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The Crimson Dragon - Chapter 23: Return
🕑 Added 2025-01-09 14:00:04 +0000 UTCThe Next Day
"He, he is healthy, even with all of his... physical traits?" Rhaenys asked Lilyanna.
"He seems as healthy as the average newborn." Lilyanna responded as she looked over the child in her arms, not seeing any health issues beyond the obvious.
The palace of Prince Reggio had been quiet, almost somber as word had reached its occupants of the babe that Laena Velaryon gave birth to. It was as if those outside of the Targaryens were mourning, none believing that the child would live long, whispering to themselves that it would have been a mercy for the Gods to quickly take back the mistake that they created.
They all knew better than to say such things where any of the dragonlords could hear them. Although, said dragonlords were too busy watching after the child to pay much attention to their conversations.
"I think it's clear that scales, wings, and a tail are not average in newborns." Daemon sarcastically added.
Lilyanna shrugged as she handed the child back to Laena, "They're not. But I wasn't lying, besides his dragon-like features, there is nothing wrong with him. Only time will tell if any complications arise from them."
"Has this happened before?" Helaena asked looking over Laena's shoulder at the child.
Lilyanna nodded her head, "There were a few cases of children being born with dragon-like features in texts written when the Freehold stood strong, but the most the most recent was that of Maegor."
"Maegor the Cruel?" Laena asked, confused as she thought of her old lessons as a child, and was sure that the third Targaryen King had no children.
"Yes, Maegor, he had three children with three of his six wives. The first child he had with his second wife, Alys Harroway, was born eyeless and their body and limbs twisted, the second child he had with his fifth wife, Jeyne Westerling, was born without legs and arms, but with both male and female genitals, and his third and final child who he had with his fourth wife, Elinor Costayne, was born eyeless and with wings." Lilyanna explained.
Helaena looked at her sister, "Wait, so you having two genitals is a dragon trait?"
"Dragons have no fixed gender; they are as changeable as flame. Calling dragons, he or she is just something we humans do to bond with and give ourselves some sense of understanding them, along with determining which dragons lay eggs the easiest. Why is that part the one you latched onto?" Lilyanna asked.
"I just didn't know that was why you are the way you are. I never heard of any child being born that was like you." To Helaena, this seemed fascinating that there was a possibility of people in their family being born looking like dragons.
And she also found it amusing in a tragic way that the very thing that made Lilyanna ostracized by the world, is what made her of a dragon than everyone else in their family.
Is this why dragons are so fond of Lily? Because they think she is one of them? Helaena thought.
"That's because in the case of Maegor's children and in all the cases I have read about, every child that is born with these features is either stillborn or dies immediately after birth. Most are usually missing body parts and organs, and their disfigurements make it difficult for them to pass through the birth canal without suffocating or being crushed to death."
"Until you and my son." Daemon stated, "Why is that?"
Lilyanna pursed her lips, because she herself did not know why she and now his son were the only ones in their races' recorded history to be born with these conditions and survive their births.
It's not as if I can tell Daemon of all people that I'm from another world and have been reincarnated by the Fourteen Valyrian Gods who gave me this body to carry out their will. But why is this child alive? It can't just be because of me delivering them, if they have had these dragon features all this time, then they should have been stillborn regardless of what I did. Or is this another instance of the changes I've been making having ripple effects? Lilyanna thought.
Helaena's face then scrunched, "Does this mean our ancestors truly did mate with dragons as the old tales said they did and that is why we can bond with dragons?"
Laena laughed at the thought, "I don't think you have to worry about that being true."
"We should hope not." Rhaenys muttered, thinking about the many tapestries in the walls of the Red Keep and Dragonstone that depicted humans and dragons sleeping together.
"It could be from Valyrians of old fucking dragons, but the best bet would be a combination of blood magic and incest." Lilyanna argued.
Blood magic. Daemon thought, an amused huff leaving his lips, if this was a day ago, he would have laughed at the idea. "You think magic is what gives us our bond with dragons?"
Lilyanna looked Daemon in the eye, "What other cause could it be?"
"I would figure a girl obsessed with proving herself a maester and with such a... faithful mother, would write off the idea as children's tales and heresy."
