THE HEALER PRINCE (HOTD SI)

[Drkest]

Chapter 46

ALICENT HIGHTOWER

The day had ended, and the Sun had set long ago, as she found herself in her room along with Rhaenyra and Aenys, who motioned for the servants to close the door.

As soon as the door closed, he sighed as he glanced toward both her and Rhaenyra and began in an exasperated tone.

"Now, will of you please tell me how the hell did my talk of power and consequences led to you wishing to abdicate your position as heir to me," he questioned Rhaenyra, his tone annoyed.

Rhaenyra looked him in the eye and began.

"Because I realized that I hold no desire for the Iron throne. What I wished for was freedom, and as things stand, sitting on that throne would take that very freedom away from me," she replied, a hint of sadness in her tone at the last words.

"And do you think I desire the Iron Throne Rhaenyra, especially given it is yours by right," Aenys replied as he sat down in a chair while shaking his head, motioning for both of them to sit down as well.

Rhaenyra sat down opposite to him, and Alicent took the seat by her side as she cut in.

"We both know that you have no wish to usurp Rhaenyra," she said, glancing toward her as she nodded her head.

"But there is no other choice," but Aenys cut in quickly.

"But there is!" he spoke as he pointed towards Rhaenyra.

"If you all wish that Daemon not ascend the throne, then all you need to do is just be the heiress as you have been for all these years. And take the throne when it is time," he retorted, and Rhaenyra cut in.

"It is not that simple," and Aenys bit his lip as he answered rather darkly.

"It is and as far as Daemon is concerned, I have begun taking steps to curb his influence. I would not leave you alone to deal with him," he added and Rhaenyra bit her lip as she added.

"It's not just about Daemon!" she said strongly, making her frown. She watched with narrowed eyes as her hand went towards her belly.

"The Lords will never let a woman rule over them. They already had their chance when they denied Princess Rhaenys," she said as she looked towards Aenys.

"And even if you help me deal with Daemon, what of the future after me? What of my children? What if my firstborn is a daughter as well? What then?" she said forlornly as she glanced at Aenys, whose face had lost much of its anger, and looked at Rhaenyra with a complicated expression.

"And what of Gwayne, what of your father? Both of them expect to see you on that throne, Rhaenyra, not me," he added, and she cut in.

"Gwayne will not begrudge her this choice. If he dares, I shall teach him a lesson myself," she cut in as Rhaenyra smiled.

"I shall talk to Gwayne myself, though I don't think he would be averse to my choice, as for father," and Rhaenyra hesitated here for a moment as she continued.

"I don't believe he will be as averse to this choice as you think," Rhaenyra said cryptically as she glanced at Aenys with a narrowed gaze, and she felt as if there was a secret there which she was not privy to, as Aenys chewed his lip and leaned back into his chair.

"That accursed Council!" her husband snarled angrily, taking a sip of wine from the glass as both Rhaenyra and herself glanced at each other.

"So will you?"

"No," came the quick answer, even before Rhaenyra had finished her question as Aenys glanced at her friend.

"Let me think, just as you should as well, more a lot more. Your father's condition, while worsening despite my efforts, is not terminal. If the Gods wish he could live for years and years, so take some time and think. Talk to Gwayne; don't let your fears force you into a rushed choice," he added, and though they hadn't managed to convince him, at least it seemed that he had softened his stance somewhat.

"I will, though I doubt my decision will change," Rhaenyra answered as silence reigned over the room as the three of them sat down, each lost in their own thoughts, until suddenly Rhaenyra spoke up.

"Speaking of that, what do you think of the Vale's plea for help in dealing with the pirates," Rhaenyra questioned, and Aenys sighed as he sat a bit straighter.

"The Crown will have to answer, of course, the relation between the two Houses is already strife. Ignoring their call for help would look very bad on the Crown," and Rhaenyra nodded as she further questioned.

"And what of the marriage of Lady Rhea and Ser Joffrey Arryn?" she asked, and she saw Aenys think for a moment before he answered.

"It's a good match, one that strengthens the political position of Lady Jeyne, though I wish they had informed us of it earlier," he then looked towards.

"Your wishes for you to ride to the Vale for it," and Rhaenyra nodded.

"He does. He believes it would be a step in mending the relationship between the Crown and the Vale," she then glanced up at him.

"He wishes for you to join as well, would you?" she questioned and saw him glance towards Alicent with narrowed gaze.

"Why not? The capital has become quite tireso…." And suddenly, loud noises and screams of the City disturbed them, as and Rhaenyra herself quickly rushed towards the window to see what was happening.

There was no fire or riot, thankfully, though from the shouting, she could make out that someone had just been murdered.

"Let's go and see what has happened?" Rhaenyra remarked as she rushed out of the room, and as she was about to follow her, she realized that Aenys had not shifted from his position even slightly and seemed rather nonchalant, which was quite unlike him. Unless he already knew the answer.

Her steps slowed down as the realization dawned on her, and she looked towards Aenys, who was simply sipping his wine.

"What did you do?" she questioned. A part of her already knew the answer as he looked at her, his face apathetic and cold as he replied in a stiff tone.

"Sent a message. Let us hope they understand it!"

0000

OTTO HIGHTOWER

Otto Hightower, the Hand of the King, walked into the King's chambers, beckoned by the King himself.

Viserys Targaryen sat in his chair, dressed in a simple robe, one and he could see the rot arching up his neck. Lupus, Prince Aenys had called it, a disease that ate the very. How the Prince knew of it, when the Citadel held no record of it was a mystery to him, yet his efforts had bore fruit and the disease spread had slowed over the course of the months.

"Your grace," Otto gave a small bow as the King quickly added.

"Otto! Come sit down. I wish to talk to you," the King offered with a polite smile, and Otto acted on the King's orders and took the offered seat, still ignorant about the topic of this discussion.

He could see Viserys looking at him with a complicated expression. One he would make when he had made a rather tough decision.

"It has been some time since we both sat down like this," Viserys began, and he frowned. It was not like Viserys to reminisce about the old times, though Otto nodded nonetheless.

"Indeed so, your grace," for though many did not know Otto and Viserys had first become acquainted with one another when he had served under Prince Baelon. He was a steward to the Spring Prince, and upon his demise, the Old King had made him the Hand temporarily, a position that would become truly his when the King saw just what he was capable of.

"Yes, I still remember the day when you came to serve my father with your dear wife," the King began, his voice tinged with sadness.

"Those were simpler times," the King added, and he still remained oblivious to the purpose of this calling. Viserys suddenly glanced at him with a saddened gaze as he leveled another question.

"How many years have you served as hand now?" Otto questioned, and he felt a chill pass through his spine.

'It couldn't be. Could it?' He thought as he forced himself to answer in an even tone.

"A bit less than twenty years now, your grace," he answered, and the King nodded, still looking at him with those saddened eyes, as fear and apprehension filled Otto's heart.

Until Viserys finally spoke up.

"Nearly two decades, and I can easily say that you have served the realm as best as you could," the King began as his heart thumped in her chest.

"But I believe the time has come for you to part from your position," and he felt the floor vanish beneath him.

The King wanted him to remove him as Hand. He racked his mind for any mistakes, and though there were many a mistakes and plots, he could not reason out one which would warrant such a reaction.

"Have I somehow displeased you, your grace?" he questioned cautiously, and Viserys was quick to shake his head.

"No, not at all. As I said, you have served as Hand to the best of your abilities, but things are set to change, especially with the upcoming marriage between Rhaenyra and your son," and then it all clicked together.

The Court was becoming tumultuous as the lords spoke of how House Hightower was gaining too much power, how he was gaining too much power with his daughter married to a Prince, and now his son was marrying the Princess and heir.

"You have served me faithfully over the years, yet the court and the lords raise questions on how a single House is gaining too much power," Viserys confirmed his earlier suspicions.

"I promised Rhaenyra she could marry whomever she chooses, and she chose your son. And with Alicent married to Aenys, I can see why the lords would grumble, in the end this is the only way," the King said with a frown, and Otto swallowed as he thought of what to do.

He could try and assuage Viserys, try and keep his position yet it appeared as though Viserys had already made his mind. Plus, even if he wasn't the Hand that didn't mean his influence would vanish over night especially given that his relation to Gwayne and Alicent.

"As you wish your grace," he said as he slowly reached for the golden pin inched into his doublet, just as it had been for all those years. And as he took it out, he felt as if he was parting with a piece of himself, as he glanced at it one more time before placing it on the table infront of him.

Viserys glanced at the badge of the Hand of the King and gave him a nod.

"Know this Otto that this was not an easy decision to make," VIserys spoke in a gentle tone and Otto nodded.

"I understand your grace, you are the King you must choose what is best for the realm," he placated Viserys, who gave him a stiff smile.

"Though may I ask, whom do you plan to appoint as my replacement, your grace?" he questioned.

"Lord Strong," Viserys replied, and it was a good choice. The man had served as the Master of Laws for a decade now and was a fair and competent enough.

"A good choice, your grace," he commented and Viserys nodded.

As the King made to sip wine, they were interrupted by a sudden ruckus outside, and Otto stood up and headed towards the window.

"What is going on?" Viserys questioned.

"I don't know, your grace, but let me find out," and with that he walked out of the room, ordered the guards to bring him some answers.

And then minutes later they would arrive.

"It's a tragedy, lord Hand. Lord Lyonel's son, Lord Larys, has been killed!"

0000

MYSARIA

Mysaria found herself sitting with Daemon, who, for the first time in months, was in a relatively good mood, despite the events of last night.

The death of Larys Strong had been strange, the man had worked tirelessly to keep himself out of prying eyes much like another character in the court, yet it seemed he had slipped, for the Prince Aenys had noticed him.

"Last night, the man who died, wasn't he the one who led me into the castle and to the nursery?" Daemon questioned, his jaw had healed somewhat in the days, as he had been busy holding talks with the Sea Snake.

She nodded at his question.

"Yes, Larys Strong, he was the second son of Lord Lyonel Strong, and I suspect that his death was orchestrated by Prince Aenys," she made her suspicion known and Daemon's eyes narrow for a moment as he grunted.

"I believe this was a message, a reply to what happened between you and him in the nursery," she told him and saw him nod after a moment.

"It seems he has a bit of dragon blood in him, huh? No matter, Corlys and I have reached an agreement for the match between me and Laena," he told her, and she was surprised.

That was rather quick, and it seemed like the Prince hadn't even needed to use the leverage she had given him on the man.

"That is good news," she said, and Daemon smirked as he nodded and took a sip of the wine.

"Yes, though I have heard a certain rumor that my Bronze Bitch has found herself another man to marry," he questioned, and she was surprised that he had heard of this and, more so, was interested in this.

"Yes, she is set to marry Joffrey Arryn, a cousin of Lady Arryn herself, in the coming week," she replied and saw his eyes narrow.

"Interesting, perhaps I shall give my Bronze bitch a visit to congratulate her," he japed, or at least she hoped that was what it was.

0000

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[Drkest]

Chapter 47

GWAYNE HIGHTOWER

The Sun shined on the capital, basking the largest city of Westeros in its light as Gwayne Hightower found himself sitting with his wife-to-be in the blooming Godswood of the Redkeep. The Godswood was peaceful as always, with its silent trees and humble grass, unlike the rest of the city, which lay disturbed by the death of Lord Lyonel's crippled son. The whole thing had been somewhat of a mystery. The man had been a rather silent and obscure fellow, frugal with his words, though he did seem rather odd to him.

Well, it did not matter; the death was not really his concern now, especially with how the whole castle was bustling with servants rushing to prepare for the upcoming wedding between himself and the Princess.

The very Princess who had asked him for this meeting yet seemed rather distracted as she sat opposite to him, sighing every minute or so as she glanced through him with dazed eyes.

Dressed in a simple white dress with her hair tied behind her in a simple braid, the Princess looked breathtaking as always, and it ailed him greatly that he would not be able to see her for a week since she was set to leave for the Eyrie on the morrow to attend the wedding between Lady Rhea Royce and Ser Joffrey Arryn.

And the news of the match, and then the hurried wedding, had the whole court talking.

In the end, he decided to ask her.

"What is on your mind, Rhaenyra?" he questions gently, and the Princess shakes her head as if roused from a wandering thought as she looks up at his face with a complicated expression.

"Nothing," she replied, obviously lying. He indulges her as he continues.

"I don't believe nothing has the power of making a Princess sigh as much," he japes and she smiles, the guilt and apprehension never dying even as her lips turned up, as she relented to him.

"No, it does not," she replied with a smile, and he raised a brow as he leaned forward and placed his cup back on the table.

"Then tell me what thoughts ail you, Rhaenyra?" he questioned softly, and she looked into his eyes. Those amethyst orbs narrowed before she spoke softly.

"We agreed to marry each other, unaware of the tribulations waiting for me due to my position as heir," she began slowly, and he realized what she was talking about.

This was about Daemon and what had happened at the tourney. This wasn't the first time they had talked about it, and truthfully, he had thought of it many times alone. Prince Daemon's assault during the tourney had been a message, a message that he would not let her ascend the throne while he still lived. And if the rumblings in court were any indication were any true, then the man was making ploys to gain allies for his cause, though who would be foolish enough to follow a man like that beguiled him?

"And now that you are aware of such tribulations," the Princess added slowly, looking down.

"Would your answer be the same?" she added.

"Yes," he answered, for why wouldn't it be? And saw that the pace of his answer had surprised her as he saw her cheeks redden as she glanced down with a smile.

"And what if I wasn't the heir? What if my father decided he wished to change the succession?" she suddenly added, and he felt the air halt with tension as those amethyst orbs stared at her, examining him from head to toe with the gaze of a ruler.

"It wouldn't matter, Rhaenyra. I chose to marry Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, not the heir to the throne. Whether you be Queen in the future or not, I shall stand by you in sickness and in health, in sorrow and in joy, as a husband should," he replied with a gulp. Her gaze didn't relent with his answer, as she continued to look at him, and then he saw her shoulder relax, as the tension evaporated.

"Thank you," she said with a soft smile, and he stood up from his seat and walked up to her, and knelt down by her side, taking her hand in his as he questioned.

"Why did you ask me that question?" he asked and saw her hesitate for a moment before she spoke up.

"Though, he has not agreed to my offer…." she began as she looked into his eyes, as she bit her lip halting.

"….but I have decided to abdicate my position to my uncle Aenys Targaryen," she replied and he stilled for a moment at her words, and then it all began to make sense, the constant meetings between herself and his sister, and the subtle tension between her and Aenys.

It was all because of this.

"May I ask why?" he questioned cautiously. And she nodded, as she replied in a soft voice.

"Right now, the heirship is a poisoned chalice, and with my father's health being the way it is, it is likely that a Council shall be called to decide on the succession," and the truth was that he had not thought like this, yet it made sense, for there was already precedence in the form of the Grand Council of 101.

"And no matter what anyone says, the Lords will be reluctant to vote for a woman," he tried to argue, but she stopped.

"It won't matter what Daemon has done or not, but he is a man, a tested warrior, and the ruler of a kingdom. There will be those who shall find him more appealing, and Seven forbid if he were to win the vote, the realm and our family will be doomed," she said, and he could see her reasoning.

Prince Daemon was becoming more and more unhinged, and he could see the Princess's worry. And as much as it loathed him, he held little power to change this.

"Aenys is the perfect choice. He is a man, pious, married with already a son born to him, with him against Daemon few would dare chose the other," she replied, and her words were true. Gwayne could hardly name any lord who didn't sing praise of the man. Only fools would choose Daemon, over him.

"Are you set on your decision?" he questioned after a second and she nodded.

"I am," she replied, and he gave her a smile as he kissed her hand.

"Then I shall support you in this," he replied and saw her eyes soften, as she glanced at him, and their faces neared as her lips crashed onto his, the warmth of her body melted into him, as they both forgot to take their breath, and separated seconds later with flushed faces and heaving chests.

"You told me Prince has yet to agree to this," he questioned and she nodded, as both of them decided to stop at that, lest they lose all sense of propriety.

"Indeed," she replied with a sigh.

"Aenys hold immense wealth and power, even without a crown, and so the guile of the Iron throne doesn't work on him. In that sense, he would make the perfect King, yet he is noble and driven by duty, and holds no desire to replace me as heir," she complained, and he nodded, his own mind racing.

For she had already made her choice, now it was up to him to support her now, and as he recalled his discussion with his father from some days ago, an idea formed in his head as he added.

"I believe I might have an idea in that regard."

0000

AENYS TARGARYEN

Two dragons with their arching wings stood outside the dragon's pit, their wings arching, saddles bound and ready as Grey Ghost and Syrax were prepared by the Dragonkeepers for the ride.

His own dragon and companion of years had begun to grow with pace as he hit his growth spurt, or at least what Aenys believed to be his growth spurt. Grey Ghost, which had once been only half the size of Daemon's Ceraxes, was now set to overgrow the red beast by the end of the year.

The Dragonkeepers had been surprised by the pace of his growth, and in the end, the only thing that made sense to him was how he refused to let them chain him into the caves.

Given his docile nature, Aenys was against binding his companion who had accompanied him loyally all these years, and so he would let it roam freely, always aware of it in the back of his mind through their shared bond.

The pearly white beast flapped open its wings and roared into the sky as the small hoard of common fold that had gathered backed off cautiously. The children, though, couldn't take their eyes off the beast, much like the children of the various cities he had visited.

His dragon's blue orbs narrowed at the ground behind him, and he looked back and found Alicent standing there, their son in her arms, looking cautiously at Grey Ghost.

"He won't harm you, come close," he beckoned her over, and saw him glance nervously at his dragon before she began to step forward., still looking cautiously at the white dragon.

From their side, Rhaenyra began to chuckle at her friend's situation.

"Haha, didn't you tell me you have already ridden it," she questioned as she bound the saddle on Syrax, and Alicent's nose flared up as she turned towards her friend. The brown dragon lovingly ribbed its nose on Rhaenyra's extended hand, as the Dragonkeepers bound its saddle.

"Once, and even then, I was rather reluctant," said Alicent as she stepped near him, and Aenys pulled her close, holding her by his side as he beckoned Grey Ghost to lower its head.

"Come on, touch it. It will not do anything," he said as he gently led her hand to Grey Ghost's face, the warmth of it came as a surprise to his lady wife who frowned as her hand touched its rugged skin.

"It's warm," she remarked, as Aenys saw those blue orbs narrow onto his wife. his dragon examined her and, after judging her to be no threat, jostled into her, somewhat startling her, though thankfully he was there to hold her.

Rhaenyra had joined them by now as she started playing with Aenar.

"You should have come with us," she said to Alicent, who shook her head with a small shudder.

"No, I like my feet on the ground, and…." She continued after turning to face Rhaenyra.

"If I were to go as well, who would oversee the preparations for our little princess's wedding," she remarked, and Rhaenyra sighed as she shook her head.

"Ahh, at least this will be a respite from all that. I cannot sit through another dress fitting or all those other hassles," she complained, and Alicent smiled indulgently as she pinched her cheek.

"And that is why I shall be remaining here to deal with it, so you won't have to," she said.

By tradition, it would have fallen to her mother to help her prepare for her upcoming nuptials, yet Aemma's absence had been filled by Alicent, who was, although only a few years older than her, was still the most reasonable choice for this role. Viserys himself had requested this of her, though she would have been happy to do this even without that.

"Ok, that is enough. Let us be on our way," he said as he gave Aenar a kiss on the head. It had been some time since he was away from his lady wife and son like this, though he had doubled the number of people guarding them and had given them strict instructions not to let anyone remotely sketchy even near them.

"Do be careful, dear," he said to Alicent, reminding him of their earlier discussion.

She leaned forward and gave him a small peck on his lips as she wished him well.

"You as well, and do look after her," she said as she nodded towards Rhaenyra, who had now jumped upon Syarx's saddle.

"I will," he said as they separated, and he walked back and tapped Grey Ghost twice as the dragon lowered its back, allowing him to jump on the saddle. He tied all the knots as everyone backed off.

"So, how about a little race?" questioned Rhaenyra from the side, though sadly, her words were also heard by his dear wife.

"NO!" and she was quick to cut her off as Rhaenyra rolled her eyes.

"She has not changed a bit when it comes to flying," she said to him as she took out her whip and hit the ground.

CRACK!

"Syrax Soves!" Rhaenyra shouted, as the brown dragon stepped forward, and opened its wings, as it let out a roar, as it began to move them up and down while moving forward in a stride as it took to the ground.

Unlike Rhaenyra, Aenys didn't like using a whip, and neither did he need it. When it came to Grey Ghost, he gave his lady wife a single nod and closed his eyes as he leaned forward and slowly whispered the words.

"Soves!"

And then, two dragons would fly out of Kingslanding, vanishing into the clouds, they would race towards the East, and then hours later, when the Sun would have set and night would have fallen, they would land in the grounds of Eyrie itself, being welcomed by the Blue Jeyne and her retinue herself.

Yet a day later, in the cover of the night, another dragon would take flight out of the city and head in the same direction as the two had gone into days ago.

0000

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[Drkest]

Chapter 48

AENYS TARGARYEN

The whole castle of the Eyrie was buzzing with activity as the servants rushed through the Halls, whispering, shouting, and working with each other as the castle prepared itself for the upcoming marriage between Lady Rhea and Ser Joffrey Arryn.

A small feast had been arranged for them on their arrival, and despite the rumors of tensions between the two Houses, they had been well received, or at least he thought so. Rhaenyra was related to Lady Arryn by blood, being a cousin to her, and with Aemma being an Arryn by blood, there were many lords and ladies who had flocked to her side, trying to curry favor with her.

Not that he had been besotted by various lords, with many of them toasting to his defeat of Daemon in the tourney some weeks back, while others had been looking at him with a complicated gaze, especially when he had found himself talking and dancing with the Lady of the Vale herself.

Lady Jeyne Arryn herself had been the perfect host, behaving in a manner fitting of her station as the Lady of the Eyrie, yet even he could tell that a certain faction of the lords was not happy with the Lady of the Vale, and some of these scheming and disgruntled lords had subtly approached him trying to sow seeds of strife between the Crown and the Lady of the Vale.

Though the night was now long over, and much of the castle was yet to wake up after a night of feasting and drinking, he found himself waking you at his usual time, not being one to drink mindlessly.

He now strode through the infamous High Hall of the castle, made of blue-veined white marble; this was Eyrie's throne room, with thin pillars and marble pillars holding up the elaborate ceiling. The ground was covered with a rich blue carpet. Two thrones, one larger and the other a bit smaller, were carved out of wierwood and were meant for the lord and his consort.

Though, his eyes were focused on the moon doors, a simple wierwood door, in the middle of the Hall, and below it was a six hundred foot drop.

"I wouldn't stand so close to those doors," another voice cut in through the quiet Hall, and he looked up and found the lady of the Eyrie standing near the massive wierwood gates. She was dressed in the blue of her house, her brown hair tied down in a simple braid as she gave him a smile.

"My lady," he greeted her as she strode into the Hall with slow, and purposeful steps, her rather scandalous companion, Lady Jessamyn Redfort right behind her, as she returned his greeting.

"My Prince, you have woken up earlier than I had expected," she questioned as she came and stood by his side.

"I wouldn't say that it's just that others are rather late with their mornings, though given how the wine and ale were flowing last night I can quite understand why," he replied as the lady of the Vale nodded with a smile.

"Indeed, though it appears as though the feast was not to your liking, for you did not drink much of either," she questioned in a pointed tone, and he shook his head.

"No, not all. The feast was lovely, but I would rather keep my bearings about me. I am not rather fond of getting drunk," he replied, and she nodded.

"A rarity among the lords," she replied as she turned to look at him.

"Have you broken your fast? If you haven't, I would hope that you could join me and Lady Redfort," and he shook his head. Breaking a fast before the lord or lady of a castle while being a guest would have been improper.

"Then please, join us," she offered and led him away from the High Hall towards another part of the castle, where a table had been set for them and the rest of the guests as all three of us sat down and told the servants what we wanted for servants.

For him, it was simple porridge with boiled milk and eggs. Nothing too fancy or heavy.

"So, tell me, my Prince, what do you think of the Eyrie?" she cut in as we all waited for our breakfasts, and he gave an impressed nod."

"It's an impressive castle," he answered honestly, and it was. The servants brought out their food, and after a small thanks to the maid, he reached for the glass of milk and took a sip just as the lady of the Eyrie cut in with a glint.

"Indeed, it is. Alas! It could have been yours," and he nearly spluttered at the sultry tone of the ruler of the Eyrie, who was suddenly looking at him with hungry eyes.

"After all, when I last visited the capital, it was to offer a match between you and me. A shame that I had to see you fight a dragon just for another woman's hand," and then she looked at him with a pointed gaze as she continued.

"Though wed we may not, I still wouldn't mind taking someone like you to my bed. After all, you must have heard the rumors about me," and of course, he had. Many people called her a harlot, one who devoured men by the dozen, and well for someone of her beauty it wouldn't really be a problem.

She grinned at him, sipping her own goblet, leaning forward over the table as she gave him a sultry gaze.

He gulped as he replied.

"I wouldn't know about that, for though I will confess to hearing of such rumors, I would rather put my stock in the other one," he said as he took another sip and looked towards the redhead by her side, who had paled at his words and was looking rather afraid.

"Ahh! So, you have heard then, I believe it wouldn't bother you much if I do this," began Jeyne as she leaned towards Jessamyn and took the redhead's head in her hands and gave the other a kiss on her lips.

The redhead reacted moments later, slowly pushing away her liege lady as she shouted in a scandalized voice.

"Jeyne!" Though she was not the only one as Rhaenyra's voice cut in from behind.

"What!"

0000

RHAENYRA TARGARYEN

Rhaenyra Targaryen sat with Aenys, her eyes continuously glancing to her right towards the lady of the Vale and her red-haired companion, her mind still reeling from what she had walked in on.

She, of course, was aware of such rumors about the lady of the Vale, about her preference for her own gender, much like Laenor Velaryon. Yet he had never given much thought to them, yet what she had observed had taken her by surprise.

Not only were those rumors true, but from the way her uncle beside her wasn't bothered, disgusted, or surprised spoke that he was not only aware of them, but he didn't mind it all.

The wedding was a delightful affair, and both Lady Rhea and her lord husband-to-be stood in front of the Septon saying their vows as she decided to let her curiosity get the better of her.

"So, I am to take that you were aware of Lady Jeyne's preferences," she questioned her uncle in a whisper as she leaned towards him.

He gave her a small nod, as he confirmed her suspicion.

"I was," he answered rather non-chalantly.

"And you don't think there is anything wrong with that," she added, and he looked towards her.

"Who am I to render judgment over something like that? She is entitled to love and take to bed whomever she wants," he said rather nonchalantly. And it triggered something in her, bringing up old memories of from years age as she recalled laying in the Godswood, with a tumultuous heart.

