" A moment " Arianne said to her father as walked over to him, and the man holding an umbrella over her head to shield her from the rain, created some distance to give the father and daughter some privacy.

" I do not wish to see you go " Arianne said as Otto turned to her as he puts his leather gloves on.

" Such is the King's decision " Otto said.

" A decision, I most bitterly regret " Arianne stated.

" And yet you made it possible " Otto said eying her purple neck as he walked to her " You chose Rhaenyra ".

" She swore her innocence......and I believed her " Arianne croaked.

" You wanted to believe her as did her father " Otto said.

" Your informant was wrong an honest mistake perhaps, but I did not foresee this " Arianne cried.

" You should have " Otto snapped as he walked away from her over to his horse.

" If you had not been so relentless in advancing Aegon as heir " Arianne snapped.

Otto looked at her before slowly walking over to her.

" Listen to me, daughter " Otto said in a hushed voice " The king will die, it may be months or years but he'll not live to be an old man. And if Rhaenyra succeeds him, war will follow, do you understand?.....the realm will not accept her. And to secure her claim, she'll have to put your children to the sword....she'll have no choice " Otto started causing Arianne to let out a whimper " You know it....you're no fool and yet you choose not to see it.......the time is coming Arianne. Either you prepare Aegon to rule or you cleave to Rhaenyra and pray for her mercy " Otto finished strongly as he looked Arianne who tried to not cry.

Otto pulled his daughter into a hug causing her to break down and cry in her father's arms, Otto then pulled away he cupped Arianne's face getting one last look at her before walking away from her mounting his horse and began to ride off. Arianne put a hand and covered her mouth causing muffled cries to exit her mouth.

⎯

Arianne was in the gods woods when she heard a familiar call out.

" mamma " Aegon called as a wet nurse held him.

" Ohh Aegon, a man who holds my own heart " Arianne said smiling wildly as she rushed over to them and grabbed Aegon from the wet nurse and dismissed her.

" An outsider........among the natives " a voice said causing Arianne to look behind her and sees Larys Strong standing in front a small tree of flowers.

" Lord Larys " Arianne greeted with Aegon, who had fallen asleep in her arms.

" Malvales........a rare bloom....indigenous to Braavos " Larys commented " By all rights, it shouldn't be thriving here......nature, such a mystery ".

" The weather has been lovely " Arianne replied as she began to slowly walk away with her son.

" Indeed " Larys agreed before saying " And yet it is a dark day for the realm.......your father was a good man".

" As is yours, who took his place " Arianne replied as stopped walking and turned to him.

" Yet still, the manner of your father's departure........" Larys said as he walked over to her " it feels something for an injustice ".

" What do you know of the manner of his leaving? " Arianne asked.

" When one is never invited to speak, one learns instead to.....observe " Larys said looking at the large purple bruise on her neck before asking " You're perhaps in need of an ally? ".

" I'm the Queen, I have no shortage of allies " Arianne reassured.

" Naturally........Princess Rhaenyra for example " Larys said with a smile.

" State your purpose, my lord " Arianne snapped softly as Aegon who had woken up, noticed his mother's distress and hugged her tighter to comfort her.

" I did wonder, if she could be relied upon......now that she is......unwell " Larys said.

" Unwell? I haven't heard anything " Arianne said confused and also worried.

" Beg your pardon, Your Grace, I may be mistaken " Larys said " It's just that on the very same night your father was dismissed, the grand maester delivered a tea to the Princess's chambers ".

" A tea? " Arianne questioned feeling her heart sink.

" Yes " Larys said.

" That the grand maester himself brought? " Arianne questioned not wanting to believe it.

" At the direction of the king, as I understand it " Larys said " I do hope she is not unwell ".

" Rhaenyra sailed with the king to Driftmark, yesterday at daybreak " Arianne said as she turned away from him as she felt tears well in her eyes.

" Ohh, what good news...........I must've been an error.......uhh, a relief " Larys said as he walked closer to Arianne again " See I thought for Mellos himself, well.......her condition must be something very serious.........what happiness it is to have been wrong ".

Arianne smiled at him before walking away.

⎯

Arianne watch from the balcony of her chambers as Viserys fell to the ground as everyone rushed to help him, before walking back in her chambers.

⎯

Arianne was sitting in her chambers with Aegon playing on the floor as she held a cooing Halaena in her arms.

A maid walked in and said " Ser Criston, your grace ".

