TW- childbirth, talks of death,and the stranger himselfđ
RHAENYRA POV
â ARGGH YOU CUNT â, she hears herself scream hoarsely, a sound that was came from deep within, so far yet so close. Her body burned with pain and agony, terror visible in her face as she breathes through her nose and exhales through her mouth. She swallows, terror now replaced with determination â I will not end up like my mother â she swallows the lump in her throat so thick as if she is choking on a rock.
Rhaenyra was incredibly nervous and terrified of giving birth, of dying like her late mother, those memories still ached into her memory forever ingrained into her mind. she wishes her mother was here to soother her, to guide her through the pain. But she is gone, of ashes and dust and she will never meet any of her grandchildren and that pains the princess deeply.
she continues to push and breathe, every breath like flames in her lungs, just like she was told and the painâŠ. oh the pain âŠâŠ agonizing. The child bed is our battle field, her mother had one said. How Wise Queen Aemma wasâŠ.. and how brutal she died.
Rhaenyra so deep in her thoughts didnât feel the pressure between her legs,gone⊠empty, she opens her purple eyes, shrill screams of anotherâŠ. a babeâŠ. her babe⊠her firstborn.
There is still pain lingering in her body, but without a babe clawing there way out, the pain almost immediately subsided and she was grateful for it. She cries when she sees her babe, oh how beautiful her darling girl was, her babe being wrapped in a cloth and placed in her arms.
oh this feeling⊠this is what her mother always tried to tell her and there was nothing like itâŠ.. oh a mothers love for it is beautifully haunting. She looks down at her little one, her girl, her heir. There is a small tuft of white hair on her head and her skin is dark but a bit lighter than laenor but certainly darker than hers. This makes rhaenrya want to cry and scream with relief and accomplishment, a heir of house Velaryon and House Targaryen.
So enchanted by her babe she barely registered the midwives calling the guards to call for her husband and father. her cries have quieted down the long she feels her mothers warmth causes Rhaenyra to coo at her.
You will understand how much I love you when you have your own children, her late mother once said to her. In her younger years she scoffed at her mother claiming them to be foolish terms for she thought she would never have children, but now she understands the words of her late mother. It only took one look at her daughter to realize what she would do whatever it cost to make sure her babe was safe, unharmed, happy.
â You little one have caused me a great deal of pain, but how can I scold you for when Iâm so in love with you my darling girl. My little dragon i see it, you were born for this world to conquer it like our ancestors, to lead men into armies, to make them kneel and obey. my sweet girl you will show this world that women can be anything they put there mind to. â
Rhaenyra brings the babe to her chest cherishing this moment, peaceful and quiet, looking at the babe she carried in her belly for nine moons, so beautifulâŠ
When she looked up she realized the sky was clear and the sun shone directly on her babe, creating an ethereal look... something inhuman... something dark....
"The Dragon has been born and they shall foresee a great prophecy in which the Prince that was promised shall fight in the war of death and darkness. For they shall bring the light-bringer and the Prince that was promised together to foresee and defeat death. For they are the most important piece in the game." whispered the stranger, looking down at the babe in the arms of her ethereal mother.
to be continued......
summary: âVaemond Velaryonâs petition holds no sense,â it is said that the Wandering Princess reiterated once she heard of her uncleâs accusations. âMy late father always recognised my brothers as his trueborn sons. Whether they look like him or the Baratheon and Arryn side of the family does not matter: they are legitimate.â
pairings: cregan stark x velaryon!reader (no use of y/n), platonic (familial) relationship between the targs/velaryon and reader
word count: 4.5k
warnings: mentions of killing off someoneđ„°, reader is pro-blackwood, reader has some kind of anger issues, oscar is my babygirl and my babygirl only, language as always
author's note: an update of the heir and the wolf? in this economy? also pls don't comment about tagging, click here and join the taglist so that it's easier for me to tag everyone
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Youâre sure you are going to kill every man and woman in the Riverlands till only their fantastic wine â without which you wouldnât have made it this far â and vineyards remain, so that you can drink in peace without dealing with⊠the consequences.Â
Lord Bracken has been sprouting nothing but insults and curses towards the Blackwood family for what feels like the last three hours. He surely hasnât talked without being interjected, as Alysanne Blackwood has been responding to all his insults with doubled hate.Â
You stare over at Oscar, sitting beside you, with an unamused expression. âOnce we get out of here, Iâll make sure to break your legs in half as punishment for having me subjected to this torture,â you hiss, hand clenching around your goblet. He shrugs. âDidnât you say to ask you if I ever needed anything? I needed help just this once, or else I wouldâve cut my ears two hours ago.â
Of course Lord Tully had to fall ill when there were matters to resolve, leaving his eldest grandson in charge. You wish Kermit was born first, so that you wouldn't have to sit here and hear all of these people complain.
You huff. âBetter your ears than my sanity.â
The thing that worries you the most is the fact that they seem to have no intention of stopping yet â and theyâve been going on for ages, accusing each other of heinous crimes committed by their ancestors or something. Youâre not quite sure about that, as youâve stopped listening to their rants about ten minutes in.
You glance at the servant standing by the door of the council chamber, whoâs about to turn the hourglass for the fifth time now. When he does, itâll officially be two hours and a half into them talking about their centuries-long feud. You have to do something, or else youâll go mad.Â
You cough loudly, and the two sides of the discussion shut up, looking at you. The table is rectangular and long, wide enough so that nobody can smack the person in front of them with ease. You sit at the end of it, a map of the Riverlands in front of you, Oscar sat to your right. âSo,â you start, âhave you all got it out of your systems? Can we start now?â
Both sides look at you puzzled, and for a moment you fear they might go back to screaming, but they donât. âLord Samwell, Lord Amos, could you both raise your hands for me? I forgot your faces when you started screaming because I thought I was back in Dragonstone with my younger brothers having a tantrum about a toy â they are six and three, by the way.â
Red-faced, both lords raise their hands; Lord Amos is a bit older than Lord Samwell, his face sickly and hair grey, a high contrast to the Blackwood's dark brown hair and plump face. âGood. Now I would like you two to choose a spokesperson that will talk in your places.âÂ
Lord Samwell raises an eyebrow, âPardon me?â he says, as Lord Amos raises from his seat. âThis is an outrage! Why should we choose someone else to talk in our place? We can definitely settle this matter once for all alone!â
You raise an eyebrow at his antics, motioning over a guard to make him stand back down. âWell, if you could settle this matter alone I wouldnât be there, would I?â you ask him with a short laugh. âBesidesâ donât you still have the scar Lord Samwell kindly gifted you back in the days where my mother was looking for a husband? I donât want the two of you to settle your matters alone if it means someone being stabbed again.â
âWe would be perfectly capable of doing it nowââ
âChoose a spokesperson or donât speak, Lord Amos, as you have already talked enough for my likings. The choice is all yours.âÂ
The guard now stands behind him, hand on the pommel of his sword, and the lord begrudgingly sits back down. âI shall name my uncle, Ser Lothar,â Ser Lothar is an old man with white hair and no beard, who looks like heâs seen the rise and fall of all the Gods in the world and death herself.Â
You donât say anything, even if youâd like someone who doesnât look like heâs a night away from dying. âLord Samwell?âÂ
âMy sister, Lady Alysanne,â is his resolute response. Ah, the lady who was screaming at Lord Amos earlier. She's young and thin â no doubt close to your age â with black hair to match a raven's feathers.
âRubbish!â is Ser Lothar's not-so-smart response. You notice now that heâs missing three teeth and speaks horrendously â as if their accent already isnât helping. âHow old is she? Seven and ten? She should be in the birthing bed, not in this council chamber!â
Everyone stares at him, bewildered â even his own kind. Maybe if you werenât there, the comment wouldâve been overlooked, but seeing as the council was being literally held by a six and ten year old girl, it wasnât the smartest comment he couldâve made. You can feel from your seat the murderous intent that comes from the Blackwoods â thankfully you made everyone leave their weaponry outside. You just hope nobody has a hidden knife somewhere in their breeches.
âFor your information, Ser Lothar,â you speak up before things can escalate, âI am six and ten and perfectly able to run a council on my own. Iâm sure Lady Alysanne will manage just fine.â
He squints his eyes at you, like heâs just noticed your presence. âI will be listening to no cunt!âÂ
You blink at Lord Amos, whoâs red in the face, as calm as ever. âWould you like to change your mind, Lord Bracken? Iâm afraid Ser Lothar will be too preoccupied with being my dragonâs breakfast to be here with us as we discuss this serious matter.âÂ
Lothar screams obscenities as the guards take him away to the courtyard, where NÄdrÄsy is staying for the time being, and Lord Samwell has a smug look on his face â no wonder happy that his sister has had justice. âLyle!â Lord Amos roars, making a boy no older than twenty jump from his seat. âYâ yes, my lord!â
You intertwine your fingers in front of you. âGood. Now that the table has been cleaned we can actually start.â you ask them to take the seat of their lords, so that theyâre near you and you three can talk more clearly. âI want to make sure that it is clear that I donât expect your houses to be friends after this council. My only purpose is to end the brotherly blood shedding that in the last centuries has exasperated the Riverlands to the point that Ser Oscar Tully here had to ask for the Crownâs help to put an end to it. I just want your houses to stand each other.âÂ
You sigh, pointing to the map with their territories traced out in front of you; you push it towards them so that they have some reference. âThis was the outline of the territories that King Jaheaerysâs ambassador drew the last time there was a council like this. Peace lasted only for about two years â my goal is to make it last at least twenty, so that when the Lords die their heirs are of age.â you darkly jest. Lord Samwell sends a glare to Lord Amos: he was six when his father was killed in a Bracken ambush.Â
âObviously, it is not. My goal is to make it last. So, I would like you two to outline the territories that are most important to your houses that as of now are owned by the other. Then weâll see what we can do about it â see if we can make it a fair exchange to avoid spilling more blood.â
The two nod and immediately get to work. You are surprised to see that they do not speak to each other â not even a little nag or tease. They seem to be more mature than their elders, a thing that strangely you do not find weird at all.Â
You didnât expect for it to be an easy negotiation, but Seven Hells if you had underestimated it. They would be competing for the entire Riverlands if there werenât any other houses, youâre sure about that. And before you know it, itâs been a sennight and youâre still staying in Riverrun, hoping that some god takes pity on you and strikes you down. Sure, you had them choose their spokesperson, but that doesnât mean the others donât protest when you say something they donât like.Â
âIâm thinking about arranging a marriage,â you say to Oscar one evening.Â
Youâre in the guest chambers, the ones youâre staying in. The chess match in front of you is basically forgotten, replaced by a discussion about peace treaties and ways to stop feuds. Your friend snorts, taking another sip of his wine. âMy ancestors have tried before. It always ends up in a massacre before the bride can even receive the groom's cloak.âÂ
You shake your head. âIâm thinking about Olyver Bracken and Alysanne Blackwood.â
He raises an eyebrow, skeptical. âA drunkard and a hunter? Weird choice. Donât know if I feel like ruining a ladyâs promising future.âÂ
âThink about it.â you lean over, elbows on your knees. You take two pawns, placing them on the table. âHe is Lord Amosâ heir, and he is useless. Meanwhile, she would be able to run Stone Hedge like it was the fucking Night Watch. We could make them marry, then maybe right after she already gave birth to a boy, an heir⊠a terrible accident could happen.â you knock down one of the pawns, âA tragic fall from the horse, a bad fever⊠you name it. And suddenly Lady Bracken is free from her preposterous husband and can raise his heir however she wants.â
You take two other pawns and place them near the others. âThen we marry small Benjicot Blackwood off to Cressida Bracken. They are still young, younger than Olyver and Alysanne; if Cressida is sent to live with the Blackwoods as soon as the engagement is announced, she may not feel the same hate towards him as any other Bracken would.â
You sigh, rubbing your hands together. âGive it twenty years, and the heirs to the Blackwood and the Bracken territories will all be cousins. What kind of cousins would ever start a war against each other?â
Oscar blinks at you. You blink back. âI mean what kind of cousins that arenât in my family, Oscar.â
âOooh. Oh, yes, that makes sense now.â he tilts his head to the side, looking at the pawns. âYou plan on killing the Bracken guy?â
You shrug. âOnly if Alysanne finds him annoying. I would never force the poor girl to stand him, knowing I wouldnât even be able to wait to have an heir before I got tired of him, so if she manages to do it, I will gift her a new set of arrows and a bow. Closing an eye on his mysterious disappearance would be the least I could do, if the rumours about him are true.â
Hearsays say that heâs insufferable and that he spends more time in brothels than in his own bed, but ultimately heâs pretty defenseless and has gotten his ass beaten in pubs more times than his father is able to count. Oscar snorts, âLetâs see if thereâs no carnage during the wedding, then we can actually talk about it.â
The next day comes, and you dread the moment youâll be sat at that fucking council table again, and will have to announce not only one but two betrothals. Itâs for the best, at least, or thatâs what you tell yourself when Alysanne Blackwood looks at you like you just sentenced her to death. The whole table protests against your decision, but youâre unremovable, and youâre telling them beforehand just because you feel nice today. Your mother wouldâve probably arranged the marriage without telling anyone anything until the day of the wedding.Â
âYou canât just do that!â Samwell laments, red from anger. It seems he doesnât like the thought of his sister being married off â quite thankfully, honestly. Youâre happy that youâre not the only sister who has brothers who care about her.Â
âThe thing is, Lord Blackwood,â you reply, âthat I can and I will. As ambassador to the King my word is his, and Iâm sure he would agree with me in this decision. You lot have killed enough men, women and children in this feud of yours; the whole RIverlands are tired, as honestly am I, of hearing of your endless feud and your constant blood spilling. I say we put an end to it.âÂ
They donât seem to care; they yell at you, then at each other, spitting venom and curses, talking over each other so loudly that you donât understand anything. You clench your hands, rage rising inside you; you wish you could just make NÄdrÄsy burn their beloved castles down to the ground and call it a day, so that there arenât any more territories to fight about, but unfortunately it isn't exactly diplomatic. Is this how your grandsire feels when he holds court?Â
You stare at the map in front of you; the distribution of the lands has changed, even if the number of acres both families own has basically remained the same. You have either split the territories in question or gave one to the Brackens and another to the Blackwoods, trying to be as fair and equal as you could be â but of course none of them would be happy; they both wanted the otherâs whole territory.Â
You feel like youâre looking after all your little brothers who canât agree for the life of them. Aegon will say that a toy is his and Viserys will reply that itâs actually his, even though they both have no idea where that toy came from in the first place nor that it was actually yours a decade ago.Â
âChildren!â you shout over the voices of the lords, shutting them up real quick. âYou are behaving like children â except you are grown men! And I am disgusted by you all! Your families have been in these lands for centuries, and not only have you never managed to overthrow one another, but you also have to make it everyoneâs problem! Arenât you ashamed? Donât you have just a bit of remorse for all the suffering your hatred is causing? How many men, women and children have to die before youââ
The door bursts open, a servant barging in, âPrincessâ!â âWhat?â you yell, enraged, turning to look at him. He cowers, trying to make himself as small as he can, knees trembling under your furious gaze. âI⊠Iââ
âTalk before I cut your tongue out and let her talk for you,â you spit. You would never do that, of course, itâs just that you have found in the last few years that a threat here and a threat there get the job done far more quicker and easier.Â
The servant gulps. âA raven from Kingâs Landing,â he squeaks, âItâs from Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen.â He hands you the letter and opts to run as fast as he can, away from you, shutting the doors of the chamber behind him.Â
You look at the letter, confused, only to rip it open and read it. The men at the table watch you intently, hoping that itâs some kind of good news so that your mood lightens up â maybe the princess is pregnant again? Maybe Prince Joffrey has managed to mount his dragon for the first time?Â
All their hopes are crushed when they see you get redder and redder in the face from anger as you read; if your dragon happened to be in the same room, they are sure that the paper would be burned down to ashes. Oscar leans to your side, peeking at the letter and reading what he can, frowning once he understands what your mother has written. âWhaââ
âA petition!â you roar, outraged. âAnd they didnât cut his tongue when he started talking about it!âÂ
âMadness,â Oscar sighs, âpure madness.âÂ
You tear the paper into pieces, making the lords flinch. âThe council is dismissed,â you declare. âThe terms of the negotiations remain the same; Lord Tully will make sure that you all agree and the deal will be sealed tomorrow. Or else,â you lean down, placing your hands on the table, âIâll come back once my matters are settled in Kingâs Landing and make sure that you all agree, in one way or another.â The threat is subtle, but they all understand that if they refuse to bend to the treaty, youâll visit them in their beloved lands â with your very hungry dragon, surely.Â
As the lords start to leave the room, you look over at Oscar, âYouâre coming to Kingâs Landing with me.â
He blinks, âI am?âÂ
You snort, unamused. âYou are. Vaemond Velaryonâs petition holds no sense, as my late father always recognised my brothers as his trueborn sons. Whether they look like him or the Baratheon and Arryn side of the family does not matter: they are legitimate. Iâll need you to keep me sane during the whole ordeal, Oscar. My ears did not bleed without a price during the last sennight.â
âBut Iâve had no time to prepareâ gods, let me fetch the servants, they need to start preparing my bagsââ
âTell them to bring your finest dresses and gowns,â you grunt, âwouldnât want you to make a bad impression to the whole court, my dear Lady Oscar. Where else will you go to search for a husband otherwise?âÂ
You shake your head right after, not in the mood to jest, âBe fucking serious, Oscar; bring a change or two and let it be done. Weâre not going to Kingâs Landing to have fun, itâs a trial.â your expression is dark, stare truce. âAnd a death sentence, if weâre lucky.âÂ
Your mother will never make it out of the trial unscathed is the green wench sits or her father sit on the throne; she needs you. She made that very clear in the letter, and you have no intention in turning your back on her.
