Chapter three          𓃦          A plan for history books

     In truth, Genna belonged nowhere – she didn't belong in Casterly Rock, she was too similar to the late Lady Maryanne Lannister. She didn't belong in King's Landing; she was too much of a Lannister. But she found peace within motherhood. It was the only thing she could call her own. While a son would be Baelor's one true Heir, Alyssa, Rhaella and Visenya were her own.

Rhaella wobbled around the Godswood with a fig in her tiny hands, skin sticky with the liquid gushing out of it, while Alyssa babbled something to her mother – Moonfyre will probably grow bigger than Vhagar, father said so. Visenya laid on a pool of blankets under the tree with Alara Tarly – a lady in waiting assigned to Genna – babbling something in her own language. And while Genna wished for nothing more but to sit next to her youngest, smother her in kisses, the condition she yet again found herself in prohibited her in doing so.

"Did you know that Queen Rhaenys went to fight the Dornish?" Alyssa spoke, eyes focused on the grass she picked as she crouched down, "she said that she will go there with fire and blood."

"Hm? Really?" Genna encouraged her daughter to continue her studies, one hand on the lower part of her belly, the other one resting on her lower back, "did your father tell you that?"

"Nope," she clicked her tongue at the p, pulling a daisy from the ground, offering it up for her mother, "I read it."

Genna smiled, taking the flower in her hands, "you read it?"

"Maester Orwylle did," Alyssa corrected herself with a toothy smile, "but I helped him."

Her mother chuckled gently once her eldest twin jumped from the ground to stand by her, arms folding around the side of her dress, "you will not need Maester Orwylle to help you read soon."

"Soon," Alyssa repeated with a dramatic sigh, pushing her head further in her mother's dress, head pressed against her leg.

Genna hummed in content, brushing her daughter's hair before Rhaella started waving with her sticky hand, "kēpus, kēpus!" (uncle)

Turning her head to where her younger twin waved, she saw Aemond walk out of the halls of the Keep – black doublet, matching pants and boots. While Alyssa remained her father's daughter, true to Baelor only, Rhaella became fond of her uncle. Almost dropping the fig her mother gave her moments ago, she ran to Aemond, collapsing in the front of his leg.

"Rhaella," Genna clicked her tongue but only gained a toothy smile from her daughter, "apologies, Aemond."

"No need to apologize," he shook his head, brushing Rhaella's hair from her forehead – big lilac eyes staring up at him in wonder.

Alara approached Genna with Visenya in her arms, "my lady, it is time for her feeding."

Genna nodded her head, "alright," before pressing a gentle kiss on the baby's forehead before she disappeared from her sight and back inside the Keep with Alara. Rhaella returned to Alyssa, seemingly bored with the uninterested Aemond, pulling her further down the Godswood. Genna turned her gaze to them, calling out, "not too far!"

"Yes, mother!" both voices rung back to her.

Aemond approached, hands behind his back, "lovely girls."

Genna turned her head to her right, smiling, "they are."

A beat of silence before she breathed out, "congratulations. Baelor told me you are to have a child."

Aemond sucked in a breath, nodding his head but not looking him in the eyes, "thank you."

Genna looked away from his expression, her hands fidgeting at the front of her bump, "nervous?"

"Confused."

She sucked in a quiet breath, nodding her head in agreement. Realization washed over her like the ocean over the shore – he knew about Baelor's appetite as much as she did. Changing the subject, she spoke again, "you did not break fast with us in the mor."

"I went with Vhagar," he replied simply, eyes still looking down as if he was ashamed to be in her presence, "I did not wish for the children to think I smell bad."

Genna laughed gently at his attempt of a joke. She smiled at him, "I think they smelt worse before. At least Alyssa and Rhaella did."

"Hm?" he hummed, looking at her, as if to ask her how.

"They are far too fast for me now," she replied as an explanation, a smile still tugging her lips, "I do not think they know for certain how you smell after a ride with a dragon."

"Still," Aemond continued, "I smelt bad."

"I do not doubt that," she jested, allowing Aemond to chuckle through his nose with a nod.

After a beat of silence, Aemond questioned, "do you know where Baelor is?"

Genna looked away from the girls running around the tree, "in the Council chambers."

He shook his head, "mother did not allow him in."

