The Unburnt

Chapter 7 - Admiration

Why put a leash on the dragon, when you can feed him the sheep

116 AC

Visenya Targaryen

A fire in the hearth whips and cracks the wood laid upon, little specks of glimmer raising momentarily above the flickering flames. Sitting in one of the armchairs next to me is Daemon, his eyes trained on the fire, as if it held any answers to his inner turmoil, a turmoil that my self can also sense, our connection being a strange one ever since I was a little girl, as if our souls were entwined by the Old Gods of Valyria.

The past few days have been dreadful, with the announcement of Lady Laena Velaryon's second pregnancy with Lord Hand, it seemed as if our family started cracking, drifting us apart, the union that my father so deeply tried to build. A weak man can never build strong Castles, as it is not forged with fire and blood as our ancestors required us. While the air filled with the soft ambient sounds of the hearth, my mind wonders to these recent events:

''P-perhaps 'tis not a bad predicament uncle-''

''Rhaenys has always held a grudge against my brother and the Realm, for not choosing her when Baelon died, 'tis a bad predicament niece,'' he responds, both of us were strolling through the gardens of the Red Keep, as this evening he chose to humor me and spend some time in my presence, despite my reticence in showing how truly excited I was to share the same air as my uncle.

''You speak as if she is capable of doing such depravity, kepus --uncle-- do you think she would endanger the claim of another woman upon the throne after what my aunt went through?''

''All of us are capable of depravity ñuha riñitsos--my little girl--, and she has been denied twice, the first time when her father perished, Prince Aemon, the claim passed to her uncle Prince Baelon, my own father, after he also passed away, the Lords of the Realm decided that Viserys shall take place and I supported his claim, marching with a number of men who were more than ready to slay anyone who said otherwise-'' Now it was my turn to interrupt him.

''Which makes her unlikely to proceed with such vengeful acts, especially with the help of Otto,''

''Ao issi riñītsos, konīr iksis sȳz iā quba daor. Mirri emagon kostōba gaomagon daor, ābrar iksis vīlībāzma, īlon ivīlībagon kostōba.''

You see the world with child-like eyes, there is no wrong and right, all there is power, those who have it and those who thirst for it, it's all a battle little girl, we either battle to keep the power or to take it. His words were kind but they cut me deep, making my heart bleed, realizing that perhaps my uncle changed, yet I didn't, forever trapped in the form of a clueless little girl who was Second of her Name and Second Daughter of King Viserys, Sister to Rhaenyra Targaryen the rightful heir.

''Pryjagon ilībōños aōha rūsīr. Vīlībāzma syt se dēmalion.''

Her children are bastards --I refer to Rhaenyra-- it is only a matter of time until her claim to the throne shall be challenged. My words seem to make my uncle stop in his tracks, his gaze burning a hole in my back as my legs carry me down the green path, the chirps of the birds start bothering me, discerning that even in my own body, I am trapped.

I shall accentuate that my father was one who avoided conflict, would agree with his Small Council even in matters he should voice his opinion as King, he didn't rule his Kingdom with an Iron Fist, it felt as if Otto Hightower was the the puppeteer behind the puppet, my father. Unlike my uncle Daemon who would have made a better king as far as I'm concerned, as the Seven Kingdoms had to be united in fear, fear of authority, hence why Queens had to be gentle so they shall subside and bring the commoners some peace while the King commands respect, obedience, discipline and unity. My mother Aemma was a gentle soul, and my father was what my uncle called him: an idiotic coward. Both of them made a weak claim due to my father Viserys. Peering at the dancing flames, my self constructs an idea, me and uncle as rulers, figuring this much would make a fit pair for a stable Kingdom, one that shall bring back the potency of our Targaryen House, of our Valyrian heritage that The Conqueror fought so hard to bring forth.