(Aerion's POV)
"Aerion!!" I saw Uncle slowly walking towards me, "Come here, my boy."
After being received by Otto at the entrance of the Red Keep, Rhaenyra and the children were escorted to their rooms to settle in as the Lord Hand told me that the King wanted to see me first. I was in the Small Council room and Otto was the only one there besides us.
His frail body seemed a bit firmer and stronger than usual, his skin less pale than always, but he still had some chaffing on his cheek.
I bowed slightly, "Your Grace." I said, "It is good to see you off your bed. Here I thought I had to walk all the way to your chambers."
"Ah, he has jokes, does he?" He chuckled, "Tell me....what is this I hear about the Stepstones?"
I cleared my throat, "Your Grace, I went to aid Lord Corlys in repelling House Martell and the Triarchy forces." I said, "It did not take long, I ended the fierce battle the same day I started it."
He looked at me, "So you go off to battle after your child is born...?" He asked, "Unknowing of when you'll return? Forgive me if I come off as tasteless, but is that not what your father did years ago?"
I looked down, "I returned, did I not?" I said, "I came back for my daughter....for my wife...your daughter...."
"Hm..." He said, "I know....and for that, I am happy, my boy."
Otto cleared his throat, "We have received word that the Martells have broken off their alliance with the Triarchy." He said, "Prince Doren had died of his wounds shortly after arriving at Sunspear. But despite that, there will be no retaliation."
"Yes, Dorne has stayed their hand." Uncle said, "Well done, Aerion."
"That's good, I think." I said
"You single-handedly kept Dorne away from the Triarchy situation." Otto said as I looked at him, "For that, the Crown is in your debt."
I nodded, "Hm...." I said, "Well, it was the Princess's suggestion."
"Rhaenyra?" Viserys said, "Are you sure?"
"Yes." I said
"There is no need to give credit somewhere else, Lord Aerion." Otto said, "We all know who is the one that came up with the idea."
"Hm..." I said, "I do things for her, Lord Hand. Nobody else."
"Ah." Viserys said with a chuckle, "Well, I want to tell you something, Aerion....do not ever think of doing something reckless again. Your daughter was just born! My own granddaughter! I do not wish for her to grow up fatherless!"
"She won't." I told him, "You have my word, Uncle."
"Now, where is she?" He said with a smile, "Where is my girl?"
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"Father..." Rhaenyra said as she walked over to him, "It is so good to see you...."
"Ah, my beautiful girl...." Viserys said
I watched as Viserys was embraced by Rhaenyra who smiled brightly. I merely stood there with my arms behind my back smiling slightly. All of Rhaenyra's maids were standing in a orderly line, looking down humbly.
I saw as Viserys looked over to one of the maids who was holding Joffrey, "Look at him..." He said as he approached him, "If it isn't my boy Joffrey..."
He reached Joffrey who was looking at him, gently squeezing his cheek as the young boy frowned.
"Look at you..." He continued as he patted his head, "Where are the boys? Jace and Luke?"
"They are in their chambers, Your Grace." Rhaenyra said, "Rhaena is here too with Baela."
"Ah." Viserys pulled away, "I will see them after then....where is she?"
Elinda was holding Visenya who was sleeping as she walked up to him, "Here, Your Grace...." she said softly
"Oh.." Viserys said with a smile, "Oh my....look at her...she's asleep, eh? Ah....Visenya...."
I saw as he easily and gently patted Visenya's head, a genuine smile on his face. He looked like he was being really careful not to wake her up, so lost in his admiration for the beauty that was my innocent girl.
"What do you think, Father?" Rhaenyra asked
Viserys looked at her, "She's perfect..." He said softly as he smiled, "So perfect....she reminds me of you when you were just born....Oh, the innocence...the purity....Oh! A frown....yea, that's Aerion right there."
I cleared my throat and looked down, not saying a word as the King chuckled.
"Visenya Targaryen...." He continued, "Oh if you are to honor your namesake, you might as well be a fierce warrior like the Visenya The Conqueror....like your Father....and his Father as well..."
