Chapter 16: Interlude II: The Realm's Delight

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

The sun shined brightly through her windows, but it had little effect on Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen. She rested, curled up, staring at her bed. A servant walked in, bringing her some food. Rhaenyra paid it no mind. Her mother was gone. Luke was about to join her, and her father was locked in his rooms, refusing to come out. And nothing was bright. All was dark.

Live for him, and be strong in my loss, her mother had said. I can't, Mama! I need you! The crying returned, but the tears dried up the previous day. The room had gotten darker, before she ate the food that was brought. Cold Soup. Same as it was the previous day. No taste.

No taste… just like there would be no more reading, no more knitting, no more hugs, no more kisses, no more… no more Mama. But… Baelon would be around soon. He'd play with her, and she could teach him all the games she'd learned. But… without Luke… without Luke there would be no fun to the games. After several more moments, Rhaenyra heard a knock at her door. Forcing herself up, Rhaenyra walked over to it.

"Y-Yes?" she asked. After several moments, her loyal shield spoke to her.

"The Lord Hand's daughter wishes to see you, says she can help," he said. Help? Who can help me… unless she can bring mother back, I can't…

"Let her in," Rhaenyra finally forced out, walking over to her bed and throwing herself back onto the bed. The door opened, and light footsteps came in. Rhaenyra looked, and saw the young woman run over and sit next to her.

"Whaddya want, Ali?" she asked. The brunette sat next to her.

"No light, like the sun never comes up," she said, curling up next to Rhaenyra. "Am I close?" Rhaenyra looked at her. How… how can she know?

"Yes… it is…" the princess said. "How, how can you…" The Hand's daughter laughed a moment.

"My mother…" she began, the laughter stopping, "she died, when I was your age." Rhaenyra scooted closer, as Ali's face drooped. "She never got better after Gwayne was born. When she died, it felt like all was dark. Like there was nothing good left. The food was tasteless, the games weren't fun." Rhaenyra nodded. That was… that was what she felt. "I pretended I felt better, at first. I smiled, laughed, and pretended nothing was hurting, while I still cried at night. I kept it up… until the pain started to fade. It was gradual, but it no longer hurt as much, and I could laugh and forget about it again," she continued. "I… I still miss Mother, but I know she'd want me to be happy. And here in King's Landing, I will be. I'll find a husband who loves me, and…" she stopped, looking down. "And, if the Seven smile upon me, I'll have happy children, who will grow up strong."

Before the darkness could return, she reached over and hugged Rhaenyra. The Princess squirmed a bit, but consented to the hug after a few moments. "Think on my words, Princess. Father wants to meet with me now. Pray for me that it isn't plotting." The young woman stood up then, releasing Rhaenyra. "By your leave." She nodded for her to leave, and Alicent did so, walking out the door with a nod to Ser Criston.

Rhaenyra sat on her bed, staring at the wall, thinking of the words given to her. Could I… could I really lie like that? Say everything is bright again when all I see is darkness? The wall gave her no answer. Silently accepting that she had no choice, Rhaenyra called for Criston to summon her maids.

Minutes later, a bath had been drawn for her, and she was swiftly cleaned, dressed, and ready to head out. Ser Criston followed behind. I was told to be strong for Baelon… I have to see him. I have to see the boy I'll be strong for. Rhaenyra walked through the winding hallways until she reached the room that Baelon was being kept in. With a long drawn out breath, she entered the room. It was a well-kept room, with a knight of the Kingsguard standing to guard the small tub where her brother slept.

"I want to see him," Rhaenyra said, in her most confident tone. One of the Maesters, Elwyn she thought his name was, walked over to her with a smile, and gently took her hands to wash in the basin.

"Your Grace," he said. "Prince Baelon is right here." He crouched down and bade Rhaenyra come closer, before pointing to the small sleeping figure on a bed. He's so tiny! Rhaenyra thought, leaning closer, hesitantly reaching a hand into the warm box and combing the wisps of blond hair with her fingers. The child let out a small snore as he slept.

