The Red Keep felt wrong.
Not quiet—never quiet—but hollow, as though the life had been drawn from its stones. The corridors I ran through were thick with the scent of blood and smoke, of herbs burned too late to matter. Servants pressed themselves flat against the walls as I passed, eyes downcast, hands shaking. No one tried to stop me.
That alone told me everything.
I slowed at the doors to my mother's chambers. They were closed now. Guarded. Two Kingsguard stood watch, their white cloaks stark against the dark red stone. Neither met my eyes.
My heart pounded, loud enough that I was certain they could hear it.
"Move," I said, my voice unsteady despite my efforts.
One of them hesitated. Just for a breath.
Then the doors opened.
The room was silent.
Too silent.
The bed was stained dark, the sheets pulled tight and empty. Candles burned low, their flames wavering, as though even they feared to remain. A maester knelt nearby, hands red to the wrist, his expression unreadable.
I searched the room wildly—Mother, mother—until my gaze found her.
Queen Aemma lay still.
And in that moment, I understood what it meant to lose something you had always believed would endure.
" what ha-happened...mom is that really mother? No no. " tears stain my face as I look upon my mother as she lay still on the bed cold, hollow lifeless. Her face showing signs of pain of fear up to her last moments.
" Vhaehra wha- your not supposed to be here. "
Viserys looked shocked as he saw me. Tears pour down my face as my eyes shifted from mother's body where her belly has been sliced open to viserys now standing up next to mother's cold dead body.
" Father what happened....no did you do that to mother? " I ask as my fury rises up from the depths of my soul as I look at father as regret and sadness crosses his features.
" you're not supposed to be here you're not supposed to see this. "
But I did.
" tell me father... " I grit my teeth so could feel them grinding down as i stared at father.
" i had to make a choice Vhaehra for the realm. You dont yet understand the weight of my decisions that I have to make for the realm! "
Father shakily stands up from the bedside his face res from the tears. His hands held tightly in a fist. A look lacking any form of dignity for a king.
I stood breifly in shock at his answer if you could call it that no no its more like a pitiful excuse. My eyes went back over to my mom's lifeless corpse still upon her face was a look of agony and pain.
So is that why my mother lays gutted in her own blood. Did he even ask mother what she wanted no of course not one look at my mom's corpse was evidence enough. His desire for a heir outweighed everything else to hell with consent or our feelings he just jumped on that opportunity for a son. Narrow minded fool he cant see out of his own arse.
" your decision?.... Your decision cost mother her life you took that away from me and rhaenyra yetypu shrink away your own fault behind that title of king like a coward avoiding any accountability for your actions. "
I point at him as tears trickled down my face anger rising up in me like dragon fire wild and uncontrollable.
" VHAEHRA! I am your king and you will not insult me so do you understand. I can have your tounge for your insolence right here and now. "
Father swings his arm wide in anger as he yells at me. His outburst causing the servants to quickly funnel out of the room.
My face scrunched up in disgust and disbelief as I looked at father. Hate being the only thing one can see from my eyes.
" Oh wouldn't you love that to have me silenced cause you cant bear to hear the truth you pathetic sack of shit for a king. "
" I AM YOUR KING. " his voice bellowing loudly inside the room traveling down the corridors. He steps towards me in anger visibly shaking.
" YOUR A FATHER FIRST! " I yell as my voice breaks from the sadness.
Father halts in his steps frozen when he hears my words. His mind stuck like rusted cog between anger and grief.
" Was it worth it *sob* did you get what you wanted? " I asked pleading that her death was not for naught.
Father looked at me his head hung heavy as he shook his head.
" No baelon died shortly after he was born. "
I choked on my own tears as I heard his words my sibling my little brother brought into this world at the cost of my mother was only able to enjoy this world for just a breif moment. It hurts so much why must the gods be so cruel to us does my sibling not deserve this world just as much as I do?
I wiped my tears furiously from my face doing my best to hold back my grief.
