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Chapter Text

Chapter Text

There are days that Lucerys Velaryon can't look at his sister. It's not because he thinks she's ugly. Gods no. Lucerys thinks his sister is one of the most beautiful girls he has ever seen. Long, snow-white hair cascading in tight curls down her back. The vision of a true Valyrian.

He can't look at her some days because of the guilt. 

His otherwise flawless oldest sister is missing an eye. And it's all because of him. She and their uncle both lost an eye the same night because of him. 

Lucerys has lived with this guilt for almost six years. It eats him from the inside, festering in his heart like a black, sticky goo. It's tar-like and it makes him wanna throw up.

Next to Lucerys is his brother, Jacaerys Velaryon. He wants to hate his sister for what she has done. He wants to despise her. Because he, as the eldest son and heir to the throne, should be the one to protect their siblings ─ not her. But he can't.

He knows that his sister has given up a lot. She has given the right to the throne to him. Because she knows he will be a far better candidate than herself. She has no taste for the crown or power. Y/n Velaryon has told him so herself.

And now she has given up her freedom. The freedom to choose whom she marries. At least that is what all the Velaryon siblings have in common, their marriages are chosen for them. 

Across the table, sits the Stranger himself personified. Aemond Targaryen watches with not so well hidden amusement how Lucerys squirms under his gaze. Aemond does however not enjoy the emotionless look his niece has on her face.

He always thought they were equal; two halves of the same. But in contrary to how he hides the jewel that fills the empty socket, she shows it with pride. An amethyst shines eminently in place of her eye, the colour matching the one she gave his mother half a decade ago.

It excites him. He truly believes that she did it all for him. Over the years, her eyeball kept him company, whispering how they are meant to be together. It drives him crazy how she teases him.

The King gives a heartfelt speech, after which the other members of the royal family follow. The Queen and Princess seem to reconcile, and Jacaerys makes a not-really-meant reconciliation to his uncles. Princess Helaena looks really proud of herself once she has spoken, earning a few chuckles and a nod from her grandsire.

Once Jacaerys takes his aunt to dance, princess Y/n's eyes drift from them to her uncle, who's already staring intently at her. She raises her eyebrow and lifts her cup to take a sip of the wine. It's like she's challenging him, decides Aemond.

Before he can act on his desire to claim her before their family, a still-sizzling piglet get's placed before him and the quiet laughs of his nephew set him off. His speech is damaging and the Queen buries her face in her hands.

Jacaerys punches Aemond first but gets pushed to the ground fairly easily. Aegon grabs Lucaerys and pushes his face on the table. The one-eyed princess jumps up from her chair and kicks her eldest uncle in the back of his knees so he lets go of her brother and slams his head on the table.

Jacaerys breaks free from the guards that restrained him but contains himself when his sister steps in between uncle and nephew

"You should be ashamed of yourself", she hisses, chest heaving and jaw set. She feels Jacaerys ready to pounce like a wild animal behind her but she doesn't budge. "Your tongue should be cut out for talking such blasphemy."

What nobody expected is that Aemond advances, grabbing hold of the Princess' throat. Swords are unsheathed and shouts for the Prince to let go of his niece. But his gaze is set on her only eye, mirroring his own.

"You're playing a dangerous game, uncle. If my betrothed in the North hears about you putting your hands on his princess, Cregan Starks won't hesitate to march down to here. Then your eye won't be the only thing you've lost." The last part is only for her uncle to hear.

Aemond's jaw tenses, but it is his mother that speaks his thoughts. "Betrothed? Since when?"

Princess Y/n frees herself from her uncle's hold to address the Queen. There is a certain look in the brown orbs of the Queen that betray her true feelings.

"Such a same isn't it, Queen Hightower? Now you won't have a purple-eyed bride for your green-coloured son."

The face of the Queen hardens and Prince Daemon grabs his step-daughter's arm, ordering her and her brothers to go to their quarters.

With one last sharp look at Aemond, the princess leaves to pack for their return home to Dragonstone and she swears to never return to the capital while the Greens plague the halls of the keep. At least not of her free will.

