sorry for a lil bit of delay, those last few chapters rly drained me mentally. it was very dark and part of me rly started to regret it and I am not even kidding, I started crying. but here we are

The council had started to wonder if Visenya was fit to be Queen. Tyland Lannister's twin, Jason, Lord of Casterly Rock, had sent in his doubts and declared that women could not be rulers.

So Visenya entered the small council chambers one day after giving birth to prove them wrong. Laenor now had a seat at her council.

"There is a civil war going on in the Riverlands. House Bracken had been loyal to us and they are losing their fight. Lucerys, you shall fly on Arrax and give them aide."

"Father?!" Lucerys stood up, staring at Laenor in bewilderment. Visenya knew she was forgetting something.

"Seven fucking hells, you all grew way too fucking fast!" Laenor laughed as Lucerys ran to him, crushing him in a hug. 

"I am a father now, too! He has white hair, can you believe it?" Luke smiled. 

"Not really," He teased. "All I heard was you married a Baratheon. I cannot believe it. You must be Daeron. Forgive me, you were never around much when I was at King's Landing."

"None taken. My mother would have an entertaining fit if she were here."

"Well, I heard she received the Queen's justice." Laenor sat down.

"The aide to House Bracken should be easy, but since Luke is not experienced with battle and he is young I would like someone to go with him," Visenya said.

"I was but a teenager when I aided our war at the Stepstones. But if you would feel better, I would have no problem helping," Laenor replied. 

"Good. We outnumber the Blacks when it comes to our dragons, we need to use that."

"Not as much as you remember," Rhaenys spoke hesitantly. 

"How so?" Visenya frowned.

"Rhaenyra called for any and all Dragonseeds to claim a riderless dragon, and in return, they would be gifted Knighthood, lands, and riches. So far we have three confirmed new riders."

Visenya's anger flared. Her mother thought she could buy dragon riders. No, dragon-riding is more than that, and she was disgracing their culture to do this. "Who?"

"Hugh Hammer, a blacksmith's bastard, claimed Vermithor. A man known as Ulf the White claimed Silverwing. And a young girl by the name of Nettles claimed Sheepstealer."

Visenya scoffed. "Fantastic. Despite their inexperience, we should still be wary of Vermithor. He is the largest they have. As long as Cannibal remains unclaimed, we can still win this. Grey Ghost has grown as large as Meleys, and Seasmoke looked to have grown in his solidarity. It explains why no one could claim him."

"We have the Tyrell army now, correct?" Aemond asked. 

"Yes," Rhaenys said.

Visenya looked at the map in front of her, red and black dots scattered around Westeros to signal which houses were loyal to which Queen.

"Lord Rosby and Stokeworth, are they still imprisoned here?" Visenya asked.

"Yes."

"If we can convince them to bend the knee for us, then we take their armies and we march to Duskendale. We lack ships, and House Darklyn has a harbor that is loyal to the Blacks. Burn it, capture it, I do not care."

"If we sack Duskendale," Aemond started, "We should send a dragon. It would be an easy win."

"I will do it," Aegon volunteered. "We have the Tyrell army, as well as our own men. We will gain the Rosby and Stokeworth men."

Visenya looked at Rhaenys and gave a shrug. "It is not a bad idea. We need to show the force of our dragons."

"Aegon and our troops leave on the morrow, and I want Father and Luke to leave within the hour."

"Of course," Luke nodded. 

"In the meantime, I must present the new princess to court as soon as possible."

-

Visenya was never much on needlework, not like Helaena was. Helaena had agreed to watch over Vharra with a guard while she was away at any point. Visenya watched from the doorway as Helaena hummed to herself, rocking in the chair beside the crib. She was working on a new project, something with a butterfly on it. 

"How is she?" Visenya asked. 

"She has slept so well. Neither the twins nor Maelor ever slept so well."

"The twins had such strong lungs," Visenya remembered with a sad smile. 

"Her last few weeks in your womb were filled with such despair, it is only fair she would naturally choose peace and comfort. You seem to be moving around a lot for someone one-day post-birth."

