Daemon I
It was a stinging breeze of steel cutting through the air next to Daemon's head that brought him back to where he was. 'That's right' Daemon thought, 'I am in the middle of a spar' chastising himself at forgetting where he was at in the present. Daemon had spent many days, too many to count, throughout his years here in the sparring yard inside the Red Keep. But sparsely few times, did the object of his swaying attention, His Grace, King Rhaegar himself ever come to watch Aemon and himself spar. It was definitely a distraction that had almost cost Daemon another loss in the sparring yard against his friend and brother by choice Prince Aemon Targaryen. 'Not today though. Today I win this fight.' Shifting his stance, Daemon moved his left foot to a defensive stance to parry and incoming strike of steel aimed at left flank.
"Riposte!" Shouted a voice from Daemon back, "Remember your core principals Daemon!"
Not waiting to fail the shouting voice, Daemon quick shuffled his footwork to an aggressive stance after quickly parrying he lunged forward with a riposte aimed straight toward Aemon's center mass. 'Of Course, he already knows this since Oz decided to shout it to the seven Heavens.' Sometimes, Daemon believes that Ser Oswell does not think him capable of independent thoughts. As he predicted, Aemon quickly moved his own form to prepare to defend himself from his counterattack. But this is what Daemon wanted him to do. With him ready to defend from the low aimed riposte, Aemon would have to move quick to his assault.
Feinting the riposte, Daemon tucked his sword into his own center mass and pivoted his right foot further to the right and lifted off with his left to enter a fast spin. Completing his full spin and with his sword carrying all of his momentum; he swung with all his strength to Aemon's left shoulder. A move that Aemon had just barely deflected off him. Not wanting to let up on his attack, he pushes forward with quick, furious strikes to his right flank, legs, and a thrust to his neck. He saw Aemon struggle to both quickly shuffle back in retreat and to defend Daemon's lighting fast strikes and thrusts. This was just the way Daemon wanted it to go. He knew his friends' strengths and weaknesses, Aemon valued powerful strikes and strong defensive forms to both overpower and withstand incoming attacks. But Daemon preferred to quickly overwhelm his opponents with quick and furious attacks; enough of them would cause them to slip up in their defense and tangle their feet over the other.
What he did not predict was for Aemon to feint a foot slip on his left and as Daemon quickly moved to take advantage of his perceived weakness, Aemon quickly rushed to Daemon's own left side and swung his sword toward his left. Daemon did a quick spin to deflect the blow but doing so left him unbalanced and his Aemon's sword impacted his own, Daemon could feel the power through the strike, as the sensation of needles crawled up his arms. 'Shit that hurt!' Daemon swore in his head. He tumbled some after defending the hit and getting back to his feet, he tried to regain his solid footing. Aemon, not giving him the chance to recover, quickly pressed his attack.
Daemon registered the sound of metal on metal in the back of his mind, silently marveling at what a pleasing sound it was, decided to feint and move to his right and then another to his left.
'Damn it!' Daemon thought 'I really put myself in a corner with this one.'
With only one option to end this now, Daemon did what he knew Ser Arthur would surely hate. Daemon parried Aemon's latest strike and launched himself into his guard. Spinning and thrusting his back and all his weight into Aemon, he saw him tumble backwards and Daemon quickly rushed towards him and with a powerful strike, swung his sword straight at Aemon's. He watched as the sword flew from his grip and laid his own against Aemon's throat.
"Do you yield my friend." Daemon spoke as he panted heavy with exhaustion. Watching as Aemon looked toward his sword landed on the ground and then as he looked back at Daemon.
"Yes." Aemon said in both exhaustion and frustration, his eyes still alight with the thrill of a fight. "You cheated."
Removing his sword from his Princes' throat. "I didn't technically cheat brother; I just did what Ser Arthur would call dishonorable." Daemon chuckled in amusement as he turns to look at Ser Arthurs less than impressed face.
