#jace and baela are mini daemons

[bimyself06]

Modernau where the Targaryens are a mafia but make it a crime comedy:

Baelon lived became head of the Mafia when Jaehaerys croaked, made both Rhaenys and Viserys his co-heirs. Aemon, Alyssa, Aemma, any Targaryen or family member who died in unclear ways, were all killed by the Hightowers who want to supplant the Targaryens as the Boses of the Mafia. Baelon married Daemon to both Laena and Rhaenyra as both girls are his heirs oldest children, and he wants to keep the power in the family(something he believes his father should have done instead of attempting to marry his youngest children off to other families leading to either their deaths ofmr estrangement, when he became boss he called Saera back), betweenthe three of them they have 9 children(Jace, Luke, Baela, Rhaena, Joffrey, Baelon II, Aegon III, Viserys II, and Visenya). After Aemma's death, Viserys still marries Alicent(despite everyone being against it) and still has four children with her.

Since Viserys went against his orders, Baelon removed him and his children from Alicent from the mafia succecion and gave the position of heir to Rhaenyra. When Baelon eventually retires, it's Rhaenys, Laena, and Rhaenyra who are in charge and decide to continue Baelons's plans for the Hightowers.

They begin by destroying all business deals the Hightowers have, bringing their fortune down as they try their best to keep everything afloat. When realizing that with their businesses are being destroyed, they try to find a way to put one of Alicent's children at the helm of the Mafia by marrying either Baela or Jace. Unfortunately(for the Hightowers, that is), Rhaenyra and Laena had anticipated this, so they betrothed Jace and Baela.

But it wouldn't be me if I didn't add a splash of JaceLuke and Baena, so while Jace and Baela are engaged, they both are having a relationship behind everyone's back with their beloved brother/sister(except Laena, Daemon, Laenor, Baelon, and the R's know;they have walked in on them so many times). They make it game to be as affectinate/inappropriate in front of the Hightowers as they can be, Daemon is so proud.

Ps: if anyone wants to write this let me know

[odetoalibrary]

Rhaenyra’s attitude to Daemon’s twin girls in comparison to her own children is…interesting. But I don’t think the writers themselves realised it was an issue so I doubt it will be addressed

First there is her decision to not let Jace ride out on his dragon (understandable after what just happened to Lucerys!) but she sends Baela instead. You could argue that she believes that Baela, as a woman, would be less hot-blooded than Jace would which matches the show’s theme of men being bloodthirsty and women being the peacemakers. But Baela is very much mini-Daemon judging by her mad chase after Criston Cole.

Does Rhaenerya not know her personality? Have they not lived together for years as one big happy family? Or is risking Baela preferable to her actual son?

Then there is the insane attitude towards Rhaena, who she can spare because she has no dragon. Rhaenyra can’t bear to let her boys go…but Rhaena will have to be “mother” to them now. She tells this kid, her stepdaughter, to mother her children and how hard this is for her, Rhaenyra. Rhaena’s own mother is dead and she’s 16 years old.

If I thought the writers were exploring some interesting issues with Rhaenyra such as; maybe she has internal misogyny like Alicent but it express itself in a different way; or maybe she like many stepmothers just doesn’t care as much about Daemon’s previous children; or maybe she’s getting colder and more selfish as the pressure piles on and she lost her son…..but I highly doubt this was the intention.

The writers so far have made it clear that we are supposed to see Rhaenyra as the “moral” character so she doesn’t get to have major flaws like this (terrible writing decision btw). But this is completely undermined by them not realising how her treatment of the twins looks to the audience

[afro-hispwriter]

A Betrayal No More(final)

Aemond Targaryen x Targaryen/Velaryon!reader

Summary- Aemond has been thrown into the dungeons just hours after your death, but the blacks need Aemond and Aemond needs you. 

Warnings- angst ending with fluff, mentions of torture, murder, battle of the gullet comes wayy faster than it actually does lol, dragon death

Part 3 of the Betrayal mini-series 1 2

Wc-3.3k+

-

Aemond was thrown into the dungeons along with Criston. They quickly found out that wasn't a wise idea since it ended up with Aemond almost choking the man out. 

He's not sure how long he'd been down there but he's been questioned a lot. But Criston on the other hand has been tortured, daily. He heard his screams of pain, and it made Aemond cringe. That man was the closest thing to a father he ever had but he was also the same man who killed the love of his life in front of him, however many days it's been since. 

Aemond thought they were going to starve him out but those thoughts were soon erased when Daemon Targaryen himself. His uncle, and father of his late love, came down and opened his cell door. Daemon glared harshly at his nephew, tightening his jaw and fist.

"Come boy." He demands but Aemond doesn't move, just sits there and looks at him wearily. "A hot bath and food has been prepared for you." Aemond cocks his head to the side before standing up.

"Preparing me for my execution?" 

"Every day I have the urge to come down here and cut your head off and send it to your family. But the queen says if it's true you are here to bend the knee, we need you." Daemon steps out of the way but Aemond still hesitates. "We don't have all day." 

"Hmm, lead the way." Aemond has only been to Dragon Stone maybe less than a handful of times. Daemon started his descent to the stairs with Aemond in tow. 

"Letting your daughter's killer out Daemon?" Gasps out Cristion making both men stop. 

"I guess you have gone mad Criston, you will never know freedom again." Daemon spits out and continued his way up the stairs. 

Aemond kept space between him and his uncle. There was still a chance this was all a trick and he was being led to his execution. But no. Daemon opened the door and the hot steam hit them both in the face. 

"Enjoy," Daemon says and Aemond walks through and Daemon shuts the door. A pretty servant girl appeared.

"Would you like assistance with bathing my prince?" She asks and Aemond shakes his head no. She nods and gives a bow before leaving. Once Aemond knew he was alone he started discarding the clothes he had on. He still had dried blood on his hands. Her blood. It made him sick to his stomach. 

Aemond settled into the water and sighed deeply. The warmth was very welcoming after being in a cold cell for days.

He wasn't sure how long he was in there but his fingers started to prune and the water started going cold. He scrubbed his skin quickly, dirt and mud from the cells had already turned the water dark and the blood made it worse.

His hair was a lost cause. He could wash out the gunk but it would be a frizzy mess. He stepped out of the bath cautiously and grabbed the towel. He dried himself off and the cold air made him shiver. His wet hair not helping so he tied it up in a low bun. 

The clothes given were a simple white tunic and a pair of pants, his boots from before would have to do. 

Aemond stepped out of the room refreshed. A guard in the hall came up to him.

"The Queen has asked for your presence." He says and Aemond gives a nod. They both walk to the map room where the other half of his family is. 

Baela noticed him first, she had a hard glare on her face. Rhaenys saw him but kept her face neutral, demoted of any emotion. Rhaena was absent. Luke and Rhaenyra stood together, while Jace stood off to the side fists clenched and fresh tear streaks on his face. 

Daemon's hand was tightly gripped on his sword. He also seemed to have taken a bath but his red fists were clear as day.

"We have a meal for you, brother," Rhaenyra says and Aemond says the plate of hot food with a cup of wine. He slowly walked down the steps, one by one until he was behind the chair. The smell enticed him so much, he pushed the chair back and sat in it. Digging into the food greedily. 

They watched him eat, everyone in that room had mixed emotions about him. Some found him guilty, some blamed him, others knew they needed him. 

"Vermithor was last confirmed to be seen crossing the Stepstones and there are reports they saw him carrying something." Aemond stopped eating at the mention of the dragon. 

"Any guesses as to where he is going?" 

"Valyria," Luke says and Aemond sees others in the room sigh or shake their heads. "Maybe Vermithor knows something we don't."

"He's never been to Valyria, none of our dragons have Luke," Jace says.

"But he's still a dragon, that's where his and our ancestors originated." 

"That doesn't explain why he would take Y/n there." Aemond snaps at the boy and Rhaenyra grabs Luke’s hand. "After this is done, I'm going to look for them." 

"What makes you think you're leaving?" Daemon asks and he takes a step closer Aemomd drops his spoon and sits back. 

"You have me and Vhagar now, you can have throne by lunch." Aemond took a bite of his food again.

"We kept you in the dungeons too long. Your grandfather has gotten the support of the Triacrhy and they attacked the Velaryon fleet at the Gullet. 

"You need me to sort it out?" Aemond asks and he downs the wine.

"You and Jace will fly out, using force only if necessary." Rhaenyra and Aemond cracked his knuckles and pushed the chair back.

"Let's go now." He started walking away, not knowing where he would go. But he didn't want to be there.

"Aemond stop," Rhaenyra says and he stops. "You must rest, Daemon is going to take Harrenhall." 

"I will rest when this is over." 

-

Your eyes shot open and the air rushed back into your lungs giving you a horrible spike of pain. You were rushed with cold then you were burning.

"You're okay Lady Y/n." The voice was loud but it was also so sweet and low. You looked around but you could only see the orange glow of fire and you were clearly in a rock structure. A soft pair of hands wrapped themselves around your back and they slowly helped you sit up. The cloth covering your breasts fell in your lap but you made no effort to grab it again. 

You turned your head slowly to meet with a woman. Her hazel eyes pierced through yours. Her dark hair was shining in the light. 

Your heart started racing and you felt across your body when you felt the scars. One look down and the flashes of the blade going in and out of your abdomen. You remembered the flooding of blood in your mouth and... Aemond.

"Ae-." Your voice barely came out, a tiny squeak at best.

"Rest your voice, my lady, your prince is safe." The woman says and walks away and bends down to grab something. She stands back up and she has clothes in her arms. "Your family needs you." She held her hand out to you and you shakily grab it. She helps you plant your feet on the cold floor and your legs shake, the last piece of cloth falling leaving you naked. "Hold onto the table." 

You slowly turned around and held onto the stone slab. Her hands touched your back and she rubbed her finger along the scars.

"They will heal nicely."

"H-How am I alive?" You ask lowly, she smiles behind you.

"Thank your dragon and the Lord of Light, my lady." 

-

You've heard of the Lord of Light, but you didn't believe in him. You didn't even believe in the Seven. But as you walked through the temple with Seraphine, the priestess who brought you back, this lord of light seemed to be even more real. 

Seraphine gave you a pair of pants and a black long tunic. Your hair burnt at the edges, ultimately damaging some of your hair. 

"Where is Vermithor?" You were still trying to find your voice.

"He has taken the liberty and made a home in a field feeding on cows." There were two guards standing post in front of the door. One nod from Seraphine and they opened the doors. The bright lights outside made you stumble. A servant of the temple appeared and he held a pouch of food and a canteen of water. “May I ask you something?” 

You nodded.

“What did you see when you passed?” She asks, almost desperately but keeping calm. 

“Nothing. I saw nothing.” You say and she lets out a quick sigh.

"May the Lord of Light guide you" Seraphine says. You took the pouch from the servant and nodded at them.

"Thank you." You say to both Seraphine and the servant, and maybe to R'hollor himself. 

-

Volantis, that is where you ended up. That is where Vermithor brought you, which confused you. Vermithor has no history of ever being near here, so how did he know to come here?

But the dragon wasn't a hard miss. He lay comfortably in the field. The people of Volantis had started huddling up and pointing at the beast. Some had never seen a dragon or it's been too long. You pushed past them and with one look at your hair and your approach to the dragon, they all backed off and whispered.

"Who is she?"

"Lady Y/n Targaryen? That is her dragon up there."

"But she's supposed to be dead, killed by her lover."

"That has to be Daemon Targaryens eldest."

Vermithor raised his head when he noticed you and raised it to his full height. He then lowered his neck so he could greet you. You reached up and the second you touched his warm, scaly skin you smiled. Smiled hard, you weren't sure how long you had been dead but it felt great.

"I am in debt to you." Vermithor gave a small growl of acknowledgment, the large dragon then showed you his neck so you had access to the ropes of his saddles. "Take me home."

