The Crimson Dragon |ASOIAF/HOTD|

Aegon yawned as he walked through the halls of Rosby, still feeling the last remnants of sleep refusing to release their hold on

him.

Last night's feast had been as long and overly formal as he feared it would be, to the point where Aegon feared he would soon die of boredom if it went on a moment longer.

Every castle we visit is going to have so many feasts, each one worse than the last. And I won't be able to avoid going to any of them, not if mother gets her way. Aegon thought, already dreading his immediate future.

As Aegon reached the outer yard of the Rosby castle, he caught sight of his youngest brother and nephew energetically talking with a group of young boys.

He leaned against a nearby wall, unsurprised by how quickly Daeron and Lucerys had managed to endear themselves to their peers.

It looks like Daeron will be the first to complete the task that mother has given us. Can't say I'm all that surprised by this; Daeron has always been far more personable than the rest of us.

Aegon sighed, leaning his head back against the wall, and when he did so, he finally noticed the large group standing across the yard on top of the castle's curtain walls. Surrounded by guards, Aegon saw his father and Lord Rosby engaged in conversation with each other.

Even from this distance, he could see how sickly Viserys looked as he struggled to stand still, his body swaying under the strain of his own weight.

"Stubborn old fool," Aegon muttered under his breath, although there was no real bite to it.

Why couldn't he listen to Lilyanna and rest at the Red Keep? Then once he was back to full health, we could have begun the progress. What could have been the harm in waiting for a few days or a week?

He wondered if the rumors he had been hearing for a while were true, that Viserys was adamant about leaving King's Landing because he needed time away to come to terms with the newfound existence of his bastard descendant.

Aegon shook his head, looking away from the curtain wall bitterly before pushing himself off the wall and walking away; his good mood now ruined.

As he turned into a nearby corridor, he found that he had stumbled upon a small, inner yard that was separated from the outer yard of the castle.

"This place is a fucking maze," Aegon muttered before he realized that he was not alone.

At the other end of the yard stood a young man who looked to be a few years older than Aegon himself, taller, and broad-shouldered, with short black hair and dark skin. He was wearing an old and worn breastplate over chainmail that both looked as if they had seen better days.

And at the moment, he was swinging his sword down repeatedly on a straw dummy, his expression one of intense focus.

Of course, Aegon saw no issue with breaking this concentration. "You there!"

The young man turned around with a scowl on his face that quickly disappeared once he took in Aegon's appearance, and that was replaced with a wide-eyed nervousness. He immediately bowed to Aegon, keeping his head lowered to the ground. "My prince!"

Aegon looked him over. "How old are you? You don't look old enough to be a knight."

The young man blinked, having not expected the question. "I-I am seven and ten, my prince. And I am a knight; I was knighted a few moons ago by Ser Roger Brune."

"A knight at seven and ten, huh?" Aegon was never the most martially inclined person, nor did he have any interest in being one,but even he could admit that he was impressed, as he assumed that the young man before him must possess notable skill to be knighted so young.

Either he is better than the average warrior, or he received his knighthood because he paid someone to give him one, or he comes from a powerful family that could hand one to him. "What's your name, Ser?"

The knight glanced at the ground before he responded. "Eddard Waters, my prince."

Aegon smirked. "Waters? And whose bastard are you? Ser Roger Brune's, perhaps?"

Eddard laughed, finding the idea to be as ludicrous as it was amusing. "No, my prince, Ser Roger is not my father, I don't believe that man should be anyone's father in truth. I am the son of Ser Mortimer Hogg."

"Hogg?" Aegon asked, unfamiliar with the surname.

"House Hogg of Sow's Horn, we are a house of landed knights sworn to House Hayford. Our lands lie near the border between the Crownlands and the Riverlands, my prince. And my father is the Knight of Sow's Horn."

Aegon nodded slowly, still unfamiliar with the house. While he did not pay his lessons with the Red Keep's maesters much attention, he knew that they likely would not have told him and his siblings much about the lower houses of Westeros. "Aren't you a fair bit away from home then?"

Eddard's smile dimmed a bit. "House Hogg is not the wealthiest of houses, and I am not the only son, trueborn or otherwise, that my father has. But I had managed to catch Ser Roger's eye when I was younger, and he took me as one of his squires. Lord Rosby is now paying other hedge knights and me to bolster his forces for the stay of you and the rest for the royal family."

A hedge knight, huh? "Then you must travel well, at least more than I. Tell me, do you know what the village this castle is surrounded by has to offer?"

"Wilderest has a few taverns and a brothel, my prince."

"Good," Aegon's smile grew. "Then you would not mind taking me there?"

Eddard's eyes grew wide. "You wish for me to-"

"I wouldn't be asking if I didn't," Aegon said, rolling his eyes. "Besides, something tells me that you are far better company than any of the other knights around here, and far less likely to report me to my parents."

Eddard hesitated; his jaw tightened as he straightened. "If we are discovered, my prince-"

"You'll swear you tried to stop me," Aegon finished easily. "You'll say I threatened you, or that I outrank you, and you felt you couldn't say no. Both are true."

This earned the prince a startled laugh from Eddard before he glanced toward the archway leading back to the main yard.

When he looked back at Aegon, a wide, mischievous grin grew on Eddard's face. "If that is the case, then how can I refuse?"

"That's the spirit," Aegon said with a laugh.

As Eddard began leading him out of the castle, Aegon felt something loosening in his chest.

Well, if he doesn't turn out to be boring, mother can't get mad, I'm only doing what she told me to do, and making a new companion. Aegon thought, wondering what Alicent's reaction would be if he told her that he wanted to add Eddard to his household.

---

Lilyanna handed the reins of her horse to the guard standing closest to her. The man took it with a stiff bow, his eyes flickering between the young princess and the large group of dragons nearby.

I can understand what Lord Jakor is trying to do, but what does he think any of these men are going to be able to do should the worst happen? They would just end up as kindling. Lilyanna thought, her eyes trailing over the large force of men that Jakor had tasked with watching over her family's dragons.

It did not take long for her presence to be noticed by the dragons, and before she knew it, the younger ones had rushed to swarm her.

Lilyanna braced herself seconds before Vermax and Tessarion jumped on top of her. And she was able to stand her ground for a few moments before Arrax, Moondancer, and Morning joined the other two in jumping Lilyanna, knocking her to the ground.

"You all saw me yesterday; you can't be this excited to see me again," Lilyanna laughed, wind knocked from her lungs as she raised her arms in a futile attempt to shield her face from wings, tails, and an overenthusiastic snout pressing against her cheek.

Vermax chirped loudly, nudging at her shoulder, while Tessarion let out a pleasing trill that vibrated through the other. Arrax's tail flicked wildly against her legs as Moondancer lay her head squarely on Lilyanna's stomach, claws digging into Lilyanna's sides just enough to remind her to stay still. Morning, the smallest of them all, crawled up her side and tucked herself beneath Lilyanna's chin, radiating warmth. Sunfyre purred as he rubbed its head against the top of Lilyanna's, forcing Lilyanna further onto the ground.

Lilyanna looked away from the younger dragons, almost surprised to find that the older ones were now surrounding them.

Syrax let out a shrill chirp before nudging Vermax away and taking his place, bumping her head against Lilyanna's shoulder. And when Lilyanna raised her hand to scratch the side of Syrax's neck, the other dragons sounded their disappointment at being ignored.

