Chapter Text
▪︎ RHAENYRA ▪︎
Just like with the beginning of her house, it starts with a dream. A dream so bloody and destructive she wakes with a scream.
"Princess?", the worried voice of Criston Cole calls out from the door. "Is everything alright?"
Taking deep breaths, she shakes as she hears the voice of the future traitor.
"I-I am fine, ser. No need to worry."
"If you say so princess." He responds, finally ridding her of his presence.
Getting up from her bed, she begins to pace. Mulling over the contents of the dream she just had. Past events that have already passed and future events that are to come. Events like her father taking Alicent to wife.
The dreams showed her Alicent, walking through the halls deep into the night wearing a gown more suited for a mature woman than for a maiden.
It was odd, she could scarcely believe it. Alicent who always made sure to express her piety and faith behaving in a way that insulted the virtues of the Seven.
Then her father. Naming her heir then begeting 3 sons with Alicent creating challenges to her claim. What shocked her most was the lack of preparation and education for her position as heir.
As of now, she had not thought much of it with her only being named heir recently. But as the dreams showed her, years passed by with not one tutor or maester coming to assist with her education. An insult and a mistake not even Aenys made.
She doubted him now. 'Did he even mean for me to be queen? Or is he truly foolish enough to think the lords will take his words without a failsafe in place.'
'I should have expected it,' she thought. After all the entire reason he sits the throne is because the lords did not want a woman upon it. She was the last choice, not because he believed in her but because he did not have his precious son.
'He only acknowledged me once he could no longer take from my mother,' the bitter thought crept in. 'Is it my fate to be everyone's last choice?'
She saw her life in the Red Keep after Alicent called for banners at her and Laenor's wedding. The constant humiliation and shame that followed her steps. Laenor's prolonged absences and his inability to do his duty to her, leading to those precious brown-haired boys.
Even her marriage to him had been a ploy to undermine her. Giving her to a man whose cock shrunk at the sight of her nakedness, forcing her to choose between having no heirs or birthing illegitimate ones. Although choosing Harwin as their sire was not the wisest choice.
She smiled at the thought of him. Sweet Harwin, one of her only comforts in those miserable times. A good man, content with just the presence of her and their children, content with never claiming them so long as he could be by their side. Sent away to his death alongside his father, on the passing words of Alicent.
Rhaenyra stopped and sat, taking a deep breath wondering how to nip the buds of war before they bloomed.
'The first step is getting out of this wretched city.' As she is still heir, Dragonstone is under her control. There, she would be away from the prying eyes of court and be free to consulate power.
Coming to her mind first was her household. A princess of the blood having no ladies, no household knights, and barely any personal servants was no coincidence. Likely Otto's doing as his daughter was Rhaenyra's only companion before he set his eyes on her being queen.
Ideas for her future companions ran through her head. She must be mindful of her precarious position as heir, still unsure whether to keep her claim or withdraw it. Her ladies must not be women of too high standing or too low, has to be right in the middle.
Her darling Elinda would be the first, although she might be a little young at this time. Then maybe Johanna Swann, preventing the Triarchy from kidnapping her.
But at minimum there must be one from each of the seven kingdoms.
It would be simple to get her father's permission. To tug on a few heart strings here and there.
As she finalized these plans, her heart hardened. She will never allow herself to be trampled upon again.