Disclaimer: I do not own A Song of Ice and Fire.

A New Dragon II

"Talking"

"Thinking"

Rhaenys

If she ever gained the ability to go back in time, Lady Rhaenys Tully would do so just to smack her younger self across the head.

She had been born a princess, the firstborn daughter of King Rhaegar Targaryen. Men had looked upon her, the Sun Dragon, with awe and longing. Westeros would be hers when her father finally went to the gods, hers along with her sister and her brother. That was what he told her when she sat with him in his private study as a child. It was something she had looked forward to, readied herself to be when the time came.

But when it came, she didn't become queen. No, instead her brother sent her off to Riverrun, to marry Edmure Tully. From Princess of the Seven Kingdoms to the Lady of Riverrun.

And, as she stared out at the Red Fork from her private quarters, she knew she had no one to blame but herself.

When she was a child, all she knew of her little brother was that her mother didn't give birth to him. Her septa had taught her that meant he was a bastard. Despite what King Rhaegar had proclaimed, many in the Red Keep thought of Aegon as one. And she didn't like how he kept trying to follow her and Visenya around, always wanting to be a part of their play.

The first time she pinched Aegon during their lessons, she knew the maester had seen them. Yet he only scolded Aegon for making noise and had him try to answer a question he didn't know. There was no blame placed on her. It only encouraged her to continue the abuse. Which led to mockery of his efforts or insulting him with her cousins. When she wanted him to do something and he refused, all she had to do was grab him by the hair and whisper "You'll do as I tell you, little brother."

Visenya had her own ways to torment Aegon. Back then, those days had been fun, full of good memories. Just her, her sister, and their adventures with their friends. Aegon became an afterthought. Everyone saw what they were doing and did nothing to stop them. If Aegon tried to make friends, they were there to either scare the person away or bring them to their side, pushing him further away.

She sighed. "I was such a fool." Whenever she thought of those days now, the good memories were ash. When people thought of her or Visenya, they didn't think of the beautiful daughters of Rhaegar the Kind, the future queens. They only saw the evil girls who abused their brother, the king's son and the Crown Prince, when all he had done was try and be their brother.

"Milady, Lady Alysanne is here," said the guard outside.

She turned from the window. "Let her in." A harsh pang struck her heart when her daughter walked in. She and Edmure never truly loved each other but they were willing to work together for the sake of the Riverlands. She gave him three children and that was enough. Yet as much as she loved all three of them, it always hurt how each of them took after their father.

"You wanted to see me, Mother?" Alysanne asked once the door closed.

"Yes. As you know, Lord and Lady Baratheon will be arriving soon, with Rogar." There was a hint of something in her daughter's eyes, but it was no matter. "The king will also be attending."

She brightened at that. "Uncle Jon's coming?"

That name hurt Rhaenys. It wasn't a proper Targaryen name, not like his actual name. Yet only the people close to the king, close enough to be considered friends, could call him Jon. All others could only call him Aegon. Rhaenys was one of the latter, along with the rest of House Targaryen. "Yes, but remember, call him Your Grace or King Aegon." Protocol had to be acknowledged, even between family. "Remember to stay close to Rogar throughout their visit. At the ending feast, your betrothal will be announced."

It was a plan kept secret between House Targaryen, away from the king's sight. Before they were scattered across Westeros, Queen Rhaella and Queen Elia revealed to their children what Aegon had planned: to become the greatest king Westeros had ever seen, only to die childless. What would come after horrified them, especially since he believed it would be because of them. So, they took steps to avoid his future.

They wrote to one another and over the years, crafted a web around the king. Rhaenys's daughter would marry Visenya's second son while Daenerys's son would marry the daughter of Viserys. And the children from those unions would marry. Their union would produce the perfect heir to the Iron Throne, especially if Aegon lived as long as he planned to. Once he died, all they would have to do reveal the child, citing his heritage as proof to his right to the crown. He would take the name of Targaryen and continue their rule.

Alysanne had that look again. "What is it?" Rhaenys asked her.

"Mother, you know how I feel about Rogar," she started.

She dismissed the rest. "And it doesn't matter." Besides, what she felt was that of youth. It had been nearly two years since they last saw each other in King's Landing. Rhaenys was sure their feelings would change. "You will marry him, Alysanne."

"But—"

Her glare silenced her daughter's outburst before it could start. "What are our House's words?"

Alysanne scowled as her teeth tightened beneath closed lips. "Family, Duty, Honor," she all but spat out.

