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Chapter Text

Haelyx could see his father by law crying as he held a lifeless body. From where she stood she could see the almost decapitated head and the red hair. Her head bobbed and Haelyx's vision was blurry and tunnel-like.

she couldn't focus

She couldn't see who was dead

edmyn…

Edmyn!

-Wife…

Edmyn's voice was like a splash of cold water on Haelyx's head and everything around her calmed down. She noticed how her hands gripped the front of her dress and how she was breathing strangely.

Haelyx turned around and saw Edmyn who was lying on the ground, along with other wounded. The right side of his face was covered in bandages and his arm was held in place by some cloth and sticks in a rather crude cast.

But he was alive.

He was still breathing, his heart was beating and Haelyx could feel his warmth even without leaning against his chest.

He was alive, her husband was alive

Someone, she didn't know who, helped her to kneel beside Edmyn and she gently touched the bandages before caressing her husband's bare cheek. Haelyx just sobbed when she saw Edmyn injured and was thankful that he was alive. Because he would have come back to her since the battle

Oscar helped her up and walked them to the bedroom Haelyx had originally used so Edmyn could sleep peacefully.

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Haelyx helped the Maester change the bandages on Edmyn's face. The direwolf's claws had made shallower wounds than the Maester had originally thought. Edmyn looked at Haelyx and she just smiled.

Edmyn realized that Haelyx had healed him.

- If you're lucky you may not even have a scar, boy. When I saw the wound so inflamed at first I thought you would lose an eye. – The Maester patted Edmyn on the shoulder and Haelyx remembered that this man had come to Riverrun to help with the birth that gave Edmyn life. – Of course, the ear will not grow back

Haelyx winced as she saw half of Edmyn's ear gone. Now her husband's right ear was sharp and he was missing a part of the upper pinna of his ear.

-That is a proof of the great warrior that is my son. – Elmo Tully kissed the forehead of his son, surprising everyone

Haelyx thought that this man had seen Edmyn as an adult for years. But seeing him in bed must have brought back memories of when Edmyn was just a boy. That was why he had broken his usual dry demeanor.

Haelyx lay on the bed next to Edmyn and began to sing a poem from the time of the conquest while the milk of the poppy had its effect on the man. Edmyn went to sleep with the sound of his wife's voice accompanying him.

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There was a funeral for those who fell in the great battle against the wolves. A pack of almost fifty specimens with three direwolves…. Winterfell sent apologies. But that incident helped the heir to become the Guardian of the North and send his uncle and his cousins to the Wall after their attempts to usurp power.

Haelyx had to remain seated during the entire ceremony while Edmyn stood next to her.

The man Elmo had held in his arms was Edmyn's bastard brother. Haelyx had heard about him from the maids and she knew that Elmo kept coming to visit his mistress and his son several days a week. Blaina had absolutely forbidden this woman to live in Riverrun, despite Elmo's attempts to get it.

The solution was that the woman had her own house at the gates of Riverrun. It really was easier to get to that house from the parade ground than to the banquet hall. The woman was there while the Septon said a prayer for all those who died in the great battle.

Haelyx got up carefully and Edmyn helped her. Edmyn's arm was broken and bandaged but healing well. Haelyx watched as the families of the knights were given the wolf pelts. The large pelts of two direwolves found their way to Haelyx and she looked at them curiously.

Direwolves' fur was surprisingly soft after being thoroughly cleaned. They would be a nice addition to the blankets in the crib and the bed of her unborn child or a rug where the baby would play.

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Haelyx was sewing her baby's clothes. Boy's and girl's clothes, all embroidered with protective runes and covered with leaves, rivers and fish. Embroidery upon embroidery, layers of protection carefully hidden so no one would see

Edmyn entered the room and sat down next to Haelyx. He enjoyed watching her for a few seconds. She was so beautiful, so perfect, and somehow he had done something well enough in life for her to love him. Some God was certainly on his side to allow the most perfect being on earth to have decided that he was worthy of a love many would kill for.

He was still amazed by the look of love that she gave him. The absolute devotion in her eyes when they met. The loving whispers they shared, the secret kisses that shouldn't be so secret,...

He wanted to kiss her, lay her down on her bed and make her his in a sweet way to avoid damaging the beautiful life they had created together. His seed growing in her fertile womb and swelling her for all to see was his. That this Targaryen Princess was the wife of the Heir to the poorest and least powerful of the seven great Lords

Edmyn was no fool, he saw the longing looks the other Lords gave Haelyx. The lustful looks that ran through his wife's body since she was just a little girl. But she was Edmyn's, and he would fight to the death to keep her with him. That was why he, too, wanted to go to Avalon, to protect her from any lustful Lord who decided to test her, as Aegon had done before.

But something had happened and Edmyn believed that there was another place where he was needed more.

--- I think we should go to court

Haelyx's hands stopped and she put the clothes she was making aside from her to look at her husband.

-Is it because of my uncle's illness?

-Yeah. It would not be strange that you, a worried niece, were to take care of him in his last hours. According to spies, he has less than a year to live.

-The spies are wrong. ---- Haelyx shook her head. – My uncle is strong, he is resistant, he is a dragon of the Targaryen house. He will last more than a year and more than two. But I don't think he'll make it past three years

edmyn smiled

-You always deny being a Targaryen, of the whole family. But I love how your family pride always comes out when your uncle is the subject of our discussion. That makes me feel a little jealous

Haelyx blushed. Her uncle Viserys had been her first love. If she had been older she would have married him. She was sure that she could have made Queen Alicent disappear without much effort. But unfortunately, her uncle did not share his brother's fondness for nieces.

Haelyx had assumed that before the sixth year of her life, after hearing her uncle say that he would never remarry even if Alicent died. Her uncle said that he was too old for a new wife.

But Haelyx had not been unhappy about her marriage, on the contrary, she loved Edmyn. Partly it was because her husband reminded her of her uncle. But a part of her compared him to a character in a story Harry Potter had read.

Edmyn was like Sir Galahad of the Knights of the Round Table. He is not the most handsome, not the most skilled with the sword, but the perfect gentleman that every woman would long for next to him.

-Well, every girl can have her first love idealized in her mind. – Haelyx smiled mischievously before kissing Edmyn on the cheek. – But it is my beloved husband who surprises me the most, always being more than what I could ever expect from any other person.

Edmyn kissed Haelyx and tried to pick her up to take her to bed when a pinprick in her arm made him scream. Haelyx touched her husband's arm, worried about him, and Edmyn felt something warm slide through his flesh and calm the pain.

-The bone is still fine, somewhat fragile. You shouldn't carry weight. – Haelyx concentrated her magic on her husband's flesh to reduce the swelling

Edmyn felt something warm inside him as well and tried to use it to reach the warm feeling Haelyx was giving him. When something warm from her touched the warm sensation Haelyx stopped and shuddered.

-Edmyn?

Edmyn acted on instinct and intertwined that part of himself with Haelyx. She was shuddering, but not in a bad way. Her hands tightened around him and she looked up at him with an expression Edmyn had only seen in the bedroom.

-Why do you have magic?

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Haelyx leaned against Edmyn's body as she explored the inside of her husband with her magic. She was careful and methodical as Edmyn gasped beneath her at the pleasure of the magic coursing through the man's body.

Ginny had done this with Harry many, many times. Usually as a foreplay to sex. The magic of the wife and husband intertwining was a very intimate and pleasurable experience for both of them. Sometimes they just needed to hold hands to get ready for intercourse. Ginny had loved playing Harry with that knowledge.

Haelyx straightened up with a smile.

-You have magic. At least one medium-sized magic core. – Haelyx kissed Edmyn's cheek

-So I can do magic like you? ---– Haelyx made a face

-No, not like me. Magic must begin to be practiced between the ages of eleven and seventeen. That way you reach your full potential. But you're older. As you are now you can use magic, but not all the spells you should

-And why not? Couldn't the ancient magic knowledge you received due to the ancient Valiryo spell help me?

Haelyx shook her head.

When she had said that she could do magic and that she knew about it Edmyn had asked her why. Haelyx had told her that she had received the memories of an extremely powerful ancient sorcerer who lived many years ago.

Edmyn was the one who had assumed that he was a sorcerer from the old Valirya and the spell. Not that Haelyx could deny it or explain it away in a way that wouldn't make everything even more confusing. So he left it like that

-No, to do magic you need two things. A magical core and channels within the body to carry magic. Without channels you won't be able to do magic, even if you have a core. And without the core you can't do magic, even if you have the channels. The downside is that the canals start out very small and can only grow during adolescence. During the period of time in which the body passes from childhood to adulthood. That is why you will never be able to do great magic, because your channels are very small.

-That's bullshit. The idea of being the sorcerer kings has gone to hell.

- Do not think that, my love. --- Haelyx leaned down and kissed Edmyn. – Even if you can't use great magic, you can use many magic that will surprise people. And you're not worth it just because you have magic. It's your heart that counts.

Edmyn smiled and pulled Haelyx to him as he kissed her and she returned with warmth and sweetness.

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Oscar looked at his older brother while he walked calmly.

They had almost lost him. Almost.

A part of him was relieved to see that he was a better person than he thought. He had been very worried about it, if he was being honest. Well, more than very worried. he had been terrified

Terrified of being a bad person.

But at that moment, when his brother had been hurt and he was transporting him home. At no time did he think that if Edmyn died he would be able to keep Haelyx. He didn't even think about it until a few weeks later after a visit to a brothel.

Oscar smiled to himself. He loved his brother more than he loved Haelyx. That was good. It was time to get to work seriously forgetting his sister-in-law. The bad thing about that was that he didn't just like Haelyx for his looks, but also for his personality and his heart. But he also couldn't see her dating anyone other than her perfect big brother. He had always known that they were a perfect match.

- -- Why is growing up so damn hard?

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- Go to the capital?

-Yes, the king is sick. The power of the nobility is concentrating. And Haelyx is still a Targaryen by birth, so if there's a conflict she'll have to choose sides.

Grover Tully smashed his fist against the wood of the table, drawing the attention of Elmo and Edmyn. Lord Tully's expression was stormy and furious as he looked at his grandson and great-grandson.

-Which side should be chosen? Aegon must inherit the iron throne. I accepted Rhaenyra because she was the only child at the time. But now there are three more fit boys for the throne. Even if Rhaenyra were to succeed to the throne, she would give it to her husband or one of her sons, as befits a well-bred woman. Giving her power to her husband is the most natural thing for a lady who gets a title. These women who want to claim titles will only bring misfortune….

Elmo and Edmyn winced. Grover Tully did not understand that Haelyx had fought very hard to remain neutral during her time at Court. But Elmo knew that Edmyn was right. Haelyx would have to choose a side, very soon, at least if they stayed in Westeros.

The greens or the blacks.

-Even so, the other great houses have sent a representative to the Court. The best thing is that Edmyn and Haelyx also go there. The Tullys are no less than the other families.

The conversation continued and Edmyn remained silent for the most part of it. He would miss these conversations, but he had to go. At least his brother would make a good Lord Tully. he was sure of that

Edmyn knew that soon his family would be in conflict. His great-grandfather obviously supported the Greens. But his father supported blacks. He would normally say that his great-grandfather was going to win the fight, but his father had been Lord Tully for all intents and purposes for many years. The soldiers, the standard-bearers, the nobles, …. Most of them answered only to Elmo Tully.

What's more, many people were surprised to see his great-grandfather walking by and several swore they had been at his funeral. A part of Edmyn thought that his grandfather liked to take those walks to scare people and become one of the legends of ghosts that populated the land of rivers.

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Haelyx took her daughter in her arms.

Her hair was damp with sweat and so glued to her skin that it was like yet another protective layer. The young woman's legs felt like jelly and she didn't think she would be able to use them any time soon. And that place would never feel the same again.

She knew that instinctively, she wouldn't feel the same way after a baby was born to her.

But all of that, all of the pain that she had been through and still was through her body, was secondary to Haelyx's mind.

She was looking at her daughter, her perfect little being. She so perfect.

-It's as if… I love her, love at first sight. My beautiful girl, how can I love you so much if you were only just born? How can my heart be so full when your lungs have started working so recently?

The oldest midwife smiled looking at the young mother and her daughter. This was something she loved about her work, the look of pure love and surprise that some mothers gave their children. She knew that the child would be well cared for.

It was to see a bond being created. Until that moment mother and child had been united by the cord of life. But now, without the cord, another bond was created, infinitely stronger than the last. The longest, most resistant and strongest. A bond that would make the mother protect her son above all else.

-My girl, my sweet Iolanthe. Princess of my heart. If you asked me I would burn the whole world for you. But I hope you're a sweet and kind lady so I don't have to deal with all the yelling and the smell of burning meat. Those things are disgusting. I hope you only ask me for flowers, songs and smiles, my sweet girl. My little dragon princess. – Haelyx said those words with blind adoration while she caressed the face of her newborn daughter.

The midwives and the Master shuddered. Everyone knew that the Targaryens had a certain point of madness, especially Daemon Targaryen. The Rebel Prince liked nothing more than getting drunk, fucking and fighting. But the Snow Princess hadn't shown any sign of her father's bloodlust until now.

It was not uncommon for a person's murderous instincts to kick in when they found something they would die to protect. The Snow Princess, Daughter of the Storm, had found what she would die to protect.

Haelyx had been called the Snow Princess for some time, without the knowledge of the lady in question. The nickname had been given by one of the squires who stayed in Riverrun that winter. The young man said that the beauty of the landscape covered by freshly fallen snow and without a single mark on the smooth surface could only be compared to the Dragon Princess that was in Riverrun.

She is beautiful, perfect, without a single flaw, innocent, brilliant, elegant and worth contemplating. With her white hair spreading like a blanket of snow around her and her beautiful smile.

Ever since the young squire had uttered those words in the heat of a drunken stupor in the tavern of his hometown, Haelyx had been called that by most common people.

The Daughter of the Storm was a nickname that had accompanied Haelyx since her birth. The girl came into the world in the worst storm in over a hundred years. The only girl born in that storm that made it seem as if the gods themselves were venting their fury against the mountains of the Valley.

Chapter Text

Haelyx got down from the carriage carefully. Her hips ached like hell and she wondered how her grandmother and her cousin had managed to ride their dragons within days of giving birth. Honestly, her legs felt like butter and her hips hurt like hell. This was much, much worse than the pain she felt when she learned horsemanship when she was six years old and the horse galloped the first day.

And that a month and a half had passed, a more than recommended time to start riding a horse or a dragon. Haelyx looked at the crowd gathered to greet them and tried to smile and fix her smile on her face before stepping out of the carriage.

The Queen had sent a nursemaid to help them with Iolanthe. And Haelyx had been pleased to see that she was one of her old babysitters, Aly. The woman had been embarrassing her with stories from her childhood that Edmyn listened to with great interest.

- Do you want me to take you in my arms or to help you?

-We can not. Darling, my loving husband, this is court. Those people you see there are sharks and any weakness will make them attack. We will go slowly and when we are no longer with the crowd you can take me in your arms. But before that we must be firm and strong.

Edmyn nodded and Haelyx mentally summoned the strength from her before a servant opened the carriage door. Her dress was blue with small details in red, like the ribbons that tied her hair. Her hair was in intricate braids reminiscent of the style of Visenya Targaryen and her cousin Rhaenyra's. She went down after taking Iolanthe in her arms and walked slowly to the place where the queen was. The skirt of her dress did not show how her legs trembled, instead her slow and elegant steps reminded of a swan gliding in a pond.

-Queen Alicent, Princess Helaena, Prince Aemond, Prince Jaehaerys, Princess Jaehaera and Prince Maelor. It is an honor to be able to see you again and make this visit to the home of my house of birth.

Haelyx gave a slight bow that made the back of her neck sweat. Her knees wobbled but she stood her ground with a soft smile on her face that made many a man's heart flutter. Fortunately Helaena stepped forward and helped her upright.

-You shouldn't bow down, you recently gave birth. Is this your daughter Iolanthe?

-Yes, this is my little girl. iolanthe.

Queen Alicent stepped forward and looked at the girl with a smirk. The girl would be pretty, there was no doubt about that. But she hadn't inherited Targaryen hair. A point in favor of the girl. She wondered how Daemon would react to a granddaughter without the Targaryen colors.

-The King was very pleased that the young lady of House Tully was named after the last Queen of Valyria. He said that he wanted to see her as soon as he got to her court, but I think we should organize a banquet and maybe an engagement.

They all looked at the Queen and Aemond stepped forward as Helaena stared at her mother without blinking.

-Mother, what marriage commitment?

-Between Jaehaerys and Iolanthe. Iolanthe is a lady of Targaryen lineage and from one of the seven great houses. Jaehaerys will benefit from this in the future.

- And why not Maelor?

The Queen looked at her daughter as if she had swallowed a lemon, but Haelyx was biting the inside of her cheek to try not to snap back at the ultra-religious bitch when it suited her.

She couldn't be more transparent. Jaehaerys was Aegon's eldest son, the son of Alicent whom the Greens wanted to put on the throne. Iolanthe was a lady of Valyrian blood, but she was also the eldest daughter of the inheritor of the heir to the Land of Rivers. Marrying Iolanthe to Jaehaerys would cause the Tully family to support the Greens

-There are also Aegon and Viserys. As far as I know Aegon is three years old and Viserys was born last year. – Haelyx pointed that out. – I'm afraid that in this generation there are only two women of Targaryen blood against the four boys. It will be difficult to make suitable marriages according to the tradition of our house.

-I just want our Iolanthe to be happy and well loved. So I think the best thing would be to wait a little longer to see the future candidates grow by the hand of our little goldfish.

Helaena linked her arm with Haelyx's, something difficult since they both had babies in her arms. Maelor looked at Haelyx through silver lashes and gave a hint of a toothless smile that melted the heart of the young Queen of Avalon.

-I'm already tired, and Haelyx gave birth less time than me. Let's go to rest before seeing the King and continue with this with such a pleasant conversation at dinner

Haelyx could see the Queen's lips tighten into fine lines after being overruled by her daughter. But the Princess had already started walking as he dragged Haelyx with her, Aemond and Edmyn following like two protective shadows. Haelyx couldn't help but notice that Aegon was nowhere to be found.

A part of her shuddered, remembering the last time they had met. Most likely, the Prince of Silk Street was in his usual place, or lying under the table in some tavern.

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Haelyx was on the bed while the Maester examined her.

-It's just a fever from exhaustion. Nothing weird. She has put in a lot of effort to come here right after giving birth. – The man smiled when he saw the small seven-pointed star that Haelyx had hanging from her neck. It was good that he was looking at it, Haelyx had put it on especially for him to see. And for him to tell his masters, the Hightowers. – In a day or two it will be fine.

-Are you sure? She…

-I'm sure. You just have to rest, Princess, all that's left of the day and tomorrow. Then you can start attending social gatherings and seeing the King.

Edmyn dismissed the Maester with great kindness as the man left. Haelyx was still in bed and her former nursemaid was next to Iolanthe in her crib.

-Child, you are playing the court game well.

-I grew up here, Aly, I know how to play it.

The old woman laughed and Haelyx noted that she barely had any teeth left. Haelyx sat as she fanned herself with her hands to cool her body temperature while Edmyn went out to pay his respects to the Hand of the King and the Court. Also to excuse Haelyx.

-I taught you to eat chalk to raise your body temperature and pretend to be sick to rest from that infernal Septa that the Queen sent and that sadistic Master that the King assigned you with his good heart. – The old woman smiled at Haelyx. - Do you come to play at Court to achieve power?

- I'm here to ensure the neutrality of House Tully. Besides. Being seen as a fragile and weak flower that gets sick from a trip is a good thing for me. You told me once: "There is no better weapon than the one you plant in the mind of your enemy", "An ethereal beauty is more memorable if it is fragile and can disappear at any minute" and "If they underestimate you they will never expect to be hurt." cut the eggs with a dagger, every flower must have thorns"

-I love knowing that my lessons are remembered

-By the way. Where were you? You were taken from me after the incident and can't find you after that. I looked for you, I wanted to take you to my husband's house

-The Queen sent me to an orphanage. But Princess Helaena found me and brought me back when the raven said you were coming back. – Haelyx told herself that she should thank Helaena with something special. Maybe a spider necklace or dragonfly earrings. Although the Queen used to wear elegant and expensive pieces of jewelry, Princess Helaena never wore such adornments. They were always more discreet and simple things

-Can you tell me what things you have found out about the state of the Court?

-Prince Aegon is a danger, he has raped more than half of the maids and several ladies. They lost count of his bastards at fifty. Silk Street is full of white-haired children...

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Haelyx and Edmyn walked through the passages that led them outside. Haelyx hadn't been out of the Keep much. After all she was a beautiful girl in a cruel world. She had still secretly gone out a few times on childish outings with the other children. Sometimes even with children's clothes and hair dyed badly by one of the guards that she had a soft spot for princes.

Never with Aegon, who was considered too old, but with Helaena, Jacaerys, Lucerys, Aemond and, on a very rare occasion, Daeron. They went with costumed guards and used to walk through the markets and see the goods on the merchant ships. In her new home she could do it too, but it wasn't the same. In the capital there were more boats and those children's getaways had an emotion that an adult could not feel.

It was strange, kids just wanted to grow up, but the older you got, the more complicated and boring everything was.

- Do you know these streets well?

-It could be said. But I think we both know where we want to go.

Edmy nodded. In the sleeping city the street of silk shone like a lamp that attracted the moths of the city. Edmyn watched as Haelyx approached each drunk or person around her and used magic to give them an order. Sometimes her, sometimes Edmyn while he practiced

"Bring all the Targaryen bastard children to the ship at the dock in mint condition."

Both toured the streets of the city leaving that order in hundreds of minds

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Oscar was covering his face with a piece of black cloth while he covered his head with the hood of a cloak. He wasn't the only one, most of the sailors wore hoods over their heads.

Another man arrived, this one dragging a teenage girl dressed as a prostitute. The girl resisted, but the man led her to the catwalk. Two stocky sailors picked her up and carried her into the hold with the other children. The girl tried to scream but they covered her mouth and took her downstairs. Her blond hair was the color of flax and her eyes were a deep purple that would lighten in the light.

Oscar looked at the man and raised the medallion that would break the spell, making the man think that he had had too much to drink and had just woken up on the docks.

- Sir, we can no longer carry more cargo.

-Oh really? How many kids are there?

-Ninety-five, sir. Shall we give the order to set sail?

-More can come. We must... -Oscar did not want to fail in his first official mission as captain of the first order of knights of Avalon

-They will not. – Everyone turned to look at Haelyx. – Missing children live with loving parents who will be able to care for them properly and love them. There are no more needy Targaryen children left in King's Landing. you can set sail

The sailors began to work and Oscar approached Haelyx.

-Will they be waiting for us?

-Yes, they are looking forward to meeting the children. After all, Valyrian blood belongs to Valyria.

Oscar approached Haelyx. She looked beautiful with her gaze lost in the blackness of the night ocean. Her amethyst eyes were deep and thoughtful, as if they saw things Oscar didn't. Truths that were only visible to the eyes of the young Queen next to her.

-Several of the older girls cannot be Aegon's daughters

-I know. They are probably my cousins or my sisters.

-Several also wore clothes of prostitutes. And they are saying the names of their establishments. – Oscar saw how his sister-in-law's hands clenched into fists.

She didn't condone prostitution, but she also knew that there were very few businesses a woman could really engage in. Maid, cook, seamstress and prostitute, there was little else for women unless they helped their husbands with their fields. Haelyx's heart was big and beautiful and generous, but that didn't mean she was blind to the realities of the world.

Haelyx did not approve of prostitution, she said that it was the last form of slavery in the seven kingdoms, but she also knew that if the only option to have a piece of bread was to spread your legs, she had to consent to it. Even in Avalon there were brothels. But they were few and the prostitutes were girls who were there voluntarily…. And a witch who drew power from her sex.

Oscar knew that her distaste for the world's oldest profession and her realism collided in her mind and it hurt.

We'll take good care of them. And in Avalon they will be fine. They will be happy

-I hope so. – Haelyx put her hand on Oscar's cheek. – I have to go back, take care of everything, Captain of the Knights

Oscar bowed deeply. He only conveyed respect and admiration, as if at a word from the woman before him he would pull out his sword and cut his neck. Surely most people in Avalon would. The adoration for the couple of Kings was immensely great.

-As my Queen commands me

Haelyx smiled and turned around, disappearing as quickly as the brush of her skirt on her wood reached Oscar. He smiled

-That is an unusual woman. – said one of the old sailors. – She looks like Rhaenys, she was also unusual. But someone so extraordinary must love someone just as extraordinary.

-I know. ---- Oscar sighed. – I really want my heart to forget her already. Only my brother is suitable to be our Queen's partner.

-Do not mind, young man! When we get to Avalon I'll introduce you to my granddaughter, she's absolutely lovely! – Said the old man patting Oscar's back hard.

-Hey, my daughter is also looking for a husband!

Haelyx smiled from the place where she floated invisibly. With a short broom at her feet she stood by the ship. She had chosen the sailors very carefully, very carefully. for oscar

They all had women in their families who wanted to get married and Oscar was a good catch.

Haelyx this time was transported to the Red Keep and thought about how long it would take the high officials of Avalon in a joint effort to find a young woman with whom Oscar fell in love.

- Are you playing matchmaker for my brother?

Haelyx sat on top of her husband after shedding her cloak and dress, only wearing her underwear. Edmyn stroked her hair and released it. Her fingers gently undid the braid and Haelyx nearly purred in her husband's arms.

Edmyn tucked her under the covers and wrapped her arms around her body. Haelyx's eyes closed and she fell asleep while her husband looked at her.

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Edmyn watched Haelyx sleep without being able to fall asleep.

It was time for him to take her role as her partner more seriously. He was to learn magic, play the game of the Court, and get all the information he could for the benefit of Avalon.

Edmyn admired Haelyx. She was special in so many ways, and not just because of her magic or her beauty. Haelyx was an independent woman who moved on her own. Edmyn had observed many noblewomen in the past, she was not like them.

Many of them were like dolls that didn't have a single intelligent thought in their heads. Or if they did, they took good care of hiding it from their husbands. Only dedicating themselves to the administration of their homes. Never stepping out of line to avoid any kind of gossip

Haelyx was not like that. If she could do something that she had to do, she would do it. Perhaps that is why none of the inhabitants of Avalon doubted her as their ruler. To be honest, Edmyn knew that he himself was more of an accessory than a true authority figure. He was also a follower of Haelyx's brilliant light.