-

Aemond stood in her bedroom. Memories of the two flooded him. The amount of times he has snuck in here and the times he almost got caught. Her bed was still made since the last time she was there.

It was hard to believe barley a week ago she was begging him to join her. Barley a week since he watched the life leave her eyes the next day.

"Daemon's taken Harrenhall." Jace's voice came from behind him. Aemond turned around to see his nephew in his riding gear and armor. Aemond walks towards him, hair swaying behind him to bump into the boy in front of him. Jace's fists clenched then he relaxed. "I know what your intentions are." Aemond stopped walking. "She wouldn't want you to do that, uncle."

"That is not of your concern, I will look for her regardless of where I am." 

-

Vhagar is the largest dragon alive. She is a hardened warrior. But that doesn't mean she isn't an easy target for ships, as her old age has made her slower and less agile. Her dragon fire is devastating but it won't do anything if she is shot out of the sky. 

Jace and Vermax focused more on the actual people on the ships rather than destroying the ships. Leaving that to Aemond and Vhagar.

Everything was going well until Aemond witnessed Vermax get caught in a grapple and yanked down. No doubt the dragon's death was immediate. Jace leapt off and crashed into the water and Aemond knew his nephew was in trouble. Vhagar dove and the men on the ships brought their crossbows out.

But before Aemond could yell the word 'Dracarys'. Another dragon swooped in under him and instantly laid waste to the ships. It forced Aemond to pull Vhagars reigns and urge her to stop.

Anyone familiar with any of the dragons can recognize the Bronze Fury. But Aemond was more than familiar with the Bronze Fury. Aemond leaned over Vhagar to catch a glimpse at the dragon flying below. 

The silver hair stood out against everything else. 

Aemond felt his heart skip multiple beats. He blocked out all the chaos, Vhagar maneuvering herself around spears. He is no longer worried about Jace. Aemond gripped the reigns and leaned forward.

"Pikagon(follow), Vhagar!" The dragon dipped down and followed behind Vermithor. Aemond was intent on getting a look at the rider. 

The combination of Vhagar and Vermithor fire destroyed the majority of the fleet. Less than 15 ships remained before white flags were waved and the retreat began. 

Aemond could barely focus, his sole attention on Vermithor. But then the dragon changed direction and flew away. Aemond, with no hesitation, followed. 

Vermithor Landed on a sandbank and Vhagar circled until she landed as well. The dragons stood opposite of each other. Aemond shakily made his way down until his boots hit the sand. The person on Vermithor made the same action. 

Aemond walked forward a few steps and he saw you. He saw you from that great distance. His legs were moving before he could register it. 

"Aemond!" He heard his name come from your voice and it spurred him faster. You had started running too, but Aemonds long legs had him reach you much quicker. You crashed into him but he held himself so he only stumbled. He grabbed your arms and looked at you. He looked you up and down. 

"H-How? I watched you die." Aemond's eye started to gloss and suddenly his eyepatch was growing irritating. You shakily brought your hands to his face and caressed his cheek with your thumb. 

"Vermithor took me to Volantis and a red priestess brought me back. The Lord of Light brought me back." 

For a moment Aemond believed he died and just hasn't realized it. But it all felt too real. 

"I'm sorry, I'm so fucking sorry." He pressed his forehead against yours and let the tears fall freely, the same tears falling from his other eye started to accumulate in his eyepatch. 

"It wasn't your fault."

"I should have just left with you the first time."

"There was no way we could have known, but I'm back, and hopefully for a long time." Aemond sucked in a sharp breath and stumbled backward. You grabbed his arms tightly and his knees buckled so he landed on them. You went down with him and wrapped your arms tightly around his shoulders.

Aemond laid the side of his head on your chest so he could feel and listen to your heartbeat. He takes continuous deep breaths and you cradle the back of his head. Your fingers then unbuckled his eyepatch and you tossed it into the sand. 

"Aemond." He looks up, his violet eye matching yours. The sapphire shining. "I'm here, I'm okay." He swallowed harshly and looked around. 

No enemies to be seen. Just your dragons on opposite sides of the sand bank and the burning of ships in the distance.

No one was there to take you away from him again. 

Aemond kisses you like he never did before. He wrapped his arms securely around your body and pulled you onto his lap. 

He grabbed at your clothes and pinched the material tightly. He kissed you as if his life depended on it. But it was all too much for you and you pulled pack. He pushed his face into your neck, his cold nose making you shudder. His thin lips pressed against your neck, followed by multiple pecks along the skin. 

"Aemond no." He now laid sloppy wet kisses. "I smell of dragon and death." 

"Don't care."

'Cough, Cough'

Aemond pushed you to the side and scrambled to his feet. Unsheathing his sword in the process.

Jace shook his hair and hacked up more salt water. 

"Jace." You whisper and scramble up but this time running to him. "Jace!" 

He looked up from the sand to see your figure and his eyebrows furrowed.

"Y/n?" You collapsed to your knees and pulled him in. "B-But you're- am I?"

"No, you're not. I'm here Jace, I'm alive." He was trying to take in the information but exhaustion came over him and he slumped in your arms. Aemond walked up behind you to inspect his nephew.

“We need to get him back to Dragonstone.” 

-

Word reached Daemon in Harrenhall as soon as possible when the Bronze Fury was seen at the Gullet. He was back on Caraxes immediately to fly out. Velaryon and Triarchy ships were still ablaze but no sight of any dragons. The next best place would be back to Dragonstone. 

And he was right. Daemon sees Vermithor being tended to by the dragon keepers. He landed Caraxes and walked in through one of the many entrances to the castle.

He passed servants on his way to the council room, helmet clenched in his fist. They stared at him or their eyes would widen at the sight of him. Two guards at the door pushed it open for him. Everyone’s eyes turned to him and they grew silent. 

His eyes couldn’t help but trickle over to the bundle of silver hair. Baela and Rhaena stood there hugging you. Daemon’s hand went weak and the helmet clattered to the ground loudly.

You split from your sisters and smiled at Daemon.

“Father.” Daemon didn’t move from his spot when you reached him. He grabbed you and pulled you in tightly. 

“I- how? When?” He wanted to ask so many questions but you shook your head. 

“I'm here, that's all that matters.” Daemon stayed silent and held you tighter. 

-

Criston’s execution was minutes after the reunion. Death by dragon. Baby dragons, juvenile dragons. It was a horrifying watch.

-

“Do you think the red god exists?” You ask Aemond as he gently drags his finger along the healing puncture marks. 

“There are many gods.” You lean against his chest, the water in the tub sloshing. 

“Have you read about this one?” 

“There isn’t much in the library.” He kissed the side of your head and you tilted your head back. 

“And there has never been a resurrection recorded.” Aemond tensed up. 

“We don’t even know if you were actually dead, you could have passed out and I simply missed it.” 

“You watched me die,  Aemond. You saw me dead.” Aemond rolled his head and shook it side to side. “I saw nothing, the whole time there was nothing. No dream, no god to take me someplace, none of our ancestors talked to me. It was just nothing.” You started to cry and grasped the edges of the tub. Aemond wrapped his arm securely around you and cradled you. 

“I'm sorry, I'm sorry.” 

It wasn’t until you stopped crying that you could speak clearly again. You stared at the candle, the fire flickering back and forth.

“Aemond?”

“Hmm.”

“I want to give my thanks to this, god.” Aemond sighed but pressed his cheek onto the top of your head. He refused to fight about something like this. 

“Whatever you need, I am here.” The rumble coming from his chest when he spoke was comforting. 

“Avy jorrāelan(I love you).” You say and kiss his bicep. “He is the one who brought me back to you.” 

-

A/n- holy fuck, two fucking years later lol

[danxiex0]

When it comes to Omegaverse HoTD I don't think a lot of people realize the full potential of it.

Picture this:

Lucerys Velaryon is the first Omega born into the Targaryen line since the doom of Ol Valyria. He gets spoiled.

Rhaenyra has only the finest clothes made for him. Daemon will do anything his sweet Omegan son asks of him, even let the little Omega crawl into bed between the two Alpha's because he had a nightmare. Jace is overprotective. Joffrey is Daemons mini in regard to Luke. Rhaena and Baela love their precious little brother so much they would kill for him. Rhaenys would give into his demands, he doesn't even have to demand because the moment Luke wants something she'll give it to him. Corlys will bring him back only the finest pearls and jewels from his travels, the pearls get braded into his hair or sewed into his clothes, the same with the jewels.

So Lucerys gets what he wants, when he wants and if he's denied he has an army of people ready to demand he have it or else.

The whole Vaemond story still happens. Only difference is, Lucerys had asked Daemon and his grandsire not to kill him and instead send him to Grandsire Corlys so that he could deal with his little brother.

The Greens seethe at the fact that Luke doesn't even have to beg.

That night after the whole feast mishap Aemond corners Luke in his chambers and threatens to take his eye.

Lucerys goads his uncle because he was raised by Daemon 'Fuck around and Find out" Targaryen and in the end Aemond kisses him.

No love or passion. Just pure unadulterated rage.

Hate sex ensues, bc it's Lucemond what would you expect.

Aemond regrets it the next day. His repressed ass lashes out and says some very unsavory things, as one does.

Luke and his family leave Kings landing after that and the next time he and Aemond meet again is at Storms end.

Luke is there to deliver a message.

"I am not a dog your mother can just order around. At least King Aegon brings me a marriage pact. So, tell me boy. Which of my daughters will you marry?" Borros asked.

Lucerys looked at the girls. Three Betas and one Omega.

He looks at Aemond and feels his heartbeat quicken and then it stops at the reminder of that day.

'You are a whore just like your mother!'

'Wanton bastard!'

'You bewitched me! That is the only explanation for as to why I ended up in your bed between you whorish thighs!'

Such cruel words and he would swallow the now.

Lucerys looks at Lord Borros.

"Sadly, my Lord none of your daughters would be a suitable match for me as they are either Beta's or Omega. However, there are two Alpha's within this hall. Both of whom have a chance at my hand but only one is not betrothed at nor wed, my Lord," Lucerys said with a kind smile.

Lord Borros had his tongue paralyzed for but a moment before he asked, "What do you meen?"

Lucerys smiled as he could feel Aemonds anger radiating off him in waves.

"What I am saying is that even though I cannot marry your daughters I can still marry you. Think of it my Lord. Lord Borros Baratheon, Lord of the Stormlands and Lucerys Velaryon, Lord of the Tides and Heir to Driftmark. We'd make a handsome pair, wouldn't we?" He asked with a shy smile.

Hook. Line. Sinker.

Lord Borros agrees and two moons later Aegon II Targaryen bends the knee to his sister and Lord Borros marries Lucerys.

Even on his deathbed Borros never questions why his sons, Rhaegar, Rhaegor, Aenys, and Darke, and his daughters, Rhaella, Aemma, Lucera, Deanys, Daela, and Valeria have silver hair and purple eyes.

Nor does he question the closeness of his Omega bride Lucerys and his sworn shield Aemond.

[juniorfor2]

Something I have felt is so frustrating throughout this series is the way that writers use time skips. I know most people hate them, but they seem to hate them because of what is being skipped, not so much for the way they are used.

Cause the writers aren’t just leaving out events during the time skips to get to plot points they want to faster, they are using them to shove in illogical characterization and events. The writers aren’t willing to show us what happened during every time skip, but still expect us to believe everything they say about what happened during that time.

Rhaenyra suddenly forgives Alicent even after being abused by her in court? Guess what, stuff “just happened” during that time skip where it wasn’t so bad.

Rhaenyra and Daemon should be getting along and Rhaenyra should obviously know how hurt Daemon becomes when he isn’t trusted? And she actually shouldn’t be that peaceful because Daemon’s here to support her and that’s literally why she married him? No actually, she’s her father’s daughter now (pls ignore Viserys’, “must you insist on taking after Daemon,” and Rhaenyra’s, “I cannot face the greens alone.”) and they clearly have never built a working relationship in their 6 YEARS of marriage. They really just never knew each other.

