CHAPTER THREE
❪ devils tongue ! ❫

"Syt lentor, syt hope," Aenemera softly recited in valyrian. "Syt se pāletilla..." ❪ for family, for hope, for the crown ❫

The red headed handmaiden, Lyra, was in the middle of braiding Mera's hair while she practiced her valyrian by using an old speech she used with her grandfather long ago. As the duties of the princess, she had to learn about the realm and her people, to make promises for something better in the near future.

"Very good princess," Lyra smiled. "It's becoming very natural. Beautiful."

"Lyra?" Mera glanced at the woman through the mirror at her desk. "When do you think my mother plans to marry me off?"

Lyra widens her eyes, almost taken back by the sudden curiosity — something Mera never cared for before until now. "Why do you wonder, princess?"

"I'm ten years of age," Aenemera thought outloud. "It's only time before my parents decide on a suitor for me, so I am questioning when."

Lyra was ten years older than the princess. She has seen and heard of many things to have any type of information about Aenemera's future. Their friendship was relatively kept secret, they were close but most of their conversations was reserved for Mera's bedroom where they could have privacy.

"It's hard to tell," Lyra admits. "My guess would be three or four years of time?"

Mera glances at Lyra from over her shoulder with a teasing smile. "Then I have plenty of time to enjoy myself before I'm forced off to another house." Lyra laughed in response.

"I wish to speak," Rhaenyra stands from her chair at the council meeting.

All of the men took a seat, besides from Alicent, who had her hands pressed against the wooden table and studying Rhaenyra's tired features.

Rhaenyra hesitated before speaking, her eyes glazing past her old friend. "I have felt the strife between our families of late, my queen. And for any offense given by mine, I apologize." Alicent glanced down at the table and remained silent. "But we are one house. And long before that, we were friends."

Alicent stared at the princess in disbelief, her head shaking slightly in silent response.

The other men remained quiet, including the king as his eyes remained glued on his daughter — eagerly and proudly listening to whatever she had to say.

" —- My daughter Aenemera will inherit the Iron Throne after me."

Several of the men sitting at the council table silently glanced at one another, questioning her decision while Visery's smiled proudly.

"I propose we betroth her to your son, Aemond. Ally ourselves — once and for all." Visery's nodded his head as Rhaenyra continued. "Let them rule together. Continue the targaryen blood — my daughter would proudly carry the most beautiful children. She's been studying since she was just a mere child. She understands her duties."

"A most judicious proposition!" Viserys clapped.

Alicent seemed unmoved by her speech, shaking her head in disbelief once more. Rhaenyra glanced at her father before speaking up again, in hopes to further gain her agreement. "Additionally, if Syrax brings forth another clutch of eggs, your son Aemond will have his choice of them. A symbol of our goodwill."

Silence continued to fill the air as Alicent glanced up and noticed the milk from Rhaenyra's breast begin to seep through her dress. The princess glanced down at her clothing and sighed. "Seven Hells," she whispered, covering herself with her arms before taking a seat again.

"My dear," Viserys smiled thoughtfully. "A dragons egg is a handsome gift."

"The king and I thank you for your offer and we will consider it duly." Alicent spoke before turning to Viserys. "You must rest now, my husband."

Later in the day Aenemera appeared in her mothers chambers where her brothers were also currently about. Rhaenyra was cradling Joffrey in her arms, bouncing him ever so gently while he slept.

Aenemera smiled immediately when she saw her mother, walking past her youngest brother and softly ruffling his brown curly locks before taking a seat by the fireplace. "Was the meeting well, mother?"

Rhaenyra glanced at her siblings, nodding for them to exit the room in silence.

Aenemera raised an eyebrow curiously, following their slow movements as they disappeared with the doors closing behind them. "What's this?" She questioned.

"My Mera," Rhaenyra smiled. "I'm assuming you know best what is coming soon."

"Name day celebration?" she joked while relaxing into the chair.

