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Chapter Text

Just wanted to give an updated timeline as to the ages and members of the different families

124- Reunion at the Capital
Rhaenyra age 27, Cregan age 28, Rickon & Sarra age 11, Jonnel age 9, Brandon age 7, Benjen age 5, Raya & Lyanna age 3, (Alys age 0- born after they returned to Winterfell)
Viserys age 47, Alicent age 30, Aegon age 14, Helena age 12, Aemond age 10, Dareon age 7
Corlys age 71, Rhaenys age 50, Daemon age 43, Laena age 24, Baela & Rhaena age 8, Laenor age 26

125- Laena and Daemon have triplets Visenya, Rhaella and Allyssa

126- Rhaenyra and Cregan have triplets Mariah, Arya and Edric

127- The Royals Come to Winterfell
Rhaenyra age 30, Cregan age 31, Rickon & Sarra age 14, Jonnel age 12, Brandon age 10, Benjen age 8, Raya & Lyanna age 6, Alys age 3, Mariah & Arya & Edric age 1
Viserys age 50, Alicent age 33, Aegon age 17, Helena age 15, Aemond age 13, Dareon age 10
Corlys age 74, Rhaenys age 53, Daemon age 46, Laena age 27, Baela & Rhaena age 11, Visenya & Rhaella & Allyssa age 2, Laenor age 29

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The King was tired and frustrated. For the last three years he had been constantly at war with his wife and second son and had been dealing with the power vacuum caused by the mass executions of traitors nearly three years earlier. He had desperately wanted to go to the North to meet his granddaughter Alys as a baby but now he knew she was approaching her third name day and was the older sister to Their Majesties Ladies Mariah and Arya of Winterfell and His Majesty Lord Edric of Winterfell, the infant triplets born only a few months past to his beloved firstborn child. It still boggled his mind at the immense fertility the Gods had granted to his child after all the struggles Viserys and Aemma had with producing living heirs. However, Viserys also had come to realize that, if it hadn’t been for outside intervention, they actually might have had just as many or more children than Rhaenyra had at present.

The last few years had been the hardest of his reign. There were so many positions throughout most of the realm that had once been filled by traitors and now stood empty. Most of the Lords were left bereft of healers and educators after their Maesters had been found guilty of treason. There was also the struggle so many people found themselves with, nobles and commoners alike, with their faith. After some of the Valyrian Gods had appeared and denounced the Faith of the Seven, and so many members of the Faith had also been proven to be traitors, the people weren’t sure what to believe or where to turn for the answers to life’s burning questions.

As for how he was handling these things, well, it was slow going. Yes, the Dragon Academy was under active construction with only the first two buildings being completed (the Hall of Archives {basically the Great Library} and the Hall of Housing {living and dining quarters} and several others, including the Hall of Magik {where Valyrian magik would be studied in its different elements}, the Hall of History {the history classrooms- pre Valyrian civilization, rise of the Dragons, the Empire, the Doom, the Targaryens, etc}, the Hall of Accolades {home to the Grand Maesters and Archmaesters and where ceremonies of promotion would occur} and the Hall of Dragons {studies about the different dragons and their riders, the Valyrian Gods, history and ‘origins’ of the dragons, etc} being nearly completed. The Great Temple of the Fourteen, while still years away from being finished, was also rapidly reaching the point where it could and would be opened for use.

Another project that had been recently completed was the Temple to R’hllor, the Lord of Light in Kings Landing. While initially many people had been skeptical about it and the religion it represented, it hadn’t taken long before a scattering of people had begun to attend and more than a few dozen young orphans and whores had chosen to start working towards becoming Red Priests and Priestesses. This had actually caused a huge fight between Viserys and his wife as he had already promised their only daughter to that Faith and Alicent, despite all she had seen and heard was still VERY devoted to the Seven.

The third major project of his that was also reaching its zenith was the building of a Keep on Bloodstone island in the Stepstones. Once it was completed, Aemond was to be sent there so that he could learn about his Islands and begin his tenure as the Lord there. Viserys could only hope that it would calm his ferocious son.

When it came to the issues of healing and education, for the first time ever, Viserys had been forced to seek help from abroad. Now Kings Landing was home to several Embassies for the Nations and Nation States of Myr, Dorne, Volantis, and Pentos who had sent ambassadors (who now held official positions on his Small Council), clergy for their various Faiths, healers and teachers. Each different group had also demanded learning centers be constructed for them to teach their particular style of education and healing to the people of Westeros so that their influence could spread farther throughout the Kingdoms. These had begun to be built through the major cities of all the Kingdoms save the North and Vale, who already had their own. Alicent had been very vocal with her complaints that all of this could have been avoided if Rhaenyra hadn't destroyed the established social order by creating falsehoods that made it seem as those good people were traitors. When Viserys had argued that all of them had been working to destroy his family, she told him quite frankly that if the Targaryens had just submitted to proper Andal authority and had used their power wisely to bring the First men and Wildings to heel under Andal rule and religion, and eliminated their evil beasts, then the righteous, benevolent true masters of the land would not have ever needed to take such actions.

Now, however, Viserys finally had reached a point where he could begin to make travel plans. He feared that if he didn’t make a trip to the North soon he would have even more grandchildren that he’d never met and would be looked upon as even more of a failure as he’d promised he’d make the trip two years earlier. One positive to the delay though was that Daemon was willing and able to take his family. Not long after the departure of the Starks, Laena had discovered that she was pregnant again and less than a year later she had given birth to her own set of triplets; Their Majesties Princesses Visenya, Rhaella and Allyssa of Dragonstone. If they had been much younger, Viserys knew his brother would be hesitant to take them on such a long journey but since they were two years old, Daemon was eager to show off his new arrivals to his beloved niece.

This all led to the present time. Viserys had informed the Small Council that he was taking his entire family North to do a brief tour of that Kingdom, to spend some time with his eldest and her family at Winterfell and would be leaving Dareon there when they departed to begin his foster. He had sent a message to the Starks with his intentions and that, along with the sixteen members of his family {Viserys, Alicent, Aegon, Helena, Aemond, Dareon, Daemon & Laena + 5, Corlys, Rhaenys and Laenor}, he was journeying with fifty guards {a mix of Kingsguard, Castle guards, Dragonstone guards and Velaryon guards} and twenty five servants. The message he received back from Winterfell confirmed that they had gotten the message and would be ready for their arrival. Corlys and Laenor had begun preparing ships to expedite the travel, Rhaenys was readying the dragons for the trip and Daemon was, ever so carefully, packing the Urns of Aemma and their lost babes in secure crates to bring North (and Viserys refused to even consider informing Alicent of that detail as he wanted to ensure Rhaenyra actually received those urns).

