Chapter 5
VISERYS TARGARYEN
The Great Council of 101AC had left the realm with a divide that existed to this day. A divide that should have been eradicated years ago, if not for the constant tragedies faced by him.
It was a tragedy that despite being over ten years into his reign, the King had yet to have an heir of his own. Though Daemon was his heir, he was not blind to his brother's faults, though he considered them to be less of a problem, unlike the rest of the court.
Yet the realm needed an heir. He needed an heir, yet the Gods had been cruel to him and the love of his life. Five times she had gotten with child, yet none had lived beyond their infancy and he had no son of his own to call a Prince.
Yet this time would be different. He could feel it, the news of Queen's pregnancy had rekindled his hope, and he had an inkling that this would be the time. That he would finally have his Prince, he would finally have a son of his own.
After all, their family was known for their dreams, and he had seen it in his dreams, clear as a day, seeing himself placing a crown atop his child's head.
And so, to welcome his heir, he had organized a tourney in his name, the greatest the realm had yet seen to welcome the Prince and heir of the realm.
"Was it truly necessary?" he asked his wife as she sat in her bed, asking about how she had forced him to write a letter to the Vale, demanding the presence of the realm's only Prince to the capital.
Aegon Targaryen, his brother's son had only inflamed the rift already present between his brother and his Lady wife, though through no fault of his own. And citing him as an insult to himself, his brother had left Runsetone and had never stepped foot back there despite various attempts of his own and their kin.
His lady wife had proven herself to be equally stubborn and had kept his son away from him over the years, and despite him nearly becoming an adult, the Prince had yet to step foot in the capital.
However, that would change, with Aemma and Rhaenyra forcing his hand in sending a rather stern letter to the Lady of the Vale and Lady Royce over making sure that Aegon came to the capital on this celebratory occasion.
"It was. Aegon is Rhaenyra's cousin and my nephew, let alone Prince of the realm; he must at least come to meet us for once," she replied sharply, and that was the end of the argument; he had long learned never to argue with her when she was so sharp with her words.
"But you are aware of the situation with Daemon," he added, and she nodded.
"And that is where you should rein him in. He is your brother, and Aegon is his son, let alone your nephew. I still do not get why he is so cold to his own son, especially one as accomplished as this," she said.
And that was another reason he had never truly pushed hard against this. For Aegon was a Prince, a Prince who could affect the balance of power at court, shifting it either way. And then there was the fact that Aegon represented everything he did not have. The boy's fame nearly rivaled that of his own father.
Daemon was famous throughout the realm as the Rogue Prince, and his skill with a blade was revered by thousands. And his blood had burnt true, with Aegon having been knighted barely into his teens for rescuing Lady Jeyne and putting down the rebellion from one of her cousins.
According to the rumors, the child had slain more than half a dozen men, and had defeated the leader of the rebellion himself, and at the end of it was drenched in the blood of his enemies from head to toe and so had gained a moniker nearly as pompous as his father.
'The Bloody Prince'
And that had not been the end of his infamy. As a surprise to many, the young Lady Arryn named him reagent despite his age, and the young Prince flourished in the position. In a short three years, he had brought many changes to the land while accomplishing a task considered impossible by many: putting down the Mountain Clansmen.
"And what of his reputation? You must be aware of the rumors about him," and those worried him the most. He tried to keep away from such filth, but for such rumors to have spread about someone so young was concerning.
"Lies, all of them." Aemma waved away his concern.
"Lies perpetuated by those jealous of him. Jeyne and I have been conversing for years now, and She has never brought up anything of the sort of filth we hear about him. On the other hand, according to her, she has not yet someone as noble and as capable as him in her life," she remarked, and he did not know just how much he could trust those words.
Yet it was not as if he had any other choice.
"I just want you to reign in Daemon. I know that you love your brother, but this is his son, there is no reason for this animosity between them," she pleaded weakly and there was little he could ever deny her.
"I will talk to him," though that would have to wait until he showed up at court.
"Rhaenyra has been wanting to meet him for years as well," she added with a smile.
"I know she basically ran out of the Council room when she learned of his arrival," he mentioned lovingly, recalling the excitement on his daughter's face when he had told her off the letter from the Eyrie.
"Well, let us hope everything goes well," he said.
"It will."
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AEGON TARGARYEN
Runestone and its subsequent lands had been his home for the initial years of his life. The ancient seat of House Royce was carved into the edge of a hill overlooking the Eastern Sea, with a tower arching up into the skies, often acting as a beacon for their ships to guide them at night, and during storms.
