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The Crimson Dragon- chapter 8: The White Worm
🕑 Added 2023-09-19 12:01:00 +0000 UTCChapter 8: The White Worm
Three Years Later
Since her rebirth, Lilyanna Targaryen had not felt a terrible, all-consuming anger within herself.
At least, not until this very moment...
The eight-year-old had entered Alicent’s bedchamber, looking for her mother and found her sitting across from Lord Larys Strong, son of Lyonel Strong, Hand of the King.
The two had been engaged in a hushed conversation with one another before Lilyanna’s entrance drew their attention.
“Lilyanna.” Alicent said breathily, immediately rising to her feet.
“Am I interrupting, mother? If so, I apologize.” Lilyanna said calmly, forcing herself to keep her eyesight only on her mother and not the man standing near her.
“You are not interrupting us, my little flower.” Alicent said, inwardly relieved that her daughter had not heard or suspected anything from her and Larys. “Is something the matter?”
“You promised that you would meet my siblings and I in the garden for the picnic we planned for today. We have been waiting for some time, so I came to get you.” Lilyanna answered.
“My apologies, Lily. Lord Larys and I were having a discussion, and it appears that the time escaped me.” Alicent said as she motioned towards Larys.
“Good day, my princess.” Larys said to Lilyanna, giving the young girl a low bow before rising.
“Good day, Lord Strong.” Lilyanna said, giving the man a small smile and a tilt of her head. “I offer you my sincerest apologizes, for I must be taking my mother from you now.”
Larys returned the gesture, “It is all right, Your Grace. As the Queen said our discussion ran long, so it is I who must apologize.”
“Thank you for understanding, my Lord.” Lilyanna chirped. Beneath her polite demeanor, Lilyanna felt nothing but disgust and hatred for Larys Strong.
It should have been your neck that was twisted at birth instead of your foot, you disgusting piece of shit!
“We will meet again to finish our talk, Lord Larys.” Alicent told Larys as she and Lilyanna moved to leave the room.
“Of course, Your Grace.” Larys said bowing to the Queen.
Lilyanna turned her head and looked back at Larys as she and Alicent began to leave. It was then that she noticed that Larys had already been staring at her.
Lilyanna felt as if Larys was staring into her soul, as if he knew the truth about her existence and was simply putting on an act, the same as her. Or at the least, he had been paying her more attention than she had realized. Lilyanna had to actively fight not to shudder under Larys’ unwavering gaze.
Lilyanna said nothing as she and Alicent walked to garden, nor did she speak when she sat with her siblings on the blanket they placed at the base of a tree. Larys Strong and his ‘casual’ talk with her mother had refused to leave her mind.
Lilyanna had ignored Larys Strong up until now. It was easy as he rarely spoke or made himself known, usually blending into the crowd.
I have been focused on my family and I never noticed Larys around mom, so I didn’t pay him and his creepiness any mind. Just how long have they been having these ‘conversations’ and why did I not notice?
And what were they talking about? I know in the show, Alicent would confide in Larys about Rhaenyra, Viserys, and Otto, so is that what they were doing?
Lilyanna knew that Alicent and Rhaenyra were still fighting each other to become the true power in King’s Landing, especially since Viserys was doing nothing to stop them. It would make sense for Alicent to align herself with Larys as he knew of almost everything that happened within the walls of the Red Keep.
I’m such a fucking idiot! I can’t believe that I just forgot all the crazy theories like Larys being a greenseer or that he was one of the many characters in asoiaf being controlled by Brynden Rivers, the three-eyed crow, in his overarching plot to either end the Targaryens or stop the return of the Long Night.
Larys has no loyalty and his actions both in the show and books come off as strange and nonsensical. I mean, he killed his father and brother without a hint of remorse, conspired with Corlys Velaryon to protect Aegon the Younger and Baela Targaryen during the Dance, welcomed Aegon the Younger to King’s Landing once it became clear that the Greens had lost, and chose death instead of taking the black during the Hour of the Wolf.
I need a way to properly monitor Larys, see if the theories about him are true and keep him as far away from Alicent as possible. I will not have the foot fetish stalker manipulating her for his own desires...
“Lily, Lily! What is wrong with her?” Aegon asked, as he watched Lilyanna staring off into the distance, ignoring everyone else around her as she was lost in thought.
“She’s not moving at all.” Daeron said while repeatedly poking his sister’s arm.
Lilyanna did not so much as flinch from the touch and if it were not for the fact that she was breathing and blinking she could have been mistaken for a corpse.
Helaena then stood from her seat next to Alicent and walked over to Lilyanna. “It's okay. I will wake her up.”
The older twin then raised up her right hand and immediately slapped Lilyanna across the face.
“Helaena!” Alicent screamed as the force of Helaena’s slap sent Lilyanna falling to the ground.
“Huh? What just happened?” Lilyanna asked confused, she remembered sitting against the tree and now, she was lying on her back, staring up at the clear blue sky with a dull throbbing sensation emanating from the side of her face.
“HAHAHA! Helaena slapped the shit out of you, that’s what!” Aegon answered, holding his stomach and unable to stop laughing. Aemond and Daeron joined in as well once they saw that Lilyanna was fine.