Avalon was Haelyx's dream, her kingdom in her own right and Edmyn was only in the plan because he had somehow managed to win the love of this incredible, intelligent, charismatic and beautiful woman.

He wanted to be able to be by her side as an equal.

Iolanthe shifted in her cradle and Edmyn rose from the bed and held her against his chest. The girl calmed down in seconds and Edmyn left her in her crib while he smiled.

-That is why you are a King worthy of being by my side. – Edmyn turned to see Haelyx looking at him with a smile from the bed.

-As you say?

-Your thoughts are not as silent as you thought, my love. Once your magic joins with another person's, as ours has joined, it is quite common to transmit your thoughts and feelings through the bond.

Edmyn blushed and Haelyx smiled at that.

Then she leaned down onto her hands and knees on the mattress. She reached up with her right hand and brushed against Edmyn's lips. The man was looking at the cleavage of his wife's nightgown after a couple of months without doing any nightly activity in the bedroom

-You attract people, Edmyn. you are magnetic I know that I am quite abrasive at a certain point. Also, even though our subjects support me, many of them still struggle with the idea of a woman as the top leader of a country. Your presence makes it easier for them. You also have a personality that brings people together around you. And not just as subjects. You know them, you remember them, you make them feel special…

Edmyn took Haelyx's hand and raised it so he could kiss her deeply.

-Also…. - Edmyn noted with some pleasure Haelyx's deep blush. – You are one of the reasons why I can be so determined. Knowing that you are the wind that drives me, the hand that supports my back and every time I look at my side I know that you will be there. – Haelyx rested her forehead on Edmyn's chest and her hands clung tightly to the fabric of her shirt. Edmyn noticed that she was trembling and a few small tears hit her shirt. – If I had lost you, I don't know if I would have been able to continue living, maybe only Iolanthe would have kept me standing.

Edmyn took Haelyx into her arms and laid her on the bed before kissing her as he climbed on top of her.

-I'm alive, wife. By your side and I'm going to show you right now

Haelyx blushed in the most beautiful way Edmyn had ever seen.

Chapter Text

Queen Alicent had come to visit Iolanthe the first day they arrived at the Red Keep after receiving the Maester's report that Haelyx had a slight fever from exhaustion. It was obvious that in the greeting in the courtyard she had not been able to examine the girl to her liking. But she took the little girl into her arms and looked at her with undisguised satisfaction that made Haelyx shudder.

-Iolanthe has taken out her father's beautiful hair. I love that shade of red. – Haelyx smiled in the silly way that all parents did when talking about their children. She wasn't lying, but she needed to play a role before this woman.

Haelyx Targaryen was always “harmless” and “neutral”

-She is a truly pretty girl, she will become a great beauty in the future. A suitable bride for Jaehaerys.

-It's possible. But my father may want Iolanthe for Aegon and Viserys…. Maybe even for Joffrey. Still, I would prefer that she marry someone from the land of rivers. I don't want her to stray too far from home. -Haelyx looked at Iolanthe. - It's hard…. Giving birth to a girl and knowing that one day you will have to send her away to get married….

A couple of tears slid down Haelyx's cheeks and she apologized for being too emotional. But she accomplished her goal, giving the Queen a false impression. The Queen saw that Haelyx was not going to get a benefit from Iolanthe, Haelyx wanted the happiness of her daughter and as a mother she could relate. And also as a daughter used as a political puppet by her father

-----------------------------------

Haelyx watched Syrax take a lap around the Keep before heading to the Dragon Well and she held Iolanthe tighter against her chest. Caraxes glided through the air shortly after and Haelyx could swear her eyes had met her father's for a few seconds.

But wouldn't that be impossible?

Her father was flying over Caraxes and she was in a third floor window as she headed to her uncle's quarters. It was impossible that her eyes had met those of her father.

- Is it just me or has your father glared at us?

- Have you noticed it too? – Haelyx sighed. – That's why my father is the most dangerous man on the continent, not only is he a great warrior, he also has bestial instincts and a strong connection with his dragon... Honestly, if there were to be a war in the future, my father is the class of a man who would rather be on our side and would hate as an enemy

Edmyn had his hand on Haelyx's waist and squeezed it painfully. They both continued on their way to the King's chambers while the Queen was in an obvious state of agitation and the King ordered that his daughter be received. Obviously the Queen did not want the Crown Princess to be received with all the honors.

-Your Majesty, my King Visery, here is your niece, Haelyx Targaryen appears before you with her husband, Edmyn Tully, to present to you her daughter, Iolanthe Tully. The last lady born with the blood of ancient Valyria. – Mentally Haelyx said Peverell. Iolanthe, Edmyn, and herself were Peverell. But for now Tully had to say to the rest of the world.

The King had lost an eye, but he turned to look at Haelyx and he extended one of the arms he had on her bed to motion for her to come closer. Haelyx's uncle's other arm was covered in bandages and Haelyx could smell the rotting flesh as she approached her uncle. Her uncle's body was slowly rotting and it was disgusting

Haelyx was grateful for the rings that she and Edmyn wore, they would protect them from disease. And the runes embroidered on Iolanthe's blankets would do the same for her daughter.

-You're a beautiful woman. All Targaryen women are beautiful in red, but you shine like a snowflake among roses. – Haelyx smiled as she sat on the King's bed, obeying the monarch's gestures despite the Queen's tight lips. The King's good hand pushed aside the covers and Iolanthe's face was revealed. Her eyes closed hers over flushed cheeks and small, sweet lips.

The King's toothless smile was seen as he gently caressed the girl's face.

-Iolanthe, the name of the last Queen of Valyria. A good name, a strong name that reflects her roots. – The man's fingers brushed the baby's red hair and a sigh left his lips. – A shame she didn't inherit all the Valyrian traits, but she is a very beautiful girl. She will become a beautiful lady and marry one of the boys. There are several available, I seem to remember, my grandchildren... Or my children? It's so confusing

- Dear uncle? --- Haelyx let concern tinge her tone and the King smiled as if he apologized.

-I'm sorry... My mind is a bit scattered these days. The burden of the throne is already so heavy... You know it, with your own throne. – Viserys's eye looked at Haelyx and she tensed briefly. – Rhaenys, you should come more often

Haelyx felt Edmyn tense behind her, she waited for him to calm down a bit. But the Queen was the one who came forward and ended the meeting.

-My King, it is time to take the medicine.

The King took the medicine and they left the room, leaving him alone with a maid.

-Does his mind get cloudy very often?

-Increasingly. – The Queen admitted. – Bad days are rare… But they are becoming more frequent

For a few seconds Haelyx did not see the Queen before her. She saw the young lady whom her father had forced into a widower's room to keep him company. She saw the woman who had given birth to the expected heir but whose birth hadn't mattered because he wasn't the right woman's son. She saw the young woman who tried to do everything right and become little more than a bed warmer for a husband in love with his late first wife. To the woman who had to endure a man much older than her in her bed and to the man who whispered the name of his first wife on their wedding night.

She saw the woman who was barely in her forties and was saddled with a leper husband whom she had to attend to morning noon and night. Without the gratification and reward of her own children having some security after her stepdaughter's coronation. To the woman who would fight tooth and nail to keep her children safe.

For a few seconds, Haelyx Targaryen could see Alicent Hightower not as Queen Alicent or the leader of the Greens. She saw the person Alicent was, shackled with her responsibilities, her duties, the kingdom's expectations and frustrations and that she could never do anything to change her situation.

She saw the real person hiding behind the luxurious green dresses, faith and her father.

Too bad Haelyx couldn't afford mercy to this woman. He knew that if she went against Alicent alone she would find a good final fate for her. She would make it end with grace and elegance, with what Alicent deserved after a life of hard sacrifice and disappointments.

But behind Alicent were three forces that Haelyx could not let live in the seven kingdoms if she wanted the Targaryen family to continue to reign safely.

The faith of the Seven, the citadel and the Hightower.

The Hightowers needed to take a hard hit and calm down. They were the house that faith most favored and that had gone to their heads with their whole motto of “We light the way” or something like that. Not all of the Hightowers were bad, but the current lord, Otto, and most of the old ones were. They had manipulated the new generation so much that they were almost useless puppets

The faith of the Seven had gained too much power and they were trying to manipulate things as they pleased and the citadel controlled knowledge and medicine, as well as being too close to the faith. No church should ever control knowledge.

But what should she do now?

--------------------------

Haelyx was feeding Iolanthe. Her child suckled hard as her little hand gripped the edge of Haelyx's dress. Edmyn smiled as he watched Iolanthe take her nourishment from her mother's breasts.

They both lifted her daughter's head to switch breasts as they listened to a commotion in the garden, and Edmyn rose to shield Haelyx from view from the doorway.

The door opened letting in three maids clearly trying to stop Prince Daemon and Princess Rhaenyra. Sir Cole's white cloak glittered behind them, but the man blushed as he looked at Haelyx's bare shoulders and realized what the Princess was doing.

He turned around and grabbed the Prince, dragging him out of the room.

-Wait a few minutes, Daemon. This is something no man should see. – At the words of his wife, the Prince turned and left the small tower before a maid closed the door while the others apologized to Edmyn for not being able to stop Daemon.

Edmyn reassured them while Haelyx finished and covered herself again to be decent after making Iolanthe burp. Her girl tangled her fingers in her locks despite them being tied up in a braid and Haelyx untangled them with the greatest of care. Edmyn made sure everything was okay before telling the men outside that they could enter.

Sir Criston Cole entered with a soft expression and apologized to Haelyx before returning to duties. The man's skin was several shades darker than he should be and he looked very embarrassed. Haelyx wondered why he was there, following Rhaenyra and Daemon. Queen's control or something else?

-I want to hold my granddaughter in my arms.

Haelyx moved Iolanthe to place her comfortably in Daemon Targaryen's waiting arms. The man fixed his gaze on the sleeping girl and clicked his tongue at her when he saw her red hair.

-The next one will be better. – He said while he continued looking at Iolanthe and she looked at him with her purple eyes between thick eyelashes. – With all the Valyrian colors, not just half. Although she has a good name. The name of a Queen. Maybe in the end she is.

-We do not wish for Iolanthe to be tied to the Iron Throne. I prefer her to be happy. – Edmyn looked at her daughter. He didn't say that Iolanthe would have her own throne. Haelyx and Edmyn had talked it over a lot and had decided that Iolanthe would be the heir. It was easier that way

They had also talked about possible partners for Iolanthe. Since Edmyn had magic, Haelyx had suggested checking the entire population of Avalon for magic. Edmyn could now travel to Avalon by portkey alone, so the job was easier. Haelyx could only go at night, after retiring to the rooms she shared with her husband, but no one suspected a man who disappeared for hours.

There was still work for Haelyx to do, but Edmyn helped her a lot. And the witches had already managed to prove that most of the inhabitants had magic. Edmyn was the one who suggested using that magic to reinforce the shield covering Avalon.

Haelyx thought it was a good idea and went through her mental library looking for the books that would help her with the task.

-Crap. – Haelyx looked at Rhaenyra. He looked like he had a great idea. – Joffrey needs a wife, we can ask father to approve the engagement. Or it may be better to use Aegon or Viserys. But I think Joffrey will be the most suitable for Iolanthe, he is a very sweet boy.

Haelyx understood. Her cousin wanted to marry the last bastard of hers to the daughter of a great house. She the daughter of the next Lord Tully, Lord of the Land of Rivers. That would give Joffrey a certain amount of power and influence. Especially if he stayed at Court. In addition to that Iolanthe was a lady with Valyrian blood more visible than Joffrey with her purple eyes and her features already clearly Valyrian in the timeless beauty that she would become.

Iolanthe's bright purple eyes marked her as a Targaryen, but Joffrey had the brown eyes of his birth father. Together, if a child with light hair and purple eyes was born, the claim and legitimacy of Rhaenyra's children would be far less in doubt.

Haelyx didn't like this. Iolanthe was her daughter. Her daughter. She had been a puppet in the hands of this woman and the Green Queen in the matter of her marriage. But she would not allow her little daughter to suffer the same fate as her.

-The Queen was talking about Jaehaerys or Maelor. But I don't doubt that Aemond and Daeron could join the list if they are still single when Iolanthe is of the right age. – Haelyx said this to distract attention from Rhaenyra's thoughts. She didn't want Iolanthe to get engaged, yet. It wasn't such a bad idea for her to be engaged to a Targaryen, but that was too dangerous right now.

That seemed to distract the couple.

---- I'd rather my granddaughter become a Flea Bottom whore than let her marry someone blood related to the Hightower bitch. Or put her to the sword myself

- Father!

- Daemon!

Daemon Targaryen looked genuinely surprised to be yelled at at the same time by two women. The sound made Iolanthe start crying though. Rhaenyra took Iolanthe and looked at her lovingly before looking at her husband.

-We'll talk at home. - After that the mother of five quickly calmed the crying girl. There you could see the experience, Haelyx had a hard time calming Iolanthe, she increasingly knew her daughter better and how to calm her down. But Rhaenyra had calmed Iolanthe incredibly quickly. Rhaenyra looked at Iolanthe curiously. - She is beautiful. She takes after her mother in that way.

-Thank you mother.

-------------

The King insisted that they all gather in the hall to dine together, he too made known his displeasure at the absence of Rhaenyra and Daemon's children. The King was very animated and asking how things were going in Dragonstone or in the Land of Rivers

The scars on Edmyn's face glowed in the candlelight with a red hue that showed they were recent. Edmyn and Haelyx were dressed in deep blue with white accents. Haelyx wore a dress with a kind of corset as underwear that would help her recover her figure later.

Compared to the Queen's and Rhaenyra's clothing, it was obvious that Haelyx's was cheaper, but not worse. Haelyx was wearing a two-layered dress. A white lower layer and an upper part that was the overskirt, the body and the sleeves of blue color. It was a novelty dress that had yet to be seen in Westeros where women only wore one piece dresses.

Rhaenyra's and the Queen's gaze fell on the dress.

-Your dress is beautiful, Haelyx. – Helaena smiled. Haelyx wondered how the Queen could always dress so luxuriously and then let her daughter wear such simple and ill-fitting dresses.

Helaena would be prettier in any color other than green. When your hair, skin, and eyes were so light, strong colors often suited you better. That is why the Targaryen house had the colors black and red as a representation of their house

-Thank you, Helena. I like yours too

-I think I'll ask the tailor to make me one like yours, it seems very comfortable. – Helaena's eyes were dreamy.

-It is.

Prince Aemond was looking at his food and intermittently at his sister and Daemon. Daemon was talking with his brother and Edmyn about wild animals and the defenses that should be put up for the winter. The hand of the King and father of the Queen was commenting on the conversation and assuring that everything possible was already being done. Something Haelyx doubted.

-I would like to propose a marriage between Iolanthe and Joffrey. – Rhaenyra's words coincided with a moment when Edmyn was drinking and the poor man almost drowned. His wife slyly hit him on the back to help him. – Following the Targaryen tradition I think it is a good idea for Iolanthe to marry within the family

-Then she could marry my grandsons Jaehaerys and Maelor. Both are proper Targaryen princes. – The jab at Rhaenyra was not disguised at all. – We have to follow traditions. We could even compromise her with Aemond or Daeron. Both lack commitments.

Aemond raised his head and looked at his mother in horror, apparently she did not want to marry a girl seventeen years younger than him. Although it would not be the most scandalous marriage in terms of age difference

-Aemond is seventeen years old and Daeron is thirteen years old. Iolanthe will not be able to marry for at least thirteen years. At that time they will both be very old. But Joffrey is only ten years old. An age difference identical to the one between Haelyx and her husband. We could send him as a squire to the Land of Rivers and so they would meet. – Rhaenyra counterattacked.

-Jaehaerys is only three years older than Iolanthe and Maelor only a few moons. It will be a good marriage.

-I think that as Iolanthe's grandparents we...

-Silence. – The king's words ended the discussion. – Iolanthe is still very young. I am torn to marry Haelyx at eleven years old and Helaena at only thirteen. We'll wait until Iolanthe is older to talk about her engagement.

-Yes father. Rhaenyra mumbled, looking at Haelyx with almost greedy eyes. – Maybe in a few years Haelyx will give birth to more women of Targaryen blood to decide new marriages

-My love, you are so kind. True, we can always wait a little longer and there will be more girls in that….

The door was flung open and Prince Aegon, drunk and naked, entered. He quickly approached the table and greeted his mother while he hugged his grandfather before vomiting on the Queen, the table and those who were not very quick to dodge, as the King, Sir Otto. And Aemond approached to reduce him

For obvious reasons the dinner was canceled after that and everyone returned to their rooms where they received some wine and cheese

Chapter Text

-Don't talk to me, Rhaenyra. I'm engraving in my mind the image of that green pussy when her beloved son vomited on her and the face of the one-eyed monstrosity and the father's pussy when he started vomiting around the table.

Rhaenyra sighed as she left the bathroom after changing her clothes, the skirt of her dress had been stained with vomit.

Rhaenyra was going to ask a tailor to make her a dress like Haelyx's. It was beautiful and of a style that she had not seen until that moment. The idea of splitting a dress into two and wearing one over the other was something she had never thought of. Honestly, she didn't know why there weren't more bards singing praises of Haelyx's beauty. As soon as she saw her cousin now that she had reached maturity, she had felt jealous.

She was young and charming, so pretty that people's eyes hurt and in a very loving marriage. If Iolanthe inherited only half of that beauty, Joffrey would be lucky.

-I want Iolanthe for Joffrey. And I will get her, she will be my son's wife. – She promised herself

--------------------------

Amerys was the daughter of a prostitute.

Her mother, Sally, was a woman who, even after giving birth, had an enviable figure and large breasts that made her the most expensive prostitute in the brothel until she was able to buy her freedom, packed her bags and went to a place that only Gods knew where it was

She left Amerys behind her as part of her payment for her freedom.

Sally was a beautiful woman, with thick black hair, golden skin and blue eyes like the ice that covers the sea in winter.

Amerys was not like that.

White hair, skin as light as snow and amethyst eyes. Her mother boasted of having been visited in her first days at the brothel by Lord Fleabottom and one of her regular clients before leaving was the drunken prince.

Amerys' paternity was clear. Normally a child who looked so much like her father was taken with him. But everyone knew how Prince Daemon treated his daughter who stayed in the Red Keep with hatred and apathy and the life of a bastard at Court was very hard even with the protection of the father of said bastard.

Sally hadn't even been a lover of Prince Daemon, just a prostitute who he fucked for a few coins. Her mother gave her a name that sounded slightly Valyrian to further highlight the ancient blood that ran through the veins of her daughter in the eyes of everyone.

Amerys had inherited more than just Valyrian colors, she had inherited beauty. Although she still remembered going to the wedding of her stepsister of the same age and after seeing her, she come back home knowing that she couldn't compete. Still, she was pretty enough to do well at her craft.

Because the daughters of prostitutes became prostitutes

Amerys had known of her fate before she walked. She didn't know how to read but she knew all kinds of techniques to please a man. She didn't know how to write, but she knew how to give pleasure.

Although at no time did she lose her virginity. This was due to two reasons, the first of all was that she was still a minor and it was illegal to sell her in a brothel. And the second was because a girl's virginity was expensive and the owner of the brothel watched her like a hawk since she was the prettiest of all the girls.

Of course there were many offers for her virginity and in the end she was sold to a Court noble who wanted to fuck a woman with Targaryen blood. Amerys was prepared for that and her inevitable life as a prostitute when she was kidnapped. She was dragged by a stranger from her room in the brothel to the port, forced onto a boat and listening to the boat leave without being able to break down the door.

Amerys looked around and recognized some faces. Children with white hair or purple eyes looked at her.

Someone had kidnapped all the children of Valyrian blood.

Amerys knew that they were heading to the free cities, so it was likely that they would be sold into slavery. It wasn't such a different life from that of a prostitute, it might have been better in some ways.

What she didn't expect was that the sailors would take good care of them. They told them that they were not in danger with them. That they took them to a good place. That they were not slavers. That they took them home.

Inside the ship they had freedom.

A woman covered in a black cape also appeared and left clothes and toys for the children. As well as more water and food. She must have been traveling on a small, fast ship, because Amerys did not remember seeing any moving away from the large ship that carried them.

They were told they were going to Avalon

Avalon, the kingdom created on the ashes of Valyria. Amerys had heard of the kingdom, but she never expected to see it. Of course she was curious. Anyone with Valyrian blood wanted to set foot on that land

And when she stepped on it...

Amerys cried…. She wasn't the only one, most of the kids did. Something, deep inside her, something buried in her blood told her that she was home. That this was her homeland and that she had finally returned. She felt welcome, she felt really free

-It's okay... You can cry. Everything's fine.

- I didn't expect this to feel like this. – Amerys looked at the expanse of grass that showed the water from time to time. - Where we are?

-In the marshes. The place where sea and land come together. It's like a swamp, but prettier. Later it becomes a real swamp. It is an area rich in fish and seafood. Plants are good and if you are smart you can survive in the wild. But this is only one stage of our journey

-Will you take me to a brothel after this?

The red-haired man shook his head. Amerys took a good look at him. He was a Tully. She knew how to recognize by sight the classic features of the seven great houses. Her mother had instilled that in her because the nobles paid more, much more.

-Do you want to work in a brothel? Their Majesties the Kings of Avalon asked us to rescue you and the rest because all had bad lives. If you want to go to a brothel, we will take you, but if not, we can teach you a trade so that you can fend for yourself.

-Can I be something other than a prostitute? Even if I'm no longer a virgin?

Amerys knew the girl who spoke. She worked a couple of brothels down the street. Her eyes were amethyst, but her hair was black. She knew they had sold her for at least three years.

-Yes, you can stop being a prostitute. Nobody will judge you. Many of the citizens were slaves in their day. Here you can create the future you want.

Freedom suddenly seemed very heavy in Amerys's eyes. If she wasn't a prostitute... What could she be?

-------------------------

Boy had been sold to a leather tanner when he was four years old. He could do jobs that others couldn't due to his small size. He didn't remember his mother or his father. He knew he was a royal bastard because he had golden hair and purple eyes. But his hair used to be stained by fur dyes and his eyes red by toxic fumes.

On the ship one of the sailors was a doctor and had given him medicine and good food until his skin looked healthy again, healthier than when he was a small child and his hair stopped falling out and grew back. Boy didn't even want to wonder how much those medicines would cost. But breathing no longer hurt and the coughs that had plagued him for the last year had almost completely disappeared.

After reaching land he felt complete for the first time in his six years of life.

They were taken in small, flat boats through the marsh, a man with a long pole guided the boat with precision through the labyrinth of plants and canals. There were strange birds with long legs and long beaks that pulled small fish out of the water and swallowed them.

Then they arrived at a city where they were waiting for them. They were taken to an “orphanage.” They told Boy that it was a place to take care of children without families, so that they could learn a trade for when they were older. Boy said that he already had a job, he was a leather tanner, so what he needed was a job.

They told him that according to the law, young children could not work.

They asked him his name, but Boy didn't have a name, they only called him Boy because they had to refer to him in some way. So they gave it to him.

James.

James was happy to have a name. And he had a bed…. And a room of his own! It was like he was a noble. The food was also just as good as on the ship. No rotten bread, stale stew or vegetables that other vegetables already grew. It was a stew with real pork, not rat or pigeon, and crispy potatoes and vegetables.

They told him that he had magic and that he would be educated to be able to use it when he turned eleven. Then they told him that he would go to another orphanage. Because they would scatter them across the country to distribute Valyrian blood.

James ended up in the Duchy of Ravenclaw. In a city between mountain peaks and an orphanage with far fewer children.

There was a girl with red hair and green eyes like fiery emeralds named Lily and she was the daughter of two former slaves. She was the same age as him and James decided to play with her. As the weeks passed, they became best friends.

-Why is your name Lily? – James was confused. It was the least Valyrian name he had ever heard. Most of the children had names that imitated those of the ancient inhabitants of these lands, an effort to make them their own.

-Her Majesty the Queen named me. I was a baby slave with no name, but when the Queen saw me she said I would be called Lily. She gave me a name personally. –Lily was very happy about the great honor that she had been given. – One day I will become a great witch and serve the Queen in the palace to thank her for giving me such a beautiful name.

James nodded.

-Well, I will become a magician and serve the King. I will go to war, I will win honors and I will become a knight

-You don't need that. – Said one of the adults. – You just have to pass the physical test at the palace and you will be knighted. They make one call a year and the service period is ten years unless you wish to extend it.

Years later Lily would become a witch under the orders of the Queen and James a warrior wizard under the orders of the King. But that's a story for later.

----------------------------

Aemond Targaryen looked at Edmyn Tully

The man had been in bed after being injured in the direwolf attack and it showed. But he was a good warrior, he was making Sir Criston sweat in a way that only Aemond and a few knights of the kingdom could do.

The man was skilled, fast and lethal.

Who knew what would happen in the coming war. But he could see the greedy eyes of the “greenies” looking at Edmyn. He also had something that Aemond and Aegon didn't, people skills. Rhaenyra's ability to draw an entire army to his side with a call

It was one of the reasons he could think of as to why Haelyx had been married into the Tully family.

Aemond still felt bitter about that fact even five years after the wedding. Haelyx was supposed to be his bride, since she had claimed a dragon it made most sense for her to marry the king's son. His wife and mother of his children. And instead they married her to a fish and sent her to fuck in the mud between the puddles

Aemond had first met her when they had taken her to kindergarten at age five to play with Helaena. It was obvious that Aemond and Helaena's mother did not agree, but the King himself had brought Haelyx. The girl was shy and she looked at them through her white hair with a little fear.

She was thin as a stick, with yellowish skin and brittle hair. She didn't seem to be able to play much, which was shown when after a while one of her babysitters took her to bed and let her sleep for an hour.

Later Aemond learned that she had been seriously ill and that there were still days when she could not get out of bed. Her mother made sure to keep her away from Rhaenyra's children, as well as Helaena, which created a bond between them. The two got along well and Aemond often went with her to escape the ridicule of Aegon and the bastards for not having a dragon.

He remembered sneaking out together to hit the streets of the capital or stealing lemon pies and candy for Helaena and Haelyx. And being scolded because they had gotten sick from consuming so much sugar.

