Chapter 28: A Full House
"Why hasn't she awoken?" Aegon asked, his arms crossed, and his eyes focused on the two maesters with an impatient look on his face.
It had been over a day since Lilyanna had been so brutally attacked by Daemon, and only now had the Queen and her other children been allowed to enter Lilyanna's bedchamber, after her she had been tended to and now that her condition was stable.
The princess lay in her bed, surrounded by her family, with her skin paler than it had ever been, thick bandages wrapped around her head, and having yet to regain consciousness.
"The milk of the poppy we had given her would have worn off by now, my prince." Gerardys said, "So we believe that the extent of Princess Lilyanna's injury is what is to blame. Head injuries such as this are often dangerous, more so than any other, and take far longer to recover from."
There was the worry that too much opiate had been given to Lilyanna, but as the wound on her head was being stitched closed, Lilyanna had been struck with a fit of convulsions so terrible that it threatened to cause further harm to her body. None of the maesters could say for certain what had caused the episode, nor the screaming that accompanied it, the princess looked as if she had been possessed at that moment, but all they knew was that she had to be calmed. And so, it was decided to give her milk of the poppy to lull her into a deeper sleep.
"Will... will she be the same when she wakes up?" Daeron asked, his voice, unlike Aegon's, was not full of anger, but of sadness and fear.
Orwyle cleared his throat, "We cannot say for certain, my prince, blows to the head can have different effects on people. There are some who wake up as if nothing happened, others who struggle to eat, talk, write, or walk, and those who bare no physical changes, but go on to live their lives as if they have become entirely different people overnight. No one can know what will be of the princess until she awakens."
A shuddering breath left Alicent's lips as Orwyle said this, clenching the seven-pointed star pendant in her hands so tightly that her hands started to turn white.
Aemond placed a hand on top of his mother's, "Lily, will wake up, mother."
But will she be whole? Alicent thought.
"She will wake." Helaena whispered, causing everyone to turn to her but her eyes remained fixed on her twin, holding Lilyann's limp hand within her own.
"Helaena-" Alicent was interrupted by the door opening and Criston stepping inside, a page standing behind him, "My Queen, his Grace requests your presence in the throne room."
Alicent clenched her jaw as a scowl formed on her face, anger filling her very being at the gall of her husband to take her away from their daughter's bedside, when he had not even seen fit to visit her and know how Lilyanna was doing.
But Alicent immediately schooled her expression, standing gracefully, "Has my husband said why he sends for me?"
Criston glanced at the page before answering, "He wishes to speak of Princess Lilyanna's attack with you, Princess Rhaenyra, the Velaryons... and Prince Daemon."
"Will our uncle be punished?" Aegon rushed to ask.
"Quiet, Aegon." Alicent scolded, "That is none of your concern, not any of yours."
"He attacked our sister! It is our concern!" Aegon yelled.
"Enough, Aegon." Alicent stressed, glancing at the page and through the doorway.
As royals their conversations were almost always being listened to, but now the castle was engulfed in gossip about what Daemon had done. Alicent was sure by now that word was spreading to the mainland, and in a few weeks time, all of Westeros would know.
In a twisted sense, this knowledge pleased her, due to the incident happening in the yard where many nobles, guards, knights, and servants had been there to witness what had happened, it was now impossible for Viserys to cover this up, to sweep this all under the rug while settling for a stern word given to his brother in private as Daemon's only punishment.
Even though she felt the same as Aegon, allowing themselves to be seen acting in such an uncouth and temperamental manner, was unfitting for ones of their status and could seek to hurt any sympathy they have gained in light of this terrible circumstance.
"Stay with your sister, and if you must leave this room, do not do so without a Kingsguard by your side."
Alicent exited her daughter's bedchamber, Criston her ever present protector following suit as Ser Rickard took his place guarding the door.
Even if this wretched attack happened in private, I would not, will not allow Viserys to silence me and demand my cooperation in protecting Daemon Targaryen. Justice will be had.
Once their mother and Ser Criston were gone, Orwyle and Gerardys took their leave as well, as there was nothing more they could do for Lilyanna until she woke up.
"Not our concern? What a load of shit." Aegon muttered.
"Do you think father will punish our uncle?" Daeron asked softly.
"If he does, I doubt the punishment will be very severe." Aemond said as he sat down in Alicent's now vacant chair, "He hasn't even come to see her, not once."
"Why would he?" Aegon spat, "Then he would have to acknowledge that his precious brother could do something so evil."
Heleana sighed, "Aegon-"
"You know I'm right; he has no excuse other than guilt." Aegon said.
If Rhaenyra was the one whose head Deamon split open, father would have taken his head before an hour could pass. Aegon thought.
He did not blame his older sister for the way their father treated him and their younger siblings, but it still burned Aegon to have such favoritism thrown in their faces in moments like this, moments where Viserys should act as if he loved his younger child and cared about their wellbeing.
Heleana turned away from her brothers and went back to staring at her twin, wanting nothing more than for Lilyanna to open her eyes.
She has to wake up, I know she will. Helaena thought faithfully.
A knock at the door followed by the voice of Ser Rickard, broke the short silence that had befallen the room. "My princes, my princess. Princes Jacaerys and Lucerys and Ladies Baela and Rhaena are requesting entry. Shall I allow them inside?"
"Let them in, Ser Rickard." Heleana said before her brothers could respond.
Once the door opened, Lucerys immediately rushed inside, standing in between Aemond and Heleana as he looked down at Lilyanna. "She hasn't woken up yet?"
"No, and the maesters do not know when she will." Aemond answered.
