High Tide ― Hall of Nine…
High Tide was basked in the sun's warm glow, casting a peaceful ambiance over the surrounding waters. However, the inside of the grand fortress was far from tranquil. Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, poised and confident, sat atop the Driftwood Throne, holding the weight of Lady Regent of Driftmark in her husband's absence. As she received a raven bearing news of the aftermath of the battle against the Triarchy remnants' fleet, the tension in the air was tangible, and all eyes were fixated on her every move. The atmosphere was fraught with anxiety, and the weight of responsibility lay heavily on her shoulders as she contemplated her next course of action.
Beside her stood Lady Baela Targaryen, her eldest granddaughter, and ward. At sixteen, Baela had grown into a stunning young woman who often drew comparisons to her late mother, Lady Laena Velaryon. Since she was taken in by her maternal grandmother and raised as her ward, she spent most of her teenage years learning the ways of Westeros' nobility as part of her education. At the same time, her younger sister Rhaena remained by their father's side at Duskendale with their new stepfamily. Although it was traditionally a common practice for noble children to be taken in by other families and establish close ties and sometimes alliances with other houses across the continent, Baela was so close to her grandmother that they had become inseparable.
"It's been nearly six months since I last saw my lord husband, maester. I must know… will he live?" Rhaenys asked.
And before them was Maester Kelyvn, who had already been nervously reading the message he had only received this morning. "During the battle for control of the Stepstones, Lord Corlys led his sailors to confront the Triarchy forces in open water. In the fighting, his neck was slashed by General Racallio Ryndoon's blade. He fell overboard into the sea. The wound was severe. Much blood was lost, but the greater concern was the following fever. The ship's healer said he burns from within," he informed.
Rhaenys remained silent, her eyes fixed on Kelvyn as he spoke. It had been half a year since she had last laid eyes on her husband, who had set sail for the Stepstones with his finest vessels and bravest sailors to crush what remained of the Triarchy. He waged a seemingly endless battle against ruthless pirates, corsairs, and marauders to gain complete control of the desolate archipelago. Yet, though Corlys had departed alive, there was always the looming possibility that his ship may return with his lifeless body, yet another soul lost to the unforgiving sea. Rhaenys couldn't shake the thought of him joining their daughter and son, forever resting on the ocean floor. "Where does the letter come from?" she finally asked, emerging from her thoughts.
"Evenfall, princess. With strong winds at their backs, they should land here in three days."
"Hmm, then make sure we are ready to greet them, Maester Kelvyn," Rhaenys said with a nod, dismissing the maester, who scuttled away like a crab.
Baela noticed Rhaenys' worried expression, despite her attempts to conceal it. She reached out and gently touched Rhaenys' shoulder in a comforting gesture. "The Sea Snake is strong, grandmother," she reassured her.
As Rhaenys smiled and gently placed her hand on Baela's, she couldn't help but feel a sense of joy at having her granddaughter at her side. Gods, she looked so much like Laena. However, her happiness was short-lived as a new voice suddenly interrupted the moment.
"No doubt," Vaemond Velaryon said, striding into the room. "And yet, I have seen blood fever overcome men half his age and twice as strong."
Rhaenys glared at her brother-in-law. "Mind your words. I will not suffer the crows and vultures in my house, Vaemond, not while my husband still draws breath," she said.
"I love my brother; gods strike me down if I lie. But we must be honest with ourselves and prepare for the worst. We may greet his ship to find him gone. And who will take the Driftwood Throne? Who is to rule should the Sea Snake fall?"
"My grandmother seems quite comfortable here in that position. And her six months as regent demonstrates her ability in governance, ser," Baela said quickly.
Vaemond gave a patient, almost patronizing smile to Baela. "Princess Rhaenys presides only rules only in the absence of her husband. On his death, the seat passes. But we must think of the succession―"
"Baela, leave us," Rhaenys interrupted, cutting Vaemond off. Baela looked at her grandmother for a moment but then bowed her head and descended from the dais, exiting the Hall of Nine with the leering eyes of Vaemond watching her the entire time.
"She resembles her mother more and more with each passing day."
