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Viserys Targaryen had few loves in his life. His dearest wife, Aemma, his daughter, Rhaenyra, and his grand-daughter, Alysanne.
He'd been very young when his mother was taken by the Stranger.
He'd grown fond of Alicent during their marriage, but nothing more. His children by her were more Hightower than Targaryen, and now that Rhaenyra had children of her own, they were unnecessary. Alysanne would take the throne and protect the realm after Rhaenyra, with children of her own one day.
His daughter Helaena was special, but she was not born of his great love.
Nothing made Viserys feel more alive than seeing Aemma in his daughter and granddaughter.
His Aemma. His wife, who he'd senselessly slaughtered to bring forth a male heir. He overlooked Aemma and Rhaenyra once before, he would never make the same mistake.
All it took was young Alysanne visiting her grandsire late, late in the night, when all were asleep but them, for Viserys to feel young again. She held his hand and spoke softly, about her travels, and Aegon's nasty behavior in Dorne, and the Tyrell lord who she'd met at Highgarden.
She spoke of her concern for Helaena, who was afraid to birth this next babe. She was happy for her mother, who'd just had a healthy, strong boy named Viserys.
The king could do little to ease her fears for Helaena. He'd wanted to tell her all would be well, that they had the finest maesters and the most experienced midwives. None of that saved Aemma. It was why he wasn't present for the births of any of his children, or grandchildren, after Aemma's death.
He was consistently haunted by her. Viserys, please. Viserys. No, no no! No. Viserys!
Did that make him a kinslayer? To forgo your wife for a child you dreamt of? He knew it did, for the throne only infected him after her untimely death. It didn't stop him from pretending, for fleeting moments, that Alysanne or Rhaenyra were Aemma, in Alysanne's Arryn blue eye, or Rhaenyra's smile.
He'd let Otto and Alicent see to royal matters when his girls were away. What sense was there being awake when he dreamt of Aemma each night?
He did his duty, failed as a husband, and a father, but when he would be greeted by the stranger, he hoped Aemma would forgive him.
Alysanne sat at the dining table, next to Helaena who held her stomach with a deep frown. "I am afraid the babe shall never be happy."
"He will." Alicent said sharply. "Or she." Helaena looked up to meet Alicent staring at her with distaste. Or perhaps she was looking at Alysanne, who was smaller than Helaena still, a maiden.
"Why wouldn't it be? It shares the blood of a king." Alysanne encouraged Helaena. Since she'd gotten here, Helaena made it very clear she didn't want this child to be born. She was terrified of giving birth. What had she seen after the birth?
Alysanne wished her mother was here. She always knew the right thing to say, and Alicent was never any comfort to Helaena. In fact, it seemed that the princess tried to avoid the Queen when possible.
Each morning they broke their fasts with the children, Aemond and sometimes Otto. Today, they were blessed with the gift that was Aegon, and the King.
The King sat at the head of the table, right next to Alysanne. Helaena sat beside her, Alicent at the other head of the table.
"Alysanne." The king said, disrupting the uncomfortable conversation about Helaena's unhappy unborn child. All heads turned to the king.
"Grandsire?" She asked, giving him a smile.
"Your name day will be upon us soon." He stated. "You shall be ten and five years of age."
"Yes." She confirmed.
"Is your mother fielding suitors?" He wondered aloud. "From the very moment she turned of age, I was surrounded by offers of marriage from all."
"I do not know." Alysanne admitted. "I wish my father was alive to keep her level."
Aemond chuckled at her response. Her father is alive. Daemon Targaryen.
Alysanne did not dignify his laugh, and instead continued. "She's offered me a chance for happiness, but all I really need is heirs." Her subtle insult towards the Queens family was not missed by anyone.
That was the reason the king had married a second time, wasn't it? Not for happiness, but for heirs. And the second Alysanne was born, all of them became redundant.
The king nodded. "I find myself reading many offers for you, including the Prince of Dorne."
Alysanne couldn't help but laugh aloud. The Prince of Dorne was four times her age, already had children, who'd had children. "If that is what you wish, my king." She reeled herself in, steadying her mind. "But, I might offer this conversation another time."
King Viserys looked around the table, suddenly aware it was not just the two of them sitting there.
He could vaguely smell the bright citrus wafting over her. She'd always preferred it as a child, lemon citrus baths over lavender or rose oil.
Alysanne wanted to sink into her chair and wither away. The Queens cohort was unkind, that was true, but their eyes showed nothing but hateful judgment. Aegon, while awake, was barely alert. Aemond stared her down with his singular eye, a toned down snarl and waves of hate eminiating from him.
Helaena still focused on her growing stomach, rubbing small circles and drawing small bugs over her dress.
"Princess." The Queen cleared her throat and paused for a moment. "I thank you for coming to my daughter's aid. 'Tis only a mothers wish for her children to feel comfort."
Alysanne nodded. "My aunt has been very dear to me. I would never ignore her call."
Alicent flinched at Alysanne's words.
How could she think she would never ignore Helaena's call? It is not her place to think anything of my daughter. My girl, Alicent, thought bitterly. She didn't give a response to Alysanne.
Alysanne turned silent. She was already uncomfortable before she'd angered the Queen. Now she felt uncomfortable and rather embarrassed. What had she said that angered her grandsires wife?
In the back of her mind, she wondered, why do I care? Alicent was nothing more than a marriage, but Alysanne was a Targaryen. She would sit the Iron Throne by her own inheritance, not because of a marriage to a Targaryen. When Viserys died, what would Alicent be besides a dowager?
Helaena turned silent with Alysanne. The cold waves of hate burning from her mother were enough to send everyone into relative silence. The only two who spoke were Otto and Viserys.
It was three days later when Helaena gave birth to her third child. Alysanne stood by her side the entire time, clenching her teeth with incredible power when Helaena squeezed her hands until they'd turned dark red.
She'd shouted she didn't want her mother there, and when the Queen entered the room, she screamed, "Out! Out! Get out!" Until the midwives nearly removed Queen Alicent by force.
"A boy, Princess." The midwife announced with a smile. "A Prince."
"Get him away." Helaena cried, shying away from the screaming infant. "I don't want him." Tears fell freely down her face. "He will cause doom." She whispered to Alysanne.
