Chapter 268 [Vault]

Title - HOTD: Rhaenyra the Exiled | Chapter 6 | Female

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[3rd POV]

It was a sad day on Driftmark, with the death of the son of the Lord. The son is known as Laenor Velaryon, the father of three children. Corlys Velaryon the younger, Laella Velaryon, and Laenaera Velaryon. 

On the lands of Driftmark was the King, Viserys I Targaryen, the father of Rhaenyra Targaryen, Aegon Targaryen, Aemond Targaryen, Helaena Targaryen, and Daeron Targaryen. Only Rhaenyra was the blood of Aemma Targaryen, the rest? All of them came from Alicent Hightower. 

Viserys wasn’t that old of a man, but he looked…far older than he actually was. Thanks to the stress of sitting the iron throne, and the sickness born from quite literally getting stabbed by the throne itself. 

The throne that was slowly killing him. 

Besides Viserys, there was also Otto Hightower, recently reinstated as the Hand. As well as Larys Strong, son of the recently deceased previous hand, Lyonel Strong. His father and elder brother both only recently dying from a fire in Harrenhal. 

And of course, there was Corlys Velaryon and Rhaenys Targaryen, the father and mother of the deceased Laenor. There were others, like Coryls’s brother, and other family members, as well as other Lords who knew the man, like his now widowed wife. 

There was also Daemon Targaryen and his wife Liana Rogare. As well as their children, Aerys Targaryen, Baegor Targaryen, and Daenora Targaryen. 

All of them were gathered for the funeral of Laenor Velaryon. 

Corlys and Rhaenys were…not in a good mood at the moment. Besides the fact that their son was dead, they had yet to receive any news on where the hell Laena was. They had searched and searched and searched for years now. But no matter how much they looked, they could not find her. 

She had been hidden from them for years now, and they couldn’t find her, nobody could. 

Not even Viserys had been able to use his connections to find her, which led to many assuming that she had died, or ran away to Essos and was somewhere there. Nobody knew, and nobody expected to ever know with how long it had been. 

But it would seem that would change today. 

The two were standing in front of the main castle of Driftmark, as the King and those that traveled with him walked up the steps. They had done their usual greetings, talking to one another, condolences, all that bullshit that was rarely ever genuine. 

Especially when it came to Otto Hightower, who was barely covering his glee at the death of Laenor, as it got rid of a rather big problem for his family, mainly because the man would naturally support Rhaenyra in the coming conflicts. 

And now he was dead. 

While they were talking with Viserys, and trying not to glance at the sons of Alicent who were both dressed up in green (which was an obvious insult) they were interrupted as one of their men ran up to them, panting. 

Corlys glared at the man and spoke “What are you doing? Can’t you see we are in the middle of a conversation!?” He said, angered as the man paled slightly. 

“I-I apologies, My Lords, my Ladies, bu-but this is a matter of utmost urgency!” The man said, bowing in apology, as Corlys furrowed his eyebrows. 

“What could possibly be so urgent?” Rhaenys questioned, as the man looked up at them. 

“A fleet has been sighted, one carrying the flag of House Targaryen!” The man said, as Viserys looked at him with alarm. 

“A fleet? How large?” Otto asked, concerned. 

“We counted over 100 ships, my lord. They are coming directly here, what should we do?” The man asked, worried about who this could be, but Viserys couldn’t help but wonder who it could be, one name continuing to flash through his mind, even if it seemed completely impossible. 

“…Let them come. If they dare to fly the banner of my House, then they must be a member. And should they try anything, our dragons will rain fire down upon them” Viserys spoke, as the man nodded, while Corlys and Rhaenys were both glancing at one another, wondering who it could be. 

And so, the group of Lords, Ladies, Princes, and Princess, waited as they slowly began to see the large fleet in the distance, over a hundred strong. Each of the ships being larger than any ship in Westeros, and all of them bearing the banner of House Targaryen. 

“Such a fleet, with ships so large…it must have cost a fortune” Alicent said as she saw the largest ships she had ever seen in her life growing closer and closer. 

“Not just a fortune daughter…those ships are beyond anything we have here. They are dangerous, and mattering on who controls them…this may become a problem” Otto said to her, as they saw the ships grow closer, one in particular getting closer than any other. 

“Who do you think it is, father?” Daenora asked Daemon, a curious glint in her eyes as she saw the fleet, and saw the largest of the ships begin to split off as it headed towards the docks. 

“I am not sure, but whoever it is…they are making quite the statement” Daemon responded, just as interested as everyone else is. 

Eventually, the gate opened to the courtyard, and in walked…some men? None of them seemed Valyrian in nature, and none of them were at all recognizable. 

“Who are you? What is the meaning of this?” Viserys questioned, as the man at the front, a large man standing at around 6’5 with armor befitting that of a soldier bowed to him. 

“Apologies, your grace. My lord should be arriving shortly. They decided to take a separate route to the castle” The man said apologetically. The others were about to question what he meant, only to stop when they heard it. 

The beating of wings. 

“Ah, I do believe that is my Lord and her family arriving now” The man said with a smile, as he looked off into the distance, as gasps ripped through the crowd. 