"Gods," Lilyanna groaned, though she was smiling despite herself. "One day, one of you is actually going to kill me, and it won't even be on purpose."

Through the small gaps of space between the dragons, Lilyanna could see the men Lord Jakor had stationed around the field.

Several of them stood frozen, white-knuckled around spear shafts and swords, their eyes wide as they took in the sight before them.

It's been a while since I've gotten that kind of look when I'm around the dragons. Lilyanna thought dryly. Although I suppose the people of King's Landing have actually been exposed to this.

For a moment, Lilyanna allowed herself a rare moment to relax, nearly forgetting what she had come to the field to do as she lay encircled by her family's dragons.

"I don't think I will be able to convince Daemon to have more sheep brought for you to eat, Caraxes. Daemon hates me with every fiber of his being. If I told him, he would just ignore me out of spite," Lilyanna told the Blood Wyrm. "You would be better off making a show of begging for more when he is around to see you eat next."

Caraxes let his sorrow be known by letting out a loud and distorted roar, one that terrified every other person in the field except for Lilyanna.

Lilyanna leaned back against Meleys, unperturbed. "Your rider is a cunt; there isn't much I can do about that. Why did you choose to bond with him? I know Targaryens were dying left and right by the time Daemon became your rider, but really? Him?"

Caraxes bumped its head against Lilyanna's chest, a low growl escaping its maw. She could not feel the dragon's emotions, but she could tell that it did not appreciate the insult that she had given Daemon.

Lilyanna sighed. "Fine, I'm sorry, but you cannot fault me-"

Before Lilyanna could say anything else, an ear-piercing shriek bellowed throughout the field just as a large shadow covered the area from above.

Within an instant, the shadow fell to the ground like a meteor, and Lilyanna soon felt the familiar sensation of her dragon bond, almost overtaken by the venomous anger and jealousy that now flowed through her.

Nyx bared her teeth to the other dragons; her wings spread wide as a guttural growl rumbled through her chest, vibrating through the ground beneath them all.

The younger dragons immediately recoiled, scrambling back from Lilyanna in a flurry of wings and startled cries. Vermax and Arrax hissed in protest before retreating behind Syrax, Tessarion flattening herself against the ground as Morning scurried behind Meleys, and Moondancer lifted her head sharply, pupils narrowing as she assessed the threat before slowly backing away. Meanwhile, Sunfyre immediately started hissing, baring his teeth at the much larger dragon, unafraid.

Syrax answered Nyx's challenge with a sharp, warning chirp, placing herself squarely between Nyx and the younger dragons. Meleys lifted her head, eyes narrowing as smoke curled from her nostrils. Seasmoke, Dreamfyre, and Silverwing both matched Nyx's growl while Caraxes let out a twisted, furious screech that split the air.

Lilyanna sucked in a sharp breath as Nyx's emotions slammed into her so intensely that they nearly stole the air from her lungs.

"Enough, Nyx," Lilyanna commanded, forcing herself upright despite the dragons shifting around her. "Calm, Nyx. They are not a threat."

Nyx ignored her rider, instead choosing to take several steps forward, which in turn aggravated the other dragons.

"Nyx! I said calm down, now!" Lilyanna yelled, still to no effect.

Lilyanna almost cried tears of joy when Vhagar, who had been lying down behind her, unbothered by Nyx's display, lifted its head and let out a single, thunderous growl that rolled across the field.

Every dragon froze at the sound, and Nyx faltered mid-step, her wings twitching as her head snapped toward the massive, she-dragon behind Lilyanna.

Vhagar slowly rose to her feet; the ground trembled beneath her weight as she unfolded her wings before lowering her massive head to glare at Nyx.

Nyx hissed, her tail lashing violently, smoke pouring from her nostrils, but she did not take another step, and her wings folded tight against her body.

Vhagar lumbered past the other dragons near it, stalking towards Nyx.

"Fucking shit! Wait, Vhagar!" Lilyanna yelled, jumping to her feet and running after the dragon. By the time she caught up to Vhagar, the dragon was already directly in front of Nyx.

Vhagar let out a low growl and unfurled her wings, towering over Nyx. Nyx snarled, but suddenly let out a low, rumbling whine, her head lowering an inch, then another.

Lilyanna could still feel her dragon's anger through their bond, but she could also feel frustration, fear, and love from Nyx that was directed at Vhagar.

What the fuck?!

Vhagar huffed, clearly unimpressed by Nyx's display but satisfied. The she-dragon folded her wings and lowered her own head, nudging her heavy jowls against the top of Nyx's head as a deep rumbling escaped her.

Seeing that Vhagar had forced Nyx to submit, the other dragons slowly began to relax as the tension was drained from the field.

"I am so confused," Lilyanna whispered to herself.

Nyx turned her head away from Vhagar, and Lilyanna was once again struck dumb by the onslaught of love and embarrassment coming from Nyx.

It almost reminds me of me and- "Wait, is Vhagar your mother?!"

Nyx growled, baring her teeth at Lilyanna as she lowered her head to look at the human.

"Oh," Lilyanna breathed, staring up at her dragon as she tried and failed to keep the smile off her face. "That's a yes."

She started to truly look at the two she-dragons, trying to find any obvious physical similarities between them.

Nyx huffed sharply, smoke spilling from her nostrils, her tail flicking in irritation before she quickly lunged forward and used her head to harshly knock Lilyanna off her feet.

I wonder why Visenya never told me that Vhagar laid Nyx. Did she just not know, or did she just not see it as important? Lilyanna thought as she now lay sprawled on the ground.

Vhagar nipped the air near Nyx's head, growling at the other dragon. Nyx hissed again and made a point of pressing her jaws against Lilyanna's stomach.

"What is wrong with you?" Lilyanna groaned, struggling to breathe under Nyx's weight. "Ever since we returned from Dragonstone, you've been temperamental and violent, more so than before."

Nyx pressed its head harder against Lilyanna's body for several seconds before stepping back; their eyes narrowed.

Lilyanna sighed, sitting up. "I wanted to see if you and I could finally go on a flight together, a proper one. But if you're going to keep acting like this, then we can forget about-"

Suddenly, Nyx lunged forward, using their teeth to grab Lilyanna by the back of her riding leathers and lifting her into the air, dropping her on the ground near the base of their neck, where their newly fashioned saddle was strapped to their body.

Lilyanna scoffed, turning to look at Nyx. "You could not just allow me to walk here?"

Nyx huffed, staring at her rider impatiently and thrashing her tail about erratically.

"Your daughter is very rude," Lilyanna said dryly, addressing the larger dragon. "She must have been a handful to raise."

Vhagar hummed, leaning down to press its snout against Lilyanna's head.

Nyx snarled, but the sound quickly died off when Vhagar returned it with one of her own. Lilyanna almost laughed when she was immediately hit with the feel of Nyx's indignation.

Lilyanna scratched the underside of Vhagar's jaw before stepping away from the dragon and turning to climb onto Nyx's saddle.

When Lilyanna sat down, she leaned forward to rub her hand along the closest opening of uncovered scales. Lilyanna took a

deep breath. "Now, just give me a moment to fasten myself to-"

Nyx unexpectedly leaned back on her legs and extended her wings to their full length.

