Chapter Text
Rhaenyra Stark
Magic had always flowed in Rhaenyra Starks veins. The Targaryen’s have always wielded magic in one way or the other. For some their dragon blood sang louder than most for that belonged to the ones who remembered that the gods and not them were in charge. For others the blood was just a way to feed their egos. The ones with the least amount of magic in their family was the current head of house Targaryen. Rhaenyra was special. She did not need anyone to tell her so. She felt it in her blood. She was the first elemental prime born since the beginning of Valyria. The ability to wield all elements and magic. Even her uncle Daemon who was the first elemental second class born since Aegon, Visenya, and Cregan, would never feel the level of power Rhaenyra currently held in her palm.
At one and eight she had become a master. The sun god was the last person to be an elemental prime. Her sons would be elementals of the first order at the very least for their father, her husband and soulmate was an elemental first class. For unlike the second-class elements, they could control two elements. Her husband’s familial element was water, and his chosen element was air. Not to mention the Starks affinity for warging, greensight and natural magic. Cregan had told her that he was the first elemental first class with magic in his family since Torren Stark. That had made Rhaenyra wonder why Torren had knelt to Aegon. For if he could warg into the dragons why not do so.
Looking out of the window from the study, Rhaenyra sees her lord husband and her sons playing in the snow. The sunlight hitting them just right. Two pairs of quicksilver eyes shining in unstoppable joy and a pair of lilac eyes joining them in their laughter. Her husband wielding the water around them. Her two little boys, finally manage to get to their father. Exclaiming their victory loudly. They had only just started to take more steps. Alexander Aemen and Augustus Rickcon, Alex and Auggie as they liked to be called by herself, Cregan, and Harold, were just one moon shy of two-name days. They were already rather tall for that age, but she was not surprised their father was astronomically large, although Rhaenyra supposed next to her most people were very large. She watched as her boys got off the ground and headed back inside the warmth of the castle.
“You better be heading for a bath” she said to her husband through their mental connection.
“Will you join me and make it worth my while?” Cregan teased in her head.
Rhaenyra laughed softly. “Perhaps.” She teased back.
Five years she had been married to that beautiful man. Five years since she had Viserys take everything away from her. Her mother and then her home. Rhaenyra had always known that she was not enough for her father, she had no cock and clearly that was the only perquisite for a useful child. It did not matter that she was the first to hatch a dragon since the doom. The first to ever do it without a sacrifice. It did not matter that she had ridden her dragon at seven name days. Or that she had become a master elemental at nine name days. She had watched her week willed father make stupid decision after stupid decision.
He had then topped it off by marrying Alicent Hightower a few weeks after her mother had been brutally murdered by him. Many had though her dislike from the decision was hurt, and while that was true, her father had failed to consider the obvious. By not marrying Leana he had left the throne weak. The Velaryon’s had gold, a formidable navy, and dragons. Two dragons. Her father the shortsighted fool had forgotten that should her uncle wish for the throne all he had to do was marry Leana. Killing his wife, the bronze bitch would have been nothing for him. He’d kill her, marry Leana, and take the throne. The realm would kneel because even monsters feared fire and Daemon had fire in spades.
Viserys had also decided that he would arm the youngest lord paramount, the one with the largest army with a dragon and a master fire wielder. Leaving the throne with no dragons. Should Rhaenyra herself want the throne she could take it. Especially now with her being an elemental prime. A fool. Did the man only know how to use his cock? Was his brain so empty he could not plan? That Daemon had not taken the throne spoke a lot about his love for his brother and his dedication to the Targaryen family motto of fire and blood. Viserys only ever thought that Daemon took the fire part of the motto serious, but the last five years had shown that Daemon had taken the blood part even more seriously. For was it not his devotion to blood stopping him from ripping Viserys a new one. Especially after the banishment. Viserys had seized to be her problem the day she had married Cregan. Otto glowed in triumph, but it was her who would have the last laugh. He had forgotten that one doesn’t not celebrate when they are only half done.
