Chapter 21: The Queen
Aemon had started talking slightly, his first word had been Mama, and then he'd started crawling actively. She'd been delighted and written to Aegon to inform him of this and her husband had returned immediately from his progress, whilst Visenya had flown on into the Riverlands proper and then the Vale. That had been three moons ago. Now, Aemon was beginning to walk, or trying to, he would rise and then fall but he'd always get back up again. It was a fascinating thing to watch.
She was in her solar with her son and her ladies now, and Aemon was trying to walk. He got up on the chair and stood, looking at her. "Come on, sweetling, you can do it." She said encouragingly. She watched as he stumbled slightly and then fell. He did not cry, instead he got back up and tried again, falling down, only to get back up again.
"His Royal Highness is stubborn and determined." Lady Stokeworth said. Lady Stokeworth was young, and pretty, and Rhaenys knew she lusted after Aegon, but Aegon had not paid any attention to her.
"Indeed he is, he takes after the King in that way." Rhaenys said simply.
Aemon got up and put one little foot in front of the other and clapped happily. "Come now." Rhaenys whispered. "Keep going, my little dragon."
Aemon started the process again, and as Rhaenys watched her son, she asked. "What word has there been from our friend?" She had asked her ladies to keep an eye on Lady Vypren, for the woman had shown herself to be quite caustic at times.
"She is currently trying to woo Ser Robert Reyne, as the man has quite the connections within the Westerlands, Your Majesty." Lady Darklyn said. "His mother is a Lannister of the Rock, his paternal grandmother is a Tully. Both of them have influence with the Lannisters and Tullys, and as such the marriage might well go through."
Rhaenys frowned, that would not do. Lady Vypren was the ruling lady of her seat following her father's death during Harren Hoare's defiance. She had expressed some minor concerns with the reforms to the legal system that Aegon had proposed. If she married Ser Robert, she would have a powerful ally in the Reynes to bring more pressure to bear. "And what of our alternative candidate? How has he fared?"
Rhaenys had put her trusted confidant, Ser Alton Celtigar forward as an alternative. Alton was handsome, and tall and muscular almost everything that Lady Vypren seemed to favour if Ser Robert was to go by. But most importantly, he was completely loyal to Aegon having previously served on the Dragonguard.
"Your Majesty, Ser Alton seems to have committed himself most devotedly to the task, but it seems Lady Vypren is more set on Ser Robert." Lady Darklyn responded.
"I am not sure I can blame her." Lady Velaryon said. Rhaenys raised an eyebrow at her cousin and the woman replied. "Sorry, but Ser Robert looks simply delicious."
"Really, Laena?" Rhaenys asked surprised. "He looks no better than Ser Alton."
Laena blushed and Rhaenys laughed, she looked at her son who was starting to walk. He put one foot in front of another, and then giggled when he fell, but he got back up. "If Lady Vypren is set on marrying Ser Robert, then perhaps we must bring Ser Robert onside."
Lady Crakehall, a bull of a woman but someone Rhaenys respected immensely spoke then. "I do not think that is necessary, Your Majesty. Ser Robert is already quite firmly in favour of the legal code that His Majesty has decreed. As such, I think Ser Robert will convince Lady Vypren of its merits."
Rhaenys thought on this for a moment, she had met Ser Robert but a few times and each time had found him to be quite amiable. "How certain are you of this?" She asked.
Lady Crakehall said nothing for a moment and then. "Very sure, Your Majesty. My brother Ser Warren is a friend of Ser Robert's and says that Ser Robert has been most effusive of the legal code, believing that it will deliver the Kingdom into the modern age."
Rhaenys thought carefully on it and then said. "Very well, we shall write to the King to express our acceptance of the marriage should it happen."
There was a general murmur of agreement then, and Rhaenys decided the matter closed. She saw her son beginning to move and watched with baited breath, he fell down but did not cry. That was something, her son never cried when something like this happened. Indeed, it took a lot for him to cry, she was not sure whether that was a good thing or not. She turned to Lady Dayne, one of the few Dornish ladies who had agreed to become her lady in waiting, her husband had become a friend of Aegon's during his time at court. "Ashara, tell us, what more news do you have of Dorne?" Ashara Dayne seemed quite invested in Aegon's legal code and reforms, which surprised her, she had thought Ashara would want to protect her daughter's rights to succeed first, but it seemed she hated the Martells more.
"Nymor Martell continues to ail, but he still prevents his daughter and his son from ruling in his stead. I think he is worried that if he does give a clue as to what he wants, they will simply have him killed and then take charge himself. That would lead to open war, as both his children want the Sunspear." Lady Dayne answered.
"And which would be better for the Kingdom?" Rhaenys asked.
"Ser Maron, without a doubt." Lady Ashara answered without hesitation. "He has a good head on his shoulders and is sensible. His sister is hot headed and will bring war regardless."
Rhaenys mulled that over, and just as she was about to speak she saw her son start tottering around, without falling. He walked to the wall and then turned and looked at her. "My little dragon, come home to Mama." Rhaenys cooed.
Aemon giggled and then came tottering into her arms, where she kissed him and whispered. "My little dragon, so brave!"