Chapter Text
Chapter 11
The day the twins Baela and Rhaena were born, when Lucerys was a year old, Rhaenyra wept with emotion; she had loved those girls as if they were her own daughters. She stayed by Laena's side, holding her hand and supporting her at all times as those two beautiful girls came into the world, crying out their discontent. Baela and Rhaena were just as she remembered them, purely Velaryon and Targaryen.
"They're so beautiful, Laena," Rhaenyra told her reverently. Laena smiled at her through tears, holding her girls. In that moment, Rhaenyra promised herself to do everything in her power to ensure those girls could enjoy Laena until she grew old and wrinkled.
***
Shortly after the twins' birth, Rhaenyra became pregnant. She wasn’t sure if it was Harwin’s or Laenor’s child, but honestly, she didn’t care; she could only smile like a fool while touching her belly. Joffrey, this was her Joffrey, her beautiful and precious brave baby. Her baby who should never have died. Laenor and Harwin smiled like fools when they found out that a new baby was on the way. In fact, judging by the grand and extravagant gift Corlys gave them, he was also enormously happy to add another grandson to his ever-growing collection of grandchildren, which was expanding with Laena’s twins and Rhaenyra’s children.
The once-great Lord of the Tides was completely at the feet of his four grandchildren, and I mean that literally. Rhaenyra had seen the proud man more than once playing on the floor with the children without a hint of pride. She had even once seen the great Lord of the Tides and the Hand of the King compete in a pony race with their grandchildren... they had been the ponies that Jace and Luce rode, although both men denied to their graves that such a thing had ever happened.
***
Joffrey’s birth was smooth and quick, much easier than Lucerys' or Jacaerys' had been. Unlike his brothers, Joffrey had no changes; he was just as Rhaenyra remembered him, with all his features the same... a Strong boy.
"Look at him, he has your nose," Laenor cooed, in love with Joffrey, comparing his son’s nose to Harwin’s.
"He has his mother’s beauty, don’t curse our son by making him look like me," protested the knight.
"You’re a handsome man, how is it a curse if he looks like you?" Laenor protested strongly, making the knight blush.
"I’m completely on Laenor’s side here," Rhaenyra nodded with a smile. "Well, I named Lucerys and Jace, I think it’s fair that the fathers name him this time."
Both men looked excited at the prospect.
"Harwin," Laenor ceded. Harwin shook his head and kissed Laenor gently.
"You’re the first husband," he reminded him. "I think it’s only fair that you name him. If our wife agrees, I’ll name the next one... if we’re lucky, it’ll be a girl, and I’ll win," he joked.
"Are you sure?" Laenor almost vibrated with excitement. Harwin nodded without hesitation. Rhaenyra smiled, ready to hear Joffrey’s name. In her first life, this name hadn’t made her very happy, but she had learned to love it because it was the name of her little one. But she had forgotten something important.
How could Joffrey even be a shadow next to what Harwin and she herself were to Laenor? With Harwin, Laenor had long forgotten the man who tragically died from the uncontrolled actions of an unworthy white cloak. From time to time, Laenor thought of the knight and felt a slight sorrow for his too-young death, but not much more. What he had with Harwin and Rhaenyra showed him that what he once had with Joffrey was lust and affection, but not love. Not the love that burned in his chest and pressed on his heart every time he looked at Harwin, every time he looked at Rhaenyra, and every time he looked at their beautiful children.
"Lyonel, Lyonel Strong Velaryon and Targaryen," Laenor finally said, surprising Rhaenyra and Harwin. The big man’s eyes filled with tears when Laenor named the baby, and Rhaenyra, though surprised, smiled. Lyonel had been there for them from the beginning; if Corlys and Viserys were now too, it took them some time. Lyonel Strong never doubted once, he was willing to risk his position, his title, and even his life to support all three of them... so it was only right that his son carried his name.
Rhaenyra found it all amusing. In her previous life, she had to hide her children and their true father. Fate had punished her by not giving her children any Valyrian blood. In this life, Jace had been born with her eyes, Lucerys with Rhaenys’ coloring that made Corlys practically putty in his hands, and Joffrey, who had been born exactly as he had been in her past life physically, with no change in his coloring, now had a change in his name. No, he was no longer Joffrey, he was Lyonel. A new life, a life full of love that her children deserved.
"We’ll call him Lyo to distinguish him from our good father," Rhaenyra approved.
"Lyo," whispered Harwin, in love with their new baby.
***
Lyonel looked as proud as a peacock, and even the big Strong man cried when he found out that his youngest grandchild had been named in his honor. Viserys and Corlys were green with envy as Lord Strong puffed himself up like a peacock.
