Visenya looked in her mirror and grazed her fingers over the bruising on her neck. It hadn't done much lightening in the last two days but she also refused to see anyone, even Alicent. Only Brella and one other person had been allowed in her chambers.

"My mother might at least be able to think of a way to cover it," Aemond said, handing her a cup of hot tea. He hadn't been overly friendly but it was enough to put her at ease. It probably helped that she hadn't talked much so she was less annoying. Daemon had gripped her throat hard enough to make her voice scratchy and make speaking painful.

She shrugged and drank the tea, looking at her feet. At least the cuts were healing nicely.

"I am sure we can have him thrown from the wedding if you ask. Your dragon may be puny but he could eat Daemon in one swallow."

Despite's Aemond's many comments about Grey Ghost, he had never called the dragon worthless. Aemond was smart enough to know that no dragon was worthless, no matter their size. She couldn't believe she was pointing out how Aemond was smarter than Daemon.

"You don't have to be here. I don't need pity," She whispered.

"Since when have I ever done anything out of pity, Visenya?" He asked.

"No, but everything you do has an anterior motive," She mumbled and rolled her eyes.

Aemond stood in front of her. "Shut up for one minute of your life and listen to me. You don't have to take this. My mother thinks that Aegon should be king because he is the elder son and has the name of the conqueror. But Visenya was his older sister, Aegon married her to secure his claim and married Rhaenys for love. You can use that, Visenya. Aegon doesn't want to be king, but maybe ..."

"Are you ... suggesting I usurp my mother's throne?" Visenya's voice cracked with the question.

"Do you really want to see your mother be queen? I know you feel like despite your hate, you owe her. Visenya, you owe her nothing."

She swallowed thickly and looked down at her hands. Why was she so hesitant on this matter? Rhaenyra had done nothing but sit by and watch her husband hurt her two days prior and didn't once come to check up on her. A year ago she might of but her mother was only receding in her care.

But she was still her mother and Visenya was holding on to a relationship that didn't exist. The only woman that had acted motherly was Alicent, something Visenya was still rejecting. All Visenya had to do was show Alicent her neck and she would stop at nothing to protect her. So it was all a choice. And she had the power to make a significant one with just one action.

"You know if my mother comes in here you will be under our protection," Aemond added.

"I would rather die than put my life in Cole's hands," She scoffed.

"He's overzealous in his devotion to my mother, I will give him that. But you also haven't heard the story of how that happened and if I tell you, you did not hear it from me. I'm not even supposed to know."

"So how do you know?" She asked.

"Remember that night I caught you snooping around? You think that was my first night of eavesdropping?"

She sat down on the edge of her bed and shook her head. "No. Go on."

"You like to run your mouth, Princess, are you sure I can trust you?" He rose a brow.

"Considering I have placed a lot of trust in you, I would hope so."

"Fair enough," He nodded. "The night your mother and father had their late-night incursion, Rhaenyra returned to her chambers in a particularly playful mood after having just lost her virtue. So she decided to set out on another man and that was Cole."

"Impossible!" Visenya frowned.

"Had you looked like your brothers, the truth of your paternal figure would not be Daemon. But you are without a doubt Daemon's daughter. Either way, Cole was stupid enough to ask for my sister's hand in marriage and offered to sail away and live a boring life. He was stupid enough to think a Targaryen heir would abandon their station to live as a commoner. So something was said at the wedding by Joffrey, Laenor's lover, to Criston who Joffrey had assumed was Rhaenyra's lover. A jest in truth, something about being the secret lovers and having to share the new couple."

"So that's why he killed Joffrey," Visenya gasped.

"Exactly. So yes, your mother's former sworn sword tried to take his life after that but my mother saved him. He is still stupid if you ask me."

"And yet you train with him."

"He is the only known man to beat Daemon in a tourney. As stupid as he may be, you cannot deny his skill as a swordsman. You can get better if you actually try. Ask yourself something for me, okay? One year ago, had he choked you, would you have fought back and hit him with a vase?"

She avoided eye contact with him and looked out the window. She knew he was right, and he knew it too. He was challenging her. "You people are so obsessed with this fucking inner dragon."

