(Please do not ghostread)

(note: high valyrian is in italics)

In the skies above Kings Landing, Aelyna soared majestically on her dragon, a silver haired girl on the back of the old king Jaehaerys's dragons back. The bronze fury's scales glint like molten metal, a blend of gold that shimmered with each of its powerful wingbeats. 

Insead of donning the signature black and red, Aelyna wore a different cloak. A cloak she had stolen from Cregan Stark. Aelyna wanted- needed something of him to fall asleep to at night. A token that would ease her nights until she would return to Winterfell for her wedding.

Below, the sprawling city of Kings Landing stretched out, its labyrinthine streets teeming with life just as she had remembered it. The people of the city craned their necks and shaded their eyes, as they watched in awe of Vermithor flying over them. His size shadowed large parts of the city, a dark shadow loomed over the Capitol as though it was an omen of some kind. Children pointed and gasped, their eyes wide with wonder and fear, while vendors bustled marketplaces paused their haggling to stare at awe. The girl seated on top of the beast was unfamiliar to them all. 

The elderly, who remembered the days of youth when Jahaerys and Alysanne flew their dragons, whispered prayers or curses under their breath. Suddenly the aching pain of age in their bones ceased to exist as though they were children running behind the looming shadows of Silverwing and Vermithor.

Aelyna felt a sense of pride within herself as she looked overhead to the wandering eyes of the people. The sight of her and her dragon, a reminder of the ancient house she was born into. 

Bastard or not, she was of the blood of the dragon.

As they continued to fly the dragonpit came into Aelyna's sight. She doubted that Vermithor would even fit. It had been years since abandoning Dragonstone, and he had only grown. Vermithor groaned as he circled the dragonpit, slowly lowering his body to the ground.

Aelyna felt herself become irritable by the dragon keepers already circling them. "Lykiri, Vermithos. Dohaeragon nyke. Lykiri, lykiri." Aelyna commanded as her hand petted the scaled on his back.

She unhooked herself from the saddle, sliding down her dragons wing. She bit the glove from her hand as her hand petted against the scales of his neck "Dekuragon arli." Aelyna's hand remained on her dragon as she warned the dragon keepers. Already she felt suffocated by how one is never alone in Kings Landing. After years of travel she had forgotten just how insufferable the dragonkeepers were, and Vermithor could sense it.                                    

(step back)

They did not listen. In fact one was bold enough to slowly approach the dragon and his rider. "Are you fucking deaf?!" Aelyna's head whipped back "I said get away from him." she scolded

Vermithor did not take the dragon keepers word so easily. His nostrils flared, as he let out a low, rumbling growl. Smoke billowed from his maw. It swirled around Aelyna as she moved along his neck to his face. Aelyna stared back into his eyes, her reflection in his as her hand remained on his scales 

Firmly she affirmed him again "Vermithor. Dohaeras, jorraelagon."                                        

(serve, my love)

Aelyna's open palm on the dragon. She kept her focus on the dragon alone. Vermithor's eyes glanced between his rider and the dragonriders. There was a tense silence between the two, the unspoken bond between the dragons and the Targaryen girl. Slowly Vermithor lowered his head into her touch. Aelyna stood her ground as she calmed herself as she breathed as one with him.

Vermithor's snout touched her hand gently. A lip curved into Aelyna's face. Vermithor lets out a deep, resonant roar, as he backed away from her. Proudly Aelyna turned to face the young dragon keeper who approached her "Zaldrizez buzdari ikos daor. You will do well to remember this. You are still young, your master should teach you well not to disobey a rider when her dragon looms over her head."  

(a dragon is not a slave)

Aelyna strut past the dragon keepers as she was met with a familiar face. In polished steel that gleamed in the sunlight, a crisp white cape hanged down his body as Aelyna warmly smiled "It is good to see you Ser Harrold. It appears time has been kind to you." Aelyna praised

"Thank you, princess." he bowed his head "For a moment I couldn't believe it was you on that beast. It has been too long since you graced the city with your presence."

"I take it I will be generously escorted by you, Ser Harrold?" She kindly asked. If not Shayna, then Ser Harrold was a trusted friend Aelyna remembered having. She thought back to the nine years she spent in the Red Keep. Climbing up and down the castle walls, creeping between empty and dark passages only to be caught by the Lord Commander.

