8º If you can't beat them, break them
Haelyx was walking through the gardens of Avalon Palace with a stroller with babies. Iolanthe was obviously jealous of her brothers. Haelyx could only hope that the girl would get over her jealousy at some point. The birth of the twins had been interesting.
She had fought for hours to get Helga out of her body. The girl was plump, much plumper than Iolanthe, although she had red hair and purple eyes like her sister. She was energetic and loud, but very smiling
Salazar had been born right after and much more easily, a true Targaryen, the Queen had said when she saw the child. He had straight silver hair, with big blue eyes like Queen Aemma's. Salazar's birth had been so simple compared to Helga's that she had hardly noticed it and she had been very surprised when they gave her a boy.
The idea of the stroller had been introduced because Haelyx refused to let another woman carry one of her children in her arms when she couldn't. Iolanthe was now more skilled at walking and did so most of the time, but for long journeys she still preferred the arms of her beloved mother.
Edmyn said he didn't feel jealous, but Haelyx knew he did. She walked to Edmyn's office and looked at the paperwork.
-You should leave me...
-No, you are already busy teaching the new wizards and witches. Honestly, there are days when I think you could do the paperwork with your eyes closed before facing those little and not so little beasts
Haelyx smiled. She couldn't say anything, the magical recruits were mostly taught by the witches. But Haelyx was educating the witches and her apprentices. The women had signed a magical contract, absolutely eager to learn more magic.
A couple of them had shown talent for making wands. Haleyx could do her magic perfectly without a wand, but they helped others a lot, especially Edmyn who was busy in both the Red Keep and the Palace of Fallen Stars. They had given his palace that nickname after Oscar decorated it with a rare mineral that glowed in the dark.
Anyway, the wands were still beginner's jobs and they exploded, sometimes. Most wizards and witches now knew how to summon shields without words. There was no evil that did not bring at least some good in disguise.
She, too, was finding more potion ingredients than she thought possible. She heartily appreciated the detailed illustrations that the house elves had made of each ingredient.
The bad thing was the animals, surprisingly there were a few, but the vast majority did not exist. The witches believed that they were beings of old that were already extinct, but Haelyx knew that they did not exist in this world in the first place.
Still, in this world there were many, many, many strange animals that Haelyx hadn't even begun to hear about and that had interesting effects on potions.
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Haelyx ducked in time to dodge a feather that was headed straight for her right eye. The girl who had failed the Wingardium Leviosa was the youngest in the class, only eleven years old, and she began to sob at the thought that she was going to be executed for almost harming her Queen.
It took Haelyx a while to convince her that nothing bad was going to happen to her. That this was a normal accident and no one was going to punish her for it. Even so, it took a while for the girl to relax again and be able to do the spell correctly.
-They are improving. – The usual teacher approached Haelyx. – In less than a decade we will be able to teach only eleven-year-old children. Most adults just want to learn the basic magic that will help them and that's it.
-It's not like they can learn more. Their magical circuits are not well developed. Only teenagers have a chance. – Haelyx looked at one of the girls who were working on her spells. She was her age and she had been lucky to have been taken away before she started selling herself in a brothel. Haelyx believed her name was Amerys, as did all the children of Valyrian lineage she had brought forth; she knew she would soon be assigned a Valyrian surname. – She is my sister, it still surprises me to know that I have brothers the same age as me
-Yeah…. It's incredible, most of the inhabitants feel a certain nostalgia. But not Valyrian children. – The teacher looked at her. – Even I feel it, the magic of this land welcomes you. She welcomes you like a loving mother to her lost children.
-Yeah…. This land is wise, I guess there's no place like true home. – Haelyx smiled at the witch next to her. - Is it true that my brother-in-law has shown some interest in the beautiful Amerys?
-Your Majesty... There is no one who beats you, you have eyes everywhere
-Eyes? No, I don't have eyes. – Haelyx laughed. – I have some very gossipy house elves. And very discreet when they collect gossip. I think they live by knowing the love affairs and heartbreaks at Court.
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Haelyx went to visit two orphanages that afternoon. In the first one nothing bad happened, but in the second it was obvious that they needed more staff due to some very magically active children. Haelyx spoke to the children and the staff.
She liked this
Being able to talk to her subjects in this way showed her as a close, kind and considerate ruler. She is a Queen of the people.
Her best legacy was the one that lasted in the hearts of those who were governed. Haelyx was already being included in songs and stories that would be passed on by word of mouth until written down. Just like Queen Rhaenys did to King Aegon in the Conquest. From a bloodthirsty tyrant with infinite greed to a magnanimous and just King, who came to free the kingdoms from tyranny and constant wars.