Meeting Cregan Stark had been the one moment that had truly terrified Rhaenrya, the man would make and break her entire life. She hated that, oh how she hated that. She hoped to convince him to wait till she was one and six before bedding her. She would tolerate mistresses if he left her alone. She wore Arryn blue to meet him and hoped that the gods would look upon her mother’s sacrifices and grant her a boon. The meeting had been awkward, Cregan had been cold to her father and his men even more so. He had hardly speared Alicent and Otto a glance and had greeted her coldly, albeit a little warmer than the rest. She had been a disappointed and chastised herself for having hope. She should have known by now her life would always be filled with disappointment. But then as if her mother had been the greatest martyr her boon came.
“I am sorry you are being forced to marry me” he had said after coming into her rooms the night before the wedding. “You are a princess and should be heir to the throne, and should be treated as such instead your father wishes to send you to what the south thinks is a barren wasteland of savages, I cannot give you a throne, but I can and will give you lifelong protection from everyone including myself, a great keep, a home and wealth to shelter and spoil you and gods willing our children, I will be whatever it is you ask of me, this I swear.”
The wedding had gone off without a hitch and Cregan had refused to bed her until she had grown into an actual woman. She had laughed for at one and five he was no man himself. He had cut his foot and dropped blood on the sheets. Presenting it to the septa at the door. She left with the northerners that morning before dawn. Leaving everything behind except the new winter friendly clothes she had made and her mother’s jewels that she had inherited from her mother. She wanted nothing to remind her of Kingslanding. Only Syrax was leaving with her. However Ser Harold had begged her to allow him accompany her and she had accepted.
During the month-long journey to the North, she had learned a lot about her new husband. He was a light sleeper, loved honey cakes, missed his parents, and was worried he was not enough to handle being Lord of Winterfell. He too had been betrayed by kin, he feared he was becoming a monster after wiping out a traitorous house in the north.
“I killed all of them” he’d confessed in the dark. “They tried to take what was mine with my uncle and I had no choice.”
She also found out that house Stark also had magic. For Targaryen’s may be blood of the dragon, but the Starks were blood of the children of the forest. She wondered why she had not known this.
“You southerners only see as far as your nose.” Cregan said laughing.
Cregan was godsent. At one and three Rhaenyra would not realize that the old gods and the fourteen of old Valyria had gathered in a rare show of unity to grant their most deserving children the boon of a soulmate. The children of the forest and the acolytes of the fourteen recorded that the gods very rarely granted humans the ability to bond with a soulmate. For a soulmate is different from a twin flame, you can have multiple twin flames, and twin flames like their name suggests can fizzle out. While this type of connection is also rare, a soulmate is all magic. The bond is unbreakable and together the pair are unstoppable. They will be able to connect mind, body, and soul. They will be able to see and speak as one, although they will still maintain as much individualism as desired. The bond will form slowly at first then all at once. The magic that one possesses will be shared between them, as they are one.
Rhaenyra a few moons after she arrived in Winterfell was confronted with the order of the sun. Dragon knights and priests who told her that she was the first elemental prime sine their founder Ramses the last prince of Valyria. The one known as the sun prince. The order let her know that they could teach her the ability to wield earth and fire. She had laughed and said she was already a master fire wielder and they said she had barely tapped into the true meaning of fire. They would teach both her and Cregan water and air, Cregan like her had thought himself a master, from the drawings on the caves underneath the Winterfell castle and his teachings with his late father. But the order of the sun had hundreds of scrolls detailing ways to wield the elements, in ways that their ancestors had not considered.
The first two years Rhaenyra spent in Winterfell were amazing. The young couple made headway in their studies of the elements and their magical powers. Cregan gave her a seat in his council, gave her run of the keep, discussed decisions with her. In fact, most decisions were made by the both of them. The Starks were eye wateringly wealthy. But they did not brag. They truly lived up to the adage winter is coming and that it was their duty to be prepared. But Cregan did spoil his princess. He bought her new clothes made of expensive fabrics, built Syrax a covered home but she basically lived free and grew exceptionally large. He built her an archery range. Stocked the library with books about the Eerie and old Valyria. He was courting her and she had no choice but to fall in love with him. No choice whatsoever. But two gifts stood out to her. The first had made her cry for days, it was a statue of her mother Aemma carved to her exact likeness. He put the statue in the garden that he had built her. The second came when she was least expecting it.