Oscar departs immediately, calling for the servants and his brother Kermit, and you follow right after, not surprised to find Lady Alysanne Blackwood out of the room, waiting for you. Even if she was half as smart and hard headed as you thought her to be, sheâd probably still be waiting out the council room to talk to you about the half-wit she would marry per your orders. Poor girl.Â
âIf you wish to talk, we can do so as we head to my rooms,â you say before she can open her mouth, âI have matters in the King's Landing to tend to, and I canât afford to waste time.â
She grimaces, âDidnât you come here to attend this council? Werenât you here to help our families?â
âFirst of all, I was ambushed by Ser Oscar,â you clarify, âSecond, yes, I was. And I did.â
She looks downright haunted. âYou are a woman,â she murmurs. âYou are a woman and you have sold me as no man had ever dared to do before.â
âYou were bound to be sold off, Lady Alysanne,â you reply, tone calm. You can imagine her rage right now, but she must know that with her place in her family, she could have never possibly found the freedom she surely wants. You understand that by not living in the Crownlands, she had more hope for her future, with the freedom she was clearly given growing up; but you have grown in the Crownlands, and you have seen younger girls being married off to worser men without being able to escape. âI just did the honors.â
âI will slash my neck open before that brute can even think of touching me,â she boldly says.
It makes you stop to take a better look at her. Sheâs tall, taller than you, and a tad bit older. Itâs kind of sad to see her with tears in her eyes. âI know what an unhappy marriage is,â you inform her. âIn the Keep weâre full of them. My own mother was in one with my father.â
You lower your voice, leaning your head, âBut you have me on your side. And I wouldnât be against⊠a little violence.â at her confusion, you explain yourself. âI wouldnât refuse to turn a blind eye to a hunting accident, letâs say.â At her joyous face, you relent, âNot on the night of the wedding, Alysanne! At least we need one heir, or the feud will never end. Lord Bracken is old and sick, and itâll be a year or two before he dies, hopefully â I'll see if I can help the process go faster. Then his son might accidentally die, too, oh, he was so young, leaving his pain struck wife and son behind,âÂ
She snorts, âA tragedy, wouldnât it be?âÂ
You laugh grimly. âOhh, you get it.â
âWhatâs this smell?â Oscar yells over your shoulder, trying to make himself heard over the sound of the wind and the flapping wings of your dragon.Â
âThatâs the capital for you!â you reply, already missing the fresh air of the RIverlands. âThe weather doesnât help Flea Bottomâs odour. Itâs been like this since forever.â
He gags, âDonât understand how you manage. Smells like piss.âÂ
You shrug, âYou get used to it. Trust me, thereâs lords in court who smell far worse than Flea Bottom does,âÂ
NÄdrÄsy roars unhappily: a full day of travel and itâs only to get back into the dirty streets of Kingâs Landing. You lightly slap his side, yelling over his laments, âIlagon, valÄ«tsos!â Down, boy!Â
Oscar, behind you, shakes like a leaf as your dragon replies by roaring with vigor â no doubt, that equals to at least ten curses in dragonâs language. âHow can you talk to him like that? Heâs going to eat you alive one of these days and you wonât be able to do anything about it.â
You snort. âIâd like to see him try.â
The Dragon Pit is more animated than usual: some Keepers are holding back Vermax, who screeches and spits fire, while others bring Syrax back in her cave, her belly swollen, her step slow and cautious. Caraxes follows right behind, shaking his wings to throw the dirt off of them.Â
The Keepers greet you and your dragon, sending a weird glance towards Oscar. One of them â Kilya is her name, you believe â comes near, shouting so that you can hear her. âÄȘlin umbagon syt ao, dÄrilaros.â she says, âAĆha muña gÄ«mÄdegon Ä«lva hen aĆha mÄzigon.â We were waiting for you, Princess. Your mother warned us of your arrival.Â
You nod; you had no time to reply to her raven, but she mustâve guessed that there was no way you wouldnât have come. âSe eman mÄstan.â And I have arrived, âGĆ«rogon NÄdrÄsy naejot zÈłhon ripo, eman gaomon naejot imÄzigon.â Bring NÄdrÄsy to his cave, I have matters to attend.Â
You help Oscar get off; he yelps as the chains around his ankles are unfastened and yells as you help him down, where the Keepers promptly catch him before he falls on his backside. You jump off your dragonâs back, landing perfectly fine, and opt to pat roughly NÄdrÄsyâs back, just as he likes it. âSÈłz sĆvegon, valÄ«tsos.â Good fly, boy. He roars back happily.
âIâll never understand that language,â Oscar mutters, standing back up straight, a frown upon his face. âItâs like you donât want your secrets to be known. Why wonât you teach me High Valyrian?â
âIksis ziry doru-borto?â the Keeper asks. Is he stupid? You shake your head, then think about it and snort, relenting. âMÄrÄ« mirrÄ«.â Only a little.Â
Your friend pouts, sticking out his tongue at you. âIs that what I get for being your bestest companion?â
You laugh, walking off the Pit and to the entrance, where a carriage is promptly and not surprisingly waiting for you. âMy bestest companion? Didnât know you had wings and were named NÄdrÄsy.â
He gasps, dramatically grasping his chest, âYou wound me!âÂ
You both get in the carriage, and you look at him seriously. âBefore we enter the Red Keep, there are some rules you must abide by.â
He raises an eyebrow, âRules? I was raised well, you know, I shouldnât need those. I hope the King knows that.â
You shake your head, âNo, those are my rules for you. Letâs say that itâs what youâll need if you want to go back home unscathed from the Keepâs snakes.â
Oscar gulps, âGo on.â
âFirst, donât talk to the Queen. Then donât talk to her sons unless Iâm in the room. Avoid Larys Strong â heâs the guy with the crippled leg and the corpse face, youâll know itâs him instantly â and avoid the councilmen.â
âWhat, you want to keep me a secret?â he asks, bewildered. âIs there someone Iâll be able to talk to? Is there a reason why I have to avoid all these people?â he gasps, âAm I your whore? Is that why you want to keep my mouth shut?â
âIf you were my whore, Iâm pretty sure I would want your mouth wide open and working,â you mutter, âbut no, that is not why. Truth is I would rather make sure that you stay out of their claws; itâs better to keep away from their schemes.â
The actual truth is that you donât want them to speculate something about history repeating â your mother was already rumored to have a lover from the Riverlands; the last thing this family needs is another princess said to have an affair with yet another lover from the Riverlands. They would wonder if it actually was some kind of preference that was passed down from mother to daughter, and even if the only thought of being attracted to Oscar makes you laugh, youâre sure the councilmen definitely wouldnât be amused by it.Â
âBesides, you can talk to Mushroom,â you add.Â
âWhoâs Mushroom?â
âThe courtâs jester. Heâs insufferable, small and will try to steal your gold, but you can talk to him.â
Your friend grimaces, âWhy do you keep him in the castle if he steals the lordsâ gold?â
You shrug, âHe makes me laugh.â
Slowly, the carriage rattles to a halt, a page opening the door for you. âReady to see the Red Keep for the first time?âÂ
He nods, âReady to face your evil step-grandmother?â
Single father!Cregan Stark x reader
Summary: the reader comes across a young boy. It seems the boy's worried father becomes quite taken with her.
A/n: He's got cheekbones sharp enough to kill a man đ
Masterlist
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She gasped when something grabbed her leg.Â
The lady looked down to see a small boy, no older than two, holding her leg tightly. "Oh."
She ran a hand over the boy's hair as she looked around for someone, anyone in the crowdâhis parents or her guard. Neither were in sight, it seemed.Â
So she managed to pry him away enough to bend down to his level.Â
"Where are your parents?" She whispered to him.Â
When he didn't answer, she brushed his hair back from his forehead. "That's alright. We'll find them, yeah? They must be missing you fearsomely. What is your name?"
The boy stared with watery eyes.Â
"Well," the lady continued, "Will you let me help you?"
The boy managed a nod and accepted the hug she offered him.Â
She thanked the merchant that she had been speaking to and picked up the boy, now focusing her attention on the people rather than the goods they were selling.Â
Darkish hair, she assumed from the boy's looks. Someone with blue eyes. Surely he was precious to someone.
"Hey," she lightly reprimanded when he tucked his face into her neck. "I need you to look for them. I don't know whatâŠ" Her voice trailed off. The boy was tired and scared and she could hardly blame him.
She roamed the long street once over, just looking for someone that lost their child. A worrisome mother or a stern father. But nothing.Â
She sighed, rubbing the boy's back, "Father won't like this."
She continued on as before, shopping lightly with the boy in her arms. Her heart was warmed by the soft snores that came from his small body.
She walked down the cobble road, noticing a guard whose eyes lit up at the sight of her. It sent her on edge. She turned the other way.Â
Another guard was coming from that direction. She froze.Â
Trying another way, she tried to use the crowd to manage around them, but was met with another guard, quite literally running into him. She backed up in fear, her free hand over the boy's head as if she could protect him.Â
"Hand over the boy, my lady."
They looked so angry. "N-No." She tried to display confidence but that's hardly was she accomplished. "Whatever the boy did, I can pay for-"
"My lady!" Her guard's voice came through.Â
Her guard, Ser Marten, pushed through the guards and the crowd that seemed to not even notice the chaos that was happening.Â
He pulled an arm around her. "Are you alright, my lady?"
She nodded and looked at the other guards. Her eyes flitted down to the sigil that laid on their cloaks.Â
Stark.Â
She feared Lord Stark was more cruel than she made him out to be, having three grown men chase down a small boy.Â
"I won't ask again. Hand over the boy," one of the guards tried again.
"Ser," Ser Marten tried to ease. "Whatever the boy has done can be paid-"
The guard behind her reached out and wrapped a hand around the back of her neck.Â
Ser Marten's eyes widened, and he pulled his sword from its sheath. "Unhand her."
"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?" A loud voice echoed through the street.Â
The crowd practically split in two as the great Lord Cregan Stark ran to them. "Where-" He paused. "You've found him, my lady?"
Her brow furrowed. "W-What?"
"Unhand her and go," Cregan barked at the guards. "And you," he ordered Ser Marten, "Do sheath your sword. I'll not have violence on my streets."
Ser Marten blinked and did as he said.Â
"You may go as well."
