Dragonstone
"Tell us when you first flew Caraxes, father." asked the eight year old Prince Aegon the Younger to his father from his bed. The request was made after Prince Daemon Targaryen had asked his two sons what story they wanted to listen to before they went to bed. The prince's younger brother, seven year old Viserys, eagerly spoke up in response to his brother's request.
"Yes, tell us that one, father! Please!"
Daemon, with a fatherly smile on his face, could not help but indulge his sons.
"Very well," the middle-aged man said, "I shall tell you."
The prince leaned in so his sons could hear him better as he began the story.
"It was some time after my twelfth nameday. Caraxes had been left riderless since my Uncle Aemon had been killed just the year before on Tarth. But I could not mount Caraxes yet since my father, your grandfather, had locked me in my room to punish me."
"What did you do?" Viserys asked innocently, resulting in an amused snort from his father.
"I had given little Lord Mervyn Fossoway a black eye during an argument. I forget what it was about, but because of it, my father had me locked in my room and I wasn't given any supper either too. But anyway, I managed to sneak out by tying my bedsheets together into a rope and then climbing out of my window with them. After landing in the garden, I managed to sneak out of the Red Keep through a secret passage and I made my way into King's Landing."
Aegon and Viserys looked at their father with eyes as wide as saucers.
"You went into King's Landing by yourself?!" Aegon said in disbelief.
"Didn't you run into beggars or thieves?" Viserys asked in awe.
"No, I managed to avoid them as I traversed the labyrinth that is King's Landing's streets and I got to the Dragonpit unharmed. Unseen by the Dragonkeepers, I released Caraxes and I took him outside and together, we ascended into the sky. Mind you, I did this all without a harness or saddle."
The boys' mouths dropped and their purple eyes widened even further when they heard this. Flying a dragon without a chain harness was a death sentence to any Valyrian who had not yet mastered the art of flying a dragon. A person could get thrown off and fall to their death if they weren't properly fastened to their mount.
"How did you fly the "Bloodwyrm" without a chain, father?" Aegon asked.
"Well," Daemon said, "I held onto Caraxes's neck with all my might. It was such a sight to behold when we were flying. Seeing the lights from the torches and braziers in the city streets as little glowing pinpoints, feeling the cool night air turn almost frigid as Caraxes flew, breathing in pure air that was not tainted by the foul odors of the capital, it was simply breathtaking…" Daemon said with gusto, relishing the memory fondly. "But during our flight, the City Watch and the guards patrolling the Red Keep's battlements took notice of us and they immediately alerted my grandparents and father. After flying a little longer, I had Caraxes descend back to the Dragonpit. I had a welcoming party coming to greet me when I landed and it consisted of your grandfather and some Kingsguard knights and members of the Gold Cloaks.
You two should have seen the look on your grandfather's face as he approached me, he was so mad! He could have scared a grown lion with that face!"
Daemon laughed aloud as he remembered this, and his children looked at him eagerly as they anxiously awaited to hear the rest of their father's story.
"What did grandfather do to you?" Aegon asked after his father had finished laughing.
"He boxed my ears so hard that they were red and swollen for a week afterwards. But it was worth it since I got to ride Caraxes, not to mention escaping my room without anyone being able to catch me at first too. Father later told me that, although he was furious at me at the time, he could not help but think how proud my uncle would have been on how I claimed Caraxes."
Smirking, Daemon looked at his sons. Aegon spoke again.
"Can you tell us another story, father? One about great-uncle Aemon? Please?"
"No, Aegon," a familiar voice answered, "It is time for both you and your brother to go to sleep."
Daemon looked over his shoulder to see his wife standing in the doorway. Her silver-gold hair was tied in a long braid that was draped over her right shoulder and she was wearing a loose-fitting, silk dress that bore the colors of red wine and sable, which shimmered in the candlelight and allowed her eight month pregnant belly to bulge out gently. Ever since she had found out that she was pregnant again in the middle of last year, Rhaenyra had been praying every morning and night for the babe in her womb to be a girl. Daemon could not blame his third wife for wanting a daughter after having five sons. Rhaenyra wanted to have somebody else to talk about feminine issues with besides her cousins/stepdaughters and she wanted to buy dresses and jewelry for a little girl of her own. Daemon was confident that since he had twin girls born to him from his marriage to Lady Laena Velaryon, he was positive that his seed would cause a little girl to sprout in his niece-wife's womb sooner or later.
"But, mother—" Aegon protested but he was cut off by the princess.
"Not another word, my son. It is time you two went to bed. Both of you have lessons starting early tomorrow morning and you need to rest."
The boys groaned upon hearing that. Even though their studies were interesting enough, especially for Viserys, their tutor, Maester Gerardys, was old and terribly dull and it took every ounce of willpower within the young lads to not fall asleep from boredom. Besides studying subjects like geography, history, and rhetoric, the boys also practiced swordplay in the training yard of Dragonstone alongside their older half-brothers. It was especially interesting to watch Jace and Luke spar. Luke usually won his skirmishes with his oldest brother because he was a natural with blades and was quick on his feet and very strong.