Lilyanna rolled her eyes at Daemon's hidden insult, "How else would you explain people in our family being able to bond with dragons in the first place? To give them orders? To know each other's feelings? Only some type of magic could make sense of any of this. Besides, my sister can see the fucking future, it would be foolish of me not to consider the supernatural and magical to be real."
That and the fact that I'm being haunted by three very weird ghosts helps.
"Incest is a necessity to our house's survival, it's what keeps our blood pure and-"
"And is what keeps dragons within our house." Lilyanna finished, "I also suspect in conjunction with our ancestors using blood magic to create the dragon bond, that the practiced incest was to make sure that the magic in our blood carried over to future generations. Hmm, it could a trade-off of sorts; in which we marry and have children with relatives, and our connection with dragons remains strong, but we risk the possibility of mental disabilities, diseases, genetic disorders, weaken immune systems, and high infant and child mortality. It really is fascinating how..."
Laena leaned her head towards Helaena, watching Lilyanna continue to speak. "Does she do this a lot?"
Helaena smiled, "My sister is quite bookish; once she starts on a topic that she finds interesting, it can be hard to get her to stop. If we let her go on, she will until she physically cannot."
"How sweet." Daemon said sarcastically, watching as Lilyanna continued to speak her theories aloud, unaware that everyone else had long since stopped listening.
Helaena looked down again at the newborn in Laena's arms, "Does he have a name yet?"
This drew Lilyanna's attention as she stopped talking, she too was curious about what the newborn's name would be, knowing that they could not refer to him as 'the newborn' or 'the babe' forever.
Daemon walked over to his wife, reaching down, and moving his finger against his son's cheek, feeling the warmth on the patch of bronze scales that were there. "How about Aegon?"
Helaena and Lilyanna gave each other a look, they could already hear the rant that Alicent would go on the moment this news reached Westeros.
"Daemon, there is already a living breathing Aegon in our family, it would get confusing." Laena stated.
Daemon scoffed, "We would not be naming him after the Hightower yelp, but after Aegon the Conqueror."
"No." Laena said plainly, knowing that while her husband may admire the Conqueror and wanted to give their son his name, she also knew that he was suggesting the name as a slight towards the Queen and her eldest son, as if to denote that their son was better and that Alicent's son was not worthy of his name. "How about Corwyn? After my father's father."
Daemon stared at his wife blankly, "Our son should have a name with a legacy behind it, one that shows strength and might. What did your grandfather do, what was he known for besides siring Corlys and dying prematurely?"
Daemon was unfazed by the glares coming from both his wife and his cousin, standing by what he said. This was his firstborn and possibly only son, and as his son, Daemon wanted his son to have the best that he could offer him.
Laena clenched her jaw, "Fine. How about Aethan then? After the lowly Corwyn's grandfather?"
"The second lord admiral and Master of Ships, a pirate slayer, and the father of Queen Alyssa Velaryon. That would be acceptable."
"I am so happy that you find it so." Laena drawled.
Daemon ignored this as he smiled, "Aethan Targaryen, our firstborn son. A strong and mighty dragon, just like his mother."
Laena rolled her eyes but could not keep the smile off her lips. In their decade long marriage, she often found it hard to stay mad at Daemon for long, particularly when he smiled so boyishly and spoke so charmingly to her.
"What the hell just happened?" Lilyanna asked her sister in a low tone, confused about how Laena and Daemon could go from arguing to staring at each other lovingly.
"Weird married people things." Helaena answered back, just as confused as Lilyanna
This caused Rhaenys, who had been listening to the two girls' conversation, to snort, finding herself amused and tepid about the whole affair.
~X~
The next day, Daemon said nothing as he stood in the doorway of his bedchamber and watched Laena introducing Baela and Rhaena to their new brother. Laena was showing the girls how to properly hold Aethan without hurting him as they were each looking at Aethan's features, gently poking and prodding him.
"You must be careful with him and not hold him too roughly. Your brother is more sensitive than most." Laena told her girls.
"Because of his wings?" Rhaena asked, looking at the small bronze wings on Aethan's back.
Holes had to be cut in the newborn's clothes for him to wear them properly, keeping his wings and tail from being trapped against his body.
"He's like a dragon; will he even need a dragon egg? He can just fly himself!" Baela exclaimed, smiling as she poked one of Aethan's wings.
