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It had been many a year since the dreaded day Rhaenys officially lost trust in her father. Now to forever be hardened with anger, formed from the lingering distrust placed in her from that one moment she experienced as a child.
No matter how much he loved her, he could never undo the fruits of his selfish deeds; what had happened would always torment Rhaenys for as long as she lived.
He could make her his heir, gift her the greatest gems and all the most extravagant gowns, but nothing, nothing, could bring her mother and brother back.
Now she had to deal with the lesser shadow of her brother, once named Aegon until she had a tantrum over the heedless disrespect done against her Aegon, and Rhaegar, the coward man he ever was, immediately fell to his feet to gain his daughters favour, changing the name of his disappointment of a son. One meant to be a daughter yet was instead the ill-gotten bastard son of his once-beloved mistress, albeit one whom he had recklessly attempted to marry, while Elia Martell still lived.
Rhaegar could never stop faltering to his daughter’s doe eyes or her mentions of Elia and Aegon, and that led him to falling beneath her feet in pleading, always striving to do the best for the daughter he loved, whose life he destroyed in his despicable ventures.
But nothing could make Rhaenys forgive her father, no matter the grand actions he took, yet if he was to continue in doing so, his eldest daughter had no qualms in reaping the benefits.
Many a portrait of Elia Martell were plastered all across the Red Keep, bringing great joy to Rhaenys, not only keeping the memory of her mother alive, but for gaining immense glee at the stiffened figure of Lyanna Stark with a twisted face, forced to walk past the woman she disregarded in her so-called romantic tale.
The woman who she indirectly caused the death of. A brutal death. Along with her newborn child. That Lyanna attempted to steal the name of.
Getting Rhaegar to send her away, permanently, for Rhaenys’ birthday was the greatest moment of her life, and marrying her off was even greater, with Jon staying in the Red Keep not even able to dull her joy.
One of the best actions she had ever done, being when she was but a child of 9 years.
But now that woman is back.
All the family, whores and bastards alike, all down in the Red Keep, ready to have dinner together, knowing that the tension would explode.
The only moment prior to cause an eruption akin to a dragonfight was but a few years before, when Rhaenys was seven and ten, beginning to feel sympathy for the figure she viewed as a monster encompassing her hatred for everything which occurred, only a girl younger than Rhaenys was at this moment.
But this quickly dissolved when the smug cunt wandered into Kingslanding, ruining the festivities of Rhaenys’ betrothal to Viserys with pathetic pleas to see her son more often, as his fostering in Winterfell became heavily scrutinised with her seeing him regularly, and Eddard Stark had prevented this as the years went on, Rhaenys assuming that he was not wanting his harlot of a sister to tarnish people’s minds and taint his innocent daughters with the fruits of their aunt’s impulsive actions as all the children grew older, closer to adulthood.
Her pleas fell through quickly, despite all the efforts of Lyanna attempting to get Rhaegar to do so for the love he had held for his “winter rose” as Rhaenys did not let this insult slide, mentioning how the King’s love for his trueborn family would surpass any others outside his vows, and doing so would be a disservice to Elia Martell, his true love.
And now they both were here, this being the first time Rhaenys was to see Jon in approximately a decade, yet she had a strong fear that his love for his mother would destroy any possible connection the siblings could have, especially as it was highly likely Lyanna had told him why her visits to him became restricted and less often.
Sitting beside her beloved husband, Viserys, Rhaenys saw tension begin as the Kingsguard members beckoned Lyanna and Jon in after the Royals arrivals. She especially noted, with great glee, that Ser Lewyn Martell, one of her only confidants in this dreaded place, had a stiffened figure, anger seeping through his steps as he moved closer with the embodiment of his great-niece's ire, the ones who illustrated all which had caused the death of his niece Elia.
Jon was clearly out of place, confused and conflicted as he took a gander at the Targaryens, all staring with either contempt or frozen with indiscernible emotions as Rhaella was, yet the poor bastard held himself with a false confidence as he took his seat beside Lyanna Stark, a now-widow of an old man, who Rhaenys suspected was wanting to go back to her alleged true-love, Rhaegar Targaryen.
“Everyone! Here we are…” The King spoke, bumbling with a facade of joy which contrasted everyone else present, “Children, mothers, brothers, sisters, all people I hold dear in my heart,”
“He forgot harlots and bastards-” Snorted Viserys quietly to his wife’s ear, gaining a look of derision from the aforementioned bastard who had witnessed the spouse’s giggle together.
