The Crimson Dragon |ASOIAF/HOTD|

Three Weeks Later

Lilyanna yawned as she made her way through the Keep, wondering just why Orwyle had sent a page to call for her so early in the morning.

Well, it's not as if I've been able to get a lot of sleep these last few weeks anyway. Not when fucking Larys Strong is still hobbling about, refusing to fucking die! Lilyanna thought, gritting her teeth as she thought about the man.

Her plan to poison Larys had failed spectacularly, as despite having gotten Tayla to help her sneak the poison to the kitchen and into Larys' food, the man was always perfectly fine after each meal.

And she quickly figured out that Larys was not eating any food that had come from the Red Keep's kitchen and instead was choosing to only eat meals that were prepared by one of his underlings. The rage Lilyanna felt that first day after putting her plan into motion when Larys smirked at her from across the Great Yard had been overwhelming, and she had to fight the urge to run towards Larys and run him through with a sword.

Rhaenys had been the one to suggest later that, due to being a skinchanger, Larys may have used his ability to enter the body of some kind of animal and used that animal's superior senses to check the food Lilyanna had poisoned.

I wouldn't be surprised if Larys' favorite animal to possess is rats; it would match his personality to a tee.

For the past three weeks, Lilyanna had been trying everything she could think of to kill Larys, from slipping venom into his wine to paying a servant to try and push Larys down the stairs from behind, but nothing seemed to work; if anything, she only served to make Larys take more cautious about his safety. And she was beginning to wonder if Larys even needed a body anymore, or if he was simply too vile to die.

When Lilyanna reached the Red Keep's rookery, she found the Grand Maester standing next to one of the many raven cages, reading a small letter.

"Maester Orwyle, I don't remember our lessons being this early in the day." Lilyanna said dryly, "Or here in the rookery."

Orwyle shook his head, looking faintly exasperated with his student, "I am aware, princess, and that is not why I have summoned you. A letter and a crate have come for you from Maester Gerardys."

"From Gerardys?" Lilyanna asked, confused about why the maester of Dragonstone would be sending her anything.

Orwyle led Lilyanna further into the rookery, and Lilyanna immediately spotted a long crate sitting against one of the walls. Orwyle walked away from Lilyanna's side, towards a nearby table, grabbed a small scroll, and handed it to the princess.

Lilyanna noticed that the parchment's seal had already been cracked, and she looked at the Grand Maester with narrowed eyes. "You read my letter?"

Orwyle cleared his throat, "I had to be sure that the raven came from Gerardys. It is not unheard of for ravens to be intercepted and for messages to be tampered with, and I could not risk placing a potentially dangerous missive directly into your hands."

More like you wish to know what information you should be sending to Otto. Lilyanna thought, rolling her eyes before reading the letter.

To Princess Lilyanna Targaryen,

I must say that when we first met, I had not expected you to be a princess of Westeros, as you had certainly hidden your status well. Regardless of this, you gave your expertise and saved my dear Sava's life, and for that I owe you a debt.

You and the rest of the royal family left Dragonstone before I could finish my work and give it to you personally, but after going to the castle, Maester Gerardys was willing to send this letter and the swords that I have made for you in his stead. Although they are quite different from any blade you have likely encountered before, I believe that you will find these weapons to your liking.

Once again, I must thank you, princess, for everything that you have done for me, my family, and Ulf. And should you find yourself in need of a blacksmith, I will happily place myself in your service.

Hugh of Shadecross.

Lilyanna chuckled, lowering the letter, an amused smile tugging at her lips, "Well… only one way to see what the man forged."

She walked toward the crate, crouching and brushing her fingers over the rough wood; her pulse quickened as she moved to pry the lid open.

Inside the crate, nestled in layers of oiled cloth, lay two swords unlike anything she had seen in Westeros.

The blades were generously curved into a graceful arc, single-edged, and wider toward the tip. Along the spine, the blades bore a barely visible fuller, subtle groove running just shy of the tip. The hilts were canted, curving in the opposite direction of the blades, and were wrapped in dark lacquered cord that covered the hardwood the hilt was made from. Between the blade and hilt sat small, half-oval guards, and between the two swords sat a single, leather scabbard.

Are both of these swords supposed to fit in this scabbard? Is this why the guards are shaped like half ovals? And I think I've seen swords like this before, but I can't remember exactly. Was it a museum? Or was it on a tv show? Lilyanna thought as she reached for the twin swords.

They were lighter than Lilyanna expected them to be, fitting in her hands perfectly as she tightened her grip.

"I think they're called Dao," Lilyanna muttered.

Orwyle stepped forward, "Princess, do be care-"

Lilyanna swung the blade in a clean, effortless arc, startling Orwyle, and the ravens stirred in their cages.

"These are, Gods, Orwyle, these are perfect." Lilyanna grinned.

"I should have gone to the King and Queen before allowing you to open the crate," Orwyle muttered, feeling unnerved by the ferocious, wide grin on Lilyanna's face.

Lilyanna did not take her eyes off her new swords as she spoke to Orwyle, "Not even my parents would have been able to stop me from getting my hands on these swords, Orwyle. Besides, they already knew that I had them commissioned, so why would they be bothered by me using them?"

Because of how bloodthirsty you look with them in your hands. Orwyle thought, watching as Lilyanna shifted her stance, bringing one sword up in a reverse grip, the other angled forward.

"I'll have to write to Gerardys and Hugh both to thank them," Lilyanna said as she lifted the scabbard out of the box and placed her swords within it, marveling at how seamlessly the two swords fit together inside, like two halves of a lethal whole.

As Lilyanna turned to leave the rookery, Orwyle was left staring after her with a troubled, dawning realization that Lilyanna Targaryen was becoming something far more dangerous than he would have ever anticipated.

---

Hours Later

The high that Lilyanna felt after receiving the swords Hugh had made for her was almost completely erased as she stood before the small council.

I knew this was coming, but still, Larys truly is a fucking rat. Lilyanna thought, her face expressionless even as her anger flared within her.

"Lilyanna, do you remember what I had told you when you first came to me and this council with your idea for a council made entirely of this city's peasantry?" Viserys asked.

"You said that the second it becomes a problem, you would shut it all down, and that will be the last you would hear of any power for the people and proposals made in their name, Your Grace," Lilyanna said plainly.