None of them had expected quiet and kind Helaena to strike Lilyanna, much less have the strength to easily knock Lilyanna to the floor.
Lilyanna turned head to stare at her twin who was standing above her. Helaena had an innocent smile on her face as stared down at her sister.
Before Lilyanna could ask Helaena why she had hit her, she was swept into Alicent’s arms. Lilyanna relaxed when Alicent cupped the other side of her face.
“Are you okay Lilyanna? Do you need a maester?” Alicent asked her daughter.
“I'm fine mother. It does not hurt much; Hely was just trying get my attention.” Lilyanna said.
“I am glad you are okay, but your sister should not slap you to get your attention. She should not be slapping anyone, no matter the reason. None of you should.” Alicent said, staring directly at Helaena.
Helaena stared at her mother blankly before rubbing the side of Lilyanna’s face that she hit. “Sorry, Lily.”
“It’s fine, Helaena.” Lilyanna responded, gently holding Helaena’s hand within her own.
“Maybe Helaena should be the one getting trained by Ser Criston instead.” Aemond said jokingly.
“Ha! Yes! Hely's stronger than Lily now!” Daeron exclaimed, flexing his arms as he did.
Helaena raised her arm again, causing Lilyanna to flinch, and their brothers giggling when they saw Lilyanna’s reaction. Helaena then copied Daeron and flexed her arm while smiling at Lilyanna. Lilyanna rolled her eyes when her brothers broke out in laughter again.
Alicent sighed and pressed a hand against her forehead, knowing that her children were ignoring her earlier words about not putting their hands on each other.
Her annoyance soon left her as she watched Lilyanna chase Helaena around the garden, intent on getting her revenge as Aegon, Aemond, and Daeron cheerfully yelled at Helaena to run. The smile on Helaena's face matched her mother’s as she outran her twin.
Alicent's thoughts then drifted back to her conversation with Larys Strong.
The second son had told her that Baela, Daemon’s eldest daughter, had her dragon egg hatch a few days ago. He also spoke of how many powerful individuals in Essos had sent ravens to the Rouge Prince asking for the girl's hand.
Alicent dreaded the day that this would come, but Daemon had stated that he would rip out the tongues of anyone who asked to marry his daughter again. This and the fact that it was only one of his daughter's whose egg had hatched, with Rhaena's egg still lying dormant were Alicent’s only reprieve.
Alicent knew that despite his and Viserys’ fracturing, Daemon would inevitably return to Westeros. And this return would give Rhaenyra three additional dragons to her side.
It was moments like this when Alicent could not stop the words her father spoke to her before leaving for Oldtown, from repeating in her mind.
Listen to me, daughter. The King will die. It may be months or years, but he’ll not live to be an old man. And if Rhaenyra succeeds him, war will follow, do you understand? The realm will not accept her. And to secure her claim, she’ll have to put your children to the sword. She’ll have no choice. You know it. You’re no fool, and yet you choose not to see it. The time is coming, Alicent. Either you prepare Aegon to rule, or you cleave to Rhaenyra and pray for her mercy…
And Otto was right, Alicent would forever be reliant on Rhaenyra and her whims.
After finding out about what happened the night Rhaenyra and Daemon went out into the streets of King's Landing, Alicent was not angry because she was jealous, she was angry because her best friend had lied to her and that lie had affected herself and her father.
How could she go and ask for Rhaenyra’s reassurances that she would do nothing to Alicent and her children when she becomes Queen, when she was so easily able to lie to her? When she went behind her back and had Otto ousted from his position as Hand? When she swore on her mother’s memory that everything that came out of her mouth was the truth, when it was not?
What if Rhaenyra truly has no choice but to get rid of her siblings?
So Alicent had spent days begging her husband to allow their children to be given dragon eggs in their cradle, to be taught by the dragonkeepers how to ride their dragons and be given the opportunity to claim one should their eggs not hatch.
Despite her own opinions on them, Alicent could not deny the power and advantage that dragons had, that they would give her children.
When Aegon was born, she had been happy when Rhaenyra agreed with her and Viserys allowed Rhaenyra to place an egg in Aegon’s cradle.
And she remembered the anger she had felt when Lilyanna gave her egg to Lucerys.
Not only because it lowered the number of dragons the Greens had while increasing the Black's, but because she felt as if her daughter had stepped all over the work Alicent had done to get them.
I had to beg and beg, even having to rely on Rhaenyra to advocate for my children to get what is their birthright. And yet Daemon, who constantly does whatever he pleases, who spits in the face of common courtesy and his brother’s kindness, did not have to do so.
Viserys believed that Daemon had taken his daughter's maidenhead, Daemon then married without his permission and yet Viserys will always forgive him, failing to see him for what he truly is…
A monster…
I am sure Daemon must be jumping for joy, having a child that will one day become a dragonrider. A dragonrider that could one day try and kill my children…
“Is mother, okay?” Alicent heard Aemond ask.
“She's doing the same thing you always do, Lily.” Daeron stated.
“What are you talking about?” Lilyanna’s eyebrows crinkled together as she tried to figure out what Daeron meant.
“You know, sitting very still and ignoring everything.” Daeron answered.
“What should we do?” Aemond said, his voice steeped in worry for their mother.