Lilyanna's eyes widened. "W-Wait, what are you-"

Nyx turned her head, showing off her sharp rows of teeth in a twisted and horrifying attempt at a smile Lilyanna had ever seen in either of her lives. Lilyanna could feel the dragon's intent, and her heart fell into her stomach as Nyx began lurching forward, quickly kicking off the ground and into the air.

"You fucking asshole!" Lilyanna screamed in High Valyrian as she tumbled backwards.

She grabbed onto the back of the saddle just before she could fall off Nyx's back entirely, gripping the material for dear life as she fought against the powerful winds around her.

Nyx's amusement was palpable as she flew higher, ignoring the shouting of her partner, even spinning a few times for good measure.

---

Alicent sat at the center table of the Rosby's garden amid the gathering Lady Rosby was holding for all the girls and women staying in the castle, a deep and practiced smile resting on her face.

She had caught sight of Helaena a few times over the last few minutes, interacting with some girls that looked to be around her age, and was very much aware of Lilyanna's notable absence.

"And how are you finding Rosby, Your Grace?" Roslin asked warmly, folding her hands together atop the table, drawing the Queen's attention.

"It is quite lovely," Alicent replied smoothly. "Your hospitality has been most generous, Lady Rosby."

Roslin brightened at the praise, sitting straighter than she had been before. She looked as if she was going to speak before something in her periphery caught her attention, and that of the other ladies sitting at the table.

When Alicent followed their gazes and watched as Rhaenyra, Laena, Rhaenys, Baela, and Rhaena entered the garden, making their way towards the center table. The twins quickly left their mother's side, rushing to join the other girls.

Eyes followed the three as furious whispers began to flow through the crowd of guests.

Roslin quickly stood along with every other woman except for the Queen, curtseying to the approaching women. "Princess Rhaenyra, Princess Rhaenys, Lady Laena, thank you for honoring my poor garden with your presence."

Rhaenyra returned the courtesy with a polite nod, giving Roslin a small smile. "You are most kind, Lady Rosby. Your home has been nothing but welcoming."

Laena smiled more openly, her gaze already drifting past the gathered women toward the open sky beyond the garden walls for a moment, in the direction of where their dragons were staying. Rhaenys, meanwhile, took in the gathering with the look of someone who had attended far too many of these functions in her lifetime.

"Princess Rhaenyra," Alicent said, inclining her head as she greeted them. "Princess Rhaenys. Lady Laena."

"Your Grace," Rhaenyra replied evenly, giving Alicent the same look she had been giving her since that night on Dragonstone inside Lilyanna's bedroom, before her eyes quickly dashed towards the garden walls, her expression replaced with one of confusion.

"Is something wrong, your Highness?" One woman asked Rhaenyra.

Rhaenyra looked back at everyone, schooling her features. "No, it is nothing."

With that, the three took the remaining seats on the Queen's left side. Rhaenyra caught Alicent's eye as she sat down in the chair directly next to her, quickly turning away to face her cousins.

"Did either of you feel something coming from Vhagar or Meleys? I could feel Syrax becoming agitated and furious at something a few moments ago." Rhaenyra whispered to the other two women in High Valyrian.

Rhaenys nodded. "I could feel the same from Meleys. The only thing I could imagine that would cause such a reaction from our dragons would be if someone were foolish enough to approach them and disturb their peace."

Rhaenyra frowned. "But Lord Jakor has a retinue of men standing watch over them, unless one of them felt inclined to try their hand at dragonriding."

"I did not feel anger from Vhagar," Laena voiced contemplatively. "I mean, I could feel some anger, but it was blended with fondness, weariness, and exasperation. I do not believe a stranger could have inspired such emotions within her."

Laena had never felt anything like this from Vhagar, at least not directed at someone or something other than herself. What she could discern from Vhagar's emotions evoked a sense of maternal affection that confused her greatly.

"I suppose we will have to ask Lilyanna when she returns," Rhaenys stated, glancing at the servant who had come to place teacups in front of them.

"Lilyanna?" Rhaenyra asked. "What makes you think that my sister has anything to do with this?"

"Given her glaring absence here today, Laena's description of Vhagar's emotions, and the reality that your sister is always at the center of situations like this, I would say it is almost certain that she has something to do with this," Rhaenys said blandly, taking a sip of her tea.

Rhaenyra let out a tired sigh. "I cannot deny a single thing you have said."

Alicent stared at Rhaenyra from the corner of her eye, hearing the whispered conversation between Rhaenyra, Laena, and Rhaenys, but was unable to understand what they were saying, only knowing that it had something to do with her daughter after hearing Rhaenyra say her name.

What has Lilyanna done now? Alicent thought with exasperation.

Across the garden, Helaena was beginning to wish that she had taken up her sister's offer to ditch this luncheon and ride their dragons together. Now she found herself surrounded by eager young ladies who had descended upon her the moment she arrived, like a pack of hungry wolves before Helaena even had a chance to find a secluded spot to hide in.

"What about you, princess? What are your favorite pastimes that you partake in?" One of the older girls asked Helaena.

Having had almost a dozen names thrown at her when each of the ladies before her introduced themselves, Helaena struggled to remember this girl's name, only recalling that she was distantly related to the main branch of House Stokeworth.

"I enjoy riding my dragon, Dreamfyre," Helaena answered softly.

While she loved Dreamfyre dearly, if she could have spoken honestly, she would have said that her favorite pastime was partaking in entomology. But Helaena knew after years of being forced to interact with her peers that speaking of such things only invited confusion at best, and mockery made behind her back at worst.

Helaena folded her hands together in her lap, twisting her fingers together worryingly as the girls around her leaned closer.

"Oh," one of them said brightly, eyes lighting up. "I've always wanted to see a dragon up close. Is it frightening?"

"No," Helaena replied after a moment. "Not when they trust you."

Several of the girls exchanged glances, their smiles thinning just slightly.

"And what else do you enjoy?" Another pressed. "Dancing? Embroidery? Music?"

Helaena hesitated for a moment. "I enjoy dancing and embroidery. I have been told by my septa since I was small that my running and cross stitches are superb."

This reinvigorated interest among the group again, even as Helaena slowly started to tune them all out, giving them simple answers or just nodding along as everyone talked.

Do they care about what I have to say, or will they agree with anything that leaves my lips in the hopes that I will choose them as lady in waiting? Helaena thought, looking down at her hands.

"Shut up!" Helaena flinched, as did the rest of the ladies, when an ear-piercing scream reverberated throughout the garden.

Helaena's head quickly spun round to face the direction that the screams had come from, and she saw Baela angrily standing over a fallen girl who was clutching her cheek.

Rhaena was standing behind her sister, her eyes wide as she gripped Baela's arms, holding her back and keeping her from jumping on top of her now crying foe.

Baela had one arm raised in the air; her fist clenched tightly as she glared at the other girl, her chest heaving with fury.

"Don't talk about my brother again!" Baela demanded, her voice sharp enough to cut glass.

"I-I didn't mean-" The girl stammered, tears streaming down her face as she scrambled backward on the grass. "I was only saying tha-that..."

"That what?" Baela growled.

"Baela! She's not worth it!" Rhaena pleaded, trying to keep her sister from advancing.

"Baela, Rhaena!" Laena forced her way through the crowd surrounding the girls. "What is going on?"