"Mother and father are speaking to grandfather about what happened, so we thought that we would come see how Lilyanna was doing." Jacaerys said as he stood behind his brother.
"And you had to bring them along with you?" Aegon asked, glaring at the second pair of Targaryen twins. Baela and Rhaena had not walked to Lilyanna's bedside like Jacaerys and Lucerys did, instead, staying by the door.
Baela returned his glare with one of her own, "We wanted to see how she was doing too, after-"
"After your father put her here?" Aegon asked pointedly.
Rhaena looked down at the guiltily, "He shouldn't have hurt Lilyanna, she didn't deserve it, that's why we came, to apologize."
Neither girl could understand why Daemon had decided to do what he did, nor the apathy that he showed about it afterwards.
Lilyanna had been nothing but nice to them, she was the one who had given Rhaena her new dragon egg, who had delivered Aethan and was the one caring for where the maesters had failed.
"Aegon, leave them be." Helaena said, "You're taking your anger out on the wrong people. Besides, Lilyanna would not be blaming them for this if she was awake."
Daeron giggled, smiling for the first time since his sister was hurt, "Knowing Lily, she would be more upset that Daemon didn't take their fight seriously until the end."
"That's because our sister is an idiot who chooses to focus on the wrong things." Aemond huffed, but he could not stop the small smile that crept onto his face.
Aegon rolled his eyes, a grin forming on his own face. "Lily will barely allow this to bother her before becoming distracted by something else. Just like with the catspaw."
This caused his brothers and nephews to laugh while Helaena smiled.
"The catspaw?" Baela asked, both her an Rhaena looking at the others confused, not knowing what they were referring to.
Jacaerys explained to the girl the attack that had been orchestrated against Lilyanna and the reaction she had to it.
"So, she was more upset that the assassin was purchased cheaply than about almost being murdered?" Rhaena asked incredulously.
"She didn't think her killers understood her worth." Aegon shrugged.
"Lily has always been like that." Helaena said, smiling as she stared at her sister again.
This led to more questions being asked and anecdotes being told about Lilyanna among the children, emptying the room of the oppressive atmosphere that had been permeating from it as they were able to smile and laugh.
Lily would like this. Helaena thought, reached down and grasping one of Lilyanna's limp hands and holding it tightly.
Viserys felt tired, more tired than he had in the last few years as he sat on the throne of Dragonstone, looking at his family below him.
Alicent had taken space on the left side of the throne, Criston Cole standing behind her protectively while Daemon took the right, smirking at both the Queen and the Kingsguard.
Rhaenyra and Laena had taken the space between Alicent and Daemon, with the two gravitating closer to the Queen and prince, respectively.
Laenor, Rhaenys and Corlys both stood behind Rhaenyra and Laena, none had witnessed the incident, but Viserys had called for them regardless, finding it simpler to have every adult member of his family there.
"I demand proper punishment, Your Grace. Prince Daemon sought to murder my child, our child, I will not stand by while he is allowed to walk away freely." Alicent voiced, never taking her eyes off Viserys' brother.
Daemon scoffed, still smirking at Alicent, "Punishment for what was simply an accident? If your daughter cannot handle a bit of roughness, she should stay out of the yard."
"Roughness? You broke a sword over her head!" Alicent exclaimed.
"A training sword, my Queen, a real sword would warrant a different discussion." Daemon said dryly, before looking at the knight standing behind her, meeting Criston's glare with one of his own. "Besides, we should be focusing on the Steward's son who thinks himself above his betters to dare lay his hands on a prince of the blood. Is this what passes for Kingsguards these days? I should cut off your hands and feed them to Caraxes for your insolence, Cole."
"I did what must to protect Princess Lilyanna from the obvious threat standing over her unconscious body, my prince." Criston said coldly.
Daemon laughed, placing his hand on Dark Sister, "Is that so? Then I-"
"Enough!" Viserys exclaimed, "Ser Criston do not speak again unless expressly ask to."
"Yes, Your Grace." Criston said, lowering his head.
"And Daemon." Viserys said as he looked away from his Kingsguard and at his younger brother.
Daemon slowly looked away from Criston, his posture relaxing as he met Viserys' eyes with his own and Viserys could see the lack of remorse in Daemon's eye, and a slowly growing smirk on his lips.
Daemon had nothing to fear because he knew that Viserys would not truly punish him, he never did no matter what he did. So why would it now be any different?
"You will be made to give Lilyanna a formal apology. A public one, where you acknowledge your failings and callousness before the court."
Alicent frowned, "Viserys-"
"An apology for what? For your arrogant child not knowing their place and how to properly show respect?" Daemon asked.
"You are the one who knows nothing of respect." Alicent spat, "You are the one whose ego is so fragile you tried to cave in the skull of a child."
Daemon rolled his eyes, "You-"
"I am not done doling out your punishment, Daemon." Viserys said, cutting Daemon off.
"Shall I be banished from Westeros again, brother?" Daemon asked rhetorically, "If so, I shall gather my things and my family-"
"Along with giving my daughter a formal apology, you will swear an oath before the court to never harm any of my children again, no more dragon eggs will be provided for your children and descendants, and you will no longer receive an allowance from the Crown as you have been due to your status as a prince and member of this family."
Daemon glared at his brother, "You cannot-"
"I can do as I please, Daemon! You should glad that I haven't stripped you of your title and taken away the miniscule claims your children have to the throne because of your actions!"
Daemon clenched his fists, "And just how will I provide for my family?"
"So long as your wife and children share a roof with that of the Crown, they shall be provided for." Viserys said coldly, "And should they choose to leave, I am sure that the Velaryons will have no problem doing the same."