As for his own, immediate family’s preparations, Dareon was having the final details on some Northern style garments finished and was finishing packing everything he wished to bring with him to his new home in the North. Aemond just would not stop complaining on how unfair it was that he wasn’t Lord of Winterfell and yet also would not stop mocking the Northerners and their “heathen barbarian” ways. Helena and Aegon were simply doing what they were told and not raising a fuss. Much to Viserys’ delight, in the last couple years, Aegon had quit drinking wine all together and had become quite the scholar and he had even confessed to looking forward to pursuing the library at Winterfell and learning more of the History of the North and the First Men. Alicent, however, was proving to be his headache. First off, she tried to insist that he, their children and herself wear green and only green garments along with seven pointed stars. When Viserys had refused that, as green is not a color for House Targaryen nor was the seven pointed star their emblem. Second, she kept trying to force him to restore herself to the title of Queen and refused to accept that, when they reached Winterfell, Rhaenyra would outrank her. It was due to her lack of regard for his decision that further encouraged Viserys’s decision though as he realized that she had truly never made a good Queen as she was more focused on herself and her own power than anything. Due to all of this, Viserys wound up deciding to put Rhaenys and Laena in charge of Alicent’s wardrobe for the trip, much to her chagrin.

Unless some major disaster occurred quite soon, it seemed as though the Royal party would soon be on their way to the North.

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It had been decided that the Royal Party would travel in two seperate groups. As the Velaryons were masters of the seas, they would sail from Driftmark first to Dragonstone to pick up Daemon, his family and retinue and then head North to White Harbor. After arriving in White Harbor, they would head southwest to Moat Catlin where they would meet up with the other group. Viserys, his wife and children along with their retinue would take the Kings Road north. While taking the road would increase the length of the journey, Viserys did not like sailing and he figured that then he would be able to see more of the realm.

Their plan was to first stop at Hayford castle, then Darry castle. After that they would make a couple detours. The first would be into the Vale and would stop at Strongsong followed by a detour west to the Twins. After both stops, they would enter into the North. It would be then, when they stopped at the ruins of Moat Catlin that they would meet up with the other group to continue their journey northward.

Before making their final stop along their journey at Winterfell, they would stop for two days at Castle Cerwyn to give the weary travelers tie to rest and to allow the Starks a bit of time to make their final preparations.

Upon first crossing into the North, one of the first things Viserys noticed was the roads. They were wide and well maintained unlike those in the South.

Second, every time they neared a settlement, the biggest indicator of the approaching settlement was large glass houses filled with crops that were lush and green, despite the colder outdoor temperatures than in the more plentiful regions of the realm.

The people, too, seemed happier than anywhere else. Communities seemed strong and loyal to one another, even in mixed villages of first men, wildings and various other minority groups. Tradespeople had apprentices. Healers seemed to exist in every small and large population center and the large Weirwood trees were abundant and well cared for.

Alicent was livid. She hadn’t seen a single Sept since leaving the Riverlands and the Northerners all just seemed so very content with their lives. By all accounts, the Starks had always been rather benevolent overlords but since Rhaenyra had married North, things had been steadily improving. Small folk all over the North had personally met Lord Cregan, Lady Rhaenyra and some of their children, all of whom enjoyed speaking with the people and seeing what needs they had and how they could work to make life better. This isn’t how it was supposed to be. Rhaenyra was a spoiled child who was supposed to such the North dry of all wealth and resources before running crying home to her father. She was not supposed to be loved by her people.

The Velaryons, Daemon, Laena and their family, however, had a very different response. They had spoken with many people while everyone was in King’s Landing and had already known the truth about what was occuring in the North. Watching the King’s amazement and his wife’s fury gave them much amusement.

Everyone was tired though, when they finally arrived at Castle Cerwyn and were very glad for the couple days they would spend there before making the short jaunt to Winterfell.

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After two days resting at Cerwyn Castle, it was time to make the half day journey to Winterfell. Not a single member of the extended Royal Family had ever been to the ancient Northern Fortress which had stood, at least in part, for over two thousand years.

It made a formidable sight to the eyes of the Southerners when they began to approach the tall gray stone walls. After crossing through the Main Gates of both the outer and inner walls, they were finally able to see the Stark Family.

“This is an insult!” exclaimed Alicent after noticing that there were no babies in sight, “We are the Royal Family! They should have EVERY member of their family and household out to greet us!”

Daemon, who was mindful of the fragility of such young, and likely quite small babes, then replied, “Dearest sister, if your utterance is due to the lack of the youngest ones’ presence with their family, rest assured that it is no insult. Those precious babes deserve to be kept safe and warm in their nursery or wherever else their parents dub the correct place for them to be.”

As he spoke, he stepped out of the wheelhouse and offered his arm to his wife Laena before assisting all five of their daughters out.

After the entire family was on solid ground, they approached the Lord of Winterfell, who, along with his family, were bowing to their King.

“Your Grace, please be welcomed to Winterfell. I hope your journey was without difficulty.”

“Please stand erect, all of you. We are all family are we not? Our journey was long but we are pleased to have arrived.”

It was then that Viserys really took note of the small silver haired, gray eyed girl being held in his eldest granddaughter’s arms.

“May I assume that this is Lady Alys?” he inquired, reaching out a gloved hand to the tot. “You were still growing in your mother’s belly the last time I saw her and now I’ve heard that you are a big sister. Makes your old grandsire feel ancient.”

“The babes nap at this time of day, Your Grace, otherwise we would have brought them out. Dealing with three cranky infants, however, is no fun,” replied the Lady of the North.

Rhaenys chuckled, “I believe that you have far more experience with that than the rest of us Rhaenyra, with your brood of what? Eleven dragonwolves now? Your uncle and father tie at the next closest with five each but that’s still less than half.”

The group laughed then began exchanging hugs. Dareon, who had been especially eager to spend more time with his nieces and nephews, was especially exuberant, much to his mother’s dismay. Aegon and Helena’s hugs were a bit still and formal but also held a touch of warmth as they both knew that their lives had only improved since their half sister and her family had visited. They just did not know her or her family well enough nor were they young enough to hug tighter and brighter. Viserys’ middle son did not join in all the hugging since he still believed that Winterfell should be his and that the Starks should, if anything, be slaves of his in Winterfell. Likewise, his mother was unhappy to even be there, especially since she was barred from wearing green and still had not been restored to her rightful place as Queen.

