It was night. The clouds have cleared out for the moon to lay its light over the place. Apart from the moon, stars twinkle across the sky making the view serene.
If it were any other night, Visenya would have appreciated the sight above her. Below her, she could hear the echoes of the chaos of the never sleeping city.
They were celebrating today. Tomorrow is a grand day after all. The dragons were getting married the next day. An auspicious event it is.
She took a really deep swing of her wine bottle. Dornish Red. She felt the strong liquid passing down her throat. Looking at the Godswood, Visenya thought she saw a flash of white moving around. Ghost would be probably around hunting with his brothers and sisters. Or maybe the wine was getting to her head.
She slowly jumped on and sat on the edge of the roof of the tower. Another swing of the bottle. She could see the whole city from the top here. It was the largest tower of the Red Keep. She could see and hear everything. All the sounds and views of the city.
For a minute she contemplated what would happen if she slipped off slowly from the roof. She would possibly die. Even with that much wine in her body, her mind still chastised her.
"You are a craven. You are being a fool. You are running away from your duty. You are taking the same path that you said you wouldn't take."
She cursed herself. She hoped the alcohol would make her numb. Seems like nothing could relieve her of the emotions she was feeling.
"Princess"
Ser Jaime called out. It broke her from her reverie.
"Yes, Ser."
"You are not planning to jump, are you?"
"And if I am to?"
"I'll have to stop that, of course. We don't want your children to burn down the whole of Westeros because you fell off a roof, do we ?"
Visenya laughed at that. Something she hasn't done for the past several days.
"It would be a wonderful sight to behold, Ser Jaime."
"The wine is getting to you, princess."
"I don't know what to do, Ser Jaime. Tomorrow I will be getting married while the man I love stands in the crowd watching it."
"Let me have this, Ser."
At least this.
It was on the night of her return to the Red Keep after two years. Her father had thrown a large feast in honour of her and her northern kin.
Robb, Sansa, Arya and Bran had accompanied her back to the South along with Ally. They were the first of the Starks to set foot in the Red Keep after everything. She asked Starfyre to leave her to reach KingsLanding while she travelled with her cousins on the road. The journey was tedious and funny, to say the least. Arya and Bran were a handful.
She wondered if her children would inherit the wolfblood. She saw them in her dreams sometimes.
A little boy with pure Northern looks, steel grey eyes and dark hair. A little girl with her hair and Robb's blue eyes.
They would vanish away before she could touch them.
It was her brother who met her first with the entourage. Egg had changed during her departure.
Her brother was now an exact copy of their father. He had become taller towering over her. His silver hair reminded her of the sea waves during the journey. But his eyes were the same.
Like every time, she could not read his eyes.
Aegon inhaled in the Northern scent that still clung around her.
"I missed you too."
Visenya whispered into his chest. It made the smile on his cheeks go wider.
"Your Grace."
Robb addressed her brother. It was the first time they'd met. They only knew each other by her regaling of stories of them.
"Lord Robb."
Aegon acknowledged his presence with a curt nod. Visenya introduced all of her cousins to him. He was impressed by Arya and Bran responding with a chuckle and ruffle of the hair.
With Sansa and her dreamy look, Egg rolled his eyes at her. She had a hard time suppressing her laugh.
After they've been properly introduced to the court, Visenya was crushed by Elia and Rhaenys.
Her Muna had said that she had grown with a twinkle of tears in her eyes. Rhaenys bombed her with questions, answers and everything of all sorts.
Her father just stood there. Like always. Looking at her with his melancholic eyes.
She often wondered if he hated her for taking Mother away from this world.
But then he'll smile at her. A sad smile like he was reminiscing some sort of memories. She smiled back at him with the best smile she ever had.
For the feast, Visenya helped Arya to dress. The gown she chose wasn't 'too girlish' for Arya's taste. A simple, grey wool gown was it with a snarling direwolf pin.
But she swears at that moment, her little cousin was the most beautiful sight she had ever seen. When she expressed her thoughts all she got was an
"You're stupid."
But there was a light pink on her cheeks. As she didn't want to rile up her more, she didn't point it out.
Arya let her help to put her hair down as the Northwomen often did. As Visenya always did.
She was sure Robb would get a heart attack seeing his little sister like this. She chuckled at the thought.
She had worn a gown of the classic colour of her father's house - Red and Black. She wore no jewellery.
The blue-silver rose proudly hung on to her neck.
As the feast was in honour of the Northern men, her cousins sat with her at the High Table. She sat in between her cousin and sister.
Sansa's face held disappointment.
"Maybe it's because Egg's too far away from her."
Rhaenys whispered into her hair.
Most of the time, she whispered to Robb. Visenya introduced the Lords and Ladies of the realm to him.
She looked to make sure that Arya and Bran weren't getting into any trouble. They had promised they'll be proper. In return, she would take them to meet the Sword of the Morning.
It was Loras Tyrell who asked her first for the dance. From the Tyrell table, Willas raised a glass at her. She offered a shining smile to him.
He was a good man. Intelligent and charming.
"He is too old for her, Rhaegar."
She still remembers Elia chastising her husband for even considering the match.
"Crippled too."
Aegon had put it in.
She had no problem with his disability. He was a good listener. She could talk to him for hours and her mind will have a satisfied feeling. Willas was like that old man with a thousand years of wisdom. If she wasn't in love, she would have agreed to match without any afterthoughts.
But now, Visenya has already built a family with Robb in her dreams.
She wants to make it a reality.
She danced with Loras for a song and chatted to him about his Knightship. He spurned her around to Steffon Baratheon, heir to the Stormlands.
"Princess."
"Cousin."
Robert may have fought against their House, but they were still bound by blood. He smiled at her. His blue eyes shined under the light from the candle bra above.
"Any reason for why you were gawking at my little cousin?"
His eyes showed his surprise and his jaw cracked.
"I... It's not what you think, cousin."
She let out a peel of laughter.
"Don't worry about me, cousin. Worry about Arya. That wolf has claws. She'll tear you up in pieces."
"Guess I'll have to continue the tradition of falling for a Stark girl."
She sighed internally.
"Don't worry, you won't have to fight a Targaryen this time."
"But be warned, cousin, She craves freedom more than anything. All you can do is try to convince her to stay with you."
If Robert had only done that, Lyanna Stark would still be alive, leading her life as the Lady of Storm's End and Visenya would have had the ocean-blue eyes of her cousin.
"Care to have a dance?"
Robb asked for her hand.
"You know I want nothing more than to dance with you for the rest of the eternity to come."
Robb chuckled at that.
"Is something funny?"
"No."
"Well, dance with me then."
He whirled her around as she chuckled slowly. Her hands were holding onto his chest while his was tightened over her waist.
"Father said he would send a letter to the Crown formally asking for your hand."
Robb saw his lover's smile widening at that. He again smiled at her.
"What?"
