Dance of Ice and Fire
schrutfarms
Chapter 6: Chapter 6
Summary:
Viserys and Daemon argue
Notes:
It has been some time hasn't it? Frankly was just working on other fics and the writing has been slow. You have to understand, I was on a role in December with my fics. I do not think it is possible every time.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
King Viserys Targaryen POV
He stood at the bottom of the Iron Throne staring at the monstrosity of the Iron and mangled swords of defeated enemies.
How did Balerion ever make a chair out of thousand swords? Viserys wondered. Thinking about the Old Dragon had saddened him. He still remembered the joy he had when he mounted the Black Dread. This was the same dragon that had seen Valyria in its might. This was the same dragon that had brought ruins to Harren's castle. This had been the same dragon that had brought ruins to the Sept of Remembrance. There was a sense of fear among smallfolk whenever Balerion had been present. The smallfolk that had been influenced by faith had learned that well. However, when Viserys had mounted him he could only feel weariness and death coming out of him.
When he was naught but a Prince, the old dragonguard would tell him the open wounds that were visible within the body of Black Dread. Ever since the dragon had returned with Aerea Targaryen, he was dying slowly. As he mounted Balerion and asked him to fly, the dragon took its time to fly up and he ended up completing a round around the city. When he came down, his father was waiting for him and was beaming with pride. At that time, Viserys only felt sadness as he turned around to glance at the Black Dread. The red wound was still visible under his belly. He told his father Prince Baelon that the dragon could not make a flight from King's Landing to Dragonstone anymore.
He had recalled that no soon after his flight, the Black Dread passed away. Viserys closed his eyes and wondered whether everything he touches ended up dying. Balerion, Father, Grandfather, Grandmother and now Aemma, Viserys sadly thought. Just like Balerion, he remembered how life was leaving from his wife. There had already been enough miscarriages and stillborn in their lives. He remembered their first night laying together and her weeping when they had sex. Viserys could not help but feel the shame the next day. He consoled his cousin to his best and then left the room. His father shared comforting words reminding him that it is his duty as a prince to see his line extended and Daemon had shared some japes about his cock. He remembered their first night and he remembered the night before she went into labor to give birth to Baelon.
Tears were forming his eyes as he recalled her final words before she underwent,
"I am scared Viserys, I do not think I can survive this" Aemma cried as she held his hand. She was pale and sickly.
"Hush my love, you shall be fine, remember you are dragon too" Viserys looked at her trying to give her the assurance. Aemma simply shook her head and cried, "Promise me that I will be fine" and Viserys gave her that promise at the time and assured that the Maester, healers and mid-wives would take care of her.
He recalled her pale corpse as the silent sisters cleaned her off before her last rites, he saw the tiny corpse of his son next to the mother and remember breaking down as Gael tried to hold and comfort him. Gaemon and Alyssa were watching over wailing Rhaenyra at the time embracing her. It had been a fortnight since her last rites were given and Aemma left the world. Viserys still dreams of her pale face, the death looming around her the same way it did around the Black Dread after he mounted him. The realm had mourned at the passing of his queen.
The doors to the Great Hall opened up and Viserys knew who it was so he did not turn around. He could hear the sound coming out his armor. Viserys never shared the sense of violence nor the interest in training with sword, not the same way Daemon did. His brother was a warrior-reborn, his deft hand with sword had already been seen with tourney and Viserys had also seen his scorn when he would find someone better than him. His little brother was strong and capable warrior but prideful as well and when loathed when someone better than him had disarmed him.
Viserys finally turned around to look at his brother and he clenched his fists tightly holding onto his anger as he saw him appear. He was wearing his armor, breastplate hued in black and red with a three headed dragon appearing, he held onto his steel helm on his side and could see the hilt of Dark Sister on his left side. His long hair and youthful face were filled with mirth that Viserys had grown to love but now it did naught but fill with rage.
"You summoned me brother" Daemon said in a bored tone, Viserys could smell the wine coming out of his mouth as he spoke.
"You are drunk?" Viserys said in a plain tone trying to hide his emotion.
Daemon snorted, "Not as drunk as I intend to be"
Viserys then turned back to stare at the throne, "look at it, can you imagine the time when you first saw this throne?"
