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Rating:
Teen And Up Audiences
Archive Warnings:
Graphic Depictions Of ViolenceMajor Character Death
Categories:
F/FF/MM/MMulti
Fandoms:
A Song of Ice and Fire - George R. R. MartinA Song of Ice and Fire & Related Fandoms
Relationships:
Rhaenyra Targaryen/Laenor VelaryonJoffrey Lonmouth/Laenor VelaryonCorlys Velaryon/Rhaenys TargaryenDaemon Targaryen/Laena VelaryonRhaenyra Targaryen/Laena Velaryon
Characters:
Rhaenyra TargaryenLaenor VelaryonLaena VelaryonHelaena TargaryenAlicent HightowerAegon II TargaryenAemond TargaryenRhaenys Targaryen (Daughter of Aemon)Corlys VelaryonJoffrey Lonmouth
Additional Tags:
Self-Insertdance of dragonsAlternate UniverseTechnologySelf-Indulgent
Language:
English
Series:
Part 1 of The Blacks, the Greens and the Reds Next Work →
Stats:
Published:2019-09-19Updated:2026-06-17Words:1,084,451Chapters:467/?Comments:4,066Kudos:6,016Bookmarks:1,174Hits:557,654
The Blacks, The Greens and The Reds
Loke_Lyon
Chapter 5: Opening Moves - Chapter 4
Chapter Text
Flying on the back of a dragon was indescribable. Nothing could compare to sitting astride a dragon as it soared through the air. Atop Syrax, I could understand why the Freehold had thought itself above gods and men. A light touch of the whip urged Syrax onward. She shuddered beneath me before pushing herself ahead of the bulkier Seasmoke. I let out a laugh of joy as I saw the chagrin on Laenor's face as I moved to overtake.
King's Landing was beginning to peer over the horizon. We'd be there within ten or so minutes. The thought wasn't quite enough to take the joy from me, nothing could whilst flying Syrax, but it was enough to temper it. To get my thoughts moving back into the mind set I would need to survive court.
It had been a hectic morning. I'd awoken early to track down Joffrey. He hadn't been keen on the idea of getting rid of Laenor's current lover but brief rant about the Knight's dubious claims of honour had seen the Stormlander clench his jaw and promise Qarl Correy would dealt with. Perhaps this was how my descent started because I was fairly sure that if Joffrey had him killed I wouldn't care. In another life he was bought and paid for to end Laenor's life. Better route him out now than risk a blade at our back later. Especially if he had been Daemon's stooge.
As we soared over the Keep both dragons let out a bellowing roar. We made for the Dragonpit and I was reminded of yet something else I would need to deal with when I ruled. The Dragonpit was bad for dragons raised in it. There seemed to be a point in a dragons development when the malign effects were lessened but it was easy to figure out which dragons had spent too much time in the pit in their younger years.
Vermithor, Silverwing, Seasmoke, Vhagar - All were huge creatures for their ages and strong fliers to boot. In comparison, dragons such as Dreamfyre, my own Syrax and even Rhaenys' Meleys were smaller and more slender. They lacked the sheer power non-pit dragons of similar ages. Of course, the pit dragons were easier to claim and train so perhaps that had been Maegor and Jaehaerys' thoughts when they'd built the place.
The pit dragons may be stunted to start with but they could be salvaged. Plenty of food and flying had seen my Syrax able to match Seasmoke in speed and she was, according to Rhaenys, one of the best living dragons when it came to aerobatics. Rhaenys' Meleys was now bigger and stronger than Dreamfyre, a dragon older than her by a few decades simply due to being on Driftmark for just over two decades.
I allowed Laenor to land first, circling the pit as keepers rushed forward to attend. Seasmoke snapped and growled as his harness was removed and a great loop of steel chain pulled about his neck. Laenor's whip snapped a few times as he drove his dragon into the pit proper. It was quick and efficient. No one wanted to mess around where a dragon was concerned. They might suffer their riders but anyone else was fair game, either for roasting or a simple bite or swipe of the claws.
With a pang of loss I took Syrax in for the landing. She knew the routine, having spent most of her early life here and needed much less guidance than Seasmoke had. Again, the keepers were quick and efficient and Syrax soon followed Seasmoke into the gloom with minimal prodding.
I allowed myself a deep breath in the blazing sun of King's Landing. Up here, on Rhaneys' Hill, the stench of the city was well obscured by the smell of Dragon and that had long ceased to bother me. Around me, men scurried to separate our baggage from the harnesses. Being royalty had it's upsides I supposed. Like never having to unpack your bags.
I was pulled from my musing by a the approach of a tall knight dressed in the armour of the Dragon Keepers. They had supposedly sworn an oath to defend the Dragonpit and the dragons themselves from danger whilst they rested. They oversaw pit security and the dragon's actual keepers, usually smallfolk drawn in by the promise of good coin and a payout if they died or were injured in their duties.
From the sneer he couldn't quite hide and the shallow bow that was just inside propriety I would guess he was one of Alicent's appointments. No wonder the Dragonpit was left so undefended in canon if this was the quality of men we were letting in these days. No doubt the scent of war had these green knights charging forth, convinced that because they'd seen dragons docile under their riders, they could handle a dragon in battle.
