Chapter Text
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When Daela Targaryen was born the Queen almost cried out of desperation. The little girl that saw the light of the sun for the first time was nothing like her siblings. Her head was filled with hair in the colour of chestnut, just like her mother's. Alicent had given birth to three children and all of them contained the characteristics of their father and king of seven kingdoms, Viserys Targaryen. Forever loyal to her husband no one had ever uttered a speculation about her being unfaithful. No one until that day.
Up to Daela's birth, Alicent was the only one who could spread rumours about Rhaenyra giving birth to bastards. Her second child, Lucerys, had been born a few days ago and just by a single glance she could tell that he could not be Laenor's. As well as her first born, he had black hair and white skin, unlike his supposed to be father. She felt good with herself talking about how Rhaenyra wasn't loyal. That way she could feel better for the fact that at least she was performing he duty with respect. But not anymore. With Daela out in the world, everything would change.
And she was correct. Whispers started going around about her forming relationships with members of the guard and others. They didn't need much of a reason to come at her. Many people despised her father when he was the Hand of the king, and were more than glad when he left King's Landing. Now those people despised her as well and favoured Rhaenyra despite being unfaithful. They always did that. They were always on her side.
In no time Alicent was hearing the maids talking with eachother, making speculations about who is the father of the child. They would always stop when she was around but she knew their assumptions.
"See Criston Cole never leaves her side."
"Larys Strong visits her daily."
They would whisper in the shadows of the castle while cleaning or cooking or taking care of her other three children.
Somehow Alicent could look past their gossiping. Viserys loved his daughter and knew better than everyone that she was his. What Alicent couldn't stand was the fear of what Rhaenyra would think of her, now that the tables had turned.
"She wouldn't have the right to say anything, my Queen. Not after she has done."
"Ser Criston, she has every right. She is the princess and the Heir. And you are not the rightful person to judge her."
This conversation had taken place some weeks after Daela had appeared for the first time in the kingdom. Viserys had organised neither a feast nor a hunt just like he had done for Aegon and Daemon since due to his illness, something like that would exhaust him. But despite that, the little princess had made her appearance.
In her mother's embrace she accompanied her siblings to the Red Keep where the people of Kingslanding had gathered along with the lords of other houses to see her. A baby with brown hair next to her Targaryen-looking relatives. The Lords were ready to join the accusations.
Rhaenyra hadn't say anything about the topic. Out of respect towards her father and out of hope that maybe this way she would stop as well the allegations about her own sons. She saw the little girl as a mean to achieve what she wanted. Peace with Alicent.
Indeed for some years the Queen stopped assuming things about the Princess' children. At least she stopped discussing them out loud with others. And this was happening for a long time. Up to the moment everyone in the council was saying how much Daela resembled her mother. The elder members of the council who remembered Alicent in her childhood could see that along with the King himself.
However the things got worse when Rhaenyra got pregnant for the third time. Alicent almost wished that the child was Laenor's, but that wasn't the case. Everyone knew that. Alicent at least knew that. She wasn't blind to see that Laenor showed no interest to his wife. At least romantically.
Those where the thoughts of Alicent Hightower when the door of her bedroom opened and Ser Criston appeared on the threshold with her daughter next to him.
"Your majesty, the princess wishes to see you.", he looked at the child next to him, and smiled.
"Let her in.", Alicent said sweetly, changing the expression on her face as soon as she saw her daughter walking towards her.
"Mother, Aemond was in the dragon pit again!."
"And you weren't supposed to be there as well!"
"I have a dragon to protect me."
"A dragon who is not trained, yet. Daela don't go there ever again, not without someone who knows how to control them."
The little girl turned to the Knight who was still on the threshold of the room.
"Can you accompany me there?", she looked him with her big doe eyes trying to get yes as an answer.
"No princess, I don't know anything about dragons."
"How is that? You are the best warrior in the palace."
"Warrior, not dragon rider, dear." Her mother said and glanced at the man to return on his watch. He nodded and left the two alone in the room.
"Mother, why don't you have a dragon?"
"I'm not a Targaryen I have no dragon would ever obey to me."
"Have you ever ridden one?"
