire would help.

He couldn't believe this was happening, his mind couldn't quite understand what his eyes were seeing. The tears came and went away at some point, falling silently and he watched unattached as people began to enter and leave the room in quiet steps, already mourning.

It was the first time on his life that he saw his sister crumble as she had. Laena had always been a pillar for him, and he never outgrew the belief that she was as strong as the waves of a violent sea, but he could hear her sobs even from outside of the room.

Rhaenyra had completely shut down, not wanting anyone near her apart from him, and Laenor suspected that had he not been Luke's father, he wouldn't be allowed inside neither.

Bit by bit, everyone left them. Daemon pressed his shoulder with a tenderness he didn't thought the man had, telling he was going to help Viserys to return to his rooms and them Laena and he would check on the children.

Laenor grabbed onto Daemon's hand, stopping him from leaving and looked up.

"Don't tell Jacaerys." He asked. "I'll tell him."

Daemon turned his face away, his jaw clenching and unclenching.

"We won't. He will know from you, I promise." Laena said hoarsely. There were tracks dry of tears on her cheeks and there was so much pain in her eyes he had to look away.

They were finally alone then. Laenor didn't know how much time had passed, but he was almost asleep when he felt something start to shake from under him and heard gasps for breath. Then a weak, but growing steadily strong, thump started against his hand. He shook himself awake with a start, fingers curling around his son's ankle. Luke's pulse was coming back.

"Laenor." Rhaenyra breathed softly and when he lifted his head – afraid of what he wouldn't see, hopeful for what he may see – he was met with drowsy purple eyes, a shade he'd only seen on one person.

Luke's breath was coming out raggedly, each inhalation making his small body shudder violently on his mother's lap and a small cry left his lips. "Fire." Luke whispered croakily, a tear falling from each of his eyes. "I'm home."

Laenor laughed wetly, incredulous and started pawing at Luke's legs, feeling it shaking under his hands. Another disbelieving laugh left him.

More tears fell, from the three of them, and Luke tried to bury himself further into his mother's arms, eyes darting around the room. "I'm scared." He sobbed.

Rhaenyra curled herself around the child, her shoulders shaking as she held him close and tight and Laenor held on to the boy's face, meeting Luke's terrified eyes. The boy's pupils were almost disappearing by how small they'd become. "You're alright, you're here with us." He stated. "Whatever it is, you have nothing to fear while we're here, we'll protect you."

"Always." Rhaenyra promised, mouth coming close to Luke's ear. "We're dragons, nothing in the world can stand against us."

Luke was still shaking, making noises every time he breathed.

"I'm scared." Lucerys said again. "I saw- I saw-"

"Shhh," Rhaenyra quietened him. "We're here now. I'd sooner die than let anything happen to you, sweet boy. Do you understand me?"

Luke turned to stare at her, his smart eyes holding that strange, analytical light to them and then his boy turned to him again, searching for something Laenor didn't know if he'd find. It seemed that he did, though, because Lucerys nodded, taking one last harsh breath before his heartbeat began to decrease and his body relaxed against his mother's.

Laenor held on to the boy's ankle as if it was his lifeline, a haven in the middle of a strong storm. And it was. He didn't know what he would do, what would happen to him had the boy truly left him and Rhaenyra- it was like Rhaenyra still didn't believe he was there, talking to them, her eyes flickering to every part of their child's face as her hands hovered over him.

"Seven hells!" One of the maids who was bringing them water dropped the tray she was holding when she saw Lucerys, the glasses falling onto the floor in scattered pieces as she only managed to hold the jar.

"Get me a blanket!" Rhaenyra asked loudly and when the woman brought one from Lucerys' bed, Rhaenyra put it above Luke's trembling body. His shaking was getting better, less violent and taking longer to come and now that his youngest was breathing in front of him, alive and moving, Laenor felt all his stress leaving his body at once and he bent forwards, resting his head above Luke's knees.

Everything after that was a blur. He paid no mind to the noise around him as people started to reenter the room, nor about the blessings and the praises to the gods the people on the room were shouting.

Laenor didn't pay attention to the king, even as the man pressed himself to his side to touch Lucerys' cheek and chest to feel his heartbeat.

He barely paid attention to Laena and Daemon around them either, their hands patting him on the back and on the shoulder, his sister's voice choked up as she told him over and over how glad she was for Lucerys to be alright.

Daemon's questions were answered by Rhaenyra as he couldn't keep his eyes away from Lucerys' little face. His cheeks were growing pinker by the minute, his hands returning to their normal pale coloring. Even the ice on his chest had melted, leaving water in its place.

He came back. He thought, his mind repeating these words again and again.

Rhaenyra every now and then kissed Lucerys' face, pulling their son's sweaty hair out of his forehead every few seconds. Luke let her fuss over him as he was bound to do, but this time he was holding her back, his eyes darting around the faces in the room, shining brightly every time he recognized someone and they were so preoccupied with Luke being alive, with touching Lucerys' pulse and feeling its beat, fast and strong as every health child's was, that none of them noticed the smell of burning or the smoke coming out of his son's arms until the Lucerys' sleeve was on fire.

"Lucerys, let it go!" Rhaenyra cried out to no avail. Luke's small face was hardened into a determined expression, the same one Laenor saw so many times on her face when she was set onto doing something, – usually something harsh and impulsive that she would come to regret later.

Laenor himself was having a hard time at dealing with what he was seeing, his energy all set into not going into complete hysteria. His heart couldn't take it anymore, he felt faint, and his breaths were already coming out short.

Luke would be the death of him, he would be the death of them all.

The boy didn't seem to care about his family's sanity, however, and continued holding onto the charcoal, the charcoal he had shoved his hand into the fire to pick and that was still burning by the way they could see the smoke coming out of his fist.

What was worse, Luke didn't seem to mind. He showed no sign of being hurt at all and none of them could get him to open his hand and let the damn thing go.

They had beaten onto the boy's sleeve, fearing he'd been harmed on Rhaenyra's hush to get him closer to the fire, but his forearm as unhurt.

"Lucerys, please, give it to kepa." He tried, extending a hand and trying to grab him, but the boy stepped away, shaking his head. Laenor couldn't wrap his head around the fact that he was already standing and showing so much strength after having no heartbeats for hours.

Daemon had tried to force him to open his hand, had even managed to pry two of Luke's fingers out of the blazing rock before he burned own his hand and let go with a pained grunt. Laena had tried to bribe him with sweets, but Lucerys only opened his mouth for her to put the sweet in and his sister, as weak as ever for his son, obeyed. The King himself had offered his crown for Lucerys to hold, to the horror of the Septons and Masters around him, but not even that was an interesting trade for Luke.

"He's going to burn through the skin of his hand, he needs to let go." Was what Master Geradys said and continued saying for the last fifteen minutes.

"Throw water on his hand." Laena was trying to say all of her ideas out loud to see if any good ones would appear and Rhaenyra shouted at one of Septons to grab a jar of water.

Luke watched them like a hawk, hand going behind his back. "Daor!" He shouted, his voice coming back strong along with his stubbornness.

Laenor exchanged glances with his sister, having a quick silent conversation with her while Luke divided his attention between them and his mother, who was holding the water. While Laena distracted him with a few offerings, Laenor grabbed his hand from behind and forced the boy to extend his arm.

Luke started screaming, squirming to get away and Laenor had to grab him by the torso to keep him in place, just barely managing to hold his arm long enough for Daemon to take it and hold it in place so Rhaenyra could come closer in a blur of red cloth.

What left Lucerys' mouth when his mother dropped the entire jar of water on the hand he was using to hold the charcoal was a hoarse cry that reassembled a dragon's roar. "Daor!"

Rhaenyra' grabbed onto his wrist. "Open your hand." She ordered, firmly.

Luke's small face scrunched up in fury, but he obeyed, his little hand opening and letting the wet charcoal fall, its tiny pieces disintegrating into ashes when it hit the ground.

Laenor let go of him to check on his hand, looking for a gruesome burn or skin falling off. Instead, he passed his fingers through an intact palm, feeling it warm, but no marks were there; his skin was as soft as it had always been.

He let go Lucerys' wrist for the others to touch and see it for themselves and when his eyes met Rhaenyra's, he could see the same confusion in hers.

"But it was hot, wasn't it?" Laena wondered out loud. "Daemon even burned his hand."

"I've heard tales, tales of some Valyrian riders who were more dragons than their peers." Viserys was watching Luke's hand with awe, his fingers dragging along the pink palm. "Perhaps we should let him-"

"Let him?" Daemon asked incredulously even before Rhaenyra could show her anger herself – Laenor could see her hands trembling as she held on to the jar of water. "Your days as a ruler must have left you insane, brother, for you to suggest we let a child hold on to burning charcoal."

"He isn't hurting himself, Daemon, don't you see?"

The one second it took for them to get distracted by the fight, was the time Lucerys used to step back into the fireplace and once again shove his hand onto the fire.

"Luke, no!" Rhaenyra shouted, but the boy was already gripping another charcoal, little hands curling onto it. She started to walk towards him, but Luke stepped back – closer into the fire.

Rhaenyra lifted both her hands in surrender and glanced at him, her eyes darting to the side, head tilting slightly.

Oh.

Laenor started to make his way to Lucerys' other side, mindful of the boy's eyes darting between him and his mother, always too smart for his own good.

"Luke, it's alright. It's alright." He tried to placate, but the boy was already wary of them, both his little hands curling around the charcoal this time and he turned his body to the side so he could keep both of them in his line of sight. "We just want the charcoal. Father needs it to set fire onto another room, can't you give it to me?"

Laena, Daemon and Viserys stood close, the ones who weren't family members watching the scene from further into the room, unmoving in fear of making the situation worse.

"There's more in there." Lucerys called on his bluff, one hand letting go of the charcoal to point at the fireplace and Laenor wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it, but the fear of seeing a burning mark on the boy's hand this time around stopped him from it.

"But we need this one in particular, sweet boy." Rhaenyra tried, taking another step further, causing Luke to step back once more, his back hitting the fireplace's stone.

They should have listened to Viserys or perhaps they shouldn't have waited and tried to get Luke to give the charcoal to them. They should have tried many other moves other than circling the boy and cornering him as they did.

Perhaps if they did his son wouldn't have opened his mouth, shoved the still burning charcoal in and started chewing onto it with his tiny milk teeth.

Notes:

WE GOT LAENOR'S POV YAY

The scene I talked about on the beginning was Luke's body being taken by ice and him eating a charcoal to warm himself over and everyone having a meltdown about it.

At first I wanted the Night King to stab Luke through the chest, but then I was like 'nah, he's a toddler' and then I thought 'let's age him up', but for plot reasons I can't do that yet, so I spent days trying to figure out what else would scare someone so much for them to take over an entire continent trying to stop this dream from happening (and Luke still didn't see everything from the dream cause he's still too young)

Then I watched 'US' and that ending scene gave me the heebie-jeebies so I thought 'how about this, but they're all on the same place and there's so many you could confuse them with snow if seen from too far on the skies'. Yeah, that's enough to scare the shit out of a grown man with the biggest dragon on the world.

/

Everyone: please don't hold the burning charcoal, Lucerys

Lucerys: alright

/

Viserys: a

Daemon: shut up about the gods, shut up about their signs

/

Visenya watching Luke/Aegon get in trouble for doing something she told him not to do:

Chapter 5: Of letters and ravens

Notes:

Would you look at that, your girl is back

I'm sorry lmao a lot has happened since the last time I posted (meaning I had my finals)

So basically I was studying in two colleges at the same time and my deepest nightmares came to life: two finals week on the same week. I was going crazy, putting alarms for me to cry and cursing myself for being such a stupid whore.

And through all that madness the only thing I could think of was how much I'd love to go back into writing but I didn't have the time. Long story short, I passed and you are now looking at a professional hanshahdhdhsha (still got a lot of classes to pass before getting my second degree tho) and when all the exams and assignments were gone so was my desire to write cause I didn't actually wanna do anything apart from sleeping and scrolling through my phone so yeah, sorry for that

Lastly but not least: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE COMMENTS, I LOVE YOU ALL, SERIOUSLY JUST

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

"Can you say 'ah' for me?" Rhaenyra watched as the Maester made an exaggerated 'ah' sound, opening his mouth as big as he could.

Lucerys was sitting on a stool in front of him, both his little hands holding on to it. Her youngest opened his mouth just as he was asked to, showing his perfect little teeth, white as they were when they first came out – his mouth thoroughly healthy.

The man checked upon his mouth and throat, humming while at it.

She'd inspected her son's mouth herself, searched everywhere for a sign, something that indicated the boy had chewed onto a burning charcoal, but there was nothing. Now, although many hours had passed since then and she was way past the point of losing it, Rhaenyra still felt the pressure of the memory on the back of her head trying to come forward as she pushed it back with all her might.

Every time she relieved it, Rhaenyra felt as if she'd break into hysterics, a myriad of emotions – terror, disbelief, impotence – waving through her with enough strength to make her feel sick to the stomach and Syrax roar from the Pit.

Her uncle's hands on her shoulders trembled, as if he was experiencing the same feelings as her.

"Very good, my prince. You've done well."

"Thank you." Lucerys began to kick his feet, his legs dangling from under him.

The Maester was a new one, Jeoran, and had just come from the Citadel. After her mother's death, Rhaenyra stopped trusting most of the Maesters around her, with Geradys being the sole exception, but it appeared that this one was good with children.

"Would you like to choose a card?" The man showed her boy a stack of wooden cards with the sigils of the big and small houses of Westeros painted on them.

While Lucerys looked over them, his little hands struggling to hold them all to the point the Maester had to help him put them over the table, the man turned his attention back to her.

"I'm afraid I've got nothing to add, Princess Rhaenyra." Was all the Maester told her after all the – not so patient – waiting she had to suffer through so he could finish checking up on Lucerys.

She leaned back on her chair, Daemon still standing behind her, holding her shoulders.

The man in front of her trembled under her stare. Good.

That was the ninth one they visited just that morning and none knew what to say. Rhaenyra knew the situation wasn't common, but there had to be something they could do.

Laenor had left after the fifth one, taking a much calmer Jace with him and saying he needed to write to his parents and tell them what happened before they found out from someone else. Rhaenyra was quick to agree, she didn't think anyone would want to deal with an angry Rhaenys and Corlys.

"If I may speak freely, my princess."

Her uncle snorted.

"You may."

"The prince appears to be fine and healthy, and I've found no trace of any injuries."

Lucerys held a blue card with the Velaryon symbol on it and a red one with that Targaryen one.

"How can none of your class have anything to say? Do you find it normal for a child to eat charcoal?"

"I… I don't, my princess, but I-"

Lucerys pulled upon the man's sleeve, bringing the attention back to him. "Can I h've both?" He asked, showing both cards.

The Maester smiled at him, nodding and Rhaenyra lost a bit of her anger at the smile that grew on Luke's face. She was just so very glad to see it again.

The Maester turned to her again. "As I was saying, it may be difficult for you, Princess, to understand, but to us common people it is already out of ordinary to see people flying dragons… I must say – him eating charcoal is definitely not a common occurrence, but coming from a Targaryen-"

Daemon actually chuckled, and Jeoran shrank under his gaze. Rhaenyra felt the beginnings of a headache pounding on the back of her head, but the Maester was right. Targaryen were said to be closer to gods than to men, but for her, who grew inside the family, them riding dragons was no different from a Velaryon sailing on the ocean, or a knight riding a horse.

She could understand why, despite it seeming strange, he was able to accept so easily that Lucerys could eat a burning charcoal and be fine, but to her – who was used to riding dragons, but not to people touching scorching fire not burn themselves – it was an absurd.

Rhaenyra never stopped to think how the people from Westeros felt or thought about the Targaryens as a family, but now that she did, she didn't like the feeling one bit. The unknown was frightening.

Suddenly not having Lucerys in her arms made the ugly and uncomfortable feeling that was hovering around her become unbearing.

"Thank you, Maester Jeoran. We shall not take any more of your time." Daemon went to grab Lucerys, but she took the boy in her arms first, her nerves calming down slightly. Her uncle put one of the boy's strands behind his ear as Luke showed them his cards.

Passing through the hallways that morning felt the same as when she walked into camp with a dead boar being carried behind her. The people were staring, some of them with awe, the most pious towards the seven with thin veiled suspicion.

Rhaenyra held her head high, both for her son and because she did not feel ashamed or cursed or whatever it was that they may feel or think.

It was a blessing. Lucerys being alive, breathing against her cheek and pressing the rough edges of the wooden cards against her neck in an uncomfortable way was nothing short of a blessing and if anyone were to say differently, she was sure Syrax would make an exception on her diet to eat them.

