Kia Ora Guys,
Sorry for such a long break. Life is lifing and the Old gods and the New hate me. My laptop broke, exams were tough, family issues, etc etc. But I'm glad to be back. I hope you enjoy the chapter and I hope to start regularly uploading again.
Thanks for all the support and Happy New Year,
Lots of love,
Lord Evans.
Chapter 22 - Lions Revenge Arc
Dareon*Content Warning - Childbrides/Grooming*
Dareon watched Joanna, the little golden lioness of his life, spin around in her new gown. It was a beautiful blend of deep crimson red, gold plating and black dragon scale patterns, the sleeves left her pale arms bare with a high collar.
Cersei had the gown fresh made for her fifteenth name day, a woman's gown for a woman, his wife had said. But she is not a woman, she is my little lioness.
"Father, do you not think I look like a goddess? The Madien herself, Mother said" " His daughter spun around the solar of their quarters, a lavish room decorated to mimic the halls of Dragontsone with etchings of Valyrains Spinxs and wyrms on the walls. Gaemon and Tygon played a game of checkers in the coroner, talking loudly. Gaemon boasted if Joanna was a woman, he was now a man since they were twins.
"Mother gave Joanna a new dress, all I got was a new sword…not even Valyrain steel, just regular iron", he moved a piece of ivory checker on the board absently, Tygon, eyes wide, watched his brothers game more than he did.
"Perhaps Mother does not think you man enough to wield a blade, Gaemon. You've never been skilled with a sword, you'd probably hurt yourself more than your opponent, I bet even Tygon could beat you…sorry Tygon", Joanna said, swirling in her dress.
Dareon smiled. His brood of silver-blonde manes and green eyes bickered, stalked and laughed. The children were so peaceful when their mother was not around, they reminded him of his childhood. Cercei was off with the other older women, preparing the Great Hall for the Madiens Ball later that evening, where Rhaegar would choose a new pride—the future queen of the Seven Kingdoms.
Dareon thought of his childhood momentarily as he sipped a tall glass of red wine. He and his siblings were so close, all save for Rhaegar. Some were closer than others. When Rhaegar left after his banishment, they felt more like a real family than they ever had, the looming dread of the Silver Prince had disappeared for a time. Father relaxed, content with his greatest rival was gone, and Dareon became the Prince of Dragonstone…but now the decor of his chambers only mocked him,
The Six Moon Heir, the Prince Who Lost a Crown, King of Paint and Wine, the insults he caught from laughing men and women alike circled in his head like a swarm of birds evading Wildfyre; Panicked, scared, looking for a way out.
Tygon placing a piece on the board broke Dareon from his thoughts. The little boy made a noise of excitement and blew a raspberry at his older brother.
"What, Tygon you cheat! Father, tell him. Tygon cheated", Gaemon shot up from the small carved wooden table they sat at and locked eyes with his father. Gaemon looked so much like the Old King Aerys in a certain light, the mad burn in his eyes, the one that liked to watch fires burn.
"Gaemon, Tygon won fair and square. You'll gain no favours from people by complaining, you know what your mother will say", Dareon sighed, taking another swig of his drink.
Outside the solar, the seven bells of White Keep tolled, one for each of the seven gods, each in a different tune. Dareon rose from his seat and gathered his children around him. He took a deep breath and squatted down to their level, my small pride of lions.
"Today is an essential day for our family, my children. King Rhaegar, my brother, your uncle, will choose his new wife by midnight. She will be the new queen of the Seven Kingdoms and we will have to submit to her. I want you all on your best behaviour tonight, do not shame the name Goldfyre. Your mother and I… are working hard to make alliances that will secure all of our futures. Things may be shifting very soon…a real game of thrones, like Tygon's checkers. To win, we have to put the pieces in place now", Dareon spoke in High Valyrian.
He hated looking at his children the way his father looked at him, like cows to an auction but he had to. Cersei had been scheming behind his back, he had to undo her plans before they became real.
"Come now, my children. Let us meet the future head-on, aye?", he added, cupping his only daughter on the face with his hand.
King Rhaegar, the Silver King, sat upon the Iron Throne of their great-sire, Aegon the Conqueror, wearing a simple crown of beaten gold and rubies. His garb was a simple black shirt, black trousers and silver chains beaten to look like scales. Across his lap lay a blade, and across his shoulder hung his long silver braid, uncut in nearly a decade.
