𝒈𝒐 𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒕𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 ───── a house of the dragon fanfiction.
⚘ written by 𝒍𝒆𝒊𝒍𝒂 . . . 2024
𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒓

A finger gently danced across the page of a book, following the invisible line beneath the sentences as the words absorbed themselves into the reader's head. Deep brunette strands of hair drifted onto the page, the smell of lavender parading the air that surrounded Kaleyna Hightower.

The sounds of hurried footsteps down the hall from her chambers alerted her from her perusal, tilting her head up towards the sound. Over the past fourteen years, her features had matured to great extent. Her eyes were narrower in size, and her lips had plumped from their thin lines of youth. In a sense, she had become womanly.

She placed the book down and strode over to her open door, leaning her hand against the frame as she peered into the hallway. A pair of teenage girls walked arm in arm, giggling all the while. Kaleyna recognized them both. On the left was Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen. And on the right walked Kaleyna's younger cousin, Alicent.

Kaleyna had grown to love Alicent as more than just a cousin, but as a younger sister. "Kaleyna. We were just going to look for you." She smiled widely at her older cousin, tugging gently on Rhaenyra's arm to sway her towards the woman's quarters.

"Ah, and why is that?" Kaleyna matches Alicent's enthusiasm, grinning playfully back towards the pair.

Rhaenyra sighed and reflected their smiles. "My mother wishes for us all to visit her before the tourney tomorrow." She explained, her pale violet eyes glancing up to meet Kaleyna's. "I still cannot imagine why she's decided on naming the babe after you if it's a girl." Rhaenyra jested, her lips twitching up further.

Kaleyna closed the door behind her, stepping in stride with the younger girls. "Perhaps because I am her favorite lady-in-waiting, of course." She looped her arm through Alicent's, the green of Kaleyna's dress a stark contrast to the light blue of Alicent's. "Or perhaps because she has always viewed me in that sense."

The three ventured through the Red Keep, set on the Queen's chambers. Once there, Rhaenyra entered first, with the Hightower girls trailing behind with linked arms.

Aemma laid upon a chaise, fanning her face as her feet kicked up onto a few small pillows on the end. "Ah, Rhaenyra." Her face brightened at the sight of her daughter, "You know I don't like you to go flying while I'm in this condition." She sighed, continuing to fan a breeze onto her.

"You don't like me to go flying when you're in any condition." The Targaryen princess retorted, tilting her head to the side as handmaidens attended to her pregnant mother.

"Your Grace." Alicent spoke up from the corner, her words as sweet as ever. Kaleyna gently bowed her head beside her, acknowledging the Queen's presence.

Aemma's voice strained as the pillow beneath her head was adjusted. "Good morrow, Alicent and Kaleyna." The latter stepped forward to sit beside Rhaenyra, who had found comfort on a stool at the end of the chaise.

"Did you sleep?" Rhaenyra inquired, worry underlying in her tone. She clasped her hands in her lap, eyeing her mother in a concerned manner.

"I slept."

"How long?" Rhaenyra continued, causing a half-amused chuckle to sound from the Queen.

"I don't need mothering, Rhaenyra." Aemma nearly rolled her eyes at her daughter's attempt to bother herself with apprehension. A small laugh swept under Kaleyna's breath at the older woman's comment, causing Aemma to reach for her hand and squeeze it momentarily with a smile. "You see, Kaleyna here understands."

Rhaenyra ignored her mother's claim and slightly leaned her chest over Aemma's swollen legs. "Well here you are, surrounded by attendants all focused on the babe. Someone has to attend to you."

Aemma stopped her fanning and gently jostled Rhaenyra's legs with her foot, her expression turning a bit more serious at the coming thought. "You will lie in this bed soon enough, Rhaenyra. This discomfort is how we serve the realm."

Rhaenyra sighed and pursed her lips. "I'd rather serve as a knight and ride to battle and glory." A small smirk twitched at her lips at the idea. She was never one fit for the crown, nor was she one to obey the crown. A light, breathy chuckle left Alicent from the corner as she watched the mother and daughter.

Kaleyna glanced up from Aemma to Rhaenyra, a look of understanding painting her face. "As much as the idea is thrilling, you were born for this, Rhaenyra. Alicent and I... we have other tedious matters to attend to. We would do anything to be in your place, instead."

Rhaenyra nodded, giving Kaleyna a small smile of consideration. Aemma moved her hand from Kaleyna's to tend to her daughter's. "We have royal wombs, you and I. The child bed is our battlefield."

