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Aelyna wished that had been the end of it all. The battle lines drawn between Rhaenyra and Alicent, but alas only more madness ensued. The aftermath had only taken a turn for the worst, death had continued to follow her.

After the death of Laenor Velaryon, Rhaenyra had taken a new husband. Bounded by blood in the traditions of Old Valyria, the two had joined their families. None of their children approved, but none's resentment was as strong as Aelyna's. The girl was no fool, and yet Rhaenyra and Daemon played her as one. She was familiar with the whispers amongst others of the coincidence of the betrothal of the prince and princess. How perfectly timed it was of both to take one another shortly after Laenor and Laena's death. Aelyna knew there was more to it, nothing ever happens just as it does.

Rhaenyra stood cradling Joffrey at her side as she watched Aelyna flying Vermithor. Since moving to Dragonstone, she spent many of her days in her chambers or up in the sky. Aelyna avoided Rhaenyra like the plague, it ached Rhaenyra to see her cousin become so distant with her. She still remembered the argument raised against both and Daemon when they had broken the news to the children.

"You fucking idiots!" Aelyna cursed at them. Still on Driftmark as the kings boat had left the dock. Laenor's funeral shortly held after his sisters, within days in fact. The three dragons Helaena, Aegon and now Aemond following back to Kingslanding. "It it not enough that both your husband and your lover has died- now you wish to take my father as well?" She argued

"I more than anyone understand your shock, cousin. By I swear to you, on my mothers name, there is no sick ploy behind these events." The cousins sat across from one another in Aelyna's chamber. Aelyna's eyes staring a hole back into Daemon 

"And you? You wish to make my cousin my mother?" Aelyna said. She stood from the table as she paced herself up and down "What you two is not only dangerous, it is idiotic."

"What we are doing is nothing less of what our ancestors have done for years. Binding the house of the dragon as Aegon the conqueror did when he took his sister- wives." Daemon argued with his daughter "You know as well as I, this-" he placed his hand on Rhaenyra's. She enveloped her hand with his "Is far from their last attack on not only Rhaenyra, but her children as well."

Aelyna scoffed sighing into her hands as she looked back to them "Can anything in this family, for once not be about that ugly iron chair?!" she exclaimed "Your sons have lost two fathers, Baela and Rhaena have barely mourned Laena's death. I have barely mourned- how is the unity of joining our families more important to the both of you than your children?"

"It because of you that Daemon and I wish to do this. To secure your safety." Rhaenyra argued back "Each one of you is at risk from them. I would have hoped you would understand this better than anyone."

Aelyna rolled her eyes "No, do not dare use my past against me. Do you know what will happen when you take one another?" she rhetorically asked "Rhaenyra, you are sowing the seeds to your own demise. To take a husband shortly after already losing Laenor, the man who has not too long ago lost his wife in child labor- they will hate you more." She warned "You heard what Aegon said, even if you refuse to admit to yourself. Everyone can see it, everyone knows of your friendship with Harwin Strong."

"Jace and Luke are Targaryen just as you." Daemon countered "Their mother is heir to the throne, their dragons born in the craddle. The blood of the dragon is strong within them just as you. For you, to use that argument against her is nothing but childish and cruel."

Aelyna remained quiet. So far she had kept her tongue at bay, careful to choose her words but the audacity of Daemon and Rhaenyra could only push her till so far "Yes, they are Targaryen as I am and yet still I am called a bastard. I ride the king Jaehaerys's dragon and still I am called a whore child behind my back!" She exclaimed "This is more than just a political strategy on your behalf father." She snapped "You come to her children's defense for what? To reignite the lust you shared for another when I was a child?!" 

Daemon and Rhaenyra remained silent. They knew Aelyna had her little informers within the castle when they were younger, but the extent of her knowledge was never fully known. 

"Fine, take one another. Marry in the traditions of Old Valyria, but do not expect of me, nor Baela and Rhaena nor Jace and Luke to be happy about it!" She added "And do not expect of me to become their mother. You will be there to pick up the pieces of Laena, Harwin and Laenor's deaths.  If you dare expect of me to raise your children on your behalf, I will leave."

"Laeni...." Rhaenyra sighed 

"I will." she swore "I will not let you make of me what Alicent and Viserys had made of you Rhaenyra."

It had only a year since Daemon and Rhaenyra had joined their houses. Rhaenyra watched Vermithors looming shadow eclipse Dragonstone. His wings alone shadowed the castle as Aelyna held onto the saddle. Vermithor cut through the wind flying higher into the misty air of Dragonstone. His roared thundered as he breathed fire into the air. Aelyna cheered on his back he flew through the fiery air with his rider, unharmed from the it as Aelyna's laughter become louder. 

