Immortal Dragon ON HOLD

Chapter III

The following day, after finishing her sword training, Rhaella once again sat with her father in the clearing. She folded her legs beneath her and looked up at him eagerly. Today he had promised to answer the questions she had been waiting two days to hear.

Mikael smiled down at her. "Alright, little dragon," he said. "You have waited patiently for this story, so now I will tell it." Rhaella grinned excitedly as he began. "This story begins with King Jaehaerys Targaryen, the Second of His Name, and his sister-wife Shaera. In the beginning, both of them were actually betrothed to different people."

Rhaella frowned slightly. "Why?"

"Because their father, King Aegon the Fifth, had grown to dislike the Targaryen tradition of brother and sister marriages," Mikael explained. "He wanted to end the practice. But Prince Jaehaerys had always believed in the old Valyrian traditions, and he was in love with his sister, Princess Shaera."

Rhaella frowned, not knowing how someone could fall in love with their own sister.

"Shaera loved him as well." Mikael chuckled softly. "Their parents noticed this quickly and tried everything they could to keep them apart. But their efforts only made the two of them more determined. So, when their older brother, Prince Duncan, broke his own betrothal and married a common-born girl named Jenny of Oldstone, Jaehaerys and Shaera took the opportunity to do the same."

"They slipped away from their guardians and secretly married one another."

Rhaella listened intently. "What happened then?"

"King Aegon was furious," Mikael said. "But the marriage had already been consummated, which meant it could not easily be undone So he had no choice but to accept it. But the decision angered powerful houses like House Tully and House Tyrell, whose daughters had been promised in those marriages."

Rhaella nodded slowly. "And then they had children?"

"Yes," Mikael said. "Three children."

"The eldest was Aerys, then their daughter Rhaella, and finally their youngest son..."

Mikael paused slightly before smiling. "Mikael."

Rhaella's eyes widened instantly. "But Father... that's your name."

Mikael chuckled. "Yes, little dragon. It is." He continued. "Aerys and Rhaella were later betrothed to one another by their father and married as teenagers. Neither of them truly wished for it, but they had little choice. Their father was the king and as for their younger brother Mikael... there was no sister left for him to marry. So, he was never forced into such a union. With the death of their father, Aerys inherited the Iron Throne and became King Aerys the Second, and Mikael, being the younger brother of the king, joined the Kingsguard."

Rhaella leaned forward excitedly. "So, if that is your name... does that mean this story is about you?"

Mikael nodded. "Yes, Rhaella. This part of the story is about me."

Her eyes lit up immediately. "So, if your brother was the king... that means you were a prince!"

She paused. "And if you were a prince... does that mean I'm a princess?"

Mikael laughed warmly. "Yes, little dragon. It does. You were named Rhaella, after my sister."

"And I call you little dragon because out of all your siblings, you are the only one who inherited the full Targaryen look."

Rhaella's platinum hair shimmered faintly in the sunlight as she grinned up at him. "I'm a princess?"

Mikael leaned down and kissed the top of her head. "Yes," he said softly. "You are."