Daemon and Elia both approached the upper dais where those of the Targaryen and Whent family were seated, it seemed that they had not missed much of the joust and had made it in time before the start of the next one. Daemon also saw a person he wasn't expecting to see there "Good Afternoon Lord Tywin, I didn't expect you to be here," Daemon said masking his surprise and displeasure. His time spent in Kings Landing in Tywin's presence could be counted on a single hand and even during those times, it was because he did not have a choice.
Lord Tywin regarded him with a stoic attitude expression "Lord Silver, it was not my plan to come here, I am only here at the King's invitation." Tywin said tonelessly.
"Yes, it wouldn't do to not have my Hand here." King Aerys said with a smile.
None seemed to take notice of Elia's presence or asked why she did not attend in the first place. Both Daemon and Elia sat down in their seats with Daemon being next to the King and Elia being next to him. As they sat down the joust started, on the field, Daemon saw a knight with golden armour and a well-decorated helmet on the left, while on the right was a monstrous man nearly eight feet in height "I don't know what you feed those Westerland boys Tywin that man is huge." The King commented humorously eliciting chuckles from the sycophants surrounding them.
"The Cleganes have always been a family of tall men, Gregor just happens to be a true monster with the talent in aura to match," Tywin commented.
Both men met at the centre of the field clashing as they thrust their lances forward, most thought that the smaller golden armoured man stood no chance against a monster such as that but going against everyone's expectations the smaller man unsaddled Clegane launched him right from his horse and onto the ground. The crowd cheered as the golden armoured man rode around with his lance high in the air.
It was at this point that the King stood up, Daemon looked up at the man's face and saw the dark smile it held 'This won't be good...' Daemon couldn't help but think as he watched the King hold his hand up to silence the crowd.
"You do well honourable knight, come closer and unmask yourself so I may gaze upon your face," he commanded. The golden knight did just that as he trotted his horse over the front of the dais where the King was sat, he reached up and took his helmet off revealing shoulder-length golden hair and an extremely handsome face.
Even among the small folk Jaime Lannister the Lion of the West was famous, his handsome face, golden hair and emerald green eyes, he made all the maidens blush both small folk and high born alike. Daemon smiled he was happy to see Jaime again it had been a while and he had enjoyed the times that they had both spent together and with his brother Tyrion, though his sister left a lot to be desired.
Daemon looked towards the King who still had the dark smile on his face, but as he did look at the King his gaze drifted towards Tywin who despite maintaining his stoic expression looked just as surprised as everyone else was to see his son here 'What's going on...' Daemon wondered to himself.
"You have done well Ser Jaime Lannister, to conquer a form such as that is no small feat, it seems as of late you are building yourself quite the reputation, first you fight the rebel Simon Toyne in single combat and now this. I wonder what you'll be capable of next!" He shouted out for everyone to hear eliciting more cheers from the crowd.
Jaime bows his head "You honour me with your words more than I can express your grace." He replied, and he truly meant those words as well as a young boy who was barely a man yet having such words of praise from the strongest man in Westeros struck deeply.
"You have both talent and honour, you are young and eager, there is only one place that I find suitable for one such as yourself Lannister." The King said and much to the cheers and awe of the crowd he stepped off the dais seemingly floating down to the ground, the small folk loved these displays of supernatural abilities as they often made lords and nobles seem like otherworldly beings.
Jaime dismounted his horse and gave it to a squire "Kneel," The King instructed and Jaime obeyed getting on his knees before the King.
"Jaime Lannister, will you have no wife."
"Will you hold no lands."
"Will you father no children."
"Will you guard my secrets."
"Will you obey my commands."
"Will you ride at my side."
"And defend my name and honour."
"So long as you shall live."
Jaime feeling his heart beat with excitement couldn't stop the smile from making its way onto his face.
"I will take no wife."
"I will hold no lands."
"I will father no children."
"I will guard your secrets."
