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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There was little Nyra could say about the ceremony bar the fact that the words were beautiful and the speeches people gave did nothing but honour her aunt for what she was, an extraordinary human being. But she would be lying if she said she listened to every word without letting her gaze return to the figures that had caused her so much grief and hurt over nine years of absence.
They stood at the very front to one side, opposite Nyra, and with a careful turn of her body, she could catch them from the corner of her eye. Her mother had remained clutching onto her seven pointed star necklace, fingers digging into the point as the odd tear rolled down pale cheeks. Helaena focused on the lillies and the small insects that seemed to be crawling amongst the pot as words slipped from her lips every once in a while.
It was Aegon that stared unabashedly, with a glint to his eye and the upturn of careful lips, he had barely looked away from Nyra who remained tucked to Daeron's side. She prayed that he couldn't see her eyes, that her subtle press against her younger brother for a better view of her siblings appeared like nothing more than a grieving, dedicated niece. But she knew that he knew, that his daring eyes met hers through the thin veil.
Aemond, however, did not seem to care that his sister stood on the other side of the aisle. It infuriated her, the very thought that he wasn't the least bit curious riled her. She thought he would have at least looked, dared a single glance when his brother was being so open with his. "What are they doing here?" She couldn't help but whisper to her brother, finally ripping her eyes from them to seek an answer.
Daeron looked guilty, sweeping a look across the hall before leaning down towards his sister. "Mother thought it was a good idea, show them their home place after the funeral."
"Now is hardly the time." Nyra hissed. "She can't visit any other time but all of a sudden now is the perfect time for a family reunion?!" Her voice had gotten louder, eyes beginning to turn as even Mondy looked over. She silenced herself, pulling away from her brother before taking a deep breath. Impeccable timing, that was for sure. Their family was grieving and now she thinks it's a good time to bring them here and meet everyone?
"I raised the exact point with her this morning." He uttered. "She didn't see a problem with it." She wouldn't, would she? Nyra simply rolled her eyes and shook her head. "I think she forgets who she has as sons and what happened last time this family went to a funeral." She kept quiet, not wanting to comment on the matter.
Nyra dared another look. It was Alicent that looked at her this time, a sense of longing in those dark eyes as she smiled smally. Nyra turned away, looking back to the Septon. She couldn't believe this. It was different when it was her mother and Grandsire but with the others... Hidden, forgotten fears bubbled beneath the surface. Of not being enough, of not being allowed to return home, of feeling like the black sheep. What did they have that she didn't? Why was it just Daeron that joined her and not Aemond or Aegon?
