𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐌𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐄𝐒
___________

119 AC

𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐲𝐚, although a considerably smart girl for her age, despised all things reading and studying, unless it was about something along the lines of dragons or an old tale she could scare her brothers with.She had no idea why but whenever she picked up a book she found herself straining her eyes to try followed the words as they jumped 'round the page or grew blurry.She had gotten her fair share of lectures from the scept because of this, who assumed that she just couldn't be bothered to "educate herself" and was making up excuses.

The rare time she did read was when her younger brothers, Jace and Luce, stormed into her room carrying what seemed to be the biggest book they could find, begging her to read to them, with their big-brown pleading puppy eyes, until she had no choice but to concede.She grew to find it relaxing over time, something she looked forward too, spending her afternoons leaning back against the thick trunk of the warm coloured tree, lazily reading a few chapters while her brothers peacefully lay listening on the grass, using her lap as a cushion, until usually one, if not both, of the boys fell asleep.

The small courtyard the tree was located in seemed to be one of the few places, aside from her chamber, Visenya could find peace and quiet.The silence and warmth of the setting sun nearly sending her off into a deep sleep as well, with the book still open in her lap as she leaned her head back and let the sun that peaked through the tree soak her pale skin.She was just about to drift off, when she felt a small hand tug on the corner of her dress, slowly peering her eyes open and looking down to see Jace peering up at her.

"I thought you had fallen asleep" Visenya yawned, pulling herself up slightly, making sure not to move too much and accidentally wake Lucerys.

"I tried but the silence is too scary" Jace whisper-yelled as he glanced around the empty courtyard, only a single guard stud in the corner, watching over them.

It only ever got so quiet when, either, a terrible death or scandal had taken place, or a small council meeting had dragged on for way longer than it should, more often than not, because Alicent refused to back down from her argument or let Rhaenyra have her way.

Visenya let out a small, quiet laugh in response, as if speaking too loudly might break the silence and cause the usual chaos of the Red Keep to erupt once more.

"What do they even talk about for so long?" Jace dramatically sighed as he sat up and leaned into his sisters side, rubbing his tired eyes.

"I have no idea, mothers tried teaching me about her council duty's and what not, but it is far to complicated" Visenya complained, rolling her eyes just at the thought of the boredom of sitting in a council meeting, as she wrapped her arm around Jace."They are nearly just as boring as Ser Harwins awful ghost stories" She whispered into her brothers ear, who let out a quiet giggle.

"I think you'd make a great queen" Jace spoke barley above a whisper, Visenya turning to him with her brows furrowed in confusion, baffled by the idea of her ever baring such a responsibility, never mind doing a good job at it.

"That is the last thing I want" Visenya scoffed shaking her head.

"What do you want to do then?" Jace queried, glancing up at her with wide, curios eyes.

Visenya's favourite thing about speaking to her younger brother was that he always asked questions like this, as if he was actually interested in what she had to say and validated her opinion, unlike most people.Jace had always clearly idolised Visenya and thought her to be some heroic dragon rider, which she was far from, but Visenya still appreciated and was amused by his innocent admiration all the same.

"Now that is a hard question" Visenya sighed, pondering on the question for a moment. "I want...to explore the world on dragon back, and eat nothing but cake" She whispered the last part of her sentence to which Jace laughed gently nudging her.

"That sounds like fun" Jace agreed with a nod as he slowly shut his eyes, relaxing in his sisters arms.

"It does doesn't it?"Visenya spoke softly lifting her cheek of Jace's head to stroke his hair, something she always did to help send him to sleep."Maybe I can take you with me"

"Luce too"Jace added, Visenya could tell from his voice that he was mere seconds away from falling asleep.

"Luce too"She chuckled as she ran her fingers through Jace's hair, that was a lot darker and thicker then hers but definitely not as curly as Luce's.

The courtyard fell silent again for a while as Jace rested peacefully in Visenya's arms who was now resting her cheek on his head , almost falling asleep herself again, when a guard approached the three siblings awakening both Luce and Jace.

"Princess, your mother has requested your presence in the council meeting"The guard firmly spoke staring straight ahead at the tree, as if he was afraid to meet the girls eyes.

Visenya huffed as she unwrapped her arms from around both her brothers and forced herself to stand up with a groan, her legs having become numb from being sat in the same position for so long.

