After the crowning on Dragonstone, the King and his entourage sailed to King's Landing, where he claimed the Throne of his Father before the eyes of the Lords and Ladies. He then dedicated a speech to the common people living in the city surrounding the Castle. On both accounts, Aenys Targaryen received nothing but cheers and blessings. Thereafter the King, Queen and their three eldest children set out for Oldtown to receive the blessings of the High Septon. All five of them travelled by land, accompanied by three hundred mounted knights and their retinues.
A mistake that would haunt them for the rest of their natural lives.
The plan of travel was simple for the Royal progress. They would set out from King's Landing and make their way South to Storm's End, then West across the Dornish Marches to Oldtown, guesting at each castle on the way.
It all went to shit right in the Kingswood.
The entourage had been set upon by bandits in white in the Kingswood. Of the three hundred that came to protect the Royal Family half of them turned and killed the rest, leaving just the five royals.
"What is the meaning of this?!" Aenys demanded to know, his voice shaking and his eyes wide with shock and fear.
"We've just about had it with you sister fuckers" one of the turned guards snapped, "lording over the rest of us as if you're better than us."
"But we are better" Aegon hissed, angry and hurt from the betrayal. Some of them were men he'd trained with, traded blows on the training field.
"Take away your dragons and what are you?" another sneered.
"The rulers of Westeros" Aegon snapped back, ignoring the hands trying to pull him back. "We are better than you because we can bond with dragons. Where are you dragons huh? Where can you lot bond with them?"
For his words, he received a hit across the face with the butt of a sword and then a sword through the gut. Aegon fell to the horrified screaming of his parents and siblings, the light of life leaving his eyes soon.
"Ye seem to bleed the same" the killer snarked, making the rest laugh with him. He turned his attention to the rest. One of the other men yanked Viserys away from his mother and thrust him forward. The killer grabbed him by the throat and lifted him off his feet. "Ye wanted to be just like yer brother, yes?"
Viserys let out a struggling groan as the man pushed a sword through his belly before pulling it out and throwing the now dead boy's body on his brother.
Faeyn fell to her knees, watching with horrified eyes as both her sons lay dead before her.
"Yer heirs are dead, King" the man taunted.
"Those ain't his heirs" one of the many shouted.
"E's right. The girl's yer heir, in'she? A woman leadin us" the man spat. "I'll show ye what women are good for. And then I'll kill ye too before I take yer mother and gut yer father, girl."
Rhaena stumbled back as the man approached her with a shit-eating grin, only for it to fall and for him to stumble back when he heard the roar. They all heard it, but only three people were glad for it. Shadows soared over them all and one of the men screamed in warning.
"Dragons!"
The next moment silver flames engulfed him and those around him.
Violet flames cut into another side of the group while blue flames cut into the opposite side. There was a loud slam behind the three royals, the kickback from it threatening to fling them off their feet. All three saw the look of dread in their enemies' eyes before turning. Emerald eyes reflected their visage.
"Fa-father" Faeyn stumbled before running into Aenar's arms.
The Hand of the King embraced his daughter and held her tightly as she sobbed.
"They killed them. They killed by boys!" Faeyn sobbed.
That was where Aenar's eyes were, on the bodies of his deceased grandsons.
One after the other the other three Dragons landed, killing men in the process and cornering the rest between them and the walls of flames.
"Get on your dragons leave for King's Landing right away" Aenar ordered.
Faeyn's head shot up, only to flinch seeing the look in her father's eyes.
"Your Grace, Princess, you must leave immediately as well. Your dragons are here for you."
The other two did not complain, rushing to their dragons and mounting them with ease before taking to the skies. Faeyn stuck behind, clinging to her father, refusing to leave him alone with so many enemies.
But Aenar gently pried her off of him and walked her to her dragon.
"I will be back, I promise" Aenar whispered to his daughter.
Faeyn nodded meekly before she too mounted her dragon and took to the skies.
"Yer gonna fight us alone?" the one with the bloodied sword laughed, and with him laughed the rest.