"I will obey your commands."
"I will ride at your side."
"I will defend your name and honour."
"So long as I live."
Aerys smile widened and he gestured for Jaime to rise "The rise Ser Jaime Lannister as brother of the Kingsguard!" He shouted and the crowd went wild once more. The Lord Commander Gerold Hightower approached and gifted Jaime a white cloak which he donned right there in the field showing it off for all the lords and small folk alike.
Daemon sat there in disbelief, he wondered how Aerys could do such a stupid thing. He looked over towards Tywin whose facade cracked and shining through was a look of pure venom and hatred directed towards the King, and Daemon could not blame him, he had just lost his heir for no other reason than Aerys trying to insult him. Tywin stood up from his seat before taking off the pin that signified his position as the hand and placed it on the arm of his chair before marching off the dais "This can't be good." Daemon commented as he watched it.
His gaze then drifted back down to the field where Jaime was ushered up to the royal dais with the rest of the Kingsguard and royal family. When Aerys came back to his seat he saw that Tywin was no longer there and frowned "Where did Tywin go!" He asked with annoyance.
"I believe he left after you swore Jaime into the Kingsguard," Daemon informed him.
"But he did see it didn't he?" The King asked.
"Yes, he most certainly did," Daemon replied.
The King then saw the pin of the hand left on his seat and started laughing as he picked it up "Good riddance to bad rubbish I say." He said as he put the pin in his pocket before sitting back down.
"You know Daemon, you are the man I wish to be my next Hand." The King said as he caught Daemon's attention with his hand.
"I am not worthy of such an honour," Daemon replied.
"You are the only man I find worthy, but unfortunately not everyone seems to share my view." He stated.
"Some believe your loyalty has yet to be tested, I've even been told rumours that you are in league with insidious characters." The King continued.
"Nothing but a fabrication your Grace I can assure you," Daemon said.
"I believe you, but a little test isn't harmful either way." The King said with a smirk as he gestured to the Kingsguard who left with the exception of Jaime.
Daemon couldn't help the nervous sweat that was starting to build up on the back of his neck, he didn't know what the king had in store for him but going from experience it wouldn't be good. A few minutes later a knight in armour was dragged onto the field by the three Kingsguard with dragon glass binding their hands, however when Daemon took a closer look he noticed that this wasn't just any Knight but the Knight of the Laughing Tree 'Lyanna!!!' Daemon thought in a panic but managed to maintain a calm facade despite the situation.
He immediately looked across to Lysa where the Tullys were seated, words were not necessary to communicate what he wanted, she nodded before both their gazes went back to Lyanna "This Knight is a traitor to the Kingdom! They were seen plotting against the King!" The King shouted to the crowd who started to boo the Knight.
"But in front of you all, he shall be unmasked, and my new hand Lord Daemon Silver will execute him in front of you all!!!" He shouted as the crowd roared in excitement for the oncoming blood and death.
Daemon clenched his fists nearly hard enough to draw blood, he stood up and went to take the field when Aerys grabbed his arm "Don't disappoint me." He warned before letting go.
He jumped down and approached the Knight, he gestured for the Kingsguard to let them go and to step back. Meanwhile, in the royal dais, Rhaegar joined his father taking Daemon's seat much to his father's annoyance.
"This test seems hardly necessary Rhaegar, Daemon has always proved himself to be true." The King stated.
"Perhaps but one cannot be too careful these days," Rhaegar replied.
Elia couldn't help but be shocked that it was Rhaegar to suggest this ridiculous test, she wished to speak out but knew her voice would not have any weight to it.
Rhaegar watched with an uncharacteristic smile as he watched Daemon unsheathe his sword, if he knew Daemon's character he wouldn't kill an innocent man in cold blood even when commanded to and this was what he was counting on. Rhaegar released his aura, his eyes turned from purple to red and he leaned next to his father.
