Thanks to my reviewers, you are the ones who keep me going.

In the Shadow of the Throne

The Heart of a Dragon

They had gathered into Aegyl's chamber to discuss the situation in private. What the situation was, Viserys was not entirely sure but he knew it must be bad news. As of late, everyone was walking on eggshells, even Aemon's companion, the Dornish Captive, as she was widely known. Viserys knew her only smiling, cooing to her babe and in high spirits, yet now even she was morose. No one was telling the boy what was going on but it was clear that everyone was worried, from stable-boys to lords who convened here. And his mother had become more volatile and imperious than ever. Still, he and Aegon were considered too young to burden with such matters, so he did not even know whether there would be a next campaign. His lady mother wanted to – very much.

"I've never seen such a thing," Aegyl now said from his room. "That's why I've asked you all to come here. We have a problem, my lords. My lady mother seems intent upon doing her cause the most terrible damage she possibly can. We have to find a way to limit the consequences. Surely you've heard about the taxes she landed upon White Harbour?"

"I was there," Aemon said. "I got literally besieged by desperate citizens trying to appeal to me to talk to her." He added something unintelligible and then his voice rose again. "Lord Manderly even threw himself in front of Ikarras' paws. I barely managed to turn his head aside so it was only the hem of Manderly's attire that caught fire. They don't understand that even I can't make Mother listen to reason. And the discontent is already starting to brew. It won't be long before we start losing out own lords' support. We have to act soon because she's losing our allies, the trust of our commanders…"

"Her wits," Aegyl interrupted, and Aemon snorted.

"It isn't the time for jesting, Aegyl."

"You think I am jesting? I think she's gone mad – truly! After Baelon's death, she's truly losing it. Accusing our commanders of fear, demanding that lords should cut their household expenses by a bloody half to pay for the faster start of our campaign? How else should I explain it? It's either the curse of our blood or her time of the month – never stopping! And what do you propose, Aemon? I see no means of silencing her, short of bodily removing her from the room or stuffing a cloth in her mouth – and I imagine Syrax won't be too pleased with this!"

"Stop this conversation immediately!" Lord Arryn said impatiently and it seemed that they both yielded. "I am not here to criticize my niece but the truth is, she's headed for a bad direction and we should mend her course."

Through the closed door, Viserys heard a few people sighing exasperatedly.

"She wants her crown," Aemon finally said. "She wants all this to end. And now, she wants vengeance, as well."

"We all do," Aegyl admitted, his voice softer. "But the way it's going, we're less likely to have it with any passing day. And the thought of someone else having to avenge you and me at the end does not sound all that appealing."

"No, it doesn't…"

"I think Her Grace is scared," Ser Edwar interrupted. "She's scared that this might go on forever, that she'd lose one of you, too, and she doesn't act wisely, thus reaffirming the already existing belief that women are not fit to rule."

"A belief that the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard did his best to spread widely," Aegyl murmured. "I say we finish him off first, and the rest of them will scatter."

"I am not sure about this." Ser Arryk's voice was strange. It suddenly occurred to Viserys that he hadn't seen Ser Arryk's twin, Ser Erryk, also of the Kingsguard, for quite a while. No one would talk about him. When Viserys asked, Ser Arryk would look downcast and start talking about other things. It suddenly occurred to the boy that Ser Erryk might have stayed with the Kingsguard… Aegon's Kingsguard. But no, that was impossible. Still, why did they have only Ser Arryk, Ser Marel, and Ser Gawane from his grandfather's Kingsguard here? His mother had appointed four other members but could it be that the others had decided it was their duty to stay with Aegon?

A heavy silence fell. Then, Aemon spoke again. "We are all in agreement, it seems. Something must be done. But what could it be? She is not listening to me these days, she obsesses over regrouping the army and… telling me that I need to get a better armour. As if there is something that is really indestructible! Maybe you could talk to her, my lord?" he asked. "She respects you."

"That might be so," the old Lord Arryn sighed. "But she is not listening to me much these days either." He paused. "I wish your father were still alive," he said. "Usually, he was able to get her see things his way."

"Well, he isn't," Aemon said. "We have to fix this on our own as soon as possible."

"Maybe if he were, we wouldn't be in this blasted situation right now," Aegyl murmured. "I mean, if he were alive, she wouldn't have even glanced at this damned Ser Criston direction…"

Suddenly, there was silence that Viserys did not understand. It was a very peculiar silence, once that accompanied the mentioning of the Lord Commander – but only sometimes.

