King's Landing, Early 159 AC
Daena
Daena looked at the Lady Baela as it was docking in the harbour. The ship was sighted near enough to an hour ago and it still hadn't docked. Daena bobbed her leg up and down impatiently and the pony she was on, shuffled around as if it had sensed her impatience. She turned around to look at who had gathered and spied her uncle Viserys astride a horse of his own flanked by Ser Donnel Cox and Ser Symon Gaunt of the Kingsguard. Just then, the litter carrying Naerys was brought to the docks by the servants. Finally! Daena got off her pony and went over to Naerys. Ser Donnel followed.
"You don't need to trail me here, Ser. Why would anyone attack me here, in the open and in King's Landing, no less?" Daena asked. After her father had died, Daena had found out that she was being trailed by Kingsguard wherever she was going. It was only a single moon since her brother had been coronated, but this new measure of security irked Daena to no end.
"It does not behove for a Kingsguard to be lax in his duties, your grace. The King has charged me with your protection and protect you, I shall," Ser Donnel responded in a monotone.
"And will you follow your king even if he orders you to go against your knightly vows?" Daena asked, hoping to break Ser Donnel's emotionless mask.
"That is something I will deal with if such a thing happens, princess," Ser Donnel said, but there was a wry twist to his lips and Daena took it as a victory. By the time the pair had reached to where Naerys's litter was being lowered, Naerys had just stepped out of it.
"Eager to meet Aemon then?" Daena asked Naerys, smirking.
"I could ask the same to you. Did you set your sights on my husband?" Naerys countered, a smirk of her own on her face.
"What! No! Ugh, why would you even think that? I only came here because I was bored in the Keep," Daena said.
"I thought you were good friends with Lord Blackwood's daughter, Missa or whatever her name was?" Naerys asked Daena.
"It's Melissa and yes, I am good friends with her, but she's so uptight, you know. She doesn't even come with me when I go and practise with the bow. She says it's not womanly and things like that," Daena said. She made a pinched face and pursed her lips. Naerys burst out laughing.
"Well, she is not wrong. War and fighting are not really womanly arts," Naerys said.
"Well, that's what you think," Daena said and turned up her nose imperiously.
Naerys laughed once more and turned to face the docks. Behind them, some more of the hangers-on at court had also gathered in a bid to welcome Lord Alyn and Aemon, hoping that this would buy them some favour with the Hand and the Master of Ships. All of them were either shallow enough to think that it would work or were stupid enough to think that it was a good plan. Daena snorted. As if.
The ship had finally docked and Daena was able to make out the form of three, no four people on the deck. One of them, she recognized as Lord Alyn and she waved. The other was a man in plate armour but unhelmed. He had greying, red hair and a beaten face that looked like someone had left it out in the sun for too long. Then, there was a woman on board too and Daena discovered, much to her jealousy, that she was very beautiful. But it was the last person caught Daena's eye. He looked really familiar. He had the silvery-blonde hair that was characteristic of Valyrians. Daena thought that he might be Lord Alyn's kinsman. But Aemon himself was nowhere to be found on the ship.
"Do you see Aemon anywhere?" Daena asked Naerys. Naerys was standing on the tips of her toes trying to identify the men on deck.
"No. I don't see him. But that person on the deck there…, " Naerys trailed off.
"He looks very familiar, doesn't he? I could have sworn I saw him before," Daena said. She was glad that he was a familiar face. It meant she wasn't losing her eyesight, at least.
"By the gods! It's Aegon," Naerys exclaimed.
"What? Which Aegon?" Daena asked, but a cold feeling settled in her stomach. She felt that she would not like the answer.
"My brother, Aegon. How many other Aegons do we know?" Naerys asked. She continued before Daena could reply. "Why does he have Dark Sister on his hip? Did something happen to Aemon?"
"Why is he here? His exile isn't over yet. Did he think he could come back now that father is dead?" Daena asked, outraged. The embers of her hate for Aegon were stoked once more.
"Perhaps. I don't know. He seems to have grown out his beard. He looks just like Aemon did," Naerys said distractedly.