Until the man burst into flames and turned to ashes on the spot.
The rest were stunned into silence, horrified as well when Aenar turned to face them and all they saw were the crimson hues of malice.
"De-demon!" one of them yelled.
"Cannibal!" Aenar called, "feast va zirȳ" [Feast on them].
Cannibal's pupils slitted and the dragon roared.
"It was foolish of them to not ride their dragons on this procession" Lord Torgen Oakheart muttered.
"Lucky for us" Lord Rickard Rowan added.
"They are prideful demons!" Septon Moon boasted, tearing off the meat from the chicken leg. "They think themselves untouchable! Gifts from the Gods! I tell you they are nothing of the sort. Take away their dragons and what are they? Nothing!"
The Septon gave a hearty laugh, before belching and drinking his wine.
The Lords of Goldengrove and Old Oak had pledged their swords to the Septon who called himself the true voice of the Gods, who boasted of having heard the Gods in his dreams command him to kill the Targaryen King and his family.
Of course, they hadn't pledged their swords on just that. During their investigation, they found that the man was a miracle worker, able to turn even barren women fertile with his seed. It was what got him the followers that currently sat outside the walls of Old Oak. The poor fellows as they were called.
The doors to the Lord's Study were slammed open and a boy no older than ten rushed in, Lord Oakheart's squire he was. He looked winded, red in the face and fear in his eyes.
"Here to tell us of the King's death?" Moon chortled.
"T-they all died" the boy stammered out.
The fat Septon's laugh died.
"What do you mean?" demanded Lord Oakheart.
"D-dragons. Four of them. Descended on the men and burned them all!"
The fat Septon stared in shock. This was not what he'd planned.
"The Hand of the King… he burned Goldengrove to the ground. They say he made another Harrenhal of it!"
Lord Rickard Rowan gaped before enraged eyes fell on the Septon.
"You said the gods have willed this" seethed the man.
"They have!"
"Then why are my men and family dead!"
"Lies! The boy has been lied to" the fat Septon roared. "No doubt those Targaryen devils spread such a lie to hide the fact that their King is dead!"
Lord Rowan snarled, but before he could say anything, shouts were coming from outside. Lord Oakheart rushed out to see people running through the halls in alarm and fright. He grabbed onto one of the men running, who only wailed about Dragons then began running again.
Fear gripped the Lord of Old Oak's heart and he rushed back into his study but past the shouting Lord Rowan and the Septon struggling to get on his feet to the balcony. Lord Rowan and the Fat Septon joined him soon as well.
Cannibal's roar could be heard from miles away, but so could possibly the screams of the people below. The Dragon razed through the camps of the Poor Fellow, circling the city and castle. But the dragon was moving closer every moment as if a snake wrapping itself around its prey.
"You have doomed us all!" Lord Rowan roared, choking the fat Septon who stared in horror at the dragon. This was his first time seeing one, and what he saw made him soil his pants.
"Mother have mercy" Lord Oakheart muttered before the jade flames of Cannibal swallowed him whole.
The King, Queen and Princess arrived at Aegonfort on Dragonback no sooner had they left the ambush point. The two Dowager Queens, Prince Maegor and Lady Gwyn received them, all of them confused as to what happened. All they were able to say was that Aenar had suddenly rushed to his dragon and taken flight, the three other dragons following him not long after.
Aenys explained everything to them and immediately they were out for blood. But none of them took flight or rode out to meet these outlaws. Instead, their focus was on the King, Queen and Princess.
It was nightfall by the time Aenar returned.
The King welcomed his Hand and Father in Law in his chambers, embracing the man and proclaiming his relief to see him back safe and alive. The same was done by the Queen, who was a little more emotional when she embraced her father. Aenar asked about Rhaena and Faeyn informed him that the girl was sleeping now. Soon the Dowager Queens, Prince Maegor and Lady Gwyn joined them as well. And to the surprise of all, so had Princess Rhaena.
Aenar did not allow her to be dismissed, since it had happened to her too and she may be afraid of being alone.
