Alicent Hightower raised a bastard - The Stranger's Child.
Except she didn't.
Naenyra looked nothing like the Targaryen beauty that her father expected. She was, as her mother always wished, a Hightower at heart, and how she looked only proved it...
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It was Aunt Ness that approached the young girl, who placed a hand on her shoulder with wet eyes, a letter in hand. All day she had waited, her eyes constantly seeking the port for the ship that would return her home; all these years, she had practically counted down the day until her ten-and-three nameday. For what? Nyra held herself, her eyes averted from the look Ness was shooting her. "My love, how about we go inside instead?"
She didn't want to go inside, she didn't want to return to High Tower when she was so sure she was going home. "Tell me what it says, Ness. Don't mince the words." Her voice was rugged, on the edge of tears. Nyra felt like she was crumbling, like the world was caving in at that very moment.
"Your Grandsire says that it is not the right time, that your education isn't complete. He wants to keep you here for a while longer." A while longer. What was a while longer? "Your father has given his blessing for the Hand's decision. They'll send word when you can return." The words felt harsh, like a slap to the face as her jaw locked. The burn behind her eyes felt like they stung, the desperate begging to keep her tears at bay as nails dug into the beds of her fingers.
What family willingly sends their child away and refuses them to be able to return home? Not a family that wanted that child, that's for sure. Even here, half the girls had a familiar family member, they were even allowed to return home often. No one had even asked her if she wanted to go home, or that they would come here to visit.
They didn't want her back. They didn't want to see her. They didn't want her.
Nyra went to turn. "My love, it is not your fault." Ness began, her hand clutching her shoulder tighter.
Nyra pulled away entirely, shaking her head as the first tear fell. "They don't want me, they never have!" She hissed, clutching her arms tighter around herself. "This is just their way of breaking it to me softly that I'll never return home."
Ness sighed, softening her shoulders as the girl turned from her. She was deflated, tucked inside of herself as the only form of defence from the outside world. "You will go home at some point, Nae. Don't ever think that." But how could she not? The Red Keep wasn't home, not really. Her father was never going to agree to marrying one of her brothers, and he'd probably already had sent letters over her future union with some Lord in a far off place.
"But how can I not, Aunt Ness?" She asked. "I've been here a long time, they didn't even write to say anything to me." And that was the hardest part. Ness struggled to come up with something, gazing down at the young girl with a heavy look of pity. "They wrote to you because then they wouldn't have to face the consequences of their actions. They're cowards who had you do it."