"Abrey! Oh, my sweet Abrey!" A tall, willowy woman with long black hair rushed to cradle the young girl Baela had punched in her arms; the two bore a striking resemblance to each other.

The lady looked up sharply, her expression twisted with fury as she stared at Laena, Baela, and Rhaena.

"Lady Laena, your daughter wildly and viciously assaulted my own," she said loudly, her voice carrying across the garden. "I demand to know what sort of conduct this is meant to be."

A ripple of murmurs spread through the gathered women, heads turning, eyes sharp with interest.

"Baela," Laena turned her head to look at her daughter. "Did you attack her?"

Baela yanked her arms free from Rhaena's grasp. "I did; she called Aethan a twisted little monster. And that it was a curse that he was even born."

Gasps rippled through the garden as every woman and girl present turned their attention fully to the children at the center of the disturbance.

The lady clutching her daughter stiffened, her mouth tightening as outrage warred with shock. "That is a vile accusation," she snapped. "My Abrey would never-"

"She did," Baela cut in fiercely; her fists still clenched at her sides. "She laughed when she said it to her friends."

Rhaena grabbed Laena's hand, holding tightly, her voice shaking as she spoke. "I heard it too."

Laena inhaled slowly; her expression carefully schooled, though something dangerous flickered behind her eyes. She looked down at Abrey, studying the girl's tear-streaked face and reddening cheek. "Did you say those words?"

Abrey's lips trembled; she did not answer Laena's question, but her hesitation was enough of a confession for everyone.

"E-Even so, such violence is untoward; those were simply the words of ignorance spoken by a child." Abrey's mother claimed.

Laena's eyes flickered toward her. "And where did she hear such foul rumors? Did she truly think these words, or is she parroting what she has heard from others?"

The other woman's face turned red from both embarrassment and anger, opening and closing her mouth as she struggled to find her words.

Before Laena could speak again, Rhaenyra stepped forward, the crowd parting for her. "I see no need for this incident to escalate further. As you said, my lady, what your daughter said was just the words of ignorance spoken by a child, the same way that my niece hitting your daughter was just the rash and impulsive actions of a child. Children fight, let us not make this into something bigger than that."

"But my daughter has been-"

A chair scraped softly against the stone, and Alicent rose to her feet, every eye turning to the Queen.

"Princess Rhaenyra is right," Alicent declared, her voice calm but carrying effortlessly across the garden. "This matter need not be made into something greater than it already is."

The Queen stepped forward, hands folded neatly before her, green skirts whispering against the stone. Her expression was composed, gentle, even, but there was a quiet steel beneath it that seasoned courtiers recognized at once.

"Children speak without understanding, they repeat what they hear, often without grasping the weight of their words. And children, when hurt or angered, sometimes strike before they think."

Her gaze shifted briefly to Baela and Rhaena before settling on the sobbing girl in her mother's arms. "That does not make such words acceptable, nor does it excuse cruelty, no matter how young the tongue that speaks it."

A murmur of agreement rippled through the gathered women.

Alicent turned fully to Abrey's mother. "Your daughter will apologize to Baela and Rhaena, and for the vile words spoken about an innocent child who is not here to defend himself, Lady Arina."

Arina stiffened, whether out of shock due to the Queen knowing her name or because she disagreed with her ruling, no one could tell. "Your Grace-"

"And Baela," Alicent added smoothly, already shifting her attention, "will apologize for striking another guest beneath this roof."

Baela quickly opened her mouth to refuse having to apologize for someone she felt did not deserve it, but the looks her mother and grandmother were both giving her forced her to hold her tongue, and after a moment, she gave the Queen a sharp nod.

"And afterward," Alicent said, "this gathering will continue as planned."

At last, Arina inclined her head stiffly. "As you command, Your Grace."

"Of course, Your Grace," Laena said softly.

Baela exhaled through her nose, fists unclenching as Rhaena squeezed her hand.

Alicent returned to her seat without another word, her composure flawless as she ignored the blank expression on Rhaenyra's face as she looked at her.

"Baela," Laena said, still facing forward. "Apologize to Lady Abrey."

Baela scowled, taking a step forward as she looked at the other girl with disgust and rage. "Sorry."

Arina frowned, obviously finding an issue with Baela's lack of sincerity, but forcing her lips into a thin line as she drew Abrey closer to her chest.

Abrey had managed to stop crying, her voice cracking as she spoke. "I-I apologize f-for what I-I said, Lady Baela, about L-Lord Aethan, a-and for laughing."

A tense silence followed as Abrey sniffled quietly; her mother ran a hand through her hair, and after a moment, the girl turned her face away from Baela, unable to meet her eyes any longer.

Laena placed a steady hand on Baela's shoulder. "Rhaena," she murmured. "Come."

The twins moved back toward their mother with Baela casting one last sharp glance over her shoulder before shifting her expression into something colder.

Conversation slowly resumed around the garden, though it was noticeably more subdued now. Several women leaned together in whispered speculation, eyes darting between the royals, Arina, and Abrey, waiting to see if another argument might occur.

This progress has only just begun, and there is already trouble to be found. Is it strange that I am glad one of my own children is not the cause of this disturbance? Alicent thought as she lifted her teacup and took a measured sip, her serene expression contrasting greatly with her thoughts.

"Your Grace!" Everyone turned around and saw a young page boy running towards them, his expression one of fear and worry.

"Yes, what is it?" Alicent asked as the boy came to a stop and bowed deeply, worried that her thoughts may have been a self-fulfilling prophecy.

The page quickly raised his head. "It is the King, Your Grace. He has collapsed!"

"What?!" Rhaenyra exclaimed as Alicent's eyes widened at the unexpected news. "What do you mean the King has collapsed?"

---

"I hate you so much, you overgrown lizard!" Lilyanna shouted over the roaring of the wind as she had finally managed to climb back into the saddle.

Nyx flew faster in response to her rider's words; her glee amplified by the sounds of her rider screaming.

Lilyanna did not know where Nyx was taking but had grown worried as the land beneath them had disappeared a while ago, and they now flew over the ocean.

Lilyanna quickly rushed to strap herself fully into the saddle, her fingers numb and clumsy as Nyx banked sharply to the left, the sudden shift nearly tearing her grip away again.

Nyx then dove without warning, and Lilyanna screamed as the horizon vanished and the sea rushed toward them in a dizzying blur of blue and white. The wind ripped the sound from her throat, pressing tears from her eyes as her stomach lurched violently upward.

The next time I see Aemond and Rhaena, I'm going to fucking kill them! Of all the dragons they had to make me claim, why did it have to be this one! Lilyanna thought as she grabbed the reins and pulled them back as hard as she could.

Nyx growled, shaking her head wildly a few times before reluctantly snapping her wings wide. The force nearly wrenched Lilyanna's arms from their sockets as the dragon surged upward, skimming so close to the water that Lilyanna's leathers and hair were completely soaked.

Nyx climbed again, spiraling once again before leveling high above the waves, her delight rolling through her and Lilyanna's bond.

"I am… never… trusting you again," Lilyanna gasped, her chest heaving as she sagged forward, resting her forehead against the front of the saddle.

The dragon turned its head to look at her, and Lilyanna knew that Nyx was mocking her, which only served to anger her further.

"Turn back, Nyx," Lilyanna commanded.

