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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:557,693
The Blacks, The Greens and The Reds
Loke_Lyon
Chapter 9: Opening Moves - Chapter 8
Chapter Text
The Tower of the Hand was much changed since it had been Prince Baelon's place of residence. Unsurprising, I suppose as it had seen two hands since. I only realised I stopped in the entrance way when Larys limped up behind me.
"Is everything well, Your Grace?" he asked quietly, interrupting my mind as it began recreating the Tower as it had been when I'd first awoken as Rhaenyra.
"Apologies, Larys. It has changed so much." He nodded but didn't elaborate further. We made our way inside. Lyonel's household didn't seem to be in a rush to bother us but I'd bet they'd be eager to report my presence in the tower to their master the moment they could.
I didn't bother making a show about remembering the entrance location. If it had been Harwin it would have worked but behaving like a ditzy woman around Larys was pointless. He'd just see through it and even if he didn't, he wasn't given to the pandering most men were all to willing to engage in around me.
The tunnels were as dusty and gloomy as I remembered. My little collection had been stored in an alcove further in and I was proud that it only took one or two wrong turns before I located the stash. Larys' head seemed to be on a swivel, his eyes wide as he took in the surprisingly extensive tunnel system. All I can say is Maegor definitely didn't trust his Hands. There wasn't a single room in the Tower you couldn't eavesdrop on from the tunnels.
The book was there, covered in grime and dust but other than that it looked undamaged. Well, book was an exaggeration really, it was a loose collection of paper I was telling everyone was copied from a book. It was the other items of the stash that took me completely of guard though. Gently, as if it might collapse at the touch, I lifted up the blue fabric of the blanket. As I realised just what it was, emotion I wasn't prepared for punched me in the gut.
I suppose this was just going to be one of those days and so I resigned myself to the storm of regret.
"I had forgotten this was here. I thought it lost," I choked and then realised I was crying. Behind me, Larys shifted uncomfortably. I turned the blanket over, obscured by dust but right where I remembered, the silver falcon and moon of the Arryn's.
Oh, I had not wanted to love Aemma Arryn. The Rhaenyra in me had forced me to but I hadn't wanted to. The day she'd announced her pregnancy had been awful, I'd wept so much because I'd known. Aemma had assured me that a new child would not make her love me any less and I couldn't… I couldn't tell her what was coming. She'd ben desperate for a boy. Runciter had given the okay to get pregnant again but she'd died. Died because Viserys had married her when she'd been eleven and by thirteen she'd already given birth. A brother that had died before his first name day. It had ruined her health, ruined her body.
Viserys should have known. Runciter should have known. They still kept pushing, for them a male heir was more important than a living wife. I'd come along and the effort alone had nearly killed her. She'd been fifteen and bed bound for months afterwards. Viserys hadn't given up. He'd kept pushing and only miscarriages had followed. Until the babe she carried hadn't died in the womb like the rest. Until the birth killed her. What had Viserys been thinking!?
I knew the answer to that. He hadn't. Stupid, stupid bastard!
Seven month's wasn't enough to say goodbye to your Mother!
Larys was awkwardly patting me on the back and I realised I was sobbing. I must have been doing it for some time if Larys had been moved enough to try his own brand of comforting. I dashed the tears from my eyes and gathered everything for the pages to a cracked pitcher.
"My apologies, Larys. Old memories." I hated how thick my voice sounded.
"I quite understand. My own mother died in the child bed." His voice was quiet. "Do you fear it?"
The question took me by surprise. It was considered a woman's duty to marry and birth heirs above anything else. To ask a woman if she feared the child bed was like asking a man if he feared battle. Fighting words to the Westerosi.
Oh but I did fear child birth. Men would not understand and the only older female figure in my life was Alicent. I feared the child bed so badly that when I thought of it, in the dead of night, I was in danger of sending myself into spirals of panic. Breath coming short, head spinning - all for nothing because no matter how I twisted and turned I simply could not get away with not having children.