“Maybe Helaena can slap her. It worked on Lilyanna, so I don't see why it won't work now.” Aegon snorted.
“You think?” Helaena genuinely asked.
Aegon's smile widened at the question, “Of course, Helaena. Our mother needs you, so you should get that hand of yours ready.”
“Don’t. Even. Think. About. It.” Alicent hissed, watching as her children jumped at the sound of her voice.
“Yeah, Aegon. How could you try and get our sweet sister to attack our mother? Have you no shame?” Lilyanna said, while smirking at him.
“Wow, Aegon. Do you hate mother, is that it?” Aemond said, seeing what Lilyanna was doing and joining her on throwing Aegon to the vicious wolf that was their mother.
“Wh-at?! N-o-no, I d-didn’t mean to- I was- i-t wa-s a j-j-j-jape…” Aegon’s stuttering grew worse as Alicent continued to glare at him.
After a minute of this, Alicent let out a small sigh, “What kind of children did I raise?”
“Great ones!” Daeron yelled.
Alicent said nothing as her children talked about how great they were. She smiled when Lilyanna sat in her lap as the others continued to talk.
Alicent rested her head on top of Lilyanna’s, allowing herself to enjoy the time spent with her family.
~X~
The Next Day
Lilyanna once again found herself terribly angry as she stormed into her room.
Lilyanna growled, stalking to her bed, grabbing her own and Helaena’s pillows, placing them on her bed and drawing the covers over them.
She then walked over to her closet and pulled out a cloak. Lilyanna put on the cloak and walked to the wall, opening the secret door, and walking through it.
Ever since Helaena had showed her how to use the tunnels, Lilyanna would occasionally use them, either to wonder throughout the Keep or go out into the city.
Right now, she was doing the latter, hoping that some time outside would cool the fire within threatening to consume her.
Lilyanna had gotten back from one of her mandatory lessons with Grand Maester Mellos and was angered by the whole affair. A hedge knight had come to Mellos' chambers asking for treatment. He had somehow taken an arrow to the arm while in the training yard.
Mellos had wanted to pull the arrow out the same way it entered. This caused Lilyanna to jump forward, telling him that they should push the arrow through the other side of his arm to prevent more damage.
Mellos had given the girl a look, silently judging her intelligence and pulling the arrow out. And when Lilyanna once again told him to use a clean thread and needle to stitch the wound closed, she was once again ignored.
The princess had to bite her tongue to keep herself from berating the man when he grabbed the same needle that he had used on a pervious patient earlier in the day.
At the end of her weekly lesson, Lilyanna bolted from room, but she did not get far before she was intercepted by her mother.
Mellos had spoken to the Queen about her daughter’s behavior during their lesson. She had to listen to Alicent telling her to not be disrespectful to the Grand Maester and that her job was to listen and learn.
Which led to where Lilyanna is now, wandering through the city.
Lilyanna felt herself relax as she moved through the crowded streets. She was able to pretend that she same as she was before she died, just another nameless face in the sea of people.
It was times like this that Lilyanna was glad that she did not take after the rest of her Targaryen family. With her red hair and tanned skin, no one realized that she was royalty.
Because of this she had no reason to throw her hood over her head. Even with her purple eyes, so long as she avoided direct eye contact, no one would be able to tell. And even then, most would assume that she was a dragonseed, not a princess of the realm.
She could just be a normal girl with no one knowing anything about her, no one to judge her for things out of her control, no one to treat her like a freak of nature.
Before she knew it, Lilyanna had found herself on the Street of Flour. The young girl smiled as she had been craving the sweet bread that was made here for the last few weeks.
Before Lilyanna could walk into her favorite shop, she was suddenly grabbed and yanked into a nearby alley.
As she was pulled further into the alley, Lilyanna pulled out a dagger that she always kept hidden inside of her cloak and grabbed the unknown person’s arms.
Lilyanna shoved them against a wall, holding the dagger against their throat. Lilyanna was then surprised when she realized that her supposed attacker was a little girl.
Said girl had dark brown eyes, short curly black hair and was a few inches shorter than her. And when looking at her face, Lilyanna had assumed that the girl was a year or two younger than herself.
“Who are you and why did you attack me?” Lilyanna asked.
“I didn’t attack you. I wanted to speak to you.” The girl replied, unbothered by the blade against her neck.
“So, you decide to pull me into a sketchy alley instead of approaching me like a normal person?” Lilyanna asked sarcastically.
The girl said nothing, impishly smiling at the princess’ reply.
Lilyanna sighed, “What is your name?”
“I am Jayne, Your Grace.” Jayne's smile grew as she saw the shocked expression on Lilyanna’s face.
“W-what? How did you-"
Jayne raised up a hand, stopping Lilyanna. “As funny as I find your stuttering, the reason I approached you was because I need your help.”
“With what?” Lilyanna asked plainly. It felt as if she should know who Jayne was, but nothing came to mind.
“A friend of mine is badly ill. I know you are being taught by the Grand Maester, so I figured you could help her.” Jayne’s face became somber, making her look older than she was as she spoke.
Lilyanna had to stop her annoyance at being called Mellos' student from showing on her face. “I am. But how do you know that I can help your friend? I’m a kid, just like you.”
