Fire and Blood (Book One)

Chapter Fifteen

In the Red Keep's yard while Jace fondly reminisced about their boyhood days training there, Alysanne noticed Luke was more self-conscious of the stares of the courtiers, as he too was now more aware that his resemblance to Harwin Strong rather than Laenor Velaryon would undermine him if he even put a claim forward for Driftmark. Alysanne was gratefully that her and her twins looked like regular Velaryon's so their legitimacy should never be questioned and it was odd that it was. The cousins then noticed a crowd forming around a sparring match and to their utter shock, they saw Criston Cole duelling their uncle, Prince Aemond Targaryen. Alysanne was surprised to see that Aemond had grown into a formidable warrior since they had last met since years ago. She watched as Aemond defeated Cole and listened as he said, "Well done, my Prince. You'll be winning tourneys in no time." "I don't give a shit about tourneys." It was then that noticed his nephews and one of his many nieces standing amongst the crowd and with a menacing edge to his voice asked, "Have you come to train?" The three were saved by the timely arrival of Alyssa who had arrived late as she preferred to fly on dragonback, after sliding off of Glaeder's back, she patted the mighty dragon's nose then kicked open the mighty gates before her.

Such an action shocked everyone as they all stared at her but Alysanne noticed that Aemond was keenly watching her sister, who refused to look his way, yet she smiled at seeing her twin and ran up to her. They hugged, they seemed to melt into each other, they closed their ears to the noise and every worry and fear seemed to fade away. As they loosened their hug to look at each other, they closed their eyes and rested their foreheads against each others. As the two separated and Alysanne made sure that she was blocking Aemond's view of Alyssa, who smiled as the twins began to converse while waiting for their twin brothers to meet them. As they walked up to their cousins, the gates were once again opened by the arrival of Ser Vaemond Velaryon, escorted by his retinue and several Hightower guardsmen, causing the cousins to exchange a worried look.

Knowing that her parents needed to be told, she went in search for them and ended up in the Red Keep's godwood, where she found Princess Rhaenys, standing at the stop of the steps, she announced her appearance by saying, "Baela has done well as your ward. You've raised her admirably." "You honour me, Princess." Alysanne was aware that she was overstepping by discussing a certain matter with Rhaenys as she was aware that her parents, her mother or her aunt should be discussing it with their dearest cousin. "I wondered for many an hour what purpose was in coming here. Whether you'd speak for or against the suit brought by Ser Vaemond. But then, I realized you intend to advocate for yourself. This is no fair proceeding. It is a trap set by the Queen and the Hand, I'd wager, to proclaim my brother illegitimate." At this Rhaenys turned away from the young lady and faced the weirwood tree, "Yet your mother did worse than that with Petyr. Did she not?" At this Alysanne stared at her cousin, confused by the accusation as she had no knowledge of what happened between her mother and Petyr, she was only made aware that Petyr had been killed when they had returned to Dragonstone. "My mother loved your son. You may not believe it to be true, but she did. My mother did not order his death. Nor was she complicit in it. I swear this to you."

As the two locked eyes,they seemed to have a silent conversation until Rhaenys began to walk off,forcing her to say, "I'll make you an offer. Back Jaehaerys's claim, and let you and Rhaenyra betroth Laena's children to Laenor's." At this Rhaenys stopped walking yet both knew that Alysanne would have to speak to Rhaenyra about it but at the moment Rhaenys was studying the young girl before her, who she was aware was not her grandchild. "A generous offer. Or a desperate one?" "What does it matter?" "You are right in this, at least. It does not matter. You canbargain with me all you like. Even pretending to be my granddaughter to soften my resolve. But tomorrow, the Hightowers land their first blow. They force your mother to her knees and I must stand alone." After saying this, Alysanne watched as Rhaenys walked off, leaving her alone, hugging herself, she tried to strengthen her resolve to fight and to do anything for her family.