Changing Destinies

Chapter 6

Is time for Aemond's birthday celebration. Rhaenyra tells Daemon what she wants. I hope you guys like it 🥰

Valyrian will be in italics.

2 days later

Rhaenyra was willing to use any weapon available to her to stop her father's stupid idea to marry her to Laenor Velaryon. She had been told that she looked just like her mother and she was going to use that to her advantage.

"Are you sure this is the one you want, princess?" The maid looked at the blue gown in her hands with a small frown."This has not been worn since Queen Aemma was around your age."

Rhaenyra smiled down at the gown. "I know."

She needed to remind her father that she was her mother's daughter and the reason why he loved her. While Rhaenyra would prefer not to use underhanded tactics, her father was not giving her many options.

She had the maid helped her put on the gown and combed her hair. She even picked the same jewelry her mother had worn on that day. She heard many stories about the way her mother had entered the great hall, in the blue and gold off the shoulder gown. Her uncle Daemon had told her that her father had not been able to look away from her and everyone had been able to see how in love they were. Her mother had the gown made especially for the occasion, it had been to celebrate her first wedding anniversary. Rhaenyra wanted her father to see her and remember all the love he had felt for Aemma, to feel what it was like to have someone you loved completely supporting him.

While Rhaenyra had threatened to run away if her father tried to force her to marry Laenor, and she would if she was forced to, she did not want to. She did not want to leave her siblings in the hands of her father and their mother. She did not want her siblings to have the same horrible life they had in her dreams. She could not imagine Aegon, such an adorable little boy, drinking himself unconscious and forcing himself on women. She could not imagine her sweet Helaena jumping to her death because she did not see another way of escaping the pain. She could not imagine Aemond, her sweet and happy boy being so bitter and hateful. She needed to use every weapon in her arsenal before running away.

Once she was ready, she made her way to the great hall. She knew she was late, everyone was already there celebrating. Her father said that the feast was to celebrate Aemond's second name day, but she knew he was talking to Corlys about having her marry Laenor. Her father had not made any promises, but she wanted to make sure he would not make any either.

The guard gave her a nod before the doors opened and the music stopped. Everything was quiet as the man announced her.

"Princess Rhaenyra of House Targaryen, heir to the iron throne!"

She kept her gaze forward as people bowed and she did not miss the way her father paled when he saw her. Alicent looked livid and her hands tightened around her fork. She saw Daemon who apparently had been dancing with Laena and was now standing next to her. Rhaenyra ignored the way her heart clenched, if Daemon had made his decision then she would be happy about it. Even if she could not have Daemon, she would not marry Laenor either.

She stopped in front of the high table and dropped in a curtsy before smiling at her father. The king was still looking at her like she was a ghost.

Rhaenyra made her way onto the table and took her place to her father's left as the king raised his cup, his voice was a little shaky. "I welcome you all and thank you for being here to celebrate my son's Aemond second name day. There isplenty of food and drink, so I invite you all to eat and be merry."