ANTI-HERO ▹ HOUSE OF THE DRAGON

i.

Kings Landing

"Well done, my princess!" One of the birthing maids exclaims, quickly gathering some clothes to clean the baby off. Rhaenyra just kept breathing, smiling a bit as the maid handed her the babe.

"It is a boy, princess."

Rhaenyra bounced the baby in her arms while the maids cleaned her up a bit. She was startled when Laenor burst in, breathing heavily. "Is it done!?"

"A prince, Lord Husband."

"And his name?" Laenor asked, getting closer to Rhaenyra and the baby, who was still crying his lungs out. "He is beautiful, Lady Wife."

"Jacaerys Velaryon," Rhaenyra told Laenor while stroking the baby's brown hair. Mere minutes old and he already looked like his father.

"Jacaerys," Laenor breathed, giving Rhaenyra a smile, "a name fit for a Prince, and future King."

They stayed like that for a few minutes, before Rhaenyra groaned in pain. She passed the baby to Laenor and then gripped her knees tightly, gritting her teeth as she tried to calm down. A birthing maid ran up to her, helping her get into position. "It is the afterbirth, princess."

"No," Rhaenyra says through gritted teeth, "Babe number two." She let out a pained moan as contractions started to hit her again. This earned her a surprise look from the maid, but as soon as she peeked between Rhaenyra's legs she found that it was the truth.

"Another one?" Laenor asked, a bit panicked. He was bouncing Jacaerys slightly, the newborn already falling asleep even through the grunts of pain his mother was letting out.

"Yes, Laenor," Rhaenyra spits out. She then gives one final push, the second babe falling into the arms of the birthing maid. Rhaenyra quickly delivers the afterbirth and demands her second child from the maid. As soon as the babe is deposited into her arms, Rhaenyra feels overwhelming grief. She suddenly remembers what must be done, and meeting her daughter makes everything more real.

"A girl."

Rhaenyra tunes out the maids instructions and Laenor's exclamations. Her daughter is quiet, eyes wide open. Her hair is a chestnut brown while her eyes are the darkest brown she's ever seen, nearing black with specks of Targaryen purple. Even at some minutes old, Rhaenyra already knows she is the perfect combination of herself and Harwin.

Laenor quiets down, recognizing the look Rhaenyra has. It is the same look Rhaenyra started sporting two moons ago, after she had woken up crying from her sleep. She must have seen something to have such deep grief in her eyes when she should only sport joy.

"Jalyssa Velaryon," Rhaenyra murmurs, gently stroking her daughter's soft cheek. Laenor does the same with Jacaerys, leaning down to give Jalyssa's forehead a small kiss.

-

A week has passed before Rhaenyra and Laenor allow anyone but them to see their children. Laenor rarely used his privileges as Prince Consort in Kings Landing, happy to just roam the Keep and attend council meetings, but he put his foot down when people started demanding to see his twins. He was no fool, he knew who sired those babes, but he had already claimed them as his and that was all that mattered.

Laenor may never come to love Rhaenyra romantically, but he knows the bond he and Rhaenyra share is like no other. Not quite romantic, but not entirely familial. He is glad he was betrothed to her, and he is glad to be able to have a family with her as his Lady Wife.

As he is about to walk into his chambers, a knock is heard. He immediately peeks into the nursery he and Rhaenyra built in their quarters and is glad to see the twins still sleeping peacefully. They were sharing a crib, even at the warnings of the maids. The twins refused to be separated, crying their little lungs out until they are laid together. Rhaenyra and Laenor know not to separate them, for their bond is something that must never be weakened.

After making sure the babes are safe in their crib, he hears Rhaenyra taking a bath. Deciding to just take care of whoever is at their door without bothering Rhaenyra, Laenor walks up towards the door and opens it a bit, enough to be able to peek his head out. He is immediately met with Ser Criston Cole, who is wearing a thunderous expression. Laenor's expression matches his, and he gives the white cloak no time before he is immediately calling for aid.

"Ser Harwin! If you would be so pleased as to escort Ser Criston away from the premises. He is to never step foot near mine and my Lady Wife's chambers."

"Yes, Prince Laenor," Harwin is immediately in front of Laenor, blocking off Criston from even looking at the Prince. "You heard his Grace, Ser Criston. I can take whatever urgent message the Prince and Princess need."

And with that, Laenor slams the door closed, chest heaving as he tries to control his rage at the sight of the man responsible for his lover's death.

"Laenor?" He hears Rhaenyra call out. "Are you okay?" Laenor walks towards the nursery and sees Rhaenyra looking at the doorway with a worried expression. She is carrying Jacaerys in her arms, who is awake and gurgling at his mother. Laenor calms down entirely at the scene of his wife and child together.

"It's nothing, Rhaenyra," he says as he walks into the nursery. He peeks into the crib and sees Jalyssa wide awake. He smiles at his daughter and picks her up gently, swaying her while giving her a kiss to her forehead.

"Who was at the door, Laenor?"

He is tempted to say it was a random squire looking for him, but it would be no use. Rhaenyra sometimes knew Laenor better than he knew himself, and he knew Rhaenyra would be able to sense the lies.

"It was Ser Criston," Laenor says, "I do not know what he wanted as I immediately sent Ser Harwin to escort him away from the premises. Ser Harwin said he would pass on whatever message Criston was set to deliver."

At the mention of her once lover and deepest confidant, Rhaenyra's expression is one of sadness. She however masks it with one of indifference , but Laenor sees through it. He says nothing though, giving his wife a small smile as they both continue to rock their children.

They spend an hour like that, in the company of each other and their children. They know these days of peace must come to an end but neither of them wish to be parted from them.

Laenor is the one to break the silence. "Shall we let Ser Harwin meet the babes?" He isn't looking at Rhaenyra when he asks this, gaze focused on Jalyssa's sleeping face, but he can guess the confused expression Rhaenyra throws at him.

"If my Lord Husband insits," Rhaenyra eventually says. Laenor looks up at her and gives her a smile. "Go," Laenor says as he nods his head at the direction of the door where Ser Harwin is no doubt posted in front of. Rhaenyra nods as she lays Jacaerys in the crib and quickly walks to give Jalyssa a small kiss on her chubby cheek.

Laenor is not able to put Jalyssa down, her sleeping form grounding him from reliving the nightmare that was his wedding night, so he decides to turn towards the direction of the window and gaze at it, rhythmically bouncing Jalyssa so she stays content. He hears his door open and the quiet murmurs of conversation between Rhaenyra and Harwin.

"Prince Laenor," Harwin says behind him. Laenor hums in acknowledgment, not wanting to take his gaze off his daughter. He knew Harwin and Rhaenyra will understand. He hears shuffling and finally turns around to see Rhaenyra place Jacaerys onto Ser Harwin's awaiting arms. The knight looks at the babe with such pure adoration that it nearly brings Laenor to tears.

"This is Jacaerys," Rhaenyra says. She then looks at Laenor and beckons him forward. "And this, this is Jalyssa." 

Harwin's eyes go wide at the mention of a second babe that Laenor chuckles slightly.

He knows their children will never not know love.

•••
another hotd fic cause i have brain rot. there will be lots of canon divergence that will be seen in later chapters. this is just the first one, i'll post the second one next week! please let me know how you're finding it.
-jackie