Viserra Targaryen

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Rhaenyra Targaryen

Viserys Targaryen†

Naerys Targaryen

Rhaegar Targaryen†

Jaehaerys Targaryen

Rhaegelle Targaryen

Daemon Waters

Lyonel Targaryen

Elenei Targaryen

Orys Targaryen

> “She is your worst failure.”
>
> — King Jaehaerys II to his daughter Daenaerys, about Viserra

**Viserra Targaryen**, also known as ‘**the Goldcloak Princess**’, is the second eldest daughter of queen Daenaerys I Targaryen. She is the Commander of the City Watch of King's Landing.

## Biography

### A Restless Dragon

Princess Viserra Targaryen was born in 184 AC to the future queen Daenaerys I Targaryen and her husband, Ser Rhaegar Velaryon. She was their second eldest daughter, preceded by the twins Daeron and Rhaenyra first and secondly by another brother, Viserys. It was winter when she came into the world, crying more angrily than any of Daenaerys’ children had before or would since. Even then, she was a healthy and robust babe, and would never get sick.

Only fifth in line at the time, Viserra grew up without any expectations of ever ruling, nor any desire to do so. She had a healthy mother and three healthy older siblings, after all, and the king was not yet old. Thus, although she received the best of educations and all the attention a young princess deserved, the weight of the crown and the spectre of the throne did not govern her life.

From a young age, she displayed an energetic, stubborn, and reckless nature. In short, she was a difficult child. She would sulk whenever she was refused anything, and it usually took Rhaenyra or, more frequently, Viserys, to coax her out of whatever hiding spot she’d found. Her septa despaired of her, complaining that the girl was 'loud and quarrelsome', a fact that could scarcely be denied. Even her father once remarked that out of all his children, only Viserra gave him cause for worry.

And worry her parents she did. She did not enjoy her lessons, and whether it be dancing or sums or poetry, she excelled at none of it. Her only skill seemed to be the ability to get into a fight with whoever displeased her, of which there was a great number of people. Naerys, her younger sister, was a frequent target of her rage. She was everything Viserra was not, and Viserra despised her for it. The girls would squabble as siblings often do, but Viserra alone seemed to get the blame for these spats, which only added to her resentment and animosity towards her sister.

By contrast, Viserra adored and idolized her brother Viserys. Secretly, she wanted to be like him. He was only a year older than her, and she could not understand why he was made to train in the yard while she was expected to sew and sing and embroider. More than anything, though, she admired her brother’s chivalrous and generous nature, for her spirit was quite dissimilar, much as she wished it wasn’t. She was quick to anger and slow to forgive, and possessed of a considerable amount of envy.

These flaws brought her and her family no small amount of grief, as she’d get into brawls and screaming matches constantly. Still, she did not have the words to express why she was so furious all the time, and it never occurred to her to ask her uncle Maekar to teach her how to wield a sword, as she so longed to do, for a part of her still wished to please her mother, and she suspected she wouldn’t like it.

If anyone disliked Viserra, it was her grandfather the king. She shed no tears when he was found dead, and when she attended her mother's coronation, everyone's feeling of joy was almost enough to make her believe only happy days awaited her...

### Death in the family

Of course, that was never to be. All of Viserra's antics came to an abrupt halt when the Shivers ravaged King’s Landing. At age nine, she was sequestered in the Red Keep with the rest of the family due to the outbreak of the disease. What was worse, she was locked up in the royal nursery with all her siblings, away from her mother, while her father and eldest brother fell ill. She survived, but her father and her brother did not. During this time, she was comforted along with her other siblings by her sister Rhaenyra, a fact she would never forget, and which would cause her to develop a fierce loyalty towards her.

The incident traumatized Viserra, who became serious and withdrawn overnight. Gone was her fire, her fury, replaced instead by a quiet, cold, eerie detachment. Not even her beloved Viserys seemed to be able to reach her. How could the gods allow such a thing to happen, she’d ask herself, only to conclude that there must be no gods at all, no justice, and no mercy.

