Cousin Strong - Aemond Targaryen - ON HOLD

The Beginning

Kyannis was only eight when she was requested by her elder cousin to come to Kings Landing with him. "You need to experience life more Annis." He said, placing both hands on her shoulders. "But I'm perfectly fine in Harrenhal, I can train here freely, no one will question what I do here!" She replied, a dissatisfied look on her face.

Harwin laughed lightly, "Just once darling." He said fathering the girl. She looked up at him throwing her head back, then her arms in the air dramatically, "Eugh fine! Take me with you peasant." She said cheekily.

⚔

In her eight years of life Kyannis had never left Harrenhal, so to the child Kings Landing was the most shocking thing she had ever seen.

"Larys" she half shouts, making the man turn to her, to the best of his ability. He smiles at the young girl, "I see he convinced you to come." Nodding reluctantly she hugged the man, she saw both her cousins as brothers, and they saw her as a sister. "Be on your best behavior Annis" he said raising the inners of his brow, "The Queen is about."

"What!" She said, her eyes widening. An actual Queen!
It seems that it hadn't even crossed the girl's mind who would be living in Kings Landing despite being told countless times by Harwin that she needs to behave when she arrives.

It seemed that hours had passed as the girl swapped between following Harwin and Larys through the castle and despite all that wondering she had not yet seen the Queen. 

"You've been catching flies all day Annis," Harwin says looking at the girl over his shoulder. "This place is like something out of the books I've read," she said looking at the ceiling. "Oh I forgot you can 'read' now" Harwin laughs.

"Hey! It's not funny I can read, and I can fight, I'm better than you." She says jumping up and grabbing his armour-clad shoulders.

"Okay! Okay! I'm sorry, I apologize. You can read, I know," he says holding his hands in the air. Hopping down from his shoulders she walks ahead of him.
"Annis don't wander off!" He says, watching the girl disappear round the corner. Jogging slightly to catch up to her he turns the same corner only to find the corridor empty. "Great..."

The young girl was in too much of a daze to notice her other cousin in front of her. They collided harshly, knocking each other back. "Oh sorry Larys, I wasn't watching where I was going." She says looking to her cousin. He smiles at her lightly before looking to whoever was behind him, Annis lent to her right slightly trying to see who it was without being rude, but much to her dismay all she could see was part of a green dress. She stepped forward, now stood next to her cousin, and held onto the side of his shirt, causing the conversation to cease.
"Who may you be?" The woman asked.

"Annis" she starts only to be interrupted by Larys. "Kyannis Stong, cousin of the family your Grace." He says looking from the eight-year-old to the Queen.

Again, her eyes widen, and before she can stop herself she speaks. "You're the Queen! Thee Queen!" She says looking up at Alicent, whose mouth had fallen open.
"You beautiful, I've read stories about Queens and you're prettier than how they describe!" She rushes out, too excited to calm herself.

"Annis! You are talking to a Queen, have some manners" Larys scolds, not wanting his cousin to embarrass him.

"Actually you can be excused, I want to walk with the little lady." Alicent says, her eyes not leaving the girl.

The pair walk quietly as Annis thinks about what she wants to ask.

"Your Grace, I want to apologise about my...Outburst before. I was just to excited." The young girl says looking to the woman.

In return the Queen smiles, her hearts feeling warm, it had been a long time since she felt truly appreciated, and she didn't want to let that feeling go.

"It's okay, when I was girl I read to. Many books." She replied, thinking back to when her and Rhaenyra used to sit under the tree together.

"I am led to believe you are staying here then?" The Queen asked.

"I think so, I am unsure on how long but my cousins and uncle wanted me to leave Harrenhal."

"Why would they want you to leave your home?"

"I haven't ever left Harrenhall, not truly."

"Oh, why is that?" Alicent asked curiously.

"Well your Grace, my mother passed during my birth. Leaving only Father and I, when I was four my Father and some knight when hunting, for leisure. They came across a village getting attacked by bandits. According to the surviving knights, he fought valiantly and sacrificed himself to save another family, which in return left me without one." She said, a weight slipping off her shoulders, it had been a long time since she spoke on the story of her family's demise.

The walking of the Queen stopped, "So while your Uncles and Cousins are here at Kings Landing, who is with you at Harrenhall?" She asked, ready to mother the girl.

"A few knights and two maidens, are all that come and see me. The other people at Harrenhall are busy working."

"Oh sweet girl." The Queen says reaching for Annis' hand. "What do you do all day?"

"I train with the Knights, despite being a girl. The Maidens used to teach me how to read, and sew. However, now I can read, and find more joy in drawing than sewing so I only see the Maidens when it is time to bathe. Apart from that, I spend my days in my room."

"Alone?" The Queen asks, her eyes glossing over.

"Yes, your Grace."

"Sweet, sweet girl," Alicent says pulling the girl for a hug. That same feeling of loneliness having followed her too during her years as the Queen.

"You shall stay here, and share with my Helaena." She says placing her hands on either side of Annis' face.

"Thank you, your Grace, however, I wouldn't want to be a bother."

"Oh hush with all that nonsense, it will be fine." She says to the young girl.

🗡️

🗡️