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flowerandblood · 4 days

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The Fall from the Heavens (26)

[ dark • Aemond x Strong • niece female ]

[ warnings: mention of sex, incest, smut, angst, swearing ]

[ description: A cool distance turns into friendship and more when two children see that they can find refuge and understanding in each other. However, naïve dreams collide with the reality in which every event has consequences and what once could have been love becomes a dark, newly painful obsession. Angst, sexual tension, obsession, violence, madness, very dark Aemond. ]

The story in this series is an alternate reality from the oneshot Stay and love, leave and die, in which Aemond reads the letters his niece has sent to him over the years. They are the same characters and it shows what would have happened between them − I have changed the background story from their childhood slightly for the sake of the plot.

Characters & Series Moodboard Lady Strong Moodboard Aemond & Lady Strong Moodboard Aemond & Lady Strong Childhood

* English is not my first language. Please, do not repost. Enjoy! *

Next chapters: Masterlist

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Jace remembered perfectly the day his little sister was born. Laenor had led him into his mother's chamber that day, holding his hand, saying that she was very tired and they couldn't spend much time with her − he had insisted on seeing her because he was delighted to finally have a sibling, a brother to play with and be friends with.

His mother, the future queen, smiled softly at the sight of him, her white hair loose and in disarray, her face red from sweat and exertion.

She held out her hand to him and he hugged her, peering curiously at the infant she held clutched to her chest.

"He's so tiny." He said in disbelief, brushing the baby's finger with his own − he smiled when he saw the baby's hand clench into a small fist with its quiet purr.

"She. You have a little sister." He heard his mother's amused voice; he furrowed his brow at her words and rose, angry and disappointed.

"− wait, comrade −" Laenor called out after him, but he refused to look at her.

She was a disappointment to him.

For the first few months, he had pretended not to hear her cries or squeals from their mother's chamber − even though Rheanyra had spoken to him and encouraged him to meet her, he had refused to do so, recognising that no little girl interested him.

"It was supposed to be a boy." He muttered regretfully while playing with his large, wooden, black dragon, pretending that the stacks of books were the great hills over which he flew on Balerion. His mother smiled at his words and combed her hand through his dark curls.

"That is what the gods have decided. She may be your future wife."

Jace put down his toy, looking at her in surprise, not understanding what she meant.

"Am I going to have to kiss her?" He asked in disgust, recalling the stories Laenor sometimes read to him before bed, in which great knights freed beautiful women from the paws of monsters, only to fall in love with them later and be bestowed a kiss by them.

His mother smiled involuntarily.

"Don't think about such things until you're a grown man. No kissing for now." She giggled, pinching his cheek. He smiled lazily seeing her warm expression, the motherly love that beat from her.

That night he went to the chamber where she slept for the first time; he leaned over the cradle, glancing at her plump little figure wrapped in a white robe and a small headpiece. Her eyes opened suddenly and he was terrified that she would burst into tears − she, however, merely clutched her small feet and began to rock from side to side, looking at him curiously.

He smiled involuntarily at this sight and tickled her belly with his finger. Her squeal and loud giggle answered him, her eyes lit up in joy, her little body all the way up in euphoria. He laughed seeing this, repeating his gesture, thinking she was like a small animal, a puppy or a kitten.

He decided that at the end of the day she wasn't so bad and stopped pretending she didn't exist.

Until Luke was born he had treated her as if she were a boy, driving their mother to despair every time they both returned sodden with mud and sand after another battle with Aegon and Aemond.

He had always felt that his uncles disliked him, and even though they were of a similar age to him, he did not feel comfortable in their company − nor could he hide his jealousy at the sight of their snow-white hair, proof of who they were.

Looking at his father and mother, he could not comprehend why his hair was not that shade.

Rhaenyra explained to him that it was surely because of the Baratheon blood that also flowed through their veins, and although he was disappointed, the sight that he was not the only one, that his sister and Luke looked similar to him, comforted him.

The first time Aegon laughed sincerely at what he said occurred when he called his sister a hamster. The comparison came to his mind when she took air in her mouth and furrowed her brow − he uttered it thoughtlessly, and his uncle burst out laughing and patted him on the back.

"− gods, you're right − and those big eyes of hers −" He sneered, and although he saw that his sister lowered her gaze, embarrassed, he continued, eager to hear more words of praise from his lips.

"− she has just as much sense too −" He added, seeing his uncle throw him an amused, mocking look suggesting that he agreed with him.

He felt a squeeze in his heart when he noticed out of the corner of his eye that his sister had turned and walked away, passing through the cloisters towards their quarters without even giving him another glance.

He turned around and noticed to his surprise that he was not the only person to notice her leaving − his other uncle, Aemond, led her away with his eyes and then threw him a look full of despise, from which he felt discomfort.

He pressed his lips together at the thought that he was the heir to the throne and, unlike him, had his own dragon.

Who was he to look down on him with such superiority?

He decided to remind him of that and share that thought with his brother.

Aegon's involvement in their little joke surprised even him − his uncle thought it was an excellent idea. He argued that his younger brother was too sullen and serious for his age, that he was sapient and could use a little lesson.

As he listened to Aegon convince him that they had found a dragon for him, as he saw the hint of hope and the shy, embarrassed smile of excitement on his uncle's face, he felt for a moment that perhaps they should not do this.

However, it was too late to retreat − Luke ran deeper into the cave, and came out a moment later, leading by a rope a large pig to which they had attached self-made wooden wings early on.

"Behold! The Pink Dread!"

He saw that his uncle froze and turned pale as they burst out laughing, swallowing this humiliation with difficulty − his eyes glazed over and reddened, his gaze again blank and distant.

He knew they had broken him.

That same day he mentioned it to his sister, and her reaction angered him.

"You are cruel." She said resentfully.

Which side was she on?

"He's forever looking down on us because he has white hair. He's constantly making excuses and bragging about what he's read in those silly dusty books of his." He snorted, playing between his fingers with the gold coin their grandfather had brought him from another of his trips overseas.

He blinked when his sister simply rose from her seat and walked out, leaving him in a state of shock and displeasure − he decided, however, that these were just normal female emotions and would surely pass her until supper.

He loved his father, but he also greatly valued and respected Ser Harwin Strong. He was a stocky, tall, handsome man who could fight very well. He often spoke to him or helped him practice by sharing stories of his duels in tournaments and hunts.

He thought then that he would like to be like him one day.

He knew that he was a close confidant of his mother and often saw them together, however, his father seemed not to mind, so he considered this condition perfectly normal and did not bother.

After a few weeks, the will of their King fell upon them like a bolt from the heavens, and their mother informed them of it during one of their suppers together.

"− your grandfather and our King has decided today that, to strengthen our lineage, we will betroth your sister to your uncle, Prince Aemond − let us raise our cups for this −" She said, glancing towards her daughter, his sister smiling broadly at her words, happy.

What?

"− what do you mean? − why? −" He asked, feeling discomfort in his stomach and a cold sweat on his back.

They wanted to gift him his sister as a consolation because he didn't have a dragon of his own?

"− your grandfather wants peace to reign in the kingdom after his death − such a marriage in his eyes will strengthen our family and our bonds between each other − of course, the marriage will only happen when your sister is of the right age −" She said calmly, looking at her daughter with tenderness, taking an unruly strand of her dark hair from her face.

"− did you agree? −" He asked his little sister in disbelief, and she nodded quickly, as if it was the happiest day of her life.

"− yes − I'm very pleased − I'm fond of our uncle −" She said quickly, putting a piece of roast on her plate, describing how worried she was that she would have to marry someone much older than herself.

He stared blankly ahead, clenching his hands into fists, bitter and disappointed.

Had she really never considered him as her husband?

After all, he was her elder brother; in their lineage such marriages were obvious.

He dared not, however, defy the will of the King himself.

His resentment towards his uncle increased with each passing week seeing that, against his wishes, he was not being harsh and unpleasant to his sister − on the contrary, he seemed to have softened in her company, his face, though still pathetically proud, also expressing curiosity and affection.

He felt rage in his heart at the thought that they could really have wished to bring about this marriage.

However, the cup of bitterness overflowed the moment he saw his sister kiss him.

They were both too certain that no one could see them − he watched them from the corridor through a window overlooking the library.

His sister was standing by the bookcase, saying something to him, and he stood up and walked lazily over to her. He rose on his tiptoes and apparently reached for a book that stood too high for her. She smiled broadly as he handed it to her, her hand traveling to his shoulder.

He swallowed hard as her lips pressed against his, and as soon as she pulled away, her uncle grasped her cheeks in his hands and kissed her again, deeper and longer.

He fled to his chamber and burst into tears with rage, dropping all the objects standing on his table, disappointed and humiliated that although he was to become King in the future, someone else was taking away something that in his mind was his right.

He never wondered what kind of love he had bestowed upon her and whether it was the form of affection that usually bound married couples; he knew that he would care for her and be good to her and that was enough for him.

She was his sister and he would never hurt her.

She, however, looked only to her uncle and it was to him that she gave her heart and mind.

