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86 AC, Theed Keep

PRINCESS AEMMA sat on a chair by the balcony, admiring the scenery of the Blackwater Rush below. Her platinum blonde hair was braided to keep it from blocking her sight, her purple eyes gazing into the waters as it crashed into the sand. That was all she had done for the last trimester of her pregnancy; sit and hope for a son. That was what Viserys would have wanted.

She could still recall the looks that King Jaehaerys gave her once he announced the betrothal between her and Viserys, back when she was barely out of childhood. We need heirs,  Viserys's voice echoed in her head. It had been said to her at the wedding, and she was not yet ready to consummate the marriage at that time.

Was it truly a "we", or did he mean "he" needed heirs? She heard of the stories; how most of his aunts and uncles did not live very long lives. Even her own mother, the late Princess Daella Targaryen, died a few days after her birth. With the amount of inbreeding in the family, she would not be surprised. And yet here she was, married to her own cousin and carrying her first child...

"Ouch!" she exclaimed as she felt a pain in her belly. She had not expected her baby to come out earlier than what the Maesters said. My little dragon is getting impatient huh?, she mused, trying to smile despite the pain.

In truth, the aches had come gradually. For a few days, she was able to ignore them, choosing to walk around as a distraction or read a book on stately affairs. As time went on, it was harder to ignore, so she had confined herself to her chambers, hoping not to worry anyone.

"Can someone call for the Maester?" she requested, loud enough for her handmaidens to hear.

She was in the birthing chambers in less than ten minutes.

All through the day, she screamed and let out some frustrated curses, which Viserys could hear from the other side of the door. The young prince was nervous, he was to be a father in a few hours! Behind him stood the old king, Jaehaerys, his aging eyes focused on the tapestry by the wall.

"Please, I hope it's a son." whispered Viserys. It was the one thing he had always wanted; an heir to continue the Targaryen line.

"Brother, I can hear the princess' cries from the yard. Is she all right?" spoke a bold voice.

Viserys turned around, finding his younger brother Daemon standing by his grandfather, rather annoyed at the constant noise.

"Aemma is having my child. Of course she would scream."

"Child? You were hoping for a son."

"We don't know until we see the baby."

Jaehaerys stayed silent. He had recalled how many times his beloved Alyssane suffered through pains to have his children. Thirteen times, she had cried out and only very few of his little dragons survived past infancy. At this point, he had given up on trying to have more heirs. Viserys, on the other hand...

A sudden 'click' on the lock of the door interrupted his thoughts as he watched the Maester and midwives emerge from the room. The man from the Citadel stepped forward, bowing to the two dragon princes and the king.

"Congratulations, you have a daughter, Prince Viserys." he spoke as softly as he could.

Viserys looked like he had lost a diamond. He had hoped for his first boy, but the gods had not been kind. A daughter... what use is she , only a bargaining chip to be taken once she's flowered! I need a real heir; someone to be a second Jaehaerys, and that bars Daemon.

The young prince kept his opinions to himself, instead peering into the chambers to see how Aemma was doing. He could spot the other midwives wrapping a tiny bundle in green silk, that must be his daughter.

"I will see them after supper" he finally spoke up, leaving his brother and grandfather to their musings.

When Aemma was fully rested, she woke to the sound of the bells ringing from the highest tower of the castle. There she was, her first dragon hatchling. The child was slightly smaller than what the Maesters would expect, but she was at least healthy. She already loved her little girl from the moment she took her first breath. Surely this was not what her dear husband had hoped for, but this hatchling was of her blood, and she was finally here, albeit undergoing some much-needed check ups

She looked ahead, spotting one of the midwives giving her a knowing smile. Another came closer to the first, whispering a little too loudly for the queen not to hear.

“I never imagined someone would break the usual appearance of a Targaryen.”

“Things happen, Alana. “

“That’s true.” Alana replied, gesturing to a foreign-looking midwife who was holding the little girl. “Lan-ua, would you mind telling the queen a story?”

Lan-Hua tilted her head slightly to the left and gave Alana a questioning stare; “Why?”

“I meam no offense but…”, paused Alana. Lan-Hua got the subtle hint, and handed the sleeping infant to her mother.