"Nothing."
She stared into his eyes and danced to the slow rhythm of the music. They danced as if the world was empty. Like there was no one else present. She didn't know how many songs they danced for, but they were interrupted by her father's toast.
"I'm so greatly glad to host the Starks and their bannermen at the Red Keep. I hope you will enjoy the stay, My Lords."
He raised a toast to the Northmen. She smiled at it standing beside Robb. She felt his hand's tightening over her waist.
"My children."
Her father called out. Her siblings left their company to join him at the higher dais.
With a small smile at Robb, while he loosened his hold on her, Visenya slowly walked up to the dais feeling all eyes on her. Her father graced her with an affectionate smile. Aegon held up his hand and helped her to stand beside Rhaenys and him.
Her father spoke up again.
"My Lords and Ladies of the Seven Kingdoms, I, Rhaegar Targaryen, King of the Seven Kingdoms hereby announce the betrothal between my children, Aegon, Rhaenys and Visenya as they are the Conquerors come again. They will bring glory to the -"
Visenya didn't hear about Rhaegar's announcing the might of their House. Or the cheers of the people gathered. She doesn't see Aegon's warm smile or Rhaenys concerned gaze. She doesn't feel her big sister's reassuring squeeze of her hand.
She had no focus on anything but a pair of blue eyes.
They were filled with hurt.
Robb found her on the shores of a pool a little far away from the Heart Tree of the Red Keep's Godswood. Outside the entry, Ser Jaime offered him a tight-lipped smile as he walked in.
The moon cast its light on the slowly moving water.
Visenya had her head bowed down into her lap. Her untangled hair moved with the rhythm of the slow breeze. Robb sat beside her immersing his legs in the water as she snapped her head up. He saw the tear-glistening face of the woman who held his heart. Her eyes were filled with tears threatening to spill out. He took her hands in his and kissed them and pulled her in. He felt his chest getting wet with her tears.
"I won't ask you to run away with me, Senya."
He spoke staring into the vast distance of water before him. She slowly raised her eyes at him. Robb saw the tears heavily moving down her eyes to her face while her lips offered a smile. He again felt the pressure of her body holding against his chest.
There were so many nights at Winterfell, where she lay curled around Robb telling him of her darkest fears, secrets, thoughts, opinions and so many more. He knew everything about her.
Her emotions, overthinking, and anxiousness.
Everything.
DUTY.
He knew that she would do her duty no matter what. She refused to do what her mother did.
'I won't ask you to run away.'
That hung in the air.
"I will talk with Father."
Her voice sounded rasped from all the sobbing.
"He can't just marry me off without my consent. I'll make him see sense."
He smiled hopefully at her while squeezing her hands tight. Robb spent the rest of the night with her in her arms as they both stared into the night sky.
Rhaegar and Elia were discussing the Tyrells when the guards announced Visenya's entry.
"Senya."
Elia's motherly voice interrupted the arguments she was memorizing in her head.
"Muna." "Father."
She took a seat facing the opposite of them.
"I have a request to make."
"What is it,?"
Elia asked
"I do not want to marry Aegon."
Elia was stunned to hear that. She always knew about Egg's love for Visenya. She had hoped that feelings were mutual.
"I've already announced the betrothal in front of the court, Visenya."
"It isn't my fault that you announced it before asking me first-hand."
She snarled like her snow-white companion.
"It doesn't matter. This is your duty as the princess of the realm."
"You are trapping me into a marriage that I don't desire just like they did with Mother."
Her father's eyes darkened at that.
"Do not compare my son to the whoremonger of a man who held no respect for your mother, Senya. Aegon is not a womanizer nor does he have bastards across the realm. He will make a fine husband to you, my child."
"I don't care. I'm not in love with him. Isn't that the reason enough? You went to war for the woman you loved, Father. Why can't I do the same?"
She shouted to her parent's faces.
She wouldn't. There were so many guilt-ridden nights in her life, while she lay staring at the canopy above her head, not complaining about Ghost's weight on her legs, she would choose.
Sacrifice everything for love or to whether to sacrifice yourself for life.
And the answer always remained the same. She always chose herself to sacrifice her life as the forgotten wife of a Lord's castle than to see her father, brother and a thousand others die. If her mother had known about the results of her actions, maybe she would have also chosen to be Robert's wife rather than run off with a married man.
She would always choose her duty.
But now she doesn't care. There is so much anger in her. So much pain. She wants to hurt someone. She wants to spill blood.
"You promised me., Muna."
She growled at Elia.
"Senya –"
She could feel another excuse coming on her way.
"Mother wouldn't have allowed this."
She growled at her father .
"She isn't here to tell us that isn't she? "
"And whose fault is that? "
She was angry. She was screaming all the arguments she had against her father when she first learned about the Rebellion.
"If mother had only done her duty, I would have been Robert Baratheon's—"
"Enough!."
The wine glass on the table crashed against the wall.
"Not another word about your mother."
The words were slow, stressing each word. For the first time in her life, she felt the fear of waking a dragon.
It doesn't matter. She also had the blood of the dragon.
Tears formed in her eyes due to the betrayal. But she refused to spill them out. She didn't want to be seen as weak. Visenya wanted to give the final blow in the argument.
"But you must know one thing, Your Grace."
She looked straight into her Rhaegar's eyes. His daughter's voice was icy as the wind that blows across the Wall.
"If the maesters or the maids inform you that I've been bled during my wedding night, just know that it was only because your son raped me.
Just like the Mad King used to do."
She left the solar before even fully registering what words came out of her mouth.
Jaime looked at the princess staring down from the balcony of her chambers. He had stood there like a statue when the argument had occurred.
"You would help me if I wanted to run away, won't you?"
It wasn't a question. She already knew the answer to that. She just wanted some reassurance. That someone is still on her side.
"Your wish is my command, Your Grace."
"We could either fly away on Starfyre but it'll be easy to spot a girl with a dragon. Words will reach your father eventually. We could escape by boat. I could acquire passages for us along with their loyalty too. There's nothing that Lannister gold can't buy."
She gave him a grateful smile.
"I'm scared Ser Jaime."
She told him looking into the clouds. And suddenly he is overwhelmed by the desperation he felt hearing the Queen's cries for help.
"Aren't we supposed to save her?"
"Yes. But not from him."
More than a thousand times he wished he plunged his sword into the bastard's chest at that moment. It was one of the small number of things that Jaime had regretted over.
"I'm already a Kingslayer.
I have no fear of spilling royal blood."
He would. If Prince Aegon has the same habits as his grandfather.
Visenya's eyes widened in shock.
"Jaime."
No Ser. Just Jaime. Just like that, she acknowledged his loyalty.
"Egg won't. He... "
No, he won't. He was just Egg. Sunny, silly, funny and protective.
"Men are fickle creatures, princess. There is always a beast hidden beneath. Aerys was good at the beginning. You'll never know."
