Welcome to Chasing Cars

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The whole of the Red Keep could hear her screaming. The Lord Commander of the City Watch and the Heir to the Iron Throne's paramour Ser Harwin Strong winced every time she screamed. He didn't remember it being this loud with the birth of Jacerys, no one remembered Princess Rhaenyra being in such pain. Even Queen Alicent Hightower was never in this much pain during her labors and she struggled immensely.

The screaming and groaning of Princess Rhaenyra seemed endless until almost suddenly it stopped. And then there was the sharp cry of an infant, greeting the world for the first time. Harwin allowed the smallest of smiles to grace his face, for he and Rhaenyra knew the truth of parentage. When all seemed peaceful in the Red Keep the princess began screaming again. The last he remembered, Rhaenyra should've been giving the afterbirth at this point and she didn't scream last time, a few groans of pain yes, but never screaming.

Her screaming once again silenced quickly and there was once again the cry of a baby. Deciding that he had waited long enough, Harwin burst into the room and saw the midwives scurrying around with bloody towels, that wasn't new, that happened when Jacerys was born too, what was new however was that Rhaenyra was not holding one babe to her breast but two.

Harwin could see how exhausted his lover was but he couldn't help but stare in awe at the two squirming babies on her chest. Just as he was about to approach Rhaenyra, her husband and the children's "father" Laenor arrived.

"Another boy! I just heard the—" his words died on his tongue as he looked at his wife, and then down at the little wriggly things still moving on Rhaenyra. "Twins, Laenor. A boy and a girl." Rhaenyra said tiredly. She wanted nothing more than to sleep but knowing how quickly news travels in King's Landing, especially in the Red Keep, the Queen would be wanting to see the children.

Surprisingly the first in the room was NOT the Queen or her handmaiden Talya, it was Viserys, he was always so excited when a new child was born, he was an extremely doting grandsire to Jacerys, and was thrilled when Rhaenyra announced to the court that she was expecting again. His health was failing slowly but surely, he wasn't as handsome as he used to be, his movement took a lot more out of him and he had been practically confined to the Red Keep, only traveling if the matter urgently required his presence.

"Another grandson! I've just—" Rhaenyra struggled to contain her amusement as her father looked at the two squalling babes in her arms. "And a granddaughter," Rhaenyra informed the King, her exhaustion was extremely clear in her tone. Viserys soon became overwhelmed with emotion. "How wonderful that is indeed! What have they been named?"

Laenor went to open his mouth but Rhaenyra beat him to the punch, "Lucerys and Rhaella. They are to be named Lucerys and Rhaella." The Targaryen heir moved her shift back onto her chest and fixed the twins into proper swaddles. Laenor quickly picked up one of the babies—Rhaella to be exact and looked down at her with such wonder before handing her to Viserys who gave his granddaughter a smile.

"She looks very much like you, Rhaenyra." Everyone could see it, it was so obvious, Lucerys and Rhaella at just a few moments in this world looked nothing like Laenor or had any prominent Valyrian features, they looked like Harwin. As if a hawk sensing her prey was nearby, the Queen Alicent Hightower appeared in the birthing chamber. She wasn't like Laenor and Viserys who were shocked to see twins, she portrayed indifference but there was a small amount of curiosity in her eyes that was not hidden very well.

Rhaenyra looked at her former friend as she examined Rhaella, an unreadable look gracing her features when Alicent noticed that the babe's hair was dark, Alicent knew these children were bastards. Everyone did. It was the worst kept secret at court. Everyone had their suspicions about the parentage of the Crown Princess' children but no one was brave enough to voice their thoughts for fear of losing their tongue.

"Congratulations, stepdaughter, they are truly a sight to behold." Alicent managed to force out and for those who knew nothing of the tense history of the Hightower Queen and the Targaryen Princess, it sounded almost genuine. "Thank you, Your Grace." Rhaenyra managed to sound civil as well. Even though it had been many years, the history and deep friendship between them could not be denied.

The silence that remained was awkward and tense, and it made everyone in the room uncomfortable. The twins feeling all of the negative energy radiating off of the adults did what babies do best; they started screaming. "Well," Viserys chuckled as he handed Rhaella back to Laenor who began to try and rock the crying baby, "that is our signal to leave you both alone. Come along, Alicent, let us allow Rhaenyra time to rest." The Green Queen looked for a moment as if she wanted to argue the point but immediately thought better of it as the screams of the newest Targaryen heirs began to make her head pound.

"Of course, husband," Alicent murmured and with one more look at the children, she gently looped her arm through her Lord Husband's, and the pair walked out of the birthing chambers, the tense air finally settling.

"I must make my rounds. Congratulations, Princess, and to you as well Ser." Harwin took his leave, the unsaid truth still hanging in the air.

Once the door to the birthing chamber finally closed to everyone Rhaenyra and Laenor began to study their newest arrivals, one, the future heir to Driftmark, and the other, a young princess who could one day have all of the seven kingdoms at her feet.

Yes, their twins were destined for great things, indeed.

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*waves sheepishly* Hey! I know it's been *counts on my fingers* a couple of years since I have published/written anything for you guys, and I am so sorry about that! My mental health had taken quite a hit, and I had honestly fallen out of love with writing. I had a job that I absolutely hated, and so many health issues I was going crazy. But now, I'm back. I have a new job that I absolutely love (I get to actually have the weekends off and I make more money now than I did at my previous job. I got some of my health issues taken care of (aka I had a breast reduction and my spine is thanking me tenfold lol) we've still got a few of those issues to sort through but that's just because the root cause hasn't been found yet. Anywho, I'm glad to be back and to be introducing you all to my sweet girl Rhaella Velaryon, I think you all will absolutely love her. I quite honestly promise super consistent updates but I will update when I can, I want to make sure I put out the best chapters possible.

Thanks for reading! Love you, guys!