Chapter Text
On the day The Mad King died, Ned Stark had one order, and one order only.
Kill Visenya Targaryen.
Robert's and Lannister forces had already taken the castle, allowing for his job to be easy. Ned believed that this would be the end. The end of aiding in the rebellion. Robert had won, and would soon be Ruler of the Seven Kingdoms, if he could carry out this one job.
As Ned climbed the stairs of the Red Keep, and into the Royal Chambers, his sword was drawn and tightly against him, ready to strike down any straggling Targaryen forces at his best chance. Prince Rhaegar and his heirs had already been killed by Robert's forces, and Prince Viserys and Queen Rhaella had fled out of King's Landing.
All that was left was the final daughter, Visenya.
Ned took a deep breath before he opened the doors to the Queen's chambers, to be met by a shrew of dead Targaryen officials all over the floor. Pools of blood were all over the room, but crouched against the wall in fear, was a small girl, possibly less than five, shaking in fear. Ned sighed, and dropped his sword, before walking over to the girl.
The girl had the signature Targaryen white hair, her eyes were closed, and while she was facing the door, he could tell she had tried to stop the bleeding of the dead officials, as her dress was covered in blood.
Upon walking over to the small child, she carefully, opened her eyes to reveal bright ocean-blue orbs, that were struck with fear. She was petrified...even though his weapon of choice was across the room. Ned carefully crouched down to meet the girl's size, so he didn't seem intimidating.
"Hello." He said gently. "What is your name?"
The girl continued to shake with fear, showing Ned the fear she had of him murdering her as well, just like her mother's handmaidens, maesters, and servants.
"It's alright, I'm not going to hurt you." Ned softly explained.
The girl slowly stopped shaking and blinked the tears forming in her eyes away.
"Visenya." She said quietly.
Ned's eyes widened in disbelief. On one hand, he felt like he owed it to Robert to kill Visenya, as it was his direct order, but on the other hand, who in their right mind, would kill a child. Ned didn't care if the girl was a Targaryen or not, she was innocent, and did nothing wrong to anger Robert. She was a child. Her father, The Mad King, was insane, but this poor, scared child, was absolutely innocent.
"I am Eddard Stark, of Winterfell." Ned began. "And I am going to get you out of here, Princess."
Visenya's blue eyes widened, but based upon her catatonic expression, he couldn't tell if she was scared, or willing to go with him.
He gave the girl a small smile. "I promise, as long as you are with me, nothing will happen to you. I'll protect you."
Visenya looked around the room, before pointing to a box sitting in the far corner of the room. Ned slowly got up and walked over to the box, and gently lifted the lid. Inside the box, Ned's eyes widened in shock once more, as what he revealed were two unhatched dragon eggs, in a well preserved state.
Ned looked to the small girl. "Are these yours?"
Visenya nodded, making Ned sigh before carefully picking each egg up and inspecting it. One egg was golden color, and the other egg was blue color. He then placed each egg, in his travel sack. Ned quickly turned around and opened the large wardrobe behind him, and searched through it, until he found a black hooded cloak, that was large for the girl.
"Put this on." He explained handing it to the small girl. "It will allow for you to get out of King's Landing without Robert or the Lannister's noticing you."
Visenya nodded as she put the cloak on, and placed the hood over her head, disguising her blonde hair. Once she was cloaked, Ned quickly picked up his sword, picked her up, and carried her down the stairs of Maegor's Holdfast, and through the tunnels of the Red Keep, to allow for an easy escape and to get out of King's Landing.
Once the duo was out of King's Landing, Ned immediately rode for Winterfell, and made little to no stops on the journey, to avoid any questioning or examination from Lannister and Baratheon forces and allies, or other Lords of the South. Within the week, Ned and Visenya arrived to Winterfell, and were greeted by Ned's wife, Catelyn.
"Back so soon?" Catelyn began. "I expected you after Robert's coronation."
"There was pressing matters to attend to." Ned explained lifting Visenya off his horse.
Catelyn frowned in confusion, before Visenya took her hood off her head. Catelyn's eyes widened.
"Ned...what...who is this?" She asked in disbelief.
The small girl bowed her head. "Visenya Targaryen, my Lady."
Catelyn's head snapped up to look Ned in the eyes.
"A Targaryen Princess." Catelyn said in disbelief. "Ned...Robert will..."
