The journey to Kingslanding was quiet. For myself anyways. Serena and Lyarra were speaking about their cousins that they have not seen in so long, Rickon was fast asleep for the majority of the journey and Edwynn forced Ned to play dragons with her.

"I'm just saying that he was kind the last time i spoke to him" Serena said. "He is anything but kind" Lyarra shot back. "He saved me the last lemon cake!" Serena exclaimed. "He put me in a coma for days" Ned joined in.

Serena went quiet as she slumped in her chair. "That shut you up" Lyarra teased. I laughed at them all as i suddenly heard the gates open. "We're here" i said nervously. "It will be fine, mother" Ned said seeing my discomfort.

I gave him a weak smile. I woke Rickon up from his sleep as Edwynn grabbed my hand. "Now remember, we're here to protect our family. I need you all to behave" i said. "Are you going to behave?" Serena teased. I raised my eyebrow at her as she smirked.

"You'll have to speak to father so there will be no rumours about our family. You'll need to behave too" she said. I shook my head. "Get out of the carriage" i said with a small chuckle.

We all climbed out of the carriage as Cregan stepped out of his own followed by Neds hound, Ben. I did not give him a second glance as one of the guards walked over to greet us. "Where is everyone?" Cregan whispered to me.

I shuffled uncomfortably not wanting to speak to him. But he was right. We are a respected house. Lords, ladies and guards should greet us at the gates. "Alysanne, Lord Stark" ser Harrold Westerling said as gave be an apologetic look.

I knew ser Harrold Westerling from my early days in court. He was a kind man and was never rude to me, even when the court presumed i was a bastard. He grabbed my hands in his as i flinched slightly. "Welcome back, princess."

"Thank you, ser Harrold... May i ask, do you know where the princess Helaena is?" i asked. "I believe she is in the throne room with the rest of your family, your grace. Or she will be with her children in her chambers" he said. I gripped onto my stomach as my heart dropped.

"Her children?" i questioned. "Yes... Princess" he said. "I... Who is her husband?" i asked. Ser Harrold paused. "Prince Aegon, your grace" he said confused about my little to no knowledge. I sighed angrily trying to keep myself steady.

I felt Cregans stare burn into me. He knew this news pained me. "Very well... Do you know if the princess Rhaenyra is here?" i asked. "She is, princess. She arrived yesterday... They are presenting their petition to the council as we speak" he said. Edwynn grabbed my hand tighter as he spoke.

"Now? Right now?" Cregan questioned. "Yes, lord" he said. "Let us through. We must be there" i said. Ser Harrold smiled as he nodded. "Follow me" he said.

Cregan lifted Edwynn up into his arms as she gripped onto him tightly. We all followed ser Harrold through the quiet castle halls as Cregan coughed to announce himself.

"What are you doing?" i asked. "I'm doing nothing, your grace" he said. "Stop calling me that" i mumbled. "Is that not what you want, your grace. You don't want me to call you wife at present so, what else am i supposed to call you?"

"Why are you acting like this is my fault? You know what that word means to me. You know that it means danger. And you know how important that girl is to me. And you hid it from me" i spat through gritted teeth.

"I just did not want to worry you whilst you have a babe in your stomach. You know what can happen if you feel stressed during a pregnancy. I sent my men to check on her and she was fine so i felt no need to tell you" he spat back.

I scoffed at his words. "Is that really all you care about? Your legacy that i'm carrying? Nice" i said as i scrunched up my nose. "Aly, that is not what i meant. I just-" I walked further away from him as he sighed.

"I just did not want this to harm you."

Ser Harrold gave me a weak smile as he saw my discomfort. "Lovers quarrel?" he questioned with laughter. I gave him a cold look as his smile faded. The awkward tension was broken as we were met with the throne room doors.

"Keep you heads up high. Don't let them make you feel unworthy to be here, alright?" i said. All the children nodded. "Open the doors, ser Harrold" i said. "Of course, your grace."

The two families stood at each side of the room. Team black and team green. The Hightower kin and the Targaryen kin. Both staring eachother down as if it was war.

"As hand i speak for the kings voice on this, and all other matters. The crown will now hear the petitions. Ser Vaemond from house Velaryon" the kings hand, ser Otto Hightower called out to the court.

Ser Vaemond walked into the middle of the room with his head held high. "My queen, my lord hand. The history of our noble houses extends beyond the Seven Kingdoms to Old Valyria. For as long as house Targaryen has ruled the skies, house Velaryon has ruled the seas. When the doom fell on old Valyria, our houses became the last of their kind. Our forebears came to this land and-"

Suddenly, ser Vaemonds speech was interrupted by the large metal doors opening. Everyone turned their heads as their mouths fell open. It had been years since Cregan and i set foot in Kingslanding and my children have never been here.