***
Jace was five and a half years old, Lucerys had just turned four, Baela and Rhaena were three, and Lyo was two the day they were called to King's Landing once again. This time, Rhaenyra didn’t feel as suffocated by the summons. That Daemon and Laena had also been summoned, and that she wasn’t pregnant and swollen with a baby, helped a lot.
Aegon was already a full-fledged 12-year-old teenager. He would never be the tallest of them, but the baby fat was long gone, leaving room for a lanky and awkward boy with platinum hair and a mischievous grin. Helaena, at 10 years old, was still a bit chubby but beautiful with her long platinum hair, shy gaze, and withdrawn demeanor. Aemond, at 9, was still a tall and skinny boy. Daeron wasn’t there, as far as Rhaenyra knew; Alicent had convinced his father to have the boy stay in Old Town. Rhaenyra knew it was a common practice, but she couldn’t even imagine being separated from her baby. Jace was the same age as Daeron, and she couldn’t even joke about sending him away.
The three boys were with Viserys, nearly bouncing alongside their parents as they watched them get out of the carriage with the Strong house emblem. Aegon and Aemond still wore green, but Rhaenyra was surprised to see Helaena in black and red, just like her father Viserys, like herself, and like Jace.
“Mandia!” Helaena exclaimed nervously upon seeing her.
“My dear Helaena,” Rhaenyra smiled at her, approaching. “May I hug you?” she stopped and asked, knowing her sister didn’t particularly enjoy being touched, but to her surprise, Helaena nodded. Rhaenyra smiled and gently pulled her into her arms. Viserys beamed, as though it were the summer solstice, seeing his beautiful daughters embrace.
“And Jace?” Helaena asked, looking to the side of Rhaenyra. She never forgot the sweet, drooly baby that had kept her company the last time she was at the Red Keep.
“Muña and little Muña,” Jace heard his name and eagerly ran over, excited to see his mom and a mini woman who looked just like her, only smaller and chubbier.
Rhaenyra laughed at hearing Jace.
“Muña Haedar,” Daemon corrected him as he approached. He was the one primarily teaching all the children Valyrian. Without hesitation, Daemon hugged Viserys.
“Welcome home,” he said to the king, embracing his brother. In her past life, these two were always fighting; Daemon still drove his father crazy, but their relationship was better than ever. Rhaenyra suspected that much of this had to do with the fact that she wasn’t obsessed with Daemon in this life, and Daemon was settled with Laena and occupied with his responsibilities in Harrenhal.
“It’s good to see you well, brother. Let me introduce you to my princesses,” Daemon said as Laena approached with Baela and Rhaena. “Look how beautiful they are; these are Baela and Rhaena,” Daemon said proudly.
“They are stunning, brother. Like Laena and our mother,” Viserys patted his back. “And these handsome boys must be Lucerys and Lyonel,” he said, looking at the two children, Lucerys holding Harwin’s hand and Lyonel in Laenor’s arms. Lucerys, with his semi-long hair, almost seemed like a copy of Rhaenys, only a prettier version. Meanwhile, Lyonel, with his Strong features, resembled much of Harwin and therefore Lyonel, his grandfather. Viserys was jealous; he too wanted a grandson who resembled him. He was tired of Corlys and Lyonel showing off. “So handsome, big, and strong. Come, let me introduce you to your uncles. This is Aegon the elder, she is Helaena, my princess, and he is Aemond,” he introduced the young ones.
“Sister, I’m a dragon rider,” Aegon burst out proudly. “Sunfyre is the most beautiful dragon there is,” he assured.
“That’s great, Aegon, congratulations,” Rhaenyra smiled softly, not surprised. Then she looked at Helaena, who nodded.
“Dreamfyre a few months ago,” the girl said timidly.
“Good, then you can teach Lucerys, Jace, and Lyonel some tricks,” she praised them, glancing at Aemond, but the boy shook his head, looking down sadly. Rhaenyra approached him and bent down to his height.
“None of that,” she warned, raising his chin. “Father was much older than you when he claimed Balerion. I’ve told you before, don’t rush it; your dragon is waiting for you somewhere,” she reassured him. Only it wouldn’t be Vhagar in this life. Vhagar belonged to Laena, and Rhaenyra intended for it to stay that way until Laena was old and as wrinkled as her dragon.
“Your Majesty,” Alicent greeted more coldly, and Rhaenyra looked at her with the same disapproval as always.
***
The next morning, when her father summoned her to the council chamber along with Laenor and Harwin, Rhaenyra felt a slight unease that she decided to ignore. She entered the room, seeing her father's council and Queen Alicent already gathered when they arrived. Even Daemon had been invited, sitting to the left of her father. They greeted and sat next to Corlys and Lyonel.