"Hi, Baelon," Rhaenyra whispered, in High Valyrian like Luke had said to. "I'm your big sister, Rhaenyra. Once you can come out, I'll hold you and talk to you, just like mama did. You'll grow up with us, me and our cousin Luke, and we'll take care of you, play games, make you happy. You'll be the happiest Prince ever, and we'll treasure you, as our brother… and our future King." I have to believe Luke will get better… he has to, he has to! When Rhaenyra looked back at the box, the baby had woken up. Elwyn laughed and looked up.

"Call the Wet Nurse, the Prince needs to be fed," he said. One of the servants bowed swiftly and ran out. Rhaenyra watched the servant leave, then looked longingly at Baelon.

"Might I hold him for a moment?" she asked. Elwyn smiled and nodded.

"You may hand him to the Wet Nurse, should you wish, Your Grace," he said. Several long moments later, the young woman arrived, and Elwyn helped pull Baelon from his box. Rhaenyra cradled him for a few moments, his face squished up. Rhaenyra dropped a kiss to his brow and handed him to the Wet Nurse, who took him with a smile of her own.

"His suckles are strong," she whispered to Elwyn. "What you do here, keep doin' it." Elwyn gave a smile and nod in return. When Baelon was fully done, Elwyn placed him back on the small bed as he drifted off again. After a few more minutes of watching the baby, Rhaenyra gave a smile to Maester Elwyn and told him to take care of her brother.

She departed with Criston Cole a few moments later. They walked out of Maegor's Holdfast and around the outer wall surrounding the dry moat, to the back entrance of the godswood. Luke always said it was the faster route. Passing through, Rhaenyra stopped to brush some dirt off and pull some vines by the weirwood sapling that Luke loved so much.

Ser Criston said nothing as he followed Rhaenyra out of the Godswood and to the Sept. Rhaenyra did the ceremonial entrance, dipping her fingers into the holy water and making the Seven-Pointed Star on her chest, before finally stepping forward into the Sept proper. The Septon wasn't there, probably off drinking in the city. Rhaenyra started at the statue of the Mother, kneeling before it and bowing her head, as Criston handed her a candle to light the one at the Mother's feet.

Oh Mother Above, let Baelon keep getting stronger, and help Lucerys recover faster.

She moved to the Maiden next. The prayer began after she lit the candle.

Innocent Maid, guide me as a new sister, to be kind to my brother and give him all the love he needs and can't get from our mother now.

The Father's candles were all but gone, but Criston managed to find a fresh one for her to light.

Father Above, be just in your judgement of my family, and allow my mother to see her brothers and father again in your halls.

Rhaenyra looked at the other statues in the hall. She walked over to the Smith, and gave a short prayer of thanks for the creations that helped Baelon, walked past the Warrior with a small wish for Baelon and Luke to be protected, and gave a secondary plea to the Crone for guidance. That left only the Stranger. Rhaenyra took a candle and placed it in a metal holder at the base of the Stranger's statue.

Stranger, please guide my mother to the Father's halls, see her swift passage, and let her see my eldest brother, my uncles, and my grandfather again.

As her prayers concluded, Rhaenyra stood up again, gave each of the statues a small bow, before turning and walking out of the church, once again making a Heptagram over her chest with the Holy Water. Seeing nothing else she could do, she began her trip back to Maegor's Holdfast, this time taking the longer route. The sun was lower in the sky as they crossed the drawbridge again. As they entered, Rhaenyra made the choice to visit Baelon one more time, as he might well have woken up. Maybe Maester Elwyn will let me hold him longer!

As she approached the corridor, Rhaenyra heard yelling from up the hall. She gasped and took off running, grabbing the hem of her dress to avoid tripping. When she arrived in the corridor, there was a crowd outside of the room where Baelon rested. At the head of the crowd, Healer Taenis stood, arms crossed, as Maester Elwyn read from parchment in his hands. Maester Elwyn looked up, furious.

"What foul magics have you cursed upon our King, to have him order such dark things?" he demanded. Taenis shook his head.

