Anna sat at the table with her sister while her boys were on the floor playing with each other and wooden dragons.
"Your own name day is coming soon, dear sister," Anna mentioned as Alicent sighed.
"Yes, and Father will marry me off to whatever Lord brings him power," the young Hightower grumbled, drinking some of her wine.
"Not if he knows what's good for him." Anna disagreed, making her smile a little before everyone quieted down, drawing their attention. The royal hunt was back, and the heir was covered in blood.
Anna jumped up, ordering her handmaiden to stay with Aelor and Aegon while waddling to Rhaenyra, who stood tall. She quickly grabbed the girl's arms, checking her for cuts and wounds as Rhaenyra laughed.
"I am fine, Anna," she assured her but was ignored.
"Who's blood is this? What happened? I thought you were supposed to come back yesterday." She fired off her question just as Viserys made his way to them, chuckling as his daughter sent him a pleading look that screamed Save me from your wife.
"She is fine, my love," Visery cut in, kissing her cheek.
"Well, I asked and questioned, and I need answers now." Anna demanded
"I am fine; the blood is from a boar I saved my father from; we were supposed to come back, but my horse lost control and ran off with me still on his back, where I saw the white heart, and it bowed to me in front of the hunting party."
Anna could see the pride and relief on her little dragon's face. There was no more doubt, no more questions about whether she was good enough for the throne, if she was the right heir, or if her brothers would be the true heir.
"The gods have spoken, my little dragon. No more doubt should enter your head about who is the rightful heir. I am so proud of you," she whispered, kissing the girls forehead before wiping the tear that fell from the girls eye.
"Now go get cleaned up. You stink of many things, and it makes me want to gag." She jested, making Rhaenyra laugh as she rolled her eyes, walking away with Alicent, who was making sure she was okay.
Anna turned to her husband, who watched the interaction with a soft, happy smile, making her smile and walk into his arms.
"Are you alright?" she asked quietly, making him hum.
"Yes, she stopped me from being impaled by a boar's horn to of them. My back hurts from the harsh ground, but I am back, and I have my lovely wife in my arms and my children in sight. I am perfect," he muttered in her ear, making her smile at his words.
"Good now, go say hello to your sons. Getting them to sleep without you saying goodnight to them was horrid; they missed their kepa," she said, pushing him towards their sons, who were now running towards them.
She watched as her husband knelt to the ground and hugged their sons tightly, listening to them babble their heads off.
"They have passed infancy," Lord Hobert Hightower told his brother as they looked at the two sons of Viserys.
"Yes, what a joyous occasion, but this morning Aegon was eating his food with his hands, and Aelor shoved Aegon's head into said food." Otto agreed.
"They will mature," he assured his brother, who chuckled
Otto knew his brother was right, but he needed to get Viserys to name either of his grandsons as his heir and disinherit Rhaenyra. He would have to make Viserys see that lords of the realm may have bent their knees and swore oaths to protect and honor Rhaenyra as heir and queen, but they would never remember their oaths when the king fell, not if it meant a woman would be in power, especially if the king had.
A woman simply couldn't have that much power; it wasn't the way of things. A woman could not rule a house, let alone seven different kingdoms; she would fail and the realm would fall. A woman's job was to marry young, let their husband bed them, fill their cunts and wombs with their seed as many times as it takes for them to become children, and then bear as many babies as they could. That's a woman's job.
How could his family rise up in the world if his firstborn daughter married a king and they still weren't heirs? It brings shame to his daughter and his name; his second daughter was ten and eight and still unmarried; it was embarrassing.
"Are you alright, father? You seem upset," Alicent asked as she approached her father, making him scoff.
"Well, I have one daughter who has done her duty that is ignored, and my other daughter is eighteen and has no offers for her hand and is still unmarried." He snapped, making her step back, swallowing hard.
"Speak to me like that again, and I will see to it that you are removed as the king's hand, my lord," Anna snapped, stepping in and going to her sister's side, glaring at her father.
"Anna, this does not concern you," he stated.
"Alicent has gotten over thirty marriage proposals, but none are good enough for her. Alicent is now the good sister of the king lady of the court; she is now apart of the royal family. You have not gotten the proposals because I have made sure that you would have sold her off to the highest bidder."
"I have a right to know these things. I should be handling these matters. I am her father."
He snapped, raising his voice, making many pause and stare at the scene."And I am your queen," she raised her voice, making it clear who was in charge.
"Lady Alicent will stay by my side and marry when I tell her she will. A betrothal will be made by me, not you and if I hear you utter the words of Alicent and a marriage again, you will understand what it means to work for a roof over your head and food in your stomach."
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Unexpected Love: Viserys Targaryen
FanfictionAs the realm mourns the loss of Queen Aemma, King Viserys finds solace in the arms of a most unlikely companion - the enchanting Anna Hightower , daughter of the King's Lord Hand. But amidst grieving hearts and political turmoil, a daunting questio...