𝑾𝑨𝑹 𝑶𝑭 𝑯𝑬𝑨𝑹𝑻𝑺 ˖*°࿐
05. the weight of blood and betrayal
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VALAENA HAD A BAD FEELING. The moment she opened her eyes and drifted from her bed, she felt something, she felt the air around her sharp, the absence of noise concerning, the loss of light making her nerves pick up. In such a big castle this was not normal.

She quickly dressed herself, throwing her hair into a braid before she quietly left her chambers. The sun wasn't out yet, and around her, the few servants who were up moved quickly without giving her a look.

Valaena frowned, her heart speeding up. Something was wrong. As she made her way up to her sister's chambers, the noise coming from Otto's room made her stop in her tracks. She stopped breathing, checking around her making sure nobody was listening before she silently leaned against the doors.

– Who knows? – Otto's voice came from inside the door.

– My handmaiden, Talya. – Her mother's voice replied. Valaena frowned, what was her mother doing at these hours in her father's chambers? – Some of the servants. I saw him last night before he...He told me he wished for Aegon to be king. It is the truth. Uttered with his own lips. His last words to me and I was the only one to hear it. And now he's dead.

Valaena gasped, quickly covering it with her hand. No. Could that mean...? She stepped away, her heart beating so fast she swore it would explode. This could not be happening. Not now.

As she returned to her rooms, she wondered: did anybody know? Her father was dead, the king died. And Rhaenyra was not even aware.

She bit her lip. Knowing Otto, he would make sure she wouldn't be made aware of it. And that was something Valaena would not allow. Not if she could do something to stop it.

𓆩⟡𓆪

– It is our fate, I think, to crave always what is given to another. If one possesses a thing, the other will take it away. – Helaena's voice made Valaena's head snap up. After finding out about the death of her father, she couldn't stay still. She busied herself with acting as normal as she could: if someone suspected she knew, they wouldn't doubt to warn Otto.

– Helaena, another dream again? – She softly whispered as she smiled at her nephews: Jaehaera and Jaehaerys were the cutest children she ever saw. Even if she was against Aegon's and Helaena's marriage, she couldn't deny her heart clenching as Jaehaera closed her small fingers on one of hers.

She also couldn't stop her mind from wandering: would she also have children one day? She had to be honest, she didn't know if she saw herself being a mother one day. But as she was told from a young age, she was a princess of the realm, and her contribution to the kingdom was to produce future heirs.

But still, she wasn't marrying the heir to the throne. She wouldn't be charged with that immediate responsibility that other ladies had. Even so, her mind betrayed her, Jacaerys' face surfing from her memories, making her blush slightly. Would their children inherit her eyes or his? Valaena scolded herself, shaking her head to focus.

The door opening caught her attention, her stomach clenching as her mother stepped into the room, dread filling her body as Otto's figure followed. They knew. Valaena slowly stood up.

– Mother. – She greeted before moving closer to Helaena. Something was wrong, she could tell by her mother's eyes, the way she roamed the room looking for something.

– Where is Aegon? – She asked, panting. Valaena frowned. She shared a glance with her sister who quickly bowed her head.

– He's not here, as you can see. – Valaena answered, Otto's eyes making her slightly move, covering Helaena's figure.

– He was not in his chambers.. – He commented.

– Well, I'm not Aegon's babysitter. Surely he's grown enough to take care of himself. – She replied, pulling her chin up. She clenched her hands, silence filling the room as he regarded her.

– Father... – Alicent said, her hand stopping him before he left the room without looking at them. Their mother waited until the children left with their wet nurse before she looked at their daughters.

– What happened? – Sweet Helaena asked. Valaena knew what was coming, her eyes following her mother as she took a seat next to her sister.

– Your father... — She started, choking as she tried to get the words out of her mouth.

