She was presented to the prince just a few days after his eighteenth naming day.

A child in age of two moons at best, swaddled on a golden Lannister shroud and held by Lord Tymond himself. "She's yours, your grace. Cierra refused the truth be brought to you. Until this..."

Cierra. Cierra Lannister. Eldest of Tymond and the lady of Casterly Rock. A dear friend of Prince Viserys since childhood, the two first meet in a courtyard of King's Landing when war is upon them and the Old King has called for his council. Whilst the adults plunged themselves on urgent matters of the kingdom, a blossoming friendship began between the young dragon and lioness. A friendship that will last until adolescence, the time where marriage pacts and duties are to be attended for their respective houses. It was an unfortunate end that the two weren't meant for union.

And yet they didn't find any resentment towards that. In the end it seemed to be that they worked better as confidants than partners. Until one night, after a long day of a winning battle followed by a large feast, when both were out of themselves in thrill and wine. A line has been crossed under the covers of the prince's chambers. Viserys hasn't seen Cierra since then, nor has he heard from House Lannister of any rage for what he has done.

Until this morning when they arrived outside the throne room, with hundreds of bannermen and guards, demanding to speak with the prince.

"Cierra.." Viserys begins to speak after a long silence. "Where is she?"

"Gone. Three days after the babe was born. She bled too much in her birthing bed." Jason answers, gruff and spiteful. The boy, along with his twin brother, were known to be close to their sister. Tymond immediately shot a sharp gaze at his son as King Jaehaerys' eyes lingered in their direction.

"My sympathies and prayers are with you Lord Tymond, and the rest of House Lannister." Viserys tries not to choke on his words. His Cierra is gone. What have I done?

The Lannister lord had already gone on lengths a while ago to explain the reason behind their unexpected arrival. How his daughter's demeanor had changed when she came home from King's Landing nine moons ago, and soon she revealed the truth when her belly was swollen already. How she begged to hide the truth and raise her child all alone, even if she had to be thrown out to Essos as a disgrace. But even now Viserys' head is still high as the morning clouds, the young prince cannot piece everything that has happened still.

"My grandson is set to be betrothed to his cousin, Aemma. And Cierra, may the gods be with her, is no longer with us. So what will it be, Ser Tymond, that you ask of him." King Jaehaerys speaks in an imposing manner instead of simply asking. Viserys could already feel the impending dread in the council chambers. Two powerful houses with honor and valor both are so willing to defend, neither will give way to the other to settle such complicated predicament they have now.

"He is the father of the child, my king. Cierra was betrothed to Lord Boremund, she had duties to fulfill as well." Tymond answers with no falter, he has been patient and modest since they arrived. But Viserys is beginning to sense the fiery hostility, which is only expected of him, that the man has been withholding.

"But even then she chose to bear the weight of carrying the prince's child, Viserys must share the same burden now that she's at rest."

Jaehaerys rises from his seat and is about to answer the Lannister man when Viserys suddenly cuts off. All eyes on the wheeled cot near him. "Can I hold her?"

Lord Tymond nods only in response, he gently pushes the cradle towards the prince. The second he had an upclose glance on the child, his heart melted from joy and sadness. The babe was sound asleep under the warmth of the sheets, her cheeks are flushed pink and plump. Color of the sun shines on the silky hair of hers. A strong shade of blonde exactly like Cierra's. With carefulness he lifted her up to his arms, such a tiny creature yet it's breaking Viserys' core and soul. Nevermind the noises from the divided council, all he can see now is the love he and his closest friend shared. The babe begins to awake, she curls her fists in the air and eyes flutter open. Bright, honey colored pairs stare back at purple ones. An airy chuckle escapes past the prince's lips.

"Viserys…", the king calls for him.

His head snaps back at Jaehaerys. "Your grace, she's my child."

Contempt with a hint of reproach surfaces on the king's face. His eyes darken as he tilts his head from his grandson to the opposite side where the Lannisters are. Most of the subjects and guards shift uncomfortably in their feet, some avoiding the dagger stares of the king.

The tension that hung around for the next minute was sharp enough to slice on dragon scales. Until Viserys, now with a mind as clear as the day, speaks once again. "My duties in our house are not imperative as of the moment. To the throne, I'm only a grandson. But to this child, I'm a father. I will fulfill my affairs in time when needed. As for now, I have a child."

Jaehaerys briefly closes his eyes and his chest falls into shallow breaths. "Very well then. The child will be named a Targaryen. And the prince shall be granted with primary guardianship."

A more pleasant look appears on Tymond's eyes. His attention didn't leave the table even with the low whispers growing around him, they only settled once the man stood up to speak.

