Chapter Text
Chapter I
A/N: I have been sitting on this story for a while. It has undergone many changes. Valyrian is in bold. Looking forward to seeing what you all think! SSD
If a queen can be butchered for a babe, then what chance do ordinary women stand on the birthing bed? Brenna of Dragonstone thought as Aemma screamed.
She had been brought to King's Landing to be a wet nurse to the new royal babe. It came as a relief to her and her infant son away from her husband.
Due to Brenna being a dragonseed, her son had come out looking purely like her, with little if anything of his father in him. Amused by this, her two moon old son had been named Maegor. She had not advertised his name.
Shouts came from the room of, "A Crown Prince, it's a boy!" Soon there were more shouts of, "There's another, it's twins!"
Thankfully there was another wet nurse named Edyth who had also borne a son. Another dragonseed, she would likely get the boy.
"It's a girl, another princess!"
The moment the new princess was cleaned up, she was handed to Brenna. The maesters were still working on the crown prince, who had been named Baelon.
Brenna's new charge was unnamed as of right now. She carried her to the nursery.
Even though it was only set up for one at the moment, Brenna entered the room. She sat down in the rocking chair and began to nurse her.
The little princess turned out to be a good feeder, sucking strongly. She had thick silver-gold hair and amethyst eyes. A beautiful babe, for sure.
During the feed, Brenna heard howls of grief. From what was being shouted, it sounded like little Baelon had passed from this life.
Still, no kin had come to check on her. Brenna hoped someone would come.
Viserys was busy getting drunk, and Daemon had just checked on Rhaenyra, who was weeping in her room.
With his brother occupied, Daemon went to the royal nursery. He had a new niece to acquaint himself with.
He strode into the room without knocking. The wet nurse was tending to his niece, wrapping her in an Arryn blue and white blanket.
Leaning against the wall Daemon asked, "So what is the name of my niece?"
The nurse jumped when she saw him as she hadn't heard him enter the room.
Bobbing a halfway decent curtsey, the woman replied, "With respect your Highness, she doesn't have one yet. His Grace the king has not yet been to see her."
Daemon blinked before saying, "My brother is in the wine cellar, doing his best to drink his sorrows away, but he couldn't trouble himself to name his new daughter before doing so." It came out as a snarl.
The dragonseed nurse stood her ground well against his fury, "Correct, your highness."
It seemed that it had fallen to him to name the girl. Rhaenyra had wanted to name a sister Visenya, but that name just did not seem to fit. Viserys might tolerate the name Alyssa, but it hit far too close to home. He would sooner fuck a sheep than name her Alysanne.
Daemon considered the names of other dragon riding women in his family. Rhaenys was already in use, it would get too confusing. Rhaena was too close to Rhaenyra. And yet... He considered the names of the Queen in the West's daughters.
Rhaella was a septa in Oldtown, still living as of her last letter. But her name still did not fit his niece.
Daemon thought of her twin, Aerea. Heir to both Maegor the Cruel and Jaehaerys. Rider of Balerion the Black Dread. Died after purportedly going to Valyria at a young age.
Perhaps it was time to give that name a fresh chance at having a good run.
Moving up to the crib, he lightly touched his niece's face saying, "Her name is Princess Aerea Targaryen."
She was surrounded by both kin and the court. Syrax was waiting for the command to set her mother and brother's pyres alight. All eyes were on her.
Her kepus Daemon came up to her and whispered, "They're waiting for you."
"I wonder if during those few hours my brother lived, my father finally found happiness," Rhaenyra asked.
"Your father needs you, now more than he ever has," her beloved kepus replied.
"I will never be a son," she choked out.
Her kepus had nothing to say to that. Rhaenyra looked at her father then past him.
The only survivor of the birth, her sister Aerea (her father had agreed with his brother's choice, if only for convenience's sake) was being held by her nurse. All was quiet.
Rhaenyra turned her attention back to the pyres. She began to speak, but lost her words.
Looking back towards her father, she summoned her strength to call out, "Dracarys!"
Syrax came to attention and began walking towards the pyres. Upon being in position, she blew fire on the bodies.
Aerea cried out at the noise of the flame. Rhaenyra gave the nurse a dirty look and growled, "Keep her quiet."
She couldn't stand the sight of her sister, the one who killed her mother.
The Queen was dead. The race was on for who would be the new one.
Rhaenys knew that her husband would put forward Laena, even though she was ill-suited for the position. Her daughter was too wild and needed to move around.
Laena was also a bit on the young side, only Rhaenyra's age, which would work against her.
Rhaenys wanted her blood to sit the Iron Throne and Laena was the best choice for the new Queen of the Seven Kingdoms.
If Viserys saw sense of course.
She heard a familiar whistling roar. Daemon was here on Caraxes.
Upon his dismounting, Daemon said, "It has been a week and a half since Aerea's birth and I have been the only kin who has gone to see her."
Surprised Rhaenys replied, "That's odd. Rhaenyra has been vocal about wanting a sister."
"Aerea will need a woman's touch, and Rhaenyra won't be it. And I don't trust anyone who is not a Targaryen with Aerea."
"Speak plainly Daemon," she ordered.
Taking a deep breath, "I want your help raising Aerea. Already it is obvious that Viserys and Rhaenyra have little to no interest in her. I believe that both of them blame her for surviving where Aemma and Baelon did not. Perhaps you could offer to foster her when she's old enough?"
Dragging her fingers through her dark hair, Rhaenys answered, "I will help you. You know nothing of girls!"
A/N 2: I hope this goes over well. Can't wait to see what you all think! SSD