Aegor
"Wait, Aegor…!" Calla begged as he dragged her out of the door. When their gaze met, Aegor could clearly see the pain in her eyes, see how heartbroken she was. But he could not falter.
Her life— her and Daena's— were in danger if they continued to stay within Aenys' proximity. Because Aegor knew that they were not the kind of people to refrain themselves in the face of such… madness.
And what had taken Aenys was undoubtedly madness. Clutching his head, laughing towards himself, he was crumbling piece by piece.
It was not the time to care about kingly pride, not when Aenys was losing it. With a roar, Aegor commanded, "Snap out of it, Aenys Blackfyre. If you insist on acting like a child instead of a king, then I will be forced to treat you as one."
The boy wanted to be a king, a great king, to bear the responsibility too heavy for anyone to bear alone. Hearing Daena's encouragement, her wish for him to improve, might be more painful than her scolding.
That was why… he used a method so extreme, so outrageous, to shut her up. Even if he knew the irreversible damage he would cause.
Tears dripping down his face, Aenys mumbled with a chuckle in his throat, "Uncle… I won't stoop so low as to harm what remains of my blood. You need not worry about that."
Aegor stood in front of him and grabbed his shoulders, forcing Aenys to raise his head. "I believe that you don't want to hurt them. But anything is possible if you lose control of yourself. Daena… you hurt her."
"...It's true, though. That man is a threat, and he won't stop being a threat no matter how many children he has with Daena. If we are to get rid of him… better do it before Rohanne grows up, before she can remember her father," Aenys sighed deeply, staring at Aegor with resignation, "But I suppose I have messed it up enough that his existence will be convenient instead, no?"
Aegor snorted. Aenys was a smart boy, smart enough to foresee what would happen next— yet unwilling to change his ways, by the choice of his words. "What do you mean?"
Aenys chuckled faintly, "Please, Uncle. We both know that Calla can't bear you any children. If I die… or when I'm disposed…" a malicious grin flashed through his face, "Daena is the only one who can rule, being the only one who has children to her body. And her husband being Targaryen will only placate those Red loyalists. How pleasing for the next generation of rulers to be of both Black and Red."
"...You can still have children." It was like Aenys was reading his own will.
"Selyse will never forgive me. Not after what I've tried to do. And if I can't bring her happiness… I should at least not shame her more." Aenys gritted his teeth, "Besides, you won't like it if I anger the Peakes, will you? They are not just my allies, but yours as well. When I'm gone, you will need them to continue to support us. It won't do if I—"
Enough. Aegor was done with hearing Aenys preparing for his demise. "I'm not going to dispose of you, Aenys! I promised to be loyal to—"
"To House Blackfyre. To my father," suddenly, there was a fire in Aenys' eyes, "but you tricked him, didn't you? Uncle, I know what kind of man you are. You wanted power, just like I did. We both did unspeakable things, so we should be able to understand each other."
The words hit like a bucket of cold water. Aenys knew— no, he suspected. There was no evidence of Aegor's lie remaining. He had long since destroyed what he had forged and showed Daemon, a lifetime ago.
But ultimately it did not matter. Half of the realm believed Aegor's lie, the other half did not. Daemon's children, naturally, believed him… but Aenys had turned cyclical since obtaining the throne.
Aegor could deny him, with harsh and certain words. But he found his tongue tied. What Aenys said was the truth, after all, and he had been lying to the children long enough. And Aegor could only begin to imagine how much his suspicions added to Aenys' paranoia.
...To know that you sit upon a stolen throne, to know that your family has died for a lie… a lie that you must keep supporting, lest you lose everything...
Denying the truth now… would not set Aenys' heart at ease. It would only destroy what little trust and understanding he had for Aegor.
The corners of Aenys' lip lifted. "I knew it. I suppose I don't have any right to condemn you, Uncle, considering what I've done and what it brought me," his hollow, sarcastic smile turned into one of hatred, "But I wish you didn't do it, now. I wish you had asked Father to secure peace instead. He'd listen to you, more than my own brothers would ever listen to me. But you wouldn't, because you wanted power. Because you wanted Calla."
"No, I didn't. I didn't do it for any of those. Not Calla," for some reason, this was heavier than anything else Aegor had said today. "Calla was a child then. I couldn't have wanted her." Not before, not now. Calla was not an object for him to lust over. She was… she was...
Aenys' laugh was cold. "Right, you didn't want her before, back when we were children. But we are all grown up now. She can't ever produce children— yet you never consider stopping this sham of a marriage and ending her suffering. Uncle, I don't believe you are doing this purely for practical reasons. You want Calla, for whatever she means to you."
"No," Aegor found himself desperately screaming, "No!" he roared, an ear-splitting howl. Ending the marriage? This would… this would devastate her. Denying her worth as a woman. Breaking her confidence, confidence that was built on the price of much blood spilt. He could never do that to her, the daughter Daemon had given to him to protect.