“Dragons!” One of the ladies in the crowd yelled in shock, as it wasn’t just one dragon. No, it was several. 

They saw him first. The dragon of the Old King, Vermithor, proudly gliding in the skies above, a small figure on the back of the great beast. Only, it wasn’t the only dragon. With Vermithor flew Silverwing, another great dragon. 

And another that got Viserys to gasp in shock “The Cannibal!” He yelled, having only seen the eater of dragons once in his life, and now…he saw it gliding with Silverwing and Vermithor with little care. 

On top of the three great dragons, they saw four other smaller dragons gliding with them, each of them were smaller, but they all seemed larger than Seasmoke, and were already reaching great sizes for their ages. 

And then they saw the next dragon, one that got everyone to gasp in awe. As they saw the “largest living dragon” in the world, the she dragon, Vhagar. 

“W-Who could it possibly be? To have such a force!” One of the lords whispered, pale faced as they realized that this person…they had the largest dragons on their side, whoever they are. 

While Corlys and Rhaenys looked at one another in shock, realizing who this could be. No, who this HAD to be. 

But it was only after the other dragons began to land that the last of them was revealed. A dragon unlike any of the others, larger than Vhagar, more beautiful, more powerful. A great dragon known as the Golden Apocalypse. The largest dragon in the world that was nearly the size of Balerion himself. A dragon that all those who had seen her years ago, would instantly recognize. 

The dragon known as…Syrax. 

And it was upon seeing her, that realization hit everyone. On who the Targaryen was, who this great fleet belonged to. Who the power of this fleet belonged to. 

It terrified certain parties, as they realized that the lost princess…might have more power than they ever could have expected. 

They all watched the great golden beast glide through the skies, its roar shaking the surroundings as they saw the figure on the back of it, sitting there as if it was nothing, as it began to lower, and landed with a thud, shaking the area. 

It joined the other dragons. 

And so, the group was forced to wait once again, as they wondered what Rhaenyra had been doing this whole time, and how in the Gods she had gotten such a fleet, and her dragon had grown to such a size. 

But thankfully they wouldn’t have to wait long, as the gate opened once again, and the soldier that was standing there coughed and began to announce the names of the family of Rhaenyra Targaryen. 

“Prince Jacaerys Targaryen, rider of dragon Vermax, eldest son of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen!” The man announced, before continuing. 

“Princess Baela Targaryen, rider of dragon Laenax, eldest daughter of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, younger twin of Prince Jacaerys Targaryen!” 

“Prince Lucerys Targaryen, rider of dragon Arrax, son of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen!”

”Princess Rhaena Targaryen, rider of dragon Valgerax, daughter of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, younger twin of Prince Lucerys Targaryen!”

”Prince Aemon Targaryen, rider of dragon Vermithor, son of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen!”

”Prince Aenys Targaryen, rider of dragon Silverwing, son of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen!”

”Princess Denys Targaryen, rider of the Cannibal, daughter of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, younger triplet sister of Prince Aemon Targaryen and Prince Aenys Targaryen!”

”Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, rider of dragon Baelys, daughter of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen!”

”Princess Visenya Targaryen, rider of dragon Mhagar, daughter of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, younger twin sister to Rhaenys Targaryen!"

”Prince Maekar Targaryen, currently dragonless, youngest son of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen!"

After announcing all of the children, the Lords and Ladies couldn’t help but whisper about how much Rhaenyra must have spread her legs, only for them to be silenced as the last two names were announced. 

“Princess Laena Velaryon, rider of Vhagar, mother of the Princes and Princess’s announced beforehand, and wife of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen!” He announced, as people looked confused and in some cases disgusted, while Corlys and Rhaenys gasped. 

“And finally, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, rider of Syrax the Golden Apocalypse, mother of the princes and princesses through the ways of Old Valyria! Heir to the Iron Throne, and wife of Princess Laena Velaryon!” The man yelled, as they all soon saw the group round the corner. 

They saw Laena carrying Maekar in her arms, the other children keeping their heads held high as they all glanced over the crowd, the soldiers of Rhaenyra marching besides them. 

But it was the one that walked up besides Laena that caught everyone’s eye. Standing over the rest of her family, they all gazed at Rhaenyra in awe. Her glimmering violet eyes, the small self assured smile on her face, the muscle and evident training that she held from the slightly developed arms. 

There was also her expensive clothing that was almost masculine, the way her gaze made some of the weaker lords shiver as she looked them over. Everything about her felt….dangerous. 

Walking with her children and her wife, Rhaenyra continued to walk forwards, before stopping in front of her father, who was staring at her with wide awe filled eyes, eyes that nearly seemed to tear up as she looked him over. 

“…You look terrible” She spoke, her voice powerful as she smirked at her father, little care in the world for the glare that was being pointed at her from Otto Hightower. 

In return, her father could only break out into a laugh “My child!” He happily yelled, breaking out into a hug as she chuckled and returned it in kind. His form slightly hunched as he hugged his daughter for the first time in years, before slowly pulling back. 