The princess lowered her head, grasping her mother's knuckles tightly as she listened with reluctance. "We must learn to face it with a stiff lip." Aemma concluded, retrieving her hand and laying it across her swollen stomach.

Kaleyna stood to accompany her cousin by the door, cheering her up a bit from feeling out of place in the room.

"Now go take a bath. You stink of dragon."

"He passed through the Red Keep's gates at first light." Ser Harrold spoke matter-of-factly as be escorted Rhaenyra towards the closed off throne room, their steps in synchronized stride.

She cocked her head to the side as she indulged in the fact, "Does my father know he's here?"

Harrold slowly shook his head and uttered a quiet, "No."

Rhaenyra paused in her steps before the shut door, turning to face her chest to Ser Harrold's. "Does Kaleyna know he's here?" Her voice dropped to a whisper, a flash of sympathy crossing her face. She had heard many tales from the Hightower of the two's time together in King's Landing, of their inability to separate for too long. She had also explained how he had left without a final word, leaving her to roam the halls alone until Rhaenyra and Alicent came of age.

"No..." Ser Harrold lifted his head to watch Rhaenyra's expression change, a sigh leaving her lips at the realization that Daemon's presence would not be welcomed by the woman.

The knight slowly creaked the throne room door open, casting a light over the outline of a silver-haired man, sitting on the chair of swords with a barely visible smirk. "Gods be good.." Harrold muttered, pursing his lips at the sight.

"It's all right, ser." Rhaenyra nearly grinned at her guard's hesitation. She intertwined her fingers behind her back and began to walk over to her uncle. "What do you think you're doing, uncle?" Her native tongue drowned out the open ears of Ser Harrold, her High Valyrian sharp and direct.

Daemon lifted his forefinger to the surface of his lips, resting his clothed elbow on the armrest of the Iron Throne. He matches her dialect, "Sitting. This could well be my chair one day."

Rhaenyra refrained from rolling her eyes at his confidence. "Not if you're executed for treason. You haven't come to court in an age."

"Aye... court is so dreadfully boring." He drawled, tossing his head to the side as he strung out his words.

Rhaenyra narrowed her eyes as she stopped at the bottom of the stairs leading up to the throne. A certain fire overtook her, her chin raising itself up slightly. "Is that the only reason why?"

His own eyes turned to meet hers, intrigue filling his every thought. He leaned forward on the chair, placing both palms on the edges of the armrests. "What all has she told you, hm? That I abandoned her? Is that the word she used?"

Rhaenyra scoffed, her gaze wavering to the heightened ceilings of the room. "I would love to hear your view of the act." She sarcastically murmured in High Valyrian before drawing her eyes back to his.

"And you were, what? Aged only in hours? Please, spare me her second-hand wrath." He retorted, the venom in his voice spewing out at the memory. "Besides, I heard your father was hosting a tournament in my honor."

"The tournament is for his heir." Rhaenyra spat back, her words growing ever so slightly harsher.

"Just as I said."

"His new heir." Her eyes narrowed even further as she glared up at her self-indulgent uncle.

The tension in the room was thicker than Daemon's skull, if that was even possible.

"Until your mother brings forth a son, you are all cursed with me." Daemon stated, standing from the throne and slowly stepping down the small steps towards Rhaenyra. He paused just inches from her, his height towering hers by almost half a foot.

She held her breath as he stood close, her eyes unwavering from his as she finally spoke, "Then I shall hope for a brother."

Daemon slightly smirked at her response before moving to brush past her for the door. In truth, she had not hoped for her mother to go through such strenuous pain again, but if it was to aid blocking Daemon from inheriting the throne, it was all she prayed for.

A familiar door creaked open, the contents of the room having an almost nostalgic effect to the girl entering it. Kaleyna slowly stepped into the old chambers, her eyes scanning the abandoned room. She ran her hands along the bed posts, trails of dust lingering on her fingertips. With a sigh, she rested against the edge of the made bed, her grown body causing the mattress to dip from the shifted weight.

She had made this visit a habit the past decade or so, drifting in and out of his room. Daemon's room. In her head, it convinced her that he was gone for good -or dead, for all she knew. The crisp sheets, the dusty floorboards, and the emptiness reminded her that he could have been anywhere the last fourteen years. At times, she wondered if he was in Westeros at all.

With another exhale, she lifted herself from the bed and made for the door, clicking it shut behind her and beginning her journey to the godswood to aid Rhaenyra and Alicent in their studies.

