The two brothers clashed moment after moment, the ring of their swords echoing across the empty training yard. Aenar was faster, but Aegon was stronger. The years in the Conquest and time ruling had strengthened him beyond what he had in the days he was merely the heir to Dragonstone. They both stop and share a laugh.
"I leave it in your hands now," Aegon said with a smile.
"Goodbye brother" Aenar smiled as well.
"My love."
Aenar blinked and the image of the training yard vanished around him, but the image of his brother's smile remained deeply ingrained. He was back in his chambers in Dragonstone, standing before the window and staring forward.
He inhaled deeply and found his wife at the door. The years had done a lot to his beloved, but it could never take away her beauty. If anything age seemed to make her even more beautiful.
"Aenys has returned. The funeral would be held just before lunch, so we may all feast in remembrance after."
No doubt it was Rhaenys who came up with that idea.
Aenar nodded with a smile.
"And Maegor?"
"I'm not sure where he is."
But Aenar had an idea.
"I'll go look for him."
Aenar walked past Gwyn, only to stop when she gently grasped his arm.
"Your brother died," the woman said softly, "you are allowed to grieve just as much as anyone else."
"Not yet, my love. I must first face the world and make sure everyone is alright."
Gwyn nods letting him go.
Maegor was where Aenar knew him to be, in the Chamber of the Painted Table. He was standing beside the chair where his father usually sat to replay tales of the conquest to the grandchildren, staring blankly at the seat in deep thought. Aenar cleared his throat but Maegor did not look away from the throne.
"I have spent my entire life trying to earn my Father's approval" Maegor spoke softly, yet loud enough for Aenar to hear. "And yet I stand here, having given it my all, and still not knowing whether I had achieved it or not."
"Your father did care" Aenar said kindly, "He is… was a man who had a harder time showing his love through words and actions when it came to family."
"He had no trouble showing it to Aenys."
"With Aenys it was simpler because he is most like his mother. They shared many such hobbies that Aegon enjoyed, it was easier to bond over them."
"And he had a Dragon."
"As will you, no doubt."
Maegor turned and faced his uncle. His eyes were red, a sign that the man had been crying at some point.
"You will give the Eulogy at the funeral" Aenar went on ignoring the eyes. Maegor did not like to show his emotions much and Aenar would not embarrass him by pointing it out. Even if there was nothing to be embarrassed about. "Your brother is a mess right now. You must be the one to speak. Meraxes and Vhagar would light the pyre undoubtedly. Unless Balerion decides to join us."
Balerion was deeply connected to Aegon, more so than any other of its riders, the dragontamers whispered through time. It was not a shock that the dragon would be grieving.
Maegor nods, back straightened and chin raised.
Aenar rolled his eyes.
"At ease, soldier, we are at home."
Some of the tension left the Prince of Dragonstone.
"Your son was anxious to know how you were doing, and slightly afraid of approaching you."
"I am not so unapproachable" Maegor argued.
"And he is eight. Any boy that age is slightly afraid of their father."
"Were you?"
"Yes."
He was not. He had stopped caring about what his father thought by then.
"He is a good boy, your son. You have raised him well."
"He takes after his mother in that. A gentle boy. It worries me greatly for his future."
"His father is still with him. No doubt he will be there to guide him through. And let us not forget the uncles and aunts he has, and the cousins as well."
"Grandparents. He has them too."
"That he does."
Maegor smiled, a small and brief thing but a smile nonetheless.
"Come" Aenar motioned by raising a hand.
Maegor ducked his head and followed his uncle's request.
The funeral process had been simple, yet every part of it was heartfelt and fit for a King. Maegor gave the main eulogy, but before that, some people spoke, shared instances, and said their goodbyes. Vhagar and Meraxes had both given flames to Aegon's pyre, which had been burned in armour and armed. The armour and sword were later collected, Valyrian Steel was not so easily melted even by Dragonfire.
The sharing of memories went past the funeral, into lunch and well into the night. People had come from all over the Kingdoms, sharing their stories with the late King. It was nice, especially for Aenar who got to see both his children and their children under the same roof.
Faeyn spent most of her time comforting her husband Aenys, and when not comforting him she conversed with the other. She had five children with Aenys.
Rhaena (only ten and four) was a shy girl who preferred the company of books and her ladies more than anyone else. Except for Dreamfyre of course, she loved her dragon most of all.
Aegon (only eleven) was more open with others, easy to make friends and share a jest with. Unlike his sister, he had no dragon to call his own yet.
