Life is Writeable

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: A Song of Ice and Fire - George R. R. Martin, A Song of Ice and Fire & Related Fandoms, House of the Dragon (TV), Game of Thrones (TV) Rating: Mature Warnings: Rape/Non-Con Relationships: Alysanne Targaryen/Jaehaerys I Targaryen, Alaric Stark/Alysanne Targaryen, Alysanne Targaryen & Jaehaerys I Targaryen, Alysanne Targaryen & Alyssa Targaryen Characters: Alysanne Targaryen, Jaehaerys I Targaryen, Alaric Stark, Alyssa Targaryen, Gael Targaryen Additional Tags: Angst, Secret Relationship, Rape/Non-con Elements, Secret Children, Fear of Death, Cheating, Separations, The Quarrels, Incest, Family Drama, Pregnancy, Unplanned Pregnancy, Abusive Relationships, Prepare to die Jaehaerys Targaryen Summary:

“Sad,” Jaehaerys sneered. “You don’t get to tell me you feel sad. My wife is still mourning a ghost seven years on.”

“Yes,” Alysanne replied, matching his scorn as she pushed past him. She poured herself a cup of wine and took a long drink. “Actually I do. I loved him and I miss him. He’s dead and I love him more than I ever loved you.”

“Yes, you’re ever so quick to remind me of that and flaunt your wanton indiscretion in my face.”

“You make it sound as if it is an ongoing affair. I am loyal to you, once again. Shackled, if you will, for the rest of my life. And I gave you a choice, Jaehaerys. Long ago.”

70 AC- Harrenhal

“Mother, I want to come with you.” 

It was a simple request, not even a question, from Alysanne’s ten-year-old daughter Alyssa a mere two days before she was set to leave for her annual journey to White Harbor to hold her women’s court. Two years ago- to celebrate the twentieth year of Jaehaerys’s reign- she had started conducting them once a year in three different areas of the kingdom. A sennight a piece spent in Highgarden, Lannisport, and White Harbor every year ensured the voices of the women of the realm were heard. 

This year, however, had been different. With the wedding of her eldest son Aemon to her half-sister Jocelyn set to take place just before year's end, and with another child due just after the new year Alysanne knew she would need to adjust her plans. Rather than hold her women’s court at White Harbor in the year after the birth of her tenth child due to the distance she would need to traverse, the queen decided to travel to the seat of House Manderly for the second time in just six months. 

 “She asked to come?” Rhaena asked her younger sister as she handed Alysanne a glass of wine. 

Due to the distance between King’s Landing and White Harbor, Alysanne chose to break up the trip into two days of travel, sending the rest of her retinue ahead long before she and Alyssa took flight on Silverwing. Harrenhal may not quite have been the halfway point between the two locales, but she could not pass up the chance to visit her older sister. 

“She did,” Alysanne confirmed.”I think she’s feeling a bit…left out amongst the wedding preparations for Aemon and Jocelyn and now she has me all to herself for a time.” 

“And will Lord Stark be once again escorting the retinue from Winterfell as he did six months ago?” 

Ever the elder sister, Rhaena Targaryen cut straight to the heart of the matter. It was true that Alaric had made a point to escort the women from Winterfell to White Harbor. It was a matter of safety, he had explained to Lord Manderly, and since the untimely deaths of both of his sons the Warden of the North felt compelled to take on the task himself. 

Of course he could not tell his bannerman that he would not pass up the chance to see his queen. Of course he could not tell him that the letters they exchanged over the years simply did not suffice. Of course no one could know that Alaric kept the queen’s company each night during their stay at White Harbor. No one had been privy to any of this save for Alaric, Alysanne, and the Scarlet Shadow, Jonquil Darke. 

But there were some secrets that could not be kept from the likes of an observant older sister. 

“He will,” Alysanne nodded slowly. 

“And remind me again when your babe is due?” 

“Three turns of the moon…or so.” 

“Or so?” 

Thank you! I've been working on My Sister's Keeper little by little. I want to make sure it's perfect since it's the last chapter.

I honestly didn't think anyone cared about Winter's Rogue (even though I love my Gaelmon) so I haven't been too quick to update it, but I haven't given up on it.

