CHAPTER TWENTY SIX
❪ devils tongue ! ❫

"Princess, you're growing quite fast," a young handmaiden whispers while carefully hovering her hand over Aenemera's stomach.

Aenemera stared at herself through the tall reflective glass and nodded her head knowingly.

She wasn't too big, not yet — but the familiar tiny bump that she was used to her mother carrying around, was hidden behind her black and red dress.

The fabric was pulling around her waist and had her figure shown off more. The familiar shoulder's attached to her sleeves were designed to replicate dragon scales. Her blonde hair was curled and braided in several ways while being pinned back from her face.

"How long do you think?" Aenemera muttered with her fingers flexing at her side, curious to feel for anything; although it would yet be impossible.

"Grand maester believes it's pushing to several weeks although it has only been a few days — "

"Will it kill me?" The princess suddenly blurted.

The handmaidens all stopped their work and turned to the princess in panic by her statement.

The silence had the hair on her neck sticking up as she turned around to face the women in the room, worry flashing through her eyes.

"The birth — will it kill me?" She folded her hands together now and anxiously pulled at her fingers and rubbed at the skin around knuckles.

The handmaidens gazed at each other silently until the same one speaking before gently held the princess hands. "Do not worry, my dear. Grand Maester believes it is but a miracle. He has not spoken of this worry."

Aenemera slowly nodded her head and the corner of her lip twitched upwards as she tried her best to remain calm and hopeful.

"Here," the handmaiden smiled and gently turned Aenemera back to her own reflection. She took one of her hands and settled it over her own stomach, both of them watching the action curiously.

The handmaiden placed her freehand upon the princess elbow with a smile. "You will soon be glowing like the sun during its rest on the bay. Your babe will meet you soon and it will be the most joyful experience of your life."

Her words were kind and reassuring. It built warmth in Aenemera's body as she continued to study herself through the mirror. She tilted her chin towards the ceiling, giving her best 'let's get down to business' look before excusing herself from the room.

When Aenemera returned to the large room where everyone was gathered to continue the discussion of war, she took place besides her brother and smiled at her mother.

"The Lord of the Tides! Lord Corlys Velaryon — !" Ser Erryk shouted the introduction as Corlys slowly entered the room with the help of a wooden cane to keep him from falling over. "And his wife, the princess Rhaenys Targaryen."

"My lords," Corlys greeted.

Rhaenyra was standing from her chair now as she turned to the older man. "Lord Corlys. It brings much relief to see you hale and healthy again."

Corlys smiled gently. "I'm very sorry about your father, princess. He was a good man."

Baela and Rhaena moved towards the other end of the table where the siblings currently stood. The princess flashed the girls a smile, happiness glimmering in her eyes to see them standing beside her brothers.

Part of her aches and missed when she would stand beside Aemond. Her hand subconsciously going over her stomach as if to comfort the growing babe in her womb but quickly dropped her hand, deciding against it.

She couldn't help but think poorly of herself in the eyes of a mother. Her actions are not what was best for their child, but what was needed.

"Where is Daemon?" Corlys asked.

"There were other concerns which demanded the princes attention." Rhaenyra explained.

Corlys nodded towards Rhaenyra before walking closer towards the glowing table of fire. His fingers ran across the edge as his eyes centered on the different houses, trying to get a clear view of where they stand now.

"You declared allies?" He questioned out loud.

Rhaeny nodded. "Yes."

"Too few to win a war for the throne," he commented curiously with his gaze meeting hers briefly.

"Well, we would also hope to have the support of houses Arryn, Baratheon, and Stark."

"Hope is the fools ally."

Rhaenyra pressed her lips together firmly and gazed down at the table with a hidden sigh. "Both Arryn and Baratheon share blood with my house. But all of them swore oaths to me."

"As did house Hightower," Corlys stated with memory. "If I remember."

Rhaenyra nodded slowly. "As did you, lord Corlys."

The older man slowly turned to peer at the other end of the table. His eyes shifting over his grandchildren then Rhaenyra's children — in which they stood silently, waiting for a command.

Corlys bowed his head briefly in deep throat. "Your fathers realm was one of justice and honor. Our houses are bound by common blood. This High tower treason cannot stand. You have the full support of our fleet and house. Your Grace."

Hope and joy filled Rhaenyra's eyes as she felt her shoulders sinking just slightly from the anticipation. "You honor me, Lord Corlys and Princess Rhaenys. But, as I said to my bannermen, I made a promise to my father to hold the realm strong and united. If war's first stroke is to fall, it will not be by my hand."

"You do not mean to act?"

"Taking caution does not mean standing fast. I wish to know who my allies are before I send them to war."

"The consequence of my... near-demise in the Step stones... is that we now control them." Corlys moved closer to Rhaenyra now as he explained. "I took care to fully garrison the territory this time. A total blockade of the shipping lanes will be in place in days, if not already. The Triarchy have been routed. The Narrow Sea is ours. If we... further seal the Gullet, we can cut off all seaborne travel and trade to King's Landing."

Rhaenys took a stance beside Rhaenyra. "I shall take Meleys and patrol the Gullet myself."

"When we drain the Narrow Sea, we can surround King's Landing," Bartimos softly commented. " — lay siege to the Red Keep, and force the Greens' surrender."

Rhaenyra pressed her lips together again as she leaned against the table with her palms pressed flat. "If we are to have enough swords to surround King's Landing, we must first secure the support of Winter fell, the Eyrie, and Storm's End."

"I'll prepare the ravens, Your Grace." The grand maester smiled.

Jacaerys looked at his sister briefly before turning to their mother, speaking for the first time this morning. "We should bear those messages. Dragons can fly faster than ravens and they're more convincing."

Rhaenyra looked at her children with a small panic but Aenemera sent her a reassuring smile. "Send us, mother."

"The Prince is right, Your Grace." Steffon Darklyn spoke.

Rhaenyra shifted on her feet hesitantly before nodding. "Very well. Prince Jacaerys will fly north. First to the Eyrie to see my mother's cousin, the Lady Jeyne Arryn, and then to Winter fell to treat with Lord Cregan Stark for the support of the North." Aenemera was eagerly waiting to hear her name be spoken of but she was skipped right over as their mother gave the orders to her brothers. "Prince Lucerys will fly south to Storm's End and treat with Lord Borros Baratheon. We must remind these lords of the oaths they swore. And the cost of breaking them."

Aenemera fixated her eyes down at the table before raising her head and placing a hand on the edge. "If I may," she smiled at her mother gently. "I carry the largest dragon — I should clear the skies and watch over my brothers as they fly out. Then accompany my brother Jace with meeting house Arryn. We don't know what other traitors could be settling in through the sea — or the skies."

She didn't want to run into her second family by any means, but if they just so happened to be out and about — maybe she could reach them first to send them home.

Corlys, Rhaenys, and her mother had their gazes fixed on the princess. Even Theo, who stood off near the side, couldn't contain the proud smile forming on his lips.

Rhaenyra let out a short breath of anxiety yet accomplishment to see her daughter ready to fight for her family. She desperately wanted to keep her here at Dragonstone but knew it would be of no use — she was too determined like her father.

❪ dylan ❫
everyone put your seatbelts on