Arianne was currently sitting with some ladies talking about the war at the Stepstones, Arianne didn't perticually like these ladies but she had very little friends and the only people she really talked with were Cregan and Rhaenyra.

" Lady Johanna was reported to have been abducted...when one of Lord Swann's ships sailed through the step stones ".

" What will happen to Lady Johanna? " Arianne asked.

" She's to be sold to a pillow house in the free cities......if you believe the rumours ".

" I fear the gods did not make me for hunting, might i sit with you, My Ladies " Larys strong said as he walked up to the ladies.

" But, of course " Arianne smiled as she gestured towards a free seat " Larys Strong, the youngest son of our Master of Law, Lord Lyonel ".

" My husband says that no King has ever been able to tame the Stepsones for long.....It's an inhospitable place suited only for savages ".

" Perhaps the Princess....can give us some insight ".

Rhaenyra walked over to them with Alicent next to her with their hands joined together and said " Ohh, I'm not sure how I could...I've never been to the Stepstones ".

" Your dear uncle Daemon is the great mind behind this war....is he not?" ".

" I wouldn't know....I have not spoken to my uncle in years " Rhaenyra said.

" Since you supplanted Daemon as heir ".

" Daemon made his choices, Lady Ceira " Arianne said defending Rhaenyra " The Princess was more suited for the role ".

They smiled at each other and Alicent looked at them suspiciously.

" They've made a mess of things and the king must put an end to it....send fleets and men and clear out the Triarchy for good ".

" But the crown is not at war " Rhaenyra said confused.

" The crown is at war....Princess...though your father refuses to admit it, we've been dragged into it by your cousin, uncle and The Sea Snake ".

" And how have you served the realm of late, Lady Redwyne, by eating cake? " Rhaenyra snapped bluntly as she fiddled with the rings adoring her fingers.

Everyone was silent as Arianne pursed her lips to keep in her laughter. The lovers smiled at each other before Rhaenyra and Alicent walked out of the tent.

⎯

Arianne heard shouting and looked at Viserys and Rhaenyra, who had Alicent besides her.

" And I have tried often to discuss it with you, but you've refused me at every turn " Viserys shouted.

" That is because I do not wish to get married " Rhaenyra shouted back. It was the truth, she did not wish to get married to anyone but Arianne but she knew that was not possible.

" Even I do not exist above tradition and duty, Rhaenyra " Viserys shouted even louder.

Rhaenyra goes to shout back but was cut off by Otto " Excuse me, Your Grace ".

Viserys looked around and sees everyone looking at him and his daughters screaming match.

" You must marry " Viserys said in a lower voice before looking at Otto " Yes ".

Rhaenyra looked at Arianne who looked back at her before storming away with Alicent in tow and Arianne sighed sadly.

" The royal huntsman has sent a report, Your Grace " Otto said " There's been a sighting of a white hart......the stag is ' The King of the Kingswood ' Your Grace........A regal portent for Prince Aegon's name day ".

Viserys looked around and smiled awkwardly at everyone.

⎯

It was now nighttime and Arianne worry began to grow for Rhaenyra and her sister, who had both ran off after Rhaenyra and Viserys's argument. She then noticed Viserys drunkenly stumble out of the tent and excused herself to follow him outside to the bonfire.

" Is everything alright, Your Grace? " Arianne asked Viserys once she reached him.

" You know, I.....I named her to protect the realm from Daemon " Viserys said " She was my only child ' The Realm's Delight '.......I named her out of love.....because, I no longer believe ".

" Believe what? " Arianne asked.

" Many in my line have been Dragonriders, very few among us have been dreamers " Viserys said " What is the power of a dragon.....next to the power of prophecy ".

" The hour is too late, Husband " Arianne said as she almost cringed when she said the word ' husband '.

" When Rhaenyra was a child.....I saw it in a dream....as vivid as these flames, I saw it.....A male babe born to me......wearing a conqueror's crown..... " Viserys sighed as he began to get emotional " And I so wanted it to be true, to be a dreamer myself and I sought that vision again, night after night......but it never came again......I poured all my thought and will into it and my obsession killed Rhaenyra's mother ".

" Viserys " Arianne called out.

" I thought Rhaenyra was the way out of my abyss of grief and regret " Viserys cried " And naming her heir would begin to Set things right ".

" Ohh, it did " Arianne reassured.

" I never imagined, I would remarry.....that I would have a son....." Viserys snapped and Arianne looked at him as she began to pick at her fingers " What if I was wrong? ".

Viserys looked as a sound was heard and he looked at Arianne before throwing his cup in the fire and placed a hand on her very pregnant belly.

⎯

Viserys had gone to sleep for the night as had everyone else, but Arianne had found herself wondering outside not being able to find sleep due to her uncomfortableness.

" Your Grace " a deep voice said causing her to jump " I apologise if I've frightened you, but are you alright ".

" Cregan.......yes, I'm fine.....I'm just feeling a little ill.....I'm always like this towards the end of my pregnancy " Arianne smiled.

" Would you like to have some tea in my tent......and Mabye talk a little " Cregan suggested with a smile.

" Yes.....I would like that very much " Arianne smiled.

Arianne and Cregan then began to walk to the northerner's tent with Cregan's hand on the girl's back.