"No.", Alicent thought I Rhaenyra. So long ago they where supposed to be always together. She was her companion. The princess had said to her that she wanted to fly with her on dragon back. That never happened. That would never happen. So many things had changed those past years.
"Well, one day I'll learn how to ride mine and then we'll fly together."
Alicent caressed her daughter's hair, "Yes , my sweet girl, we will. One day."
"You promise?"
"I do. I promise." She kissed her on the forehead, "let's go now she how's your sister doing."
Helaena was in her room. Sat on the round carpet she was observing a spider the size of her palm walking inside a box made of glass. She didn't notice them walking in.
"How's your spider?", unlike Helaena who preferred being alone, sitting in silence and observing, her younger sister had the fierce personality that was required to enter the room and capture everyone's attention simply by existing.
"Breathing in a cage."
Daela let out a sigh of desperation, it wasn't fun being around her sister. She would always give answers like that one, weird and difficult to understand. And most importantly, irrelevant with the question.
"Helaena, why are you inside? It's a lovely sunny day for a walk." Alicent asked with concern.
Daela was feeling like her mother was always concerned about something, she hadn't seen her smile that often, unlike Rhaenyra, her other sister. She was always smiling around her children, around her husband, around their father. Her mother wasn't.
Alicent was indeed always concerned. She was concerned about Aegon and his impulses, concerned about Aemond and his never dying desire to claim a dragon, concerned about Daeron who was far away from her in Old town, concerned about Helaena who was always by herself inside her room and concerned about Daela, who looked so much like her but whose personality couldn't control.
"The sun is an illusion. It shines for the others to believe it's morning."
"We could go see our brothers training."
"Swords won't save us."
The Queen sat next to her daughter but she moved aside. "Then come on, let's talk for a while."
Helaena shook her head in agreement and started talking slowly and quietly to her mother. Daela rolled her eyes and turned to exit. Alicent followed her with her gaze up to the moment she closed the door behind her.
"Princess, walking by yourself?"
"Good afternoon, Ser Harwin."
He smiled at her kindly and made a small bow to her. She giggled and bowed as well. "Where are you off to?"
"I don't know. Somewhere... Maybe I could look for my brothers."
"Join me then as I go to the yard. Maybe you'll find them there practicing."
She nodded and he took her small hand inside his. Holding her as they moved to the exit of the palace.
Three boys where running towards them. Among them was Aegon, the other two were Jacaerys and Lucerys, her two nephews. She could understand how they were older than her but still her nephews but still.
"Where are you going boys?"
"See Harwin," Jace smiled at him and stood in front of them, he waved at the girl and then returned his glance to the enormous -in Daela's eyes- man. "We're preparing something."
"My idea!" Aegon smiled mischievously and winked at his sister, "Daela, wish to join?"
"Maybe you should leave the girl out of this, my prince."
"No! Ser Harwin, please! Let me go with them."
"She's the princess, Ser Harwin, you can't say no to her!", her brother took her by her hand and waved at the Knight.
"Aegon, do you think it's a good idea?", Luke said unsurely of his uncle's decision.
"Yes! Of course. We're going to need a distraction. And our sweet and beautiful Daela is perfect for that. Aren't you?"
The little girl smiled, "I'm way more than that!", she said proudly and straightened her posture trying to appear older.
Jacaerys rolled his eyes, he wasn't agreeing with her. Daela decided to not let that ruin her good mood. She ignored him.
"She's young! What if she tells someone?"
"Luke, she's just some days younger than you. But you are correct. Daela, you have to promise us something."
"No, no. Not promise! An oath!", Jace said and after looking at his brother the two boys nodded.
Aegon nodded as well, "Yes, you're right. Daela swear that you'll never tell anyone about this."
"About what?"
"Jace will explain later. But now swear; or else you're not part of the team!"
"Did you swear?"
"Why me? Why don't you explain?"
"Daela," Luke said "we're boys. Boys don't swear unless it's really important because usually boys keep their word and honour.", he explained while opening his eyes as much as he could trying to appear serious.
"Do you want to be in the team, or not?"
"Aegon, of course I do!"
"Then swear."
"I swear."
"Swear on your dragon's life."
"I swear on my dragon's life. That I will not tell anyone about whatever this is."
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