"Your Grace," he began with obvious distaste. "I am Ser Byren Hastwyck, current Commander of the Pit. I welcome you to King's Landing in the name of His Grace King Viserys the First. I have taken the liberty to arrange for a litter to take you to Keep."
Now there was a problem. If I took the litter I would be hidden from the smallfolk of King's Landing. Given I didn't know how I would be received by them the litter was probably safer. Then again the smallfolk reception would give me an accurate litmus test for the current attitudes in the capital. When in doubt, get a second opinion?
"Lord Husband! Do you desire to ride through the city or take the litter?" I shouted, ignoring Ser Byren's startled look. Laenor, clearly amused, abandoned his task of directing the stewards and made his way over. I hoped he caught on that this Knight was not friendly.
"Riding if that's possible, Rhaenyra, I can't stand the litter," he replied once he was in speaking range. If his answer displeased Alicent's stooge, he didn't show it. Instead he gave a stiff bow and promised that horses would be ready soon.
I placed my hands on Laenor's hips, even as he tensed slightly.
"It seems Alicent's rot extends to the Dragonpit," I murmured. His arms wound around my back and he lowered his head so he could murmur in turn. His warm breath across my ear took me by surprise and I shuddered. If he realised why, he didn't show it.
"A strengthened Black faction can check her ambition, Rhaenyra. We just need to focus on building it up," he assured me in a low voice.
I curled into him, luxuriating in a warm, firm body before checking myself. By the Seven, could I at least keep it in my pants for five minutes? Yet when I pulled away it was with a reluctance I didn't want to feel. Being seventeen again was a pain, all those hormones and no place to safely stick them. Laenor shot me a puzzled glance as Ser Byren made his way back to us.
"Your horses are ready," he stated with the air of someone who simply wished we could be gone as soon as possible. I had been away from the capital for too long if Alicent had managed to install enough of her supporters that this minor Knight felt comfortable dancing so close to outright hostility.
I hesitate to say that the ride through the city was uneventful. It started off without much fanfare with some of the Kinghts of the Dragonpit forming around us but we were soon getting attention. Thankfully, the smallfolk of King's Landing seemed remarkably ambivalent to me. I couldn't pick out anything overly harsh but they also didn't seem to have the love for me that Margaery Tyrell had inspired in canon. It was certainly something to look into cultivating at least, the smallfolk of King's Landing had hated Rhaenyra so much they'd died by the thousands to slaughter the dragons within the Dragonpit. As we got closer to the Keep the crowds grew thicker and the noise louder, mostly from the various markets. I noted Gold Cloaks reacting, forming a barrier and shoving them back out of our way so that we weren't held up in traffic.
Eventually, with much smiling and waving, we made it to the Keep. We were shown into a set of rooms and given time to freshen ourselves up and change from the riding clothes to court clothes and then it was time to confront Viserys. Joy. Laenor was oddly quiet the entire time. As much as I wanted to ask him what was going on, we didn't have time.
The Throne room was as unchanged as always. The huge skulls of dragons past hung from the walls interspersed with tapestry's depicting Aenar the Wise, Daenys the Dreamer, Gaemon the Glorious and Aegon the Conqueror. It was full to the brim with nobles from all corners of the Seven Kingdoms with the exception of the Iron Islands and the North. Much to my annoyance, I noticed that the Reach seemed extremely overrepresented. When I reached the foot of the Throne I bowed low to it's occupant whilst simultaneously trying to ignore the person sitting on the smaller throne next to him.
"Daughter, it pleases me much that you have blessed us all here with your presence," came Viserys' voice. I stood up straight and shot him a polite smile. Next to him, Alicent glared daggers at me in the corner of my eye.
He'd put on weight in the few months since I'd last seen him. Viserys had always been prone to overindulge in food and wine. When Prince Baelon had been alive, he'd dragged Viserys out every morning to spar. After he died and Viserys became heir, that exercise stopped and my royal father had begun piling on the pounds. Now it seemed he was indulging himself even more which didn't bode well for him living a long and healthy life in which he somehow outlives Alicent.
"I, and my Lord Husband, thank you for your welcome, Father," I replied. At my words Laenor stepped forward and bowed again and Viserys' smile grew even wider. Probably at the thought that heirs were only around the corner if we were finally getting on. I forged onward. "I have heard I have a new brother, Father, and have come here to pay respects."
That got the court murmuring and Alicent frowning. Daeron had not been presented to the court yet and likely wouldn't for a month or so. Not until the Maester could be sure he was unlikely to fall prey to any of the common ailments baby's were wont to get in Westeros. The fact that I had come early, seemingly eager to meet a male sibling, no doubt had them all wondering what I was up too. Viserys, on the other hand, merely beamed at my perceived love for a new brother.
"Of course, daughter! I will arrange a private family meal and you can catch up with your other siblings as well." Oh Viserys, you poor silly fool. This is not going to go how you want it too.
As Laenor and I made a show of happily accepting I realised something. This is going to be another awkward family dinner again, isn't it?
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