"Did you see the scar? Perhaps someone tried to kill him," Daena said, trying to keep the excitement out of her voice.
"Don't say things like that," Naerys said sharply. She was wringing her hands as the gangplank was being lowered onto the dock and looked to be agitated.
Naerys ran forward as Aegon disembarked and reached him before anyone else could. She asked Aegon something in hushed tones, something Daena could not make out. By then, Daena's uncle, Viserys had also reached them. Aegon said something in reply, too low for Daena to her. She could have gone forward, but something held her back. She did not think she could control herself in his presence.
Slap!
Daena looked on in shock as Naerys hit Aegon across his face then crumbled down crying. Her father gathered her into his arms and Naerys continued to sob. The rest of the court was looking at the spectacle. This would satisfy their appetites for a few moons at least, Daena thought. She made her way to Naerys and heard Lord Alyn speak.
"... we sent a raven from Driftmark. It should have arrived by now," Lord Alyn said.
"There was no raven. You should have waited in Driftmark for an acknowledgement of this issue instead of coming here directly," Daena's uncle said, an undercurrent of warning in his tone.
"Please, father. I was the one who urged Lord Alyn to hurry. The Lyseni have embalmed the body to the best of their abilities but I felt that it would be optimal not to tarry," Aegon interjected.
"Silence!" Viserys thundered and Daena flinched even though the anger was not directed towards her. She had never seen her uncle angry ever before and this frightened her.
"You dare offer justifications even after what you've done? The moment I heard news of Braavos cutting off ties with us, I suspected it had something to with you," Viserys said angrily.
Despite her feelings towards Aegon, Daena could not help but cringe when she heard her uncle shout at Aegon. She looked around to see if anyone else had heard, but Ser Symon Gaunt and Ser Donnel Cox had acted quickly. The lordlings who had flowed them from the Keep to the harbour were quickly ushered away and even the docks felt empty. It would not do for their subjects to see infighting in the Targaryens. Daeron had always said that their position was precarious now that they were without dragons.
"Let the lad be, lord Hand," the other man said, "he acted in the way he thought to be correct. It was no crime of his to liberate the treasures that the Braavosi have stolen from the Targaryens in the years past. In light of recent developments, it might be justifiable for you not to commend him, but the blame for Prince Aemon's death lies on one's shoulders but the Braavosi."
Daena gasped. Aemon was dead! She could not believe it. Aemon who had always made light work of any opponent? Aemon who was matchless in the yard? That Aemon, dead in Essos? Daena felt tears prickling at the corners of her eyes. Her father had died not even a month prior and the Gods were so cruel as to take away her cousin too. Her eyes fell on Naerys then, who was still sobbing from her place in her father's arms.
Daena pushed through the circle of men and took Naerys into her arms. She glared at Aegon with all of the force she could muster. Judging by how Aegon even failed to register her presence, her attempt at intimidation seemed to have failed.
"And who are you, Ser, that you would presume to lecture me on matters regarding my son?" Viserys asked coldly.
"I would not presume that much, your grace. Your son might have acted without thinking through the consequences but do not blame him for his brother's death. You do not need to. He has already taken the blame upon himself. And as to who I am, well, I am but a humble soldier. You would know of me as having fought for your mother and ending the Dance at the Battle of the Kingsroad. Ask Bloody Ben Blackwood, my lord hand, of Ser Oscar Tully and he shall tell you of my deeds," the man said.
Daena looked to where her uncle Viserys was seething at having been interrupted but before he could say anything Lord Alyn jumped in.
"Now is not the time for bragging Ser Oscar. We have yet to take the body into the Keep and this requires discretion. Once we are inside and this has been relayed to the Prince, we can decide on what to do with Braavos," Lord Alyn said.
"The King," Daena blurted out.
"What?" Aegon asked and all of the men gathered there turned to face her as if just now realizing that Daena was present.
"Daeron is the King. It has been almost a moon since father died," Daena said to Lord Alyn, ignoring Aegon despite him having asked the question.
