The Lady of Asshai •Aemond Targaryen•

3. LOYALTY & BURDENSOME BOYS

Kingslanding hadn't changed. The smell of shit was still enough to knock a man over. The sea port had men working like well oiled machines. Fleabottom was bustling and the common folk were going about their day as they would any other, but it was no ordinary day. Far beyond the squalor of the city the heir to the Iron Throne and her family were returning to the Red Keep. They had been residing in the safety of Dragonstone for some years now. Rhaenerya had sired two more sons and at present carried another child in her belly.

There hadn't been much correspondence between the separate factions of the Targaryens over the years. Well, more like Targaryens and Hightowers. It was no secret the deterioration of relations within the family, and with the King's failing health he had lost the capability of being able to maintain the already rocky civility amongst his kin.

The last time the Princess could remember the passing of letters was when the news of their ward obtaining a dragon became public knowledge. The reaction of the Greens had been what was expected. Outrage of the highest degree and an immediate demand for an explanation. The one given was the truth. The claiming had been an unexpected chance of fate, and she believed her husband's exact words in response to Otto Hightower had been;

If you would like to know why the beast chose the girl why not come and ask it yourself?

The Hand had seemingly taken this invitation to come and see the phenomenon very seriously, as he had appeared at their doorstep but a few days later. However, upon his arrival at the ancestral home of the Crown he was given the disappointing news that the girl and her beast had set off for Essos so that she may continue with the studies she had halted upon Daemon Targaryen's return to Westeros.

There had been no formal inquiry into the matter as there was seemingly no point, given the girl's absence from the Kingdom. What damage could a nothing girl of no known legitimate lineage really do from Pentos? However, rumours about her were running rampant, now worse than ever. The stories of her being a talented witch seemingly held some credibility. How else could a child of common blood come to ride a dragon? Others said that this was confirmation of her status as Daemon's bastard. If the (alleged) illegitimate sons of Princess Rhaenerya held the capability of claiming a dragon then what would stop the bastard of another Targaryen?

Which was exactly the reason for the return of the Princess. The legitimacy of her son's birthright was being called into question by Vaemond Velaryon and, in truth, the Hightowers as well. She knew that the Hand of the King had long been seeking a way to strip her of her birthright and replace her with his grandson, the eldest boy of King Viserys and her brother, Aegon. Not on the old cunt's life.

Her father himself had named her his heir in front of all the Lords of Westeros and no amount of treasonous accusations and tantrums thrown by an entitled and bitter old man was going to change that.

Upon their arrival there was no reception. Nobody was there to greet the Princess and her family. An empty courtyard was their only welcome. It was a blatant slight and one she knew her father would have had no say in. This had the Hightowers written all over it. She was to be Queen and the snakes warming her father's throne were so petulant so as to ignore her. It was like dealing with schoolyard children. She swore her first act as queen would be to send Otto fucking Hightower somewhere so far his influence could never be felt in court again. He would simply be the memory of a fleeting bad dream.

Until such a blessed day should come the Princess' only option was to come to court and defend her children and her honour. She was no worse than any man in Westeros when it came to the matter of chastity. She was not this great whore that the men her circles made her out to be. She simply did as they did. Only she would be branded a traitor for doing it, all because of what she lacked between her legs. Men in her circles easily had their bastards legitimised everyday. How was she any worse than them?