Jace won some of his fights by using trickery and cunning, and this often led to the brothers engaging in fisticuffs and subsequently needing to be pulled apart by their stepfather and scolded by their mother. Aegon and Viserys thought it was funny how their half-brothers were almost grown men and they still needed to be disciplined by their mother for misbehaving as if they were still little boys. Their third half-brother, Joff, possessed a mixture of both his older brothers' qualities. He was smart and cunning like Jacaerys and strong and swift like Lucerys, however, he was still nervous to get into a mock battle with either of them, especially with Luke. Jace was still sporting a chicken egg sized bruise on his collarbone after Lucerys had struck him there with the pommel of his fake sword and Luke bore a sore discoloration on the left side of his ribs from Jacaerys hitting him there during one such fight the day before.
Needless to say, Joffrey was a little wary of getting badly bruised by his brothers. Aegon and Viserys were nervous about engaging their half-brothers into mock fights, but they were still young and needed more practice, so they were safe for now. Daemon moved aside and put the chair he was sitting on away while his wife tucked their sons in. After their mother had pulled the blanket up to their chins and kissed them both good night, the two princes closed their eyes and went to sleep. Rhaenyra then went around their bed to close the curtains of their canopy for them and despite being heavily pregnant, she was still able perform the simple task with some ease.
After making sure that her sons were not going to suffer from any chills during the night from the cold sea air, Rhaenyra departed the room with her husband after he blew out the candle on the desk next to the wall. Husband and wife walked side by side with Rhaenyra cradling her pregnant stomach with both hands. Daemon spoke as soon as both he and his wife were a good distance away from their sons' rooms.
"So, have you thought up of any new names for our soon-to-be arrival?" he asked Rhaenyra, who considered her uncle-husband's question before responding. "Yes, I have in fact. I have settled on Visenya if this child is finally a girl."
"Visenya?" Daemon replied with a pleased tone, "That's a good name. Do you hope for her to grow up to become like our family's famous warrior ancestress?"
"Well, no…" Rhaenyra said, "I expect her to become a proper young lady, not a dark and frightening witch that the Conqueror's older sister-wife became when she wanted her son Maegor to succeed his older half-brother Aenys."
"Any boy names in case you are having yet another son?" Daemon asked.
"I do have one in mind."
"What is it?"
"Baelon."
"Baelon?" Daemon asked curiously. "After my father or your—?"
"Yes, my brother." Rhaenyra interrupted.
An uncomfortable silence soon fell upon the avunculate couple. Twenty-four years ago, the death of Prince Baelon Targaryen had forever changed the destinies of both his older sister and their uncle. Not only did Baelon's birth result in his mother dying, but his subsequent death just the day after he was born in the cradle led to a succession crisis. Daemon's crass behavior following his newborn nephew's death had resulted in him being denied the Iron Throne by his wrathful older brother, and his niece being named as her father's heir instead. The tragic double loss of both Queen Aemma Arryn and her son was what also inspired Viserys to remarry as well, and, not to sound too cliché, but the rest is history.
If Baelon had lived, there would be no succession issue going on. But even if Baelon had lived past being a day old, he would have been Viserys's only living son, and the king would have most likely remarried anyway in order to father spares to the Iron Throne. If Viserys had not caught wind of Daemon calling Baelon "the Heir for a Day" after the baby prince had died, then the king would have most likely named his younger brother as his heir. Then again, who knew if Daemon would have been his brother's permanent heir; the king would have married Alicent Hightower anyway to ensure the dynasty's survival since Daemon refused to share a bed with his first wife and father children with her. So many ifs, so many possibilities, but what difference did it make?
What's done is done. All Rhaenyra and Daemon could do was live in the present. After a considerable silence, Daemon finally spoke up.
"A fine name it is." Was all he said. A pang of uncomfortableness radiated with from both the prince and princess.
Before Rhaenyra could respond to her husband's comment, the sound of running footsteps echoed down the hallway. It was coming their way and soon a robed and hooded figure came into view. It was Maester Gerardys, and he was running as fast as his legs could carry him towards the couple. He stopped just in front of Daemon and Rhaenyra, panting and clutching his knees as he tried to catch his breath.
"What is wrong Maester Gerardys?" the princess asked as the forty-nine year old man continued trying to catch his breath.
"The king… the king…" the man wheezed out. After finally catching his breath, the maester straightened himself back up and he removed his hood so that Rhaenyra and Daemon could see his weathered face. Gerardys had grey eyes and long greying, golden ginger hair that was tied in a ponytail. The old man's eyes appeared to be sad, but then again they always looked that way even when he was happy for as long as Rhaenyra could remember. The princess became concerned when Gerardys mentioned her father as did her husband.
"What about my brother?" Daemon asked in a gruff voice. "Is he alright? Did he send us an invitation for something? What is it?" he asked impatiently.
"A raven just came here a few moments ago my lord and lady." Gerardys replied after he had stopped panting. "I am afraid it bore some grave news." He then faced Rhaenyra. Gerardys's look set the princess on edge. "The letter told me that your father has passed away tonight."
"No!" Rhaenyra cried out sharply, bringing her right hand up to her mouth in shock as tears began to well up in her eyes. Her husband firmly grabbed her shoulders to prevent her from falling down in grief. Daemon became stiff and his eyes dark. He was not one to show emotion and Daemon had frequently butted heads with Viserys, as brothers usually do, but when he spoke, his voice sounded gentler.