Nyx once again ignored her, continuing to fly straight toward wherever they were intending to take the human to.

Lilyanna scowled. "Are you listening to me? I said turn around and take us back to Rosby, Nyx!"

Nyx huffed, continuing her course, and through their bond, Lilyanna could feel herself starting to quickly become irritated with her.

Oh, you're irritated, you fucking menace! I'm the one who should be irritated! "I'm the dragonrider here, you fucking ass, and I am telling you to-"

Nyx suddenly dove again, and this time she did not pull up, diving through the surface of the water with reckless abandon. Nyx swam through the water for a few moments before she could feel Lilyanna struggling to breathe, bringing them up to the surface and floating.

Lilyanna spat out some of the salt water that had managed to find its way into her mouth, panting as she loosened her grip on the reins. "W-Was this your way of cooling me off, you blasted creature?"

Lilyanna swore Nyx was smirking at her, feeling the rush of Nyx's emotions hitting her.

The dragon then pushed itself out of the water and took flight once more, still refusing to turn around as its partner wanted it to.

Why is this my life? What could I have done to deserve this kind of torment? Lilyanna thought as she sat back, resigning herself to Nyx's stubbornness.

The rest of the flight was spent in silence between the pair, and it was only by watching the movement of the sun that Lilyanna had an idea of how much time had passed.

What is so important that Nyx feels the need to take me this far away from Rosby? Gods, mother is going to kill me by the time I return.

Eventually, Lilyanna could make out the familiar silhouette of Driftmark in the distance.

"Seriously, you did all of this just so you could take me to Dragonstone?" Lilyanna huffed, knowing that her dragon would likely have no interest in Driftmark, but the smaller island northeast of it.

She received no response from Nyx, which made Lilyanna roll her eyes, and she forced herself not to scream at the dragon again, knowing how that would turn out.

As they drew closer to Dragonstone, Lilyanna could feel excitement and hunger surge through her and Nyx's connection, making Lilyanna further question what the dragon's intentions were in bringing them here.

When they finally reached the island and flew toward the Dragonmount, Nyx ignored the opening to what had been their former nest as they flew over it, and before Lilyanna could ask why, she quickly spotted something near a jagged and rocky cliff.

A small hatchling was happily climbing along the cliffside, its wings tucked close to its body, and its scales were dark with faint streaks of silver-blue running along its spine.

"Oh Gods…" Lilyanna breathed, realizing why Nyx was so adamant about coming to Dragonstone.

Nyx's hunger grew, and faster than she had moved during the entirety of their flight, Nyx soared toward the hatchling.

"No! Nyx, stop!" Lilyanna yelled as she desperately yanked on Nyx's reins.

Nyx disregarded her entirely, singularly focused on finally satisfying the craving for her fellow dragon that she had been forced to suppress since bonding with Lilyanna.

The hatchling shrieked, a terrified sound that pierced straight through Lilyanna's chest as Nyx descended like a shadow of death, wings folding tight as she aimed for the cliff.

"Nyx, please!" Lilyanna screamed, her voice breaking as she hauled back on the reins with everything she had. She could see the hatchling trying to run away, still too young to fly, but she knew that it would not be able to outrun an older dragon, especially not one as determined as Nyx.

Nyx's hunger roared through their bond, raw and instinctive, almost drowning Lilyanna in the crushing certainty of need.

Lilyanna released the reins and unchained herself from her seat. She then scrambled to climb out of the saddle, dragging herself along Nyx's neck until she reached the top of the dragon's head.

She waited until Nyx was above the hatchling and was about to dive towards the ground before leaping off Nyx's head.

Her body hit the ground hard, but Lilyanna ignored the pain she felt as she quickly wrapped herself around the hatchling, holding it tight against her chest as she used her body as a shield.

Nyx landed with an earth-shaking force just feet away from Lilyanna, the impact sending stone and dust flying as her claws gouged deep into the rock.

The dragon's head snapped down toward them, jaws parting as heat gathered in her throat. Smoke poured from her nostrils in thick, furious plumes, her hunger crashing into Lilyanna like a tidal wave. And for one terrible heartbeat, Lilyanna thought Nyx would burn them both where they stood.

Instead, Lilyanna tightened her hold around the trembling hatchling and screamed, not in anger this time, but in raw, terrified command. "Enough! Seven Hells, I said enough, Nyx!"

Nyx reared back with a furious roar that shook the rock face, their wings flaring wide. The force of it knocked Lilyanna backward, but she refused to move, not when the hatchling shrieked again, burying itself against her, its tiny heart hammering wildly beneath her hands.

Lilyanna glared, her own rage having reached its boiling point. "What is wrong with you?! For almost as long as we have been bonded, you've been a fucking nightmare! You killed two innocent men, you try to fight the other dragons every time you're near them or when they get close to me, and now you refuse to listen to my commands, and you've dragged me all the way here just to continue to cannibalize dragons weaker and smaller than yourself! Why did you even choose me the day Aemond and Rhaena snuck into your cave if you were just going to keep acting like a wild beast?! Why are you even like this?!"

Nyx's jaws snapped shut, the fire dying in her throat as smoke poured from between her teeth. Her wings trembled, half-spread, claws gouging deeper into the rock.

The hunger Lilyanna was feeling from Nyx did not vanish from their bond, but it splintered under the weight of confusion, anger, and the love Nyx felt for her.

Nyx lowered her head an inch, then another, a low, rumbling whine vibrating through her massive chest. Smoke still curled from her nostrils, hanging heavy and bitter in the air.

"You are the most infuriating and bewildering creature I have ever met in my life," Lilyanna groaned, her body relaxing as she was sure that Nyx was not going to attack either her or the hatchling.

Nyx snarled defensively, but she did not advance, continuing to flex her claws uselessly against the stone, carving deep scars into the cliff face.

Lilyanna sighed and pushed herself to her feet, looking down at the small dragon still in her arms and lifting her hand to scratch its head. "Nyx won't hurt you, little one. I won't let her."

The dragon was still shaking fearfully, pressing its body against Lilyanna, its eyes never leaving Nyx's form.

Yeah, if a small, tiny human told me that a dragon who just tried to eat me wouldn't anymore, I wouldn't believe them either. Lilyanna thought before looking back at Nyx. "Stay here, Nyx. Do not move."

Nyx growled at her, clearly displeased as they pressed their head against the ground, hungrily watching as Lilyanna walked away with the hatchling.

"Is this going to be my life now?" Lilyanna muttered to herself.

She knew that Nyx was willful, violent, and selfish; a living being could not gain the moniker of the Cannibal without earning it many times over.

But standing here now, with a trembling hatchling pressed to her chest and Nyx watching her with wounded, furious eyes, Lilyanna understood something she had not before, that she could not control Nyx, not fully.

It was only the love that Nyx had for her that had tempered Nyx; that kept the dragon from giving into its instincts, and this truth terrified Lilyanna beyond belief.

Well, at least now I can definitely say that Laenor is wrong about me being a dragon whisperer. Lilyanna thought as she carried the hatchling toward the mouth of the Dragonmount.

"I cannot say that I ever expected this type of reaction from the Cannibal when it first hatched." Lilyanna groaned when she heard the familiar voice suddenly speaking to her, turning her head and seeing the Three Conquerors standing behind her.