"Stop deflecting that, Visenya. You were too from a young age. Why else would you have been just as obsessed with finding a dragon? Our eggs turned to stone. It made us mad, we started to wonder. Having a dragon as Targaryens isn't just our birthright, it is our blood. We have dragon's blood in our own and you know it. You may sound awful at the language but I know for a fact you soaked up every piece of information in those lessons. Blood magic, Visenya. It is still so strong."

"And look at us, Aemond. King Jaehaerys was correct in assuming we would tear ourselves apart," Visenya said.

"It wouldn't have to with you as Queen."

"Stop!" She snapped. "You just want to be the fucking King, Aemond. You think yourself entitled to the throne. You study, you train, and you ride the largest fucking dragon alive. I know it, Aemond. I see you for what you truly are." She stood as she spoke and stopped in front of him, looking right into his eye.

Aemond's eye narrowed at her and he hesitated before reaching for his eyepatch. He pulled it off with ease and Visenya almost gasped at the appearance. Where his eye was supposed to be was a sapphire in its stead.

"And what is it you see, Princess?"

A monster I created.

But Visenya didn't look away. She stared at it, not with pity, but with certainty. She removed that eye, she had no right to cower away from it. She needed to see it.

"Because whatever it is you see, I assure you, I see you right back. I see a scared girl that is capable of burning this fucking world to the ground if she reaches the limit of her anger. I will give you credit, you can take a lot. I would have snapped by now."

"Is that what you want me to do, Aemond, burn down the fucking world and kill damn idiot on it?"

"I would prefer it not to get to that point. I happen to be one of those idiots," He sneered. "We marry tomorrow and I would like to hope you won't slit my throat in my sleep."

"Such an intriguing thought."

He stepped away from her and placed the eyepatch back on over his head and she sat back on her bed.

Before she could rethink her decision, she let out a sigh and spoke, "Send for your mother."

Aemond nodded and didn't dare question her. Maybe this is what Helaena meant. Maybe Visenya was meant to be a Green. And what she was about to do, the decision it took her two days to make, would secure that and there would be no going back. But why did she have to go Green? She could make her own color. She hated the color and she looked sickly when she wore green.

She sat in silence for many moments before someone knocked on her door. "Just me," Aemond spoke before opening it. Visenya faced the window, not ready to look at Alicent yet.

"What is this, Aemond? You pulled me away in the middle of planning," Alicent said with frustration.

"Mother, just try to stay calm, okay?" Aemond said with annoyance.

Visenya stood back up and faced Alicent. "I need your help."

Alicent's gasp was loud as she covered her mouth with her hands. She turned to Aemond and was about to hit him. "What - it wasn't me!" He yelled and grabbed his mother's wrist with ease before she could hit him.

"It wasn't, I swear," Visenya added.

Alicent rushed to her and lifted her chin so she could get a look at the bruising on her neck. "Oh my, no wonder your voice is scratchy. Is this why no one has seen you? Aemond just said you were sick."

"I couldn't - I didn't want anyone to see me like this. But tomorrow is the wedding and I need help covering it. My dress doesn't cover my neck."

Alicent nodded. "Dare I even ask, Visenya?"

Visenya looked at Aemond for help and all he did was nod. "Sit down, I have a lot to tell you."

-

Visenya thanked the Gods that the next day was sunny and perfect weather for the reception to be held outside. Had it been still raining, the reception would have been in the grand hall and she didn't want to be stuck inside with all those people.

The wedding would be held just after the lunch hour so that the festivities could occur late afternoon and early evening. She was not worried one bit about the 'bedding' because there would not be one.

"There you go," Alicent said softly. She had spent the last two hours mixing some herbs and pigments to make a cover for her neck. "Just try not to rub it or anything."

"Will sweat be an issue?" Visenya asked.

"Not after it dries. Brella, is the dress ready?" Alicent asked.

"Yes," She nodded and wheeled in the mannequin. The dress was more gorgeous than she could have imagined. It was a silk material with two thick arm straps as opposed to sleeves and a tie resting at the front of the waist. And on the chest was the most gorgeous silver embroidery in the shape of dragons.

"That is so divine," Alicent smiled. "Let's get you dressed."

