Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

As the year 130 AC came to an end, King Aegon II Targaryen, invaded King's Landing. Arriving on the injured but still flying Sunfyre, he had come for his throne at last. He had executed Rhaenyra the Usurper on Dragonstone and had taken her last son Aegon the Younger, hostage.

Lord Corlys Velaryon was freed from the dungeons of the Red Keep after he pledged his loyalty to Dowager Queen Alicent. He was quickly authorised to write a raven to Driftmark asking for the Velaryon fleet to come guarded by Princess Rhaenys, his wife.

The Queen Who Never Was would answer for the injuries caused to the king at the Battle of Rook's Rest. Afterwards, she had claimed injuries and sickness and had retired from the war, choosing to protect the island with Meleys.

As of now, Meleys "the Red Queen" was now one of the most fearsome dragons left in Westeros. She was also the biggest, ridden dragon, for even though Vhagar was dead at the bottom of the lake of the God's Eye, Vermithor the Bronze Fury and Silverwing were still alive at Tumbleton.

The Second Battle of Tumbleton was a chaotic one for it was said that Daemon's firstborn, Lady Baela, had died there with her husband, Prince Daeron (after her capture at Rook's Rest).

Seeing the potential danger int the old woman, the Dowager Queen quickly pressed the Small council and her son, to take care of Rhaenys's matter.

Aegon II laughed it off far too easily with no knowledge of the fate that would await him in the future:

"An old, crippled woman will pose no threat to my reign, mother. She would have done it already by the time I executed Rhaenyra. That is if even she can still ride her beast".

Oh Aegon, laughed. He laughed and laughed , it would be the last day he actually did.

The plan to take care of Princess Rhaenys was put on pause as the Small Council turned its attention to the Realm. It was even forgotten when Lord Corlys famously declared his wife couldn't leave her bed when it was far from the truth.

The king continued with his vengeance on the Realm. He sent forth men to the Crownlands, carrying banners of Houses Baratheon and Lannister. He executed the same path the Greens took during the war: Rosby, Stokeworth, Duskendale till finally reaching Rook's Rest.

No dragon was seen in the skies except the Golden. Lords were quick to lower the banners of Queen Rhaenyra and replace it with a golden, three-headed dragon on a green background.

Though the Lords proclaimed loyalty, they were brought back in chains to the capital were they were forced to publicly swear fealty to the King and were only freed after having agreed to pay a heavy ransom and provide the Crown with hostages.

This would be the King's greatest mistake as it would only harden the hearts and minds of the Lords and smallfolk against the King. It also caused the opposed effect Aegon expected. During sessions, the small council received ravens indicating that large armies gathered in Harrenhal, composed mainly by the fused Winter Wolves and Lads. Led by many seasoned veterans such as Benjicot Blackwood, Alyssanne Blackwood, Sabitha Frey, Roderick Dustin, etc...

These armies were further grown when they were joined by Cregan Stark's host and Elmo Tully's troops arrived from the Vale and Riverrun respectively. With Grover Tully dead, only Humphrey Bracken remained as a supporter of the Greens and he was a prisoner of the Blacks who now fought for Aegon the Younger.

The Green Council was terrified when reports indicated the Jeyne Arryn had joined the rebellion by sending for Bravoosi ships that were seen accompanied by various dragons. Princess Rhaenys astride Meleys, her granddaughter on Moondancer and the bastard Addam of Hull on Seasmoke.

The Blacks started a pre-emptive attack as the massive host at harrenhal, marched South in the famous Battle of the Kingsroad. It was a narrow victory for the Greens as the Black army was pushed back north but it came at the cost of many and more soldiers. Borros Baratheon was dead with most of the army leaving only a few hundreds to the former host that hosted thousands.

The Green Council sent ravens to Highgarden, Casterly Rock and Oldtown but no army came forth and Sunfyre was yet to fully heal.

It was a victory, yes. But a pyrrhic, for the most direct throne to the Throne still existed: the Bravoosi fleet and the Draconic Squad accompanying it. The Queen Who Never Was was rumored to be healthy unlike what the rumors initially said.

"Your Grace, you must surrender" the seasnake told King Aegon II, "if you abdicate, your line will be forfeit but you and your daughter will live in peace".

The King chose not to answer. It took three days. Halfway through the fourth, the Diwager Queen suspected something was wrong and went to check the chambers of her son. He was not there.

When the Dragonkeepers reported Sunfyre was not in the ruins of the Pit, the Green Council knew he had fled. It was further confirmed when the Gold Cloaks and Kingsguard were noticed missing and a smallfolk rumor started when the King, his dragon and army were seen marching North.

Despite the King being still alive, the small council imprisoned the Dowager Queen and started making plans to who would succeed the King. His betrothal to Lady Cassandra Baratheon (in honor to her fathers death), was brought up but given the crippled, burnt state of the King, he was unlikely to give heirs.

Most of King Viserys I's descendants were dead or missing. On the Black side, all of Rhaenyra's sons were gone: Jacaerys died at the Gullet, Lucerys at Storm's End, Joffrey at the Riots of King's Landing. Aegon the Younger was under their possession but he was truly a husk from his former self, being quiet, reserved, etc... Besides, the King Aegon had taken his nephew with him on his war campaign. Apart from that, Viserys, the youngest of the Blacka, had gone missing since 130 AC at the Battle of the Gullet and was still missing.

On the Green side, Aemond One-Eye was dead, Daeron the Daring missing and none had children of their own, except for Jaehaera, the ten year old daughter of King Aegon II.

Lord Cregan Stark would later report saying he refused to bow and kneel before a little girl who didn't know of rebuilding a Realm.

The Master of Coin of King Aegon II, Tyland Lannister, was keen on finding Prince Daeron who according to rumors may still be alive at Tumbleton. Most rumors were probably false, especially on the later accounts of future Queen Baela I.

Lady Jeyne Arryn made a bolder claim when she proposed skipping the line of Viserys and going to Daemon's line. She pushed Lady Baela forward for the girl was brave, a rider and a warrior. However, many did doubt of this for the girl was wild and ambitious. Above all, she was vengeful and it was needless to say she would just continue the war for pleasure rather than justifying it.

Lord Corlys shut down all proposals with his own: his wife Princess Rhaenys. Her reputation was glawless: an experienced woman in politics, diplomacy, economy, a dragonrider, experienced in war and above all, fair, just and reasonable.

Her dragon Meleys was fast and battle experienced. Needless to say she would bite Sunfyre in two should they meet in the future (which they would). Many feared she was being manipulated by her husband (proved wrong due to her being known as strong-willed, independent and wise) while others feared Corlys was just trying to further his own position. All were proved wrong for Rhaenys was the only adult member of the Targaryen family left, excluding King Aegon II.

Ravens were sent to Storm's End, Casterly Rock, and Oldtown. The three widows Elenda Caron, Johanna Lannister and Samantha Tarly soon accepted them and pledged loyalty to Queen Rhaenys.