Jayne rolled her eyes, “Stop pretending to be stupid, we both know how intelligent you are. Besides, one of my fellow servants heard about you helping to heal your father, the King.”
Fellow servants? Lilyanna thought. There were plenty of servants in the Keep who witnessed Viserys’ search for the maester who he thought made the oil for him. And there were many who saw Lilyanna enter her father’s bedchamber and the next day her becoming Mellos' student, so it would not be that hard to put those things together.
Only a few small children worked in the Red Keep, usually under the tutelage of an older servant, so Lilyanna would have recognized Jayne, but she did not.
“What servant saw this?” Lilyanna asked, pushing the knife deeper against Jayne’s neck.
Jayne smirked, “Talya.”
Lilyanna lowered her arm and stepped back from the girl in shock. She now remembered where she had seen Jayne. In the show, Jayne was the young woman who Sers Arryk and Erryk met in the fighting pits, the one who told them that Mysaria was the one who took Aegon immediately after Viserys’ death.
Lilyanna knew about Talya and her connection to Mysaria, the White Worm, from House of the Dragon. Talya was her mother's lady in waiting and had been spying on the royal family during her entire tenure.
The reason Lilyanna did nothing to oust the spy was because she knew that Mysaria would simply get another to fill Talya’s position, one that Lilyanna would not know was a spy.
She also knew that because of her family’s status, people were always watching them, trying to learn their secrets and transgressions. It would just be a never-ending stream of suspicion and paranoia for Lilyanna if she tried to fight against it.
“So, does the White Worm know one of her little birds is asking for my help, or did she send you to me personally?” Lilyanna decided to stop playing dumb and show that she knew more than she showed.
Jayne's eyes widened slightly, “You have heard of the White Worm?”
Lilyanna scoffed, “You mean my uncle’s former lover? Yes, I know all about Mysaria’s spy network and how Talya has been reporting my family’s movements to her.”
Jayne took a breath before continuing, “Yes, it was my mistress who asked me to find you but-”
“Fine. Take me to the White Worm and your sick friend.” Lilyanna said, interrupting Jayne’s plea.
“Huh? That’s it? No more questions?” Jayne asked.
Lilyanna shrugged, “There is someone who needs my help. And I cannot deny that I’m not interested to see what your mistress genuinely wants from me.”
Jayne said nothing more, turning around and walking further into the alley, silently commanding Lilyanna to follow her.
It did not take long for the pair to reach Mysaria’s manse at the outer most edge of Flea Bottom, near Rosby Road.
The building looked normal on the outside, but once Lilyanna had entered, she saw that it differed from the other places of the slums as it was clean and filled with decadence.
In the show, Mysaria was a former slave and prostitute, so I guess it makes sense that she would get the finest things for herself and her supporters once she came into money. Lilyanna thought.
The place reminded her of the ER. With so many people moving around back and forth, entering and leaving rooms while doing their jobs as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Lilyanna did not fail to notice that the everyone had taken a few seconds to stare at her before returning to what they were doing before. She did not know how to feel about so many people being able to recognize her, while she was unable to do the same.
Although it speaks highly of their level of skill, I was never able to notice any of them despite them all watching me at some point.
Jayne had led them to a winding staircase, taken them to the lower levels of the building. Once they reached the bottom, they walked to a large set of oak doors.
Jayne knocked on the door, “My lady. I have returned and I have brought the princess with me.”
The doors opened and a tall teenage boy with straight black hair was on the other side. He said nothing, moving to the side and allowing the girls to enter the room.
At the center of the room stood Mysaria, Lady Misery, the White Worm. She looked just as she did in House of the Dragon, her long brown hair was styled in an intricate bun and she wore a form fitting, flowing blue dress.
Lilyanna noticed the smooth scar that laid on her neck and could not help but wonder how the woman got it. If it was from a collar or a knife? If it were self-inflicted or not?
“Princess Lilyanna Targaryen. I wish we were meeting on better terms.” Mysaria spoke softly, her rich accent sweeping across the room.
“I wish for a better meeting as well, Lady Mysaria.” Lilyanna said politely. “Where is this servant of yours in need of medical attention?”
Mysaria turned around and led the girls further into the room. She stopped at a large canopy bed, she opened the drawn curtains and showed them the sick servant.
On the bed laid a young woman with sandy blonde hair. Her pale skin was flushed and covered in sweat, and even with the blankets Lilyanna could tell that the young woman was unhealthy skinny.
“This is Maya. About a week ago she stumbled in here, barely able to stand.” Mysaria explained.
“Y-y-y-your Gr-race…” Maya tried to sit up and greet Lilyanna until she started to viciously cough.
Jayne rushed to Maya's side and gently pushed her back down. “Save your strength, Maya.”
“May I?” Lilyanna asked Maya as she moved next to the bed.
Maya nodded her head and tried to relax as Lilyanna examined her. The princess pulled the blanket away from Maya’s body and lifted her shirt over her stomach, revealing a bright red rash that was covering most of the surface.
She then pressed her fingers against the flesh, “Does this hurt?”
Maya winced at the sudden that irrupted, “Yes.”
Lilyanna then placed her hand against Maya’s forehead, checking her temperature. “Have you experienced any headaches, chills, body aches, loss of appetite, nausea, dizziness, diarrhea?”