Chapters: 2/? Fandom: A Song of Ice and Fire - George R. R. Martin, A Song of Ice and Fire & Related Fandoms Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Daemon Targaryen/Gael Targaryen, Aemma Arryn/Viserys I Targaryen, Alysanne Targaryen/Jaehaerys I Targaryen Characters: Daemon Targaryen, Gael Targaryen, Viserys I Targaryen, Aemma Arryn, Alysanne Targaryen, Jaehaerys I Targaryen, Rhea Royce Additional Tags: Secret Relationship, Young Love, Incest, Aunt/Nephew Incest, Smut, Fluff, Angst, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Romance, Family Drama Summary:

You will never find mention of the true story of Daemon and Gael Targaryen in Archmaester Gyldayn’s histories and perhaps that is by design…

The Maesters put pen to paper and wrote down the histories of House Targaryen, or rather, the Maesters wrote their history of House Targaryen. The true telling of the events that transpired in the House of the Dragon was, at times, a different matter entirely. Such was the case with Princess Gael Targaryen, the Winter Child and youngest of Good Queen Alysanne and Jaehaerys the Conciliator’s progeny, and Daemon Targaryen, the Rogue Prince. This is the true telling of their history.

Excerpt:

“Does it ever bother you?” Daemon asked one day as they reclined under the shade of a tree on the banks of a creek that was an offshoot of the Blackwater Rush. 

It was a warm summer day and sometimes they would steal away, escape the stifling heat of the city and the Red Keep and wander into the Kingswood. 

“Does what bother me?” Gael replied. 

“That Aemma was chosen for Viserys and not you.” 

“Oh.” 

She turned the idea over in her mind. Surely, it was a natural thought. She was older than Aemma and closer in age to Viserys. But she had been away on Dragonstone two years ago when her father had arranged the match which once again solidified the alliance between House Targaryen and the Vale of Arryn. 

Her mother had been furious when the news arrived via raven to Dragonstone. Aemma was still so young yet, and although it was promised that the marriage would not consummated for a few years at the time, Gael knew that it was memories of her elder sister Daella that caused their mother to lie in bed at night and attempt to stifle her tears in her pillow. 

“No,” Gael replied honestly. “It doesn’t bother me in the least bit.” 

“Why?” Daemon prodded. “Is my big brother not good enough for you?” 

He said the words seriously enough, but when Gael glanced down to where his head rested in her lap he wore a positively impish grin. 

“I have no desire to be his queen. Besides, if I had been married to him, it would be quite unseemly for us to sneak off together like this.” 

“Downright scandalous,” Daemon agreed. “Which could be fun.” 

“You would’ve liked to see me wed to Viserys?” Gael asked and his face darkened into a frown. He reached for her hand and laid it across his chest before covering it with his own. 

“No. Of course not.” 

“I didn’t think so. And I like to think the gods were saving me for you.” 

Chapters: 1/? Fandom: A Song of Ice and Fire - George R. R. Martin, A Song of Ice and Fire & Related Fandoms Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Daemon Targaryen/Gael Targaryen Characters: Daemon Targaryen, Gael Targaryen, Viserys I Targaryen, Aemma Arryn, Alysanne Targaryen, Jaehaerys I Targaryen, Rhea Royce Additional Tags: Secret Relationship, Young Love, Incest, Aunt/Nephew Incest, Smut, Fluff, Angst, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Romance, Family Drama Summary:

You will never find mention of the story of Daemon and Gael Targaryen in Archmaester Gyldayn’s histories and perhaps that is by design…

Chapters: 7/8 Fandom: A Song of Ice and Fire - George R. R. Martin, A Song of Ice and Fire & Related Fandoms Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Maegor I Targaryen/Rhaena Targaryen (Daughter of Aenys I) Characters: Rhaena Targaryen (Daughter of Aenys I), Alysanne Targaryen, Maegor I Targaryen, Aerea Targaryen, Visenya Targaryen (Sister of Aegon I) Additional Tags: Incest, Uncle/Niece Incest, Dubious Consent, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Rhaena would do just about anything to protect her little sister, Maegor didn't marry any of those other women, Rhaena still loves ladies, Smut, Oral Sex, Cunnilingus, Pregnancy, Rhaena is smarter than Maegor, Angst Summary:

Maegor only took two wives...To keep the bloodline pure- and the fragile dynasty from crumbling- he married his nieces Rhaena and Alysanne, but Rhaena will stop at nothing to keep her sister safe- even if it means sacrificing her own happiness. AU-Canon Divergence.