After a while of hugging and casual chatting among the two groups, Rhaenyra volunteered to take the Royal visitors to the Guest Hall.

“Guest Hall! You are putting us in a Guest Hall! That is an insult! We should be in the finest rooms of the Castle within the main Keep rather than relegated to the Guest Hall!” Alicent screamed. “We are the Royal Family and as such you will give us the best of everything you have, even if it means that you have to sleep with the animals!”

“No Andal has ever slept within the main keep of Winterfell and I will not see such an ancient tradition be broken with me,” stated Lord Cregan calmly and slowly, “The Guest Hall’s logging are more than adequate and are plenty luxurious. I will not be moving my own family out of our rooms within our home just to accommodate guests. I will not have our private spaces invaded without leave by myself or my wife as, again, this is our home, not yours.”

“Alicent! What has gotten into you, woman? In none of the other Castles, Keeps, or inns we’ve stayed in on our journey have you made such demands. I know that the Guest Hall here is likely to be far nicer than some of the places we’ve stayed and to demand that they sacrifice their privacy and comforts within their own home is ridiculous! Then to suggest that the Starks sleep with the animals while we take their beds is what is insulting. We will stay in the rooms that they have prepared for us, WITHOUT FUSS!” exclaimed the King, rather miffed with his wife.

“I suppose that they intend to have my Dareon stuck all alone in the Guest Hall while he’s here as a foster then, right? See I told you Viserys that fostering him here among these barbaric savages is not a good thing to do.”

“Lady stepmother, you are, infact, wrong. Dareon will be staying in the Guest Hall only for as long as you are visiting so that you can have him close for a bit longer. After you depart to return to King’s Landing, we will move him to the chamber’s we’ve prepared for him to live in and that are closer to our family. Now, please follow me as I take you to your quarters so that you may freshen up before supper, which will be held in our Great Hall. I will send someone to fetch you in three hours time, so make yourselves comfortable.”

Rhaenyra then guided them to the Guest Hall, narrating different spaces and elements of Winterfell as they walked past them. This knowledge was fascinating to Viserys, Daemon, Corlys, Rhaenys and Aegon who had been curious about how this Great Keep differed from the ones they were familiar with.

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Just as Rhaenyra had spoken, exactly three hours later a valet dressed in the colors of House Stark entered into the Guest Hall to inform the Royal guests that supper was imminent and that he was there to guide them towards the Great Hall.

When the Royals caught their first glimpse of Winterfell’s Great Hall, it was not hard for them to believe that, at one time, this had been the Great Hall of the Winter Kings.

As they were announced, they were guided to their seats. Viserys, Alicent, Daemon, Laena, Corlys, Rhaenys and Laenor all were given seats at the high table to the right of Lord Cregan and his heir, Lord Rickon. To Cregan’s left sat his wife, Rhaenyra, followed by, Lord Cregan’s elderly mother, Lady Sarra and then Lords Jonnel and Brandon.

The rest of the Stark children sat scattered among the different noble and wealthy families of the North save for their youngest four children, who were absent from the Hall. The Royal children themselves were given seats of honor near the front of the Hall.

Unlike in the Red Keep where the Royals typically dined using Golden dishes, everyone was served food on fine silver, delicately engraved stone embedded with precious gems, intricately carved wood and elaborately designed ceramics. Their goblets were even made of colored glass in various interesting shapes. From what Viserys could discern, their was little difference between what they dined with at the High Table to what they used at the back of the Hall. At his own Keep, those at the High Table would use Gold. Those at the front of the Hall would use silver, then copper and brass, followed by tin, and lastly wood at the back of the Hall. When Viserys asked his goodson about this, the answer he was given was that, as everyone was a guest in his Hall, they all deserved to be given full respect and courtesy. Also, his children liked sitting among their guests and he was not going to discourage them as he wanted everyone to feel comfortable and welcome.

Naturally, Alicent did try to raise a fuss about not having significantly better materials used on her and her children than anyone else. Viserys shut her down by explaining that it did not trouble him, Lord Stark and his family, whom all outranked her and their children, viewed it as acceptable, and that they were guests, so regardless of their ranks, they should appreciate what their host offered them and accept the practices of their hosts. While it still did not make her happy, she did cease her grumbling about it.

However, that was not the only thing that she did express her displeasure about. She was unhappy that instead of prayers to the Seven being offered before the serving of food, that Lord Cregan announced that there would be several moments of silence for those who desired, to offer prayers to their own Gods. As for the entertainment, that also offended her. Some of the entertainment was performed exclusively in the Old Tongue, others in Valyrian, still others a mix of both and only a small portion was performed exclusively in common, which is the only language she could understand, despite Viserys offering to teach her or to hire tutors for her.

Despite this, the meal was lovely. They were served salads made of fresh greens, sprouts, chopped fresh vegetables, seasoned crunchy bits of bread, seeds and even bits of dried and fresh fruits served with vinaigrettes or a mix of oil, vinegar and herbs. The soups offered were thick and creamy potato, a hearty vegetable and a cheesy broccoli, all served in bowls made of bread. As for the main course, it was a choice of game hen, venison steaks or blood sausages served with roasted vegetables and bread. Lastly, the dessert options. They had the choice of a carrot or apple cake, bread made of squash, or a dish of sweetened rice in milk. It was hearty, filling though not the most elaborate, but that was to be expected as the Northerners were a hearty people.

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The next day, the Royals really began to explore Winterfell after being served a meal of fruit juices, fruits, nuts, bread and cheese. They also got to see the young Lady Alys Stark and meet her baby siblings Ladies Mariah, Arya and Lord Edric.

It still amazed Viserys just how happy his precious Rhaenyra seemed and how truly blessed she had been by the Gods to have successfully birthed eleven heirs, with two sets of twins and a set of triplets, which was generally seen as a death sentence for the mother. Yet, a year post birthing her three, she was very much alive and thriving and she didn’t even appear to be carrying much, if any, baby weight still, something no one could say of Visery’s own wife. Seeing her in the Keep she had chosen and had made her home so many years earlier, blissfully happy with her Lord Husband and their many children, who did seem to truly love their parents and each other, and seeing just how well respected they were to their people, at the very least, gave him peace.

As for the younger Royal children, they were excited to explore this very foreign and grand Keep along with the Keep’s own children. For the young Starks, they just hoped that their Southern kin would not mind the inclusion of children of lower birth, whom they were friends with playing with them as well. They knew that the noble children of the North and even those of the Vale did not mind this but they also knew that the Southerners did things very differently.

