Chapter Text
Upon stepping on Dragonstone Rhaenyra Targaryen could feel a certain foreboding, her life had already become a droll of tragedy. Once called The Realm's Delight was now Rhaenyra the Cruel, Meagor with teats. She tried to prevent the war as long as she could but the Greens kept on taking and taking from her. First she lost her mother because of her father's desperate attempt to get a male heir, then her uncle was banished because her father trusted Otto Hightower over his own blood, her only friend Alicent betrayed her and took Queen Aemma Arryn's place by seducing her father, then her father betrayed her by taking away his promise to let her choose her own husband. She would have chosen Daemon, her beloved uncle as she did later in her life, Daemon was the love of her life. The list of betrayals done towards her could go on. Her father died in his own keep and she the Crown Princess was not informed, was not allowed to be with him and later greive him. When Rhaenys told her of the news, she did it so selfishly that Rhaenyra lost her only daughter, her Lucerys was brutally murdered by Aemond Targaryen. The loses followed their after, she lost all her sons to the greens, except for her Aegon, her happy baby, was now depressed, missed his father. Her Daemon, she would like to think was tired of war, of her, that's why he chose to be with Nettles, though it saddens her to admit it, but this time her love left her forever, Nettle's Daemon died at God's Eye along with Caraxes after slaying Aemond and Vhagar. Now there was no use of thinking those things, she was now a begger who sold her father's crown to get a ship to Dragonstone. "Egg, don’t leave muna's side. Something is wrong here" Rhaenyra told her son after seeing corpses of Gerardys and Ser Robert Quince. Her son nodded and clutched her hand tighter. As they reached the courtyard of the Dragonstone castle, she knew that Ser Broome had betrayed her, killing her three remaining Queensguard. There sat the Usurper, with his poor broken dragon. "Dear brother. I had hoped you were dead." said Rhaenyra ."After you. You are the elder" replied Aegon."I am pleased to know that you remember that. It would seem we are your prisoners ... but do not think that you will hold us long. My leal lords will find me."she knew her end was near, her only wish was her son's safety." If they search the seven hells, mayhaps" with that being said, Aegon forcefully separated the mother and the son. Then he ordered Rhaenyra's breast to be cut and had Sunfyre burn her with dragonflame and then devour her. Rhaenyra felt sorry for her son, for he witnessed such gruesome scene and how his life was in the hands of the enemy. She wanted to stop her loyal lady in waiting Elinda from gouging her eyes after watching her burn. The fire was welcoming, she hopped to reunite with her children and Daemon. She wanted to beg Daemon to forgive her because she couldn't protect his children and for leading him towards his death. But maybe, Daemon was finally free of her cursed self and finally free to love and be with Nettles or maybe Laena and be happy in Balerion's realm. For her he would always be her twin flame and the love of her life. This is how Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen passed the realm of the living and died in the Dance of the Dragons.
As Rhaenyra Targaryen opened her eyes in the afterlife, she saw her grandparents Baelon and Alyssa Targaryen. They hugged her.
Baelon: Oh, my sweet little dragon you've grown up to be so beautiful. A true Realm's Delight indeed.
Rhaenyra: Now it's Meagor with teats or Rhaenyra the Cruel, grandfather.
Rhaenyra's heart was filled with grief even now. Her whole life she bore the burden of being the heir, tried her best, lost many loyal followers on the way, only for her throne to be snatched from her, her children to die and her husband left her to seek out glory in the war or to be with his lady paramour, he was tired of herself and her father's foolish decision and dreams she knew, he still left her alone in her grief. Rhaenyra Targaryen will always love Daemon Targaryen, but she will resent him too.
Baelon was pitying her, his only grandchild in such a sorry state. He wanted to curse his sons, because he knew that all of this was because of them. The Hightowers and the Velaryons were cut from the same cloth of greed. His sons choosing these houses for themselves to align with, lead his little dragon to become isolated.
Alyssa: "Sweet child we have not met earlier, I am Alyssa Targaryen, your grandmother and also your good mother. Baelon told me so much about you, it saddens me to meet you so early."
Rhaenyra: "It is a blessing to meet you, grandmother. Both my father and uncle told me about yourself ".
Alyssa: " I must apologize to you for both my sons, their mistakes and petty egos lead to our houses downfall."
Rhaenyra wanted to interept and defend her father and husband, but Alyssa stopped her.
Alyssa: " No child, don’t try to defend them. After my and my beloved's passing Viserys should have supported Daemon, defended him, but instead he chose to align himself with that leach Otto. Otto and Mellos were responsible for my husband's death, Aemma's dead children and ultimately her death. I am not saying that Viserys was completely blameless for he was the one who forced child after child on his wife and finally ordering to cut her open for his long awaited son. A son who survived for a day."
Baelon:" Don't even get us started with Daemon, he had all his chances to marry you after winning the war of step stones, instead he takes you to a brothel to compromise your dignity, just to vex his brother for naming you his heir. I know Daemon didn't lust for the throne, but he was angry for always being pushed aside. At your marriage he could have flown with you to Dragonstone and married you in our tradition. Viserys would have been angry, but would have ultimately forgiven you."
