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She would not allow herself to be sold off like a broodmare to a man older than her own father, a man old enough to be her great grandfather even. She knew her mother would never give her to man like Maegor the Cruel however that did not mean she had to be please about the fact she was to wed a man older than her father the King by at least a decade and a half. Lord Manderley would have to be in his fifties by the time she had been born. Lord Manderley was four times her size and four time widowed. She would not allow the man to bury her as well. She would not allow it. She was a Princess, a descendant of Visenya the conqueror and Daenys the Dreamer, she was the blood of Old Valyria, and she would not go North to freeze. She was a dragon after all. Her marriage to Lord Manderley benefited him well more than the crown.
It was prepositus after all she was a young maiden, and he was a four-time widower, perhaps it would be a good match for her had she been married several time before put this was suppose to be her first marriage. When the betrothal was made she was not like Saera, she had not been ‘ruined’ the marriage had been a punishment and she had no intention of allowing herself to be punished for Saera’s mistakes
She had heard what the Queen said “She aims much higher, our Viserra. I have seen the way she preens and prances around Baelon.That is the husband she desires, and not for love of him. She wants to be the queen” That was such bullshit. She wishes to be Queen, that was practically treason for her brother Aemon, the heir to the Iron Throne was still alive as was his own heir Rhaenys. How could she wish to be Queen when it would mean the death of her brother, who was more a father to her than the King had ever been, and darling little Rhaenys? The only reason she desired Baelon was because by marrying him she would be able to stay home. That was all she truly desired to stay in the Red Keep, to be with her family.
Her seduction of Baelon was not a sly attempt to become Queen no it had been her last act of desperation and more importantly an act of rebellion. She had done everything the King had ever asked her to. She was a dutiful daughter, nothing like Saera and yet she was still about to be punished for actions that had not been her own.
Baelon was safety, he was security. He may never fall in love with her but he was her brother so she knew he would love her even if it was just as a sister. If she had married Baelon she would have been able to stay home, which was all she desire. If she had to bed him at least he was pleasing to look at and she knew he would be kind to her. She would have had the freedom she desired. She would not have to live in fear of marital rape and her brother already had heirs so there would be less pressure on her. She cared not for the crown; she saw how being Queen had harmed and ruined her mother. She saw how the crown had weighed heavy on her parents’ relationship.
They were trying to move her wedding to Lord Manderley up and she would not allow it. It was time she was selfish for once. It was time she did something for herself.
With the help of her loyal companions, some of whom would join her later, she had created a disturbing scene, her chambers were bloodied everywhere, the furniture was overturned and clothing, was torn. There was enough blood that her survival seems doubtful, impossible even.
She took only things that held sentimental value, as well as pieces of jewelry her parents likely forgotten she had. She had so many after all whenever they broke a promise, whenever they forgot a meeting or were too busy for her, they sent the finest of jewelry she likely had hundreds of pieces but she only took a few, and the pieces that had belonged to her late Aunt Rhaena.
She was now on Tarth, an island off the Narrow Sea off the east coast of Westeros, it was also called the Sapphire Isle and was sworn to Storm’s End, her good sister Jocelyn’s family. She chooses Tarth because the old Lord of Evenfall Hall was known to be a kind man, a man who would give sanctuary to women who needed it. She hoped he would give to her to spite the King.
The King had ordered the old Lord’s only daughter be wed to a horrible Lord to solve a conflict between the two unfortunately sweet Myriah died in childbirth, cut from breast to belly to save the babe, a babe who died several hours later.
She had been travelling for several moons, her long silver curls that once reached her waist now only went halfway down her neck. She had died her hair as well, it was as black as night mirroring her good sister and nieces’ hair to anyone who saw her she was just a normal women, anyone who noticed her amethyst eyes would just think she was a dragon seed.
She had missed her moonblood, she had thought it was the stress of travelling however with the swell in her stomach it was clear she was with child. Oh, how she wished Baelon was here.