"Was there anything else in that letter Gerardys? It sounds like you have more to tell us."
"Yes, there was, my lord. But first, I suggest that we should escort Princess Rhaenyra to her bedchamber so that she can rest. Grief can put strain on both you and your unborn child your grace. I can tell you the rest after we put you to bed."
A lachrymose Rhaenyra looked at Gerardys with gleaming eyes. "No, tell me now. What else did the letter say?" she asked through a choked voice followed by a sniffle.
Maester Gerardys gave the crown princess a concerned look, but he continued anyway. "The letter was written by your father's Master of Coin, Lord Lyman Beesbury. He has written that prior to his death, your father had formulated a plan to help secure your succession from your half-brother, Aegon. Ser Steffon Darklyn of the Kingsguard, Wesley, and Lyman have all done their parts, now it is our turn to do ours."
Daemon and Rhaenyra listened intently. The princess's tear stained face changed from grief to one of concentration as Gerardys continued.
"The king planned to have your husband, Princess Rhaenys, and Jacaerys and Lucerys fly to the Red Keep on their dragons as soon as possible after the delivery of the letter. There, they are to secure the Iron Throne and Prince Daemon is to rule in your stead until after you give birth and recover so that you can be properly crowned your grace."
"What of Alicent and her family?" Rhaenyra asked, bitterness hugging her words. The mere mentioning of Alicent and her family was more than enough to leave a bad taste in the princess's mouth. "Do they know of my father's death yet?"
"No, and that is why the king's conspirators want you to act quickly. It would be bad for you my lady if your stepmother and half-siblings find out about the king's death. Both the king and Ser Darklyn agreed that putting Alicent and her family under house arrest should prevent them from doing anything to threaten your claim to the throne for the time being until after your coronation. Then you can do what you wish with them."
Rhaenyra, who was leaning against her uncle, slowly straightened her posture. She wiped away her tears, her purple eyes now burning with an amethyst fire.
"And so it shall be." She said finally, her voice as strong and as cold as the glaciers of the farthest reaches of the North. "Gerardys, escort me to my bedchamber. Daemon," she turned to her uncle-husband, "get everyone assembled into my room. Just like Lord Beesbury said in his letter, we must act quickly. Now hurry!"
With that command, Daemon rushed off towards the Hall of the Painted Table while Maester Gerardys escorted the pregnant Princess of Dragonstone, who was now the unofficial Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, to her bedchamber. In the Hall of the Painted Table, Daemon found his family surrounding the aforementioned table that took up the entire room. It was a giant full-scale map of Westeros, complete with raised mountains and rivers carved and painted on the top. The names of towns and cities dotted the entire wooden landmass. Over a century earlier, Aegon the Conqueror had this table created to help him and his two sister-wives, Queens Visenya and Rhaenys Targaryen, in conquering the continent with their dragons and allies, thereafter establishing the mighty Targaryen Dynasty.
Lord Corlys Velaryon was pointing at the area on the Table that was the Stormlands. The "Sea Snake" was looking at his second born grandson with an expectant look.
"Come now, didn't you pay any attention to Maester Gerardys's geography lessons when you were younger? There are only seven kingdoms to remember…"
Corlys's voice sounded weary, not just from age, but from his patience being taxed. Lucerys scrutinized the area where his grandfather was pointing. Daemon knew how this impromptu lesson got started. Luke may have been having a conversation with Jace, somehow got into a topic related about the Seven Kingdoms, and Luke must have said an inaccurate statement in which his brother tried to correct him on while the former stubbornly denied that he was wrong. And now, Corlys had been roped in during this family visit to try and rectify the situation between his two oldest grandsons.
"Is it the Vale?" Prince Lucerys Velaryon asked. Corlys sighed deeply while his wife gave Luke a pained look and Daemon couldn't help but share his cousin's expression. Lucerys had never been good at geography and memorizing where important towns and cities were. But as far as the boy's stepfather was concerned, Lucerys more than made up for this with his skill in swordplay.
"No, Lucerys." Corlys said after kneading the bridge of his nose. "This is the Stormlands. They are south of the Crownlands."
"Sorry grandfather…" said a disappointed Lucerys. The young lady on Luke's left gently patted his back to comfort him.
"It is alright Luke. We all make mistakes…"
The voice belonged to Daemon's second born daughter, Rhaena. Both she and her twin sister Baela, who was by Jacaerys's side, were standing by the side of the table that was by the door. The stepsiblings/cousins were engaged to each other, with Jace being intended to wed Baela while Luke was going to marry Rhaena. Their grandmother Rhaenys was standing by her youngest grandson Joffrey, sandwiching the youngest Velaryon prince between both his paternal grandparents. Having outlived both their children, the couple dearly loved their grandchildren: Laena's twin girls and Laenor's three boys were pampered greatly by their grandparents.
Despite the possibility that their son may not be the biological father of their grandsons, Rhaenys and Corlys still doted on the three Velaryon Princes. Just as Corlys was about to speak again, Daemon made his presence known.
"Everyone, I need your attention!"
Startled, everyone either turned or looked over towards Daemon.
"What is going on cousin?" Rhaenys asked, astonished by her cousin/former son-in-law's interruption. With all eyes on him now, Daemon made his announcement.
