I don't own A Song of Fire and Ice.
Prologue
Princess Viserra of House of Targaryen.
It is amazing as she is considered one of the few children of King Jaehaerys and Queen Alysanne Targaryen's royal line. They had 13 children yet only nine lived into adulthood.
'How time flies by at such a cruel pace.' She thought to herself.
Princess she may as well be, but growing up she was invisible.
She could remember everything like it was yesterday.
At such a young age, she was more beautiful than any Targaryen woman was before. Yes, she was a vain creature, but can you blame her? Her parents never give her time or day to pay attention to her.
Nor did her older siblings show interest in spending time with her.
The only way to fill that void was to get attention from strangers such as lords, heirs, squires, and knights.
Worse, what she truly desired was to have a dragon. She was denied that right because of that wise king, her father feared that any husband his daughters would marry wouldn't be a threat to Targaryen's.
Viserra wished that she could claim a dragon.
It wasn't fair!
Only Alyssa was lucky enough to keep hers since she married Baelon as sister and wife and kept their family name.
While she and the rest of her sisters can't have a dragon. She would daydream about riding a dragon, flying the skies, and marrying the most handsome lord as her husband.
Every name day she would ask her father and mother to let her claim a dragon, but answered, "We shall see." Or "I will think about it."
When the king told her that he arranged a marriage for her.
At first, she thought it was someone she could like, but he dashed that dream.
"You will marry Theomore Manderly as his wife."
"!?"
Viserra felt insulted!
Not only at they deny her dragon or have her name; but they wanted her to marry some old man who had children of their own.
She tried pleading with her father, but that old fool believed it was a good match. She tried to get Baelon to help her, but he, or rather Alyssa answered for him had refused.
Viserra cried in her chambers. She mumbled, "How unfair. How far must they push me down?"
She noticed that the Sevenths didn't help her prayers nor did the old gods.
Instead, she secretly prayed to their ancient gods, the Fourteen Flames.
"Oh, dear Fourteen flames, hear my prayers. Help me. Find my way to escape and give me the happiness that I desire. Please give me love from a dashing lord to bid me. A knight in disguise to save me from fate." Viserra looked at the candles of the Fourteen candles hoping they heard her prayers.
Though, the princess sighed, "I knew it. No one not even the Gods of our ancestors will help me."
As if she was resigned to her fate.
However, before any traveling began.
The Fourteen Flames did answer her prayers.
At the Tourney to celebrate Jaehaerys and Alysanne's reign plus anniversary. That is when Viserra gained back her faith in the Fourteen Flames.
"Princess Viserra!" A knight came forward with his lance. That is when Viserra felt her heart beat faster than ever.
Daniel Tyrell lord of Highgarden and warden of the Reach. He was tall, had a small beard on his chin, and a very well-built body. He dressed like a knight in those stories. His armor shines as his sash is green with a golden rose on his shoulder to his waist.
"Forgive me for speaking out as I humbly asked for your favor as I fear that I am unworthy to ask for it."
Viserra smiled brightly.
'Yes! There is the Fourteen Flames. They do exist and they have greater power if the Targaryen royal believed in them.'
Viserra gave her a favor to Lord Tyrell, and he won that tourney.
Since that day, Viserra firmly believed in the Fourteen Flames, and they had answered her prayer.
Viserra took this opportunity to secretly get his favor and attention to woo him into a marriage. She felt safe and happy in his arms. And Daniel Tyrell fell for the princess hard. He was shy and was never pursued strongly like the princess.
The Fourteen Flames answered her prayers, not the Sevens. Viserra was never pious nor a frantic believer, but she kept the religion a secret in her heart.
Viserra was tired of being ignored to favor those who had a destiny written already while others like her had to scrap for a leftover.
Never again will she be ignored.
She will get what she wants even if causes her place within her family.
In the year 87 AC, Viserra decided to elope with Lord Daniel Tyrell as she paid his family for her dresses, jewels, shoes, and her best horses; everything she owned she paid them as she didn't want to see again.
For her new husband will spoil her with the riches of the Reach. The people cheered that they claimed a princess to marry in the Tyrell. Her new family despite the consequences of this action. However, now they had royal blood they could claim Highgarden as theirs by right.
Chances of future children can be claimed of the Iron throne.
Their elopement spread all over the kingdom and to the royal families.
"You have disobeyed us! Shame the betrothal of Lord Manderly for the Tyrell Lord!" Jaehaerys spit venom but Viserra glared in defiance.