The throne room of the White Keep bustled with hundreds of highborns, all pressing to catch a glimpse of the King, and the Royal Family, and make bets on who would be the new Queen of the Realm. The women who had travelled across a whole realm, and some from even across the Narrow Sea, waited outside the Throne Room in the anti-chamber. They would walk up the walkway, have a minute to show themselves to the king, and make an impression, then they were to leave until later tonight, at the Madiens Ball. If they were lucky, Rhaegar may ask them to dance, or share a glass of wine…but by morning at 7 bells, a new queen would be announced, and the next day the wedding would take place.
From the seats behind the Iron Throne, the place of honour reserved for the Royal Family, Dareon watched the parade of women with his extended family. He sipped from a goblet, a strong Arbour red brought from the Reach to help sweeten the King's favour, Dareon thought. He would have used a different drink, Arbour red tasted bitter in the heat of the Throne Room.
Cersei fanned herself with a piece of parchment next to him. On it was a list of the three hundred and seven eligible bachelorettes for King Rhaegar: old and young, widows and maidens, beautiful or withered, daughters of great lords or landed knights. A small bead of sweat trailed between the low hemline of her gold and red gown as a girl of three and ten, freshly flowered, curtsied in front of the looming iron chair. She had red hair and blue eyes and wore a gown of green and pink.
"Lady Wyila Piper of Pinkmaiden, eldest daughter of Lord Piper", the Herald in black and red called from his large parchment. The crowd, the full throne room of the over two hundred assorted highborns, "ooohed" and "ahhed" politely at the latest cow to auction. Dareon took another long drink from his glass and looked at his beloved lioness once more. He thought of last night and the time they had shared, another round of drunken-fueled political bed manipulation…but last night felt different. He wanted her more than he ever had and couldn't help but listen to what she had to say. Each time Cersei whispered 'King Dareon' in his ear, he started to like the sound of it more and more.
"How could he even look at her, she's a child. At least have some decency, an age requirement. Three and ten? I would not let Joanna be sold off at three and ten like a common whore. What father could do that, a monster", Dareon whispered to Cersei behind her parchment paper. Cersei's brow raised, her green eyes bore into him and he realised, Cersei had been betrothed to another man at thirteen, but he died, saving her from a child marriage.
The young girl smiled at the king and Rhaegar stifled a yawn. At least a child did not excite him, Dareon thought. She walked out of the secondary exit to where the cows would be fed and watered before being released to prepare for tonight's slaughter-fest.
"Lady Tryanna of Tyrosh, daughter of the esteemed and noble Archon Mylios the Green", the Herald called in his watery voice. The crowd gasped, the women who walked in a way unlike any Westerosi maiden. Tall as a man, muscled with deep purple hair and a dress made of whisps of golden silk, barely see-through save for on her private areas. She strode with long legs and a dazzling white smile. Tryanna did not bow or lower herself before the King, except she winked and blew a kiss on delicate hands, to not only Rhaegar but the Royal Family and pews of judging nobles.
Dareon found himself grinning at the looks of the noble's faces, especially that of Rhaegar, who struggled to keep composure. He nodded politely and offered a small smile, the most emotion he had shown a woman in a while. Shock, horror, lust, intrigue, a break from the monotony of Weserosi cows to a prized exotic breed? Dareon thought taking another sip. The taste of red had grown on him, the buzz it gave his head was a warm welcome to the thoughts that plagued him constantly.
With a cheeky smile on her gorgeous face, made of huge blue eyes and striking sharp features, Tryanna finally bowed deeply to Rhaegar, then skipped off to the second room. The Throne Room was left silent until a laugh emerged from behind him. Aegon at least had the decency to blush red at his break of composure.
"We do not see that every day, now do we my lords and ladies? Ha, let us continue with this show, we all have bets to wager", Aegon clapped his heavily ringed hands together and planted a kiss on Lady Margaery's cheek. The crowds laughed in reply and the Herald called the next cow, some lady from the Iron Islands he guessed from the name.
A small burning ball of heat erupted in Dareon's chest and he pondered on it, taking another drink.
The people love Aegon for his charm, and Rhaegar for being the Silver Prince. They loved Jaeharyes for his brain and humility, and Viserys for his piety. What did Dareon have except a failed military campaign and a love of paint and wine? Why did he think the Realm would love him the way they loved his brothers?
"You have the loyalty of the Old Blood, my kin, the families who want a just and fair king with a graceful, gorgeous Queen at his side", Cersei had said from the pillows, "all we need is to move our pieces into place, King Dareon", she said as she planted a kiss on his neck from the sheets.
Dareon rubbed his jaw, where Cersei had laid her lips on him and told him sweet nothings. Maybe he would be a good king, and maybe Cersei a good Queen. But for now, they must watch their brother shop for a new broodmare.
