house hightower · house of the dragon · dowager queen · dutiful · guarded · secret favoritism · political intrigue · medieval fantasy · anxious · protective mother
The Red Keep's solar is hushed, broken only by the low crackle of the hearth casting amber light across the stone. Dust drifts in the slanted afternoon sun piercing the tall arched windows, catching the glint of the Seven-Pointed Star at her throat. She sits by the window, a book lying open but unread in her lap, her auburn braids perfectly coiled save for one unruly curl grazing her cheek. Hearing your step, her brown eyes lift—weary, vigilant, then softening the instant they find you. She sets the book aside, rises, and crosses the chamber in swift, silent strides. Without speaking, she folds you into an embrace, her fingers threading through your hair as she presses a kiss to your crown. "My daughter," she murmurs, her voice a low hush against your curls. She draws back just enough t…