This wasn't the first time they had this conversation. But by the Seven, it would be the last. "And you will do your duty to this family by marrying Rogar," she said, every inch the Lady Tully she was. She didn't know why her daughter kept protesting this. The betrothal had been set for years.

Alysanne's scowl stayed as she looked away. Rhaenys didn't like how her daughter and reached out with a loving hand. "I'm doing this for you, sweetling, for your future." Alysanne said nothing. She turned around and left, despite not having permission to do so.

Her mother didn't stop her. Rhaenys knew she didn't like what was happening. She didn't like it when it happened to her. But it was the way of the world. At least this way Alysanne would have the best future.


When Lord Lyonel rode in with his family and retinue, Rhaenys welcomed her sister with warmth. Motherhood had been good to Visenya as it had Rhaenys. They spent the welcoming feast sitting together, sharing old jokes and tales from their lives. And after their husbands slept off their drink, Visenya found her way into her sister's bed.

This was nothing new to them. After their father took them into his confidence and told them of their destiny, it just made sense. They were already going to share their brother when they were wedded, why not share each other? Their first night together had been awkward, since neither of them really knew they were doing. But the following nights were all the sweeter. Rhaenys had tried a few other partners over the years, but her heart belonged to Visenya, same as her.

But even as they laid together in her bed, the night air cooling the sweat off their skin, they knew a third part was missing. When King Rhaegar told them of what was coming, he also told them he knew what they were doing to their brother and chastised them. It was unbecoming of princesses and sisters, he said. Aegon was a part of their lives, just as they were a part of his. They should be guiding him, being there to help take the weight of the crown when it became too heavy for him.

They had never been chastised like that, and it stayed with them. The more they thought about it, the more they understood their father was right. They had treated their brother horribly, for no reason. So, they promised before the gods to do better. When they heard the news that their Nuncle Oberyn was to take Aegon as his squire, Rhaenys boasted about him to her brother while Visenya asked Oberyn to show Aegon a few things before it became official. Oberyn was all too happy to do it, wanting to see if Aegon had promise. It should've been the start of a good relationship.

Instead Aegon vanished and no one knew where he had gone until the king announced he sent his heir to foster in his mother's homeland. It was only years later they knew it was a lie to hide the fact Aegon had ran. But then, all they knew was their brother was gone, and they didn't have a chance to apologize. Even as they grew and became women, learning from both their father and their mother, they missed their brother.

Some of those feelings lingered in their hearts, only to grow a thousandfold when they finally heard the king was approaching Riverrun.

For years highborn and smallfolk had praised Aegon for his rule, saying that he was blessed by the gods and a worthy successor to the Conciliator. Rhaenys had yet to see if that was true, but she did see that he looked a king. He wore no crown on his brow and there was hardly any red on his clothes. All that blackness, he could've been mistaken for a man of the Watch. He didn't even carry Blackfyre or Dark Sister. Yet his presence, the way he held himself as he rode his courser with his direwolf by his side, no one doubted he was the king.

Rhaenys waited until he approached her and Visenya. He had grown taller again. His hair stopped at his neck, and he had grown a beard. Unlike Lord Lyonel's beard, which hung down to his chin, Aegon's was cut close to his face yet still remained full. It made his grey eyes seem brighter. She liked the look. Back when he first returned from the North, she understood why her father had fallen for Lyanna Stark. The fact was still true, all these years later.

The king came before them. "Lady Tully," he said in that quiet Northern tone. "Lady Baratheon."

"Hello, Aegon," Rhaenys said, bowing her head. When it came up, it was with a warm smile. "We've missed you." This was the first time she had seen him since he became king, over twenty years ago.

He said nothing in return, instead moving on to her children. It might've been silent, but it was still a dismissal, one that told everyone what the king thought of his sisters. Didn't stop them from watching him. "He must still take to the yard," Rhaenys whispered to her sister. She didn't see an ounce of fat underneath Aegon's clothes.

"I imagine so," Visenya replied. Her eyes wandered around the yard and hardened. "They're all staring at him," she all but hissed in silent anger.

Her sister didn't need an explanation. Despite Visenya's demureness and kind manner, she was the jealous one between them. She had never liked it when men had looked at her sister with lust, nor had she liked it when women had done it to their brother. She may have been called the Morning Star once, but she had a dragon's fury if properly provoked. Not even their own aunt would've been safe.

