Chapter 46
AEGON TARGARYEN
The oath-taking ceremony had gone as per his expectations as the lords of the realm gathered and swore their allegiance to him as the successors to King Viserys's throne. Most of the Houses were present. Few bent their knees with some grumblings. The reluctance of Ormund Hightower was visible to all, and yet they all bent the knee nonetheless.
All of them except House Velaryon, who chose to ignore the King's call, hence revealing to the entire realm and the world the strife that now existed between the two Houses.
The announcement for his nuptials to Rhaenyra was made the same, and soon enough, the city began its preparations for a Royal Wedding, even as a part of the kingdom found itself embroiled in a war.
The ceremony was set to take place in a bit over a moon's time, for that was the least amount of time needed to prepare for a Royal Wedding. The King wished to see no expense spared for the wedding of his beloved daughter, and the whole realm prepared to take part in this joyous occasion.
His own mother had ridden down from the Vale and was at the capital, playing her own part in the preparations, joining Jeyne as they helped Rhaenyra with all this.
Aegon himself was busier than ever and had pawned off his own parts of the prescriptions to Jeyne and his mother as well. For he had far more important matters to oversee.
He had flown to Braavos as per the initial plan and was quickly able to commission ships for the renewed Royal fleet, and yet trouble came when he spoke of an alliance between their kingdoms. Al alliance against the pirates that now controlled the Stepstones.
He found the Bravosi rather reluctant in allying with him, or the Crown and as he thought of it, he could understand their hesitation.
Already, the Sea Snake himself fought in the Stepstones, with the full might of House Velaryon and House Rogare at his back, along with three dragon riders. It was much more likely for the man to succeed, and if Braavos found itself in an alliance with him, it could irk the Sea Snake, harming their trade.
And Braavosi were traders at first.
But Aegon needed Bravos to ally with him more, for they did not join the Sea Snake in his campaign, making his task of making sure that the man's campaign failed even more difficult than it already was.
And so, after much discussion and assurances, he found himself sitting infront of the Sealord of Braavos, the young Nesteris Varga, a bald man nearly the same age as the King Viserys.
And yet he suffered from none of the king's ailments and follies and was thin and generally healthier than the ruler of the Seven Kingdoms.
"First of all, I must congratulate you on your upcoming nuptials, my Prince. Bravos rejoices at your marriage to Princess Rhaenyra and hopes that it will bring peace and prosperity to both our kingdoms," the man added as Aegon nodded.
"I am thankful for your well wishes, but there is more that you can do to ensure this peace and prosperity than just offering me words." Aegon did not wish to play the little game of politics anymore.
He had to deal with a thousand things all by himself, much like the man sitting opposite him, who seemed a bit taken aback by his directness as Aegon took a sip of the tea that had been prepared for them.
"You are not one for small talk, are you, young Prince?" he added with a smile as Aegon shrugged.
"I thought that a man of your candor would appreciate this more. Neither of us here has much time for games now, do we?" Aegon began, and the man nodded as he leaned back and adjusted his robes. He wore a bog purplish robe that covered his body, and he nodded.
"You wish for to make us an ally in the war against the pirates of the Stepstones," and Aegon nodded.
"Yes, the Seven Kingdoms and Braavos have a shared history of combating against the evil of Slavery. Both of our lands have been equally affected by the piracy that is overrun in the Stepstones, and if we are to maintain order in that damned place, then we must do it together, hand in hand as allies," Aegon offered.
"And what of the Triarchy, the one's who stand behind this infestation of piracy. Both of us know that even if Drahar dies, it will not be much long until another face emerges, carrying on his work," and that was the damning truth.
Most of the piracy in the Stepstones was in ways sponsored by the Triarchy, as it sought to rob Braavos and the Seven Kingdoms of their resources while filling its own coffers.
"The Triarchy, through he cursed the hands of its dog Drahar did the heinous deed of killing a Prince," he began and saw the man's eyes narrow as Aegon put down his cup of tea.
"And they will answer for it in Fire and Blood. I have come here to ask of you to join us in the fight in the Stepstones, for that is our shared plight and hence our shared fight," Aegon offered, as his voice turned cold.
"The Triarchy. Myr, Tyrosh, and Lys, are for House Targaryen to burn and flood with blood for their crimes against House Targaryen. Their fate was sealed the day that Prince Daemon died, and nothing can save them," and he saw the Sealord's eyes widen at that, as his fingers tapped the table.
