Chapter Text
Since her father declared that she would be marrying Laenor, Rhaenyra found herself in a state of numbness. She knew that she would have to someday move on from Daemon, her Uncle and face the realities of the world. Burden and take on the responsibilities of the Iron Throne and finally stop galavanting around the Kingdom. Rhaenyra couldn’t help but mourn her life up to this point, if she had done things differently maybe she could have married Daemon, maybe she could have been happy right now. Instead of being isolated in the Red Keep with only Syrax to keep her company. Maybe in another life she could find it in herself to truly care for her little siblings. As much as she tried to get close to Aegon, she couldn’t. This child represented her lost friendship with Alicent and even though she disliked this child, she felt bad for him.
The lords and ladies of court would whisper that the Prince Aegon was born far too early for such a healthy babe. He was born just 8 moons after his parent’s marriage, wailing and screaming, far too alive for a supposed ‘7 moon’ babe. But her father merely proclaimed that he was blessed to be healthy, nobody believed him. Try as hard as Otto tried, he could not get a single high noble to send their daughters to be in service of Alicent. All of them leaving once the child was born, they were ashamed to be in service of a mother who birthed a bastard. So instead, Alicent’s cousins came from Oldtown instead, while Rhaenyra herself had a whole herd of noble ladies at her feet. All trying to please her for she would be the future of the great House of the Dragon.
But as the head, she would also need heirs. The childbed is our battlefield. Aemma’s words rang into her ears. Truth be told, Rhaenyra was utterly terrified of the birthing bed. Her whole life was composed of her uncle spoiling her, Alicent and Laena and her mother losing one babe after another. Destroying her from the inside out while Rhaenyra stood there and watched. Watched as her Father claimed to love her mother but forced her to endure unimaginable pain of losing a child and making her do it again. Until the inevitable happened. Her mother, like many other women in their family, lost her life in the childbed.
But even if she didn’t have the same troubles as her mother, the word of Laenor being a sword swallower spread. If he could not give her true children, then she would be doomed. She couldn’t take a lover either, what if she had children that didn’t look like her? Her children would be bastards and ridiculed their entire lives. Rhaenyra would rather never have children then subject them to that sort of life. She could only pray to Meleys that she would bless her with true born children whenever she lays with Laenor. It may be uncomfortable for them but it was their duties to their fathers and the realm.
The days passed while Rhaenyra was in a trance, not really there as the maids bustled to get the grand wedding ready. Smiling prettily and sweet as the seamstresses came to get her dress ready and nodding her head to her future good parents. She could do this, she will do her duty as the Crown Princess of Dragonstone and Heir to the Iron Throne. She will gain allies and ensure her position is strong when her father dies.
Laenor and Rhaenyra married after the murder of Joffrey, Laenor’s lover at the hands of Criston Cole. No matter how much the Queen begged and pleaded she could not save Ser Criston from being beheaded by Laenor. Alicent had to seethe in silence as Criston’s head rolled from his body soon after the murder of Joffrey. As well as enduring the cruel looks and whispers she got from those in court.
The Queen tried to defend a murderer!
Tried to pardon Ser Criston who murdered a Knight of the Velaryon household!
How could she do that? It’s disgraceful forgiving a murder!
Alicent stood in silence, silently a little smug at Rhaenyra. Rhaenyra who had been spoiled and pampered her entire life, never knowing a single day of work, unlike herself who had to wait on her just a couple of years ago. Rhaenyra would never understand what Alicent had to give up for her position, never understand the idea of duty, for Viserys was weak and could never say no to the daughter of Queen Aemma. It wasn’t fair. Viserys spent so long wanting a son and when he did he ignored him. Her son. Her son who was supposed to be heir, not Rhaenyra. Little spoiled Rhaenyra who laughs in the face of duty.
Rhaenyra didn’t understand that she didn’t want this life. Alicent doesn’t want to be with a crippling man who moaned his dead wife’s name whenever they laid together. All Alicent wanted was to be with Rhaenyra and be the wife of a Lord who loved her. But Rhaenyra threw a fit when she found out Alicent was only doing her duty. Only doing as her father told her to. And when Rhaenyra lied to her about not losing her maidenhead, well that was the last straw. Alicent stopped being stomped on, ignored the whispers that once made her blush in embarrassment and showed up to Rhaenyra’s wedding in her best gown.
She will light the way.
It was well known that Oldtown’s beacon would light green when they called for war. Everyone knew that, even Queen Alicent who rose above her meek station to the power of Queen. Even though she was Queen, maids and ladies alike bowed to her just enough, avoiding calling her ‘Your Grace’. Laenor, himself, hardly addressed her as her title. In fact he rarely interacted with the whore, especially after his wedding. Him and Rhaenyra didn’t consummate the marriage that night, himself being too heartbroken at the loss of his lover and Rhaenyra lost in her head. Laenor had observed his new wife, Rhaenyra had always been a beauty. Even if his tastes were for men, he could still appreciate the great beauty his wife held. Both in looks and personality. If Laenor could not fall in love with her on looks, he could with personality.
Rhaenyra had a great heart, always had and always will, he thought to himself as he watched Rhaenyra interact with the smallfolk. Right after their wedding, Rhaenyra threw herself into projects, most likely to distract herself, and letting Laenor grieve. Rhaenyra was kind and considerate like that. Soon the praises and songs of ‘Rhaenyra the Rarity’ came along. He could guess why they called her that.
Rhaenyra did more than even the Good Queen Alysanne did. Opening food banks with weekly hauls of leftovers from the Keep and openly giving them away. Clean water wells all throughout the city, without paying a toll of course, clean water was a right, never a privilege. Orphanages in Queen Aemma’s name were opened that both he and Rhaenyra visited every week. The children running up to them every time, begging for one more story and clinging onto them when they had to leave. Health centers scattered in the towns with experienced and trusted maesters to tend to their health.
It was a few months after their wedding, after some rumors that he overheard that Laenor decided it was time to try for a child. Will the Princess ever come with child? Is the Princess like Queen Aemma? Barren? King Viserys would have to change the succession if the Princess never has a child. The comments made Laenor snap out of his grief of Joffrey and at long last try for a child. It was painful and awkward to say the least. But after a few moons of trying consistently, it was confirmed that the Princess was with child.
A child from the sea and sky.