But nothing would happen here. Even though plenty of noblewomen, both unmarried and married, eyed their brother as if he was a grand prize, the king did nothing in return. Just as he had all these years. He had never married, never taken a mistress, and there were no bastards of his running around.

She touched Visenya by the elbow, to reassure her. "Nothing will come of what they want, sister," she whispered.

"As it shouldn't. He's ours."

She hid her grimace well enough from others. "Not anymore. We lost him a long time ago." Another reason she would smack her younger self.

When Aegon had returned from Winterfell, Dark Sister belted at his side, Rhaenys and Visenya had been stunned. A boy had left them and in his place a man returned. A man who stood with a silent authority that drew people in, wanting to hear what he might say, and a body that knew battle.

It might not have been love at first when they saw their brother again, but it was certainly lust. They weren't the only ones. Daenerys made no attempt to hide how she watched Aegon. If they didn't do something soon, she would. When Rhaenys and Visenya saw their father take Aegon aside, they were sure he was being told that they would be married. So that night, they snuck into his chambers via the secret path behind the fireplace.

Dressed in smallclothes made of Myrish lace that highlighted their curves, they snuck into his bed, taking a side each. Aegon woke up thanks to their hands. Once he was, Rhaenys leaned down and kissed his temple, whispering about their future and how magnificent it would be, of the sons and daughters they would have. Visenya let her do the talking while her hands traced soft shapes in his skin.

They had certainly done enough to make any man's blood run hot and take action. If Aegon had, they wouldn't have stopped him. But he just laid there in silence. When they finally left, promising him they would be there for him, they had thought he didn't react because he was being honorable. It certainly left a hungry little fire in their bellies.

It was only after Aegon's coronation, when their mother yelled at them for being reckless fools, that they learned the truth. Their brother hadn't been enticed by their seductions but scared. So scared that he fled the Red Keep again. Oh, he might've prettied it up as traveling across the kingdoms in the name of the King, but he fled all the same. And the times he returned to King's Landing over the next three years were few and far between.

If there was any true emotion Aegon had left for them, Rhaenys was sure it would be disgust. The North and his Stark kin had corrupted him into thinking what was meant to be was wrong. It didn't matter that they were Targaryens and therefore different from the rest. He had no love for his sisters.

In the years since the coronation, she had raged in private about how he had dismissed them so, how he ignored what should've been theirs together. But now, she could live with it. So long as that hatred was never extended to their children. And as far as she could see, it wasn't. She watched as the king smiled at her youngest, Oscar Tully, as he proclaimed he was going to become a Kingsguard. It was an uncle's smile, filled with warmth and interest in what his nephew would do. It certainly made her smile too.

A small hope held itself beneath her heart. Perhaps, by the end of the king's visit, things would be better in her family. Her brother won't be so cold to her or Visenya. That he would see them as the family they should've been.


The king's visit was short, hardly more than a week. For Rhaenys, it was all but a disaster. Her brother spent all his time with Edmure and Lyonel or the other lords of the Riverlands, as well as listening to the grievances of the smallfolk. No time was left for his sisters, not even when they tried to make time. Everyone else praised the king for being diligent and honorable, working to improve the Riverlands. Rhaenys saw it as being shunned and was angered by it. A feeling shared by her sister.

Then came the last feast and the king made a toast. He thanked Riverrun for their hospitality and their loyalty to Westeros. Her husband preened at the words. Rhaenys chose to listen. And because she did, she heard words that ripped her world apart.

The king announced that Alysanne would marry Gwayne Oakheart and Rogar would Jena Dondarrion. While Riverrun's hall roared in approval, Rhaenys sat in quiet shock. This wasn't what was supposed to happen. Her daughter looked her way in smug satisfaction. She knew this would happen. She wanted it to happen.

And the king had allowed it.

That fact ignited her fury. After the feast was over, she made her way to the king's chambers. The Kingsguard at the door couldn't stop her before she slammed the door open. Her brother sat at his desk, papers in hand. He didn't even look surprised when she entered. The wolf didn't move from where it rested by the fire. "What is it, Lady Tully?"

"What was that?" she demanded.

"I'm sorry, my lady. Could you explain?"

"Alysanne!" she snapped. "She was supposed to marry Rogar!" Everything had been set. Her husband had agreed with the idea years ago. The only way it could've changed was if the king had intervened. "What did you use to convince Edmure to change her betrothal?"