Daemon helped his friend back to his feet as Ser Arthur approached them, taking their blunted steel swords from them. "Dishonorable in a spar, yes; not in an actual fight where you must do whatever you can to survive and walk away."
Daemon tilted his head. "My father likes to say that there is no honor in a fight where someone's death is certain. Just two desperate people hoping to survive on their skill with a blade."
Ser Arthur opened his mouth to say something when another voice spoke first. "Your father is a man wise indeed. Lord Aenar knows his way around a sword as good as the next man, but his skills always laid more stratagems and tactics." Daemon turned and bowed immediately to the King.
"My King." "Father." Daemon and Aemon both spoke as they came to stand next to one another in front of the King. Rhaegar, meanwhile, took this opportunity to look over the two young men in front of him.
"You two have certainly come far under Ser Oswell and Ser Arthur's tutelage. I have not seen such skill in two so young as you since Ser Jamie was about your age. Wouldn't you say so Arthur?" Rhaegar shifted his gaze from the boys to the two Kingsgaurd.
"I would your grace" Ser Arthur looked at the boys with a proud look. "Give them a few more years and I dare say they might give me a hard time." Both boys' chests swelled with pride at the knights' words. Ser Arthur smirked at them. "Might"
Daemon saw Rhaegar laugh, a sound like ringing bells that would have many ladies of the land swoon upon hearing, Daemon was sure of that. But he could not hear the Kings laugh without being reminded about the one person who had seemingly inherited his laugh. The Princess.
"And how go their lessons with the lance, Ser Arthur?" "Well, your grace. Daemon is near unmatched with it. I have seen myself fallen to his lance in the tiltyard more often than not. Aemon is just as good, though, as you no doubt have seen his skills are best with a sword."
Daemon saw the Kings lips twitch up at the mention of his son but then suddenly frowned. "I can't help but notice that there is an absence here, where is my Heir?"
Ser Arthur shifted uneasily at the mention of the Heir to the Iron Throne. Not that Daemon could blame him. Crown Prince Aegon Targaryen was a regular to their training schedule, as it was the King himself who ordered the training. But up until a few years ago when some new visitors were sent to the capital to gain favor with the Crown Prince and Aegon stopped attending their joint training and instead continue with his new friends.
Ser Loras Tyrell and Joffery Lannister, two people who grated Daemon's nerves more than anyone ever could, especially the little arsehole that was Joffery. His inclusion into the princes' entourage had steadily driven the relationship between Aegon and Aemon apart, as they rarely spent time together since his arrival. Daemon wasn't sure to be glad that Aegon was not with them anymore as that meant Daemon and Aegon didn't argue with each other as much anymore; like when they were younger. Or if he should be worried about the amount of influence Aegon's friends had over him.
Ser Arthur speaking brought Daemon out of his thoughts. "He has not attended these lessons with Aemon and Daemon for over a year your grace." Rhaegar looked sharply at Arthur. "What do you mean he hasn't been attending his training? Why have you not notified me about this sooner Ser Arthur?"
Ser Oswell, who had been standing off to the side spoke up in defense of his sworn brother. "Your Grace, Prince Aegon had assured us that he would tell you personally of his decision to stop attending these training sessions."
"I was not told of this, you mean to tell me that my son, my heir has been going over a year without sword training!" Daemon could see the anger rising in the king, though, he could not tell if it was aimed the Kingsguard knights for making sure he knew about Aegon or if it was Aegon himself. Daemon did not want to watch the two knights get chewed out any more than they already were.
"Well, I am sure he has been training with his sword plenty, just not in the way you think." Everyone froze and the bluntness of Daemon's words. He could see the turn his head slowly to Daemon. He could even see Aemon put his head in his own hands in the corner of his eye.
"Excuse me?" Rhaegar whispered furiously. His face blank but his words like a dragon's angry hiss. "What do you mean!?"
"I mean, Your Grace, that your heir is a frequent visitor to a certain brothel in the city." "Which one." The king's words were delivered calmly. Daemon turned his head to look at Aemon. He briefly worried about if his friend would be spar with him after all this. Seeing Aemon nod his head slightly. "Chataya's." "Ser Mandon!" Ser Mandon Moore, a member of the Kingsgaurd come forward.