Daemon shrugged, "I must have been what a name-day or two mayhap. I think father brought me here."
Viserys turned to gaze at his brother "it wasn't father that brought you to the throne room brother, it was I who did when you were a naught more than seven moons or so. You were too big for a boy who was seven moons old". Daemon looked at him in an amused manner, "oh never knew you had the strength to carry me, father did use to tell that you were a lankier lot."
He chuckled at Daemon's words, "strength is naught much about your body, but off the mind. Grandfather used to say that. I was carrying you with care and you were not helping either. You kept on moving, you always wanted to move away, always wanted to crawl on your own. I feared that I would almost drop you when climbing down the serpentine steps of Maegors Keep, but I didn't. I successfully brought you to the Great Hall when no one was there and surprisingly your squirming stopped as we approached the throne. You were staring at the throne with an intensity I had thought not you had."
Viserys smiled at the memory and saw his brother staring at the throne with the same childlike intensity. However, Viserys' smile turned to anger, "now that I think of it, I wished I had dropped you that day."
Daemon suddenly turned to him with his eyes wide and gaping at him, "Heir for a day" Viserys muttered as he circled his brother, "those were the words you uttered last night at your frequented brothel wasn't it?"
His brother still looked at him with wide eyes, his violet eyes looked at him now with rage, "are you mad? What are you talking about?"
Suddenly Viserys bellowed with a loudness he didn't know he had, "DO NOT DENY IT, THOSE WORDS WERE HEARD AT THE BROTHEL AND IT WAS YOUR MEN WHO CHEERED AT THOSE WORDS."
"I have no idea what you are speaking of, last night? I was bloody drunk, I do not recall what I said at all" Daemon seethed as he tried to approach his brother, but Viserys had no intentions on hearing his words.
It was after the small council when Otto's son Gwayne had brought Ser Harrold of the Gold Cloak and told him this tale.
"My king, I was there when Prince Daemon uttered those words. At first, I had thought to have misheard them but he never raised any protests" Harrold said, his head was down in shame.
At first Viserys had not wanted to believe but Otto had convinced him well enough, "Sire, I understand you love your brother but I fret that he has only grown bold and taken advantage of it."
Then Otto explained it of how he secured an heir in Gaemon who had claimed Vermithor as his mount. In the eyes of many, Daemon is already seen as heir to the throne and with his son a dragon rider, his line is far more secure than Viserys. Viserys did not want to believe it but the words of the officer seemed convincing enough.
"You speak treason against your Prince Ser, what proof have you that these were indeed the words that were spoken" Viserys said.
"My King there are others who are willing to swear on the seven and confess within the gold cloaks of these words, but are frightened as Prince Daemon might find and kill them" Ser Harrold said shakily as he himself clearly was frightened by appearing to speak with him.
Shortly after, few other Gold cloak entered and confessed the same words and they would speak of Prince Daemon's bitterness towards his grandfather for not recognizing the marriage with lady Lyanna and the fact that he had to work through the shit to make his son a prince whence he had a strong son while Viserys had not.
That had seemed to convince Viserys, he had known that Daemon had been bitter over grandfather's decision. He understood that Daemon would have been drunk but could not help but wonder if he meant it for real. Viserys was no fool, he had been aware of his brother's ambitions for throne, but now he had begun to realize that his son's presence had only emboldened his ambitions further rather than tamed it.
"Don't, do you deny calling yourself my heir" Viserys said icily.
Daemon seethed and gritted his teeth in anger, "I do, because I am."
"And pray by the seven what gave you that impression?" Viserys said dryly and his brother looked at him incredulously, "did I ever say that to anyone? Did I declare it to the council that you were my heir?"
"The Great Council…" Daemon tried to explain but Viserys stopped him "the Great council was done because a king was not certain of a decision, but I am."
"I, as a king, know who my heir is and it certainly is not you dear brother. Come in two days, I will announce to the realm that Rhaenyra is going to be my heir"
Daemon simply looked at him with a plain look, his rageful glare had disappeared and then suddenly he began to laugh out loud, "Rhaenyra, your heir" Daemon simply shook his head, "do you really think the lords of Westeros will accept a woman as the heir hmm? Have you forgotten the precedent of the council dear brother?"
