#au had daemon and laena's son survived

[sarcasticsweetlara]

Aellisar Targaryen would be raised by Daemon, Rhaenyra and of course a wet nurse who would nurse him as a newborn.

Rhaenyra would tell him about Laena, her bravery and boldness.

Aellisar would be a mini-Laena, him being the image of his mother would make his father, stepmother and grandparents tear up whenever Aellisar did something Laena used to do often or said she wanted to do 🥹❤️

Aellisar would support his stepmother and she would give him a keep of his own for when reached to adulthood, and he would be there to guide his youngest siblings

Had Daemon and Laena's son survived

No one ever thinks about how things would have been if Daemon and Laena's son had survived, and it's interesting because many things would be completely different had this boy survived -because yes people, in the book their son was born but he was deformed and died within an hour-.

Let's say Daemon and Laena call him Aellisar -they wanted to create a new name- before Laena getting her fever and dying (as it actually happened in the book).

Daemon would have an heir, and as in the book Baela and Rhaena were four when this happened, and in the show their age difference would not be as big as many other pairs, he could easily marry his firstborn daughter to his firstborn son as is the tradition of the Valyrians. I think Daemon would still marry Rhaenyra as a way of getting close to the Iron Throne and protecting his children from the Greens, and of course, because he loves her, but in this case he would need to be more convinced, the actual reassurance from Rhaenyra that she nor her allies will ever try to harm Aellisar as he unlike his cousins would be the only boy with both Targaryen and Velaryon blood.

Rhaenys and Corlys would be overjoyed of finally having "another" more like the only grandson of their own, and would love to teach him about the Velaryon heritage of his mother, Corlys would probably think about making Aellisar his actual heir but he would still have problems with the fact Aellisar carries the name Targaryen while Luke is a Velaryon, though only in name because his strong looks obviously do not come from Corlys nor Rhaenys.

Now going back to Daemon and Rhaenyra, the time lap in which Aegon the Younger and Viserys II are small infants would make even more sense, it's true we could say that in the show they took the time to make Baela, Rhaena, Jace, Luke and Joff feel comfortable around each other, but if Aellisar is still alive, Daemon and Rhaenyra would also need to raise and be there for him in those first years, especially since his mother is not there. As Baela would marry Jace, and Rhaena to Lucerys, they would need to find a suitable bride for Aellisar, possibly an heiress since he would be the firstborn son of Daemon and they would surely want to give him a wife who would be perfect for him and also to keep him from wanting to claim Driftmark.

And the greens would be terrified, here it is a boy with pure valyrian blood with claims both to Driftmark and the Iron Throne who is in the team with the most dragons, sooner rather than later Aellisar will have a dragon and will be a competent fighter.

[potato-frenzy]

Wow, seeing all the traction on those two posts about my 'Rhaenyra adopts her siblings' AU in the last 24 hours is insane. I think I need to write this fic now. Life is fucking hectic right now but you best bet that once the holidays are over I'll be plugging away at this

In the meantime, have some more headcanons

- Aemond loses his eye in an accident and it's all Ser Criston's fault. The bitch was trying to bully the younger kids in the training yard and like in canon, Harwin was goaded into attacking him. Aemond and Aegon tried to break it up but Aemond was thrown into one of the weapons racks. The scar is much worse because of this. Criston, being the one to have thrown the eight year old prince, is cut down with Blackfyre. By the queen's own hands.

- Aemond asks to be squire to Harwin as recompense for his part in the loss of the prince's eye. It goes over extremely well, Harwin becoming even more entrenched in the family. No Harwin doesn't die.

- Lyonel does still step down as Hand, Daemon is named Hand in his place and he gets to support Rhaenyra in ways he never got to support Viserys. Laena survives the birth of their son, little Viserys.

- Laenor does actually die when he leaves to fight the Triarchy with his father again. Rhaenyra doesn't feel the need to give him the out she does in the show and he doesn't abandon them.

- it still devastates their family but Harwin, Daemon, and Laena are there to help

- Lucerys is in fact Laenor's son, he just looks exactly like Jocelyn Baratheon

- Jace is less concerned with proving himself a proper Targaryen, he's more concerned with making sure his brother's are on his council. He's the most vocal supporter of Aegon's training to become Hand, the oldest boy having a difficult apprenticeship under Daemon. He keeps insisting that Aemond should be Lord Commander of the City Watch someday but Aemond is very vocal that he goes where Lucerys goes. Jace says he'll be Master of Ships so it's not like it matters. Jace suggests Daeron become a maester so he can be Grand Maester someday and the boy just softly goes 'please no'.