Once, in the dragon pit, while she was working with Hedwig, Aemond's father had put his hand on Aemond's shoulder and told him to take a good look at Haelyx. That she would one day be his wife if he had his way and managed to convince Aemond's mother what a great marriage would be like.

-Blood calls for blood in our family. Rhaenyra has already secured Laena's daughters for her children. But I will fight to get your mother to approve your marriage to Haelyx. I don't see a better girlfriend for a dragon prince like you.

Aemond had grown up since that day with the knowledge that his shy, fragile cousin would one day be his wife. She was quiet and almost invisible at Court. She was still the most beautiful of all the Targaryen women Aemond knew. She is also the most sensible and the least problematic.

In his heart he even admitted that Haelyx was prettier than Helaena, who was engaged to Aegon. She also liked to read, like him. And his dragon was growing at such a rapid rate that she surprised everyone.

Yes, Aemond was satisfied with the marriage

Then something happened, Aemond didn't know what it was, he didn't care how much he asked. But Aegon was taken to Old Town and the King announced the engagement of Princess Haelyx Targaryen to Edmyn Tully in front of the court.

She was only eleven years old, too young to have a child, too young to be bedridden. Haelyx was too young when they put her in a wedding dress and led her down the aisle. She was a girl dressed in white and trembling so much that the flowers in her hair and on her clothes seemed like they were going to fall off at any moment.

She looked terribly frightened, or so it seemed to Aemond as he sat next to his mother. He had asked, but his mother had refused to tell him anything, only that it was a decision of the King, Rhaenyra, and herself. A decision that Aemond had to live with and about which he had no say.

-It's the best, Aemond. I will find you a better girlfriend, I didn't even want this marriage for you. – She looked at the girl bride with disgust. Haelyx had lost some weight in the moons before her marriage. She looked very small and fragile in a dress obviously intended for an adult woman, although the seamstresses had done an admirable job adapting it to Haelyx's size.

Aemond was unable to speak to her cousin before her new husband took her out of the capital. Afterwards he heard the maids whispering about how bad the young brides were having trying to please their husbands. The maids were very foul-mouthed. But Aemond knew everything he needed to know.

He had failed to protect what was supposed to be his wife from the horrors he would have to go through for being too young to marry.

Months later he lost an eye and gained the largest dragon in the world.

He remained attentive to the rumors about Haelyx because of the affection he still had for his cousin who would have been his wife in another life. He knew that she was doing well, that she was loved.

He knew that she and her husband loved each other and was heartily glad that Haelyx achieved a successful marriage while he had to console Helaena for Aegon's constant faults. Aemond had to sneak to healers to get herbs for fear that Aegon would infect his beautiful sister with a dirty disease that came from a brothel. It didn't help that Aegon only went to the worst brothels with the worst girls and the worst diseases.

He couldn't protect Haelyx, so he would protect Helaena. Because the last rumors he heard were about how on her birthday they had taken Haelyx to her rooms in a hurry and secretly and how her dress from that day was destroyed. completely torn

Aemond was confused and wanted answers.

So he followed Edmyn Tully when he went to freshen up. Edmyn looked at him as he used a rag to wipe the water that ran down his face, over her scars, and smiled.

-Haelyx warned me that cute boys like me were followed by strange people to the bathroom. I didn't believe it was true.

Aemond knew that Haelyx had picked up those words elsewhere, because they did not fit with his elegant and shy cousin. So shy that she barely spoke when she was young.

-I want to know what happened

-That is somewhat vague, Prince Aemond. Since I do not know what event it refers to and I have knowledge of how many things happened in the land of Rivers

Aemond growled. This man was being polite but infuriating.

-I want to know how the heir of the heir of the lord of the weakest and poorest of all the great houses managed to marry a dragon princess.

The man looked at Aemond and sighed.

-I... It's long and complicated.

-Make it simple. – Aemond growled

-Prince Aegon tried to rape Haelyx on her eleventh birthday. He followed her through the hallways, locked her in a room and tried to undress her. I was able to arrive in time and save her, I beat up the Prince before the Kings and the Crown Princess arrived. After that it was decided to cover up the whole thing even though the rape had not happened and to shut my mouth they gave me Princess Haelyx, whose reputation would be ruined if people knew what had happened.

Aemond was not surprised by the rage on the man's face. He also wanted to howl in anger. That explained everything. Absolutely everything. The accelerated marriage, Aegon's banishment,…. Aemond put his hand to his eye. He felt the leather patch and the scar

Aegon had returned after that, right after Daemon's stepson... His mother had not fought for him that day. She had fought for Aegon, to bring the whole family back together in difficult times. His mother had sold his eye to bring Aegon back from his banishment.

-Haelyx also thinks that's why it didn't make a big fuss when Lucerys attacked you. The Queen took the opportunity to bring her beloved son back and the scales were balanced, more or less.

-Thank you for protecting her, my cousin... I have always held her in very high esteem. – Aemond sat on a stone. – I should have accompanied her, but I drank a little wine and I felt bad.

-I did what every gentleman should do.

Aemond was silent for a few seconds.

-It will never change. It will only get worse and my mother wants to put him on the throne.

-Accidents happen, Prince Aemond. Especially someone who goes to cheap brothels and drinks so much wine in a fortress with so many stairs. – Aemond's eye glared at Edmyn. – Don't look at me like that, I'm not the only one waiting for that accident

Aemond nodded. The next day Aegon suffered a brutal fall on the training ground that caused him to knock over the weapons rack and break his leg and arm. Neither Aemond nor Edmyn said anything to the other about his role in the fall that the Queen lamented for weeks despite the fact that Aegon hired prostitutes to come visit him daily.

Chapter Text

Haelyx was embroidering with Helaena and other ladies when a very obvious prostitute walked past the open door. The woman smelled of semen even from the distance they were and her clothes were torn. She had many kiss and bite marks all over her cleavage and her shoulders. She walked with a confidence that she shouldn't have.

Haelyx looked at Helaena, but she was squeezing the sewing needle between her fingers and said nothing. The ladies began to whisper among themselves about who had brought the prostitute to the Red Keep, but it was very obvious to Haelyx.

The whore was coming from an area where only the rooms of the Royal family could be found. And she seriously doubted that Aemond or her uncle would hire a prostitute…. At least in broad daylight. Helaena's hands tensed even more and at that moment Maelor decided it was time to cry for his milk.

Haelyx took advantage of the distraction to go out to talk to the guard.

-I don't care how many whores my cousin fucks in his chambers. I don't want them to pass near Helaena again, I don't care if you have to carry them down in a turnip basket like they do in the Valley. Let this not be repeated or there will be consequences. – She whispered fiercely and quickly. Her eyes were furious and the poor guard could only swallow and shudder at the fury of the Princess before him.

-I'm sorry, my lady. But I can't do that

- Why not? – Haelyx was surprised. Was this man refusing the order of a member of the royal family?

-He…. Prince Aegon ordered that we all take his... Bedfellows to places where Princess Helaena could see them.

The torch in the sewing room exploded and the ladies began to scream as several guards and servants entered. Haelyx came in and took Iolanthe away while she accompanied Helaena to the nursery where the twins were. She was lucky this wasn't the first torch to explode this week… Surely the whole matter would be investigated

She had to control herself and her accidental magic or she would kill someone, preferably Aegon.

But she had to prevent the prostitutes from continuing to pass by Helaena. Ah…. She wanted to take her cousin to Avalon. She would be happy in Avalon, far from the man she was forced to marry and the Court that did not understand her.

Why couldn't they take Helaena to Avalon?

Aside from the political disaster there was nothing stopping Helaena from going to Avalon. That she demanded protection in the Peverell house

If Haelyx could also take Lucerys everything would be wonderful. Hers two favorite relatives under her roof….

----------------------

Haelyx sat in the King's chambers. Haelyx tried to go once every two days, but the Queen did not allow it because she feared that Haelyx or Iolanthe would become infected. Haelyx wanted to tell this woman that the reason the King had become infected with leprosy was because her father, the King's hand, had made sure to infect him.

Haelyx had brought masks and gloves. She had also had a doctor in the free cities start using them to reduce infections a few years ago. As the number of doctors who got sick was lower if they used gloves and masks, these elements were appearing more and more frequently among those who treated sick people.

The Queen refused to use them, she believed that her beliefs would save her from the disease. Haelyx was already planning what kind of bouquet she would send to her funeral. It wasn't a custom of this world, but it wouldn't hurt to introduce it.

And since Haelyx was the only one who knew the language of flowers in Westeros she could insult a lot of people and get away with it.

Haelyx wore a very simple black dress and a mask that she hung over her face and that she held in place with a hair ornament. The mask also had embroidery that made it an aesthetic and appreciated item for a lady. There were two layers of cloth. One that fit around her face like any mask and another that hung in front of it that was very pretty and elegant, suitable for a noble lady.

-I am worried about the morale in the Court. – Haelyx sighed

- The moral?

-Lately some knights are bringing prostitutes to the Red Keep. – Haelyx took out the bandages that had been smeared with medicinal herbal ointments. – And they walk close to the ladies of nobility. The other day a young woman from House Tarly fainted from shock when she found a guard and a prostitute in... - Haelyx blushed and looked away from her. – An act of physical intimacy

- Is that the reason why Vanessa Tarly left the Fortress in a hurry? – The Queen pressed her lips so tightly that Haelyx could see blood from her bound when she opened them again, and one of her nails had broken and blood was dripping down her hand. – If the lady of the castle is not attentive, morality and decency disappear, it seems. Thank you for bringing this matter to my attention, Haelyx

Haelyx nodded as they both began to bandage the arm. There were parts that changed color and Haelyx knew they were fighting something they couldn't kill. Magic could not cure leprosy. There was a potion, but Harry didn't have the skill to make it, and Haelyx knew she didn't have that level of skill either. Few had it, very few.

-The other day, before the torch in the sewing room exploded, one of those prostitutes walked before us. Poor Helaena was so mortified that the ladies she had invited would see that woman….

The Queen withdrew for a moment to wipe away the trickle of blood that had slipped down her chin. Although Haelyx heard her shout for Criston Cole and give him orders.

-You're smart. – Haelyx looked at her uncle. – You have pointed out what Alicent doesn't like, which will make her react.

-I have to be, dear uncle. I'm protecting your daughter.

The King grunted in discomfort as Haelyx caressed the King's forehead and gently fed him the water next to his bed.

-I don't know what's wrong with Aegon. He used to be such a sweet and kind boy. I don't recognize him, it's been a long time since I recognized my own children.

-Growing up is bad. I hope I can always recognize my Iolanthe

---------------------------

-Lumos. – Edmyn smiled at the spark of light on his fingers. After Wingardium Leviosa, Lumos was the easiest spell to learn.

Haelyx was sitting on her husband's lap as she braided her hair and watched him cast the spell. He had improved, now he could do it one out of three attempts. She intertwined her fingers with Edmyn's and whispered her own Lumos to her. The magic lights danced together

Edmyn pushed his and the lights began to move along the couple's arms until they died out.

Edmyn smiled proudly and kissed Haelyx as she laughed softly. Then her eyes drifted to Iolanthe who was sleeping comfortably in the crib in the bedroom. It was unusual for parents to share a bedroom with their children; normally the children slept in the nursery.

But Haelyx had insisted that Iolanthe sleep with them.

-Since we both have magic. Do you think Iolanthe will have magic too?

Haelyx stayed still in Edmyn's arms and he felt the change in his wife immediately. She was terrified. She jumped up and approached Iolanthe, taking her into her arms and cradling her against her body.

If he didn't know anything, Edmyn wouldn't know what was happening. He now knew that Haelyx was examining Iolanthe with her magic.

-This is bad, this is very bad

- Is something wrong with Iolanthe? – Edmyn stood up with concern and approached his wife and his beautiful daughter

-I should have realized. Why didn't I remember? – Haelyx's eyes were full of tears. – I am a bad mother, I have put her in danger. I should have been more attentive… I should have….

-Haelyx! – Edmyn looked at his wife with a frown as he watched her tears slide down her cheeks. – Whatever it is, it is not your fault. You do thousands of things for us, for Avalon, for your family,... Not remembering a single thing is not a sin, it would have to happen sooner or later. Now calm down, take a deep breath and tell me what scares you so much, my love.

Haelyx took a few deep breaths and seemed to calm down at Iolanthe's crying that she could feel her mother's tension and discomfort. Haelyx looked down at Iolanthe and began kissing her hair and her cheeks as she asked for forgiveness.

Edmyn cradled Haelyx in her arms, as only a husband could, while he comforted her as well. The three of them stood in silence as Iolanthe calmed down and went back to sleep. Edmyn knew that Iolanthe would stay in Haelyx's arms for a long time.

-When two magicians get married they perform a ritual that unites their magic. That way the magic intertwines and the marriage goes well.

- How did you do with me? – Haelyx blushed. - Like when we are sleeping together and you intertwine our magic to drive me crazy with pleasure?

-Different, that was my conscious magic. What I'm talking about is unconscious magic, a deeper level. How to explain? – Haelyx's fingers twitched. A little quirk she had when she tried to find an answer. – It's like breathing, most of the time you don't think about it. That's what ritual does, uniting our unconscious magic. But we didn't do the ritual, so our magics are not united

-And how does that relate to Iolanthe? – Haelyx looked at Edmyn with surprise. – It is evident that something bad is happening with Iolanthe and that is what made you go after her directly

Haelyx remained silent for a few seconds.

-When a couple with magic conceives a child, the magic of both goes to the child to protect it until the child is about five or six years old. From that moment on, it is considered that the child's own magic will be able to protect them, since magic increases with age. But in our case, since we are not united, the lack of unity in our magic is affecting Iolanthe

Edmyn straightened and directed his hand to his daughter's small body.

-How is this affecting her?

-I was lucky to join our magic when she was still in my womb. That should have prevented most of the damage. But if you had died and I had never known you had magic I would have continued giving the same amount of magic to Iolanthe and that would have made her sterile due to the lack of magic when developing. Also death in the crib would have been very possible

Edmyn went cold. As a man not having children was not a problem unless he was the last of his lineage. There would always be a cousin, brother, or uncle who would take care of the family name. But for a woman it was different.

A woman's children were her mark of honor and her protection. If something happened to the husbands, the sons would take care of the women. A woman without children was criticized and despised.

And she could die at any moment in her crib. His Iolanthe, his pretty girl, his daughter

- She is fine? Is she still in danger?

-She is fine. Our magic… – Haelyx blushed deeply. – Our magics are as compatible as our bodies. After putting them together they are working as they should, more or less. It won't cause any major harm to Iolanthe, but I can't guarantee the same with our future children.

- What damage could Iolanthe have?

Haelyx blushed again.

-Tendency to fart, stutter a little, a small bladder,… Nothing very serious. Just annoying things

Edmyn sighed in relief as he stroked Haelyx's hair. If she hadn't noticed her magic, if she had died fighting, if... He refused to think further. Iolanthe was fine, she would be fine. The future children would be fine, he would make sure they were fine.

-I want to do the ritual. Join us correctly. How do we do it?

-It would be complicated. We should have a traditional Valyrian wedding

Edmyn understood. Having a Valyrian wedding in the temple to the faith of the seven that Queen Alicent had turned the Red Keep into would be almost impossible.

-Believe…. – Edmyn looked at Haelyx. – I think I have an idea. And I'll need to know if you can make it happen.

------------------------

The King dreamed that night of a wedding. A wedding on Rhaenys Hill. There were two couples, both dressed in traditional Valyrian fashion. Rhaenyra and Daemon, Haelyx and Edmyn. Both making the vows and taking the runes

No, Viserys realized. Haelyx and Edmyn weren't doing it like that. They were just taking the ceremony of the seven

A black shadow covered the sky and cracks appeared in the ground from which fire came out as black as Balerion's. The land around Rhaenyra and Daemon remained, but sank along with Haelyx and Edmyn. Viserys ran towards the hole and tried to pull them out by extending both his arms.

But he could only see their charred corpses like Aemma's body at the bottom of the burning pit. Next to him were still Rhaenyra and Daemon, perfectly fine.

Valyrian weddings. From this moment all members of royalty had to perform them

---------------------------

Haelyx was measured by the royal seamstresses while Queen Alicent pursed her lips a lot. The King barely got out of bed, but he had gotten up to give the order that from that moment on if two people of different religions got married, ceremonies of both religions must be carried out.

That included believers in the old gods, which increased the loyalty of the northerners. But also to the religion of ancient Valyria. And the king decided to set an example by using Edmyn and Haelyx and announcing that they would have a Valyrian wedding within three moons.

Haelyx didn't really think the dream was going to work. It was a spell that Albus created to annoy James that allowed dreams to turn into nightmares. Of course Harry punished Albus for that, but then rewarded him for his imagination.

But the Targaryens took dreamers very seriously. Especially the supposedly prophetic dreams.

The ceremony would be conducted by her father. That caused some discomfort in Haelyx's stomach.

His father was willing to participate in anything that upset the Septons and the Queen. In the front row and with popcorn, if possible. Now that Haelyx thought about it, someone had poured salt into the private gardens of the King's hand right after the Crown Princess returned to Dragon Rock. There was a sack of salt fallen and they thought a servant had carelessly dropped it.

Otto Hightower cried while he transplanted the rose bush that his wife planted so many years ago. He managed to save the plant, but they said he had spent sleepless nights taking care of the plant.

Haelyx realized that it had been his father's or his father's order, no doubt.

Only he could cause so much damage

-----------------------------

The Valyrian ceremony was not difficult for Edmyn to understand. Haelyx was very proud of the look of admiration her father had had when Edmyn replied in High Valyrian that he would not need a guide in the Common tongue for the ceremony.

- How long has your husband been learning our native language?

-Since our wedding. He insisted. – Haelyx smiled

-A good husband for a Dragon Princess. Many of our spouses don't even try to understand our culture and traditions. – That comment was said looking at the Green Queen.

Alicent Hightower turned crimson and squeezed her hands in her dress. As soon as Rhaenyra had arrived at the Red Keep and seen the lack of trappings that the Targaryens kept from the time before the fall of Valyria.... Well, she had been enraged and had ordered them put back in place. she. The Crown Princess ordered all the green fabrics and tapestries to be torn off and replaced with the red and black of House Targaryen.

When the Green Queen complained the Princess said that they were not in Old Town or a Hightower home. This was the Red Keep, the home of the Targaryens and the Red Keep would sport the colors of the Targaryen house. And she threatened any Lord who opposed the changes to go to his ancestral homes and dye them the colors of his wives' maiden homes.

Obviously no Lord complained after that and the Queen saw any new attempt to destroy the Targaryen legacy and its relics frustrated.

The tapestries had been so poorly kept that the King had become furious and had the servants flogged who removed them from their ancestral places and then called women to repair them.

Little by little, everything returned to its place

The cuts were not painful for both of them, they were more devoted to the sensations that their magic gave when they joined together.

It was so…. So pleasant. Like wearing a warm sweater on a cold day, like a cup of hot chocolate while watching the snow fall.

As if everything in the world was in its right place.

And for them it was

---------------------

Haelyx watched as Edmyn took the portkey.

- Do you want to go to Avalon to work?

-Not…. I want us to go to Avalon with Iolanthe and have our wedding.

Haelyx smiled at that and transported them to the bedroom. Dobby grabbed Iolanthe and gave them privacy as they smiled and thanked the Elf.

That night Haelyx and Edmyn Peverell conceived their second child

Chapter Text

War was approaching Avalon

It was inevitable, the other powers of the world looked with contempt on the newly formed Kingdom and the riches and relics of Old Valyria. Normally Haelyx wouldn't mind being on the front line, as she had been sinking enemy ships before.

But this time was different

This new pregnancy had greatly weakened Haelyx's strength. She was lying on a couch in the women's quarters while they watched a short play. The Queen had sent for the actors when she had learned of Haelyx's second pregnancy.

From Dragonstone a Valyrian steel necklace in the shape of a dragon had arrived to congratulate her on her second pregnancy. Apparently due to her complicated birth it was likely that Helaena would not be able to have children again, so Haelyx seemed to be the only one who was having children at the time.

Even so, the Queen had become so attached to Haelyx that it was difficult to go to Avalon. Whenever Haelyx managed to be left alone it seemed that a servant arrived with a new message from the Queen demanding Haelyx's presence. The first few weeks of her pregnancy had been fine. But then the nausea hit hard and Haelyx could barely stand.

There was also Hedwig. The Guardians had said that the dragon was behaving strangely and Haelyx was feeling strange things through her bond. Protection, love, concern, desire and hope

-----------------------

Haelyx was in the Dragon Pit because Hedwig had burned one of the Guardians alive and that was unusual behavior for her. She was too big to be chained, so Haelyx was the one who had to deal with it.

The dragon scent that wafted through the Well cleared Haelyx's nausea as if by magic. No, rather it was instinct and the “blood” that ran through the veins of the Targaryens.

She was a dragon after all. A Targaryen born of fire and blood

But that was not what everyone thought. Not really, close but no. Haelyx had found the ancient texts of Valyria and discovered the terrible secret hidden in the blood of the dragon riders. People told them that the gods got fed up with the arrogance of the Valyrians and punished them for their experiments in black magic.

But the truth was that they had done those experiments imitating their ancestors.

Because the hybridization experiments went well once and that's what gave the Valyrians their characteristic traits. Tall, slender, beautiful, pale skin, immune to fire, white hair and purple eyes. All this because the Valyrians had mixed their blood with the blood and flesh of a dragon that was considered their “God.”

The details were unclear, and most of the writings seemed like something out of the oral legends that roamed the region. The story that passed from mouth to mouth and in each place was different but had common details. What the writing included seemed to be the common details of that spoken legend.

A shepherd found some dragons. The ferocious beasts went after his flock, but a white dragon smaller than the others defended the sheep and lost one of its wings. It was the most beautiful dragon of all, pearly white, with purple eyes, long, slender and with the membrane of its wings pale as the moon.

The shepherd took the dragon to his village where the beast was cured and treated like a God. Due to the presence of the dragon no other being attacked the sheep, not even another dragon. But nothing lasts forever and the life of the God of the shepherds came to an end after many, many years of prosperity for the shepherds in which they created a rich city.

The inhabitants cried rivers of tears for their dead God. Then a sorceress said that they would not let their God die, that God would live inside each of them. And the shepherds agreed with the sorceress

The sorceress mixed the flesh of the God with all the shepherds' people. Until there was nothing left of the God and everyone had a piece of the deity in their bodies.

And the children who were born the following year all had white hair and bright purple eyes, as if the God had come back to life. And when the dragons arrived the children joined them and tamed them, becoming the first dragon riders.

That was why the Targaryens found the idea of marrying someone not of the Valyrian family or origin so disgusting. Because they instinctively knew that they were not the same species, they were hybrids between humans and dragons. And the humans craved Valyrian blood because they knew that the Valyrians were more powerful and they wanted that power for themselves. What they said was true, the Targaryens began as dragons who became humans in the womb.

That was the real reason for the excessive incest in the Targaryen family. There were almost no Valyrians left. Even deep inside her, Haelyx knew that if she was attracted to Edmyn, it was more because of the love that arose from contact over time than because of an immediate attraction. It was also thanks to Harry's memories that Haelyx found humans attractive.

And that also explained why Haelyx's first love had been her uncle Viserys. Even though he was much older than her and not as attractive when compared to Edmyn. However, for Haelyx there had been no man more attractive than her uncle, and if she could have she would have married him.

The flash of fire snapped Haelyx out of her thoughts as Edmyn tensed beside her. The guardians seemed nervous but Haelyx thought Hedwig's fire was the most beautiful she had ever seen. It was white with small blue strands. Beautiful and deadly

-Very well, everyone moves aside. I'll take care of Hedwig myself.

-Princess! It's dangerous, you should go in with at least one Guardian!

-This is my dragon, I can handle it.

Haelyx entered the cave that Hedwig had claimed as her own. It was one of the largest caverns in the Pit, but not the largest. Vhagar had claimed that for herself and would not let the cavern go easily. It wasn't that Hedwig wanted the big cavern.

But Vhagar was upset that she was no longer the biggest dragon in the Pit.

Haelyx entered with confidence looking at the straw that Hedwig spread on the ground to make a nest.

-Hello my Girl. –Sung the young woman approaching the dragon. - What's the matter? Is it because I haven't come to see you often? I'm sorry about that, this baby is taking a lot out of me. I can't come as much as I would like.

Golden eyes looked at her and the dragon's muzzle moved closer to her before she inhaled slowly. Haelyx rested her hand between the dragon's nostrils, there was considerable space to do so. The dragon made a gurgling sound.

-Why are you so angry? Everything's fine. They haven't chained you and they still let you hunt. I don't see that you lack exercise. What's the matter?

Haelyx looked at the area near Hedwig's paw and saw the disturbed straw. She approached there and saw a multicolored dragon egg. She knew the Guardians had seen it, she couldn't hide it. Still she managed to hide the other four from view. She left a portkey in the straw, she would return that night

-Egg? It's your first egg! And it's beautiful! I am very proud of you. – The dragon pushed the egg further into Haelyx's arms with her nose. - Is it for Iolanthe?

The gurgling sounded again. Haelyx knew a storm was coming

-----------------------

The cries of the small Council sounded loud. Haelyx was clutching Hedwig's egg and had said it would be placed in Iolanthe's crib. That had caused quite a stir. Iolanthe was a Tully and they didn't want her to have a dragon. But it was also better to use the egg while it was fresh, and that meant putting it in a crib immediately.

And the only Targaryen without an egg was Iolanthe. Haelyx's younger brothers each had a dragon. The only one missing was Rhaena. And she had an egg. In the end the King said that Iolanthe could have the egg.

Haelyx placed the egg in a brazier an hour later and looked at the cats and rats they had brought. Edmyn took his knife and slit the animals' throats before pouring the blood over the egg and throwing their carcasses into the brazier.

-Fire and blood, you will open yourself and my daughter will be your rider. – Haelyx pushed her magic into the egg. – You will be a beautiful dragon for my beautiful daughter

-Our daughter will be your rider. You are the first egg of Hedwig, my wife's dragon. The largest of all dragons. We have high hopes for you. – Edmyn and Haelyx looked at the egg. It had scales of multiple colors, the dragon that came out of that egg would be the color of the rainbow. -What dragon do you think mounted Hedwig to lay an egg?

Haelyx rubbed her forehead.

-I don't want to think about my pretty girl having dragonish intimacy.