"I see. But let me ask you one thing, my Prince," he began after a second, and Aegon ahd an inkling just what he was about to ask about.
"Yes," he agreed nonetheless.
"You sit here, and ask me to ally with you. Yet your own kin, the Velaryons have joined hands with slavers of Lys and fight against Drahar in the Stepstones, I find it odd that House Targaryen would ask us to ally with it, while it could do the same with House Vealryon," and that was the biggest concern for them all.
"House Velaryon's campaign is one they have launched arbitrarily. It is one that the Crown has cautioned them against," and the rift between their Houses was known to all. There was no need to hide it.
"Does it not threaten the Royal House then? What would happen if House Velaryon were to succeed in this campaign?" he asked and Aegon looked the man in the eye, as he leaned back and began with a raised brow
"I have answered so many of your questions. Why don't you answer one of mine own?" he asked and the man frowned as Aegon smiled.
"You ask me what will become of House Targaryen if the Velaryons succeed. A valid question, but I ask you this," and he leaned forward as he asked with a smile.
"What will become of the Iron Back and Braavos if the Rogares succeed," and it was for a moment, but the man's nostrils flared at that insinuation as he continued.
"The bond between House Targaryen and House Velaryon goes past thousands of years. We may have our differences, but we are kin. Yet the Rogares are no kin to you, and if they are victorious in the Stepstones, then I think it could turn into quite some trouble for your Iron Bank, won't it?" he asked, and he had them.
Braavos had thought that it could dictate the terms of their alliance. The nerve of these up jumped traders. They thought that they could play them against House Velaryon and dictate the terms of this alliance.
Aegon would never let them do that.
"So, Sealord. Let us discuss terms, or I assure you, House Targaryen can find itself many allies for this war, or better yet," and he smiled as he continued.
"We might forego them all and fight it all on our own," and the man asked.
"And what of House Velaryon's war? What will become of it?" he asked, and Aegon sighed.
"House Velaryon is but a victim here. The Seasnake has found himself ensnared by the cunning Rogares who wish to rule over both Myr and Tyrosh. And yet they all underestimate the might of Tyrosh and Myr," he answered.
"Their war will end in failure. I am sure of it...."
.
.
.
.
The terms of the alliance were decided, and the meeting came to an end. Aegon walked out of the Sealord's palace, yet he did not leave for Kingslanding just yet.
Mysaria and Larys were both building their network inside Lys and the Velaryon forces. He had a substantial sway in the rank and file there, but still, the momentum was with House Vealryon and Lys.
And for his gamble to work, Aegon needed that momentum to shift. And so, as a part of the alliance, he was able to lower the cost of construction for the Crown's new fleet by quite a big number, saving himself a lot of gold.
Gold that could now be employed for a greater and better purpose. And so he walked through the streets of Braavos and took a boat until he reached his final destination. A secluded temple on an island, isolated from the rest.
Its doors were black and white, mismatched, like its name, each made of different wood. As Aegon pushed them apart, he entered empty Halls, with walls decorated with facets of many Gods, each one a representation of death itself.
He reached the pool in the center of the room and watched his own face in the reflection in the water before suddenly. Another man stood behind him a blink later.
"Why have you come here?"
"I come here seeking the gift of death," he answered as he looked at the man's mismatched eyes through the water.
"For whom?" came the question.
"Lysandro Rogare...."
0000
RHAENYRA TARGARYEN
The preparations for the Royal Wedding were in full swing. After so much death and suffering, the King wished to see his daughter wed in a memorable ceremony, and planned to spare no expense towards it.
The whole castle did not sleep, given that they had little time to prepare. Though the preparations were not as rushed as one would think, given that the announcement for the wedding may have been made days ago, the Council knew of the King's intentions for several weeks and had been making preparations as such.
Rhaenyra herself was oblivious to what needed to be done and had never felt the lack of her mother and her friend so deeply than in these times. Yet, much to the surprise of the court the Lady Rhea Royce had ridden down to the capital from the Vale, and was now trying to fulfill the role her own mother would have.
Jeyne joined Aegon's mother, and Rhaenyra was never more thankful for her presence as she found herself so out of depth with everything that was going on around her.
From sunrise to sunset, her days were filled with dress fittings, jewelry selections, baths, scrubs, audiences, feasts, fittings, and so much more. And despite the initial excitement, she was getting tired.