Excerpt: 

“Why did your mother need to speak to you privately?” Rhaena asked. 

She and Maegor were sitting on top of her bed; her facing away from him in between his legs while he insisted on massaging the persistent and ever-present ache that had settled into her lower back the last few months. 

“I told you.” 

Indeed he had. While they supped together that evening with her girls and Alysanne, Rhaena had pressed the matter then as the Dowager Queen was not in attendance. Maegor had shifted in his seat and told her that Visenya warned him of small pockets of the Faith Militant infiltrating King’s Landing. 

“You did. But that hardly seems like a private matter.” 

“You know my Mother. She wants- and needs- to feel like she is the only one with such information. It helps her feel important even if her influence is…diminished.” 

She hissed as his knuckle pressed into the tender knot in her back and she dug her nails into his thigh. She would have drawn blood if not for the fabric of his pants. 

“Sorry,” he apologized, soothing the area more lightly with his thumb. 

“Don’t be. It does feel good,” she replied as her head lulled forward. 

“You were uncomfortable at the small council meeting, I could tell. You could barely sit still.” 

“I hope I wasn’t too much of a distraction.” 

“No more than you usually are,” Maegor said. He dropped a kiss to her warm skin just above the neckline of her nightgown. 

“I daresay that might’ve been my last small council meeting for a time.”

Rhaena reached back and brought his hands around to rest on her belly as she leaned into him. 

“Truly?” 

“Mmmhmm,” she hummed, covering his hands with her own. “I think he’s dropped.” 

“Dropped?” he asked and Rhaena noted the hint of alarm in his voice. 

“Nothing to worry about now. It’s a way of saying he’s turning or positioning himself to be born.” 

“Oh.” 

His arms tightened around her ever so slightly and he rested his chin upon her shoulder. It was a small gesture but one she admittedly took comfort in. Try as she might to alleviate his uncertainty and fear, she wrestled with her own. Yes- as she had told him- she had been through this before with the twins, but every birth was different and even the most hale and hearty of women had lost their lives to the birthing bed. 

“Are you staying?” 

“Must you always ask?” 

“You say that as if there wasn’t a time when you would just grunt and roll over when you were finished with me,” Rhaena laughed.

“And a time when you were well and glad to be gone from me. I thought we were well past that.”  

“We are.” 

Maegor was quiet for a long moment before lifted his chin from her shoulder and pressed his lips against her hair. 

“I know I hurt you, Rhaena. Every time I touch you, even now, I think of the pain I know I’ve caused you and I hate myself for it. You need to know that.” 

“I know it,” she replied in a voice barely above a whisper. It was the closest he had ever come to apologizing to her- to admitting that something he did was wrong. “You’re not the man that you were, Maegor.” 

“I’m not,” he insisted. “Nor do I want to be. But I didn’t know I could be anything else, I didn’t know how to be anything else until you-.” 

“Shhh,” Rhaena hushed him, turning enough to wrap her arms around him and allow him to gather her close. “Enough now. Let the past die. The birth of our son will usher in a new era of your reign. I’m certain of it.”

“A golden era for the Targaryen dynasty,” Maegor agreed. “With you by my side.”  

Chapters: 6/7 Fandom: A Song of Ice and Fire - George R. R. Martin, A Song of Ice and Fire & Related Fandoms Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Maegor I Targaryen/Rhaena Targaryen (Daughter of Aenys I) Characters: Rhaena Targaryen (Daughter of Aenys I), Alysanne Targaryen, Maegor I Targaryen, Aerea Targaryen, Visenya Targaryen (Sister of Aegon I) Additional Tags: Incest, Uncle/Niece Incest, Dubious Consent, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Rhaena would do just about anything to protect her little sister, Maegor didn't marry any of those other women, Rhaena still loves ladies, Smut, Oral Sex, Cunnilingus, Pregnancy, Rhaena is smarter than Maegor, Angst Summary:

Maegor only took two wives...To keep the bloodline pure- and the fragile dynasty from crumbling- he married his nieces Rhaena and Alysanne, but Rhaena will stop at nothing to keep her sister safe- even if it means sacrificing her own happiness. AU-Canon Divergence.

