207AC
Red Keep
Kings Landing
Maekar Targaryen blocked the sword coming in from the left with the shield while lashing out with the wooden sword at someone else coming in from the right. Then jumped back to avoid another swing that he couldn't block with both the sword and shield out of position. The 6 men advanced slowly in a half circle trying to pin him against the fence of the sparring ring.
Maekar watched all 6 of them closely, looking for an opening. The one on the far left tensed and Maekar knew he was going to rush him. He was young, hardly a man, He had heard stories about this one, Daveth. That he was hot headed and always eager to use his sword, and now thought he had his opponent out numbered and trapped.
The tension broke and Daveth rushed forward with what he probably thought was an intimidating roar and a wild downward chop with his sword, all while ignoring the shout of "NO!" from one of the more veteran guards. Maekar waited until Daveth was close then went inside his guard and slammed his shoulder into the man's chest while putting his foot behind his ankle and knocking him over, he hit the ground with pained grunt. Maekar put the sword point on the hollow of his throat said "Dead." Then had to dodge as the next man came in swinging.
He took the first on his shield. Blocked the second with his sword. Then started his counterattack by swinging at the man with his shield, He flinched and Maekar capitalized on the opening and slapped the man on the inside of his thigh, said "Also Dead." The third man came in with a thrust that Maekar easily turned aside, spun away form the second man n and slapped the third man with the flat of the blade in the side of the head. Knocking him out of the fight.
The fourth came at him at a dead run shield held low covering his stomach and upper legs with the sword resting on the top of the shield. Maekar made a decision and dropped the shield. Then got in close and swung low with the sword. The guard dropped low with the shield and let the sword dip low. Maekar then punched him in the side of the head. He fell to the ground unconscious.
The last two looked nervously at each other. Maekar had just dealt with 4 people in less than a minute and a half. Neither of them wanted to be hit in the head, the chest, the thigh, or anywhere else really. They both raised their shields and swords and prepared to get their asses kicked. Maekar was holding his sword loosely in his hand by his side waiting to see what they would do.
Maekar knew he shouldn't be taking it out on the guards but he didn't know what else he could do. His son had been bed ridden with a horrible fever for two weeks now. And he couldn't do anything about it. It wasn't an enemy he could beat into submission, kill, or barter with. It also wasn't something he could play politics with and turn an enemy into an ally. So, he was venting his frustrations on the poor guards. He wasn't trying to kill or maim them. He had just taken four of them down in about a minute and a half by his guess, and now the last two looked very nervous. He was waiting to see what they would do next.
When from the doors to the Red Keep a servant who usually helped his wife and children raced over lifting the hem of her light summer dress above the mud and dirt of the training yard. He paused and looked over at her, holding up a hand for the two guards to pause, the servant, Sera, with a gasping breath Said "Prince Maekar, Prince Aegon wants you to go to Prince Aemon's room as soon as possible. He sent for your wife, and the Grand Maester as well. Donnal went to get Lady Dyanna, and Branda went to get the Grand Maester." She paused then swallowed thickly before speaking up again "I don't know what happened. Maybe he woke up?" she said a little hesitantly.
Maekar nodded his head tossed the wooden training sword to the Master at Arms and set off back into the Red Keep without a word. Not quite running but moving faster than a regular walk.
Dyanna Dayne was kneeling in front of the statue of the Mother. Saying a prayer for her son as she lit a candle. She had already lit candles for her Aemon in front of the Father, the Smith, and the Warrior. She would finish this round of prayers and lighting candles in front of all 7 statues, then go check on her sons.
Aegon had not left Aemons side even once since he had fallen ill. She had noticed that he hadn't been eating, sleeping, nor bathing enough. Wanting to always be there in case Aemon got worse, or better. Neither had her husband, although he had spent most of the last two weeks in the training yard with a sword beating the guards black and blue. She wished there was more that she could do other than say prayers to the Gods and light candles in her son's name. But she was only mortal, and a woman.
She was in the middle of her prayer to the Crone, having finished with the Mother, and done the Maiden before the crone. The only one she had left was the Stranger.
She heard the door to the Sept open and she looked over to see one of the servants that usually helped her with the children, Donnal, she stood and turned and before she could say anything, he started speaking very quickly "My lady, Prince Aegon sent for you. It sounded very urgent, he shouted. Loudly. For you, Prince Maekar, and the Grand Maester to be found and brought to Prince Aemon's room, Now."
She got paler the longer he spoke. Then, taking a breath to steady herself "someone has been sent for my husband yes? And the Grand Maester?"
"Yes my lady. Sera for the Prince and Branda for the Maester."
Then, without even replying, she walked out of the Sept at a quick pace heading for her son's room.
Allister Flowers, Bastard of House Redwyne was reading through the books he had on healing in the vain hope that he would find something to help Prince Aemon. He knew that there wasn't anything in these books but he had to try.
