Aegor

"Are you not going to ask me for permission to assess the Black Cells?" Aenys asked Daena, who was sitting idly with her arms crossed, her expression dark.

"No, let him rot inside there for a while. I told him not to betray me, instead he caused all these problems. Serve him right," she spat bitterly.

Aegor knew Daena as a girl who was willful and mischievous, but she was also sharp and capable, and reasonable. It was a rare sight to see her so wroth.

"Time for you to tell us what actually happened between you and him," Aegor demanded. Seeing Daena's attitude towards Aerion, he was sure that the content of her letter was false.

"I planned to tell you all the story after Calla returns. It's quite a long tale." Daena was still frowning, but there was a mischievous gleam in her eyes.

"As your king, I ordered you to tell the truth right now," Aenys immediately asked, a wicked grin on his face, "Did you hook up with him because Haegon had rejected you?"

Aegor did not presume to know about every detail in the children's lives, but this was too large a news for him to be unaware of. "Haegon—"

He knew Haegon and Daena were close, and it was only for Haegon's effort that Daena started to talk again a year after Rohanne's death. She might have returned to normal since then, but it was not a complete surprise for Daena to be attracted to her twin. But if Aegor were to guess, he would say she...

"Please don't ask, uncle." Daena winced. "I'll tell you about Aerion." She glared at Aenys.

Aenys returned her glare with a chuckle. "If you're curious, I only knew because I happened to be near you two that night. Haegon didn't tell. But please, do tell me how you caught the bastard and his heart."

She huffed, yet she still told the tale. After she finished, Aegor was… angry was not the right word, but disappointed. "You didn't believe that we could win."

"It was you who taught us to always prepare for the worst, uncle," Daena said tiredly. "I thought I had complete control over him. I gave him a child and opened my heart to him! I spent so long with him, I… I thought he loved me. Or at least infatuated with me."

"We can still send him to the Wall just like the rest of his kin," Aenys offered.

If Rohanne did not exist Aegor would agree with that. But with a daughter that could be wed back into Aenys' line, it would be best to keep this marriage Daena tried so hard to get. But he knew that he did not have to intervene, because Daena spoke up immediately, "You promised to give him one more chance."

"That I did. Do you think he'll reconsider?"

"He…" Daena lowered her head and stared at her own fingers. "He's a coward. He values his life more than anything, so he should agree with our offer if he believes we really plan to execute him. I don't really know why he was suddenly so stubborn, but… I let him get too comfortable." Daena clenched her fist, "I won't make that mistake again."

"Keep him on your lash?" Aenys suggested, clearly restraining himself from laughing. Unlike him, Aegor did not find the matter amusing. They could not let Daena's emotions cloud her judgment.

Daena's gaze wavered uncertainly. "On a very, very tight lash. He… will learn."

"Don't forget who he is. He will always be an enemy," Aegor warned. "I won't suggest we get rid of him, but there cannot be another incident again."

"I know." Daena bit her lips, her face dark but conflicted. "If he betrays me again, I'll kill him myself."

"My lord Hand," Selyse Peake called, a soft, curious smile on her face. "Are you here for me, or my father?"

Aegor was expecting her to be surrounded by many stuck-ups wanting to butter up the queen-to-be, but there were no such people, only a few maids and guards.

She was not very popular with her peers, Aegor concluded. Selyse Peake was a plain woman, her feathers kind but without any splendor. Other maidens in the court must be incredibly jealous of her, not understanding why the new king picked her.

But Aegor knew why. It was not about the girl, but her father.

"Your father. But His Grace has something for you too." Aegor fished out a neatly folded piece of parchment from his pocket and handed it to Selyse. Aenys was wise enough to spend time to court his betrothed. "Go on, open it."

She blushed when she glanced at Aenys' note. "My father is just inside… May you excuse me then, my lord?"

"By all means." He nodded and stepped sideways to let her pass through. She rushed out of the room with the excitement and nervousness of a maiden meeting her lover. Aegor would crack a smile for the young, inexperienced girl, but he was about to face someone much more troublesome.

Gormon Peake. He was a close friend of Daemon back before the First Rebellion, and an important high lord in his own right, more so after Aenys granted him more lands than those he had once lost. And soon, he would be Master of Law… and father of the queen.