Madness.
It is always seeded in the Targaryens. For the sake of his princess, Jaime prayed that Aegon's won't engulf him.
There was a tourney. In honour of the betrothal and the marriage.
She didn't care. If she did, she would have dressed up as a knight like her mother did.
She sat there like a perfect princess would. Straight, uptight, smiling at anyone who passed by. She was good at acting.
She had avoided Aegon like he was a plague. But Rhaenys could not be worked like that.
She had always followed her around. Holding her hands. Whispering she didn't know about anything. She wished she could believe her. She knew she couldn't blame her sister for wanting her beside her. She was being selfish like everyone else.
She was surrounded by a crowd of people who claimed to love her and still, she couldn't find one that she could trust.
There was archery, melee, jousting and many others. She sat there clapping when the crowd did as if she was a mere puppet.
She wasn't a puppet after all, wasn't she?
Around her, the world moved on. She sat there remembering what day or time it was, just looking at the Stark platform.
Sometimes, Arya sat with her explaining so many things which for all she replied with a smile.
The only moments her mind heart and mind would work was when Robb participated in the joust. She prayed to the Old and New gods. To the Seven and the Lord of the Light. She didn't know who will save her.
Aegon was participating to honour House Targaryen. She prayed for him too.
She hoped the gods wouldn't punish her for praying for Robb more.
Time went and rounds of joust were cleared and cleared.
She didn't know if it was her prays (it wasn't, if it was she would have been Robb's betrothed), skill or luck he won every round. So did Egg. And the final round was that.
Aegon of House Targaryen against Robb of House Stark.
"If Egg win ,either you or Rhae will be his queen, maybe both of them. If Robb win, it would be you. In both cases, you would be the queen, "
Her mind whispered darkly.
She prayed for them both. Hoped they won't hurt each other.
Every time the herald played the trumpet, she closed her eyes. The sound of the horse hooves aligned with the beat of her heart.
After the third call for the trumpet, there was a clash and Aegon fell on the ground. There were gasps around. She stood up from the dais to look.
Egg motioned to Father to show that he was okay. She raised her eyes at him. He just smiled at her.
Robb had removed his helm. He heard the swoons of the women around. His ribs felt painful from the hit. But looking at her eyes, he knew it was worth it.
He urged his horse forward to where the Royals sat. The king smiled even though his eyes didn't seem to have emotion in them.
"Robb of House Stark, I hereby announce you as the winner of the Tourney of KingsLanding."
Cheers were heard all around.
"You can now name your Queen of Love and Beauty."
It is a crown of blue and white roses intertwined with a stem with beautiful leaves.
The winter roses were blue as frost.
Huh.
As if someone already knew Visenya would be the queen. They were her favourites.
He took the crown in his tilt. The heart of the ladies around was beating with anticipation.
But Robb had only one queen. His eyes were fixed on hers.
"Princess Visenya, I proclaim you as my Queen of Love of Beauty."
This time was different from the last one when there was a crowning between a Stark and Targaryen. The only similarity was the silence.
But she didn't fumble with the crown given to her as her mother did.
She let out a hearty laugh. It was mixed with pain. But only Robb could sense that.
She placed the crown of roses proudly in her hair like the princess she was. The crowd slowly started to clap.
"Thank you for this cousin."
She smiled at him. It reached her eyes. Robb was happy about that.
"Well, it was only because of your favour, Your Grace."
He raised his hands to show off the shiny black ribbon. She had given it to him pulling it off from her hair on a night while she danced with him around the Godswood.
He replied with a smile. Her laugh was buried by the claps of the crowd surrounding them.
They would clap now and would whisper later.
Visenya knew.
But she wanted something.
An act of defiance.
The crowning made Rhaegar remember a lot.
Another Stark, Another Targaryen and a different time.
Most importantly, he realized who was the person who held his daughter's heart. He saw it in her eyes.
It held the same desperation Lya's held when he crowned her.
He ordered his Hand to increase the guards around Visenya's chamber.
Aegon was angry. Really angry.
His uncle would tell him stories of the dragon's wrath. He felt the anger slowly eating him. He wondered if this was how his grandfather went mad.
He didn't know whether he was angry at the Stark beating him or jealous that Senya had given her favour to her cousin rather than her betrothed.
Visenya was avoiding him after the betrothal.
He knew it.
He just didn't know why. Maybe she felt that she was forced into this.
He wanted to crown her. Talk to her during the opening dance. Just wanted to tell her she doesn't have to worry about anything.
That bloody Stark had to ruin it all.
He tried to quench his anger with some wine.
"So she gave her favour to her cousin but not you, her betrothed?"
Arianne snickered at him.
"Shut up or I'll—"
"Ari"
Rhaenys scolded her cousin. She slowly took his hand in hers.
"She would have been probably with her cousins when he asked for it. She won't think about politics or anything else. You know that. Don't overthink about it."
" Get dressed. We have a feast to appear."
"To see what, Visenya dancing with him?"
Arianne commented from the side. Rhaenys glared at her.
"What?"
"He is the winner of the tourney and she is his queen. They would open the dance and would probably dance for a long time."
"If you want, you can stay here and we'll inform my dear aunt that you are tired."
"Get out."
"Of course, Your Grace."
Arianne mocked.
Rhaenys left after squeezing his shoulders.
He didn't want to see her dancing with another man. He poured another cup of wine.
It was a few days after the tourney that Visenya realized she was flanked by two more guards than usual. When she asked Jaime, he just said
"The Kings orders."
Oh, how she hated her father at the moment.
She had spent most of her time with the Starks. She even slept with them.
She took Arya and Bran on rides around the beach.
Introduced Sansa to Margarey Tyrell.
Stared into those blue eyes.
Sometime during the day, she snapped at her father for her new additional guarding. She had promised Arya and Bran that she'll take them to see Flea Bottom. Even Ser Jaime had no issues but her guards didn't allow her because of 'His Grace's orders'.
She had barged into a Small Council meeting.
"My Lords, if you would just excuse us, I have a matter to discuss with my father."
They took their time for leaving mumbling about something that she didn't care about. Elia, Rhaegar and the King's Hand Lord Connington remained in the room.
"Can I ask why two additional guards are noticing my movements all day?"
"It's only for your protection, Princess."
Connington answered her.
"I asked it to His Grace, my Lord."
"They are for your protection Visenya."
"For my protection or to make sure that I won't run away?" "They won't let me see my cousins or go where I please. Haven't you already trapped me in this blasted place ?"
"I ordered them to protect you. And I'm the King. The King's will is the law".
She laughed at that. A cruel laugh.
"You think that would make me stay? If I wanted to run away. I would. There would be nothing you can do to stop me. At this moment, I could call Starfyre, Your Grace. He would burn this Keep down for me. And take me to where my heart desires."
There is a silence in the room after that.