"They will if I command it, I am the king and I have the right to choose my heir" Viserys replied coolly. However, Otto had assured that the realm will support his choice.
Daemon simply chuckled and turned to him, "do you realize how hard it was for me to persuade the lord of Westeros to vote for you?" he whispered slowly. Daemon turned his gaze towards the iron throne, "I spoke for you to Lannister's and Tyrell's who could have easily been swayed by Corlys's wealth and bribes. I spoke for you for fucking Ellard Stark, who was convinced and was intent on convincing his bannerman to swear to Rhaenys's boy because he was rightful heir to the throne" Daemon said the rightful term mockingly but his rage was coming back to him. He slowly came towards him, "I served you as Masters of Law and Coin, I served as the lord Commander of the City watch to keep this city secure. You owe me." Daemon loudly proclaimed as his voice echoed through the Great Hall.
Viserys would have been surprised by his brother's rage but he was far to angry to be fazed by his words, "I do owe you Daemon and I love you despite your words for Baelon"
"I NEVER SAID THOSE WORDS"
"STOP DENYING IT, YOUR OWN MEN HEARD AND CHEERED FOR YOU AND GAEMON" Viserys yelled.
"Who told you these lies?" Daemon gritted his teeth.
"It matters not, but what matters is this Daemon. As long as I live, neither you nor Gaemon shall sit on throne" Viserys said in a threatening tone, "I do owe you Daemon, I owe you a lot which is why I will no longer speak of this, I will even allow Gaemon to keep his Targaryen name and his princely status as well because unlike you I am not a monster. I will not take your head for your treasonous words regarding Baelon, you will fly to Dragonstone and stay there. I do not want you anywhere near me nor my child" Viserys said.
Daemon simply gritted his teeth breathing hard as he was trying to control his rage. Without saying anything, he turned to walk away from him.
"Daemon" Viserys called his brother out. However, he did not turn around to look at him. His stiff posture was enough to tell that he did not care to hear what Viserys had to say.
"Gaemon leaves with you as well, I am sending word to Starks to have Gaemon to them" Viserys said and at that Daemon turned around with ferocity and walked towards him with rage.
"You would dare take my son away from me?" Daemon growled like a dragon raring to burn him but Viserys surprisingly stood his place.
"I do no such thing, Gaemon is the Prince of the North and he needs to be the Prince of the North by being North. If you wish to go with Starks be my guest, but it is time that your son learns the meaning of ruling" Viserys said in a tone that left no room for argument. Daemon stared at him with anger and then proceeded to let out a bitter chuckle and shook his head, "you know it is funny your grace, I once heard few members of the court whisper that I am Maegor reborn for my quick temper and my mercurial behavior. Mayhap they are right…" he then slowly walked towards Viserys and slowly whispered, "maybe I am Maegor, but you Viserys are naught but Aenys. Truly I pray that your wits return because clearly you seem to have lost it after Aemma's passing"
That is, it
"Out, OUT, DAMN YOU" Viserys roared, Daemon held a bitter smile and mockingly bowed, "FLY BACK TO DRAGONSTONE BEFORE I CHANGE MY MIND AND TURN INTO A KINSLAYER. GO!!"
And his brother went.
He had heard the roars of two dragons late at night. Sleep had not come to Viserys that night, he walked towards Rhaenyra's chambers and found that his daughter had been soundly sleeping. He walked past Ser Criston Cole, the newest member of the Kingsguard who had replaced Ser Ryam Redwyne. The knight was weary dear to her daughter and had been called to King's Landing recently after his impressing her with his Morningstar in the Tourney that happened few moons ago. The knight had a friendly demeanor whose father had served as a steward to Lord Dondarrion and had taken liking to Rhaenyra's charms as his daughter had taken a liking to him.
A servant was walking towards him as he bowed, "did Prince Daemon leave?" he inquired."Yes sire" the servant replied hesitantly and seemed disturbed.
"What is it?" Viserys asked.