- Also Daeron and Jacaerys have often been referred to as 'the twins' given that they are so close in age, are milk brothers, and Rhaenyra often had them sharing a cradle. Ironically, they're not very close.

- Despite how attached Aemond and Lucerys have always been, everyone was shocked when they found out they were in love. Daemon almost died laughing.

[presidenthades]

If Queen Aemma had been the mother of the Targbros do you think Rhaenyra and Daemon would have been soo opposed to the matches ?

I have talked about “what if Aemma was the Targbros’ mother” before in another Ask!

TLDR, we have to consider how Aemma is their mother. Instead of her earlier miscarriages and stillbirths, did she give birth to healthy children? Or did her health miraculously improve so she was able to have more kids after Baelon (whose birth she would’ve survived in this AU)?

Assuming the second option (so the Targbros are roughly the same age as in canon), we probably have an AU where Viserys is happy to name Aegon, who is his son by Aemma, as his heir. If Aemma is still alive, he probably feels less pressure to name Rhaenyra his heir, even if Daemon makes the “heir for a day” comment about Baelon. If Rhaenyra is never named heir, she doesn’t really have much to resent Aegon for, and she’s also happier with her mother alive. Maybe she still marries Laenor for political reasons. Overall, Rhaenyra would have a better relationship with her younger siblings, and the Targbros benefit from a less neglectful Viserys.

Aegon is heir in this universe, so he’d be the number one marital prospect. For that alone, I think the Velaryons would favor an Aegon/Jace match. Rhaenyra would probably be OK with it too: less animosity toward Aegon, and she might like the idea of her daughter being queen.

If Daemon marries Laena in this AU, I’m actually wondering if he might throw Baela at Aegon, who isn’t related to Otto 🧐. Now I’m imagining Jace and Baela fighting over Aegon 😭.

If Jace marries Aegon, then Luce is still Laenor’s heir in this AU. Matching her with a royal second son like Aemond would probably be viewed positively by most stakeholders.

Joff and Daeron aren’t up for inheriting anything, but all the Targs and Velaryons involved are probably in favor of intermarriage so they get married too, eventually.

[bohemian-nights]

I’m not really a big fan of the “Viserys marries Laena AU” it only causes Laena more pain and it’s very likely it would’ve been an Aemma Arryn situation all over again and there’s still a chance that Laena would still commit suicide if not when she does in canon then earlier but assuming those things don’t happen and she has son(s) (Baela and Rhaena would have the canon ages of Aegon (and Helaena if going by show!canon were they aren’t twins) then Aemon would have the canon age of Helaena and so forth) I feel like the “Greens” would still win. House Velaryon is really powerful, rich and influential it’s such a shame HOTD forgot that.

Oh God, hands down that is my least favorite au for Laena. She marries way underage and to an old creepy decrepit man🤢 It definitely wouldn’t prevent the Dance from happening.

You are right that it’s highly likely she would’ve died before her time in this scenario too and if she only had girls Viserys could end up marrying Alicent anyway.

If she had a son(whether she survived or not) House Velaryon would dump Rhaenyra faster than a hot cake. They would have a true-born born legitimate grandson who is the son of the king. They’d strong-arm Viserys into naming him heir(and they’d probably do it by having Laenor spill the beans about the Strong boys).

I strongly dislike HOTD, but even in the source material, House Velaryon takes so many L’s during the Dance that they never recover from. They were a powerful house, but they messed up big time supporting Rhaenyra.

