AN: Hi there I wanted to get this out to you all.
Chapter 5: The Green Boy
Jaehaerys
The Royal fleet of near 100 ships sailed along the Summer Sea heading toward Old Town where the King's brother, Stannis will meet the Redwyne ships and continue to the Iron Islands.
And on his own vessel, the Sea Wyrm was a nauseous Jaehaerys Targaryen currently retching and puking overboard as the boat floated.
Gods, he was never like this before, he's made trips from King's Landing and Dragonstone in the past before his family was stripped of power but this was his longest journey by boat and it was getting hard to not feel every time the waves pushed against wood.
He wished that Robert would have left him on Dragonstone, Viserys correctly assumed it was to get him killed which may just happen with how gruesome the reports heard about the Ironborn attack on Lannisport was.
It hard to admit he was was glad, gladdened and he hoped the assault costed Tywin greatly in ships, men, and people.
After all, it was only fitting after what he let his pride of mongrels do to the people of King's Landing. What he let them do to his good sister.
He was four and ten, soon to be five and ten and leading a hundred or so grown men to die on some island.
The former Princes mind flashed to his brief with Stannis, shortly after coming to his home and saying he was to get a ship ready and men armed for the journey.
"My brother had already given us our tasks, Lord Targaryen." Stannis started as he sat down next to a table with maps and ship pieces on the board. "Each commander will lead an attack on the islands once the Iron Fleet is dealt with."
Jaehaerys cleared his throat and looked at the map and back at the Master of Ships.
"Which Island has his grace charged me with?" He assumed then that the Usurper aimed to get him murdered or at least injured.
Stannis face was unreadable, cold eyes and a stone expression peering at him like a wolf eyeing its prey. "You will be under my command, and we shall be taking on Great Wyk when the time comes."
Great Wyk, the largest and most populated of the islands, it is home to a great many castles and east of it was Old Wyk, the place where the Iron Kings of old would be chosen on the remains of Nagga the Sea Dragon.
"What are my orders, Lord Stannis?"
"Old Wyk is ruled by House Drumm, whilst I take the larger Isle you and six other ships will lay siege and seize the smaller Island." A bit of hope grew in Jaehaerys, wondering if he was given command of the six ships and their men.
"Do the knights under my command know they will follow me?"
Stannis looked at him, puzzled and maybe a little irritated, "You won't be in command, I have given that to another, Lord Wyam Fell."
Wyam Fell is was familiar, he remembered seeing the man at court when he was younger, the fresh Knight was an arrogant lordling who boasted a great warrior till he was defeated by Ser Arthur Dayne.
Wyam's Father, Lord Unwin Fell and Lords Grandison and Cafferon had remained loyal during he Rebellion but was humiliatingly defeated at Summerhall.
Lord Fell must have died if Wyam was Lord now, a shame that is as the man was kind and honorable.
After being told where and whom he would be taking commands from, he returned to the Sea Wyrm with See Barristan who is his second.
The captain, Edwyle looked over to him, "Are ye alright, lad?" He was asked and Jaehaerys steadied himself before brushing his hands on his pants.
"Of course, Captain, I am well." Edwyle nodded and put his attentions back to sailing the ship.
He was careful on every man he was taking on this venture to the seventh hell, and Captain Edwyle seemed the most loyal out of the few vessels that patrol his home.
Other than him was a dragonseed descended from an unknown line, possibly one of King Maekar's sons or before that even. He was second lieutenant to Barristan by the name of Daemion.
"My Lord, you should rest." Daemion asked him but he shook his head no, he would not rest even if he were to go lie down.
The ship was making it hard, but he would fight it and get used to such voyages.
The day dragged on as the southern weather was making many sweat as they worked up and down deck.
He had taken the time to earn the sweat by training, Barristan parried his sword swing flawlessly but his gripped held firm as he pressed his offensive strategy.
"You are doing well, Jaehaerys, still green but we will get there." the Bold said after they finished and night fall started to descend upon them. "The air is cooler for now, it would do well to get some rest."
The suggestion caused Jaehaerys to take on a frustrated expression as he was sick of being told to do so.
Yet, he would bury such anger and instead asked the knight a question, "Tell me, Ser, how did your first battle go?" Barristan looked to ponder the question for a moment.
"I remember how excited I was, I was three and twenty and had only been in tourneys before then that I both didn't and did know what to expect." Barristan scratched his chin, focusing on the memory, "The Band of Nine and the Golden Company had seized the Stepstones and were preparing to invade the Stormlands."
"I know that, Ser, you slew Maelys the Monstrous in single combat. Was his other head aware?"
"Yes, though I made sure to cut both heads off in case your grandfather asked about them." Jaehaerys smiled, the end of Blackfyre line was an auspicious event after the cadet branch failed to seize power numerous times.
Leaning against a wall, he signed while taking in the cool breeze. "So any advice for me, Ser? It will be my first battle and I will admit I am not as excited as you were."
