15 Years Later
Visenya's age: 18
Visenya sighed in content as she overlooked the hills that surrounded the road that could take her to King's Landing. She was currently on the outskirts of Winterfell, enjoying herself to her morning ride...something she has been doing since she was old enough to ride a horse.
It had been 15 years since Ned Stark saved her from the clutches of Robert Baratheon, and while he still did have close relations with the man, Robert has not come looking for her since the day her father died. He must've suspected that she died when Ned entered the Royal Chambers in Maegor's Holdfast.
Visenya then turned her glance to the other portion of the road that would lead her to The Wall and Castle Black. Growing up in Winterfell, she always wondered what life was like at Castle Black and those who lived in the Night's Watch. Mostly because she was curious to know if her uncle, Aemon Targaryen, was still alive, based upon the studying she had been doing since living in Winterfell.
In order to continue to keep with her culture, and not become alienated from it, Ned allowed for Visenya to be tutored in Valyrian culture. She learned everything from Valyrian customs and holidays, to learning to be able to speak and read High Valyrian herself, along with learning that of Targaryen customs, traditions, and family members.
Along with teaching her Valyrian customs, Ned made sure that if Robert did ever come and send someone after Visenya, that she was able to handle herself. He taught her how to use the bow and arrow, along with using a sword, and while, a sword was a much more logical choice, according to Ned, Visenya preferred the bow more...she found it more...interactive.
She sighed once more before she guided her pristine white horse, Rhaenys, towards Winterfell, proceeded down the hill she was on, before urging the horse into a full gallop, to head back to Winterfell. Her aurburn hair, that was dyed all of those years ago, blew back in the wind as she continued to push the horse on, and eventually, she arrived at Winterfell. Before she entered the gates, she slowed her horse to a slow canter, to allow for her to not plow through any civilians in her way.
"Whoa." Visenya said with a small smile as she pulled back on the reins, allowing Rhaenys to come to a trot, then a walk, and then finally a stop, as she was met by one of the stablehands.
Visenya quickly got of the horse, her black boots touching the light dusting of snow on the ground, before smiling as she gave the horse a long pat on the neck.
"Welcome back Lady Visenya." The Stablehand began. "How was your ride?"
Visenya smiled as she took her gloves off. "Very well. She needs a bath as well...I decided to ride through the mud."
The stablehand gave her a small nod, before taking Rhaenys back to the stable, Visenya smiling as the horse got led back, while she herself was heading inside.
"Visenya!" A familiar voice called.
Visenya immediately turned around to see Bran running toward her. Visenya smiled and crouched slightly, to engulf the boy in a hug. Since living with the Starks, she had become close to all of them, and had unique relationships with all of them.
Arya was fond of hearing stories of Targaryen history, especially of how Visenya got her name, along with Visenya's instruction on using swords and a bow. Bran and Rickon bonded with her over horse riding, and Sansa bonded with her over embroidery skills. Visenya and Jon however, bonded differently, as while they both lived with the Starks, they were both outsiders, with her being a Targaryen, and him being a bastard. Allowing for the two of them, to confide in each other when they didn't feel right about something.
Visenya and Robb's relationship was more distinct than with the other Starks. Since Visenya had come to live with the Starks, Robb had a slight dislike for her. It wasn't the fact that he was jealous of her, he was annoyed with her, as he never understood why his father took her away from the Capital. He never understood why he'd betray Robert Baratheon in that way.
"Good Morrow, Bran." Visenya said with a smile as they began to walk towards the courtyard.
"How was your ride?" Bran eagerly asked.
She nodded. "Very nice. Why are you dressed in your furs? It is not that cold this morning."
"Father requested that I join him, Jon, and Robb to see a deserter from the Night's Watch." Bran explained making Visenya stop in her tracks.
"A deserter?" Visenya asked in disbelief.
Bran nodded. "He said I won't be a boy forever, and winter is coming."
Visenya nodded, knowing that Ned was right with the later two, however, she did believe that a boy of only ten was too young to be witnessing and execution. She herself can attest to that, as she witnessed some of the Kingsguard and her father's death by the time she was only three.
"I can attest to that." Visenya said in agreement, keeping her thoughts to herself.
"Quite shocking, especially coming from you." Robb began as he approached the two of them. "Father requests you mount soon."
Bran nodded giving Visenya another hug, before running off to the stables. Visenya smiled as the boy ran away in innocence, before turning back to Robb with a glare present in her blue eyes.
"He is a boy, he is too young to witness such bloodshed." She angrily told him.
"I was younger than him when I witnessed my first execution of a deserter of the Night's Watch." Robb explained. "Bran needs exposure, and winter is coming. You are not the Lord of Winterfell, the last I checked."
Visenya rolled her eyes in annoyance. "No I'm not, I am a nobody, taken in by Lord Stark, as he had pity on me. But I am a person who has experienced more death and bloodshed as a child that has affected me after all these years...even after Lord Stark brought me here."
Just as Robb was about to reply, a voice called for him.
"Robb!" Theon called, gesturing to his horse that he was holding.