He didn't know what he felt when Luke slashed his face that night when their uncle stole Vhagar − horror, shame, satisfaction and relief all mingled in his mind into one.

On the one hand, he was overjoyed that he had taken back what in his mind should have been his, on the other he was embarrassed and distraught at the confirmation of his fears that had long smouldered in his mind.

It was Harwin Strong who was their father.

To his seed he owed his dark curls.

He was a bastard.

He tried to turn his thoughts away from considering what this meant for them, focusing on the fact that his sister would surely no longer want her uncle for a husband, and their paths would part.

This is exactly what happened.

Still, what he had planned did not happen, and his mother decided to change her plan and marry her off to their cousin, Lord Arryn's son, to strengthen her support in the North of the kingdom. Again, he felt a wave of disappointment, however, this time he was not so jealous − he knew that she had no love for their cousin and that he was certainly no threat to her.

"What's my little sister doing?" He asked with amusement, startling her completely, sitting bent over her desk − she quickly grabbed the parchment she had just been writing something on and tucked it under the table, looking up at him with wide eyes.

"Are you writing a letter to someone?" He sneered, raising an eyebrow, standing over her with a smile. She swallowed hard and looked down, thoughtful.

"I write poetry. But I don't want anyone to read it." She muttered, and he sighed quietly and nodded, acknowledging that he wasn't going to force her to do anything.

"Would you like to go for a walk along the beach? It's beautiful weather." He encouraged her; she, however, shook her head, no longer bestowing a single glance on him.

"No, forgive me. I'm tired."

He pressed his lips together at her rejection, which he had faced again and again since they had moved to Dragonstone.

Even though he tried to get close to her, to understand her and comfort her, she still didn't want him.

He was ashamed to speak of his feelings with his mother or stepfather, much less Luke, however, to his surprise, his closest confidant turned out to be Baela.

"I don't understand her. It seems to me that she still misses him, even though he has certainly forgotten her by now. I have heard that he is a cold, vain, self-obsessed man. He's always been that way, treating her only as an object, a consolation prize. Now that he has a dragon he doesn't need her." He said angrily − his cousin sighed heavily at his words, looking at him with understanding.

"When people part in anger and don't close a chapter, it's hard for them to move on. Perhaps she knew him in a way that is unknown to us. He's always been withdrawn into himself." She muttered disapprovingly, fiddling with the wine cup in her hand, gazing thoughtfully into the blazing fire.

He smiled at the thought that he was certain she recalled the impetuosity with which her uncle had punched her in the face with his fist that night when he lost an eye. Baela looked at him, raising her eyebrows.

"What's that look?" She asked and kicked him under the table with her foot. He giggled at her reaction and shook his head, lowering his gaze to her fingers.

"I would have been better for her. I would have really cared for her. Maybe I wouldn't have given her everything she needed, but at least with me she would have been safe." He said with a tiredness from which his companion sighed heavily. He lifted his gaze to her as her hand grasped his and squeezed it.

"I know." She replied softly.

He swallowed hard, feeling a pleasant warmth in his lower abdomen as he saw her soft, misty gaze, feeling her warm thumb stroke his palm. He grunted as he felt his manhood pulsate in his breeches at the thought that, indeed, his cousin was a very fine woman.

He had always liked her sharp tongue and confidence.

"Have you ever lain in bed with a woman?" She asked him suddenly, and he drew in the air loudly, shocked, feeling that his cheeks had certainly turned red with shame.

He didn't know what to answer.

He didn't want to humiliate himself with words that he had absolutely no experience in these matters knowing that she had a more liberated approach to these affairs.

Daemon, as her father, had expressed no dissent, so who was he to lecture her?

She sighed quietly, seeing his reaction, or rather lack thereof, and rose from her seat, turning her back to him, gripping the ties of her bodice with her hands.

"I need you to help me."

Baela was a calm and patient teacher − it seemed to him that she took great satisfaction in his lack of understanding of what she was actually doing to him as she sank down on his swollen manhood again and again with a moan of delight − her brown naked skin glistened wonderfully in the light of the blazing fire, her white curls falling over her shoulders in disarray, her full lips parted in obvious desire from which he felt his fulfilment approaching embarrassingly fast.

She made sure he didn't fill her with his seed, letting him instead come down on her abdomen with his low moan of pleasure, his length pulsating and twitching in her hand for a while longer. He licked his lower lip dry with emotion, looking at her in disbelief, a soft, shy smile on her face.

"− you're beautiful −" He whispered, and she giggled under her breath and kissed him in a way from which he felt hot in his heart.

She made him forget, at least for a moment, what was happening around them, finding in her both friend and lover, the confidante of all his secrets.

She was not jealous of his sister − on the contrary, he had the impression that she understood the source of his anger and disappointment, herself having no intention of explaining to him what she was doing and with whom.

It seemed to him that their relationship and its freedom suited them both.

Of course, they both knew that in the end they would experience a marriage that would inevitably be purely political, and they understood what that entailed.

Then their grandfather was injured on one of his expeditions, and Vaemond Velaryon challenged his younger brother's rights to the throne of Driftmark.

Knowing the truth about his parentage and at the same time refusing to accept it, he became enraged, sad and depressed at the same time − Baela's words of comfort that they would find a solution and not allow themselves to be intimidated did not reassure him.

Once again, his uncle and his family were trying to take their inheritance from them.

His return to King's Landing was a shock to him; to his disappointment, he felt like an intruder there, and it seemed to him that was exactly how he was perceived by everyone.

He felt a drop of cold sweat run down his neck, his stomach twisting with discomfort when he saw his uncle in the distance, wielding his sword as if it weighed nothing, easily defeating Criston Cole, pressing its blade against his neck.

He was tall, muscular, his long white hair, proof that he was in fact a Targaryen partly tied at the back of his head with a black ribbon, his jaw long and sharply defined, his gaze wild and cold, terrifying.

He smiled mockingly at the sight of them, playing with the hilt of his sword between his fingers as if he wanted to devour them.

He felt ashamed at the thought that he was terrified.

And then his uncle spotted their sister in the distance − his heart beat harder at the sight of their expressions.

It seemed to him that this reunion years later had caused them pain, as they both froze, breathing heavily, looking at each other as if there was no one else around.

His uncle hummed under his breath and turned away, nodding at Ser Criston, taking another swing with his sword.

Even though he hadn't cared what happened to her for so many years, even though he had humiliated her at supper by calling her Lady Strong, she had confessed in front of everyone that her place was with him.

He looked at her in disbelief, wondering what she was doing, why she had stooped to courting him when it was obvious that her uncle had neither respect nor affection for her.

After a moment, he heard his uncle's cold, trembling, deep voice.

"So it is decided, father. We will marry."

"How could our mother agree to this? How could she let her stay there?" He asked furiously, circling around his chamber in Dragonstone; Baela sighed heavily, turning her head away. She looked at him finally, hesitation in her gaze.

"I didn't tell you because I knew it would only enrage you and you wouldn't leave her alone." She said tiredly − he halted in half-step, looking at her over his shoulder, feeling his heart pounding like mad.

"You didn't tell me about what?" He asked dryly, frustrated and concerned.

Baela let out a loud breath, shaking her head. They were now betrothed, and although he thought they both seemed to have accepted their families' decisions with relief, he couldn't rejoice.

"My father told me that she had been sending him letters all these years. That the same night we arrived in the Red Keep she spent the night in his chamber."

He stared at her dully, feeling that it made him sick to his stomach, as if he were about to vomit, his face taking on an expression of disgust.

So she didn't write any poetry then, he thought with regret and pain.

"− how could she do this − expose our mother to humiliation and gossip −"

"Jace. She never stopped loving him. I think she's naive too, but you'd have to be blind not to see that she never really accepted it all. I don't know what I think about it myself." She admitted, running her hand over her face.

"You don't know what you think about it? I'll tell you. Our uncle will play with her and take advantage of her, and then he will put her up to ridicule and hand her over to us. He won't marry her." He growled angrily, burying his face in his hands, wondering how she could be so foolish, how she could believe that he had sincere intentions about her.

"The matter of succession is on a knife-edge. Perhaps our grandfather is right? A union between our mother and the Queen could really ease the situation." She muttered, clearly looking for anything comforting in the situation, which he completely failed to understand.

Had everyone around him lost their minds?

"My uncle who thinks we are bastards is supposed to alleviate the situation? He will never agree to let me sit on the throne and I am supposed to give him my sister?" He asked in disbelief; Baela tightened her lips at his words, frustrated.

"You speak of her as if she were an object. It's always been that way."

He felt an unpleasant shiver run down his spine at her words, every muscle in his body tensing like a string.

"What do you mean?" He asked coolly.

Baela sighed heavily, clearly trying not to explode and form her thoughts so as to be honest but not cruel.

"You think she was born to fulfil your whims? That the fact that you are her eldest brother gives you precedence to lie in bed with her?"

He felt himself blush with shame at her question, shocked.

Discomfort and arousal surged through his lower abdomen at the thought.