Rhaenyra cleared her throat, "We will see what she wishes to do..." She said softly
"Of course." Viserys said, "And speaking of him....I hear he is in the Capital. Caraxes was in the Dragonpit, did you not see him, Aerion?"
I looked up with a bit of surprise, "Huh?" I said, "N-No, Your Grace, I did not. Vermithor does not like going inside there so he's outside under the shade I had built for him."
Daemon was here? Why? I figured he'd still be in the Stepstones, fighting against the Triarchy with Lord Corlys. Could he have left the same day I flew back?
What the hell does he want?
"Ah, that makes sense." He said as he walked towards me, "Daemon has always been attracted to Tourneys...especially Melees."
Rhaenyra looked at me, "W-Well..." She said, "We should be in the lookout for the Prince."
"Hm, yes." Viserys said, "I do trust that you will be well-behaved, Aerion?"
I nodded, "Of course, Your Grace...." I said, "Only if he does the same."
"Well, I assure you, he will." Viserys told me, "The Tourney is in a few days. In the meantime, enjoy your stay. I will now go and see my grandsons and nieces."
I bowed slightly, "Of course, Your Grace...." I said as he walked past me
After he left the room, being escorted by Ser Harold who gave me a nod, I felt Rhaenyra wrapping her arm around mine.
"It is okay, my love." She said softly, "If you don't want to see him, you don't have to."
"Hm...." I said, "He claims he wants to see Visenya. I don't know what his deal is, though."
"How do you know that?" She asked
I looked at her,
"He was in the Stepstones."
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"Well well well...." I heard a familiar voice, "If it isn't Aerion the Mighty."
I turned around and saw Aegon walking up to me holding a cup of wine in his hands. I noticed his hair was cut a bit shorter than usual and it was combed nicely. It was still long, almost reaching to his neck but nothing to crazy as it normally was. He wore dark green attire, with a golden Targaryen dragon sigil in the middle of it.
We were in the middle of the hall, he was being escorted by one of the Cargylle twins. I was on my way to go see The Queen who had called for me.
"Aegon." I said as I looked at his cup, "I see that you have not lost your taste in the cups."
"Well, it's been months since we last saw each other, I am not going to change that much." He said with a chuckle
I raised an eyebrow, "And you have changed?" I asked
He nodded as he drank a bit of wine from his cup, "Mm...." He said, "Well, I gave a lot of thought to what you told me. I should act with dignity and respect, befitting a Prince....and well a Husband to Helaena....although, I will admit....I find it extremely odd that I have to bed my sister and all.....don't you?"
I shrugged, "I married my cousin, I don't know if I can relate." I said
"Mhm, and you had a child with her." He said with a chuckle, "Anyways, I have been trying to comport myself with a bit more dignity but as you can see, it is hard to lose old habits."
"I can tell." I told him, "And Helaena?"
"I have treated her as she deserves, the best I could." He told me, "She's my sister, Aerion...it's strange...."
I patted his shoulder, "It's fine, cousin." I said, "I can hardly recognize you, you're doing well. I trust you no longer delve into your.....activities."
"Well, uhm..." He looked around, "Look, I do visit the brothels....Once in a while, but hey, I promise you...all of my activities are consensual if that's what you're worried about."
"Progress." I said, "I suppose so."
"Yea..." He chuckled, "So, has my father seen my niece?"
"He has." I said, "Do you want to?"
"Ah..." He said as he looked away, "Maybe later."
"That's fine." I said
"Where are you off to?" He asked me
"To see your Mother." I said, "Her Grace has summoned me. Who knows what she wants."
"Ah, well, every since you have been called the Red Dragon by the Dornish, she's been awfully worried." He told me
I frowned, "The what?" I said
"The Red Dragon." He replied, "Apparently, you fought so fierce and hard that your armor was crimson red from all the blood of your foes. Leaving quite the impression to the Dornish."
"It wasn't that much blood." I muttered
"Oh....I heard it was...." He said, "I am impressed, cousin, a true dragon...eh?"
"Yea yea..." I said patting him on the shoulder, "I'll take my leave now."
"Let's see what the Queen wants."