Marten looked between the two, only stepping back at the sight of his lady's nod.Â
With him gone, she felt vulnerable.Â
Cregan held his arms out, expecting her to hand him the boy.Â
She turned away from him out of instinct, shielding the boy. "I-"
He frowned. "My lady." He extended his arms further.Â
"Whatever he's done, my lord, I can pay for. I am not the richest and I hardly know what House Stark would want, but I can try. Please, don't hurt him."
Cregan's mouth opened in a reaction of shock. He tilted his head. She was more than meets the eye. "My lady, I am only a worried father. Please."
A feeling of embarrassment filled her stomach. "Oh." She pulled the boy out in her arms, seeing that, indeed, the Sigil of house Stark laid on the boy's chest. "Oh, forgive me!"
Cregan took his son with caring hands, careful not to wake him. "Oh, my boy," he sighed as he held him close to his chest. "Gods, I've never felt fear like this." He closed his eyes, not caring if he seemed weak for a moment. He was a terrified father and he wasn't afraid to seem it.
"Do forgive me, my lord. I-I didn't not realize-"
"-You did not realize that you held my future, the future of the North, in your arms?" He let out a breath of a laugh. "I owe you greatly." He looked down at the sigil on her cloak. "Lady Bolton? Are you Lord Bolton's new wife?"
She flushed. "No. NO. I am his daughter." She smoothed down her skirt in embarrassment.Â
"Ah, forgive me. I thought his second wife was young. Perhaps I was mistaken."
"You weren't," she assured. "She's not much my elder. An honest mistake."
"But you are still of House Bolton? Unmarried, I mean?" He asked.
"Yes, as of the current time, yes."
He nodded with the information. "Strange to see a childless woman with such motherly instincts. He seemed quite content with you."
"He was quite frightened to be alone."
Cregan hummed. "Let me reward you. You've protected my boy and returned him to me."
"No, I couldn't-"
"-Nonsense. It's the very least I could do."
She watched the boy stir in the large man's arms. His tiny hand gripped Cregan's fur cloak tightly, as if finally feeling the full comfort of his home again. "Knowing I've done you a service is gratitude enough for me."
"Please." He looked around. "Are you alone, my lady? Surely I would have heard of Lord Bolton's arrival before this."
She nodded. "I come to the market every few months. This is the only place I've found dried lavender. Father says I have an obsession," she laughs. "Perhaps so. But I'm old enough now of course to journey alone. With my guard."
"And have you found it this time?"Â
"Hmm?"
"The lavender?"
"Oh. Um," she looks around. "No, I haven't."
Cregan sighs. "That's a shame. Are you sure you won't accept a reward?"
She smiles. "Truly. I am sure." She reached out to brush the boy's hair, but stops herself when she realizes how inappropriate that is now that she knows it's Stark's son. "G'day, Lord Stark."
He stops her before she can turn to leave. "Lady Bolton. Do I get a first name?"
"Y/n."
He repeats it, as if committing it to memory. "Good day, my lady. I won't forget your kindness."
âŠ
Cregan was honest about that. He didn't forget her kindness.
âŠ
"My lady."
Her handmaiden interrupts her quiet time.Â
"There's a gift for you, my lady."
Her eyes lit up. "What? From who?"
"I'm not sure. Shall I bring it in?"
She nodded and watched the woman disappear for a moment before reappearing with a small cloth sack.
She took the bag with nimble fingers, pulling it open.Â
Dried Lavender.Â
A small letter laid inside, sealed with wax, but no sigil.
A small gift to represent my gratitude. - A relieved father
She let out a breath. How thoughtful of him to scour the market for this, even after she was unable to find it.Â
"Who is it from, my lady?"
"Just a man I helped back in Winterfell."
"Well, how thoughtful."
Yes, she thought, Cregan Stark was quite the thoughtful man.
âŠ
Cregan sat at his council meeting, his boy, Rickon, sitting in his lap, tapping his wooden horse against the table as he played with it. The northern lord hardly noticed the sound at this point, the boy's antics becoming second nature to him.Â
"I agree, my lord," one of his councilmen spoke, "perhaps that would be best for the North."
A servant interrupted. "Forgive me, my lord. But it's a letter."
Cregan's mind snapped as he looked up. "Is it? Hand it here."
The servant walked it over to him and dismissed himself.
Cregan's fingers brushed over the wax.Â
The Bolton sigil.Â
He could practically feel his hands shake as he opened it.
My heart is lightened at the news of your relief. I thank you for your gift. It was more gracious than I fear I deserved. I'll remain in awe of how you managed to find exactly what I had failed to. My house, my father, and I as well, remain loyal to you. - Y/n Bolton
"My lord?" One of the men asked lightly.
Cregan looked up from the letter. "Write urgently to Lord Bolton. I have an offer."
Cregan tutted lightly when Rickon reached out for the letter. "Easy, son. This is your father's keepsake."
âŠ
My dear lady, I fear writing yet another letter to you may be deemed inappropriate to some, but they do not understand the kinship we share. My son grows by the day, and still, I remember the day you and I met so starkly. Take this gift, and dare I ask that you think of me when you wear it. - A content father
The bottom of the letter was all scribbles and scratches from the quill, no doubt something that his son had added. It made her heart warm, like perhaps maybe the babe was trying to say something to her as well.
Her eyes wandered to the dress that he had gifted. A Stark blue. She thought it perhaps a bit too bold for the man, but she wouldn't deny his wishes.Â
Her father may question it, but he couldn't refuse such a thing.Â
She took out a quill.
âŠ
I am starting to believe that you have overdone your gratitude. I fear as a young lady, I have not much to give, but perhaps it is true that the thought of a gift is greater than the price or amount of the object itself. I find that this specific type of fabric strips make for wonderful ties for the hair. I mean no harm, but I did notice the way you grew annoyed at the hair in your eyesight when we met. I'm going to send this now before I realize the intent of my actions and grow embarrassed. Do tell your son I enjoyed his drawings per your last letter. - Y/n Bolton
Cregan held the fabric strips in his hand, rubbing the soft material.Â
How ink on a page could make his heart feel alive, he wasn't sure.
âŠ
Cregan spent the next two days in contemplation.Â
While he wanted to immediately write her back, he knew that he should wait. The letter to her father surely arrived at that point, and he didn't wish to seem overly hasty.
But when another letter from her arrived, he almost ripped it in earnest to view its contents.
I fear our letters must come to an end. My father had spoken of a marriage proposal and it seems quite unladylike to be writing such letters. Though we two know of our kinship, I fear it is unfair to my future betrothed. Please forgive me, and know that this was not of my choosing. - Y/n
He paused at her lack of a last name.Â
She wrote as if she had no idea. Her father hadn't told her the entire truth.Â
He leaned back in his chair and placed his hands over his eyes. He wanted to ease her worries, tell her the truth, but it was not yet his place, and he was to wait for her father's response.Â
But it ate at him. What if Bolton was truly marrying her to another? It made him sick.Â
There was a sound in the doorway.Â
Cregan looked up to see Rickon standing with his toy on ground, obviously fallen from his hand. He smiled at him, "Hello, son."
Rickon took his time leaning down to get his horse, then took steps around the long table until he got to his father.Â
Cregan waited patiently, not wanting to rush or correct his boy, but once Rickon was close enough, he reached out and held him up in the air. The little son's squeals filled him with joy. He brought him down to kiss the boy's cheek then set him on his lap to face him. "What have you been doing, my boy?"
Rickon set his horse on Cregan's chest, his attention enamored on it.Â
The lord brushed his son's hair from his face with a longing look. "Think I'll get to hear that voice anytime soon?"
Rickon hit his horse against the man's chest, causing a sigh to come from his father.Â
"Well, maybe eventually, hm?"
Everything sat in such uncertainty. He only hoped that it all worked out as he had planned it.
........................................
A/n: part two in underway
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cregan stark is the type of man to write long, passionate love letters detailing his intense yearning and longing for the object of his affection.
the letters are, of course, unsent...but when the longing takes over, he will sit and read them beside the fire, picturing his beloveds visage.
imagine cregan and y/n breaking the bed one night just because of his sheer strength and muscle whilst pounding her, ik the conversation with the winterfell wood crafter would be awks as hell afterwards whilst asking for it to be repaired đđ
IM HAVING A PROPHETIC VISION, ANON.
At this point, Cregan and his boo thang are just going to have to become familiar with the man. There is no other option, because your choices are either to have this embarrassing conversation a multitude of times with multiple woodcrafters or just one. Because if y'all think this is a one-time thing, you are terribly mistaken.
Cregan is a very passionate person in bed, regardless if he's on top or not. He wants to make sure the two of you are satiatedâthat does mean the bed will snap like a twig under a boot i dont make the rules i just work here. Personally, I find the actual deliverance of the bedframe to be the most mortifying. Firstly, that big ass broken bed has to be dismantled and removed, if it's not fixable, which takes manpower, and then the new one brought into the Great Keep and put together. Otherwise, the woodcrafter is going to have to make a house call and show up with his tools and planks, walking toward your marital chambers which is embarrassing too :)
ÉŽáŽáŽ áŽÉąáŽÉȘÉŽ. (thoughts ver.)
NSFW stuff under the cut. 18+ only. I'm not responsible for the content you choose to consume. ty.
âË âżïž”âżïž”âżïž”âżïž”âżïž”âżïž”àšà§ · · ⥠· · àšà§âżïž”âżïž”âżïž”âżïž”âżïž”âżïž” Ëâ
That familiar groan under his weight should've been the first warning sign, but Cregan was too distracted to notice. He was lapping at her pretty cunt, tongue delving as deep as he could go and as thorough as he could be without the motions being too unsteady. Alright maybe he did notice initially, but the thought was very quickly shoved to the back of his mindâespecially when his pretty wife was trying to rock herself onto his nose, letting out the most quiet of whimpers muffled by their sheets. His ears were focused on her and her only.
With her pearl rubbing against his bridge and his cock feeling so strained in his trousers, no one could really blame him for forgetting about the delicate state of the bed in an instant. Last time theyâd gotten particularly frantic in their lovemaking, there had been a low snap somewhere beneath the mattress, a taunt that he was probably too hefty to be moving so much. But winter was coming, a manâs gotta eatâŠin more ways than one.
By the time heâd recalled they should begin to take it easy on the bed, he was already balls deep behind her, hands gripping the flesh of her ass like a lifeline. He was suffocating in the best way, cock nestled inside, fogging his brain with nothing but instinct. And then she started begging. By then, well, he decided they needed a new bed anywayâsix moons wasnât too bad. Lasted longer than the previous replacement. Three harsh, unrelenting spanks bloom red on her backside as she squeezes around him, sending his blood pumping to the beat of an imaginary war drum. It would be a miracle from the Gods if she wasnât pregnant by mid-summer. Cregan just couldnât help himself.
Rutting against her like a man starved, the right side of the bed almost completely collapses, caving in and nearly throwing him off balance. His wife gasped, pleasure momentarily halted as she looked back at him. âAgain? Seriously? I told you to write to him last time, did you?â The answer was no, no he did not. âIt might haveâŠslippedâŠmy mind.â He murmured, trying to ignore the throbbing in his full balls. They had a silent conversation of glares and a sheepish grin. Then she concedes. â...We might as well finish then. I doubt it can get any worse.â
It could, actually. And it did. He came hard some twenty minutes later, pounding their hips together with a steady desperation. The dip of the broken side was a little annoying, but manageable. Without the support, the right beams of the canopy end up falling right down. No one was harmed, of course. It was only drapes. Cregan found it almost comical but his wife did not. It was going to be a long letter.
âË âżïž”âżïž”âżïž”âżïž”âżïž”âżïž”àšà§ · · ⥠· · àšà§âżïž”âżïž”âżïž”âżïž”âżïž”âżïž” Ëâ
Cregan Stark x wife!reader
Summary: Cregan returns from a hunt, eager to see his wife. But he's hiding something from her.
Warnings: blood, making out, pain, talks about sex, I think that's it?
A/n: Based on an ask!!! Also... I need more Tom Taylor gifs RIGHT NOW or I'll cry. So fancast Cregan might make a comeback in the gifs
Masterlist
...............................................
She felt herself flinch when strong hands gripped her waist from behind and a kiss was placed on the back of her neck.Â
"Did you miss me, my heart?" A deep voice whispered in her ear.
She relaxed at the sound, her body instinctively giving in to the hands that held her, "Quite terribly."
He grinned and playfully nipped at her ear, "Good, because I have as well."
She spun in his hold, now facing him. She ran her hands over his clothed chest and fiddled with his cloak, "The hunt was successful, I assume?"
"Three elks and a boar," he said with a hint of pride, "Should last Winterfell a while enough."
"You're very brave, my lord," she smiled with a teasing tone. "Facing a boar is quite a formidable task."
"Aye," he agrees. "But so is facing the Warden of the North, wouldn't you agree?"
"You're right," She said as he tugged on his cloak to pull his face closer to hers. "The boar didn't stand a chance."
A confident aura overcame the lord and he leaned further down and connected their lips.
She let out a soft groan, savoring the feeling of him after such a long absence.
His arms moved up and around her back to pull her to him.
Her chest collided with his and only then did Cregan falter.
She pulled away, disconnecting their lips as she gave him a small frown. "Cregan?"
His breath had quickened and his face paled, but he was eagerly changing the subject, "I've only missed you is all." He leaned in again.
As his lips brushed hers, she pulled away again as her worry doubled, "Stop. Stop doing that."
"Doing what?"
"Something is clearly bothering you," she pointed out. "Tell me."
His hands wandered up to her biceps, gripping her earnestly, as if trying to convince her, "I am just fine. I only wish to spend time with my wife. Is that a crime?"
"You and I both know it's not, but there's something you're not telling me."
They stared at one another, seeing who would break first. Finally, he did with a sigh. "It is nothing, I assure you."
"You're sure?" She asked in worry.
"I am."Â
She stared at him for a while before nodding, deciding to believe him. "Very well. I dare say I would enjoy some time with my lord husband as well."
