Chapter 15: Chapter 11

Notes:

Last chapter I have to do this arc, hallelujah!

One of these days, I'm going to back over these and re-edit all of them. But today is not that day— I live on the edge!

Chapter Text

A field of darkness spread out all around me. Every direction, a field of shadow, with only myself visible. Oh brilliant, this again. From the sky descended a white falcon, made of pure starlight, crashing down to Earth. I tried to run to it, but found myself unable to move. The falcon breathed heavily, before melting away to the starlight it came from, leaving behind a small blue and black dragon.

After a few moments, a bronze dragon appeared next to it, before sheltering the smaller dragon with it's wings. My heart rested for only a moment. The bronze dragon began to smoke, then its wings burst into flame. The flame spread all over, overtaking its legs, then body, then head, as the dragon screeched in agony. I tried to run again, but I was still frozen in place. Despite the pain it must have been in, the bronze dragon refused to move, burning brighter and longer, before turning to ash, and blowing away in the wind, as if Thanos had snapped it out of existence.

The blue and black dragon then poked its head up through the ashes, and after a quick look around took off with a flap of its wings. The dream then rewound for a moment, to when the bronze dragon had landed. Instead of sheltering the blue one, it turned and flew away, and the smaller one turned to dust.

A voice rang out in my ears, imperceptible, as the scenery faded, and I awoke. I looked around, I was still buried in the cushion, holding Rhae tightly, as she was holding me. I smiled at her, before carefully moving and standing up. I walked over to one of the small windows and stared out at the dark city. I tried not to think about the dream.

Footsteps came up behind me as I stared out over the city. I took a breath and turned. Father stood, looking down at me, clearly not coming from far away. He walked up next to me and pulled me into his side.

"Dreams again, Lucerys?" he asked. I nodded. He always knew when I'd had dragon dreams, was it something in my face or something?

"Yeah, it was…" I muttered. I looked down, closing my eyes tightly and breathing slowly. Plans had to be made now— if Baelon survived tonight, and the dream at the very least gave me hope that he would, then he would be the heir. That is, assuming Aemma didn't pop out a girl… then the problems from canon would remain. Ugh.

Even still, plans needed to be made. No matter what happened, I was likely to still be in the inner circle of the heir to the throne. Whether that be Baelon, Rhaenyra, or… ugh… Father. I refused to let House Targaryen get into the situations that led to the Baratheons taking over. That meant keeping the dragons, or doing some proper centralization… ugh, probably both. I did not want to be the one who tried to centralize a continent.

Still, had to weaken the Lords, and also make sure measures were in place that if a King went full Aerion or Aerys, a proper regency could be forced… then I would also have to have countermeasures to avoid that being used as an easy mechanism for coups or for a Westerosi Fujiwara… I was really scared of a Westerosi Fujiwara, no clue why.

If… if things went as I remembered them going, with Baelon and Aemma dead, then I didn't know what could happen. It all depended on Father, I supposed. If he could avoid pissing off Viserys, then he'd remain heir until Viserys remarried… but then his ego wouldn't let him back down. Ugh. But if he did piss off Viserys, then it would be off to the races straight towards the Dance. Unless there was a healthy boy born, then it would be Civil War.

If I wanted any control over things, or even the ability to make life better, I'd have to make sure I was a constant fixture in the kid's life. Probably be the doting big brother, while making sure to not trample on Rhae's big sister privileges. Hopefully not Targaryen ones, but… ugh, why did that thought pop into my head?

Even if Baelon lived, that still left the Velaryons and their Blues. They'd supported Rhaenyra in canon, but that was only because of her marriage to Laenor; I wasn't naïve enough to believe otherwise. Baelon would be too young for a marriage to Laena, and any marriage to a child of Laena would be many years off. Time enough for even my plans to get Corlys to like me would fizzle and for him to gather an army to take what he viewed as his – or his wife's – by right.

So, Civil War was coming one way or another. Great. And given our status as the riders of Vermithor and Silverwing, Rhaenyra and me were the ones that would probably be sent against Vhagar if that happened. My father was the most experienced Dragon Rider in the world, and he only managed to make his fight with Vhagar a draw. Maybe getting some full combat training on dragonback wouldn't be a bad idea… better to start early.

I was suddenly shaken from my thoughts. I blinked and looked up as Father stared down at me. I looked away from him and back out the window. Can I tell him? I don't… I have to. I can't hide it.

"She's going to die," I said quietly, letting a few tears drip before wiping them quickly. "I couldn't stop it, no matter what I tried. She'll still die." Father wrapped his arm around me. It wasn't exactly comforting, but I knew he was at least trying. "My new cousin might live, but the dream didn't… I'm not sure what needs to be…" Then it clicked in my head. Oh. It made sense now. The voice replayed clearly in my memory.

Before I could think about it more, the screams from the other room suddenly resumed. I hugged close to Father even after the screams subsided a bit. I felt his hand brush my head, which was strangely comforting.

"Have strength now, Lucerys. For yourself, for young Rhaenyra, and for your new cousin," he said. "You are a dragon— grief is passing, but strength is needed to pass it and remain whole." That… was not something I expected to hear from him. I looked up at him, confused. "'Tis what Father said to me… after Mother passed. He was right." I nodded, and looked back over the room. Harwin was off in the corner, next to Criston Cole, who has still not fallen down the stairs, to my infinite dismay. Rhae was asleep on the cushion, her hair falling all over around her as she curled into it. I smiled at the sight.

The screaming soon returned in earnest as Rhaenyra slowly stirred awake. I twisted out of Father's arms and walked over to her quietly, letting her stir, until the screaming finally registered. She pushed herself up.

"Not over yet, is it?" she asked. I shook my head. I wasn't great at tracking time at night, but it had been roughly two in the afternoon when the birth had started. Not long after, Viserys arrived, with Ser Harrold Westerling loyally at his side. He was clearly exhausted, as the sun had barely peeked over the horizon, but immediately ran to his daughter and embraced her.

Time seemed to move in a bubble, then. The sun went up, and the cycle of screaming returned in earnest. Viserys flinched every time another scream came. There was some noise in the other room for a few moments, but then the screaming returned, louder, and more pain-filled. Viserys had to hold Rhaenyra tight to prevent her from running to the door.

After the loud screams continued for what felt like forever, it reached a peak, then quieted. I ran over to Rhaenyra and held her hand tightly, more for my own sake than for hers. I stared at the door, nothing happening for what I thought was several minutes. Then, a maid peaked her head out, her eyes showing just how tired she was.

"She's ready… Your Grace, you and the children first," she said quietly. Viserys directed the two of us into the room.

First impression— it smelled terrible. Not exactly unexpected, but it still wasn't pleasant. It was a relatively small room, all things considered. Grand Maester Runciter and Maester Elwyn were next to the bed, alongside that Essosi prick. I approached slowly, as Elwyn rushed over and poured the hot water over my hands, and Rhaenyra's as well after a moment.

"Thank you," Elwyn whispered. "The forceps ended the birth sooner. The babe may have a chance now," he finished. I nodded, approaching Aemma slowly. She was incredibly pale, and sweat poured down her face, but she smiled at the small bundle in her arms.

In the bundle was a small, pale baby, wheezing cries out. Aemma carely reached up and rubbed the infant's face. I could see the tiniest hints of blond hair on his head, and pale purple eyes. I looked about for the incubator, but couldn't see it anywhere. Must have been left downstairs… he's too small, we have to leave him in it until he's a bit bigger. I whispered for Elwyn to move to Aemma's other side near the baby. Aemma's head moved over to me and Rhae.

"Mama…" Rhae said, rushing over and hugging Aemma's arm. She smiled back at her daughter.

"Your brother is beautiful," she said, her voice quiet and shaking. "Baelon, is his name. After your grandfather… the Spring Prince who should have been King. He'll need you… need you both." Rhaenyra started sobbing.

"Mama… mama please, don't leave!" she forced out. Viserys knelt on her other side, fighting back tears. She shook her head, brushing the tears out of Rhae's and I's faces.

"Be strong, you two. Baelon needs you both. Stand by him, teach him, watch over him, and guide him, as those who would be his siblings." She made a weak smile. "You would have made a fine King and Queen, both of you. I would have been happy to call Luke my son, or goodson. Now you'll both protect the next King," she was losing track of what she was saying, I could tell. "Live for him, and be strong in my loss…" she said, with a smile, before turning to Viserys. I hugged Rhaenyra tight as we cried.

When I had no more tears to cry, I helped Rhaenyra down to cry at her mother's side. I smiled and walked over to Maester Elwyn, poking little Baelon's nose, noticing a small trail of blood that flowed down to his mouth from where I poked. I muttered a curse and wiped it with his cloth. He let out a little giggle, then a reedy cough, turning to sobs. I held up my arms, and Maester Elwyn carefully handed him to me.

"Hi, Baelon," I whispered. A cough was my answer. I held him closer to my thin smallclothes, as he snuggled into me. I looked out into the antechamber outside. Father had left, it seemed, but Harwin stood with a smile and wave. I waved back as best as I could without putting down the baby.

I turned to Elwyn, who nodded and walked over to… wait, where was the Grand Maester? Elwyn began arguing with the Essosi prick, who I didn't remember the name of. After a few moments, I walked over as their argument got louder and Baelon squirmed in my arms.

"Oi!" I called. Both of them, as well as Viserys for a moment, turned to me, confused. "Shut up, you're making Baelon upset," I said. "Where's the Grand Maester? We can't keep Baelon here for too long," I finished. "And can someone put out the fire? It's too hot in here," I added, feeling far too warm for my liking. Prick sighed.

"Look, Your Grace, since the Chief Healer isn't here, I'm in charge; the child needs rest and likely some cupping to balance his humors. I know you think you know everything, I was once the same. You could be a great healer one day with that head, but you are still only a child. Don't endanger your cousin's life, just bring him over here. Let the men with experience do the hard work," he said, clearly trying to be nice. I frowned and turned around.

"Elwyn, where is the Grand Maester?" I asked, still fidgeting in the heat. Maybe if he was nearby, I could—

"Right here," Runciter said, stepping back into the room. "Freeman Taenis, my stepping out for but a brief moment does not give you the authority to usurp my position. And if you continue to spout your quackery, you may soon find yourself gone!" he then looked at me with a strained smile. "Elwyn's tub is downstairs, first door on the right. I'll go with you in a moment." I nodded, clutching Baelon tighter. I turned to the door and stepped toward it, rocking my cousin in my arms.

"Your Grace, I wouldn't," a voice said, then pain shot through my head. I held on to Baelon to make sure I didn't drop him, and fell to a knee, reeling with pain. Hit me… someone had to have hit me!

"Harwin!" I screamed. I looked up, black spots dancing across my blurry vision, the heat now nearly unbearable. My sworn shield stepped in quickly, mace drawn. I looked around swiftly, and then I realized— no one had hit me. It wasn't physical. In an instant, I remembered the vision, the flaming bronze dragon… and the word that echoed through my mind.

Decide.

And so I did. I forced myself to my feet and ran past Harwin, with calls yelling after me. "Hold that door!" I called, not looking back at my sworn shield. Another blast of pain nearly tripped me, but I held onto the rail with everything I had, making my way to the chamber that Elwyn had put aside for storage. I burst through the door, probably looking like hell, making the two maids inside jump.

Carefully, I placed Baelon down on the little bed in the double-walled tub and slid the box over it, as another blast of pain, far worse than the previous ones, sent me to the ground, as the world around me went dark for a moment. I called for the hot water that had been prepared from the maids. They swiftly brought it over, and I poured it into the incubator, again and again, until it was filled. I looked back and saw the securely locked door shake, but I couldn't hear. Actually, I couldn't hear anything. Was that bad? I think that was bad. I stumbled over to the door, and pulled on the lock.

It was Grand Maester Runciter and Harwin, both breathing heavily. I sighed. Runciter immediately ran over, feeling Baelon's head as the baby sobbed. Harwin seemed to be trying to say something to me, but I couldn't hear. I looked up at him.

"Harwin, I can't hear you. I'm... I'm sorry," I said. My sworn shield stopped, and crouched down in front of me. "Make..." a burst of pain made me yell out. "Make sure... Rhaenyra is happy, and protect Baelon. I charge you with this, unless and until I order otherwise." Harwin looked conflicted, but I never saw his response, as another burst of pain fired through me, and I screamed, a scream I felt up and down my entire body. My vision went black as I felt myself crash to the stone, and I knew no more.