"I am sorry for interrupting your lesson Corlys, but Rhaenyra demands that we all come to her bedchamber at once. Maester Gerardys has just received a letter with some terribly important news that you all need to hear from Rhaenyra directly."
After a brief exchange of glances, the entire family marched out of the chamber and they briskly made their way to the princess's bedchamber. Rhaenyra was reclining against a pile of raised pillows reading the letter that Gerardys had received when her family, led by Daemon, filed into her room. Concern flickered in their eyes as the family surrounded the expecting princess's bed.
"What is going on, mother?" Jace asked.
"Did something happen to grandfather?" Joff asked. Rhaenyra acknowledged her third born son's question.
"Yes, my sweet, something has happened to your grandfather." With a deep sigh, the princess shared the sad news. "I regret to inform you all that my father, King Viserys Targaryen the First of His Name, has passed away tonight."
Gasps echoed across the bedchamber along with the popping and crackling of the fire in the hearth. Rhaenyra noticed sadly on how her sons and stepdaughters bowed their heads with sorrow upon hearing the grim news.
"Oh, Viserys…" Rhaenys whispered as she clasped her hands together over her heart. Her husband placed his hand on Rhaenys' shoulder to comfort her. The cousins had grown up together in the court of their grandfather. When Rhaenys's beloved father, Prince Aemon Targaryen, had been killed on Tarth during the Myrish Bloodbath in 92 AC, many believed that his only child would succeed her grandfather since Aemon had been the Old King's oldest living son up until his untimely death.
However, instead of his granddaughter, Jaehaerys I chose his next oldest son, Rhaenys's uncle and Viserys and Daemon's father, Prince Baelon "the Brave", to be his heir to the Iron Throne. The Old King's decision greatly angered both his queen and newly widowed daughter-in-law, Rhaenys's mother, Lady Jocelyn Baratheon. After the death of her Uncle Baelon in 101 AC, Rhaenys became a candidate for inheriting the Iron Throne. However, during the Great Council of that same year at Harrenhal, Rhaenys' grandfather and several noblemen decided against having a woman rule again, and instead, they chose her first cousin, Viserys, to become the next king in the event of Jaehaerys I's death. Rhaenys was bitter at first, but she grew to accept it and she settled with remaining as both a princess and Lady of the Tides.
And now, it appeared that Rhaenys's first cousin once removed was going to become the queen she was not allowed to be.
"That means you are now Queen of the Seven Kingdoms mother." Luke said.
"Yes, my son. I am now queen, but only in name." responded Rhaenyra. "There is more that has to be done to ensure my succession."
Everyone listened to Rhaenyra as she explained what had to be done according to Lord Beesbury's letter. They all steeled themselves for action upon hearing of the task that they were about to undertake.
"Do you all understand what needs to be done?" the queen's relatives nodded. "Good. The night is still young, but if you leave now, you should arrive at King's Landing by the first light of dawn. Claim the Iron Throne out from under the nose of that Hightower bitch and her Greens! Now go!"
Daemon, Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Rhaenys quickly exited the chamber to rouse their dragons for flight. Baela and Joffrey followed them but both were stopped by Rhaenyra.
"Where are you two going?" Rhaenyra demanded.
"We are going with them." Baela told her stepmother in a matter-of-fact tone. Joffrey nodded in silent agreement with his stepsister.
"No, you two will not." The crown princess said, "You two are both going to stay here with me along with Corlys, Rhaena, and your younger brothers."
"Why?" Baela argued, testing her stepmother's nerves further, "Joffrey and I are just as capable as my father, grandmother, and Jacaerys and Lucerys."
"Please, mother? Let us go secure the throne for you…" Joffrey pleaded, but his mother would have none of it.
"I am very well aware of your wishes, my dears…" Rhaenyra continued as her son and stepdaughter protested. "But Moondancer and Tyraxes are not as intimidating as Meleys and Caraxes. Jace and Luke's dragons may be young, but they are older than yours and they are bigger and a little more fearsome. Don't be angry with me, this is for the best."
Baela and Joffrey conceded defeat. They both knew that their dragons were still too young, with Joff's Tyraxes being large but was inexperienced with conflict and Moondancer, as fierce as she was, was the size of a warhorse and she was not as intimidating as the dragons of her rider's grandmother and father. Both the prince and princess prayed that one day their dragons would become as majestic and feared as the dragons of the Conquest: Balerion, Vhagar, and Meraxes were. The two then joined their mother/stepmother, twin sister, and grandfather in mourning over the death of King Viserys I Targaryen, who was a beloved brother, cousin, father, uncle, and grandfather to them all. The scene was made all the more sadder when Rhaenyra felt her unborn child kick since he or she was never going to meet their grandfather after they were born…
The Red Keep
Dawn
All was quiet at the Red Keep. Servants, courtiers and government officials slept soundly in their beds as the first rays of the sun began to color the horizon with gold and rich reddish pink tones. The capital city of King's Landing was quiet too as the night sky began to lighten. The only souls who were awake during these silent hours were the Gold Cloaks and castle guards that were on patrol for their midnight to morning shifts. Despite the hour, the guards were all nervous.