"Go back to your chambers, I'll read to you some more later"Visenya instructed bending down to hand the book back Jace who nodded in response.

"Don't fall asleep on the way"She smiled ruffling Luces messy head of curls, who was still barely awake, before following the guard back into the castle.

𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐞 guards at every corner she turned Visenya still felt on edge as she walked through the empty castle corridors, each step she took echoing off the stone slabs which she walked.

Visenya paused when she reached the large wooden doors which led to the council meeting room, hiding behind the door which wasn't opened to take a deep breath before stepping to enter, but she stopped dead in her tracks when she overheard the ongoing conversation.

"...-i have a proposal that I think would benefit everyone here"She heard her mothers voice boom from inside the room, naturally raising Visenya's curiosity.

She toke a few steps back to avoid being seen by any guard while she eaves dropped, accidentally bumping into someone as she did.

"Oh I'm s-..."Visenya stopped herself mid apology when she realised it had been Aegon who she bumped into."Never mind"She rolled her eyes turning back around.

"No go on, you were apologising to me?...for once"Aegon grinned nodding for Visenya to continue but she just ignored him, trying to focus her attention on the voices as she leaned her hand on the door.

"Excu-..."

"Shush!"Visenya held her finger in Aegons face cutting him off to which he pulled a face and hit her finger away.

"You know it's considered rude to eavesdrop?"Aegon lowered his voice to a whisper stepping closer behind Visenya who was still ignoring him.
"Although you don't exactly have the best manners for a Princess-..."Aegon was cut off again.

"They are talking about us"Visenya hissed whipping her head around to look at the boy who's grin immediately disappeared at her hearing her words.

"Who?Me and you?!"Aegon eyes widened, Visenya's face dropping into an unimpressed glare.

"No, Aemond and Luce..."Visenya sarcastically replied."Of course us!what do you think I meant by we?!"She aggressively gestured between them before turning back around.

"Sorry princess"Aegon replied mockingly, receiving a quick glare from Visenya, before they both actually focused on the councils conversation.

"Your kidding?!"Alicent laughed in what sounded like disbelief.

"I think it is a rather fair proposition, the most studious one we've had yet"Viserys chimed in rather happily although he seemed to be ignored.

"Aegon and Visenya?!they can barely stand to be in the same room for long!"Alicent exclaimed angrily.
"And they both clearly to head strong and stubborn to rule!"

"Then we can wait a few years, wait until they have both matured and learned to be at least friendly with one another"Rhaenyra argued, Visenya didn't even have to see her mothers to know how she was gesturing her hands about.Something she'd noticed her always doing when debating or deciding something complicated.

"Believe me Aegon will never mature, he is useless"Alicent scoffed.

Visenya looked to Aegon, who was now stud next to her also listening in, able to tell just by the slight shimmer in his eyes that the comment had upset him.Aegon looked to her, immediately evading her eyes when he saw the sympathetic look on her face.He felt belittled when someone looked at him like that, like they were sorry for him, especially a girl like Visenya who never seemed bothered or upset by anyone else's opinion.

"Maybe not, but I believe Visenya could influence him"Rhaenyra replied.
"If we betroth them when Visenya becomes a women of age they can grow together, learn from one another, eventually be great rulers...together"

"Absolutely not, no"Alicent refused.

"Alicent-..."Viserys tried to intervene.

Visenya didn't spend a lot of her time with her grandfather but when she did he happily listened to the girl talk about her interest in dragons and other various topics, topics that only her brothers would actually take the time to listen to.Although deep down Visenya knew he was only interested in her because she was so similar to her mother, his clear favourite child, she was still great-full he listened.

"No!that is a ridiculous idea!I would rather betroth my children to one another then to your own!"

"What about Aemond?"Rhaenyra had to almost yell over Alicent so she was heard, a deathly silence followed shortly after.

Visenya pulled a face of disgust and confusion at her mothers second offer.First Aegon now Aemond?it was as if her mother was going through a list of all the people Visenya did not want to marry if she were ever arranged too.Aegon gulped standing up a little straighter, the silence putting him on edge as he waited for his mother to answer, he didn't always get along with Visenya but Aemond had barely even spoke to her.Surely his mother was not considering this after being so persistent about denying Rhaenyras original offer?Visenya marrying his brother would be more tortures then marrying her himself, Aemond already had everything Aegon wanted.