"Let ravens fly that the realm may know their rightful queen is on the throne"

On the seventh day of the seventh month of 131 AC, Princess Rhaenys, being called "the Queen Who Never Was" for three decades, was crowned in King's Landing at her 57th nameday. Being neglected her legal rights twice, the rightful claimant of the Iron Throne gained the crown back in a way her grandfather Jaehaerys I would never expect.

The period of Queen Rhaenys, Queen Baela, and Queen Laena's reign was called the Blue Dynasty in history. However, the ascension of House Velaryon was not a mere coincidence. Some Maesters believed Lord Corlys "the Queenmaker" had planned that since the Rhaenyra locked him in the dungeon.

Of course, there was still some time for her coronation for the woman, wasn't even in the capital at the moment.

Needless to say, Queen rhaenys would be remembered for many years through many names. However, the three most used were, the Blessed (for the Iron Throne coming back to her, it was seen as a good omen from the Gods), the Old Queen (for she would reign for 20 years) and the Unlikely (for how casual and spontaneous was the proposal of her ascension).

As only child of Prince Aemon and Lady Jocelyn, she was crowned on the seventh day of the seventh month in the year 131 AC—thirty years after the Great Council that had once denied her a place in the line of succession. To the surprise of many, she reigned for twenty years, guiding the realm through the long recovery after the Dance of the Dragons, before passing peacefully at the age of seventy-seven, surrounded by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Maesters tend to trace back her ascension to the stupid of King Viserys I, whose line and descendance extinguished itself more efficiently then the Doom of Valyria ever did.

Let us remember that King Aegon II was still alive and that the Dance would still continue between him and the ascendant Queen Rhaenys. By the time the Small Council proclaimed Rhaenys Queen, Aegon's reign was "uncontested". Following traditional law, Rhaenys was the rightful monarch, yes. But the Dance had been between him and Rhaenyra and she was dead. That gave him an edge. Apart from that, Princes Daemon and aemond, Vhagar and Caraxes were dead at the bottom of the God's Eye while the Two Betrayers were dead of poisoning, his younger brother probably dead, the dragonseed Nettles vanished and finally, Addam of Hull on the Black side. Meleys (recovered from Rook’s Rest) and Moondancer were still on the field. Both dragons had defended Driftmark, High Tide, Hull and Spicetown from the Triarchy during the Battle of the Gullet, keeping the wealth of House Velaryon intact.

The Hull boys—Addam and his brother, Alyn—had been brought to Rhaenyra’s court as part of Prince Jacaerys’ scheme to find dragonseeds. Lord Corlys had vouched for them, insisting they were of his lineage. By then, the Sea Snake was older than Prince Aemon had been, and given that he had wed Princess Rhaenys at the age of thirty-seven, few found it difficult to believe that he had fathered bastards in his youth. It was widely suspected that the Hull boys were descended from one of them, making them his natural grandsons. Some whispered that he even intended to name one of them his heir (wrong as Driftmark would pass to Rhaena though she did marry Daeron Velaryon (son of Vaemond, in an effort to unify the two lines of House Velaryon) and accepted Alyn Velaryon on her island, while Addam became a Queensguard.

Before Rhaenyra reclaimed King’s Landing, Baela was sent to Driftmark, and her sister to the Vale, alongside the young prince Joffrey.

The peace between the old princess and the queen endured until Ser Addam’s escape. When he fled King’s Landing astride Seasmoke, Rhaenyra, in her paranoia, ordered the arrest of the Sea Snake.

The news stunned Princess Rhaenys. According to the maesters of Driftmark, she wished to fly at once to King’s Landing to petition for her husband’s release, despite her wounds. The meeting between the two women did not end well. Betrayed too many times and having buried too many children, Rhaenyra had become embittered and distrustful. What words were exchanged behind closed doors, no one could say, but Rhaenys departed the Red Keep in a fury, while Corlys remained confined in the Black Cells. According to Maester Gyldayn, the queen had even begun to doubt Rhaenys' loyalty, despite all the princess had sacrificed in her cause.

By the end of the Dance and were we left it before, The Sea Snake, ever seeking peace, next proposed a betrothal between Aegon the Younger, Rhaenyra’s sole surviving son, and Aegon II’s daughter, Princess Jaehaera, a match that might unify the realm. But the king, consumed by hatred, refused. His sister’s line, he declared, must be extinguished. He decreed that the boy would face two fates: the black of the Night’s Watch or the knife of a eunuch.

With victory within his grasp, Aegon reveled in cruelty. He ordered Lady Baela and Lady Rhaena to don the gray robes of the Silent Sisters, a penance for their father Daemon’s crimes. The Sea Snake protested vehemently, but the king remained unmoved.

"Daemon has twin daughters," the king mused. "Perhaps I should let him choose which one to keep. Count my mercy, Lord Corlys, for I have shown it: I could have sent Baela and Rhaena to meet their traitorous sire."

A bold claim when he held none since the two girls were marching to face him.
Lady Baela, seething with fury, yearned to fly to King’s Landing and burn the king herself, but her grandmother’s stern counsel stayed her hand.

Lady Rhaena, meanwhile, remained with the Arryn host, which was already on the march. She hatched her own dragon egg into a female strawberry pink, blood red eyed with black spikes and horns. A Hatchling that was gladly and eventually called Morning.

The first battle between the brief war between Aegon II and Rhaenys I, was known as the Battle of Blsworth Bridge for it was located at an unspecial bridge in the border between the Riverlands and rhe Crownlands. On his side, what was left was a miserable broken army. Ont he other side were two well fed armies, a fleet of scorpion bolts and three dragons, four if Morning was counted.

There, King Aegon, seeking to break the Black host, resolved to fight his first battle astride Sunfyre. Confident that no mortal force could stand against a dragon’s flames, he sought to crush the riverlords and brought Aegon the Younger to the field, hoping the boy’s presence would serve as a deterrence.

The king’s first taste of battle ended in ruin. Sunfyre, mighty but maimed, wreaked havoc for three hours, burning men and horses alike, but the strain was too great. His old wounds reopened, and his flight faltered. In his desperation to press the attack, Aegon drove the dragon too low, where he fell prey to the arrows of Benjicot Blackwood’s archers. A rain of shafts struck Sunfyre’s wounded wings, and with a final, anguished cry, the golden dragon crashed to the earth from a mere twenty feet above the ground.

The king, broken and burned, was dragged from the battlefield by Lord Borros’ men and brought to a tent. His wounds were mortal; the maester’s arts offered no remedy. As the Stranger’s shadow loomed, Aegon summoned his nephew, Aegon the Younger, before him.

"My sister’s line must die before mine," he rasped, his voice a whisper of hatred. With his final breath, he watched Ser Marston Waters drive his sword across the boy’s throat. And as the child’s lifeblood stained the earth, the king died, his lips curled in the grim satisfaction of vengeance.

