Chapter Text
Viserys' hand passed through her soft hair. His only love, the woman he loved more than anything, lay there dead. The sound of the babes crying filled the dead silence.
Aemma stood beside Viserys as it was announced, Viserys will be king when Jaehaerys dies. Aemma knows she should be happy, but at that moment she realizes her daughters won't be enough.
Rhaenyra was born 97AC, they were happy. Alysanne in 99AC, Viserys grew disappointed at the lack of an heir. In 100AC when the third girl, Viserra, came, he wondered if he may be cursed. After becoming heir, Viserys began to panic. What will happen if he can't get a son? Daemon would ruin years of peace; Viserys knew he could not let his brother ruin everything. So Viserys tried harder; Aemma grew pregnant again, though this time no babe came. Then the death of Jaehaerys fell upon them and grief shrouded the realm and their lives. Viserys felt hope again in 104AC when Aemma grew pregnant but like a cruel joke he was given two girls. Saera and Daera, healthy but girls, not fit to be his heirs. Even through his disappointment, he could not deny that his daughters were his world. Even through ruling he was there when they took their first steps and he's there when Rhaenyra mounts Syrax and flies for the first time. A first time in history being only seven. Viserys was happy until Otto reminded him that Rhaenyra was no boy. So they tried again and Viserys was hopeful.
"I won't do this again." Aemma tells him. Her voice is firm, it isn't something she is budging on. Viserys sighs but nods. "I am sure a boy will come. The gods have seen our efforts." Viserys says more so to reassure himself rather than her. "Do not be so sure." Aemma rebuttals, which earns a frown from her husband. "Do not jinx us." He says trying to make it sound like he's joking but he's not.
Her pregnancy draws into 105AC, she is a week overdue until the babe finally comes. A girl named Naerys came first; she is healthy and strong. Problems occur when Shaera is born. It took 30 minutes between the two girls but that was enough to weaken Aemma. She would live for 5 months until infection took her.
Her death hit the children hard, well the older ones. The two sets of twins did not quite understand why their mother was being set aflame, they did not understand why their father and sisters cried. Rhaenyra took comfort in her ladies-in-waitings, Laena Velaryon and Alicent Hightower, Laena is close to her age and Alicent 18. Alysanne and Viserra grew extremely close, the two girls practically joined at the hip though Viserra had grown mute. She refused to talk whilst before the girl had problems being quiet causing rumors that the girl may be a simpleton. The girls all coped in their own ways but one thing they shared was the distaste they felt when Viserys said he would remarry, Rhaenyra locked herself in her room when her stepmother was announced. The girl she had looked up to, went to for comfort, her own lady-in-waiting, Alicent Hightower.
The wedding was extravagant per the demands of Otto. Rhaenyra though upset gave the older girl a bouquet and a charm for good luck. Alicent wore her mother's wedding dress with the charm in her pocket and bouquet in hand. She knew it was her duty but she couldn't help but feel bad, she had betrayed her friend, one of her only friends besides Laena. Viserys seemed uninterested in her too focused on making sure his daughters were happy which included dancing with Rhaenyra, talking to Alysanne, and carrying Viserra around. It should have been Alicent's day but she seemed to fade into the background. She didn't really matter she was to give the king a son and that is all.
It did not take long for Alicent to grow pregnant. Viserys and her female relatives showered her with gifts and love. She was sure it was a boy and she told everyone including Rhaenyra who seemed excited by the aspect. Alicent knew something was wrong when at the 8 month mark she started feeling pain. It was not long until her water broke and everything went too quickly. Alicent remembers it hurting, midwives and the maester rushing around. Then the urge to push stopped yet no cry was heard. "Is he alright?" Alicent asks, her voice was uneven and soft like she was about to cry. Her heart froze as the maester shook his head and handed her the boy. Aegon Targaryen laid in her hands. The tiny infant looking not fully formed. His nose not developed along with a major cleft lip. Half his body coated in a thick layer of scales that were too hot for Alicent to touch. She screamed and dropped the hideous thing. Her aunt held her close ushering someone to get rid of the monster. It wasn't a monster it was Alicent's baby but she could not vocalize it and even if she could, she would only be labeled insane.
Rhaenyra and Alysanne tried to comfort Alicent. The girls did her hair, ate with her, and sometimes Laena would join them. It didn't help, nothing would. Alicent had lost her baby and no one could change that.