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On the shores near King's Landing, Shaera stood with the rest of her family and several others in front of the pyre built for Queen Aemma and her son Prince Baelon. She was saddened by the sight. So many women around her had been taken by childbirth. Her own mother included. She knew better than anyone how that felt. She sympathized with her niece.
Syrax sat atop a cliff nearby, waiting for the signal to set fire to the pyre. Everyone around them stood in silence, mourning the death of the queen.
Rhaenyra stood in silence, tears threatening to spill from her eyes. She felt a hand place itself on her shoulder and she turned to see it was Rhaegon. "They're waiting for you, Nyra," He spoke to her in a soft tone.
"I can't bear to see her go," Rhaenyra spoke softly and Rhaegon sighed, sending the girl a sympathetic look.
"I know..." He trailed off as he glanced down at the ground, "But you must."
Rhaenyra remained still as she stared blankly at her mother's corpse as well as her brother's. "I wonder if, during those few hours my brother lived, my father finally found happiness," She confessed, speaking in High Valyrian to him.
"Your father needs you," He replied in the same tongue, "Now more than ever. You are his sole heir."
"But I will never be a son," Rhaenyra whispered and Rhaegon smiled, shaking his head.
"Fuck it. You're still the heir to the throne and none shall change that. Don't let them forget it," He assured her and Rhaenyra nodded. He always knew how to make her feel better.
She stood a deep breath and moved closer to the bodies. "Dr..." She began to say but had to take a deep breath first to prepare herself. She stayed silent, breathing heavily as she tried not to cry. She turned to her father, whose eyes remained fixed on the bodies.
She had. Even if it was just for her father.
She turned, forcing herself to remain strong. "Dracarys," She announced loudly and Cerax moved down the hill before setting fire to the bodies.
Viserys forced himself to look away, as did Rhaenyra. Neither could bear the sight of the ones they loved most being set aflame.
____
In her chambers, Shaera laid in her bed, staring up at the ceiling. She was unable to fall asleep. All she could think about was the fact that Aemma had died. She had never been close to the woman but she did know she made Viserys happy. It was she who convinced Viserys to not force Shaera to remarry again. And in the few days Shaera had spoken to her, she was nothing but kind.
Hearing the door to her chambers open, Shaera sat up. She relaxed when she saw Viserra enter the room wearing her nightclothes. "My love, what's wrong?" She asked, knowing there was something had to have been wrong for the girl to come to her mother at such a late hour.
