Chapter Text
Aemma watched her husband clap and smile with uncontained joy at his beloved daughter's newest achievement. They were in the Royal receiving solar where they had breakfast with some administrators from Lannisport.
“Viserys, you look like you're a few minutes away from calling a feast over this, " the young queen said with a giggle. Aemma loved to tease her husband, but even as she poked fun, she knew this was exactly the sort of thing her sweetheart would do.
“But would I be wrong?” Viserys asked with a witty smile.
Even if anyone told him so, Viserys wouldn't care. As far as he was concerned there wasn't an effort or a penny in the world that was too great for Rhaenyra, his only child.
Every few months, Viserys asked Rhaenyra to stand against a wall so he could mark the part of the wall where the top of her head touched. From the moment she could stand on her own two feet, he noted every one of her growth spurts and kept a record of them.
Then it was customary for the King and his princess to dance whenever the slightest inch was added to her height. Viserys knew everything about his daughter, but Aemma knew this little tradition was a cloak to disguise his anxiety about Rhaenyra's health.
Nothing was wrong with Rhaenyra. She was a bubbly little girl, but she was Viserys’s only child after a string of failed pregnancies. He feared that one day, he'd wake up and discover that she was on the verge of joining her long-deceased siblings.
“Guess what you get for growing half an inch?”
“What, father?” Rhaenyra bounced on the soles of her feet with excitement.
“I'll commission another tiara just for you. Not just with any jewels, we'll get some Valyrian gemstones from Dragonstone. Just tell me any colour that you want, and we'll get it” The King assured.
“Viseryyyys,” Aemma tried to scold him, but the laughter bubbling in her belly wouldn't let her.
“Thank you, Father!!” Rhaenyra jumped up and down, holding her father's hands, and he too jumped on the spot with her.
“You look for any excuse to make her a new tiara”
Viserys gasped and playfully covered Rhaenyra's ears as if he wanted to block her ears from blasphemous words.
“Father, if I get new jewels, I'm going to split them with Laena, so we can make matching tiaras,” the little Princess declared with no room for negotiation.
“That is very thoughtful of you, after all she is a Valyrian princess just like you. As long as Lord Corlys will commission her own tiara, it's not a problem”
“Oh, and you know he will. You and Lord Corlys are cut from the same cloth. Always looking for an excuse to drape your daughters in jewels” Aemma said.
“If it were a crime, then feel free to arrest me” Viserys drawled.
He left the wall and strolled over to the couch on which Aemma was sprawled. They both gave each other heated stares, each daring the other to make the first move, but Aemma broke eye contact first when she said, “Speaking of which, Rhaenyra, it's almost midday. You have to prepare for Little Eli's name day celebration. How about you find Laena and Lady Amanda? Then call the dressers so you two can get ready. I'll come in a few minutes”
Lord Massey's daughter, Elinda, had a birthday party for only children scheduled for the day, and Aemma remembered this at the most convenient time.
“Alright, mother,” Rhaenyra ran to give a kiss on the cheek to both her mother and father and ran out of the solar.
They both listened intently to the echo of her steps moving through the hall way with her personal guard in tow.
Once Viserys was sure that Rhaenyra's footsteps had faded out because of distance, he leaned in and planted a kiss on Aemma’s lips. He started with a soft kiss while she deepened the kiss when she pulled him closer with his collar.
Her right hand found the back of his neck where she stroked his soft skin. A slight moan came out of her mouth when his hand met her breast and massaged it slowly through her dress. Aemma didn't want the feeling to stop but when her eyes parted slowly, she laughed. She took his face in her hands and the look the Young King gave her made her laugh even more.
As she cradled his face she told him,
“You look like a kicked puppy, do you know that?”
“Well I can no longer feel your lips on mine, so it feels like getting kicked” Viserys said this with a pout and Aemma laughed once again.
“We lack self control, the doors are open. This isn't even our chambers and there are huge windows letting the rest of the hallway see us.” She said.
“It wouldn't be the first time” Viserys gave the cheeky retort with a devilish smile and placed a tempting peck on Aemma's bosom again. Aemma rolled her eyes.
Truly, they had been caught in compromising positions throughout the Red Keep many times before. They always got distracted and started coupling in rooms they shouldn't have. It only made courtiers call her husband “The Young King” even more.
Aemma sat up and cleared her throat.
Viserys looked at her with an arched brow wondering why the atmosphere just changed. “Aside from that there's something, I need to talk to you about”
Aemma's voice was no longer laced with want but seriousness.
“I hope nothing troubles you, my love?” her husband asked.
“I know we haven't announced to the court that I am with child because I said it's too early”
“And I haven't told a soul, I swear it” Viserys immediately replied. Pregnancies were hard for them so he did not want to risk upsetting her.