Rhaenyra doesn’t connect with her stepdaughters (or somehow connects better to Baela, a mini Daemon - whom she is currently fighting with - rather than Rhaena, a mini Rhaenyra)? Guess what, they just never connected during 6 YEARS together. Is that illogical - no, what are you talking about, it obviously could have happened during the time we won’t show even you. And Rhaena just never developed a personality besides, “I want dragon,” so this is very logical and totally not racist.

Jace somehow just accepts that he’s a bastard without any personal journey? Also a time skip, just believe whatever happens. No, that obviously isn’t important characterization or an important arc.

Alicent seems to become super religious and bigoted from episodes 7-8? Well, yes, but she isn’t THAT bad, and we just wanted it for fun, you can drop it now so make room for Rhaenicent when convenient.

Team Black should have a super interesting family dynamic that should reflect a theme of “found family” with legitimate and illegitimate step-siblings and half-siblings with different hair color and skin color that contrasts so much with Team Green’s similar looking family that breaks apart so easily? You must be joking, Daemon was obviously never involved in his children’s life for 16 years and Jace will not have any relationship with Aegon & Viserys, and Rhaena will act like she’s just a distant nanny to 3 kids she’s clearly never met (they’re definitely not her siblings, pls ignore). But yeah, Aegon now just respects Helaena despite calling her stupid, and he’s certainly never raped her or anyone at all. He’s a family man, what did you guys think he was?

It’s pretty clear that the writers aren’t so much trying to skip past events, as they are using the time skips to shove in whatever characterization they want. Cause if they actually put in the time, none of these characters could really turn out as they are - it would be too obvious. But by using time skips, they can rely on people’s lack of knowledge to essentially shove in whatever head canon they have. And it is so frustrating how easily so many people fall for it.

[romaelettuce]

Proof that Jace and Baela are mini Daemons

[horizon-verizon]

Why exactly does HotD feel the need to ignore that Rhaenyra, Rhaenys, Laena, Baela, and Rhaena already had characterizations that are not only tied to their actions, but also manage to distinguish them from each other while also linking them to one another?

The "boring" and "dry" source material managed to give us five related women who expressed a "Targaryen woman's strength" and agency in five unique (but still related) ways. And HotD thinks it's somehow an improvement to insist that actually, no, they're all just (by circumstance) variations of a "generic targ girl" template.

The same people who removed Jace's accomplishments, which in turn were a statement about Rhaenyra, and filled in the characterization void they left by portraying him as a mini-Daemon moreso than Baela, because Baela can't be her mini-Daemon book!self because that suggests a good relationship and Daemon needs to have as many of his good qualities removed as possible and as many new crimes invented as possible, including one that necessitates stripping Laena of her characterization, in order to service an invented "redemption arc" that will be used to justify removing Rhaena's characterization for a nonsensical dragon conflict that consumes her whole identity to the point that she ends up merged with another character she has nothing in common with.

You can't change core traits of characters from a book like Fire & Blood. The fact that the characters feel so "utilitarian" might make it feel like you can. But the fact that they're utilitarian means that all those (interconnected) traits are there for a reason because all their (interconnected) actions are driven by those traits.

And yet something tells me these writers are going to try to make a statement about "hubris."

The fact that the characters feel so "utilitarian" might make it feel like you can

@rhaenin-time

If Condal or Hess said this, flame them. If you can't design a person from the role given in the original work, you shouldn't be a creative writer. I really hate that you might be right about the hubris. Like, why the blacks? So do the Starks have hubris for having pride in their house or loving their family? No, so why the Targs and esp the blacks? Though they revealed themselves to be as close to Targ antis as they can get from all their marketing-focused internet search for how the general fandom regards the Targs and their narrative roles.

Part of the reason why they might think of these characters having no real distinct personalities is that they've never really adjusted to reading the book and picking up on characters from the mix of setting, actions, and words. The lack of PoVs triggers a certain wrong kind of detachment.

[missglaskin]

I’m rewatching House Of The Dragon and when watching episode 7, I suddenly thought what would happen if instead of Aemond taking Vhagar, the reader in your yandere House Of The Dragon did?

I think it would change a lot but I wondered did u have any thoughts on this?

So obviously this is going to change a lot of things. As for one Aemond taking Vhagar was the chain of events that led to the loss of his eye. But we will pretend that it happens either way in different circumstances. So vack to my main point. 

The reader claiming Vhagar will certainly bring out all sorts of reactions. There is obviously most of the characters surprised that the reader could pull such a thing as assuming she doesn’t have the blood of old Valyria. I could see the Targaryens using this moment as proof that the reader is one of them. 

Viserys while slightly worried given Vhagar’s size, he’s so proud of the reader. It still doesn’t stop his mini heart attacks when he sees the reader riding Vhagar. Daemon is also proud of the reader and you can ensure the two will be seen up in the wide sky racing one another. It also makes him a bit emotional considering how both his father and wife claimed her as well. Rhaenyra reacts similarly to Daemon though I see her missing the times you were dragonless. As it meant you would ride with her on Syrax. 

Corlys and Rhaenys are proud as well. Though Rhaenys like Rhaenyra will miss the times you would ride on Meleys with her. She’s also is a bit emotional considering how Laena claimed the dragon before you. 

When it comes to Alicent and Otto. They express their support but they are also very worried for your safety. Otto is a bit frustrated with you claiming Vhagar as it’ll be much harder for him to ensure your stay in king’s landing. 

The majority of the children are happy to see you claim a dragon. While Rhaena wished to claim the dragon before you, she still expresses her joy. In her eyes, as long as it’s you, then that’s all that matters. Aemond is the tricky one, he too had plans to claim Vhagar but like Rhaena, he can never hold a grudge against you. And if anything it will encourage him further to claim a dragon as to be able to fly with you one day. There’s also Jace, Baela, and Aegon who are eager to race and fly alongside you. 

With the reader claiming Vhagar and with whoever side she picks, they will have the advantage of having the biggest dragon on their side. The problem does arise as neither side don’t wish to see the reader fight in battle.

[watcherintheweyr]

i think your idea that viserys named naerys after rhaenyra it's so sweet, i'm crying it rare seeing such lovely post in this fandom especially about viserys since for some reason people say he hated his mother

do you have more ideas or headcanon like that? if you do i would love to know

People only think Voserys hated his mother bc they have poor critical thinking skills. He and Aegon mourned her their whole lives. She loved them and raised them to be phenomenal princes and kings. I don't particularly like Viserys II but I can't deny he's effective.

As for other similar headcanons... hmmm....

I think Rhaenyra and Daemon would've had more kids if they'd been able- and girls would've been names Visenya, Alyssa, and Aemma.

I think Rhaenyra specifically.picked Mornong's egg for Rhaena because the lovely pink and strong black made her think of her stepdaughter.

I think that while Baela and Rhaena obviously love and miss their mother and carry many of her traits, I think that while Baela is Daemon's mini-me, Rhaena is Rhaenyras. I've had that hc since the book- and in the show, Rhaena often matches her dresses to Rhaenyras, and from what we've seen of her in s2 she's started styling her hair similarly to how Rhaenyra did at her age, and appears to be wearing Rhaenyras gold necklace from her wedding (or a very similar one!)

Rhaena had six daughters with her second husband and I firmly believe that while Baela named her daughter Laena, Rhaena defied political niceties, and named one daughter Rhaenyra. And perhaps another daughter was named a feminine version of Lucerys- to honor her first betrothed, who she clearly had a good relationship with.

I think that Luke and Rhaena would have made a fantastic Lord and Lady of the Tides- and Baela and Jace would've been among the best rulers Westeros ever had.

I also will die on the hill that if she hadn't been so deeply sabotaged and destroyed by grief and betrayal, Rhaenyra would've been a solidly good queen.

I think that Cregan, Jace, and Baela would've been the OT3 to end all OT3s and I honestly think Cregan mightve considered staying south to be Jace's hand, if things had played out differently.

I definitely think Aegon3 wanted to name his sons for the brothers he lost, but was pressured out of it due to the political unrest. And honestly, sadly, I do think Viserys would've been the one to dissuade him, and that likely would've deeply damaged their relationship

I headcanon that every time Rhaenyra had a child, Syrax laid a clutch- their bond is shown to be so deep to the point that they share paim, and Rhaenyra shows a deep love and respect for Syrax. Honestly all of team Black show their dragons a lot of love and respect- unlike team Green who sort of just use their dragons as tools of war and naught else.

I think if things hadn't ended how they did, Aegon 3 would've claimed Grey Ghost. Their personalities suit one another so well! Rhaenyra would've been so proud, and Daemon would've helped him every step of the way. (Side note, @spreta-invidia wrote the Best aegon3 fic quite literally ever, and he and Grey Ghost... 👀 anyways you should read the fic)

Idk I have a lot of Targaryen headcanons, particularly for Rhaenyra and her family bc they're my favorites of House Targaryen. If you'd like any more feel free to shoot me another ask- but I tend to kinda error 404 when questions are vague so if there's anything specific you'd like to know my headcanons about that'd be super helpful lmao

[darkened-writer]

imagine| VIPERS NO MORE

request||  Ok hear me out, could I request an Alicent x reader story where the reader jumps in front of Rhaenyra. Reader had been a companion to both Alicent and Rhaenyra in the past. Reader's face gets like sliced. Alicent is really upset and she blames herself for everything, you can choose the ending.

pairing|| Alicent Hightower x Fem! Reader

word count|| 2217

warnings|| blood, violence, childhood yearning?

notes|| MERRY CHRISTMAS to whomever celebrates! I’ve been seriously itching to get this request done so I hope you enjoy! I am also willing to make into a mini series. The request was from @memarrymilf​ !

“How could you allow such a thing to happen?”

The king, Viserys, was berating the poor knight in front of him. Alicent Hightower, the queen, sat next to her son  with a horribly worried expression. Eyebrows creased, eye speaking of being in thought. 

“Who had the watch?”

“Young prince was attacked by his own cousins, Your Grace.”

You, Rhaenyra and Alicent’s associate and long time friend, stuck by Daemon Targaryen’s children, wiping blood from their small and sad faces. You knew the heartbreak of losing a parent, your own father having been killed in an old war between royals. And, now having lost a dragon that was promised, you felt heavily for the two girls.

“You swore oaths to protect and defend my blood!”

“I’m very sorry, Your Grace. The Kingsguard has never had to defend princes from princes, Your Grace–”

“That is no answer!”

Alicent’s voice chimed in, “It will heal, will it not, maester?” She sounded forlorn.

“The flesh will heal. But the eye is lost, Your Grace.”

Alicent and Viserys staggered at the news of their son’s eye now being lost, and you felt bad for her. A mother only wants the best for her children.

“Where were you?” Alicent began to antagonize her older son, “Me?”

The answer wasn’t satisfactory, so the woman slapped him and he shook in fear at the anger on her face. 

“Ow! What was that for?”

“That was nothing compared to the abuse your brother suffered while you were drowning in your cups, you fool.” The Regal Hightower woman was seething in anger, a sight that was not rare now a days and never was really welcomed, for she was a force to be reckoned with. But before anyone else could possibly speak or do anything, doors opened and Corlys and Rhaenys rushed down the stairs.

“What is the meaning of this?”

“Baela, Rhaena! What happened? What happened?” The older woman immediately embraced the two girls. Corlys went front and center while Rhaenys was examining the girls for significant wounds. The grand doors opened with a creak and Rhaenyra Targaryen came waltzing in with a face stricken with intense, maternal worry, but what was odd was Daemon was trailing behind her; he looked a bit disheveled, and even you could infer what had been going on. But, on Baela and Rhaena’s mothers funeral day? You felt sick for the girls.

