KastheJedi
patreon
The Crimson Dragon- chapter 11: The Truth, Part 1
🕑 Added 2023-11-17 13:00:06 +0000 UTCChapter 11: The Truth, Part 1
Numb was all Alicent felt as she laid in bed, still reeling from the death of her child.
It had only been a few days since she held her daughter in her arms and when the midwives came to take her precious little girl to the silent sisters so that she could be prepared for the funeral.
My little Elaera…
The name was chosen if the child turned out to be a girl, Helaena had suggested the name one day as she and her siblings had decided to come up with baby names.
Alicent was happy then that her children were so excited for the arrival of their new sibling and had accepted the name.
Now all the Queen felt was anguish as she thought about how her children had received the news of their sibling’s premature death. She knew that she should see them herself, but Alicent could not muster the courage to, she did not want her children to see her in such a state, to see how broken she was.
The only people she had seen in the last three days were her servants who would quickly leave food that she did not eat, and Rhaenyra.
Rhaenyra would show up every hour to check in on her, trying to get her to eat or to leave her chambers, but she refused each time. The princess never said anything outside of this, only sitting next to her in silence before leaving again.
In contrast, Alicent had seen and heard nothing from her husband during this time.
She did not understand the way she felt about this blatant avoidance from Viserys, she should be upset that once again her husband did not care about how she was feeling or doing, not even bothering to see if she was physically healthy, but she did not.
Instead Alicent felt relieved that she did have to deal with Viserys’ presence, the Queen knew that Viserys would not be able to comfort her, that he would be more focused on himself and his own grief. Then there was the deep dark part of her heart that she kept buried far within herself, where she believed that Viserys may not care at all.
He barely cares for the other children I have given him, why should this one be any different? Does my husband grieve, or has he not shed a single tear for the daughter that will never live?
Alicent’s thoughts continued to darken even when a knock at the door sounded throughout the room.
Alicent ignored this, believing it to be one of the maids. She knew it could not be Rhaenyra because the princess would not knock, she would have entered her bedchamber, not caring for decorum and propriety.
After a few more knocks, the door slowly opened and Alicent could hear someone enter but continued to ignore them as she stared at the wall.
“Mother?” Alicent turned her head and met the amethyst eyes of Lilyanna.
Alicent saw the nervous expression on her daughter’s face as she stood before her, holding a plate of lemon cakes in her hands.
“I brought you lemon cakes…” Lilyanna awkwardly trailed off, not knowing how to further proceed.
“Thank you, Lily.” Alicent said plainly, still wondering why her daughter was here, why she was acting so strangely, so different than she usually did.
“Rhaenyra said that you needed time for yourself after....” Lilyanna trailed off again as she struggled to find the words to say. “But I wanted to see you... I'm sorry.”
Alicent sat up, taking the plate of food from Lilyanna, and placing it on her nightstand and then gently cupping the side of her daughter’s face. “You do not need to apologize; I have missed you too and your siblings as well. I should be the one apologizing, for ignoring you all.”
Seeing her daughter here apologizing to her for seemingly bothering her, made her feel like she was a terrible mother.
I ignore my children, I have made one daughter feel like a burden, and I could not even keep the other daughter alive...
Lilyanna shook her head and continued, “I’m sorry, I'm sorry that I-that I couldn’t do anything. It's my fault this happened, it's my fault that-that E-Elaera is dead.”
Alicent saw shocked into silence after hearing this, seeing her daughter crying in front of her, Alicent had never seen Lilyanna cry once, not as a baby or at any point as she grew. She was stunned that Lilyanna blamed herself for Elaera being stillborn, as if it she was the one who caused it.
Lilyanna stopped crying when she suddenly felt her mother pull her into her arms, holding her tightly to her body and refusing to loosen her grip. Why is she holding me? I killed my sister; I am a monster...
“Lilyanna, it is not your fault.” Alicent whispered onto the crown of her head, “You did nothing wrong; there was nothing that could have been done for Elaera; these things just happen. Life can be cruel and unforgiving; it does not care who we are and what we want at times.”
Despite her attempt at comfort, Lilyanna felt worse as no one knew the truth about her existence, that it was not life that caused this tragedy but her own actions and inactions.
Even just her being born had forever changed things, Alicent Hightower was never meant to have a second daughter, and it was this second daughter that killed the third.