He plotted behind Aegor's back, and without his cooperation the tourney of Whitewalls would never happen. If not for opportunists like him feeding into young Daemon's dream, gambling for a chance to earn more than they deserved...

Daemon and Haegon might not die, but House Blackfyre might not sit on the Iron Throne, either. The man took a chance and succeeded despite the cost. It was meaningless to hold any grudges, especially not when Aegor himself had not managed to stop young Daemon's delusions from costing his life...

Not when Aegor had pondered on leaving the boy to die in Westeros and making the much more suitable Haegon king. If not for Calla urging him with everything she could, threatening to chase after Daemon herself, he would have given up Daemon to Bloodraven's waiting hands.

Calla was a good child, pure of heart, all she wanted was for her family to stay alive. And Aegor had failed her so much.

…He would think about the poor girl later, when she came back from her mission. Now, however, he must ensure that Aenys wouldn't ally himself with the wrong person.

"You didn't find me to talk about wedding details, I assumed?" Gormon Peake asked, a few lines into their conversation, his eyes sharp.

"No, I'm not. I'm here to talk about an alliance." Aegor knew men such as Gormon Peake well. He had won a huge gamble and earned more than he deserved from it, but now he desired even more. "Three castles, more lands from traitors, a Peake queen, the position of master of Law… we both know those are not enough for you. You want more."

A corner of Peake's lips lifted. "And what do I want?"

"The whole Reach. And…" With one finger, Aegor knotted on the pin on his left chest. The hand-shaped metal rang quietly. "This." He stared coldly at Peake, daring him to deny.

"Well, that will make it hard for us to collaborate." Peake returned to Aegor's stare with a cold smile of his own. "And no offense to you, Lord Bittersteel, but if I can get more, why not want more?"

There. Aegor snorted, "Your ambition will go nowhere if I don't help you. You can't replace me, not in this court. But the Tyrells… they're replaceable."

Peake took the bait quickly. "You will help me to become the new Lord Paramount of the Reach?"

"None of us are happy that Tyrells retained their seat. You remember well how they had betrayed us in the first war. And, from their point of view, they must be unhappy with who is currently sitting on the Iron Throne. They will no doubt try something, sooner or later." Especially with the last Targaryen right in court… "By that time, I will recommend the King to name you Lord Paramount of the Reach and Warden of the South."

"And I will be too busy fulfilling my new duties to chase after the Handship," Peake added, a knowing look on his face. Peake was a fool. Aegor was irreplaceable. The problem was that if he intentionally opposed Aegor, it would create problems for Aenys.

A young dynasty such as the Blackfyres could not afford to have two factions feuding in the small council. Aegor intended to make true of his promise: once the Tyrells showed hints of treason, he would replace them with Peake, who had more incentive to stay loyal to Aenys and his future heirs.

"You are clever enough to know what is the most beneficial for you, Lord Peake. You will not act against me, and I will help you accomplish your goal."

"That's fair. I accept your proposal, although… would King Aenys himself be pleased to know that his Hand plotted behind his back?"

Aegor had to laugh at the man's lack of understanding of Aenys. "By all means, Peake, tell him yourself. On this issue the king and I are alike."

"Very well then. I look forward to working on the small council together." He shook Aegor's hands, though when Aegor left him he heard Peake whisper, "Aenys Blackfyre is no more under your control than Daemon the Younger was, Bittersteel. You're wrong if you believe otherwise."

A younger, hotter-blooded Aegor would have challenged Peake on his words. But Aegor knew that it did not matter what Peake thought.

Because Aegor did not want to control Aenys. He wanted to help him. He wanted to protect Daemon's legacy…

...And Calla, who would be devastated to see any other tragedies strike her family.

It was shortly after Daemon made the decision to press his claim.

"Aegor, I've discussed with Rohanne, and we've been considering… would you marry my Calla?" Daemon asked hesitatingly.

Aegor was surprised. He still remembered the day Daemon presented the baby Calla to court. It was a joyful day, Calla's peaceful sleeping face charming everyone in court. The girl was now nine, no longer a babe but still undoubtedly a child. "Why? She is so young… Daemon, you will want to find some boy who is of her age and worth an alliance with—"

Daemon shook his head, "I know no man who will care for her better than you do. You will be a husband every girl dreams of. Calla is a quiet, gentle child… she will grow into a great beauty like her mother, and you will cherish her and make her the realm's envy."