Both Corlys and Rhaenys were stone faced, seeing why Viserys felt the need to bring them here. Of course, they would not turn away their daughter and grandchildren, but such an act would only add onto the dishonor that they will have upon them due to their association with Daemon. And Baela, Rhaena, and Aethan's children not being given dragon eggs was an even worse blow.
Viserys viewed this as a way to attack Daemon's pride, and force him to temper himself from now on, to not risk further punishment.
I have already planted the idea of disinheriting him and his children in his mind, he will think twice how he acts and speaks. Viserys thought.
Alicent frowned, looking away from her husband. The punishment, if one could call it that, still felt too light in Alicent's opinion, but at least it was something, especially as Daemon's power would be curtailed with the lack of funds and future dragons.
Knowing Viserys, he could change his mind later. Deciding that Daemon has suffered enough. A ridiculous notion, but a possible one with my husband involved. Alicent thought, holding her tongue.
Daemon could barely contain his rage, "And the eggs? Dragons are my children's birthright, you cannot keep Aethan from claiming one."
"He will get no dragon egg for his cradle, nor any other children, or grandchildren you may have. In fact, I will not allow any of them to approach the dragons of this island, if they do, such an action will be from this moment forward considered treason against the Crown, and they will be punished for daring to do so. Perhaps then you will understand the pain of watching your child hurt, with nothing you can do to ease that pain."
"Your Grace," Corlys spoke out, even as Rhaenys shook her head slightly, "What Prince Daemon has done to Princess Lilyanna was horrible and without honor, but to punishment the children for the sins of their father? They are innocent."
"Was Lilyanna not innocent? Did she deserve to have her head bashed in because of my brother's cruelty?" Viserys angrily asked, "Even now he shows no remorse or care for what he has done, but he expects me to do nothing in response as he continues to make this insult to me and this house, turning everything into a mockery! Now the realm speaks of this, of his actions, so no, I will not rescind my decree."
"Is that all, Your Grace?" Daemon angrily spat.
"You are dismissed, Daemon." Viserys said, watching his brother storm out of the throne room.
Slowly, the others trickled out of the throne room, but Viserys ignored them as he sat back, and eventually, Viserys, Alicent, and Criston were left alone.
"Does this satisfy you, wife?" Viserys asked.
"Will you change your mind about this in the future?" Alicent said instead.
Viserys frowned, "I will not, what makes you think that I will?"
"You have always had a soft spot for your brother, husband. I worry this will not be any different." Alicent admitted.
Viserys' expression softened and he began making his way down the throne steps, taking Alicent's hand when he reached her. "I will not be changing my mind on this. What Daemon has done… that is not something I can look past."
If only I could believe you. "Will you come to see her?"
"I will, and I apologize for not being by Lilyanna's bedside before now. This situation has left me greatly troubled, how could Daemon do this?"
Alicent wanted to say that it was because Daemon was an evil, hateful man, who sought to destroy everything good in the world, but decided against it.
"Come, let us return to our children." Viserys said, leading Alicent out of the throne room.
The act should have felt comforting to her, but Alicent could not stop thinking about how unfulfilling this trial had been.
Hours Later
Daemon walked out of the main entrance to the Dragonmount self-assuredly, he had just returned from a ride on Caraxes, but it had been unable to soothe the burning anger that had filled his being.
How dare he?! After everything I have done for him! I knew returning to Westeros was a mistake, but to think that Viserys would be this selfish? What right does he think he has to do this? Daemon thought.
"I figured I would be waiting a while longer for you to come back down." Daemon looked up and saw his cousin standing in front of him, blocking the path back to the castle.
Daemon rolled his eyes, "If you have come to scold me, cousin, then don't, I am not in the mood for your lecturing."
Rhaenys huffed, "Well, you are going to get it regardless. Just what were you thinking, acting like that in the throne room? You would think that you of all people, would be better at reading Viserys, and knowing when to stop prodding him."
"And why do you care?"
"I care because your actions have a direct impact on Laena and her children." Rhaenys retorted, "Even if you do not feel remorse for attacking Viserys' daughter, you should have at least pretended to. Viserys only rose in retaliation because of how you were treating the whole affair."
Daemon scoffed, "Of course, everything is my fault, as always in this family. Has the world gone mad since I was last here? That thing isn't my blood, why should I be made to-"
"If Viserys had knocked Baela over the head, would you accept him telling you that what he did was unimportant and that Baela was not his blood?" Rhaenys asked him.
Daemon glared at Rhaenys as they both knew that he would not, if Viserys had attacked Baela or any of his children, he would have killed him on the spot, or at the very least cut off his hand. "Viserys does not see it; the green snake he has let Otto Hightower put in his bed and had children with, children that threaten the claims of Rhaenyra and four of your grandchildren. And yet nothing has been done to end that threat, not by Viserys, not by, Rhaenyra, and not by you."
"So, you think beating up a little girl is the way to solve this issue?" Rhaenys asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she looked at her younger cousin as if he was an idiot.
"She will not be a child forever, nor will the rest of her siblings. My brother will not live forever and yet he does nothing to sure up the succession, instead allowing his brood to claim dragons that can be used to usurp the throne."
"You are correct, they will not be children forever, and yes, it would have been better for Viserys to not have children at all if he wanted Rhaenyra to succeed him without the possibility of being usurped, or even come close to looking at a dragon, much less claiming four, but that ship has long since sailed. I thought the same as you, I cannot deny that, but why make enemies unnecessarily? Not one of Viserys' sons have shown signs of wanting the throne, of feeling that their birthrights have been stolen, do you think by making them fearful and hateful that you would not jeopardize that?"
