ANTI-HERO ▹ HOUSE OF THE DRAGON

v.

Dragonstone

Jalyssa sighs deeply. It has been a two month long journey, but she was almost at Dragonstone. The teenager was exhausted, most of her journey back was spent trying not to sleep. Her dreams haunted her then, making her as restless as ever.

Ever since she was sent to the North to be fostered with the Stark's, the young Velaryon princess was plagued by somewhat prophetic dreams. They weren't warnings nor helpful tips, they were just depictions of a future that could come to be should she fail.

It has been thirteen years. Thirteen years since she last saw Kings Landing, since she last saw her family. A lot had transpired during the years. Her father had died, her mother had three more children, and Rhaenyra and Laenor had brought in her uncle Daemon as a third in their marriage. Her aunt Laena had died as well and her uncle Aemond had claimed Vhagar. According to the ravens sent to her by her parents, it was a massive shit show that ended up in blood spilled and her family basically fleeing to Dragonstone.

(Jalyssa wasn't stupid, she knew who truly sired her. She had a long talk with Rickon Stark when she was ten name days old and the news of the fire at Harrenhal hit the North.)

((She knew that her mother and father had a deeper relationship with the late Commander of the City Watch, and with them taking Daemon as a third a mere year later after his death all but confirmed it.))

As the carriage carries her closer to her family, Jalyssa fiddles with the latest letter she had received by raven. It was from Jacaerys, stating how his studies and training was going, as well as saying Vermax was almost big enough for two. He never did forget the promise she made when they were five years old.

The only one in her family to know she was arriving earlier than intended was Daemon. They had communicated scarcely, Jalyssa holding no true memories of him before her departure from Kings Landing. They got to know each other more when he was brought into Rhaenyra's pack, as she liked to refer to her enormous family. And truly, the only family that could rival it was the family of Old King Jaehaerys and Good Queen Alyssane.

There were eleven of them. Rhaenyra, Laenor, Daemon, Jacaerys, Jalyssa, Lucerys, Joffery, Aegon, Viserys, Rhaena and Baela. More if you counted Corlys and Rhaenys.

Jalyssa was brought out of her thoughts when her carriage came to a full stop and a commotion was heard outside. The young princess quickly dusted off her pants, not having the patience to fit into a dress for the last of her journey, and opened the doors to exit the carriage.

She was met with two Knights who were questioning her driver. "Do not fret, good sers. I am to assume you were sent by Prince Daemon?"

At the mention of her stepfather, the Knights' eyes widen in realization and give her a deep bow. "My apologies, Princess Jalyssa," one of the Knights says, "yes, Prince Daemon had us posted out here for your arrival. A squire is to escort your stuff to your room while we escort you to where your family is."

Jalyssa nods, knowing Daemon wanted to surprise her family. She nods her head over to the three horses that were a few feet away from them. "And we're going there on horseback?"

"Yes, princess."

Jalyssa nods once again and makes her way towards the horses while the Knights trail her. She gives one of the Knights her thanks when he singles out her horse and promptly mounts it. As she follows the Knights, she can't help but bite her lip in worry. She doesn't know how her family will react to her. It's been thirteen years, and the only people she truly knew were her mother Rhaenyra, her father Laenor, Jacaerys and Lucerys. Though she knows they have changed too. Jacaerys is eighteen name days old, just like her while Luke is fifteen, nearing sixteen. Not even mentioning the siblings she hadn't met yet. Joffery was born five years after her departure, and little Aegon was born four years after Joffery, and Viserys a year after Aegon. Then there's her late aunt Laena's twins, a year younger than her and Jace but she never got to meet them since her stepfather never once visited Kings Landing.