-No, but there are few candidates. Female dragons usually choose males their size or larger. And there aren't many dragons Hedwig's size. Could Caraxes or Vermithor be the chosen one?

-No, Caraxes is mating only with Syrax. Dragons are a very loyal species to their partners, I don't think they mated with Hedwig. Besides, it is very rare for a dragon to mate with the dragon whose rider is the son of its rider. And Vermithor has only mated with Silverwing for a long time, they have had most of the eggs we currently have.

-And what dragon could it be?

Haelyx stayed silent.

-Cannibal. It is big enough and I have also felt it passing through the barriers I put in the Pit, but at the lower end. There must be a hidden entrance that we know nothing about

-Cannibal and Hedwig? – Edmyn laughed. - It's a little….

Haelyx got up and went to the other end of the portkey that he had left in Hedwig's nest.

-What happen?

-I left eggs in the nest.

-And?

-Cannibal eats eggs and now he is entering the Pit. We must get to the eggs before he does. – The color was quickly disappearing in Haelyx's face as she thought about what would happen if they didn't arrive soon.

Edmyn cursed and grabbed his sword before taking his wife's hand. They came out in the middle of the hay before Hedwig's astonished gaze. Haelyx rummaged through the straw and found the fourth eggs. Five was a lot for a first clutch, but his girl was special.

The eggs had to be removed carefully. Haelyx felt Edmyn stand before her and how he drew his sword to protect her wife. He didn't have to look to know what was happening.

She raised her eyes to see the gigantic black beast before her. When she was younger she had had nightmares about Cannibal. On his fire, on his claws. She was terrified of the giant dragon. She still pressed his balls against her chest.

She wouldn't let him have them.

Hedwig looked at the humans curiously before snorting calmly and cooing at the black dragon. Cannibal looked at Hedwig and nuzzled her nose with his in a way that reminded Haelyx of when birds played together. Besides…. The feeling on the black dragon was...

-Edmyn, put down your sword

-Have you gone crazy, woman?

Haelyx took a step towards the black dragon and held out her hand. The dragon looked at her, but did nothing.

-You were cursed…. When I cleanse the curse of Valyria I cleanse you too. – Haelyx whispered softly.

-Are you sure? – Edmyn had lowered the sword a little

-Yes... I saw it when I was little, before going to Valyria. Not…. It is not the same dragon as at that time. His magic is clean. – Haelyx smiled. - Are you Hedwig's partner? I expect beautiful babies from both of you, so you must apply yourself to the task.

Cannibal looked smug

Edmyn approached and petted the black dragon. Haelyx froze as she felt her husband's magic coming out of her timidly. The dragon's magic was more aggressive and quickly created a bond with the man. Edmyn shivered and looked at the dragon.

-What was that?

Haelyx couldn't help it and she started laughing out loud. A few weeks later the Guardians told the story of the echo of a child's laughter that was lost in the hallways of the Pit. But Haelyx didn't know that yet.

-That, husband, is the link. Somewhere in your blood is blood of ancient Valyria, enough for a dragon to make you its rider. – Haelyx smiled. – Congratulations, you are the first Cannibal rider

Edmyn grimaced.

-I don't feel comfortable calling him Cannibal

A short argument later, Canibal had become Nightfly. He seemed very happy with his new name and the human couple left the dragon couple who were flirting.

----------------------------

Edmyn looked at the saddle. It was a battle one. With metal and strong supports. The black dragon seemed proud of his shiny chair compared to the soft leather and wool one Hedwig used.

Footsteps sounded behind Edmyn and he turned to see Haelyx in a pale green dress with her hair in a braid. Contrary to her usual style she was not wearing a crown even though they were in Avalon. Edmyn looked at another man and gave some more instructions.

-You're sure? You've only flown once before, Edmyn. – Edmyn turned to look at his wife. Her small bump gave away her pregnancy. Behind her was Oscar with Iolanthe in his arms. – I could go, Nightfly lets me ride him. I…

-It's war, you can't go.

-But…! My magic! I could help you a lot with my magic!

-You have already helped us. You have engraved runes on a thousand of the three thousand swords we carry, enchanted our arrows, and strengthened our shields. You couldn't do more.

Edmyn kissed his wife. She blushed at that. But she could still feel her fear and panic.

-Let me defend you. Defend what I love. My country, my wife and my daughter. – Edmyn's hand caressed Haelyx's belly and he felt the scars on his face throb a little. He knew that Haelyx remembered all too well what happened the last time he went into battle. – For our future

-Don't be a hero, just come home. I don't need a dead hero, I need a living husband

Edmyn smiled and hugged his wife before doing the same with his brother and kissing his daughter's forehead. Then he climbed into the saddle and took off. Watching from above as he walked away from the palace of Avalon, a part of him understood.

That's why the Targaryens felt more like gods than men.

This sight was something that only birds and gods could achieve

--------------------------

Edmyn took the potion his wife had given him in front of the army and gasped at the bad taste as the ancient unsullied looked at him. His hair had grown and was silver. It was also curly instead of straight.

Haelyx had given him the potion to hide and give false information to the enemy.

What he didn't expect was for her to give him a Valyrian makeover. Something told him that Haelyx would make him take that potion for some bedroom game in the future. It wasn't that he cared, but he had read the same books as Haelyx.

He couldn't even imagine what it was like for her instincts to know that she was being intimate with a man who wasn't her species.

-Go ahead men. I will go first and surround them with fire. Don't leave any invaders alive. – At Edmyn's shout the swords were raised. Edmyn climbed onto the chair and Nightfly took flight excitedly.

It was easy to see the enemies who screamed at the sight of a dragon. They didn't have scorpions. Nightfly surrounded the army with fire and entertained himself by burning their rear. In the end only a tenth managed to reach the troops.

The battle was so easy that Edmyn learned how Aegon and his sisters had conquered Westeros. Three dragons and a thousand men were enough to defeat six entire armies.

In this way the war was almost child's play

He wanted to burn more armies, demonstrate the power of Avalon and give the lands to his queen. Edmyn realized the feelings that filled his mind and used his magic to drive them away. Was that a mental curse?

He felt that way.

Edmyn's magic checked Nightfly and nothing was wrong with him. It was strange, he had to talk to Haelyx

--------------------------

-It's a curse. But not because of the dragon or anything like that. It's from killing too many people. – Edmyn was talking to Haelyx through a mirror that communicated with the palace. The good thing about this method was that everyone could use it as long as they had a little magic. Right now Edmyn was in his tent while the troops chased the few fugitives

-I had never heard that killing too much caused a curse.

-But you have heard the stories of cruelty of those who cannot stop killing. – Haelyx sighed, she was tired from the pregnancy. – Killing leaves a mark on the soul. The more you kill, the more marks there will be. And if there are many, they will begin to contaminate your heart and make you want to kill more and more. May you corrupt your soul more and become darker and darker and crueler.

-And why didn't you tell me before?!

-I didn't think you'd get creative with Nightfly. It was my mistake. I will prepare a purification ritual for when you return. That way I will cleanse you and the soldiers.

-OK…. What did your family think we were doing?

-Looking for wine for Aegon because he has emptied the cellar. Again.

-And do we have the wine?

-Yeah. I modified the memories of a few peasants so that they thought they saw Hedwig and our men are carrying the barrels. We have at least three weeks of time in Avalon

-And how has the queen taken your absence?

-My uncle has relapsed and Aegon has contracted a certain infection in his private parts. She has her hands full with just that. I wonder who would put snakefang pica powder in Aegon's underwear?

Edmyn looked at his wife in silence.

-Remind me to never make you angry.

Chapter Text

Haelyx looked at the raven that came from the Citadel. Summer was approaching. His belly was big and round with five months of pregnancy, his breasts were full, but Iolanthe no longer wanted to drink the milk that flowed from them. Her little girl was starting to get teeth when she turned one year old and she wanted to eat baby food, which turned out to be cereal pasta.

Haelyx was trying to talk to her only in High Valyrian. Which helped Edmyn, since they had decided that that would be the official language of Avalon. Iolanthe had also started crawling, around the same time as Maelor.

Helaena's gaze at her belly was one of longing and desire. Haelyx knew that her cousin wanted a very large family, but more and more Maesters had told her that it would be almost impossible for her to give birth again.

Especially since Aegon seemed to have become impotent after a very mysterious illness in his testicles that caused panic among the nobles and made them stop going to brothels. The girls in the capital's brothels were going hungry as they stopped serving nobles and only serving commoners for a few coins.

Owning a brothel was expensive. The worst ones were cheap to maintain, the difficult thing was to change the girls constantly since they died a lot both from clients and from illnesses. But normally you needed access to a doctor, sheets, cleaning, teachers, musical instruments and good food. And take care of the girls so that they looked good and were healthy. In the end all that was quite expensive

Queen Alicent took advantage of this to try to ban brothels in the capital. But she didn't get very far and earned the enmity of many nobles by doing that. But the fact was that many prostitutes from low-ranking brothels left the capital for other brothels scattered throughout the seven kingdoms.

Haelyx was so proud of having taught Edmyn how to do that curse.

Iolanthe's egg had hatched showing a beautiful multicolored dragon. Jaelarys, the dragon of hope. That's what Haelyx had called him after an argument with Edmyn. It was a beautiful dragon that had made the Crown Princess's family come out of Dragonstone to see.

Aegon had said that he was not as pretty as the golden Sunfyre, but it was obvious that he was jealous of Iolanthe's beautiful dragon.

----------------------

Haelyx was lying on a chaise lounge with her prominent belly sticking out as if she were wearing a balloon under her dress. Her pregnancy was so advanced that she did not dare to walk more than a few steps out of the rooms. She could barely see her feet and the Master had said it would be a big boy, maybe twins.

Given this knowledge, the Queen had exempted Haelyx from any activity at Court and had sent her to her chambers with orders to rest. There were also more maids around and a lady-in-waiting who was the daughter of a Tully standard-bearer knight. Melisse was a sweet thirteen-year-old girl who had come with the hope of getting a good marriage. She had magic, but she couldn't use it.

A knight of the royal guard was in her room staring at her.

He didn't like her. He had been sent by the Hand of the King and he was a spy. Haelyx was seventeen years old and married. But she could feel the Hand's gaze on her. Lust was almost as difficult to contain as the hunger for power.

But there were other things that worried Haelyx. Too many lords looked at her with lust to bother caring about them. They would not attack her, not while her child was in her womb.

One of her concerns was Helaena's daughter, Jaehaera. The girl... She wasn't well. She had noticed it before, but the more time she spent with the girl the more evident it became that something in her mind was not right. She was like she was still a baby, she barely spoke and needed to be attended to at all times. She was slow to develop and very quiet.

Helaena and Queen Alicent did everything they could to hide it, but Haelyx knew that the day would soon come when they could no longer hide it. Jaehaera was an idiot, or as they said in Harry's life, she was learning delayed or mentally retarded. That's why she had asked a craftsman to make these little wooden tablets and now she was painting them. She was too pregnant to sew and embroider.

She had already taken care of doing everything possible for her unborn child before giving birth. And yes, they were twins. She was making these little tablets to help Helaena's children learn to read. On the one hand the word, in the common and High Valyrian language. On the other hand, the drawing of what the word was.

It was something Harry's children had had, but they used it to learn runes. An imitation of the Montessori method. She just hoped that they would let her help Jaehaera to the point that she could take care of herself.

She finished giving the last touch to the new board and sighed.

-Are you feeling well, Your Highness?

-Yes Melisse, I'm fine. Only this pregnancy is taking away my strength. I hope they are twins. Two boys with Edmyn's red hair and beautiful blue eyes. They would be so beautiful

Melisse looked at Haelyx through her brown eyelashes.

-I think two girls with white hair and purple eyes would be very pretty. – And there Haelyx knew that Melisse was in the Queen's pocket. The Queen had gone to pray to the Seven for twins as soon as the Master said they could be twins. Every day, every woman she knew said that her belly indicated they were going to be girls just because her belly button didn't stick out.

Damn…. Was Haelyx's belly button sticking out proof that her baby had a cock? Who had invented such superstition or common knowledge? According to Harry's memories, that was complete nonsense.

But most noble women looked at her navel and said that the baby in her belly was a girl because of her belly. Haelyx knew the family wanted girls, soon. On Avalon, Hedwig's four remaining eggs were being guarded by the house elves and the Winged Order.

The Winged Order was Avalon's version of the Kingsguard that Edmyn and Oscar had christened. They were distinguished from the others because their helmets were designed to look like dragon wings and their armor had dragon engravings on them. Unlike the Royal Guard, their vows were temporary, lasting five years at a time, for both men and women.

Haelyx had always found it strange that her ancestors trusted men to protect her wives. But the patriarchy ran strong in Westeros and the trust of her relatives was great... Haelyx knew that among her many distant relatives there were several bastards who had been legitimized without it being known that they were bastards, Rhaenyra's children were an exception.

And she knew that Rhaenys' mother had had an affair with her Kingsguard, although that was not public or private knowledge. Haelyx herself only knew because she had read it in the mind of the leader of the Kingsguard that he had seen them when he had barely taken the oath.

Not that people really cared. Everyone knew that the members of the Royal Guard went from time to time to a discreet brothel and several of them had known bastards. Just like the men of the Night's Watch, who went to Villa Mole to fuck with prostitutes….

No Moleville itself was made up of Night's Watch bastards.

-----------------------------

Haelyx was watching her stepmother and father arrive at the Capital through an enchanted mirror. The Queen had a constipated face that was strange to see on her. It seemed like she would rather face the rats than show courtesy to her stepdaughter.

Then something caught Haelyx's eye. Aemond looked at Lucerys. But not with hatred or desire for revenge. That was… Desire, love. Was Aemond gay?

For some reason that made a lot of sense. He did not visit brothels unless they dragged him, he was always surrounded by pure men, Haelyx had never seen him talk to a single woman,... And it was not that Aemond was not successful, on the contrary. The dark and tortured prince was popular among romantic maidens thanks to the songs of the minstrels and bards who toured the country.

But Aemond would not approach them. Even his complaints about not marrying Haelyx were because Haelys was a maiden of Targaryen blood and she should marry a man of Targaryen blood. The knowledge learned by the family

Gods old and new, it was so clear once thought coldly.

Haelyx felt her unborn child's kick on her bladder and she gasped before getting up to pee again. She unraveled the incantation as Melisse's footsteps approached. The young woman entered with her hair tied up awkwardly and some makeup on her face. Not much, because she didn't have much makeup at this time, but enough to catch people's attention.

-Melisse? Who have you dressed up for?

-My lady... Several single nobles have come with Princess Rhaenyra.

Haelyx sighed and sat up straight in her seat.

-Wash your face and let your hair down. I'll help you pick it up

-I did it wrong? Normally one of the maids helps me, but they were all busy. – Melisse seemed nervous and Haelyx reminded herself that she was barely thirteen years old and she was already desperately looking for a husband. She knew that the girl's family didn't have much money or influence, but poor girl was desperate to get a good marriage.

Which was quite sad to think considering that Haelyx herself was just over seventeen years old. She would have liked Melisse to be a girl, that she could dance under the trees of the forest of the Gods barefoot without fear of being judged. It was very sad that the girl couldn't do that.

-Let me. You have a beautiful curl, I know that the fashion is to brush your hair away from your face, but some loose strands look better on you. – Haelyx worked quickly. If Melisse got married she would have a new spy in less than a week. She was better a known evil than an unknown good

Then she turned to Melisse and helped her with her makeup. It was fortunate that only she had seen the young woman, others would have said that she was dressed like a prostitute. The Queen's influence was still strong at Court. Even though all traces of green had disappeared from the walls and the tapestries and mosaics had returned to their original state.

The Queen still managed to make the entire Court made up of false Puritans and lying people. No one could really blame Haelyx for the purge she was doing among the nobles.

Pedophiles, rapists, scammers,... She was killing all the sinners on the Hightower side. They really should give herva medal. She was leaving on the Greens side only the true believers and practitioners of the faith of the seven.

She deserved a fucking medal, really. She laughed as she imagined Faith giving her the medal, after eliminating the main donors of it. People only donated to try to get in the way to heaven and the redemption that the seven promised.

Haelyx truly did not regret having placed so many servants under the imperius. She remembered the qualms Harry had had about using the curse and she didn't care. Harry was a man, a lord, and a powerful wizard in a less violent time. Haelyx lived in a place where you could have your tongue torn out for calling the Crown Princess's bastard children bastards.

Their situations could not be compared.

-That's it, go look at yourself in the mirror. --– she Said , dropping the brush with which she had been applying the girl's makeup.

Melisse approached the mirror and smiled. The girl had common features, she was not a great beauty. But she was sweet, and naive. Haelyx had to keep a good eye on the men around her. Edmyn helped her with that and they had already stopped two incidents with low-ranking soldiers who had “disappeared” in a mysterious way.

Of course neither of the spouses knew which dragon had eaten which damned soldier who had gone to abuse a noble lady. One under the protection of Queen Haelyx Peverell and King Edmyn Peverell

How could anyone accuse them of such a horrible thing?

-----------------------------------

Daemon Targaryen did not like walking to the tower where his daughter and his son-in-law resided. He didn't like that tower, he only had memories of being scolded in it by his grandmother for all his mistakes.

Mistakes that were essentially being himself. Not to be the perfectly educated prince that Viserys had been. And enjoy his freedom

Later he understood why his grandmother was so rigid with the rules. The kind Queen Alyssanne had committed a very serious mistake in her youth. She had eloped with King Jaehaerys and they had secretly married. That had caused them great problems and difficulties. After that the Queen had maintained the line at all times, never stepping out of line.

Even so, that tower had been where his grandmother had felt free.

And now Haelyx lived there

Daemon rested his hand on Rhaenyra's back as they entered and saw Haelyx. She was lying on the couch, with a reddish robe open over her big belly. Her hair was tied back and she was caressing her belly with a smile on her face.

Too similar to Aemma, almost a carbon copy of Rhaenyra's description of the last time she had seen her mother.

-Father, mother... - Haelyx went to get up, but Rhaenyra stopped her and lowered her to the couch. Her belly was so big. Bigger than Daemon had assumed. Although the spies had told him that they could be twins.

Iolanthe was standing watching them. Well, she was holding onto the table before flopping down on her butt.

-It's only been a moon or two since she learned to crawl and she's already starting to stand up. She is a strong girl.

-She comes from a strong family. – Rhaenyra looked at Iolanthe. The girl had grown so much that she was almost unrecognizable, like all of her babies, but the girl was still very pretty. Almost as much as the woman lying on the couch. Daemon knew Rhaenyra was very pleased by that. That Iolanthe would be Joffrey's wife if everything went well.

-The twins didn't even crawl, they just walked straight. Laena was very angry about that. She said it was better to chase them when they crawled

Daemon saw Rhaenyra's restrained grimace. She had loved Laena, but she couldn't forgive her for marrying Daemon.

Lucerys approached and he asked if he could touch Haelyx's belly. She nodded and the boy brushed his hands past her before taking them away from her.

-The baby has moved, I have felt how the baby moved inside you!

-He is very active. – Haelyx ran a hand over her belly when the fabric began to shake from the kicks of the being inside. Daemon looked at his daughter's belly with a bit of interest and fascination.

Lucerys was placing his palms down carefully again, trying to chase the blows. Iolanthe climbed up the couch to her feet again and hit Lucerys' arm with her little hand. She then hugged her mother's belly and glared at Lucerys with her violet eyes.

-“Mommy, mine” – She said as she clung to Haelyx with her childish fists.

-She is in a possessive phase. – Haelyx seemed to be apologetic. Then she kissed her daughter on her forehead. – “My little princess, I am all yours. Your mom. You should not be jealous of Lucerys, he is good, he is kind, he is family”

-“No, mommy, mine”

-Does she only speak High Valyrian? – Daemon was amazed by that.

-Yes, I think she picked it up from when I taught Edmyn. She understands the common language, at least in part, but she refuses to use it. She is a stubborn person. – Haelyx hit her daughter's nose with her finger while the girl tried to grab it.

Daemon nodded approvingly. Although Haelyx was a half-breed she must have spoken the language of her ancestors. Although that girl had more stained blood than Haelyx.

Daemon looked at his daughter's belly and wondered if the next one would have the right color hair or not. He hoped so, the beauty that Iolanthe promised was typical of the Valyrian lineage, but Daemon would prefer her hair to be white, blonde or gray.

-“You're just a little girl. Do you think you can keep your mother like this?”

Iolanthe looked at him with a frown.

-“Get out, ugly” – Rhaenyra giggled at that and Iolanthe looked at her. - "Pretty"

-“And that's all her vocabulary. Although she also knows how to say dad”

Haelyx felt very proud of her daughter, and Daemon knew it. Very, very proud. She had acted well, speaking at the right moments with the right words. And Daemon couldn't even take offense because they were the words of a girl barely older than a baby, not those of an adult.

Daemon knew that his eldest daughter didn't like him, maybe she even hated him a little. He couldn't blame her, especially looking back at his past actions. He pushed her too far away from himself, seeing her as the incarnation of Rhea and everything he suffered from Rhea because of his damned first marriage.

He saw Haelyx as a half-breed unworthy of his attention, proclaimed that he did not want children, and then had two with his second wife. Always without wondering how that would affect his eldest daughter. Even when Haelyx fell ill and nearly died in early childhood he ignored his brother's crows and did not return to his daughter's side.

He left her alone to face death as the stain on the family she was his. he couldn't even remember whether he was happy or not when the ravens began to bring good news about Haelyx's health and how his brother had kept begging him to return to the capital to take her with him.

“The girl needs her father, Daemon.” Even he remembered that phrase, but he thought Haelyx would be better off with Viserys and Rhaenyra. Besides, Laena really disliked the idea of bringing Haelyx into her life. That was something he never understood and caused a lot of conflict between Rhaenys and Laena. The hatred that Laena had for a girl she had met very rarely, Laena herself recognized that she had no reason to hate Haelyx, but she hated her. She even went so far as to stop her mother from trying to claim Haelyx and take her to Driftmark to raise her.

Daemon always consoled himself by thinking that at Court, alongside Viserys, Haelyx would be fine. The news of the marriage at only eleven years old shocked him, but Laena kept him by her side because of her pregnancy. The daughter whom he had seen only a few times in her life got married without the presence of her father or her stepmother or any member of her mother's family. It wasn't until Laena's funeral that he learned the terrible truth behind the firstborn's wedding and repentance came.

Daemon had always accompanied his daughters to their bedrooms. It was a habit he had. If he had been there, he would have accompanied her and she would have been spared a terrible experience. She would have escaped a marriage with an inferior being without Valyrian blood.

And then, when he had seen her when she was thirteen... she looked like Rhaenyra, but also a little like her aunt Rael and her mother, Alyssa. Yet the Valyrian blood was stronger in her than he thought possible and they had wasted it by marrying her to a Tully instead of a man of suitable lineage. Maybe Jacaerys.

A part of him shuddered in terror as he watched her hold Aegon, the child was almost wider than her, if she gave birth he would soon split in half. Fortunately, young Tully had not yet put Haelyx to bed at that time.

And the two times he had seen them later he could see that they loved each other and that this man respected the traditions of the Targaryens. Even so, Iolanthe's hair was Tully red, which displeased Daemon.

He just hoped that the blood of Haelyx's next children wouldn't have such mixed blood.

Chapter Text

I feel bad so I have to post this to prevent you from thinking that the story is dead, it's not.

I am taking the exam to become a civil servant in my country, it is a very difficult exam and there are more than three hundred people signed up for two places so I have been studying to death since April.

The updates that I am posting on this and other platforms have already been written but, as you will understand, this story is a little more complicated than those others and I can't concentrate on writing it right now. On other platforms it is posted until chapter 10 and I have half written chapter fourteen.

In August I will publish again, but the story is not dead! Oh really! I'm even writing some extras to compensate you for the wait!!

Chapter Text

Haelyx was walking through the gardens of Avalon Palace with a stroller with babies. Iolanthe was obviously jealous of her brothers. Haelyx could only hope that the girl would get over her jealousy at some point. The birth of the twins had been interesting.

She had fought for hours to get Helga out of her body. The girl was plump, much plumper than Iolanthe, although she had red hair and purple eyes like her sister. She was energetic and loud, but very smiling

Salazar had been born right after and much more easily, a true Targaryen, the Queen had said when she saw the child. He had straight silver hair, with big blue eyes like Queen Aemma's. Salazar's birth had been so simple compared to Helga's that she had hardly noticed it and she had been very surprised when they gave her a boy.

The idea of the stroller had been introduced because Haelyx refused to let another woman carry one of her children in her arms when she couldn't. Iolanthe was now more skilled at walking and did so most of the time, but for long journeys she still preferred the arms of her beloved mother.

Edmyn said he didn't feel jealous, but Haelyx knew he did. She walked to Edmyn's office and looked at the paperwork.

-You should leave me...

-No, you are already busy teaching the new wizards and witches. Honestly, there are days when I think you could do the paperwork with your eyes closed before facing those little and not so little beasts

Haelyx smiled. She couldn't say anything, the magical recruits were mostly taught by the witches. But Haelyx was educating the witches and her apprentices. The women had signed a magical contract, absolutely eager to learn more magic.

A couple of them had shown talent for making wands. Haleyx could do her magic perfectly without a wand, but they helped others a lot, especially Edmyn who was busy in both the Red Keep and the Palace of Fallen Stars. They had given his palace that nickname after Oscar decorated it with a rare mineral that glowed in the dark.

Anyway, the wands were still beginner's jobs and they exploded, sometimes. Most wizards and witches now knew how to summon shields without words. There was no evil that did not bring at least some good in disguise.

She, too, was finding more potion ingredients than she thought possible. She heartily appreciated the detailed illustrations that the house elves had made of each ingredient.

The bad thing was the animals, surprisingly there were a few, but the vast majority did not exist. The witches believed that they were beings of old that were already extinct, but Haelyx knew that they did not exist in this world in the first place.

Still, in this world there were many, many, many strange animals that Haelyx hadn't even begun to hear about and that had interesting effects on potions.

------------------------

Haelyx ducked in time to dodge a feather that was headed straight for her right eye. The girl who had failed the Wingardium Leviosa was the youngest in the class, only eleven years old, and she began to sob at the thought that she was going to be executed for almost harming her Queen.

It took Haelyx a while to convince her that nothing bad was going to happen to her. That this was a normal accident and no one was going to punish her for it. Even so, it took a while for the girl to relax again and be able to do the spell correctly.

