Six months have now passed since the Princess Rhaenyra was named heir to the Iron Throne. The first time in history an heir has ever been a woman.

And while there are certainly growing tensions within the Stepstones, Vaemyra is completely oblivious. Nobody fills her in. Nobody gives her any details.

She's treated as though she isn't worthy of that information. As if it will plague her mind and forever destroy her.

But her curiosity persists nonetheless.

She tries and she tries, but nobody will tell her about the Stepstones. She heard of its existence in passing and knows it's important, but doesn't know how or why.

Vaemyra attempts to spy on the Small Council meeting by pressing her ear against the door where the meeting is taking place, but she can only make out all but a few words.

The Free Cities.

The Triarchy.

And the Crab Feeder.

All meaningless to her. She knows the words but knows no meaning behind them, and she is all but caught once her older sister opens the door to leave.

Rhaenyra squints down at her little sister as she shuts the door behind her.

" Were you spying?" She asks.

" No..." Vaemyra drawls out as if to preserve her innocence.

" Liar," Rhaenyra chuckles as she begins to walk down the hall.

But Vaemyra doesn't give up that easily.

" What is a Crab Feeder?" The young princess asks as she catches up with her sister.

" An enemy that will be dealt with accordingly," Rhaenyra answers plainly and simply.

" Is he the leader of the Triarchy?" Vaemyra asks once more.

" It seems so," Rhaenyra confirms.

" And father hesitates to wage war?"

Rhaenyra stops her walk down the hall to face her sister with an amused smile upon her lips.

" Have you always been this smart?" She ponders.

" It seems so," Vaemyra repeats with a grin.

But seeing as only one is heir, they must depart. Rhaenyra's new responsibility is to pick a new knight to join the Kingsguard. She stands before all the knights as they plead their case, one by one being presented by the current head of the Kingsguard. While Rhaenyra is not entirely thrilled, one knight, in particular, catches her eye, one who has true combat experience.

" I choose Ser Criston Cole."

The Hand tries to warn her against it, but Rhaenyra is persistent with her choice. She stands firm and will not let anyone try to change her mind.

And yet a truth that both sisters are both oblivious to is that of what happens behind the closed doors of their father's chambers.

Neither sister know about how Lady Alicent comforts their father and grows closer to him with each passing day. Neither sister know about how when the subject of marriage comes up, the first person on the king's mind is Lady Alicent.

But his best match is that of Valyrian blood. Lady Laena of House Velaryon, daughter of Lord Corlys and Princess Rhaenys. The 12-year-old cousin of the King.

It troubles the king to even consider the offer, but to appease his blood, he humors it. He goes for a walk with Lady Laena, of which her dialogue is clearly scripted by her parents, but it's one sentence in particular that ends the consideration for the king.

" That I wouldn't have to bed you until I turn 14."

King Viserys is many things, but a monster is not one of them. He refuses to wed the child, even if it may settle future disputes. He just can't.

And on the other hand, the king must deal with his heir who seems ever too eager for battle. She was warned against it, but nonetheless, Rhaenyra flies to Dragonstone to retrieve the egg of which has been stolen by none other than her uncle.

But by doing so, the princess prevented bloodshed. She was able to convince her uncle to hand back the stolen egg and stand down.

Rhaenyra may not be happy about her uncle taking a common whore to be his wife in the home of her house, but she knows her duties as heir are far more important.

Finally, the King has his boy. All thanks to Queen Alicent. The babe has just turned two, and already his little brother is close to crowning.

Two years have passed in King's Landing, Vaemyra slowly becoming more and more of a woman. She's a tad bit taller, her hair is longer, but her face remains childlike and innocent to preserve her youth.

And over these past two years, the princesses have been pushed to the sidelines in order to make room for their brothers.

Half-brothers, that is.

The young prince babbles, and the entire room erupts in laughter as he's held by his mother and adored by his father, surrounded by a feast and a sea of people to celebrate his second-name day.

" He has your hair, your grace."

" He does have my hair."

" He has your eyes, your grace."

" Yes, he does. And you have my nose, don't you?"

And even with the large feast and cause for celebration, the princesses are nowhere to be found. Not in the room, and certainly not celebrating their half-brother's birth.

But the King does not notice, at least not yet. He's too focused on his son. Even ignoring news about the Stepstones in favor of ogling his baby boy.

The suspicion slowly spreads as he fills his plate, but again and again, people ignore his questions about his daughters until he's finally had enough.

" Can someone tell me where in the Seven Hells my daughters might be?"

