(DISCLAIMER: graphic depictions of birth/labor pains, language, and sexism/misogyny. TRANSLATIONS ARE IN ITALICS)
Loud screams echoed through the stone room as handmaids rushed around the room. The youngest handmaiden rushed to her princess's side, dabbing at the sweat staining her neck.
"Leave me," Princess Rhaenyra commanded weakly. The handmaid flinched and backed away, watching as the princess paced around the room.
"Princess-"
"Get the maester," Rhaenyra snapped, moving toward the bed. "The babe is coming." Rhaenyra lay on the bed, gripping the sheets in her hand. Moments after the handmaid left, she rushed back into the room with the maester at her side.
"Princess," the maester stressed quietly as he rushed to her side.
"He's coming," Rhaenyra grunted in pain, curling her hands into fists until her knuckles turned as white as her hair.
"Yes, he is, Princess," the maester spoke, lifting her dress, watching the head crown. "Just brea-"
"Fuck breathing," Rhaenyra snapped. "Get him out!" Rhaenyra leaned back, screaming in pain as she pushed. The maester scrambled forward, reaching for the baby's head as it slowly pushed out.
"Princess," a handmaid mumbled, placing a wet rag on her forehead. Rhaenyra moved, grabbing the girls hand in hers. "Breath." Rhaenyra glared at the handmaid before sucking in a sharp breath. Her hands clenched as she pushed once more, screaming in pain.
"Once more, Princess," the maester commanded, his hand moving to support the babe. Rhaenyra panted before pushing, teeth gritting in pain. Rhaenyra heaved in a heavy breath as her child's cries filled the air.
"Let me see him," she commanded tiredly, holding her arms out. The maester looked from the baby in his hands to his princess before wrapping a thin sheet around the baby.
"Yes, Princess," the maester said, placing the child in her arms. Rhaenyra wrapped her arms around the child, placing her hand under its head.
"Is it-"
"A girl," the maester said, folding his hands in front of him. Rhaenyra let out a shaky breath before smiling down at the baby in her hands.
"A girl," she sighed happily. She gently shushed the baby, moving the sheet to place her against her chest.
"Do you...have a name, Princess," a handmaiden asked quietly. Rhaenyra nodded, eyes focused on the small baby.
"Aemma."
~*~
Rhaenyra held Aemma in her hands, slowly walking around her empty chambers. She quietly hummed a song to the small child, only looking up once the door open. She gave a small smile to her husband, Laenor Velaryon, before looking back to her daughter.
"A girl," Laenor breathed happily. "Are you alright?" Rhaenyra merely nodded in answer, staring into her daughter's large, brown eyes.
"She's beautiful," Rhaenyra hummed, watching as her daughter blinked up at her. Laenor shifted on his feet, clearing his throat awkwardly.
"The, um, King is on his way to visit you," Laenor said. "He'll be here soon." The door opened as Rhaenyra looked at her husband. Rhaenyra's father, King Viserys, limped inside the room, leaning against his cane.
"Father," Rhaenyra hummed, turning her body toward him. Her eyes skimmed past her father, landing on the Queen.
Alicent Hightower, a girl who used to be her friend, stood next to her father, her hands folded against her stomach, lips pursed as her eyes ran over Rhaenyra and the child in her hands. Rhaenyra pulled the child close to her chest, standing straighter at the girls calculating gaze.
"Let me see her," her father demanded gently, lifting his free hand. Rhaenyra moved her eyes away from Alicent and stepped toward her father. Rhaenyra moved slowly, placing the small child in his arm.
"Aemma," Rhaenyra spoke. Viserys paused, an emotional expression washing over his face as he lifted his head to look at Rhaenyra.
"After-"
"Yes," she answered. Viserys smiled slowly before looking back down at the child, watching as she smiled up at him.
"She has her father's eyes," Viserys hummed. Rhaenyra and Leanor shared a quick glance before smiling and nodding.
"Indeed she does," Leanor hummed. Viserys laughed, glancing back at Alicent, watching as she gave him a tight lipped smile.
"Aemma," Alicent hummed in question, looking down at the baby before looking at Rhaenyra. Rhaenyra nodded. "Strong name, indeed." Rhaenyra swallowed at the small insult but composed herself quickly.
"After my mother," Rhaenyra answered. "You remember my mother, correct?" Alicent' face shifted as Rhaenyra glared at her.
"I pray she never experiences any hurt the way my dear Aemma had," Viserys hummed, ignoring the war the two girls were waging with their faces.
"I won't let her," Rhaenyra said, tearing her eyes away from Alicent. Viserys looked up from Aemma, eyes falling on Rhaenyra's determined face.
"Hurts come from every corner in the world, Rhaenyra," Viserys said. Rhaenyra's face grew cold and stony as she stood her ground.
"My daughter will not experience the hurts of the world," Rhaenyra demanded. "I won't let her."
~*~
Rhaenyra moved around her empty room, quietly singing in High Valyrian. She could hear the soft cooing from Aemma in her crib as Aemma touched the back of the dragon egg, feeling if it had cooled.
"Tolvie targārien iksos blessed rūsīr nykeā zaldrīzes's drōmon skori pōnta're āzma," Rhaenyra spoke as she moved toward Aemma's crib. Every Targaryen is blessed with a dragon's egg when they're born.
"Ziry kostagon daor hatch lo ao ȳdra daor pāsagon. Aōha zaldrīzes jāhor hatch se ziry jāhor sagon rōva, kostōba, se adere. Aōha zaldrīzes jāhor mīsagon ao skori nyke kostagon daor. Skori aōha zaldrīzes iksos daor konīr naejot mīsagon ao, aemma, remember bona ao emagon se ānogar hen zaldrīzes. Ao issi issa zaldrīzes. Ao issi issa dōna hāedar," Rhaenyra cooed as she placed the dark red egg in Aemma's crib, watching as Aemma laughed and pulled the egg toward her. It may not hatch if you don't believe. Your dragon will hatch and it will be large, strong, and quick. Your dragon will protect you when I can not. When your dragon is not there to protect you, Aemma, remember that you have the blood of the dragon. You are my dragon. You are my sweet girl.
"Sleep well, sweet girl," Rhaenyra commanded gently, running her finger over her cheek. Aemma smiled at Rhaenyra, wrapping her hand around Rhaenyra's finger. "Being a first born daughter will be difficult enough. But, being born a Targaryen with...plain features will bring challenges I have never had to face. The world is cruel to young girls, but I promise to protect you with all I am. No one will hurt you, Aemma...my sweet girl."
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Heartless || House of the Dragon/Game of Thrones
Fanfiction"Somewhere far Along the road They lost they're soul To a woman so Heartless"