Visenya stepped up on the dressing pedestal as Alicent and Brella placed the dress over her small frame and made some last-minute stitching and adjusting, fitting it exactly to her.

"Was she upset?" Visenya asked Alicent.

"She was utterly shocked you chose me to help over her. She was less shocked that you are choosing to walk down alone without Daemon."

Visenya smiled to herself, pleased she had upset her mother. She wished she could have seen the look on her mother's face.

"But you need not worry, dear. You are mine now, remember?" Alicent smiled sweetly. It wasn't an act of ownership, but more of a protective statement. After telling Alicent the whole truth, including her 'spying' tasks, Alicent responded exactly as Visenya assumed.

"Oh! I almost forgot my gift," Alicent walked over to a box sitting on the bed. "I know you are not a queen but you are still a Targaryen Princess and I think wearing this today would be fitting."

Alicent pulled out the item and Visenya gasped. Queen Visenya's dainty crown of rubies. "Oh my ..." Visenya whispered, completely in awe of the relic.

"You deserve to wear this today," Alicent smiled. "But after Brella braids your hair. You are fifteen now, a woman getting married, you should look every bit of it."

Brella stood behind her and got to work on the braids, twisting them in ways Visenya could never understand. She could do her own basic braids but nothing exquisite like Brella.

"Perfect," Alicent smiled behind her. She placed the crown on her head and clasped her hands together. "I think you are ready now, darling girl."

As Visenya waited at the doors to the sept, she couldn't help but feel some sort of grief for not having Laenor by her side. Granted Targaryens should marry in the tradition of their house, but she still had to put on this fucking wedding at the sept. One thing she would never agree on with Alicent was her faith.

The idea had crossed her mind to enter with a green wedding dress but she didn't want to declare war on Daemon just yet. Plus, this was her day and she hated the color.

"They are ready," One of the guards posted at the door nodded at her. She started shaking as she realized how many people would be looking at her. So as the door opened, she held her head up and refused to look anywhere but ahead.

Music started to play as she walked down the aisle to the sept, barely looking at Aemond. She walked slowly to the hum of the tune, making sure she didn't trip over her dress. She hoped her mother caught sight of the crown on her head, the thought making her wonder if she could ever wear a crown over her mother. The idea was more frequent now that Aemond brought it up.

She finally reached the top pugh before the Septon and Aemond glanced at her. He was clad in a black ensemble, a black leather tunic, and trousers. For the first time, Visenya thought he looked attractive and she wanted to drown before admitting any attraction.

"You may now cloak the bride and bring her under your protection." Septon Eustace announced.

She faced Aemond and he faced her, removing his black cloak and placing it on her shoulders. He placed his hand over hers as they held their arms out for Eustace to bind them.

"We stand here in the sight of gods and men to witness the union of man and wife: one flesh, one heart, one soul, now and forever."

She caught a glimpse at Aemond and he looked aloof and stoic as ever. No emotion on his face.

"Let it be known that Aemond of House Targaryen and Visenya of House Velaryon are one heart, one flesh, one soul. Cursed be he who would seek to tear them asunder."

Surprisingly, she was able to stop herself from shaking. She could do this.

"In the sight of the Seven, I hereby seal these two souls, binding them as one for eternity. Look upon one another and say the words."

"Father, Smith, Warrior, Mother, Maiden, Crone, Stranger..."

"I am his, and he is mine," Visenya nodded.

"I am hers, and she is mine," Aemond spoke.

And now she was shaking. There was only one more thing and this is what was getting her.

Aemond swallowed thickly and shifted. "With this kiss, I pledge my love."

He gave her hands a soft squeeze, one she almost missed. But they both hesitated, something Eustace noticed. He cleared his throat and Aemond nodded. She closed her eyes so she wouldn't have to see him and he barely pressed his lips against hers. He didn't constitute much for a kiss but it was enough and applause erupted in the Sept as they stood officially as husband and wife. And once thing brought a smile to her face.

By name now, she was Visenya Targaryen.

just for reference, this is the dress and hair I imagined for Visenya if it helps with a visual for this chapter and the next. did I just post two chapters in one day (in my timezone)? Yes I did. enjoy.