Haelyx smiled as she walked through the streets of her city lightly humming a song.
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Edmyn and Haelyx enjoyed dinner with the nobles and officials. Haelyx gestured for Edmyn to watch as the Minister of Magic and the Minister of the Currency exchanged soft glances.
Edmyn smiled and shook his head. That pair had been doing that for some time. They obviously liked each other, and from what was known they had shared a few nights together. But neither of them did anything else and both pretended that nothing was happening.
The rest of the ministers were well aware and had trouble hiding the obvious courtship of those two.
They had chosen good people. Edmyn was good at selecting them and Haelyx made the decision in the end by looking at the hearts of the candidates. Although there was almost never any doubt in Edmyn's ability to choose his subordinates.
Haelyx wondered if it was some form of passive magic that he had developed out of pure instinct. She would mention it to the other witches later. She had read about it before. Before Rowena Ravenclaw created the Hogwarts and Ministry registry that listed all magical children, many were not found until later.
These children had learned to use their magic and channel it in certain ways, thus the different branches of magic emerged.
What magic would be created in this world?
Haelyx wanted to see that magic
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Haelyx grimaced as they returned to the Red Keep. Now they were taking a potion of concentrated sleep. In just one hour of sleep it was like sleeping ten hours, creation of Lupus Black, the mad genius
So they spent their days in the Red Fortress from breakfast to dinner early in the evening and then returned to their rooms to take care of their children personally. Then they would put up a barrier that would prevent them from being disturbed or that would make people not want to come in and they would go to Avalon. With two days off in the middle of the week to be able to rest from such a pace
-I have finished the throne designs. Do you really want two?
-Yeah. One for you, one for me. I did not create Avalon alone, it is our Kingdom, my love. – Haelyx kissed Edmyn. – We both must have a throne that shows us as equals. I have always thought that it is very unfair that the King can sit and the Queen has to stand on her feet.
-Although Larys likes Alicent's feet anyway. – They had found out about that recently. Haelyx wanted to erase that knowledge from his mind. – I have organized the assassination of three Green Lords. Of course, not only because they are green, but also because of other sins they have committed, crimes and aberrations. Are you sure about this?
-Actually I think we are doing them a favor. Think about it, we are leaving only the true believers who faithfully follow the faith of the seven
-I think they suspect something is happening. Too many deaths on the green side. Larys was investigating it.
-You're right…. I have an idea. Have I told you about the Black Death and how it spread?
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Queen Alicent was watching Princess Haelyx as she rode with her children in that wheeled basket that the other ladies of the Court were trying to build for her own children. The Princess bent down and took one of her children into her arms. Alicent could see the white hair from the distance and she knew which of the twins she had taken.
The child, the Heir of the Heir of the Heir of the Tullys, had completely Targaryen features. The two girls were a mix, but the boy was a pure Valyrian, Salazar….
Where did they get the name from?
Alicent knew that Helga was the name of Lord Tully's mother, but she had no idea where Salazar came from. She had asked to look at the genealogy book of the houses, but that name did not appear either. She had also bitten the bullet and asked Viserys. He didn't know where the name came from either.
But her father was nervous. For years they had been making sure that Valyrian blood was reduced as much as possible. They had already managed to remove their traits from the Celtigar family. It was not good that more and more lords acquired the traits of a pagan Kingdom that fell into ruin.
Although now said kingdom had been reborn again
Alicent didn't know much about that. She had only heard rumors, no one had managed to cross the borders. Even Larys had only heard rumors.
Which were led by Aegon Targaryen himself, coming out of the tomb and riding a gigantic black dragon.
That a witch with a kind and gentle heart had cried over the land of the cursed country and her tears had healed the land and broken the curse.
That the earth was populated with freed slaves
That the soldiers under the Peverells used magic.
That the witch queen had resurrected a Valyrian king of old to have children with magical blood.
They offered freedom, shelter and food to those who wanted it.
And, Alicent's personal favorite, that a woman ruled Avalon and the black dragon rider was her faithful sex slave whom she gave permission to touch her due to his extraordinary abilities in both combat and lovemaking.
Ridiculous, without a doubt.
Alicent noticed Haelyx looking at her and the woman waved at her. Always polite, Alicent returned her greeting. She saw movement near Haelyx and saw Samantha Tarly, Alicent's uncle's future wife. The girl was getting married in a few moons and she was interested in Princess Targaryen's babies.