"Lord Cregan of the house Stark and lady Alysanne of house Targaryen. Protectors of the North and the rulers of Runestone!" one of the knights called out. I gulped slightly seeing many familiar faces. But the most prominent one was Otto Hightower, with a scowl across his face.

I did not know the man well, but it seemed as if he hated me. How could someone who i never met before despise me so? Edwynn felt the stares too as she nuzzled her head into Cregans shoulder.

Rhaenyra turned her head giving me a small smile as my father smirked at the Hightowers. He knew if the Starks backed Luke's claim, not many would dare to challenge him.

We all stood behind Rhaenyra and her children. "Sorry we are late, ser hand... But we wouldn't dare miss this" Cregan taunted. Ser Vaemond cleared his throat as all the attention was back on him. "As i was saying before i was interrupted, my house is-"

I wasn't even listening to the Velaryon man. I scanned everyone around the room until my eyes landed on Helaena. I took a sigh of relief seeing she seemed normal. She was staring at me from across the room as i gave her a small wave.

But Helaena was much different. She was much taller but she seemed meeker. She had her head hung as she stood beside her mother. She was twisting her rings around nervously as i frowned.

It was then my eyes landed on her husband. I could tell Aegon was drunk by his tired eyes. He had a large smirk across his face as he stared at the chaos. He didn't care about the outcome as long as someone came out with a loss.

"I have spent my entire life on Driftmark defending my brothers seat. I am lord Corlys's closest kin, his own blood. The true, unimpeachable blood of house Velaryon runs through my veins" Vaemond said.

I rolled my eyes at his last comment. "As it does my sons, the offspring of Laenor Velaryon" Rhaenyra spoke up. "If you cared so much about your houses blood, ser Vaemond, you would not be so bold as to supplant it's rightful heir. No, you only speak for yourself and your own ambition-"

"You will have a chance to make your own petition, princess Rhaenyra. Do ser Vaemond the courtesy of allowing his to be heard" Queen Alicent interrupted. "Maybe we should all just shut up so we can get this over with and go home" Cregan mumbled.

I chuckled lightly under my breath but shut up quickly remembering that i was still angry with him. Ser Vaemond turned to Rhaenyra taking a step towards her. "What do you know of Velaryon blood, princess?" he questioned.

Nyra scowled at him keeping her head held high. "I could cut my veins and show it to you and you still wouldn't recognise it. This is about the future and survival of my house... Not yours."

"Hey! Remember that is the heir to the iron throne you are speaking to, ser Vaemond" i snapped. Vaemond then turned to me.

"And remember i am the heir to Driftmark throne, lady. So i would hold your tongue. I am great friends with your cousin who you stole Runestone from. From what he says, i presume you will be back here fighting for your seat soon enough" he said.

My face twitched with every word he spoke. "I'd advise you to keep your mouth shut, ser Vaemond" Cregan muttered through gritted teeth.

"Is that true, mother?" Lyarra asked. "Of course not... This man has no idea what he is taking about" i whispered to her. Vaemond turned back to Otto Hightower as his irritating voice echoed the throne room.

"My queen, my lord hand. This is a matter of blood, not ambition. I place the continuation and the survival of my house and my line above all. I humbly put myself before you as my brother's successor. The lord of Driftmark, the lord of the Tides."

"Thank you, ser Vaemond. Princess Rhaenyra, you may now speak for your son, Lucerys Velaryon" Otto said. Rhaenyra rolled her eyes as she stood in the middle of the room. "If i am to grace this farce with some answer, i will start by reminding this court that nearly twenty years ago in this court-"

Once again, everyone's heads were turned by the sound of the room doors clanging open. A smile crept onto my face as i saw my uncle, Viserys Targaryen, the king walk inside. The man looked as if he could die with every step he took. He had a golden mask covering half his face and a walking stick that he clinged to.

"King Viserys of house Targaryen. First of his name, king of the Andles, the Rhoynar and the First Men. Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and protector of the realm."

The whole room fell quiet with shock. I have heard news that my uncle could barley walk to the other side of his room without faltering let alone all the way to the iron throne.

"He looks like shit" Rickon whispered to his sister as Cregan hit the back of his head. "Hush now" Cregan whispered to him. "I will sit the throne today" Viserys muttered to Otto Hightower. "Of course, your grace" the man said.

I heard the king sigh as he realised he had to climb the iron throne... But he new he would... For his daughter. This was all for his daughter.

He stumbled forward as the guards hurried over to him. "I'm fine" the king said as they backed off. I gasped slightly as his crown fell from his head. My father squeezed my shoulder in comfort as he made his way over to him. Daemon grabbed his crown as Viserys groaned in pain. "I said i'm fine" the king said.