"Your Grace." Rhaegar went to leave the training yard, walking furiously, "Assemble a squad of ten of the household guard and meet Ser Gerold, Ser Barristan and Ser Arthur in the Thorne Room. "At once, Your Grace!"
At the suddenness of the training yard emptying, Daemon look around, only Aemon, Ser Oswell and himself remained. He saw Oz shake his head at him, his hand on his sheathed sword in a relaxed manner. "You can never watch your tongue can you Blackfyre. The prince will be wroth with you." He heard Aemon snort, in a very non-princely way. "Like he hasn't been wroth with Daemon before. Besides, father won't reveal how he learned of Aegon's activities."
Daemon nodded his head in agreement, "Exactly, the prince should know better than to visit a brothel while he is publicly betrothed. The common folk won't be happy to learn of that." He said with a chuckle.
"Just for your cheekiness, you will both do another set. Now, get your swords.
Daemon found himself walking through the halls of the Red Keep, reading a newly arrived letter from his home, the red wax seal of House Blackfyre broken. It was a letter from his sister Rhaenyra detailing how his father was going to be sending his younger brother, Aerion, off to foster with his uncle Lord Monford Velaryon. Their mother had been a surprise to House Velaryon, born five years after Lord Monford and barely a year after the bastard of Driftmark, Aurane Waters. The late Lady Velaryon had struggled for years after her first birth to conceive again and considered Daemons' mother, Laena, a miracle.
Daemon lamented his mother, who had died suddenly just 6 moons after his brother was born, a sickness their maester had called it. He shook his head to clear his sad thoughts away, this would be good for his brother, it would mean he would grow up with their young cousin Monterys. Perhaps he could find a steadfast friend in him just like he had in Prince Aemon.
He thoughts went back to his sister, Rhaenyra, who had been blossoming into a perfect southron lady, one who ruled the castle. Not that she had a choice, Daemon thought, as their own father's health had been waning progressively over the past few years.
His thoughts were interrupted when he noticed someone standing in front of him. It was a girl, young lady he corrected, whose silver hair flowed over her shoulders. She was shorter than him, barely at his shoulder height, with vivid violet eyes with her silver eyebrows raised.
"Good news I hope Daemon." She said, her voice light and pleasant. "Daenerys!" he greeted with a smile; his tone enthusiastic. "It is, my sister was just informing me that my father, with my uncles' approval, is sending Aerion to foster at Driftmark. After Rhaenys' tourney of course." "That wonderful! Fostering is such an incredible experience, as you well know." Indeed, he thought. Daemon knew more than most what a family could gain with fostering their children with other lords or Kings in his case.
"Walk with me." Not one to deny a princess' command, he offered his arm to Daenerys as continued down the hall. The past by curious and nosey servants, stalwart Household guards bearing the three-headed red dragon of House Targaryen.
"I heard an interesting rumor just now, and I thought to myself, who would I go to if I needed to know something." Daemon gave Dany a frown at her question. "Lord Varys perhaps, he does seem to know everything before anyone else." She gave a small giggle at that.
"True, I could've gone to him, but this rumor isn't quite that serious to bother him with. I had that a certain young buck is going to be gracing us with his presence today. Is that true?"
Aah, he thought, now he knew what she was talking about. He wondered briefly who told her, it was supposed to be a surprise after all. Only Daemon, the King and Aemon knew- Of course it was him, Daemon thought, shaking his head. He could never deny Dany something if she asked him.
"Aemon told you then." She smiled slyly at him, "Yes he did. Aemon could never keep a secret from me! So, when is Steffon supposed to arrive?"
Steffon Baratheon, the heir to House Baratheon and son of Lord Stannis and Lady Corenna Baratheon, had been a friend of theirs since he become a squire for Ser Barristan when he was ten name-days old. He had become an anointed knight along with Daemon, Aemon and Loras Tyrell after they had been sent on a mission, just the year previous, with Daemon's uncle Lord Monford to root out a marauders den deep in the wilderness of Crackclaw Point.