-They are improving. – The usual teacher approached Haelyx. – In less than a decade we will be able to teach only eleven-year-old children. Most adults just want to learn the basic magic that will help them and that's it.

-It's not like they can learn more. Their magical circuits are not well developed. Only teenagers have a chance. – Haelyx looked at one of the girls who were working on her spells. She was her age and she had been lucky to have been taken away before she started selling herself in a brothel. Haelyx believed her name was Amerys, as did all the children of Valyrian lineage she had brought forth; she knew she would soon be assigned a Valyrian surname. – She is my sister, it still surprises me to know that I have brothers the same age as me

-Yeah…. It's incredible, most of the inhabitants feel a certain nostalgia. But not Valyrian children. – The teacher looked at her. – Even I feel it, the magic of this land welcomes you. She welcomes you like a loving mother to her lost children.

-Yeah…. This land is wise, I guess there's no place like true home. – Haelyx smiled at the witch next to her. - Is it true that my brother-in-law has shown some interest in the beautiful Amerys?

-Your Majesty... There is no one who beats you, you have eyes everywhere

-Eyes? No, I don't have eyes. – Haelyx laughed. – I have some very gossipy house elves. And very discreet when they collect gossip. I think they live by knowing the love affairs and heartbreaks at Court.

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Haelyx went to visit two orphanages that afternoon. In the first one nothing bad happened, but in the second it was obvious that they needed more staff due to some very magically active children. Haelyx spoke to the children and the staff.

She liked this

Being able to talk to her subjects in this way showed her as a close, kind and considerate ruler. She is a Queen of the people.

Her best legacy was the one that lasted in the hearts of those who were governed. Haelyx was already being included in songs and stories that would be passed on by word of mouth until written down. Just like Queen Rhaenys did to King Aegon in the Conquest. From a bloodthirsty tyrant with infinite greed to a magnanimous and just King, who came to free the kingdoms from tyranny and constant wars.

Haelyx smiled as she walked through the streets of her city lightly humming a song.

----------------------------

Edmyn and Haelyx enjoyed dinner with the nobles and officials. Haelyx gestured for Edmyn to watch as the Minister of Magic and the Minister of the Currency exchanged soft glances.

Edmyn smiled and shook his head. That pair had been doing that for some time. They obviously liked each other, and from what was known they had shared a few nights together. But neither of them did anything else and both pretended that nothing was happening.

The rest of the ministers were well aware and had trouble hiding the obvious courtship of those two.

They had chosen good people. Edmyn was good at selecting them and Haelyx made the decision in the end by looking at the hearts of the candidates. Although there was almost never any doubt in Edmyn's ability to choose his subordinates.

Haelyx wondered if it was some form of passive magic that he had developed out of pure instinct. She would mention it to the other witches later. She had read about it before. Before Rowena Ravenclaw created the Hogwarts and Ministry registry that listed all magical children, many were not found until later.

These children had learned to use their magic and channel it in certain ways, thus the different branches of magic emerged.

What magic would be created in this world?

Haelyx wanted to see that magic

------------------------

Haelyx grimaced as they returned to the Red Keep. Now they were taking a potion of concentrated sleep. In just one hour of sleep it was like sleeping ten hours, creation of Lupus Black, the mad genius

So they spent their days in the Red Fortress from breakfast to dinner early in the evening and then returned to their rooms to take care of their children personally. Then they would put up a barrier that would prevent them from being disturbed or that would make people not want to come in and they would go to Avalon. With two days off in the middle of the week to be able to rest from such a pace

-I have finished the throne designs. Do you really want two?

-Yeah. One for you, one for me. I did not create Avalon alone, it is our Kingdom, my love. – Haelyx kissed Edmyn. – We both must have a throne that shows us as equals. I have always thought that it is very unfair that the King can sit and the Queen has to stand on her feet.

-Although Larys likes Alicent's feet anyway. – They had found out about that recently. Haelyx wanted to erase that knowledge from his mind. – I have organized the assassination of three Green Lords. Of course, not only because they are green, but also because of other sins they have committed, crimes and aberrations. Are you sure about this?

-Actually I think we are doing them a favor. Think about it, we are leaving only the true believers who faithfully follow the faith of the seven

-I think they suspect something is happening. Too many deaths on the green side. Larys was investigating it.

-You're right…. I have an idea. Have I told you about the Black Death and how it spread?

---------------------------

Queen Alicent was watching Princess Haelyx as she rode with her children in that wheeled basket that the other ladies of the Court were trying to build for her own children. The Princess bent down and took one of her children into her arms. Alicent could see the white hair from the distance and she knew which of the twins she had taken.

The child, the Heir of the Heir of the Heir of the Tullys, had completely Targaryen features. The two girls were a mix, but the boy was a pure Valyrian, Salazar….

Where did they get the name from?

Alicent knew that Helga was the name of Lord Tully's mother, but she had no idea where Salazar came from. She had asked to look at the genealogy book of the houses, but that name did not appear either. She had also bitten the bullet and asked Viserys. He didn't know where the name came from either.

But her father was nervous. For years they had been making sure that Valyrian blood was reduced as much as possible. They had already managed to remove their traits from the Celtigar family. It was not good that more and more lords acquired the traits of a pagan Kingdom that fell into ruin.

Although now said kingdom had been reborn again

Alicent didn't know much about that. She had only heard rumors, no one had managed to cross the borders. Even Larys had only heard rumors.

Which were led by Aegon Targaryen himself, coming out of the tomb and riding a gigantic black dragon.

That a witch with a kind and gentle heart had cried over the land of the cursed country and her tears had healed the land and broken the curse.

That the earth was populated with freed slaves

That the soldiers under the Peverells used magic.

That the witch queen had resurrected a Valyrian king of old to have children with magical blood.

They offered freedom, shelter and food to those who wanted it.

And, Alicent's personal favorite, that a woman ruled Avalon and the black dragon rider was her faithful sex slave whom she gave permission to touch her due to his extraordinary abilities in both combat and lovemaking.

Ridiculous, without a doubt.

Alicent noticed Haelyx looking at her and the woman waved at her. Always polite, Alicent returned her greeting. She saw movement near Haelyx and saw Samantha Tarly, Alicent's uncle's future wife. The girl was getting married in a few moons and she was interested in Princess Targaryen's babies.

Alicent didn't see anything wrong with that friendship. Haelyx was a sweet girl, detached from the Black side and who was neutral and respectful to the Seven. A model wife who would be a good example for when Samantha fulfilled her duty

--------------------------

Haelyx was watching the very passionate glances that Lyonel Hightower, the Higtower heir, was giving Samantha Tarly. The girl was not as immune to the young man's charms as she wanted him to believe and her eyes turned to him from time to time. But House Tarly depended on the Hightower money they made from Samantha's marriage to Lord Ormund. Samantha wouldn't betray her family. At least not without a hand to guide her

Haelyx smiled as she settled Iolanthe on her lap. The Hightowers had created cracks in the Targaryen family unit and widened them until they became deep cliffs that separated the members of their family from one another. They were slowly being destroyed.

And that was possible because the Hightower, the faith and the Maesters were a very united group. Well, if they had separated the Targaryens she could separate the wonder trio... What would cause more damage than a son stealing a father's wife? Iolanthe's hand touched Haelyx's face and the woman looked at her firstborn who was smiling in her lap very sweetly.

-“Mama, butterfly” – Haelyx saw a small butterfly with yellow wings and smiled

-“Very good, my girl, that is a butterfly. She is pretty?" – Iolanthe nodded forcefully in Haelyx's lap. So much so that her whole body shook.

Haelyx smiled so sweetly at her daughter that several of the knights thought she was an incarnation of the Mother. Only Edmyn knew that she was planning something nefarious for someone she hated.

-He is an attractive young man. Lyonel Hightower is a good looking man. – Haelyx looked askance at Samantha, she didn't take her eyes off her future stepson.

-It is…

-Reminds me of my husband. But my Edmyn is prettier than him. And so passionate… – Haelyx sighed and looked like a maiden in love at her husband who was training with the sword. – Love is a truly beautiful thing, don't you think, Lady Samantha?

The young woman looked at her lap.

-At first I thought I could never love Edmyn and now I can't imagine my life without him. The maiden blessed me and guided my steps towards a man who loved me. A kind and attentive man who would take good care of me.

-The seven give great blessings. – Lady Samantha watched Lyonel remove his shirt and expose his chest to the impressionable maidens. –But… But I suppose you already had other candidates, Princess Haelyx.

-Yeah. I was valuing my cousin Aemond, maybe Daeron if I couldn't get Aemond. – Haelyx greeted Aemond. The man nodded his head in the direction of the women. -Although my first love was another

-Oh. Who was your first love, Princess?

-My uncle Viserys. – Haelyx blushed. That was her childhood sweetheart and she always felt a little ashamed of that. After all, unlike Rhaenyra and her father, the age difference between them was much, much greater. Not something that was not seen in the society in which they lived, but quite scandalous in the eyes of everyone else. – My uncle was always so good to me. He was friendly and attentive. I was a lonely girl left in his care. He took good care of me and my heart yearned for him for a while, but the gods had destined me for Edmyn.

Lady Samantha stared at Haelyx with her mouth open. It was no secret that Haelyx's first love had been her uncle Viserys. Although not seen as much now, Viserys had been a very handsome and manly man in his time.

-But don't you feel bad for longing for your son despite having a bond that united you to the father? Wasn't that something immoral?

-No. – Haelyx shook her head. – After all it is the same family. I believed I was destined to marry a Targaryen, it didn't matter which one. After all, that's how things work in my family. It doesn't matter if you marry the father or the son

Haelyx planned to plant as many seeds as he could.

-------------------------

Lord Lyonel was so clearly in love with his father's fiancée that it was almost ridiculous. He looked at her as if she were an angel fallen from heaven for him to worship. Edmyn chuckled as he looked at him.

This man was so obvious that he was almost pitiful.

Edmyn looked at her wife and she winked at him before handing Helga to Samantha. Helga's hair color looked like a dark red in the distance between them. Very similar to the color of the Hightower

-It seems that Samantha will be a good mother. Helga is very picky about who holds her, but Samantha is handling her well.

-Yes, it is difficult to find women like that. My own wife could barely tolerate our children until they could read and write. – Lord Rossie was one of the Highgarden knights who had come to the capital. He was the third brother of the current Lord Tyrrel and a father of three children.

-That's what I heard. It happens especially with women who give birth very young. It is difficult for them to be mothers because they are just children.

-It is awful. I have heard horror stories of women killing their own children. But Lady Samantha looks like she won't have that problem. She seems eager to be a mother. And her family is known for their fertility

Lyonel was looking at Samantha and mumbling something about children.

Chapter Text

Haelyx was strolling through the gardens with Iolanthe when she saw Lord Lyonel looking out to sea.

-It's a beautiful sight, don't you think?

-Princess Haelyx, I hadn't seen you.

-That's a bit worrying. A knight should have noticed us walking this way.

Iolanthe tugged on Haelyx's skirt and she bent down to receive a stone. The girl smiled sweetly and Haelyx stroked her hair as she thanked her enthusiastically.

-They're just ordinary rocks, Princess, you shouldn't get your hands dirty with them.

-This rocks are something my daughter gave me, Lord Lyonel. Even if they were insects I would still receive these stones with open hands. To us this ordinary things, but to Iolanthe this rocks something extraordinary. After all, my daughter is discovering the world right now and even the smallest and most inconspicuous stone is a great treasure

Haelyx saw how Lyonel looked at Iolanthe who walked through the garden collecting leaves and looking at them with admiration. The same as a woman would have when seeing a beautiful jewel.

-I had never thought about that. But it makes sense, children so young are discovering the world and everything is amazing, something that adults no longer feel. Where is Lord Edmyn?

-My husband has stayed with the twins writing letters for the merchants who go to Riverun. It is not good for the twins to go out so much at their age, it is still cold. But Iolanthe can enjoy the first rays of sunlight without problems.

Haelyx sat on one of the benches and was not surprised to see that Lord Lyonel did not sit with her. It was not indecent for a man to sit with a woman on the same bench, but that would not stop people from talking.

Iolanthe approached with a red tulip and Haelyx thanked her for showing her pictures of tulips the last few days.

-A very appropriate flower. – Lord Lyonel smiled at Iolanthe like any adult at the adorable actions of a child

-Excuse me?

The man looked embarrassed

-Excuse me, but in Highgarden there is a thing called the language of flowers. Each flower has a specific meaning using that language

Haelyx of course knew it but she smiled and looked at the man calmly. She would let him guide the conversation, come to the conclusions by himself…. That way the idea would be Lyonel and Samantha's, not Haelyx's. Especially if she hid it with the most pleasant and unimportant conversations possible

Who said that the world could not be changed with a few words?

-I had heard of that. Would Lord Lyonel be so kind as to tell me what the meaning of the red tulip is in that language? From the reaction you have shown I suppose it must be a beautiful meaning

-Love, red tulips are a declaration of love

-----------------------

-Isn't that romantic, Lady Samantha? – They were in the Sept and Haelyx had told the ladies of her age what had happened with Iolanthe and the red tulip, as well as the explanation of the meaning of the flower. – Red roses are often used to express passionate love, but a tulip symbolizes a commitment of love

One of the ladies was a Tyrell girl raised in Highgarden and knew very well the meaning of the red tulip

-It symbolizes an absolute commitment to a relationship. I wish the men of the capital would use more flowers to express their feelings. It is so romantic….

-Well, as a married woman I can say that my husband is very romantic in many ways. – Haelyx smiled sweetly and the ladies gathered around her to get juicy details of a well-known love story

She watched as Samantha approached the Tyrell girl

-------------------------

Helaena was embroidering dragons for her children's clothes while Haelyx was embroidering fish on hers. Except for Iolanthe's, on her little girl's she was embroidering Jaelarys. Her little girl's egg had taken a while to open, but a multi-colored dragon had emerged from it.

The rainbow dragon.

Dragons caused a lot of fear but several ladies had approached upon hearing about the beautiful colors of Iolanthe's dragon. The Queen had pressed her lips tightly upon seeing the dragon and with envy in her eyes

None of her children's cradle eggs had opened. But Iolanthe's and Haelyx's had done so relatively quickly.

Jaelarys had made a nest out of Iolanthe's bedclothes, and the child had crawled through the opening to sleep with the dragon as Haelyx knew she had done with Hedwig. Hedwig had laid another clutch, but this time the guardians had arrived before Iolanthe and taken both eggs. Haelyx had not fought. Those eggs were infertile. Helga and Salazar had their own eggs in Avalon.

Helaena spread out her embroidery to see it better before her.

- It's beautiful, Helaena

- Thank you, I twisted my tail a little, but I corrected it by adding a curl

Haelyx nodded. Maelor was with Iolanthe on the floor and they were playing with the dragon dolls that Haelyx had bought for them.

Jaehaera seemed to be doing well while the Monterrossi method was being applied to her. The poor girl had at least already managed to speak well and write a few words. But the Maesters kept saying that she would be an idiot for life.

Haelyx could only console Helaena and Queen Alicent at the Maesters' cruel words about the girl. The worst had been when she heard the Queen ask if Jaehaera could be a mother and the Maester say that being an idiot would not affect her ability to fulfill her duty. Which might be preferable because men would not like a very intelligent wife

And the Queen had agreed. She, who was very learned and a student of sacred texts, had agreed to be told that her granddaughter would always be an idiot but that men preferred them stupid

-I have heard an interesting rumor. - Helaena said quietly as she looked at her children

-What have you heard?

-My mother's cousin, Lord Lyonel, has been wearing a very interesting handkerchief tied to his wrist. They say it has a red tulip embroidered on it and we both know the fashion that is currently going through the ladies of the Court regarding that flower. The Court is full of rumors wondering about the identity of the lady who has given such a bold gift

Haelyx giggled

-I have also given a handkerchief with a red tulip to my Edmyn. What lady do you think has been so bold as to give that gift to Lord Lyonel?

-The right lady. You and I both know that she will no longer marry old age but the one who should be.

-Do you think they will elope?

-Soon. – Helaena smiled calmly. – It will be a scandal

-I look forward to it. – Haelyx smiled. – I want to go see your father this afternoon. Is it okay if I leave the twins and Iolanthe with you?

-Yes. – Helaena watched as Iolanthe and Maelor babbled to each other while making their dragons fly. Every now and then they would say a real word, but they were still too young to form complete sentences

------------------------

Haelyx sat next to her uncle and opened her book. There was a stack of books that the Queen used to read beside the bed, but Haelyx discarded them. She really didn't want to read anything with the seven-pointed star engraved on it. And she assumed that her uncle would appreciate the change of reading, which was why she had chosen the book of conquest

This book had been written by a Maester who obviously supported the Targaryens and did not speak of Aegon's ambition or desire for conquest. It spoke of a good and kind Lord who felt great sadness at seeing the kingdoms at war and brought them peace by uniting them as one under his banner.

Haelyx thought it was incredible how history changed depending on who wrote it and what their orders were

-… Balerion's shadow completely covered the castle of….

Haelyx stopped reading when she noticed her uncle's hand moving. She moved closer to the bed and saw the man looking at her

-I heard that you have given birth

-Yes, they are twins. A boy and a girl. The boy is completely Valyrian. The girl has Tully hair and Targaryen eyes. Salazar and Helga

-Good names. Strong names for strong children. I wish there were more children born in the family. Do you think Aemond has someone in mind?

-I think so, but it is not a relationship that will bear fruit

To the King's credit, he realized what she meant. That she was telling him that his son was a deviant according to the teachings of the militant faith that his wife followed. He realized and remained silent for a few seconds. Those moments seemed eternal to the young Queen who only wanted happiness for her cousin. Then the old King made a gesture of resignation and understanding, but not of disgust or rejection as his wife would have done.

-Are you sure?

-Quite a bit. If I were still single he would marry me, but since I am not, he does not know what to do. He would have been a good husband for Helaena if they had let him. – Haelyx sighed thinking about how her cousin would have been a better husband than her other cousin. He would have loved and cherished her, Helaena would have been happy

-Better than Aegon, for sure. I've heard he's bedridden and worse off than me. Alicent doesn't pay as much attention to me now. Is that your doing?

-You overestimate me, dear uncle. How could I have my cousin infected with syphilis in a brothel? I am just a weak and unimportant Princess, a Princess who was raised like a bird in a golden cage. I have been fed with golden spoons and cared for like a precious gem isolated from the suffering and problems of the common people. What means would I have to hire a syphilitic but symptom-free prostitute to have sex with my cousin? - Haelyx smiled at her uncle showing each and every one of her teeth. - It's not like I'm getting revenge on a certain man who thought it was funny to beat his wife.

Haelyx's uncle laughed until a coughing fit ran through his body. She approached and could only rub the old man's chest with concern to try to alleviate his suffering minimally.

-Try not to get caught, niece. You're too fun to lose. Especially since no one seems to notice what you do.

-Oh, dear uncle. The fun has just begun

-------------------------------

Haelyx looked at her husband as they both covered themselves in black cloaks that made them blend in with the rock behind them. They were both also covered in concealment spells

In the stables was the figure of a man. Haelyx had made sure that the sky was dark just for this particular day. Manipulating the weather was difficult, but she had worked hard for it. Now was the time to see if her plan would bear fruit

But she would not force decisions.

This would be a voluntary decision

A female figure in a cloak ran up to the stable and as soon as she saw the male figure she threw herself into his arms. Even from a distance the passionate kiss they shared could be seen. The lovers shared a few words before climbing onto their horses and riding off into the rain that was beginning to fall

-And so, House Hightower will have internal problems. – Edmyn smiled at Haelyx. – Anything to add?

– Yes. – Haelyx spread her arms and whispered a spell. – For three days no one will notice her absence. More than enough time for them to marry and consummate the marriage

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Alicent Hightower looked out the window. It had been raining for almost four days without stopping and she had been very busy. One of the pantries had flooded and the sept had had problems accommodating all the poor who fled from the heavy rains

Alicent checked the ladies who were staying at the Court those days. They were all gathered in one place to keep warm since with such rains it was difficult for the firewood to be dry.

Haelyx and Helaena were with their usual group of ladies talking about the dresses they planned to make for the warmer season. Haelyx was displaying a blue veil that was held in place by a red and blue headband on which she was embroidering small silver fish.

It was a great satisfaction to see a lady who followed the commands of the seven and was totally submissive to the house she had married into. Alicent looked around for Lady Samantha and could not find her. Frowning, she walked with firm steps to where her daughter and niece were.

- Queen Alicent. – The ladies bowed with due respect. The respect that Alicent deserved for having given birth to four children for the Targaryen house.

- It is lovely to find you all gathered here. – Alicent smiled. – But I have not seen Lady Samantha. Do you know where I can find her?

The young ladies looked at each other.

- We do not know, mother. – Helaena stepped forward with her soft voice. – We have spent the last few days hearing about Lord Manderley's marriage to his mistress, the Court is full of rumors about it

-Pure speculation, my dear. – Alicent knew that was true, Lord Manderley had not waited for his legitimate wife's body to cool before marrying his mistress and legitimizing his bastards. But it was not convenient to tell the young ladies of the Court. - When was the last time you saw her?

-Before the rain, My Queen. – Said one of the young women, a Tyrell. Alicent would never recognize the shiver of pleasure that ran through her at seeing someone of the Lord of Highgarden's blood bowing to her. – She said she was feeling ill, we assumed she was resting

-That's right, she may be ill. I'll go check on her

---------------------------------------------

Haelyx watched as the knights and guards ran through the castle quickly, trying not to draw attention. Something useless, everyone had already noticed it

She stood up and walked to the Queen's solar. She knew the Maesters were changing Aegon's bandages. She had heard that Aegon had lost his nose and was beginning to lose his mind

Maybe what she had given him to make the syphilis spread quickly had been too effective. Well, Haelyx had learned her lesson for the next one she wanted to kill that way

Queen Alicent sat on a wooden bench with a seven-pointed star on it as she rubbed her forehead

-Your Majesty, has something happened? The guards keep passing by, it seems they are looking for someone and everyone is in an uproar.

-Oh, Haelyx, a lady is missing. I am worried about her

-Lady Samantha. – Haelyx looked at the Queen. – Before the search began you were looking for her. Did her maids not know where she was?

-Those women are now in the dungeons. They haven't seen their lady for days and they haven't told anyone. – The Queen looked around.

-Is anyone else missing? Any knights?

-Why do you ask, Haelyx?

-Well, a missing lady is one thing. But if a lady and a knight or noble disappear at the same time… Lady Samantha is to be married in two moons, those kinds of rumors could annul the union. The ladies of the Court are bored and all kinds of rumors fly. – Haelyx avoided saying that she and Edmyn had spread the rumors using confusion spells

-What rumors?

-I don't know if it would be appropriate to say those…..

-Tell me! – Haelyx knew that she had the Queen hooked

-They say that Lady Samantha eloped with an unknown knight to marry in secret. So I think that all the knights should be accounted for to put an end to that rumor. Lady Samantha's reputation is at stake, and as the future Lady Hightower…

--------------------------------

Edmyn kissed Haelyx's bare shoulder while she laughed and hugged him despite the sweat that covered their bodies. The layers of fur on the bed were a comfortable place to be

-You're evil, the Queen looks much older and the Hand of the King looks like he's going to have a heart attack any day

-They broke up my family, I'm breaking up theirs. I think it's a fair trade

Chapter Text

The marriage between Samantha Tarly and Lyonel Hightower shook society.

The entire Court could talk of nothing else for weeks, and House Hightower was not helping to make the scandal go away despite the best efforts of Queen Alicent and the Hand of the King.

Lord Hightower was furious and sent his men to King's Landing to get his son and his fiancée. Rumors also said that he had sent some very offensive ravens to his niece and brother for failing to protect his fiancée.

It was also said that Lord Hightower sent an allowance to his niece and brother, but that this was stopped with immediate effect due to the great anger that the Lord felt. So the Hand and the Queen were left with only their allowances from the Crown treasury, which were already meager because they wanted to set an example of their devotion to the Kingdom by lowering the allowances while receiving money from Old Town.

Everything got worse when they found Lady Samantha and Lord Lyonel in an inn two days' ride from the capital. A lunar cycle had passed since their escape and they found them consummating their union so loudly that no Septon would agree to annul it. And Lord Hightower tried. Lord Hightower showed up at the central Sept and demanded to speak with the High Septon to get the marriage of his son and Lady Samantha annulled.

Of course, the High Septon refused, given that the union had occurred in a Sept, was documented and very consummated. In addition, the Faith of the Seven did not believe in divorce.

This caused great tensions between House Hightower and the Faith of the Seven. Lord Hightower cited their long-standing friendship and all the donations he had given to the Faith over the years. Several Septons close to Lord Hightower researched the matter in the sacred texts. But in the end the church's stance was as expected. Lady Samantha and Lord Lyonel had united their lives following the customs of the faith and their union had been consummated, there was nothing more that could be done.

Lord Hightower in his anger decided to cut off donations to the Faith and the High Septon declared that Lord Hightower could not enter a Sept for seven years so that he would repent of questioning the Faith of the Seven

Then Lord Hightower tried to appeal to the Crown to annul the marriage. But King Viserys Targaryen, in one of his rare moments at Court, had blessed the marriage of the young people while citing his own grandparents and how they ran away to get married. With royal approval there was little Otto Hightower could do, which made his brother even angrier

Lord Hightower then became enraged once again because House Tarly demanded a bride price from the Hightowers. Lord Hightower claimed that he should not pay because Samantha had not married him. But the Tarlys claimed that in the engagement they had only promised to give the Hightowers a bride. At no point was it said that it was Samantha or that she should marry Lord Hightower

The truth is that this document had been so vaguely worded from the beginning because Lord Hightower had feared that Lady Samantha would not survive until the wedding date.

With so much pressure on him, Lord Hightower fainted and although he regained consciousness he could barely move from the bed with spasms and suffered from slurred speech. The Maesters said that they had seen this happen before and that there was no cure. That Lord Hightower would remain bedridden for the rest of his life

Lyonel Hightower and his new wife left for Oldtown where Lord Hightower was declared incapable of continuing his duties and Lyonel became Lord Hightower less than two days after arriving

He immediately resumed donations to the Faith of the Seven. But when his cousin and uncle asked for their allowances back, Lyonel refused

Lady Samantha had told him of the potential for a war on their hands and the fear she had of losing her husband. Also, Lyonel had seen the state of Aegon and knew that between another King who was like a rotting corpse and a Queen, the people would support the Queen.