And when she didn't speak up for a moment, he glanced towards her and leaned forward.

"Ok, let me tell you something. This may be uncommon here in Westeros, but in Braavos, this is much more common than you may think. I personally know of a few rather famous courtesans who take women to bed. Gods, there even was a Sealord who only managed to rise to his position for his lady wife was so beautiful that two of the most famous courtesans were besotted with her," he added, and her eyes widened with shock.

"Impossible!" she gasped out rather loudly as she saw several of the lords stare at her, making her look down embarrassingly.

And when they straightened up, she continued.

"It is," he added, and she couldn't believe her ears.

"And what of the offer she made to you earlier," she asked, her eyes narrowing. Offering to bed him, she had heard that as well and had been about to cut in, ready to tear into her own cousin, yet had bene surprised by what had occurred afterwards.

"What of it?" he replied, being rather braise about it, not getting her point.

"She wants to bed you while knowing that you are a married man!" she whispered rather forcefully, and saw him smirk as the vows finished and everyone roared and clapped for the new couple. The Hall was filled with commotion as Aenys leaned towards her and shrugged.

"A thousand women want to sleep with me; many have even offered a chance to bed my own lady wife. Yet it doesn't matter; as long as I am with Alicent, I will not betray her," he replied; her words assured her, though he had to continue with a smirk.

"Though if she were to agree," he said as he wiggled her brows, as he broke out in a chuckle.

"What is that supposed to mean!" she questioned, face flushed, as she gave him a glare. He broke out into a small chuckle.

"Well, you may not know it, but my lady wife is rather famous in Braavos. They call her a Dragon's prize, and let's just say even she has her own set of admirers most of whom are of the fairer sex," he replied, with a smile as he and she couldn't believe they were talking of his lady wife like this.

Of course, Alicent was beautiful. She had been one of the realm's most prized ladies before her marriage to Aenys, though hearing about her infamy in Braavos from Aenys was like this, she was not ready for this.

"UGHH!" she said as she rolled her eyes and pretended to cover her ears.

"I cannot hear any more of this," she said as she shook her head. Her mind had taken on enough.

By then, the couple had stepped off the stage, and the singers and bards had taken their place, and music began to flow through the Halls.

Immediately, she could feel the gazes turn towards her as the lords wished to dance with her, though Uncle Aenys was quick to offer his arm as he gave her a short bow.

"Does the princess care for a dance?" he offered, and she nodded. He placed her hand in his and pulled her to the center of the stage beside the newlywed couple as the bards began to sing.

They began to move through the dance floor, her uncle Aenys pulling her through the floor expertly, his hand on her back steadying her as they circled through the floor.

"But wasn't a match between you and Lady Jeyne being considered before you married Alicent," she suddenly recalled, and he nodded.

"Yes, it was. Though I cannot say with certainty what she was thinking, I believe she offered it so she could secure her succession, much like this match does," he replied, making her frown, remembering their earlier discussion from Kingslanding.

"By ensuring the support of House Royce," she recalled, and he nodded.

"Indeed," and then he pointed towards a certain group of lords and knights, which were all gathered in the corner of the room, gazing at the proceedings with ominous gazes.

"And not everyone in the Vale is happy about this match," he told her and she recognized some of those sigils. They belonged to the supports of Jeyne's cousin, Ronnel, the one who was locked away in the sky cells for rebellion.

It somewhat reminded her of her own circumstances, where her own uncle wished to usurp her. Though unlike Jeyne, she had made a different choice. Was it right? She though as the first song came to an end, as both her and Aenys separated and gave each other a small bow.

She didn't wish to dance, and play coy with all these lords and her apprehension must have showed as Aenys whispered.

"I will find you again, soon," he said as Lady Rhea Royce moved towards him, and offered him his hand. Aenys gave the newly wed bride, who was wearing a light brown dress, that shimmered like polished bronze, her hair had tied in a simple braid, as gold tiara decorated her head.

And thankfully, the groom himself strode infront of her. Joffery Arryn, she had met the man previously and he was rather gruff looking person with a scar running down the side of his face. His hair were long and reached his shoulders, and had curls in them. He wore a doublet of dark blue, with the Arryn sigil embroidered in silver thread.

"Congratulations on your marriage, Ser Joffrey," she offered and the man nodded.

"Thank you, princess," he said as she extended her hand, and just as the man took it, someone began to clap rather loudly.

CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!

And she frowned, as dread pooled in her heart at the sound of those claps. The people in the Hall moved away, making a path for this newcomer who shouted in an all too familiar voice.

"It seems you all began celebrating without me!" and she recognized that voice instantly, and the way Aenys moved, he did so as well, as did perhaps many other people in the Hall.

Daemon Targaryen walked into the Hall, clapping as he moved forward.

"A lovely wedding, I would say. Let us hope it doesn't end like the previous one!" he said, looking towards Lady Royce, who was rather pale. Though Aenys and Ser Joffrey now stood infront of her as Aenys shouted.

"What the hell are you doing here, Daemon? You are not welcome here!"

"Indeed!" Jeyne Arryn cut in as she cut in through the men and moved forward, eyes blazing as she pointed towards the guards.

"GUARDS!" she shouted, and several men in armor stepped forward.

"There is no need for that; I only came to say my greetings. And to inform you all of another news," and from the way his orbs moved towards her, as Daemon smirked, she knew that this was in no way good news.

"Escort him out of the castle this instant!" Lady Arryn said to the guards as the men encircled the Prince; swords were drawn, yet he seemed unbothered.

"I am to wed Lady Laena Velaryon in three weeks," and she stilled for that was the time of her own wedding, or at least around the time her own wedding's ceremony was to come to an end.

"I hope you can all attend!"

0000

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Chapter 49

AENYS TARGARYEN

Aenys Targaryen stood in front of the window, watching the darkening sky as the maids and servants cleaned the Hall after the wedding. The wedding proceedings after Daemon's interruption had carried on with a certain unease.

Daemon had somehow flown here on his dragon, using the evening cover to reach the Vale to make a scene. Truth was, he often wondered what went on in his mind when he did such things. He had always known of Daemon's penchant for violence, yet now he had become unhinged. It was as if he had lost his ability to think.

His actions here tonight had caused great strife for everyone, destroying what was to be a joyous occasion for the Kingdom of the Vale.

And then was the matter of his announcement of securing a match between himself and Lady Laena. And if such a thing were true, the implications behind it would not be lost to the people of the realm.

With this match, battle lines would be drawn, and what was once an impending scenario would now become a reality, for with House Velaryon's support, Daemon's bid at the throne would transform itself from a pipe dream to a tangible goal.

"So, it seems that the rumors were true," Jeyne Arryn's voice cut the silence from behind. The whole was empty, apart from the servants and two other people apart from him, including Lady Jeyne and Rhaenyra.

He glanced back and walked towards the table where the two ladies sat, taking the seat beside his niece as he put down his wine glass.

"What rumors?" he questioned and saw Lady Jeyne pick up her own glass and take a sip as she looked him in the eye.

"That there is a new contender for the Crown," she replied, making Rhaenyra tighten her fists as both of them glanced at each other, still contemplating how to respond to such a comment.

"Don't insult my intelligence by claiming otherwise. At this point, the whole realm can see the writing on the wall. Moreover, Prince Daemon's actions since his return from his campaign in the Stepstones have been anything but subtle," she said as she took another sip, and he leaned back as he nodded.

"You are right. Daemon indeed wishes to see himself crowned the King of the Seven Kingdoms," Aenys confirmed her suspicion, for she was right. Daemon's actions had been anything but subtle.

"And let me guess. He plans to call for a Council to settle the succession just as the one called by King Jaehaerys," she continued, and he nodded again, for there was no use in trying to lie when she already had read the situation to near perfection.

And it would also make their life a bit easier.

"And if he does so, can Rhaenyra count on your support," he went straight to the point and saw both the women look at him, slightly surprised at the direct nature of his question.

Jeyne narrowed her eyes as she glanced towards her cousin and nodded.

"Of course, the House of Arryn will stand with you," she said, and he saw Rhaenyra give him a look before she gave the woman a small nod.

He still hadn't made up his mind regarding replacing Rhaenyra's position, for doing so didn't feel right to him. Yet, as the lady of the Vale turned to face him.

"However, as you may be aware, many of the lords sworn to me dispute my own succession, tending to favor my cousin. And given the pirate attacks, I cannot speak for them," she said, sounding troubled and hurt at the mention of her cousin. From the rumors he had heard, she and Ronnel Arryn had been close prior to the blooming of his ambition.

"But you are their liege lord…. I mean lady," Rhaenyra cut in and corrected herself when she realized her words.

Jeyne looked towards her with a saddened expression.

"I am, yet twice now, my own kin have risen up against as it plans to do so for you, princess. And though it may hurt you to hear it, despite Prince Daemon's nature and actions, he will find support, a lot of support just because he was born a boy," and it seemed as though the two rebellions had taught the lady of several important lessons.

"The lords of the realm have already rejected the opportunity of having a Queen, and many shall do so again even if the choice opposite to you may seem like a madman," she said, and he saw Rhaenyra's lips thin as she glanced down and added.

"I know that now," Rhaenyra added as her fists balled up.

"And now, if we are to believe his words, he is to marry Lord Corlys's sole daughter, hence bolstering his cause with Velaryon blood and coin," the lady of the Vale added.

He felt that that was enough negativity for the time being, and he was about to cut in when Rhaenyra cut in from the side in a cold voice.

"And what if it wasn't a Princess standing opposite to him in the Council…." and he stilled and tried to halt her.

"Rhaeny…." But she continued.

"What if the choice was between a tyrant and Healer," she finished, and he watched those blue orbs widen as her head snapped towards him, and he sighed as he saw that mind racing as she spoke up.

"Now, that would be very interesting," she added in a surprised tone, and he leaned back as she shook his head.

"I have not agreed to it yet," he cut in before this could go on any further.

"Why not?" she was quick to question.

"Replacing Rhaenyra, who is my own niece, does not sit right with me," he told her, and it seemed that the answer surprised her a bit, as she gave him a complicated glance before turning towards Rhaenyra by his side.

"And Princess, if I may ask, why would you propose such a thing yourself?" she questioned and he saw Rhaenyra glance down as she began speaking in sad tone.

"For this is the best decision for the realm, if the vote in the Council is equal or somewhat even the whole realm would bleed and the whole kingdom could be embroiled in a civil war," she began as she glanced towards him before looking forward at the Lady of the Vale.

"I do not want thousands to bleed because me, and if i must sacrifice the Throne to stop this massacre then I am willing to make that sacrifice…." she said resolutely, and his eyes narrowed as her hand inched towards her, own torso, making him still momentarily.

"…for myself and for this realm," she finished.

What she had described was the pretense of the Dance itself. And could he prevent it? Could he replace her and prevent all that death and destruction by replacing her? And if so, should he?

And what of the implications of his other suspicion, he continues to think as he continues to glance towards Rhaenyra's hand on her torso, his mind racing.

"No matter what happens in the future, Princess," Jeyne began as she picked up her cup and ripped it to Rhaenyra.

"Know this that you are more a King than Prince Daemon could ever hope to be, or as I should say, Queen," she said as she gave her a small bow as she reached for her hand, and kiss it gently.

And then she turned to face him.

"And as for you, my Prince. It is noble of you that you are apprehensive about this, yet you must make a decision, for she is right. If the Council's vote is close, or god forbid there is even a chance that Prince Daemon could emerge victorious, then you must step forward and honor the Princess's sacrifice," she began.

"For I can assure you, if it were you facing Prince Daemon in the Council, he would lose it as many times as it is called."

He knew that. Seven! He knew that! Yet despite everything, it didn't seem right to him, and as he glanced at Rhaenyra by his side, he narrowed his gaze at the position of her hands. She had told me many reasons for this, many reasons, yet it still felt that there was something more.

0000

ALICENT HIGHTOWER

Alicent Hightower was feeling tired. She had been running around the Red Keep since dawn, overseeing the preparation for the upcoming wedding. This wasn't usually a task for someone of her station, yet with the death of Queen Aemma, she was the closest person to Rhaenyra and had been happy to do this for her.

"Yes, that material is fine, but I want to see more designs, something which is less gaudy than this," she said as she showed the head seamstress the sample she had brought.

The older woman nodded as she took the cloth from her and moved along as the next person rushed in, and so it continued and continued until the Sun began to dip and the darkness began to cast its own net across the vast sky.

And it was only the evening that she found herself enough time to sit back as she leaned back on the chair, closing her eyes and trying to rest when she heard another knock on the door.

TAK. TAK. Tak.

And just as she was about to berate this person for disturbing her, a rather familiar voice from outside cut in.

"You awake in there, sister," it was her brother and the groom-to-be, Gwayne.

"Yes," she replied, straightening up a bit and watched as the door to her room opened up and her brother walked in, looking nearly as exhausted as herself, well it was not a surprise for he had his own set of tasks to accomplish.

"You look quite haggard," she said with a smile and saw him roll his eyes as he plopped down in the empty chair beside her and huffed.

"And Seven am I! I never knew getting married was such a hassle. I can't even understand how your lord husband managed to do this all by himself," he said, and she smiled.

"Speaking of that, this should be a bit easier for you after all. You did all this before," and she shook her head as he frowned.

"Not exactly," she replied, recalling her own wedding. It had been nearly just as elaborate, if not more so, given the cultural differences between Braavos and Westeros, and despite the perilous ending, she had some fond memories from that day, recalling the sheer amount of effort Aenys had expended for it.

"Aenys took care of nearly everything," she told him, and his eyes widened as he shook his head.

"I should have guessed," he said, and she chuckled at his expression.

"You shouldn't worry too much, I will have him help you when he returns in a day or two," she said and he nodded.

"I am not worried, just a little tired," he said as another knock on the door disturbed them.

"My lady, I have brought you your meal," it was Anya's voice.

In the hustle of the day she had forgotten to eat, and the food prepared by the castle's cooks had not been to her taste for some days now. Even today, in the morning, she had felt it difficult to keep it down.

In the end, she asked Anya to have them prepare something simpler.

"Yes, come in," she ordered and the doors to her room opened once more, doors which were now guarded by three men, men strictly ordered by Aenys to not let anyone approach her without her explicit permission.

Anya entered the room with a few servants who wheeled in the freshly prepared porridge, some simple bread, and smoked venison.

"I did not as for venison," she said with a frown, looking towards her loyal maid, who gave her a smile.

"It's the Prince's orders, my lady," she said, and she saw Gwayne roll his eyes. She blushed as she gave the maid a nod, beckoning her to leave the room.

And as soon as the door closed, he looked towards her.

"Prince's orders!" he said as he raised a brow and she rolled her eyes as she motioned for him to help himself.

"You should learn something from him," she said as she picked up her own tray and began to eat.

Gwayne, from the side, began to cut into the meat, which still had smoke coming out of it, and bit into it with fervor, making her shake her head. However, his habits were now his future lady wife's concern.

She herself slowly cut into meat. Venison was one of her more favored meats, yet today, even it felt bad. And the smell of it made her stomach turn; what was happening? Yet she cut into it and took a small bite, and the taste felt off, and despite her efforts, she could not keep it down.

"Were you aware of the King's plans of replacing father with Lord Lyonel as hand?" he questioned as she forced the bolus down her throat.

"No, it came as a surprise to me as well. Though father told me of the King's reasoning, and I can somewhat understand it," she replied, taking another small piece in her mouth.

The court grumbled quite a bit about the sheer amount of influence and power of House Hightower, and though they didn't fully understand it, despite them being a Hightower, she held little favor for the House in question. They maybe allies for Rhaenyra's sake, yet she had not forgotten what her own father had done to her.

One didn't simply forget such things.

Yet the court grumbled, and in the end, the King had decided on realizing him with Lord Lyonel, though the whole thing had been delayed by a moon due to the death of Lord Lyonel's son.

"Do you think it will soother the court?" he questioned and she shrugged.

"I cannot say," she said, pushing away the venison and reaching for the water, hoping that it would help.

"Now that he is free Rhaenyra wished to ask him…" but he stopped as he saw her jumping up and reaching towards the widow.

"Alicent!" he shouted in concern as she failed to reach the window in time and ended up emptying out her stomach in the side of the room.

"Gough!" she gasped as her stomach emptied and she swayed through thankfully Gwayne reached for her, his face pale as he wrapped his arm around her, steadying her.

"Guards! Guards!" he shouted, and the three men rushed in, swords in hand.

"Get me a healer!" he shouted as he helped her up and supported her back to her seat.

Hours later, she would find herself lying in her bed, a slew of Aenys's most talented and trusted healers scurrying by her side, Gwayne by her side with nearly half a dozen guards standing outside the door, as the healer told her.

"My lady, you are with child."

0000

AENYS TARGARYEN

Aenys had spent his night tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep, his mind rife with conflict as he failed to make a decision regarding his future. In the end, when his mind refused to rest, he found himself out of bed and in the training yard of the Eyrie, just as the Sun had begun its ascent into the cloudy sky.

The yard at that time had only a few squires preparing equipment for the knights they were serving under. And so, Aenys had offered them a chance to spar with him and had watched as all of them had agreed with great enthusiasm, their eyes glinting at the opportunity of sparring with a man of his repute and station.

Many of them would probably boast of this to their children and grandchildren in the future, with a lot of embellishments. And so what had begun as a simple exercise to occupy his mind had transformed as more and more knights joined in, and now the Sun had long risen into the sky, bringing an end to the darkness of the knight and yard itself was filled to the brim with knights waiting for their turn to spar with a Prince of the realm, or just enjoying the opportunity of watching him test his metal against the infamous knights of the Vale.

And the knight that stod opposite to him was perhaps the best of them all. Ser Joffrey Arryn, the man whose wedding they had just celebrated last night, the anointed the Knight of the Gate stood opposite to him, sweat dripping from his forehead as he looked at him with a rather hateful gaze, probably seeing Daemon in his place.

Daemon's behavior the previous night would have unsettled any man, and the way the man was sparring against him told him that it had taken its toll on the man as well. Well, the least he could do was let the man vent, and this was good practice for him as well.

The man stepped forward and pushed forward his blade, and though the blade carried no edge, such a strike would hurt quite a bit given they wore no armor.

Aenys's muscles were quite sore from all those spars, yet he parried the blade to the side and moved forward, trusting in his agility against the larger and burlier Ser Joffrey. The man tried to step back, but Aenys didn't let him. He ducked under his wild swing, slashing upward with his own blade at the man's hand.

The man was quick to react to his intentions and dropped the sword, avoiding the strike. He rolled back, taking out the two daggers strapped to his back.

Aenys huffed as he tightened his grip over his own blade, for this became more interesting. The man rushed towards him once more, trying to breach into his defenses, trying to employ the same strategy as him, and his burly size was deceptive for the man was quite agile as he dodged his strike after strike, weaving through them or parrying them with his daggers.

Yet no matter what, Aenys was faster. He had been trained by Bravosi water dancers, whose main forte was their speed, and though his martial skills were rather well-rounded, agility was his bread and butter.

And so, just as the man stepped back to avoid a slash, Aenys let go of his own blade, launching it towards the man and catching him off guard. The blade struck him in the shoulder, making him grunt as one of his daggers slipped from his hand and fell to the ground.

CLICK. CLANK.

And he could hear the other knights gasp at his maneuver but he was getting rather tired, and despite his understanding nature he had a reputation to maintain.

The man tried to swing at him, with his other arm, but Aenys avoided by a hair's margin slipping beyond him and pushing his arm under his arm, and twisting himself behind the burly man as he struck his weaker leg making it slip from under him and he forced him to the floor.

THUD!

The man fell to the floor, his own arm twisted behind him, the tip of his own dagger inch from his neck.

"Yield!" he offered, and the man nodded.

"I yield," the man acquiesced and whole yard broke out into a massive applaud, as he backed off and helped the man back to his feet, and though it seemed as though the man was not quite satisfied the loss, at least he had the tact to shake his hand.

"It was a good spar, my Prince. It is rare that the bards do justice to a man's skill yet it seems their songs about you are truer than most," he said and Aenys nodded.

"Haha, well I can see why you were made the Knight of the Gate, had it not been for that lost maneuver I would have been in trouble," he offered some solace, though that was a lie.

The man moved away, as Aenys reached for the blade, his muscles now ached quite a bit and his clothes were drenched in sweat.

HE could see another knight stepping forward, yet the man was going to be disappointed for he was not in any shape to spar any more.

Though thankfully, a rather familiar voice saved him.

"Now, that will be enough! We should not trouble our guest so much," and he looked to the side and found Lady Jeyne stepping into the yard clad in an elaborate green dress, her steadfast companion, the red-haired Lady Jessamyn, behind her.

"I believe that is enough for today, come join us in breaking the fast my Prince," she offered, and he nodded and he could feel disappointment spread through the crowd as he agreed to the lady's request.

All three of them walked through the castle halls as the Lady of the Vale broke through the silence.

"For a man as learned as you, your skills with a blade are rather impressive," she said with a raised brow, continuing.

"Though I should have expected nothing less from the dragon slayer," she teased, and the way her lips had turned up told him that someone had been babbling about him to her cousin.

"Well, it seems you were watching for quite a while, my lady," he questioned, and she shook her head.

"I watched a few of those spars, but the knights told me of how you have been in the yard since dawn," she said, and he nodded.

"Yes, I needed to clear my head," they sat down for breakfast, besides Rhaenyra, who had already arrived in the Hall and looked rather pale.

"You look rather pale, princess. Is everything fine?" Jessamyn Redfort questioned, and he frowned himself as he watched Rhaenyra nod slowly.

"Yes, it seems I have an upset stomach," she said, and his eyes narrowed as he looked at the simple porridge bowl in front of her.

And he decided that he could not push this any further, and so as he saw her reaching for an ale, he pushed it aside, much to her surprise, and she turned to face him as he himself turned to face the lady of the Vale.

"I will be needing a room, my lady," he said, and Rhaenyra was quick to cut in.

"I am fine, it's probably just an upset stomach," she argued, and he shook his head as he leaned towards her and whispered into her ears his thoughts, and the way the Lady of the Vale's eyes widened, his whisper had reached her ears as well.

And after he had spent an hour examining her to the best of his abilities, his suspicion was proven right as he announced to Rhaenyra.

"You are with child!"

0000

What's more ominous than a single pregnancy in GOT? Two pregnancies!

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[Drkest]

Chapter 51

RHAENYRA TARGARYEN

The truth was that Rhaenyra Targaryen had known of her pregnancy even before Aenys had confirmed it. She could feel it in her gut. She had seen Alicent go through the same sequence of symptoms when she had been pregnant with Aenar and, for a week or so, had been observing similar changes in herself, like mood swings, constant nausea, and changing palate.

And as she lay there in the bed, resting, she found herself looking out the window, imagining the little life growing inside her at the moment. It was a sense of joy, something much foreign to her. What was this, this sense of protectiveness? Was this what they called a mother's instinct?

Had this been how her own mother had felt, how Alicent felt? And she was so lost in thought that she initially missed the gentle knock on her door, and only when it became a little louder was she broken out of her reverie.

"Who is there?" she questioned.

"It's me, Aenys," came the soft answer, and she beckoned him to enter. By now, the Sun was about to set, and as per the previous plan, they were set to leave the Eyrie by tonight.

Her uncle, Aenys, entered the room now with a thick, burly coat draped over him to shield him from the Eastern chill and gave her a small smile.

"How are you?" he questioned.

"I am fine. The ginger tea helped quite a bit," she replied, pointing towards the half-empty plate of food from earlier.

"Good, that is good. Ask them to bring you more if you feel nauseous," he said as he sat down beside her, and then she began to notice a shift in his demeanor. His eyes were different; the frown which had become a constant part of his expression for some moons now was gone and was replaced with an air of certainty and steadfastness.

For some reason, it reminded her of the time he had faced Jason Lannister; he had seemed nearly just as commanding at that time as well.

"I need to talk to you about something," he began, his voice unwavering as their eyes met, and she nodded slowly.

He sat down on the edge of the bed and looked her in the eye as he began, her heart thumping as he spoke the first words.

"I have made my decision regarding the whole succession issue," he replied, and she stilled for a moment at those words as he continued to look her in the eye.

"And what is that?" she questioned.

"I know of your fears, of your real fears," he began, and her heart nearly gave out at those words as she realized just what the decision he may have made.

"Yet Rhaenyra, you cannot let your fears control you, dear," he added softly as he held her hand, and she chewed her lips as she looked down, evading his gaze.

"I have already told you before, this is less about fear of Daemon and more because of what is best for the realm," she replied, and he reached for her face and raised her chin as he gave her a smile.

"The throne is yours, Rhaenyra. And it shall remain so, no matter what the lords of the realm may plot and dream. Rhaenyra Targaryen shall remain the heir and one day in the future ascend the Iron Throne just as her father did before her," he said, informing her of his decision, and she shook her head.

"I do not desire the throne, and the whole realm would blee…"

"Then let it!" came the answer, quick and thundering as Aenys's eyes glinted, his face making her stop.

"And the blame for that shall lie on all those who would take up arms in favor of a pretender. We are the House of the Dragon, descendants of the conqueror himself; the lords of the realm rule their little pieces of land by virtue of our blessing. We decide the future of these lands and shall continue to do so for centuries to come," he said resolutely, and she pulled her hand and shook her head.

"You don't understand. I do not want the throne. My ascension would embroil us all into a war with Daemon…."

"War will happen regardless, Rhaenyra," Aenys cut in, and her lips thinned as her fist balled up, for as much as she wanted to deny that. It was true, more so now than ever before.

"A loss at a Grand Council will do little to satiate Daemon's lust. He will not stop. He will not relent. He will come for the Throne regardless of the results of any Council," he added, and she knew that.

A part of her and always known that. She felt her frustration grow as all the piled-up emotions became too much for her, and she found her eyes growing wet.

"When I last met your mother, I made a promise to her," he suddenly began prompting her to look up at him, for he had not mentioned this to her before, and neither had her mother.

"She made me promise to help you, to look after you," he added as he gave her a smile and

"And I intend to keep that promise," he said.

"And what of after all this!" and the thought that she had kept buried all this time finally escaped, the darkest thought that she had never voiced out.

"Do you think the lords will accept me as their Queen? I know little about ruling and governing! What will I do when the Lords of the realm refuse to follow a woman!" she shouted, angry and frustrated by everything,

"Tell me what I shall do then! Write to you in Braavos!" she shouted at him as he sat there.

"You may help win the throne, but of afterward. What if this child inside me is a gi…."

"You won't have to," Aeny's voice suddenly cut in, making her stop instantly as her mind processed those words. She gulped as she saw him smile as he continued.