Once everyone gathered in the courtyard, and the youngest three were introduced, plans for the day were made. Rickon and Sarra would spend the day attending to their lessons while Jonnel would attend lessons in the morning but would have the afternoon free. Brandon, Benjen, Raya and Lyanna would accompany their Uncle Dareon and cousins Baela and Rhaena and would invite them to join in games with their friends. Aemond had been given the offer to join them or to attend lessons with the older children but he declined. Rhaenyra, Rhaenys and Laena would spend the day together with their combined seven youngest children, Helena (who had requested to join them) and various Northern noblewomen and Rhaenyra’s goodmother. Laenor offered to Viserys and Cregan that he would keep watch of Aemond through the day. Aegon asked Cregan if he could just spend the day in Winterfell’s library, which Daemon also joined in asking, due to Daemon also being a scholar and both were approved. Viserys and Corlys choose to accompany Cregan for the day to learn more about the running of Winterfell and the North as, frankly, the North was largely unknown to anyone from the South. This just left Alicent. The women invited her to join them but she snottily declined. Likewise she declined spending the day with any of the other groups.

“I wish to spend the day praying for this Godless land in the Sept.”

“Majesty Alicent, you are aware that you are in the North, are you not?”

“What a ridiculous question! Of course I know where I am! I’m in a place that has long rejected the Laws of the Gods and the Natural Order of things. That is why I wish to go to the Sept to pray, so that all of you heathens might finally come to accept the truth and quite all of your barbaric practices.”

“Well then, Majesty Stepmother, if you wish to pray, I can take you to the Godswood where you can pray before the Weirwood trees. I know that even as a child I was drawn to the peace of the Weirwood tree and now often find myself enjoying the tranquility there, in my own ancient Godswood. Perhaps the serenity of the location will set your mind at ease.”

“Viserys, apparently your daughter is deaf and her husband is dumb. They are most assuredly unfit for their positions. The false Lord asked me a stupid question that was only fit to be uttered by a fool and now your idiot daughter apparently has been unable to hear that I WISH TO PRAY IN THE SEPT!” Alicent yelled at her husband, to the complete bafflement of the assembled group.

Her screeching caused the seven youngest children to all start crying. This drew attention off of Alicent to her dismay as the other adults and the babies elder siblings worked to calm them.

“MAKE THOSE THINGS STOP RIGHT NOW!!! I WAS NOT FINISHED!!! I AM THE WIFE OF THE KING!!! I DEMAND THE RESPECT THAT I AM OWED FROM EVERYONE YOUNG AND OLD! IF THEY CANNOT DO SO, THEN THEY SHOULD BE EXECUTED!!!” Alicent roared which only made the little ones cry harder.

Viserys then turned to his wife along with Lord Corlys, Lord Cregan, Prince Daemon and Ser Laenor.

“You may be my wife Alicent, but in this case, you are also the fool. You have scared my grandchildren and young nieces who are all still very young in age. They will not be punished for your actions in any way. Again, wife, you are the fool here. My goodson asked if you know where you are because, if you truly know where you are, you might have some idea, somewhere in your mind, about the religious practices of this kingdom. My daughter is not deaf either. You wish to spend the day in prayer and she offered to take you to a place you can go pray.”

Cregan nodded, “Exactly! My Kingdom has never worshiped your false Gods nor has a Sept ever been constructed within the Kingdom. Most of us still follow the Old Gods though we now do have a couple temples to the Valyrian Gods. If you wish to pray in a Sept, you’ll have to travel back down to the Riverlands to do so.”

“Well then, I guess that you are just going to have to swallow your pride and get a proper Sept built within this Keep IMMEDIATELY! I’m not going to allow my baby boy to live here without one. In fact, I demand that Winterfell’s Sept be built upon the grounds that your idolatrous Godswood currently stands so that you filthy heathens will have no place for your wicked tree worship,” she replied snottily.

“No! No, I will not be constructing a Sept anywhere within Winterfell, especially not on the site of the Godswood. The Godswood has stood there for many millennia, long before even the earliest construction was built here by my ancestors. It is sacred land belonging to the Gods. Yes, a Temple to the Valyrian Gods has been built within the Eastern edge of the Keep but my wife and I, along with our advisors agreed that since our line have been blessed by them and they are the Gods of the Dragons that they deserve a place here. Your false Andal Gods do not nor have they ever nor will they ever have a place here at Winterfell or anywhere else here in the North. My people have fought for too long and too hard to keep your false Faith out of our lands to surrender now.”

“As for our youngest, Alicent, I do not care that their is not a Sept here. He will still be fostered here and hopefully, at the very least, gain a degree of tolerance for things and beliefs that are different from his own. If one day we learn that he has some to follow the Old Gods, then that is perfectly fine. This is to be his home and the Northerners to be his people so he should at least respect them. Now, you have two choices, return to and remain confined to your chamber under the watchful eyes of guards and maids, so that you do not destroy anything or you can join the other women. We are guests here so I’m expecting you to be on your best behavior rather than continuing to act like a savage as you have been Alicent.”

“The Gods will make this right, one way or another Viserys. Sooner or later you will see. I refuse to spend time with your bastard and her baby bastards…”

“GUARDS! Escort my wife back to her guest chamber. I want two guards to stand outside and inside each entrance to the chamber along with a dozen of the strongest maids to join her within. All of you have my full permission to restrain my wife if she even attempts to cause any degree of damage to anything within the chamber or harm to any of you. In fact, once you’ve brought her within her chamber, I wish for each one of you to independently and individually take soap and wash the inside of my wife’s mouth with it. Perhaps after having her mouth cleaned 20 plus times, she might be more willing to speak with kinder words.”

“No! NO! Viserys you cannot order this! You cannot let them do this to me! Its torture! Its barbaric! Any of you who even attempt it are traitors and I will see you all killed for treason!” she yelled as guards descended upon her.

“I warned you, Wife, that you needed to be on your best behavior. No one will be coming to your rescue as I’m still King and have always and will always outrank you. I hope you take this lesson and your time today to heart, Alicent, and finally learn something.”

After she was dragged away, Rhaenyra spoke up, “Thank you father for defending my family, home and people against her. Gods only know how I wish I knew what darkness has filled her soul. Aegon, Helena, Aemond, Dareon, did you know, before my mother’s death and your mother sneaking into my, then barely widowed father’s bed, that your mother was my dearest friend and closest companinion? In truth, she had once been like a sister to me. Then my mother died, your mother went to bed with my father, and then married father and changed. My dearest Lady boasted of her superiority to my late Lady Mother after she birthed you, Aegon. Despite being the Princess of Dragonstone and heir at the time she began treating me like a servant. I do not know how I would have survived living under her had I not been able to escape to my mother’s kin in the Vale. I stopped being able to feel at home within my own home due to her. Truly, I wish I knew what made her change so much. Even now I miss my former friend and wish that there was some way to regain what we once had. I have never wanted her to be an enemy like she sees me.”

