Chapter Text
iā zaldrīzes kessa va moriot daomio perzys bē zȳha qrinuntyssy
a dragon will always rain fire upon its enemies
Cerenna Lannister had a Targaryen mother and a Lannister father. Cousin to Tyland and Jason Lannister she was an invaluable political piece for the Lannister house and the Westerlands due to her royal blood and title of princess bestowed upon her by her grandfather King Jaehaerys who was beyond grateful that one of his daughters saw fit to do her duty.
Cerenna would be raised within the glorious Rock for the first six years of her life before the untimely death of her Lady Mother and Lord Father at sea when touring the cities of Pentos. Such a tragedy called for the girl's Grandsires to summon her to court in Kingslanding giving her a place in the nursery of their son Prince Baelon who had his young son Daemon that too needed a playmate as his own elder brother was far too old to entertain him and his mother recently gone due to childbirth.
Her departure from the Rock was not one of peace nor amicable. Her lion family were outraged by the decision of the dragons for although Cerenna's father was the second son and brother of the current lord of the Rock meant Cerenna would never inherit the seat she was a lion in name, for all her features gave way to her mother, and so felt that she should be raised in the West. The Targaryen's, however, would have none of it to them she was a dragon and as a princess of royal blood deserved to be raised amongst those of the blood she shared and claim a dragon of her own. The matter of claiming a dragon was another mode of discontent as her Lannister counterparts thought them too dangerous for their delicate and kind-hearted lion cub who had never shown any personality traits that would identify her dragon's blood.
No, Cerenna was a gentle cub who shied away from violence and always sought to bring peace and happiness to those around her. Cerenna was also no fool, no matter how young she was, she knew that in a land such as Westeros the best way to get by in life was to be quiet and humble and manipulate those around her in subtle ways to get what she wished. She never had malicious intentions but rather when she wished to help the smallfolk of Lannisport she knew the best way to do so was to have her trusted ladies' maid sell her jewels and use the funds in that manner. Elsewhere the young princess would smile sweetly and talk softly, especially to her elder cousins who had traditional beliefs regarding women's places in the world, that did not mean they did not love her or put her up on a pedestal, but Cerenna knew she must seem meek and slightly dim-witted, and they would give her anything she asked for.
Cerenna's Targaryen blood gave way to Jason's belief that he, too, was worthy of a Targaryen bride for if the second son, and so younger brother of his father, got a Princess why not the heir of the Westerlands receive one as well? Of course, no princess had been born just yet but that did not stop Jason's belief that he would be more firmly intertwined with the royal family than being a mere far-off in-law. The boys too were not pleased with their gentle cousin leaving them and felt bereft of her presence once the young princess had made her way to court for it was as if the sun had left the rock with the dismissal of young Cerenna's presence and although they never lost their pompous ways both boys became far more subdued in the absence of their budding flower of a cousin.
Cerenna, however, flourished as a free bird at court and charmed all those who met the cherubic child with the sweetest smile and kindest pale purple eyes. Cerenna's golden locks always shone in the sun and although her hair favoured her father more in that her long, silken locks were slightly more golden than white the rest of her was entirely Targaryen. The only thing she lacked was a dragon for the egg given to her upon arrival never hatched. But that never seemed to bother the giggling child for she always found her amusement in the royal gardens amongst the botany of the plants or embroidery that she enjoyed daily in the sewing circle of her grandmother. She was not so free-spirited as her aunt Alyssa was but was not afraid to share her opinion in a gentle manner much in the way her grandmother had.
There was none more charmed by the young princess than her cousin Daemon. Any who saw the young prince would find him in the company of his sweet cousin whom he protected from anyone and everything. Despite his young age Daemon showed promise of being a fierce warrior and felt it his duty to be Cerenna's protector and had even informed his father that he would be her Lord Husband one day.
That, unfortunately, was not to be.
With the death of Prince Baelon came the betrothal of Prince Daemon to Lady Rhea Royce to unite the Realm once more under House Targaryen given the crises that were facing the formidable house. This would break the hearts of both Daemon and Cerenna who too would be betrothed to the second son of the current Tyrell lord. This, her grandmother reasoned, would keep her in court so that she could always stay by their side and not have to face the pressures of providing her husband with an heir as his elder brother had already had two sons that would succeed him once his own father, the current lord of Highgarden, had passed. This did not stop the rage that consumed Daemon who, by all accounts, refused to look upon his new wife's face and had to be walked at sword point to the bedchambers in the hopes he would consummate the marriage.
Many said he did not.
Jaehaerys in his final days would lament not following through on his son's, Prince Baelon, wishes of marrying Daemon and Cerenna together as he witnessed the growing sadness within his dutiful granddaughter who had never complained despite her clear heartbreak and his wild grandson who now looked upon him with open hatred and found every excuse to not be at his wife's side at the Vale rather he travelled or brought himself to court back at Cerenna's side. No matter her husband's dislike of the prince who so clearly favoured his wife and seemed the only one capable of making her truly smile, brighten, and bloom under his careful touch and prodding.
The death of queen Alysanne had fractured something within the royal house and the realm. However, her light and goodness could be found within Cerenna, and the consequence of such similarities caused the realm to now seek kindness, gentleness, and love from the now-young woman. This, too, was another reason for her permanent place at court as her grandfather and cousins regularly sought her presence to soothe their own souls.
This need for calm would be further exacerbated by the results of the Great Council and the death of Jaehaerys. The ascension of Viserys as king caused a chasm of a fracture within the great house and it would seem the only neutral party was Cerenna, herself, who had no stakes in the Great Council and had no obvious wish to rule.
Cerenna had comforted Rhaenys on her twice passing over as heir and had welcomed Viserys within her arms when he expressed doubts about being a suitable king to follow those who had come before him. The one who would comfort Cerenna when she felt her grief at the loss of Jaehaerys becoming too much was Daemon. His arms she would seek comfort in, and his soft words were her solace.
She may not have married him, but he was the husband of her heart and she the wife of his soul.
For years they exchanged looks and soft caresses until the tenth year of Viserys' reign saw the death of Cerenna's husband and the anticipation of an heir with queen Aemma's pregnancy. Cerenna had been away from the capital for months, the longest she had ever left Kingslanding since her arrival, and her return would coincide with the tourney held for the potential heir; such a coincidence that the day of her return Daemon saw fit to bring himself to the Red Keep once more after months of absence.