Viserys nodded his head, "Then you understand why, after much speaking to those who witnessed the commotion that your councilors caused during court the day before Lyonel and Harwin were murdered and after much consideration, that as of this moment, your civilian council is disbanded."

Lilyanna bit down on the inside of her cheek, trying to think of a way to salvage this and change her father's mind as quickly as possible.

"If you wish to keep your council, you must adhere to my grandson's desire to be loved by the people and to be seen as a worthy successor of the Crown." Lilyanna could not stop herself from flinching when she suddenly heard the voice of the Old King in her ear.

Lilyanna's eyes flickered to the side, seeing Jaehaerys standing over her left shoulder, hands clasped behind his back, and his expression stony and serious.

Viserys frowned, having noticed Lilyanna's reaction, and questioned why she was staring off to the side. "Lilyanna? Did you hear me?"

"I heard you, Your Grace," Lilyanna said evenly, her jaw twitching ever so slightly as she forced her gaze away from Jaehaerys and back onto Viserys. "But with all due respect, nothing as drastic as this year's earlier riot came from this incident, and yet it seems that you mean to punish the civilian council for the crime that Perkin had his lapdogs commit."

"But it could have, the room had been whipped up into a frenzy, and that is to say nothing of future problems that will undoubtedly arise. There is more than enough proof that these peasants cannot effectively work alongside the small council."

"Because they were not given a proper chance, this council undermined them at every opportunity, and this continued even when Lord Lyonel stayed behind to rule the city in your absence. I am not saying that they should have acted as they did; it was childish and dangerous, but their voices were not being heard even when the agreement was that they would be."

"And who is to say that these upstarts will not decide to riot again?" Jasper Wylde scoffed, "Is this the fear we must live with each time they believe they have been wrong? Each time they grasp for what they covet with such jealousy?"

Shouldn't you be trying to kill another wife with that tiny, shriveled cock of yours instead of giving opinions no one asked for? Lilyanna thought, wanting nothing more than to say these words aloud, but knowing that if she did, it would only cement in the minds of everyone in the room that she was an immature child whose rationality was thoroughly compromised.

"It won't be, Lord Wylde." Lilyanna said, her voice calm, "But growing pains should be expected when radical changes are made. Just look at the Old King, the realm did not just immediately fall in line when he created the Doctrine of Exceptionalism, or when Jaehaerys heeded the plight of the smallfolk that Alysanne had opened his eyes to and abolished the right of first night, or when he thought of and organized the creation of the Kingsroad, or even when Jaehaerys appointed Rego Draz of Pentos to the position of Master of Coin. He recognized the importance of the smallfolk, both their usefulness to the Kingdom and the threat they could pose."

"It's almost impressive how easily you are able to talk out of your ass, niece." Daemon huffed, smirking at what he saw as a desperate play by Lilyanna.

"You would know all about spewing shit from your mouth, wouldn't you, uncle," Lilyanna muttered, unable to hold herself back.

Corlys covered his mouth when a snort slipped through his lips, trying to keep himself from laughing out loud. Alicent sighed at her daughter's lack of tact while Rhaenyra lowered her head, trying to hide her smirk from view when she saw Daemon's own smirk become a nasty sneer that he directed at Lilyanna.

Aegon and Jacaerys snickered in the corner, always enjoying whenever Lilyanna was summoned to speak to the small council.

"Your Grace." Lilyanna continued, "Despite the tension and the accusations, can you say that the administration of King's Landing has not been smoother than it has been in previous years? That giving some responsibilities to the civilian council has not allowed you and your councilors to focus on issues throughout the realm that require greater attention and focus? I believe that if the civilian council can be just as successful as the Royal Bank has been and can be just as renowned and appreciated by the people of this realm as the Old King's projects have been."

"You don't think you are being a bit too obvious in your manipulation?" Jaehaerys asked Lilyanna.

Your grandson has the thickest head in the Seven Kingdoms. Being this obvious is necessary, otherwise it won't work! Lilyanna kept her eyes on Viserys, refusing to look at Jaehaerys again as she drew a steady breath. "All I ask, Your Grace, is that you consider what dissolving the council will truly accomplish. All it will do is make them feel unheard once more."

Viserys shifted, discomfort obvious as his fingers tapped rhythmically against the arm of his chair. "The smallfolk have been heard, they have been given opportunity. But when they prove themselves unable to act responsibly-"

"They proved themselves human," Lilyanna cut in softly, "As prone to fear, frustration, and misjudgment as any of us in this room."

Viserys exhaled heavily, the weight of the Crown feeling as if it was heavier than usual as he felt his councilors' eyes on him, waiting to hear what he would say.

"Lilyanna," Viserys said. "I understand your passion, I do. But I must look to the stability of the realm and of this city, and this incident is simply one too many."

Lilyanna bowed her head, knowing that she had lost, that if she pushed him too far, then he would shut down entirely and would not be open to hearing her out about the council in the future. "If you are set on disbanding the council, Your Grace, then at least allow me to tell them they deserve to hear this from me."

Viserys blinked. "You wish to… tell them yourself?"

"Yes," Lilyanna said, her voice softening. "This all began as my idea, and they trusted me, they worked with me. I owe them that much."

Viserys studied her for a long, pained moment before slowly nodding. "You may speak to them, but the decision is final."

Lilyanna inclined her head. "Of course, Your Grace."

"Then you are dismissed, daughter."

As Lilyanna stepped back, Daemon smirked at her, and Lilyanna rolled her eyes, leaving the chamber as she stewed in today's defeat.

"Viserys truly continues to surprise me," Jaehaerys muttered as he followed Lilyanna, once again disappointed by the kind of King his grandson had turned out to be.

"Weren't you the first one who questioned my idea for a civilian council?" Lilyanna quietly asked, to not draw attention to herself. "Why did you-"

"Why did I reveal myself to you and involve myself in your politics?" Jaehaerys asked, "While I do think that the men and women you had chosen are far too self-interested and that making the council consist entirely of peasants was too radical to be accepted by nobility, it was a sound, even promising idea. Often, issues that affect the greater populace but that do not affect the flow of coin are seen as less important or are outright ignored. And you appeared to be floundering before I arrived."

