It was very early in the morning when Ser Lyonel called for her, “Princess? the Queen is requesting your presence,”
“Of course!” she answered standing up, it had surprised her to hear Ser Lyonel call her Princess, it had pleased her greatly, for the first time in a while he sounded.. kind “Please let the Queen know I shall be there in haste,” she asked Ser Lyonel as she got up ready into a more appropriate to see her sister.
“No need my lady,” Ser Lyonel stopped her and stepped aside allowing her sister to enter the chambers. “She is here.”
“Sister,” Helaena muttered surprised.
“Sister.”Rhaenyra greeted with a smile as she made her way to Helena's and hugged her, mind racing torn about why her sister had come all the way here to visit her.
They separated and Rhaenyra guided them to the table and sat down.
“Your grace,” Ser Lyonel bowed, “I shall be outside should you require anything,” he announced and walked out.
Once Ser Lyonel had closed the door Rhaenyra turned to Helaena, “Hope you aren't too full from breaking your fast.”Rhaenyra said with a gentle smile, “I have ordered some lemon cakes, I know the first moons of pregnancy can be ghastly and those cakes were the only thing I could eat in the morning.”
Helaena froze not knowing what to say, not knowing exactly how she should react.
“Helaena,” Rhaenyra calls for her name softly, “I promise I will do what I can to keep you and your child safe, we are blood, and there is so little of our family left,” Rhaenyra explained, tears forming in her eyes. “We must look after each other,”
“I'm sorry,” Helaena apologized as tears formed in her eyes before she could even react, “I never wished for any of this,” she covered her face crying, the worst part was that she didn't even really know what she was referring to, there was so much to lament over. Her recent pregnancy Rhaenys, and her kid's deaths, the usurpation of her crown, the death of their father, and the horrible things her mother did to Rhaenyra. There was so much pain everywhere she looked, every time she breathed, every hallway was haunted by a ghost. Her father, Lucerys, Jahaerys, and him.
Rhaenyra gave her a teary smile and held her hand, “We both have lost so much already sister” she said, “no need to apologize for something you had no control over.” she said, “on the contrary, I will forever apologize for what Daemon did, I am truly sorry sister”
Helaena appreciated the apology, she really did, she believed her sister was sorry for the loss of her child but she also knew that she had Daemon at her side, that she still loved him with all her heart and he laid at her side at night, that fact shattered something in Haelana, to know the man who ordered the slaughter of her children lived well, that he was so loved by his children and Rhaenyra, she felt it unfair.
She said nothing of this to her sister, of course, deciding to focus on the good and how her sister had been merciful to her. So she gave her sister a small smile, “Thank you, sister,”
“There is one more thing we should discuss,” Rhaenyra readjusted sitting more regally in the chair, The dragon Queen making an appearance.
“What is it, sister?” Helaena asked.
“Your mother,” Rhaenyra said harshly, “ Alicent cannot know of his Helaena,” Rhaenyra said sternly, “There are still many who want me off my throne, many here in the castle who are still loyal to your mother and the greens, they will never stop-”
“She will never stop” Helaena interrupted angrily. “ You meant to say that my mother will never stop.” she almost spits, anger filling her veins and rage filling her eyes.
Her mother was an enigma for everyone except Helaena. She knew her mother better than she knew herself, even if her mother couldn't see it. Helaena had always been called the delusional one but her mother surpassed her. First, she would allow ambition and hate to rule her every decision and her actions she took to be then eaten by guilt and remorse when those actions reciprocated with consequences, on and on the cycle would go, or how Helaena always thought of it, a boat that swayed never being able to move forward. If her mother learned of the pregnancy Helaena knew her child would be another pawn in the game, another child's life to be put at risk to discredit Rhaenyra.
A knock on the door caught their attention, a maid walked in with a tray of sweets. “Let us eat sister,” Rhaenyra smiled delightedly. “ Being upset will do you nor the baby no good.”
Helaena gave Rhaenyra a teary and kind smile as the cakes were served.
That's how she spent the morning, sharing lemon cakes with her sister and recalling some of the few good memories they both shared, like remembering their father. Viserys hadn't always been the best of fathers to her, she knew he had loved her more than he certainly ever loved any of her brothers, she wondered sometimes if it was because she was a girl but deep in her heart she knew it was because she looked like Rhaenyra. He was kind in the way he would listen to her ramblings and mumbling, he would encourage her love for bugs, and make sure she was taught the knowledge she desired.
He also used to bring her the finest dresses, they would of course be red or golden, sometimes purple like Rhaenyras. Her mother of course wouldn't allow that, so her dresses gathered dust in her trunks after many dresses were never worn, her father stopped gifting them to her.
“It has been truly a well-needed break from my responsibilities but I am sure I am needed in other places,” she said whipping her face from any left crumbs from the lemon cakes, she stood up and whipped her gown. “I shall be seeing you soon sister, I'll send Mysaria for you when we have an idea of how to handle the news of your pregnancy.”
“Of course sister,” she said and bowed with respect
When she looked back up Rhaenyra was looking at her with a soft smile, “I’ll protect you sister I promise,” she said and walked out of the chambers, after she excited Ser Lyonel had walked back in, “are we to see your lady mother this afternoon, lady Helaena?” he asked.
“Oh, yes thank you Ser Lyonel,” she said walking towards him, as she walked out of the door she couldn't help but look back at him and once again his icy glare was back, she quickly looked away. No matter how much Helaena wanted to pretend she was loved, she knew her family had taken every single opportunity from her, especially when they tore her children from her side.
As she and Ser Lyonel made their way down the castle Helena couldn't help the dread that filled her, she feared her mother already knew, how could she not. ifMysaria and her people know? Helaena knew her mother had ears everywhere, as he had always had them since back when she turned Queen.