Alyssa: " He would have forgiven them. They were the only dragon riders the Targaryens had against the Velaryons three riders. After your marriage to Laenor, Daemon in his drunken stupidity killed Laena's betrothed and had to marry her. He jumped from one unwanted union to another, pinning for you for ten long years."
Baelon:" Marring you made him a better man, a wonderful father. You were happy on Dragonstone. Viserys death, baby Visenya's death, seeing you plunge into despair and darkness, broke him. I know my son is a rogue, but he loved you truly, he wanted to feel needed and brave and desired, so he chose to leave you to your grief to seek glory in the war. He betrayed you with the dragonseed girl, true, he knew he made a mistake. He wanted to make things right with you but it was too late. He died with his regret of not being with you in the past when you needed him, he wanted to teach so much to his sons, and desperately wanted to have a little girl with you".
Tears didn't stop flowing from Rhaenyra's eyes. Her husband loved her even with her resentment towards him, she knew she loved him too. Alas, love wasn't always enough. Now here she is in the afterlife, dead and so was Daemon.
Rhaenyra: "Where is Daemon?, where are my children? Parents?. Why am I not with Balerion?"
Alyssa: "Both your boys with Daemon are alive."
Rhaenyra gasped, her little Vis was alive and so was her Egg, Oh her little boys were now orphaned . They had to depend on mercy of the Usurper or their half sisters' family. She had nothing against Daemon's girls but, she knew that now the girls would do their grandfather's bidding and see to the rise of house Velaryon, they were good girls but their priorities were different. She knew Baela didn't like her much and Rhaena thought that her father loved Little Egg and Vis more. And baby Visenya for whom Daemon had climbed the dragonmont in search for a dragon egg. Only Rhaenyra knew the truth, her Daemon loved his girls very much, he was not just good at showing it.
Baelon put her out of her musing.
Baelon: " Little Dragon, Jace, Luke and Jeoff already passed Balerion's realm. As for your parents Aemma was claimed by the Seven and Viserys being wifeslayer he was will be punished in seven hells. Daemon, though is here. He is your twin flame child, regardless of the choices you both made, the fact remains that he waited for you and became a pain in 14 flames' arse. But, my second son is also ashamed of himself when it comes to how he treated you. He is not ready to face you right now, but he will do so in future. I know I have no right to ask this of you but please keep your heart open when the time comes-"
Alyssa: " there is no need for you to forgive him easily, make him grovel at your feet, and only when you are satisfied, forgive him. But first forgive yourself child. You did all you could to prevent war, become a good Queen, wife, daughter and so on, men would have destroyed the realm for lesser causes."
Rhaenyra hugged her grandmother and wailed in her pain.
Alyssa: "its okay sweet dragon, let it all out. Then we shall discuss the future course of action ".
Rhaenyra: "what do mean?. Won't I reunite with my husband?"
Alyssa: " Of course, you will reunite with my idiot son, don’t doubt that my dear. The 14 have decided to send you and your foolish husband back in time when Viserys announced his decision to marry Alicunt Highwhore."
Baelon:" you were their chosen queen, from your line will come the heir, who will end the long night ".
Rhaenyra laughed like crazy when her grandfather finished speaking.
Rhaenyra: " If you believed in that prophecy, why didn't you tell this to Daemon too, why only your first born was informed. After all, if there was to such an heir, they would have come from Daemon's seed too. 10 years after my father became the king, he didn't feel it important to tell about this prophecy to my husband, who at that time was the heir apparent. So when I told him about it, do you know what he did?, he choked me, my Daemon who never raised his voice at me, choked me. He told me that Dreams didn't make us kings, Dragons did. So forgive me grandfather, grandmother if-"
Alyssa: " Trust me Daemon got an earful from me, when we met him earlier, for how he hurt you. Baelon couldn't tell him about the prophecy because he was forbidden by my father and also it pained him to intract with our second boy after my death. But Rhaenyra even if Dragons made us kings, there won't be any Dragons left in the future to aid the heir that was promised. "
"Let us take over this discussion, Princess Alyssa, Prince Baelon " suddenly someone spoke in a sensual voice.
"Your Grace" replied and bowed the Targaryen couple, Rhaenyra followed her grandparents.
" Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen, well met. I am Goddess Syrax, Goddess of wine, fruitfulness, parties, festivals, madness, chaos, drunkenness, vegetation, and ecstasy and this is my lord husband God Caraxes, God of the seas."
Rhaenyra dropped on her knees with her head bowed. She, like her uncle-husband was a follower of Valyrian Gods. Her patron Goddess being Syrax after whom she named her Dragon.
"We have much to discuss, Queen. Though the rest of our siblings are sulking right now because of some mistakes that they have made, I am afraid we couldn't any longer and decided to tell you a story about what happened in the past, what's happening now and if right actions are nor taken what would the future be." said Caraxes
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Tbc