Chapter 3: Daeron
Seventeenth Day of the Month of the Falcon, Kings Landing 281 AC
As the third Prince of the realm, Daeron Targaryen is expected to follow the examples of his elder brothers and be a fine warrior himself. Unfortunately for Daeron, the fighting prowess of both Baelon and Rhaegar are hard to match as both had proven themselves to be remarkable warriors. That doesn't mean he is lousy in fighting, it's just that his skills don't match.
Nevertheless, he tried his best to prove himself and impress his mentor and trainer, Ser Jonothor Darry. Ever since the reign of King Aegon the Unlikely, the Kingsguard gained another duty, which is to train the princes of the realm in combat. Each princes were assigned to a member of the Kingsguard, for Rhaegar it is Ser Oswell Whent, for Baelon it is Ser Barristan Selmy and for him it is Ser Jonothor Darry. His younger brother Aegon was assigned to Prince Lewyn Martell and their younger brothers, Jaehaerys and Viserys were not yet assigned members of the Kingsguard to train them.
Since Ser Jonothor is gone to aid Ser Oswell in fighting against the Kingswood brotherhood, he is now being trained by the newest addition to the Kingsguard, his good-brother, Ser Jaime Lannister. "It sucks, I want to go south and fight against that brotherhood yet I am stuck here with you." "Your grace, if you don't mind, we'll start our training."
Both the prince and the knight began to grab their wooden swords and their practice armor. They stepped into the practice yard and positioned themselves. In the practice yard, Daeron's younger siblings, Aegon, Jaehaerys and Naerys are watching with their mother. "Go on, hit me." Ser Jaime said.
Daeron began to strike in the front in a stabbing motion. Jaime easily deflected the attack. "That's a bad idea your grace, watch this." Jaime then raised his sword high and attacked Daeron from above. Daeron stepped back. But Jaime spin his foot and successfully hit Daeron which led the prince to fall into the ground. "Need a hand?" Jaime reached his arm to Daeron's reach. Daeron grab his arm and rose up.
Aegon, Jaehaerys and Naerys looked amazed as they see their brother fell into Jaime's unusual move. Rhaella seemed impressed as Joanna's son was able to demonstrate such a fine maneuver. "This time, you try to hit me in the back." Jaime faced his back on Daeron. Daeron, seeing this, began to imitate Jaime's attack earlier. But still, Jaime kicked Daeron's legs which caused him to stumble and fall. "Hey! That's cheating." Aegon shouted.
"Listen to me, your grace, in combat, you must not rely only on your sword to fight your opponents and find the weak spots. Understood." Daeron knew that being beaten by his good brother is a good sign that he is not prepared to face actual combat. Still, he stands up and said. "Understood." "Alright, we'll do it again."
Jaime began to face backward and Daeron strike again. This time, Daeron's strike is directed at Jaime's foot. But Jaime, began to use his wooden sword to strike Daeron's left temple. Daeron dodged that strike and stepped back. "Impressive, your grace. I see that you learn quite fast."
"Thanks" After Daeron uttered that word, he felt Jaime quickly hiting him with the wooden sword, and he fell again. "Your grace, it is important to remain focused when fighting someone." As Jaime said that, he reached a hand to Daeron, in which Daeron grabbed on to and stand up. "I think we should take a break." Daeron said. "Good idea." Both Daeron and Jaime began to walk out of the yard in order to remove the wooden armor and place the wooden sword in its proper place.
As Daeron removed his helmet he can hear another man coming. "Ah, it's nice for you to come here, Steffon. Have my husband and the kids arrive already?" "No, your grace, they had just left the Antlers, but the King was able to send a raven." Steffon then hands over a parchment to Rhaella. Rhaella received it and read the letter.
As Rhaella is reading the letter, Naerys approached Jaime and said, "Could you train me to fight with a sword like you did with Daeron?" Rhaella finished reading and said, "Naerys, we'll ask your father about it." "Aww." As Daeron listened to the exchange, he knows that it is not uncommon for Targaryen women to learn how to fight as Queen Visenya did it. Knowing that, it surprising to see his younger sister, who was named after her, aspire to be a well beloved princess like those heard in the songs than emulate her namesake.
"I am going to call for a meeting of the small council, Daeron you're coming with us." Rhaella said. A servant wrote what Rhaella said and left to call the members of the small council.
"Mother, can I and Aegon come?" "Sorry my child, you're too young yet." "That's not fair!"Naerys pouted. As this exchange goes on, Daeron saw Jaehaerys approach him. "Hello, Jerrys do you want to play." "Play! Yes, me want play!" As Daeron said that he saw his mother approaching them and said. "Ser Jaime, please accompany Naerys, Aegon and Jaehaerys to grand maester pycelle and maester gulian for their lessons." "Yes your grace." Ser Jaime said. "Come, Jerrys, Aegon, Naerys the maesters are waiting for you." Jaime and Daeron's younger siblings began to leave.