⎯

Viserys, Arianne and Otto stood at on of the tables outside as Aegon rested in his mothers arm, Suddenly Arianne noticed everyone looking at two figure that were covered in blood and when they got closer she saw that they were Alicent and Rhaenyra, Arianne grew worried as she didn't know who's blood it was and Aegon sensed his mothers worry and hugged her neck tightly with his little arms.

⎯

Arianne was now sitting in her chambers holding a sleeping Aegon close to her.

" Your Grace, the lord hand " her guard said as Otto walked in.

The wet nurse snatched Aegon out of Arianne's arms and he began to wail loudly, Arianne looked at her son worried as he disappeared from Arianne's sight.

" Did you enjoy the hunt, Your Grace? " Otto asked his sixteen year old daughter.

" Well enough " Arianne said vaguely as she shifted uncomfortably.

" How fared my grandson? " Otto asked.

" The ladies Redwyne and Lannister were quite taken with him " Arianne said as she rubbed her belly shifting on the couch again.

" As they should be....he's the future of the realm " Otto said sitting at the large table in his daughter's chambers " You, you yourself witnessed the scale of the celebration, how it's United the men...when you bore the king a son, you ended 15 years of uncertainty and doubt......Aegon like his namesake, was born to rule The Seven Kingdoms....and if Viserys were to name him heir, the realm would fete him for it ".

Arianne remained silent before she gets up with a slight struggle.

" does this not please you, do you not want your son to be king? " Otto asked.

" No " Arianne said with no hesitation " I would rather not subject my son to that kind of life ".

" You mustn't ignore, the certain truth " Otto said as Arianne leaned onto one of the wooden chairs opposite her father as she shifted in discomfort " that if Rhaenyra were to over step Aegon's ascend to the throne, the realm would tear itself apart ".

" They all swore obeisance to her...our house among them " Arianne reminded.

" That was before Aegon " Otto said.

" Rhaenyra will be a good queen " Arianne said defending her lover.

" It wouldn't matter if she was Jaehaerys himself born again " Otto said " Rhaenyra is a woman ".

" And what of my son? " Arianne questioned ".....Would you have me raise a man to steal his own sisters birth right? "

" It is Aegon that's being robbed " Otto declared " He's the first born son of the king....to deny that he is heir to the throne, is to assail the laws of gods and men " Arianne swallowed a lump in her throat " The road ahead is uncertain, but the end is clear, Aegon will be king " Arianne looked down ".........You must guide Viserys towards reason....he'll never find it on his own ".

Arianne sighed closing her eyes knowing she what she had to do. 

⎯

A guard opened the door to Viserys's chambers and Arianne walked in to see Viserys sitting in front of the fireplace with healers and masters crowing him, Viserys signed rubbing his forehead, when he noticed her.

" How are you feeling, Husband? " Arianne asked.

" The gods have punished me for my indulgences " Viserys said.

" At least the wine was good " Arianne commented as she sat down in the chair in front of him.

" Too good " Viserys said back as he drank the provided by the maesters.

Viserys leaned back in his chair as Arianne looked around awkwardly before speaking " I was hoping, we might discuss something " Arianne said sheepishly.

" Rhaenyra? " Viserys sighed.

Arianne looked at him.

" I do not think, she enjoyed Jason Lannister's company " Viserys said and Arianne smiled " She is cross ".

" I warned you that she would be " Arianne said softly as she picked at her nails.

" Rhaenyra has come of age, she needs to marry a high lord who will honour her, defend her and serve her as King Consort " Viserys exclaimed as Arianne looked down picking at her nails harder " Her wishes in this matter are irrelevant ".

" I do believe that Rhaenyra will marry, Your Grace " Arianne said looking back up at Viserys " But she must believe it is her choice to do so ".

Viserys nodded and leaned forward and poured some more tea and Arianne noticed a letter on the table and asked " What's this? ".

" A letter........from Vaemond Valaryon " Viserys said annoyed as he leaned back.

" The Sea Snake's brother? " Arianne questioned.

" Yeah " Viserys nodded " He's fighting in the Stepstones, with all the rest of them ".

" May I? " Arianne asked gesturing to the letter as she stopped picking at her nails. And Viserys gestured to the letter and Arianne moved uncomfortably, grabbed it and began to read it.

" Lord Corlys and Prince Daemon are losing their war " Arianne said as she began to worry for Daemon as he hadn't mentioned this in their letters.

" Badly, by all accounts " Viserys sighed.

" This is a plead for aid " Arianne said strongly and Viserys nodded " Then why not sent it? ".

" Becasue it is a war started by two malcontents, unhappy with decisions I've made....if i now provide my brothers and Corlys succour, what will that say about me...their King? " Viserys asked.

" That perhaps he is a good man, who loves his brother...... " Arianne said.

" Well, if you truly believe that, my dear....." Viserys commented ".....Then you posses a generous spirt ".

" What do you believe, Viserys? " Arianne asked.

" That I am forever doomed to anger one person in the pleasing of another " Viserys exclaimed.

" Then I pose a simpler question " Arianne said " Is it better for the realm, if the Crabfeeder thrives or...is vanquished? ".

Viserys looked at her.