federermod - Viserys doesn't make sense if we're being honest. He is being irrationally clingy with members of his family. He wants things to stay the same...and nearby. The dragons not being under his auspice is only really secondary.

Sonata1992 - because she is the mother of his nephews and nieces. He would like to at least be a cordial relationship with her, especially if he wants to be successful in taking at least one of the kids with him.

freeraynman - Because Aegon doesn't see the value in telling him now. Because he *KNOWS* Viserys. The man will not do what is necessary to stop this civil war from happening. Aegon telling him about the Dance is pointless because anyone with a single wit knows that a civil war is coming. No one knew just how bad it would get in Canon, that's it. Or they did, and wanted it to happen because it'd weaken House Targ.

Everyone, Thank you for your reviews and comments, I always read them even if I don't respond to them. I expect this chapter will probably have a lot of reviews I will need to respond to (part of the reason why I didn't respond to all of the comments haha!)

As always, please enjoy this chapter and let me know what you think.

Note: If you would like to read ahead, the next three chapters after this chapter are available on P. .^T.^R.^E.^O.^N./ Boombox117

Mid to Late 114 AC – Kings Landing

Aegon continued to walk through the haze of grey fog, grey smog, the guilty frown on his face felt as heavy as chains of steel draped across his forehead.

Groans, deafening groans, continued to chase him as he walked, and walked, and walked, aimlessly yet with purpose – to find an escape, to run away – but it was nearing with every step he took away from them.

On and on Aegon walked, pointlessly yet undefeated, and, for a moment, he thought the grey smog was weakening, lessening, but all that it revealed behind the smog was an absence.

Aegon came to a stop, his eye wide, as he took on what he was sensing.

The absence was visceral, as if matter was removed from existence with only a faint silhouette of it once existing, like the world remembered and pained at the absence like someone suffering from phantom limb, and it stopped him dead.

The groans grew louder. So much louder…

And Aegon realised there was nowhere to run…nowhere to hide but to face them.

Aegon turned around and watched the grey fog and the dark figure in the distance, a dark figure that grew darker and darker until the grey fog could carry its secrets no more and revealed the figure for what it was.

A mass of coagulated oily matter rolled and whined and crawled towards him; big oily faces with holes for mouths and eyes and ears roiled over to reform into the black mass only for other oily faces to take their place, a never ending reminder of the faceless masses that he ended.

"You killed ussssssssss…" the cry through the groans and the moans was ephemeral, like the fleeting light of lightning during a thunderous storm, but it echoed through his bones with the might of a war hammer.

Aegon could only stare with clenched teeth and with a forceful eye kept open, watching, seeing, the oily mass grow closer, not once blinking as the thing grew close enough to touch his feet.

The faces began to shift and Aegon felt his countenance break as silver tufts formed on the scalps of oily black mass, and it radiated like starlight in the darkness of the night. "Fath-

He woke up in a startle, his whole body jerking as the sound of his chainmail rattled in his movements, and Aegon found himself coming into full consciousness with himself panting as if he was short of breath and the sight of his dagger in his outstretched hand.

Only then, he realised that there was a soft whine from beside him and he turned to look at the sound and he saw Rex, the old greyhound girl, with her snout enclosed by a steel wire-like muzzle, watching him with furtive and concerned big eyes.

Aegon sighed silently before he smiled faintly at the old girl and brought his hand to her head, his hand sinking into the loose furry skin. "I'm alright, girl." Aegon's voice was quiet as he left unsaid the last parts of his sentence.

'Just another of the same night…'

He looked towards the rest of his room, towards the far side.

On two beds at the far wall, which lay side by side, were two of his guards sleeping upon it, Ser Raevor and Ser Daryl.

They were still clad in much of their under armour, the thick garment in lain with leather strips to protect critical areas of the chest underneath the chainmail and armour, and they were sound asleep.

Aegon turned to look towards the skies and saw that it was just about dawn.

Early.

Another soft whine drew him back towards the old girl and he smiled at her before he sat up and place her head on his lap. "Just a little while longer, I promise…" Aegon said as he moved to remove the bolt from her muzzle.

Coming back to these accursed lands, knowing what he knew of the supposed 'Old Gods', and especially considering what else he planned to settle, which may well be the very last thing he'd ever do if he mis-stepped in checkmating them, he knew that he had to go above and beyond in safeguarding himself until then.

Including safeguarding himself from the most loyal of animals.

As if it wasn't bad enough that he had to pretend so much, skirt around the questions of the nobles without once faltering, all so that he wouldn't find himself exposed to an attempt of a sham trial whilst he legally secured the independence with the Crown so that his descendants wouldn't have to deal with this lot, he also had the metaphysical irritants to worry about…

Aegon removed the bolt from her snout and carefully removed the muzzle from her and he was greeted to a series of loud barks, which began to stir the sleeping men, and she then moved to work her jaw, causing Aegon's smile to broaden a little as he rubbed her scalp a little more affectionately.

Suddenly, the doors to his chambers opened and two men, Ser Raevor and Ser Brunn, clad in full armour and with swords unsheathed, streamed into the room.

"My Prince…!" Ser Raevor called out alarmed and Aegon raised his hand silencing the protective guard.

"Just merely the old girl letting me know of her displeasure of having her snout locked away." Aegon said with a mild smile on his face before he gently moved the old girl's head towards the side of him before he stood up.

"I see." Ser Raevor said with a firm nod. "My Prince." The man then proceeded to sheathe his sword whilst Ser Brunn took towards now awake but still sleepy men.

His four guards, which Viserys allowed him to have in the Red Keep, were on alternating guard duty. Two asleep and two awake when Aegon was sleeping.

"Up you wastrels!" Ser Brunn called out as he pushed the men up who began to curse at Ser Brunn only to realise where exactly they were and quickly fixed themselves up.

Aegon paid it little mind and turned towards Ser Raevor. "Call out to a servant to have them make the cooks make us the usual to break our fast."

"Of course, my Prince." Ser Raevor said before he bowed and left the room.

It was some time later that Ser Raevor arrived and a little while longer before the servants brought in food from the kitchens, plates and plates' worth.

After the servants left, Aegon whistled lowly and Rex arrived at his feet before she jumped and placed her forepaws on the top his leg. "Go, girl." Aegon said before he clicked his teeth, two sharp and quick clicks, and soon enough, Rex placed her forepaws on the table and sniffed over the food and pitchers with her large snout.

She moved across the table, the men having stepped aside, and they all watched as Rex did her business.

Finally, after some time, she came to Aegon and placed her forepaws on his leg, a soft whine emanating from the back of her throat and Aegon scratched the back of head affectionately. "Good girl..." Aegon said.

Rex was the most successfully trained dogs by the dogbreeders, now officially the 'Royal Kennel Masters', who have been trained to obey without fault and trained to smell all kinds of poisons known to man.

Her success rate, even as a young dog less than a year old, had been near faultless and as she'd grown, she'd passed every single test without fail, even the tests that included poisons that were masked to upset and confuse her.

She was a star, Aegon thought as he rubbed her head a little longer, and fortunately, from what he was hearing from Gael, the third generation of trained dogs were all much better taking to the training, as well as Rex has.

And from what he was seeing, it was a good choice to take her with him, even if it did little to protect him when he was out of this room. But that was why he was eating nearly a full day's worth of food intake now, so that he sparingly touch the food in this…place.

He picked up one of the plates, which had several kilos worth of lamb cuttings on it, and placed it on the ground in front who quickly began to devour the food.

And Aegon gestured towards the men to take their place beside him and soon enough, after a few quick prayers from the men, the men dug into their meal.

After they were well into their eating, Aegon noted the hesitating expression and the furtive glances sent his way by Ser Jon and Aegon let it go for a little while until the looks kept on coming.

"Speak, Ser Jon." Aegon remarked, his eyes still on the piece of ham he was cutting.

After a few moments "My Prince…you should try again and convince your brother to allow you arms." Ser Jon said earnestly and entreatingly.

Aegon had been blunt and honest with all of his men and sailors prior to their setting sail, at least as much as he could be.

They were entering, as good as, enemy territory, who may well use his attendance to divide his family and engineer a way to eliminate him and/or members of his family.

It was the truth, for as much as he could tell.

This wedding was a great opportunity for their enemies, hidden and known, to do something about him, a place where he was not the one in control at all.

The admission had been useful and galvanised his men more to remain focused.

"He won't allow it." Aegon said before he put the piece of ham into his mouth and it was only then, as he chewed, that he looked up to meet Ser Jon's eyes.

Viserys had almost let him go to remain at the block of manses by the docks with the rest of his men instead of allowing him his guards at the Red Keep.

Only after seeing that Aegon was dead serious in not trusting in the security of the Red Keep did he relent and allow him four guards and Rex though Aegon had explained her away as precious pet which had seen Viserys look at him baffled…

Anyway…

Viserys' acquiescence had come only after a series of choice words that detailed the dangers that could lurk in the halls and the walls of the Red Keep, which he worsened by telling Viserys that a wedding with so many nobles and royalty, all in the same place, was dangerously alluring to enemies of their House.

He hadn't liked ending their…reconciliation of that first night in such a manner, for it drew back the conversation towards Aegon's wars, even if the list of enemies to their House was plenty outside of the enemies Aegon had created.

The contempt and anger that Viserys tried to hide from him when he'd spoken about the means in which their enemies could ruin the wedding…

In any case, amidst all of that contempt and anger, there was also concern, likely fear, and that was what he wanted to see. The comments had touched a nerve.

And so, the kitchens were more guarded and there more guards around the Red Keep in general. The Kingsguard too seemed to be more on alert with how many guests were currently occupied within the halls of the Red Keep.

It was not enough, in Aegon's opinion, but it was better.

"When Viserys has decided something, he will hold onto it with defiant stubbornness." Aegon continued after he'd swallowed the piece of ham and he began to slice the sausage in half. "It will only grow his ire, if I speak of it more."

In all honesty, Aegon was regretting coming back.

Not because he was seeing things that were not as he expected – things were near exact as he expected – but because he was unsure he'd be able to cope with dealing with the fallout, whatever it'd be, and get out of it alive.

It might just be his paranoia but Aegon was as doubtful about his paranoia being well earnt as he was about his ability to get out of the Red Keep alive.

There were just so many vectors at this wedding.

The Hightowers, Daemon, the Free Cities particularly Tyrosh, Myr, Volantis and even Braavos, and then there was the opportunist Houses with their own agendas.

He'd asked Edwyn to have Kaerell consume some more of the dwindling supply of watered down Shade of the Evening before he'd left Astapor and those paintings…

The first of the eight paintings was a replication of the one of the earlier paintings, the one with a pair of flames in the shape of eyes casting over monoliths of black stone and loomed over red bricked monoliths but this time it including a brighter, yellower flame that was in the backdrop of everything.

Clearly, it meant Volantis and the Red Faith. And a new development of some kind which seemed to tie up to the tense inaction of Volantis was involved in.

The second and third paintings hinted towards something Aegon was surprised at and did not understand. The paintings showed black mountains with sharp and monstrous teeth that had incisors the size of swords relative to the rest of the monstrously sharp teeth.

There were two other paintings that Aegon had no real clue about with how Edwyn had described them, paintings that had shared vague symbolisms about the sun, or what appeared to be a sun.

The first of the two had described a ball of flame that took up most of the frame of the painting and it was set against a backdrop of black, which seemed like it could be the backdrop of the night sky, but Aegon couldn't be sure.

What could the symbolism of that mean?

The second of the two paintings that Aegon considered to be pairs of each other, included the same kind of ball of flame but instead, there was also a second but much smaller ball of flame, one that had a violet hue and that was linked with root like threads to the larger ball of flame…

He'd asked Edwyn to request Kaerell to paint again after the time restriction imposed to wean the alchemist-painter off of the addictive nature of the drug was finished but it seemed like there was nothing new about it, with Kaerell merely painting the same kind of paintings over and over again…

In any case, the most pertinent paintings were two of three remaining paintings that showed him that he had great cause to be concerned.

