Chapter Text
A laugh escaped Shaena’s lips as she watched her youngest brother, Viserys, climb up into their mother's lap with the energy and carelessness of a child of five. He sat on his knees atop their mother's thighs and pushed himself out the window of the carriage as far he could with his mother hanging to his waist tightly while he waved joyfully as the crowd of Small folk who were cheering them.
They were returning home from attending mass at the Great Sept of Baelor. Shaena shared a carriage with her mother, her brothers Viserys and Jaehaerys, and her soon to be good-sister, Cersei Lannister. Her other brothers, Daeron and Aegon were in a separate carriage with Cersei’s brother, Jaime, and the Hand of the King, Lord Tywin Lannister. The hand was Cersei’s and Jaime’s father.
Shaena could only imagine the questions that Aegon, a boy of ten, had for the lion's heir. Aegon dreamed of being a great knight, and the young Ser Jaime was a renowned swordsman at only sixteen. He was Aegon's new obsession. Since Ser Jaime returned from a tourney at Harrenhall little Aegon had become his shadow. To a little boy like Aegon who wanted to be a knight, the young Ser Jaime was someone to admire and he was doubly excited that Jaime would be his good-brother soon.
Months ago, Ser Jaime had left Lord Whents Great Tourney early to return his sister to Kings Landing when she caught an ill stomach at a feast midway between Lord Whents great tourney. Something she ate the Maester said, but her brother wanted to take no chances and wished her examined by the grand maester at the Red Keep. After all, she was to be the future queen once she married Rhaegar, she deserved the highest quality treatment and care.
Rhaegar himself, Cersei’s besotted betrothed, did not accompany the siblings but stayed behind for the duration of the festivities. It was something that had obviously displeased Lady Cersei a great deal. Her mood was sour ever since she realized Rhaegar had not planned to follow her departure. To put salt in her wound he had not even the decent to write and ask after her well-being, to her directly or to the grand maester or any of his family. Many tried to comfort and reassure her that it didn’t mean anything. The prince had to entertain lord When with their father and was probably bombarded with requests for audiences by the many lords in attendance at the tourney. Rhaegar simply forgot or had not the time to write to them.
But then there was the scandal of Rhaegar having crowned Lyanna Stark as the queen of love and beauty when he won the jousting competition. When Cersei had heard this she just tossed her hair over her shoulder and shrugged. "Well, without me there, he had to crown someone as the winner. It means nothing but that the prince is kind to take pity on the Northern girl whose own betrothed was trotting off with kitchen wenches and ladies ever evening."
It was true, and many spoke of how Robert Baratheon had laughed in the face of Rhaeger crowing his betrothed, stating the prince was just paying his lady her due. But they also spoke of Lord Robert's jealousy and resentment over it. Ser Barristan said that the moment the crown of flowers was laid in the young Stark girl's laps, everyone went silent and there was not a smile to be seen on a single face.
Aerys had returned straight after the tourney but Rhaegar had chosen to keep away from home, instead, he took up residence at Dragonstone and ignored their father's many commands to come to court. He seemed desperate to stay away until his wedding day. But a week ago, the maester at Dragonstone wrote that Rhaegar had departed Dragonstone and it was the assumption he was coming at last to Kings Landing.
Once he and Lady Cersei were wed they were to stay at court for the foreseeable future. Finally, Rhaegar would sit on his father's council, and prepare for the day he was to become king. Until now, her older brother has been a restless soul. He had been traveling through the realm on his own for so long and their father wished him to get reacquainted with the duties of a crown prince.
It would be nice to get to know her brother, Shaena thought. It felt like she had very rarely seen him growing up, which seemed strange as it had once been her father's intention for her and Rhaegar to wed, keeping the Targaryen crown pure. But there were more benefits to a betrothal to the Hand of the King's daughter to be had, and because Shaena had never been close to her brother, she did not feel much disappointment when an official betrothal was made between Rhaegar and Cersei.
Shaena was betrothed to her younger brother, Daeron. Her father was determined that one of his sons keep the Targaryen line pure. Daeron and she were close so she was not so terribly uncomfortable with the idea, despite growing up with the Faith's teachings that incest was an abomination. When she was old enough to question it, her father and mother explained that Targaryen’s were the exception to this law of the faith, for Targaryen’s were not like other men and women, they were the blood of Old Valyria and could ride Dragons. They were superior to the First Men and Andals of Westeros.