They too were part of the late king's conspiracy ever since Ser Steffon told the captain of the guards to stay on the lookout for the dragons of the king's brother, cousin and two oldest grandsons. To make sure that the plan went off without a hitch, Steffon made sure to dismiss the men who were known to have Green sympathies and to replace them with those who were aligned with the Blacks or could be bribed into being a Black loyalist for the day. As the sun rose over the horizon of Blackwater Bay, one guard who was patrolling the battlements that overlooked the sea saw two black "dots" appear above the rising sun. Soon, two more dots followed suit and the guard immediately knew that their "guests" were soon to arrive. The guard immediately alerted the others.
The news was soon spread to Wesley, who in turn told Ser Darklyn and Lord Beesbury. All three men waited outside in the entrance yard for Prince Daemon Targaryen and his family to arrive and secure the Iron Throne as planned. Caraxes flew over the battlement that the guard who first saw him was patrolling on and he landed in the Red Keep's massive courtyard. A large dragon (but only half the size of the imposing Vhagar), Caraxes' body was covered with vermillion scales, his wings had sable membranes and eyes as black as pitch. The beast looked over its surroundings with its terrifying eyes, snarling and causing many of the guards to tremble with fear.
Vermax and Arrax landed on the battlements closest to the castle gate. The dragons of Princes Jacaerys and Lucerys Velaryon respectively, they were young creatures and had just grown big enough to carry their masters in flight. Vermax was yellow with white belly scales and wing membranes and black horns, claws, and teeth. Arrax was the color of jade with very light green wing membranes, black horns and eyes whose color resembled that of the flesh of a Dornish lime. The biggest and most imposing dragon of them all, even more so than Caraxes, was Meleys.
The beloved mount of Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, Meleys was slightly smaller than the ancient Vhagar yet bigger than Prince Aegon the Elder's much adored dragon, Sunfyre. She possessed scarlet scales, pink wing membranes, and horns and claws that were the color of beaten copper. Because of her coloring, Meleys was known as the "Red Queen". She joined Caraxes in the Red Keep's courtyard. After landing, the princess, her cousin and two grandsons were all met by Ser Steffon Darklyn and were escorted to the throne room by him.
The sounds of dragon wings and their growling and hissing soon made their way to the ears of the sleeping Queen Alicent Hightower in Maegor's Holdfast. Alicent slowly opened her eyes, convinced that the bizarre noises were part of a dream. Her tiredness soon turned to concern when she realized that the noises were not from her dreams, but from outside the Red Keep. Pulling off her covers, Queen Alicent walked outside onto her veranda to see what was going on. She looked over the city.
The queen could not see any dragons flying out of the Dragonpit, the home of House Targaryen's dragons. She looked down towards the front gate and gasped. Down below, she saw the large red body of her cousin-in-law's dragon.
"What in the seven hells? Why is she here?" Alicent said aloud to herself. Thinking quickly, Alicent pulled the cord in her room to summon her maidservant. The girl came within minutes of being summoned, although she looked very tired and was rubbing away some sand that had accumulated in her left eye. After being dressed in a lovely pine green and white dress and her royal crown, which was made of solid gold with the circumference decorated with diamond shaped pieces of gold that were studded with deep red garnets and black onyx, Alicent ordered the girl to go rouse her family and Ser Criston Cole and to inform them about the arrival of Rhaenys, and to have them all meet her in the hallway leading up to the throne room.
The maidservant immediately went to do as she was told and Alicent made her way towards the hallway. Torches held in wrought iron sconces lit up the stone hallway as the queen waited for her family. The first to arrive was Alicent's father, Ser Otto Hightower. Both a knight and an intellectual, the white haired Otto still retained a well-honed physique and a sharp mind at seventy years of age. On his grey robes was the golden badge that symbolized his rank as the Hand of the King, the second most powerful man in the Seven Kingdoms after the king himself.
As usual, Otto bore a fearsome scowl on his face. Alicent could never remember seeing her father smile or showing any affection towards his wife and children. Due to having two older brothers dying while young, with one passing away during infancy and the other when he was just a child, and having only one younger sibling, Gwayne, Alicent was groomed by her father to become a potential asset to help him slake his thirst for power at the Red Keep. When she flowered (i.e. had her first period), Otto decided it was time to put his daughter to "use." Around that same time, Ser Otto became the Hand of the King to Jaehaerys I Targaryen, and Otto decided to bring his only daughter to the royal court at the Red Keep in 101 AC when she was thirteen years old with the hopes that she could marry a high ranking courtier.
Since the Old King was ailing, Ser Otto made his daughter into Jaehaerys's primary caregiver, a time Alicent reminisced on rather fondly. They were good times, she would help dress, feed, bathe (with some help of course) Jaehaerys, and would read to him as his once brilliant mind fell into the fog of delirium. One evening in 103 AC, Alicent was reading to the Old King when he passed away in his sleep. Two years later in 105 AC, King Viserys' first wife died in childbirth and their newborn son passed away just a day after taking his first breath. With the death of Queen Aemma Arryn, Otto found an opportunity to marry into the royal family and a year later, Lady Alicent became the second queen consort of the fifth Targaryen king.