I will say though that in book!canon had Laena or even had her son survived House Velaryon would’ve been done with Rhaenyra(before anyone mentions engagements, the children were young so Daemon and Laena definitely would’ve broken them and Corlys would’ve made the boy his heir or they would’ve tried to push their claim for the throne), but alas this is the story GRRM wrote 🤷🏽‍♀️

[joyfulladywarrior]

Aemma survives au part 3 (final)

Viserys doesn't have many regrets in life (ignorance is a bliss). He is a good king who is following his grandfather's steps in keeping the piece in the realm. He finally has an heir that came from his blood. He also has two spares and a beautiful daughter from his second marriage. He does however regret not believing Aemma when she said she would take Rhaenyra and leave. Not only does he misses his daughter but the house of the dragon lost a dragon that night. After he refused to marry Laena, he had agreed to annul Daemon's marriage and have them both wed. Later, Laena had been able to claim Vhagar. The Velaryons now have four grown dragons because Daemon had left the Targeryen name. He told Viserys that since his and Laena's children will inherit driftmark, his child will have to carry the Velaryon name. Viserys thought that this is a great idea at the time because then he would get rid of his biggest headache. Afterwards, he was hoping to deal his second biggest headache; his now-former wife. Viserys was honest about what the council had told him to do and how he has no other choice if he wants an heir. The relief in Aemma's eyes did make him angry. He had to do this because of her. The Fourteen Flames showed him a son with the conqueror's crown. A son so great that even dragons were wailing in fear from his greatness. Aegon reborn. Aemma had a weak body and wasn't able to deliver him this greatness. Sure, he did consummate the marriage when she was too young but she flowered. He understands that his decision to open her up ruined her chances at another pregnancy but she told him this would be her last pregnancy.

Even though Viserys had done what was needed of him to become a peaceful king, sometimes he feels cursed. Aemma had taken Rhaenyra and left him. He married Alicent and finally had sons but none of his sons had dragons. His firstborn son had a dragon hatch for him in the cradle, only for the dragon to die moons later. Now, he never sees him without a cup in his hand. His daughter Helaena had a dragon but she is a strange girl. His son Aemond is the new lord commander of the golden cloaks and he is very accomplished for his age but he surpasses Daemon in brutality. As for Daeron, he does not know him very well and only sees him by Otto's side. He tried to fix the gap between him and the Velaryons and Daemon by trying to betroth Aegon to Daemon's eldest daughter Baela. Only to find out that she's betrothed to Rhaenyra's son, his grandchild who he didn't even know of. Rhaena is engaged to some prince in the North(Lucerys. Otto didn't know that Rhaenyra married into the Northern royalty and the North is independent). Daemon would prefer to engage his daughters to a bastard (according to Otto, without guidance, Rhaenyra had resorted to these unholy acts) and a savage instead of uniting the House of the Dragon.

Time had passed and Viserys weaker and weaker then it happened. His son Aegon was stabbed with a fork. Daemon's daughter stabbed him. His heir who was promised tried to rape her because he did not take the refusal very well. One of the brave servants had told the king that this is not the first time Aegon had assaulted a woman then more came forward with horrific stories of abuse they suffered at his hands. Alicent had tried to get him to drop the matter entirely and said that they could have been paid off but then his sweet daughter Helaena said that this is true and told him of her dreams. She told him that the gods had sent him dreams warning him against having a son and that the heir who was promised was never meant to be Aegon. He had lost his love and his daughter for an heir that wouldn't come from him. His cousin and his brother would rather form connections with foreigners than with him. The House of the Dragon has became divided because of him.

[bimyself06]

Weird take but what if instead of being born to Rhaenyra Targaryen Jacaerys was born to Aemon Targaryen and his wife Jocelyn Baratheon. So in this Jocelyn was pregnant when Aemon died, Jaehaerys still names Baelon as his heir not only passing over Rhaenys and her unborn child but also her unborn sibling. Things get complicated when Jocelyn gives birth to a boy(and lives i refuse to leave Jace without at least one parent) that she names Jacaerys(many think that she's trying to honor the king and have him name her son heir as is his right but she's not). This causes tensions but the king still refuses to name Jace his heir due to not knowing if he will survive the cradle or even childhood as many of his children didn't and he didn't want to risk it but in doing so he angers even more people than in canon because not many care about him passing Rhaenys over because she's a woman but in this AU she has younger brother and by law he should be heir.

Same events as the ones from canon during Baelon's time as heir happens, Jace grows up between Driftmark, Stormsend, and Dragonstone at Baelon's insistence that it was rightfully Jace(don't worry Vermax also hatches in this time). Except here once Jace has turned Baelon petitions to step down as heir to the Iron Throne in favor of his nephew, Jacaerys. Thus shocks many people(including the Baratheons who thought he wouldn't give the tittle of heir to his nephew).