She saw the fear in Elia's eyes. She doesn't mind. She was a dragon.
"But I'm not doing that, am I? I'm staying here obeying the orders you made as the princess of the realm would do. I'm not running away from my duty.
Just because I'm marrying your son doesn't mean I have to be happy about it.
Remove the guards from their duty, Your Grace."
Along the days, Elia called her to meet the seamstress.
She just stood there. She didn't give any particular likes for the cloth or design for her dress. Before Elia could start a conversation, she would excuse herself.
At night, she usually had Arya wrapped around her middle. She would lie there, hearing her light snoring.
She would close her eyes and hoped when she opens it again, it would be Winterfell. Where she lay curled around him in his warm bed.
When she opens her eyes, she will feel the tears running its course.
Her uncle Ned had reached the Red Keep a day before her wedding. She wasn't allowed to see him as they prepared her for the next day.
She had a light headache on the morning of the wedding drinking all that wine. She didn't mind though.
The maids woke her up early in the morning. They washed her, dressed her and readied her for the wedding. She didn't raise her voice the whole time.
The only time she did this was when they tried to remove the silver pendant from her neck.
"It stays."
She told the maid.
Time went by and she was standing at the Great Sept where Elia was bickering over her and Rhae's dress.
She stood there emotionless.
There was a knock on the door.
"Your Grace,"
Lord Stark addressed the queen.
"Uncle Ned."
She jumped onto him. Not caring about the dress or anything. He felt warm. Maybe because of his heart or because of the wool. Visenya preferred the first reason.
"Save me from here,"
She silently whispered into his doublet.
"My queen, if we could have some time."
"Yes, my Lord."
It was only after hearing the door close raised her head.
"I missed you."
"I missed you, child."
He smiled at her.
"Senya,"
He called.
"Look at me."
Steel grey eyes. Her mother's eyes.
"Do you want this?"
"No"
her mind was quick.
Visenya could see strength in those determined eyes. She could see the youth of the man who went on a war against the crown for his sister at sixteen name days.
But that's what stops her from saying no. Her uncle had already seen a lot of war and already lost a lot of people that he loved. She doesn't want him to lose more because of her.
So instead she says
"Yes."
"Are you sure?"
Those eyes implore her.
"Aye uncle, I am."
Before he could question her again, Elia calls out.
"My Lord, it's time."
He leaves her with a warm smile.
If only he had asked one more time, she would have said no.
She waits in the room for her father. He had to first walk Rhaenys down as she is the eldest.
She could feel Starfyre offering.
"Let me come for you, mother. We will go far away. We will fly far away where they can't reach us. Please."
She is tempted. Maybe she'll fly to Valyria and die like Princess Rhaena's child.
Before she could take up the offer, the door is opened by her father.
"Visenya."
"Your Grace."
He lets out an audible sigh.
He steadies the crown on her head and kisses her forehead. He stares into her orbs.
"One day you'll realize what I did now was good for you, Aegon and Rhaenys. Good for our realm."
"Yes, Your Grace."
She lets him take her hands and guide her to the altar.
She would never understand why her father did this.
Aegon stands at the altar waiting for Visenya and their father. He looked around to see the Lords and Ladies around him.
Rhaenys stands beside him offering some soothing words to calm down his anxiousness.
He loved them both.
But he knew where Rhae's interest lay. He was glad when his father announced their betrothal. Better than it was he knew about his sister's preferences rather than some Lord who would insult her for being 'too much Dornish'.
But Rhaenys could never make his heartbeat go on a wilder run like Visenya did.
He wished the wedding would be over and the Starks would leave the Red Keep.
He'll have to talk to her after that. He will make sure that she is safe. She is protected. She is loved.
Aegon's breath stops when he sees her.
She is in a gown of dark shades of red and white. It's a gorgeous thing. It clings to her frame. Her hair is unbound flowing freely. There is a crown placed on her hair.
But her eyes were not on him.
She stared at the statues of the Seven above the Sept. She saw Rhaenys's smile.
She looks sideways to look at her family. Ned had concern in his eyes. She smiled at him for reassurance.
There is nothing she could do when she meets those blue eyes.
She doesn't remember the wedding. Something had happened. She recited some words. Aegon had pecked on her lips. And then and there she was married.
The crowd cheered for the newlywed Crown Prince and Princesses.
She was married. In front of the Seven.
Not in front of her Gods.
God's, She hates feasts and dances.
This is her wedding. So she has to stay.
She stays there with a smile plastered to her face the while Lords show off their gifts to her and her siblings.
Her mind is blank. She stares into the door hoping someone would come and whisk her away.
She mumbles when Rhaenys asks her questions and eats and drinks a little of her plate.
It is Aegon who has her first dance. He already danced with Rhaenys.
It is their wedding night. So no one dares to ask her.
Still, in a daze, she takes up Egg's hand when he offers them.
He is too close to her during the dance.
Just like Robb does.
She doesn't feel her heartbeat increasing or butterflies in her stomach. Doesn't feel the blood rising to her cheeks. She doesn't feel the smile coming to her face involuntarily when it's him.
She just moves with the flow of the song.
Aegon blushes for the two of them.
"Are you alright?"
He asks after a silence.
"I'm tired."
She answers honestly.
She is.
"Just stay for a few minutes. I'll ask Ser Jaime to take you to chambers."
Oh her sweet Egg. Always making sure she was okay.
She smiled.
"Thank you."
They danced for a while. He lets her lean on him while he moved around.
He twirled her around to some Lord.
It was on her third dance that she gets to her uncle Viserys.
Her eyes light up with joy seeing him. Grandmother, Dany and Viserys had come from Dragonstone for the wedding.
"Viz."
"Senya."
He smiled at her.
"He is a good man Senya."
He told her after a silence.
Viserys was one of the few people who could see right through her facade.
"I know Viz. But not the one my heart desires."
"We are the ruling family of the Westeros Senya. We are not allowed to love. The faster your heart understands that ,the faster you will be able to adjust."
She excused herself from the dance after Viserys. She returned to her seat at the High Table and waited for some time until her absence won't be noticed if she left.
It was her father who announced it. Lord Stark was standing beside him and had a sorry in his eyes when they met hers.
"My Lords and Ladies, it gladdens me to announce the betrothal between the heir to the North, Robb Stark and my niece in all but blood Lady Allyria Stark. Ashara is a sister to me who advised and helped me during the darkest time of my life. I'm glad to give her daughter away to where she always belonged."
"In the North ."
Visenya felt a ton of weight falling on her heart and it shatters into a thousand million pieces.
She heard a lot of Ayes from the Northern Lords. They were happy to have her. Ally was a delight to everyone.
But what made her feel more and more pain were the genuinely happy eyes of her cousin.
She fled the room. She didn't care about the pairs of eyes that followed.
She wanted to cry so badly and she didn't want anyone to see. She walked fast to her chambers without acknowledging anything around. Ser Jaime ran to keep up with her.