"That's for sure. I am so sore. How have you been, sweet sister?" Visenya asked, sitting in the chair next to her and leaning back. She always appreciated the nursery and how dark the walls were so that it felt calm and dark for comfort.

"I feel ... loved. Aegon has become a better husband and father. He has taken the time to connect with the children, and with me. He makes love to me now."

Had Visenya been drinking or eating, she would have choked. "What changed?"

"Blood and Cheese."

Visenya looked away from Helaena and at the fire. "I am sending Aegon with the troops tomorrow. It should not be a difficult task, he should be home within a week, as he is staying with the troops until Duskendale is taken, and then he shall fly home. It was by my command," She lied. She would take the blame for taking away someone Helaena was finally growing comfortable with.

"He volunteered, didn't he?"

Visenya chuckled. "You know much and more, sweet sister."

"Bronze and gold do not mix," She whispered. 

Visenya looked back at her with a frown. "I wish I could see what you see."

"You do not," Helaena shook her head. Had she seen the death of Laeny? What a curse it must be, Visenya thought, to see things that shall pain people and not be able to express it.

Helaena stood up and straightened her skirts. "Would you like me to send Maegor in?"

Visenya let out a shaky breath and she nodded. "I would like that very much."

Helaena nodded and left the room, leaving the door open. Moments later, Maegor slowly came into the frame, head hung low. 

Visenya had to remind herself she wasn't seeing Laeny, it was Maegor.

"Sweet boy, come here," Visenya smiled softly and held her arms out. Maegor ran to her arms, launching himself into her arms. She rocked him in the chair as he cried, her hand smoothing out his hair. It had not been trimmed in a few weeks so it was starting to get unruly.

"I am so sorry, baby," She whispered. "I should have been with you every day. I should have been by your side to comfort you."

"It's okay, Mama," He sniffled. "I understand. Papa told me that it is different for you."

"You smart boy," She sighed, kissing his cheek. "You Papa also told me you blame yourself. Is that true?"

Maegor wiped his cheeks as he kept crying. "It was supposed to be me, Mama. They said it was supposed to be your heir, and I am your heir. It could have been me and you wouldn't be so sad."

"Oh, Maegor, do you truly believe that?" She asked with trembling lips. "Had it been you, the roles would just be reversed. I would have been just as distraught. You were both my babies, my favorite little dragons. You are my heir Maegor, you mean everything to me. And you were there. I should have never let you face that alone. I am ..." She choked up. 

"You don't have to be sorry, Mama. They were waiting for you. There was nothing you could do."

She pulled him back into a hug and she let herself cry with him, holding on so tight, afraid he would slip away too. 

"Would you like to meet Vharra?"

Maegor pulled away with wide eyes. "Laeny was right?"

Visenya nodded. "Laeny was right. So we picked Laeny's favorite name."

"Technically, Laeny wanted to name her Vhagar," Maegor smiled. Gosh, how she missed that smile. 

"Well, let's not be too greedy," She smiled and kissed his forehead. She scoot their chair closer to the crib and let Maegor peak down at her. 

Vharra opened her eyes at the commotion and let out a yawn. "Wow!" Maegor gasped. "Her eyes are two colors!"

"They are. Your great-grandmother Alyssa had the same eyes. She is special."

"Special. Laeny sent her then because she was special. She had to pass her special on to someone else."

Visenya smiled as she watched them, placing another kiss on his head. She would never get enough kisses or hugs, she would never have her fill of affection. 

"The throne room is gathering with the close lords and ladies, would you like to present your sister?"

Maegor looked up at her with wide eyes. "Can I?"

"Absolutely, Son. Do you know how to carry her?" She asked.

Maegor was a natural as he carried his baby sister in his arms, laughing and smiling at the baby. Visenya's heart clenched and she had to take a moment to press down her anxiety attack, unshed tears burning her eyes. 

Aemond and Rhaenys were waiting for them by the throne as Visenya and Maegor entered, multiple pairs of hands clapping and cheering for their new princess, and the return of their queen. 

Aemond's gaze lingered on Maegor with Vharra, and Visenya noticed the pace of his breathing increase. Visenya sat on the throne, watching her son with melancholy. Maegor was holding her close, tensing any time someone tried to touch his baby sister. 