In doing this infront of the whole court with many of the major houses present put Jaehaerys in a tight spot, on one hand tradition demanded that he name Jace as his heir but on the other hand he had not only named Baelon his heir without expecting his grandson to live. This obviously causes some tensions to rise to knew heights in court because if Jaehaerys names Jacaerys heir he will require a regent for nearly 8 years before he can ascend the throne but if he keeps Baelon as heir this could cause a civil war.

In the end Jaehaerys agrees and names Jacaerys as his heir and if Jaehaerys dies before Jacaerys reaches his majority his uncle Baelon will serve as both his hand and his regent alongside Jace's mother.

From here on out things are obviously different such as Baelon lives because obviously the matters of succession cannot be resolved in a day and therefore everyone was more preoccupied with that whole mess and were not able to poison Baelon(its my personal theory that the maesters/citadel poisoned him in order to install Otto as hand of the king and have an easier time destroying House Targeryen and their dragons), Daemon's marriage is annulled by Baelon on Jace suggestion and is betrothed to Rhaenyra also on Jace's suggestion, since Aemma doesn't have the pressure to produce an heir to the throne in this she lives, Jace is betrothed to Laena who is only a few months older than him, Princess Gael is also alive(also another person i believe the citadel ordered to be killed).

Ps: Both Rhaenys and Jace have Rhaenys' F&B cannon appearance, black hair with a silver-gold streak and purple eyes.

[crazyprompts4asoiafdune]

HoTD Modern Soap Opera AU

1. Aemma survives delivering Baelon by caesarian section, but he does not live due to weak lungs. She refuses to have more kids, asks for a divorce and custody of Rhaenyra, who is eight. Viserys is forced to agree. Aemma goes to the Vale with her daughter, where she resumes her interrupted education and becomes a schoolteacher.

2. Rhea, who’s managing her family’s farm in the Vale, divorces Daemon (irreconcilable differences)--they had married because his grandmother felt marriage would be a steadying influence on him. Daemon, who’s in the marines, happily goes off to war. Rhea proceeds to become besties with Aemma and her daughter. She also begins to think of a relationship with her cousin, Gerold, the local sheriff, which eventually leads to marriage  and babies.

3. Laena, Rhaenys and Corlys Velaryon’s adventurous older daughter, joins the air force, along with her brother, Laenor. They get to know Daemon. Rhaenys is Viserys and Daemon’s cousin, who was done out of leading the family firm back in her grandfather’s day. Corlys has spent twenty years in the navy; he met Rhaenys when she was a naval pilot. Even though both the senior Velaryons have a seat on the Targaryen corporation board, they have a contentious relationship with Viserys and Otto.

4. Eighteen-year-old Alicent, who was Rhaenyra’s babysitter in KL, is persuaded by Otto, her father, (who is Viserys’s political advisor and second in command in his company) to give up thoughts of university and focus on comforting Viserys after his divorce. This eventually leads to their marriage a few months later, and to the birth of three sons and a daughter. However, Viserys is unable to get over the breakup with Aemma and the breakdown of his relationship with Rhaenyra. This has a negative impact on his marriage to Alicent.

5. Rhaenyra takes the news of her father’s remarriage badly. As she grows up,her anger with her father leads her to focus almost exclusively on academic and extra-curricular achievements--she lacks a social life. She is determined to work for Targaryen Corp and show up her father, much to  Rhea’s and Aemma’s dismay--they would prefer she chose a career away from the family firm. Viserys decides to reach out to her, and invites her to KL, to spend some time with him, Alicent and their kids. Rhea and Aemma reluctantly agree to let her go.

6. Her arrival in KL coincides with the return of her Uncle Daemon from war. Rhaenyra had always had a close relationship with him; her father had been too busy with business and politics to pay her much attention and her mother was unable to pay attention to her because she was either trying to get pregnant or recovering from a miscarriage or stillbirth. She has little in common with Alicent or her kids, who are eight or more years younger than her, and spends her time partying and seeing the city with Daemon. She also has a brief fling with Criston Cole, who’s in charge of the family’s security. On one such excursion with Daemon, the two of them land up in KL’s red light district. When Daemon gets into a fight with a couple of toughs, who are trying to assault Rhaenyra, and is sent to jail, the local cop on the beat, Harwin Strong, recognizes her and gets her home. Of course, Alicent’s father, Otto, who’s never liked Daemon, tries to insinuate that Rhaenyra and Daemon were having an affair, which isn’t true. Rhaenyra, who’s infuriated by this insinuation, packs her bags to return to the Vale. She also rejects Criston’s offer of marriage rather abruptly and rudely. When she arrives at the bus stop (because plane and train tickets are beyond her budget) she runs into Harwin Strong again, who’s going home to Harrenhal for a holiday. He accompanies her to the Vale instead, to get her home to her mother safely.  Rhaenyra is impressed with his kindness and concern for her welfare and they grow fond of each other.