“Jace? Luke!” Rhaenyra rushed to kneel in front of them, trying to assess the damage of Lucerys’s nose. 

“Show me. Show me.” 

His small hand moved from his nose, and a fresh gush of blood fell.

“Who did this?”

“They attacked me!”

“He attacked Baela!”

“He broke Luke’s nose!”

The children continued to shout and make their own arguments and claims of what had happened, “He stole my mother’s dragon!”

“Enough.”

“He was gonna kill Jace! I didn’t do anything!”

“Enough–”

“It should be my son telling the tale!” Alicent now joined the chorus of cries and shouts, until–

“Silence!”

Instantaneous silence at the Kings yell, Jace leaned down to his mother’s ear to whisper something that made her face go deathly pale as she rose. It must’ve been the phrase that started the physical altercation, ‘Bastard’.

“Aemond…” The King made his way down the small bit of stairs slowly, “I will have the truth of what happened. Now.”

“What else is there to hear? Your son has been maimed. Her son is responsible.” Alicent chimed in, “It was a regrettable accident.” Rhaenyra argued back.

“Accident? The Prince Lucerys brought a blade to the ambush. He meant to kill my son.”

“It was my sons who were attacked and forced to defend themselves. Vile insults were levied against them.” Rhaenyra interrupted the Queen from continuing.

Viserys’ perked up, “What insults?”

“The legitimacy of my sons’ birth was put loudly to question.”

“What?”

“He called us bastards.”

The room went silent, even a drop of fabric could be heard across the room.

“My sons are in line to inherit the Iron Throne, Your Grace. This is the highest of treasons. Prince Aemond must be sharply questioned so we might learn where he heard such slanders.”

Aemond peeked from the rather large chair he was sat upon, looking Jace directly in the eye as Rhaenyra spoke, sending a chill up your spine at the view of his now lost eye, bloody, bruised, and mutilated.

“Over an insult? My son has lost an eye.” Alicent’s hand roughly gestured to Aemond.

“You tell me, boy. Where did you hear this lie?”

“The insult was training yard bluster.” Alicent interrupted, “The lot of boys. It was nothing.”

“Aemond… I asked you a question.” A pause, before Alicent spoke once again, “Where is Ser Laenor, I wonder? The boys’ father? Perhaps he might have some say in the matter?”

“Yes. Where is Ser Laenor?”

“I do not know, Your Grace. I… could not find sleep. I had gone out to walk.” Of course she had been on an escapade with her uncle, though it was not hard to doubt considering their tensions when she was just a girl.

“Entertaining his young squires, I would venture.”

There was not a single breath except for the hateful looks both Rhaenys and Corlys sent Alicent. Viserys ignored the looks and continued his earlier conversation with his injured son.

“Aemond… look at me. Your king demands an answer. Who spoke these lies to you?”

Pregnant silence, before he spoke, “It was Aegon.”

“Me?” The other boy looked terrified, “And you, boy? Where did you hear such calumnies? Aegon! Tell me the truth of it!”

“We know, Father…” The room suddenly felt thick with smog, “Everyone knows. Just look at them.”

Most of everyone in the room peers at Rhaenyra and her darling sons, her hand laid calmly on her youngest head, tears welling up in her beautiful eyes. Your own hand came to rest on her shoulder as a semblance of comfort in such a stress filled and embarrassing situation. Alicent visibly looked saddened, but you knew deep down she most likely felt satisfied about his answer, but her eyes lingered on your hand placed firmly on her old friends shoulder.

“This interminable infighting must cease! All of you! We are family! Now, make your apologises and show good will to one another. Your father, your grandsire, your king demands it!”

The sick and wholly decrepit man, our king, began to walk away, his cane clicking against the ground against the awkward silence. Alicent looked frankly appalled on her husband's words, tears in her eyes mirroring Rhaenyra’s.

“That is insufficient.” He turns around to look at Alicent, “Aemond has been damaged permanently, My King. “Good will” cannot make him whole.”

“I know, Alicent, but I cannot restore his eye.”

“No, because it’s been taken.”

“What would you have me do?”

“There is a debt to be paid. I shall have one of her son’s eyes in return.”

The room began to murmur and stir, your eyes widening at her proposition. Your grip tightened on Rhaenyra, helping her push her sons back and away from danger. 

“My dear wife…–”

“He is your son, Viserys. Your blood.”

“Do not… allow your temper to guide your judgment.” He shares brief eye contact with Daemon.

“If the King will not seek justice, the Queen will. Ser Criston… bring me the eye of Lucerys Velaryon.”

“Mother!” The small boy shouts, and you turn to look at Daemon, who seems more antsy than before, worried.

“Alicent…”

“The one you choose can choose which eye to keep, a privilege neither of them granted my son.”

“You will do no such thing.” Rhaenyra defended, beginning to look just as worried as Daemon; if not worse. 

“Stay your hand.”

“No, you are sworn to me!” She yells to Ser Criston, “As your protector, My Queen.”

A sense of relief washed over you, Alicent looking more and more disappointed by the second. 

“Alicent, this matter… is finished. Do you understand?” The king and queen share eye contact for a moment, before the king turns to leave the whole situation all together, but he must leave a brief message.

“And let it be known: anyone whose tongue dares to question the birth of Princess Rhaenyra’s sons should have it removed.”

“Thank you, Father.”

Rhaenyra leans down to console her sons once again, yourself choosing to look to Rhaenyrs, until chaos strikes. Alicent moved steady towards Rhaenyra with the blade Viserys usually carried at his side, looking like a woman on a mission, and various people began to shout which alerted her to the oncoming attack; but before Alicent could get to Rhaenyra, you grappled her arm holding the blade, holding her firmly in place as Rhaenyra stood shocked at your defense of her. 

“You’ve gone too far.”

“I? What have I done but what was expected of me? Forever upholding the kingdom , the family, the law. While Rhaenyra flouts all about to do as she pleases. Where is duty? Where is sacrifice? It’s trampled under her pretty foot again.”

“Release the blade, Alicent.” Her father, Otto Hightower, spoke, but she did not listen.

“And now she’s take my son’s eye, and to even that, she feel entitled.”

“Exhausting, wasn’t it? Hiding beneath the cloak of your own righteousness. But now they see you as you really are.” Rhaenyra’s words came from behind you and with a push away, the blade penetrates your face within a fast and quick instance, conjuring up blood at your cheek that slips down, down, until the crimson liquid hits the marbled floor with a firm splash. Her face is void and open in shock at what she had just done, shellshocked. The blade in her hand tumbling down and hitting the floor to mirror the bloodshed that she had just committed. Rhaenyra caught you as you fell back in your own shock.

Your old friend, someone you had been especially close to since childhood, sliced your face open.

But, now Aemond was up from his seat, eyes turning to him instead of the commotion.

“Do not mourn me, Mother.” She looks at him, “It was a fair exchange. I may have lost an eye… but I gained a dragon.”

“This proceeding is at an end.”

Ser Criston releases Daemon, and he makes haste in reuniting his children and Rhaenyra, looking at Alicent with the same gaze as the rest of the family, stern, dark, and direct. Your gaze however is sad, seeing the beautiful woman you had longed for now crying tears of regret and blame. Rhaenyra was hailing for the maester to help you, but within the blood flowing into your eyes, you could see Alicent making her way out of the room, obviously upset.

You couldnt follow her though, as the blood kept coming, and coming. The pain now arising now that the adrenaline was wearing off.

“Stitch her up, please!”

Rhaenyra was panicking, but you just let them drag you off to get cleaned up.

-

“Lady L/N, Your Grace…”

The red clad handmaiden introduced you into Alicent’s room, and the older womans gaze leapt to the door immediately. Taking in the gash across your face, the dried blood lingering on your hairline, and the missing piece of lip from your face.

You didnt look grotesque by any means, but that didnt stop her from looking visibly shaken by your appearance.

The Handmaidens bowed and left the room swiftly, leaving you two alone along with the fireplace. Alicent was wearing a fured piece over her dress, looking stunning next to the warm light of the fire. 

“Say your piece..”

“What piece would that be?”

Her eyes were on the fire, trying not to make eye contact.

“I lost composure.. Assaulted you. Almost assaulted the princess. Word is spreading that I’ve gone ‘mad’.”

Alike to her childhood-self, she was intensely fiddling with her fingers, peeling back skin, hurting herself, so you let your hands drift to hers to stop it.

“I disgraced myself… assured that our past friendship as a trio is now within fire.”

“Alicent-”

“It was an ugly thing and its all my fault.”

“You acted based off of the fact that your son lost an eye.You are a mother, mothers will protect.”

Her bottom lip quivered, eyes watery and tracing your new scar.

“The Maester… he said it’ll scar but Valaryian Steel cuts clean.”

“I hurt you… I..-”

Her hand reached up and gently outlined the red and bulging cut, before her thumb settled on your bottom lip, lingering, waiting. 

“I scarred your pretty face…”

“Pretty? Alicent..”

“Shh.. just listen. I.. I regret never acting on such feelings I held in my youth. Feeling that would have people hailing from the streets that I am, Queer. But now that I am older.. married and a mother, I can't help but yearn for you once again..”

A tender look, one of great and long love that has aged over time was painted over her face. 

“I love you.. Gods… I have loved you for years…”

“Kiss me.”

Her face sprung with surprise.

“What?”

“Kiss me, Alicent…”

With the hand she had held to your face, she cupped your jawline with a passion she hasn't held in forever, and connected your lips together like a completed puzzle.

Vipers No More.

[princesssszzzz]

I think if daemon is neglectful to baela it’s probably not because it’s laena’s daughter but because she’s A daughter. We already saw he’s okay with the strong boys and guides them. So it’s natural he would want to do the same and teach more of his #1 skill aka warfare to his sons who need to do this to prove themselves and secure their position (unlike baela from whom fighting isn’t necessarily expected, she’s probably expected to carry children like aemma says)

Not excusing misogyny in any way though. If baela is interested (and she is!) he should pay her good attention

I’m also bitter they cut out the scene of him comforting his daughters after their mother’s death

I think people are mixing headcanons, show canon, and book canon for Daemon as a parent or stepparent. And then I think people are mixing up personal vs political interactions. Show only what we see on screen for season 1, Daemon has not built a deep personal connection with anyone from the younger generation regardless of gender. He’s not teaching Jace how to fight, and his interaction with him is very “professional” and dismissive. He didn’t teach Jace to speak Valyrian. At this point, all we know is they just happen to live under the same roof together and any type of bond Jace would feel as a fatherless young man is not being reciprocated by Daemon. Daemon is not going out of his way for Jace the way Rhaenys has done for Baela. That’s why I dismissed Harry Collett’s “Jace wants to be a mini Daemon.” He’s speaking for his character’s POV, not Daemon’s. His scene with Jace during the finale is a result of his brother dying and him wanting the “heir” to force people’s loyalty during a war, there was nothing fatherly to me in that scene. Harry did say in an interview Jace is acting professional with people, and I agreed with him because that’s also how I saw it. It’s not father/son interactions but the fandom has collectively agreed Daemon is the “father that stepped up” but is he really?? The directors can want people to think this but really what is on screen?

Daemon only brought Aegon and Viserys to King’s Landing to petition his brother and ask him for something, not out of pride for his sons and wanting to show them off. Same as Rhaenys said, Rhaena was only brought there as a tool to get something from her. Phoebe Campbell even said this new set up is not what’s being portrayed. Rhaenyra is not her new mother like some people claim and Rhaena sees Aegon and Viserys literally as half brothers so everyone is not as close as the fandom keeps claiming. Daemon does not participate in any conversation around Baela and Rhaena getting betrothed and just concedes to what others are saying. He doesn’t speak to Rhaena once during the dinner scene despite sitting right next to her, and now we know from that interview that it was on purpose.