Rhaenyra set Joffrey down as he babbled with the toy dragon in his hand. She felt a reassuring arm around her waist, turning to see Daemon. A tender kiss placed on her forehead as they continued to watch Aelyna and Vermithor.

"She's spent all afternoon on Dragonback, at some point she must retire for the night." She sighed taking her husbands hand 

"She must, but she won't." Daemon chuckled "She'll tire herself out and probably fall asleep under his wing again. It would not be the first time." he shrugged. True it was, if not avoiding the castle Aelyna could be founded on Dragonmount- many nights having been founded asleep under the protective wing of her dragon. 

The bond between the two as strong as any. When first arriving on Dragonstone, Aelyna's displeasure of her new home could be felt. Every argument she had with Daemon retorted in a growl from Vermithor. Their countless attempts to ride Caraxes and Syrax with Aelyna and Vermithor proved futile. In the months Aelyna had been on Dragonstone, she had built a wall around herself from them. Vermithor was her trusted guard. 

"She did not take the news well, how did the twins take it?" Rhaenyra sighed. She turned to face Daemon, hoping for an answer that could soothe her nerves 

"They'll travel to Kings Landing, if Aelyna alone approves it. We both know she won't."

"She has never enjoyed parties, even as a child." Rhaenyra chuckled at the memory of Aelyna's tantrums she held the morning of her name days when she still resided in Kings Landing. "Far be it from my father to think she would approve of a tourney to be held for a sixteenth."

"She had planned a tour of the Free Cities if I recall." Daemon reminisce "It was all Laena's idea..." he said to himself. Though his heart burned for Rhaenyra, he could not deny his aching pain when he thought of Laena. Rhaenyra understood this, both shared a love with another before finding their ways back to each other. Laena had given his daughter something he never could, a mother. She had made Aelyna blossom into the woman she was. 

"I think the anger she feels is her attempt to hide her pain. Her first name day without Laena." Daemon noted "Laena had always made sure to make the day special for her, in her own elaborate ways."

"So we agree, we won't go. Not unless she agrees to it?"

"That cunt Otto Hightower made a formal declaration on behalf of the king for Aelyna's name day. I doubt we're permitted to say no. Not if it's the kings final word."

"But it's not." Rhaenyra argued back "My brothers remain unwedded. I sense a trickery afoot. The greens have never made it secret that have Vermithor and Vhagar at their dispense."

"Luckily, for us" Daemon placed a kiss on her hand "No one despises Kings Landing more than my spitfire."

A storm was coming. It had been for the week already, despite the Septa's warnings Aelyna took the risk of taking Vermithor for a ride anyway. His wings extended as she slid down. Removing the glove from her hands as her hand petted his snout

"Vermithor, dohaeris, dohaeris." She calmed him trying to catch her breath. She leaned against him as her legs made her feel unbalanaced. Aelyna rested her forehead against his head as the dragons sigh calmed her as well "Lykiri, lykiri." she whispered leaning back her head as she looked back into the reflection in his eyes. Vermithor nuzzled his head to hers, Aelyna giggled at his tender care. She placed a peck between his eyes as she was met with Baela and Jace

"I take it another successful ride?" Baela noted handing a blanket to her older sister. She wrapped it around Aelyna's shivering body. 

"It's good practice for him. You never know when you'll need to fly through a storm sister." Aelyna teased blowing warmth onto her cold hands "You could have joined us today. I am sure Moondancer would have enjoyed it."

Baela gawked at Vermithor "Perhaps on a better day, when it's not pouring outside." Aelyna wrapped the blanket tighter around her body as she walked amongst the grounds of Dragonstone. A carriage waiting from them as they passed the dragon keepers "You reek of dragon. I assume you won't climb into bed with that smell."

Despite her argument, Aelyna's bond with her siblings grew stronger. There were many nights where the youngest would all, each in their own time make home of her chambers. A soothing thought to Rhaenyra was to find the children squeezed in Aelyna's bed on stormy nights.

"And here I thought you'd compliment my odor."

"Only if you make the time to bathe." Baela sarcastically remarked. Her wit earned a laugh from Aelyna.

The two rushed back to the castle, as the rain poured heavier onto them. Aelyna used the blank to cover them both until they were inside. Shaking loose her wet braids as the sisters travelled back to her empty chambers. Aelyna plopped herself to her bed, her body sore and aching from hours of riding saddle. Her mattress so soft she could sink right through it. Baela joined her at the end of her bed

"Have you decided yet?" Baela asked. Aelyna rolled her eyes as she wrapped herself in her bedding for warmth "Luke said they'll send words as soon as they have your permission."

"It depends, do they want to go? Because if they don't, I'll definitely want my name day in Kings Landing." Aelyna remarked. Her spite soothed her irritation. Daemon had grown much irritated to it, but Rhaenyra let her be. She remembered herself at the age Aelyna was. How difficult she made it for Viserys after taking Alicent's hand. It would all pass- she hoped in the very least.