Daemon's comforting presence beside her also helped a lot, she had to admit.

They crossed the hallways in slow steps, enjoying each other's company. Because of Lucerys' situation the night before, – that caused every habitant of the Red Keep to spend the night awake – Rhaenyra had thought the Castle would be quieter on the morrow, calmer.

However, the further Daemon and she stepped away from the Maester's quarters, the more she saw people walking past in a hurry, barely stopping to bow at them before returning to their business, – their hands full of opened letters – and although the Princess did not stop walking, her steps did falter at the sudden and loud noise of wings flapping by as a rave flew beside them, forming a huge dark mass in the sky.

She watched, enraptured, as another rave flew to the opposite direction, going straight to the meeting room.

Ser Harwin Strong, who she had temporarily dismissed since she Daemon had insisted on accompanying her through the meeting with the Maesters, came into view when they rounded the hallway's corner, his usually relaxed stance having become tense by what appeared to be stress.

"Ser Harwin." She called and Lucerys lifted his head from her shoulder, turning his upper body around to see the man. Harwin was the only person aside from the nursing maids and the family that Luke seemed to like and went out of his way to socialize with. "Care to tell me what is the cause to this... bedlam?"

"It is the ravens, my Princess." The man said, his voice coming out rushed in an uncharacteristically way. "The are too many."

A boy that couldn't be older than six and tem came running in their direction, his arms full of letters. "Here they are, Ser!"

She watched as the Knight grabbed hold of the letters, growing increasingly worried. "I must go." He bowed his head at them both, sending Lucerys a quick smile before leaving in a fast pace.

Rhaenyra exchanged an apprehensive look with Daemon.

"Give him to me. Let us hurry." This time, she didn't deny him and passed a willing Lucerys to his arms, concentrating on not staying behind as they dashed through the hallways.

"Rhaenyra!" Laenor's relieved face was the first thing she saw when the guards opened the doors. The second thing was the huge, colossal even, pile of letters laying above the large rectangular table. The Maesters, a few servants and even the Hand were working through them, reading and separating the letters in organized smaller piles that only they knew the meanings of. Even Laena was helping, Rhaena and Baela standing by each side of her chair as they lifted themselves to their tiptoes again and again. At the noise they made by entering, their little heads turned into their direction, twin smiles growing on their faces at the sight of them.

Leaving Laena alone at the table, both girls sprinted in their direction, wrapping their arms around Rhaenyra's legs in a quick hug before turning to their father and Lucerys.

Every few times Rhaenyra could barely believe this was truly happened; that she wasn't alone anymore. Those two years she spent completely isolated in her own home, having to suffer through the heartbreak that Alicent's and her father's betrayal caused and be ignored by all in favor of the firstborn son the Realm so dearly wanted day after day were gone.

And she would never allow them to come back.

She stared at the sight before her, watching amusedly as Rhaena pulled on Laenor's leg so he would put her on his hip and she could talk more closely to Luke, Baela having already all but climbed Daemon's body.

"My child!" Her father voice sounded somewhere behind her and she turned around to see him King walking up to them from the other side of the room with Jacaerys holding his hand, a tired, but large smile on both their faces.

"Luke! Mother!" Her firstborn shouted, letting go of his gandsire's hand to run up to them and a coo almost left her mouth at how adorable he was when he ran on those small legs of his.

The Princess let out a short laugh as she held him in her arms, and squeezed him in a quick, tight hug. "Hello, my love."

"Hi!" Jace gave her a peck on the cheek and then turned to Laenor, extending his arms so he could be held by him and be closer to Lucerys. The corner of her husband's mouth curled up and he grabbed Jacaerys by the waist with his free arm and he had to stand by Daemon's side, almost touching him, with a blank expression in his face so the children could talk to each other.

Her father came up to her, kissing her on the cheek in the same way Jace did, seeming happier than she had seen him for a while. Rhaenyra understood him at a deeper level; despite the horrors of the late day, they all turned out to be fine and she felt a surge of happiness wash away the tiredness every time she remembered that.

How are you feeling, child?" Her father asked.

"I h've two cards!" Luke exclaimed, showing his grandfather the cards he had on his hand as if that had anything to do with what the man asked. "For being really good." He explained seriously.

Rhaenyra couldn't stop her smile even if she wanted it, kissing the crown of the toddler's head lovingly.

"What did the Maesters say, daughter?" Her father asked once Lucerys was finished with his telling.

"Nothing different from the first two ones." Viserys had insisted on being with them during the first two check ups and Rhaenyra was aware of the young ears listening to everything they said.

Jace looked over Lucerys with analyzing eyes that reminded her of Laenor when he was trying to figure something out, but when Lucerys showed him the cards, Jace forgot about his worries to gawk over the paintings.

Then, stuffing his small hand on his trousers' pocket, Luke produced two more cards with the three headed dragon painted on them.

"I got two f'r you too, sisters." Luke put his hands beside his mouth and whispered – or tried to, because the tone of his voice didn't change at all. Daemon let out a cackle.

She would talk to the boy about taking things that didn't belong to him without asking later, but Rhaenyra could not reprehend him over wanting to give the twins a gift, despite of how wrong it was of Luke to have stolen two cards.

The moment was broken when another flock of ravens came in, the flap of their wings so loud it almost made her jump from her place and the children began to shout in delight. "What is the meaning of this?"

"Words of Lucerys'..." Viserys paused and stared at the children around them, their eyes huge as they stopped talking to each other altogether in favor of eavesdropping the conversation between the adults. Rhaenyra wrinkled her nose at them and the four of them turned around to continue their conversation, but she knew they were still listening. "Affliction came out."

The resounding noise of the heavily textured papers continued as the rave dropped their letters.

"Well, would you look at that, Laena is calling you." Her uncle put Lucerys and Baela on the ground and she turned to watch Laena arch an eyebrow in confusion at the fact that all seven of them were staring at her. "Off you go."

Baela grabbed onto Lucerys' hand and began to pull the younger boy along with her, Rhaena and Jace all but demanding to be put down so they could follow.

Once the children left, she turned back to her husband and her father. "Well?"

"All of the Lords of the Realm are sending their blessings, trying to find a way around to approach the Crown." Laenor informed, seeming to age ten years all of a sudden. "The letters don't stop, Rhaenyra. There are congratulations, propositions, invitations, others are asking for a Royal Progress or a feast so they can better meet Luke."

"The people are calling him the boy who refuses to die. He who twice bested the Stranger. They say he was blessed by the Seven." Viserys eyes darted between Daemon's and Rhaenyra's faces in a nervous manner, watching for their reactions.

Daemon scoffed.

"My son is not an exotic animal for them to observe." She contained her urge to scowl, aware of the other people in the room. "He is just a boy."

"I agree, daughter of mine." Viserys held both her arms softly, his gaze meeting hers and his mouth opened and closed a few times before he reigned over himself and decided to speak his mind. "But this is a good opportunity, an opportunity that may not ever come again. This is your chance to once more strengthen your claim to the throne."

She knew that, yes. Having Lucerys being seen as someone favored by the Seven would do wonders to bring the faithful to her side, but the biggest part of her – the part that only grew after becoming a mother – made the idea bring a bitter taste to her mouth. "He is only three and zero."

"That is good." Het father shook her a little bit. "It will all be good fun for him. Lucerys may not be as extroverted as Jacaerys, but he does enjoy an adventure, as all Targaryens do. And that is all this is going to be for the children, a big adventure."

He seemed certain of himself, and she could understand his point of view, but Lucerys enjoying it or not he would still be the center of attention. Would still be watched for any abnormalities or put into a spot above all others.

And even if the boy didn't know the reason, she would. Rhaenyra never had any qualms in using the people around her to get what she wanted, but this was her family, her son. She would never do that to any of them.

Being a Targaryen already put them in a difficult position, but Rhaenyra heard about the people that were seen as chosen by the Seven. None of them lived a happy life, much less a painless fate, and that was the only thing she wished for her children; to live fully and to be happy.

And yet, her father was right. It was the opportunity of her lifetime.

She wanted to ask Daemon for his opinion, wanted to ask Laena for hers, but the only opinion that truly mattered was Laenor's.

He seemed deep in thought and it made her feel a bit better for not being able to make the decision right away. He had much more time to think it over and was still conflicted.

"My husband and I shall think about it." She stated, holding Laenor's gaze and then forcing herself to return her father's smile. "And I shall take your words in consideration, father."

The king nodded once, twice. Then he patted her arms a few times. "Take your time, child. For now, we must help them with those letters as I believe soon the pile will enlarge even more."

Laena's head was already covered from view and Rhaenyra contained a groan. The things she would give to be in her bed right now.

She waited for Daemon to go first, a tilt of her head all he needed to understand that she wanted to talk to Laenor alone.

As they walked towards the table, Laenor pressed himself close to her, their arms touching. "King Viserys is right, it is a good opportunity."

"And yet it is an difficult one to take." She muttered, and then, as if hoping to discourage him, she continued. "You would be away from the sea for a long while."

It would be difficult for him, as a Velaryon, to be away from the ocean. That was also a point to be taken in consideration.

And if Laenor said no, she could use it as an excuse to deny the Lords and pretend it wasn't because her feelings were taking over her rationality.

"Not necessarily, some of the Houses stand at the coast."

"That is true, but the majority of them do not."

He stopped just short of reaching the table and pulled her to stand close to an empty wall. "I know what you are doing, and it is not going to work."

"Laenor-"

"Do not worry about me. I am a man grown." He looked around to ascertain himself no one was close enough to eavesdrop, his voice lowering even more and when he held her gaze, it was the strategist – the Knight – and not the boy she grew up with she was staring at. "Whatever we decide, it shall be by weighing the boys' comfort and the benefits this progress will bring to your claim to the throne and to us as a family. Do not forget it is not only your claim you will be strengthening, but Jace's as well."

What she ought not to forget was that both of them had changed in the years of their marriage. Laenor matured as well. Long was the man that left her alone days at a time to amuse himself in the sea with sailors. Ever since Jacaerys was born his trips had gotten shorter and longer to come and he busied himself with gathering more responsibilities as a future Lord.

Reaching for his hand was in both parts a way to assure him she saw him, and to show union to the people in the room. "Sometimes I forget we both changed."

He snorted. "It is quite alright, but do try to do it less often."

Her lips trembled as she tried not to laugh and she squeezed his hand. "I shall endeavor never to do it again."

"Easy, I don't believe I changed that much."

Her laugh got a few stares, but it was alright. Everything was alright.

Laenor pulled her over to the main table and she stared in horrified amazement at the huge number of letters for a few moments before seeing Daemon ushering the children away from Viserys and him. The four of them went straight to Laena, who sent Daemon an unimpressed glare.

"Why can't I help?" Baela frowned.

"Yes, why can't we help?" Rhaena asked. "We can read!"

Laena let out a long sigh, leading Rhaenyra to guess those questions had already been asked one too many times.

Rhaenyra picked a few letters from the large pile and bumped her shoulder with Laena's, gaining a quick smile from the other woman.

"The contents of these letters may not be well fitted to young ladies." Laenor answered for his sister and Rhaenyra shared an amused glance with him.

"Then can I help?" Jace asked, causing the adults to laugh. The twins looked outraged while Lucerys struggled to climb into a seat beside Laenor.

"You do not yet know how to read." Laenor said while he helped Lucerys sit beside him, caressing the boy's hair a few times and paying no mind as Luke grabbed a letter.

"Yes, I do!" Jace disagreed, offended. "Well, a few words." He added as an afterthought.

"Yes, and I am very proud of you." Laenor nodded seriously, his eyes betraying his amusement. "But the contents of the letters are unfit to young lords and princes too."

The twins giggled at that, and their laugh only got louder when Jace scowled at them.

"House Baratheon… Ours is the fury." Lucerys said slowly, as he always did these days – always too worried over not pronouncing the words correctly. "Lord Boros says Jace has our g'andmother's mother's laugh. Is it true?"

"I believe so, sweet boy." She answered distractedly while Laena explained what each pile meant. Then Lucerys's sentences made sense and she turned to him with wide eyes, seeing a letter with the Baratheon sigil on his hands. "Luke-"

"And aren't Jace and I to wait until we reach seven and ten to marry?" The boy continued, eyes darting to each side of the paper as if he were- as if he were reading. "Why does he want to marry us now-"

Laenor pulled the letter away from Luke's grip, his hands trembling slightly and both Laena and she leaned over to read above his shoulders the content of the letter.

It was just as Lucerys had said. Lord Boros Baratheon made allusions to their family ties in common and tried to use it as emotional leverage to gain an arranged marriage.

"And it is with our hearts filled with joy that House Baratheon invites the Royal fam'ly to visit and stay in Sto'ms' End for as long as they wish." Her boy read, leaning over his father's shoulders – the words leaving his mouth at a speed that she had never seen a child under 8 achieve. Laenor dropped the paper on the table and covered the lines of ink with an open hand, but it was too late; Otto Hightower and the Maesters around him were already staring, mouth agape.

For the second time that day, everyone but the family was obliged to leave the room.

"Did I do wrong?" Luke asked, eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

Cleaning her worried expression away, Rhaenyra forced out a smile, rubbing her thumb against his cheek. "No, sweet boy. You read beautifully,"

Then she turned to Daemon. "Did you-"

"As much as I would love take credit for that, niece, no. I did not teach your son how to read."

"Father?"

Viserys sighed. "It wasn't me, Rhaenyra."

After so long one would think she'd get habituated to Lucerys' stunts, but he always managed to surprise her again. "How does he keep doing this?" Laenor rubbed a hand over his face tiredly.

"Why does Luke get to read but I don't? I'm older." Rhaena complained, causing the Baela and Jacaerys to make their dissatisfactions known as well, but Rhaenyra barely paid them any mind. If Lucerys kept doing these unexpected things – if he kept showing such a knowledge without being taught – soon there would be nothing she could do to protect him from the way people perceived him.

Not a decade ago, his life was as miserable as it could get; married to a woman who at best felt contempt towards him, strangled from the only family he had left. He'd only had brief moments of happiness back then, a happiness made of the few hours he could spare to fly on Caraxes.

Then he met Laena. She'd caught his eye on the very same night he thought he'd lost his last shot at having a fulfilled life – the night he thought he lost the one he wanted the most, Rhaenyra.

Laena wasn't his niece, and she was no replacement. She carved a spot in his heart, rocking his entire world around and he knew then he had to have her, that he needed her.

And he was happy, for the first time in his life he was happy and the ache on his chest longing for someone he could never have turned numb, always there but forgotten by the laughs around him.

Then, during a feast given in her parents' name nonetheless, Laena rocked his world again, painting his mind with scenes he never dared to imagine, her sinful words sounding as if they were spoken by one of their Valyrian gods.

He'd never thought Laena could feel the same way, or at least a fraction of desire he felt for Rhaenyra too, but his wife was a chest full of wonders. The first night they spent together had changed the way he saw world. He finally had Rhaenyra, could leave his mark on her body, make her his even if for only a few hours.

He'd wanted her for so long that when he had her in his arms, he didn't quite know how to proceed. Didn't think he could go all the way, that he could do everything he wanted. Suddenly he was back into that night moons ago, leaving his niece, the Realm's Delight, alone in a pleasure house.

As he kissed her, anxiety kept reminding him of Laena, making it impossible for him to let himself go. He never thought a woman would allow that, didn't truly think Laena would let her husband, the father of her unborn children, have his way with another, but to his amazement Laena enjoyed watching and sometimes suggesting things.

Rhaenyra and he had been at each other like animals that night, couldn't keep themselves from touching each other even if it was only to hold hands.

He didn't account for Laenor, though, and he should have.

Daemon knew he didn't care about sex, it mattered not to him, although he usually went for women. Laenor and he had their own bit of fun during the battle of Stepstone, on those endless nights no side made a move, when the adrenaline of the battle didn't leave their bodies even long after the fight had ended.

He never thought of Laenor much, outside those nights. Daemon found him amusing, – had chuckled more than once when the other mocked the idiots around them, especially Vaemond, the insufferable cunt – and impressive in the way he found openings and planned tactics on how to change the tides in their favor.

As time passed, they got even closer and just as his older sister did, Laenor took a place inside his mind and heart.

Daemon didn't usually care about people, made a point of trying not to. For long he only cared for Viserys, Rhaenyra and Aemma. Now the list of names was growing and with it his fear of losing one of them too, especially since now he had two beautiful miracles, then – twin girls he'd destroy the entire world to protect, that he would do anything he could to make them happy.

Everyday he spent away from Laenor and Rhaenyra, hours away at Pentos, was torture, and not only for him. He could see it in Laena's eyes, the longing. Could feel it in the way Rhaena and Baela sometimes came up to him, telling him they saw something their brothers would also love to see.