"After all, I would be rather a poor hand if I lived in Braavos while my Queen sat on the Iron throne," he continued, making his intentions clear, and she couldn't believe him.

"You would…" she managed to eke out after some time, and he nodded.

"My businesses in Braavos don't need me to run them, and so I shall help you rule these lands, aid you for as long as you may have me," he said, and she didn't know what to say.

He was sacrificing his own life for her, giving up his freedom, giving up the life he had built for himself in Braavos just for her.

The dam that had kept her emotions at bay broke down, as her vision blurred and tears began to dribble down her face as she began to cry, her arms latching onto Aenys as she lost herself in his familial warmth. A warmth she had not felt since the death of her mother.

She cried and cried in his arms over everything. The loss of her mother. The betrayal of Daemon. The devolving health of her father.

"Alright, alright. That is enough, Rhaenyra," he said as he soothed her and wiped away the tears from her eyes.

"A future Queen shouldn't cry this much," he said with a small smile, and she nodded as she wiped her eyes before a question erupted in her mind.

"But what of the lords and Council?" she questioned and saw his eyes narrow as he answered in an absolute tone.

"There will be no damned Council!"

0000

RHAENYS TARGARYEN

The Queen who never was sat in her solar, goblet in hand thinking of the life she had led until now, and it all seemed so ordinary. It was much different than the life she had imagined for herself, yet she was content with it.

She had been blessed with two beautiful children, amble freedom, and had generally never lacked for anything. Yet Corlys was different, this had never been enough for him. The Sea Snake, had always sought to better himself, always sought to reach beyond what any normal man would, and such a trait had made him into the man he was today, yet now it had become too much.

In his desire for a higher station and glory, he was about to throw himself into the arms of the second coming of Maegor himself, thinking himself capable of controlling her unruly cousin, endangering not only himself but their children as well.

And she couldn't let that happen.

And so, she drained the cup of its content, gulping down the thick wine as she emptied the cup and walked towards the balcony, and looked down at the slumbering castle beneath her for perhaps the last time.

"I am sorry, Corlys, but I cannot let you destroy this family," she said as she moved back. With a final sigh, opened the door to her solar and found her son standing there. Laenor had grown up quite a lot over the years, and though he was yet to become the man he one day would, he now matched her in height.

Yet, despite his age and height, he couldn't hide the hint of nervousness in his form as he spoke up.

"It's done. I have had both Sea Smoke and Meleys saddled," he informed her, and it broke her heart to resort to this, yet there was no choice. Corlys had refused to listen to reason at all, and she would not let him hand over their daughter to someone like Daemon.

"Good! Go and keep them ready. I shall join you shortly with Laena," she replied and saw her son hesitate for a second as he questioned.

"Is this the only way, mother?"

And it broke her heart to see him like this, yet she hardened her heart as she replied.

"It is," she said as she gently gave his shoulder a squeeze before she moved past him, her steps quiet and measured as she moved towards her daughter's room.

She reached the door and gave a small knock.

"Laena!" she called out softly, yet there was no response.

She frowned as she knocked again, calling her daughter's name yet no response came this time as well.

In the end she opened the door, and entered her room, and found it unusually dark, there was no lamp lit, and just as she was about to call out her daughter's name once more, she stilled mid word.

"La…."

For Laena was not present side the room, no someone else was there. Someone rather familiar, someone who had no place being there.

Corlys. Her husband was there and from the anger and sense of betrayal emanating from him, he had become aware of their plan somehow.

"What are you doing here?" she questioned through gritted teeth, as her eyes no trace of Laena in the room, further confirming her suspicion that he had found out about their plan.

"I think I should be the one asking you that," he retorted as he got up and walked towards her.

"I had hoped that you would not come tonight. Hoped that the notion of your betrayal of this family was nothing more than a rumor," he said through gritted teeth, and she shook her head, exasperated by all this.

"I did not betray this family, Corlys," she said, resigning herself to her fate as she looked him in the eye.

"You did when you chose to join hands with Daemon, putting us all in danger just because of your personal ambition!" she retorted angrily, and he shook his head.

"What I do! I do for the betterment of this family!" he replied in a frustrated tone, and she shook her head, a broken smile on her face.

"No Corlys. You do what is best for Corlys Vealryon," she replied as she gulped and added.

"Where is Laena?" she questioned, growing worried about her daughter.

"She is safe," he replied and their eyes met, and she found them so foreign. They had been happy once, content with their lot in life, yet now as she stared into those ambitious orbs of his she wondered if this was what the lords of the realm saw when they saw him as well.

"You are making a big mistake, Corlys; you would risk all you have attained and built by joining hands with Daemon," she tried to reason with him once more despite knowing in her heart that her efforts were futile.

"Daemon will never sit on the Iron Throne! Never, he is a madman who brings with him only death and destruction."

Yet he remained unmoved and unaffected as he moved past her, ignoring her as he shouted.

"Guards!" she heard the door to the room open and found four guards standing there, armed to the teeth.

"Escort my wife to her chambers," he ordered in a cold tone as he gave her a glance, and as she moved past him, she heard him reply.

"You may have given up on the birthright of your blood. But I haven't." He began, his words making her stop as they both looked at each other.

"I don't care whether Daemon may or may not sit on the Iron Throne. But my blood shall sit atop that throne."

"And I shall do whatever it takes to make that a reality!"

And her hands curled up as she looked him in the eye, as she prayed in her heart for all this to end.

"We shall see about that!"

And with that, she was led away by the guards, and in the darkness of the night, a raven would fly out of the city, the darkness hiding it in its cover as it took course towards the capital, a missive bearing a red cross tied to its leg.

0000

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Have fun reading!

 

[Drkest]

Chapter 52

AENYS TARGARYEN

"There will be no damned Council!" he replied, making his niece halt for a second as she looked at him with a complicated expression.

In all this succession of nonsense, Aenys had forgotten one of the most fundamental aspects of this whole ordeal. The Grand Council and why he had been against such an idea.

"What do you mean?" Rhaenyra questioned as she wiped away her tears, a frown marring her expression.

"As I said, there will be god damn council," he replied, reiterating his words.

"But the lor…"

"The lords have no say in who rules over them. The calling of the Council was one of our grandfather's biggest mistakes, a mistake that I will not repeat," he reiterated. And truthfully, it was this very point over which he had fought with his grandfather and had been exiled.

"Daemon may do whatever he wants, but your father has declared you as heir, and all the lords swore fealty to you when he did so," he reminded her, and she nodded.

"So, any lord who forgets his vows from that day and breaks them shall be a traitor to the Crown. And the Crown shall not tolerate any such traitors," he finished in a rather cold tone as Rhaenyra's eyes widened at his implication.

And he was not joking. The Council had made the lords feel entitled, more powerful, and self-important, as if their combined will could shackle the Royal family. Yet they were wrong. This was not a democracy. No, this was a monarchy, a monarchy in which each and every one of those lords served at the behest of their family, and it was time that such a notion was enforced upon their minds once more.

"You cannot mean…" she gasped, but he shook his head.

"I do, and that is the reality of it. All those who support Daemon will need to be punished and brought to heel, though I wouldn't worry too much about that," he replied, recalling the letter he had sent to Viserys and his other plans for tackling that bastard.

"I don't believe many would rise up in his support," he reassured her, and he could see that the thought of such drastic punishments unsettled her, yet she still nodded her head.

"I hope so as well," she replied, and he nodded before she questioned.

"Apart from that, when are we to leave the Vale," she questioned, and he stood up, as he answered.

"I am set to leave in an hour or two," he replied, his words catching her by surprise.

"What? Why?" she questioned, surprised by his answer, yet he did not wish to divulge the details about the reason for his rather hasty return.

"I have some things to take care of in the capital, though you shall return later, on Syrax," he told her, and as she was about to speak up, he cut in.

"…slowly and carefully," he admonished her. The truth was that he would have liked to accompany her on the journey, but he had to rush back to the capital, and Syrax was slow, much slower than his Grey Ghost.

"But why must I stay? I could join you," she said, and she shook his head.

"No, you cannot. Lade Jeyne has organized a tourney for us, it will be rude if none of were to attend. You shall attend the tourney tomorrow and then leave afterward in the night if you wish," he told her and saw her nod reluctantly.

And with that, after a set of further instructions, he moved out of the room, heading to his own as he prepared for the journey ahead.

.

.

.

.

And then, an hour later, he found himself in the courtyard of the Eyrie, the last vestiges of the setting Sun illuminated the sky as he saddled up his dragon, when an all too familiar voice from behind cut in.

"So, you will be leaving now?" he turned back and found the Lady of the Eyrie standing there with behind him, and he gave her a nod.

"Yes, I need to reach the capital by tonight. And I apologize for not being able to attend the tourney you have set up," he said as he gave her a short bow, though Jeyne Arryn waved away his apology.

"It is a shame, I must say, for many in the Vale would have loved to see the Dragonslayer on the lists. I know many of the knights have desired to test their mettle against yours," she said, and the sadness seemed genuine as she continued.

"If it is any solace, the Princess shall be there. The realm's delights favor shall be prize enough for those knights," he offered, not mentioning how his joining the lists would have been highly unlikely. After all, he was not fond of fighting in tourneys.

They were both silent for some time as she looked into his eyes before she broke it with a small whisper.

"I believe you told her of your decision?" she confirmed, and he nodded.

"I have," he told her, and there was little need to tell her of what it was. And she walked up to him and looked up to him.

"The Vale knows much of honor, for we pride ourselves with it. But I shall have it written that the Vale saw no man as honorable as the Healer Prince," she said, and he nodded as she gave him a rather forlorn smile, her hand now caressing the side of his face.

"Sometimes I rue the day you chose to marry Lady Alicent Hightower," she said, surprising him, as she pulled down his face and kissed him on the forehead, catching him by surprise.

They separated, and he saw her step back, the sadness vanishing from her face as she continued in a rather playful tone.

"I wish you well on your journey, my Prince. Perhaps when I come to the capital, I could convince your lady wife to share," she teased playfully as she chuckled and waved at him.

And he didn't know what to say, so he just shook his head and replied with a chuckle.

"You wouldn't be the first to try," he said as he turned away from her and jumped on the saddle, though before taking to the skies, he faced down once more.

"My ships shall arrive at your shore in a moon or two. I shall have the details sent over as well, but I want to assure you that this Piracy problem of yours shall be handled once and for all," he assured her, having already taken some steps regarding this.

"The Vale thanks you for your support, my Prince," she said as she gave him a bow, and he nodded as he turned forward, and with a hardened heart and stead voice, he shouted.

"Soves!"

And the Grey Ghost took to the skies once more, its wings flapping rhythmically as it cut through the Easter skies at breakneck speed.

0000

HARWIN STRONG-Breakbones

Harwin Strong found himself in a rather precarious situation, lost between his oath to the crown, and his camaraderie with his fellow Gold Cloaks, it was his sense of duty to the Crown and his family that prevailed.

His father was set to be named the new Hand of the King, and that brought with him a new set of responsibilities and challenges. Duties that pitted him against men he had once called friends and comrades.

Kingslanding had been in decline since the end of King Jaeaherys's time, the capital city of the Seven Kingdoms, the symbol of Targaryen power had lost its luster as its street were overtaken by crime of the worst king. Stealing, abductions, rapes, and many such evils had taken root, making the people of the city unsafe and anxious.

The City Watch established to keep the order, and to protect the citizens had been rather ineffective in its duties, often stifled in its glorious purpose by corruption, greed or gross incompetence.

At least that had been the story until Prince Daemon had been given command. The Rogue Prince had transformed the once disgraced order into a symbol of fear for the city's criminal element.

Adorned with their Gold Cloaks, trained by the infamous Rogue Prince himself, these men gained purpose and glory, and hence, the city Watch became the Gold Cloaks. The order and its men owed it all to Prince Daemon, and with that, the Prince held their loyalty above all else, and for some, that meant even beyond the Crown.

And right now, he found himself standing opposite to such men, as he surrounded Prince Daemon's manse, clad in his armor, sword in hand, with men loyal to the Crown at his back as they faced the element of the City Watch whose loyalties remained bound to Prince Daemon.

"So, you have decided to betray the Prine and your brothers!" snarled Bryer, the thick, burly man who had once held the same rank as him, and Harwin didn't answer.

"It is not I who has lost my way, Bryer. It is you," he shouted as he took a step forward. The dozen or so men with him followed as well, as the eight men opposite to them backed down.

"We swore our oaths to the Crown, and right now, it is you who is breaking those oaths," he shouted, and Bryer's face contorted as he backed down.

After his father had made him the Captain of the City Guard, he had been quick to enact the required changes, replacing men whose loyalties lay with Prince Daemon. Yet that didn't mean it was all easy; many amongst these men had revolted and tried to cause trouble in the capital, yet he had expected that and had been quick to have them thrown into the Black Cells.

"Fuck the Crown!" Bryer shouted as he spat on the ground, his face turning to snarl as he continued to shout.

"It was the prince who gave us these cloaks, and it is only him who shall take it from me! You are nothing but a damned lickspittle, a glorified ungrateful whore who betrayed his own kin!" Bryer shouted, and Harwin's temper flared at that.

Bryer and his group were amongst the few who refused to toe the line, and he had wished to resolve this peacefully, yet he could not all these insults stand.

Bryer may once have been his comrade, but now he was nothing more than a fugitive and a criminal. Hence, would get no mercy from him.

So, he raised his sword as his eyes narrowed. And he was thankful that he had his men already clear out the area.

"Archers!" he shouted as some men came out onto the balconies of the surrounding buildings, bows in hand, arrows aimed at Bryer and his men.

"Take aim!" he shouted and saw the faces of some of Bryer's men pale at his words as they saw the strings get drawn as half a dozen arrows were aimed at them.

Bryer, though, didn't flinch and continued to glare at him, his massive axe in his hand as he shouted.

"Have enough dignity to face me like a man, you traitor!" he shouted, and Harwin knew that he needn't be baited, yet he also knew that if he were to not respond to such taunts, he would lose the respect of his men.

And so, he raised his hand, halting his archers as he stepped forward.

"Ok, you bastard, I will give you a taste of my blade," Harwin replied as Bryer moved forward as well eyes narrowed his grip on his axe tight, before both of them broke into a stride as they rushed towards each other.

The sound of their steps on the hard stone underneath echoed throughout the area, the metal of their armor making loud clangs as they roared.

"AGHHHH!" and Bryer was the first to begin, jumping at the end of his stride as he brought down his axe with all his might, and Harwin, brought up his blade to block the attack. The force of the attack was enough to push him back, as he gritted his teeth, his body forced to his knee due to the force behind the strike

Bryer was a burly man, and the man pushed down his axe. Harwin watched it inches closer to his face as he pushed his blade harder and harder with all his might before tilting it to the side and spinning on his heel.

CLANG!!

Bryer's axe hit the pavement, making a loud sound as Harwin spun and stuck him in the side, in the bare area between his breastplates.

"AGHH!" Bryer groaned, yet through gritted teeth, the man swung his axe once more, and Harwin ducked as it passed right above his head, and as it passed above him, he scrapped forward and wrapped his arm around the man's arm and pulled.

"AHHHHH!" he screamed in pain as the bones in his arm broke. The axe fell from his arm as Harwin grunted as he swung his body with all his might.

"AGHHHH! He shouted as Bryer's back hit the ground with a thud, the man writhing on the floor holding his broken arm.

Harwin pushed back his hair as he kicked him in the side, making Bryer grunt.

"So, you happy now, Bryer!" and with that, he put his leg in his remaining arm, as he brought the tip of his blade near his neck.

"Yield! And have your men step down, and we can avoid this bloodshed. Otherwise, I won't hesitate to swing this blade!"

And Bryer snarled before he spat on his face, making his temper flare as he shouted.

"Then swing, but I will die before I betray my Prince like you. You are nothing but a glorified who…" and as Harwin moved to swing his blade he was disturbed by a massive roar.

And then the whole ground shook as a massive thud was heard behind him. A thud with which the city populace was now quite familiar with. And he turned back and found on himself two golden snake-like slits as Ceraxes stood behind him, glaring at him with his golden eyes that glistened in the dark.

The metal covering its head and shoulders shone in the moonlight, and his heartbeat quickened as the massive red beast opened its maw, revealing its razor-sharp teeth. The beast wrung its neck as it roared once more, its shrill voice thundering across the clearing.

"AHKHNNNNNN!" the beast roared before lowering itself, as the man atop it stood up and looked down at him and all the men around him before his voice rang out.

"What is going on here!"

Prince Daemon was here.

0000

Daemon is here!

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A/N: A point to add. The injuries have made Ceraxes slower. It wasn't always the fastest, and now it has gotten slower because of the additional weight of the metal embedded into its swings!

The final arc now begins! We are in the endgame now!

 

[Drkest]

Chapter 53

DAEMON TARGARYEN

Daemon frowned as he watched the two groups of his Gold Cloaks engaged in conflict outside his manse. Two captains of his order were there outside his manse engaged in a fight with swords on their throat.

"What goes on there?" he shouted, still atop Ceraxes as he saw a certain portion of the Gold Cloaks looking at him with complex gazes, their swords drawn in hostility.

"Betrayal! My Prince! Betrayal!" shouted Bryer, a burly captain of the Gold Cloaks, while Lyonel's eldest son, held a sword to his throat.

The words making him frown as he looked towards Harwin, he recalled the name of Lord Strong's eldest son.

"Tell me why you point a blade at your comrade, Strong. Remove it at once, and I shall consider sparing your life" he snarled, as his eyes narrowed.

Harwin Strong didn't back down, from his gaze, as he stared at him. The man had courage, he would give him that,

"I am afraid I cannot do that, my Prince," he replied, making him frown.

"I command you as the Lord Commander of the City Watch," he shouted.

"Remove that blade!"

Yet the giant of a man didn't budge, his eyes met his as he replied.

"I am afraid that you are no longer the Lord Commander, my Prince. The King has removed you from the position and has appointed me as the new Lord Commander," came the answer making his temper flare up as he realized to what Bryer was alluding to.

"Ohhhh! So you wish to replace me," he smirked and then broke out into a chuckle, for he found the whole idea rather amusing.

"Haha, have you forgotten who I am. I made these men into what they are, I gave them their cloaks, their blades. They would be nothing but commoner pests without me. Do you really think you can replace me!" he snarled as Ceraxes roared into the sky, his laughs spreading throughout the area until he suddenly stopped as he realized that only half a dozen of his men now surrounded his manse.

His mind raced before his laughter halted at once and he turned to face Strong, his voice snarling in rage.

"Where are the rest of my men, Strong!" he shouted as he pulled on the reins of Ceraxes who bellowed threateningly at the burly man, who at least had enough courage to not run away.

"Those who refused to follow their oaths to the Crown are now in the Black cells," he replied and his face flushed at those words.

"You dare!" he shouted, his whip cracking into the groud as Ceraxes roared, loudly.

"ROARRRR!" its screeching bellow shook the whole ground as it put down its winged arms, getting low to the ground, as it brought his face closer to the ground.

"Why gave you that authority! WHO!" he snarled angrily.

"The King," came the answer, and for the first time he could see a hint of fear in that gaze as Ceraxes bared its teeth merely a few feet from his face, yet he continued.

"The King has also sent me here to escort you to the castle, as well," the man continued, his words catching him by surprise. For he saw the meaning behind those carefully chosen words, for if it was nothing but a simple summon, Viserys could have written to him.

No, this was an arrest.

"My brother insults me! Replaces me, and now has the gall to send men to arrest me like a common criminal!" he snarled in rage, disappointed and enraged at Viserys for this. His grip on the whip in his hand tightened as he looked towards his replacement and shouted.

"Tell me why does my brother wishes me to enter the very halls he has barred me from for months," he questioned, and the answer didn't come from the man, but from a very familiar voice from behind.

"To swear fealty to his proclaimed heir," Mysaria's voice rang out, and he glanced back and found the blonde woman stepping out of the manse, looking towards him.

"Is this true?" he questioned through gritted teeth, looking towards the giant of a man.

And no reply came which was answer enough on its own.

The audacity! Daemon's temper flared up at the sheer audacity of Viserys, and he glared towards the men infront of as he snarled.

"So, you brought these men here to arrest me," he snickered in rage, and belittlement as he shook his head.

"Then let me tell you brought too few," and with that the whip cracked once more, as Ceraxes wrung its neck into the sky as Daemon commanded.

"Ceraxes!" he shouted in High Valyrian, and saw many of the men step back in fear, as they saw his dragon's gullet brighten up.

"I believe this shall be answer enough for Viserys," he shouted as many of the man began to run, dropping their swords, though Lord Strong's son stood there, rooted to the ground.

"Dra….

"ROARRRRRRR!" though he was stopped mid-sentence by another massive roar, one which tore through the skies. The voice coming from right above him and he looked up, much like everyone else and found another dragon descending towards the ground at breakneck speed.

This one colored A silvery grey, with hues of blue mixed in.

And he knew of only one dragon with such coloring.

Grey Ghost! And that meant only one thing, Aenys!

"ROARRRR!" it roared once more as it descended towards them, landing on the ground opposite to him with a thud opposite to him, cratering the ground with the sheer wight of its landing.

Grey Ghost, his brother's dragon stood there opposite to him, nearly equal to Ceraxes in size yet for some reason faster.

The two dragons snarled at each other, much like their riders. And as their eyes met, Daemon snarled.

"Aenys!" he snarled, his eyes going over his brother's form, his disheveled hair and riding leathers spoke of a rather hurried journey.

"Daemon." he replied, and there could only be one reason his brother had rushed back to the capital from the Vale like this. He was somehow behind this, and he snarled angrily at that.

"I should have guessed you were behind this," he accused, and his brother didn't reply, his eyes simply scanning the area around them. Though it was not like he needed such confirmation.

"This farce has gone on for long enough Daemon!" Aenys voice rang out as he looked at him.

"You have caused enough strife and destruction in this family. Bend the knee and end this whole thing once and for all," he said, and it was the first time his ambitions had been acknowledged so openly.

He snarled as he shook his head.

"I would never give up on my birthright, let alone bend my knee to a woman!" he spat to the side.

"It is not your birthright, Rhaenyra's is the King's only child and so his heir, you have no claim!" Aenys replied, and he smirked.

"No woman has ever sat on the Iron Throne, and none shall as long as I live!" he refused as their eyes met, and he could see Aenys grind his teeth.

Both of them stared at each other, with either refusing to back down. Their dragons now stood inches from each other, and then suddenly saw a glimmer of hesitation in Aenys, and before he could pounce on the opportunity a child's voice cut in through the tension.

"Mnuaa!"

"Baelon!" Mysaria's voice cut in as well, and he glanced back and found the blonde now held in her arms his child.

"If you refuse to bend the knee then you have no place in this Kingdom!" Aenys's voice cut in.

Strong and his men surrounded him and Mysaria as well, and Aenys stood there opposite to him with his dragon. He stared at Mysaria anger and frustration bubbling in his heart, and she gave him a small nod.

He pulled on Ceraxes reins and the dragon coiled back its head, bringing him near Mysaria and his child, who climbed up the saddle behind him.

He now glared at Aenys once more, body rife with complex emotions as he snarled.

"Then I have little need of living in such lands as well!"

And then he swung his whip once more as a cracking sound cut through the air.

CRACK!

He then turned to look towards Bryer and the rest of his men.

"All those of you who still call me commander shall be welcome in my Halls. Take a boat and ride to my kingdom and you shall share my hearth once more," he said and there was a small cheer from these men, as he, with a final glance towards Aenys shouted at the top his lung.

"Ceraxes! Soves!"

0000

AENYS TARGARYEN

Aenys found himself in the Council chambers with perhaps the three most powerful yet short-sighted idiots in the whole realm. He sat on the end of the table, tired and still clad in his riding leathers, with Viserys and his two Hands occupying the other side.

Otto Hightower looked at him with a piercing gaze, while Lyonel seemed to have aged a few years, realizing that he would have lost his only son today if not for him.

"You do know what kind of disaster this could have caused," he said as his whole body creaked in dull pain from the hurried journey he had been forced to undertake.

"But it was you who advised me to deal with this whole matter," Viserys replied, with a frown making him roll his eyes.

"Yes, I did, but I didn't ask you to do so when Daemon was the only dragon rider in this city!" he said, not missing the frown Otto Hightower was sending his way.

And it seemed they finally understood the gravity of their blunder, though thankfully, it hadn't come to that. As soon as the letter had arrived from the Red Keep bearing the King's intentions, he rushed back, and he was thankful that he had made such a decision.

"I hadn't thought he would return so quickly, and it was a mistake on my part, my Prince," Lord Strong cut in, sounding apologetic as the man gave him a small bow.

"And you have my utmost gratitude for saving my son's life. I am in your debt," the man continued, and he waved him away.

"There is no need for that," he replied as he nodded at the man, with the chambers returning to silence once more.

"Where is Rhaenyra?" Viserys questioned then, sighing in frustration.

"She is in the Vale and will return later after attending the tourney. I believe Daemon's behavior has given enough insult to the Vale and its Lords. I wished not to add to it by having no one from the Royal Family attend the festivities they had prepared for us," he replied, not mentioning her pregnancy.

"Good, that is good, but we must now return to the matter at hand," Otto cut in as he looked towards him.

"I am afraid I must ask you, why didn't you engage Prince Daemon as he escaped these lands?" the man questioned, and both of them looked at each other, eyes narrowed, minds racing.

"Indeed, Aenys. You do know that I had asked for his arrest, yet you still let him fly away. Why?" Viserys added from the side, and he raised a brow glancing between the two men.

"Because of his child," he answered honestly, for he had little patience for Daemon now and wouldn't hesitate to put him down like the rabid dog that he was.

Yet earlier, it was not the time to do so.

"Daemon's child had somehow run out of the manse and would have died if we had engaged with each other, let alone the whole city would have burned and caused a massive, and I wished to avoid causing such disturbance right before the Rhaenyra's wedding," he replied.

"That child is a bastard, his death would have been inconsequential, my Prince," Otto replied, and he shook his head, his voice becoming cold as he replied.

"A bastard it may, but it is still a child, a child carrying Targaryen blood. I would not have my name tainted as a child butcher," he snarled, his voice cutting across the room.

"Regardless, I was too tired from the journey as well and wished not to risk fighting against Ceraxes and Daemon in my fatigued state," he added as he leaned back.

"Your sentiment is noble, my Prince. But this gives Prince Daemon much advantage, especially with his upcoming marriage with Lady Laena. This would mean that he would have at his call three dragon riders, including himself, Princess Rhaenys, and Lord Laenor. Such a thing is not good for the Crown," Lord Strong added, and his point was valid and the concern rather great.

"Lord Strong is right. This is not a good look for the Crown," Viserys snarled, his fist balling up.