He grinned, "I can arrange that."Â
She leaned forward and met his lips, hands beginning to wander.Â
He led her backwards to the bed, careful to not lead her astray. She blindly let him, too caught him in his touch to care where he took her.
She fell onto the bed and Cregan leaned down and began to kiss down her clothed stomach.
"Will you let me indulge in what I've missed?" He asked softly.
She let out a breath at his admission.Â
Watching her reaction closely, he pulled the skirt of her dress up.
As his fingers grazed her bare thigh, she moaned out, "I don't think I can wait. I need you."
He chuckled, "So eager for me."
She sat up to entice him to loom over her, but she noticed that the color still hadn't returned to his cheeks. "Are you cold?"
He frowned, clearly confused at the question, "What? No."
"You're pale. Cregan, please." She reached under his cloak to his chest.Â
He reached out to grip her wrists, but it was too late.
Her hands pulled back with red staining her palms. Her eyes widened in horror. "WâŠWhat-"
"-Look at me." He grabbed her face with both hands. "I am fine."
"You're hardly-"
His eyes showed the purely determined tone to his voice, "I am fine."
Her breath began to become shorter and her voice softened, "You⊠you've seen the maester?"
"I don't need the maester. I just need you," he said as he leaned in again.
She turned her head as she denied his wishes. "You're injured."
He sighed and pulled away from her. "It⊠it is just a scratch."
She stared down at her hands that now had his blood on them. Her fingers were shaky, and her voice was soft, "âŠyou're injured."
He panicked when she began to only repeat her worry. "Dear wife-"
She stood and smoothed her dress out in a rush, "I'll get the maester."
He reached out and grabbed her wrist. His face twisted in a wince when the movement caused pain to shoot through his body.
She paused. "Cregan."
He forced himself to overcome the pain. Determination ran through his eyes as he looked up at her. "I. Am Fine."
She looked at his hand on her wrist, then back to him. "Even wolves show weakness on occasion."
It was clear that he took her words to heart because his eyes softened and his grip on her loosened.Â
She slowly pulled her hand away and moved to the cabinet, pulling out bandages and cloths
Cregan watched in silence.
She set them onto the bed softly before leaving the room. She returned with a small basin of water. "Undress."
His head tilted. "Alright."
He pulled his cloak off, and only then did she notice how badly he was injured.Â
His tunic was soaked in blood across his chest.Â
It felt as if she had been dunked in cold water. Panic settled into her gut.
Cregan reached down to the bottom of the tunic, beginning to slowly peel it away from the injury. It clearly hurt him. His jaw was clenched to the point she worried for his teeth.
"Let me," she offered, pulling it the rest of the way off of him and throwing it to the side.Â
A long cut ran down his chest, blood staining his skin. Cregan didn't bother to look at it. He kept his eyes on her and her alone.
She forced him to sit on the bed and sat down as well, reaching down to the cut. Her fingers grazed it lightly, earning a hiss from him. "Sorry," she whispered.
He shook his head as he studied her face, "'s fine."
"Get comfortable, my love," she finally forced.
He grunted in acknowledgement and pushed himself against the headboard.
She stood and grabbed the basin, setting it on the nightstand. The woman got up on the bed, throwing her leg over him to straddle him.Â
If he wasn't in such pain, the night would've went much differently.
She leaned over and wet a cloth, beginning to gently run it over the cut to clean it.Â
Cregan rested his head back against the headboard. His gaze stayed on her face.
"I don't understand why you didn't say something sooner," she whispered as she focused on healing her husband.
His eyes moved down to her lips, "I've had worse."
"How did it happen?" She pressed down unintentionally, and he hissed again. She muttered an apology.
"The boar," was all he said. He tried to read her expression, but it was hard when she wasn't looking at him. One of his hands moved to her waist.
"Did you face it yourself?" She asked incredulously.
"It caught us off guard is all."
She hummed as she grabbed a new cloth and continued to clean him with gentle hands.
His thumb rubbed across her waist comfortingly. "You're angry."
"Not angry," she sighed. "Only worried." Once the cut was clean, she began to slowly rub the cloth across his shoulders and up his neck, cleaning the dirt from the rest of him.Â
The feeling made him close his eyes, "I do hope you'll forgive me then."
She shook her head, "You haven't asked for it yet."
He reached up with his free hand and stopped her motions. "Forgive me." His eyes studied her intensely, his voice serious.
She finally let out a sigh and a hint of a smile came to her. "You're a foolish man."
"I am," he admitted.
She took the cloth with one hand and held his chin with the other, cleaning the dirt off of his face. Their proximity brought a soft blush to her cheeks. "I don't know what I would do without you."
His eyes moved to her lips again and he began to slowly lean in. "You don't have to."
"Promise me something," she whispered.
He nodded, "Anything."
"You'll not put your health aside to appear strong to me."
"I am the Warden of the North-"
She leaned away and held his chin in a tight grip. "Not here. You're my husband, Cregan."
A little grin came across his lips. "I promise."
She leaned forward and connected their lips.Â
His hands found her waist, holding her in a vice grip as he pulled her as close as possible. She was careful to avoid the cut on his chest as her hands wandered over him.Â
He pulled away and began to trail kisses down her neck, "I'm a blessed man."
She let out a content hum. "Are you? You have a gash in your chest. I hardly see-"
"-I have you." His teeth nipped at a sensitive spot, soothing it with his tongue.Â
Her eyes began to close in bliss as she gave in to his touch. She caught herself, and forced her eyes open. "I haven't finished bandaging you."
He continued his movements, "You'll have time later."
"If you want anything from me, you must let me finish, you stubborn man."
He pulled away at that to look up and her. "Fierce girl."
She grinned and reached over to the bandages she had gathered. She wrapped them around him, "I forgive you."
His large hand came up to grab her jaw gently and force her to look him in the eye. "I will not take it for granted. Thank you."
"Do this again and I'll gut you myself."
A chuckle came from his throat. "I have no doubts of that." He pulled her face to his and his voice lowered, "I'll have to be extra cautious, won't I?"
"Or perhaps⊠don't leave at all," her soft voice suggested.
"Oh, my girl," he grinned. "When you finish this bandage, we are not leaving this room for a long while."
A bright red hue came to her cheeks.
............................................
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@cookielovesbook-akie
Hello and welcome to my humble blog!
My name is Walnuts and this is a new blog so please, please fill the inbox with whatever is on your mind
ââŽïžËïœĄâ rules:
i wont write smut
i wont write about canonically minor characters
this is a safe space so be nice
i will block you if i feel uncomfortable
do not repost/translate my work
ââŽïžËïœĄâ fandoms i write for:
Got/Hotd
Jjk
Jjba
Nana
Challengers
Stark men
The bear
Batman
Cod
Death note
House MD
Attack of Titan
hope you have a good time and remember to be kind!
from the bottom of my heart i wanna thank every single person on this app who writes modern jace or modern cregan you're doing god's work FR
summary: your long time betrothed jacaerys heads to winterfell to make good relations with the north, your relationship has always been one of love and happiness until you show up a month into his trip to winterfell where everything seems to have changed between the two of you. your relationship may never be the same and it has everything to do with a particular stark.
jacaerys velaryon x cregan stark x fem!non targ!reader
cw: infidelity, internalized homophobia, queer cregan and jace, threesome, poly relationship, hand job, oral (f), prob ooc for everyone man, p in v, anal, top!cregan, sub!jace, dom!reader, like one smack to the face, âsara snowâ mention? (its just cregan), not proofread
an: havent written in a hot minute im rlly rusty but ive gotten asked to write this for forever so here you go đ
perm jace taglist ! (open) @cruelworldlana @smurfelle @ireneispunk @hxtd @venmondiese @urmomsgirlfriend1 @jacesvelaryons @earth4angels @itsemohours @valdezthg
perm cregan taglist ! (open) @ireneispunk
He had been acting weird since you arrived. avoiding you at every turn, barely speaking to you and it bothered you to no end. His letters to you had been nothing but positive, speaking highly of winterfell and the lord stark who jacaerys also seemed to be avoiding as well.
he spoke about how much he missed you, how much he longed to see you but now that you were actually here he seemed to want nothing to do with you. a month ago you were the love of his life, he was obsessed with you, and now he would not even do so much as look your way.
then you heard the rumor for the first time. It seemed everyone had been trying to hide it from you but you heard it one night. the maids had been talking around the corner. Sara snow. The lord rumored bastard sister. With pretty long dark hair just like her brother. They had been sleeping together for basically his whole time there you presumed, you had even heard they got fucking married in front of the weirwood trees before you showed up.
You were sick. so sick about everything so sick of the thoughts you were having and you grew angry, furious but you managed to stay rational, calm, for now.
âare you happy?â he looked up at you started, you had barged into his room and locked the door quickly behind you. ây/n-â âi am not angry, i was angry, but this is a very typical thing in marriages here i just wish you had informed me,â He stands up from his desk. readjusting the buttons on his white tunic to cover himself up further as he looked at you alarmed. He looked beautiful and you hate that. His hair wet and face flushed as he tries to find his words.
âi dont know what,â âive heard the rumors. everyone talks about it, everyone looks at me with pity in their eyes. whether its this sara snow or some other lady i dont care because i believe it.â
He freezes. He looks down at his hands which shake, you wait for him to say something. Anything. a part of you hopes he denies it, even if it would be a lie you pray he can give you some false sense of hope but he doesnât. merely standing quietly in shame while you let out a soft laugh devoid of anything. âif you wish for our marriage to be one of agreement then so be it. but do not try to trick me into believing itll be anything more than that any longer i refuse it.â
You turn to walk out of the room, no longer being able to stand in his presence but as you go to open the door his voice calls out to you. âthere is no other lady.â
You scoff and turn back to him, his eyes are glazed over with tears as his chest rises with heavy breaths. A part of you wants to walk over to him and wipe his tears off his face but you remain firm as you scoff. âdo not take me for a fool-â âi mean it. there is no lady.â he puts an emphasis on the word that has you tilting your head. you open your mouth to question him until the pure desperate look on his face causes it to click. there is no lady. but there is someone.
âim sorry.â he flats and looks as though he did not expect you to say that. âfor what? you have nothing to be sorry for it is i who should be-â âi cannot be mad at you for who you are it is not your fault.â He walks over to you as you close the door, grabbing your hands as he shakes his head. âyou miss understand me i like you i love you like i man loves a women but he,â he lets out a frustrated sigh but you can tell its not directed at you, âi love him as i love you.â
When there is a silence in the air for far longer than he likes he squeezes you hard tight as he looks at your blank face. âplease say something my love.â âwho is it?â he looks down once more as you remain firmly staring at him. ây/n..â âwho?â âcregan.â He says his name likes its forbidden, the word travels in the air like a brush of wind but you still hear it all the same.
he doesnât dare look up at you again as another wave of silences washes over you two. His heart is aching so badly he wants to clutch his chest and fall to the ground. He does not want to be like this, one of those men. He holds himself in higher regard, but he cant help how he feels about the winter wolf who smiles at him so kindly. He thought it could be one and done, manage to shake this illness from his skin and be done with it but it has only gotten worse.
it is wrong. he should not want to love cregan as he loves you. you are his light his world but why does he think of cregan as he thinks of you. Its wrong, immoral. He should be punished, he wishes for you to yell, to scream at him, hit him but you donât. you merely pull away from him and walk out the room without another word. He drops to his knees when as you shut the door and he clutches his chest as he begin to sob, he is a monster and this fate is a cruel but just punishment in his eyes.
Cregan wake up that morning prepared to walk the same routine he always does. The images of the dark haired prince that flash in his mind go ignored another day as they have been ever since the princess arrived. he did not hate you, no he actually rather liked you a lot but he did miss getting to spend time with jacaerys who clung to his side before you had shown up and now had not even spoken a word to him.
He walks into the hall and pauses. There you sit, arms crossed and two plates of hot foot in front of you. it clicks. he looks around at all the guards and maids in the room, âeveryone out.â the room quickly scatters, âand make sure nobody enters.â the doors as shut with a hard slam as he stalks towards you, eyeing you down with a gleam of mischief in his pupils. âits a shock to see you here princess.â âi am not a princess.â he hums as he takes a seat and begins to pick at his food while you merely stare at him. âsomething the matter?â âhow long?â
he raises his brow as he dunks his bread in the soup before shoving it in his mouth, âhow long what?â âdont play dumb with me lord stark.â He chuckles leaning back in his chair and you find yourself readjusting in your seat. He watched you with a pleased look as he licks on of his fingers. ânot long enough that your pretty little head should be worried about it princess.â âhe said he loves you.â
cregans face falls and his face turns serious as he looks at you. He can see the questioning in your eyes and lets out a sigh. âtwo weeks. but weâve been friends this whole time. i never meant for it to go further i swear on my sons life. stepping in between the bonds of a betrothal is not my way.â
You hate that you find yourself believing him. you itch at your skin to the point it becomes red. âdo you like him?â cregan scratched at his jaw as he moves his food around on his plate. âi do. very much. i apologize.â he watched as you take a deep breath as you stare at your plate, âi will not peruse it, you are his betrothed and it would be inappropriate and wrong of me. i will leave him alone, i will never even glance at him i have disrespected your honor and dignity enough.â
he stared at you waiting for a response, he watches as you bring the bowl of soup to your lips snd take a long sip before placing it back down and wiping the excess from your lips. âwould you accept his mother terms here and now so we could leave by the afternoon if i asked?â âyes of course anything you want.â
he expects you to ask him to do it but you merely bring your chalice to your lips as a sinister grin finds its way to your face. âdo you find me pretty lord stark?â his brows raise in question but he coughs into his fist, âum, yes i do princess.â he watches as you lean over the table and grin at him sweetly. âjust how pretty lord stark?â he almost asks you whats wrong before he feels your foot drag up his leg slowly letting out a shaky breath before a groan as your food digs into his bulge. shakily and breathlessly staring as you as you press your boot covered leg harder against him leaving him gripping the table. âi have an idea im sure you will be pleased with.â
jacaerys is on the edge of cracking. he had not seen you all day. he had gone to your room to ask you to have breakfast with him but he was informed you were not there. he had gone looking for you, searching every corner for you and he found nothing. nobody would even tell him where you were but they all had an odd look in their eyes when they said that to him.
