Baela Targaryen

## Princess Baela Targaryen

Princess Baela Targaryen, also known as Baela the Glorious, is the main protagonist of the story.

She's the elder daughter of Prince Daemon Targaryen and Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen. She has two older brothers Aegon III Targaryen  and Viserys Targaryen , a twin sister, Rhaena Targaryen , and a younger sister, Visenya Targaryen .

She is the first dragonrider to bond Moondancer and the first female warrior, after Queen Visenya, to own Dark Sister.  At the end of the story, she will become the second wife of her uncle, Prince Aemond Targaryen , and the stepmother of Prince Baelor Targaryen .

## APPEARANCE AND CHARACTER

Within the Targaryen lineage, Princess Baela stands out not only for her striking silver-golden hair and captivating light purple eyes but also for her distinctive character. Like all Targaryens, Baela possesses an otherworldly beauty, but hers takes a different form.

While her sisters, Rhaena and Visenya, predominantly inherited their mother's delicate features, Baela's appearance evolved over time. Her features became more defined and slightly angular, reminiscent of her father and brother, Viserys.

Althought she and Rhaena are almost identical twins, as they grow in to women her appearences started to become different; unlike Rhaena's Baela's cheeckbones are sligtly more prominent and her facial structure sharper and defined, just like her gaze, that is characterized by its intensity and determination. Another notable shared trait with her uncle Daemon and uncle Aemond is her nose, which takes on a subtly elongated and curved form, resembling the profile of a dragon.

This characteristic became even more pronounced when her uncle Aemond unintentionally altered the bridge of her nose during a duel at the Tournament of 137 AC, resulting in a distinctive irregularity. Baela's striking appearance and strong, occasionally brusque personality sometimes led certain young nobles to perceive her as "less attractive and feminine." Whispers occasionally circulated, suggesting that while Princess Baela possessed grace, it did not compare to the elegance of her sisters. However, an exception to this perception was her uncle Aemond, who regarded her as exceptionally enchanting, even stating that "not even Rhaenyra during her younger days had ever been remotely as beautiful as Baela was."

In time, it became apparent that the presumed "aversion" toward Baela was nothing more than a ruse employed by the same men who she rejected, humiliating them. Baela after all attracted numerous suitors who did all they can to be allowed in her bed, however most of them ended up being rejected, as she had no interests to be the lover of a noble, prefering the company of Ruklons (high-class Lyseni prostituetes) than of a Lord. Baela's body always retained a certain athleticism, remaining slender and elegant throughout her life.

Because she was a trobled eater, as her father, she never found too much love into food and prefers bitter foods to sweet ones, like red-oranges, dark chocolate and pomegrades; because of this and the many hours spent doing intensive physical activity, her long-limbed figure always remained thin and willowy. However being very slender her body is not devoid of curves: she's extremely firm, especially on her buttocks, hips and her bosom, although much smaller in comparison to those of her sisters and her mother, is still full and very pleasing to the eye(6).

Although she and Rhaena are nearly identical twins, over the years the two sisters developed different somatic features; as child Baela was slightly smaller than her twin sister (5), while now she is almost an inch above her, making Baela the tallest among the three princess. While disdaining clothes and jewellery during childhood, as soon she became older enough to start to recognize the power of her beauty and what it did to men, Baela developed a strong interest in fashion, carefully taking care of her body and her physical appearance, while still maintaining a certain preference for male clothes during the day.

Seeing the dresses that merchants from Leng wore, she even began to wear their tunics and pants; which, being much softer than the traditional Westerosi dresses for men, she began to show them off even at court, creating a great scandal.  Although most of the time she preferred to wear pants and boots, even going so far as to cover her chest with wraps to be more comfortable during training, on the few formal occasions she attended, Baela liked to emphasize her feminine side, wearing very tight corsets and very long pearls neckless to highlight her elegant breasts and willowy figure. Because of this she became a trendsetter in the royal court, pioneering her own style, which would be eventually systematically emulated by all the courtesans of the castle; though not always with satisfactory results.

