Chapter 7
AEMMA ARRYN
Aemma Arryn had known that she would be a Princess when she was eleven when a match was decided for her with the son of Prince Baelon, Viserys Targaryen. She was born to Daella Targaryen, one of the Old King's daughters. She was timid in nature and a gentle soul who was quite a headache for her sires.
Aemma was not like her mother, and despite the various resemblances they shared, she was not timid. Viserys had won the throne from his cousin Rhaenys in the Great Council, and to this day, a shadow hung over his reign, cast by the lack of a proper heir. A shadow that grew ever larger over the years because of her constant failures to provide him an heir.
A Shadow that would grow ever stronger with the arrival of one Aegon Targaryen to the capital, and how lucky she thought Lady Rhea and Daemon to be for despite their animosity, their single night of physical confinement had produced something she had toiled and failed to do so for years.
An heir.
Aegon Targaryen was not born a Prince. No, that title would be conferred upon him only later by the command of the Good Queen, who would fail in her various efforts to try and mend the relationship between Lady Rhea and Viserys's brother, but to no avail. She was the only person of the Royal family to have laid eyes on the Prince, having flown to Runsetone thrice and, in her last visit, conferring on him the title of the Prince of the realm.
As she looked at the boy, she could only smile as she saw him standing beside her daughter. His face, despite the clear difference in their eyes and hair, recalled her father from his youth.
Aegon, unlike his sire, was more partial to his mother's lineage in those, born with the dark hair of the Royces and their faint grey eyes, though she did not miss the hints of purple in them as he bowed infront of her.
"It is good to see you, Prince Aegon; I hope you did not find the welcome lackluster; the King is busy with his councilors," she began and saw the Prince shake his head as he stood tall once more.
"I believe only a fool would find a welcome by the Princess and the Queen lackluster," he said with a soft smile, and at least he was more fluent in courtly terms than his own father.
She motioned for him to sit down.
"It is good to finally have you with us, Prince Aegon. You have evaded the city masterfully for quite some time," she teased, and the Prince seemed abashed at that.
"Such a coincidence was by destiny, not design. Various matters in Vale have kept me occupied over the years," he made an excuse, and that was only partly through.
He could have been summoned to the capital at any time had the King truly wished so. The truth was that despite the attempts, Viserys and many in his own court were reluctant to have him in court.
Viserys, because of the shadow Aegon's presence would cast on her and Rhaenyra, and the others because of the fear of how his presence would disturb the balance of power at court.
"He is not quite like the rumors, is he, Mother," Rhaenyra teased as the servants brought them refreshments, freshly baked cakes, and tea. Rhaenyra's eyes were following teh cake conspirationally and she would have chided her for that, yet she decided to let it go, not to affect her image infront of their guest.
"And what would rumors be?" he asked as he took the cup from the servant and thanked them, his mannerism perfectly polite and showing his difference from his father.
"Rhaenyra..." she chastised her daughter, who shrugged apologetically as she gave her a sharp glare.
"It is nothing..."
"Rumors that I am a bloodthirsty warrior who enjoys drinking the blood of his enemies," the young boy added, and she saw his eyes sharpen for just a moment before that sharpness vanished in a polite smile as he continued.
"Or the rumors about me being a perfect and prodigious knight," he asked, and Rhaenyra was caught off guard by that.
And there were more, and if he knew of them, then he would definitely know of the others either, and of just how he and his mother were mentioned by the Rogue Prince, and that was a danger.
"Why dont you tell us the truth yourself, then Aegon?" she came to her daughter's rescue, and the Prince shrugged.
"I much prefer my tea's to blood, and I am nowhere the knight I am often made out to be, even Willam, my cousin is better than me with the blade," he replied, and she hardly believed that to be true.
"Yet it is you who defeated the Mountain clansmen, not Ser Willam," she added, as did Rhaenyra.
"Yes, mother is right," she agreed.
"Well, that was a very long and drawn-out campaign, and that victory belongs to the knights of Vale just as much as it belongs to me. After all, it was their perseverance that won us the battle, I only played my part," he said modestly as Rhaenyra began to ask him more details of the campaign, as she continued to observe him.
Having Aegon come to the capital was a well-thought-out step. And as much as she loathed the politics and the plots at court, she knew that with her status and blood, it was impossible to avoid them.
She had written to her cousin to get a measure of Daemon's son, for it was true that there were many rumors about him, rumors that questioned his parentage to his nature. And answers she did receive, filled with praise for the young Prince who had defended her cousin's life at his own peril.
Jeyne had been full of praise, and she would have thought she besotted with him if not for the fact that she knew of her preferences.