“Well, I’ve invited my children,” he said, also calling Laenor and Harwin his own, not just Rhaenyra, “so that we can discuss some matters that have been worrying the realm for some time. Let’s start with something simpler. As you all know, my boy Laenor is obviously the heir of Lord Corlys, and he wants to make it clear that the next in line for his house’s succession is Lucerys Velaryon, the pearl of Driftmark.”
No one said anything, though there was a slight discomfort lingering due to Laenor’s union with another man and Princess Rhaenyra. Lucerys, with his strong resemblance to Rhaenys, was obviously Laenor Velaryon’s son, so it was clear that he would be the next heir to Corlys, even though the Faith of the Seven did not look kindly on the child’s origins.
“We will also hold a tournament in six months, and I want all the Lords of the Seven Kingdoms to come,” Viserys said, clasping his hands calmly in front of him. “This tournament will be in honor of the new heir to the throne. My daughter, as we all know, renounced her claim to the throne for love,” he said, looking at Rhaenyra with pride. “My princess, the delight of the realm,” he said with nostalgia. Rhaenyra smiled sweetly at him while taking the hands of Harwin and Laenor without regret. For Rhaenyra, the Iron Throne was not worth even one of Harwin’s precious curls or Laenor’s platinum strands. “But it’s time for me to announce a new heir, to make the line of succession clear so that if something happens to me, there will be no doubt about who will ascend the throne after me.”
Rhaenyra nodded, knowing that this day would come. The logical choice was Aegon; she didn’t really care. Harrenhal was strong enough that if Alicent went against her, she could destroy all of King’s Landing. But if they were left in peace, she would also leave them in peace. Rhaenyra saw the smile on Alicent’s face; clearly, the woman had been waiting for this moment for a long time. Nearly six years since Rhaenyra had renounced competing for the throne.
“My opinion has never changed about Rhaenyra. To me, she is my only heir, but she herself has decided to renounce the throne, and I respect that,” he nodded at his daughter, who smiled at him in relief, almost imperceptibly agreeing. “Then, by logic, the throne must pass to the next in line... my grandson Jacaerys Targaryen,” he declared. The sudden silence was complete; Lyonel blinked like a confused deer. Not even the Hand knew what the king had planned or would have warned his son. “At first, I had doubts, after all, Harrenhal also needs an heir, but now that they have Lyo to inherit Harrenhal and Lucerys will one day inherit Driftmark, I don’t feel bad about taking Jacaerys as my heir,” the king smiled proudly, unaffected.
The silence was absolute and was interrupted by Daemon’s laughter, who began to clap.
“I think it’s wonderful, and you’re absolutely right, Jacaerys should take his mother’s surname, but he will make a great heir to the Iron Throne,” Daemon nodded. Rhaenyra, Laenor, and Harwin were in shock, and Alicent, the cup she had in her hands, fell to the floor in complete shock. Her face flushed with fury, and she almost shouted.
“Father…” Rhaenyra finally managed to gather her breath. “My son… he’s a baby.”
“He’s almost six, Daeron is the same age and has already been taken in at Old Town. I know he’s your firstborn, daughter, but you can’t overprotect him. Jace will be fine.”
“Jace will not come here without me, Father,” she assured him.
“And I don’t intend for him to, daughter. I agree that he should grow up in Harrenhal until he’s older and takes his seat as heir at Dragonstone,” Viserys nodded.
“Dad, you have more children… my brothers…”
“They will remain in the line of succession beneath Jacaerys. With you out of the line, it’s the logical thing. They should be behind Lyo, but since Lyo will inherit Harrenhal and Lucerys Driftmark and neither Corlys nor Lyonel will forgive me if I steal their heirs, they will go behind Jace and any child he has in the line of succession.”
“That’s fine with me, and no one should have any complaints. I don’t have one, and between my precious nephew Jace and the other children of Viserys, I’m as far from the line of succession to the Iron Throne as a Stark,” Daemon joked, since there had never been a Queen of the North in King’s Landing. Daemon seemed to be enjoying his brother’s idea, especially since it was obvious that the queen was furious.
“Dad, this is too sudden,” Rhaenyra said.
“It’s my decision. I love you, daughter, I’m your father… but I’m also your king, and I expect obedience in this matter,” Viserys said with a firmness he rarely showed. The king would not accept any rebuttal on this issue; he had made his decision.
Rhaenyra felt panic rise in her stomach. This... this put her directly back in the fight for the throne, because she wouldn’t allow anyone to hurt Jace, and it was clear that the Hightowers would try to hurt Jace without a doubt, especially when Aegon would follow in the line after her son. She squeezed Laenor and Harwin’s hands, feeling the panic smothering her, her chest hurt, and she found it hard to breathe. Jace, her precious Jace, dead from the Triarchy’s arrows, they never recovered his body, his grave was the sea. She felt like she was going to scream, like she was going to lose her mind. Jace, Jace had to be protected, then she felt how Harwin lifted her and sat her on his lap, holding her tightly. Seconds later, Laenor was over both of them. Thus, surrounded by their arms, she slowly regained her composure. She had to think clearly, she had to protect Jace’s claim.