Because of Lilyanna, Elaera Targaryen would never get the chance to live, to grow and become her own person with her own dreams, desires, fears, thoughts, and choices.
Lilyanna tried to think back to her life as a doctor, the first time she lost a patient an older doctor told her that it was a part of the profession, that some people would die no matter how hard you tried to save them, that it was not a medical failure on her part, but a natural part of life.
But it was my fault, I didn’t do everything I could to save her. It's not as if Elaera came to me hurt and dying, she wouldn’t have even existed if I hadn’t made my choices here, I should have known that Mellos and Viserys would get in my way, I should have used the tunnels instead of just running through the halls. There’s so much I could have done, and I didn’t... Lilyanna thought angrily.
Bitter tears fell down Lilyanna’s face as she held Alicent even tighter, still feeling the guilt and anger of knowing she was the cause of the pain her family was experiencing.
The Queen and princess continued to hold each other, each crying and blaming themselves for the other’s suffering, for the loss of little Elaera, both viewing this as their shame, as their fault, something that they would never forgive themselves for.
~X~
The royal family and the court members had dawned their funeral attire and headed to the hills behind the Red Keep.
It had been over a decade since the last royal funeral, that of Queen Aemma Arryn and her son Prince Baelon, both sharing a funeral pyre as they had left this world together in quick succession.
Just like her brother Baelon, Elaera Targaryen did not get to live, the Stranger cruelly took her away in the aftermath of a terrible birth. And just like with Baelon, it was with Syrax’s flames that burned Elaera away from the world.
In keeping with Targaryen tradition, the stillborn’s ashes were not placed in an urn, instead they were scattered to the winds above Blackwater Bay. Urns in the crypts of Dragonstone were reserved for those that lived past the cradle and a stillborn babe was considered unremarkable in the grand scheme of things. Even if their family had nine moons of anticipation and memories that they were forced to keep forever inside themselves.
Once the funeral and feast were over, the children soon found themselves conjugating in Aegon’s bedroom.
“I still don’t think it's fair that Elaera can’t be held in Dragonstone.” Daeron muttered, wanting to be able to visit their late sister.
“It's because father didn’t give a shit about her.” Aegon answered.
“Aegon!” Aemond angrily shouted, “You know that is not true, it is Targaryen traditional that only children who survive the cradle can be entombed on Dragonstone.”
“Yes, tradition, not law. Our father is the King, if he genuinely wanted it, he could have had Elaera placed in an urn. Our brother Baelon did not survive the cradle and yet he was placed in an urn.” Aegon argued, growing angry over his brother defending Viserys. He saw that Viserys could not even be bothered to comfort any of them or his wife since they received the news that Elaera was stillborn, that Viserys did not seem as heartbroken for her as Aegon heard he was when their half-brother and the rest of their half siblings died and hated him for it.
“Baelon did not receive his own urn, he was placed inside of Queen Aemma’s, it is not the same thing. What, do you think they would hold Elaera’s ashes until one of us dies so they could do the same?” Aemond fired back, he too was angry and upset and did not appreciate Aegon treating him as if he were not.
“Are we going to be burned when we die?” Lucerys asked, drawing everyone’s attention to him. This was the first funeral he had every gone to, the first death in their family that he has ever experienced, and it scared him.
All he could think of was that anyone could die at any time and how eventually everyone he loved would die too. His parents, his brother, his uncles, his aunts, his grandparents, even himself would all end up just like Elaera.
“Targaryens and Velaryons have different funeral customs. I am fairly sure you would end up at the bottom of the ocean when you and Jace die.” Aegon answered unflinchingly, not seeing the horrified looks on his nephews’ faces.
Helaena slapped her brother’s arm, “Aegon! Do not say that!”
“What? It's true!” Aegon exclaimed, rubbing his now sore arm.
Helaena glared at Aegon, “That is not the point, you’re scaring them.”
She then kneeled in front of Lucerys, “We all die, but it will not happen to you or any of us for an extraordinarily long time. And when we do, mother and the Faith have spoken of the afterlife, that those of us who live good lives will go to the seven heavens.”
“Really?” Lucerys asked, hopeful that death was not as scary as it seemed.
“Death is sad, yes and it can be scary, but it is a natural part of life, and I don’t believe that death is the end of a person’s journey.” Helaena says, she then turns to her sister. “Right, Lily?”