Thanks to Larra, Baela also discovers the comfort and elegance of Lyseni fashion, beginning to wear long, soft togas that are very opaque but also extremely revealing. Another fashion coming from Lys that Baela will adopt is their beauty care and the multiple perfumes and creams made to exfoliate and soften the skin. Although she liked to wear mostly black, her signature colour is red, wearing it to every important event at court, even the ones where it was requested to dress in a less "flashy color". For this reason she was known as "the Red princess". Although Baela desired from an early age to cut her hair, as she considered it too trublesome when she was riding or training, her mother never allowed her to cut it; for this reason, since her early childhood, Baela - unlike the other young ladies of her age - preferred to get her long hair done in very tight braids, so that she can then pin them over her head so that they did not bother her during the day.

She came with tha particular hairstyle by looking at an illustration of the great warrior-queen Visenya in a book, which she used to go into battle with her hair wrapped that way. Only two times she will cut her hair, and in both of them it would not be for aesthetic purposes, but to demonstrate her commitment to winning the conflict against Dorne. In an effort to make a striking gesture that would shock the Northern Lords, the princess cuts her hair cleanly with Dark Sister as proof of her determination, promising in front of everyone that "not an inch of that hair would grow until she won her first battle" and that at the first defeat she would cut it again. (7) In fact just as promised, after the first major defeat, Baela cut it off again, only to grow it out altogether when she returned victorious from the war.

After the end of the conflict, seeing the important significance that her long hair had taken on, Baela stopped outright wanting to cut it and instead began to publicly display it in all its length and luster, to let the people know what an invincible warrior she was.

According to Viserys Baela was the prettiest among the two, thanks to her bold spirit. (8) Like her father, Prince Daemon Targaryen, Baela was wild, willing, and fearless; like him, she was quick to anger and was known to be deliberately provocative at times. According to her brother Viserys, with whom the princess would start an intense rivalry during their teenage years, Baela lacked the discipline and the right temperament to be a politician, as she was too passionate, quick to anger, and slow to forgive to deal with administration stuff.

During her childhood, Baela displayed a spirited and adventurous disposition, distinguishing her from the more conventional roles expected of noblewomen in Westeros. Her aversion to traditional feminine pursuits, such as interactions with septas and discussions on matters deemed "womanly," was evident. Instead, she sought solace in books, particularly those delving into the history of the Valyrian Freehold and tales of war. Baela's interests extended beyond literature. She demonstrated a penchant for activities traditionally associated with boys, frequently escaping to the outer courtyards of Dragonstone to ride her pony or experiment with weapons.

As she matured, Baela began to emulate her brothers, Aegon and Viserys, engaging in swordplay and archery. Under the tutelage of her father, Prince Daemon Targaryen, she honed her skills, eventually surpassing her brothers in fencing prowess before her sixteenth name day. Despite her fighting abilities, Baela also excelled in artistic pursuits. She embraced dance, displaying elegance and grace on the dance floor, often sharing this joy with her father, Prince Daemon. Baela's talent extended to music, as she learned to play the lute and high harp under the guidance of a music teacher from Volantis, Vogarro. Although Voggarro noted that her sister Rhaena surpassed her in harp playing due to a perceived lack of discipline, Baela's singing abilities garnered considerable admiration within her mother's court. Addam even claimed that she sang better than the "the Maid herself ."

Baela's curiosity extended to the culture of Lys, which she discovered during her later years. Her fascination led her to study Lysene music and customs, further deepening her connection to the region when she befriended a Lysene lover named Lyssapho. The two often played instruments together, embracing the rich traditions of Lys. Upon returning from the Dornish Conquest, Baela became an influential patron of the arts. She summoned artists from Dorne and Myr to decorate her apartments with intricate frescoes, some depicting explicit and erotic scenes inspired by Lysene art. Her stunning beauty attracted artists from far and wide, eager to paint her portrait and make her their muse.  Baela's legacy extended beyond the realm of culture and the arts. After her return from Dorne, she became Captain of the Golden Cloaks, and reorganized the City Watch of King's Landing, transforming it into the Seven Kingdoms' most formidable army.