The Knight looked to him with some pity, and he both welcomed and resented such things, "I will be your shield, my Prince, stand behind me in battle and I will not fail you." Barristan swore and Jaehaerys could feel the rears begin to swell in his eyes.
Such loyalty, such bravery and strength… "Thank you, Ser Barristan."
Viserys
Viserys Targaryen was sitting at the top gate and stared at all of the ships, the unending sight of the sea as it looked more like a blue desert or what a desert is supposed to look like.
It has been some time since his brother had gone with a hundred of their best fighters to serve in the war against the Ironborn, commanded to do so by the Usurper and his traitorous bloodline.
He was made 'Lord' of Dragonstone in Jaehaerys stead which meant he had control so he ordered for cakes and sweets instead of the gruel his brother would have cooked for them and Rhaenys is taking care of the other two which left him to do whatever he wished for most days.
The day was clear, a storm may roll in soon, or maybe not and it will be cold instead.
"Milord!" He looked down and saw a group of patrolling guards returning from the village East of them.
Jaehaerys never allowed them to go there, they haven't left these walls since the dog of a usurper banished them here years ago.
"Any news from port?" He asked and walked to the other side as the guards walked in.
"I'm afraid not, little Lord… " The guard looked unsure, "Well, there was a man, he was asking us to bring him to the Keep but Lord Jaehaerys commanded no visitors, not even for petitions."
"Who was the man?" What peasant would want to come here.
"Well, he was armored, in red and silver with a rooster on his surcoat." A member of House Connington if the description is correct, Viserys held on to his thoughts for a long moment before deciding on action.
"Go and fetch the man, bring him here."
The guard deflated, "But it's an hours journey away by foot, Lord Viserys, our feet hurt." Gods, couldn't Jae have left him some competant men?
"I have given you a command, bring him back here." He said with a commanding tone that only a growing young boy could and the guards looked to one another and sighed before heading back out.
Descending from the wall, Viserys quickly made for the throne room and entering he saw little Aegon playing with his egg.
He shouldn't be but he is envious that his nephew got one when the rest of them didn't, he and Jaehaerys went up the mountain path three times searching the narrow crevices and abandoned lairs where the dragons once called home.
"Aegon? Put your egg away, we have a visitor coming." The younger Targaryen male looked at him quizzingly before obeying and leaving the throne room.
Ascending the steps, Viserys plopped himself on the seat which technically should be his if Father and Rhaegar hadn't fumbled and lost against the Usurper.
Viserys Targaryen. Prince of Dragonstone. It would have been divine but the accursed gods saw things differently.
He waited for what seemed like hours that he eventually fell asleep on the throne, only to awaken when the doors opened and the sounds of several people marching in.
"Milord, the stranger you asked for." One of the guards said and pushed the man ahead.
The light coming off of the candles and hearth illuminated the man standing before him, he was tall like most adults with a head of red hair and a growing beard but even with the differences he knew of whom he was looking at.
"… Ser Jon Connington?"
It was him. He was Rhaegar's longest companion not counting the Kingsguard, Viserys watched the knight take another step forward and fall to one knee.
"I have returned to serve the new head of House Targaryen, Prince Viserys. Where might Prince Jaehaerys be? And what of the late Crown Princes children… " Viserys gestured for the guards to leave them and only when they had did the young Prince descend and help the exiled Knight up.
"I thought Father exiled you, Ser Jon. It's dangerous for you to be here." He said and worried for the rest of the family as well, thinking that the guards who brought him may try and send word to the usurper.
Jon smiled and nodded with some mobility, "It may have if the rebel hadn't sent me pardons with the exception that I surrender my lands and title to my nephew, Ronnet." a pause on the mans throat came before continuing, "Now where is the other Princes, and of Princess Rhaenys?"
"They are well, though, Aegon will be going North soon to ward with the Quiet Wolf." Horror formed in Jon's eyes as he described a bit of the events that occurred after his exile.
His sisters birth and mother death, Jaehaerys being named heir then losing his title to keep them all alive and here at home.
"There is a new war going on, Ser, the Ironborn has risen in rebellion and sacked Lannisport… Robert commanded my brother go with a single ship and little more than two hundred men."
Jon grew angry as he could see his hand balling into fists, "Jaehaerys is so young, no doubt Robert means to get him killed and is willing to let the reavers do the deed."
A smile formed on Viserys lips, "I worry for my big brother but he has one of Westeros finest knights protecting him"
"Who?"
"Ser Barristan the Bold. My fathers last loyal Kingsguard."
AN: So ends another chapter, hope you all have enjoyed, the next chapter will be a little bit Quiet of the Storm like before the Battle of Fair Isle and Jaehaerys first encounter with war.
Until then, I hope you all have a very good day, afternoon or night.
Reviews
Suppes1, I know I just am very slow at updating but no story has been abandoned.