“But what?”, asked the queen. Is there something wrong with my daughter?

“Well, she doesn't exactly look like a Targaryen.”

Aemma moved the cloth that was supposed to wrap around her daughter's head and gasped; it wasn't the silver that she found, nor the rare, pure white hues of her grandmother, the late Queen Alyssane’s but gold like ears of wheat in midday at harvest time — golden like a Lannister. She moved back the cloth — she had never betrayed Viserys like that! Maybe it's just the occasional deviation or two. Who knows what my future children would look like?

“What does a story have to do with this?”, she listened to Lan-Hua‘s conversation. She watched Alana wink at her colleague and she, exhausted from the labor, could only roll her eyes.

“You never told us about your gods.”

Lan-Hua took a seat beside the window, just far enough from the queen to give herself some privacy. The other midwives gathered around her, their duties finished.

“Where I come from, I know of eighteen named gods, each paired with one other for the sake of balance. The god — er, Aeon of Equilibrium, is a special case, for it is paired with itself.”

“What about the others?”, Alana inputted. “With the Equilibrium out of the picture, there are only seven and ten left.”

Lan-Hua smiled, then pondered for a moment. What should I tell them next?

“You might want to talk about your patron god.“ said another midwife. “I heard from the merchants that the people in the Luofu follow the “Stellar Ones””.

“That’s an… interesting way to put it.”, responded Lan-Hua. “Yes, I believe in the Stellar Ones.”

Aemma leaned a little to the right to listen in.

“My homeland's patron is Lan, the Hunt. They look like a masked centaur carrying a bow and they're made of stars. The stories say that they rose to godhood out of hatred for Yaoshi, the Abundance. You see, Yaoshi wants everyone to have immortality and willingly grants it to whoever asks. Unfortunately, living an extended life isn't all that great — eventually you'll grow insane and transform into a monstrous tree because you've lived too long.”

“Lan’s purpose is to eradicate those who've lost themselves to the immortality curse, like a surgeon removing conkers. Unfortunately, not everyone has learned their lesson about the dangers of immortality and it's one of the reasons that the Luofu is at war.”

“Do you know what Yaoshi looks like?”

Lan-Hua looked away from her colleagues, finding herself staring at the newborn princess, who was still sleeping soundly while the queen seemed a little too interested about the Stellar Ones.

“Yaoshi has… golden hair and six arms with red eyes. They wear flowing robes too, with a headpiece that looks like antlers and a veil.”

“How would you know that? Have you seen the god?”

Lan-Hua didn't want to answer that question, but she was thankfully spared by the timely arrival of the other royals.

Viserys was the first to enter, spotting the gathered medics and his wife, somewhat rested from the ordeal.  Lan-Hua whispered something to her colleague, then picked up a sort of cloth from her robe’s pocket. She strode over to the curious queen, and unrolled the cloth.

“Is this one of the Stellar Ones?”, Aemma whispered.

“Yes. This is how the people perceive the Aeon of Abundance. I must say that the princess got the hair.”

Well, it is a little paler then the Lannisters’.

Daemon tried to look at the tapestry, but Lan-Hua quickly rolled it up. Aemma gave him a cheeky smirk, before she watched Lan-Hua step away.

“I guess that's enough story time, Your Majesty. We shall leave you to bond with the princess.”

“Go ahead.”

The other midwives left, leaving just Aemma, the still unnamed princess, Viserys and Daemon in the room. King Jaehaerys soon entered, surprised at how silent the room was.

"Ah, congratulations Aemma. I must apologize for Viserys putting such pressure on you." he greeted, putting a hand on the royal's hair.

"No need to apologise, Grandsire. Now, I would like to name my daughter "Rukkha", which means “tree” in an Easossi tongue." Aemma replied. Yes, the tree of life.

"Shouldn't you give her a Valyrian name? Let me think; Rhaelle, or Naerys. Why Rukkha, of all names?" Daemon remarked with a smirk. This was not looking good for him. All he'd wanted was to be by his brother's side, but it looked like the gods weren't going to give him a chance.

"Sone names have unbelievably simple meanings yet great impacts, cousin. I shall name my daughter as I please. As for you, shouldn't you be back at Runestone with Princess Rhea?" Aemma retorted calmly, not paying attention to Viserys's harsh glare.

