DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING
A/N: Big Thanks to Ramzes for the lovely reviews!
In all of his many years as Egg's companion Dunk had never seen his friend in such an anxious state as he was when he called for a private meeting in his solar with Jaehaerys and himself. While Dunk was a few years Aegon's senior, he had never seen his friend look as old as he did when he handed his son a crumbled letter that he had received from Storm's End.
"It's from Rhaelle" he told Dunk as he practically collapsed into a wicker chair. "she says that Alerie has fled to from Summerhall and taken refuge with her and Edric. She says…" but then the king's voice faltered and he looked up at Dunk with eyes that glistened with tears. "She says that he has gone mad. That he has holed himself into his study and hasn't left for weeks, and that he has been ranting and raving about some dream he had!"
Dunk looked at his friend cautiously. "Could it be that they merely had an argument? It's not uncommon between newlyweds…"
Aegon shook his head. "Alerie is not the sort of woman who would over exaggerate something like this, and Rhaelle says she was terrified Ser. The madness of my family…..my brothers, my uncle…it's always going to be with us isn't?" asked the King miserably.
The lord commander put a reassuring hand on Aegon's shoulder. "You and I both know that Aemon is nothing like Aerion; he'd never hurt anyone let alone his wife."
The King nodded to himself but rubbed at his eyes in exhaustion. Dunk wondered if he would sleep at all tonight.
"I'll go see him on the morrow." said Jaehaerys suddenly, causing both of the elder men to look up in surprise.
Aegon looked at his middle child sceptically; though he was smarter than nearly half the realm, Jaehaerys was almost as frail as a child and travelling left him exhausted and if the weather were not agreeable then he would likely be bedridden for days. Yet there was something in the young man's eyes, strength and wisdom that Dunk knew could be as powerful as any physical muscle.
"I can speak with him, talk sense into him." said the prince firmly.
Aegon leaned forward so that he could reach out and take his son's hand. "You don't know what state he'll be in, and travelling like that…"
Yet Jaehaerys would not be swayed. "It doesn't matter what state he is in; he's still my brother dammit and I'll not let my own infirmity stop me from helping him when he needs it."
Dunk beamed at the young man with pride before looking down at Aegon. "I could accompany him, perhaps we could even bring Aemon back to the Red Keep that way we could all watch him for any signs of….trouble."
Time seemed to stretch on in that moment as Aegon considered it all, his eyes closed as he struggled to deal with the load of grief that had been forced upon, especially now that the Blackfyres were on his doorstep. Finally he took a deep breath and stood, once again becoming the King and not just that concerned father and gave a deep nod to the both of them before walking from the room, and Dunk gave Jaehaerys a brief smile before quickly following his king out into the hallway.
They wasted no time in leaving the capitol and it seemed to Dunk that Jaehaerys had found himself possessed by fervour that he had not seen in the man for a long time. The prince was confined to a wheelhouse and was wrapped in several blankets to keep him warm, as they slowly rolled on out of the crowded streets of Kings Landing and into the rest of the Crownlands.
Aegon had told him to only take a handful of his most trusted knights, though Dunk had not wanted to take any of the Kingsguard away from him so he was forced to only bring a few of the gold cloaks that he personally knew. He also brought the newly knighted Barristan Selmy along with them, the young knight who proven himself to be not only a talent on the tourney fields but also the soul of chivalry and he had happily agreed when Dunk asked to help them.
The travelling was slow given Jaehaerys wheelhouse and they were all very anxious about what they expected to find at Summerhall yet Dunk was able to keep up a brave face and tried his best to keep the young prince's spirits raised with conversation.
"So I've heard that young Aerys has been keeping Ser Gwayne on his toes, I can only imagine the energy the boy will have once he grows." He stated happily through the window of Jaehaerys wheelhouse as he rode beside it.
Jaehaerys gave a small smile. "You did well when you appointed Ser Gwayne as his personal shield; Aerys is quite fond of him."