Lord Cameron Tarth of Evenfall Hall was a kind and generous old man who was more than happy to give her sanctuary especially once he realized she was with child. He accommodated her within Evenfall and was more than please to spite the King. Although she had tried to keep her identity secret, he quickly figured out she was a Targaryen claiming ‘I have memorized the faces of the King and Queen dear child, you are a perfect combination besides your great beauty could only come from a trueborn child of Valyria’
Lord Cameron was kind his great grandson had become something of a brother to her teaching her the ways of blades and a woman of the village had been kind enough to take her under her wing as an apprentice midwife. It was something she was glad to do, the people of Evenfall were in need of another set of hands in births and Lord Cameron had been so kind to her.
The people of Evenfall were lovely, and she felt at home here, it had been a while since she had felt at home, not since Saera had been exiled. On the Sapphire Isles she was not Princess Viserra Targaryen she was just apprentice midwife Reyna Storm. She had been on Tarth for nearly five moons, and it would be only a matter of days until she was a mother.
In truth she was completely terrified of birth in truth. Her grandmother Alyssa Velayron had birth eight children, she lost Vaella in the cradle and died birthing Jocelyn. Her grandmother had been cut open from breast to womb on the orders of her own son, completely unaware until she awoke screaming in agony. Her grandmother was not even given a choice.
Sweet Daella who was wed too early for her condition went into labor more than a fortnight too early, having a long and troubled labor. Daella’s daughter Aemma may have been born healthy however Daella quickly contracted childbed fever began soon after the birth. Her fever only grew worse, and Daella eventually died, at the age of eight and ten.
Alyssa who was arguably the strongest of them all had three easy pregnancies however Aegon’s birth was long and difficult. Alyssa was severely weakened by the birth and never recovered dying six moons later.
Jocelyn had seven pregnancies, that she was aware of and only one was successful. Jocelyn lost too babes before their times. Jocelyn had her first successful birth three years after Viserra, herself was born, but Rhaenys was just followed by heartbreak. Jaehaerys, a stillborn son in 79 AC, Baelon a babe born with no eyes, claws rather than nails, with small bat wings and scales, another miscarriage and the birth of a daughter Larissa four moons too early in 83 AC which nearly killed her, the Maesters advised that for her own safety she never bear another child.
Her mother birthed thirteen children losing four in childhood. She had watched as her mot- her Queen struggled with the last couple of pregnancies: Aegon who had been born too early and battled against the stranger for three long days. Little Daenerys who died from the shivers at only seven. Her little brother Gaemon born when she was just a babe herself, she barely remembered him, but she had heard the story time and time again. Gaemon who was born early, following a long and difficult labor that left her bedridden for several moons. Gaemon died short of the new year, less than three moon turns old. Apparently, the babe was half the size Vaegon had been. She had been six when Valerion was born in 77 AC after a troubled labor that left their mother, bedridden for half a year. Valerion was small at birth, like their brother Gaemon. The sickly babe was attended by half a dozen nurses. However, he died the following year, a fortnight before his first name day. She remembered holding that small babe. Oh, how she missed that little boy. He was sweet and he was good something uncommon in the Red Keep.
Though if she was honest, she was glad she was going to be assisted by Jeyne rather than the Maester. There was something suspicious, something unsettling about the Maesters.
She had done it after thirty-three hours of labor, she had welcomed three beautiful girls into the world. Little Rhaenyra ‘Rhae’ had her silver locks and fine features but Baelon’s purple eyes. Her little Vhaella ‘Ella’ had silver gold hair and lilac eyes like her Uncle Aemon. Her lastborn Daenerys for her older sister, her little Dany was the perfect combination of her and Baelon. With her children’s fine features there was no point dyeing her hair any longer, it was clear to Evenhall that she was a ‘Dragonseed’
Surprisingly Tarth had become the home to Dragons. She had heard the rumors of dragons departing from the Red Keep and Dragonstone however she never expected to see them, she had heard the rumors about how they were sighted in the Eyrie or in the North or on Driftmark, rumors she never believed because they contradicted each other, the timeline never worked out. One day the dragon was supposably in the Eyrie the next it was at in the Reach.