"I would not say otherwise, my king. I and the House Lannister itself extend nothing but gratitude and high regard. We are honored to be attended by the king and his council in our time of need."

The Targaryen king and the Lannister lord meet halfway across the long table, in front of the gaping window of the council chambers they offer each other a gripping arm shake that lasts for a long seconds.

"You shall be the one to name her, my prince." Tymond urges Viserys.

He pauses, pulling the babe closer to his chest, and then a sweet smile appears. He has the perfect one for a child with such brightness in her eyes.

"Daenys," the young Targaryen did not hesitate. "We will call her Daenys."

From that day and to come forth, the name of the infamous Targaryen dreamer will be heard on those halls of King's Landing and soon the entire realm. A shock it may be to the royal family, especially to Prince Viserys' father, they were keen to welcome the child. Or some accounts will say it was no more than courtesy to King Jaehaerys' sworn oath to House Lannister.

Whichever it is, the Lannisters had what they came for that day. A lion with a dragon name.

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Daenys Targaryen was nothing like her namesake. Whilst Daenys the Dreamer was blood of Old Valyria, being a silver haired dragonrider and a great seer who's responsible of survival of House Targaryen in Westeros, as a child Daenys felt she was no more than a footnote inside their great house despite being a first born.

A lifted bastard under King Jaehaerys' agreement with House Lannister.

She wore the colors of gold in a silver and red world. Ever since she was shown to the rest of the kingdom, the girl has stuck like a sore thumb for being a corn haired, amber eyed babe. There were already some whispers and stories in the air but it will be further strengthened when the dragon egg on Daenys' cradle never hatched. Rendering her dragonless for the years to come.

Lannisters have always been known as ambitious and cunning. They'll do anything in their power to grasp for a seat at the high table. She's no Targaryen. A desperate attempt to put Lannister blood on the court. They will say.

And yet those rumors stood no chance to the love and complete acceptance of her parents. Viserys has long claimed Daenys since she arrived on King's Landing as an infant. And Aemma embraced the child as her own the moment she married the prince. Their bond surprised even the royal court, seeing a wife adore a child from another woman so dearly.

"Pay no mind to them. You are our daughter. Blood or not." Her lady mother will always remind her. She is warm as the morning sun, nourishing and never harsh. Why must Daenys care about tattles and hearsays from nameless faces, when the one person deemed to care never really listens to it?

On the other hand, the kin of her late mother Cierra, has a differing sentiments compared to the usual ones Daenys hears. It's less tepid and more resolute. The words of her Lannister grandfather, Lord Tymond, rings on the girl's head like a septon bell. "A lion doesn't concern itself with the opinions of the sheep. You are a lion and a dragon. Will you choose to be anything otherwise?"

"No, grandfather." The only answer she shall have.

When Daenys was old enough to read and mount a horse Tymond sought to teach her the ways of politics and combat. Yet he seems to only succeed in the latter. For the girl favour the screams of battle than modest words in council meetings. Much to the Lannister lord's satisfaction, Daenys potential as a fighter gained her the favour and affection of her other grandfather and the future king, Prince Baelon.

Now a child of ten, Daenys is often found on training courtyards with the service of royal men-at-arms. It's never difficult to find a lone girl in armor who's always so eager to swing a wooden sword.

"My lady...," Ser Harrold Westerling approaches the crowd of squires and knights, who all immediately parted a path on his presence. "The court is in haste for the ceremony. Your ladies await you to prepare."

Reluctance spills from her entire demeanor yet Daenys goes along with the Lord Commander with no complaints. She rides her personal carriage with the man and two other hedge knights.

"Worry not, the maesters will tend to it," he says upon noticing the splinters on the girl's hand. She quickly closes it in a fist. 

"It'll heal anyway."

"Always keep your gloves on while training." Lord Harrold reminds her, she replies with only a smile. The carriage then stops in front of the castle gates with her ladies-in-waiting to escort her inside. They all made their way on the busy halls of Red Keep to the princess' own chambers. Where more personal servants are residing to assist in preparation.

"Gods be good. You have finally arrived!" Tyra, a senior servant of hers exclaims. "The prince and lady Aemma asked for you an hour ago. You still stink of a long fight, have you not been reminded what this day is for?"

Daenys is very much well aware what this day is for and she would rather have it spent on gruelling hours of horseback riding than to be in any court or palace hall.

King Jaehaerys' newest heir is to be named on the great fortress of Harrenhal. For days now hundreds of lords and their men have arrived from all of Westeros. The young Targaryen has never been fond of being after an enormous crowd, standing on a high platform overlooking hundreds of men and women makes her stomach churn and head spin. For whatever reason she still cannot explain.

