— 𝒃𝒍𝒂𝒛𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒔 ；𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒐𝒏
— 𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝗍𝗐𝗈 ：𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗀𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖻𝖺𝗅𝖺𝗇𝖼𝖾

AFTER A FEW MORE MINUTES IN THE PRESENCE, of their uncles the female twin Targaryen's took their departure to go in search for their ladies–in–waiting.

On their way to the frequented place the ladies were known to reside, the twins showed each other the new gifts their uncles had given them.

"You finally got a new ring to add to your collection, now you don't have to "borrow" from mother's anymore."

Zhaenyra let out a light laugh before answering her sister. "Just because I have a new ring – that I love very much by the way – doesn't mean I'm going to stop using mothers."

"If only mother knew of this." Rhaenyra spoke with a smile.

"If only." the elder twin agreed.

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

Joining their friends underneath the Weirwood tree, the twins duly noted that Alicent and Lylian were planning on studying all the histories of the realm.

Glancing upward to the approaching white–haired females, both ladies greeted them with a sweet smile.

"Has anything interesting happened within the time we've spent apart, princess?" Lady Lylian asked.

"If by interesting you mean my father and his council, then no, nothing interesting has happened. But what of you?" Zhaenyra answered, crouching down on the grass to lay her head in Lylian's lap.

"Nothing of great importance, princess."

Zhaenyra hummed in response.

Parallel to her twin, Rhaenyra had laid her body in the same manner. As she was now gazing up at, the Lady Alicent.

Opening up the big book of histories, Alicent laid it on the gray cover that was stretched upon the green grass for everyone to see.

"Did you both read it?" She asked.

"Of course, we read it." Rhaenyra answered.

"We would not be educated princesses if we didn't." Zhaenyra played along, already knowing what her sister was getting at.

"When princess Nymeria arrived in Dorne, who did she take to husband?" Alicent quizzed.

"A man."

"Yes, a great man."

Lylian suppressed a chuckle, catching onto what the twins jest.

"What was his name?"

"Lord something."

"No, no, not Lord Something, it was Lord Him." Zhaenyra corrected.

"If you answer with "Lord Something" , or you with "Lord Him", Septa Marlow will be furious."

"She's funny when she's furious."

"Especially when she gets so furious that you see the huge vein on top of her forehead."

"You both are always like this when you are worried." Alicent assessed, looking at Lylian for any agreement.

Which was met when she saw the brunette slightly nod her head.

Picking at a flower she got off the ground, Zhaenyra shrugged her shoulders.

"Like what?" Rhaenyra questioned, looking back up at Alicent.

"Disagreeable."

The sound of birds chirping was all that was heard for a short while.

"Perhaps you're both worried about the appending babe that is about to be brought forth." Lylian hinted.

"Yes, maybe you're both worried that your father is about to overshadow you with a son." Alicent put it plainly.

"We only worry for our mother. But we do hope for our father that he gets a son. As long as we can recall, it's all he's wanted."

"And for that, we want what he wants, but we would like to not lose our mother during the process." Zhaenyra added.

"You want him to have a son?" Alicent asked, with a bit of shock in her voice.

"I want to fly with you on dragonback."

"As I with you, Lady Lylian." Zhaenyra agreed, staring up at the green–eyed brunette with a soft smile.

"And while we are upon dragonback, we'll see the great wonders across the Narrow Sea and eat only cake." Rhaenyra finished.

"I'm being serious."

"We never jest about cake." The twins said at the same time.

"You both aren't worried about your position?"

"Not even a little." Lylian added.

"I like this position. It's quite comfortable." Rhaenyra replied.

Causing the periwinkle eyed twin to laugh.

Having enough of both the girls' foolishness, Alicent abruptly slammed the book shut and got up from her seat.

Sighs came from both twins seeing the retreating auburn-haired girl.

"Where are you going?" Rhaenyra asked.

"Home. The hour has grown late." Alicent explained.

Seeing the truth in her words, the twins and Lady Lylian both stood up from their spots and walked towards Alicent.

