"We will need a glorious group of knights to protect us from these savage Dornish, my wife. They shall be named the Kingsguard and will protect us with their lives," The young Princess Rhaenyra proclaimed in an adorable attempt at a kingly voice.
"That's not how it went!" Protested Alyssa, "It was Visenya who created the Kingsguard not Aegon," Rhaenyra made to scowl though it was more of a pout on her childish features.
Ser Steffon's young charge had been brought by Rhaenyra to her chambers so they could play Aegon and Visenya. Though the game turned into Aegon, Visenya, and Rhaenys when Alyssa insisted on joining.
Ser Steffon would have thought it would make sense for the only boy to play Aegon but Rhaenyra didn't seem to agree with his conclusion and had insisted on being the Conqueror which ended up with Baelon as the Wielder of Dark Sister. Ser Steffon had been roped into being any of the siblings' various enemies, from Harren the Black King of the Isles, to young Ronnel Arryn the King who Flew, even Meria Martell the Yellow Toad of Dorne.
"I'm the King!" Replied Rhaenyra, "If I want to be the one to make the Kingsguard then I'll be the one to make the Kingsguard! Why are you even still here? You should have left after dying in Dorne."
"Baelon doesn't want me to leave," Alyssa proclaimed, "He enjoys my company."
It was amusing for Ser Steffon to see both young girls turn to the young Prince for help only to find him yawning with his face in his hand while staring out the window. It was equally amusing the way both girls shot him sympathetic looks, taking his boredom as support towards their side.
"Even if that were true as I'm the King I could order you away."
"Baelon would come with me if you did," Alyssa declared confidently, "We are twins. We won't ever be separated for long, everyone says so," The statement earned another pout from Rhaenyra and it was all Steffon could do to continue fighting the smile that had been working its way up his face since the children had begun the adorable play.
It was true that the twins were seldom seen apart and anywhere one went in the Red Keep they might hear servants and Ladies alike gushing over the young dragons.
Baelon was praised for his maturity, quiet wit, and grace while Alyssa was praised for her charming nature and fearlessness, many claimed that she was in nature the replica of both her father and grandmother. Many of those same people claimed that Baelon was the image of Jaehaerys in his youth.
For most they were seen as a spot of sunshine in an otherwise bleak and fretful capital. Most of what the people said of the 'Bronze Dragons' was even true. Baelon seemed quiet and shy at first glance but it would only take a single conversation with him to notice his intelligence. Much greater than that of any child Ser Steffon had ever met before, not that he had met many.
Those in court who did not know the two well would claim Alyssa had Baelon wrapped around her little finger but Ser Steffon had seen first hand that it went both ways. He knew that the reason for the twins always being in close contact was Alyssa, the young girl would cry if away from her brother for too long and always needed to be reassured and comforted by him.
Luckily for her, Baelon was not like most other four year olds and was capable as well as willing to provide his sister the comfort she sought.
A knock at the door broke Steffon from his thoughts and caused him to take a step forward while the Kingsguard tasked with protecting Rhaenyra, Ser Harrold Westerling, fell back towards their young charges.
"You may enter," Rhaenyra called out as she moved to sit beside Baelon.
Of course Alyssa immediately responded to this by moving to sit on the other side of her brother.
"Have you been having fun, Rhaenyra?" Aemma Arryn entered the room with all the grace expected from a noble Lady and Ser Steffon along with Ser Harrold gave her a shallow bow.
"Yes mother, Baelon made a fantastic Visenya. Though our Rhaenys left something to be desired," Rhaenyra, as with much that she said, replied haughtily.
"Oh?" Aemma turned her gaze to Baelon with an amused smile, "Did my Rhaenyra force you into being a woman?"
"I'd rather be Visenya than many of the men alive at the time, my Lady," Baelon had a polite smile on his face as he often did while speaking, "Speaking of Visenya is there any news on whether Vhagar has left the capital?" Baelon the Brave had died the night before, and he had kept his dragon Vhagar in the Red Keep alongside Jaehaerys own Vermithor ever since he had been named Hand of the King.
Now that Vhagar was riderless, doing so seemed a foolish idea. The Good Queen Alysanne's dragon Silverwing had also resided in the Keep though it returned to Dragonstone along with the Queen years before she died. Now the largest dragon in the world was loose in the capital and there was nothing anyone could do about it. All anyone could hope was that Vhagar would fly back to the volcano at Dragonstone, the place she had been hatched.
"Last I heard Vhagar still resided in the Godswood," Sighed Aemma, "Hopefully she will be gone before she can destroy the Red Keep and all of King's Landing."
Ser Steffon thought that the Targaryens were entirely too calm about the fact a dragon was loose in the capital but it was not his place to question the royal family.
"I wonder if I might visit her," Baelon was looking in the direction of the Godswood and seemed to have no clue just what a startle his words gave the adults in the room, "I imagine she is terribly lonely. Perhaps the company of the son of her rider would do her well."
Ser Steffon could feel his face soften from the boy's innocent words. The Prince seemed so much older than he was at times that it was easy to forget he was just a child and didn't fully understand why going near a wild ferocious beast was a bad idea.
"A noble idea, my Prince," The Lady Aemma spoke up with a soft smile on his face, "But Vhagar is grieving, she is just as likely to lash out at you as to take your comforts well," Ser Steffon believed that Vhagar was just as likely to eat the boy because she was a wild beast but Aemma's take on things certainly helped to spare his young charge's feelings.
