Kings' Landing
The Realm's Delight
The Small Council had gathered soon after hearing Aerion's accounts on what happened in the Vale, Rhaenyra couldn't understand why such things should be discussed, his mothers' cousin had betrayed him, he deserved death.
To her annoyance, the meeting seemed to have been already underway, once again always starting before she had time to come to the meeting, they didn't even bother to pay her any mind when she went to sit down beside Lyonel, she got a soft smile from Lord Beesbury, the only one on the council that respected her position, and valued her opinion.
"Did you see him?" her father said, looking across the table to his councilors "He is his fathers' child, he will make a fierce knight." then focusing his attention on Lyman "Don't you agree, Lyman? I thought I saw Daemon walk through those doors when I first set eyes on him." the way her father spoke about Aerion made her smile, having been the one thing she too had thought about the most.
"I agree, my king, I had thought for a short time that I traveled back to an old memory, when both you and Daemon ran wild in The Red Keep." they chuckled together, though Rhaenyra could see Alicent wasn't having any of it.
"Husband, I am sure we can all speak of this another time, we are here for a specific reason, and I'd hate to waste too much of your council's time on this issue." the queen said, sharing a bitter look with Rhaenyra, for some reason she could barely speak to Rhaenyra since the wedding, and preferred to whisper behind her back with her former white knight "Since the princess has finally decided to grace us with her presence."
"I apologize for my lateness, my lords, I had gotten carried away with speaking with my cousin, surely you all understand the importance of maintaining a relationship with family - especially one that holds much power in the Vale." Rhaenyra explained.
"We are here to decide upon what to do with that cousin of yours." the queen intercepted "How can we ensure your opinion is not biased?"
"Since you clearly have something against him, how do we know it is not you who is biased?" Rhaenyra responded.
"Enough." the king demanded, and turned his head to Alicent "I allowed you a seat on my council, against my better judgment." he shook his head "Do not make me regret it, I will have no conflict at this table."
"Shall we proceed, my king?" Lord Lyonel said, to which the king nodded his head "You have been all summoned here to further discuss the siege that took place at Runestone, we have heard from the Prince Aerion of what happened, as well as a witness to the kinslaying accusations, what do we all think on this matter?"
"If what he has told us is true, these accusations of Kinslaying are lies, it was his dragon that killed Ser Gerold, not him personally." Lord Tyland answered
"Indeed, but the dragon listens to its rider, we have one in this room that can confirm this." Jasper Wylde responded, gesturing towards Rhaenyra "If it was the dragon that killed Ser Gerold Royce, it was done on the orders of the Prince."
"Prince Aerion has already said as much, my lord." Rhaenyra said, tapping her fingers on the table, looking to her father "He answered treachery in the only way our house knows, father, Fire and Blood, we should not question his decisions, if it was not for him, the Vale would still be in a state of war from the sounds of it."
"Perhaps if the prince was to give some gold to Ser Gerold's next of kin." Lyman said, he had been on the council longer than anyone, and served the Old King Jaehaerys, he was perhaps her strongest ally at court "This may prevent any future retaliation."
"Ser Gerold had a daughter in Gulltown." Lyonel responded "My king, Lyman is correct, perhaps a payment of three hundred gold dragons be paid from Prince Aerion." he continued "It appears that he did act within his rights, however as our master of coin has said, we do not want a retaliation."
They discussed further ways he could perhaps pay for his supposed sins, Rhaenyra lost interest at some point in the middle of their discussion and gently smacked her head against the back of the chair, she only started paying attention once again when Alicent got involved.
"So this is it?" She looked to Rhaenyra's father, placing her hand over his "Husband, had this been someone who was not of your blood, you would have acted differently, the faith will be most upset by these claims."
Rhaenyra interrupted ""It was Aegon Targaryen who conquered these lands and united them under one king, not the faith, Aerion isn't just someone of our blood, he rides one of the greatest dragons this world will ever know, and so the faith should understand that he is above them, as Aegon was."
Rhaenyra loved to see the smug look on the queen's face die as she spoke, there was a long silence afterwards, then her father spoke up, coughing before he did "I agree with both Lyman and Lyonel, a donation of three hundred gold will be made to the victims' daughter, are we all in agreement?"
