Disclaimer: I don't own House of the Dragon.
Rhaenyra's Pov.
As Rhaenyra's gaze flickered between Sunfyre and her crazed younger half-brother, all she could fill was anger and regret. How dare this HalfTower whelp steal everything that was rightfully hers? Her crown, her kingdom, her children, and her husband. Yet, only now, as she faced death, did she see all the mistakes she had made, which had led to this moment.
"I should have forced father to allow me to take over more of my responsibilities as heir sooner, and fought harder against Otto. I should have fought harder against marrying Laenor and forced father to keep his promise so Daemon and I could have married sooner. So many should of, could of, too late," she thinks.
Aegon's chuckling brings her out of her mind. "Oh, look at the Realms Delight now. How does it feel to know that I won, Sister?" he said.
Rhaenyra smirked. "You might have won the crown, but you didn't win father's favor. For no matter what anyone tells you, it was I, Rhaenyra Targaryen, that King Visery's I wanted to sit on the Iron throne after him, not you," she said.
Aegon gritted his teeth. "Cut her breast," he demanded. The soldier gladly complied, ripping her shirt off before cutting her breast.
A howl of pain escaped her lips as the dagger cut through her flesh. Behind her, she could hear her son whimpering. "Oh my poor Aegon, my poor sweet boy, I wish I wasn't about to leave you in this world alone," she thought.
In front of her, Aegon grinned. "Any last words, dear sister?" he asked.
Rhaenyra sneered. "I curse you Aegon II Hightower. You might share my father's blood, but you are no king, let alone a prince. I curse you, your mother, your brothers, and your grandfather. If the gods are so kind as to let me live again, I promise you will never draw breath again, and if you are so lucky to be born again, I promise to give you a station befitting of your station, that of a bastard," she said.
As she spoke those words, she also said a prayer in her mind. "Please, if you're real, I ask the fourteen flames of old valyria to give me one more chance to save my house from destruction," she thought.
Aegon hissed. "Sunfyre, dracarys," he said.
The last thing Rhaenyra saw was Sunfyre's flames.
96 AC.
Rhaenyra awoke with a gasp, shooting up only to be pushed gently back down. "Oh gods, the princess has awoken. Go get the royal family!" she heard someone say. Forcing her eyes open, she's shocked to see one of her mother's old maids standing above her. Martha she vaguely remembers the woman's name.
Martha looks at her worriedly. "Can I get you anything, princess?" she asks.
"thirsty," she says, and frowns at hearing her voice, which sounds much too young.
The maid's eyes widen before hurrying to pour a goblet of ale for her. "Here you go, princess," she says, holding the goblet up to her lips so she can drink. She drinks the ale greedily. It feels as if she has had nothing to drink in a while, guessing by how dry her throat it.
"Martha, what happened?" she asks.
The older woman looks at her in surprise. "What's the last thing you remember, princess?" she says.
Rhaenyra crinkles her eyebrows, trying to remember, but all she sees in her mind is Sunfyre raining fire down upon her, and her poor son crying out her name. Something tells her Martha won't believe that, so she gives a half truth. "I remember dragon fire, and it being very hot," she says.
The older woman looks at her worriedly, but before she can say anything, the sound of running footsteps stops all conversation. Within minutes, the doors to the room swing open revealing Viserys, Aemma, and Daemon Targaryen, along with several other people she is unfamiliar with.
Rhaenyra's eyes tear up at the sight of her father so young and healthy as memories of him decrepit fill her mind, before her eyes fall to her mother, oh how long it had been since she'd seen her sweet mother, her memories did not do her justice. Finally, her eyes fall on Daemon, her protector, lover, and above all, her beloved Kepus. Guilt washes over her at how they parted, "this time I won't doubt you," she thinks to herself.
Viserys, unaware of his daughter's emotional state, throws his arms around her. "Rhaenyra, thank the gods, my sweet girl," he says.
Although she is angry at her father for how he left things, she cannot help but snuggle into his warm chest. "Father," she says.
Just then, Aemma comes onto the bed, wrapping her arms around her as well. "My sweet girl, you're going to be okay. I was so scared, I thought I'd lost you," she said.
Rhaenyra throws herself into Aemma's loving embrace. "Oh Muna," she says.
It's only when she hears several sniffles does she pull away, only to realize that her family is crying. Even Daemon looks close to tears. "What happened?" she asks, not remembering this happening in her previous life.
Daemon steps forward bending down, so he's eye level with her. Her eyes widen at how young he looks; she guesses he has to be nineteen at least. "How are you feeling, little dragon?" he asks.
She has to suck in a breath at his words. It's been such a long time since he's called her that. "I feel alright, Kepa," she says.
Daemon gives her a small smile. "I'm glad to hear that little dragon, but you really remember nothing that happened?" he asks.
"Daemon," Viserys's voice holds an edge of warning, making Rhaenyra frown. Something had obviously happened. Why else would her family all be acting on edge?
"I remember dragon fire. It was hot and painful," she repeats what she told Martha. Her parents and Daemon stare at her wide eyed.
Daemon frowns at the two older men in the room, "I better go get the Maester," he says, standing up. One of the older men, one who Rhaenyra suddenly remembers to be her grandsire, Baelon nods.
Without thinking, she grabs Daemons' sleeve. "Don't go," she whines, thinking he'll walk out and never come back. Her uncle chuckles, "I'll be right back sweet niece, I promise," he says, before walking out of the room.
Rhaenyra watches sadly as Daemon exits, which causes her grandsire to laugh. "I see your love for your uncle hasn't changed, sweet granddaughter," he says.
The young girl cannot help but puff her lip out. "Of course not, my love for kepa will never change," she says. Immediately the guilt hits her knowing that isn't true, that she turned on him in those last days, and oh how she hates herself.
Grandsire laughs again before coming over and wrapping a muscular arm around her. "I'm so relieved you're alright, little princess," he says.
Rhaenyra gives him an awkward smile. "Thank you, Grandsire," she says.
"I am also relieved to see you are doing alright, great granddaughter," the silky voice of an older woman fills the room, and Rhaenyra is stunned to see Queen Alysanne standing in the doorway. Standing beside her is King Jaehaerys, her Great Grandsire, and between them is a woman she'd only seen sewn on tapestries around the castle, her great aunt Gael.
Feeling slightly overwhelmed at being in the woman's presence she'd only heard stories about, she gives the queen a shy smile. "Thank you for your concern, your Highness," she says.
The good queen gives her a small smile. Fortunately for her, Daemon comes back with the Maester so she doesn't have to say anything.
The Maester examines her with her parents, Daemon, and Grandsire, watching closely nearby. The King and Queen had retired but not before giving orders to the Maester to report to them if anything changed. Gael had retired with them, but not before wishing her well. After what felt like forever, the Maester gave her a clean bill of health, but told her parents she should stay in bed a few more days.
Once the Maester had left, Rhaenyra yawned, which caused her grandsire to demand that they leave her to rest, which she was thankful for. Although she vowed to get the entire story about why she was in bed from Daemon tomorrow.
Closing her eyes, she realized she had a second chance. The gods had answered her wish. "I promise to change things this time," she thinks before drifting off to sleep.