At some point he started to think of Jacaerys and Lucerys as his too, both children reminding him so much of Rhaenyra and his dear late cousin, Aemma he had nothing but love to offer them. And he knew Rhaenyra and Laenor loved his girls as if they were their own. Daemon wanted nothing more than to make it true, to convince the three of them to mount on their dragons and find a Septon that would agree to marry them so they could stay together always, so he could protect them always.

He'd cut the heads of whoever dared to disagree.

But they couldn't. Not when Alicent and Otto Hightower had their hands on Viserys' shoulders, guiding his every move. Not when there were three boys on the line of the throne, boys that his niece started caring for and was now being kept from seeing.

They needed to wait, wait until Rhaenyra was sat on the Iron Throne and then, and only then, no one would ever dare to stop them. If they tried, he was only too happy to feed them to Caraxes.

Most days Daemon was satisfied with being himself. Some days it was difficult, and he wanted nothing more than to go back into battle again, to feel the blood of an enemy hit his face and let go of the rage that at times seemed to brew inside him.

Right now he was pretty happy to be himself, because he didn't want to be in Laenor's place when Rhaenys reached him. Rhaenyra would probably not suffer through most of the verbal onslaught, but his cousin would have no mercy for her son.

He'd crossed her on his way to bring his girls to the dining room after their classes so they could lunch with Jacaerys and Lucerys. It was the day after Lucerys gave them the scare of their lives, thrice.

He could still remember the pain, the same he felt when he found out of his parents and Aemma's death. It hurt even more to see Rhaenyra, Laenor and Laena in so much pain, to see them try to do the impossible and bring a dead child back to life.

But Lucerys came back, for whatever reason it may be, that hellish child came back, already making each one of them lose their heads. He didn't know how they did it, but Rhaenyra and Laenor passed the strongest parts of their Targaryen genes onto the boy and now Lucerys was making them all pay for it.

Daemon had never seen a child so uncaring of someone else's distress. There wasn't a single person calm in that room and yet Lucerys still pushed them further.

Daemon had cut the tongue out of two Septons on the hallway outside the room for daring to say that the boy's survival was unnatural, had cut another's throat for indicating there was something inherently evil about the way Lucerys could hold a burning charcoal without any lasting consequences.

Viserys didn't even get upset with him for that, although he supposed his brother would later complain about him dirtying their late mother's favorite carpet.

"Cousin." Rhaenys greeted, bending forwards to bring both Rhaena and Baela into a tight embrace. She looked over their little curly heads to stare at him, her gaze piercing. "Well? Where is he?"

"On the dining room."

She grabbed each of his daughters by their hands and took them with her, both Baela and Rhaena forgetting about him in favor of their grandmother. He let them distance themselves for a bit since he did not want to be in the field of vision of a furious Rhaenys, watching as even the Knights pressed themselves against the walls to avoid catching his cousin's attention, and was about to follow when Corlys rounded the corner, running at full speed.

Even after their battles together, Daemon had never seen the lord so disheveled and apprehensive before, his clothes wrinkled in an undignifying way.

He arched an eyebrow. "You came here by flying."

"Yes." Corlys answered breathlessly, even though both of them knew Daemon was not asking. Catching his judgmental gaze, the lord defended himself. "A Velaryon's place is not in the skies." The man complained, strengthening up as they began walking to the dining hall. "But the situation demanded for it."

He wondered what in the fourteen flames Laenor wrote in that letter, but from what he heard from Rhaenys even from outside the room, it was too little information for such a scare telling.

"I told you he was now fine."

"You do not know the meaning of 'fine', Laenor." Rhaenys retorted. "You told me you were fine when you shipwrecked and barely managed to reach Dragonstone alive eight years ago!"

Daemon made sure to stick to the walls, watching the scene from afar. Corlys, on the other hand, went straight for his wife and took Lucerys away from her arms to inspect the boy.

Rhaenyra stood in front of Laenor, showing a remarkable courage. His niece was a brave woman for letting Laenor hide behind her in such way. Brave, but foolish. He'd never stand between Rhaenys and the object for her anger, had already made that mistake as a child and he could still remember the outcome.

Viserys, it seemed, did as well. His older brother kept pretending to stare at a spider web at the back of the room.

The room was dark, as the clouds were hiding the sun since early morning, but he could see Laena urging his daughters and Jacaerys to eat a couple grapes, sitting on a chair at the back of the room, safely away from the conversation that was currently happening.

Once more, he wondered just what Laenor wrote in that letter for Rhaenys to be so upset.

"He is fine, mother." Laenor remarked, then he turned to Lucerys. "Tell her you're fine, Luke."

Daemon snorted.

"Do not bring the boy into this." Rhaenys interrupted.

"I am fine, Mumuñna (grandmother)." At that Rhaenys' angered face melted into a smile and she cooed at Lucerys before turning to stare at Laenor again, her face hardening.

"You are to tell me exactly what happened, Laenor, or I swear to you, grown man or not I shall-"

"We will explain everything, princess, of course." Rhaenyra spoke, bringing everyone's attention to her. Her chin went up as it always did when she wished to project confidence and he was distinctly reminded of the way she dared him to kill her so many years ago in Dragonstone. "But the children are hungry, and I believe so are you and Lord Velaryon."

Rhaenys stared at her for a couple moments, silent. Then, as everyone let out a relieved breath, she took two steps away from Rhaenyra and Laenor and closer to Corlys. Luke immediately reached for a strand of her hair, putting it close to one of Corlys' braids.

"Yes, I believe you are right, Princess." Rhaenys conceded. "But I demand to know every small detail."

"Of course, mother." Laenor rushed out, now moving from behind Rhaenyra.

The oppressive aura circling around the room slowly dissipated, Rhaenys turning her attention back to her grandchildren, who all circled her and Corlys, asking them questions. He stared for a while, watching as Laena joined them and let both Jacaerys and Rhaena swing her arms back and forth. When she caught his eyes and winked at him, he turned his face away, a smile beginning to form.

"Father! Uncle says there is to be roasted pig!" Rhaena shouted, eyes wide in excitement as she sprinted away from Viserys and stopped in front of him. She was only this happy when they were together, always smiling and energetic. "Come, I want to eat!"

And what else was he to do but follow behind, as he always did, making sure he watched his family's back and kept them safe.

Rhaenys had taken in the Incident quite well, considering her reaction from before, and Daemon believed it was because she could see Lucerys well and healthy in front of her, eating away his pie.

"And none of the Masters had anything to say?" She asked.

"They put it under the 'Targaryen's queer ways'." Rhaenyra answered, cutting Rhaena's meat into small cubes.

He himself had sent the servants away, not wanting any of them to hear their conversation. His brother's wife did not even bother to show up, and once the cunt that Viserys named Hand saw him, Corlys and Rhaenys, the man decided it was best to lunch on his quarters.

His humor had never been so good.

"Open, please." Jacaerys asked, extending a bottle of pickles in his direction. He wrinkled his nose in disgust but opened it regardless. Sitting on his other side, Baela gagged. Jace frowned suspiciously. "What was that?"

"Nothing." She answered innocently and he bumped his legs against hers just to watch her smile.

Jacaerys stared at them for a few seconds, eyes falling into slits, before he shrugged and went back to his lunch. Baela giggled quietly, using her fork to push away her carrots.

"Hey, none of that." He objected and pointed at the carrots with his knife. "This, this helps you see in the dark."

"Truly?" She stared at him, amazed and Daemon never thought anyone other than Rhaenyra would ever look at him this way, but there he was. Surrounded by four children that kept looking at him for guidance.

"Truly."

When he turned his attention back to the others, Lucerys had been moved from his place between Rhaenyra and Laena – always kept between two adults because the boy kept trying to suffocate himself with too much food in a single bite – to stay in Corlys lap, the lord eyeing the boy's mouth for signs of damage.

"I wish for them to be checked by our Masters on Driftmark." Rhaenys stated, looking over Rhaenyra and Laenor. "They may have some knowledge these ones lack. No offense intended, cousin." She sent Viserys a quick look.

"None taken."

"Well? What do you say, Princess?"

Rhaenyra looked at Laenor. The man nodded. "It wouldn't hurt to try. We would all like some answers and it has been a year since the boys visited the High Tides."

"Are we going to Driftmark?" Jace asked, propping a leg on the chair as he readied himself to get up. Daemon put his arm above the boy's shoulders, pressing him down so he wouldn't try to get up again.

He had already talked to the boy over the dangers of standing on furniture and had seen even a Knight take him down from a shelf once.

"Yes, and since we all wish to go, I believe it would be good for the children to travel by ship." Corlys words caused a rush of noise from the children and a wave of dread over him, Rhaenyra and Rhaenys. "They all share Velaryon blood, after all."

Well, he didn't. He hated boats – could not stand them for more than twenty minutes without feeling seasick and frankly hoping for the death.

Laena brushed her foot against his, but although her eyes were supportive, there was an amused smile on her lips.

"Well, we must begin the preparations, then. I shall send a raven after this meal and ask my brother to send my ship."

Daemon was not getting in that boat, regardless of what Corlys thought about it.

Chapter 6: "He won't come."

"If Daemon comes, you give me the Dornish wine you've got in your room."

Laenor turned to his sister, staring at her in disbelief. "You've invaded my quarters? And why would I bet my favorite wine away?"

Laena rolled her eyes, faking a yawn, but her bored act was broken when a couple sailors passed by, and she greeted the men politely. Once they had made their way inside, she faced him again. "Could it be you're afraid of losing, little brother?"

The same annoyance he felt as a child rose in him. He turned his head in her direction, taking pleasure in having to make her stare up at him because he was taller. "And what shall I get when he does not appear?"

"If he does not appear, you can have whatever you want."

He should have known she was goading him into a trap the moment she offered him whatever he wanted, but Laenor would never think Daemon would actually get into that ship, he knew from experience how the man struggled in the ocean; Daemon was a Targaryen through and through. He was meant to be in the skies, never in the sea.

They waited until almost everyone was aboard, and he was close to declaring himself victor on this little game of theirs when Rhaenyra appeared on the deck with Daemon at her side, his lover's face set into a grimace while he ascended the board.

He wanted to accuse Laena of deception, but they hadn't stated any terms, so having Rhaenyra convince Daemon was not against the rules.

Laena threw her hair to her left shoulder, batting her eyelashes at him. "I want the wine on my desk by the night we come back to the Keep, little brother."

She went to pat him in the shoulder, but he moved away, scowling at her. His reaction just seemed to make her even more amused and when Daemon and Rhaenyra reached them, Laena laced her arms with Daemon's – her hand grazing against Rhaenyra's arm in a fleeting motion.

He was watching them leave and wishing to follow when a voice he recognized sounded from a few feet away. "Will you never stop growing, boy?"

His face broke into a large smiled when he saw Jared, a man he knew ever since he was alive. He gave the man a tight side hug, wondering why his father didn't tell him Jared was coming. "What are you doing here? I heard you weren't travelling anymore."

Jared was his father's right man on the ship, – a man knows by all as the bearded terror – and after years sailing through Westeros, he heard the sailor finally quieted down. Laenor had been quite surprised when he'd heard, having thought the man would die in the ocean.

"Aye, I'm not, this is just a trip." The old man laughed. "And my old lady won't care as long as I'm home for supper." Then he saw the twins approaching. "Are those Lady Laena's girls?"

Rhaena and Baela simultaneously lifted their chins in pride. His mother was on the far back down the deck, watching them while she talked to Viserys. Jacaerys and Lucerys were close to them, saying their goodbyes to their grandsire.

"Yes. This is Baela, and this and Rhaena." He put his hand on each of their shoulders. "Girls, this is Jared. The bearded terror."

"You two look just like your mother."

"A high compliment, sir. Our mother is a beauty." Rhaena curtsied.

"Yes, yes. Now tell us about how you got that name."

"Baela!"

Rhaena's disapproving glare was the same one his big sister used to give him when they were children. Yes, Jared was right. They were Laena's copies.

"Jared!" Jacaerys shouted and Laenor looked back just in time to see the boy rushing up the board.

"Jace, do not run!"

His firstborn stopped running the moment he shouted, starting his ascent at a normal pace with a sheepish look on his face. Lucerys, who was just behind his older brother and showing all the signs to follow his Jacaerys' steps, stopped in his motions and began to slowly make his way up.

"Look if it isn't the little lordling." The old man at his side laughed.

"I'm not little anymore!" Jacaerys disagreed, reaching the center of the ship and jumping so as to hit the man's hand into a greeting and a unique handshake.

"No, I suppose you're not. I'm getting old."

Sometimes seeing Jace so grown and remembering the small thing he was altogether made Laenor feel old too. To Jared it was much worse, considering the man had met him as a babe.

"Captain Beard!" Luke shouted, looking up at Jared.

The man held his hand up for Lucerys to hit and the boy crouched down, tongue poking out, before jumping even higher than Jace so he could manage to reach the sailor's hand.

"Aye, that's how you do it." Lucerys giggled, dashing away when the man made to trickle his belly. Jace hid his younger brother behind him, giggling and prepared to run and take Luke with him if needed while the twins watched the scene curiously from the side.

"Laenor." He heard his father's call from inside the cabin and he looked down to see his mother was still down the deck. He turned to Rhaena and Baela.

"The two of you are in charge." He decided and walked away, not having time to hear what was sure to come.

"What?" Jace complained. "That's not fair!"

"Why not? We're almost a year older."

"Father! Baela stuck her tongue at me!"

Their bickering was cut when he closed the door behind him, blinking to adjust to the lack of light.

There were barely any candles alight in the room and he looked around, wondering what this call was all about.

"You called me, father?"

"Yes, sit down, son."

Once his eyes adjusted, he could see that his father was exhausted in a way he hadn't noticed before. The man had seemed so relaxed on the past two days in the Red Keep.

He sat down on the chair in front of the small table. "What is it?"

Corlys stood in silence for a long moment, staring at his hands. When he spoke, his voice was so serious Laenor rearranged himself in his seat, sitting straighter.

"I'm sure you noticed your duties as heir of the Tides has grown for the past few months." Laenor frowned, mind already going to the worst possibilities.

"Are you unwell? You seem healthy."

Corlys smiled. "My health is fine, son."

"Then what is the problem? You look… exhausted."

His lord father let out a deep sight, leaning back on his chair and staring at the ceiling.

"There has been a worrying number of children being taken from the streets on the area surrounding the High Tides." Corlys ran his hands through head, massaging his temples. "And no one seems to know a thing."

A wave of disgust and dread washed over him. "What are they doing to the children?"

Corlys looked to the side, unable to meet his eyes. "They're being sold to somewhere in Essos."

His mind went straight to the twins, to Jace and to Luke. What would he do if anything happened to them? He would be completely lost.

"With my duties as Lord I cannot dive into the problem as much as I'd like. T'is the reason I've been sending you more documents to look over-"

"I'll do it."

"Laenor-"

"I can do it, father. Give me as much as you need, and I shall take care of it." He'd seen Rhaenyra take more and more responsibilities over the past few years, spending morning after morning trapped in a room while she viewed over problems that seemed to have no solutions, had watched her spend use her short free hours before bed to read books over books. It was time for him to take some more of his own too. "I am your heir. It is time for me to show it."

One of his biggest fears was to be an embarrassment to his family. Because of whom he was, Laenor always believed it was just a matter of time before he eventually disappointed both his parents and the people of Driftmark.

The pressure that came from being the Heir to one of the big Houses had always been on him, but his parents tried their best to lessen it, which was why he took so long to grow when compared to his peers.

Still, his father had been proud of him many times during his life. After every small accomplishment he was always there alongside his mother to congratulate him. Laenor thought the days Jacaerys and Lucerys were born were the proudest his father would ever be of him, but now, being stared upon with so much awe made him realize that maybe those days would never stop coming.

"Sometimes I forget you're now a man grown."

Laenor thought of Rhaenyra's words, barely three days ago, saying the same thing. Was he really that different simply because he now could put his duty to his family first? Did no longer having to sail towards the open sea to show his true self change him that much? Or was it because he was now a father? "You never cease to amaze me, son."

It was all he ever wanted to hear.

"Try munching on this," Laenor suggested while extending an hyajin herb, known for helping with nausea. Daemon barely lifted his head to look at him, his face green and half covered by his sweaty hair.

Laenor had never seen the man that way, not even after he'd been stabbed in one of the many battles on Stepstones. He would never have guessed Daemon's weakness would be seasickness, but the Targaryen had the worst case of it Laenor had ever seen. They'd been on the ship for only half an hour, but he'd lost count of how many times Daemon threw up.