He does end up seeing you, finally with cregan stark on your arm and he feels his heart plummet. âgood day jacaerys.â his mouth opens and closes like a fish as he stares at the two of you. âgood,,, day,,,?â he watches the look the two of you share as he feels his heart stop, âcreganâs been showing me around a bit would you like to join us?â
He feels like this is a trick. The two of you look far too happy, he gulps and fiddled around a bit before giving you a weak nod. he ends up trailing behind the two of you as the two of you talk about winterfell. you ask cregan about the history of certain things and he eagerly answers your questions. jace is just waiting for the fire to lit, for the two or you to turn on him and begin to berate him.
His mind wanders as he imagines the two of you punishing him the way he deserves, cregan holding him down while you tease his cock, refusing to give him what he truly wanted. He lets out a light whimper as his thoughts continue to run wild and his eyes widen as he coughs into his fist trying to play it off as nothing. He lets out a sigh of relief as the two of you say nothing but he misses the look the two of you share.
You all arrive at a large study, âthis was my fathers before he passed.â âdo you not use it?â cregan shakes his head, a more somber look on his face. âi should, i will, one day, for now his legacy shall be preserved here.â you hum and nod your head in understanding. you take off your cloak as cregan also begins to strip himself of his outerwear. jacaerys stares at the two of you confused, you walk over to him and begin to untie his cloak from around his neck. âyou should make yourself comfortable jace.â âwhat is happening my love?â he asks you in a hushed voice but you dont answer him, a small smile creeps its way onto your face and he grows worried.
he allows you to strip him down to his undertunic, making no move to fight you his eyes drift behind you to cregan who has made himself really comfortable his undershirt untucked and being held open but just one button, cregan raises his brow at jace as he catches his eyes, taking a long drink from his bottle.
you grab his face and jacaerys blushes, âwhat are you looking at?â cregan stalks his way over and stands behind jacaerys his hands wrapping around his waist as jacaerys feels his breath caught in his throat as cregan presses his head into his neck.
âyouâre such a greedy boy, wanting two people at once huh?â he whines. cregan begins to suck at the skin on his neck. heâs confused. he has no clue whats going on. âwhatâs happening?â he curses as your hands dip into his pants and harshly grab at his cock, âme and your secret lover have come to an agreement isnât that right?â cregan lifts his head and hums. He watches in amazement as the two of you share a small kiss and he throbs at the sight of the two people he cares for most being intimate.
âhmm thats right princess.â jacaerys struggles to think as you tug on his throbbing cock, rubbing your thumb around his tip as cregan goes back to sucking on his neck. âsince youâre so greedy, you can have us both arent we so kind?â jacaerys moans in delight at this turn of events and buckles his hips into your hand. your face sours and you lightly smack him across the face, âand not a single thank you? youâre disgusting.â jacaerys whines and shakes his head vigorously. âim sorry im sorry thank you thank you i love you.â
He feels cregan chuckle into his neck, his hands pull away the buttons on jacaerys tunic not caring about the now ruining garment as cregan caresses his skin. jacaerys continues to greedily rut his hips into your hands feeling himself closer and closer to his release. He suddenly feels cregan press into his back and he lets out a shudder as cregan begins to grind his hips against jacaerys, his tunic having long been disregarded and their bare skin presses against each other.
Your hands are suddenly pulled off him and cregan also takes a big step away from him and jacaerys whimpers at the loss of contact and the way his cock throbs as his orgasm dies down. âdont think im going to let you get away with this that easily.â your lips are suddenly presses against his and a fury and he eagerly tried to match you. âfucking another man behind my back so cruel.â he whimpers as it feels like a dagger begins to dig into his chest, âim sorry im sorry.â he slurs against your lips messily as you begin to pull him back as you sit on the bed, staring up at him. âprove it.â
He drops down to his knees like he was born to, quickly throwing himself under your skirt and get a taste of you like hes been craving for weeks now. your hand grips the back of his head while he begins to lick at you through your underwear and you look at cregan who takes another chug from his bottle before placing it down and walking back over to the two of you. jacaerys pushes aside your underwear and moans into you as he gets a taste of you. you gasp and look down at jacaerys skirt over head as your free hand grips at the sheets below you. âfuck jace.â
as his lips wrap around your pearl he gasps into you as he feels a body press against him and hands wrap around his cock. âdont think im not gonna join in.â jacaerys heart pounds as he continues to messily eat at you while cregan rubs his hands all over his cock, coating his fingers in his precum before sliding him inside of jace. his back arches and the vibration of his moan has you throwing your head back while cregan works open his hole as hes done plenty of times now.
the pit continues to build in your stomach and you lock eyes with cregan who grins at you and you wipe some sweat off your face, âdont you look pretty?â âshut the fuck up cregan.â the man laughs as he continues to work his fingers inside of jace, âyou look so pretty when youâre about to cum doesnât see jace?â the man though he cant see you now knows the expression on your jace far too well and nods eagerly against you. once you do release jace eagerly licks up every drop before you rip his head away and cregan pulls his fingers out. jacaerys still without any sort of release grows desperate as tears stream down his face.
âim sorry im sorry ill be good i swear please just let me cum please please.â you lean back into the bed and stare at cregan with a mock pondering look, âhmm what do you think my lord you think hes been good enough?â cregan smirks while jacaerys looks up at him with a pleading look, âoh how can you deny this face? look at him.â cregan cups his face in his hands and brushes some of his tears away. you look at jacaerys fucked out face and pretend to ponder for a few more moments while jacaerys squirms in cregans arms before grinning. âfine, come on my love.â
jacaerys heart beams at your words finally calling him by the affectionate name you had given him and he rushes towards you, âundress us.â his hands greedily tug off your clothes stripping you both bare and you grab his face and kiss him lightly. âyou know ill always accept you jace, no matter what.â the layered meaning of your words hits him like a truck and the tears continue to well in his eyes, âi do not deserve you.â you shake your head as you affectionately run your fingers through his hair, âif this is who you are i do not mind it. i am serious, the three of us can be together if you so wish. cregan will grow on me im sure.â âim still here you know.â
you lightly chuckle as jacaerys beams at you, âyou are the most amazing person i have ever met.â cregan now as bare as the both of you walks towards you two and raises a brow, âam i atleast second place?â jacaerys turns his head towards him, âof course you are.â cregan softly smiles and leans to press a gentle kiss against his lips.
When the two of them pull away the lust returns and you greedily turn jacaerys towards you and pull him into a deep kiss, falling back with him on top of you, âfuck me jace.â he moans as he eagerly lines himself up and pushes into you, shoving his head into the side of your neck as he bottoms out. he begins to work himself into a gentle rhythm before he feel cregans cock press against his hole and he freezes as cregan works his way inside of jacaerys.
jacaerys has never felt so full. so content. with the two people he loves the most bringing him to the heights of pleasure. he hopes his days are like this for the rest of his life, with the two of you by his side. that night after you had left the study and made a mess around cregans room as well he listens to the two of you bicker in bed about the mess youve made in his father study and how his legacy has been tarnished, âis it not strange he has a bed in his study?â âmy father spent most of his time in his study, how do you think i was made?â âyuck do not say those things.â âoh you were certainly not complaining as i was eating-â âoh dont bring up old news stark.â that night jacaerys falls asleep with a big smile on his face your voices lulling him to sleep.
summary: Being Rhaenyra Targaryen's heir is a difficult thing, but what happens when you also become one of the Realm's most prized posessions?
pairings: cregan stark x velaryon!reader, reader x platonic targs/velaryon
i. the dear daughter (2.8k) - At one-and-twenty and eight-and-ten, barely a year after their marriage, Ser Laenor Velaryon and Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen welcomed their first child, a daughter, into the world. The girl immediately became dear to the whole court, coddled and spoiled by all, but mostly by her grandsire, King Viserys I. The man saw in his granddaughter her mother, and as the girl grew to look like his late wife, Aemma Arryn, it became even clearer that he doted on her more than he did to his own children or his other grandchildren.
ii. about children and trouble (8.2k) - It is reported that in the year 121 AC, when the Realmâs Jewel was only six summers old, her hatchling Merrax was eaten by the Cannibal in a strange turn of events that found him moving from Dragonstone to the Dragonpit in Kingâs Landing. Princess Rhaenyra demanded to have the dragonâs head cut, but as nobody ever tried nor dared to get close to the Cannibal, it was impossible to do it. Thus, her daughter took the matters into her own hands.
iii. little big lady (5.0k) - Court whispers tell us that during her third pregnancy, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen was particularly sensitive. She managed to cover it up pretty well, apparently, but she had one weak spot: her daughter, her firstborn and heir, who later on witnessed her little brother Prince Joffrey's birth by request of her mother. Despite openly disliking the experience, it is said that the Realmâs Jewel insisted on being present to future labours in case things went downhill â and she did, attending her mother in giving birth to all her future children.
iv. dragons' scars (6.4k) - And after the events that happened during Lady Laenaâs funeral at Driftmark, two dragons were left scarred.
v. you'll change your name or change your mind (and leave this fucked up place behind) (5.3k) - When the Kingâs Justice â the royal executioner â died, the Realmâs Jewel proposed a perfect replacement: NÄdrÄsy, her dragon, the infamous Cannibal. Even if many eyebrows were raised at the Small Council, the King hastily agreed, happy to have an excuse for keeping his granddaughter close to him, even if it was for only a few days every moon. Or, as it always ended up, for a bit more than that.
vi. but I'll know, I'll know (8.4k) - At the ripe age of ten, the Realmâs Jewel was nominated by her grandsire the King, despite all the protests of the Small Council, the official Royal Ambassador; thus, her voyages throughout the Seven Kingdoms started, and yet another nickname was forged for her by the Smallfolk: the Wandering Princess.
âł interlude (tbd) - Blood stained sheets. The first thing that comes up to your mind? Burning them and fleeing, obviously.
vii. legitimacy (tbd) - âVaemond Velaryonâs petition holds no sense,â it is said that the Wandering Princess reiterated once she heard of her uncleâs accusations. âMy late father always recognised my brothers as his trueborn sons. Whether they look like him or the Baratheon and Arryn side of the family does not matter: they are legitimate.â
more to come!
extras:
pinterest board | spotify playlist | ao3
beautiful fanart | another beautiful fanart | yet another amazing fanart
snippet cut from chapter three
sneak peak at reader and cregan's baby number #1
memes tag
the dragons from nÄdrÄsy's perspective
the time line
A/N- ;) Closer and closer to our boy Cregan
Warning- VIOLENCE, GRUESOME DEATH, swearing, talks of pregnancy, and blood, angst!!, fluff, SPOILERS FOR FUTURE EVENTS OF HOTD, USING FIRE AND BLOOD, long chapter.
Pairing- Aemond Targaryen x Velaryon!fem-reader, Cregan Stark x Velaryon!fem-reader
Episode/Pages- 462-463
(If you want to be tagged let me know)
ââââ
*3 DAYS LATER*
Dull blackened walls. Leaking roof. Rain, rain, and more stupid rain for 3 days!
Besides, seeing Alys for breakfast, lunch, and dinner all that you have is stupid dull walls, a leaking roof, and rain! All because of Aemond! All because heâs under some stupid mind trip! You donât know how much longer you can take it, you donât want to stay trapped in the same stupid four walls or youâll go mad! You need to get out, you desire it with every fiber of your being, but thereâs no way out besides the front door and thatâs heavily guarded.
All that you have as an alternative instead is staying busy inside your chamber while itâs day. Yet when youâre awake you think of what Aemond did and tears escape your eyes, so you sleep. Sleep and dream apparently.
Of what? You donât know, but itâs clear though. Youâre in some unknown house with the sun casting through a window, looking out at a cobbled street, and a clean and beautiful white house. You want to feel the sun on your skin after being stuck under gloomy skies for so long, but âtis a dream. You can only see the sun dancing on your fingertips.
âLaenor.â
You freeze with your hand reaching for the beam of light and hold your breath as if any slight movement that you make will make this dream disappear.
âStop! What are you doing?! You know you canât go!â
The voice is familiar, but no matter how hard you try to connect it to a memory of someone, youâre unable to find it in your mess of a mind.
Footsteps quickly approach soon thereafter though, but you remain frozen. Even more so as you wonder if what youâre dreaming of isnât some dream at all, but something made by Alys. A vision of the past foretold in a dream.
âYou canât stop me Qarl,â a different voice counters in a faltering sharp voice. And this voice, unlike the other one, is easy to connect to a person. This voiceâŠbelongs to your father. You canât forget it no matter how much you have triedââI need to go. I am going to see her,â you hear your father add before you see his figure in the corner of your eyes as he approaches the front door.
You want to look, you want to see him, and you know you will because this dream is too clear, too vivid for it to be a figment of the inner workings of your mind, but the best you can do is lower your hand back to your side and let out a shaky breath.
You canât look, not even as another pair of footsteps quickly make their way over before slamming the door shut.
âWhat if you are caught, huh?â Qarl, the man with the voice you can now identify, argues. âDo you think that 5 years is enough for people to forget how you look?â
âI donâtâŠâ your father trails off and you hear his feet shift against the wooden panels. You think that heâs going to follow up with something quickly, but the silence lingers, making you grow insatiably curious to the point you slowly turn and finally see him; itâs the side of his face, but itâs him and heâs so much thinner, he has eye bags, and sunken in cheeks. He almost looks sickly. Is he?
âI donât need to make some big public announcement,â your father's voice quivers. âQarl, I just need to see her. Itâs been five years, she should have returned from Winterfell already, meaning sheâs in Kingâs Landing, which leaves me the perfect opportunity to see her without getting caught.â
âThatâs if you can even get near, itâs been five years, Laenor. Sheâs changed, the girl you knew is gone. What if itâs not possible to see her?â He queries and lifts his brows to press him to answer, but your father just scoffs and lets a faint smile appear on his face.
