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112 AC
Kingslanding
Viserys Targaryen
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I almost lost her and it would have been by my own doing, it was not even a Baelon but instead a Visenya. When the choice was put in front of me to save the baby or my wife in the end I picked the baby. I was so certain in the moment of that choice it was meant to be, that the son I saw in my dream was what the realm needed.
I could not stop it once it started and only after the baby was out did I even think of Daeron. I was hesitant to even think about his magic, magic I know nothing about and could have done more harm than good. But after seeing his magic work without a problem and seeing Aemma's breathing even out and color return to her skin I realize I was foolish. He came to me because he knew it would help, he had no reason to do something secretly harmful.
He offered to help once the marriage agreement was made public, and once Rhaenyra was set to be his wife he stepped in. I almost find that alone to be a bit odd as if he somehow knew all along and offered because he knew she was going to be in danger. But he knew Aemma was having a rough pregnancy and that might have been reason enough for him to think to offer his help.
I look around the small council chamber, just last night they brought forward their concern of my succession. With no obvious heir and Aemma being in a state unsure if she will even live Otto thought it was time to bring it up. He brought up Rhaenyra's claim as my firstborn and it was argued about tradition not being broken on one side saying only a man should sit on the throne. Hateful words about my brother were also spoken, a 'second Maegor' is what my hand thinks my brother would be, and sees the realm at risk with him being my current heir.
Daemon is hot-headed and rarely agrees to do his duty but when it really matters he comes through. Even if he ignores his legal wife and can not hold a council position he is still my brother and I will not accept them relating him to Maegor of all people.
"- I have a report I feel compelled to share." I nod toward my hand after leaving my thoughts I drifted to. "Last night Prince Daemon bought out a pleasure house to entertain officers of the city watch and other friends of his..." Here he goes again, once more he tries to drag my brother through the mud.
I look around the room to see the other council member's reaction and notice once more Rhaenyra is missing. I would not doubt if she is with her mother or even her sister but she needs to say something at least. I will visit after this and I will let her know if she is going to miss she needs to say something before she develops a habit.
"-and other such monikers as the 'cockless prince', the night was by all means a celebration of him remaining your heir. I have corroborated this with multiple witnesses, who all confirmed the same thing. Prince Daemon is quite thrilled to have another niece and not a nephew as we all wished. Which further concerns me about your succession that he only stopped by to check the sex of the babe before going off to celebrate as if he won a great battle." I am left a bit speechless at the poor taste that fills my mouth, my wife lay potentially dying and he ran off to be with whores instead of with family.
The idea he would rather celebrate his 'rise' than be with family when we are struck low stings deep. We may be in this position because of my decision but it still hurts that my brother would not even sit by my side during this time. I have not even seen him since the brief moment I spotted him among the people in the room when the door opened. He must have left after seeing Visenya and went straight to his friends.
"What am I to do about this? Cast him down from being my stand-in heir? I have no one to take the place, or I do and no one can accept who it is." I dread the argument that will kick up after my words, but I am surprised to see solemn looks instead.
"Your Grace, I think we all know it is only by precedent that there has never been a Queen on the Iron throne. It is known that the only reason Aegon himself wed his older sister Visenya was to secure his claim. He loved Rhaenys but married Visenya to secure his claim, it would not be unheard of for a Valyrian to have a female heir. You even agreed to marry her to a Martell, the people of Dorne always default to the oldest as well. I do not see what is stopping you from naming Rhaenyra your heir, the great council was an entirely different matter from what is happening now." Lord Corlys speaks up and brings forward some good points I have thought of before on my own when Aemma in the past asked why not name Rhaenyra heir.
Though I can still hear some bitterness when he speaks of the Great Council where his wife was passed over. I understand his point though, Aemma has always said Rhaenyra would make a good Queen. The Realms delight being Queen or the Rogue Prince being made King, it sounds almost obvious when comparing them outright. But many Lords would still have a problem with a female taking the crown, but Corlys is right that the Dornish would have no problem with it. With her husband being a Martell and them also defaulting to the oldest regardless of sex I have no doubt she would have their support.
