with deep emotions, I am confirming this is the final chapter before the epilogue. 

Aemond squeezed her hand. "Do we need to go over it again?" 

Visenya shook her head. "No," She whispered, sucking in a deep breath as she looked around at all the lords in the banquet hall.

"The Lords shall be arriving for the one-year banquet where we are supposed to be having better success than our last one."

"Considering the last banquet was after Rhaenyra's exile, I would say we have improved significantly, Uncle," Aemond rolled his eye, scoffing at Gwayne. "Do you ever look at the positives?"

"Lord Hightower, no one can move mountains in a year," Cregan responded. 

Visenya rubbed her temples, closing her eyes. "Gwayne, I have moved you from role to role, trying to make your place on this council seamless all because you are my husband's kin. I am running out of patience. This has been a mercy, Gwayne. You were the son of a second son. Your cousin is Lord of Oldtown, what else could you be doing now? What would you have me do, Gwayne?"

"Making alliances! You have two unbetrothed daughters, multiple nieces, and nephews, and not one betrothal has been made to solidify our relationship with any of the houses of Westeros. You have let emotions keep you from making arrangements that might prevent uprisings. All because you are scared of losing another -"

Aemond slammed his fist on the table and stood. "You best watch your tongue, Uncle."

Visenya held her hand up to halt the heated argument. It pained her to admit how much of a point Gwayne was making. Strong alliances between houses could always be traced back to betrothals. But the idea of sending her children somewhere else just to be married, especially if she were to send one of her daughters north. 

"When all of our children grow, they will know they must court. Each child will go on a tour to meet young lords and ladies and their children."

"Vharra is only two, and she is your eldest. That would be over a decade before any marriage could take place. That is a long time for a rebellion to form. No one wants another war, Your Grace."

"No one wants you to just ship off your children," Rhaenys said. "But some lords are still cross about having a woman on the throne."

Visenya kissed the back of Aemond's hand, giving him a small smile. "This is the role, no?"

He hesitated to nod. "This doesn't make you a bad mother, Visenya."

"Maybe," She mumbled and stood up, tapping her glass to get everyone's attention. 

"Silence for the Queen of Westeros!"

"Thank you," Visenya smiled. "I called you all here to celebrate the first year of my reign. My generosity has been known to extend to the smallfolk, I would like to extend it to my Lords and Ladies from time to time. So feast and dine, this is to celebrate the peace we have all prospered from this past year."

Applause broke out across the hall. 

"But we must also be honest with ourselves, a queen on the Iron Throne is new and unprecedented. Whether you admit it or not, I know some of you may disagree with that. I also know that some might still wish for the reign of my mother. The North was once considered the strongest and largest alley of Rhaenyra Targaryen, so as a sign of good faith and a strong relationship between the North and the Crown, I have agreed to betroth my daughter, Vharra Targaryen, to Rickon Stark, heir of Winterfell."

Visenya remained stoic as she listened to the applause, trying not to claw her eyes out. Sweet Vharra, the daughter she clung on to. And here she was, selling her like a broodmare. 

"My Queen," Lord Cregan said, extending a hand. "If Vharra comes to Winterfell when she is ready and does not like Rickon or wishes to leave, I will allow it."

Visenya's eyes widened and she nodded. "Thank you, Lord Cregan. For everything, truly. This year would have been much more difficult without your counsel. I know that if your son is as honorable as you, she will be in good hands."

"Thank you. If I did not have to look over my people, I would accept your long-term position. But I have been away for a year now."

"I know," She nodded. They had this conversation multiple times already. Even Aemond had grown jealous of how often Visenya asked him to stay. But she found solace with him. Not romantically, never romantically. But Cregan was practical and was good at this. He was patient with her and explained everything in depth without belittling her for being a woman. Had she asked any other lord for help, they would have explained why women shouldn't be in power.

But Cregan helped her learn how to feel confident with her power and how to balance it. 

