the way of the sword

                                    

                                          

As Alyssa begins to accept her life with Daemon and his family she starts to wonder if this was the life she could've had if Daemon both knew and accepted her existence at birth. A life with her sisters who would help her with her very late learning of high Valyrian and becoming a lady of the court. A life where Daemon encourages the teaching of his daughter in the art of war and the battlefield. A life where Laena teaches her the history of both her own bloodline and the Targaryens. 
She would even tell Alyssa the tale of how she nearly became queen of Westeros to Alyssa's shock. Her respect for Laena grew everyday the more the woman was in her presence. Alyssa though could not help but miss her mother and her brother. Whilst she sent them letters every month as they did the same, it does not feel the same as the real life interactions between the Blackstar family.
Alyssa remembers her first day of proper sword training with Daemon. "You must move faster ñuha tala! You cannot expect to evade and successfully disarm and kill your enemy when your stance is as stiff as a board!" Daemon had shouted. Alyssa almost believed he was smiling when he would get the opportunity to hit her with the wooden sword he was using to train her with. She could definitely remember the bruises that would appear on her body the next morning... 
It was the next morn though when she was being taught be her newest septa and was being berated very harshly by the woman because her back was not as stiff as a board. The training became very conflictive as one would constantly find a way to disagree with the other, leaving harsh consequences to Alyssa whenever she got one mixed. Alyssa had once attempted to skip one of her septa's history lessons to recover from the previous morns sword lessons, only to be discovered by the septa nearly an hour later and was severely shouted and whacked, much to Alyssa's displeasure. She could hardly forget Daemons amused glances and her sisters slight snickers, all while she shifted uncomfortably due to her aching body at the table when they broke fast the next morn together.
Laena though would always bring Alyssa to her chambers to talk and relax together. Sharing some lemon bars and drinking tea with each other. They were each others safe havens. The person they go to whenever they need it. The historians refer to the twos relationship as one would typically have with their mother. Sometimes though Rhaena and Baela would join the two and they would all smile and laugh discussing everything and nothing that came to mind.
"If you had to be betrothed to anyone in our family who would you pick?" That was the latest topic of discussion among the women one afternoon while they broke biscuits and split tea in laughter.
"I wouldn't know dear sister. I haven't even met anyone from our family..."
"You've met Aemond though!" Rhaena speaks. She was always the more optimistic of the girls. Talking of marrying a kind lord who would give her many children to spoil and love. Blissfully unaware of how Alyssa and Baela would look at each other in a small agreement. "I think if I had to marry anyone it would be Lucerys! I hear he is the kindest out of his siblings and uncles."
"We still don't know if I even did meet Aemond mandia. I could have even met another bastard for all we know!" Alyssa shrugs as she recalls the boys face. A look of possibility appears on Rhaenas face as the thought passes through her mind. The thought though seems to soon leave as Daemon enters the room with a smile seeing all his girls together happy. It was rare when he'd see Laena smiling and yet now that Alyssa was introduced into their lives Laena could be seen smiling near everyday. 
"I'm afraid to break up your get together ñuha byka mentyr but it is time for Alyssa's egros lessons." The girls all look slightly sad but Alyssa could not help but look slightly happy at this. She may be missing out on bonding with her sister, she gets to instead fight with a known swordsman. A great one at that, though she will of course never tell Daemon. His ego probably would never be able to cope with it.
She went through that lesson though with her head stuck in the clouds. Rhaenas question from earlier making her mind run wild. As a claimed Targaryen child, would she be forced to marry a man older than her father? 
Alyssa thought of what her plan had originally been. She had successfully been recognised by not only Daemon, but his entire family, and now according to him as Laena she was going to be legitimised by the king so nobody would be able to question her status. Maybe if she played her cards right she would be able to claim a dragon? She doubted that though. Who in their right mind would allow a bastard like herself claim a dragon?