"And if such things happen again, Husband?" Alicent interjected herself once again "This is merely a slap on the wrist for such a vile act."
"I would agree, your grace, something else must be done, an example is to be made out of him." Grand Maester Mellos agreed.
"And what would you both have me do? Send him to the wall as I once threatened his father? Or perhaps we can have him branded? No he is my nephew, should he do it again, then I will see about punishing him, until then my decision has been made."the king rose from his seat, leaving the chambers with the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard following behind as well as Alicent, it was rare for her father to get this annoyed at the council.
Rhaenyra stayed seated as many of the councilors left to return to their duties, first is was Jasper Wylde, always the first to leave, followed by Lord Lyonel, Lord Tyland Lannister, and Grand Maester Mellos, though Lyman had remained "How are you feeling, Princess?" he asked her.
"I am well, Lord Beesbury, thank you for asking." she smiled at the man "How has your wife been feeling? I heard she had come down with sickness, I am so sorry."
"She has been getting better by the day, Princess, though she will be soon traveling back to Honeyholt, while The Red Keep is grand, it does not feel like home.." he replied.
"Will you not be returning with her?" She asked.
Lord Beesbury shook his head "I couldn't possibly leave Kings' Landing, while I would love to return to Honeyholt, there is only one I trust with the realms' finances, and that is myself." he chuckled "If you ever need someone to talk to, Princess, know you will forever have my ear." and with that, he bowed his head.
"You are among the crowns' most loyal subjects, Lord Beesbury, I thank you for your support, and there is no one in the seven kingdoms more suited to be Master of Coin than you. If you'll excuse me, I will retire for the night," she replied, before making her way back to her bedchambers.
She prepared herself for the night, deciding on a plain black dress with no special markings, she started to think Aerion wasn't coming as the moon came out and she sat on her couch waiting, losing patience by the second, she had the mind to tear off what she was wearing and go to bed.
Her head jolted towards the secret passage behind her bed as it opened, and a cold breeze filled the room, Aerion came dressed in a hooded robe wearing all black beneath "Sorry I am late, Princess, the halls of The Red Keep bring unwanted conversations." he closed the passage behind him "How was the council meeting?"
"It went well in your favor, though if it were up to the Queen, you would most likely receive a harsh punishment." she smirked "Luckily my father cares for you deeply."
"Then it appears I have a certain charm." he returned the smirk, and she felt a warming feeling inside her "She knows I am loyal to you, and to be rid of me would rid you of a great ally at court.."
"That would make sense if you were at court, but you are not, you've been away from Kings' Landing for months." she looked down to the ground, though felt his hand touch her chin, lifting it up to look at him "I don't believe you would have come had my father not ordered you here."
"I am your ally regardless of where I am, you need to face the truth, Rhaenyra, a war will come when you ascend the Iron Throne, I've seen it, and in order to secure your succession - our child's future, I must become more powerful."
"You have seen it?" his comment had confused her, and he had this look of worry she had never seen before "What are you talking about?"
"It doesn't matter - I don't even understand it, I doubt you would." he rubbed his head before appearing to look down at what she was wearing "Well, that is certainly not what I had in mind." he took his cloak off and passed it too her "You'll need this."
"Where are we going?" she questioned him, refusing to be led somewhere she did not expect as Daemon did with her previously.
"I don't trust The Red Keep, if the hidden passages have taught me anything, it is that there could be someone listening in on our conversation, so we're going into the city, where we may 'talk'." he smiled, and she questioned him no further, walking by his side as they made their way out of the keep through the passage.
It was surreal travelling the streets of Kings' Landing at night again, she hadn't been out since her escapade with Daemon out of fear that someone may be spying on her every move, though she felt safe in Aerion's company, a familiar presence that reminded her of her uncle.
"Keep your head down." he whispered, adjusting the hood for her so it completely covered her face, though she noticed that Aerion went without any disguise, but who would question a prince of the crown on what they do in their own time?
She didn't look up much, but there was much foot traffic wherever they were going, being guided by Aerion as he gently took hold of her hand, they took a left down an alley "You can look up now." he said, and she looked up, and they were in front of a building that looked almost abandoned.
Aerion knocked on the door a few times, and Rhaenyra looked down as someone answered, though she saw the blue silk dress that she wore "Welcome back, My Prince, I assume this here is your special guest." the woman's voice was soft and almost full of lust.