"Rukkha is indeed a name of its own, my dear falcon. Pay no mind to your volatile cousin." King Jaehaerys added, silently dismissing Daemon's attempts to give "suggestions".

"Viserys, come meet our first little dragon." Aemma beckoned, which her husband silently accepted. Jaehaerys watched the couple closely, noting how his grandson could not seem to accept that the gods gave him a daughter instead of a son.

The aforementioned prince stepped forward, trying to smile through his disappointment. Looking at his child, he was rather surprised at her lack of any Targaryen appearance. Green eyes and golden hair were a prominent Lannister trait.

"She's beautiful. Rukkha will make a great lady someday."

Aemma did not want her hatchling to be just some lady to be pawned. Rukkha was a princess, and she was aghast at the blatant disrespect that Viserys had for his own child.

"Excuse me?"

"You must be mistaken, grandson. Rukkha is of your blood. Why that reaction?"

"Grandsire, she does not look like us at all. I just hope that my hunch is right."

"Are you questioning my fidelity, dear husband, or has your brother placed his poison in your head?" Aemma asked wearily. She had not expected everything to turn out like this, and little Rukkha was blissfully unaware of what chaos her birth had caused.

" She has green eyes and golden hair, Aemma!" Viserys exclaimed. " True dragons have purple eyes and Rukkha doesn't share my features. "

" How dare you... " Aemma hissed. "Get out."

" My love, I—" Viserys tried to say, but Aemma cut him off.

" Leave now, " The princess ordered.

Viserys was about to protest, but Jaehaerys gave him a cold look causing him to gulp and walk out the room, Daemon followed after his brother, a smirk formed on his face.

Once the two brothers were outside, Viserys closed his eyes and sighed wondering if he went too far in there. He knew his beloved Aemma would never betray him, but what was he to think when she gave birth to a golden haired, green eyed baby?

" Brother, you shouldn't let her disrespect you, " Daemon said. " You will be king one day, you can't let people walk over you; especially your wife, people will think you weak."

" Aemma meant no harm, she knows her place  " Viserys repiled, staring at his brother.

" Does she really, brother?" Daemon asked. " Your beloved Aemma isn't who you thought she was, she betrayed you and committed adultery with another man; giving birth to a bastard and a girl no less! You need an heir brother, a real heir."

" Aemma will grant me an heir soon, I have no doubt of that " Viserys answered. " I supposed until then, I shall trust Rukkha as my own even though she is not. "

" Brother, she is a bastard. " Daemon hissed. " You should send the lion cub away and have her fostered somewhere else."

" No, I will not do that to Aemma," Viserys said. " No matter if she has committed adultery or not, she is my wife and my future queen and I must accept her for anything she grants to me."

" You are too soft, brother " The rogue prince scoffEd walking away from him.

"Now that I think of it, that woman from what's that place — Luofu might have a point. If its true, then we have a goddess among us. "

Daemon burst out laughing. A goddess, really? He had his doubts. No Targaryen goddess would not have Valyrian looks.

"Suit yourself, brother. If Rukkha does not claim a dragon, then you will send her away."

Dragons... yes dragons!  Viserys smiled. If he at least wanted to placate Aemma, then he would give the child one of Maelys's eggs.

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

It had been a month since Rukkha was born, and yet Aemma had not spoken to either Viserys or Daemon regarding the child. King Jaehaerys had sent copious amounts of inked parchment to the nobility, informing them of an upcoming tourney and feast.

"I'm quite surprised that you went this far, Grandsire. " Aemma remarked happily as she cradled her daughter close to her chest.

"She deserves it, my dear bird."

"My word, she's beautiful Aemma! " Corlys Velaryon exclaimed upon sporting the little princess. He tugged at his wife's sleeve, making her halt whatever she was doing.

"Cone Rhaenys, there's the little Rukkha."

"All right all right, you're quite excited about her. " replied the princess.

"She's a rather unique dragon. We should be the first of the relatives aside from Aemma to hold her. "

"About that..." Rhaenys trailed off, spotting Daemon conversing with the Lannisters.  Corlys narrowed his eyes at the group of men, who didn't seem to notice him amidst the festivities.