Linking arms with her elder twin, Rhaenyra began to explain the stale topic that was previously spoken of.

"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–" Zhaenyra added.

"To show her people that they were finished running." Rhaenyra finished reciting.

Then the twins both gave each other a knowing glance, before ripping the joined pages from  the book.

Startled by the sudden act, Alicent looked upon the twins with slightly widened eyes.

"What are you both doing?"

"So, you remember." Rhaenyra stated, holding out the previously torn piece of paper.

"And this one is for you, Lylian, so you will never forget this day."

Shaking her head with a growing smile adorning her face, she took the piece of paper with the bright artwork.

"If the Septa sees this book, then–"

"Fuck the Septa.

"Exactly. The Septa is so old, perhaps she was the one to write this anyways."

"Rhaenyra!"

"Zhaenyra!"

Both of the ladies exclaimed, with a laugh.

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

One's duty as the scribe for the King is never done, Zhaenyra had just finished getting ready for the morn, when she was notified by one of the king's guards that she was needed in the council room.

Walking across the hall to her sister's room she entered and bid her a good morrow, before she set off towards the room that housed all of the great council men.

Zhaenyra noted that the guard had not asked for her sister to come along, seeing as she was the king's cup bearer, so she knew this meeting was of serious topic.

Entering the room, she saw both her uncles sitting in the well dusted seats for the first time in a while.

Although she did not say anything, she nodded her head to greet them, and they greeted her back with the same notion. Walked across the room to fetch her quill, ink and paper, she then took her seat and waited for the King and his hand.

A few moments had passed by when the large doors to the room decided to creak open, and upon arrival the King appeared with his hand walking along by his side.

"-to haul away the resulting dismemberments when it was done."

"Gods be good." Viserys exclaimed.

Standing up to greet her father the King, Zhaenyra could not help but overhear the subject Lord Hightower was speaking of.

"The princes cannot be allowed to act with this kind of unchecked impunity."

It was obvious to Zhaenyra that the Lord Hand, Otto Hightower didn't know that the said Princes were in the room he was entering.

Listening the older man go on about his distaste in her uncles was rather amusing, seeing as they didn't like him either.

"Brother." Both Aemon and Daemon greeted, with a knowing smirk set upon their faces.

"Aemon, Daemon."

"Please carry on Otto–"

"You were saying something about our impunity." Daemon interrupted.

A beat of silence was heard in the room before Otto spoke up, "You both are to explain your doings with the City Watch."

Watching her father finally take his seat, Zhaenyra dipped her quill in ink and started writing.

"Your new gold cloaks made quite the impression last night, didn't they?"

"Did they?" Daemon sarcastically restated, looking towards his twin.

"The City Watch is not a sword to be wielded at either of your whim's. They're an extension of the crown."

"The Watch was enforcing the crown's laws."

"And that was shown heavily last night. Wouldn't you agree, Lord Strong?" Aemon asked, turning to the council man who sat beside him.

"My Prince, I don't think–"

"Making a public spectacle of wanton brutality is hardly in line with our laws."

"Sure, but you cannot say violence is never the answer. Those people will never learn anything new if they don't suffer the consequences of their own actions." Aemon digressed.

"Nobles from every corner of the realm are right now descending upon King's Landing for my brother's tourney. Do you want them mugged, raped, murdered? You mightn't know this unless you left the safety of the Red Keep, but much of King's Landing is seen by the smallfolk as lawless and terrifying." Daemon added, backing up his brother's decree.

"Our city should be safe for all its people."

"And if not for the people, then for us."

Mulling over his brother's statements, Viserys had no choice but to realize the truth within the spectacle.

"I agree." The King said.

"But I also hope you don't have to maim half of my city to achieve this." He continued to share.

"Time will tell." Daemon simply stated, looking towards his elder brother.

"We installed the Prince's Aemon and Daemon for the commanders to provide law and order. The criminal element should fear the City Watch." The white–haired man at the end of the table shared.

