Eleventh Month of 297 A.C. Isle of Jades
King Daeron III Targaryen
They were so close now, he could taste it. Westeros was in chaos as the Baratheon family fell apart, only fourteen years as the ruling family and they were falling apart. Daeron had taken great delight in hearing of the fighting being done in the riverlands and the Westerlands and the Reach and the Stormlands. It filled him with great pleasure and it made what he was about to do much easier. This thing had been plaguing him for some time, Jon was the true king and yet the boy was just that a boy with all the anger and rashness his mother had had as he was now, Daeron would not and could not place such a heavy burden on his nephew, and yet at the same time he wished for Jon's pain to be gone. He hoped this thing that his nephew had himself suggested would be enough to sooth some of the pain.
As he looked at the audience gathered before him, 10,000 men of the golden company and various retainers of Myr on the Isle of Jades, all here for this announcement and the trial that was to follow it, he took a deep breath looked at Ashara who smiled at him and then strode forward. "My good men and women, I thank you for coming here. I am sure you are all aware of what has been happening in Westeros, and whilst that brings us good feelings and happiness, there are several things that must be sorted out before we may feel at ease. One of these things involves Ser Jon Snow, he as served as our squire for many years before being knighted. He has served us loyally and faithfully, and we fell now is the time to tell you all the truths that have been with him for some time. Jon come forward." His nephew walks forward and stands next to him, there is some murmuring at that and then he speaks. "Ser Jon, for many years has been known as the bastard son of Eddard Stark, now as many of you know Stark was an honourable man and whilst it might be acceptable for normal men to take lovers or to sire bastards during war, Stark is not one such man. He told a lie to protect his sister and her son from disgrace and the anger of an usurper. Ser Jon is the product of a union between my brother Prince Rhaegar and Lady Lyanna Stark. Stark claimed Snow as his bastard to protect him from Robert Baratheon's wrath. Whilst we were at first happy to allow this to continue, now we are no longer content to allow this. Ser Jon has proven himself a true Targaryen and as such we hereby recognise him as a Prince of the Blood and formally name him Jon Targaryen. However, there is one thing that we must do to ensure alliances are maintained." There was a lot of murmuring at that and Daeron knows that if allowed to go on impeded rabbles will form therefore speaking with as much authority as he can he says. "in order to ensure that alliances are kept and maintained and having spoken with Jon himself, we have decided that the soundest course of action is to remove Jon from the line of succession from the Iron Throne. This is done with his full agreement and as such we hope to ensure peace and prosperity once this is done. Jon do you agree?"
His nephew nods and gets down on bended knee. "I do hereby accept this decree Your Grace. And Promise to uphold it until the end of my days."
Daeron smiles at his nephew and draws out Blackfyre, tapping it on both of Jon's shoulders before proclaiming loudly. "Now then rise as Prince Jon Targaryen, the white dragon." He sheathes his sword and helps Jon up and raises his hand to the cheers of those gathered. Once that has died down his nephew walks back to the rest of the family, and Daeron becomes grim once more. "Whilst there are many positive moments in running this enterprise, there are also many duties that we wish would not happen. This next thing is the example of this. Treason is never acceptable and when it is committed by those in the family it is even more unacceptable. As King I will never accept treason nor will I ever tolerate a threat to my people. Bring the prisoner in."
There are many hisses and boos as his brother is brought in wearing chains his clothes torn and tattered, as he is brought before where Daeron stands, he looks into his brother's eyes and sees nothing but defiance. Daeron speaks once more his voice cold and harsh. "Aegon Targaryen, you are brought before this council for a trial, under the accusations of committing treason to your king. What say you?"
His brother jutted his jaw out and said defiantly. "I refute those accusations and say that I was acting in the interests of the King and the cause with which we are all sworn to."
There is murmuring at this and Daeron says coldly. "So you deny passing on secrets to our enemies in order to further your own cause which was to usurp us as King and seek to place yourself on the throne?"
His brother snorts then and his chains dangle somewhat. "Yes brother, I did it on your orders. I did everything you ever asked of me, I underwent torture due to your orders and I gained the trust of the Archon of Tyrosh and made it so that someone more favourable to our cause got power. All I did, I did under your guidance."
There is more murmuring and then Daeron asks. "And what of your part in the undermining of Prince Jon's confidence in his own abilities? It was you was it not who set him up to fall that day during the red summer? It was you who ordered that our sister be harmed so that Jon would be discredited?"
