Alternative AU for the Iron Lady
Imagine if… Jahaerys instead of arranging a marriage between Viserys and Aemma Arryn, he come to the conclusion that his family was fracturing rapidly (cof cof because of him) so strengthening family ties will be for the best, and what is best than a marriage between siblings! At that time our Iron Lady was seventeen and Visery’s recently turned thirteen years old. Baelon I was entirely against it, he wanted his children ( as far as possible) to marry for love and not by obligation, but his father was the king and no one couldn’t go against a king wishes.
In the year 93 d.c the marriage was celebrated, it was a large festivity with immeasurable riches and nobles from every part of the reign. A noble lady would be joyous that her wedding will be the talking of the court for years to pass, but the older daughter of Baleon I was not happy nor sad, her usual stoic face was more unreadable than ever, not letting a single emotion visible reflected in her features. On the other hand, the groom couldn’t stop looking at how the beauty of her sister was enhanced by the soft lights, with a look of idiotic foolishness in his eyes.
Rhaenyra came shortly after in the year 97 dc, the labor happened without a fuss, but her loud and strong cries were heard all along the castle making her presence known. During Rhaenyra’s pregnancy the queen secluded herself in Maegor’s tower until delivery, at the expense of Visery’s pleads, with only the company of her lady’s in waiting; two women of hair as red as blood and a rather strange attitude, nobody saw them ever spoke a word, the only information about them is that they came from Asshai and were some type of priestesses back there. They’re called the Red maidens, because that was the only color that they would use on the every day.
Some years later, the queen fell pregnant again, and prince Baelor second of his name was born, being the first son of the queen and king, celebration of his birth didn’t took long to arrive.
In the first years of reign the king was not seen without his sister-queen, even at the meetings with the council she was there, always observing. Visery’s couldn’t end a phrase without looking first at his sister for approval. Some complained about the young king being manipulated by his wife, specially Otto Hightower, but complaints were silenced rapidly by Visery’s himself.
More children came later; Aegon II, their second daughter Healena, Aemon I, and lastly their last son, Daeron I Targaryen. The children were not quiet ones, making a fuss everywhere they went, specially Aegon and his jealous tantrums when her mother will pay attention to his other brothers more than him. But the severity of her mother teaching, reigning them with an iron fist, was enough to keep them in line.
As the years passed in Viserys reign more power his sister started to have, but when Otto Hightower was chosen as hand of the king (much to the iron lady's chagrin, she noticed how her grip on his husband was starting to loosen due to Otto’s schemes) began to occupy more and more space. Introducing himself as Visery’s utmost confident and pushing his younger daughter, Alice Hightower, to influence Rhaenyra through a hollow friendship (in the queen opinion).
Her Brother Daemon although being her strongest ally, his constant rash behaviour was leading him to always be away from the Red Keep, making him not much reliable.
Everything that the Iron Lady painstakingly built, was slowly crumbling in front of her eyes, And she would do ANYTHING not to see it collapse.