The closest thing to a fatherly Daemon was him teaching Baela Valyrian in Pentos, her kissing his cheek, and her laughing at him at dinner in Pentos. After that he completely checks out so I’m waiting for season 2 to decide what exactly he’s doing as a parent. The only attention Daemon has paid to Harwin’s sons is just as an extension of their mother. If they really wrote him to only ignore Baela AND Rhaena because they are Laena’s daughters or if he’s generally ignoring all his kids like Matt Smith says we can’t tell right now. I don’t fully agree with all the actors because Matt Smith has contradicted himself before regarding Daemon and who he has love for, so we’ll have to wait and see. Show Daemon for Baela and Rhaena, I would like their interactions to be personal, with them talking about Laena and how the girls are feeling and not political just talking about the war like he’ll do with Jace. My POV if Daemon is going to build some form of semi-decent relationship with any children going forward in S2/S3 it’s gonna be Baela. The question is if the writers will bother to do her justice or just dismiss her like they did Laena.

[viserya-firstofhername]

Ulf gets to touch Jace's curls, but Baela doesn't? Baela...cut this man's hand off. He is touching your husband-to-be!

When I tell thou I spit my negroni sbagliato, with prosecco in it, all over mine screen reading that, tis not a jest.

To be fair 'twas most sexy of Jace how he targ-handled it. Much mini-Daemon of him.

[presidenthades]

I am doing very minor revisions of Daemon’s Handbook (mostly formatting and continuity errors), and I wanted to do some behind-the-scenes commentary before too much time passes and I forget my original thoughts. Here’s Chapter 1!

DO NOT read these commentaries until you have finished reading the entire Handbook! There are many spoilers in each commentary for future chapters

(Note that these commentaries aren’t canon to the verse until/unless the author writes them into the series. I might change my mind on a few points later, but these are the thoughts I had while writing.)

Chapter titles are named for Daemon’s very bad parenting advice if he were writing an actual handbook.

The rumors that Rhaenyra’s kids are bastards started from a combination of a) black hair and b) Harwin still being unusually close/romancing Rhaenyra even if he isn’t the bio father. But when Jace grew old enough to look like a mini Rhaenys, most reasonable people gave it up.

JOFFRIDA. I was considering the name Jocelyn at first, but I wanted to lean into Laenor naming his third kid after Joffrey Lonmouth. There’s no obvious feminine version of Joffrey, though. Then I decided Laenor seems like the type to tack on a feminine suffix and call it a day. 😂

Daemon is convinced Aemond is a prude. We know how that turns out in Chapter 9.

Aegon starts out a bit afraid of Rhaenyra. He shows more backbone later (especially Chapter 9) but I like to think he’s always going to be a bit afraid of her.

“Oh well, not Daemon’s problem.” (Re: Hightower boys and how they grow up) 😂😂😂

Joff’s curse tablets are inspired by the ancient Roman curse scrolls wherein people wrote things like “Livia has done me great wrong. O gods of the Underworld, make her go bald and die a painful death. If you do this, I’ll sacrifice five goats to you.” Why doesn’t she use a curse tablet again in the story? I’ll flesh it out elsewhere in the series, but TLDR magic has a price and Joff learns this very early in her life.

Vaemond’s funeral eulogy in this verse doesn’t go so hard on “our blood runs true” (he knows the girls are legitimate) but maybe he makes some quips about women and motherhood and sacrifice. Nothing overtly terrible but he’s thinking about the future of Driftmark, which is currently slated to pass to a girl after Laenor, when he thinks it would be best for Driftmark to stay within the male line. So he uses the eulogy to subtly push his agenda. I’m not going to go into more detail here because I might write out his actual eulogy one day, but that’s the gist.

Daemon shies away from comforting his daughters in this chapter. He eventually grows out of this in Chapter 7 (with Baela) and Chapter 11 (late night discussion with Rhaenyra).

Driftmark Lite! I decided not to have Aemond lose his eye at Luce’s hand for several reasons. First, I thought it would be tonally inappropriate; this fic strongly leans toward comedy, and the canon fight would have been too heavy. Second, a lot of this fic is me exploring what would be different if Rhaenyra’s kids were girls, and I thought this would definitely change.

In the GOT/HOTD universe, highborn girls are way less likely than boys to carry blades. Girls like Baela and Arya are rare exceptions. Girls like Sansa are much more the norm. If we’re going by traditional gender norms, girls are probably encouraged to talk their problems out rather than fight it out, as boys might.

So the fight doesn’t escalate as badly because Jace is trying to be peacemaker, and instead of bastard insults, Aemond uses the playground taunt of “you’re a bunch of wussy girls wah wah” (which only provokes Baela).

But the fight DOES escalate to a degree when Aemond specifically insults Luce about things she’s very sensitive about, i.e. her reading struggles and little phobias like rats. Luce retaliates by kneeing him in the groin, which is a move a girl is far more likely to use than a boy on another boy.

Later, Alicent freaks out a bit because she’s in “overprotective mother” mode but once she takes a breather, she realizes it isn’t that huge a deal and lets it go (but this is yet another reason she doesn’t really like Luce).

Daemon 100% got hit in the groin before, and no one can convince me otherwise. Who did it? Dunno. Are they still alive? Probably not.

Laenor’s mysterious death!!! Was it Joff? Did she use her curse tablet? Did she do it because she hates her name? We’ll have to find out when I eventually write her POV.

Chapter 2 commentary here

[allyriadayne]

What were your highlights of the trailers?

in no particular order

1) AEGON!!!! I was very surprised by how much he featured in the trailers. i had the inkling aemond would feature more heavily because he's the usual fan favorite but i loved that they really took the time to show more of less what aegon will be and do next season. loved his scenes with alicent and larys (!!!!) and i loved seeing him have almost complete autonomy and make decisions! i want him to get worse and this showed me a lot of promise. i'm still a bit ambivalent about the new wig because i liked the other one, but nbd.

2) Larys. a lot of torturing and spies this season which means a lot of larys too! i've been heheing too close to the sun by imagining how the aegon/larys dynamic was going to be but i had no hope of even seeing a little bit in the trailers. silly me because he was there!!! surprised by them having a mini arc beginning from the end of b&c to before & after rook's rest. also a new still of larys was so great for me personally because he was styled v differently from the usual.

3) Baela. Baela riding moondancer and fighting (?) at rook's rest as a foreshadowing for her fight with aegon later. SICKKK. her wigs and rhaena's (and rhaenyra's!) were also better so it's was a big highlight for me. more screentime for my girl!

4) Jace. I imagined he would be in the trailer for the stark nostalgia and he was, but i liked the parts where he was mommy's little diplomat in the dinner with the other dragonseeds. i was half afraid he was not going to be included but i'm glad he is. seated next to addam nonetheless!!!!! another win for my jaceaddam agenda. we also saw hugh and ulf and baela directly in front of jace soooo cute.

5) daemyra failmarriage. no daemon on luke's funeral scene nor in the dragonseed dinner. he's obviously in harrenhal and i think we see him in maegor's tunnels (?). they are soo cooked i love them. rhaenyra also looked v stern and passionate which is good because i was also ambivalent on showing her completely destroyed by luke's death like in the book. daemon looked so hot ngl i love daemon in armor so much.

6) the bracken twink taking on four blackwoods at the same time. my family!!!

special mentions to the blurry background images of tyland lannister, alicent looking like the saddest woman in the word and freddie fox looking like freddie fox in a horse.

[aeksion-aekse]

WHISPERS OF THE DRAGON & THE FAWN

Chapter 6: Misspoken Words & A Mindless Curse

tag list 🏷️ : @eiralune @rozendiors @mini-kunoichi @noeverse @flippydippydoo @thought--bubble

word count: 2515 words

WARNING: ANGST, NIGHTMARES, CANONICAL EVENTS

FLASHBACKS = PINK

DREAMS = ORANGE

Brinaera’s POV

It seemed as if everything had gone to shit since Daemon, Rhaenyra and her sons came to the Red Keep, like a dog scratching at old wounds. Memories of the past returned, like the tides to shore on Blackwater Bay, and though mine weren’t especially horrible, didn’t mean that the memories in general weren’t unpleasant. It was like constantly tiptoeing on shards of broken glass and minding your tongue on every word.

I tried my hardest to keep my mind occupied from the memory of Aegon trying to have his way with me, and for the most part, I was succeeding. Despite it being only a few days ago, at certain moments I could feel his lingering touch and it made my skin crawl. But when I went to bed that night and was asleep in my bedchambers, I felt as if…. I wasn’t alone through the night, but they left before I awoke. But I knew it wasn’t Aegon. No, it wasn’t, yet the presence still felt masculine. 

Tonight was the night we were all supposed to have a feast together: Myself, Aemond, Aegon, Helaena, Viserys, Alicent, Otto, Daemon, Rhaenyra, Baela, Rhaena, Jacaerys and Lucerys. I knew it would be a tense feast, but much like anything else, I had to grit my teeth, smile and power through it. 

After Ursa was finished getting me dressed for the feast, I was escorted by Ser Criston Cole to the dining room, seeing all the faces so familiar to me and smiling at them all.

“Rhaenyra, Daemon, lovely to see the both of you again, you look well. And Baela, Rhaena, Jace, Luke…. You have all grown.”

I could see the awkward smiles from Rhaenyra’s sons and Daemon’s daughters, the pleased smile from Rhaenyra and the natural grin from Daemon. Although tension in the Targaryen family is tumultuous at best, the common census was that I was well liked, for the most part.

“Lady Brinaera, you look beautiful tonight. It’s been some time since we’ve seen you.”

I turn my head to look at Jace and slightly raise my brow, a small and cordial smile on my face. He wasn’t wrong, the last time I had seen any of Rhaenyra or Daemon’s children was that night in Driftmark. That very night Aemond lost his eye by Jace and Luke’s hands.

“Prince Jacaerys…. It has been some time indeed. As I said previously, you have all grown since we last saw each other in Driftmark.”

I could see the faint hue of pink spread across Jace’s cheeks and even the tips of his ears at my words, and hearing faint chuckles at the table. But as I went to take my seat at the table next to Aemond, I could see something slightly off with him. He looked tense, and his jaw looked tight, like he was clenching his teeth. 

As the feast continued, with a few tense things occurring, such as Aegon giving Jace the talk, Helaena’s speech to Baela and Jace dancing with Helaena, nothing could’ve prepared me for what was about to occur next. Aemond put his fist down on the table and rose from his seat, raising his goblet.

“Final tribute. To the health of my nephews: Jace… Luke… and Joffrey. Each of them handsome, wise… hm… strong.”

I could feel my jaw slightly clench at Aemond’s words, knowing exactly what he was insinuating and trying to get at. I could feel my eye twitch slightly as I heard Alicent call Aemond’s name, as if it were a warning, but of course they fell on deaf ears. But of course, Aemond spoke once again, and all I could do is white knuckle grip my goblet, gulping down wine as this all played out.

“Come… let us drain our cups to these three…Strong boys.”

“I dare you to say that again.”

Aemond then turned his attention to Jace and spoke, walking towards him.

“Why? ‘Twas only a compliment. Do you not think yourself Strong?”

But of course, even more chaos erupted, Jace throwing a weak punch to Aemond’s face, Aegon pinning Luke down to the table and Aemond shoving Jace down to the ground before laughing and walking back to his seat. Alicent then walked up to Aemond and asked the question I couldn’t, feeling myself become angry. 

“Why would you say such a thing before these people?”

“I was merely expressing how proud I am of my family, Mother.

Mm, though it seems my nephews aren’t quite as proud of theirs.”

After all of this mess, we were all instructed to go to our quarters and as I was heading to where my bedchambers were, I heard swift yet graceful footsteps behind me.  Aemond.

“What is it you want, Aemond? Surely you made enough of a spectacle at the dinner table, no?”