âI do not care if sheâs changed,â he retorts and lets his bag slip from his arm. âI welcome it. I just need to see her, Qarl. Iâm dying and all that occupies my mind is her. IâŠdream of her. She fills my every thought. Her. My daughter. My little girl.â
His words are simple. Theyâre so simple, but oh do they have a way to puncture your chest and make it ache. No matter how upset you want to be over the choices he made, at this very moment as you hear him, as you see him desperately pleading, you canât stay upset. Not even a bit.
âI made her,â he says shakily with a wobbly smile to match his shaky words. âMe. She's the best part of me and I left her behind. You donât know what that feels like, the guilt that torments me so, because sheâs not your daughter. Youâre not a father, but I am and I left her,â he cries as he touches his chest.
âI left them, and now Iâm dying so all I need is just to see her,â he continues softly. âI donât need her to see me even though I wish it. I donât need to embrace her even though I dream it. I just need to see her from afar, I just need to make sure sheâs okay and happy. If I die there in the stinking city then at least I would have gotten to see her one last time, so no Qarl you cannot stop me. Iâm going so you can either stay or come with me.â
He was coming to see you. After you had all this doubt about his love for you, he was going to come see you before he died.
He still left you behind and made you believe he was dead, but he still thought of you, he still loved you after all that time, how can you stay mad at that? How can you forsake him when he has never forsaken you?
Albeit does that really aid your agonized soul? No, it still aches, perhaps even more so now that you know this truth. But past that agony that you feel, a part of you doesnât hurt as much as it used to when you thought he forgot about you. A part of you feels at ease and healed, and itâs thanks to Alys.
For whatever reason, whether from the kindness of her own heart or a tactic used to motivate you out of your depressed state, youâre thankful and motivated. You can say that you will actually fight to get out now.
However, no matter how much you do wish to escape this past vision given to you through your dream, you canât. You canât leave yet. Instead, your surroundings slowly change. Where there were once walls from a house, now thereâs an endless horizon, sand beneath your feet, and crashing waves against the shore.
Confusion is quick to take over you, polluting your every thought until you hear violent hacking from behind you. After that curiosity slowly creeps through, making you turn and freeze in horror when you see the vast ocean scene polluted by the remnants of a wrecked ship. Which means the hacking you heardâŠ
You donât want to see whoâs lying on the sandy ground. You donât want to, but you must, so you turn around slowly, and there on the ground lies your father, bleeding out from a puncture wound in his stomach.
âFather!â You cry out and before you know your feet carry you to him and you fall by his side. âPapa,â you whisper and reach over to grab his face and tilt it over.
When his eyes find you before him, face to face, his gaze begins to narrow as he seems to try and work out if youâre real.
âItâs me,â your whisper quivers. âItâs me. Your little Siren. Papa. You must know itâs me.â
His eyes slowly soften, making his pupils dilate, whilst his lips tug to a relieved smile. âItâs you. My little Siren.â
âPapa,â you mewl.
He chuckles out of joy and doesnât hesitate cupping your face. âLook at you,â he coos. âYouâve grown into a beautiful young lady.â
You break into a smile and stroke his cheek. âPapaâŠI thoughtâŠI thought you didnât love me. I thought you left me behind because you didnât like me.â
He scoffs and shakes his head. âNo, no. How could I ever hate you? I love you. Thatâs why I left, you must know.â
You nod. âYes, I know,â you assure him and keep stroking his cheek. âI know. I have so much to tell you, likeâlike youâre a grandfather. Aerion is my boy's name. Heâs so beautiful.â
His smile softens, and he pulls your face towards him so you can press your foreheads against each other. âWill youâŠsing me a song? One lastâŠtime,â he whispers.
You nod as tears crawl out of your eyes. Yet before you can even think of a song to sing, his grip slips from your cheeks, and his head falls back limply as he takes his last breath.
âFather!â You weep. âFather, please donât leave me again. Papa!â You cry out and slide your hands down to shake his shoulders. âPapa! Please, please.â
No amount of pleas will bring him back, you know that. Itâs just a vision of the past, you know that, but you still try your hardest. âPlease, papa. Please you must live. You must stay. You have so much to see, like Aerion. You have to meet Aerion and the twins. Please papa. Please.â
Itâs no use though. His heart isnât beating and no breaths escape past his lips. Heâs gone, and all you can do with what little time remains is bury your face in the crook of his neck.
When he slips away and the scenery follows, you wake up to the dull and blackened walls, you wake up with your cheeks pampered in tears, but a fury lit within you that makes you want to fight your way out. After all, youâve proven that you can. Even if youâre pregnant you can do it because you canât stay here a moment longer. You need to leave, you need to see Aerion, and most importantly not be here when Aemond returns.
Thus after you take a deep and shaky breath, and wipe the tears off your cheeks, you slip off the bed. And since you have no weapons you simply walk to the doors with the intent to lure inside one of the guards standing outside the doors.
However, when your hand hovers over the knob a thud hits the door making your shoulders jump and a breath to escape past your lips.
What are they doing out there you wonder. And to satisfy your curiosity you lean forward with your breath held to peek through the crack between the doors, noticing your guards dead on the ground and two strange men standing over them with different colored outfits that donât match the guards left to protect you. These men also have a more rugged appearance and donât use armor like your men do. Are they Rivermen?
They must be, and you canât take it for chance. If theyâre here killing your men after Aemond and the army left then theyâre not here on good terms, and itâs doubtful that whoever is leading them will let you have your freedom.
If it was you leading these men here then you would take yourself as a prisoner; youâre valuable on both sides, and unless theyâre stupid then theyâll take you captive and cut some deal with your Mother or Aemond.
Which means you have to go to Astraea and leave at last, so with that in mind you quickly search your chambers and when you find a dark corner to hide in to get a jump on them, you start to move to it.
Yet just as you make it past the door, they swing open and the men make themselves in, ruining your chance to hide.
âYour Grace,â one of the men greets you mockingly and bows their head.
Youâre at a standstill so you just pierce a glare into them and try to find something to use against them as they immediately become combative, proving theyâre not stupid.
âWe saw the purple dragon fly out and assumed you were gone,â the second man says, telling you at that moment Astraea must have gone hunting, she wouldnât leave otherwise. Not while youâre here against your willââWe came into the castle, saw the guards, and thought nothing of it until there were two at the door. Must be our lucky day that the Kinslayer didnât take his wife with him.â
You canât find something to use against them, not while they both have swords, so you start to inch toward the doors.
âIf youâre going to take me captive do it,â you try to end your torture. âAt your own risk, you are Rivermen, you serve under the Queen, and she wonât be happy to hear you took her only daughter captive.â
The men look at each other unaffected by your threat and one of them proves that. âAye, she wonât. Neither will the Kinslayer find joy in hearing his wife got taken, but Lady Frey wants Harrenhal, I imagine either of them will grant us the keep and the lands for you. Whoever does it first gets you back and gets our support.â
Lady Frey? As in Lady Sabitha Frey?
Of course, the Freyâs are up to no good.
Regardless, you donât want to let Aemond respond to their deal first. He is closer so he will arrive here faster. And if he does heâll only leave you in the same predicament someplace he will deem safer, which will be probably someplace like Oldtown or somewhere your mother nor anyone else would dare attack, and even thinking of being kept locked away in some isolated place terrifies you more than what these men could do, so you have to reach Astraea. But first, you have to escape these men.
You are close to the door so you can slip away when thereâs an opening. You just need one more step. And you take it while not looking at the door to avoid giving them the idea that you are planning to escape. You just lift your foot up and put it back to get ready to quickly slip away.
Yet just at that precise moment, one of the men catches what you were plotting and immediately pulls his sword out to lunge forward, pointing the tip of the blade at your belly, the only place that will guarantee you to come to a complete stop.
âNot so fast,â he taunts and clicks his tongue.
Your breath falters but you donât show your fear through your expression, you instead lift your nose in the air and clench your jaw to show frustration.
âEasy Angelo,â the second man warns the man as he sees where his friend points the blade. âWe need her unharmed.â
The first man, Angelo scoffs and side-eyes the second man. âIâm no idiot. She just wonât try anything now, will you?â He directs at you as he starts walking around you without letting his threatening aim falter. However, you donât respond, you just follow him with your eyes until he gets behind you with the tip of the blade now pointed at your back.
Thereâs room for threats, you could tell them that Aemond has Vhagar, the biggest dragon in the world, who can easily burn them to nothing but ash, but they know that. They know the firepower both sides carry, just like they know that you have a dragon of your own, so it means that they donât care because they have you. They have the advantage, thatâs what they know. But what about what you know?
No matter what has spread about you, they still doubt you. They donât believe in your wrath, theyâre ignorant to the picture others have painted of you because youâre a woman, a Princess who canât have the capability of spreading such destruction.
Thatâs where theyâre wrong though and youâre glad for it. You can thank their ignorance and their misogynistic views for that. And itâs because of the way they think that you easily find an escape. It is a bit more gruesome than you anticipated, but without a weapon of your own, you have no other choice but to be violent. They left you with no other choice but to fling your fist back just as he puts his sword away in an attempt to tie your hands together, and hit him right in the throat, making him stumble back as he starts to choke. You then swiftly spin around before he can recover, catching him reaching for his sword with one hand, so you hastily run at him and suddenly jump on him.
Once youâre clinging onto him the other guy shouts, whilst Angelo grabs a fistful of your hair to try and yank your head away, but since heâs still choking you manage to throw your head forward and sink your teeth on the side of his neck.
At first, your mind forbids you from sinking your teeth any deeper than youâre supposed to, but adrenaline and fear take control, so before you know it you bite through his flesh, causing blood to immediately flood out in your mouth and spill down your chin. You then yank your head back and rip a piece of flesh from his neck, rendering him nothing more than deadweight at that very moment.
No more taunting, and no more doubting. Thereâs just his blood as it squirts all over your chest and face until you let go of Angelo, and let him fall limply to the ground with a loud thud as you spit out the piece of him you ripped out.
âAngelo!â The other man shrieks, reminding you heâs there after feeling the rush of the moment cloud your mind.
â<That's right,>â you murmur in High Valyrian as you turn around and see how horrified the man is, to the point he stands there paralyzed with his widened eyes on his dead friend. He doesnât seem to notice that youâre there anymore, not until you snatch the sword from the manâs corpse. Even then he fails to counter, it just seems like his eyes are almost going to pop out of his skull when he sees the bottom part of your face, and your chest covered in his friend's blood.
Yet itâs his inability to react that makes him an easy but also disappointing target. You want him to put up a fight, but he returns his gaze to his friend and with his last breath utters the name, âAngelo.â You then lunge the blade through his stomach so hard that the blade comes out of the other end.
After both men are nothing but corpses spilling blood over the ground you drop the blade and lift your nose in the air as you take in heavy breaths and think of what to do next. Thereâs no doubt more Frey men are here, Lady Frey wouldnât be stupid enough to come with just a couple. She should have come with a handful of men, and a handful of men is just enough to overwhelm you and lead you back to the same problem you were just in, but worse because you wouldnât be able to escape more of them.
Itâs why you need to take your chance now that you have it. Thereâs no more men coming. They donât all know youâre here, not besides the two that you just killed going by what they said, so you can make your escape.
Alys is here too, but you donât need to worry about her, she can take care of herself. And Ser Jason? Aemond had him locked away so he wouldnât get you out, thereâs no way you can reach him without getting caught, soâŠyou have to make the hardest choice and leave him behind. You canât get caught or youâll just be locked away again, youâll fall into the same trap that put you in danger in the first place, so you have to leave before they see you. Ser Jason will understand that.
âSorry, Ser,â you murmur to yourself as you drop the blade and donât hesitate a moment longer before you leave the room.
Once you're in the hallway though you come to a stop to try and hear if more men are approaching. When you hear nothing, you stick to the shadows and sneakily make your escape. Luckily the castle is large, with a lot of area to cover, so none of the men or Lady Frey have reached the corridors you stride down. They donât occupy the courtyard you run down, but you do hear voices in the distance once youâre outside, they sound close, but theyâre not on top of you yet, so you just quicken your pace.
When you make it out of the walls you stand against one and glance at the woods and open area. If Astraea is hunting sheâll hunt for deer or some bear or something since youâre not close to the sea for her to hunt her fish. The woods donât offer her the space for her to catch her meals so sheâd be roaming over the tree line, over the open fields where she has space and more visibility. Thatâs where youâll find her, so going off instinct, you continue to run.
Running while pregnant is not easy though. Especially not with twins, not when you're six months along; they weigh you down and make you slower, but you donât let that stop you. Not at this moment, you push yourself as much as your body lets you. Your heart quickly begins to race, your rushing blood thumps in your ears, and beads of sweat form on your forehead, but you donât care, you keep running and running.
The need to keep straining yourself in order to find your dragon only grows tenfold when you hear men in the background shouting to catch you and return you to the castle before you can reunite with your dragon somewhere in the distance. And since theyâre not carrying twins theyâre faster than you. Since their legs arenât throbbing with the additional weight or out of growing exhaustion, theyâre faster.
They get closer and closer, making you keep pushing yourself, making you try to run faster because you can feel her nearby. Sheâs close, you can feel it. You just need to run faster. Sheâll scare them off.
However, your efforts are proven useless when one of them manages to get the lead out of the others heâs with and throws his arms around you to yank you back, pulling you to a harsh stop, and preventing you from reaching your dragon.
âLet go of me!â You bellow and try to throw your elbow back, but two more men catch up and take ahold of your arms, making your efforts to escape fruitless. âIâm your princess!â You throw out and kick your feet as they start pulling you back, but they donât care. They see the blood staining you and donât care. And since a lot of men are returning you to the castle they donât care about you kicking or squirming.
Your fight is nothing to them, which makes returning to the castle an easy effort and once you're inside you're taken to the Godswood right away where you're pushed to your knees in front of none other than Lady Serena Frey, an old shrewd who was recently widowed, and who apparently has nothing better to do.