Aegon then spoke, “I never knew. Mother has always made it see like you never liked her and always have had a vendetta against her.”

“Nothing could be farther from the truth. As girls, I had always wanted to take her with me on dragonback to see the world. Then, when we were grown, I had always imagined her still being my Lady in Waiting, still my best friend and raising our children as friends. She wanted a handsome young Lord or valiant landed knight and I did have plans to find her one. I’m very grateful Father has, at the very least, allowed Dareon to foster with me and my family so I can perhaps, see a hint of that childhood dream come true, despite everything.”

“LIES! ALL YOU SPEAK IS LIES! Mother was never and would never have been friends with a whore like you. If there was any truth to what you speak, you would have married someone she chose for you rather than thinking yourself so much above her and marrying the Northern barbarian leader and becoming his broodmare.”

“Aemond, according to the natural order of things, YOUR mother technically should have sought my permission to marry. She was MY Lady in Waiting so I was responsible for her match. Before she married father, all she was, was the second daughter of a second son who’s only claim to anything was her position in MY HOUSEHOLD. I AM AND WILL ALWAYS BE, the eldest daughter and firstborn child of King Viserys. I was always destined for a match of status due to my position. Your mother was not. Your mother should never have even been considered as a potential bride for our father. His mistress? Perhaps but never his wife. He had many other, better options. My match with Cregan Stark was an appropriate match and really wasn’t that much different than the match of our Great Uncle Aemon Targaryen and Lady Jocelyn Baratheon who was the daughter of the Lord Paramount of the Stormlands and who later became the parents of Princess Rhaenys’ parents or the match of my Grandmother, your Great Aunt, Daella, and Roderick Arryn, who was the Lord Paramount of the Vale at the time. To even suggest that I wed some lesser son of a lesser noble house or even someone like one of your mother’s brothers was a huge insult to me due to my status. Thankfully, I was able to secure for myself a good match that I have been immensely happy with.”

“I cannot complain about it either. House Stark has not been so well off or as plentiful as it is now in generations. If even half of our children are as blessed with fertility as we have been, then in a couple decades from now, we will have several dozen grandchildren. My wife has truly blessed my house and my kingdom. She is truly our Summer Queen,” Cregan spoke gently as he embraced his wife. After he finished speaking, he kissed her forehead in a gesture of pure tenderness.

“Your sister does speak the truth, nephew. I remember when they were girls that your mother was your sister’s ever present shadow. The only time they were apart were when Rhaenyra was riding her dragon or when your father wished to have private meals with just her and her mother. Otherwise, they were never apart. The girls had once even sworn that they would not let their marriages divide them and that they would always remain best friends. Apparently no degree of friendship is worth anything compared to power. Your sister has done nothing wrong. It was your mother who did they betraying and caused their friendship to die. All your sister did was protect herself from becoming another victim of the Hightowers and their Faith. Believe what you wish, but this is the truth. Now, let us think on such hard things no more. Aegon, lets go explore the library!”

“Yes, Uncle though, will you tell me more stories about my mother and sister as children? I wish I had known mother back then rather than now.”

“Sure! Absolutely! Why not! It should be good for you!”

“Sarra, Rickon, Jonnel, I believe that you three should be getting to your lessons as well so, we will see you at supper,” Rhaenyra spoke gently to her three eldest children as she shooed them away.

With that, the pair left for the library and the others slowly began to disperse to their own places and tasks for the day.

With the new information, Dareon spent the day wondering what it would have been like if his mother had been a better woman and friend how much better his life would have been like growing up with his sister’s children and it made him more excited about getting to live with her.

Chapter Text

So I've been getting comments asking when I'm going to update so I wanted to fill in some details about the delay.

NO, I'm not abandoning this story.

NO, I haven't hit writer's block. I actually have the whole story outlined (though my original plan for this has shifted a bit from last July).

I am deeply sorry about the long delay and sincerely hope to have a couple new chapters up before the end of May.

I have, however, been dealing with some health issues the last couple months, part of it has made working with my hands hard which has made it difficult to type. I've also been busy with work and basically everyone in my family has early year birthdays so I've also been busy making birthday presents.

Thank you for your patience and understanding. Your kind comments and words of encouragement really mean a lot to me.

Cross your fingers for me that my hands can keep feeling better!

Chapter Text

Rhaenyra could honestly say that she did not know her sister. She’d been just a baby when Rhaenyra had gotten married and, in her dream life, she’d just never been close to her. However, she now had the chance to actually get to know the girl of 15 and without Alicent around to interfere. She was also greatly interested in finding out how her sister was enjoying her apprenticeship under the Red Priestesses.

“Helena, how is your apprenticeship going? Are you enjoying being amount the Red Priestesses?” she asked.

“Its absolutely wonderful! Mother hates it but it means I get to be free of her most of the time. I’m learning so much and I actually can feel the power of the God whom I’m learning to serve unlike whenever Mother drags me off to the Sept. The Seven are only mere idols.”

“Well, we all know the 14 Valyrian Gods actually exist, the Red God, Drowned God and the Old Gods while the Seven don’t. Perhaps sometime you would like to visit the Godswood we have here? I know I always find peace there.”

“I would love to! Thank you!”

“Cousin, how fare your five girls? I see that indeed the Gods have blessed you with more children.”

“Baela and Rhaena are in perfect health now and, if anything, are very smart for their age. They absolutely love being big sisters to our triplets, whom are also in perfect health. What was your children’s response when you bore your own triplets last year?”

“They were as shocked as Cregan and I were but they do love their baby siblings.”

“Do you have plans for anymore, Rhaenyra,” asked Rhaenys.

“Not in the immediate future, no. In another year or so, maybe. Thankfully, I have been blessed to have very easy pregnancies and births so far so I would not be opposed to having a few more children. Gods willing, I will bare several more within this next decade. If the Gods have decided that the triplets will be our last, well, we have 11 healthy dragonwolves and so I’m just very thankful that the North has no shortage of heirs.”

Chapter Text

Later that afternoon, a commotion was heard in the forward courtyard. When Viserys saw the banners, he was completely baffled. Adding to his confusion was his eldest daughter’s behavior.

“Cousin!” she exclaimed running up to the tall woman dismounting the forward most horse. “We weren’t expecting you for another few days! I trust that your journey was safe?”