– There's a beast beneath the boards. – Helaena interrupted her, Valaena scrutinized her eyes. She was trying to tell them something. It was always like that: with the years, Valaena had started to notice that her sister's rambling acted as premonitions of something that would eventually occur. It was always difficult to tell what they referred to, but this time she was ready.

A beast... beneath the boards. What possible beast could Helaena be talking about? There were no beasts— Valaena's eyes widened. The dragons.

Her eyes found Aemond's, and before she knew it, she was following him and her mother up to one of the secluded chambers. She swallowed as she watched all the servants being escorted out. Everything was going wrong.

And she confirmed that the second Ser Criston closed the doors behind him. Valaena found herself leaning against one of the walls close to the fire. She watched with careful eyes as he stepped forward, her gaze hardening when his eyes moved to hers. She was never a fan of him and his sudden devotion to his mother.

– Prince Aegon's not to be found within the castle walls, Your Grace. – He said to her mother. – Your father has sent Ser Erryk into the city to find him.

– Ser Erryk knows Aegon. He has the advantage. – Her mother stood from the couch, walking towards him. – I trust again to you, Ser Criston, and to your loyalty. Aegon must be found, and he must be brought to me. The very fate of the Seven Kingdoms depends on it.

– I will not fail you. – The guard replied. Valaena clenched her hands. She had to do something. She and Aegon might not see eye to eye now, but she had fond memories of their youth together. She would not abandon him.

– I will go with you. – She stated, stepping away from the wall, ignoring Aemond's gaze on her. – If anyone knows where Aegon might be, that would be me, mother.

– Valaena... - She sighed, grabbing one of her daughter's hands in hers. – It's too dangerous for you, my love.

– I can do it, mother. Nobody knows Aegon better than me. – She smiled softly before her eyes turned towards the man next to them. – Besides, Ser Criston might need all the help he can, am I wrong?

The man in question clenched his jaw. Valaena smiled.

– I'll come with you. – Her brother said then. Of course. Valaena turned her head to him, his eye already on her. – Cole needs me, Mother. And someone has to keep an eye on Valaena. We wouldn't want my dearest sister to wander off... or something worse.

She faked a smile to him before the three of them abandoned the Red Keep in search of Aegon.

𓆩⟡𓆪

As Valaena followed her brother and Criston into the city with a cape covering her head, she couldn't stop thinking about what their mother said: her father was dead. She didn't feel sadness or guilt. She knew when she was born her father didn't care as much as he did for his firstborn. And she was fine with it.

But it still made her question her mother's words: knowing how much her father cared for Rhaenyra, it could not be possible he wanted Aegon to be king instead of her. Something wasn't matching. And even though it pained her saying it, her mother wasn't a saint herself: Valaena could still remember that dreadful night on Driftmark. That night she saw a different side of her, a part she never thought a woman like her mother could have.

But then again, knowing she was Otto's daughter, somehow it made sense. But that made her think: would she also inherit that part that would make her want to yearn for something... vengeful? For a taste of making others bend to her will?

Her front colliding into Aemond's back made her snap from her intrusive thoughts: the three of them were at the entrance of a house. Not any house. Valaena rolled her eyes: of course, the Street of Silk.

– Sometime last night, we misplaced our drinking companion. Knowing that he has been, in the past, a patron of your fine establishment, we thought to inquire here as to his whereabouts. – Ser Criston asked the woman leaning on the side of the door.

Valaena squinted her eyes: her brother would not be here. It was too obvious. If Aegon escaped (which was probably what he did), he would not come to the one place all of them knew he went to.

– Describe him. – Said the woman, smiling slightly as her eyes found Valaena, who scoffed.

– That is a delicate matter. You see, the man we seek is the young Prince Aegon. – Ser Criston continued. – I may trust, I hope, in the discretion of your trade.

The woman chuckled, leaning forward.

– The Prince is not here.

– Has he been here? Earlier, perhaps? – Aemond asked.

– Quite a bit earlier. Years ago, in fact.