"The bodies of Aegon and Viserys are being prepared as we speak. Tomorrow morning we may host their funeral if your Graces wish it" Aenar stated calmly. He was covered in soot and dried blood. Though whose blood that was, nobody asked.
"We shall hold their funerals on the morrow" Aenys swallowed. "Lord Uncle, what happened? Why did they attack us? Why did my men turn on me?"
"And how did you react so fast?" MAegor added.
Aenar looked between the two before speaking.
"A while after the King and his family left for their royal progress, I received word of an ambush being set up for them by outlaws who have sided with a Septon called Moon."
Gwyn stiffened, something Faeyn noted.
"Who is this Septon Moon?" Aenys demanded to know.
"He is called a miracle worker, able to get any woman with child. A load of horse shit that the common folk believe because of their superstitions. He proclaims himself the true voice of the gods and holds resentment for our family, calling us devils and demons."
"How long have you known about him?" Faeyn questioned.
"For a few months. Aegon wished for me to keep an eye on them and not engage until they attacked. My eyes seemed to drift to Moon's side as well, which was why I knew of this ambush so late and I— was too late to save the boys."
There was silence in the chambers for a moment, mourning the loss of the two Princes.
"Why did they attack now?" Rhaena wanted to know.
"Because Aegon is dead, and Moon was able to convince two Lords to add their numbers to his."
"And these Lords—"
"Dead" Aenar answered the King blandly. "Their castles put to the flames with them still inside. Septon Moon is dead as well, as are his followers."
Aenys fell into his chair looking mortified.
"Wa— was it necessary?! All those people, his family. Sure they were not part of this as well!" he asked.
Everyone looked at him in shock, but not Aenar.
"What kind of a King do you wish to be?" Aenar questioned.
"I do not—"
"You do" Aenar cut him off, his tone cold and void of emotion. "What kind of King do you wish to be?"
Aenys thought for a moment before answering shakily.
"I wish to be a King the people love like they loved father."
Aenar smiled at him sadly, as if he was expecting that answer.
"Your father was loved, for sure. But he was also feared. A good King is someone who treats his subjects like his children. He will love them and be strict with them when necessary. But he should never believe them to be his children. Thinking and believing are two different things, it's something your father knew well. He was kind and generous to those who were loyal to him. He preferred to prevent rebellion rather than put them down. But he never showed mercy against those who rebelled. It's what made people look up to him, revere him, love him, and even fear him. If you wish to be a King who is loved by all, you must also be a King that people fear. I am sorry you had to learn this lesson in this manner. Had it been up to me you would never have to."
Aenys lowered his head and nodded. Faeyn was beside her husband, a hand on his shoulder.
"After the funeral, I will fly to Oldtown" Aenar declared, "only to speak to the High Septon and the Most Devout about this" he added seeing the look on Aenys' face. The additional words calmed him. "Now, you must rest, your Grace. As must you, my Queen, Princess. I will station guards in the halls to be on alert with the Kingsguard."
Aenar took a step back to leave, stopping when Faeyn asked where he was going.
"I will stand vigil through the night," Aenar told her.
The Queen nodded meekly.
Gwyn wished to join him but Aenar shook his head and spoke kindly.
"Stay with Rhaena tonight, and if our daughter needs you stay with her too. No doubt Rhaenys would be with Aenys tonight, and Maegor and Visenya will not rest either."
Gwyn nodded and Aenar exited the chambers.
They looked far younger in death than they looked alive, Aenar noted. Though the dim light of the throne room did not show much of the boys' faces, Aenar saw enough to be able to deduce that.
"I am sorry I wasn't able to give you the information in time" the being inside Aenar whispered into his mind.
The Hand of The King shifted on his feet.
"The only reason e perfected sharing your mind amongst the shadows I summon was so you can tell me what the fuck is happening around the Kingdom and whether my family was safe or not," Aenar thought back savagely.
The being did not answer to it.
Aenar sighed and stared at the faces of his dead grandsons.