It is now the ninth year of King Viserys I Targaryen's reign.
172 years before the death of the Mad King, Aerys, and the birth of his daughter, Princess Daenerys Targaryen.
It was a clear day with a yellow she-dragon flowing through the sky with a young 14-year-old girl with silver gold hair and purple eyes riding her. As they soared through the clouds, they began to descend on a city, passing by a red keep, and then descended on the city below with the people walking through, not fearing the dragon that flew over their heads. The dragon made her way to a huge building known as the Dragonpit, where she was housed with other dragons with her and landed near one of the entrances to the Pit with two monk-like acolytes approaching them. An acolyte came too close, and the dragon growled at them as they came when the younger acolyte came too close, as the older acolyte stopped him.
"Dohaeras, Syrax!" The older man commanded in a firm voice to the dragon.
"Umbas," The younger man said with a less confident voice. "Rybas," he said again with more confidence in his tone.
Then a young girl in her riding clothes leaped off her saddle and began to pet her dragon companion.
"Welcome back, Princess," said a knight in white armor on a white horse near her, "I trust your ride was pleasant."
"Don't look too relieved, Ser." said the Princess as she began to walk over to the carriage with two girls her age waiting for her.
"I am relieved." The knight replied, "Every time that golden beast brings you back unspoiled, it saves my head from a spike."
The Princess laughed as she approached her friends.
"Syrax is growing quickly," Stated the girl with brown hair and brown eyes in a light blue dress.
"Soon, she'll be as large as Caraxes and Orvax" The other girl with golden blonde hair and emerald eyes wore a crimson red dress.
"That's almost large enough to saddle two," The Princess commented with a playful smile.
"A day I eagerly wait for," The girl replied
"Not all of us have the lion-like courage of Leah Lannister," The brown-haired girl replied
"Are you afraid, dear Alicent?" Leah said cheekily
"I'm simply stating that I'm quite content as a spectator, thank you." Alicent shot back with a smile as Leah rolled her eyes. They and the Princess got in the carriage while the dragon was being lured into one of the entrances of the Dragon Pit.
The carriage then left the building as it made its way through the city known as King's Landing passing by the civilians and making its way to the castle known as the Red Keep. King's Landing was the capital of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. It got its name when Aegon the Conqueror and his sister-wives, Visenya and Rhaenys, landed on the continent at the beginning of their conquest of the Seven Kingdoms. Eventually, the carriage made its way to the Red Keep, the home of House Targaryen. It was said that it was built by the Conqueror's second son, Maegor, with red bricks, so the color reminds the people of the price of defiance. The three girls through the Red Keep in arms of each other, passing by servants and members of the royal court and passing through the hallway, and walking upstairs until they entered a room with a heavily pregnant woman sitting on a divan with many servants and maids attending to her.
"Ah…. Rhaenyra." The woman said as she saw her daughter enter the room. "You know I don't like you flying when I'm in this condition."
"You don't like me to go flying in any condition." The princess, Rhaenyra, complained as her mother looked sternly at her.
"Your Grace," Alicent greeted with her head bowed.
"Good morrow, your Grace," Leah said as she did the same.
"Good morrow Leah, good morrow, Alicent." The Queen greeted back
"Did you sleep?" asked Rhaenyra as she sat down on the ottoman near her mother
"I slept," The Queen simply said.
"How long?" Rhaenyra pressed, not believing her mother.
"I don't need mothering, Rhaenyra." The Queen stated with an annoyed tone
"Well, here you are, surrounded by attendants, all focused on the babe." Rhaenyra defended, "Someone has to attend to you."
The Queen could not help but smile and said, "You will lie in this bed soon enough, Rhaenrya." She lectured her daughter, "This discomfort is how we serve the realm."
Rhaenyra shook her head. "I'd rather be a knight and fight in battle and glory."
The Queen could not help but laugh while the other girls smiled as they listened to the conversation. "We have royal wombs, you and I. The childbed is our battlefield." She then said Rhaenyra frowned as she heard it. "We must learn to face it with a stiff lip." The Queen finished with a stern voice, seeing her daughters' frown. "Now, take a bath. You stink of dragon." As she finished, which earned her a smile from her daughter as she began to smile as well, but not before looking at the floor with a tired look.
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As the girls went their separate ways, 13-year-old Leah Lannister went down to the training yards and saw a boy her age practicing his sword fighting skills with the master at arms. The boy was her age, with silver-gold hair and lilac eyes. He began to defend himself from his sparring partner until he saw Leah and lost focus from looking at her. Then the partner knocked the sword out of his hand and pushed him to the ground.