In death, he believed he had won: the Blacks might take the city, but Rhaenyra’s line was extinguished.

King’s Landing, now defenseless, awaited the Lads of the riverlands, the knights of the Vale, and Cregan Stark’s northern host.

Unknowing of the boy’s murder, Princess Rhaenys and Lady Baela descended upon the city, their dragons melting any defense. At the Red Keep, they declared Aegon the Younger the rightful king of Westeros. Rhaenys, assuming the mantle of regent, offered pardons to the lords of the Crownlands whom Aegon II had spurned and extended the hand of mercy to the Green lords, should they surrender. Addam of Hull and Seasmoke had been left behind at Driftmark to protect the island from any potential attack from the Triarchy.

But the peace she sought was already stained by horror. The Lads arrived with the truth—the last son of Rhaenyra Targaryen had been butchered by his uncle’s order.

Thus ended the Dance of the Dragons, a war born from succession and perished in irony. When the victors gathered in the throne room—Lord Corlys Velaryon, Kermit Tully, Benjicot Blackwood, Cregan Stark, Lady Jeyne Arryn, and Princess Rhaenys—there was no king or queen to crown.

Both claimants to the Iron Throne had fallen. Aegon was dead, and his heirs—Jaehaerys and Maelor—had been murdered. His brothers, Aemond and Daeron, lay slain at the Gods Eye and Tumbleton. Rhaenyra’s line, too, was extinguished. Jacaerys, Lucerys, Joffrey, Viserys, and now Aegon the Younger—all had perished. The line of King Viserys was spent, leaving no male heir to claim the crown.

In the aftermath, Tyland Lannister, the king’s master of coin, proposed that Princess Jaehaera, the sole surviving child of Aegon II, be crowned. But the Black lords scorned the idea. The daughter of a kinslayer had no place on the throne. Nor did Jaehaera, a child barely capable of speech, inspire confidence. Many among the Blacks turned to Lady Baela, the daughter of Daemon Targaryen and eldest granddaughter of Princess Rhaenys. Others, however, looked to her quieter twin, Lady Rhaena.

Then, Lord Corlys Velaryon, the Sea Snake, gave voice to another name.

"My wife should be queen," he declared. "The male line of Prince Baelon is spent. The crown should pass to Prince Aemon’s line."

It was an audacious claim, and one that found an ally in Lord Cregan Stark. "Why choose the girl when we have her grandmother? I have sworn to Queen Rhaenyra, and the gods are not kind to let me finish my oath and see her blood on the throne. However, my grandfather Lord Ellard had supported Princess Rhaenys thirty years ago, now I shall inherit his will. "

But others objected. "The council of 101 AC disinherited her line. The Old King ruled that Prince Baelon’s sons must come before Prince Aemon’s daughter. It is the law." Lord Tarbeck argued.

"That line is dead. We should crown Lady Baela, joining the lines of Baelon and Aemon in her person and ending this dispute forever." Lord Celtigar said.

To the surprise of many, murmurs in the south favored Rhaenys. Some whispered that the war itself had been a judgment from the Seven. The Law of the Andals decreed that a daughter should inherit before an uncle, and Rhaenys, as Prince Aemon’s only child, had been the rightful heir in the eyes of the Faith. By denying her birthright, the Old King had defied the Seven—and in doing so, doomed his bloodline. Now, with Viserys’ heirs gone, the Seven’s will seemed clear: Rhaenys’ birthright must be restored.

The dispute led to the calling of the Great Council of 131 AC, as lords from across the realm gathered at the Red Keep to decide the fate of the Iron Throne. Three names stood forth: Princess Jaehaera, Princess Rhaenys, and Lady Baela.

Among the Black lords, divisions emerged. Lord Celtigar, Kermit Tully, Benjicot Blackwood, and Lord Estermont cast their votes for Baela Targaryen. But the Sea Snake, Lord Cregan Stark, Lady Jeyne Arryn, and the lords of the Vale stood with Princess Rhaenys. Torrhen Manderly, recalling his father’s vote in 101 AC, also chose Rhaenys, honoring House Manderly’s ancient pledge to her cause. By the third day, the Black bloc was evenly split between grandmother and granddaughter.

The Greens, though few in number, found themselves torn. Tyland Lannister, seeing no path of victory for Princess Jaehaera, sought a different gambit. Gathering the remaining Green lords, he urged them to break the deadlock by supporting Rhaenys.

"Better the old princess than Daemon's daughter," he argued. "Baela Targaryen wants vengeance. Crown her, and she will unleash the North upon us and burn Casterly Rock, Storm’s End, and Oldtown alike. But her grandmother seeks peace. She has fought and bled, and she is level-headed enough to know the cost of war. And above all, her claim is true in the eyes of gods and men."

The council cast its final votes on the first day of the seventh month of 131 AC. And in a final stroke of irony, the realm chose the queen who never was. Forty years after Prince Aemon's death, his only child's right in succession was finally admitted by the realm.

Six days later, Rhaenys Targaryen was crowned in a solemn ceremony. She wore a gown of black and red, its long sleeves veiling the scars of her burns, and stepped forward to claim the Iron Throne. Her black hair, now streaked with silver, crowned a face lined with age and sorrow, yet her bearing remained proud and unbent.

The High Septon anointed her with the seven oils and placed Aegon the Conqueror’s crown upon her brow. Queen Rhaenys Targaryen, first of her name, became the sixth ruler and the first ruling queen of the Targaryen dynasty. In her first decree, the queen named Lady Baela her heir and Princess of Dragonstone, and granted Driftmark to Lady Rhaena. Lord Corlys Velaryon, at last, became Warden of the Seven Kingdoms—a title he held only briefly, for he died the following year.

When the assembled lords bent the knee, the queen granted them all pardon, speaking thus:

"The quarrel of succession has bathed this realm in blood. Today, we end it. Let no king or queen henceforth name their heir by whim or will, in defiance of the law. From this day, the succession shall stand as the Seven kingdoms decree: son before daughter, daughter before uncle."

Thus did Rhaenys Targaryen ascend, bringing an unexpected end to the Dance of the Dragons. Many had mourned Jaehaerys I's folly: he neglected his granddaughter's birthright twice, only to eliminate the line of his chosen heir. King Viserys inherited a peaceful and prosperous Westeros from his grandfather, but old Rhaenys only got mess and ruin caused by his children.

Rhaenys' ascension had a huge impact on the line of succession afterwards. The Iron Throne's law of succession was formally specified and aligned with the rest of Westeros, and the realm remembered the Dance of Dragons as a warning from the Seven. Neither Aegon nor Rhaenyra was regarded as rightful ruler in history since none of them had formally ruled.

The war was now over, but a harsh winter was yet to come. The first challenge awaiting the old queen would be a winter lasting for five years. Maesters of the Citadel gave it a poetic name: Winter of Widows. After the Dance of Dragons, most regions of the Seven Kingdoms were ruled by widows: Storm's End, Casterly Rock, Highgarden, and even the crown itself---Queen Rhaenys' husband died the second year of her ascension, at the age of seventy-nine.