7. In jail, Daemon calls Laenor, explaining the situation he got into. He also  asks them to look out for Rhaenyra, until he gets a message from Harwin telling him he got her home safe. Laena and Laenor land up in court to post bail for Daemon. Although the Velaryons find him exasperating, Laena begins to fall in love with him. 

8. Viserys, who assumes that Rhaenyra’s reputation is mud because of her spending time with Daemon, tries to arrange to marry her off to Laenor, who refuses, because he’s come out as gay and is in a happy relationship with a fellow officer, Joffrey Lonmouth. Viserys then goes to the Vale to tell Aemma what to do to restore Rhaenyra’s reputation and is told to shut up and leave by his ex-wife and ex-sister-in-law.

9. Rhaenyra, who has always been a good student, is able to work out a plan to study and work part-time. She’s very intrigued by Harwin Strong, but wants to make something  of herself before making a move on him. She also wants to study in KL and live on campus, not with her father and his wife. Her mother reluctantly agrees to this arrangement.

10. Alicent, who’s done the dutiful wife thing and given her husband four lovely kids, decides she wants to go back to university--she has enough money to hire nannies for the kids, a good housekeeper and an excellent cook. Stepmom and stepdaughter meet at university, which is when Criston Cole tells Alicent he can no longer work for her family because of his affair with Rhaenyra and her abruptly ending the relationship. Alicent sympathizes with him, even as Rhaenyra becomes close to the Velaryons (Laenor and Laena), who are in turn close to her uncle Daemon. Alicent, who is deeply religious, is troubled by the lifestyle of the younger Velaryons, and tries to warn Rhaenyra, who reminds her nastily that she married her father only a few months after he got a divorce from her mother. Both women take courses in business, politics and law--Rhaenyra is determined to run her father’s company and Alicent is determined to protect her children’s inheritance, because Viserys is not keeping well. Moreover, she is suspicious of Daemon, who has been seen with Laena Velaryon. She also keeps an eye on her stepdaughter and notes her closeness to Harwin Strong, whose father and brother both work for Targaryen Corp. Lyonel Strong is the company secretary, while Larys Strong is in charge of security, especially against industrial espionage. When they both graduate with honours and apply to Targaryen Corp, Otto hires Alicent as his executive assistant, and Viserys does the same for Rhaenyra. This is when Rhaenyra and Harwin tie the knot--he continues to work for the city police, which Daemon has also joined. Daemon is now married to Laena, who decides  to resign from the air force and work part time at Targaryen Corp alongside Rhaenyra.

11. While Alicent is able to concentrate on her career, because her kids are in the care of nannies and governesses, Rhaenyra and Laena have to combine their work with motherhood. Luckily, Laenor and Joffrey, who are now in non-combat postings, love pitching in with baby-sitting, as do Rhaenys and Corlys. Aemma has decided to move to KL to be with her daughter--she’s still teaching, but loves taking care of the grandkids. Both Daemon and Harwin are kept busy working for the police department.

[sweetestpopcorn]

I agree with what you answered the other anonymous. Canon Daemon comes across as the type of guy who most likely can’t spend one night without getting laid. Question: what do you think it would happen if Daemon had survived the Gods Eye? Do you think he would bring Nettles to court to be openly his mistress or daughter, as I’ve seen some people suggest? Personally I found that almost ridiculous, since I doubt his “infatuation” would last that long and even if it would, I’m pretty sure Rhaenyra wouldn’t allow it, even if she was his daughter. Even if she was conceived prior to his marriage to Laena (highly likely), a bastard is still a bastard and they are considered an insult to stand in the same presence as of a royal member. Plus, Rhaenyra was so paranoid that she could probably think that Daemon was lying to hide his affair. Maybe I’m being too optimistic but I think they would reconcile. She would forgive him and continue to worship him and he would win her war for her. Sigh. I doubt that he would abandon everything (his only remaining son very much included) to live hiding forever in the Isle of Faces. (How could Daemon Effing Targaryen live without a dragon? He would probably tame Cannibal and “f-ck everything” lol).