Arianne got up and handed Halaena to the wet nurse causing the young Princess to cry, the wet nurse grabbed Aegon's hand trying to get him to leave but he wouldn't but another wet nurse grabbed Aegon carrying him out of the room as he wailed.

Arianne watched her children leave the room with a sad look on her face as she hated to see her children cry. Ser Criston walked in and bowed his head at her as the maid shut the door.

" I fear, I must question you on a delicate matter, Ser Criston " Arianne said before walking and sits on her daybed.

" I am your servant as always, my queen " Ser Cristion said.

" It concerns our dear Princess Rhaenyra..........please " Arianne said before gesturing for him to sit with her.

He looked at her and Arianne gestured again and he walked over leaning his sword on the couch besides him before sitting down.

" You are her swore protector and rightfully loyal to her " Arianne said.

" I am " Ser Cristion nodded.

" The night of Daemon's return......." Arianne said before standing up " There's been a rumour........or rather my father received an accounting of...........a lapse of morals, that may of occurred between........" she trailed off.

" It is of course, unthinkable for me to question the virtue of the Princess, whom I hold in the highest regard...." Arianne said as she walked around the room " But I did however, wonder if..............I'm not unaware that in the flush of youth...........there may be errors made.......breaches in resolve, breeches or rather lapses--".

" It happened, your grace " Ser Cristion said as he interrupted her, causing Arianne to stop walking and she turned to him slowly.

" The sin you allude to...............I have committed it, at her instigation, it is true but that should--" Ser Criston said pausing before standing up as Arianne looked at him in shock " It is no excuse...............my oath has been broken.....I have dishonoured myself.......I deserve no consideration.....but if.....as a clement queen, you are inclined to pity.....I would ask only this......that rather than gelding me and having me tortured..you would sentence me mercifully......to death ".

Arianne turned around at what she had heard her father was right and Rhaenyra the girl she loved had lied to her about her not cheating and she had lost her maiden hood.

" Thank you for your honesty, Ser Criston " Arianne said as she swallowed before turning around " You may go ".

Ser Criston looked at Arianne before grabbing his sword, bowed and then proceeded to leave.

⎯

Arianne walked into her sisters chambers and sees her putting on earrings.

" Ali " Arianne greeted.

" Ari, shouldn't you be getting ready " Alicent asked.

" Yes but I just to see you " Arianne said.

Alicent stood up and was about to leave but was stopped by Arianne who hugged her from behind.

" What's this for? " Alicent laughed.

" I just missed you " Arianne said.

She knew once she did what she was about to do, she would be declaring war against the Targaryen's, she already lost Rhaenyra and she knew she might loose her sister once she did this.

The two sister hugged for a while longer before they pulled away, and Alicent left for the banquet and Arianne began to walk to her chambers so she could dress.

⎯

" Be welcome, as we join in celebration........tonight is only it's beginning, we honour the crown's oldest and fiercest ally, House Velaryon........reaching back to the days of old Valyria and the age of dragons, with House Targaryen and house-" Viserys announced but stopped mid sentence when he saw Arianne standing at the entrance of the hall wearing a green dress.

Everyone looked at the king wondering why he stopped but then looked at the entrance to see what he was looking at, and they looked shocked to see Arianne Hightower wearing a green dress, she also didn't bother covering the dark purple bruises on her neck.

Arianne then proceeded to lift her dress as she walked down the stairs and then walked down the Hall. As everyone stood up for her including Daemon, who was smirking at her and what she was doing.

" The king will not be happy, right in the midst of his speech " Harwin said as he looked at his best friend.

Arianne nodded at her family, who nodded back proud of her before turning back to face to front.

" The beacon on the Hightower, do you know what colour it glows, when old town calls it's banners to war? " Larys asked his older brother.

" Green " Harwin replied.

Arianne then walked up the stairs to the table and stopped in front of her seat to face Rhaenyra.

" Congratulations, stepdaughter.........what a blessing this is for you " Arianne said to Rhaenyra before kissing Viserys's cheek and she then stands in front of her chair, glancing at Daemon before looking at the front again.

" Umm, please be seated " Viserys said as everyone but himself sat " Where was I? " he whispered.

" The joining of the two houses, your grace " Lyonel whispered.

" Yeah " Viserys cleared his throat before smiling " With House Targaryen and House Velaryon untied, I hope to herald in a second age of dragons in Westeros " He announced as everyone clapped and Daemon who wasn't listening, looked at Arianne " And after tonight's small affair.......seven days of tournament and feasting " everyone clapped again as Arianne looked at Daemon as well " At the end of it all.......at the end of it all, a royal wedding......between my daughter, my heir......your future queen....and Ser Laenor Velaryon, the heir to Driftmark ".