"That's you and Rohanne, Daemon." Daemon managed to make Rohanne, who was at first so confused and frightened for coming to this foreign land, feel at ease and loved within the very first month of their marriage. Whenever Aegor saw her she always looked happy… not just Daenerys, there was no one in the court that did not envy that sight.

Aegor could not make anyone happy. Wherever he went, he brought only misery.

"No, you will make her happy, brother. You have a kind and gentle heart, and you will protect those you love with your life. Other people might not get it, but I know that's the kind of person you are. And…" Daemon smiled, "I want you to be happy too, Aegor. Only after I gave Dany up I was truly happy. And I think you should too, with Shiera."

"I… can't." Aegor could not imagine himself ever not loving her, not loving those odd coloured eyes, that smile that made him forget who he was and what he must do.

"I'm not asking you to stop loving her. I don't think I can stop loving Dany, either. But it's different now… Some love isn't meant to turn into anything but memories. Even if she hates me after— everything is said and done…" Daemon's smile turned wry for a second, "I hope she is happy with what she chose."

"We are doing the right thing, Daemon," Aegor reassured him, just as many times he did before, "Daeron is false."

"I know. None of us want this to be true, but you discovered the truth, and we must act on it. I didn't want to believe it before… but too much evidence said otherwise. And Daeron won't give up so easily. A fight is unavoidable, and that's another reason why I want you to marry Calla."

That line of reasoning, Aegor could understand. "You want to make sure that no one will challenge me as your second-in-command. With Calla's hand, I will be not only your bastard brother but also your son-in-law."

"Even now, no one will challenge you, Aegor," Daemon said, grinning reassuringly, "But if I die..."

"Daemon!"

"Don't worry, I intend to win this! You, me, Fireball, all of our friends… we will win this together!" Daemon held a fist in the air and swore, "And even Daeron… he doesn't have to die if we succeed. No one will have to die… no one."

How could one man be so brave, so competent at everything he did, yet so idealistic and naive at the same time? Daemon was always so persuasive, so certain of what he believed in, that he made even the most cyclical person trust him. Even so, Aegor knew that someone would die. It's only a problem which side they were from.

Aegor wanted to make it so it was Daeron's side who died.

"But I know I must prepare for the worst, as you like to say. Aegon and Aemon will stay with me, they were the oldest, but the others will stay with Rohanne in safety. If anyone happens, I trust you to find them. Protect them, raise them. And for Calla, who will be your wife… please make her happy." Daemon lowered his head, "I'm sorry. This is such a selfish reason. But there's nobody I can trust more than you."

Aegor felt that there was a lump in his throat. Daemon trusted him, even if he was a liar of the worst degree. More than anyone, just because…

"Why do you trust me that much?"

"Why," Daemon widened his eyes, "you're my dearest brother!"

It was the moment Aegor knelt and swore, "Daemon, I will protect your children, especially Calla, and cherish her as long as I live."

Among the tragedies that were Aegor's life, this promise was one he was always happy to fulfill. Because Daemon trusted him.

"Calla!" It was Daena who greeted her sister with a hug, "I have been waiting for you. I have things I want to talk about."

"I heard I have a new niece or nephew?" Calla asked with a tired smile on her face, "And where is the dragon-obsessed, wildfire-loving man who seduced my sister? I'm going to teach him a lesson."

"Aerion isn't like that… well, maybe he's like that." Daena admitted, then added more forcefully, "We need to talk, whenever you have time."

"Alright," Calla sighed. "Give me time to report to Aenys— His Grace, then we can talk."

Calla gave in too easily. The girl was too kind to her younger siblings. "Daena, give Calla some time to rest, she just came back from a major mission," Aegor said, before turning to Calla and embraced her just as Daena did, "Welcome back."

Aegor felt her leaning against his chest, her fingers grabbing the hem of his shirt. "Thank you, Aegor..." Her voice was tight and on edge, as if she was going to break down crying any moment.

And as many promises as Aegor has broken, he would not let her cry anymore.