During their marriage, Alicent secretly prided herself on the strength of her womb. Unlike her late predecessor, Alicent was able to bear her husband four healthy and beautiful children, with three of them being sons, and she didn't suffer from any miscarriages or stillbirths either. Speaking of which, the queen saw her daughter and two of her three sons coming down the hall after their grandfather. Helaena, Aemond, and Daeron briskly made their way down the hall towards their mother. Seeing her only daughter made the queen smile.
Even though she had given her husband three heirs, it was no secret that Helaena was Alicent's favorite child. Princess Helaena Targaryen was a rotund young woman with long silver-gold hair and royal purple eyes. The twenty year old princess had been big bodied since she was a girl, but that meant nothing next to her personality. Helaena was a sweetheart with a heart of gold who couldn't see wrong in anyone including her older half-sister, and was a terrific mother to her three children: twins Jaehaerys and Jaehaera, and Maelor. Alicent noticed that Aegon was not with his sister-wife and the queen could feel herself sighing wearily internally; Helaena had once again spent the night alone in her bed while her brother-husband was warming up another one whilst in the embrace of a different woman.
Prince Aemond Targaryen was tall with silvery white hair and had once possessed two beautiful amethyst purple eyes before his wretched half-nephew, Lucerys, cut out his right one nine years earlier. In place of his missing eye, a lovely sapphire had been fitted into the empty eye socket. A passionate and temperamental man at age nineteen, Aemond had given his parents many gray hairs due to his impulsiveness and the mischief he partook in when he was growing up. Regardless, Alicent loved her second born son with all her heart. She especially loved how Aemond was so loyal to his family and to his older brother's claim to the throne.
Difficult as he was, Aemond "One-Eye" knew to prioritize the needs of his family above all else. Alicent knew without a shadow of a doubt that her son would die for their family.
Last but not least was fifteen year old Prince Daeron Targaryen. Being their youngest child, both Viserys and Alicent adored and doted on Daeron. Unlike his older brothers, Daeron was more kindhearted, generous, and thoughtful, a personality that he shared with his older sister. Another thing that differentiated Daeron from his older brothers in their mother's opinion, along every young maiden in the Red Keep, was that he was most handsome of the three princes. He had fair silver-gold hair and kind looking indigo eyes. Adding to his allure, Daeron was intelligent, courteous, and daring.
As the family approached Alicent, Ser Criston Cole came into the hallway, his plate armor rattling as the metal moved with its owner. Criston was still as handsome as he was on the day he won the Tourney at Maidenpool all those years ago, even with lines of middle age beginning to fan out from the corners of his green eyes. He kept his beard trimmed to his jawline and his black hair impeccably groomed as well. He stopped several feet in front of the queen and her family to bow to them before he faced Alicent again. He was about to speak when the queen's father spoke up.
"What is going on here, Alicent?" Ser Otto asked, "Where is your husband? Why did you have us all woken up at such an early hour in the morning?"
After her grandfather spoke, it was Helaena's turn to inquire her mother. "Yes, mother, what is going on?"
"I don't know where my husband is father, maybe he isn't feeling well, but that is beside the point." Alicent said to her impatient father before turning to her daughter, "Just recently, I awoke to find that Cousin Rhaenys and the Red Queen have come for a surprise visit."
Alicent's family and Ser Cole looked at the queen with curious surprise.
"The Lady of the Tides is here?" Ser Cole asked.
"That is strange…" Daeron said, "Why would she be here? There is nothing special going on."
"I hope she hasn't brought the bastards with her…" Aemond muttered. It was loud enough for everyone present to hear and Helaena gave her brother an angry look.
"Aemond, I hope you can still that tongue of yours when we get to the throne room. Father might be there."
"My thoughts exactly, Helaena." The queen said and she turned towards the hallway. "Let's go to the throne room. We will find out what this is all about together."
The family followed the queen in silence. It was well known that the queen and "The Queen Who Never Was" were not fond of each other. Prior to Alicent being selected by Viserys to become his second wife, Rhaenys's late beloved daughter was offered as a possible bride for her mother's cousin. However, Laena was only twelve years old at the time, and Viserys politely declined the offer of marrying Laena. Angry at being rejected by the royal family again, House Velaryon did not attend the king's second wedding that year in 106 AC.
Now, twenty-three years later, the queen and her family silently debated the nature behind Rhaenys's presence at the Red Keep. Alicent spoke to her daughter.
"Are the children still sleeping, dear?"
"Yes. I have left them in the care of Septa Loretta until I return."
"Good." Alicent said. Rushing footsteps caught everyone's attention and they turned to see who was making them. It was Prince Aegon the Elder. He was dressed in nice clothes that were now stained with sweat.
He looked exactly like his father with his round face, paunchy stomach, and a fair-haired mustache that covered his upper lip. However, Aegon had a more miserable complexion in comparison to his father, who always looked happy.
"About time you arrived, Aegon." His mother said bluntly. The queen had championed her son's right to be the Prince of Dragonstone ever since the day he was born, but as he grew up, he rarely showed any sign that he was meant for kingship. When he was meant to participate in his lessons, he would instead abscond off towards the Dragonpit to tend to Sunfyre, he would sleep during small council meetings, greatly embarrassing his father and grandfather; and his most glaring flaw of all, he would ignore his wife and children for the company of his paramours and prostitutes. To say that Alicent's disappointment in her son was great was an understatement. Aegon returned his mother and sister-wife's looks with indifference, and he mumbled a weak apology before the entourage continued on their way.