"Vhagar wouldn't hurt Baelon," Protested Rhaenyra, "He is a Targaryen! No dragon would harm him!" For once Alyssa and Rhaenyra seemed united on an issue as the former nodded her agreement.
Aemma fought to find a reply for a moment before answering, "You will need the permission of your mother and father in any case and it isn't likely for them to agree. Now children, you must be getting ready for the funeral."
"Yes mother," Replied Rhaenyra before turning to Baelon and pulling him into a hug, "I will see you soon Bael," Alyssa made a face as though the nickname was sour.
"See you soon Rhaenyra," The Prince grabbed his sister's hand and with a slight bow to his cousin the two were on the way to their room.
"Do you really mean to visit Vhagar brother?" Alyssa asked after a moment.
Baelon looked back towards where Ser Steffon was before turning again towards his sister and spoke to her in slow simple Valyrian.
Some rich Lords could afford a tutor from the Free Cities to come and teach their children the language and some houses were lucky enough to receive a Maester who spoke it but this was far from common.
It was of course easier for the Targaryens to learn the language seeing as they had family members who could speak it to them. It was said Princess Rhaenyra's first sentences were a mix of Common and High Valyrian.
Ser Steffon didn't know a word of High Valyrian however and so didn't understand a word of what was said between the siblings, which of course was Baelon's point.
At least Ser Steffon could make out that Baelon was explaining something to his sister before turning back to Ser Steffon, "I need to speak with my father. Escort my sister to her room and help her to pick out her clothes but do not bathe her or dress her."
"My Prince, perhaps I should go and get your father while you escort the Princess," Steffon was not eager to leave his young charge alone, even in a place of safety like the Red Keep.
"No. I only need to speak briefly with my father, you will take my sister to her room, Ser," Baelon spoke as commandingly as he could and the expression on his face was obviously an imitation of his father's.
"Be safe, Bael," Alyssa spoke while pulling her brother into a hug.
"I'll be fine Alyssa," Laughed the young Prince, "I'm only going to visit father."
"Alys," The Princess interrupted, "You should call me Alys."
Her brother looked at her in confusion for a moment before amusement flooded his face, "Alys then," With that the Prince was gone though his sister stayed in place.
"If you don't mind my asking, Princess, where is your brother actually going?" Alyssa looked shocked that he could possibly doubt her brother's claim and Steffon couldn't help but snort.
"He's going to speak with father," She spoke with all the seriousness of a four year old and turned to walk towards her room.
"Will he be doing something that he shouldn't?"
"No!" Alyssa denied, "Baelon said that father would be happy when he found out."
"I see," Now Ser Steffon had an idea of what Baelon was doing. He thought of whether or not he should attempt to stop the young Prince but decided not to.
It wasn't his place to question a Targaryen Prince's birth right in claiming a dragon and even if Daemon wouldn't allow it Steffon was Baelon's knight, not his father's.
"In that case we need to get you prepared for the funeral. Perhaps the realm will have reason to celebrate in this bleak time," Or perhaps the time would only get bleaker.
Ser Steffon continued to escort Alyssa to her chambers where a black dress was laid out for her.
After the young Princess' dress was picked out Ser Steffon ushered the servants out and guarded the door while she bathed. Baelon was still not back.
He helped the servants make sure that her clothes fit her right and that her hair was properly brushed and Baelon was still missing. He escorted her towards the Dragonpit where a small funeral would be held among the Targaryens and close relatives before the smallfolk would be allowed to give respect. Baelon was not there when they arrived.
"Where is my son, ser?" Prince Daemon asked harshly once he realized that the young Prince had not been brought along with his sister.
"In truth, my Prince, I do not know," Ser Steffon had a decent idea but it was not his place to give up the secrets of his Prince.
"You left my son with no guard?" Daemon's voice had gotten low rather than rising and Steffon felt that was more worrying.
"He asked me to escort the Princess to her room while he spoke with you, my Prince," By now the conversation had drawn the full attention of the other funeral goers.
"Alyssa, my dragon," Daemon turned towards his daughter, still speaking in his low, dangerous tone, "Where has your brother gone?"
"He," Alyssa stuttered over her words, "He wanted to visit the dragon."
The room's reaction to this varied greatly. Rhaenyra had a smirk on her face while her parents looked worried, Daemon had a fierce mix of pride and anger on his face, while only the slightest hint of interest could be seen on the Old King's face.
"And why," Daemon spoke very slowly now, "Did your brother say he wished to visit Vhag-"
A roar so loud it shook the whole city broke out from somewhere above the Dragonpit and unless Rhaenys had returned atop her 'Red Queen' there was only one dragon it could be.
Cries of, "Dragon landing!" Were heard all throughout the pit and all the Targaryens turned to see as one of the outer cage doors opened and in walked the largest dragon in the world with a child of four years old riding on its back.
Ser Steffon could feel his hair turning grey as the young Prince Baelon waved towards them all with a happy smile on his face.
I'm very sorry how late this chapter came out. I had it mostly done all day but I needed to get blood work done and so didn't get home until about an hour ago. Though, at least for me, this chapter is still coming out on Monday so you can't be too mad right?
With this chapter the answer of what dragon has been answered for Baelon though not for the other 3 Targaryen children.
Not sure how likely a Friday chapter will be. Maybe I'll post one Wednesday before I leave or maybe I will be able to post it while I'm gone but if not I'll get three done next week.