"He will not." Ned began. "I could not bring myself to harming this child. She has done nothing wrong, therefore, she is innocent."
"He will set out a hunt for her." Catelyn interjected. "He will hunt her down, and will try you for treason for harboring a Targaryen."
"No one will ever know she is a Targaryen...except for us...and our family." Ned explained gesturing to Visenya.
"Ned, that is impossible." Catelyn began, gesturing to the small child's white hair color.
"If we permanently dye her hair to look like ours or Robbs, she can pass as one of us." Ned explained.
Catelyn looked to the small child. Ned was right, she was innocent, sweet looking. She was beautiful, and had the potential to grow into a beautiful young lady. She had always wanted a daughter, and this would allow Robb to have someone to play with until he gets another brother or sister.
She sighed. "Alright, but we must make haste...I fear that once they realize she is gone...Robert will look for her."
Ned nodded, and the two escorted the small girl into the castle. The girl shivered, as she wasn't use to the North and it's harsh temperatures. As Lord and Lady Stark walked her through the castle, Visenya wondered if her mother had given birth yet. If Viserys was still alive. If Rhaegar was alright.
She immediately shook those thoughts out of her mind, as soon as Lady Stark's handmaiden's came into the room, and began to assist to the small girl. No sooner she was changed out of her southern clothes and into more northern attire, she was taken to a large basin where warm water was gently washed over her pristine white hair. She felt something cold being placed on her head, before she felt warmth again from the water washing over her. In the moments being cared for by Lady Stark's handmaidens, she felt safe. Calm. Far away from the terror she witnessed in King's Landing.
After they finished washing her hair, the handmaidens brushed through it, and once it was neatly braided, they ushered Visenya to a mirror, where the small girl's eyes widened in shock. Her once beautiful, pristine, crisp white hair, the symbol that showed she was a Targaryen, was gone. In it's place, was an auburn color, similar to that of Lord and Lady Stark. Visenya felt tears well up in her eyes, but immediately blinked them away as the handmaidens left.
She sat on the large, plush bed, that was covered in furs, still in shock of all of the events that have occurred. Her father's death, her mother and older brother fleeing, and the disappearance of Rhaegar. Her entire world was falling apart, and for a child of only three, it was difficult to process. She sat in silence, until Lord and Lady Stark came back in the room.
"I hope you are settling in well." Catelyn began with a slight smile, still unsure what to think of the Princess.
Visenya gave her a small nod, before settling her blue eyes on Ned.
"We permanently dyed your hair, to allow for you to blend in the Northerners. If Robert Baratheon were to come here, he would spot you almost immediately. It was done for your protection, and not our convenience." He explained.
"What if he comes to find me?" Visenya hesitantly asked.
Catelyn and Ned looked at each other with hesitance, before turning back to the girl, awaiting an answer.
"We will say you are my niece." Catelyn began, slightly surprising Ned. "My brother, Edmure, lives in the Riverlands, and rarely comes to Winterfell. We shall say that you are his daughter, whom he has sent to us to become exposed to other cultures."
Ned nodded in agreement. "If someone, who is an outsider, were to ask you for your name, you are to tell them that you are...Valaria."
Visenya gave them another small nod. "Where are my eggs?"
Catelyn frowned in confusion, before Ned reached into the small travel sack, to pull out the gold and blue dragon eggs, before giving them to Visenya.
A small smile came on Visenya's face when she received the two eggs. She pointed to the gold one.
"This egg belonged to Viserys...he received it as a gift, though it would never hatch." Visenya began with a sad smile before pointing to the blue one. "This one is mine."
Ned gave the girl a sad smile, before ushering Catelyn out the door. Once the two Stark's were out of Visenya's new room, Visenya carefully placed both Dragon eggs on the windowsill. Upon doing so, she looked out at the snow-covered tundra of Winterfell.
This was her new home.
She was no longer a Princess.
She was a nobody.
Her father was long gone, as was her mother and siblings.
She was grateful to Lord Stark for having pity on her, and taking her out of King's Landing, away from Robert Baratheon and the Lannisters, but a part of her wanted to stay. Something died that day in her.
Now looking upon herself, she no longer saw a Targaryen Princess...she saw a scared and lonely girl, afraid of what the next day would bring. The only reminder she had was the two dragon eggs she took with her.
The sole reminder, that all in all, no matter what happens...she is and will always be a Targaryen.