None of the Targaryens slept that night, each one plagued with nightmares of their own. When the sun rose the next morning, they were all present at Dragonstone with their Dragons (Gwyn had ridden on Cannibal with Aenar, the only other person the dragon would allow to ride him except his rider. But even then it was if Aenar was with her, never on her own).
There were no eulogies, just family members coming to say their final goodbyes in silence (some silences were louder than others). Quicksilver and Melkasta cast the flames to the Princes' pyres, allowing the two to be taken away like their ancestors. When the last embers had gone off, people slowly filtered away from the cliffside.
Aenar headed straight for his chambers, where the servants helped him into his armour. It was the same one that he had collected from Valyria all those years ago. His sword was strapped to his waist, a blade that had accompanied him to many battles but had yet to taste human blood. Aenar preferred his dragon to any sword or other weapon.
Cannibal was prepared for him when he arrived at the Dragonmont, but he was not the only one. The dragon was sid-eyeing Malkasta, who in turn was being prepared for a ride.
Slightly confused the Hand of The King was about to tell the Dragontamers to stop what they were doing and tell the dragon to return to her lair. But the Queen entered then, dressed not in her usual rich and elegant dresses but in armour. Aenar had personally seen that all of his children (including the ones born to him from his sister) had armour of their own, forged in the armoury of Harrenhal. Valyrian Steel spelt to fit their wearer no matter how much they grew. Much like the armour Aenar donned.
"I am coming with you" Faeyn stated simply. It was not the tone of a Queen speaking to a subject. Aenar remembered it being the same voice from a terrified little girl who had a nightmare and wanted to be with her father, so she could hold him until the fear subsided.
Aenar smiled at her and nodded.
The two Targaryens went to their respective dragons (Aenar telling Cannibal off for snipping at Melkasta for having a saddle on her) and before long both were off for Oldtown.
The journey to Oldtown took the two dragonriders less than four days (they had made small stops for refreshments). The gates were opened for them, and Lord Manfred Hightower stood to welcome them. It was not the same Manfred who had opened the gates to Oldtown to King Aegon I, this was that man's grandson. Old Manfred and his son Addam Hightower had both passed away before Aegon had, passing the title to this Manfred who had been Lord of Hightower for a while now.
"My Queen, Lord Hand" Manfred Hightower greeted with sad smiles and bows, "I am terribly grieved to hear about the losses of our Princes. The realm mourns the loss of two heirs."
"Lord Hightower, my daughter Rhaena is the King's heir, per the Doctrine that my good father and father, your Grandfather, Father, High Septon and the Most Devout drafted in the Starry Sept all those years ago" Faeyn corrected gently, but the edge in her voice was not missed by anyone.
"Of course, your Grace. I did not mean it in that manner" Lord Manfred lowered his head.
"We will have time to speak on how you meant it, Lord Hightower" Queen Faeyn waved him off, "I believe you are aware as to why we are here."
"I believe I have an idea," the man said without raising his head.
"Then lead the way."
Lord Manfred lifted his head and turned, his men forming a protective circle around him, the Queen and the Hand. As they walked, people from all over watched the trio. Some were curious, most were saddened. But all of them were afraid of what the Dragon's wrath would do to them. By now they've heard of what happened to Old Oak and Goldengrove. Oldtown was the Faith's Patron, it was where the Starry Sept was, the centre of all things of the Faith. They were afraid that they too might face the same consequences.
They were not wrong to fear it.
The Starry Sept welcomed the two with open but fearful arms. The High Septon and the Most Devour stood to welcome them, but none of them dared to speak first.
"I would like for you to gather the common people" Aenar spoke first, "I would like to address them all and alleviate all of your fears."
The group smiled gladly before rushing to do what was asked of them.
"Father?" Faeyn raised a brow.
Aenar only smiled at her, ruffling her hair lovingly. The Queen scowled and swiped his hand away.
The people were gathered soon after (not too soon considering the size of the crowd) and Aenar stood before all on the podium and looked down at them.
"The last time I was here, there were similar looks in the eyes of people as there are in yours" Aenar began and the people began to murmur. "Many of you were not around then or were too young to remember. Back then it was the High Septon who stood here and denounced the crimes of the Septa against my family, who had poisoned my son and my wife. The Gods blessed me by saving my wife but cursed me by taking my boy away."
Faeyn's eyes widened. It was clear that she did not know of this.