So Lyonel cut off the allowances to his uncle and cousin, claiming that one already had a job and the other had to depend on the house she had married into. The Queen tried to say that she received some financial incentive for keeping a Prince with his dragon in Old Town to protect the port from pirates

And Lyonel Hightower decided to send Prince Daeron back to the Red Keep

-----------------------------

Haelyx had something to admire about Alicent, it was her ability to deny and pretend that everything was fine. For the first time in a long time, House Hightower was in the center of attention and not House Targaryen.

It was quite obvious that the Queen and the Hand of the King had lost a large part of their power with the breakup of the Hightower house. Lyonel knew perfectly well that his uncle wanted to manipulate him just as he had manipulated the King for years, and since he didn't want that to happen he had decided to get away before Otto had a chance. An extremely wise decision, in Haelyx's opinion

Edmyn had done well putting that thought into Lyonel's head. Edmyn was improving a lot with mental magic

For her part Haelyx had talked about how hard wars were and how many houses were left without their lords or heirs. Lady Samantha had listened attentively and had come to the conclusion that Haelyx wanted. After all, Haelyx had cited some cases of noble women whose husbands died and their husbands' relatives made them their lovers

If there was war, Lord Hightower would send his son to fight. And without Lyonel, who would protect Samantha from her father-in-law's advances? So Samantha would convince Lyonel to stay away from the war in order to keep him alive.

Their plans having gone well, the pair of conspirators toasted in the solitude of their chambers. After that, Haelyx came to the Queen's aid, as a kind help, to prepare for Prince Daeron's return home.

Well, Haelyx didn't think Daeron considered King's Landing his home. The Queen had sent her youngest son to Old Town before he was eight days old. Haelyx's memories of Daeron, who was younger than her, were vague and confused. Covered in the fog and glare typical of early childhood memories.

Of her cousin Daeron, Haelyx could only remember his wavy hair, his tendency to approach people to fart and then walk away because it amused him, and how he smiled when he managed to go to the weirwood tree. They were the memories of a child who still didn't know any better about the world. Of a child whom Haelyx loved like a little brother and whom she considered marrying one day.

Haelyx had a theory that if it weren't for Queen Alicent's ironclad guidance, the youngest of the Princes would have become a follower of the old gods. Perhaps that was why the Queen had sent Prince Daeron to Old Town, with the faith of the seven so close that they would breathe down his neck every day.

Also, if Haelyx's spies were true, and they were, Daeron was bisexual and was currently in a relationship with a young Maester. And according to the portrait they had sent Daeron had good taste. But that love would soon be extinguished, Daeron could not hide it from his mother's eyes and it would be better to end the relationship

-What do you think, Haelyx?

-My Queen, I think Prince Daeron would be thrilled with the new desk in his chamber. Although I don't think it needs much change, the Daeron I remember would like to see his childhood room again. – Haelyx smiled kindly watching as the Queen had about eight servants carry a gigantic desk, with dragon heads in the corners.

The room was immediately smaller because of that desk. Haelyx didn't say anything about the emerald green curtains the Queen had managed to sneak and place in the room so that her little Daeron wouldn't feel homesick for Old Town

Haelyx wondered if the Queen realized she hadn't mentioned Daeron until it was said that he would return. Even the Queen's ladies were uncomfortable with that, with the Queen treating her forgotten son as if he were the most beloved. From what Edmyn had found out Prince Daeron and Queen Alicent only exchanged a letter every two moons, nothing more.

The Queen was too busy with the capital to worry about her son in the care of her maternal family

But the Queen couldn't understand that either, she wasn't part of Old Town. As much as she was of the Hightower blood, Queen Alicent had been born and lived her entire life in King's Landing

It was ironic, the Queen defended the faith of the seven and the Hightower blood so strongly when she had been born and raised in a Targaryen home that prayed to the faith of the fourteen flames

Haelyx slipped through the halls with a quick and elegant step until she reached Aegon's room. The boy had lost his nose and part of his cheek, and was raving something under his breath, a little children's song. Syphilis and leprosy were remarkably similar at this stage, and Otto could only blame himself for what was happening to his King candidate.

The Septa who was looking after Aegon was accompanied by two burly guards.

- What are you doing here, Princess?

- I have come to see the state of my cousin Aegon. I knew he was very ill but I had no idea… – The septa closed the door behind her. – I will go and pray for my cousin, I hope that soon the stranger will free him from his suffering.

-Princess! Saying something like that is….!

-Obviously my cousin's mind is lost and with his body in that state I can only pray that he stops suffering and that his torment does not affect his children and his poor wife anymore. Poor Helaena, going through such a hard time in her life, with such small children….

Haelyx let her voice break and several tears rolled down her face. The Septa's expression went from fierce and indignant to kind and understanding.

The Septa assured Haelyx that the gods would do everything possible for Prince Aegon and sent her off. Haelyx had to put on these shows to be the beautiful, compassionate and kind Princess in everyone's mind. That afternoon Haelyx would go to the Sept to pray

--------------------------------

Tessarion was doing the lap of honor, slowly flying over the city.

-The Blue Queen is truly beautiful. – Edmyn held Iolanthe in his arms, who raised her arms looking at the blue dragon and trying to describe it with childish words mixed between the common tongue and Valyrian. At least Iolanthe was already using the common tongue. The most that was understood was “beautiful” and “big”, but progress was progress, no matter how small it was

Haelyx had Salazar and Helga in the stroller, but the two babies looked at the dragon in amazement as well and waved their small wooden dragons vigorously.

-He is a good rider. Very skilled at handling Tessarion. – “He is the only rider of the younger generation who has truly tested his dragon in battle, not counting us. We must be careful with this one.” Haelyx squeezed Edmyn's arm as she leaned against him

-I heard that he practiced at least four hours a day since he claimed Tessarion to achieve that level of control. – “We can take him on. You are right, though, my wife. Of the older generation, only Daemon and Rhaenys have tested their dragons in battle. But Daeron's appearance will change the balance of power. I did not expect him to be such a good rider." Edmyn took the cart after handing Haelyx to young Iolanthe.

-- So much fun and no games... Do you think he will look for a wife now that he has returned home? –- - - Edmyn looked at his wife. "Which noble family do you think will be most likely to claim him in their ranks, my dear husband?"

-- It is possible. The Queen may look among the noble ladies. There are many very remarkable ladies in the Red Keep who would make wonderful wives for Daeron. –- "The Baratheons, one of the four storms. The Queen desperately wants that fleet, it may be the only one that can face the Velaryons."

-----------------

Daeron was short for his age, sixteen days of the name, Aemond had carried all the genes for height on that side of the family, Edmyn commented when they were in private. But, apart from that, he could not be more different from his brothers. He was a good-natured and kind young man, funny and charming. He did not hesitate to throw himself on the ground to listen to the children and could easily hold an intelligent conversation

And, as strange as it was, he was a great connoisseur of art

-I'm serious, I went to Cuy only to observe the sculptures of the Lady of the Lake. It was fascinating how the sculptor could use the stone in such a beautiful way, it was almost like seeing sculpted clay but the material was solid stone. The current masters cannot compare to the skill of those of yesteryear

-I have heard that in Cuy the most beautiful tapestries of the conquest of the Andals are found. Is it true?

-They are only the oldest, not the most beautiful. It is true that the embroidery is excellent, but it has not been properly preserved and that has lowered its value terribly. The most beautiful, in my opinion, are in Highgarden. The colors are well preserved and the tapestries have been properly restored.

---------------------------------

Daeron looked at Haelyx calmly at dinner.

-Every time I see you again you are more beautiful, cousin

-Thank you, Daeron. But I think my daughters are more beautiful than me.

-They are both very beautiful, although I must say that with you as their mother it was to be expected. Without a doubt all the praise of your beauty that I heard was actually slander now that I can see you

-You have a silver tongue, cousin. Have you found any interesting ladies in Old Town to settle down with?

-I have no plans to settle down until Aemond is married. It would be rude to marry before my older brother, but I have a few names to value. Brother, do you not want to have your say on this? Don't you have any ladies in your sights?

Aemond suddenly seemed very interested in his plate.

-We are considering some ladies. Iolanthe, for example. – The Queen smiled and took over the conversation

-Iolanthe? But she is too young, Aemond will have to wait too long to marry. – Daeron complained. – You will not tell me in a serious way that you are planning Iolanthe for Aemond or me.

Daeron laughed until he realized that the table had fallen silent

-Have you really planned to marry either of us to a girl less than three days old, mother? I am thirteen years older than her, Aemond is seventeen years older.

-Haelyx married a man ten years older than her, I did not see her complain

Haelyx decided to keep quiet about the fact that she had not been given the opportunity to complain about her wedding or her fiancé. It was better to ignore that no one had paid attention to the eleven-year-old girl who trembled in terror in the Sept while the wedding ceremony was taking place. That way the Queen could feel better, but Haelyx did not forget, nor forgive

-And where is Aegon? Shouldn't he be here, welcoming me like everyone else?

Haelyx looked at the Queen, she had paled dramatically and was glancing at the nobles present. She had wanted to make the great welcome banquet, she had to deal with the consequences of not wanting it to be known that her eldest son was dying of syphilis. Most of the Court already knew this, but the Queen had never acknowledged it out loud, acknowledging it would be like saying that the candidate for King of the Greens was useless now and the next in line would be a great King, but they could not manipulate him.

-Aegon is in somewhat delicate health and is resting. – Helaena spoke in a soft voice. – That is why he cannot accompany us today. We hope he recovers very soon and can return to us

Haelyx could see that the intelligent Daeron was not fooled by that veiled lie from his older sister's lips

-----------------------

Haelyx saw Daeron in the Sept the next morning. He was pale and almost trembling. Haelyx approached Daeron

-Cousin, you look exhausted from the trip. You should be resting, not in the Sept. – Haelyx took him by the arm and led him out of the Sept to the carriage. – We are going to have a light snack in my solar. I have managed to get some wine from Essos, it is white and sweet, the wines of the Kingdom are not like that.

-No…. – Daeron blinked and realized where they were. – I saw Aegon last night

-I assumed so. He is very ill, I think he contracted syphilis quite a while ago considering how he has progressed.

-Helaena….

-She is healthy. Either she doesn't have it or it's in a dormant phase, you know how this disease works. It either acts fast or it can take years to show its symptoms

-In Old Town they think Aegon is still as big, strong and drunk as ever. They think he's the candidate for King. – Daeron shuddered. – They're being lied to with false stories about my brother

Haelyx fell silent

-Do you know that the maids of the Red Keep always go in pairs? They're never alone

-No, I didn't know that

-They started doing that because of Aegon. He attacked and raped them so often that without anyone ordering them to do anything they started moving in groups and getting as far away from the drunk as they could. Helaena's and Queen Alicent's ladies-in-waiting have changed so often over the years because of that. They're no longer daughters of the great houses or the lesser houses, as they originally were and as they should be. They are now daughters of a second or third son, noble girls who would not care if they disappeared and joined the Septas or the Silent Sisters.

Daeron looked pale and greenish.

-Why didn't mother do anything to stop him? Mother is a faithful believer in the faith of the seven, why didn't she stop Aegon?

-Because she is a hypocrite. She forces others to follow her faith but she herself skips many of her commands if it benefits her what she gets by skipping them. You will soon learn to see it. You will learn, dear cousin, that the Red Keep is a nest of vipers and all are willing to bite each other.

-And why do you fight, cousin?

-For the survival of my family. Both the one I have created with Edmyn and the maternal one, and that does not include only the Blacks. It also includes you and your brothers, except Aegon. I am one of his victims, or would have been if my husband hadn't saved me from Aegon.

Chapter Text

Haelyx was flying with Hedwig. She felt one with the sky as the dragoness did somersaults and enjoyed an acrobatic flight

Haelyx's laughter was audible as the dragoness rose above the clouds and spread her wings, gliding in the sunlight. Haelyx raised her neck and head, spread her arms and let the wind surround her.

She felt happy, she felt free. A stolen moment before returning to her tense and precarious reality.

Hedwig began to descend in slow and reluctant circles when the sun showed that it was afternoon. Dragon and rider did not want to return to the capital. But as they were descending something caught Hedwig's attention. Something that the dragoness heard and her rider could not hear

-What's going on?

At that moment Hedwig made a sad coo and Haelyx heard a distant echo, barely a whisper in the wind of a desolate roar

-Sunfyre

The most beautiful dragon of all, the golden Sunfyre was out of the pit and roaring in despair. The guardians were trying to calm him down and chain him again, but the dragon was burning them and keeping them away while he continued to roar his pain. Haelyx jumped off Hedwig and began to shout orders

Haelyx and Edmyn had killed Aegon, but Sunfyre did not deserve to be treated like an animal.

-Enough! Leave him alone! He is mourning the death of his rider, leave him alone! – She began to push the guardians away. The guards came to help her as Haelyx turned to Sunfyre

The dragon was bleeding in several places, having escaped from its chains and having damaged itself too much to mourn Aegon. Haelyx approached Hedwig and grabbed a bottle of ointment from her saddle before climbing back down. Sunfyre growled at her before Hedwig growled back at him

After that the dragon stood still as Haelyx put the ointment on the wounds. Haelyx spoke in parseltongue to the dragon.

-Go to Dragonstone, stay there after the funeral. Cry as much as you can, but don't let them chain you up again

The white cloaks arrive as Haelyx continues to calm Sunfyre

-Princess

-Sir Arryk, did my cousin die peacefully?

-He had been asleep for days. The Stranger took him away calmly. – The man spoke solemnly

-That is a blessing from the seven. Is Helaena alright?

-She is waiting for the Silent Sisters to finish off the body. Our orders are to take her to the Red Keep

Haelyx stood still for a moment. Then she turned to the loose dragons. She knew she shouldn't let the Guardians chain Sunfyre again. She would escape again and do herself more harm

-Hedwig, accompany Sunfyre. Don't leave him alone

The white dragon snorted, but stayed close and surrounded the smaller dragon. No Guardian would approach Hedwig

-----------------------

Upon reaching the Red Keep several maids gave Haelyx her mourning clothes and veil. She changed quickly and tied her hair up high before walking down the hall to where she could hear the Queen crying.

It was incredible how quickly the fortress had gone into mourning, or maybe not so incredible. Everyone had been waiting for King Viserys to die for years. Everything must have been prepared for a long time

Queen Alicent was lying on the floor sobbing in front of the door behind which the Silent Sisters were preparing the body. Helaena sat silently, but her veil stuck to her face against her tears. Many consoled the Queen, so Haelyx sat next to her cousin and hugged her

-He was good, when we were children he was a good brother. He always played with me. Something broke in him when he knew wine and the pleasure of a woman's body

Haelyx heard her nodding slightly and taking her hands tightly. Helaena poured out her heart for her brother, not for her husband. Haelyx believed that none of her cousins ​​had ever considered themselves married

------------------------------

Haelyx spent the night watching over Aegon's body, accompanying Helaena. The ladies who arrived focused more on the grieving Queen than on the Princess who would never wear the crown again. The one who would wear the crown would be Jaehaerys, Helaena would be skipped

In the end the body was prepared by the Silent Sisters and carried out. He had been bandaged from head to toe and only a few strands of hair were visible. The ladies of the Court murmured among themselves in strangeness, but Haelyx knew that Alicent Hightower would never let them see the body of her son devoured by disease. This was a Valyrian practice that no one expected the Queen to follow.

There was a commotion in the hallway and the door slammed open, crashing against the wall. The sound rumbled like thunder on a clear day.

Haelyx froze.

Everyone in the room did not move at the sight of the man who slowly entered the room.

King Viserys walked slowly and painfully to where his son's body was. He caressed his fingers over the covered cheek and several tears spilled out. Haelyx felt the King's pain. The pain of a father who loses his son.

The best thing for the Kingdom, the King's decision, was for Aegon to die. But he was still her uncle's son.

-Haelyx.

She straightened up at her uncle's voice.

-Yes, Your Majesty?

-I don't think I have the strength to go to the funeral. I want you to take care of the rites.

-Of course, Your Majesty. I will see that the dragon fire consumes Aegon and that he joins the wind with our ancestors

The King nodded and whispered a weak thank you before going to sit down with a weak and unsteady step. The Queen and Helaena looked at him in amazement, as if they could not believe that the man kept vigil over the body of their son

They were not the only ones who were surprised. Aemond, Daeron, Rhaenyra and Daemon did so as they all together watched over Aegon's body.

---------------------

Haelyx was in the third carriage of the funeral procession. In the second were the Queen and Helaena, the mother and wife of the deceased. In the first were Aegon's remains, well wrapped and surrounded by aromatic plants so that the rotten smell would be hidden, syphilis decomposed the body quickly.

In the carriage with her was the Crown Princess, her stepmother. Haelyx knew she really shouldn't be that high on the scale of importance of the carriages, but she supposed that being the one to give the fire rite to Aegon's body had made her rise in position.

The men rode alongside the funeral procession, sometimes coming closer to speak to one of the ladies

-What disease has my brother died of?

Haelyx turned to look at her stepmother, she was looking ahead. Then Haelyx noticed that all the guards around her were golden cloaks, loyal to Daemon Targaryen. Or her father and her husband, there were no prying ears that could listen

-Syphilis. The low-class brothels she went to almost daily have finally taken their toll on her, at least in the expensive ones the girls are healthy

-I understand. Helaena and the children?

-They are fine, at least the children. If they had been born infected they would have symptoms, delays. – Haelyx was wary of Jaehaera's learning delay, the girl was doing well while Haelyx and Helaena implemented the Montessori method, at least the little that Haelyx remembered of that method. But she would never be completely independent or functional and in this world where women were seen as nothing more than tools that was a very bad thing. – Helaena could manifest the symptoms at some point, or maybe never. But I think they were not having relations when Aegon became infected. After all, Helaena can no longer have children. Aegon did not find her useful as his wife

Haelyx looked to the side. There were several white-haired children watching on the side of the road. She pointed them out to Edmyn with a nod. Apparently they had not managed to remove all the children of Valyrian lineage from the streets of King's Landing

Rhaenys' Hill had the funeral pyre prepared. At the top of the rock formation Hedwig was sunbathing next to Sunfyre who looked at the pile with a sad expression even for a dragon.

Aegon might not be a good man, but he had been a good rider.

Everyone gathered around, leaving a circle for safety and Haelyx advanced. She stared at Hedwig and then at the pyre

-Dracarys!

Haelyx froze when she saw that it was not Hedwig who advanced. It was Sunfyre. The dragon slowly lowered itself before expelling its flames over the body of its rider. Then it let out a cry of pain to the heavens and took flight

Haelyx and the others watched in amazement as the golden dragon headed for Dragonstone.

No, Haelyx and Edmyn noticed it instantly. It was heading for Avalon.

-----------------------------

Haelyx wanted to kill Otto Hightower, the human rat. You would think the man would mourn his grandson for a day or two before moving on to something else, but no, he was a completely cold and heartless man. Absolute scum

He was portraying Helaena to the others as a madwoman incapable of caring for her own children. Haelyx gritted her teeth as she listened to Otto at the table make another comment about how easily Helaena got lost in her thoughts when she was young and the bugs she kept in glass jars. Otto then added how worried he was for the children if their mother was like that

Edmyn put his hand on Haelyx's arm as he noticed that she was going to throw a knife at Otto.

It was obvious what Otto wanted, to be Jaehaerys' Regent, but that position was traditionally taken by the mother. That would be Helaena. But that could be discussed if the mother was not in full possession of her faculties

And that was what Otto wanted to plant in people's minds. That Helaena was crazy and should be taken away from her children and locked away somewhere else

-Grandfather, I doubt you are speaking sensibly. After all, Helaena has only been a widow for a day, she is broken with grief. You always talk to us about feminine delicacy, Helaena just needs time

Haelyx looked at Daeron with some surprise, she had not expected him to attack Otto so easily. Although it was clear that of the Queen's children he was the one least under the control of his grandfather

-That is true, Hightower. I still remember how you got drunk after the death of your wife and no one considered you an unfit father to your children. – The glances turned to Prince Daemon.

-I remember that you did nothing after the death of your first wife and quickly remarried after the death of your second. Prince Daemon, are you suggesting that my granddaughter should follow your example?

Haelyx sat back to enjoy the catfight

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Executions were something that any ruler had to deal with. Haelyx had seen many growing up because sometimes a member of the royal family had to be present to give legitimacy to the execution of a noble or knight. Haelyx remembered her first execution and how she had vomited and cried in the carriage on the way back to the Red Keep hugging the Septa who comforted her

Somehow Haelyx had managed to keep a straight face while the noble accused of raping a noble lady was sentenced to the vile garrote. The method was so cruel because the woman's family had a great relationship with the Hightowers and they wanted to set an example, an example that they later failed to follow through on with Aegon.

The nobleman urinated on himself, begged and cried. He begged the woman to talk about how they were in love and that it had not been rape. The poor man took a long time to die, Haelyx had to suffer for almost an hour while the garrote was pressed tighter and tighter against the poor man's neck.

Later Haelyx discovered from her spies that the man had been innocent and had actually had a relationship with the woman he was accused of raping. She kept silent on the orders of her family and married quietly after that.

Haelyx took revenge on that family, remembering at every turn how slow they were in tightening the garrote around the boy's neck.

But now she faced a tough test as Queen, her first execution.

-----------------------------

Edmyn looked at Haelyx as the last house elf stepped away. She was ready for the unpleasant task ahead of her. She could see the discomfort on her wife's face and she hated it. Edmyn wanted to protect her from what was about to happen, even though they had both agreed at the time that Haelyx would have to do this

- You don't have to do this. As heir to…

-No. – Haelyx took the light sword in her hands and pulled it out, examining the edge enchantment. – As Queen this is one of my duties. After all, we want Avalon to be as equal as possible. People must see me doing this.

Haelyx looked at herself in the mirror and didn't recognize herself. She was wearing an outfit that was not her usual outfit, leather, tight and black. It almost looked like her riding outfit, but it had distinctive features that her current outfit didn't have. Her hair was also pulled back in an austere manner. No jewelry, no unnecessary adornments.

It didn't look like her

Haelyx stepped out into the courtyard where the Silver Wings guard was waiting for her with a black steed prepared for that moment. The Silver Wings, an order of female knights created by Edmyn exclusively to protect and defend the women of the Royal family of Avalon. With an oath of only five years that could be renewed as many times as desired

Haelyx had always been surprised by how her ancestors were so foolish to trust men near their wives. Haelyx got on the horse, it was strong, stronger than normal, almost a draft horse. But a good horse with noble and powerful lines, a Dothraki Khal would feel very proud if this animal were his mount.

Haelyx rode calmly to where the crowd gathered outside the walls of the Castle of the Fallen Stars. Haelyx got off the animal and climbed onto the gallows, standing nobly to the side. Many in the crowd called her by name and cheered. Then the cage with the prisoner arrived.

She was in a cart, a black metal cage, and inside was a man. Haelyx thought that most people thought there was only one kind of slave, when in reality there were many kinds. The kidnapped, the warriors captured after a battle, the ones born into slavery, … And this man was a criminal slave

A man turned into a slave after committing a crime. Haelyx did not want to be hard on criminal slaves, many times the crime was a nonsense imposed by the lord of the lands they served. Even in the files of the slavers their crime was not listed and many lied about it. But due to their good will it was obvious that some rotten apples had slipped into the basket.

She could only be thankful that the barriers in the orphanages and public buildings were the first thing she had installed with the help of the house elves.

The prisoner was being held by Oscar. Edmyn had not wanted to be present, another strategy, but in exchange, Oscar would be there

-My dear people of Avalon. I as your Queen am here present to execute the first criminal who has committed a crime so serious that it could not be paid for in any other way than with his life. This man is called Joseph, he was bought in Yunkai. I was told that he had served since he was twelve years old as a criminal slave, a total of fourteen years of slavery loading and unloading ships. Upon arriving in Avalon we gave him freedom, a bed, a job and food. But he has not ceased his criminal behavior

Haelyx raised her chin and looked at the people before her. They were all silent, staring at her

-Joseph planned for months to drug the water supply of the orphanage he was paid to run and once all the children were asleep from the drug he planned to enter and kidnap one of the girls. A little girl of nine years. His plan was to force her to marry him or simply rape and kill her, mind readers are not sure because he had not yet decided. However, the fact is that Joseph decided to commit the most detestable crime, putting his hands on a child with sexual intentions. Thank goodness the orphanage has barriers that prevented Joseph from passing and held him until he was captured by the guard.

Haelyx took a deep breath. She had to calm down, her voice was being too emotional at the end. She was the Queen. She was the one in charge.

-After being judged by a court of citizens of Avalon and according to our laws, he has been sentenced to death. And I will carry out the sentence. - Haelyx unsheathed her sword and approached the man whose face was covered by a hood. – May your gods and mine have mercy on your soul for in me you will certainly find no mercy

Haelyx lifted the blade and visualized the cut, just as she and Edmyn had practiced. It was…. Surprisingly easy. The sword cut through the flesh like butter and the head slid to the ground. Haelyx felt a few warm drops hit her cheek, but she did not raise her hand to wipe them away or acknowledge them.

-This man's body will be left in a mass grave. Nameless, unmarked. He will not be remembered, he will be erased from our history, forever. Even if what happened today is recorded, this man's name will never be mentioned.

Chapter Text

Edmyn looked at Haelyx. She was pale as she laid Iolanthe down. Edmyn took his wife by the shoulders and led her away from their daughter's bed. He led her to their bedroom where a tub of hot water awaited.

Edmyn gently undressed his wife before taking her into the bathroom and washing her carefully. He wanted to take care of her. Haelyx was exhausted, she had worked hard since the birth of Helga and Salazar almost nine months ago.

They had managed to distance the Hightowers from the faith of the seven thanks to several spies who continued to remind the High Septon of Lord Hightower's insults on a regular basis. But the relationship with the Citadel was slowly being restored and he knew that Haelyx was worried about that.

-You must rest.

-But I have much to do. – Haelyx sounded tired. He had never heard her so sleepy. Edmyn had a look of pain in his eyes. Haelyx had to run with all her strength to get to the places he reached easily just because he was a man. She was as strong and valid as he was, perhaps more than him since she was the smarter of the two.

