Daemon let his eyes wonder around the solar; much like everything else in High Tide, and every other castle, holdfast or keep he visited, the one who designed it tried their best to exude power, wealth and authority in their offices.
All politics in Westeros is just a dick measuring contest.
The desk, as identified by Otto, was made of Ironwood imported from the North, the floor and walls were the same kind of white polished stone, a certainly expensive large Myrish rug was placed on the floor with seahorse etched into the patterns and behind the desk where Corlys sat before them was a large glass window showing a view of the causeway which connected them to Driftmark proper, with silver curtains hanging from either side.
The light from the blue sky shun into the solar, white clouds dotted above the vast coastline of the island creating a picturesque image.
A servant poured red wine into sliver goblets and placed them next to both Daemon and Otto as Corlys sipped from his, the servant bowing his head before quickly leaving.
"Do you like the view?" Corlys asked them, his views glancing over to them "I had my solar built facing the west so I could have a view of the sunset and bathe the room in an orange glow, it is truly a wonderous sight."
That is pretty neat design to be fair.
"After visiting the Eyrie I can see you have taken inspiration from the Arryn's castle." Daemon said "A fine choice."
"Yes, I had been fortunate to see the Eyrie before when I was a younger man, it is a sight to behold." Corlys said, he turned to Otto "I had also taken inspiration in the great city of Oldtown too when it had grown from naught but a fishing village."
"I would love to visit someday." Otto said before taking a sip of his wine. "Let us discuss the issue at hand." He said, getting to the reason behind their tense visit.
"There is no issue as far as both I and Princess Rhaenys see it." Corlys said. "Laenor is the heir to the Iron Throne, when his Grace passes then Laenor shall be King." Daemon was about to open his mouth when Corlys continued speaking "I also understand that, for the sake of stability of the realm, Laenor will take the name of his mother's House upon his ascension to the throne."
Wow how gracious of you…
Daemon bit his cheek "Baelon was the King's heir, his Grace had granted him the title 'Prince of Dragonstone' before his passing, it would only be right that the title and heirdom to the throne be passed down to his eldest son, Viserys." Otto spoke. "Had Prince Baelon not suddenly and tragically died then Viserys would have been his undisputed heir."
Corlys focused on Otto "And had Prince Aemon not been struck by an arrow in Tarth meant for Lord Cameron then Rhaenys would be his heir and Laenor after her." He pointed out "We could discuss possibilities all we want but it would not change what is true."
"Perhaps it is true that in another life Rhaenys would have been Princess of Dragonstone." Daemon spoke, he hoped to ease Corlys and try to meet him halfway. "But we do not live in such a life, for one reason or another my grandsire chose my father as his next heir, perhaps it was not right, but now there is an expectation by many lords in Westeros that Baelon's eldest son follow him."
"I am not blind to the political happenings and thoughts of lords in Westeros, Prince Daemon." Corlys countered "I acknowledge that many will have seen Viserys as Baelon's heir but men can have their minds changed." He took another sip from his cup "Might I also add that not all the lords of Westeros share this view."
"We are aware that you have supporters within the Seven Kingdoms who share the view that Laenor should be heir." Otto said "But that is not the view held by the majority of lords; many will see this as a usurpation of the rights to Prince Baelon's sons."
"Do not speak to me of usurpation or rights, Lord Hand." Corlys scoffed "Where was this talk when his Grace passed over his granddaughter when even the Good Queen spoke in favour of her?" he glanced over the two of them "And you speak of Baelon's sons yet I see only his youngest speaking on his eldest brother's behalf, should he not be here to argue his rights as heir?"
Daemon shut his eyes for a moment, trying to extinguish the anger that consumed his chest; it seemed the old Daemon had taken the last comment to heart. "My brother has other matters to attend to; I am sure you are aware my grandsire is not in the best health in his old age and with the lord Hand not in the capital, it falls to him to hold court and meetings."
Looks like it was a good call to not have him go too.
"Viserys has a daughter, yes? The Princess Rhaenyra?" Corlys asked, Daemon narrowed his eyes while the old Daemon burned in inferno by his heart "I understand the significance of both the grandsires of Laenor and Rhaenyra being the King's two eldest sons, both of whom each had a time as heir, let us unite this claims instead through marriage, she can become Queen and Viserys grandson will one day rule the Seven Kingdoms."