“She has had all of these symptoms, princess.” Mysaria answered.
“Maya has typhoid fever.” Lilyanna diagnosed.
“Typhoid fever?” Jayne asked.
“It’s a bacterial disease that is spread through contaminated water, food, and physical contact.” Lilyanna explained, she then turned to Mysaria. “Do you have a quill and some parchment?”
Mysaria said nothing, giving the teenage boy standing by the doors a quick glance. The boy walked to a table in the corner of the room, reaching into one of the drawers and pulling out the items Lilyanna asked for, handing them to the princess.
“Thank you.” Lilyanna said as she started writing on the parchment. After a few moments Lilyanna stopped writing and handed the paper to Mysaria. “I need these items if I am to heal her.”
Mysaria read the list and gave the girl a look, “Garrat.” She spoke to the boy standing across from her, “Get these items for the princess.”
Garrat took the list and bowed to Mysaria before leaving the room. “Of course, Mistress Mysaria.”
“Do you truly believe that you can heal Maya?” Mysaria asked the second the doors closed again.
“Would you have brought me here if you didn’t think I could?” Was all Lilyanna said in response.
Jayne looked between Lilyanna and Mysaria, wondering what the two were thinking as they stared at each other.
Eventually Mysaria rolled her eyes, “I shouldn’t be surprised by Targaryen stubbornness and arrogance.”
Lilyanna did not know how to feel about that, especially as the only Targaryen that Mysaria personally knew was Daemon, so she decided to ignore the jab.
It did not take long for Garrat to return to the room with all the items that Lilyanna had asked for and silently place them down on the desk.
“I’m also going to need one more thing.” Lilyanna said.
“And what will that be?” Mysaria asked.
“Some sort of distraction in the Red Keep.” Lilyanna answered.
“A distraction?”
“Yes, a distraction. Usually, I would’ve already returned to the Keep by now, the only reason I haven’t is because of your request. And we don’t need my mother or my siblings freaking out and starting a search party for me because I suddenly went missing.” Lilyanna explained.
Mysaria thought about this, “How long will you need?”
“About two hours to make the medicine and to see if its effective.” Lilyanna responded.
Mysaria’s teeth clicked together in annoyance, she would need something that would not only distract those in the Keep but also keep them from actively looking for the princess.
Mysaria reached for the leftover parchment and began to write down her orders, “Jayne, go deliver this to Talya.”
Jayne had opened her mouth to beg her mistress to allow her to stay by Maya’s side, worried about what could happen to her friend while she was gone again, but the look Mysaria gave her caused her to slam her lips back together.
Jayne took the note and walked out the door, giving the Targaryen princess a scathing look.
The I don’t care if you’re a princess, you better save my friend, or else, kind of look.
Lilyanna ignored this, focusing her attention on the ingredients in front of her and the girl whose life she needed to save with them.
~X~
Since she became sick over a week ago, Maya had accepted that she was going to die.
When she became a spy for Mysaria, life for Maya and the young children, teenagers, and adults under her employ had drastically changed.
No longer were they begging for coin, stealing food to feed themselves, or sleeping in the cold and dirty streets every night. Granted, they did not live like the royalty and nobility of Westeros, but it was through Mysaria’s kindness that they could actually enjoy their lives, instead of just surviving.
So, it was easy to forget that at the end of the day they were still smallfolk...
Easy to forget that no matter how comfortable they are now, their lives still revolve around the petty and powerful lords of the continent.
Despite Mysaria being a powerful figure in King’s Landing, she was still a commoner, and a former whore at that. Even with all the money and influence she had, they were still those who refused to do any sort of business with her, looking down on the woman’s former profession and status.
Which is why when Maya fell ill, despite Mysaria having enough gold to pay for proper treatment, every maester that was brought to heal her refused to do so.
In their eyes, why would they risk their reputations on any of them when they could work for a noble family and still receive the same amount of money?
They were just smallfolk; nobody would care if these maesters did nothing to help them. The nobles would care if they died, there would always be plenty of other peasants to take their jobs, to grow their food, to fight their wars.
Eventually they became desperate and brought in common healers and wood witches to try and help Maya, but none of their treatments worked, some even making the girl sicker.
All hope seemed lost until Jayne had the wild idea to ask Princess Lilyanna Targaryen for help.
It took the girl a few hours to convince the spymaster to ask the princess for help. Maya was surprised that Jayne was able to as Mysaria had been adamant to not get directly involved the Targaryen family.
Again...
“Hmm... W-what?” Maya mumbled. The young woman did not know when she had fallen asleep but had woken up feeling better than she had in days.
“Maya! Are you feeling better?” Jayne asked as she quickly moved into Maya’s line of sight. When she had come back from delivering Mysaria’s letter to Tayla, Jayne had found Maya asleep, the medicine Lilyanna had given her had made her drowsy, and she had not left Maya’s side since.
“I feel...I feel good. Better than I have in the past few days.” Maya replied with a smile. She then sat quickly sat up only to feel dizzy and lay back down. “Oh, my head.”
“You shouldn’t try to move around too much. You may be feeling better but you’re still sick, it will take at least a week or two of continuously taking the medication I made before your body will fully recover.” Lilyanna spoke as she stood up from her chair and walked to the bed.