She would have Dorne's support regardless if I had to guess, it would also simplify the pact made between my House and House Martell. Rhaenyras firstborn would get the Iron throne because it is more important and the second born would get Sunspear and be prince or princess of Dorne. The pact would be complete and Dorne would be joined all in one generation and our two houses would be family going forward. A strong union that will solve the problems of another House having so many large dragons.
"I agree with Lord Corlys, your Grace." I look over to Otto and he is nodding slowly while staring down at his lap. "I stand by what I said before, I do not see Daemon fit to wear the crown. Even if you only appoint Rhaenyra heir temporarily while you settle on someone more fit, it will be better than Daemon. I fear for the realm should Daemon sit on the Iron throne, Rhaenyra on the other hand is not the worst. There will be problems arising because of her sex but they can be solved with time." His words come out sounding truthful but I also feel like they are picked carefully for some reason.
"I also stand by what I said last night, a woman has never sat on the throne and there will be problems caused by naming Rhaenyra your heir. But if you call the Lords to swear fealty to you and your named heir I could see most of the problems disappearing. Right now in the city for the Tourney is a majority of the Lords as well, it is a perfect opportunity." Lord Strong also supports it, his words last night of being concerned about a girl were all true.
But as he says, a majority of the Lords are here in the city and I could call them to swear fealty to Rhaenyra as my heir. I would need to summon the missing ones over time to come and swear as well but this will get the point across I am serious should I go through with it.
I find myself thinking about it more and seeing more benefits to it, I have thought about it before but it never seemed possible. The Great Council made it clear the realm would pick a man over a woman even if she had a 'better' claim. But it has not been the first time Daemon has been brought up to me about him being a problem and I know it will not be the last. I know in my heart he is not suited for being a King.
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I enter my wife's room and find her holding a sleeping Visenya, Rhaenyra is also here and is reading a book aloud for the both of them. She turns and sees me and smiles at me before it stiffens and disappears. It seems Rhaenyra is conflicted about what happened last night, I dread meeting Aemmas eyes.
"How are you?" I manage to ask without my voice failing as I approach the bed and finally meet my wife's gaze.
Her eyes confirm once more to me that she really is alive but they seem pained as she looks up at me standing beside the bed. She looks around the room and nods to Rhaenyra who closes the book and stands up. I see Rhaenyra then head for the door but I clear my throat and wave a hand.
"Rhaenyra I need to talk to you about something that came up, I would ask you to meet me at the skull of Balerion. I should not be too long before I arrive, I do not want to keep your mother from resting." She furrows her brows but nods and heads out of the room, when the door closes I look back at my wife.
"Aemma I am not even sure where to star-." She holds up a hand and I stop seeing her deathly serious look.
"I will not be having another, this was the last as I have told you before. I am not even sure what I want to say to you about what you allowed to happen." She stops and her lips and chin quiver and I feel my eyes burn as tears form. "I have done my best as your wife to both love and support you, I willingly went to the child bed time and time again. Every lost babe only made my heart feel more and more empty, but what you did broke it. I begged you Viserys, I begged." I kneel beside the bed and reach for her hand but she pulls back as if frightened.
"You do not need to worry about it Aemma, you will never need to bare a babe again. I know it may mean nothing after what happened but I truly do love you, it tore me open to make that decision." She shakes her head as tears run down her cheeks and she rocks Visenya back and forth.
"I can't think about it, it hurts to think about it." I nod and bite my lips as she fusses over the baby who also seems to be getting upset. "What happened?" She suddenly asks leaving me confused, she just said she did not wish to talk about it.
"What do you mean, I thought you did not want to talk about it?" She shakes her head once more before looking toward the door.
"You said I do not need to bare another babe, you said not to worry. Something must have happened and you also want to talk to Rhaenyra in private, I wish to know what happened." I nod as my plans to name Rhaenyra my heir run through my mind.
Aemma has always said Rhaenyra would make a good Queen, hopefully, this can show her I will not need a son. She can be at ease knowing Rhaenyra will be my heir and she will never have to birth another child. Instead, we can focus on our new baby girl Visenya and work to put the mistake behind us.