As the family reached the throne room, Alicent noticed that there were dozens of courtiers standing in attendance in the hall. She recognized them as men and women who were loyal to her stepdaughter. Why were they all in the throne room so early in the morning? When her eyes trailed down the crimson rug that led up the Iron Throne, Alicent saw the silver streaked black hair of Rhaenys and then the brown heads of Jacaerys and Lucerys. The queen froze where she stood as soon as she saw her two oldest step-grandsons. Aemond and Aegon also saw what had seemingly paralyzed their mother and they too became frozen into place.
"What the hell are you two ba—!?" Aemond blurted out, only for his exclamation to be cut off by his older sister elbowing him the stomach. The Velaryon Brothers did not say anything to their half-uncle, but they glared back at him with fury.
"Do not talk to your kin that way nephew…"
The Hightower's quickly looked up to find none other than Prince Daemon Targaryen sitting upon the bladed seat of the Iron Throne. He looked down upon his sister-in-law and her family as they gazed up at him with shock. Dressed in somewhat simple clothes, Daemon nonetheless looked imposing as he sat on the Iron Throne whilst holding his beloved sword, Dark Sister, in his right hand, the blade's tip firmly planted into the melted iron top of the sharp stairs leading up to its occupant.
"Good morning my subjects." Daemon said leisurely with a smug smile.
"What in the name of the Seven are you doing up there Daemon?!" shouted Ser Otto, "Where is the king? Why are you all here? What in the seven hells is going on?!"
Daemon gave his brother's Hand a smug smile, further angering his rival. "In the order of your questions Ser Hightower. First of all, my brother, King Viserys Targaryen the First of His Name, is dead. He died last night in his sleep. Secondly, we were summoned by the Blacks to make sure that your daughter and grandsons do not try to disobey my brother's final wishes to have my wife crowned as Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. Do you understand now?"
A pall of silence permeated the entire court as they took in the news. When Alicent finally spoke, her words trembled with disbelief.
"My husband… is dead?"
"Yes." Daemon replied simply.
Upon hearing the shocking news of the king's passing, Daeron bowed his head and began to weep. His older sister embraced her youngest brother and she held him as they both wept for their deceased father. Both Aegon and Aemond were at a loss for words. Their grandfather meanwhile had paled considerably as if he had just seen a ghost. Otto's newly widowed daughter was the first to recover her voice, and it was pregnant with fury.
"This is an outrage, Daemon! Aegon, my Aegon, is the rightful heir to the Iron Throne, not your spoiled brat of a wife! Rhaenyra does not deserve the mantle of Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, and you only want to protect her claim because you desire to be her consort. That is why you married Rhaenyra in the first place. Say it aloud so that everyone can hear you!"
Daemon only sneered at his fuming sister-in-law. He leaned over his lap as he began to speak again.
"I do want to be king, but I also legitimately love my niece and the two sons she has given me along with the third child that we will be having by the next moon. But enough of that." The seriousness in Daemon's tone increased. "Now, with pleasantries aside, in honor of my late brother, I hereby my name my wife as Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen the First of Her Name…"
Daemon's proclaimation was met with a slew of protests from the Greens, the loudest coming from the dowager queen and her family.
"NO!" Alicent shouted. "She is not my queen!"
"No way am I kissing up to that fat whore!" Aemond protested vehemently.
"This is treason!" Ser Cole roared. "Treason!"
"You are a traitor Steffon!" Yelled Ser Rickard Thorne of the Kingsguard at his sworn brother, who was standing with his coconspirators and Daemon's family. "You do not deserve your white cloak!"
"This is an outrage!" Shouted Jasper Wylde, the Lord of Rain House and the Master of Laws. "A serious affront to the natural order! The Andal laws of old clearly state that when a lord dies, his son inherits all wealth, titles and lands, not some "mere daughter" even if she was her father's firstborn child!"
Soon the Blacks spoke in defense of their new queen regnant.
"Oh shut up, Lord Wylde!" The voice belonged to Lord Buckler. "It is all over. Submit to your new queen!"
"King Viserys had made the line of succession clear twenty-four years ago during that feast after both Rhaenyra's mother and brother had died." Lord Rennifer Crabbe began, "He clearly wanted his daughter to be his heir. I swore an oath to the princess that day to uphold her claim, and I intend to keep it!"
"Prince Aegon the Elder is not fit to be king!" Spoke up Lord Harte.
"All hail the queen!" Shouted Lord Rosby.
As bedlam erupted in the throne room, most of the gathered nobility were unable to hear the muffled snarling and hissing that was coming from somewhere in the colossal room. Both Princes Jacaerys and Lucerys heard the noise, and they looked to their grandmother, who nodded, giving them the signal. The brothers then looked up to the ceiling and called out the names of their dragons. Without warning, both Vermax and Arrax dropped down from the ceiling and landed on each side of the Iron Throne. The yelling stopped as soon as the beasts had made their appearance.