Threats and shouting came from the king, but Viserra threw him under the carriage.
"You know, out of curiosity, you seemed concerned about my disobedience instead of my little brothers?" Her eyes darkened as Jaehaerys stood quiet.
Little brothers? What on earth is she talking about?
Viserra brought forward a known Stormlander noblewoman with two young boys, but it wasn't the dark-haired Stormlander who was bothered, they gasped at their eyes and their strong chins that resembled Jaehaerys.
Viserra decided to humiliate her father, but sadly her mother must be a bystander of her husband's infidelity again.
"If my elopement was considering shame to your house, look at these boys for you are the ones you brought shame to us." Viserra curtsy and left with her husband as she made her final nail to the coffin. "You are a good king that is true but, you have always been a horrible father."
She left and never went back.
Viserra took her place as Lady of the Reach and wife to Lord Tyrell.
It was tough but peaceful for Viserra to keep herself busy to get used to her new husband and his family.
She sponsors parties, festivals, and meetings with the council of Reach. Thou, she felt ill that one dinner.
Viserra's head felt heavy, and eyes were ready to shut. Her good mother, Alice Tyrell noticed and screamed, "Princess!"
She collapsed out of her seat at the dinner table. They all worried that perhaps illness or stress may claim the poor princess.
However, there is good news.
Maester Loras examined the princess and announced, "My lord congratulations, the Princess is with child."
Viserra shed tears as she gently touched her stomach. A baby…!
"I'm going to be a mother…!" She happily replied.
Finally, her results are worth it.
All of the people cheered and celebrated the news of a possible new heir to the Tyrells family. Since she was strictly put on bed rest for the duration of her pregnancy. Her husband at the time was busy taking care of everything, even preparing new toys and everything the baby would want.
A raven was sent to the royal family from her birth, but there were no replies. The princess felt upset not about herself but about her unborn child.
'I indeed made a last big mess before I left with my husband, but there is no need for my child to be punished for it!'
Fine, if they were going to pretend, she doesn't exist. That's their problem, not hers.
Nine months later…
"NG! ch…" Viserra grunted and withheld her pain. The labor was hard on her body, but she wasn't a quitter. She has been secretly praying for the Fourteen Flames for a healthy child.
A son with the blood of a dragon.
"That's it, princess!" Maester Loras cheered as he looked down. "I see the babe's head coming!"
The midwife assists Maester Loras and brings a blanket for him with a hot water bowl. Her good mother is with her dabbing the sweat on her head.
"Come on, child. You are a dragon. And dragons are made from fire and blood." Alice encouraged her good daughter.
Viserra knew her goodmother was right! She can't give up! She may not have a dragon because she is one!
"Fire and Blood!" She screamed her house's words as she pushed her child out.
It felt heavy and hard, but she felt lightweight as the weight inside was gone.
"Waaah." An infant shriek filled the room.
Viserra laid back as she laughed in relief.
She won.
Her first battle in bed and she won.
"Congratulations, princess. You have a son!"
Daniel Tyrell rushed to the room and smiled at the sight. Viserra knew she looked like a mess. Her husband walked towards her and kneeled by her bedside.
"My love…" He kissed her hand.
"Forgive for such an unappealing mess." She spoke softly. No doubt from all the screaming that ran dry from her throat.
"Never apologize my dear. You gave me a son."
Daniel Tyrell and Viserra presented their first-born son's name, Gaemon Tyrell. Her son was named after her ancestor "Gaemon the Glorious" and her deceased sibling Prince Gaemon.
Gaemon looked like a Tyrell with his brown curls, but he got his mother's nose and her eyes.
Viserra felt instant love for her son. He is perfect.
How could she not? Her parents never paid much attention to her and can only found solace in attention from squires and men who filled her vanity with her beauty.
She may as well never understand her parents since they were more concerned about their kingdom than their children.
Gaemon Tyrell is such a happy boy. His smile charmed everyone, even his mother. Many Lords and ladies went and greeted them as well as congratulated them for a son and heir.
Gaemon giggled and cooed at new faces in his view.
Viserra said, "My son, you must grow up as an honorable, kind, and gentle Lord of Highgarden and Warden of the Reach. For this world has too many stupid lords who think they can do as they please." She kissed her son's forehead.
Gaemon gave her a gummy smile. He fisted his hand to gently tug her necklace.
Viserra remains content with the Highgarden.
