Visenya and Rheanys Targaryen

Born: 29 BC, Dragonstone

Died: 44 AC (aged 73), Dragonstone

Parents: Lord Aerion Targaryen and Lady Valaena Velaryon

Spouse: King Aegon I Targaryen (brother)

Issue: King Maegor I Targaryen ("Maegor the Cruel")

Dragon: Vhagar

Weapon: Dark Sister (Valyrian steel longsword)

Visenya possessed the classical Valyrian features shared by her siblings: long, silver-gold hair that she typically wore braided or bound up in rings, and striking purple eyes. However, her beauty was distinctly different from her sister's. Where Rhaenys was ethereal and playful, Visenya was described as having a "harsher, more austere beauty". She was voluptuous and sensual, with a commanding physical presence that demanded respect.

Physique: Visenya trained as a warrior from childhood, developing a strong, athletic build. She was equally comfortable in silk gowns at court or ringmail armor on the battlefield. When dressed for war, she cut an imposing figure—this was a woman who could wield a longsword with deadly skill and ride a dragon into combat.

Attire: Visenya's wardrobe reflected her dual nature. She wore elegant court dresses when fulfilling queenly duties, but her most iconic attire was her warrior's garb—armor and ringmail suitable for battle, always with her Valyrian steel sword Dark Sister at her hip. The sword itself was notable: a thin, light blade designed for a woman's hand, proving that she was no mere figurehead but a true combatant.

Visenya was complex, formidable, and often feared. Her personality was defined by several key traits:

Temperamental and Passionate: She was considered the more temperamental of Aegon's sisters, with a personality described as "passionate and dark" compared to Rhaenys's playfulness. Even those who loved her best found her stern, serious, and unforgiving.

Warrior Spirit: Visenya was first and foremost a martial woman. She was trained in combat from childhood, wielded Dark Sister with deadly proficiency, and rode the massive dragon Vhagar into battle. She was instrumental in the Field of Fire and personally conquered the Vale of Arryn through a display of dragon power.

Pragmatic and Ruthless: She understood power and wasn't afraid to use it. When securing the Vale, she flew Vhagar directly into the Eyrie's courtyard and offered the young King Ronnel a dragon ride—combining threat with charm to achieve bloodless victory.

Political Acumen: Despite her martial reputation, Visenya was skilled in diplomacy and governance. She conceived of and established the Kingsguard after demonstrating Aegon's vulnerability by cutting his cheek with Dark Sister before his guards could react. She designed the order and worked out its details, creating an institution that would last centuries.

Mysterious and Perhaps Dark: Some claimed Visenya dabbled in dark sorceries and played with poisons. Whether these rumors were true or merely reflected her intimidating nature, they contributed to her fearsome reputation.

Desire for Recognition and Power: Visenya craved respect and authority. She was the eldest sibling and expected to be Aegon's primary partner. The arrival of Rhaenys as a second wife—whom Aegon clearly preferred—must have wounded her deeply. She spent her life proving her worth through martial prowess and political contribution.

Loyalty to Family (Selectively): Despite her difficult relationship with Aegon, Visenya remained loyal to the Targaryen dynasty. She supported her son Maegor's claim to the throne, even conducting his wedding to Alys Harroway in a secret Valyrian ceremony. However, her love was conditional and strategic rather than warm.

Security and Control: The creation of the Kingsguard reveals her mindset—she saw vulnerability everywhere and sought to eliminate it. She wanted to ensure that the Targaryens would never be caught defenseless again.

Legacy Through Strength: Visenya desired to be remembered as a warrior-queen who helped forge an empire. She achieved this, though at personal cost—her line ended with Maegor, while Rhaenys's descendants ruled Westeros.

Unrequited Love: Most poignantly, Visenya desired Aegon's love, or at least his respect. She received neither in the measure she craved. Aegon spent ten nights with Rhaenys for every one he spent with Visenya. This rejection likely fueled her stern, unapproachable demeanor.

