𝚈𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚐 & 𝚄𝚗𝚛𝚎𝚚𝚞𝚒𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝙻𝚘𝚟𝚎

Aelenys Targaryen was the only one of Rhaenyra's children who looked like a Targaryen. She grew up in King's Landing like all of her siblings and of course her mother. She grew up alongside her uncles, Aemond, Aegon Daeron, and her aunt Helaena. Aelenys was the only Velaryon child that Alicent actually liked because well, she looked like her father. She was the only one who was honest but more often than not kept what she knew to herself.

Rhaenys and Corlys loved their granddaughter as she was the only legitimate child of Laenor and Rhaneyra. She also looked like her aunt Laena. She was the heir to the throne and Rhaenys truly wished she could be the heir to Driftmark too as she was the only true Velaryon in Laenor's marriage. As the years passed the young girl grew into a beautiful woman but she was sent to be foster in many noble houses to gain their support and loyalty for the future. While not many people had love for Rhaenyra they did have love for her eldest daughter.

There had been plenty of letters asking for her hand in marriage. But the future queen refused each and every single one of them as she planned to marry her to her second oldest, Jacaerys. Jacaerys was sweet and kind, he would be good for her. There had been other young men who her mother thought would suit her. Her two uncles, Aegon and Aemond had been in the table but Alicent declined, at the time when Rhaenyra offered because she thought she was a bastard like her brothers. But, as she grew she had many resemblances to her father and aunt.

Many saw her as the definition of Visenya Targaryen in her youth. Laenor loved his sons, whether by blood or not he did. But, nothing could compare to the love he held for his first and true born daughter. It was true what Cersei Lannister had once said. "You never love anything in the world the way you love your first child" he loved his daughter, more than anyone else in the world, even his sister who once had been the one person he cared about the most in the world.

Aelenys grew up with the best comforts a princess could have and wish for. Her grandfather, King Viserys taught her history and the ways of ruling as she would take over her mother once the queen stepped down or passed. Her grandfather, Corlys taught her how to sail and such, all the things a Velaryon should excel in. Her sword training was overseen by her uncle Daemon, but after he left it was taken over by Harwin Strong and Criston Cole. Although her father and his "friend" more often than not took over to see she was train properly. She had been fostered with the Starks, Martells, Tyrell's, Lannister's, and of course the Tully's and Baratheon's.

Aelenys had always known her duty, she knew she would get married to a lord for duty and not love, she had become accustomed to the idea. So, when her mother choose her brother she was somewhat happy. She knew Jace would make her happy as much as she would let him. Then, her mother told her Alicent had offered an alliance, she could marry either of her sons, If Aegon, Aemond, and Jacaerys had a rivalry already, now it would a bigger rivalry for her love. They all thought they had a chance with her and they did but their hopes came crashing down when they saw her with Cregan Stark, the young man was in early twenties. In her last fostering house, which was House Stark. Cregan was the first one to welcome her in, she spent a year with the Stark family.

Cregan was a Stark through and through, without a thought. He was tall, black hair and gray eyes, the typical Stark traits. Lyenne, his twin often said the two would make cute babies with her Targaryen eyes and his Stark hair. Lyanna swore up and down that by the time her fostering would be done the two would be in love and what do you know? The two fell in love. She had told her mother about it, how she enjoyed the North and how she would love to pursue something with the oldest son of the Lord of Winterfell. Rhaenyra agreed, stating a good relationship with the North would do her future reign some good.

Cregan Stark returned to King's Landing with her, the two were sure their union would happen but they decided to keep their love a secret until the time was right. Time did pass, and it was time for her to marry. Cregan sat with his family, his father didn't look at him, he knew what was to come, he simply didn't want to admit it. At least not yet. "It is with a great pleasure that I announce my eldest daughter's bethrotal to her brother, prince Jacaerys Velaryon!" Princess Rhaenyra announced. A bright smile on her face, the same smile her son had on his face due to the news. Aegon, Aemond and Cregan had a look of betrayal (Cregan), anger (Aegon) and hatred (Aemond).

They saw the look on Aelenys face. A look full of discomfort and hurt as it seemed she was ready to cry. But, as quickly as it came it left. She then began to smile, pretending to be the perfect little princess her mother had taught her to be. And so, the night that was supposed to be one of the happiest one of her life turned into the worst. She loved her brother, she truly did, but she didn't love him the way he thought she did.

That night she cried, she didn't have time to mourn her lost love because her wedding would be within two moons. The sweet princes kept up her façade. She smiled, held her brothers hand, kissed his cheek every now and then but it was all a show. Soon enough she married her brother. Their wedding night was a pleasant one, her brother was gentle and treated good. She couldn't complain. Cregan left the South, and was soon bethroted to Arianna Tully from the Riverlands.

Aelenys's decision to travel to Dragonstone took everyone by surprise, especially her family as months prior she insisted on staying in King's Landing. Jace offered to come with but she choose to travel there and stay alone. There, she discovered she was pregnant with her first child. She cursed the gods but then asked for forgiveness, as her child had no faults in her mother's choice. As her fourth moon arrived, she decided it was time to tell her family, she told them the maester had told her to stay and rest, which was partially true. Jace, instead came to her. They spent time together but she felt no type of love aside from their sibling love.

She was content, at least her husband was not some old fat lord twice her age. Nine moons after their wedding, their first child was born. A boy. She named him Rhaegar, it was a name her father wanted to give to one of his sons but Rhaenyra refused. He was a strong and healthy babe, with all of the Targaryen and Velaryon traits, this one was a pure blood dragon of Valyrian descend. The realm rejoice at the news. The heir was secure but of course she knew she had to have at least two more.