Lilyanna did not answer, being lost in her own thoughts. She had been blindly going through the motions since the funeral began, unable to stop thinking of how she failed Elaera.
Helaena frowned as she saw Lilyanna sitting mindlessly on Aegon’s bed, completely ignoring everything going on around her. Helaena then walked over to the bed and sat down next to Lilyanna, placing a hand on top of Lilyanna’s. “Lilyanna? Are you okay?”
Lilyanna jumps, not expecting the touch but calming down when she realized that it was Helaena who was holding her hand. “I’m fine.”
A sympathetic expression formed on Helaena’s face, “You know it is okay if you are not, none of us are.”
Anger quickly flashed on Lilyanna’s face before she schooled her expression and stood up, “I’m going to bed.”
“Lilyanna....” Helaena tried to hold Lilyanna’s hand again, not wanting her sister to leave but Lilyanna moved out of reach.
Lilyanna ignored how the others stared at her and left the room, she let out a groan as she walked down the empty hallway.
As she entered her and Helaena’s room, Lilyanna immediately pulled off her funeral attire, glaring at the clothes as if they personally wronged her and throwing them under her bed, not wanting to see them again and be reminded of what they represent.
Once she put on her night gown, Lilyanna climbed into bed and threw her blanket over her head. All she wanted to do was fall asleep so that this day would finally end.
But she knew it would not matter, the morning would come, and she would still feel the guilt and anger over the choices she made.
I still have to apologize to Helaena when I see her. I shouldn’t have gotten angry at her; it wasn’t her fault, and I was a bitch for no reason. Lilyanna thought to herself as she felt her eyes grow heavier and she gave in to her tiredness.
~X~
Lilyanna let out a groan as she tiredly blinked and sat up, once the blurriness had left her vision, Lilyanna saw that she was within the same black void from her dreams, lying in front of the Iron Throne.
“Fucking hell!” Lilyanna yelled angrily, annoyed as she was not in the mood to experience any strange dreams that she could never figure out the meaning of. She then pushed herself off the flooded floor and made her way to the base of the Iron Throne, waiting for her dream to start.
After what seemed like an eternity, Lilyanna started to see something moving towards her in the distance.
It did not take long before Lilyanna saw that it was the three conquerors; Aegon, Visenya, and Rhaenys.
The three Targaryens looked exactly as they did when she saw them in the first of these strange dreams, just as intimidating and untouchable, their eyes never leaving Lilyanna’s form as they closed the distance between them.
Once they were standing in front of her, Lilyanna rolled her eyes. “Well, what do you all have to tell me? As you can see, I am listening.” She said sarcastically.
Visenya looked Lilyanna up and down, her face twisting slightly. “She is quite rude, isn’t she?”
Rhaenys smiled, “I do not know, sister. She does remind me of you a bit.”
Visenya side eyed her sister, “And what is that supposed to mean?”
Rhaenys did not reply but her smile turned into a mischievous smirk when she saw how annoyed Visenya was becoming.
Lilyanna’s eyes grew wide, and her mouth dropped open in shock. “Yo-yo-you ta-talk?”
The three siblings returned their attention to Lilyanna. This time Aegon spoke, his voice strong and deep. “It seems you can finally understand us.”
Lilyanna gulped, inwardly trying to calm herself. “But why? I couldn’t hear anyone that I’ve seen in here before, so what changed?”
“Most likely your temperament. You are not the same person you were when you first arrived in our world.” Aegon explained.
“My temperament?” Lilyanna asked aloud, she did not feel any different. In her mind, Lilyanna Targaryen and Rosalind McDaniels were one and the same.
“The change was most likely caused by the death if your sister. It has caused you to finally accept your place here.” Visenya said coldly, ignoring the glare that Lilyanna sent her way.
Elaera’s death made me accepted my place here? Lilyanna thought.
It made her wonder if this was true, that deep down she did not see herself as a part of this world, as a Targaryen until now.
Was it the grief that pushed her to this point? Was it seeing how her new family was also grieving and suffering?
Lilyanna decided to ignore these thoughts for now and focus on what was said before. “You all know that I am originally from another world? That I died and was then reborn?”
“Of course! We were the ones who brought you here!” Rhaenys cheerily answered.
“Bu-but why?” Lilyanna asked, becoming more confused as this interaction progressed.
Aegon stepped forward, standing directly over the redhead. “You were brought here to save the Targaryen dynasty, to ensure the future where our family does not end itself does not come to pass.”
