Chapter Text
Rhaenyra sighed as she felt Daemon caress her swollen stomach before slightly lifting it onto his own palms. A moan left her lips at the relief that spread through her back immediately. Her husband let out a small chuckle against her ear when the babe moved and kicked again as if to show how excited it is at it's father's presence.
"Is she giving you trouble once again? Settle down little dragon. Don't be so impatient to come out just yet." He said. She has long since stoped questioning him on his sureness at the baby's gender. He has been after all correct the last two times.
"are you ready to leave, my love?" She huffed a breath of annoyance at his words.
They were leaving for King's Landing right now. All of them. Rhaenys and Baela must already be there and Jace was preparing for their departure. Their escorts already left by ship a few days ago and would arrive at the same time they did on dragon back. She felt eternally grateful for her eldest today. Jacaerys had taken to readying the younger boys for journey. Rhaenyra had stressed out so much when she had been informed of the petition of Driftmark against her son Lucerys who was absent as it is. Her sweet boy having taken off with his grandsire on one of his voyages two years ago traveling through the entirety of Essos. From Qarth to Meereen and even behind the black walls of Volantis.After all who would be more deserving to be among the remnants of Old Valyria than a dragon rider. Even though they have kept it to themselves the news of a Pearlescent beast circling so far from westeros certainly reached Otto Hightower and his lackeys. And they picked the perfect time for this farce of a trial. Despite him keeping up with his brief visits, she has not seen him in more than six moons. And now when there tour was over and they had been returning. The Seasnake was attacked by pirates that had been littering the Narrow Sea since the war in the stepstones. All because her father had refused to fund a garrison to control the movement through the Stepstones. Daemon refuses to go to war again for him. He has children to look after now and a wife to support. Much to the obvious chargin of Otto who probably expected him to fly off there to die once more. Luke had flown ahead of them to help Rhaenys prepare for their arrival and as soon as the pirates had realised that Arrax and Lucerys were not among the returning party they had ambushed the fleet for the treasures that they were returning with. Luke had flown back before any damage could be done and burnt down the enemy fleet. A feat that had earned him the moniker of the Seadragon. Daemon had not wasted a single day and promptly toasted to his stepson and flew to Driftmark and Spicetown to announce him Lucerys Velaryon. Heir to Driftmark, future Lord of Tides and Lord Seadragon. One of the patrons had dubbed him as the Pearl Prince and that one had stuck with the small folk the best.
Lord Corlys on the other hand had been injured severely. Having fallen of deck when the ship slighted and one of his men saved him. Alyn of Hull Baela had told her was his name. Vaemond had used this as an excuse and of course had organised the petition to be held as quickly as possible so as to not allow the Lord of the Tides to heal and put forth his own claim. Daemon had suggested that instead of sailing there they go on dragon back as a show of force. Jacaerys had agreed with him.
Her eldest too was not without his own achievements. He too had gone on a tour of his own on dragon back but of westeros instead as it's future King. He had started of in the Vale through their own kin and developed quite a reputation with the Vale men. Needless to say they absolutely adored him (even the Royces much to Daemon's chargin and her amusement) but such can be said about all the other kingdoms as well. He had found a dear friend and even so far as to say a brother in Cregan Stark and so many other Northern Lords. He had then flown to the Twins and gauged the mood their before arriving to the Riverlands. Lord Grover Tully despite being bed bound for years had greeted him well and his heir had arranged a grand feast. He received a warm welcome at Harrenhal as well by the new lord as Larys Strong had passed away a few years prior. The new Lord of Harrenhal was one of the Harwin's cousin that had accompanied him to Kings Landing when he became Commander of the City Watch and had seen Jace grow up in the red keep. She knew that he had been fond of her as well. Her son had been utterly delighted by the Castellan, Ser Simon Strong. Who had won her son's heart by his bubbly personality. And a there was also a witch apparently. Alys Rivers. Daemon's gaze had darkened at her name and Jace had only narrowed his eyes at him in a curious way before continuing.
She smiled slightly at memory of that day. Joffrey, Aegon and Viserys had been listening to him so intently. Soaking up every word he says. The boys had cried and shrieked themselves silly when Jace had first informed them that he will be leaving for some time. Aegon and Viserys had hugged him tightly. Tears streaming down their faces and hands digging at his doublet while they begged him not leave while Joffrey demanded that he take him too. When she had sought Daemon's eyes at the scene. He too had been gazing at them. What had stopped her dead in her tracks was the glistening moisture in his eyes that he attempted to blink away. Which made her wonder of this was just a condition of brotherhood. She certainly had no such relationship with her own half-siblings and had felt no emotion leaving them to their own devices when she came to dragonstone except for her sweet sister Helaena. When Jace had left. Her boys had clung to her desperately. Especially Aegon. Who was definitely the most sensitive of her children.
Jace too had earned himself a moniker. The Emerald Prince the Northerners had called him. For his Dragon Vermax. Whose scales had glistened just like Emeralds in the white contrast of the snow. God's he even had a bard written for him - The pride of the Realm's Delight. The people had already started saying that Jace would be one of the best Kings of westeros after the many squabbles and petitions he had solved while holding court with the Lord's he visited.
"Jacaerys the Just." People called him.
Another song "The King Who Shall Be" was written about him. Rhaenys had almost wept when she heard that one.
But the one that spread like wildfire was the one that dubbed him as Jaehaerys Come Again. She knew from Daemon's and her own spies that her children's achievements were not well received by her foes. Alicent had lost her armour when the Court had stopped perceiving green as her color but instead openly relating it to Jacaerys instead. Especially considering the her father had organised a celebration for his grandson's nameday and had demanded that all decorations be done in Vermax's color. He even commissioned a circlet for him. Made of emeralds and jade set in a most beautifully carved valyrian steel crown. All of that for someone who wasn't even present at the feast. Rhaenys and Daemon had made it though with Baela and Rhaena. And according to them when the king had presented the crown that he commissioned for her son. Alicent had nearly fainted and Otto was red in the face. The Hightower supporters had looked as if they had sucked on lemons the entire evening. Especially when Aegon got drunk and made a fool of himself while attempting to make a toast but had ended up puking all over the High Table instead and a lot of it had ended up on his wife that had been sitting beside him. She had laughed herself hoarse at Daemon's recollection of the event and written a Thank you to her father personally.
Rhaenyra was aware that the Hightowers were pushed to the edge by the betrothal announcement as they were certainly considering Baela and Rhaena for Aemond and Daeron. As if Daemon would let that happen. Even she herself was happy that her proposal for Jace and Helaena was rejected. She would rather her son have a true Valyrian as a bride and queen than a Hightower welp who's also half mad.
She had also not let Jace try the crown just yet. She wants her father to do it. And if things don't end up going badly then she might just get her wish. She was simply thinking to herself as they prepared to leave. Jace settling Viserys properly on Vermax while she and Aegon get on Syrax and Daemon saddled Joffrey on Caraxes. The boy had been reduced to tears by Syrax. He had no fear of any other dragon but the mere presence of her Golden Lady made him agitated and scared. Of all the dragons, the most docile was the one that he was afraid of and she cannot get him to tell her why.