"Ser Ryam was a strong Lord Commander of the Kingsguard." Viserys said to the Small Council members as they gathered. "But he was ill for some time. He passed in peace, I hope."

"Yes, Your Grace. " Grand Maester Mellos said. "He was found to have passed gently in his sleep. His remains are being prepared by the Silent Sisters. The succeeding Lord Commander, Ser Harrold, would like to make haste in finding Ser Ryam's replacement on the Kingsguard."

" Your Grace. My lords."Ser Harrold said. "The Kingsguard must soon be restored to its full complement of seven. With the help of the Hand, I've invited a number of fine candidates to court. All have passed fair trials."

Suddenly, the doors to the chambers flew open and Lord Corlys entered, irritation clear on his face at the lack of action taken against the Crabfeeder in Stepstones. "Four ships have now been lost." He announced. "The last one was flying my banner. The Stepstones have now grown into a conflagration, yet you sit here and dither about court business."

"If you've something to discuss, Lord Corlys-" Ser Otto Hightower tried to cut in but Corlys ignored him.

"I want to know what is to be done about my ships and my men."

"The Crown will compensate you for your ship and crew, and make an offering to the men's families." The Hand of the King tried to inform him calmly but the annoyance was clear on his face.

"I don't want compensation. I want to seize the Stepstones by force and burn out this Crabfeeder." Corlys said harshly.

"I am not prepared to start a war with the Free Cities." King Viserys told him.

"These pirates are not the Free Cities." The Seasnake argued. "Who do you think provides them with their ships and tender?"

"In all of its history, my lord, the Seven Kingdoms have never entered open war with the Free Cities. Were that to happen, the losses would be incalculable." A Lord tried to reason.

"What reason does the Crabfeeder have to fear us?" Corlys asked. "The King's own brother has been allowed to seize Dragonstone and fortify it with an army of his gold cloaks. Daemon has squatted there for over half a year without even a protest from The Crown."

Visenya clenched her fist at the mention of her father. She hadn't talked much with her uncle after he exiled her father, again. She missed him. Yes, he wrote letters to her, but it just wasn't the same. Rhaenrya who knew her like the back of her hand unclenched her fingers and gave her a reassuring look.

"I'll caution you, Lord Corlys, a seat at the King's table does not make you his equal." Otto warned.

"I have acted, Corlys." Viserys stated trying to ease the tension in the room. "I've sent envoys to Pentos and Volantis to see if we might find common cause. Ships and men are at the ready. The Stepstones will be settled... in time."

"You have dragonriders, father. Send us." Rhaenrya interrupted, gaining the attention of all the men in the room, who looked at her with mild annoyance at being interrupted.

"It isn't that simple, Rhaenyra." Viserys said giving her an awkward smile.

"It would be a show of force." Visenya insisted, backing up her cousin.

"At least the Princesses have a plan." Corlys said smugly.

"We only meant that we should at least..." The Heir tried to explain herself but was interrupted by the leech Hand.

"Perhaps, uh... there's some better use for the Princesses' talents, Your Grace." Otto said, looking at the King.

"Why don't you take the Princess Rhaenrya and Princess Visenya to see about the new Kingsguard posting, Lord Commander?" Viserys suggested.

"A fine idea, Your Grace." The Westerling knight agreed.

"This knight will protect you two as well." Viserys pointed out to his daughter and niece. "You should choose."

Rhaenrya scoffed but said nothing and left. Similar to her cousin, Visenya huffed displeased at the dismissal and left shaking her head. Ser Harold following closely behind.

_______________

"Ser Desmond Caron, a fine knight, Princesses." Ser Harold told the cousins as they went to check the knights for the Kingsguard. "Step forward, Ser Desmond." He told the knight. "Son of Ser Royce Caron, Ser Desmond has proved strong and steady in both the tourney lists and without. While traveling through the Kingswood on his way to King's Landing, Ser Desmond recently brought a would-be poacher to justice." The Westerling Knight finished, but the Princesses kept standing there with a blank look on their faces.

"You might thank him for his leal service, Princess." Otto Hightower who just came here after the Small Council, much to the irritation of Visenya, said to them.

"We thank you for your loyal service to The Crown, ser." Rhaenrya said, while Visenya just gave the knight a polite and dismissive smile, plainly ignoring the Hand. Ser Desmond bowed and left to stand at his place.

"Ser Rymun Mallister." Ser Harold introduced another knight and informed the Princesses about him. "Son of Lord Lymond Mallister of Seagard. Winner of the melee at Cider Hall. He was the last mounted of three-and-twenty knights. Ser Rymun was knighted at eight-and-ten." He said but it was clear that the cousins weren't impressed.

"Do any of these knights have combat experience?" Visenya asked, tired of all this.

"Beyond capturing poachers." Rhaenrya clarified.

"Ser Criston Cole." Ser Harold told the Princesses. "Son of the steward of the Lord of Blackhaven."

After hearing his name the Cole, stepped forward to stand in Front of the princesses.

"Be welcome, Ser Criston." Rhaenrya addressed the Knight.

"You saw combat in the Stormlands?" Visenya asked him curiously. She was impressed by the Knight's skills, even though he defeated her father.