"Do you think that's what I mean? I'm just trying to…"

"Yes, Jace. I've never witnessed you ask her how she feels, what she needs. I am fond of you, but you are a selfish boy, not a man."

He felt ashamed at the thought as tears gathered under his eyelids at her words, a terrible, cold shudder shook his body, his heart began to pound like mad.

You are a selfish boy, not a man.

Her words so offended him that he stopped speaking to her despite her pleas, and then the thing he feared most happened.

The King was dead, Aegon had stolen her mother's throne and his uncle had imprisoned his sister.

They had made a mockery of them.

He had been right all along, but no one listened to him.

"Forgive me, Jace." Baela muttered, placing her hand on his shoulder. She knelt beside him, sighing heavily, laying her head on his thigh, and he involuntarily stroked her hair, feeling superiority, feeling strength.

He was going to fight for his mother's crown and bring his sister home.

In order to do so, at the behest of their mother, he flew to Winterfell to ask Cregan Stark for his support in this cause, reminding him of the oath his father had taken before her.

The North seemed to him a beautiful and wild place, so far from what he knew − the snow-covered hills, the austere fortresses of dark stone, the robes that looked only grey, black or brown around him gave him a sense of modesty and space.

Lord Stark's nature appeared to be similar to his, and the few days he had spent in his company hunting and riding horses had actually made him feel good − he felt like someone worthy with him, a true heir to the throne, not a bastard.

It was this feeling that, seeing the young Lady Snow from afar, he allowed himself to be enchanted by her charms and lay in bed with her.

Like a real man.

When he arrived back in Dragonstone he learned that Luke had just returned from Storm's End and that he had seen their sister.

"You flew after him? You flew after him knowing he could imprison you, use you as your mother's weakness? Fucking fool." Growled Daemon, shocked and horrified by his naivety, burying his face in his hands, unable to look at him.

"Daemon." Their mother rebuked him, all pale, her hand clenched on her womb. "What happened next?"

"He brought her. Someone hit her, mother, and I think she tried to take her own life. There were cut marks on her wrists." His brother muttered, and he felt his heart stop, he and Baela looked at each other quickly.

She had tried to take her own life.

Because of this bastard, his sister could be dead.

His hands clenched into fists at that thought.

"And then?" Pressed Daemon in an impatient voice.

"I told her to run away with me, but she didn't agree. She told me to tell you that she loves you and that she remains faithful to you, mother." He mumbled and he slammed his fist on the table, feeling fury and rage boiling up inside him.

"That fucking bastard purposely made her stay. He planned this, he never had any intention of marrying her!" He growled red with anger − Daemon threw him a single, drawn-out look.

"And then what? He let you just walk away? No one else saw you?" He continued, pretending not to have heard his outburst.

"N-no, I was surprised, but no. Forgive me, I had to see her, make sure that she is still alive." Luke said. Daemon sighed heavily and leaned over, placing his hands on the top of the stone table, thoughtful.

"Bring me a parchment and a quill. I need to speak with my nephew."

Baela followed him into his chamber in an attempt to calm him down.

"How can he want to pact with that fucking traitor? His brother stole my mother and his wife's throne!" He shouted in her face − his betrothed dropped her hands in a gesture of helplessness.

"Since he let them meet, maybe there is something to it. My father knows what he's doing, I trust him. I believe he will bring her home."

"You're naive. You always have been."

"And you're vain. You always have been."

He pressed his lips together at her words, feeling his heart pounding like mad, feeling like something was about to explode inside him.

"I met a woman in Winterfell who I took to my bed." He muttered finally, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye.

Part of him wanted to hurt her, and part of him wanted to be honest with her.

That was what they had promised each other.

Baela laughed at his words in disbelief and shook her head − he had a feeling he saw a shadow of regret in her gaze, but he wasn't sure if it was because of his confession or because she understood why he said it now.

"If you wish, I'll relate to you how I spent my time in your absence, but I'm not sure you'll be able to look into this guard's face afterwards." She sneered, lifting her chin high, looking at him defiantly. He felt a wave of hot shame and anger surge through his body.

"After we're married…are you going to continue this?" He asked uncertainly and she cocked her head to the side.

"If you are not faithful to me, I will not remain faithful to you. You are dear to me, but don't think I will cry for you. Certainly not like your sister cried for her uncle. Part of me has always envied her that she experienced such a deep feeling in her life even if it burned her from the inside for so many years." She said with a kind of regret from which he felt a squeeze in his stomach, but he answered nothing to her words.

He knew that they did not love each other.

They were close and felt comfortable together, but they weren't mad about each other.

He believed it just had to be this way.

He waited impatiently along with his mother and the others gathered for Daemon to return from his meeting with their uncle, simultaneously terrified and angry that they were speaking with traitors instead of fighting.

When they heard the squeal of Caraxes in the distance his mother stood up, pale, holding her hand on her womb again, as if remembering the time when she had carried her only daughter under her heart.

His other sister had died before she was even truly born.

When Daemon stepped into the main hall everyone was already waiting for him; he sighed heavily, placing his Dark Sister on the table top, folding his hands in front of him, straightening.

"Your daughter married her uncle of her own free will. My nephew has conveyed to me that his brother-cunt will relinquish the throne he stole from you if it is your daughter's children and his who become heirs to the throne or, in the event they do not conceive a son, ours − Viserys and Aegon. He demands the exclusion of Jace, Luke and Joffrey from the succession." He said dispassionately. He looked at his mother seeing that she had run out of words.

"− mother − this is −"

"− leave us − all of you −" She ordered.

"− mother − this is my inheritance − mine −" He began, but felt Baela's grip on his arm.

"− Jace − that's enough −"

He sat in his chamber thinking only of the fact that his mother was just contemplating whether or not to agree to deprive him of his inheritance, to acknowledge that he was her bastard despite the fact that he was her firstborn son, despite the fact that Laenor Velaryon had acknowledged him as his heir.

"− Jace −" Baela muttered, seeing his condition.

"− leave −" He said. He heard her sigh heavily as she approached him with a rustle of her gown, kneeling at his feet.

"− Jace − I'm on your side − I always have been − don't you see me as your companion? − your friend? − your lover? −" She asked with a pained expression that startled him. He lowered his hands and looked at her − his palm rose to her cheek, which he stroked with a tender, slow gesture.

"− you resent me − you don't see me as a man, but as a child −"

"− that is not true −"

"− I don't want your pity −"

"− Jace −"

"− you were right − I don't want to frustrate you and I understand all the accusations about me that you've made − my whole life I've been trying to be someone I'm not −" He finally replied, his betrothed's fingers grasping his hand and squeezing it.

"− that's what I mean − stop pretending − be honest with yourself −"

"− do you want me to be honest? − very well then − my mother has never asked my opinion on any important matters − Daemon treats me as if I am an imbecile and mocks me − I am both a first-born son and a bastard − my uncle wants to deprive me of everything, he wants me to be a nobody and why? − because when I was a child I gave him a pig? − god, I regret it, it was a cruel joke − I regret that he lost an eye, I regret that a dragon didn't hatch from his egg − but even if I had said that, what good would it have done − he would have laughed at me saying I am a weak cunt −" He muttered and burst out sobbing like a small child, hiding his face in his hands. Baela embraced him and cuddled his face into her oil-scented neck, stroking his hair.

"− I am grateful to you − I am grateful to you that you are honest with me − I am grateful to you that you have never lied to me −" She whispered and he wept softly, tightening his hands on the material of her gown feeling that the closeness of her body brought him solace.

"− I am grateful to you too − forgive me for not being what you deserve −" He mumbled, sniffling loudly, trying to calm the convulsions of his body and his ragged breathing.

"− I forgive you − I forgive you and ask for your forgiveness −"

When his mother came to his chamber that evening, he knew what decision she had made even before she opened her mouth.

"− Jace −" She began, and he turned his head away, panting with rage, burning tears of humiliation under his eyelids.

"− after all this − after all you've sacrificed − are you going to let them win? −"

"− how would I be a just Queen if I thought only of myself instead of the good of the kingdom? − any other solution will mean war with our own kin − is there anything else more displeasing to the gods? −" She muttered in a breaking voice in which he could clearly hear that she herself was suffering immensely.

"− you let them dictate their terms −" He said in disbelief, looking at her at last. His mother pressed her lips together at his question.

"− no − I intend to impose my own demands on them – none of them will be allowed to sit on the throne − none of them will wear the crown − they will be rulers-regents until their son, the rightful heir, is born −" She replied, forcing herself to be calm.

"− and if no son is born to them? − will you exclude me from the succession then? − your first-born son? −" He mumbled in pain, hitting his chest with his palm. Rhaenyra drew in air loudly, her eyes red from tears of pain and grief.

"− it's my fault − not yours − me and Laenor really tried, but −"

"− I don't want to hear it − I won't listen to it − why did you let me come into the world? −"

"− Jace −" She mumbled − he heard the rustling of her gown as she took a step towards him, but he held up his hand showing that he didn't want her to come near him.