Rhaegar continued however, either unable to see or unwilling to care for the interactions occurring and wishing to keep a front of this being happy familial event, “And I wish to announce, to all those I care for, that I will be stepping down from my duties, becoming co-ruler with my dear Rhaenys, as I help consolidate my greatest child’s ascension to her rightful place as Queen!”
Clapping commenced, with Daenerys full of joy beside the rather dull bastard boy half-heartedly clapping, yet Rhaenys was shaken with this news, never having expected this to occur so soon, unlike the natural ascension of an heir through the death of the previous ruler. Yet as she thought further, the Princess realised that this was a great decision to occur, for this would legitimise her claim as Queen with a smooth ascension, something that King Viserys’ should have done for his daughter, illustrating a woman’s capability to rule officially and declaring their woman-heir as Queen before his death creates a murky ascension which could be undisputed, as happened before.
But if King Viserys I wanted to make his daughter ruler, he should not have married and had trueborn sons, whereas Rhaenys had a slither of protection for she was the only living legitimate child of Rhaegar’s loins, even if his harlot had attempted to declare otherwise.
The Princess stood up, holding a glass to toast, “Father, I would like to thank you for this opportunity, and as your only trueborn child, I will do my duty to be a woman that can make you proud, and be a true Queen-”
She saw Viserys give an appreciative gesture, as if goading her to continue with all the false platitudes she was spewing, gaining sympathy from the pathetic figure they both were sadly related to.
“-Just as I wish my mother could have been.”
Wiping a tear away as she sat back down, Rhaenys was hugged by Viserys, making her saddened gesture more exaggerated than ever, with Rhaenys feeling true sadness at the fact her mother wasn’t present for this day, even if she mentioned her for gaining sympathy.
As she sat down, being comforted by Viserys, the Princess noted that a multitude of great foods had arrived, feeling elation at the true beginning of the feast. Increased by the guilt she was plastered on Lyanna Stark’s face at the mention of the woman she wanted to replace.
The time passed quickly as everyone took their time to eat and listen peacefully to the tones of string instruments and bards encompassing the room.
“Look- do you see how the whore is already throwing herself at Rhaegar?” Viserys was full of derision, twisting his face in a sharp sneer as he directed Rhaenys’ gaze toward the Stark woman who had been begun speaking to the King.
Suddenly a loud noise blasted in the room.
There Jon Waters was, standing firmly, face fiery with a reddened blush, “What did you dare to say?”
His anger was clear, making a sharp cut in the music and jovial conversations as all present looked at him.
“My mother is no whore!” Plates clattered as Jon screamed, pushing his hands deep within the table, shaking it with a heavy force.
Lyanna was stricken with shock, wanting to step up and calm her son, yet was tempered by Rhaegar dismissing her with a touching gesture.
“What else would you call her? she isn’t exactly a maiden is she, or else you wouldn’t exist!”
Rhaenys snorted loudly at Viserys’ snarky comment, making Jon Waters turn to her.
“What?” She spoke, deciding to confront his stare, “It’s true!”
“There’s no other name for a woman who fornicates with a married man- not to mention naming her ill-begotten spawn after his trueborn son!” She calmly retorted, loving the anger seeping from both Lyanna and Jon, “Perhaps mistress is a better term for your mother, since whores are a dime a dozen, but she is special to the King, just like the Bracken and Blackwood girls were to their King!”
“Rhaenys-” A sharp interruption emerged from Rhaegar, finally acting with the Kingly authority he should possess yet never used towards anyone after Robert’s Rebellion.
“Father! Don’t defend her! She’s already ruined this moment for us, tarnishing your congenial actions of making me Queen! And not to mention…”
“Daughter, what is it?” He was softened by Rhaenys’ turn to calmer words, questioning what her change in tone meant.
Viserys interrupted, answering his King’s question, “Rhaegar, we have news we wanted to tell you, but with your mistress here, it would be a shame to speak.”
“Just say it! You’ve already said enough- calling me a whore and insulting my son and I!” Finally the aforementioned woman that caused all this tension had spoken.
“Fine then,” Rhaenys stood beside her husband, cradling her stomach, “We are with child! Father, you’re to have a trueborn grandson!”
“Oh yes! I’m going to be an aunt again!” Daenerys squealed in a childlike manner of excitement, with her having a great love for children only tempered by her dolls and waiting to get married once she turned six and ten. “What are you to call the babe?”