"I would be a fool not too. Both my grandmothers died in childbirth, my mother died in childbirth." My voice was wavering at the thought of it. "But I will do my duty when the time comes as they did before me."
"I have no doubt you will, Your Grace. If I may offer some advice though? Most Maesters do not study childbirth overly much. Make sure yours is prepared."
I didn't have time to delve into that comment because we emerged from the hatch to find Lord Strong and Viserys waiting for us. It wasn't the two most powerful in the Seven Kingdoms that set my stomach rolling though, it was the man that flanked them. Ser Criston Cole. I suppose I couldn't avoid him forever, he was still the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard.
Someone up there really hates me though. This hasn't been the worst day I've had in Westeros but by Gods, it's definitely in the running.
Lord Strong studied me for a moment and then barked out an order for something clean myself with. I was ditched, covered in grime and dust with clear tear tracks on my face. I must have looked a state.
"You went into the tunnels unguarded," said the King. I examined him, trying to get an idea of which mood he was in tonight. He wasn't angry, not truly, he seemed more annoyed. Unfortunately for him, I'd been reminded of his shortcomings recently so I was definitely not going to roll over and accept being reprimanded by him for something he had no right to stick his nose into.
"It was hardly a risk. None of the tunnels lead outside the Keep and it was important," I sneered back. I shouldn't provoke him but I was tired. Today had been far too much and my emotions had been stretched to the breaking point. He scowled at me before focusing on the bundle I held.
"It's the blanket Mother gave me," I answered before he could query it. At my answer, the irritation left him and instead he smiled indulgently.
"Ah. It makes more sense now. You want it for your own babe?" he said as a maid bustled in with the water. I hadn't even remembered it was there but now that I thought about it, it was a nice idea. I nodded as I used the water to clean myself up.
"Well, I can't argue with that. Does this mean you are pregnant?" Ser Criston stiffened at his words. Oh great, don't ask how I'm doing ruling Dragonstone or whether I have opinions on roads. Those things aren't important to being Queen, it's all about how many babies you can shoot out and whether they have the correct hair colour. I will be Queen, not Laenor's broodmare!
Whoops, dial it back and answer the man.
"No, Father. I intend to wait for a year or two," I told him. He frowned, anger evident on his features.
"It is your duty-"
"I understand my duty well, Father, but might I remind you of how your own mother died? My mother? Her mother? Even Queen Alysanne lost babes!" I snapped. He took a deep breath to retort but I held up a hand. "I am exhausted and wish to return to my rooms,"
That really wasn't a lie but I doubt Laenor would let me sleep before we'd flicked through the pages together.
"Of course, Daughter. Ser Criston, please escort the Princess back her rooms." Ouch, okay, I had that coming. Yelling at a King was not cool and all that but you really have to rub it in, Viserys?
The Lord Commander of the Kingsguard was silent as we made out way back. From the way his jaw was clenched, he was angry. No doubt Alicent would receive a report of tonights events. I nearly crashed into him when he stopped.
"Larys Strong?" he asked, finally.
"What are you talking about?" I asked. He spun around to face me.
"You'll fuck Larys Strong but you will not have me?" he hissed. His hands were flexing around the hilt of his sword. I did not like where this was going. "When Prince Daemon nearly killed you, I defended you. I fought for you! You would take that disgusting boy-lover and the fucking clubfoot over me!?"
"You defended me, yes. You did your duty as a Kingsguard. Care to remember what else to oath of the Kingsguard commands? As for Larys, I did not fuck him. You know I did not. I am loyal to my husband. To Laenor Velaryon. Not to Daemon Targaryen. Not to Harwin or Larys Strong. And certainly not to you. And if you insult my husband in such a manner again, I will have you killed." The arctic tone of my voice caused him to stiffen, his hand clenched tightly around the hilt of his sword, his face turn to a mottled white of pure fury.
"Whore!" he hissed.
"If I am whore, Criston, what does it say about you that I will not have you?"
I was saved from his ire and rage by Harwin and one of the Cargyll twins rounding the corner and talking loudly. No doubt they saw my furious expression and Criston pulling back from me like a child with his hand in the cookie jar. The two newcomers paused.
