Author's Note and Replies
Man! What a finale, though. I have a feeling there should have been more episodes to the season. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if the next season had twelve episodes, but that's just a theory of a madman. I also had my reservations; there are some things I wished they did and didn't do (cough, Traitor Alicent, cough).
(To KingintheNorth27 and Guest) She is frankly hurt and in disbelief, and we will get an interaction with them in a later chapter.
(To Slake Thine Thirst) I never liked how the guy was just blacking out and accidentally killing people, and c'mon, the guy is called the Kingmaker; gotta have him represent even if he is scummy.
(To Venerabledemon) He's definitely not going to go headfirst into battle unless he knows he has the upper hand; the next few chapters will cover the War of Ravens and Quills with more looking for support and allies.
(To Spartanwolfj6) She definitely doesn't believe, not wholly, and correct, her Lords definitely won't be advising such action until they know the truth or if the truth gets revealed.
Rhaenyra felt her child kick from within her womb; a fighter, she thought as a smile grew.
Her Visenya will be a warrior, just as her namesake.
The heir to the throne entered the hall of the painted table, where she found her son, Lucerys, looking at the carved isle of Driftmark. "Do you feel terrible about leaving home for High Tide?"
With Lord Corlys preparing for another voyage, he asked for her son and his heir to come to Driftmark. With Princess Rhaenys, Ser Vaemond, and his Velaryon cousins by his side, he would learn to rule the people there until Corlys returned.
She didn't want him to leave, either, but it would be his duty, and when such things call, they answer.
"I don't want it. I get green sick before leaving the harbor. Why can't it pass to Joffrey?" Because Joffrey is a child and Luke is nearly man-grown.
Rhaenyra approached her middle child and cupped his cheek, "What is wrong, son?" Lucerys sighed and shook his head, leaning into her palm as he would do when he was a young boy.
"I can't be you, Mother. You are... Perfect. Composed. Ready."
"No one is perfect when put in front of greatness, Luke. I wasn't when I was made the heir," she said while letting a little truth pierce the veil. "I was seven when my father made me the heir. I was terrified and scared, but I had my mother for many years to get used to the title, and you, my son, will have me until you are ready."
Luke finally smiled and nodded, "Now go. The ship arrives on the morrow. Pack what you must for your stay." Her son left her, and Daemon passed the Prince on his way up the stairs.
"Has Baelon and his dragon come?" she asked her husband, who shook his head no. "I wonder what is taking him so long? It's been days since we parted ways."
Days since she had seen her family, she had promised to return on Syrax and spend time with Alicent, but the babe was making a fuss so she decided to remain home in case she went into labor.
"I hoped he would forget his hatreds... "
Daemon smiled while looking at the table and then said, "It took me a long time to try and get over being passed in the succession. He will come around eventually."
That's a journey she has no intent on reviving. Rhaenyra sighed while her hand rubbed her belly, but then, the doors to the chamber opened, and who she thought was Ser Lorent turned out to be one of the Cargyll twins and her father's Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, Ser Harrold Westerling.
"Ser Harrold, what are you doing here?"
Rhaenyra didn't know what to think about why her father's friend and longest protector stood before her with sullen expressions in their eyes.
Without a word, Harrold and Erryk Cargyll knelt with their swords drawn. "We swear to ward the Queen with all our strength, and give my blood for hers. We shall take no wife, hold no lands, father no children. We shall guard her secrets, obey her commands, ride at her side, and defend her name and honor."
No. She thought with a heavy heart.
"Forgive me, Princess." Harrold stood and approached her. Erryk pulled a bag from his side and handed the Lord Commander a crown—her father's crown. "Your father, his Grace, has died, a few days ago, in fact. We had to sneak our way here to deliver this sad news."
Like her, Daemon was at a loss. "How did he die, Ser Harrold? Why weren't we told via raven?"
"It is because as his body cooled, the Queen and Hand crowned Aegon the King," Erryk informed. "They crowned him in the dragonpit, before the masses."
Rhaenyra was mute; she couldn't form words and reacted with a sharp growl as the tears fell from her eyes. Her husband did what she could not and asked them what happened, "Did they murder him?"
The knights were silent for a long moment. Daemon angrily slammed his hand on the table and grabbed Ser Harrold by the scruff of his wool cloak. "Tell me! How did they come to kill him?"
"The Queen accuses the Prince, Baelon, of the crime. I know not if it was the truth."
Rhaenyra collapsed upon hearing the words, her head falling to the floor and hitting it hard. She didn't know what happened next; Daemon had picked her up, and Harrold shouted for the Maester to come.
