Song: Ramin Djawadi - Maester

Imagine; you're your mothers least favourite because you're the child of Criston Cole, everyone knows that. So you get bullied just as much as Aemond. Resulting in you two bonding over the worst childhood.

Warnings: angst, blood and gore, little fluff. Betrayal. Death. It's a little backstory first, there will be more chapters!

•••

You always knew you weren't your mothers favourite, always the inconvenience to your family and they'd have no problem not hiding that from you. From name calling to actual ignoring you and your presence..

Your mother never did it on purpose, you tried to remind yourself. She didn't know how to love a baby that came from something hurtful to her. You being a constant reminder.

For years it went on under your "fathers" watchful eye. He either didn't notice or didn't care, most of the time he was too drunk to even form a coherent sentence. Your real father didn't want to acknowledge your existence either. You didn't have many friends, only your dragon to accompany you.

The only joy you truly felt was years later when Laenor died and gave way for Daemon. He did not care who's child you were, he saw you as his the moment he married Rhaenyra. And he treated you as such.

Besides from Daemon, another man entered your life. He understood like no other how it felt to be the ugly duckling of the group, ignored and bullied all the same as you had been.

'Aemond!' You yell as you rushes towards him with a smile.

Even though no man is ever able to make Aemond drop his weapon, the second he spots you running to him, he empties his hands in a heartbeat before catching you.

'Princess..' he chuckles. 'I almost get the idea that you have missed me..'

You get put down on your feet again and roll your eyes with a sly smile. 'Am I to understand you did in fact not miss me?'

'That is a vial accusation, my lady...of course I'd miss you, everyone else in this place is either dull or boring..'

'That is the same thing...' you reply confused.

'Exactly..' he winks making you blush profoundly. 'So how was your travel?'

As the conversation goes over to small talk about your travels, the dragon and other interests, you don't notice your brothers siding with Aegon. They're speaking lowly, so nobody can overhear what's being said. It's almost like 6 years ago again, they're scheming. But this time it isn't some prank like they pulled with Aemond, it is something for you this time. No matter how much you deny it, you're still that naive girl from a few years back, and they could use that to their advantage.

•••

You have trouble keeping up with your brothers and Aegon. Your dress easily getting caught by the branches of the bushes and trees.

'Jace... what are we doing here? It's late we should head back-' you try to reason with him.

'Do you wish to see the white stag or not?' He bites back a little cold, making you frown.

'Scared?, princess..' Aegon taunts.

'No.'

A weird feeling sparks in your belly, like something is not right. You probably should not have trusted them to bring you here, but it is too late to turn back now.

You realise that last part just as you get pushed against a tree. It's not that big of a tree but still strong enough to make you groan out in pain when you're pushed against it.

You feel your arms getting pulled back while the rope they brought to catch the stag now gets bound around your wrists. You try to wiggle yourself loose while remaining as calm as you can.

'Jace, Luc please stop! It hurts!' Your breathing picks up speed when you feel they're not letting you loose.

'Stop!' You yell out, struggling against the restraints even more, feeling the rope dig into your skin.

'Have fun!' Aegon laughs out evilly as he walks away from you, leaving you with Jace and Luc.

'Don't leave me here, please it will be dark soon and-'

'We do not care... you are no heir... nobody will miss you...'

'We are not children anymore and this is not funny! Jace untie me!' You struggle again, pulling the rope tighter around your wrists in the process.

'It is not meant to be funny...' Jace answers before turning to go after Aegon, Luc following as well.

'Don't leave me here! Please!' You beg. 'Please...' you sob.

You slide down to sit, because that's all you can do for now. The ropes are too tight, you didn't bring anything sharp, you have no cloak for the cold night, assuming that you'd make it until nightfall that is.

You're a sitting duck, an easy target, just like you've been all of your life, just in the literal form now. This forest knows great dangers when the sky turns colours. Your mother once told you about the swine she and Criston had to fight off, wild and incredibly deadly.

'HELP!' You scream out as loud as you can, hoping someone, anyone can hear you. 'HELP!'

You look around through blurry eyes, the darker it gets, the harder it gets to see your surroundings. You're not afraid of many things, but whatever is lurking out there is waiting for the night to present itself, the opportunity has already been won by those animals.

A while later the darkness has begun to set in, making you see less and less. Twigs snap around you, leafs rustle and the wind makes the air fill with the most creepy whistles and whispers. Your head snaps towards every single sound.

'HELP!' You yell out again, this time you get an answer however, one you did not want. 

A low growl makes the hairs in your neck and on your arms stand up. You see the fur of the wolf in the corner of your eye. You can feel the wolf fanning it's breath over your face. You turn your head away while closing your eyes.

You startle however when the breath suddenly is gone, replaced with a high pitched whine coming from the animal while the sound of hooves fill the air. You feel liquid splashing all over you and that's when you open your eyes again.

