Rhaena I
39AC
The wind was calm as Rhaena flew around King's Landing. The coming winter cast away much of the turbulent weather, and now the air was clear. But some part of Rhaena wished that the weather was turbulent, as it would have meant she would have something else to think about.
"What do I do, Dreamfyre?" Rhaena asked her beloved she-dragon, veritably shaking in her boots. Rage and fear were in equal measure as she made lazy loops around King's Landing.
"He turned me away! Again! Dreamfyre! He turned me away again!" Rhaena cried. She squeezed the reins of her dragon so tightly that her hands hurt. Her whole body shook as her emotions were let loose. Her beloved she-dragon rumbled beneath her. Her ever-loyal companion sent whatever comfort she could through their bond. But it was nowhere near enough.
"We are to be married in just a few days! And he still won't speak with me!" she continued, speaking her fears to her dragon. Her one companion she could trust above all else.
Rhaena's breath hitched as she forced herself to remember happier times. Two years ago, she and Aegon had been in Pentos together, free from the ever-watchful eyes of their mother and the court on Dragonstone. Almost a moon of flying, laughing, exploring. Almost a moon of freedom. Sennights where Aegon was hers in the way he always had been, and she was his. No pressure, no expectations, just the two of them together as they were always meant to be.
And then, in the blink of an eye, it had all fallen apart.
She supposed it all started to go wrong once her grandfather died and that damned messenger arrived to interrupt their dinner, out of breath and panting, just to shatter their peace and fun.
And in her grief, her confusion, and stupidity, she had ruined everything.
"DAMN IT!" she roared, the sound ripping from her throat. Dreamfyre roared with her, the sound reverberating through the sky.
She wished she could let her dragon's cry drown out her shame, her regret, her pain.
Rhaena pressed a hand to her stomach, nausea curling inside her. That look of betrayal, that raw, gut-wrenching look in his violet eyes when he caught her with Samantha. It haunted her, even now, two years later, Aegon looked at her like she was a stranger. Like she was nothing to him.
"Damn it all! What do I do, Dreamfyre?! What can I do?" Rhaena cried, tears brimming in the corners of her eyes again. She felt like vomiting, even as Dreamfyre was perfectly steady and calm, so very much unlike her rider.
Their marriage was fast approaching, and yet he was still avoiding her. He still flirted with other women, he hid away in corridors and secluded halls where he thought nobody would see him, and only the gods know what he did during his time in Pentos…
"At least he sits with me at meals," Rhaena laughed pathetically.
Her chest ached with the weight of it all. Like she was buried underneath all the mountains in the Vale. She had always known they were meant to be. The thought of not marrying Aegon, of living without him… she would rather die. And yet… And yet, she had ruined it.
Her heart beat loudly in her chest, thumping like thunder as her stomach continued twisting and turning. She placed her head in her hands as she remembered all the times she had tried to speak with him over the last two years. She had sought him out dozens… no, hundreds of times. She pleaded with him and begged him to listen, yet he always pushed her away.
"What can I even say to him, Dreamfyre?" she whispered, her voice barely audible over the wind. What words could possibly make him forgive her? Her mother didn't care for her reasons. No one did. No one had taken her side because who would? Who would defend the girl who had burned down her own life?
She had no one left. Not her parents; they were both disappointed in her. Not her uncle; he was too busy ruling his empire in Essos. Not her grandaunt Visenya, she was scary and odd. Not even her aunt Shiera, who was the one member of her family to still treat her normally, besides her younger cousins and siblings, was too busy raising her own family to listen to Rhaena beg for guidance.
And Aegon? Aegon, the love of her life, the one person who was supposed to be hers, the one person who was supposed to love her forever. Just like they had promised in Essos… he hated her.
"DAMN IT ALL!" Rhaena cried. Why? Why did she have to do that? Why couldn't she have just gone to her little brother that morning? Why did she have to be so stupid? So proud? So short-sighted?
"It was different because they were girls," Rhaena whispered desperately, trying to convince herself more than anything really. Her throat burned as her voice was hoarse from screaming.
It wasn't like she had loved Samantha. Or Larissa before her. They were nothing compared to Aegon. Nothing at all. They were distractions, passing fancies, just fleeting touches and meaningless kisses that hadn't left any mark on her heart. Because Aegon was different. He was her other half. Her everything.
