126th Year of Aegon's Conquest
Five boys varying in age awaited a dragon that approached them, guided by the dragonkeepers who stood ever vigilant.
Three of the five children bore silver hair and eyes of lilac whilst the two younger ones had a head of dark hair and brown eyes like the color of mud. They each wore dublets of different colors, Blue, Green... Red.
Prince Baelon, eldest son of King Viserys watched his sister's son grow excited at commanding his dragon, Vermax. "Dracarys!" The young dragon blew flame on the goat that stood tied afar and devoured its hot entrails ravenously.
The headkeeper taught them all, with the exception of Aemond who has yet to get one of his own where he has Archonei, Egg has Sunfyre, Jace and Luke have Vermax, and Arrax. Helaena, his younger sister claimed Dreamfyre just at the start of the year.
After it was done and Vermax was taken away, his half-brother started leading Aemond, his other half-brother away while Jacaerys and Lucerys giggled to themselves. Baelon understood the way his nephews were acting and that this was some prank.
"What are you doing, Aegon?" He questioned and his wily brother rolled his eyes. Baelon sighed and followed the four to see how this turns out if not to make sure they don't go too far this time.
Aemond was often the center of humor for the younger members of House Targaryen, since his little brother Daeron left King's Landing to squire for Lord Hightower's son, Ser Ormund.
"Listen, Aemond. You are the only one without a dragon, and we felt bad about it, so... We found one for you." Did they? He didn't know of any eggs hatching lately.
Aemond was rightfully wary and sighed, "A dragon? How?"
"The Gods provide... " Aegon said so sweetly as Jace and Luke went off ahead to retrieve this dragon.
A pig. It was a damned pig with fake wings and a tail on it. Even Baelon had to stifle a bit of laughter from Aegon's creativity this time.
"The Pink Dread!" Aegon, Jacaerys, and Lucerys said in unison. "Do be careful, the first ride is always rough," Aegon whispered in Aemond's ear then proceeded to oink like a pig.
After the pranksters left, Baelon put a hand on his brother's shoulder, "Bunch of twats, you got to stop letting them reel you in." But he wants a dragon and they know how much Aemond wishes for one.
Perhaps if his sister's sons didn't snatch the only one for their newborn brother then his brother might have one.
Aemond's face remained still but his eyes were hurt, the young Prince shook off his hand and started walking down to the pit. "Aemond, we can't be down there, come on." He said and took Aemond's hand and pulled him back.
Father was in his solar when they returned to the Red Keep, Aemond ran away and he chose to inform their father about Aegon's recent behavior and how it hurt their brother. Aemond didn't even speak on the ride back as Aegon and their nephews laughed.
He wanted to shout, to tell them to shut up but then he would be the one to pay for it. Luke and Egg would cry to their mothers that 'Baelon was being mean and shouting undeservingly'.
Baelon frowned imagining the youthful monarch he was told about as a child but now sees a man losing pieces of himself.
It was a miracle he lasted this long, "Baelon? What is the matter?"
"Aegon and the boys were playing their jokes again, today." He said and His Grace sighed while putting down his dragon carving. "They tied wings and a tail on a pig, trusting it up as a dragon for Aemond."
"A harmless jest, then. You are their elder, Baelon, you should rein Aegon in if he acts awry."
"So Alicent and Rhaenyra can say I was being too stern? They coddle their sons and treat them as if they do no wrong."
He was the elder brother, was all the King said. "Are you sure it wasn't just Aegon?"
Just before he could say anything, the doors to the chamber flew open and her Grace entered with anger and frustration on her face. "Your Grandsons are a menace, they toyed with Aemond and made a fool of him again."
She hadn't quite noticed Baelon who tried keeping things neutral, "It wasn't just Jace and Luke, it was Egg as well. The three of them played their games, Your Grace." He never referred to the woman as his mother, once perhaps but he had grown since then and preferred to be professional in his conduct with his father's wife.
Alicent sighed and looked a little conflicted, "Thank you, son. You seem to be the only brother Aemond can count on. Unsurprising as the eldest son."
Baelon forced a smile, "I should go, Father. Your Grace." He bowed and left, his pace couldn't get him away fast enough and he could feel the cold stare from his sister's old sworn sword and Kingsguard, Ser Criston Cole.
Back inside the room, the King and Queen remained silent until the doors closed and Alicent found herself smiling, "Baelon is such a dutiful boy, a shame he is to remain behind his sister's cruel sons in the succession."
"Leave us, Eddard. We will continue another day." Viserys told the stonemason who bowed before hurrying to leave the chamber. "What is to be done about our Aegon? He was cruel."