"Your brother will be getting a cradle egg." Laena stated with a smile, "And I doubt Aethan can fly with his wings; you'll have to ask your cousin to be sure."
What Laena did not tell her daughters is that she had already asked Lilyanna whether Aethan's wings were functional. Lilyanna told Laena that Aethan's wings appeared too small and fragile to be capable of flight, and that she doubted this would change as Aethan grew older.
But she also said that because this was something that she had never seen before, she could not fully write off the possibility, no matter how unlikely.
As Laena gently handed Aethan to Rhaena, she looked up, meeting Daemon's eye. She smiled when she saw him, "Husband."
"Wife." Daemon replied.
Laena stood, "We need to talk."
"What did father do this time?" Baela asked aloud, assuming like the few other times that she had witnessed her mother asking to speak to her father alone, that it was to chastise him for something he did.
Rhaena laughed when Daemon pursed his lips in response to Baela's question. Daemon turned to Laena, giving her a lazy smile, "Well, what I have done this time?"
Laena huffed, "There is nothing for me to berate you for, I just want to speak to you about something important."
Daemon then looked at their daughters "That means I definitely did something."
Laena walked out if the bedchamber and onto the room's balcony, ignoring Baela and Rhaena's giggling.
Daemon closed the balcony doors behind him as he followed his wife. "What did you wish to speak-"
"I want us to move back to Westeros." Laena said strongly.
Daemon sighed, "Laena, I thought we decided-"
"No, you decided." Laena argued, grabbing onto the railing tightly as she looked over at the horizon. "I... I can't keep doing this, being some wanderer who performs at the behest of princes and lords for shelter. This cannot be the life we give our children any longer."
"We can go where we want, do what we want, we are free, Laena! Is that not what you wanted when we first wed, freedom? I have given that to you and more, we have made a life for our children where they want for nothing, where they are not forced to abide by the rules of Westeros. What has changed that you suddenly want differently?"
"What changed was me almost dying, Daemon!"
A tense silence overcame the couple as Daemon stared at Laena while Laena pointedly refused to meet his eye.
Her body shook as she struggled to find the words, "I... was supposed to die, Aethan and I w-were supposed to... I wou-would have left t-this world having never seen my parents, brother, and Rhaenyra again; I would have never seen Driftmark with my own eyes again, I would have returned there in a casket. I would have left you, Baela, and Rhaena behind."
Daemon looked away from his wife, not knowing what to say or do as he watched Laena struggling not to cry. He was not a man who showed emotion so easily nor was he a man who found it easy to comfort others through their emotions.
"You saved me from a marriage that I didn't want to a man who was unsuitable for me, you gave me the freedom I always wanted but couldn't get as the Sea Snake's daughter." Laena said, giving her husband a tired smile, "But I can't do this anymore, I want to go home, I want to be with my, with our family again. And I know you do too."
Daemon scoffed, "What makes you think I want to go back? I am happy with our life."
Laena shook her head, "If you are truly happy, then I will not fault you for that or force you to leave this life behind, but I am done. I am going back to Westeros with my mother, and I am taking the girls and Aethan with me."
"Laena-"
"Daemon please, you are not changing my mind on this."
"You say that you do not want to force me into anything and yet you wish to abscond with our children because you are afraid? How am I supposed to take this any other way? How am I not supposed to your selfishness in-"
"Selfishness?" Laena asked incredulously, staring at her husband crossed and taken aback. "I am not being selfish! Have you not thought about how constantly moving around, having no place to ground us affects our children?! What if something happens to us and they are left alone, in a foreign land, with no allies or family around to rely on?"
Daemon frowned, "That won't happen. And even if it does, should you not have faith that we raised our daughters to be capable of fending for themselves? And what about Aethan? Do you honestly think that he will be able to survive in Westeros? He will be seen and treated like a monster there, no one will care that he is a Targaryen, that he is the son of prince and nephew to a King, his appearance will ensure that no one will want anything to do with him."
"That is why he needs his family." Laena spat, "Do you think Aethan will not be treated the same here in Essos? That the people here will not view him the same? At least in Westeros he will have House Velaryon and Targaryen at his back. And what about Aethan's health?"
"His health?" Daemon asked.
"Our son has wings, scales, and a fucking tail. Even if he seems healthy now, that could change in the future and then what? The healers and midwives here have no idea what to do with Aethan, and I doubt this will be different with any maester, but Lilyanna has shown to have some idea, and last I checked she does not live in Pentos."