Chapter Text

The King is dead. The Greens usurped the throne and crowned Aegon before the people of King's Landing. When word of the treachery reached the ears of the True Queen's court, it was already too late. The Blacks need allies and stat.

"Send us, mother", spoke the Velaryon princess during the Black council, making everybody turn to her and her siblings. "You need messengers, and dragons are quicker than ravens."

And so it is done, Lucaerys is sent to Storm's End and Jacaerys and (Y/n) are sent to Winterfell. The princess sees the scared look on her little brother's face when their mother mentions him flying alone.

"Send me with Luke, mother", she pleads, grabbing both of her mother's hands. "My dragon will for sure scare some sense into the man."

But their mother shakes her head. "I need you and Vermithor in the North. And I need you to grow close to Cregan Stark."

She sighs frustrated. "We're on the brink of war, mother. This isn't the time to court and to plan a wedding."

"I am not asking this of you as your mother. I am saying this as your Queen. You are to go the Winterfell and that's an order."

At the harsh tone of her mother, the Princess takes a step back and lowers her eyes. "Yes, your Grace." 

She turns around and goes to the Dragonpit, where her brothers are already saddled up on their dragons. She strokes the scales of Vermithor before raising taking place on the back of her dragon.

The dragons push off, gliding through the air the Princess goes flying next to Luke and Vermax. "Please be careful. Promise me that you won't do anything stupid."

Luke swallows and looks at his sister, whose eyes are soft and filled with worry. "I promise."

And after that brief interaction, the siblings part ways.

The flight to Winterfell is not one too difficult. If the colours grow bleaker and the air colder, they know that they are going the right way.

Their presence is announced by Vermithor who roars loudly and the ground shakes as the two dragons touch down. Guards are at the ready as they have seen the two dragons approach the castle from miles away, swords and lances at the ready. 

"I'm Crown Prince Jacaerys Velaryon, accompanied by Princess (Y/n) Velaryon. We bring a message to Lord Stark from the Queen."

The guards nod and lead the royal siblings into the main hall where Cregan Stark is seated on the throne carved out of white marble.

Before Jace can take the lead, the Princess steps forwards.

"I did not come here as your betrothed, Lord Stark. We come here as messengers of House Targaryen, asking for your support in the claim of Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen, first of her name."

Cregan Stark sits back on his throne and rubs a hand over his stubble, a large fur cloak draped over his shoulders. "Of course. My father bend the knee to the Queen then, and I'll follow in his footsteps willingly. I'll have an official document drawn up to pledge my stance to Queen Rhaenyra.

He waves for someone of a maester to prepare the document and a seal. "In the meantime, I would like to offer e meal and warm clothes."

It's no secret that both Velaryon siblings are a slightly bit underdressed for Winterfell weather, even with their thickest cloaks. Before the princess can decline, her brother steps in front of her, accepting the invite. She glares at him but remains quiet, following after a maid to receive a thicker dress and cloak.

While the maid laces up her dress, the princess looks melancholy out of the window. She wonders how her brother is doing, if his flight went well and if Lord Borros is a good host to him.

"You look pained, my Princess."

She turns around and looks at Cregan with the same sombre look. The maid takes her leave and the two betrothed are alone.

"I must apologise, my Lord, but my mind is elsewhere." 

As Cregan grabs the fur coat that lays on the bed, he motions for her to continue while also turning around. "How so?"

"Just as my brother and I are sent to you, my Lord, our youngest brother is sent to Storms End. And while he's a dragon rider, he is no soldier. He's just a boy... wanting to make his house and family proud."

Lord Stark fastens the cloak on her shoulders before turning her around. "I may not know your brother, Princess, but if I know one thing about Targaryens it is that a dragon is not easily defeated. And that also applies to the pups."

She gives him a slight smile, his words somewhat calming her worrying heart.

Cregan leads her towards the banquet hall, her hand wrapped around his bicep. But when she enters and sees her cousin stand next to Jace with a worried look on her face, the princess drops her hand and rushes towards them.

"What is wrong?"

Baela turns towards her and grabs her hands. "We've had word from Storms End. Luke is taken by Aemond to King's Landing and Aemond is asking for you."