âPrincess,â the old woman greets you and curtsies which means nothing when youâre on your knees with your hands tied behind your back. âItâs an honor meeting you. I will say you look nothing like your brother.â
You clench your jaw and narrow your glare on her at the mere mention of your brother.
âI expected to come to a weakly defended castle, but alas youâre here,â she continues to talk confidently with her chin up in the air, relishing in a confidence she can only gain because thereâs no dragon nearby, youâre on your knees, and she knows Aemond and your own mother are far to do her any harm. âYou truly are a sight for sore eyes, Princess.â
You tilt your head slightly and finally break the silence you had kept since you were put before her âYou would be rewarded handsomely if you deliver me to my mother without strings, donât you know?â
Lady Frey steps forward and lets out a deep breath as she seems to weigh on what you say before she sighs and nods stiffly. âPerhaps I would be rewarded, but whatâs better than the jewel to the Riverlands? I was promised to be its Castallen but alas the one who made the promise is dead. Killed by arrows I heard.â
Your breath falters, and you drop your eyes to the ground as you make the connection that it was Jacaerys that she was referring to this entire time. It was your sweet and now deceased brother. You realize that and the memory of him only stomps on the ashes of your heart, making you ache.
âAnd with you as my prisoner, the Prince Regent and The Queen would both willingly give me what I want without the need of waiting until the war has ended,â she adds as her eyes burn into your downcasted attention. âThe only question is who will offer it to me first with good benefits.â
âYou have dominion over the twins, what more do you need? Surely this castle canât be worth more than that?â You spat as you slowly roll your eyes up to meet her gaze without that ache reflecting in your eyes. You make sure not to demonstrate your sorrow when meeting eye to eye.
âWith your brother dead you will most likely be heir now, if not you will rule over somewhere important, and if not you will always be a spoiled princess pampered until your death, so you will never know our struggles,â she rebuttals spitefully. âYou donât know what it's like having to fight to live. Holding Harrenhal is a promise for a better life, and respect. So yes, Your Grace this castle is worth far more than the Twins.â
AlrightâŠ
You remain speechless and just hold her gaze fueled with determination for a moment, and actually feel a speck of admiration for her need to fight for better, but you know now nothing will get her to let you go. You know Aemond will answer first and you know where he will leave you. Heâs leaving you no choiceâŠ
You didnât want to fight back with fire or blood. Whatever the case the Freyâs are allied with your mother, they let the Northmen cross and some have fought alongside them for your mother, so they have been allies, but if you let them take you you know where youâll end up. And the fear of being locked away, of being useless when you can be the key to something great, or even something small that can give someone an advantage, is consuming.
Itâs why you canât stand the idea of being locked away. Itâs why you wonât stand being locked away a moment longer, or for a far longer time, even if itâs what Aemond thinks is for the best. Which is funny to think about as you're currently on your knees with your hands tied behind your back because this need to keep you here where he thought your safety was guaranteed is what put you in your current situation. And it was only 3 days after he left. Not months, days! So itâs kind of funny, no?
He surely wouldnât think so, but it sure as hell is funny to you. You could almost laugh at the irony of it, and all for what?
If only he could see you now. If only he could see the situation HE put you in. Him. Not anyone else, him, him, him, and only him. And all because of what?! A fear you donât understand after heâs witnessed your ability to fight, and to survive fire. And maybe yes heâs just looking out for you, for your unborn children, but the paranoia that held him by his throat put you in one of the very situations he was trying to avoid. His paranoia put you in this situation, him, and only him! And now he will see what he forced you to do to escape. You will make sure of it.
âTake her inside,â Lady Frey orders the men. âBeing under the open sky is too dangerous.â
Smart, but alas not quick enough. You feel her nearby like a magnetizing connection pulled apart and aching to reconnect and become one again. Yet sheâs not on top of you yet, close, but if they take you inside now she wonât be able to help you. Thus as the man grabs ahold of your arm and starts to pull you up, you snap your head around and throw your face forward to chomp down on the man's crotch.
The man screams out, of course, but does what you wanted him to do; he lets you go, letting you slowly push yourself to your feet with your eyes cast on the ground all while meeting no fight back. They know after all that hurting you would guarantee no offer to be met, so they donât retaliate even if the other men itch too. They stand there in confusion watching you draw in and draw heavy breaths out while your eyes stay focused on the ground, unknown to the fact that your mind is thinking about what youâre being forced to do, and what youâre about to do.
They see you there at a standstill and see an opening to recapture you. However, they quickly come to a stop before they can try anything when they catch you slowly lifting your head and slowly painting a different expression on your features.
Rather than expressing disappointment and guilt, your eyebrows start to pinch together, the corner of your lips begin to curl, your nose flares, and in your eyes, a fury is lit within that was not burning there before. One so threatening and furious that Lady Frey starts to realize something is looming nearby; something big, and something far more dangerous than any human, than you, or anything here. Something that is finally heard in the cloud bank above. Something they know to escape right away, but alas theyâre far too late.
âDracarys,â you utter one single word just above a whisper. And without the need to repeat yourself or even be heard by the creature hidden in the cloud back, a great fire rains down from above, ridding the sky of every cloud that hid her, and bathing you and every single soul around you except for one, in a life-consuming fire that leaves only you standing there with your nose in the air, heavy breaths escaping past your lips, and tears of anger welling in your eyes. All while the sole survivor runs away without looking back. All he knows is you came out unscathed, thatâs all he cares to acknowledge after his escape because he fears youâll go after him.
Albeit how can you when your mind is stuck on the fact of that matter that you didnât want to kill them? You didnât want to burn them and leave yourself naked in the middle of the Godswood, but Aemond pushed you to. Aemond left you hereâŠand itâs because he left that you had to do it.
Why? Why did he have to leave? Why did he leave you behind?
You were going to leave after he accidentally pushed you, but if he had asked you to accompany him on his wrath around the Riverlands you would have accepted. And why wouldnât you? But he left and he put your life in danger. He left and you had to burn them, you had to use fire. You had to kill the other two and leave your face covered in blood. You had to because of him. Him. Him!
Well, now he will see what he forced you to do. He will see what his actions led to. He will return expecting to see you still locked away in those chambers, but youâll be long gone, all that will be left of you is the remnants of what you did, what he caused, and what his fear pushed you to do.
Aemond will return and see burnt bodies on the ground, and Lady Frey and a few others hanging from the Weirwood tree. He will see that he was wrong. He will face his mistake and your wrath.
He will see and you make sure of it all by yourself. It is taxing, only because you had to fling the bodies over the branches, but you did it. You left a gruesome scene and even though you have done bad things before, usually youâre basked with pride and confidence since youâre proving that youâre so much more, that you are strong, but this time as you look up at the bodies from the ground all you can do is cry as youâre hit with a wave of guilt for the first time.
You try to wipe the tears off your face, but hot streaks keep rolling down your cheeks, breaking through the dry blood that pampers your face, and only making your emotions clear to anyone with eyes. And when it comes to Alys and Ser Jason finally coming out to meet you in the Godswood that confidence that you usually carry like some mask after you fight is even more impossible to be bothered to be put on.
You try to paint yourself as unfazed. You try hard, after all, they were just stupid people who threatened your life. Yet when you turn to face Alys and give your back to the Weirwood tree carrying those burnt bodies, your bottom lip starts to tremble, your pinched eyebrows falter from their hardened hold, and your eyes, oh, your eyes, they scream your agony in such a way that Ser Jason thinks your pain is ethereal, and that the gruesome scene behind you is like a part of some beautifully tragic embroidered art piece on a tapestry.
âI have to go home,â is what you can muster through it all. âWill you come with me?â You direct at Alys, and she first approaches you to block your exposed body from your sworn protector and then gives you a response that comes easily to her.
âNo. My place is here,â she says and only makes more tears run down your face, reminding her how young you really are in the grand scheme of things. You mightâve recently had a name day, but as she sees you before her with your face screaming the agony youâre under, she remembers that you shouldnât be put through these trials and tribulations. Youâre too young, but youâre forced just like many before you.
âBut donât fret my friend, will see each other again,â she uses a soft voice she had forgotten she was able to use. âSoon.â
You believe her, no doubt about it, so you nod gently.
âYou send me a raven if you find yourself in trouble, and if Aemondââ
âI know how to avoid him,â she cuts you off to assure you. âDonât worry. You just go back home to your boy and your mother. I will be fine. I always have.â
You nod again and just before you can go change, you take in a breath to say something else. âThank you, for letting me find peace with my father,â you say shakily. âAnd forâŠletting me find myself. I know who I am, and what my place is in this story now because of you Alys, soâŠthank you. I will never ever forget what you did for me here, and I know you said it already, but if you want we can be lifelong friends. I donât want to lose our friendship.â
Alys blinks repeatedly and her own lips tremble but she musters a confident but sweet smile. âOf course. I wouldâŠreally love that.â
You swallow thickly and nod in comprehension before you wrap your arms around her to pull her in for an embrace. âThank you,â you whisper and hold onto her tighter, feeling her carefully return your embrace.
After a moment of lingering in each other's arms, you pull back and look at Ser Jason past Alysâ shoulder. âGet ready, Ser. Weâre going home.â
âââ
*SOMETIME LATER*
The last time you returned to Kingâs Landing was after leaving Dragonstone, and you were met with an arrow that barely missed your dragon. There was hostility where there shouldnât have been any, and this time around itâs not all so different. Sure, an arrow isnât shot at Astraea this time, so your life isnât put in danger, but you are met with perhaps a more dangerous threat; two dragons roaming the skies they never lose sight of you as they approach you the closer you get to the city, fearing that the monster of Aemondâs dragon would descend at any moment.
Alas, their fear is misplaced, you donât come as a threat. You could be one, the two people upon their dragons know that, but youâve come home in peace. And perhaps now you look like some dog running back with its tail between its legs. And in some form, you are running back home, but itâs not out of cowardice. More so realization that your motherâs side is where you always belonged.
Hopefully, she gets to understand that and hasnât given up on you even though sheâs had every right to, and has most likely had snakes whispering in her ear telling her to stop putting a candle out for your returnâand yes, you may still have some sort of hateful bias toward the snake called Daemon, that he doesnât deserve any more. Itâs been proven that heâs just an asshole and nothing more, but still! Heâs most likely told her to view you as an enemy because it would make fighting her war easier.
And perhaps she should kill you. The whispers that have spread about the realm are not cruel rumors, you supported Aemond in taking Harrenhal, and you took part in the massacre of House Strong, so yes you were a devoted Green. You are a traitor to your motherâs side!
But youâve seen your wrongs, youâre not tormented anymore. She needs to see that. You keep pleading to yourself that she does, that she forgives your wrongs and doesnât truly cast you aside like youâve feared she would so many times before.
She needs to see it. Please, please donât let her forsake you.
âGive me your hand,â Ser Jason offers his help, but you jump off the ladders hanging down Astraea and land perfectly on the groundââo-kay.â
The flapping of dragon wings claps in the sky louder and louder way before a long shadow starts to cast over you.
Yet even as the dragon is approaching you you avoid giving them your attention, you direct it to Astraea instead as you approach her head and lift your hand to gently stroke her face.
However, after a moment passes you can't help yourself from drifting your attention to the sky where you see Seasmoke.
You see him and your mind immediately goes to your father, what you just found out not so long ago in the form of dreams, and in some way, in some form a part of you expects him to be on that dragon. You wish for him to be on that dragon, but the truth breaks through your delusion just as quickly as it built up and you come out disappointed that you know itâs just Addam.
âAnd so the prodigal daughter returns,â his taunting voice hits your ears, making you press your hand firmly against your dragon whilst you slowly drag your attention to Daemon now on the ground departing from his dragon. âWhich begs the question, friend or foe? Should I expect your Kinslayer of a husband to surprise attack us?â
You see him now, and not just a glimpse of him, you see all of him and he has his hand resting on Dark Sister with a not-so-lax hold as if anticipating a fight. Which is smart on his behalf.
âNo,â you deadpan with no effort to sound kind or warm. âI have escaped his clutches while heâs away. I have returned to fight for The QueenâŠif sheâll have me.â
Daemon's gaze roams your body, noticing how tense your shoulders are, but not seeing any part of you twitch in a form to give away that youâre lying. Your voice is harsh and serious, no taunting or cockiness clings onto it, it just gives away your distaste for him but not anything else that should worry him. Itâs why he chooses to trust you, and well, your mother had already told him that she wanted to see you when your dragon was first sighted in the sky.
âOf course, sheâll have you,â Daemon mutters, making your breath falter. âBut your sworn protector needs to give me his sword, and Astraea needs to go to the Dragonpit.â
You snap your eyes to Astraea, and her own gaze turns to you which only makes your turmoil that much worse.
âItâs for safety measures,â Daemon adds as he takes note of your hesitance âJust hours ago you were the enemy. And even now when you enter the Red Keep and I follow you in who knows what can happen, do you understand?â
You swallow back nervously, and as you keep looking at Astraea as if your actions will physically wound her, you nod gently in agreement.
âGood.â
You canât say it hurt you more to chain your dragon in the dragon pit because sheâs been spoiled most of her life, so now sheâs restless when it comes to being in chains and unable to sleep under the endless sky, so sheâs hurt and when sheâs hurt you feel it too.
Yet that pain doesnât compare to the agony that youâre hit with when you step inside the Red Keep and forget Jacaerys is gone. You were so used to having him greet you whether it be with a furrowed brow or warm smile that you wait for him to come meet you and Daemon when youâre walking to the throne room. You expect him to walk around a corridor in a very heavy and quick stride. You anticipate seeing himâno, desire seeing him meet you halfway, but just as you turn the corner to reach the throne room, it hits you, heâs gone. Not temporarily, heâs not off handling something for your mother, heâs gone forever. Heâs never going to come meet you ever again with either a smile or a bothered look.
You remember that and it shakes what little confidence you had mustered to talk to your mother. Now when those doors open and youâre greeted with the great image of her on that throne tears accompany your eyes, the corners of your lips are downturned, and sorrow and anxiety make themselves evident. Thereâs no holding them back anymore, itâs clear to Rhaena and Baela standing at the foot of the Iron Throne, and your grandfather, The Hand, standing below the steps that lead to the Iron Throne. And most importantly your emotions are loud and clear to your mother. Not the Queen, your mother.
