The larger her belly got, the more the twins got obsessed with it. They constantly talked about their new baby sibling. It was making Visenya realize just how much time was passing and how fast it was passing. The twins were now five! She was getting whiplash with how fast life was moving. At least this pregnancy was not suspected to be twins.

And with all the peace and happiness she felt, there was impending doom. Each day the feelings worsened and she woke up feeling dread, like danger was only minutes away. And maybe it was.

"How many more months before baby sister?" Laenora asked.

"No, it's a boy!" Maegor argued. 

"We do not know yet, do we?" Visenya reached for the bowl of grapes next to the lounge chair she was in, enjoying the sun by the gardens. Her ankles were swollen but she wanted the sun, so Aemond did what any husband would do - he ordered a group of servants to move a set of lounge chairs outside for them. But she didn't expect Aegon to follow them like a lost puppy.

"Whatever it is, I shall love it like my own," Aegon teased. 

"You don't even love your own," Visenya rose a brow. 

"That's not true, I love them. But like nephews because the rumor used to be that Aemond fathered them and -"

He didn't have a chance to finish before Aemond threw his book and hit Aegon right in the face. Maegor and Laenora found it hilarious, laughing and giggling. Maegor moved to sit with Aemond and planted himself in Aemond's lap. "That was funny, Papa."

"I thought so," Aemond smirked.

"I didn't, Aemond." Aegon glared.

"Exactly, how could you treat the father of my children so poorly?" Visenya asked Aemond.

"What?" Laenora's lip trembled.

Visenya pulled her daughter into a hug and tried to hide her laugh. "It was just a jest, sweet girl. No one else is your father. Uncle Aegon is gross and smelly anyways."

That cheered Laenora up and she nodded. "Yes, he is. Super stinky!" She giggled.

Aegon rolled his eyes. "Why do I spend time with you lot?"

"Because Mama says we like you more that your own Mama and that you crave validation and -"

Aemond covered Maegor's mouth before he could say anymore and Aegon's jaw dropped. "So is this pity attention?"

"Aegon, if I spent time with people out of pity, I certainly would not allow them a place on my council. You are my brother and despite your foolishness, you are entertaining. Probably because of your foolishness."

"What exactly is his role on your council, what does Aegon have to offer?" Aemond asked.

"My cupbearer," Visenya teased.

"Mama, you have to be nice to Uncle Egg, you said he's fragile," Laenora said in a whisper, or maybe Laenora thought it was a whisper because it was loud enough for Aegon to hear.

"Fucking hells, what else do you say about me?"

"Nothing besides the truth," Aemond responded.

A shadow cast over the gardens and they all looked up to see Vhagar and Grey Ghost flying over the city, flying side by side. Despite Grey Ghost's growth over the years, she was still so small compared to the mighty Vhagar.

"They've been awfully active since she nested," Aemond said. 

Just a month prior, Grey Ghost laid a clutch of three eggs. One was green, and the other two were silver. But one of the silver eggs had a pinkish undertone between the scales which meant that the membrane of its wings could be pink, which reminded Visenya of Seasmoke. 

And it was the egg Laenora picked for her sibling, which she was convinced was a girl. Either way, the egg made her think of Seasmoke and Laenor.

"When might I ride Verlys into the sky with Papa and Vhagar?" She asked as they watched the sky.

"Veraxes and Verlys are both still small. They can't even fly that high with Grey Ghost. Maybe we can set them up in the pit for you to mount without flying that high. But you must learn your dragon commands."

"But I can feel her, just as you and Grey Ghost do."

Visenya looked over at Aemond, both with small smiles on their faces. She was a spirited little girl and she begged daily to mount Verlys. 

"Can we name the baby Vhagar?" She asked.

"No, Vhagar is my dragon's name. Would you steal her name?" Aemond asked from his chair with Maegor as Maegor flipped through the pages of another one of Aemond's books. When Aemond read, he liked to sit next to him and pretend to read just like his father. It made Visenya smile - and then ask him to make sure he keeps her knocked up for the next ten years. 

"But a name like Vhagar, then."

"If you can give me a nice name like Vhagar, I will consider it," Visenya spoke.

"Laeny," Aegon whispered and point to the empty spot next to him. "I have a name."

Laenora quickly ran over to his chair and sat next to him, giggling as he whispered in her ear. And then she looked confused by what he said. Visenya and Aemond immediately shared a concerned glance.