"Well I wouldn't be bringing them here otherwise." he let go of her hand, and she followed shortly behind him into the building where they were escorted through the building, she lifted her head ever so quickly to notice Ser Harwin Strong, a Captain in the Goldcloaks, though looked back to the ground as it looked as if he spotted her.
They were brought into a room at the far back of the building, and Rhaenyra finally took the hood off and the room looked extremely Myrish, with rugs and pillows, and a great bed in the center "Where have you brought me?"
"Truthfully? The Street of Silk, an establishment called 'The Maiden'." he said plainly, and she couldn't believe he had taken her to a brothel, it was shown clearly on her face the disgust she felt "Before you storm off, this is the only place where we could get some privacy, its not like I am going to boast about you being here."
"Privacy? You've been visible our entire journey here, someone could have followed us, one look at me and we'll have Alicent running to Viserys trying to remove me as his heir." she wanted to scream at him and walk away, but all her fears were alleviated as his lips touched hers, his hand slivered up her arm to her neck.
His lips were hungry for hers as he guided her over towards the bed, demanding entrance into her mouth to which their tongues danced, she could feel as his other hand ran up her thigh, and she pulled away ever so slightly "Aerion." Rhaenyra whispered "We can't, I am with child." though she received no answer from him as he pulled her closer, kissing at her neck.
She gasped as his hand slid over her entrance, his warm lips caressing her neck, she found herself unable to breathe, though Aerion soon met her violet eyes with his soft lilac and smiled "I've longed for you since I left Kings' Landing, sweet Rhaenyra, I never thought I was one for lust, but I would be lying if I said I did not lust for you."
Rhaenyra placed her hands on his chest, assisting him in removing the black tunic he wore, running her nails down his hardened stomach, she felt taken aback by his eyes as they did not leave hers, sending a wave of arousal through her body, he pushed her down onto the bed and towered over her, continuing to kiss at her neck.
He pulled up her dress and began to tug at her small clothes, pulling them down to the bottom of her thighs, she had never felt this much desire in her entire life, it felt good what he was doing as he slid in his finger ever so slightly and she found herself closing her eyes and throwing her head back as she allowed him to do whatever he pleased so long as it brought her this much pleasure.
She opened her eyes back up as he stopped kissing at her neck, he was removing his trousers and preparing to enter her, and she felt herself snapping back into reality, shaking her head and lifting herself up,, making him pause "No, I said we can't, not while I am with child." she could see the disappoint on his face as he bit his lower lip and turned away from her.
"You are not that far into your pregnancy, Rhaenyra, I doubt it will make any difference." he scoffed, looking back at her "I won't be in Kings' Landing for long, just this once and we won't do it again until after you've had our child."
"After what happened to my mother, I will not risk it."" she countered him. Pulling back up her small clothes and sorting out her dress "I did not journey here just so you could have me, it has been so long since we've seen each other, can we not just talk? Or do you just take me for one of your fathers' whore?" she regretted the words as they left her mouth, but she felt a fit of anger at his reactions towards her.
"You don't mean that." he responded and took a long deep breath "I am sorry, I understand that you have fears over the pregnancy, but you of all people should not be using him against me, so when me and you are alone, he is not mentioned."
He rubbed the back of his neck, and Rhaenyra noticed the nervousness that had suddenly taken him, biting his lip once more "Since we're talking, I..uhh..I have to tell you something."
"What?" she asked, moving over to him as he planted himself down on the Myrish pillows in the corner.
"Before I left the Vale to come here, I visited the Eyrie to see the Lady Jeyne Arryn.." she sat down beside him, laying her legs out across the floor, placing her hand on his thigh, "I asked for her hand in marriage, Rhaenyra…in an attempt to secure my hold on Runestone, and please the other Lords.." she went to get up but he gripped her tightly at the wrist and pulled her back "Don't leave…my heart will only ever have a place for you, and for our children…Lady Jeyne is a political marriage, nothing more, much like yours and Laenors."
"I will not share you with another," she told him, only wanting him to herself, the possibility of her sharing had never even entered her mind.
"I need heirs, Rhaenyra, otherwise what will happen when I eventually die? , you should understand this, if it were not for me you would be having your heirs with Laenor." he explained to her, and a part of her understood "I love Jeyne, I do, but not as a man should love his wife…and she feels the same, my heart is yours alone."