Excerpt:

“I see. I would’ve thought His Grace would want your child to be born on Dragonstone.” 

“As did I,” Rhaena replied, smoothing her hand over her belly as she eased herself down into a chair. “But he was concerned about us traveling in the unpredictable Winter weather. Aegon will be born here in King’s Landing, a city built up by his namesake, in a Red Keep finished by his father. Our next son can be born at Dragonstone.” 

“Your next son?” Alysanne asked. 

“Or daughter, I suppose. Although, of course, Maegor already speaks as if having two boys will be a certainty.”

“It’s not about that. I’m just…surprised to hear you speaking of having more children with the King so soon.” 

“Why are you surprised?” 

It seemed logical enough to Rhaena. She was the Queen and her duty was to bear the King's children. They would make their dynasty strong through alliances with the other great houses of Westeros. 

“Your closeness with the King surprises and vexes me.” 

“Alysanne,” she sighed, shaking her head. “I’ve told you before that not everything is what it seems to be.” 

“Isn’t it? You started this game as you called it, but sometimes I think you rather like the attention you receive from the King. When once you endured his presence, now you seek out his company.” 

“I didn’t ask you here for a lecture.” 

“He shares your bed even now,” Alysanne continued. “Everyone around the court speaks about it and it is becoming increasingly clear that the King is in love with you.” 

“Good. Let them speak about it. Maegor is not in love with me. He’s not capable of loving anyone. He lusts after me. Nothing more.” 

“Is that what you have to tell yourself? Have you truly become so blind in these last few months? I’ve seen the way he looks at you, Rhaena. He has the look of a man in love.” 

“And what would you know of love?” Rhaena tossed back, her temper beginning to flare with each accusation. “You’re little more than a child.” 

“Just because I’m young does not mean I’m ignorant. The King is in love with you and many a times you look and act as if you are in love with him.” 

“You have no idea who I have loved and what I have lost and sacrificed for this family. Everything I’ve done I’ve done for-.” 

“Me,” Alysanne finished. “I know. You’ve told me.” 

“Not just for you. For my son. For my daughters. For this Kingdom. You’re the one who told me we would raise him to be a good and kind prince, didn’t you? That we would make him a good King. Why should we wait?” 

“What are you saying?” 

Chapters: 4/6 Fandom: A Song of Ice and Fire - George R. R. Martin, A Song of Ice and Fire & Related Fandoms Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Maegor I Targaryen/Rhaena Targaryen (Daughter of Aenys I) Characters: Rhaena Targaryen (Daughter of Aenys I), Alysanne Targaryen, Maegor I Targaryen, Aerea Targaryen, Visenya Targaryen (Sister of Aegon I) Additional Tags: Incest, Uncle/Niece Incest, Dubious Consent, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Rhaena would do just about anything to protect her little sister, Maegor didn't marry any of those other women, Rhaena still loves ladies, Smut, Oral Sex, Cunnilingus, Pregnancy, Rhaena is smarter than Maegor, Angst Summary:

Maegor only took two wives...To keep the bloodline pure- and the fragile dynasty from crumbling- he married his nieces Rhaena and Alysanne, but Rhaena will stop at nothing to keep her sister safe- even if it means sacrificing her own happiness. AU-Canon Divergence.

Excerpt: 

“He did not go down easy,” Maegor said. “For being such a fat fucker he could fight, I’ll give him that much. But I could not return to my queen empty handed.” 

He raised his cup to her, ale sloshing out of it as he did so, and she raised hers in return to him and stood from her seat. 

“Let this be a warning to his followers,” she said. “That they may know they cannot speak against House Targaryen and our customs without consequence. Gone are those days. A toast to our King who works tirelessly to return glory to House Targaryen.” 

Everyone raised their cups in unison to toast His Grace save for his younger queen, Alysanne, although her lack of participation went unnoticed by all save for her sister. 