As they approached Helena hesitated to speak, terror filled her throat and the air spaced her lungs, suddenly there was no air going into her lungs, so she put a hand on her throat panicking.
Ser Lyonel seemed to not realize that she was no longer following behind him.
A strange sound leaves her lungs, a whistle-like sound.
As she closes her eyes and leans against the wall, she feels Ser Lyonel before she hears him. He is holding onto her arms and helping her up.
"Lady Helena! Lady Helena!" he yelled, shaking her firmly, she felt her vision blur, and then suddenly-
"PRINCESS!" the man Ser Lyonel screamed in her face and she opened her eyes and then she inhaled, a long inhale of air, finally reaching her lungs, she hadn't realized her eyes were closed.
She takes deep quick breaths as she regains a sense of who she is and where she is.
"Thank you," she whispers shaking with tears in her eyes and holding onto his arms.
"It- It was nothing, Your Highness," he whispered squeezing her shoulders shortly, "should we retrieve to your chambers? I will call the maester to check you."
"No no," She shakes her head, lets go of Ser Lyonel, and takes a step back trying to fix her dress. "I- I need to see my mother,"
"Are you sure princess?" He asks worried, true worry and concern taking over his face.
She nods fidgeting with her skirt, "Let us continue,"
They keep going on their way, Ser Lyonel throwing concerned looks at her from time to time.
"HELAENA!" Alicent screamed banging on the door, "Helaena is that you?!"
"Lady Hightower back away!" she heard one of the guards outside her mother's cell.
"I AM THE QUEEN!" She smacked the door.
"No longer," Helaena said as she and Ser Lyonel approached. "My sister is Queen and not long before that it was I who was Queen," she said walking into view of the cell, her chin high.
"How DARE YOU!" she yelled banging on the door.
"NO HOW DARE YOU!" Helena yelled rushing to the door and banging it, startling Alicent back away, awe and shook in her face.
"YOU CANNOT SPEAK AT ME!" Alicent said angrily.
"Yes I can, this is all your fault," Helaena snarled.
"I have done nothing but what was best for us!" she exclaimed offended, "It was I WHO DID THE BEST FOR US, IT WAS I WHO SAVED OUR LIVES, IT WAS I WHO DID WHAT WAS RIGHT!"
"YOU AND YOUR ARROGANCE, YOUR HATE AND AMBITION, AND YOU AND YOUR STUPID REVENGE AGAINST A GIRL WHO WANTED NOTHING BUT WHAT WAS HERS!"
She sobbed as fist banged the door.
"YOU WHO KILLED ME LITTLE BOY! YOU WHO KILLED LUCERYS !" She yelled again, trembling as her legs fell on her knees. " YOU ARE NO QUEEN AND NO MOTHER, YOU ARE A ENVIOUS SUCKING LIFE LEACH!"
there was a long silence.
She had done it.
She had told her mother everything she had thought.
"Your Highness." Ser Lyonel whispered, " We should probably leave" he gently helped her up.
She could hear screams and banging in the back but it all felt numb, fuzzy like her favorite blue dress, soft, floaty.
"Princess we are here," Ser Lyonel said as he gently placed her arm in the maid's hands, they will help you get ready.
As the maids helped her she noticed something, they were actually helping her into the chambers.
they were touching her.
and then she heard her own voice, her scream.
"PRINCESS!" the maids exclaimed.
"Out" she whispered arms around herself, tight, her eyes shut.
"We need to finish getting you ready." One maid said sweetly, so sweet like nectar too sweet, to disguise her fake feelings, nausea washed Helena like a wave of the stickiest fruits.
"No!" she stepped away, "Do not touch me, and get out!"
a strong arm pulled and someone's hand forced hers open, something was placed in it.
"Your grace we have news from the king," she said.
"OUT ALL OF YOU!"She finally snapped screaming and her hands going to her ears, the piece of paper forgotten as he
"But we- "the maid explained.
"I do not care, the princess said to go," he said in a stern tone, opening the door. "And you are leaving, now."
She could hear the maids rushing out of her chambers.
"Princess, do you need anything?" Ser Lyonel asked.
"No, no please I need to be alone. "she sobbed as she made her way to the floor, sitting on it.
She had finally removed her hands from her hair and gently put them down when they touched something other than the carpet.
Paper.
she curiously looked at it, before putting it up and studying it.
My Dearest Wife,
I shall make sure you and our children get out, as I expect our mother has told you, people are still loyal to us, to me, the rightful heir to the throne.
Just writing this letter has caused me so much pain dear sister, I shall make sure preparations are in place.
be ready with my heirs, we will make a move soon.
Aegon II Targaryen, The unburnt and True Heir of the Iron Throne.
Her hands shook as she crushed the paper with rage, and with that, she stood up and threw the piece of paper onto the fire. As she observed the fire she realized something, if what it took for her baby to be safe was to turn Aegon in, she would deliver her head straight to her sister on a silver platter.
She turns around and walks out of her chambers, " I need to see Lady Mysaria"she says to Ser Lyonel without looking at him.
" For what reason your Highness?" Ser Lyonel quickly followed her.
"I'm delivering something important," Helena answered.
"What?" Ser Lyonel inquired looking at the empty hands of the princess.
"My brother's head," Helena said stopping at her sister's chambers.
Been doing some artwork the past week and decided to do my favourite power couple from my book (Autumn’s Subconscious, which is still currently in works ^-^). Jack Ashwood is the flaming Yang and Celena is the icy Yin. They are both survivors struggling to find their path on the Earth, but fate keeps pushing them together and, sooner or later, their psychological wounds would heal and they find their true connections with one and another, which is why they’re my favourite ship of the Hellborn Series.
