THE LUCKY ONES; house of the dragon

chapter 3

[act one; chapter three     -     duty]

    The years had surpassed them three times over. So much had changed, then, in that time. People, themselves, had changed. The ways of girlhood had long since passed, and now all that remained in its stead was grief-filled womanhood. Rhaella and Wylla were mothers, now, several times. Alicent had married and birthed the king a son, just as he had always wished and craved for. Rhaenyra had become more rebellious, striving to lead her fathers wishes amiss as she aged. As she became more desirable to the realm.

    Rhaella had supposed they wouldn't remain solely as girls for long. Not in the likes of the world in which they have always existed. Even things that occurred against their wishes could not have been avoided. Not marriage or having children still so young. Not the questions of succession or the whispers of court.

    In the three years that had passed by, like sand through fingers, she had found herself mother to three children rather than just one. Braedon had found himself, much to his apparent surprise, she had realized, shocked to be joined by twins, Alysanne and Aethan. And within the same year, Alicent, too, had brought forth twins. Twin boys. Heirs for Viserys. Aegon and Rhaegon, they had been named. Chosen by the king, of course. Not long after, within twelve turns of the moon, another babe had been born. A girl, this time, named Aemma.

    (The poor girl had been named before Alicent had been given a chance to hold her, the king having taken her from the wet-nurse's arms and donned her with the name of his late lady-wife.)

    (Alicent hates the name and the way her daughter shares her dark hair and complexion. "A true Hightower," her father, Otto, had said.)

    Most days, Rhaella found, she was busy tending to her children, the three trampling around the Red Keep, their screams and laughter filling the halls, taking the place of whispers and poison flaunted by the court and their king.

    While she still sat in on Small Council meetings, accompanying her husband, Rhaella often found that she discovered immense joy when simply wandering the gardens with her closest companions, Rhaenyra and Wylla. Alicent, as of late, had found herself on Viserys' arm; always at his behest. No longer her own person, always simply the Queen. Always Viserys' lady-wife. She was no longer herself, but rather a tool and pawn of the crown.