The brightest pearl shining innocently amongst the sea of blood. The anchor that was keeping him from drowning in his guilt and sins.
Which was why... he couldn't… let her go?
Aegor's hands were shaking. Had he… chained her to his side… for his own sake all along? Wasting her youth… had her play the role of a wife without the benefits…
"You care about her more than any of us. You want her. Calla… she puts you on a pedestal, you know. She can't know that our lives, our suffering are all caused by the man she loves." Aenys' gaze was sharp as a blade, his smile twisted, "So I won't tell her… if only you would promise me two things."
Aegor's jaw clenched. Calla's soul had been tortured by recent events, to the point where she wanted to sacrifice her own life… if she knew that she had been fighting for a lie—
—Don't leave me. Don't go. Not Calla. There's no one left…
...Aegor forced his cowardice away. It was not the time for self-pitying. He did not deserve any pity. If he had been selfishly dragging her down for his own sake, then he would have to find a way to set her free. Aenys could not blackmail him as he wished. Aegor only had to distance her, strengthen her… until the truth would not destroy her.
But he would hear his demands. He was not planning to dethrone Aenys, not before he pulled this trick. All he had… was considered neutralising him. "...Speak your terms."
"It's simple. While I'm still king— as I'm now— you would, as you have promised, pour your effort into making me a great king, and support what I decide to do," Aenys sighed, "I know I can't do anything if you seriously decide to oppose me, so I need some leverage over you. It's not personal, Uncle, I don't wish for Calla to get hurt too."
"You don't have to explain yourself," Aegor hissed, his fists clenched, "Proceed."
"...The second one is, when you sense that I've truly gotten out of the line— that I would irreversibly damage the reputation of House Blackfyre, or the people I should protect— then please, take me down, with all your might. Denounce me. I—"
Aegor lifted Aenys' body up by his shoulders. "Ouch!" the boy cried, his sick, self-abusing smirk vanishing from his face. That was better.
Leaning close, Aegor pronounced his words slowly and clearly, "Listen, Aenys. I'm not going to denounce you and replace you with Calla or Daena. You want to make me a traitor, to give yourself a grand exit, but I won't let you. Never. It's not over yet. I'll fulfil my oath and make you a great king, so you need to shape up and—"
"Your Grace! Ser Titus Peake of the Crystal Guard has urgent news regarding Princess Calla!" a call from beyond the door.
Aegor let Aenys go at the instant. Calla…!
—
Calla was… she was more than he could have expected.
She would truly leave herself to the mercy of the mob, in a misjudged attempt to atone for the deaths of Flea Bottom. It was foolish, extremely so. Yet it also swayed Aenys' heart, making him willing to reconcile with the city… reconcile with himself.
It was clumsy and overdone. The loss of prestige from Aenys' action would be severe. But it was an important step forward, having the determination to fix his mistakes instead of letting them fester.
To refuse the urge of taking the easy way out.
"Uncle, we are similar, aren't we?" Aenys' smile hid a hint. It was a reminder of their promises, what Aegor did. Of what Aenys did.
"Mayhaps." Aegor knew that Aenys had done more than what Daena accused him of. Of what, he was not sure. But after everything he had said, Aegor could make an educated guess. "Even if I wish otherwise."
...And what a sad, bitter guess it was. If it was true, then Aegor would rather let that truth stay in the darkness where it belonged.
Aegor's gaze moved to Calla. His precious girl…
—No, she was not his. He could not keep chaining her down. She deserved so much more than being his anchor.
He could not show approval for her rash action, such… noble sacrifice… could not be encouraged. He had to be harsh, had to distance himself from her. So one day she could be free from his influence.
But Calla's eyes were still so clear, so full of hope when they glanced into him. Even after he had hurt her, she was still seeking his approval.
...Aegor walked towards her and pulled her onto his shoulders. Just this once, he told himself. He needed to bring her back to the Red Keep anyway.
And… he wanted to feel her life. Her light. To bask in the lucky coincidence that he did not lose her the way that he had lost everyone else in his life.
The words he told her were few and harsh. But she did not show a hint of sadness as she laid her head on his shoulders. She felt… peaceful. Happy, even. When he finally gathered the bravery to glance at her face, he found that she had closed her eyes, with a smile on her lips.
...She must be exhausted.
"Sweet dreams, Calla," he whispered, knowing that she would not hear him.
—
That letter came on new year's eve, after a fall of fresh snow.
To King Aenys Blackfyre, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm,
Your Grace, the Night's Watch needs your help. Our Lord Commander, alongside half of our rangers, are missing after a great ranging beyond the Wall. The few survivors speak of creatures of myth, of a monster the size of a mountain, of villages and forests destroyed. While their claim seems unbelievable, we know no wildlings tribes strong enough to assassinate our best rangers, and we have not seen any wildlings activities for months.