"I-...I don't believe Visenya would be a good fit for Aemond"Alicent sighed after a long dreaded silence.

Aegon snorted back a laugh at her answer receiving a harsh nudge from Visenya, signalling him to be quiet and also annoyed that he laughed.

"Alicent, just consider it"Viserys calmly spoke attempting to jump in again and change his wife's mind.

"No, I-..."Alicent was cut off by a guard that stud near the door.

Visenya's eyes widened when she realised the guard was looking right at her and Aegon, having spotted them outside the doors when pacing around the room.

"What is it?!"Alicent snapped clearly fed up with everyone cutting her off and speaking at her.

"I believe we have a few eavesdroppers"The guard spoke beginning to make his way towards the door which Visenya and Aegon stud behind.

"Shit!Run!"Visenya whispered to Aegon before clutching a fist-full of her dress with one hand, lifting it off the floor and out of her way, and running off down the empty corridor.

"Wait, Wha-..."Aegon trailed off looking around confused and panicked as to what to do for a moment."Wait!"He whisper-yelled before scurrying after Visenya, even though she probably could not hear him by how far away she already was.

𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐲𝐚 ran until she could no longer breath, she felt the air tightening in her lungs, forcing her to come to a stop.She placed her hand on the wall and the other on her chest as she tried to catch her breath and process everything she had just overheard.

Her entire up bringing she had been told nothing but bad things about Alicent Hightower and her father, Otto Hightower, and how they believed Visenya's brothers, and herself, to be born bastards.Obviously that caused Visenya to not like Alicent and her children, even if they were her relatives, she had been told to stay away and she did just that.

Unfortunately for her Aegon took a liking to irritating the girl, constantly prodding and poking her with annoying questions and stupidly commenting on everything she does.Visenya couldn't think of any reason as to why her mother would even think about betrothing her too him, she hated him and the idea of ruling and had informed her mother of that many times.

Visenya was snapped out of her thoughts by a hand firmly grabbing her shoulder causing her jump.She spun around to be met by the smirking face of Aegon.

"I know you don't exactly like me, but you don't need to go running at the first mention of a betrothal"Aegon chuckled, his breath heavy from having just ran after Visenya.

"That is an understatement, I sprinted"Visenya pointed at Aegon, unable to hide the grin on her face, as she began to walk down the corridor.

Visenya suddenly came to a stop when realisation hit her, what if her mother did manage to convince Alicent of the proposal?

"You don't think they will actually agree to it do you?!"Visenya worried standing with her eyes wide and lips parted.

"Don't sound so horrified by it"Aegon scoffed.
"And from the sounds of it, I doubt my mother is even on the fence of agreeing...thank god"Aegon paused before muttering his last words, as if he didn't truly want to say them.

"What a nightmare that would be"Visenya shuddered at the thought before continuing her walk, assuming Aegon would go his own way, only for her to be followed.

Visenya did a double take at the boy behind her as she sped up her pace confused and slightly scared as to why he was following her, anytime Aegon trailed behind her he was most likely up to something, specifically to annoy or embarrass her.

"Why are you following me?"Visenya's voice cracked as she spoke and attempted to speed walk ahead of Aegon, almost breaking into another run.

"Why are you running from me?"Aegon chuckled speeding up his pace just to annoy her.

"Why are you following me?!"Visenya repeated as she whipped her head back and forth constantly checking the distance between them.

"Will you just-..."Aegon grunted reaching forward and grabbing Visenyas forearm forcing her to stand still.

Visenya glared at Aegon, looking him up and down, before ripping her arm from his grip."What do you want Aegon?"She spat brushing off her dress.

"Why don't you like me?"Aegon immediately replied taking Visenya by surprise and leaving her speechless on to how to answer such a forward question.

"Wha-...you really want me to answer to that?"Visenya forced an awkward laugh as she nervously fidgeted with the material of her dress.

"No, I just needed a way to shut you up"Aegon shook his head, smirking proudly, to which Visenya huffed and rolled her eyes.

"And you wonder why people do not like you"Visenya grumbled continuing to walk down the corridor.