Two of the remaining three paintings, which was replicated in the later paintings by Kaerell, showed worm like wyrms that looked dead after dying in an attempt to crawl out of burning caves and the other a single torn off silver dragon-like wings by a coast of blood, which could be taken to corroborate with visions of draconic bellies being scratched at by rats that he'd seen in the flames by Tolos, where there was a plot to kill Targaryens in the womb.

Or perhaps generally kill Targaryens that live now.

If that isn't a warning to take heed of, well…

To say that he was paranoid that he was finding himself as an unwitting piece to some plot with him to be framed for it, would be understating it.

With Viserys forcing himself to pretend that he 'cares' for Aegon, all in some show of twisted and strange sense of brotherly and patriarchal duty, which is barely a veneer for his true goal to ensure that Aegon and his branch don't become a mortal enemy to his line and his descendants since he can't actually force him or his children to be obedient little spares living on his sufferance, it would not be difficult to succeed in framing him for a crime.

Daemon was Daemon and after the morning supper he had with Daemon, Baelon, Rhaenyra and Viserys, he knew that his brother still held him in contempt and dislike that might well be hatred…and all of the remaining interactions, brief they may have been, only solidified that.

The only surprise was that Daemon had not called out Aegon for a friendly spar…and the only reason he could think of that not yet happening was Viserys…

Aegon hummed silently as he moved away from those thoughts, instead thinking back on Baelon and Rhaenyra. Both were a reflection of their fathers.

Unfortunately.

Rhaenyra more so than Baelon. Just a few hours with the girl, a little girl he remembered once to be a bright and happy little thing, had made that clear.

Needling him, with a sense of entitlement, about Elamaerys and how it was a great accomplishment for their House and that she would 'honour' him for what he had done in service for their House if only Aegon would have allowed it...

And it hadn't exactly stopped there, either.

It was clear that all around the table had come to know about the settlement he'd reached with Viserys and that neither Rhaenyra or Daemon thought well of it.

Baelon, curiously, had largely kept to himself, barely saying a single word during the meal, and the only thing that he noted from him, was that Baelon had little interest in getting to know Aegon…or his cousins in Elamaerys.

Outside a few questions asked by Viserys about his sons, which Aegon had answered as sparingly as polite, none of them had any interest in his children.

Or Gael.

To say it had been a…trying meal, was putting it lightly.

And then there was the fact that Daemon seemed to delight in Rhaenyra's attempts to show her disapproval and what she thought was how things were meant to be, all whilst Aegon was doing his damnedest to eat as little as he could without arousing suspicion…

He avoided having to sit through another such meal with them after that.

Even his pragmatism and patience had a limit.

And he was fast approaching a point where his willingness to forgive but not forget, when it came to family, was being strained to its limits…

"No offense, my Prince, but your brothers are cunts." Ser Daevar said bluntly and it caused Ser Raevor to choke on his drink.

"Idiot, mind where we are!" Ser Brunn growled as he pushed the older man to nearly to fall off of his seat.

"My apologies, my Prince, but I say as I see it true." Ser Daevar said as he glared at Ser Brunn before he sat back properly on his seat.

"Say it with a thousand times more tact, Ser Daevar." Aegon said with a mild look of reproach on his face. Ser Daevar was not like Ser Brunn, Ser Jon or Ser Raevor, all three being Westerosi natives like Aegon himself.

The three, like other natives he'd taken with him, still had some amount of consideration for his family here. Ser Daevar, a former slave and now a knight who'd soon turn back to farming, had no such considerations for them.

"Of course, my Prince. My apologies."

Aegon waved it away. "In any case, Ser Jon" Aegon began as he met the knight's eyes "We have little way but to have me persevere through the wedding."

Hence why he was eating a full day's worth of calories now instead of later when there were plates and plates of food and drink.

Of course, he'd still have to eat lest he'd turn suspicion onto himself but he could finagle himself a way to eat from plates that had already been served and eaten by the attendees.

The last thing he wanted was to draw attention to his lack of eating…

They continued to eat their meal, mostly in silence, and by the time they neared to finishing their meal, there was a knock on the door.

Ser Raevor was the man to stand up and go towards the door and one of the Cargyll twins alongside a few guards was there.

Aegon eyed the young knight with curiosity. Rickard Thorne, the new Lord Commander, had shown his displeasure plain on his face when Viserys had acquiesced to allow Aegon his four guards. Likely thought it a blemish on his armour that there were 'foreign' guards in the royal wing of the Red Keep.

Curiously, he could see none of that judgement on the young knight.

"Prince Aegon" the Kingsguard began, pausing momentarily as he eyed the table of nearly finished plates of food before he looked back towards Aegon "Her Grace the Queen has requested that you break your fast with her and her children."

Aegon considered it for a moment before he spoke up. "Two of my guards will come with me." Aegon said as he met the Kingsguard's gaze.

The Kingsguard showed a glimmer of dissatisfaction but nodded sharply. "They will not be permitted into the dining room." There was a hint of challenge in the man's voice but Aegon thinly smiled before he answered.

"They will remain at post by the doors." Aegon responded with a tone that brook no argument and the Kingsguard showed a glimmer of dislike before he nodded.

Aegon was pleased enough with that. "Very well. Give me a moment." Aegon said as he met the Kingsguard's eyes.

The Kingsguard bowed his head slightly before he left and Ser Raevor closed the door.

Aegon then stood up and walked towards the bed and picked the muzzle before he crouched down at the laying greyhound. She let know her displeasure at the muzzle with a soft whine and the shaking of the head but Aegon was gentle but firm as he got the muzzle around her snout.

Aegon then stood back up and looked towards Ser Raevor and Ser Brunn. "I won't be back until later in the day. Lock the door and rest." Aegon said as he handed his dagger to Ser Raevor and left behind his castle forged sword by the bedside table.

The two men sounded out their compliance and soon enough Aegon was following the Kingsguard with two of his guards following them.

As they arrived at the dining room on the right-most wing of the holdfast – there were three main dining rooms – a dining room that had windows that overlooked the gardens and the Blackwater Bay, he was starting to hear occupancy of the room, chatter too dull to hear anything but that of sound that came from voices and soon enough, Aegon walked past the guards that shielded the doors and entered the room and he was greeted by a sight of four children, Alicent, Ser Criston and a few maids that attended to two youngest of the children.

The four children, Aegon, Helaena, Aemond and Jaehaerys…they all shone with a bright and light halo around them and with their centre of being having the same telltale markings he'd seen in the likes of Ser Raevor and Ser Galaenys, and, of course, far more pronounced in Laena, Laenor, Rhaenys.

The telltale markings of the Ancestral Song of the Dragonlords.

Markings may not be the right word to see, for he could barely perceive after more than a year of trying to train his sight, but it was the best meaning he could give it.

And their markings were just as strong as the markings he'd seen in Daemon and Rhaenyra, though Daemon's halo was grey and about as grey as that of Aegon's…

Viserys' halo was a little duller and his markings weaker but Aegon had ascribed that to his illness that was consuming him from the inside.

Baelon…Baelon was the curious one.

There was no doubt that he was a Targaryen.

If his bonding with Vermithor did not make that clear, then certainly his face certainly did. He looked much like Daemon though Aegon thought Baelon resembled his grandfather more in the shape of his face.

But nonetheless, his telltale markings were more of the same as Viserys, even if his halo was as vibrant as it should be for a boy his age.

Why, Aegon could not tell for certain, but he wondered if it was because of his heritage as a Royce, a First Men House as storied as the likes of the Starks and the Durrandons.

He did not see much that resembled what he'd seen in Lyonel Strong, and his two sons whom Aegon had met two days ago, markings that he could sense were distinctly different from those who he could tell had dragonblood in their veins.

But then, he mused as he eyed Alicent who oddly did not appear to be like Lord Strong, shouldn't these children have the same…weakening of their markings, especially since the Hightowers were a hybrid House of First Men and Andals?

Like the Strongs?

His entrance caused the chatter to die down a little as all eyes went towards him and Alicent smiled demurely before she rose up and said "Goodbrother. I am gladdened to see you accept my invite." Alicent then waved the Kingsguard aside.

"I could not refuse, goodsister, but I must warn you that I have broken my fast already." Aegon said as he walked over towards a spare seat that was conveniently next to his little namesake, a hidden glance towards Ser Criston who watched him with hawk-like eyes.

He knew only a little about the man through what Seleyse had shared. A knight who'd won against his brother in a combat of arms which later yielded him a place as a sworn shield for Otto Hightower and now he was a sworn shield for Alicent.

'And a very dedicated one, it seems…'

"It's no matter." Alicent said kindly, her hands resting on her swollen belly and Aegon idly wondered how much of her kindness was genuine and how much was trained and a show?

"Is it true that you are a sorcerer that burns people alive?" the comment made Aegon falter in his steps and he turned towards the person who asked the question, the eager-eyed Aegon the Younger.

"Aegon, do not insult your uncle!" Alicent hissed out angrily as she began to move towards her eldest son but Aegon raised his hand to halt her and after a brief smile was sent her way turned to look towards Aegon whilst he took his seat.

The boy of seven, near eight namedays, wilted slightly under the fury of his mother but the look of curiosity remained in his eyes.

"I do not burn people alive, mini-me." Aegon said with a brief smile of amusement on his face, which grew at the look of the displeasure on the boy's face.

"My name is Aegon, like you! Like the Conqueror! It is not mini-me!" Aegon said with a wrinkled nose before he continued nary a breathe taken in the pause.

"But you are a sorcerer? Everyone thinks so!" There was a brightness in the boy's eyes when he spoke further "Is that how you conquered everything? With magic and your dragon? Like the Conqueror did but without the magic?" the questions came like rapid fire and Aegon's lips twitched at the excitability of the boy.

Aegon looked towards Alicent who he saw look moodily disappointed in Aegon the Younger, the kinds of looks that mothers gave that was devastating to a boy so young, and Aegon, after seeing the hidden faces of the maids who pretended not to listen, returned to look towards Aegon the Younger.

"I'm not a sorcerer, nephew." Aegon said with a faint smile on his face and he was granted a mixed look of disbelief and suspicion. Whomever told the boy that Aegon was a sorcerer was close to the boy.

He's been here four days and he'd barely seen these children in all of that time…and they were located in the same wing of apartments.

He'd seen more of Rhaenyra and Baelon than he'd seen these children.

Whether it was voluntary, or otherwise, it was clear that the children were being kept apart, and that meant that whomever the children were exposed to, had the trust of Alicent.

That could only be a few people. Her brothers. Her father and the other Hightowers. That sworn shield. The ladies-in-waiting.

He leaned towards it being one of the Hightowers. Perhaps all of them.

If that was the case…it didn't bode too well for him.

Not that it boded well if it was someone else either.

Especially once it was known that Aegon's title as Prince was more honorific now than it was because he was a Prince of the Realm, signalling that he was not exactly protected by the oaths that were owed to House Targaryen in Westeros…

In any case…

He'd played the matter of magic and that of 'heresy' well enough these past four days and most of the nobles were more interested in his campaigns in Essos anyway but still…he wanted the matter to be dead whilst he was so exposed here.

There was a reason why Mīsaragorn was keeping a low profile on Driftmark and in wait…just in case…

Aegon continued, the smile on his face not having faltered after those thoughts.

"And it is not a nice thing to say that I am a sorcerer. It is actually a very mean thing to say, especially since I have done nothing to make people want to say such mean things about me for no reason, nephew." Aegon said with a disappointed frown on his face as his smile wavered.

Aegon the Younger's eyes widened at that but before he could speak, someone else piped up. "You're not a sosirarer, uncle!" Aegon turned to look towards Aemond, the four nameday old boy, who leaned on the table with both of his hand as he glared at Aegon in a cute childish way. 'Precocious, aren't you…' Aegon mused, impressed as he was. Not so much at the butchering of the words but rather the boy's ability to follow the conversation as well as he was to be able to pick up the intent in Aegon's words.