-Honey. If you keep trying so hard you will get sick and we cannot afford to lose you. – Edmyn kissed his wife's forehead. – Take a few moons quietly. Accompany Helaena in her mourning and we will prepare to go to Avalon permanently

-But we said we would do it in about three or four years and still…!

-Haelyx. – The young woman remained silent. – We have done everything we could here, now it is time to return to our homeland.

-I will negotiate a peace treaty with my uncle. We will take Helaena and the children. I do not intend to leave them among the vipers here.

Edmyn smiled and kissed his wife's eyelids. She was still full of fire despite falling asleep

Later, when Haelyx woke up after a few much-needed hours of sleep she acknowledged that Edmyn was right. She was getting exhausted and needed to rest

-------------------

Haelyx was faced with a very big dilemma

What did people do when they wanted to rest?

Haelyx had spent her whole life moving in the political circle and making herself strong in the shadows. She hadn't really had a free moment. And Harry had been the kind of person who felt restless when he had free time.

Normally when Harry or Haelyx had free time from their normal obligations they would look for a new project or a new obligation. But Edmyn had been adamant that she couldn't get more work in her free time. He was bossy, Haelyx thought with a beautiful smile on her lips.

Haelyx also thought that trying something new and different from the usual would be good for her. A change of perspective

Things were different in the Red Keep too.

Everything was shrouded in an unnatural silence

It was scary to see the fortress, normally full of life and sounds, so silent that you could hear footsteps. The laughter had died down, the children did not leave their nurseries, the minstrels no longer entered and the music did not play. The servants walked on eggshells and tried to become invisible.

No one wanted to attract the Queen's attention

The woman had locked herself in her bedroom without going out or receiving anyone. She had even dismissed some servants because she had seen them smile. She barely ate and was letting herself be consumed by pain.

The King's hand was always hovering near Helaena and her children, trying to become close to his great-grandchildren. But Aemond and Daeron were physically preventing him from doing so. They hovered around Helaena like two constant protectors, but Otto was also getting closer to Aemond in that regard.

Haelyx wondered what she would have to do to kill Otto.

The other change at the Red Keep was that the Crown Princess and her family had decided to stay. A novelty, in the past even when they went to the Red Keep they fled as soon as they finished the matter that brought them there

But this time they were staying and the Hand of the King seemed increasingly distressed. Without Queen Alicent and with the King indisposed Otto would have to be the one in charge. But that changed if the heir to the throne was present. If neither the King or the Queen could fulfill their duties it was the Heir who sat on the Iron Throne

In this way the image of Rhaenyra as the next Queen was being engraved in the minds of the nobles. Something Otto did not want. Between a child less than five days old and an adult woman it was obvious to Haelyx which was better for the throne

Haelyx walked around the Keep with the twins as she went to the nursery. Helaena was sitting on the floor with the children on a soft rug. Haelyx blinked and counted again. There were more children in the nursery, two more little heads with white hair and violet eyes.

Haelyx looked around quickly and saw a nursemaid she recognized from Dragonstone, as well as a guard she recognized as one of the closest to her father. Besides the children having Valyrian features, there weren't that many Valyrian children in Westeros right now.

--- Hello, Aegon, Viserys.

- Princess Haelyx - Aegon said in a soft voice.

Haelyx suppressed a grimace, her younger brothers didn't see her as much as a sister because she wasn't raised in Dragonstone and only visited from time to time. To them she was just another adult in the family

- I'm your sister, you can call me that. – Haelyx sat down on the rug next to the children before Iolanthe ran out with Maegor. The boy was bouncing on the floor as he waited for her and they started talking to each other.

- But you don't live with us like brothers! – Aegon was six or seven years old, now that she thought about it, Haelyx wasn't sure how old he was. She might have skipped her name day

- That's because I'm married, Aegon. Married women live with their husbands, not their fathers or brothers

Aegon frowned at that with an adorable stubbornness. Helaena also made a gesture to indicate how cute she thought Aegon was

- But why can't a married woman live with her family?

Before Haelyx could answer, the Septa who was always present in the nursery spoke for her

-Because when a woman gets married she leaves her maternal home to join her husband's. They would only live in the woman's house if her husband could not provide a roof for his wife. But that is not the case

-But Haelyx is a Targaryen, and this is a Targaryen house!

-It's different here, Aegon. – Haelyx threw a nervous glance at the twins who were sleeping peacefully. – This is not just a Targaryen home, this is the Court. Many nobles stay at the Court on a regular basis, like my husband and I.

-I don't understand

Haelyx put a lock of Aegon's hair behind his ear.

-One day you will understand, but do not rush to grow up, Aegon. Stay a child for a little longer

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The Council was arguing loudly. Haelyx had been called to carry some documents because she was the only person with a high enough status to enter a Council meeting with all the other Targaryens present without fear of being beheaded. Now she was a damn messenger

Haelyx opened the door and all eyes turned to look at her.

- I bring the maps of the latest movements of the Triarchy, transcribed by the Maester. As well as Lord Velaryon's battle report

- Thank you, Haelyx. You can leave it on the table over there. – Rhaenyra rubbed her forehead as she pointed to an empty side table. – This discussion is going nowhere. We are at a tie

- We can break the tie. Princess Haelyx has the right to give her opinion on this particular matter. – Haelyx looked at the Septon sitting at the table, who was blocking the Grand Maester who had spoken. – According to the Law, the Princess has the right to participate in this meeting due to the absence of the King and Queen, although she has refused.

Yes, the meeting began at dawn. Haelyx did not want to get up so early on her vacation, voluntarily

Harry had always had that mentality in the few vacations he had had in his life. If you took a day off, that day you had to get up after noon. And the light was already beginning to fade, so the meeting had been very long

-My children are too young to be left alone for so long. But if the gentlemen want my opinion, I will give it. Although I should first know the matter

Rhaenyra looked at her cousin and stepdaughter with a soft smile. Haelyx was always polite and passive, there was fire in her, but Alicent had turned her into the perfect follower of the Seven. Rhaenyra shuddered to think that this was what Alicent had wanted to do with her all those years ago.

A pretty, silver-haired puppet that would follow the Seven's will with a nod and a soft smile.

- We are discussing whether or not to send a delegation to Avalon to negotiate a trade or peace treaty. – Daemon looked at his daughter intently.

Haelyx was surprised. She was already negotiating the treaty with her uncle Viserys, but it was true that there were more and more voices talking about the new kingdom of Avalon and its riches. Many greedy eyes were looking in the direction of the peninsula.

- I think it is not convenient for us to move yet. The Kingdom is young, the powers of Essos want those lands and the treasures hidden there, which will weaken the forces of the Triarchy because they will not be able to maintain a war on several fronts. But if we make an alliance and do not maintain it, we would be seen as traitors and that would damage the image of the Kingdom. At the moment I do not think they are strong enough to make an alliance. But that can change in the future. Besides, I think we have all heard the absurd rumor that they have a dragon rider…

-It is not a rumor. – The master of whispers spoke. – It is confirmed, several times. Avalon has at least one dragon and its rider

Haelyx seemed to think about it for a few moments. She was on enemy land and her response could cause a war or a peace treaty, depending on how she expressed it at this moment.

-Then there are more reasons for us to stay watching. Let us see the strength of this new rider. Although I don't think I can win against Vhagar and Caraxes at the same time, they are both very experienced war dragons even when fighting other dragons. We beat them in armies, territory and dragons, we will be fine. We just have to show that we will not be hostile to them

-Your opinion is prudent and wise, Princess. But very cautious. Without risks

-Well, if there is a war my children will have to fight it. It is natural for a mother to want to protect her children

Haelyx stormed out of the small Council room. They were treating her like a fool. Then she sighed and looked at one of the few symbols of the Faith that had survived the purge of her stepmother and father. Even if the plumage returned to its original state, there was still a lot of misogyny in the seven Kingdoms

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-I'm serious, I've never seen a country like this. And believe me, I've seen almost everything there is to see. – One of the freed slaves was talking to his friends. – It's not just magic, they're teaching us all to read and write. They're also creating a school system and they've even set a minimum wage that they have to pay us based on the activities we do. The streets are clean, food is cheap, and there's good security.

-Have you seen all the countries in the world?

-I used to be a sailor on a merchant ship. -The man put his hand to his chest proudly. –Or I was until my captain suffered losses and decided to sell us to make up for what he'd lost. And then he wondered why he couldn't get a new crew. But here there's even free medical treatment. Before this I'd only been to a master once and it cost me an arm and a leg to get him to cure me, all my savings for a year.

-Are things that bad in other countries? –The one who said that was a former slave by birth. –Before coming here I hadn't even left the master's house. She had no idea what the outside world was like

-Believe me, boy, you're happier not knowing how the outside world works. And this place... This place is paradise...

Haelyx left the tavern being discreetly followed by a guard. The best fruit wine in Avalon was made there and she could finally drink alcohol because she had stopped breastfeeding her young children

Haelyx walked down the street until she reached the orphanage. They let her in without asking too many questions and she went to the area where the rooms of the children who should be more closely watched were. It was in the Ravenclaw duchy, where they had found most of the libraries.

A golden-haired boy was in a bed and next to him was a red-haired girl whom Haelyx recognized as one of the freed slaves

-As far as I know, that girl has parents. What is she doing here?

-And she does, but she's a friend of James's and she's visiting him. The poor boy's lungs are destroyed by his previous work. Poor children and bastards are just expendable and disposable things for people who only want profit. - Haelyx looked at the headmistress. A woman who had come from Yi Ti as an escaped slave.

A Yi Ti practice for slaves who tried to escape was to have the words "I am a runaway slave, take me back to my master" tattooed on their neck if they tried to escape and failed. This woman had come to Avalon in its early days with a rowboat that had crossed the barriers with eight other escaped slaves.

The woman had the words tattooed on her neck, but it was a relatively small tattoo. She had said it was because they were engraved when her mother tried to take her with her when she ran away when she was only two or three years old. Apparently her mother had left her behind later because she cried too much, but it was for the best, because they hunted her mother down and pierced her liver with a spear for fun.

-Is he recovering well?

-Yes, his lungs are getting stronger every day thanks to the potions and the mountain air. His skin infections are getting better, but he may have the scars from the dye burns for the rest of his life.

-Poor boy. But he is strong, he will survive.

Haelyx did not want to think about those who had not been able to survive. The slaves who were too abused, those who had not been able to overcome the horrors of their past, those who were sick and exhausted and those who simply gave up when they finally felt safe. There were more successes than failures, but each failure was a stone that weighed down Haelyx's heart.

-Grow big and strong, little ones. Live lives full of happiness

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Haelyx showed her Balerion embroidery to her uncle

-The wings are wrong. They were bigger.

-I can make them bigger, it will just be a few more stitches. It wouldn't break the embroidery design.

-I like it when you come to take care of me. It's nice.

-I like spending time with you too, Uncle Viserys

-I don't have much time left. I'll be reunited with Aemma and my children soon. I hope Aegon is treating his older brothers well

-I think Aegon will be like when he was little. Do you remember, Uncle Viserys? He was very funny, he always wanted to make people laugh. – Haelyx remembered Aegon when she was very young, the Aegon from when she was five or six years old. The Aegon before Otto took him to a brothel to get him hooked on alcohol and sex and make him easy to manipulate. The Aegon before the teenager who tried to rape his eleven year old cousin.

Haelyx pressed her lips together. Sometimes she saw two people, those who were and the monsters they became.

-I remember when he made Otto sit on some eggs. I had to force myself not to smile when I told him off.

Haelyx kissed her uncle's forehead and hugged him. It wasn't Harry, she didn't have the power Harry had that allowed him to see and feel Death in a person. But for a second… She could swear she felt it in her uncle Viserys. And that had scared Haelyx to the core. Haelyx had Harry's memories and his magic, but she didn't have much of his courage in her opinion. Harry had been able to greet Death head on as if it were an old friend, Haelyx had only felt his presence and she was terrified.

Once her uncle died nothing would tie her to the seven Kingdoms. He had to finish his last job in the Kingdom before returning to Avalon

-Shall we continue negotiating the treaty, King Viserys?

-Of course. We will finish it soon, my last work as King…. Rhaenyra will be a good Queen.

-I'm sure she will. – Haelyx had to kill Otto to secure the throne of her cousin, her stepmoth

Chapter Text

Otto Hightower was not a voyeur. He really was not a voyeur. But he could see a beautiful lady in her nakedness…. Well… He was not a foolish man to waste an opportunity either. Especially with a lady old enough to be his granddaughter and more beautiful than any other in the Kingdom

Otto thought greedily that he should have gotten Haelyx's hand before she was married to her current husband. He had been thinking about it, but he did not know what was best, whether to take the beautiful girl himself or leave her for his second grandson. In the end the situation got out of hand while he was not in the capital to control things

He had not thought that Aegon's lust would lead him to try to take his cousin. But that was fine too. An alliance with the Riverlands and Aemond free to be married to a new alliance. Daeron had been the alliance with the Dominion. Aegon and Helaena would have secured the Crownlands. And if all had gone well, Aemond would have married one of the four storms or the Maid of the Vale.

But no, Rhea Royce's daughter had turned out to be a bit of a problem by giving birth to a girl. However, that could also be considered a future alliance with the land of the Rivers. For Aemond, Jaehaerys or Daeron. And the Princess had regained her enviable figure with remarkable speed.

Otto wanted to get between the couple and make the Princess his lover. He might even have a bastard or two with her that he could pass off as her husband's children. He found himself at night in his dream world sliding his hands up the girl's soft white thighs. And he would wake up with his cock hard and dripping, longing to be buried in the young Princess.

He had tried to find a prostitute with Valyrian features, but he had found none that could compare. That was until he had realized after the death of his useless grandson that the Princess, instead of having a basin brought to her bedroom to bathe, used the baths that had been built by Maegor and his wives.

He had spied on her and watched her come and go. He managed to find a hole in the wall and could see her pale body, covered by a white robe that stuck to her skin that made madness invade him. Otto wanted to replace that cloth with his hands and the drops of water with his lips.

He was preparing himself, driving away the guards, calculating when she usually went to the baths and looking for a place to hide.

Just once, even if she didn't want it, it was her fault for being so utterly tempting. Good women weren't so tempting and seductive.

Otto lost himself in his hallucinations of what he would do with Princess Haelyx in a very short time. The man continued with his fantasies without noticing at any time that the Princess avoided looking in the direction he was in but that there was a mirror that gave her a perfect view of Otto's hiding place. Otto Hightower also did not notice that the woman in the steam was not Haelyx Targaryen

No, her name was Amerys, former apprentice prostitute, current apprentice witch and volunteer to set the trap for Otto Hightower. The girl avoided having her face seen with tricks learned in the brothel during her childhood

And she made sure to be as tempting as possible. The white robe that clung to her body had two reasons. To give the image of chastity and puritanism that the Hightowers preferred and to hide the fact that Amerys' body had not gone through two pregnancies.

If Otto Hightower were not blinded by lust he would notice that it was a trap. But the aphrodisiacs carefully placed in his food over the past few weeks and his previous lust and greed were blinding the brain that had brought him such a high position at Court and in life.

Haelyx Peverell really loved making long-term plans

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About three weeks earlier, Avalon meeting room

-We need to kill Otto Hightower. – Haelyx nearly jumped across the table to kiss her husband. She loved that they were on the same page when it came to murder. – He is our greatest threat in the Kingdom. He is greedy, he desires the treasures of the Valyrian Freehold for himself, and he may destabilize the government of Westeros in ways unfavorable to our Kingdom. What do you think, wife?

-I love you, Edmyn. – The blush on the man's cheeks was something to see. – I also wanted to bring up Otto's murder at this meeting. I love it when we agree on things like this

The two looked at each other for a few moments before someone cleared their throat and pulled them out of their bubble

-I think it's a good idea. Otto Hightower is certainly a formidable enemy in many ways. – The Minister of Defense was the one who spoke with a measured voice. Haelyx knew that the real feelings he felt for Otto were much more violent.

Otto really knew how to piss off a lot of people. Those smart enough to know the kind of man he was.

-But we have to find a way to distract him enough for him to fall into murder. We know he has a personal taster, poison is off the table.

-A distraction and a murder... What do we know about him? What are his tastes in brothels? – Edmyn asked the Master of Whispers

-Are we going to use a prostitute? A classic in murders. – Said the Minister of Magic

-We are not going to use a prostitute, but nothing distracts a man as much as an attractive woman. Now we just have to know the exact type of the Hand of Westeros.

The Master of Whispers stepped out for a moment and came back with a folder. That was something Haelyx had created, something she had encouraged. That way, when the Master of Whispers died, all the information wouldn't be lost with him. It was a rather large dossier and Haelyx thanked Hermione Granger again for taking Harry Potter to so many museums after she was widowed. Thanks to that, her country was progressing by leaps and bounds compared to the other countries in the world.

The man turned the pages until he found the one he wanted.

-Well, lately he likes blonde prostitutes, with light eyes, slightly above average height, very pretty, ... - Everyone looked at Haelyx and she sighed heavily feeling a gag rise in her throat.

Otto was old enough to be her great-grandfather!

-So... I attract him. Great, I'll be the bait.

-No! I will not use you as bait for a pervert!

-My Queen…. We all agree with the King, you are too important to be bait for a murder. Besides, we would never let you be in a situation where a man could look at you with desire in a shameless way. We all swore to protect you

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Amerys listened to Oscar talk about what had happened at the meeting. Now they were “Lovers” in Avalon, free love was the norm. Although there were so many contraceptive methods that it was normal for people to practice free love.

-And why not use me? – Oscar looked at his girlfriend as she straightened up in her very soft cotton sheets. – I look a lot like the Queen in terms of figure, height and complexion, a little steam or smoke and not seeing my face can be enough to mislead someone who does not know us intimately

-Amerys…. I won't put you in danger

-I can fight and I have magic. Besides, a lot of brothel girls who have been raised in King's Landing want to punch Otto Hightower in the face. Preferably with a knight's gauntlet.

-All the girls?

-Yeah, that bastard made very strict laws for brothels. Among them one that said that for a brothel to stay open a priest of the faith of the seven had to bless it every month. You have no idea how expensive those blessings were. Many brothels went bankrupt or began to serve Septons discreetly just to stay open. Life on Silk Street became harder just because of him

Amerys remembered that. She was lucky enough to be part of one of the more expensive brothels, so they were okay, but the blessings of the militant Faith were expensive. Many establishments closed and the girls practiced without a premises, which was very dangerous and difficult. Many died after being killed by their clients or from starvation when the clients ran away without paying.

Small mafias were formed that controlled the girls and the girls had to give them a much higher percentage than the locals. After that the Queen's brother, as the leader of the Gold Cloaks, put an end to the mafias and gained public recognition for it.

A smart move, the only ones who suffered were the inhabitants of Flea Bottom. The faith grew richer and the Hightowers gained more fame.

--------------------------------

Amerys looked at the Minister of Magic. She had never been in her presence. She had always tried to be a good student and not draw attention to herself. She didn't want to lose her chance to study.

She knew she was doing this behind Oscar's back, but...

She wanted to help. She wanted to help the people who had gotten her out of the brothel. Plus by doing this she would obviously get on good terms with important people, which was a plus. Especially if her relationship with Oscar went well. From the bastard daughter of a prince who lived in a brothel and was a prostitute to the wife of a King's brother.

Amerys wanted to achieve that position and not only because Oscar was the King's brother, he was also a good man. The kind of men that Amerys' mother had taught her to identify.

-If you're lucky one of them will buy you and you'll be a concubine or wife to a nice rich guy without much on his mind. Watch out Amerys, a good client is very hard to find and very easy to lose.

Her mother had many good clients and then bad clients but she liked them when it came to having sex. Amerys' mother knew very well how to divide where she ate and who she satisfied herself with

-Amerys… What you've proposed… I'll have to consult it, but it could be the best option

-------------------------

Haelyx greeted Amerys. Her stepsister and her really did look alike, in general. Same height, same bust size, Amerys' hair was just a few shades darker than Haelyx's

-Has he come?

-Like every damn time. The pervert will soon start pleasuring himself while he watches. Or he'll decide to join me in the baths

-Probably the latter. Otto is not the type to look without wanting. Everything he has looked at and wanted so far he has gotten in one way or another. Even the Iron Throne is his, though he only sits there as a substitute for a sick King. – Haelyx looked at Amerys. – I have put a ward in the bathroom in case he tries to get any closer. From now on you will have to take the antidote

-The antidote?

-The ward will make the censers start burning a hallucinogenic potion. The antidote will make it so that it will not affect you. And then… Then Otto will willingly walk to his death

--------------------------

Haelyx was wearing a low neckline that she normally did not wear. Her breasts were almost on display for whoever wanted to see them. The Queen had a grimace of displeasure on her face as she looked at them

-The dress has gotten a little small for me. The children no longer want my milk and my breasts are full.

-Add a handkerchief to cover yourself next time. It is unbecoming of a noble lady to be showing herself in such a manner

Haelyx wanted to ask her how she dressed when she snuck into the chambers of Haelyx's recently widowed uncle. But she held her tongue. As they walked to the Sept they met Otto and Haelyx saw the man staring at her breasts. The Queen, so observant in many things, seemed blind to her father's eyes looking at a girl her daughter's age

-Where are you going, Alicent?

Haelyx frowned, this man may be Alicent Hightower's father. But Alicent was the Queen of Westeros. In public he should not refer to her in such an informal way, he should treat her as the Queen she was. But obviously, this man wanted the Queen to not realize her own power, to continue being subjugated to him as her father.

-Let's go to the Sept to light candles for Aegon. – The Queen let out a soft sob at the end and Haelyx didn't have to pretend as she put her hand on the woman's arm to comfort her. The Queen nodded her thanks and Haelyx shuddered. Otto was now staring at her breasts so intently that the people around were noticing

Shameless, shameless... And this man was a supposed follower of the faith and the Seven?!! Haelyx probed Otto's mind before leaving following the Queen and heard him clearly. His plans to assault her, he had even thought of sneaking a criminal into the Red Keep to blame him for what he would do to Haelyx

Tomorrow. Tomorrow Otto Hightower would die

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Otto was walking up the stairs to the baths. On her way she didn't notice the things that weren't right, like the fact that she had climbed many more steps than she should have or that the windows always showed the same landscape. Or the absence of doors.

Otto Hightower didn't know that he was walking towards his doom. Haelyx smiled at that, drugs were really beautiful things, especially the hallucinogenic ones. Then she looked at the women gathered. All with white hair, all with Valyrian features except one.

Haelyx had had to dig into many minds to find a clear image of that woman, but she already knew what Otto Hightower's wife looked like.

-Well, this is about to begin. Remember, this man came here to rape. Use the illusions I showed you.

The first door opened and they all hid. Haelys watched Amerys sit back and start wetting her hair to cover up why she hadn't heard the door.

Otto staggered in and his eyes fell on the figure of the young girl. His hands fumbled to his clothes untying them before Amelys looked back. Otto took several steps back.

- -- Viserra? Where's Haelyx?

- What are you doing here, Hightower?

Otto turned to look at the woman who had spoken. He turned very pale. The green makeup on the older woman would make her look like… in Otto's drugged mind.

- Alyssanne.

- You don't belong here, man. – Another said. The girls were having trouble not laughing as they spoke in soft, whispering voices.

- Will you take me like Maegor did?

-Men just take and take

-Get out

-Get out of here

Otto paled as he looked around. His eyes were unfocused and he saw things that were not of this world. Haelyx put her hand on the last woman. The man was waving his arms and making gestures as if to get something off of him. He rubbed his arms vigorously as he looked around at the women who walked and passed each other constantly

-Otto… - The man looked at the last woman. Her white robe was stained red and she looked at him with her head tilted to the side. - Are you going to kill me again, Otto?

The man gasped and gasped before running out the door. The women could not contain themselves any longer and started laughing. Haelyx disappeared downstairs. There she transformed the window into a door.

Haelyx waited and when Otto arrived she walked through the door, looking at him with a seductive smile. Then she dropped a few feet to the broom that held Edmyn and was waiting for her. They were using a very powerful disillusionment spell. Otto rushed through the door and into the void with a scream.

Haelyx went back to the door and turned it back into a window. Edmyn was behind her. Then she went up to the room that was a storage room and saw the witches leaving it as it was originally.

-Otto Hightower is dead, my dear ladies. Go back to Avalon with the portkeys. I will stay here with my husband. We will do damage control. You have done very well and you will be rewarded for it.

Haelyx did not look at Amerys, but she knew that she was happy. That girl was transparent. But if she made Oscar happy Haelyx would support her and she knew Edmyn would too

They went to their bedroom and ran with the others to the courtyard. Otto Hightower was covered in a blanket. His broken body was at odd angles and his blood was seeping into the sheet leaving it stained red

The man's son was crying as he clung to the sheet.

- Who did it? Did he fall from the tower?

- They say it was suicide. – A random man said.

- Suicide? He of all people wouldn't have killed himself

Haelyx looked at the men. Edmyn walked over to them.

- Who is it? Who is under the sheet? Is it one of the gold cloaks?

- It's the Hand

Queen Alicent's scream was worth hearing. Haelyx's ears rang loudly and she gasped, moving away from the crowd. She walked over to the other traumatized ladies and mingled with them. She stepped away from the crowd as the Queen ran to the dead man and lifted the sheet with another piercing scream.

Chapter Text

Haelyx combed Iolanthe's hair and then kissed the twins. Helaena was at her side with the children who she also kissed and said goodbye

-You have to be good to Dobby and Uncle Oscar

-Yes, Mum

Helaena looked completely different. She looked happy in a way that Haelyx had not seen since before she turned ten. The loss of her husband had done the young princess good. Helaena's hair was softer, her skin brighter, she had lost weight and she walked with a lightness that she had never seen before.

The future was bright for Helaena

Tonight, the King had ordered a banquet to be held for the entire family. Everyone would be there. The Queen had complained that she was still in mourning and that it was not the time for banquets, but Haelyx's father had practically skipped over and planned everything in Alicent's place to lighten her load.

The man was in a much better mood since Otto Hightower's death. He was often heard laughing and greeted everyone with a smile.

In contrast, Queen Alicent had become depressed and had locked herself away in her chambers. She had even neglected her husband whose care had fallen mostly to Haelyx and the maids the Crown Princess had brought in for that. Power in Redkeep had changed hands quickly and efficiently.