Lilyanna scowled at the three siblings. "I'm not in the mood for japes. So can the three of you kindly fuck off?"

Rhaenys looked at Lilyanna with pity, her dark eyes lingering on the trembling hatchling clutched to the girl's chest before shifting to Nyx's large figure in the distance. "You are angry and frightened. Both are reasonable things to be after claiming a dragon like the Cannibal."

Lilyanna huffed. "And what would you know about-"

"Meraxes was the same when I first claimed her," Rhaenys said, a wistful smile appeared on her face as she thought about her deceased dragon.

"She was?" Lilyanna asked, surprised as they few times that she had heard Rhaenys speak about Meraxes, the woman had always described the dragon as gentle and playful.

Rhaenys nodded slowly. "As the years passed, she had become softer and truly became my other half. But in the beginning?" A soft, rueful laugh escaped her. "She was wrathful, possessive, and hungry in ways that frightened me. Unlike Balerion and Vhagar, Meraxes was not a dragon that was given to a human shortly after hatching, and she had no previous experience with a rider. She was a wild, dangerous thing, not as infamous as your own dragon, but intimidating nonetheless. Everyone tried to convince me not to claim her when I had made my intentions known, all except for my siblings."

Rhaenys could remember how othering it felt to have her parents try and dissuade her from claiming Meraxes, from claiming any of the other available, but being more than supportive when Vhagar hatched for Visenya or when Aegon had begun preparing himself to approach Balerion.

To her, it had been confirmation that Aerion and Valaena viewed Rhaenys just as everyone else around her did, as soft, weak, and lacking strength, both in mind and in body, especially in comparison to her older siblings.

And it's what ultimately pushed her to sneak into the Dragonmount and enter Meraxes' cave in the middle of the night.

"Every day felt like a struggle to prove myself to Meraxes that I was worthy of being her rider, and she rarely followed my commands and was prone to doing as she wished. The only time she ever seemed calm was when we took to the skies together."

"Balerion had his own moments of bull-headedness during our time together," Aegon voiced, his lips twitching upwards. "And in those moments, you remember that you are not riding a weapon, or a creature lesser than you, they do not submit to you, not truly, and live their lives with rich personalities of their own."

There had once been a time when Aegon had questioned the gall the Valyrians of old must have had to try and tame dragons, to think that they held complete and utter dominion over them. It was easy to lull oneself into the legend that their house had allowed the rest of the world to believe, to arrogantly think they were gods made flesh.

And I have lost myself to that arrogance; I would not be standing here if I knew better. Aegon thought to himself.

To allow others to see the truth, it would be to admit that they were not as powerful and invincible as they claimed to be, and would invite challenge to their dominance.

"Then what am I supposed to do?" Lilyanna asked, her voice low and raw, "If I can't command her, what is to stop what happened today from happening again? What if next time, Nyx doesn't listen to me, and she tries to attack another dragon? Or more people?"

Rhaenys studied her for a long moment before answering. "You endure."

"That's it? Endure?" Lilyanna asked incredulously, "I was hoping for a harder-hitting and speedier solution. Like some kind of secret dragon taming technique or magic, wait! What about a dragon horn? Dragon horns can control dragons, right? I remember a dragon horn being found in the future, during the War of the Five Kings."

Visenya raised an eyebrow. "And where do you expect to find a dragon horn? They, along with the method of making them, have been lost to the Doom."

Lilyanna groaned, kicking a small pebble that she had come across on her path.

When they reached the entrance to the Dragonmount, Lilyanna kneeled and gently placed the hatchling down on the ground, rubbing her thumb against the top of its head. "I'm sorry about Nyx; you did not deserve that."

The hatchling purred, leaning into Lilyanna's touch, making Lilyanna smile as the tension she had been feeling left her body.

The hatchling stayed for a few moments before Lilyanna nudged it forward, letting out a squawk before reluctantly tottering into the volcano.

Lilyanna stood, stretching her arms over her head and looking at the eldest Targaryen ghost from the corner of her eye. "Visenya, why didn't you tell me about Vhagar laying Nyx?"

Visenya's expression remained blank. "So, you have discovered the truth?"

Lilyanna rolled her eyes, exhaustion finally winning out over her anger. "Yes, Visenya, I discovered it the moment Vhagar forced Nyx to submit. I just do not understand why you didn't tell me after I claimed her."

"Would knowing that Nyx is Vhagar's child have changed anything?" Visenya asked. "Besides, dragons do not have familial relationships the same way that we humans do."

Rhaenys leaned in close to Lilyanna, whispering conspiratorially into her ear, a smile slowly stretching across her face. "Don't mind, Visenya, Lilyanna. She is proud that you managed to get a dragon like Nyx to accept you, she just does not want to acknowledge the implications of-"

"Quiet yourself, sister, before I do it for you." Visenya spat, glaring at the other woman.

Lilyanna's brow furrowed. "What implications?"

Visenya leveled her glare at Lilyanna. "There are no-"

"When Vhagar laid Nyx's egg, and shortly after, said egg hatched, Visenya wanted Maegor to bond with the hatchling. Maegor, as you know, refused to claim any dragon as he had long coveted to take Balerion as his own." Aegon answered, ignoring the heated scowl his elder sister-wife was giving him. "He viewed the idea of taking a hatchling as an insult, and things certainly were not helped when Visenya had offered Nyx to him shortly after Alyssa teased him, stating that the reason he was dragonless for so long was that he was afraid of dragons."

Visenya crossed her arms as her scowl deepened. "I was simply trying to be realistic when it came to choosing Maegor's future mount. How was I to know that girl would go about putting insecurities into his head about his worthiness as a dragonlord? Although I suppose it is a good thing that Maegor was so confident about his ability to claim Balerion after your death."

"And I suppose that your son taking on a dragon, later known for brutalizing its kin without remorse, would have been an irony too great for you as a mother to bear?" Lilyanna asked sarcastically. "You birth a wrathful monster only for your dragon to do the same? Think of the stories the maesters would have written."

Visenya's eyes flashed dangerously, and if not for the knowledge that Visenya could not physically touch her, Lilyanna was sure that the woman would have struck her for that comment.

Visenya's jaw clenched as she looked away from Lilyanna, her gaze drifting toward Nyx. "The Cannibal was never meant to be gentle. Wild dragons like her do not live long in an environment like Dragonstone if they do not harden themselves, both to the elements and to other dragons. That is the cost that comes with being unbound for so long for dragons such as she, Sheepstealer, and the Grey Ghost."

Lilyanna sighed, turning around to walk back to Nyx, and when she reached her dragon, Nyx did not hesitate to lift its head and stalk toward her.

"What am I going to do with you?" Lilyanna whispered, resting her forehead against Nyx's.

Nyx huffed softly, a low, rumbling sound vibrating through her chest, and the dragon lowered her head fully, pressing her brow to Lilyanna's chest with enough force to stagger her back a step. Heat from the dragon's body seeped through Lilyanna's leathers, with it came the slow, complicated swirl of Nyx's emotions, the hunger still there, coiled and waiting, but layered now with protectiveness, irritation, and something rawer that had no human word could describe.

'You are mine, and I have chosen you' was the closest thing that came to what Lilyanna was feeling from Nyx.

Lilyanna swallowed hard, her hands rising of their own accord to rest against Nyx's jaw, fingers brushing the rough edge of her scales.