"Silence!" Ser Arryk proclaimed.

"Thank you," Visenya spoke once the room was quiet. "Almost three weeks ago, Rhaenyra the Cruel sent assassins to brutally murder my daughter. This will not stand, I shall not allow it. Today, I have sent three dragon riders to help aid in the beginning of this war. The woman I once called mother shall know what Fire and Blood truly means, and I will not stand down. I wanted peace, that much is true, but I will not settle for anything less than their heads on spikes. Because another crime has come to light."

Laenor entered the room and whispers filled the air.

"My mother forced her first husband into exile, falsely marrying again under the guise of being a widow. Which makes all of her sons with Daemon Targaryen bastards. Unlike her, I refuse to kill my little brothers. And if they ask for legitimization, I would consider it. But it stands now that Rhaenyra Targaryen is a traitor and kinslayer."

"But amidst all this tragedy that has befallen my family, a new princess has been born." Visenya looked down at Maegor as he held his baby sister, looking up at his mother. 

"So my heir presents to you all Princess Vharra Targaryen, First of Her Name, Princess of the Realm."

-

Laenor and Lucerys returned two days later, both victorious. House Bracken was about to lose to the Blackwoods when Arrax and Seasmoke arrived, turning the tides of the battle. Thus was their first victory at the Battle of the Burning Mill.

Visenya was on the shore with Grey Ghost and Vharra when Laenor returned, but he was met by an exhausted Aemond in the study on his quest to find his daughter.

"Oh - I was looking for Visenya," Laenor said, noticing that Maegor was tucked to his side, sound asleep. 

"It's fine. She's out on the Blackwater with her dragon."

Laenor nodded, looking at the boy.

"Would you like to meet your grandson?" Aemond asked. 

Laenor shook his head. "I do not want to wake him."

Aemond let out a scoff. "This boy gets more sleep than any of us."

"You look like you get none."

"Not much. Hard to sleep when you see ... horrors when you close your eyes."

Laenor nodded, crossing his arms. "I fear I misjudged you."

"Many do, but I fear I have earned it."

"If we were all judged based off what we said as children, all of us would go to the hells," Laenor laughed. "But you took care of her, you loved her when no one else did. Leaving her was the hardest thing."

"At least your little girl lives. So please, for the love of all the gods, do not waste it. Please. You get another chance."

Laenor saw the despair in his eye and nodded. "I don't plan on leaving ever again. Although, you have both built quite the life. I never thought I would see the mighty Aemond Targaryen curled up on a sofa with a child."

"Don't tell anyone, please," Aemond sighed.

"Wouldn't dream of it. But he does look peaceful. I wish I could have met her."

"You would have loved her. Everyone did. She was everything good, and she was always smiling. She should have been the Realm's Delight. So finding peace as of late has been near impossible. I take these moments when I can."

"Well, do not let me disturb you then." Laenor smiled once more at the sleeping Maegor and made his way to the shore, taking a step back at the sight of Grey Ghost. "Seven hells, he has become a large dragon."

Visenya looked over at Laenor, giving him a smile. "You made it home."

"We both did. Luke is riding the high of being a hero," Laenor chuckled and took a seat next to her.

"He deserves it," She hummed.

Laenor watched Grey Ghost with hesitance. Grey Ghost's scales were starting to darken and many of his horns were larger, making him look more of a threat.

"I still can't believe you claimed a wild dragon."

"I didn't," She said softly. "He found me. I spent years alone on Dragonstone, and I knew I was doomed to an awful marriage and I didn't have you. So I was ready to die. It was a cloudy day, the fog was thick on the shore, and all of a sudden, he landed and approached me. The second I touched him, our souls were bound as one. We can feel each other's emotions, and thoughts, and it is like we are one mind."

"I am happy to see you with what you always wanted. I was always afraid I was going to find you killed by the Cannibal."

"I am scarcely that same girl, and I was a fool to think a dragon was all I wanted."

"I do admit you are a different woman."