Daemon's expression darkened and Laena did not know if this was caused by him being unable to deny that what she was saying was true or because she mentioned Lilyanna.
Despite what they have done for them, Daemon has yet to warm to his nieces, being especially rude and demeaning to Lilyanna.
Daemon moved closer to Laena, standing next to her as he looked over the balcony, "We decided to leave to get away from the games and politicking that Westeros brings. If we return, then we will be sucked back into it all."
Laena reached down and grabbed one of Daemon's hands, "And despite your words, you cannot tell me that you don't miss it. Daemon Targaryen strives in chaos, in the unexpected, a life of a fat country lord is not for you. Westeros has its problems, and yes, we will be forced back into the game of thrones, but I would prefer that to living the rest of my life in a foreign land, away from the people I love, and surrounded by people who seek to only use me and my dragon. And I know that deep down you feel the same as I."
Daemon huffed, clenching his jaw as he looked at his wife, "And what of my kingly brother? Going back will mean having to rely on Viserys once more, admitting that I cannot..."
"Cannot what?" Laena asked.
That I am a man who cannot care for my own wife and children. Daemon thought, "It does not matter. Will you make me suffer such humiliation?"
"Your brother does not seek to shame you, Daemon." Laena said, her expression softening, "I am sure that he would love to see you and have you in his life once more.
"Yes, I'm sure that Viserys will love to have his roguish brother back to cause him more headaches and problems." Daemon drawled, "Did you forget that the last time we were in Westeros, I killed your betrothed, married you without his leave, and ran away?"
Laena raised an eyebrow, "You say that as if that was the worst thing you've ever done that Viserys has forgiven you for."
This caused Daemon to smirk, and said smirk widened when Laena playfully rolled her eyes at him, briefly diffusing the strained air between them.
After a few moments, Daemon sighed, "I suppose I must write to my brother to inform him of our travels."
Laena's eyes grew wide, "Truly?"
Daemon said nothing as Laena moved to hug him from the side, continuing to stare out into the distance as he relaxed in her arms.
"Thank you, Daemon." Laena said softly.
Daemon kissed the side of Laena's head and wrapped one of his arms around her waist.
The moment was ruined when Daemon saw something both shocking and irritating in the distance. "What the hell is that girl doing with Caraxes?"
Laena lifted her head from Daemon's chest, looking at him confused before following his gaze.
Yards away, Lilyanna was scratching Caraxes' head as the dragon pressed himself against her body.
Caraxes looked calmer than he usually did, something that before now could only be seen when he was with Daemon. And while neither could see her expression, Daemon and Laena were sure that she was enjoying Caraxes' affection.
Laena giggled, finding amusement in the situation. "It seems Laenor was not lying in his letters."
"What are you talking about?" Daemon asked.
Laena explained to her husband the different interactions that Laenor told her he has witnessed between Lilyanna and every dragon she has come across.
Daemon growled, "You've got to be kidding me."
Laena looked him before smiling knowingly, "Daemon, don't tell me you are jealous of a girl barely older than our daughters?"
When Daemon glared at her, Laena could not stop the laughter that escaped her in response.
First a dragon dreamer, and now this? Why would such gifts be given to two Hightower half breeds? Daemon thought, a deep vexation settling within him.
Daemon ignored his wife as she spoke, continuing to watch as Vhagar joined Caraxes and Lilyanna.
Things were changing, things had already changed, but he was not there to see them. He may have told Laena that they were going back to Westeros, but he did not know how to feel about returning after being away for over a decade.
He was not confident like Laena was that everything would be fine, but he would be dammed if he allowed anyone to see this.
Laena was not wrong when she said I strived in chaos. Perhaps, it has been far too long since I have reminded people of who I am.
~X~
Lilyanna walked out of the palace; her eyes firmly locked on the dragons nearby.
Why do I feel so drawn to these four? It was one thing when it was just Dreamfyre, it became weirder when Meleys was added to the mix, but now Caraxes and Vhagar too? Lilyanna thought to herself.
The young girl did not get far before the Blood Wyrm quickly crawled towards her, making deep shrill chirps as it did.
"Hello there." Lilyanna greeted the dragon in High Valyrian, "You are not going to treat me like your rider does, are you?"