"Try to keep focus, my prince," the master at arms said, "You must not let your opponent get the upper hand."
The prince sighed with an embarrassed look from being shoved to the ground like a child in front of the girl. He then picked up his sword and walked away to the barracks. After putting his sword away, he came to a bowl and washed his face with the water it contained, frustrated from practice as it was not the first time he had been knocked down. "You'll get better in time," a soft voice spoke as he turned his head.
"I don't believe that is possible." the prince said. "Especially when the king's tournament will be the first time I enter. All of King's Landing will be there."
All the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros are coming to King's Landing because the King has a tournament to celebrate the birth of the next child, who he believes is a son. However, Leah believes it's slightly premature to presume the baby will be a boy. Nevertheless, it would be the first time Baelar would be showing his prowess.
"Knights do not become skillful with a sword in a day, Baelar." Leah reasoned, "Getting knocked down on your ass is part of the process."
Baelar snorted; it was unfitting for a noble lady in Leah Lannister's position to speak with such profanity, especially since her family was from Casterly Rock and one of the wealthiest families in all the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. However, Leah was not like all other noble ladies. Most of the Lannisters were either painfully prideful, vain, or pricks. Leah was none of those as she was kind to all around her yet had a slight rebelliousness. Baelar then grabbed her hand and dragged her to a new stable as she giggled and kissed her.
"I don't see why we should be in hiding, Bae," Leah said with a smile.
"I don't want us to be the subject of gossip," Baelar explained, "you know how the court can be. Especially in my case."
Leah gave him an understanding smile, knowing of the gossip and rumors surrounding him as of late. "The gossip about your father?" she then asked.
Baelar then had a sullen look on his face. His father was Prince Aegon Targaryen, the youngest brother of King Viserys and Prince Daemon. The three brothers were different ever since they were boys. Viserys was in his history studies and enjoyed feasts and tournaments; Daemon was a wild and unpredictable man known as the Rogue Prince as he did what he liked. Aegon was more of a free spirit, wild and untamable than any other dragon. He stays in one place for a bit and always looks for the next adventure, especially with his dragon Nightwing. A great jet-black she-dragon with a crown-like frill on her head. She hatched from her egg during the final years of Aegon the Conquerors' reign. A fitting companion for Prince Aegon, for she was untamable as he was, and with her, he could fly to wherever he pleased. However, he had been spending most of his time in the Free City of Braavos. There he had another son three years of age born to a braavosi woman. Ever since, there had been rumors and slander about Prince Aegon for taking up a whore as his paramour who bore him his bastard son. While it was not shocking for the prince to have a bastard and mistress, spending most of his days with them insulted his legal wife and their legitimate son. Moreover, there were rumors of the prince trying to take his mistress as a second wife as their ancestor Aegon the Conqueror to both of his sisters to wife.
Just then, two knights came to the barracks. They did not see Prince Baelar and Lady Leah, who were in hiding.
"The boy is hopeless with a sword. How's he supposed to survive in the kings' tournament," One of the knights said, "One look at the girl and his head would be cut off."
"Well, knowing his father, what can you expect" the second knight sneered. "Too much in love with a pretty face, and all does not matter."
"I wonder how long it would be to have a common girl in his bed and sire bastards with her." the two knights laughed as they left.
Leah looked at Baelar, who had a look of anger on his face.
"You can't pay much attention to what they said," Leah reminded him
"Yes, I know, but the rumors are going around that he treats his mistress as a wife and his son as if he was a legitimate child," Baelar said. "I can't go anywhere without having looks and stares drawn to my mother and me."
"You should not care much of what they believe," Leah reasoned. "Your father does not. And many lords have bastards."
"He's a prince," Baelar reminded her. "What he does is not fitting for a prince. Besides, lords don't fly off to parts unknown when they have responsibilities with the royal family." Baelar begins to come out of hiding and make his way to grab his sword.
"He's supposed to be here for the King's tournament, is he not," Leah asked as she followed him.
"Yes," Baelar answered, "And then fly off to gods know where. Again."
Leah could see he was troubled, but then she had an idea. "How about we go riding on your dragon? That always makes you happy."
Baelar thought of it. "No, I'm supposed to be practicing for the tournament."
"You have tomorrow to practice. Let's go riding now." Leah insisted, "It's been a while since you rode Orvax."
Soon, a smile crept up on Baelar's face, and he relented. Soon they got dressed in riding clothes, went to the royal carriage, and rode to the Dragon Pit. But, first, they went to one of the back entrances, meeting some of the acolytes that guarded the nested dragons.