"And have you told her about us?"
"No, of course, I haven't, she doesn't need to know." he replied, and it brought her a sense of relief, the fewer people who knew about their involvement with one another, the better.
They talked until they both drifted off in each other's embrace on the Myrish Pillows, though she was awakened only a few hours later by Aerion, wanting them to make their way back to the Red Keep before her maids come knocking on her bedchambers.
The streets were almost empty on their way back to the Red Keep, with Goldcloaks patrolling the city and she often saw them pushing on the homeless to move to another area of the city, usually towards Flea Bottom.
"You know, we could do many things in this city that will improve the smallfolks' opinions of the both of us." Aerion said, "We have many projects ongoing at Runestone, began by my mother mostly, to improve the lives of the smallfolk living in the villages."
"Oh? Do tell.." she asked
"The Smallfolk loved my father because he helped them, he reduced the crime with Goldcloaks, he walked among them.." they stopped in the center of the city, where a large fountain with a dragon's statue above stood "we could build shelters for the homeless, and soup kitchens, and of course, this takes men, to which I am sure they'd happily accept a job."
"Well look at you, I did not think you had much care for the smallfolk." she gave him a warm smirk.
"I don't." he replied, and she was rather taken aback by the honesty "But smallfolk's opinion matters if you are wanting to ascend the Iron Throne one day, you'd be regarded highly if we were to do this."
"Perhaps I can speak with Lord Beesbury, he may be able to release some of the realms' gold to aid in this matter," she replied.
"One other thing, your sworn shield..Ser Erryk? Do you trust him?" he asked, much to her confusion.
"I believe there is no man better suited to be my sworn shield, and he and his twin brother are among the finest knights of the kingsguard." she continued "why do you ask?"
"I will send one of my most trusted companions, Jory Manderly, down to Kings' Landing once more." she raised her eyebrow "You will accept him into your service, If you refuse to move to Dragonstone, then I want to make sure you are kept safe."
"You want a Northman to watch over me?" she queried "I believe Ser Erryk is more than enough protection."
"He is loyal, and if something needs to be done; he will see it fulfilled." he began to walk again, with her following closely behind "two guards are always better than one, regardless of whether they wear a white cloak or not, and he has contacts within the Goldcloaks."
They continued back the way they came into the Red Keep, passing the skull of the Black Dread, Balerion, ridden by Aegon, and her father for a short time "I do intend on traveling to Dragonstone for the birth, the ancient home of House Targaryen seems a perfect place."
"That is good to hear, they will be Prince of Dragonstone one day, it only makes sense that they are born there, perhaps even raised if you decide to remain," he replied, as he pushed the false wall, taking them back into the decrepit secret tunnels of The Red Keep.
"You really don't like Kings' Landing, do you?" she asked him.
"I feel at home in Kings' Landing, but I am not under the impression that it is safe." he replied, looking back at her, then his eyes slivering down to her stomach, to which she placed a hand "the Queen and her new pet plot daily, your father is withering away, your husband, while he may be honorable and kind-hearted is not putting the wellbeing of his wife first."
"Can you blame him? We have both been forced into this marriage."
"And each of you is benefiting from it." he shot back at her "He does not need to provide his father with an heir, and you do not need to force him to sleep with you." he smirked "I would love to be there for that interaction."
They made it to Rhaenyra's chambers, where Aerion left her there to get another hour or two of sleep before her maids come knocking and to be sure she is rested for the long day ahead of her, though she was most excited for their Dragon ride, she longed to see him in the sky and she had heard so much about the cannibal, but never saw him with her own eyes.
Hey guys, I hope you enjoyed the latest chapter! So I've been saying for a while that I am going to be updating the first few chapters of this fic, as my writing has improved, I have gone back and read the earlier chapters and found myself wanting to have them rewritten while keeping it all coherent. If you guys have any feedback of any of the earlier chapters that might need to be worked on (A big example would be in Chapter 1, where Aerion killed the guy who yielded, I intend to write more to it so that it doesn't just look like he killed him for no reason) It would mean a lot to have your guy's feedback: to do this, please either go to the chapter in question which you believe needs some work, or you can message me on discord: Vargr#9350