So It Goes... // Corlys Velaryon // Rhaenys Targaryen

25. The Queen Who Never Was

•Present Day•

"It bothers you, does it not?" Rhaenys questioned as Nya slumped against her. 

"It fucking bothers me." Nya agreed laying her head in Rhaenys lap. Rhaenys ran her fingers through Nya's hair mindlessly. 

"My father is a king. It is his duty to take a new wife and strengthen his line." Rhaenyra told Rhaenys factually.

"I did not ask for a lesson in politics. I asked whether this bothers you." Rhaenys repeated.

"Laena is your daughter, Princess. Does it bother you?' Rhaenyra countered.

"Of course, it does. But I understand the order of things.' Rhaenys told her.

"Not my Laena." Nya muttered pursing her lips and snapping her eyes closed trying to contain the tears. Rhaenys grabbed Nya's hand and Nya trapped it against her chest. Rhaenys felt her rapid heartbeat and the small shaky breaths Nya was trying to hide. 

"I'm not sure you do. If you mean to elicit some anger from me, you should know that you're failing, Princess." Rhaenyra warned smugly. 

"Quite the opposite. Whether it's to my daughter or to someone else's, your father will remarry sooner than late. His new wife will produce new heirs, and chances are better than not that one of those will be male. And when that boy comes of age and your father has passed, the men of the realm will expect him to be heir, not you." Rhaenys told her. "Because that is the order of things."

"Not Laena. Any other bitch." Nya hissed. "Not Laena, she is too precious for your father." Rhaenyra chuckled in agreement. 

"You always were an advocator." Rhaenyra remarked. "I hope when the time comes you stand by me too auntie." 

"Kill your father now and put you on the throne." Nya agreed turning her cheek to see Rhaenyra. 

"When I'm Queen, I will create a new order." Rhaenyra told them confidently but Rhaenys chuckled knowingly.

"Damn right you will." Nya agreed. 

"How I wish that could be, Rhaenyra. But the men of the realm already had their opportunity to appoint a ruling queen at the Great Council and they denied it." Rhaenys reminded her.

"They denied you, Princess Rhaenys. The Queen Who Never Was." Rhaenyra recalled and Nya's gaze shifted Rhaenys pinched face. "But they bent the knee to me and called me heir to the throne."

"Do you remind your father's men of that as you carry their cups?" Rhaenys countered. 

"Rhaenie." Nya whispered. 

 "Here is the hard truth, which no one else has the heart to tell you. Men would sooner put the realm to the torch than see a woman ascend the Iron Throne." Rhaenys told her stubbornly. She had never got to be queen she wasn't going to sit by while Viserys daughter got everything she ever wanted. 'And your father is no fool.'

"A dead man if he touches Laena though." Nya added. "Come on Rhaenie." Nya said as she got up. "Rhaenyra my darling girl, dont lose that fire. Dont become so weakened as to be pushed around by your council as your father is." Rhaenyra nodded knowing that when her time came she had her aunt on her side. 

+

"Lady Nymeria!" Otto declared and she turned around. "I hoped we might have a word." Otto remarked. Nya nodded kissing Laenor and Laena's cheeks. 

"I will come and check on you in a bit, pick a story out." Nya suggested as they headed off. 

"Please, this way if you would." Otto requested. Nya nodded as she followed him. 

"What's this about?" Nya questioned as his office chambers closed. 

"You don't want sweet little Laena to marry viserys." Otto remarked. 

"She wont marry him." Nya corrected. "I won't allow it." 

"You are very protective over them for their aunt." Otto mused. 

"They are family. I protect my family. Rhaenyra included." Nya agreed. 

"Viserys is family." Otto countered and Nya choked out a laugh. 

"What do you want Otto?" Nya hissed. 

"We both know that Lord Corlys is very vocal about his wants and needs for the future, for the realm, for his daughter..." Otto began. 

"I know. I had a very loud talk with him." Nya agreed stiffly. 

"What if... what if another option was brought forth?" Otto pondered. "Someone that was older, that would take the burden and shift the kings gaze away from little lady Laena."

"Who?"

+

'The Small Council is urging me to remarry. It seems the realm wants for a new queen." Viserys told her

"A good and kind queen will give comfort to your subjects." Alicent offered. "Does the Small Council have a particular lady in mind?'

"Uh..." Viserys said awkwardly. "Lord Corlys Velaryon has offered the hand of his daughter, the Lady Laena."

"A very strong match, Your Grace." Alicent agreed.

"I must admit, I, I don't know Laena very well." Viserys admitted.

"I'm sure that she is good and kind, and that she will enjoy your company, as I have, Your Grace." Alicent told him kindly, her father would not be happy about that.

"Her aunt Nymeria, my sister by law is also not a fan of me and she adores Laena and Laenor... she has voiced her opinion. I think I fear Nymeria more than Corlys vengeance." Viserys admitted. 

"Nothing more frightening than a woman scored." Alicent agreed. "um... I brought you something. I asked the stonemasons to mend it."

"This is, um, a very kind gesture, Alicent." Viserys remarked. 'Very kind.' He said looking over the chest inside revealed a little dragon statue. He ran his hands along the dragon when a knock rapped on the door. 'Come.'

'The Hand, Your Grace.' Harrold told him closing the door as Otto walked in.

'Your Grace, I've called the Small Council to an emergency session.' Otto said looking down at his daughter.

"Why?" Viserys questioned.

"I think it best you hear it directly." Otto told him.

"Very well." Viserys agreed as they headed out.