"What of those savage boys of Rhaenyra's? Though it is not surprising... " She said without voicing the truth that all see but the King.
Viserys looked down at his ring, the ring belonging to his late wife whose life he paid for to bring Baelon into the world. "Cease these horrendous talks for they are perilous ones." He threatened subtle, standing up to give her a chaste kiss on her lips, "Bonding time may build a bridge between the boys and their nephews, will it not?"
The King didn't wait for a reply before leaving the hall.
A day later the Princes were gathered to the training yard to 'bond' as Baelon assumed but he just couldn't see it happening by forcing them all to interact with one another.
The only times he, his brothers, and nephews even come together is when they are picking on their unfortunate kin. Usually being Aemond.
Like before, Aegon and Aemond were dressed in green padding. Jace and Luke in red and blue. The armorer helped him fasten his plate covering his red training gambesan tightly then picked up his weapon.
Other members of the castle guards and off-duty Kingsguard were getting in some much-needed sparring.
Baelon took a moment to analyze his brother's form, him having at least a year's worth of experience than they did though his father more or less never paid him much attention.
Seeing his brothers and nephews getting such tutelage from Ser Criston and Ser Harwin made him a little irritated. Ser Criston all but took Aegon and Aemond under his wing.
"Baelon! Join your blood!" Shouted Father who stood alongside Lord Lyonel Strong, the Hand of the King.
The eldest son sighed and chose to spar against his eldest nephew, Jacaerys. The boy had energy despite only being seven, his swings a little wild and uncoordinated as he parried them away then stepped back. "I might as well not move and let you do the work for me, Jace." He joked and Jacaerys grunted then attacked left then right and left again.
Baelon played with him, it wasn't very fair to trample Jacaerys with his years of experience in swordplay.
The bout however ended when they heard, "Are you questioning my methods of instruction, Ser?" Criston asked Ser Harwin aloud who circled the area with his own weapon, bladed steel for he was older and more experienced.
"I mean to say that such methods should be taught to all of your pupils."
Ser Criston was annoyed to put it plainly, "Very well." The knight stormed over and grabbed Lucerys by the plate, "Prince Lucerys, you will spar with Prince Aegon. Second son against second son."
Harwin pointed out the unfairness of the match, Aegon was five years older than the seven-year-old Lucerys but that only made the knight frown, "I know you haven't seen true battle but when steel is drawn a fair match isn't something you should expect."
Baelon scoffed, saying, "But we are fighting with wood swords... " Under his breath so none but Jacaerys and Harwin heard him.
The bout wasn't fair as Aegon all but dominated Lucerys, knocking him down twice and although Luke put up some resistance, it was futile. Baelon felt a pit in his gut screaming to do something and simply staying out of it.
Eventually, Ser Harwin stepped in and threw Aegon back to protect Lucerys which seemed odd.
The knight was a companion of his sister, Rhaenyra, and Lord Commander of the City Watch but the way he didn't hesitate to lay hands on Aegon who was a royal where one may lose their hands or life was like an uncle defending his nephew... Or a father.
Shit.
A fight broke out between whatever Criston said to Harwin and both knights pummeled one another, Breakbones would break Ser Criston's nose before Ser Erryk and Arryk pulled him off.
Baelon, after the adults were taken away to see to their sanities stormed up to Aegon, "What was that? You were too rough with him."
"Why should I care for besting a bastard," Aegon said with a scoff, Baelon turned once and eyes widened at his thought from earlier, how strange it was that Harwin took such an offense.
Luke and Jace looked nothing like Rhaenyra, they also looked nothing like Ser Laenor Velaryon for that matter. "How came you by this?"
"Need I have to? All you have to do is look at them to see, big brother." The more fool he was, never thinking or perhaps he was as blind as Father.
Rhaenyra is set to inherit after the King, and after her are they to really allow a bastard boy to be King over what should be his right? Baelon slunk off and left for his sister's chambers but she wasn't there, other than Ser Laenor and Baelon saw something else that troubled him so.
The knight was clinging to another man, embracing in fierce intimacy.
So that was why she looked for another man's seed? He thought and quietly walked away, confused by the revelations he was facing and the path forward grew darker.
Since he could comprehend things, he had coveted the right he was robbed of at birth. Rhaenyra was named heir six years before he was born and by that point, his grace was unwavering in changing the succession even though he pushed his mother through miscarriage and stillbirths to get him.
Baelon stopped before the Iron Throne, imagining him one day sitting it even with the court splitting into factions. "Might as well be one more... "