Despite its history, Runestone was not as rich as its Southern counterpart, the seat of teh Graftons, which had gained a city charter for Gulltown, and though House Royce had enough political pull to get such a charter for themselves, he felt that it was unneeded given that a city would destroy the natural beauty of the land.
Yet that did not mean that improvements did not need to be made, and so using his influence and wealth, he had over the years begun making small changes in the countryside, changes that showed as saw a buzzing market near their ports with many ships flying the Bronze banner of their own House.
Even now, construction was going on near the shores where a better harbor was being prepared, and a set of paths leading deep into Royce territory now led out of their bays, safer and better than they ever had been.
The smallfolk greeted and bowed to him as he rode past them. The castle inched closer and closer before he passed through the gates and was greeted by the Maester of the castle.
"Hellwig," Aegon greeted the old man, who smiled at him.
"My Prince, it is good to see you hale and heart on your return," the old man said as Aegon passed his horse to the stable masters and began to walk with the Maester.
"I must congratulate you on your successful campaign against the mountain clansmen. You have made the whole of Runestone proud with your achievements," and Aegon smiled at the praise.
Hellwig was a master, born in these very lands to a minor lord before being sent off to the Citadel to forge his chains, the man had a curious mind and had helped Aegon much in his earlier exploits.
"Thank you, Helliwig, but may I ask where Mother is?" he asked, as did the old Maester.
"You know Lady Rhea, she is out hunting. Had we heard word of your arrival, she would have stayed to welcome you, but we were not expecting you for another day." Helliweg added and Aegon was not as bothered by this.
"I didn't wish to waste much time and rode into the nig..." and before he could continue, he heard the horns go off behind him, making both him and the master stop as they turned towards the yard once more.
"Lady Rhea is back," the master added. They walked back and saw a small group of men riding back into the castle, led by a woman clad in light armor riding atop a white stallion. Her dark hair was cut rather short and bound behind her, with her grey-searching eye landing on him as she pulled her horse to a halt.
"Aegon," she said with a smile as she jumped off the horse and walked briskly towards him.
"You are here early. We were not expecting you till tomorrow," she said as she came in and hugged him. Aegon wrapped his own arms around her.
Truthfully, it would be a stretch to call Lady Rhea Royce an ideal mother, or even a person for that matter. She was prideful, unyielding yet loving in her own way. They had long learned that he was not a usual child, and being her only son and babe, she herself had never truly understood what was normal for a babe.
Though to her credit she was not blind to her faults, and had always only wished the best of him identifying his desire for independence and supporting him as she had him page for her father, and learn the ways of the court instead of stifling him.
"I decided to trek the mountains and found myself a new path. It is shorter than the one we use, and can cut down travel time by two-tenths," he replied and saw her shake her head.
"You and your damned paths. How many times have I asked you not to put yourself in danger like that," she chided him, though her tone was much softer as she looked him up and down. Though the indulgent tone told him that she had long given up on
Lady Rhea was a tall woman, her height way above the average for a woman, and now, with the years past, he was finally a bit taller than her.
"Have you broken your fast?" she asked, and he shook his head.
"I arrived a few moments before you," he answered, and she nodded.
"Then we shall breakfast together. I will be waiting for you in the Hall," and with that, she led him not to the castle again as they began to talk animatedly about various matters.
...
"I believe you must have read the King's letter," she mentioned as they sat down in her solar; the day had passed rather quickly with him going over to see his many projects and overseeing the various adjustments that were needed along with making preparations for his eventual departure from Runestone.
"I have," he answered.
He could tell that she was hesitant, that her eyes continued to shift, and that she was sighing every few seconds.
"What worries you, mother?" he asked.
"You are smart enough to know already," she answered, and he nodded.
"Daemon," he answered, and she nodded.
"You need not worry about that. I will be just fine," he assured her, and he would be.
Daemon Targaryen had been wholly absent from his life, and he had yet to see a glimpse of the man. However, many often said that his features resembled his father's.
"I know, but I did not mean it like that," she continued, making him frown.
"Daemon, he..." and she felt him hesitate before she sighed and shook her head.
"Just know that no matter what happens or what he may say, you are my son, that you are my heir, and there is not a day I regret having you as either," she assured him, and that was the most motherly thing she had ever said to him.
"I know," he answered with a smile. He saw her give him a nod before she stood up and picked up something from the stand.
"I have heard that the King is arranging a Grand tourney as a celebration of the birth of his heir. And though it is your choice to participate in it or not, if you do decide to do so, then you should do so bearing this," and with that, he recognized it for what it was.
Lamentation.
The Valyrian steel blade of House Royce.
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