"How could you?!" Rhea Royce was thrashing and screaming with her arm caught in Daemon's hand, the moment he had landed Caraxes in Runestone she had descended upon him without letting him even say a word.

Four months had passed since Baelon's claiming of Vhagar and during that time there was hardly anything else anyone in the capital would speak about, Daemon included. He could be found boasting throughout the city's taverns to anyone who would listen about how great his son was.

The youngest dragon rider Westeros had ever known and he had needed no urging from his father to push him into that decision. 'Baelon the Brazen' the people of King's Landing had taken to calling him, an homage to both his grandfather and his Royce heritage.

Were Daemon to choose which of his children would be so brave as to claim Vhagar he would not have chosen Baelon. His son had always been bookish and preferred to stay inside getting whatever knowledge he could from books than to play with the other children. The maester told Daemon that often the only times Baelon would leave the library was if Alyssa was pulling him along.

That Baelon had not been present in the capital. The boy there had not only claimed Vhagar but made fast friends with Rhaenyra along with any young Lordlings he could and was regarded as a charming and well mannered child. Perhaps it was true that a dragon affected the personality of their rider.

Baelon was the youngest dragon rider the Seven Kingdoms, and possibly the world, had ever seen yet even young Dragon Lords needed to return home to their mothers once all the excitement was done. Baelon and Alyssa had taken a ship back to Runestone along with Ser Steffon while Vhagar flew alongside them.

Now Daemon had finally found time to leave the capital and fly to Runestone and even though Rhea showed no sign of calming down the guards approaching with their swords drawn were enough for Daemon to release her.

Thankfully Daemon's wife did not attempt to attack him again as she stood breathing heavily, her face red from a mix of anger and exertion.

"And what, my dear wife, have I done to earn your ire?"

"What have you done?!" Rhea looked like she wanted nothing more than to take another swing at him but restrained herself. When she spoke again her voice was lower, "Our son, Daemon. You threw our four year old son to the largest dragon in the world on the slim chance that just maybe he would managed to claim it."

Daemon attempted to interject but Rhea wouldn't have it, "What would you have done if Baelon was unsuccessful? Would you have thrown Alyssa to Vhagar after the dragon was done eating her brother?!"

"Baelon claimed Vhagar himself. I had no part in it," Daemon was more than a little proud of that fact.

"You had no part?" Rhea scoffed, "The boy's father only speaks to him in Valyrian. His father has him wear his hair in the Valyrian fashion. His father gave him a dragon egg while he was a babe in his crib. His father took him on a dragon ride when he was barely old enough to open his eyes. And yet he had no part?" She spoke more to herself than to Daemon.

"Baelon loves dragons. He always has. Any scrap of knowledge he can get from the Freehold he consumes greedily," Daemon defended himself, he knew what she was trying to say and he disagreed. After all he had warned his children not to attempt claiming Vhagar.

"Alyssa loves dragons. Baelon loves you," Rhea said with more than a hint of bitterness as they made their way towards Runestone's solar, "He wants to be just like you, he always has. The only thing a boy his age wants to be is their father. So take some responsibility."

"If you want to mark me as the reason for why our son is the most secure he has ever been then be my guest."

"More secure? Don't be a fool," Rhea dismissed, "Tell me Daemon. When the Sea Snake decides that our side has too many dragon riders and potential dragon riders, who do you think he will send assassins after? Fearsome Prince Daemon, wielder of Dark Sister or Baelon the 'Brazen', four year old boy not even old enough to hold a large stick let alone a sword."

Daemon's fist clenched around his sword, "Let any assassin lay a hand on my children and House Velaryon, along with Driftmark, will have naught but a page in a history book as their legacy."

"It is not that simple and you know it. You are no fool, so do the math Daemon. A dragon rider, the best fleet, the largest treasury, and a Lord Paramount. And what does your brother have besides your own Caraxes? A secondary house and a four year old boy? Those are not good odds."

Daemon took a seat and downed a goblet of wine before pouring himself another, "We have the rightful heir."

"Do you? Were the question who was to inherit Runestone and not the Iron Throne, Rhaenys would be the heir."

Less than a fortnight after Baelon left the capital, conversation in the Red Keep had turned to a new topic. A Council was to be held at Harrenhal and every great Lord was invited to take part in choosing their next King.

Daemon thought his grandfather had grown senile in his old age. A King wasn't the High Septon or Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, the people he ruled over didn't get to choose him.

In peace only a King could make another man King of seven kingdoms and in war only dragons could. Jaehaerys had followed this logic well throughout the majority of his fifty year reign, even going against the wishes of his wife to do so. Why now, when the realm was closer to civil war than ever before, did Jaehaerys decide that a weak and indecisive man who let his Lords make decisions for him was a good king?

Daemon could not find the answer no matter how hard he searched.

"But that is not the question and thus Viserys will be king. Rhaenys has already been passed over once before. Her having an infant son changes nothing. Do Saera's bastards have a claim because they were born after she was cast from the family? No. They do not."

Rhea sighed and gave up the argument before it could start, "I assume you are here to secure support in the Vale?"

"Boremund is already preparing his banners and Corlys is readying his ships. They are prepared to fight for Laenor's claim."