The hour was late when the King and Queen took their leave of the guests who were still in the ballroom. As he swayed from his ale across the corridor, Rhaena wrapped her arm around his back for support. She led him to her chambers since they were much closer than his to the ballroom and let him fall onto the bed while her ladies helped her out of her gown and into her nightdress. 

“You’re taking up the whole bed,” she laughed when she saw him sprawled out sideways across the length of the bed, his head nearly handing off the end. She looked down as she stood over him. 

“Rhaena, Rhaena, my Queen,” he mumbled, opening his eyes. “I killed him for you.” 

“You did,” she nodded solemnly. Placing her hands on his temples, she began to massage them lightly. He would be in a sorry state in the morning. 

“But I didn’t mean to kill them.” 

“What?” 

“I didn’t want it.” 

“Didn’t want what, Maegor?” 

The King did not seem to hear her. 

“Bring them to me alive, I told them, but they didn’t listen to me, Rhaena. They didn’t listen.” 

“Maegor, you’re in your cups. You don’t know what you’re saying.”

“They killed them and thought they did me a boon. Aegon…Aegon died nobly in battle, aye, but Viserys and Jaehaerys…”

“What about my brothers?” Rhaena asked in a voice barely above a whisper. They had never spoken their names in the time since they had been wed. 

“The lad would’ve made a fine Maester, I’m sure of it and Viserys my Hand one day. The sons of the Dragon would stand united once again as it should have been. I didn’t want it but Harroway did not listen. I need you to know.” 

“Lucas Harroway, your Hand?” 

“So I killed him for his disobedience. Threw him from the Tower of the Hand myself. And then I slew his sons.”

“You’ve had too much to drink,” Rhaena decided as tears burned in her eyes. “You know not what you’re saying.” 

“I’m sorry Rhaena,” Maegor said, reaching for her hand, but she pulled it away. “I didn’t want to.” 

“Shhhh,” she hushed him as a tear trailed off of her cheek and fell onto his face. “You need to sleep, that’s all. Just sleep now.”

Chapters: 3/5 Fandom: A Song of Ice and Fire - George R. R. Martin, A Song of Ice and Fire & Related Fandoms Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Maegor I Targaryen/Rhaena Targaryen (Daughter of Aenys I) Characters: Rhaena Targaryen (Daughter of Aenys I), Alysanne Targaryen, Maegor I Targaryen, Aerea Targaryen, Visenya Targaryen (Sister of Aegon I) Additional Tags: Incest, Uncle/Niece Incest, Dubious Consent, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Rhaena would do just about anything to protect her little sister, Maegor didn't marry any of those other women, Rhaena still loves ladies, Smut, Oral Sex, Cunnilingus, Pregnancy, Rhaena is smarter than Maegor Summary:

Maegor only took two wives...To keep the bloodline pure- and the fragile dynasty from crumbling- he married his nieces Rhaena and Alysanne, but Rhaena will stop at nothing to keep her sister safe- even if it means sacrificing her own happiness. AU-Canon Divergence.

Excerpt: 

“You’re insatiable, Rhaena,” Maegor laughed as she climbed off of his lap and eased herself off the bed. 

“Are you complaining?” she asked, pouring a cup of arbor gold for herself. She took a bunch of grapes from the tray on the sideboard and walked back over to the bed. The hour was growing late and a handful of candles around her chambers were beginning to gutter. 

He took the cup from her and held out his other hand to help her back onto the soft mattress where she settled next to him and reclined against the headboard. 

“Of course not.” 

Maegor turned on his side and propped himself up on his elbow. He ducked his head and nuzzled his way between her breasts and belly, wrapping his arms around her as he did so. 

“Thank you for the grapes,” Rhaena said, plucking one off the stem and popping it into her mouth before offering them to him. 

“You’re welcome,” he mumbled as he used his mouth to tug at the fruit. “You said you wanted them.” 

“Yes, but I didn’t imagine you would mount Balerion and fly to the Reach to get them.” 

“I told you before, whatever you require, you shall have.” 

“What if I require some Myrish lace?” Rhaena tested. She ran a finger along the scarred muscles in his back, but Maegor shook his head. “Why not?” 