"− I will leave Dragonstone to you − it belongs to me and I can give it to whomever I wish − no one will challenge your rights in this case, you will finally be able to live the life you deserve −"

"− I was meant to be King −" He hissed, and she swallowed hard.

"− as was I − but perhaps we are not meant to be − pride steps before a fall −" She said drily, her chin lifted high.

"− what does Daemon have to say in the matter? −" He asked lowly.

"− he is furious, but he will do as I command − just as you −"

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darkestspring · 2 months

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So Aegon cuts his hair short so he doesnt look like a Targaryen, he hated being a Targaryen. So imagine Jaces twin sister, long dark curls and dark brown eyes.

Even as children Aegon thought she was pretty, he loved that she didn't look like a traditional Targaryen.

As they grew older Aegon became obsessed with her. If he has to marry he wants to marry her and hard dark haired babies, and that what he tells his mother, right before she slaps him.

Aegon managing to push hos wedding to Helaena off for years, but when Rheanyra and her kids comes back to Kings Landing and Aegon sees Jaces twin again.

Aegon won't let her slip through his fingers again.

You'd always look so.... unlike a targaryen. Unlike how he and his siblings looked. with Brown hair and dark eyes, you were everything his mother hated, a targaryen that didn't look like one.

But... you were so pretty.

Aegon once again snuck away from his lessons to watch you with your dragon, you looked so happy. Dark eyes alive with mischief and happiness as you whispered something to your dragon and he roared in return, eliciting a laugh from you.

He'd never heard you laugh before then, it was like a forgotten song, a melody he could never escape from.

He's also never seen you as angry as you were that night, glaring with teary eyes as you held onto your younger brothers. His attraction to you hadn't ceased even in that moment. when you were brimming with happiness and when you were seething with anger, both expressions made him want to kiss you senseless.

But then you were gone. As soon as that. He wished he could have more time. More time to see you, to follow you, to find a common interest or even feign interest in what you liked if only to hear your voice say his name.

It wasn't until he saw you again, still unmarried despite his mother's ire and nagging. He'd never marry anyone but you. He hoped that the children he had with you would be dark haired babies.

You turned, feeling eyes on you and your lips curled into an almost snarl at seeing Aegon staring at you before you turned away. "He's staring at me." You hissed to your mother and step-father.

"I can collect another head." Daemon suggested, hand already on his sword.

Much to your disappointment, your mother shook her head. "Not yet."

He won't marry Helaena, Aegon decided. Anyone else can have her but you. You were his.

"Let me marry her." His words were spoken boldly to Rhaenyra and Daemon after basically forcing an audience with them. "I'll fight for your claim, I won't challenge it. I don't care about ruling. I just want her." Aegon stared at them with fierce eyes.

Daemon looked like he wanted to draw his sword until Rhaenyra stopped him, hand on his chest.

"I'll think about it." Rhaenyra answered coolly, dismissing him.

That wasn't good enough. Aegon couldn't stand it anymore. he has spent years yearning for you, craving to hear you say his name at the very least.

"You've always been the pretties girl I've ever seen." His words made you stomach clench and you didn't want to think about it. "Pretty brown hair and dark eyes, you look like a dream." He might be a bit drunk and babbling word vomit but it was all true.

You stared at him for a moment, almost stunned before reaching over and taking another drink of you wine. "And your mother? What does she think of this?"

"I don't care. I don't care what she thinks or what she wants. I just want you. I don't want glory or power. I just want to sleep on your thighs for the rest of my life." Aegon couldn't stop talking

A laugh slipped from your throat and an amused look filled your eyes at his words. "Is that so?" You mused softly. Taking pity on him, you leaned forward and kissed him. "Once you're sober, come find me and tell me again that you want to sleep on my thighs for all eternity. Maybe i'll let you."

With those last words, you were gone from his view and Aegon barely stopped himself from scrambling after you like a lost puppy.

#aegon targaryen x reader #aegon x reader #the darkest night; asks

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lunamond · 7 months

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I want to preface this with the disclaimer that I really like Rheanyra. This is not meant as a way to bash her character or minimise the way she, as a woman in Westeros, has been harmed and discriminated against.

However, I have a lot of trouble with how Rheanyra, especially in relation to Alicent, has been discussed in the fandom, for that purpose I will analyse young Rheanyra and focus on her personal flaws (sth that I consider essential to good characterisation).

There is a big trend for audiences to latch onto a favourite character and perceive the entire story through that lens. Everything that benefits this singular character is good everything that inconveniences them is bad. (This is of course is not an issue exclusive to hotd)

As side note: I don’t think this is necessary a problematic way to engage with media, as long as you're capable of recognising that other people will engage differently nor prescribe moral value to real life people based on who they chose to root for.

However, once you start analysing the show critically this method starts becoming very flawed. Alicent as a character especially suffers a lot in these interpretations.

(This does also go in the other direction as well, with people twisting the story in way to bash Rheanyra in favour of Alicent)

It is baffling to me at times, looking at the distorted way some people engage with young Alicent and Rheanyra, and this weird need to portray Alicent as villanous or scheming from the very beginning.

(While I personally love Alicent as character young and grown-up, I'm aware that she, especially as an adult, doesn’t appeal to everybody, which is why I focus for this on young Alicent)

So, let's actually look at the first 3 Episodes and analyse Alicent and Rheanyra's relationship.

Episode 1: Alicent and Rheanyra are totally in love best friends. Rheanyra is the more impulsive one who doesn't always like the duties that come with her status as princess, while Alicent is the more anxious one who cares a lot about her and Rheanyra's responsibilities.

This is ultimately the last time Alicent and Rheanyra were on good terms, without anything standing between them. So both their perception of each other will always be coloured by this prior relationship and the intimate understanding they had of each other when they were still 14 years old.

Episode 2: Alicent has been ordered to keep her inappropriate meetings with the king a secret, Rheanyra is starting to feel the pressure of being the heir. At the end, the betrothal is announced, which ultimately leads to the break up of their prior relationship.

Episode 3: Their relationship has been in shambles for almost 3 years at this point. (Aegon's 2nd name day + 9 months pregnancy + whatever length of time passed between Ep2, the wedding and the start of the pregnancy)

Alicent repeatedly makes overtures to Rheanyra in an attempt to repair their relationship, which Rheanyra continuously shots down (sth that presumably has happened multiple times over the last years).

It also bears mention that even in moments when Rheanyra is not present Alicent still defends Rheanyra's claim to the throne. She does this both in private, as well as publicly.

This is one of those situations that perfectly demonstrate Rheanyra's character flaws.

While this is a very difficult situation to navigate from Rheanyra's position, her former girlfriend, who has now become her stepmother has given birth to a son who puts her own position into question.

She also is slowly growing up and becoming increasingly aware of the reality of what the expected role of a young noble women means in her society.

This is a lot of stress for a teenage girl to deal with, and you know what, I get it.

As a teenager, I personally have been quite unpleasant to be around in much less stressful situations.

However, as far as her treatment of Alicent goes, this is where a lot of my sympathy ends, because no matter what your personal opinion on adult Alicent and her actions might be, THIS Alicent has done none of these.

Alicent is a childbride, who has been martially raped, and put through teenage pregnancy (twice at this point!).

By cutting her off for this, Rheanyra is essentially punishing the victim of her father’s crime.

It is pretty clear that she redirects the hurt and betrayal she feels onto Alicent, because ultimately in the context that both of them grew up Alicent is the easier party to blame.

Rheanyra is definitely not on great terms with Viserys either, however she is still willing to engage with him.

So, yes, Rheanyra is isolated and feels lonely. She tells Viserys that:

"Nobody is here for me"

But she is actually wrong.

Alicent is there for her.

Alicent repeatedly tries to connect with her. She supports Rheanyra, she does so when they are with lady Redwyne, she pushes back against Otto's attempts to push Aegon as heir, she talks with Viserys ensuring that Rheanyra will have the free choice for her future consort.

It is especially ironic, when this last act becomes part of the reason Rheanyra and Viserys reconcile at the end of the episode, while Alicent remains estranged.

It is also quite interesting, how Rheanyra refers to Aegon as Alicent Hightower's son, essentially distancing herself from both of them. Further illustrating the way in which she is completely unwilling to engage with either of them.

Despite this little bit of agency afforded to Rheanyra, she is still expected to take a husband and bear children. This is of course, especially traumatic for her considering her mother's fate.

However, every single girl born to a noble family in Westeros lives under these same unfair conditions, including Alicent.

Rheanyra and Alicent actually do have quite a lot of parallels, both being young girls who feel alone and isolated at court, both their mothers dead and both having complicated relationships with their fathers.

And while it is not enough to free her from these restraints this misogynistic society placed on her, Rheanyra occupies a very privileged position.

She is royalty, a literal princess who has the distinct advantage of being named heir to the throne and future ruler of the the 7 kingdoms.

(Viserys did do a pisspoor job of actually preparing and supporting her for this role, though)

The most glaring embodiment of Rheanyra's privilege however is Syrax.

She has a literal flying weapon of mass destruction at her beck and call.

