Dragonborn

THREE

I seriously need to stop tempting fate.

When I asked for a distraction from my neverending cycle of princessy duties (being the cupbearer for the council, listening to Septa Marlow try to instil the fear of the Seven in me, and sneaking out to check if my cafe/restaurant/sanctuary for abused women is still standing) I didn't mean for Aemma's labours to start.

"How long has it been?" I asked Talya as we ran through the Keep's halls towards the queen's chambers. "Who's with her?"

"It's been half a candle mark, princess. And the king and Grandmaester Mellos are with the Queen."

I grimaced. I must hurry or else, Mellos will cut my mother open — just like I heard him tell Otto at the Hand's Tower (a necessary sacrifice, they said) — without regard for her safety. "Go to my chambers. There is a box under my bed, I need you to bring that to my mother's chambers. I will meet you there." I grasped her wrist. "Stop for no one, alright? Bring it straight to me, Talya."

"Yes, Your Highness."

*****

The scene inside was nothing short of chaos.

The King is kneeling beside the bed, and a knight — I'm gonna get him flogged later for his stupidity — is holding Myrna and three other midwives at sword point. And Mellos is holding a blade against my begging mother.

You know, I often wondered what it felt like to be so angry you'll see red. I decided I didn't like it. It burns through the rational mind and makes you do things.

Reckless things.

Like roundhouse kicking a Grandmaester in the face kind-of-things.

"Visenya!" The king shouted. "What in the Seven —"

"With all due respect, father, shut up." Everybody gasped, and I rolled my eyes. "I will take any punishment you give me but it will have to wait. Mother needs us."

"Visenya —"

I cut him off again. "There is no time, father, you have to trust me, please."

He looked at me with wide eyes, an unreadable emotion — pride, surprise? — before agreeing, "Very well, daughter. Do what you need to do."

I sighed in relief. For a moment there, I thought I'd have to fight every Kingsguard outside if the king decided to throw me in the Black Cells. "Thank you," I called for Harrold to escort the whimpering Mellos and the idiot knight out of the room. Talya appeared in the doorway just as I instructed the remaining guards to get all of the clean sheets around the keep. "You're a godsend, Talya."

Kneeling beside the king, I wiped some sweat from Aemma's face, "Mother." I waited for her to focus on me before continuing, "There is something I must tell you before we proceed."

"What is it?" She gasped through the pain.

"You will likely never get pregnant again after this. And you will scar." I looked at the king. "I'm not asking for permission, I'm doing this whether you agree or not."

Viserys is the type of man to be wishy-washy in his decisions but he surprised me this time with his prompt decision, "Do it. Do whatever it takes to save your mother."

Aemma nodded her reply. But I'm not done. I have to make sure that the king won't be pressured by the Council to put another baby in Aemma if my unborn sibling turns out to be a girl.

"Promise me that you will cherish mother even if my unborn sibling turns out to be a princess. That you will love her even if she cannot give you a son. Give me your word, father."