Chapter Text
King's Landing
116 AC
A storm raged over King's Landing, the torrential rain hammering against the castle's stone walls and the wind howling through the battlements. Within the Red Keep, the atmosphere was charged with tension and anticipation. Laenor Velaryon paced the corridors outside the Queen's chambers, each crack of thunder making his heart jump.
Inside, Rhaenyra Targaryen's cries echoed, mingling with the storm outside. Midwives surrounded the birthing bed, their faces masks of concentration and concern. Rhaenyra's silver-blonde hair clung to her forehead, damp with sweat, as she gripped the bedpost with all her strength.
A high-pitched wail pierced through the storm, announcing the arrival of the first twin. Laenor's heart soared, and he rushed to the door just as it swung open. A midwife, her apron stained and her face glowing with joy, emerged. "A boy," she announced, her voice barely audible over the storm. "Healthy and strong."
Before Laenor could react, another cry filled the air. The midwife turned back into the room, and moments later, the second baby's cries joined the first. She returned, her expression a mix of astonishment and pride. "A girl," she seemed astonished. "Fastest I've ever seen twins delivered."
In the chamber, Rhaenyra held both babies close, tears of relief and joy streaming down her face. Laenor joined her, his eyes wide with wonder. Jacaerys, their son, had wet curls of dark hair with eyes to match. His sister, however, had sweet white ringlets and eyes the color of violet indigo.
Outside the chamber, King Viserys waited, his hands trembling with excitement. When Laenor stepped out, cradling his daughter, Viserys' eyes widened at the sight. Her small white curls and dark purple eyes left no room for doubt about her lineage. "Valaena," Laenor said proudly, presenting the child to the king.
Viserys took his granddaughter into his arms, his face lighting up with a broad smile. "She's beautiful. Named after the Conquerors' mother," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "A true Targaryen."
Nearby, Queen Alicent watched, her expression carefully composed. She had been ready to comment on Jacaerys' dark hair, but seeing Valaena silenced her. She forced a smile, nodding politely as Viserys cooed at the baby. The tension in the hallway was palpable, but for that moment, it was overshadowed by the miracle of new life.
Inside the birthing chamber, Rhaenyra cradled Jacaerys, her heart swelling with love and determination. She would protect these children with her life, against all who might question their birthright. The storm outside began to wane, as if nature itself acknowledged the arrival of the new heirs, promising a fierce and unyielding legacy.
The year following the twins' birth had its ups and downs. Alicent, try as she might, couldn't find any fault with Rhaenyra's children. If they had both been brunette, she might have had a leg to stand on with possible claims of them being bastards, but with the girl coming out with Valyrian features, there was no doubt to any who looked upon them that Laenor Velaryon had to be the father.
The twins didn't cry like Aegon had when he was born and were much less fussy than Helaena. The only time the two babies seemed to make even the slightest peep was when they were separated. When that happened, Jacaerys and Valaena would scream like the world itself was coming to an end, their cries echoing throughout the Red Keep.
It had taken only two nights for Laenor and Rhaenyra to decide that one cradle was better than two when it came to their babes, their tiny fingers linked tightly as they snored.
Further driving home their paternity was the fact that the eggs Viserys had placed in their cradles had already hatched. A tiny green creature had hatched to Jacaerys, its name being Vermax, chosen by Laenor. Valaena's dragon had been named Pearl. She was a beautiful, rich white color with light pink accents, gleaming like a shining pearl, hence the name.
The twins were never apart. They slept together, ate together, and bathed together, their dragons right beside them. Rhaenyra and Laenor were devoted parents, playing games with the twins or taking them and their baby dragons out on Seasmoke or Syrax.
It wasn't until two years later in 118 AC, when Rhaenyra gave birth to a baby boy named Lucerys Vealryon, with brown hair and brown eyes, that Alicent suspected that Valaena was indeed a bastard. Valaena may have been lucky enough to be born with Rhaenyra's valyrian looks, but the coloring of her brothers made it obvious who their true father really is.
