That night, Maekar and Alicent sat at the dining table, adorned with fine silverware and surrounded by the warm glow of candlelight. Their children, Aegon, Baelon, Moira, Rhaegar, and Visenya, eagerly took their seats, their faces beaming with excitement.

As the first course was served, Aegon, the eldest of the boys, couldn't contain his enthusiasm. "Father, Mother, you should have seen us in the training yard today! Ser Criston said we have the potential to be great swordsmen like him!"

Maekar chuckled and glanced at Alicent. "Ah, the next generation of knights in the making! I'm glad to hear it, Aegon. Just remember to be careful with those blades. We don't want any accidents."

Baelon, the younger of the two boys, chimed in, his eyes shining with pride. "And Father, we also learned about the Targaryen lineage today! The Maesters taught us about our ancestors."

"That's wonderful, Baelon," Alicent replied, her voice filled with affection. "One day, you will be the ones carrying on the legacy of House Targaryen. Remember, it is a privilege and a responsibility."

Meanwhile, Moira, the ten-year-old daughter, couldn't wait to share her own experiences. "Mother, Father, I had the most delightful dancing lesson today! Lady Meredyth taught us a beautiful waltz, and I even got to partner with Rhaegar."

Rhaegar, the ten-year-old son, blushed slightly but grinned at his sister. "Indeed, Moira. You were the most graceful dancer in the room. I'm just glad I didn't step on your toes."

Laughter filled the room as Alicent playfully nudged Maekar. "Our children are growing up so quickly, my love. It feels like just yesterday they were learning to walk, and now they're dancing and wielding swords."

Maekar nodded, his gaze filled with pride and love for his family. "Time flies, but I wouldn't trade these moments for anything."

The youngest of the brood, Visenya, couldn't help but interject with her own adorable voice. "I want to learn to dance too, Mama and Papa! When can I start?"

Alicent smiled affectionately and ruffled Visenya's hair. "Soon, my sweet. Soon you will have your own dancing lessons. But for now, enjoy being our little princess."

The dinner continued with light-hearted banter, filled with stories of the day's lessons, dreams of the future, and laughter that echoed through the halls of their home. As the conversation flowed with joy and laughter, Baelon's face turned serious, his brows furrowing. "Father, I must tell you something. During our training today, Jacaerys and Lucerys got a bit too carried away. They hit Aegon a bit too hard in the ribs."

Maekar's cheerful expression shifted, his gaze narrowing. "Is that so? Aegon, are you alright?"

Aegon winced slightly, rubbing his side. "I'm fine, Father. It was just a hard blow. Ser Harwin said it was just a training accident."

Alicent's concern was evident as she leaned forward. "But Baelon, did you report this to Ser Criston or the Maesters? Such behavior is unacceptable, even in training."

Baelon nodded, his voice filled with determination. "Yes, Mother, we told Ser Criston. He said he would address the issue with Ser Harwin, Jacaerys and Lucerys."

Maekar's face hardened, his voice firm. "Good. It's important that they understand the consequences of their actions."

Moira, sensing the shift in the atmosphere, spoke softly. "Perhaps we should also consider speaking to Aunt Rhaenyra about this, Father. It's important for her to be aware of her children's behavior."

"Let your mother and I deal with it, sweet girl," Maekar said in a soft tone. Moira nodded, going back to her dinner.

—————

In the dimly lit study, Maekar and Alicent exchanged a concerned glance before turning their attention to Rhaenyra and Ser Laenor. The tension in the room was palpable, and Maekar's voice carried a hint of anger as he began the conversation.

"Rhaenyra, Ser Laenor, we need to address the incident that occurred with our children," Maekar stated firmly, his voice betraying his concern.

Rhaenyra, caught off guard, attempted to downplay the severity of the situation. "Oh, it was just a little scuffle. Boys will be boys, after all. There's no need to make a fuss about it."

Alicent's voice cut through the air, her tone laced with frustration. "Rhaenyra, this wasn't just a harmless scuffle. Aegon ended up with two broken ribs! How can you dismiss it so lightly?"

Ser Laenor, clearly uncomfortable, shifted in his seat. "I assure you, my Lady, I did not expect things to escalate to this extent. It was an unfortunate accident."

Maekar's eyes narrowed, his voice growing stern. "An accident? How does an accident result in broken ribs? This goes beyond mere roughhousing. We need to address the underlying issues."

Rhaenyra's face paled, a mix of guilt and defensiveness flickering in her eyes. "I... I didn't realise it had gotten so out of hand. I'll speak to my sons and ensure they understand the consequences of their actions."

Alicent's voice remained firm, her words filled with concern. "It's not just about the immediate consequences. We need to consider the long-term effects on Aegon's well-being. This incident raises questions about the behavior and upbringing of your sons," Alicent hinted, staring at Ser Laenor who squirmed in his seat.

Rhaenyra's voice wavered, a mix of frustration and sadness evident. "I understand your concerns, but please believe me when I say that I have always done my best as a mother. My sons are my blood, and I love them dearly."

Maekar's gaze softened slightly, his voice carrying a touch of empathy. "We all make mistakes. But we must ensure that our children learn from them, and that they understand the importance of empathy and restraint."

Heavy silence hung in the air, the weight of the situation weighing heavily on the couples. They knew that the incident was more than just boys being boys.

"It strange isn't it?" Alicent's cold voice broke the tension. "You and Ser Harwin seem awfully close?"