She wiped her tears off her face. It was only after closing her chamber doors, she screamed.
If the maids heard her, they never did mention something happening like that.
She tore off her wedding dress. Threw her crown away.
She cried and cried.
It was her father. All of this. Everything was him.
God's anyone but Ally.
Please anyone but her.
If Robb's wife was some random daughter of a Lord, she wouldn't have cared.
It's Allyria.
Someone she cares about. Someone she loves.
That guilt will eat her alive. For loving her husband.
She would be the other woman in Robb's marriage. She hates herself for that.
She didn't sleep that night.
She cried for everything. She cried for herself.
Jaime stood outside her doors listening to her sobs.
Like always, he felt helpless.
When Ser Oswell came to relieve him of his duty, he stood there for a minute. He saw his brother grasping the princess's sobs.
He looked into his eye.
"Ser Oswell."
"Ser Jaime,"
He acknowledged back.
With a nod, he left for the White Sword Tower.
The secrets of the Royal Family were never discussed by the Kingsguard.
It was mid-day when Tyrion Lannister found the princess and her sworn shield at their usual spot.
"If this isn't my brother and his favourite person in the world!"
Jaime rolled his eyes.
"Don't worry Jaime I'm not jealous. It's good to have competition."
"Tyrion."
Visenya offered her smile, but it didn't have the merriness it always had.
He took his regular seat to her right and stared into the sea. He looked back at the girl and saw the blank expression in her eyes.
"Not happy about the marriage, are we?"
She snapped at him and glared at his brother.
"It wasn't Jaime, princess. Haven't I known you for the past five years or are we not friends?"
She sighed.
"Seems like nothing will change my Lord Father's mind."
"Run away to Essos or Pentos then, it won't be the first time a Targaryen princess had done it."
"Tyrion"
His brother warned.
"I didn't mean it as an offence, Your Grace. You could just fly away on Starfyre .I'm sure my brother would follow you to the end of the world to protect you."
The princess let out a mirthless laugh.
"If it only that were easy, My Lord. You are the smartest person I know, Tyrion. Tell me, what would happen if I'm to disappear with my dragon and sworn shield one night?"
There was a dead silence for some minutes.
"War."
There would be war Your Grace."
"Aye. The North Remembers. They will blame each other. There would be War. Haven't I already got enough blood on my hands?"
They resumed staring into the sea after that.
"I can help."
He offered.
"How? I'm not running away if that's what you mean."
He rolled his eyes.
"Not that princess, if you want some time away from the marriage and the Red Keep I could help you with that."
"How?"
"Well, you'll be sixteen on your wedding, old enough to take your responsibility as the Princess of Summerhall. I could casually mention it during the Small Council meeting to the King."
"Will it work?"
There is hope in her voice.
"Well the King loves me, so I could make it work."
The smile she offers for him at the moment is a genuine one.
"Finally a real smile!"
He rolls his eyes at the girl.
Visenya stubbornly took a book from the table.
She refused to cry to sleep. She has done that for the past six moons. She was tired of that.
The book was the writings of Maester Gwayl about the Tourney of her grandparent's betrothal. It was a gift from Ser Barristan for her name day. It was the tourney where Ser Bonifer crowned her grandmother as the Queen of Love and Beauty.
She'll ask for her to tell the story again.
By the time the book was opened and her eyes took in the words, she was slowly moving to her bed. The movements were interrupted by her sworn shield.
"Princess, Prince Aegon is here to visit you."
Her Knight's voice was cold and stern. His posture was like that when he heard someone whisper bastard behind her.
Oh .
It was her wedding night. She hoped and prayed her husband would entirely forget that he had a second wife.
She took a deep breath in.
"Let him in."
Aegon found her standing deep in her thought with a book in her hand. She was wearing a white nightgown she often wore to bed. He had so many times seen Rhae and Senya curled around each other in Rhaenys chambers. He would move away fastly without giving in to his cravings to look.
"Visenya",
He called out.
Her purple eyes fell on him.
"Egg I don't want to—" He blinked a few times to register what she said.
"What are you reading?"
He went forward and grabbed the book from her hand. Visenya thinks she saw a pink colour on his cheeks.
"Isn't this the tourney grandmother met Ser Bonifer?"
She nodded.
He flipped the pages while sitting on her bed.
"Did grandmother tell you how did they meet for the first time?"
"No".
Aegon got himself comfortable on the bed. She slowly moved to sit next to him on the bed.
"Well-,"
He started.
At that moment, they weren't Aegon and Visenya, the future King and Queen of Westeros. They were just little Egg and Senya.
Senya who always giggled with amazement when her brother told her different stories and Egg who loves to see the awe in her eyes.
It was her maids who woke her up. There was only a little light outside as the sun was taking its time.
She lay there feeling Aegon's breath on her neck and his arms tightened around her waist.
She rose from her bed and removed his hands without any mercy.
She dressed up and ate something that the maid offered her.
Exiting her chambers, she walked in the direction her mind took her.
The Starks were leaving for the North.
Visenya stood there watching Arya hugging Bran tight and promising to write to him about her adventures. She was staying with her as her lady-in-waiting or squire; the people could choose the title.
It was her red-haired cousin who greeted her first.
"Senya."
"Sansa."
She smiled at her.
"I wish Father had let me stay. It's beautiful here."
Sometimes she wished she could think as Sansa did. Never wondering about those shadows that follow you around under the sun.
"You are destined for the South, cousin."
She told something to make her smile. And smile she did.
She wondered if the Tyrells had reached out to her uncle about any betrothals. She was immersed in her misery to care. She would have to ask Varys later.
"Visenya."
"Uncle Ned."
She smiled at him.
His eyes were focused on her. She wondered if those dark grey eyes could see through her acts.
"The North and Winterfell will always be there for you."
'You can always fly back home.'
"I know."
She was grateful for that.
He pressed a kiss to her forehead. She wished Ned was her father. He wouldn't force to her marry someone she didn't desire.
"Senya."
Bran's voice was muffled. She ruffled his hair.
"Yes, my wolf."
"I'll miss you."
"Me too, my sweet."
"You'll come for Robb's wedding, won't you?"
And a thousand knifes twisted in her heart.
They were like making sure that she remembered what she never will be.
She will never be a Stark. She was born a Targaryen, she would die as one.
"Of course, my love. I would never miss Robb's wedding, would I? And when I'm there, I'll ask Uncle to let you come with me back to the South."
"You will?"
"Aye, I promise."
That calmed him down. He hugged her tight. Her uncle ushered all of them to the horses after that.
Now there was only one person left.
"Robb."
"Senya."
There were no mutterings of words between them.
She held on to him like he was the only lifeline. Like he was the reason she was holding on to life.
She'll have to let go of him eventually.
The next time they would meet, he would be another woman's. She is already another man's.