Chapter Text

It is often said that the proposal of Rhaenys becoming queen, came too fast.......almost too fast. As if it had already been programmed from before. And it had, future King Consort Corlys Velaryon later confessed that he had planned to crown his wife queen after the Dance while being in the Black Cells of King's Landing.

The seeds of her future ascension are actually rooted back in the year 129 AC, more precisely at the Battle of Rook's Rest. The first time dragon fought dragon since Aegon and Maegor. Queen Rhaenyra prohibited any of the Black children under fifteen from participating in the war, after receiving the news of Lucerys's death at Storm's End. Lady Baela Targaryen, daughter of Daemon the Rogue Prince and Lady Laena Velaryon, thereby, granddaughter of Rhaenys, broke the rule by mounting her dragon, Moondancer and secretly followed her mentor to the battlefield.

It would end up in her becoming a captive of the Greens but she managed to save her grandmother from an assured death, for the Greens had prepared a trap. The two dragonriders met King Aegon II and Prince Aemond "One-Eye" in the skies, with the two opponents riding Sungyre the Golden and Vhagar the Queen of all Dragons. They divided as they prepared to fight the Greens. baela was chased by Aegon and she fired many arrows (being suprisingly good) towards the Golden, managing to lock one in his eye.

This gave her the name "Baela the Brave". Meanwhile, the Queen Who Never Was and the Kinslayer fought at a large distance from the smaller and more agile dragons. When Rhaenys realised she was going nowhere by fighting Vhagar of all dragons, she quickly turned and used Meleys's speed greatly by joining her granddaughter. Sunfyre was badly maimed already and was weak when facing meley's merciless fire.

Aemond didn't catch up in time to save his burned brother from the fall but he did have enough time to fire and burn the two women. Rhaenys and Meleys being more experienced, managed to turn just as the flames were about to reach them and quickly fled. Moondancer had lesser relfexes and got briefly blinded by the dragonfire and started falling. Lady Baela jumped from the saddle and broke her legs on the ground before falling unconscious where she was captured by Ser Criston Cole.

On the other hand, Moondancer crashed in the walls and survived just barely being quite weak fro the moment. her rider was taken put in a closed litter with Aegon II who was badly burned with armor melting on his arm.The two were brought back to King's Landing while Sunfyre and Moondancer were left at Rook's Rest, too weak to fly again. They would be fed sheep daily and would spend ost of the war incapacitated till later events.

According to the maesters and rumors, Aemond, the new self-proclaimed Protector of the Realm, wanted to execute the Lady on the spot but was advised by Criston Cole to keep her prisoner.

"We must restore our reputation, and that girl will be a perfect tool to show our mercy."

Indeed, the greens needed to recover from the damage on their reputation dealt by the Kinslayer, so Aemond accepted that. Baela being of royal blood was treated as a guest rather than a prisoner. She was given the manse which the Velaryons used when formely invited to King's Landing. A Maester was assigned to treat her and she was given an assortment of maids. Food was sent to her and so on. Contrary to the Greens who were hated by the smallfolk (an example being Dowager Queen Alicent getting attacked as she left the Sept from praying), Baela was loved.

She often organised "small feasts" at the manse, leaving the leftovers for the smallfolk. She brought fools, bards and comedians to entertain her. She often left her manse in a wheelchair to visit Fleabootom, handing treats and money as if they were mere fish in a market. She promised she would help the smallfolk, only if they became better. The transformation of Flea Bottom, wasn't spontaneous and wasn't made in a single day. However, whores stopped selling their bodies and instead, came to Baela's manse to become her handmaidens or become Septas, street urchins became her spy network as she kept them in the manse and well-fed. It is often rumored she played with them by building pillow castles and teaching them to read and write.

Flea Bottom became noticeably cleaner, rat pits, child pits and such other sports were made crime and those who gambitted were taken captives by the Lady. She even convinced the Gold Cloaks (who were still loyal to Daemon, noticeably Luthor Largent) to purge the neighboorhood as her father had done once. That night, she ordered the decapitation of murderers, castration of rapers, mutilation of thiefs and such other henious actions. When one persoanlly insulted her, she made a shcoking entrance by getting up for the first time since she was placed in a wheelchair and unsheathing a sword like no other: Blackfyre.

She cut the head off and then sent back the sword to the Red Keep, revealing she had stolen it. Flea Bottom became cleaner and safer as Baela's influence on the city, grew. Desperate to keep the young girl, calmed and practically a prisoner, the Green Council sent a warddrobe of only green dresses and confiscated the wheelchair (for Baela was still weak) and sent a raven to Rook's Rest asking the Maesters to stop feeding Moondancer.

None worked, as the Lady refused to wear green clothes and kept fighting leathers or common smallfolk clothes on her. Smiths and woodmakers built canes for her to stand and Baela felt through her bond that Moondancer could already fly. Indeed, the small green dragon could already fly short distances and only flew to nearby farms were scared of the dragon, farmers gave her cows and sheep, but in exchange, Moondancer used her claws to dig holes for vegetables or burnt the oyres for the smallfolk to not feel cold. After a few days, the farmer families were already accustumated to the dragon's kindness.

After a few days, the Greens sent Gwayne Hightower and an escort of Gold Cloaks to attack the manse and bring Baela. The smallfolk defended her and butchered the Gold Cloaks. Gwayne was spared and sent back bloodied and battered to the Red Keep. On the other hand, five women, elderls or children died that day. baela asked ther relatives and cremated each of the five accordingly and later throwing their ashes to the Blackwater Bay or in the air, according to each family. She evn took the armors and capes of the fallen Goldcloaks to sell them at the docks and buy so fresh blue dresses for herslef.

For the Blacks, Rhaenys managed to fly back to Driftmark with Meleys, the fastest dragon in the realm. Her arm was singed, and the old princess locked herself in her bedchamber thereafter. When word reached Dragonstone that Baela got captured and Rhaenys was injured, Lord Corlys threw angry words at his queen.

"It should be you," Corlys shouted at Her Grace, "Why didn't you send your own son but sacrificed my granddaughter!" For all the castle knew that the princes Jace and Joff had been eager to fly with Princess Rhaenys to Rook’s Rest with their own dragons. The queen tried to clarify, but the furious Seasnake dismissed any explanations. Rhaenyra then wrote to Alicent, asking an exchange for Baela's return, but the Queen Dowager rejected her proposal firmly.

"Only when you kneel to my son can you get her back." Queen Alicent anounced. The negotiation stagnated. In fact, the greens had another plan for Baela when they came up with a perfect idea to cut the link of House Velaryon with Rhaenyra.