"Sorcerer." Aegon the Younger said snippily back at Aemond who somehow managed to glower at Aegon the Younger, leaving Aegon to wonder where the boy could have learnt to expression that emotion.

When he saw that Alicent was going to interject, Aegon gestured towards Alicent in a way that she understood and she stopped herself from intervening.

"I don't think you're a sorcerer either!" Aegon the Younger added and Aemond was quick in his response.

"Liar!" and for a few moments, the boys called each other names, with Aemond growing redder by the second as their voices rose in volume and Aegon decided then to intervene.

"Boys…" Aegon's tone of voice was stern and harsh, the volume of the word he'd spoken, sharp and deep, cut through the dining room like a sword through flesh.

It silenced both of the boys instantly and he was met with startled looks of surprise from most of the people in the room, including Helaena who'd seemed far more interested in arranging the peas on her plate all the time he's been here.

'I still have it...' He'd used the 'voice' with his elder sons a number of times when they were in need of stern talking to. To see that he still had it was quite nice…

"Aegon." He turned to look at the eldest boy, a stern look on his face which Aegon relented on when he saw the boy wilt under the look. "Nephew." Aegon's voice was gentler than before but it was firm. "You are the eldest of your brothers and your sister, Aegon."

"He started it." Aegon the Younger murmured as the boy looked away from his gaze.

"He did." Aegon acknowledged and the acknowledgement caught the boy by surprise as he looked at Aegon with wide eyes. Aegon noted that reaction down before he continued. "It was mean of your little brother to call you a liar but it was also mean of you to call him an ugly snake." Aegon said with a raised eyebrow.

"I didn't mean it." Aegon the Younger defended himself.

"I can tell but your little brother won't be able to tell. He is only four namedays old. You are his elder brother, his only elder brother. Do you really want to hurt your brother by saying mean things? Like how people try to hurt me by calling me bad names?" Aegon posed to the young boy.

"No." Aegon the Younger murmured before he looked towards Aemond and, after a few emotions cycling on his face, he reluctantly murmured "I'm sorry, Aemond."

"Well done." Aegon said with satisfied smile on his face before he moved to place a hand on Aegon's head though he paused when he heard the sounds of plate armour moving from behind him. Aegon glanced over his shoulder and saw Ser Criston with a hand on his hilt and then looked to meet the man's gaze.

The man stared at him and Aegon could see that the man was ready to cut him down…

"Ser Criston." Alicent warned and it took several more moments before the man let go from the hilt of the sword but the man did not break his gaze for several moments longer before he looked away and bowed his head towards Alicent.

Aegon turned to look at Alicent who had an apologetic look on her face and Aegon assuaged her with a trace of a smile before he looked back at Aegon the Younger and placed his hand on his head and scruffled up his head.

"It takes a big man to know when you've made a mistake and an even bigger man to own your mistake and do something to make it right." Aegon said to his younger nephew. It was heartening as much as it was saddening to see the young boy lean into his hand and wear that happy and proud little smile on his face.

Before Aegon could think any more on it. "Me, me too! I'm also good!" Aemond yelled across the from the table.

"Aemond, sit back down on your seat." Alicent scolded as she stood up to discipline the boy.

"Alicent, it's alright." Aegon said with a reassuring tone of voice. He really did not mind. Moments later, the boy came racing towards him and Aegon chuckled lightly before he placed the child on the knee on the leg that was beside Aegon.

"Now boys…do you want to hear the story about the wild deserts of Astapor and the mountains they carved up and lived in or do you want to hear the story of the huge river that moved and rose like a snake around Meereen and its huge houses or do you want to hear the stories about how I sailed all around Old Valyria and fought a hundred battles a day against hundreds of scary and terrible slavers?"

"The story of Meereen!" "Battle!" the two boys spoke over each other and Aegon chuckled lightly before he leaned back in his chair, smiling at the two boys.

"Very well." Aegon said in a serious tone. "It seems like both of you want different stories so I must tell both of them. Unfortunately, they are very, very long stories, so you must ask your mother if you can stay and listen."

"Mother!" "Can we stay for all of the stories, mother?!" Again the two boys spoke over each other and Aegon turned to look towards Alicent who appeared to make a show of having a look of deliberation.

"Only if you behave."

"I promise!" "Promise!"

Alicent's expression relented "Very well, you may stay and listen after you finish your meal." Alicent said before she pinned a look on her children and it was moments later that Aegon the Younger began to practically hoover up his meal whilst one of the maids brought over Aemond's plate for him to eat.

Aegon looked towards Helaena and saw her still nibbling at her food, with her peas arranged to look like a snake or a worm. "Do you also want to stay and listen, Helaena?" Aegon waited for a few moments but the girl did not respond and before Aegon could speak more, Aegon the Younger piped up.

"She doesn't speak to anyone. Not really." Aegon the Younger said before he put another mouthful of scrambled eggs in his mouth.

"Helaena is…different." Alicent carefully said, drawing Aegon's attentions. "She is shy and doesn't talk to people she doesn't know."

"I see." Aegon said before he looked towards the girl of five namedays. He wondered if she was autist- the girl looked up from her meal and directly met his gaze and he was surprised to see that she seemed like she wasn't looking at him.

"Many eyes…does it hurt having so many?" Helaena asked in a murmur before she regained focus in her own violet eyes after she'd blinked a few times before she looked down at her meal, as if nothing happened.

But for Aegon…he did not think that this was nothing.

"Forgive her ramblings, she has a…wild imagination." Alicent said and he glanced towards her, saw her with a fixed smile.

"She does that all the time." Aegon the Younger helpfully supplied and Aegon looked towards the younger boy. "Say weird things. Draw weird things. The other day, she drew a fly! A fly and she named it after me!" Aegon the Younger said with a wrinkled nose before he took another bite of his meal.

'Or perhaps she drew me…flies possess eyes unlike most other' Aegon set aside the thought of when the girl could have learnt what a fly's eyes looked like and instead turned towards Alicent. "There is nothing to forgive. Mine own daughter Rhaena likes to draw as well." Aegon said to Alicent and his comment drew a smile from her.

'But unlike my daughter…yours might well be a Seer' Aegon thought as he leaned back and waited patiently for the boys to finish their meals.

He couldn't be sure she was but he would still remain in Kings Landing for another week after the wedding tonight, long enough for him to figure out if she was.

And if she was…

Aegon looked towards Helaena, who still nibbled at her food with the kinds of behaviour that marked that she might have a touch of autism or OCD, with a considering look for a moment before he looked towards Aemond who had been scraping at the plate with his fork and began to help the child with cutting the piece of meat into something more bitesize.

Ever since Viserys proposed a 'possibility' of matching Aemond with Rhaena, he'd considered the idea of securing Helaena for his eldest but had largely dismissed it for the simple reason that the Hightowers needed Helaena to remain.

They needed Helaena as either a match with a Great House, such as the Lannisters, the Baratheons or most likely the Velaryons through Corwyn, or they would match her with Aegon the Younger to further legitimise him in front of the realm as a legitimate eldest son of House Targaryen.

Matching Helaena with a distant branch House, who were moons away from providing any kind of aid at a time they'd need it, compounded by the fact that Aegon would not relent from having Helaena raised amongst his children…

Getting them to give up Aemond was going to be hard enough. No, it was going to be as impossible as getting Helaena as a match for his son.

The need of Aemond as a dragonrider superseded almost everything, considering how strong the 'Black' faction was with Vermithor, Silverwing and Caraxes.

It was almost certainly why his little nephew Aegon the Younger was made to bond with a large and grown dragon like Dreamfyre at only five namedays, a decision that reeked of miserable desperation…

And if they failed to win over House Velaryon to their cause…

"I'm finished!" Aegon the Younger declared and Aemond spoke through a full mouth before he pushed aside the plate and looked upward at Aegon.

"Well done, both of you." Aegon said with a smile before he sat up a little as he adjusted Aemond and put him on his knee facing Aegon the Younger.

'I wish I could save you from the hardship and pain you will suffer at the ambitions of others…' Aegon thought sombrely.

'And I wish I was strong enough to take you away from all of this…'

"Now, I shall start with the story of Astapor and its wild and dangerous deserts where it was so hot it turns sand into glass…"

A little while later…

The servants and the guards took the children away, back to their royal apartment, and it left behind Aegon and Alicent with the ever present shadow of Ser Criston Cole.

The two boys were reluctant to leave after his stories, particularly Aegon the Younger who, by means of being older, was grasped more by the stories Aegon told and had enraptured him so.

"Thank you for today." Alicent said after the children had left the dining room and Aegon turned to look at her, and saw a look of appreciation on her face.

"It is no matter. Truly. I enjoyed regaling them with the stories." Aegon paused for a moment before he smiled at her, a soft hum leaving him before he continued.

"They remind me of mine own children. I could always make them sit and listen with my stories." At this Alicent's smile grew wider.

"I can understand. Even I was taken by your stories." She paused for a moment before she eyed. "I had worried that you might tell them…too much but I had cause to be afraid, in the end. Even the parts, such as the part about the people of Astapor being reborn into 'angels', a winged people that are good and true, and dragged the stone remains of the harpies into the sea…" She trailed off for a moment before she continued. "You tell your stories so well and so…decent."

'Decent…' One word to describe the perfuming of the shit that is war.

"Hmm. They are children, after all. At this age, they only need to be told stories, no matter how wild and how unrealistic it is." Aegon said to her. He'd skirted around what he ought to tell his eldest children but he'd always done it in a way that was more of a lesson than it was a story.

A bit like today, in all honesty…

Alicent nodded lightly, a smile on her face. "I agree."

There was a moment of pause before she spoke again. "Aegon and Aemond, even Helaena, would surely enjoy another morn or eve such as today."

Aegon considered it for a moment before he nodded. He was still going to try and win over Alicent to the idea of Aemond coming back with him.

It was clear that she cared for her children, as any mother did. The only problem that he saw with her with regards to this, was that she was very much the kind of nobleborn mother of the era.

Distant and judgemental without nearly enough affection to counter it.

It also did not help that she was well aware of the threat her children posed to Daemon and Rhaenyra, likely spelled out gruesomely by her father though he doubted she did not know in the first place anyway. She seemed intelligent enough to realise the situation for what it was.

After all, it was why she allowed the danger of Aegon bonding with a grown dragon despite his fragile age and also why she'd invited him given that he was definitely not in the 'in' with the so-called 'Black' faction.

Despite the fact that the Hightowers likely did not think well of him given that the children had overheard those close to Alicent calling him a sorcerer…

In any case, he hoped that the maternal instinct, or fear perhaps, would tide her over the edge whilst seeing that Aegon was a pious and a family man, and not the heretical sorcerer that he was all but being accused of being.

"I would like that. I have missed many years of my nephews' and nieces' lives. I owe them many stories." Aegon said with a light smile on his face and Alicent smiled back before she bid her goodbye and made to leave, her shadow following her obediently.

Aegon's expression fell as he watched darkly at the man's back.

He did not like that man. He was more than eager to strike at him, a member of House Targaryen, the very House he serves even if he serves it through Alicent.

Was it because he believed Aegon a sorcerer or because his devotion to Alicent and her children was that severe that he would strike down anyone, including Targaryens, in their defence?

'Whatever the case, I do not like how men within the Red Keep itself could dare to strike at a Prince of House Targaryen. Viserys…your house is in disorder.'

"My Prince." His guards greeted as they walked into the room and Aegon lessened the dark look when he saw them coming and set aside his thoughts for now.

"Come. I will visit the Velaryons." Aegon said to his guards.

The Velaryons were in the other royal wing of the holdfast, and so too was Jeyne Arryn and the cousins that remained loyal to her.