"Aegyl, not another word! Do you ever think before you talk? I swear, sometimes I doubt it very heavily!"

"What in the seven hells is that? You're telling me you never heard the rumours? I name you a liar then."

"Stop that!" Lord Arryn finally exploded and by the sound of it, he parted them bodily. It was suddenly very quiet again and the lord huffed, "Brother against brother. Aegon will scream with joy if he hears what the two of you were about to do." He paused. "Now, Aegyl, listen to me and listen well! The last thing we need is you repeating this rumour. Whatever the truth is, the affair never took place. Do you hear me? It – never – took – place!"

By the silence that followed, Viserys could say that his brother had yielded, albeit grudgingly, to the man they all held in such high esteem.

The discussion went on in a more moderate tone, with different suggestions of how to make Rhaenyra listen to reason. "Maybe if we all talk to her together," Aegyl said, hesitantly. "Royal power is not absolute and His Grace taught her that. I know she knows it. She simply isn't herself now and we have to make her realize that she isn't gaining anything by such behavior."

Suddenly, a hand grasped Viserys' shoulder. He had been so focused on the conversation inside that he had not heard the footsteps approaching; now, when he felt the painful digging of rings in his skin, he knew, with horror and certainty, who it was.

"What are you doing, eavesdropping?" his mother snapped but she was so white that Viserys realized that she, too, must have heard. She took a deep breath and entered the room, her head held high, his eyes purple steel.

"Are we having a council now?" she asked evenly. "It seems that all of you had forgotten to alert me."

The men stood and bowed. Aemon looked her in the eye. "I called them, Lady Mother. We needed to talk. Your actions as of late are not what I would call wise or prudent, or fruitful and I wanted to discuss it with them before I approach you."

There was no trying to find excuse. Viserys who had slipped in the room behind his mother was awed by Aemon's courage. He would never risk facing their mother's wrath like this.

"I see," Rhaenyra said. "So… what is your verdict? That I go barefoot to Aegon and surrender in shame before I could destroy my cause completely?"

He flushed but did not yield. "No one never said such a thing, Lady Mother. We are trying to prevent just this from happening and when some of us try to talk to you about that, you pretend not to hear. You are undoing all we managed to achieve and I have no idea why! Let's see what happened to White Harbour: it fell."

"After a long and rather nonsensical defence!" Rhaenyra interrupted swiftly.

"And you ordered a heavy taxing that was more nonsensical than even their defence!" Aemon shot back. "If this taxing is really imposed, a third of the citizens there will die! Let me ask you this, Your Grace: who do you intend of ruling over, the waste? But no, against every common sense you're burdening towns and castles over their limits and thus you're supporting their resistance – if they are going to die, let it be in a cause, at least. You're making enemies faster than the dragons can burn them and I do not understand why!"

Her eyes blazed. "Oh but you do. Don't tell me that you don't because you do!" Her voice rose to a shout. "And do not throw White Harbour to my face. Had it not been for House Manderly support in front of the Starks, all of this might have ended months ago."

Her eyes were still purple fires but now they were brimmed by the mist of tears. "Lord Manderly aided Aegon in his treachery. Cole is from there, as you well know. He would not have dared defy me without the support of the Starks which could only come through the Manderlys. If not for their loyalty, I would never have had my right disputed. They robbed me of my crown; they robbed me of my son. And yet you wonder why I would place heavy taxes upon them? Manderly should be beyond pleased that he has something left, including his head!"

The men were listening – unwillingly, maybe, because that was not what they wanted to hear but intently, nonetheless. Surprisingly but it was Aegyl who made the first step: he crossed to his mother and looked her more softly. "Lady Mother, I do understand," he said. "We all feel this anger as we should. All we are saying is that we cannot always act upon this anger. You have the courage and will a ruler need. Now you must show the self-restraint.'

She was silent, not admitting defeat, her chin still lifted proudly. The tears were still there, though, and she suddenly looked smaller, more fragile. She knew she had made mistakes. Aegyl made a step back and bowed to her very deeply and formally, a subject to his sovereign. Aemon followed, as did all of the others.

After a while, Rhaenyra asked, "Did I lose us too much?"

Lord Arryn shook his head and a smile lit his face up. "No," he said. "Not too much, lass. You might have placed us in a tight spot right now… but we are going to win this war."