"Greetings, my Prince Baelar," said one of the acolytes. As a prince, it was expected for him to speak in High Valyrian, and now he's fluent in it,
"Greetings, I came to go for a ride, and Lady Leah will be with me." Said Baelar.
"Very well, my prince." The acolyte said as the others began to give the command and bring Orvax out. Orvax was a giant dragon with white scales and grey membranes on his spine and wings. He hatched shortly before the reign of Jaehaerys the Conciliator, the previous king of the Seven Kingdoms before the current king. Usually, House Targaryen's tradition was to place a dragon's egg on the cradle of newborn princes and princesses. However, Baelar's egg never hatched, much to his mother's disappointment. However, his father encouraged him to go to the dragon pit, saying that if he wanted to be a rider, he must claim a dragon, and he did. He claimed Orvax at 12 and has enjoyed riding through the skies ever since. Orvax was calmer than the other dragons but still fearsome when he and his rider are threatened or riled up. When Orvax came out, Baelar approached him and started petting him, and the dragon purred to his rider. Then Baelar helped Leah get on the dragon and then got on himself. Once ready, Orvax started to run, spread his wings, and then took off flying. Leah gripped Baelar tightly, and they soared through the skies and felt the wind in their faces as they flew over everything below them. Leah rested her chin on Baelar's shoulder, happy to see him content.
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After her flight with Baelar, Leah returned to looking for her friends. Eventually, they came to the godswood where Leah, Alicent, and Rhaenyra sat under the weirwood tree Rhaenyra was lying on the ground with her head on Alicent's lap, who was holding a history book and legs on Leah's lap.
"Did you read it?" Alicent asked with the book in her hand
"Of course, I read it," Rhaenyra said as she fiddled with a flower.
"When princess Nymeria arrived in Dorne, who did she take to husband?" Alicent asked, testing Rhaenyra to see if she was paying attention.
Rhaenyra answered, "A man."
"I believe you have to say the name Rhae," Leah said
"Lord, something," Rhaenyra answered again
Alicent then lectured, "If you answered with 'Lord Something,' Septa Marlow will be furious."
"She's funny when she's furious," Rhaenyra chuckled
"Somethings wrong, isn't it?" Leah asked, knowing her friend
"What makes you think something is wrong?" Rhaenyra asked
"Because you're always like this when something is wrong," Leah answered
Rhaenyra looked up at her friends, "Like what?"
"Disagreeable," Alicent answered, "You're worried your father is about to overshadow you with a son."
"I only worried for my mother." Rhaenyra explained, "I hope for my father that he gets a son."
"You do?" Leah asked
"As long as I can recall, it's all he's wanted," Rhaenyra said with a sad expression.
"You're saying you want him to have a son," Lean asked, surprisingly
"I want to fly with you both on dragon's back, see the great wonders across the Narrow Sea and eat only cake," Rhaenyra exclaimed.
"We're being serious," Alicent said with an annoyed tone
"I never jest about cake," Rhaenyra told Alicent
"You want to go across the Narrow Sea like your uncle," Leah asked.
"My uncle Aegon is in Essos right now, probably exploring every part of it." Rhaenyra stated, "They are even calling him, The Dragon of the East, sounds like a better life to live in."
"You aren't worried about your position?" Alicent asked Rhaenyra
"What position exactly?" Leah asked, "Once the child is born, all the attention will fall on the male heir."
"I like this position." Rhaenyra said contently, "It's quite comfortable."
Alicent, annoyed by them, closed the book and got up to leave.
"Alicent," Leah exclaimed
"Where are you going?" Rhaenyra said tiredly
"Home," Alicent answered as she turned to them, "The hour has grown late."
The two girls both got up and started to follow their friend as Rhaenyra began to recite their history lessons. "Princess Nymeria sailed across the Narrow Sea on 10,000 ships to flee their Valyrian pursuers. She took Mors Martell of Dorne to husband and burned her own fleet off Sunspear to show her people that they were finished running." Rhaenyra finished, and Alicent began to flip pages of the book to see if she got the lesson correct. When she did, Rhaenyra then tore the page off the book.
"What are you doing?" Alicent asked in shock what she just did.
"So, you remember," Rhaenyra said, giving Alicent the page.
"Rhae, if the Septa sees this book and what you-" Leah began to say when Rhaenyra immediately cut her off. "Fuck the Septa"
"Rhaenyra!" Leah and Alicent exclaimed before the girls took each other's arms and walked off laughing.
"So, do you believe your uncle will return for the tourney?" Leah asked as they walked
"He will be," Rhaenyra answered, "Especially since Baelar will be competing."