Laena was massaging his back, consoling him, and Laenor wanted to do the same, but he knew there were eyes everywhere and while sailors were used to this side of men, they also talked a lot when drunk. Rhaenyra seemed to be thinking the same thing as he, but just like him, she refrained from touching her uncle.

Daemon groaned at the taste of the herb, making Rhaenyra wince in sympathy and while she seemed to be in a better state, Laenor knew she wasn't entirely comfortable. Still, Rhaenyra had faced weeks of travelling by ship on her search to find a husband and her body was more used to the balancing of the sea, but she also didn't enjoy travelling by ship.

His own mother, despite being married to the man known as the Sea Snake, never got used to ship travelling and at best held contempt for it. She'd retreated to her rooms downstairs during the very first ten minutes.

"Look! I did it!" Baela shouted from the other side of the ship where his father was helping the children learn how to fish. He stared longingly for a while, before his attention was brought back by Rhaenyra's hand gripping his.

"You should go to them." Rhaenyra said.

He looked at her, Laena and then at Daemon once more.

"Are you certain?"

"Yes, I can take it from here."

Laena nodded. "And once Daemon is better, we will be there."

His father's belly laugh urged him to go there, calling to him. He looked back once more, seeing that Daemon had finally stopped throwing up and was now leaning heavily against the deck. When Daemon felt him staring, he signed for him to move along with a movement of his hand, forcing a smile.

"Hold onto to it... yes, firmer now." His father was holding Jace's arm, guiding him through the technics of fishing while Rhaena and Baela held on to their rods on their own, seeming to already have understood the gist.

Luke, since he didn't yet have the strength necessary to go fishing, was sitting far away from the deck next to a few sailors that were watching – probably to later gossip to the people in Driftmark about the new generation of Velaryons and their abilities – or lack of it. He watched as the boy blinked owlishly, probably already feeling sleepy since he usually took a nap at that time of the day.

When Lucerys saw him, he stood up from his little stool and ran to him, stopping after a couple steps to start walking, most likely remembering his words from earlier. Laenor smiled, ruffling the boy's silver hair and pulling him into his arms so they could walk up to the others.

"And how will I know when the fish bites the bait?" Jacaerys asked.

"Oh," His father laughed loudly, but his hold on the boy's arm did not change and the rod continued propped to the ship firmly. "Trust me, child, you will know."

"I'll get the biggest fish here!" Jacaerys affirmed and when the boy saw him approaching, his face lit up.

"Oh, I'm certain you will." He granted, then turned to the twins. "Nice positioning, girls."

Both of them smiled proudly at him. Jace's head turned towards Rhaena and Baela and then to Corlys. "Let go, grandfather, I want to try it by myself!"

Laenor lifted an eyebrow when Corlys let go. It was still too early to expect the boy to maintain his position alone, but after faltering for a couple seconds Jace managed to fix the rod in the same way they had before, frowning his little nose.

Jacaerys turned to look at him again, beaming, and Laenor beamed right back at him.

"How long is he going to stay there?" Baela asked in a monotonous voice. She had been laying with her back against the hard wood for half an hour already.

Both Rhaena and she had given up on trying to catch a fish, bored with the long wait, and Laenor didn't know whether they had gotten their impatience from Laena or Daemon.

Jacaerys, on the other hand, still persisted, standing unmoving against the deck.

Although the sun was not at its highest spot in the sky, it thankfully wasn't strong as there were many clouds around and so the boy could stay out there for as long as he wanted.

Both Rhaenyra and Daemon were feeling better after eating the herb and had now adjourned them, sitting against the shade the main sail offered.

"Jace will catch the biggest fish." Lucerys parroted his brother's words. Every once in a while, just as Jace began to slouch his stance, the boy repeated his brother's words, and every time he heard it Jace seemed to regain his surety.

They all put on some word to encourage the boy, but Laenor was beginning to fear his son's persistence would be for nothing when Jace was pulled forwards and slammed against the deck. They all stood up, alarmed, but Jacaerys started laughing, propping his feet on the deck to hold his position. "Look! It's pulling! It's pulling!"

The children were the first to react, running towards Jacaerys and leaning themselves over the deck to stare. "Start pulling, Jace." He shouted, running to help.

"Pull, Jace! Pull!" Rhaena started shouting, getting the others to join and Jacaerys had the biggest smile on his face while he struggled to pull the handle.

Lucerys began to jump up and down in excitement when they first saw the fish being pulled out of the water. Jacaerys was already sweating, but Laenor knew better than to offer the boy help now. Jacaerys needed to do it on his own.

"It's a tilefish." His father gawked. "And it's a big one."

The fishing rod almost escaped Jace's hands, but he managed to catch it, pulling it with all his strength. When the fish was halfway into the ship, Laenor leaned over the deck and pushed it until the fish hit the border.

It was one of the greatest catches he'd ever seen. "It's so big!" Rhaena exclaimed, surprised.

It was, it truly was, but it wasn't bigger than Jacaerys' proud smile when everyone in that ship congratulated him.

Laenor knew he was home before he even saw the island. The waters around Driftmark were different from any others; his people made sure to keep the ocean clean, never throwing any detriments into the sea.

He felt a hand grip his shoulder and he knew it belonged to Laena even before he turned his head towards her direction, her face full of understanding.

Ever since he moved into the Red Keep Laenor tried his best not to think of Driftmark, but he missed it – missed it with such deep longing it hurt sometimes. Now, seeing the castle even from so far away made his eyes burn with tears he'd never dare let fall.

His lips trembled as he held tight onto the deck, letting the sounds of the shouts coming from the sailors all around him fill his mind; it all reminded him of his childhood, leaving his home to spend days at the sea.

"Come, we must get ready for the disembark."

When they got to the cabin, Rhaenyra was watching the children run around in excitement at the knowing they were almost landing, but no one seemed to desire it more than Daemon, who stood up from his chair as soon as they entered the cabin. "How long until we reach the land?"

"Ten minutes."

His lover sat down again with a deep sigh, mumbling that it wasn't soon enough.

After he made sure their trunks were locked and ready to be taken to the castle, he joined Laena and Rhaenyra as they went over the rules.

"And do not go around running around, the grounds of Driftmark are always moisty." He warned, remembering the many times he fell and scratched his arms and legs as a boy.

"And if you find yourself alone with an unknown person, always pretend to be around an adult." Laena continued.

"And no going to the beach without taking one of us with you." He added, because his father's words. They would not dare to attack Driftmark, but it was a possibility and he would not lose any of his children to a simple possibility.

"And remember, although you'll be representing both your Houses during your stay there, don't forget to have fun." The children cheered at Rhaenyra's words, but she calmed them down with a motion of her hands. "Now repeat it to us, please."

By the time the four of them finished repeating the rules, they reached the land.

Laenor kept his hand firmly clasped on Lucerys', mindful of the boy's habit to wander while they waited for Rhaenyra and Jace to descend the boat. Now was the time for theatrics and they needed to appear united for his people.

He extended his free hand for her to hold on to as she stepped on the deck, and did not let go as they slowly walked towards the castle's entrance.

"The weather in Driftmark is different," He told his boys, nodding and smiling at the people they saw on the way up. "The air is cold, but the temperature is mostly warm."

"Why is the air so cold?" Jace asked, preening after a couple of ladies cooed at him.

Laenor thought of how to explain. "Well, because of the sea. The water from this sea are different from the ones of King's Landing, and they share the same mother as the ones that bath the North."

"How can waters have mothers?"

"All being have mothers, Jace." Rhaenyra saved him from having to find an answer. "That is why you and your brother must always listen to me."

The boys laughed at that and Laenor took the time to breath in deeply, – for even the air in Driftmark seemed different – enjoying the smell of salt that always seemed to surround the island.

His parents were already inside, waiting for them to arrive. It was customary that, despite arriving together, the Lord and the Lady of the House should greet others in their leading room.

As soon as he entered, his eyes went towards his mother's as she walked up to them, taking Jacaerys' and Lucerys' hands into hers to present the children to the people around. Rhaenyra immediately let go of his hand to lace her arms around his, leaning against him in what must have seemed like a loving moment between a couple.

The boys hadn't visited Driftmark in almost a year and it was obvious that Jace remembered very little of his time there and that Lucerys had no recollection of it.

Laena and Daemon came in right after, Baela and Rhaena holding to each of their hands, and his mother took them with her as she went over the room.

While his parents made their rounds, Laenor used the opportunity to watch for the people's reaction, searching for any sign of dislike, but they all seemed keen in meeting the children – even if there was a special attention being paid to Lucerys.

Laenor could only hope it was because the boy would one day be their ruler and not in regards to the recent events that happened on the Red Keep.

Most of the lords and ladies that met the children came to talk to them, and their conversations revolved mostly around compliments and questions regarding their well being. It was better than Laenor expected it to be and he was frankly enjoying himself for the first time without having to worry about the rumors surrounding his reputation when the doors opened again.

The good feeling around the room was interrupted by a silver hair he knew all too well and he felt his eye twitch in annoyance when his uncle Vaemond brought his family to greet Corlys, Rhaenys and the children. After exchanging some words, the man led his pregnant wife and sons by the door and made his way to them.

"Nephew, Niece." He greeted, doing the same for Rhaenyra and Daemon before he completely ignored the other three to face Laenor. "How nice of you to show up after almost a year passed by."

"I'm rather flattered that you would bother to notice that, uncle." He gave his best impression of a warm smile, aware of the eyes set on him. Rhaenyra's hand on his forearm clenched in support. "I didn't realize you paid so much attention to me."

As expected, the man couldn't control his scowl. Once, many years ago, Laenor had feared him and as he grew, the fear changed into a deep-rooted feeling of inadequacy. Now, with a wife, two children and a sense of fulfilled duty, he had nothing to feel inadequate about. He'd done his part, now he would enjoy the fruits that came from it.

"I wanted to congratulate you and the Princess on your Heir's survival; we're all awed by it." Laenor tensed, unable to believe his uncle would dare to approach the subject that way. Behind him, Laena made an aborted sound. "Let us hope it does not happen again. Two times in three years is certainly worrying."

He felt his temper start to take over and was about to say some ill-chosen words that were not meant to be spoken in public when Rhaenyra took over.

"Thank you, Ser Vaemond." Despite holding onto his arm with such strength it was starting to hurt him, her words were smooth as a dagger. "I see your wife is with child, let us hope the boy or girl is born healthy and with the tact that some people in their family lack."

The insult was so thin-veiled if anyone were to hear they'd recognize it even without being part of the previous conversation. Laenor watched avidly as his uncle spluttered, and this time the smile in his face was genuine.

Still, he had no desire to argue with the man any longer and so Laenor guided Rhaenyra towards the other side of the room.

Frowning, Laenor stared at the map on his hand, scribing over the paths he thought better suited for their possible travel – all while keeping an eye on the child beside him.

With his back being supported by pillows, and legs crossed in the same way as Laenor's, Lucerys read over a book containing a quick history on the big Houses written for children.

Ever since the night of the scare Rhaenyra refused to allow Lucerys to sleep alone, or with his brother for that matter, and since a three-year-old child could not be trusted with keeping any secrets safe, they've decided to sleep together for a while, just until Rhaenyra felt better about letting Lucerys sleep in a bed different from hers.

Their youngest took the news well, even if he did ask one too many questions. The one that did not accept the change at all was Jacaerys, who simply refused to accept that Luke was now being kept away from him, or at least it was what the boy had shouted with his little face red and dirty with snot. They'd let him sleep with them too, since the boy was so upset he wouldn't stop crying, but after the first night Jace decided he didn't like sleeping on a bed with so many people and went to sleep alone.

"Kepa?"

"Yes?"

"Do you miss Driftmark?"

Laenor took his eyes away from the map to look at Lucerys. He thought over how to answer the boy's question.

"I used to, deeply." He answered, thinking of the first moons away from home, surrounded by vipers he could not trust and having only Rhaenyra as support. It had been difficult for both of them, but that struggle had brought them closer. "But not anymore. Why do you ask?"

"Grandfather said I'm supposed to rule over Driftmark one day." Lucerys sat up on the bed. "Do you like living in King's Landing?"

"I like living with you, and your mother and brother."

"But you don't like living there."

Laenor sat up as well, rolling the map shut since it became clear Luke wouldn't stay quiet any longer.

"What makes you say that?"

"You made a face. It's the same face Aunt Laena does when she lies that she likes lemon cake." Laenor laughed, not expecting that answer. Luke crawled over to him, using Laenor's shoulders to stand up on the bed. "What if I don't like Driftmark? What if I prefer to live there in King's Landing?"

Wondering how he could have been having such a deep conversation with his three-year-old son, Laenor thought over what to say to the boy to reassure him he was going to be fine.

"I can't say you will like staying in Driftmark, but you can always fly or sail to King's Landing, if you so wish." He chose his words carefully. "But Lucerys, that is not for a long time. Your grandfather is a strong man, nothing short of a battle to death will take that old man away from us and you know how he is during battle." He trickled the boy's tummy, making him squeak out a laugh.

"Grandfather is the Sea Snake!" Luke shouted.

"Yes, yes he is. And I, I am a Knight with a dragon. Only the Gods could take me away from our family."

"Targaryens are said to be closer to Gods than to men." Luke parroted Rhaenyra's words. "And you are half Targaryen."

"That is true." He patted the boy's head. Would any other child of three and zero understand what he was talking about? Did Luke truly understand it? "Don't worry your head over this, alright? It will be long before you are made to take over the Lordship to the High Tides."

"Already talking about politics with him?" Rhaenyra asked, leaning against the door with a pillow on her hands.

"Muñna!"

She smiled, closing the door behind her as she entered the room and crawled onto the bed with them. Luke left his lap to go over to her, letting her cuddle him.

"You're half an hour late."

"Daemon wanted to talk." She smiled, making him snort. The night before he was the one who 'talked' with Daemon while she watched over Luke.

"Was Laena talking with you too?"

"She's on her moon. Went to sleep early." Rhaenyra explained while she adjusted herself on the bed, putting Lucerys between them. "I checked up on Jace. Was he still sleeping when you left?"

"Yes." He leaned over the nightstand, blowing the burning candles off and the darkness took over the room immediately.

Rhaenyra sang three beautiful lullabies to Luke, as she did every night, and when she stopped, they fell silent as they searched for the best position to sleep.

He snuggled against Luke, his feet touching Rhaenyra's. "Goodnight." He mumbled, already falling asleep. The past two days had been stressful, and he wanted nothing more than a full night of rest.

Rhaenyra's voice was wrapped with sleep when she answered, but Luke's was completely awake.

"Goodnight."

He was almost asleep when Lucerys poked his shoulder. "Father?"

He didn't even open his eyes, putting an arm over the boy's body to make sure he stayed on the bed even after Rhaenyra and he slept. "What?" Laenor asked tiredly.

"Why does Jace get to sleep in a room alone and I don't?"

Laenor yawned. "Because Jace is a big boy now."

A little finger nudged his cheek. "And when will I become a big boy?"

Yawning again, he thought over what to say, wanting nothing more than for Luke to stay quiet and go to sleep. Rhaenyra was already sleeping by their side, her breaths deep and constant.

"When your classes start. Now go to sleep, Lucerys. Kepa is tired."

Even with his kepa's and muñna's arms around him, Lucerys was still cold. Hand gripping on his chest, the boy kept his gaze set on the fireplace, afraid that if he were to close his eyes the darkness and the cold would take over him completely.

He wouldn't sleep, couldn't. Not when he feared dreaming of him again – the man made of the cold nights on the North.

He turned to his father, trying to peer at his face through the weak light of the dying fire, but they were too far away from the fireplace.

Lucerys didn't want to wake any of them, he could see by the way his father and mother were half sleeping in the middle of dinner tonight. They were tired and he feared it was because of him.

Disentangling himself from the sheets, Luke carefully crawled to the end of the bed. Once he was on the border, he slowly put his socked feet on the ground, feeling the cold of the floor even through the fabric.

He supposed he could go to Rhaena and Baela's room, but he didn't know where it was, and Baela got really upset when someone woke her up. Jace wouldn't be mad, though. He would be as glad to see him as Luke was going to be.

He had to stay on the tip of his feet to reach the doorknob and turn it around, and when he managed to do it, his body went along with the door as it opened, forcing him to hold on as best as he could so he wouldn't fall. Looking back to check and make sure his parents were still asleep, he let out a deep breath when he heard his kepa's high snore.

Lucerys went back into the room to grab one of the candles on the nightstand and put it close to the fire to lighten it up again. The warm of the fire felt good on his skin and chased some of his fears away.

With the candle in his hand, he walked out of the room and closed the door.

Turning back to the main room, Lucerys went to the door that gave way to the hallways, hoping that there was no one outside.