Aemond soon caught up to me and placed a hand upon my shoulder, turning me around to face him. I could see some slight surprise in his single blue eye as he looked down at me, the irritation evident in my voice and my expression.

“Surely you aren’t upset with me for my toast to the health of my dear nephews.”

“You know perfectly well what you were doing, Aemond, do not play coy in this moment. It is ill fitting and unbecoming on you.”

I go to enter my bedchambers and of course, Aemond follows behind me, closing the door with a single swift movement. I sigh and go to the balcony as the pale moonlight illuminated the waters of Blackwater Bay, a slight cool breeze blowing through. Aemond strides over to me, placing a hand next to mine on the ledge of the balcony.

“You wouldn’t be upset with me over something so miniscule, would you, opal… ?”

Seven Hells, there it was, that nickname… the special and prized nickname for me he had, only he could call me that and no one else. I gripped the ledge of the balcony until my knuckles whitened, not even bothering to look Aemond in the eye.

“You belittle them for their blood, something that they cannot help.”

“They are bastards, Brinaera, nothing more.”

I snapped my head up to look at him as I glared at him, my eyes narrowed as they became glossed over with tears of anger. 

“And have you been so quick to forget that I am a bastard as well, Aemond….? Does that earn me the jesting and ridicule of everyone, most of all you as well…. ?”

Aemond just stared at me, his jaw clenched and teeth gnashing together as he failed to come up with words and excuses to veil the rising guilt forming that he would never admit to. 

“I…. I have not forgotten, opal. Not once, but you are different from Jace and Luke, you did not tease me as children, nor scar me for the rest of my life. No, you…. ”

He moved one of his hands up to push some of my hair out of my face, the tips of his slender fingers grazing my cheekbone. The way he stared at me was a gaze I had seen from him a million times over, yet never failed to make me feel something I couldn;t quite place.

“You are different. You are kind and benevolent, you are patient and skilled in ways they could not hope to be. You are my friend, dear opal. And most importantly, you aren’t a threat to the Iron Throne.”

Just as I thought Aemond was being somewhat vulnerable, there was the comment that was the focal point of his words. I wasn’t a threat to the Iron Throne. I grabbed a hold of his hand and removed it from my face, looking away from him and to the moonlit waters of Blackwater Bay, speaking in a flat tone of voice.

“I don’t wish to speak anymore tonight, Aemond, you should retire to your chambers as well. Goodnight…. sapphire.”

Aemond said nothing, and after a couple moments of silence, he left my side and exited my bedchambers, closing the door behind me. I just moved to look down at my feet, my hand grabbing the dragon pendant of my necklace that Aemond had made for me on my thirteenth name day, biting my bottom lip as it trembled, tears rolling down my face.

Third Person POV

Aemond begrudgingly made his way to his bedchambers and closed the door behind him, making his way to his bed and just sat there, pondering Brinaera’s words. They swirled and echoed throughout his mind like a cacophony of guilt, gnawing away at him like a predator feasting on its prey. He sat there as the pale moonlight slightly trickled into his bedchambers, the faint sound of the Blackwater Bay waves crashing on shore in the distance. He fiddled with his fingers, slightly fidgeting as his dear friend’s words continued to play in his head. After a moment, he looked to the small table beside his bed and stared at a shell. A single shell, one that to anyone else would’ve been meaningless to anyone else, but to Aemond… to Aemond, it meant the world.

Brinaera had run from the lake close to the forest outside the confinements of Driftmark, as fast as her ten-year-old feet could take her. It was dusk and way past curfew, but she managed to make it inside before anyone could spot her. She made it into her chambers and sighed, her hair and feet a mess, her dress covered in mud and satchel full of gems, stones and shells. 

As she sat her satchel down and changed out of her dirty dress into a clean sleeping gown, her door opened and showed Aemond as he closed the door behind him. His left eye gone and sewn shut, a scar on his face, one to remain for the rest of his life. 

“Where have you been? Have you any idea what time it is?”

“I know Aemond, but I was just by the lake and I-”

Aemond walked up to the young Baratheon girl, his hands gripping her arms as he stared her straight in the eyes. He didn’t look exactly happy with his friend’s response.

“You were outside, at dusk, by yourself? Do you have any idea what could’ve happened to you? Gods, you’re so irresponsible sometimes….. ”

Brinaera started to sniffle slightly, as she didn’t like when her friend was upset with her. She reached into her satchel and pulled out a shell that had opalescent nacre inside of it, one that glistened iridescently in the light.

“I…. I found this shell by the lake covered in mud. It was nice and I thought it was pretty and so I got it for you…. I cleaned it off and I want you to have it.”

Aemond tried to remain stoic and wanted to continue to scold his friend for being so careless, but he couldn’t bring himself to stay upset with her. He sighed and rolled his eye, grabbing the opalescent shell and holding it in his hand, his thumb running over the different textures of the shell. He let out a huff and wrapped his other arm around Brinaera’s neck, his hand on the back of her head and gingerly ruffling her hair.

“Thank you, raqiros… I appreciate your gift. Just don’t be stupid enough to go alone after curfew to get it.”

Brinaera just smiled happily yet sheepishly, nodding her head as a small laugh escaped her lips.

“I promise, ñuhys raqiros, I won’t. But now I think it’s best we retire for the night. I will see you in the morning…. sapphire.”

Aemond smiled small, but the first smile he had given since losing his eye. He went to the door of Brinaera’s chambers to leave before muttering a goodnight.

“I will see you in the morning…. opal.”

Aemond looked at the opalescent shell on the bedside table in fondness, a small ghost of a smile on his lips. Of course the both of them had been friends since Brinaera became a ward to his family at the age of three, but it was the moment she gave him that shell…. He knew that she would always be by his side no matter what. But in that moment during the feast as he gave his final tribute, his snub against his nephews was also a snub against the most important person to him. 

He continued to fidget with his fingers as the thought plagued his mind like a sickness, cursing himself for being so prideful. Not because he cared that he insulted his nephews, but because he insulted her, and that was always the last thing he wanted to do. He decided that perhaps… Perhaps it was time to get some rest.

Throughout the night, he tossed and turned restlessly, unable to sleep adequately and muttering nonsense in his broken sleep. Many a nightmare plagued and haunted his mind, unable to escape or run away from them.

Aemond was a boy once again, that ten year old boy in Driftmark as he ran through a dimly lit cavern, with nothing but a flame lit torch. He kept running and running for what seemed like forever until his legs gave out. He kept begging and crying for help, for anyone… until he heard laughter, faint laughter that grew louder and closer. The flames gave enough light to see the laughing figures: Jacaerys, Lucerys, Baela, Rhaena and…. Brinaera… ?

“W-wait, Brinaera, ñuhys raqiros, please… opal, don’t do this.”

Brinaera could only continue to laugh, but it wasn’t that melodic, sweet sounding laugh that Aemond knew well, no… it was an evil, disgusting cackle. 

“By the Seven, don’t you get it Aemond? This is your fault. All bastards are the same, right…. ? Ruthless, evil little brutes. Here, let me show you, sapphire…. ”

Everyone continued to laugh maniacally as Baela and Rhaena pinned Aemond’s arms down to the ground while Jace and Luke pinned his legs down. Brinaera then got close to Aemond’s face with a dagger and grinned, muttering to him. 

“Ao lumie an, ñuhys raqiros…. ”

As the dagger came down on his eye, Aemond jolted awake in his bed, beads of sweat rolling down his face as he panted, his heart racing faster than a dragonrider in the sky. How could he dream of something so horrible? And why was Brinaera the one taking out his eye? She would never bring harm to him. Not once has she ever done something like that and she never, ever will. 

Aemond turned his head to look at the opalescent shell on the bedside table and thought of every memory he had created with Brinaera thus far, feeling himself start to calm down. He laid back down in his bed and grabbed the shell, holding it in his hand and had it close to his chest, and as he started to fall back to sleep, he muttered one last thing.

“Goodnight…. jorrāeliarza…. ”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TRANSLATION:

raqiros - friend

ñuhys raqiros - dear friend

jorrāeliarza - dearest, love

Ao lumie an, ñuhys raqiros - you sicken me, dear friend

[an-abyss-of-stars]

Rhaemond babies content - Jacaela Edition!

The many faces of

Daella Velaryon

Daella is the 2nd born child of both Baela and Jace, she was born 4yrs after her elder brother Aethan (my idea with Jacaela is that while they absolutely love to fuck a lot, Baela is very keen on drinking a daily dose of Moon Tea. She doesn't wish to push out a shit ton of babies, not like Rhaena will eventually 😂😂 so the gaps between Jacaela's babies are a bit bigger).

Daella was born with bright vividly luminescent violet eyes (eyes that made Rhaenyra tear up upon holding her newborn granddaughter, as they reminded her of her own late mother's eyes) and similarly shimmering dark chocolate brown curly hair as her elder brother. Her grandpapa Daemon was nearly choked up as he held his newborn granddaughter, he'd murmured to his daughter "ziry jurnegon sepār hae ao gōntan skori īlē āzma," she looks just as you did when you were born. And it was true, despite her slightly paler complexion, and the slight hints of Jace which graced the babes face, she looked to be very much a little mini version of Baela.

On the list of names that Baela and Jace had prepared should they have a girl, Daella was not their first choice. Originally they thought of Laena, to honour Baela's mother, they thought of Aemma to honour to Rhaenyra's own, they thought of Alyssa to honour their father, Daemon's own mother, and they thought of Daenys, to honour the dreamer that saved their ancestors from the flames of Old Valyria.

But oddly, when Baela held her little girl in her arms for the first time, with her loving husband, Jacaerys sitting by her side, cooing sweetly at their child. They both seemed to wordlessly agree that none of their chosen names truly suited their darling girl. And as their 4yr old son climbed up onto their bed to greet his sister, the rest of their family had been given permission to enter as well. And once the younger children of the family were allowed to meet their new family member, it became a bit more chaotic (granted, I think baby Daella was very chill, so while all of the kids are screaming their suggestions, Daella's just comfortably curling into her mama's arms).

Baela and Jace's 2yr old niece, Vaella, had wiggled in her father's arms bouncing as she suggested proudly that her new cousin should be named Visenya after the conqueror. At that, their own son, Aethan, quickly glared at his cousin and countered that his new sister should be named Rhaenys instead (they didn't know it yet, but the rivalry started even earlier than they thought! 😂😂)

Their little brothers Joff, Aeggie and Vis, now 13yrs old, 9yrs old and 5yrs old. Had their own little opinions with their 9yr old twin cousins Jaehaerys and Jaehaera, the names suggested being Aerea, Alysanne and Viserra. Which as the couple pondered, they agreed were all lovely suggestions...yet still none of them would suit their babe. It would be their sister, ever the quiet perceptive one, Rhaena, who would waddle over to them (so technically Rhaemond's twins Daemion and Aelyx are born the same year as Daella, and story wise I haven't worked out who's born first...but I feel like Daella would be a great Spring baby while the twins feel very Summer to me. So in this instant, let's say Rhaena is still very much pregnant with the twins). Pressing a sweet kiss to her newborn niece, Rhaena smiled at her siblings and said "her name should most definitely start with a 'D', it would suit her. Daenys or possibly Daella?"

Daella had struck Baela instantly, while Jace teetered more on the edge of Daenys. But as Baela hummed the name Daella softly over her babe, she noticed her girl gurgle in delight at the sound, the first name she recognized as something she approved of. And while the children still bickered, the adults knew the matter was settled. The newest member of the Targaryen family finally had a name, Daella Velaryon (partially retroactively named after Rhaenyra's maternal grandmother/Daemon's aunt, but it feels less intentional here 😂)

Unlike Aethan, Daella's dragon had hatched in her crib. A hatchling birthed from a clutch brought by Silverwing and Vermithor (a gift from aunty Rhaena and uncle Aemond). A deep lavender toned she-dragon, that shimmered iridescently especially in natural light. She had horns and claws that were pure white at their base, but bled dark onyx to their tips. Lilarion, Daella would name her, as not similarly to her grandpapa's mount, Caraxes, Lilarion also had a fault in her vocal chords. It was not a physical malformation, not seen by the naked eye, but the she-dragon's roar was often said to sound like piercing shattering glass mixed with the boom of thunder.