And if she had to spend the rest of her life like this…with him hating her, looking at her like she was a stranger. She would rather die.
Rhaena gasped, shaking her head violently, trying desperately to banish the thought. Her long silver hair whipped wildly around her as her vision blurred. Her chest ached, her throat tight, and she dug her nails into Dreamfyre's saddle just to ground herself.
"I'll fix this," Rhaena declared, clarity returning to her. "I have to," she said to herself, more than her poor dragon.
Because if she truly lost Aegon… then she had nothing.
…
Rhaena tried and failed to ignore the stares from the staff as she moved through the halls of the manse her family was currently residing in. The Red Keep was almost complete, just a few more moons of work, the builders said, but it was not complete yet, so they resided in the manse her father had built decades ago.
She can almost hear their whispers as she passes by them. She knew they were out there, that the leeches and rats that lived in her father's court were all laughing at her. She knew her father had been trying his best to silence them, that several nobles had been banished from court for spreading rumors, but she knew there were more.
The rhythmic marching of her sworn shield, Raymont Baratheon, was the only sound that properly filled the halls as she walked them quickly. She had only one destination in mind: her brother's room.
'Thank the gods he is in King's Landing,' she thought momentarily, trying to ignore how he was likely going to try and push her away again.
Aegon had expertly evaded her for the last two years. Whether it be on Balerion, on Dragonstone, or even in Pentos as of a few moons ago, he had a knack for not being in the vicinity of her. It was only because of their impending marriage that their father demanded he return to the capital at all.
She swallowed another lump in her throat as she approached the door to her brother's room. It used to be so familiar to her, back when they lived in King's Landing and her little brother didn't look at her like she was some terrible mix of stranger and hated foe.
She turned to her sworn shield then, readying herself before asking for this favor.
"Could you wait outside, Ser Raymont?" she asked, knowing his answer before he responded.
"I am afraid not, Princess. Your father gave me strict orders, and I shall follow them," Ser Raymont responded exactly how she knew he would as Rhaena prepared to plead for the first, but not last, time today.
"Please, Ser Raymont. I am just going inside of my brother's room. I am not running off anywhere," Rhaena begged. More memories of the last two years appeared in the back of Rhaena's mind as her desperation was replaced with anger befitting a Targaryen.
Ever since she had been caught with Samantha, her father and mother had never let her be alone. Whenever she was doing anything, whether it be meeting with her new ladies in waiting, spending time with her family, or even just being alone in her room. A knight of the Kingsguard was always with her.
'For the best, really, who knows what you might do,' her mind whispered as she felt the nausea and pain in her gut return.
Casting away those thoughts, she sighed before resolving to simply accept that she was doomed. She knew for a fact that Ser Raymont would report everything she said to her brother to her parents. But she had no choice, she couldn't shake him and she had to speak with her brother, she had no choice.
Rhaena didn't knock; she simply opened the door and walked into her brother's room. It had changed greatly over the last two years. Gone were his old swords and old childhood toys. Now the room was filled with books and scrolls, along with a set of armor and a shiny new sword by his bed.
Rhaena ignored the voice at the back of her mind whispering about what had happened the last time they had been in a bedroom together. He was lying in his bed, reading a book she had never seen before. He made no effort to shift his focus at all as he continued reading.
He did not turn to look at her as Ser Humfrey closed the door. Rhaena was surprised to find a Kingsguard watching her brother too. She did not have time to question him, however, as her brother soon started speaking.
"Ser Humfrey, Ser Raymont, please escort my sister from my room. I am busy," he said disinterestedly, and Rhaena sprang into action before she lost her chance.
"Please, Aegon! I just want to talk!" she pleaded.
"Ser Humfrey, tell my sister I have no interest in talking," Aegon ordered as he languidly turned the page on his book.
"Princess, Prince Aegon does not have an interest in speaking at this time. Might you perhaps come back later?" Ser Humfrey, the ever dutiful old man, followed her brother's orders before rage began to build in Rhaena's chest.
"No! Please Aegon! Please! Just talk to me, please!" Rhaena said, tears brimming in the corner of her eyes.
"Ser Humfrey…" he began, continuing to not even acknowledge her presence before she snapped at him.