“Gods…what has happened to you?” Viserys asked, realizing his daughter was tall, and very very intimidating. 

“…Essos father, Essos happened” Rhaenyra responded simply, before glancing at her wife, who walked forwards. 

“Your grace” She saw, curtseying slightly with a smile on her face. 

Looking at her Viserys had a questioning look on his face, truly wondering how this was possible. He wanted to question their legitimacy, but once glance at her children and it was very very apparent that they were of Velaryon and Targaryen blood. 

Not to mention the features that they all carried from both their parents. 

“The Valyrian freehold was known for many things father, dragons being one of them. But perhaps the most dangerous of them was magic. And magic…has a lot of uses. All it takes is finding the right ritual, and once you do…well, two women having children with one another isn’t so impossible” Rhaenyra explained, as the man looked back at her children. 

“My grandchildren!” He said in excitement, as the children blinked in surprise when he surged forwards and hugged them one by one, with Daenys stopping him before he could. 

“Can I Kepa?” Daenys asked, as Rhaenyra smiled “Go ahead love” Rhaenyra responded. 

Viserys could only watch in confusion as his granddaughter began to place her hand on his face, giggling when she did so. 

Seeing her fathers confusion, Rhaenyra sadly smiled “She is blind, father” Rhaenyra explained, as the man breathed in sharply and let the little girl do her thing. While the others in the area just watched in shock and confusion. 

Rhaenys and Corlys soon walked over slowly, the former looking at the children in shock. 

“Mother, father…I-I apologize for not writing back, but I-“ “It has been years, Laena. Years! Not a single response, we thought you to be gone!” Rhaenys cut her off, as the guests in the area all cringed and decided to scurry into the castle, with only Alicent and her children remaining, as well as Otto. 

“I couldn’t tell you! If you did, then you would have dragged me back here, and then I wouldn’t have been able to marry Rhaenyra!” Laena responded with a scowl, the others looking at her with wide eyes. 

“W-what?” Corlys asked, confused. 

“What? Did you think I would just live with her for years and not fall in love with her? We married within my first couple of moons of being together, father. And marriage between two women is not illegal under the eyes of the Old Gods and the Valyrian Gods, the ones that our family follows” Laena responded sternly, as Rhaenyra placed a hand on her shoulder softly. 

Laena breathed out slightly at the comforting hand, knowing she was getting worked up, and her children were growing concerned. 

“Nothing you say will change this, father. In love Rhaenyra, and I could care less what the rest of the realm thinks. And once the time comes, I shall be Queen with Rhaenyra as King or whatever the Realm decides to call her. And our son, Jacaerys, will be the heir to the Iron Throne” Laena said, as the man looked at her silently. 

“…I am not angry, daughter. Not truly. No, I am so very happy that you are alive. But I am confused, and hurt that you did not think we would keep this a secret, that we would not allow for this” Corlys responded softly, looking over his grandchildren, his legacy. 

A small smile formed on his face when he saw them all. He may have lost Laenor…but it would seem that he has just regained a much larger portion of his family. 

While Rhaenys…she was still kind of pissed, but that was skirted when Visenya and Rhaenys Jr walked up to her. 

“Is it true that you are the best dragon rider in Westeros?” Visenya asked with an excited gleam in her eyes, Rhaenys looked at her in surprise, before Rhaenys Jr cut in. 

“Sister, don’t bug grandmother. She barely knows us” Rhaenys Jr said, cutting her off as Visenya pouted. 

“What? I was just curious! And don’t act like you aren’t interested either. You are named after her after all!” Visenya responded as Rhaenys Jr looked like she was about to smack her sister, only for Rhaenys to break out into a small smile. 

“I like to think I am, child. And…you are truly named after me?” Rhaenys said, answering Visenya’s question before looking at the little Rhaenys. 

“I am. Kepa and Muna said that they wanted to name me after the strongest woman they know. Someone who represented all the properties of a true Targaryen” Rhaenys Jr responded, as the older woman couldn’t help but smile slightly, as she decided to let go of her anger…for now. 

Instead, she opted to hug the little girl named after her, as the girl smiled and returned it, Visenya joining it a moment later in jealousy. 

All the while, Viserys and Rhaenya were having their own conversation. 

“What happened in Essos, daughter? To have so many things change? To have Syrax become…so incredible?” Viserys asked, as the woman looked at her father before chuckling. 

“A lot, father, far more than you can imagine. More than I can tell you” Rhaenyra responded, as they watched the children interact with Laena’s parents. 

“…I see. Either way, I truly am glad that you have finally returned home. And…I am sorry for what I had done” Viserys said, as Rhaenyra waved him off. 

“I got over it a long time ago, father. If you had not done that, then I would not have the family you see, I would not have all of my children, and I would not have been able to become what I am today” Rhaenyra responded, as she felt Alicent staring at her. 

Feeling the woman’s stare, Rhaenyra inwardly sighed, only one thought on her mind at that moment. 

‘…She’s going to be annoying, isn’t she?’

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That’s the end of the chapter!

Not sure how good this one was, but I tried my best!

SpiderGwen will get updated in a bit. 

Anyways, have a good day!