A privilege no other non-Targaryen noble women has. (Except for Laena)

So, yes, Rheanyra is still subject to misogyny, but Syrax provides her with a certain level of security no one else can claim, because if it is ever necessary she will always be able to relie on a show of force via dragon (which we see demonstrated in ep2).

All of this reveals the inherent tragedy that is at the core of the narrative.

Alicent and Rheanyra are both condemned to the same fate. They both are forced into marriage/s and the role of motherhood, they are robbed of their girlhood, lost their mothers and were subject to their father's whims, and ultimately in history both will be relegated to the role of mother and wife to much more important men.

Rheanyra struggled and fought against unequal traditions to hold the highest position of power anybody (men or woman) could hold, but still she falls victim to the patriarchy.

Alicent who does her duty, plays by the system and rises to the highest position acceptable for a woman to hold, being the mother to a male heir, will still ultimately be torn down by the patriarchy.

This is the only fate any woman can expect in the patriachical system that exists in Westeros, no matter how pious or rebellious she was.

But the most tragic part in all of this is the fact that, despite their shared plight Rheanyra and Alicent's relationship had to be sacrificed for the sake of this senseless struggle instead of allowing them the comfort of each other.

#alicent hightower #alicent x rhaenyra #rheanyra x alicent #rhaenyra targaryen #rheanicent #hotd #house of the dragon #critical analysis #everytime people bash one to stan the other I hate this fandom a tiny bit more #i love them both #the team discourse has rotted people's brains #if you're not interested in nuance #pls just pick you're favourite warcriminal #and shut up

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happilyhertale · 1 year

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Long Lost Love - Aemond Targaryen x female!reader, Part 1

Summary: You are the daughter of Daemon and Rhaenyra. When the invitation to Aegon and Helaena's wedding came, your entire family rushes from Dragonstone to King's Landing to take part in the festivities. You haven't seen your family in King's Landing for 6 years so you are very excited...

Pairing: Aemond Targaryen x fem!reader

Warnings: At the beginning none – eventually smut (uncle/niece)

Author’s note: Hello you!

This is my first fic so please be nice :) I thought I'd just try a little self-considered story. I hope you like it. The events are not entirely similar from the series

English is my second language, please forgive me if I made any mistakes (:

Word count: 2,3k

Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7a, Part 7b, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13, Part 14, Part 15

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You have waited a long time for this day. And now it was finally here. Your legs are wriggling and you are nervously fiddling with your dress as you look out of the carriage window and see the towers of the Red Keep approaching. Far too long you have been away. Six years have passed since the terrible events of Driftmark. After your parents took you and your siblings and brought you back to Dragonstone. "Y/N is everything all right? You're about to have the threads of the dress in your hands one by one if you keep this up."

Your father, Daemon Targaryen. Many fear him. Rightly so, you think. Countless times you hung on his every word as he told you how he went into battle and defeated his enemies. Or when he simply read you tales of dragons. You love him dearly, if you can put it that way, you are father's girl. And he treats you with the same warmth. He loves you with all his heart and to only a few people can Daemon Targaryen show affection or even love, but you are one of them. He would do and give anything to keep you safe. It would break his heart if he failed to protect you from the dangers of the world or simply if you did not feel loved.

It started with your birth. Your mother Rheanyra Targaryen was married to Laenor Velaryon. They already had a son together, your brother, Jacaerys Verlaryon. You love your brother very dearly. He's the kind of brother you always have fun with and who's there for you. As children, you played an incredible number of pranks and sometimes they went so far that the servants complained to your parents. When it got to the point where it seemed that Jace and you were not in control, they felt compelled to go to Daemon. They were sorry, because no one wanted to arouse the "wrath" of a dragon, but they had no other choice. If you were unlucky, Daemon would end up standing in front of you and giving you a telling off. But, what the servants didn't know, he could never keep it up for long when you looked at him with sad eyes and muttered "sorry daddy". You call him Daddy or Dad because you couldn't call him Daemon when you were a child. As a child, you wanted to call him Daemon, like all adults did. But all that came out of your mouth was "Dad". If you felt very close to him at certain moments or if you wished for something, it also became "Daddy". And to this day, you just call him Daddy. So the roles soon became clear, as soon as you were in trouble with Daemon, Jace would sent you ahead and let you call him daddy.

But when you were born, the shock was great. Your mother lay in labour on Dragonstone for over two days, even though a new life was to begin, it was a fight for life and death for Rhaenyra. Jace was already born on Dragonstone, as it was important for Rhaenyra to give birth to her children, heirs to the blood of Targaryen and the Iron Throne, on Dragonstone. Laenor was continuously by Rhaenyra's side and held her hand. Daemon was always close by to be there for your mother from a safe distance. Visibly nervous, he watched the birth. But when the maesters finally took you out and you took your first breaths in this world, your father got a fright that was quickly replaced by the feeling of joy and infinite love. As the maesters held you, your silver hair came out, your fair, porcelain skin seemed to reflect the incoming sun. Daemon knew at once, you were his daughter. When Rhaenyra finally held you in her arms, overjoyed, she simply smiled. She hugged you close to her and looked over at Daemon, who nodded lovingly at her. She looked down at you, stroking, your soft cheek as your eyes opened and Rhaenyra saw the most beautiful purple eyes she had ever seen. Laenor smiled and embraced Rhaenyra and you.

"She is the most beautiful girl in all the kingdom," gently he caressed your cheek, "What name shall she have?"

"Y/N Velaryon" says Rhaenyra with a loving smile on her lips. The understanding between Rhaenyra and Laenor was clear, everyone was allowed to have their lovers as long as the marital duties were fulfilled. Laenor was slow in fulfilling his marital duties, and so it came about from time to time that when Rhaenyra and Daemon met, they could not hold back their feelings for long.

The result of these actions was now you and that changed everything for Daemon. When he could finally hold you in his arms, it was over for him. He held you and you looked at him silently, this moment was so precious for him and he simply enjoyed this silence. When he tried to touch you, you reflexively grabbed his finger. His breath caught in his throat and he only had eyes for your small hand clutching his finger. He knew that he would not give you away.

That very evening Daemon went to Rhaenyra.

"I will take her to Viserys. I will tell him that she is my daughter and that he should confirm her legitimacy. She is no Velaryon, she is pure fire of the Targaryens."

Rhaenyra just stared at him at him. "You can't do that! Everyone would know I committed adultery! You can't, she must officially remain the daughter of Laenor."

Daemon began to smirk. "With all due love, but when you look at little Jace, do you really think anyone would think you hadn't committed adultery?"

"Daemon!", she looks at him in horror, "You can't go to my father and ask him to acknowledge my adultery and make her your daughter. No one in the entire realm has that right. Therefore, neither do you. Bastards of high Lords from all over the land would come and ask Viserys to recognize the legitimacy of these children."

"Rhaenyra, regardless of the love I have for you. But don't you ever dare call my daughter a bastard again. Viserys has the ability to recognize her and he will. I don't care about the rest of the realm. She is my daughter and she will be recognized as such."

"And what do you want to say to Laenor? Rub my adultery in his face publicly in front of the entire realm?"

"Oh come on! He lives just as happy a life, stuffed like a goose by his lover. Nothing is rubbed in his face, I have great respect for him, but I want the recognition that Y/N is my daughter. And besides, what are you trying to rub in my face by forbidding me to stand by my daughter in public?"

"He's right Rhaenyra." Suddenly Laenor stood in the room.

"Laenor...", she gasps as she turns towards the door.

"No he is right Rhaenyra. And you know that. She is his daughter. She has the Targaryen fire in her, the purple eyes, her soft white skin. He should have the chance to stand by his daughter publicly." Laenor simply nodded silently at Daemon.

So it came about that Daemon took you, his little dragon and Rhaenyra with him and they set off for King's Landing.

"We really need to sort this matter out urgently because…", King Viserys paused as he heard noises from outside. "There's a small council meeting going on right now, you can't just go in there. Prince Daemon…!" The guard tried to stop Daemon and grabbed him by the arm. With this movement, Daemon felt that the guard was getting too close to you. "If you don't get your arm out of my daughter's reach right now, I'll make sure you lose it altogether." And with that, the door opened and Viserys looked irritatedly at the entrance. Standing in the doorway was his brother, Daemon, with an infant in his arms. Right behind him stood his daughter, Rhaenyra. "Daemon, Rhaenyra? It's really good to see you, but as you can see, you're bursting right into a meeting of the small council."

"Viserys, brother, I have a very urgent matter to discuss with you." Viserys looked at him questioningly and hesitated briefly, "Daemon… please, go to the small hall, I will try to be with you as soon as possible." "Father… please, it is really urgent and we would be very much obliged if you could talk to us immediately"

And with these sentences Rhaenyra spoke for the first time for this recognition.