– But more recently? – Insisted Ser Criston. Valaena swore under her breath: were men just genetically stupid or did they learn it?

– He does not frequent the Street of Silk. His tastes are known to be... less discriminating.

– Meaning what? – Criston asked. Again.

– I wish you luck, good Ser. And my best to your friend. – The woman smiled before her eyes found Aemond, shining brightly. – How you've grown.

Valaena's face turned into disgust. Of course. She ignored the woman's look and started walking forwards, colliding her shoulder against her brother's hard, before continuing their way.

– Well, that was horrible. Are you two just idiots, or are you faking it? – She said over her shoulder, hiding her laugh as Aemond's growl reached her ears.

– Well, if you're so smart, dear sister, please enlighten us. – He retorted. Valaena only smiled, before sticking her middle finger out. Ser Criston decided to ignore them both.

– It seems you were mistaken as to Aegon's habits. – Criston said to Aemond as they started walking.

– He could be in the hands of mercenaries, on a ship to Yi Ti. He could be dead. – Aemond answered, the three of them making their way through one of the poorer sights of the city.

– Wouldn't you like that... – Valaena murmured, looking very interested into one of the walls as her brother's eye burned into her face.

– Let us hope, for your mother's sake, that is not the case. – Criston intervened, throwing Valaena a dark look.

They continued further, looking into every shop and house they could, with zero sights of Aegon.

Here I am, trawling the city, ever the good soldier in search of a wastrel who's never taken half an interest in his birthright. – Aemond started. Valaena swore she could start to feel her eyes stay inside of how much she rolled them. – Tis I the younger brother who studies history and philosophy, it is I who trains with the sword, who rides the largest dragon in the world. It is I who should be...

Valaena blinked: she stopped, her eyes closing on her brother's hidden face. So that's why he was so interested to find their brother. Not because of care (not that she ever thought Aemond did), but because of ambition.

– I know what it is to toil for what others are freely given. – Criston tried to console him. Not a great job, might Valaena add.

– Mmm. And we can't find him, Cole. – Aemond continued. – You are a decent man with no taste for depravity. His secrets are his own. And he's welcome to them. I'm next in line to the throne. Should they come looking for me, I intend to be found.

Valaena couldn't help it, she laughed. She laughed out loud, clutching her stomach as she folded in laughter. She could feel both their gazes on her.

– You dumb toat, what could you possibly be finding funny now? – Aemond said.

– You...– Valaena tried, calming down from the laughter. – You, king? Are you that stupid, brother? Honestly, with all the reading you do, I thought your brain had managed to stick to something.

– Valaena...– Ser Criston warned, but she didn't listen. She didn't want to listen.

– Listen here, sweet brother. – She closed their space, until Aemond's hood grazed her cheeks. – Konīr's daor nykeā jēda isse bisa glaeson skori ao jāhor mirre wear se pāletilla nykeā sit va se āegenka dēmalion. Daor va issa urnēbagon. Lo ao mirre thought ao istan nykeā possible prince, ao issi dumber than nyke thought ao istan. – She smiled sweetly, before whispering. – Skoro syt gaomagon ao pendagon muñnykeā suggested Aegon naejot dīnagon Helaaena se daor ao? Kesrio syt ao istan dōrī suited syt se role (There's not a time in this life when you will ever wear the crown or sit on the Iron Throne. Not on my watch. If you ever thought you were a possible heir, you are dumber than I thought you were. Why do you think mother suggested Aegon to marry Helaena and not you? Because you were never suited for the role.

She stepped backward, smiling at Criston before she locked eyes with Aemond. She was sure now. Neither of them had ever seen eye to eye since that night in Driftmark. But now, as Aemond's cold stare met hers, she knew there was no going back. That from now on, she should watch her back.

Valaena stepped aside, smacking her shoulder against his once again. She hummed softly, before footsteps behind her were heard.

