AN: Hi there, family. Now arise for the new version of an old version I left but now begins again. The first few chapters will cover the narrow survival of House Targaryen, the price that Jaehaerys Targaryen has to pay to keep his family alive. Then, we will head into the first arc of the Story surrounding the Greyjoy Rebellion which will be longer than before.
Chapter 1: A Dynasty Collapses
Waves crashed against Dragonstone's cliffs, and a pair of purple eyes watched below as the encroaching fleet of the usurper drew closer.
A storm had raged a little more than a month ago, and the roughness of the water had sent much of the former royal fleet sinking below the depths and darkness.
Ships that were a century old had sunk as well, taking the historic battles it fought with it to that god the Iron Islanders worshipped.
The eyes remembered how the survivors clawed to the beachhead, servants within the castle, and nearby villagers came to aid the wounded and salvage the ruins that made it to shore.
It was also the same night that the Queen had died, and the new Princess was born.
Daenerys, his mother, named her last daughter, her last child. "My Prince, we should leave, tonight."
Willem Darry was a knight in his family's service, Ser Willem's brother being a member of the Kingsgaurd and had died somewhere in the trident with Rhaegar and all the others.
"Where can we run to, Ser?" They would have nothing, and would be running forever if his cousin wanted them dead, as he had killed the Last Dragon.
Memories flooded back as he remembered crying with Viserys while their father ranted about the commanders and soldiers who failed to defeat the Baratheon, Stark, Arryn, and Tully rebels. Despite his constant frown, Rhaegar was an exceptional yet melancholic sibling.
Willem sighed and knelt, "I will follow you, Jaehaerys, whatever you decide to do."
A part of him wondered if they should flee to Dorne, the Martells are sure to protect Aegon and Rhaenys, who had been smuggled to them not long after reaching Dragonstone with the aid of Varys who remained in King's Landing.
But how long would the war last then? Decades, centuries as the feud between Blackwood and Bracken? No, he won't subject his siblings and Rhaegar's children to that hell.
Looking back to the incoming ship bearing the sigil of House Baratheon, only this time, it had a crown on its head, meaning Robert must have been crowned by the High Septon.
Traitors, every ONE of them.
His Father may have been steeping close to true madness, Duskendale leaving Aerys Targaryen a shadow of his former self but he was still the Realm's King, and each Great Lord and their vassals should have remembered their oaths and the oaths of their ancestors.
Of course, this war would not have occurred if Rhaegar hadn't taken the Northern Maid, it was that which made Brandon Stark and his party come to the Red Keep demanding the Prince come out to die.
Aerys acted accordingly, Brandon had just threatened the Crown Prince, so he and his companions were arrested and taken to the black cells.
What happened after... He would admit was far too much, even when Lord Stark arrived and fought to free his son only to be chained to the rafters and burned alive, Lord Stark's heir choking himself trying to reach for steel and free his own father.
This event cemented the war, cemented the downfall of his House, and the authority held over Westeros.
"Ser Willem, post guards at all exits and gates. I'll negotiate with the Usurper's envoy." His order must seem insane considering the brutality in his father and Elia's deaths, but it's a play that may keep them all alive and here where they belong.
On the outset of Rhaegar's defeat and death, his father father chose to make him the new heir, passing over Aegon and witnessed by a few including his mother, Varys, Ser Willem and the rest of the Small Council.
He obviously felt terrible, felt terrible for his nephew and his birthright as his brother's firstborn son.
"Jaehaerys, I must insist you reconsider this… " Willem said and followed him to the pathway, a narrow road that led from the castle gates to the beach. "Robert will want your life, all of your lives, and parlaying with whoever he had sent won't change this."
"He'll have sent his brother," It was the last message they received from their vassals of the Reach, Lord Mace Tyrell had written that Eddard Stark had come and relieved the siege of Storm's End.
It was what sent his mother into labor, knowing they had truly lost this war when the Reach bowed to the Usurper, leaving only Dorne, who had lost half of their own men fighting at the Trident.
He had met Stannis once, the man had a gloomy face that rivaled Rhaegar.
Jaehaerys hoped honor would win out rather than the stories heard from people about the sacking, and the murder of his father and good sister, the raping of Elia even before, which made him wretch from disgust.
His mind did wonder where Jaime was, as his father's last Kingsguard was still in the city at the time, and why he didn't do his duty in protecting his King or Princess.
Jaime Lannister was new, his white armor had just been fitted, and his new sword was unused when the war began. Jaehaerys liked him, he was a lot more humorous than Ser Gerold or not so uptight as Ser Arthur, but he liked to believe that was due to the knight's youth.
It doesn't matter now, however, what happened had and the present called for him to act with what power he can wield.
Jaehaerys, Willem, and some thirty men at arms made their way down the long path to the beach. They were armed to the teeth, ready to fight their way if negotiations weren't met with Stannis Baratheon.
The sword on his hip wasn't fitted right, it was the smallest they could find, and Willem said that he must be able to protect himself if they get pinched.