"Yes. Yes. Pardon me, I must have forgotten in this excitement. 'Tis a bad omen, all these deaths at the same time," Lord Alyn said and the other man, Ser Oscar, crossed himself with the seven-pointed star.
"Bad omen or not, we need to get back to the Keep," Viserys said and turned to Lord Alyn.
"Wait, father," Aegon interrupted, "might I present to you, my wife."
Aegon gestured towards the ship and Daena saw the woman, who had been standing on the deck, start to walk down the gangplank, flanked by her own escort. Once she had reached to where they were gathered, Viserys took her hand in his and laid a kiss to it. She blushed demurely at it and Daena felt anger rise through her.
"My lady, I trust the crossing was pleasant?" Daena's uncle asked.
"Yes, my lord. But, I did not think my husband would be assaulted as soon as he got back," she said, sounding amused.
Naerys had, by then, wiped off her tears and looked over at her goodsister curiously. At this statement, she let out a watery chuckle and spoke.
"You must forgive me. I was taken in by my emotion," Naerys said.
"Oh, I understand completely. I have been married to Aegon for only a moon's turn and yet, I feel as if I could not live without him. It was unbelievably tragic what happened to Prince Aemon. Braavos will have to pay for this. They have grown very arrogant now and it is even more obvious across the Sea, in Essos," the woman said and she grasped both of Naerys's hands in her own,
Daena felt nauseous as she thought of the woman and Aegon together. She was prevented from making her opinions on the matter known, however, as Naerys spoke over her.
"But where are my manners? I am Naerys, of House Targaryen and this is Daena, of House Targaryen as well, my cousin. I hope I am correct in presuming that you are the First Magister's daughter?" Naerys said. The other woman smiled. It was a beautiful smile and despite Daena's earlier jealousy at her beauty, she found herself warming up to her.
"I am Serenei, of House Nograthien. Is that how you put it?" she asked, her tone belying her anxiousness and Daena felt herself smiling. She had thought at first, that this was some foreign woman come to steal her place at court, but she knew as much about it as Daena did. Daena liked that she was open with her faults. It reminded her of her own mother.
"Yes, but you would be a princess now that you've married Aegon," Daena interjected.
"Well, Aegon told me that it would be enough to introduce myself as Serenei of Lys. That it was all anyone would care about anyway," Serenei said.
"Don't worry about all that. You'll be fine," Daena said. Serenei looked at her and smiled, but this one was a different smile. A shy smile and Daena wanted to reassure Serenei all of a sudden. To tell her that she would be fine here in King's Landing. Serenei spoke up before Daena could say anything.
"I hope that it would be fine if I thought of you as my friends?" Serenei asked as she twirled a lock of her hair around her finger. Daena could not resist anymore. Serenei looked like someone had kicked her puppy. Daena leaned forward and hugged her.
"Of course. We are family now after all," Daena said and Naerys smiled.
Daena turned around, perceiving some disturbance behind her. A few of the men on the ship, who seemed to be wearing clothing of a distinctly foreign style were bringing a casket down the gangplank. A casket the size of a fully grown man. In an instant, Naerys had rushed over. The casket looked heavy but it was not decorated. It was closed tightly and sounded as if there was some liquid inside.
"Is that…?" Daena asked Serenei.
"Yes. We have embalmed his body, but it is not permanent. You are the last of the Valyrians, the same as us. The body must be burned. The Velaryon lord thought to burn the prince's body back in Lys, but Aegon wanted to bring it here, back to his family," Serenei said, sorrow etched on her face.
This was not something Daena had expected of Aegon. To her, he was always and would be the callous villain who had killed her brother. Perhaps, he had thought it would endear him to Viserys and Daeron. Not that Daeron needed much prompting in that regard. The way Daeron speaks of Aegon, you'd think he has not been exiled at all, or that he did not kill Baelor, Daena thought bitterly.
A heavily built man, also in armoured in the same manner as Ser Oscar walked down the gangplank after the casket had been lowered. As he came closer to the group, he bowed to Aegon. Daena's blood boiled at that. She knew he had brought all these men here to try and usurp Daeron's throne.
"My prince, the preparations are done," he said.