After that…well, it'd be time for the wedding.

He only hoped his paranoia was wrong…

Later that day…

Lively music played, low chatter and laughter rang around as the lords and ladies of the realm sat at tables on the repurposed throne room.

The attendance was spectacular.

Lords and Ladies of the Reach; Lords and Ladies of the Westerlands; Lords and Ladies of the Stormlands, the Riverlands and the Vale, nearly every House worth its salt was in attendance and even beyond Westeros, there were dignitaries of Braavos and Tyrosh, and it was a curious sight to see the dignitaries seated next to House Bracken and House Mooton.

"House Tully with their Lord Grover Tully. Lord Paramount of the Trident, Master of Riverrun." The Lord Commander Rickard Thorne announced as the Tullys walked into the throne room with his sons Oscar Tully and Humfrey Tully, two men that he'd gotten to know a little during the progression.

"If I remember correctly, you were on good terms with the sons of Lord Tully." Came the voice beside Aegon. Aegon glanced towards the direction of the voice and he saw Lord Strong looking at him inquisitively.

Aegon did not mind the Lord Strong.

He'd been partial to the man since he'd read that letter in Fylloris that laid the blame on Lord Strong's feet for the…offense given in the earlier letter.

Since then, though it had only been a handful of occasions, the impression the burly man had given had only solidified his opinion on the man.

A dutiful enough man who seemed to have Viserys' best interests in mind as a priority, always. Even at the cost at himself. Even at the cost of taking humiliation and blame for something he was not to blame for.

The bullshit the man had helped engineer about the matter about independence of Crown authority, the point that the matter was contingent on the settling of formal and binding ties, was not so much something that could be held against the man.

It was, after, just business, and just as it was business that Aegon expected to settle the matter once and for all after this wedding.

Still…

Just thinking about it infuriated Aegon…

In any case, Lord Strong seemed to be a great deal better to be a Lord Hand than nearly everyone of these self-serving lords…

"Once upon a time. Many years have passed since that progression, Lord Hand. I am sure you understand that time weathers all." Aegon said in answer with a thin smile before he looked back towards the Tullys who were paying their respects to Viserys and Rhaenyra at the raised table that was in front of the Iron Throne, the same table Aegon sat on by at the very edge of it on the right side, next to Lord Strong.

Oscar Tully saw him and nodded respectfully to him, which Aegon returned, before Oscar turned away towards their seats at the fronts of one of the tables.

He hadn't had much time to speak with them, even though he'd seen them during the arrival…ceremony, having been too preoccupied to play the character of a 'pious hero Prince' amongst the lords and ladies of the realm, as it had been far more important to secure his perception amongst these people.

Still, given that they had the opportunity to speak with him but didn't, was fair enough, Aegon supposed. It wasn't like they owed each other anything.

He had his suspicions though.

The Tullys were a pious lot and Grover in particular was a surly man that hadn't seemed to like him much at the time of the progression, something he'd chalked because he was a Targaryen more than him personally.

No doubt that the man had thought his perception of Aegon, and perhaps the Targaryens in general, validated by the rumours that followed his steps.

Aegon didn't particularly care, only that the man kept his opinions away from him.

In any case, it seemed as well that Oscar's son Elmo Tully had grown well into a boy nearing adulthood. He'd heard the boy had been born a few years before his departure…

"That is true, my Prince." Lord Strong noted in that quiet voice of his. "Nothing ever lasts forever." Lord Strong remarked quietly, even for him and Aegon thought that it was more meant for himself than for Aegon.

Aegon didn't say anything to that for there was nothing to say, nor did he care to find out the meaning about it, and simply watched as the Arryns were announced in by the Lord Commander.

The Arryns arrived in their distinct blue colours, though Laenor and his…sworn shield arrived in dissimilar colourings.

He'd never met the Jeyne Arryn nor had he spoken with her for she had only arrived in the capital two days ago and he was rather curious of her.

Not many women could resist coups against them, repeatedly, and he was curious to know what kind of woman she was…outside of the likely leaning of her tastes.

In that, at least, she and Laenor were a match made in the Seven Heavens.

In any case, he wanted to speak with the woman that Aemma kept close correspondence with, or at least with the Lady Paramount's regent, if only to sate his curiosity about the woman that Aemma held in high esteem of.

Jeyne Arryn and Laenor arrived at the raised table and offered their respects and Aegon noted and filed away the flicker of excitement in Rhaenyra's eyes when she and Jeyne Arryn spoke and the couple walked away though not before Laenor inclined his head towards Aegon, which Aegon returned.

He'd met the man briefly on the eve before he and the other Velaryons departed for Kings Landing before the man remained on Driftmark with his sister for a time.

Curiously, Jeyne Arryn must have already been travelling by ship by the time Leanor had arrived on Driftmark given she arrived on time…

The Lord Commander continued to announce the arrival of the last of the Houses, which coincidentally was the Great Houses and the 'important' Houses.

The Tyrells were announced, then the Baratheons, with the Borros Baratheon coming up to the table to pay his respects to Viserys and Rhaenyra. Aegon met the man's gaze when the man looked towards him, though the man did little else but stare at him for a moment before he walked away.

'The feeling is mutual…' Aegon mused as he watched the man leave. That was a man that Aegon had little trouble believing was part of the lot of nobles that disliked him immensely.

'Though my dislike for you, Baratheon, is more than you can understand…' The Baratheons were a disloyal, fickle and prideful lot. Just like the majority of the Great Houses, to be sure, but Aegon just really did not like the Baratheons.

His dislike for the Baratheons, and his desires for their future, which, in comparison for what he wished for House Lannister and the other Western Houses, which was not nearly driven by irrationality as it was pragmatism since he believed that it was beyond stupid to let these Houses keep the realms' major gold and silver mines, was amongst the most ridiculous biases he had.

Personal dislike, their boastful nature and outsized pride…

It was fine…he kept it to himself, after all, nor did he let it affect him.

For now.

The Velaryons followed after the Baratheons, a full brood of them which included the distant cousins such as Aeryn Velaryon. The only ones missing from their party were Laena and Daeron Velaryon. Laena had feared for her pregnancy and did not wish to risk it and so had decided to remain on Driftmark and forego attendance.

Aegon grimaced internally. He hoped Seleyse's agents on Driftmark were able to provide some proof of what he suspected was happening…

Corwyn's health issues, the symptom of being born with weak lungs, sounded strange to Aegon. He was no doctor and most of the knowledge of medicine and healing that he knew was more what he'd learnt since he was reborn with only the knowledge of concepts of advanced medicine of his first life's era helping.

But he struggled to believed that healers and maesters were capable of caring for a infant born with weak lungs. From what he remembered, he thought that such instances required the infants to need respirators.

If that was the case, then Corwyn should have died.

But he hadn't, and the child was recovering well from his infancy problems.

Thanks to the Braavosi healers who had diagnosed weak lungs and found ways to remedy it…

In any case, whether it was true or not, did not really matter. What mattered was whether or not Corwyn had been unlucky in the genetic lottery or if it was induced.

There was, after all, a whole order of wise men that had libraries full of knowledge and effects of plants and concoctions…an order that was known, even if obscurely, as grey rats, the same kinds of grey rats he'd since in the flames…

He'd tasked Seleyse to find out who served the castles of Driftmark, the movements of the maester there and if there had been any ships from Oldtown that'd arrived nine moons before the birth of Corwyn.

It'd be like finding a needle in a haystack but he only needed a small piece of proof, or at least a small piece of evidence that he could use to turn the gears in the Velaryons.

Whether or not he'd find it…he was doubtful.

Preventative means were far more effective than detective-like investigations, especially here where there was no real tools or investigation techniques but merely about seeing patterns in documents such as the harbourmaster's records and speaking to people…

Whatever the case, he would have to let his suspicions known to Velaryons even if he didn't find any proof…

Aegon set aside those thoughts as he watched them sit at the front seats directly by the left side of the raised table, where uncle Vaegon was also seated with the Grandmaester Mellos.

He'd briefly spoken with his uncle at the royal library though it was more Aegon answering questions about the number of scholars and the number of books he'd taken and saved in his campaign…

They had not spoken yet about if he'd accepted his offer but the fact that he was here was something that Aegon considered to be acceptance enough given that Vaegon would not care for weddings…he'll deal with it after the tourney…

The Lannisters were announced in after the Velaryons and then the Hightowers, which included amongst their ranks Otto Hightower.

Aegon watched them closely as they approached the raised table, and though he could hear, barely, their words, he was more interested in what they showed.

Curiously, Alicent was yet to show up to the wedding ceremony, something that he'd seen Viserys merely chalk off when he saw lords ask about her, something he could only guess at from the way they'd looked at the empty chair beside him…

In any case, he wasn't disappointed in what he saw in the Hightower faces.

Nor was he disappointed by the forced look on Rhaenyra's face.

When the Hightowers finished giving their respects, Aegon was subjected to a few glances by the Hightowers, namely that of the Lord Hightower and a few other Hightowers he did not know the names of.

Finally, the time came for the arrival of the Royces…and his brother.

"Prince Daemon of House Targaryen and his lady wife, Lady Rhea Royce of House Royce. Master of Runestone." The Lord Commander announced as his brother walked in by the side of his goodsister, the Lady Rhea.

"And their son and heir, Prince Baelon of Houses Targaryen and Royce, the future King Consort." The Lord Commander said as Baelon walked in behind his parents with a few other Royces behind him. Ser William and Ser Gunthor.

The clapping took Aegon by surprise as the lords and ladies began to stand up and clap at the entrance of the Royces and his brother, and the surprise went away with amusement talking its place, especially given the look that he was seeing on Daemon's face and the strut that he was walking with.

'The man's a peacock…' Aegon thought as he fought a smile.

The clapping stopped when Baelon walked up towards the raised table, dressed in bronze and black attire which, with his long dark curls and his pale complexion, made him look like a dashing Prince that made one forget that he had not yet even reached four and ten namedays.

Rhaenyra stood up and walked around the table and Baelon walked up the steps to meet her half way.

The whole hall went silently quiet so when Rhaenyra spoke, her voice travelled through the hall almost unimpeded.

"My Betrothed." Rhaenyra said as she raised her hand and Baelon took it and pulled it gently towards his lips.

"My Betrothed." Baelon said before he kissed her knuckles and pivoted to stand by her, both of their arms rising and once again, the nobles began to clap at the scenes.

Moments later, Daemon and Rhea walked up towards the raised table with Daemon, a wide prideful smirk on his face, inclining his head to Viserys whilst Rhea bowed her head at the man.

Soon enough, they took their seats, Rhaenyra and Baelon sitting next each other already, at the other end of the table.

Aegon watched as Viserys stood up from his seat, the crown of Aegon the Conqueror adorned on his head, and began to speak.

Viserys began his speech, a speech in which he welcomed the nobles to the wedding of his heir and Viserys proselytised about the joining of the lines of the eldest sons of Prince Baelon the Brave, the boy who'd dared to whack Balerion the Black Dread on the snout and walked away from it.

It was clever, to draw the reminder of the namesake Baelon Targaryen-Royce was named after, and also to remind the nobles of Viserys himself, the man who last rode the greatest dragon since the Doom.

It drew laughter from the nobles and Aegon watched curiously at the reactions of the Hightowers who remained stoically faced amidst the words of Viserys.

Viserys continued in his proselytising, speaking with flowery and praising words about the line of the Bronze Kings who draw back a legacy to the Age of Heroes and a House that is known for its honour and its warriors, and which Viserys added that Baelon was only the latest reincarnation of the best of the Royces, words that made Baelon smile at Viserys whilst Rhea drew her eyes towards her son, a faint smile on her face.

The other Royces, the ones that remained faithful to Rhea, similarly looked pleased by the words of Viserys, and a cursory glance at the rest of the nobles of the Vale indicated that enough of them were pleased as well by the words.