'The Kings Voice'
"Daemon Silver is a traitor." He whispered into his father's ear. Rhaegar then nearly collapsed into his seat as he felt his aura drain dangerously low to the point he nearly passed out, issuing commands like this drained him a lot which was why he preferred much subtle uses of his abilities.
The king's face went from passive to absolute rage as he looked down at Daemon waiting for him to execute the Knight. However Daemon had no intention of doing that, he walked up to the knight who he knew was Lyanna and smiled "I promise I'll come back for you..." he said quietly much to Lyanna's displeasure as tears made their way down her face "Make sure to run and get rid of the armour, and don't come looking for me," he instructed her which she just nodded her head. Her actions had got them into this mess so she would make sure to listen to Daemon now.
Daemon lifted his sword in the air as the crowd cheered, with a yell he brought it down completely shattering the obsidian cuffs with his sword. The King stood up with absolute outrage as his aura exploded out of his body "KILL THOSE TRAITORS NOW!!!" The King commanded.
'Fools World'
Lysa activated her ability turning both Daemon and Lyanna invisible and making copies of them run in separate directions, though she couldn't maintain this for long as she had stretched her ability to 300m.
Daemon released his aura before he burst towards Ser Oswell attacking him from behind and slamming the pommel of his sword to the back of his head, even though the man had his aura active Daemon overcame that by pouring a higher amount into his pommel and so he knocked the man out. Daemon then started to run, he couldn't start a fight here too many would die and he knew he wouldn't be able to win against so many aura users.
Lyanna ran in another direction to Daemon with tears in her eyes as she had to watch Daemon being branded a traitor because of her need to prove herself. Lyanna quickly took advantage of her invisibility and took off the armour before making her way to Lysa, she wasn't sure what else she could do.
Daemon meanwhile ran, with his aura he was running faster than a horse, and yet all he could think about was how had things turned out this way.
———————————————————
Daemon didn't know how long he ran for but it was pitch black and the moon was high in the sky before he sat down to rest and start a fire. Daemon still wasn't sure how things could go so wrong so quickly, what he wanted to know most of all was who had suggested that he was a traitor, he wasn't aware of any enemies that he had that had the king's ear.
Daemon rubbed his eyes before sighing however his ears twitched as he heard the sounds of dry branches snapping in the night air. He stood up and drew his sword before he released his aura and used 'Scout' to investigate his surroundings 'Only one person...' Daemon discovered as he drew his aura back in using 'Fortify' to ready himself for a fight.
Coming through the brush was a man with an unnaturally wide grin on his face, on his back was a quiver full of swords, he wore light armour and he looked at Daemon with amusement "What is the Smiling Knight doing here, I thought Arthur killed you." Daemon asked as he narrowed his eyes at the ex-member of the Kingswood Brotherhood.
"If only I was allowed the sweet relief of death, no instead I was made into another toy like you." The Smiling Knight said with a chuckle.
Daemon ignored his comment before pointing his sword at the man "What are you doing here?" He asked sternly.
"I'm here because I was told to, nothing more nothing less," He replied.
Daemon was starting to get annoyed and frustrated at the lack of clear answers "Tell me why you are here now!" He shouted as he got ready to attack the man. However the Smiling Knight just laughed at him, he didn't even bother drawing his sword to defend himself.
"You won't attack me with that sword." The Knight said.
Daemon smirked "Oh? And what makes you say that?" He asked as aura flowed from his body across the sword.
"Would you please drop that sword."
*Clang*
Daemon released Blackfyre from his hands and let it drop to the floor, all he could do was look at his sword as he was too shocked to speak.
'What's happening...'
(AN: Hard part is over, I did rush some stuff but I wanna get to the end of this arc as fast as I can, and good news the next chapter is the last one. The rebellion finally starts though we still have one last girl to impregnate, anyway I hope you enjoyed the chapter sorry it was late but I was travelling, how many of you caught onto that lil bioshock inspired phrase.)
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