A few weeks before what would be their third anniversary Rhaenyra notices all the inhabitants of Winterfell were acting weird. A large feast was being thrown and lords from all the north were coming. The night before their anniversary she found out what was going on. Cregan had planned a wedding for them. He took her to the heart tree and asked her to marry him, presenting her with a Valarian steel ring that was set in Amethyst. The ceremony was in two parts one Infront of the heart tree and a Valyrian ceremony. The priest of the order of the sun willing and happy that they wanted to perform the true blood binding ceremony. The feasting had gone on till the next day, however Rhaenyra dragged Cregan out to their chambers. The lords whistling and laughing behind the young couple.
“Reminiscing fy nghalon? (My heart)” Cregan said out loud as she walked into the bathing room. She took a seat by the bath as her husband soaked in the tub.
“A little anwyl. (Beloved)” Rhaenyra answered. “A letter from Viserys, he is coming.”
Viserys Targaryen
It all started with a dream that he had. A few days after Aemma’s death Viserys thought he had his most conclusive dream. He saw blood and fire, the dragons dying the entire realm in chaos. He saw himself with three sons, he saw his brother Daemon kill one of his sons, he saw dark-haired children born to his daughter, he saw his brother take his daughter to wife, round and round the images swirled in his mind and then he woke up in a panic.
He knew he had to do something he had to stop the dream from coming to pass. So Viserys did the unthinkable and sent his daughter away. He had her marry Lord Cregan of House Stark and issued a proclamation banning his brother from Westeros for the time being and was glad when Daemon went to war in the Stepstones. Otto had been concerned about sending Rhaenyra away and giving the North a dragon and an elemental wielder. But his vision had shown him that the further away she was the less of a headache she would be. She would have a strong husband to cure her of that defiance.
When the wedding celebrations were over, and she was to leave for Winterfell he had still not heard her speak. She left with her husband and his men before daybreak leaving everything that tied her to his name except Syrax. She refused to take her wedding gifts and her husband had sent back the gold he had provided in dowery. A note simply saying that the North does not buy its women.
His heart had been broken but he had kept hope that his daughter would forgive him. He hoped that she would find happiness being the lady she was meant to be. Viserys married Alicent a few weeks later. The Vale was aghast by his decision and so were the Valeryons, but he did not care, he had seen sons in his dream and there would be nobody to stop him from having them.
Viserys had seen an elemental prime. Rhaenyra while an impressive elemental second class was neither a prince nor an elemental prime and that was what the prophecy needed.
The silence that had followed Viserys in the first four years was indescribable. He had wedded and bedded a new wife, but silence was still his most consistent companion.
The silence from his new wife as they burned yet another pyre. The silence of his hand and friend as yet another one of his grandchildren was burning. The silence of his council as they were forced to once again don mourning clothes. The silence from his only living child as she ignored another one of his letters. Viserys wondered when the silence would end.
In the first three years of his marriage to Alicent, came Aegon who was born dead and in half, then Aemond who choked to death as soon as he was removed from his mother womb, then Dearon who was born dead. Almost five years and all he had were dead sons. They had not even bothered to name this one for what was the point. This one had been born with green scales, covering its body making it look like a lizard.
The journey back to the castle was silent just like the journey to the pyre. The silence was so choking Viserys could hardly stand it. But no one would talk. For what was there to say. But there was no silence in the streets.
The kinslayer and his burning whore
The people sang it everywhere he went. Viserys wondered if the nobleman and woman also sang it behind his back. The king who had married the pauper. Alicent had brought no lands, no gold, no men, and now it seems she could not even bring forth a son. Or any living child for that matter.
All he thought of was Rhaenyra. He had heard nothing from her since that night. Not during his wedding, not during the riots that had lasted for days after. The crown was weak. He was weak and everyone knew it.
Another unopened letter returned from Winterfell. Sealed shut just like the relationship between Viserys and his daughter. He wondered what she looked like now. She had been one and three when he had last seen her, she would be turning one and eight now.
Alicent again came to him as he stared at the letter.
“From Rheanyra?” She asked.
Viserys felt anger well up within him. Who was she to speak of his daughter, when she had crawled into his wife’s bed before her ashes were even cold.
“I did not marry you for your opinion on my daughter, I married you to lay on your back and give me sons. So far you are a failure.” Viserys snapped at the redhead.
The girl trembled and Viserys rolled his eyes. Who did she think she was kidding.
“Get on the bed.” he huffed.
“I am still bleeding your grace.” Alicent stammered out.
“Then why are you here? Get out.” Viserys shouted.