"That's not answer."

"Well, it is all I have." Aelyna shrugged "Besides, the only aim for this tourney is to find me a suitable betrothed. The king and queen are restless for my hand to be taken, especially after denying Aemond's proposal."

"It wasn't as much deny, as you had told Rhaenyra to tell the queen you would rather have your throat slit than take one of her children." Baela countered 

"I stand by word." 

Aelyna was of age, within a moon she would be sixteen. With no lord to take as husband. After seeing what the women in her family endured, who could blame her. She dreaded to be betrothed. No man would take her out of love. All they would want is her Valyrian blood and her dragon. Prop her to display amongst their highborn friends and force her to breed their heirs until it killed her. She refused to be subjected to such horrors. The idea of being with child only brought back the memory of Laena and her aunt Aemma's pain.

"Mother always said that it was our duty." Baela replied "To expand the greatness of our houses." 

"And look where that got her." Aelyna bluntly remarked. She regretted it as she said it, taking Baela's hand "There should be more to life for us than bringing up heirs. I want the freedom to do what I want, with whom I want, whenever I want."

"Would that not get lonely?"

"Not if I have you all by my side." Aelyna replied as she placed a kiss on her sisters hand 

The pleasure of having so many brothers and sisters was that there were moments where Aelyna could fall to the back and no one would notice. Six children did this well for her. Each having a tale to tell of their day as Aelyna picked at the food of her plate. She thought long and hard to her conversation with Baela- what good what marriage do for her. What privilege's could she be fulfilled on with a man in her life.

She was after all a bastards. She had no name or title, no castles to offer. All she could produce was an heir and that only was a subject she deemed as torture.

"Aelyna, are perhaps feeling ill? You've barely eaten at all." Rhaenyra concerningly asked her. She knew Aelyna better than anyone could understand. As children she hated to stomach eating when upset, it was why she was so frail in the first months of Daemon and Lord Corlys fighting the war in the Stepstones. When upset she could not stomach to hold in even cake.

"I'm perfectly fine. Perhaps I'm not feeling well." She sighed sinking deeper into her chair as she poked the piece of meat

"Is this because you're getting old?" Luke asked to which Jace pinched him underneath the table 

Aelyna smiled "No, wha- who told you that?"

"Well, then what's wrong? You're usually happy when you've taken Vermithor for flight." Luke asked sweetly. Rhaenyra smiled back to her sweet boy. Despite their many arguments the children had always defused Aelyna's frustration. They brought a sense of calmness and clarity to Aelyna whenever she felt her tongue aching to scream.

"I have a lot on my mind." She replied turning to Daemon and Rhaenyra "I assume you two are waiting to hear my reply at the kings invitation." She deadpanned "Would I be wrong in assuming, it is not only to celebrate my name day?"

"The king worries of your responsibilities. He had requested his hand to invite a list of suitors to meet in Kings Landing.. He hopes to reconcile with us... after this past year and help you-" 

Both Daemon and Alaeyna rolled their eyes "Find a man to make babies with. How delightful." Aelyna snarked to which her siblings laughed amongst themselves. They were not permitted to be as blunt as Aelyna. Her tongue did make for entertainment at dinner though "So my name day would not even be about me, but rather his ego?"

Daemon took a sip of his wine, through stubbornness, he did find it all to amusing at Aelyna's dedication to make it easy for the next person to appeal to her, especially Viserys and Otto Hightower. When Aelyna was a child, he swore that she would never have to take a man unless it was her decision to make. He vowed to keep his oath to all three his daughters.

"We have made it clear that you are not interested, many times, but he remains determined to try and guide you-"

"Guide me?" Aelyna questioned "Like most things it's a ploy to win you two over. Why should I be the middle ground for the distance you wedged amongst each other?"

Baela and Rhaena groaned, another argument could be sensed a mile away.

"I doubt..."

"He misses you father, both of you." Aelyna reasoned "Besides you both know what I plan for my name day. We agreed to this so long ago."

Daemon shook his head "It is one thing to wish to travel, but alone to Braavos? And then what?" Daemon interrogated. He did not share this with Rhaenyra but one night he had passed Aelyna's chamber. He stood by the door as Shayna braided her hair. They spoke amongst themselves on Braavos, the culture, the wine and normally he would have gone past but something made him stay at the door. The possibility of finding Aelyna's mother.

Rhaenyra had shared with him the network of spies Shayna had created for Aelyna since she was a child. From all walks of life, in every corner of the realms Aelyna had kept a friend close. At first to keep track of him when he fought in the Stepstones. Each war story assured her that her father was still alive, but after the war it only grew. Her network of tiny spiders in the corners of castle walls whispered stories to her. 

