warnings: mentions of death, grief and violence!

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BAELA Targaryen practised her archery on the hill of Dragonstone, shooting arrows at a post as she drowned in her thoughts. She would gladly remain out there until the morrow, feasting on the shots on target instead of her supper. That was her favoured meal as of late.

The wounds from Daenys' death would never heal. They could never heal. She had stood guard in her nephew's chamber after she heard of the Father's mistake in the Red Keep. Baela felt deeply disturbed by his actions. What if Daenys never fled? Would Rhaegon's or Baelon's heads be ripped from their body if the murderers made that same miscalculation? Or even Laena's?

"You missed supper," Jace called out as he strolled toward her.

She shrugged, "I wasn't hungry."

"I don't think anyone was, really. Too many empty seats," he said, clutching the handle of his sword as he neared.

"Do you know where he went?" she asked, referring to Daemon as she prepared to shoot again.

An arrow hit the post again.

"Harrenhal, I would think," Jace said, coming to stand by her side. He noted her tired eyes as she continued her training.

He constantly analysed her, studied her to ensure she wasn't going mad, exhausted by all they had suffered.

"Sometimes I think I hate him," an arrow flided through the air, as she confessed.

Daemon was so focused on his vengeance, his lust to spill blood, so he ignored his daughters as if that would make them safer, as if his lack of support, and guidance would preserve their lives. She had felt his eyes when they stood at council and sometimes when she could sleep.

And now, she rarely slept.

Jace turned to her, "It's hard... with Fathers."

"What do you remember of my Uncle?" Baela asked, staring out at the horizon.

"He taught us to catch fish... and sing sailors' shanties." a small smile grew on Jace's face, "He had a weakness for cake."

Baela asked carefully, as she reloaded her compound bow, "And... Ser Harwin Strong?"

"He was gentle and fierce." he paused, "They called him 'Breakbones'."

Baela chuckled, the first in what felt like weeks.

Jace took great pride in making her smile.

"He loved us... I think."

"Of course, he did," she responded, lowing her bow.

Taking a deep breath, Jace faced the horizon, "I miss Luke."

"I miss Daenys."

Jace turned to her.

"Rhaegon speaks just as much as Baelon, but at least they see their sister." she started, "they bring her shells as if to fill a void they cannot solve. I want them to stay here. Keep them close. All of them. Aegon, Viserys." she sighed, "but Ser Vaemond is requesting that the future lord of Tides remains at Driftmark with his betrothed. Grandmother does her best to silence his demands, with the Sea Snake's return it aids us. And Rodrik's brother, a Lord Rickon Mormont desires that Baelon and his daughter, Lady Lyra become acquainted, shall their union be plain sailing. Daenys wouldn't want this... I don't think."

The memories of her sister cut too deep. Hardly any would speak of her as if her name was as flammable as the Seablade's Dragon Flame. That said Dragon was restless. He soared the skies and kept watch over Dragonstone. Seamoke was the same but Driftmark called to him.

"She would hate Father even more for doing what he has done to Helaena. Both Jaehaerys and Jaehaera slain as their mother watched forced to choose between her babes as if there was a choice."

"Victims of this war. It needn't be like this," Jace knew this was all avoidable. "Tis our reality."

His brother's death was avoidable.

"And now I hear Otto Hightower claims that my nephews and niece are prisoners of war. That Rhaenyra's alleged corruption had spread so far to poison my sister," Baela ranted.

"And what of the Kinslayer?"

They both exchanged a dark look at the mention of Aemond.

"Daenys is the third thing he has stolen from Rhaena. The second from me. And you..."

"The second also," Daenys' death hurt him as well.

"One-eye does not threaten us in his letters. All well measured and thought out. He wishes to draw us out, using a letter that my uncle wrote in grief. Words that should not be trusted to be the pure and sane truth."

He had the words published. It was spreading through the realm, reaching every corner to further damage Rhaenyra's claim. It was vigorous as it was fruitful.

Jace groaned, "To what possible end will he go?"

"His rage grows, knowing that Daenys cannot return to him. She has joined our Mother," she recalled the trembling fear as she watched on Moondancer when the Velaryon Knights lowered her sister into the Driftmark tides. Not all of them could go to the sea burial, believing it was a high risk. "Had he not been so wretched I would pity him. But no. He will not see his children for as long as I shall live." Baela inhaled deeply. Respecting Daenys' wishes, the twin Ladies bequeathed the Twin Lords the ring and the pendant. Neither son wore the gifts but didn't allow anyone to touch them. "How can such a vile person create such purity? Innocence? Laena is like sunshine."

The babe would always smile even at strangers, and strangers Rodrik would always stare with uncertainty and heed.

"Choose to believe that your sister is in all her children. Not him. Despite our differences. Daenys was never cruel," Jace spoke. "And now, the realm turns against us. He permitted it. With the Usurpers say. With Alicent's say. He cares not that this sully's his late Wife's name also."

