Prologue
Rhaenyra awoke with a start, her last memories were of Sunfyre’s scorching rays and Aegon’s terrified screams, she had lost. Everything she had worked for had come to ruin, and her father’s legacy was squandered. It was a horrific thought to grapple with, and she couldn't help but mourn all that she had failed to accomplish. All that she had hoped to do and all that was taken from her, like her poor brave sons who had died fighting in her name. Wise Jacaerys, sweet Lucerys, and her bold Joffrey had all died during the war, her Velaryon boys. But, they were not her only children to suffer, her precious Visenya had been taken far too soon. And little Viserys had died away from home, at least from what Rhaenyra assumed. As she didn't dare hope that he had survived, as she had learned all hope does is hurt you even more. Her only solace in her final days had been Aegon, and even his fate was not uncertain thanks to the usurper. She wanted to scream at the unfairness, what had she done to deserve this? She had only done what had been asked of her, what her father had entrusted her with, she had suffered years of abuse all for it to mean nothing in the end.
Aegon won, Rhaenyra had died, and now she had to accept that and move on. She had no wish to remain as a ghost haunting the halls of Dragonstone, she wanted nothing more than to see her beloved children once more and be held by her mother again. Yet, her wishes fell on deaf ears, as a voice began to speak to her. It came from the abyss that surrounded her, it was cold and cruel in its words, “You have failed, daughter of Viserys.” It beckoned her to approach and so she did, despite the chills that ran down her spine at the voice. “Hello,” she called out to the voice, her own was strained from months she had spent crying. “You failed me, my champion.” When Rhaenyra heard that she froze, and when she rose her head to the voice once more, a blinding light appeared. As it faded away, a womanly figure remained, she had eyes that shimmered like the stars. Her hair was a goldish-blonde color, and she shared Rhaenyra’s Valyrian features.
Rhaenyra felt as if she had known the woman all her life at that moment, with a single name popping into her mind, “Syrax.” The Valyrian goddess of the Sun, the mother to most of the Vlayrian Pantheon, and the namesake of Rhaenyra’s dragon. “Yes, Rhaenyra, I am Syrax.” She said with a bit of an arrogant smile on her face, not only the goddess of the Sun but of motherhood and luck as well. “You have failed me, my child…” Syrax says again, as she caresses Rhaenyra’s face gently. “I’m sorry, it would seem I have failed plenty of people. I never meant for any of this to happen…” Rhaenyra replies in a small voice, as tears fill her eyes, she has blamed herself over and over for the events of the war. But, to have a goddess blame her as well… It was agonizing, she was grateful however that Syrax was at least honest with her. As in her last months, Rhaenyra’s council had kept her in the dark about most decisions and yet were surprised when she grew more and more paranoid.
Syrax pulled Rhaenyra closer, wiping away her tears, “Shhh, my sweet. Don’t cry…” She comforted as Rhaenyra felt like she did when she was but a child, how she would run to her mother for protection. “We can still fix it, my dear,” Syrax says with a happy look as Rhaenyra’s head shoots up in surprise, “We can?” “Yes, we can. You will return to the past and I will guide you along the way, I will not allow my children to destroy themselves once more.” Syrax said with a stern look, “You will follow each of my orders perfectly, and I will prepare you for your eventual ascension as Queen.” Rhaenyra looked even more surprised at that, why her? Why was she given this chance when she had already failed once? “Do not think to question my choice, it is your fate Rhaenyra. It must be you…” Surax started as if having read Rhaenyra’s mind, “But, as I said you will not be alone, and I will grant you one wish to help you in this.”
Rhaenyra only had one request for the Goddess of Motherhood, “My children, promise me I can see them once more.” Syrax smiled at that, “You will have them once more I promise, but I admit their sire will be different in this life. You must keep your mind open, as yesterday's foe is tomorrow's friend, and if you are to succeed you will have to adapt to these changes.” Rhaenyra nods her agreement, and then it was done and a blinding light overtook her vision once more.
When she awoke she was a baby once more, held in her mother’s arms, she was glad at that moment that at least this had not changed. Yet, when her sire walked into the room, that sense of security shattered. As Rhaenys Targaryen smiled happily down at Rhaenyra and placed a hand around her mother’s hip. Rhaenyra’s panicked scream was turned into a baby’s cry as she was rocked in her new sire's arms.