┊͙✧˖*°࿐ 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐄𝐍

𝐑𝐡𝐚𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚 𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬, 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐬 getting the best of her the longer she was locked inside the room. There was no use in trying to get out, Aemond hadn't returned and she had hit on the door until her hands hurt so much she couldn't continue. She was hoping that her mother would have come looking for her when she wasn't at the gate when the sun rose. But to no avail, it was midday and she had yet to hear from anyone.

That was until she heard the lock to her door being turned once again, she stood up from the chair by the now burnt-out fire. She was expecting to see Aemond, but to her surprise the Queen came through instead, a solemn look covering her features.

Rhaella stood by the table, squeezing her hands together in front of her. The Queen motioned for the guards to close the doors, leaving them alone.

"Where is Aemond?" Alicents eyes moved over the young girl, how she held herself up, noting the bruising around her neck that Aemond had informed her about only a few hours prior.

"He is currently dealing with more pressing matters at the moment, Princess." She told her, the Queen in Rhaella's eyes looked like she was barely keeping it all together. She could see how her eyes were red from the tears she had shed.

Alicent brought her hand up to Rhaella's neck, the girl flinching slightly when she inspected the bruise that had barely began to form. She sighed, sitting in the chair in front of the girl. "The King is dead."

It took merely a second to process her words before tears immediately went to burn in Rhaella's eyes, only now finding out that her grandsire had passed, she held her stomach when she felt a burn run through her. Alicent noticed, having been a mother herself motioned for her daughter-by-law to take the seat across from her.

"Has my mother been informed, does my family sail for Kings Landing?" Rhaella questioned, feeling her heart beat pound faster in her chest at the way the Queen furrowed her brows and stood up abruptly at the question.

"That is why I am here. To inform you that Aegon is to be crowned King before the morrow."

Another sharp pain caused Rhaella to grit her teeth together, she shook her head standing up as well. "My mother is heir, to allow Aegon to take her place is treason in the highest form."

Alicent walked forward, her face void of any emotion as if she expected the reaction from her. "It was my husband's—your grandsire's dying wish, he spoke the words to me himself."

Rhaella pulled her arm from her grasp. "He had twenty years to name his son heir and never did. Do you expect me to believe that he in his last moments declared Aegon his heir and you were the only one present to hear his words?"

Pursing her lips, growing frustrated with the lack of respect in Rhaella's tone. "Remember your place, Princess. Out of respect for your grandsire and my son, I have come to ask you for your support." Seeing Rhaella's reaction she continued. "Do what is best for you and your child, Princess. If you bend the knee, your mother may be more convinced to do the same."

Rhaella knew her mother would never bend the knee to Aegon, and neither would Daemon. "This is all a sham, a scheme that you've been plotting for years. Women have been made to bow to men for centuries, and when my mother, the rightful heir could become Queen you want to throw it all away to have your drunkard wastrel of a son sit upon the iron throne?"

The girl felt betrayed, angry, and torn. Thinking back to how Viserys demanded that she and Aemond be wed, to prevent a future like this one from happening. To prevent a war between families. It was all for nothing, this was a plan that had existed long before her and would be remembered long after.

  "My marriage to your son was supposed the keep the family together, you were there when it was agreed upon. You were there when my mother was named heir." Rhaella's hands by then had begun shaking at the overwhelming feelings that had begun to take over. "There is still time, your grace. To send for my mother and to let this be over without any bloodshed."

Alicent couldn't hold the small scoff of a chuckle that she let out at Rhaella's assumption that she wanted the marriage for that reason. "I never agreed for you to marry my son to bring peace to the family. Peace has never existed, not for long, not with Targaryen's. Your marriage is the sham, Princess. To keep you here in case we ever needed to force Rhaenyra's hand, to keep the stability of the realm in place." She watched as Rhaella refused to look at her, keeping her arms wrapped around her stomach as she looked out the glass window. "With you and your dragon here, your mother may be persuaded to rethink an attack."

The woman walked up behind the Princess and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder causing the girl to refrain from flinching. "As I said, choose wisely, if not for Aemond or yourself. Choose for your child."

Rhaella felt a stray tear fall down her cheek as Alicents hand fell from her shoulder.

