The Gentle Queen: HOTD

Royal Wombs |1|

Rhaenyra flew around the castle, swooping down on her dragon, Syrax, before landing at the dragon pit. Much to her guard's relief, knowing that the princess was as wild as the beast of a dragon, the only one who could semi-control her was the young Hightower Lilly, who understood the girl better than anyone.

"Welcome back, princess. I trust that your ride was pleasant," Ser Westerling said as Rhaenyra walked away from Syrax towards the carriage, pulling off her riding gloves using her teeth.

"Try not to look too relieved, Ser," she replied with a smirk as she walked past him as the dragon keepers tried to bring her dragon into the cave.

"I am relieved. Every time that golden beast brings you back unspoiled, it saves my head from a spike," Ser Westerling remarked, but then she ignored him as she always did to anyone that spoke of their concern for her and her dragon, except Lilly, because she understood the bond between her and Syrax and how much Rhaenyra wished to be free and travel, not tied down by duty.

"Syrax is growing quickly; she will soon be as large as Caraxes," Alicent told Rhaenyra as she stepped out of the carriage.

"That's almost large enough to saddle two," Rhaenyra corrected, sending her closest friend a knowingly curious look.

"I believe I am quite content as a spectator, thank you." Alicent assured her friend

"Huh, what about Lilly? Where is she?" Rhaenyra responded, looking around for the young, red-headed girl.

"Right here, Nyra," Lilly called out, running to the two older girls holding a bouquet of flowers she had picked, her bright red hair flying in her face.

"What about you, Lilly? Would you join me?" Rhaenyra asked the young Hightower girl, making her blush and nod as a big smile came onto her face, warming the two older girls hearts.

"I would love to, but I wouldn't want to hurt Syrax or make her uncomfortable; I'm not her rider, nor a Targaryen," she said, biting her lip, a nervous habit she has.

"Well, I can assure you that Syrax loves your company, and you will be safe with me if we go for a ride. Syrax won't be hurt or uncomfortable." Rhaenyra assured the girl, squeezing her hand.

"Okay, soon, though not today, we have to go and see the queen before you have to be at the council meeting. You cannot leave the men waiting for their cups to be filled. And I must give these to her, Grace," the young red head

"Dohaeas" Syrax gave a little roar, wanting to be in the sky with his rider, not in a cave with chains, as the Dragon Keepers continued to command the dragon in High Valarian. This caught the girls attention as they watched the dragon keepers take Syrax into the caves.

"Well, we must get going," Alicent said, getting back into the carriage with her little sister and Rhaenyra following after her.

----------------------------------

The three girls entered the queen's chambers after receiving permission. Alicent and Lilly stayed by the wall as Rhaenyra approached her mother.

"Rhaenyra, you know I don't like you to go flying while I am in this condition," the queen, Aemma Arryn, told her only child as she sat on the lounge chair by the open windows, soaking up the sun while maids moved around the room.

"You don't like me to go flying while you are in any condition." Rhaenyra countered, smiling at her mother before continuing, "Did you sleep?" She asked, sitting down on a chair next to the Queen's Day bed that she sat in.

"I slept," the queen replied, readjusting herself in the chair and making Lilly come up to them with another pillow.

"How long?" Rhaenyra asked, messing with the skirt of her dress.

"I dont need mothering, Rhaenyra," Aemma replied as she fanned herself some more in the summer heat exhausting due to her condition.

"You are surrounded by attendees that are only focused on the baby; someone must attend to you." Rhaenyra replied, grabbing her mother's hand and giving it a squeeze, showing her she was just worried and not trying to be overwhelming.

"You will lie in this bed soon enough. Rhaenyra and Sweet Lilly is here when she is not with you, Alicent, or doing her studies. She keeps me company and makes sure I am well all the time." Aemma said, nudging her daughter with her foot as Lilly walked over and fluffed new pillows, putting them behind her after noticing her queen's discomfort.

"This discomfort is how we serve the realm," she continued, leaning back, feeling more comfortable.

"Thank you, my dear," she thanked the young redhead, who smiled and nodded.

"I would rather serve as a knight and ride to battle and glory," Rhaenyra said, smiling at the thought and making her mother and two close friends laugh, which caught Aemma's attention.

"Good morning, Alicent," she greeted the older Hightower, who curtsied and greeted her back before Aemma looked at Lilly.

"Did you finish your book, Lilly?" she asked the young girl, who smiled and nodded, excited to talk about the book she had been reading.

"Yes, I finished my book. I loved it because it was happy and had a love I wish to have one day. Anyhow, I brought you some flowers," she said, making the queen smile at the girl's kindness and motioning for the girl to show her the flowers, seeing her favorite marigold and daisies.

"They are beautiful, my dear. Thank you." The queen complimented and thanked the young girl before requesting a maid to put them in a vase for her side table.

"We have royal wombs, you, and the child bed is our battlefield; we must lean to face it with a stiff lip." Aemma told Rhaenyra, smiling softly at her, that she didn't wish for her daughter to be stuck with the future she would have.

"Now take a bath; you stink of dragon," she continued, kissing Rhaenyra's head while watching her daughter and Alicent leave the room. Lilly was staying with her.

"Here you go, your grace," Lilly stated as she handed her queen a glass of cold water, making her smile in relief.

Aemma thanked the girl before drinking some of the water. As she rubbed her stomach, feeling her baby kick, it brought her comfort to be able to feel the baby move inside her, knowing the little one was still alive.

Aemma grabbed Lilly's hand, bringing it to her stomach and letting the young girl feel the baby kick.

"The babe is certainly strong with your grace." The young girl commented with a soft smile.

"Yes, they certainly are." Aemma agreed, enjoying the girls presence whenever she was in the room. The room was calm and relaxed.

"Could you go to the library and bring me back a happy romance book, sweetheart? I am sure you have some excellent picks. I finished the books you picked out for me last time." Aemma requested taking the glass of water and thanking her.

"Yes, would you like one with just happiness or some with heartbreak but ultimately a happy ending?"

"Both," Aemma decided, making the young girl nod before leaving to go to the library, one of her favorite places to go.