" Prince Daemon, how is the young princess doing? " Lord Gulian asked. "My wife and I prayed the queen would have safe labor, it seems our prayers have been answered."

" Bastard, you mean Lord Gulian?" Daemon corrected him." True Targaryens have purple eyes not green. Unless..."

The ruler of the Westerlands knew what the prince was implying. He wisely kept his opinions to himself, lest the celebration would be ruined.

" That's not always the case, your grace. " he explained. " Some children take more after one parent or sometimes share some qualities of their grandparents, in rare cases perhaps the princess's eyes is a gift blessed by the gods."

" A green eyed dragon? How disgraceful that the princess would do this to our beloved Crown Prince, my brother, " Daemon said. " It is not a gift, Lord Gulian, it's a humiliation to the great house of the dragon."

"There's been rumors going around straight from the Luofu that they almost captured the Aeon Yaoshi. Cancerous piece of work still fled like the coward that they are. " refuted the lady of Casterly Rock.

"A midwife said the same thing, but I do not believe it. The gods of Old Valyria would take the form of a Valyrian, no?"

"The gods take the forms they want. Sometimes, they might call in gods from other worlds."

" Gods are not known to be kind "

"Some are — Westeros is just unlucky with what they got. "

" I have to disagree with your words, little cousin " a voice said behind them.

The rogue prince turned his head and saw his cousin Rhaenys standing there dressed in red and black, her hair braided up.

" Princess Rhaenys," Dameon greeted, with a fake smile.

" Lord Daemon, " Rhaneys greeted back, causing a frown to appear on the rogue prince's face.

" It's your grace, " Daemon reminded her.

" Hmm " Rhaenys said. , her eyes glancing at him.

Corlys finally entered the scene, interested in the conversation.

"Aemma could hear your derogatory remarks from the high table, you know? " he commented with gritted teeth. He despised that prince, yet he thought of Rhaenys as one of the best among the Targaryens.

"I know what he is implying as well. To tell you the truth, I have never taken Princess Aemma for myself. It's a shame that the medic isn't here tonight."

Before anyone could reply, Daemon's face was suddenly marked with a reddish hand. Next thing they saw was a furious Aemma and King Jaehaeeys, who was trying to calm her down.

"I will not stand for this; insults against my daughter, your niece, just because she did not look Targaryen enough for your—" the princess rambled, only for Rhaenys to place a hand on her shoulder.

"Calm down, dearest falcon. Rukkha is the most precious thing that happened to us. Is she not, My King?"

"Indeed, Rhaenys. Now, where did you place that little hatchling of yours?"

Aemma stormed off, and took Rukkha from her crib and handed the infant over to a smiling Rhaenys.

Rhaenys glanced down at the little bundle in her arms, staring at the little girl deeply, she glanced up at Aemma smiling. " She's beautiful, Aemma."

Rukha babbled out happily, glancing up at the woman holding her, raised a hand, and rested her tiny palm on her cheek.

Rhaenys embraced the little one back grabbing her hand, slowly bringing it to her lips and kissing it gently. Corlys gazed at the two bonding, and smiled softly. "Hey, don't keep her to yourself now."

Aemma, Jaehaerys, Lord Lannister and Rhaenys laughed as Corlys took the month-old dragon into his arms. The ruler of Driftmark could not help but gently pinch the child's overly cute face, making little Rukkha giggle.

"You are blessed, Aemm, perhaps more so than you think." he remarked as he ended up taking the hatchling to the balcony, followed by the king, Aemma and Rhaenys.

The moon was bright, and the skies were cloudless; a clear sign of summer. The flowers were asleep, but that did not take away from the beauty of the view Corlys gazed lovingly at his new niece, who strangely looked pensive.

Her green eyes gazed at the moon, unblinking. The adults mosu have noticed it too, but they could not make any remark on that. .

"The moon is shining just for you, dearest hatchling." Corlys whispered, and handed the baby back to a waiting Aemma.

Rukkha looked back at the moon, her green eyes reflecting its gentle gaze. Somewhere in their deaths, swirls of leaves started to form.

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