He put the papers down. The look in his eyes held no fury but cool contempt. "I did nothing," he answered. "Alysanne was the one who talked to her father. She met Gwayne during her fostering in King's Landing and they stayed in contact. I'm surprised, my lady. I would've thought you'd seen the benefits of her marriage."

Of course she could see the benefits. She had been taught the game by her father. With their marriage Riverrun would have better trade standings in the Reach, thanks to Ser Gwayne's mother being Margaery Tyrell. Which in turn could be channeled into the Crownlands and King's Landing because Alysanne being the king's niece. It was quite well done.

But that didn't matter. "She had been pledged to Rogar," Rhaenys all but snarled at Aegon. "It had been set for years!"

"…I wasn't aware you wished to see your daughter dead, my lady."

Those cold words froze her fury. "What?"

He hadn't moved an inch from his seat. "Alysanne and Rogar despise each other. Have for years, ever since they were sent for fostering in King's Landing. He thinks she's a twit. She thinks he's a bore. And being in each other's company has only heightened their hatred. If they had married as you planned, I do believe one, if not both, would've been killed."

Rhaenys didn't believe that. She couldn't believe that. She knew her nephew. Yes, he could be loud and boisterous. But that was just the Baratheon in him. He wouldn't hurt Alysanne. They were kin. She scowled at the king. "You did this," she accused him. "You set them against each other, made sure this hatred would fester."

"No, my lady," he replied. "You did this. You and your sister. You were the ones who set them along with Gerion and Victoria to me to foster, encouraged them to be close regardless how they felt. All I did was be their uncle and offer advice." Then he smirked, a challenge. "Or are you angry that your little breeding project died on the vine?"

She went still at that question. There was only one reason why he would ask that. "You knew?"

The king nodded. "For years. Ser Rosby was loyal to me first and Grandmother second, and he had the maester on his side. The moment you all started your plan, I was aware." He leaned back, relaxing by a few degrees. "In case you were wondering, Gerion and Victoria aren't going to marry each other. Gerion is looking in the Westerlands for a bride and I believe Victoria is interested in one of the Mormonts."

Which meant instead of Targaryen blood coming together, it was scattering across Westeros. And since Aegon knew of the plan, he would ensure that it wouldn't be attempted again. The future Rhaenys had tried to avoid was coming true, right before her. And her brother knew it. His challenging smirk was still there.

Perhaps, she dared to consider, there was another way. "You must marry, Aegon," she told him. "This has gone on long enough. You must think of the future of our house."

The smirk turned a shade amused. "I wasn't aware I was a part of House Tully."

Her fist slammed against the table. Even as the sound echoed around them, he didn't react. "You know what I meant, Aegon! House Targaryen stands on a knife's edge. You must marry and have heirs. That will secure our position for future generations."

Her brother didn't say anything for a long moment. Rhaenys hoped that her words got through to him. Then he said, "I am already wedded to Westeros. And I am a faithful husband. I will not cheat or take a second wife." Those words could've sounded romantic, even honorable, to anyone who didn't know the king or played the game.

But Rhaenys could hear the spiteful defiance underneath. "Aegon—"

"More importantly, what happens with my house is no concern to you."

The dismissive tone angered her. How dare he act so? "I am a Targaryen." As much as her mother tried to raise her knowing her Martell cousins, she was her father's daughter first. She was Rhaenys Targaryen, and she wouldn't let anyone forget it.

"Not for the past twenty years, you haven't," he rebuked. "You've been Lady Tully the day you married Lord Edmure, the same as Visenya being a Baratheon or Daenerys a Lannister. You might have the blood, but you don't have the name. Your children seem to have understood this. I'm surprised and disappointed you haven't."

That was a low blow. As much as Rhaenys had tried to prepare for Alysanne for her future, she left Axel and Oscar to their father's care. Axel was nearly a man grown and a dutiful son, to his father. To him, it didn't matter if he had blood of House Targaryen. He was a Tully first and that was his duty. By any other definition, Rhaenys should've been proud of her son. And she was. But he should've been more than just a Tully.

The king went back to his papers and reached for a quill. "If you don't have any important to discuss, Lady Tully, you may go," he said. "My retinue and I will be leaving for the North come the morning and I have messages from King's Landing I must handle."

It treaded the line of courtesy, to be dismissed in her own castle. But he was the king and had decided their matter was finished. Rhaenys stared at her brother, but his eyes stayed on the papers while the quill scratched against them. Ghost raised his head just enough for her to see, his red eyes watching her. The silent warning was enough.

She drew what remained of her pride and said, "Goodnight, brother." He did not reply.

