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Rating:
Teen And Up Audiences
Archive Warnings:
Graphic Depictions Of ViolenceMajor Character Death
Category:
Gen
Fandoms:
House of the Dragon (TV)Warhammer Fantasy
Characters:
Ikit ClawRhaenyra TargaryenJacaerys VelaryonLucerys Velaryon (Son of Rhaenyra)Baela TargaryenRhaena Targaryen (Daughter of Daemon)Daemon TargaryenCorlys "The Sea Snake" VelaryonHelaena TargaryenAddam VelaryonBackground & Cameo CharactersSilverwing | Alysanne Targaryen's DragonOriginal CharactersJoffrey Velaryon
Additional Tags:
Crack Treated SeriouslyCanon-Typical ViolenceThe Dance of the Dragons | Aegon II Targaryen v. Rhaenyra Targaryen EraAlternate Universe - Canon DivergenceCanonical Character DeathCharacter Turned Into a HumanIkit got isekai'd as Jace's twinSkaven Species (Warhammer Fantasy)Death to all GreensHuman ExperimentationScience ExperimentsIkit is his own warningSilverwing still has shit taste in male ridersPOV MultipleBackground RelationshipsBackground Character Deathshow canon onlyDragon RidersAnimal AbuseIkit is an abusive dragonriderTho he's fairly mellow compared to his SkavenselfGood Parent Rhaenyra TargaryenNo beta we die like LucerysDysfunctional FamilyCannibalismBlood and TortureCanon-Typical BehaviorBAMF Helaena Targaryen
Language:
English
Stats:
Published:2026-02-26Completed:2026-04-22Words:181,492Chapters:55/55Comments:1,270Kudos:749Bookmarks:160Hits:33,651
The Rat Prince of Westeros
SkilledWarriorKiwi
Chapter 14: Rhaenyra
Chapter Text
The downtrodden castle was triangular in shape, with ancient crumbling towers at each corner. Crawling across the courtyard and narrow walkways were the twisted pale roots of weirwood, with the godswood looming over it all with a silent twisted frown. Outside the red ivy-clung walls were tall green pine, their branches looking as black as maesters ink in the night.
In the brightness of the full moon with nary a cloud in the star streaked sky, Silverwing's wings shone with metallic brilliance in the distance as she circled the cliff of Crackclaw Point just above the castle ruins.
Rhaenyra's hands clenched around the front of the saddle even as Ceraxes called out to Silverwing. The she-dragon's response was deep and sonorous, but she did not cease her circling nor fly to engage.
Daemon had taken her upon Ceraxes with him, the Rogue Prince having far more experience in flying in the dark. Ceraxes would also be a deterrent for the Cannibal in case the black dragon-eater was lurking, despite how rare it was for it to confront an adult dragon.
She was barely dressed for the cold night air, a cloak tossed over her dress, boots tied badly and hair drawn back in a messy ponytail. It was all Daemon could do to convince her to at least put on riding breeches beneath her sleeping shift, when Jacaerys burst into their room in a panic, babbling about his twin leaving. Not just Dragonstone but rather his intent to leave Westeros entirely.
Rhaenyra had struggled to understand Jace through his tears, even if Daemon was more composed and had already switched into riding clothes before she had her wits about her. By then guards had arrived and Rhaenyra ordered them to keep Jace or any of the children from following, before they left for the Bloodwyrm.
Ikit had told Jace one last place , the shattered remnants of the Whispers at the tip of the land before it spread out to the narrow sea, before he left his twin's room and was gone like a ghost. Jace had run straight to his mother but by then Silverwing had already been seen flying from Dragonstone by the night's watch before anyone could stop her.
With her pregnancy so near its end Rhaenyra felt exhausted beyond measure but all but hissed at Daemon when he attempted to suggest she could stay in the keep while he went for Ikit. Whatever was making her son flee, she would not shy away from it nor would she abandon him. Some said Dothraki women continued to ride until the very day they gave birth, Targaryen women could fly until the same.
She allowed herself to ride with Daemon instead of taking Syrax however, and ignored the exhaustion that tugged at her as the Bloodwyrm followed the curve of the Crackclaw Point until Silverwing's form was seen. Circling the ruin like a vulture as both dragon and rider waited.
Ceraxes slithered from the sky, settling upon overgrown grass before the castle. The inky ocean below was crashing constantly against the crag, the sea spilling back and forth from the numerous holes and coves pockmarking the cliff, and caused an endless soft whispering noise to fill the air as the sea hissed and sighed.
The Rogue Prince did not follow her after he helped her dismount. Instead Daemon remained with Ceraxes, waiting, as Rhaenyra went to her son to where he was in the overgrown godswood within the castle.
Ikit was studying the bloody face of the weirwood, the white bark twisted as if the tree was in pain. His hair glowed like starlight in the full moon and when he turned to face her his green eyes seemed to glow.
"Den mother does as den mother does," he said as way of greeting.
"Ikit, what did you say to Jace? Why would you tell him such things?" Rhaenyra asked, tugging her cloak tight around her as the cold wind swept by. She approached him slowly, as if he were a wounded animal.
"I told him truth. I am leaving."
"It's the middle of the night, you should be back at Dragonstone. Where do you even want to go?"
"Essos. All the places there. With their magic and ruin and secrets for me to sniff and claw and control," he said.
"There are places to learn that here," Rhaenyra insisted, making her way across the overgrown courtyard. Above Silverwing flew past, blocking the moon for an instant.
Then she stumbled over a chunk of rock hidden between the grass and roots, vertigo overtaking her for a moment. Before she could even think to twist, to land on her side to shield her belly, Ikit was grabbing her by the arm and steadying her.