The hallway was empty, the only noise around being made by the wind coming from the sea and the waves. He scrunched up his face, trying to remember where they came from when father carried him out of Jace's room. Like a flash of light, knowledge came to him.

They had come from the right.

Luke turned right, walking fast. He didn't like staying alone in the hallways, not at all. Especially with the statues that reminded him of the winter people on the lake.

Then the pain started. Lucerys was used to the headaches by now – could ignore them most of the time by distracting himself, but right now, with nothing to do, the pain was becoming unbearable, and his eyes began to well up.

He needed to find Jace. Jace always had milk of the poppy in his trunk for when Luke needed it because his big brother was amazing like that.

As he steered further away from his parents' room and deeper into the castle, the place started to make sense to him. He'd seen all this before, in his dreams.

The drapes were different, looking a bit darker. Some vases weren't there anymore, substituted by different ones, but the structure was mostly the same.

Get down from there right this instant. A girl's voice rang on the back of his head while he stared at a window and if he tried really hard, he could almost see her looking up in his direction, both hands on her hips while she tapped her foot on the ground.

The dream began to mix with what he was seeing, almost as if he was living them at the same time as he walked. There were so many of them...

Do not run, darling, you may hurt yourself, a woman warned him. He couldn't quite see her face, but the loving smile was clear in his mind as she bent down in front of him, the painting behind her the same one that was perched on the wall.

He was so distracted he almost dropped his candle when he turned on a corner and bumped into someone's legs, staggering. Looking up, he saw between the tears a face alike to the one he'd just been remembering, the silver hair contrasting with dark skin. "Muñna?"

The person, the man, spluttered. Luke blinked, chasing away the tears.

Oh, it was Great Uncle Vaemond. The man his kepa had called a lazy greedy assh-dummy.

"Do I look like your mother, boy?"

He looked nothing like her. The mother in his dreams never looked at him this way, with so much anger behind her eyes and neither did his muñna when he was awake.

The man's hand moved closer to his thigh and Luke took a step back, suddenly aware of the knife strapped onto the man's leg.

"No, great uncle."

The man grimaced, and Lucerys wondered if he'd been eating something sour before bed.

The headache came back strong, pounding on his head.

"What are you doing alone, boy? Don't you know it's not safe?"

On the moonlight the knife seemed to shine dangerously, a reminder that he was alone and defenseless alongside an angry man.

And if you find yourself alone with an unknown person, always pretend to be around an adult.

There was only one thing he could do.

"Kepa Daemon asked me to wait here while he changed, he's watching over me tonight." He pointed at the closest door. He didn't know why, but people on the Red Keep were scared of his kepa, so perhaps it wasn't all that different in Driftmark?

"Daemon is there?" Vaemond's eyes widened as he looked at where Lucerys had pointed.

"Yes. Do you want me to call him for you?"

"No!" The man denied, already making his way around Luke to continue walking down the hallway. "There's no need, I'm in a rush. Stay out of the hallways at night, boy."

Lucerys stood there, watching as his great uncle hurried away. He seemed to be truly in a hurry. Luke waited until the man's shadow disappeared behind the walls and his steps no longer made a noise.

Jace's room was just two turns away. Afraid he'd find himself alone with someone else, Lucerys ran.

Now that he was knocking on the door, Luke felt bad. His brother was sleeping and Jace loved to sleep, but Lucerys wanted to get out of the hallway as soon as possible and Jace's door was closed. He should have thought about all that before leaving his parents' room.

"Who's there?"

"It's me!"

Immediately, the door opened. "Luke?" Jace's expression went from suspicion to surprise. His big brother smiled, taking him by the arm, pulling him inside and hugging him when the door clicked close. Lucerys held the candle far away from their bodies. "How did you get here?"

"I 'remembered the way from when kepa brought me!"

"And what are you doing awake?" Jace started pulling him towards the bed. "You should be asleep."

"My head is hurting."

"Oh." His brother frowned, staring at him. Then Jace kneeled under the bed, pulling his trunk out. He took a vial from inside. "Do not drink much. Mother said only two sips."

Luke nodded; he knew that.

After gulping twice, he gave the vial back to Jace, that put it back inside the trunk.

He climbed into the bed, ready to wait for the pain to recede. Jace crawled to the middle, covering them both with the blankets, and turned to the side to stare at him. "Did you have another nightmare?"

Lucerys made a denying sound, already starting to feel the worst of the headache dissipate.

They stood in silence for a few minutes before Luke also turned to his side, staring at his brother's worried face.

"I don't want to sleep."

"Why?"

"I'm scared of dreaming of it again." He whispered, burrowing himself further underneath the blankets. "The man made of winter."

"Man made of winter?"

"He was blue."

Jace smiled. "There are no blue people, little brother. It was just a dream."

"It wasn't, he hurt me." Lucerys pulled down on his nightgown, showing the mark on his chest. A gasp left Jace's mouth, and he sat on the bed, covering the snowflake with his hand.

Jace was silent for a long while, his fingers tracing the scar. When he looked up again, his lips were pressed together in a firm line. "Tell me about it."

Lucerys started from the beginning, telling his brother about the woman's voice calling him a different name, a name he now could no longer remember what it was, only that it brought a feeling of longing.

Then he talked about the place, how he knew it was the North because nowhere else would be that cold. He told Jace everything, about Balerion's death, about the mountains filled with people in shades of white and blue. About the man that seemed to command them, with eyes the color of a cloudless sky. About how they kept staring at him, not putting a single foot into the water to help him while he froze. Then he told Jace about the spear, and how he knew if he didn't let go of that ice block it would hit him right on the chest, right where the mark was now at.

At some point Jace had gripped his hands, his eyes filled with pure fear, afraid in a way Luke had never seen his big brother be before.

"There were so many of them, they were everywhere."

"And what happened then?" Jace's voice came out raspy, so low Luke almost didn't hear.

"I don't know, I woke up right after."

His brother nodded; eyes set on the pinkish scar. "Am I the first person you told?"

"Yes." Jace lied down beside him again, pulling him into a warm hug.

Jace was still for so long after that Luke was sure he'd gone to sleep, but then his brother spoke again.

"I've never heard of blue people before, but I know who probably has."

"Who?"

"Grandsire. He knows everything, doesn't he?"

Eyes widening, Luke stared at a point of the wall in front of him. Jace was right, how could he not have thought of that before? His grandsire was King; if one knew about everything danger on the Realm it was sure to be him.

Jace was so smart. "Thanks, Jace."

But Jace didn't answer him, he was already sleeping.

Lucerys stayed in there until the first rays of sunlight hit the window. Then, and only then, he sneaked his way back to his parent's chambers.

Luke hadn't been that excited in ages! The last time he felt that way was when he'd seen Jace catch that big fish! He couldn't believe he finally got to meet Aunt Laena's dragon, the largest dragon in the world!

Jace had gotten to meet her two years ago. Baela and Rhaena even longer before that. Vhagar didn't like young children, so his aunt didn't let him meet her before, but Lucerys was a growing boy now.

"Now remember, you must stay close to the others while I tell her about you, understood?" Laena asked, kneeled in front of him. She was tying his boots for him because he couldn't quite manage to do it well. It was just easier for him to do knots when the laces were larger and bigger, like the strings of a boat.

Luke nodded at her, vibrating on his seat. "Yes!"

"Do you promise me? That you won't try to get closer before I call you?"

"Yes!"

Laena smiled at him. "Alright, now give me the other foot."

He watched as she did it, telling him that she was putting the dragon inside the cave. Luke didn't think his boot laces looked like a dragon, but the curved lace did look a bit like a cave.

Everyone was waiting for them outside the gates already because Jace, Rhaena and Baela already knew how to tie their boot laces.

"Has Laena given you the instructions?" His mother asked, holding him by his shoulder when he passed by her to go to Jace, the twins and his grandparents.

"Not to approach before she says I can."

She smiled at him, letting go of his jacket and Luke immediately started running.

"Lucerys! No running or you may hurt yourself!" He heard just as he reached the stones. His grandparents and siblings turned around to look at him.

He slowed his pace, stepping carefully as he was asked to, and he was glad he did because the stones were wet, and he slipped more than once.

Before he could even get halfway in, his grandfather was there, jostling him up on his shoulders and making him taller than everyone else.

He giggled, holding on to the large shoulders and extended his hand for his grandmother to hold when they passed by her.

"I'm taller than you now." He told Jace, Rhaena and Baela.

"Father! Pull me up!" Baela demanded, lifting her arms.

"Me too!" Rhaena added.

"Soon the two of you will be too old for this." Daemon complained, putting the twins on each shoulder. Jace was soon placed on their kepa's blue coat covered shoulders too, and the four of them were being carried towards Vhagar's spot.

He saw her even before they got there, the dragon's wing stretching so high he could see it moving from behind the mountain, from above the trees.

His grandfather had put him down at the beginning of the mountain, telling him he'd have to walk now. Luke saw no problem in walking, in fact he wanted nothing more than to run to the peak already, but he remembered his aunt Laena's words and refrained himself from doing it.

Crossing the mountain was tiring, but as long as Jace, Baela and Rhaena didn't ask for help Luke wouldn't either, he didn't want them to think he was a baby.

His mother asked a few times if he needed help, but Lucerys refused every time, pushing through the trembling of his legs until he got to the top.

Vhagar took so much place on the ground he could understand why Aunt Laena never took her to the Red Keep, preferring to leave her on Driftmark and then travel by ship to King's Landing.

Luke was frozen, staring at the dragon's scales shining on the sun, at the way her head moved slowly as she tried to take something out of her crawls. She seemed awfully familiar, but he couldn't quite explain why; from what he knew, he'd never seen her aside from paintings in a book and the feeling he had didn't come from images on a page.

"She's beautiful." He whispered, amazed.

"Isn't she?" His Aunt asked, leaning down to whisper in his ear. "My girl is the most beautiful dragon in Westeros. Don't tell your mother I said that; she thinks it's Syrax, but we both know that isn't true, right?"

Syrax was also a beautiful dragon, but Luke still thinks Arrax is the bestest of them all.

He made a non-committal sound, not wanting to upset Aunt Laena, but she didn't mind, laughing as she rushed down the mountain, shouting she'd see them down there.

They rested for a few minutes because his father insisted, saying he was tired, and when they started to descend Luke realized it was much easier and faster than the ascent had been. Baela dared them to find more stones than her on the way down, but Luke was more interested in getting to Vhagar first and barely caught any.

The more they descended, walking between the trees, the bigger Vhagar became, her form forming a shadow as large as the Red Keep's one when the sun hit from the side.

The longing he'd been feeling only got stronger the closer he got to the dragon.

She's not a pup, stop treating her as such.

When they finally stepped onto the ground, Vhagar's head turned in their direction and Lucerys gazed into her yellow eyes, watching them fall into slits.

A wave of memories hit him again, and he felt rooted to the earth underneath him, trapped between the moments passing in his mind.

He knew those eyes, only when he had seen them, they belonged to a smaller creature.

Gevie. The person said, rubbing their hands on Vhagar's tongue.

The person petting a younger Vhagar was him, he knew that. The hands rubbing her tongue, bigger than his own and marked by scars he didn't have were his.

Geviegeviegeviegeviegevie-

He felt his kepa Daemon's hand on his shoulder, bringing him back to the present and holding him into place as if he thought Lucerys would run to the dragon. He wouldn't, had promised not to, but he wanted nothing more than to try. Would she react the same as she did in his dream? Would she let him pet her again? Did she know him as he did her?

A strong gust of cold air hit his back, making the hair of his neck stand and Vhagar sniffled once, twice, her head twitching to the side, and no matter how much Aunt Laena petted her, the dragon did not take her eyes away from him.

Tears began to well up in his eyes and it was the same feeling he felt when he found his mother after thinking he got lost in the castle back at home.

Lucerys knew her.

"Gevie." Was what the person, him, had called Vhagar. The words felt right when directed at her, felt as if that's what they should be used for.

In reaction, Vhagar's nostrils widened, and it was as if Luke had lit a fire in the middle of the night, turning him into a center of attraction. She moved, walking up in his direction in large, heavy steps.

"Daor, Vhagar!" Laena shouted.

But the dragon did not stop.

Lucerys barely heard the screams coming from his siblings, and his father's shouts for his mother to grab one of them and run, but he couldn't take his eyes away from those yellow ones.

"Fuck!" He found himself being grabbed by his kepa as Daemon began to run towards the woods alongside the mountain, carrying him along and Luke wanted to squirm his way out of his arms, but his kepa was too tall and he was afraid he'd get hurt when he fell.

It was because he didn't take his eyes away from Vhagar that he saw her eyelids fall into slits once again, and suddenly he was sure it was because he was being taken away.

"Vhagar, keligon, māzigon arlī! (stop, come back)"

From underneath her legs he could see his Aunt Laena running up to them in full sprint, his father doing the same from the other side.

The dragon let out a long roar and in a matter of seconds she was above them, using her talon to push his kepa and making him lose balance. They both fell on the ground and Luke squirmed against his arms while Daemon tried to keep him underneath his body because if he could only talk to her, maybe she'd stop scaring everyone, but he couldn't move.

Until he could, because while his kepa focused on grabbing a hold of his shirt, Lucerys managed to lose it and wriggle his way out from underneath him, turning in time to face Vhagar's opened mouth, her feet glistening with saliva and her throat glowing with the beginnings of a fire.

"Lucerys! Get down!" He heard his kepa shout.

Get down? Why?

He was going to look back and ask when Vhagar's licked his entire body, leaving him wet with saliva from his feet to his hair.

He giggled, delighted even though he was certain he'd be smelling like bad breath for the entire day.

"Daemon, no! Stand back!"

He could still see Aunt Laena standing behind Vhagar, her arms stretched out and when he turned to look around, Vhagar roared, her warm breath hitting his body and making him sweat. Lucerys turned his attention to the dragon once again and, just as she did in his dream, she stuck her tongue out.

His entire body tingled, as if urging him to move forwards.

Lucerys didn't wait a single second before he extended his hand, the tip of his fingers touching her wet tongue and she ruffed through her nose. Slowly, he pressed his entire hand against it, feeling the warmth of the organ while he spread his fingers as far as he could.

Lucerys giggled once again, moving closer until his belly was touching her front teeth, and stuck out his other arm, caressing Vhagar's tongue with both hands.

Then, the pressure was gone, and a name flashed in his mind.

Visenya.

Chapter 7: Rhaenyra massaged her collarbone, feeling as if her heart would give in at any time while she watched her son, her small toddler, stuck half of his body inside a dragon's mouth.

"Luke!" She cried, uncaring of the way her voice quivered and broke in this single word. She felt beside herself with horror, and was sweating cold when she stood on her shaking legs. "Get out, get away from her right now."

The boy leaned back, turning his head in her direction and even from the distance she could see the worried and confused frown on his babe face, but he still didn't move his hand away from Vhagar's tongue.

"Lucerys!" She took a trembling breath, hearing the gasps coming from Rhaenys as the woman leaned on Corlys body, collapsing against him. "Get out now!"

Each second Lucerys spent with his head shoved inside Vhagar's mouth made her terror rise. What if the dragon closed her mouth? What if-

Daemon got up, limping towards Lucerys and grabbing the boy by his hips.

"Daor!" Luke shouted, trying to hold onto Vhagar's teeth to stop Daemon from taking him away.

In response to his cries Vhagar roared, lifting a feet and making to advance again, and Rhaenyra heard herself scream, but Laena thankfully put herself between the dragon and Lucerys.

Vhagar, it seemed, would not advance again. The dragon let out a mournful sigh, lowering her head to the ground and Rhaenyra almost felt bad for her, but she was more relieved than anything at the fact that Luke was safe, away from the old dragon.

Because although she knew there was nothing her uncle could do should Vhagar choose to attack, she couldn't help but feel herself breath more easily at the sight of him holding a crying Lucerys in his arms.

Rhaenyra heard her son shout something to Vhagar, squirming against Daemon's grip, but his voice was too garbled and she couldn't understand him well with the wind between them. Still, she saw the dragon's head twist towards his direction before Vhagar turned her attention back to her rider, listening to whatever Laena was saying while the woman petted her side and took few steps back, guiding Vhagar away from Daemon and Luke.

"Are they okay?" Rhaena cried against Rhaenyra's back, her little arms laced around the Princess' figure and her nails picking on the skin of her belly even through the many fabrics Rhaenyra was wearing. Jace sobbed against her side and she pulled him closer, waving Baela in as the girl scrunched up her face as she tried not to cry.

"They're fine, they are all fine."

She had told the three of them not to look when it became clear they were not the target and instead it was Luke – why was it always Lucerys, why did everything dangerous always involve her youngest son – and Daemon that Vhagar was chasing.