She hands the Princess the letter she showed Jace. "It was strapped on Vermax. Apparently, Aemond was also sent to Storms End to earn Lord Borros' favour. And it looks like the Greens have won it."

My dearest beloved,

Oh, how you seem to love to toy with my heart, my darling. Teasing me with your gifted eyeball as a proposal but then you later reveal that that filthy wolf of the North has won the right to your virtue. One that is promised as mine long ago.

I expect you soon at our wedding, my precious dragon. Or else the bastard isn't going to only lose his sight.

Forever yours,

A.

The Princess feels her bowls turn and bile rises up. He has taken her brother as collateral so she will come to him. She doesn't want to think about what he's willing to do to the young boy.

She stumbles back, but Cregan is there to catch her and lead her to a chair. He gently takes the letter out of her hands and reads it for himself. 

"I... I have to..."

"Have the dragons readied immediately! We depart in then minutes!", calls out Cregan to a servant, who scurries off.

Both Jace and Baela nod determined and fasten their cloaks.

"No!", the Princess croaks out, jumping out of the chair and gripping the shoulders of her brother. "You're not going! You and Baela both have to return home."

Jace wants to protest, but the grip of his sister on his shoulders only tightens. "Both of you are the future of the Realm. It's my job as the oldest to keep all of you safe. I've done it once before, and I would do it a million times."

Her brother glances at the amethyst in her socket and looks at the ground, taking a step back and dropping his shoulders. The Princess hugs her cousin one last time before running out of the hall, Cregan hot on her heels. He grabs her shoulder and makes her turn to look at him. 

"I'm not letting you go on this- this suicide mission on your own. As you said to your brother, you are the future of The North."

"My Lord-", she tries to protest.

"Cregan. Call me Cregan, (Y/n). And one thing you have to know about The North is that we're very stubborn. Now, does your dragon fit two people?"

It makes her laugh as she leads her betrothed to where Vermithor is already saddled up and ready to go. "He's only the second biggest dragon in the world. He was ridden by King Jaehaerys the First." She runs a hand over his neck and rests her head against him. "Please be kind to Cregan, we really need you now."

Vermithor shakes his head in an understanding way and lets the two mount him. He pushes off and with speed, he's gone from Winterfell.

By the time they arrive in King's Landing, the sun has set. The Princess has tried to land Vermithor in a discreet location, but the behemoth is easily spotted by the King's Guards. 

Cregan rests his hand on the hilt of his sword as he lets the Princess take the lead. His eyes scan their surroundings as they get led up the stairs and to the prince's apartments.

There, in the middle of the room, stands Aemond with Luke, a knife pressed at the younger's neck as the boy struggles against Aemond's hold.

"Leave us", he tells the guards, and they obey, closing the door behind them.

The single eye of Aemond falls on the Northman protectively trailing behind her, he tightens the grip around the blade. Luke whimpers.

"I'm here, as you wished Aemond. Now let my brother go." Her voice is surprisingly clear and steady for all the feelings that rage through her body.

Aemond cocks his head to the side. "The Wolf wasn't as agreed, my  love ."

The nickname sickens the Princess.

"There was no agreement. You wanted to see me, and I am here. I kept my promise. Now you."

A humourlessly laugh escapes Aemond's lips. "But did you? You promised yourself to me, and yet here. You Are." He kicks a glass over to her, and it rolls past her, to Cregan's feet. "Remember your engagement present to me. How you didn't want me alone?"

Cregan picks up the glass and the Princess turns to look at it. It's her eye she gave to the then Queen all those years ago. Aemond had kept it for his own sick delusions.

She grabs the jar and smashes it to the ground. "You sick bastard! I did it to protect my own! And not because some pathetic boy wanted to take something he doesn't own!"

A yelp comes from Luke as Aemond presses the knife deeper into his skin. The younger boy's eyes look at her scarred, tears rolling over his cheeks. He doesn't want to die. 

"Silence!", Aemond growls at the boy in his arms, making the latter tremble and crawl at the arm that holds him. "You want your brother? Fine, here he is."

Aemond pushes the boy out of his arms, but not before cutting Luke's throat. 

