145 AC
KING'S LANDING
RHAENYS JOINS AEMOND who is attempting to wrangle the children and keep them from playing too wildly and getting their nice clothes dirty. Naturally, the two youngest, twins Daeron and Daena are running circles around Aemond as they play dragons.
Their daughter Rhaenyra is by the instruments that live in the corner of the great hall waiting to be played. She distractedly plucks at the piano in the corner probably wishing that one of her friends from Flea Bottom were with her.
Rhaenyra loves her little siblings and is fiercely protective of them, but she's grown out of their childish games.
Rhaenys manages to get her family down to the gates and lined up waiting for Lady Baela. She keeps Visenya in front of her with her hands on her shoulders in fear that at any moment the little girl will bolt in one final attempt to get out of the day.
Lady Baela and her children arrive and are cordial. Little Maegela and Area every bit a lady's.
Naturally, Baela remarks that the city smells like shit. If she only knew what it used to smell like before they set out to improve Flea Bottom's sanitation.
When it is finally time for Aemond to take the boys to the sparring field and Rhaenys the girls to one of the parlors, Aemond catches Rhaenys around the waist and pulls her close to him giving her a soft kiss and one last apologetic look.
The boys, little Areon and Daeron run off to their fun chasing after one another. Visenya, who's holding Rhaenys hand, looks longingly after them. Rhaenys crouches down to straighten Visenya's little tiara ' Princesses don't pout, my little love ' she tells her daughter, but it does nothing to wipe the look off Visenya's face.
~
The women get settled on the terrace. Rhaenys opts to sit outdoors since it's such a beautiful day and Baela doesn't protest. The girls are handed their embroidery and it seems to be going fine, apart from Visenya who Rhaenys thinks is just angrily stabbing at the cloth.
' Tea will be fine, thank you ' Rhaenys says to one of the serving girls.
' Oh come now ' Baela says startling Rhaenys, ' when have you became such prude sister? ' then Baela turns her attention to serving girl and say ' Two glasses of dornish wine, I didn't come all the way here to drink tea. '
Rhaenys bites her tongue. It seems she'll be resigned to drinking wine this early in the day, not that it is too uncommon but certainly not her usual standard. Upon the first sip, Rhaenys thinks it might in fact help the day pass by.
Their conversation is decently mundane talking about their family.
Baela looks offended that Rhae spend some time few months ago in Hightower with her uncle Daeron. She mumbles something about how Rhae could better spend her time with Luke and her. Rhaenys chooses not to say anything.
Things start to get a little more interesting when Baela starts sharing gossip from around the Kingdoms. She begins to tell them of the arguments between Jane Lannister and her husband as a serving girl comes in to replenish their food and wine.
' Now there are rumors that... ' she begins but Visenya cuts her off before she can finish.
' Aunt Baela I know your house words! ' Visenya abruptly shouts.
' Well I would hope you do, you have the finest tutors in all of Westeros ' Baela scoffs.
' The Old, the True, the Brave ' Visenya states.
' Visenya, why don't you ' Rheanys starts but the young girl cuts her off again.
' Our word are Fire and Blood ' Visenya says and without taking a breath lists a few more, giving Rhaenys no option to cut her off. She's rattled off Greyjoy, Stark, Lannister and is about to do Tully when the serving girl walks away and Visenya stops herself mid-sentence. ' You can keep talking ' Visenya says and returns to stabbing at her embroidery.
' Visenya!!! ' Rhaenys scolds, ' what was the meaning of that? ' Rhaenys didn't love rule that children are not meant to speak unless spoken to, but when dealing with Daemon and his family Rhaenys is willing to follow along with that custom.
Visenya motions with her hand for Rhaenys and Baela to lean forward so they can hear her as she whispers ' You can not tell secrets around that serving girl. She talks a lot , and I think she tells things to that evil Larys man ' Visenya says while wrinkling her nose as if the thought alone of that man is enough to disgust the young girl.
Rhaenys can agree with Visenya on her dislike for Larys. They banished him from the Red Keep years ago, so she is unsettled that someone employed by him would work so closely around her family.
' How do you know this Visenya? ' Rhaenys asks.