She thanked the heavens for having Harwin and Laenor, who didn’t mind making their moves publicly to calm her down. She nodded and took her place again, taking a deep breath and looking at her father in silence.
“I will accept in Jace’s name... with one condition,” she said after taking a breath. Viserys smiled.
“I’m listening,” he said to his daughter. As long as he got his way, he was willing to negotiate. Jacaerys would be his heir.
“Helaena will be Jace’s queen. Jace and Helaena will marry,” if the greens were going after Jace, they would also have to go after their own blood. She wanted to see if Alicent had enough cold blood to stab Helaena in the back for Aegon. She knew Otto was smarter than that, Otto wanted his blood on the throne, and he would see the wisdom of having Helaena as queen and her children succeeding Jace. But Alicent was another story entirely.
“NO!” the queen stood up furiously. “My daughter will marry Aegon.”
Rhaenyra stood from her seat; over her dead body would she allow that marriage. That marriage gave Aegon more legitimacy, she wouldn’t allow it, Jace’s path would already be hard enough with his two-way marriage to Harwin and Laenor. She would fight for every little advantage for Jace.
“Helaena will be Jace’s queen, and not only that, I want to take her into Harrenhal. I want to raise her personally, ensure she becomes a strong and proper queen as only a Targaryen can be, a worthy dragonrider, a queen worthy of her station, and even greater than Grandmother Alysanne.” Rhaenyra didn’t look at Alicent; she looked at her father directly. Either he gave her what she wanted, or she wouldn’t allow her father to throw Jace into the game of thrones.
“I agree,” Viserys accepted. Rhaenyra almost fell backward when her father agreed, her father who had always done what Alicent wanted. Apparently, this time he wanted Jace as his heir more than he wanted to please his young and beautiful wife. Out of the corner of her eye, Rhaenyra saw the incredulous and indignant look on the queen’s face. “When you leave here, you will do so with my heir and his future wife, my beautiful daughter Helaena, a worthy queen for my heir,” he agreed. “Instead, Jace will take Targaryen as his first surname, and two royal guards, one for him and one for Helaena, will accompany you.”
“Sir Erryk,” Rhaenyra requested as she took her seat. She would also like to ask for Sir Harrold Westerling, but he was her father’s guard commander, and she knew that was too much.
“Very well, Sir Erryk and Sir Arryk,” he named the pair of twins wearing the white cloak. Rhaenyra almost protested; that man had killed Erryk, who had been loyal to her, and had tried to kill her. But in the end, she nodded, although she would never lower her guard with Arryk, knowing she could trust Erryk.
***
It is said that the queen's screams in private to the king could be heard in every corner of the Red Keep, but the king never yielded; the king had made a decision.
***
Helaena was shy when her maidservant escorted her in; the poor girl looked uncomfortable under the council's gaze. Rhaenyra approached, holding Jace's hand. Her son, dressed in the colors of House Targaryen, followed obediently. When her mother stood next to Helaena, she leaned down to be at their level. She took Helaena's hand and Jace's and joined them together.
"Jace, you're still young, but one day Helaena will be your queen, your wife. You must respect her, love her, and never make her suffer," she spoke to her young son. "And you must love him and always support him, Helaena," she told her little sister. Her sister, older than Jace, understood; her cheeks turned a soft pink but she nodded.
"I will take care of him," she whispered shyly, uncomfortable with all the eyes on her but trying to be brave. "I will... be a good... queen for him."
"I know you will, Helaena. You take my treasure, always take care of him for me. From now on, your loyalty must be to him, to your future husband," she whispered pleadingly, kissing the girl's forehead and holding back the urge to cry. Jace, her poor Jace, thrown into the game of thrones. Helaena nodded, while Jace looked at her with a sweet smile, not understanding the magnitude of it all. His parents had told him that Helaena would be to him what his mother was to them. Helaena, who looked a bit like his mother, and who was so pretty, just like his mother. For Jace, that was the best news in the world; he liked the idea of marrying Helaena, although he was still too young to understand what marriage really meant. Still, the boy was obedient, kneeling in front of his grandfather's throne, still holding Helaena's hand, who knelt beside him without letting go of it. Jace felt like he was six feet tall while holding his beautiful aunt's and future wife's hand.
Jace didn't understand much of the king's words, but he smiled and nodded at everything, promising as they asked. Jacaerys Targaryen, the new heir to the Iron Throne. The very heir to whom all the lords of Westeros would swear loyalty within six months at the greatest tournament Westeros had ever seen.