The Heir of the Dragon: A Rhaenyra Targaryen Quest

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You understand now why most Kings generally leave matters of gold to the Master of Coin. The amount of numbers being thrown at you was honestly overwhelming, and worse, boring. These lessons somehow did the impossible by making Dragons boring, or at least the numerous accounts of just how costly the many sheep and goats they fed on were. You quickly come to dread the lessons as if they were the Stranger themselves. By the end, you weren't exactly shaping up to be the next Master of Coin, but you felt somewhat competent. Decent enough to figure out if your Master of Coin was cheating you at least.

The Legal stuff was somewhat more interesting, particularly the histories covering how the old king managed to resolve matters with the Faith after the Uprisings during the reigns of Aenys and Meagor. One of the few moments where Dragons weren't enough to force the rest of the Realm to bow to your family's will. The lessons are long and often tedious, but you feel you have a sharper mind for legal matters then when you started.

Stewardship Improved

---

"I think we can both agree that Laena is young," you declared to Otto. "Too young for marriage. And my father needs time to grieve. But we need the Sea Snake's support, particularly against Daemon."

Wind rustled through the leaves of the nearby heart tree, the carved face in the old oak seemingly staring at the two of you as you spoke.

"What would you purpose then?" Otto eyed you with bemused curiosity.

"A betrothal," you stated confidently. "My father agrees to marry Laena when she is ten and six years old. Gives him time to grieve my mother and ensure Laena is an adult when she gets married-"

"And ensures that you will likely have children of your own before Laena can give Viserys a son," Otto interrupted. The amusement was gone from his face but the curiosity had only grown deeper.

The though of having kids so soon was frankly terrifying to you, but for the sake of argument, you could at least pretend.

"They would be close in age," you replied. "Another betrothal would resolve any issues of succession with Laena's children. Succession would be secure for generations to come."

Otto turned away, his eyes glancing at the Red Keep behind you and his face unreadable.

"It's a solid plan, princess," he complimented you. "You have a better eye for politics than I realized. Were it any other lord in the Seven Kingdoms, that would probably work. But you fail to understand what kind of man you're dealing with. Lord Corlys will never accept this."

"Why do you say that?"

"You were barely old enough to walk when Jaehaerys called for the Great Council, so you wouldn't remember much of it," Otto said, holding himself like one of your tutors. "It wasn't simply that the succession was in dispute after your grandfather passed. It was how people reacted to this dispute. Many, myself included, were worried there would be a civil war. And how could we not be worried? Daemon was raising an army and Lord Corlys had put his fleet to sail. Both men were ready to wage war against their king to put their family on the Throne. And Corlys has never forgotten the slight he endured when the Realm chose your father over Princess Rhaenys."

"That was over a decade ago," you argued.

"And as Daemon showed, men like that don't change," Otto retorted dismissively. "Lord Corlys may be less of a brute then your uncle, but they are equals in terms of ambition. And with Daemon gone, it's likely Corlys considers himself as powerful as the King, if not more so. He won't see the need to agree any of these terms."

"If I had your support in this he would reconsider," you pressed. The Sea Snake was powerful sure but the heir to the throne and the hand of the king could be a powerful force as well if they worked together.

"If you had my support, it would only make Lord Corlys more inclined to refuse, not less," Otto said as he began to walk out of the Godswood.

You stood there, trying to think of something to say, something that would convince Otto to support you, but the man seemed convinced of the futility of your proposal.

"It is a good plan, Princess," Otto stopped and turned back, looking at you with sympathy, or pity perhaps. "It honestly is a shame it won't work."

Relationship with Otto Hightower Improved.

---

Despite Otto's words all but taunting you in the back of your head, you pressed forward with the Sea Snake.

"May I speak honestly?" You asked formally.

Rhaenys turned worried and tense in an instant, as if she expected the worst from you.

"This is your home, Princess Rhaenyra," Corlys replied with amusement. "Of course you can speak freely."

You glanced at the distant figure of your father, standing awkwardly as Laena spook to him, looking more like a captive prisoner than a King.

"I think we all can tell that my father is... hesitant about this possible marriage." You did your best to keep your voice neutral. "while renewing our ties with house Velaryon would do well for both houses and the realm, my father's grief and your daughter's age make it very possible the King will refuse the proposal, unless someone convinced him otherwise."