The years passed, Lyenne Stark married Borros Baratheon, giving the lord only three children. Twin sons and a daughter. Arianna Tully gave her husband three children as well, boys. Aelenys did have more children. After Rhaegar came his sister Visenya named after the sister her mother never had. Baelon came with Visenya, her grandfather, king Viserys adored the boy. Aemma and Aemon came two years after. The king met his grandchildren, all of them. Jocelyn and Aeron were her last born children. Seven children, that's how many she bore for her husband.

Jacaerys knew, he had always known she didn't love him, but, he knew his sister was too dutiful. Jocelyn had the Baratheon traits but Aeron had the Stark traits. He knew Jocelyn was his child, but Aeron was not. When her mother sent for her to celebrate her five and twenty name day, everyone had come to see the future queen. Cregan was here as well. Jacaerys, had given her a gift. The gift of freedom for a night. To be with whoever she desires, although he knew who it would be. He let happen.

He had seen her once again, two years later, when the babes were nothing but nearly one. She told him the truth, Lord Stark saw the boy and knew but choose to say nothing. No one would ever question the boys as their father and grandmother had the Baratheon traits. They were all grateful for that. Aegon and Aemond made their own families. Aegon married Helaena, he treated her somewhat good and had three children. Aemond married Baela. The two only had two children. Laena and Laenor named after her mother and uncle.

The princess changed, she was happy, she wouldn't deny her children brought back her happiness. Jacaerys stood by her side as a dutiful husband and king consort and most of all, as her brother and friend. He was her brother after all. Queen Rhaenyra stepped down when Aelenys was only thirty. She was named the new queen of the Seven Kingdoms. All the lords of Westeros came to swear their fealty to their new queen, among them, Cregan Stark.

During an evening stroll, Lord Cregan Stark and Queen Aelenys Targaryen walked side by side, discussing alliances and plans of the future. "Do you think about it?" he asked in a quiet tone. "Think about what?" she replied. "What could've been if your mother had married us instead of you and Jacaerys" he replied. She did think about it. She knew the answer before he even finished the question. "All the time" Rhaenyra knew her daughter held no love for Jacaerys more than simply brotherly love.

"Jacaerys knows about Aeron. He loves him though. He takes him on dragon rides and teaches him how to fight. He's never seen him any different. He will be loved and cared for by his mother and his... father" it was a tough pill to swallow but he knew that if their secret came out, the child and him would pay the consequences. "I know. Lyenne was right. He has your eyes and the rest, all Stark" she smiled. That was true. "I wish things could I've been different for the both of us. But at last, we had to do our duty" she nodded. "It's true what they say. Love is the death of duty. But duty, is the death of love" she whispered before walking away.

Aegon Targaryen watched from his room. Aelenys was the only thing or person he had always wanted and love. When their families rivalry began, she acted as if it wasn't there. The two would ride their dragons and train together. He would talk about his day while she did some embroidery or as she wrote some poetry, some were about him and him alone. She had gifted them to him once he said no one had been thoughtful with their gifts to him. Nearly two decades later he still has the poems and a few letters she wrote to him. She was his first and only love. Helaena, their children or any whore could not erased her from his mind. It was an impossible thing to do. He would always love her. His young and unrequited love.

Aemond Targaryen sat near his brother, watching her. He could see that she still loved him, as the Stark man did too. He always knew she would never love him the same way he did her. But, when they were younger their love showed promised. Aemond was her first kiss, it happened when his brother and her brothers made fun of him for not having a dragon. The children told him no girl would want to kiss a Targaryen without a dragon so she took it upon herself to show him that even if he had no dragon she wanted to kiss him. Her dragon was as big as Vhagar if not more so the two would go on dragon rides together. He loved to read with her, the two often wrote poetry together. After her brother took his eye, she wrote him a short story, their story. It contained their childhood and their early youth, she told him that he could write the ending as she didn't know if they would marry or not. He did wrote the ending, "and they lived happily ever after" of course there was no happy ending for both but, he liked to pretend he married her and the children she had where theirs. He too tried to forget her but like Aegon he failed. She too was his young and unrequited love.

Jacaerys Velaryon watched them from their room. She had always held his heart, since they were children. He had always loved her, even before he knew what love meant. He knew he wanted her to be his and his only. He wanted to make her laugh, to make her happy. To make her feel loved. But as they grew, things changed as they should. She became a beautiful and kind maiden. She trained with him, practiced high Valyrian with him, the rode their dragons, they swam near the caves of Dragonstone, they did everything together. She wrote him a song once, and she even played it for him. She had this way of making people like her. He didn't know why or how but she did.

When the two married she remained loyal to him, she gave him children and even asked for his input in matters of the crown. She once told him about her greatest love, Cregan Stark. He knew about him, long before she told him. Lucerys had blabbed about it to him once. About how their mother wanted them to marry but she also wanted Jacaerys to marry her too. Jacaerys told her it was for the best to have them marry as no one would question his claim to Driftmark. Corlys Velaryon didn't care, his granddaughter would be queen and his grandchildren kings and queens in the future.

The night of her celebration, he told her he could do as she desired, she could be with the man she wanted. He knew who but he would let her have that one night for herself. The two had slept together that morning, he didn't think it was possible for a woman to have two children with two different parents but his Jocelyn and his Aeron were the proof of that. He didn't know until she told him. He didn't care, Laenor Velaryon raised him and his brothers as his own. He would raised Aeron as his own too.

The two never spoke a word about it after. He loved her, and she couldn't love him back, not the way he wanted her too. He had come to terms with the idea of it. With the idea that she would never love him, not like she loved Cregan Stark. He would always remember his young and unrequited love.

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