Aerion looked upon the city with awe, it looked glorious.
What began as a small fort from where the Conquerer and his sisters made their powerbase has since become the home of hundreds of thousands, his breath hitched as he began approaching the Gate of the Gods.
There are commonfolk in the Vale but he's never seen so many, from laborers to farmers hauling their produce to troops of guards patrolling the streets.
No place was so full of people in Runestone unless his mother held a feast and yet, it pales in comparison to this.
He saw far towards Visenya's Hill the small Sept, looking another way he spotted the dome of the Dragonpit where his father's family houses the fire-made flesh.
A small part of him wondered if while he was here that he would be able to claim a dragon for his own, considering others have done so in his family already such as Princess Rhaenys with Meleys.
Some fellows looked at them like they were the worst people in the Realm, "Some of King's Landing's residents aren't too keen on seeing us." His uncle chuckled at that.
"Pay them no mind, the common folk of this city aren't no different than the servants who work at Runestone."
Now, Aerion was half a mind to agree till they passed an alley where he witnessed a man killing another man for some bread. "Are you sure about that?" He asked again and his uncle just shrugged which caused him to shake his head.
When they finally reached their destination, he saw that the Red Keep was indeed red, the stone like blood seeping down and setting in place. The massive curtain walls surround the castle, with nests and crenelations and thick stone parapets, some four feet high.
Passing through the great bronze gate, one of many to be sure. He noticed there were guards everywhere standing at attention, nearest to the Great Hall's entrance was the man who was his father.
"Announcing the Prince, Aerion of the House Targaryen, son of the Prince of the City and Commander of the City Watch, Daemon Targaryen."
His father was tall, and as dashing as some described with the silver hair, the piercing Valyrian eyes that he was fortunate enough to share, and dressed in armor so black and red that there was little light apart from the golden cloak on his shoulder.
He nervously dismounted and swallowed as he approached his father, Gerold at his side but his uncle wasn't so happy to see his cousin's husband.
Aerion smiled lightly and bowed his head once, "Father," What happened he didn't quite expect... Daemon embraced him.
Pulling apart, Daemon pinched his cheek and chuckled, "My son is truly home, come, meet your true family." His father said with an arm around his shoulder and the two of them entered the Great Hall and headed towards the Throne Room which sent Aerion into a state of awe once past the oak and bronze door.
The hall is oriented north to south, with high, narrow windows on the eastern and western walls. Aerion wondered how many hundreds of people could fill this room as they followed a long carpet that stretched from the door to the Iron Throne.
The throne forged by Belarion the Dread was truly intimidating. The melted, twisted, beaten, and broken blades surrendered by Aegon's enemies pointed jagged like teeth of a beast. Around the throne were the Kingsguard in their white armor and sitting on the throne itself was his uncle, Viserys I Targaryen.
A few others stood about apart from the courtiers on either side of the room.
He knelt to one knee, his eyes averted to the floor.
Viserys stood from the throne, descending until he stood before him, the Kingsguard parting and staying close.
Aerion noticed his Uncle held a warmer visage than the cool one his father had, his Grace smiled and helped him up to his feet and Aerion glanced quickly at the crown his uncle wore. It was a simple gold band, set with seven gems of different colors.
"Your hair is dark as the field on our banner, nephew, but I do see Daemon in your eyes." He took it as a compliment, "Even a token of silver hair to discern yourself as a dragon, wonderful."
Daemon chose the time to speak, "My son is grateful to you for choosing him as your cupbearer, my King."
Nodding, Aerion affirmed the statement, "I am willing and able, your Grace."
A man wearing the pin of the Hand of the King looked at him with suspicion, he looked to his father for some form of aid but received none as his uncle addressed him once again. "My wife, the Queen, and your cousins Rhaenyra and Laena and Laenor will be glad to have you here at last."
"Of course, my King." He said and then the King embraced him like his father had, earning the court's joyous applause and praise. "I am also happy to be among so much of my blood." It sounded stupid but apart from Gunthor, he doesn't have many friends among family in Runestone.
His mother dislikes him simply for looking more like his father, his Grandfather treats him more like a tool to use to secure the Vale for House Royce, and his uncle is the only second closest member of his matriarch's House.