Alicent has tried many times to bring this to Viserys' attention, but he refuses to see the truth. He claims Rhaenyra will remain his heir and that Jacaerys will rule after her with Valaena as his Queen.
The Red Keep
119 AC
Sunlight filtered through the thick canopy of the Red Keep’s private gardens, casting a pattern of gold and shadow over Jacaerys and Valaena Velaryon. At three years old, the twins treated the fortress as their personal kingdom. They were entirely inseparable, bound together by a fierce closeness that felt as unyielding as Valyrian steel.
Valaena bolted down the stone path, her high-pitched laughter ringing through the manicured greenery. Jacaerys sprinted right behind her. Even at such a tender age, a protective gravity anchored the young prince; his dark eyes never lost sight of his sister. He adored his fiery, silver-haired twin with a deep, consuming devotion, harboring a quiet, childish certainty that she had been placed in this world for him and him alone.
Near the lawns, their hatchlings scampered through the grass. Vermax, a lean green creature, and Pearl, a pale, shimmering whelp, snapped at passing insects with boundless curiosity, their stubby wings still too weak for flight. From a stone bench nearby, Lady Elinda Massey watched over them, a gentle smile gracing her lips as she minded the royal toddlers.
The gravel crunched beneath a heavy tread as Ser Harwin Strong entered the garden. Spotting the massive commander, Valaena immediately veered off-course and charged toward him with her arms flung wide.
"Ser Harwin!" she squealed.
Harwin caught her effortlessly, sweeping her high into the air. "And how is my favorite princess on this fine morning?" he asked, a rare, warm tenderness softening his rugged features.
Valaena giggled, pointing a small finger down at her pale hatchling. "Pearl fly soon! Jace said we must practice!"
Jacaerys walked over at a more measured pace, offering a tiny, serious smile before wrapping his arms around Harwin’s armored leg. "Ser Harwin," he greeted dutifully.
Harwin reached down, affectionately ruffling the boy's dark curls. "And how fares our brave prince?"
"We are playing dragons," Jacaerys replied proudly.
"They will be formidable beasts one day," Harwin chuckled, his gaze shifting between the two hatchlings. "Just like the two of you."
The peaceful morning shifted as a chorus of voices drifted into the courtyard. A group of highborn children, the offspring of visiting lords, spilled into the garden paths. Instantly, Jacaerys’s posture stiffened. The easy smile vanished from his face, and he stepped directly in front of Valaena, his small hand gripping hers in a tight, unyielding hold.
A swaggering boy—the young son of Lord Lannister—marched to the front of the group, his eyes locked onto the snapping hatchlings. "Can we play with the dragons too?" he demanded loudly.
Jacaerys lifted his chin, his dark gaze hardening with a defiance that mirrored his mother's. "No. Dragons are busy."
Sensing her brother's rising tension, Valaena pressed close to his back. On her shoulder, little Pearl flapped her pale wings and let out a sharp, defensive hiss at the intruders.
The Lannister boy narrowed his eyes, crossing his arms. "Why not? We want to play with them."
"Our dragons," Jacaerys snapped, his dark eyes flashing with warning. "Not yours."
Before the friction could spark into a childish brawl, Harwin stepped smoothly between the children, resting a heavy, reassuring hand on Jacaerys's shoulder. "Alright, young lords," the commander said, his deep voice carrying an iron authority that brooked no argument. "The hatchlings are in the middle of training. Perhaps you should find another game down in the lower courtyard."
Chastened by the towering knight, the boys nodded reluctantly and shuffled away toward the castle walls. Jacaerys watched them until they completely disappeared from sight, only then letting his small shoulders relax.
Harwin knelt on the gravel, bringing himself down to the young prince’s eye level. "Jacaerys, it is a noble thing to guard your sister," he said softly, keeping his voice low. "But remember, a future ruler must also learn to welcome allies. There is no harm in making friends."
Jacaerys nodded slowly, but his eyes drifted right back to Valaena. "Protect Valaena," he muttered under his breath. His young mind was already fiercely, immovably possessive of his twin. To him, she was his other half, meant to walk beside him always, and he would permit no one to crowd her space.