"Hopefully, he will do well in the tourney," Alicent said, "You know how dangerous they can be."
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As the evening falls on the Red Keep, Baelar enters his room, puts his sword away, and starts to get ready for bed until a woman with black hair and brown eyes enters.
"I heard you left practice earlier than usual." She spoke.
Claryssa Hunter of Longbow Hall was a noble lady from one of the most powerful families in the Vale of Arryn. Her marriage to Aegon was political, just like his brothers' marriages to their wives. There was a succession crisis when King Jaehaerys lost his eldest son Prince Ameon. The old king had another son Prince Baelon who had three sons, but Prince Aemon left behind an only child, Princess Rhaenys, who was married to Lord Corlys Velaryon, leader of one of the wealthiest and most powerful houses in the realm. When Jaehaerys chose Baelon as his heir, many believed that Princess Rhaenys should have been the heir. So Baelon's three sons soon married the most powerful houses in the kingdom of the Vale to support his claim. King Viserys to Aemma of House Arryn, Prince Daemon to Rhea of House Royce, and Aegon to Claryssa Hunter. Aegon was 15 when he married Claryssa, and she was 19.
While King Viserys' marriage was happy, Daemon and Aegon's were not. It was said Daemon hates his wife, saying that the sheep in the Vale were prettier than their women. Aegon found Claryssa to be conceited and condescending, while she found him childish and immature. While the two dislike each other, their only common thing they have is their son, whom they both love, but they have different ways of addressing him. Aegon wishes his son to be free from the responsibilities of being a royal prince and find his true self, while Claryssa pressures Baelar, repeatedly reminding him of his duty to uphold the royal status and the privileges of his birth.
"Yes, I was fighting until I lost my grip on my sword," Baelar said
"The master at arms said you lost focus." Claryssa countered.
"I saw Leah, and I got distracted; that's it," Baelar muttered
"And then you ended practice to go flying with her on Orvax," Claryssa said, staring at him.
"I was just having fun, mother," Baelar defended
"You don't have time for fun and can't afford any distractions."
"It was your idea for me to be in the tournament, not mine," Baelar complained.
"Regardless, you need to be ready for the tournament," Claryssa nagged as she walked across the table in front of the fireplace, where there were cups and a jug of wine as she poured her drink. "People from all across Westeros will be there watching you, and the last thing you need is to fail in front of everyone, including the king, and you won't get better by flying around aimlessly like a fool."
"I'm doing my best, mother." Baelar defended in a small voice, feeling nothing was enough for his mother. He always tried to uphold her expectations for him and always felt like she failed.
Claryssa looked at him with a face Baelar could not read, then she walked to him and stood in front of him. "I know you are, dear. I don't want you to humiliate yourself, for our sake."
"Mother, why do I have to be in the tourney? I'm not suited for a sword fight." Baelar asked
"Which is the more reason why you must learn," Claryssa answered, "You are a prince. At this moment, you are the only male Targaryen of your generation. Your father always had his head in the clouds, the king spent his time with feasts and tourneys, and your uncle Daemon throws tantrums left and right to get attention. So you're the only one who can uphold your status for your House.
"But there is Rhaenyra," Baelar said
"Who will be married off to another family." Claryssa answered, "That is her role. You have your own. Who knows, maybe she will be your wife soon enough."
Baelar cringed, not wanting to marry Rhaenyra. He had no ill will against his cousin, but she was not the one he wanted to marry, "But mother, what if I don't want to marry her? What if I want-"
"What you desire does not matter." Claryssa injected, "What matters is to uphold what is expected of you. I married your father because it was my duty."
"You were betrothed to father when you were 19, and he was 15, I remember," Baelar said with an annoyed tone.
"Being a prince, learning from the finest knights, riding the finest horses, it was all given to you the moment you were born. As for marriage, we marry for political advantage. That is our life, Baelar. The life your father refuses to live, even for the sake of the family. Understood." Claryssa finished with a stern look.
"Yes, mother," Baelar replied glumly, looking down at the floor.
Claryssa then walked back to the table, poured herself a cup of wine, and curtly asked, "Did you hear anything from your father yet."
"No, not yet," Baelar answered. "The letter he sent said he would be here for the tournament."
"Well, don't be surprised if he doesn't come," Claryssa said dismissively, "Probably still in Braavos with his whore and bastard."
Baelar knows how much his mother disapproves of his father's actions. She doesn't care that Aegon had a mistress and a child with her, but she is resentful that he spends time with them more than his own legal family, causing gossip throughout the court that Claryssa Hunter was a woman who could not keep her husband's interest in bed.
"He said he'll be there." Baelar insisted.