The Realm's Fright | HOTD S1 | Fem!OC x Aemond Targaryen Fanfiction

Chapter Three

"It's nice to finally meet you, cousins Rhaena and Baela," Alysanne said, her voice warm, though her gaze lingered on the twins with a curiosity of her own. Rhaena and Baela turned their eyes toward her, the lilac hues of their gaze gleaming in the sunlight. They were mirror images of one another, but with slight differences—Rhaena's gaze more distant, more thoughtful, and Baela's bearing tinged with the sharpness of a girl already grown too used to hardship.

"Princess Alysanne. A pleasure to meet you at last as well," Rhaena replied, her voice soft but steady. "I am Rhaena, and this is Baela."

Alysanne took her place beside Rhaena, smoothing her aquamarine dress beneath her, though her thoughts were elsewhere. Jacaerys, already seated beside Baela, offered her a sideways glance before he returned to his quiet contemplation. The tension in the air between them all was palpable, like a strand of taut string, yet no one dared to speak of it outright.

"You may call me Alys," she continued, her tone light despite the heaviness that seemed to settle over the group, "and my brother Jacaerys—Jace, if you prefer. After all, we are family."

"Of course, Alys," Rhaena responded, her voice polite but distant, her gaze fixed on the distant horizon. It was a moment before Alysanne realized that Rhaena's glance, though seemingly idle, was avoiding her—avoiding the depths of her stare altogether, and a fleeting thought crossed Alysanne's mind: they've heard the rumors. Perhaps they even believe them.

But Alysanne pushed that thought aside, straightening her back and smoothing the ripples of unease within her. A proper princess, she reminded herself. The rumors would fade with time. She would make them fade, or silence them completely.

"I am sorry for your loss," Alysanne said softly, lowering her voice as a gentle wind swept through the air, carrying the scent of the sea. "I never had the honor of meeting Lady Laena Velaryon in person, but you must have loved her dearly."

As her words hung between them, the haunting melody of Sitharax's song echoed from the cliffs above, rising like the voice of some ancient siren, alluring and sorrowful in equal measure. The sound curled through the air, as if the dragon herself could feel the weight of the conversation. Alysanne swallowed, feeling the sting of her own emotions, but she pressed on.

"Your dragon sings beautifully, Alys," Rhaena said, her voice tinged with awe as she gazed upward. "Like a siren."

Alysanne's chest swelled with pride, though she could not entirely mask the unease that gnawed at her. "She does have a voice, doesn't she?" she replied, her lips curling into a smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "She loves to sing, especially on days like this."

"And she is not mating with your brother's dragon, is she?" Baela's voice cut through the air like a knife, sharp and pointed. The question hung heavy in the space between them, and Alysanne caught the look that passed between the twins—a look too laden with meaning for her to ignore.

Jace, catching the undercurrent of tension, grimaced, his face flushing with an indignation that was equal parts embarrassment and irritation. "Certainly not, cousin! I'm sure Sitharax is merely in the mood to sing. She loves it, especially when the weather is... as lovely as this." He forced a smile, one that felt strained, as if it were pasted on with a layer of haste. "It is indeed a lovely day, wouldn't you agree?"

The words fell flat, and Alysanne exhaled a long, heavy breath, her patience thinning. "Forgive my brother," she said with a touch of exasperation. "That was rather rude of him. By the way, have you had your luncheons yet?"

Rhaena's response came swiftly, but there was something in her tone that didn't sit well with Alysanne. "Oh. We're not hungry," she said, her eyes never quite meeting Alysanne's.