┊͙✧˖*°࿐ 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍

𝐑𝐡𝐚𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤, thought she knew how to deal with the pain that it brought her. The feeling of her heart tightening so much in her chest she felt as if she couldn't breathe. Her fingers clenched the ropes connected to Daelys, the skin rubbed raw from her grip. The tears had dried from the wind slapping against her face.

The look in Aemonds eye was one she would never forget, the look of betrayal. She wished she could go back and everything would be fine, her mother would be Queen and she could be with Aemond, raising their child in the peacefulness of her mother's reign.

Though that was just a dream, a fairytale that made Rhaella squeeze her eyes shut in anger and sadness knowing it would never come true. The world was much too complicated for there ever to be complete peace and prosperity.

Her child would more than likely never know its father. The father who had betrayed her and her mother. The rightful heir to the throne. He had defended the man who had never done anything in his life to deserve his brother's loyalty or the Iron Throne.

The things he had done to her sent shivers down her spine every time she thought of it. She had trusted her husband and he had betrayed her. She had made the right decision in leaving, trying to force herself to keep flying ahead, the sight of Dragonstone coming into view, she wanted to turn around and go back to Aemond. But she couldn't, there was nothing left to go back to.

She sighed heavily when Daelys began to land as gently as he could beside Meleys, the dragons chuttering to one another as they lowered their heads so their riders could climb down from their places on their backs.

Daelys nudged Rhaella with his nose, making a purring noise against her before he lifted his head, wind from his wings stirring up the sand into the air as he took off, Meleys following shortly behind.

Rhaenys followed beside her granddaughter as they made their way towards the castle, the guard's heads lifting.

Rhaella nodded, back straightening ever so slightly. "I am here to see my mother, it is urgent."

One of the Kingsguard nodded to his side, his fellow guardsmen going ahead into the castle to request their presence for the Princesses. Ser Lorent was not gone but for only a short time before he returned, gesturing for Rhaella and Rhaenys to follow.

Rhaella kept her hands together in front of her as she slowly walked down the steps, her mother coming into her line of sight, Daemon watching curiously behind her.

"The Princesses Rhaella Velaryon and Rhaenys Targaryen." Ser Lorent announced as Rhaenyra smiled brightly at the sight of her daughter. Who looked not as sick as Alicent had made her out to be, urging her to return on dragon back as soon as she could.

Rhaella had wasted no time in going into her mother's arms which had been awaiting her. She wrapped her arms around her, a tear falling at the comfort being with her brought her, a feeling she thought she would never feel again.

"Thank you, Ser Lorent." Rhaenyra spoke to the knight as she pulled away from her daughter who nodded, taking his place on the other side of the room. Rhaenyra's hands reached up to cup her daughter's cheeks, which were swollen and red from tears. "My dear girl."

Rhaella shook her head, stepping back a few steps,

"Viserys is dead." Rhaenys stated bluntly, Rhaenyra's once smiling face dropped into one of despair. Daemon slowly turned to face them. "I grieve this loss with you, Rhaenyra. My cousin, your father, possessed a kind heart."

Rhaella reached out to hold onto her mother's hand, the woman barely being able to squeeze it in return.

"There is more, mother," Rhaella spoke to her softly, meeting Daemon's eyes over her shoulder. "Aegon has been crowned as his successor." When Rhaenyra softly gasped in pain, Rhaella could recall that look anywhere. It was a pain she had felt many times.

"They crowned him?" Rhaenyra mumbled, mostly to herself as Daemon finally walked over to them, his gaze meeting Rhaella's whose eyes were filled with sadness.

"How did Viserys die?" He questioned her, Rhaella looked away unable to answer his question.

"We could not say." Rhaenys answered for her granddaughter.

"How long ago?" Rhaenyra let go of Rhaella's hand to hold her stomach, sharp pains surging through her.

"A day passed, perhaps two. Rhaella and I were made prisoners in our quarters while the Queen made her preparations."

Rhaella felt the babe in her stomach kick her harshly, the young Princess releasing a breath while Daemon's anger could be felt throughout the room.

"Viserys has been slain."

Rhaenyra ignored his words, instead keeping her gaze flitting between Rhaella and Rhaenys. "Alicent demanded you declare for Aegon?"

"She did," Rhaenys answered curtly. "we refused her."

Daemon's eyes narrowed at them. "And yet you both are alive."

Rhaella swallowed wincing when her mother's pained gasp could be heard again. "He was crowned in the Dragonpit, the High Septon performed the coronation himself. I witnessed it from atop Daelys right before I fled with grandmother."

Her mother's jaw clenched. "They crowned him before the masses."

"So that the masses would see him as their rightful King."

Daemon's hands gripped the wooden table. "That whore of a Queen murdered my brother and stole his throne and you could have burned them all for it." His anger was directed at Rhaella who held his gaze, knowing he knew why she hadn't.

Rhaenys stepped forward to defend her granddaughter. "A war is like to be fought over this treachery, to be sure. But that war is not Rhaella's to begin." Rhaenys placed her hand on the table, meeting Rhaenyras eyes as Daemon hummed. "I only rush this warning to you out of the love for my granddaughter and out of loyalty to my husband and to my house."

Rhaella held her mother's arm as she stumbled.

  "The Greens are coming for you. Rhaenyra. And for your children. You should leave Dragonstone at once."