“So, I’m the chosen one?” Lilyanna asked, trying to make sense of the information given.
Visenya scoffed, “Hardly, you were the only decent choice we had at the moment.”
Rhaenys lightly slapped her sister’s shoulder, “Visenya! Do not tell her that!”
Visenya rolled her eyes, “It’s the truth, is it not? She was most certainly not the one I wanted to choose.”
“What do you mean, that you didn’t want to choose me? If that is the case, then why am I even here?” Lilyanna questioned, her anger spiking.
Rhaenys glared at her siblings, seeing that their direct and tactless approach was just angering the girl.
She then stepped forward and kneeled in front of Lilyanna, “You are the best choice to save our family from its own ruin, it can be seen in the actions you have taken this far.”
Rhaenys’ reassurance did nothing to calm Lilyanna, her anger growing as she felt the Queen was talking down to her.
It was at this point that Aegon placed a hand on his sister-wife's shoulder, drawing everyone’s attention to him. "The truth of the matter is that we have seen the future, and the Gods have given us the chance to correct it.”
“The fourteen Valyrian Gods?” Lilyanna asked.
Aegon nodded his head, “Yes. Your world was the one that they allowed us to choose a champion from.”
Visenya then continued the explanation, “We were only given a small window of time to choose, and we wasted most of it looking for someone that we could all agree on. By the end of our allotted time, you just so happened to be dying and fit in with some of our requirements, so we picked you to be reincarnation.”
Lilyanna froze at this information, shocked at now knowing that she was not here because she was special or the chosen one molded by fate to save the world, but simply because she was only option available.
Someone else could have just as easily been in my position and they would’ve been the one born into the Targaryen family. What would've happened to me if they didn’t pick me? Would I have still died? Would I go to the afterlife? Is there even an afterlife? Lilyanna thought.
“But doesn’t this leave a wide margin for error? I mean why now? Why not when the family is truly in danger or before the Targaryen dynasty started experiencing problems? And why someone from my world?” Lilyanna rapidly questioned.
“The Gods are strange and mysterious, it's not up to us to understand their motives.” Rhaenys said, the three of them did not know why the Valyrian Gods had chosen to act now and why there were going about it in such a fashion, but the siblings decided not to question it.
“So what else was done to ensure that I succeed? It can’t just be my own intelligence and knowledge of this world, that would just be setting me up for failure.” Lilyanna asked, trying to make sense of the situation she found herself in.
The three looked at each other and Aegon spoke, “Your body has been… augmented.”
“Do you mean how I am stronger than a child my age should be?” Lilyanna asked.
Aegon nodded his head, “We do not know the extent of what you can do but you have been given a dragon's body. Not to mention you will also have us to guide you.”
Lilyanna sighed, of all the reasons for her rebirth, being chosen because some inbred siblings had no other option and because a group of Gods felt the need to intervene was not the list.
And what is a ‘dragon's body'? Is it just strength that I have, or do I have other abilities that I haven’t discovered yet? Lilyanna thought, but she knew that the answers to her questions would not be given to her by the conquerors as the three seemed just as ignorant as she was.
Just as Lilyanna was about to speak, she felt a hard tug in her chest. She let out a painfilled groan, gripping the front of her tunic as her body fell forward.
She would have it the floor if not for Aegon quickly grabbing her shoulders, holding her weight in his hands.
“Fuck...Its hurts.” Lilyanna muttered as the pain grew more intense.
“Your time here is up. You will awake in a few moments.” Visenya said while Aegon gently lowered Lilyanna to the floor.
“But I... I’ve never... never felt this pain when... when I'm about to wake.” Lilyanna whimpered.
“Lilyanna!” A voice rang out across the void, causing everyone to freeze in place.
From her place on the floor, Lilyanna could see that blood had begun to trickle down from the Iron Throne. Instead of pooling at the throne’s base, the blood moved across the floor, as if being pushed by an invisible force.
Soon the blood split a part into two separate trails, they continued moving straight until they reached Lilyanna’s feet, and the trails went in opposite directions, continuing until they reconnected after forming a perfect circle around Lilyanna and the Conquerors
“What the hell is happening?” Rhaenys asked aloud.
“Blood magic.” Visenya answered, familiar with the practice but unsure of what spell was being performed on them.
“But who is performing it?” Aegon asked, looking around the void to see if the culprits would reveal themselves, but all the King saw was the never-ending pitch blackness.