"Dornish marches, Princess." Ser Criston told them. "I fought for a year as a foot solider against the Dornish incursions. Ser Arlan Dondarrion knighted me after we razed two of the watchtowers along the Boneway."

"We choose Ser Criston Cole." Rhaenrya informed everyone and the Princesses were about to go to their work when Otto interrupted.

"Let's not be too hasty, Princesses. There's no doubt Ser Criston is a fine warrior, but houses such as Crakehall and Mallister are important allies of The Crown. Seagard, for instance, is the realm's prime defense against reavers from the Iron Islands." He stated mentioning all the allies the Crown has much to the annoyance of the Princesses.

"Those men are tourney knights." Visenya stated as if talking to a toddler.

"My father should be defended by a man who's known real combat. Should he not?" Rhaenrya asked him.

"Of course, Princess." Otto said, seemingly having nothing to say for the first time.

"Well, let us plan Ser Criston's investiture then." Rhaenrya said as the cousins went away.

______________

Visenya was training with Emil, a faceless man whose life she saved, almost two years ago. In return of saving his life, he asked her a name of person she wanted dead.

'A life for life', he told her. For a while she thought of naming Otto Hightower, the person she absolutely loathes. But coincidentally she found of him being a faceless man and asked if he could train her instead. But he refused.

"A girl saved my life, so A man will kill a person for her, nothing else."

"But why can't you teach me. I'm not asking you to teach me all your face tricks, I'm just asking you to teach me how to fight." She asked annoyed at his reluctance to teach her.

"A man has already said no. A man knows a girl is learning how to fight by her sworn knight. So why does she want me to teach her.

" He is just teaching me how to defend myself. And I won't get any better by fighting with just fighting Ser Rodrik. He's a good warrior but he's too afraid to hurt me." Visenya said and looked at Emil with a hopeful look. " So, please will u teach me how to fight?"

"No." Emil said. "A man will just kill the person A girl names ang go on his way."

"Fine!" Visenya huffed. "Emil. That's the person A girl wants dead."

"A girl gives a man his own name." Emil said shocked.

Visenya just shrugs.

"A girl lacks honor." Emil stated.

"I'm a girl in a man's world. Can't get caught up with all that nonsense and end up dead." She told him. " So, I give you the name 'Emil' ".

" Un-name me." He said to her and Visenya just gave him a smirk. " Please" He added.

"Teach me how to fight and I'll un-name you." She offered.

"Fine." Emil said after a moment. " A man will teach a girl, just her and no one else. And the girl must not tell anyone."

"I won't ask you to teach anyone else, just me." She assured him. " And only my father and Ser Rodrik will know, I promise. They won't tell anyone."

Emil reluctantly nodded and the very next day, they started with the training which was much more harder than Visenya could have ever imagined. Most of the time, in the begining, it resulted in injury and bruises which she had to hide and make lame excuses like she was learning a dance from Ser Rodrik, which ge learned as a child on his trip to Essos. Visenya had a doubt that no one believed her, but she was glad that they didn't ask many questions.

But today wasn't any other day that she was training. Today, Emil told her that she would fight him, and if he was satisfied by her, it would mean that he had taught her everything he could and that she was ready.

So, now here they are, already in stance, ready to pounce on each other like a predator on its prey. Both of them went to attack the other at the same time, and their sword slashed against each other forming an 'X'. Emil more physically stronger than her pushed her hard making her loose balance and stumble, but she regained herself and with the speed of a cheetah and the agility of a panther she moved towards him, then behind him, and kicked him on his calves, making him stumble forward. He quickly holded himself and turned to face the youngest Targaryen princess. He went to attack her and delivered blows after blows, which she defended from, but wasn't able to deliver a blow herself. And with one last move he knocked the sword out of Visenya's hand.

"A girl is going to loose." Emil said.

"Not yet." Visenya disagreed. And as he charged at her with his sword in hand to give her a final blow, she quickly stepped aside and took the wrist of the hand in which he was holding his sword, twisted it and kicked the sword out of his hand and sweeped his legs from below him, making him fall on the ground. She hold him on the ground and placed another hand on his neck squeezing it, not with enough pressure to kill or choke him, but with enough to tell who's in power.

But it didn't last long as Emil changed their position and now her was the one with one hand on her neck and their pinning one hand of the princess above her head.

But Visenya didn't let that affect her as using her one free hand, he pulled the dagger out which her father gave to her on his last visit and placed it on Emil's neck.

" I win." She told him.

Emil released her and stood up, Visenya following after him.

"Good." He said. " A girl is finally ready."

Visenya smiled at him, but his was blank.

"Now, when a man's work here is done, he has to go." He told her.

Visenya wasn't happy that he had to go but nodded her head. "Thank you, Emil. Truly, for teaching me."

Emil nodded his head. " A man was wrong the first time he met a girl. A girl has honor and a heart, but she is smart." Visenya looked shocked at the compliment but thanked him nonetheless. "Good bye, Visenya Targaryen."

"Good bye, Emil." Visenya said and Emil left without saying anything else or looking back.

And she also went to change out of her fighting clothes and to meet her cousin.

_____________

Hey guys how are you all doing....

I'm sorry for the wait, but here's a new chapter, I hope you enjoy it.

See you soon.

Till then,

Stay safe!! Stay happy!!

P.S.: I injured my leg and now I'm on bed rest.