Rhaenyra smiled at her teasing while carrying Joffrey over to his bed and setting him down gently. "I'm sure you're aware of your future — your true calling to the realm, my dear. "

Aenemera nodded knowingly, her eyes watching her mother move around the room to grab a cloth and wipe her hands. "I studied my Valyrian today, if that's what you wish to speak about." Aenemera straightened her back now. "Skoro syt gaomagon ao vestragon unwell? Quba udir nyke kostagon imagine?" ❪ why do you seem unwell? bad news i can imagine? ❫

Rhaenyra shook her head and took the seat beside her daughter, now reaching for her hands in reassurance. "No ill news, I can asure."

Aenemera let out a breath of relief. "Tell me, mother."

Rhaenyra softly brushed her fingers across her daughter's hands as her eyes settled on her soft palms. "I've offered a proposition today at the council. To keep our families bound and allied, I claimed you to inherit the throne after me — with Aemond by your side as king and husband."

Aenemera quickly tried to snatch her hands away in disbelief but Rhaenyra only grasped on tighter. "Aenemera, listen to me." She spoke softly to her daughter, but the girl refused to look at her own mother. "Ziry iksos aōha gaomilaksir..." ❪ it is your duty ❫

"Nyke gōntan daor epagon hen bisa." Aenemera replied strongly. "I will do as I must to fulfill my place as queen, but I will marry anybody else but him." ❪ i did not ask for this ❫

Rhaenyra had finally let go of her child's hands, sadness slipping into her heart as Aenemera stood up from the chair.

"Lannister, Stark, Tyrell...Mirros yn zirȳla." ❪ anything but him ❫

Rhaenyra followed her daughter by standing up. "Sometimes we have no choice." She held her daughters shoulders before rubbing them down her arms. "Nyke would emagon daor suggest bisa dīnilūks lo nyke wasn't sure hen outcome. " ❪ I would have not suggest this marriage if I wasn't sure of the outcome ❫

There was a soft knock at the door a second later. Rhaenyra requested them to come in and Lyra's head peeked through the door frame, a shy smile on her lips. "Apologies princess, the king and queen wish to see you both."

Aenemera glanced at her mother once more in silence before removing herself from her grasp and following Lyra out the room. Lyra widened her eyes, unknowing how to respond to the tension but Rhaenyra gave her a polite smile and thanked her softly. "Watch over my son for me, would you please?"

"O-Of course, princess." Lyra bowed.

When they met with the king and queen in the great hall, Aenemera came face to face with Aemond who was standing near his mother with his gaze towards the ground.

"My dears," Viserys smiled happily from his chair. "Granddaughter."

Aenemera didn't hesitate to rush over and greet him with a gentle kiss on the cheek. "Grandfather," she smiled softly at the king. "You should be resting? What can I do for you?" She was just about to kneel but he waved his head and held her elbow to keep her standing. "No need."

"The king and I have decided — " Alicent clasped her hands together while inhaling a heavy sigh. "Rather quickly, that the princess proposal would do well for our families."

Aenemera forced a smile on her face in front of the king, who gently rubbed her arm softly with reassurance before giving it a gentle squeeze. "You'll make a fine queen one day, my dear."

She swallowed a sudden thick lump down her throat, sweat collecting at the back of neck while she stood in silence. She wasn't even given a single day to sit on the idea of her and Aemond to be wed — let alone become the queen one day.

" — In three years," Alicent continued and Aenemera popped her head up. "Our children will be wed."

"An excellent idea," Rhaenyra smiled gently, standing beside her daughter now and combing her fingers through her blonde hair.

Aemond looked like he wanted to vomit and Aenemera was ten seconds away from passing out. These two were not a couple worth putting together in any lifetime. Hatred runs deep in their veins and there was never a moment they had a single conversation that didn't end in an argument.

Viserys had high hopes for the children, unknowing what their future could bring to house Targaryen.

❪ dylan ! ❫
aenemera is viserys favorite grandchild, it's canon.