  "Ring the bell when you have an answer."

The door was opened while Rhaella refused to look back at the Queen before the door closed with a slam.

~

Thoughts swarmed in Rhaella's mind, holding her head in her hands as she sat on the edge of her and Aemonds shared bed. She feared if Alicent got her way she would never see her family again, her mother would never know her grandchild and her brothers would never know their niece or nephew.

But she couldn't let that thought become reality, she could only hope she could convince Aemond to let her go and fly away with her to Dragonstone to inform her mother of the betrayal.

The skin around her nails that she was picking at had began to bleed, a nervous habit she seemed to have picked up over her time spent in Kings Landing, the city causing her more stress than she would ever like to admit.

Rhaella missed the simple times when it was just her and Aemond. Basking in the glow of marriage with little to no expectations. She missed the trips at night down into the lively streets of the city, both hiding their silver hair and lilac eyes beneath the heavy cloaks.

Aemond would watch her with so much love in his eye as she discovered the world she had been sheltered from. She was a light, a light that the people who knew her were lucky enough to have around.

She hoped that her husband still held that kind of love for her. The kind that would tell him to do what is right.

The sound of the door opening once again broke her from her thoughts. She turned her head holding hope that it was her husband but her face turned into confusion when Ser Erryk came through instead, a panicked expression clear on his features.

Her eyes dropped down onto the cloak he held in his hands.

He rushed over to her when he spotted her in the corner of the room, grabbing her arms and pulling her toward him, she went to protest as he threw the cloak around her and clasped it together in front of her.

"We must go, Princess." Seeing her hesitation, he placed his hand on her back ushering her towards the door. "Now, before it is too late."

Choosing not to say anything she just nodded and went with him, holding her stomach with one hand as she held onto his armor with the other.

Her heart raced as she met the eyes of someone she had missed.

  "Grandmother." Rhaella breathed out in relief, seeing she was covered in the same cloak she was, releasing Ser Erryk she wrapped her arms around Rhaenys who held her just as tight, her hand holding the back of her head as she held her close.

  "What is happening?" Rhaella pulled away gently, meeting her grandmother's eyes, feeling hands cup her cheeks, wiping away the tears that fell before the Knight had come to get her. "Where are we going?"

Rhaenys shook her head, shushing her granddaughter. "To your mother."

The words sent a wave of relief through the young Princess, her fears of never seeing her family vanished before they returned just as quickly when Ser Erryks voice practically pleaded with them to follow him through the castle.

Rhaella held onto her grandmother's arm as they went through the secret passages, the only sound heard was the sound of feet shuffling and heavy breathing.

The light from the outside blinded the girl as she brought her hand up to shield her eyes, the awful smell of the city invading her senses.

Ser Erryk held Rhaella's hand as he drug them through the crowd that was rushing in the opposite direction towards the dragon pit. Bodies bumped into her, her nerves spiked as she grew fearful for her child because of the force that she was being hit.

Rhaenys put herself in front of Rhaella shielding her from the accidental attacks.

Rhaella turned her head, catching sight of the dragon pit. The thought of leaving Daelys was enough to make her breath catch in her throat. Her hand tightened on Rhaenys' forearm who she knew felt the same about Meleys.

Her other hand pulled on Ser Erryk who continued to tug them down the rocky path.

"I won't leave Daelys." Rhaella tried to tug her hand away.

Rhaenys stepped in, still keeping Rhaella close. "If we could get to the dragon pit,"

Ser Erryk immediately denied the mere idea of going to the dragons. "They expect both of you there, Princess. You won't get past the gates."

Rhaella chewed on her bottom lip, tasting the blood that dripped from where her teeth had pulled open the skin.

The Knight sighed pulling Rhaella to walk faster. "Now come. You must make for the riverfront and find a ship. Before they know you've gone." His eyes met Rhaella's for she was who he was more concerned for, knowing she was more valuable than Rhaenys. For she was married to the Prince and her dragon was one of the largest alive.

He pulled them both back when he caught sight of his fellow Kingsguard directing the citizens. The sight of the people made him turn them in another direction and then another and another.

The Princess felt like she was spinning in circles as people surrounded them from every side, Ser Erryk being pulled from her grasp as she continued to hold tight to her grandmother who refused to let go of her granddaughter. Rhaella's breathing picked up as the bodies continued to hit them.