She also felt her baby and fluid running down her thighs; the babe was coming.
Jacaerys was riding on Vermax when he returned to the news of his mother going into labor. He also had heard of what happened and of his grandsire's demise, though it differed from what transpired.
Daemon says that Harrold and Erryk report it was his uncle Baelon, though given how quickly the Greens seized the throne, this didn't seem truthful.
He met Luke, and both entered the chamber of their mother; her servants surrounded her, and Maester Gerardys spoke of how this shouldn't be happening. "It is fucking happening!" Mother shouted with fury and concern.
"What will be done about the Greens?" He asked, and his mother looked at him before clutching her belly with pain.
The Princess of Dragonstone growled, "... Gah... We do nothing. Not until... Ah!"
The servants fussed "Please lie down, Princess, please!" Then another one said, "We have done this five times before; this one will be no different." Jace found himself clutching his hand into a fist.
"Where is Daemon?" Mother asked them, and Luke reluctantly answered.
"He went to the hall, gathering the council."
"No! Naught is to be done without my command." Nodding, Jacaerys turned on his feet with Lucerys to go and stop Daemon, but their mother called on him specifically, "Jacaerys?"
The Prince closed the distance to his mother to lessen the strain of walking too far from the bed. "Yes," she shakily cupped his cheek.
"Whatever claim I have, you are now its heir. Rein in Daemon, call on your Grandsire in Driftmark. Now go." He did with haste, exiting the chambers, walking the halls with a brisk pace until he reached the hall of the painted table where Daemon was speaking to the castellan (Robert Quince), master at arms (Alfred Broome), and their noble visitor, Lord Bartimos Celtigar.
"I want eyes on the perimeter looking for ships and a watch out for dragons in the skies. Recruit the Dragonkeepers; they are capable fighters."
Jace met Daemon's gaze, and for the first time, he feared his stepfather. "Prince Jacaerys, welcome. I would have you patrol the skies on Vermax with Lucerys and Arrax."
"Mother said for there to be no action whilst she is abed." He tried to be strong, puffing his chest and standing straight.
Kingly, even.
Daemon spared him a glance and continued, "If the Greens or Baelon attack now, it will be by stealth. Send ravens to our allies throughout the Narrow Sea and Crownlands."
"Did you hear what I said, Uncle?" Jace asked, using his familial title rather than his royal one. "My Mother, the Queen, demands there be no action against the Greens or Uncle Baelon."
"Daemon!"
Cries could be heard, his mother calling for her husband, and Daemon was quiet. He gripped the handle of Dark Sister until he fled the hall with a huff. Jace hoped the Prince would hurry to his wife; she would need comfort if the baby didn't survive.
"My Prince, what shall we do?" Ser Steffon asked, and Jacaerys gulped as he approached the table, touching the southernmost region of Dorne.
What Daemon was doing was not wrong. The Greens took the throne and quite possibly framed Baelon for killing the King, although he himself doesn't wholly believe it, even if his uncle wasn't fond of them growing up at the Red Keep.
But Daemon was acting against his mother's orders; she is the Queen now, and by all rights, her word is law.
"Do as my Uncle says, and a raven, send one to Driftmark and summon my grandsire and Princess Rhaenys." He added before leaving the hall, the others doing the same as they prepared for whatever was to come.
Visenya was born three days later. She was stunted, with scales for skin and a tail resembling a dragon on her backside.
"Monster, monster, get out, get out, GET OUT!"
It was what she said, and she regretted it; her anger and shock at those she considered friends and blood siblings had betrayed her, and she didn't want to wait for them to come down on them without a fight.
Her funeral would be a coronation. Rhaenyra bowed her head so that Daemon would crown her the Queen. Her father's crown was perfectly fit, as if the Gods made it for her head only.
She decreed that her son, Prince Jacaerys Velaryon, be named Prince of Dragonstone and all before Lords Staunton, Darklyn, Bar Emmon, and Lord Celtigar.
Princess Rhaenys knelt with her own husband, Lord Corlys.
The next day after a short mourning period, she gathered all of her supporters to the hall of the painted table where they would begin planning.
"Wine, my Queen?" She turned and accepted Rhaena's offer of refreshment, though, she felt sorry for the girl.
She had been promised to Baelon, though to her own relief, she was glad the marriage fell through as she couldn't trust her brother. Not until she knew the truth, and soon, she would either send a ship or fly to Bloodstone and get it from him.