More murmuring and this time his brother actually smiles. "Yes, I admit that this was my doing. I have never liked the boy and have always thought him a fool, and you an idiot for grooming him. He is no true dragon but a fool meant for nothing more than to be killed. Ice and Fire that's what one always says, well then there are two stark girls waiting to be wed. Kill the boy that was always the plan, Daenerys was just an unfortunate accident."
Daeron feels anger begin to grow inside of him, and when he sees Jon stalking forward out the corner of his eye, he moves his arm and blocks him from causing a scene. "So you admit to sowing the seeds of torment for this family? Why what did you gain from doing such a thing, if not the throne?"
His brother laughs then and says. "Aha, very well then brother since this would be a farce without me playing along, yes I admit it. I wanted there to be tension between you and the boy. He is nothing in the greater scheme of things, and with it being his cousin and not his uncle leading the north he is of no use. He will bring nothing but worthlessness and savagery with his northern ways. I think his treatment of Daenerys is proof of that."
This time Jon gets past his arm and strikes Aegon in the face saying. "You bastard you." He pulls back and Aegon laughs once more.
"See how he strikes me. There is no honour in that, but then again a savage would know nothing of honour now would he? So tell me brother what will you do when he begins courting danger?" Aegon asks.
Daeron struggles to keep his calm and asks his brother once more. "Did you or did you not make a pact with the Archon of Tyrosh and then the prince of Tyrosh to see me removed and you placed on the throne?"
His brother nods then and his eyes are glinting with malice. "Aye under your instruction I did so. But I admit that once I learnt of the bastard I began to think perhaps it would be best if I were to actually seek the throne. Anyone who can trust the northmen after what they did to our family during the rebellion, does not need the throne. Lyanna Stark was a slut and a whore, and our brother was no better than her. I learnt that from you brother. And I had thought you knew it as well until you began treating him as your own son. I could not stand that."
Daeron looks at his brother and says. "So you plotted treason and began working with my enemies to try and remove me from power. Is that why you worked with Lannister?"
His brother laughs. "Lannister? A pawn in a game long in playing, that the mad Lannister whore sent him was fortunate. He died and he served his purpose Daenerys is nowhere near king's Landing and she never will be. It is time for this to end brother, either kill me or release me. I am innocent of many crimes labelled against me and you know it."
Daeron swallows hard and says in a voice as cold and harsh as he can make it says. "Aegon Targaryen, for the crime of treason and breaking the peace I do hereby sentence you to death by execution. You will die now and once done your name shall never be mentioned again, ever." There is a lot of murmuring and his mother actually cries out then.
"And who will carry out my sentence brother?" Aegon asks.
Daeron looks at his brother and says. "I will." Among the gasps and the murmuring, Aegon is shoved forward and Daeron pulls out Blackfyre, and then says a quick prayer to the gods and then in one clean motion takes his brother's head off. As the blood dribbles onto the ground he holds the head up and says. "Take note, this is what happens to traitors. Let this trial end and let us move forward." He throws the head into the crowd and moves away.
Four days pass before Daeron feels well enough to call a meeting of his advisors, he keeps having nightmares of his brother's death and confession, and news Ashara gave him has not truly helped. Still when the council meet he speaks directly. "What news has there been from Westeros?"
Ser Jon Connington speaks then. "Robb Stark is invading the Westerlands whilst Maron Greyjoy invades the Reach. Renly Baratheon is dead and Tywin Lannister and the Tyrells managed to beat back Stannis Baratheon capturing the man and some of his key allies. Dorne remains neutral but tensions are rising."
Daeron nods and then asks. "And what of the Stepstones and the Vale? What do they do?"
"The Vale remains in its own turmoil something is going on there but what it is no one really knows. As for the Stepstones they are rife of the taking Your Grace. The sooner the better I say." Connington responds.
"Very well then, it is time we struck out and took part in this war. Prince Jon shall lead the assault on the Stepstones, and the rest of us shall land in Dorne. It is time I were wed." Daeron says.
There is silence a moment and then Connington asks. "No disrespect sire, but do you not think Prince Jon is too young to lead the assault on the Stepstones? He has never led in battle before."
Daeron looks at the man and says. "Why then he must learn and what better way to learn than on the job itself. Besides he will need to become accustomed to the place for it shall soon become his home."