"Thank you for your support, Lord Corlys."

"If only the prince would show the same devotion to his lady wife as he does his work, Your Grace. Perhaps even the same devotion should be put into Prince Aemon finally finding a wife of his own." Otto stated rather begrudgingly.

Upon hearing Otto's statement, Zhaenyra's eyes widened.

Feeling no sort of residual anger festering, Aemon loudly laughed at Otto's pretense.

"Prince Daemon, you've not been seen in the Vale or at Runestone for quite some time."

"I think my bronze bitch is happier for my absence." Daemon stated blatantly.

At this moment, Zhaenyra did not want to write what Daemon had said on the scroll but alas, everything had to be written and documented that was ever spoken in this room.

"Lady Rhea is your wife. A good honorable lady of the Vale."

"In the Vale, men are said to fuck sheep instead of women, I can assure you the sheep are prettier."

Oh, how Zhaenyra wanted to laugh in that moment, but instead she settled for the clearing of her throat and putting a hand over her mouth to hide her growing smile.

Sitting across from her, her uncle Aemon knew exactly what she was trying to hide, because he himself had a smirk on his face.

"Dear me!" Lord Beesbury exasperated.

"You made a vow before the Seven to honor your wife in marriage."

"I think we all know Targaryen's prefer Valyrian weddings, so his surely doesn't count." Aemon stated.

"If it's this much of a fuss, I'd gladly give Lady Rhea you, Lord Hightower if you're in want of a woman to warm your bed." Daemon said, growing annoyed with the Hand's pestering.

"Your own lady wife passed recently. Did she not?" Daemon pointed out, making Otto stand up furiously.

Zhaenyra knew Daemon had simply gone too far, but with the way things had started this early morning she knew they could only get worse.

"Otto." Viserys said, trying to get the aging man to rain in his growing fury.

"Perhaps you aren't ready to move on just yet." Daemon noted.

"You know how my brothers make a sport of provoking you. Must you indulge him, especially Daemon?"

Stiffly sitting back down, Otto continued to look Daemon in the eye.

"My apologies, Your Grace."

"This council has at great expense, bettered the City Watch to both your exacting standards. Enforce my laws but understand any further performances like last night will be answered." Viserys informed and instructed.

"Understood, Your Grace." The twin Targaryen males answered, before they got up to take their leave.

While they were taking their leave, both uncles turned back to give their niece a knowing wink before exiting the room at once.

"King's Landing has been in decline since my grandmother passed. In the end, this new City Watch might be a good thing." Viserys genuinely stated, before moving on to the next subject.

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

The day was finally getting started, as Zhaenyra walked back to her room already having informed her handmaids to draw some water up for bathe.

Entering her room, she saw the gown she had asked the maids to lay out on her bed. Assessing it, she walked over to her vanity which held all her jewelry and sifted through the piece until she found the right ones that adorned her outfit.

Feeling well satisfied with her outfit, she walked over to her tube and selected her favorite scent out of the oils, rose.

Putting a few drops in, she discarded her clothes and carefully put them to the side before sinking into the tube of water.

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

Time had passed by quickly when Zhaenyra was getting ready. Already in her dress and shoes for the day, she was now gently applying some kohl to her eyes while Lylian was weaving many braids in her hair.

Hearing her door open, Zhaenyra already knew who was entering her room.

"You know, I think that one of these days you're going to be ready before me, but that day never seems to come. Too bad your dragon is the quicker one out of you." Rhaenyra playful scorned, as she smoothed out her dress to sit upon one of her sister's chairs.

"You are very funny, Rhaenyra, truly. But we both know I like the quality time in getting ready, for me there is no need to rush, time is always there."

"Of course, sister."

Pinning up the last of her hair, Lylian took a step back to make sure everything looked perfect.

And just like she wanted it was. "I've finished with your hair, Nyra. Would you like me to help you with anything else?"

"No thank you, Lyli. You've been a big help. We'll meet you at the box when I'm finished."