Her brows furrowed, "why?"

Aemond shrugged his shoulders, "I do not know. I only know I saw him walk away."

Sweat broke on the back of her neck, "then I do not know." – both of them were painfully aware where Baelor was.

Rhaella was the first one to return to her mother's side, hands clasped together and high. Genna turned to her daughter with a gentle smile, "what do you have, sweetling?"

"A gift," she clumsily paced from where she stood in order to give her mother the present, "for you."

Rhaella unclasped her hands, revealing a butterfly laying calmly on her palm. While her twin sister has always been the reckless one – true to the nature of her father – Rhaella reminded Alicent of Helaena when she was younger. The tiny animal spread its bright blue wings but not moving. Genna bend down as much as she possibly could to look at the animal, "it is beautiful, Rhaella, but we cannot keep him. He must fly free."

"Like Moonfyre?" Rhaella looked up with big lilac eyes before her brows furrow together, "and how do you know it is a boy?"

"Like Moonfyre," Genna confirmed with a smile before continuing, "because it has blue wings. Girl butterflies like these do not have only blue colour on their wings. They have a mix of many, many colours."

The butterfly moved to the tip of Rhaella's finger before giving it almost a kiss and flying away, making the princess pout. Genna straightened herself back up, running a hand through her daughter's hair, "you can find another one, my love. Maybe a girl this time?"

Rhaella eagerly nodded her head. She pressed a feather like kiss on her mother's wrist before running off in the gardens, no doubt in search for her sister. Aemond cleared his throat, "I was not aware you knew so much about butterflies."

Genna offered him a small smile, "I have a lot of free time. And your sister has always been kind enough to talk to me about the insects she likes."

His chest hurt, like his heart was longing for something. Someone. Anything. He nodded, before asking, "are you bored then?"

"No," she shook her head, her fingers twisting at the fabric of her dress, "I have my girls to take care of. It is never boring in their presence."

"If you..." Aemond started, fingers twisting at the edge of his doublet where his hands rested on his back, "if you ever do get bored, I would enjoy your presence, I think."

Genna looked at him, eyes bigger than before, "you would?"

He almost took a step back, "I would. If you would ever need my company."

She offered him a smile – now a more carefree, "I would. Thank you, Aemond."

Aemond returned the smile, "you are welcome, Genna."

Alyssa was the one to return now, her hands clinging around Aemond's knee, whining, "kēpus." (uncle)

Aemond hummed, hand running across the top of her head, "Skoros iksos ziry, byka zaldrīzes?" (what is it, little dragon?)

She tilted her head, resting her cheek against his clothed knee, "Kostagon ao gūrogon issa flying?" (can you take me flying?)

Another hum from him, "Nyke gaomagon daor pendagon aōha muñnykeā would raqagon bona, byka zaldrīzes." (I do not think your mother would like that, little dragon)

"Mother," Alyssa turned her head so slightly that her cheek still rested against his knee, "can kēpus take me flying with Vhagar?"

Despite Baelor taking the twins (mostly Alyssa) with Moonfyre times before, Genna's mind was still plagued with every possible outcome – what if she falls down? What if the dragon crashes? What if she gets hurt? Like he saw her thoughts running, Aemond spoke, "we do not have to."

Genna looked up at him, "it is not that I do not trust you."

"I did not think it in that way."

Genna captured her lower lip in between her teeth, biting down so harshly it almost drew blood. She nodded, "if you wish to do it."

At her words, Alyssa almost jumped in excitement, grabbing Aemond's wrist, almost dragging him away from her mother. He took a few steps away before turning her head, "I will keep her safe, I promise you that."

Genna nodded with a ghost of a smile, "I know."

Excitedly, Alyssa waved goodbye to her mother, quickly dragging her uncle away from the sight. Rhaella soon joined her mother, not wishing for her to feel alone. She brought her back to her senses, when her tiny hands reached for the fingers of her own. As an instinct, Genna wrapped her fingers around her waist, smiling at her, "do you wish to go inside, sweet girl?"

"Can we go read to grandsire?" Rhaella asked quietly, tiny fingers running across her mother's wrist, "I think he is lonely in his chambers."

Genna nodded, "of course we can, sweetling. Go find the book, alright?"