"Very well. Have the men begin to take it to the Keep. I trust the Kingsguard would not object to leading the way for the men?" Aegon asked.
"No, they should not. Ser Symon, you shall lead these men and …," Viserys said and trailed off, looking at the large knight for his name.
"Ser Jon Harte, if it pleases my lord hand," the knight said.
"Yes. Ser Symon, you will lead Ser Jon Harte and his men with the …, with the casket into the Keep. Let the Grandmaester know of its … contents. He shall prepare my son for cremation," Viserys said, his voice strong as steel and unwavering.
"Father …," Naerys pleaded.
"No, child. We shall consult with the King. Perhaps, he might want to let Aemon's body lie in state. And there is the issue of the Braavosi as well. Do not fret. We shall have an answer by the end of this day. This, I promise you," Viserys declared.
"Then, I wish to travel with, …, with the body," Naerys said the last part in a whisper.
"Let them go quickly, child. By the time you reach the Keep in your litter, the Grandmaester might have already prepared the body. You don't want to see him as he is," Lord Alyn said, a sad smile on his face.
Naerys nodded and wiped the few tears that formed once more upon seeing Aemon's body or rather its container. She walked over to where her litter was placed and she was about to climb into it when she stopped and looked in the direction leading into the River Gate. Daena looked up to see what she was looking at. A man was riding towards them at a great speed on a horse. A knight of the Kingsguard. As he reached closer, Daena identified him as Ser Olyvar Oakheart. He reached them and dismounted quickly, bowing to the gathered personages and regaining his breath at the same time.
"My lord hand, the King has sent me. A raven was received from Driftmark. It contains grave news regarding Prince Aemon. I was sent here with instructions," he said earnestly
"Too late, Ser Knight. As you can see, we have already arrived," Aegon said in a mocking tone.
"Arrived you might have, Ser, but the King has given me a duty to perform and perform it I shall," Ser Olyvar said coldly.
Daena felt a small thrill of exhilaration pass through her upon seeing someone talk down to Aegon. The fact that it was one of the Kingsguard made it only better in her eyes. Both Aegon and Viserys bristled at his tone and drew themselves up to respond. Before Aegon said anything, however, Viserys spoke.
"Take a care of how you speak, Ser. That is my son you are referring to," Viserys said.
He did not glare, but the severity of his expression conveyed his anger nonetheless. Ser Olyvar recognized his mistake immediately and bowed deeply, looking contrite. This seemed to mollify Aegon somewhat and Daena was disappointed. She had hoped that Ser Olyvar would have insulted Aegon some more.
"My apologies, your grace. I did not recognise you. It was presumptuous of me to speak in such a manner. I hope I have your forgiveness," Ser Olyvar said.
"It matters not. You say the King has given you a duty. See to it," Aegon said.
Ser Olyvar bowed and gestured to a few men behind him. They must have arrived on foot behind Ser Olyvar and looked to be wearing Targaryen livery. Men-at-arms, Daena thought. They surrounded the casket which had Aemon in it and Ser Olyvar spoke to Aegon's pet knight. They seemed to be talking about the route to take and Daena shifted her attention back to Naerys.
Naerys and Serenei were getting into the litter which would take them back to the Red Keep. Ser Donnel had just brought some more horses for Lord Alyn and Aegon. Ser Symon, who had handed over the responsibility of transporting the casket to the Keep over to Ser Olyvar, walked over to Daena with her pony.
As Daena got on her pony, she saw Aegon's men surround the litter carrying Naerys and Serenei. When the group prodded their horses forward as one, more of Aegon's men fell into step with them. Her uncle and Lord Alyn paid it no mind and they continued to talk with Aegon and Ser Oscar as they rode towards the Keep, but this display of Aegon's power here, within the Capital made her apprehensive.
Daena threw a glance towards Aegon who was smiling as something her uncle Viserys had said and steeled herself. The first thing she would do when she got back to the Keep was tell Daeron what she thought of Aegon. He was here to usurp Daeron's throne, she was sure of this, and she would make sure everyone else would be too.
A/N: Do let me know how you felt. I thrive off feedback.