Chapter Text
The king would marry again, yes… but not to a twelve-year-old girl, and not for reasons of state. Another woman had caught his eye. He announced his intention to wed Lady Alicent of House Hightower, the clever and lovely daughter of the King's Hand.
The Hightowers of Oldtown were an ancient and noble family, of impeccable lineage; there could be no possible objection to the king's choice of bride. Even so, there were those who murmured that the Hand had risen above himself, that he had brought his daughter to court with this in mind. A few even cast doubt on Lady Alicent's virtue, suggesting she had welcomed King Viserys into her bed even before Queen Aemma's death.
Rhaenyra I
At noon, the king gathered his advisors in the small council chambers to announce his decision. After much deliberation, he had made his choice. "Good morrow, my lords. I have decided to take a new wife."
Viserys's gaze falls upon his daughter, who stands silently behind Lord Strong. Rhaenyra nodded in approval.
"I intend to marry..." his voice trailed off as his gaze shifted to the right. "…the Lady Alicent Hightower before spring's end."
The air grew still in the room. Rhaenyra's muscles tightened as a frigid sensation spread through her veins.
What prompted her father to act against the judicious advice provided by his council?
Her question was answered when she caught sight of Ser Otto's smug smirk lingering in Lord Corlys' direction.
The Sea Snake sprang up from his seat, the chair nearly toppling over as he did so. "This is an absurdity," he growled, his nostrils flaring in anger. "My house is Valyrian, the greatest power in the realm."
Viserys retorted, "And I am your King."
Without uttering another word, Lord Corlys stormed out of the small council chambers. Rhaenyra quickly followed suit, paying no heed to her father who was calling out her name as she hurried to leave.
As the numbness took over, the world around her seemed to fade into an unfamiliar blur. Still, she quickened her pace, unaware of where she was going until she found herself standing in the godswood.
But she was not alone. Alicent had followed her.
As the whore began to speak, the numbness that had enveloped her began to dissipate, replaced by a burning rage. She made no attempt to apologize for her actions; instead, she tried to justify them as an act of duty.
Rhaenyra tightly clenched her fists, her knuckles turning white as her hands gripped the edges of her skirt. She kept her face still, her eyes cold and hard.
Although she was tempted to scream and lash out at her, she managed to control herself and refrained from doing so.
Forcing a smile, Rhaenyra coolly spoke up, "I suppose congratulations are in order." She then gave Alicent's shoulder a quick squeeze. "As you may or may not be aware, I hold a strong aversion towards individuals who exhibit traitorous behavior. Henceforth, it would be impossible for me to maintain any form of relationship with someone who has betrayed my trust."
At that, Alicent's body stiffened.
Rhaenyra turns on her heel and strides out of the godswood, but comes to a halt midway and turns to face her. "I sincerely hope that this path you have decided to pursue has been deemed worthy for your own sake. Although my father has been gracious towards you, it is an incontrovertible fact that he is responsible for my mother's demise, and there is no telling when he might choose to inflict the same fate upon you."
As she walked away, she failed to perceive the pallor that came over Alicent's face in response to her words.
She no longer needs to concern herself with what will happen to her traitor of a friend in the foreseeable future. Alicent had chosen to please her conniving father by going behind her back, and that decision had consequences.
Ever since that fateful day, the princess's personality underwent a sudden change, leaving those around her in shock. She became indifferent, rarely ever smiling, and her sharp words made others feel degraded.
She withdrew from the world and refused to talk to anyone except her maidservants who catered to her every need. She finds solace in reading books and flying with her dragon, both of which provided her an escape from reality. Her once-glimmering purple eyes gradually grew darker, never regaining their former radiance.
Her clothing made the most dramatic impression. The princess used to dress in a kaleidoscope of colors, but now she only wears a single hue: black, with a Valyrian steel ruby necklace to break the monotony.
Before long, people began to make sly comments and whisper amongst themselves, dubbing her the "Black Princess."
Although she resents both her father and Alicent, she knows that attending council meetings is necessary. Not only is she the cupbearer, but she also wants to stay informed about the current affairs. As she enters the council chamber, she pours Arbor gold into their cups, all the while keeping a watchful eye on the proceedings.
Regardless of the king's awareness of the shift in her demeanor, Rhaenyra remained indifferent.
As the meeting dragged on, she found it increasingly difficult to stay engaged. She had to clench her teeth to suppress her yawns.
The topic of their discussion revolved around the lavish decorations for the wedding, the enormous costs of the festivities, and how to quell the other families who were indignant by the king's choice of bride.
Lord Corlys and his family had sailed home to Driftmark, leaving Ser Tyland Lannister to take the position of Master of Ships.
No one had heard from House Arryn since the king dispatched his ravens carrying news of his remarriage.