Curiously, Daemon did not look displeased by the praise for the Royces, despite the fact that the man had hated the Royces for as long as the man had married into them. A child does seem to bridge the gaps in their case, it seemed…

Viserys continued in his speech, drawing on Rhaenyra's own connection to the Vale, of Aemma Arryn, and Aegon saw the cracking in his expression.

And when Viserys began to speak of the Arryns, he was interrupted in mid-sentence and Aegon saw where he was looking and Aegon turned his eyes towards that direction and Aegon struggled to keep his expression neutral at the sight of what he was seeing.

There, at the entrance of the hall, stood Alicent, adorned in the Good Queen's crown, dressed in splendour with Hightower Green colouring.

She looked regal, she looked beautiful and she looked strong in a way only some women could be, the image she presented only made stronger with how she walked with her hands on her swollen belly.

Murmurs began and whispers in ears were a dime a dozen amongst the nobles as they began to stand before the Queen and Aegon turned his eyes towards Viserys, who looked shocked at the sight of his wife.

Aegon then turned his eyes towards his other brother and Aegon narrowed his eye at the way Daemon looked dangerously at Alicent. He had murder in his eyes.

Rhaenyra herself looked shocked too, whilst Baelon looked a little confused whilst Rhea seemed to be clenching her fists as she stared stoically at the coming Alicent.

Aegon then turned his eyes towards Corlys and Rhaenys, both of whom he saw staring at Alicent with Corlys leaning into Rhaenys' ear.

Surprisingly, or unsurprisingly, Vaegon looked indifferent to the dramatics, and instead watched Alicent come closer.

Aegon saw Alicent look towards the Hightowers, some of whom kept a neutral expression, including her father, but some he could see were pleased by the display, by the formal declaration.

He'd heard before that the division of the Greens and the Blacks had already been made, long before this wedding, he mused as he watched her walk around and congratulate Rhaenyra before she kissed Viserys' cheek.

Alicent had made a similar display before at court when Rhaenyra had been invested as the Crown Princess of Dragonstone, but now, in front of the whole realm, it was a kind of declaration that none would miss to understand.

The Hightowers were not going to accept Rhaenyra as heir.

And the question they were asking…

'Will you accept her as heir?'

He watched on as Viserys struggled to get his bearing and Aegon took his seat again when Viserys asked them to be seated and Lyonel quietly told Viserys where he'd left off and moments later Viserys continued to speak about the Arryns and that their legacy shone in his daughter.

He continued to speak about the significance of the wedding and what it would mean for Westeros, a second age of dragons that would see the long peace in Westeros continued, words that garnered claps from the nobles, claps that Aegon was sure was as hollow as the pageantry Viserys had shown when Aegon had arriv-

Aegon felt a chill ran down his spine as the words of Viserys' were tuned out into background noise, his attentions, his eye, his ears, his entire being, caught by the two figures that stood standing right in front of the raised table.

An old man, white of hair and ancient looking, a sole eye and an empty eye socket for company, stood there dressed in a cloak made of raven feathers as dark as the night.

Beside the old man, there was a boy that Aegon recognised well.

Thick auburn hair covered his head, curls of auburn that touched his shoulders and smatterings of hair on his chin. He was dressed in finely made leather, the same that Aegon recognised from another life.

These…they were Bloodraven and Bran Stark, the two who were as entwined with the entities known as the Old Gods as any historical figure ever was in this world.

Who were as much part of the entities that were the Old Gods as the Children of the Forest were.

And, as they stood talking, staring at the left side of the table, where Baelon and Rhaenyra sat, Aegon felt a swell of hatred rise from within him at the very sight of these bastards.

Their eyes turned towards him, towards Aegon, suddenly and in surprise, and Aegon let go of that feeling of hatred as fast and quickly as he could, as he pretended not to notice their presence.

'Did they feel my hatred…?' Aegon wondered to himself as he forced himself to become neutral, knowing that he could not find it within himself to become serene.

Aegon continued to look towards Viserys, his head angled in such a way that he could still see them from the corner of his eyes and he could tell they were talking about him as well as they had been talking about Rhaenyra and Baelon, and he tilted his head slightly more so when Viserys finished his speech about holding a tournament after the wedding tonight which garnered the musicians to begin playing again.

He watched as the two entities, astral projections or whatever the fuck they were, turned towards the Hightowers and he watched as the older man took on a teaching quality to Bran Stark who he could barely staring at them curiously.

"Are you alright, my Prince?" Aegon heard from beside him, drawing him out of his focus and Aegon buried the feeling of annoyance as he turned to look towards Lyonel Strong. "You seem tense and you've barely touched your food." The man added with a curious look on his face.

Aegon looked past him and saw Viserys talking with Alicent in hushed tones before he averted his eye back towards meeting Lord Strong's gaze.

"Anyone who has a lick of sense would be tense, my Lord Hand." Aegon said with a thin smile which caught the Lord Strong by surprise.

Aegon turned away from the man when he did not respond immediately, back towards the two unwanted guests, and he felt his annoyance grow in bitter anger when he saw that they were gone, instead, the only people he could see in the middle was Rhaenyra and Baelon opening the dance.

"I see." Lord Strong finally seemed to have settle on saying after the clapping for the two soon-to-be wed heirs' dance finished and Aegon turned back at the man, the bitter anger still reigning strong.

"I do not think you do, Lord Strong. For if you did, you would know that anyone who cares for their family would lose their appetite after a…display such as this eve…and what it may mean." Aegon said before he stood up and made his way towards the Velaryons as more people began to stand up and take to dance.

'Was my existence not enough to change things? Will it all be for nothing?' Aegon never felt a greater sense of despair than in this moment in time.

Their existence, despite the existence of Baelon, who existed thanks to Aegon's meddling, should have been written out thanks to the butterfly effect.

The only reason they still existed, the only reason why they were here, today, in this place, would be if they were made to exist.

Despair gave way for the hottest of rages, the same kind of rage he'd felt when Lessela dared to inquire about his children.

'How dare they…? How dare they push things towards a certain direction?'

How much was actually free will?

Did they manipulate minds? During dreams, especially the dreams of Targaryens who always believed in their own hype, making them easy to make pawns of?

Did they cause the deaths of those who were unwanted in the narrative they sought to bring about, the song of Ice and Fire? How many people did they kill off to bring about this present moment?

…and why did Aegon still exist, knowing as well they did the trouble Aegon could make for them with regards to the fulfilment of their narrative, knowing that Aegon and his children presented a threat to their song of Ice and Fire?

Was the God-level intervention that created him that powerful that even they could not manipulate time and fate into their favour?

Aegon let the rage disperse as he arrived at where the Velaryons were. 'It does not matter…' Aegon decided. It does not matter to dwell on anything he could not affect. The only thing that mattered, was that he made sure that his Elamaerys, his children and their descendants, were not gripped in their games.

He would not see Elamerys gripped in their poisonous hands. Theirs or anyone else's. Even one such as Bran Stark, an agent of their Will.

That was his vow…his ultimate vow.

And he would see it through.

Even if it cost him his life.

A day later…at the Royal Tourney Grounds

Aegon was discussing the end of the squire's melee, the first of the tourney games, with a few lords from the Crownlands that included Lord Staunton, Lord Rosby, Lord Celtigar and Eldric Sunglass and Bartimos Celtigar when he saw Sealord of Braavos approaching them.

'Interesting…' Aegon mused and he wondered what the Sealord might want with him. They'd spoken briefly, particularly when the nobles had asked about the relationship they had when it came to the liberation of Essos, though the contents of that interaction were no more than pageantry…

Soon enough everyone also saw him coming. "Sealord." Lord Rosby was the first to comment, acknowledging the man with some interest.

"Lords of Westeros. Prince Aegon." Sealord Tregario Phassolis said with an inclined head and a smile on his face and the others acknowledged the man.

"If I may, my lords, prise away your Prince from you for a few moments." The Sealord said with that genial smile on his face.

The Lords looked to Aegon and Aegon inclined his head slightly and soon enough, Aegon was left behind with the man and the Sealord took to stand by Aegon's side.

For a moment, neither of them said anything as they stood by one another, watching the rest nobles drink and feast. They were at the cordoned area by the Tourney Grounds, which served to be a kind of afterparty for the invited nobles.

Some of the nobility, such as the Arryns and the Tyrells, had left and made the journey back home, though most remained and were present here today, talking and drinking with one another. Aegon's eyes went towards the raised table that sat upon a platform where Viserys was with his wife, Rhea Royce, Rhaenyra and Baelon whilst Daemon was absent.

He wasn't sure where Daemon was…likely preparing for his joust in the only way he sees to be worthwhile…through relieving some stress with some whores from one of Seleyse's whorehouses…

"It is interesting, these games of yours. We do not have such entertaining ceremonies." The Sealord commented, breaking the silence. "Though I am surprised to find yourself declining to participate and your nephew too. It could have been some showing had he taken part and won today's squire's melee."

He'd caused some surprise by his refusal to take part of the tourney. It seemed people expected him to take part. Including Daemon, who'd mocked him in his Daemon-way for declining when he himself was taking part of the joust and including Viserys who tried to persuade him to change his mind.

He had no interest in show-ponying any more than he already was.

Aegon glanced at the man before he started to walk, and he gestured the man to follow. "I beg to differ. Your city is famed for glorious duels for the hands of courtesans and maidens. Is that not a game of a kind itself?" Aegon mused with a curious look on his face before he continued. "My time in taking part of these tourneys has long and gone whilst I am sure you understand my nephew was too preoccupied with his newly wedded wife to think of much else."

Likely for the best.

He had not seen his nephew with a sword before but he'd be hard pressed to defeat the two that had been left standing, the heir of House Corbray and a son of House Reyne. Both had made good account of themselves and they were talented.

The Sealord chuckled and inclined his head as if in agreement. "The duels of passion can be taken that way though, unlike your games, those duels tend to be deadly." The Sealord said with a smile that was difficult to get a reading of.

"Matters of the heart are quite serious after all." The Sealord looked away from Aegon and he saw the direction the man was looking towards. The table where the royal family sat. "Yes, I understand why your nephew would be taken with your niece. Truly, the Realm's Delight. There would be many in Braavos would butcher each other for her hand."

Aegon smiled thinly but he did not deign to give that an answer, instead, he moved onto a separate subject. "I was surprised to see that Braavos would come to a Westerosi wedding, let alone the Sealord of Braavos." Aegon mused aloud with a glance at the man who only smiled at him.

"Why would we not want to attend? Your family has been consequential in recent years." The Sealord explained and Aegon resisted the urge to narrow his eye at the phrase he used…'consequential'.

The Sealord continued, a placid smile on his face. "Some say the glorious years of your House had come during the time of King Jaehaerys whilst others say this era is perhaps as glorious as that of your grandfather."

"And what do you believe?" Aegon questioned as he watched the Sealord from the corner of his eye.

"I believe that the glorious years of your House still continues to this day and perhaps your brother sees it right and your House will continue the age of dragons." The Sealord said with a smile on his face.

'A square lie. The idea of House Targaryen continuing its 'golden age' almost certainly concerns the Braavosi and it is not one the Braavosi would favour, not after the havoc he and his brother have caused. And when the Sealord returns and lets the others known about the division in House Targaryen, thanks to the blatant statement by Alicent, no doubt will they watch on with interest'.

"Especially if some of your family, such as yourself" the Sealord said with a placid smile "leave such a lasting and significant mark on the world."

"A mark which you, of course, have benefitted and continue to benefit greatly of." Aegon remarked with a thin smile as he placed his hands behind his back.

He'd seen the reports in Liberty Bay.

How Braavosi investments in the region was massive as they bought mines, lands and entire parts of guilds such as garment makers and olive oil producers, for what is pretty much a pittance when you compared how much it would cost anywhere in Westeros or in the lands controlled by Braavos.

The Regency Council had put a halt to it now, but the Braavosi had firmly gotten their hands into the Liberty Bay cities and they were profiting greatly from it.