Alicent didn't see anything wrong with that friendship. Haelyx was a sweet girl, detached from the Black side and who was neutral and respectful to the Seven. A model wife who would be a good example for when Samantha fulfilled her duty
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Haelyx was watching the very passionate glances that Lyonel Hightower, the Higtower heir, was giving Samantha Tarly. The girl was not as immune to the young man's charms as she wanted him to believe and her eyes turned to him from time to time. But House Tarly depended on the Hightower money they made from Samantha's marriage to Lord Ormund. Samantha wouldn't betray her family. At least not without a hand to guide her
Haelyx smiled as she settled Iolanthe on her lap. The Hightowers had created cracks in the Targaryen family unit and widened them until they became deep cliffs that separated the members of their family from one another. They were slowly being destroyed.
And that was possible because the Hightower, the faith and the Maesters were a very united group. Well, if they had separated the Targaryens she could separate the wonder trio... What would cause more damage than a son stealing a father's wife? Iolanthe's hand touched Haelyx's face and the woman looked at her firstborn who was smiling in her lap very sweetly.
-“Mama, butterfly” – Haelyx saw a small butterfly with yellow wings and smiled
-“Very good, my girl, that is a butterfly. She is pretty?" – Iolanthe nodded forcefully in Haelyx's lap. So much so that her whole body shook.
Haelyx smiled so sweetly at her daughter that several of the knights thought she was an incarnation of the Mother. Only Edmyn knew that she was planning something nefarious for someone she hated.
-He is an attractive young man. Lyonel Hightower is a good looking man. – Haelyx looked askance at Samantha, she didn't take her eyes off her future stepson.
-It is…
-Reminds me of my husband. But my Edmyn is prettier than him. And so passionate… – Haelyx sighed and looked like a maiden in love at her husband who was training with the sword. – Love is a truly beautiful thing, don't you think, Lady Samantha?
The young woman looked at her lap.
-At first I thought I could never love Edmyn and now I can't imagine my life without him. The maiden blessed me and guided my steps towards a man who loved me. A kind and attentive man who would take good care of me.
-The seven give great blessings. – Lady Samantha watched Lyonel remove his shirt and expose his chest to the impressionable maidens. –But… But I suppose you already had other candidates, Princess Haelyx.
-Yeah. I was valuing my cousin Aemond, maybe Daeron if I couldn't get Aemond. – Haelyx greeted Aemond. The man nodded his head in the direction of the women. -Although my first love was another
-Oh. Who was your first love, Princess?
-My uncle Viserys. – Haelyx blushed. That was her childhood sweetheart and she always felt a little ashamed of that. After all, unlike Rhaenyra and her father, the age difference between them was much, much greater. Not something that was not seen in the society in which they lived, but quite scandalous in the eyes of everyone else. – My uncle was always so good to me. He was friendly and attentive. I was a lonely girl left in his care. He took good care of me and my heart yearned for him for a while, but the gods had destined me for Edmyn.
Lady Samantha stared at Haelyx with her mouth open. It was no secret that Haelyx's first love had been her uncle Viserys. Although not seen as much now, Viserys had been a very handsome and manly man in his time.
-But don't you feel bad for longing for your son despite having a bond that united you to the father? Wasn't that something immoral?
-No. – Haelyx shook her head. – After all it is the same family. I believed I was destined to marry a Targaryen, it didn't matter which one. After all, that's how things work in my family. It doesn't matter if you marry the father or the son
Haelyx planned to plant as many seeds as he could.
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Lord Lyonel was so clearly in love with his father's fiancée that it was almost ridiculous. He looked at her as if she were an angel fallen from heaven for him to worship. Edmyn chuckled as he looked at him.
This man was so obvious that he was almost pitiful.
Edmyn looked at her wife and she winked at him before handing Helga to Samantha. Helga's hair color looked like a dark red in the distance between them. Very similar to the color of the Hightower
-It seems that Samantha will be a good mother. Helga is very picky about who holds her, but Samantha is handling her well.
-Yes, it is difficult to find women like that. My own wife could barely tolerate our children until they could read and write. – Lord Rossie was one of the Highgarden knights who had come to the capital. He was the third brother of the current Lord Tyrrel and a father of three children.
-That's what I heard. It happens especially with women who give birth very young. It is difficult for them to be mothers because they are just children.
-It is awful. I have heard horror stories of women killing their own children. But Lady Samantha looks like she won't have that problem. She seems eager to be a mother. And her family is known for their fertility
Lyonel was looking at Samantha and mumbling something about children.