"There is no need to worry in that regard, Lord Strong," he added, making the incumbent Lord Hand frown.

"Why do you say that, my Prince?" he questioned.

"The marriage between Laena Velaryon and Daemon will not happen," he announced, and the whole chamber became quiet at his declaration before Viserys cut in.

"How can you say that? Corlys himself gave his ascent to the match, and Rhaenys refuses to reply to either yours or mine letters. Then how do you plan to stop the marriage," Viserys questioned, and he refused to answer.

"It won't happen. I won't say how, but you have my word the marriage will not happen. On that you have my absolute assurance," he declared once more. His informants had already informed him of the recent happenings of High Tide.

He had already taken care of arrangements regarding his plan.

"That would be a welcome development for the Crown," Otto cut in, and he nodded, sighing as he pushed himself up, stifling the yawn that threatened to break out.

"Ok, that will be all from me. I am too tired. If there is anything else we can tackle in the morning," he said as he made his way out of the room, before suddenly Viserys's voice cut in from behind.

"Aenys, wait," and he frowned as he turned to face his brother, who was now looking at him with a rather cryptic smile.

"I have some news for you as well," he began, his words making him somewhat anxious.

"What?" he motioned for him to continue, yet his words would literally knock the sleep out of him.

"Your lady wife is pregnant!"

0000

As always, you can read ahead and support me on Patreon. Your support makes it possible for me to write these stories. So, if possible, have a look and consider supporting me if you can. It would help me out quite a bit.

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Have an awesome day!

 

[Drkest]

Chapter 54

ALICENT HIGHTOWER

Alicent Hightower woke up groggily as she shifted leisurely in her bed. The tiredness from watching over the wedding proceedings had taken a toll on her, and she would sleep for hours now.

And she shifted, turning in her bed, yet her heart sunk as she felt her hand hit something hard, making her grogginess vanish in a second as she opened her eyes and turned to see just what she had hit.

And it was not a thing. No, it was someone whom she hadn't seen for a week, someone whom she was missing quite fervently—her second half, the father of her child, her Lord husband.

"Aenys," she called out and saw him frown as he rubbed his eyes, he was still in a tunic and looked rather weary as he sat up straighter after a yawn.

And as their eyes met, his lips turned up into a smile.

"Good Morning, Alicent," he greeted her, and she was quick to question.

"When did you return? You could have woken me up, and weren't you supposed to return a day later," she recalled the schedule,

"There was an emergency, and I had to return a bit early, and most importantly…" he stopped as he smiled, leaned forward, and kissed her hand.

"I heard a very jubilous news on my arrival," he continued, and she blushed as she looked down.

"So, you have heard," she asked, and he nodded.

"I have," he said as she gulped down and asked once more.

"But still, you could have woken me up," she complained, and he frowned as he shook his head.

"I know just how hard you have been working and didn't want to disturb your only rest, so I forbade the servants from disturbing you when I returned," he added. She nodded as he got up and began to wash his face, and she asked another question.

"But why did you return early? What kind of emergency had you returned at such short notice?" she questioned, watching as his face turned grim as he turned to face her.

"Yesterday, the King made an attempt to reform the Gold Cloaks and issued an order for the arrest of Daemon and his followers," he told her, making her still at those words as she asked incredulously.

"What? That could have been disastrous," she reasoned quickly, especially in these times when the capital was filled with minor and major lords, and Daemon was the only one with a dragon present.

"Yes, though it was I who recommended the measure but realized too late that the Viserys may act on it at once, and so when I realized my mistake, I rushed out of the Vale and, as I had suspected, found Daemon on Ceraxes on the verge of bringing down the newly appointed captain of the City Guard," he finished non chalantly making her clutch the sheets with much force as she nearly shrieked.

"Seven above!" as her eyes scrutinized his body, looking for any new scar or wound that he may have sustained, and thankfully, she found none as relief filled her.

The worry must have shown on her face as he cut in rather quickly as he sat beside her.

"We didn't fight. It didn't come to that, even though a small part of me wished that this whole debacle would have ended tonight," he said. She could sympathize with that point, but if it meant any danger for him, she would rather this whole conflict last years as long as he remained safe.

"What happened?" she questioned.

"Nothing much, actually. He fled the capital with his mistress and his son, and now his Gold Claoks have been rounded up. The King has appointed Harwin Strong as the next commander, a rather good choice, in my opinion," he added, and she frowned.

"Prince Daemon left?" she confirmed, and he nodded.

"We don't know yet where he went, but we will learn so soon.

"And what of Rhaenyra? When will she return?" she questioned.

"Soon, she will attend the tourney Lady Jeyne prepared for her and then shall leave after that; I expect she will reach the capital by the day after tomorrow," he added, and she frowned.

"That seems rather late," she observed, and he nodded as he turned to face her.

"Yes, indeed, and there is good reason for that. She needs to be very cautious during the journey. Maybe I shall ride out again today to accompany her," he suddenly added as he rubbed his chin.

"But why?" she questioned, perplexed by all this.

He turned to face her, and he answered with a smile.

"Because you, my lady, aren't the only one with child," his answer made her frown for a second before she realized what he meant.

"Really!" she gasped out in equal worry and joy.

"Yes, I confirmed it myself in Vale. Rhaenyra is with child."

0000

RHAENYRA TARGARYEN

Rhaenyra Targaryen sat beside the Lady of the Vale in her booth as the knights clashed in the melee below them. The stands were filled with shouts of men and women alike, and the whole court was filled with sounds of metal clashing against metal.

Yet she couldn't pay attention to the ongoing tourney. Her mind still lost in the conversation she had had with Aenys last night and its implications for the future.

A part of her had given up on the idea of sitting on the Iron Throne, relieving herself of the fate of never ever ascending those steps, yet his words had changed it all, and now the possibility that she had all but discarded was set to become a reality.

"It seems the whole tourney isn't to your liking, Princess," the voice of Lady Jeyne cut across the booth, startling her as her head snapped to the side, and she tried to smile.

"No, of course not, my lady. The tournament is lovely," she said, the words rolling off her tongue.

The Lady of the Vale was dressed in a blue gown made of blue silk that wrapped around her body. She smiled as she looked at her, turned away, and looked at the field as she continued talking.

"There is no need to lie, Princess. I know what has you worried," she began making her frown as she glanced at her with a side eye, her lips turned up as she continued.

"After all, there are many things that worry an incumbent heir to the Iron Throne," she said, her eyes widened as she realized this.

"Aenys told you of his decision," she said, nodding as the crowd broke out into a massive cheer. It seemed they had a winner, Ser Joffrey Arryn, the man who recently married Lady Royce had emerged victorious, as many had expected and the crowd cheered for the man who raised his fist into the air triumphantly.

"Indeed, he did. And I must say, the Prince is even more noble than his titles make him out to be. A shame though that a match between him and myself couldn't be realized," she said with a teasing tone to her words, which she didn't mind. After all, she was aware of just how close such a match came to happening until Aenys literally fought off a dragon to marry Alicent.

They watched, clapping and standing up as the Knight of the Gate presented the Crown of Love and Beauty to his newlywed wife to a ground-shaking cheer from the crowd as Lady Jeyne continued.

"You needn't worry, though, Princess. You shall sit on the throne and begin a new era for this Kingdom, one where daughters born shall no longer only be valued for their wombs, and though you may feel that you know little of ruling and governing, I believe you are sharp enough that you could grasp it all quite easily," she began as she began to step forward, walking into the front of the booth.

Looking back, she beckoned her over, offered her a hand, and pulled her forward.

"Now, let me give you a little hand," she said as she winked at her before motioning to a servant by their side. The herald began to beat his drum very loudly, bringing the attention of the crowd towards them.

The crowd's enthusiasm died down as they saw their monarch step forward, ready to make an announcement.

"First of all, I give my heartfelt congratulations to the winners of the tournament for showing their mettle and emerging victorious in these glorious battles," she began, her voice surprisingly strong, spreading all over the clearing as the crowd cheered.

"Yet I have an even greater news to share with you all on this auspicious day," she began.

"Many of you may have questions about the absence of one of our guests here today. And now I shall tell you all the reason for his absence. For moons now, the evil of piracy has plagued our shores; they raze our ships and enslave our men and women," she began, and Rhaenyra realized just what she was going to do.

"I made the Crown aware of our plight, and hence Prince Aenys and the heir, Princess Rhaenyra, arrived in my castle, answering the call and promising aid to us in combating this evil," she finished.

"NO MORE, THEY SAID! AND NOW, AS WE CELEBRATE THEIR PRESENCE HERE, THE PRINCE FLIES TO THE CAPITAL, PROMISING FIFTY OF HIS OWN SHIPS AND MEN TO HELP SU RID OF THIS PLAGUE!" She shouted with all her might, and the crowd broke out into massive cheer as she raised her hand.

"And all this was made possible by the efforts of none other than the Princess herself," she began as she pushed her forward and mouthed to her to say a few words.

Rhaenyra thought of what to say as she looked at the gathered crowd of lords and ladies and common men and women before she finally began.

"Many of you may be seeing me for the first time, yet I have grown up hearing tales of this land and its people," she began recalling the various stories her mother would often narrate to her from her childhood.

"Tales of the honor and resilience of those that live in these lands, people with whom I share blood. House of Arryn and Vale have kept faith with House Targaryen for more than a hundred years, answering the call. Now that House Arryn is in need, I consider it a personal responsibility as a daughter of the Vale to lend aid to the people of this land," her voice growing louder and louder with every word.

"AND I SAY HELP HAS ARRIVED!" She said as she raised a fist into the sky, and the crowd roared.

"NO MORE SHALL THOSE PIRATES PLAGUE YOUR SHORES! NO MORE SHALL THEY BURN YOUR SHIPS AND ENSLAVE MY PEOPLE! NOW THEY SHALL FACE THE DRAGON'S WRATH! THEY SHALL TASTE…." She took a deep breath as she shouted the next words with all her might.

"….FIRE AND BLOOD!"

0000

As always, you can read ahead and support me on Patreon. Your support helps me write this and other such stories. So, if possible, have a look and consider helping me out by becoming a Patron. It would be pretty awesome of you.

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A/N: The final battle has happened in Patreon, so it is a pretty good time to join and read ahead to almost the end! Just saying! It's pretty cool! 😉

 

[Drkest]

Chapter 56

ALICENT HIGHTOWER

"Rhaenyra is pregnant!" she questioned incredulously as Aenys settled down beside her on the bed, and he nodded.

"Yes, I confirmed it myself in Vale," he continued, quashing the notion that her ears were playing tricks on her. But that was news to her, and she was elated, of course, but she was more worried.

For she lived with Rhaenyra and her brother, Gwayne. And thinking of them as parents, well, Seven bless that child.

"How?" she gasped out, and Aenys looked at her with a mocking smile as she quickly shook her head.

"Are you really asking that my dear?" he said with a chuckle, and a small blush crept up her cheeks as she pinched his arm, making him wince.

"Ouch! Ouch! Is this how you treat your lord husband, who has returned after a week," he complained animatedly, and she rolled her eyes.

"You know what I mean," she said, and he nodded as he rubbed his arm.

"Well, it doesn't matter how. She is with a child and is set to marry in a few weeks. I don't think it matters much," he added, and she noticed how his expression changed the next moment as he continued.

"Though there is something else that I wanted to tell you," he began, and she could tell from his tone that this matter was rather serious, so she nodded.

"I had a discussion with Rhaenyra about the succession in Vale and have decided to support her claim," he finished, and she stilled at those words, for they were a contradiction to his earlier decision.

Yet, unlike when he had reluctantly given in to hers and Rhaenyra's demands, this time, his mind seemed made up as he looked at her with a determined gaze.

"Why?" she questioned, knowing that if there was a chance of making him change it once more, she must first understand the reason behind this change.

"Because I don't want the throne, because taking it would be more of a hindrance, but most of all," he began to list them out as he turned towards her and looked her in the eye.

"But most of all, because I don't believe in letting fear control my decisions, and even this time, I won't let the fear of an unknown scenario determine what I do, come whatever may," he finished.

"But what of the Council! What will happen if Daemon calls a Grand Council," she questioned worriedly, and his eyes narrowed as he answered.

"There wont be a damned Council!" he answered, surprising her.

"A council is only ever necessary if the succession is in crisis, or the monarch himself calls it as my grandfather did. A mistake which haunts my family to this day," he began seething as he named King Jaehaerys the culprit of his family's divide as he often did.

"In this scenario, there is no reason for a Grand Council, and as the heir to the throne, Rhaenyra shall have every opportunity to refuse any such demand," he said.

"But what of the lords! What will we do if they listen to Daemon's call and gather for a Council what will we do then," she implored.

"Any such lords who defy the Crown's intentions and attend an illegal Council will be branded as traitors and will be dealt as such. I will show them no mercy, and they will face the full might of the Crown," he answered resolutely, his mind made up as she gasped.

"That could be disastrous! Thousands could die," she gasped, and his expression didn't shift at her words as he looked her in the eye.

"Then so be it," he said in a cold, detached tone that told her enough that he was willing to condemn thousands of people for this.

"But what of Rhaenyra, even she wished for you to take the throne," she questioned, and he stood up as he waved away her question.

"Rhaenyra is a child. She feared what came after the ascension, but I have assured her that I would stand by her side," he began, surprising her with his next words.

"I have decided that I shall serve her as her hand for enough time after the ascension to both sort out this mess and teach her as much as she may want to learn," he told her, surprising her.

"You will be her hand," she confirmed, and he nodded.

"Yes," he replied, and she looked down at her own hands, knowing that his decision was final and that she could do little to change it.

"Are you certain of this, Aenys," she asked him once more, and he didn't even hesitate as he answered.

"Yes, I am. Men have ruled over this realm for a century now, and we have fought wars and killed thousands in our little games. Women are thought of as nothing more than fertile wombs to birth heirs and children for their lords. I believe her ascension would change that, not in months or weeks, or even years, but it could trigger a change, a change for the better," he said regally, his words striking a cord within her, for he was right.

Women in their world were often thought of as nothing more than fertile wombs, as men ruled their lands and made war. Rhaenyra's ascension could change things. It could act as a symbol of a better future, of better dreams for the girls of the realm.

It could bring change into this world. Change just as Aenys had brought through his own discoveries.

And who was she to stand against her own lord Husband?

She saw him standing there, above her, and held his hand gently, pulling him down onto the bed once more, her hands caressing the sides of his face as she uttered.

"I know no man in this realm who would ever give up an opportunity to wear a Crown, especially for a woman, even if it may be her niece," she said softly.

"I am not those men. I am Aenys Targaryen, the Healer Prince, husband to Alicent Hightower, father to Aenar Targaryen, and perhaps a few more," he iterated, his hand caressing her belly as he leaned closer, bringing their faces together. Her heart melted upon hearing her and their child's name.

"And those are titles enough for me; I hope they are enough for you, too," he said, and she nodded.

"Of course they are," she said as she kissed him deeply. Their lips met each other, their bodies inching closer as he pulled her in, and when they separated minutes later, she saw him smile as he uttered.

"You are very cruel, my lady," he teased, and she smiled as she shrugged.

"I don't know what you are talking about."

0000

CORLYS VELARYON

Corlys Velaryon sat in his solar reading about the latest happenings at court and the recent Royal visit to the Vale, and from what he read, he knew that they had lost the support of one whole kingdom.

Vale was already quite firmly entrenched into Rhaenyra's side over this succession crisis, given her heritage. How Daemon had scorned the Lady Rhea of House Royce, yet this visit had more or less confirmed that if a Council was called, they would get no support from the Vale.

Not only had Daemon humiliated the Vale lords, but the Princess and her supporter Prince Aenys had promised Royal Support to the Kingdom to deal with the pirates, a fact which he had hoped he would use to bargain with the Vale lords. Yet now, that opportunity was gone.

He had known that the battle for succession would not be easy, for he would not be facing the Princess in this battle. No, their opponent would be her biggest supporter and the one man Corlys felt could make this whole thing a mess.

Prince Aenys. As long as the Princess held his support, the battle would remain tilted in her favor. And as of yet, neither he nor Daemon had thought up a way to disrupt the man from her side.

"You have to see reason, father. This is a lost cause," his son implored as he paced frustratingly in the room. Laenor Velaryon, son of Corlys Vealryon and Rhaenys Targaryen, rider of a Seasmoke, heir to the throne of Driftmark, yet to him, he was a disappointment.

A massive disappointment.

The boy had his own blood, mixed with the blood of pure royalty in the form of his wife, yet he was not made to be King. No, he was a disappointment.

A sword swallower, one who refused to do his duty to his family and had forced him into this alliance with Daemon.

"Speak no more, boy," he said as Laenor came to a halt and glared at him.

"You and I both know what Daemon is. The whole realm knows. You cannot mean to marry Laena to someone like him; she doesn't wish to marry him; you will tear down this whole family like this," he implored, and Crolys frowned as he cut in scathingly.

"Do not speak to me of wishes, boy. She is my daughter, and she will do as I ask, and I only want what is best for this House and family," he challenged, and he was realizing that Laenor was not the best for this House, that he would need to make preparations for the coming times to secure the future of his House.

"And you think this is the best! Imprisoning their mother, marrying Laena to a madman, and joining Daemon in his lost cause. This is nothing but a tragedy. No one will support Daemon's bid for the Crown," he shouted, and Corlys waved it off, a small part of his heart telling him that his son spoke the truth, yet he ignored it as he continued.

"You don't know, men. The Lord will never let a woman rule. I came to learn that when the Council was called and the Lords overlooked your mother for Viserys, Daemon shall have the support for that simple reason. As for his actions and behavior, I shall be able to tame it," he said, and Laneor's eyes narrowed as he cut in.

"Was it really mother the lords denied all those years ago," he challenged, and Corly's temper flared as he brought his fist down on the table, rising to his feet in rage.

"Mind how you speak to me!" he shouted, and he saw Laenor flinch, yet the boy didn't back down as he looked him in the eye.

"You do know who sits behind Rhaenyra, right? Who her biggest supporter is?" he challenged, and of course he knew, and so did the Lords, and that was the whole damned problem.

"Aenys Targaryen, the man has more accolades than any man in history, his wealth, power, and influence unmatched. Do you really wish to make an enemy of him just because of your damned ego!" Laenor challenged.

His nostrils flared, and his face flushed as he replied.

"I plan to have him removed from her side," he told him, but Laenor raised a brow and shook his head.

"That is impossible. Aenys will never give up his support for Rhaenyra. And by supporting Daemon, you will make him an enemy, a man who has thwarted Prince Daemon at every turn until this point. He will not let Daemon take the throne, not as long as he lives," he challenged, and he waved him away.

"The what will you have me do boy! Huh, tell me! Do you not see why I do this, that you are the reason why I am forced into this!" he retorted in rage and saw Laenor frown.

"Me? What did I do?" he questioned and Corlys shook his head in disgust as he answered.

"It is about what you didn't do! You damned sword swallower!" he shouted and saw Laenor recoil at his words.

"I don't kn…"

"Keep your lies to yourself! The whole realm knows! Why do you think the Princess denied the match with you!" he challenged and saw him recoil at his words.

"So that is what this all is about!" he asked, and Corlsy waved his hand.

"Of course it is! I must ensure the future of this House now. Future that you have put into jeopardy," he said and saw him frown for a second.

"Then I will marry whomever you ask! But please stop this," and Corlys waved it away, snickering at this.

"It is too late now. I have made up my mind. Your sister shall marry. Daemon and I shall also choose an appropriate bride for you," he said, and Laenor's lips thinned.

"This will not end well," he said, and Corlys scoffed.

"I don't care, and you will do as I command. I am Corlys Velaryon. I built this whole place into what it is. I toiled for the fortune that you all enjoy, and now you shall do as I say!" he commanded and saw his son frown before he shook his head and walked out of the room, leaving him all alone.

0000

As always, you can read ahead and support me on Patreon. Your support helps me write this and other such stories. So, if possible, help me out by becoming a Patron. It would be pretty cool of you.

www.Patreon.com/Drkest

Have a fun day!

 

[Drkest]

Chapter 56

AENYS TARGARYEN

Aenys Targaryen sat in his solar, waiting for the upcoming meeting as he played around with a letter opener, as the castle entered the final phase of preparations for the upcoming nuptials of its heir and Princess.

The wedding had been pushed forward by two weeks to accommodate the lords, who were reaching the capital from all corners of the continent and hence had been brought to quite near the date of Daemon's prospective marriage.

And this was all by design, his design, to be more precise. He had now forced the lords to make their choice, for all those who would attend both of the marriages would simply be classified as enemies, and he would begin dealing with them as soon as possible.

But before bringing down the hammer, he wished to give them a warning, and the issue was that while Aenys wielded substantial power both inside and outside the court at the moment, he lacked the time and patience for it. He had little patience to shake hands, smile, and whisper in the ears of the lords, for they didn't deserve it.

And so he was set to meet a man quite well versed in this specific art.

And so when there was a small knock on the door of his solar, he stopped playing with the letter opener as he spoke up.

"Come in," and the door opened to reveal the form of the recently let go Hand of the King, Ser Otto Hightower.

Aenys had little desire to meet with the man he detested, yet even he wouldn't deny the usefulness of the man and hence had decided that it was time for him to convey a message.

"Come sit down," he said as he welcomed the older man and motioned for him to take the seat. He could tell from the man's expression that he was surprised by this whole setup.

The man sat down, and both of them stared at each other, eyes boring into each other until it was he who decided to break the silence.

"I believe you must be surprised by this rather sudden call," he began, and the man nodded.

"Indeed, I am," he replied with a frown, his lips thin as he continued.

"After all, both of us have rather long memories," he finished, and Aenys nodded. It was good enough that the man was a realist and held little hope of reconciliation between them.

"Good, then I will cut straight to the point so that we can end this rather quickly," he said, leaning forward. He looked the man in the eye.

"I know you were the one behind the support for me to take the throne instead of Rhaenyra," he cut straight to the point. Yet, to the man's credit, there was little shift in his countenance.

"There is no need to deny it," Aenys continued as the man didn't react at all.

"But I need you to stop that notion and nip that whole idea in the bud. I will not take the throne," he declared, and for the first time, the man's eyes shifted as his gaze narrowed.

"I was told rather recently that you had agreed to take the throne. What brings this change?" the man asked, not denying the earlier allegations, but what was there to deny he had done little but encourage the loose mouths of some nobles, which was hardly a crime, for he had only amplified the quiet voices slithering in court.

"I believe you have heard wrong then, and I can assure you I won't be happy if such notions aren't restrained; with the recent gatherings of the lord, they could get out of hand. So, put an end to them. Period!" Aenys ordered, and the man nodded, his eyes narrowed.

"I will see it done, though I assure you this idea will not die easily. Many a lord would much rather see a man sit on the throne, even if it be Daemon. If a council is called, this idea could cause much strife for the continent," and Aenys smiled as he continued.

"And that is one more thing for you to do," he began and saw the man frown as he finished.

"You are going to put an end to the notion that there even will be damned Council!" Aenys declared and saw the man's eyes widen momentarily before he realized just what he meant.

"Rhaenyra is the heir apparent and shall remain so without question, and all those who question that, disregard that will face the consequences, dire consequences for their actions," he finished and saw the man's lips thin.

"And you can quote me on that," he added with a smile as silence hung in the air until the man finally broke it.

"Many a lord will take offense to that, my Prince. Many. Compared to you, Prince Daemon boasts little to no support, but if it is against the Princess, I am afraid that the number rises considerably, not a majority per se, but it rises nonetheless," he said, and Aenys shrugged.

"So be it, but remind those fools that it is the House of the Dragon that rules over them and not the other way around. Rhaenyra shall be the Queen, and the sooner they accept that, the better. Otherwise, they shall be responsible for what happens afterward," he threatened them implicitly, believing the am to realize that there was no room for negotiations.

The man continued to look at him, a question in his gaze, until he finally worded it out.

"Why? I know that of a thousand men in your position, all thosuand would for the throne, yet you won't, why?" he finally asked and there was little need to say anymore.

Aenys leaned back in his chair as he looked the man in the eye.

"Because I am not those men. I am Aenys, son of Baelon, son Jaehaerys, and I need no throne or Crown to write my legacy!"

0000

RHAENYRA TARGARYEN

Rhaenyra Targaryen found herself back in the capital. The flight back had been uneventful, though halfway through her journey, she had been joined by Aenys, who had flown back to accompany her.

The Court had been reasonably surprised by the announcement of the Royal Support for Vale's campaign against piracy, with many lords understanding it for what it was.

A slap to the Velaryons, or more specifically, the Sea Snake, who had wished to haggle with the Crown using his naval prowess, yet in his rage and pride, the man had forgotten that he was not the only one with ships in this continent.

Still, the play had been made, and the wedding preparations had entered their final stage. Word about her pregnancy was being kept mum, and she had been able to hide it all perfectly under the cover of the news about Alicent's pregnancy.

She had also learned of the alteration between Aenys and Daemon and how the city was being purged from Daemon's loyalists, as the Rogue Prince had flown to his own lands of Stepstones, and she could hear the court whisper about the Rogue Prince as she would move past them.

Yet the biggest change she had noticed was the way the lords would look at her. The change had been gradual, for initially, they would see her as a child, a placeholder for the real heir, yet now it seemed as if word about Aenys's decision had permeated throughout the court and now they bowed to her rather enthusiastically as they walked past her in the halls and the corridors of the Red Keep.

Their gazes were humbled as they looked up to her, paying attention to her every move. And now, as the wedding finally approached, she found herself with some semblance of peace for the first time in weeks as she lay there in the Godswood beneath the Heart tree as she would as a child, with her childhood friend.

The same friend who sat beside her today as well, much older and changed, just as her flame-like hair let loose, as both of them basked in the Sun, just like old times.

"I cannot believe how time has passed," she began as she noticed the changes in Alicent's face, the childishness of it now gone, adopting a much more regal and mature look.

Had her face changed as well, she thought as Alicent nodded.

"Yes, sometimes it all feels so fleeting, for just a few years ago we both sat here..." she began, a small smile bubbling on her face as she pointed at her lap.

"....your head in my lap as we lamented about our lessons with the Septa and the Maester," she replied, and Rhaenyra nodded, the memories of those times still fresh in her mind.

"Indeed, I still recall that, and now you have a son, and I am set to marry in a few days," she replied, and Alicent's gaze softened.

"And then one day you shall sit on the Iron Throne as the first Queen to ever ascend the throne, for a person who only wished to fly on her dragon and eat cake, I believe that is quite a big achievement," she said reminding her of the heavy duty that now rested on her soldiers.

"I still

"The Iron Throne..." she whispered as she pushed raised her hand and saw it for how small it was, yet she knew the sheer amount of power she wielded through it. With each passing day the notion of her ascension had become clearer and clearer, as she was involved more and more in the day to day running of the realm, attending Council Meetings, making decisions as her father tried to rest.

