"It was on the great peninsula across from Slaver's Bay that those who brought an end to the empire of Old Ghis-though not all their ways-originated. Sheltered there, amidst the great volcanic mountains known as the Fourteen Flames, were the Valyrians, who learned to tame dragons and make them the most fearsome weapon that the world ever saw."

The World of Ice and Fire: Rise of Valyria

By George R.R. Martin, Elio M. Garcia, Jr., and Linda Antonsson

Chapter 3: Marriage and Rebirth

3rd Person Pov

The day of Aegon the 6th's wedding dawned bright, warm, and beautiful. There was some good warmth in the city despite the fact that autumn was drawing near, but the sea breeze was cooling the Red Keep down. The seas were flat, calm, and shining brighter than sapphires with the ships easily able to move over such calm seas. There was no cloud in sight and the sky was just as blue as the ocean. Even the stench of King's Landing seemed to die down all for the wedding of the Realm's Silver Prince.

Jon did not expect any different as even the Gods seemed to favor Aegon more. This was something Jon had accepted long ago. He realized as a child that he was not to expect anything more than the worst cards to work with. However today he was not allowed to be Jon, he had to be Jaehaerys the prince that was not going to let anyone push him to the ground and laugh ever again.

Ailia, Arya, and the Sand Snakes were not excited to be forced into dresses. Ailia had to keep Arya from ruining her dress before the ceremony in an act of spite for her proper Southern mother and sister. Obara claimed that she was not meant for dresses and she would rather be in her armor. Jon knew that she would not enjoy King's Landing.

The first part of the ceremony would be in the Sept of Baelor, which meant that everyone had to be as respectful as possible. Jon's cousins grumbled and worried for their direwolves and so did Jon. As the procession made its way to the sept many of the small folk recognized Jaehaerys. His grandmother had frequently taken him on walks through the streets of King's Landing giving to those in need. Jaehaerys had frequently played with the children of Flea Bottom and he recognized some that he had taught to read and were now working hard. When they got to the sept everyone dismounted from their horses. Most of the ladies had to be helped down off of their horses, but Arya, Ailia, and the Sand Snakes were not even offered hands.

The sept was a beautifully crafted place but Jaehaerys had never liked it. It was too ostentatious and obnoxious and many of the clergy had been less than kind to him as a child. He could never enter the sept without his grandmother or some other family member. They saw him as a filthy bastard who 'worshipped heathen gods who had heathen ways'. Jon had decided very young that if having a connection with nature and self were heathen then Jon would gladly be one.

Jaehaerys was directed to stand next to Daenerys. When Jon stood next to a grinning Dany he introduced Ailia to his only true family member south of the Neck, and north of Dornish Mountains. The prince Aegon was bathed in his family colors and looked every inch the Blood of Old Valyria, and the Crown Prince of Westeros. Aegon smiled at his brother when he saw the beautiful woman next to him. However, the King had a different reaction he stared at Ailia's clothed stomach, but Ailia did not take kindly to that.

She glared at the man with a fire that caused him to look up and flinch away slightly from her eyes. She settled looking out of the corner of her eyes at the other's in the royal family that would give her condemnation. She didn't find any problems among the family after that because the doors opened revealing the bride.

Margery Tyrell was a vision of beauty. Her copper curls were piled on top of her head and spilling down to her neck. Her large brown eyes looked like glittering amber gently placed into her round doe-like eyes. Her skin looks smooth and perfectly pale from far away. Her dress seems to be silver, with golden vines denoting the neckline and accentuating her slim but well-formed body. As she passed our place and Jaehaerys saw her train he tensed. The roses on her train, while most likely just a beautiful decoration looked like his mother's famous blue winter roses.

Jaehaerys buried that thought and watched the ceremony. It was filled with the normal ceremony and fanfare that came with the noble weddings he had seen in King's Landing. Only this was ten times as exaggerated. It was filled with the normal boredom he had to sit through so many times.