Kaleyna sat against the trunk of the weirwood tree Alicent and Rhaenyra were studying before, picking at the grass and weaving the stems between her fingers in a sort of braid. The princess laid across Alicent's lap, resting her hands on her stomach as she closed her eyes and listened absentmindedly to her words.

"I suggest you listen before Alicent goes mad." Kaleyna uttered, lightly nudging Rhaenyra with the point of her shoe. A small smile played at Rhaenyra's lips.

"Did you read it?" Alicent asked, her mouth widening as she was alerted of Rhaenyra's daze.

Rhaenyra tilted her chin to gaze up at her close friend, squinting her eyes slightly as the bright sun peeked through the red leaves canopied above. "Of course, I read it."

"I didn't think the realm's delight to be a liar..." Kaleyna teased from her spot, crinkling her nose playfully.

Alicent huffed and shifted the large book in her hands to hide its contents from Rhaenyra. "When Princess Nymeria arrived in Dorne, who did she take to husband?" She interrogated, fishing for the truth in the girl.

"A man..." She vaguely answered, shutting her lids halfway lazily. Alicent would have very nearly dropped the book on her if Kaleyna hadn't taken it into her own hands, reading its contents -content she had learned when she was the same age as them.

"Any idea what his name was, 'Nyra?" Kaleyna lifted her brows knowingly, her eyes glued to the inside pages.

Rhaenyra grumbled and looked up at the sky, tracing her eyes over the tree's leaves and the occasional bird. "Lord Something."

Alicent retrieved the book from her cousin and shut it, placing it on the grass beside her thigh. "If you answer with 'Lord Something', Septa Marlow will be furious."

A ghost of a smile passed across the princess' face. "She's funny when she's furious."

Alicent exchanged a look with Kaleyna, sharing the same train of thought. The younger Hightower glanced back down at the girl in her lap. "You're always like this when you're worried."

"Like what?" Rhaenyra tossed her head back and pursed her lips at the assumption.

"Disagreeable. You're worried your father is about to overshadow you with a son." Alicent sighed, moving her fingers to gently play with Rhaenyra's baby hairs.

"I only worry for my mother," Rhaenyra shut her eyes again, a plague of sadness washing over her as she re-lived the stillbirths her mother had endured at the hands of her father. "I hope for my father that he gets a son. As long as I can recall, it's all he's wanted."

Kaleyna sat up straighter, her dress pooling around her legs as they sat in an uneven circle. "And what do you want... Rhaenyra?" Her voice turned softer than it had been just moments before, when the princess wasn't being antagonized for her wishes.

"I want to fly with you both on dragon-back, see the great wonders across the Narrow Sea, and eat only cake. I want to see us all happy." Rhaenyra answered, lifting her head up from Alicent's legs.

"And," she reached across her lap for the book and searched the pages, "Princess Nymeria led her Rhoynar across the Narrow Sea on 10,000 ships to flee their Valyrian pursuers. She took Lord Mors Martell of Dorne to husband and burned her own fleet off Sunspear to show her people that they were finished running." Rhaenyra finally ripped the selected page from the spine, handing it to Alicent, who sat with wide eyes at the sound of torn paper.

"What are you doing?" She exclaimed, hesitantly grasping the page between her fingers.

"So you remember."

"If- if the Septa sees this book, then-" Alicent stammered, turning over her shoulder to see if Kaleyna had the same reaction. She only grinned from ear to ear as she predicted Rhaenyra's next words as she heard the slew of an 'f' sound leaving her lips.

"Fuck the Septa."

Cheers sounded from the stands that surrounded the jousting arena, flags and banners being waved around in support of their frontrunner in the sea of candidate knights. A few children sat on the shoulders of their fathers, clapping their hands above their heads excitedly.

Kaleyna pinched at her crimson-colored dress, lifting the bottom hem off of the ground as she climbed the stairs up to the royal tent. She found a chair near the front on the left end, sitting in front of Lord Corlys Velaryon and Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, who preferred to cheer quietly.

A few beats passed before a familiar pair of girls walked before Kaleyna, taking their seats next to her, wide smiles spreading across their faces.

"Be welcome! I know many of you have traveled long leagues to be at these games. But I promise, you will not be disappointed." Viserys stood from his seat in the center of the balcony to announce the start of the tourney. "When I look at the fine knights in these lists, I see a group without equal in our histories."

