Chapter Text
Violeta had been stuck in Westeros for some time now when it happened. She still didn't know how, but one day she had been coming back from class in Miami traffic and getting ready for her vacation to the UK, then suddenly the flight she was on crashed into the middle of the ocean and she wound up on Dragonstone's shore. They wouldn't have let her stay, and she was certain Daemon would have preferred to take her head, if she hadn't claimed Silverwing by accident. Though she was sure he took it badly, as it was apparently his grandmother's dragon who hadn't taken to anyone in some time.
"She looks Dornish," he claimed that day. "How do we know she isn't some spy of theirs who happens to also be a bastard? That would explain why she can even claim a dragon."
Eventually, the matter was taken to the Red Keep for King Viserys to decide, which led to her being allowed to speak with him. Because she had taken an Ambien for the flight, she was also high and genuinely thought this was all a dream. So, she was extremely impertinent in how she spoke to him, but when she mentioned 'dreams,' the sap of a king was suddenly all ears and smiles for her.
"Nope, not Dornish, I'm just from Miami." She shrugged. "God, y'all are really committed to the bit."
"What?" Daemon sneered.
Viserys lay in bed, delighted by her presence. "Daemon, does her accent seem Dornish? We haven't been on close enough terms with Dorne for that to be possible since Maegor killed Myranda Martell."
"Aww, that's awful, why would he kill her?" she asked, very upset by the news concerning people she didn't know. She felt her eyes tear up and raised them to slam on the bed she had plopped onto, where the king now lay.
"My word, girl. This happened nearly a century ago, there is no need to be so upset now..." Viserys explained
"Yeah, but I bet she had, like, hopes and goals, and she was probably cute and a really good friend," she cried
"She's mad," Daemon said, somehow calmer. "She's no threat, she's just some mad whore."
"Your mom, you albino-ass bitch!" she snapped before going back to crying.
Daemon drew his dagger when Viserys said, "Daemon, I said to put it away."
That asshole huffed and started pacing.
"Hey, so these don't look like prosthetics." she said, looking at the king's skin. "Don't you take medicated baths for this or something? It looked fuckin' painful. Or at least, like, Clofazimine or weed. I know you guys clearly really want to stick to the whole medieval thing, but this is a bit much."
"You know what this condition is?" Viserys questioned
"Yeah, it looked like leprosy," she explained. "or at least some kind of chronic infection, but I think I nailed it the first time." She looked at his arm closer. "Yeah, that's for sure the big Lep, it smells like it."
"Insolent cunt—"
"Quiet, Daemon!" Viserys said with more energy now. "That word you used."
"Clofazimine?"
"Yes, that's what cures this in your homeland?" he asked desperately
"You cannot seriously be considering the claims of some mad girl who washed up on our shores!" Daemon yelled.
"Yeah, that's mostly what I've seen used." She nodded lightly, still struggling to keep her eyes open. "I mean, in school we saw that as an application, but also Rid-Red-fuck. RI-FAM-PICIN, Jesus, I'm really out of it...and Dapsone. But mostly those were in controlled studies, I haven't gotten to residency yet." She shrugged
"These aren't words!" Daemon insisted
"How does one make such things?" Viserys asks
"In a lab, you ferment bacteria you find in soil. Ooh, I know some people say you can inject chaulmoogra oil, I think that's pretty cool but those trees are a bitch and a half to find where I'm from."
"You are getting your hopes up on the word of a drunken lunatic spouting nonsense." Daemon sneered again
"Well perhaps when you experience pain like I do, you'll understand why I'm willing to do so, brother." Viserys said sternly
"Yeah dude, I can't imagine having to live with this shit completely untreated. No joke, I'd kill myself." She admitted
"Thank you." Viserys had said, taking her statement as a compliment to his strength. "Where might one find such a tree?"
"Mm, well it's native to India I think, so it would have to be really hot and humid. Like at least sub-tropical conditions." She looks around the room at everything "God you guys really have a high staging budget, this is so much better than the renaissance fairs I've been too. LARPers really got it like that."
"What are you on about?" Daemon looked around, irritated.