Eight years later…
Gaemon had already grown up as he ran through the trail of the rose garden. Gaemon is a natural-born leader. He has friends with other boys and wants to be a knight. He reminds her of her brothers, but Viserra in her motherly bias sees him handsome with her smile on his face.
Viserra sat at the small table under an umbrella with her ladies accompanying her as they watched the children play. They watched as Gaemon played with other boys the same age playing knights with wooden toy swords and fighting imaginary monsters.
"My, young lord Gaemon is certainly energetic." Lady Jeyne Tarly fans herself as the day is warmer than usual. She is wearing a light blue dress with grey trimmings. Her brown hair is tied in an updo with roses on it.
"I agree. If only my son, Thomas would spend some time outside instead of reading inside our library." Lady Katherine Florent, a former member of the Redwyne family. Dressed in a maroon dress and black trimmings and wore her pearls as her jewels. Her red straight hair is above her shoulders. She dreaded that at this rate her son could lose interest in life.
"Come now, Lady Florent. At least, you don't have to worry about him taking an interest in sharpening his mind. Why, if only my eldest son, Loras could show more studies instead of training with swords all the time." Lady Mary Hightower is an elderly woman around forty years old. She has four sons, and all are married with families. She wore her greenish-yellow color dress and wore her hat.
"I take it that is the reason why, you forced Lord Loras to marry our daughter, Anne to be wedded quickly for your son." Lady Rosa Beesbury cheekily retorted. Viserra liked Lady Rosa Beesbury very well. In fact, you could say, she is the Queen Bee of her hive. She was dressed in a purple dress and blue trimmings. Adding the luxury of her position she is wearing a diamond brooch.
Before Lady Hightower could retort that tone. A voice interrupted them.
"WAIT FOR ME!" A young girl screamed.
They looked at the source and saw a little white-haired girl with purple eyes. She looked like Viserra as a child.
Viserra sighed as she noticed. "Alerie!" She called out as her daughter who is six years old wants to follow her big brother everywhere. Gaemon seemed to like his sister following him around despite pretending that he hated it.
Alerie Tyrell is a white rose of Tyrell. The purest rose in the garden.
'Perhaps, she was better off being named Saera after all.' Viserra sighed as she rubbed her pregnancy womb.
"My, your daughter is such a beauty." Lady Rosa complimented Viserra, which she preened in pride.
"Of course, I mean look at our lady of the Reach." Lady Jeyne spoke and gestured to Viserra. "It's only natural that Lady Alerie will get her beauty from her mother."
"Although," Viserra spoke and said, "I understand that our daughter is willful, but lately she is being defiant over her septa Gladys lesson." Viserra is worried. She loved her daughter truly, but she feared that it could lead her to trouble. She should know she and her sisters went through rebellion phases to defy their parents.
"Oh," Lady Katherine understood and nodded. "If you allowed me to speak, I would say there is nothing to worry about. My daughters went through this silly rebellion and the same with myself too. To be honest, I wanted to fight like my brothers too." She laughed to herself as the ladies listened.
"I agree. When I was a child, I didn't even want to wear dresses despite my protest and my mother had to get my father to hold my arms while trying to get me to wear it." Lady Mary put her input.
"Did it work?"
"Why else, did I force myself instead of going through the humiliation of my father holding my arms against my will." Mary retorted.
Viserra sighed. The ladies are correct.
"You are right. My Alerie will be a lady once she grows out of it."
For now, she is fine with her being a child. She watches her children play together as they are happy without worries about the world and politics.
Great Council of 101 AC
The great tragedy of Prince Baelon was their father's heir had passed away. Names were being thrown into all of the seven kingdoms.
King Jaehaerys heard fifteen claims, and even the illegitimate sons of his seed were dismissed. How odd, that Viserra's claim was pressed forward as she wasn't disowned nor lost the privileged title as princess.
Though Princess Viserra knows that she might have the backing of the Reach, her lands cannot be compared to two heirs.
Two optional heirs come forward to ask for her to convince her lord husband and others to support them.
Princess Rhaenys Targaryen pressed forward her claim as not only the rightful heir, but she had a son Laenor Velaryon son of Lord Corlys Velaryon to be her heir.
Her offer was this, "I could give your husband the seat of the council, and you may get an arranged marriage with my son, Laenor, and your daughter Alerie to be his wife and future queen of seven kingdoms. We have both husbands who are the wealthiest and best ships to offer. If you give my support, then I will always welcome you back to the Kingslandings and all will be forgiven."