– Aemond, no! – Ser Criston intervened, stopping the prince from grabbing her sister. Valaena looked above her shoulder, hiding a smile. – Don't be a fool. She's only playing with you.

– Come on, big brother. – She taunted. – I thought you were caught up in this by now. Honestly, how many years have I been doing this? Ten?

– Valaena I swear to the old gods... – Ser Criston warned her again, tightening his grip on Aemond.

– Fine. Come on, I know the person who knows where our dear brother is. – She said, turning on her feet before marching forward until she reached the end of the street, a small square coming into view. – There. – She pointed, the figure of Misarya coming into view. – If anyone in King's Landing knows where Aegon is, it's her.

– Didn't you say you were so certain of where he was? – Aemond complained.

– Yes, and I do know where he is. But why would I tell you? I don't want to clean up your mess when you decide to kill him because you think you're more deserving of the throne.

𓆩⟡𓆪

The three of them followed the twins, waiting outside the Church as Ser Arryk came out, bringing Aegon with him. As Valaena made eye contact with him, he sprinted, trying his best to escape. She rolled her eyes.

Literal children.

Valaena sprints, following close to Aemond as he collides with Aegon, both of them grunting as they reach the floor. She comes to a stop, one of her hands coming in contact with one of her kindjals strapped to her tight.

– No! Stop! No. – Aegon protested, laughing maniacally as their brother held him from above.

– I was hoping you disappeared. – Aemond commented.

– Is our father truly dead? – Aegon asked.

– Yes and they're going to make you king. – Aemond said. Valaena felt her pulse heightened. Aegon spitting and trying to break free made her jump, taking out her dagger as Aemond grabbed him again.

– No! Let me go! Let me go! Brother! – Aegon kept grunting. – Valaena, please! Let me go! I have no wish to rule! No taste for duty! I'm not suited. – He continued. – You'll get no argument from me. – He turned, grabbing Aemond by his face. – You let me go, I will find a ship and sail away, never to be found.

Aemond paused at this. There it was. Her brother's opportunity, presented on a silver platter. But before he could respond, Criston's figure appeared, grabbing them both by their shoulders.

– The Queen awaits. – And with that, he took Aegon, leaving Aemond and Valaena behind. She laughed slightly.

– Poor Aemond. – She taunted. Stepping forward as she played with the kindjal in her hands. – Ao ēdan se opportunity, paktot konīr. Ao bē jiōraton skoros ao jeldan, didn't ao, lēkia? (You had the opportunity, right there. You almost got what you wanted, didn't you, brother? ) – She smiled, tutting softly before following the pair to the Red Keep, once again.

𓆩⟡𓆪

The second they arrived back in the Red Keep, night had already claimed the skies. But Valaena didn't care. Didn't think of anything else, of Aegon, of Helaena.

She quietly ran through the halls of the castle, making her way to her mother's chambers. She had to make sure. She had to know. Her mother, her dear mother, would not be on board with this. She couldn't.

Her heart beating sharply against her chest as she rounded the halls made her enter the rooms without knocking.

– Mother I need to know– She stopped as her eyes found her mother... and Lord Larys. She frowned, until her eyes found her mother's feet uncovered, and one of the man's hands... – Lord Larys, can you give us a moment, please?

The man in question took out his hand quickly, sharing a look with her mother before making his way out of the rooms, bowing his head slightly.

As silence ruled over the space, mother and daughter regarded each other. Valaena could see her mother's chest moving rapidly, her eyes frantically looking at her, begging her to say something– anything.

– Valaena– She tried to say, covering her bare feet with the end of her dress as she got to her feet. But Valaena denied with her head, raising one of her hands.

– I do not wish to know, mother. Truly. – She swallowed, trying to calm her breathing. – But I do need to hear you say it.

Her mother's posture went rigid, folding her hands in front of her as she breathed deeply.

