The Rogue Prince has lost his wife in a terrible accident which leaves him the option to remarry.
Lady Anastasia Tully is a kind girl from the Riverlands thrown into the mess of the dragon family - a mess she is trying so hard to avoid yet it seems...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Half a year had passed since Princess Rhaenyra and Ser Laenor's wedding. Life in the Red Keep had shifted, and with it came new beginnings for many of its inhabitants.
Queen Alicent carried a swollen belly. Seven months along with her next child. Rhaenyra, though still in the early stages of her pregnancy, was three months along.
And then there was Anastasia back at Dragonstone. She had felt different for the past few weeks—subtle changes in her body, a certain tiredness that lingered. Yet, it wasn't until the visit with the midwife earlier that day that the truth had been confirmed.
She was with child once more.
Anastasia sat in quiet contemplation after the midwife left her chambers. The words, so simple yet profound in her mind: "You are expecting again, my lady."
Her first instinct was to place her hand on her stomach, a protective gesture that felt almost instinctual. She felt the faintest flutter beneath her palm, though she knew it was too early to feel the babe move. Still, the weight of what she had learned began to settle over her, and with it came a flood of conflicting feelings.
She wanted to be happy. She should be happy. Another child, another extension of the love she and Daemon shared, another sibling for their children. She remembered all too well how difficult it had been carrying her three dragons—the strain on her body, the fear, and that moment when she had come so close to death. The memory of lying in bed, weak and frail, with the maester and midwives hovering over her, still haunted her.
Anastasia closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. She wanted to go along with this, to embrace the joy of bringing another life into the world, but the fear was there, gnawing at the edges of her heart. Could she survive it again? Could her body endure another pregnancy, especially after the toll it had taken on her?
She rose from her seat, her hand still resting on her stomach as she paced the room, her mind replaying the midwife's words over and over. Slowly, her fear began to dissipate, replaced by something quieter, more resolute. This was her choice. Her life had always been intertwined with risk—from the moment she had married Daemon, to the birth of their children, to everything they had faced together. She had never been one to shy away from the challenges life threw her way, and this would be no different.
She made up her mind. Whatever came next, she would face it with the same strength and determination that had carried her through before.
Anastasia decided it was time to tell Daemon. She couldn't keep this news to herself, not when it involved him just as much as it did her. He deserved to know, and she needed him to understand the gravity of what lay ahead. With her decision made, she left her chambers.
He was with their children, watching their interactions with their dragons. Naella, Daemax, and Daemian were close by, laughing together speaking Valyrian. The sight brought a smile to Anastasia's face. This was her family, her life. And now, there will be one more.