"And would you be willing to convince him?" Corlys asked, a hint of a smile on his face.

You nodded curtly. "Provided you agree to some conditions first."

A wave of relief washed over Rhaenys face, but Corlys next words were cold. "What are these conditions?"

"First you agree to a betrothal first with the understanding we will wait until your daughter is at least ten and six before the wedding takes place," you said, bringing up the plans in your mind. " Second, you agree to support my claim to the throne, and that when I have an heir of my own they will be betrothed to one of Laena or Laenor's children in time. Third, when I come of age, Lord Corlys will agree to give full support to my efforts to attain a seat on the Small Council. Agree to that and I will give my full support to your efforts to marry Laena to my father"

The two look at you with some amount of surprise, before turning towards each other, exchanging curious and uncertain glances.

Rhaenys spoke first, her eyes turning back to you. "This is an unexpected proposition. Would you please give us a moment to consider you offer, Cousin?"

You nod and the two departed, leaving you alone to watch Laena and your father as they made their way through the Gardens. Despite having turned to autumn, things were still fairly warm and you found yourself growing uncomfortable in the sun. You could only imagine how much worse it was for your father, all dressed in Targaryen black.

You tried to imagine what life would be like having Laena as a Step-mother, but struggled to even begin making sense of what that would look like. She was a child now. What kind of person would she be in four years? Would she support your efforts to be queen or work against you for the sake of her own children? And what of Corlys? Otto Hightower did more or less say the man was not dissimilar from your uncle in terms of ambition and boldness. Would he really settle for a grandchild as eventual consort?

Eventually, the Sea Snake returned, alone, no sign of your cousin anywhere. Curious. And worrying.

"Respectfully, princess, we must decline your offer." Corlys was polite but firm in his tone. "A betrothal of that length is simply unacceptable."

"Why?"The question came out bluntly as you were reeling from his reply.

"You said yourself your father has hesitations about this marriage. Four years gives him plenty of time to figure a way out of it," Corlys explained. "For Otto Hightower to whisper in his ear that Laena must be set aside for someone else. For you to decide that my daughter is a threat to your inheritance, and for every lord in the realm to push their own daughters at the king. I cannot, in good mind, agree to that betrothal."

"Betrothals are a scared institution, not easily set aside," you bargained with him.

"And marriages are even harder to set aside," Corys countered sharply. "This marriage needs to happen within the next couple months, not years. What you want can be achieved by your father showing sense and waiting to take the marriage bed. There is no need to wait on the marriage itself."

Part of you really wished you had taken your chance to just scream at the man. Wouldn't have accomplished anything, but then again, neither had your proposal.

While you were fuming internally, the Sea Snake went on. "As for your other terms. If the king is wavering, convince him to see reason and I will be open to considering them again once the wedding takes place."

"That's all you're willing to offer?!" You exclaimed in naked disbelief. "Consideration?"

"When I married Rhaenys," Corlys suddenly changed topics, "her father Aemon told me she would one day rule and I needed to prepare to one day stand at her side as King-Consort, only for her grandfather to make Baelon heir before his ashes were even cold. Experience has taught me that promises made too early with your family rarely work out. So, yes, we can discuss your terms again. After the wedding."

You made your goodbyes and left. There was no point in staying any longer.

---

You waited until that evening to approach your father. After Otto had refused to support you and Corlys had made clear he would not suffer a long betrothal, you found yourself deeply unsure of what you would even say to him. Eventually you forced yourself to his chambers. You had to say something at least. Whoever your father married would shape the decades to come. Their children could be the greatest threat to your own succession, or perhaps your greatest allies.

The Lord Commander announced your arrival as you opened the door. Your father was by his hearth, the fire crackling as various Maesters attended him. Grand Maester Mellos stood at his kings side, placing bowl full of white writhing things before him.

That's when you noticed your father's hand, one finger black with rot, the nail oozing something foul. The sight caught you off guard, knocking the breath out of you. The king jerked his hand away in a vain effort to hide it.

"My apologies," your father spoke with regret. "I did not intend for you to see that, Rhaenyra."

"I didn't realize it was that bad." Your voice was still numb from shock.