Rhaenyra was afraid. She wanted you to be recognised as Daemon's daughter, but at the same time she was worried about Jace. If you were legitimised, voices might be raised that if she had been unfaithful to Laenor before, she might have been so with her first child. And gods know what that was about. "Perhaps we can also postpone the last matter for today until tomorrow? It seems my brother and daughter have a big problem to discuss." Viserys spoke to his council, but could not take his eyes off the little bundle on Daemon's arm. The members of the small council nodded and then left the room.

Viserys looked helplessly into the faces of Daemon and Rhaenyra. "Can someone perhaps explain to me what is going on here?" Rhaenyra then took you from Daemon's arm and walked towards Viserys. She smiled warmly at him. "Father, this is your grandchild, Y/N. I gave birth to her, just about a week ago." Viserys was visibly moved. You were so small and delicate and had him wrapped around your finger immediately.

"Oh how delightful, this sweet little child. Hello my sweet darling." As Daemon stepped towards him, Viserys looked up. "As you can see, she is the pure flame of Targaryen blood. Her purple eyes, her porcelain-like skin, her shimmering silver hair." Viserys nodded silently, visibly pleased, he lowered his gaze to you again. "Brother, I want you to recognize her legitimacy." Viserys looked at him irritatingly, "Why should I recognize her legitimacy when she is obviously a Targaryen as well as my daughter's daughter?" "I am her father," Daemon said dryly. It seemed Viserys didn't quite understand at first. Or he didn't want to understand. A simple "How…?" left his lips. "Do you really want me to explain to you now how children are made, brother? Judging by Rhaenyra's three younger siblings, I'd say you're well aware of how it works." "Daemon!" Rhaenyra hissed.

"Oh thank you brother, but I can just about manage that. My question would rather be how it is that my daughter, who is married to Laenor Velaryon, manages to father a child with you"

"Father..," Rhaenyra said, but Daemon interrupted her.

"No, Rhaenyra, I want that legitimacy, I will talk," Daemon raised his hand slightly in her direction and then turned back to Viserys, "Viserys, brother, you know as well as I do that Laenor is neglecting his marital duties. I love Rhaenyra. Just as I loved her before she married Laenor, I still love her…" At these words Rhaenyra's heart warmed and she smiled. "…From that love, Y/N has now come forth. I love her, she is my daughter and I will not rest until she is officially recognized as that" "What..? ", Viserys looked irritatedly back and forth between Daemon and Rhaenyra, "Daemon, how do you imagine this? I just say she's your daughter and that's it? That's not possible."

"It is possible! You are the King! I ask you brother, and you know I don't ask often, but please, enable me to be a good father. Public, not behind any walls."

"I'm not quite sure… What does Laenor say about all this? Rhaenyra?" Rhaenyra stepped forward, now standing next to Daemon. She seemed hesitant, but was convinced she was doing the right thing, "It's definitely a complicated situation, father. But Laenor agrees. So am I. It's not easy and I'm afraid that in the process… Jace's lineage might be called into question, after all it would become official that I was unfaithful to Laenor at least once."

Daemon took Rhaenyra's hand in his and stroked it gently.

"But we agree, Daemon shouldn't be deprived of the opportunity to be a loving father. After all, we know he doesn't care for many people.”

Daemon smirked and looked at Viserys.

Viserys was torn, but finally said, "Okay. Daemon, I will. She will officially be your daughter. But I want you to always stand up for her, stand by her side and be a loving father."

"I stand here for nothing less. Thank you brother."

Viserys nodded and turned to Rhaenyra. "Have no fear. You are my daughter. The heir to the throne. Jace is my grandson and no one will question his lineage. I promise you that."

"Thank you Father", Rhaenyra smiled sweetly at him.

"And to you my little one, you are now officially a Targaryen. Y/N Targaryen."

Viserys kissed you lovingly on the forehead and handed you over to Daemon. When Daemon held you again, he looked at you. He smiled. The warm purple eyes that beamed at him warmed his heart. He kissed you gently on the forehead and murmured, "My little dragon." As Daemon and Rhaenyra left the room, they were happy. Rhaenyra had to wipe away a few tears, but she was happy.

_____________________________________________

You look up into your father's face, "Naah I'm fine. I'm just excited. I mean, I haven't seen my uncles and aunt in years… Haven't heard from them… That's weird. We kind of grew up together and then all of a sudden it was just nothing. I'm excited to see how they've changed."

"How Aemond changed?", Daemon looks at you with a smirk.

You blush and look at your father in shock. "Dad! No!"

Daemon raises his eyebrows and looks at you, "Well, this "no" came a little quickly", he still smirks at you.

"Well I mean.. yeah we were close but we haven't talked since and I don't even know if he still likes me or what he's like now", and your hands were fiddling with your dress again. Your mother recognises your distress and encourages you by taking hold of your knee.

"Everything's fine, it's going to be nice. We'll spend the couple of weeks here, enjoying the festivities for Aegon and Helaena's wedding, and then we'll head back"

You smile at your mother. And then you look at your father and you say, "Also, I'm nervous because I wasn't allowed to fly here with Meraxes. Now I don't have any kind of adequate defense when you're bugging me with statements like that."

Daemon just chuckles and looks at you naggingly. Rhaenyra scowls at Daemon, but he simply takes her hand and kisses it. As you roll your eyes and look out the window, you realize you've arrived. Now you are full of nervousness. As the carriages come to a halt, a voice outside the carriage calls out "Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen…" And with that you step out of the carriage behind your parents and see your relatives.

And you just smile.

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gwenllian-in-the-abbey · 13 days

Note

"If it feels like Alicent needs Rheanyra to suffer in order for her life to have meaning."

https://www.reddit.com/r/HouseOfTheDragon/s/6bMp4SmUpH

What's your opinion on this post?

I think the summary, "it feels like Alicent needs Rhaenyra to suffer in order for her life to have meaning" is kind of a misrepresentation of Olivia Cooke's quote cited in that reddit thread.

"Rhaenyra can just get away with anything, and it's so fine. The king turns a complete blind eye, whereas Alicent has always had to walk this tightrope for her whole entire life," Cooke explains. "Just the injustice of it that she feels, until things happen and she realizes that none of it f---ing matters. She looks around her family, and they're all f---ed up. She's like, 'I've been so perfect all my life. I haven't taken a step wrong, and it doesn't f---ing matter.' I think what we see in her evolution is this complete existential crisis."

“(rhaenyra) is the mother that alicent wishes she could be. i don't think there's empathy there. i think it is just another cause for alicent’s resentment, because it’s something she's doing better than alicent ever could.”

Alicent doesn't need Rhaenyra to suffer in order for her life to have meaning, what she needs is justice. She is married to the king and has given him three sons and a daughter, and she's treated no better than a mistress. Ironically, Alicent could have been a royal paramour, had royal bastards, and they would probably be safer as bastards than they are as trueborn children. It's blindingly unfair, and no one in Alicent's life recognizes that. Even her father cannot really acknowledge that Alicent personally has been done wrong because he had a hand in the doing.

I think what's left unsaid in the second part of that quote is why Rhaenyra is the mother Alicent wishes she could be. It's not because Rhaenyra is inherently a more loving, caring person. We see young Alicent is a very warm girl, with a lot of empathy for others, but by the time we catch up with her as an adult, she's been worn down by her circumstances. Even setting aside the fact that Alicent's children are not the product of a loving union like Rhaenyra's were, Alicent can't be this perfect caring, supportive mother when she is fighting for her children's lives. She can't let down her guard, nor can she afford to be too soft, or allow herself to become too attached, because her children are not simply her children, they're royal children who will be at the center of a succession crisis whether they like it or not. And unlike Rhaenyra, who has this incredible power of denial, Alicent has this anxious, hyper-vigilant personality and she can't just pretend her children won't one day be a threat to Rhaenyra''s claim. This is incredibly detrimental to Alicent's ability to effectively parent them!

And so of course Alicent resents the fact that Rhaenyra can just pretend everything is fine, that she can offer her kids this seemingly unconditional love and support, that she can ignore the elephant in the room when Alicent herself cannot ignore it. And the thing is, not only does Rhaenyra's refusal to acknowledge the problem put Alicent's kids in even more danger, it's not actually great for Rhaenyra's kids either. Just look at Jace, he's flying off the handle every time someone whispers the word bastard and already someone has lost an eye because of it. That kid harbors some deep insecurities, and his mother's absolute refusal to acknowledge his parentage, even privately, puts Jace in a really weird position. How can he prepare himself for his future as king, how can he learn how to face the whispers and the accusations, when his mother won't even utter the word? Alicent doesn't really have the ability at this point to see the flaws in Rhaenyra's parenting, but they're there.

So no, it's not that she wants Rhaenyra to suffer, she wants Rhaenyra to acknowledge that she understands the realities they're facing due to Viserys' decisions. Does Alicent want to feel like her own suffering matters? Of course! No one wants to feel like they wasted their life, that their sacrifices are unacknowledged and unappreciated. Look at how far Rhaenyra's "thank you and I'm sorry" went at the family dinner. Being gaslit is a maddening experience-- there's a reason why it's an abuse tactic-- and being gaslit over a period of years about something with life or death consequences would turn anyone bitter and resentful. But Rhaenyra's suffering in and of itself won't right the wrongs done to Alicent, and on some level Alicent has always been aware of that.