Princess Viserra could tell that Rhaenys was a woman-trained dragonrider and heir despite her sex being the problem. Her father, Aemon Targaryen married Jocelyn Baratheon to bring Stormlands as a backing.
'Thou, what good will should I receive? I have not heard once from my family despite waiting to be summoned for the funerals of my siblings and mother. I was briefly noticed by the King.' Viserra looked at the niece and said, "I shall think of the matter before talking to my husband."
Her niece is levelheaded, but sadly if she doesn't have the support of King Jaehaerys then she is already losing her place as heir once again.
After all, Viserra knew her father. The hard is he already has an heir in mind. He values sons over daughters. Thou, Viserra questioned his sanity mind.
Why on earth would the king allow the Lords to vote on this matter?
Would it give them ignorant or rather power-hungry believers who believed that they could control the dragons?
Viserra was expecting her nephew Viserys to convince her, but to her surprise, it was Daemon Targaryen instead. She heard stories already. He honored and prided himself as a true dragon and their family history.
Viserra spoke, "My dear prince. I was expecting to see Viserys, but not you."
Daemon spoke and said, "He doesn't know I am here."
"Ah," Viserra commented. "I was beginning to worry that you became a lapdog. I see that I was discontent in that manner."
Daemon's face shows his slight rage, but speaks his truth, "For my brother to be king I will make the Lords remember that we are Dragons who brought this kingdom to their knees."
Viserra raised her highbrow intrigue by this.
"Very well," Viserra leaned back comfortably and waited to hear his so-called deal.
"The lords are ignorant fools. However, my brother is a charmer and has the making of a king. He has a daughter and an heir on the way. We both know what Grandfather thinks who his heir shall be?" Daemon leaned forward and then added, "If you convince the Lords of the Reach and your husband, you will be welcomed back to court with your family given positions, status, and good marriages that you could've dreamed of. My niece, Rhaenyra could be the future husband to your eldest son and your son can claim a dragon."
Viserra's eyes gleamed.
A dragon. Something she desires more than anything in the world.
The old king denied her son any claims of dragons since his birth. She knew disappointment and gave her son the best advantage for her son. The best tutors, position to squire the greatest knights, the horses, falcons, all the things to give her son the chance to show the world he too has the blood of the dragon.
"Then if somehow King Viserys does not have a son?" Viserra looked at him in the eye. Daemon smiled and said, "Then perhaps you can imagine the position you can claim."
Viserra nodded and gave a toast. "To the new king of Westeros."
After the meeting with Prince Daemon, Viserra starts to plan and will want everything written. She signed her name and sealed her ring in it as Daemon had signed it in place of his brother and sealed it with his seal.
Princess Viserra quickly set to work. Viserra whispered and persuaded her husband the proper course was clear.
The Reach will nominate Prince Viserys as the new heir.
Also, the Tyrells will not only be invited to court for positions as courtiers, but her title as princess still stands close to her nephew. As well as the proper marriage in hand for their son to Rhaenyra Targaryen and their son could claim a dragon.
Daniel Tyrell's eyes sharpened as he nodded. For years, Tyrell had trouble with Dorne, and banners could snatch their Highgarden away from them. With this deal, the Tyrells can be safer and bloodlines will carry on for thousands of years.
Viserra convinced her ladies to wait to help their family to vote for the new heir.
The big day came.
Princess Viserra stood by her husband Daniel Tyrell with Gaemon by his father's side and their two daughters by their mother, Alerie and Olivia who looked like Daniel as the Tyrells. With his extended family Tyrells along with the might of the Reach.
The maesters set the chest down before Jaehaerys, bowing their heads before opening it for him. The old king leaned down, grabbing the scroll at the top that held the final decision. He cleared his throat as he unrolled the stiff paper. "It is declared by all lord's paramount and lord's vassal of the Seven Kingdoms...that Prince Viserys Targaryen, eldest son of Prince Baelon Targaryen and Princess Alyssa Targaryen, be made Prince of Dragonstone and heir to the Iron Throne."
Prince Daemon was the first to clap his hands then others followed.
Princess Viserra looked at her elder father. He seemed weary or cautious.
She recalled what her father spoke in wisdom.
"The only thing that could tear down the house of the dragon was itself."
It will take years for Princess Viserra to realize the meaning behind her father's words.
War is coming.
And it will be the Dragons who started the war.
Reviews are welcome.
Next Chapter, The Heirs of the Dragon.