"I know," she murmured. "I feel the same, and I know that I can't expect... you scared me today. I really thought that you would kill me just to get to that hatchling."

She closed her eyes and exhaled shakily, pressing her forehead harder against Nyx's, forcing herself to stay where she was instead of flinching away.

"You scared me today," Lilyanna repeated softly. "And I don't know how to make you… better. But Rhaenys, Aegon, and Visenya seem confident that I can."

Nyx rumbled low in her chest, the sound vibrating through Lilyanna's bones.

Lilyanna opened her eyes. "I chose you, too, Nyx, and if this is what that choice means, if loving you means standing between you and the world and keeping you grounded, then I'll do it. Again, and again. We'll learn together, or we'll die trying, or I guess I'll die trying."

Nyx huffed, a burst of warm breath washing over her, and for the first time since the flight from Rosby, Lilyanna felt the dragon's hunger settle.

The princess smiled ruefully, her fingers still curled against the warm, unyielding line of Nyx's jaw, knowing with a clarity that chilled her to the bone that this bond would never be safe, never be easy, and that she would have to bear the cost of it for the rest of her life.

Nyx lowered her head further, great wings folding in at her sides, and bending to allow her rider to climb back into her saddle.

I guess this is a good sign, as any. Lilyanna exhaled slowly and turned toward the saddle, exhaustion settling into her limbs heavily as she walked.

I'm going to sleep for the next two days when I return to Rosby. Especially as I doubt mother will let me leave my bedchamber when I do. Lilyanna slapped Nyx's back when she could feel the dragon was amused by the resignation they could feel from her.

---

"I thought you fools were supposed to be educated, experienced men. How can you not know what is wrong with him?" Daemon spat, glaring at the maesters running about the room as he stood at the foot of Viserys' bed.

Daemon had been with his brother when he collapsed, having caught him before his head could strike the stone floor, and the memory of Viserys' dead weight in his arms still burned into his eyes.

Viserys now lay pale against the pillows, his chest rising and falling shallowly; his skin was clammy beneath the thin linen. The sight of him, small, diminished, made something vicious twist in Daemon's gut.

"Perhaps the maesters would be able to discern what has happened to the King, if you were not taking their attention away from him with your posturing, Prince Daemon," Alicent remarked, standing to Daemon's left, her eyes never leaving Viserys' form.

Daemon turned to glare at Alicent. "You-"

"Grand Maester, Maester Dromen," Rhaenyra said softly; her hands clenched tightly at her sides. "Do either of you know what could have caused my father to faint? It has been years since he last did so, not since my sister..."

Orwyle cleared his threat as he removed the wet rag that had been placed on the King's forehead. "His Grace has been under an untoward amount of stress, and with the strain he had been putting on his body traveling here and having traveled back and forth between King's Landing and Dragonstone, I believe that this left his body susceptible to collapse. Exhaustion, compounded by his lingering ailments, is the most likely cause."

"So, he has worried himself into sickness?" Daemon asked flatly.

Orwyle inclined his head. "The King has not allowed himself proper rest in quite some time. His humors are imbalanced; his strength diminished. This fainting spell and the resulting fever are… not unexpected."

"Not unexpected," Rhaenyra repeated, her voice tight. She stepped closer to the bed, taking her father's hand in both of hers. It felt cold and far too fragile in her grasp, making Rhaenyra frown. "And what happens next?"

"He will need rest, and I would suggest that travel to Duskendale is delayed until the King can recover," Orwyle said after hesitating for a moment. "Another collapse could be far worse; his body is no longer resilient enough to endure this type of pace."

"He will not agree to that," Alicent said, knowing that Viserys would not wish to be reminded of his weakness and would be too stubborn to see reason.

Viserys shifted in his sleep; his brow furrowing and his eyelids fluttering as a weak groan escaped his throat.

"Once he awakens, we will begin the cupping and purging of the King's body to draw the excess humors from him and lower the fever, my Queen." Dromen, Rosby's senior maester, said carefully.

Daemon's mouth curled in disgust. "So, more useless treatments? How surprising."

Rhaenyra squeezed her father's hand, ignoring what the others were saying as her eyes traced over every detail of Viserys' face.

Every time that she found herself in this position, forced to acknowledge Viserys' slowly deteriorating health, Rhaenyra worried if that would be the day she would be told that her father had finally died.

And she hated the complicated mess of emotions that these scares would inspire within her.

She wanted to wrap her arms around Viserys and never let him go, crying into his chest like she was a little girl, scared that she would lose him and terrified of a world without him. But she also wanted to scream at him, to demand to know why he kept pushing himself to the brink and dragging all of them with him, as if sheer will alone could defy the slow rot of his body.

She wanted to know how he could be so selfish, how he could be so blind to everything and everyone around him, and if he even cared about what he would leave behind once he was truly dead and gone.

Rhaenyra swallowed hard, forcing the anger back down where it festered alongside her fear. She pressed her father's hand to her cheek instead, grounding herself in the faint, uneven rhythm of his breathing.

"We should return to King's Landing," Rhaenyra said at last, her voice steadier than she felt.

Alicent's lips pressed into a thin line. "You know he will not agree to that."

Rhaenyra lifted her gaze, meeting Alicent's eyes fully. "Then we make him."

Daemon barked out a short, humorless laugh. "Good luck with that. Viserys would rather break himself in half than admit he needs to stop."

As if summoned by his name, Viserys stirred again. His fingers twitched weakly in Rhaenyra's grasp, and his eyes fluttered open, unfocused and glassy.

"Rhaenyra?" Viserys murmured hoarsely.

Rhaenyra quickly leaned forward. "I'm here, Father."

Viserys squinted, trying to piece together where he was and why his limbs felt so heavy. "We… we must continue. Lord Darklyn is expecting us."

Alicent stepped closer to the bed. "Viserys, you have collapsed and are burning with fever. The maesters say you must rest."

"I feel fine, Alicent. I will not be treated as though I am already in my grave." Viserys snapped weakly, the edge of irritation cutting through the fog.

Daemon turned away, jaw clenched, muttering something under his breath that everyone in the room pretended not to hear.

Rhaenyra tightened her grip on her father's hand; her voice broke despite her efforts. "Y-You fainted in the middle of the castle, Father. You scared all of us, you cannot keep doing this."

Viserys shook his head, and when he tried to speak again, a harsh cough was forced through his mouth, and he became racked with shivers.

The maesters rushed to the King, and Rhaenyra was forced to let go of her father's hand and take a few steps back.

"W-Wh-Where is L-Lilyanna? She always tends t-to me," Viserys whispered hoarsely. "I a-always feel bet-better when she-"

Viserys was interrupted by another cough, his body curling inward as if the effort of breathing alone was too much. The sound was wet and rasping, tearing from his chest until the maesters hurried forward once more.

"Your Grace," Orwyle urged gently, pressing him back against the pillows. "Please, do not speak. You must conserve what strength you have."

Viserys's hand groped weakly in the air, searching. "Lily…" he rasped, his voice barely more than a breath. "Where is… my daughter?"

"She is not here, Father," Rhaenyra said carefully. "She… she stepped away earlier."

Viserys frowned faintly, confusion clouding his fever-glazed eyes. "She would not… she always comes," he murmured. "She knows what helps. The pain… it eases when she-"

Another cough seized him, harsher than the last, and this time a thin sheen of sweat broke across his brow.