Meanwhile, Prince Jacaerys temporarily brought Lord of the Tides back by naming him Hand of the Queen. They began to find dragonseeds on Dragonstone to have more dragons attacking King's Landing to save Baela. Vermithor, the Old King’s own dragon, bent his neck to a blacksmith’s bastard, a towering man called Hugh the Hammer or Hard Hugh, whilst a pale-haired man-at-arms named Ulf the White (for his hair) or Ulf the Sot (for his drinking) mounted Silverwing, beloved of Good Queen Alysanne.

And Seasmoke, who had once borne Laenor Velaryon, took onto his back a boy of ten-and-five known as Addam of Hull, whose origins remain a matter of dispute amongst historians to this day. Some said that Lord Corlys even wanted to legitimize Addam as his heir, but Rhaenys insisted in Baela's rights for Driftmark. It turned out that Addam became Ser Addam of Hull after claiming his dragon, and Corlys compromised to name Baela his heir since he didn't want Joffrey to inherit.

Baela's capture caused phenomenal problems to the Black faction. She was betrothed to Prince Jacaerys which was part of a reason for House Velaryon's support of Rhaenyra's cause. Rumours from the North also promoted Alicent's plan. It was said that Jacaerys secretly wedded Sara Snow, a bastard daughter of Lord Stark.

Although Aemond was betrothed to a Floris Baratheon, the youngest daughter of Borros Baratheon, Queen Alicent had another son Daeron who was the same age with Lady Baela. 15-year-old Daeron was a squire of Lord Ormound Hightower in Oldtown, and who would be a great match for Lord Corlys' heiress. What could be better than a marriage that brought the Greens Driftmark?

"You deserved better than a brown-haired bastard, sweetheart," Alicent told Baela at one of the parleys Baela's street court and the Greens had, "Needless to say he cheated you over that northern girl. My son Daeron was in same age as you, handsome and gentle. You will like him and the beautiful view of Oldtown."

Ironically, Queen Alicent's attempt backfired. If Baela might believe the rumor regarding her betrothed, after Alicent's word, she totally rejected that. Growing up together, Lady Baela knew Prince Jacaerys well that he wouldn't put her aside for a bastard girl. But she would never have a chance to ask for a clarification; The crown prince of Queen Rhaenyra lost his life in the Battle of Gullet, and by this time Baela was already sent to Oldtown.

"If the Hightower bitch dares to force my daughter to marry her son, you would expect Caraxes upon the Starry Sept."

Prince Daemon, with his troop in Harrenhal, was infuriated when he finally heard about the greens' plan regarding his daughter. But it was too late for him to get Baela back----Queen Alicent and Ser Otto predicted the Rogue Prince's reaction, so the whole thing of shipping Baela to Oldtown was conducted secretly. Meanwhile, Prince Aemond and Ser Criston Cole rode from King's Landing with a host of four thousand and the dragon Vhagar into the riverlands. Daemon hastened south on Caraxes, staying well away from Criston's line of march. Aemond and Criston found Harrenhal abandoned after a nineteen-day march, believing themselves victorious.

Chapter Text

As Prince Jacaerys continued strategising for the future of the war, Queen Rhaenyra decided her uncle’s Prince Daemon's children would be properly settled. Lady Rhaena was sent to the Vale, became a ward of Jeyne Arryn. The girl prayed day and night in Eyrie after her twin sister's capture, hoping to hatch a dragon from the four eggs that were sent with her.

Though she was twin of Baela, the second daughter of Daemon and Laena had absolute different personality. Lady Rhaena of Pentos was known to be a beautiful and demure maiden as her counterpart was rebellious and overly-vivacious.

Prince Aegon and Prince Viserys were entrusted to Daemon's friend the Prince of Pentos, deeming it a safer haven across the Narrow Sea. However, Otto Hightower's earlier diplomatic efforts finally yielded results. On the day the two princes set sail aboard the Gay Abandon bound for Essos, the fleet of the Kingdoms of the Three Daughters intercepted the ship mid-voyage.

Aegon managed to escape on his young dragon, Stormcloud, but Viserys had only a dragon egg. Aegon the younger eventually reached Dragonstone with his mortally wounded dragon and numerous injuries on himself, while his brother was presumed dead until his return to Westeros with the Rogares. Nonetheless, the most devastating blow to House Black was the loss of Prince Jacaerys.

A narrative recounts how a sailor stationed in the crow's nest of a Myrish galley deployed a grapeling hook while Vermax soared among the fleet. One of its prongs secured a grip between two of Vermax's scales, driven deep by the dragon's considerable speed. The sailor had wrapped his end of the chain around the mast, and the combined weight of the ship and Vermax's powerful wings tore a long, jagged gash in the dragon's belly. Despite the clamor of battle, the dragon's shriek of rage echoed as far as Spicetown. Abruptly, Vermax's flight came to a violent halt as he plummeted, emitting smoke and screams, desperately clawing at the water. Witnesses reported that he struggled to ascend, only to collide headfirst into a blazing galley. Wood splintered, the mast toppled, and the dragon, in a frenzy, became ensnared in the rigging. As the ship capsized and sank, Vermax went down with it.

Legend has it that Jacaerys Velaryon managed to break free and grasp onto a fragment of smoldering wreckage momentarily. However, his respite was short-lived as crossbowmen aboard the nearest Myrish vessel began firing bolts in his direction. Struck repeatedly, Jace succumbed to the assault, with one fatal quarrel piercing his neck before he was swallowed by the sea.

The attackers bypassed Dragonstone, presuming the ancient Targaryen stronghold impregnable, yet they exacted a toll on Driftmark. Their troops and ships were met with the searing flames of Meleys, leaving a trail of devastation in their wake. It was a recurring mistake for both the Triarchy and the greens to underestimate Princess Rhaenys' indomitable fury. The Red Queen not only maimed Aegon the Usurper but also decimated over eight hundred men in Rook's Rest, dealing a devastating blow to the greens. However, Queen Alicent and Ser Otto Hightower sought to conceal the truth, twisting it into a tale of great victory.

"Sunfyre requires temporary respite," claimed Otto Hightower. "Yet our battle-tested king skillfully subdued Princess Rhaenys and captured Baela Targaryen." The greens seized upon this as further proof of Aegon's legitimacy, using it to propagate the notion of women's incapability. Despite Sunfyre's hidden deterioration, the Triarchy's fleet remained oblivious, lulled by Otto's assurances that the defeated Rhaenys posed no threat after her retreat.

Thus, when Rhaenys and Meleys emerged above the Velaryon fleet, the attackers found themselves caught off guard. Despite being fifty-five years old and still nursing wounds, Princess Rhaenys unleashed fire and blood upon the Triarchy fleet daring to lay siege to Driftmark. With her unyielding resolve, the Red Queen single-handedly defended High Tide and Spicetown, preserving them from destruction. Yet, this valiant battle drained Rhaenys of her strength, and she would not be seen atop her dragon again for two years

Meanwhile, in King's Landing, the Greens realised that the Lady Baela was gaining too much support from the smallfolk and was becoming rather dangerous. The attack was swift and silent as many recruits of the Gold Cloaks loyal to Gwayne Hightower, were sent to disguise themselves as smallfolk boys who feasted at Baela's feast with the smallfolk.

