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1
“Once again, Aemma is right as always.”
“Husband?”
Viserys blinked, finding Alicent’s confused eyes along the rest of the court upon him as he seemed to unknowingly drifting, off into his mind. The King seemed puzzled at the sudden attention before Ser Harrold reminded him that he had spoken out loud. Chuckling softly the King gently gathered the bundle higher to rest near his heart allowing the court to fully see the baby in his arms. The boy's features were still unrecognizable by the rest of the court however Viserys had already seen the resemblance in his grandson. “Lords and ladies forgive me, it seemed for a moment I had been back in the past. My grandson had reminded me of a conversation between me and my beloved Aemma.”
“Ah that conversation.” Lady Amanda Arryn's voice surprised the crowd as the late sister of Aemma shared a soft smile with the King. In moments like this it was easy to look at Amanda seeing the cautious but humorous older sister of his beloved Aemma instead of the cruel reminder of what he had lost.
“Husband?” Alicent spoke again. Viserys glanced at his wife to find her face twisted in a pitch which he knew all too well. Even after seven years of marriage Alicent still was uncomfortable at the sight of the lady. He refused to think about how Alicent seemed hesitant to even breathe when Amanda looked at her with those blue eyes. It was one of the reasons he had planned to originally dismiss all Aemma’s ladies in waiting, especially Lady Amanda, however Rhaenyra had all adopted them into her own ladies. It was an eye opening moment as Syrax could be heard from the cloud above matching her rider angry.
“Forgive me. Jacaerys just happens to resemble his great grandfather Rodrik Arryn.” Viserys supplied.
“Rodrik Arryn?” Rhaenyra's puzzled look made Viserys smile. He had forgotten that his beloved girl didn’t have the chance to meet many of her mother’s side of the family seeing how he and Aemma rarely visited after they married. Amanda had been the only one the late King allowed to join Aemma as she settled into her new role within the royal family, a simple courtesy from the late Queen Alysanne. Nodding Viserys allowed the hovering Ser Laenor to take the baby from him, returning back to his wife’s side. He chose to ignore the protective step closer Ser Harwin took once Jacaerys was carefully settled back in his mother’s arms.
He could not bring himself to try to understand the inner workings of his daughter’s marriage or marital bed.
Viserys came off the throne approaching the awaiting court. “As some of you might remember, my beloved Queen Aemma was the daughter of the late Lord Rodrik Arryn and Princess Daella Targaryen. While Aemma and Lady Amanda were identical to their respective mothers; all the rest of their siblings were identical to Lord Rodrik. He had the thickest dark hair and deepest brown eyes I’ve ever seen, an exact copy from his own father who was a copy of his own and forth on. Lady Amanda, Aemma and I always liked to joke that one of our children or grandchildren would take more Arryn than Targaryen blood as your cousins’ all inherited the famous Arryn dark brown hair and eyes. It’s not surprising that with your Arryn blood and Ser Laenor’s Baratheon blood that Jacaerys would inherit dark hair and matching eyes. It’s just quite funny that it’s the exact shade as Rodrik.”
“It’s true. My father would tell me how it drove his own mother crazy that the Arryn blood was that powerful.” Lady Amanda Arryn added loudly creating almost like a chain reaction among the court as the words settled.
2
“How are you feeling my girl?”
“Exhausted.”
“Of course, of course.” Viserys completely understood.
Rhaenyra's voice was a little shaky, as her ladies finished settling her against her pillows. Resting against the chair, silently Viserys thanked the gods that all of the blood and grime from the birth had already been swept away leaving his daughter surrounded by a soft glow. It was difficult enough listening to the screams and cries of his precious girl that filled the halls; he did not wish to see a reminder of it in person. He fought back the urge to mention how Aemma was always so sleepy and withdrawn after birth (the light always seemed to disappear quicker in his precious girl’s eyes whenever her mother was mentioned). Instead he stayed silent, joining Rhaenyra’s eyes following the newest prince as the midwives checked over the newborn once again ensuring that his nose and lungs were free. He could remember how Aemma refused to allow Rhaenyra to be moved even an inch out of her line of sight once she was born.
“Where is Ser Laenor?”
For a minute Viserys had paused even slightly surprised as he glanced back at his wife; he had almost forgotten that Alicent had come with him to meet the newest member of their House. While Viserys had fully entered the birthing chamber and settled, Alicent hadn’t moved from her spot near the door. She looked uncomfortably stiff with her arms tucked into the sleeve of her green gown almost as if she would gather some horrible disease if she touched anything near her. “Shouldn’t the father of the child not be here to witness the birth of his child? Or is Ser Laenor attending to his squires again?”
“My husband is right where he needs to be stepmother. He was present during the whole birth, demanding to support me as I brought our son into the world before I sent him to bring one of the newest egg from Syrax's clutch. Judging by how quickly Vermax hatched after the egg Laenor picked I found no reason to not allow him the opportunity again.” There was a certain bite in Rhaenyra’s words enough to make Alicent glanced nervously at Viserys before she muttered something quietly to herself. It seemed that the boldness she had felt earlier quickly disappeared once she noted that he found himself more focused upon his precious girl.
“Oh yes. How is Jacaerys’ hatchling?” Viserys hadn’t seen a hatchling since Syrax hatched so it was quiet an breaktaking experience when Jacaerys’ dragon egg hatched only two moons after his birth. Now it seemed he could not go a day without hearing the familiar shrieks of a hatchling. It was a joyous time in the kingdom which only further proved that his beloved girl was the rightful heir. Why else would her own son hatch his own cradle buddy just as his own mother did.
A rarity among Targaryens truly.