Rhaenyra admits that it was not an auspicious match, despite the bride's impeccable lineage.
The Velaryons boasted great wealth, powerful dragons, and a vast fleet, while Ser Otto was only a second son with nothing to offer, despite being the second most powerful man in the kingdoms.
While marrying Alicent Hightower may not necessarily benefit the realm, it would undoubtedly prove advantageous to the Hand and his supporters.
Unfortunately, her father remains oblivious to this truth, blinded by his own foolishness.
On the day of King Viserys's wedding to Lady Alicent, neither the Arryns, the Velaryons, Prince Daemon, and, surprisingly, the king's own daughter were present at the festivities.
The Vale was particularly displeased by the news of the king's second marriage, which they perceived as rushed and disrespectful towards their kin, the late Queen Aemma.
Daemon and Lord Velaryon were holding a war council to discuss the disposition of the Stepstones. The Triarchy dealt a heavy blow to the Westerosi fleet, sinking four ships – one of which belonged to Lord Corlys.
In addition, it was reported that Lady Johanna Swann had been taken captive and sold to a pillow house when her uncle refused to pay the ransom demanded for her release. And since their king refused to take action, it is up to Lord Corlys to handle the matter himself.
Princess Rhaenyra departed to Dragonstone sennight before the wedding, eager to undertake the responsibilities she would inherit as heir. Though her excuse was imperfect, it served her purpose.
Otto was livid with the lack of respect shown towards his daughter. But King Viserys quickly comes to their defense, fearing that any altercation may lead to conflict.
He offered his friend comfort, assuring him that Alicent would one day be accepted as their queen and a new member of their family.
Meanwhile, in Dragonstone, Princess Rhaenyra had become adept at managing the household, thanks to the guidance of Maester Gerardys. He had tutored her on the fundamentals of finances, military strategies, laws, and economics, providing a well-rounded education.
The maester also taught her on brewing potions, imparting his knowledge of herbs and ingredients, as well as knowledge about poisons. And whenever she spent hours listening to petitions, Gerardys was always by her side.
She would wander the castle's silent corridors under the cloak of night, seemingly in a trance, and would startle any guards on duty. One servant claimed to have seen her sitting by the window in the Chamber of the Painted Table while gazing at the darkness of the water below, until she drifted off to sleep.
The princess was given another name – the "Black Ghost" – but those around her were cautious not to utter it in her presence.
Rhaenyra developed a sudden interest in combat and quickly learned the basics with remarkable speed. Despite her small stature, she put in tremendous effort and honed her skills, making her movements akin to that of a viper and her strikes both swift and precise. After months of rigorous training, Rhaenyra was able to best three experienced squires in a spar.
When the news about the princess reached King's Landing, the people erupted in a chorus of gossip; the reactions of the nobles ranged from horror to admiration when they heard of the princess learning to fight – in particular, Ser Harwin Strong was deeply impressed that he likened her to the warrior-queen Visenya.
Although his daughter had been impudent towards his new wife, the king couldn't help but burst with pride at her achievements. However, his eyes betrayed a hint of sorrow.
The king was overjoyed when his daughter returned to the Red Keep two moons later, but Princess Rhaenyra showed no sentiment as she remained motionless in his embrace.
He extended an invitation for her to join him for supper in his quarters, and he requested that the servants prepare her favorite dishes. Despite the effort, her eyes remained darkened, and she could not manage a smile, although she kindly complimented the cook.
The meal was a solemn affair, with the only audible sound being the clatter of plates and goblets and the occasional scrape of utensils. The tension between father and daughter was so palpable that it felt as though all the air had been sucked out of the room.
"How fares my beloved daughter?" Viserys spoke in a gentle tone.
The timbre of her voice is monotonous and resonates emptiness. "I am pleased to inform Your Grace that I am faring exceedingly well."
The chamber once more descended into an unsettling stillness.
"I-I have been informed that you have appointed Ser Robert Quince as the new castellan," he began his endeavor to initiate a discussion whilst delicately slicing a portion of meat. "Although he was deemed too young for the task, I have full confidence in your judgment. What happened to Ser Alfred Broome?"
"Ah, him," she drawls. Rhaenyra took a sip of her wine, letting it linger on her tongue, before responding, "Ser Alfred has undertaken the task of disparaging me at every available opportunity, solely on the basis of my gender. He has even gone to the extent of referring to me as the 'dragon bitch'."
The expression of disapproval was clearly discernible on his countenance upon being informed of the pejorative appellation attributed to her, nevertheless she persisted. "But fret not. Despite his flagrant disregard for my person, I made the decision to extend clemency towards him. I afforded him and his companion the opportunity to depart from Dragonstone before sunrise without suffering any retribution."