"Ser Gwayne comes from a large family; I think the young prince's company reminds him of his own brothers."
Jaehaerys nodded a little and laid his head back, his eyes closing as he tried to save his strength for what was awaiting them. Dunk turned his attention back to the road ahead let his own thoughts drift back to days long past and he allowed himself a small smile as he reminisced about the time he and Egg had once visited Dorne in the attempt to find the puppeteer Tanselle. That had been so long ago yet every now and then he thought back on the lovely girl who had painted his shield. I never even touched her and still she remains in my thoughts…
Dunk pondered much on his slow ride through the Crownlands; past friends, past foes and how far he had come since his childhood growing up in Flea Bottom. It all made his head hurt to think of the adventure his life had become but despite all the ups and downs he remained certain about one thing; he was Dunk the Lunk, and he protected his family.
They arrived at Summerhall on nightfall of the fourth day of riding and found that aside from their being no lord to greet them that most of the household was running just fine, though several of the servants came up to Dunk and Jaehaerys and told them of how Aemon had raged a storm a week past and had remained in his study locked away from the world while he brooded. Jaehaerys had exchanged a glance with the big knight, his big eyes full of worry as they went up to Aemon's study.
Dunk entered the room first and stifled a gasp as he saw the dozens of books that littered the floor, some of which were torn up. His eyes trailed the room until he came across the still figure sitting on a chair by the fireplace; Aemon seemed thinner then when Dunk last saw him, and his silver hair was in tangles around his face, his lilac eyes were underlined by dark bags of exhaustion and Dunk wondered how little he had slept recently.
"Aemon….it's me, Duncan….are you alright lad?" he asked cautiously.
If the prince heard him he showed little reaction as he continued to gaze into the flames that danced in his hearth and if not for the subtle rise and fall of his chest Dunk wouldn't have been sure if he was alive or not. After a moment he began muttering something. "I saw a river of blood that was home to a fell beast that had the realm in its coils. I saw fire consume my home" he waved his arm about. "This home."
Jaehaerys calmly walked forward and went to his brother's side. " I'll wager you did not see me in your dream."
Aemon suddenly broke from his gaze from the fire and stared intently at his older brother with a look of confusion. "What do you know?"
Jaehaerys seemed to consider what his answer would be for a few moments before he leant forwards and whispered something in his brother's ear that Dunk couldn't quite hear but judging by the shocked look on the young prince's face it was something important. They continued to speak together in hushed tones until finally Dunk gave an audible cough to get their attention. "My prince, you cannot stay here like this, you have to come back to Kings Landing with me and Jaehaerys, your father is worried."
"He is right Aemon, brooding here will do you no good." said Jaehaerys firmly.
Aemon seemed to finally look at the state he had left his study and his eyes grew large with fear and shock as he realised the ordeal he had caused. "….I think I may have frightened Alerie….is she alright?" asked Aemon as a look of shame and concern came over his pallid face.
Dunk put a reassuring hand on the young man's shoulder. "She's at Storm's End with the princess; she's fine, though I daresay an apology is in order."
After that Dunk had commanded the servants to ready prince Aemon's thing for departure while Jaehaerys stayed and tried to keep his younger brother calm and in a relatively placid state. It occurred to Dunk that he wasn't sure when the prince would be ready to return to Summerhall and that it was up to him to appoint a castellan for the castle until something could be worked out.
He inspected the household knights that currently served at the old keep and after questioning many of them himself he was able to settle on an older man by the name of Ser Robert Oswyck whom had served as the master at arms for the castle for nearly five years. Dunk knew that despite his age the old man could wield a sword well enough and he had a strong loyalty to the Prince and lady wife which would be vital if any Blackfyre men were to attack them before the Crown could arrange something, though he could only pray that it never came to that, for all their sakes.