Rhaenyra looked at her daughter who was looking back at her with nothing but concern in her lilac eyes. When she suddenly doubled over gasping sharply in pain, Rhaella gasped holding her mother up so she wouldn't fall to the ground.

  "Mother?" Rhaella called out softly to her but panic was covering her mother's features as she reached her hand underneath the many layers of her dress, her hand coming back covered in blood.

  "The babe is coming."

~

  Not long after, Rhaella had helped her mother up the stairs and out of her dress and into something far more comfortable as the maester spoke in hushed whispers to the midwives who were watching nervously from the opposite side of the room.

Rhaella didn't touch her mother, sensing that in being in such pain touch would only bring discomfort. She held a warm rag in her hand as her mother walked around the room stumbling into the stone pillar as she shouted at the midwives that approached her.

   "Mother?" Rhaella turned her head at the sounds of her twin's voice, and footsteps coming further into the room. Jace and Luke's eyes were wide when they caught sight of their sister, not knowing she had arrived, and without Aemond. Their eyes soon filled with worry when they saw their mother in such agonizing pain.

Rhaella walked over to her brothers, placing her hand on Lukes arm.

"Princess."

Rhaenyra turned and looked at her children, taking a sharp breath as spells of pain shuttered through her. "Your grandsire, King Viserys, has passed."

  "Viserys?" Luke called out in shock, feeling Rhaella run her hand over his head.

  "The Greens have repudiated the succession and claimed the Iron Throne. Aegon has been crowned King." Rhaenyra spoke in short breaths.

Jace stepped away from his siblings. "What is to be done about it?"

Rhaella gently shook her head, grasping his arm.

  "Nothing yet."

Jace clenched his jaw, now noticing it was only his sister with his mother. "And where is Daemon?"

Rhaenyra cried out, Rhaella rushing to her side. "I don't know. Gone to madness. Gone to plot his war."

Jace shared a look with his sister, who nodded to him. "Leave Daemon with me."

Their mother rubbed her hand over her stomach, calling out before Jace and Luke could leave the room. "Jace." When he didn't stop she called out once again for him. "Jacaerys." He finally stopped turning towards the two women whom he cared for dearly. "Whatever claim remains to me, you are now its heir. Naught is to be done but by my command." Jace sent a short nod before he left to find Daemon.

Rhaella felt helpless, there was nothing she could do as her mother shoved the midwives away when the pain came in endless waves once more. She huddled herself into a corner screaming and shouting for the babe to get out, blood soaking every part of her hands and legs.

The young Princess covered her mouth as tears slipped down her cheeks as Rhaenyra screamed for Daemon, a gush of blood soaking the floor. Rhaella closed her eyes, placing her hand on her stomach when the child finally came into the world, but it was far too soon. There were no screams emitting from the babe, it was silent as Rhaenyra brought it up to her chest and cradled her child close to her chest, rocking back and forth.

Daemon standing in the archway caught Rhaellas eye, she frowned at him. Anger consumed her features at the sight of the man, she could tell his heart was shattering, his eyes never leaving Rhaenyra, it became clear to him his daughter did not survive the birth. He swallowed, jaw clenching. Daemon cast a single glance at Rhaella before he turned in anger and sorrow and left the chamber once more.

Rhaella couldn't imagine the pain her mother was feeling, she hadn't had her child and she hoped she would never have to experience the pain of losing them.

She could do nothing as the maester gently urged her out of the room, leaving her mother alone in her grief to prepare for the funeral.

~

  The wind blew softly against Rhaella's silver hair, the strands not secure in her braids fell into her face. She held Joffrey against her as she watched the smoke rise into the air, the smell consuming her senses.

Rhaella didn't have to see her mother's face to know it showed nothing but pain and sorrow. Daemon stood stiffly beside her, their eyes never leaving the fire where they had laid their youngest child to rest.

Rhaella pulled Joffrey closer to her, Jace moving closer to her in a protective stance when their eyes followed the Kingsguard up the hill, the other Kingsguard raising their swords toward him. At the sound of metal, Daemon turned.

  "I mean no harm brothers." As he removed his helmet, Rhaella recognized him. Ser Erryk, the man who had saved her and her grandmother from being prisoners in Kingslanding. Her defensive stance slowly eased, causing Jacaerys to glance at her.

Ser Erryk took a few short steps when the men lowered their swords. He knelt in front of Daemon and Rhaenyra, King Viserys' crown in his hands as he pulled it from the tote on his side. "I swear to ward the Queen, with all my strength, and give my blood for hers. I shall take no wife, hold no lands, father no children."

Rhaella watched Daemon stare down at the crown, taking it into his hands slowly.

  "I shall guard her secrets, obey her commands, ride at her side, and defend her name and honor."

Daemon slowly turned towards Rhaenyra, standing close to her as he placed the crown gently on the top of her head. Its rightful place. He kneeled in front of her, meeting her eyes.

  "My Queen."

At that moment as Rhaenyra looked up from where he was kneeling everyone followed suit.

Rhaella took Jace and Luke's hands as they helped her kneel, carefully to not hurt her. She kneeled and lowered her head towards her mother behind Joffrey and beside Jace and Luke.

Her heart raced as she felt as if the air around her had changed, her mother was Queen. The kingdom was split in half. Green and Black.

She prayed when the war was over her mother would not have to rule over a kingdom of ash and bone.