Daemon felt uncomfortable, it was the same discomfort that plagued him when Gunthor suggested the idea of forcing to marry Arnold to Jeyne.
Laenor and Rhaenyra wouldn't want to marry each other.
He had known that much from both what he had read; Laenor loved another, Joffrey Lonmouth, and Rhaenyra had an affair with Harwin Strong.
Would they even tolerate Rhaenyra trying to pass off someone else's children as Laenor if he sat the throne? If there was no Baela or Rhaena to betroth them too?
Despite what he knew from his own knowledge of what had happened, both he and Daemon seemed to be aligned on the thought.
No… it would be different and maybe worse.
His head started to hurt, he could now barely hear what was being discussed; Otto's voice was muffled as he spoke to Corlys, what he spoke of Daemon didn't know. All he could thing of was how at each turn it seemed there would be this crisis of power for the world's ugliest chair.
Gods, will someone try and put Baelor on that thing?
He rubbed his head and tried to fight back the headache, the voices around him becoming clearer.
"What say you, Prince Daemon?" Corlys spoke, Daemon snapped his head up and looked at him.
"Pardon me, my head started to hurt, strange it is usually my chest." Daemon excused "Forgive me, I didn't quite hear what was spoken.
"The Lord Hand was saying that while your position remains that Viserys should be heir, we may form a tentative agreement of betrothing both Laenor and Rhaenyra together." Corlys explained.
"Mayhaps we should not jump to soon to these kind of agreements yet?" Daemon suggested, almost blurting it out, earning a curious look from both Corlys and Otto; quickly he tried to find a rationale "It would be better to have betrothals as sealing an alliance than the foundation first, it seems like such a big point to make when we still need to explore other terms, yes?"
God please…
"Perhaps… until the matter of who is the heir is decided then we shall hold back on marriage proposals." Corlys said, Daemon tried not to breathe out a sigh of relief while noticing Otto clench his jaw, almost visibly frustrated. "We can start off with smaller concessions then?"
"That is more than fine." Otto said "His Grace, with the backing of the Small council, is willing to reinstate you as Master of Ships once more."
"That is acceptable." Corlys said "Of course there will be smaller details we shall need to hammer out but that can be a certainty."
"Very good." Daemon wrote down the first point on a piece of parchment.
"Anything else?" Otto asked.
"I wish for House Velaryon to have control over the Narrow Sea." Corlys stated, Daemon sucked in some air through his nose while Otto stared at Corlys.
"Elaborate."
"I wish to extend Velaryon control not just over Driftmark but it's surrounding waters too." Corlys explained "That shall include control over the Narrow Sea."
"The Narrow sea is not only used by House Velaryon, dozens of houses use it and then there are the free cities and the Triarchy." Otto pointed out.
"That is the point." Corlys said "Trade into King's Landing comes through Driftmark, what I desire is the ability to protect these vital shipping lanes."
"You can do that as Master of Ships." Daemon said.
"And when I am gone? Corlys asked "What of future Lords of the Tides who do not hold this position, what can they do if something threatens our existence and the Small council does nothing? I promise you, that my house shall have the best interest of the realm at heart, but I am not foolish enough to believe the realm has the same for us; we must protect what we have." Corlys then tapped his fingers against his desk "Secondly, Spicetown is to be priority trading city for ships looking to enter into the Blackwater bay."
Both Daemon and Otto were silent; this would be a massive concession to make and might effectively make the position 'Master of Ships' useless if not held by a Velaryon and also try and bolster their existing wealth to a ridiculous degree. To anyone else they would have scoffed at this; clearly the Sealord was trying to take a mile when they offered an inch. But yet…
If he's willing to ask for something this big… then maybe he can be moved?
"We accept." Daemon spoke, Otto looked at him and shut his eyes for a brief moment before nodding his head and then taking a gulp of wine from his cup as Daemon wrote down that point.
"Excellent." Corlys said, clasping his hands together.
"There are some finer details we would suggest on this." Otto quickly spoke "Firstly, there must be a hard limit on Velaryon ships and galleys entering the Blackwater bay; I believe no more than fifteen will suffice."
"I can agree to that." Corlys said.
"Secondly, if Spicetown is to be treated as one of the major cities of Westeros than taxes on goods and luxuries will increase as trade into the city increases." Otto said. "We can go over the details but that will be non-negotiable."
"I accept." Corlys said.