"Ser Harwin is my friend!" Rhaenyra replied back with a glare.

"Your friend... or lover?" Alicent spat the word as if it was poison on the tip of her tongue. Rhaenyra's eyes widened in shock at Alicent's accusation. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"How dare you!" Rhaenyra's voice trembled with a mix of anger and hurt. "Ser Harwin is a loyal and trusted friend, nothing more. Your insinuations are baseless and malicious."

Alicent's face remained cold and impassive as she continued to push Rhaenyra's buttons. "Is that so? It's just curious how often you two are seen together, whispering and laughing, while our families are dealing with the turmoil of your father's health."

Rhaenyra felt her patience waning, and her voice grew sharper. "You're grasping at straws, Alicent. Ser Harwin has been a pillar of support for me during these times. Perhaps if you weren't so consumed by your own insecurities, you'd see that."

A flicker of vulnerability crossed Alicent's eyes before she regained her composure. "Insecurities? It's not insecurity, Rhaenyra, it's concern. We have enough issues to deal with without adding rumors and adultery to the mix."

Rhaenyra took a deep breath, trying to temper her emotions. "I understand your concern, but I assure you, there is no truth to your accusations. Ser Harwin is a friend, and nothing more. I love our family, and I would never jeopardise our standing in the realm because of that."

Alicent's tone softened slightly, though her skepticism remained. "I hope you're telling the truth, Rhaenyra. Our families are already fractured enough. We don't need any more complications."

Rhaenyra met Alicent's gaze, her eyes filled with determination. "Believe what you will, Alicent. But know that I will not let your baseless accusations tarnish my reputation or my relationships."

—————

While their parents were talking about the incident that occurred the previous day, the children had their lessons with the Dragonkeepers. In tradition, each child had an egg placed in their cribs when they were born.

Aegon's and Baelon's hatched just after their fourth nameday, but grew rather slowly compared to what their father told them about the beast that was Aegar.

Thormax was as black as night and belonged to Aegon, while Chua was green as grass and belonged to Baelon. Both dragons were said to have come from Vhagar's clutch of eggs before she disappeared, and both dragons now stood around the size of war horses.

Moira's dragon on the other hand hatched just four moons prior, and was already the size of a large dog. Ryoko was a she-dragon and the colour of the sea.

Rhaegar and Visenya were the only children of Maekar and Alicent that didn't have dragons. Visenya's hadn't hatched yet but Rhaegar's had regrettably turned to stone on his sixth nameday. The boy had been inconsolable by both his parents, who had promised to find their youngest son another. Yet here Rhaegar stood, the only Targaryen child without an egg.

Visenya who had opted to skip the lesson entirely because of her egg not being hatched wasn't present. The other four children of the future King and Queen stood in the background as they watched Jacaerys try to tame his dragon, Vermax. The dragon didn't come to heal and it was left to the Dragonkeeper to stop it as another brought out a goat.

"Dracarys, Vermax!" Jacaerys ordered and the children watched at the dragon burnt the goat alive before eating it.

"Rhaegar, we have a surprise for you," Lucerys smirked deviously as he and his older brother walked deeper into the Dragonpit.

"What is it?" Rhaegar asked skeptically.

"Something very special," Jacaerys grinned, coming up to pat the older boy on the back. "You're the only one of us without a dragon."

"Boys," Moira warned. Following her mother's dislike for their Aunt, Moira grew not to like her cousins either, and that went for Baelon and Aegon too. Her twin though was too blind to see their cousins teasing.

"And we felt badly about it, so we found one for you," Jacaerys continued on, waving his cousin off.

"A dragon? How?" Rhaegar asked.

"Don't fall for it, brother," Baelon advised.

"The gods provide," Lucerys grinned. The two Velaryon boys dragged in a pig with fake wings strapped to it, bursting out into laughter.

"Behold-- The Pink Dread!" They said together, their laughing continuing as Aegon began to join in with them. Baelon hastily punched him in the gut to stop his laughter.

"Be sure to mount her carefully, first flight's always rough," Lucerys advised mockingly.

"He is your youngest brother, you should be defending his honour!" Baelon whispered angrily as he practically dragged his twin brother out of the Dragonpit. "How could you, Aegon?" Baelon's voice dripped with anger. "You chose to mock him instead of defending him. It's shameful! Mother and Father would have your head!"

Aegon, realising his mistake, looked remorseful, "I... I didn't mean to hurt him," he stammered. "I was just caught up in the moment."

"Caught up in the moment?" Baelon's voice rose. "That's not an excuse, brother. We should be protecting and supporting our family, not adding to their pain. You need to think before you act."

As Baelon scolded Aegon, Moira, who had been watching the scene unfold, couldn't bear to see Rhaegar's distress any longer. She quietly slipped away from the Dragonpit and made her way to Rhaegar's side. Moira found Rhaegar sitting alone, his eyes filled with tears. She approached him gently, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"Rhaegar," Moira spoke softly. "I'm so sorry about what happened. They shouldn't have treated you that way."

Rhaegar sniffled, wiping away his tears. 'It's alright, Moira. I'm used to it."

Moira shook her head, her voice filled with determination. "No, it's not alright. You deserve better, Rhaegar. And I promise you, I will always be here for you."

Rhaegar looked up at Moira, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. "Thank you, Moira. I appreciate it."

Moira smiled warmly at him. "You're my brother, Rhaegar, my twin brother. We stick together, no matter what."