He clucked his teeth like a disapproving septa, leading her to the godswood and helping her to sit down upon one of the immense ashy white roots spidering from the trunk. Above the crimson leaves looked silver in the night while the red sap staining the face looked like tar.
"I'm fine," she managed to mumble, clenching her hand on top of his.
"No matter," Ikit said. "But fine, last goodbye-farewell. Seems...fitting. Den mother."
"But you don't have to leave," Rhaenyra shifted in place, letting go of his hand to grab his face in her hands. "I- is it the baby? I swear upon the memory of my mother, I will never forsake any of you nor put you aside. You are my son, I love you. I will give my life for you if need be. I do not care about the stupid rumours, the things they say- you are my son and I am your mother and I will always love you."
"I know that," Ikit shook his head, dislodging her hands. His voice was matter of fact as he said, "No point in saying-squeaking it twice, it is known. Not leaving out of lack of faith in...affection from den mother. In the...love you feel me even if I still don't understand. I am leaving because I must see-explore the world and pry all magic out. You say that, this body is blood of Old Valyria. The last place of magic, which dragons are the last of in this world. Will discover that, the full potential of it all."
"You can find that here! There is no need to abandon Dragonstone. With Corlys we can find you more books and scrolls, or even- or even bring in pyromancers and the like from across the narrow sea. Speak more to the dragonkeepers. Reach out to Braavos or even Qarth for the warlocks. They-"
"You do not understand but that is fine," Ikit said to her. There was something oddly gentle in his tone and somehow that hurt more than if he had shouted at her.
"You're only ten years of age," Rhaenyra said, fighting back tears even if she knew it was pointless. "You are young. Too young. I know you want to see the world. I know, I had those urges as well. When I had to travel the Seven Kingdoms to find a suitor I felt trapped, like a bird beating against the bars of a cage that was closing slowly upon me. I wanted to go to Syrax, to flee this very place. I wanted to leave the courts and all those trappings, the courtesies, the demands, the whims of lords and ladies and the people. I wanted to see the wonders of the world and eat nothing but cake for the rest of my days. I know this urge, far better than you realize."
"Not just about this. And again, urge to protect clan."
"From who?"
Ikit shrugged, "Me. Feel that I should, do not wish to kill you but am bored here. Littermate is soft, birthkin even moreso. Den mother as well. And I am horribly, grotesquely, violently bored and now I have warpstone so it is time to see other places and things. And because of that, of den mother and...the love you feel, I will go. I will be merciful even if I shouldn't. Even if it makes me weak. Said the same to littermate when saying goodbyes. But that is why I go. To regain myself instead of this weak shadow. The Winds, chaos, sorcery, science. All together will be mine."
"You're a child! You cannot simply go on your own!"
"Only way to keep me here is to force-bind me and you will not, cannot do that," Ikit said even as Silverwing landed.
The gust of air sent their hair fluttering as the great dragon perched on one of the walls, with it rapidly crumbling under her weight. A sweep of her tail and one of the dilapidated towers went toppling over the cliff to plummet into the waves below.
He stood up even as Rhaenyra remained sitting, one hand clenched around his.
Ceraxes whistled and hummed from beyond but both knew Ikit was right. It was breaking her heart but she would not force him to stay. She couldn't. And even if she did, Silverwing was larger than Ceraxes. Was this how helpless Princess Rhaena felt, when she knew her daughter Aerea was gone?
"Ikit, please...Promise me you won't go to Old Valyria," she said desperately.
He tugged his hand from hers, leaving her crying before the godswood, and walked to where Silverwing was resting upon her belly. He did not look at her until he had clambered up onto the saddle and lashed himself to it. Rhaenyra could see a halberd, strapped to the saddle. How long had he been planning this?
"I stole gold from vault. Will reimburse-repay at some point," he said as Silverwing rose.
Then the she-dragon turned, launching herself over the cliff edge. When she flew up in a graceful arc her wings flashed in the moonlight before tilting her body eastward, towards Essos and across the narrow sea.
Rhaenyra just sat there, arms wrapped around herself as Silverwing's form disappeared upon the horizon as she cried. At one point Daemon joined her, her husband sitting close and wrapping his arms around her. Ceraxes crawled closer until the Bloodwyrm was coiled around the overgrown godswood, limbs splitting roots and trunks before the great dragon settled down.
She didn't know what to do. She didn't understand. One of her precious children had left her. Her fingers clenched into Daemon's arm, wondering if Ikit would now return years later only to die in agony like Aerea had.
"I should...we should get Princess Rhaenys," she said but even when she spoke her voice was weak, unsure.
"And do what? Knock down Silverwing and lock him in a cage?" Daemon asked. He was more curious, voice entirely without judgement, then he said, "But I think you know he will not ever forgive you if you drag him back here in chains. As that is the only way you will keep him. And catching him will be far harder than you think."
"He's a child! How is he supposed to survive on his own? He's only ten years old."
"Yes. But I think both you and I know he sees far more than a child should."
Rhaenyra took in a shuddering wet breath, tucking her face into Daemon's shoulder. She and her husband had discussed that before, Daemon having the opinion Ikit was akin to Daenys the Dreamer. Not one who saw the future, but gifted in a different way with his immense intelligence and odd demeanour. The fire burned too hot and she had mishandled it. Her son was gone. Even his reassurances he knew she loved him, well and true, didn't alter the fact her son was gone. Her baby.
"When will he come home?" she finally asked, despairing, even as tears continued to drip down her cheeks.
"When he's ready," Daemon replied. "And not a moment before."
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