due to my long break I took between chapters, my views and comments tanked pretty bad. So if you enjoy this, I cherish all comments and reads. And if you know someone that would enjoy it, feel free to share it! Loe y'all. 


When Grey Ghost and Vhagar flew over King's Landing, the people cheered. When a naked and bloodied Dalton Grejoy was dragged through the streets to the castle, they yelled curses at him and threw food and rocks.

"What exactly are we doing with the prisoner?" Lord Lannister asked during the first Small Council meeting after their return.

"I've spent days trying to think about that," Visenya admitted, letting out a yawn as she sat back in her chair. "I've thought about slicing his eye from his head for making an eye jest towards the king, but Dalton thrives off his pride. A real punishment would be humiliation. So we shall strip him naked and tie him up outside the castle gates for everyone to look at while he slowly dies."

"A crucifixion? They will call you cruel." Maester Munkun frowned.

"At this point," Rhaenys started, "The Red Kraken has attempted to rape the Queen and went so far as to threaten her. He has also destroyed the entire Lannister fleet. So what do you think, Lord Tyland? You have some personal stake, considering that Lannisport was your home."

"He raped the women of my home and destroyed it. I don't think any punishment shall be grave enough. Greyjoy is a curse. He kills and rapes with no remorse, he will never change his ways. Therefore I stand by our Queen's decision."

Lord Gwayne Hightower had joined the council right after Visenya departed for Lannisport, something she had agreed to so that peace could be kept with the Hightowers. They still followed her after the death of Alicent and Otto, though Visenya knew it was only because their hatred for Rhaenyra was stronger and because they wanted Hightower blood on the throne, something they would get when it was Maegor's time to take the crown.

Since Lucerys had helped as interim Master of Laws after Jasper Wylde's removal, they were in need of more council members. So she added Gwayne in good faith and in appreciation of their loyalty, even if it was forced.

But at this moment, Gwayne seemed green in the face at the idea of the punishment being discussed.

"Problem, Uncle?" Aemond asked.

"It just seems extreme."

"Hm," Aemond nodded. "Need I remind you what they did to my daughter...your niece, your blood?"

Gwayne looked down at his hands. "I just don't wish for our Queen to be viewed as cruel for enacting retribution."

"She is enacting justice! She is punishing someone who deliberately committed treason. That is different than murdering an innocent child. That is why the Black Queen is called Rhaenyra the Cruel. She hurt an innocent. Dalton Greyjoy is far from innocent. Plus, a public display would be good for the commoners who wish justice for their lost Princess. Laenora was loved."

Aemond tensed, staring at the table with his fists clenched. Welcome to the pain that everyone else who's ever existed has to deal with, and move the fuck on. They were words meant to cause a rise out of him, and yet they stuck with him all the same.

Having Vharra makes it better, but also makes it worse. When he's holding her, sometimes he can picture Laeny. When Vharra giggles and smiles, she gets the same dimples that her older sister had.

"Visenya," Aemond suddenly spoke, interrupting her side conversation with Rhaenys.

Visenya saw the graveness of his expression and knew that whatever he was about to say or ask was not going to be something she liked. "What, Aemond?"

"I love you, and I cherish you, but I think we should reconsider the idea of me leading an army to Harrenhal."

Visenya's expression fell and she struggled to keep her composure. "What?"

Aemond didn't like it, he hated the idea. "Daemon is truly our greatest threat at the moment, besides the North. Harrenhal is a large castle and this war needs to end at some point. It's time, Visenya."

She shook her head and kept herself from crying. The council didn't need to see that. She wanted to act rash and emotional, but her conversation with Lucerys prior to his departure stuck in her head. Why have such a skilled swordsman trapped in a castle just because she was scared? Aemond wanted to fight for his queen, he wanted to defend her honor. When Aegon the Conqueror was King, he allowed Visenya and Rhaenys to fly off on their own missions.

But Visenya always came home, and it only took one bad trip for Rhaenys to never return. And if Aemond does not return, she may as well give the crown to someone else because his death would destroy her.