An agonizing scream leaves the lips of the Princess and she drops to the ground, clutching Luke's body in her arms, desperately trying to stop the blood from seeping out of her little brother's neck. "No... no... no... no!", she whimpers, tears falling down in fat dollops.

Behind her, Cregan has drawn his sword and advanced to Aemond, who has his own sword drawn, ready for battle.

The Princess's hands are coated with sticky blood. Luke grabs her hands, "tell mother... tell mother I love her, please. And Jace. And Daemon. A-and you, most of all, my belov-"

Before he can finish his sentence, life slips from his eyes. The Princess gasps for air, shaking her brother desperately. She cries, wails, and begs for the boy to wake up.

Wrath fills her every pore, and she looks up from her brother's corpse in her arms. She reaches for the blade not far dispensed from them and grabs it.

She stands up, a murderous glint in her eye and blood on her dress. With a cry, she advances towards the two sword-fighting men and weaves between them. She managed to push Cregan away before plunging the blade into Aemond's only remaining eye and twisting it deeply.

In a twisted way, she mirrors the former Queen that night. Ready to take justice when the world won't give it to her. 

The prince staggers back and falls to the ground. He claws at the knife in his face. But the Princess climbs on top of him and reaches for his neck, squeezing shut his windpipe.

Aemond tries to fight her off, but the rapid blood loss and his air supply being cut off makes him weak.

She screams through her tears and lifts him up, before bringing his head down to the ground. Time after time after time. At one point Aemond stops moving, but the Princess is blinded by rage that she keeps bashing his head to the ground.

Cregan grabs her and pulls her off the lifeless body of the prince. She screams, trashes, and sobs in his arms. The guards are slamming against the doors, but Cregan managed to lock them so they can't get in.

"We have to leave, (Y/n)... If they catch us they will murder us."

But she shakes her head, getting up and walking towards the corpse of the one-eyed prince. "No, I have to do something first."

She grabs one of the swords that lay on the ground and lifts it above her head. In one blow, Aemond's head is separated from his body. "Take Luke and go to Vermithor. If I have not returned in half an hour, leave. Make sure he gets a proper dragon rider's burial."

Without a word, Cregan does what she asks of him and grabs the boy's body in his arms and hurries out of a side door, easily bypassing the guards.

Princess (Y/n) Velaryon grabs Aemond's head by his hair ─ the knife still in his head ─ and with the other, she drags the sword over the ground.

Once she opens the doors, the guards spill in but all stop shocked when they see the Princess, covered in blood and carrying the head of a prince.

She begins the track to the former Queen's apartments and nobody dares to stop her, seeing the true fury of a dragon. 

The doors get kicked open and the former Queen jumps up from her couch, where she sits with her daughter. The One-eyed Princess throws the head of Aemond on the former Queen's feet. The woman looks mortified, while Helaena lets out a scream.

"A brother for a brother,  Alicent Hightower . Bent the knee to the true Queen of end up like your son." She points the sword at the elder woman, who still looks with wide eyes and trembling hands at her son's lifeless head, both eyes now gone.

"You... YOU MONSTER!, she screams, dropping to the ground. Helaena is scared, it can be smelled from a mile away. And the Princess revels in it. 

"I take that as a no then, what a pity." With that, the Princess turns around and makes her way out of the Keep, the cries of the former Queen filling her ears.

Once she reaches Cregan, he looks relieved. He rushes towards her to check her over. "Are you okay? You're not wounded, are you?"

The Princess shakes her head. "No, I'm okay. Fyshicall."

They both mount Vermithor but instead of flying home, the large dragon circles above the Red Keep. "Dracarys!", the Princess yells and Vermithor opens its beak, setting the castle and surrounding houses ablaze. He circles around a couple more times, filling the streets with deadly fire before departing for Dragonstone.

When the land, the Queen is already anxiously standing in the Dragon pit. Cregan and the Princess drop from the back of Vermithor and somberly present Lucaerys' corpse. 

"I tried, my Queen. I really did. But Aemond was set on revenge. And I took my own."

Her mother looks up, eyes mortified. "What did you do?" The cold look in her daughter's eye scares the Queen. 

"I burned them down. Every. Last. One of them."