Rhaella's body came to a halt when Rhaenys came to a stop her eyes falling upon the dragon pit where everyone was going. A small smile of relief on her face as Rhaella pulled her arm trying to get her to move forward again.

The people of the city wanted into the dragon pit, pushing the Princesses in different directions as they drew closer to the opened doors to the pit.

"People of Kings Landing, today is the saddest of days." Otto Hightower's voice echoed throughout the pit, Rhaella's brows furrowing. "Our beloved King, Viserys the Peaceful is dead."

Rhaella's lips pursed, keeping her tears at bay at the mention of her grandsire who taught her so much in the short time they had together. Rhaenys squeezed her hand in sympathy.

"But it is also the most joyous of days for as his spirit left us, he whispered his final wish, that his firstborn son, Aegon should succeed him."

It made Rhaella feel sick because of how easily the lie fell from his lips, almost as if he believed what he was saying to be true. The sound of everyone cheering only intensified how she felt.

Guards began shoving their way through the crowd, forming a path for Aegon to walk.

"It is your great good fortune and privilege to be here to witness this, a new day for our city, a new day for our realm. A new King to lead us."

Rhaella caught sight of Aemond, standing there supporting his brother after everything that he had done. The betrayal made her heart clench, feeling the baby kick harshly inside her. Knowing Aemond still wanted this after what Aegon had done to her.

Aegon kneeled, bowing his head for the priest.

"May the warrior give him courage." The next words were unheard when Rhaenys spotted the entrance to where the dragons were kept. She grasped Rhaella's hand as they made their way through the crowd slowly, rushing down the steps once they were out of sight.

Rhaella left her grandmother as they went in opposite directions to find their dragons. Daelys was being held at the end, away from the other dragons that were much smaller than he was.

Daelys was curled around himself when she spotted him, his head lifting, a purring sound rumbling inside his chest at the sight of his rider. His head pushed against her as her hand ran over his rough skin.

She walked around his side, gripping the ropes that helped her climb up on him, his body lowering and his head pushing her body to help her onto his back. His wings stretched when she was safely in the saddle, her hands holding on as he roared shaking the walls around them.

"Bē, Daelys, bē." Rhaella spoke to him softly the dragon immediately obeying his rider. Going up with his head going through first, his wing protecting his rider from the debris that was falling. She held tightly, squeezing her eyes shut when she heard the screams of the people Daelys had harmed making his way inside. ( up, Daelys, up )

The dust blurred her vision, covering her mouth with her cloak to avoid breathing it in as she waited for it to clear. She could hear Meleys who had found another way out, leaving her inside as the doors began to close.

The dust slowly started to clear, a part of her wished it hadn't as her lilac eyes met Aemonds, whose jaw clenched at the sight of the woman he loved staring down at him from atop her dragon.

Daelys slowly moved forward, his head lowering as his teeth bared. Rhaella knew with one word she could end the war before it began, one word.

Rhaella released a shaky breath as a tear fell down her cheek. Alicent held Aegon tightly behind her, closing her eyes.

  "Dr-" The word wanted to come out but Rhaella couldn't make herself do it, not as she held Aemonds gaze, a pleading one which begged her not to go. But now she has seen where his allegiance will always stand, so she makes the decision that is best for her and her child.

Daelys sensing her distress raised his wings and released a guttural roar, the wind from him nearly blew the Greens to the ground. Alicent opened her eyes whilst shaking when she felt no fire, realizing that the Princes couldn't kill the father of her child, the man she loved.

Rhaella didn't look back as yet another tear slipped down her cheek, she didn't have to command Daelys to fly he felt her, turning and flapping his wings bringing himself to a hover as he tore threw the doors that were nearly closed. Due to his size, he barely made it through in time.

But Rhaella sighed when she felt the air against her face, the feeling of no longer being locked away in her chamber not what was going to happen next. She saw Meleys flying just ahead, the red shining beautifully in the sunlight.

She urged Daelys to fly faster, knowing the war would only start once she reached Dragonstone. Her hands clenching the ropes when she realized she was leaving everything and everyone she had grown to love behind.