The birth of the bastard Daemon Waters did not help matters. Aged only ten, but already old enough to understand such things, Viserra regarded the babe with a great dislike. She would never grow to love him like she did her trueborn siblings, as he was a reminder of a terrible time for her family.

### Father

> “...Viserra had never been close to her own father, and she was only nine when he died. It was hardly surprising, then, that she became so attached to Durran Dondarrion.”
>
> — Maester Petyr in 'Women of the Dragon'

Following her husband's and son's deaths and the birth of her bastard, her mother would recover from her grief and announce a royal progress. Viserra did not wish to go, and it took all of Rhaenyra's cunning and Viserys' pleading for her to leave her rooms and join the party that would depart King's Landing for the journey.

She did not enjoy the progress, the memory of her bastard half-brother's birth still fresh in her mind. It all proved to be a trial for her, as she was expected to act like a proper princess and not sulk or glare or be herself at all.

It was during this progress that Viserra met Perianne Lannett, who would grow to be her best friend. Much like Naerys, Perianne was not like Viserra at all, but the two got along very well. The queen was so pleased Viserra had made a friend that she made Perianne Viserra's lady-in-waiting, so the two would always be close. But what was intended as a loving gesture from a mother to her daughter only angered Viserra, for she felt humiliated that her mother would force her friend to stay with her. Perianne was so proud of serving a princess that it was hard to deny her, though, and so she would be the only person to ever occupy the position of lady-in-waiting to Viserra.

Durran Dondarrion's famous wooing of her mother did not please Viserra in the slightest, either. She was nowhere near as besotted with the man as everyone else seemed to be, remembering her father and her brother still, and the period of grief that had followed and which had never ended for her. Not even Durran’s thwarting of the assassins that came for her mother seemed to endear the Stormlander to Viserra.

But her mother married Durran despite Viserra's protests, and soon gave birth to a son, Lyonel Targaryen. Viserra disliked the child almost as much as she'd disliked Daemon Waters. This would not last for very long, however, for Durran managed to do what neither of her parents had: learn to understand Viserra.

> “I've seen the way you look at the boys training in the yard. If you wish to learn, you need only ask.”
>
> — Durran to Viserra

It was Durran who gave Viserra a sword and taught her how to use it, and it was he, too, who taught her how to smile again after what had happened during the Shivers, although it must be said Viserra never smiled much again.

### Loyalty

> “No one could ever doubt that Princess Viserra loved her family deeply, fiercely, and perhaps tragically, overmuch.”
>
> — Maester Petyr

In 196 AC, the Crown Princess Rhaenyra married Owen Costayne and later gave birth to twins. The birth left Rhaenyra weakened, and many at court whispered that she would die and Viserys would take her place as Prince of Dragonstone. Viserra would not hear of it. During the Shivers, it had been Rhaenyra who had protected her and comforted her, and she was incredibly loyal to her. Moreover, Viserra saw the rumors as an insult to Viserys, who would never wish their sister harm, nor their newborn niece and nephew.

"My sister is the heir to the Iron Throne, and so she will remain, for neither she nor her babes will die," Viserra told the gossipers. "She will live, and she will have your tongues if she hears of this. You'd best pray that she does not."

No one was as pleased as Viserra the day Rhaenyra made her triumphant return to court. It was the first time since she was a child that she smiled broadly and happily. For her loyalty, Rhaenyra rewarded her with a pup, bred from her own hounds. Viserra named it the Cannibal, after the wild dragon of the same name.

Only a year later, though, her mother suffered her second assassination attempt when she was poisoned whilst pregnant. It was a dark time for the family. Once more, neither mother nor child were expected to live. Unable to sit still, Viserra questioned the kitchen staff together with Viserys, but no culprit was ever found. The Dornish received the blame once more, as they had for the first assassination attempt. Furious, Viserra demanded that the queen declare war on Dorne at once, and finish what Aegon the Conqueror could not. She would get her wish eventually, although she had no way of knowing how dearly she’d pay for it.

