Dragonstone-104 AC
"Se thus āeksio freeholder Aeron Vaekar jentan se 7th legion rȳ se plains hen lhazareen, commanding zȳhon azantyr hen zȳhon zaldrīzes aengnar iā nēdenka dyni 90 brōzi tubissa uēpa….." a seven year old Aurion Targaryen read.
The tome in question was Wars and Conquests of the Freehold written by Lord Freeholder Jaekar Perjelmāz the lord of Borash. It was one of the last tomes in possession of house Targaryen that predated the Doom.
Through the last seven years one of his main objectives has been to gather all forms of knowledge both Westerosi and Valyrian. The latter had been harder than expected. The books on Valyrian magic and rituals were basically non-existent. Barth's book on dragonlore, the only one available and even then the book didn't encompass everything he knew. Not even half the rituals Queen Visenya taught him were present.
All these led him to believe that a major knowledge purge occurred in Westeros possibly after the death of Maegor when Jaehaerys allied himself with the faith and the citadel. The explanation regarding dragon egg hatching was vague and based on chance. In each ritual something or the other was missing.
While a dragon could be hatched by following the said rituals it was highly dependent on the existence of dragons and high amounts of magic. Thus it was no surprise that the Targaryen failed to hatch dragons after the dance.
Flashback
A three year old Aurion on a chair in the grand maester Allar's study as he recited something. Aurions mind however was on something else.
"...and thus we...Prince Aurion why are you distracted…"the man said
"Ahh sorry grand maester , I was wondering if I could take a look at that tome"
"The unnatural history, ohh well I could recite it to you if you would like"
"Could I perhaps borrow it?"
"Well this is highly unusual, for a child your age.",he reached for the tome, he stopped to think for a moment before answering "well no matter …. Yes you can borrow it however I must inform the king on this matter…. And if you have any troubles in understanding something please inform me"
And that did it, soon he found himself summoned to his grandfather solar.
In the chamber were Jaehaerys, Alyssane, Baelon and Daemon. The former three sat by a table while the latter stood leaning against the wall. The grand maester stood on the other side of the room. He could feel their eyes scrutinizing him.
So he did the most logical thing to do.
Act as if he was a scared child.
"Did I do something wrong??"
Immediately their eyes softened.
"Ohhh no no my boy...",the old king began, "Our good grand maester here just informed us of how intelligent you were, isn't that right grand maester?"
"It is you grace, the prince is quite perceptive, he takes in all the lessons quite easily, never have I seen a child so eager when it comes to studies"
"That's really great Aurion",his grandfather said "but grand maester here tells us you wanted a specific tome today, may we know why an interest in such a tome"
And thus he was in a catch, well he could say her heard that book was about dragons but that would result in them asking about his interest in them not that it was a bad thing for dragons were a daily part of Targaryen life.
Dreams, yes , that could be the perfect cover.
"Grandfather I heard it was a tome about dragons and wanted to know more about them for I…I dreamt of dragons."
Their eyes widened at this revelation.
"Dreamt", Daemon's voice cut through just as he straightened himself, his eyes jumping to Aurion just as Aurion thought he would, there was no chance Daemon would let a talk about Valyrian Magic go. "Tell me, son , what did you dream about??"
"There were two dragons flying over a white field, one was green the other black a man rode the green one while a women the black"
While technically this was just a memory from his time as Jon Snow flying on Rhaegal flying in the North with Daenerys it did the trick.
"Your grace it might be the boy is having Dragon Dreams like Valyrians of the old",grand maester Allars interjected.
"Is something wrong with me?"he asked, putting on the most innocent face he could.
"Ohh no little dragon, nothing is wrong with you, in fact it was a lady with dragon dreams who saved our house from certain destruction, we are merely trying to understand the meaning for your dream", Baelon said smiling as he walked over to Aurion.
"The white fields may mean the North, two dragons green and black, mayhaps the green one was Vhagar but black what black dragon do we have?"the good queen asked.
"Well there is the Cannibal…."Daemon began only to be cut off by his grandsire.
"Don't be mad boy, who would be mad enough to claim the Cannibal…"
And thus he got off that time under instructions to immediately inform them if he had any more such dreams.
Flashback Ends
And thus he got off that time.
During those days the he and Rhaenyra were a source of comfort for most of the Targaryen family. With Princess Gael taking her own life following the death of her child, queen Alyssanes sickness and another miscarriage for Princess Aemma all in short succession.
The Good Queen never recovered from her last daughter's death, she kept her last son close visiting him almost everyday fighting the voice in her head that told of his demise.
Aurion remembered the last time he and Rhaenyra visited her, it was late in the year 100 after Aegon's landing.
Flashback
The two of them walked hand in hand, prince Baelon at their side. Dragonstone was quite a crypt. The only sound that one could hear was the sound of the waves crashing into the far rocky side of the island or the wind howling against the castle walls. The castle was as grim and dark as the first time he had visited it. Memories of Ser Davos, Tyrion, Greyworm and Daenerys flooded his mind. He looked out through the windows. Out there Vhagar flew across the castle. While Silverwing was perched on the tower by the good queen's room.