Rhaenyra's gummy smile eased his heart, “Vermax is growing steadily every day, surprisingly almost too big to rest upon mine or Laenor’s shoulders.”
“Mhm then it would only be fitting for Ser Laenor to prepare eggs for Aemond and Daeron, wouldn’t it husband?”
“That would if I didn’t fear Syrax’s eggs going cold so quickly.”
“And what exactly is that suppose to-”
“Princess, he is ready. Would you like to hold him?”
“Yes of course. Thank you Helya.” Viserys gave a soft smile to the midwife thankful for her interruption. He was not ready for another spat between his wife and daughter. He had spoken to Alicent about her behavior as Rhaenyra announced her second pregnancy. His wife would only quietly apologize and mutter something before excusing herself to visit the children. He had hoped to speak to Rhaenyra but the last time he did his beloved girl threatened to go stay in Driftmark for the rest of her pregnancy. (Something had tried to avoid after Rhaenys had heard one of Alicent’s unseemly comments about Jacaerys.) Leaving him torn between the two forcing him to simply try his best to ignore it all.
“What is his name, my beloved girl?”
“Lucerys. Lucerys Velaryon, Laenor suggested it. He told me Corlys had mentioned it once in passing during one of their sails and it had been stuck inside his head since.”
“A strong name for the heir to Driftmark.” Viserys cheered despite his silent dread. He could just hear Corlys bestowing voice filling every chamber in Driftmark about how his name was picked for his heir’s heir.
“He has dark hair…again stepdaughter.” Alicent announced eyes lingering on little Lucerys before focusing on Rhaenyra.
“Fitting for the Baratheon and Arryn blood running through his veins, don’t you think stepmother.” There was an edge in Rhaenyra's voice that made Alicent flinch. Regardless, Viserys paid no attention to the two women gently pulling down the blanket more to gaze upon the newest bundle. The face revealed was enough to make the peaceful King set the realm on fire to appease it. “Oh, Aemma you have truly blessed us yet again.”
“Father?”
“He looks just like your mother.” Viserys swore, placing the bundle gently into Rhaenyra’s arms. The heir to the throne seemed paused for a moment, tears forming in her eyes. “He does. I-I had almost forgotten what mother looked like for a moment.”
“Oh how we shall never forget again since she has sent an angel to remind us of her.”
3
“What is his name again, my dear girl?”
“Joffrey. Joffrey Velaryon.” Laenor had said the name so quickly that he seemed almost possessed by it. Viserys took a moment to glance at his daughter and Rhaenyra had even seemed shocked at the name as Laenor glanced towards her sharing a shaky smile. It took only a few seconds of a shared look before the small nod seemed to ease all tension off of Laenor . “Yes, Joffrey is his name.”
“A good name Ser Laenor, a truly good name.”
“That is an unusual name for a Velaryon.” Alicent announced knowing that Her words fell on deaf ears as they had done the time before. It was obvious to everyone that the King was too focused on checking over his precious girl than to even glance young wife with a look. “How was the birth, my dear?”
“Exhausted. I believe I called the midwife a cunt this time, husband?”
“A cunt and whore, actually. I do believe you also threatened to feed her to Seasmoke twice.”
Rhaenyra’s sharp laughter filled the air, “I did, didn’t I?” Viserys was glad that there was some playful banter between the couple despite knowing there was no true love between them. He had hoped his precious girl would have found the same love that he had found with his Aemma, but he would at least settle for her having someone she could trust beside her.
“Joffrey still is a strong name even for a Velaryon.”
“As is Daeron for a Targaryen.” Viserys gave a silent thanks to Laenor who matched Alicent’s bitter words. He did not have it in him to start the same argument that he knew would come to visit him late at night in his chambers.
“Daeron is a strong name approved and blessed by the Seven. Joffrey is a-”
“It’s an Arryn name, fitting actually as are Jacaerys and Lucerys. You see Alicent, my precious girl, thought of the best ways to honor her birth without causing any disarray between them. Jacaerys is the name picked to represent the union of House Targaryen and House Velaryon as he shall be the first King of both to sit upon the Iron Throne. Lucerys is the name to honor House Velaryon and Ser Laenor’s blood, as he saw be the next Lord of Driftmark. And Joffrey is simply to honor my precious girl and her Arryn blood that she received from my beloved Aemma. Who shall also have his own keep one day.”
“Of course he will even if I have to build one myself.”
“That will not be necessary. There are numerous barren lands in the kingdoms simply waiting for Joffrey.”
“First he will simply enjoy his first day of life before he is forced to be lord of his own keep.” Rhaenyra ordered ignoring chuckle from her father and husband.
“Of course.”
+1
“I have never forgotten the same of Lady Jocelyn. It was only once that I’ve seen her before she returned back to the Stormlands but Prince Lucerys has the same exact facial structure as her.”
“Don’t let the King hear that he swears it’s the late Queen Aemma reborn.”
“It's quite scary isn’t it. I mean Lord Corlys and Prince Jacaerys have the exact same face, the only difference is that the Prince takes the Princess’ milky skin.”
“He looks like the Arryns to me. I swear he was Lady Jeyne's child when she held him in her arms.”
“I told you Ser Laenor wouldn’t allow him to be cuckold. Ha, the son of the Sea Snake refusing to bed the realm’s delight!”
“I heard that another one of the Queen’s ladies-in-waiting were dismissed for daring to utter bastard and one of the princes’ names in the same breath.”
“Serves them right.”
In the end Viserys didn’t have to say much more about his grandsons picking his mind apart to see the faces of his long forgotten past. As they grew it was easier for others to see what he saw in his grandchildren. It helped that once he had Daemon and Laena return to court with their twin girls who looked exactly as their mother.