Born: 25 or 26 BC, Dragonstone

Died: 10 AC (age 35-36), Hellholt, Dorne

Parents: Lord Aerion Targaryen and Lady Valaena Velaryon

Spouse: King Aegon I Targaryen (brother)

Issue: King Aenys I Targaryen

Dragon: Meraxes

Legacy: Ancestor of all subsequent Targaryen kings (except Maegor)

Rhaenys embodied a different ideal of Targaryen beauty than her sister. She was beautiful with the characteristic silver-gold hair, but she wore it long and loose, flowing freely rather than bound in the severe styles favored by Visenya. Her eyes were purple, and she possessed a slender, graceful physique.

Physique: Unlike Visenya's warrior build, Rhaenys was slender and graceful. She was not a trained warrior in the same sense—while she rode Meraxes into battle, she lacked her siblings' martial training and did not carry a Valyrian steel sword.

Attire: Rhaenys dressed for elegance and movement. She favored attire suitable for court, festivals, and dragon-flight. In battle, she wore steel and copper armor that flashed in the sun—functional but also beautiful, reflecting her aesthetic sensibilities.

Rhaenys was the gentler, more playful spirit of the three conquerors, but this should not be mistaken for weakness:

Playful and Mischievous: She was "playful, curious, impulsive, given to flights of fancy with a mischievous aspect to her personality". She brought joy and levity to the court, organizing entertainments and celebrations.

Cultured and Artistic: Rhaenys loved music, dancing, and poetry. She actively supported singers, mummers, and puppeteers, bringing artists to court to create songs celebrating the Targaryens. She understood the power of narrative and culture in building a dynasty.

Passionate About Flight: It was said that Rhaenys spent more time flying on Meraxes than her siblings did combined. For her, dragon-riding wasn't merely military—it was joy, freedom, and passion.

Kindhearted but Fierce: She was kindhearted and cared deeply for the smallfolk—more than either Aegon or Visenya. Yet she possessed a fiery temperament and was fierce and fearless in battle. When Dorne resisted her, she threatened "Fire and blood".

Impulsive and Curious: Rhaenys acted on instinct and emotion. Her decision to fly directly to Sunspear to confront Princess Meria Martell was bold but ultimately fatal—she underestimated Dornish determination and overestimated the power of dragon threat alone.

Desire for Love and Connection: Unlike Visenya's political ambitions, Rhaenys desired genuine connection. She found it with Aegon—he married her out of love and desire, not duty. Their son Aenys's name combined syllables from both their names ("Ae" from Aegon, "nys" from Rhaenys), symbolizing their bond.

Joy and Beauty: Rhaenys wanted to create a court and a realm that celebrated life. She brought artists, musicians, and poets to King's Landing, wanting the Targaryen reign to be associated with culture and splendor, not just conquest.

Unity and Peace: She worked actively to unite the realm through marriage alliances, arranging unions between Great Houses to end ancient feuds. She saw beyond conquest to the necessity of integration.

Freedom: Her love of flight represented a desire for freedom—freedom from constraints, freedom to explore, freedom to be herself. This made her impatient with Dorne's guerrilla resistance; she wanted decisive confrontation, not endless skirmishing.

Legacy Through Lineage: While Visenya sought legacy through power, Rhaenys achieved it through her descendants. Fifteen of the sixteen Targaryen kings were her direct descendants. Her line produced Jaehaerys the Conciliator, the greatest Targaryen king, and eventually Daenerys Stormborn.

Motherhood: Rhaenys loved her son Aenys deeply. She wanted to ensure his future and the continuation of their line. Her death left Aenys to be raised by a grieving, distant father and a resentful aunt—a heavy burden for a gentle child.