"It would be my honor." He replied.

"Gods, these fucking people." Aelyna's eyes examined the vacant throne room. Ser Harrold outside the door as her boots echoed through the hall. There it was, it all its glory. The iron throne. Still as jagged and intimidating as she remembered it to be when she was a child. The thousands of blades from Aegon the Conquerors defeated enemies, still towered over her.

Though Aelyna's eyes fell to the choice of decoration in the room. While the house sigil hanged, the Targaryen tapestries and statues in the throne room, she could not help notice the emblems of the faith of the Seven as well. "Ao've va moriot issare nykea idiot, uncle."

                                 (You have always been an idiot uncle.)

Footsteps echoed through the hall behind Aelyna. She turned to see none another than Otto Hightower. A fellow kings guard behind him. His hair much thinner and greyer than she had last seen him. His face showed his age but the disdain in his eyes still all too familiar for Aelyna. Head held high he stood across from Aelyna

"Thank the gods you are here." She remarked "I had begun to wonder if the court had lost it's ways in welcoming the kings favorite niece."

"Forgive me, princess." Otto bowed his head "The council had important business to settle. None of us had known you planned on visiting us."

"Indeed." She replied "Tell me, was this a council meeting my uncle has attended?"

"Unfortunately not, princess." Otto sharply answered "The kings health has only deteriorated since you had last seen him. But he has entrusted us to see over matters concerning the realm."

"And should the realm not be thankful." Aelyna sassed "How many kings asses have you not polished. What's the line?" She smirked "The king shits and the hand wipes?" 

Otto kept to his composure but sure enough Aelyna had proven by one sentence that she was Daemon Targaryen's child. A sharp tongue that could not keep to itself.

"Yes." Otto quietly said. "Quite a choice in wardrobe. Otto's eyes scanned Aelyna up and down. He slowly evaluated everything of her, between her loose braid and the cloak she wore. "We had not known where you where for years, but seems like you have made home North, princess."

"After travelling through the Free Cities, I unfortunately landed injured in the North. The Warden of the North was kind enough to welcome me as a guest as I healed from my wounds."

Otto's eyes remained cold as he turned to the kings guard behind him. "This, princess, is Ser Erryk Cargyll. He will do well to escort you to your chambers. I am sure your old chamber will suit you just fine."

She narrowed her eyes. The old cunt, Aelyna cursed to herself. Giving her a room she despised even as a child. "Hopefully, I will be given a bigger bed?" Aelyna rhetorically noted "My body has grown since I was only nine."

Otto bowed his head a final time as he exited the throne room, leaving nothing but Aelyna and the kings guard soldier. Perhaps it had always been her taste or the fact that she already missed Cregan but Aelyna could not deny Ser Erryk was a handsome man. A rugged appearance with short, dark hair slicked back as he wore his armor.

But Gods, there was no man to her quite like Cregan Stark, she thought to herself.

"Princess, it is an honor." he bowed his head "Shall I escort you now or do you wish to see the king first?"

"Neither." she deadpanned. Ser Erryk's eyebrows furrowed. "I wish to see the city, after all it has been so long."

"But-"

Aelyna raised her hand to interrupt him "But nothing. The Red Keep and the people would not even notice whether I am missing from my bedroom chambers or not." She stepped closer "Besides I have a friend who has been patiently waiting to see me."

"Should the hand and the queen not be notified still?" Ser Erryk questioned "If anything should happen to you princess-"

"Then I would have a valiant knight to come to my aid." Aelyna rolled her eyes as she patted his armored shoulder "Come, I wish to be out of the streets before it stinks of wine and piss."

The sun shined down on a narrow cobblestone street, casted long shadows from the buildings that lined the way. Aelyna, having changed into a gown of soft lavender adorned with delicate silver embroidery, stepped out from her carriage.

As she exited she noticed the awe struck stares from the people she passed. The air filled with wonder and excitement as Aelyna felt herself the center of attention. In the back of her mind she wondered if they had not perhaps confused her with a young Rhaenyra, the realms delight.