Both dragons were big, but they were still small enough to fit through the great double doors leading into the throne room. Nevertheless, the presence of two dragons was great crowd control. Everyone stopped fighting and took a collective step back as the dragons made their slow approach. Both princes went over to their mounts and kept them at bay. Vermax and Arrax looked over the hushed crowd with agitated, hungry eyes.
With only the low hissing and growling of his stepsons' dragons being the only sound in the throne room, Daemon resumed talking.
"Now that everyone has settled down, allow me to continue." The prince then looked down towards his eldest living nephew. "Prince Aegon Targaryen, before the Iron Throne, and the lords of the realm, I hereby order you, as both your uncle and king, to renounce your claim to this hallowed seat."
"What?!" Aegon the Elder sputtered. He was soon beset on all sides by his family.
"Do not listen to him, Aegon!" growled the prince's grandfather.
"Stand your ground, Aegon!" the prince's mother pleaded, "He may be your uncle, but you are your father's oldest son. Your claim to the Iron Throne is stronger than both his and Rhaenyra's because of that!"
"I'd rather fight a war than have that bitch on the throne, brother!" Aemond hissed.
"Honor the efforts of your mother and grandfather, my lord." urged Ser Criston Cole. "They have worked tirelessly to support your claim to the throne. Do not let their efforts go to waste!"
"Aegon," murmured Helaena, "think of our children."
"Aegon…" whimpered the lachrymose Daeron.
"Aegon." Daemon's voice rang out over the cacophony. "There is nothing else you can do. Just renounce your claim, and I promise you that no harm will befall you and your family. You have my word."
Soon the prince was besieged with warnings about not trusting his uncle, how, in Otto's words, "Daemon was a viper waiting to strike." It was all too much. On one hand, Aegon could stake his claim to the Iron Throne, but this would result in a civil war. On the other, he could remain as a prince and retain his hedonistic lifestyle, but could he live with the disappointment of not fighting for his claim? However, his half-sister's allies had the upper hand, and Aegon was stuck between a rock and a hard place.
The prince's heart sank as he slowly realized what he had to do. The voices of his family became white noise, the pressure from them was too much. It was then that Aegon roared.
"ENOUGH!"
Silence fell upon the throne room again, even the dragons had ceased their hissing when they heard Aegon's outburst. Without another word, Aegon moved past his shocked mother and brother and slowly made his way to the Iron Throne. All eyes were on the prince. Tension hung heavy in the air. Uncle and nephew stared at each other as soon as the latter reached the foot of the throne.
After what felt like an eternity, Aegon finally spoke.
"Do I have your word that no malice will be directed towards my family after this? That we will retain our royal titles and ranks within the court? Will we be at least left alone by Rhaenyra and the Blacks?"
Daemon nodded and answered. "Yes on all counts, Aegon. In front of all of these witnesses, I give you my word."
Aegon cast his eyes downwards, sighed deeply, and slowly knelt down. Gasps sprinkled amongst excited whispering rose up from the audience. Alicent instantly began weeping, and she collapsed into Aemond's arms. Ser Cole looked away from the unfolding scene in shame. Otto looked unseeingly ahead towards the back of the throne room, his eyes dark and lifeless.
Helaena and Daeron now held each other stronger than ever, and their weeping recommenced. As soon as Aegon's knee hit the ground, he felt that he would no longer be able to stand up again. Satisfied with this, Daemon started up once more.
"Prince Aegon Targaryen, do you hereby renounce your claim to the Iron Throne in the name of your half-sister, Queen Rhaenyra I Targaryen?"
"Yes." Aegon said, his voice sounding unfamiliar to him. "I renounce my claim to the Iron Throne…" he faltered slightly, "in the name of… of… the queen…"
A sorrowful howl coming from Alicent was heard when her eldest son said those words. Once more, silence fell upon the crowd. But it was broken once more. Ser Steffon Darklyn cleared his throat and spoke, his words echoing throughout the throne room.
"All hail Daemon Targaryen, King Consort of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm. Husband of Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen the First of Her Name. Long may they reign!"
Steffon's proclamation was soon picked up by the rest of the crowd, and soon the walls of the Red Keep rumbled from the volume of their chanting. As he enjoyed his victory, Daemon looked down at his crestfallen nephew.
"You may rise, Aegon." The king said. Despite the high volume of the chanting, Aegon was able to hear his uncle. The prince did as he was told, though his movements seemed as if he were being controlled by a puppeteer rather than by his own volition. As his nephew rose and left in disgrace, Daemon (carefully) leaned back against the Iron Throne.
At long last, after so many trials and tribulations, Daemon had finally achieved his lifelong dream of becoming king. Technically he was a king consort, but still a king regardless. Oh yes, it did indeed felt so good to be king.
Rewriting Notes: Some Changes.
1. Previously, I had written that Rhaenyra was going to name her unborn child Vaegon if it was going to be born a boy. "Fire and Blood" describes Archmaester Vaegon Targaryen as being a "sour" and unpleasant person; Rhaenyra's line in my story stated that she remembered her granduncle to be a "pleasant man", which he wasn't according to the book.
2. For the confrontation between the Blacks and Greens in the throne room the morning after Viserys's death, I thought it would be cool to have Vermax and Arrax drop down from the ceiling to keep everyone in line.
3. Added more dialogue between the Blacks and Greens as well as characters from the book.