"The woman who did the did had later taken her life claiming guilt over killing a child just growing out of the cradle. She claimed that she did it because she saw us as demons and monsters, that she saw herself as the only one who saw us for what we are and saw herself as some hero, a saviour. But what hero murders a child who couldn't even speak then? What hero poisons a babe and tortures him to death? She saw her error and couldn't live with the guilt! But what if I were to tell you that she did what she did not because she saw devils in us but because of greed?"
The crowd gasped rather dramatically and the murmurs got louder. Aenar raised his hand and the crowd silenced.
"It happened during our Conquest of Dorne. Meria Martell, the Yellow Toad as she was known, had told me that she sent assassins to kill my child and my wife. And that assassin was none other than Septon Moon!" (a lie but who was to dispute him now? Or even look into he business of dead men?)
Once more the people gasped.
"The Septon was a bearded brute of a man who gorged himself like a glutton and lusted for every woman he had his eyes on. He used trickery and witchery to fool honest people like you into committing to him, to listen to what he says, and to follow him. He had done the same thing to that Septa! Had the woman not killed herself and simply confessed, we would not have harmed her, because someone she trusted had used her like a pawn. The Faith would have chosen her fate and we would have been content with it."
"My family have forsaken the gods of Old Valyria and embraced the Faith many years ago. We hold the utmost respect for its order and what it stands for. So you need not fear us burning the Starry Sept or the People of Oldtown over the actions of one man who was as corrupt and cruel as Harren Hoare!"
"But you burned Old Oak and Goldengrove!" shouted one from the crowd. "You did not spare their people! What if they too had been used and abused by Septon Moon!"
"They were" Aenar confessed. "The common folk of those two places were used and abused, but like the many more that had been killed once they saw the errors of their ways, the ones I burned did not. Yes! Septon Moon killed anyone who stood against him. His poor fellows were blind in their devotion to him and would even fuck their own mothers if he told them to. Such people were a threat to you all, who are earnest, honest, kind and loving! I took a call on it and chose to sacrifice them for the good of you all. Of the entire kingdom. Septon Moon did not stand for what the Faith of The Seven stood for, he was the devil whispering sweet words to draw innocents to him to use to his needs. And supporting him were the Lords of Old Oak and Goldrengrove, who saw an opportunity to better themselves. They planned to take Oldtown from you people and establish their order, their corrupted Faith!"
The people were now murmuring once more, outraged and furious.
"They said that we Targaryens think of ourselves as better than all of you. I will admit, that is something they are correct about. We are better than you, but not because of anything we did. The Gods chose us. Of the forty-two dragon-riding families that ruled Valyria, how did a family with the least power be saved from the Doom? Think! How did a small family like us survive? I will tell you how. Our ancestor Daenys the Dreamer saw the Doom in a dream before it happened! And who else but the Crone that shines the light of wisdom on us and paves the way for us to walk? We are better than you because the Gods chose us to be better than you. The Gods chose us to be their champions, so we may fight their battles and make certain that their children, you all, are safe! And I will continue to fight for all of you and make sure none of you suffer the way people like Harren Hoare and Septon Moon made their people suffer!"
The crowd roared with cheers and glee.
"But do not mistake my words as a declaration of putting our words over that of the High Septon or the Most Devout! They are the voices of the Seven and have always been in our ears as trusted advisors. House Targaryen have been friends with the Faith of The Seven for a century and more, and we shall continue to be so!"
The crowd grew rowdy and Aenar raised both his hands in an attempt to silence them. He only succeeded when Cannibal's roar from beyond the gates of Oldtown rattled the ground they stood on.
"But do not forget Old Oak and Goldengrove. Anyone who dares to attack my family again will meet the same end as those places did. That too I promise."
The crowd roared with cheers again and Aenar got off the podium.
"High Septon, if you will finish with a verse from the Seven Pointed Star and remind them of what the Doctrine says" Aenar spoke and the Septon rushed to do so. The Hand of The King then turned to Lord Manfred and smiled. "Lord Hightower, we shall be back soon enough for the coronation of my nephew Aenys Targaryen. He was anointed once in King's Landing by the Grandmaester, but much like my brother, he must be anointed by the High Septon here. We would also be taking oaths to fealty to his heir, Princess Rhaena Targaryen."
"Of course, Lord hand. All will be prepared" The man smiled before he moved aside.
The Queen then approached her father, gentle eyes scanning his face.
"I had an older brother?" she asked with a shaky voice.
"His name was Vaegon, and he looked like me at that age," Aenar said with a smile. "I apologize for not telling you or your brother about him. Your mother and I… it's not easy for us to…"
Faeyn silenced her father with an embrace, wrapping her arms tightly around him.
Aenar smiled and gently hugged her back.