He had already sent a letter to the Citadel requesting further texts on healing, and more specifically fevers. Prince Aemon wasn't getting any worse true, but he wasn't getting any better either. He was worried about that, There were many reports from many different Maesters about people that were unconscious for weeks having trouble walking, feeding themselves, and many other things that all amounted to living a normal life, let alone living as a Prince. Even one as far removed from the line of succession as Aemon was. It had only been two weeks tomorrow , but if this lasted much longer then there might be long term problems for Prince Aemon.
As he was thinking about what he could do for Prince Aemon, the door to his study opened and one of his acolytes, Beric, a fourth son of a third son from some Stormlands house he couldn't remember the name of off the top of his head, hurried in to the room, with one of Lady Dyanna's servants following him, breathing heavier than normal and looking like she had run quite a ways to get here.
Before he could even open his mouth to ask what the problem was, Branda answered his unspoken question. "Grand Maester! Something has happened with Prince Aemon! Prince Aegon sent for you, Prince Maekar, and Lady Dyanna. Right away!" He was standing before she had finished speaking as well as gathering parchment, ink, quills, and his instruments that he would need to check on the physical condition of the Prince and make notes of it.
He started asking questions rapidly as he gathered what he would need. "Did the fever break? Has he stopped breathing? Did he wake up? Did he fall out of the bed?"
"I don't know Maester. Prince Aegon just shouted down the hallway for someone to get you, the Prince, and Lady Dyanna. He sounded very upset."
He didn't respond just started moving faster in packing his things up. Once he had everything he thought he would need, he moved quickly and purposefully through the door and down the stairs starting for the long walk to the Princes room.
Two weeks. Two weeks to the day. Since Aemon wouldn't wake up to break his fast. Two weeks of him not moving. Two weeks of that damned sickness. Then he wakes up for a few seconds. Says some things that still made no sense to Aegon then fell into what the Grand Maester said a normal sleep with the fever broken and him covered head to toe in sweat.
After sending servants for his Mother, Father, and the Grand Maester, they all showed up very close together and after he had told them what happened and what Aemon had said, they all started asking the same questions that Aegon had. How can someone dream they're old? Why was he at the wall? Why was he a Maester? The same questions Aegon had, with no answers anywhere to be found except maybe with Aemon, who was still asleep.
Aegon gave a deep sigh as he got up and walked over to the door before opening it, Sera, the servant that father had stationed outside the door, looked up From her sewing and said "yes my prince?"
"I'm hungry, can I get some ham, cheese, bread, and some juice, Please?"
"Of course my prince. Ill have someone go get it right away."
"Thank you Sera."
"Of course my prince."
He closed the door and walked back over to the chair by Aemon bed and picked up the book he had been trying to read to both practice his High Valaryian, and to do something other than sit by Aemon and worry.
Aemon came awake with a gasp from a dream about men who should be dead but still shambled forward with ice blue eyes. He looked toward the window and saw that it was pitch dark out. Probably midnight or later.
He turned the other way and saw that Aegon was curled up in a chair with a book hugged to his chest, and a blanket thrown over him. He smiled at the sight and then started wondering how long he had been in his room. His legs and arms felt weird. Like he hadn't used them for a few days.
Then, unbidden the thoughts that he had been trying to avoid bubbled to the surface. Him being one hundred two, Him dying of old age, Him being a Maester, Him serving on the wall, Him dying next to the scion of house Tarly who had been all but banished there by his father in favor of his more militaristic younger brother, Him dying next to the Free Folk woman Gilly, and lastly most importantly and most distressingly the Others. White Walkers. whatever you wanted to call them, they're real. And they hate absolutely everything alive.
As much as he tried he couldn't remember anything but his death. At the end of the world as one of the last Targaryens. He hoped that he would somehow remember more things that had happened to…him? The old man that he might be? Could be? would be? He hoped it wasn't that last one. Above all else he didn't want to be one of the last of his house and family.
He wondered what he could do about all of this. He was still just a kid but he knew that he had to do something. He refused to let the downfall of his house come about through his inaction. He threw the blankets off of his bed, moved his legs so he was sitting on the edge of the bed then tried to stand, and proceeded to fall over with a loud thump.
With a groan he said the only thing he could. "Ow. That hurt."
Then at the same time as the door opened, Aegon from the chair by the bed, said in a voice that was borderline shouting, "Aemon! You're awake again! Are you going to say more things that don't make sense and leave behind a bunch of questions before you fall unconscious again?"
"I don't think so? I don't even remember waking up before?" was the reply in an uncertain voice.
Tom, the servant that was on the door during the night cut into the conversation "My Princes, is everything ok? I heard a loud noise."
"That was me Tom. I fell out of the bed."
"Would you like some help up my Prince?"
"Yes please Tom. Help me back up onto the bed."
After doing so and Tom had helped Aemon back up on to the bed, Aegon said to him "Please go get my parents. They'll want to know my brother is awake. Even if it is the middle of the night."
"Aye my Prince. Right away." He paused for a second before saying "It's very good to see you awake my Prince." Then without another word he was gone.
Aegon opened his mouth to ask a question but Aemon beat him to it. "You can wait until Mother and Father get here. I'm not going to answer the same questions 3 or 4 times."
Aegon reluctantly nodded his head. "Yes brother." They then settled in to wait for their parents.
