CHAPTER ZERO
❛ the birth of a star ❜

────────────────────────

Princess Rhaenyra went to her labors on a beautiful night. Many who recalled the day could remember how the stars shined that night. 

Outside Rhaenyra's chambers, the King felt the lingering fear of what happened to his first late wife Queen Aemma Arrryn. After having a stillborn and miscarriages he feared losing his daughter. 

Her screams echoed through the castle halls for hours on end. 

Queen Alicent was bitter as ever about the ordeal of the Princess giving birth to another bastard. It was no secret that Laenor Velaryon had a specific choice when it came to his lovers. 

Another cry sounded high-pitched and desperate.

Rhaenyra wanted this all to be over. She blamed him for this. A loud cry escaped her throat. 

"Another push Princess!" one of her midwives called between her legs. 

"I am pushing you dumb cunt!" 

"I can see the head! One more push, Princess!"

Laenor kissed her hand despite the death grip the Princess gave him, he refused to pull away. "You can do it Rhaenyra, I know you can. Our child is almost here."

Her body trembles as she finds herself slumped back against Leanor who whispered words of encouragement. As much as she loved her husband platonically, her mind wandered to the true father of her babe.

Oh, how she wished he was here. He deserved to be in here just like Leanor was, holding her hand in support and defying the tradition of men not being present at birth.

"Ahhhh!" Rhaenyra sat up and used whatever strength she had left. When she finally collapsed against Laenor there was a few seconds of silence making Rhaenyra panic.

It was the cries that pierced the air that made both parents sigh in relief. 

"A girl!"

A girl?

A girl. Rhaenyra thought before propping herself and outstretching her arms. "Give her to me," her voice demanded. 

The Midwife who had attempted to clean up as much blood on the baby handed her to Rhaenyra. The Princess didn't care in the slightest. 

Her daughter fit perfectly into her arms. Oh, she was perfect The way she let out a cry was one of a dragon. A true Targaryen indeed. 

"She's beautiful. My beautiful girl." she cries and the midwives even found themselves tearing up at the moment between the mother and daughter. 

"Our little princess." praised Laenor, the endless joy present on his face. He was happy for his greatest friend and companion over the years. 

Rhaenyra gave her to Laenor as the maids moved quickly to assist the Princess.

Laenor had held her protectively against his chest. "My gods, she is perfect. You did so well Rhaenyra." he always felt utterly useless but Rhaenyra always assured him that having him here by her side holding her hand was enough to support him. 

Her tiny fingers wrapped around his index finger making Laenor let out a laugh, "She's strong, this one is going to be a warrior, I just know it."

The man was already thinking of sword lessons. He will teach her himself as if he'd let Ser Criston Cole do it. 

 While Rhaenyra was cleaned up by the midwives in haste. 

Two hours have passed since her birth. The midwives had left the room and the maids had made her bed perfectly new. Rhaenyra rested underneath the covers resting. Her baby rested in the cot beside her bed. Rhaenyra insisted that her daughter be kept close and within her sight. 

Jacaerys admired his new sister in Laenor's arms.  

"This is your little sister, Jace. You will protect her." Laenor stated earning a giggle from the toddler. 

Rhaenyra smiled and felt at peace. 

Footsteps sounded in the corridor and Rhaenyra and Laenor exchanged a look. 

The door to the chambers opened to reveal her father and Queen Alicent. 

The Queen was dressed in green like always. She took a few steps closer but kept her distance. Her face was cold, and Rhaenyra could see the look of resentment in her eyes. 

"Congratulations, Princess," she said with a fake smile gracing her face. 

Rhaenyra smiled back, "Thank you." she said shortly. 

Viserys looked tired but still smiled brightly as he walked up to his daughter. he kissed the top of her head, "I heard the news. A girl. Well done, my child." 

Rhaenyra smiled at her father. 

"Now where is my granddaughter?" Viserys was over the moon. His first granddaughter. 

Viserys walked up to Laenor who set Jace down on the ground to play with his toys. He picked up his newborn daughter and handed him to the King. 

He beams when he cradles her carefully. "My first granddaughter . . ." The man's eyes widen slightly and water a bit. "She is the image of you . . . and her eyes are like Aemma's." 

She had opened her eyes moments after her birth. Each trait about her daughter made Rhaenyra fall in love with her daughter even more. The baby reminded her of her youth and late mother. Who's eyes looked like the pretty lavenders in the gardens where they used to spend their days together when her father was busy with his duties. 

The perfect shade of lilac-green much like the late Aemma Arryn and his late mother Alyssa Targaryen. Viserys held her close to admire her closely. 

Rhaenyra's eyes softened and noticed how her father became sad at the thought of mother, "I thought so as well." 

Alicent face became slightly bitter but Rhaenyra wasn't going to let her ruin the moment.

Viserys regained his composure and looked down at the baby whose eyes shut. He smiled down at her lovingly, "Have you named her yet?"

"She was born under the moon and stars. Alyssa II Velaryon." 

"A name fit for a princess." Viserys praised happily. He couldn't think of a better name for his granddaughter. 

Alicent Hightower watched the baby in worry. It was clear that this child was different than the first one. For Alyssa harbored the Targaryen features. 

For she knew that one day, Alyssa Velaryon would be a threat. 

✩˚ *·ヽ

﹅˚. 𑁍˚. 𓄼 ‹ ━━━━ this is the official prologue at least until in finish Crimson Blood. That is when I will start to post more chapters. 

﹅˚. 𑁍˚. 𓄼 ‹ ━━━━ WANT A SHOUT-OUT?  Comment here.