Slowly they made their way to the queen's chamber. A guard at the door nodded as he opened the door.
Inside the queen lay in her bed Lady Jonquil Drake, her longtime protector and friend sitting beside her. The scarlet shadow she was called and for almost a decade she had guarded the good queen.
Catching sight of the visitors Lady Drake rose bowing.
"You graces",she said
"My lady", the Spring Prince nodded.
"Great Grandmother",Rhaenyra cried moving to her side as she took her hand.
The queen rose a bit looking at them "ahhh my little dragons, how are you Nyra, Aurion"
"We are well grandmother", Aurion replied looking down.
"You are sick", Rhaenyra said a tear sliding down her face
"I am little dragon, very sick ",she replied "But it doesn't matter" she said, caressing her cheeks softly.
"Baelon", she called
The Spring Prince knelt beside her bed taking her hand
"Muna"
"So here we are, I can't even ride Silverwing once more, age is cruel mayhaps even more than my uncle," she smiled. "The mother gave me many children, but loved them so, that she took all of them from me….."
"Baelon….when your father named you Prince of Dragonstone I wasn't with you and while I still disagree with his decision to disinherit Rhaenys… I know you will be a great king...greater than your father…."
Flashback Ends
Those were the last words she ever spoke to him. Not even half a week later the news from Dragonstone. The queen had passed.
Her funeral was held on Dragonstone. The old king stood by his sons side holding on to them for support. His father stood behind him with his stepmother by his side. Rhaenyra sobbed incessantly holding on to her mother as Viserys stoody by soothing her. Lord Corlys Velaryon and Lady Rhaenys stood beside Meleys the Red Queen. " The Queen Who Never Was" stared at her pyre. Her face rock cold. Yet all could see the pain behind those eyes. Even Lady Jocelyn was present by her daughter here to bid her half sister and goodmother goodbye.
And thus with one spurt of Silverwing and Vermithors dragonfire the ceremony was done. Her ashes stored in a dragon shaped Urn large enough so that one day her beloved husband's ashes could be put in the same one. Finally it was buried in a mausoleum under Dragonstone beside her brothers, sister and children.
But that would not be the last of it. As soon as 101AC blew in, Aurion had to prepare for his grandfather's death. In the year 101 prince Baelon was serving as hand of the king after replacing Ser Ryan Redwyne of the kingsguard.
He knew he had time at least till grand maester Allar died. For the spring Prince died a few weeks after grand maester Rucinter had joined the court.
Rucinter had told the court Baelon died of a belly burst after a post mortem examination, now the question was whether he was an active participant in the princes murder. Aurion made a mental note to keep an eye on every man who accompanied Rucinter to court. Moreover he needed to find out what poison was used to kill Baelon. How many members of the citadel were involved in this. God's he wished Sam was here. Allies,he needed allies in the citadel.
His age was growing to be a bigger problem as time moved ahead. A four year old couldn't exactly go to the maesters tower demanding a book on poisons.
Combing through his mind he couldn't exactly come up with various poison names.
As Jon Snow he wasn't exactly big into poison because of his strict northern honor. The only ones he ever knew off were the. " Tears of Lys " the poison used by Baelish and Lysa to kill Jon Arryn and the " Strangler " the one used by Olenna Tyrrell to kill Joffery Waters.
Thus he would have to wait.
He could have tried telling Daemon he dreamt something relating to his father's death but considering how impulsive he was he decided against it. Daemon would probably fly to Oldtown to burn the citadel down to the last stone if he even suspected that the maesters were somehow involved in his parents death.
Thus the fateful day arrived.
Flashback-
Grand maester Allars was dying.
Aurion observed his host as it arrived. Men at arm's from House Hightower, followed by the main caravan. The new grand maester was accompanied by his personal attendants.
Three young maester accompanied him. Possibly newly sworn in looking to assist Rucinter and before being assigned to some keeps of their own.
Aurion closely studied those men, Addam, Loras and Paxten. All three of them reachmen. From Their first conversation he knew either they were either extremely loyal and dedicated to their work or were extremely adept at wearing a mask. He hoped for the former but looked out for the latter. One or all of them were here to murder the heir to the iron throne.
Thus began his regular visits to the maester tower….
"Morning Maester Addam", he greeted.
The man in question was arranging some paper for the grand maester, he looked up, clearly annoyed. " Good morning your grace how may I help you this fine morning "
Aurion moved closer, his eyes fixated on the man as he asked, " I read about something, something called a glass….ahhh glass candle. Can you tell me off them"
Addam obliged " My prince glass candles are candles made of obsidian, they are long and twisted. We have some in the citadel but they have not burned for hundreds of years, possibly since after the Doom. A glass candle shows one vision, or perhaps the Valyrians of the old used them to communicate in some fashion. They feed off magic and with the last of magic dying with Old Valyrian none burn anymore. "
" But aren't dragons creatures of magic ", Aurion enquiried , "if magic was truly dead, how do dragons live?"
