THE LADY OF THE VALE

Chapter Two

Archmaester Gyldayn

Following that wedding in 114 AC, the Lady Alysanne became loved by the realm and by the King and Queen. She became a firm member of their family and was raised as if she was the Queens own child. She spent her days with the other children of the Red Keep but often favoured her cousins Aegon, Aemond and Helaena to the boys of Princess Rhaenyra. This was likely due to the Queen Alicent's dislike of the brunette boys also. Unlike Alysanne, Jacaerys, Lucerys and Joffrey did not hold the purple eyes of old valyria which only further added to the speculation of them being the bastard children of Ser Harwin Strong, this and the fact that they did not share a singular feature which looked like Ser Laenor Velaryon. The Lady of the Vale held the Targaryen beauty, it was something that only ever became more clear as she aged. She was regarded as one of the most beautiful women in the entirety of the Realm by the age of 12, when she got her first blood it was obvious many Lords in Westeros would wish to take her as their wife.

Often it was seen that she was with Prince Aegon Targaryen, walking around the gardens of the Red Keep, watching him train in the yard and spending time with his dragon in the Dragon Pits. The pair were great friends in their youth but their relationship was one that was rocky. Marriages kept them apart, rumours rocked the Red Keep and in the end their love was a one that met tragic end.

Lady Alysanne

120 AC

Age 12

Standing between Aegon and Aemond I looked on as the dragon keepers brought out Vermax, the dragon of Jacaerys Velaryon for training. Vermax was a beautiful dragon of gleaming green scales with red wing membranes. Dragons were such pretty beings, I wished to have my own more than anything in this world but still after six years my black egg had never hatched, no matter how hard I tried. I imagine it was something that pleasured my father, seeing me not have a dragon ever since his accusations against my mother who he murdered all them years ago. He looked my in my lavender eyes and told me I was not his even though he knew I was, I could see it in his face. I did not understand how a man could be so cruel to his own blood. I was torn away from the thoughts of Daemon when a yawn came from my cousin Aegon beside me. I quickly slapped the green tunic which covered his chest and looked up at him, my eyes telling him to be respectful to the young Jacaerys dragon training. Aegon only looked back into my eyes with his plum ones and gave a smirk. I rolled my eyes as my cheeks flushed red.

I dusted my dress of blue and brown as I watched Vermax be unchained and walk to his master Jacaerys. My dress was one that the Queen Alicent had had made for my recent name day. It was the usual pale blue colour I loved to wear so much, it had flowing sleeved and flowed outward slightly at my skinny waist. Over the top of my dress was a brown leather corset with thin straps that laced up at the front letting the blue fabric show through slightly. I always remember my mother wearing colours of bronze and brown, its what got her the lovely nickname of the Bronze Bitch. Gods was Daemon Targaryen a cunt. The Velaryon boy spoke out his commands and his dragon followed, I smiled as the training of Jace was going well. I felt the eyes of Aegon looking at me but I remained facing forward.

Vermax let out a little roar as a goat got brought up the stairs of the pits and tied beside him. The dragon crawled toward to goat ignoring the calls from Jacaerys. I watched in awe at the prowling beast.

'You must make your dragon obey, as Prince Aegon has with Sunfyre. Once they are fully bound to you they will refuse to take instruction from any other' I glanced at Aegon when they mentioned his name and he once again smirked at me. His dragon Sunfyre was the most beautiful one I had ever seen, his golden scaled glistened like none of the others.

'Can I say it?' Jace asked the dragon keeper with excitement. I looked to Aemond who stood next to me, he looked sorrowful and it was likely because like mine his own egg had not hatched. We were both dragonless Targaryens. It was something I believed he was more embarrassed about than I was. Jacaerys turned around and looked at us as Aegon nodded his head to his nephew.

'Dracarys Vermax' Jacaerys instructed. The flames of the young dragon lit up my face as it burnt the goat and began to feast. I continued watching the dragon eat the remains of the goat when the words of Aegon pulled me away.

'Aemond we have a surprise for you' He put his hands on the shoulder of his brother as I looked on in curiosity. Aegon and the Velaryon boys had always made fun of Aemond for not having a dragon, they though he was a weak Prince. I felt sorry for him most of the time when we were in the dragon pits. He was treated in a way that I was not, he was bullied by them.

'it's something very special' said the five year old curly haired Lucerys before he ran off down into the caves of the dragon pit. I walked behind the three other boys as they followed to where Lucerys had ran off too.

'You do not have a dragon' Aegon started as Aemond responded in a questioning manner as to why he cared. Already I did not like the feeling in my stomach at what Aegon and the boys were about to do.

'We felt badly about it' Aegon replied but I knew he didn't. I spent enough time with my cousin to know that was a fact, he loved being the only one of the Queen's children to have a dragon, it made him feel special. 'We found one for you' He continued as I sighed from behind and anxiety crept up my spine at what they could have planned for Aemond.

'A dragon, how?' Aemond asked with curiosity believing that his brothers and nephews had found him one. When the boys stopped walking at the top of the ramp to the lower ground I stood beside Aemond glancing at Aegon with a stern look. He looked at me with his plum eyes for a moment before looking down the ramp he said that the gods provide.

Looking down the ramp, a strange noise came from below. It was not a dragon but I could not tell what it was until little Lucerys ran up the ramp with a giant pig that had fake gold wings strapped to it. My heart sunk for Aemond, I could tell he believed them when they said he had a dragon.

'BEHOLD THE PINK DREAD' Aegon and the Velaryon boys announced before breaking into hysterics at the sight. I did not laugh. Instead I grabbed the hand of Aemond and gave it a squeeze of reassurance that he was not alone.

'Pay no attention Aemond, we will have dragons one day' I told him as he gave a small smile to me before I let go of his hand and began to leave the dragon pits and return to the Red Keep. Aegon followed me and the two brunette boys followed him while Aemond remained staring at the pink dread.

Prince Aegon

Jealousy coursed through my veins as I watched Alysanne hold the hand of my brother and give her reassurance to him. She had not laughed at the prank I had played on Aemond and it made me frustrated. She felt sorry for him, although I suppose she likely sees things different not having a dragon either. My heart sank at the thought that maybe my own little prank had hurt her feelings as well. When I saw her walking from the pits I ran behind to catch up with her making our way out the back doors.

'Alys, apologies if my prank to Aemond has upset your feelings, that was never my intention' I gave my wholehearted apology as I walked beside the pretty girl.

'Your prank was a cruel one cousin, you should give Aemond a break once in a while' She scolded me as she continued walking not paying me anymore attention. I felt jealous at the way she was defending him, but I suppose she had been correct. We continued our walk back to the Red Keep in silence as the guards guided us home. She smiled to the smallfolk around and they bowed there heads. She was loved by the realm for her beauty and her grace. The realm did not really love me, well not in the way they adored her.

It was the only thing I related to the smallfolk on for I too adored the Lady of the Vale.