“I heard that the Targaryens had arrived already and I wanted to ensure that you had enough support and protection. Grandfather would never forgive me if I let anything else happen to his dearest baby daughter’s only child. Plus, you know how anxious I’ve been to meet your newest arrivals.”

“If only our stupid cousins would finally accept that you are the rightful Lady of the East and that they will not be able to beat you in a challenge, things would be much easier and you would have had the chance to meet them sooner.” Rhaenyra embraced her cousin, kissing her on both cheeks. “I am glad that you are here now though.”

“Alley Cat already causing trouble?”

“Naturally. First she took offense that we had left the babies in their nursery when they arrived as it was nap time rather than parading them before her. Then, the Guest Hall, which she hadn’t seen, wasn’t good enough for her and she wanted my family to surrender our beds to sleep with the animals so that she could claim them. Next, the dinnerware wasn’t up to her standards and she didn’t like that the quality of everyone’s dinnerware was about the same. This morning, she called Cregan dumb after he inquired if she knew where she was and me deaf when I told her that she could pray in the Godswood after she announced that she wanted to pray in the Sept. Upon finding out that we do not have a Sept in our Kingdom, she demanded one be built upon the site of the Godswood immediately. Oh, and she kept calling us heathens and barbarians.”

“And my Uncle just allowed all of this, I take it? He’s always prefered the Hightowers over everyone else.”

“Actually, he hasn’t seemed too pleased with her at all. He even ordered her confined to her quarters and under guard inside and out so that she couldn’t destroy anything. Also, he ordered all of the guards, plus all of the servants watching her to independently wash her mouth out with soap. She was so mad about that, calling for their excections and that it was torture. To be honest, it was amusing to watch Father put her in her place.”

“Is our King finally growing a backbone, I wonder? Perhaps a physical visit from the Gods in front of so many witnesses enough to finally make him wake up to the reality of his blindness and mistakes.”

“Whatever it is, I’m glad that he isn’t expecting us to cater to her every whim. To think that she insists that I’m a good for nothing spoiled rotten brat when she’s the one who’s gotten away with throwing tantrums and demanding everything always goes exactly her way. I’m so glad I was able to escape from that toxic environment.”

“I’m glad I was able to offer you sanctuary before you met and wed your dark haired Lord. I can’t imagine how truly awful she would have made your life if you had been in her domain all the time before you were able to move here, to the safety of Winterfell.”

“Oh, I would have either been married off to some old man with a dozen or more children and several previous wives, some landless lesser noble like one of her brothers, killed in some “tragic accident”, married off to a man who could not sire children so I’d be labeled as barren or forced to become a Septa or join the Silent Sisters.”

“I don’t doubt it. Even if you had been disinherited the day she first went into labor, her family would have still viewed you as too much of a threat to even allow you a quality and suitable match and your dear father would not have stopped them.”

“Exactly! I will always be grateful I met Cregan, we hit off well and were able to find a way to marry. Becoming the Lady of the North and Winterfell is a far better fate than anything Otto, Alicent and the Maesters had planned for me, and far happier as well. Cregan is truly my best friend and my greatest happiness.”

“I know. You both still act as newlyweds after all these years by how much trouble you have keeping your hands off of one another. Honestly its no surprise that you keep having children.”

“Yes, and they really are so much fun to make. Luckily they haven’t been much trouble to grow or birth either since I’ve spent years of my life now growing heirs.”

“Have you both decided if you are done yet?”

“No, we figure its in the Gods hands. If they want to keep blessing us with children, we will keep having them until the day that I am no longer able to.”

“In other words, you might end up with twenty or more children and grandchildren older than your youngest child.”

“If that’s the will of the Gods, then yes. I had always wished to have a brother or sister to grow up with so I’m glad that my children have plenty of brothers and sisters so that they are never alone. Now, how about we head into the nursery so that you can meet your newest cousins!”

“Yes please! Lead the way!”

During the entire exchange, Viserys had hidden himself out of sight. He had never been close with any of his first wife’s kin, especially nowhere near as close as he had been with Otto, nor had he ever truly pondered what they might have wished for his beloved child. Yet, he did believe that had Rhaenyra not found for herself such an undeniably strong match that he may have surrendered her to the fate Otto desired. Though he still was uncomfortable with any thoughts of his daughter laying with any man, he was glad that she had found her marriage bed enjoyable and that she didn’t struggle bringing children into the world. What caught his attention the most was in Rhaenyra’s faith in the Gods. She was quite literally entrusting her life into their hands by refusing to do anything that might prevent a pregnancy. He knew that she was very well aware of the extreme dangers posed by the childbed yet she kept willingly facing it to allow more children to come into the world.

Another thing that surprised the king was just how weak his niece viewed him. She honestly expected that he was going to allow his wife to basically take over Winterfell and demand that the Starks give into her every desire. How had he managed to gain such a poor reputation when all he had truly wanted was to be known as a peaceful King like his grandfather had been? Now, he feared it was truly too late to completely avoid a great war after he was gone.

Chapter Text

A few hours before Lady Jeyne Aryn arrived at Winterfell, and shortly after the big group dispersed, the three male heads talked about their duties and compared them to one another.

“Lord Stark, I understand that you must carry a good deal more responsibility than most Lords, including myself. Care to share with us what all your role as Warden of the North all involves?” Corlys asked.

“Well, I’d say my absolute most primary role is that of the husband to my beloved Rhaenyra and father to our 11 dragonwolves. My family’s safety and well being comes above all else, especially with the children being so young,” the young Lord laughed, “Beyond that, there is much to do and thankfully, I have a brilliant wife who’s able to help me.”

“I know how that is,” Corlys laughed, “Rhaenys sits the Driftwood throne at least as much if not more than I do. Granted both of our children are fully grown so we are having to focus less on them now than we used to.”

“As for responsibilities, my wife and I listen to petitions by our nobles and people, doing our best to make fair judgements. We also have the maintenance and construction of roads, oversight of our economy which includes our various mines, hunting, fishing and farming, textiles, metal working, lumber and dragonglass. We endeavor to make and keep strong bonds of friendship with the Lords and Ladies of the North and the Vale and oversee the educational and medical well being of our people. In addition to this, we are responsible for carrying out any and all executions on our immediate lands, deserters from the Night’s Watch and the trials and executions of people under our under Lords feel that their crimes are too great for them to want to claim responsibility for.”

“Who is this ‘We’ you speak of?” Viserys asked.