We have no choice but to consider the existence of such a monster, marching towards the Wall. A mystical problem requires a mystical solution, and we are aware that Princess Calla wields a magical sword capable of surpassing humans abilities. As the current acting Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, I humbly asked for the assistance of Princess Calla…
"Thanks, Uncle, I think that's enough," Aenys nodded at him from the Iron Throne. His newly forged crown, with its design resembling the one he lost but lighter, simpler, fit his slim, gaunt face. He looked around the table, "Everyone agrees that this is a farce?"
Aegor nodded. There were simply too many holes in this story, and Aegor was well aware of the number of men the Reach had sent to the Wall during the last few years. Flooded with Targaryen loyalists, the clear explanation of the events followed would be that they murdered the current Lord Commander— and now, setting a trap to lure Calla, who was their biggest threat, to her death. "We should send people nonetheless. If the Targaryens have overtaken the Wall, they have become a threat that we must deal with. Send a raven to Lord Stark, and some reinforcements of our own—"
"Why do you dismiss the content of this letter?" Calla asked, frowning, pursing her lips, "I think it's true. The Wall— no, the world is in danger. I need to go."
Everyone at the table stared at her. Calla rarely expressed any opinion during those small council meetings, even less so after she had woken up from her coma. To hear her opposing so strongly…
It was strangely satisfying. Aegor wanted her to be able to stand on her own, to smile without needing his approval. Deliberately keeping his distance from her had been hard, anguishing even, but it was all done to strengthen her, to protect her when the truth came out. Now it had paid off.
"Such a monster beyond the Wall is unheard of," Aenys explained with a sigh, "Unless, of course, I'm mistaken. Grand Maester?"
"You're right, Your Grace," the old maester hurriedly answered with his shaky voice, "There are records of mythical creatures beyond the Wall, Giants, Others, Children of the Forest… but not the one described in this letter."
"So it's just an incompetent lie," Aenys concluded, "We shall do what the Lord Hand suggested."
The table erupted in agreement. But within that, Calla still shook her head, her eyes bright and determined. "No. I must go. Just… I know it's hard to believe me… but I received Crystal for a reason. This sword is meant to slay the evil that has set foot in our lands, in Westeros. This monster… is the enemy I must defeat."
"Even if this monster really exists, we cannot send you into what is very likely a trap," Aenys tried to reason with her, "We must send people to investigate what is really happening at the Wall. Lord Stark is well-positioned for this task, with anything about the Night's Watch concerning him the most. He'll do his duty to the crown."
"But it might be too late," Calla argued, "the world is in danger! I know— I have seen—" she seemed to have trouble finding the right words, her face twisting in pain, "I can't provide you with any evidence. But what this letter said is the truth. So please… just once…" Her eyes found Aegor's, "Trust me."
Her eyes welled up, her plea was so powerful that it made Aegor's heart sway. What did Calla know? He started to consider. Her Crystal was full of mystery. If Calla had contacted whoever gave her the sword, she might actually know something…
The question was… "If you know that there's a monster threatening us— threatening the world as you said, then why did you never mention it before we got this letter?"
Calla widened her eyes. "I… only vaguely know… about the great evil Crystal has once faced. I didn't know that it'd come beyond the Wall. In hindsight I should've been able to guess it, but…" she trailed off, lowering her head.
"But what? Calla," Aenys asked, "What do you know about Crystal? I thought you had told us everything you know about it."
"It's… a long story. And we're out of time. If the monster is what I think it's, then the Wall might be under attack by now. You have to let me go—"
"I can't do that unless you give me a full explanation, Calla." Aenys said, crossing his arms, "And I hope it's a good one."
Silence. The tension between the two siblings was ignitable. Calla bit her lips, her brows knitted. Aenys looked more and more frustrated, before he waved his arm, "Do I need to end this meeting here so we can talk privately?"
"That might be the best," Aegor agreed, "Today's meeting ends here. Small council, dismissed."
As the lords scattered out of the throne room, Aegor walked towards Calla. She remained in her seat, anxiety filling her face. The moment he approached her, she lifted her head up and begged, "Please, Aegor, believe me. I have to go, or the Wall will be destroyed. I finally understand now. I have seen them before, in my dreams."
"Dragondreams?" Aenys sounded exasperated, "That's… that's not reliable. We all remember how Daemon's dreams almost killed him."
"It isn't dragondreams. Would you say Crystal is false as well? No, you wouldn't, because its power is true. What I saw is as true as Crystal. During my month of sleep, I saw a lot of things. I didn't understand its meaning then, but I know." Calla's serious gaze pierced through them, "It's all true, and I have to fight."