"Then you would find more success at Pike or on the Arbor," Rhea scoffed before continuing sarcastically, "Runestone has barely enough men to equal Lord Baratheon, you cannot expect us to match the Velaryon fleet as well."

Daemon rolled his eyes, "There won't be a war so thankfully you won't be called upon to match their strength. But we cannot be seen to do nothing while Corlys threatens us. You will begin to muster your troops and meet with the other Lords of the Vale and be sure they are supporting the right side."

"You do not control me Daemon. Nor do you control Runestone," Rhea glared at him from across the table, "And in case you haven't noticed, I, a woman, just so happen to be the ruler of Runestone and Jeyne Arryn will be Lady of the Vale, what makes you think that we will support Viserys and not Rhaenys?"

"Your son is Viserys' nephew. Whether you sit in Runestone with no support shown towards Viserys or raise an army and lead it in his name that doesn't change. As far as Corlys is concerned Baelon is on our side and thus so are you."

Rhea sighed and Daemon knew she agreed before she spoke, "I will write who I can and make a show of training some more guardsmen, but other than that there is little I can do. Now, will you be staying in Runestone long? Our children have missed you."

Due to everything going on Daemon had been unable to visit his children and had even missed their Name Day earlier that month, "I will stay until the morning and give them their gifts and then I will return to Harrenhal to meet with our allies."

"They will be glad to see you," For a moment the two sat in awkward silence, neither knowing what to say now that they weren't arguing.

"Have you heard the news from Dragonstone?" Daemon asked eventually.

"No, I'm afraid word does not travel as quickly to Runestone as to King's Landing," Rhea sniffed.

"Rhaenys was seen making a trip to Dragonstone atop her Red Queen and she was seen leaving with another dragon accompanying her. Laena has claimed Silverwing."

Rhea snorted, "Well she certainly acts fast. And what was the king's reaction?"

"He was unhappy obviously, but due to his unwillingness to name Viserys heir there is nothing he can do. He gave Baelon no reprimand for claiming Vhagar, doing so for Laena would show clearly who his favored candidate is. Now, on the subject of dragons, where is Vhagar being held?"

"I have had the walls of a stable broken down for her, for all the good it does. She can have no guards and at anytime she wishes she could leave. I would say your Caraxes is welcome there but I fear Vhagar has taken up all the space."

"And my son? How has Baelon taken to his dragon?"

"He goes riding upon her everyday, often with Alyssa," Daemon couldn't stop the proud smirk from spreading across his face nor did he try to. It was good his son had not turned out lazy and unwilling to take the time to properly get used to his dragon, "Go and see him now. He and Alyssa should be finishing their studies now and I have work to do."

-

"Father," Alyssa cried out the moment she saw him and immediately rushed towards him while Baelon hung back.

Daemon wrapped Alyssa up in a hug and took a moment to examine his children's guards. One was Ser Steffon, the Darklyn knight who had served Daemon's father while the other was Ser Willam Royce the wielder of Lamentation.

Ser Steffon was a brave and good knight who had served his father well for five years, he was decent with a blade as well though not one songs were sung of, his true strength came with his loyalty.

Ser Willam had the same black hair and blue eyes of Daemon's wife. He was brave and honest as well as loyal to his cousins. He was a great swordsman and only made better by the Valyrian Steel he wielded. When Daemon wanted a sparring partner while in Runestone Ser Willam was his preferred choice.

If Daemon were to be honest he would say that there were scarce other knights in the Seven Kingdoms he would rather have guarding his children.

"How have you been my dragon?" Daemon asked in Valyrian while smiling towards his daughter.

"Amazing father!" She exclaimed with a large smile, "Bael has taken me riding on Vhagar as many times as I want!"

"Yes, your brother has never been able to deny you anything," He almost spoke Valyrian but stopped himself when he looked towards Baelon and remembered what Rhea had said.

Baelon's face flushed slightly red, "It is a brother's duty to spoil his sister," He proclaimed after a moment.

"Yes it is," Daemon said while ruffling his hair, "And it is a father's to spoil his son. Now come with me and see the gifts I have brought you for your Name Days."

Alyssa looked shocked at his words and a frown spread across Daemon's face, "You did not think I forgot did you?" To which Baelon and Alyssa quickly shook their heads as Daemon began walking towards where he left Caraxes.

Alyssa quickly grabbed Baelon's hand and began dragging him after Daemon with a large smile across her face while Ser William and Ser Steffon fell into step behind them and Daemon found himself thinking that if Alyssa would always smile like that then perhaps even being behind the Velaryons for the Iron Throne would not be so bad.

AN

Well this came out later than was planned so I'm sorry for that. I had a funeral to drive to a few states away so for obvious reasons I was more focused on spending time with my family than writing which I think is understandable.

Once I got back I was focused on catching up with my schoolwork so yeah this chapter is coming out pretty late.

This chapter was pretty short and honestly I'm not super happy with it but I wanted to get something out to you guys so you got this sort of in between chapter before a timeskip. I hope it was still enjoyable.

New chapter coming Friday and at some point I owe you guys an extra update but that probably won't be this week.