Rhaenyra herself did not wish to look when Vhagar reached Daemon in a matter of seconds and pushed her uncle towards the ground, making him lose his balance. She had been certain she'd lose them both there, the love of her life and a part of her, when instead the dragon simply wanted to play.

"It is alright, children. Rhaenys, they are fine, she was only playing." Corlys held Rhaenys close to his chest, his hand gripping her head. "You need to breathe, wife of mine."

Rhaenys was still gasping for air, her face white as powder. Rhaenyra respectfully turned her head away; not only it wasn't polite to stare at the woman in such a state, but Rhaenys was such a pillar of strength for her it felt frankly felt wrong to see her this way.

"I'm fine, I'll be fine." Rhaenys gasped out, coughing a few times.

When Daemon started to limp towards them, dragging a sobbing Lucerys along with him, she almost let the children alone to help, but Laenor came first, putting her uncle's arm around his shoulder to help him walk the rest of the way.

Her legs seemed to tremble even more now that the scare had passed and she couldn't be more thankful that the children were pressed against her, comforting her as much as she was comforting them. When Lucerys, Laenor and Daemon reached them, she pulled the three of them into a hug, pressing her eyes closed so as to not break down crying.

She could not believe what happened and in retrospect it should have been obvious Vhagar wasn't about to attack her rider's husband or a child that hadn't approached, but at that moment she thought it was over for both of them.

"I am so, so sorry. I don't know what came over her." Laena was explaining, but Rhaenyra could barely understand her by the way her voice was quavering. She herself couldn't manage to let go of Luke and Daemon long enough to comfort her lover and was only able to breathe in their smell to assure herself that they were alive and well in front of her.

There were hands against her back, touching her arms, but she didn't know whether it belonged to Corlys, Laena or Rhaenys.

"We're fine, we're fine. It's alright." Daemon kept repeating against her ear. She only held him tighter.

After closing the door behind her, Rhaenyra pressed her back against it, letting out a deep sigh.

Luke was inconsolable. The boy simply wouldn't stop crying and refused to speak to any of them. He was so upset they had to give him a calming tea so he wouldn't have problems breathing.

Laena and Laenor were with their mother; the whole ordeal had taken her harder than the rest.

"Is he still upset?" Daemon asked from his armchair, lazing around the main room with a wine on his hands. His right leg was propped up onto a stool since earlier he'd visited a Maester and found that he'd twisted his ankle during the fall and now needed to keep his feet immobilized for a week.

"You shouldn't be here."

"So you say."

She lifted her eyebrows at him, trying to contain her amused smile. "What are you doing here, uncle?"

He pointed with his thumb to the room on the right. After Luke's recent scare, she decided to put Jacaerys closer to her room instead of leaving him alone in s different room, as it was custom now that he reached five years of age.

"Rhaena and Baela wanted to visit their brother." He always made that face when referring to the twins calling Lucerys and Jacaerys their brothers, as if it gave him the right to be smug about it. "Well, how is he?"

"He stops crying for a few minutes and then goes back to it all over again." She sat on the arm of his chair, massaging her temples. Daemon caressed her back with his free hand.

"Is he still tight lipped about what upset him so much?"

"Well, I believe it is because he wishes to keep petting Vhagar's tongue." She sighed and leaned her body against his, laying her head on his shoulder. The hand on her back moved to hold on her arm and he pulled her closer against him. "I won't let him come near her again, Daemon. He put his entire head inside her mouth. One bite and he would be gone!"

He offered her his cup, inclining it in her direction. She downed it in one go.

"How's your foot?"

"Mnh, it shall be fine." He mumbled, tapping on his leg. Then, a suggestive smirk took over his face and he leaned back against the chair, turning his good leg to the side, opening it for her.

Rhaenyra's lips twitched as she watched him, knowing exactly what he wanted, but they couldn't. As much as she wanted, they couldn't because the Luke could change his mind and want to talk at any minute or the twins and Jace could wish for something and she couldn't let them leave the room and see her and their kepa on the middle of sex.

"You know we can't."

He let out a discontent sound, but didn't contradict her.

They stayed in silence for a while, enjoying the warmth between their bodies. When her mind started to revisit the events from the early morning, she grabbed one of the full bottles on the floor and drank a few gulps from it.

"Why do you think Vhagar advanced on him?"

Daemon took the bottle away from her hands, drinking from it too. She could count at least three empty bottles against the armchair and wondered how he was still able to drink.

"It sounds insane even to think of it, but it looked to me as if she recognized him."

"He's never met her before."

"I know, but the way she looked at him… and he was trembling." He trailed off, staring at something that wasn't there – his eyes far away. "I was holding on to his shoulders back then – thought if I didn't he'd wander off towards her." He snorted. "In the end it didn't matter, she was the one who went to him."

"Lucerys was trembling?" She hadn't paid any attention to them before Vhagar first moved, too entranced by the old dragon and how outer worldly beautiful Laena looked close to it.

"Like a leaf on hard wind days." He passed the bottle back to her. "Then he stopped, called her gevie of all things and it was as if she'd heard him because right after-"

Understanding came over her. "She went to him."

"Yes."

"And she ignored Laena. Laena told me she'd never done it before."

"She hasn't, not that I know of. Vhagar adores Laena, sometimes I think they have a stronger bond than Caraxes and me."

Rhaenyra didn't know what to think. There were many things she couldn't explain about her youngest, things she'd rather not even think about, but Daemon was right. There was something there. She'd never heard of a dragon that stopped listening to its rider in favor of focusing on someone else when their intentions weren't murder.

They stood in silence again while they finished the bottle of wine, but the moment Rhaenyra put it down on the ground, the resounding sound seemed to pull Daemon out of his thoughts and he turned to her, eyes alight.

"You know the story, about how Aegon the Conqueror used to pet Vhagar's tongue?"

Rhaenyra smiled. "What, are you saying she thought Aegon the Conqueror and Lucerys looked alike?"

Daemon shrugged carelessly. "Would it be that much of a surprise? We all have traits in common."

It was madness, but she had no way of denying that he could be right. And it could explain why Vhagar advanced, but not attacked. They all heard about Aegon's relationship with Vhagar and how as a child he would be always found near her.

But it had been years. How could Vhagar still remember her first rider's brother's face? As a child nonetheless? Dragons remembered people by their smell.

No, she thought. There ought to be another explanation. Besides…

"It doesn't explain why Luke would pet her, however."

"He must have read it somewhere." Daemon said mindlessly. "Well, it's nothing to worry about now, we just need to keep him away from her."

It was late and Jacaerys could barely keep his eyes open as she sang the third song of the night, voice coming out a bit hoarse from all the shouting of earlier.

It was always that way; Jace struggled not to sleep and by the end of the melody he was dead to the world.

Lucerys, unlike his brother, was sitting on the end of the bed, refusing to even look at her. It was the first time he'd acted like that towards her, and it hurt. Rhaenyra didn't know why it was upsetting her so much, he was only three, it was expected that tantrums would happen. Jacaerys himself had thrown many of them before, but it was different when it came from Luke.

Luke was the calmest of the two, and despite being the youngest he sometimes acted more mature than Jace. But at the same time, that personality of his, that independence of his, was something that got him into trouble. Jace came to her at every little problem, asking for help and she always made sure to explain everything as well as she could and give him options over what to do because although he was only five, he also needed to start making decisions for himself; he'd be king one day.

Lucerys was the opposite. He struggled with asking for help and did everything by himself even when he didn't know what he was doing or had difficulty doing it. The only person he came for help was Jace, and Jace was not much older than him.

The sound of the door opening almost made her scream; her nerves still all over the place.

Laenor seemed exhausted when he entered the room, but his face lightened up when he saw he'd managed to get to Jace before he fell asleep.

It was why she'd let the boy stay up for so long; Jace didn't like to sleep without saying goodnight to everyone, but as time passed and Jacaerys began to yawn and take long seconds to open his eyes after blinking, she had to put him to bed.

Laenor had been trapped in a reunion with Corlys and his advisors right after his visit with Rhaenys. Rhaenyra stood with him for an hour before it became clear the men were going to keep suggesting ways of keeping Lucerys safe and that all of them were different manners of saying the boy should be locked in his room at all times for his own safety.

"You came!" Jacaerys shouted, adjusting himself on the bed.

"Of course I did." Laenor crossed the room in large strides, kissing the boy on the forehead. "Goodnight, Jace."

Jacaerys closed his eyes, smiling. "Goodnight, father."

Lucerys jumped from the bed, holding on to the bed's side so as not to fall and then walked past them towards the door. He didn't once look up.

While Laenor followed the boy, she leaned over the bed to fix Jace's covers, but he held her hand, opening one eye. "Luke came to see me last night." He whispered.

She felt cold all over. "What?"

"He came to sleep with me last night."

How could Lucerys have gone to see him? He was with them when she woke up.

"It was just a dream, Jace." She smiled, feeling the fear release its grip on her chest. "Luke was on bed with us all night."

His son shook his head, then stopped and peered over her side. She looked back.

Laenor and Luke were still outside.

"Luke came to see me. He left this." He showed a candlestick, and when she recognized it immediately as the one that was on her chambers. She'd thought it was beautiful, the first one made of argent she'd ever saw.

But how could Lucerys had walked all over Jace's room without her knowledge?

Heart beating fast, she gripped on her fabric covered leg to regain control over herself. Lucerys was fine, he was alright. What could have happened didn't matter because he was fine.

But if Luke could just walk up outside of their room like that without any of them noticing…

"What if he goes to see Vhagar? What if she hurts him?" Jacaerys asked, his eyes big with fear.

Now she understood why he'd told her when he was the first one to keep his lips shut over who did something wrong back at home.

"He won't. I promise."

Jacaerys searched her eyes for a few seconds before letting out a deep breath and brushing a hand over his eyebrow, just as Corlys did when he received good news on his time as part of her father's council.

It was such an adult reaction to see on a child Rhaenyra smiled and brushed his hair out of his face, kissing him on the forehead, amused by the similar ticks her boy shared with his grandfather. "Thank you for telling me; leave the rest to me."

When she left the bed, sleep was the last thing on her mind.

The first thing she did after leaving Jace's room was to push the couch in front of the door. The second was to tell Laenor what their son said.

"Wait, what?"

She let him process the news for a couple seconds. "I'll take the first turn, and when the clock hits two in the morning I shall wake you up."

His eyes darted between the now barricaded door and Lucerys, who was now laying on bed, staring at the Houses of Westeros book. Now that Jace told her about Luke's visit, she could see the purple underneath the boy's eyes were darker than usual.

Luke always faced troubles to sleep, but now she wondered if he was even sleeping at all.

"Are you sure you don't want me to take the first one?"

"You're more tired than me, you spent the day surrounded by meddling old men."

Laenor let out a small laugh at that. "Alright, that is true."

He made his way to the bed, while she stayed on the main room. She'd spend her half of the night sitting on the couch, watching the boy.

When Luke saw his father approaching alone, his eyes darted to hers and then to the couch. She arched an eyebrow at him and he held her gaze, unimpressed.

This tantrum of his was going on for far too long. Tomorrow he would stop it or she would make him stop.

He was the one to look away first, – because she wouldn't lose a staring contest to a child, her own son nonetheless – and he turned to the side, putting his book on the furniture beside the bed and showing his back to Laenor.

Rhaenyra grabbed one of the many books in politics she had yet to read and sat on the couch.

Being named heir at such a late age left her behind her lording peers in almost every sense of the word and even after seven years Rhaenyra still found herself lacking a deeper knowledge on certain areas.

She tried her best to overcome the issue by reading on them every night, but she sometimes feared it wouldn't be enough. It was part of the reason she admired Laena so much; Laena was a woman, but she was raised knowing as much as Laenor and, if for some reason, one day were to rule over Driftmark, the only aspect of a lord's life she'd have to learn would be the physical one.

Rhaenyra, on the other hand, only held the knowledge on how to be a Princess during sixteen years of her life. She knew nothing of politics, economics, or battle strategies and suddenly she needed to understand it all while holding her duties as heir and raising children at the same time.

She was about half in on the third chapter of the night when she heard a small sound. The Princess raised her head, looking around the barely illuminated room to find the source of the noise.

Another sound came, and this time she recognized it.

A sob.

She wouldn't stand for it anymore.

Rhaenyra put her book down, walking to the bedroom so she could hold Lucerys. She didn't care if the boy didn't want to be comforted, he was her son and she wouldn't let him suffer alone.

Surprisingly, he let her hold without the complaints he did throughout the day, his face wet with hot tears and red with the effort it took to keep quiet.

Quietly, she brought him outside the room so as not to wake Laenor, and closed the door.

"What is it, sweet boy?"

Why was Lucerys so obsessed with Vhagar? She'd never heard of it before, Targaryens usually only adored one dragon; their own.

"You didn't-" His voice broke down and he hid his face on her shoulder. She shushed him and massaged his back, shifting him into her left arm so she could rest her right one. Lucerys took a deep, trembling breath. "You didn't let me say goodbye." He sobbed out. "I won't see her for a long - for a long time, and you didn't let me say goodbye!"

Rhaenyra was completely taken aback. It was the most upset she'd ever seen him; Lucerys was usually a very unbothered child. He took everything in stride, even when he disliked it, but there he was, making his displeasure known and it was as if she was staring at another person, a version of him she'd never seen before.

And she didn't know what to do. She didn't know why he was so affected by being kept away from Vaghar, he'd just met the old dragon.

And yet, as his mother, Rhaenyra felt his pain as if it was her own.

She would regret this very much, but seeing her son so miserable- how could she not try? This wasn't like Lucerys at all so whatever this link between Vhagar and him was it was important to him and losing it upset him deeply.

It would be only this one time.

Daemon would kill her if he knew. Laenor would never forgive her.

That was a terrible idea.

Still, despite everything in her body screaming at her not to do it, she held both her son's cheeks between her hands and stared into his red, wet eyes. "Promise me you won't put your head inside her mouth again."

She'd never seen him beam as brightly.

On the morrow, while Laenor was trapped inside another reunion with Corlys' advisors, and Daemon was trapped watching the children, she went to Laena and asked for her help.

Later, while Rhaenyra watched from a few feet away as Laena brought Lucerys close to Vhagar - the boy smiling that beautiful large smile of his - she knew she'd done the right thing.

As for Laenor and Daemon… well, they didn't ever need to find out.

"And why do they only want to see me?" He asked, letting his grandmother hold his hand while she walked with him through the hallways of High Tides.

She'd left his siblings playing on the play room and brought only him along, but he didn't want to. Lucerys was liking that game!

"Because someday these will be your people." His grandmother stopped walking once they reached a large brown door. She knelt in front of him, passing her hands through his cape and hair. "You are the heir of Driftmark and they wish to see you."

He thought it over. It made sense, but…

"Why don't they want to see Jace too? He's heir to the throne. He's more important."

"You shouldn't think like this. You are both equally as important. Do you understand me?"

Lucerys didn't know if he agreed; Jace would rule over seven different kingdoms and he would only rule over one. Didn't that make Jace more important?

"Not really."

His grandmother sighed, cupping his face. "Do you care more for Jace than for Rhaena and Baela? Or do you care more your mother than your father?"

"No."

"Then they're all equally as important to you."

"Yes."

"Well, your mother and brother will rule over the Iron Throne someday. Baela, Rhaena and Laenor won't. Shouldn't that make them more important in your eyes?"

He thought about it for a minute. "Oh."

His grandmother smiled. "Yes, oh." She pulled him into a quick hug and got up, fixing her own dress. "Now, when I open those doors you will wave and smile really big, alright?" He once again nodded. He could do that. "Show me your big smile. Yes, just like that.

It felt strange, having to smile this way, but if it would make her happy he would do as he was asked. His grandmother was always nice and her name made something flutter on his belly and her dragon was really nice.

He didn't expect the noise that came over after his grandmother knocked on the door and the guards opened them.

There were so many people there, faces he'd never seen.

Lucerys stared, wide eyed, before he remembered what his grandmother asked and smiled.

The noise only got louder.

"Prince Lucerys!"

"Lucerys Velaryon!"

They kept walking until they were looking over the rail and his grandmother picked him up so he could see everyone more clearly.

It frightened him, seeing so many people at once, shouting his name and asking him to look over at their direction. He liked the people who stared at him in silence and unmoving.

When his grandmother carried him away, several minutes later, he was glad. And when the doors closed behind them, the noise stifled down, he was relieved.

"You have done well." She told him, kissing the top of his head. "I'm very proud."

He held on to her, still feeling overwhelmed and hoped not to do it ever again. He didn't like it, didn't like the eyes.