Aelyna was no longer the bastard princess confined in the Red Keep. Despite her hesitation, she had gained a name for herself. Any child who claimed the dragon of King Jaehaerys was worth remembering. She calmly strolled down the street as her eye caught a girl selling breads. Her dress brown and unkept, with chubby cheeks and dirty blonde hair. Aelyna approached the girl, ignoring the whistles from drunk men. 

"I'd like four please." Aelyna smiled warmly. Had it not been for Shayna who took her by the gates of the Red Keep as a babe, it could have easily have been her that was a bastard child selling bread on the streets of Kings Landing. She remembered a lesson Laena had taught her, kindness was not a weakness, but a weapon.

When Aelyna handed the pouch of money, the girl gasped "Princess, this..." she shook her head "It is too much, I can not accept this for only bread." The girl tried to reason

Aelyna leaned in holding the girls hand "Take it, I have far more than needed with nothing to do for." She said as she bowed her head walking away. To the back of her head she could hear the girl call for her father, the money enough to last them two moons.

As Ser Erryk followed behind her she took different twists and turns through the city. Her memory still in tact on where she needed to go. Shayna's house a tall building that looked over the docks. She knocked on the door three times as was welcomed by an old friend.

Shayna, still carried a beauty that Aelyna envied. Her wavy raven black hair, now had streaks of gray that reached past her lower back, with dark brown eyes. Her skin sun kissed and tan, with cheekbones striking and beautiful. She wore an embellished blue gown with exaggerated sleeves

"Its taken you long enough." 

"Is that any way to welcome a princess? You should thank me for having come at all." Aelyna sarcastically remarked with a cheery smile on her face. Shayna laughed as she embraced her. 

Aelyna melted into the embrace. She rested her head against Shayna's shoulder. The first arms she remembered having held her. Shayna's arms wrapped tightly around her middle

"Ilon jorraelagon naejot yzaldrizes." Shayna whispered softly as she kept her eye on the kings guard who accompanied Aelyna "Meri."

                                                               (we need to talk. alone)

Aelyna let out a shaky breath, her voice muffled as she spoke "Se daria se ondos?"

                                           (About the queen and the hand?)

Aelyna and Shayna let go of one another. The princess turned to her guard. "Ser Erryk, would you mind if I were to take my conversation inside. I hope you do not mind standing guard at the door?" Aelyna kindly suggested 

"Princess." He bowed his head.

Shayna took her by the hand as the entered her house. Aelyna's eyes widened at awe of the beauty of Shayna's home. The house built from fine limestone. Floral patterns and vines chiseled into the stone. The windows tall, arched and adorned with colorful stained glass depicted scenes of Targaryen ancestry and the Seven. The sun gleamed through the window giving a warm hue. Aelyna followed behind the woman to the hall. Spacious with marbled floor with painted walls with the richest furniture.

"You've done well for yourself." Aelyna said in awe. Shayna scoffed as she stood by a table pouring herself and Aelyna a cup of wine. 

Aelyna took it gladly as she sat on the velvet upholstery. The view of the docks pictures "Forgive me for asking but how-"

"Your father and the king paid me a great deal for taking so well care of you as a child. When my years as servant in castle had come to an end, I had saved enough to buy myself this place." Shayne explained taking a seat across from Aelyna "It also helped that I married a drunken, rich fool." 

Aelyna laughed taking another sip "This house is beautiful and so big. Do you share it with your children."

Shayna only shook her head as she reclined back "No, we were both old when we married. Children was never an option."

"I am so-"

"Nothing to pity Aelyna." Shayna quipped "You gave me all of my gray hairs with you wondering inside that castle." She laughed "But it did make me realize that I had a touch for playing surrogate mother. Many of the girls who serve in the Red Keep are from my house. Girls who had no where to go, come here and in return-"

"Become your little spiders?'

"Our spiders?" Shayna replied "If memory served right that was what you called me each time I brought you tantalizing gossip shared amongst the highborn fools." 

The air was filled with the sweet scent of blooming jasmine, as Aelyna fondly remembered the stories Shayna shared with her as a child. Some nothing more than harmless fun, others snide comments of what a bastards child she was with a whore of a mother. All of it felt so distant now.

Aelyna furrowed her brows "Se skoros emagon aoha spiders discovered bona ziry istan sir important syt issa naejor return?"