#asks #hotd discourse #alicent hightower #team green #anti rhaenyra targaryen #anti team black

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dreamlandcreations · 1 year

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Imagine being forced to marry Aemond

I think I read too much dark Aemond stuff bc now I'm in the mindset of let's kill the SOB him 😇

Imagine being Rhaenyra's heir and being forced to marry Aemond after he kidnapped you. He claims to love you but he disregards your reluctance and claims you as his wife.

Not a day goes by without you telling him that you hate him and trying to kill him. He actually enjoys this sick game, especially since it always ends up with hate sex until you are too tired to even move.

When you finally succeed in injuring him and escaping, he goes after you and makes you regret it. So you change tactics and ignore him and everyone else. He can't stand it.

After a week of silent treatment and you refusing to get out of bed or even eat properly, he breaks down and begs you to do something, even fight him again if t makes you happy.

You tell him that the only thing that would make you happy is to be free. Of him, of this place and of your doomed marriage that he forced you into.

He says nothing but leaves after a moment of silence.

The next day you are made to dress and led to the front gates of the keep where a carriage waits for you to take you to the Pit. You are free to go home.

On the flight to Dragonstone, you think he might truly love you, in his own twisted way but it doesn't mean you can forgive what he has done.

You see him again at the talks of the peace treaty. Which is only possible because you have poisoned the Hand and their king while they thought you were wasting away in your rooms.

Aemond looks like a wreck. Misery written over his face as he looks at you when they read the terms.

He wants you to return to the Keep as his queen, uniting your families and ruling as one.

The prolonged silence of your indecision is killing him, he doesn't even hear the shouting insults thrown at his head by your brothers.

You look away, eyes meeting with Rheanyra's for a silent conversation. She wants you to accept. Then you turn to Daemon, his burning gaze says it all, he wants to fight and you are inclined to let him.

In the end, you don't know what makes you accept the terms but you think you made the right decision, to protect your family from more loss in this war of dragons. Your only condition is that Daemon becomes your Hand. Aemond agrees without hesitation, glad to finally have you again. This time of your own volition.

#what the hell?!?!?!#I was supposed to be doing murdery stuff here #*pouts*#aemond targaryen x reader #prince aemond #dark aemond #dark aemond x reader #dark aemond targaryen #happy ending?#idk #aemond targaryen #aemond x reader #aemond targaryen imagine #my stuff #my fics

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casiaodorem · 1 year

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Sam & Milly

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missglaskin · 2 years

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Yan!Harwin, Yan!Jacaerys, Yan!Criston (Romantic) hcs

Note: Reader is female

Tags: Possessive behavior, mentions of violence, delusion, toxic behavior/mindset

Harwin Strong

Even in the absence of his tendencies, Harwin has a fierce, protective nature toward the people he loves and cares about. He is the kind of man who, if his darling were to receive any unwanted remarks; he won't put up with it and would retaliate impulsively.

His jealousy goes hand in hand with his protectiveness. Harwin has nothing but the highest regard for you; it’s those around you he doesn’t trust. He views himself as your protector; protecting you from men who only wish to use you for their own gain.

For a time, nothing much about Harwin makes you suspect his character. As he approaches you, he maintains a respectful distance and listens intently to what you say. It’s not uncommon for Harwin to offer you a bouquet he picked up along the way, smiling when you thank him.

Though one thing you take notice of with Harwin is the way he looks at you. It's a look filled with love. The intensity of his gaze causes you to turn away, feeling your face warm up; not noticing his frown when you do.

Harwin will never put his hand on you, regardless of what you do. In your presence, he also refrains from raising his voice. It doesn't matter how hard you scream at him, how many things you throw at him, or how hard you punch him in the chest; he still treats you gently. Holding you close and pleading for you to calm down.

Harwin thinks the world of you, as evidenced by the way he treats you. He has often pondered how he managed to go so long without having you in his life, but once you did, he vowed to keep you there forever.

He will be your most loving husband. Those at the court watch with envy as your husband pampers you. Such as keeping his hand on your back while walking alongside one another. Rubbing your hands with his when you’re feeling cold. Pressing a soft kiss to your lips when it’s time to leave.

Harwin desires to have children with you. He doesn’t wish to pressure you and will give you the space and time you need to feel ready. Any children you have with Harwin will be given the same protectiveness and devotion.

Jacaerys Velaryon

Jace initially comes across as a gentleman, sweet and well-mannered, but as time goes on, he starts to exhibit the same twisted tendencies as most of his family. With his darling, Jace's protectiveness and possessiveness really shine.

Jace is known for his impulsiveness. When someone makes even the slightest comment about you, Jace is ready to pounce and beat the shit out of them, but he resists the urge not wanting you to fear him.

At any ball or feast, Jace approaches you, requesting a dance. And while you can feel how intimately his hand is placed on your waist and how close his face is to yours, you try not to pay much mind to it. You don’t, however, take notice of his glare when another requests a dance.

Jace told his mother how he feels about you and resisted her attempts to persuade him that there are better ladies for him to court. Jace asserts it is his responsibility as the future king to choose a wife who will make a good queen, which he believes you will be. Rheanyra, caring for her son’s happiness, will give him her blessing.

He’ll introduce you to Vermax. When you express concern that the dragon might harm you. Jace assures you that Vermax will never do you any harm because Jace never will. As the dragon approaches you both-you cling to Jace and he finds himself smiling. He reaches for your hand, and when you give it to him, he puts his hand over yours and places it on Vermax's head.

Speaking of his dragon, it is said that dragons take after their owners. Jace can't openly show his possessiveness, but his dragon can. If anyone other than Jace touches you, the dragon will roar in a warning.

When your marriage takes place, it happens in dragonstone; Jace claims it’s your home as much as it’s his. His smile widens as you exchange your vows, and no one objects when he pledges his love with a passionate kiss that lasts much longer than it ought to. Throughout the entire ceremony, Jace has never left your side.

Before letting his feelings known, Jace would try to find any chance to touch you. Now that he is your husband, he is free to express his love and desire however he pleases. Greeting and leaving you with a kiss. His hand often discovered entwined with yours beneath the table. And even in the early mornings, your name is the first word he utters.

Criston Cole

He’s entirely devoted to his darling. Besides being extremely possessive, Criston is also fiercely protective of his darling. No matter how irredeemable the act is, Criston justifies many of the things he does, believing he is looking out for the darling’s safety and well-being.

Criston refuses to acknowledge any of the flaws you have. In his mind, you’re the most perfect being that graced this Earth. He’ll blame others for the way you act or for the things you say. Even if you were to carry out the most heinous of crimes, Criston would still defend your supposed innocence.

He’ll be quick to pull out his sword if anyone were to even make the slightest remark on your character. He’ll see that they are to treat you with the utmost respect. Only when you beg him to put down the sword does he calm down, but he'll never forget the person and forever harbor animosity towards them.

No matter where you go, Criston is always there. Even when you can't see him, you can still feel his eyes watching your every move. Criston doesn't avert his gaze when your eyes finally lock, and you can tell that he is staring at you with great intensity.

If you were to ask Criston to run away with you, he would do so without hesitation. As a knight, he takes no wife and fathers no children, but with you in his life, he wants to do all of those things. He wants to experience what it's like to wake up next to you every morning, for your face to be the first thing he sees.

He’ll go to any lengths to protect you, as has been repeatedly stated, and he keeps to his word. He has made you the center of his universe, and the idea of you possibly being gone is too painful for him to contemplate. Criston would defend you even if it were against a dragon.

Along with his refusal to acknowledge your flaws, he also forms an idea of you in his mind. You sometimes question whether Criston truly loves you, the real you or the one he imagined, the one who is so perfect, good, and pure.

He stands so close to you but doesn't directly touch you. As he hears whatever offer or order you give him with his face so close to yours. One day Criston couldn't help but close the gap, pressing a soft kiss to your lip, glad when you returned his kiss eagerly.

#harwin strong x reader #criston cole x reader #yandere x reader #jacaerys velaryon x reader #yandere headcanons #yandere hotd #hotd x reader #yandere house of the dragon #house of the dragon x reader #yandere #x reader #asoiaf x reader #reader insert #headcanons #hotd #house of the dragon

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sheeple · 1 year

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Lady Strong | Part 1

PHOTO NOT MINE. THIS IS ALL FICTION. Genre(s): Strong!reader / Angst? Fandom(s): House of the Dragon (TV series) Pairing(s): Aemond Targaryan x Strong!reader / Jacaerys Velaryon x Strong!reader (platonic/siblings) Summary: It's not easy being a Strong; with a mother who committed suicide, a father who sired three children out of wedlock and then died for it, and a creepy uncle who has nefarious plans for his niece, it's hard to find people who truly mean the best for you. Luckily there are your brothers and your fiance... right? Warning(s): SPOILERS / Mentions of suicide / burning / infidelity / English isn't my first language and I never wrote this much in the past tense. A/n: Guess who’s still alive? This show pulled me out of my writing slump (kinda) [Masterlist] [Mini masterlist] [Part Two] [Part Three]

The last thing your mother said to you was that it wasn't your fault. And that it wasn't that of your father. But mostly that it was not yours.

