The day was warm and just beginning when the screams of agony began echoing through the halls of the Red Keep, and they didn't end until well into midday. My brothers and I were told to avoid our mothers' room until the labours had ended, so while we waited, Jace, Luke and I went to fetch and warm the new babes' egg.
I make my way back from the Dragonpit before my brothers do. As I round the corner to my mother's room, I see my mother walking out of her room, the fresh babe in her arms and my father, Ser Laenor, by her side.
"Mother!" I rush quickly to her, worried for her safety, "what are you doing? You should be resting."
"She wants to see him," she tells me, pushing past and continuing onwards.
"At least let me escort you," I said, taking her arm and helping guide her.
My mother stops walking and turns to face me. "Daor*," she said in her thick High Valriyan accent, "stay in my chambers and wait for my return."
I let go of my mother and bowed, respecting her wishes. I wait in her chambers for her to come back, Ser Harwin soon enters the room as well, and we remain in silence and anticipation.
I had always heard stories about how strong Rhaenyra Targaryen, the Realms Delight, was. How she often wished to fly off into the sky and never return, or her confrontation with my great-uncle Daemon on Dragonstone many years ago. However, after her coronation as heir to the Iron Throne and marriage to my supposed father, she changed.
Soon my brothers returned with the new babes' dragon egg, excited to have a new sibling. As Ser Harwin begins to play with my younger brothers, I sit in silence, playing with the ring on my finger and nervous for my mother's return.
Truth be told, I look nothing like my two brothers. Their hair is brown and their eyes dark, my hair Targaryen silver and eyes a beaming blue. I hear whispers of my brother's true parentage being Ser Harwin, bastards, and as for myself, may rumours float about the court of who my true father is. Some say my great-uncle Daemon, and some wonder if it may even be my grand-sire, the king.
Whoever it may be, the facts are clear, I am a true Targaryen, making my claim to the throne after my mother stronger than my two young brothers.
Mother returns soon, my father behind, holding the new babe in his arms. I help my mother sit on the couch as my brothers excitedly tell her of the dragon egg they would for our new sibling. It's another boy, Joffrey, an odd name for a Targaryen child but another fine addition to the family.
My father passes Joffrey to Ser Harwin. He holds him in his arms, gleaming down at his new son. I place a hand on my mother's shoulder, offering the little comfort I can.
"Are you okay, mother?" I asked her, taking a cloth from the table and wiping her forehead of sweat.
"I am fine, Visneya," she smiles weakly at me, "but tell me," her tone is hushed, "have you bled yet?"
I cast my eyes down, avoiding her gaze. I have not started my monthly yet and am far behind any other girls within the Keep. All of them began bleeding around their twelfth name day; I am a year behind already and bring shame to my mother.
I feel my mother's touch on my cheek, her hands warm and soft. I look up, and she smiles softly, "do not fret my child, your time will come."
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Days have passed since the birth of my baby brother Joffrey. The wet nurses keep him entertained whilst my mother attends her small council meetings. The nurses have also been teaching me everything they know about how and what to do when a babe is freshly born, preparing me for my motherhood.
I dismiss myself from the presence of the wet nurses, searching for my aunty Helaena, though we are almost the same age, separated by a few moons. I find her in an empty room, just outside the reach of busy servants and her mother. She is playing with a bug.
"Helaena!" I call to her, smiling as I do so.
The girl turns to me and smiles, I join her on the steps, and she hands me the bug. Helaena and I are very similar, although I'd be considered more outspoken than she is. She and I would have grown up as sisters if it weren't for the unspoken rivalry between my mother and the Queen, Alicent Hightower.
Us girls sit in almost complete silence for a long time, passing the bug between us. Only when Helaena's mother enters the room, do we speak.
"Princess Visenya, may I have a moment alone with my daughter?" She asks.
I hand the bug back to Helaena and smile at her before leaving, bowing to the queen on my way out. As I round the corner, on the path back to my chambers, I crash into someone, sending us flying backwards.
My back hits the ground with a thud, and I shout a cruse at the pain that has now knocked the air from my lungs. I rest myself in a sitting position and look to see who exactly I ran into at such a force. Prince Aemond stares back at me, hate in his eyes and soot on his face.
"Did you try it again, Aemond?" I muse at the younger boy.
He had yet to claim a dragon, and almost every time that boy was left alone, he will climb into the Dragonpit and attempt to find himself a dragon. I've counted about twenty-two failures thus far.
Aemond stands in a huff, and I follow suit. He glares at me like I'm the one who spat fire at him. Aemond is a quiet boy, always getting the brunt of the pranks, but I fear the boys may have taken it too far this time.
He pushes past me, muttering something about bastards under his breath. I whip around to give him a firm slap across the head, but he is staring at the floor in front of me.
I follow his gaze downwards to my feet, where the brim of my dress has a minor blood statin. I look across the floor to where I came and find little drops of it have splattered across the floor.
I look up at Aemond and him at me; he clears his throat and quickly leaves. I pull up the skirts of my dress and touch my inner thigh; a dark red now coats my fingertips. My monthlys, they have started.
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*Daor - No
Just so everyone is clear, I have aged the characters up by about two years. Aegon would be 15, Helaena and Visenya 13, Aemond 12, Jace is 11 and Luke 10.
I hope everyone enjoys the story!
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DARKSIDE // Aemond Targaryen
Fanfiction- from the deepest desires often comes the deadliest hate Ever since Rhaenyra was named heir, the Greens have been after her, so in order to protect her family she marries her first daughter, Visenya, to one of them but this marriage does not come w...
