King Jaehaerys knew that the only thing that could destroy the house of the dragon - was itself.
Started: Nov 2022
CROSSOVER FIC WITH @pepperronys
HOTD cinematic based as well as Fire & Blood.
Cover by @pepperronys
( ACT I; the calm before the storm. ) ⟵ ◊ ⟶ chapter 3: a charcoal knight & child fantasies.
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SEPTA Talla paced as she recited from a book containing scripture of the Faith, her gait eloquent and precise. Nothing less could be expected of a governess to the princesses, but Rhaela didn't care about anything she was supposed to write down to practice her overall script. No, she'd written a handful of sentences with her once fine-tipped charcoal writing utensil before opting for the crude drawings she now was scrawling across the parchment. The underside of her hand was covered in grey smudges, her drawing slightly altered with every non-lifted movement of her writing hand. Even her dress had gained some smudges on its fine blue fabric.
The princess worked diligently on the armor of the knight she drew, imagining it was herself, adding a rough rendition of the Targaryen sigil on the breastplate. She drew wings and a dragon's head on the helm in the same fashion she'd once seen her uncle Daemon wear during a tourney. All manner of inspiration ran through her mind, dreams of courage and honor swirling around her heart.
Her uncle had inspired her long ago, to be skilled with a sword and unyielding to her enemies. A steadfast wall between those she loved and those that might threaten them—
"Have you written anything from the scripture, Princess Rhaela?" Septa Talla half-asked half-scrutinized the girl. The older woman had lowered her book and halted her pacing to look at the travesty that was Rhaela's drawing.
"I suppose I haven't," the girl replied with a half-mutter.
"Bronze over gold," Helaena muttered more to herself than to either of them as she wrote on her parchment. From the look of it, she hadn't been writing any of the words the Septa recited either, instead scrawling unintelligible sentences. Rhaela had noticed the same cryptic message that her sister only ever seemed to say around her. "Old and bold."
"May I be dismissed?" Rhaela asked the Septa politely, ignoring her sister's cryptic words. Despite knowing she could technically leave at her behest, she remained kind to the Septa. If she didn't care about a tongue-lashing from her mother. She was quite used to those.
"You should not be dwelling on such fantasies," the older woman chastised, referring to the knight drawing. "You are a princess. Not a man nor a knight. You will be writing double next time," the Septa conceded in annoyance. With a dismissive wave, she said, "Go on now."
Rhaela dropped the drawing board and charcoal stick before leaping from the cushioned seat she'd been sitting in for far too long. She exited the room with a skip, ignoring the guards posted outside the chamber door that began to follow after her. Off to find her mother, wherever she might be. Likely in her chambers or with Rhaela's father, helping care for him.
Navigating the halls, Rhaela relished in the morning light that managed to grace her skin whenever she passed an arching window. As she walked, she glanced down at the sprawling expanse of King's Landing, the gulls hovering in the salty wind. It was hot as any day, but she'd always been well suited for it. Summer heat seemed to welcome her like a warm embrace.