“Mass was lovely,” Shaena angled herself in her carriage seat to better face Cersei. Jaehaerys sat across from Cersei, a boy of seven, his head tilted down and eyes squinted in concentration as he scribbled a piece of charred stick over the page, drawing something or the other. He was completely absorbed in what he was doing to mind any of them any attention.
“I found the Septon’s sermon about the Stranger quite engaging and refreshing, would you agree?” she continued on with Cersei.
Since the Lady Cersei had moved into the Hands Tower with her father, as she planned her wedding and became acquainted with those of the family she would soon be entering, Shaena had made every attempt as a princess and soon to be good-sister to socialize and get to know Cersei. Shaena tried to befriend her, they were only a year apart in age after all and would be family, but Cersei was of a nature that unsettled her. She presented others with a smiling, demure mask. Appeasing the court with her bright, golden beauty and sardonic wit but there was wickedness in Cersei. She walked and talked as if she were already the queen. And though she was pleasant to her soon to be family, there was a prickliness that kept you from getting too close and a vicious disregard she had for others that Shaena had witnessed her to have.
She had once caught her pinching Viserys cheek till it was red and he was crying. There was something very dark in her, to hurt a child so needlessly. In frightened Shaena.
Shaena’s mother looked at Cersei with a waiting smile, wanting to hear her thoughts on the mass as well. Her mother had been happy to welcome a new daughter. She did not share the same rivalry and bitter resentment towards the Lannister’s as her father felt. Even despite the rumors that Cersei’s mother, Joanna Lannister who was a lady in waiting to her own mother, had been her father's paramour after he ascended the throne. When Shaena had been told that Lady Cersei would be living at the Red Keep with her father until the wedding and perhaps after, Shaena had asked her mother about her feelings and her past with the Lady Joanna. So little cared how her mother felt about things so Shaena made it a point to ask after her thoughts and emotions.
“I could ignore your father's infidelities as it is almost expected of kings to take mistresses. But taking his pick from my ladies was too humiliating and I owed it to the women in my service to allow no one to turn them into whores.” her mother's smile was almost rueful. “Lady Joanna was a beloved companion to me. She had a ferociously clever wit and easy charm that I appreciated but it was for the best I sent her away. For her own wellbeing, and for the realm.”
She had meant by this, that if Lady Joanna stayed at court and continued to be advanced upon by Shaena’s father then as a woman she had little power to turn him away, fight back, and when the line was crossed the rift between king and hand would grow to a gaping chasm with no hope of bridging. It was clear to all that the stone-hearted Tywin Lannister loved his wife exponentially and he would not tolerate any offense against her.
The golden-haired lioness smiled brightly when she noticed the queen's attention on her. “Yes, it was a very different take from what the Septon at The Rock says of the Stranger.”
Her mother smile grows a little before her attention returns to Viserys. Cersei scowled at that. A tight, twisting, and pursing of lips that soon smoothed out to a thin line and then a forced smile directed at Shaena.
Cersei was different when it came to Shaena’s mother. She was more sincere, almost sweet when the queen's attention was focused on her. It was like she was a completely different person. But it didn’t feel like an act that Cersei put on just to impress the current queen. She seemed to truly want Shaena’s mother to like her and was eager for her approval and affection and Shaena’s mother was free with both. Shaena thought Cersei’s attachment to her mother was because she had lost her own mother young. Rhaella was a willing substitute who happily poured affection and love onto Cersei, giving her gifts and inviting her to women’s sit-downs and family meals often.
It would be innocent enough and no need for concern, but Cersei was possessive of Shaena’s mother and was witnessed to become easily jealous and violent toward the younger children who occupied a great deal of her mother's time and attention.
Shaena had approached her mother about her fears and what she had seen.
“I understand your worries, my heart, I truly do. That is why I must ask you to watch over your brothers for me. Keep them away when Lady Cersei has need of my attention,” she had said to her with a rueful smile. "You are so good with the boys, it will be no hard task for you I am sure."
Shaena had tried to argue but her mother quieted her with a most serious look.
