Aelora Hightower

**Aelora Targaryen of King's Landing, née Hightower** *(Aelora Hightower; the Hightower, Oldtown, 11st of the Eight Moon, 34 A.C. - The Red Keep, King's Landing, the Crownlands, 24th of the Fifth Moon, 115 A.C.)*, Lady of Oldtown after the death of her father, she became Queen Consort by her consecutive marriages, first as one of the infamous 'Black Brides' of Maegor I, who was known as the Cruel and secondly as the first wife of King Jaehaerys I, his successor and nephew. Aelora was the only daughter of Lord Martyn and his second wife, Aerea Targaryen, daughter of Aegon I and his sister-wife Visenya, a marriage which was arranged to appease the Hightowers and the Faith.

Known for her political tact and cunning, the Lady of Oldtown held an important albeit difficult position at court as the first wife of the ruling monarch, only displaced by his sister-wife Alysanne. The three had a surprisingly amiable relationship due to their circumstances, with all wishing to keep the realm together for which they needed eachothers support. During her marriage to Jaehaerys Aelora would have two sons, Baelon and Vaegon respectively, the former of which would later become Prince of Dragonstone after the death of his elder half-brother Aemon and the latter would succeed her as ruler of the port city, becoming a player in the upcoming Dance of Dragons.

## Early Life

#### Birth & Childhood

Born on the 11st of the Eight Moon in one of the rooms in the Hightower in Oldtown, Aelora was the only daughter of Lord Martyn Hightower, head of the House Hightower and brother to Princess Ceryse, who was at that time married to the second son of King Aegon, Maegor Targaryen. Among her paternal uncles were Morgan and Jon Hightower, both members of the Faith of the Seven, the first as a Warrior's Son and the second as a septon, who would eventually be elected as High Septon and become instrumental to her position at court. Her mother was Aerea Targaryen, only daughter of King Aegon I and his sister-wife, Visenya. In order to appease the Faith, her marriage was arranged to Martyn Hightower, widower of Alys Redwyne with whom he had one son, Jon Hightower. Their marriage was relatively happy, with the couple residing in either the Hightower or King's Landing where they both held important places in the court. Tragedy struck however as the jubilation that they both had when Aelora was born turned to horror when the birth proved too much for Aerea and she died shortly after.

Upon the death of her mother, Lord Martyn of Oldtown secluded himself in the Hightower, leaving his infant daughter to be raised by her grandmother Visenya, with the two frequently travelling to and from King's Landing. There she grew up with her maternal cousins, Aegon, Viserys, Jaehaerys and Alysanne, becoming good friends with the latter of the four especially. While she was not given a dragon egg as this was refused by Aegon I due to her family's connection to the Faith, riding on dragonback became an often occurance in the skies above Dragonstone. Upon Aegon the Conqueror's death in 37 A.C. the grandmother and granddaughter pair would stay on the island more often, rarely journeying back while the widowed queen considered what would become of her own son.

#### Education

Due to Visenya Targaryen's affection to her daughter's only child Aelora was not educated by Maesters or Septas, the former of whom the Dowager Queen had blamed for their failure in saving her daughter. Instead she sent out a summon for some of the most talented scholars from Braavos, Lys and Volantis in hope that they would keep the child out of the influence of the Faith. A masterful education was provided for her by these tutors, including history, arithmatic, the languages of both the Common Tongue and High Valyrian. Other subjects which were related to rulership and the management of a realm were taught by a Reachman Septon by the name of Barth, who had won Visenya's trust after providing her with several books on dragonlore. The most strange practices she was taught out of all were those related to dragon dreams, a skill Aelora had since young which according to Septon Barth and the widow caused her to have some sort of divination. The meanings behind these she would write down over the years in a book which would be kept safe in a hidden area of the Dragonmont only accessible by flight. According to rumour this book included predictions on the death of Maegor, the Dance of the Dragons and the eventual downfall of the Targaryens due to Robert's Rebellion. The Dowager Queen had her only son instruct the young girl in swordmanship from a young age, although the task was taken up by a member of the Kingsguard after Maegor's exile, however they would still travel to the Free Cities to meet him.

#### Succession of Oldtown

After Maegor seized the throne in 41 A.C. he was eventually called by the High Septon to answer for his crimes in Oldtown in the Starry Sept in 43 A.C., he answered this call and travelled to the busy city together with his mother and niece, who was the Lord's daughter. They were welcomed by the sixteen year old heir to Oldtown, Jon Hightower and his aunt Ceryse Hightower, Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. The court of Oldtown just stood by as Maegor threatened to incinerate the Starry Sept, and not long later the High Septon mysteriously passed after an audience with Patrice Hightower, aunt of the ruling Lord Martyn however she was never persecuted and likely poisoned him at the orders of her nephew in order to save the city from dragonflame. The new High Septon finally anointed the king and Maegor reconciliated with his wife Ceryse much to all of the Hightower's relief. A casualty of the Faith's actions however would be Ser Jon Hightower as he was killed in a joust held during this time, with his opponent being a mystery knight who never appeared since, making it most likely the actions of a zealot angry at the fact that they most likely murdered the High Septon.

Maegor offered his condolences to the Lord of Oldtown and Visenya started making plans for her granddaughter's inheritance, wishing for Oldtown to fall into the hands of the Targaryens. Martyn Hightower on the other hand wanted his daughter to marry a cousin, Donnel Hightower who would inherit should Aelora be excluded or disinherited, however due to the royal family's interference this was thwarted. The heiress would remain in Oldtown until 44 A.C, the year in which the aging Lord of Oldtown passed and a coup was attempted by Donnel Hightower and his supporters, though thankfully for Aelora it was stopped by Betrand Tyrell, Lord of Highgarden who did not wish to invoke Maegor's anger if he let the power struggle win against his niece. In the city itself a regency was handed over to Tommen Costayne, Lord of Three Towers whose brother Yohn acted as the Commander of the City Watch of Oldtown. Their loyalty would later be reinforced when Tommen Costayne's widowed daughter Elinor became one of the brides of Maegor the Cruel together with Aelora in 47 A.C.

## Reign of Maegor I

#### Marriage to Maegor I

The marriage of the new head of House Hightower was long thrown into question, with the most popular choice being either the third son of Aenys I, Jaehaerys or some proposed that Maegor set aside his own bride and replace the aging Ceryse Hightower with her own niece. Both suggestions would eventually become true in time,