As a babe and a toddler, Daella was indeed a favourite of Rhaenyra's (my idea here, is that while Rhaenyra absolutely considers Baela and Rhaena to be her daughters, I think subconsciously there's still the part of her that would have wanted to raise a baby girl from birth. Rip Visenya. And so, while they may not be 'daughters' per se, I think Rhaenyra gets really happy with the chance to help raise her granddaughters/baby nieces). With Vaella only having visited the capital from time to time, Rhaenyra's time with her was limited compared to the time she could spend with her new granddaughter Daella who lived in the castle with her.

So with that fact, Queen Rhaenyra happily brought the little girl with her almost everywhere. Sat upon her lap during council meetings, during hearings upon the throne, and in her mind such obvious devotion was done to prove two points. One, was simply that she'd use any and all excuses at her disposal just to justify carrying her sweet little granddaughter around with her throughout the day. But secondly, it encouraged her serving nobles and subjects to relinquish the notion that any Targaryens born to this family who happened to have dark brown hair should be viewed as anything less than what they were... Targaryens.

It was an example Rhaenyra hoped to instill with her actions, but it was one her husband and King Consort, Daemon, was all too happy to threaten with verbally (I just imagine Daemon walking around or sitting council meetings/throne room hearings carrying an adorable baby while he threatens people like business as usual 😂😂 bonus points if he has Aethan along with him too).

In either case, Daella as a babe was still slightly more coddled than her brother. She was softer, more sensitive, the tiniest little criticism was sometimes enough for her break into tears. She was very self conscious about her hair, about her knowledge of things, and even though she was just as loved and doted upon as her brother had been...there was something waning on her self esteem. Whether it was her ability to learn and repeat Valyrian words back to her parents, or her ability to hold and practice with a practice sword, little Daella seemed to think she was lacking in something.

But it was due to that fact, that Aethan took it upon himself to be her number one protector, as soon as she was old enough to walk and talk, Aethan guarded his sister as if he was her very own little sworn sword.

Little did he know, his younger sister's self esteem issues developed in the face of feeling somewhat inferior to her elder brother. Through no fault of his own, Aethan was effectively the Golden Boy of his family. He was bright and he was quick to grasp things, where Daella needed more visual methods taught to her, she needed teachers with patience and more time to learn things (I kinda want to imply that she's possibly dyslexic, maybe with a medieval sort of neurodivergent vibe to her, but overall just a rather shy kid who needs more interactive learning).

It was a lesson that took her family a few years to understand, especially for her mama. Baela was not one for patience or taking things slowly. Unknowingly, she could become frustrated, speaking directly if not bluntly, she was never harsh or cruel, but to the young toddler, Daella, she took the tone of her mama's frustrated voice rather personally. And it often made her frustrated as well, brought to tears as she became frustrated with herself for no understanding or reaching the correct conclusion in a timely manner.

Oddly enough it had been Baela's very own father, Daella's grandpapa Daemon, who had informed his daughter that her quick insistences on performance and psuedo perfection was stressing her baby girl to bits. And grandmama Rhaenyra could attest to it, that Daella was an incredibly bright girl when given the chance to reach conclusions at her own time. It had been a tearful sit conversation, when Baela took her daughter in her arms and sat with her in the quiet royal gardens one evening. Attempting to apologize to her 4yr old, she reasoned with the toddler, that she'd gotten stuck in a groove of sorts, working at a speed that everyone around her seemed capable of following. But that it wasn't fair for her to try and make Daella function at such a speed, if it was not suitable to her. Daella for her part hadn't entirely understood what her mama was saying, but she understood the emotional beats behind her words. So she simply crawled over to her mama and climbed up upon her lap, hugging her sweetly, nuzzling in against the safe warmth that only her mama could provide. Nodding along an "okay, mama" as if she understood everything.

As Daella grew, she was found to be a particular quiet child. Even when she played with her brother, cousins and uncles, she never seemed to be as boisterous or loud as they were. She liked to play with Jaehaera and Viserys II the most, because they seemed to understand her best. Vis had always been an incredibly patient boy with Daella and while Jaehaera always seemed to be rather chatty in Daella's presence, Daella had never minded. In her cousin's company she grew to find a fondness in romantic tales and myths, glittering gowns, and the idea of shimmering feasts and balls...gleaming white knights and Princes and Princesses. It was an interest Jaehaera had sparked within her, one that carried over to her aunt Helaena. The three of which could often be found reading such romantic tales in the gardens, if not imagining worlds of their own as they played various games.

When she wasn't spending her time with other family members, Daella actually stuck quite close to her papa. Almost always toddling along at his heels, riding on his back, flying with him on Vermax or swinging from his arms. She liked hearing tales from his youth, especially because she loved hearing how all her uncles used to behave when they were young. She loved her papa's bedtime stories, where he always made sure to end things with a happy ending. And she loved to watch him train, even though she herself held no interest in it (try as Baela might, I don't think Daella is a much of a fighter).

As a child, Daella would often sit by her bonded dragon in the pits, the two truly kindred spirits as Daella would curl up with her beast and speak to her of her day's events. Somedays she'd brings snacks to share, books to read together, she'd practice her commands with Lilarion as well as her Valyrian in general. And since under her grandmama's reign, dragons were no longer chained in the pits, it allowed Daella's dragon the opportunity to spend vast amounts of time away from the pits. Free to hunt and spread her wings, to grow larger in an untamed more wild space.

By age 6, Daella would embark on the same splitting of her time between King's Landing and fostering at Dragonstone as her elder brother did.

At first, Daella felt rather uncomfortable on Dragonstone. She wasn't fond of changing her surroundings, and while she knew her cousins as well as her aunt Rhaena and uncle Aemond well enough, she'd never been left completely alone without the opportunity to go to running to her parents should she wish to. For the first couple of weeks, she stayed close to her dragon (which, unlike Daella, I think Lilarion was really happy to go 'home' and spend time with her parents Silverwing and Vermithor 😂😂).

Somedays Daella felt like the odd one out, watching as her brother seamless fit into the games and conversations their cousins would have. Splitting into groups, understanding one another's sense of humours, and overall just making great friends with everyone. To be fair, Daella was never excluded, she just didn't always feel as if she 'belonged'. Her baby steps to working into the group, started with her usual way of picking friends, she started with her like-minded more quiet cousins. By then Aelyx was the same age as her and Valaena was only one year her junior. Together the three of them would often sit in the gardens together, giggling over stories and various ideas they'd had. Eventually, Daella would find her way to warming up to her more boisterous chaotic cousins Daemion and Naerys, finding the two of them often managed to make the most mundane things messy yet amusing.

But the most shocking thing to occur during her time on Dragonstone was the close friendship she struck up with her cousin Vaella. The two girls were most definitely the polar opposite of one another, but maybe something within that is what attracted them to one another. It had happened quite unceremoniously, their bond solidified somewhat easily. Daella would never join her elder cousin and brother in their competitions or their various pranks, but Vaella's outspoken viciousness could be quelled in the presence of her sweet kind younger cousin. Should anyone try to attack Daella's person, appearance, or even ruin something she cared for (I imagine Daemion has ruined a painting or destroyed a toy or two of Daella's...more on that later), than Vaella was quick to defend.

The two girls found commonality with one other in a very close sister-like bond, Daella would watch Vaella train and cheer her cousin on, and Vaella, even to her own father's surprise, would happily sit and listen to Daella read her favourite romance stories even though those were Vaella's least favourite to read herself (they're 100% a parallel to their mother's, Baela and Rhaena being the opposites that they are, that still get along really well. I mean Vaella has that with Valaena in a way too. But with Daella, they're ages are a bit closer. So they're bond is a bit more on par I think).

Daella would eventually find that she quite loved the moons she fostered on Dragonstone. She'd always been fond of her aunt Rhaena from the beginning, maybe due to the fact that she always felt like a sweet warm mama (not that Baela isn't that for her, but I feel like Rhaena just exudes that energy. Like even with her nieces and nephews, she's just got "sweet mama" energy). In the early days, when she felt utterly uncomfortable, Rhaena's kind presence did a lot to comfort her, and maybe it certainly helped that her kind aunt was the near spitting image of her own mama, it seemed to add to the safe feeling she provided. Daella loved reading with her aunt, strolling the grounds with her, analyzing stories and myths, and the stories of lullabies especially.

On the other hand, Daella had been slightly less keen to spend the same amount of time with her uncle Aemond. He'd only ever been kind and welcoming to her, but ever since she was a toddler, she'd always been slightly frightened of him. She thought his usual expressions to be cold and surly, his eye-patch unsettling and his usual hard stalking steps to be the stuff of nightmares. It was in juxtaposition to watch said 'scary uncle' be incredibly soft and loving towards his wife, his children and her cousins. He'd join their games, jest with them, train with them, carry them around jovially and read them to sleep. All things her own papa did with her. It was even more odd to see her own brother be so comfortable and familial with the man, considering Daella usually politely curtsied and bowed, before scurrying away whenever she was made to encounter her uncle. It wasn't until several moons had passed, her second issued stay on Dragonstone, when her uncle found her struggling to read a Valyrian account of Daenys The Dreamer prophetic dreams.

She'd been struggling on several words, pronunciation as well as definitions, before Aemond, having been leaning against the arching door frame of the Dragon Nest's private family library observing her...interrupted her. He didn't do much to announce his presence, he simply corrected a word she'd mispronounced, and in that moment, Daella's heart pounded, she'd wanted to escape. Knowing her uncle to be particular man, she worried he may be like one of her many impatient tutors back home in King's Landing.

Instead though, he'd managed to coax her into staying seated, as he offered to read the book to her. He'd read the book with as much patience as her own papa, eyeing her and asking her if she understood the meaning of the words he'd read. Still somewhat uncomfortable, she mumbled softly if he didn't mind her asking questions, a sentence he obviously quirked a brow at, and there she admitted her own tutors did not always like taking time with her learning. His reply had held as much burning vitriol as if he'd heard such insolence being directed towards one of his own daughters, "you, little one, are a Princess of House Targaryen, no less than any other in our family. Those tutors of yours are meant to serve you, cater to you, not the other way around." (I'm pretty certain Aemond either discreetly or not so discreetly had those tutors killed the next time he visited King's Landing 🤣🤣 he's very a good uncle!)

It was slow goings, but eventually Daella found herself reading with her uncle to be a daily occurrence. She went from sitting beside him, keeping to herself barely leaning near him. To leaning over him just to see the page, to eventually feeling quite comfortable enough to crawl upon his lap and read the books with him. Eventually Daella would find, that a lot of the things she loved about her cousin Vaella, were very prevalent in her uncle Aemond. And very quickly she realized he wasn't scary at all (once she saw his sapphire eye or possibly another gem. Haven't decided if he'll keep the sapphire as his only option. But either way, once she saw it, heard the story behind it, I think it eased her nerves too)...at least none of his vicious dragon's fire was ever aimed at her, and that was good enough.

He quickly became one of her favourite uncles, her champion, her hero (I think little Daella might've had one of those innocent little kid crushes on her uncle Aemond too 😂😂). She'd hold his hand and skip the halls of Dragonstone with him, ramble to him happily about little things and he'd never tell her to stop, always actually listening to her and indulging her, as well as the fact that she'd managed to grasp Valyrian much easier under his tutelage. (I think it's very much a mutual feeling, Aemond is one of Daella's favourite uncles...might be tied with Luke and Viserys II 😂😂 for various reasons, but it's vice versa. Aemond of course still absolutely adores Jaehaera, but I think Daella is right up there as his other favourite niece. He sees a lot of Rhaena in her, I think.)