The Hand of the King brooch had ended up with the Crown Princess when the King learned of Otto's death. And after that, with Alicent's apathy to fulfill her duties as lady of the castle, wife, and Queen, the entirety of the Kingdom and its administration had fallen upon Rhaenyra

Everyone had held their breath at that. Waiting for it to fail, waiting for Daemon to take control of everything.

But that hadn't happened. Rhaenyra had been running Dragonstone and its resources without a hitch for years. True, she had spent many sleepless nights, but she was settling into the rhythm of running the Kingdom better than anyone could have suspected

With her main detractors mysteriously dead or incapacitated, there was no one to stop the voices supporting Rhaenyra as the future Queen.

The Greens were making desperate attempts to put Aemond in the ideal Regent position until Jaehaerys was old enough to take the throne. But Aemond had been raised to be a sword, not a negotiator or a politician. Otto, in his pride, had assumed that he would be standing behind Aegon for many, many years, guiding him like a puppeteer guiding his puppets. So he hadn't really bothered to raise someone to do their duty if he wasn't there to carry it out.

Pride was the death of the arrogant

-The portkeys are ready, my love. As soon as you give the signal we will go to Avalon. – Haelyx kissed Edmyn's cheek and smiled

-How lucky I am to love you…

----------------------

Rhaenyra walked through her childhood home with a feeling of triumph in her heart. For years she had feared that Aegon, Alicent and Otto would take away what was rightfully hers. Queen Alyssane's law favored her in that regard. As the daughter of the first wife, she had priority in inheriting over Alicent's children

A law that would have benefited Maegor the Cruel, since Queen Visenya was the Conqueror's first wife.

But now everything was different. Aegon had died of a disgusting disease that circulated in the brothels. Otto had fallen from a tower, or so they said. And Alicent had locked herself in her chambers.

There were no obstacles for her anymore.

Nothing stood in her way to the Iron Throne anymore. Rhaenyra knew that Aemond was superior to Aegon in every way, but Otto had been afraid that he would overshadow his perfect puppet. So now Aemond had hardly any supporters to help him in his efforts to reach the throne

Having the largest dragon did not make him the most valid if his way of doing politics was to look at his contenders until they surrendered.

Besides, according to Daemon, many of the followers of the Greens and the Seven had died in recent years from a strange plague that seemed to spread in places with a lot of people like the Septs

Such good luck for her and her side could only be a divine work. The gods wanted her to sit on the Iron Throne

Now what she had to think about was what she would do with Alicent's children and grandchildren. And also with her stepdaughter and her husband.

She had every intention of sending Alicent to the Septs. Letting Alicent loose would only make her marry another lord to gain more support or continue spreading her poison. Maybe in Dragonstone, the Vale or Winterfell. A place under Rhaenyra's control where Alicent could not get out of control

Aemond was another piece that she wanted as far away from her family as possible. On one hand, he rode Vhagar, was a great swordsman and quite intelligent. On the other hand, he was the cause of Luke's nightmares, he had a great resentment towards his family and Rhaenyra saw that he was always one step away from murderous rage. Maybe the best thing was to marry him to the Reach, one of the border houses and have him protect the border.

Daeron was the same, only with less resentment. Maybe she would marry him in Winterfell or somewhere similar. The best thing was to separate the Green brothers as much as possible

But the last Green. Helaena… Her sister and her children. Two children who could claim her throne as Aegon's heirs. Her sister was not mentally well, but that did not mean that her children were not suitable to reign. Especially the two eldest who had dragons of their own

Her original plan was to send them to Riverun with Haelyx and Edmyn, but that plan didn't seem possible. There were too many of them too eager to marry the Green Princess. Honestly, she didn't know what to do with the children. Maybe send them to confinement in Dragonstone, under Jace and Baela's supervision. Or maybe to Driftmark with Luke and Rhaena.

And Haelyx and her family had to go back to Riverun. She didn't want them here. Although she would still try to make Iolanthe Joffrey's bride. She didn't even know why she didn't want Haelyx to stay in the Capital.

The truth was that her stepdaughter made her nervous. At times she could see that Haelyx was more suitable for the Iron Throne than she was. She could almost see her grandfather in her shadow. The figure of a great ruler, like Jaehaerys, the figure of a great leader, …

The figure of a Queen who would not need political games to achieve her Throne because everyone would follow her blindly even to death.

She did not have that and that is why her cousin made her nervous.

Yes… The best thing was for Haelyx to return to Riverun and prepare to be the lady of the Land of Rivers

----------------------------

Haelyx checked that the children were fine through the two-way mirror and finished changing clothes and getting ready

She wanted to outshine her stepmother, this would be her first appearance as Queen of Avalon and she wanted it to be impressive and unforgettable

The tiara at her side, the one she would wear that night, had been a gift from her uncle. The man had asked her to wear it to dinner. Then there was the dress. Haelyx had chosen for once something with a V-neck and an almost Roman cut. A blood red dress with a black shawl hanging from it. Her hair was in a semi updo, showing off her beautiful curls and the elegant column of her neck.

Edmyn looked at Haelyx with raw desire from where he stood. Haelyx knew she looked like a Roman Empress.

- Later my love, in Avalon I will let you devour me whole. – Haelyx ran her fingers across Edmyn's lips to stop him from kissing her fiercely. The man frowned and licked his wife's finger.

-I can do it quickly.

-No, if we start we won't stop all night. I've been wanting this for too long to settle for something quick. Tonight, you will give me a son again.

Edmyn's eyes burned with pure desire as he held out his arm to his wife. He knew she wanted to have at least two more children, to have four duchies with a central government. Salazar would inherit the marshes, Helga the farmlands, and Iolanthe the Crown.

They had both agreed on this. They needed a Godric and a Rowena. A warrior and a scholar.

Edmyn had asked Haelyx how she knew they would be that. She had simply said she knew. And it was true. Haelyx had a feeling that her children would fulfill the roles their namesakes had held. A Queen, a politician, a warrior, a scholar, and the bond that would unite them all.

And after that, what her children would become would be in the hands of fate.

They met Helaena on their way to the hall where they would dine. It was not the largest room in the castle, but it was not a small one either. In Haelyx's opinion, it was the most beautiful of all.

The Queen was already there, wearing a strict mourning dress and with a displeased expression on her lips that were so tight that they could break at any moment

Yes… The dinner looked like it was going to be quiet and pleasant, Haelyx's sarcasm must have been noticed even from her thoughts, because the Queen turned to look at her. If looks could kill… To be honest, if that were the case Haelyx would have been dead for many, many years.

-Good evening, My Queen. You look especially beautiful today

-What is that dress you are wearing?

-I have decided to imitate the Valyrian fashion for this very special night in which my King and my uncle have decided to have a dinner. – The woman looked at Haelyx with her brow even more furrowed than before.

-The King has told my beautiful wife a lot about the customs and traditions of Valyria. My wife has decided to wear this clothing to honor her roots. – Edmyn smiled politely at the Queen.

The Queen continued to frown at them, but waved them off just as the door opened and Daeron and Aemond entered together. Both were dressed in various shades of dark green, almost black. A contrast to Helaena who was dressed in black, despite her mother having almost screamed at seeing her now short hair.

Although Alicent didn't scream much these days, she did tend to throw silent tantrums in which she would destroy her room and force the maids to clean it up.

-You are very beautiful, Haelyx. As if the Conqueror's wife herself were with us – Daeron said it with a mischievous smile that made Edmyn laugh out loud, surprising everyone.

-Which of the Conqueror's wives are you referring to? – Haelyx said it with a playful tone only to be answered with a gesture that indicated that Daeron would not speak. – Oh, you little tease… I still remember kicking your legs as a child when you behaved like that, don't make me repeat it

- I'm much older now, my legs are more muscular! You can't hurt me now!

- I could ask Aemond, Edmyn or my father to do it for me. If you push me I could also ask the children. Wouldn't that be hilarious? – Daeron pouted childishly

- You're evil…

- Daeron, Haelyx! You're adults now, stop acting like children! – The Queen's voice was quick as a whip

Haelyx sighed, after the deaths of Aegon and Otto this woman seemed determined to destroy any shred of happiness that fell into her hands. She was like a puppet whose strings had been cut but kept swinging trying to regain the rhythm she had before

Aemond made a gesture and everyone quickly received glasses of wine. Haelyx noted with pleasure that the wine had changed from Aegon's favorite, strong and tasteless, to a soft, sweet white wine without much alcohol.

- Your personal taste, Aemond?

- I don't really enjoy drinking. I don't understand why there are people who go out to drink with the goal of losing consciousness. I got this wine at the domain, it's one of my favorites. – Aemond turned the wine glass in his hand

- I'm sure it will be wonderful to drink with the roast pork I ordered for tonight. – Aemond fixed his eyes on Haelyx. – Try breastfeeding two babies, they have me constantly hungry

- Still... Order a roast pork...

- You can't avoid pork all your life, Aemond. – Daeron put his arm on his brother's shoulders and they approached Helaena who was talking to her mother in whispers. - Sister, what do you think of the wine?!

Haelyx understood, everyone was putting on a facade of joy and good humor to fulfill the King's last wish

--------------------------------

The Crown Princess and her offspring arrived together almost an hour after the rest had gathered. Haelyx knew that her stay here would not be seen as support for the Greens but as support for Helaena, since they had escorted her

-You're late

The Queen could spare herself the poisonous tone. Apparently the cause of tonight's internal conflicts and possible discussions would be this woman

-You've arrived early. The food hasn't even started to be served. - Daemon Targaryen's tone didn't help make the place more habitable and relaxed for everyone either.

Helaena saw that an outburst was coming from her mother and decided to get up. Everyone looked at her while she smiled at those present.

-When will Jacaerys and Baela's wedding be?

Everyone fell silent and Baela dug her nails into Jacaerys's arm. Haelyx knew that Jacaerys had a secret affair with a woman from the North whom he visited from time to time. Sara Snow, the bastard sister of the Lord of Winterfell.

Haelyx sighed heavily.

Jacaerys was a man of honor. He had sworn to marry Baela, his cousin whom he adored. There was no complaint about Baela in his mind or heart, but…. The love of a young man was hard to ignore. If Jacaerys were older he would know more about the game of thrones and what had to be done to secure the Iron Throne.

Currently, the Velaryons' support for Rhaenyra was not because Rhaenyra's sons were named Velaryon, but because Laena Velaryon's twin daughters were the betrothed of Rhaenyra's heir and Lord Corlys Velaryon's favorite. That way the Velaryons got what they wanted. Their blood on the Iron Throne and an heir for Driftmark.

If Jacaerys were more mature he would realize that the commitment to Baela was more important than his love. Losing the Velaryons would cause an irreparable rift in the Blacks' camp. If Haelyx were more ruthless she would have Sara Snow disappear that very night, especially since neither Rhaenyra nor Daemon knew about her. But Haelyx was too kind

- We are thinking of a ceremony in six moons. - Rhaenyra spoke ahead of her son. Baela relaxed her nails from where they had been dug into Jacaerys' arm. Everyone took their seats and the King arrived.

Seeing her uncle's smile at seeing them all gathered was the most wonderful thing in the world for Haelyx. She would give one last happy memory to the man who had raised her

- Uncle! I have dressed in imitation of the fashion of Old Valyria! Do you think I have done well?

The King smiled tenderly as he sat down

- You have done wonderfully, my dear. It almost seems as if we had returned to our ancestral land. You are without a doubt the embodiment of beauty and youth. – The man looked at his wife. – You are also beautiful, my love.

– Am I just an afterthought to you? – The woman was going to growl something else when she jumped with a scream and said that something had stung her from under the table.

Haelyx looked at Edmyn and he winked at his wife. Haelyx took her husband's hand and rested her head for a few seconds on his shoulder. Teaching him the stinging charm had been totally worth it just for this moment.

----------------------------

The dinner continued with laughter, and memories.

If Haelyx had to put it into words she would say that it was the calm before the storm. But it would be a short storm, she had made sure of that.

Haelyx stood up and slammed her glass with her cutlery. Instantly all eyes were on her and she could see Helaena smiling from her seat

-My dear family, I have to say that this has been the best farewell. My husband and I have decided to take the dragon trip to our home tonight and my dear cousin has agreed to accompany us with her children and with the King's blessing.

Everyone who was not aware looked at each other and the King nodded

-Go soon, Haelyx. This is a beautiful night to fly a dragon, clear and without strong winds. May the gods watch over your path

The three of them set off just before the commotion ceased in everyone's minds and the Queen stood up shouting for them to stop. Helaena and the children were staying in the capital

The three of them looked at each other as they turned a deserted corner and activated their portkeys that took them to the beach where three dragons were waiting

-Home, my love

-Home

Chapter Text

Three weeks, Haelyx looked at the message that had reached her. It had taken three weeks to discover that they were not in Riverun and another six months to find out where they were.

But they were no longer hiding and their dragons were well recognizable. Especially those of Helaena and her. Haelyx stood up carefully with her five-month pregnant belly and walked to the nursery. Along the way she could see Helaena with one of the witches who guided her in her visions of the future

For the first time in her life, Helaena understood what she saw.

And Haelyx could not be happier for her cousin.

Edmyn was currently in the marshes training men in the fighting styles of the Riverlands. Oscar was with him, planning his wedding with the Court Witch Apprentice, Amerys.

Haelyx arrived at the nursery where Iolanthe had her toys set up and she wasn't the only one. Maegor also seemed to have great abilities. Jaehaerys also had magic, but the child in the nursery with the least magic was undoubtedly Jaehaera.

The girl had a nanny specifically for her and was flourishing. But Jaehaera was the closest thing to a person with Down syndrome that Haelyx could find, or maybe severe autism. At least he was becoming verbal now.

Haelyx sighed and walked over to the mirror

The surface gleamed and she could see Edmyn

-Are you disappointed that it's your wife and not your daughter in front of you? – Iolanthe had learned to use mirrors a month ago and was very excited about it, calling her father constantly

-How could I be when the most beautiful woman in the world is before my eyes? But I don't think this is a social call, we reserve those for dinner time. What is it, my love?

Haelyx waved the letter in front of the mirror

-My… Stepmother has found out where we are and who we are. She demands that we bend the knee to Westeros and make Avalon into another Kingdom. That we remember that our role is as lords, not kings in our own right. That if we do not obey, she already has the perfect person to rule Avalon without us

Edmyn mocked as anger boiled inside him. He could not show his dissatisfaction. Not now. This pregnancy was more delicate than that of his other children. Haelyx was weaker and often stayed in bed for days or weeks at the orders of the healers

-My love, you know that your stepmother is more bark than bite. Especially after her government has just started and is still weak. She cannot risk an open war with us. Our military power is greater than hers and she would have to get ships to bring her troops. It would leave Westeros unprotected for whoever wanted to take it. You know your father wouldn't allow it

-What I fear is that they'll use their dragons. We're three against four battle beasts, not counting the younger dragons that could make their debut in battle. And I can't help now. Why is it that every time a battle approaches you've made me pregnant? – Haelyx complained while caressing her belly

-Luck of opportunism? – Edmyn smiled. – We'll send an emissary with a copy of the treaty we signed with King Viserys, maybe that will dissuade them. If not... Well, the barriers are ready to activate. We'll close Avalon and protect it with magic from the rest of the world

--------------------------

Haelyx was lying on a divan while a fan slowly gave her air without anyone holding it. The twins were starting to stand up and Haelyx had given them the same padded backpack she gave Iolanthe that would keep them from hurting themselves when they fell. Lily Luna Potter used that backpack a lot.

Iolanthe was running around holding Maelor's hand as they both laughed out loud. Jaehaerys was chasing them laughing as well while Jaehaera slept in a corner after getting tired on the fourth lap, they were already on the sixth.

Iolanthe left the formation and piled in with Jaehaera, falling asleep in a matter of seconds.

- What are the children doing? - Oscar had just entered and seemed strange at the sight.

- I told them they had to take a nap, they said no. They said they wanted to run. So I told them to run around the room until they felt ready to sleep. Apparently that's a lot of fun.

- Ah... Were we like that at your age?

- No, at that age I was being looked after by a very strict septa and an even stricter aunt. - Haelyx looked at the children. -It's great that they can be children. Innocent and sweet, I would have liked to be like them. But in the Targaryen family the ignorant and innocent are chewed until only their bones remain.

-Yes, I remember that. When you came to Riverun you were small in size, but more adult than any of us. – Oscar looked at his nephews. – My children will be more adorable than yours.

-Keep dreaming. Are you and Amerys okay?

-Of course. I already have the house ready for her and the wedding is in a week. - Oscar had prepared for the marriage, finally using the mansion that Haelyx and Edmyn had given him. He had decorated it and prepared it for a family, he had even prepared a small nursery that had made Amerys blush. The girl had said that when her future options were to be a prostitute she had never dreamed of being a mother, but now that she could be one she was looking forward to having a child with Oscar. - Who have you sent as a messenger to Westeros?

- One of the Unsullied. Greymoth volunteered in less than a second. We almost didn't even have to ask him.

--------------------------

Rhaenyra watched as her council read over and over the treaty between King Viserys I and Queen Haelyx Peverell. It was extremely beneficial to both sides and very balanced, more so than a treaty with such a young nation would be, obviously her father had a sweet spot for his cousin

She shouldn't feel jealous about that, everyone knew her father had raised her cousin like he had raised Rhaenyra.

-Viserys knew it, he knew who the Kings of Avalon were for years and he never said anything. He let them roam freely under his roof without any fear or qualms. – Corlys' words were true. Everyone knew the man wanted to curse the late King with all his might, but out of respect for his wife and the Queen he didn't…. Out loud, but he wasn't the only one cursing Viserus mentally

-The question is whether or not I can claim Avalon. – Rhaenyra looked around. – It is legitimately mine, those who got the land were my legitimate subjects and the land is the one that legitimately belonged to my family

The master of laws shifted uncomfortably

-Actually… It is not our land. King Consort Daemon proved it by giving his crown to King Viserys. When an inhabitant of Westeros conquers a territory outside the continent, he can name himself King of the territory in question and the territory will only become part of the Crown if the inhabitant in question gives his crown to the current King or Queen, just as the King Consort did years ago after conquering the Stepstones. But due to that same law, Westeros cannot give help or support to the new Kingdom without a proper treaty. It was done this way because it was thought that a new territory after its conquest would be weak and would need to depend on Westeros

-Why was such a Law created? It is very inconvenient for us. – Rhaenyra snorted as she leaned back in her chair. Her daughter had died in childbirth and she was still mourning the loss of her father and daughter in the same week

-The Law was created by Aegon the Conqueror himself with the idea that his descendants would be able to recover the Empire in Essos that once belonged to Ancient Valyria. It is designed so that Princes and Princesses with dragons and no hope of obtaining the Throne can have their own territories. But according to this Law, Queen Haelyx and her husband King Edmyn have every right to rule their land without giving us anything and without depending on us. – The old man searched through his papers and took out the scroll with the Law, in the handwriting of Aegon the Conqueror.

A law that fell into oblivion when Maegor tried to conquer a city in Essos and his father denied him, fearing that Maegor would become too powerful. After that, House Targaryen had so few dragons attached to its members that it was decided that all of them were necessary for the self-defense of the country and no one spoke of that old Law again. No King wanted his children to prosper so much that they created new Kingdoms. King Jaehaerys had expressly forbidden that Law to be mentioned to his children and he prevented with all his might that his children were linked to dragons

Daemon chuckled. The Conqueror was a cunning and very intelligent bastard. He had planned that Law to conquer Essos with houses of the Targaryen blood in a gradual and slow way until in the end the entire known world was under the dominion of the Iron Throne. But now that same Law worked against them because Haelyx did not need the protection of Westeros to defend her Kingdom

She had magic defending it.

The only possible explanation Daemon and Rhaenyra had come up with was that Haelyx must have found Visenya's secret library of magic and read every tome thoroughly and practiced magic to exhaustion

But when had she done that? The life of a Princess was very controlled. Haelyx was monitored almost all day, every day of her life. Septas, maids, ladies of the court, and guards. She shouldn't have had the time to found her own Kingdom.

Honestly, the only free time Rhaenyra had had alone when she was a Princess was the time she had spent with her sworn sword and her uncle. Plus she was now having an exhaustive search of the magic library in the tower and the surroundings of the place where Haelyx had lived all her life carried out

-And Haelyx knows about this law? Because if she doesn't we can pressure her into giving us her territories

The Grand Maester dropped his glass and everyone looked at him. The man seemed very embarrassed

-The Princess was always a great lover of the Conqueror's handwriting. She spent hours and hours copying the written documents he left behind to imitate his handwriting, as the Dowager Queen ordered all children to do. At that time under my supervision she copied almost all the files of laws and decrees in the Conqueror's handwriting. She knows the Law without a doubt, one of the most recent copies is written in his handwriting. Although she did not manage to finish imitating the Conqueror's handwriting, hers is still very beautiful and recognizable. – The Grand Master remembered when he was only a Master and had taught the children of the Dowager Queen and Haelyx to read and write. Princess Haelyx was very weak at that time, fragile as a flower exposed to the cold, but she was the one who complained the least about the long hours copying documents in the classroom.

Rhaenyra wanted to groan. Alicent had insisted that the children of the Royal family find a historical figure whose handwriting they liked and imitate it by copying the written documents left by them over and over again. Rhaenyra had not allowed that to happen to her children.

Especially since it was not a custom for children to improve their handwriting. It was actually a way to copy books and texts without having to pay the large sums that the Citadel demanded for the copies of the books. Rhaenyra hadn't wanted her sons to do something that was a custom of the lower houses. But now she saw that it had other uses, like knowing certain documents very well.

- This is crap, all the riches of Valirya and we can't get them because we don't own them

- Well, there's another way. – Everyone looked at the last loyalist to the Greens left on the council. He was only there because Rhaenyra hadn't yet found a suitable replacement for him. – Conquest. We beat them in dragons and troops. It shouldn't be hard to conquer Avalon

- You won't turn your queen into an Oathbreaker and Kinslayer less than a year after taking the Crown! – Rhaenyra felt like slapping the man. The idea was tempting, Rhaenyra didn't doubt it. But doing that would mean breaking a treaty and attacking his own stepdaughter

No, the best they could do was treat the messenger Avalon had sent with a copy of the treaty well and pray for good trade relations from now on. Besides, Rhaenyra didn't know how far-reaching or powerful her stepdaughter's magic really was. Magic that apparently many inhabitants of her country could use and were trained for it.

One test had been seeing the messenger extend his hand and his cup fly directly into his open palm. The worst of all? He hadn't done it consciously, rather as if it were something normal and natural for him and he had smiled at the faces of astonishment around him.

If something as extraordinary as moving an object from one place to another in a room was normal, what would be extraordinary?

----------------------------

Aemond was before a very pregnant Haelyx sitting on a throne with crystal wings and looking very comfortable. The throne room was much more beautiful and bright than he had ever imagined or seen in the houses of the nobles he had visited. Haelyx caressed her belly and looked at her cousin.

-I heard that my stepmother promised you to a lady of almost fifty years old who has modest properties on the border with Dorne

-She was forty-two years old and had three children. And her modest properties barely provided enough to feed her even though she was still of noble blood. – Aemond was furious about that. – I have come to ask for refuge in Avalon

-And what do you have to offer Avalon, Aemond? – The man clenched his fists before hearing his cousin laugh. – I'm joking, cousin, my house will always be open to you. But you should have seen your face.

-I don't think a Queen should joke like that

-I'm your cousin and I'm very bored during this pregnancy. – Haelyx leaned back further on the Throne. - How is Daeron? And your mother?

-Daeron is fine, he went to Winterfell and married a woman of his choice because his fiancée shot an arrow into his crotch and swore he would never marry. Those Mormont women are crazy...

-I find them inspiring. And your mother? How is she?

-She has joined the Silent Sisters.

-Rhaenyra has gone too far. I thought at most I would put her in a convent or force her to be a Septa.

Aemond shook his head slowly.

-My mother chose it on her own. She decided to dedicate her life to crying and constant prayer.

-Well... Well, I guess she knows what she's doing.

---------------------------

Haelyx held her youngest son, Godric, in her arms. Iolanthe looked at the baby with love while Helga and Salazar seemed somewhat annoyed by the child with dark silver, almost gray curly hair and blue eyes.

The child had been born breech and had had her suffering for almost three full days.

Iolanthe left the nursery with Maelor to go to her lessons. Edmyn took Haelyx's hand as she left the younger ones at the nursery

-It's time to face the morning audiences, my love. Are you ready?

-Yes. – Haelyx looked at Edmyn. - How does it feel to know that you are leading the Kingdom that everyone wants to conquer?

-It feels as if my name and my wife's will enter the history books just because we wanted to create a safe haven for thousands of slaves and magic users.

-Then here we go, my husband. To the pages of the history books

-----------------------

Haelyx Peverell. Edmyn Peverell.

The founding monarchs of Avalon, the Kingdom that rose from the ashes of an Empire. A land of peace, freedom and magic, with thousands of miracles and wonders filling every street, town and city

Their names were as famous as Aegon the Conqueror's and lasted longer.

Even today, hundreds of years after their deaths, many children bear their names and their statues are still visited regularly.

They were remembered as a deeply loving and wise couple. The Beautiful Sorceress Queen and the Gallant Warrior King. Their love story gave rise to many plays and love songs. From their love came fourteen children, all great Wizards and Witches who managed not only to create alliances, but also strengthen Avalon with their combined strength.

They also did something that had never been seen before and gave up their thrones and crowns when they reached a certain age that is not documented so that old age would not cloud their judgment and new blood could rule. They also personally cared for their grandchildren in their retirement and, although they retained power, served as more of an advisor to their daughter, Queen Iolanthe and her husband, King Maelor

They also sponsored many orphanages and made sure that every child in the country knew how to read, write and do math, something never seen before.

Queen Haelyx could most notably be seen after giving up the throne teaching talented children the magical arts and King Edmyn taught his grandchildren how to fly on a dragon, although he was severely scolded several times by his wife because he taught them stunts and tricks that she considered dangerous

Their lives ended peacefully one winter night at the age of 80 and 70. The night before they had been fine, smiling and happy, they went to sleep and did not wake up.

Two fruit trees were planted on their graves so that, even in death, they could continue to feed the inhabitants of their kingdom. Black apples, the sweetest in the world, and incredibly juicy golden pears.

Both trees are still alive today, and their fruits continue to feed those who want them.