Chapter Text
You were the last to leave your mother's womb, your twin brother Daeron coming before you. You remain as the last child of King Viserys and Queen Alicent, and you were loved. You had been the only one of your siblings to inherit your mother's auburn curls, and you had grown into them so beautifully.
Your hair caught the light in reddish-brown tones; it glowed softly like embers under ash.
You looked scarily similar to your mother, the same doe-like eyes, the same pout to your lips when faced with a dilemma. You were the mirror of Alicent in her youth.
Perhaps that was why she found it so easy to love you.
With your siblings, it had been harder. They held such a resemblance to your father, and the trauma that came with that was something so vile it could make Alicent sick.
But with you...
It was so easy to just pretend that you were just hers.
Her daughter.
Her baby.
Her little girl.
"I miss Daeron..." you pout at the mirror as Alicent brushes through your hair. The scent of lilac incense is heavy in the air, a certain exhaustion already heavy on your person. Your twin brother had been sent to Oldtown with his hatchling, while you were left in Kings Landing with no dragon at all. You had never been separated from your brother until now, and it had been hard on you.
"I know," Alicent says gently, easing your hair into a waterfall braid, similar to how she wore her own on most days. "The way of things can be hard, but you and Daeron can exchange letters." She smiles at you gently, smoothing out the powdery-blue dress you wore before escorting you out of her chambers.
"I will be attending a small council meeting with your father," Alicent presses a kiss to your forehead, her fingers cupping your cheeks gently. "You may accompany your brothers to the dragon pit, but make sure to stay close to Aegon, understood?"
𓆩♡𓆪
"I... have a proposal," Rhaenyra is standing tall at the council table, her violet eyes stern as she stares at Alicent in her chair. "Let us betroth my son Jacaerys to your daughter (Name)."
Alicent can feel a blistering heat begin to settle in her head, her lips begin to curl into an even deeper frown. She glances at her husband, your father, as he smiles happily at his oldest child. Her anger could often be her undoing, but this was ridiculous.
"Our families have been at odds for ten years; I wish to mend these cracks. Let Jacaerys and (Name) rule together after my reign; the Realm will be better for it."
"A fine suggestion," Viserys says, smiling at Alicent as she sits silently at his side.
The Queen pushes her chair out, rising from her seat with a sneer on her lips.
"We shall consider your proposal, Princess."
Once in the King's chambers, Alicent could not contain her anger, her irritation quickly turning to a splitting migraine as she listened to her husband drone on and on about how she should accept the betrothal proposed by Rhaenyra.
"Jacaerys and (Name) would make a fine match, you would do well to consider it, My Dear Wife."
"(Name) is our youngest daughter," Alicent seethes, fingers shaking with irritation as she settles Viserys into his seat. "She is too young to be considered for any matches. Rhaenyra is desperate, she feels cornered. I refuse to marry off my daughter to one of her... plain-featured sons."
"Alicent..." Viserys' tone is exasperated as he glances at his wife.
"Your Grace," Ser Harrold enters the room, his face blank yet pale. "There has been an... incident in the dragon pit, it concerns Princess (Name)."
𓆩♡𓆪
"I ask you one thing, one! Keep your sister close and safe, how did this happen?!"
Alicent has her oldest child by the collar, a sneer pulling at her lips.
You, her little baby, had wandered into the deeper part of the pit, and had claimed a dragon.
Silverwing, the former mount of Queen Alysanne, who had not taken another rider until now. She was a large, regal beast. Perhaps gentler compared to the other dragons, but she was still a dragon.
"It isn't Aegon's fault, I ran off by myself!" You wrap your arms around your older brother's waist, hugging him tightly.
Your copper hair was messy and out of place, a bit of dirt was on your nose (courtesy of your falling off of Silverwing), and your dress was dirtier than Alicent has ever seen before. It was a complete rehash of when Helaena had bonded with Dreamfyre.
Alicent stares at you with the same wide eyes that you had inherited, she drags a hand over her face before motioning to Ser Criston Cole.
"Ser Criston, please escort the princess to my chambers, have Aurelia prepare a bath and clean nightclothes."
You hold Aegon's hand tightly, a silent apology for getting your elder brother in trouble with Mother. Your lips are pulled into a pout, tears beading at your waterline. You never wished to have Aegon wroth with you, because you loved him the most out of all your siblings. No matter how cruel his japes could be, no matter how unreliable he could be.
You loved your big brother more than anything.
"(Name)."