The location of his daughters is a mystery to most, but not to all. The Queen suspects she may know where the princesses are, and her suspicions are confirmed once she hears a sung being sung by the tree.

" Under the dragon's eye. Under the dragon's eye."

The squire finishes the song while Rhaenyra has her nose buried in a book and Vaemyra has her nose buried in another.

" Again," Rhaenyra requests.

" Perhaps the princesses might like to hear something else?" The squire suggests for he has grown tired of singing the same song over and over.

" They would not. Play it again."

And while Rhaenyra wants to hear the song again, Vaemyra does not, but she bites her tongue. She holds back her wishes so her sister may find some peace.

" She fled with her ships and her people. Her heartbroken for those-- your grace."

" Did I say to stop?" Rhaenyra questions, only to be met with silence, " From the beginning."

And while the squire resumes the song, the Queen decides to make her presence known.

" Rhaenyra?"

" Yes, my Queen?"

" Your presence is wanted in the outer courtyard," Alicent says, " Both of yours. The royal hunt readies to depart."

" I've decided to remain here and read with my sister, instead," Rhaenyra explains, not even thinking to ask if that's what her sister wants as well.

Fed up with the music, Alicent quickly dismisses the squire and gently approaches the tree with her swollen belly.

" The King wishes for you both to join us," She starts.

" The King has must to celebrate," Rhaenyra brushes off, " He does not need us."

" He wants for all of us to be together. Perhaps the hunt could be... fun," Alicent suggests.

" Is it the King's command?"

" Yes, but it--"

" Then at once, Your Grace."

Rhaenyra slams the book shut and stands up swiftly, and Vaemyra mirrors her actions and trails behind her sister.

" But it needn't be," Alicent assures as the girls approach, " None of it needs to be this way in truth, Rhaenyra."

But the princesses pass by the Queen, paying her no mind as they leave the Godswood. Rhaenyra is angry, betrayed, and rightfully so, and Vaemyra just seems to copy however she is feeling. Ever since the loss of their mother and the news about the new Queen, Vaemyra has been sticking to her older sister more than usual.

And reluctantly, the princesses get into the carriage to be transported to the Kingswood for the celebratory hunt. Vaemyra and Rhaenyra are squished together to make room for Prince Aegon and his nanny sat in the middle of the King and the Queen. The carriage ride is silent and awkward, as the princesses don't bother to say a word.

" Well, isn't this splendid," Viserys smiles, attempting to break the ice, " The whole of our family of the celebration and adventure in the Kingswood."

Rhaenyra fakes a smile, and upon seeing it, Vaemyra fakes one, too.

The carriage hits a few rocks, creating a bumpy ride for the Queen who sits 8 months pregnant.

" Should you be traveling in such condition?" Rhaenyra questions.

" The maester said that being out in nature would do me well," Alicent sighs.

" Well, you will be with your own child, sooner than late, and make me a proud grandsire," Viserys comments as he feeds wine to his son.

" It's not so bad," Alicent states upon seeing the heir's expression, " The days are long, but Aegon came quickly and without fuss."

And then the silence returns.

" You should ride with me today," Viserys offers to his eldest child, " Join in the chase."

" I'd rather not," Rhaenyra brushes off, " The boars squeal like children when they're being slaughtered. I find it discomforting."

Vaemyra cringes at those words, at even the thought of the squeals.

" It's a hunt, Rhaenyra," Viserys observes, " How would you like to participate?"

" I'm not sure why I must."

" Because you are my daughter... the eldest princess. And you have duties."

" As I am ceaselessly reminded."

" You wouldn't need to be reminded if you ever attended to them."

" No one's here for me."

And with that, the conversation comes to an end. Vaemyra rolls over her thoughts over and over, as the words of her father stick to her mind like glue.

" What are my duties, father?" The young princess asks as she finally lifts her head.

And with that, Viserys smiles at his little girl.

" You have none, yet," He states, " Simply enjoy the celebration... and your youth."

Vaemyra's youth is something she is constantly reminded about.

She's so young.

She's a baby.

She's so little.

She's just a girl.

It never ends.

And even now that she bleeds, she is still treated like a small child, for all the focus goes on her siblings, both older and younger.

The carriage comes to a halt and the doors are opened. The nannies exit first, followed by the King and the Queen. The princesses are the last to exit the carriage, finding the cheers to be ear-piercing, yet a painful reminder of the reality that they are in.

Nobody is here for them.

And since the King now has a son, nobody much cares for them... even if Rhaenyra is still heir to the Iron Throne.

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