She said she loved you before throwing herself off the highest tower of Harrenhal. You were a mere four years old.

That was many years ago and you can bearly remember her face. There was one portrait of her, but that burned down.

As soon as the news that your mother had passed reached your father, he brought you to the capital. It was said that the king pitied you. And he also saw you as a potential friend of princess Heleana.

Life in the capital wasn't that bad. The princess and you turned out to be fast friends quickly. Yes, she was a bit weird, but she was kind and, above all, she doesn't judge.

When you first arrived in the palace, your father introduced you to Princess Rheanyra, Ser Leanor Velaryon, and their two sons. You quickly noticed that you looked like each other. The same hair, the same nose, the same lips. All that of Harwin Strong. Except your eyes were different. They got them from your father, and yours mirrored your mother's.

You knew what that meant. Especially since Jacaerys was only born two moons before you.

At that exact moment, you knew what mother implied with her words. It wasn't your nor your father's fault that it didn't work out. It was an arranged marriage, and they did their duty. But along the way, your mother fell in love with him. She couldn't stand the thought of him being with another woman, and she knew he did not love her. So she took her life.

For the fact that she made your mother kill herself, you did not resent princess Rheanyra at all. For the two years you lived at King's Landing, she treated you like a daughter. She allowed you to join Jace and Luke's lessons with the Septa. You even sometimes joined them during their training. Your father always had this big grin when you kicked any of the prince's arses.

Your happy little life all came to an end when Joffrey was born. It was clear that the babe was not fathered by Ser Leanor.

Suddenly, you were told to pack your bags because you were leaving for Harrenhal. You cried while hugging Jace and Luke, not knowing when you would see them again.

The journey was long and your behind was sore at the end of the horse ride. Grandfather was angry at father and didn't speak for the whole ride. Father tried to cheer you up, knowing what it meant for you to go back to the place where your mother died.

He stayed silent when you tried to ask if it was true that Jace, Luke, and Joffrey were your half-brothers. But the look from Grandfather confirmed what you already knew.

Getting back situated in your old room, you noticed a new piece of decoration; a painting of your mother. It hung above the fireplace. Father said nothing but just stood beside you, laying a hand on your shoulder that meant a thousand words.

That night when you almost fell asleep, the smell of smoke hit your nose and orange lights seeped through the cracks under the door. You immediately sat up and jumped out of bed. You tried to open the door but it burned your hand, the knob scolding hot.

Soon, the flames destroyed your room and you watched how the last reminder of your mother got engulfed in the flames, the paint melting in the heat.

You do not remember how you escaped with your life. You passed out because of the smoke and woke up on a stretcher, your skin covered in soot and the smell of burning flesh in your nose. Your left arm had a huge burn that scarred over, turning the flesh hideous.

When you tried to ask for your father or grandfather, nobody answered, but they all had sullen looks on their face. You were the lone survivor of the fire.

The new Lord of Harrenhal, your uncle Larys, quickly became your ward. You moved back to court. But it turned out that Jace and Luke left for Dragonstone with their mother once they heard of the fire. You received a secret raven delivered by Ser Erryk from Rheanyra that she mourned the death of your father and hoped that you could visit her and her sons any time soon.

You didn't have to wait long to see your brothers again. Sadly, lady Leana Velaryon passed by dragon fire, almost the same night as the fire of Harrenhal.

Uncle Larys dragged you to Driftmark with him to pay your respects to the family of lady Leana, her husband prince Deamon, and their children.

You stood facing the ocean, blinking rapidly to fight back the tears. This isn't the right moment to mourn your father's death, your uncle told you.

Someone announced their presence beside you and you looked up. "My prince", you muttered softly whilst bowing.

Prince Aemond looked over the sea and down onto ser Leanor, who stood up to his knees in the water motionless. "Rather pathetic, isn't it?"

"What is, my prince?"

The white-haired boy scoffed. "Acting in such a shameless manner. I would get revenge on the one who wronged me." The prince glanced at his uncle, who leaned nonchalantly on a wall, his eyes focused on princess Rheanyra.

You hesitated for a moment to speak. "Not everything is resolved by violence, my prince."

Princes Aemond turned his gaze on you. His eyes fell on your gloved hands. "Are you sure about that?"

His implications were clear. Someone had started the fire. The slightest mention of the death of your father and grandfather being on purpose, made your eyes water. Lifting your skirt, you hurried away to safe face in front of almost everybody important in court.

Hiding in a random alcove, you heard steps getting closer and you feared what your uncle would have said. Instead, the Queen appeared.

"My child", she said softly, taking your tear-stained face in her hands. There was pity in her eyes, and sorrow. She knew what it was to lose a parent, so she could imagine how it must have felt to lose them both.

You quickly bowed, wiping your face. "You-your Grace. I must apologise for my behaviour, it will not happen again." Looking down, you tried to not cry more. But the tears just kept on coming.

Queen Alicent sighed deeply, pulling you to her chest and hugging you. It was the first hug you received since the passing of your father. That broke you, and you cried like a babe in the arms of the Queen. She stroked your hair and let you grieve for a moment.

After a while, you took a step back and did not dare to meet her eyes, afraid of what she would say and ashamed of your demeanour. Before you could apologise again, she silenced you with a motherly look. A look that said that it was okay.

Wiping away the tears on your face, she called for a maid and ordered her to take you back to your room and put you to bed. She maid compiled without a word and lead you to your chambers.

You slept the remainder of the day. Once night fell, you awoke from your slumber and decided to sneak to the kitchen to try to find something to eat. Except, you found your brothers, their cousins, and prince Aemond in a standoff, screaming at each other.

"What's going on?", you asked unsure, not knowing if you were overstepping the boundaries.

One of the twin girls turned towards you. "He stole my mother's dragon! She belonged to me!"

"Your mother is dead. It is in my right as a dragon to claim one. Maybe your cousins can help you find a pig to ride, it would suit you." Prince Aemond had a smug look on his face.

The girl screamed and charged at the prince. But he fended her off easily. Her sister now joined and hits him in the face. Aemond returned the favour and punched her so hard that she fell to the ground.

Now your brothers joined, getting in on the fight. A scream escaped your lips as you watched how all four hounded up upon the prince. You tried to intercept, pulling anyone you could manage off of Aemond, but you got thrown to the side yourself. Aemond managed the kick them off, blood is flowing and whines of pain are heard as the children fell to the ground, hitting their heads.

He held Luke by the throat and lifted up a rock. "You will die screaming in flames, just like your father did. Basterds." Aemond looked at Jace, venom in his words.

"My father is still alive!", cried Luke, his nose bleeding.

Aemond drops his arm to his side. "He doesn't know, does he?��Lord Strong."

Jace unsheathed his blade and goes to attack Aemond, the girls crying out his name. The white-haired boy pushed Luke towards the eldest and Jace easily caught his brother and pushed him behind him.

Jace goes to swipe his blade towards Aemond, but the latter hit him with a rock and Jace fell to the ground. Jace throws sand into Aemond's face as he notices his younger brother grabbing his knife.

At the moment Aemond's distracted by the sand, Luke goes to swipe.

You jumped in between them, attempting to stop your brother from doing something incredibly stupid.

But while Luke cuts out Aemond's eye, he managed to also slice your face. The white-haired prince cried out in agony as his eye gushed with blood. You dropped to the ground and hold your face yourself, feeling the sticky blood cover your hands.

Your brothers screamed out and rushed towards you, both had tears on their faces and panic in their eyes.

Not a second later, royal guards arrived at the scene and take asses the situation. They took the children inside and called upon their parents.

While the King demanded to know what happened, a maester tended to your wound. "It might scar, lady Strong, but the wound is not too deep, so you might be lucky", the maester mumbled while king Viserys and queen Alicent argue about Aemond's eyes.

As the King moved away, queen Alicent grabbed his blade to take an eye for an eye.

A primal instinct inside you suddenly came and you jumped up from your chair, pushing past the maester and your uncle. You jumped in front of the Queen, just as she was about to strike. The blade wedged itself in your shoulder and you cried out in agony.

Screams are heard from around the room and people rushed towards you. Panic was in the eyes of the Queen as she realised what she had done.

As you slowly slid down into the arms of someone, your eyes felt tired.

"I'm sorry, your Grace. I'm sorry...", you mumbled out the same words as that afternoon, a single tear rolled down your cheek before you lost consciousness from the pain.

#house of the dragon #house of the dragon x reader #house of the dragon x you #house of the dragon x strong!reader #hotd #hotd x reader #hotd x you #hotd imagine #hotd x strong!reader #aemond targaryen #aemond targaryen x reader #aemond targaryen x you #aemond targaryan x strong!reader #aemond x reader #aemond x y/n #aemond x you #aemond x strong!reader #strong!reader #harwin strong

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