"She had never got to meet our little brothers," Baela's voice cracked, drawing his touch.

He grabbed her hand.

"Think of it like this. She is with your Mother, our little sister, and my father... both of them," Jace proposed, as their fingers interlinked. "Apart from savagery at play."

"I suppose she is," Baela rasped, staring down at their hands, she couldn't help but think of her twin. "Rhaena is far too quiet — news of our nephews' eventual departure prompts her to devote herself to her studies and I feel useless. I may have a Dragon but –"

"You are far from useless. Both of you are more than that."

Jace caressed her hand with his thumb, hoping that would provide her some comfort.

"I just... I miss how everything was."

A Dragon's cry caught their attention. Seablade soared through the skies, grunting and whining.

They all believed Dragons would help win the war. But it was a war between families.

And there was no war so hateful to the Gods as a war between kin.

"Lady Baela!" A knight rushed over to them, alerting them to the chaos erupting through the castle. Maids were seen rushing around as were various voices bellowing through the walls. "Prince Jacaerys! Come quickly it's urgent."

"What is it?!" Jace asked as he tugged Baela along with them. Their hearts plummeted as all they could think was the worst.

They were right too.

The knight gulped as he regretfully spoke, "It's the young Lord Rhaegon..." All the colour faded from the heir and his future wife's face's as they were told. "He is missing."

Their feet picked up as their panic and agony grew again, screeching their cries for justice and help.

The sky cracked as rain poured onto the heartbreak and disarray. Green Knights fought, after jumping off boats and slaying those around, ensuring the distraction was in motion.

Amid all the chaos and strife a Dragon emerged from the unforgiving clouds.

The largest of all Dragons.

Vhagar flew overhead, jaw unlatched as flames ripped through the skies. Cruel laughter clung to the air belonging to her rider as they glided away from the other Dragons, and a sobbing and scared Rhaegon separated from his twin.

The Gods were angry but Kinslayer would not stop until his family was whole.

"Stay calm my boy," Aemond's haunting voice did the opposite as he gripped onto the trembling body of his eldest son. Rhaegon flinched when he heard the harsh commands to the Queen of Dragons. "I would not attack whilst your brother and sister roam those treacherous halls alone and without me or your... my Wife," he gritted, glossy eye darkening as his grief never subdued.

"I want mummy," Rhaegon cried, keeping his head low as they ascended the clouds, closing his eyes at the blinding light flooding his vision. He felt his father tense behind him as he sniffled. "I want... family."

"You shall have that, I shall have that again. We will take it all back. All of it. Scorch our names into the histories and banish all that deny us what we want." Aemond's voice lowered as he caught sight of Kings Landing. "You will have your crown. And I mine. We will be whole. We will rule with such vigour not even the Gods will deny us. Or me again."

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                                   " Prince Aemond of House Targaryen fled to Kings Landing with his heir and firstborn son, Lord Rhaegon Targaryen, promising all that was in their grasp. Vowing to wreak havoc until they had all that they yearned for. What they desired. Son and Daughter — brother and sister. Ambition was a dangerous trait, as was greed. It was by the grace of the Gods that Rhaegon did not inherit neither from his Father as Aemond would not live long enough to see his eldest rule even six moons. Not as the Regent's heir, but on the Driftwood Throne as his mother, Lady Daenys of House Targaryen wanted. Rhaegon continued his mother's everlasting legacy, once the dance of the Dragons ended and he was reunited with his siblings, Baelon and Laena. Both survived with minimal physical damage. The children of the Sea Dragon would never forget all that was sacrificed for them, nor would they forget the harm that befell their kin."

—  Archmaester Gyldayn, Dance of the Dragons.

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THE END

a/n:

i hope you all enjoyed this story. i had been planning it for ages, plots did change and character arcs were altered. i'm glad i could focus solely on this story, start to finish without any interruptions.

the parallels between jace comforting and making baela laugh, just like aemond did for daenys... omg its too much. this story was too much omg. and the fact that rhaegon and baelon returned to their mother's chambers with their shells only to find rodrik with their sister and not their mum... i wanted to sneak in any details or reactions that i could, whilst just writing this one scene, nothing else.

i also wanted detail the affects of laenor's letter on the story. i didn't want to just introduce the letter for it to never be brought up like a macguffin. how the letter then drew aemond and his cunning and malignity to ambush dragonstone uncaring if harm was done to him just as long as he got back one of his children and it so happened to be his heir. 

i'll still be posting edits on tiktok's for the story. check out her character profile in my "welcome to the camp" book. i'm gonna post a few one-shots on tumblr for this story, maybe rants or just character profiles for the kids. (but i don't know when i will do it, so don't spam me about it pls) i am currently writing a cobrai kai book if anyone is interested in reading that as well.

i hope you enjoyed this book, feel free to reread and thank you for all the comments and support.

- liv <33