“We were thinking Elia if it’s a girl, and Aegon if our child is to be a son!” Rhaenys spoke with triumph and sadness, joy in honouring her lost family yet mournful that she could do so because they were gone.
“How dare you?” Lyanna was enraged, “Even when announcing positive news, you can help but insult me!”
“If you think saying trueborn is insulting you, then surely you must now realise that your son is no trueborn!” Viserys was loud, defending his pregnant wife with humour in his tone. “And Aegon is her brother’s name! No, not your bastards, but the babe who’s blood is on your hands!”
Rhaegar silenced them all with a shout, “Viserys, stop! That’s enough!”
“Do you think Elia screamed those words as she and your newborn were being brutalised, while you were gallivanting in her homeland laying with your northern harlot?” He went too far as he spoke, only being relaxed by Rhaenys’ saddened gaze at how he described these traumatic murder of her mother and brother.
“I told you not to insult my mother!” Jon ignored the mention of his half-brother, deciding to focus on the latter-half of his uncle’s words.
“Your mother’s existence is an insult! As is yours! You and her shouldn’t even be in these seats, Aegon and Elia deserve to be there!”
Rhaenys held him, turning toward him with a whisper, “Calm yourself, my beloved, we can get justice when I ascend to queendom and get crowned.”
Viserys sat down, reluctant yet heeding his wife’s words while keeping a stern face. The room was now quiet, only being interrupted by small murmurs between Rhaella and Daenerys, shocked and saddened by the confrontations occurring.
“Everyone, finish your meals and this’ll be over.” Rhaegar finally spoke, breaking the awkward silence which emerged from Viserys’ words. “Let’s pray to the Seven for goodwill amongst the Realm and happy tidings.”
It seemed as though both Viserys and Jon had been calmed by the stable women in their lives, even if they disliked one another too, and everyone elected to ignore the tension, pleasing the King they both cared not for, in their ventures to please the women they loved.
Viserys and Rhaenys decided to leave early, taking steps away from the tension, deciding to reach their chambers.
“Viserys, I- I just wish Aegon and mother could be here.” Small droplets fell from her face as she spoke. “I can’t help but think that I should’ve been with them that day!”
“You can’t blame yourself Rhaenys. Running after dear Balerion, that little fiend, getting lost in Maegor’s Tunnels saved your life!” He took a hand, swiping her tears away. “Instead let’s honour their memory, creating a legacy to remember them, and getting retribution against the ones who hurt them!”
“Jon- he’s an innocent though, even if he defends his mother as for that I can’t blame him.” The Princess continued on, “It is Lyanna and Rhaegar who deserve bad things coming to them! Rhaegar can think all he likes that he’s been forgiven, but he is no father of mine!”
“I have a contact in Essos who can bring me Tears of Lys, then Rhaegar will be gone, permanently.” Her husband spoke, willing to murder his own brother so quickly.
“As much as I hate him, I’m conflicted-”
”There’s a slither of love for him within me so I think you’re right in poison being the best… letting him rest quickly.” Remembrance of her girlhood, with Rhaegar dancing to the royal bards tunes with her, joyfully playing with her and Elia with dolls, and the portraits he gave her came to mind.
“But for Lyanna, I want her to suffer-”
“There’s no old man she can marry this time, even Old Lord Frey won’t take her, but Stannis Baratheon is ever the dutiful man and I’m sure he’ll do his duty, and find glee in marrying the woman who got his brother killed.” Viserys found a friend in Renly Baratheon, both loving to train with the sword and having similarly arrogant temperaments, leading to him being greatly aware of the Baratheon’s feelings towards Lyanna.
“Yes, that’s right- he already has many possible heirs with Delena Florent, so there would be no chance of that woman’s blood claiming Robert Baratheon’s land when she was the cause of his untimely death!”
“She’ll be stuck in a land full of people that detest her, miles away from the one person she cares for, that’s more than what she deserves after how heedless she is- no true regrets and still feeling love for Rhaegar after everything their love had caused.” This was the greatest ending to the people who had destroyed Rhaenys’ life when they caused the ripples of war. Resulting in many lives lost in consequence, specifically Aegon and Elia Martell, the people dearest to her heart.
Finally she could get retribution.
Aegon and Elia would be honoured, names known in bard’s tunes, portraits plastered within the Red Keep… and never could Lyanna or Rhaegar do anything to spit upon their memory.