Caraxes bumped his snout against Lilyanna stomach, closing his eyes as he happily rubbed his head against her body.
"Well, that is good to know." Lilyanna said, smiling softly as she scratched the side of the dragon's head.
After a few moments, a deep, ground shaking growl sounded out from behind her, and when Lilyanna turned her head, all she saw was bronze scales."
"Vhagar." Lilyanna whispered the dragon's name, looking at the creature with a mixture of reverence and fear.
Did she get bigger or is it because she's so much closer to me now?
Vhagar was not looking at the human but the smaller dragon in front of her. The she-dragon growled again, louder, and deeper than before.
Caraxes returned the growl with a distorted roar of his own, baring his teeth at the older dragon.
Vhagar stood on her legs, no longer lying down on the ground, and roared at Caraxes. Lilyanna could have sworn that she temporarily went deaf due to the terrible sound, feeling her bones shake because of her proximity to Vhagar.
Caraxes growled, but turned around and stalked away, stopped a few yards from Lilyanna and Vhagar. He lay down near Meleys, continuing to growl at Vhagar, but the sound was more like a hiss as he stared at Vhagar.
Wow, I don't think I have ever seen a dragon sulk before now. Lilyanna thought, wondering if this was something that happened often between Caraxes and Vhagar.
Vhagar moved closer to Lilyanna, smelling her deeply before pressing her snout against Lilyanna. Like Caraxes, Vhagar also rubbed her head against Lilyanna's body.
Lilyanna huffed as she scratched the underside of Vhagar's mouth, "If I didn't know what you were capable of, I would think you're nothing but cute old lady. Is this how you lure your prey into your clutches?"
Vhagar purred, blowing out a stream of warm air from her nostrils, causing Lilyanna's nose to pinch at the smell.
"What do you eat for your breath to smell so foul?"
Vhagar bumped Lilyanna with her snout, knocking the girl to the ground and Lilyanna could have sworn that Vhagar was staring at her amused when she fell.
"I know, I know, I should keep my opinions to myself if I have nothing nice to say." Lilyanna said in response.
As she lay on the ground, her view of the sky was blocked by the appearance of three figures walking into her eyeline and standing above her.
"It's been a while since you three have visited me." Lilyanna said as she sat up.
At least they haven't snuck up on me this time.
She was ignored by the three Conquerors as the eldest of the three reached and touched, Vhagar, and to everyone's surprise, Vhagar was able to feel Visenya's hand, purring in delight as she moved closer to her former rider.
"I missed you, old friend." Visenya whispered, smiling brightly as she continued to pet Vhagar.
Lilyanna's mouth dropped open in shock, "Vhagar can see you? Can you touch Vhagar? Dragons can see ghosts?!"
"How are you doing that, sister?" Aegon asked, looking between Visenya and Vhagar fascinated.
"I... I don't know." Visenya answered, closing her eyes as she leaned her body against Vhagar, astonished that she could feel the dragon's warmth. "There is still so much that we do not know about the bond the Gods created between us and Lilyanna. This could just be a facet of it that we are only just now discovering."
"Now that I think about it, we never come to see Lilyanna whenever she is in the Dragonpit, or most places truly, we always wait for moments when she is alone, so she doesn't look like she is talking to herself and has gone mad." Rhaenys voiced, before smiling at her older sister, "Still, it is good that you are able to experience this, Visenya."
She could not help but think of her own dragon, Meraxes, finding herself missing her former mount as she watched Visenya and Vhagar. Melancholy formed within Rhaenys as she remembered Meraxes' fate, knowing that her dragon's life, much like her own, was snuffed out too soon.
Visenya stared at Rhaenys for a few moments before reaching down, grabbing her sister's hand, and placing it on Vhagar head. Just like with Visenya, Rhaenys was able to touch Vhagar without her hand phasing through the dragon and Vhagar was able to feel Rhaenys' hand in kind.
"Oh." Rhaenys breathed, her eyes shining with mirth, "I didn't think we would be able to interact with the world like this again."
"I think it is only with dragons." Aegon said softly, "But perhaps, things we have bonds with, some kind of connection, can be viable to us once more."
"Why does weird shit always happen when you guys accost me?" Lilyanna asked, still shocked by what she was seeing.