Maekar came awake suddenly in his and his wife's bed. One second he was sound asleep, and the next he wasn't, and he didn't know why. As he was reaching for the dagger he kept on the bedside table, a knock came from the door and he realized that someone must have knocked on the door once before. He got up and quickly crossed the room worried that something was wrong and opened the door.
Tom, the servant that he had put with his children was standing there with his hand raised to knock again. Maekar opened his mouth but Tom started talking before he could say anything. "I'm sorry my Prince, Prince Aemon is awake and Prince Aegon said you and Lady Dyanna would want to know even though it's the middle of the night."
From the bed came his wife's voice "Indeed we do Tom. Thank you."
"Always my lady. Would you like me to find some of the other servants to help you get dressed?"
"No. I'm going a short way to see my sons, not to the throne room for court."
"Aye my lady."
10 minutes later both of them were dressed, Maekar in the first shirt and pair of breeches he could find, and Dyanna the first dress that she found that she could get into and out of with only limited help from her husband, and on their way To Aemon's room. They walked quickly and quietly their worry overwhelming any desire for conversation.
As Dyanna walked toward her son's room she was worried. He had been sick yes but more concerning to her was what Aegon had told them that he had said when he'd woken up. Aemon being a Maester, serving on the wall and being very old were all concerning. However what concerned her the most was what he had said about monsters coming to kill them all. She was a Dayne. She was Stony Dornish. She was more First Men than Andal, or Rhoynish. She knew the legends of the First Men, the North, the Starks, and why the wall was built in the first place. So if the Others were In fact real, and they were coming she was very worried. They hadn't been seen In Eight thousand years, all of the stories they had left about them were scraps of fragments of scraps of stories that had been told, retold and twisted so many times no one knew what the originals were anymore.
When they reached Aemon's room they walked inwithout knocking and paused just inside the door. Aegon was sitting in the chair by the bed and Aemon was sitting on the edge of the bed. It seemed to Dyanna that she crossed the room in two strides to wrap her son in her arms. He hugged her back hurting his face into her neck and stayed there for several seconds before she realized he was crying.
"Aemon, what's wrong?"
"I missed you so much. I missed everyone. You know that dream I had? I don't think it was a dream. I remember only a little bit of it but I know they were true."
He took a deep shuddering breath and tried to calm down but Maekar put a hand on his shoulder which caused Aemon to cry harder and reach for his father like he was a small child.
Maekar wrapped him in a hug and mad comforting sounds and rubbed his back trying to get him to calm down. Eventually Aemon stopped crying. Dyanna the n started asking him questions as gently as she could. "Can you talk about the dream? Do you want to talk about it? It's ok if you don't."
Aemon nodded his head, paused, then started talking. "I was old. Very old. Over one hundred I think. I was blind. And I was dying. I was the Maester at Castle Black on the Wall. I died next to a Tarly who had been banished there because he wasn't the heir his father wanted. And a woman of the free folk named Gilly. And the Others. The White Walkers. Whatever you want to call them. They were coming. Them and their army of Wights. I was trying to get the Tarly to take the woman and her infant son and flee south. We wouldn't be able to hold the wall and they would die when the walkers took it."
He paused there unable to continue for a few seconds until he took a deep breath. Maekar asked the first question that came to his mind to try and distract his son from his obviously dark thoughts. "Free Folk? Who are they?"
"the Wildlings. The people that live north of the Wall the call themselves the Free Folk because they have no lords." Maekar gave a hum of understanding.
Then Aemon continued speaking. "There's more. And arguably the worst. I knew beyond doubt that I was one of the last Targaryen's in the world. I don't know what caused it. I don't know what happened. But I know that I was one of the last of our house. And I don't know what to do about it. Some of the other things I remember yes. But that? No idea."
"Right now, you will do nothing. You will focus on getting better. And if you remember anything important you will come and find me. I don't care if you are in your lessons, or if I am doing princely things with my father. If you remember anything else you will tell me at the earliest opportunity. If its something important. You will come and find me. Then tell me absolutely everything that you can."
Aemon replied with wide eyes and disbelief evident in his voice "you believe me? You actually believe me just because of a dream?"
"Our family has a strange relationship with dreams. Daenys the dreamer proved that and there have been others with dreams since then." Was Maekars quick reassuring reply.
Dyanna was also quick to reassure Aemon. "I am a Dayne. Dayne's are first men. First men also have a strange relationship with dreams. We both believe you. But right now, It's the middle of the night. You are both going back to sleep. We'll work on what to do tomorrow."
"Yes mother."
"Yes mother."
After saying goodnight to their parents Aegon climbed up into the bed with Aemon, ignoring his protests. To Maekar and Dyanna's laughter. They walked out of the room and the door shut with a click. They could hear Aemon still trying to argue with his brother most of the way down the hall.
Once they got back to their room and changed back in to sleep clothes and were getting back into bed, Maekar opened his mouth but Dyanna covered it with her hand, and said "We'll deal with it tomorrow."
Maekar gave a sigh but nodded his head and laid down to go back to sleep.