Which was a nice distraction from a strained marriage. 

Aemond and Visenya were still hopelessly in love, yet neither knew how to navigate going back to normal without Laenora and Visenya being busy with her duties. Before the war and chaos, they had their twins. Now, there was not a war and she didn't know how to function without all the chaos. 

Before, war kept her busy. It distracted her and she did not have a lot of free time. Now, she had too much time on her hands.

And when it was quiet, the demons were the loudest. 

After the feast, Visenya and Aemond lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. 

"Do you love him?" He asked. 

"No." She answered. 

"Do you still love me?"

"Yes."

They lay in silence, neither of them saying anything else. Visenya didn't know how to manage this. Even when Laeny died, their marriage didn't feel this strained. Distant, but not strained. 

When Aemond saw Visenya's breath even out and knew she was asleep, he got out of bed and made his way to the family study, stepping out onto the balcony. 

"Fuck," He hissed when he saw Daeron sitting on the bench.

"Didn't mean to spook you, Brother." He held up a bottle of ale.

Aemond gladly took it and sat down. He stared out at the stars, each one reminding him of Visenya. 

"You seem stressed," Daeron said. 

"Back when I married Visenya and my love was one-sided, my only solace was out here on this balcony. I would stare at the same stars every night, thinking about how dull they were compared to her. Every time I saw her, I would get this strange feeling in my chest. Gods, I wanted to hate her."

"Why?" Daeron scoffed. 

"Because she took my eye and Father did nothing. My hatred wasn't even with her, it was Father. She was just a vessel of his injustice. It took much time for me to realize where my anger truly lay. But she was so insufferable to me. I was always crying and complaining. I took such pride in our lineage, the blood of the dragon was everything to me. And there she was, pure-blooded, and acting no different than any other maiden."

"To be fair, you used to be an ass," Daeron grinned. 

"I do not have an excuse for that," Aemond mumbled, drinking more from the goblet. "I should have bonded with her, we were both outsiders. But Aegon and her brothers had all placed themselves above me, she was the only one beneath me and I wanted to have some control, and she was the only one I could assert myself over."

"Because pained people will pain other people."

Aemond nodded. "And here I am, unsure of why I am telling you all of this."

Daeron was silent, staring at the bottle. "I know, Aemond. I know that sometimes you struggle to look at me. I know that sometimes when you look at me, you are trying to see him. And then you get this disappointed look because I am not him."

Aemond clenched his jaw, about to go on the defense for such an atrocious characterization. 

And yet, Daeron was right. 

Aemond tried so hard to seek the relationship he had with Aegon when he was with Daeron, but it never worked. Aemond never finality with his brother, he left to support their troops and use Sunfyre to scare locals, and then weeks later Visenya dragged his body off Grey Ghost, spine broken. His body was badly bruised from Sunfyre landing on him, and blood was dried on his face. 

His big brother, the one he finally mended a relationship with in his adult life. He had Visenya to thank, she was the only one who saw the goodness in Aegon and helped Aemond see it too. 

And now he was gone, trying to make Daeron into something he wasn't. Daeron was too much like himself, and he was nowhere near as humorous as Aegon. 

"I apologize," Aemond mumbled. 

"You don't have to, I get it. You, Aegon, and Hel all got to live as siblings and bond, I was the outsider. By the time I returned for good, you all had your bond. I am glad you got that, I wish I had, but sometimes I feel you are angry with me for not being him. There are loads to be mad at me for, but that is not one of them."

"Once I figure out how to repair the relationship with my wife, I will work on ours. Speaking of, why are you out here?"

"Brella snores," Daeron mumbled. 

"And?" Aemond asked, clearly knowing his brother well enough to know he was lying. 

"Sometimes I think about Mother. I know she did awful things, but she never wronged me the way she wronged you and Aegon so I struggle with missing her."