“My Beloved. My sweet wife Rhaenyra. We share power and take turns taking petitions and handling all other matters regarding the North. Granted she does lead far more than I in regards to our relations with the Vale but that’s just because its her cousin that sits the Sky Throne. Though someday it will be our Sarra that sits on that throne.”

“Your daughter is to inherit the Vale?” asked Viserys bewildered.

“Yes, Jeyne Arryn has named our oldest daughter and second born child her heir. In fact, Jeyne is supposed to arrive here soon and when she departs, she’s taking Sarra to the Vale to foster and raise to know her responsibilities as the future Warden of the East and Lady of the Vale. Sarra is, after all, the great granddaughter of the late Lord Roderick Arryn of the Vale. Now, Lord Corlys, what kind of duties do you have as Lord of the Tides?”

“Well my Lord, you are certainly a very busy man up here in the North. My duties are nowhere near as plentiful as yours are. Like I mentioned earlier, both of my children are long since grown but I do now have five beautiful granddaughters to spoil. I also take petitions alongside my own wife from the people of Driftmark, oversee our economy which is largely based on trade and fishing, sail to far off lands, help protect the shipping lanes and sit upon the King’s Counsel.”

“It must be amazing to travel so much and see such exotic places! For me, the most exotic place I’ve ever been is King’s Landing and I’ve found it rather lackluster compared to the North. No offense, My King. Are you comfortable sharing your duties with us mere Lords?”

“No offense taken. Dragonstone is far more exotic looking and fearsome than the Red Keep and King’s Landing. Granted I can’t say that I’ve ever traveled nearly as much as Corlys or Daemon have. I will also say that I’ve had far more work the last three years than ever before as I’ve been trying to find replacements for all of the traitors, oversee the Dragon Academy’s construction, and dealing with all of the new ambassadors from Myr, Dorne, Volantis and Pentos, dealing with my wrathful wife, take petitions from across the realm, run my small council, work on my model of Old Valyria, try to manage Aemond, attempt to spend time with his siblings, attempt to regain a closeness with my brother and cousin and their family, as they are basically one and the same now, try to keep my household from completely falling apart through my wife’s dealings and hers and Aemond’s tantrums and try to better the lives of the people of King’s Landing. That’s besides attempting to reconnect with my first born child and get to know her family.”

“I suppose the old adage is true then, ‘heavy is the head that wears the crown.’” replied Corlys.

“Indeed it is, especially since I’ve come to realize just how weak and pathetic of a King I’d been from the start of my reign and have sought to rectify it.”

Chapter Text

A servant showed Daemon and Aegon to Winterfell’s library and then left them in peace.

“Uncle, my mother was truly my sister’s best friend once?”

“She was. Alicent was only a girl of six when she entered my niece's service as her lady maid. They grew up together. They attended lessons together. Alicent helped Rhaenyra dress and pick out her jewels. They rode horses together, visited Aemma together when she was heavy with child, danced together at banquets and feasts, sat together at meleys and tourneys. Honestly it was rare to find one without the other. Hells, Rhaenyra would sometimes even accompany Alicent to the Sept, despite not following the Seven and Alicent would accompany Rhaenyra to the Dragonpit. I know Rhaenyra saw Alicent as the sister she never had.”

Aegon looked like he was about to interrupt.

“Yes, I know Rhaenyra did eventually gain a sister, in your sister Helena but Rhaenyra is 15 years older and by the time Helena was born, Rhaenyra was a woman grown and wed not long after her birth. Her own children are closer in age to you and your siblings than any of you are to her. Alicent, on the other hand was only a mere three years Rhaenyra’s senior. Your mother is the second daughter of a second son. Her place as Rhaenyra’s Lady Maid was the highest status she was ever meant for and, in regular circumstances, would have meant your mother could have had better marriage prospects than she otherwise would. With Rhaenyra, she may have landed the younger son of a lower or mid tier Lord, maybe a lesser Lord or a landed knight. Otherwise, in the natural order, your mother would have been forced to settle for an unlanded knight, a merchant or tradesman if she didn’t want to become a Septa or join the Silent Sisters. Rhaenyra, on the other hand, was meant for a man of extreme wealth, great power, me, a foreign prince or other very highborn man. She is the granddaughter of two Targaryen Princesses, a Targaryen Prince and a Warden of the East as well as being the eldest child of a King and only surviving child of a Queen. Can you honestly say that your mother deserved to marry higher than your sister?”

“No Uncle. She did not. How did she manage it then?”

“Your grandsire Otto ordered your mother to ‘visit’ my brother late at night, every night starting the night Aemma died. Once it was confirmed that you were growing in your mother’s belly, Otto insisted that Viserys wed her in order to protect her reputation. Since, at the time, Viserys listened to Otto above everyone else, he did as Otto told him. Your mother became Queen and shortly thereafter, you were born. Your sister wisened up to the Game, found herself an excellent match and then fled to his lands where apparently they’ve been blissfully happy.”

“So its true my mother really is a whore not my sister and my mother was the betrayer rather than the one who was wronged.”

“Indeed. Your mother became too much of her father’s puppet and it seems like Aemond is just like that as well. Thankfully it seems as though you, Helena and Dareon are not.”

“No! I like being an acolyte for the Dragon Academy! I’ve never wanted to be King, a father or even a Lord. All of that is too much work!”

“Believe me, nephew, you have allies who will do all we can to ensure that you do become an archmaester for the Dragon Academy.”

“Thank you Uncle!”

Chapter Text

Three days after the Targaryens arrived at Winterfell, Viserys asked his firstborn to walk with him in her Godswood.

“What do you wish to speak with me about, my King?” Rhaenyra inquired.

“You are happy here are you not?” her father answered.

“Very much so. I’m far happier here than I ever remember being anywhere in my entire life. I love my husband, our children and our people and enjoy getting to be among them.”

“You know, this is not the life nor kingdom I would have wished for you. I would have had you marry Laenor and stay close to home.”

“Laenor and I would have never worked. He does not care for the company of women so if I was to ever have children, I would have had to seek elsewhere to get them. Plus, all he could ever offer me is wealth and a small island. Here, I have a wonderful, loving husband, 11 children and counting, and an entire kingdom. While we may not be the richest of houses, our wealth is also increasing. I’m extremely happy.”

“You know, that is what I have wanted most for you. A loving husband, children, your happiness. The last couple years have been a huge awakening for me as I’ve really come to see the monster Alicent has become. If you hadn’t found Cregan, I fear what she would have done to you, and your children. I know I have wanted for so long to see Alicent as little more than your childhood companion, rather than the power hungry viper she’s become. Thankfully, between you, Cregan, Daemon, Rhaenys and the Gods, I was able to finally awaken to her true nature and have managed to start three of our children on a better path. Aemond, I don’t know if I can get him on a better path or what to do with him. He scares me as he’s so overly loyal to his mother.”