The servant looked at him, "forgive me sire, but Prince Daemon was very wroth. I was cleaning preparing Prince Gaemon's clothes for the night and Prince Gaemon had been reading. When he entered the room, Prince Daemon simply asked him to pack his clothes and when Prince Gaemon asked why he would not answer." The servant looked down but Viserys beckoned him to continue, "Prince Gaemon kept on asking him and in the end his father shouted at him to stop asking questions." The man gulped but carried on, "the boy started packing and crying, he was afraid of his father. I feared that his father was so wroth that he might have struck him but he left."
Viserys closed his eyes, "by the sevens"
Did I make a folly sending Gaemon away with his father? Viserys wondered.
"Very well, leave and speak to no one about this understood" Viserys said in a stern tone.
The servant nodded, "Aye, yer grace, I will not but there were other servants in the room that heard of it as well. I'm afraid they might have shared some words with others already." At that Viserys shook his head, "leave me".
He decided to return back to his solar and simply walked towards his balcony. He closed his eyes and let the tears flow out, silently wishing Aemma would have been here with him. Daemon had always been his companion since he was a child. He may have had mischief and was more daring than Viserys but he felt that he would never turn his back against him. He began to doubt himself whether his choice was the right one, did I let my suspicions get the better of me? he wondered. Viserys simply shook his head, the dye had been cast. The words had been spoken, he understood that naught could be done about this.
The next morning Viserys informed Rhaenyra of his decision to make her his heir and he did the same at the small council who somehow came to learn of the words Daemon might have said. Her daughter had already served as his cupbearer in the small council meetings, but thankfully Viserys decided that against bringing her into this council. His daughter had been disappointed that Gaemon had left without saying any farewell but Viserys assured that it was not his fault and the decision was of his father. Viserys also promised that he would see to it that he writes to her.
"Ser Otto, I had wished you had not said any words of this to the council. The matter was of my family" Viserys glared at the man, he was a true and faithful council but did not like his meddling at this particular instance.
However, Lord Lyonel interrupted him, "Forgive me sire…." the lord stopped and then carried on, "but what Prince Daemon said is paramount to treason and should be punished as such"
"We cannot execute Prince Daemon, that would be attribute to kinslaying" Grandmaester Runciter added.
"No man is more accursed than a Kinslayer" Septon Eustace blustered out.
"Mayhaps he could be punished in another manner" Ser Otto blurted out as everyone including Viserys looked at the Hand, "we could unname his son as a Prince and a Targaryen. We could let him have a new house name but keep him away from the line of succession."
"We cannot un-name someone there is no precedent for such events" Lord Lyman Beesbury scowled.
Unperturbed by his words, Ser Otto proceeded, "hundred years ago, there was no precedent for the seven Kingdoms to be ruled by a man, yet Aegon the Dragon did it nonetheless".
"Prince Gaemon was anointed under the light of Seven and with the blessings of the Most Devout, unnaming him would make a mockery of the Faith" Ser Harrold Westerling argued, the knight had recently been named as the Lord Commander after the passing of Ser Ryam.
"That is not to say…" Lord Lyonel paused for a moment, "that the North would be wrothful of such act." Viserys had some sense of respect for the Lord of Harrenhal, he seemed like a large, baldling man and was more of a warrior. He was slow of speech and quiet and seemed like a brute but was well learned and extremely intelligent.
"I am not going to un-name Prince Gaemon" Viserys declared.
Ser Otto seemed to protest but Viserys stopped him, "Gaemon is not his father and I will not punish him for his father's folly, my lord hand" his tone left no room to argue.
They carried on the discussion and talked about sending raven to the Starks of the decision made regarding Prince Gaemon, then the discussions went towards mundane items. Ser Otto tried to bring in the topic of his marriage but Viserys flatly refused to talk about it. He still mourned for Aemma and had no intentions of letting another suffer her fate at the time. Their discussions were at an end but still were interrupted by Ser Eryk Cargyll approaching the small council chambers.
"Ser Eryk, what is the meaning of this?" Ser Otto demanded.
The Kingsguard bowed in deference, "Forgive me lord Hand" he then turned to Viserys, "your Grace, but Princess Gael seems to insist on having a word with you immediately."
Viserys closed his eyes, he had been careful at avoiding her for some time now. He knew that she would speak in favor of Daemon and his son.