And then there was Myr.

From what he understood, there was almost a battle between the Lysene and the Braavosi for carving out Myr with debts and purchases after he'd basically bankrupted the city in exchange for their lives.

And from what he understood, Braavos was leading well ahead of Lys when it came to carving out Myr for their own.

"That is true." The Sealord inclined his head. "Our partnership has been very fruitful for Braavos and its people." The Sealord smiled again. "And it has been fruitful for many formerly enslaved peoples."

"As it was meant to." Aegon noted and the Sealord hummed as he nodded his head, seemingly in agreement.

"As the people of Braavos wanted. The opportunities are merely a wonderful happenstance." The Sealord said and Aegon looked at man with amusement.

"But not yourself? I hear you might have been somewhat unhappy when you agreed to the proposal Sallen Baerros had put in front of you."

"Am I not a person of Braavos?" the Sealord said with a raised eyebrow, the smile on his face did not fool Aegon. "It was and is an honour to our ancestors to continue the work against slavery, even if it had come…unexpected."

"Of course, of course. No doubt, you were surprised to find yourself in common cause with a dragonlord." Aegon agreed as he eyed the Braavosi keenly, the smile on his face widening as he spoke further. "It is likely why I have not faced a Faceless Man arriving in my bedchambers at a most inopportune moment, isn't it?"

The smile on his face remained but it looked fixed for a moment before he controlled himself once more. "We do not control the Faceless Men, my Prince. I am merely the ruler of the Free City of Braavos, and my friends merely Keyholders."

"Hmm." Aegon made out as he met the man's eyes. "Most believe that we, the Targaryens, control our dragons. It is far from the truth. They are as intelligent as men themselves, simply…different. We merely are companions they chose." Aegon smiled at the Sealord before he continued.

"We do not control them either."

The Sealord's smile grew a little at that before he looked away from Aegon.

"Our partnership has been fruitful and it has been good for the people of Essos." The Sealord said in answer, all but indicating that they do have some control of, or at least influence with, the House of Black and White.

The Myrrish should have been able to send Faceless Men at Aegon at some point or another. That they didn't, especially considering how existentially threatening Aegon had been, indicated that either they were refused or they were being charged an incredible price to kill him.

Perhaps the Braavosi had no hand in the workings of the House of Black and White but Aegon did think that if the Braavosi truly wanted it, they could have gotten the Faceless Men to go after him.

"I understand." Aegon said before he looked away from the Sealord of Braavos.

At least that question was answered, in a way at least.

There was a chance that the Sealord wanted him to come to a wrong conclusion but he was inclined to think otherwise.

There was a long moment of silence that neither seemed particularly keen to break, and they ignored the looks that were sent their way by some of the lords and including his brother, and instead Aegon decided to focus on a future matter.

"With the Triarchy destroyed and their Cities on the path to truly become Free Cities, or in the case of Lys already being there, I am curious to know if you and your fellow Braavosi are…interested in seeing the rest of Essos liberated."

The Sealord looked at him with an inscrutable look. "Mere curiosity or a proposition?" the man asked with a calm tone of voice.

Aegon hummed before he answered. "Perhaps both. My men and I have fought enough to last us a lifetime but there will be boys, men in half a generation, who will be interested in gaining glory and fame like their fathers. Who wish to follow suit in the noble endeavour of liberating enslaved peoples."

"The young always romanticise the achievements of their fathers." The Sealord said in answer, which was more of an acknowledgement than it was anything else.

"Quite." Aegon said with a thin smile. "And what better glory is there but glory achieved in liberating many more slaves across Essos with an ally like Braavos to help see it through?" Aegon posed as he met the Sealord's eyes and the man came to a stop which Aegon followed to do as well.

The man was silent for a few moments. "You would propose that years from now, a decade or two, to liberate and transition cities and lands like Liberty Bay?"

"Yes. Like Pentos…like Norvos." Aegon idly commented before he carelessly shrugged his comments away. "That is, of course, only if Braavos is interested in removing the taint of slavery from its neighbours."

"Braavos is always interested in destroying the practice." Came the quick response from the Sealord. "Which is already showing to be in decline thanks to our partnership." The Sealord said in answer.

'Yes…thanks to our partnership. Well, so long as I don't have to face the Faceless Men when I am unsure I can overcome them, fuck it, I do not mind to call it a partnership.' "Decline does not mean elimination and it may take centuries longer for the practice to be gone if only for the fact that too many would hold on to owning people as a right and tradition."

"The removal of Volantis would ensure that it declines faster and more permanent." The Sealord remarked as he met Aegon's eye.

"I'm not in a habit of destroying entire cities as I might have to with Volantis." He answered with a thin smile.

"From what I hear, you could have pressured them the same as you did with Myr." The Sealord as he eyed Aegon intently. Aegon showed nothing. Ambiguity was the name of the game. The Braavosi might believe what the people of Myr are saying, but ultimately they did not experience it. They did not see it.

And thus, there will always be doubt.

It was same doubt and disbelief that gripped the lords of Westeros and his brothers.

How can it be that a man, even with a dragon could burn a whole city within a single moment, like the Myrrish claimed?

No, it was better to believe they were exaggerating beyond belief, that they were lying to cover up their cowardice at a display of dragonflame.

And that was exactly the kind of belief that he was seeing the Sealord's eyes.

"I do not think I can scare them like I scared the Myrrish magisters with a display of dragonflame." Aegon said with a careless wave of the hand. "No, I would have to take a prepared Volantis which would yield great casualties of the same men needed to protect Liberty Bay from the Dothraki and other hostile powers."

"We would be interested in supplying you with arms and men if you were to change your mind." The Sealord said and Aegon made a show of a look of surprise before he strategically narrowed his eyes.

"I would have thought you had enough of the chaos I created in Essos."

The Sealord's expression shifted slightly before he spoke. "Volantis is…becoming a problem." The words surprised Aegon though it should not have. His intelligence from Volantis was not exactly much. The Braavosi on the other hand…?

Well, they were natural enemies of Volantis, and have been at each other's throat a dozen times throughout the last three hundred years, though not once in the past hundred or so years.

In any case, it should mean that Braavosi had networks of information available in Volantis to keep them informed.

Aegon remained silent though the look of interest in his face allowed the Sealord to understand that he wanted to know more. "Over the past few moons, Volantis has elected two and ten different triarchs." Aegon's eyebrows rose at that news.

The Sealord continued. "The new triarchs are neither of the Elephants or the Tigers, an unprecedented instance, and we can see the hands of the Red Temple at play." The Sealord said as he eyed Aegon intently and Aegon internally grimaced at the news.

'I hadn't known they were going go that route.' Aegon thought to himself.

He knew that his reveal of information about the Great War that was to come was going to have consequences but he did not think that they would act so blatantly and so suddenly to secure power.

'Was this how they would properly sweep through Liberty Bay and convert the region?' Aegon wondered.

They'd already started but perhaps the paintings meant this.

"And why should it matter to either of us?" Aegon questioned. "Neither the Elephants or the Tigers are exactly our friends."

"Of course, but we understood them." The Sealord said with a twisting expression.

"We do not trust the motives of the Red Faith, who now rule Volantis in all but name. The triarchs elected now are devout followers." The Sealord said.

Aegon studied the man and he came to a conclusion. "You fear that they will be out of control."

"The Priests of R'hllor have been…difficult in the past. Them controlling Volantis and its sister cities is not something we would wish to see."

Not that surprising. The R'hllorists were basically apologists and supporters of slavery. Most of their priests and servants are slaves or start as slaves.

Their staunch opposition to the Others was basically the main redeeming quality.

Aegon took a moment before he answered. "I am not interested in waging another war, especially when the cities in question have signed a non-aggression treaty with me and do not seem interested in threatening Liberty Bay or Lys."

"And yet you are keen to plan out a war a decade or two against those who have no quarrel with you?" the Sealord questioned.

"A consideration only done to honour this partnership and common cause we find ourselves in." Aegon said with a thin smile and the Sealord inclined his head in acceptance or at least the appearance of it.

"I understand." The Sealord paused for a moment before he continued. "You should know…the Priests are almost certainly responsible for the death of Saerra Targaryen, your wife's sister, and the death of your children." The Sealord said those words with commiseration but Aegon knew it meant nothing.

Only that the man was using this…news as a weapon. 'I will have to find out…for Gael's sake at least…' Aegon thought to himself soberly. Gael did not know Saerra.

By the time Saerra had her scandal, Gael had been only something like four namedays old. For Gael, Saerra had always been more of a hopeful link, a sisterly link, that was always left unrequited by Saerra, despite the letters sent there.

Once…once he'd hoped perhaps he could find a match with one of her descendants but that quickly faded away like so many other considerations…

Aegon narrowed his eye slowly. "Are you certain they are dead?"

"Certain? Only in the case of Saerra Targaryen. Some say she was killed because of the…political situation created because of the wars around Volantis" 'Basically because me' was what the Sealord was saying. "however we believe that the Red Priests were responsible. In the case of her children and her grandchildren, they seem to have disappeared one by one, including the children she had with prominent members of their society."

'I have a bad feeling about this…' Aegon thought to himself.

He remembered well how Lessela and other members of the Red Faith had looked at him. As if he was some kind of prize horse that they cherished dearly.

Could it be that they went after Saerra because of her blood?

Aegon remained silent for a few moments. "I thank you for letting me know. I will inform Viserys of her passing and that of our cousins." Aegon said calmly and the Sealord stared at him for a few moments before he nodded acquiescingly.

"Think nothing of it." The Sealord said with a commiserating smile and it seemed the man understood that Aegon did not wish to have further words on the matter of Volantis when he returned the conversation back to the beginning.

"About the matter of Pentos…and Norvos. I will bring it the proposal back to Braavos for consideration." And Aegon inclined his head to the answer.

"Of course." Aegon said with a thin smile.

"I am curious however…would your sons be part of this…ambitious generation?"

Aegon kept his smile as he met the man's eyes without changing his expression even though he wanted to. "They will remain home. Besides. Our dragons will not be necessary for these wars nor should Braavos want them to be used." Aegon eyed the man intently, his smile broadening as he continued. "After all, in such an alliance, it would be Braavos who would take lead in expelling the practice of slavery on your doorsteps."

Though Aegon intended to maintain a martial culture within Elamaerys, one that fitted in well with the image of an exemplary knight that fought against 'injustices of the world', he would not accept Elamaerys being the only drivers against the injustices.

If the Braavosi continued to be obstinate and unhelpful, he would merely remain focused and remain pivoted to Liberty Bay and have his men prove their mettle against the likes of Montarys, New Ghis and any other slaver cities in the region.

The Sealord looked at him shrewdly before he nodded slightly.

"I see what you mean." The Sealord smiled thinly. "I am sure many would agree that it should be Braavos continuing the endeavours to eliminate the practice, especially on our doorsteps, as you so described."

Aegon inclined his head before he saw a few nobles coming their way. The Sealord saw it too. "It seems our time has come to an end." The Sealord said with a light smile on his face. "It has been…interesting, Prince Aegon."

Aegon looked at the man amused. "I cannot disagree." Aegon lost the look which surprised the Sealord with how sudden the shift was. "One last thing…I wish to purchase the three petrified dragon eggs."

The Sealord's eyebrow raised at his words. "We've already told Sallen Baerros that we don't have them." The Sealord said in answer.

"You told the same to my grandfather. Nevertheless, I would like to purchase them." Aegon said as he turned towards the man. "Even if you were to merely point me towards those who you suspect hold the dragon eggs…that'd suffice. Consider this a favour that I would owe you personally."

"A favour from you?" the Sealord mused and Aegon could see the interest in his eyes.

"Only from me." Aegon said to the man with a calm but firm look.

"And if I was to ask that you…break your association with the Rogare Bank?" The Sealord posed to Aegon, watching him closely.