"I had to kill the girl to become a woman," She said. "I was weak and afraid, Aemond helped me figure out who I am without making me be who he wanted me to be like everyone else. I didn't have to conform to what he wanted because he already saw it, and he loved me for it. He loved me before I ever loved him."

"And then you became a mother."

"I would have sooner had I not lost Elaena. Mother and Alicent forced us to consummate when we were going to fake it. They stood there, forcing us to rape each other. But I was fifteen, my cycles were uneven and I had no business carrying a child. Aemond asked for moon tea, but Talya overheard and switched it out. So I was forced to carry that baby until it died. But after some time of healing and falling in love, I wanted his children. I wanted to be a mother. He became my whole world because when you left, you left me broken and empty."

"I am so sorry, Visenya. I wanted to take you. I never wanted to leave, I fought them so hard."

"Why didn't write or send a clue? Do you realize what your death did to me?" She snapped. "I don't even have a right to be mad because it's not your fault and it made me who I am."

"You have every right to feel what you do. But if I had sent you a raven, can you honestly tell me you wouldn't have created a storm and caused a premature war?"

She looked down at Vharra, stroking her thumb over her little cheek. She was so perfect in every way, and Visenya felt like an awful mother for wishing death on them both. Vharra was her daughter and just like all her children, she loved fiercely. She was a product of her and Aemond, she was the best of them both. 

"She looks just like you when you were a babe. Is that what Laeny looked like?"

"Her and Maegor both. Besides a few differences, she and Maegor were identical. But Laeny had more of Aemond's features. She was always destined to be his favorite."

"You were always my favorite," Laenor said, nudging her shoulder. 

"You were too," She said with a small grin. "But between the twins, I couldn't say I had a favorite. They were both everything to me, my sweet little dragons. Maegor is so kind and polite. While Laeny always picked Aemond, Maegor picked me. He is such a Mama's boy, but he does not act spoiled. But he loves to sit with Aemond while he reads, he pretends to read in Valyrian so he can look like his father," She said with a chuckle. 

"I saw them on my way here, Maegor was asleep by his side."

"Aemond was there for him while I was not. He will be a good warrior one day, Aemond is training him well already. And he has a good bond with Veraxes, his dragon. He is so smart. I love him tremendously, more than I ever thought I would love a child."

"It is a strange feeling. I wasn't even your biological father but when I held you, everything changed. You were crying and screaming on your mother's chest but when I held you, you started to smile. Probably part of the reason that your mother felt disconnected from you. I could tell she was hurting, she looked sad when she looked at you. Daemon had run away with Laena and left her alone."

"I can't help but think how easier everything would have been had Grandsire allowed her to marry Daemon."

"It would have been much easier on all of us." Visenya leaned into his side and he wrapped his arm around her. "But no matter what happens now, we are together. And I will help you avenge Laenora."

When a week passed, Visenya received a raven from Aegon saying that they successfully sacked Duskendale and burned their fleet loyal to Rhaenyra.

But after another week, Aegon still had not returned home. He sent a raven instead.

"They are marching for Rook's Rest," Rhaenys said, handing her the scroll. "They plan to set a trap for Lord Staunton. Aegon is staying hidden so that when they send a raven to Rhaenyra for help, he will not mention there is a dragon waiting because he does not know."

"That asshole!" She groaned and rubbed her temple. "If they send a dragonrider anyways, he shouldn't be alone."

"Who would you have us send?" Aemond asked.

"Me! I will go aid him."

"Absolutely not," Aemond shook his head. "You are still recovering from childbirth and you are the queen. If an arrow takes you out, we are out of a ruler."

"If they send Vermithor or Silverwing, Sunfyre doesn't stand a chance!" Visenya shouted. 

"Aegon will be fine, the Tyrell army has acquired a scorpion. If Vermithor appears, the army can take them out."

She let out a sigh. She would have to lie. Aemond would never let her leave. So she would have to lie and sneak away. She was willing to fight alongside her armies, she had to. 

So when the sun set and she saw the rise and fall of his start to even out, she used one of the secret passageways to exit their chambers. 

She mounted Grey Ghost, setting off for Rook's Rest.