After being welcomed by his uncle and the court, his father took him to get settled in his new chambers.
It was a beautiful room, with colorful tapestries on the wall depicting dragons and other forms of worldly images.
Turning his father continued to stare at him, it was slightly unnerving but it was more than what his mother did. "My brother expects much from you, I expect more... Understand?" He nodded.
"Father... " He called and would rather tell his father than him hearing about it later on, "I am betrothed, promised- "
"To whom?" The man's voice was hardened, cold even but Aerion kept his composure, as much as a thirteen-year-old could.
"Jeyne Arryn, I'm to be her consort." He took a deep breath, "Grandfather says it is a good match, and considering the possibility of you succeeding the King, your grandchildren will one day rule the Eyrie, Runestone, and the Red Keep."
It was hard to see what his father was thinking, the man flashed from anger to calm then angry again but not at him.
"... I suppose that is true but I should always have a say, I am your father." Father? He left home years ago, eagerly taking a position on the Small Council to stay away. "We should drink together, catch up, but walk amongst the halls of our forebears, see your true family." He nodded and his father left a moment later.
Aerion took his father's advice instead of resting, he took a stroll after ridding himself of his riding clothes that he's been wearing since leaving the Vale for something warmer.
The sound of giggling could be heard as he was passing into the Godswood, and when he investigated did he discover three women and a boy about his age talking amongst themselves.
Two out of the three women looked somewhat similar in features and age, long silver hair of which one ran down like a stream of water whilst the other fell like ringlets down to her waist. Both women's eyes were lilac like his own.
Their dress was different as well, the one sitting right wore the colors of black and red of House Targaryen. The other wore vibrant blue with gold trimmings.
The boy was a little more slender than himself with wavy silver hair and purple eyes, wearing a shade of blue with grey and a silver pin reminiscent of a seahorse.
And the third young girl seemed a year or so older than the others, graceful with her dark chestnut hair done up and warm emerald eyes. She was dressed in a light blue with gold embroidery.
Aerion assumed the ones with the hair were his cousins, the other however he wasn't so sure about.
"Hello there, come sit with us." His Uncle's daughter called him forth, "Are you a messenger, from my father?"
He cracked a smile and cleared his throat before bowing, "No, Princess. Allow me to introduce myself... I am Aerion Targaryen... Your cousin." He grinned and continued, "You must be Rhaenyra, and you two are my cousins from Driftmark, Laenor and Laena." He then turned to the other girl, "And you must be... "
"Alicent Hightower, my Lord, Otto Hightower's daughter." Ah, good to know, though he won't be correcting her as he uses both Lord and Prince interchangeably considering his station is rather complicated.
"I hadn't known when you were coming, Father should have told me... " Rhaenyra said getting up and approaching him, "Good to finally meet you, Cousin."
"Likewise, Princess Rhaenyra. I should have been here sooner but I was inclined to ride than sail here."
Laena smirked mischievously, "Why is that, Aerion? You get seasick?" He chuckled and shook his head no.
"I rather enjoy it, Lady Laena. I simply wanted to see the scenery passing through the Riverlands and coming upon the city from the front, it is truly remarkable." He said and she gave him a look, the same given by Laenor who couldn't stop looking at him.
Rhaenyra gently brought her hand to the stripe of silver on his head, Aerion found himself liking the feeling but cleared his throat to cut the growing tension.
"Father is sure to invite you to all the dinners, and have you met Mother, the Queen?" He has not and shook his head no, "Then we will take you, and Laenor, I'm sure your friend is waiting for you... "
"Ah yes, of course." Laenor said and before leaving, he stopped near him, "We should train together, Cousin."
"Yes, we shall when I am not doing my duty to the King." Laenor left and he was taken captive by the three maidens as the four left the Godswood to find the Queen.
Along the way, ascending some stairs Rhaenyra linked her arm with his own, "You said your duty to the King, what will you be doing with my father?" He didn't know she didn't know, he assumed everyone knew what he will be doing.
Rhaenyra let go of him then which caused him to wonder why she seemed offended, it was a short walk of silence for a time until Lady Alicent asked him a question of her own.