"Come Daeron, the small council awaits." Steffon said. "Coming, uncle." Daeron and Steffon began to walk. As they are walking, Rhaella followed suit.
Steffon Baratheon is the current Hand of the King and the Lord of Storm's End. He became the hand after Tywin Lannister is dismissed as Hand of the King after the wedding between his daughter Cersei and Baelon. Following Lord Tywin's example, Steffon allowed his wife Cassana rule the Stormlands with Stannis' help while he brought Renly with him to court and Robert remains with Jon Arryn. Though under his term as hand, the incomes flowing to the King's treasury were decreasing per year as the Tywin Lannister started to pay less and less taxes to the Iron Throne since 279.
Daeron know that his feet is beginning to tire and he is losing energy from his defeat in the practice yard against Ser Jaime. But still, he tried his best to walk in order to reach the small council's chamber. A few minutes came by and he is beginning to fall. Daeron felt someone grabbed in his hand. "Thank you, Steffon." Rhaella said. "You're welcome" Steffon began to assist Daeron to walk at this point. A few minutes came by and they reached the small council chamber.
When they entered it is noticeable that everyone in the small council is there. "Ah, you arrived early." "You arrived late, my lord." A man with red hair said. "Late? I say we arrived on time, Jon." Jon Connington is the Lord of Griffin's Roost and the Master of Laws appointed by Steffon. "How's Elia doing, Jon?" "Elia is still recovering from giving birth to Rhaenys, though she had taken interest in charities she put in place back in Griffin's Roost." After being rejected by the Lannisters, Princess Nymeria Martell, the previous ruler of Dorne, went to Griffin's Roost to negotiate a marriage between Elia and Jon, in which Jon accepted.
"Would you mind telling us the purpose of why you gathered us here?" Lord Chested asked. Lord Quarton Chelsted is the current Lord of Chelsted Hall which is located in an island near Dragonstone. "Good point, the King have sent us a raven in which telling us the details about the new deal he negotiated with Lord Walter Whent."
"What do you know of House Whent, my son?" Rhaella asked. "House Whent is the lords of Harrenhal who recently hosted the tourney which father and the rest attend and participate." "Correct." "The deal is about marrying you and the fair maid Larra Whent." Steffon said. "I thought the King is against marrying his own children to other houses." Said by a man with who looks like Rhaegar. Lucerys Velaryon is the brother of Monford Velaryon, the current lord of Driftmark and the Master of Ships. "His plan is, if I can remember is to marry Rhaegar to Daenys, Baelon to Shaena, You to Visenya, and Aegon to Naerys. Of those four planned marriages, the first happened and produced Prince Aegon and Prince Aemon the second did not, as Baelon was forced to marry Cersei Lannister and their marriage produced Joffrey." Lucerys explained.
Before the defiance, at the four days after the birth of Viserys in the nineteenth day of the Month of the Stag in 276 AC, his father explained this plan to him and his siblings. Though he had no objections in the idea of marrying Visenya, the same is not true the other way around. Daeron thought that Visenya would rejoice in the prospect of not marrying him.
"Isn't Harrenhal itself cursed?" Varys interject. "It could probably why Lord Whent agreed quickly. Besides, isn't it you who placed the idea to the King that Rhaegar is planning to overthrow him, which is why he came there to the first place?" Steffon asked. "How did you know that?" "I am not the only one with the little birds, spider!" "I don't really know what is going on, but is it true that Rhaegar is planning to overthrow father?" "No, my son, Rhaegar loves your father."
The idea of the son overthrowing the father to gain the lordship or the crown is a story that Daeron read in many books and sung by many singers that he heard perform in the past. But he cannot imagine that happening in his own family. Still, Daeron hopes that he will not have to choose a side in the future.
"I forgot to mention, my little birds told me that Lyanna Stark, the crowned Queen of Love and Beauty, is missing, his betrothed your son and her brother Brandon Stark is looking for her. They are now on their way from Raventree to go back to Harrenhal." Varys said. "Missing! Surely that won't affect us anyhow?" Lord Chelsted said.
"I am afraid it will, my son Robert sent a raven to me saying that he thinks Rhaegar abducted her." Steffon said. "If proven true, this could cause quite a problem that would lead in a war." Lucerys warned. "No! It won't! As long as I am alive, House Baratheon remains loyal to House Targaryen." Steffon shouted.
"That's a relief to hear that cousin, I suppose we have to deal with another problem that comes in hand." Rhaella said. "Oh! I say we raise taxes towards the Vale and the North to cover this exemption." "I agree" Lord Chested, Connington and Lucerys said. "This meeting is adjourned."
The rest of the small council began to leave as Daeron and Rhaella stayed. "Are you not leaving?" Rhaella asked. "No mother, I am still tired from earlier."