Alicent almost began to weep when she realized she was pregnant again.
She was doing her duty, but did it have to be so often?
This would be her fourth child in six years.
Pregnancies were always fraught with peril and pain.
Her back would ache, the contents of her stomach would rest uneasy for months, and then she would have to face the birthing bed.
She could only pray that delivering this child would as easy as Aemond had been.
The children she had already borne were doing well.
Aegon had finally calmed down and was doing much better.
At… everything.
His tantrums were a thing of the past.
He played energetically, but no longer without control.
The Maester said he was advanced for his age in his letters.
She knew she had Elaena to thank for it.
With Aegon turning into a proper prince, she could broach the subject of the succession.
Viserys had even complimented Aegon and spent time watching him play, a rare occurrence for Viserys.
When her father, Otto, was in King’s Landing he had instructed to leave the matter of convincing Viserys to him.
But he was back in Oldtown, dismissed for his persistence.
If it wasn’t her, who could speak up for Aegon’s rights?
That evening when Viserys was done with his duties he joined her for dinner.
There were more age lines on his face, and while he was still rotund, he had lost some of his weight.
He would never be as handsome to look at as his brother, but she supposed things could be worse.
It just… just wasn’t what she dreamed of when she was a girl.
“My love, I have good news.
I am bearing another child.”
Viserys smiled at her.
“That is wonderful.
Do you think it will be a boy or a girl?”
“I don’t know, but whichever would please you best, I will pray for.”
“Ah, any child is a blessing.
I just hope they are healthy, and you as well for the birth.”
It needn’t be said why he added the last.
Aemma would always loom large over their marriage, his first love who had so cruelly lost her life while bringing Elaena into the world.
Alicent took a deep breath and then plunged ahead.
“I have pleased you then?”
“Yes, of course.”
“It is ever my aim to do so.
If I have, I would l like to bring up ensuring Aegon’s birthright.”
“His birthright?”
“He is your eldest son.”
Viserys set down his cup and gave her a hard look.
“Don’t.”
She wished she didn’t have to.
She wished her children’s future was not in jeopardy.
“I must, Viserys, you are flying in the face of all tradition and precedent.
He is your son; he is destined to rule the Seven Kingdoms.
Rhaenyra is unfit, she is undisciplined, and selfish.
Why insist on keeping her as heir?”
Viserys slammed his fist down on the table.
“The matter of succession is closed.
Even if she was unfit, which she is not, that would still not make Aegon King.
Elaena is older than Aegon.”
Alicent paused.
Elaena was everything Rhaenyra was not.
She was considerate, kind, dutiful, and intelligent.
“I will not speak ill of Elaena.
She would be better than Rhaenyra, however that too does not matter.
The lords will not follow a woman.
We will have rebellion after rebellion and your precious peace will not outlive you for long.”
Viserys stood up, anger etched upon his features.
“I’ve lost my appetite.
The lords have all sworn their obeisance to Rhaenyra.
They will hold to their oaths, and your attempts to sow fear will not sway me.”
With those words he stalked out of the room and Alicent bowed her head with grief.
She had tried, but he would not see.
What was she to do?
What more could she do?
She never denied him his marital rights, she bore his children, she guarded his secrets, and fulfilled her duties as Queen.
Would nothing ever be good enough?
She had just disobeyed her father’s advice, but who else could she turn to?
Ser Criston was a confidant, but he was a warrior, not someone who knew Viserys as she did or the intrigues of court.
Alicent would write to her father and ask for guidance.
Otto Hightower had served as Hand for many years.
Yet he had also failed to convince Viserys.
Her outlook was bleak, but it was the only thing she could think of.
…
Viserys was eager to see his daughter fly on her dragon.
Elaena had patiently waited for over a year.
Alicent had tried to argue again that she was too young and too fragile to handle a dragon, but he had overruled her.
He had promised Elaena and the Dragonkeepers said the bond between the two was ironclad.
Alicent’s pregnancy was far along now and it would only be a couple more moons before she birthed again.
Even more exciting, he was soon to be a grandsire.
Rhaenyra was with child as well.
It was a momentous time for House Targaryen.
Their coffers were now even more robust thanks to Elaena and Lyman.
There had been protests and angry denouncements from a variety of lords.
When Viserys made clear he would be firm on this, their tune changed.
Mellos could barely keep up with the ravens that descend on King’s Landing.