The afternoon droned on like a poor wine tasting. The Herald had been switched to a younger man as the old one had grown tired. A brief recess had been offered when Shaenas girl nearly fainted from having to sit for so long and another thirty-eight women, girls and crones had been displayed, each with less and less reaction from the Silver Prince. Dareon was lost in thought, thinking of new colours he could blend for the dress of Tryanna's gown. Rhaegar had commissioned a few paintings for the Auction, as Dareon called it, so Dareon intended to only paint the women he found most intriguing; the gorgeous, the ugly, the interesting or the ones who embarrassed themselves, like a Nothern Girl who tripped on the skirts of her gown and fell face first onto the marble floor.
"And now presenting the widow of Lord Glover, Lady Lyanna Stark, daughter of Winterfell", the young Herlard spoke clearly.
Rhaegar's eyes widened and he sat in the Throne. His face emoted for the first time since the Tyroshi woman.
Lyanna, dressed in grey wolf skins and a simple white wool gown walked up the catwalk. In her long brown hair, she wore a crown of blue roses, like the ones Rhaegar had given her ages ago at Harrenhall. Age had not changed her face much, nor had childbirth to two sons changed her figure. She still looked as fresh as fallen snow at age four and thirty. A cold look of iron encompassed her face, the wolf look, the Northerners called it. The look of a woman who would bow to no man.
"My lady", King Rhaegar said, his breath hitching. Lady Lyanna bowed like a man and held her head high. Although unaffected by time in the body, Lynda's mind had obviously changed. Gone was the girl kissing Rhaegar in secret, here was a woman in charge of her own life.
"A wolf stalking her prey", Dareon whispered to Cersei, his voice slurring on the copious amount of wine he had drunk.
"A mutt looking for an easy meal. The Starks cannot be trusted, Dareon. They are loyal to your brother because the wolf pup is engaged to Princess Daenerys. A Stark Queen would only inflate the Northern ego more", Cersei whispered back, smelling the wine on her husband's breath, "she cannot be the new Queen or we will never have a chance".
Dareon nodded and went to sip his drink, Cersei held his hand and shook her head. Rhaegar and Lyanna exchanged a few words and he offered her a dance later on in the night. It can offer he had only given one other woman, the young Lady Naerea Velaryon, with dazzling white hair and dark skin in a dress of opal blue, and impeachable Valyrain Stock.
Lyanna smiled and accepted the King's offer. After that Rhaegar was listless, shifting in his Throne and twiddling his thumbs. Dareon took a deep breath,
"And the auction is over with stock still in the pens, but our prize is a wolf in cow's clothing" Dareon slurred to Cersei. Cersei met eyes with her husband and nodded.
Queen Lyanna Stark, he chuckled to himself. Father would be rolling in his grave.
Excerpt 9The parentage of Lady Aerea Targaryen had been a long-kept secret of the Royal Family, especially during the Second Dance of Dragon, as her true heritage posed a great threat to the Targaryen name.
After Lady Aerea claimed the dragon, Scholar, which hatched from an egg laid by her father's dragon, Wildfyre, in the bowels of the New Dragon Pit, many speculated Aereas mother to be of Valyrian stock. Theories suggested both Lady Shaena and Lady Maegella as the girl's mother, alongside Ladies Velyaron, Bar Emmon, Celtigar, and Lady Dayne, for Lady Aerea's features.
Lord Aegon, known for having many lovers (of both men and women), all over the known world, was speculated to have fathered many dragon seeds, however only ever claimed Lady Aerea as a natural daughter, which supported the idea of a noble mother.
Following the Second Dance and the solidification of the Great Conciliators' rule, Lady Aereas's mother, Lady Heleana, was brought to court in the year 309 AC to be welcomed to the family in her true station, and help Lady Aerea govern Riverrun.
In the year 310, Lord Aegon took Lady Heleana as a second wife in the Valyrian custom, under the approval of the Great Conciliator, finally reuniting the two ancient Targayerns bloodlines.
Suffering the disapproval of the Faith, alongside the fear of revolt, Lord Aegon promised any children born of their union would be promised to the Faith. Following his ancestor, the Great King Jaeheryes the Wise and Good Queen Alsyanne, Lord Aegon sent loyal disciples to preach the Doctrine of Exceptionalism and built a great new Sept, called the Sept of Seven, in Dragon Garden.
Although though tenuous, the relationship between Faith and Crown is now stronger than ever, as they are the twin pillars which hold up the Realm. One can only hope the Vayrialn customs continue into the New Golden Age and that no Black Dragons supporters of time now gone, rear their ugly heads for Lady Aerea and her heirs.