Viserys (only eight) followed his brother Aegon religiously and for all to see, wished to be like him. Much like Aegon, he had no dragon to call his own. Whether that is because he chose to not have one yet to be like Aegon or no dragon chose him, was not known to many.
Jaehaerys (only three) was a quiet child who observed everything curiously. Unlike either of his brothers, he had a dragon. Rhaena had been the one to place an egg in his cradle, which hatched into a small bronze little thing.
Alyssane was only one and yet to show anything that would define her. Though much like with Jaehaerys, Rhaena had placed an egg in her cradle. Though the egg had yet to hatch.
Gaewyn had travelled from Harrenhal with his full family and spent time comforting Aenys and Maegor (the comfort of the latter being more subtle than that of the former). And when not with them, he would speak with his sister or his aunts to see if they were doing alright. With Golda, he had three children.
Emett a boy of nine was just like his father in every way. He inherited his father's look and had very little of his mother. But he was not unlike his mother. Much like his father, he liked to read, but much like his mother, he liked to explore. He was already making a name for himself in the training yard, Gaewyn told Aenar with pride.
Myranda was in every way her mother's copy that Emett was not. She had the dark brown hair with the occasional streak of silver in it and deep blue eyes. Much like her mother, she did not inherit any of her maternal sides' weasely looks. Even at seven, many could tell she would grow to become just as much desired as her mother was.
Jon had sadly inherited the Frey look. Small and weasely, the boy was sharp of mind and just as sharp of tongue (something Aenar and Gwyn enjoyed very much). Though weasely to look at, he had inherited his father's hair and the purple eyes of House Targaryen.
Much like their father, they did not have any dragons to call their own, but each had been presented with dragon eggs like their father and aunt before them. And the surprising thing about it all was that the clutch they had been presented had come from Cannibal, like the eggs Gaewyn and Faeyn had received. Only Faeyn's Melkasta had hatched from the clutches, but it did throw up the question of whether Cannibal was a male dragon in the first place, or did he shift into a she and procreated. (a popular theory amongst the Maesters of the Citadel).
The gathering had soon dwindled and everyone slowly retired for the night. The Targaryens had rooms for themselves and some of the guests as well. But most of the guests had to sleep in the taverns or tents pitched outside. Many people came to attend the funeral, too many for Dragonstone to shelter under its roof. Dragonstone was not Harrenhal after all, nor was it Aegonfort (which had come to rival Harrenhal in grandeur. A credit the Qohori builders are given).
Only three remained awake into the night, who moved to the Chamber of The Painted Table to be on their own.
Aenar sat on one end of the table spinning a marble sphere, while his sisters sat on each side of the now empty head chair. All of them had plenty to drink, but grief did not allow them to become drunk.
"Aenys' coronation should be held tomorrow" Rhaenys spoke. "The lords are still here. They'll bend the knee and swear fealty before they all depart for home."
Aenar said nothing, while Visenya made a small noise that drew Rhaenys' ire.
Over the years the relationship between Rhaenys and Visenya had begun to erode, not completely gone but eroding still. It all began in the one instance where Visenya brought up Aenys' weaknesses and suggested Maegor be named heir instead. As King and Lord, Aegon had the power to change his heir. It was not something Aegon agreed to, and it had hurt Rhaenys deeply.
"This again?" Rhaenys asked, almost snappish in her tone.
"Your son has not changed, so neither has my opinion of him" Visenya threw back.
"Aenys is Aegon's eldest—"
"And he is weak! Even today the Lords saw him in pieces—"
"Because his father died! Unlike your emotionless husk of a son—"
"A King need be strong before his people, for his people—"
"A King need be kind and understanding—"
Both sisters stopped when Aenar crushed the marble sphere in his palm. It still freaked them out when Aenar used his strength, something he did not usually do.
"Not even a day since your husband died that you two start this up again" Aenar snapped, his cold tone making Rhaenys flinch while Visenya met his gaze.
"This is the right time to bring this up" Visenya insisted. "The whole realm knows the kind of man Aenys is. King and Understanding yes, but he is not strong enough to be King. He panics at every corner when it comes to making a decision, is never certain of who to listen to and hardly will find him backing his decision and not swaying due to opinions of others."
"And Maegor is any better?" Rhaenys cut in. "He sees everything as a challenge, does not understand the plight of the people, does not wish to empathize with any of them. He may stick to his decisions, but how often are those decisions beneficial for anyone but him?"