"You spoke of the succession. In case you have forgotten, let me remind you. The Driftwood Throne will pass to his most senior grandson, Jacaerys Veleyron. As is my lord husband's desire."
Vaemond scoffed. "My brother, gods preserve him, cares only for the history books. But what of the Velaryon line? I am the Sea Snake's own blood, the closest kin he has left now that Laena and Laenor are gone. Is the blood and future of our house to be snuffed out and supplanted by the mongrel pups of House Strong?" he said, taking a step towards her.
"Be careful, brother-in-law. One could take your words for treason."
"You know of what I speak, Rhaenys. I speak the truth. And you know it."
"The matter has already been decided."
"By a man whose ambition has brought down on us calamity after calamity. Driftmark is mine by all rights. And while I should like your support, I do not… need it. There is another way. Over thirty years ago, the Great Council established laws and regulations regarding the right of inheritance when the lords named Viserys as King Jaehaerys's new heir after the untimely deaths of his father and uncle left the line of succession in doubt. These laws specify that in the event of a succession crisis, the closest living male relative of the bloodline in question has to invoke their right to ratify their claim ahead of a pretender trying to take what is never theirs to begin with—their birthright. The laws provide detailed guidelines for this process. No one, not even the king or his Hand, is above those laws. So the crown will have no choice but to hear my case and have more than a good enough reason to take my side. I'm sure you remember it all too well. Don't you?"
If one were to judge by Rhaenys's expression alone, it would appear like she wished to unleash a fiery wrath upon Vaemond. Her ire was not merely due to his reminder of the Great Council and the votes that had led to her being passed over as her grandfather's heir for the second time. It was also because the Great Council had implemented strict rules and regulations regarding inheritance laws. The Old King had instituted these reforms to prevent a bloody civil war from erupting over the issue of who would succeed him, and the same principles applied to the realm's lords as well. The Caltrops must have contacted Vaemond and extended an offer to him by informing him of these rules. If it were true, Queen Beatrice… has outplayed them for the first time. If the crown rules in favor of Vaemond, the Caltrops would depose Rhaenys and force her granddaughters to wed their loyalists. Rhaenys's fire grew at the thought of what Vaemond or the Caltrops might do to Baela or Rhaena. "My cousin, the king, could have your tongue for this," the Queen Who Never Was warned.
"A king who has not been seen in almost a year. Who rots in the Red Keep while his children squabble like gulls over a fish. The tides have shifted, dearest sister, and we must shift with them." Vaemond straightened himself up to his full height. "On the morrow, I sail for the capital to press my rights as Corlys's rightful heir."
Rhaenys dug her nails into the wood of the throne. "Your brother still lives, and you conspire to stab him in the back?" she dared.
"I act only to preserve House Velaryon. I am Corlys's closest male relative and have a strong claim. However, I could instead travel to King's Landing to press the claim of another: your granddaughter."
"You would support Baela as heir to Driftmark?"
"Of course. She is the eldest daughter of Corlys's firstborn child. She rides a dragon. And has had six years to learn our ways by your side. Some might say she was meant to sit the Driftwood Throne… as long as she had a strong husband by her side," Vaemond said, clearly implying himself.
As soon as he uttered those words, Rhaenys stood up from the Driftwood Throne, her expression filled with calm, collected anger. Vaemond, a widower, had five adult sons, some of whom had children of their own. "Leave my presence now, 'dearest brother,' or we shall indeed host a funeral on Driftmark," Rhaenys said, her tone as cold as ice and sharper than any Valyrian steel.
Vaemond immediately backed off, his once cheerful expression replaced with a displeased frown. "You may change your tone soon, princess. A new wind is blowing, and only a fool fights the wind," he said before turning on his heel and leaving Rhaenys alone in the Hall of Nine.
"Excuse me, princess," Addam of Hull spoke up. "I must express my concerns about Prince Jacaerys. Lord Corlys has already made it clear that he wants him to be his heir. This could potentially cause problems if Ser Vaemond does indeed follow through with his threat to press his claim over your lord husband's desired heir." He paused for a moment, deep in thought. "However, I think Lady Baela could potentially be better suited for someone else. There is a candidate who might be an excellent match for her, perhaps one you are pretty familiar with. A sutor like… Prince Jaehaerys Targaryen, the Young Dragon's son?"
