Hi... So just as I was typing this I realised that I actually had nothing to say.
So I'll just wish you a good day/night and hope that you enjoy this fanfic.
(My mind is not brilliant or twisted enough to come up with a world like ASOIAF and the characters that inhabit it, that dubious honour belongs yo G.R.R Martin.)
*Note: In this fanfic Aegon is just a few months older than Jahaerys or Jon. Rhaenys is two years older than them both and Myrcella and Visenya, twin daughters of Cersie a two years younger than them.
Rhaegar Plans to Betroth Aegon to Rhaenys and Visenya and use Jahaerys and Myrcella to secure allainces.
Rhaella and her other children will be talked about in later chapters.
293 A.C.
Ser Barristan, The red keep.
" I'll not suffer that Old fool any longer! That worthless excuse of a knight has disrespected me and my companions! I should have his head for this insult! I am the crown prince!!" The screeching, petulant voice of a 10 year old Aegon complained while Barristan stood tall, not regretting his words and actions in the slightest.
"Calm yourself Aegon. You had no right to command Ser Barristan to do such a humiliating task in the first place. He is a knight of the kingsguard not your personal fool." Rhaegar cool voice defended him and Barristan could not help but feel happy that his king respected him enough to defend him against his offspring.
The prince, who had expected his loving father to bend to his wishes like always, was taken aback by this Rhaegar's admonishment.
The young man sputtered for a bit before collecting himself and speaking up again.
"He disobeyed me, I told him to do a task and he refused. What sort of a knight does that?" The crown prince tried again.
'A self-respecting one' Barristan thought to himself.
No self respecting knight would wear those humiliating clothes and play the mummers farce for boys who thought too highly of themselves. Even if that one of those boys was the crown prince. The boy was lucky that Barristan was not Duncan, else he would have a bruised face to go with his bruised ego.
"As I said, he is a knight not a fool. I will not take his head or dismiss him from the kingsgaurd for doing what any other man in his place would have." King Rhaegar told his son softly but sternly.
The prince looked betrayed but in the end he decided to try one last time to get Barristan punished in some way, if only to safe face with the lickspittles and mummers he called his companions.
"Then keep him away from my presence, I want a proper knight like Ser Arthur to protect me not this senile old man." The prince bit out with a sneer towards Barristan, who still stood tall, not even looking at the young man who reminded him so much like young Aerys.
Rhaegar looked conflicted for a second before he sighed and nodded.
"Very well, from now on Arthur will guard you." The king said, dismissal clear in his voice.
The young prince nodded and left the room with a final sneer towards Barristan.
Silence filled the room as neither the king nor Barristan spoke.
"I worry for him Ser Barristan." The king finally began, his face filled with the melancholy he was so famous for.
"I thought I was showing him love and kindness by fullfiling his every wish but it's seem I have done him a disservice instead."
Barristan agreed but he would not say it out loud. He simply nodded, it seemed like the king needed an ear.
"Funny is it not? I promised myself that I would be better than my father and yet. My oldest daughter is at Sunspear and hates me for replacing her mother with Cersie. My love and attention has turned Aegon into a spoiled child, who doesn't know a knight from a fool.
I haven't seen the face of my younger son Jahaerys in 10 years after having him sent to the north with his mother's bones. Visenya and Myrcella speak their mother's words whenever they are with me subtly asking me to increase Lannister influence in the court." The king said bitterly, sounding broken.
In that moment Barristan did not see the man who had become the king after defeating the rebellion, instead he saw the boy who he had often comforted as a child, whenever he saw his mother's suffering.
Barristan walked up to Rhaegar and placed a hand on the young man's shoulder.
"What is the first thing I taught to you in the yard?" He asked.
"The fight isn't over until you're dead." Rhaegar replied after moments.
After which Barristan removed his hands and addressed his king again as an adviser.
"I will not say that you haven't made mistakes your grace. But they are far from permanent follies you make them out to be." Barristan spoke.
"Princesses Myrcella and Visenya are children who would always love their father, removing the queens... selfish influence will be easy if you just spend time with them.
Princess Rhaenys will come back to king's landing when Prince Aegon is officially named the crown prince at the age of 13. You would have all the time in the world to make ammends and tell her why you married queen Cersie.
As for the Crown Prince... I will suggest that you take over his formal Education from Lord Hand Connington " Barristan adviced and was happy to see his king visbly eased of his burden.
"I thank you for you advice my friend. Your words give me hope yet." King Rhaegar thanked him with a smile.
Barristan nodded.