“Why would I give you something to cover you up?” 

“Because,” she whispered, tilting his face up to look at her. “I’d let you take it off.” 

At times Rhaena took pride in the way the words tumbled so easily from her mouth. It had gotten easier to play the part over time. The closer she allowed Maegor to get to her, the better she knew him and could play to that which he liked or disliked. At his core, he was a simple man driven by lust for power and praise.It was not difficult to feed into both of those notions. 

What was more, Maegor clearly delighted in her- increasingly so- with each passing day and as she continued to grow great with his child. The moon would only turn thrice more before the babe was to be born. This king, this man, who doted upon her was almost unrecognizable to her. Yet there were reminders, oftentimes on pikes mounted to the gates leading into the Red Keep, of what kind of fate befell those who invoked the King’s wroth. 

Each day, Rhaena steeled herself and renewed the vow and promise she had made from the outset. She was keenly aware that she was playing a very dangerous game, one upon which many lives depended on her words and actions to be nothing short of authentic. 

She did not crave his touch- nor did she crave any man’s touch for it always failed in comparison to her heart’s desire. 

And yet…her late husband Aegon had pleased her when he was alive. When they coupled it was not always with the aim of conceiving their daughters. Mayhaps Maegor could be the same for her. A means to an end if she could not have what she wanted and must endure this trial of a marriage. She could use his newfound fondness of her to her advantage. Her purpose, however, remained singular in its aim: to keep her sister, her daughter, and herself safe from harm.  

There were days when she felt tired and beaten down by the weight and enormity of it all. Days when she wished she could curl up into herself and cry for nights on end. But as she had once said before and would say until her last breath, Rhaena Targaryen did not have time for tears. 

Chapters: 2/4 Fandom: A Song of Ice and Fire - George R. R. Martin, A Song of Ice and Fire & Related Fandoms Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Maegor I Targaryen/Rhaena Targaryen (Daughter of Aenys I) Characters: Rhaena Targaryen (Daughter of Aenys I), Alysanne Targaryen, Maegor I Targaryen, Aerea Targaryen, Visenya Targaryen (Sister of Aegon I) Additional Tags: Incest, Uncle/Niece Incest, Dubious Consent, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Rhaena would do just about anything to protect her little sister, Maegor didn't marry any of those other women, Rhaena still loves ladies, Smut, Oral Sex, Cunnilingus, Pregnancy, Rhaena is smarter than Maegor Summary:

Chapter 2 now up! 

Excerpt: 

“You asked me to stay?” Rhaena asked impatiently after the door closed behind Alysanne, Aerea, and Visenya. Her sister had glanced back at her warily, but she had nodded in reassurance. They had all supped with the King that night and she tried not to notice the way he seemed to leer at her from across the table. 

“Come here, wife,” he replied. He wiped his mouth with his napkin and tossed it on the table. He had been away for a month. One blissful month without having to put on an act in his presence. 

Dutifully she pushed herself out of her chair and walked around the small table to stand before him, clasping her hands under the small curve of her belly. 

“Yes, Your Grace?” 

“You’re showing,” he observed. “Already. You could scarcely tell you were with child when I left.” 

She wanted to tell him that it was common to show sooner with a second pregnancy, but decided it was more amusing to humor him. 

“Your son making his presence known,” she replied in a voice that she barely recognized as her own. The hum of approval she received from him told her it was exactly what he wanted to hear. 

Rhaena reached out and grabbed his hand, pressing his palm flat against her belly. She had just begun to feel the babe kick, but doubted he could feel it and yet she swore his face softened and his eyes were filled with something she could only describe as a hint of awe. 

“Aegon,” he said and spread his fingers wider. He glanced up at her then. “You’re feeling well? You have all you need?” 

Everything but my freedom, she thought. 

“Yes,” she lied with a shrug. “Well enough at least.” 

“Did you wear this gown just for me?” Maegor asked, tracing a finger along the neckline cut low over her breasts. “Is it new?” 

No, I was hoping to catch the pretty serving girl’s attention with it, not yours. She reminds me of Alayne. Perhaps when she gave him a son she would ask to send for her favorite. How could he deny her that?