As Rhaenys cast her deep purple eyes toward Addam of Hull, he couldn't help but feel intimidated by her. The daughter of Prince Aemon Targaryen, once the heir to the throne and Caraxes's former rider, had a powerful presence. Addam took a step back and respectfully lowered his head in deference. It was clear that the Queen Who Never Was was well-informed of the proposal discussed over sixteen years ago during negotiations between her and her lord husband and her cousin and his heir. She remembered. After all, Rhaenys and Corlys did agree to the terms with Viserys and Aeonar when they first discussed betrothing Laenor to Rhaenyra.
« But what if we were to provide clarity? […] Should either your son Laenor or your daughter Laena sire any daughters of their own, they shall be betrothed to my heir once they come of age. […] If we were to restructure the traditional inheritance law of primogeniture, then that would mean your grandchildren would have a place within the line of succession itself. »
Despite facing significant losses, including her father, mother, and claim to the Iron Throne, her cousin's son's words made her pause and reflect. Over the past six years, Prince Jaehaerys has visited Driftmark regularly to spend quality time with Baela. Rhaenys had been observing them closely from a distance, and, at first, it seemed harmless. But, as time passed, Jaehaerys and Baela had grown fond of each other, some even suggesting they had become… more than close. As a result, Rhaenys needed to observe the young Targaryen prince more to understand his character and motives. As second-in-line to the throne, Jaehaerys was a young man of exceptional intellect, impeccable manners, and eloquence. Moreover, Jaehaerys was a dragonrider, and word about his skills as a diplomat was already beginning to spread. Despite his royal status, Jaehaerys remained humble and genuinely cared for his family and those around him. If Rhaenys had to choose between him and Vaemond, she believed Jaehaerys would be the more suitable match for her granddaughter. The time had come for her to put this pairing into motion.
"Have the Dragonkeepers here saddle Meleys and Moondancer. And inform Baela that we are going to the capital," Rhaenys instructed. "But tell Maester Kelvyn to send a raven to Prince Aeonar Targaryen. Inform him… he has my answer."
Dragonstone ― Dragonmont…
High up on the volcano overlooking the ancient Valyrian castle of Dragonstone, Prince Daeron makes his descent into the hazardous cave below; his well-honed training with the Lykirī Mēre comes to the forefront as he deftly navigates the treacherous terrain. With steady hands and a focused mind, he fearlessly ventures deeper into the unknown. Now that he was thirteen, the youngest of the Targaryen royals was given a taste of real responsibility befitting a prince of his stature.
"Hmmph! Mmm!"
Tasked with gathering dragon eggs from the Dragonmont and Dragonpit, Daeron was a frequent traveler, regularly making the journey between King's Landing and Dragonstone. He found himself in a difficult situation as he grappled with the intense heat in the Dragonmont. The Dragonkeepers had informed him of recent discoveries; multiple dragons had laid a clutch of eggs within the volcano to maintain a steady internal temperature. However, retrieving these eggs would be a challenging feat. Dragons were fiercely territorial creatures, and approaching their nest was incredibly dangerous. Daeron had to exercise immense caution and wait for the dragons to leave to hunt before he could proceed with his mission.
As he descended the volcano's interior walls, Daeron leaped from edge to edge until his feet finally touched solid ground. Daeron was getting the hang of his assignment and feeling pretty good about it. He was careful to stay quiet as he approached, his heart racing with anticipation. The hiss of steam from the volcano was the only audible sound. Suddenly, a dragon screeched in the distance, causing him to freeze in his tracks. Another dragon roared, and Daeron held his breath, waiting for them to pass. Once it was safe, he resumed his search. He had a special talent for tracking dragons and their nests and was determined to succeed. As he walked through the hazardous volcanic terrain, he stumbled upon a significant burrow. It was covered in layers of dirt, ash, and soot, with a rough yet damp exterior shell that served as a protective barrier. The surface felt coarse to the touch, but it was soft and supple beneath. Despite the chilly atmosphere outside, the interior was warm and inviting.