Violeta looked up at him and cracked up saying "Ma-a-an, don't even listen to me, honestly. I popped an ambien on the plane and I know it's not wearing off any time soon. I mean it took forever to kick in, so.."
"And these other cures," Viserys probed again "would you happen to have these?"
"Oh no," she responded confused "I don't have leprosy."
"Hmm," Viserys paused "Would you be able to manufacture them, at least the oil you mentioned?"
"Oh, I dunno." She shrugs "I'd need the tree, then I'd need to pluck all the fruits from it to get the seeds, and they'd need to be de-husked by someone way stronger than me, then they'd need to be crushed in an expeller, then I'd need to make the oil injectable and that's even more involved."
She yawned, exhausted from the pop quiz she thought she'd be on vacation for by then.
"You need rest, girl." Viserys said "What is your name?"
"Violeta Canek," she smiled, almost asleep by the "I'm a Libra."
She unintentionally laid her head on the sheets before bolting back upright "Jesus, when did they last change these sheets? Sleeping in dirty sheets also can't be good for your skin, dude."
"I'll have them changed first thing in the morning." He agreed lightly
Daemon was still glaring at them both from his side, seething with an anger he couldn't expel on who he deemed the culprit of it.
"Oooh!" She yelled, remembering her bag "So this isn't for leprosy but it does just feel good when you need to sleep. Just don't take it with any wine or beer or milk, just plain water."
She opened her bag and took out one of her Ambien "It's what I'm on now."
The little plastic, yellow bottle with the child lock lid on it gave her some struggle but fortunately she was eventually able to open it.
"Have you had any alcohol today?" She asked
"The usual wine." He answered plainly
"Hm," she'd paused, then shrugged "Yeah I would too if I were you."
Then used her teeth to split the pill in half, trying her best not to crumble it, then almost spit it into her palm "Just have half then."
She hands him the half of a pill and leaves the other half on the table next to his bed.
"Do you have any water?" She asked
"Daemon?" Viserys asked, gesturing to the jug with a glass next to him.
Daemon stands completely still, insulted at being asked to fetch his brother water like some kind of waitstaff, but relents and gives his brother the water.
"Okay, put the pill on your tongue then just swallow it with the sip." She instructed.
"Wait-" Daemon cried, but it was too late.
Viserys did as he was told, knowing full well it could be poison, but in too much pain to care.
"That could be poison!" Daemon yelled again, angry at Violeta, but also at his brother now.
"Why would I do that?" Violeta asked confused.
"Why do vermin do anything?" Daemon snarled down at her "If my brother dies tonight, a beheading will soon seem like a mercy to you!"
"Okay." She responded in a distorted, mocking tone "He's not gonna die, he's just gonna sleep without wanting to die, probably for like, the first time in a million years."
"Stop, Daemon." Viserys said "I want her placed in the bedchamber next to mine own, with guards posted at her door, I'll not have you acting rashly and risking the only hope I've felt in years."
The next morning, she woke up in a rough, lumpy bed with very nice sheets, feeling as if she had been dropped right into a fairy tale she wanted no part of. But the King also awoke, feeling more rested than he had in twenty years. Her head would remain safely on her neck, and her position was now that of an honored guest and dear friend to the King.
This was about two or three weeks ago, and her adjustment has been unpleasant for her, to say the least. Basic things like coffee withdrawal are making her want to punch her head through a wall. Still, she is trying to handle it with grace. Her behavior does not remain like it was that first night once the pill wears off, but first impressions matter. Queen Alicent still eyes her with suspicion any time they are both in the same room; the only thing she and Daemon have in common is disdain for her. Princess Rhaenyra seems to like her well enough, as she provides her father with some relief. Otto Hightower shares his daughter's opinion. There are some people, however, who take quite a shine to her. Rhaenyra's children seem completely fascinated by her, as do Daemon's twin daughters, much to his chagrin. But the ones who show the most interest are Prince Aegon and Prince Aemond.
Now, after landing on Dragonstone again and climbing off Silverwing's back—after confirming the maesters of the Red Keep do not, in fact, have the tree in their reserves and coming to check in case, by some miracle, the ones on Dragonstone do—she sees something that fills her with glee, dread, and relief all at once.