Maya ignored the order and sat up again, she ignored the dizziness and pain that came with the action and bowed her head. “Thank you for saving my life, Your Grace. I know that there is nothing I can do to repay you-”
“Whoa, whoa. Stop it.” Lilyanna gently pushed the older girl back down on the bed, not wanting her to hurt herself. “You don’t need to thank me or hurt yourself trying to. I was just doing what was right.”
Jayne and Maya looked at each other, shocked by the sincerity and earnestness in Lilyanna’s voice.
“You really feel that way, don't you?” The three girls turned around and saw Mysaria standing behind them.
“I do.” Lilyanna said simply, never looking away from Mysaria’s eyes.
Mysaria stared at Lilyanna for a few seconds, “Come with me, princess.” The spymaster then turned on her heel and walked out of the room.
Lilyanna stood up and quickly followed the woman, not wanting to lose sight of her within the maze of hallways.
It did not take long before the pair had reached the end of the hallway and another set of large oak doors. When they entered, Lilyanna noticed that the room was slightly smaller than the other but was styled almost the same only the bed was replaced with a long desk and chair in the center.
The desk was covered in used parchment, some of them were in common tongue, others in languages foreign to the princess.
Lilyanna realized that this had to be Mysaria’s office, the place where the woman conducted the entirety of her operation.
Mysaria sat down not at the desk but in one of the chairs in the corner of the room. The Lysene woman stared at the chair across from her until Lilyanna got the hint and sat down as well.
“Now,” Mysaria began, her eyes locked onto Lilyanna’s, her gaze searching as if the young girl was a puzzle she was trying to piece together. “Tell me the truth, princess. Who are you really? What are you?”
~X~
Lilyanna felt her stomach drop at the question, but she did not let her shock appear on her face. “I have been told I am quite strange. I'm sorry if this bothers you, my lady.”
Mysaria scoffed, “Is that the excuse that you use? That you are simply strange?”
“It's not an excuse, it’s the truth.” Lilyanna replied.
Mysaria said nothing, continuing to stare at the princess. It was obvious that the woman did not believe her.
Lilyanna cleared her throat, wanting to move on from the subject of her strangeness. “I wanted to ask a proposal of you, my lady.”
“A proposal?” Mysaria repeated.
Lilyanna nodded her head, “I want us to work together.”
The only reaction Mysaria gave her was leaning back in her chair and resting her head in her palm.
Lilyanna took this as a sign to continue, “I would help heal whoever you ask of me, whether it's your spies or others you favor, and you would give me information on things and people I seek. Allow me to become one of your clients.”
Mysaria started to laugh, “And why would I go into business with you? Why would I go to you for help? Look around you, I do not require anything from you that I cannot obtain myself, the only reason you are here now is because of desperation.”
Lilyanna was unbothered by this response, “You’re right, I am here because of desperation; you need me.”
Mysaria’s amusement quickly died as she glared at Lilyanna. “And what makes you think that?”
“You said that Maya became sick over a week ago, that was more than enough time for you to find a maester, but you didn’t. When it became clear that Maya’s illness was deathly serious, you sent Jayne to beg for my help. Why would you ask for the help of an untested child, the daughter of the King, unless you had no other choice?” Lilyanna explained.
Mysaria’s glare intensified, “We are not like you, princess. We may bleed the same, but we are not treated as such. I may have the gold to pay for maesters but none of those bastards will risk their precious reputations to help the people they should be working in service of.”
“I know, and it is unfair that you and the common people can’t get the help and basic resources they need just because they don’t come from a prestigious family.” Lilyanna said.
The older woman scoffed, “Is this why you came here today? Hoping that I would be your spy if you gave your services to the poor peasants?”
“No.” Lilyanna immediately said, “It was not my intention when I followed Jayne here to try and gain your favor, I would have helped Maya regardless.”
Lilyanna clenched her fists as she thought about how Maya thanked her earlier. It angered her how surprised her, Jayne, and Mysaria were that she genuinely wanted to help, that life had conditioned them that people, especially ones like her from noble families, did help others, and even when they did there was always some sort of cost.
Lilyanna could not stop herself from thinking of her own death when she thought about the maesters of King’s Landing ignoring Mysaria. How people watched as she was attacked and then murdered, none of them doing anything even as she reached out, begging to be saved, some leaving, and others perversely watching as the light faded from her eyes, ignoring her desire to live.
Lilyanna never wanted anyone to feel as she did in her last moments and would go out of her way to help others, not caring for any detriments to herself.
“That may be true but that still doesn’t answer my question why should I go into business with you?” Mysaria asked.
“Because it would be mutually beneficial for both of us to work together. We can do things that the other cannot, I have the status and the power, and you have the resources and anonymity.” Lilyanna replied.
Mysaria sighed, “I meant why should I trust you?”
Lilyanna tried to speak but Mysaria cut her off, standing up and glaring down at the girl. “As I said before, there is something not right about you, something strange and off-putting. Why should I trust someone who refuses to be honest with me? I will not be put in another situation where I trust one of you Targaryens only to be betrayed, lied to, and have my life put in danger.”