While her statement held truth, it lacked a crucial detail. Rhaenyra failed to mention that she had waited until the boat was far from the shore before pursuing the men on her dragon.
The memory of their panicked screams and cries for help, which were drowned out by the crashing waves and the sound of Cannibal's approach, still remained vivid in her mind. Then, without warning, the dragon swooped in and devoured them in a single swift motion.
Despite the gruesome act, Rhaenyra found herself bursting into laughter.
After discovering Visenya's journals, she became more interested in the dark arts and focused on blood magic, which was considered the most powerful and dangerous sorcery. All of the time and effort she put into studying it has finally paid off.
Since both her father and Alicent had kept secrets from her, Rhaenyra saw no reason why she should not return the favor.
"I... I see," Viserys said, pausing as he surveyed the room as if searching for the right words. Upon noticing the bandages wrapped around his daughter's hand, he reached out for it and held it gently.
"What happened to your hand?" he inquired with an apparent sense of concern in his tone.
Her hand remained still within his grasp. "I assure you, Your Grace, that my injury is of no grave concern. Maester Gerardys has attended to it with great care," Rhaenyra replied in a frigid tone. She proceeded to look at him intently and stated, "However, let us not dwell on my affairs any longer. I am under the impression that you have a matter to address."
Viserys stuttered, "Indeed, I have." With a gentle squeeze, he tightened his grip on her hand, and his face revealed a desperate plea. "It is with great sorrow that I, as your father, bear witness to your present state. Alone and angry. Such a situation cannot persist, Rhaenyra. The unity of the House of the Dragon is paramount."
She knew she should have paid attention to his words and acted like the good and dutiful daughter she used to be.
But that girl was no more.
As silence descended upon them, Rhaenyra let out a hollow laugh that startled him. With a harsh wrench, she pulls her hand out of his grasp. "You not only killed my mother and banished my uncle, but you also made the decision to wed Alicent, my only friend, rather than Laena Velaryon," she accused. "And still you wonder why I am alone and angry. Have you ever considered the possibility that the fault lies with you?"
Although his eyes began to glisten with tears, she did not let it sway her. "Rhaenyra, I—"
Her tone was sharp as she spoke. "You're too wrapped up in your own world to notice how much you've hurt the people who matter most to you," she seethed, her anger palpable.
Leaning forward in her seat, she remarked, "As I look at you now, I cannot help but contemplate the qualities that Balerion discerned in you, compelling him to select you as his rider. Could it be that he sees Aegon in you, or is it plausible that his advanced age and deteriorating health have caused him to be delusional? It is conceivable that he may have mistaken a sheep for a dragon in his current state."
Rhaenyra witnessed the shock on his face give way to a furious anger directed towards her. "Mind your tongue, child," he snarled, his eyes narrowing. "Consider the words you have just spoken."
Her words were not something she would apologize for, and he was mistaken to expect otherwise.
He may scream or yell at her if he so wishes, but it won't make a difference. She is a dragon, while her father is less than the shadow of a snake. And that's just who he is, always has been. Therefore, any attempt to intimidate her would be futile.
"I see no reason to reconsider my words, as they have been nothing but truthful," Rhaenyra responds confidently. "Furthermore, I cannot be held accountable for the strife within our family. If you seek someone to blame, Your Grace, perhaps it is time to turn your gaze towards the mirror."
His face now twists in response to an expression of shock and pain, as if he had just been struck.
Pity was the last thing she felt for him. "Do you honestly believe that I could simply move on and forget about everything that you've done? After all the hurt and pain that you've caused me, it's not that easy to simply brush it off and act like nothing happened."
Rhaenyra paused and said, "If it is your desire to receive forgiveness, then I shall grant it without hesitation. However, I must make it clear that your actions will never be erased from my memory."
Not only was he not a good father or husband, but he was also far from being a great king.
Viserys opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, Rhaenyra jumped to her feet. "Apologizing now won't do much good as the damage has already been done. Whatever you say cannot undo the harm caused by your actions."
She gave him one last glance before leaving the room, the sound of her echoing footsteps filling the silence that hung between them.
Despite the sound of his sobs echoing through the wooden door, Rhaenyra continued walking without hesitation.
After her mother passed away, and Daemon was banished, a profound sadness took root in her heart. Her father and Alicent's betrayal fueled her anger, which only intensified the feeling of despair. The emotions inside her began to fester and take shape, growing darker with each passing day.
Eventually, she succumbed to the darkness, unable to resist its pull.
Rhaenyra felt her anger rise as her father began to open his mouth and shift the blame onto her. While she had considered killing him, she ultimately decided against it.
After all, granting him swift death would be too easy a way out for someone like him.