"And if they change their minds?" Daemon asked, stepping closer to his cousin.
Rhaenys did not falter, "Then they will be put down. I will not allow Rhaenyra and her children to be usurped, not without a fight, and I know my husband feels the same. But I doubt such will come to pass, not with how Rhaenyra seems to have those five eating from the palm of her hand."
Daemon's glare deepened at the mention of Rhaenyra's closeness with her half siblings, a feeling of disgust mixing with his anger as he remembered how Rhaenyra acted when he struck Lilyanna.
"Whatever you are plotting, you should banish it from your mind." Rhaenys said, staring at him critically, "You have caused enough trouble, Daemon, do you not tire of it?"
"Why would I?" Daemon smirked when Rhaenys stared at him flatly.
"Do you care about my daughter and your children?"
"Do you even need to-"
"Yes, I do." Rhaenys said before Daemon could finish his question, "If you do care, then do not make things worse for them. Try to put their needs ahead of your own need to sow chaos wherever you go."
Daemon stared at her blankly for a few moments, "Are you done waving your banner of moral superiority, Rhaenys?"
Rhaenys sighed, "You have not changed since we were young, Daemon."
"Since we were young? Only one of us is a grandparent of seven."
Rhaenys ignored the jab as she turned around, "I will speak to Viserys regarding the claiming of dragons and smooth over the bumps you have created."
"And you think he will listen? My brother seemed adamant on this farce, even when Corlys sought plead for clemency by throwing me to the wolves."
"I believe I can get him to, so long as you behave yourself and stop throwing this tantrum of yours." Rhaenys said before walking away.
Daemon let out a snort, finding it amusing that Rhaenys sought to scold him as usual for his behavior, something that had yet to change about the woman for as long as he has known her. He could still feel his anger bubbling deep within, but it was muted.
He wanted to leave, the idea of staying here in Westeros, having to be even more reliant on Viserys as he now had no source of income, was an embarrassment that he railed against. But he knew that Laena would not follow him, she had made that more than clear, nor would she allow him to take the twins and Aethan with him.
I'm not even sure if Laena will be speaking to me for the foreseeable future, she certainly hasn't in the past day. Daemon did not know what he disliked more, his wife ignoring him or the disappointed way she was looking at him now.
Still, he did not regret his actions, nor did he feel guilty, he could never find it within himself to feel bad for one of Otto's brood, but he could inwardly admit that he did not handle the aftermath smartly.
And he could not find it within himself to blindly trust the Queen and her children, regardless of what good they publicly did.
If everyone else is too busy looking the other way, then fine. I have been Viserys' protector all our lives, I will simply need to work harder.
Alicent used her finger to brush away a stray lock of hair from Lilyanna's face, a sigh leaving her lips, wanting nothing more than for her daughter to open her eyes. Each moment that passed where Lilyanna did not awake was heartbreaking for Alicent, just as she knew it was also heartbreaking for her other children.
Alicent flinched when she heard the door open, turning her head and watching Rhaenyra enter the room.
"Rhaenyra, what are you doing here?" The Queen asked.
"I wished to see how Lilyanna was doing, and you as well." Rhaenyra said, "And to ask if my father has finally come by."
Alicent glanced past Rhaenyra, "And Ser Criston allowed you to enter without your presence being announced?"
"Why would I need to announce myself in my own castle?" Rhaenyra asked, a smirk threatening to form across her face.
Alicent scoffed at the princess' insolence, and because she knew that she would have to deal with Criston and whatever Rhaenyra would have told him before entering Lilyanna's room afterwards. "You have just missed your father."
Rhaenyra frowned as she sat down in chair on the other side of Lilyanna's bed. "So he was here? Good, he should see what his brother has done with his own eyes."
Nothing about Viserys' behavior from the moment Daemon had attacked Lilyanna, had impressed Rhaenyra. It infuriated her to see her father try to excuse Daemon's actions, and that anger grew after Viserys doled out Daemon's punishment.
"I'm surprised that you are not defending your uncle. You have always been… defensive when Daemon is involved."
Rhaenyra slowly turned her head, looking away from her sister and towards Alicent. "Is there something you wish to say, Alicent?"
"Nothing at all." Alicent muttered.
"Really?" Rhaenyra drawled, "Because it seems that you have quite a lot to say from under your breath."
Alicent's eyes flickered towards Rhaenyra, a frown forming on her face, "I simply do not see why this matter has bothered you so greatly. Now that Daemon has dragged himself out of the gutters of Essos, you should be jumping for joy at his return, no longer do you have to pretend to care for my children, not when Daemon can take you to another brothel."
Rhaenyra let out a sharp laugh, "I am not doing this with you."
"Doing what?"
Rhaenyra laughed again, "You are angry with my father, you do not believe that the punishment, if you could call it that, was harsh enough for Daemon or that he'll soon renege on it because Viserys Targaryen always forgives his brother, no matter what transgressions he commits. But instead of accosting my father, you are choosing to make me the target of your ire because you see it as easier, because you don't see the point of fighting with him about something you already know he will do."
Alicent hated that Rhaenyra was right, she was angry, angry at her husband because she knew the kind of man he was, and because this was just another showcasing of how Viserys did not love their children as much as he should, not as much as Rhaenyra and not as much as Daemon.
Viserys did not even punish Daemon to give Lilyanna any kind of justice; he would have been fine with Daemon simply apologizing and letting the matter rest. He only escalated because he viewed Daemon's attitude as an insult to his pride and it would have made him look weak to the realm if he allowed Daemon to escape without one. Alicent thought.