Laenora ran back over to Visenya and sat next to her. "Instead of Aenys, Uncle Egg says to spell it like A-e-n-u-s and call him Aenus?" She said, clearly confused.

But Visenya and Aemond were not confused. In fact, Visenya wasn't sure she had seen Aemond laugh so genuinely at something Aegon said. Or maybe it was the way Laenora said it. Either way, Visenya was amused.

"Fucking hells, Aegon," Visenya laughed and kissed Laeny's cheek.

"Oh! What about Vharra? It's like Vhagar!"

Visenya tilted her head and she looked up at Aemond. "I love it, actually. I don't know if there's been a Vharra Targaryen."

"Yay, baby sister!" Laenora smiled.

"Once again, we do not know for sure."

Laenora smirked. "It's a girl."

-

Emergency council meetings did not happen often, so when one was called, Visenya worried this was the dread she had been feeling.

"With Lord Corlys' injuries, there is a large possibility he could succumb to them. I must agree that the succession is a relevant topic," Jasper spoke after Otto read the letter.

"Why? With Lucerys denouncing his position and taking the name Targaryen, Joffrey Velaryon is the heir to the Driftwood throne." Lord Beesbury spoke as if it were obvious. 

Visenya couldn't even hide her snicker.

"If the Princess and older sister to Joffrey can see reason here, so should you," Otto spoke. Since she had been better at pretending to listen to him and let him 'control' her, things had been peachy. 

"As if we could trust her opinion. It is her fault the original named heir of Driftmark has been passed on!"

"Vaemond is pure Velaryon blood. I love my brothers, but Joffrey is merely a boy and has not sailed since he came to my wedding over six years ago. Lord Vaemond was born and raised among the salty waves, that is his home. Joffrey went once as a babe to Lady Laena's funeral, that is not his home," Visenya spoke. 

A young squire entered the room, nervously wringing his hands. "Small council, the dragons Meleys, and Moondancer have landed."

Visenya's posture straightened. She could not care less about Moondancer and Baela but Rhaenys was here.

"Oh, heavens. Do you suppose she has come to petition herself or Baela?" Alicent asked.

It was a good question. Rhaenys has ruled in the absence of her husband with Baela as her ward, so if anyone had a claim, it could be Rhaenys. And Baela was the true daughter of a Velaryon. But Vaemond would protest her.

"Rhaenys is smart, she knows that Vaemond has more of a claim than she," Tyland spoke.

"Baela is her ward, and she is the trueborn daughter of Laena, Lord Corlys' first child. Baela would be a good option, she has been training." Visenya hated defending her half-sister but it was the truth.

"Vaemond will not want someone if their name is not Velaryon. His stance on legacy is nearly stronger than his brother's."

Oh. Oh no.

"Oh, hells."

Aemond grabbed her wrist. "What is it?"

"We have to think like Rhaenyra right now. She is in a mess of a situation, as are Rhaenys and Baela. Baela needs the name Velaryon, Joffrey's claim is being contested. What better way to fix the situation?"

Alicent went pale. "She is going to betroth Baela and Joffrey."

"Isn't the boy only eleven? It is not often heard of to betroth a young boy to a woman practically twice his age." Tyland said.

"Do you think she cares? It's a means to an end that she wants badly. She doesn't truly care about Joff in this situation, so she will use him as a pawn, as she did with me. Just because she loves them doesn't mean she won't use them for her own advantage. We must not be blindsided if she presents this betrothal."

Otto nodded slowly. "Despite the urgent nature of this, there is not much we can do. I suppose this meeting is dismissed, for now at least. I request the Prince and Princess stay behind for a moment."

Visenya and Aemond stayed in their seats, his hand on her bump.

"You claim Rhaenys will support you when the time comes. How do you suppose she will proceed with this?" Alicent asked once the room was cleared.

"I do believe I still have her support. However, Rhaenys is smart; the smart move would be accepting the betrothal. My mother always goes to Viserys for his support and she will go to him when she gets here."

"King Viserys cannot even sit up on his own," Otto rebuffed.

"If Rhaenyra goes to his bedside and explains things from her perspective, you must know he would spin anything in favor of her. His chambers are probably the first stop she's planning."

Otto and Alicent exchanged a look. "We can't stop her from visiting her father."

 "No, but you have to expect this of her! Vaemond may be bringing this petition to us, but at the end of that day, Joffrey shall remain heir to Driftmark." Visenya spoke.