At night, most of the "guards" were killed by the Hidden Cloaks who kicked Baela on the head, rendering her unconscious and then took her to the Red Keep to be taken to Oldtown.

Upon discovering heir Princess was gone, the smallfolk started rebelling and rioting which would later escalate into the three "factions": Trystayne, Gaemon and the Shepherd.

Lady Baela arrived Oldtown a month before the Battle of the Gullet, despite her several failed attempts to escape. Caraxes was searching for any skeptical wheelhouses around King's Road, but the green council selected a secure route for the transportation, ensuring neither Daemon nor other dragonriders of the Blacks were able to catch up on time. Additionally, they deliberately corresponded with Rhaenyra, feigning an intention to negotiate Baela's release in exchange for control of Blackwater Bay, leading the blacks to believe that Baela was still within the confines of King's Landing.

Lord Ormound Hightower had already received the raven from Queen Dowager, urging him to wed Baela and Daeron as soon as possible. The greens expected to persuade Corlys Velaryon to switch side though marriage.

To preempt any potential attacks during the public wedding, the ceremony was kept modest in scale. Lady Baela adamantly refused to say the vows, much to the chagrin of Lord Ormund, who issued a stern ultimatum: either she comply, or her Fossoway handmaiden would suffer dire consequences. However, it was young Daeron's inherent integrity that set him apart from his brothers. Feeling a profound sense of guilt at the notion of coercing a lady into an unwanted marriage, the prince promptly returned the Fossoway girl to her father's estate the following day.

In his earnest pursuit of Baela's affections, Daeron spared no expense, lavishing her with gifts ranging from flowers imported from Highgarden to lace from Myr and jewels from Volantis. Yet, despite his efforts, the granddaughter of Corlys Velaryon remained unmoved by Daeron's overtures. Having been raised amidst the bustling prosperity of Driftmark, one of the most thriving seaports, Lady Baela found herself unimpressed by the allure of such luxuries.

Their conversation was never peaceful; whenever Daeron initiated a topic, it ended up in the two blaming each other.

"Your brother is a Kinslayer and murdered my cousin for no reason." One day people heard Baela shouted in the garden.

"And I don't think you father did any good, my lady." Daeron retorted, "Murdering a child was never a glorious way of revenge. He should confront Aemond on the battlefield rather than revenging on Jaehaerys. "

As the forced couple exchanged further information, it became apparent that neither found their respective claims entirely justifiable. While it was undeniable that Aemond bore responsibility for the death of his nephew, Daemon's subsequent revenge on Jaehaerys was deemed equally unjustified. With each revelation, the true nature of events gradually unfurled, revealing that they were not as malevolent as their factions had portrayed them to be. Lady Baela suprisingly found Daeron to be virtuous and chivalrous person who admitted the drawbacks of his brothers, while Prince Daeron grew some affection for Baela's boldness and persistence.

Daeron extended a heartfelt apology for Aemond's dishonorable actions, acknowledging their injustice. Conversely, Baela expressed sincere sympathy for Helaena's loss and conceded that involving innocent children in the conflict was never acceptable. Prince Daeron, having been raised in Oldtown as the overlooked third son, retained his idealized knightly spirit and morality, which appeared excessive amidst the turmoil of civil war. He even went so far as to perceive the Battle of Rook's Rest as an immoral trap for the aging princess, lamenting her lack of opportunity for a fair combat as originally planned

The change of his squire made Lord Ormound uneasy as Prince Daeron began to question the legitimacy of the greens' schemes.

"Your Grace, everything we did is for your brother, our rightful king." Lord Ormound asserted, "At this pivotal juncture, unconventional measures are necessary for the greater good." However, the prince remained unconvinced.

"But my brother should not have taken Lucerys' life, even if he was a bastard," Daeron argued, "If it truly was for Aegon's cause, as you claim, then capturing him would have been a strategically wiser course of action, as you've often taught me in our lessons."

"The absurb words from Daemon's daughter already eroded the prince's ear, and we should not allow Lady Baela to further poison his mind." Lord Ormound wrote to King's Landing, suggesting that they should leave Baela in Oldtown before marching to Honeywine. However, Queen Alicent insisted in asking him to bring Baela.

"We need more spares for Maelor", Queen Dowager pointed out in her reply. King Aegon was stuck in his bedchamber since that deadly combat, and he only had one son while Aemond remaining unwed. In this case, the queen the queen stressed the urgency of Daeron fathering a child with Baela as soon as possible.

"Daeron's son would be heir to Driftmark." Alicent reminded her uncle in the letter, and that was valid enough for Lord Hightower to change his mind.

However, the greens' hope was destined to be doomed. It was said that a bedding never happened between Lady Baela and Prince Daeron. A witness of the wedding claimed that half of the bed had no signs of use at all. Septon Eustace also confirmed that in his writing, saying Daeron was "Too honorable to force her".

Nonetheless, the Hightower troop departed Oldtown shortly before the Battle of Gullet, and was stuck between two armies of Lord Rowan and Tom Flowers

Chapter Text

A fortnight after Battle of the Gullet, in the Reach, Ormund Hightower found himself trapped between two opposing armies. Thaddeus Rowan, the Lord of Goldengrove, and Tom Flowers, the Bastard of Bitterbridge, were advancing towards him from the northeast with a sizable force of mounted knights, while Ser Alan Beesbury, Lord Alan Tarly, and Lord Owen Costayne had combined their forces to block his retreat towards Oldtown. As their armies closed in on him near the banks of the river Honeywine, attacking from both the front and the rear simultaneously, Lord Hightower witnessed his defenses crumbling and defeat seemed inevitable... until a dark silhouette cast over the battlefield and a mighty roar echoed overhead, cutting through the clash of swords. A dragon had arrived.
Tessarion, known as the Blue Queen for her cobalt and copper scales, soared above the battlefield with the youngest of Queen Alicent’s sons, Daeron Targaryen, perched upon her back. The prince was a gentle and soft-spoken lad who once shared a bond of milk brotherhood with Prince Jacaerys, but his dragon showed no mercy to enemies.

The unexpected arrival of Prince Daeron and Tessarion shifted the momentum of the battle. Now it was Lord Ormund’s forces who surged forward, hurling curses at their adversaries, while the queen’s men fled in disarray. By nightfall, Lord Rowan retreated northward with the remnants of his army, Tom Flowers met his demise amidst the reeds, the two Alans were taken as captives, and Lord Costayne succumbed to a fatal wound inflicted by Bold Jon Roxton’s black blade, the Orphan-Maker. As scavengers feasted upon the fallen, Ormund Hightower honored Prince Daeron with a feast of aurochs and strongwine, knighting him with the legendary Valyrian longsword Vigilance and bestowing upon him the title of "Ser Daeron the Daring." In modesty, the prince remarked, “My lord's generosity is appreciated, but the true credit for victory belongs to Tessarion.”