"If you wish for an argument, you should look elsewhere for I will not be the one who gives it to you." Rhaenyra said softly.
Alicent looked down at her hands, "I'm sorry, Rhaenyra."
The other woman took a moment to respond, "I love my siblings, I would never defend someone who would go out of their way to do them harm. Daemon is a fool, an insecure and immature fool, I told my father just as much the other day."
"I know." Alicent whispered.
"And yet you still said differently, even if it was just to anger me, and you still wear green, while making my siblings do the same."
Alicent bristled, "What does that have to do with anything?"
"You wore that green dress at my wedding, and from then on, we became enemies and green your signature color." Rhaenyra said, her eyes narrowing, "Even now, as we are closer than we have been since you married my father, you still wear it. Are you still intending to usurp me? To place Aegon on the throne when my father dies?"
"Rhaenyra-"
"What more must I do to make it clear that no harm will come to my siblings when I am Queen? Must I cut off my hands so I can never aim a blade towards them? Carve out my tongue so no lies can spill from my lips? What would you have me do?"
"I don't know!" Alicent exclaimed, "I don't know, but how can I put my trust in you again and be sure that I will not be hurt again?!"
Rhaenyra frowned, "Alicent-"
"You allowed Daemon to take you to a brothel, doing who knows what with him, before returning to the castle and sleeping with Criston." Alicent said, glaring at Rhaenyra, "Then you lied to me about it all, and when word had reached my father of what you had done, you used it as an opportunity to have him removed from his position, all while knowing that I would defend you to Viserys and against my father."
Rhaenyra did not look away from Alicent, allowing Alicent to see a glimmer of guilt in her eyes. She did not regret having Otto sent away, the man was spying on her and did not bother to hide his ambitions about getting Aegon on the throne, but she regretted the pain it caused Alicent.
"I thought that I was able to forgive you, after... after what you said that night." Alicent folded her arms and looked off to the side, "But now, now Daemon has returned, and in his wake, he has brutalized my daughter and received little damnation for it by Viserys. That's the thing with you Targaryens, you believe you can do whatever you please, ignoring duty, honor, and sacrifice because of the titles you hold and the dragons you ride, while the rest of us must continue to cut ourselves for the good of our families and of the realm."
This was a jealously that Alicent had held close to her chest since the day she married Viserys. It was not just the lying that angered Alicent, but the fact that she carried herself as a proper and devote woman, a gentle lady of the court, doing everything that was expected of her and was still unhappy outside of moments with her children, was still not seen as enough by a man obsessed with a woman who was long since dead and gone, and had no true friends to speak of while Rhaenyra could move about as she pleased, could chase after her heart's desires, knowing that there will be no serious consequences waiting for her.
"You defended Daemon before, and while it may have served primarily to protect your own reputation, you still did so. How can you sit here and tell me that such will not happen again?"
"Because back then I was a foolish little girl that was caught up in the allure of her roguish and charming uncle, and who had been tired of the expectations that were placed upon me as both their heir and a girl, while knowing that everyone around me only wished to dominate and take from me. I made a mistake, and I have grown from it, surely you see that?"
Alicent let out a shuddering breath, beginning to tear at her fingers and refusing to look in Rhaenyra's direction. "Rhaenyra…"
"I thought I made it clear, after Elaera, how I felt about everything?" Rhaenyra asked.
Alicent squeezed her eyes shut, not wanting Rhaenyra to say what she knew the other woman was going to say. "Rhaenyra, please. I don't want you to-"
"My uncle was an infatuation; he does not matter to me anymore and has not in a long time."
When Alicent opened her eyes, Rhaenyra was standing next to her, looking down at her with a sincere expression.
"I wouldn't choose Daemon over you and the children, not again. You must believe me, Alicent."
"I..." Alicent looked away from Rhaenyra and onto Lilyanna's still sleeping form, "I cannot afford to trust you again only to betrayed when it suits your interests. Things are different now, and I have... I have more than just my father to lose."
"I know, and I understand needing to do what you must to protect your children, no matter what." Rhaenyra said, reaching down to pull Alicent's hands apart, stopping her from peeling the skin of her fingers. "And I promise you that I will not, nor will I ever lay a hand to my siblings. They are my blood, and I love them not just because they are my blood, but because they are yours as well. Daemon is not going to change that."
Alicent quickly rose out of her chair and cupped both sides of Rhaenyra's face, pulling her head down and smashed her lips against Rhaenyra's, devouring her mouth in a feverish kiss.
Rhaenyra's eyes widened in shock, but she quickly kissed Alicent back just as feverishly, wrapping her arms around Alicent's waist and pulled Alicent so close that their bodies were now flushed together.
The moment their lips touched, the culmination of years of suppressed emotions had been released, both giving into their pent-up desires and the longing they had held for each other.
Alicent's hands moved from Rhaenyra's cheeks and into her hair, tugging at the silky stands, eliciting a deep moan from Rhaenyra. In response, Rhaenyra brushed her tongue against Alicent's savoring the taste of the other woman.
But just as suddenly as the kiss began, it ended as Alicent's knee bumped into the side of her discarded chair, startling both women into breaking apart from the other.
"Oh, my Gods." Alicent whispered, her voice tight with anguish as she shook her head and stared at Rhaenyra wide eyed with disbelief. One of her trembling hands clutched her seven-star pendant, the pointed parts digging into her palm. "What have I done?"