And now a thread of information had reached her. The potential sighting of her mother. Daemon had never been able to understand Aelyna's obsession with finding the woman. It would not change her nor her nature. She would still be his daughter. She would still remain a Targaryen princess, was the mothers she had in Laena and Rhaenyra not enough? Daemon could hardly remember her- no doubt a drunken night he spent in a brothel. So why did he feel a sense of danger into a woman's face he could not place. He wanted to keep Aelyna safe from the truth, the possibility that the woman who gave birth to her saw her as nothing as a mistake. Such a thought would haunt her, weigh her down for the rest of her life.

and wrong her in so many ways, because to him she was everything.

"I want to experience life outside of a castle father." Aelyna deadpanned "Meet new people, explore cultures-"

"You ride one of the biggest dragons in the world. How much culture do you wish to experience?" Daemon retorted in the same tone 

"I want to have lived a life before being confided to a castle. There should be more to my life than being some highborn lords wife."

"And you think you'll find that in Braavos?"

"No!" Aelyna exclaimed "Just not... why are you so against me leaving?! It's not like I won't come back!"

"A Targaryen alone in this world is a dangerous thing." Daemon warned "You have everything you could ever want at your fingertips, how is that not enough for you?"

"Because it's been given to me! I do not wish to spend my life sheltered by your or Rhaenyra or even the king himself." Aelyna argued "Why should I live my life according to your rules. You did not let the king dictate yours!" 

"That is not the same."

"Why, because I'm not a man?!" a silence weighed itself down amongst the dining room. Aelyna scoffed as she shook her head in defeat "You seem to forget I was there for everything both you and Rhaenyra put Viserys through. You hated being dictated on what to do, what not to do- position forced onto you without your consent. How is it that you think I would want to live my life in such a manner?"

The table remained quiet as Aelyna excused herself from dinner.

If dragon riding was the prose of Aelyna's life, then archery was her poetry. There was a freedom in shooting out all of her frustrations and anger. She doubted if she could ever be the swordsman her father was, but that did not keep her interest from the blade and arrow at bay. She did not thirst for bloodshed and war, all it had brought her was heartache and pain- but there was freedom of releasing herself into a weapon. 

She held her position, arching her back as she released another arrow. Hitting the target of the dummy square between the eyes. Heavy footsteps alarmed her as she turned to face its owner. Her bow and arrow at the ready as she was met with her fathers eyes.

"I come in peace." Daemon held his hands up teasing her. She remained quiet as she lowered her weapon. 

"I'll apologize to the children if I ruined dinner-'

"Again." They both replied in unison

"But I will not take back what I said." Aelyna said "This was something Laena had wanted for me and you agreed to it. It isn't fair that you go against your word now father."

"Perhaps I'd be more open to it if you would not lie to me about your reasons for wanting to go." Daemon said "How do you know you'll find her?

Aelyna's heart skipped a beat. He knew. "I have to take the risk. It's not like you've ever been much help in finding her. You hardly ever speak of her father."

"It's not by choice." Daemon defended "Say you do find her, then what? Will I never see you again. Will she fill something inside of you I could never give you? Will she keep you safer than I?"

It was then when Aelyna realized where Daemons refusal had come from. He was afraid to lose her. "It isn't about that. I need to know-" Aelyna shook her head as she her nails dug into her hand carved bow "I have so many questions that I need answered by her. Ones nor you or Viserys have ever been able to give me."

"Such as?"

"Why did she give me away?" Aelyna asked. She bit the inner corner of her ear as she found herself unable to read Daemon's expression "I know you lost your mother when you were young father, but at least you had her. The great stories told about how she took you on dragonback as a babe. The love she had for both you and my uncle. I do not have that- all I have ever been told is how even as a babe I was not good enough to be kept. To be loved and cared for, from someone who had me inside of her." Aelyna's voice became shaky and she refused a tear to fall down her cheek "Finding her won't take away what I have with you, nor this family. I am a Targaryen and a dragonrider, but I am also something else."

"And why is that not enough for you? All I have done since I've held you for the first time was worship the ground you step on." Daemon replied "I've given you the blood of the dragon, you ride the fiercest dragon in the realm. You have everything most could only dream of having."

"This is not fair." Aelyna shook her head "That may be true but none of it was just given to me. Since I could remember I have always had to prove myself worthy!" She countered "To you, to Viserys and his court. I had to prove that I am worthy enough to be your daughter, to be legitimized, to earn the name Targaryen!" 

Daemon remained silent

"Father, I won't beg for my freedom. I will take it, I will take what I want." She held her stance, raising her chin as she stood by her word "I have been a devoted child to you, even as a child when you did not know where to begin with being a father to me. I have been the perfect sister, forever taking care of everyone but myself. I have earned the right leave."