"She sent you away and isolated you from our family, but you are smart enough to know that. You just missed any form of maternal connection. But she was not like that, Daeron. She was not maternal. She was cold and calculated. She only cared when we were embarrassing her."

"What about when Visenya took your eye? I heard she made a big deal then."

"That was because she had a chance to go after Rhaenyra. That was all she cared about. I do not wish to speak of her," Aemond said, standing and handing the ale back to Daeron.

"You never do," He scoffed. 

"Because she hurt me and my family, Daeron! She hurt Aegon and Helaena. So when I think about her, I think about the awful things she did. So if you wish to reminisce about our mother, do it with someone else."

-

"I think you can manage one day, Visenya."

"Aemond," She groaned. "I have so much shit to do."

"Too bad," He smirked and kissed her forehead. "Get on Grey Ghost and follow me."

Visenya kept a small distance as they rode their dragons. She wouldn't lie, she missed the feeling of riding. So much had occupied her attention that her bond with Grey Ghost had been neglected. She was struggling to find a balance with all her tasks when she clearly forgot the most important one: taking care of herself. 

Grey Ghost wasn't too hard on her, he was very calm as she rode him, and the connection was calm. 

They landed on the shore of Dragonstone, the far side of the island where the shore was empty. 

The same shore she claimed Dragonstone.

"Wow," She whispered, jumping off her dragon. She traced her hand in the sand, memories filling her head. She hadn't been back since she left to court Aemond. She had been through so much on this island: grief, despair, relief, and the lifelong bond with a dragon. 

"Why are we here?" She asked. 

"You needed to get away from that bloody castle," Aemond grunted, finishing his trek down Vhagar's back. "And this side of the island is usually quiet. At least until we get it claimed."

Dragonstone remained unoccupied for the time being. Driftmark was an easy decision, it went to Vaemond's eldest son, Daemion. Neither Laenor nor Lucerys wanted the title, and it helped with gaining the favor of Driftmark and Vaemond's children after their father was publicly beheaded. 

Talks of Dragonstone had been a bit more complicated. All of her Targaryen family wanted to stay at the castle for the time being, seeing as they were on her council. And none of her children were able to occupy it, and she would not see anyone take that castle unless they were Targaryen. That was her family's ancestral throne, she would not see it get disrespected by non-Valyrian blood. 

Visenya sat down, removing her sandals to feel her feet sink below the sand. Aemond took his place next to her, watching the waves roll in. 

They sat in silence as they stared at the water, both their minds racing through different memories. It was the first time she could sit in silence without guards or children running around. Aemma was old enough to walk and nothing had been the same. She was a little runner, always trying to escape. 

"Do you remember when I lost Elaena?" She suddenly asked. 

"I do," Aemond frowned. "I remember so much blood. Your face was so pale and you passed out. We never thought you'd make it through the night."

"I don't remember much, to be honest. I don't remember seeing her. I had lost so much blood, nothing was clear. But I remember one thing: I asked the gods to kill me. The Fourteen Flames, the Seven, the old or new. I didn't care who existed, I just wanted to die. Sometimes I wonder how that would have played out. You would be married off to another woman, Aegon would have been forced to be king, and the Dance would have been so different."

"We would have lost," Aemond said. "Aegon didn't make allies. The allies he would have acquired would only be because they did not want to see a woman be queen."

She nodded in agreement, her mind still racing. Despite being away from the court, her mind never rested. All she could do was worry, and they all bled together. If she was worried about one thing, it reminded her about other things, and the cycle was endless. 

Aemond reached his hand over to gently grab his braid and let out a huff. "Is it me or has Brella's braids been lousy for a while?"

She slowly turned her head and glared. "I have been doing my braids since she had Vaera."

"Then I think it looks fantastic."

She rolled her eyes and looked back at the water. "Be careful or I might just cut it all off again."

Aemond let out a laugh. "Please, you hated it more than anyone did."

"I did," Visenya nodded with a smile. "If only I had known you were about to marry me again. I felt so embarrassed."