“The crown needs this marriage to go through, Shaena. Your father teeters every day on waging war against the Westerlands out of spite and resentment toward Lord Tywin. This marriage will not just fund the realm but keep the peace for years to come.” she took her daughters face in hand, their matching eyes holding each other. Her mother's eyes were indigo, a color that was passed to her two oldest children and them alone. The others all had lilac or violet eyes. Shaena also has her mothers darker, platinum gold hair, as did Aegon. Her other brothers all had paler, more silver-toned hair like their father.
“Cersei---”
“Is to be your sister and the next queen of Westeros after myself. We need to be kind to her, patient with her and do our best to teach her how to be a part of this family.” with these words her smile had hope in the curve of it. Her mother placed a soft kiss to both her temples and their conversation was put to an end.
“I’ve never attended a wedding before in the Sept of Baelor. Only the royal family and their relatives are allowed to wed in the Great Sept.” Shaena tried to exude more excitement about the coming marriage of Cersei and her brother. Cersei gave her a tight smile, as if she were humoring a child. In response, Shaena’s own smile grew tight. Shaena was ten and five and Cersei were but a year older than her, so she did not have so much high ground for maturity as she seemed to present herself with.
“Is your wedding gown finished? I am eager to get a glimpse of it or will you have us all wait till the wedding to see?” she continued this train of conversation with Cersei, distracting her from how her mother was gushing and giggling over little Viserys in her arms.
Cersei seemed happy enough to talk of her impending nuptials to her. Boasting how it would the grandest of weddings to rival all royal affairs that came before. Cersei’s father was sparing no expense. It would be a true spectacle, one that would enrich the highborn and excite the small folk. Most of all, it would be a show of wealth and power for House Lannister, as if either was in question.
Shaena’s father hated it. He saw it as a The Lord Hand purposely trying to show him up by use of pageantry. The king had become paranoid, bitter, and jealous of his old friend. The king was a proud man, and years ago when people began to say it was Tywin Lannister who truly ruled the realm it was a heavy blow to her father's ego. When this began, her father had started to purposely act opposite of Lord Tywin’s council in spite and to try and make a point that he was king not Lord Tywin. But by not properly considering his old friend's council leads the king to make disastrous choices. Such that lead him to his capture and torment at Duskendale four years ago. She could still remember the panic and worry of her mother and the council, terrified of what would happen. It was such a relief when the received word that the King had been retrieved, though not completely unharmed. Her father had been ruthless in his punishment of all the occupants of Duskendale. Guilty and innocent in the defiance and crimes of their lord.
It was many people's hope this marriage might help heal the rift between her father and Lord Tywin. For once they had been good friends, and perhaps being in-laws would spark that former friendship, now that they found themselves bound to each other in a much more deeper way than the codependency of the political positions of king and hand. And with Lady Joanna deceased, it would be difficult for even her father to insult the fair lady to Tywin’s face when he rested in her tomb. Even her callous father had some sense of respect for the memory of the dead, though it was little seen. An approved relationship between her father and his old friend would certainly be a pleasant side effect of this union and make the court more bearable, though the reasons for the match were far more politically inclined.
Despite her father's wish to have a true Targaryen legacy, the crown need House Lannister’s gold more for there to be a legacy to continue. So the original plan for Shaena to marry Rhaegar was dismissed for an official betrothal to the then ten-and-two Cersei Lannister at the time. Tywin though not loved, was feared and respected and they need to secure both his wealth and tactical power and Twyin wanted a hand on the Throne. Tywin had already made it clear when he attempted to resign from his position after the anniversary tourney that if he was not appreciated, and his family not respected he would remove himself from the court and take his gold with him. Her father of course had waived off his resignation with a laugh, refusing to accept it. After all, Tywin may be Hand to the King but he was still a subject like all other lords and he served at the pleasure of his king. But it had made her father worry, her mother explained when she was older and had asked why she wasn’t to marry Rhaegar anymore. Tywin did not ask for reward, no, he was too proud but he did still expect something for his loyalty and his achievements done in the name and benefit of the crown. He had helped ensure prosperity and peace for many years and the crown relied heavily on him.
It was no wonder why the rumors of Tywin being the true ruler of the realm began.