He wrote to his daughter again hoping she would comfort him in during the difficult time. But once again he got no reply, and the letter was returned unopened. No daughter and more importantly no son.
Where had it all gone so wrong Viserys wondered. Dreams were supposed to come true, but none of his dreams had been realized. His second wife in their five years of marriage had not given him the living sons he had seen in his dreams.
No living child had come from their union, nothing but funerals.
He had the priests on Dragonstone come to the keep, to do a cleansing for he was running out of options. He saw that the fire in the shrine underneath the castle was already burring very low and should it die out, nothing would stop the long winter from getting them all.
“You have no heir your grace.”
His council had been hammering him for over a year now. Five years, five wasted years.
He had thought that acting on his dream would save his family. Yet he had nothing to show for it, his brother Daemon had often said that dreams had not made them Kings, dragons had, but here he was with no dragons and wrong dreams.
As he stared out the carriage, he felt sick, what could he possibly say to his daughter that would make up for his actions, he heard Caraxes above the carriage and sighed. His brother had of course insisted on accompanying him to see his niece, which had of course led to his wife and her father coming as well.
The priests had told him that his dreams had been sent to him as a warning and he had angered the gods by not seeing it as such. He had alienated the two wielders of fire in a century. He would sire no more living children for the gods had cursed him for his kinslaying.
They pulled up to a gate and he was met with the largest keep he had ever seen baring Harrenhall. It was a city all on it’s own. The carriage drew into the courtyard. Everyone drew a breath at the sheer size of the keep. As they disembarked from the carriage, he saw what he assumed were the important Lords and Ladies of the north, he scanned their faces, hoping to see his daughter. As his family moved closer to the keep, two large wolves trotted out, each carrying a young child. One sliver of hair and a black streak through his hair and one black-haired with a sliver streak through his hair. The wolves came to a stop in front of the crowds, and he saw their faces. He felt weak, in the knees. The dark-headed child had his daughter and late wife’s lilac eyes and the sliver- headed child had her pout, they both tilted their heads curiously, staring at the crowd like the strangers they were. He had done this. He was so busy staring at the two children he missed his daughter walking outside hand in hand with her husband.
“Rhaenyra?’ he said.
Rhaenyra, his daughter. The young woman in front of him could not be his daughter, there stood a tall woman, her sliver hair loose and wavy, a pearl headband keeping it all behind her. She wore a silver dress, the color of her husband’s house, which showed off her shoulders, a sizeable pear drops diamond came to rest on her chest, her shoulders, decorated with love bites that seemed to have recently been put there, the thought made him want to vomit. She had a long white fur cloak draped around her lightly. One of her hands was firmly in her husband's while one was on one of the children’s curls. He noticed that her hands were now fully decorated in runes. Both of them.
“Welcome to Winterfell your grace, my husband, sons and I welcome you to our keep.” The woman with his daughter’s face said.
“Winterfell and the north are yours, your grace, on behalf of my wife Rhaenyra and our sons Alexander and Augustus, as well as our faithful vassals we invite you to warm yourself by our hearth, drink our mead, and roam our keep.” Said Cregan Stark
The young Lord Stark whistled, and the two lads held onto the wolves’ collars and the group parted before the wolves raced the boys back into the keep. The sounds of childish laughter fill the air.
“Please let us show you to your rooms, after bathing and resting there is to be a feast,” Lord Stark continued. He turned to let Viserys walk ahead, keeping Rhaenyra right next to him. Their hands never disconnect from each other. The Lords and Ladies bowed and curtsied just enough; no smiles were given to him.
As he made his way with the guards and his family toward what he assumed was the great hall, he realized that Winterfell was so large it would be impossible for anyone to not get lost often. His wife was wearing another green monstrosity looking sad, he had no idea what she had to be sad about he was the one who had missed the birth of his grandchildren, and Otto looked angry.
When they got closer to the hall he saw his daughter, she was resting herself on her husband and he was running his hand through her wavy hair, she again had it down and, a diamond tiara on her head. She wore the same sliver dress from earlier but with no cloak. Without the cloak, he could see what a beautiful dress it was and just how beautiful his little girl had grown into. He noticed that her arms were now also filled with runes. They looked beautiful but Viserys could not understand where she had gotten them from. For Daemon only had runes on his sword hand, and Rhaenyra had only had them on her two hands. Lord Stark spotted them, and rubbed Rhaenyra’s back and dropped a kiss on her lips. He heard Alicent gasp. They were married, it was an action his father often bestowed on his mother. His heart tugged again.
