The Princess & The Queen

Chapter Seven

Rhaenyra is now walking down the halls to the throne room. Her father called for her, for that she don't know why. Her father who all but abandoned her after her mother's funeral. She's upset that her father's just remembered that he had a daughter.

As Rhaenyra enters the sanctuary, she sees Balerion's skull sits on display surrounded by candles. Viserys stands in front, holding his hand above some candles.

"Father."

"Balerion was the last living creature to have seen Old Valyria before the Doom. Its greatness and its flaws. When you look at the dragons, what do you see?" Viserys asked.

"What?" Rhaenyra is befuddled and infuriated at the same time."You haven't spoken a word to me since Mother's funeral, and now you send your Kingsguard down—"

"Answer me." Viserys cuts her off. "It's important. What do you see?"

Rhaenyra calmed herself. No use to get herself riled up. "I suppose I see us."

"Tell me." Viserys prompted her.

Rhaenyra takes a deep breath. "Everyone says Targaryens are closer to gods than to men, but they say that because of our dragons." She licked her lips. "Without them, we're just like everyone else."

Viserys nods.

"The idea that we control the dragons is an illusion. They're a power man should never have trifled with." He says. "One that brought Valyria its doom. If we don't mind our own histories, it will do the same to us."He paused. "Targaryen must understand this to be King... or Queen." He finished.

Rhaenyra turns to him sharply, surprise and speechlessness.

Viserys casts her a solemn look. "I'm sorry, Rhaenyra, I have wasted the years since you were born wanting for a son."

Viserys approached his daughter.

"You are the very best of your mother. And I believe it. I know she did, that you could be a great ruling queen. "

Rhaenyra is perplexed at her father's words. "Daemon is your heir."

Her father scowled. "Daemon was not made to wear the crown." His face then softened. "But I believe that you were."

Rhaenyra is rendered silent, processing all of that's happening.

"This is no trivial gesture, Rhaenyra." She heard her father said. "A dragon's saddle is one thing, but the Iron Throne is the most dangerous seat in the realm."

He continues.

"There's something else that I need to tell you. It might be difficult for you to understand, but you must hear it." He looked straight at Rhaenyra.

"Our histories, they tell us that Aegon looked across the Blackwater from Dragonstone, and saw a rich land ripe for the capture. But ambition alone is not what drove him to conquest."

"Then what is?" Asked Rhaenyra. Her father's eyes became distant.

"It was a dream. And just as Daenys foresaw the end of Valyria, Aegon foresaw the end of the world of men. Tis to begin with a terrible winter gusting out of the distant north. "

Rhaenyra's blood ran cold.

"Aegon saw absolute darkness riding on those winds. And whatever dwells within will destroy the world of the living. When this Great Winter comes Rhaenyra all of Westeros must stand against it. "

"And if the world of men is to survive, a Targaryen must be seated on the Iron Throne. A king or queen, strong enough to unite the realm against the cold and the dark." His gazed then became hard.