Bathing, dressing and fixing her hair took quite a couple of hours but Daenys can finally breathe away from the grip of hasty preparation.

"Don't pull your braids, my lady." Tyra pulls her hand from scratching the newly tied hair.

"It's too tight. And it itches!" Daenys complains while they walk on halls leading to the grand chambers of her parents. At last she arrives to be with them after hours of long waiting, Viserys and Aemma are both readily dressed tending to the side of their other daughter who's still in the cradle.

"Shouldn't Rhaenyra come with us too?" The girl asks, face lighting up at the sight of her cooing silver, haired sister.

"Rhaenyra is too young to be in court. The ladies will be with her while we are away." Aemma answers to assure.

"Shall I stay with her then?"

Her mother suppresses a slight chuckle and takes her daughter by shoulders, while her father speaks with the trusted servants of orders to care for Rhaenyra.

"We best be going now, the court requires our punctuality before the lords arrive at Harrenhal." Viserys turns to his wife and daughter, the three of them start to leave the chambers together but not without bidding farewell to their youngest on the crib.

A set of guards and knights line up behind the royal family as they head for the gates of the Red Keep. Maids, servants and lords will part in respect each time they come across their path, in the sea of people Daenys searches for someone she expects will be with them today.

Her uncle, Daemon.

Ever since the Great Council has commenced on the King's court, Daemon has been a looming shadow to Viserys. He frequented the older prince's quarters, their long talks morning or night became a usual sight to many. Including Daenys, hence the anticipation to see him join Harrenhal alongside them. His absence did not cease even upon reaching the carriage they were about to ride.

"Father, where is Uncle Daemon?" Daenys questions, lines forming in between her brows. The wheels of their ride begin to turn fast and smooth.

"He has business to attend before joining us in the court." Viserys explains as her daughter sits beside him.

Uneasiness is evident in his eyes. Every now and then it swells up until Viserys' hands tremble and his chest falls into quick breaths. Similar to Daemon's presence near her father, this has been a constant sight to the girl for days now. She never spoke on it but she hopes to ease the tension that has wrapped him, even without the knowledge of the reason behind it.

You know what it is. What else will it be but the matter of succession that has beset the whole realm. Thoughts swirl in the young mind of hers.

"Father…," Daenys reaches in to hold the prince's hand. "All will be well."

Her fingers are only large enough to grasp a part of his palm but for a moment Viserys can breathe clear and calm again, he looks down at her brown eyes that carry nothing but fondness. All will be well. How could Viserys not believe that if this is what he sees?

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Across the enormous courtroom of Harrenhal, two high ranking maesters walk side by side as they carry a brown, wooden chest in between them. Their pace is slow and heavy at each step as if the weight of the entire realm rests on whatever it is they hold.

Which is only true.

The chest contains the collective decision of hundreds of lords and dozens of smaller councils on who shall be named heir to throne after King Jaehaerys. His eldest living male relative, Prince Viserys Targaryen or the daughter of his eldest son, Princess Rhaenys Targaryen.

Daenys had averted her eyes from the massive crowd in front of them to lessen the light-headness consuming her. She can sense the maesters had placed down the chest by the king's feet, the stool it stands on is high enough for Jaehaerys to only lean and reach its contents inside. At that moment the girl could have sworn the entirety of Westeros holds its breath in a single beat.

The brown and gold scroll unfurls into King Jaehaerys' hands followed by his rich and clear voice reading the decree scribbled on it.

"It is declared by all lords paramount and lords vassals of the Seven Kingdoms…" his voice ripples across the silent mob of Harrenhal. Even until that second Daenys has no precise outcome she hopes to hear, despite having the knowledge how greatly it will affect their family's position on their own house.

For the good of the realm. Words of every lord has sworn before they have casted their decisions.

"....that Prince Viserys Targaryen be made Prince of Dragonstone."

It didn't take long for the halls of the massive castle to be filled by thunderous applause and cheers of men. It is only then that Daenys raises her head to look at her father, his hand clasped in between her mother's. While Aemma carries nothing but relief on her face, a quick and hesitant smile appears on Viserys' that fades in an instant upon glancing at his cousin.

Once more, Daenys summon the courage to face the people of Westeros that stood after them. Some have sullen faces, others look as if they couldn't be more satisfied.

Whatever the future holds for them two things are certain, her father is to be king and the realm will not fall to another senseless war.

For now.

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asha's
endnotes !

The first chapter is already up! I'm sure this is shorter compared to the future chapters since it's only an introduction. I'm currently writing the next chapter that covers ep 1 and I'm so excited to finish it because sister/teen! Daenys is amazing. See you in my next updates!