12th Month of 286 A.C. Braavos
King Viserys III Targaryen
Braavos was a hot and humid place, unlike King's Landing or even Dragonstone. Viserys could not quite remember King's Landing, despite the fact that he fought like mad to remember the place that he had called home from the time he was a babe. He remembered the smells, and the sounds, but he could not place faces. Dragonstone was clear in his mind, a place of towering dragons, a place where he had last seen his mother. Mother, he remembered her, she was kind and caring, she had died, died because of the usurper's men and his lies. He had promised mother that he would care for Daenerys, his little sister, and he was trying to, he told her stories, and he played with her. He played with his nephew-he was an uncle that was a strange thing- Jon, the boy was called, he was a good kid, Viserys liked him, even if he wasn't sure what to make of his nephew's mother, Lady Lyanna, she was something.
The clearing of a throat brings him back to reality, he looks at the culprit, and finds himself looking at Haldon, the man responsible for teaching him his lessons. Haldon is a half maester, what that means, Viserys is not sure, but he gets the impression that Ser Jonothor and Ser Willam do not approve. "I hope you remember what we were discussing Your Grace." Haldon says, something akin to amusement in his voice.
Viserys straightens and replies. "Of course." When he sees a questioning look on the man's face, he replies. "We were talking about King Aegon the Fortunate."
"And, what have you learned about the King?" Haldon asks, in that way of his that makes Viserys think he's actually looking to see whether or not he is doing something right or not.
Viserys takes a breath and then speaks. "Following his coronation, King Aegon ordered the arrest of Brynden Rivers, for inviting Aenys Blackfyre to court and then killing him. King Aegon believed that Brynden had undermined the word of the throne when he had done that and he needed to be made an example of." Viserys pauses for a moment and then says. "After that, Brynden Rivers was sent north to the wall, taking with him King Aegon's brother Maester Aemon." He pauses once more and then asks. "Do you really think someone would have used the King's own brother against him?"
He sees that the question has caught Haldon off guard, for the man's eyebrows have done that thing where they go up his face and then come down quite quickly, the man's voice is slightly hesitant when he responds. "I am not sure Your Grace. Maester Aemon was a smart man, and was someone who would always put the interests of the Kingdoms in front of his own wants. That was why he volunteered to go north to the wall, away from court and trouble. King Aegon was a good man, the histories suggest as much, but there was a lot about him that many of the nobles did not like."
Viserys feels the crown like a weight atop his head then, Ser Jonothor had insisted that he wear the crown whenever he has lessons, so that he might know the weight of it. Right now it's causing his head to itch something fierce. "Was it because he wanted to bring better things into the lives of the common people?" Viserys asks, he remembers his father and mother talking about their grandfather once long ago.
"Yes, it seems that many of the lords who were opposed to King Aegon, were opposed to him because they believed he was not noble enough to truly understand what it meant to be King. His time with the common people as a child, they believed had changed his mind into something that was not good. As the years progressed, things became more evident, and it seemed that they were right." Haldon responds.
That seems odd, and so Viserys asks. "What do you mean?"
"King Aegon tried to change things, over the years, the Crown had reached an understanding with the lords of the realm. So long as they paid their taxes and answered the summons to arms when it came, they were allowed to do what they wanted. But under King Aegon, that system began to change. The crown was starting to get more and more involved in the running of the individual kingdoms, and that did not sit well with many lords." Haldon says.
Viserys considers this and then says. "Surely if they had been doing their duty properly, the King would not have felt the need to get involved?"
Haldon chuckles at that, making Viserys wonder if the man is doing that thing grownups do where they get you to say something and then laugh as if you have said something silly, that really annoys him. Eventually, the man speaks. "One would think so Your Grace, but other than the Westerlands, every other Kingdom during this time was relatively safe and stable."
"The Westerlands, where the Lannisters come from?" Viserys questions.
"Yes Your Grace." Haldon responds.
Viserys thinks on this. "I see. And how much good did King Aegon do for the Westerlands?"
"Your Grace?" Haldon asks sounding uncertain of what it is his King is asking him.
"The Westerlands were in chaos during this point were they not? What good did King Aegon do there?" Viserys asks, his patience beginning to wane.
"During the latter part of King Aegon's reign they were in trouble, Lord Tytos was not a good lord, he was far too generous and was taken advantage of. King Aegon restored order and good will there." Haldon responds.
"I see, and were the Westerlords thankful for this?" Viserys asks.
"Yes." Haldon responds simply.
"Good, chaos is the death of order." Viserys says, repeating a phrase he had heard his brother saying often when they were together.