(please don't ghostread)   

Despite being a bastard, Aelyna Targaryen was a vision of ethereal beauty. To the farthest corners of Westeros, past the narrow seas she was the very embodiment of Valyrian grace and beauty. Hair silver as the moon, shimmering like molten sunlight cascaded in loose waves down to her waist. Her eyes of green and lilac as the mother the king once had. Fringed with dark lashes, she carried herself with allure of which men would kill for her hand in a marriage pact. 

As a child, though her appearance was delicate, almost frail, there was a steely resolve within her, a fire that burned as fiercely as the dragons her house was famed for.

On the eve of her one and sixth name day, King Viserys had arranged a great tourney in his nieces name. From High Garden to Dorne, many lords saw this as the opportunity to arrange a marriage pact between the princes and their houses. 

But Aelyna knew of better, she had taken off on dragonback and never looked back. She knew all too well of what she was made for, motherhood and wedded bliss was not meant for her. She looked no further than the women in her life. Rhaenyra, Aemma, Laena even the queen Alicent, they're purpose was to serve the realms and their house by producing heirs. To ensure the Targaryen name will live on.

By one and six Aelyna was a famed traveller amongst the Free Cities. From Volantis to Lys, she enriched herself with cultures and knowledge. The lords were more than willing to have her as a guest in their homes, all to obtain the end to one goal.

Aelyna carried herself with both comfort and mystery. She enjoyed the luxuries befitting of a princess, and was widely known to share it with others. At a young age Aelyna realized the advantages of having friends. From her first breathe her life had always been a spectacle to others. The bastard of Daemon Targaryen, her mere existence was a tantalizing conversation amongst lords and ladies. This made her keep to herself, but there was a draw to it. Moving inside the Red Keep as though she were a tiny shadow. Her handmaiden Shayna had always called her a silver spider.

While living in the Free Cities to the highest of lords, Aelyna had favored her behavior she had as a child. For a creature of haunting beauty she favored the whispers of others. Gaining the loyalty and friendship of servant girls, her network of information only grew. Aelyna understood nor she or her dragon could stay as guests too long in others homes, eventually her hosts would grow impatient of no prospects being returned to them, and many attempts have been made to take her hand by force.

Attempts. Because the princess had become so beloved amongst of servants and guards, she was able to seamlessly escaped the cities unharmed.  

On her final travel to Braavos, she had met the one thing she had always ached for. A mother. She had heard the whispers of a woman with lilac eyes and hair as black as the nightsky. A familiar face amongst in a house of actors. Aelyna finally had a mother, even just brief. 

It was an unfortunate fate that she was nothing more than another pawn to her mother. A pig raised for slaughter. Her mother a Braavosi girl who found herself in the trenches of Kings Landings brothels, had had visions of the moon cracked open like an egg and thousands and thousands dragons poured out of it. She dreamed she suffered the pain of childbirth in return be rewarded with a dragon. But out of her labors came nothing but a babe, her dreams had faulted her. She escaped Kings Landing before she could be identified as the mother of the princess Aelyna.

A mother and daughter finally reunited, but there was no love lost. Aelyna had always found interest in the mystic arts, a grown interest in spells and potions. Her first kill would be at the hands of magic.

Songs of Daemon Targaryen were spread far and wide, tales of his bloodied victories reached far and wide. Aelyna herself had been told endless times the very moment a mans heart stopped bleeding when his Valyrian sword cut the skin. Daemon had always hoped that it would one day, be his spitfire that wield his sword, but the gods would see that Aelyna favored to her mother. 

After a performance, the streets of Braavos came alive.  Where the capital of highborn visitors met with the grit and fire of the city's underbelly. Just as Daemon when he met her, Aelyna's cup had become overflown with wine. Drunk to the point where she could taste the air and smell colors. Her mother carried her by arms as the streets spilled in laughter, music and smell of cheap ale. To her dragon she was led, stumbling over her legs.

A sacrifice was to be made. A daughter for a dragon.

Vermithors roar thundered as a mother attacked her daughter, a blade as warm as fire near struck through Aelyna's heart. But Aelyna was her fathers daughter, she knew well enough to fight her off. Through difficulty Aelyna overpowered the mother she regretted she had met, plunged the dagger through her heart. 

A horrific scream pierced the night, a sound so raw and primal it seemed to tear through crashing waves, echoed off the rocks with bone chilling resonance that haunted Aelyna's dreams for many moons. Her mother reduces to a black shadow when the knife stuck in her heart. 