"Damnit, Aegon! Just listen to me, you stubborn ass!" Rhaena snapped, desperation almost dripping from her voice.
Aegon made no move to acknowledge her, even after her outburst. But he did move, with a quiet thud, he closed his book and turned to look at Ser Humfrey.
"Ser Humfrey, would you please remove my sister from my room?" he asked with a tone Rhaena could not discern, but before Ser Humfrey could lightly grab her by the arm and lead her toward the door, Rhaena tried once more.
"Please, Aegon," she whispered, her voice breaking. "It has been two years… it has been two years since you actually talked with me," she said, tears falling from her cheeks in earnest now. This was humiliating, and a fire was now burning in her chest, but she had no choice.
Aegon turned to look at her after that, his head slowly moved until his purple eyes met hers. Their looks contrasted sharply. Rhaena's eyes were beary with tears while the look in her brother's eyes made her feel even more nauseous, to the point she almost couldn't stay standing.
Disgust- that was the look in her brother's eyes. He was disgusted with her. She ignored her stomach dropping as she walked closer to him.
"Please, Aegon, just… You don't even have to talk! Please! Just listen to what I have to say!" Rhaena pleaded, her hands grabbing onto Aegon so as to not be dragged out of the room by the Kingsguard.
She didn't dare blink or look away from her brother's eyes. She could not remember the last time he had actually looked at her, so she refused to let it go. She watched as he set his book on the table beside his bed and swung his feet over to sit on the edge of his bed.
"Fine," he started, and for the first time in two years, Rhaena felt hope, but it was quashed with his next words. "Speak," he demanded, the look of disgust still plastered on his face.
Rhaena seized her chance with a vice grip. For the first time in almost two years, her brother would actually listen to her. She sucked in a breath before beginning.
"I love you, Aegon. I always have, and I always will. And I know I…I ruined everything. I was stupid, and I let my grief, my pride, and my lust control me. But it didn't mean anything. It was one mistake. One mistake, and I've paid for it every single day since," Rhaena said all in one breath, panting after she was done.
Aegon remained stone faced, silence filled the room after she finished speaking, desperately not wanting it to end, she spoke up once more after closing the distance, trying to get closer to her brother so she could read any change in his face, any indication at all that he felt something.
"I… I never loved Samatha or Larissa, never! I only ever loved you, Aegon."
He remained silent, the deafening, ear-splitting silence in the room made Rhaena's heart pound even harder. "You and I… we were meant to be together. You're my other half, Aegon. I can't do this without you. I can't live without you," Rhaena pleaded, her voice growing more and more desperate.
When Aegon remained silent, Rhaena released a haggard, desperate gasp. "Please, Aegon! Please just say something!" she begged, barely able to stay on her feet.
"You want me to speak?" he said, his tone unreadable, but Rhaena's heart leaped for joy. For the first time in two years! An actual sentence!
"Fine then, let me tell you exactly what you did," he said, the venom in his voice oozed like she had never heard before, never imagined before.
He stood from his bed, getting right up in her face. "You were my everything, Rhaena. I trusted you above all else. Never in a million years did I imagine you would betray me. And yet you did," his lethal tone hit her like a smack to the face. But Rhaena stood resolute; she couldn't waste the chance, even if her heart shattered further with every word he spoke.
Rhaena opened her mouth to speak, but she was spoken over instantly. "You speak of grief?! Like I was not grieving too?! Our grandfather died, and our father and mother were busy mourning. And what did I find when I sought solace in my other half?" He asked, his final words cruel and mocking.
"You ran to someone else," he bit, the words carving her flesh like a sword.
Rhaena's breath hitched, and her lips started trembling as tears started flowing freely from her eyes. It was so much worse than she thought, so much worse hearing it from his mouth.
"You led me around like a dog. Just a stupid child who thought he was enough for you."
"You are enough, Aegon," she whimpered.
He laughed sardonically, the cruel sound lashing at her heart like a whip. "No, I wasn't. Because when it really mattered. When we were all alone, without guidance or help or comfort, you sought another's company," Aegon continued relentlessly.
Rhaena trembled; her hands at her sides were now shaking helplessly. She moved to wrap them around herself to try and stem the shaking before starting again. "I…" she began before she was cut off.