Alicent's tone is stiff, and you feel Aegon flinch, suddenly aware that you're probably doing more harm than good.
You let go of his hand, shuffling over to Ser Cole quickly after. The Kingsguard takes your arm gently, escorting you out of the pit.
Leaving your brothers to the wrath of the Queen.
𓆩♡𓆪
"Mother will be upset," you say quietly, watching as your brother takes yet another goblet of wine from one of the serving girls.
Driftmark was heavy with tension. It was the first funeral you'd ever been to, and you disliked it heavily, already. You had attempted to comfort Lucerys, but you had been dragged away by Aemond shortly after. You stand at Aegon's side, now, grimacing as he downs several cups of wine as the social procession continues.
"Fuck her."
You gasp, your eyes going wide.
"Are you angry with me, Aeg? I didn't mean for you to be yelled at again..."
Aegon ruffles your hair, a snort leaving his lips. His body sways slightly, and you aren't old enough to know that he's drunk off of his ass.
"Idiot..." Aemond mutters, looking at his brother with disgust heavy on his features.
You move to sit with Helaena, giggling as she hands you a shell she'd found somewhere on Driftmark. It's a pretty, pale pink color, speckled with dots of silver.
"Did you know that Dreamfyre's rider was the older sister of Silverwing's? Queen Rhaena and Queen Alysanne," Helaena's voice is soft, she handles a spider in her hands, its legs like long, black needles. "They would ride their dragons together often, like we will once you get used to her."
Helaena smiles gently as you gaze at the long-legged creature in her hands in wonder.
Perhaps other little girls were terrified of Helaena's bugs, but she has shared them with you since you were a babe. You had gotten used to them, even delighted in them much as she did.
"I like having a sister more than brothers," Helaena says, closing the spider in another shell she had gathered.
The funeral had ended in absolute disaster.
Aemond had snuck out to claim Vhagar, leaving you, Helaena, and Aegon asleep in your shared quarters. You had woken up terrified as a Kingsguard rammed the door open, gathering all of the Kings children. You had been brought to the solar of Driftmark, shivering in your nightclothes.
You had still been clinging to Aegon when you saw it.
Aemond was bloodied, his face twisted in an inhuman shape. A jagged wound of flesh replaced his usual face, his eye was in the process of being cut out by a maester, and even more blood poured from the socket once the vein was severed.
You had shrieked, tears rolling down your cheeks as you saw what had become of your older brother.
Aemond had been hurt.
Aemond had been disfigured.
The tension was shattered into pieces when your mother brandished the Catspaw Dagger, lunging herself at Rhaenyra with all the ferocity of a mother scorned. Your tears are hot and furious against your cheeks, Aegon pushes you behind him, keeping you a safe distance away before he moves closer to the incident. Helaena takes you, then, the both of you shielded by Ser Criston.
You hear a yelp, Rhaenyra and Alicent disconnect, and a splatter of blood is left on the cold stone floor.
Rhaenyra clutches her arm, thick blood slipping between her fingers as she stares at your father with wide, lilac eyes. You often envied Rhaenyra, your older sister, because she was truly beautiful.
"Alicent!"
"You have spilled the blood of the heir to the Iron Throne," Rhaenyra speaks, venom laced her voice as she spoke, her intense eyes burning holes into your mother. "Therefore I have a demand."
"You will demand nothing, not after taking my child's eye!"
"Father," Rhaenyra directs her attention to the King, leaving Alicent bristled. "Accept my earlier proposal. Betroth Jacaerys and (Name), all will be forgotten."
Your mother still grips the dagger in her hand, the Valyrian steel glinting under the light. Alicent's knuckles pale as her grip tightens, her anger almost boiling over once again.
She itched to maim.
"Viserys-"
"This is through!"
The old King slams his cane against the cold floor, exasperated beyond himself. You worry for him, then. All of the stress could not be good for his frail heart.
"Prince Jacaerys will marry my daughter, Princess (Name) when both are of age," Viserys turns to look at Alicent. "Do I make myself clear?"
You cling still to Helaena, your cheeks wet with shed tears. It was so frightening; all the blood, shouting, watching your mother turn into a feral animal in order to avenge her children.
"No... no, you cannot allow this, My King," Alicent drops the dagger, her wide eyes darting to you and Helaena as you cling to her tightly. Her baby was so scared, and Alicent could feel a shiver of shame trail down her spine knowing that she had played a part in your terror.
In the end, there was nothing the Queen could do.
Rhaenyra remained victorious, a smile on her face as the King ordered the crowd to disperse.