He lifted his head slowly realising it was only his brother. "Come on" Daemon said helping his brother reach the throne. The king struggled but eventually reached the throne. He sat down as Daemon placed the crown on his head. "Your grace" Daemon said with a small nod.

Not many knew that my father truly cared for his brother. But in actuality, everything he did was to receive affection or at least attention from him. I smiled at the scene, taking Nyras hand in mine.

"I must admit my confusion" Viserys began. "I do not understand why petitions are being heard over a settled succession. The only one present who might offer keener insight into lord Corlyses wishes, is the princes Rhaenys."

Rhaenys seemed almost shocked that her voice would be heard in this matter caused by men. "Indeed, your grace. It was ever my husbands will that Driftmark be passed through ser Laenor, to his true born son, Lucerys Velaryon. His mind never changed, nor did my support of him."

It was as if all of Lucerys's closest family took a sigh of relief. "In fact, princess Rhaenyra has just informed me of her desire to betroth her sons, Jace and Luke, to lord Corlyses granddaughters. Baela and Rhaena. A proposal to which i heartily agree" she said.

I saw my sisters smile at Jace and Luke once they heard the news. I was glad to hear my sisters would be wed to kind men and not some old, greedy lords. But other than Luke, Baela and Rhaena... Jace did not seem to pleased.

I saw his gaze drift back in my families direction. I looked behind me to see Lyarra with her mouth open in shock. Serena noticed this too. Lyarra hung her head once she saw Jaces gaze. Serena grabbed her hand giving her a weak smile. "Are you alright?" she asked.

Lyarra shook off her sisters touch as she folded her arms. "I'm fine" she spat with venom. I held my my tongue not wanting to push her to speak. I knew better.

"Well, the matter is settled.... Again... I hereby reaffirm, prince Lucerys of house Velaryon, heir to Driftmark" Viserys called out. "Thank the gods. Now we can leave" Cregan joked as he nudged Luke playfully. But ser Vaemond was not finished yet.

"You break law and years of tradition to install your daughter as heir" he spat. "Don't you dare tell me who deserves to inherit the name Velaryon. No... I will not allow it."

"Allow it? Do not forget yourself, Vaemond" Viserys said. "That is no true Velaryon!" ser Vaemond shouted as Luke flinched. "And certainly no nephew of mine."

"Go to your chambers. You have said enough" Rhaenyra said sternly. "Lucerys is my true born grandson. And you, no more than the second son of Driftmark" Viserys said calmly. Serena chuckled under her breath, but shut herself up when ser Vaemond scowled at her.

"You may run your house as you see fit. Letting your nephew run away and have bastard babes" he growled staring at me. "But you will not decide the future of mine. My house survived the doom" he said. "Excuse me?" i questioned.

"Let me ask the court. Who here was at the wedding of lord Stark and Alysanne Targaryen?" Vaemond called out as the room fell silent. "Hold your tongue now, or i shall remove it for you" Cregan said standing in front of me and the children.

"Did i offend you, lord Stark? I mean, bed what ever whore you wish. Have as many bastard children you want. But do not dare bring them to this court and pretend they are true borns. And gods be damned... I will not see my houses ended by another house full of-"

Ser Vaemond did not dare to finish his sentence. But it was too late. He glared at Rhaenyra and myself along with our children. "Say it" my father said. Vaemond smirked.

"They're children, are bastards! And they are nothing but whores. I suggest lord Stark, you send her back to the brothel along with the kingdoms 'future queen'."

The room gasped as Edwynn hid herself in her fathers shoulder. I gulped my worries clutching my stomach. I felt the stares in the room and i knew my children felt it too. This was what i promised myself many ago. My children would never grow up like i did.

Never have their legitimacy questioned, never grow up without me and would never feel alone. I grabbed Neds arm as he tried to catch his breath. Viserys clambered to his feet as he grabbed his dagger. "I will half your tongue for that" he said through gritted teeth.

But he did not have to. In less than a minute, my father grabbed his sword and sliced Vaemonds head clean off, leaving only his body with his tongue as half his head rolled over to Cregan.

Helaena covered her ears turning away from the scene. Serena gasped loudly gripping her twin brother in fear as Rickon stared at the body. Lyarra stood in shock as Ned hid behind me. Edwynn finally lifted her head out of the crook of her fathers neck, giggling at the scene.

"He can keep his tongue."

Cregan scoffed as he kicked half the head away. "Disarm him!" Otto shouted as the guards rushed towards Daemon. "No need" my father said with a sweet smile as he cleaned his sword.

Viserys groaned tiredly as he fell to the ground. "Call the maesters!" Alicent called out rushing to his aid. "Father!" Rhaenyra exclaimed. "Please, your grace, you must take somebody for the pain!" Alicent said trying to hold him up.

"No, no... I must make it right... I must make everything right."