– Is father really dead? – Valaena whispered, clenching both of her hands as she anxiously waited to hear her reply.

Alicent swallowed, blinking slightly as she looked anywhere but her daughter. Silence reigned over the room as she tried to come up with the words.

– Yes, my love. He's dead. – She answered, Valaena blinking as the words hit her, feeling her body enter a shock state as she digested the words. He was truly dead.

– He's dead. – Valaena whispered, her heart skipping a beat as her brain started to think, and think of the repercussions this will have. – Oh gods above, what are we supposed to do now?Who is going to– Rhaenyra! She will be heartbroken when she finds out about–

She couldn't finish her sentence as her mother's hands grabbed her arms, silencing her. She looked up to her, her heart stopping as she looked into her eyes: the warmth that always seemed to be there when she looked at her was gone, replaced by sharp pupils and wide gaze, scaring her to the point she blinked, doubting her subconscious if she was really her mother.

– Mother...? – She whispered, trying to free her hands from her grip with no avail.

– You will not speak about this to anyone, Valaena. Do I make myself clear? – Her mother's cold tone made her still.

– B-But Rhaenyra...

– Rhaenyra will know when the time comes. – Her mother silenced her again. Valaena closed her mouth, blinking as her brain tried to comprehend what was happening: her mother didn't want Rhaenyra to know? It was their father, for heaven's sake! She had a right to know, to pay her respects, to say goodbye.

Her mother sighed, her grip on her arms softening as one of her hands grabbed a piece of Valaena's hair and putting it behind her ear, grabbing one side of her face.

– My love, – her mother softly said, smiling — your father told me on his deathbed he saw Aegon as king of the Seven Kingdoms. – Valaena frowned. – He wanted to see Aegon ascend the Iron Throne. And that's what's going to happen.

– But what about Rhaenyra? Father made her his heir. – Valaena contradicted.

Her mother's touch left her as she turned around, slowly walking up to the closed windows. Valaena sharply breathed in air, the sound of her beating heart making her clench her eyes shut.

Think, Valena. Think.

Her father was dead. The king was dead. And her mother– and probably Otto as well– didn't want Rhaenyra to find out. And if that wasn't enough, they wanted to make Aegon king. Aegon. Valaena could almost laugh out loud: Aegon was never fit to be king.

She opened her eyes: this would only end in one way, war. And not any war between sides, worse. A war between a House itself.

Her sister Helaena's words came into her mind: A beast beneath the boards... She swallowed. If Aegon was crowned king they would only fight how they knew: with dragons.

Valaena breathed in. She had to do something. She always complained about not being able to do anything along the walls of the Red Keep. But this was her chance, this was the reason she spent countless nights practicing with her kindjals, flying with Lyaeth until dawn cracked, reading as many books on history as she could find. This was what she had been waiting for.

She needed to warn Rhaenyra. She could not stop her mother's wishes now, not with her grandfather lurking in the shadows. She would not listen. Valaena had to get to Dragonstone before it was too late.

She just needed an escape plan.

Her eyes widened.

– If that's what father wanted, then so be it. – She said, her mother's figure turning around, frowning at her. She swallowed. – If that's what his dying wish was, then Aegon will ascend the Iron Throne.

Her mother blinked, nodding quickly with her head as tears filled her eyes.

– But we need allies, mother. – Valaena spoke, her mind slowly forming a plan in her head. – When Rhaenyra gets news of this –which she will one way or another– she will not react peacefully. If Aegon wants to keep the crown, we need our allies to raise their banners for us. – She took a step forward. – I will come for them, mother.

Her mother's frown deepened.

– Valaena... – She tried to say, stepping forwards. But her daughter had already grabbed her hands.

– There is no time to waste, mother. If we want to succeed in this, we need to act fast: I will fly north to House Stark, we will need their men. The gods know House Stark never forgets an oath. – She continued. If Valaena wanted to make it out of there, she needed to convince her. – I'm the youngest. Nobody will miss me at the coronation. My dragon is also the fastest: Vhagar is too big and old, and Helaena will be Queen. I'm the only one you have.

