the great war | house of the dragon

1.2 - nothing at all

If you asked Alysanne Velaryon how to anger Aemond Targaryen, she would say, "be me."

It seemed all she did these days was anger her uncle. They'd once been drawn together like an unstoppable gravitational force. Two royals, the same age, the same magical Valyrian blood thrumming through them both. Rhaenyra had tried to nurture her daughters friendship with her half brother, but Alicent Hightower did all she could to stop it.

"Rhaenyra's children are not of ser Laenor. They are bastards." The Queen proclaimed, "look at them." Aemond did look. He saw Velaryon in Alysanne, she had a blue eye and a violent, bright silver golden hair, wildly curled.

"She is a bastard, Aemond. One who will forfeit your life, and Aegons, and Helaena's and Daeron's, for her mothers claim." Alicent's poison traveled far in the boy who loved her, who believed her word was the word of god.

Aemond tried his best to be civil, until that damned day when Alysanne marched into his rooms and announced she had claimed a dragon. A wild dragon at that. Bastard. Bastard. Bastard. She was a bastard. It was his inner thoughts, but Alicent's voice. Look at her. Does she look of ser Laenor? Or does she look of Prince Daemon?

Aegon ignored his mother. He found solace in Alysanne, she was wild, as he was, and was never afraid of what her mother would think. He admired that about her, having a mother that would support you no matter what. All Aegon had from his mother was beatings when things did not go her way.

Helaena ignored her too. She spent much of her time with Alysanne and Aegon, usually talking about dragons, or entertaining themselves in the library, or making ser Laenor tell them of his battles. Today, the family gathered for Alysannes name day.

It was the 22nd day of the 10th moon of 119AC, Alysanne Velaryon's 8th name day. In the two years that had passed since she claimed Cyrene at the age of six, Aegon claimed the golden and pink dragon, which he named Sunfyre. Helaena had claimed the pale-blue dragon Dreamfyre shortly after that. Aemond had remained bitter and resentful of those who had bonds. Even Daeron had ventured into the Dragonpit, and bound himself to Tessarion, the blue dragon who hatched with Alysanne.

"What is it you wished for your name day, little one?" Her Grandsire asked, leaning next to her. Her chair was sat beside his, at the center of the table. It was just a courtly feast, but Alysanne didn't even want that. She just wanted lemon cakes and to go flying.

"A new saddle for Cyrene." She answered honestly. "I wished it to be silver." It was what she told her mother she wanted. Alysanne grew and grew, as did Cyrene. She'd refused to let them cage her in the Dragonpit. Even as a girl, she knew that her wild dragon was meant to be wild.

"Is that all?" He prodded her. He was the king, he would burn the realms down to provide her what she wanted. He'd not felt that way about his own daughters birth, but that was when Aemma was still alive. Rhaenyra's children were all that was left of Aemma, proof of her existence.

"I asked father to teach me dragon dice." She said, picking at her fingernails. "Mother made me sit through many fittings for winter dresses, so I suppose winter dresses can be added to the list."

King Viserys let out a boisterous laugh at his granddaughter's sense of gifts. "Well, my girl, I have searched for the perfect gift since your last name day." He produced a polished wooden box.

The box was quite large. "I thank you, Grandsire." She said.

"Open it." He urged her. She took the box, surprised at the weight, and opened it. Inside was a tiara, bespeckled in pearls and diamonds. "Do you like it, my girl?" He asked, watching her with intent.

"I love it, Grandsire! Thank you." Alysanne did not know what to say. How did she go from wanting a new saddle to getting a tiara?

"I had it made, just for you, Alysanne." He said proudly. Alysanne smiled greatly at her grandsire, and set the box down on the table. She stood from her chair and gave him a hug.