"He should be here soon, last I heard from him was just before he left Storm's End. And that was about a week ago. So, I imagine he will be here later this evening, which is perfectly fine as it gives me time to sort out the details for our gathering tonight." Daemon saw Daenerys' eye light up in excitement at the idea of a dinner party.
"You haven't picked a place yet?" "No, I have, His Grace has given us access to the kitchen keep, and they are having everything prepared for us there." He gave her a sly smirk "Including plenty of Arbor Gold just for you, Princess." She slapped his arm, "Idiot! You make me sound like some sort of deviant!" Daemon only chuckled in response.
It was at that moment when he spotted the captain of his guard, Ser Malon, a man who had served at Blackmont since before. He had served his father during Robert's rebellion and most importantly saved Lord Aenar, who had been severely injured with an arrow to the chest, after his horse fell during the cavalry charge at the Battle of the Trident.
"My Lord!" Ser Malon walked briskly up to them, bowing toward Daenerys with a "My Princess" "Ser Malon, is something the matter?" "No, my Lord, I've only come to let you know that a ship has been spotted approaching the harbor, one with a golden Stage adorned on it." Aah, so Steffon had finally arrived. "Thank you, Ser Malon, if you could gather the rest of the men, we'll set off." "At once, My Lord."
Daenerys quickly looked at him with a firm face, "You are taking me with you." "Dany I really- "She cut him off. "No arguments, as your Princess, I command this of you. Unless you refuse? Then of course I could always bother my brother, the King, about this."
Daemon rolled his eyes, fucking princesses and their moods. "Fine you can come, it's not like you won't be safe with all my men. But if the King hears about this and gets mad you are taking all the blame. I won't have it!" He moves to walk away before turning back and walking in front of her. "And you are wearing a cloak the entire time! The last thing I need is the entire city knowing you're with me." Daenerys giggled. "Why Daemon, I didn't know you cared so much!" All he did was mutter under his breath "Princesses!"
It was a red party that descended Aegon's hill toward the heart of King's Landing. The stench of it was clear to all, especially to Daemon and his guards. Daemon scrunched up his nose, trying to minimize the amount of smell from all the shit and whatever else littered the streets of the city. This city needed a better system than just everyone throwing their shit and other bodily excrements from their homes he thought.
Daemon turned to look at the figure riding on a horse next to him, concealed by a plain black cloak. "Stay close Dany, we are leaving Shadowblack Lane into the city proper, there are plenty of thieves and rapers who wouldn't hesitate to take you if you get separated."
He saw her eyes widen under her hood. "Don't worry Princess, my men are the best House Blackfyre has to offer, we are trained in many forms of warfare. A man would die before he even entered the first rank." Ser Malon assured Daenerys with his certain and calm voice.
"I am glad to hear that Ser, I have no doubt of your men's capabilities, I have even heard my brother Viserys talk about your prowess on the battlefield. From my limited knowledge, House Blackfyre is one of the only Houses with a standing force?"
Ser Malon raised his head high. "It is indeed my lady. We were a decisive factor at the battle of the Trident, when the Dornish right flank collapsed under the Vale's heavy calvary, we capitalized quickly with our counter-charge and broke the Valemen advance."
He could see that Dany was captivated by Ser Malon words and the men's actions during the battle. He could not blame her in the slightest. Daemon grew up listening to Malon's tales about the Rebellion and his and the men's actions during it. The soldiers of Blackmont were not ordinary soldiers like every other great house in Westeros had. The came from all walks of life, Farmers, Peasants, hedge knights and so on who came to Blackmont to train and become soldiers of the Black Dragon. That wasn't to say Blackmont didn't have ordinary levies too, they did, from all the little villages and farms that surrounded the Blackwater Rush. From the confluence of the Rush to north by the Stoney Sept, to the confluence just west of Hayford Castle; his family ruled as Lords of the Blackwater Rush and at times of war, could raise some seven thousand men if pressed.