Right now, however, she is concerned with her half-brother, "What is our standing?"
"We have 30 knights, 100 crossbowmen, and 300 men-at-arms. Dragonstone is easy enough to defend, but our army leaves a lot to be desired. I have sent word to my loyal men in the City Watch. I may have some sway there, but I cannot speak for the numbers." Daemon reported, and Rhaenyra could start to see bags under his eyes. He hadn't slept well since Visenya's birth and passing.
They also have the most dragons: her own, Syrax, Craxes, Meleys, her son's three dragons, and Baela's Moondancer. After returning to Dragonstone days ago, Rhaena successfully claimed Silverwing.
She had said that Baelon suggested it; they had tried with Seasmoke more than once, but her late husband never took to her.
Gerardys leaned forward and said, "We already have declarations from Celtigar, Staunton, Massey, Darklyn, and Bar Emmon."
"The Arryn won't turn against their kin. We should expect their backing." Several pieces were placed where each House was situated.
"Riverrun was always a close friend to your father, Your Grace. With Prince Daemon's acquiescence, I have sent a raven to Lord Grover Tully." Her Grand Maester added with a smile.
Rhaenyra shifted and placed a piece on the table, "Lord Tully is an unknown and could be easily swayed; we will need to send someone to Riverrun."
"I mean to go, myself after we secure the Narrow Sea." Daemon nodded to Corlys, who nodded back, stepping forward to address the council.
"The Velaryon fleet will take the Gullet and choke King's Landing of all seaborne travel. With Daemon leading the Vale and Riverlands army on land, the fleet will besiege the city by sea."
"Of course," Daemon picked up another piece. We will need a place to gather and prepare, a toehold here, at Harrenhal, and by the next three moons, we should have every Green's head on spikes."
She may have once wondered if she could take her throne without bloodshed, but given how Alicent's son took power, he must either surrender before a battle is fought or beheaded as a usurper.
Rhaenyra nodded to the plan proposed by her council. Of course, the hope is to end things peacefully so that their strength can be maintained until the true threat to the North reveals itself.
"We will need more support. The Vale and Riverlands aren't enough if the Westerlands and the Reach side with my brothers." She had a piece put on the Stormlands and the North. "The Starks and Baratheons will have us outnumber the Greens four to one."
"I shall send ravens, Your Grace," Gerardys said, but just as the man was about to leave, her own son and heir chose to speak.
"We should take these messages, Mother." Rhaenyra's heart skipped a beat out of worry. She wished he hadn't suggested so. "Dragons are far more convincing than ravens."
"It is a fine idea, Your Grace. My cousin is sure to support you," Rhaenys said, endorsing Borros, whom she had heard was eternally proud and stubborn like his father.
She said she would consider it and dismissed the council for the time being, she sighed a sigh of relief with finally having a moment to herself and to think.
A short time later, Rhaenyra sent a raven to King's Landing. She informed her brother and the Queen Dowager that should they surrender and allow her to take the city, her siblings would all be spared, all except for Otto Hightower.
The man was always her greatest opposition, second only to Alicent. She is sure the usurpation was his doing, and so this scheme is his sin, and so she would have his head for it.
As for Alicent, she was her friend, and she loved her, but the betrayal and the loss of her child would not quell her fury. She would send her friend to the Silent Sisters or join Otto at the headsman's block.
Night had fallen on Dragonstone when Daemon joined her in their room.
It was so quiet. Neither of them seemed to say much, and they didn't even look at each other. The tension was thick, and she couldn't quite figure out why.
Rhaenyra started to brush her hair before bed by her mirror when he started to talk, "What will we do about him?" She was asked and she immediately knew who he meant.
"Daemon- "
"He was your brother, Rhaenyra, yours, and he killed my brother." He was angry, still angry and why shouldn't he be? Even with all of his faults, Daemon cared for her father dearly. "He should pay for what he did."
"We don't know if he did it, Daemon. Once the Greens are ousted, we will get the truth of it." She tried to convince him but he didn't seem convinced. "Alicent and Otto will have sent ravens all across the realm, spreading their false right to the throne. We deal with them and then my brother."
"And what of the Stepstones? He has a fleet and an army at his disposal."
"A fleet and army who had sworn to me when Father made me his heir." She snapped back, "Baelon has no support, nothing, none but Archonei, who is large and strong but not as strong or swift as our own dragons." She caressed her husband's cheek, but he whipped it away and fled the room. "Daemon!" She called, but he did not return.
On the morrow, she would find out he has left and where to, she doesn't know.