Lilyanna huffed. "I was not floundering. Regardless, it doesn't matter how promising it can be, thanks to the very men and women I had chosen and Larys Strong, the civilian council is over and done with. I doubt Viserys will be willing to reinstate it in the future."

"Perhaps not." Jaehaerys said, walking bedside the young girl. "But Viserys is not the only Targaryen with a say in what the future of this realm will look like."

Lilyanna let out a brittle laugh. "The rest of my family had no faith in this endeavor and were simply humoring, and the rest of the small council would rather swallow wildfire than listen to smallfolk. Who exactly is left?"

"You misunderstand your own position." Jaehaerys continued, eyes narrowing with faint irritation, "You believe this council of yours was only about politics and the state of the city; it was about influence, perception, momentum. You think today is a defeat, but the smallfolk won't see it that way."

"They'll see it as the Crown stripping away one of the only things that gave them a voice," Lilyanna muttered.

Jaehaerys tilted his head, "And who, pray tell, fought for that voice? Who defended them? Who argued before the throne on their behalf? The people are not blind, girl, they will remember who stood with them."

Lilyanna exhaled through her nose, the anger and disappointment weighing heavily in her chest, "And what good is that? If I had a better reign on Mysaria and the others, then-"

"Then perhaps this all could have been avoided, but that is in the past, and there is no point in wasting your time thinking about what if. It's possible that Viserys will see the error in his judgment, and it's possible that he will not, and you will plan accordingly, but you shouldn't allow recent events to skew your judgment and cause you to lose patience."

Lilyanna clenched her jaw, "I have been patient all this time because I've had to be; it isn't exactly my strong suit."

"I've noticed." He deadpanned, and Lilyanna snorted despite herself.

"I'm still confused by your involvement, as I was sure that you did not like me," Lilyanna said after a few moments.

Jaehaerys raised an eyebrow, looking at Lilyanna from the corner of his eye, "And what of your own behavior towards me?"

"Fair enough," Lilyanna said, knowing that she did little to hide her distaste for the former King.

"Is there a reason for it?"

"Well, if you hadn't allowed Viserys to become King, then it wouldn't have become my responsibility to fix the messes that he seems intent on causing."

Hell, I'm sure I wouldn't even be here if that were the case. Lilyanna thought, and while she was grateful for her second chance at life, she very much did not enjoy having to run herself ragged trying to keep the insane, spoiled dragonlords she called her new family from killing each other for the world's stupidest-looking chair.

Jaehaerys sighed, as Lilyanna had not been the only person to blame him for the future that Viserys had hurled the royal family towards. His wife, eldest son, and half-sister had been more than vocal in their anger towards him as of late.

"I could not have foreseen Viserys'… decline," Jaehaerys muttered, though the words were spoken with clear reluctance. "Nor the manner in which grief would unravel him; he was once steady, thoughtful. I did not expect him to be exactly like me; a crown rests differently upon each head; some grow beneath its weight; others bend."

Lilyanna scoffed, not unkindly but with the weary frustration, "Viserys didn't bend, he folded like wet parchment."

Jaehaerys huffed a laugh, "You are far too honest for your own good."

"I get that a lot."

Jaehaerys looked her over, the lines of his face etched with something that was almost like regret. "You blame me for placing a fragile man upon the throne; you are not the first."

"Well," Lilyanna muttered, "Maybe if you had listened to your wife, then-"

"Then I would have ignored the precedence of peace for the possibility of war." Jaehaerys snapped softly, his eyes flashing. "Choosing Baelon and then Viserys prevented a possible succession crisis that could have torn Westeros apart. Do you think I enjoyed quarreling with Alysanne over this? That I enjoyed looking Rhaenys in the eyes as I made Baelon Prince of Dragonstone, or after I read aloud the results of the Great Council? Of course, I did not, but as King, it was my duty to put the safety and prosperity of the realm over everything, even the desires of my family."

"Then why did you not pressure Aemon to have more children? Rhaenys was eight and ten when Aemon died, if the realm was so against having a woman ruler, then you had to have known by then that Aemon was unlikely to have some kind of miracle son and that he would have passed the throne to Rhaenys or to one of Rhaenys' sons or grandsons had Aemon lived long enough to become King. Why allow Rhaenys to marry Corlys instead of Viserys if having a male Targaryen in power was so important? It would have allowed you to more easily combine their claims." Lilyanna asked. "I just can't understand why you did the things you had done when you had so many options."

Jaehaerys stared at Lilyanna for a moment, "You reminded me of my sisters."

Lilyanna stopped walking, turning her body to fully look at the ghost next to her, her expression twisting into one of confusion.

"You have traits of them, so infuriatingly stubborn, endlessly idealistic, wholly incapable of letting injustice be someone else's problem, wrathful, fierce, willful, fearless, and so possessive of those you love and consider your own," Jaehaerys said, looking straight ahead as he lost himself in his thoughts.

"I do?" Lilyanna asked, "Wait, what does this have to do with-"

Jaehaerys rolled his eyes as he thought the comparison should have been obvious, but he chose to answer Lilyanna's previous questions. "I did speak to Aemon about having more children, but my son would hear nothing of it. Rhaenys' birth had been long and arduous; the experience of it scared Aemon and Jocelyn both, and they decided that Rhaenys was enough for them. I did not push the issue because at the time I figured that... that with my other children and their future children, it would not be pressingly necessary for them to fill their line."

There was a deep sadness in Jaehaerys' gaze, and the former King looked away as he felt the weight of his losses pressing down on him.

"And everything else?"

"It was a very good match. Our house has married members of House Velaryon in the past, and Corlys had proven himself to be a capable lord after he made his house richer than ever before. Rhaenys was adamant about marrying Corlys, calling him the only man she could ever possibly love or be married to. And I figured by the time I died, and Aemon became King, then it would be his responsibility to guide the realm as he thought right. Even if I disagreed with his choice in heir, what would I be able to do once I was dead and gone?" Jaehaerys said, "I don't think any explanation I can give will be very satisfying for you or anyone else. I suppose you can see it as a moment where I put my family above Westeros."

Lilyanna tilted her head, studying him with an expression somewhere between incredulity and reluctant empathy.