Yes, she looks at you like she canât believe youâre walking down the great hall. She couldnât believe you were returning when she saw Astraea, nor could she believe she was hearing your title and name be announced the moment the doors opened, but alas here you are, striding to her with no pep in your step, no air of cockiness and arrogance around you. All she sees is her wounded daughter. Her weakness that crumbles her own mask and softens her heart hardened after Jacaerys death.
âYour Grace,â you greet and immediately go down on one knee, causing Ser Jason to do the same behind you.
Like before when you came to greet Aegon as King for the first time you keep your eyes downcasted. This time though itâs not to fake innocence, this time you canât lift your eyes out of fear of what youâll see, especially as you hear her get off the throne and hear her footsteps descend the stairs.
âI have come to swear my fealty to ward the Queen,â you proclaim with an attempt at confidence. âI know my word means nothing. Word has spread about what I was a part of at Harrenhal, and I will not say it happened against my will because I would be lying. I did it. I took part in killing House Strong, and I donât regret it. I had my reasons. Just like I had my reasons to leave your sideâŠâ you trail off as you avoid giving those reasons so no problems would arise.
âBut,â you add with a hint of softness. âI see my wrongdoings. I was wrong, I see it now. My place is here, by your side, My Queen. My place has always been at your side.â You nod in agreement to your words and still donât look at her even if she now stops before you.
âIâm sorry I fell astray. I hope you can find it in yourself to forgive me. I wouldnât have to take part in fighting, or any royal matters. I just want your forgiveness and for you to let me return to my place by your sideâŠplease,â your voice quivers on that last word. Not to make yourself sound more convincing, you just couldnât control your emotions.
And either way, no matter how you wouldâve sounded, or what word you used at the end, your mother still presses two fingers under your chin and tilts your head up to make you meet her gaze, and let you see tears that well in her eyes and the softness that reflects back at you.
âRise,â she orders, and you slowly stand to your feet, letting her eyes fall to your belly that sticks out now before her gaze finds yours again.
âYour Grace,â you say breathily with the need to say so much more. Youâre on the verge of a breakdown, but as youâre on your feet you can see the other people in the hall, you feel their eyes on you, so those two words are all you utter.
âShould we expect an attack from Vhagar now that you have left?â Daemon interrupts the moment, causing you and your mother to snap your gaze to him at the same timeââItâs said Cole has taken his army away from Harrenhal, where does he march?â
âHe aims to join the Hightower,â you donât fret to share. âBut alas theyâre taking the most obvious route so itâs a waiting game now to see if they can win against the Northmen and the Rivermen.â
Daemon scoffs and you continue more hesitantly now.
âAnd AemondâŠis smart, once he finds out Iâm gone heâll be upset, but he wouldnât dare come when he knows heâs at a disadvantage, besides, he wants you to go out to meet him.â
A teasing smile flashes on Daemonâs face that he hides by looking down.
âHe left me at Harrenhal, locked me in our quarters to be protected, but Lady Serena Frey invaded Harrenhal with the intention of taking me captive to give me to the highest bidder,â you share and look back at your mother. âShe said she was promised Harrenhal and wanted to take it by force. She's dead now,â you announce coldly. âThey all are. Thatâs how I escaped.â
Your mother looks at you, not with fear at what she heard, but with a curiosity that she doesnât express. It just gleams in her eyes.
âGood,â Daemon praises you.
âMy sword is yours now,â you reassure your mother. âI will bleed for you, and I will use fire on your enemies now and until the day I die.â
Your mother draws in a deep breath and blinks repeatedly as she very lightly shakes her head before she grabs your shoulder with one hand and then cups your cheek with the other, making you draw in a deep shaky breath.
âDon't turn your back on me again,â she says, but not threateningly. Thereâs not even a hint of it, itâs more like she was pleading you not to more than anything.
âI swear,â you immediately respond, making her lips twitch up but not to form a smile just yet.
â<Welcome back home,>â she whispers and presses her forehead against yours, making tears slip out of your eyes, but not feel assured just yet. Not until you tell her everything you have trapped in your throat.
â<And thank you. For saving your brother, Aegon,>â she adds, making you pull your head back to offer her a smile and sweet words.
â<Of course.>â
You then step back and glance at your grandfather and offer him a stiff nod to acknowledge him, but thatâs all, something venomous still churns inside at the thought of him.
When you look at the twins though, you can muster a short smile before you look back at your mother and finally get to what youâve been itching to address. âAerion?â
âGuarded by your dog,â Daemon chuckles, making you roll your eyes to himââheâs as loyal as a hound that one. Thatâs the only reason why he still breathes.â
So Ser Cane has been protecting him this entire time? Good!
âMay I go see him?â You ask your mother just in case she wants to touch on other matters and to let her take care of other trivial matters now that youâre back.
âOf course,â she doesnât keep you waiting. She lets you go without anything else to add. Nothing to restrict you, after all, youâre her only biological daughter, youâre her child, and after losing three already, how could she even think of doing anything to hurt you in any way whether it be emotionally or physically?
If she could, she would lock you away like Aemond did, that would guarantee your safety, but she knows her limits, so she lets you go without any interjections.
Yet, close is all you get to Aerion. Before you can turn the corner that leads to his chambers you hesitate out of slight fear.
Heâs a baby, nine months old to be exact, but itâs been four months since you last saw him. What if he cries when you try to hold him? What if he wants nothing to do with you? You would deserve his rejection, you havenât been in his life for a short time, but it doesnât mean that you want to mean nothing to your son.
But if you do mean nothing, if that fear becomes a reality then you have to face it, donât you? You have no other option. Thus you draw out a deep breath before you turn the corner and get greeted with Ser Cane outside the door.
âSer,â you announce your presence and gain his immediate attention.
âPrincess,â he tries to sound serious but you hear the hint of surprise that matches the surprise in his eyes. âYou've returned. Welcome back home.â
The corner of your lips tug to a gentle smile at the sound of his warm greeting. âItâs good to be home,â you say in return as you come to a brief stop before him. âIâm glad they have spared you, and Iâm sorry that you had to go through that. I didnât know it was going to happen.â
Ser Cane shakes his head. âDonât worry about me, Princess. I have been through worse.â
You shake your head gently. âIn any case I am sorry.â
Ser Cane shakes his head as well and speaks with determination clinging to every word. âI am your sworn protector and that of your son. My life and my sword are yours. To die protecting you and the little lord would be a good and honorable death. I would want it no other way regardless of which side you decide to fight on.â
Your breath hitches and you nod in comprehension. âThank you, my good knight,â you whisper, making him bow his head before he opens the door for you.
âGo on, Iâm sure heâs still awake.â
You swallow back nervously and take a peek inside first, but donât see him, Vanessa, or any of his caretakers. You hoped they would be just across the door, but alas you have to step inside. And when you do, you do so with your eyes averted as if youâre ashamed of walking in.
âPrincess?!â You hear Vanessaâs voice call out to you from across the room, bringing you to a stop but not making you raise your gaze just yet.
âYouâre back? When did you arrive?â She continues asking so you answer.
âNot so long ago,â you speak quietly with shame clinging onto every word as if high-born ladies didnât leave their children for long periods of time, as if being gone was such a great sin when it isnât. Itâs common for high-born ladies to be away from their children, but thatâs not the mother you wanted to be because thatâs not the kind of mother that raised you.
âIâm sorry,â you canât hold back anymore, striking Vanessa with surprise and bringing herself to a stop as she made her way to you.
âFor what?â She queries.
You blink repeatedly and then slowly drag your eyes up, feeling your breath escape your lips when you see Aerion awake in her arms, looking right at you with his father's blue eyes.
âYou donât have to apologize,â Vanessa adds to try and reassure you. âHeâs okay. Weâre okay.â
You glance at her and nod in comprehension before you look back at Aerion as heâs unable to keep his eyes off you as if trying to figure you out.
â<Aerion,> You coo and whatever fear and hesitation you held falls completely when you see how big heâs gotten, and how big and healthy he looks
â<Hello, my little love,>â you continue as you slowly start to make your way toward him, hoping he wonât turn away from you.
âLook at you,â Vanessa interjects. âSix months along and you look so much bigger. I suppose twins do that though, huh? Are you feeling okay? Do you need anything to eat? Tea?â
You look at your handmaiden and shake your head. âNo, no, Iâm fine. JustâŠrelieved to be back with Aerion. And you.â
She huffs and when you walk over and reach her you cup her cheek first, letting her mirror your action but then also start stroking your cheek gently.
âIâm happy you have returned,â she says sweetly, making you smile. âYou must tell me everything, and I will give you something that came for you.â
You scoff at her cheeky smile but offer her an agreeing nod before you let her go and give your attention to your son, feeling your eyes soften right away, and feeling a spark where your heart once used to be.
â<Hello my boy, itâs me, your mama.>â You whisper in the most gentle voice so you donât startle him, and he spares a glance at Vanessa before he meets your gaze and leans towards you to reach his hands out.
You gasp softly and feel your eyes sting with tears as you donât hesitate to take him and carry him yourself, feeling how much heavier he is now. â<I have so much to tell you>,â your voice quivers as you stroke the side of his head whilst he reaches for the siren necklace Aemond gifted you. â<Like I missed you so much, and,â you laugh softly. âGuess what? I met your little brother in a vision. Not the twins, someone we have yet to meet.>â
With no care to what youâre saying Aerion lays his head on your shoulder as he clutches onto the Siren, making you let out a happy cry before you hug him tightly against you with the inability to stop pressing kisses on his head.
âI love you,â you whisper against his head and then nuzzle your nose in his head of white-silver hair, going unaware of the fact that your mother stood past the doors with the intention of walking in, but stopping the moment she catches you sharing such a sweet moment with your son and not being able to help her blissful smile.
Itâs been a while since sheâs smiled, since sheâs felt bliss, but as she sees you with your own little one thatâs all she feels, bliss.
.
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Tagged- @namelesslosers @stargaryenx @chainsawsangel @lauftivy @winxschester @cloudroomblog @llarue @padsdarlg @sofietargaryen @gracielikegrapes @dreaming-of-the-reality @itzelpeyton @patdsinner33 @mrsdominickstark @elaena-aerrin @todoroki-slut @snh96 @urmomsgirlfriend1 @nifujiswhore @sweethoneyblossom1 @kaetastic @lightdragonrayne @squidscottjeans @oh-you-mean-me @wallacewillow0773638 @icefrye19 @thescottpack @fiction-fanfic-reader @crazymusicgirl104 @r-3dlips @strangersunghoon @just-pure-trash @ethereal-athalia @missyviolet123 @callsignwidow @xunquish-blog @tabathastan @weepingfashionwritingplaid @answer-the-sirens
summary: Being Rhaenyra Targaryen's heir is a difficult thing, but what happens when you also become one of the Realm's most prized posessions?
pairings: cregan stark x velaryon!reader, reader x platonic targs/velaryon
i. the dear daughter (2.8k) - At one-and-twenty and eight-and-ten, barely a year after their marriage, Ser Laenor Velaryon and Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen welcomed their first child, a daughter, into the world. The girl immediately became dear to the whole court, coddled and spoiled by all, but mostly by her grandsire, King Viserys I. The man saw in his granddaughter her mother, and as the girl grew to look like his late wife, Aemma Arryn, it became even clearer that he doted on her more than he did to his own children or his other grandchildren.
ii. about children and trouble (8.2k) - It is reported that in the year 121 AC, when the Realmâs Jewel was only six summers old, her hatchling Merrax was eaten by the Cannibal in a strange turn of events that found him moving from Dragonstone to the Dragonpit in Kingâs Landing. Princess Rhaenyra demanded to have the dragonâs head cut, but as nobody ever tried nor dared to get close to the Cannibal, it was impossible to do it. Thus, her daughter took the matters into her own hands.
iii. little big lady (5.0k) - Court whispers tell us that during her third pregnancy, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen was particularly sensitive. She managed to cover it up pretty well, apparently, but she had one weak spot: her daughter, her firstborn and heir, who later on witnessed her little brother Prince Joffrey's birth by request of her mother. Despite openly disliking the experience, it is said that the Realmâs Jewel insisted on being present to future labours in case things went downhill â and she did, attending her mother in giving birth to all her future children.
iv. dragons' scars (6.4k) - And after the events that happened during Lady Laenaâs funeral at Driftmark, two dragons were left scarred.
v. you'll change your name or change your mind (and leave this fucked up place behind) (5.3k) - When the Kingâs Justice â the royal executioner â died, the Realmâs Jewel proposed a perfect replacement: NÄdrÄsy, her dragon, the infamous Cannibal. Even if many eyebrows were raised at the Small Council, the King hastily agreed, happy to have an excuse for keeping his granddaughter close to him, even if it was for only a few days every moon. Or, as it always ended up, for a bit more than that.
vi. but I'll know, I'll know (tbd) - At the ripe age of ten, the Realmâs Jewel was nominated by her grandsire the King, despite all the protests of the Small Council, the official Crown Ambassador; thus, her voyages throughout the Seven Kingdoms started, and yet another nickname was forged for her by the Smallfolk: the Wandering Princess.
more to come!
extras:
snippet cut from chapter three
sneak peak at reader and cregan's baby number #1
memes tag
It makes me think about my two favourite fanfics that Iâve been reading latelyđ«€đ«€
Itâs literally with Cregan stark x Targaryen/Velaryon!Readerđđ
husband!Cregan Stark who can never be romantic with his lovely wife and take a bath together because she's a fucking Targaryen and the water she uses for the bathtub feels like something out of the seven hells themselves (and he's not making his lady having to spend an unpleasant moment making her stay for more than thirty minutes in water that feels almost cold to her)
LITERALLYâŒïžâŒïž
Why do some people refuse to accept Tom Taylor as Cregan Stark and keep using that fuckass fancast (lighthearted)