“Lilyanna...” The voice said once more, its tone growing more forceful and defining.
“It's the same voice...” Lilyanna mumbled, remembering the voice that she heard in her last dream, the voice that wanted her to sit on the Iron Throne.
“Lilyanna!” The voice repeated but this time the blood circle that formed around them started to glow a bright gold color.
The glow began to glow brighter and brighter, beginning to overtake the darkness of the void. As this was going on Lilyanna felt the throbbing pain in her chest dissipate.
Once it did, Lilyanna pushed herself off the floor and stood on her feet, before she had time to question this change, the glowing golden blood exploded, bathing the void in a brilliant show of light.
“Huh!” Lilyanna gasped, quickly sitting up from her bed. The young princess could feel the sheets sticking to her sweat covered skin as she gulped in as much air as she could.
She looked around and saw that she was once again in her and Helaena’s bedroom. When she looked at her sister’s bed, Lilyanna saw that Helaena was still asleep, her own dream not stirring her twin into consciousness as it had done before.
“What the fuck?” Lilyanna asked aloud, thinking about to everything she learned in her dream.
She was someone chosen to be the savior of House Targaryen, but she was only chosen because the Conquerors could not find a better candidate in their allotted time limit.
I guess all the amazing, super genius warriors of Earth were too amazing to die on that day, so they had to settle for me. Well, it's not as if I wanted to be here either, I was perfectly fine living my boring average life. Lilyanna thought.
Then Lilyanna started thinking about the mysterious voice and the blood magic they performed on her, Aegon, Visenya, and Rhaenys.
It has to mean something, you don’t just perform blood magic for shits and giggles, that voice did something to us. That voice has to be on our side, right? Whatever, I just hope that whatever the fuck it did doesn’t come back to bite me in the ass. And that Lilyanna drifted off into a much-wanted dreamless sleep.
~X~
Lilyanna let out another yawn as she walked down the streets of King’s Landing.
Despite falling back asleep, Lilyanna still felt tired and sluggish, her dream having taken much more out of her than she thought.
Right now, she was making her way to Mysaria’s manse, the information broker having a job for her as part of the deal they had made with each other.
It did not take long before Lilyanna had reached the building and was let in, the princess was able to make her way through the winding halls, the path firmly etched into her mind.
When Lilyanna finally reached Mysaria’s office, the woman in question was standing with her back towards the doors, but turned when she heard Lilyanna enter the room.
“Princess.” Was all Mysaria said in greeting, a tiny smile could be seen as she stared at the princess.
“Greetings, Lady Mysaria.” Lilyanna replied.
Mysaria then walked out of her office and led Lilyanna down the hall, and into a small room. The room itself had no windows and was almost barren except for a bed and a woman that the princess had never seen before.
The woman sitting on the edge of the bed was incredibly beautiful, tall with smooth ivory skin, eyes as black as charcoal, and an hourglass figure, but the thing that caught Lilyanna’s attention was her hair; her silver blond hair was long and silky, seeming to glow under the candlelight, reaching the bottom of her back.
The woman rose to her feet when Mysaria and Lilyanna entered, a grimace forming on her face as she stood to her full height. She then curtsied, “My Lady, Your Grace.”
Mysaria closed the door behind them, “Princess, this is Alia, a whore from one of the brothels on the Street of Silk. Alia, this is Lilyanna, the King’s youngest daughter.”
Not waiting for the two to greet each other, much less say anything, Mysaria turned to Lilyanna and continued speaking. "Alia has been given some type of illness after sleeping with one of her clients. I need you to heal her, then I will give you what I have learned.”
Well, that was blunt. Lilyanna thought, no longer surprised by Mysaria’s directness after the last few years. Although unlike the princess, Alia was not used to Mysaria’s shamelessness, visibly flinching at her words, and then glaring at the back of the other woman’s head.
Lilyanna sighed and made her way to the bed; she noticed the wary look Alia had thrown her way but ignored it. “It is good to meet you Alia, as Lady Mysaria said, my name is Lilyanna and I’m here to help you get better.”
Alia looked past Lilyanna and towards Mysaria, “You are joking, yes? You cannot expect a child to help me with this, do you?” Her Lysene accent thick as she tried to control her temper.
Mysaria smirked at the woman, “There is no one more that I trust when it comes to the human body. The princess is more knowledgeable and skilled than any maester you would ever meet.”