Why am I trying to make sense of all this? This whole fucking shitshow only exists because fucking George needed the dragons to die and for House Targaryen to be deposed for world-building reasons. He was basically writing backwards to make it understandable why Daenerys was so incredibly special, so everything up until Daenerys hatches her three eggs on the funeral pyre has to be contrived as hell.

"I guess." Lilyanna sighed as she started walking again. "Geez, I was not expecting to have this kind of conversation today."

"Neither was I," Jaehaerys said with a shake of his head.

"Well, you shouldn't relax just yet." Lilyanna said, smirking at the ghost, "I'm sure the others will have plenty to say to you when you return."

Jaehaerys stared at Lilyanna blankly. "Of course, you would find that amusing."

Lilyanna's smirk grew, "I have to get my laughs from somewhere. And since you all invaded by soul and mind without my consent, you might as well provide me some entertainment for all the problems you've given me."

Jaehaerys rolled his eyes as he followed the young girl, still thinking of the similarities he could see between Alysanne, Rhaena, and Lilyanna.

---

The Next Day

"Father," Rhaenyra began, rubbing against the side of her head, trying to banish the headache that was beginning to form. "I implore you to wait; it is simply too soon to leave King's Landing and commence the progress."

For the past three weeks, Rhaenyra had been busy trying to organize the first royal progress in Westeros since Jaehaerys' reign. And this would have been stressful enough on its own, but her father seemed adamant about fraying the last bastions of Rhaenyra's patience and sanity.

Viserys shook his head, leaning forward, "I will not be swayed from my decision, Rhaenyra. I will be leaving for Harrenhal as quickly as possible, Lyonel and Harwin must be put to rest; we cannot continue to keep their bones here in the Keep, it would be disrespectful to House Strong."

There would be no need to worry about disrespecting the Strongs if you had allowed the Silent Sisters to send their bones to Harrenhal with a guarded procession weeks ago, after we found their killers. Rhaenyra thought.

"But Your Grace, would it not be imperative to wait for the arrival of Ser Otto?" Lyman asked.

"I have had Orwyle send a letter to Oldtown, telling Otto not to travel to King's Landing as I have decided to extend the length of the royal progress," Viserys said, smiling brightly.

"Extend the royal progress?" Jasper asked.

"A thought had come to me, this will be the first royal progress in decades, and it would be a shame to only travel to and visit a small portion of Westeros, so I have had Orwyle send letters to several houses, inviting them to host us. Instead of just going straight to Harrenhal, we will be going to Rosby, Duskendale, and Maidenpool. And after the funeral, we shall go to the Vale, the Stormlands, and finally the Reach, where Otto will join us on the journey back to King's Landing."

Alicent shifted in her seat. "Husband, forgive my bluntness, but this is a monumental undertaking. To lengthen the progress so dramatically and so suddenly, some houses may not have the provisions or time to prepare suitable accommodations."

Rhaenyra's headache pulsed to life behind her eyes, "The Queen is right, father, the logistics alone on such short notice will be-"

"Oh, nonsense!" Viserys laughed, though there was a nervous edge to it. "What lord would dare deny the Crown hospitality? They will adjust, and if they cannot, they will send word, and we will simply move to the next castle."

Daemon smirked as he finished the wine in his cup. "Well, I for one cannot wait to see which poor lord pisses himself first trying to host this affair you've conjured, brother."

Viserys waved a hand dismissively, seeing his brother's derision to be of no consequence, "Everything will be fine, Lyonel and Harwin deserve this, and the realm deserves to see its royals."

Viserys then turned to look at the rest of the table, waiting to see if anymore objections would be made. When no one spoke again, Viserys nodded, satisfied. "Then we shall depart in a week's time."

He then stood and swept out of the room with restored vigor, leaving behind a table of exhausted and deeply concerned councilors.

Alicent was quick to follow Viserys, and Rhaenyra felt anger and grief in her heart as the others took their leave.

He cannot handle a journey of this length, not after just returning from Dragonstone. And despite how he tries to hide it, he is in constant pain, what will constant travel do to his already poor health? And he is about to drag himself and the rest of us across Westeros, pretending that he is not slowly dying for what? Because he wishes to run from his problems instead of facing them? Rhaenyra sighed heavily before standing.

"Mother?" Jacaerys whispered after seeing the expression on Rhaenyra's face.

Rhaenyra forced a smile onto her lips, cupping the side of her eldest son's face. "I am fine, my dear boy."

"Will grandfather truly make the journey?" Jacaerys asked quietly. "He looked… tired."

"That is putting it mildly." Rhaenyra murmured, "But Jace, you do not need to worry, nothing is going happen to your grandfather."

Jacaerys frowned, not fooled, but he nodded regardless, not wanting to argue with his mother when she looked like this. He glanced toward Viserys' now-empty seat and shifted anxiously.

"Come, let us go find your siblings and your father," Rhaenyra said, placing her hand on Jacaerys' shoulder and leading him out of the chamber.

As they left the small council chamber, Rhaenyra's thoughts were still focused on the progress and her father's insistence on going, and for the progress to happen as quickly as possible.

---

The Next Day

Lilyanna rolled her shoulders, sweat rolling down her face as she breathed heavily through her nose. She had long since taken off her cloak and doublet and was standing in her undertunic, the gentle sea breeze soothing her heated flesh.

Nyx purred as Lilyanna looked down into her eyes, only for the sound to quickly become low growls as a pair of footsteps approached, stopping a good distance away from the dragon and its rider.

"Your Grace." One of the dragonkeepers called out, their eyes flickering between Lilyanna and Nyx nervously. "We have begun our preparations for the Cannibal's saddle, and we must ask if you believe that you will be done removing the last of the dragon's horns before you must leave the city."

Lilyanna turned to Nyx, looking at the expanse of her back and neck, tightening her grip on the sword she was holding. Most of the spikes had been filed down and cut away thanks to Blackfyre, with only a few of the larger, tougher ones remaining.

"If I can keep the pace that I have these last few days, I should be done by the week's end." Lilyanna said, "But I do not believe that I will be flying with Nyx to head to Rosby. I must get used to the saddle and the reins, no?"

Nyx growled when Lilyanna said this, and the princess could feel the dragon's growing irritation.