Rhaenyra licked her bottom lip, which was not helping Alicent with the dread and terror that she was feeling. "Alicent-"
Alicent took a step back, not allowing Rhaenyra to reach out and touch her, "I'm a wife, I made vows, this is-this is a sin and now I am an adulterer."
"Alicent, listen to me-"
"No! You don't understand." Alicent said as her voice rose, "My soul is not mine to risk, if I die with this... this stain, what will become of me? Of my husband? Your father! Gods, we have committed unnatural acts and incest."
"You and I have never viewed ourselves as truly stepmother and stepdaughter." Rhaenyra said indignantly, "And why should incest or us being women bother me, you once said yourself that 'we Targaryens have queer customs' did you not? And you are a part of this family, so you-"
Alicent looked at Rhaenyra as if she were mad, "Are you forgetting that you have a husband?"
"Laenor wouldn't care." Rhaenyra said flippantly, if anything it would just give Laenor more reason to tease her.
"And what about my husband?! Do you honestly think Viserys will turn the other cheek to this? Do you think he will react kindly to this, this wickedness?"
Rhaenyra scowled, "And why does it matter what he thinks or feels? He doesn't even see you, Alicent, not truly, not like I do. To him, you're just a hole for him to fuck and put children inside of, children that he ignores once the joy of having a newborn wears off. He does not love you, and I know that you do not love him."
"Stop, stop talking, Rhaenyra."
"I love you, Alicent."
Alicent froze, her eyes brimming with tears, "Why would you say that?"
"It's the truth and I-"
Alicent took another step back, "If you love me, then leave me be."
Rhaenyra frowned, "Alicent-"
"Please." Alicent whispered, her body beginning to shake as struggled to hold back her tears, "Please just leave."
Rhaenyra wanted to refuse but she stopped herself and nodded her head, her expression hollowing. She walked to the door, pausing to glance back, but Alicent had turned away, now facing one of the stone walls.
"Good night, Alicent." Rhaenyra said softly before opening the door.
When Rhaenyra slipped out and closed the door behind her, Alicent fell back into her chair, still grasping onto her pendant as she began to weep.
Silence filled the void as the group stared at the Three Conquerors, processing what they had just been told.
"That... that can't be..." To Aenys, nothing his parents and aunt said to him made sense, the death of dragons, countless civil wars, the fall of their family's dynasty, an endless that night that forth creatures of ice and death to end all life.
"It is the truth, my son." Aegon said, "All of it."
"That what? That the Gods decided to raise you from the dead to save the world? How can you expect any of us to believe that?" Alyssa Velaryon said, looking at the Conquerors with suspicion.
"And how else would you explain what is happening here?" Visenya asked the woman boredly.
Alyssa glared at the older woman but said nothing else in response.
"How could Viserys usher in a civil war?" Jaehaerys asked himself.
"It's almost as if Rhaenys should have been Queen instead of having her inheritance stolen from her." Alysanne said stiffly, staring at her husband bitterly.
Jaehaerys returned the look with one of his own, "You think that is the problem? Despite the war happening because Viserys made his daughter heir when he had three sons? If anything, it just proves my decision to make Baelon heir the correct one."
"Rhaenys did not have any brothers, and Viserys only made his daughter heir because you gave him the power to do so by going against tradition." Alysanne argued.
"The Iron Throne is different than some lordling's seat, we had already witnessed the realm rising up against a terrible and unpopular ruler, our dynasty would not have survived another."
"Is that what you think of my daughter?" Aemon spoke, glaring at his father, "How could you just decide to disinherit Rhaenys? You ask why Viserys could do so when it your fault that this has happened!"
"You had died! I was doing what was best for the realm, and an inexperienced girl of six and ten would not have been what the realm needed in the face of that uncertainty." Jaehaerys said in defense of himself, "Baelon was supposed to be the future, the bright hope that our house needed at the helm. And when he died, I should have done more, to prepare Viserys, I will admit that, but I will not apologize for doing what was necessary."
"Necessary?" Aemon said incredulously, "How can you-"
"You think that Rhaenys would have had a good reign, a prosperous one, but you cannot know that, Aemon. You know how Westeros, how the world is, do you truly think people would have followed Rhaenys willingly if there were still male members of our family that were alive at the time? That Viserys or Daemon could not have been convinced to rise in rebellion against her? Do you think I enjoyed doing that to my granddaughter? Of course not, but not making Rhaenys my heir ensured that war would not come to pass."
"And yet war came regardless, just a generation off from what you assumed." Jocelyn said, her gaze cold as she looked at the former King.
Jaehaerys frowned, Jocelyn had never bothered to hide the anger she carried over Rhaenys being skipped over in favor of Baelon, and certainly not during the short period after the Great Council when Jaehaerys was still alive.
"Father truly made that pudgy fool Viserys King?" Viserra asked herself, her nose scrunching.
"You should not speak of our nephew in such a way, Viserra." Maegelle said admonishingly.
Viserra rolled her eyes, "It's not as if I am wrong, especially with what we just learned."
As this was happening, Aerea rushed towards the Three Conquerors, "You haven't told us about her."
"Aerea!" Rhaena exclaimed, moving so that she could pull her daughter back to where they had been standing. Her eyes moved from Aerea and onto Visenya, "Do not get too close."
"I don't think Visenya is going to kill me." Aerea loudly whispered, causing the woman in question to snort, "And if she tried, I'm already dead, I don't think I can get more dead."
Of course, Aerea is able to just ignore the obvious here, as if she is talking about a regular woman and not Visenya Targaryen. Rhaella thought and could only shake her head at her sister's recklessness and ease of mind.