“I know that am I not who would expect to treat you, but I do want to help you. So, will you tell me the symptoms you are experiencing?” Lilyanna said softly.
Alia looked into Lilyanna’s eyes and saw that the princess how being truthful and genuine as she spoke.
“Your madam had asked me to help you as a favor I owe her, but I suppose I could tell her how you spit on the face of my courtesy. Of the princess’s courtesy.” Mysaria remarked, growing bored by the interaction.
Alia sighed, not wanting her madam to have used her favor with the White Worm in vain on her, figured that she should at least tell the princess what her symptoms were. “For the last few weeks, I have had pain in my belly, it hurts badly when I pee, it's even more painful when I have sex, my breasts are tender, and my cunts been excreting this yellowish-brown goo that smells like burning shit.”
Instead of reacting the way Alia thought she would, with confusion and disgust, Lilyanna rested her head against the palm of her hand and was in deep thought.
It only took a couple of seconds before Lilyanna snapped her fingers as it finally came to her what Alia had contracted. “You have chlamydia.”
“Chlamydia?” Mysaria and Alia asked.
“Chlamydia is an infection that is spread through sexual contact from vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who already has it. Although you can also get it from kissing, holding hands, sharing food or drinks, inhaling the droplets from a person’s sneeze or cough, or using the chamber pot after someone else. If left untreated it can cause severe damage to a person’s reproductive system, making it hard or impossible to have children.” Lilyanna explained.
“I can become barren?!” Alia exclaimed, while she did not want to have children, never wanting to bring another living being into the terrible world they live in, the thought of having that choice taken from her scared the woman.
And if I’m barren and with a disease that can make men impotent, I could lose my job, I would have to way to survive. Alia thought to herself, burying her face within her hands, desperately trying not to cry.
Alia’s head snapped up when she felt Lilyanna gently grab one of her hands, the princess looking at her with nothing but kindness, as she rubbed soft circles on the back of her hand.
“I know it is scary to think about, but chlamydia is treatable. Once I make you the medicine, you will be back to normal in a few weeks, I swear.” Lilyanna told the woman, her smile never leaving her face.
“I-I-thank you, princess.” Alia stuttered, wiping away the few tears that had managed to escape.
Lilyanna’s smile grew, “It is my pleasure, my lady.” She then turned to face Mysaria, “I need you get someone to get the martials I need. I will also require a room with a fireplace inside of it.”
“It is done.” Mysaria replied, sauntering away as she went to do what Lilyanna had asked of her.
A few hours later
“So, I just drink these and I will be healthy again?” Alia timidly asked, warily looking at the vials of liquid that Lilyanna had placed on the table in front of her.
The Lysene born woman did not know what to expect when Lilyanna disappeared into another room only to return with these vials while holding one out for her to take right now.
“It will take at least a week or two, but yes these will work. I would also recommend not participating any sexual activity, and not sharing any utensils or a chamber pot with anyone.” Lilyanna said as she watched Alia drink the medicine she gave her, smiling when she was how Alia grimaced at how bitter the mixture was.
Suddenly the door swung open, drawing both Lilyanna and Alia’s attention to who was entering. The first to enter was Mysaria and then a woman Lilyanna did not know.
The woman was older than Mysaria, a few grey strands could be seen among the light brown hair that she had placed in a high bun. She had a plump, almost round figure, sun kissed skin, and was dressed from head to toe in red and gold silk.
Despite her soft features, Lilyanna could see the marks of someone who had lived a hard life before reaching the position they were currently in.
“Madam Kella!” Alia exclaimed, and Lilyanna realized that this woman was the madam that Mysaria spoke of owing a favor to, along with being Alia’s boss.
“Alia,” Madam Kella’s voice was velvety smooth and deep as she walked over to the younger woman, “Have you been treated, dear girl?”
“Yes, madam. The princess has been most helpful.” Alia answered.
Kella then turned to said princess, “You know when I heard from my girls and Mysaria that the Princess Lilyanna had become a maester to the small folk, I thought it was joke.”
“It's not something that’s really believable until you see it in person.” Lilyanna shrugged.
It was not the first time that a patient or someone close to them were shocked when they found out who she really was, and their internal opinions would change when they realized that she knew what she was doing.
Kella smirked, “You are stranger than I've heard you being, Your Grace.”