While the Greens reveled in their triumph, Lady Baela grieved deeply for her cousin and betrothed, Jacaerys, upon learning of his demise. The nature of their relationship was ambiguous, though Baela held a profound affection for Prince Jacaerys as a close cousin. She had spent considerable time on Dragonstone with her cousins and had lived out her days on Driftmark as a ward of Princess Rhaenys.

According to Mushroom, a jester in Rhaenyra's court whose testimony is often embellished, Baela had expressed a desire to marry Jacaerys prior to the events at Rook's Rest, only to be rebuffed as Jacaerys had secretly wed Sara Snow. Mushroom portrayed their relationship in a highly romanticized light, whereas Septon Eustace offered a contrasting view, suggesting that Baela's motivations were rooted in duty to safeguard the interests of House Velaryon through marriage. Eustace's account, devoid of any indication of romantic infatuation, was generally favored by most historians.

However, it was undeniable that Baela was profoundly shaken and saddened by her cousin's death. Her grief was palpable, evident in her lack of attempts to escape since the Battle of Honeywine. The once wild and willful daughter of Daemon became more careful and smooth after months of life as a captive. She payed so many consequences for her boldness and savored enough bitterness from them.

As Daemon's favorite daughter and the betrothed of the queen's heir, Baela rarely experienced neglect. In King's Landing, she held onto the hope that her family would negotiate her return, but Queen Alicent's lack of sincerity shelved the Blacks' plans. Sent to Oldtown, she anticipated a rescue from her father, but disappointment followed. After the Battle of the Gullet, the Black Council focused on reclaiming King's Landing, sidelining the dead prince's betrothed. While strategically wise, this left Baela feeling insignificant. She realized her perceived importance wasn't shared—where the young Aegon or Viserys might be rescued regardless of cost by the queen and their father, she wasn't.

With Jacaerys's death, Rhaena's betrothal to Joffrey made Baela relatively useless. Her marriage to Daeron only deepened her dilemma, with her loyalty questioned by both Blacks and Greens now.

Jacaerys's death shifted Baela's mindset. She finally understood she could only rely on herself—Rhaenyra, a good stepmother, but not a savior; Daemon, preoccupied with securing the Riverlands; Corlys, prioritizing the greater good; and Rhaenys, injured and unable to rescue her.

So Baela grew smarter, crafting wiser plans to achieve her goals. She no longer tried to escape and started accepting Daeron's kindness to gain the greens' trust.

Previously, the daring Baela had made an effort to flee from her room in Hightower by climbing out of a window in the dead of night, only to be thwarted by a vigilant handmaid who noticed her absence. Subsequently, she made a second attempt during the march, disguising herself as a washerwoman while her guards slept, but her striking beauty and pampered appearance aroused suspicion, leading to her eventual discovery by a boatman.

It was actually Prince Daeron who seemed to be infatuated with Baela. He stopped Lord Ormound from imprisoning Baela after her attempts of escape, giving no punnishment to his namely wife except adding few guards outside her tent. Lord Ormound tried to persuade him that it was not wise to fall for a girl who used to be the black prince's betrothed, but the good-tempered Daeron was abnomally stubborn on things related to Baela Targaryen---he gave her too many priviliges a captive should have. It was believed that this young lad was deeply attracted to Baela, who had apparent different personality with him.

Lord Ormound was dissapointed by Daeron's obsession with Baela. "The Lord of Oldtown used to expect his squire to marry a demure Reach lady before Queen Dowager sent Lady Baela to Oldtown." Septon Eustace wrote, "But now he had to deal with a wild girl."

"Hopefully she could give him a son as soon as possible." Ormound Hightower finally gave up in persuading Daeron after few failed conversations, setting up a more realistic goal. However, though Baela had a reputation of being interested in boys, no evidence suggested she slept with Daeron in this stage.

The couple did indeed grow closer. Despite his dislike for Jacaerys, Prince Daeron allowed Lady Baela the space to mourn her former betrothed. Maester Alfado, who accompanied the Hightower army, noted Daeron's fidelity as he patiently waited for Baela to reciprocate his affection. In pursuit of an heir, Lord Ormound arranged for the couple to share a tent during marches, ensuring they spent more time together.

In an attempt to comfort Baela, Prince Daeron suggested taking her on a flight with Tessarion, knowing her fondness for flying. This marked the first time Baela responded positively to his proposal, prompting Daeron to joyfully escort her aboard the Blue Queen. The flight proved surprisingly enjoyable; Baela, showing no inclination to harm her husband while riding Tessarion, cherished the chance to soar on a dragon once again following Moondancer's injuries at Rook'a Rest. Further news stopped coming as rumors said that the green female had taken to the skies once more and had supposedly gone missing. Encouraged by Baela's reaction, Daeron offered her more flights.

Usually, the couple could be spotted aboard Tessarion before sunset, gliding over the orchards of Brightwater Keep. They flew so low that a knight from Three Towers claimed to have witnessed Prince Daeron kissing Baela's forehead, an act she shown no objection.

"Lady Baela finally found Prince Daeron would be a far much better choice than her deceased betrothed, as a true dragon surpassed a bastard." Maester Alfedo recorded in his writings. The tension between Baela and Daeron gradually dissolved. The heiress of Driftmark seemed to accept her marriage after months of resisting. Indeed, Daeron would be an ideal consort for future Lady of Driftmark if he was not Alicent's son. Getting used to be a follower rather than a leader as the third son, the prince was a moderate and reasonable person with a good heart. When Baela begged for Alan Tarly and Alan Beesbary's life after the Battle of Honeywine, "They did no wrong but firmly followed their oaths to my stepmother." Baela claimed, and Daeron agreed after consideration since the two captives were actually noble knights themselves and just gave loyalty to the wrong person.

Meanwhile, Lord Walys Mooton reclaimed control of Rook's Rest but met his demise while attempting to slay the wounded Sunfyre. They managed to add more injuries to the dragon but payed heavier consequences---around sixty of them were either burned to death or maimed by the golden flame of Sunfyre. Upon the return of some of his men, Sunfyre was nowhere to be found, leaving no traces behind, suggesting that despite his injuries, the dragon had taken flight once more. Sunfyre remained unseen for another six months.

Few weeks after the triumph in Honeywine, an army loyal to the greens from the westerlands clashed with the western river lords in the Battle at the Red Fork. Although they emerged victorious, their leader, Lord Jason Lannister, fell to Ser Pate of Longleaf's blade during the conflict. Ser Adrian Tarbeck met a similar fate three days later at Acorn Hall. Taking command of the Lannister forces, Old Lord Humfrey Lefford led them eastward to rendezvous with Aemond and Criston.