A few days later…
Dunk had taken it upon himself to greet the Princess when she arrived in the Capitol alongside Lady Alerie and had briskly informed them that the King had the rest of the royal family waiting in his solar and that they should waste no time in joining them. Rhaelle had of course been quite fierce in her questioning of him as they walked the halls of the Red Keep but Dunk offered her little explanation as he had none for himself.
When they neared the chambers he turned to Lady Alerie and gave her a sympathetic smile. "I'm sorry my lady but for now you'll have to wait in the other room, the King would just like to speak with his children."
Her expression turned to one of outrage at that. "What do you mean I can't go in? My husband, whom might I add, I haven't seen in weeks is in that room! I don't give a fig if he is the King but I'm-"
Dunk cut her off. "Peace my lady, the King merely wishes to address his children for a moment and then you can speak with Prince Aemon alone, it'll only be for a moment I promise."
She didn't seem happy at all with that but said nothing else on the matter and did as he had asked and walked into the opposite room while he and Rhaelle walked on alone. Dunk could almost feel the daggers the princess was glaring at him but tried his best to ignore it as they entered the King's solar.
The first thing Dunk noticed was how anxious they all seemed. Aegon stood rigidly by his desk, his face pressed into a deep frown as he watched them come in while Jaehaerys stood by a bookcase and was dutifully putting away a number of old tomes back into their homes, the prince was completely focused on his task which Dunk knew to be his own way of dealing with stress. Duncan stood to his father's right and gave a weary smile when he saw the two of them enter the room but his attention seemed to be constantly drifting over to the figure sitting by the fireplace. It took a few seconds to realise that it was Aemon who was huddled in a large chair wrapped up in a blanket, the youngest prince looked deathly pale and his lilac eyes seemed like they were having difficulty staying open.
As soon as the princess saw her brother's form she rushed over and held him against her, rocking ever so slightly. "Oh gods Aemon, what's happened?"
Aemon seemed like he was struggling with tears as he clung to his big sister desperately, his face pressed against her shoulder. "It was…a very bad dream." he croaked, it seemed like he was going to ramble again but Rhaelle quickly shushed him and continued to hold him.
Dunk was somewhat amazed at how easily the princess was calming her distressed brother. They have always been close he reminded himself. While the two did tend to bicker away at each other more than anyone else in the family, Dunk knew that Rhaelle was fiercely protective of her youngest brother. But can she protect him from himself? He tried to push the traitorous thoughts away, Egg needed his support not his doubts.
Aegon cleared his throat, causing them all to look his way. "Now that we're here, I suppose I should tell you what's what. Duncan has brought back grim news from Dragonstone which my scouts from Pentos have confirmed; the Band of Nine has recruited the pirate lords from the Step stones into their army."
"How many of them?" asked Rhaelle anxiously.
The look Aegon gave her was dark. "All of them. Every single pirate fleet from the Step Stones to the Summer Isles have joined with him and his Tyroshi lords, forming a fleet that may be far larger than any we have ever faced."
The room went deathly silent after that as the depth of Aegon's revelation set in. Each of the children aside from Duncan seemed as if they had been physically struck by the news. Of course they're afraid, they're all too young to remember what it was like in the old days, the days when war and rebellion were commonplace. The big knight loved each of them as if they were his own blood but even he had to admit that this was a long overdue event.
He spoke up for the first time. "How has Maelys managed to get them cooperate? Many of those different fleets would be mortal enemies."
Duncan spoke then, his usually cheerful expression long gone. "There are rumours of a new pirate king who has emerged from that hive of foulness and managed to unit them into a single force though none have been able to identify him."
"Either way it makes no difference, they will come for us from the Step Stones and they'll hit us in force. I've spoken to my council and they all agree, for once, that this is not something that the crown can handle on its own. There must be unity; we must rally our forces from Dorne to the Wall to stop them in their tracks before they can attack us. Ravens have gone out to every corner of the realm; the Wardens of the North, South, East and West are to strike their banners to form a single army, a single kingdom. Westeros is going to war."