A bittersweet smile touched Harwin’s face, and he ruffled the boy's hair one last time. "With a heart like that, you'll make a fine king one day."
The twins returned to their games as the afternoon waned, chasing their dragons through the shadows until the sun finally dipped below the horizon. As twilight painted the sky in shades of bruised purple, they were ushered inside for a warm supper and a bath, finally surrendering to the quiet comfort of the nursery.
At three years old, the Velaryon twins refused to endure a single night apart. Early attempts by the Red Keep's staff to settle them into separate chambers had been utterly defeated by fierce, tearful protests and completely sleepless nights. Determined to raise them themselves, Rhaenyra and Laenor fiercely protected these quiet, hands-on family routines away from the prying eyes of the court.
On this evening, the parents took charge of the twins' nightly bath within their private quarters. A large copper tub stood filled with warm, steaming water, its surface heavily dusted with fragrant purple petals harvested from the garden's lavender bushes. The soothing, floral steam filled the entire room, turning the chamber into a peaceful sanctuary from the stressful politics of the realm.
Valaena and Jacaerys splashed merrily inside the tub, their high-pitched giggles echoing off the stone walls. Laenor knelt down on the damp floorboards, dipping a soft cloth into the water and opening a small stoneware pot of lavender soap. "Alright, my little storm," Laenor said gently, leaning over the rim. "Time to wash those silver curls."
Valaena immediately pouted, her lower lip trembling as she threw her small arms tightly around Jacaerys's neck. "No, Papa! No water in eyes!"
Laenor smiled softly, brushing a wet stray hair from her cheek. "I promise to be fast, sweetling. Just tilt your head back."
Sensing his sister’s genuine distress, Jacaerys tightened his own grip around her waist. "I help," the young prince declared stoutly, planting himself firmly between Valaena and the water.
Laenor began working the soap into her hair, carefully shielding her brow with his hand to keep the suds away from her face. Valaena squeezed her indigo eyes shut and clung to her brother, while Jacaerys puffed out his cheeks and made ridiculous, exaggerated faces to distract her from the scrubbing.
Rhaenyra watched the display from a nearby chair, a proud, fiercely protective smile warming her face. She deeply treasured these rare, uncomplicated moments of maternal closeness, far removed from the constant whispers regarding her succession.
Once the soap was thoroughly rinsed, Laenor and Rhaenyra lifted the dripping toddlers from the water. Together, they wrapped them in thick, heated linens, rubbing them dry with gentle care. They worked side by side, laughing as the twins wriggled, before helping them guide their small limbs into fresh, matching silk nightclothes.
"Alright, my brave hatchlings," Rhaenyra said affectionately, pointing toward the massive hearth-warmed bed. "Time to rest your wings."
The twins scrambled up the wooden steps and tumbled onto the heavy mattress together. Valaena, her damp silver ringlets smelling sweetly of lavender, curled into the center of the down pillows first. Jacaerys crawled right in behind her, stubbornly refusing to allow even an inch of space between them.
As Rhaenyra pulled the heavy fur blankets over their shoulders, Valaena snuggled tightly against her brother's side, her eyelids growing incredibly heavy. "Night, Jace," she murmured sleepily into his shoulder.
"Night, Valaena," Jacaerys replied automatically, shifting his arm to rest protectively over her small chest.
Laenor stood over them for a long moment, his chest swelling with profound affection for the family they had built. He leaned down, pressing a tender kiss to Jacaerys’s dark forehead and then to Valaena’s silver brow. "Sleep well, my little dragons," he whispered, before turning to slip out of the nursery alongside his wife.
The candles were pinched out one by one, leaving only the amber glow of the dying embers to guard the room. Safe in their shared bed, the twins slept deeply, untroubled by the gathering storms of King's Landing, bound together in dreams of dragons and high skies.
A/N: This is my first chapter, so I hope you all love it. Season 3 of House of the Dragon is out. I was sobbing when Jace died. Now Jacaerys won't die in my story. My next chapter should be out soon. Enjoy!!