The Legacy of Two

King's Landing

 Aelora pinched her brother's arm. Jace yelped in pain and jumped up, leaving Aelora enough space to push past him and towards the dragon egg.

"Aelora!" Jace complained as Ser Harwin Strong led Luke forward.

"Princess, you mustn't harm your brother," the knight reminded Aelora, "He is your brother."

Aelora only crossed her arms over her chest and looked into the pot that held the egg. "I think this is the perfect egg. Luke chose it, after all." Luke grinned up at his sister as he sat down onto the rug, pulling Jace with him.

"Aelora-"

"Come, Jace." Luke pulled his brother closer to him, leaving Aelora to stare down at the black egg.

Ser Harwin put a hand to her shoulder. "Try not to burn yourself, Princess."

"I'm not that silly," Aelora replied, pushing a brown strand of hair behind her ear, "Besides, I won't get burnt." Ser Harwin said nothing as he retreated to sit beside Jace and Luke.

Aelora stared at the dragon egg. She couldn't remember her own egg, she had only been three when it hatched, but Lyrrax was a beautiful milky white, with grey streaks along his eyes.

Aelora had first ridden on her dragon at the age of seven, much like her mother. They were the youngest dragonriders ever. And they were also the only girls in their family. Aelora prided herself in being with her mother at all times, except now when she was giving birth to her little sibling.

A part of Aelora wanted the baby to be a girl so that she could have a little sister to play with, but another part of her wanted it to be a boy so that she could still be her parents' only daughter.

She knew it was selfish, but, well, she was nine, what did it matter if she was selfish?

The door opened.

"Mother!" In her haste, Aelora almost slipped her hand onto the burning egg, but she retracted it just in time. Jace and Luke were on their feet as Aelora wrapped her arms around her mother, hugging her tightly.

Rhaenyra laughed, kissing the top of Aelora's head. "My little dragon," she murmured affectionately, gazing down at Aelora.

"Look," Jace instructed as Laenor entered, carrying a swaddled baby.

"We chose an egg for the baby," Luke explained as Aelora stepped towards her father, standing on her toes to see the child.

"May I hold the baby?" she wondered. Laenor gave her a smile as he lowered the child into Aelora's arm, carefully making sure the weight was settled evenly.

"You have a little brother, Aelora." Laenor told her as he retook the baby again. Jace and Luke crowded around her to look at him.

Luke took Aelora's hand, trying to see his brother. "What's his name?" he wondered.

"Joffrey." Rhaenyra told them.

"That's not a Velaryon name." Aelora frowned up at her father, but he was too busy cooing at his little boy to notice. She slipped away, going to sit down beside her mother.

"Are you well, Mother?" she wondered with a frown.

Rhaenyra gave a tired smile. "Of course, my little dragon."

"You look tired."

"Mm."

Aelora pressed the palm of her hand to Rhaenyra's cheek, trying to soak in her warmth. "Why are you up so early?" She asked, "Joffrey is not yet an hour old."

"You don't have to worry about me, little dragon," Rhaenyra promised.

Aelora kissed her cheek, "But if I'm not going to worry about you, Mother, who is?"

~~~

Aemma was sure that she was getting good at stitching. That was what she told herself as she poked the needle through the fabric, hurrying to finish her little depiction of Blackwater Bay.

Alicent had told her that if she managed to finish a small stitch within a week, she would let her spend more time with Rhaenyra's children. Aegon and Aemond had teased her relentlessly in the past week, but she had ignored them, hurrying to finish her little waves and rocks.

"Mother, I'm almost done," the nine year old announced to Alicent, who sat on the floor beside Helaena.

Alicent glanced back with a gentle smile, her curls falling neatly along her back. "That is wonderful, Aemma. We shall hang it up in your room once it is finished."

"May I stop for now?" Aemma wondered, getting up before her mother answered. She put the stitching down onto the table and came to sit beside Helaena, who had a small bug in her hands. "What is that, Hel?"

"A millipede," Helaena replied in her usual distracted manner, "It has eyes... though... I don't believe it can see."

"And why is that so, do you think?" Alicent wondered.

Helaena shrugged. "It is beyond our understanding."

"Shall we try reading about it tonight?" Aemma asked.

Alicent gave her an annoyed frown, pursing her lips as she spoke, "You know I don't approve of your nightly doings with your brothers and sister, Aemma."

"Yes, Mother, but can't we have a little fun?"

The door opened and Aemma turned around as a Kingsguard brought Aemond in, an unhappy look in his face.

"Your Grace." The Kingsguard announced himself as both Alicent and Aemma stood. Aemma rushed over to her brother, and took his hands in hers as Alicent hurried over with a worried glance.

"What have you done?" the Queen demanded, "After how many times you've been warned, must I have you confined to your chambers?"

"They made me do it!" Aemond argued, his hair getting more dishevelled.

"As if you need encouragement," Alicent sighed, "Your obsession with those beasts is beyond understanding-" She cut herself off abruptly, looking at Aemma.

The girl had a look of horror on her face. "You're not talking about them, are you?" she mumbled.

"No. Not at all." Alicent promised.

Aemond nudged her gently. "Why don't you go back to your rooms, Em," he suggested, "It is for the better."

"But you're not talking about the creatures, are you?" Aemma insisted, her heart beating loudly in her chest.

"No." Alicent tried at a smile, and then turned, "Helaena, come take your sister back to her chambers."

Helaena obliged, and as she hooked her arm through Aemma's, she put a hand on Aemond's shoulder. "You'll have to close an eye," she said, and then led Aemma out of the room and through the corridors of the Red Keep, leaving everyone to wonder the meaning behind her words.