And with her mind made, she had pushed Viserys to have him finally come to the capital, and as she watched him talk away with her daughter, she believed that perhaps the future was not so bleak after all.
"Aemma," and suddenly, she turned her head and found Viserys standing there, his ever-loyal hand right behind him, hiding in the shadows, as Aegon rose to his feet.
"Your gra..."
"You are finally here, Aegon," Viserys said in a booming voice as he approached Daemon's young brood and gave him a small hug.
"I am, as you ordered, your grace," spoke Aegon as the King looked at his face.
"Seven above, you are the spitting image of Daemon from back in the years," she said, and she saw Aegon's smile falter at his words. It was subtle and spoke of his self-control, and apart from herself, no one else noticed this.
"The Lady Jeyne sends her apologies. She is quite distraught that she could not join in on the festivities that you have arranged," the Prince said as he passed a message to her husband.
"Indeed, a shame. It would have been nice to have her with us, but perhaps she could come later," Viserys added as his hand stepped forward and whispered something in his ear.
"I believe duty calls me. A retinue from the Riverlands has just arrived. I must go and see to that, but we shall have a family gathering in your honor, a celebration of your arrival in our city," Visrys said, not missing the opportunity to throw a feast.
"You must be tired from your journey. So, rest up. Quarters have been prepared for you and your men," and with that, Viserys left, leaving her with a small kiss.
"Viserys is right. You should rest, Aegon," she offered, and the young boy nodded.
"Rhaenyra lead him to his quarters," she said, and her daughter nodded as he rose to her feet.
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VISERYS TARGARYEN
Viserys could feel the tension in the room, as everyone gathered for the family dinner. Dishes were being served, and the atmosphere seemed cordial enough, except it truly was not, for Daemon had said nothing until this point.
His greeting with his son had been nothing but a short one, the reply of which had been an equally short and curt greeti ng, before he had tried to engage the young boy in a conversation to lighten the mood.
And though, the young boy resembled his father much in his features, they were different. Aegon was more humble, and humility was a character none would assosciate with Daemon.
"So, you have finally decided to come out of your mother's grasp!" Daemon teased, and the room immediately quieted down. Aegon turned away from her father and towards Daemon with a glare.
"What did you say?" Aegon questioned. To this point, she had found him to be jovial and soft-spoken, yet his tone at that time reminded her much of Daemon himself, who simply smirked.
"I said, what kind of a man are you that it took you all these years to get out away from your mother's skirts," he spoke teasingly.
"And what would you know of being man, Prince Daemon?" Aegon retorted sharply, and Daemon's smirk vanished in an instant. And Viserys decided he had to cut in.
"Watch your tone, boy!" Daemon spoke in rage as he rose to his feet.
"Daemon!" "Aegon!"
"I am watching it, unlike you, whose loose tongue wags from one corner to another," Aegon retorted.
"I was right about you," Daemon added with a smirk.
"You are no dragon. You are simply a male iteration of my Bronze..." And before Daemon could finish his word, Viserys was also on his feet.
"Brother!" he cut Daemon off as he raised his hand.
Aegon had also sprung to his feet, his hand grasping a knife as Rhaenyra and his Kingsgaurd tried to restrain him.
"Finish that word, and you will see just how much of a dragon I am," Aegon snarled, and at that moment, he seemed more like Daemon than he had ever since they had met today.
His brother smirked, and before he could open his mouth.
"Daemon!" he warned again and saw him turn towards him as he shook his head.
"You will cease this nonsense at once," he said. Daemon smirked but nodded before he turned towards Aegon.
"So you do have a bit of my blood in you, a shame that much of it has been tainted by my Bro..." and he stopped himself as he raised his hands placatingly towards him.
"...my lady wife's lineage," and with that, he walked away out of the room.
"I am afraid you will have to excuse me. I am not in the mood for a meal," and the guards made to stop him, but he beckoned them to let him go.
He sighed as he turned towards Aegon, who was glaring at the retreating form of Daemon.
"Settle down, Aegon. I apologize for Daemon's behavior," he began, trying to placate the boy, who nodded.
"There is no need for your grace. Rumors about Prince Daemon's loose tongue are known even in the Vale," he said with a scoff as he sat down and bit his lip at that.
He had hoped that this would not have happened. He had talked to Daemon about this before, yet his brother had continued to ignore him.
Then Aemma intervened, asking Aegon about his preference for food, and the evening continued. Yet the mood remained somber, and Viserys went out and issued a summon for his brother, yet only to learn that Daemon had long left the castle and was deep in the city in a brothel.
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