"We come from pure strength Daenerys." Her brother told her as he flipped through the old tome. "Viserra Velaryon. As untamable as the sea itself. Her brother Aemar. A greenseer and a mighty warrior. Aemond Targaryen. Rider of Vhagar, the largest dr...
"We should make landfall inside the hour Princess." Ser Criston Cole reported aboard their ship as Rhaenyra looked out at the Red Keep which was coming clearer and clearer into view.
"How do you think he will take it?" she asked uncertain.
"Do you speak of how you rejected every suitor His Grace put before you, or how you abruptly ended the tour with two months remaining?" Cole replied with a smile making Rhaenyra laugh. As of late she had been feeling more and more conflicted. Since her outburst at her father during Aegon's celebratory hunt her life decisions felt more out of her hands then she would have expected an heir to feel. And for once she knew it was not simply because of her gender. Was this how Daemon had felt when he had been forced to wed Rhea Royce?
She sighed and leaned on the rail. She should not have shouted at her father, not unless they were alone – perhaps not even then. She had acted like a petulant child. Stomping her feet because everyone was celebrating her brother's nameday and ignoring her. 'No one is here for me' the words haunted her as she internally cringed. Yes she could place the blame on the fact that she had spent her whole life as an only child and the apple of her parent's eyes only now to be forced to step aside from time to time. But that would not be mature, it would be avoiding responsibility for her actions.
She sighed again. If she could not handle a simple nameday celebration for her brother as an infant then how was she to handle watching him train with the sword? Learn battle strategies and other skills a King possessed? Would she watch from a balcony with a sneer, with resentment in her eyes? She did not want that. Though she knew already there was a loathing in her heart for that little babe.
How strange. She had once dreamt of holding a little blonde boy under the Weirwood tree while she read him the histories and helped with his studies. She had imagined running around the Red Keep with him playing hide and seek behind pillars and letting him catch her on purpose. But that was not Aegon she had envisioned. It was Baelon. But why was she having such trouble picturing Aegon in his place? Was it because he was Alicent's child?
Closing her eyes she could picture her and Alicent sitting under the red leafed tree, only instead of books it was babies they were holding. Laughing together while they ate cake with their free hands and listened to the giggles and babbles of the young ones in their laps. It was a beautiful picture. But why was it so elusive?
A distant whistle drew all eyes to the clouds as everyone began to search for the source. Only one dragon made a sound like that. And it had not been spotted in Kings Landing in three years.
Ser Criston saw the flash of color among the clouds before anyone else did.
"Take cover!" he shouted as Caraxes flew low and tilted their ship, almost causing it to capsize. It rocked so hard Rhaenyra was thrown to the side where she slid into the rail, hitting her head. She stumbled back to her feet as Cole fretted over her. But she was more focused on her uncle's return.
Caraxes roared as he circled the castle and headed for the Dragonpit.
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