𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐫 // 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐧

Chapter X

Boom! (Guess what?) I'm hurting you
Run your ass, better run your ass
Boom! (Guess what?) I'm hurting you
Imma fucking kill you!
I say, "beat, " you say, "that ass"
Beat! (That ass!)

(Imma Kill U - Clown Posse)

Red Keep, 10 years later

A few whimpers filled the room, causing laughter among the nurses and handmaidens present. The new arrival was wrapped in a thick red blanket with precious gold trim and then was carried to his mother. Jocelyn, who had attended the birth, noted how much her friend resembled his mother, Aemma Arryn, in that circumstance. Rhaenyra took her child in her arms and despite the pain she had suffered until a few minutes before, she smiled at him, and with that smile she seemed to want to convey love, security and joy to the new arrival. "Lyn come closer, come and see him," the Targaryen ordered her, then she moved slowly and reached her nephew. He was a sturdy and healthy child, and above all with brown hair and eyes of the same color. Jocelyn smiled at the bundle with a note of bitterness. That child, like the first two for that matter, looked terribly like her brother Harwin. "He is beautiful Nyra... Congratulations," and she gave a kiss on her friend's forehead, then she bent over her nephew and took his hand, playing with it a bit. "Your aunt gave you a nice little present, you know? I'll bring it to you later, my little one." The door of the room was suddenly flung open, and a panting maid appeared. "Princess, forgive me, but Queen Alicent has asked that the newborn child be brought to her immediately," Jocelyn stood up, careful not to bump into the little one and began to shake her head no. "This is nonsense, the Princess must rest, you can tell the Queen to come here, if she wants to see the baby", the handmaid did not even have time to nod that a new order was given to her, this time by the Princess herself. "No, tell her that in a little while she will be presented with the new Velaryon" and then she sent her away. "Nyra you are too weak I do not..." "I will not give her this satisfaction Lyn. Hold the baby, in the meantime I will tidy myself up". Rhaenyra stood up, after a few minutes she expelled the placenta and once cleaned and tidied up, she asked her handmaids to dress her. Jocelyn instead continued to cradle her grandson, and every now and then she stuck her tongue out at him. So many things had changed in ten years. The King's health had become more delicate every year, despite everything the Targaryen showed an iron temperament. His father had continued to serve impeccably as Hand of the King, while Larys had settled permanently at Court. Harwin had become Commander of the City Watch and continued his relationship with Rhaenyra, who gave birth to Jacaerys and Lucerys, and the still unnamed child she held in her arms. Princess Rhaenyra's children, however, all bore the surname Velaryon, since everyone except Jocelyn knew that they were Laenor Velaryon's children, even if the latter's paternity was constantly questioned. Alicent had fathered two more children, Aemond and Daeron, over the years, and had continued to feel hostility towards Rhaenyra. Despite everything, Jocelyn had managed to clear things up with the Queen and was a very present and decisive figure in the lives of all her grandchildren. She loved them deeply, they were her joy and her pride. "I just heard! A boy... What wonderful news," Laenor Velaryon said running into the room. He gave his wife a kiss on the cheek and then with a toothy smile took his son in his arms. “Congratulations Lenny, he is a beautiful child” “Thank you Lyn, thanks to the mother. She is definitely more beautiful than me” the two laughed then the son of the Sea Serpent noticed that his wife was about to leave the room. “Where do you want to go again like this?” “The Queen has asked to see our son”, the Velaryon frowned and snorted nervously. He had no desire to be insulted again, but he knew that the Queen was a stubborn person. “At least let me accompany you, lean on my arm”. Rhaenyra nodded, took the child in her arms and leaned on Laenor, then turned to Jocelyn. “Come too please, when you are here Alicent seems more docile”, the Strong nodded smiling and followed them. When they arrived outside the Queen’s chambers, Ser Criston Cole was standing guard. He and the Princess looked at each other coldly, while she and Laenor ignored him completely. Jocelyn wanted the man dead, she had wanted him for ten years, and yet he seemed to be the gods' favorite. After killing Joffrey Lounmouth, Ser Criston Cole had tried to kill himself, but Queen Alicent herself had prevented it, and then he had become her sworn shield. Practically her lapdog. And he had never paid for his crime. The Counselor had tried to convince the King to punish him, but it was no use. So she had temporarily given up on the matter, but sooner or later she would make him pay. Cole opened the door and once inside Alicent looked at Rhaenyra strangely. "You should not move in your condition, dear." "The Queen wanted to see my son, and I obliged her," the two exchanged false smiles, while King Viserys approached his nephew, "He will make a fearsome knight," he exclaimed enthusiastically. Jocelyn continued to remain apart, seeking Alicent's gaze every now and then, to prevent her from saying inappropriate things. "What will you name him?" the Queen asked, turning to the couple. "Joffrey," Laenor exclaimed in a breath. Rhaenyra looked at her husband sideways, not looking at all happy with such a decision. "Little Joffrey has his father's nose. “Truly lovely,” the King said. An awkward silence fell in the room. Viserys Targaryen was the only one who seemed to deny the evidence. That child, like the others, did not resemble Laenor. “Excuse us, but I think my wife needs rest,” Laenor said, trying to escape the awkward situation. Jocelyn walked alongside the Velaryon, waiting for the Princess to greet her father, and in the meantime the Queen joined them. She bent over the child and looked at him, smiled at him, and then turned to the Lord of Driftmark. “Keep trying: sooner or later, you may have one who resembles you.” Jocelyn grabbed her wrist, pulling her closer. “Laenor’s mother is half Baratheon. The seed is strong, and nature is unpredictable. Stop with these poisonous insinuations Alicent » « Stop insulting yourself and your intelligence Jocelyn, the truth is obvious » the two women continued to look into each other's eyes, ready to continue the discussion and they would have done so, but this was not the place. Their relationship had remained solid, but there were cracks that seemed to threaten everything. Alicent hated the way Jocelyn defended Rhaenyra, because she knew that she did it to protect her brother and those who were really her nephews. She feared that she would always prefer her brother's children to hers, that she would always and only protect them, when one day, the problem of succession would become reality. Would Jocelyn help Rhaenyra kill her children? Or would she really be right? Alicent could not say, so she put a good face on a bad game, even if she continued to have a soft spot for her two childhood friends. Laenor and Rhaenyra returned to their rooms, followed by Jocelyn, and found Jace and Luke waiting to greet them, accompanied by Harwin. "Mommy, mommy, tell me it's a little sister!" exclaimed little Luke, who was quite disappointed when his father introduced him to his new little brother Joffrey. "Mommy and daddy are still young, my darling, they have all the time in the world to make you a little sister," Jocelyn replied, kissing him in the hair. "What are you doing here?" Rhaenyra asked her children, who moved away to reveal a sort of pot with a dragon's egg inside. "We chose an egg for Joff, so he and the dragon will grow up together. Ser Harwin came with us to protect the egg," explained Jace, looking at the Commander of the City Watch with a smile. “Oh, so my big brother is now a Dragon Keeper too,” Jocelyn said, and was grabbed by her brother who slammed his fist into her head, “Shut up, Worm.” Strong hugged her brother and whispered in his ear, “Congratulations, Harw, he’s a beautiful boy and he looks so much like you,” and they pulled away, realizing that everyone’s eyes were on them. A strange big family. That’s what they were. But to Jocelyn, they were perfect just the way they were. Her best friend loved her brother, and they had three beautiful children, whose foster father was her best friend. It was all chaotically perfect. She loved this family of hers and would protect them forever. Laenor invited everyone to leave the room, so the Princess could rest. The only one who remained was Harwin, who was holding Joffrey close.