perzys ānogār - house of the dragon

prologue

109 A.C

A gut-wrenching scream bellowed through the castle corridors as Rhaenyra, age two and ten, fiddled with the rings on her fingers, her foot tapping in anticipation. Her mother was again pregnant with a child, which Viserys was sure to be a boy, and the labor had begun mere minutes ago.

Rhaenyra just hoped that everything would go as planned, as her mother had many troubles with her pregnancies before, from miscarriages to birthing a dead babe. However, Aemma continuously reassured Rhaenyra, saying that she felt like this was the one.

Masters and midwives ran around Rhaenyra, with buckets of water and cloths to herbal teas to ease the woman's pain. Viserys was in the chambers with his wife as she held his hand, trying to push the babe out as the pain worsened.

What felt like hours when it was just a few minutes, Rhaenyra snapped her head when she heard how the Queens screams died down, and she slowly stood up from the cushioned chair and walked towards the wide chamber doors and creaked them open to see what was happening.

On the side stood Viserys with a happy yet sad smile as he looked at his wife and their newborn child. Aemma, who was drenched in sweat and looked as if she hadn't had a night's sleep for the past year, was holding the baby, delicately brushing the stray blond hairs.

Rhaenyra sighed in relief as she realized that the pregnancy had gone according to plan and her mother was safe. Excitement rushed through her as she quickly ran towards her parents and newborn sibling.

"Is it a boy?" she questioned as the babe was covered in a white cloth that was already stained in blood.

"Riña," the Master spoke behind Rhaenyra. The girl snapped her head towards her father and understood why he held a grim smile, despite his child just being born.

Rhaenyra tried to understand what her father was feeling. Her mother tried to explain that Viserys was longing for a boy so he could have an heir, and when Rhaenyra questioned why she could not be an heir, Aemma just smiled sadly at her.

The girl sighed quietly and kneeled next to her mother to get a closer look at the baby. She grabbed a wet cloth and placed it on the Queen's forehead in hopes of cooling her down.

The little girl was sleeping soundly in her mother's arms as her small lips let out faint breaths. Rhaenyra noticed the golden white wisps of hair that littered her head and how awfully similar the baby had already looked to their mother. With a slight smile resting on her lips, Rhaenyra ran a delicate finger along the baby's face as the child shivered from her touch. A giggle left the girl's lips as she looked at her mother, who looked more at peace than she had for the past years.

Viserys placed a hand on his daughter's shoulder as he smiled at his daughter. Yes, Viserys longed for a boy for many years, his hopes high when he realized that Aemma would carry through her pregnancy. Still, he was disappointed that he had been gifted with another girl; nevertheless, it didn't mean he didn't love his daughter any less, as he was still thankful that his wife had given birth safely.

"She shall be named Rhaea, a name fit for a Targaryen child," Viserys smiled at his wife as she breathed out a tired laugh at the beautiful name her baby girl would have.

"Beautiful name, father," Rhaenyra smiled as her eyebrows shot up as realization crossed her features. She quickly stood up and rushed out of the chambers as Viserys and Aemma looked at one another in confusion.

After a few minutes, Rhaenyra ran back, panting as two Maestes held a pot that contained a dragon egg. "It is Vhagar's egg," Rharnyra exclaimed with delight.

"It's beautiful my dear," Aemma smiled as she looked at the happiness that shone from her daughter.

The family of now four looked content as they smiled at the new addition to their family.

Who knew that within the years, everything would come falling down?

love <3
gosia