Her overhaul went beyond mere equipment upgrades and included a complete restructuring of the organization, replacing corrupt elements with battle-hardened warriors who had fought alongside her during the Conquest of Dorne. The "Golden Cloaks" became a disciplined and loyal military force under her command, earning her the enduring nickname "General." Among all her siblings, Baela is the one who spends the most time riding her dragon, having shown a deep love for the sky from an early age. Unfortunately, her dragon, Moondancer, was considerably smaller and more delicate than her brothers', not yet capable of bearing the weight of its rider. However, Baela, eager to soar the skies on her own, began training Moondancer to become larger and more robust. Ultimately, her plan succeeded. In secret, during her stay at the Eyrie, while everyone else was still asleep, Baela mounted Moondancer for the first time, soaring among the mountains of the Vale. Even after her mother's settlement in the capital following her victory over the Greens, Baela continued to visit Dragonstone, preferring the dragonkeepers of the island to those in King's Landing. The dragonkeepers in Dragonstone, with their shaven heads and lightweight attire, resembled more of a monastic order than mere guards.

Moreover, with dragons in the capital kept in chains, Baela believed that King's Landing was not a suitable place to train a dragon, especially a young one like Moondancer. During this period, she began to observe how dragons, if left unchained and in the wild, grew faster and stronger than those confined to the Dragonpit. She embarked on the development of a guide for future dragon riders, which she would later publish under the title "Blood and Fire: The True Language of Dragons." Being the only guide authored by someone who actually rode these creatures, rather than just a casual scholar, her guide became the most authoritative piece of literature in the field, enduring as required reading for Targaryen Princes even centuries after her passing.

Thanks to her innovative training methods, Moondancer, in less than a year, became stronger and larger, nearly surpassing Morning and Seasmoke, transforming into a deadly creature ready for war. Recognizing the effectiveness of her experimental training, upon her return from Dorne, Baela insisted on freeing the dragons of Jaehaerys and Jaehaera from their chains, volunteering to instruct them herself to avoid any potential dangers. Unlike her parents, who saw these dragons as threats, Baela believed that dragons should be treated with respect, regardless of their riders. Thanks to her intervention, these two creatures, which had not been allowed to fly for years, began to regain their strength and vitality.

Outside of dragons, Baela loves to train other animals, preferring to spend time with them than with the courtesan that lives inside the Red Keep; because of her great love for hunting, she started to train dogs to use them for the many haunting trips she was used to do with her father. However being a lover of all kinds of dogs, with time Baela started to develop a certain sympathy for Dobermans because of their scary appearance, starting to prefer them over the more loved Greyhounds. At the start of the third book is revealed that she has seven of them, all named after heros from Old Valyria epic literature: Rhaemorys, Jaehaemar, Viseraenar, Vahaegar, Ragaemond, Daeragon and Vahaelyx.

During her stay at the Eyrie, Baela's aunt Jayne introduced her to the art of falconry. This fascination with raptors led her to receive a black hawk named Qēloss as a gift. Her dedication to hawk hunting persisted throughout her life, making her a skilled hawker within the Red Keep's court. Another animal that Baela loves is the horse: she's in fact, like her father and her brother Aegon, a great horsewoman and in her spare time, when Moondancer is too tired to fly, she loves to challenge her siblings to a horse race. While being at Dorne she discovers the beauty of Sand Steeds the beautiful thoroughbreds used by the Dornish to run through the desert and impressed by their speed and elegance, she decides to bring some back home with her.