When they got back to the play room, his parents were waiting inside and his father was the angriest Luke had ever seen, his face contorted with rage, but his mother was the one who spoke first. "What have you done?"

His grandmother put him down and he hurried to Baela, Rhaena and Jace's side, not wanting to be between the grown ups while they fought.

"I did what the two of you should have done, strengthened our family."

His father snorted and shook his head before he opened the doors to the side room, motioning for his grandmother to enter.

As soon as his mother and grandmother entered, he closed the door and the shouting restarted.

"You went behind my back, behind our backs, mother, and you did it because you knew we wouldn't approve!"

"One of us had to do it and the two of you were putting emotions in front of duty."

"He's your grandson and he's three! How could you do this to him?"

Rhaena winced beside him, looking scaredly at the door on the right end of the room. Luke put his hands on his ears, not wanting to hear the shouting anymore, but the thought that they were fighting because of him was nagging him.

"Is it my fault they're fighting?"

"No, Luke. Grandma should have asked first." Baela shook her head.

He bit his lip, still staring at the door.

"Let us play. Master Geradys taught me another move, want to see?" Rhaena pulled the chess board between them and he nodded, watching her move the pieces interestedly. "It goes like this-"

"This game is boring. Let's play knights and ladies!" Jace suggested.

"No!" Baela refused. "You are always the knight and then Rhaena and I have to stay in the same place forever while you battle the dragon."

"That's because girls can't be knights!"

"Can too!"

"Cannot!"

Rhaena winked at him and pushed the board closer, scooting up in his direction until their knees were pressing together. Her hand picked the white piece again and she started moving it, both of them ignoring the ongoing discussion between Jace and Baela. "It's called the Knight's bluff. See?"

He watched, nodding his head.

"Want to try?" She extended the white piece. Lucerys took it and put the pieces back in position, repeating her motions.

It felt easy and he did it almost without thinking.

His muñna had gotten a sleeping tea for him and he was almost asleep, his body relaxed between his mother and father's warm embrace when the cold surrounded him, spreading from a point in his chest towards the rest of his body.

Lucerys woke up with a start, cold sweat dripping down his back and face, leaving his shirt wet and making him feel disgusting and sticky.

Laying on the bed suddenly felt uncomfortable, the cold sheets rubbing against the skin of his legs, leaving a bad feeling behind and Lucerys squirmed his way out of his parent's embrace, unable to take it anymore.

He felt tears well up in his eyes and wanted to cry in frustration. He thought once they returned to the Red Keep he would stop thinking about the dreams, but they didn't go away and Luke wanted to sleep! Why couldn't the winter man just get out of his head and let him sleep?

Huffing angrily, he picked up his boots, putting his laces inside them. He had decided! He was going to find his grandsire and talk to him about the winter man and find a way to block him out while he slept!

Leaving his parents' room was easy; his father snored lots and it was so loud it made all the other noises seem lower than they were.

The cracking sound the door made when he opened it didn't even make his parents twitch.

Lucerys knew he shouldn't leave – even as he walked down the hallways he knew he should have stayed there and woken his muñna or his kepa first, but he needed to talk to his grandsire Viserys now and he couldn't wait until morning because it would take a long time to come and Luke hated waiting.

He was about to enter the King's wing when he heard steps coming his way from the end of the hallway. He looked at the person approaching; from far away they looked like a child, but as they approached he realized it was a red headed man. A very small man with a big head. Lucerys was in awe, the man was the same height as him! He wanted to ask why, but thought it would be rude and so he didn't.

Besides, the man also was wearing strange clothes, clothes Luke hadn't see before but they were funny and that was even more interesting than his height.

They both stared at each other, eyes wide, until Lucerys lifted a hand and waved. "Hi, man, Ser. I like your clothes." He said, because it was true.

The man's lips twitched. "Thank you, but I'm no Ser, my prince."

"Oh. What are you then?"

Before the man could answer, new steps approached and Lucerys looked around, searching for a place to hide behind when he settled on an ugly vase right beside him. Quickly, he ran there, almost dropping the vase in his rush, and crouched down. "Don't tell them I'm here!"

The red-headed man laughed, but nodded and Lucerys waited with a baited breath, hoping the small man wouldn't say anything. A dark haired knight made his way past Luke and his new friend – because the redhead helped him, so he had to be his friend – and continued on, but before he went around the corner, he stopped walking.

"Keep on walking, dwarf. Small thing like you could get hurt when alone."

Luke was outraged. How could the Knight talk about his friend's height!

He was so offended he forgot he was hiding and got up, clenching his hands, but the Knight was already gone.

"He shouldn't have said that, it was mean!"

The redhead stared at him appraisingly, just as Luke's mother did when he tried to choose his own clothes, and his mouth opened a few times as if he didn't know what to say. "It's alright, my prince." He as silent for a while. "But you are a child, you shouldn't be here alone. Do you want me to accompany you towards your destination?"

"I'm not alone." Luke answered, just as his Aunt Laena had told him to. He wasn't afraid of this man as he had been of his uncle Vaemond, but he was still a stranger, even if he was now his friend. He didn't even know his name! "My Kepa Daemon is with me, he'll bring me to my des- my destination."

But the red-headed man didn't react the same as his uncle Vaemond did. Instead, the corners of the man's lip lifted. "Yes, I'm sure he is."

Nevertheless, he didn't stay any longer and resumed walking down the hallway, going to the same direction as the Knight's. Before he could round the corner, Luke shouted. "Wait, you didn't tell me your name!"

The redhead stopped, looking back. "You may call me Mushroom. Take care, my prince."

And he was gone.

Luke stared at the direction he disappeared for a while longer and was about to also continue on his way, but stopped short when he noticed a black stone craved on the wall, right behind the ugly vase.

He knew that stone.

He bit his lip, pondering his options. He was supposed to visit grandsire, but the stone was pretty and he remembered it.

The curiosity won and he pushed the stone, watching as it slid onto the wall.

The sound of rock rasping against rock made him wince, but he kept pushing it, watching in awe as a door opened right inside the wall!

He smiled, eyes wide. A secret passage!

Nice.

Lucerys forgot all about his plan to visit grandsire Viserys, looked at both sides of the hallways – making sure no one was seeing him and was going to tell his parents about what he was doing – and entered the room.

The moment he stepped onto it, the same feeling of reconnaissance that he got every once in a while hit him and despite the fact that the hallways inside the walls had no light, he held no fear and knew exactly where he was going, where to avoid and where the steps were.

Being there felt as if he was wrapped on his blankets back at home, as if he was being embraced by his muñna and kepa.

He had no idea where he was going, though, but turned on the corners that felt most right and the more he did it, the more he knew whatever he was going to find would be special.

On the last corner he turned left and came across a door, the design carved onto it one that he saw many times in his dream. He turned it around, pushing it forwards and found himself in a large red room where a boy read, his back turned to Luke.

The image was so implanted in his mind he broke into a smile, stumbling on his feet in his urge to get closer. "Orys?"

He didn't know how he knew that name since he only remembered his dream brother's face and when the boy turned around Lucerys was sure he'd seen him before, but it wasn't Orys, – the face from his dreams. This boy's eye colors were different, but he looked strikingly alike.

It was his uncle Aemond.

chapter 8: "Uncle ! Hello !" Lucerys waved, jumping a little in his place.

He was so happy to see his uncle again! It had been forever!

Aemond's eyes darted from him to the passage behind him, his eyes wide. Lucerys shifted on his feet, still waiting by the door because his mother told him it was rude to enter someone else's room without their permission.

"Lucerys ? What are you- how did you get here ?" Aemond got up, walking towards him and when he got closer Luke grabbed him into a quick hug, lacing his arm around – or trying to – his uncle's shoulders and torso, just as he did with Jace, Baela and Rhaena when they left for long. He didn't have to struggle to hug the grown ups that way because they always lifted him up.

His uncle didn't respond like them, however. His siblings held him tight when they hugged him, but Aemond just stood there, unmoving. After a couple seconds, Lucerys let go.

"The hallway beside the vase." He pointed to the passage behind him. Then thought better of the sentence. "The stone in the hallway !"

Aemond blinked at him, then grabbed his wrist and pulled him inside, towards the bed. "What ?"

"I pushed." He motioned to the wall beside the bed and pretended to push the wall. "And it showed a secret passage !"

Aemond's eyes darted to the dark hallway again, but Lucerys was already wandering around his uncle's room. It was the same as the one he saw in his dream, the walls red and full of dragon designs.

On the table beside the bed was a book Lucerys recognized, the one Aemond read to him months ago, before he stopped visiting because his mother got sick.

"Is your mother better ? Can we play together again ?"

Lucerys remembered Aemond's mother. She had grabbed him when he tried to find his grandsire and had given him a paper scroll to paint and was really nice and she told him she used to be his mother's best friend.

"Mother said I can't see you anymore." Aemond said, looking fearfully at the door on the back of his room.

Lucerys frowned. "Why not ?"

"She said-" His uncle started blinking rapidly and he looked sad. Rhaena did that when she wanted to cry and Lucerys didn't want his uncle to cry, so he grabbed Aemond's hand to comfort him.

"It's alright." He said, just as his mother always did when comforting his siblings or he.

Aemond stared at their hands for a while. Then, he brushed his eyes against his shoulders. His words came out garbled. "She said 'Nyra doesn't want us to."

Lucerys tilted his head. "Mother doesn't want to see you ?" Lucerys didn't think that was true. Of course mother wanted to see them !

He said as much.

"No, she doesn't !" Aemond shouted, pulling his hands away from Luke's and stomping away angrily. Lucerys was so surprised he tripped backwards and fell on his bottom. "Mother told us so! You're lying !"

Lucerys felt his bottom lip tremble, but he didn't cry because right after the door on the back of the room opened and his Aunt Helaena walked in.

"Lucerys?"

Luke ran to her, pressing his lips together. He wanted to hug her too, but he knew his Aunt did not like to be touched.

Even so, he gripped onto her dress' sleeves, his free hand rubbing against his eyes to stop the tears from coming.

He wouldn't cry.

"Helaena?" Someone else called, appearing in the doorway and when Lucerys lifted his eyes, he saw the surprised face of his Uncle Aegon.

Aegon stared at him, and then at Helaena. At last, he turned to Aemond, scowling.

"Come here, Nephew. " His uncle called, extending a hand.

Lucerys grabbed it, letting himself be pulled into a hug and then propped onto Aegon's hip. His uncle was much taller now than he was the last time Lucerys saw him and Luke thought it was very nice.

"Brother, mother said-"

"Only you care about what mother says, Aemond." Aegon said, without looking back, and Helaena closed the doors as soon as they left Aemond's room.

Lucerys didn't know what was happening, or why she hadn't followed them, but right after Uncle Daeron was there, touching his boot-covered foot and pulling on it.

Lucerys squirmed to be let go and when Aegon put him on the floor, he was hugged tight by Daeron.

His uncle was taller, but not by much and Lucerys wondered if that was because he himself had grown too.

"Luke ! You're here!" Daeron shouted, shaking him from side to side and Lucerys gripped tight onto his arms so as to not fall. "Come to my room! Let's play!"

"Play what?" Lucerys asked, letting himself be pulled towards one of the doors, but between one step and another, his feet stopped touching the air and he found himself being grabbed by Aegon.

"Now, brother, you're not the only one who wants to have a talk with Lucerys."

Daeron turned around, and scowled. "I'm his favorite uncle and I want to play!"

Aemond was Luke's favorite uncle, but he'd called Lucerys a liar so Daeron could be his new favorite uncle now.

"Don't be full of yourself, I'm stronger and taller and I have a dragon." Aegon lifted Lucerys and Luke giggled when he felt his booted foot be grabbed by Daeron once again. "I'm the favorite uncle."

"I'm sure Lucerys does not have favorites," Helaena commented as she approached, a sullen Aemond behind her.

Lucerys turned his head away on Aegon's shoulders, bottom lip jutting out. He did not want to talk to Aemond or see him anymore.

"Aemond has something to tell you, don't you, brother?" Helaena asked.

Uncle Aegon let out a deep sigh before putting Lucerys down on the ground. Luke tried to hold on to him, but Aegon held him by his arms and turned him around to face Aemond instead.

His uncle was playing with his fingers and staring at them. He did not look at Luke when he spoke. "I'm sorry for calling you a liar. It was wrong of me."

"I'm not a liar."

Aemond finally looked up, and he let out a trembling breath. "I know. I'm sorry."

Lucerys smiled, happy that now they could be friends again. "I forgive you."

"Now hug it out." Helaena ordered just as his mother used to make them do, her lips curling.

Uncle Aemond's face was red and he didn't move, but he didn't need to because Lucerys was already on his tiptoes, curling his arms around his uncle's shoulders.

This time, Aemond returned the hug.

"So, how's 'Nyra? And cousin Laenor?" Lucerys was propped on Aunt Helaena's lap, letting her play with his hair and put pretty braids on it.

"Fine."

Aegon laughed. "I know that. But what have they been doing? And Jace? How's Jace?"

"Jace has classes now." Lucerys had been really excited when he found out. He couldn't wait until he was five so he would start his classes as well. "Mother and father sleep together."

Uncle Aegon spluttered, his face going red. "Lucerys-"

"And they won't let me stay with Jace."

"In Jace's room?" Uncle Daeron. Lucerys nodded. "I always slept alone."

Lucerys used to sleep alone too, sometimes. But mostly he slept with Jace because his brother would tell his adventure stories of knights that he loved to hear.

"Now I have to stay with them and I can't read 'cause it'll wake them up!" Lucerys complained. He didn't like to spend the night without anything to do.

"Why don't you go to sleep?" Uncle Aemond asked. He was still acting weird, and Lucerys was afraid he wasn't really happy to see him there.

He thought Uncle Aemond would go back to how he was before his mother got sick, but he didn't and when Luke tried to cuddle with him on the big chair he changed seats.

He thought over the question. "Bad dreams."

"Do you have nightmares?" Uncle Aegon asked, frowning. "About what?"

Lucerys was about to answer when a door was opened somewhere and talking ensued.

"Helaena, take him away. It's grandsire."

His uncles and aunt got up and Lucerys was carried away by Helaena in a rush, taken to Aemond's room.

"What 's wrong?"

Aemond was running in front of them, opening the door to his room and going to the door Luke came from. Lucerys gripped tight onto Aunt Helaena's dress, scared by the look on their faces.

"Nothing, it's just late. You need to go to sleep." She said, but uncle Aemond's eyes were huge with fear as he stared at the door that gave way to the main room.

"You need to go. Now." He pushed Lucerys to the secret passage.

Lucerys looked back, confused, but let himself be pushed.

"Lucerys." Aunt Helaena said. She was serious as she went on. "When the cold strikes, huddle close to the fire. The nightmares won't catch you there."

And the door was closed on his face.

He stared at it, unable to see anything while his eyes didn't adjust to the dark and turned around to return to his parent's room.

When he got there, without seeing anyone else, he stopped just short of the bed, looking left and right to the dark of his parent's bed and the warmth light of the fireplace.

Lucerys walked up to the bed and struggled to bring one of the big pillows out of it, hugging it with both arms as he went close to the fire and put the pillow down. When he lied above it and closed his eyes, no blue appeared.

He was asleep in seconds, dreaming of a Lords and sisters and Dragonstone, the island Arrax was now living on.

THEN - DRIFTMARK

There were few times in life that made Rhaenyra glad no to be a man, and as she stared at Rhaenys, the woman's face solemn as she met her gaze head on, Rhaenyra was happy she'd been born a woman because if she weren't she'd walking around armed with a sword and would now be drawing it out.

Despite how much Laenor and she raged, Rhaenys simply did not seem to care about their opinion.

Rhaenyra had respected her for years, had desired her approval for as long as she knew her, but now, after the woman abused her trust and took her son out to be used as a way to get political advantage, she was done.

It didn't matter that Rhaenhra understood why Rhaenys did it. The queen who never was did with her children as she wished, but Lucerys was hers.

Rage fueling her, Rhaenyra attacked where she knew it would hurt the most.

"You will not be left alone with him. Ever again." Rhaenys eyes widened and her mask broke for the first time since they started that conversation. She made to speak, but Rhaenyra cut her right off. "I do not care who you are, or about the blood you two share. I am his mother. You'll not be left alone with him or Jace again."

She didn't stay to hear Rhaenys' answer, and should Laenor try to change her mind she would stop him right off.

But he didn't. Instead, he followed right outside of the room and when the doors closed with Rhaenys inside, he turned to her. "I'll pack my belongings. I assume we will return tonight to King's Landing?"