Visenya turned back to Robb with a small smirk. "I hope you get stabbed."
Just as she started to walk away, Visenya heard Robb call after her.
"We are not finished with this conversation!" He called in the same annoyed tone.
Visenya's smirk grew as she turned around to face him, still walking backwards.
"Yes we are!" She called back before turning around to head inside.
No sooner Visenya was inside in her room, she eagerly waited for her maid to draw her a bath, so she wouldn't be yelled at by Catelyn for smelling like a horse. Once she was cleaned, and her auburn hair was neatly braided, she sat at her desk that overlooked the courtyard, and began to study on Maegor the Cruel. A chapter of Targaryen history she had been looking forward to.
Why?
Because he was the son, of the woman she was named after. Visenya Targaryen...wife of Aegon the Conqueror.
As Visenya continued to read about Maegor the Cruel, she noticed that when speaking about the birth of dragons, dragons need fire. Visenya had noticed that line throughout the book of Targaryen history, as she knew that all dragon's breathed fire, she was just annoyed at how many times it was written down.
It almost felt like her ancestors thought she was an imbecile. Something she wasn't.
In response to seeing the word 'dragon', about 1500 times, she glanced at the two dragon eggs on her window. She was told from a very young age, that the eggs would never hatch, as the age of the dragons were gone. But she'd always wondered what it'd be like to ride one. What it'd be like to see the world from above. Perhaps then she could seek revenge on Robert Baratheon for destroying her family, and kill the man who killed her father. Jaime Lannister.
Visenya was snapped out of her thoughts upon the return of Ned Stark from the execution. From the courtyard, she could see all of the Stark children, including Jon, being given something fluffy. Visenya frowned in confusion, and shook it out of her mind as she continued to study.
A little while later, a knock on her door, snapped her out of her thoughts.
"Enter." She began.
"My father brought you a present." Robb's voice began, making Visenya turn around in shock, to see a grey and white direwolf sitting on her bed.
Visenya frowned in disbelief at the creature before looking Robb in the eyes.
"He's giving me a direwolf?" She asked in disbelief.
Robb nodded. "He figured it would keep you company...he's not training it, or feeding it though."
Visenya nodded as she got up off her chair, and walked over to the small direwolf on her bed. She gently picked the creature up to hold it in her arms.
"Did you all get one?" She quietly asked, petting the direwolf.
Robb nodded. "Yes. We've all named ours as well...except for yours. It's a boy."
Visenya looked down, smiled to herself, before looking back up at Robb.
"Maegor." She stated firmly before placing the direwolf back on her bed.
"After Maegor the Cruel?" Robb asked in disbelief.
She nodded. "Who else?"
Robb shook his head in disbelief as he exited the room, making the girl laugh in amusement. She loved to aggravate Robb.
Night eventually fell, and while Visenya was supposed to go to head to supper, she was too in depth with studying, practicing High Valyrian, and being fascinated by Maegor, who stayed asleep on her bed the whole time. It wasn't until another knock at the door, to snap her out of her thoughts again.
"Enter!" Visenya instructed.
Instead of Robb, Arya came this time, with a plate of food in hand.
"Mother said to bring you something." Arya explained, placing the plate of food on her desk before sitting down on Visenya's bed, next to Maegor. "What did you end up naming him?"
"Maegor." Visenya replied.
"After Maegor The Cruel?" Arya asked.
Visenya nodded. "Yes."
"Tell me a story." Arya begged.
"Of what?" Visenya laughed.
"Of the Targaryens." Arya sighed.
Visenya sighed herself as she got up from her desk to sit next to the younger girl on her bed.
"Do you know the story of Aegon the Conqueror?" Visenya asked.
Arya shook her head. "Some parts."
Visenya nodded. "I'll tell you the story."
She took a deep breath before she began.
"He was born on Dragonstone, and it is said to have rode Balerion, the only dragon that was left in the world to have seen Valyria before the Great Doom. His two sister's were dragon riders as well. His older sister, Visenya, whom I am named after, rode Vhagar, and his younger sister, Rhaenys, rode Meraxes. At some point, they set out and rode all over Westeros, seeing all of the settlements as well. Upon returning to Dragonstone, Aegon requested a large table be created that showed everything they saw from above." Visenya explained.
"That's how the conquest began." Arya finished.
Visenya nodded. "Yes, after the table was constructed, Aegon began his conquest, eventually conquering all 7 kingdoms, without Dorne, and it was then he constructed the Iron Throne. My brother use to say that it was constructed out of Balerion's dragonfire, and that it is uncomfortable to sit, as Aegon believed a king is never comfortable."
Arya nodded eagerly before biting back a yawn. Visenya smiled pushing the girl's head back.
"Perhaps it's time you get some sleep." Visenya began.
Arya nodded as she stood up from Visenya's bed and walked to the door.
"Goodnight Visenya." Arya said warmly.
"Goodnight Arya." Visenya replied back.
Once Arya had left, Visenya turned back to the two dragon eggs on her windowsill, wondering what the book had meant when it said dragons need fire.