The matter was, and it was a difficult truth for the king to accept, Lord Tywin and his gold had become indispensable to the throne. Done on purpose perhaps, he had ingrained himself into the reign of her father to such a powerful degree, that to pull himself out would be like to rip the foundation out from a building. It would wobble and collapse at the first rough wind or shake of the earth. Her father was not equipped to rule alone and her mother though intelligent and charming, she did not come with the wealth and tactical brilliance that the gods had granted Lord Lannister to aide her father and the realm. A part of that was the king's fault, he had never liked her mother to be much more than a pretty figure on his arm to make himself look more regal at court and in privacy, she was nothing but a broodmare to breed more Targaryen sons with.
A choice had to be made about how to keep Tywin Lannister in the crown's pocket. The cost had been subtly hinted at over the years and it was making Cersei Lannister queen. Tywin wanted more than just a rumor of being a shadow king, he wanted his blood on the throne for true, a crown atop a golden lions mane.
“Father says he will fund the restoration of Summerhall as a wedding gift for I and Rheager,” Cersei said with an excited and smug smile on her face. Shaena tried not to frown.
Daeron was the prince of Summerhall, then when Rhaeger took the crown and had to abandon Dragonstone, Daeron would be the prince of Dragonstone and Aegon would then be Prince of Summerhall. It was wonderful that the castle would be restored, she knew Rheagar often visited there so it was a lovely gift indeed that he would appreciate but the entitlement for it in Cersei’s voice grated Shaena.
“What a lovely and generous gift,” her mother entered the conversation. When Shaena looked, Viserys was curled up, eyes dropping as the rock of the carriage lulled him to sleep after tiring himself out with his overexcitement. “It was such a beautiful keep before the fire.”
Cersei’s face ignited, and Shaena could understand why she was called the light of the west. Cersei was talking even more animatedly than before as she told Shaena’s mother about all her plans for Summerhall and inviting Rhaella to consult since she had seen Summerhall herself as it once was and could help keep the new additions as close to the old as possible. Cersei went on to talk about how she would have a tourney once it was complete to celebrate.
As Cersei kept eye contact and conversation with her mother, Shaena thought to alleviate the weight of Visery’s from her mother's lap and took the boy into her own. Her mother shot her a very quick, grateful glance before her full attention was back on her soon to be good-daughter.
Shaena hoped the roads would clear more so they could get back sooner. Construction had started moving into the main city last year to replace old structures with marble designs. It had all started during the beginning of her father's reign, after the birth of her brother, Daeron, in 269AC. It was one of the few of her father's dreams for his reign that he was actually seeing through. A city of marble.
It started with her father ordering a small new city to be built on the south bank of the Black Water, which had risen to be the pearl of Kings Landing. It was a glistening, new town that example what the rest of the city was to be. Her father had some of the best craftsmen in the city open new, dazzling shops for the highborn of the court to enjoy without the stench and filth of the rest of the city and soon the rest of Kings Landing would be made to match. The plan was to slowly destroy and rebuild kings landing to all marble housing. The Dragon Pit would be torn down completely and a tower will be risen up from the rubble. The tower would be near as large as High Tower and up it's body would climb sixteen stone dragons, with three at the very peak of the tower. There would be a stone dragon for each of the dragons the Targaryen's had since they landed in Westeros. Obviously, the three at the top would be Balerion, Meraxes and Vhagar. The original three dragons the Targaryen's brought to Westeros.
The idea to deconstruct and rebuild Kings Landing came to her father from his disgust by the foul smell of the city due to the long issues with the latrines and the sewer system. The best way to repair that was by demolishing the old buildings, gut out and fix the current drains, and install new aqueducts in the foundations. If you had to tear it all down anyway to fix the problem why not keep building better? Despite the inconveniences and the time, it would take to complete, Shaena thought it was brilliant. It would one day lead to much better lives for all the people in King's Landing. The smallfolk would have cleaner living conditions, warmer homes, and easy to traverse paved streets. The Targaryen's too would look the better for it down the road as well. It would be a proud achievement, a new jewel in the crown of the Targaryen's legacy.
“Aegon found Kings Landing and made it a city of wood and dirt, Maegar built from that with bricks but I shall leave it a city of marble before my rule is over,” the maester recorded her father proclaiming in court the day he announced the start of his new project. “We shall have a true, New Valyria in Westeros when I am done!”
Shaena only hoped a new Doom did not follow their New Valyria.