"It is not as bad as you may fear, Princess." The Grand Maester tried to sound reassuring despite what you had seen. "The maggots here are the best chance we have of saving the digit. They should eat away the rot and stop it's spread. Leeching will clear any bad blood from the hand."

Somehow, that indeed sounded reassuring.

"I imagine you came here to talk about Lord Corlys' offer of marriage?" Your father said calmly as he buried his hand under the mass of maggots.

"I also came to check in on you, but yes," you admitted. "I did want to discuss the matter with you."

"You are very kind," his voice was warm if tired. "I assume you don't care much for the match."

"Laena is a child, younger than me." The words come out before you can stop them.

The look of shame and disgust on your father's face is immediately apparent.

"I know," he admits," but a marriage pact would mend the rift that has been growing between us and House Velaryon and show the Realm that the best days of my reign are ahead of us, not behind."

Mellos was glancing intently at the both you as he worked. You father sighed deeply, leaning back in his chair as he did. This was likely far from the first conversation he had had that day on this topic.

"I do not want this marriage," he confessed openly, "but I see no better alternative before me."

For a moment you almost found yourself choking, the weight of the moment almost physically pressing against your chest.

You knew your father was right. Laena would mend wounds that had been open since before the Great Council and strengthen your father's reign. But Otto's words played in your head. Corlys was in many ways just as ambitious as your uncle and you conversation with the Sea Snake did little to calm your fears. The man had rejected your offer and presented little in return. The marriage would have made Lord Corlys the second most powerful man in the realm and he knew it.

Laena could have strengthened your father's reign, but she could also prove to be your reign's downfall.

The other options you had looked into came back to mind. Victaria Tyrell would have brought strength to your father without the risk of dragons, but the Reach was one of the most powerful of the seven kingdoms. The Tyrells could have proven almost as much of a threat to your inheritance.

Johanna Westerling seemed suitable, strong enough to help your father but not so strong as to prove a massive threat to your interests. At least you hoped she wasn't.

Then there was Sabitha Vypren, who would prove little threat to you, but she also brought little to offer for your father. Perhaps too little.

Then of course there was the Martell. Your inheritance would be all but secure but it would anger much of the Realm. Perhaps it was worth the trade though? You did have a dragon after all. Dragons were great with unrest. You could also suggest a bride from Essos. Not as scandalous as a Martell, but it wouldn't offer as much either.

Finally, you couldn't shake the fear out of the back of your mind. You worried unreasonably that your father might pick Alicent out of desperation for an alternative bride. You had no evidence, no reason for this fear, but it lingered in your mind still.

What do you say to your Father?

[] [Romantic] "Forgot about the needs of the Realm. Do what your heart desires."

[] "It's too soon to think of such things, father. Wait a few months more, please."

[] "As much as we find it distasteful, Laena is what's best for your reign and the realm."

[] "I've found an alternative, Victaria Tyrell would prove almost as strong a match as Laena."

[] "The Lord Commander has a cousin, Johanna, she seems a much more suitable match for you."

[] "There is a woman in the Riverlands, Sabitha Vypren. Her house is small but she seems like she would make a fierce and powerful bride."

[] "The Princess of Dorne has a sister. If you marry her, we will gain a powerful ally against the Triarchy."

[] "Perhaps a bride from Essos?"

[] "Do as you see fit, father. Just please do not marry Alicent Hightower. I beg of you."

[] Write-in (Heavily Subject to QM Approval, no options Rhaenyra has no way of knowing about)

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QM's Note: So, that largely failed. Few reasons that happened. First. Otto Hightower is never going to agree to a plan that makes one of his rivals the most powerful man in the realm, so that part was never going to work, though the plan being sensible did improve Otto's opinion of us. Corlys refused because he's basically striking while he has his best chance. As he sees it he has a very strong hand right now and anything that delays the marriage is basically asking him to squander that and wait so Viserys has a better chance of refusing. He sees a long engagement as a stalling tactic to keep him appeased without actually going through with the marriage. There were deals he would have accepted, this was not one of them.

So I want to make clear here, there are options above that Viserys will reject, Rhaenyra's relationship with her father is gonna help a lot here but it doesn't mean he will mindlessly go with whatever you suggest. So keep that in mind.