"Ser Cargyll, Harwin. Returning to the Tower of the Hand?" I asked. Harwin was quick to tell me that his father had dispatched Ser Cargyll to fetch him but the knight in question was keeping a cool eye on Ser Criston. No doubt Viserys would receive the report we had argued and promptly dismiss it like every report of Criston's behaviour in regards to me and Alicent.
"Thank you for escorting me this far, Ser Cole." I slipped by him before he could insist on walking me the entire way. "Good night, Ser Erryk, Ser Harwin."
Laenor was still in my rooms when I returned, pacing up and down in some amount of agitation.
"Oh, you're okay! The King is apparently in a fine temper to learn you've been messing with the Strong's." I put my bundle down on the table we had eaten on not so long ago.
"I set him straight," I replied, negelecting to mention our spat. Gods, what the hell went off in that man's head? To name his daughter heir but then screw her over in every other conceivable way? If you hate me, why make me heir? If you want me dead, why not just have me killed?
My head span and I grimaced. I couldn't take any more of this yo-yo'ing. If everyday in Kings Landing was this exciting I'm going to give serious thought to moving to Ibb or something.
"You told him about the book?" Laenor asked, eyes wide. I shook my head and unfolded the blanket, grimacing at the state it was in. Laenor moved over, quickly collecting the pages before stopping to give a puzzled look at the rest of the items.
"Is that the wooden sword you stole from me at the Great Council?" he sounded dumbfounded, even as I smiled.
"You lost it in a bet," I replied and he huffed before chuckling himself. "The blanket belonged to my mother and her mother before her. I intend to get it restored and give it to our child."
A reassuring hand rubbed between my shoulder blades and he didn't even tense up this time. Laenor put the pages aside. Apart from his sword, the pages and the blanket itself nothing really had any sentimental value. One of the maids was summoned to take the blanket away for cleaning and Laenor quickly hid his old toy from it's 'original thief', he'd declared it his own 'heirloom'. Then it was time to get to business.
We split the pages and read through them. I'd managed to get the agriculture ones, the ones that described selective breeding, crop rotation, farming machinery and food preservation. I'd also managed to get half of the notes on distillation. It was clear from my confused rambling I hadn't really 'gotten' the concept of farming. For example, I'd made mention of a plough but there were no descriptions on how it would help, it's purpose or even how it differed from normal farming techniques.
I dutifully wrote down a summary from what I could understand and glanced at Laenor. He was rigid in his seat, eyes flickering back and forth with excitement written large on his face.
That… probably wasn't good.
"Rhaenyra! Look at this! If it's right this could change everything." He slid a page yellowed with time across to me and I picked it up. I gotten halfway through talking about mould when I realised what this entailed. Penicillin. I glanced back at Laenor who looked as if he was barely stopping himself from bouncing in his chair. Would Penicillin even work? Gun powder had not. If it did the possibilities were endless but the question was whether the spore even existed in Westeros.
"A medicine that can treat a massive range of illnesses. A near cure all," he squeaked. "And look here. A section on birthing!"
Another paper was slid across. In a past life, my sister had been a midwife. For all that the concept of birth terrified me, I'd still been eager to listen to the stories told. Here's a fun fact about midwifery, forceps are really, really useful for preventing unnecessary deaths in child birth. In our world they'd been invented by this one guy who'd kept them a secret, going so far as to blindfold mothers during birth so no one would find out his trick. And then his family had done the same thing for the next 150 years.
I suddenly wanted to throw up. Could this have saved my mother's life? As if reading my thoughts, Laenor laid a hand on mine.
"You were a child. Even if you had shown Runciter, he wouldn't have listened," he said kindly, before pulling free another page. "Look at this one! A simple device for amplifying sound. Simple! Yet not one Maester has ever thought to use something like this."
Numb, I left him to his discovery's and summoned a maid to help me prepare for bed. I fell asleep soon after to Laenor's exclamations of excitement and frantic scribbling from the other room.
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