Rhaenys smiled playfully, "I think you meant to ask, why do all these amazing and exciting things happen to you when we come to visit you?"
"Yeah right." Lilyanna muttered as she rolled her eyes, "Is this why dragons are so found of me? Because they can sense your souls surrounding me all the time? They can feel the bond they once had or something?"
"If that was the case of a bond only Vhagar would be so besotted with you as she is the only living dragon who has ever bonded with any of us." Visenya said, her expression becoming thoughtful and analytical, "But you may not be entirely off; the dragons could be so taken with you because of your dreams."
"My dreams?"
"Those dreams you had in the black void, some of them involved our children and descendants. Perhaps it is through you that Meleys, Caraxes, and Dreamfyre feel this bond to their deceased riders. Or it could even be what you said the other day; that all the dragons you have met like you so much is because they believe you to be one of them because of your sex."
"Am I going to have to deal with more dead relatives?" Lilyanna asked cautiously, "And you don't believe that me being intersex is why dragons lose their minds around me."
Visenya looked back at Vhagar, "I don't, animals can notice things that we humans often cannot see, the most likely explanation is that dragons can feel that you are not an average human, they can sense the magic that was used in your creation. Who better to see a champion of the Fourteen Flames than the very beasts that said Gods created in their image?"
If the Gods are so powerful that they can pull me from my first life and have me reincarnated in this world, then why couldn't they give me a crash course on the body they were throwing me into? Or at the very least tell Aegon, Visenya, and Rhaenys so they could tell me in their place? Lilyanna thought, once again finding herself annoyed with the Valyrian Gods.
"Do you think I will have a dragon of my own?"
Aegon raised an eyebrow, "I thought you did not care if you had a dragon or not? Is that not what you often tell your younger brother whenever he asks?"
Lilyanna shrugged, "I said I would be fine with not having a dragon, and I am, but that doesn't mean I'm not curious about it's like. And if it will even be possible for someone like me."
"Dragons are the ones who chose their rider, it's not truly known how, but we were taught that dragons can see within potential riders their hearts, their true selves, and the dragons can then decide if that rider will be the one that best suits them." Rhaenys explained.
"Would that kind of dragon even exist, one that could see everything about me and decide they want to deal with me?" Lilyanna asked.
"You are not some burden to be endured, Lilyanna." Rhaenys said softly, "And I have no doubt in my mind that there is a dragon out there for you."
"You are going to Dragonstone, are you not?" Visenya asked, "You can see if any of the dragons who live there are a match for you."
"Maybe." Lilyanna muttered.
Why am I even thinking about this? If it happens, it happens, I should be wasting my time thinking about something like this.
As she was distracted, Vhagar moved forward, pushing Lilyanna into the dirt as she rested her head on top of the girl, only allowing Lilyanna's head to poke through.
"Ugh... Vhagar... Why?" Lilyanna strained, finding it hard to breath with such a heavy weight on top of her. "Don't laugh, help me!"
Lilyanna's cries were ignored by the Conquerors who were content to simply watch Vhagar crush the young girl with their affection.
"I hate you guys..." Lilyanna hissed, lying her head down as she was forced to accept her fate.
~X~
Dragonstone
"Rhaenyra, how is any of what you just said supposed to make sense?" Laenor asked his wife, staring at her with a mixture of different emotions.
"Helaena can really see the future?" Lucerys asked, his eyes full of awe, "Can she see everything? Does she know everything? How does-"
Jacaerys leaned over and covered his brother's mouth with his hand, ending Lucerys' barrage of questions.
The royal family had just reached the island earlier that day, and with no sign of Helaena, Lilyanna, or Rhaenys, Rhaenyra was left to inform everyone who did not know, the truth.
It was also left to her as Viserys had holed himself inside the castle's library from the moment they arrived, deciding to reimmerse himself the history that lay within it.
"As ludicrous as it sounds, it is the truth. That is why Rhaenys, Helaena, and Lilyanna are not here with us." Rhaenyra stated with a sigh.
"So, you're telling us that the reason Helaena is so strange is because she can see the future?" Aegon asked.
"Yes." Rhaenyra said dryly.
"And she kept this from us?!" Aegon exclaimed, "There have so many times when seeing the futures would have let me get away with so many things! And Lilyanna, that bitch knew too! She's probably been telling Helaena to hide her dreams, keeping them all to herself!"