Lilyanna said nothing, sitting deathly still under the White Worm’s gaze. She needed Mysaria and her spy network if she was going to keep her family safe. Seeing Larys with Alicent brought up almost forgotten memories of her first life, back when this world was nothing but fiction.
She allowed herself to become too comfortable in her new life as Lilyanna Targaryen. The changes she made are not substantial enough to stop the Dance of Dragons, and any further changes would not be enough if the people responsible remained.
Larys, the maesters, the Faith, Oldtown, the Hightowers, Otto... So long as they can stand against the Targaryens everything I’m doing will be pointless. I trusted Helaena with my secret, can I really trust Mysaria? From what I know she played both sides, usually going with whoever benefited her the most at that time. Lilyanna thought.
Lilyanna took a breath, “You’re right, it would take a lot to trust me, but what about you? How do I know you won’t go tell my grandfather or Daemon what transpired here?”
Mysaria scoffed, “I am a spymaster, my job is to give information to the highest buyer. It’s the only way to ensure you nobles don’t decide to escalate your petty problems with one another and go to war. We all know the saying ‘When nobles fight, it’s the smallfolk who suffer,’ you just can’t help yourselves.”
“What if I say that by helping me, I will prevent the war that will come later down the line. I won’t let the nobility throw the lives of the smallfolk into chaos.” Lilyanna claimed.
“And how would you do that?” Mysaria asked, her face was emotionless, but Lilyanna could hear the interest in her voice.
Lilyanna built up her resolve making her choice in that moment, a choice that would reverberate and change both of their lives from that point on. “You said that there is something strange about me, well you’re right. So, if I tell you the truth about me will you work with me?”
Mysaria wordlessly returned to her seat, intrigued by the secret the princess was hiding.
Lilyanna sighed, leaning back in her chair and when she opened her mouth; she could not stop the words from coming forth. Lilyanna told the older woman how she lived a different life only to die and be reborn in a new world, leaving out the part that this world was fictional in her pervious life.
She told her about the original timeline, of Rhaenyra becoming heir after the death of her mother and brother, of her having bastard son, the incident at Driftmark, Daemon and Rhaenyra’s marriage, the Greens placing Aegon on the throne after Viserys’ death, the war of succession that occurred immediately afterwards, including how Mysaria died.
Once she finished, Lilyanna stared at Mysaria, waiting for the woman’s response. Mysaria continued to stare at Lilyanna, processing the dire future that was told to her.
After a few minutes, Mysaria spoke again. “Okay. I believe you.”
“Wait, what?” Lilyanna was both shocked and confused, she had expected Mysaria to call her crazy or delusional, to order her out of the room and to never seek her out again, she most certainly did not think that Mysaria would believe her.
“You being an adult instead of a child would explain why you clearly don’t act like one better than you just being more intelligent and mature than your peers.” Mysaria hummed, ignoring Lilyanna embarrassment over how badly she hid her true age. “Besides, when you spoke of the future to come, it was your eyes that gave you away. They were too serious and emotional for you to be making any of this up.”
“My eyes?” Lilyanna asked, unconsciously touching the side of her face.
“You may be able to school your face and temper your voice, but a person can never truly hide the feelings that shine through from their eyes.” Mysaria explained, as a former slave and whore, Mysaria had to learn from experience the ability to read people’s emotions and intentions.
“Regardless, does this mean you will help me?” Lilyanna asked, hopeful that the spymaster would join her side.
“You still haven’t explained why you need a spymaster?” Mysaria stated.
“As I said my grandfather, Otto Hightower had been collaborating with the other members of the Small Council to make my brother Aegon King but the most important person I need to follow at the moment is Larys Strong.” Lilyanna explained.
Mysaria visibly tensed at the mention of Larys. “The Hand’s crippled son. Yes, he is quite… problematic.”
“You have suspected Larys before now?” Lilyanna asked, wondering just what Mysaria knew of the man.
Mysaria nodded, “Talya among others have told me about his meeting with your mother. They have not seen him interacting with anyone suspicious, but he somehow has a way of knowing things that he simply shouldn’t be able to know.”
Lilyanna sighed, “I suspect that Larys might be a greenseer or a warg.”
Mysaria’s eyes widened slightly, “You think he can spy on others because he is a magical being?”
Lilyanna shrugged, “I can’t rule it out as a possibility. As someone who has been reborn, comes from a new family of dragonriders, and who knows that magic exists in this world I can't just ignore that this.”
“That would be quite reckless to do.” Mysaria agreed, she then straightened her posture. “Fine. I’m willing to become partners.”
Lilyanna grinned widely, “Thank you-"
Lilyanna stopped herself when she saw Mysaria raise one of her hands up.
“I am willing to become partners but there must be conditions.”
“What kind of conditions?” Lilyanna asked wearily, the feeling growing more pronounced as the woman smiled at her.
“Along with using your expertise as a healer you must also work to change the system.”
“Change the system?”
“If I help you that means we will be working towards securing your sister’s position. And from what my birds tell me, Princess Rhaenyra is fond of you, even respecting your opinion when it came to making that oil for the King and giving your dragon egg to her son.” Mysaria stated, smiling when Lilyanna rolled eyes at that last fact, remembering when Talya told her of the scolding the Queen gave her daughter for that act.