There were rare instances of Valyrian bonding to two dragons however it was more often to claim two dragons for there was a difference between bonding and claiming. She had bonded with Dreamfyre and claimed Grey Ghost. Among the possessions she had smuggled was Valyrian books of old especially those on blood magic. Her loyal friends had smuggled more out and sent them to her.
Dreamfyre seemed to thrive on Tarth, finally free from the chains. Did her parents not know that chaining their dragons weakened them? That it stunted their growth? All the dragons did Dreamfyre broke from the pit accompanied by Meleys who rested on Tarth and Balerion who made his nest on a nearby Island, it seemed the Dragons had finally got sick of being chained. Grey ghost was accompanied by Sheepstealer. Dreamfyre, Meleys, Sheepstealer and Grey Ghost made their homes in the large caves near Evenfall. Dreamfyre even laid a clutch of eggs, for her girls.
Her girls were her greatest gift and the dragons thrived on Tarth they grew bigger, quicker and faster free occasionally returning to Old Valyria for the heat and magic that remained there.
Her darling Rhaenyra’s egg hatched into a yellow beauty called Syrax, while Vhaella bonded to Sheepstealer and Daenerys bonded with Balerion. Balerion had the biggest change, the dragon that was once slow, weak and difficult to rouse in 75 AC when Alyssa wanted to claim him was now faster, stronger and healthier.
Visting Valyria, his ancestral home had made him stronger, and on his last visit he did not return alone, he returned accompanied by Terrax, the Late Jaenaera Belaerys’ dragon and Jelmāzma, who belonged to Aurion. Terrax and Jelmāzma along with Balerion split their time between an island near Tarth and Valyria always flying at night as if they knew she wanted to avoid detection. She flew on her dragons of course but she did it at night to avoid detection and it seemed the dragons had picked up on that. It was amazing really dragons were far more intelligent than people gave them credit for.
She had Dreamfyre’s collar removed and replaced with something far more befitting of a lady than something left to rust. Her Aunt Rhaena’s saddle was also removed and fixed for when she used it. She much preferred riding Grey Ghost and Dreamfyre without a saddle because it helped further her connection to the dragons.
She was surprised the King and Queen never came to Tarth to check out the rumors, but she was glad it seemed Tarth was not completely fond of the King and kept the secret like their Lord demanded of them. Most did it for her though she was beloved here and when they heard of her planned betrothal they were enraged on her behalf.
She and her daughters spent nearly all their time in the village between assisting in births, helping children learn to read and allowing them to play with her hair. Her hair which now reached halfway down her thighs. It had been five years since she arrived and this place and become home but lately that home was being threat. The Evenstar of Tarth, Cameron had no choice but to ask for the crowns help. The Myrish pirates had taken over the eastern coast of Tarth. Lord Corlys Velayron joined his fleets with the soldiers of Lord Boremund Baratheon to retake the island. The people of Tarth were being hidden in the mountains for their safety, she was at the hidden mountain camp of the Evenstar, her girls were with people she trusted, their silver locks hidden.
She had done what she could at night mounting Grey Ghost and burning some of the Myrish pirates when she could, trying her best to remain undetected but it was time she came into the light. People are in danger, and she could help them but she had been too cowardice to do it when it really mattered, she had tried to stay in the dark when for her people, for the people of Westeros she should be working with them. Whether or not she liked it she was a Princess and a Dragon-rider she had a duty to help people.
She had to face her brother sooner or later and it seemed that time was now. As she came closer to her brother, she noticed a Myrish scout with a crossbow aiming for the Evenstar, her brother Aemon was in danger. Before she even registered it, she was yelling “Rōva lēkia, Aelyx, Lord Cameron duck!” They ducked and the scout, quickly noticed by other was disarmed and captured.