Despite Aenys's efforts, his disease had refused to stop its progress and continued to eat away at him, though much of it was also because of her father's refusal to follow Aenys's commands, yet still, the affliction had now spread to his face, eating away at his skin slowly.

Sometimes, it seemed to her father had reigned himself to his fate, realizing that death was the eventuality, and it was much evident through his decisions as well, as he let her partake in the Council meetings and speak her mind, unlike he had ever done so before.

Her life had changed much over the years.

"When is Aenys set to return?" she questioned. Her uncle had flown to Braavos a week ago, citing how he had to take care of some things there.

"I don't know, but I believe he should be back by tonight, if not tomorrow," Alicent replied.

"Do you have any idea why he went there," she questioned, and she shook her head.

"Not much, he didn't elaborate, though it could be a number of reasons. There is so much to manage; after all, his whole empire is based in Braavos," she replied.

"And what of Daemon?" she asked, and the atmosphere shifted as the redhead's lips thinned, for that was the taboo word of the Red Keep, the treasonous Prince.

"Aenys has assured me that the wedding between Daemon and Laena will not happen, and he has refused to say more. I do not know what he is planning," she replied.

"Have there been any lords who have shown their true colors?" she questioned, for Alicent was more involved with this whole process than herself.

The redhead gave her a small nod.

"Yes, a few, no one major yet, though. We will have to see," she replied. Indeed, we will have to.

0000

Back in Driftmark days later, in the middle of the night as the docks would be filled with ships readying to leave for the Stepstones for the upcoming nuptials of Lady Laena, a man with a very simple face slid into the castle, his hair red and white, his eyes nondescript, as he vanished behind a tower only to emerge as Velaryon guard, with a changed face and eyes.

He would roam through the castle, which had been hollowed out as much of the men had departed for the Stepstones, and he roamed the Halls until he found himself infront of a very large door, behind which sat none other than the Queen who never was.

As the other guard joining him let his eyes shut, the man took out an envelope from his pocket and slid it down the door.

'Valar Morghulis'

0000

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A/N: I uploaded a new Dune fic on Dune. If you are interested have a look.

 

[Drkest]

Chapter 57

ALICENT HIGHTOWER

The whole castle was gleaming as the day of the marriage of the realm's only and most beloved Princess was in full swing, the capital of the continent bustling with activity as lords, small and large, gathered from all parts of the continent to celebrate the union of two great Houses.

And most of it was because of her. She had toiled for weeks to make it all happen, and all the usual responsibilities of a Queen had fallen on her as the Princess couldn't be burdened with making arrangements for her own wedding.

It was tiresome and back-breaking work, though she would do it all over again for the sight in front of her as Rhaenyra sat in front of a massive Myrish mirror clad in her wedding dress.

Made out of the finest red silk, embroidered with rubies and gold thread, the three-headed dragon adorned the front, made with small delicate blood-red rubies that glittered in the light.

Her hair was braided elaborately in a small bun, and she wore a crown rather than a traditional tiara. The dress had a cut in the middle, showing her glistening skin, as her eyes looked at her reflection somewhat nervously.

"The rumors don't do your beauty justice, Princess," a very familiar voice that she hadn't heard in a long time cut in from the side as the wife of the Sea lord gushed over Rhaenyra, making the Princess smile.

Blair had arrived a few days ago, along with an entourage from Braavos, to attend the wedding, something which had been a surprise to her.

She was dressed in the traditional Braavosi color of purple, which, for some reason, matched Rhaenyra's eyes quite aesthetically.

"This isn't the first time you have seen her, Blair," she added as she stepped forward.

"I know, but I have never seen her dressed for marriage. This is something else," she gasped out as Alicent smiled, it was just like her to integrate herself into a social setting so quickly. Outside, the woman was a symbol of regality and nobility, yet here, with her acquaintances, she was a breath of fresh air.

"You do look lovely, Rhaenyra," she said as well, who smiled at her words.

"Thank you, though you look rather lovely as well," she remarked, complimenting her dress which had been designed by Antonie, who had arrived a week ago on Aenys's orders. Her designer from Braavos had come all the way just for her at Aenys's command, and so Alicent found herself dressed in a green gown with a slit in the middle, made of green and red silk, embroidered with emeralds and silvery thread.

The gown seemed heavy at the initial look but was made to be quite comfortable at Aenys's command to ease her, though there was always a small sense of discomfort with such elaborate clothes.

A small knock on the door interrupted their talk as she asked.

"Who is it?" and the answer came quickly.

"It is me, Aenys," she said, and she saw Rhaenyra smile as she was quick to answer.

"Come in," and the door swung open delicately as her husband entered the room, clad in a red and black gown, much similar to the one he had worn on her own wedding day. He entered the room, a smile on his face as he gave Blair a small bow.

"It is good to see you feeling at home, my lady. I hope everything has been fine," said the woman, smiling.

"Ohh, it has been perfect. I was missing your lady wife quite a bit," Blair replied, bubbling with excitement, as Aenys stepped forward. She didn't miss how his hands were tied back, concealing something from them.

His eyes then moved towards her, the spark in them igniting as their eyes met, as he took her hand and kissed it gently.

"You look lovely, as always," he complimented her, and she blushed at the note. Even years after their marriage, he still had the ability to make her feel special.

"You seem to be forgetting whose wedding it is," Rhaenyra cut in from the side, making him turn towards her with a smile.

"I can assure you I am not," he said as he dropped down and gave Rhaenyra a small kiss on her forehead.

"How could anyone forget you, Princess," he said, and Rhaenyra smiled. And she saw that he was holding a lean rectangular box behind him, and she had an inkling just what it might carry.

"Regretting marrying so early now, are we?" she continued, gasping out as Aenys looked at her and shook his head.

"As beautiful as you are, you still didn't see our wife on her wedding day," he replied, rekindling an old memory inside her as she recalled that fateful day.

The day may have ended in a tragedy, yet until then, it had been perfect. Much as her life had been since she had put her trust in the man in front of her on Dragonstone all those years ago.

"Ohh, so you are saying she looked prettier than me," Rhaenyra challenged jollily, and before he could answer, she decided to cut in.

"No, he is lying," she began as she pinched Aenys's arm and gave him a quick glare.

"In comparison to you, it was nothing," she replied.

"Now she is lying. She did look pretty good. But this debate can happen another time, I need to talk to you," Aenys began as he kneeled down and turned the chair towards himself, making Rhaenyra look at him.

"You will receive many gifts today from the various lords, but before them all, I wished to give you a gift of my own," he began.

"There is no need for that, Aenys," Rhaenyra said softly as she held his hand.

"You have done enough for me," she said, and she could tell that she meant it, but Aenys just shook his head.

"Nah, this is necessary," he began as Blair joined her by the side, intrigue visible on her face as well as Aenys put down the box and opened it.

"For years now, every Targaryen King has carried with him a Valyrian Steel sword, and they train themselves with it, some more than others, but ever King since Aegon has wielded Blackfyre, a Valyrian steel blade to highlight their status," he began as Blair gasped from the side as he removed a small object from the box, it was thin, very thin, and the way he held it told her that it was light as well, made out in style similar to the blade he carried himself, crafted similar to a blade wielded by water dancers of Braavos.

"Though I don't believe a long sword such as Blackfyre would suit a Queen much, so I present to you a Valyrian steel sword of your own," he said, and she saw Rhaenyra's eyes widen as he presented the blade to her.

"This is..." Rhaenyra was at a loss for words, and now his recent week-long trip to Braavos made sense, as she realized just what he was doing there.

"I hope you never have to use it, but in case you do, this shall serve you well," he said as Rhaenyra picked up the blade with a single hand.

"It's very light," she gasped.

"Yes, it is, but it will cut through steel armor nonetheless," Aenys replied, and she noticed the elaborate circular hilt and the rubies hammered into it. The blade was a thing of art.

"Does it have a name?" Rhaenyra asked.

"Queenmaker!"

0000

LADY JEYNE ARRYN

The Lady of the Vale strode through the great Sept as the lords gathered for the exchange of vows, the wedding arrangements had been impeccable until then with the whole city decorated for this festive occasion with celebrations set to continue for a week.

Her journey to the capital had been somewhat hurried, for after the Iron Throne's support for their campaign against piracy, Vale had to show subservience and support to the throne, especially in such a political climate.

And she quite enjoyed the shift. She hadn't been to court in years now, though, from the people that were present, the atmosphere had shifted rather greatly in the weeks leading up to the wedding, especially after the return of Prince Aenys and Princess Rhaenyra from her kingdom.

The change in atmosphere was palpable, and there was a hint of tension and aggression in the air as the lords mingled with lords and discussed the word of Prince Aenys, lending the Princess his full support so she may ascend the throne.

They were surprised and perplexed, for with the declaration had come a subtle threat as well, to all the Lords to get in line. Some had taken it for what it was, while others more prouder and sterner men called it an insult and had shifted their sides, with retinues leaving for Stepstones from the Riverlands and some ports of the Reach as well, hence insulting Prince Aenys and Princess Rhaenyra openly.

Fools! She would call them all of them. But they would answer for their crimes on their own.

Right now, the mood was festive, and she had finally found the person she had been looking for.

Dressed in a green gown of silk embroidered with emeralds and silver thread, a matching tiara adorned her fiery red hair, which was braided to perfection. It was the only person she envied amongst those present in the Halls, the Lady Alicent Hightower, the Lady wife of Prince Aenys.

"Greetings, my lady," she began as she greeted the red head who seemed to be somewhat nervous as she continuously glanced at the sept's gates and the stage while looking around the Hall nervously as well.

Her head snapped towards her at her calling, and the Hightower woman gave her a small bow as she smiled.

"Lady Jeyne, it is good to see you," she replied in a small voice that seemed pretty genuine and loving.

The years had transformed the Hightower lady from a beautiful child to a magnificent woman. She had grown taller still and seemed much more sure and content with herself as they both stood at the head of the throng of lords and ladies waiting for the bride.

"Everything has been rather magnificent, and I am told that you are the person to thank for managing this all," she began; it was also the reason they hadn't been able to meet earlier, for the red-haired woman had been too busy making arrangements for the wedding and receiving guests.

"Thank you for the compliments, my lady. I hope it has been all to your satisfaction," continued Lady Alicent as Jeyne found herself mesmerized by her more and more.

"Prince Aenys is quite a lucky man," she blurted out and saw the reddish brown-haired woman blink owlishly at her words as she questioned.

"What do you mean, my lady?" she asked, a bit of heat leaking into her tone as she quickly made to clarify.

"I meant that Prince Aenys is quite lucky to have a wife as beautiful as you," she complimented her, and she blushed as she continued.

"I had rumors, of course, but they don't do you justice, my lady," and the redhead woman was quick to praise.

"You exaggerate, my lady. I am nothing in comparison to the fabled Blue Jeyne of the Vale, she said. Jeyne smiled, and before she could reply, they were interrupted by a very familiar voice.

"It seems you have finally found yourself a new prey, my lady," Prince Aenys's voice cut in as the man appeared from behind his lady wife and raised a brow at her.

"Aenys," the woman turned and called out, her tone much softer like a nightingale, and she didn't miss how the woman's eyes literally lit up as Aenys appeared.

"Ohh, I have, and had you given me more time, I might even have succeeded," she challenged as she gave the Prince a small bow.

"Where is Rhaenyra? She was set to come out by now," Alicent asked as the Prince replied.

"She will be here. Viserys wished to walk with her himself; I was just seeing to that and all," he replied smoothly as Lady Alicent nodded, and then the herald blew a horn, and the Hall quieted down.

The Septas on the stage began to play their harps as the massive sept doors were swung open to reveal the lady of the Hour.

Princess and heir apparent to the throne, Rhaenyra Targaryen.

Her cousin looked absolutely magnificent; her red gown gleamed in the Sunlight, her skin shining, her head held high, the crown atop her head, and her eyes widened as they landed on her belt tied to her waist with an elaborate red belt was a blade.

An ornate sheathed blade.

The King beside her seemed happy as well, a smile on his face even though she could see his illness had weakened him as he walked by his daughter with a stick, one of the arms of his doublet folded for the arm he had lost to the illness.

The sound of their steps the only sound was the only sound that reverberated across the Sept as they walked to the platform slowly. The wedding proceedings began under nearly a thousand banners, and if one were to look closely, one would find many missing from them, yet the most prominent one was the one of a Sea Horse on a green field.

The banner of House Velaryon.

0000

Battle lines are drawn!

As always, you can read ahead and support me on Patreon. Your support helps me write this and other such stories. So, consider helping me out by becoming a Patron. It would be pretty awesome of you.

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[Drkest]

Chapter 58

ALICENT HIGHTOWER

Alicent found herself sitting inside the Royal Booth once more, haunted by the memories of the place just from the debacle that had taken place infront of her a few moons ago, as the sounds of metal clashing against metal and knights screaming in pain and agony, roared through the air.

The wedding festivities of Princess Rhaenyra's were coming to a close as the final day of the Tourney approached. The Seven day tournament was set to come to a close, and though the ground cheered and celebrated as men savaged each other Alicent couldn't help but feel anxious.

An ominous feeling built up in her gut as she sat there beside the newlywed, scratching at her thumb as she would in her youth.

"What worries you, my lady?" another voice interrupted her racing mind, forcing her to look up as she found the Lady of the Vale beside her, much like she would during this whole week, the brown-haired Maiden of the Vale had decided to stick herself by her side, throughout her visit, something which she didn't mind if she didn't continuously hint at wishing to take her to her bed.

She was aware of the woman's preference for the same gender and didn't judge her for it, and though she found her very flattered by her interest, she couldn't find it in herself to succumb to such temptations, no matter how tempting they had once seemed.

"Nothing, my lady," she replied with a smile, a lie, which the woman was quick to catch on.

Besides her interest in her, the maiden of the Vale was a good conversational partner, her political acumen amongst the highest in the realm, and she found herself to be a rather sharp-witted person, highlighted by her next words as the woman's hands reached for hers, stopping her from scratching her thumb.

"I would believe you if you hadn't made a mess of your beautiful appendage," she said as she raised it up and blew on it gently. Her soft hands caressed the reddened skin as she shook her head.

"I had hoped that in the week we have been together, you must have come to see me as a friend at least," she complained in a hurtful tone as Alicent shook her head.

"Of course, I consider you a friend, my lady," she quickly replied as she smiled, indulgently leaning forward.

"Then tell me what worries you?" she questioned again, and her lips thinned as she finally spoke up and divulged in her.

"It's about Aenys," she began and saw the Lady's eyes narrow.

"Aenys, the Prince," she began and she could see her mind racing as her eyes wondered throughout the booth.

"Though where exactly is the Prince, I believe I haven't seen him since the ball last night," she began.

"He is not here. He left early in the morning in a hurry and flew away on his dragon," she told her and saw her eyes narrow, those blue orbs narrowing as her mind raced.

And then she saw them widen, as her hands stiffened.

"Today is..." she gasped out, and Alicent realized that she had realized just what today was.

"Yes, today is also the wedding day of Prince Daemon and Lady Lanea," she finished in a whisper and saw the Lady of the Vale bob her head.

"Yes, I remember hearing about it as well, yet for some reason, because of the ongoing festivities, it escaped my mind," she gasped out.

"Yes, though I must say you aren't the only one," she replied as she looked around the booth and then into the stands where the various lords sat cheering on as Ser Criston Cole of the Kingsguard swung his morning star and finished off another one of his opponents.

"The whole city behaves as if they have forgotten about it. Everyone has been mum on it as if pretending to ignore it all even though the tension is enough that I can almost touch it," Alicent began, and the answer came rather quickly.

"Of course, they are like that," and her head snapped towards the blue-eyed woman with a frown, not getting her point as she continued.

"I am afraid you have missed the message, though I am not surprised. After all, you were never the designated audience for it," she began, making her frown.

"What are you talking about?" she questioned as Lady Jeyne turned away from her and looked towards the stands, where the other lords sat.

"A message was sent to the lords, not in the writing of course, but the intent was made quite clear from Aenys's side, that there was no more dilly-dallying, that there would be no more what ifs and what not. The lords were made to make a choice or suffer consequences," she said as she turned towards her.

"Dire consequences!" and her eyes widened as she realized the intent behind all this.

"So, that means..."

"Yes, the lords don't speak a word, for they have chosen their side, and the rest well...." her voice dipped down as the crowd cheered for the victory of Ser Criston Cole.

"...may the Gods have mercy on them!"

And then it happened, and her heart nearly sunk down as she heard the sound of a dragon's screeching roar, one filled with pain agony and terror, as the noise died down and she prayed, she prayed to any God that may listen to her.

'Please keep him safe!'

0000

LAENOR VELARYON

Laenor Vealryon was the scion and heir of an empire that could count its history to times before the Doom of Valyria. Born into a house with such history, into times which many called the most prosperous age of their House, would be considered a blessing by many.

Yet it was not all that simple. Though maybe once it had been. And not so many years ago, yet even then there had always been a certain hint of tension looming over him and his family. The shadow of the Great Council, hung over them all, an insult, a choice made by the Great Lords of the realm that loomed over the ancient House's reputation.

And just as the scar from that perceived insult was set to heal, they were denied once more as the King on the throne would reject a match between their two houses. For him, and his sister it was a blessing, he had little interest in Courtly politics, and grandeur and knew that neither did Laena who had become tamer after her brush with death yet still harboured that desire and yearning for adventure.

Yet it was an insult too much for his father. For the famous Corlys Vealryon, the man who had ventured into the Sea and enriched their once-impoverished House, the denial of the match was an insult to many. His pride, once wounded by the decision of the Great Council, couldn't take another bruise, and so he found himself in the Stepstones, on the greatest island with a hotchpotch of gathered lords and knights as they sat there seated for a wedding.

The mood was sombre, the gathered lords numbered few, much less than the ones that had gathered in the capital few weeks prior for the wedding of Princess Rhaenyra, he could tell his father was affected by that yet the man was too proud to show it, too proud to rectify his mistake.

They sat under the open sky by the shores as the castle around was yet to be finished. Massive tents had been set up for the occasion, and the wedding was set to take place in an event in terms of Targaryen and Velaryon traditions.

"The Prince seems happy," Joffrey commented from the side, as they sat on the table towards the side; as the cause of all this distress and disturbance, the Rogue Prince joked and japed with his lickspittles in the centre.

"I don't think so," he added as he didn't miss how his eyes would dart across the gathering,taking account of those gathered, going over the sigils, and from the short twitch in his fingers, he could tell he was disappointed and insulted.

"Maybe you are right," Joffrey added once as his blue eyes focused on the Prince.

"The mood is absolutely killing, it looks nothing like a wedding," he added and Laenor's fists balled up.

"Because it is not one, it's a mistake, a Seven damned mistake," he said through gritted teeth as his dear friend's eyes turned towards him.

"Your sister is marrying a Prince and is set to be a Queen. And you call this a mistake?" he teased, and Laenor should have been offended, and he was, yet not at the man but at his dear friend's innocence.

How sweet and innocent of him. Yet Lonmouth had ever only focused on him, and even now his fingers wrapped around his as their eyes met, yet Laenor could feel none of the love and affection bubble inside him.

It's your fault. A voice rang inside him. All your fault.

And it lingered on until he couldn't take it as he pulled back his hand, surprising Joffrey, and pushed back his chair.

"I have to go," he said as he rounded off and saw Joffrey's hurt expression.

"What happened, Laenor? Is it something...." but he couldn't listen as he rounded off and began to walk away. He didn't miss the lingering gazes of the lords and the Prince as he walked out of the massive tent. He would get an earful for it from his father later but damn it all.

And damn him as well.

This was not a wedding, it was a funeral of their family, yet the man seemed blind to it like a damned fool.

All your fault! All your fault!

The whispers continued to linger as he came to a halt outside the tent, breathing hard as he let the cool air from the shore wash over him.

All your fault! All your fault!

And it all truly was. If he wasn't the way he was, this wouldn't have happened. It wouldn't have been his sister who would have had to make the sacrifice. His family could still have been together.

It truly was his fault. It truly was. Only if they hadn't gotten caught that night, only if he still had Seasmoke with him rather than it being locked somewhere on High Tide. Yet it was all futile now, futil...

"Brother," a sweet voice interrupted his inner ramblings and his snapped back as he found his sister standing there, dressed in a fine Gown of their House colors her unruly hair braded into the shape of a crown decorated with blue glowing gems.

"Laena," he called out as their eyes met, hers swollen and sombre much like his own, and it broke him as he stared into them.

They both stood there face to face, him lost for words until she spoke up once more, this time to her lady in waiting.

"Leave us," she said, and with her whisper, the horde of ladies surrounding her curtsied and dithered away leaving him alone with her for the first time since that night all those moons ago.

"I am sorry," were the first words that came out of his mouth as his gaze lowered, his fists balling up at his own helplessness.

She should have slapped him, shouted at him as she inched closer and despite his wishes wrapped her arms around him and enveloped him in a hug.

"You dint have to be," she whispered as his lips quivered, her voice soft and warmth, yet it filled him further with guilt.

"But I do," he said as he pushed her way.

"If only I were normal and not this abomination, all this could have been..." he began, but she cut her off.

"It doesn't matter, little brother," she cut in as she cupped his face.

"You have nothing to be sorry for. You are blameless for this. We both are," she said as she looked to the side and towards their father, who sat beside the Prince and conversed with a few lords.

"Moreover, I am yet to walk down that isle," she said and he didn't miss how her eyes narrowed at those words, and her face hardened.

It was defiance.

"What do you mean?" he questioned, and then she looked him in the eye, and he believed he saw a semblance of mischief in her eyes, similar to when she would decide to prank the staff at High Tide in their youth, as she answered.

"You will see."

And before he could pester her to elaborate, the whole gathering was disturbed by a deafening roar.

ROARRR!

It was pretty common, though, for Prince Daemon's Ceraxes to roosted on the island as well. Yet this roar was different as he looked into the sky. Many had not recognised it, yet he had. For he had grown up hearing it all his childhood.

And then he watched as a figure descended on the island, blocking the Sun and casting a shadow over them as it flew right over them, roaring once more with all its might.

"ROAR!" the island shook as the guests began to rush out, recognizing the disturbance, led by his father, who seemed to have paled a bit at the Dragon's coloring.

For he would have recognized that roar as well.

The massive dragon circled them once before it crashed down onto the hard island surface right in front of them, acting as a wall between them and their father.

Murmurs began to bubble amongst the crowd as they recognised the glorious Red Queen, Melees for they had been told that the Princess was in no state to travel for the wedding owing to an illness.

Yet here was Meleys, the Red Queen, with its rider atop it. The Queen Who Never Was, and she was not dressed for a wedding.

She was dressed for war.

She saw him glance towards them, her gaze softening slightly at the sight of two of them.

"My dear wife," the voice of their father rang out, and he saw her expression shift. Gone was the care and her face became cold as ice as she turned away from them and looked towards the infamous Lord Corlys Velaryon and snarled.

"YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO CALL ME THAT!"

And it was as if her dragon understood her emotions as it opened its giant of a maw and snarled once more, bellowing out a deafening roar that shook the whole island.

"What is the meaning of this cousin Rhaenys?" came another voice, this one much more dreadful and icy, as Prince Daemon stepped forward from the crowd, flushed and enraged.

0000

Read ahead and support me on Patreon. By becoming a Patron, you can help me write this and other such stories. It would be pretty cool of you and would help me out quite a bit.

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Have an awesome day!

~AND NOW IT BEGINS!~

 

[Drkest]

Chapter 59

RHAENYS TARGARYEN

Rhaenys Targaryen had thought that losing the crown to her cousin had been nothing much as long as she was able to keep her family together. Ever since the day she had first held her daughter in her hands, the crown had become meaningless to her. Her children and her family had become the things she cherished the most.

That is why the decision of the Council had hurt her, yet she had been able to move on, ignoring the subtle glances and the ridicule, for she didn't care.

Yet now the thing she had cherished the most was in jeopardy, put into danger by her own lord husband. And she would not let this go, and now she would fight. She would protect them, even if it was from her own husband.

"What is the meaning of this, cousin Rhaenys," came the cockish and grating voice of Daemon, who walked to the front of the crowd. The very sight of enraged her and she pulled on Meleys reins, as she opened her mouth.

"Do not call me that," she snarled as she saw Corlys tense beside him. The man's actions had truly broken her heart. And even now, despite everything, despite a whole dragon staring down at him, he refused to see reason as he stood there beside the cunt that was her cousin, smugly.

"Is that any way to address your King and good son?" he shouted as his eyes narrowed, and she chuckled as she shouted.

"You are no King, and you would have to walk over my dead body before I let you anywhere near my daughter, you vermin!" she shouted.

"Rhaenys!" Corlys shouted, and she pulled the reins as Meleys turned to face him.

"And you! For the children that I bore, don't tempt me anymore, Corlys. I grow tired of your stupidity," she shouted as his nostrils flared up.

"I am my brother's one true heir to the Iron Throne, the conqueror of Stepstones. Be mindful of how you speak to me on my own lands," Daemon shouted, and she scoffed.

"The heir, you are no heir," she said as she decided to end his delusion.

"Look around you and see for yourself. Open your damned eyes and truly see around you," she spoke, trying to make him see reason as she told him the truth that the lickspittles around him were too afraid to say.

"You have no support. All those who gather around you are those who seek to further their own greedy ambitions or those or those who wish to use you for their own gain," she said and saw many of the lords all around appear appalled at her words.

"I am the eldest male heir, the true heir to my brother. All those who deny my claim are..."

"You have no claim!" she shouted as Meleys roared, emulating her rage.

"Your brother has declared Rhaenyra as the heir. The realm has not yet forgotten the times of Maegor, and we shall not let another Maegor sit atop the throne! You have no right, no claim. The whole realm denies it, the lords in their castles deny it, children in their mothers' crib deny it," she uttered.

"Your own brother denies it. Your own cousins deny it. Everyone denies it," she said. Daemon was flushed in rage.

She turned away from him and at her two children.

"Come here," she said to them as both of them began to climb up the saddle, as Meleys lowered herself, to allow them to mount her. Riding with two persons would not be comfortable or easy for the saddle was designed for only two persons. Yet they would manage.

She ahd tried to get Seasmoke to follow her, yet her son's dragon was disturbed by his rider's absence and refused to budge. So she was forced to come here alone, yet she was enough by herself for this lot.

"You cannot do this. They are my children as well. I command you to end this farce and beg forgiveness from your true King," Crolys shouted, her head snapped towards him, regret and loathing erupting in her heart as she saw him froth at her in his rage.