"It all sounds so amazing; I can't imagine what would have happened if you and your men were not able to react as fast as you did." "I imagine the war would have ended in a different way. And not for the better." Ser Malon finished.
They had reached the junction of The Hook and the Muddy way. Daemon could spot Fishmonger's Square in the distance. 'And smell it too!' he thought in disgust. He could see that Ser Malon had already taken note of their location.
"Standfast men, be aware of your surroundings!" Malon ordered.
"Daemon" He turned to look at Dany under her cloak. "Why is Steffon coming so soon before Rhaenys' name-day tourney? Wouldn't he have come with his father and their party?"
"Yes, in normal circumstances he would've. But as I requested for him to come early, he obliged me and requested to his father to leave early." He pondered for a moment. "You see, my father and my siblings are coming in a few days and the other Great houses are not due to start arriving for at least another week from then." He gave her a sideways look "And there are matters that we must attend to before they all arrive, and things become too convoluted with people trying to wed off their children to eligible lords and ladies."
Daenerys' eyes shined brightly at that and for a moment he thought he said too much to the excitable princess.
"What do you mean wed off!? Are you getting married off… no that doesn't make sense but then… It's Steffon isn't it! He is the one who is going get married off!"
"Calm down Dany! Don't make such a big fuss about it." Daemon let out a sigh and lowered his voice. "Look, don't tell anyone about this yet, okay? No one is supposed to know about this, and my father and Lord Stannis are still working out the details. But yes. Steffon and my sister are going to be betrothed and then married when my sister turns six and ten next year."
He could tell that she was smiling widely even as she looked ahead towards the square. Sometimes he envied her hold on the innocence she still had, the way that she could see the best in people, the way she found happiness in the little things. His own innocence, he knew, had ended on that excursion in to the Crackclaw. Taking a life, Ser Barristan and told them, did things to one's soul, it left a mark, nothing visible but something you always carried.
They had had made it to Fishmonger's Square now Daemon could see vendors, citizens, beggars, and patrol squads of the City Watch everywhere he looked. It was just past the peak of market time, where fishermen brought in catches of the day to sell to the vendors, who in turn sold it to everyone else. It was here you could clearly see the divides of the people of Kings Landing, with peasants with barely any gold or silver stood along some of the wealthier citizens of the city, with their finer clothing and servant following after them. It was at a random stall he saw a young women with three small children being ushered away by a pair of Gold Cloaks.
"Please ser! All I need is just one pound of fish! Please just take all I have!" He could hear her plead with the unsympathetic fishmonger. The gold cloaks pushed her back, another one ripping the smallest child from her arms as they made to grab her. "Get this whore out of here! Trying to give me fake silver Stags!" "No please! I just need some food! Please!" "Stop your wriggling whore!" one guard shouted as he jammed the butt of his spear into her stomach, the girl let out a loud groan of pain.
Daemon moved his out from the formation of his guards towards the commotion. He could a large crowd starting to form around the display has he approach, "My Lord!" "Daemon!" he could Ser Malon and Dany call from behind. But it was no use, he already made up his mind.
He broke through the surrounding crowd atop his horse, "What is going on here!" he shouted at the gold cloaks. Without looking one yelled out, "Mind your damn business cunt!" At his words he quickly dismounted his horse, he moved forward grabbing the gold cloak and tossing him off the girl. "You'll pay for that bastard!" "Fodan! Stop! He's a lord!"
The man, Fodan, paused with his hand on his sword, ready to draw when he found a sword resting against his own throat. "Took you long enough to notice that didn't it. Now that I have your attention, kindly explain this situation to me." Daemon said he calm voice laced with anger.
"My lord," The gold cloak who stopped his companion spoke. "This whore here tried to swindle the fishmonger here with fake Stags, its are job to detain them!" "I'm not a whore! I'm not milord! I swear it!"
