✶|𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘋𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘺|✶ 𝘈𝘦𝘨𝘰𝘯 𝘐𝘐𝘐 𝘛𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘺𝘦𝘯

✶𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 26✶

――✴✯✴――

The Plan

――✴✯✴――

Year 131 A.C

Westeros

The Red Keep

Her breath hitched, confusion rising in her chest as she glanced around. She placed a hand against the cold stone of the wall, trying to steady herself. Why am I still here? She thought, trying to calm her racing mind. Was this a mistake? 

Had something gone wrong when she used her magic with Aegon?...

With a deep sigh, Serena glanced around, weighing her options. She stood at the end of a cold, unfamiliar corridor, with only two paths before her. To her left, a staircase spiraled upward, leading to an upper level. To her right, another set of stairs descended into the lower floors of the Keep.

After a moment of hesitation, she chose to ascend. The lower floors were likely more guarded, and despite the fact that no one could see her, she still didn't feel entirely safe.

As she climbed the steps, her eyes wandered to the paintings adorning the walls of the stairwell.

"They really seem to like having portraits done..." She thinks, a little shocked at the amount spread across the walls of that staircase alone. 

The largest and most prominent depicted Aegon the Conqueror with his sister-wives, Visenya and Rhaenys. Another featured King Jaehaerys, seated alone with an open book in his hands, exuding wisdom and quiet authority. 

More paintings followed, each capturing the likeness of various Targaryen throughout the dynasty's long and storied history.

When she finally reached the top, her gaze was drawn to a final painting, partially hidden in the shadows of the dimly lit corridor. 

Unlike the grand portraits on the stairs, this one was set apart, tucked away as if forgotten. The ornate frame, tinged with golden copper hues, caught her attention, stirring a strange sense of unease in her chest.

Curiosity and apprehension warred within her, but if she was still trapped here, she might as well explore while she could.

She stepped closer, letting her gaze settle on the faces within the frame.

It took her a moment to fully recognize them, but then... Something clicked.

King Viserys sat at the center, his once strong frame slightly hunched with age, his expression caught between warmth and weariness. 

To his right stood a young Princess Rhaenyra, regal even in her youth, her silver hair cascading over her shoulders. Then to his left, Queen Alicent cradled a small infant... Princess Helaena, her tiny form nestled securely in her mother's arms.

With her free hand, Alicent held the small fingers of a young boy... Prince Aegon, barely more than a toddler, staring ahead with wide, curious eyes.

A part of Serena couldn't help but wonder why this painting hadn't been burned, considering Rhaenyra's presence in it. Aegon despised his older sister... So why allow this memory to remain?