As Daella grew into a young woman, she began to truly care for court appearances. She really leaned under the tutelage of her aunt Rhaena, as court etiquette was never something her own mama had ever truly enjoyed. As Vaella grew to truly hone in on her skills with the blade and her formidability upon her mount, the Cannibal. Daella instead lived for the art of courting, of balls, of glittering gowns. She loved when there were feasts and festivals to celebrate on Dragonstone most of all, for it gave her many chances to dress up and dance with fanciful young men from several houses and even the Free Cities (I'm imagining the Free Cities mingle a bit more with Dragonstone than the capital/King's Landing, just cause Dragonstone is VERY Valyrian and the culture permeates throughout everything, and people from Valyrian Free Cities might be more likely to mingle there? If that makes sense).

It was around the age of 16 (and followed through to her 18th nameday), Daella's body began to shift. Puberty had taken hold and she'd begun to fill out more than her cousins had. Daella had a pension for sweets, pastries and cakes, as well as savory foods that had all added to her physic. (In other words, Daella is a THICC girl! I've just always imagined her as such, like ever since I created her original art/face!)

Her waist remained nearly fashionably small but her hips had grown wider, curvier, her bottom was rounded and her chest and breast had grown full and defined. (Queue Daemion's crush on his cousin starting soon...)

She'd grown to become just as lovely as her beloved Vaella, she was even the same flattering height as her cousin. Only she was also plumper, less lean and slim than her favoured elder cousin. Which in some ways remained a double edged sword as the two walked the halls in either castle, Dragonstone or the Red Keep. Daella most days already felt like the "other" Targaryen Princess with her brown hair, but now she was also sometimes deemed the "round" one by comparison.

Somedays it dwelled on her feelings more than not, but should she ever feel slighted during a ball or feast, she always had several men who jumped to the opportunity. Her uncles, her cousins, her brother, her papa, and even her grandpapa would be damned to see their precious Daella feeling down and or excluded (I don't think any man/Lord openly slights her, ;like they value their lives, the last guy who did that is certainly dead. Even the ones who thought they could whisper about her behind her back. Take your pick on which family member or members committed the deeds 😂😂 but there's definitely still some who subtly ignore her...or try to).

Even still, Daella had to put up with the two-faced efforts of many eligible Lords who wished to marry a Targaryen Princess, brown-hair or not. She carried true dragon's blood within her, the blood of Old Valyria, and many less than worthy houses attempted to lure and court her into believing they wanted her. Her only respite came from House Stark, her elder brother's closest friend outside of the family, Rickon Stark (the younger), who was just shy a year elder than Aethan...was always kind to Daella. He greeted her sweetly, always, and he almost always brought her gifts from the North (Northern flowers or gems, pretty things he always says "made me think of you". And Daella absolutely cherishes these gifts). Every feast and or ball, she'd always make sure to save a dance just for him...as a friend of course (👀👀)

Now, while it was said that Aethan visually took greatly after his mother (a fact that I think fades once he grows into a grown man, by then I think he really looks more like Jace), once Daella had grown into a woman truly, her looks were said to truly resemble the Princess Baela in her youth. Facially that is, while her body had fully found its own definition, she would remained larger and curvier than her mother had ever been at her age. But it wasn't only in her looks, beneath the surface Daella had bouts of her mama within her, little sparks of untamed dragon's fire that surfaced in rare moments. But it was in those moments where she truly looked to be her mother's daughter.

By age 18, Daella's first season had come and gone. That wasn't entirely true, in fact, two years prior when her bosom cousin Vaella had married her elder brother. An outcome Daella and her grandmama, Rhaenyra, had seemed to be the only true ones paying attention to and expected it all along. Daella had seen her brother and cousin's bickering matches, and new they both held far too much tension with one another that existed for no one else. It was inevitable to her. On the other hand, since Vaella had decided to wed a man third in line for the throne, she forfeited her right to be the next Lording Princess of Dragonstone. A right that then passed down to the next sibling in line, Daemion Targaryen. Who, as he was the same age as Daella, was not technically in rush to be married (men being afforded the right to marry later in life blah blah. But I think neither Aemond or Rhaena would set their children to be matched...not unless they felt they needed to...MOST of their children will be allowed to make love matches. Key word MOST) and yet he seemed to be scouting for brides anyhow.

It was well known to the realm that Prince Daemion Targaryen was indeed a rake, a far more tasteful one than his elder uncle, Aegon II, to be sure, but a constant flirt and a rake nonetheless. He'd bedded countless woman and even a couple of men, the list of broken hearts he left behind him in his wake was especially well known to his siblings and cousins even if his parents did not know the whole of it (I like to think Rhaemond are in the KNOW of things with their son, but maybe not every little intricate detail). So when Daella's 18th nameday came and went and her season began shortly after, she was both surprised...but also not...when her cousin began to hang around her more than usual. By then, she was extremely familiar and close with Daemion, they were friends in kind, and she was not entirely blind to the very obvious fact of how attractive he was. Targaryen beauty was not a thing to be argued, it was obvious and it was clear, and Daemion Targaryen had it droves.

And while he was an incredibly accomplished flirt, Daella still found a relationship with him...was not one she could trust. They were friends, great ones at that, but she did not love him in any real sort of a romantic way. Try as he might, one of her most persistent suitors, and yes she had several flocking to her (not a horde of desperate ones like there was for Vaella or as they would be for Valaena in the coming year. But she's a Targ Princess, she's still getting a lot of offers no matter what) it was still not a certainty.

The following year (because I don't think Baela or Jace, or her grandparents, would force Daella into match she didn't want. Plus it's not a time of war or uncertainty, so she doesn't need to quickly marry for alliance sake either), Daemion would be more certain of himself and what he had to offer. He made claims of being in love with her (let's be honest, he didn't stop trying when season ended. He kept this up throughout the off season 😂😂), claims that if she were to marry him she would be able to keep her Princess status, and their babes would be true dragonriders. All things which were true, but there was another growing truth layered underneath it all.

Nothing he wooed her with was truly specific to her, all of his gifts and compliments, his tactics and his efforts...they resembled the efforts of every other Lord vying for her hand (minus the dragonriding babies...since no one other than another Targaryen or Valyrian could really offer that.)

He did not love her... he just wanted for a wife he'd be comfortable with having. A wife he already knew, would be capable of Lording over Dragonstone with him and one he was already happily attracted to. Which may have been enough for most woman, but Daella had been raised to expect slightly more. What she felt for Daemion was simply familial if not teetering the edge. But with Vaella now living in King's Landing with her, several moons pregnant with her first child, she gleamed a lot of sage sisterly advice from her good-sister. That as Daella believed herself, Vaella was sure her little brother simply wanted for what he could not have.

But to Daella's surprise, Daemion aside, after listening and enduring the court of tired Lord after tired Lord...a new suitor entered the Keep. Lord Rickon Stark, the next Warden of the North. He'd missed Daella's first season the previous year as he'd been helping to put down a Bolton rebellion in North with his father Cregan. He'd mention it was to his regret that he'd missed her previous year, as he'd wanted to see her. He'd caught her strolling the gardens alone then, and there on that sunny afternoon might have been the first time Daella realized just how handsome she found the rugged Northern man. As if in the few years she hadn't seen him, he'd grown so much taller, so broad and muscular, just nearly as massive as his father the current Warden of North seemed to be.

Daella had known the man for years, seen him at a dozen functions and or celebrations as House Stark had always been loyal and respectfully welcome to join the royal family. She'd danced with him only a couple of times, but now without anyone to buffer the space between them. It seemed like she could finally see him. To think he'd been her brother, Aethan's, closest friend for years now (it was a fact Rickon himself would not dwell on)...and it was only now that she could see him in a new light.

Rickon, unlike her other suitors, simply engaged her in witty conversation, the ease of it all really, it was the first conversation in moons with a suitor who did not feel as if he was doing his best to sell himself, his house and his land to her. Instead when she teased him about his heavy furs in King's Landing spring heated weather, he laughed and sarcastically mentioned that while he could have ridden through the Northern lands shirtless to prepare for the heat...it would not have been ideal.

It was a gradual, natural process. Her strolls with him turned into a most pleasant occurrence that she looked forward to daily. It was an overwhelming compiling list of little things. The way his stormy blueish green eyes pierced right through her whenever he truly gazed at her, the way he'd quietly listen to her ramble on about a recent book or thing that fascinated her. In those moments she'd miss just how vividly he seemed to see her.

Somedays she'd feel so comfortable with him she nearly forgot he was a man in contention for asking for her hand. But it was in the quiet moments, the ones that would catch her off guard, where he'd tell her that her eyes glowed like no gem on earth...that even the brown hair she herself thought to be dull in comparison to her more Valyrian looking family members. To him, he said it glistened like spun gold. His compliments always felt far too real, as if he was seeing right through her and instead right into her heart and soul. It was the nearly blunt way in which he always delivered such words, something she supposed was just the Northern way. But even so there was warmth to it all.

For his compliments were the only ones that ignited that true burning dragon's fire that her mama, aunt Rhaena and good-sister Vaella always spoke of.

In the end it was no competition, though Daemion would always see it as such. If Daella went with her heart, than she'd have to admit that it was a Northern wolf who had claimed it instead of a dragon (once Rickon proposes to her, he gives her the ring his father used to propose to his mother. And I imagine it's this silver band ring that has this rose embedded in it, beautifully carved out of sapphire or pale blue larimar type of gem. Resembling a winter rose from Winterfell.)

Telling the rest of her family had been a far less painful affair than she thought it would be, as even her incredibly Valyrian purist grandpapa, Daemon, could admit that the next best choice to marrying Valyrian was to marry one who carried the blood of the First Men. As the House Stark was known to, it seemed a greatly respected choice to make. Daella's mama could attest to finding the match equally as appealing as her own father, as Daella's own papa and grandmama were simply happy she'd found a match with someone who was kind, respectful and one she loved. (Plus I think everyone in the family just really likes Rickon as a person, so they're absolutely behind this.)

Truthfully Daella worried for the opinion of her uncle Aemond most of all, for even while Vaella had assured Daella that she'd feel no slight if her dearest cousin did not choose her brother (LMFAO I need you all to know Vaella was team Rickon this entire time 😂😂 she really said my brother is a fuckboy, you can do better sis!). While her aunt Rhaena assured her that so long as Daella was happy with her choice then she would support it vehemently. Uncle Aemond however surprised her, in a way, she knew he loved her greatly, but part of her worried she had disappointed him by somewhat slighting his son.

However he reasoned that this was her marriage, and he only wanted her to make the choice that would make her happiest (he's less bitter that she didn't choose his son, but more bitter that his little niece chose to marry Cregan's son of all people 🤣🤣🤣).

❃ ❃ ❃

Now I don't think I mentioned Aethan's reaction to his best friend falling for his younger sister, but I'm thinking queue in the usual shenanigans of an elder brother feeling weirded out by a situation like this. Like he's trying to bud in a ruin things, meanwhile his very pregnant wife (like she's like 8months along), Vaella, is literally reeling him back. Dragging him away kicking and screaming LMAO

Sidenote: when I do make Part 3 of this series, don't mind me if some of these details change when I do get to writing it. These are just my main initial thoughts for these characters now. But once I go into more depth with them, things might alter just a tad!

❃ ❃ ❃

Jacaela kids in order:

Aethan Velaryon (133 AC), Daella Velaryon (137 AC), baby #3 & #4 (142 AC)

-

Rhaemond kids in order:

Vaella Targaryen (135 AC), Daemion Targaryen & Aelyx Targaryen (137 AC), Valaena Targaryen (138 AC), Naerys Targaryen (139 AC), baby #6 & #7 (142 AC), baby #8 & #9 (153 AC)