Aegon opened his mouth about to reply with some witty comment when a guards voice yelling both there names could be heard echoing from further down the corridor.

"...-Prince Aegon?!"

"Where do you think they ran off to?"

"They can't have gone far, you search to the right I'll look outside"

Aegon and Visenya looked to eachother wide eyed waiting for the other to come up with some bright idea on what to do next.

"What do we do?!"Aegon desperately asked walking over to Visenya.

"I don't know!"Visenya quickly replied waving her hands around frantically.

"For someone who prides in being a know it all, your awfully useless"Aegon whispered through gritted teeth but before Visenya could reply their attention was diverted by the sound of armour clanging together and footsteps approaching their direction quickly.

Visenya froze, staring off into the distance like a deer in headlights, until Aegon grabbed both her shoulders and pushed her backwards until her back hit a wall, hiding them from the view of anyone walking down the corridor.

Visenya subconsciously gripped Aegons forearm as she peered over his shoulder to spot the guard that was searching for them.The two seemed unbothered with how close they were in a small cornered space to focused on impatiently waiting for the guards to pass.

The second the guard disappeared down the corridor Visenya pushed Aegon off her, having to prying his hands, which were tightly gripping her shoulders, off as well.

"Was there a need for that?!"Visenya scolded as she smoothened out the creased sleeves of her dress.

"Would you like to sit in on that insufferably boring council meeting while they make all our decisions for us?"Aegon scoffed tilting his head.

"Fair point"Visenya sighed nodding to Aegon.

"Your welcome then"

"Thank you"Visenya mumbled almost gagging at the words that left her mouth, immediately regretting them when she saw the way Aegons face lit up.

"Your what?Sorry I didn't quite catch that"Aegon leaned down closer to Visenya, even if she almost taller than him, smirking from ear to ear.

"You heard me"Visenya nudged Aegons shoulder forcing him to stand up straight again as he snickered to himself.

"𝐊𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐢-....𝐤𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥"Visenya stuttered as she stared at the high Valyrian book in her hands.

As if reading wasn't enough of a struggle for her, she was also required to learn high Valyrian.Visenya refused at first since it was pretty much a dead language and Targaryen's were only made to learn it for the sake of tradition but when she was told it was used as a way to communicate and train dragons she caved.

She found learning the dragon commands easy but speaking or understanding anything else incredibly difficult, mainly because she had to learn it off the base of a book.

"Kostilus"Rhaenyra interrupted as she entered her daughters bed chambers, pronouncing the word perfect and flawlessly as she did with almost everything.

"Thank you"Visenya sighed not taking her eyes off the book as she squinted them in an attempt to see the fading black ink better but it only grew her vision blurry.

"If you are finding it too difficult, then take a break for a while, no one excepts you to already be fluent"Rhaenyra spoke soflty as she sat down on the edge of Visenya's bed.

Visenya, who was sat on a chair facing the fireplace with her back turned to Rhaenyra, glanced around glaring at her mother with an unimpressed look covering her features.

"If i-..."Visenya hesitated before using her next words, as if they were cursed."If I am to rule one day it is necessary that I learn our ancestors language"

"Well unless you plan on deposing of your own mother you have plenty of time to study"Rhaenyra chuckled as she walked over to Visenya sitting on the arm of the chair which she sat.

"And I think we all know that ruling is on the bottom of your dreams list"Rhaenyra spoke lowering her head to whisper in Visenya's ear.

Visenya didn't reply nor look up at her mother, she closed the book in her lap and stared into the dancing orange flames, her lips turning into a thin line as her mothers words repeated in her head like a stuck record.

"Vi?"Rhaenyra called when she didn't receive an answer.

"Wether I desire to rule or not, I unfortunately do not have a choice in the matter"Visenya mumbled, barely loud enough for her mother to hear, diverting her eyes from the fire and instead fixing them on her boots as they tapped on the scratched,wooden floor boards.

"You can do whatever you dream of my sweet girl, as long as you are happy so am I"Rhaenyra spoke softy as she stroked Visenya's short but lush brunette locks.

"You say that but we both know the dangers if I refused the throne"Visenya nervously spoke as she chewed the inside of her cheek.