Lilyanna rolled her eyes, "We can practice over the course of the progress, I simply do not want to be forced to slow down everyone else because I don't know what I am doing, Nyx. Besides, I doubt after Aemond, and our flight on Silverwing that my mother would be all that keen on allowing us to fly such a distance for the first time."

Nyx growled again, and Lilyanna was not sure if it was due to the mention of Silverwing or not being able to fly together once they were saddled.

"Using the reins of a dragon is a similar practice to that of a horse, Your Grace. We can show you if-" The second dragonkeeper was cut off by a fierce roar from Nyx, almost tripping over himself as he and his sworn brother stepped back as Nyx rose off the ground.

"Stop," Lilyanna growled as she dropped Blackfyre and turned around, reaching forward to press her hands against Nyx's snout. "That is enough, stand down, Nyx."

The dragon's eyes narrowed, and Lilyanna could feel its rage, but ultimately, Nyx did as she was told, keeping its malicious green eyes on the dragonkeepers.

Lilyanna scowled, crossing her arms as she stared at her dragon, "What is wrong with you? Ever since you have come to King's Landing, you have been acting like an irritable bitch, and I am getting sick and tired of this attitude."

Nyx turned her glare onto her rider, once again flooding their bond with an excess of their negative emotions.

Lilyanna sighed as she turned to look at the dragonkeepers. "I suppose this means that I will also be fitting Nyx's saddle onto her myself, or will you two and the rest of your order do it yourselves?"

Lilyanna almost laughed at the expressions on the two men's faces in response to her words, smiling as she bent down to pick up her family's Valyrian Steel sword. "You can return to the Dragonpit. I will take your news into consideration."

The two dragonkeepers did not hesitate to take their leave, eager to put as much distance between themselves and the infamous dragon as possible.

With a groan, Lilyanna stood back up after bending to retrieve Blackfyre, testing her grip and wincing at the strain in her forearm.

"Three more spikes." Lilyanna murmured to herself, "Three more, and then I can rest for the day and finish the rest later."

Nyx growled, her eyes narrowing as she lifted her head and stared at the hill behind them.

Lilyanna turned around, "What? What is it?"

Lilyanna strained her ears to ignore her dragon's growling and listen for what the dragon was undoubtedly hearing.

Soon enough, she could hear the sound of a carriage, and she questioned why anyone would be riding towards the cliffs.

There is no way they could have missed Nyx lying here, so who would be stupid enough to come directly towards us? Lilyanna thought.

Lilyanna soon relaxed when she saw that the carriage had the heraldry of her house emblazoned on the sides and that one of the Kingsguard was sitting next to the carriage's rider.

When the carriage came to a stop, she noticed that the Kingsguard was Ser Rickard and that the knight looked less than pleased to see her.

"Princess-" Rickard began as he climbed down from his seat.

"Before you accuse me of sneaking out again, Ricky, just know that I did not. I told the King I was coming to see my dragon, I wouldn't have been able to take Blackfyre from the royal vault if he did not permit me to take and for me to leave the Keep."

"I doubt the King would have allowed you to move throughout the city unaccompanied... again," Rickard said.

Lilyanna pursed her lips, and before she could say anything else in her defense, the carriage door suddenly swung open, and her eldest brother jumped out.

"Lily, did your beast of a dragon have to choose this place of all places to nest? Honestly, what is wrong with the Dragonpit, or does it believe it's too good to reside where all the other dragons do? I swear, it took us forever to find you with how many times we had gotten turned around." Aegon whined.

"No one told you to come here, Aegon," Lilyanna rolled her eyes. "And I thought you would be glad that my dragon is nowhere near your own, given her former diet. And more importantly, why did you all come here?"

"We were already at the Dragonpit and wanted to see how far you had come with your endeavor," Helaena said as she walked down the steps of the carriage, allowing Aemond to hold her hand and help her down.

"Yes, we wanted to see how ridiculous you looked while hacking away at the Cannibal's back." Aegon grinned.

"She has a name," Lilyanna muttered.

"A strange one." Aemond voiced, looking at Lilyanna and Nyx critically, "I don't see how it fits a dragon such as this."

You're not supposed to, well, not unless I start telling stories about Greek mythology. "Just keep your distance if you're going to stay here. We don't need a repeat of what happened to those dragonkeepers a few weeks ago."

Daeron shuddered, standing the furthest away from the dragon, "A-And you're sure that it won't attack us?"

"Not as long as I'm here and you all stay over there," Lilyanna said as she pointed at her siblings with the end of Blackfyre.

Aemond crossed his arms, "I still cannot believe that father is allowing you to use Blackfyre, the sword of Kings, one of the oldest pieces of our family's history, to do this."

To Aemond, such an act felt sacrilegious, and he grimaced each time the sword struck against Nyx, all while the dragon lay there unbothered by it all.

Nyx started to growl at him, low and unmistakably hostile, causing Aemond and everyone else to stiffen.

Lilyanna smacked the dragon's snout lightly with the flat of her palm, "Enough. They're just my idiot siblings, not enemies to eat."

Nyx huffed smoke into her rider's face in response.

"You know, I thought Lilyanna the Dragon Whisperer would have better control over her dragon than this." Aegon joked, trying to keep his voice leveled as he looked between his sister and Nyx.

"Firstly, stop calling me that. Secondly, Nyx was a wild dragon until a few weeks ago; she just needs time to adjust to having a rider." Lilyanna said in defense of her dragon.

"So, we're going to have to wait until it has their full of eating dragonkeepers before it settles down?"

Lilyanna rolled her eyes, catching a few broken pieces of Nyx's scales and tossing them onto the ground.

"Do you think Nyx will be saddled by the time we leave the city?" Helaena asked, leaving her brothers' side and standing behind her sister.

"If I can get rid of these remaining spikes, then most likely yes, but I won't be flying with her. I was hoping I could ride with you on Dreamfyre."

"You don't wish to ride in the carriage with mother and father?" Helaena asked.

Lilyanna turned to stare at her sister blankly, "I would sooner rip my hair out one strand at a time than be trapped in a carriage with the two of them by myself for any period of time."

Aegon and Daeron laughed while Aemond stared at her, unimpressed.

Helaena frowned, "I doubt it would be that bad."

Lilyanna sighed, rolled her shoulders, and reached for her discarded doublet. "It certainly would be."

"You're being more…"

"More what?" Lilyanna asked.

