Dragon's roar (House of the Dragon)

001

Chapter 1: "The future seemed so bright" Love the way you lie II, Rihanna and Emminem.

Twelve years later.

The air was hot on this afternoon. Alannys decided to take her reading outside as her septa had let her go from her lessons. She walked the halls of the Red Keep with her book held tightly against her body. The young lady hurried outside and she quickly reached the training yard. She found a law wall where she decided to sit so she could continue to discover the story of the Conquest by Aegon and his two sisters. She selected that book because it was in High Valyrian. Alannys was almost fluent in the language of Old Valyria when she was ten. However, she always practised to maintain her level. The Velaryon lady took a moment to wave her hand at Lucerys who was greeting her, further in the yard. The young prince was training with his brother Jacaerys and princes Aegon and Aemond. Alannys liked to read in the training yard. That way, she was able to memorise all the movements the boys practised and later she would repeat them in front of her mirror at night, when no one was watching her. She always wanted to train with them but no one agreed to it and she had the firm impression that Ser Criston Cole hated her.

"Prince Lucery, your turn against prince Aegon" ordered the knight.

"No!" blurted out the young lady without thinking.

Alannys knew Aegon well and she was not delighted at the prospect of him fighting Luke, even as training. That is why she interjected, without thinking about the consequences.

"Yes, my lady. Do you have something to say ?" arrogantly asked the member of the kingsguard.

The young Velaryon knew it was a challenge. She was a bit out of her place by interrupting the training and she could be punished for that but Alannys Velaryon had never been one to back out from a challenge, especially coming from a man who despised her.

"I just happen to find it hardly fair that Lucerys has to go against prince Aegon. He is much older and experienced but I can see that you are training the princes as if they had a war to fight. As a young inexperienced lady, I wager that at war the fight is hardly ever fair, as you seem to be" answered the young girl, venom dripping from her voice and her head held high.

She might be young, but she was as fierce as the lion on the banner of her mother's house. As Ser Criston was going to answer, a maid came to fetch Alannys, apparently sent by the princess Rhaenyra herself. The King's daughter requested her young ward to come to her apartment. The young lady hurried inside the castle without caring about the knight in the training yard any more. Her guardian was heavily pregnant so it could be something very important. At the door of Rhaenyra's chamber, Alannys could her the sharp screams coming from inside. She instantly guessed that it was linked to the baby, the birthing must have started. She did not hesitate to push the door open.

"You asked for me, princess ?"

"Yes, my dear. Come near me" requested Rhaenyra.

The princess was only wearing a robe that was sticking to her body due to her sweat ; just like her silver hair. Alannys approached her slowly. She was concerned to see such pain on Rhaenyra's face.

"The babe is coming. I want you to be near me during the birth, Alannys."

"I shall not leave your side, princess."

And she did not. Alannys stood guard beside the birthing bed of the Princess. It was the first time that the young lady saw her that way. Usually, Rhaenyra was calm and very sweet with her children but then, she seemed to lose control. The princess insulted the midwives and if the situation was not so serious, her ward would have laughed at the bad words. Soon enough, the babe was brought into the world, covered in blood and crying. Alannys thought he was very tiny and she watched carefully as the maids passed him to his mother. Another maid entered the room.