On the western shores of the Gods Eye, the westermen encountered Lord Roderick Dustin and his Winter Wolves, who had joined forces with Lord Forrest Frey and Red Robb Rivers. Pate the Lionslayer and other lords surrounded them from the south, while additional reinforcements from the north and riverlands bolstered their ranks. Despite Lord Lefford's failed attempts to communicate via raven, the two sides engaged in what would become known as the Battle by the Lakeshore, or the Fishfeed. This fierce clash resulted in heavy casualties, ultimately leading to the demise of the Lannister host.

But the most detrimental strike to the greens happened after Prince Aemond and Ser Criston's march to Harrenhal---in Vhagar's absence, the Blacks finally attacked King's Landing. Prince Daemon on Caraxes and Queen Rhaenyra on Syrax flew over the capital and circled their dragons above Aegon's High Hill. The fleet of the Sea Snake, Lord Corlys Velaryon, then arrived to the east of Blackwater Bay.

Queen Dowager Alicent attempted to dispatch riders to summon Aemond and send messages to loyal lords, but her efforts were thwarted. Unbeknownst to Alicent, the gold cloaks, the City Watch of King's Landing, had turned their allegiance. Once led by Daemon, they now stood firmly with him. As Grand Maester Orwyle sought to send ravens, he was ambushed and restrained by the gold cloaks upon entering his chambers.

The seven gate commanders loyal to King Aegon II Targaryen were either imprisoned or killed as soon as Caraxes was spotted over the Red Keep. Ser Gwayne Hightower, second in command of the City Watch, was apprehended when attempting to raise the alarm. Presented before Ser Luthor Largent, commander of the gold cloaks, Gwayne accused him of treachery, only to be met with Luthor's response: "Daemon gave us these cloaks, and they remain gold no matter how they are turned." Luthor then executed Gwayne and ordered the city gates opened for the army advancing from the Sea Snake's ships.

Despite a valiant effort by thirteen House Hightower knights and a hundred men-at-arms at the River Gate, who held off attacks from both outside and within the city for eight hours, the remaining six gates fell swiftly. The forces loyal to Rhaenyra entered the city unopposed through these gates, leading to its fall in less than a day. Recognizing the futility of resistance, Queen Alicent reluctantly ordered her men to surrender.

However, King Aegon II was smuggled out by Larys Strong via secret passages of Red Keep. His two children also fleed: Prince Maelor was put in the charge of Ser Rickard Thorne of the Kingsguard, who swore to bring him safely to Oldtown, while the Ser Willis Fell was charged to bring Jaehaera to Storm's End. But this didn't impact Rhaenyra's urge in seizing Iron Throne. The queen sat on her father's seat the night she arrived King's Landing, starting a series of execution.

The first one got beheaded was Ser Otto. He was accused of treason and offered no mercy from the queen. Alicent Hightower begged her stepdaughter for her father's life:

"Allow my father to the wall," Queen Dowager knelt before the Iron Throne, "I can write to my uncle and ask him to send Lady Baela back to capital."

"He should have predicted his fate the day he promoted the usurpation of my throne." Rhaenyra announced, "I will see Baela back in a month and her marriage being cancelled by High Septon, or more heads of the greens will be hanged outside of Red Keep."

Instead of following Rhaenyra's will, Alicent cursed her after Otto Hightower's death. The Queen Dowager now had nothing to lose since most of her children were outside of King's Landing. Alicent Hightower was certain that Rhaenyra would not harm her daughter Queen Helaena.

"Then your Baela will be stuck with my son forever," Alicent replied viciously , "She seemed happy with Daeron, considering a silver-haired Targaryen was always better than a strong boy isn't it?"

According to Septon Eustace, the queen was infuriated by her stepmother's word, which rooted future suspicion in Rhaenyra's head when she losed her mind months later. As for now, no one could question her mother's heart. Being known to have a sincere friendship with Lady Laena Velaryon, Rhaenyra treated Laena's girls like her own after Laena died in 120 AC. The twins grew up with Rhaenyra's own children and spent plenty of time in Dragonstone. It was said by Maester Gerardys that it was the queen rather than Prince Daemon first taught Lady Baela how to ride her dragon when Moondancer was big enough to fly. After Baela being captured in Rook's Rest, Rhaenyra spent considerable time on negotiation. She even offered a temporary open for the Blackwater Bay in exchange for Baela's freedom though the greens actually aimed not to give Baela back in any conditions. "Lady Baela weighed almost equal to her own children in the queen's heart." Gerardys commented in his account, "Her Grace felt guilty for not saving her beloved stepdaughter from the greens."

"It was my fault not keeping Baela safely in her room." Queen Rhaenyra wrote to her husband when he was still in Harrenhal, "You must search every road around King's Landing, Daemon, she will blame us for not rescuing her on time. " The queen's worries were reasonable; some reach ladies indeed tried to persuade Baela that none of the blacks cared about her and she'd better align with her husband. But it turned out that Baela's mind wasn't poisoned by them as she renamed one of the seven gates of the capital as "Queen Rhaenyra's Gate" in 143 AC in honor of her stepmother.

The queen then sent several ravens to the Reach, both black lords and green lords. For former, she offered more lands and title; for latter, she provided mercy and promised their previous betrayal wouldn't be counted if they could save Baela from Hightower army and return her.

In the following days, torches lit the throne room day and night, witnessing men and women kneeling before Queen Rhaenyra to pledge their loyalty. Lord Corlys and Prince Joffrey were soon summoned to King's Landing, joining the black council. However, Princess Rhaenys stayed in Driftmark to recover from her injuries. Rumors said the old princess would soon enter the embrace of Stranger after two battles. In fact, the princess was indeed recuperating, but ravens kept flying out of Maester's tower in High Tides----she never gave up in the efforts of rescuing Baela.

Rhaenys couldn't fly on a dragon herself, so she found a helper---the rider of Seasmoke, Ser Addam of Hull. Addam was known to be a bastard of her son, Laenor Velaryon, but some believed he was Corlys'. It was noted that Rhaenys held an ambiguous attitude toward her grandson. Neither did she disdain him nor did she welcomed him like Corlys. That made it difficult for historians to determine the true origin of Addam and Alyn. A relatively wide-accepted explanation claimed that the two were indeed Laenor's bastards as Rhaenys and Corlys urged their son to try other girls in early stage of marriage to fix his appetite. Ironically, Laenor Velaryon managed to have two bastard sons on Marilda of Hull but failed on his legitimate wife. However, truth regarding Addam and Alyn's father remained unfolded till now.

Nonetheless, Princess Rhaenys asked her grandson to promise to save his cousin, and the faithful Addam sweared solemnly.

On a rainy day of the fifth month of 130 AC, Ser Addam of Hull departed Driftmark on Seasmoke, heading south to the Reach. His mission brought unpredicted outcomes to his own fate and indirectly caused Queen Rhaenyra's doubt on the loyalty of House Velaryon in the future.