There she is, all five-foot-two of her, lapping at the shore. At least her sister is conscious; Violeta had to be resuscitated. Ambien and swimming through strong currents do not mix; it is a miracle she is not dead. Violeta stands frozen, almost thinking this has to be something she is imagining. After all, she might have died after all, and this could all be some weird form of purgatory. But that is her sister; she can tell that much even from a distance.
"Ani!" She screams, running in her ridiculous dress and improper shoes through the sand and to her sister.
Ana, in a coughing fit, spitting up sea water, looks up, also shocked.
"Vi!" She gasps, throating stinging from the salt scraping down.
Aegon and Aemond who'd insisted on 'escorting her' to Dragonstone on their own mounts, watch on in confusion.
Their bodies slam together in what they'd each deem a hug, but Ana is struggling to breathe, making Violeta all the more nervous.
"Oh my god." Is all she can say as she helps her sister out of the water that's trying to slam them both down with its force.
Guards come around them as Aegon and Aemond also approach them, for some reason, Aemond keeps his hand on his hilt, like there might be something he needs to cut down.
"Are you guys really just gonna fuckin' stand there?!" Violeta screams at the men watching them, "Fuck it."
Like everything else, she'll do it herself. They get to the dry sand Ana throws up sea water and whatever she might've eaten last. She'll be dehydrated, at the very least.
"Who is this?" Aemond demands of her
"She's my sister." She snaps
"There's more of you?" Aegon asks excitedly
"Aegon could you give me your wine, please?" Violeta asks
He hands it to her, happily running up to the two, and she gives it to Ana.
"It's wine, but it's better than saltwater and fish pee." She says.
Ana almost blindly takes the flagon from her sister and puts it to her mouth, using the wine to rinse it out.
"Well don't waste good wine," Aegon complains
"I'm sure you'll get more inside, my prince." Violeta rolls her eyes
"Christ, this shit's sour." Ana says, her face contorted.
She looked up at her sister, whose shoulder she was hanging off of and says "We thought you were dead."
"We might be." Vi confirms quietly
"Ay no chingües," Ana coughs again "you've been siting here playing princess for the last month while the rest of us thought you died in that fucking plane crash, could you not call during a break-" another coughing fit-"a break from your playing pretend, you fucking bitch-" before erupting in another coughing fit. "Ma y pa y todos nosotros tuvimos que enterrar un ataúd vacío, they had to take out a loan to pay for your stupid funeral without even your body and you've just been sitting here role playing?!"
"I haven't been able to call, Ani."
"Really?" She coughs again "You haven't been able to use your phone, probably destroyed or lost in the ocean. Fine. You literally could've used anyone fuckin' else's!"
"No, I haven't. No one has phones, An. No one knows what that is here." Vi tries to explain
"What is she saying?" Aemond asks alarmed
"None of your beeswax!" Ana retorts "What the fuck are you talking about?" She asks Violeta
"Dude, I told you, this feels like it might be como un purgatorio o algo, a ti que te pasó?"
"The plane went down." Ana says, still angry at her sister. "Some British dude called Mom saying they'd recovered bodies from the plane crash so me and her were coming to see if they'd found you."
"Mom was in your plane, too?" Vi asks urgently
"No," Ana explains "we couldn't get planes for the same flight so I took the earlier one. Oh fuck, Mom thinks we're both dead now. The whole family thinks we're both dead now."
"An, Ani, listen to me," she grabs her sisters face "Pueda que eso sea el caso. Háblame en español para que estos pendejos no entiendan."
Ana looks at her sister in the eye.
"Pueda que sí estemos muertas."
Ana's eyes begin to water.
"No, no, but-" she shakes her head "No, you're here. I'm here, I can feel you-"
"Este lugar es como d'esas historias de fantasía que nos contaba Mamá Socorro, te accuerdas?"
Ana thinks for a second
"Speak the bloody common tongue!" Aemond demands
"Aemond, they're in shock, give them a moment." Aegon says, leering at them both in soaking wet clothing, clinging to their bodies. 'Ani's clothes much like what Violeta had worn when she'd first arrived.
"Esas de príncipes, y dragones, castillos." Vi tries jogging her little sister's memory.