"A King had to be strict—"
"A King has to be kind—"
"That is enough!" Aenar slammed his fist on the table. "Aenys and Maegor are my children, do not forget that when either of you choose to speak ill of them. I will not have them slandered any more than I will have Faeyn or Gaewyn slandered" The man glared at them both. "Aenys is weak, there so denying it" he looked right at Rhaenys before looking at Visenya, "but he is compassionate, and kind and when the time comes he will show a backbone like he has many times before. And Maegor can be cruel and unfeeling" he turned back to Rhaenys, "but he cares. He cares too deeply about everything and chooses to bottle it up inside of him and process it on his own. Both of them would make fine Kings!"
He inhaled deeply.
"But Aegon and I have worked on the Doctrine of Exceptionalism, where we stated any Targaryen firstborn who rides a Dragon is eligible to sit the throne no matter his or her gender. Changing Kings now would undo it all and cause us issues in the future" he explained kindly. "Aenys will sit on the throne and Maegor will sit in his council. If Aenys is weak, then we must be strong for him. The brothers care for one another, a shocking turnout considering how much they've been kept apart all their lives. My sons will fight for each other harder than anything else and I can guarantee it as their sire and uncle. Perhaps you two should learn from them."
Aenar raised a hand seeing them both beginning to speak up.
"You may have been wives longer than you've been sisters, but you are still sisters. Visenya said what she said out of worry for what was to come. The throne is no easy place to sit, our brother has said it multiple times before. She worries what it would do to Aenys and how he would cope with it. She pushes for Maegor because he can hold it all in. Which is entirely bad for him. One of these days he may explode and his core will be exposed to the world. So do not encourage it any more than you already have, sister."
Aenar stood and motioned for his sisters to stand as well.
"Hug it out, now."
The two women stared at Aenar as if he were mad, but he merely motioned for them to get it on. They then stared at each other before walking around to meet halfway and embrace.
"I have lost two brothers already, I wish not to see you two be lost as well" the man muttered, falling back in his seat with his hand in his palm. Orys had died years ago of an ailment, but the wound of his loss was still fresh. More so today than any other day.
Aenar felt a hand on each shoulder, squeezing comfortingly. He sighed.
"Tomorrow we will crown Aenys and the Grand Maester will declare him King. As his Hand (an office Aenar held since the death of Alton Celtigar) I will suggest that he bring some changes to the small council. Maegor as our Master of Laws will suit him well, and keep him in the inner circle of things to help Aenys. Nobody will think anything against it considering that is the King's brother and the King may wish to see more familiar faces on the council."
"Very well," both sisters say in unison.
Aenar stands and finds himself kissed on both cheeks at the same time. He looks between his sisters and snorts before shaking his head.
"Share a bed, will you? You two must come to terms with each other's opinions and live with them if we are to further Aegon's dynasty beyond him and his sons."
They both roll their eyes at him but embrace him as well.
"I did not mean to wake you."
"I must be asleep if you are to wake me."
Aenar smiled, opening his arm to let Gwyn cuddle into him.
"How did things go?" she asked.
"The same old. But I think we may be able to move forward together now."
"Good… good…"
"You worry."
"I always worry, my love."
Gwyn rolled to her side and played circles with her fingers on Aenar's chest.
"You do not tell me about the extent of things you've faced in Valyria, but you have told me enough to satisfy my curiosity" Gwyn began. "I saw you melancholic today and thought, you look so young."
"I only look it, my love. I am anything but young anymore."
"But you are young. You said it yourself, Valyria has changed you in many ways, one of which is how slowly you age. Here I am, only two years your elder yet I look like I can be your mother" Aenar chuckles but Gwyn does not.
"If you are afraid that I would set you aside for someone younger—"
"That is not what worries me" Gwyn cut him off. "You age slower than the rest of us, meaning there will come a time when you will outlive us all. And when that happens… who will be there to help you deal with it all?"
Gwyn could feel Aenar stiffen against her, so she wrapped an arm around her and gripped his hand tightly.
"You are right" Aenar admitted. "You are right, I do age slower. And there will come a time when I have to watch you die, have to watch my sisters die. Seven hells I might even have to watch my children all die, or even my grandchildren. I try not to think about it… because I know if I do…"
Gwyn laid her head on his chest and took in the sound of his beating heart.
"Mourn us all tonight, my love. So when the day comes you would not have to."
"I don't think I can't not mourn you all on those days."
Gwyn tightened her grip on his hand.
"I love you" Gwyn whispered shakily.
"I love you too" Aenar whispered before burying his face in his wife's hair.
Gwyn soon felt wetness on her head.