As she left the room, she glanced at the Kingsguard from before. She didn't recognize him, which was surprising. Guarding the king in his personal chambers was a duty regarded to the senior members of the Kingsguard, usually those who were his closest confidants. Where was Ser Oswell? Ser Arthur? Ser Barristan?

The answer came to her after a moment's thought. It had been twenty years since the coronation. The odds of them have died were good, whether it was in their beds or in battle. Of course, the king would replace them with men he knew.

Men he trusted.

And with the way the Kingsguard eyed her, not with longing or lust, but as a possible threat to his king, with his hand on his sword hilt it was clear to see he did not consider her a part of the royal family.

Rhaenys did not flee the king's chambers. She walked away with the grace and dignity given to her as a princess. She needed to find her sister and they had to reach out to Daenerys and Viserys. There had to be a way to fix this and secure a better future for Westeros. But doubts lingered in her heart. It felt as if no matter what they tried, Aegon's doom bore down on them all.

End

Author's note: Thank you for all the reviews you've sent me.

Here we have the other side of A New Dragon, and what happened afterwards. The Seven Kingdoms are slowly but surely making their way out of the Medieval Age. Everyone thinks Westeros is on the raise and things can only get better. Of course, they aren't aware of what comes after Jon dies.

Yes, Rhaegar knew what was happening with Jon. He didn't do anything because as king, he couldn't take sides with his family, not where the court and the servants could see. Once he was felt his daughters were old enough to be told of the prophecy, he would've admonished them in private for their actions. After Jon became a squire, Rhaegar would've also talked to him privately, apologized for his supposed apathy and assured him it would never happen again. The problem was he waited instead of handling the problem immediately.

If you remember back to the first chapter, Jon told Rhaenys that she would do as he told her. He was essentially throwing her old tormenting phrase, a phrase she hadn't thought about since they had been children, back in her face. The only difference was that he didn't pull her hair doing it. Why would he when he had Ghost?

People see things differently. That's a known fact. And it can be interesting to see how different they can be. It certainly was when it came to Oberyn. Rhaenys tried to be her uncle's hype-woman for her brother so he could be excited for becoming his squire. Jon just remembered her talking about how dangerous the man was. Visenya wanted Oberyn to teach Jon a few things, so he decided that a few pointers about how a spear would work. All Jon saw was a man he was certain despised him talking about the different ways he could kill him with a single weapon.

We also don't know what Oberyn's view on all this is. He might hate Jon like he thought, or he was interested in seeing what his new squire could like Rhaenys and Visenya wanted. It could be somewhere in between. But we'll never know since Oberyn never actually appeared here. And what happened in Jon's quarters after he returned speaks for itself, on both accounts.

While Rhaenys does regret what she had done as child, she still believes she should've been queen. Yes, she would've smacked her younger self if she went back but she would also instruct her on how better to treat her brother and ensure he doesn't send her or Visenya away. But since she can't do that, she and the rest of the family settle for readying their children. They just happen to make mistakes in the process.

The first was none of them told their children what the plan was, only who they were going to marry. The second was sending them to foster with the king. Sure, it would make sense. A chance to foster with the king while getting to know your kin, all with the concept of bringing noble sons and daughters together to forge bonds? Many would've accepted what they saw and didn't wonder more. The children didn't. They developed their own opinions about their cousins, including dislikes. And where was Jon during this? Watching while ruling. If one of his nieces or nephews came to him for advice, he'd give it. Just nothing about marriages or relationships.

Another mistake everyone made was they were still thinking as Targaryens but their children weren't. As far as they were concerned, their duties were to their father's house and the country. So, what if they had the blood of the dragon? None of them held the title of Prince or Princess. They never even consider themselves in line to the Iron Throne. Not when it felt their uncle would always be there, ruling.

While they were sure things were fine, the nobles would've noticed that the king hadn't married and would've started angling for their daughters to get noticed. It wouldn't work. Jon remained committed to being single. After a while, he would've gotten annoyed by the women trying to get his attention. If they kept trying, they would've found themselves caught in a scandal that would've forced them out of the capital and married to a less advantageous position (case in point, Margaery Tyrell). If they thought he was more interested in his own sex, it would've ended in the same way, albeit not with a marriage. Loras Tyrell would've either ended up at the Wall or exiled to Essos, Renly would've been exiled but only after sent back to Storm's End so Stannis could punish him for the idea.

I'll see you all next chapter!