Chapter Text
Rhaenyra Targaryen
The beach day was meant to be relaxing, but deep down she knew that with their family…it was nothing but chaos.
Screams.
Laughter.
Yelling.
But…it was good.
She sat on the black sand, warm beneath her feet. She was helping build sandcastles with Viserys, Rhaena, and Joffrey. They had a few towers built; the two boys were very focused on building a castle like Dragonstone, while Rhaena collected seashells for decorating.
Morning lay perched on Rhaena’s shoulder, a small thing—but very happy to be here. Her tail wrapped around her person’s arm, pink scales glittering under the sunlight.
Nearby, Syrax lay with Seasmoke, both watching them create their miniature world. Their shadows loomed overhead, blocking out the heavy heat of the sun, for the most part.
Tyraxes was helping dig up seashells for Rhaena, his talons clawing at the sand. Sometimes he buried his little snout into it, only to sneeze out sand and smoke.
Rhaenyra hummed softly, peace settling over her. This was the quiet kind of chaos—the kind she was content with. For she knew all the shouts and noise were over yonder.
With Daemon.
As usual.
She looked over to see her beloved husband and children at the water. Their leather pants were rolled up high, though they all looked soaked in the salty waves—hair sticking to skin, tunics either tossed aside or clinging to their bodies.
Daemon stood in the water, laughing as he and Jacaerys play fought, each trying to push the other under. But Jacaerys was smaller, not a man grown just yet. So he leapt onto his father, using his weight to drag him down—together they splashed into the water, both laughing loudly.
Farther out, Caraxes and Vermax play fought as well—dragons circling, snapping, and spitting bursts of fire, while Caraxes let out low growls, his long body twisting as his tail lashed behind him.
Off to the side, Lucerys and Baela pointed out fish and other things in the water, holding onto Aegon’s hand to keep him from going too far.
Arrax sat beside Moondancer, both staring at the water as if it had personally offended them.
Stormcloud, meanwhile, bounced through the shallows like a dolphin.
Yes.
This was peaceful enough.
She did not have to worry about politics, or the world going wrong. She could just smile and enjoy her family.
Moments like this made it easy to forget what had been lost.
Or perhaps…impossible to ignore.
And she could see them—ghosts of the past—here with them too.
Laenor, beside Joffrey, helping him build the castle.
Laena, at Baela’s side, lifting seashells from the shore.
Harwin, laughing with Jacaerys, urging him on.
Her father, watching Rhaena and Viserys with quiet approval.
Her mother, knee-deep in the water with Lucerys and Aegon.
Watching.
Smiling.
At peace.
The world, for this moment, was just right.