'Was this what the lords saw when they denied her all those years ago? Had she been truly blind to him'

"You may have lost your mind, Corlys," she said, seeing his eyes widen at her words.

"But I still carry my senses with me," she defied him. His eyes narrowed as he waved violently.

"You are making a mistake! I will disown you, strip away my name from you and both of them! They shall have nothing of mine! NOTHING!" he shouted, and she felt Laena stiffen behind her. It broke her heart as she heard him utter those words.

The many gathered lords seemed appalled by those words as well, as whispers began to bubble. She felt eyes glance between herself and Corlys, and a smirk appeared on Daemon's face.

"I am your lord husband! You are beholden to me! Stop this madness, or I shall take away my name from you and both of them!" Corlys continued, perhaps taking her silence as a sign of weakness.

Hearing that tore her heart apart, and she closed her eyes as her fists around the reins tightened, and she felt blood drip down as she steeled her heart.

"Then take them away," her voice rang out across the clearing, ending the whispers as Corlys's eyes widened at her words.

The lords also gaped at her.

"I am Rhaenys Targaryen, daughter of Aegon Targaryen, son of Jaegaerys, son of Aenys. I am the daughter of the line of Kings. My name and blood are enough for me and my children. We need nothing from you. You have made your declaration," she replied resolutely, even as she felt her vision blur slightly. For this all meant one thing. Annulment and the way he stiffened was not lost on him.

Her voice didn't quiver as she finished.

"The missive will reach your halls soon," she said, pulling on the reins. Meleys turned at her command with a growl, and it began to swing its massive wings.

"You, Daemon, are a cur! One who destroys and ruins everything he touches! You are a disgrace to your own name and blood! You aren't half the man you think you are. You will never wear the crown. Never, and it is better you realize that soon enough," with those final words, she looked ahead as she smashed her whip into the ground once more.

"Meleys. Soves!"

And then, with a few steps, she was in the air once more, with her children behind her as Laena's grip tightened around her torso.

"I am sorry," her daughter apologized, her voice quivering in the wind as she shook her head and assured her.

"Why? You bear no blame for your father's actions," she said to her as Laenor's voice cut in.

"He is no father of mine," he said, sounding enraged, and she would have chastised him for those words once. Yet she didn't have the heart to do so now, for he was right.

"Then so be it. You carry my blood as well. The blood of Kings. You shall want for nothing as Targaryen's," she said as her dragon tore through the skies as they rushed towards the capital.

And it had only been a few minutes since they had taken to the skies when the sound of a massive roar interrupted her.

"ROAR!" this one was much more feral than one of her own Meleys, and it came from behind her.

Dread pooled in her heart as she turned back and found the hulking figure of Ceraxes rushing towards her, with Daemon atop it.

Even in the air, her eyes met her cousin's, and the rage and madness in them was palpable as the Blood Wyrm opened its maw once again, gleaming an ominous red.

"Mother!" Laena and Laenor called worriedly as she saw Daemon's lips move.

'Dracarys' and her heart thumped as a torrent of fire erupted from its maw, heading straight at them.

"Hold on!" she shouted as she pulled in the reins, making Meleys roar as it lowered itself, yet even then, the fire touched its tail, making it shriek in agony as it lowered itself.

Riding with three people, she had to be careful lest one of them may fall. Taking advantage of this, Daemon was right above them again, and she saw him smiling as his dragon roared once more and slashed its tail at Meleys. Thankfully, she was able to avoid it.

"Have you lost your mind!" she shouted.

"NO! Maybe I have just begun to see things clearly," she heard him shout back as he rode behind her, chasing after her, his dragon inching closer with every passing second.

"You were night! No one shall give me my right! So I shall take it from them! By force! DRACARS!" he shouted once more as Ceraxes opened its maw once more, and she held onto her dragon's reins.

"Hold tight!" she shouted as Laena's arms around her tightened.

Though before the torrent of fire could envelop them, another roar erupted from the skies, and she looked up at the source and found a torrent of fire right above her as a third dragon joined them in the skies.

This one had scales that matched the sky in its coloring, its eyes blue, and its fire a torrent of illuminating blue.

Aenys was here.

0000

AENYS TARGARYEN

"Dracarys!" he shouted as Grey Ghost let out a torrent of flame, catching Daemon off guard.

Aenys had feared that such a thing could happen. Daemon lashing out was not beyond the realm of possibilities and had warned Rhaenys as such when he had helped free her from her prison at High Tide.

He had offered to follow her, yet she had denied him, citing that this was her battle and she could do without.

Yet the fear had lingered on and so after some contemplation he had decided to ignore her request and had mounted the saddle once more and had taken to the skies. And bless the Gods for he had.

"Ceraxes!" he heard Daemon shout as the fire enveloped him, yet suddenly, the Blood Wyrm roared in agony as it pushed itself up straight into Grey Ghost.

His dragon was able to avoid the red dragon's maw as they became entangled with one another, trying to bite off one another as they barrelled down towards land below.

There was no time to give commands as the two beasts remained entangled with one another, trying to bite off the other's head, and Aenys held onto the saddle for dear life as Ceraxes maw bit down literally inches from his face, yet he had to trust in his dragon.

Trust in him as it found its mark, tore through Ceraxxes shoulder, and pushed it away, yet it was too late as they hit the ground with much force, and he was thrown off the saddle.

"ARGH!" he grunted in the air as Ceraxes rolled away. Though Grey Ghost cushioned his fall with his wing as they rolled off the ground once before he slid himself to a halt, the fall had taken a toll on him as he found his vision blurry as pain erupted him from all parts of his body.

"AGHH!" he groaned painfully as he struggled back to his feet.

"ROAR!" it was ferocious and shook the whole island as his vision began to steady up. The pain was too much, yet he fought through it as he pushed himself off of the rugged ground, and stood up to find a face much like his own struggling to stand straight, a few yards infront.

"YOU!" he heard him shout as he stumbled once more; he was covered in blood on one side, much like the face of his own dragon, which stood at his back as Daemon struggled to stand up.

Grey Ghost's face was reddened with blood, as it opened its maw and spew the piece of flesh it had torn off the Blood Wyrm as it shook the whole clearing with a deafening roar.

"IT IS ALWAYS YOU!" Daemon shouted as he pointed at him. As if mimicking his actions, his dragon, Ceraxes, rose up behind him, bloodied and angry as the Blood Wyrm twisted its neck and snarled in rage, letting out a torrent of fire as he crept up behind Daemon.

"YOU TOOK EVERYTHING FROM ME! EVERYTHING!" Daemon shouted, stumbling forward as he glared at him.

"I did nothing but what was right. It was you who has gotten too drunk on this fever of self-importance," Aenys replied as Grey Ghost inched forward, arching his head over him, snarling threateningly at the bleeding form of Ceraxes.

"YOU CURR! YOU CONTINUE ON WITH THIS HOLIER-THAN-THOU ACT OF YOURS! I SHOULD HAVE KILLED YOU THE DAY YOU TOOK AWAY, OUR MOTHER FROM US, YOU MONSTER!" he said as he took out his blade. Dark sister gleamed as if it was filled with its wielder's rage.

"But no more! This all ends today! You and me! As it should have a year ago! Let me finish what even Vhagar itself couldn't do," he shouted. Glancing at his brother's maddened state, he realized that this was it.

"The world may try and deny me my birthright! But I shall not forget! Not me!" Daemon continued, not hiding his intentions, intentions which he had known of for some time.

"I will have it all! All of it, even if I have to claw it all back piece by piece!" he shouted, and Aenys realized that this was it. That there was no other way except one.

Murder!

He had been prepared for this, of course. He had been prepared for some time now. A small breeze blew through the air as if to cool down the erupting flames in his heart.

His heart thumped heavily as he felt his hand reach for his blade. The breeze calmed him down somewhat, for this was not a spar in the yard. No, this was a battle.

A battle to the death!

Daemon was his brother. They had not always gotten along, yet he still shared his blood. And though he may value it little, to Aenys, it meant something. It always had.

Over the years, the pride and familial bond had been eroded slowly and slowly until today, when he knew in his heart that if he were to bring out the blade today, it would be for the final time.

Only one would walk away from this.

As an image of his pregnant wife and his son flashed through his mind, he steeled his heart as he took out his own blade and steadied his heart for the cruelty he was about to dole out for the murder he was about to commit.

For since it had come to this. He would see it through.

"Then let it be. Come, let us end this once and for all," he snarled as Daemon's nostrils flared up before the man broke out into a stride, mimicked by himself as he put one foot in front of another, his eyes focused on Daemon as two massive roars erupted from behind him.

"ROARR!" "ROARRR!"

The two dragons followed their riders as they crept over the ground, snarling in rage as they rushed to kill the other one.

Much like their riders.

~And so, the dragons danced~

~For one last time~

~Or so we thought!~

0000

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[Drkest]

Chapter 60

AENYS TARGARYEN

The little island of land was filled with tension, the air filled with the smell of blood, fire, and the sea. The waves washed on the shore with all their might, much like the two of them.

Daemon's sword sang through the air. Darksister blurred through the air, aimed at his neck. He ground his feet on the rugged ground and swung at the incoming sword.

The swords met in the air, sending sparks flying, as they stared into each other's eyes, and Daemon's eyes seemed to be full of hatred and rage. His face flushed as the very air erupted, as their dragons met each other, clashing into one another with all their might, sending tremors throughout the land.

Their blades separated as Aenys tried to push Daemon back. Daemon sidestepped his advance and tried to kick him in the side, but Aenys blocked the kick with his arm as their dance began once more.

The air was filled with the sounds of dragon roars and clashes of valyrian steel, and he could feel his dragon's agony and rage. Yet he knew he could not underestimate Daemon. A single glance away from him could end his life, so even as the pained cries of a dragon filled the air, his heart sinking with each such cry, he parried another one of Daemon's strikes and watched him grit his teeth in frustration.

"AGHHH!" Daemon shouted as Aenys stepped back, and Dameon's blade cut through the stony ground.

"You should have died that day on Dragonstone. None of this would have happened then. You. YOU DESTROYED EVERYTHING!" he hurled accusations at him.

"I did nothing. All of this is your own doing. Do not blame me for it," Aenys snarled as he kicked at Daemon's arm. His brother grunted in pain yet held onto his blade, and instead of backing away, he leaned in and struck him with his head.

"ARGH!" Aenys grunted in pain as he was pushed back, ducking down to avoid Daemon's wild slash, yet he felt the blade tear through the skin of his arm as a searing pain ripped through him.

"DIE!" Daemon shouted as the cry of his dragon nearly shattered his heart.

He ducked under Daemon's swing, and just before he could react, Aenys kicked him in the leg, making him scream in pain. He moved to his side, yet in a display of inhuman dexterity, Daemon reversed his grip on the blade and swung it back straight at him.

"ARGHH!" Aenys jumped back, yet the blade cut through his abdominal skin, leaving a bleeding gnash over it.

Aenys was in pain, yet as was Daemon, we now limped on as he glared at him.

Aenys glanced at the dragon's behind, and his heart tore up as he saw the bloodied form of his Grey Ghost locked in battle with Ceraxes. The red dragon's wing had been torn up, and it bled away, hurling its fire everywhere, though his own dragon bled away from its face, which had large claw marks on it.

"AGHHHH!" but his distraction cost him, as Daemon's blade one more came down at him, yet he backed away and watched it cut through stone as he shouted off.

"Let me end you, you bastard! You usurper!" he shouted as the dance of blades began once more, strike and parry. Despite the limp, Daemon's strikes were ferocious, and the cut on his abdomen seared in pain with every movement as Aenys parried Daemon's strike.

"I am no usurper. The crown is Rhaenyra's. You have no right over it!"

"The Crown is mine!" he shouted again as their blades locked with one another.

"By the laws of God, it is mine! It is you who has corrupted her, corrupted Viserys, corrupted everyone! YOU! I WILL END YOU!" he shouted, yet Aenys did not let him finish as he hit him with his head, sending him tumbling back.

"You have tried and failed many times! Just as you shall today, you curr!" and with that, Aenys went on the attack, hammering away at Daemon with all his might. Daemon stumbled with every strike, without a sure footing, his parries painful as he continued to snarl.

"I will handle you first and then that bitch wife of yours and your accursed babe! I shall send them to you in the af..." Aeny was enraged at those words as he swung again and again and again at Daemion.

"That day will never come," and with that, finally, it happened. Daemon's sword rattled to the ground with a thud as he nearly faltered on one of the rocks. Yet before Aenys could put an end to him, Daemon lunged at him with all his might, and they both tumbled to the ground.

"AGHH!" Aenys grunted in pain as the rocky ground hit his back, giving Daemon the opportunity to overpower him as he swung at his face.

He felt his fist hit him in the face as he reached for a stone at the side and swung it back at Daemon's face with all his might.

"AGHH!" Daemon grunted in pain as the stone hit him in the head. Aenys's vision was blurry and scarlet as he pushed Daemon down and punched him in the face, as Daemon's fist hit him in the side, making him grunt in pain.

Yet he didn't let go and continued to rain down punches on his face, even as a searing pain erupted in his side as Daemon gouged him with a ragged rock, yet Aenys didn't stop and didn't let go as Dameon's face got bloodier and bloodier.

And then suddenly, he faltered, once, because of pain as one of his swings missed, and Daemon twisted the rock he had gouged him with, making him scream. Aenys pushed down his arm, and Aenys picked up a stone himself and pushed it down his shoulder, making Daemon scream in pain as he was showered in a rush of blood.

"AGHHH!" Daemon screamed even as Aenys's vision blurred, and it took all his willpower not to falter as he steadied himself, heaving and huffing as Demon writhed in pain underneath him.

"I will kill you! DETROY YOU AND EVERYTHING YOU HOLD DEAR!" Daemon screamed in agony as Aenys struck his other shoulder with his elbow, making him scream out once more as both his arms became useless.

"AGH!" Daemon screamed in pain as Aenys felt him thrash under him, his own body searing with pain as he reached for his neck.

"Your time of causing pain and havoc is over. I did warn you after all, didn't I. I will not let you lay a finger on my family ever!" Aenys screamed as he wrapped his fingers around Daemon's neck and pushed down with everything he had as Daemon thrashed violently underneath him, trying to claw away his hands.

With sheer desperation, Daemon reached for his hands and tried to claw them away as his eyes began to swell, the thrashing growing wilder and wilder as he began to froth from his mouth, and then Aenys felt a thrum behind him, as a roar shook the very ground as screeches filled the air.

His heart thumped as he recognized the pained cry of his own dragon as the air behind him heated up.

And in Daemon's eyes, he saw triumph as dread and resignation pooled in his heart.

"Dracarys!" Daemon gasped out. He heard a screech, and momentarily his hold on Daemon's neck may have loosened as a literal storm of fire rushed towards him from behind.

Yet before it could burn him a shadow overcame him, pushing itself in between himself and the BloodWyrm's fire.

"AGHHHHH!" Grey Ghost had shielded him with its own face and wing even as it screeched in pain and agony, its wing and face right in between him and the orange torrent of fire.

"GUGH!" he screamed in pain as he felt Daemon's teeth bite into his neck, yet thankfully, he was able to push him away as both of them fell away, a foot from one another, as he reached for his now bleeding neck. His dragon continued to scream away, the shrill voice of his dragon's anguished cry cutting through him as he saw Daemon laugh manically.

"HAHAHA!" "HAHAHA!" he laughed away. Then Aenys heard another roar. He looked up and found another dragon entering the foray. Its skin was similar in colour to Daemon's Ceraxes. Meleys returned and basked Ceraxes in a fire, interrupting his barrage on Grey Ghost.

"You will not walk out of here! Never!" Daemon screamed even as his arms lay limp by his side, and he snarled away with a bloody face.

Though before Aenys could say anything else, a shadow appeared behind him, and then before Daemon could react, he found himself in the maws of Grey Ghost, who was down with all its might.

"AGHHH...!" leaving him little time even to scream as he bit away the upper half of his body, and Aenys watched as Meleys and Ceraxes clashed against one another, the Blood Wyrm incapable of keeping up with the Red Queen, for he had lost both his wings and bled away from its face and shoulders and body.

"ROAR!" his own dragon had major gnashes on its face and side, many of its scales now charred, and its wing had been burnt rather badly as it spewed away Daemon's upper half before it turned its eyes on him as if to check on him.

And then he saw the side of its face had been burnt as well, the beautiful blue eye and creamy skin now burnt black as blood oozed away.

"ROAR!" he looked up and saw Meley scream away as he was hit in the side by Ceraxes tail; the Blood Wyrm had gone rabid after Daemon's demise, and it thrashed away violently.

It continued to roar away, thrashing violently as it spewed out fire all around like a mad beast, and so Aenys took a step forward, fighting the pain as he walked past the bleeding lower half of Daemon's body as he reached for the Valyrian Steel blade lying beside it.

He picked up Darksister, the hilt feeling foreign to him as Grey Ghost lowered his head, allowing him to mount him once more.

"Kirimvose. Ivestragī's mōris bisa," (Thank you. Let's end this)

And his dragon roared, responding to his emotions as it lowered itself, torrents of fire going right by them as Aenys held on tightly to the reins before suddenly Grey Ghost roared.

"ROARRR!" And then, for a second, Ceraxes' eyes shifted away from Meleys' and towards them. Grey Ghost's claws dug into the ground, and it rushed straight towards the Blody Wyrm, who tried to open its maw, but his dragon was faster as he ran into the Blood Wyrm.

THUD!

The Blood Wyrm's back hit the stony elevation behind as it screeched in pain, and Aenys's grip over the Valyrian steel Blade tightened as Grey Ghost pinned Blood Wyrm with the stony hill. Aenys jumped off from the saddle with a two-step stride and raised the blade as Ceraxes screeched, trying to get away, yet Grey Ghost held him down as Aenys pushed the blade into the side of the Red Dragon's face with all his might.

"ARGH!" the Valyrian steel cut through its skin, and then, using all his weight, Aenys pulled down the blade, and it came down, slashing through the long neck.

Aenys was showered in blood and guts as the Valyrian Steel cut through the Dragon's belly.

DRIP. DRIP.

Then a few feet from the ground he pulled out the blade and his feet touched the ground with a thud. And he looked up and was showered with blood as Ceraxes thrashed wildly, yet with much less power, as its guts began to fall out from the massive cut that cut down from its face to its torso.

"ROARR!" Grey Ghost opened its mouth, and with all the strength he could muster, he shouted the command to end it all.

"DRACARYS!!!!"
"ROARRR!"

With that, his dragon opened its maw and spewed a torrent of blue flame, which caught Ceraxes straight in the face as the Blood Wyrm's thrashing died down. Yet his dragon did not let go, and once it did, what remained of the Blood Wyrm's face was only a charred black husk that crumbled away as his body fell to the ground with a massive thud.

And as he stared at the limp body of the red dragon infront of him, the sword in his hand fell down, slipping away as the realization of what he had done dawned on him. He looked to the side at the torn-up half of Daemon's body as pain seared through him, and he realized that it was indeed done.

He had killed Daemon. He had killed his own blood. He had to, for otherwise thousands would have bled away for his ambition. Yet still, he had slain his own kin.

His dragon spread its wings as it roared loudly into the skies, declaring its victory. He heard a massive thud from behind as Meleys landed on the ground right behind him.

The skies had darkened by now, and dark clouds now covered them as he felt a drop of rain on his face, as he heard a slew of footsteps from behind and, through the corner of his eye, saw Rhaenys had walked up to him, her face pale and pained as she looked at the dead dragon infront of him with saddened eyes.

"It was the last reminder of my father, you know, Prince Aemon Targaryen. And now it's gone," she muttered as she walked up to him. He didn't miss how her own dragon, the Red Queen, seemed to have put both of Daemon's halves near each other as it gave an anguished cry.

She had been Alyssa Targaryen's mount before, Alyssa Targaryen, wife to Baelon Targaryen and mother to Viseyrs, Daemon and Aenys.

"May the gods have mercy on his soul!" she prayed as he nodded.

"Indeed," and then he grunted in pain. The wound on his side pained him greatly, and he was about to fall away when suddenly he felt Rhaenys reach out for him as she looked at him worriedly.

"We need to get you to a healer!"

0000

Back in Kingslanding, the tourney had ended minutes ago as the victors gathered to receive their winnings. The crowds cheered for the victors as the Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen descended down from her booth, Lady Alicent, and Jeyne by her side as she congratulated the victors and presented to them their winnings, and then the celebrations were cut short by the roar of a dragon interrupted the celebrations and the Kingsguard surrounded the Princess, as they saw a dragon flying towards them.

Many missed how the faces of three women paled as they saw the coloring of the beast flying towards them. Yet, that fear turned into confusion and apprehension as they saw and found it darker in coloring than the infamous Blood Wyrm and recognized it to be the Red Queen, Meleys, the mount of Rhaeneys Targaryen, the Queen-who-never-was.

The hulking beast landed in the arena with a thud, quietened by fear and curiosity. The three women paled as they saw the wounds and burns all over the red beast, and then a figure slid down the red dragon.

And it was not Lady Rhaenys as they had expected. No.

It was Aenys, and the Princess and Lady Alicent gasped as they saw him covered in blood from head to toe. Unknown to them was whether it was his own or someone else's, which added to their worries.

Princess Rhaenys jumped down behind him, shouts for healers and maesters were made at once, and the three women rushed toward the prince.

"AENYS!" his name was called out worriedly as tears welled up in the eyes of Prince's wife as she saw his fragile state, for she had realised just what had happened.

So did the Princess when the Prince raised a blade and somewhat presented it to the heir to the throne. The blade and its metal were similar to what he had presented to her days ago, yet she recognized it at a single glance, for she had grown up seeing the infamous sword.

It was the sword of the Conqueror, the blade of Kings, the blade of Daemon Targaryen. Blackfyre and Rhaenyra would look up into Aenys's eyes. The whites of his eyes had turned red as his lips thinned, and he whispered fated words to her.

"It is done."

0000

Back in the Red Keep, the King would watch it all from his own room, with much apprehension, King Viserys had been filled with an ominous feeling for days, and as he watched the red dragon land on the tourney grounds, he felt a pang of sadness and regret wash over him, as minutes later a servant alongside his leal hand would enter the room with his permission and speak the ominous words.

"Prince Daemon is dead!" for all the bad blood between them, Daemon had been his brother, his own blood, and despite the tumultuous times, Viserys would always care for him.

He did not need to know who had killed him, for few in the realm were capable of felling down Daemon Targaryen.

He was filled with emotions he could not explain, filled with sadness and regret, and would reach for the goblet of wine he had poured himself only for the goblet to fall and spill away. The shouts of the Hand would spread all over the room as King Viserys would feel his vision blur.

"YOUR GRACE! YOUR GRACE!"
"GET A MESTER!"

0000

~And so, the dragons danced,
And set aflame blood.
As blade met blade.
And the hands of a healer were dyed red.
As Blood and Wyrm lay dead~
(From the diaries of Lady Jeyne Arryn)

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And now it ends! One more chapter before we move on to the epilogues!

 

[Drkest]

Chapter 61

RHAENYRA TARGARYEN

Weeks had passed since the news of Prince Daemon's demise had rocked the whole continent. A battle between brothers, a duel not just between men but between dragons reminiscent of the times of Maegor the Cruel, yet this battle had not been part of a grander war.

No, the war was yet to come, and this battle had ended it before it could even begin. The battle had left great scars, Lady Rhaenys Targaryen had been injured as well, and it had taken her two flights to bring back the Velaryon siblings and then two more flights over the course of the next couple of days to bring food to the injured Grey Ghost.

The battle had left the white and blue dragon injured and unable to fly. Healers had been dispatched to the islands to do what they could, along with a massive ship that carried enough food to fill its belly for days.

The court had been shaken by the news as well, with all the lords who had denied Daemon's request to attend the wedding breathing a sigh of relief and rejoicing as those Houses whose members were present at the wedding were scampering, faring possible retribution.

A retribution that had yet to come for the news had taken its toll on her father, The King, who had refused to see anyone for weeks and was bedridden, according to the Maesters, and that was until today.

And now the King had called to see two people his daughter herself and his other brother, the famous Healer, the Slayer of Dragons, or Kinslayer. The battle had taken much from him, yet thankfully these had been nothing as severe as his injuries from the assassination attempt at his wedding in Braavos yet still she was aware that many in court prayed that the illness had taken him, for the whole realm now feared him.

And now the same person stood opposite her as they stood outside her father's room, and silence enveloped the castle.

She could say that she had talked with him quite a lot over the days, consoled him yet that would be a lie. The days had been hectic enough that they had had little time to sit down and talk yet.

The battle had also taken much from Aenys. His eyes had dulled a bit, and he had a somber air to him now, even as he stood opposite her weeks after the whole ordeal.

"I am sorry," she began as she saw his eyes narrow. They had dark circles around them now. His hair had been cut short as well, for much of it had been burnt during his duel with Daemon.

"What for?" he questioned, his voice tense as Rhaenyra found her eyes glued to the floor.

"For putting you through this, for letting you carry a burden that should have been mine," she began and saw his eyes widen for a second.

Aenys Targaryen had a reputation as a person of unquestionable morals. He was the epitome of honour and duty, an example for everyone all over the land. Yet it had taken a hit, few truly understood the extent of damage a full-blown war over succession between herself and Daemon would have caused, and those ignorant idiots had the gall to besmirch his honour.

"You need not apologize. This was unavoidable," he said, his gaze dulled as he coughed, and her lips thinned.

"Sometimes I wish it was not," she added and she truly did. Daemon had caused her a lot of trouble, insulted her, and tried to kill her husband as well. Yet it had not always been like this.

There were times, good times in their past as well. Times spent hearing him regale her stories about his various adventures, times of flying through the air with him. They existed as well, now only as memories of a man who was no more.

"Me too, Rhaenyra. I wish so as well," he said as he cupped her face.

"Yet it is over now, and he made his choice. And now we must all live with the consequences of that choice," he replied, and she nodded.

"What of his son?" she questioned, for after the battle, one of her flights had been to retrieve the bastard son of Daemon, and timely she had been for attempts were made by Mysaria to escape the island with Baelon, yet thankfully due to quick thinking of Aenys they were able to stop her and retrieve Daemon's child. Mysaria herself had vanished now in the chaos afterward.

The mysterious woman had vanished into thin air in the ensuing chaos.

"I am still thinking about it. You go and talk to Viserys. We can discuss all this later," he said, and she gave a small nod before she turned away from him and straightened her back as she put one foot infront of another.

And entered her father's room.

0000

VISERYS TARGARYEN

Viserys watched as Aenys stepped into the room after Rhaenyra departed. And complicated emotions filled him as he saw his youngest brother. He had not seen him since that fateful day when word of Daemon's death had come.