You gasp at the sight, a wolf now laid perfectly still, blood still gushing from its neck. It's followed by another sound you recognise, the one of a stag.

You slowly turn your head, eyes growing big as you spot the stag you've been looking for just now. It's standing right in front of you, thick white fur coating the animal.

Your mouth goes open from shock upon seeing the stag up close, it's even more beautiful than you imagined.

You try to reach out but find your hands still tied behind the tree. You hiss at the pain from the ropes. They must've broken the skin a while ago for it to hurt this much, it will most likely leave a scar as well, seeing as nobody has yet to come look for you and these wounds develop into scars quick if not attended to.

'Help me.. please...' you breathe out at the stag.

You might as well have gone crazy from the cold already to be asking an animal to help you get out of this. But you have no choice, and seeing that the stag already has saved you from being devoured alive, maybe it will cut you loose with its antlers.

'Who am I joking to? You do not understand a word from me-'

The stag walks around to the point where you're tied together. You feel it move around a bit before you're pulled back against the tree. You bite your tongue, not wanting to scare the animal off. There's a rough tug, making the rope break and setting you free at last.

You stand up and look at the beautiful creature. You cross your legs and courtesy before it. It is not custom for a princess to bow before an animal, you are certain it has not been done before, but you feel the strange need to.

'If I may ask you for one more favour...I am lost... I do not know the way back...'

The stag stares at you. Of course you do not expect it to speak back to you, you are not that insane. But something tells you that the beauty understood your request just fine.

•••

Rhaenyra and Daemon have never seen those boys get along. Jace, Luc and Aegon.. but somehow they're all in good spirits today.

It makes them both suspicious, and they are not the only ones. Across the table Aemond's frown is just as deep as your parents'.

'What has gotten you three in such a good mood?'

'The stag, send by the gods, will save her...' Heleana mutters as she focusses on the plate in front of her. Aegon's head snaps towards his wife while Jacaerys and Lucerys take their places at the table.

He looks at them without saying a word, yet they understand what he's trying to tell them. Aemond's frown only deepens at his brothers and sisters odd behaviour.

'Where is Princess Y/n?' He asks as he looks at Daemon and Rhaenyra.

'She should be here any second...I assume she was with you all afternoon...' Daemon looks at the three boys.

'She was...' Aegon confirms. 'But after we returned, we have not seen her...'

'Search for the princess..' Daemon orders their family guard. 'Quickly..'

'Yes my Lord...'

'She is not in the castle...' Heleana speaks again making everyone turn their heads towards her.

Aemond however immediately stands up and pulls his brother Aegon out of his seat by the hem of his attire before roughly pushing him to the table. 'Where is she?' He speaks low and menacing, making his brother sputter out a laugh.

'So naive... she's int he woods, but you will not be able to find her.. if she is even amongst the living still...'

Rhaenyra gasps as she stands up as well. She may find it difficult to love you but your well-being still matters to her. This whole trip to Kingslanding was to show you that she does care.

'What is the meaning of this?!' She turns to her sons, now hanging their heads in shame. 'You dare endanger your sister?! Have I taught you nothing?!'

'Sit..' Daemon softly demands her, afraid the babe will get air of the stress Rhaenyra is experiencing.

'You two will ready your horses and you will search for her, you do not come back until you have found her and you will pray to the gods for her to be alive still..' he does not need to yell or scream at the boys for them to know the seriousness of their actions.

'No need... I will find her myself... forgive me for not trusting them...' Aemond walks past the table and the guards. 'Ready my horse!'

'The white stag brings good fortune..' Heleana speaks.

'My girl...' Rhaenyra breathes as a hand cups her mouth. Daemons hand rests on her shoulder and gently squeezes.

Even Alicent watches with pain in her heart. She knows like no other the feeling of having to worry about the well-being of her children. Especially after she has grown to love you as well. Especially after you vouched for Aemond to have done nothing but defend himself while Lucerys was the one to take his eye.

She now understands why the maester have been speaking of the unease in your dragon. How she would whine and spit fire the entire afternoon. The beast was restless and it should have been enough of a sign for her to at least go to Rhaenyra.

'An eye for an eye...' Aegon utters. 'Is that what you call this foolish and cruel deed?! Revenge is sought on those who have wronged you! Not the life of an innocent girl!' His mother shamed him. 'You decided to conspire with the ones who have wronged you! Not to speak of the anger your brother must now hold for you...' She turns to her guard.

'What of her dragon? Any change in the behaviour?' She asks with a certain desperation.

'Yes your majesty, she has been laying calmly in the dragon pit... she occasionally whines still...'

That could mean two things, either your dragon is mourning, or you are still alive somewhere in those woods. She do hopes it is the latter. She not only worries for you, but her son also. If you are no longer alive, she can only imagine the heartbreak that will follow.

To be continued...