Chapter Text
She had decided to trust her old friend, trust her father, trust the purpose that had moved her family since Aegon the Conqueror. Daemon and Jacaerys didn't understand, how could they? One had apparently never been the true heir and the other she did not want to burden him with the weight of prophecy. But they would understand. Once Daemon's temper had cooled and Jace was old enough to understand the price that had been paid.
Rhaenyra only had one question, depending on how her brother answered, she would give up her crown or fight him to protect the prophecy, the duty her father had given her.
"My father gave you any message before he died ? ”
If it all turned out to be a Hightower plot she would fight, subdue with fire and blood to keep what was hers, what had been her father's wish.
Then he waited, feeling that he was beginning to lose patience. Aegon didn't reply but swallowed nervously.
They had lied.
She felt anger swell inside her. A sneer began to form on his smooth features but before he could open his mouth and break up this false gathering his half-sister stepped forward, placing a hand on the flustered Aegon's.
"It's okay." Helaena assured her husband. She turned to face Rhaenyra without fear. Her half-sister rarely confronted anyone, Rhaenyra raised her brow in a silent order for them to talk. "A promised prince, a song, our true purpose."
Helaena spoke to her in high Valyrian , her voice so low she didn't think Otto, the Velaryons, and the guards on either side had heard. It was very likely that only Aegon, Rhaenyra, Rhaenys, and Daemon understood what she said.
Rhaenyra held up her hand in confusion, that was certainly enough. She had really only expected Aegon to say something about knowledge passed down from heir to heir. It's what she would have said.
But why had Helaena responded and not Aegon?
"You know." It was an accusation rather than a question. Something wasn't right. Rhaenyra felt doubt rise and her hands itch.
Helaena nodded slowly.
“A shared load is less heavy, don't you think?”
From anyone else Rhaenyra would have suspected mockery, would have suspected they knew about the purple ring her husband had left around her neck. But this was Helaena, sweet and simple…and yet she seemed to be a support to Aegon. The support her brother would need for his burden. A support like Laenor had failed to deliver and Daemon had proven fickle.
Something like jealousy and pain stirred inside her. She closed her eyes trying to think less emotionally.
What had her father seen? Why did he change his mind? This feeling is what led Daemon to lash out?
Rhaenyra felt insecure but she had come with a purpose. She pushed away the pain of being wrong, of not being enough, of finally being pushed aside by the son, the heir that her father always wanted and that so many had said was truer than her. Rhaenyra's eyes widened and she looked to the side. She stepped over Daemon who was trying to say no with fire in his eyes, resting her gaze on Rhaenys's face instead.
They had never liked each other much, especially not after her marriage to Laenor (and how much she had wanted to tell her the truth, but it was too dangerous for all of them) but at the moment of truth Rhaenys hadn't wanted a war, which was why she had given up to her own claim and that of her son, which is why she had refused to strike the first blow even though she declared her support for her son's apparent widow.
Rhaenys looked encouraging, she had earned the dragonrider 's respect in an unexpected way, and whatever little comfort it was filled her with joy. Rhaenyra wondered if she knew the prophecy, if her father had told her, or if King Jahaerys had withheld the knowledge from Aemon , then Baelon , and finally Viserys.
Was love for her family that held back Rhaenys' hand, or duty to the realm? It didn't matter, Rhaenyra was protecting her family AND the kingdom. It was what her father would have wanted from her.
Pushing away the bitter feeling, Rhaenyra lifted her hands from the back of her chair where she had kept them refusing to sit until now. She nodded to Helaena and Alicent ignored Otto and fixed her gaze on her half brother. She was ready for negotiations.