The Bastard Queen

acceptance of her blood

Alicent was right about the talk of the people. While the king had announced her legitimatisation would take place by the next moon, she still could not shake the stares of distrustfulness from the ladies who stared at her so blatantly. She had heard the whispers that roamed the halls aswell, how her blood is tarnished by the blood of a whore, how her Maidenhead had no doubt been taken years ago, how her mouth and face is as fowl as a sheep.

The last one was a play on one of Daemons rumours. She was aware of his first wife lady Rhea Royce, who Daemon had claimed was uglier than the sheep that roamed her families land. Though still Alyssa did not care for the rumours spreading. Laena and Alicent had both taught and prepared her well for the rumours that would no doubt attempt to discourage her and tarnish her name.

It did not help that rumours were still spreading about Rhaenyras husband Laenor who had seemingly been murdered in his own childhood home near a week prior. Alicent had been the one to break the news of Rhaenyra and Daemons sudden matrimony so soon after Laenors death. She still remembers the overwhelming feeling of anger that overcame her when Alicent told her.

It was one thing she and Aegon had gotten along about. He had found her whilst she was indulging herself in a particularly sweet yet somehow still bitter spirit and took it upon himself to join her. Just as she had done to him at Laenas funeral.

"Looks like you could use a drinking buddy" he said as he sat down next to her. Alyssa let out a small laugh at those words. They were near the same to the ones she had said to him when he was drunk out of his mind at Laenas burial. She's surprised he even remembered that, though she guessed the ocean definitely sobered them up.

"Yes I guess I do..." that was all Alyssa needed to say for Aegon to smile and make a grand ordeal of revealing two goblets and a small jug of wine from behind his back. That was the money the twos friendship was forever cemented together.

Still, when the day came for Alyssa to walk infront of all the lords and ladies and be legitimised by the king, Daemon never came. Granted though, she never even sent him a letter telling him the first place but she knew his ever listening ears would know. Daemon always seems to know something.

When she was dressed in a blue gown, one that matched the colour of the high tides during a storm, she walked down the small pathway made for her by the guards and held her head up high. The only time she moved her head was to smile at Alicent and Aegon who looked at Alyssa proudly.

———

Rhaenys was not surprised when the raven regarding Alyssa Targaryen came to them, asking for herself and her husband to witness the legitimisation of the girl. She remembered her clearly at her daughters burial. It's not hard to forget the girl who not necessarily injured, but still harmed in a way her father for her sweet daughter.

Rhaenys even doubts she knew Laena for more than a couple months, but to possibly weaken her eligibility for legitimisation just to defend her memory was an act Rhaenys could not easily forget. Her lord husband had seemingly not forgotten either, for when he read the note the raven brung he could only smile as he said, "Good for that girl. She deserves it."

Even when the two journeyed to kings landing they could not stop their minds from working out the possibilities of this new piece of the game. She may be only a child, by Rhaenys guess a mere girl of no more than four and ten summers, but she has been sprung into this game of blood and there is no doubt she'll be forced to play. It's just a matter of which round she'll be introduced that worries the two.

"They'll no doubt use her womanhood to increase soldiers. They have limited ways of increasing allies with only princess Helaena." Corlys analysed as she and him sat near the ships edge.

"Possibly. But the queen will no doubt want to keep her close to her side. I bet your 5 gold coins the queen had already attempted to increase emotional sympathy and gain the poor girls trust." Rhaenys said as she sipped a pentos wine from her cup before sighing. "This girl reminds me of Laena." She does not miss the saddened look that befalls her husband face, she grasps his hand in her own and squeezes tightly in comfort. "The Targaryens, whilst they are my family and my blood they still breed war like rabbits on a pasture. They don't know when to stop and yet even when they do they find themselves unable to resist the urge."

"This girl isn't fully Targaryen though my dear," Corlys spoke as he squeezed Rhaenys' hand once more. Rhaenys was not silent when it came to berating her former family. Especially the rogue cunt himself.

"And yet even with her blood clouded by the streets of silk she still has Daemons blood running in her veins. One Daemon is dangerous, Baela is already bordering on being on that same roguish path and yet we do not know enough about Alyssa to witness and make our observations. She has his loyalty though. That itself is something that if in the wrong hands could twist the game on its head."

"So we request a meeting with the girl after her legitimisation ceremony. We need to get to her before the other lords and ladies do. They may not know the ways we blood of the dragons think, but they will still no doubt attempt to snatch any attempt opportunity at marrying a Targaryen. Whether she is still technically a bastard or not, Alyssa still has the blood of a dragon rider which they will no doubt attempt to achieve for their offspring."

"Then we'll do just that then. We talk about Laena with her. That girl had undoubted loyalty to our daughter, so she'll most likely feel indebted to us in some way." Rhaenys hated the idea of manipulating this girl but at that moment it was the only way to get to know this girl and get an idea of her.

Hours had passed while the two were plotting on the boat, and Rhaenys and Corlys were anxiously awaiting in the crowd for Alyssa to walk into the hall, the two held hands in pure anticipation. Rhaenys though hears her husband let out a sharp intake of breath when the doors open and Alyssa is soon seen strutting into the throne room with her head held high.

Rhaenys was not there to witness when Daemon walked into the throne room, and announce to the whole court on how he had been crowned king of the stepstones and the narrow sea. Though by the way Alyssa is walking into the room currently she can imagine Daemon was strutting just like that. It is a strange comparison when Rhaenys thinks about it, the girl though unrequitedly meets Rhaenys eyes, and the woman can see that Daemons presence lingers there.

Though while the girls demeanour impresses Rhaenys, it is what she is wearing what first captures her attention. The dress is a dark blue, one that usually would not capture the attention of the everyday lady, yet it captures Rhaenys' as it is the same colour as many of her daughters dresses. The girl has decided to honour her daughter at her own legitimisation ceremony and it brings Rhaenys so close to tears that she has to clasp her husbands hand to steady her bearings. A day that Alyssa should have been using to honour herself she instead used to secretly honour her daughter. The smile that Rhaenys allows to be seen is one that had not been seen in a long time.

———

Alyssa walked to the iron throne where her uncle the king sat, his power radiating off of him in waves.

"Lords and ladies of my court!" While Viserys was nearing an older age it appeared his demeanour still held the power of a younger self. Shivers practically ran down Alyssa's spine. "Today we are here to see the legitimisation of my brother eldest claimed daughter. Formerly known as Alyssa Blackstar, now my newest niece will be known forever more as Alyssa Targaryen! And anyone who dares question this girls rights will have their tongue removed! All bow their heads to the newest member of my family! All hail Princess Alyssa Targaryen!"

"All hail Princess Alyssa Targaryen!" The people scream as heads and goblets filled with every alcohol beverage known to man is raised up high, Alyssa's smile now breaking through showing she may not be as cold hearted as everyone may think. She looks to her left to smile brightly at Aegon and Alicent, who seem to be smiling just as widely at her. The girls heart is beating quickly and loudly as her future begins to unravel with many possibilities.