And The Flame Awakens. ( Aemma Targaryen )ⁱⁿ ᵖʳᵒᵍʳᵉˢˢ

five - i swear

Tomorrow came quickly, even though none of us slept as they watched both me and Mother stand on the shore, staring into the distance, in absolute quiet.
"Are you alright, Mother?" I ask breaking the silence.
"Oh my sweet daughter," She whispers, a smile on her face and tears stained on her cheeks. She moves closer, grasping my face, and touching our foreheads together.
Finally, I feel safe and calm, only for a short while when we hear a dragon shriek above. We quickly rush to the bridge, unable to recognize the dragon until it lands. A light blue, with strips on its body, and horns bigger than its own head, Dreamfrye, Heleana Targaryen's dragon.
I watch as Jacaerys rushes to her side from the shore, greeting her with such passion. I reach the bridge, looking every I can, hoping for Aegon to be with her.
"Helaena?" I whisper, she already knows what I need to know and she shakes her head.
Rhaenrya steps in front of them, and Helaena and her children drop to their knees.
"Your grace," She whispers.
"Oh, my sweet sister," Rhaenrya rushes to her, forcing her back to her feet. "I shall gladly take you back into my heart, as you and your children are of my own blood.
"Helaena's face relaxes, smiling to Jacaerys who stands next to her.
"May I?" Rhaenrya motions to Jaehaerys, Jaehaera, and the one brown-haired boy, Maelor. Jacaerys pushes the children forward to Rhaenrya and she drops to her knees.
"We have yet to meet, I suppose I am your grandmother," Rhaenrya chuckles, accepting the name. "I believe your cousins Joffery, Viserys, and Aegon will be delighted to meet you. If you follow Ser Steffon, he'll gladly show you to their chambers." They quickly nod, following the guard as told to do.
Jacaerys quickly steps around our mother and Helaena's face brightens up. "May I show you where we keep our dragons?"
"Please," She whispers, taking his arm.
Once they've gotten a good enough distance, I whisper, "He didn't come with."
"Come, my daughter." She wraps my arms around her, walking her back to the castle. "We must speak."
I follow her to her chambers where she sits me on the table set in front of the model of Dragonstone, just as Viserys has in his chambers."
"Daughter, I wish for you to understand something," Rhaenrya whispers. "If you decide you want to go to Aegon as the terms were given, I will end this for your happiness."
"Mother," I shake my head, standing from the chair.
"Aemma," She demands. "Your father and I have spoken of it, our daughter would be queen as she was supposed too after her mother."
I sigh, tears running down my face.
"Please at least think of it?"
I nod, agreeing. Would it really be that bad?

The next day comes and another court meeting starts, officially speaking as to what is to be done.
"Come sister, you are now a part of us," Rhaenrya says, hesitating to wrap her hands around Helaena's arm until she nods.
"The purpose of war is to fill graveyards, my dear Lord Staunton. The trick is to put more of their men in the ground than your own," A man says, quickly getting to the point.
"Easy words for a lord who commands from the safety of his castle," I spit.
"Doesn't make it any less true."
"The queen is not here to rule over ash and bones," I glare, still making up my mind about the terms that were given to me these past 2 nights.
"The Lord of the Tides!" Ser Errk shouts, "Lord Corlys Velaryon and his wife, the Princess Rhaenys Targaryen."
"Lord Corlys. It brings much relief to see you hale and healthy again," Rhaenrya says, swishing around.
"I'm very sorry about your father, Princess," Lord Corlys nods, turning his head to the table in front. "Your declared allies?"
"Yes."
"Too few to win a war for the throne," He tilts his head.
"Well, we would also hope to have the support of Houses Arryn, Baratheon, and Stark," Rhaenrya states, twisting her rings around anxiously
"Hope is the fool's ally," Corlys scoffs and my fists tighten.
"Both Arryn and Baratheon share blood with my house, all of them swore oaths to me."
"As did House Hightower," He followed, "If I remember."
As my patience leaves me, I blurt, "As did you, Lord Corlys."
Nodding at me, he turns to Rhaenrya. "Your father's realm was one of justice and honor. Our houses are bound by common blood and common cause. This Hightower treason cannot stand. You have the full support of our fleet and house. Your Grace."
"You honor me, Lord Corlys." Rhaenrya nods, "Princess Rhaenys.... But, as I said to my bannermen, I made a promise to my father to hold the realm strong and united. If war's first stroke is to fall, it will not be by my hand."
"You do not mean to act?" Lord Corly raises his eyebrow, leaning against his cane.
"I only wish to know who my allies are before I send them to war," She proclaimed. "I took care to fully garrison the territory this time. A total blockade of the shipping lanes will be in place in days, if not already. The Triarchy has been routed and the Narrow Sea is ours."
"If we further seal the Gullet, we can cut off all seaborne travel and trade to King's Landing," Lord Corlys states.
"I shall take Meleys and patrol the Gullet myself," Rhaenys offers, pacing herself to the door.
"If we are to have enough swords to surround King's Landing, we must first secure the support of Winterfell, the Eyrie, and Storm's End. I'll prepare the ravens, Your Grace."
I quickly turn to Rhaenrya, drawing her attention. "We should bear those messages. Dragons can fly faster than ravens"
"And they're more convincing," Jacaerys agrees.
"Send us, Mother."
"The Princess is right, your grace," Lord Corlys mutters.
"Very well then," Rhaenrya sighs, regret already on her tongue. "Prince Jacaerys will fly north. First to the Eyrie to see my mother's cousin, the Lady Jeyne Arryn, and then to Winterfell to treat with Lord Cregan Stark for the support of the North. Prince Lucerys will fly south to Storm's End and treat with Lord Borros Baratheon."
Never dare glancing at me, she continues, "We must remind these lords of the oaths they swore. And the cost of breaking them."
Finally, court ends and I glare at my Mother but she stops me already knowing what I'm going to say.
"Come, my daughter," Rhaenrya motions to the view from the courtroom window. "Have you thought over my offer yet?"
I say nothing, but I feel everything.
"I want you to fly with Lucerys," She whispers, trying to contain herself." "He's just a boy."
I nod, understand instantly, "I swear to you, Mother. I will protect him."
"And when you come back, an answer is needed immediately to continue."
I nod, my answer is obvious but I have yet to force it out of my mouth just yet. Me a queen? I hadn't even readied myself with the thought of it yet. But a queen with Aegon.

I quickly ready myself and so do my brothers, throwing our dragon riding gear on and walking to where our mother was standing right above the shore.
"It's been said that as Targaryens, we are closer to gods than to men. And the Iron Throne puts us a touch closer, perhaps," She spoke calmly, "If you take this errand, you go as messengers, not as warriors. You must take no part in any fighting. Swear it to me now under the eyes of the Seven."
"I swear it," Lucerys whispers.
"I swear it," Jacaerys follows.
"Aemma," She faces me, almost begging.
"I swear."