Before describing the experience, I must be clear: this relationship would be extraordinarily challenging. The historical record shows Aegon's arrangement was born of necessity and desire, not healthy polyamory. As one analysis notes, "Aegon wed Visenya out of duty and Rhaenys out of desire", creating an inherently unbalanced dynamic. The sisters had *"mutual respect and love as sisters and rivals as wives and queens". They were allies in governance but competitors for affection. Aegon spent "ten nights with Rhaenys for every one that he spent with Visenya"—a ratio that would create tension in any relationship structure. However, for the sake of this exploration, let's imagine a scenario where you are the connecting partner, attempting to navigate both these formidable women with more equity than Aegon managed.

The Experience of Loving Visenya Being with Visenya would be intense, demanding, and profoundly rewarding—if you could earn her trust.

Emotional Landscape: Visenya was "stern, serious, unforgiving", yet also "passionate and dark" and "voluptuous and sensual". She was the seductress to Rhaenys's flirt. With her, intimacy would never be casual. She would demand total commitment, absolute honesty, and unwavering loyalty.

She had spent her life being the dutiful, rejected wife—the one Aegon married from obligation while loving her sister. If you chose her, truly chose her, she would be fiercely devoted but also deeply suspicious of any perceived favoritism toward Rhaenys.

Daily Life: Mornings might find her in the training yard, practicing sword-forms with Dark Sister —the slender Valyrian steel blade she wielded with deadly grace. She would expect you to match her discipline, whether in combat training, governance, or personal conduct. She had "little patience for the mischievous, impetuous" and would not tolerate laziness or frivolity.

Evenings would be different. The same woman who cut down enemies without mercy would be capable of deep sensuality. She was "voluptuous", and her passion ran dark and intense. But intimacy with Visenya would always carry an edge—she might test your loyalty, challenge your strength, demand proof of your commitment.

The Challenges:

Jealousy: She would watch your interactions with Rhaenys with "veiled threats", reading every glance for preference

Control: She created the Kingsguard because she saw vulnerability everywhere; she would need constant reassurance of security

Darkness: Rumors claimed she "dabbled in dark sorceries and played with poisons"—whether true or not, she had a morbid, intense streak

Unforgiveness: Cross her, and she would remember. She was "unforgiving"

The Rewards: If you broke through her armor, Visenya would be unshakeable. She saved Aegon's life from assassins, created lasting institutions, and fought beside her partners as an equal. She would defend you with dragon, sword, and scheme. Her love, once given, would be absolute and eternal.

The Experience of Loving Rhaenys Being with Rhaenys would be joyful, unpredictable, and creatively stimulating—but equally demanding in different ways.

Emotional Landscape: Rhaenys was "playful, curious, impulsive, given to flights of fancy". She was "slender and graceful" with a "mischievous aspect". Where Visenya demanded, Rhaenys invited. She would charm you effortlessly, making you feel like the center of her world—while also maintaining independence that bordered on elusiveness.

Daily Life: Days with Rhaenys would be adventures. She "spent more time flying on Meraxes than her siblings did combined". She might wake you at dawn for a dragon-flight to the coast, spend the afternoon listening to a new singer she'd discovered, and the evening dancing in a disguise at a tavern.

She was not a warrior, but she was "fierce and fearless" in her own way. She conquered through charm and cultural influence, not force. She would expect you to appreciate beauty, engage with art, and move through society with grace.

Intimacy with Rhaenys would be playful and passionate. She was the "flirt", the beloved, the one who made Aegon laugh. But she also had a fiery temper—the same woman who threatened "Fire and blood" to the Dornish could turn cold if betrayed.

The Challenges:

Inconstancy: Her "flights of fancy" meant she might lose interest in routines; you'd need to keep her engaged

Independence: She maintained her own circle of artists and possibly lovers—Rhaenys surrounded herself with young men on nights Aegon wasn't with her

Impulsiveness: She died because she flew impulsively into danger at Hellholt; managing risk with her would be exhausting

Competition: She knew she was the "favorite" and might, consciously or not, leverage that against Visenya.

The Rewards: Rhaenys would make you feel alive. She would introduce you to poets, take you dragon-racing, and fill your life with beauty. She was kindhearted, genuinely caring for the smallfolk in ways her siblings didn't. She would be a partner in joy, not just duty.