“Well, I do know Helena really loves her apprenticeship as a Red Priestess as it gets her out from under her mother’s control and my children Brandon, Benjen, Raya, and Lyanna have been really enjoying spending time with Dareon. They find him fascinating and he seems very eager to learn the ways of the North. Uncle Daemon has told me that Aegon has been nearly devouring all of the books we have in our library, particularly the history books and journals of long gone Starks. Apparently, he’s even been making notes about the differences in religious practices, magic, traditions and the bond with the direwolves compared to Valyrian traditions, religion, magic and the dragon bond. He’s also been inquiring from Uncle Daemon about stories of mine and Alicent’s shared childhood, my mother, Grandfather Baelon, your aunts and uncles, particularly Great Uncle Aemon and Great Aunt Joycelyn, Great Grandfather Jaeherys and Great Grandmother Allyssane.”

“I did not know that. Thank you for sharing this information about your half siblings. I’m glad Dareon seems eager to learn the ways of the North rather than being like his mother since the plan still is for him to foster with you and Cregan before he joins the Night’s Watch.”

“How is his mother, by the way? I haven’t seen her since the morning after you arrived.”

“I still have her confined to her quarters. I’ve tried to talk to her about her behavior here but she keeps insisting that she’s blameless and about how wrong it is that the North doesn’t worship her Gods, despite how the North is primarily composed of First Men and Wildings who have always worshiped the Old Gods. Hells, like your husband said, his ancestors fought against the Andal invasion and won. There is absolutely no reason why any of you here in the North should be forced to sacrifice your Godswoods for Septs. Especially since we now know the Seven are false Gods!”

“Yet she still insists that I’m the entitled one. I’m sorry that your wife is so difficult. I really wish I knew what made her change from my dear sweet, mousy friend to the overly entitled viper she’s become.”

“I do as well. All I can think of is her father’s influence over her, her innate jealousy of you and power.”

“She’s jealous of me?!”

“Apparently, while you were visiting the Red Keep, one day she happened upon you and Cregan in a courtyard just being happy and in love. Laena stumbled upon her and Alicent confessed that she really is jealous since you have a good looking young husband and well behaved children. Alicent does not believe you deserve the life you have.”

“If she hadn’t played whore and would have come to me instead then maybe she could have that. I would have gladly helped her but instead she listened to her father, betrayed me and has ever since wanted to take everything from me!”

“I know. Aemond and Alicent keep hounding me about how Winterfell is Aemond’s birthright when, in truth, Rickon is the future Lord of Winterfell as Cregan’s firstborn son. I affirmed your son’s birthright when you were last in the capital and I stand by it. Aemond has no claim here.”

“You are building him a Keep of his own though, right? In the Stepstones?”

“Yes, the Keep on Bloodstone island is nearly completed and it won’t be long after we return home when Aemond will be sent there to start his tenure as Lord of the Stepstones. I do fear though that Aemond may one day make Meagor look sweet and gentle.”

“I always thought Otto said that Uncle Daemon was Meagor come again?” she asked, trying to lighten the mood.

“He did always claim that but if Daemon is Meagor then Aemond is a literal demon. Honestly though, I’d say Daemon is more like Visenya- loyal to House Targaryen, a strong fighter, extremely proud, very devout to our Valyrian heritage.”

“He also wields her blade. I agree with you on your assessment though and I do believe he would enjoy the comparison. Perhaps some time you should tell him.”

“You know what? I will. My brother deserves that.”

Chapter Text

Later that day, while Rhaenyra was in her chambers, Cregan came in and inquired about her talk with her father.

“How was your chat with the King?” he asked as he walked in.

“Honestly, it was pleasant. We spoke about what he had wished for me and how he’s glad to know that I found it for myself despite how I’m much farther from him than he would have desired. He’s glad that we are happy together. We also spoke about how our children are accepting Dareon, how Aegon is devouring our library and how my father and I don’t understand what made Alicent change so much. He did admit that he thinks Uncle Daemon is more like Visenya than Maegor and that he thinks Aemond is like a demon. It was nice.”

Cregan came up behind his wife to wrap his arms around her. “I’m glad that he understands that we are happy. You are the single greatest thing that has ever happened to me and I thank the Gods' for sending you to me daily.”

Turning in her husband’s arms, Rhaenyra replied, “And you think that you aren’t mine? Remember, I had those visions or dreams where other choices had been made. I was all alone and miserable while in the life we’ve made together, I’m blissfully happy with a large, wonderful family of my own. I can never thank you enough for being my light and salvation. My one true escape from the viper pit of King’s Landing. You own my heart and are the center of my world. I love you.”

Cregan kissed her softly and said, “I love you as well my dearest heart and Summer Queen. Always.”

Chapter Text

The Lady of Winterfell stood out in her main courtyard with Majesty Alicent and the five Princesses as they watched all but her youngest offspring train. It had been a week since the arrival of the royals and two days since the King had finally decided that his wife was behaving well enough to not be confined to her chambers

“It isn’t right for your girls to know how to fight or hunt Rhaenyra,” said Alicent. “No man wants a strong woman.”

“I beg to differ, Majesty Alicent. Cregan knew that I could hunt when we wed and its common practice here in the North for women and girls to know how to fight so that they might defend their keeps if necessary.”

“Well, if you had married properly to someone like one of my brothers or a Lannister, they would have prohibited it and made you into a proper God fearing woman rather than the savage heathen you’ve become.”

“I am a God fearing woman. My whole family is very devout to the Old Gods and I did marry properly to a man of acceptable rank. We are not savages nor heathens. I am a daughter of Old Valyria with the blood of dragons and magic in my veins. My husband is of the first men and also carries magic in his veins. To have wed an Andal would have been to reduce the magic and possibly rendered my children dragonless.”

“The realm would have been better for it if they had been. Dragons are an abomination before the Gods and were created through dark sorcery in Valyria as we all know.”

“Oh, and how would a mere Andal like yourself know this? Valyria was a thriving empire while your ancestors still lived in small nomadic bands traveling through their homeland, long before they came to Westeros, massacring a great many Wildlings and First Men in their greed. Our Gods' created the dragons, let us bond with them, gave us fire and gave us the skies. Yours were invented by mere men to subjugate the masses.”

“You lie! You always lie!” Alicent shrieked, alerting the guards who had been ordered by the King that if his wife chose to misbehave again, to lock her in her chambers once more.