Sunrise and Moonlight | Bastard&Usurper Rhaenyra AU | House of the Dragon |

Introduction: A Different Dance

AN: Hello, and welcome to this wild idea for an AU that I had.

This chapter is more of a lore and background introduction to explain the canon divergence and set up the world in which the story takes place. Next chapter, we will have some POVs.

Lore understanders will instantly notice that I made some pretty drastic changes to wild situations I wrote possible. I took great care in writing it in a way that feels believable to the world and politics of ASOIAF. This can be a bit complicated since George's world is so complex that making major changes often leads to massive and very complicated ramifications. I want to make this story feel real to the world of ASOIF. Therefore, any criticism of the verisimilitude of the story is welcome. It helps me spot the places that I did not develop sufficiently or simply missed.

In any case, I hope you guys enjoy the chapter. Any feedback is welcome, as it really helps with the motivation to write more chapters.

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It is one of the ironies of history that an attempt to stop a war would be the cause of one. Or at least, that is what the Maesters of the Citadel argue when they speak of the betrothal between the then Prince Viserys Targaryen and the Dornish Princess Eliadna Martell.

The betrothal came on the eve of rising tensions in the Dornish Marches. It was an attempt by the Old King Jaehaerys to reach a Détente with Dorne, to lower tensions and cool tempers with Sunspear.

Memories of the Fourth Dornish War, often called Prince Morion's Madness, were still fresh in the memories of many. The war had left the Stormlands devastated and had all but eradicated the Dornish fleet and levies. Both the Iron Throne and Sunspear considered the cost of war to be too great and aimed to prevent a fifth war from erupting.

Therefore, a marriage pact was put forth.

It was not meant as a political alliance but rather an attempt at dialogue. Both Jaehaerys and Mara Martell, the ruling Princess of Dorne, sought to create ties that would facilitate mediation and negotiation between King's Landing and Sunspear. Consequently, the matches put forth had to be high enough in station to serve as liaisons between the two rulers while not standing to inherit anything of note that would too deeply intertwine the two dynasties.

The Princess of Dorne put forth her niece, the second daughter of his brother, Princess Eliadna Martell. Meanwhile, the Old King thought it wise to offer up his grandson Viserys Targaryen, son of his fourth child, Prince Baelon Targaryen. Both matches were, essentially, "second sons" that did not stand to inherit the lion's share of their House's power.

At the time, the young Viserys had been courting Aemma Arryn from the Vale. It was said that Aemma was Viserys' one true love and that she was as smitten with him as he was with her. There had been no formal betrothal, but they had been practically promised to each other. A promise the Arryns of the Vale, who kept an important presence at court, had counted on for many years.

It was a promise that was broken when the Old King chose to betroth Viserys to the dornish princess. The lack of a formal betrothal contract did not prevent the insult the Vale felt at the king's decision. The Arryns would remain bitter for decades, and their influence on the throne would only continue to wane.

In 91 AC, the wedding between Viserys Targaryen and Eliadna Martell was held in King's Landing. Nevertheless, Aemma Arryn remained at court for many years, even as most of the Arryn presence slowly trickled out and returned to The Vale.

No one expected the Prince of Dragonstone, Aemon Targaryen, to die a year later from a stray bolt coming off a Myrish pirate's crossbow. No one expected him to die without a male heir. However, it was no surprise when Jaehaerys passed over Aemon's daughter, Princess Rhaenys, in favor of his son Baelon and named him heir to the Iron Throne.