Aemon now back on his feet quickly turned to her, his face full of disbelief but he had no doubt it was her. When she was little, she had apparently refused to call him Aemon but instead called him Aelyx for their ancestor, it had stuck and through the years she would jokingly call him Aelyx and he would roll his eyes and laugh. “Vissie?” he murmured
She smiled sadly “Rōva lēkia, issa Aelyx, issa kepa lēkia, nyke sīr glad naejot ūndegon ao” that seemed to pull him out of his trance because the next thing she knew she was off the ground and in the safety of her older brother’s arms. Distantly she could hear the whispers of ‘princess Viserra?’ and ‘I thought she died’ and ‘well obviously not’ “I am so sorry”
“No Vis, I am so sorry” Aemon shook his head as he lead her to a place where they could talk privately “I should of argued on your behalf, for a first marriage you deserved better… you were being punished for Saera’s actions but for mother’s as well” He saw Viserra’s confusion “Both mother and father were suppose to wed other people but they defied their mother to wed. They defied their regent because they were in love. Mother thinks that the gods are punishing her for defying her mother because the stranger has taken more children than it allowed her to keep. Aegon, Gaemon, and Valerion were taken before they ever really got to live. Daella and Alyssa were lost to the birthing bed, Alyssa was lost along with her babe. Daenerys was lost to the shivers. Saera exiled and refused to answer her letters. Maegelle and Vaegon never return home unless it is a royal order. I have lost babe after babe. Mother thinks it is the god’s way of punishing her for defying them.”
“How do I figure into this” Viserra asked
“She believed that if she allowed one of her daughters to bear the unhappiness perhaps the gods would forgive her and stop punishing her. She picked you because you reminded her of both mother and father. You were proud like both of them. Vain and ambitious like mother. She saw both Rhaena and her in you. You shared her childish vainness and her stubbornness.” Aemon said
“So, she wished to pass this… this curse onto me?” Viserra asked “To bear her unhappiness?” Her mother truly thought all the pain and suffering she had been through was because she shunned the gods? Because she had shunned the Baratheons by wedding their father rather than going through with the betrothal her lady mother was arranging for her. “And what of you brother? Do you think yourself cursed?”
“No, of course not had I hoped for more children yes but not because I wanted a son to succeed me but because Rhaenys had a great desire to be an older sister.” Aemon responded
“She would have been a great older sister” Viserra admitted “I hear you are to be a grandsire?”
Aemon smiled “Yes, I cannot wait to meet him or her. My heirs’ heir” Aemon stated “Nothing much has changed since your death except for our parents, they are more distant. She blamed herself and the King well he also blamed her in part but also himself for not disagreeing with the match.” Viserra went to say something “You do not have to justify yourself to me, I understand why you wanted to leave and while faking your death was cruel in part it guaranteed your freedom. What have you been up to?”
“Well, I was given asylum here by Lord Cameron and I learnt the ways of blades.” Viserra said “I also learnt the ways of midwifery I have delivered several hundred babes. I assist in the kitchens, and I help teach the children. I helped Lord Cameron further the income of Tarth,” Viserra chuckled “I know it must be a shock little vain Viserra delivering babes and teaching children.”
“You have grown up well.” Aemon said “I always knew that if you were actually allowed out to see the smallfolk you flourish. What about the rumors of the dragons? I never thought that it was true but here I stand on Tarth with my little sister”
“Yes, the rumors are true and then some. A few days before the bir- a about five moons after I arrived Dreamfyre, Meleys, Balerion, Grey Ghost and Sheepstealer arrived on Tarth, they have made nests in the larger caves and occasionally the mountains. Balerion rests on a nearby island along with Terrax and Jelmāzma, the two dragons seem to have been resting in Old Valyria, they belonged to the late Jaenara Belaerys and Aurion.”
“Their dragons lived?” Aemon asked I awe
“They are magnificent and rather friendly or at least we have an understanding. There are a number of hatchlings which live in the caves, they are forbidden to anyone beside myself and my d- besides myself. I was gifted several dragon eggs; they were petrified but Lord Cameron acquired them for me. The first two were pale blue, it was almost if the were frozen rather than petrified. With the help of blood sacrifice and blood magic and came forth two ice dragons.