Her mother's silence accelerated the beatings of her heart. She squeezed her hands in hers, looking into her eyes. Please mother, please.

– Very well. So be it, Valaena. – She finally answered. Valaena tried to contain her happiness, nodding with her head. – You will fly up north and let Lord Stark know of Aegon's coronation... – Her mother grabbed her face with both hands, bringing them both closer. – But promise me you will be careful: there are many out there who wouldn't doubt to have one of the princesses of the realm in their grasp for just a few coins of gold. If anything dared to happen to you I... – She swallowed, engulfing her daughter in a hug as she kissed her head. – Send a raven if anything happens.

Valaena stepped back, squeezing her mother's hands before she nodded.

– I will. I will do my duty for the best of the realm, mother. – She said, regarding her mother one last time before she left her chambers, knowing that the next time they spoke, would be from different sides of the war.

𓆩⟡𓆪

Valaena arrived into her chambers, changing into her dragon riding clothes and grabbing a few things before her figure collided with another. She blinked, her eyes meeting her sister's.

– Helaena. – She breathed, grabbing her sister's hands and shoving her into her chambers before closing the doors. – I need to tell you something.

– Where are you going, sister? – Helaena asked her, worry etched into her face. Valaena swallowed. She had to know, Helaena needed to know the truth. She grabbed her hands.

– Our father is dead. They want to make Aegon king, Helaena. And they don't want Rhaenyra to know until the coronation is over. – She whispered, her eyes frantically searching her face for any reaction. – I have to warn her, sister. Rhaenyra needs to know.

Helaena stood in silence, her eyes boring into hers as Valaena prayed she didn't just seal her destiny.

– Okay. – Her sister finally whispered back. – I will cover for you, sister. – But before Valaena could go, her grip on her arms tightened. – A rose in shadow, bound by flame, seeks the storm, though none will name. One step north, two wings soar, a thread unbroken, a kin restored. – Helaena whispered.

Valaena swallowed. Another dream. She nodded, hugging her sister tightly before she fled, running in the night until she arrived into the Dragonpit. She quietly made her way up to Lyraeth's cell, the she-dragon soundly asleep, hiding her face with her wings.

– Lyraeth. – Valaena whispered as she rounded the dragon's big body until her hands made contact with one of her wings. – Dōna hāedar, wake bē. Nyke jorrāelagon ao naejot sōvegon issa naejot zaldrīzesdōron (Sweet girl, wake up. I need you to fly me to Dragonstone). – The dragon's body rumbled, her white wings slowly lifting upwards as one of her blue eyes opened slightly, taking her in before she closed it, slowly lifting herself up the ground. – Rytsas gevie. Nyke sīr sorry nyke woke ao bē (Hello beautiful. I am so sorry I woke you up.)

Lyraeth just turned around, her snout softly hitting Valaena's chest, her rider laughing slightly as the warmth of the dragon engulfed her. She petted her softly before she rapidly climbed up her leg and up her neck until she sat in her riding mount. She grabbed the handles tightly as she breathed heavily, Lyraeth already making her way out.

– Sōvegon, Lyraeth (Fly, Lyraeth). – She commanded, praying she wasn't too late as they both ascended into the night skies, turning her head as the figure of King's Landing slowly disappeared, hiding beneath the clouds.

Valaena hoped she would make it on time. Hoped they would believe her.

𓆩⟡𓆪

author's note
hello hello!! I'm back and ready to get into this story again!!!
I'm excited because there's only one chapter left and then we're going to season 2 AHHHHH I cannot wait to start writing winterfell and everything else, I have SO many ideas for everything hihihi
I hope you are still here reading <3
Thank you for your support as always, and I hope you enjoyed this chapter (even though it's not my best)