          Despite King Viserys laying in poor health, confined within his chambers filled with herbs, teas and medications, he still loved seeing the little children running across the floor to hug him. It was no different for Baelor's children – even when their father had virtually no close relationship with him. Rhaella, despite her shyness, was always the one who ran to Viserys' bedframe, tiny hands reaching up, trying to pull herself closer to her grandfather.

In his sleep, Genna whispered, closing the doors, "Rhaella, behave."

Her daughter pouted at her, placing the old book on the edge of the bed, "I am!"

Viserys mumbled a name in his sleep – a name far from his granddaughters – and Genna approached the dying man, to whisper, "Rhaella and Genna, your Grace. Rhaella wished to see you and to read to you."

Viserys coughed loudly which made Rhaella flinch away, burying herself in her mother's dress. He slowly opened his eyes, mouth dry as he motioned to the tea by the bed's side. Genna removed her hand from Rhaella's head, carefully moved to the king and helped him sit, leaning back as she readjusted some pillows to help him be more relaxed. She then took the cup of tea in her hands – dark with strange smell – moving to the king and helping him drink. He waved her after a few sips, "thank you, Genna."

"Any time, your Grace," she nodded, offering him a small smile before moving back to place the cup away. While her eyes watched the liquid move from edge to edge, Rhaella already pulled herself on the bed, scooping herself closer to Viserys' side. In his good times, he would pull her closer, but those times were far gone.

Rhaella pulled the thick, old book in her lap, proudly opening it, "Maester Orwylle and I read further. Can I start there?"

Viserys hummed, "of course."

She used her finger to run under the words that were sometimes too big for her to understand, "though none doubted that Aegon Targaryen was the final authority in all matters relating to the governance of the realm, his sisters Visenya and Rhaenys remained his partners in power throughout his reign. Save perhaps for Good Queen Alysanne, the wife of King Jaehaerys I, no other queen in the history of the Seven Kingdoms ever exercised as much influence over policy as the Dragon's sisters. It was the king's custom to bring one of his queens with him wherever he travelled, whilst the other remained at Dragonstone or King's Landing, oft as not seated on the Iron Throne, ruling on whatever matters came before her."

And while her daughter read to the king, Genna's fingers ran through the herbs laying on the small table – ginger, lavender, basic and ... Her brows furrowed at the bright red seeds laying by the edge, almost as someone tried to hide them but were caught before doing so. While her fingers reached for it, the doors opened suddenly. Taking a step back from the table, she saw Baelor walk inside, trying to hide his surprise, "oh. I did not expect a family gathering."

More often than not, king Viserys would mistaken Baelor for Aegon – blame it on the poor eyesight or him not truly caring for the children that were not born from Aemma Arryn – and it started increasing. Even now, when the brown strains of true Targaryen hair came closer to him, he still called him Aegon. And, for reason's unknown to Genna, Baelor didn't seem to mind. A sudden feeling of dread ached within her stomach – what was he doing?

"I wished to visit you, father," Baelor spoke, hands twisting a small, brown bag behind his back, "and I brought you the tea the Maester advised to you."

Another cough from the king, making Rhaella flinch again, her fingers tightening the grip on her book. Baelor moved to the small table, whispering to Genna, "in what world did you believe it to be a good idea to bring my daughter to the chambers of a sick man? Do you wish for her to become sick?"

Genna bit her tongue, daring to look at his eyes, "I was not aware he was so sick. And – and Rhaella wished to read to him."

Before she could continue to speak, Baelor inched his face closer to hers, "take Rhaella and go."

"But –"

"- I am your lord husband, Genna," he replied quietly, "you do as I say."

Without a word she nodded, moving from Baelor and to the bed, extending her hand towards Rhaella, who pouted, "already?"

"Already, sweetling," Genna offered her daughter a smile, to hide her emotions, "we will visit soon again."

Rhaella wobbled herself on her knees, pressing a quick kiss on Viserys' cold cheek, "I will come back soon."

Viserys could barely keep his eyes open, the tiredness washing over him like waves, "I hope you do, Rhaenyra."

Before Rhaella could correct her grandfather, Genna pulled her away and down the bed, taking the book in one hand, the other taking a hold of her daughter's wrist, pulling her away harsher than expected. The doors behind them closed, allowing Baelor to continue with his plan.