"Los que se inventaba?" Ani asks "She also said she was actually born here."
Violeta nods, thinking she's finally getting somewhere.
"We-" Violeta catches herself "Si estamos muertas mismo, lógico que también fue de una, y violentamente. Todo esto puede ser nuestros cerebros tratando de hacer nuestros últimos momentos divertidos o interesantes o algo, algo que nos distraiga de algún dolor o pánico que sentiríamos."
"Pero, entonces porque las dos estamos en el mismo si es como un sueño?" Ani asks, making a fair point.
Violeta thinks about this, but cannot come up with a response.
"Speak the fucking common tongue or neither of you two will have tongues to speak with!" Aemond orders "Father isn't here to protect you, and you"—he looks at Ana—"are no one here. I understand enough to know your family already thinks you both are dead."
"No!" Aegon protests "I have plans for those! Don't spoil my fun just because you're too curious."
"Who the fuck are you two?" Ana asks
"An—" Violeta tries to intercept.
"I literally just survived a plane crash and swam through the ocean, I have no fucking patience for your bullshit right now!" Ana snaps "My throat feels like shit, I'm soaking wet—we both are, actually. My phone is probably ruined, and I'm nauseous and hungry at the same time. Get off my ass, Malfoy 1 and Malfoy 2!"
Aegon laughs while Aemond stands there, infuriated and confused.
"Ani," Vi interrupts "These are Princes Aegon and Aemond."
The name 'Aegon' is what catches her sister's attention.
"'Aegon'?" she asks. "Like from—"
Violeta nods, knowing she recognizes the name from the stories their grandmother told them as little girls. Her sister looks back at the two men, and then at the guards beginning to surround them as they start to shiver.
"You know of The Conqueror where you're from?" Aemond asks
"Only our grandmother knows, no one else seems to." Violeta explains
Aemond pauses at this before saying, "Let's get inside. If you stay like that much longer, you'll both fall ill."
He turns toward the castle and Aegon moves to her sister's other side. "Let me help you get there."
Aegon's uncharacteristic display of gentlemanliness is an obvious ploy to touch both sisters, but Violeta can use the help and Ana doesn't seem to mind the contact too much.
Once inside, it is warmer, but once again Violeta is within the walls of Dragonstone—sopping wet and confused. This time, however, her sister is in the same condition she previously found herself in. They give Violeta one of Rhaenyra's dresses, which fits well enough, but Ana is also given one of hers, which makes her look like a little girl playing dress-up in her mother's clothes. She is practically swimming in it. Still, she is warm and drinking water.
"So," Vi starts, "what happened? You know, when I first...left?"
"Um, we saw the crash news on TV. We hoped it wasn't your plane. We were wrong." Ani says somberly "Dad went catatonic, he still hasn't spoken. Mom is frantic. She's angry, then crying, then angry again. Luke is kind of the only one keeping it together, to be honest."
Their brother Lucas has always been the most grounded of the siblings. Violeta panics and Ana flies off the handle, but Lucas stays cool.
"Jesus, they think he's the only one they have left now." Vi says, taking the seat across from her sister.
"I'm going to write to the King," Aemond says "It's likely we'll have to stay the night given these developments."
He leaves, leaving the girls sitting alone while Aegon goes to get more wine.
"Hey, I have to piss." Ana says, drained and emotional. "Where's the bathroom?"
Violeta blanks at this. It isn't because she doesn't know the answer, but because she knows her sister is going to hate it.
"Este..." Violeta looks down at the floor.
"What?"
"So," she begins, "it's just pee, right?"
"Yeah..?" Ana says, confused "Last thing I need is to get a UTI after everything else. Come on, walk me there."
She stands and slowly walks toward the door to the hall, where she opens the door to what could be called a 'bathroom.'
"The fuck is this?" Ana asks, looking at a room with a pot on the ground.
"Girl," Violeta cringes, "this is basically medieval times. Why are you surprised?"
It dawns on her what her sister means, and the rage and horror on her face cannot be ignored.
"This is some bullshit." Ani goes into the room and pulls the little curtain closed, filling the pot with a loud stream.
"Oh my god, what have you done every time you've had to poop?!"