"There you are," Daeron whispered. The prince took off his sack and began his task. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and licked his lips excitedly as he pulled out a pickaxe. Carefully tapping the outer layer with one hand, he had to be mindful not to damage the eggs while extracting them. He knew the Dragonkeepers would scold him severely, and his father would be disappointed. After two taps in one spot, then another, he found his target with a third double tap. Focusing on his aim, he used the pickaxe to crack the surface until he heard and felt hot steam coming from the outer layer. "Hehe, kessa (yes), kessa (yes). Umāzīt yne. (Come to me)." Daeron used his hands to break open the shell and retrieved an egg still warm to the touch. The egg was covered in a slimy substance from the interior sack. "Good condition, heavy as stone, green scaly layers with tan swirls… You'll make a fine addition to our collection. Father will be so pleased," he carefully placed the egg into the sack. Following a challenging task, Daeron was able to acquire two additional eggs successfully. However, his efforts were cut short as the audible presence of dragons drew near, compelling him to retreat from the Dragonmont swiftly. However, he wouldn't take a chance and stick around any further.
Ascending back to the top was just as treacherous as the descent down.
As soon as the gentle breeze brushed against the sweat on Daeron's neck, the salty scent of the sea filled his nostrils. The prince couldn't resist stretching before heading towards the sandy shores, where he spotted two Dragonkeepers from Dragonstone eagerly waiting for him.
"Skorion jeme umazigho? (What did you find?)" one of the Dragonkeepers asked.
"Arliar mādas. Hāriar zaldrīzes drōma. Hāriar drōma! (A fresh clutch. Three dragon eggs. Three eggs!)" Daeron said as he opened his sack to reveal his findings. He proudly displayed the eggs he had discovered, all of which appeared to be in pristine condition. "Dijemiot hannēliks lōtūljās. (See that they are placed in the warming chamber.)"
"Sīrgō, dārilaros ñuhys. (At once, my prince.)" The Dragonkeepers took the sack, and one of them brought it to the warming chamber in Dragonstone. They wanted to make sure that the eggs were kept at a steady temperature for proper incubation. "Maester kesi mādas. (The maester brought this.)" the elder Dragonkeeper showed a sealed scroll.
"Skorlūs ziry drējī, ñuha ondossa lēdys. (Whatever it is, I've got my hands full.)"
"Sīr amastas, hen aōha DāroDārilaros Jāhayress lēkia. (It just arrived, from your brother Prince Jaehaerys in King's Landing.)"
Daeron paused. "Hen… Hen lēkia ñuhys? (From… From my brother?)" He asked. Based on the expressions on their countenances, he surmised that there was some sort of issue. His eldest sibling wouldn't bother him without a good reason, which indicated that there must have been a significant occurrence in King's Landing. Consequently, it was likely that their father had also been impacted by this development. "Rūniaposurnēptre nyke. (Show me the letter.)"
Daeron received a sealed paper from the elder Dragonkeeper and eagerly broke the wax seal. As he started to read, he realized that this was no ordinary letter. In fact, it went into excruciating detail! His older brother Jaehaerys had left nothing out. Daeron's brow furrowed as he continued reading, taking his time to process everything. Finally, he reached the end of the letter and was left with a sense of conclusion. By the Seven hells, what a letter!
"By the order of the Prince of Dragonstone and Hand of the King, we wish to inform you that it is of utmost importance that you promptly return to King's Landing. The current state of affairs has become increasingly unstable, and we cannot afford any delays in your arrival. We will provide you with further details concerning the matter upon your return."
Daeron's heart was pounding as he stared at the letter in front of him. He recognized Jaehaerys's handwriting, but the words on the page were undoubtedly their father's. Something was off, and he needed to get home right away to uncover the truth. "I'll be right there," he said in the Common Tongue before racing toward the beach where his loyal dragon eagerly awaited his return.