From then Aelyna fled, each passing city she changed her appearance. Her mother killed by her hand, though her lessons in blood magic would remain. Her seed the sinister grace of blood magic that flowed through Aelyna's blood. 

Aelyna's life had become a song of the dangers of love. Love brought nothing but death and heartbreak. Her first kiss, drunkenly taken from her by someone she trusted. Her father, who she loved unconditionally chose the thrill of the blade Dark Sister, her mother- Love was a chosen poison to indulge.

As Aelyna's hand streeled Vermithor, out of breath from taking flight she wondered was it possible that ones gentle touch of love, a balm that could soothe deep scars of the mind and soul.

There was a brewing fear inside Aelyna. By no means of her own, she had grown too fond of Cregan Stark. The more time she spent in Winterfell, the more she could see herself have a life with him. But there was still too much uncertainty. It had been years, years since she had last seen Daemon or Rhaenyra. To return to Dragonstone with word of a marriage pact between house Stark and Targaryen. Daemon would have his head.

"Fuck." Aelyna cursed in high Valyrian. A language she often spoke to her dragon. Having only have the company of Vermithor for years, the dragon had become more than just a pet. He was a confidant and friend to her, even if he could speak. Vermithor had carried Aelyna on his back, bloodied and bruised, drunk and sound of mind. A single roar would bring her from her state of visions and dreams. "If father draws his blade to Cregan, will you promise to shield him?" 

To which the dragon groaned. Aelyna managed to laugh "At the very least, do you think we could make home here?" Vermithor nuzzled himself in Aelyna's hand. Aelyna eased into his sign of care as she rested her forehead against his "I wish it was you who would have to tell Daemon."

As time continued both Cregan and Aelyna's care grew more passionate and deep, anyone close to the two could see it was more than just kissing in between dark corridors of Winterfell's castle. He had grown more enthralled by the princess. 

She had kept enough contact with her brothers and sisters. Being the eldest of their family, there was no difficulty in persuading Baela, Rhaena and Jacaerys to keep any information from Daemon and Rhaenyra. First word of her in Norvos, and her father would see to himself that she be tied to Caraxes on their way back to Dragonstone. 

Aelyna wished she could marry Cregan without the hypocrisy of her father. Continuously taking wives, making a mother of her cousins to her without warning.

"Seems I am in debt to Roslyn." Aelyna turned to see her betrothed "She had said I'd find you here instead of the greenhouse."

"Should I be concerned that you do not know where to find me?" Aelyna turned her hand still on Vermithor "One would say it is a danger to marry one who is a stranger to you."

Cregan Stark smiled as he climbed off his horse. He slowly approached Aelyna, even after all this time he still dreaded carefully when it came to Vermithor. He knew to never stand too close to Aelyna, unless she permitted it herself.  

Aelyna chuckled as she looked between her dragon and betrothed. Perhaps it would take a miracle for the two to find middle ground with one another "Are you still frightened of him? How do you expect I take you on dragonback one day?"

"I much rather prefer horseback princess." He replied to receive a low groan for the winged beast

"This does not humour me." Aelyna laughed "It is important for both of us that should you ever kiss me, my dragon will not burn you to ash."

Cregans face struck pale as Aelyna continued to laugh at the worry in his face "He wouldn't-"

"Not by my command." Aelyna teased. She petted Vermithor a final time as she walked towards her betrothed. Her hands on the sides of his waist as she pulled him closer to her. Cregans breath on hers as smiled to her betrothed "In fact, kiss me."

"What?" a startled Cregan exclaimed to which Aelyna's laugh bellowed through the cold winds

"Kiss me." She replied "Once Vermithor sees you mean no harm to me, perhaps you will form an understanding with one another."

"Fuck." 

Cregans eye shifted between between Aelyna's bright eyes and her lips. Their lips met as if a feather's touch upon a morning rise, Cregan placed a gentle kiss was shared between the Stark boy and Targaryen girl. This kiss unlike the ones they snuck between dark passages and stables, was so much more gentler and sweeter, innocent as though it was their first. As Aelyna kissed him, Cregans eyes opened to see Vermithor stare a hole through him. 

And yet he was not burned alive. 