The only highlight being Lord Tyrell fumbling with the maiden cloak. Ailia grew so tired of the fat idiot's failings that she personally marched up and undid her cloak. When she was done, she made her way back to Jaehaerys' side. Many of the nobility were surprised that such a beauty was next to the Bane of Westeros. However, everyone was focused on the marriage. The two recited their vows perfectly and looked every inch the perfect prince and princess.

Once that was over, the guests were made to enter a large caravan that was many small folk stopping what they were doing so as to catch a glimpse of the princess. Many of the small folk recognized the dark-haired prince who went on charity runs with his grandmother. They reached to try to touch his clothing and horse. Jaehaerys really did love the common people of King's Landing. They were much better to him in childhood, than everyone in the Red Keep was besides Uncle Benjen, and Daenerys. They were the ones who mourned with him when his grandmother Rhaella was poisoned in front of him.

Once everyone was in the Red Keep we were given leave for an hour for anyone to change, the gifts collected, and for the final touches to the feast to be implemented. Jaehaerys went to his room and found servants waiting. He showed them to the gift, and he helped them begin to take the rather large chest to the feast. He also opened another chest that held his dusty circlet. He quickly wiped it off and placed it on his head. It was too small the last time he had it on, now it fit perfectly. The simple iron circlet inlaid with obsidian and rubies looked strange on his head. However, he knew how to carry it with grace.

He left his room only to find Tyrion there.

"Tyrion it is good to see you again."

"You as well Prince Jaehaerys. Now may I ask what that beautiful woman was doing with you?"

"Why don't you ask her yourself?" Jaehaerys looked to see Ailia followed by Daenerys.

"Ah, I am very curious as to who you are my lady."

"My name is Ailia Reyne, great niece of the Red Lion of Castamere, great niece of Maehalor Velaryon, the heiress of the Raqagon family of Lys, and a former member of the Golden Company. I am also his betrothed." Tyrion's eyes almost bulge out of his skull. She smirks at his reaction.

"I am sorry my lady, but you are his betrothed?"

"Yes, I am, and you must be his friend the legendary Imp. It is nice to meet you; I can tell why he likes you already. Now, I believe we should start to make our way to the feast?"

"Of course my lady. I assume you will have your hands full with these two Jon. So I shall go ahead of you."

Tyrion walked off as well as he was able. Daenerys smiled at her nephew, who was more like her brother, and looked between him and his betrothed.

"So, when were you going to tell me you were betrothed?"

"As soon as I was able to princess. Unfortunately, the festivities have gotten in the way of that, but I see you two have aquatinted yourselves already."

"Yes, and she is wonderful Jon. I wish I could be half as lucky as you."

Aurane came around the corner to see us. Daenerys instantly focuses in on the older boy and Jaehaerys knows that this could become bad. However, at this point he doesn't really care.

"Aurane, good to see you. We were just about to head out. However, I have been stuck with two women to escort. May I ask you to kindly be the escort of my dear aunt Princess Daenerys Stormborne."

"Oh, of course my prince." Daenerys had a wicked twinkle in her eye when looking at the shy bastard of Driftmark.

"Please Aurane, call me Daenerys when we are together with our friends."

"Yes, pri- Daenerys." She smiled at him.

They made their way to the pavilion with the prince and the bastard switching off partners as soon as they got there. Jaehaerys was sat next to his aunt, he was on the edge with her acting as a buffer between Jaehaerys and Rhaenys.

The meal had as many courses as years Aegon had lived. It was strangely extravagant and not at all in his father's character, he would only have allowed ten at most, not 10-and-6. This was obviously requested by Olenna Tyrell; she was obviously overjoyed that she finally had family marrying into royalty. So of course she and her flowers had to make a spectacle of it.

The food of course was very good, and Jaehaerys knew someone had slipped something into his food, but he was immune to almost everything at this point, and Cersei wouldn't think to use a foreign poison. She had a paranoia of anything and everything foreign, which most likely stemmed from the fact that she was raised to believe everything created in Westeros was better than anything that could be made by the Essosi.

When the meal started winding down Aegon turned towards his brother. Jaehaerys felt the entire court lay their eyes on him, and he wondered why his brother was focusing on him.