The words had hit him hard. He had feared such an outcome yet had been powerless to do anything to prevent it. Yet the suddenness of everything had taken him by surprise, and the weakness that he had kept at bay through his willpower had overpowered him since. He had found himself confined to his bed, the healers and the maesters hopeless around him as he felt his time draw near.

He had not looked in the mirror yet. His frailty must have shown, as he saw Aenys's eyes widen as they landed on her. His brother walked up to him and stood to his right besides the window, leaning back against the wall.

Aenys seemed different as well; his face had sunken in, and he could see some bandages around his chest. He stood there against the wall, looking him over before finally cutting through the silence.

"You do know I could...." and Viserys raised his hand, stopping him, as he coughed out, already knowing what he was about to say.

"I know, but I am afraid my time has come. And I have come to terms with that," he said, refusing his offer. For an accomplished healer, Aenys must have realized that as well.

"You know, I had always wished to live up to our grandfather's name," he began as his eyes looked up and down his brother.

"I had always wished to live upto his legacy, and so when I found out that the grandfather had wished for you to be King after him. It cut me," he said, yet unlike the past, he was not angry about that.

"Initially, I had reasoned it out to be because of your abilities as a dreamer, yet now, as I look at you, I realize that it was not wholly because of that," he said and saw Aenys's eyes narrow at his words as Viserys looked up at the ceiling.

"You may have been the youngest, but you were the best of us. You had the best of Daemon and me while having none of the flaws," he began, and now, as he looked at his life, he found himself realizing just how many mistakes he had made.

"I know it is wrong of a brother to have favourites, but perhaps it was because of this that I found myself more attached to Daemon. For both of us were not like you. We had many faults, deficiencies, and qualities that complimented each other. So, I felt it that I needed him, and he me," he spoke as Aenys frowned.

"Even with how it all turned out, I still love him and find myself caring for him, even on my death bed," he said as his vision blurred and Aenys lips thinned as he looked away into the window as he replied.

"I didn't hate Daemon. I regret what he became and did what was necessary. There was no other choice," he said, and he didn't miss how his fists balled up.

"I know. I also heard that you had a burial arranged for him and his dragon," and Aenys nodded.

"He was a Targaryen Prince. His actions aside, he was family. He was given the proper respect according to his station," Aenys informed him. Viserys would have liked to attend, but his health did not let him.

"What of his son?" Viserys questioned, recalling the little child Daemon had presented to the court after his return from Stepstones.

"He is with me, Mysaria. The child's mother ran away, but I was able to get the child from her before she could smuggle him away," Aenys informed him, and that was little comfort.

"What will you do with him?" he questioned.

"As Daemon's last living heir, he inherits Stepstones. Castles will need to be built, and settlements will need to be established on the islands if we are to hold them. I plan to pour some resources into the islands over the years so that by the time he is a grown boy, the seat is prestigious and functional enough," Aenys told him, and he doubted his brother's words.

"Until then," he questioned.

"Alicent will raise the boy," he answered, and that was a suitable option.

"Will you tell the boy about Daemon?"

"I will when he is ready. What he decides to do afterward will be up to him," Aenys declared, and Viserys nodded as he sighed.

"You are a more honorable man than I could ever be," he declared as silence hung in the air.

"Viserys, I need to talk to you about Rhaenys and the Vela..." and he shook his head as he stopped him once again. He had given the realm enough.

"I leave that all to you and Rhaenyra," he said as he looked toward him.

"My reign has come to an end. I have talked to Lyonel Strong. I know Rhaenyra would wish to have you as her hand. The man shall vacate his office for you. I leave all the matters of the court to you. Deal with them as you wish," he said and saw his eyes widen as Aenys gave him a nod.

Viserys took in a deep breath, and pain rippled through his chest as he winced and breathed out slowly.

"This whole ordeal with Daemon and succession was of my making," he began as he felt his weariness overtake him.

"I know it is little, but I apologize for having you deal with it all. If only I were a better man, a better King, all this would never have come to this," he said forlornly. Aenys walked forward and stood beside him.

"Maybe," he said, brutally honest as always.

"But do not blame yourself too much over it. You were a better man and King than many," he said as he held his shoulder and gave them a small squeeze.

"Not you," he said, and Aenys shook his head.

"There is no need to compare. We were each different men with different roles," he said humbly. He gave him a small nod as he began to walk away, and Viserys felt his weariness overpower him. As Aenys opened the door, he called out from behind.

"Take care of Rhaenyra for me. Consider it my last request as a brother," he said, and Aenys turned to look at him and gave him a nod.

"I will."

"I know what you did was necessary..." he called back.

"...but I do not think I could thank you for that."

"You don't have to."

0000

ALICENT HIGHTOWER

Alicent Hightower found herself in the nursery, sitting in a chair as the two little boys infront of her played with each other. One of them was her own son, who had begun to babble, and the other was Baelon. And that was what Aenys had wished for the child to be called.

Not Baelon Rivers, but simply Baelon.

She was so lost in watching the two little boys play that she missed when Aenys entered the room and plopped down in a chair beside her.

"Is everything alright, Alicent?" His question broke her out of her trance, and she looked to the side and found her husband sitting there. He had changed quite a bit over the last few weeks.

Aenys had always been rather serious,

Aenys had always been rather serious. His joys expressed little smiles rather than boisterous laughter, but heaviness had taken over him since that fateful day. His rare smiles had become rarer still, and only she was aware of his troubles with sleep.

"Yes, everything is fine," she replied with a small smile, wishing with all her heart that she could take away his burdens.

"Why did the King call for you and Rhaenyra?" she questioned, recalling just where he had been. She saw his eyes dampen at her words as her dread pooled in her heart.

"Viserys is dying," he said with a sigh, and she felt her heart break from those words.

"Is there anything you could..." and he shook his head as he leaned back.

"Very little, but he has declined my help. He feels his time has come," he said as he leaned back, and she saw what none did, saw the burden he carried on his shoulders.

She stood up from her seat and walked up to him, gently sitting down on his lap as she cupped his face.

"I am sorry," she said, despite knowing her words could do little for him. Yet he did not know that she was there for him.

"I know he cared little for me and preferred Daemon to me. I have known this all my life," he said.

"Yet they were still my brothers. And I feel as if I am responsible for killing them both," he said, and her heart broke hearing those words from him.

"You did not," she rebuked him as he looked him in the eye.

"You gave Daemon many chances, some would say too many chances. Daemon refused to mend his ways, and even in the last battle you fought against him, you stood against him not for ambition or revenge but to save Princess Rhaenys and her children," she corrected him, having already thought much over what had occurred on that fateful day.

"If you had not done what you did, Princess Rhaenys and her children would have died that day, and thousands would have followed suit if Daemon had declared war on Rhaenyra. You said yourself such a war would have torn the whole realm apart," she told him resolutely.

"Bu..."

"No!" she didn't even let him begin as his lips slightly turned up at her forceful nature.

"I have traveled across two continents and lived at court all my life. I have never seen a man more honorable than you," she said before looking to the side at the child sitting beside her little Aerion.

"That child and the titles you bestowed upon him are one little proof of that honor and goodness," she declared as she pushed forward her head and put her forehead against his.

"I can wholeheartedly say that the world is a better place because of you, Aenys. I am a better person because of you. So, don't doubt yourself. You are a good man, better than any man I have seen in my life," she said to him.

"Thanks for this," he said as his arms wrapped around her. She put her head down on his shoulder and lay there atop him, content with all she had in her life.

0000

THE END~

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And so, the grand journey comes to an end. Thank you all for your love and support over the course of this fic.

Have a fantastic day!

 

[Drkest]

Chapter 62

AENYS TARGARYEN

Dragonstone had changed little since he had last been on the island. It was sullen and quiet, as it had been, its hot and humid environment much suited to the Targaryen lineage.

As the realm recovered from the death of Daemon Targaryen, the King would become bedridden from illness, and the news would shake the realm for it would put to front of the mind the reality that soon enough King Viserys shall leave the realm and a Queen shall sit the Iron Throne.

Yet there was still time, and so as moons passed and Rhaenyra and Alicent's bellies grew, it was decided that they would relocate to Dragonstone, on his advice, given that the environment was simply calmer and conducive to giving birth.

Yet even he had not been prepared for the scenario he found himself in as he stood infront of a screaming Rhaenyra surrounded by healers and equipment, the best of what the times could offer as the Princess's labors progressed.

"AHHHHHH!" she screamed as the wet nurses encouraged her, yet the babe refused to come.

"I cannot, I cannot," she huffed as her nails bit into his hands, her hair matted to her face with sweat as she shook her head.

"You can, just one more push, one more," he encouraged lovingly as he looked her in the eye, and she nodded, taking in a deep breath as she screamed once more.

And he felt the elevation in her torso shift as he heard the wetnurse speak.

"I can see the head," and relief filled him, as Rhaenyra huffed weakly, as tears dripped down her face.

Yet the relief was short-lived as the doors to the birthing chamber were slammed open.

"WHO IS I..." yet he stilled as he saw the person standing there. His face was marred by burns, a face too similar to his own with a blade in hand, and Alicent's helpless face staring at him with red eyes as he spoke.

"Daemon," he gasped out in shock as his brother held a blade to his wife's neck.

"I have come for revenge..."

"No," Aenys screamed as he saw the blade move.

.

.

.

"ARGH!" yet the blood never came as his vision shifted, and he found himself away from the birthing Halls and inside his solar, sitting on a chair with a weight on his chest.

His heart thumped as he glanced down and recognized the silvery bundle lying on his chest. Thankfully, even in his sleep, he had kept a secure hold on the newborn.

"She sleeps so easily in your arms," an all too familiar voice rang out. The same voice had been screaming moments ago in his dreams, yet this time it was much calmer and simpler as he looked up and found Rhaenyra sitting there beside his own lady wife both of them sitting there, the bulges in their belly gone as they sipped tea.

He ground himself as he carefully shifted the babe to his other arm, for his right arm had begun to ache lightly.

Many a moon had passed since he had visited Viserys, and then days afterward, it had been decided that they would move to Dragonstone for Rhaenyra's birth. A suggestion of his own, given the sheer statistical odds of a safer delivery on their families' ancestral island in comparison to the Red Keep.

And after nine moons, the Princess had finally gone into labor about a moon ago, under his own watchful eye. The most advanced equipment, medications, and instruments had been prepared for her, and plans had been drawn for every unwonted scenario. Yet the Gods had rendered them useless, for except for a somewhat prolonged labor, the whole process had been gone without a hitch, and Princess Aemma had been born into the world with a very loud cry.

He had been relieved until word reached him that his own wife's labors had begun seconds later. He had then rushed to her side, though thankfully, there had not been much to worry about there as well. She would give birth to a daughter. Princess Magella would enter the world with a much weaker cry but be blessed with full health.

And of the two, it was Princess Aemma who found him to be the perfect bed.

"Sometimes, I think the Princesses were swapped at birth," Rhaenyra joked as she smiled indulgently at her little daughter, who lay atop him.

"If they had the same color of hair, they could have passed off as one another," his lady wife added. And she was right, as he looked down at the silvery locks of Aemma.

Princess Aemma had been born with her namesake's hair and features. She resembled the late Queen in all her features, except her vocal cords for Aemma Arryn was said to be a very quiet babe unlike the Princess in his arms, whose cries had oft woken up the castle.

On the other hand, Maegella Targaryen shared much of the Targaryen features except the hair, for she had inherited her mother's brown locks, and from what it seemed like, she had inherited her namesake's demeanor for being agreeable and gentle.

"How long was I asleep for?" he questioned as he turned towards the balcony, and once he saw the setting Sun.

"We came in here an hour ago, so it would have to be a bit longer than that," Alicent added and he nodded, that was his estimate as well.

"And what were the two of you doing here for an hour?" he asked as he handed the babe to a servant gently.

"Talking," they both answered together as one, and he was sure it was more than that.

"About what?" he probed, and the two exchanged glances before a letter was put forth on the table, its seal broken.

"This came from the Vale earlier," spoke Rhaenyra, her tone indulgent as she eyed Alicent by her side, who had a faint blush on her face.

"What does it say?" he asked even as he picked it up to skim over it.

"Ohh, nothing much," Rhaenyra began, her tone childish and flirtatious.

"...just that the Lady Jeyne tells how the Pirate infestation of their shores has been eradicated through your support and how she wishes to thank you and Lady Alicent..." she said, and he closed his eyes as he felt a small headache coming.

"...personally!" she finished.

He rolled his eyes; Lady Jeyne's overtures were not lost on him and Alicent, to whom the Lady of the Vale had gone quite close over their stay together. Both became pen pals and exchanged letters with each other on a regular basis.

He, of course, had never discouraged Alicent from seeking friends, but Jeyne's intentions were not just to be friends with either of them.

"Do not speak ill of her, and she is set to marry soon?" Alicent added weakly, and Rhaenyra rolled her eyes.

The Lady Jeyne of House Arryn had been in the capital when the Dance of the Dragon had happened, and she had stayed there for moons afterward as the realm reeled from the consequences of that sordid affair. In the meantime, she also found a husband, Laenor Velaryon, for herself.

With this match, her intentions were not lost to anyone, and after the announcement, she had only gotten bolder in her pursuit of both him and his lady wife.

Much has happened since then. House Baratheon had had its taxes doubled, like House Tyrell's, and a few smaller houses had found themselves beggared over the ensuing moons as he unleashed his fury upon them. As for House Velaryon, Corlys Velaryon and Rhaenys had parted ways, their marriage had been annulled.

Aenys himself had thought the man would push for the seat to pass to his illegitimate children, yet somehow the man had been counseled against it, and so Laenor Vealryon remained the heir, thankfully for High Tide; otherwise, he would not have hesitated to beggar the whole city to retaliate. And now the Sea Snake had locked himself in his castle and was said to drown himself from dawn to dusk, yet it was all too late.

Official matters aside, unofficially, many houses had gone extinct in these moons as well, for they had conspired to have both him and Rhaenyra unfit to rule for the crime of kinslaying. The Game of Thrones was ruthless, and they had all learned it the hard way, paying for their treachery with their lives.

Even now, tongues wagged against Rhaenyra's claim, for her firstborn was a girl as he waited for all of these traitors to come out of their bills so that he could quash them all at once. And it was all much easier now, for though Lord Strong acted as the Hand, Aenys had full power and could ask the man to do what he wished.

He stayed out of the ruling part until Rhaenyra was to ascend out of respect for the man, yet that did not mean that he was not in control.

"You failed to mention how the lady mentions you in very flowery terms as well, my Princess," he remarked as he threw back the letter.

"She may, but we all know it is you she is after," added Rhaenyra before eying Alicent.

"And my dear Alicent," she added in a jest, and Aenys shook his head.

"Any word from the Stepstones?" Alicent asked, unsure if shifting the conversation away from this scandalous topic would work. He nodded.

"Yes, half the negotiations are complete. Until we are to reach a full agreement, the ships passing through the crossing shall pay a fair toll, we will man the islands and ensure the safety of these ships, the rest will be decided slowly," he added, and that was expected the Stepstones were too complicated to hold with an Iron Fist, they needed to be diplomatic and fair to hold them.

"That is good. Peace in the Stepstones will allow trade to flourish. The conflicts there have caused much loss," Rhaenyra added, and she would know, for he was teaching her everything there was to learn about ruling these days.

Her days were oft spent following him, going over ledgers, meeting delegates, and studying for when she was to take over the throne. She was a good student with a brilliant mind and would progress rather quickly if not for her penchant for gossiping and wasting time with Alicent.

"So, have you gone over all of the Crown's agreements with Bravos and the other free cities," he questioned and saw Rhaenyra's mood dampen the fickle smile telling him of the answer before she mouthed it.

"Maybe..." and when her eyes narrowed, she added.

"...maybe not," she said, and he shook his head, yet he let her have it. These were troubling times.

"But it was because of Aemma. She refused to sleep the whole day because you were away with Grey Ghost," she argued quickly, and indeed, he had been away.

After the battle, his dragon suffered many injuries, and after months of care, he finally recovered back to full health. Aenys missed flying on his dragon and decided to take it to the skies in the morning.

"She speaks the truth. Aemma was inconsolable the whole day; she only settled down once you returned," Alicent piped up in support, and he knew they were not lying; the relief on the servant's faces, when he had walked back into the castle, had been answering enough.

"For some odd reason, the only one who could get her to sleep is you," Rhaenyra whined, and it was an anomaly that was lost to him as well.

"And you indulge her," Alicnet complains, and he raises his hand.

"What am I to do? Maegella prefers to play with you," he said, pointing towards Rhaenyra.

"Of course, she should. I am her Aunt," he said, shaking his head. But before he could retort, a knock on the door interrupted them, and dragons roared as one. He felt himself still. And he was not the only one. He saw Rhaenyra's demeanor shift as the whole island shook and the dragons roared into the sky.

"Come in," he said, and a servant entered the solar and bowed as he said the ominous words.

"A missive arrived from the capital..." and Rhaenyra gasped before the words left the servant's mouth.

"...the King is Dead!"

0000

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[Drkest]

Chapter 63-EPILOGUE 2

The death of King Viserys I would mark a dynamic shift in the reign of House Targaryen, as after over one hundred and twenty years of Targaryen rule, a woman would ascend to the Iron Throne.

Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen would inherit her father's throne, and would mark the beginning of the part of the time period called the 'The Era of Queens'.

Few had ever thought that a girl would day sit on the Iron Throne, for the realm had already denied this privilege to Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, King Jaehaerys's eldest grandchild in the Great Council of 101 AC. Yet now, a bit over twenty years later, a girl would sit on the Iron Throne, for the first time marking a major shift in the politics of the continent.

Despite the unprecedented nature of her ascension, Queen Rhaenyra would be crowned as the Queen without much grumblings and opposition, and though the lack of another contender played a part in this, it was mainly due to fear. Not of the Queen, but of the man who had made this whole thing possible.

The Oathkeeper, Dragonslayer, the Healer, the Reformer, and so many more epithets have been used to describe him throughout the years, for Prince Aenys Targaryen remains to this day the most influential figure in the world history by major consensus, even after five centuries of his death.

Despite having major support and several opportunities, the youngest of King Viserys's brothers would forego any right to his brother's throne, supporting Princess Rhaenyra in her ascension and later through her years as Queen. Historians believe that Queen Rhaenyra's ascension and the transformation observed by the Seven Kingdoms in her reign were mostly due to the actions and support of her uncle, Prince Aenys, who would serve as her hand for a decade before being replaced by a highly interesting figure.

With her ascension, the first thing the Princess would do was begin negotiating with Braavos over the fate of the Stepstones, the fief of Prince Daemon who had been slain by the Oathkeeper for his refusal to bend the knee in an event referred to in the Prince Aenys's own writings as the Dance of the Dragons.

After nearly half a decade of back and forth, an accord would be brokered between the Free City and the Seven Kingdoms over the division and control of the rocky islands through which the four parts of the world traded. Both parties would receive control over half of the islands, and a reasonable toll would be charged for the crossing, which shall be divided on a sixty-forty basis, with sixty going to the Crown.

Queen Rhaenyra's ascension would also be the first time that the highly male-dominated society would see a consort as King. Gwayne Hightower, a younger brother from the storied and powerful House of the Reach, had married the Princess a few years prior and would be a consort for the Queen. He was an accomplished knight and is known in history as Gwayne the Gallant for his actions during the Treachery of the Faiths.

While Queen Rhaenyra would sit on Aegon's throne, the whole realm knew who held the real power in the realm. Prince Aenys would be made the Hand of the Queen soon after her ascension, and the Queen's uncle would go on to rule the empire in all but name for many years as the young Queen learned the art of ruling from him.

Prince Aenys was already a man of great renown and power even without the position of the Hand. His wealth and connections were, without any equal, built using his healing prowess they were spread all over the globe.

The reconstruction of the capital would begin a year into her reign; the best builders would be called to the capital for this task, and this massive undertaking would begin to make the capital city worthy of its status.

It would take a better part of a decade to build the new city, yet it would be done with its three sets of walls and an expanded Red Keep. The city is to this day a marvel in human engineering and supports a population of three million people and is the most advanced city on the horizon.

The city would also build a college, bigger than the one that had been built in Braavos and would be the source of many scientific advancements over the years. These advancements would see a major shift in the politics of the empire and, most importantly, the role of the Seven in the running of the Empire.

0000

RHAENYS TARGARYEN

Ten years had passed since the unthinkable had happened, as a woman had ascended the Iron Throne as twenty years after denying her the very privilege, the realm had found itself in the same position, yet now Rhaenyra would not be denied her right.

Rhaenys had long given up any ambition for the throne, and she had spent the last ten years in the capital after the dissolution of her marriage with Corlys.

She had watched the city, the continent, and the world change infront of her eyes over the past decade, and most of it was because of the person who sat beside her.

Aenys Targaryen, her younger cousin, had always been an enigma in his family, he was too independent, too headstrong, and too brilliant. And she would say too loyal.

The Red Keep had changed much over the decade, and the castle had been expanded much like the city infront of her with its massive walls and wide and clean streets, the smell that had begun to plague it now long gone as a proper sewage system had been built.

"I still cannot believe that you spent so much money on the city," she remarked as she sipped her tea.

The years had been kind to Aenys. Even a decade later, he still maintained his lean figure, his hair luscious as ever, and the Targaryen beauty had receded little. He was still highly desired among the ladies at court, with them often throwing themselves at him during the various balls and celebrations Rhaenyra would organize to celebrate the Crown's prosperity.

Though they should have learned by now that their efforts would be futile at this point, she would proudly say that Aenys was the best of them. Despite his status and power, he had remained loyal to his wife of twelve years, Alicent Hightower. The brown-haired girl had grown into a political force in her own right.



She had inherited that from her father, and though she was more restrained than him, there were still many tourneys and celebrations in the Red Keep.

Alongside Rhaenyra, she introduced and amended many laws pertaining to women's rights in their society, giving women rights and security they had never had as they followed in the footsteps of her grandmother, the Good Queen.

"For this air, I would have spent many times that," he replied as he leaned back in his chair, and though there was nothing to worry about his physical appearance, it was clear to all those who knew Aenys that being the Hand had taken much from him.

He had never been one to stay in a single place for too long. He had spent a major part of his life flying from one part of the world to another, yet when duty had called, he denied himself that privilege and spent a decade ruling and guiding the kingdom to a better path.

Though, if the rumors were anything to go by, he would deny himself no more.

"I have heard that our Princess Aemma has begun following Aerion to his lessons in the yard," she remarked, and he nodded.

"She has, and she wields a spear better than half the squires in the yard," he remarked, and she did know that. She had seen the girl beat half the squires with her own eyes and could see when she was called the second coming of her great-grandmother, Lady Alyssa Targaryen.

"That she does, though I do not think she goes to the yard just for the spear," she remarked conspirationally as Aenys groaned.

"Yes, I know," he replied, for it was clear to everyone that the Princess's intentions were to keep a certain cousin company rather than beating the squires, no matter how good she was with the spear.

"I heard that Lord Lannister is seeking a match with Princess Maegella," she questioned, and Aenys scoffed.

"He may desire it as much as he wants, but I have made it clear that none of my children will be married against their wills," he replied, and he was fiercely protective of his children and even Rhaenyra's children as well.

Even while being Hand, she had seen him make time for them, to teach them, to fly with them, or to play with them. It was good to see that, for those were the rare times that he would have a smile on his face.

"But with this whole thing over, so ends my time as Hand," he said as he looked at the spiraling city infront, and she had expected this. He had served as the Hand for ten years now. Though there was little that could be said against him, Rhaenyra had grown much over the years under his tutelage and was a woman grown, and though Aenys had never sought power, it was clear to everyone that he held much of it and that could reflect poorly over their Queen.

Even though she knew firsthand that Rhaenyra cared little for such things, Aenys had been the reason that she sat on the Iron throne. He had cared for her, taught her as a father would, and was aware of how she had tried to convince him to stay, yet it had all been futile.

"So this is it, you are resigning," she asked, and he nodded.

"I am. My work is done. The realm is secure, and Rhaenyra is more than capable of ruling over the continent. I believe it is time for me to step back and let her take the central position," he said, and even if he said that his influence at court would remain massive even without the pin.

"Has she decided who will be the next Hand?" she questioned. Her own son sat on the Council as the Master of Ships, for he now controlled the Velaryon fleet after the death of his father four years ago.

"She has, though she refuses to say whom, though I have an idea just who it might be," he said, and she did not miss the slight glint in his eyes at those words.

"Where will you go?" she questioned.

"Braavos, initially, I have some business there to take care of, and after that, we shall see," he replied, and she nodded.

She knew more than most what that was about. Aenys abhorred the practice of slavery, and over the years, he had been expanding his influence into Slavery's Bay and Volantis, and she was quite sure that he had been the one behind the massive uprising in Meereen and Astapor that still gripped the cities, as people revolted against the slave masters.

"And what of your children? Will they leave as well," and he shook his head.

"No, Aerion wishes to go with me, but I do not think it will be wise for him to leave his other brothers and sisters. Moreover, Alicent does not wish to leave either, and I can always travel faster than anyone with Grey Ghost," he replied. It was no surprise that Alicent Hightower did not wish to leave.

"The Hightowers have been grumbling for some time. I have heard that they have been trying to influence our King into changing the succession again," and it was teh same story.

Rhaenyra had born three children, Aemma, Viserys, and Aenys, over the years. And denying the tradition, she had named her eldest Aemma as the heir, much to the anger of the lords of the realm who wished for her to name Prince Viserys as heir.

And the man most vocal in this was the current Lord of Old Town, Lord Ormund Hightower, the brother to the King consort.

"They may wag their tongues, but House, the succession has been cleared. The King's eldest child shall inherit the throne, and that will be it. They will bow their heads, or they will be cut off," Aenys ended the whole matter.

"I had never thought that I would live long enough to see a woman sit the Iron throne after the Great Council, yet look at me now. I live as a Queen and sit on the throne with a girl as her heir. How the times have changed," she remarked, and he nodded.

"That they have, and there is much more change to come," he said, and there was.

Advancements were being made by the moon, and change was common. More food was being farmed, better weaponry, better tools, better ships; much was changing around them, and so was the Royal family and their ruling.

The Crown now had an army of trained ten thousand men, a small number yet powerful enough for these men to be extremely well trained in the art of warfare.

She had seen her grandfather's reign and had thought that their House may not see such prosperity for again.

The Old King and his Good Queen had ruled with wisdom and had done much good for the realm, yet the forty years of the Conciliator paled in comparison to the decade of Rhaenyra's rule, during which House Targaryen would again emerge as the most prominent power across the world. The continent would see prosperity as it had never before.

She had seen the changing of times and the world shift in front of her eyes, and though she could feel her age creeping up, Rhaenys felt that there was still enough time for her to see much more.

Much much more.