"Nothing and no one will hurt you, not as long as I am here, I promise"Rhaenyra stated firmly but when Visenya still didn't meet her gaze she placed a kiss to the girls head before heading to leave the chambers.

Rhaenyra reached out for the door handle but Visenya's voice calling for her caused her to pause and turn around to face her daughter once more."Mother...!"Rhaenyra hummed in response.

"Do not tell Jaehaerys I said this but...I think he'd be a lot better ruler then me"Visenya let out a nervous laughter as she peered past the side of the chair.

Rhaenyra also laughed at her daughters comment as she pressed her hand to her stomach."Do not worry, it will be our little secret"She whispered sending her daughter a playful wink before finally leaving the chambers.

A small smile crept to Visenya's face but her mother had already left long before she could notice, she turned back around to stare at the fire with a sigh.Even without using words Rhaenyra had always been able to know exactly what Visenya was thinking or feeling, that may have been a bad thing when Visenya needed to lie her way out of trouble but it definitely connected the two a lot deeper.

𝐒𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐩 was not a fan of Visenya and nor was she a fan of it.She wasn't a morning person but she definitely wasn't a night person either.If she didn't lay wide awake for hours tossing and turning as her mind refused to shut down and allow itself to rest she would be woken up in the dead of the night by some obscure but terrifying nightmare.

The nightmares rarely related to her real life but it still shook her to her core, Visenya had once woken up half the castle with her blood curdling screams.She would shoot up shivering and covered in goosebumps, shaking as if she had been electrocuted, and feeling as if strings were being tightening around her heart and lungs squeezing the air out of her and taking control of her breath.

The after effects had become less severe as she grew older and the nightmares became less frequent, but they never fully went away.

Unfortunately for Visenya the night had cursed her and she woke up with a fright, widening her eyes only to be met with complete darkness, shivering from the winter atmosphere as a cold sweat dripped down her forehead.Before she had time to process what had happened, calm herself down and collet her breath her door burst open and her brother, Jaehaerys, marched in.

Visenya jumped clutching her cover tightly to her chest"What the fu-..."She stopped herself when she saw the tears that stained Jaehaerys cheek glimmer in the candle light that now shone in from the corridor.

Visenya sighed realising that he had also been awoken by night terrors.She tapped the empty side of the bed beside her before throwing herself back, her head landing on the pillow with a huff.

The two didn't exchange a word as Jaehaerys climbed in bed besides his sister, she heard him sniffling and breathily heavily as he shuffled to get comfortable but still didn't say anything.Jaehaerys was not as strong as he liked to admit, Visenya knew that, she thought it was pretty obvious but apparently not many noticed the princes cowering posture or grinding teeth when he was nervous.

Rhaenyra had constantly reminded the two growing up that they have a special bond and should appreciate it but they never understood what she meant, they didn't understand much of what there mother said since she often spoke in poetry.

Visenya had her back to Jaehaerys as she stared awkwardly at the crack of light which peeked through her door unsure of what to say or if she should say anything at all.

"Nightmare?"Visenya spoke, it sounding like more of a statement then a question since she already knew the answer.

Jaehaerys hummed in response which was shortly followed by another intense sniffle.The boy hesitated for a moment, chewing the inside of his cheek, before reaching out and gently taking his sisters hand.Visenya didn't respond nor move her hand away, she simply let him grip it tightly as if she would slip away if he dared to let go.

Even if he was younger Jaehaerys protected his sister at all costs.Since she was the eldest he assumed there was no one protecting or looking out for Visenya, like she did for them, so he brought the role open himself to do so.

(A/N)

- - - - - -

Can u tell I couldn't think of a good chapter name?🥲

Tried focusing on her relationships with others(specifically with her family since it's a huge part of her character)and also i hate when an Oc's only purpose is to be a love interest and they have no layers or story of there own.

Also just to clarify Visenya is about 13/14 ish in this chapter and the next and then in chapter 3 she is 15/16.( the chapters after that are following the present hotd timeline where she is 18/19 )

( I also got rlly confused with the timeline of when they moved to dragonstone etc so we're just gonna ignore any mistakes with that😀)

There is a lot of filler chapters in this fic where there just a bunch of added scenes that don't follow the plot since the fic was barely 10 chapters without.

Anyways hope u all enjoyed and enjoy the rest of the story!!!

💌