They breath ice and are bigger than the dragons from Valyria. They have pale blue crystal eyes, vast translucent wings and very cold breath, they can freeze a person whole in an instant. The next three were dragons like our but with stronger scales, they were swifter and faster and they breathe lightning. The last two eggs were sea dragons, they had to be thrown into the sea and they were hatched. They mostly stay in the ocean, but they have four wings rather than two, they breath water at temperatures they can manipulate, they can reproduce asexually and the can grow legs to walk on land. They can manipulate their size to grow bigger or smaller. I shall introduce them to you if you wish. I have raised them since they were hatchlings” Viserra’s smile brightened as they continued to speak of her hatchlings, they were her children in a way.”
“Of course but first, we have to take care of the Myrish pirates and I could use a helping hand” Aemon said
“Well, I suppose I have the time” Viserra chuckled “I am sure some of the dragons would be willing to lend a hand as well however Balerion, Terrax and Jelmāzma are going to stay with the people.” They quite literally created a barrier between the pirates and the people, those three dragons were massive and curled in a circle and yet it just looks another mountain.
Those Myrish had nearly killed her brother even if they were not aiming for him, she did not care because if they were not aiming for the crown prince then they were aiming for the Lord of Evenfall, the man who had given her sanctuary and who she owed her life to.
Her brother and her attack from the sky while Lords Cameron and Boremund were going to slaughter the Myrmen on land.
“Dracarys” she murmured, and the lightshow began. With Aemon by her side, they burnt ship after ship, dodging their small useless little arrows. She rode of Dreamfyre as her lady was bigger and with more battle experience but Grey Ghost, Meleys and Sheepstealer joined Caraxes and Dreamfyre in the efforts again the Myrish. They slaughtered Myrish after Myrish. Grey Ghost was determined to annihilate as many Myrish as he could and protect her mate Grey Ghost, while Sheepstealer was delighting herself trying a new human diet. It amused her to no end, the Myrish thought the riderless dragons would do nothing but in reality, the dragons were not slaves and the pirates had threatened their home.
She did not know how long she and Aemon flew burning the ships but eventually all was left was burning ships sinking to the bottom of the ocean, the ships that were unburnt had retreated long ago. There was no doubt the capital would hear about the abundance of dragons on Myr.
The man of the ground had all been slaughter or captured, they had sent a message to the Myrish pirates, stay away from Tarth or burn.
She dismounted Dreamfyre meeting Aemon halfway and hugging him. Her home was safe for now and her brother was here.
“You know I believe there are some dragons I need to be introduced to” Aemon stated
More than you know, big brother, more than you know
Aemon had been in awe about the dragons, at heart he was a dragon nerd and he had taken to comparing the four different species they knew about. It was a week later, and he had dozens upon dozens of pages full of notes. There had been no further sight of the Myrish fleet meaning the people were returning back from the mountain, that also meant her brother could see the legendary dragons Terrax and Jelmāzma.
Aemon’s eyes lite up as he saw Terrax and Jelmāzma obviously comparing the two of them to Balerion who flew at their side. He always was a dragon nerd.
“Brother when they get here there are some people, I would like you to meet” Viserra stated
“Oh, is there a man in your life?” Aemon asked half-heartedly. He hoped there was not Baelon would hate that, after Viserra’s death he worked through his feelings and realized his feeling for Viserra were not completely brotherly. If there was a man in Viserra’s life well, he pitied him for Baelon would destroy him.”
“No, no it is not that.” Viserra smiled “two moons after I left i- “
“Muña!” Three young voices exclaimed. She and Aemon turned around to see her daughters running towards her. She watched her brother’s face go through the five stages of grief before nearly choking on air. But Viserra did not care her little girls were safe. They through themselves at her knocking her onto the ground but she did not care. They were here and they were safe. Her girls were safe. She could have spent hours clinging to her girls, but her brother was here, and he deserved to meet his nieces.”
“Aemon these are my daughters Rhaenyra, Vhaella and Daenerys or as the people of Tarth knew they Rhae, Ella and Dany.” Viserra said “Girls this is my elder brother Prince Aemon of Dragonstone.”