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In 134 AC, nearly a decade into her rule, Prince Aenys Targaryen resigned from his position of the Hand of the King. Many would suspect that the Prince had had a falling out with the Queen, and though there had been some arguing, yet it was for the purpose of trying to change the Prince's mind.

Despite his prowess, Princess Rhaenyra was highly fond of her uncle, who had helped her sit on the throne and would try and convince him to continue, yet the Prince would not be convinced and would hand back the pin as the realm waited anxiously for a new Hand.

There would be many aspirants. Lord Laenor Velaryon, the Queen's cousin and husband to Lady Jeyne Arryn, the Queen's aunt, was considered to be the frontrunner, alongside Lord Lyonel Strong, the aged Master of Laws had already served as the Hand for a time and had been a part of the Council for nearly a decade, so was quite aware of the workings of the realm.

The whole realm would hold their breaths until the announcement was made, and the name would surprise nearly everyone in the realm, including Prince Aenys, a rarity for the Prince who was rarely ever caught off guard.

In 134 AC, Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen would ascend the throne and, with the full court gathered infront of her, name the next Hand. And it would be none other than her childhood friend and her longest confidante, Lady Alicent Hightower.

The announcement would put to rest the rumors about infighting, as the Queen would turn towards her uncle and reply with a smirk.

"If I may not have you, then I shall have your wife," she would jape, and though many believe that the words referred to a more carnal desire, it is not a well-respected opinion.

And so a decade after the First Queen ascended the throne, the realm would see a woman become the Hand of the Queen for the first time.

The Era of Queens is often thought to refer to the reigns of Queen Rhaenyra and her heir, Queen Aemma Targaryen. However, initially, the term was coined only for the reign of Queen Rhaenyra, for her rule would revolve heavily around three great women: herself, Lady Alicent Hightower, and Lady Jeyne Arryn, who were lovingly called 'the Three Queens' by Prince Denys Targaryen, the youngest child of Prince Aenys, in her writings.

'I do not know what the realm was like for women before my time, though I have read and heard tales of those times and cannot believe how far we have come in a few years. I believe myself to be lucky for I was born in an 'Era of Queens' and was blessed enough to call all three of them family in one way or another."
~Excerpt from the 'Era of Queens' by Denys Targaryen detailing the
role of women in shaping the politics of the Seven Kingdoms~

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[Drkest]

Chapter 64

Lady Alicent Hightower's time as the Hand began in a much different fashion than Prince Aenys Targaryen, for the Royal family was in a much different situation at the beginning of her time than it had been for her Lord Husband.

House Targaryen had surged in power, their ranks replenished to a level reminiscent of the Old King's era, the Red Keep now echoing with the laughter and joy of amethyst-eyed children, a sight that both delighted and concerned their mothers.

Their coffers were nearly overflowing with the wealth brought by the new ventures started by the Prince. The capital was rebuilt, and a strong and professional army of five thousand men was at their call.

House Targaryen was once more at the peak of their power, and this time, they were together as well. Despite many provocations and incitations the bond shared between the Queen's family and Prince Aenys's family would not be disrupted. The two branches of the dragonlords would remain gelled together, ruling wisely over their dominion, much to the detriment of the Lords of the realm, who would see their power dwindling.

Lady Alicent, in her time, would see mainly to the consolidation of the endeavors begun in her husband's time. She would prove to be an effective and powerful hand, having learned the art of statecraft from her fabled husband. So it is rightly said that the true architect of the Era of Women and modern-day Westeros was none other than the Prince Aenys Targaryen.

Her biggest achievements would not be financial or infrastructural. No, they would be regarding civil rights, more importantly, women's civil rights. The First Night had been abolished by the Good Queen Alysanne. Yet, the law was not enforced until Lady Alicent and the Queen brought down the hammer on the abhorrent practice, burning two lords who had been convicted of the crime they thought their right as an example for all.

Share of women in inheritance, and their ability to petition for separation from their lord husband on the threat of their life and many more. Though most of these laws seem trivial today in the fifth century, they are only so because of the effort and actions of these women and their future foresight.

It would be in her reign that House Greyjoy would, in one of their usual raids, capture a hundred or so women from the Bear Islands of the North, taking them for themselves as thralls and salt wives as per their tradition.

House Stark would petition the Crown, as they had many times over this matter, yet unlike the previous times, their plight would be answered.

Three dragons would fly off from Kingslanding, Meyles, Syrax, and Seasmoke, and circle the castle of Pyke, roaring for minutes as the castle inhabitant would cower away before the Queen would land first dressed in the plate as Queen Visenya would, with the Lady Rhaenys and her son, Lord Laenor following along.

The Lord of the Tides would come himself to welcome the Queen, yet she would deny the offer of Bread and Salt as she would remark.

"I deny your bread and salt, for I do not come in peace. Free the men, women, and children you have taken from their homes and return them to their lands, or I shall burn your lands such that you shall not find a stone spared from a dragon's wrath!"

It was a declaration of war, and the Lord of the Pyke would rage and rave, yet the ultimatum and the threat of absolute destruction would work, and House Greyjoy would free all their thralls and salt wives.

They would leave only a day later, and the Queen would give a chilling warning to the followers of the Drowned God.

"I care not whether you sow or not. But if you slave anyone in my lands, you shall face the dragon's wrath and taste such fire that nothing of your blood shall remain."

The threat would work for years until the old Lord of the Pyke would die, his seat going to his son, who would rubbish the words of the Queen. Queen Rhaenyra would not be in the world at that time, yet her descendants had not forgotten her promise and would bring Fire and Blood to the Iron Islands in the fabled burning of the Kraken, and the subsequent end of House Greyjoy's dominion over the island province.

Three years into her position as Hand, Lady Alicent fell pregnant for the sixth time and suffered her first miscarriage. The child was lost despite all the efforts from Aenys Targaryen. She fell ill after that and resigned from her position, with the mantle passing to her brother and the consort of the Queen, Ser Gwayne Hightower, who had served for years now as the Captain of the improved and highly skilled City Guard.

Prince Aenys would suffer another tragedy the same year, with one of his closest friends and confidantes, the Sealord of Braavos, dying of an ailment of the heart. Alyssano Nesaris, was credited with giving the Prince refuge when he was exiled by his grandfather, and hence changing the city of Braavos for the centuries to come. Prince Aenys empire would bring great wealth and prestige to the Free City. Through the years, the Crown and the Free City had become steadfast allies because of their shared ties to the Prince, allowing them to mount a covert and secretive plot against the slavers on the other side of Essos.

His death would cause the Prince great strife, and he would attend the funeral and though there would be some calls in the Free City to name the Prince as the next Sealord, a process many believe he could have easily won, the Prince would not put forth his name for the position and Tycho Hessarion, would take the mantle. A shrewd man whose legacy would be tarnished by his jealousy-driven actions against the Healer Prince.

In these years, the Prince would be without title and direct power. Yet, his influence still ran strong all over the land, as he would spend this time with his children and various nephews and nieces, and most importantly, his Lady wife who, despite all the efforts would succumb to her illness, two years later in 138 AC taking with herself the smile of the Healer, who would grow somber after the loss of his wife for whom he had slain a dragon.

The love shared between Prince Aenys and his wife is still considered to be a fairytale by many maidens. It had everything in it, from an evil father to a duel with a dragon. And many maidens still demand 'to love as Aenys' as a requirement from their suitors.

The Prince was still young and healthy at the time. Despite being a father of five children, he would have many suitors, as ladies young and old would throw themselves at him yet he would remain unmarried for the rest of his years, his life dedicated to his children, his work and the realm.

Many try to tarnish his reputation by citing that the Queen and, more scandalously, Lady Arryn shared his bed, some even going so far as to suggest that they did so together. Yet the claims are unfounded and meaningless, fuelled only by the likeness shared by the children of Lady Arryn and the Prince, yet they forget that Lord Laenor himself was a half Targaryen as well, and called the Prince a mentor and friend in his writings.

Years would go by, and soon enough, the realm would enter the second decade of a Queen's reign and as the Crown grew more and more powerful, their enemies began to fear their power, and soon enough, a religious campaign would begin to fester against the Targaryen regime, calling them heathens and a blight in the face of the Seven.

In 142 AC, what would begin as a small riot in Kingslanding would soon transform into a continent-wide coup by the Sept of the Seven as faith militants would try to bring the dragonlords to heel? They would try to entrap and capture the Hand, Ser Gwayne, knowing that without a hostage, their efforts would be quashed by the might of the Dragons, and so they would try and trap him to blunt the Crown's response.

Yet they would fail, and after a blow to the head from an overly zealous Septon, the King consort and the Hand of the Queen would breathe his last, and so the realm would learn what happens when a dragon is enraged.

Death would follow suit, and Dragons would fly all over the continent as the militants would be prosecuted without mercy. Septs will be burnt, and any and all resistance would be quashed with prejudice as the Crown would show the full might it had been rearing for the last two decades.

The army would sweep across the lands, killing all in their way, and in but two moons, the whole coup would be quashed with thousands dead, and the Great unbuckling would begin as the Crown would separate itself from the religion of the Seven. The state and the religion would be made separate entities.

Many would protest at this, House Hightower, the House of the King, and Lady Alicent, the most prominent amongst them, yet their voices would be paid no attention, and the decoupling of the State and the Seven would be finished, as the Crown would remove the title of 'Protector of the Faith' from its allegiances.

Many believe such a step was only possible because of the shift in the demographic and intellect of the common people. One of the most important duties carried out by the regional septs would be of healing, and over the decades of her reign, Prince Aenys's healers would take over this role, removing the more mystifying and religious aspect of the Faith and the healing arts.

The Healers, called the Crown's healers, had fostered in the populace a sense of loyalty to the Crown that was previously associated with the Faith, and losing that had lessened the Faith's influence beyond their understanding.

And so, for the last eight years, Princess Rhaenyra would rule alone, with Lord Laenor Velaryon serving as the Hand. She would not marry again, despite receiving many offers, but would dedicate her life to the realm, as she would begin one of the most transformative initiatives for the centuries to come.

The Codification of the Laws of Westeros.

It would finish years after, in the reign of her descendants, yet to this day, the first constitution has her signatures on it and is preserved in the famous Royal Museum. To this day, it is considered a masterpiece in its entirety.

0000

RHAENYRA TARGARYEN

She felt old and tired. She had felt so for years now. The tiredness is growing by the day since that accursed day eight years ago when those wretched heathens had robbed her of her other half.

Yet they had burned for their actions, their bodies burnt to a charred husk after herself and Syrax had been through with them. She had not won many friends that day, she would wager she had lost much of the image of the benevolent ruler that she had cultivated over the years, yet she would do so a hundred times again.

"But they say you can heal anything!" a shrill voice interrupted her, and her eyes darted up to her only solace after the death of Gwayne, the remnants of their love, their three children. Aemma, Viserys, and Aenys all stood infront of her as her eldest daughter raged.

"They say you are the greatest healer to ever live! So, help her! Make her better!" her eldest screamed, with reddened eyes, even as Aenys and Viserys tried to halt her outrage, knowing very well that she would regret her words and tone afterward.

"I wish I could do more. If there was anything more I could do, I would have done it. But this ailment is beyond me, beyond anyone in these times," came the aged and seasoned voice of the man who had shaped the realm and herself into what she was.

Despite being a year over fifty, he looked not a day older than a man in his thirties as he stood by her side as he had all these years. His face had changed with the years, yet neither had his skin loosened nor had it the lines that would come with age, though his amethyst eyes reflected his age, as he looked at her daughter with guilt and remorse.

"I don't believe you! You are a liar! I hate you!" and with those words and a sob, she left the room, ignoring her shout.

"AEMMMMAAA!" she shouted, yet she was long gone by then, and her voice too weak to carry across the walls as it had once been when she would run after her little dragon as a babe.

"She did not mean it. She is just worr..." Viserys began. Despite being younger, he was the more well-behaved and responsible of the three.

"I know," her uncle, the fabled Prince Aenys, the Healer Prince, the Oathkeeper, along with a hundred other accolades, spoke softly. She knew very well that despite her outrage and words, the love he held for Aemma and she held for him would never lessen.

"Go see to her. I will stay here," he said, and with a nod, Viserys left the room along with Aenys, running after his sister, who would be crying in the Godswood. Her own daughter had grown to share her own love for the quiet place.

And now she was alone with Aenys, who sighed and sat down beside her. She held his hand, relishing the familiar warmth of it, as she looked him in the eye.

"Do not mind her words. Aemma was just worried about me," she requested as pain erupted in her chest.

"Of course, I know that. You know I could never hold such a thing against a child, let alone Aemma," he said with a smile, and she knew that, of course. The whole realm knew that.

Aenys was a good father and had great love for his children. Yet somehow, the little Princess always occupied a special position in his heart. Even as a girl, she would follow him all over the castle and throw massive tantrums that would only end when he picked her up.

Gwayne would often joke that she had spent more time with Aenys than him, yet he would never be jealous of that. He was like that. He had a heart of gold, and those bastards took that from her.

"I am sorry," Aenys began slowly, his words making her frown.

"In some ways, she is right. They call me the greatest Healer, yet I can do nothing for you, it ju..." and she squeezed his hand, stopping him.

"I do not blame you," she assured him. He had explained her ailment to her, how her own body's defenses had malfunctioned and were now attacking her heart. And she wondered to this day how he knew what he knew, yet she had seen him do things that went beyond her wildest dreams, and so she would take his word for it.

"Despite what they say, you are not a God. You are a human, and you have given me much. Everything I hold today, the throne, my children each, and everything I have is in some part because of you," she said, and it was the truth.

She was not bitter about that; he was her support, the pillar behind her that she could always lean on. Today, the strength and the togetherness enjoyed by the whole family were in major parts because of him and his sacrifices, which could not be counted.

He had taught her everything she knew, from how to rule, how to parent, how to punish, and sometimes how to live. He had been a father to her in ways more than Viserys Targaryen had ever been.

Losing Alicent had been hard on him and on her as well. She was her greatest ally and his one true love. Their story was a sort of fairy tale and was still the talk of maidens and bards all over the realm.

"I can manage the pain, but that is all," he spoke as his lips thinned, and she nodded.

"How long?" she questioned, already resigned to her fate.

"Weeks, maybe a moons. But more than that would be a miracle," and she felt her eyes water at that.

"I had hoped that I would be able to walk Aemma up the aisle in place of Gwayne," she said, and her daughter, despite her various attempts, had yet to settle down on a suitor.

"And so, i request of you as I did before, for a union between Aemma and Aerion," she requested, for she believed this to be the perfect match.

Aerion Targaryen was much like his father. He rode Vermithor, the dragon of the Old King, and was Aenys come again. Aenys had been harsher on his sons, holding them to a higher standard than others, and so they had all grown up to be exemplary lads.

He was troubled by her request, and she knew why.

"You know I promised them that I would not marry them without their will," he said tiredly, and she nodded.

"I know, but he is an honorable boy. He would treat Aemma well" after we both are gone. Yet she did not need to say that.

"As for love, even you and Alicent did not love one another first," she told the secret known only to herself, confided in her by her best friend on her deathbed in the darkness of the night.

And he stilled at her words, his head whipped towards her as she looked him in the eye.

"How do you know that?" he questioned.

"She told me herself, not all. Some secrets she said were yours to tell, but she told me how there was little love in between the two of you when you fought Vhagar for her," and the whole notion was absurd. Fighting a dragon for a woman you don't even love, but just out of duty.

It was absurd and not worthy of the songs as it would be if the two were in love.

"Yet you two grew to love one another, so will they. Aerion is your son, your blood. I have seen him grow up with my own eyes. He is a good boy and one I would trust just as much as I would you," she said, swallowing down as pain erupted in her chest.

"Let me talk to him, if you are uncertain.." and he shook his head.

"No, I shall talk to him myself. I will have the court make preparations for the wedding," he told her, and she smiled, the dread of uncertainty fading as she breathed out in relief.

"Thank you," she said as her eyes darted to the roof.

"I know you miss her, and though it pains me to burden you once more," and she turned towards him once more.

"But please, look after them. Guide them as you once did for me, as a last favor to me," she requested as tears welled up in her eyes.

He nodded as he bent forward and kissed her on the forehead.

"You have my word," and that was enough for the Oathkeeper to keep his word.

He had done so for her own mother.

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'I often think that the 'Era of Queens' would never have been possible without the actions of one man. My father, Aenys Targaryen. For though the second century of Targaryen rule would be marked for the two women who would ascend the throne, it must not be missed that it was he who made it possible. For twelve years, Aenys Targaryen would hold no office, believing himself too old, even though the way the women at court behaved around him told a whole different story.

Despite his age, he was hale and healthy, and when, in 143 AC, Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen succumbed to her illness, once more a Queen would ascend the throne. Breaking the tradition of a male coming before a girl, Aemma Targaryen would ascend the throne with the Prince's firstborn, Aerion Targaryen, as her consort.

This would mark the second major shift in the politics of Westeros, breaking thousands of years of tradition. The realm would be unsettled by this whole ordeal, and it was felt that firmer hands were needed to reign in the lords who once again grew bold, forgetting the 'Burning of the Seven' from a decade ago.

And firmer hands would come, as they had nearly two decades ago, to reign in the squabbling lords who had misgivings about just who held the real power in the realm.'
~Excerpt from the 'Era of Queens' by Denys Targaryen~

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One maybe two more chaps to go.

 

[Drkest]

Chapter 65-Epilogue IV-The END!

For thirteen years, Prince Aenys held no office, focusing on his children and his work as a healer, yet he remained highly involved and acquainted with the Court's affairs. His age doing little to diminish his sharp mind, rather only adding to it.

And so when Queen Rhaenyra would succumb to an ailment of the heart, tradition would be defied once more as her daughter would be named heir after her, counter to the tradition which would have her son, Prince Viserys, two years younger, to succeed after her.

The lords, misguided about their powers and importance, would grumble. Some of the older men still clung to the illusion of power they believed they had been granted in 101 AC when they chose the succession. However, times had changed, and they should have learned to adapt.

The Crown had grown much more powerful in Queen Rhaenyra's reign. That power threatened the hold of the Great Houses, whose hegemony had never truly been tested, even by Aegon the Conqueror, who had decided not to challenge the status quo.

In that illusion of power, three Great Houses would proclaim the calling of a Council, to decide upon the succession, claiming that tradition must be followed and that Queen Aemma step down in favor of her brother Prince Viserys.

To this day, many argue that the letter was written with the Prince's consent, yet a thorough sifting of the histories gives no indication of his involvement in the plot. His later life and relationship with his sister tend to support that Prince Viserys was not involved in this plot.

These Lords were the House of Lannister, House Tully, and House Greyjoy. There were others as well, yet of the Great Houses, these were the most noteworthy. It is speculated that House Hightower was also involved in this plot, and the tensions between the ancient custodians of Old Town and the Crown in the later years somewhat support that argument, yet nonetheless, they were not the initial aggressors.

These three Houses would withhold taxes, with the Greyjoys going so far as to begin raiding once more, attacking the northern shores in a massive attack that broke the King's peace. This all happened within weeks of Queen Rhaenyra's death, and in their mourning, the Crown did not give them a swift response. Yet a response would come, and it would be damaging.

And so four dragons would take to the skies once word of Greyjoy aggression reached the capital, including Prince Aenys's Grey Ghost, which had grown up quite a lot over the years and was said to be only a quarter short of the Great Vhagar. Its rider had once slain.

The Queen would ride Silverwing, and her consort would ride Vermithor, with Lord Velaryon riding his Seasmoke as he commanded the Royal navy from the skies.

They would make for Pyke and the Iron Islands and would unleash upon them the wrath promised by Queen Rhaenyra. The Great Seastone throne would be destroyed, burnt to a crisp by dragonfire as Queen Aemma would stand triumphant infront of a broken Lord Greyjoy.

"You should have listened to my mother's words."

And with that one attack, the other Houses would lay down their arms and beg for mercy as the young Queen would announce the appointment of her new Hand. Prince Aenys Targaryen.

Despite being out of the Council for thirteen years, he would take no time to take up the charge as the lords of the other two houses would be summoned to the capital to answer their crimes.

House Greyjoy and the Iron Islands would be taken up by the Crown, and Prince Viserys Targaryen would be announced as the Governor of these lands.

For House Lannister and Tully taxes would be doubled and hostages will be taken, along with a castle from each region, much to their protest. It was the first Redrawing of the maps since Aegon's conquest, and would be symbolic of the Crown's new prowess.

For House Lannister, it would be the port city of Lannisport, and for the Tully, it would be the castle of Harrenhall, with House Strong of Harrenhall foregoing their fealty to the Tully's and becoming a part of the expanded Crownlands.

And so the realm shall have peace once more. Prince Aenys would expand on his earlier plans, expanding the Crown's holdings in foreign lands through a secret agreement with the Iron Bank. Braavos would have a third Sealord of the decade, with the last one dying due to poison, a feat to this day believed to be carried out by the Iron Bank for his role in the deterioration of the relationship between Braavos and the vaunted Prince Aenys.

The Prince is believed to be the orchestrator behind the Great Burning of Slavery's Bay, which would spell the end of the practise of slavery in this region and allow the Crown to gain a foothold in those foreign lands through his various connections, hence expanding the Crown's influence.

Yet, unlike his previous reign as Hand, he would rule for more than a decade. In 148 AC, the Prince would resign over a disagreement with the Queen over the dispute in the Stepstones, and her consort, King Aerion, would take up his position.

The latter half of Prince Aenys's life is marked greatly by his contributions to the scientific and medical world. Away from the responsibility of his children, who had all grown up, he dedicated his life to the art of healing, writing books, developing medicine, and saving lives.

To this day, nearly five hundred years after their inception, Prince Aenys's medical texts are taught all over the world to budding healers, marking the sheer brilliance of the man. He alone is credited with transforming humanity with his breakthroughs.

He would make leaps in logic that we only now begin to understand, citing many to hail him as a 'Prophet' despite his writings clearly showing his aversion to such a religious title.

After his passing, he would be named 'Saint' and 'Highness' and received many other religious accolades. While his own religious beliefs are often a point of debate to this day, his penchant for not caring about the religion of his patients is a storied fact and a part of the oaths of Healers all over the world.

His writings were immortalized by his successors and, to this day, are preserved and guarded zealously by the Royal family and his 'Red Cross'.

The Prince's empire, based on his medical discoveries, would continue to grow and to this day is the largest privately held enterprise by a family and is still at the forefront of medicine and science, as it is run by the Prince's descendant, Saint Aenys IV.

His role in history, and in shaping up the world as we know it to be is clear to any person who studies history and it if oft said.

'Half of us wouldn't even be alive if was not for the Aenys Targaryen.' A fact that some mathematicians drummed up.

A very interesting practice would be initiated in the Prince's second time as Hand. The Watch would be expanded and would be furnished with weapons of Dragonglass, a dark, brittle material found in abundance in the caves of Dragonstone. For years, no one would be able to see the wisdom in such a fact, and those weapons of black obsidian would remain symbolic only until a violent cold would come guzzling out of the Great North, bringing with itself the Dark Night that threatened to swallow up entire humanity.

King Aegon IV would be the King at the time and would have a walker presented at a Great Council, which would House not only the Lords of the realm but even beyond. The Crown at the time was in a conflict with Braavos, and despite counsel to the contrary, the King would have a representative from the Free City come to the Council as well.

'Death marches on all of us. Hundreds and thousands of dead men impervious to steel. Men, it is the Dark Night, and it is real, and it comes to envelop us all, lest we face it together. The enemy is strong and ancient, yet we are not without help. My Great ancestors foresaw this enemy and had us prepare beforehand. These cold beings impervious to any metal, fall to one thing. Fire. Frozen or Live. And that damned Healer has had us making weapons of 'Frozen Fire' for more than a century.'
(King Aegon IV during the 'Calling of the Dawn')

There are many different records of that speech, yet the above record is from the Royal historian and considered to be the most accurate account.

And so, a truce would be called as the whole world would furnish its best warriors in a gathering at Kingslanding, where a special force would be announced.

The Black Brothers would protect the realm, yet why must they wait for their enemy? Three thousand brave men would go beyond the Wall to put an end to this threat before it could reach their lands. A mistake that would prove to be very costly as the Dark Night would swallow up these three thousand men, adding to its might the strength of some of the finest warriors to grace the Earth.

Humanity would survive and emerge victorious in the end, yet at great cost. Three Hundred thousand would die, including three members of the Royal Family, including King Aegon IV.

Yet I am not here to extoll on the virtues of King Aegon IV, of which the man had many. Nor do I write this to account the events of the second Dawn, for we are here to discuss the man named Aenys Targaryen.

It is this action of furnishing the watch with dragon glass and weapons that, in many minds, cements the Prince as a dreamer. A unique prowess of House Targaryen that allows some of its members to glimpse into the future. The same power saved the Royal House when Daenys the Dreamer warned them of the impending Doom of Valyria.

Some records even show that Aegon the Conqueror possessed the same gift, yet records of that are scarce. Many have credited this rather than the ability to ride dragons as the power that allowed House Targaryen to build an empire, and Queen Rhaenyra II gave us the answer to us in 384 AC.

"Dreams did not make us Kings. Dragons did."

These iconic words were said during the signing of the Dragon accords, a set of rules that would allow only the direct Royal line to bond with dragons after the Great Targaryen Civil War of 380AC.

Now, after the declassification of the last of Prince Aenys's diaries, we learn that it was over this very accord that he resigned from the position of the Hand, giving us a better understanding of Queen Aemma's dying words.

'I should have listened to him. He was right.'

And with that, I pose my ultimate question. If we believe Prince Aenys to be a dreamer, just what exactly did he see in his dreams. Did he see the world of today, shaped by his ideals, or did he see only the second coming of the Dark Night? Or Both? Or Even more?

Yet I believe in one thing, that the vaunted Healer, Prince, Hand, Dragonslayer, Butcher succeeded in his life's purpose, one that should be shared by everyone.

~" He wished only to leave the world in a better state than the one he had been born into." ~
(Excerpt from the Diary of Alicent Hightower-The Light That Shined The Way)

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~The END~

This story began over a year ago. In the year, my life has changed a lot, and I owe much of that change to this story. I began it during a very precarious situation in my life where everything was falling apart, and through the help and support of all the patrons and readers I was able to pull through those tough times.

I have no words to convey my gratitude to all of you for making this possible. I could thank you a million times, and it would not be enough. This was my most extensive project, one very dear to my heart. And now it is over.

For some reason, I did not wish to write this chapter and kept putting it off for some odd reason. This story had been a part of my life for over a year, and now it is complete.

I hope you guys liked this. Sorry for rambling. Appreciate the love.

Tell me what you thought of it! I would love to hear your thoughts!

~Drkest.
~An indiotic rambler.