“Good evening Your Grace,” the husband and wife greeted. Stark’s hand had gone across his daughter’s waist, and she held his hand to her stomach. While Rhaenyra had grown taller than he’d imagined she would, Stark was significantly bigger than her, he was tall, with large muscles and broad shoulders, his hair curly black hair was put in a bun on top of his head, and his beard looked freshly trimmed. His doublet was embroidered to match his wife’s gown, a unit is what they presented as. He looked down at his red and black outfit and Alicent’s dress and realized they clashed significantly.
“Daughter, how beautiful you look.” He said smiling at her.
“What has happened to your arms?” Daemon asked.
“Oh these, I earned them.” Rhaenyra said. “I am happy to discuss them with you later.” She continued smiling at Daemon, Viserys should not be surprised that Daemon would receive a warmer reception from her than he would, but it still hurt.
The northerners knew how to throw a feast, The hall was beautifully decorated, the food laid out looked heavenly and the atmosphere was relaxed and friendly. His daughter and her husband had made their rounds, greeting their Lords. They then had a portion of their meal with a section of the hall.
His daughter eventually returned to the high table when she noticed his wife speaking to a serving girl. He turned to listen in.
“I am afraid there is no mutton severed in the keep at the moment, the babes and I could not stomach the smell, and we have not brought it back since I had the babes.” She explained to Alicent
The hall filled with the noise of claps, cheers, and blessings little wolves. As the hall went back to their conversations, the excitement of the expansion of their liege lord’s family made the occasion more joyous.
“I am sorry Queen Alicent, I am sure you understand that pregnancy is interesting, mutton made my wife vomit terribly and she could smell it miles away that is why I have banned it from our keep. I am sure his grace has band many things from his keep for you during your pregnancies.” The Lord of the North explained. The truth was Alicent could not understand he had not cared about her pregnancies, only going to confirm if he had his promised son.
“Of course, she understands Lord Stark,” he answers for Alicent.
Rhaenyra and Cregan finally sat down at the high table. Well, Cregan sat down, and his daughter sat on her husband’s lap. She seemed a little looser from the ale she had no doubt consumed. She tucked herself into her husband’s chest as he spoke to one of his lords. The hall seeming to sense the need of their princess and quieted down.
“We can discuss it when we visit you uncle.” Cregan said to the lord who bowed, smiled, and walked away.
“You are going on progress?” Daemon asked.
“Yes, we are, we were supposed to leave at the end of the moon, my grandfather is turning seven and zero. But with the king here we are moving it until his visit is at an end.” Cregan answered Daemon, he smiled at his brother and signaled asking his brother for help as Rhaenyra now seeming to have fallen asleep jostled the table. Daemon was quick to help the young lord who stood up carrying his wife up and walking out of the hall. The lords and ladies immediately stood up and bowed. Viserys had to wonder if he had ever commanded such respect. The answer was no he had not.
The following morning, he and Daemon were shown to the lords dining area. The maid telling them that the lords and ladies had all left at dawn to get back to their homes. Meaning it was just Rhaenyra and her family left. Rhaenyra was seated at one end of the table with Cregan, they each had a child in their hand. The little ones were clearly still sleepy as they yawned.
“Nan, can you get the maids to put the boys back down, they seem sleepy now that they have been fed.” His daughter said to the older woman in the corner. She smiled wide and nodded. She took both boys with practiced ease, and they rested on the woman’s shoulder.
“Rather early for them to be up.” Daemon said taking a seat next to Cregan.
“Good morning your grace, Daemon.” Rhaenyra said, Viserys heart was broken again as it was once again clear that she was more tolerant with Daemon. “They rise with the sun.”
“Ah, like all good fire wielders.” Daemon said pleased. It was true for Daemon and Rhaenyra as fire wielders had always woken up as the sun rose. Viserys wondered if the boys would wield fire like Rhaenyra.
“Clearly the love for the early morning was not from the Stark side of the family.” Daemon teased, pointing at a yawning Cregan.
“No, we wolves rise with the moon.” Cregan said, taking a sip of his tea. The three of them laughed and so did Viserys.