Aegon resisted the urge to clench his teeth but he knew…it was more important to get those eggs back than working through the Rogare Bank.

"You would cause me great harm in the relationship that I have been cultivating with the Rogares." Aegon responded. 'And not only the Rogares…with Johanna as well…'

The Sealord nodded slightly. "I would of course offer assistance through the Iron Bank if you would have need of it."

'Unlikely…I would sooner buy supplies with the coin I have in the Rogare Bank and compensate my men with mine own coin.' It would soften the blow of divesting himself from the Rogare Bank. He could also 'gift' back the shares he holds with to Johanna…

"If you are able to bring me those dragon eggs, consider it done." Aegon said to the Sealord as he met the man's eyes.

It was irritating but it was not something that he couldn't move on.

The Rogare Bank was meant to be used a means to increase his influence in Lys to poach settlers from the city whilst also an engine to increase investment in Liberty Bay and Aegon could achieve both without the Rogare Bank anyway.

He always intended to create a Bank of Elamaerys anyway, which would hold the wealth and coin they'd won in the campaigns, so he could do the latter through the Bank of Elamaerys, even if he had to adjust things for the next three to five years.

The former, the matter of influence, could be dealt with basically propaganda.

Like how the Americas attracted waves of settlers from Europe.

'The Elamaeri Dream'

It had always been part of the plan, anyway, this propaganda but he'd wanted to make the Lysene to basically grant him as many people as he wanted because he held so much of Lys under his control.

He would have to work things around…

The Sealord's expression, for a moment, showed a glimmer of satisfaction and Aegon could come to a conclusion that the Iron Bank saw the Rogare Bank as a threat. A major one. 'It might just be for the best for now to keep international banking as only an idea…' Aegon mused.

As long as the Braavosi had the Faceless Men, their status as the supreme financial centre of the Known World, outside of Yi-Ti of course, was unchallengeable.

'It will be up to my descendants to figure out how to deal with them…' It was a shame that Aegon was unable to confirm if he could see through their glamour, he thought as he fought to keep the dark expression from showing on his face.

'At least I can see when the likes of them creep in through time.' Aegon thought to himself and the importance of unleashing the 'magic-sight' in his children and their children.

"I will see what I can do." The Sealord said with a light nod. "After all, it may take some time to look through the records of whom may have them. It's been many decades, after all."

Aegon smiled thinly. "Of course." Aegon said with an inclined head. "I will look forward to seeing them." Aegon said more quietly before he turned towards the approaching lords. The Lords Darklyn, Frey, Westerling, Florent and Lord Strong.

"My Lords." Aegon said with an inclined head. The Master of Whispers and the Lord Hand both at the same time coming towards them was no coincidence…

"Prince Aegon. Sealord. We saw you speaking and we were curious what business could have had you speaking so long." The Lord Frey said with a smarmy smile.

"Merely reminiscing of how well our partnership has turned out." The Sealord said with an easy smile. "To think it all started with a mere glass cup." The Sealord said with a chuckle.

"It was no mere glass cup. It was the effort of years of experimentation, Sealord." Aegon replied with a raised eyebrow and a light smile on his face before he looked towards the Lords. "He does that too much, my Lords. Simplifying my great efforts."

"It keeps you humble, my Prince." The Sealord said with a smile. "And it keeps you striving to achieve more." The Sealord said with an inclined head.

"Hear, hear." Said the Lord Frey before he gestured towards himself and the Lord Darklyn. "We would be interested in any further…business endeavours."

"Truly?" The Sealord mused with interest on his face and it made the Lord Frey smile further and it amused Aegon a little.

'This will be entertaining' Aegon thought as he listened to Lord Frey talk animatedly about the reserves of coin and the lands he possessed and the opportunities they could provide, only to be continued by talk by the Westerling Lord which mirrored the points made by Lord Frey.

And it was amusing to see the Sealord pretend to want to hear more about their ideas and what else they could offer.

All as if the Sealord of Braavos cared a single whit about what they possessed.

'Entertaining indeed…'

Days later…At the Manses by the Docks

"Seleyse." Aegon said with a warm smile whilst he rose from his seat behind the desk as she walked gracefully into the solar of the manse. Despite being in her forties, the pale violet eyed blonde was a beauty to behold.

A figure that was still model-esque and not a lick of age seeming to have affected her nor did she lose her seductive streak with the way she smiled at him.

"Prince Aegon." Seleyse curtsied in a flirtatious manner as Aegon walked around the desk, Ser Raevor and Ser Brunn stepping aside and at the edge of the room by the window, and he could see her studying him intently behind a mask of warmth and smiles.

"I must say…I wish I could have seen you through the candle instead of merely hearing your voice. You have grown more impressive than I thought you would." Seleyse said with a twisting as her eyes roved over his body. "Even your scars add to you."

"And you have aged gracefully, Seleyse." Aegon said warmly as he walked up to her and embraced her warmly and he felt her arms wrap around him.

"Hmm. I wonder what Princess Gael would say to this sight." Seleyse teased as they broke their embrace.

"She would forgive me for embracing a dear friend whom I have not seen for many years." Aegon said with an amused smile and Seleyse's lips twitched at that though he could see her relaxing a little at his words.

It was true after all.

Seleyse was a friend and someone who had remained loyal to him despite the fact that she had every opportunity to break free and completely go her own way.

After all, the whorehouses of Kings Landing, Duskendale and even on Driftmark, had her hands involved and she had a great deal of men that she could rely on, some hundred or so that directly worked with her with many of the Gold Cloaks owing favours to her.

But no, they worked together, they shared information with one another, and they worked to improve the lives of others in their own little ways.

"A friend you wait to see until now despite being in the capital for more than a week?" Seleyse asked with a raised eyebrow. Aegon's smile grew a little before he gestured her towards the louning-esque opposing cushioned seats.

"I was a little preoccupied." Aegon said as he took a seat and Seleyse pursed her lips before she then followed and took the seat across from him.

"How was it? I'm told family affairs can be difficult." Seleyse inquired as she crossed her legs. Aegon kept his eye firmly on hers and suppressed that surge of lust as he has always done since he'd been away from Gael.

"You were told correctly." Aegon said with a thin smile as he sat back and Seleyse nodded her understanding.

"You are forgiven." She said with a smile and Aegon looked at her with a hint of wryness in his expression but said nothing to that. No, he was more interested in how things have been. It was one thing to speak through the glass candle, but it was another to speak directly.

They talked for some time. About how she's been and how she's been coping in Kings Landing, and vice versa, idle talk, though they'd progressed rather quickly about other matters.

Matters such as her ownerships of the whorehouses and the news that she was preparing up her 'successor', a woman named Mysaria that was also from Lys.

Apparently she'd met the woman around 103 AC, just around the time that Seleyse and her group were establishing themselves in Kings Landing, in a whorehouse where the teenager had been a dancing girl, and after that, she and her group had taken her in and incorporated the girl in the running of the businesses.

A decade later, Mysaria had risen through the 'ranks', so to speak, and became someone who Seleyse trusted and Aegon knew that Seleyse trusted no one easily.

When Aegon had asked why she was preparing a successor, wondering if she wanted to come to Elamaerys, she danced around the topic for a moment before she finally admitted that she was getting old and that she wanted to return to Lys.

In a roundabout way, she'd asked him if she could return to Lys. Aegon told her instantly that of course she could return home if she so wanted, adding further that Aegon never controlled what she did or wanted to do.

As much as Aegon…manipulated people to behave as he wanted, he only did so because it was for the benefit of both. Every single one of the people that Aegon depended on for something, got something in return for it.

Seleyse got her freedom and she'd gotten the opportunity to take hold of her own destiny and the destiny of other girls and women like her, including offering better lives for people she cared about. Aegon got information, an 'in' with his family from a distance, and he got her aid in getting him things and people he wanted.

Something for something.

He was happy to see her relieved. Admittedly, he was surprised at the admission that she wanted to return to Lys. But then again, he shouldn't be. Lys was and is, home for her. Where she was born. Where she had lived more than half of her life.

And it seems like Kings Landing never quite got to be a replacement for her home.

The conversation after that turned more towards her succession, so to speak. Aegon would remain present for, at most a week more, and he'd get to meet Mysaria who Seleyse said would be able to be trusted with the same role that Seleyse performed for Aegon.

Aegon was reluctant.

He'd known Seleyse and the others of her group for more than a year when they'd been on Dragonstone with him. He'd gotten to know them well and how they thought, and worked, and a few hours across a few days was a poor way to get to understand someone who you gain information from that you would have to trust.

'I don't need Mysaria to speak to me directly…I only need someone I can trust to speak with her and relay that information…'

In the end, after Seleyse confirmed that Mysaria was not told in the secret of the glass candle, Aegon told her that he would decide whether or not he could trust her when he met her.

Some of the things that Seleyse had told him about her was working in her favour, such as her work in ensuring orphans were placed in orphanages funded by the 'collective', which was a collective of businesses and guilds that worked with Justiciars and the captains of the Gold Cloaks to maintain 'order'.

In effect, really, the 'collective' paid off the Justiciars and the Gold Cloaks to turn a blind eye to some matters. Including self-managed debt collecting.

They continued to speak for a while afterwards, discussing matters such as continued funding for a decade longer through the Iron Bank which Seleyse wanted to use, now that the whorehouses were more than enough to pay her protection cut-throats and their other interests and expenditures, as a means to help provide set up businesses and shops for people who may not have the funds.

Aegon agreed easily enough to it as the continued payments from his share of the glass industry in Braavos was significant and the funding he provided was mostly insignificant to that sum, let alone the sum that Aegon had in gold and silver.

The next point had been about the families and the women that Seleyse wanted him to take, which he'd already known in advance, and numbered in some four hundred. The two and ten ships could take the additional people, easily, so it wasn't an issue. Most of them were coming with nothing but the clothes on their backs, which consisted of families of the acolytes and the acolytes themselves with the rest being families and single women with children that she felt deserved a new chance in a new land.

And it was during this point in the conversation that Seleyse took the opportunity to reveal something she should have revealed a long damn time ago.

"You're telling me…" Aegon trailed slowly, his eye narrowing in anger as he leaned forward, staring directly in the eyes of Seleyse.

"That my brother has three children, one of them three namedays old and the two two namedays old, all of whom are waiting downstairs in the manse and you never saw fit to tell me? Why? And why now?"

To say he was pissed was an understatement.

Seleyse looked away from his furious eye. "Two of the children belong to mothers that did not want to let them go. The third one…his mother died on the childbed but was taken in by one of the other mothers. The children…they were wanted. Not like Breannei." Seleyse said in answer before she looked back at him and added with more calm in her voice. "Even if their mothers were not…typical mothers."

"You thought I would separate them from their mothers." Aegon stated before he leaned back in his chair, eying her intently.

"Yes." Seleyse answered as she met his gaze. "Family is important to you. I know that. Even though the ones that aren't deserving of your care."

'Enough that you would take them from the bosom of their mothers…' was what Seleyse was basically saying.

"How do you know that the children are my brother's?" Aegon asked.

Seleyse smiled wanly. "We keep track of your brother, my Prince." Seleyse's expression twisted in a tease. "Especially for mine own sake. He favours the ones of Old Valyria and he is the wrong man for me to take as my first royalty."

Aegon's lips were pressed tightly against each other. "Gael would not happy to hear you say that." Aegon glanced towards Ser Raevor and Ser Brunn who looked particularly keen to look anywhere but their direction.

Seleyse sighed before she smiled. "No, she wouldn't." And it was the only thing she said in answer to her…charged words and his.

She continued, back to the main topic. "The children are his. All three. It would have been more, of course, your brother is quite the voracious man, but the three new ones, the mutts with some traces of the look of Old Valyria were quite conspiring." Seleyse said in a serious tone of voice and Aegon was coming to the realisation why Seleyse was telling him now.

"The children…" Aegon paused. "Are they healthy?"