But forcing him to stay would kill his spirit. Aemond was a fighter, a warrior, and a good one at that. So her own answer shocked her.

She stared at the table, spinning the rings on her fingers as she spoke.

"I will allow my husband to lead an army to Harrenhal."

-

Aemond was getting worried about how silent Visenya had become. She did not speak much for the rest of the meeting, and then she returned to their chambers, sitting in the chaise and staring at the fire. She was bouncing Vharra on her knee, but she was void beyond that.

"Can we talk about about this?" He sighed, sitting next to her. His hair was loose and he placed his elbows on his knees, both spread open.

"There is nothing to talk about, Aemond."

"Like hell there is not, Visenya! This isn't a death sentence. Brella will keep you company."

"She is a month overdue on her babe, she is miserable. And I will be miserable without you Aemond. Daeron is going to miss the birth, and Lucerys missed the birth and death of his child. Helaena is one month ahead of me, and she will have her babe without the father. What if you miss Aemma's birth? What if something happens to her? What if something happens to you?!"

He leaned closer and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, letting her lean into him. "I will do everything in my power to be back. You have three months left of this pregnancy. The trip there and back should take that long, so I swear to be back for her birth. You have the Queensguard here to protect you and the children."

Visenya melted into him and Vharra leaned against Visenya's belly, letting out a yawn and reaching her hands towards Aemond. Aemond used his free arm to cradle her, kissing her forehead. "You and Maegor have to keep Mama company."

"Did you say my name?" Maegor giggled behind them.

"Fucking hells," Visenya spooked.

"Visenya, there are children in the room," Aemond grinned. "Come sit, son."

Maegor joined them on the couch, sitting between Aemond and Visenya. "You are going to fight the bad guys?"

"Yes," Aemond nodded. "It should only take three moons. I need you to stay with Mama and do as she says. And make sure you always have a guard with you."

"Yes, Father," He nodded.

Aemond's brow rose. "It's 'Father' now?"

"I am about six, I am almost a man now. 'Papa' is for kids."

Visenya wanted to laugh at the way Maegor's tone turned serious like he was trying to act grown, but then she saw the heartbreak in Aemond's violet eye.

"Maegor, you will be a child in the court's eyes until you are married. But you will always be our little boy. So I think your Papa would like to be called that I bit longer."

Maegor nodded. "Sorry, Papa. I still love you."

Aemond kissed the top of his head with a nod. His heart was hurting, bleeding internally just to be called 'Papa' by Laeny once more. And the way he heard her scream it when she was in danger. He wondered if he would ever recover.

"Aem," Vis whispered, bringing him out of his thoughts. "Let's just stay here for the night, okay? You don't have to leave until morning."

She rested her head on his shoulder, and his head rested on hers. Why did he clam up when Maegor expressed his love? Was he so damaged that he was afraid to say it back? He was a better father than his own, he'd said it before. He loved Maegor, his son and heir, he loved him truly. Sometimes he wondered if he showed it enough, or if he truly was as bad as his father. He spent time with him, even if it was silently in the background or just reading to him. And he trained him.

When morning came, he left without disturbing his sleeping family. His self-doubt and repressed depression were starting to bother him, and he didn't want to disrupt their peace. If Visenya looked at him just the right way, he wouldn't be strong enough to leave. So he would do the only thing he was good at for his family, and he would go fight.

Visenya wasn't surprised when she woke alone, but she was still upset. She wanted the chance to kiss him goodbye and see him off. Even Maegor was mad that he didn't get to say goodbye.

Two days after Aemond left, Brella delivered a healthy - and overdue - baby girl. Visenya was over the moon with happiness for her best friend and sister.

"Does she have a name yet?" Visenya asked, holding her niece.

"Daeron told me I could pick it, he just asked if I would consider a Valyrian name. Naturally, I agreed. It is an honor to add another Valyrian. But ... I wanted to honor you. You have been everything to me, Visenya. You gave me a chance, you were kind, and you trusted me. You mean so much to me, and I feel like since I married Daeron, we might have fallen through."