"More you than usual," Helaena answered.

"Thanks, Helaena, I truly feel loved and appreciated by you," Lilyanna said drily while her brothers laughed, turning to speak to Nyx. "I must go, but I will be back tomorrow, Nyx."

Nyx pressed her head against Lilyanna's body, purring as Lilyanna gently scratched her scales.

"Will you be better behaved tomorrow, or must I continue to deal with your short temper?" Lilyanna whispered.

Lilyanna could feel Nyx's amusement and let out a breathy chuckle before leaving Nyx's side and walking to the carriage with Helaena.

"Is it what happened to the civilian council that is making you so sullen?" Helaena asked.

"I don't understand why you are so surprised by the dismantling of your peasant council; they committed a treason act," Aemond said before Lilyanna could respond to Helaena's question. "People like that are always grasping for what is not theirs."

Lilyanna raised her hand and flicked Aemond's forehead. "Don't speak about things you don't understand, brother."

Aemond scoffed, "I understand better than you seem to, sister."

Lilyanna rolled her eyes before turning to her sister, "I'm not upset about that anymore, Helaena. This is just a minor setback, and once things have settled, father will be more inclined to see my way of thinking."

Helaena raised an eyebrow, "How so?"

Lilyanna only grinned in response, walking over to where she had left her horse.

Helaena sighed as she climbed into the carriage, "I'm starting to feel sorry for father."

"Why?" Aegon asked.

"Because Lily is going to be even more relentless than ever before. Our sister doesn't take rejection very well."

Aegon laughed. "That is a severe understatement."

---

A Week Later

"Rhaenyra, are you sure that you do not wish to skip dinner and go rest?" Laenor asked as he walked to the hall alongside his family.

"I am fine, Laenor," Rhaenyra muttered.

"Fine?" Laenor asked incredulously. "Rhaenyra, you look-"

"I look what?" Rhaenyra hissed, glaring at her husband.

Laenor looked at Rhaenyra, taking in the dark circles under her eyes from lack of sleep, the redness in them, the way she carried herself, and the almost sullen expression on her face.

"You look-" Corlys quickly stepped on his son's foot as they walked, and Laenor winced as he turned his head to look at him.

Be quiet. Corlys mouthed to his son, staring at him intently.

"Uh..." Laenor looked between his wife and father, unsure of what to do next.

"What my brother means is that you look wonderful tonight, Rhae," Laena said as she left Daemon's side and moved next to her cousin, locking their arms together.

Rhaenyra stared at Laenor a few moments before becoming distracted by Laena.

"Have I taught you nothing?" Corlys whispered as the others walked further ahead. "If a woman asks you about her appearance, you tell her that she looks beautiful, no matter what."

Laenor's brow furrowed, "Even when she looks as if she had just risen from the dead?"

"Especially then, women don't want honesty; they want pretty lies that make them feel good. And telling your wife, who has spent weeks organizing a tour of the realm, that she looks like the dead would be foolish." Corlys stressed. "You have been married for a decade now, Laenor; you should know this."

Laenor rolled his eyes, once again annoyed by the unwanted advice his father had foisted upon him.

While not a traditional marriage, Laenor felt that he and Rhaenyra could be honest with each other, allowing the other to help them carry the weight of troubles. So, he certainly did not need Corlys telling him how to navigate his own relationship.

When they reached the entrance to the hall, a group of servants was placing the food down on the table before the King, Queen, and their children.

Viserys smiled brightly as he watched the rest of his family enter the room, happy to know that they would all be sharing one last private meal before leaving King's Landing tomorrow.

"Come, sit, sit!" Viserys said, motioning eagerly to the table. "Tonight should be a night of joy. Tomorrow begins our great journey, but tonight we feast as a family."

Rhaenyra forced a thin smile, taking her place on her father's left side, ignoring the look Alicent had given her as she did.

Conversations quickly began in scattered pockets throughout the table as everyone started to eat.

Lilyanna stared at Daeron blankly when he reached over and stole some honeyed carrots from her plate despite the bowl of them sitting almost directly in front of him, eating them with a grin on his face.

"Why is my food never my own when we eat?" Lilyanna asked dryly.

"Luke was right, your food just tastes better," Daeron said, his smile widening when his sister rolled her eyes.

At the other end of the table, Jacaerys leaned forward in his seat, speaking to Viserys, "Grandfather, what is Ser Otto Hightower like?"

Rhaenyra's fingers tightened around her chalice, frowning as she looked down at her spiced wine.

Viserys blinked, "What is Otto like? Why do you ask, Jace?"

Because all the adults around me, besides you, act as if he were an evil spirit when someone says his name. Jacaerys thought, glancing in his parents' direction, "Today, during my lesson with the master, we were going over the different Hands of Jaehaerys. Lord Lyonel was a good Hand before he… he died. Is Ser Otto the same as Lord Lyonel?"

Jacaerys was not as close to Lyonel as he had been to the man's son, given that Lyonel was often busy with his duties as Hand of the King and Harwin was not only Commander of the Gold Cloaks but Rhaenyra's sworn protector. Even so, Lyonel had always been kind to him and did not treat him as simply Rhaenyra's son, unlike so many other nobles, acting almost like a third grandfather.

And despite his young age, Jacaerys was not oblivious to how Lyonel and Harwin's deaths had affected his parents, and everything since had seemed to weigh on them, his mother especially.

Viserys thought about his response for a moment, "Otto is a capable man, and he had been a dutiful, stoic, and patient counsellor during the many years that he sat on the small council."

A flicker of unease crossed his face that Jacaerys and those listening to him did not miss.

"But," Viserys continued, swirling his wine slowly, "He is not Lyonel. Otto is… firm in his conviction, some would say rigid. That is not to say that he does not possess his own virtues as I have said before, though he can be… overzealous in the execution of what he believes is right."

Jacaerys blinked, "So he is strict?"

Viserys chuckled softly. "Yes, Jace. Strict would be a polite word for it."

Daemon snorted into his cup, and Alicent glared at him, lifting her chin in faint irritation.

Before more could be said, Lucerys leaned across Jacaerys and loudly whispered, "Is he scary?"