For the rest of the day the three of then hashed out the details to these first two points of their agreement. Corlys had been right, the sunset in the west was a wonderous thing, even if the light did get in his eyes. Once that had been done the three decided to call it a night, plans to continue the talks later tomorrow.
As soon as they stepped out of the office and stepped out of sight of the guards and servants did Otto grab Daemon by the shoulder "My Prince, please forgive me for this, but must I remind you that we meant to be a united force; we cannot risk undermining each other."
Daemon bit his tongue, once more the dormant Daemon reignited in fury at Otto frustration at him.
"Forgive me, Lord Hand." Daemon said "It was never my intention undermine you."
"What was your intention then?"
The same reason I didn't want to force Jeyne to marry anyone…
"I truly thought it would be best we held off forming any possible marriage proposals, in case it influenced future points." Otto seemed to accept that answer, or at least hoped he did.
"So be it." Otto said "Please, Daemon, keep me in your thinking.
I don't think Daemon would appreciate that.
Daemon nodded his head and the two went their separate ways; he quickly went to the kitchens, introduced himself and asked to staff for some sliced meats, vegetables, bread, butter and waterskin with a single knife in a basket before quickly heading off. He wanted to take his meal in peace, what better place that by the beach.
Under the watch of some of the guards from a distance Daemon placed his cloak onto the white sands before then taking out his food, making himself a sandwich of ham, tomatoes and lettuce on buttered bread and eating it.
As he looked at the dying sun sink into the western sea his thoughts turned only to two people.
I wish Rhea and Baelor were here…
In his fading memories he could see the family of his first life; him and his sister as children splashing in the freezing water, getting their shorts wet as their mother and father watched them. Yet even now the memory was obscured by the true Daemon's the sand changing from yellow to the black sand of Dragonstone and his mother and father's faces shifting to Alyssa and Baelon…
My sister… my sister was there, that is my memory…
He repeated that to himself, an anchor that kept what was left of him still alive.
The sound of footsteps on the sand broke his concentration, he turned to see his cousin Rhaenys walk towards him, dressed in a black and red dress befitting a Targeryen princess.
"Cousin." She said, standing over him. "Looks like you will get your cloak dirty."
Daemon smiled "I've been through worse." He said, he moved over making space for her to sit. Rhaenys then took a seat on his cloak, being careful not to crumble her dress. "What brings you here, beside living here of course."
Rhaenys rolled her eyes before setting them on the glimmering light of the sun "Laena and Laenor have been asking about you constantly." She said "They asked that you tell them a story before they go to bed."
Daemon chuckled "I would be more than happy to." He said.
"You truly care for them, Daemon." Rhaenys said. "What had happened? Before your accident you had hardly acknowledged them and now you dote on them."
"I changed." He lied, he did not change and he was not sure Daemon had either. "I learnt that I should treasure my family more, and that includes you and them, I want what's best for them."
"Then why do you work against Laenor?" She asked, the authority absent in her voice "Why do you seek to deny him what should be his."
The smile on Daemon's face died as frustration bubbled within him, this time it was his own. He turned Rhaenys and that feeling almost immediately died; it was not pride or strength she exuded in this moment it was… vulnerability.
Daemon sighed "He's only seven." He spoke "Laenor is just a boy, I'm doing this for him as much as it is Viserys." Rhaenys kissed her teeth "Rhaenys, did you ever ask Laenor whether or not he wants to be king? What that entails? What that means?"
"He does not need to know just yet-"
"You plan on possibly making him heir and then king in, being generous, at most a few years' time." Daemon almost exclaimed "A boy with the world placed on his shoulder with seven kingdoms looking to him, for what? Ambition?"
"You must know how hypocritical you sound." Rhaenys said "Did you not work to keep Jeyne Arryn, a child of also seven name days, as Lady of the Eyrie and Warden of the East? Yet you hold issue with making Laenor king?"
"Jeyne was already Lady of the Vale, the issue I had was an attempt to usurp her title and replace her with her cousin Arnold whom was also a child." Daemon argued "Jeyne had lost so much…"
"And so have I." Rhaenys said, a growl in her voice "She was fortunate in one regard, for she was not passed over of her rights."
"It does not change the fact that I would not want such a weight placed on Laenor's shoulder; I had to bind Jeyne to those who wanted to replace her for life, I worry about what fate may have in store for her." Daemon explained "Viserys, for all his faults, may be the most prepared person to sit the throne the exception of one person."