"Anyway." Aerea said, pulling her arm from her mother's grasp as he looked back at her great grandparents and great aunt. "Who is that girl you're shielding?"
This drew everyone else's attention to them, ending the arguments, awkward conversations, and the glaring at each other for the time being.
"As we explained, after Aemma's death, Viserys remarried and had children, she is one of them, Lilyanna Targaryen." Rhaenys said.
Aemma herself had to fight the urge to fidget when Rhaenys said this, feeling some of her family members' eyes fall upon her.
To her, it was as if she had just awoken after feeling the master cut her open, so to hear that years had passed since and not only had Viserys remarried, but he remarried less than six moons after her death, and to Alicent Hightower, their daughter's closest friend and Otto Hightower's daughter of all people, was nothing short of devastating.
Maegor frowned, "When mother told us of Viserys, she said he had four children; Aegon the second, Helaena, Aemond, and Daeron."
"I did." Visenya said, "But from the context of what the Gods had shown the three of us of the future. When I said that they had given us the opportunity to right those wrongs, they did so, allowing us to take the soul of a recently dying person of our choosing, and give them a second chance at life, one that was would not go against the constraints of their interference. That is who Lilyanna is."
"She does not look all that impressive." Maegor said after a moment.
Visenya's expression did not change, "Most children don't."
"But is she really a child? Didn't you say that this is her second life, so isn't she a woman grown?" Alyssa Targaryen asked, "Sounds like my grandchild might be older than I am."
"Grandchild?" Baelon asked, looking at his wife confused.
Alyssa smiled, "Yes, grandchild. She's Viserys' daughter so that makes her our grandchild."
That is not what is so confusing to me about all this. Baelon thought, but did not say this aloud as he knew that Alyssa would not change her mind on claiming the unconscious red-haired girl.
"To answer your question, while she is in a sense a young woman who lived to adulthood in her previous life, her reincarnation and living this life inside a still growing body, has made her maturity closer to that of the children around, however, not by much." Visenya told Alyssa.
"And what has she done to save our family." Aegon the Uncrowned asked, glaring at Visenya and Maegor.
The older Aegon explained to the group the crucial details of Lilyanna's life, the kind of person she was, the changes she had on the world around her, and some of his and his sister's interactions with her.
"A royal bank?" Alysanne whispered, beginning to think of the possibility that such an institution could bring, and a part of her wondered why she had never thought of such when she was alive.
"Is she really a maester?" Daella asked, awed by the tale they were told of Lilyanna delivering Rhaenyra's twins.
"She is." Aegon said, causing Daella to jump slightly at the acknowledgement, and had surprised most who had known the man while he still lived as a small smile formed on his face as he looked down at Lilyanna. "She held a similar position of a maester in her first life; she was aghast when she saw the methods the maesters here would take and has sought to rectify them ever since."
"And you think this, and a few little projects can prevent a civil war, rather than Viserys simply changing the succession?" Jaehaerys asked.
"Changing the succession would have been the easiest solution." Aegon agreed, "But Viserys will not be deterred from this path, he needs Rhaenyra to become Queen because he views it as a way to atone for what he did to Aemma. Nothing anyone says or does will deter Viserys from this path."
Aemma flinched when Aegon said this, not knowing how to feel about Rhaenyra being made heir for this reason. She flinched again when she felt someone gently holding her hand, when she turned her head, a shudder ripped through her as she met her mother's eye.
Daella looked at her with such love and compassion that it made Aemma want to cry. In her life, her older sister, Elys, was the closest thing Aemma had to a mother, and while she loved and appreciated Elys, she had always longed for the mother she had killed by being brought into the world.
And now she's here with me. Aemma thought.
"And even if he did change his mind, as unlikely as that would be, too much time has passed for that to still be viable. Do you think Rhaenyra, Rhaenys, Daemon, and the Velaryons will allow my namesake to sit the Iron Throne peacefully? And after having the Crown pulled from their grasps as much as it has in the past?"
Before Jaehaerys could say anything else, a loud groan could be heard and everyone turned in the direction that it had come from, watching as Lilyanna's body began to twitch.
Lilyanna groaned again, slowly opening her eyes and placing a hand on her head as she sat up, "Fucking hells, how hard did Daemon hit me?"
"Daemon hit you?!" Baelon exclaimed, appalled at the thought of his younger son hitting a child.
Lilyanna slowly blinked and turned her head in Baelon's direction, her expression remained blank as she looked at each unfamiliar person before looking at the three ghosts that she knew. "I think I have brain damage, you three have started to multiply."
"You don't have brain damage; this is all real." Visenya said.
"That's somehow much worse." Lilyanna replied, pushing herself off the flooded ground, "How did this even happen?"
"We assume that Daemon hitting you over the head is what caused this, but we are not sure how or why." Aegon answered.
"So, Daemon rattled loose a bunch of ghosts from my head? What even is my life?" Lilyanna murmured, "And you don't know why the Fourteen did this?"
"Your guess would be as good as ours, although everyone here being a part of you may explain some of the strange dreams you have had over the years." Visenya said, thinking about what other surprises may still be in store for them.
"Can we go back to Daemon hitting you over the head? What do you mean by that?" Baelon asked, drawing the four's attention to him.
So, this is my grandfather, huh? Baelon the Brave. Lilyanna thought, seeing the resemblance the man had to Viserys and Daemon. "He challenged me to a spar and was upset that I knocked him to the ground."
"You defeated Daemon?" Jaehaerys asked, surprised that the girl in front of him could have accomplished such a feat, especially as he knew his grandson to be an expectational swordsman, great enough that he gifted Daemon Dark Sister after Daemon was knighted.