Nothing good is going to come in holding on to this. She knows that.
But not now. Not at the moment.
"Let me have this, "
She begged the gods.
He pressed her tight. He shouldn't. She is another man's wife. He is betrothed. Nothing matters right now.
"Maybe in another life,"
Fate whispered watching them.
"Maybe."
Time whispered back.
She stood at the City Gate watching the familiar mop of red hair going further and further away from her.
She screamed internally.
" me with you."
The more away he went, she felt as if the world was ending. She couldn't breathe. Her lungs were about to burst out.
She felt Arya's hands squeezing her tight.
And tears were forming in her eyes. She hated herself for being weak. Hasn't she already shed tears for a lifetime these past moons?
A guard by her side informed her.
"Princess, His Grace wants to meet you."
Those tears never left her eyes.
"Your Grace."
Elia looked at the impassive face and tone of her youngest. After their argument, it was only 'Your Grace'.
Not Father, Not Muna.
"You wanted me to meet you."
"Yes, I was thinking about Lord Tyrion's words at the Small Council. It is high time that you take your duty as the Princess of Summerhall. The maesters will help you run the castle. But there are decisions you must take for the well-being of your people."
"Of course, Your Grace. I will leave right now."
"I didn't mean right now Senya".
"Well it is my duty, isn't it? Duty as the princess of the realm?"
It was Rhaegar's words against him.
"I will be leaving now. I'll be taking my little cousin with me.
Good day, Your Graces."
She left ghastly as she came into their shared chambers.
"Just give her some time. Rhaegar. She is angry. Let her have some time for her."
Rhaegar heard his wife's slow whispers.
"I'll have to send Tyrion a thank you note with his favourite whores."
She muttered to Ser Jaime.
"Arya,"
She called out to her cousin who was waiting for her by the railings. There were going for a ride around the beaches after the meeting.
"What is your opinion of staying at Summerhall for a change? "
"Like right now? "
"Meet me at the Gates in half hour. Take only the important things. We'll have the rest there."
She hugged her tight and left her.
"I hate this place."
Arya whispered to her during the first week of her stay in the Red Keep.
"Me too."
She had whispered back.
She went back to her chambers to take something and write a note for Rhae. She hoped Egg was still asleep. She took a few minutes to scrabble some sorry notes to Rhaenys and took some scrolls and papers from her solar. Before she left, she made the pillows around Aegon's neck so that he won't have any pain when he woke up.
Without wasting any time, she went to Rhaenys 's chambers.
"Princess."
Her Kingsguard and Uncle Prince Lewyn Martell awkwardly greeted her. She saw the Martell guard's standing outside and guessed who was inside her sister's chambers. She didn't want to rouse her sister and her lover from sleep.
"Ser Lewyn, Please if you could give these letters to my sister when is awake."
"Of course, Your Grace."
They met Arya with her direwolf at the gates. She had a sling around her with Needle swinging by her side.
"Ready to get out of this place?"
"Gladly."
She smiled.
" You seem nervous."
Arya stated.
Did she? She felt like a fugitive on the run. She was going to fly away to Summerhall. Her parents knew. She didn't know if they knew she was going right at the moment. She just didn't want to face Aegon or Rhaenys when she was in heartbreak. She doesn't want to give answers to anyone.
Most of all, she wants to let him go.
"First of all, I'm not prying into your business like Sansa likes to say."
"Really? Then I think you have a twin at Winterfell because she loves doing that."
"I do not,"
She let out an exasperated expression. Ser Jaime snorted from behind.
"Oh, you know that I love you for that."
She ruffled her hair.
"For your question. I am nervous. I just want to get out here."
"We'll soon be."
"Princess,"
The dragon keepers bowed.
"Saddle Starfyre."
She went into the pit to meet her children. They made crooning voices seeing her. She offered all of them with neck scratches. She whispered to her sibling's dragons in Valyrian.
"I'm going to stay away for a while. Protect our blood."
They growled voicing their affirmation. She stood there whispering to them until the keeper informed her that everything was ready.
Ghost let out a disgruntled growl informing his disapproval of the flight. Nymeria joined him.
"It's a short flight. Don't worry."
"You too Ser Jaime. Starfyre likes you. He won't let you fall off."
"How am I to know that?"
"Well he hasn't tried to burn you yet, so you're on his good grades."
"Oh thank you, princess. That has really lessened my fear for the beast."
She chuckled.
Summerhall would be peaceful.
Rhaenys is with child.
It's three months after her stay at Summerhall she gets the letter from her sister. She doesn't know what to feel about it.
She's happy for her siblings and hopes it's a boy. Aegon should have his heir.
'Will you please return?'
Rhaenys asks in her letter.
She doesn't want to. She still hasn't figured out how to stop thinking about him.
Visenya finds Arya under a tree reading some books about Dorne. She lays there on her lap and her cousin's fingers dance across her hair.
It's like the role was reversed between them. Arya was the eldest and she was the younger one.
"Is something wrong?"
"Rhaenys is with child."
Arya stops reading and raises her eyebrows at her.
"Are we going?"
"I don't know."
"Do you want to go?"
"No,"
She mumbled into her middle.
"Then don't. "
"I can't ."
"You can. Sometimes you have to be selfish for yourself, Senya or else the world will stomp on your head."
"Stay."
She hugged her tight and saw the pile of letters sealed with Baratheon seal.
They were in correspondence.
Steffon doesn't ask Arya if she likes music or sewing.
He asks her if she is ready to accompany him on a trip across Pentos for trade.
He asks about her favourite style of fighting.
He will stand there gladly seeing her fly away knowing their hearts are safe with each other.
In all this, she is happy for Arya. She will be closer to her if there is any marriage between her cousins.
Visenya doesn't return to the Red Keep even after the Crown's Official announcement of the news.
Allyria writes to her once in every moon.
The day she reads her cousin's letter, she wouldn't be able to sleep.
Ally asks about everything.
What she should do, how should she act around the Lords? How to face Lady Catelyn.
She asks about things about her little cousins. Ally knows them but not like she knows.
She asks her about Robb.
Visenya writes back the day she gets the letter.
She writes about the little details of all her cousins. She advises about how to deal with Lady Stark and the lords.
Before sending them, she will look for any tear stains on them.
At the side of her table sat a set of unopened letters from Elia. Visenya knew that it wasn't Muna's fault.
That it was all her father.
But she still wanted someone to blame for her anger.
Rhae's letter was all about her pregnancy and her displeasure at that. How carrying the child was making her crazy. In some of her letters, she cursed Aegon several times.
Her sister's letters had her underlying anger in every word. For her stay in the Summerhall even after her pregnancy was announced to the realm.
The realm whispered of course.
They never stopped, did they?
They whispered about her departure two days after the wedding from Red Keep. That there was already a feud between the newlyweds.
In some stories she was the evil woman, in some it was Rhaenys.