### A son for the Queensguard, a daughter for the City Watch

> “You don't need to be like me. There is only one Viserra, and I would miss her sorely if she were gone.”
>
> — Viserys to Viserra

Viserra's preference for Viserys was clear to all, and it had been since they were very young. Viserra saw Viserys as a hero, while Viserys saw only Viserra’s virtues too. It came as no surprise to anyone, then, that as they grew older the two fell in love.

In 200 AC, though, Viserys distinguished himself by winning the melee at the tourney at King’s Landing, a feat for which his mother appointed him to the Queensguard. Viserra couldn’t do anything at the time except watch from the lists, her hands curled into two white fists, her face equally pale. But that night, a screaming match like no other was heard throughout Maegor’s Holdfast as mother and daughter argued late into the night. Viserra saw her brother’s appointment to the Queensguard as a plot from her mother to prevent her from marrying him, and whether that was the case or not, it was well known that Daenaerys misliked the ancient Valyrian practice of wedding brother to sister. As fraught as things between them were, it would not be until the end of the Dornish Conquest that tensions between them would come to a boil.

Perhaps believing that what her troublesome daughter lacked was something to keep her occupied, shortly after Viserys’ appointment to the Queensguard Daenaerys gave the office of Commander of the City Watch to Viserra. This surprised everyone, including Viserra herself. Nevertheless, still eager to please her mother in spite of it all and to make Durran proud as well, Viserra took the position very seriously. With Viserys’ encouragement, she immediately began to inspect the goldcloaks’ armor and weapons personally, seeing to it that they were all in order. Like her great-great grandsire Daemon Targaryen, she improved their arms and equipment and inflicted harsh punishments upon the thieves and cutpurses, earning her men’s respect.

Despite the obstacles that their respective offices presented for them, Viserys’ and Viserra’s affair would last until his death in Dorne.

### The Stark in the South

> “Pick up the sword and wipe your tears. Neither the battlefield nor King’s Landing are places you want to be caught in crying.”
>
> — Viserra to Teora Stark

In 205 AC the Targaryens’ ward Teora Stark arrived at court. At first, Viserra didn’t pay her much mind, until Viserys pointed out the girl seemed to be struggling to fit into court, and she noticed the young Stark was being tormented by other children. Annoyed, Viserra took the child under her wing and threw a sword at her. “Learn to fight back or you’ll never survive,” she told her, and thus their training began.

If Teora Stark had thought the North harsh, she found Viserra was harsher. Unlike the paternal instruction Viserra had received under Durran Durrandon, her training of the Stark girl was relentless and implacable. “Colder than the North, and more terrifying than the streets of King’s Landing,” Teora Stark once said of her mentor.

Nevertheless, Viserra grew fond of the heir to Winterfell, and although she would never fight her fights for her, she would encourage Teora to defy Daenaerys whenever possible and to take charge of her life. Whether she saw the child as a daughter, a younger sister, a disciple, or all of those is unclear, but it is undeniable that she liked the girl.

Around this time, Viserra met ser Edwell Bar Emmon after she saved him from a drunkard’s knife during a street brawl, after which the knight swore himself to her service. Edwell joined her meagre household as her sworn shield, the first addition to Viserra’s entourage since Perianne Lannett became her lady-in-waiting years ago.

### The Conquest and the Defeat

> “...but the Queen's grief seemed to be matched by her daughter Viserra's, who, some rumored, had with Viserys' death lost not only a brother but a lover as well. Whatever the truth may be, what is certain is that what might have brought mother and daughter closer together only served to separate them for good.”
>
> — Archmaester Bennis, 'Lives of Three Queens'

In 208 AC, many members of Viserra’s family fought in Dorne. At first, Viserra remained in King’s Landing with the City Watch, but once word reached her of her family’s plight she hastened to join them. Compared to the war, the fights in the streets of King’s Landing and the training she’d received were child’s play. Viserra was ill-equipped for it, unprepared, and unready. The reality and horrors of the war caught her off-guard.