Before reaching the bottom, the silhouette of a dozen, or dozens of men approached them, and Willem stood in front of him, "Stand behind me, men!" The knight unsheathed his sword and pointed it towards the approaching soldiers.
Jaehaerys felt his chest tighten and began to get nervous, his instinct screaming at him to run but he stood his ground.
Stannis Baratheon had a grim look on his face, shadows under his eyes giving signs of a lack of sleep. Stannis is a large man - tall, broad-shouldered, and sinewy like his brothers.
"Lord Stannis," Willem began.
The man took a deep breath, "Ser Willem Darry, is this you coming to surrender the Targaryen children and their mother?"
"The Queen is gone, birthed her last child some time ago when word came of the siege at your castle being lifted." Willem explained and continued, "And no, I will not be surrendering her sons and grandchildren to your brother."
Stannis scoffed and looked directly at Jaehaerys, "Then why bring the Mad King's eldest out here?"
Gulping, Jaehaerys moved in front of Willem, "I came to negotiate peace terms." He uttered and heard some laugh behind Stannis but the Usurper's brother snapped at them to be quiet.
"Your brother is dead. Your father is dead, and Rhaegar's heir remains a threat to my brother, the boy and the rest cannot be allowed freedom or life to come and try for the Iron Throne."
Willem and the other men prepared to defend themselves, but Jaehaerys jumped ahead of their actions, "Aegon is not the heir!" Stannis was stunned, "The King disinherited him when Rhaegar died to punish Doran Martell, he named me the heir, and I was made King when news came of his death."
There was a silence before Stannis spoke again, "What of it?" Was all the man said.
"I will come with you and capitulate in favor of Robert." Jaehaerys started and continued, "I will go and speak to Robert, in return, I would ask for mercy and allow my House to become vassals to him."
Weak boy. Coward. The dragon who knelt. Craven boy.
These were said and heard behind him and in front, and he'd happily be a coward if it kept his family on their ancestral home and alive.
Stannis kept his cold blue eyes on him, scanning him for any ounce of treachery or falsehoods, "We shall see, 'King' Jaehaerys. But all of you must come."
"Please, just me, Daenerys and Aegon are only just babes and Viserys and Rhaenys aren't fit for travel. Please, just me." He begged and found no mercy as Stannis denied him.
"You and your family will come as well or I will be forced to lay siege and starve you, and I assure you, that is a worse fate than death."
Willem came to his defense, "You will lose hundreds, Usurper dog!"
"And you will lose regardless, Ser," Stannis turned back to him, "You want to end this peacefully, spare the lives of those who defend you and meet my terms or let us be done speaking, boy."
Rage and anger filled Jaehaerys, his hands clenched into fists and he fought the tears threatening to break free.
"Fine, Lord Stannis, we will go with you."
Viserys and Rhaenys were scared, scared and frightened when he woke them to leave so soon after the death of his and Viserys mother. Aegon and Daenerys we're sleeping soundly in their wet nurses arms as they were led out of the castle with Ser Willem at their side.
They boarded the a triple decked war galley known as the Fury, a new ship among many of the Usurper's fleet.
He had finally gotten Rhaenys to sleep, Viserys was facing a window looking out to the bay and Willem came to his side sitting down on his bed given by Stannis for their voyage.
"Willem?" The old knight turned to face him, "I think I should have listened to you, I don't know if I am sending us to survive or to die,"
"The Usurper has many supporting him, a few men such as Jon Arryn are good and moral, I believe if he is there then we may all leave with our lives." He hoped he was right because he doesn't know how he will face his mother and Rhaegar if anything happens to their young children.
A moment later he walked over to Viserys, "Rest little brother, mother would- " the seven-year-old Prince turned to glare at him.
"They killed Rhaegar! They killed Father and they killed Mother and you are us to them traitors!" Viserys seethed and stood, pushing him away, "Father is right, they should all BURN!" Jaehaerys quickly covered his brothers mouth fearing someone may hear.
"I am doing what I can to keep us alive, we will survive."
The winds were cruel as they made it back to the capital within a day and the night, fires burned yet from the city as it was sacked not too long bef
Stannis came to get them personally, telling them it was time to leave for the Red Keep.
It was an eerie feeling, seeing all of the tapestries and Targaryen banners torn down and replaced with the banner of the stag, the banner of House Baratheon. It hurt more as getting to the Red Keep he saw the heads of most of his father's Small Council. The heads of Lord Lucerys Velaryon, Qarlton Celstead, Symond Staunton and Hand of the King, Wisdom Rossart.
He and his brother had to turn away when they saw their father's head, a shocked, angry, and betrayed expression on King Aerys face as they past the gate leading to the yard where he had began his training in arms with Ser Gerold Hightower and Rhaegar.
And it looked to still be stained in blood, red embedded into the dirt and stone steps. Rhaenys looked absolutely horrified, "Niece, calm your heart, be brave, like your father." She smiled the smallest smile and nodded.
Stannis had dismounted, turning to a guard, "Rouse my brother, I have his prize."