Some of them whispered about a secret lover she met during the tourney. That Summerhall was the place for keeping him away from the Prince's wrath.
None of the stories had hit closer to the truth.
She opened a parchment to write to Aegon. He sends two letters in a moon.
He doesn't ask her what the reason for her prolonged stay is. Never asked when was she coming back to the Keep.
He asks her 'How did the court go? How were the affairs between the Lords? About the construction, about the various things that were taking place under the Crown's instruction. He will tell her about the things she missed at the Keep. He would tell her of Rhae's motherly intuition that it would be a boy. About how her children are gentle when they met the pregnant woman.'
Simple, daily activities of his life. He keeps her updated about it.
At the end of every letter, he writes that he misses her. And will tell her to be happy.
Just that. No questions asked. No answers are required.
It was like he already knew why was she staying away.
At Summerhall, Visenya immersed herself in things that required her attention. It was good to numb the pain in her heart. She didn't think about anything else.
She tried to be like an emotionless creature.
She woke up early in the morning. Took sword lessons with Arya. By that time the Maester of the castle would be present with a lot of issues that had to be completed. She would jump into it without giving any time to her mind reminded of her the similar situations that she shared with him in Winterfell.
She ate less and less spending most of the days in her solar, eyes jumping from one parchment to another in a matter of seconds. Only filling her stomach with something when Arya drags her out of it.
It didn't work out really.
One night when she was sitting with Arya in her chambers, all of the walls she kept building up broke down.
Arya was telling about her Winterfell. It was just a sentence.
"I wish it was you."
And that entire wall that she made up from her indifference to the subject crumbles down.
That dam of tears flows out.
Arya doesn't know what is wrong.
She told her what everyone else thought so. Even Sansa agreed with her.
It's not a common occurrence that the Stark sisters had a similar opinion on a matter.
She does know what to do.
So she just does the things Senya always did when she was sad.
Arya holds Visenya in her arms all the time she cried for.
She sighed.
Deep down she knew.
Robb and Senya weren't as subtle as they thought.
Visenya lay in her bed for days watching the sky changing its colour without care.
No whispers went out of Summerhall. All the maids and servants were handpicked by her grandmother. All of them sworn to Dragonstone and the Targaryens.
She only rose from the bed when Arya threatened her to eat and bathe.
Lying there, she questioned all the choices in her life. She must have cried a river of tears those days.
For all those days of ignoring the pain she had in her heart, she only made it worse.
It took several days for her to realize and accept the pain.
She accepted the pain and the fact.
There will be no Robb in her life.
She had to adjust and live with the truth.
That made it easy.
She didn't know how many days she was cooped up inside.
One day, she felt the need to feel the sunshine, and wind and hear the songs of birds chirping.
Jaime was surprised to see her outside. Visenya's laughter filled the gardens of Summerhall as she played with Ghost and Nymeria.
It was a start.
Arya took her to various spots in the Keep she found during her adventures while Jaime tagged along.
Slowly, her eyes began to shine when she smiled.
The pain never went away.
But she found ways not to think about it without exhausting herself.
There was a knock on her door in the middle of the night.
She was scared for Rhaenys. Childbirth was a heavy toll on both of her mothers.
"Is something wrong, Maester Marywn? "
He is an old man. Old but wise and loyal to her father's house.
"Nothing to worry about, Your Grace.
Princess Rhaenys has given birth.
A boy.
The princess named him Daemon in honour of the Rogue Prince."
That was a good name.
A strong name. The Rogue Prince was the perfect balance of madness and greatness.
"Maester, if will please tell the keepers to saddle Starfyre. I will be returning to the Red Keep."
"Of course, Your Grace."
The old man had a grandfatherly smile on his face.
She dressed up fast.
"Please inform Ser Jaime and my cousin of my departure in the morning."
"Yes, princess. I hope you'll return to Summerhall soon, Your Grace"
"I hope so,"
She replied and smiled at him.
It was still dark outside by the time she reached KingsLanding. She only left the pit after giving an insane amount of love to her children. She asked the keepers if there were any dragon eggs.
Vēzos had laid a clutch. She will choose one after asking Rhaenys.
It's Ser Arthur who greets her at the Gates.
"Ser Arthur."
"Princess."
He questioned the absence of her Kingsguard with his eyes.
She shrugged.
"I flew soon as I heard."
He accompanied her into the Keep.
"Was it long? "
"Yes, Your Grace. But there's nothing to worry about. Prince Oberyn had acquired some midwives from Essos. They helped the princess. "
"Thanks to whichever God did that."
Ser Arthur chuckled. They were in front of her sister's chambers.
"The Red Keep missed you, Princess. "
"I did too."
Her sister was sleeping soundly on her bed. Beside her, there was a cradle and she saw a puddle of blankets wrapped.
A maid came out hearing her movements.
"I'll look after them,"
She dismissed the maids.
She went to her sister and sat on her bed. She wiped her forehead with the water and cloth. She pressed a kiss to her crown and whispered a silent sorry.
She knew Rhaenys would really, really be angry at her in the morning.
It's best not to wake the sleeping dragon.
She looked into the cradle and saw purple eyes staring back at her. The babe blinked a few times.
She took him out of the cradle and pointed to the empty cradle.
"We will have to place a dragon egg for you, won't we, my little dragon?"
He smiled at her. She pressed a soft kiss to his head.
"Your Muna is sleeping. I'm your Muna too. You can call me Muna Senya or Senya Or anything you want, love. "
"Shall we sleep now?"
She asked him.
She hummed a slow Northern lullaby. She had learned some for Old Nan to make her little cousins sleep. She walked around the room holding the babe to her chest.
Aegon had entered Rhae's chambers hearing a sweet lullaby and saw her.
Visenya was standing by the window whispering the song to her chest.
He missed her.
Her little laughs and smiles. Her gaze with amazement and happiness. Her touches. Their little fights. Her scowl and frown and her little eye rolls.
"Senya."
She turned around and smiled at him. Her hair was tangled by the wind.
But her eyes were different.
They seemed calm.
He stood there looking at her for a while. He fears that if he moves quickly, she'll be scared and run away. He doesn't want her to. So he takes slow steps and moves closer to her.
Close enough to feel her warmth.
"He looks like you."
She whispers looking at the sleeping babe. He smiles at them. He hugs her slowly from behind and kisses the crown of his babe.
He is glad when she relaxes against him after the stiffened posture for a while.
Aegon stands there savouring the moment.
When Elia visits Rhaenys's chamber, she sees all her children and her only grandchild asleep.
Egg sleeps on the couch. Little Daemon is asleep in the cradle.
When looks to make sure that Rhae is sleeping as well, she sees Senya glued against her sister's side.
Visenya and her siblings had flown to Winterfell for her cousin's wedding.
Little Daemon or Dae as Rhaenys nicknamed him was tightly bound to his father's chest.