Visenya sat next to Brella's bed, shifted the girl to one arm, and used her free hand to grab Brella's. "I am so sorry you thought that. My anger was temporary, and I regret it. I could make a million excuses, but none of them would matter. I should have supported a marriage of love, I felt like such a hypocrite after years of vocally hating arranged and forced marriages. You and Daeron are good for each other and that is all that matters. And you gave me this absolutely precious gem for a niece."

"Then you should know her name, Vaera Targaryen."

Visenya smiled and squeezed her hand with a large smile. "It's a beautiful name for a beautiful girl."

"I thought about Visaera but we don't need a second Vis running around. So just a 'V' is fine for honoring my favorite person."

For being overdue, Vaera had the most adorable baby chunk. All of Visenya's children had been relatively small, but they had all been early.

It made her think of Helaena and how she must be feeling. She knew that as she reached the eighth month of her own, Helaena must be almost due. She wished she could be there and to see Aegon's new child. She owed him that much. Truth be told, she owed the world to him.

Visenya was obsessed with her niece as she neared the end of her own pregnancy. At eight months, she was tired of being on her feet all the time and stopped going into the city.

And unfortunately, she was growing paranoid.

She was beginning to realize how much protection she'd lost. Luke and Arrax, Daeron and Tessarion, Aemond and Vhagar, Helaena and Dreamfyre, and even Laenor and Seasmoke were in Driftmark temporarily. Rhaenys was still there, but Meleys was chained in the dragonpit.

Her false labor pains started at her eight-month mark and she began to fear she would have this baby early as well, and without Aemond. She needed him by her side, and she wouldn't allow a delivery until Aemond returned.

Visenya walked around her room in one of her cream chemises as Brella held Vaera, reading off a note from Daeron. She was panicking after the news of another battle in Tumbleton and he was injured. She knew of the ongoing troubles, but Daeron reassured them every time he sent a raven, and frankly, Visenya couldn't lose any more dragons here in the capital,

"Tessarion was killed, but so was Nettles." Brella sighed in relief.

"What of Sheepstealer?" Visenya asked.

"He didn't say, so I assume he killed Nettles and the dragon escaped."

"That means Addam and Sunfyre are still at large," She mumbled. "If Sheepstealer is riderless, he will retreat back to the life he had until he is claimed again. But we lost Tessarion. Why aren't Daemon or Rhaenyra fighting? Daemon has experience and a violent dragon. Something isn't making sense!"

"Visenya," Brella spoke.

"No, I am not paranoid for the hundredth time."

"No, Visenya, look down."

Visenya paused her steps and looked down, her stomach sinking as she saw the puddle and the wet marks on her chemise. "Fuck."

"We need to get you to the birthing chambers."

"No! I am not having this babe without Aemond!"

"We haven't even heard if he's made it to Harrenhal, he is not going to be here! You need to be realistic! Rhaenys and I will be here."

"I want my father," She whimpered, feeling a contraction hit. Brella looked over her shoulder and smiled in relief.

"You called?" Laenor said behind her.

She turned with a gasp. "Father!"

"Mother wrote days ago that you were getting closer. I wanted to be here for you."

She wrapped her arms around Laenor and sobbed into his shoulder. "He won't be here, Father. I can't do this without him."

"You can, Sweet Girl. I will be here, okay? I will not leave your side. I will be here every moment until he returns, I will help with everything."

She nodded, wincing at the pain.

Twelve hours later, Aemma Targaryen was born with silver hair and two violet eyes. She looked just like her older sisters had as newborns, and she was a quiet baby. She was perfect.

Laenor held her as she rested, his heart full of joy to be able to witness the birth of two of his grandchildren. He had missed Laenora and Maegor, but Vharra and Aemma were now more than enough. He was fond of them, and he was fond of being a grandfather. It was no secret how close he and Visenya were before his disappearance, and he would spend forever trying to make up for it. But his grandchildren by her, they held a special place in his heart.

Visenya was two days postpartum when she woke up frightened. She'd had an awful dream, but she couldn't remember what it was. Her paranoia felt heightened, and her heart was pounding in her chest.

That's when the rumbling started.

That's when Caraxes and Syrax descended on King's Landing.