“No I'm not saying you did. I'm just saying that I've been thinking things”
“Hmm” Viserys hummed because he felt an anxious buzz in his belly. What could Aemma possibly want to tell him?
“We hope for a boy to take his place as your heir. Once upon a time, we hoped to marry Rhaenyra to our boy. She has talked about learning how to be Queen Consort from me and always asking me questions but as she grows older, it breaks my heart that the possibility of that is lessening.” The words poured out of Aemma with a rush. She exhaled when she finally got it off her chest.
Viserys could only look at her. He hoped his eyes didn't betray his feelings. He felt so inadequate with topic like these.
“She's 9. And it was easier to dream when she was 1 or when she was 5. But 9 years between her and the babe in my womb is a lot” Aemma looked down as she fiddled with the rings on her fingers to ground her thoughts.
Viserys turned and sighed. Almost like it had been a quiet thought in his own mind as well. “It is not that much of an age gap” he murmured.
If Viserys was anything, he was stubborn and adamant regarding his little girl. A world where she wouldn't take her place as the realms Queen by the side of her brother seemed like a dull one. An unfair one too. Why were the gods so unfair to him?
“I'm not saying we should throw the thought out all together. We may still be able to work things out as they grow older.” Aemma assured him about her thought process.
“Exactly, there is nothing to fear my love” Though he sounded more like he was convincing himself than he was convincing Aemma.
“But in case we can't….” Aemma pressed on
“We will,” Viserys said.
“Just in case, Viserys” She cupped his cheek and stared at him. She looked at him with pleading eyes. Aemma really wanted him to see reason.
“Let's consider a future for Rhaenyra based on more than probabilities.” Aemma stayed silent for a moment to give Viserys time to digest her words.
“We should have someone for her” The young Queen inched closer to the burning topic in her mind. “If our daughter cannot be the Queen to her future brother......... perhaps she can be the Lady of the Tides” Aemma finally laid all her cards on the table with her request.
“Laenor?” Viserys whispered in shock
“Yes”
“Here I thought I was going to be surprised”
“Who did you think?” Aemma asked
“I don't know, somebody shocking. Laenor is a good and expected match because he's family; my mind was going through so many jarring options” Viserys let out a breath as if he had been holding it in before he learnt Laenor was the topic of conversation.
“But all this is too early, Aemma” Viserys’ brows were almost touching with the way he frowned at the thought.
“I'm the Queen, this is my field, making matches. And yes, it's early, but Laenor would grow to be one of the most eligible bachelors in the realm, if not THE most eligible. Many families would come rushing for his hand. He'd be good for any maiden, but he'd be the BEST for Rhaenyra"
“He is the only son to the Wealthiest Lord, he's Valyrian with the beauty synonymous with our kind, a dragon rider and he shows talent in the training yard” Viserys went through his nephew's strengths while he scratched his beard in concentration. Aemma countered when she said,
“Our nephew is much more than that. He has been raised with Rhaenyra. He has been the brother to her throughout the time she has waited on me to give her a brother.”
Viserys reached for her hand and squeezed it gently. He needed to let her know she wasn't at fault regarding what the gods decided.
“Rhaenyra has spent as much time at Driftmark as she has in the Red Keep.” Aemma said
“And most of all she'd be near. She won't be so far from us. As a Princess, the people that will come for her hand would be people from all over the continent. Some people have ways and customs that may be strange to her. I just want her to be in a place she understands and with people who understand her. I want her matrimonial home to be close to us. I can't imagine her in the far north or west.”
“You make valid points my dear. And though I believe this babe would be a suitable husband for her, you are right. A fall back plan is wise. And there is no groom better than our young nephew.” Viserys admitted.
Viserys pondered over the technicalities involved in what they discussed. “How long have you been thinking of this?” Viserys asked his wife.
“I can't say but I've just been ruminating over what so many minor noble women have said in women's courts. You and I, we have a love match and our Sister Rhaenys, has a love match with the Sea Snake.
"Do you realise how lucky we are?" Aemma asked with a far away look in her eye.
“Every day I wake up next to you, I do not feel lucky, because lucky is an insult. I feel blessed by the gods because I have you.” Viserys declared.
Aemma smiled and kissed her teeth.
“No, my sweetheart. I am not talking about you. By we, I mean Rhaenys and I. Daemon hates his wife and though I hate his situation for him and do not understand our grandparents decision there's a difference there. A political or forced marriage for a noble man is a mere inconvenience to him. It is a disappointment that he can pretend didn't happen as we have seen with Daemon. But for a noble woman, it's as good as hell on earth. Where do I start from? Is it being attached to someone who openly hates you? the forced pregnancies? rape? wife beating? the list goes on. Noble men are not always noble, Viserys." Aemma said
“Daemon, I'm sure, hasn't seen his wife this year at all. But there's no doubt he's still with that Lysene mistress. Now imagine that a noble man may have a mistress to make him feel happy and appreciated. But the noble woman has no one and is not allowed to have anyone. Just a cold bed with her husband raking up bastards to humiliate her at best, the worst section on the list is a scary sight. I know Rhea loses no sleep about his absence. She may even spend her time praying for him to forget his way back to Runestone anyway. But most women aren't as lucky as Rhea.”