Kaleyna leaned over to the princess and her cousin, placing a hand on the latter's forearm that rested on the armrest beside her. "Fine knights, indeed." She snickered towards the girls, causing them to blush at the thought.

Viserys continued to address his people, "And this great day has been made more auspicious by the news that I am happy to share: Queen Aemma has begun her labors!"

Kaleyna's face paled momentarily. She was unaware that the process had already begun. Her body tensed in her seat and she glanced at Rhaenyra from behind Alicent's head. The silver-haired princess slowed her claps, soaking in the information of her mother's labor with a hint of fear.

The rest of the tourney's attendants wailed with joy at the prospect, standing from their benches and whistling. "May the luck of the Seven shine upon all combatants!"

Two knights, bearing their respective houses on the face of their shields, rode out on opposite ends of the arena. Their squires hastily handed them their lances, the knights gripping them harshly as they pulled down their helmet with preparation.

Kaleyna recalled learning of the house sigils in her younger years. On one end, was a Cole of the Stormlands, his presence filled with confidence and capability. On the other end, rode a Bolton of Winterfell, the human figure on his sigil splayed out onto his shield.

A horn blew in the stands, signaling the start of their joust. The Cole kicked his horse, channeling a surge of energy into its long limbs as it paced towards the Bolton. The latter was caught off guard and attempted to match the Cole's speed, resulting in a lance through his armor.

Kaleyna gasped softly, her heart lurching in her chest as the man was knocked onto his back, his lower body still attached to the saddling. He strung upright after a few beats, causing the crowd to sigh a relief in near unison.

The two knights readied again, replacing their lances for unbroken ones. They shared a glance across the arena, stimulating a certain tension.

The horn sounded once more. This time, the Bolton charged first, causing the Cole to hasten his speed. The horses galloped violently towards each other, the only thing separating them being the thin bar in the center.

Alicent covered her mouth, suspense washing over her as she watched the two near closer and closer. Rhaenyra quickly noticed her discomfort and rested a hand upon her friend's.

Finally, the sound of wood chipping broke out. The Bolton fell to the dirt, the wind leaving his chest as he heaved for breath. Two squires came rushing to collect him, carrying him by his arms to a healer.

The Cole trotted over to the balcony, pausing just before the gathering of court-goers. He bowed his head almost cockily.

"A mystery knight?" Rhaenyra muttered, her eyes narrowing as she studied the Cole.

"No, a Cole of the Stormlands." Alicent shook her head, a small smile playing at her lips.

Rhaenyra shrugged, leaning back in her seat. "I've never heard of House Cole." Her thought was cut off from the sound of horse feet replacing the previous knight's spot before the balcony.

Boremund Baratheon lifted his helmet, revealing his face as he peered up at the royals. Kaleyna knew him well from the seventeen years she had grown up in court. He had always had a light-hearted sense of humor, one that she aspired to carry herself.

"Princess Rhaenys Targaryen!" He called up, causing the older woman to glance knowingly at her lord husband with an amused smirk. "I would humbly ask for the favor of 'The Queen Who Never Was'."

As a low murmur passed through the crowd, flags lowered at the nickname the princess had been burdened with since the naming of Viserys. She stood from her seat, stopping at the edge of the railing, leaning her head down to properly view the knight.

After a momentary pause, she tossed the wreath in her hand onto his lance. "Good fortune to you, cousin."

"I would gladly take it if I thought I needed it." Kaleyna watched as Rhaenys softly scoffed at her cousin's confident words and turned to sit back down beside Corlys.

The Cole pranced back out into the arena, eyeing Boremund in silence as they readied. The Baratheon shut his helmet's shield, regripping his lance steadily.

Once again, the horn blew. And once again, the Cole gained victory.

He was ushered off of his horse as a few young squires carried two red and black banners onto posts along the arena walls. Kaleyna leaned forward, her brows furrowing softly. She could just see the sigil of the House Targaryen through the thick fabric.

As she silently questioned whom of the Targaryens would be riding, her inquiry was answered. A pure black horse rode out onto the dirt field, with its rider saddled firmly on its back.

A wave of emotions pricked at the corners of Kaleyna's eyes as she recognized the knight. A knight she had cursed for the many years prior.

A knight she loved.

𝒈𝒐 𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒕𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 ───── a house of the dragon fanfiction.
⚘ written by 𝒍𝒆𝒊𝒍𝒂 . . . 2024
𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒓

words . . . 3448.
written . . . 8.10.24.
published . . . 8.12.24