Seleyse frowned mildly. "They are healthy. So were their mothers."

That's one thing at least…

"Have the two mothers become unfit?" Aegon asked with a piercing gaze.

Seleyse pursed her lips for a moment before she answered. "Only one. A woman named Falena. The one who took the third child in and was raising it with her daughter. She had designs of marrying the two children with each other."

That Seleyse was talking in the past terms did not pass him by.

"And the other one?" Aegon asked after a moment.

"A girl named Lollys. A slight little thing." Seleyse said with a heavy sigh. "She is the prettiest out of them and the one with the most of the looks of Old Valyria." Seleyse then met his gaze. "And she is also…unsuited for this life. I would ask that she is taken with the others to Elamaerys."

Aegon looked at Seleyse with a look of irritation on his face. "You should have told me the moment they became pregnant." Aegon's voice was stern and harsh.

Seleyse withered slightly under the gaze. "Perhaps." She murmured "But they deserved a chance. Lollys still deserves a chance to raise her own child. She's a sweet girl, a kind girl."

Aegon's lips thinned so much that they disappeared into a thin line.

He couldn't agree at all. The children were his brother's children. Bastards or not.

And a life amongst whores was no life for a child. It was why he did not mind at all taking in so many single mothers who had no real skills and their children.

And these were no ordinary children. They were children with the blood of dragonlords. Children who could bond with dragons. They were…

The only solace was that the children were young. Very young.

"And are you sure that there aren't any more…children of my brother running around?" Aegon asked after several moments.

"As far as I am aware." Seleyse confirmed. 'At least that's a solace…'

"The two children that this Falena looked after…"

"Floris and Duncan." Seleyse supplied.

"Floris and Duncan. They are orphans, or as good as, correct?" Aegon asked, wanting it to be said.

"They are." Seleyse confirmed. "Their mother…went mad when we intervened."

The way she said mad was as if there was whole story attached to it…

"Have you not considered taking them in?" Aegon asked as he stared at her.

Seleyse expression faltered. "I'm not a mother. I will never be one."

"There is no one else willing to take them?" Aegon asked, hoping for another way.

Seleyse only shook her head. "None other than the orphanages or the Septs."

Fuck.

'If I do this…I will have to tell Gael as soon as possible. Gods, I hope she doesn't think I'm lying and fathered bastards…' Aegon felt a headache coming on.

He had not strayed from their bed, ever, and Gael trusted him.

But showing up with bastards like this…fuck. Anyone would have a bit of doubt.

And fuck Daemon for being so fucking irresponsible. It wasn't like he could tell the man. He would not even give a fuck, probably would just mock it off.

And then there was the fact that the Hightowers would weaponise this, the children, into their favour. Fuck.

Fuck.

'No, I cannot. I cannot. This is too dangerous.'

"Are there any amongst the settlers who know of the children's origins?" Aegon asked with a stern look on his face.

Seleyse looked reluctant but answered. "Yes. There are some."

"Which ones?" Aegon pressed.

"The women from the whorehouses. Likely all of them." Seleyse admitted.

"You should have told me." Aegon said with an irritated note in his voice though he kept the resentment from his voice. Only just.

What was done, was done but fuck…this was a pile of shit on his doorstep.

And two were boys. Two. The dangers of them…

"I know…" Seleyse said with a commiserating tone of voice. "I should have. But I truly believed that with my support…they could have done right by the children."

"I will take in the girl." Aegon said to Seleyse who had a look of surprise on his face and Aegon raised his hand. "The boy…I cannot take him in. Neither can I take in Lollys or her boy."

"What is to be done with them then?"

Aegon clenched his hands so hard that it seemed as if he could break his hands just by clenching.

"I will marry this Lollys and claim both of the boys as mine own." Aegon turned his head towards Ser Raevor who had spoken and Aegon came upon a look of determination on his face.

Ser Raevor continued, his whole demeanour full of determination. "I have yet to marry and I will have a large plot of land that I will need help with maintaining. I can do this for you, my Prince. I would be honoured to."

Aegon stared at him for a long while. "Do you know what you are asking?" he asked finally. Ser Raevor nodded severely.

"I do." Ser Raevor answered.

"The boys can never know who their father is. The woman you wish to take to wife can never tell them who their father is. That she is not a mother to one of them. Never. Never. Do you understand that?" Aegon pressed as he stared at the loyal knight.

The knight, much credit to him, did not falter once. "I do."

Aegon stared at him for a long moment and Aegon looked away from him, his eyes towards the desk.

'Why am I hesitating so much? They are my nephews.'

Aegon closed his eye, having come to a conclusion of why.

'Because I see the dangers in a divided House. I see the dangers what the boys, and the girl, represent. I have seen it play out in front of me.'

"I thank you for your loyalty, Ser Raevor, but it will not be needed." Aegon turned to face Seleyse, having come up with a solution that he hoped was for the best.

"I will take them to Claw Isle, to the Celtigars." Aegon told Seleyse. "Two boys and this Lollys." Aegon knew that Bartimos would take them in. Once he asked for a favour and provided sums for their upkeep, to be raised as a knights.

Seleyse's expression fell but she did not look surprised. Likely having seen his struggles with himself about what to do with them.

Aegon, unfortunately, wasn't done however. "These women of yours…I will not take them with me either." This forced Seleyse to look up and look at him with shock on her face.

"But why?" Seleyse asked aghast.

"Because they know who Floris' father is." Aegon said with a stern note to his voice though he refrained from saying anything further. Not that he needed to.

He could tell she arrived at the main conclusion as to why it turned out like this.

She should have told him at the beginning.

There was simply too much risk involved now. Breannei had grown up with his children. She'd grown up knowing that she was just as much loved as the others.

He couldn't do that with the two boys. Not now.

And perhaps not back then either but he could have had another option. Like the one Ser Raevor proposed. He could have sent a ship to Westeros and picked up the women whilst they were still pregnant, and arranged something.

Now though…

Impossible.

He will not have it.

Aegon continued. "However I will hire ships to take them to Lys and find them a place there. I know enough people there that would see them comfortable."

Seleyse's expression twisted. "They would not tell anyone, I swear it." She tried.

Aegon was resolute and it showed on his face.

Seleyse looked upset and disappointed but seemed to accept it.

"I…see."

Aegon turned to Ser Brunn. "They are waiting downstairs. Have the boys and this Lollys taken to one of our ships. Inform the captain to keep them there."

"Yes, my Prince." Ser Brunn said with a bow and the man left moments after.

Aegon turned to Seleyse. "I will speak with Bartimos this eve and request this favour from him. The children and Lollys will be housed in one of the manses on their island. I will provide for their upkeep and ensure they will want for nothing. The boys will be raised as knights and they will have a better life, a far better life than you thought the mothers could have provided them in this city." Aegon stood up and he looked at Seleyse with disappointment.

"I know you were trying to do the right thing but you should not have kept this from me. Putting this on me, now, as almost as an afterthought…"

Aegon eyed her intently but she remained silent and averted her eyes. It was then that he knew that their…relationship had broken.

'Was he being too harsh on these women? There wasn't more than thirty of them.'

Aegon walked out of the solar room of the manse with Ser Raevor following his step and after he descended down the steps, he was greeted by about forty men in the common hall of the manse. And a little girl with one of his servants.

The men quieted down though there was a racket of voices outside of the walls of the manse, oddly enough, and Aegon sighed silently and walked towards the servant and as he arrived, the servant girl, having understood his intent, angled the child towards him.

Aegon picked her out of her arms and the little girl squirmed in his arms. 'She is a spitting image of a Targaryen…' The girl, Floris, had silver-blonde hair, more silver than blonde, and dark purple eyes.

And she had the same tell-tale markings of the Song at the centre of her being.

'Daemon…you irresponsible fuck.'

Aegon wanted more of those with the blood of dragonlords but he never wanted it like this. Uncontrolled. Sudden. He could accept Aemond because Aemond was born and raised a Targaryen. A trueborn.

Aegon didn't truly care if one was a bastard but he had to care if one was a Targaryen bastard.

The situation then turned dangerous. Because dragons did not care if you were trueborn or not. Only if you had the right blood.

And that was the most dangerous of all when it is combined with people who had a chip on their shoulder for being bastards, for understanding or believing that they were mistakes, unwanted and then dangerously coming to the conclusion that they were the same as others. Deserved the same.

He, in another life, would have agreed.

Aegon, in this life, could not agree.

The child began to cry a little, likely having been disturbed by the growing racket outside but Aegon began to soothe her in his arms. "It's alright…shush, it's alright." Aegon said as he smiled at the little girl.

He would have to speak with his eldest, Castorys.

Solonys would have to be matched with…Maegelle…and that would leave one of the Celtigar girls, or Breannei, to be matched with Castorys.

It would delay his wedding for some time but…

Needs must.

Aegon noticed more keenly the men were watching him. "Ser Hamor. Ser Luceon." Aegon called out as the young girl calmed in his arms and the two men stood up.

"My Prince." They said.

Aegon handed the girl to the servant girl. "Please escort Karolyn to my ship and to Larissa. Little Maegelle is to come with us." Aegon told his men.

He knew that they likely knew who her father was. That was fine. He knew that they would not speak of it, not truly and not completely.

'What truly mattered was that they did not know her mother.' They might suspect but they did not know. He'd plant the seed that the girl's mother was a serving girl that died in the birthing bed and that the girl had found herself out from the Red Keep because of her pregnancy.

That was better for everyone involved. Including Maegel-

There was a loud banging noise at the gates of the manse and the men in the room stood up from their seats, their hands on their swords. They looked at him and Aegon only nodded before he gestured towards the servant girl to stand closer to the steps.

One of the men opened the door and looked back towards him. "It's Ser Malliard and Ser Haevor."

"Let them in." Aegon said before he glanced back at Maegelle that was being held dear by the servant girl. At the top of the stairs, there was Seleyse looking on with a frown on her face.

Aegon turned back and he saw the two knights slightly out of breathe. They came closer and one of them, Ser Malliard, spoke up. "My Prince…I have news…" the man began and hesitated as he glanced at Ser Haevor.

"It's your brother." The words immediately alarmed Aegon. 'That racket…what happened to Viserys?' He knew that Viserys was ill. One only needed to look at him. Some kind of mutated form of leprosy or some kind of bullshit disease similar to it. But he looked fine mostly, the last he'd seen him.

"What's happened to my brother?"

Both of them looked nervous and Aegon grew irritated "Speak up. Now."

"He's dead." Ser Haevor blurted out.

The words hit him hard. Harder than he expected.

"When." Aegon only said, his mind hard at work, wondering who it could be and why now, and if this was a damn set up. He could mourn later, first he needed to take care of himself and his people.

"Less than an hour ago. He died against a knight from the Riverlands."

Aegon stilled, confusion breaking through his forced neutral expression.

"What?" Aegon could only get out. A knight from the Riverlands…?

"Prince Daemon. He lost the joust and then called a combat of arms. The Riverland Knight killed him during the combat." Ser Haevor explained and Aegon sucked in a heavy breathe of air.

'Daemon…Daemon died…? In a damn joust? I cannot believe it.'

A complex well of emotions played up in his stomach at the possibility.

How…?

"Ser Justin. Ser Pate. Go find Ser Brunn and the ship he took the…guests and stay with them. Make sure they do not leave." Aegon said in a forced calm tone of voice.

"Yes, my Prince." The two men said before they made moves to leave.

"The rest of you…prepare yourselves." Aegon only said and the men nodded their understanding "Ser Raevor. Ser Jon. Ser Haevor. Ser Malliard. Come." Aegon said as he began to walk towards the doors.

"Yes, my Prince." The men intoned and soon enough, Aegon was making his way through the streets of Kings Landing, streets that were burgeoning into going into unrest at the rumoured news of his brother's death, and Aegon stepped up his pace, wanting, needing, to know if it was true.

If it was true his brother…

Was dead.