"Very well, let her in" Viserys commanded.
The knight bowed and left and shortly after he entered and trailing behind him was her aunt. She had an unreadable look on her face as her purple eyes gazed at him. Her hair was braided and she wore a black gown. Ever since her father had passed, Viserys had noted that her dresses were of the darker colors. There was a tiara that had two snarling facing each other at the top, it was something that father had made it for her when she had grown heavy with child and when it was on her head which signified her identity of a Targaryen princess.
Viserys turned to his council members and said, "leave us, my lords"
The small council members stood up and bowed their heads, the first one to leave was his Master of Coins followed by Grandmaester and then Lord Lyonel Strong. Ser Otto, his hand stayed till the end and then bowed and lingered a little longer after he left. Viserys noted that all the members of the council baring Ser Otto bowed to his aunt when they left. Now they were both alone in the council chambers as his Aunt slowly walked towards him and took the chair next to him.
"Is it true?" Gael asked, her voice was plain and without any emotions. Viserys had an idea what she was asking for, but he wanted to hear from her.
"Is what true?" Viserys inquired.
"Did you send away Daemon and his son last night?"
"I did"
The look on her face turned incredulous, "Why?"
"Because Daemon let his ambitions grow out of his station, because he disrespected my wife and my dead son with his words" Viserys retorted in a grave tone. He then carried on to explain the story about the 'heir of the day' and Daemon's declaring to him that he was his heir.
"Did you ask anyone else aside from those men?" Gael questioned; she still did not seem to believe him.
"These were men who had sworn on the seven when they confessed" Viserys defended himself.
"Men who could benefit from a lie easily and advance" his aunt Gael pointed out.
"Ser Otto has vouched for them, they speak true"
To that his aunt Gael let out a bitter laugh, "and what is to say that Ser Otto is not driving a wedge between you and Daemon. You do understand the man's ambition."
"No, I understood Daemon's ambition when he threw the fact that he was my heir in my face. Ser Otto has been naught but loyal to me and has given me no reason of doubt as Daemon did last night" Viserys stated coldly causing his aunt to flinch.
"He should not have said that" Gael said in a low voice.
"It matters not, I do not wish to speak of him anymore" Viserys brought his hand up to end this discussion.
"What about Gaemon? Why did you have him leave?" Gael asked. Commanding his brother to take Gaemon was a hard matter but Ser Otto had mentioned that Gaemon and Rhaenyra were growing closer, far closer than he and Alyssa had been. Keeping Gaemon around his daughter would simply make him a tool for his father's ambitions.
"Gaemon is to be Prince of Moat Cailin, it was time that he would learn of his lands and the North. He would not do much of that remaining at the Red Keep" Viserys noted.
His aunt scowled at that, "the agreement was for Gaemon to depart for North when he reaches his eighth nameday"
Viserys simply shook his head, "the longer that he spends his time in North, the better it will be for him to learn more of his lands"
She wanted to protest further but Viserys was simply too tired to carry this on, "I know you prefer Daemon over me aunt, however, I will not be moved or swayed by my choice. I wish for you and Alyssa to be with Rhaenyra for now. She seems to miss her cousin and I want her to be ready for tomorrow when I announce to the realm that she is my heir. The invitations will be sent out to the realm for the lords to arrive and bend the knee to her."
His Aunt sighed and simply stood up from her chair to walk out of the room, "you think that I choose Daemon over you, you are wrong. One thing your father told me before he passed was that you were always like a pond, calm and always happy with where you were. He also told me that Daemon was a river and his ambitions are like the currents that would never stop until it reaches the sea. I try to pay more attention to him because I do not want his son to flow with him in the same manner."
Viserys stared at her not knowing what exactly he could say to this, "never question me that I chose him over you, understand?"
Notes:
Will say, I am not entirely proud of this chapter. But this needed to happen in order for my story to proceed. Like it, don't like it, your call.
Basically the gist is Daemon did not say it, someone next to him muttered out and they all thought it had been Daemon and that was it to that. Anyways, I am thinking the next update might just be for this story or probably a Song of Wolf and Dragons, not decided which one I will update.
Until next time then.