"Your Grace," Dromen said, "While I am sure that Princess Lilyanna-"

"We are sure that Princess Lilyanna will arrive quickly, Your Grace," Orwyle said before his fellow maester could undoubtedly question Lilyanna's capabilities in front of the royals.

Speaking such words will not end well for you, especially not at a time like this. Orwyle thought, seeing the confused look Dromen was giving him.

Daemon swore under his breath and turned sharply toward Alicent. "Where is she?"

Alicent frowned. "I do not know."

Daemon scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Of course you don't."

Alicent glared at the prince. "I do believe that you should keep your opinions about how I raise my children to yourself. You have little recourse to judge others, given how your children seem to conduct themselves in public."

Daemon's jaw clenched, and his eyes narrowed harshly. "You dare-"

"My Queen, my prince," Orwyle jumped to intervene before an argument could ensue, "Perhaps it would be best if the bedchamber were vacated so that we maesters could begin the necessary treatments without distraction."

Daemon looked as though he might argue anyway, his fingers curling into fists at his sides, but Rhaenyra stepped forward before he could speak.

"We will leave," she said quietly, though her eyes never left her father's pale face. "Do whatever you must to help him."

Alicent hesitated only a moment before nodding, her voice firm despite the fear flickering beneath it. "Send for us the moment there is any change."

Orwyle inclined his head. "Of course, Your Grace."

Rhaenyra stared at her father, watching his chest rise and fall in shallow, uneven breaths, memorizing the sound for a moment before she turned away.

Alicent gently kissed the top of Viserys' head, stroking his cheek before leaving the room.

Daemon was the last to leave, pausing in the doorway and glancing back once more at his brother. It felt shameful to see the King of the Seven Kingdoms reduced to this frail, sickly figure.

To see his older brother, a man whom Daemon had always privately viewed as a secondary father, slowly dying, angered and saddened him in equal measure.

His jaw tightened, and without a word, he turned and followed the others out, slamming the door closed behind him.

---

Lilyanna smiled awkwardly as she rode her horse through the gates of Rosby and saw Ser Rickard standing in the middle of the yard, his face expressionless as he waited for her.

The sun had already started to set by the time she found herself back on the mainland, only able to sigh as Nyx was unapologetic about kidnapping her for most of the day.

"Ricky," Lilyanna said playfully, "Now I know that I said I wouldn't disappear while we were touring the realm, but you see, I have a really good explanation-"

"Princess," Rickard said gravely, "The King has fallen ill."

Lilyanna's smile immediately fell from her face. "What? What do you mean that he has fallen ill?"

After the Kingsguard explained what had happened while she was gone, Lilyanna quickly dismounted from her steed, moving past Rickard toward the castle.

Damnit, I told him that he was too sickly to leave King's Landing, but did he listen to me? No! Lilyanna thought as she and Rickard all but ran through the corridors of Rosby.

"Princess," Rickard called out. "The Queen has requested that you be brought directly to her-"

"She can yell at me about my disappearance later, or she can come to my father's bedchamber if she wishes to do so there," Lilyanna said as she ran.

When Lilyanna reached the King's chambers, Harrold Westerling and Steffon Darklyn were stationed outside, their postures stiffening the moment they saw her barreling toward them.

"Princess," Harrold said, stepping forward instinctively, though relief flickered briefly across his weathered face. "You should not-"

"I know, Ser Harrold," Lilyanna cut in, already pushing past him.

When Steffon opened the doors for her, the first thing Lilyanna noticed was how thick and cloying the air inside the chamber was, heavy with the scent of sweat, vinegar, and herbs that burned her nose.

Viserys lay sprawled against the pillows, far smaller than he should have looked, his skin ashen and damp, his chest rising in shallow, uneven pulls as he slept.

Lilyanna's eyes narrowed as she entered the room, seeing several heated glass cups and two bowls filled with yellowish bile on the table closest to the King's bed.

"Orwyle, I thought I told you that there is no such thing as humors that affect the body, so why do I see those things here?" Lilyanna asked, staring at the Grand Maester with irritation.

Orwyle lowered his head. "I know, but your usual methods were not working, and since we could not find you and Prince Daemon was demanding-"

"Say no more." Lilyanna sighed, raising her hand, already having an idea of the actions taken that led to this moment.

Dromen frowned. He had heard rumors that the youngest daughter of the King liked to play at being a maester, but hearing her disavow the detailed and centuries-old practice of humourism made him believe that the rumors of Lilyanna's intelligence must have been greatly exaggerated.

She is a girl after all, I should not expect much. Dromen thought before addressing her. "Princess Lilyanna, with all due respect, the practice of balancing the humors has guided the healing arts for centuries. I will not be lectured on my duties by a child who fancies herself learned simply because she has read a few books."

Orwyle sucked in a quiet breath, his eyes flicking nervously between Lilyanna and Dromen.

"A few books?" Lilyanna repeated, not raising her voice as she stepped closer to the bedside, not looking at Dromen as she spoke, her gaze fixed instead on Viserys' face. "You have bled him, burned him, purged him, and left him weaker for it, with no sign of recovery. And yet you are surprised that his body can no longer endure it, and he has once again lost consciousness?"

Dromen bristled. "The King has-"

"I don't remember giving your worthless ass permission to speak, maester," Lilyanna cut him off sharply, finally turning to face him. She reached out and plucked one of the heated glass cups from the table, holding it up between her fingers. "Do you know what this kind of treatment does to a body already struggling to keep its strength? Blood loss, worsening dehydration, infection, exacerbation of the underlying condition, and shock."

Dromen's mouth opened, but he quickly forced it closed again, his jaw clenching.

Lilyanna then chuckled at the indignation on the maester's face. "Did you even realize that my father's right eye is infected?"

Dromen's eyes widened. "What? That's impossible-"

Lilyanna took a step away from the bed. "Check for yourself, both of you."

Orwyle and Dromen stepped closer to the bed, and Orwyle lifted a candle from the nearby table and angled the light toward Viserys' face. Dromen leaned down and carefully parted the King's eyelid, already feeling how puffy it felt beneath his fingers.

His breath caught when he saw that the white of Viserys' right eye was inflamed, veined with angry red streaks; the corner crusted faintly with yellow discharge.

How did she know? Dromen shakily turned his head to look at the princess. Lilyanna's face was expressionless as she met his gaze, unnerving the older man.

"Princess, do you believe that the King's leprosy may be the cause?" Orwyle asked, still staring at Viserys.

"Most likely, especially as my father's health has been troubling him since before we left King's Landing and because we are only just now discovering the infection," Lilyanna said, clenching her fists. "If this infection were something he had gotten here in Rosby, it would not have progressed this far. Did my father complain of vision loss when he had awoken earlier?" Lilyanna asked.

Orwyle shook his head. "He did not verbalize such, but he had not been awake for long."

"That's good for now," Lilyanna said. "We'll treat the infection and see how he progresses over the next few days, but the eye already looks to be too far gone, so we should prepare to remove it if his health worsens further."

I should have noticed earlier; I should have known exactly what was ailing him. Lilyanna thought, angry at herself for allowing this to escape her notice.

She was no better than Dromen in this regard, despite her posturing, so arrogantly confident about her expertise that she failed to see what was right in front of her.