"No," Viserys assured, smiling at his younger grandson, "He can be quite serious, blunt with his words, and does not smile easily, but Otto is not scary. I had learned early into our friendship that beneath his exterior, Otto is kind, a man who is quite sharp-witted, intelligent, loyal, and quick to action."

"So, he's like Lily?" Lucerys asked.

"Who's like me?" Lilyanna asked when she heard her name being said from the other side of the table, wondering why Lucerys' question made her mother look as if she had just swallowed a lemon.

"Ser Otto Hightower," Lucerys answered.

Viserys chuckled. "I suppose Otto and Lilyanna share some similarities, although I would say that Otto is not nearly as quick- tempered nor does he speak as colorfully."

Lilyanna was not sure how to feel about the comparison made between herself and her grandfather, and could only sit there, staring at her father blankly.

"I would also say that he is also like Aemond in some ways as well," Viserys added absent-mindedly.

Aemond quickly turned his head to look at his father, surprised that Viserys paid enough attention to him to notice the traits he shared with his maternal grandfather.

"Are we sure we want to bring grandfather back then? I can't imagine anything worse than being around someone who is a combination of Lilyanna and Aemond." Aegon muttered under his breath.

Helaena leaned over and kicked Aegon's leg under the table. "You shouldn't speak about grandfather like this. I doubt he's as bad as you think he is."

Aegon scoffed. "What do you even remember about our grandfather, Helaena? You were two when he left."

"He was tall," Helaena said, her brow furrowing. "I think."

Aegon snorted, "Wow, Helaena, how very descriptive."

Helaena did not look offended; she rarely did, but she gave Aegon another firm kick beneath the table, harder this time, and Aegon jolted, nearly choking on his wine.

"Gods, Helaena!" Aegon hissed, rubbing his shin.

"You deserved it," Helaena said softly, returning to her plate.

Across the table, Alicent exhaled in a long, suffering silence at her children's display. Seeing this, Lilyanna hid her smirk behind her cup.

Viserys suddenly began to loudly cough, wincing as his chest began to burn.

Lilyanna immediately rose to her feet, walking to the King and placing her hand on his back, "Breathe, slowly and deeply, father."

Viserys continued to cough, trying to follow his daughter's directions while the room fell into silence, everyone watching him with worry.

Eventually, his coughing fit died down, and Viserys winced, trying to cover it up with a smile, "There is no need to worry about me, see you all like this, it does my heart good. Tomorrow, we will show Westeros its future. All of you, my legacy."

Lilyanna scowled, "You should cancel the progress."

Viserys frowned as he turned to look at his daughter, "Lilyanna-"

"You clearly haven't recovered from the journey to Dragonstone, or in the time since our return to King's Landing, you have contracted some type of ailment; either way, you should not exacerbate things by journeying through the realm." Lilyanna said, her voice firm, "You will worsen your condition."

"Lilyanna," Viserys said, his voice strained with each word. "I appreciate your concern, but the arrangements have been made. Westeros expects-"

"No," Lilyanna interrupted. "They do not, no lord will riot because the King postponed a progress due to illness. You are in no state for this, and if you force yourself to go, you could collapse before we reach Rosby."

Viserys took a long, shuddering breath, speaking softly. "I am your King, and your father. You do not command me."

Lilyanna's jaw tightened. "I am not trying to command you, I am trying to keep you alive."

Alicent's hand slipped onto his arm, her expression composed, "Viserys… perhaps we may-"

"We are going, Alicent!" Viserys snapped more sharply than intended, and a tense silence followed.

Don't speak to her like that, you fucking bastard! Lilyanna could feel blood filling her mouth from how hard she had bitten down on her tongue, forcing herself not to speak her thoughts aloud.

Viserys closed his eyes; regret flickered across his features. "I must honor Lord Lyonel; I owe it to him… and to Harwin. I owe it to the realm to be seen to..."

"Father, you will not dishonor Lyonel by tending to your health. He would be the first to tell you that." Rhaenyra said softly.

Viserys shook his head. "This decision is made."

Lilyanna glared at the back of Viserys' head before returning to her seat. The anger she had over Larys, the small council, and now her father, who was insisting on marching forward and putting his health and life at greater risk for the sake of his ego and guilt, made her want to scream.

For the rest of the meal, Lilyanna could only glare at the table, ignoring everything else going on around her as she stewed in her anger.

---

The Next Day

Alicent stood on the balcony of her bedchamber, ignoring the flurry of movement that her servants and ladies were creating behind her as the final preparations for the tour were being made.

She clenched her fists over the railing and gazed off into the distance, a deep sense of dread filling her very being at the thought of leaving the city.

I do not know what is worse, Viserys' recent bout of illness or seeing father again and having to explain everything to him. Alicent thought.

"My Queen," Alicent blinked when she heard Criston's voice, "I have brought the children as you have requested."

"Thank you, Ser Criston." Alicent turned around, her eyes falling upon her children.

The five of them were already dressed in their riding leathers, looking every inch the princes and princesses the realm expected them to be.

Aemond stood straight-backed and composed, hands clasped behind him as though bracing for an inspection. Helaena hovered beside him, fingers brushing absently over her belt. Daeron shifted restlessly on his feet, excitement battling nerves in his expression. Aegon looked half-asleep and thoroughly irritated to be awake at this hour, and Lilyanna had her arms crossed over her chest, a bored and tired expression on her face.

"Today marks the beginning of the first progress that the royal family has assembled in decades." Alicent began, "The realm will be watching us all, so I expect each of you to remember that and to behave in a way that befits your station as children of the King."

Lilyanna nearly rolled her eyes when she noticed that her mother was looking directly at her the entire time she spoke.

"Did you really have to come here just so you can tell Lilyanna not to get into trouble?" Aegon asked before yawning.

Alicent exhaled harshly, "I am telling all of you not to get into trouble, Aegon, and that is not the only reason I called for you. You have all reached an age where you should have companions and attendants of your own, so I have begun writing to the houses that we will be visiting and the nobles who will be making the journey to rectify this issue."

"This is somehow worse." Aegon groaned, "Why must we entertain a bunch of sycophants?"

"Because mother thinks we're a group of friendless, wild, ruffians," Lilyanna said dryly.

Alicent did not rise to the bait, "I am ensuring that each of you has the support and alliances befitting your rank, whether you appreciate it or not. This is especially true for you and Helaena, and quite honestly, it is shameful on my part that you have no ladies in waiting at your age. And since none of the children that live here in the Keep have sparked any interest, this is the only option."