"Do you jest princess?" Roslyn giggled "You truly think your father will have my lord Starks head?" the girl asked as she brushed through Aelyna's wet curls. In the bathtub, candles light and flower petals scattered among the tub Aelyna sank deeper into her bath

"You have never met my father." Aelyna muttered as she became more relaxed her hair was brushed "His way of showing love and loyalty is by means of bloodshed."

"At least you have an understanding of him." Roslyn said "That is more than I could say for others."

Aelyna turned in the tub as she faced Roslyn. Despite the difference in privilege and wealth Aelyna had also become attached to Roslyn. It was very rare that Aelyna found herself in the comfort of an actual friend. Not a spy, a confidant who has no claim to say no to her and not a guard but someone she genuinely trusted and enjoyed their company of.

"I'm sorry." Aelyna sighed as she reached for Roslyn's hand of which the red haired girl took gladly "Here I am rambling on end of the sour grapes of my childhood when others suffer more."

Roslyn shook her head as she sat forward "We all must make due with the pains of our fathers, highborn or not."

Aelyna's gaze softened as she turned around. She leaned back in the bathtub as Roslyn continued to comb through the damp tangles "Perhaps, once if Prince Daemon hears how the North has accepted you as their own, he'll be more reassured in the pact between you and lord Stark."

"He would argue that any house would be welcoming if it meant a Valyrian heir and dragon would be part of their house." Aelyna sighed "The more I think seeing him and Rhaenyra again, the less I want to leave. I would rather be anywhere than face them after how we have left thing since last we spoke."

Three knocks to the door and Aelyna already knew who it was. Another maid stood in the doorway as she sighted Aelyna and Roslyn. "Princess." She bowed "Lord Stark wishes to you see you." she glanced between Roslyn and the princess "Alone."

Roslyn teasing smile said all that was needed to know, handing Aelyna her robe. The two maids exited Aelyna's chambers but not without a giggle shared between the young girls. Aelyna bit the inner corner of her lips as she climbed out of the tub. Skin still wet and kissed in flower petals. When Cregan entered her chamber she could see his gaze turn soft for her

"Princess." he formally greeted her, eyes trailing down her body with nothing but the thin layer of her robe to cover her body. Aelyna remained quiet as she approached him. 

"The hour is late, my lord Stark."

"It is." He replied "But it would be rude of me to have my guest of honor sleep on an empty stomach."

"An excuse you have grown quite fond of using." Aelyna laughed as she felt Cregans hands on her waist, bringing her closer to him. Her lips lingered so close to his

"I have yet to hear you complain about my nightly visits."

"Perhaps because when you leave, all urgent matters are tended to." Aelyna whispered as the back of her thumb traced against his lip "I enjoy your pleasant visits my lord."

Aelyna could feel her heart drumming in her chest as her body was screaming for his touch. On bare feet she rised to stand on her toes as her hand played with the direwolf sigil across his chest. She had seen him less at night, to not raise suspicion and have her maidenhood question, both Cregan and Aelyna resorted to quick kisses stolen in empty stables or unaccompanied walks.

"Then I am glad I am able to bring the princess pleasantries." Cregan smiled "In more ways than just one." 

That was all she needed as she desperately kissed him. His hold on her firm as she pushed him back to the foot of her bed. 

☆ ࣪ ִ AUTHORS NOTE :l 𝆬 3

Vermithor when Cregan kissed Aelyna in front of him:

i love adding these memes at the end of the chapters. I purely wrote this chapter listening to the Gnomeo and Juliet soundtrack. These meds kinda have my head spinning

Okay, firstly I know its been a quick minute since I've properly updated Baptism I will even admit I'm not too obsessed with chapter fourteen because how sick I was when I wrote it but we push through. Chapter fifteen and an insane amount of Aelyna lore is dropped and trust me it's not even the half of it. Aelyna's mother is a witch, a blood witch in fact. At first I wanted Aelyna to be a sword wielding warrior like Daemon but I decided against it because it's been done too much in hotd fanfics and I didn't wanna take away Baela's characteristics and just slap it on someone else. Also what are we thinking is Daemon and Aelyna's dynamic after all these years because there's so much that has happened since they'd last seen each other?

IN THIS HOUSE WE SERVE BAELE THE BRAVE

Also I wanna play off the dynamic of all three Aelyna, Baela and Rhaena in how they will play completely different roles during the war. Again thank you all so much for the votes and comment I can't believe Baptism is at 20K already- it's insane

As always please let me know what you guys think of this chapter, and if not just a vote or comment will be highly appreciated

<3