"I have never been to the Vale, Aerion. Might I ask what it looks like?"
"Mostly mountainous and rocky terrain, in the Vale Proper however are lakes, forests, and fields of grass." He wouldn't compare it to what he's seen through the Riverlands and the Crownlands, "It pales to the fields and farms and holdfasts I have seen since passing the border into the Crownlands."
Alicent smiled, "It sounds like lovely country, and your home, in Runestone?"
"It is an old castle, home to Kings of the First Men when the Andals came." He said this with a sense of pride, only because like his father's blood, the blood of his mother is also worthy of respect and awe.
Laena cut ahead, hands behind her back with poise and she turned to look to him, then to Alicent, "You should see Driftmark, Alicent. It may not be a seat of olden Kings but High Tide is grand." Aerion would agree, even he has heard of the isle of House Velaryon.
High Tide is built from pale stone, the same material used in the Eyrie. Its slender towers are crowned with roofs of beaten silver that shine in the sun. When the waters of Blackwater Bay are at high tide, the castle is connected to the island of Driftmark by only a causeway.
"I had heard, cousin." He jumped in, "Is Vhagar as large as she seems? I have seen Caraxes during the moments my father came to Runestone but I hear she is massive."
"Even more so up close, far too large for even the Dragonpit."
Rhaenyra then piped in, "Why don't you have a dragon, Aerion?" He stopped and pondered for an answer and couldn't.
"I assume I wasn't ready but I am but three and ten, I might still have my chance." They pushed on but Rhaenyra's eyes lingered on him the entire way there.
Arriving to the Queen's chambers, surrounded by her ladies and attendants did Aerion see his aunt had a small bump on her belly which meant she was with child.
Talk spoke of it even in the lands around Runestone, for years since and before the Old King died did his uncle and aunt try to conceive a son only for the babe to either die in the womb or perish shortly upon being born, tragedies, all of them.
The Queen herself was beautiful despite her many pregnancies, long wavy silver hair, and gentle amethyst eyes. Wearing an elegant blue dress with falcons embroidered into it to pay homage to her father's House of Arryn.
"Aerion Targaryen, welcome." She said kindly, sitting straight where she was lying down. "I apologize for not greeting you in the throne room, we expected you some time ago so I thought you were delayed." A fault belonging to his mother who must be laughing at how 'funny' this is.
"I am sorry, my Queen. And please, I don't mind at all."
Aemma shook her head in a graceful manner, "I am, truly." The Queen then turned to Rhaenyra, Alicent and Laena. "I recall you girls are supposed to be at your lessons, and don't think Ser Steffon hadn't told me you three and Laenor were playing near the Godswood. Go on, now."
Once his cousins and Alicent left, the Queen beckoned him forth to sit close. "Your Father heckled my husband for a fortnight till he accepted to take you as his cupbearer, a position Rhaenyra aimed for."
Aerion scratched his cheek, "Sorry, your Grace, it was a surprise to me when my mother told me."
The Queen smiled, "It is done, I say so we will move on... But." Her Grace then held up a raven scroll with the Arryn sigil on it, "My niece in the Eyrie has finally chosen a husband it seems, could this be another scheme of Daemon's as well?"
Aerion thought the Queen mustn't be too fond of his father, "No, my Queen. It was Lady Jeynes, perhaps a nudge or so on my mother and grandfather's part." He confessed and Aemma seemed surprised by that, "She asked and I thought to accept, still a few years off so who knows what may happen."
Betrothals are honored in most cases but not always, some end before either party have a chance to say the holy words.
She looked at him with an ounce of pity, it caused him some discomfort as he shifted from where he was sitting. "I feel as if my father didn't act solely to spend time with me, Your Grace... But I will do my duty to the best of my ability and do all that I am asked of." He swore sincerely to which the Queen's face softened and she sighed.
"Don't work yourself to death, now, it's just pouring wine and hearing the Small Council bore my husband senseless where he would rather toy with his histories." She said with cheek and humor, "Now go on, nephew, enjoy the rest of your day and be welcome."
The next chapter shall have a few conversations with Viserys and Daemon. I may also add a new PoV.