"Feels like a lifetime ago. That Valyrian wedding, your hair, Elaena, it feels like a different life."

"Different versions of ourselves, almost. We were different. I think about how we've become so complacent with one another. Gods, we bickered and argued about everything."

"And the sex was all the more better. Nothing like frustration fucking." Aemond said with a sad look. She should have been bothered by the fact that he admitted how shit their marriage had become. Neither of them had much of a sex drive, it wasn't even a concern. She wasn't worried about having another child until she was more settled in her reign. 

"I miss how some of it used to be. Like Brella, for example. Before she fell for Daeron, it was just us. She was always braiding my hair, helping with outfits, and caring for me. Now I have a shit replacement that doesn't pick nearly as good outfits. I miss the friendship we once had. She was a different person before Daeron and the council."

"You also used to be a bit of a ghost, Visenya. A pale and scared girl. Some changes are for the better."

"I was so fueled by anger and vengeance."

"The Vengeful Ghost."

She turned to look at him with a small grin. "Has a nice ring to it, I must admit. How long have you been sitting on that one?"

"Too long," He smiled. 

"It was good sex," She mumbled in agreeance. 

"I don't want you to take what I said the wrong way. Our sex has always been good. That phase, that first year of our love and marriage, there was so much passion. We didn't have any children and it was just us and our love for one another. But I love our life now. I love our children, and I love our life. Because our life now means our biggest threat is gone. That is no small feat."

She reached for his hand giving it a squeeze. She laid back in the sand, staring at the overcast sky. "I don't know what to do."

"I know, ñuha jorrāelagon. And that is okay. But you have a choice. You can let this define your soul until you die, or maybe try and enjoy this life we were left with. We both knew in the back of our minds that taking the throne would have a cost."

"Then how did you make peace with it, Aemond? Because that means it is my fault she is gone. Because I valued the throne enough to take all those lives? Aegon and Laenora?The brief has subsided, now I am left with all this guilt!"

"Because I know what the alternative was, Visenya. Hypothetically, if we hadn't plotted, Otto still would have. Aegon would have been forced onto the throne. We would have been weak with fewer allies, and the Blacks could have won the war. And if that would have happened, then it would be all of our children dead. And us. Not to mention Daeron, Aegon, Helaena, and their children. Or let's say that Rhaenyra was given the throne immediately after Viserys' death. Do you really think Daemon would let any Hightower-Targaryens live? It would have been done carefully to avoid suspicion, but he never wanted us alive. Either way, neither of them had better outcomes."

"I know," SHe mumbled to herself. 

"I am the only person that feels the same intensity of grief as you do. She was everything to me. But at some point, I had to realize we had living children that needed a parent. I will miss her until the day I die, I will. But until I die, I am still a father with children that need me."

She turned her head to look at him, noticing the tears rolling down his cheeks. "I know, ñuha jorrāelagon."

"We can do this Visenya, but we have to do it together. The fire of my soul was forged to only survive with you. I can no longer be without you, and I think you've forgotten that. We can only burn so brightly when we burn together." He placed his hand on her cheek. "Avy jorrāelan, Visenya. I loved you before we had children, before you were queen, and before our lives went to shit. But I love you even more now. I love the strong woman you are, I love you as queen, as a mother, and as my wife. Nothing you do shall make me love you any less. Maybe just a little scared of you." He grinned. 

She let out a laugh, crying into his hand. "Sometimes I forget how far we've come."

"I know." He placed a gentle kiss on her nose. "For me, I got to stand back and watch you grow from a scared girl to a strong woman. All you needed was support and love. For me, making sure you were loved and cared for was all I needed to do. But you also helped me with things I didn't know I struggled with. The pain my father and mother caused. And although it was not long enough, I have you to thank for my relationship with Aegon."