Aemond stared at his brother blankly, "Are you an idiot?"
He was not surprised that Aegon would want to use such an ability for selfish reasons, but Aemond thought that Aegon at least had enough tact not to say so out right.
"Even if 'Laena did tell us she was a dragon dreamer, I don't think she would tell you the future, knowing how you would abuse it, Egg." Daeron voiced, smiling at Aegon.
Aegon crossed his arms, "You don't know that."
Daeron laughed before looking at Rhaenyra seriously, "But why didn't Helaena and Lilyanna tell us? Why did they hide it?"
Did they not trust us? Daeron thought.
Rhaenyra sighed, "Helaena was worried about not being believed, that we would find the truth too outlandish. It also does not help that our sister has no control over her gift; her dreams come randomly and most without clarity."
"Her riddles." Aemon said aloud, having an epiphany as things began to make sense in his mind. "That is why Helaena speaks those mutterings of hers; they are remnants of the prophetic visions that she has. And that is why Lilyanna always becomes so serious whenever she hears them."
Why else would Lilyanna focus so intensely when Helaena finds herself in that state? I had figured they were hiding something, but not something like this. Aemond thought.
"Wow." Jacaerys muttered, his voice taking on a noticeable awe, "Helaena must be a strong dreamer to have so many visions constantly."
The only other person that he could compare his aunt to was their ancestor, Daenys the Dreamer, the woman who had a dream foretelling the Doom of Valyria, allowing House Targaryen to be one of only three Valyrian families to escape the calamity.
But Daenys was only truly known for that one dream, Jacaerys did not know if the woman had any others that were simply never record or if it was only the dream of the Doom she was given.
Before the conversation could divulge any further, Laenor spoke up, "Children, can you leave us alone for a moment, I need to speak with Rhaenyra."
The room fell into silence as the boys looked at the older Velaryon, seeing the uncharacteristically serious expression on his face. Even Rhaenyra was surprised by how Laenor was acting, not understanding what could have upset him so.
"Wow, Rhaenyra, what did you do?" Aegon asked, half questioningly and half-jokingly.
"Get out." Rhaenyra immediately said, not even bothering to look in Aegon's direction.
Aegon snickered but stood up and led his nephews and brothers out of The Chamber of the Painted Table.
Once they were alone, Rhaenyra turned to her husband, "Laenor?"
"How could you keep this from me?" Laenor asked.
Rhaenyra looked confused, "Helaena's dreams? I did suspect from some years but-"
"Not that, I mean, yes that but..." Laenor took a deep breath before continuing, "My sister's life was endanger and instead of telling me, you kept that from me."
Rhaenyra frowned, "Helaena and Lilyanna only felt the need to tell myself, father, and Rhaenys."
"And did you tell your precious Queen? Because I did not see Alicent with us and the children when you revealed all of this?"
"That is different." Rhaenyra replied defensively, "Alicent would have noticed that two of her children were missing, and keeping it secret from her would have been disastrous."
"Well, it feels like you did not care enough to speak to me about this!" Laenor exclaimed.
Rhaenyra's eyes widened, "Laenor-"
"I know that we don't have a normal marriage, but I at least thought that we are close enough to tell each other important things, to not keep secrets. My sister could have died, and I would not have known about it until it was too late. You, your father, the twins, and even my own mother, did not feel it crucial to bring me into the fold, do you have any idea how that feels?"
Right now, Laenor wanted to climb onto Seasmoke and fly to Pentos and see with his own eyes that Laena was still alive. He was scared that Helaena and Lilyanna would fail in their mission, of any unforeseen problems that could present themselves.
But most of all, he felt angry that he was not seen needing to know the truth by both his wife and his mother. Laenor knew that he was not always taken very seriously, and usually he did not have a problem with this, but was he that much of a joke that they thought it was better for him to be left in the dark? Even when the matter at hand concerned his own sister?
It's been two days since they left, has Laena given birth? Is she still alive? No, a letter would have been sent, surely if Laena died, right? What is taking so long for them to send a response? Laenor thought.
"Laenor, it was not my intention to make you feel inconsequential or to hide anything from you." Rhaenyra said, resting a hand on Laenor's arm, "I just... we did not think you believe the truth. And time was of the essence that having Rhaenys and the girl head to Pentos immediately was of the utmost importance."