" you had other choices father..... me, Rhaenyra even daemon we are here for you so why must you neglect us so for a heir you never had please tell me are we not good enough for you? "
" No no thats not... " Father stumbled on his words struggling to find what to say to reconcile with his youngest daughter but no words came to his mouth. He raised his hand to place on my shoulder hoping to comfort me.
I look as he struggled to finds his words and scoff. I push off his hand and walk out of the room not speaking another word for I simply want to be as far away from as possible.
-------------------
Above kings landing brewed a dark and terrifying storm encompassing nearly all of the crownlands. The storm grew terrifyingly violent as all festivities were canceled and the common folk took to their houses for shelter from the storm. Harsh winds battered upon the red keep as if mocking the death of the queen and baby not letting them rest and mourn for the passing of the beloved queen and babe.
Some thought the gods were mourning for the passing of the queen as well while others took it as a sign of dark and tumultuous times ahead for Westeros.
Word of the queens death quickly but quietly spread through the red keep only ever being spoken of in hushed whispers in the corners of the keep. Concerns and worry filled the keep as not just the queen passed away but the future heir as well died only a few short moments after being born.
Not to long after members of the court and the small council scurried about like rats plotting and thinking on how best to take advantage for when tragedy strikes one it is but a opportunity for another. This was one they would not miss especially the more ambitious one's they swarm about like vultures plotting on how best to use the passing of the good Queen Aemma to their advantage.
With the failure to produce a heir the topic of succession easily fell back into the minds of all the lord's and nobles alike for who will assume the iron throne after the passing of viserys.
Daemon automatically becomes the next in line but no lord will want to see him sit upon the iron throne for they see him as dangerous and unpredictable unsuitable for the iron throne and the responsibility that comes with being king.
If not daemon then who? Rhaenyra the first born of Viserys comes to some as a candidate. In truth some saw her as a better choice compared to daemon but never spoke it out loud.
3 days later
POV Otto
"Any word on how the King fares?"
Maester Mellos let out a measured sigh. "He bears the loss in his own time, my lord. The same may be said of Princess Rhaenyra. They must be granted leave to mourn Her Grace."
"That is well," I replied. "We cannot have the King's wits undone. The realm requires a steady hand, now more than ever."
Grief is a cruel tutor. A man may lose a wife; a child, a mother. Yet a royal house cannot afford to bend too long beneath sorrow, lest it break when the next storm comes. And the storm is already upon us. The question of an heir lingers in these halls like a foul draught. The longer it remains unanswered, the more discontent will take root—among lords and smallfolk alike.
The matter had been set aside only for the Queen's confinement, in the hope of a son. That hope has failed us. This is no small concern, and it must be addressed without delay. Viserys, for all his gentleness, will need to return to his duties swiftly.
My thoughts turned, unbidden, to the younger princess.
"Maester," I said, more softly, "and Princess Vhaehra—how does she fare?"
Mellos paused a moment before answering, his gaze lowering. "She endures, as best she can. The child is quick of mind and more composed than most of her years, yet she is still but a child. Such a loss… it will test her."
From what I was told the king and the 2nd princess and a horrible falling out at the passing of the queen. So much so that the princess has locked her self away in her room. It's a shame really I had hopes for her but I guess she is still a child at the end of the day and needs to be treated as such.
A quiet ache stirred in me for the girl. She has ever been diligent in her studies, eager to learn, and unfailingly courteous within the keep. Too young to bear such weight, and yet it has been placed upon her all the same.
I will see her, I resolved, when time allows.
For now, duty must come first.
"Summon the Small Council," I said, my voice hardening. "And inform His Grace that we convene at once. This cannot wait."
"At once, my lord."
Mellos bowed and set servants to the task, while he himself went to fetch the King.
One by one, the councillors gathered. They took their seats with solemn faces and lowered eyes, the shadow of loss plain upon them. Yet men in such offices are not afforded the luxury of grief.
There is work to be done—and the realm will not wait.