She will then gift all the members of her personal guard with one of these horses; however, she decided to keep for herself the most striking one, a marvellous Black mare that then she will name Baerya, in honour of the main character of her favourite Valyrian Poem. However, the most important and her favourite among the many animals that she possesses is Rhae, the Little Valyrian (a lemur) that Larra gave her as a gift during the first book and that she would become her most loyal companion.

## EARLY LIFE

 Princess Baela Targaryen, alongside her twin sister Rhaena, entered the world on the island of Dragonstone during the 121st year since the Conquest. Baela, born mere minutes ahead of her sister, earned the affectionate title of "the elder sibling" among her family members. As nearly identical twins, the midwives chose to distinguish them with ribbons.

Baela was granted a red ribbon (1), a color that would come to define her identity in later years, as she frequently adorned herself with it, earning her the nickname "The Red Princess." The newborn twins were exceptionally petite, barely larger than their father Daemon's hands, and remained placid in the arms of their wet nurses. (2) Such fragility worried their mother, who feared for their well-being in the following week.

Prince Daemon, holding his daughter for the first time, made a striking observation. Baela's expression bore a fierce and determined demeanor,(3) leaving her father with no doubt that she had inherited the audacious character of her grandfather, Baelon Targaryen. In honor of this bold legacy, he chose to name her Baela. Although her father was steadfast in his decision, her mother initially harbored doubts, believing the name Baelon had carried ill fortune for their family in the past.

However, Prince Daemon's confidence in the name as a fortunate choice for his daughter prevailed.(4) As tradition dictated, two dragon eggs, one pale green and one pink, were placed beside the twins' cribs to forge a connection with the princesses. Baela was entrusted with the pale green egg, which, much like her sister's, hatched on the day of her birth, giving rise to her lifelong companion, Moondancer. Baela's early years were spent in the serene and idyllic setting of Dragonstone, far removed from the political machinations of the royal court.

Occasional visits to the Red Keep allowed her and her family to stay informed about the happenings beyond their island home. One such memorable visit occurred during the wedding of her half-uncle, Prince Aegon, to Princess Helaena in 122 AC. It was on this occasion that young Baela and Rhaena inadvertently stole the limelight when Baela disrupted the wedding ceremony by breaking a pearl necklace, scattering pearls across the floor and creating a humorous uproar. (5) In 126 AC, during a stay at the capital, a young Baela, accompanied by her siblings and her father's pages, Addam and Alyn Velaryon, ventured to the castle's practice yard.

There, they encountered her uncle, Aemond, and his mentor, Ser Criston Cole, who was one of Addam's heroes. Baela, ever the assertive one, demanded that Ser Criston Cole come and greet them. Aemond did not take kindly to her attitude and ordered the guards to remove the children from their presence, sparking a heated exchange. Thankfully, the situation was diffused before it escalated into something more dire.

This encounter marked the beginning of a profound and mutual animosity between Princess Baela and Prince Aemond, one that would intensify as the years passed. As Baela grew, her passion for flying became evident. She constantly sought opportunities to ride her parents' dragons and, once Moondancer reached a sufficient size, she became a dragon rider at the tender age of nine.

## DURING THE CIVIL WAR

 During the Civil War, to protect their children from harm, Queen Rhaenyra and her consort made the difficult decision to leave their offspring under the care of Lady Jeane Arryn at the Eyrie. Baela and her siblings spent a year there, sheltered from the turmoil of the outside world. It was a time of relative peace amid the chaos of the war.

## RETURN TO THE ROYAL COURT

 Following the Civil War's conclusion, Baela and her siblings rejoined their parents in King's Landing. There, they would begin a new chapter in their lives, stepping into the role of the Queen's children and becoming integral figures in the burgeoning royal court. Princess Baela Targaryen's early years were marked by remarkable events and encounters that would shape her character and destiny, setting the stage for her future as a central figure in the Targaryen dynasty's history.