"And Lord Eddard Stark is an honourable man, he will have taught Prince Jahaerys well. He knew that you sent the boy away not out of malice but out of fear of Dornish reprisal. You have nowt to worry about on that front, Your Grace." Barristan replied with a smile of his own.
Rhaegar nodded again and after a moment, the visage of his friend was replaced by that of his king.
"Well, since if my elder son no longer wishes to have the finest knight in the realm guard his back then my younger son will have that privilege." Rhaegar spoke in a kingly voice and just like that Barristan knew he had yet another prince to serve.
"My son's fostering in the North has come to an end, but he has expressed his wish to take the scenic route on his way to king's landing and travel throughout the kingdom. Ser Batristan, I command you to meet him at Moat Cailin and accompany him on his journey. Serve him like you have served me. Give him protection and counsel when needed. From this day until your last, you shall serve the Prince of Summerhall." The king ordered.
Barristan, ever faithful to his king kneeled and hoped that this Prince turned out to be more like his father.
And as he turned to leave the room he heard Rhaegar speak to himself.
"May he have more sense than my elder one."
A few days after the incident, Ser Barristan rode away from the Red Keep with 20 Targaryen men by his side.
The actions set the tongues wagging across the Red Keep.
Prince Aegon boasted that his father had punished the knight for his defiance by having him serve the lesser prince, his lickspittles and the Griffin Lord agreed.
Some courtiers seemed to defer, they thought that the man had broken his ties to the throne after the foolish prince had insulted the man.
A select few were of mind that the king had sent the man on a secret but important mission, one which they spent a lot of time uncovering.
And then of course the major players, who knew where Ser Barristan was headed, watched and waited to see if service of the Bold meant that the second son held favour of the King.
Lord Mace Tyrell, master of coin and one the Aegon's most prominent Lickspittles of course mentioned the incident in his weekly raven to his mother who belonged to the third category.
The news of the young Prince's departure from the North, coupled with Aegon's folly of having insulted and earned the ire of a man like Barristan Selmy made her rapidly recalculate her moves and she ended up deciding that it was time for Mace's children to visit him at court once more.
The woman, still unaware of King Rhaegar's fantasy of his son being the conqueror come again, hoped for her granddaughter to become the queen. And it seemed like a good time for her for Margery to strike an acquaintance with the young Prince Aegon.
Likewise in Dorne Prince Doran summoned his brother and sent him off to Kingslanding. Despite Elia's marriage being annulled his house was in a good position. Rhaenys was set to be a queen and had been brought up in Dorne under his tutelage, she would see their house rise to great heights of that he was sure.
Besides, Viserys had squired for Oberyn and was the future Prince consort of Drone, Arianne's betrothed.
His house was on the rise and he did not need his nephew's foolish actions to give the upstart son of the northern whore a chance to bring down House Martell like his mother had.
It was time for the future king to receive some Dornish influence. While losing Barristan Selmy was not a big blow, such small mistakes if made often could be dangerous.
Also, with Oberyn in the capital he could get an understanding of the northern bastard's nature and set the court against him. Maybe eliminate if he proved to be a threat.
In contrast, the Old Lion received the news with disinterest. His house's legacy was sealed. His daughter was a queen, his granddaughter would be one and his great grandson would sit on the throne.
He cared not for the spare to the Iron throne. As long as Cersie did her duty and increased the Lannister influence at Court, Barristan Selmy did not matter, the Lannisters alone would see Aegon on the throne.
All over Westeros the great game began anew, the players read the board and calculated their moves.
Alas, none of them could calculate correctly. For the one they hoped to be a naive 10 year old boy, who had grown up in the dreary north, was in reality a soul from another world. One that was intimately familiar with many of their secrets and one who knew of wonders they could only dream of.
'Yes. This will be fun indeed.' Brynden the Bloodraven thought. With the birth of Jahaerys and the victory of Rhaegar his plans had been thrown off balance.
Brandon Stark would now grow up to be a knight. Danaerys would likewise grow up to be a beautiful but shy woman. Dragons would never fly in the skies again and without their influence the ancient enemy would move slower than before.
Brynden would be dead long before the whitewalkers came south for him.
So his life's purpose had been torn asunder.
'But that doesn't mean that I can't enjoy my last few years on the mortal plane.' The dying old man thought to himself with a smile.
After all, the great game was shaping up to be interesting, and he still had a couple of cards in his sleeves, a few moves that would shake the board.
For his entertainment, if nothing else.
That was good for the first chapter I think.
Please Review and let me know what you think.
-Yours Hoptitu