Allyria along with Ashara and Arya had already left for the North moons prior.
She doesn't know if she could stand there and watch it happen. But Robb did it for her. She would stand at his wedding only showing pain in her eyes.
They were greeted by the Starks per custom.
"Visenya."
"Robb."
There was just that.
She could have hugged him. He was her cousin. No one would have questioned.
She couldn't.
She was scared.
She won't be able to let go if she allowed him to immerse her.
Visenya would feel his gaze during the wedding preparations. At the dinner table. At the yard.
It took all of her strength not to look back.
If she did, she would stare at him all day.
She would have done that if not for Aegon, Allyria and the Lords of the North.
Winterfell knew about their love.
They've all seen the stares and small smiles of their princess and little Lord.
But now, it's different. They shouldn't.
She's now Aegon's in every way.
Not her heart. Not her soul. But everything else was his.
So she keeps her distance from the inferno which was their love.
She has no complaints of burning from it.
She yearns for it.
But it'll hurt others. She is trying to avoid that.
"Are you happy?"
Ned asked her on the first night of her stay.
"I am."
She replied.
They both knew it was a lie. Still, she answered with a smile.
"How was Summerhall? "
It was not a why. She was glad about that.
Ned already knew the answer to that question.
Instead, she told him of all the fun and adventure she had with Arya and Ser Jaime. She told of the things she learned. Of skirmish Lords of her seat.
He sat there and heard all her ramblings just like he used to do when returned from Vale to home. Then it would be Lyanna doing the rambling, not her daughter.
Two days after her arrival, Visenya stood at the Godswood of Winterfell beside her husband and wife. Dae was squirming in his mother's hands.
She stood there staring at the Heart Tree.
Maybe the Gods didn't hear her prayers. Maybe they were acting deaf.
Last night when Rhae and the other girls were making Ally go red with all those crude jokes, she excused stating she was not feeling well.
She lay with Arya trying not to overthink. She focused on her cousin's voice and her tales of her journey to the North.
Ser Arthur was to walk Ally down the aisle. He had accompanied Ally from the South.
Allyria was wearing a dress of aligned purple and white, the colours of her parent's house. Her purple eyes seemed to twinkle with happiness.
They will have beautiful purple-eyed babes.
"What will we name her if she has my eyes?"
She asked him laying on his chest while her fingers drew patterns on it.
"Well, if she is fully Valyrian, we can name her Rhaenyra."
"Rhaenyra ?"
She questioned.
"She'll be Rhaenyra Stark."
Too bad that the child won't be born in this world.
Visenya felt like the world was spinning around her. She held on to Ser Jaime's hand to stand straight.
She looked down when Robb kissed his wife. When the wedding was over, the Lords and Aegon moved to Great Hall for the feast.
Rhaenys stopped her.
"Are you alright? You look pale Senya."
"I know. I haven't eaten anything in the morning. I'll just go and see the Maester."
"I'm coming with you."
"No, no. They'll notice if both of us are not there. Go with them."
I have Ser Jaime with me. I'll be back soon."
She left there without allowing Rhaenys to question her.
She lies with her eyes closed when Maester Luwin checks her.
She told him about the headaches, vomiting and displeasure to eat certain foods.
Luwin smiles kindly at her.
"May I ask you something, princess?"
She nods.
"When was the last time you bled?".
Her mind goes blank. It tries to gather information.
"I... I don't know."
"You are with child, Your Grace."
He offers her a comforting smile.
It was two weeks after her return to the Red Keep. She is looking after Daemon while Rhaenys is having some time for her.
Elia watches her play with the child.
"When will be you giving me a grandchild?"
Visenya doesn't answer for a long time.
But she has accepted her fate. That doesn't mean she'll forgive King Rhaegar for what he did.
"There is no need."
She replies.
"Aegon already has an heir."
"Jaehaerys and Alysanne had thirteen children and not one of them was there for the Old King's death."
I'm not saying such a tragedy will fall on our House , Senya. It's all always good to have more children running around the Keep."
Elia sits closer to her youngest.
"Senya, I promise you Aegon would be a good husband to you. He will be respectful and will ask for your permission for everything.
"Well, there was another promise you made, Muna. You never kept it, did you?
"Don't make promises that you can't fulfill".
Visenya snarled. She just can't forget the betrayals.
"This isn't a promise I should fulfill because it's truth. Aegon loves you. Haven't you noticed? "
"You run away to Summerhall two days after your wedding and he never questioned that you did he? He never asked you why. Now, you are here. Did he do anything that made you feel uncomfortable? " "If it some other Lord your father arranged this match with, you would have been with child now. He would force himself on you without your consent."
"Please Senya, Give him a chance. Let him show his love for you" .
She heard her Muna's sigh.
"I also was once in love you know.
Elia tells her. She didn't know that.
"He was a knight of one of the vassal houses of Dorne. Charming and daring, my sworn shield was. Doran would never allow it. I knew. Still, I loved him. I was still thinking about him when I said the vows in front of the Gods.
Rhaegar and I were strangers in the marriage. There was no love between us. He respected and cared about me in the marriage and I did the same. I couldn't lock myself in a room and mourn for my lost love. I had duties and responsibilities as the Crown Princess of the realm. You are that now.
We made this marriage work Senya. There wasn't love until Lya came. But now we do."
"Egg already loves you. I want you to be happy. He can make you happy. Just let him. I don't want to see you despite this marriage lifelong".
That night when Aegon comes to her chambers, she guides his hands through her body.
When he kisses her, she stands still and bites down the urge to push him away.
She lets him have her.
He had fought off his animalistic urges and was soft with her. Mumbling words of comfort and asking if she was in pain every time.
Everything a maiden could ever ask for.
But still, her heart wished it was someone else.
When the morning ray of light enters her chambers, Visenya is still staring at the patterns of the ceiling above.
Aegon is wrapped around her preventing her from moving.
Her mind is in chaos. There are a thousand emotions in her and she doesn't know what to feel.
Guilt, sadness and a sense of relief.
It is sealed now. The rest of her life will be by Aegon's side. She will be his loving wife and a doting mother to his children.
A drop of tear went down her cheeks.
"Princess,"
Maester Luwin calls her slowly shaking her shoulders.
"Do you want me to inform the Prince?"
"No, no Maester. I ... I want to tell him."
"You are good to go, princess. Just make sure that you don't drink any strong wine. It's harmful to the babe."
"Thank you, Maester Luwin. "
She doesn't know what to feel about the child she is carrying.
She had to return to the feast to keep up appearance.
"Is everything alright?"
"I'm fine Rhae."
Visenya sat beside her and saw the newlyweds dancing around. Her eyes take in a sad glint watching Allyria laughing at something her husband whispered into her ear.
Seven moons later, on a cloudy morning, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen was born on her ancestral seat of Dragonstone while dragons flew around the island roaring for the birth of their blood.