So many lords had suddenly discovered theft, embezzlement, and other financial chicanery.
Those jackals fell over themselves to make restitution, men were beheaded, hung, maimed, or sent to the Wall by the scores before it was all said and done.
Without any wars the Seven Kingdoms finances had always been more than sufficient, but with this sudden increase they had the delightful problem of determining what to do with it.
Elaena suggested giving half of it back to the lords who pass the ‘audit’ and had not been cheating the crowd.
The rest could be used to improve infrastructure in King’s Landing and the roads of the Seven Kingdoms.
Others on the small council suggested expanding the royal fleet so they were not as dependent on House Velaryon.
His Hand thought it should go to reinforcing the Dornish Marches.
Raiding had begun on and off again in the Stormlands.
Viserys thought that would be too antagonistic.
It wasn’t as if Dorne could invade the Seven Kingdoms successfully.
They had proven thorns in the side of Aegon the Conqueror, but only by trickery, stealth, and subterfuge.
Lord Wylde wanted to expand the confessors and bring the King’s Justice far and wide.
Elaena’s suggestion was likely best, but Viserys was sensitive to the need to balance scales and not deny his advisors proposals outright.
Much of his family was with him as they watched Elaena saddle Viktoriya.
Despite her pregnancy, Rhaenyra was the one next to Elaena, ensuring the chains were secure.
Alicent had brought Aegon and little Helaena.
His wife looked terrified and held both of her children’s hands tightly.
“Don’t worry.
She can fly,” little Helaena told her in an ethereal sounding voice.
Beyond his children and wife, Laenor and his sister Laena were there to observe as well.
Mighty Vhagar, the biggest dragon alive, was there in King’s Landing for the first time in years.
She had bonded with Laena several years ago.
Vhagar was one of the dragons that helped subdue Westeros during Aegon’s Conquest.
She dwarfed the other dragons in the Dragonpit, and seeing her massive form was always awe inspiring.
Rhaenyra backed away and Elaena’s voice rose up, firm and high as she commanded her dragon to fly.
The silver scaled dragon took two steps and then launched itself in the air.
She flapped her wings and Elaena gave a cry of joy as the dragon began circling and rising higher.
“Ah, you see, my wife?
She is perfectly safe and has full command over her dragon.
Elaena was born to ride dragons; it is in her blood.”
Alicent gave a shaky nod and gave a prayer of thanksgiving to the Seven.
Elaena flew for several minutes and then descended.
The landing was smooth and did not jar Elaena who undid the chains and hopped down.
She spoke again and Viktoriya flew back int the sky.
That was odd, and so Viserys approached and after congratulating his daughter, asked her why she hadn’t bidden the dragon return to its lair in the pit.
“She wished to fly longer; I could sense it.
She will return in the morning.”
Viserys had bonded with Balerion, and knew that one could sense desires and wants from the dragon.
His time with the Black Dread was short due to his advanced age, and he had died less than a year after being claimed.
This level of specificity was rare though, and he hoped his daughter understood that dragons were not like regular beasts.
Viktoriya could get into much mischief.
Once bonded a dragon would always return, but it wasn’t unheard of for one to disappear for weeks on end.
That was why most dragons were housed in the Dragonpit when not in use.
“I hope that is true; she is still quite young.
But, how was it?
Were there any difficulties?”
“No, father.
It was delightful, I intend to ride Viktoriya as frequently as I can.
Being in the air is such a liberating experience.
Thank you for allowing me to fly her.”
The King was pleased he had made his daughter happy.
The way she viewed things was a stark difference between her and Rhaenyra.
If Rhaenyra had been held back from flying, she would no doubt have said something to the effect of ‘It felt good to finally be able to fly.’ Perhaps, he was being uncharitable, but Rhaenyra had a saucy tongue that was often inappropriate.
“Of course, you are a Targaryen, this is your birthright.”
“May I also visit places like Dragonstone and Driftmark if I am not needed for other activities?”
“You are a bit young to go off on your own, but you may join your sister when she flies there.
Or if another rider wishes to escort you.” His Velaryon kin, Laenor, Rhaenys, and Laena could be trusted to care for his daughter as well.
“I understand, thank you, father,” she replied with a smile on her face.
Viserys turned back to the tasks for the day as the others approached Elaena and congratulated her on her first successful flight as a dragonrider.
…
Who knew?
So …
just keep tossing them 😉
…