“So, it stands to show that you have quite the pull with the future Queen. I want you to promise that you will speak in your sister’s ear about improving the lives of the smallfolk when she ascends the Iron Throne.”
Lilyanna sighed, “I believe you are giving me too much credit, Rhaenyra only respects my opinion when it comes to our family.”
While Lilyanna was able to get her older sister to care more about herself and their siblings than she would have originally, that care did not extend past them. Rhaenyra was like most nobles; she did not care about the commoners or anyone below her in status.
In the source material, Rhaenyra did not want to be Queen because she was fighting for the rights of the oppressed, like women, bastards, and peasants.
She was not a revolutionary feminist that was looking to break the wheel and distributed power equally. As selfish as it sounds, Rhaenyra was fighting for herself, and her family (her children) because she believed what was rightfully hers had been stolen.
This could be seen in House of the Dragon when Lucerys’ claim to Driftmark was called into question by Vaemond Velaryon after Corlys was injured in the Stepstones.
To try and pull Rhaenys to her side after letting her and Corlys believe that she and Daemon murdered their son, she proposed betrothing Jacaerys and Lucerys to Rhaenys' granddaughters, Baela and Rhaena.
She did this not only to ensure that Rhaenys did not side with the Greens but to make Lucerys look more legitimate and give him Velaryon children through Rhaena.
Ignoring the fact that by all right, Rhaenyra’s sons had no claim to Driftmark and that the title should go Baela and Rhaena.
It's even worse in the show because it looks like Rhaenyra is trying to steal power, wealth, and resources from a black family and give it to her white son whose masquerading as a mixed raced. Lilyanna thought as a grimace formed on her face.
Mysaria disagreed, “And I think you have too little faith in your place in the royal family.”
“And what if I’m right and Rhaenyra decided that the smallfolk and continued to go fuck themselves?” Lilyanna asks.
The gentle smile Mysaria wore did not match the words that came out of those lips. “I’m sure your sister will understand the importance of the smallfolk when her reign is, shorter than average.”
“My father has done nothing for the smallfolk and yet I don’t see him being overthrown by the people.” Lilyanna bristled.
“That is true but when your father took the Throne the only competition, he had was a woman and his terror of a brother, and even now he’s a dead man walking. Rhaenyra on the other hand, I’m sure there are plenty of lords that won’t put much too much of fight to defend her with your three brothers still living.” Mysaria smirked, enjoying the anger she could see reflected in the girl’s eyes.
Lilyanna took a deep breath, stopping herself from doing something she would regret. “All I can promise is that I will try. Like a said before, I’m not a miracle worker.”
“I suppose that is all I can ask, for now.” Mysaria conceded. “But what else do you want me to look into?”
After speaking with Mysaria for some time now, Lilyanna was not surprised that the woman knew there was something else she wanted to ask. “I want you to look into the Hightowers, the Citadel, and The Faith of the Seven.”
“Anything specific?” Mysaria asked.
“I want you took look into the deaths of Prince Aemon, Prince Baelon, and Queen Aemma.” Lilyanna replied.
This time Mysaria’s mouth dropped open in shock, “You do know what you are suggesting, don't you? You believe that the maesters, the Faith, and even your mother's family had something to do with the deaths of three royals.”
“I believe that there’s been a conspiracy against the Targaryens since the Three Conquerors subjugated most of the continent under my family’s rule.” The princess explained.
Mysaria placed her head in hands, feeling the beginnings of an oncoming headache. “By the Gods, what have I gotten myself into?” She asked herself.
“Does this mean you’ve changed your mind?” Lilyanna cheekily asked, smiling a bit when Mysaria glared at her.
Mysaria huffed, “Now I’m a really going to make sure you keep your end of the bargain.”
Lilyanna pressed her lips together, “I feel like I’m in danger.”
Mysaria stood up, leading the girl out of the building. “I will be in touch.” Mysaria said once they reached the entrance
“How will I know when you’re calling me?” Lilyanna asked.
“Trust me, you will know when I want you, Lilyanna Targaryen.” Mysaria smirked, pushing a loose strand of hair behind Lilyanna’s ear, and walking back inside, the doors thundering shut.
Lilyanna stood there for a few moments processing what she had went through during the course of the day.
“I still feel like I’m in danger.” Lilyanna said to herself, thinking back to Mysaria’s smirks and veiled threats.
Lilyanna walked back to the Keep thinking about whether working with the White Worm would come back to bite her later down the road.
~X~
Lilyanna did not know how to react when she returned to the Keep and learned that there had been a fire in the kitchen.
Lilyanna found this out when she went to her mother’s chambers.
“Are you feeling better, Lily? Has your headache gone away? I would have come to check on you, but I had to question the servants after the fire in the kitchen.” Alicent said as she pulled Lilyanna into a hug, using her hand to push back her daughter’s curls.
“My head feels better, mother. I just wanted to see that you were not stressing yourself over the fire.” Lilyanna skillfully lied; her gaze focused on her mother's lady in waiting standing in the corner of the room.
She missed her mother’s smile as Talya turned to face her. The servant/spy's face was blank for a few seconds only for her to quickly smirk at the princess and school her features when Alicent turned around.
Lilyanna had to forcibly tear her gaze away from the woman and focus on the words her mother was saying.
I really am in danger, aren’t I?