(And what have your spiders discovered that it was so important for me to return)

"Se Hightowers gorevn rusir se darys nykea." Shayna replied "Ziry does daorun yn rot isse bed while ponta sit aoha cousins demalion. Ziry emagon become poja puppt."

 (The Hightowers govern with the king abed. He does nothing but rot while they sit your cousins throne. He has become their puppet)

"Skoro syt daor jikagon udir naejor Rhaenyra? Skoro syt epagon issa naejor mazigon?

(Why not send word to Rhaenyra instead? Why ask me to come?")

"Kesrio syt ao would act smarter." Shayna sat forward "Aoha kepa would mazigon swinging zyhon egros rusir accusations hen nykea mutany bona kostagon daor sagon proven. Ao gimigon syri enough Viserys tymagon peacemaker go remivong ziry hen zyhon council."

(Because you would act smarter. Your father would come swinging his blade with accusations of a treachery that could not be proven. You know well enough Viserys would  play peacemaker before removing them from his council.)

"Shayna, what is it that you know that has you this concerned?" Aelyna asked with worry "You have never been one to care much for the crown unless it affect-"

"You." Shayna finsihed "Hae īlon ȳdragon vaemond velaryon wishes naejot sagon brōstan dārilaros naejot driftmark. Bisa notion kessa likely sagon supported ondoso se ondos."

(As we speak Vaemond Velaryon wishes to be named heir to Driftmark. This notion will likely be supported by the hand.)

The words hung heavy in the air. Aelyna felt her breath catch in her throat "But what of Lucerys? Lo pōnta succeed isse bona, skoros's naejot keligon zirȳ hen overuling se dāryssy udir isse naming Rhaenyra dārilaros? skoros hen ñuha brothers se sisters?"

(If they succeed in that, what's to stop them from over ruling the kings word in naming Rhaenyra heir? What of my brothers and sisters?")

"This is why I need you here. My girls can only tell me the whispers that web but they can do nothing to prevent it."

"Se dārys ēza va moriot issare iā mittys naejot zȳhon ondos treachery. Skorkydoso adhirikydho gōntan ziry daor rush naejot dīnagon Alicent?"

(The king has always been a fool to his hands treachery. How quickly did he not rush to marry Alicent?)

"Do what you have always done best, sweet girl" Shayna explained. "Sagon se byka sȳndor va se dōros. Gaomagon lyka se ivestragī se spiders web unwind itself ēva kostā ūndegon ziry isse aōha trap."

(Be the tiny shadow on the wall. Keep silent and let the spiders web unwind itself until you can catch it in your trap.)

When Aelyna laid in Cregans arm that final morning she dreaded leaving. The deepest insides of her mind had head warnings that a treachery was afoot, her dreams had yet to be wrong. But the threat was greater than just Viserys dying in a bed of snow. Rhaenyra and her children would be the first thrown into the crossfire, this she needed to prevent.

"Where would I begin?" A look shared between the two women. A fierce light that flickered in both their eyes.

Shayna's eyes sharp and focusses as she raised her cup of wine "You start with those closest to the queen. Lī ziry toils isse service naejot."

(Those she toils in service to.)

☆ ࣪ ִ AUTHORS NOTE :l 𝆬 3

Vermithor when Aelyna put the dragon keepers in their place:

I honestly think I'm the funniest person in the world with these memes at the end. 

When I tell yall I GEEKED TF OUT when I watched episode 7. Vermithor and Silverwing have my entire soul (all the dragons do INCLUDING Vhagar). I keep rewatching episode 7 because Rhaenyra speaking Valyrian - yeah I'm watching that. 

I've also realized that there isn't enough Valyrian in Baptism especially since I emphasized that Aelyna as a child felt more comfortable in speaking that than plainly, so if it seems like too much up and down reading tell me then Ill just write Valyrian in regular text with italics. We're finally into Kings Landing arc and I will keep it brief but I do wanna play Viserys' illness and the usurpation as a murder mystery because I have been rewatching got season 1. More yet writing the secret political plots because thats what I love best about asoiaf.

also please please please no spoiler or leaks in the comments, i know the finale got leaked but I am definitely trying to avoid them as best as possible