Rhaenyra nodded, struggling to keep herself calm while her children stared at her. She smiled at them, noticing Jacaerys and Baela were playing fight while Rhaena and Lucerys played chess.

She forced out a smile. "I have lemon cake back at my chambers. Who wants a piece?"

The four of them lifted their hands, jumping from their place and running to the hallways. "No running!"

She followed behind, keeping an eye on the four of them as they walked. Laena and Daemon may not be there, but she wouldn't let Rhaena and Baela alone with Rhaenys right now. And she would tell her uncle and cousin of what she'd done.

Laena and Daemon were as protective of the children and Laenor and she were. It was time for Rhaenys to learn they made moves together, and that she was not to be played with.

The knights around followed them with their eyes, but Rhaenhyra knew their attention was on her youngest. Lucerys walked slowly after the others, already getting tired of having to run behind the three oldest to keep to their pace and, because he didn't complain and Jace and the twins were distracted by their chatting, none of them seemed to notice Luke was left behind.

Rhaenyra sighed. He would need to learn how to ask for help soon, it wasn't good to try to do everything by himself.

She loved seeing herself in her children, but there were traits of hers that she would have liked for them to not have. Such as this one.

As a child and young woman Rhaenyra always tried to do everything on her own, only letting Alicent help her occasionally. She'd learned the harder way that everyone needed support and she didn't want her son to go through the same.

Clearing her throat, The Princess spoke. "Let us walk slower, shall we? My feet are getting tired."

Lucerys turned to her, smiling, and raised his hand for her to grab.

They walked hands on hands by a couple hallways before he extended both hands at her. "Up, please."

He laid his head on her shoulder, his small legs curling around her hips. "Mother?" His lips touched her jaw when he spoke, mouth close to her ear.

"Yes, sweet boy?"

"Are you upset at Grandmother because of me?" Lucerys asked slowly, dragging the letter 'p' out to pronounce the word as best as he could.

Rhaenyra shook her head, pressing a kiss to his cheek. It was a struggle to not turn around and shout and scream at Rhaenys for putting them into such a situation. "No, darling, no. It has nothing to do with you, you have done nothing wrong."

Luke lifted his head and stared into her eyes for a couple seconds. She didn't know what he was searching for, but she hoped he would find it.

He laid his head back on her shoulder, little hand grabbing a curl of her hair that fell from her braid on her rush to find her son after she heard of what Rhaenys had done. "Alright."

It was so low Rhaenyra almost missed it, but due to his mouth being so close to her ear, she didn't.

The Princess adjusted her boy on her arms, pressing him against her body. "Did you enjoy it? Seeing all those people waving at you?"

Lucerys shook his head. "No."

Rhaenyra pressed him closer to her.

"It won't happen again, I promise."

THEN - KING'S LANDING

The stares they received when they got home were different.

Rhaenyra pretended not to be aware of them, holding an asleep Jacaerys in her arms as she descended the ship and made her way to the top of the small hill.

Laena was beside her, pulling Rhaena with her. Baela was on her father's shoulders, having made a fuss so she could try and see the people's houses from down below.

Laenor walked in front of them with Lucerys in his arms, the boy barely keeping his eyes open, but putting on a good effort. Both Jace and him had been running around the ship for hours, or rather Jace had been running around the ship while Lucerys followed him like a lost duckling.

They were supposed to have stayed in Driftmark for an entire quarter of moon, and Rhaenyra had thought Laena would have stayed with Daemon on the island, but she returned with them, showing her support.

Rhaenyra was still waiting for the talk that was sure to come. Laena was much calmer than her and was sure to later try to reason with her.

Laena took her hand with her free one, swinging it the same way she'd always done when they were younger and when Rhaenyra met her gaze, they both smiled.

For now, Rhaenyra would enjoy a few days of peace until then.

"Princess Rhaenyra, we thought you would be staying at Driftmark for a few more days." Otto Hightower stood on the gates, two knights behind him.

"I've decided otherwise." She met his eyes and walked past him without stopping.

Every time she returned from a trip the man was there to receive her, as a way of trying to let her know her place wasn't there.

The first time it worked – the thoughts of being replaced by Aegon bothering her and keeping her awake for nights long.

Now, his presence did nothing more than annoy her. She was the heir, and the Red Keep was and would always be her home. Nothing he did would ever change that.

She heard steps behind her, but didn't bother to look back. "Princess, the King wishes to see you."

"Already?" What could have possibly happened for her father to wish to see her so soon? She had just arrived and was bound to be tired.

"It is an urgent matter."

"Then I shall meet him." She agreed, her steps not changing even as he hurried forwards.

She saw a flash of a green dress somewhere above her and knew if she were to look up she'd see Alicent standing by one of the highest windows.

Rhaenyra kept her eyes ahead, trying not to think of her siblings and instead focusing on Laenor, who was waiting for them in the hallway.

"My father wishes to see me."

Otto Hightower waited for her by the end of the hallway.

"I'll take him." Laena made grabby hands for Jace and Rhaenyra passed the boy to her, still confused. Jacaerys fussed slightly, but soon relaxed against Laena.

Rhaena went to hold Jace's foot, but Laena stopped her with a look.

Daemon came right behind, having spent the trip rather nicely since he ate the herb before getting into the ship. "What's the matter?"

"Father wants to see me."

"Do you wish for company?" Laenor whispered. Lucerys had his eyes half open. Rhaenyra was growing increasingly worried with his lack of sleep.

She thought it over. It would be nice to have him by her side, but she couldn't be seen as the heir if she brought her husband along to an important meeting, especially since she was not yet Queen.

"No, I must do this alone."

She turned around to leave, but Laena held on to her arm. "Meet you for dinner?" Laena asked.

Rhaenyra smiled, nodding and watched them walk away for a moment before going in the other direction, to where Otto Hightower waited impatiently for her.

That could not be good, she thought as she followed him past the hallways and when they entered the council room and she saw the men's somber expressions, she knew it wasn't.

The Hand sat by her father's right and she stood on her feet in front of the men, her hands holding one another behind her back. "You wished to see me, father?"

"Yes, Rhaenyra. I did." Her father adjusted himself on his seat. "There has been word of Lucerys being presented to the Driftmark people, according to Lord Strong's sources."

The man in question was already looking at her when she glanced at him. "Princess Rhaenyra, word around the Kingdom is that you picked House Velaryon as the first House to begin the so wanted progression."

She blinked, her mind running one mile per minute to understand the meanings of what he just said. When she did, her nails craved on the palm of her hand.

Rhaenys set her up.

By presenting Lucerys to the people of Driftmark, the woman had made a statement, but Rhaenyra would not play her game.

She plastered a false smile on her face. "I assure you, Lord Strong, that I have not chosen House Velaryon as the first house to receive the progression. It was simply a visit to my good mother and good father, both who missed their grandsons very much."

The man nodded at her, hand working fast to write her words.

"Are we to understand the Princess has not yet decided whether or not to go into a Royal Progression?" Lord Wylde, the Maester of laws, asked.

"Yes." The men started chattering all around the table. She raised her voice, not wanting to hear the opinion on whether or not she should use her children as a ladder to climb and sit the Iron Throne. "Was that all, father? The trip was quite tiring and I'm in deep need of rest."

"Yes, yes, my daughter. You may leave." She bowed her head slightly towards him and left, shoulders tight until the doors closed behind her and she walked past the guards, turning into the nearest corner.

Then, and only then, Rhaenyra let her face contort in rage at having been manipulated so easily.

She'd seen Laenor angry many times in her life, but she didn't think angry was enough of a description for what her cousin was now.

He was livid.

By presenting Lucerys – against Rhaenyra's and Laenor's consent to the people of Driftmark, the last drop on the progression matter hit the cup.

Denying having made a decision to the Small Council had been only a way to ascertain them she hadn't picked the Velaryons as the first House to receive them, but they all knew that since Lucerys had now been shown to the people, the progression needed to happen.

Only another one of the reasons for Rhaenys to have taken matters in her own hands, and although Rhaenyra admired the move and would certainly add it to her repertoire, she also loathed being manipulated and forced into things.

The maybe in their plans was now a yes. They had no choice, but to go forward with their decision.

Which House they'd visit first would be for her to decide, as the Princess and Heir, and although Rhaenyra knew any other House would be better – politically speaking – she now wanted to spite Rhaenys and had picked the Arryns.

It wasn't only for that; she also wanted to honor her mother's memory by giving the highest honor to her late House. A family that loved her as much as she had loved them.

Aemma Targaryen had lived her life as an Arryn, and died as one. Her mother never claimed a dragon, and she was the kindest person Rhaenyra had ever met.

Laenor backed her up quickly, but Laena and Daemon watched her with skeptical eyes. Rhaenyra ignored them both, she did not want to be judged and nor did she want to hear talks of reason now.

Daemon and Laena exchanged glances in front of her before Laena smiled and took her hands. "Whatever you decide, we'll stand behind you."

Her uncle didn't say anything, but there was a knowing smirk on his lips. Rhaenyra also ignored the implications of that expression of his.

"When will we be leaving?" Laenor asked.

"I'll have to announce it to the Realm, and then we must wait a week to give them a head start to prepare."

"A week? That's a short amount of time to say goodbye." Laena jested.

When she put a strand of Rhaenyra's hair behind her ear, Laena's fingers brushed past her neck and Rhaenyra opened up her legs to pull her closer.

She smirked. Through Laena's shoulders, Rhaenyra saw Daemon watching them intently.

"Then let's make the most of it."

Laenor snorted from somewhere behind her.

NOW

One must rule not with their heart, Rhaenyra.

She woke up with a start, heart beat against her chest fast to the point of hurting.

Rhaenyra stared unseeing at the black curtains in front of her, unmoving as tears slowly filled in her eyes, sliding past her nose and dripping onto the pillow.

She'd dreamt of her mother.

It wasn't the first time, and Rhaenyra was certain it wouldn't be the last, but this time it wasn't a nightmare and they were both sitting together as they watched the sun disappear beneath the ocean. This time, she saw Aemma's face – so alike to hers, but at the same time so different. Rhaenyra had forgotten what she looked like, she was so young the last time she saw her.

She wished she knew how to paint, if she did she would be now leaving everything behind so she could paint that memory, make it immortal for everyone to see.

A wet laugh escaped her mouth. It had been so long.

She'd forgotten, but this time she was able to see everything. The wrinkles on her mother's eyes when she smiled, the loving smile she always gave when Rhaenyra was being particularly difficult. How kind her gaze always was.

She now knew; Jace had her mother's eyes, – and even eyebrows – and Lucerys looked almost exactly like her, with the exception of his eye color.

Rhaenyra rolled to her other side, wanting to watch her son's face, but instead of finding Lucerys sleeping on the bed, the spot between Laenor and she was empty.

She touched it, fear rising into her, and felt the cold sheets.

Rhaenyra sat on the bed, her heart pounding and almost started crying again, this time in relief, when she saw Lucerys lying above a pillow near the fire.

She got up, praying he wouldn't be touching the fire while she went closer, and he wasn't. He was sleeping at last, so close to the fireplace she didn't understand how he could not be already drenched in sweat.

She pulled the pillow – and her son – slightly away from the fireplace and knelt down, pushing the boy's hair away from his face, studying him.

He seemed at peace, right now. Calm for once.

Lucerys usually moved a lot while he slept, but now he wasn't.

She smiled, relieved. Sleeping had been difficult for him the last couple of days.

There was a movement on the bed, and then Laenor lifted his upper body, his hair going in different directions. "Where's Luc- oh."

She snorted at the pure relief that took over his face before Laenor was dropping his head on the bed again, letting out a small groan.

Rhaenyra wished she could bring the bedsheets and a pillow and lay down beside her youngest, but she had duties. Still, the boy couldn't sleep too close to the fireplace alone.

She stared at her cousin's back. He didn't seem to have plans to get up any time soon, but most mornings Laenor spent at least thirty minutes by the sea, fishing, and she had to make sure he wouldn't go.

"Will you fish today?"

"No, I'm exhausted." His voice came out muffled, his face stuffed into his pillow.

"Then come lay down near Luke. I have a feeling he will wake up if I take him back to bed."

Laenor got up with a low string of complaints, his eyes only half opened, and she helped him – amused at his fretfulness – set his bed on the floor. When Laenor laid down, he put an arm around Lucerys and the pillow, and started snoring right away.

Rhaenyra watched them for a couple minutes before she left for Jacaerys' room.

It didn't take long for her to wake Jacaerys up so she could take him to his classes, get ready and leave their chambers.

"You wish to start the progression by the Baratheons." Laena realized.

After a morning spent dealing with her duties as heir, the decision had been made.

The dream had shaken her.

It was just a saying, and she woke up before her mother could finish it, but she heard it so many times coming from her soft voice she knew the rest by heart.

One must rule not with their heart, but with their mind. A King's decisions must leave no space for subjective matters.

Her mother always said that when Rhaenyra raged at the fact that she was being forced to bear children again, only to lose them in a matter of moons.

The Arryns would always be her family, and she would always hold them close in her heart, but the dream was a warning. It was not the time to make decisions with her heart or out of spite.

When Jahaerys disinherited Rhaenys, the House of the Stag was one of the most upset.

The Crown – or rather, Rhaenyra – had now made amends with the Velaryons, but the Baratheons were still waiting for their time. Being the first House to receive the royal progression was a huge honor and it would ease the blow the Baratheons received decades ago.

It wasn't a difficult decision; she knew it was the right move to make, politically speaking.

Her mother's dream had shaken her towards rationality.

But she also missed her family in the Vale.

"I don't know what to do."

She hated it. Being indecisive was not one of her flaws, battling between her feelings and rationality was. And now she was trapped.

"The Baratheons would be the smarter move." Daemon made his mind known.

"I know."

She stared at the map in front of her. The paths had already been decided and if she decided to go further with that choice, all that work would be for nothing.

Blue fabric blocked her vision of the map and her eyes rose to find Laena's.

Her cousin supported her hips on the round table, looking down on her.

"You want to know what I think ? I think you already made your decision and are now wallowing on it."

Laenor snorted, shaking his head and walking towards the table, standing right beside Daemon. They both started to pull on the pins, the threads following the movements of their hands as they changed the routes without even asking her about it.

They all knew her too well.

Rhaenyra took a deep breath to steady herself. No point in wondering what it could have been. Her mother was dead and no honoring would bring her back.

She'd honor her by getting one of the biggest Houses' favor and later sitting on the Iron Throne as the first Queen to ever reign over the Seven Kingdoms.

"Make it so the Arryns are the last House we visit." She stood up. If she couldn't have them be the first one, they'd get the grand finale. "Then we return to King's Landing. And after we restock, we shall travel North and visit the Houses there."

Then she left the room with a swirl of her dress.

The guards bowed when she passed by, and maids stopped to do the same. Rhaenyra acknowledged the curtsies with a nod and kept walking until she was at the entrance to the Throne room.

She fixed the lines of her dress, and put her hands behind her back before signaling at the Knight to open the door.

"Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, heir to the Iron Throne."

Her father was sitting on the Iron Throne with his hand by his side, on the far back of the throne room and he sat up straighter when he saw her.

Today they had a particularly large number of Lords, since the preparations for the winter were about to start and some of them always enjoyed bothering her father with plantation issues. They bowed their heads as she passed through and she returned the gesture. As soon as she passed them, they started to talk to each other in hushed tones.

Rhaenyra crossed the room until she was standing in front of her father, the lord he had been talking to moving out of her way and staring at her with wide eyes.

Otto Hightower pretended not to see her, and Rhaenyra knew she was interrupting a reunion the Lords in the room traveled from far away to have, but that was precisely why she'd done it.

In the many years following her uncle around, Rhaenyra soon learned all of his tactics and making a grand announcement look like a simple conversation had been one of his bests.

Besides, the Hightower cunt seemed disgruntled, although he tried hard to hide it, and just like Daemon she loved to annoy him.

"Rhaenyra." Her father smiled, amused. They were set to have a meeting later that day so he could spend some time with his grandchildren, and they both knew she could've talked to him later. "To what do we have the honor?"

She smirked, lifting her chin and rolling off her shoulders. "I've made a decision regarding the progression."

All around her, the chatters stopped and the Lords' attention were set solely upon her. They were all aware that they would now be receiving first hand information about the awaited royal progression.

"Oh?"

"Yes, we will start by the Houses of the South, then return to King's Landing until the winter passes so the children don't have to face the North at its harshest."

Otto Hightower's eyes were large as he stared at her – he probably didn't think she'd follow through with the progression.

Her father shook his head at her antics. "And which House will receive you first?"

It was as if she could hear them all hold their breaths. The entire room was silent, but even so Rhaenyra made sure her voice was loud enough to be heard clearly by the ones on the far back. "House Baratheon."