The Central Challenge The core difficulty would be managing the imbalance. Aegon failed because he "spent ten nights with Rhaenys for every one with Visenya". To succeed where he failed, you would need:

1. Radical Transparency Both women would read every gesture. You could not afford secret favoritism. Visenya would sense it and grow cold; Rhaenys would sense it and grow distant. You would need to openly discuss allocation of time, affection, and attention, treating it as a logistical necessity rather than a shameful secret.

2. Compartmentalization and Integration They were complementary as rulers—Visenya handling security and military affairs, Rhaenys handling culture and diplomacy. You would need to honor their distinct domains while finding spaces for all three of you together.

The Valyrian wedding ceremony—"wed by blood and fire" with a female officiant—suggests they had cultural frameworks for complex unions. Visenya herself officiated her son Maegor's second wedding, showing she accepted polygamy as institutionally valid, even if personally painful.

3. Managing Their Relationship With Each Other This is the crux. They were sisters first, bound by blood, dragons, and shared destiny. They took joy in plotting marriages between houses together, showing they could collaborate. But they also *competed for Aegon "each in her own way".

You would need to:

Never compare them explicitly ("Visenya is better at..." or "Rhaenys is more fun...")

Create rituals of unity: Perhaps joint dragon-flights, shared governance decisions, or cultural projects that required both their strengths

Allow them sister-time without you: They needed space to be sisters, not just co-wives

Acknowledge the pain: Visenya's resentment and Rhaenys's guilt (if she felt any) needed voice, not suppression.

4. The Bedroom Reality Let's be direct: the sexual dynamic would be complex. Visenya was the "seductress" —intense, demanding, possibly experimental (given the poison/sorcery rumors) [^35^]. Rhaenys was the "flirt" —playful, sensual, possibly more experienced with diverse partners (given her artistic circle).

The 10:1 ratio suggests Aegon found Rhaenys easier, more immediately pleasurable. To balance this, you would need to find genuine desire for Visenya's intensity, not just duty-sex. She would know the difference. With Rhaenys, you would need to maintain novelty—she bored easily.

Group intimacy? Possible, given Valyrian openness, but fraught. Visenya's "austere" nature and Rhaenys's "playfulness" might clash in intimate settings. More likely: separate but equal arrangements, with occasional unity rituals.

Morning: You wake in the royal chambers. Visenya has already risen—she's in the yard, training. Rhaenys is still abed, reading poetry. You break your fast with Rhaenys, discussing a new singer she's invited to court. Then you visit the training yard, where Visenya insists you spar with her (she'll defeat you easily, but appreciates the effort).

Midday: A council meeting. Visenya reports on the City Watch and Kingsguard. Rhaenys discusses her plan for a festival celebrating the Conquest's anniversary. You mediate between Visenya's security concerns and Rhaenys's desire for spectacle. You decide: the festival proceeds, but with doubled guard presence (Visenya's condition) and a new song cycle commissioned (Rhaenys's desire).

Afternoon: Rhaenys invites you for a dragon-flight. You ride with her on Meraxes, soaring over Blackwater Bay. She's exhilarated, free, singing. Back on the ground, Visenya meets you with news—a potential threat from the Iron Islands. She needs your counsel. Rhaenys pouts slightly at the interruption but understands.

Evening: A formal dinner. You sit between them, ensuring equal attention. Rhaenys charms the visiting lord; Visenya intimidates him. Together, they secure his loyalty through different methods. Later, private time—perhaps tonight is Visenya's, given the security concerns. Her intensity is exhausting but fulfilling. You must remember to be equally present with Rhaenys tomorrow.

Night: Visenya sleeps beside you, her hand on Dark Sister even in rest. You think of Rhaenys, probably flying under the moon, and hope she doesn't do anything impulsive. Tomorrow you'll find her, bring her back to ground, remind her she's loved too.