The Dragon Queen

CHAPTER 43

Rhaelys looked around her. She noticed that she stood in her mother's old quarters. Everything was as she remembered. She heard a noise and decided to follow it.

She ended up at her father's chambers. She looked around and saw his model of Old Valyria still incomplete. She walked towards it.

"Westeros will never be Valyria but we could make it close to one." A voice said causing Rhaelys to turn.

She saw her father, or what her father used to look like anyway. He was walking on his own, he looked young and healthy as he once was.

"Father. What..?"

"Come."

Viserys walked away and Rhaelys followed. They walked until they stood in front of Balerion's skull.

"Im sorry Rhaelys, for all the bad I've done. For not being the father you needed or wanted. I wish I could go back and change things but I can't. I wish I had gotten to j iw your heart sooner, my daughter. I'm proud of you, Rhaelys. Your mother is to. And k is that we will always be here for you."

Rhaelys smiled sadly. That was all she wanted for her father to be proud of her. For someone to say that they were sorry for how she was treated.

"I wish I had more time. But I have to leave."

Rhaelys was confused. "Leave? Where you going?"

"Somewhere far away but I will be close."

"Will I ever see you again?"

"Yes sure you will Rhaelys."

"Well then, goodbye father."

Viserys pulled Rhaelys in for a hug. Rhaelys closed her eyes cherishing the feeling of her father.

***

Her eyes opened and the first thing to leave her mouth was,"The king fell and the queen rose."

Rhaelys looked around. It was a dream. Everything she saw was a dream. Suddenly someone entered her chambers, it was Alicent.

She had tears in her eyes. Alicent noticed that Rhaelys was awake and waked to her.

"Alicent?"

"His gone." She whispered.

His gone.

His gone.

His gone.

"In his sleep. Rhaelys I offer you my condolences."

Alicent spoke but Rhaelys heard nothing. She didn't want to believe it, her father was dead. Dead.

Rhaelys got out of bed. "His not dead Alicent. His alive."

Alicent shook her head. "Rhaelys his gone. The maester all but confirmed it. He is being taken to the Silent Sisters."

Rhaelys threw on a random dress that she found. She walked through the corridors speedily.

She arrived at the Silent Sisters. Otto was standing next to Orwyle. She saw her father laying on the table, his lower body covered by a sheet.

Rhaelys slowly walked to the body, her hands shaking as she lift it to place it on his head. The moment her hand touched him, she felt the coldness of his body, she knew that he was dead.

A single tear runs down her face. Rhaelys turns to Orwyle. "What happened?"

Orwyle looked to Otto before he answered. "We do not know, but when I went to his graces chambers last night I found an empty vial."

"A vial?"

"Yes. I studied it and it was not from any of the maesters in the red keep."

Rhaelys nods her head. She turns to the Silent Sisters and then back down to her father. She places a small kiss to his head.

"Get him ready for the funeral. And please be gentle, his fragile."

Rhaelys walks out. Otto and Orwyle look to each other before Otto followed after Rhaelys.

"Who was last seen in my father's chambers?" Rhaelys asked Otto.

"Alicent was last seen." Rhaelys stopped walking. Could it? No, Alicent wouldn't do this.

"And before Alicent?"

Otto hesitated, "Your sister, the Princess Rhaenyra."

Rhaelys let's out a breath. Of course, it's always Rhaenyra.

"Is the Princess Rhaenys in the keep or has she left?"

"She is in her chambers."

"Inform her of my father's death but before you do ring the bells. The king has died, and a queen will now take his place." Rhaelys instructed.Otto bowed before leaving Rhaelys.

Rhaelys walked back to her chambers. When she entered she saw her children and siblings all sitting on her bed.

"What are you all doing here?"

Aegon looked at everyone before answering. "When we were young you would always be there for us for anything. You are like a mother to us-"

"She is our mother idiot." Aerion interrupts.

"Yes yes, but anyway.." He glares towards Aerion, " It's time we look after you."

" So we have planned a picnic, like when we were young. We'll have it right here on the bed." Helaena says.

"And you can tell stories of your younger years, like when you were at the StepStones." Aeron says.

"Or when you claimed Vermithor." Aemond adds, that was always his favorite.

Rhaelys stood motionless. She doesn't remember the last time she had a picnic with them, it felt like forever ago.

Aisha moved closer to her mother and pulled her in for a hug, Aelea following after not understanding what was happening but wanting to be included.

The children moved around the bed making space for Rhaelys to sit. Rhaelys smiled sadly at them. Aisha moved and took Aelea before joining the others. Rhaelys walked to the bed. The second she sat down everyone decided to pike on top of her.

Limbs were everywhere, positioned in the most uncomfortable ways but no one cared. They wanted to be there for Rhaelys.