Hey!

About your question I 100% agree with everything you said.

If indeed they were lovers (what I lean most towards) this was absolutely led by a big midlife crisis on Daemon's part and it wouldn't have lasted. Nor do I think Rhaenyra would have been ok with him keeping a mistress like Nettles there. As I have said before, I believe Mysaria - old (by the time's standards) and likely infertile - was no threat, but someone like Nettles clearly was. Especially taking into account how Rhaenyra freaked out when she heard about her and Daemon.

Her allowing him to keep her there 😂😂😂😂 people, have you met Rhaenyra?

If she was his daughter I also don't believe Rhaenyra would have been ok with her being at court and raised alongside their "legitimate" children (I am using quotation marks for legitimate because of Joffrey who was legitimate on paper - we all know the truth about that one, but moving on). I absolutely agree with you.

I tend to think that if he had returned they would have reconciled, yes. It was likely she would let him back in her "good graces" (ya'll know what this means) to get him to behave. Maybe they would have had another kid. I don't put them past them seeing as Rhaenyra was very fertile, and who never used a baby to fix up a marriage 😂😂. And no, I don't believe Daemon would have ever abandoned his only son, especially after all the times it's hammered on us how much he wanted a son.

Me: Ok, I get he wanted a son 🙄 someone please give this man what he wants, he's pushing forty which is like old in ASOIAF universe (unless you're Corlys Velaryon), it's getting sad.

Ahh the singers... I do believe - but I would have to check - that at one point Tyrion says that if a singer said it it's a lie or something, and reading F&B just really drove that home for me 😂😂 Singers go home, you're drunk.

About him taming Cannibal, Anon, you dropped this 👑

PS: Doesn't anyone want to write this AU for me? 🥺🥺

[sarcasticsweetlara]

Had Daemon and Laena's son survived

No one ever thinks about how things would have been if Daemon and Laena's son had survived, and it's interesting because many things would be completely different had this boy survived -because yes people, in the book their son was born but he was deformed and died within an hour-.

Let's say Daemon and Laena call him Aellisar -they wanted to create a new name- before Laena getting her fever and dying (as it actually happened in the book).

Daemon would have an heir, and as in the book Baela and Rhaena were four when this happened, and in the show their age difference would not be as big as many other pairs, he could easily marry his firstborn daughter to his firstborn son as is the tradition of the Valyrians. I think Daemon would still marry Rhaenyra as a way of getting close to the Iron Throne and protecting his children from the Greens, and of course, because he loves her, but in this case he would need to be more convinced, the actual reassurance from Rhaenyra that she nor her allies will ever try to harm Aellisar as he unlike his cousins would be the only boy with both Targaryen and Velaryon blood.

Rhaenys and Corlys would be overjoyed of finally having "another" more like the only grandson of their own, and would love to teach him about the Velaryon heritage of his mother, Corlys would probably think about making Aellisar his actual heir but he would still have problems with the fact Aellisar carries the name Targaryen while Luke is a Velaryon, though only in name because his strong looks obviously do not come from Corlys nor Rhaenys.

Now going back to Daemon and Rhaenyra, the time lap in which Aegon the Younger and Viserys II are small infants would make even more sense, it's true we could say that in the show they took the time to make Baela, Rhaena, Jace, Luke and Joff feel comfortable around each other, but if Aellisar is still alive, Daemon and Rhaenyra would also need to raise and be there for him in those first years, especially since his mother is not there. As Baela would marry Jace, and Rhaena to Lucerys, they would need to find a suitable bride for Aellisar, possibly an heiress since he would be the firstborn son of Daemon and they would surely want to give him a wife who would be perfect for him and also to keep him from wanting to claim Driftmark.

And the greens would be terrified, here it is a boy with pure valyrian blood with claims both to Driftmark and the Iron Throne who is in the team with the most dragons, sooner rather than later Aellisar will have a dragon and will be a competent fighter.