She managed to survive, but many, including Viserys, did not. What was worse, Viserra was not there with him when he died, and for that she would never forgive herself. Were the gods real after all, and were they punishing her for making her brother break his vows?

Not only did Viserys die, but Durran, who had been a father to her, did as well. Viserra had to be stopped from killing the person that gave her the news. Only the swift intervention of ser Edwell Bar Emmon saved the messenger.

Traumatized by those losses and blaming her mother for them, Viserra returned to King’s Landing a changed woman. Once more, death had visited her family to take a father and a brother from her. As atonement for her own part in what she perceived as a failure to save Durran and Viserys, she resolved to do her duty from now on, and enforce the law with an iron fist. She would also protect what remained of her family to the best of her ability.

### Present

> “He took half of me with him when he died.”
>
> — Viserra to her friend, Perianne Lannett, about Viserys

Presently, she is thirty one years of age and still grieving. She only wears black with the occasional red, or armor with a gold cloak. She never wears jewelry or arranges her hair into anything but a long, tidy braid.

She is known for her skill with a blade, her severe and harsh demeanor, and her cutting, dry sense of humor. She dotes—in her own way—on her half-Dondarrion siblings most of all, and on her nephews and nieces as well. Aella alone does not have her Aunt’s favor, as Viserra considers her a ‘troublemaker’—never mind the fact that out of all her relatives, it might be Aella who resembles her the most.

She is a part of her sister Rhaenyra’s council, and her most stalwart supporter.

## Personality

> “Obsessed with law and order, Viserra was willing to give up her own life if it meant bringing criminals to justice.”
>
> — Maester Petyr in 'Women of the Dragon'

An inflexible, stubborn woman, Viserra is well known among the cutpurses and thieves of King’s Landing, as she tends to inflict cruel punishments upon them.

The many losses she’s suffered in life have made her cold and difficult to approach. Her attitude towards crime and her obsession with justice likely derive from her experiences during the war, as a result of wanting to impose order on a world in chaos.

Despite her harsh demeanor, Viserra loves her family and those close to her deeply.

## Appearance

Blessed with the famed beauty of most Valyrians, Viserra has silver-white hair and uncommonly vibrant purple eyes. Her good looks are somewhat spoiled by the perpetual scowl on her face.

She dresses simply, favoring the color black with only a dash of the occasional red. When on duty, she wears armor bearing the three-headed dragon of her House, and the gold cloak the City Watch is famous for.

Her hair is long and always braided.

## Relationships

### Viserys Targaryen

Viserys was Viserra's favorite sibling and, eventually, her lover. After his death in Dorne, Viserra was never the same. Though she would largely blame her mother for it, she also blamed herself for not being there when he died.

### Rhaenyra Targaryen

The Crown Princess is Viserra's favorite sister. Rhaenyra comforted her during the outbreak of the Shivers in 193 AC, a fact Viserra never forgot, and which caused her to develop a fierce loyalty towards her elder sister. She dotes upon her children, particularly Visenya.

### Queen Daenaerys I

Daenaerys and Viserra have always had a tense relationship, but the aftermath of the Conquest of Dorne destroyed it completely. Viserra blames Daenaerys for the deaths of Durran and Viserys, even though she, too, advocated in favor of the war at the time. The two are no longer on speaking terms.

### Durran Dondarrion

Durran was like a father to Viserra, and the one who taught her to wield a sword. With his death, she lost the only parent who truly understood her.

### Teora Stark

The Stark in the South is Viserra's protégée. Much like Durran did with her when she was young, she took the girl under her wing and taught her to fight, though it must be said her methods were far harsher than Durran's.

### Corlys Blood

In 212 AC, Viserra met and had an affair with Corlys Blood, a Velaryon bastard of the Stepstones. It was only later that he revealed his true identity to her. Furious at having been deceived, Viserra ordered the pirate to leave the city and never return. He did, but he also found a way to write to her throughout the years, confessing his love. Viserra burns every letter of his she gets.