"Jaehaerys, could I ask a favor of you?"

"Of course brother, what is it?"

"Could you possibly play the harp for us? I've told my lady wife of the prowess you had with the instrument as a child, and she wanted to see for herself." Aegon looks almost bashful. "I was wondering if you could possibly play for everyone here."

"Oh, certainly, though I am surprised that you admitted to your lady wife that I am the better harp player." There are laughs with Aegon's being the loudest.

"Well, I was always hopeless when it came to playing any instrument."

"Any requests?"

"The Dance of Dragons if you would brother."

A servant hands Jaehaerys a harp and directs him to sit on a stool in front of the high table. Jaehaerys hands his crown to Daenerys knowing that it would be a slight hindrance while playing because if he leaned down it would most likely clatter to the ground.

He began the song quietly trying to get the wording exactly right to a song he had memorized when his grandmother still lived.

There once was a King

who many thought to be a fool.

A king who named a princess

the future queen.

When the fool king died,

Nobody cried,

but the queen would not be rid

Of her pride.

She gathered the sons and daughters

and told them to ride

on the backs of dragons

for the sake of the queen's pride.

Kill the princess she said,

Kill her sons,

The queen was green

With the envy of her own family.

And oh the war,

The war,

Will always live in infamy,

For the sons and daughters.

The sons and daughters

Who did not drown in red waters,

The sons and daughters

Who lived through red waters.

But the dragons died

And very few cried,

For the princess was dead,

And so was the queen's pride.

Her son,

Was swept off,

By the red tide.

Jaehaerys was in a trance that was only broken by the furious claps and cheering the nobility let out for their least loved prince. Jon was left more than a little shocked that they were so entranced by his musical abilities. He looked to see Daenerys clapping along with Aegon and his wife, and Cersei's youngest. However, his father, Cersei, Rhaenys, Joffrey, and Viserys look dumbstruck.

"Thank you brother now for a toast! For a short winter and another long summer!" The nobility who could actually talk chorused the same back, the ones who were too drunk to actually speak coherently still tried.

"It's time for the gifts!" The king announced obviously trying to draw attention away from Jaehaerys, who just rolled his eyes and smirked. His gift was surely going to draw all of the attention today.

There were many gifts that were brought out to be presented to the prince and princess. Dresses for the princess, swords and armor for Aegon. A variety of other things that neither really had any need for. Then the last gift was the large chest that Jaehaerys had brought from Essos.

"Who's gift is this?"

"This would be mine brother. For the past few years I have been travelling through Essos and have found more than a few manses that belonged to various ancestors including Daemon Targaryen, and Prince Aemon. Hidden in their manses were various treasures even though most of it has been stolen. However, I discovered something far more precious than any gold or gem that could be left behind." Jaehaerys opened the chest to reveal the dragon eggs. "I found a huge cache of dragon eggs, and I decided to bring enough of them to the wedding for every descendant of Valyria here to have."

Everyone was awed by such an extravagant gift. Dragon eggs, even petrified ones were extremely valuable to anyone, and for the Bane of Westeros to have so many must have been a humbling sight. The eggs were passed out to all of his "family" including Aurane, Ailia, Oberyn, and the Sand Snakes, he doubted Cersei liked that bastards got the same honor as her children, however he didn't care about her.

He couldn't when he felt a pulse of energy from the previously petrified dragon eggs. They felt almost alive in his hand. He looked to see the others staring at their eggs in disbelief. Well everyone except for Cersei's children and the Dornish family members.

He looked around carefully only to see Daenerys egg begin to hatch. It was eventually torn apart, and Jaehaerys' dragon hatchling was next. While Daenerys' dragon was white and silver, Jaehaerys' was the colors of his house red and black. Next came Aurane's a royal blue dragon rammed its way into the world next followed by Rhaenys's dragon that was red and silver. Aegon's was red and orange, and Rhaegars was green and gold, while Viserys had one that was also green and gold but the green was a sickly unnatural green like wild fire.

Dragons were once again among the living.