Lilyanna stared plainly at the woman, “I’m a girl with a cock who uses a sword; it was a given that I would be strange.”
“I suppose that is true. Although I must thank you for helping Alia, it's hard to find people with the knowledge and desire to work with my girls and I.” Kella said, her face becoming stony when she thought of those that looked down on her and others like her.
“That’s sad to hear, my lady. As a princess my job is to the realm and its people, using my knowledge to do so is the least I can do after being born into my position.” Lilyanna said in response.
Kella’s eyebrow raised before smirking at Mysaria, “I can see why you’ve been so protective of this one, Mysaria. A rare jewel you have found yourself in possession of.”
Mysaria scoffed, “You make it sound inappropriate, Kella.”
“It is not inappropriate? With you spending so much time with her, being so much older than the princess, and guarding each other's secrets; not to mention you’re known relationship with another Targaryen, why wouldn’t I think anything else?” Kella asked rhetorically.
Mysaria glared at the older woman, “You can leave now Kella.”
Kella laughed joyfully as she waved her in front of her, causing Alia to stand, and pick up her medication before walking to the door.
Alia faced Lilyanna and curtseyed, “I am eternally grateful for your services, princess.”
Lilyanna smiled at the woman, “There is no need to thank me, my lady. It was my pleasure.”
Lilyanna flinched when she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrap around her neck.
“Aw! She is so precious! I may just end up stealing her away from you and keep her all to myself.” Kella exclaimed, playfully swaying back and forth with Lilyanna in her arms.
A small blush formed on Lilyanna’s cheeks as she could feel Kella’s large breast on either side of her head as the woman pulled her deeper into her chest.
“And you’re accusing me of being the one who wants to fuck a child.” Mysaria said disdainfully.
“Don’t be jealous, Mysaria, its unbecoming for someone like you.” Kella retorted.
“Get. Out.” Mysaria hissed.
“Fine, fine. We'll be on our way.” Kella waved off.
Before the two women could leave, Mysaria stopped them with one final statement. “We are even now, Kella. Anything else you ask of me will require some form of payment.”
“We'll see.” And with Kella sauntered out of the room, Alia gave both Mysaria and Lilyanna a bow before proceeding to follow her madam.
“That woman…” Mysaria mumbled under her breath.
Lilyanna cleared her throat, composed once again now that Kella had released her. “So, are you and Madam Kella friends?”
“That woman infuriates me so often that even I do not know at times.” Mysaria huffed.
Lilyanna hummed in response, after growing up with siblings and nephews she too understood what it’s like to love someone but also be greatly annoyed by them at the same time.
“Moving on from that, come along, Lily, I have something important to share with you.” Mysaria said as she led Lilyanna back to her private quarters.
~X~
Lilyanna looked over the reports that Mysaria had given her both in shock and acceptance.
She knew that there had to be a conspiracy around the Citadel and the Faith, but she did not know how deep it went.
Until now…
“So, your spies found letters between Lord Cameron Tarth and the Grand Maester ordering Lord Tarth to request the help of Prince Aemon against the Myrish pirates?” Lilyanna asked, already knowing the answer from the report.
“Yes, originally Lord Tarth was going to ask the Crown to send soliders, but was convinced by the High Septon that dragons would be a better weapon against pirates.” Mysaria explained.
The woman noticed the troubled expression on the girl’s face, “Why are you upset? Is this not what you’ve been wanting to prove? This is the proof that we have spent the last few years looking for.”
Lilyanna leaned back in her chair and released a sigh, “Still this isn’t enough to go on; the High Septon and the Faith could just deny any ill intent. He could just say that he was trying to give a Lord in need some advice and even then, Lord Cameron would never admit to being involved in the murder of a Crown Prince. And that’s assuming he was a part of this plot and not just an unaware pawn.”
“Regardless, I have also discovered more information related to the Faith and the Citadel. Something that is even more alarming than Prince Aemon’s death on Tarth.” Mysaria stated.
“What could be bigger than the Faith orchestrating the murder of a Crown Prince?” Lilyanna asked.
“How about the murder of a Queen, two Kings, and a current plot to depose of a certain Lady Paramount?” Mysaria asked rhetorically, her lips forming a smirk as she knew that she had enticed the princess.
Lilyanna’s eyes widen as she sat up and stared at the White Worm, wondering just what kind of bombshell the woman was going to drop on her.