"Visenya, ñuha jorrāelagon, if we must get to know one another again to strengthen this marriage, I shall do it a hundred times over. You are ñuha jorrāelagon. I am a man that is built on my service to you. So please, let me love you again."

She wrapped her arms around him. They both rested on the sand, holding onto one another as she sobbed into his shoulder. 

"Okay."

-

"Mama had short hair?" Maegor exclaimed, jumping on his bed. 

"Yes, now would you please step down before you break your bed?" Visenya asked. 

Aemond walked over, lifting Maegor with ease and setting him down. 

"Small hair like me?" Vharra asked.

"Why did you tell them?" Visenya groaned, looking at Aemond. 

Aemond smirked and walked up behind her, squeezing one of her buttocks. "Because I happen to have loved that haircut."

She gasped and hit his chest, giggling at the affection.

It had been one month since their impromptu trip to Dragonstone, and it was what they needed. They had decided the rebuild their relationship before making love again, and neither was upset by the rule. 

She started to make sure that after dinner, her evenings were to be free from court. Visenya also made sure that the Royal family was to have every breakfast and dinner together in the hall. If House Targaryen was to have a strong reign, they needed to be united. All of their children would be raised with love and respect. 

"Mama," Vharra said, pulling on her trousers. "Aemma is gross again."

Visenya looked over and Aemma was eating her snot. Again. "Fucking hells," Visenya groaned and grabbed a cloth. "Aemma, sweet dragon, you can't eat your snot."

Aemma started to frown and got fussy, crying and throwing her arms around to get away from Visenya cleaning her face. 

"Girls are gross," Maegor said to Aemond. 

Aemond looked over at his son, noticing Maegor held his hands behind his back and was trying to imitate Aemond. Aemond tried to hide his smile but could not. "You used to do it."

Maegor gasped and shook his head. "I did not! That's gross!"

"You and Laeny both did."

"Who's Laeny?" Vharra asked, running to Aemond and making grabby hands to be picked up. 

"No one," Maegor immediately answered, looking at his feet. 

"That's not true Maegor. It's something we have to be able to talk about," Visenya said. 

Aemond sat down on the settee in the room and Visenya was next to him with Aemma in her arms. 

"But it makes me sad."

"I know," Visenya nodded. "But it would be mean to her to never talk about her. It's okay."

Maegor looked at Vharra and shrugged. "She was our sister."

Vharra threw her hands up with a shrug. "Where is she?"

"Gone. Bad guys took her from me."

Visenya ran her fingers through Maegor's curls as he sat next to her. Vharra sat in Aemond's lap, watching Maegor. "Why?"

"When you are older, little dragon, we will explain it," Aemond said. 

"It might help to talk about the good things," Visenya whispered. 

"It was all good, Mama. We were always together. She was my best friend. I think we could read each other's minds," Maegor said with a hint of a smile. "Papa, can you read a story again tonight? Laeny's favorite?"

Visenya looked at Aemond with a small smile. "You shall read, shan't you? I do love listening to your voice."

Maegor ran to the bookshelf in his room that had numerous children's stories, and a couple of thicker books, one of them being about Vhagar and Visenya's exploits during the Conquest. 

Vharra and Aemma fell asleep first, and Maegor battled to stay awake. The nannies came and fetched the two girls and took them to their room, but Maegor stayed asleep while Aemond continued to read. 

"Should we put him in his bed?" Aemond whispered. 

"He looks so peaceful." She watched the even rise and fall of Maegor's chest, happy to witness a calm and peaceful moment. 

"Vis, let's go to bed. You look tired."

She nodded, scooping Maegor into her arms. She walked over to his bed and set him down, placing a kiss on his forehead. 

It was not long before they made their way back to their chambers, both with hurried kisses and a new surge of passion. 

"Another baby?" He mumbled against the skin of her neck.

She nodded. "Please."

"More heirs, more little ones to love."

"Our legacy, Ñuha jorrāelagon."

"Us?" He smiled. 

"Us."