' The little birds tell me ' Visenya says.
' And what if there is a secret I want to be spread around the castle? ' Baela questions Visenya.
Visenya thinks for a minute, ' You should probably say it where the little birds can hear you then. They can spread secrets just as easy as they can find them. '
' How would I know where to find them then? '
' Easy, they listen where you think you're safe. Sometimes it's better to share secrets in a loud room than a quiet place because then no one can hear you ' Visenya says matter of factly.
' You're a clever little girl aren't you? ' Baela says to Visenya, making her smile. ' I've always found stitching rather dull, as I imagine you do. What would you rather be doing instead? ' Baela asks her little niece.
' Would you like to watch me ride my pony aunt? ' Visenya says while holding her hand out for Baela to take.
Baela smiles and takes the little princess's hand.
' Here mother ' Visenya says handing Rhaenys her embroidery, ' I don't know how to do it . '
And sure enough, Rhaenys looks down to see a few very rough stitches that could look like a dragon if she squinted her eyes, and tipped it the right way,
' Do you know how to ride horsies Area? ' Visenya asks.
Little Area shakes her head no.
' I'll teach you ' Visenya promises.
Naerys has the courtesy to at least look at her mother for approval before taking Maegela's hand and all but skipping off with the little girl to the stables.
Rhaenys stands, still slightly confused by what has happened.
' This will be fun ' Larra says looping her arm through with Rhaenys and encouraging her friend to walk.
~
Naerys takes off the second she gets on her horse and before Rhaenys can even call for her to stay close. Visenya climbs up on her pony and stays with Baela and her twins for a moment but soon starta showing off her skill, she's riding circles around the stable boys who are teaching twins what to do.
' Visenya is to wild for a princess, in my opinion ' Baela says with an amused smile as she watches the little girl.
Rhaenys doesn't comment.
' Oh that wasn't a criticism ' Baela says, 'You've done a marvelous job raising these children. Even the one that isnt't yours. For years the people have been raving about Queen who has so much love in her heart she's even taking care of her husband's bastard as if he was her own. '
' Aemon is my son in every way it matters '
Rhaenys says firmly in a tone that makes Baela's eyes widen.
' Fine ' Baela says, completely unphased by her tone ' but you must know what the lords say of him. '
Rhaenys knows exactly what people say about her Aemon and every time it makes her blood boil, how they say he is curse for Kingdoom's born of witch mother, how Alys gave birth to him so he could set Seven Kingdoom's on fire.
There isn't a reason in the world to hate or say such vile things about her sweet boy.
' Still, it is quite remarkable you're so accepting of the boy. King of the Seven Kingdoms or not, if Luke showed up with the child of another woman I would have taken his sword and killed him myself. And the child I would have tossed in sea ' Baela says with a smirk.
~
They don't talk anymore about it, instead, they watch the girls ride their ponies. Area seems to be quickly getting the hang of it.
Rhaenys keeps glancing over to see what the boys are up to. At one point her daughter Rhaenyra shows up and has a sparring sword in her hand.
In the time that Rhaenys focuses her attention back on the girls, there is a shrill scream and to her absolute horror, Rhaenys turns back around to see her daughter Rhaenyra who is 10 attacking a Baela's son who is 5 years old.
Naerys and Visenya come tearing by her to see what's happening before she can even move.
' Stop! Please stop! ' Areon on the ground cries. Rhaenys doesn't even notice she's moving until she's almost right next to them and she can see the anger in Rhaenyra's eyes as she continues to hit the boy with her sparring sword, showing no signs of letting up.
' Rhaenyra! Enough! ' Aemon shouts but his sister doesn't seem to hear. Aemond catches Rhaenyra from behind, hoisting her under his arms. Rhaenyra drops her sword in surprise that someone has come to stop her but it doesn't stop her struggle.
' Don't ever call my brother that ever again! ' Rhaenyra shouts.
' What did he call you? ' Alicent asks, rushing to her brother's side and placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.
Rhaenys can hardly hear the word Aemon mutters over Rhaenyra's screams. She is still kicking and struggling in her brother's arms, but she's sure by the ashamed look on his face that Aemon has just muttered bastard.
...