120 A.L. King's Landing

Queen Rhaenys Targaryen

As Rhaenys watched her son Aemon and her grandchildren play with one another she could not help but think of the things that had brought them to this point. Her father King Aemon the Unifier, had died in his sleep at the age of seventy two, a peaceful way for such a great man to go. Her father had been ailing, and she suspected that the fact that her mother was no longer here was also another reason as to why he had no longer wished to keep fighting through the council meetings and the other tedious business that came with ruling. Her father had increasingly in the last two years of his reign left much of the ruling to Rhaenys and to her cousin Viserys, leaving her husband Aemon to go about ensuring that the children were safe and happy and to ensure that the peace was maintained. When the king died, the whole kingdom went into mourning and some three weeks later both Aemon and herself were crowned in the Sept of the Unifier as the Sept of Remembrance was now called. The High Septon had placed their father's crown atop Aemon's head, and Aemon had then surprised them all by placing the crown of Aegon the Dragon atop her head, clearly showing that she was to rule with him as equals. Rhaenys whilst finding the action endearing and somewhat indicative of how her husband was as a person could not help but wonder if this would mean even more trouble and conspiracies against her and hers, even though Ser Otto was dead there were others who would wish to see their own blood on the throne.

As she heard a playful growl come from her dragon Meleys she snapped out of her thoughts and turned to speak to her eldest daughter Alysanne. "So sweetling, how are things on Claw Isle? Is Ser Aenys treating you well? Truly well?"

Aemon had always told her that Alysanne reminded him so much of her in the way that she was stubborn and proud and Rhaenys had never truly seen it until they had fought together on the Stepstones. Her daughter was silent for a moment before saying. "Aye mother, things are good on Claw Isle. The people are nice and kind, and they all care for my children. And Aenys is a nice man if a bit of a dolt sometimes. Sometimes I do wonder what goes on in his mind, and whether or not he has any wits at all. And other times I cannot but help and wonder how I am married to such a loving and caring man."

Rhaenys laughed softly then and said. "Ah but that is always the way of marriage sweetling. Men are very strange creatures, they try and act all tough and hard so that we do not see the fear they feel. And sometimes this makes them do or say very silly things indeed, but underneath all of this, they do have feelings and it takes a special type of man to truly admit to what he feels and thinks of anyone let alone his loved ones."

"Is that what father was like then when you were younger? A strong headed fool who never truly thought about what he said before he said it?" Alysanne asked.

Rhaenys took her daughter's hand in hers and said softly. "Your father was always a different kind of man. He has many flaws that he has admitted to which is strange for a man, but he also has many strengths that he has utilised to the best of his abilities. Ser Aenys, from what I have seen is not like your father at all and it would do the both of you a disservice to compare him to your father."

Alysanne was silent a moment and then Rhaenys saw her look to where Aemon and her own children were playing and asked softly. "You must be very happy that you now have a son mother. I know that for many years you tried so very hard to have a son."

Rhaenys heard the pain in her daughter's voice and felt her heart break she held onto her daughter's hand and said. "I am happy to have Aemon in my life sweetling. But you must never think that I do not love you, I love you and your sisters with every fibre of my being. Aemon is the son I always wished for, but you all mean the world to me. I would never have it any other way sweetling."

Alysanne did not reply and instead changed the topic. "What will happen when Aemon grows up mother? Will he wed Saera and Danaerys or will he wed uncle Daemon's girls Baela and Rhaena?"

Rhaenys was taken aback by the question and turned to her daughter and asked. "Why do you ask sweetling? Aemon is only four years old, there is time yet for us to consider who he should marry."

Alysanne was silent for a long moment and then she replied. "I have heard talk on Claw Isle and since I have come back to King's Landing. There is word in court that several lords such as Tyrell, Arryn and even Frey are trying to get father to consider having Aemon wed their daughters. The High Septon it seems is even trying to convince father to think about betrothals now, to solidify something or the other."

Rhaenys was about to reply when she heard a voice from behind her. Turning she saw Ser Willis Fell of the Kingsguard. "Sorry to interrupt you Your Grace, but King Aemon requests your presence."

Rhaenys nodded and after asking Alysanne to keep an eye on Aemon, she walked inside. When she entered her husband's solar she found him falling asleep a cup of wine in his hand. "You asked for me my love?"

Aemon was silent for a long moment, and Rhaenys wondered if he'd drifted off, but then he looked up at her and his eyes were filled with pain. "I've ruined it Rhaenys, I've ruined it all."

Rhaenys walked to him then and asked. "What my love? What have you ruined?"

Aemon looked so despondent and his voice sounded so small and tired. "Things with Viserys. Our cousin, he asked me to do something that I could not think of doing."

"What did he ask you to do my love?" Rhaenys asked.

"It was not so much what he asked me, more how he asked. He asked for his daughter's marriage to Harwin Strong to be annulled and for us to consider wedding her to Daemon. He more sort of demanded it be done. I told him that such a thing could not be done, even if Lady Alysanne was dead and Daemon was free to marry again, the Faith would react with much hostility to the marriage and then where would we be. Viserys looked fit to burst then and walked out. But I fear he is going to speak with the High Septon about the matter now." Aemon said in a rush.

Rhaenys was silent for a moment and then asked. "Did he say why he suddenly wished for his daughter's marriage to be annulled? I thought that Rhaenrya was perfectly happy wed to her Strong?"

Aemon shook his head and said. "All I know is that things are not going well between Viserys and Lord Lyonel Strong. And that Viserys was most insistent on changing things around before it became too late. What it was he wanted though I know not."

Rhaenys cupped her husband's face then and said softly. "It will be alright Aemon. I shall speak with Viserys and see what the truth of the matter is."