Arianne watched as Rhaenyra and Laenor began to dance. Everyone except Arianne began to clap after they were finished. People then started to walked to the dance floor and dance as Arianne got up causing everyone to look at her as she left.

Her uncle noticed her and got up to greet her " Your Grace ".

" I thank you for coming, uncle " Arianne said smiling.

Alicent looked at her sister and uncle from where she was sitting.

" I worried that given the leave of your father's shadow, you might wither in Kings Landing's sun, but you stood tall " her uncle said as her aunt approached " Know that Oldtown stands with you ".

Arianne nodded smiling before looking at Rhaenyra who was dancing, Rhaenyra noticed her gaze and looked back as well.

After talking with her aunt and uncle some more she then left and was approached by Cregan Stark.

" Lord Stark " Arianne smiled.

" Your grace " Cregan smiled " that was quite the declaration, my Queen ".

" Yes, well....I am the Queen and I realised I'm no longer going to be pushed around by dragons " Arianne replied.

" Well, house stark stands with you....your grace " Cregan smiled, the young lord was recently appointed Lord Stark Of The North as his father had died recently.

" Thank you, Lord Stark " Arianne smiled before walking back to her seat. And picked at her food.

After a while, suddenly everyone ran trying to get to safety. Arianne stood up as well as everyone else at the table, she tried looking for her sister and Rhaenyra, she was worried.

" Where's Rhaenyra? " Viserys asked.

Lyonel then nodded his head at harwin and harwin started shoving his way through to crowd and grabbed Alicent and Rhaenyra placing them on his shoulders.

Arianne finally noticed that her sister and ex-lover were safe and looked to see who was fighting and saw Ser Criston finished a guy senseless and stumbled out of the room.

Everyone the watched as Laenor crawled over to his lovers caved in body and he cried loudly.

⎯

Arianne stood to the side as Laenor and Rhaenyra got married only close family were in a attendance.

" The love of the seven is holy and eternal, the source of ice and love.......we stand here tonight in thanks and praise to join two soul as one "

Arianne then drowned out the rest of the ceremony. She didn't wish to see Rhaenyra get married but the Princess had hurt her.

Suddenly Arianne snapped back to reality, when Viserys fell to the floor. Everyone rushed over to him.

" Quickly get the maester " Arianne shouted as she kneeled besides Viserys.

⎯

Arianne had rushed out after the ceremony after checking on Viserys. Suddenly she ran into Daemon.

" Hello, gorgeous " Daemon greeted causing her to blush.

" Daemon " Arianne said.

" What happened to your neck? " Daemon asked as he lightly touched her neck causing her to wince.

" Nothing " Arianne said.

" Did my brother do this? " Daemon asked.

She looked at him not saying anything, that gave the rouge prince his answer.

" I'm gonna kill him " Daemon snapped and began to storm off.

" Daemon, I'm pregnant " Arianne said causing Daemon to freeze.

" What " Daemon said.

" I'm pregnant, it's yours " Arianne said.

Daemon did something that shocked Arianne, he smiled before rushing over to her kissing her. She was shocked before she kisses him back.

They pulled away.

" This is the happiest moment of my life " Daemon said smiling.

" But you know that if anyone finds out.....I'll be labeled as a whore " Arianne said " And if Viserys found out.....he would....he would definitely kill me ".

" Don't worry about that right now, sweet thing " Daemon reassured creasing her face " Everything will work out....."

Arianne smiled.

For once in their life they were happy.

⎯

Arianne walked to the Godswood and sees Ser Criston about to kill him self with a dagger.

" Ser Criston " Arianne called out causing him to lift his head and look at her.

She walked over to him and pulled the dagger from his grip.

" Ser Criston, you have to much to live for " Arianne said knelling in front of him.

" I have nothing, I have been dishonourable........I dishonoured my duties " Ser Criston cried " I have nothing left to live for ".

" Yes, you do....you have so much to live for " Arianne reassured smiling sadly " But if you really need something to live for.......then life for me....protect me.....and my children ".

Ser Criston looked at her with broken eyes before he broke down and Arianne pulled him into her arms as he wrapped an arms around her stomach and clinged to her like a child.

𝐀/𝐍:

𝐀𝐜𝐭 𝟏 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞-𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐝