Alysanne

Alysanne did not know how long she had been asleep for; the days and night now seemed to merge into one, first it would be midday and she was being forced to take her meals by the servants or being washed, bearing the pain as they went over the areas of her body that pained her.

Then she would awake to find it was night, the air cold as the servants shut the windows, emptied her chamber pot and tucked her in bed.

Sleep seemed to be a sanctuary for her; there she got to see her children, they were well, alive and most importantly, they were with her once more.

She could see Aemon with Jocelyn as they doted over little Rhaenys.

She could see Alyssa playing with a wooden sword with her boys as Baelon cheered them on.

She could see Maegelle was dressed in her septa clothes, taking to her prayers.

She could see Daella with Aemma in her arms.

She could see Viserra fretting over her looks a cohort of young ladies and lords tried to via for her favour.

She could see Sera and her boys coming to see her, their boat not so far away now from Dragonstone. The grandsons she had yet to see, there must still be enough time to spend with them…

She could see Gael sitting on the shores of the beach, holding a babe in her hands as she splashed her feet against the water coming to shore.

How she wanted to tell her to move away from the shoreline. To come back to her.

And each time she awoke from those dreams, she had wanted to weep for it was only just a dream to her. Nothing more.

This slumber had been no different; she had dreamt of simpler times, when she was young, as was Jaehaerys. Back on Dragonstone, before the dealings of the crown had taken over their lives and before age had consumed them.

She felt a gentle hand squeeze her shoulder, interrupting her sleep. She slowly opened her eyes to the sight of Ser Clement standing over her. "Your Grace, I am sorry to wake you." He said politely "But you have a visitor, it is Prince Daemon and his lady-wife."

Alysanne hummed in response "Help me up." She said, two servants quickly moved her up, placing pillows behind her so she may sit up straight, the ache in her back easing slightly as she sank into them. "Bring him through." She said, her voice was heavy with exhaustion. Clement nodded his head and disappeared through the door as she rubbed her eyes.

"Grandmother?" Daemon said, peering his head through her door in almost a nervous fashion, as if he was a boy avoiding punishment, he stepped into her room tepidly. 

Alyssa's dear boy… my grandson…

"Daemon…" she said softly.

"I sorry this is a sudden visit." He said, standing by the door. "I know you must have been resting."

"Don't be foolish, your father Baelon comes to visit me whenever he pleases and that includes when I am sleep, he does not apologise for it." She reassured him before patting her hand on a space next to her. "Come, sit down." Daemon approached her and sat on the bed "You know I shall always cherish each visit from you, Viserys and Rhaenys."

Daemon took her hand gently, his thumb stroking the back of her hand. "Have you been getting my letters from Runestone?"

Alysanne sighed "Truly Daemon I am sorry, this illness of mine… I feel myself getting weaker and weaker, the servants try to read me the ravens but yet sleep occupies my thoughts."

"Is it the pain?" Daemon asked.

"Yes, I have been taking milk of the poppy to ease me into sleep." Daemon nodded his head.

"I see." He replied "It matters not then, I guess it will be better this way." He said with a tender smile.

Alysanne perked up slightly, glimpsing the mischief on his face before smiling herself "Tell me, how are things with you and your lady-wife."

Daemon smiled "Beyond words." He said "We are both more than happy and I love her with all my heart." Alysanne smiled at his words. "You have outdone yourself in arranging our match." He laughed.

Alysanne laughed too, even if it made her ribs ache. "Well I am glad to hear it." She replied "Is she here? I would much like to meet her."

Daemon gave Alysanne's hand a soft squeeze. "She is, and there's someone else I would like you to meet." He turned his head to the door, nodding the Clement who disappeared into the hallway again, a few moments later he reappears. 

"The Lady Rhea, your Grace." he said, bowing his head as Rhea stepped into the room.

Alysanne's breath was caught in her throat when she noticed the small bundle in her arms.

"Your Grace." Rhea said, bowing her head as much as she could while holding it close to her.

"Hopefully he is still asleep." Daemon jested. "He can be a rowdy one when awake; Grandmother, I would like to introduce you to our son." Daemon said, taking the babe from his wife and sitting back down onto the bed, her heart melting when she looked upon his face. "His name is Baelor."

"Baelor…." She muttered weakly, she looked up at Daemon with pleading eyes "May- may I?"

"Of course." Daemon said, gently handing the babe to her, into her arms.

Baelor squirmed gently as he rested in her arms, Alysanne had held many a babe yet feared if she had the strength to hold him. She watched him sleep, noting all the features of his face and hair as both Daemon and Rhea watched her. Rhea standing behind her husband, a hand resting on his shoulder.

Alysanne smiled, giggling "It looks like he takes after you more, Rhea." She said, trancing her finger against a lock of his honey brown hair.

"He has my nose." Daemon said he faux outrage, causing the two laugh "He also has my eyes too, you will see when he wakes up."

"I would like to." Alysanne said, she didn't know what had come over her, yet she could feel tears running down her cheeks as a overwhelming feeling of loss and happiness swept over her. 

Oh Baelor… I had not known you had existed and yet I love you more than life itself…

Alysanne tried her best to make sure the tears did not fall on her great grandson, yet she could not stop herself from sobbing. She held Baelor in one arm while wiping away the tears from her cheek with her free hand. "Forgive me." She mumbled to them "I do not know what has come over me."

Through puffy red eyes she looked up to Daemon and Rhea, watching as they too wiped away tears of their own faces. "Do not apologise." Daemon said to her, placing a firm hand on his leg "We are just happy Baelor got to meet his great grandmother." He placed his hand back onto Rhea's, rubbing it with his thumb affectionately, while Rhea nodded her head in agreement.

"And I am glad I was able to see him too." She said with a smile. The noise must have disturbed him, Baelor slowly began to open his eyes to them, squirming slightly. Alysanne smiled as she looked into his eyes, she saw the violet of Daemon, of Baelon and of Jaehaerys in them. "He really does have your eyes, Daemon." She laughed lightly through more tears.

"See, why would I lie about such a thing?" Daemon jested.

"You have lied about many a great things before." Alysanne said, getting a giggle from Rhea. "He's perfect, perfect beyond words."

"We know, we're both very proud of him." Rhea said, rubbing Daemon shoulders as she spoke. 

"As you should be." Alysanne agreed. 

There was a knock on the door "Your Grace, Prince Daemon, Lady Rhea." Clement said, stepping inside the room "Prince Baelon has arrived."

"Ah, let him through please." Alysanne said, she turned to Daemon as Rhea turned to face the door. "Has he met Baelor yet?"

Daemon sheepishly looked at Alysanne and shook his head "No, this will also be his first time."

"Oh Daemon, that is bad." Alysanne said in jest.

Baelon stepped into the room, his eyes turning to them instantly "Mother…" he said walking to them "My Boy!" he said to Daemon, Daemon stood up from the bed, walked to him and was caught in a tight embrace by his father.

"It is good to see you too, father." Daemon said weakly through the crushing embrace with a smile.

Baelon pulled away and turned to Rhea "Ah Rhea, forgive me as this is the first time we should meet since the wedding."

"There is nothing to forgive, my Prince-" Quickly Rhea was pulled into a tight embrace by Baelon herself.

"Please Rhea, you are the wife of my son and the mother of my grandson." Baelon said, pulling away from the embrace "You can address with as Baelon."

"I thank you- Baelon." Rhea said "Good-father."

"Now where is he?" Baelon asked, before looking to Baelor still in Alysanne's arms. The look on Baelon's face when he saw him melted Alysanne's heart as he walked closer to them "My… what a precious thing you are." He said with a wide grin on his face, he looked to Alysanne "May I?"

"Of course, Baelon." Alysanne said, though it still disappointed her slightly not to hold onto him for just a bit longer, the look on his face; the amazement and wonder she saw on her son's face more than made up for it. "Be careful." She told him.

Baelon took Baelor in his arms "Please mother, I had held both Daemon and Viserys as babes and held Rhaenyra." He replied "I know what I am doing." He got a closer look at his grandson "He had your eyes and nose, Daemon." He smiled.

"Thankfully someone has noticed." Daemon laughed.

"But he does take after his mother, you must be overjoyed, Rhea." Baelon said with a haughty grin.

"I am pleased." Rhea replied, smiling back. 

Baelon laughed "He's going to be a handsome lad when he grows up, ladies and maids in court will be chasing him soon enough! He will break many a heart."

"Hopefully not too soon." Rhea said "Both Daemon and I have no desire in being grandparents just yet." That had gotten a laugh from all in the room.

"You will be great, Baelor." Baelon told his grandson, as he rocked him in his arms. "I just know it; a great Prince, a great lord of Runestone and maybe even Hand to Viserys' son."

"He shall be a great lord of Runestone, I am confident of such." Rhea said.

Alysanne noticed Daemon place a hand over his heart and shut his eyes, as if trying fight through some kind of pain "Daemon, are you well?" she asked.

"I am well, grandmother, worry not; this happens now and then since the accident." Daemon assured her.

"You should speak to the maester, maybe he can help you." Alysanne said.

"I have spoken with many maesters and they all tell me how there's nothing to be done and that my life is not in danger." Daemon told her.

"They're bloody useless." She commented, irritated at her grandson predicament, Daemon smiled and rubbed her leg. "When will Viserys, Aemma and Rhaenyra arrive?"

"They should be here on the morrow, they had left the capital last night." Baelon said.

"And Rhaenys and her children?"

Baelon frowned "I had not received word back from them or Corlys." Alysanne sighed. 

"It can't be helped I suppose, if they are to arrive on the morrow then I hope you can all stay for breakfast tomorrow." She asked of them.

"It would be a pleasure to." Daemon said to her.

That night, Alysanne could hardly sleep; for so long she sought refuge in her dreams, seeking out the ghosts of those she lost, now she wished more than anything to be there for those she had left.

When the maids and servants came to wash and dress her, she bared the aches and pains that had come with their gentle touches. Through gritted teeth she held back her tears and kept her composure, trying to remind everyone that she was the 'Good' Queen still who had ridden on Silverwing, not the feeble old woman who left the capital for peace. 

Maegor could not take me…

You shall not have me just yet.

She defiantly raged against her illness, adjusting her dress and taking her cane in hand, while Clement helped her walk down the hallways of her childhood home into the private dining room where her family awaited her.

It had pained her that she could not take the meal in the painted table but she had long lost the strength to climb the Drum Stone steps.

When she arrived she saw her grandchildren Viserys and Aemma speaking to Daemon and Rhea, doting on the new addition to their family and trying to introduce Rhaenyra to her new cousin while Baelon had his arms around his sons.

"Grandmother!" Viserys called out, as both he and Aemma walked to her. She placed a kiss on both of them before doing so with Rhaenyra, the little girl squirming under her gentle touch.

"My loves, how are you?" she asked them. "How was the journey here?"

"We are well, grandmother." Aemma said "The journey was well too."

"That is good, that is good." She said, touching Aemma's cheek.

"How are you grandmother, are you feeling well?" Viserys asked, she nodded her head.

"Look at this, a room full of future kings!" Baelon jested. 

Alysanne stayed silent, looking at them and then glancing over to the others. "Come, there is much I must say to you all." Her family all gathered around the table, with her son at one end of the table and her grandchildren on the sides while her great grandchildren were taken care of by the maids. "It brings me great joy to see you here, I wish that Rhaenys and her children were here but still I am grateful." She took in a deep breath "I fear I do not have long left in this world." She could see Baelon was going to speak but she quickly raised her hand "Please, I do not need reassurance, an old woman knows when her time is coming… I am just grateful that I get to spend it with you all, I thank you all immensely for being here with me."

Baelon stood up from his seat "I believe I speak for everyone here in that there is no place we would rather be." He said before raising his cup "A toast, to one of the greatest Queens Westeros will ever see." Those around her raised their cups to her.

She sat down at the table, a servant cutting her food for her as the rest of her family ate theirs. For a moment she could shut her eyes and imagine them all around her; her sons were young exchanging talk and boasts, her daughters were as beautiful as ever and Jaehaerys sat beside her. Both of them young and still so in love.

As she opened them she saw here grandsons conversing "I would be honoured to squire little Baelor when he comes of age." Viserys said, cutting into his meal. 

"I thank you, my Prince." Rhea replied. "Prince Daemon and I will consider the offer in time."

"It would be a great opportunity, Gods be good, Aemma and I will have a son by then and the two could be as close as brothers!" Viserys said, placing an arm around Aemma. 

"Viserys, please." Aemma chastised "The poor boy has just been born as you're already trying to take him away from his mother and father." 

"It is merely a suggestion, my dear." Viserys defended himself.

"And if someone was already arranging taking Rhaenyra into fostering so soon, how would you feel?" she asked pointedly. 

