𝚆𝙷𝙰𝚃 𝙸𝙵? [𝓅𝒶𝓇𝓉 𝓉𝓌𝑜]

ℋ𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉𝑜𝓌𝑒𝓇 𝒬𝓊𝑒𝑒𝓃 𝒾𝒾

𝒬𝓊𝑒𝑒𝓃 𝒜𝓁𝓎𝓇𝒾𝒶 ℋ𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉𝑜𝓌𝑒𝓇

King's Landing, 109

Alyria Hightower was now the queen and she hated every bit of it. Yet, she did her duty to her family, husband, and the realm. Princess Helaena Targaryen came two years after Aemond, she was sweet and kind, shy and quiet. Baelon came a year after Helaena along with Maegor. The Keep had turned back into a happy place, at least that was what everyone believed. Alicent Hightower had gotten pregnant by King Viserys. Alyria was not surprised, Alicent tended to want everything she had.

Rhaenyra sat in her mother's chamber, doing her embroidery work. Aemond sat beside her playing with his toy. Helaena sat beside Aemond. She just watched Aemond before she began to play with her toys. From her room, Alyria watched Gwayne train, Ser Erryk trained with him, and she watched with a smile. Her brother had grown into a young boy, nearly becoming a young man. He was ten and three and the only thing he wished to do was train to become the best swordsman Westeros had ever seen. Her father had shunned her, insisting that no daughter of his would choose someone else's blood over her own.

She thought about their argument often. "Rhaenyra is his heir, father. He chose her" she told her father. "Rhaenyra is a girl," he told her. "Rhaenyra will be a good queen" she looked away from him. She hated that he gave her a disappointing look. "It wouldn't matter if she were Jaehaerys born again, Rhaenyra is a woman and nothing will change that" Alyria scoffed at her father's words. "So what? Are women not allowed to be anything more than broodmares, baby-making machines?" it was her father's time to scoff. "You are a woman. You have done your duty. You have given the king four children, and three of those four are boys" Alyria looked at her father.

Otto was smart and cunning. He had served under two kings and his daughter married the King. And his other one had given the king an illegitimate son but a son nonetheless. "You are a Hightower. A lady of Old Town. Do not forget that" he told her. "Do not forget that I am your queen. We are not the same. You are a servant of the crown. I am the crown" she glared at him. It was the first time she spoke up to her father. "Leave" she ordered and he scoffed but he did not argue, leaving the room without saying another word.

The days passed and Alyria grew wary of her father and sister. She kept an eye on her stepdaughter making sure she was safe. One night, on the rare occasion she found Daemon in the garden as she took a stroll. "It's a bit late for the queen to be out and about, don't you think?" he asked. Daemon didn't like the Hightowers, he barely even liked Alyria, the only reason why he did was because Rhaenyra loved her. She ignored his words. He saw the worried look on her face. "Are you alright?" she whispered a yes and turned to whatever she was looking at.

"I know we don't see eye to eye, but are you certain you are okay?" he asked again. She took a deep breath. "My father is... a cunning man" she began. "He wishes for more than he already has. His daughter married to a king, stepmother to the future queen" she smiled. "Rhaenyra will be a good queen. I know. I will ensure she will. But, he does not understand it. I know she is not my blood. I know I did not birth her but I love her as my own" she felt a sting in her eyes. "He believes a male heir is far better to rule than a girl" Daemon listened to her words. "Aemond?" he asked and she nodded. "I love my son, he is my blood after all, but I love Rhaenyra too and I believe she will make a fine queen" Daemon said nothing. It was like seeing a new side to her that no one had ever seen.

Alyria was nothing like her father or her sister as he had heard. She was kind, soft and good. She cared very little for politics and war. She wanted to spend time with her children and on some occasions in the City helping the less fortunate. Daemon knew his brother cared for her, he would not say that he cared as much as he cared for Aemma but he cared for her enough. "My brother is blind. He believes everyone has good intentions when is clear that they do not. At least most don't" she nodded. "Your father has never liked me" she smiled. "He does not like things or people he cannot control. And you, my dear Daemon are one of those people" Daemon turned to face her when she called his name. "Her Dear Daemon" those words had caught the rogue prince off guard.

Daemon was a complex person, rough around the edges. But he cared. Like any other person, he wished for someone to truly love him, with the good and the bad. He wanted someone to love Daemon. "I hope you listen to my words carefully, my prince" he nodded. "I know you hate council meetings and staying in one place. But, if you wish to ensure your place at court and at your brother's side you must remain here. In King's Landing, with Viserys and Rhaenyra" he nodded. "And not your children?" he asked and she gave him a tight smile. "I know you are not fond of my family, let alone the children of the Hightower Whore" she had heard the whispers and rumors that he had called her a whore.

Daemon felt ashamed for once in his life. It would most likely be the only me he would but he felt. "I.." he could not find the words and he did not let him, putting her hand up to stop him. "It does not matter. Your words do not hurt me, my prince" she smiled. "But, do listen to my words. I wish to keep the realm at peace. And as long as my father remains the hand of the king, the realm will know nothing but chaos" Daemon nodded as he watched her walk away. He did not have to believe her words but he knew, deep down that they were nothing but the truth. The question is, will he listen?

(Not Edited)