"We don't know", the man said with a small smile adoring his face, " In the citadel we are told to believe in logic and logically dragons should be dead but they are not, who knows perhaps magic still exists in small amounts in select places and in select types. It's one of the great mysteries no amount of knowledge can answer" his face had completed changed almost as if he enjoyed talking about such things, he continued " In the citadel we have a section on magic, a section containing all the tomes brought from Old Valyria some aging back to foundation of the freehold, however most men at the citaled scorn those who try their hand on such matters, I did myself and even forged a Valyrian link but in the end it amounted to nothing"
The following days he met Addam almost everyday. They discussed various topics from Valyrian Steel to various myths of Essos regarding the great empire of Dawn, stories from Yi Ti and beyond the shadow. He told Aurion about Jaenara Belaerys and her expedition into Sothoryos.
While he managed to form a good working relationship with Addam, finding common ground on their interest in magic, Aurion was still wary of Addam. Soon after almost two weeks Addam was finally given an assignment to some lordling in the Vale and left.
As for Loras and Paxten, Aurion never had a more intimate relationship with them. He grilled them both with questions about magic waiting for either of them to slip to no avail. They would answer his questions to the point saying nothing extra and neither would they keep things from him.
His mind was in turmoil a part of him though they were both traitor another said it was Addam due to his eagerness to build a relationship with him.
By the old gods and the valyrian gods he was growing paranoid wasn't he.
Nearly two weeks after Addam left it happened.
Prince Baelon was ill, seriously ill….
"Nyra wait", he called, running after her as Rhaenyra skipped into the dragonpit.
They were visiting like any other day, his uncle and her father Viserys accompanied them.
As he entered he was greeted with the sight of the dragon keepers dragging a dead pig.
The dragonpit was huge. With domed doors made of bronze, inside were some fourth cells large enough to accommodate a dragon as large as The Black Dread. Maegor had started the construction of this monstrous dragon stable. Currently it housed Vhagar, Syrax ,Dreamfyre , Vermithor and some hatchlings. Caraxes was at the Vale with Daemon and several dragons still flew wild across the sky's of dragonstone.
They were first greeted by Vhagar the green titanic mount of Queen Visenya currently ridden by Prince Baelon the she dragon was currently enjoying a meal, next was a hatchling skipping around the pit, following it was Dreamfye the pale blue and silver mount of Princess Rhaena it looked to them letting out a cry of acknowledgement, following was Vermithor the old kings mount, the bronze fury was slumbering not bothering to look up at the visitors, the dragon was lonely, with Jaehaerys not going riding and Silverwing at Dragonstone the Bronze Fury had nothing to do and finally there was Syrax the lady of the day. She was beautiful with bright yellow scales. She perked up clearly happy to see her bonded come over. She called out to Rhaenyra excited.
Rhaenyra responded by petting her as the dragonkeepers removed her chains. She skipped around the dragons.
Suddenly Rhaenyra came over and said, " Aurion you need to claim a dragon of your own"
Smiling Aurion replied " I will but none of these dragons interest me, mayhaps someone in Dragonstone is to be my mount"
"Mayhaps, but none can match my lady Syrax", she said running.
Aurion laughed and ran after her. The three of them spent hours in the dragonpit when suddenly a man arrived clearly scared, he went ahead to Viserys telling him something"
Viserys's face fell as he came to them "Aurion, Rhaenyra we have to return now"
"But… so soon father??", Rhaenyra asked
"Something… something has happened, your grandfather is sick very sick"
And thus it happened.
Aurion watched as slowly his grandfather lifes drew out from his body. For five days he suffered. When he first got here he never thought this would hurt so much, he had to admit he had grown rather attached to Baelon, and his death hurt, slowly he watched as tears poured out of his eyes, and that was when he thought, when was the last time he had wept...he couldn't remember….
Daemon had arrived from the Vale on Caraxes as soon as he could and spent the next few by his father's side. Aurion had never seen his father this way. It was low he had ever seen. The rogue prince looked broken but he was not even the worst.
Jaehaerys was the worst. By now the old king had had to live through the deaths of ten children and his beloved wife but never had he been so broken. The old king cried as he put his son's body to the pyre. He cremated the body himself.
Kings Landing mourned the loss of their beloved prince with a dead silence over the city next.
The Prince's ashes were buried in the mausoleum under Dragonstone with the ashes of his sister-wife Princess Alyssa Targaryen.
As he watched the pyre Aurion made a promise.
"Every one of them who was involved in your death will burn grandfather, I promise you…."
Flashback Ends
And thus with the Spring Prince's death the succession was once again put under question and taking counsel from his last surviving son Jaehaerys called for a Grand Council…..
Valyrian-
Se thus āeksio freeholder aeron vaekar jentan se 7th legion rȳ se plains hen lhazareen, commanding zȳhon azantyr hen zȳhon zaldrīzes aengnar iā nēdenka dyni 90 brōzi tubissa uēpa
Translation-
And thus lord freeholder Aeron Vaekar led the 7th legion through the plains of the Lhazareen, commanding his army from his dragon Aengnar a fierce beast 90 name days old...
Authors Note -
So there you have it this deals with all the event till the death of Baelon next chapter will be of the great Council, Jaehaerys death, and some things till till 104 and finally Daemons banishment.
please send your suggestions in the comments down below.