"You?" Rhaenys questioned almost in jest.
"You." Daemon said, letting his answer linger in the air "It should have been you; you should have been the heir and then Queen." Daemon shook his head as he held his chest, the fire burning inside disagreeing with him. "If there was a way for you to become Queen then I would take it."
"Even if it meant going against Viserys? Your own brother?" Rhaenys asked.
"My Good-father once told me that one day I would have to pick my duty to others over my duty to those I love." Daemon said "Grandfather was wrong to pass over you, you would have made a great queen." It was hard to tell by he could have sworn he saw tears welling in her eyes.
An idea came into his head, maybe a way to break an impasse to Corlys, yet one that filled him with sadness, yet one that he might have to accept if he wanted peace.
Forgive me, Rhaenyra.
Forgive me, Rhea
"I thank you, Daemon." Rhaenys spoke.
"In another world, maybe it is a better one, your father does not die." Daemon says "You would be Queen and Laenor after you when he is truly ready…"
"I am sorry about your father, Daemon." Rhaenys said "He truly was a good man."
"Sometimes I can't help but feel maybe I could have done something, I know he died of a burst stomach but… maybe?"
In his heart, he knew it was futile; Baelon dies of a burst appendix… and he was no doctor, he could not find a way.
"It is best not to think as such." Rhaenys advised "It can bring one to madness, I know I did when mine own father died."
"There is so much wrong with the world." Daemon commented, watching the calm waves pull to shore.
"We can still right this wrong." Rhaenys urged "Laenor becoming heir can set things right."
"We can make this right, but that does not mean we have to put a child on the Iron Throne." Daemon said, darkness began to fall upon them as the light of the moon replaced the sun.
"You speak as if I do not want what is best for him too." Rhaenys said "As if I am not doing this for his sake too."
"I know you are." Daemon replied "But let us be honest cousin, how much of this is personal pride?"
Rhaenys scowled "Tell me cousin, and speak true, if you had the chance to seat Baelor on the Iron Throne, would you forgo the chance?"
Daemon stared into her eyes "Yes-" suddenly the pain in his chest burned tenfold, he clutched his chest and shut his eyes in pain, pushing back the old Daemon into oblivion "Yes! Yes! A thousand times!" he almost shouted out "The lengths some will go to, to use others and their own children to reach power, I cannot subject him to such folly, to be placed within the grasps of lickspittles and curs would be to damn him."
Rhaenys sighed, standing up and brushing off her dress "The Daemon I knew would have done anything to rise, the accident has changed you in more ways than one." Rhaenys bowed her head "Laena and Laenor will likely be waiting for you in their room; I shall see you again cousin, may we continue to do what is best for our family." She spoke before leaving him alone.
Daemon turned back to the ocean, this time it was the moonlight glimmering off the surface of the water. He packed up his items into the basket and then handed them to one of the guards, thanking them, before heading back inside.
Despite being modelled after the Eyrie the place felt warmer, the light from the torches shining a warm orange glow against the white marble. When he arrived at the room of his niece and nephew he found them already in bed a few candles lit on a nightstand that stood between the beds. Daemon looked around; he almost felt envious, the room of his first childhood was far more cramped and he had shared that with his sister too. A mess of toys were piled in the corner and large wardrobes we're lined against the wall.
"Uncle Daemon!" they exclaimed, jumping out of bed to hug his legs.
"Laena, Laenor." He said rubbing the top of their heads.
"Are you hear to read us a story?" Laenor asked.
"Of course I am, I promised to tell you an Epic story had I not? And I have come to do so." He smiled at them. "First you need to get back into bed, your mother will be displeased with me to see you out when you should going to sleep soon."
Well more anger with me that now…
The two quickly scampered back into their beds as Daemon took a wooden chair and placed it between the two, just behind the nightstand so the light from the candle would illuminate the pages of his journal.
He flicked through the pages "Ah here it is, are we ready." The two nodded their heads as they covered themselves in their blankets, he smiled looking at them "You shall love this one, I had House Velaryon in mind when writing it."
"What is it called? What is it called?" Laenor asked repeatedly.
"Can we hear it, please?" Laena asked, also impatiently.
"So impatient." He laughed, calming down he placed his finger on the first line and cleared his throat. "Tell me, O Muse, of that ingenious hero who travelled far and wide…"