"You 'Maesters' need to learn to accept when your knowledge has failed," he said. Without warning, the two White Cloaks rushed forward, pulling the Maester out of the way. Rhaenyra screamed and pointed at the door.

"Ser Criston, help the Maester!" she yelled. Rhaenyra turned to her sworn knight… but he stood still, staring blankly, unmoving. "Ser Criston!" she called again. But her white knight still stood there. Rhaenyra shook her head and, hearing the wails of her little brother, tried to rush to the door, and only then did Ser Criston move, grabbing Rhaenyra and holding her tight.

"Let me go, let me go!" she demanded. "I command you to let me go!" She tried to push away as the door to Baelon's room shut, screaming again. "Let me go! They're killing him! Let me go!" Rhaenyra's pleas fell on deaf ears, as her voice grew hoarse and fell, as the light seemed to fade from the world.

What did I do wrong? The Princess wondered, as the world grew grey again. Did I displease the gods? Did I bring down a curse that made them kill Baelon? Her screams echoed around her, even after they'd stopped. The hallway became silent then, as the truth was forced upon the young Princess: her brother was dead, and nothing could be done to save him. Anyone who could was either killing him, being prevented from doing so, or craven knights unable to stand up and save the Prince of Dragonstone. It's not my fault, Rhaenyra realized. It's theirs. All of them. The world around her was almost clear in the grey. Luke nearly gave his life to save him, Elwyn did his best despite the danger, Ser Harwin obeyed his charge even at risk of treason. Rhaenyra let the tears fall, even as she stopped struggling. All of them, all of them will pay for this!

She couldn't make them pay alone. No one could do anything alone. Maegor the Cruel had proved that. Allies, friends, and a smile are the keys to ruling, she'd been told. There was only one person who could help her, if the gods hadn't taken him yet.

"Release me, Cole. I don't wish to watch this any longer," she said, no tone to her voice at all. Slowly, the arms came off of her. Rhaenyra took one last look at the door, and turned around, walking away. Criston Cole did not follow. She knew where the room was, and no one dared intercept her. Only one man stood outside the door.

"Princess," Ser Harwin Strong said, in a tired voice. "Are… are you here to see him?" She nodded.

"Baelon's dead," she said, surprising even herself. "I can't lose him, too." Harwin looked down at her, then nodded, opening the door. Rhaenyra stepped in, as the door was closed behind her gently. It was a normal bedroom, but a bucket of cold water rested next to the bed, and Luke rested on it. He looked almost peaceful, were it not for the sweat pouring down his face, and the weak breathing. She walked over to him, pulling a stood to sit at his bedside.

"I failed," she said. "He's dead, and I couldn't stop it. You nearly died, and I couldn't save him!" She leaned over him and sobbed. "Please, I lost mama, I lost Baelon, I can't lose you, too!" She took a breath. "The ones that killed him, I can't avenge him without you, you're the smart one, you have ideas, you have friends, you have Uncle! Please, please don't die, I need you. I need you," she closed her eyes, unable to look at his shaking face anymore, "I love you." Her tears dripped down onto his face.

With a hiss, her tears suddenly began to steam away, as did the water in the cloth. And a coughing sound came from the bed. Rhaenyra looked down. The boy was still asleep, but… but he didn't seem so… so dead.

"Ser Harwin!" Rhaenyra called. "Get the Grand Maester!" The door cracked and Harwin looked in, as she dipped another cloth into the water that chilled her hands to the bone, and placed it on his face. It also steamed, but not as loudly. Harwin looked at Rhaenyra, and she nodded to him. He closed the door and loud footsteps clanged up the hallway outside.

Looking at the bucket, Rhaenyra dipped two fingers into it for a moment. It's no Holy Water, but it can work, I guess. She made a heptagram over her chest, and put her hands together.

"Thank you," she said out loud. "For saving Luke." And, for the first time since Queen Aemma's passing, Rhaenyra truly felt like the Seven had heard her.

Notes:

And the deuteragonist has spread her wings. See you all next arc!