By the time Alicent and Otto came in flanked by Ser Criston, the maids had already started bringing out various breads, fruits, and pastries. Another three pots of hot water were brought out. Two placed in front of Daemon and he and the last set near Otto and Alicent. For Viserys had forgone sitting at the head of the table on the other side and taken the seat next to Rhaenyra. Cregan was already buttering a series of items, some he placed in front of Rhaenyra and some on his own plate.
“Thank you Issa jorrāelagon. (my love)” Rhaenyra said to her husband, kissing his cheek.
“Hen rhinka beloved. (of course)” Cregan said and the excellent Valyrian caught both he and Daemon off guard for his brother’s head snapped up from his tea.
“Ao ȳzaldrīzes valyrīha?(You speak Valyrian?”)” Daemon asked.
“Hen rhinka. ānogar hen uēpa valyrio dakogon rȳ issa ābrazȳrys’ veins, se issa trēsi. (Of course. Blood of old Valyria runs through my wives’ veins, and my sons.)” Cregan answered back. Daemon laughed and clapped the young lord paramount on the back.
“Sȳrī gaomagon. (well done)” Daemon said. “Some do not honor their union the same way.” His brother said in common. A jab at Alicent doubt. Viserys supposed the girl should have tried to learn Valyrian. Clearly it could be done for Cregan’s tone showed he was fluent. Not as musical as Daemon or his daughter, but nobody spoke it like those two. He spoke it with the ease Viserys had seen his father and uncles speak it. It was even better than Viserys’s for he had not spoken it in years.
“That is very impressive lord Cregan.” Viserys said.
“Thank you, your grace. We are wondering how long you intend to stay in the north. My grandfather has written to me about missing his nameday celebrations. A man does not turn seven and zero twice.” Cregan asked, as he placed a cup of tea in front of Rhaenyra.
Viserys did not want to go back to the south without Rhaenyra and with her unenthusiastic response to him so far, he was worried that she may refuse him.
“Perhaps we can come along. I would very much like to see the north.” Viserys said. Husband and wife seemed to share a silent conversation for a while. It could have been only a moment, but it felt like minutes to Viserys.
“Your grace, surely we must return to the capital.” Otto started saying.
“If I wanted your advice ser I’d ask for it.” Visserys snapped back. Otto looked surprised and bowed his head.
“We will be gone two weeks in total. Four travel days and ten days in Deepwood Motte.” Rhaenyra started saying.
“That is an appropriate amount of time.” Viserys quickly assured his daughter. She seemed to speak to her husband again.
“I will write to my grandfather and let him know. He will be thrilled.” Cregan said. “We should be able to set off at the end of the moon.”
“This is your mother’s house, yes?” Daemon asked.
“House Glover of Deepwood Motte, Strength, skill, and virtue,” Rhaenyra said. Cregan rolled his eyes and got up. He kissed Rhaenyra’s head and walked towards the door. He opened it and spoke to the guard.
“Are you going flying?” Cregan said turning to his wife.
“No since we are indeed going to visit grandfather, I will be readying the household. Then we have the meeting with the merchants.” Rhaenyra answered.
“Okay. I will see you then. I love you.” Cregan said turning and walking out of the door.
“Love you too. Can you send Diana to me?” his daughter replied.
“The castle guards and maids are more than happy to show you around, should you need anything. If we are going to Deepwood you may need new clothes, Diana here is available to help, with the fabric and get the seamstresses.” Rhaenyra said, pointing at the older woman who walked in.
Rhaenyra, set the fireplace alight once more before standing up.
“I am sure Daemon, and I can accompany you.” Viserys said. Wanting to spend as much time with his daughter as he could.
“I am going to be seated in mine and Cregan’s office nothing interesting will be happening.” Rhaenyra said.
“I have some letters I need to write.” Daemon said. “I must acquire gifts for my grandnephews.”
Rhaenyra smiled at that.
“I have matters of the realm I need to answer to.” He added quickly.
“Alright if you are sure.” She said and started walking with him and Daemon at either side of her.
“I am sure the queen may be of help Lady Stark.” Otto said as they got to the door.
“It is her royal highness, Otto. The cold cannot be making you stupid Otto, for it is warm within these halls. What help could your daughter offer mine. A clear success my daughter is.” Viserys snapped.