Nodding her head in understanding what the princess meant, so she turned to leave the room. All that Zhaenyra could see from her mirror was a retreating pale-yellow dress before her door closed.

"You don't want to miss all of the tournament, do you?"

"No Rhaenyra, I don't. I'm almost done, patience dear sister."

"We both know that's something I lack."

"Yes, it is." Zhaenyra chuckled, getting up from her seat.

Touring around she faced her sister. "How do I look?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Quite lovely actually."

"Thank you, sister, you do as well."

"Now can we go?"

"Yes." Zhaenyra answered, with a laugh.

As always, the twins linked arms with each other, and exited Zhaenyra's room heading to the royal box to watch the tourneys in celebration of their – hopefully – newborn sibling.

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

Many cheers and drums were heard far and wide throughout King's Landing, and above all the twins' heard their father, the King.

"Be welcome! I know many of you have traveled long leagues to be at these games, but I promise, you will not be disappointed. When I look at the fine knights in these lists, I see a group without equal in our histories. And this great day has been made more auspicious by the news that I am happy to share." Viserys began to announce, as he saw his daughters finally arrive.

Walking by to take their seats, Zhaenyra passed by Lady Laenara Velaryon with a wave, which she received back with a smile. The two cousins hadn't seen each other in a while, but when they did, they always made sure to greet one another and set aside some time to catch up.

"Queen Aemma has begun her labors!" Receiving the news, Rhaenyra turned to look at her sister with a smile.

"May the luck of the Seven shine upon all combatants!" And with his final speech, Viserys took his seat and let the games begin.

The first round had already come and been won.

"A mystery knight." Rhaenyra thought.

"No, a Cole, of the Stormlands." Alicent informed.

Zhaenyra hummed in acknowledgement.

"I've never heard of House Cole." Rhaenyra stated, as she watched the next knight come up to the stands.

"Princess Rhaenys Targaryen! I would humbly ask for the favor of The Queen Who Never Was." Lord Boremund Baratheon, politely asked.

Gracefully picking up her wreath, she walked over towards the balcony and set her the arrangement of flowers upon his lance.

"Good fortune to you, cousin."

"I would gladly take it if I thought I needed it." Lord Boremund proudly boasted.

It was now time for the second match to take place. While the drummers drummed, and the crowd cheered.

"Lord Stokeworth's daughter is promised to that young Tarly squire." Rhaenyra shared.

"Lord Massey's son?" Alicent recalled.

"Mmhmm." Both the twins agreed.

"They're to be married as soon as he wins his knighthood." Zhaenyra informed.

"Best get on with it." Lylian stated.

"We heard that Lady Elinor is hiding a swollen belly beneath her dress." Alicent spoke, watching the periwinkle and violet eyes of the twin Targaryen's widen.

Setting into their places, it was now time for Lord Baratheon to show just how good his fortune was, as he was now going up against the knight known as, Ser Criston Cole.

And seeing how he took a harsh blow to the chest and got knocked off his horse, everyone in the crowd could tell he needed Rhaenys' fortune more than he could ever know.

Surprised by the knights' sudden show of strength in the first two battles. Rhaenyra called for Ser Harrold.

"What do you know about this Ser Criston Cole, Ser Harrold?" She asked, while Zhaenyra waited for an answer, also intrigued.

"I'm told Ser Criston is common–born son of Lord Dondarrion's steward. And I also know that he has a cousin that is in the tourney as well, Ser Francesco Cole is his name. But other than that, and the fact that he's just unhorsed both of the Baratheon lads, I really couldn't say." Ser Harrold finished informing both the girls before he went back to his station.

The third round was coming around the corner, and the first shield Zhaenyra recognized was of House Stark.

But the man underneath the armor was slimmer than Lord Rickon's so she guessed it was one of his son's.

And to her surprise she was right, when she saw him lift his helmet.

That's when sky blue met a soft periwinkle.

LOVE SPEAKS :

heyyyy, how y'all doing... 👀 it's been a while.