Aegor sighed. Calla was not someone who could be easily discouraged. Even if they stopped her now, she might sneak out by herself later. "You have to keep a mind for deception and treachery. Guard yourself tightly."
Calla widened her eyes, her gaze grateful. "Of course." The smile she had for him was tinted with surprise over his support, and Aegor felt a sting of guilt as he realised how long it had been since he had shown approval for her. It was for her sake, and yet...
"Uncle, you're on Calla's side now? I can't—" Aenys shook his head wearily, "I don't know what you are thinking."
"I trust Calla. She has never asked for a thing for herself before. If she believes that it's her destiny to see what's beyond the Wall, then we should let her." Yes, in many ways, he should support her. Calla was a child that was used to taking orders. If there was something she wanted to do herself, he should let her go. She had Crystal, she was more than able to protect herself.
"Alright," vexed, Aenys mumbled, "Alright. I suppose I can allow this… but I still think your initial proposal would be the best, Uncle. Say—" he frowned, "If I say no. What will you do then, Calla?"
Difficultly, Calla whispered, "...I still have to leave. Crystal is calling for me."
"Thought so. And what will you do then, Uncle? Will you stop Calla?"
Was this really how Aenys wanted this conversation to go? "I have told you. Calla wants to leave, and I'll support her decision."
Aenys nodded slowly. "Now, this is purely hypothetical— what if I revoke your position as my Hand for this?"
...Huh.
"Aenys! What—" Calla cried, but Aegor raised a hand and stopped her. This was the golden question.
One that he knew the answer clearly.
"In this purely hypothetical situation," Aegor answered, "I shall resign as you requested." This was, merely, confirmation of the fact that both men knew.
It should be. But it still felt powerful when Aegor said it out loud. If there was a difference between Aenys and him, it was that he was never doing this for the power to rule a country… but for someone else.
It was for his mother, at first. Then Daemon. And now… after he had solidified Aenys' position… Calla.
Of course, he should. Of course I should.
He owned her, the girl who he raised to be a soldier and lost her life. The girl who he had tied to himself for his needs before she had a chance to grow up. The girl who gave him sparks of happiness in this grim world…
"...So, here's the thing. I don't know whether there is a world-threatening monster lurking beyond the Wall. But if you're so concerned, Calla, then I'll let you go. I don't have a right to stop you after… what I did before. But…" Aenys eyes stared coldly at Aegor's. "What about our promise, Uncle? To support me, to make me a great king?"
"You can stand on your own now. You don't need me to be around." Once Aenys had stopped falling into the trap of dreaming too big, he had enough of a grip on the day to day affair of governing to become a king to be remembered fondly. The past months and his handling of the compensation to the small folks had shown that. If only he could repair his relationship with his wife, it would be perfect.
What Aegor did not say aloud, was that he knew Aenys always wanted him to be out of the picture one day, to take back power from an overbearing Hand, before the Flea Bottom incident. At first, he did not feel it. But as the years went on… Aegor could recognise how Aenys subtly tried to undermine him.
And it was fine. It was not optimal, no, but it was still workable. Aenys was an ambitious young man. To want to seize more power for his own was understandable. And now that Aenys was stable, Aegor was content to leave it to him if he so desired.
"Is that what you think? That I'm fine now?" sensing what he thought, Aenys smiled wryly, "I'm… not. Not completely, I think. Better than before, but I still… I still haven't solved what is my biggest mistake. But apparently, this can't wait, can it? So we need to make a decision here. Uncle, your choice. Calla, or House Blackfyre."
"Why does he have to choose?" Calla asked, frowning unhappily, fists clenched, "Why is this an either or? And this— you know Aegor has given his life for our House! So of course he—"
"Calla," Aegor said, "Always." He had made that decision already. He did not think House Blackfyre would collapse from absence. But Calla…
He should let her go. Let her spread her wings as a free dragon, instead of doing whatever he told her to. Daemon gave his daughter to him because he believed that he could make her happy, but Daemon had misjudged him. Aegor was not half the man his brother thought he was. He had only dragged her down, clinging to her innocence to keep himself from drowning.
Being his anchor… could not make her happy.
But at the same time, she needed his support right now.
Calla stared at him, shocked to the core. "Aegor…?"
She thought I would throw her away, he thought bitterly. But it was natural, given how he had treated her during the last few months.
"Good. I really think this is good," Aenys said calmly, "Because I think we all deserve to be more honest with ourselves and each other. And I want you to be happy, Calla. I had thought about… what I should do after that day, to at least pay back a little for how much you have sacrificed… and I have changed my mind about one thing. You can't be happy unless you know the truth—"
"—The truth behind the Blackfyre Rebellion, instead of the lie Uncle Aegor told us," Aenys smiled faintly, "It's… time to break the illusion."