"Visenya," Aemond said softly, squeezing her hand. She was getting worked up over being dismissed and if she didn't step away, she'd lose her composure.

"Fine. I should speak to Rhaenys. I must know where she stands. Aemond, might you stay with the children? I should do this alone."

"Of course," He nodded, kissing her temple.

She found Rhaenys just where she suspected, on the shore of the Blackwater. She watched as Grey Ghost caught fish for herself and her own hatchlings, Verlys and Veraxes. Meleys flew above them but Grey Ghost watched Rhaenys carefully, as if she might step too close. Grey Ghost was a relatively tame dragon in comparison to most, Visenya wondered if she would be violent enough for war.

"Grandmother!" Visenya would have skipped down the steps but a six-month pregnant belly limited her skipping. When she made it down the stairs, Rhaenys strode to her and they embraced in a warm hug.

"You are glowing, sweet darling."

"Thank you, Laenora is thoroughly convinced it is a girl. Has a name and everything," Visenya chuckled.

"Dare I ask? She is quite an imaginative child."

"Vharra. It was going to be Vhagar but Aemond and I squashed that one steadfastly."

Rhaenys smiled and grabbed her hands, giving them a squeeze. "You have become an exemplary mother, Visenya. There is not an ounce of cruelness in Maegor and Laenora is free and peaceful. Hard to believe you were doubting yourself two years ago."

"Indeed, but I fear it will all end soon. Daily dread plagues me. You and I both know war is approaching. The king's condition worsens daily and now she is coming here for this summoning. You know she'll want to betroth Joff and Baela. It's the smartest move for her."

Rhaenys nodded. "I have prepared myself for that proposal. Not that I want it. The boy is eleven and Baela is a woman grown. I fear if war does happen, I will lose her. She is loyal to Daemon and I just can't, not after Laenor. She killed him, I know. And you know it."

"I do. For so long I have thought about the positions on my council. I have so much of my mind made up, but I always come back to who I want to be my hand. Part of me wondered if it should be Aemond but he is not battle-hardened, and he doesn't have the life experiences I need. I trust you, Grandmother, and I trust your judgment. When I am queen, I want you to be my Hand."

Rhaenys' lips curled into a smile and she pulled her into another hug. "For so long I was bitter about my position being passed over. It wasn't fair, I was older than Viserys. But the older I get, the more I wonder if it was for me. It was not. You were born for this, Visenya. You are a leader and the commoners love you. The songs of your generosity have even reached Driftmark. And you are smart, you listen to those around you."

"I have had decent role models." She smiled faintly. Laenor taught her to be kind. Despite the abuse, Daemon showed her how to be cutthroat, but her own experiences taught her when to use it. Rhaenys taught her to be silent and secret. 

"Indeed. But this war will not be easy. Daemon will kill anyone in his way. Could you lose Aemond and keep your sanity enough to be a good queen?"

Ouch.

But it was a valid question. People died during wars, and Aemond would be no exception. And if that happened, Visenya would be inconsolable. If anything happened to him at all, she would lose her mind. But a queen couldn't. 

"I suppose that is something to work on," She mumbled.

"I fear you might not have the time. Everything feels so close to breaking. That dread you feel, I feel it too. When Rhaenyra and Daemon arrive, you must be prepared for anything."

Visenya looked at her grandmother, seeing the pain behind her eyes. No one wanted this. Who would want to see their family rip each other apart and throw away the pieces? "I want you to know that I would not hold it against you if you accepted the betrothal. It is the smartest decision for now."

"Good, because I do not want Vaemond to sit on my husband's throne. He has been far from helpful in the absence of his brother and does not want Baela on the throne. And he is not smart, I know he will call out Rhaenyra at court."

"She deserves it," Visenya said.

"Maybe. But if he says it before the throne, he is asking to be killed. One way or another, he will be punished for the act. I don't like the idea of Joffrey being heir, it doesn't suit him, but it would suit Baela."

"Baela is not loyal to me."

"Let me live foolishly, Granddaughter. I do not wish to think of my granddaughters dying a traitor's death. I wonder if I could make Rhaena see sense."

Aemond approached the beach with Maegor and Laenora, both running to Rhaenys for hugs. Rhaenys happily embraced them with large smiles. 

"Aemond," Visenya frowned with a raised brow. The look on his face was concerning and he would not have interrupted her private conversation with Rhaenys without good reason.

"Your parents have arrived."

things are about to get cray cray