Rhaenyra curtsied “Prince Aemon pleased to make your acquaintance”
“No need for that” Aemon quickly said “We are kin, and I am not just the Prince of Dragonstone I am also your uncle”
“Is it true you once encountered the Cannibal?” Vhaella asked
“Yes, I had to fly for hours to lose him” Aemon answered
“Will we really have a future Queen? Will a woman really sit the Iron Throne?” Daenerys asked
“My daughter is my heir, and she shall sit the Iron Throne after me” Aemon responded. Daenerys nodded content with her uncle’s answer.
“Why don’t you go see the dragons?” Viserra asked “They have missed you.” The girls needed no further encouragement and rushed off.”
“They are Baelon.” Aemon said with no doubt “They look about four and figuring in a nine-moon pregnancy it is the only possibility… right?”
“Yes, I found out about two or so moons into my travel to Tarth at first, I thought it was the stress of travel then my stomach grew and their was no doubt. I never thought of moon tea i mean it was only one encounter what were the chances. and yet here I am, and I would not change it four the world.”
“I know what you mean.” Aemon chuckled
Aemon used the excuse of wanting to ensure that the Myrish did not return to Tarth to stay an extra moon. In that time, he had managed to convince Viserra to return home.
She flew of Dreamfyre with Rhaenyra and Vhaella while Aemon took Daenerys on Caraxes. Grey Ghost, Meleys, Sheepstealer, Balerion, Terrax and Jelmāzma followed behind along with a dozen young hatchlings: Syrax, Sunfyre, Tesserion, Morghul, Skyros, Brightflame, Silvermist, Ironwing, Sun stealer, Stormbringer, Aegarax and Onyxia. Suvion and Sōna were followed by Lightning bringer, Thunderbolt and Hurricane were hot on their tails followed by Embar and Nykeēdar were the first of their group. He saw the small folk gather in the streets to see the progression of dragons and he couldn’t help but smile. Let them witness the strength of House Targaryen.
One of the first things he would do when he saw his father was demand the removal of the chains, as it had been harming their dragons. When they disembarked at the pit, they sent the dragons back into the sky. A dragon was supposed to be in the sky after all they were not slaves. They were meant to be free not chained and underground. He could no wait until he could feel Caraxes as Viserra could Dreamfyre. When you fostered your bond with a dragon it was possible to share thoughts with one’s mount.
The guards that came to retrieve him were shocked at Viserra’s presence but quickly quieted with a simple glare their way. He helped his sister and his nieces into the carriage. He had no doubt the King and Queen were awaiting his arrival.
The trip to the Red Keep passed in no time as he talked to his sister and nieces before he knew it, they were at the Red Keep. He stepped out of the carriage to see the King and Queen on the steps with Jocelyn, Baelon, Gael, Daemon, Viserys, and a very pregnant Rhaenys.
“Where did the dragons come from?” The King demanded “Where did you find them?”
“Why did some of them look different?” Daemon, who much like him was a dragon enthusiast, asked
He shook his head and walked back to the carriage to help his sister out. Varying degrees of shock and relief flooded the group as they saw Viserra.
The King looked close to tears “Viserra?” their father moved closer to his daughter smiling before spotting a sliver of silver hair. Viserra’s daughters knowing they had been made exited the carriage. In the moon he had gotten to know his nieces he learnt that Rhaenyra was by far the boldest of the three, so it came to little surprise to him when she spoke.
“Muña?” she asked, “Who are these people?” Varying levels of shock and disbelief schooled their families faces.
Daenerys ever the polite one spoke next “Hi I am Daenerys, and these are my older sisters Rhaenyra and Vhaella. We are four name days old.” She paused, to Aemon’s amusement as if to let the knowledge settle in. Daenerys was proud of her age making sure everyone knew she was four ever since she was mistaken for being three, she was so offended when that happened. “Who are you?”
He watched as the realization of the girl’s paternity travelled across the group. He could see the exact moment it hit Baelon.
“I have daughters” he said shocked “I have daughters.”