The Sea Dragon (House of the dragon fanfic)

21: Bastards And Jokes

Twelve years later

I sat on the couch, looking through the windows, hoping to see Caraxes fly past, everyday hoping Daemon would return but I knew it wouldn't happen, "Your grace" someone said, I turned and saw it was a midwife, she bowed and continued talking, "The princess has begun her labors."

I turned to Alicent who sat next to me but she only rolled her eyes, I turned back to the midwife, "Thank you, you may go."

I stood up and reached out my hand for her to take, she scoffed and reluctantly took it and stood up. We walked out of my chambers, See Criston stood at his usual post, "Your grace, My lady" he said and bowed his head, he looked from me to Alicent and they shared a smile, "Please inform the King that the Princess's labors has begun."

I smiled to myself at the encounter they had they, "He seems happier than usual" I told her, "Our nineth year anniversary is coming up" she said and smiled. Alicent had secretly married Criston a year after Aemond and Aerion was born and had two beautiful twins, Nymeria and Robert.

The closer we got the more I could hear the sounds of Rhaenyra's labor echoing the halls, I shook my head at the sound, "Was I this loud through my labor?" I asked Alicent but she only chuckled.

Finally we stood outside her chamber, we sat on the bench, Viserys arrived ten minutes later. I scrunched my face as I heard another scream and then a baby's cry was finally heard. The midwife walked out, "A boy, your grace" she said and walked back in.

"Should we go see your grandson?" I asked Viserys, "Yes, yes" he said and I walked into Rhaenyra's chambers. I saw Rhaenyra standing over a bucket and Laenor holding 'his' son, "The afterbirth" one of the midwives said, I rolled eyes, "I know what afterbirth is, I've went through four pregnancies" I snapped at the midwife.

"What happy new, this morning" Viserys said walking in, "Indeed your grace" Laenor said. I watched as the midwives helped Rhaenyra over to her bed and remembering the pain all to well.

"Where is he? Where is my grandson?" Viserys asked walking over to Laenor, he passed the babe over to Viserys offering a kind smile. "A fine prince. You will make a fiercesom knight" Viserys said walking over to Rhaenyra.

I walked pass Laenor shaking my head, Rhaenyra laid in her bed smiling at her father, "Does the babe have a name yet?" I asked looking at Rhaenyra then Laenor. "We haven't spoken..", "Joffery, he will be called Joffery" Laenor interrupted.

I knew why Laenor named the babe Joffery, after his true love whom had died ten years ago, but it was no Velaryon name. "That is an unusual name for a Velaryon" I told Laenor but he only rolled his eyes at me.

"I do believe he has his father's nose" Viserys told Laenor, you mean Harwin's nose, I thought to myself. It was no secret that Rhaenyra's children were bastards, they had shared the feature of Ser Harwin Strong. From the hour of the owl to the morning sunrise, you could see Ser Harwin's sneaking out of the princess's chambers.

Rhaenyra and Laenor shared a look, "If you don't mind your grace, your daughter has exerted herself heroicly and should rest" Laenor said. Viserys turned to me, I wiped away some blood from the babes head and noticed black hairs standing out, I took the babe and hushed him while walking to Laenor.

"Another son, brother, your should be proud. But please do keep trying sooner or later maybe one of them will look like you " I said and handed Joffery to him, I patted his shoulder and walked passed him.

"Congratulations Rhaenyra, I hope Joffery will bring more joy to the kingdom" I said and turned to leave. Once outside the chambers, I released an air of breathe I didn't know I was holding, Alicent stood up and walked with me down the hall.