"Rhaenyra, Rhaenyra..."Jeyne's voice broke her out of her trance. She quickly shook her head to push away the thoughts and smiled at her cousin.
"Yes," she answered as they sat in a chamber, with a merchant showing them his fragrances, and she had never really cared that there were so many.
And there were many.
"Try this," Jeyne said as she pushed forward a small pillow laced with what seemed to be the smell of roses.
"Too sharp," she replied after a small whiff, and her cousin nodded.
"That is the last one," she added, and the merchant was quick to intervene,
"I have many more fragrances that I could show you. Give me a day, and I will have them all brought to the castle," he insisted as he rubbed his hands, and of course, he did.
"Why can't I just use the one that I normally do?" she asked, and the maids around her giggled devilishly as Jeyne shook her head.
"It's your wedding, Rhaenyra. It has to be special, unique, and new," she added as she turned towards the merchant.
"Bring the rest with you when you come tomorrow, and leave these here for the day," she ordered. The man was quick to agree, getting up and leaving as Rhaenyra sighed and let herself fall back on the bed where she sat.
"I cannot stand two more weeks of this," she whispered as Jeyne chuckled.
"Most people I know would be excited about all this. You are the only girl who will complain about having this much choice and opportunity," she said, though she wondered if most girls felt their mother's absence more and more with every passing day.
Or the whispers of their friend as they chose every dress and jewel.
"Well, I am not like most girls," she answered as Jeyne, as Jeyne joined her on the bed.
"You are the Realm's Delight," she teased, and she rolled her eyes.
"Soon enough, you might be sitting in my place helping your own daughter with all of this," and the words made her still as she thought about that. She knew what this wedding entailed, what its purpose was.
Children. Heirs to secure her and Aegon's claim against the rising threat of the Velaryons.
That was the intent behind this match, and she often wondered if she was even ready to be a mother. Or rather, what was it meant to be a mother?
"Maybe, though I think I would rather pawn it all off to you," she added, and Jeyne chuckled.
"Then I will be happy to help my niece," Jeyne added with a chuckle as she held her hands, making her tilt her head as she looked into the eyes of the ruler of the Vale.
"What troubled you?" she asked softly, and there was much that troubled her.
The Vealryons troubled her. The thought of being a mother worried her. All these preparations worried her. But most of all, her heart worried her.
When she had, agreed to this match, she had known that there might be little love between her and Aegon. But she had hoped that times would change that, and yet, with every passing day, she felt as if she was wrong.
She did not regret the decision. And he was doing his own part in all this, doing his own preparations for the wedding while hammering out an alliance with Braavos, and on top of all that, secretly dealing with House Velaryon and their success in the Stepstones.
Compared to him, her burden was far lighter.
"I sometimes wonder if I would have felt as numb if I was marrying someone else," she asked, and if Alicent had been alive, she would have confided her thoughts in her friend, sought her council, and while she was no more her shadow still hung over her and Aegon's relationship.
He had never brought her up, yet she could see the difference in his smiles and the dullness of that gaze. It did not pain her as she had thought, but still, was she any different?
"Why do you say that?" Jeyne asked softly, and she was so relieved at having her beside her, at having someone she could trust.
Lady Rhea, generous and genial as she was, was Aegon's mother. While she knew that the woman cared for her, Aegon was her son, and she always cared for him the most.
Jeyne and Aegon were friends, but Jeyne was her cousin by blood. In their short time together, their relationship deepened unlike any other as they helped each other through their times of grief.
"I do not know," she whispered as she looked into her eyes.
"Sometimes, I feel as if there might never be love between me and Aegon," and she saw the words still Jeyne, who shrugged.
"Has he said anything? Done anything?" she asked sharply, and Rhaenyra shook her head.
"No. He has made time for me despite his troubles. He seeks my council and shares my burdens," and he did. He did it all, and yet it loathed her that she was speaking as such.
"He has been as perfect as one can be," she added, and Jeyne sighed.
"Then you need not care. Aegon is not one to break his oaths. He will never shame you. And though I doubt that there might never be love between you, there will always be respect and companionship between you two," she added, and she hoped that.
"He will never betray this marriage," Jeyne assured her, and she knew that. She knew it in her heart, and it was what troubled her most.
For a dark thought rose in her heart. As she sated into the blue eyes of her cousin as she caressed her face.
"I know," and left the darkest part unsaid.
"...but I might...."
0000
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