"Alright, everyone calm down!" Daemon sheathed his sword as Ser Malon, Dany and the guards finally arrived through the crowd. He looked toward the fishmonger "You there, come here now and show me the Stags!" the man moved forward quickly and handed him the supposed fake Stags. Daemon brought one up to his mouth and bit it, he could taste the foulness of it. 'It's fake, that's for certain.' "Fake." "Just as I said!" "No milord please believe me! I didn't know theses were fake, they gave them to me like that!" "Arrest her!"
Ser Malon came forward on his horse "Quiet! Damn you all, shut your mouths!" Daemon moved toward the girl, "What's you name girl?" "It's Kyra milord." "You said someone gave this to you, yes? Who was it. Who gave you these silver Stags?" He could see the confusion in her eyes, mayhaps she didn't quite understand his question. "Me boss did milord, over near Cobbler Square. I do work for him at the dyeing mill, it was me pay milord."
This was interesting, Daemon thought, a wealthy man giving out fake currency to his impoverished workers. But for what reason? Daemon intended to find that out, and soon.
"Thank you, Kyra. You there, friend! Come here." He handed the man one golden Dragon from his own pouch. "I think that will cover for the fish, and any more this young lady needs for the rest of the moon! Now when she comes back here for more, you will give it to her, with no agreement." He moved closer to him and whispered to him. "If I hear you denied her. I will come back here. And it won't be to give you anymore gold. Understand?" he stepped back. The fishmonger nodded, "Yes milord, I understand." "Good" Daemon had reached his horse which one of his guards was holding still and mounted.
"Thank you, milord!" Kyra walked closer to his horse but kept a safe distance. "What is your name milord?" "It's Ser Daemon. Ser Daemon Blackfyre." "Peace be with you Ser Daemon! And the Seven bless you!"
Daemon turned to Malon and Dany, who was smiling at him. "Let's head out now, we have a friend to welcome to the city after all!" "Move out!"
He was back in the formation again, next to Daenerys, she looked at him with a soft smile adorning her lips. "You did a great thing Daemon, that young women will never forget your kindness. Nor do I think anyone here will either," "Well, I couldn't leave something alone if I had the power to do something about it." She smirked. "From what I can hear anyway." The rode off back to the Harbor hearing shouts of "Seven Bless Ser Daemon Blackfyre!" "Ser Daemon the Kind-Hearted!" "Ser Daemon the Father's Hand!"
Hearing all this, looking straight ahead, Daemon only smirked.
AN: Hello everyone and welcome to Chapter 1 (Daemon I), thank you to those who favorited/followed and a big thanks to those who reviewed! I had planned on getting this story updated yesterday but I wasn't able to so I decided to do it today. I think I am going to try and update every Friday if I can going forward. I look forward to hearing everyone's thoughts on the story and its direction and I do read every review I get!
To answer reviews:
Eatpie1:
I am glad you enjoyed the story!
SilverArrow123:
You are correct in assuming both of those things, in my mind, Lyanna still need to die in childbed if only for it to cause some friction later on down the line for Aemon.
1962strat:
Yes the Blackfyre rebellion still happened, as they had already had the backing of their supporters by the time that Aegon was able to warn them. But Aegon's warning gave them more time to prepare. Yes, Rhaegar decided to rebuild Summerhall, which was a place he held in his heart. Jon as Aemon is the second in line for the Iron Throne after Aegon, and he is accepted as a trueborn, Rhaegar made sure of that. as for being prince of Summerhall, that would be telling :P (He is)
Guest:
Haha it is heresy, but its not because I don't like it but more that i am not good at writing explicit scenes well at all, although it could still happen. You would be correct to assume that, there will indeed be confilct that deals with the Royal Targaryen family, both due to internal and external forces. I do have in mind to make House Blackfyre a very strong House, were they are located is major trade route by land through the Westerlands, southern riverlands and crownlands. They have become a major house without the status of being a Paramount Lord. I have been struggling with if it will be Daemon or still Daenerys or both of them. But we will see.