“But there's one thing my dear. You speak of love matches,but how would we know if Laenor and Rhaenyra would fall in love?”
Aemma snorted “Oh my clueless husband. You spend all day with Rhaenyra glued to your hip yet you do not know”
“Know what? Tell me” Viserys whined
The King's confusion was clear on his face, Aemma found it endearing.
“Your daughter has grown a fancy for her dear cousin. She's got herself her first crush in our sweet Laenor”
“Whatttt??? What do you mean??? She's only just a babe.” Viserys almost barked the words at the top of his voice.
“Calm down Viserys I didn't say she's about to run away from Westeros” Aemma laughed at her husband's reaction.
“What does she know about crushes? Aemma, you might be imagining things. It's the child in your belly, it must.”
Aemma looked up at the ceiling and squinted to recall a memory, “I was, maybe a year younger when I was enthralled by the dashing Knights house Redfort produced. You aren't a girl and do not know girl things, Viserys.”
“Rhaenyra isn't a girl, she's Rhaenyra and she doesn't have a crush.” Viserys said stubbornly
Aemma almost keeled over from laughter. “I'm not speculating, my sweet heart. She told me herself”
Viserys gasped with his jaw to the floor like he heard the most scandalous thing on earth.
‘Oh yes. Two Weeks ago. You see, one of the drawings in her novel has a heroic knight that traveled across the seas saving the lives of defenseless people and that knight happens to look like an older Laenor. Since then I've noticed her watching him in the training yard just to welcome him when he's done. And she watches on him as if he were a walking painting or a pretty rainbow. There are other things too but I'll stop there because your face is getting pale."
“And what about Laenor. He should know that she's just young and confused. That's his little sister and at this age, their age gap is too much.” Viserys preferred not to focus on what Aemma said so he shifted the focus.”
“He's 12” She retorted.
“Exactly”
“How old were we when were acting like the characters in romantic folktales” Aemma gave him a quizzical look.
Viserys was speechless with that question.
“But puppy love aside. They've been raised together and he's a good boy who is pure of heart. Even if he does not return her affections when they grow older, he would still be a kind and honorable husband to her. Those aren't as common traits as you may think, husband”
“Of course he would return her affections when they are older. Rhaenyra is the smartest and brightest little girl there is. He'd be a mad man to not feel so.”
"Husband, you aren't even making sense! One minute you want to separate them with a wall the next minute you're huffing over him having an imaginary aloofness. Pick one Alright? And he isn't even a man yet” Aemma was enjoying this conversation far more than he was.
“When the time is right, I'm sure Rhaenys and the Sea Snake would agree with your idea. But that time is still a century away”
“Well, the thing issss” Viserys looked up at her with horror. What other revelation was she going to hit him with?
“I've already brought it up with the Sea Snake”
“Aemmaaa” Viserys groaned.
“Breathe, Viserys. I didn't sign a betrothal contract. I only asked him if he'd ever consider it” Aemma said in her own defence.
.“And….” Viserys pressed
“He almost launched from the chair with excitement and said "Yes. I won't even let any girl's father come near Laenor again!" I just wanted to know his thoughts, I didn't expect him to almost get me to promise it before the gods” Aemma laughed at the memory.
“Are you angry with me?” She asked when she saw that he looked overwhelmed.
“I can never be angry at you, my love” Viserys smiled
“But I can't lie, all this is too much. She's just a babe.” Viserys voice turned to a low whisper
“Yes, she is. I just want to know that the future won't be scary. With this settled for her, I can breathe easy. She doesn't even need to know anything about this. I just want you to promise me that you won't give someone else her hand as a bargaining chip”
Aemma pleaded with all seriousness. The tales of their royal aunts and their reluctant marriages orchested by their grandsire, the Old king for political favour was still fresh in Aemma's mind. She didn't think lowly of her other half, but he was the King and the last King didn't always consider the feelings of his family.
“Aemma, I'm not that type of man. My daughter is not a point to be scored. I promise you that all things being equal and as much as I can help it, it's Laenor or no one, since that is what you wish. It's my life's goal to fulfill your wishes.”
“Thank you, sweet heart. But what is your wish as regards her hand? The decision is not only up to me.” She gave a curious look not for his answer but to see the expression on his face as he said it.
“Ah, but you've already made an excellent match, there's nothing better to wish for. But truly, I love Laenor and I know he would be the best for Rhaenyra.”