The Prince and His Flower

P R O L O G U E

Grunts and pained screams echoed through the halls of Princess Rhaenyra's chambers.

"Push Princess!" The midwife poked her head from between Rhaenyra's legs as she furrowed her brow. Another maid began wiping Rhaenyra's sweat off of her forehead as she took a deep breath, preparing for what was coming.

"Rhaenyra you can do this, please just push!" Laenor, her husband, encouraged her as she clamped her hand down on his like a vice. He gritted his teeth at the pain but said nothing, for he knew what she was experiencing was far, far worse. With one more straining push, Rhaenyra felt her babe come into the world.

"You've done it, Princess! A boy!" The midwife wiped the babe roughly with a blanket in order to hear the first cry. Seconds later, the familiar high-pitched wail of a babe sounded through the room. Rhaenyra smiled at the babe and opened her arms as another pain ripped her body so intense, she threw her head back and screamed.

"A second babe is coming Princess. Please, you must push again!" The midwife felt around Rhaenyra's sex and felt the head of the babe just ready to come out.

"No! No, Laenor tell them I can't. I can't." Rhaenyra wailed as she felt like her world was crashing down at the pain. Laenor brushed her hair matted with sweat off her forehead and kissed her hand. 

"Rhaenyra you can.  You have to!" Laenor gave his wife an encouraging nod as she prepared to bear down with all of her might. Moments later, another cry joined the first. 

"A girl Princess! Strong and healthy just as her brother!" The midwife wrapped the babes in a bundle of blankets and handed them to Rhaenyra. She looked at her boy first, who had tufts of black hair and brown sleepy eyes. She smiled sadly to herself. Harwin, her love, her heart, would have killed to be here. Her heart ached for him, but grateful her husband was here to support her. She glanced at Laenor who already looked at his son filled with so much love, he had tears prickling his eyes. 

"They're so beautiful Rhaenyra." Laenor wiped at his eyes. Rhaenyra looked over to her daughter next, her first daughter. Her eyes widened to see white hair on the babe's head. Not even her eldest son Jacaerys had white hair; his hair black, from Harwin. As she peered into her daughter's eyes, she saw a blue that matched her own. A true Targaryen. Laenor looked surprised as well, he knew very well who the babes' true father was, but his daughter was the spitting image of a Targaryen. Laenor softly traced his finger on his daughter's pink cheek and felt tears prickle his eyes once more.

"She's so beautiful. So beautiful. Hello, my beautiful daughter." He loved his children with all of his being, yet the love he felt for his daughter was so immense he knew he would kill anyone and anything that ever tried to harm her. 

"May I?" Laenor extended his arms out to hold his children. Rhaenyra nodded and allowed him to take his son, then his daughter into his arms. 

"What are their names?" He turned to face his wife as he bounced his babes in his arms. Rhaenyra smiled and thought about it. 

"Lucerys and Aemma Velaryon." Rhaenyra's thoughts drifted back to Harwin. She loved Laenor, truly she did, but his tastes had led to an agreement between the two that they would seek their pleasure outside of their marriage bed. Harwin loved her, he was devoted to protecting her and her children, and by the Gods, she loved him.