Viserys looked sheepishly at his food "You have a point."

"It is the duty of us wives to temper our husband's behaviours." Alysanne jibed "Remind themselves to not get lost in their own machinations." 

"Oh I understand the feeling." Rhea spoke "Daemon will lock himself away in his solar for hours and then come out with some crazed idea to get our poor blacksmith and carpenters to try."

"You said you liked my ideas." Daemon said, his tone a mocking hurt "And besides, it is I who is the consort, it is you shall inherit Runestone, it is you who I temper."

"Your mother would been the one I tempered too, Gods be good she would have been a fierce Queen." Baelon remarked lovely, likely the memory of Alyssa still on his mind. "I would say Alyssa would have pushed endlessly for you two and Baelor to join with us in King's Landing until you inherited Runestone, Rhea." 

Alysanne thought of her daughter.

Baelon is right, she would have pushed for them to stay and if not would have gone to see him every so often on Meleys. She may have even fought Jaehaerys on giving him a dragon egg, the consequences be damned.

It should be Alyssa who had seen him…

"Likely my father will have liked to have one of his bannermen or allies squire Baelor to help build alliances in the Vale." Rhea said "Though he is not one to pass up opportunities when they arise."

"Hopefully he will see more of his family, though doubtless both Rhea and I will be heartbroken to be separated from him." Daemon said.

"Who would not?" Alysanne said "When Maegelle left for Oldtown I had slept in her old room for almost a moon's turn."

"I could not imagine being away from Rhaenyra for too long." Aemma said "Perhaps when she can ride her dragon, she will come a visit us whenever she can."

"I doubt Rhaenyra will be too far away from us, my dear." Viserys said, washing his food down with a cup of wine. 

When the food was finished and the table cleared, Baelon suggested that they all spend time on the sands of Dragonstone with the sun out. As the others went off, Alysanne called to Daemon to stay behind, leaving the two in the room.

"Come, Daemon, sit down for a moment." She asked.

"Grandmother…" Daemon said.

"I know you had already apologised to me about what had happened and said you would do your duty to her and your family." She said "For that Daemon I am proud of you, I know that trying to reconcile after one's mistakes can be difficult."

"I thank you, grandmother."

"I only wanted to ask one thing, my grandson." Alysanne said "Are you happy?" Daemon was about to speak when Alysanne stopped him "Before you left for Runestone, I saw… sadness in your eyes, it was as if you did not want to go, as if you were trying to call out to someone to help you." She saw Daemon flinch slightly "Yet you still did it, you went back to Runestone and kept to your promise, no doubt your grandfather had tried to keep your hand's tied behind you back but I have to know… are you happy with what you have now?"

Alysanne saw Daemon clutch his chest and he breathed in deeply, fighting back a sudden bout of pain. She tried to reach out to him, scared for a moment that perhaps he was in danger when he raised his hand to her "No, please… I am fine." He spoke in an almost weak tone. His breathing calmed and he raised his head.

And sighed.

"I will not lie, grandmother." He said "There was a part of me once that had been scared, that resisted going back to Runestone; it was a side of myself that I had to overcome day by day as I worked to make amends with Rhea." Daemon took her hands "But it was something which I was able to conquer and for that I was grateful…. I would not have Baelor if I did not and now I love Rhea with all my heart."

Alysanne smiled "I am glad to hear that." She said "That's all I wanted to know, if you were happy, it eases this old woman's heart to know as such, I thank you."

"I should be thanking you." Daemon said "You were the one who gave me this life." This made Alysanne smile while his face became solemn "Grandmother… I- there's something I want to say-"

"What is it, Daemon?"

Her grandson was silent for a moment, she knew he was trying to contemplate his words, his mouth opening and closing as if to speak before holding back. "Gael, if… I had only gotten there sooner, I cannot help but think that I could have done something."

Alysanne touched his face "No, do not think in such a way." She told him "You could not have known, none of us did," Daemon looked to the ground like a lost child "But to know she is in your thoughts warms my heart, Daemon."

"She is always in my thoughts and in my prayers." Daemon said. "I promise you, grandmother, if I am lucky enough to have a daughter of my own, I will name her after my lovely aunt."

Alysanne smiled, pulling Daemon into an embrace as a tear welled up in her eye "That would be very kind of you."

At least in some way… you will live on, my sweet winter child.