Helaena grimaced. "Must we, mother? Other children are usually..."

They're a bunch of fucking social climbing cunts. Lilyanna thought, as she knew just as well as Helaena that the noble children who lived in the Red Keep were just as cruel as the adults.

No one would ever dare say anything rude or insulting where they could hear, far too fearful of the consequences that would come from such an action. But with Helaena's fascination with insects, her rejection of physical touch from everyone that was not her twin, and her dragon dreams, along with Lilyanna's crude way of speaking, her rejection of most social norms, and having two sexual organs, made them strange and peculiar to their peers.

Not that either girl minded all that much, enjoying each other's companionship along with that of their brothers, nephews, and cousins, to anyone else. Aegon, Aemond, and Daeron felt the same, although the three of them did not experience the same whispers as their sisters.

Alicent's expression softened, knowing that her eldest daughter often struggled in the company of those outside their family. "I know that this is difficult for you, Helaena, but you both must learn to move among your peers. You and Lilyanna are young women now, and the realm will expect certain things of you."

Neither Helaena nor Lilyanna looked as if they believed their mother, staring at her dubiously.

Alicent stepped closer to her daughters, "It will not be so bad, you will have your pick of many and will undoubtedly find those that are to your liking and become dear friends. That is... that is how it was for myself when I was your age."

"What do you mean by that?" Daeron asked, noticing the look that passed through his mother's eyes.

"Mother used to be Rhaenyra's lady in waiting before she married Father." Lilyanna answered before Alicent could.

How else would he have found the perfect child bride to marry?

"We are willing to try; we are just not excited about it," Helaena murmured, and Lilyanna snorted.

Alicent allowed a faint, tired smile to appear on her face. "That is enough, for now."

"Your Grace," Criston said. "The King will be expecting you and the children at the castle gate soon."

Alicent lifted her head, looking over the Kingsguard's shoulder and seeing the servants carrying the last of her trunks out of the door.

Alicent looked at her children again. "Go prepare yourselves, and when you reach your bea-dragons, I expect that you will follow Rhaenyra's lead and go nowhere else."

"You hear that, Egg?" Daeron asked cheekily, and Aegon smacked the back of his head in response.

"Did everything mother say just go in one ear and out of the other with you?" Aemond muttered, leaning back to avoid Aegon hitting him.

"Well, at least the flight won't be boring," Lilyanna said as she and Helaena followed their brothers out of the Queen's chambers.

Alicent shook her head as she left the balcony, glancing at Criston, her faithful protector, waiting patiently for her.

Her Queenly mask quickly fell into place as she walked out of her chambers to meet her family at the castle gate, her footsteps echoing through the corridors.

---

Lord Jakor Rosby clenched his fists when he heard a dragon's roar in the distance, forcing himself not to flinch as so many in his household did.

When he first heard that the King would be traveling to Harrenhal to lay his Hand and his eldest son to rest, Jakor thought nothing of it, assuming that Viserys would simply take the King's Road directly towards Westeros' largest castle, ignoring his lands almost entirely.

But when he received a letter from the King written by the Grand Maester, the lord knew that he would have to do everything possible to ensure his house did not embarrass themselves before the Kingdom's royal family.

And as the King's party grew closer to the castle, Jakor felt as if he was about to fall over from anxiety.

Jakor turned his head when he felt someone squeezing his hand reassuringly, looking into the eyes of his wife.

"Calm, husband," Roslin whispered, placing her other hand on their five-year-old daughter, Alla's shoulder. "Everything will be

fine."

"I hope you are right," Jakor muttered as the gates of Rosby were slowly lifted, showing everyone in the courtyard the long line of carriages and horsemen coming towards them.

This will not be the first time he has met most of the royals, but it was still nerve-racking to have them all staying in his home, to know that their stay here may very well set the tone for the rest of the tour.

The Rosbys stood straighter as three carriages and a host of knights on horseback flooded into the yard, coming to a stop before the group.

The King was the first person to leave any of the carriages, slowly hobbling down the steps and quickly after, the rest of the royal family poured out of the carriages as the courtyard quickly fell into silence.

"Your Grace, Rosby is yours," Jakor announced as he and his household bowed to the King.

Viserys smiled, "Lord Jakor, it has been far too long since I have been in your presence, especially given the short distance between our homes."

"I feel the same, Your Grace, and I hope that the field outside the village is suitable for your family's dragons." Jakor said, "And that the livestock we have gathered will be enough for them to feast upon."

"I'm sure it will be-" Viserys began, but his voice faltered as a tight cough clawed up his throat. He pressed a handkerchief to his mouth, stifling the sound as best he could.

Jakor's face pinched in subtle alarm, and his wife's hand tightened on their daughter's shoulder.

Viserys forced a thin smile, his breath slightly strained. "-More than enough. My family will be grateful."

Lilyanna's body tensed where she stood, her jaw clenching as she watched Viserys swallow back his discomfort.

"Of course, Your Grace," Jakor said quickly, bowing his head again. "Rosby is honored by your presence and that of the royal family. We have prepared the best our house can offer."

Alicent stepped forward with a serene, practiced smile and stood next to her husband. "Your hospitality is greatly appreciated, Lord Jakor. The journey has been… taxing."

Jakor gestured to the castle, "If it pleases Your Graces, chambers have been prepared for all of you. Warm water has been drawn, and a feast will be held tonight in your honor."

"That sounds wonderful." Viserys said, "Lead the way."

As Jakor guided him toward the castle's steps, Viserys stumbled, and Alicent grabbed his arm before he could fall. The courtyard collectively held its breath as they watched the scene before them.

"I'm fine," Viserys murmured, visibly embarrassed as he patted Alicent's hand. "Just a misstep."

Alicent frowned, slowly letting go of his arm, but staying as close as she could to him as they walked inside Rosby.

"We should have stayed in King's Landing," Lilyanna said under her breath.

Helaena elbowed her sister's arm, "Lily."

Lilyanna huffed, "I know, I know, but excuse me for not wanting to watch this pathetic display."

Helaena rolled her eyes as they followed the rest of their family, hoping that her sister would be wrong about their father's health becoming worse.