Son of Fire and Hope

Chapter 1:

The Baratheon Heir

In the RED KEEP, to the far-off hallways in a luxurious bedroom, Three people were worried sick. They were all sweating so much that it could have filled the Narrow Sea.

Within the confines of the room was the Queen, Cersei Baratheon, crying in pain as she pushed. To her side was an old man with a long white beard. Cersei would have preferred to have her brother Jaime, who was standing guard outside, be there instead of Grand Maester Pycelle but that would bring in too much attention to them.

Outside the room, Ser Jaime Lannister, Kingslayer and member of the Kingsguard stood in watch. He grasped his golden Lannister sword with a strong and stressful grip. A small puddle of sweat lay by his feet. The sweat came not from the humid temperatures under his golden armor but from fear, fear of not being able to be by his dear sister's side at their child's birth.

He clenched his blade tight and shut his eyes as his sister's scream echoed within the confines of the room. "Shit..." swore Jaime. "Do something, Jaime, do something!"

He felt his hand near the doorway. No! Cried a voice in his head. Being there would bring too much attention. He had to keep their secret safe and he had too. For them, for their love.

Inside the room, Grand Maester Pycelle continued to stand at the foot of the bed, looking in between Cersei's legs, overseeing the birth.

"The child is almost there, my queen," his raspy voice said. "Continue pushing."

Cersei groaned in agony. This monster of a child was being too headstrong, much like that oaf of a husband, Robert. Her eyes widened in fear, what if it wasn't her and Jaime's child? What if it was Robert's? She prayed to the seven that it wouldn't go to that.

She pushed and pushed with all her might, praying that the pain would end.

"Very good, my queen," said Pycelle.

Good?

He must be mad, thought the queen, who felt like her loins were being ripped to shreds. "How much longer, Grand Maester?" hissed Cersei in pain. Tears were now flowing from her eyes. The child she was bearing was a beast to handle.

Pycelle smiled. "Almost there, my queen!" he exclaimed. "I see the head, one more push!"

Cersei pushed with all her might, begging it to be over. Then, she heard it. The wails of her child, loud and boisterous they were. The child's screams echoed through the room and out the halls.

Outside the room, Ser Jaime gave a sigh of relief. His son was born, at long last.

The Grand Maester swooped the child and swaddled it in a cloth. He looked at the child and smiled at Cersei. "Congratulations, my queen," he said beaming. "Its a boy."

He handed the child to the queen and made his way to leave. As soon as the Maester was long gone, Jaime burst into the room in a flurry. He quickly made his way to his sister's side.

As he knelt down beside her, he noticed her frowning. He had seen frown before, but not like this. She looked sick, disgusted.

"Cersei?" he asked. "What's wrong?"

"Look at him," Cersei said sharply. "Just look at him!"

She handed the swaddled babe to her brother and he looked deeply at the child. His eyes widened. The child looked everything like them, the only difference about the child was that he had coal black hair. He was a Baratheon.

"Black hair..." muttered Jaime. "It isn't ours."

"Kill it."

Jaime turned towards his sister in horror. "What?"

"Kill it Jaime!" she screamed, her eyes full of fury. "It isn't ours, kill it!"

Jaime stood up, still holding the bundle carefully in his arms. He stared at his sister in shock.

"Why should I kill an innocent babe? What has he done to you?" he asked.

"Don't you see it brother? That thing, that monster! It isn't ours. It's that bastard's child, he did this to me!"

He stared at his sister for a moment before narrowing his eyes and bared his teeth like a lion. "No."

"What do you mean No?"

"I said No, Cersei!" snapped Jaime, his eyes full of fury.

Cersei was taken aback, wincing. She knew her brother, he never got mad. Seeing him angered like this, was a rare and a very frightening sight to witness. When Jaime was mad, he was an exact replica of their father, Tywin.

"I stopped at killing kings," he said venomously, glaring at his sister. "But I would never kill an innocent child. If you want to kill this child, call that fucking pig Gregor Clegane."

He looked at the child deeply, with as much love as any father could give. Then, the babe opened his eyes. Jaime looked at him. Those emerald green eyes...Lannister eyes. He smiled. I'm an uncle now.

"Look at him Cersei..." he said. "He's beautiful."

Cersei's face contorted with rage. "Why would you say that? He isn't yours."

He went closer to his sister. "Just look at him, Cersei. Look at him."

He handed the bundle back at his sister. Cersei took the baby forcefully and stared at it. Horrid little monster, she thought. He's no worse than that imp.

Then, as the child opened his eyes and looked at his mother, he smiled.

Cersei froze.

The babe smiled so bright, brighter than any star in the night sky. His emerald eyes glimmered with joy as he giggled at seeing his mother. That smile reminded her of someone of so long ago, that smile belonged to her mother. She immediately felt regret.

Guilt weighed her heart; how could she kill try to kill her own child? An innocent babe? Her mother would never try to kill her, no less Tyrion.

Cersei broke into tears. "I'm a monster..."

Jaime went to her side and comforted her. "You're not a monster."

"How could I do that? To a child no less, my child!"

Jaime wiped the tears from her eyes. "You made one small mistake, its not the end of the world."

Cersei smiled at her brother, her ever perfect brother. He always knew how to comfort her. She looked at her child's eyes.

"I promise you," she said under her breath. "I won't commit the same mistake again, ever. I will always love you, my son. I will make sure that you will be the greatest king Westeros has ever known."

The child seemed to understand her as he smiled brightly at her when she made the oath. This child was different, Cersei thought.

"What do you plan to name him?" asked Jaime.

Cersei stared at her child with a new found love as she smiled. "Aerion. Aerion Baratheon."

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Chapter 2:

A Unique Talent

Aerion sat quietly in the Red Keeps grand library. Beside him sat Grand Maester Pycelle,