"I didn't really beat him." Lilyanna said with a shrug, "Apparently my whole existence pisses him off, so he decided to beat me into the dirt, that's why he wanted to spar in the first place. He didn't take me seriously and was toying with me the entire time, so I took advantage of his poor stance and arrogance to knock him over. He couldn't handle being made a fool of and bashed me over the head with a training sword while I wasn't looking."
"Of course he did." Alysanne said tiredly, not surprised by how little her grandson had changed since she last saw him. "You would think having children would have tempered him."
"Just what is our Daemon like?" Alyssa asked her husband.
Baelon grimaced, he loved his son, he truly did but he could not deny that Daemon was often a harbinger of chaos who often selfishly chased after his own desires.
I don't think I can tell her that. Baelon thought.
"Honestly why wouldn't the Fourteen tell you about this? I'm getting sick of all these little surprises that keep popping up." Lilyanna said, ignoring the young Daenerys who had escaped her mother's side and who was touching the singular strand of silver hair that Lilyanna possessed.
"It could be that everyone is also here to help you." Rhaenys said, "This could have always been the plan from the beginning."
Lilyanna did not see how all these Targaryens could help her and was already beginning to dread having more than just The Conquerors crowding her from here on out.
If I ever meet the Fourteen Flames, I'm going to kill those bastards. Lilyanna thought before turning her attention to Daenerys. "Are you done?"
Daenerys giggled, shaking her head as she continued to twist Lilyanna's hair around her fingers, her impish grin reminding Lilyanna of Lucerys.
Lilyanna sighed as turned back to Rhaenys and her siblings, "Let's just hope this won't have adverse effects like last time, I don't fancy waking up in a pool of my own blood again."
"What do you mean that you have woken up in a pool of your own blood?" Maegelle asked, a look of worry strewn across her face as she looked at the young girl.
Lilyanna tried to respond, but she felt her head begin to spin and her vision starting to blur again.
"It's fine, she is just waking up." Lilyanna heard Visenya say just as her knees buckled and fell face forward into the water.
Lilyanna groaned as slowly came back to consciousness, closing her eyes again when the light from the nearby window hitting them made the pounding in her head worse.
"Lily!" Lilyanna heard her youngest brother exclaim from her right, and this was followed by the voices of her other siblings.
Reluctantly, Lilyanna opening her eyes again, squinting as her vision blurred for a moment before correcting itself, allowing her to see her siblings' relieved faces.
"Hey." Lilyanna said, her voice hoarse from lack of use, each word that left her mouth making her throat itch. "You all didn't think I would die, did you? Ye of little faith, it would take more than a piece of wood to kill me."
Aegon let out a watery chuckled, "You're such an ass."
Lilyanna tried to laugh but all that came out were painful coughs, and in response, Helaena quickly rushed to hand her twin a nearby cup of water to drink.
Lilyanna drank the water greedily, finishing it within a few seconds and sitting up when she was done. She winced when she felt her head throb from the movement, "How long have I've been asleep?"
"Almost three days." Aemond answered.
"Three fucking days?" Lilyanna said, "Ugh, of course it was three days, when will I ever not get fucking screwed over by life?"
God, my skull hurts, I wish I was still unconscious. Lilyanna touched the bandages, wincing when she made contact with the wound through them, but did not stop herself inspecting it.
"What are you doing?" Helaena asked, reaching forward to pull Lilyanna's hand down.
"Who gave me these stitches?" Lilyanna asked, her face twisting with disgust and annoyance. "They're fucking terrible!"
Aemond scoffed, "Why are you complaining about something that was done to save your life?"
"I can complain when it's shoddily done." Lilyanna murmured, "I can already tell that it's going to scar, and I'll have to redo them later."
"There is no way that mother is going to let you do that." Daeron said.
Who said I'm going to tell her? "Wait…"
"What is it?" Aegon asked.
Lilyanna looked around her room, "Where is mother?"
The princess knew the kind of woman Alicent was, so it was surprised to not see her sitting by her bedside, fussing over her daughter.
Lilyanna watched her siblings look at each other before Helaena spoke, her face falling as she did, "Mother went to the Sept this morning to pray for you."
Lilyanna raised an eyebrow, "And that's a bad thing?"
"It is when she's been making multiple trips there in the last day and a half." Aegon said, "Not to mention she's been quiet, really quiet, she didn't even reprimand me when I swore at dinner last night."
"I saw Rhaenyra trying to talk to her earlier but mother practically ran in the other direction when she saw Rhaenyra." Aemond added.
"Seriously?" Lilyanna groaned, and when she looked at Helaena, they both had knowing looks on their faces.
They could not prove it, but it was clear to both of them that something had to have happened between the two woman, something that had sent Alicent reeling and retreating into her faith as a way of protection, just like what they had both seen happen after Elaera.
Hopefully the two of them will just sort it out themselves again because solving repressed lesbian longing is not in my wheelhouse of skills. Wait, I've been unconscious for almost three days, I told Hugh and Kat was going to come back to check on Sava! Fucking hell! Lilyanna let out a louder groan, grabbing the sides of her head.
"What's wrong? Do you need a maester?" Helaena asked.
"I just feel like an idiot."
Helaena frowned, "We all know you're an idiot, Lily. What does that have to do with your head hurting?"
Aegon chocked on his own saliva as he started to laugh, Daeron laughed heartily as well while Aemond grinned. Lilyanna gave her twin a blank look, knowing that her sister was being serious and was not intending to insult her in that moment.
Why did I want to come back to this again?