"*Reeeeee!"* Gaemon screeched. After six years had passed, the juvenile dragon had reached a length of 45 feet, making it capable of carrying Daeron on his back to ride. Sensing his rider's hasty approach, Gaemon had already growled in a high pitch. "*Wreeeee!*"
"Dokimarvose, Gāemōn! Rȳbās! (Focus, Gaemon! Obey!)" Daeron commanded.
With a low growl, Gaemon crouched down to let Daeron mount him. As soon as his rider was securely fastened onto the saddle, the little dragon let out another piercing screech and turned to face the opposite direction.
"Sōvēs, Gāemōn! (Fly, Gaemon!)"
"*Reeeeee!*"
With a powerful burst of energy, Gaemon soared through the skies, his wings flapping frantically as he lifted off the ground. Daeron, who was holding onto the harness, felt a surge of excitement as they took off toward King's Landing. Although Gaemon might not be the fastest dragon in the sky, he was just as nimble and agile as his peers, making him an impressive sight to behold.
This has trouble written all over it. The Caltrops are behind it all. I know it!
Chapter End
Author's Note: Someone is apparently being a bit too greedy and ambitious despite the dangers it would bring, but Vaemond Velaryon had apparently had subsequent knowledge of laws of inheritance as it was not just common knowledge, but modified and regulated after the Great Council of 101 AC which coincidentally left a loophole to be exploited by the Caltrops to force a petition to be heard, setting the stage for Vaemond Velaryon vs. Jacaerys Velaryon. What do you think the next chapter will bring? Let me know.
Guest #1: "It's been nearly six months since I last saw my lord husband, maester. I must know… will he live?" Rhaenys asked. - 6 months? Either its a typo or Corlys has been visiting home.
"If the crown rules in favor of Vaemond" - Crown's Laws.
Surprising they gave Daeron such dangerous task. I were to guess, he beg his parents repeatedly until they give in and probably get back at him by making Daeron go through hell in training before he is ready. Or Aeonar is so desperate that he's willing to risk his son's life to aquire more WMD.
randomdude24: Oh man this Vaemond Velaryon sure seems like a selfish greedy backstabber, I sure hope nothing terrible happens like declaring Rhaenyra's sons as bastards in front on the king and getting his head cutoff by Daemon, but who knows.
C.E.W: So it has finally come down to it, Vaemond Velaryon and the Caltrops are making their move for the petition. There is to be a hearing in which who will inherit the lordship of Driftmark should Lord Corlys perish. In light of this, Rhaenys is finally making her move to betroth her granddaughter Baela to Prince Jaehaerys heir to Aeonar who is heir to the Iron Throne. In light of King Viserys' current condition, as Hand of the King Aeonar is to be reside on his father's behalf to arbitrate the situation.
Aeonar is in a dangerous position, he has to decide who will take lordship over the wealthiest house in the realm. The Caltrops despite their failings can build a strong case for Vaemond and against Jacaerys. If Vaemond were to take lordship, he will likely side with the Caltrops for helping him, thus giving the Caltrops control of the largest fleet in the realm. If Aeonar supports Jacaerys, the Caltrops can accuse Aeonar of serving self-interest, and violating laws of inheritance which allowed his father to inherit the Iron Throne following the Great Council. Such accusation can give strength to the Caltrops, and badly effect Aeonar's standing as heir and Hand of the King. Regardless of Jaehaerys and Baela being betrothed announced.
Rhaenyra, Daemon and their children are to go the capital to defend Jacaerys' rights. Despite being banished, even Aeonar cannot stop that, not in the interest of judging fairly at the hearing.
Questions:
Will Aeonar will be grievous to hear about Lord Corlys?
―It'll be a matter of grave concern; Aeonar has known and worked with Corlys for many years. To lose him now would be devastating.
I assume we will see Rhaenyra and Daemon next chapter?
―Yes
Will we see Jaehaerys and Baela have a private talk about their betrothal?
―At some point, yes
Will Aeonar distance himself from Rhaenyra, or will he talk with her before the hearing?
―Mostly he keeps to himself even though Rhaenyra will try to push for her brother to affirm her son Jace as Corlys's heir. We'll see more once we reach that point
MichaelBishopone: So begins the end...