"And afterwards?" Laenor asked, "You told Alicent, why did you tell me then as well?"
Rhaenyra sighed, looking away from him sheepishly, "In all honesty, I did not think about how you would feel. I must admit that it escaped me before now."
Laenor let out a snort, "I feel immensely loved by you, dear wife."
"Hush." Rhaenyra murmured, feeling worse than she did before, "I do apologize, Laenor. I should have realized that you wouldn't wish to be left in the dark, especially in something regrading Laena."
"That's all I ask." Laenor said before he started to think of something else, "If my mother did not tell me about Laena, then she most likely would not tell my father."
"It is not as if she would have needed to, Corlys is still in King's Landing and won't be traveling here with the rest of the small council for the next few days at the earliest." Rhaenyra stated.
The only reason the royal family had even left the city when they did was simply because Viserys had grown tired of waiting, wanting to finally arrive at Dragonstone, no longer having the patience to wait for the rest of the court to travel with them after a moon of preparations.
"Then I will have to have a discussion with her about keeping secrets from me." Laenor said, crossing his arms.
Rhaenyra chuckled, "Good luck with that."
"You don't think I will?"
"I think the second you meet your mother's gaze, you'll lose your resolve, wilting like a flower before you could get a single reprimand out of your lips."
Laenor glared at the woman, but before he could get an insult of his own out, the doors of the chamber opened as the maester of the castle entered.
Gerardys was an older man of average height, short brown hair with a few sparse strands of gray, wrinkled cheeks, and was wearing the traditional robes of his profession.
In his hand was a letter, with the stamp of House Targaryen used as its wax seal. Gerardys bowed before speaking to Rhaenyra "Your Grace, a letter has been sent to you from Prince Daemon."
"Daemon?" Rhaenyra asked as she took the letter from Gerardys' hands, "Why would he be writing to me?"
In the decade since she last saw her uncle, she had received no correspondence from him, nor did she send her own. Rhaenyra wanted to blame this on Daemon and his family constantly being on the move, but Rhaenyra knew that at least for herself, she did not know what to say to her uncle, remembering the last thing she said to him during her wedding.
Rhaenyra had also come to the realization some time ago that she did not want to say anything to Daemon.
Why should she be the one to reach out when Daemon tried to use her in a ploy to not only anger her father, but to place himself closer to the throne? Who did nothing when she was forced by Viserys to marry Laenor due to the mistake he tricked her into making?
Reluctantly, Rhaenyra opened the letter, and as she read it, Rhaenyra found herself surprised by its contents.
"What's wrong? Did something happen with Laena and the babe?" Laenor asked as he watched Rhaenyra's expression.
"Laena is fine, and she has given birth to a boy named Aethan." Rhaenyra said, still looking over Daemon's letter.
"But?" Laenor asked, sensing his wife's hesitation.
Rhaenyra went on to explain Aethan's appearance to Laenor, mentioning the babe's wings, scales, and tail. Daemon had also stated that Lilyanna had said Aethan was healthy, but that even she had no idea how Aethan's dragon traits could affect him later in life.
"How-how is that even possible?" Laenor asked.
While the Targaryen family often boasted about their ability to command dragons, of having the blood of the dragon, Laenor did not think it was supposed to be anything more than an exaggeration, at least before now.
"They don't know." Rhaenyra said.
"Did Daemon say anything else?" Laenor asked, wondering if the man had written any more shocking news.
"Yes." Rhaenyra said softly, "Daemon and Laena are coming back to Westeros with their children; permanently."
"They are?" Laenor exclaimed, a wide grin filled his lips at the thought of seeing his older sister and knowing that she would not be leaving again.
While Laenor had become overjoy, he failed to notice the apprehension that colored Rhaenyra's expression.
Comments
Kas the Weeb
Thank you, and a lot of changes will be coming.
Kas the Weeb
Chaos will be coming as the Targaryen family is reunited. And a lot of stuff will be happening on Dragonstone👀
Alliebutt
Interesting chapter. I'm excited to see what the future holds now that they're coming back home.
KaeKat
I sense more chaos will ensue when Daemon's family returns to Westeros lol. Omg will Lilyanna claim a dragon when they get to Dragonstone?? 👀 Excited to see what will happen then