"You kissed her! You kissed her just like you did with me! Do you have any idea how that feels?" he demanded, and Rhaena felt the rage quickly replace her sadness. Her dragonblood awakening as her memories of her brother flirting and dancing with untold numbers of noblewomen rose in her mind.
"Yeah! I do!" she said, no more words needed as she lashed at him like he had done to her.
"No, you don't," he bit back. "Unlike you, dear sister. My flirtations stopped at pleasantries and dances," he said with an almost eager smile on his face, like her realization made it all worth it.
"No…" was all Rhaena could say, all of her rage vanishing like a torch in a thunderstorm.
"I love–loved you, Rhaena. More than you could ever possibly fathom, and what did you do? You made me a fool," Aegon continued, as if he had not already won. As if she hadn't already been ruined.
"I… I never… I never meant…" she spoke between sobs.
"What you meant does not matter, sister. What matters is what you did," Aegon snapped at her like a dragon.
With that, Aegon exhaled and pushed past her. He moved to his desk and took a seat as the silence in the room grew deafening. Rhaena's heart thundered in her chest; all the pain and anguish she had felt before seemed so trivial now. So pathetic, she had no idea just how much she erred.
She noticed one of the Kingsguard move toward her out of the corner of her eye. Desperate, she moved and grabbed hold of Aegon.
"I know I ruined everything… but please, give me one more chance," she begged, out of breath. Her whole body hurt, and she could hear her heartbeat in her ears.
"Please… I know you don't trust my words. I know you can't trust my words. But let my actions speak then. Let me prove it to you," Rhaena begged, her hands on her love's shoulders as he stared at the myriad of papers on his desk.
He made no noise and did not turn to face her. Rhaena let despair rise in her throat like bile, prepared to shatter like glass there and then, finish the process Aegon had so successfully started.
He moved to get up from his seat, likely headed for the door. 'To escape my presence once more,' her mind thought unbidden. In her desperation, she grabbed him by the shoulders, trying to look him in the eyes.
He averted his gaze once she had turned him around. Rhaena thought all hope was lost when he released a long, loud sigh before her life was saved.
"One chance," he said quietly, but Rhaena heard it as if Balerion himself had roared it right in front of her. She sucked in a sharp breath, not believing her ears.
"One. And if I ever hear you strayed, even so much as flirting with another, we. will. be. done. Do you understand?" he said, still not turning to face her.
He wasn't looking, but Rhaena nodded her head like her life depended on it. "Yes!" she said, her voice hoarse and uneasy. "I…I understand! I swear it, Aegon, on the gods, the dragons, on my life! I will not fail you!" she said, wrapping her love in a hug from behind him.
Rhaena didn't know how long she held onto him for. But eventually, the Kingsguard removed her first from her brother and then from his room. But Rhaena did not care, she had done it.
…
The trumpets signaling her entrance to the Sept of Remembrance were loud but not loud enough to distract Rhaena from her thoughts. Her dress was suffocating, and the weight of the black and red cloak around her shoulders felt like it could drag her into the underworld.
Even the presence of her father at her side did little to comfort her. She had been certain that Ser Raymont and Ser Humfrey had both told her father about her and Aegon's agreement, but nobody had mentioned anything thus far. Her father simply seemed happy that she and Aegon were speaking again, even if he still felt distant to her.
'Be grateful, be grateful, be grateful,' Rhaena reminded herself. She had to count her blessings now, she couldn't afford to be greedy.
Rhaena was thankful that nobody brought up her humiliating conversation with her brother. She was even more thankful that her brother had given her a chance, a chance to prove herself, a chance to fight for the life that she had always wanted. Even if she knew deep down, all she would get is a pale imitation of it.
The moment the colossal doors to the Sept of Remembrance opened, every head in the building turned to look at her. But Rhaena was only interested in a single set of purple eyes.
Her father walked her down the aisle, toward her little brother and Septon Murmison, toward her destiny. Her breath was unsteady. The last few days had been a haze of sleepless nights and silent prayers. She had begged for this chance, and now that she had it, all she could feel was terror.
What if she messed it all up again? What if she acted stupidly on her lust and truly destroyed her life? What would she do then? Could she maintain the vow she told her brother? Rhaena couldn't think more thoughts as before long, she was standing right across from her little brother. His look remained one of exhaustion, even after their chat in his room. 'At least it isn't disgust,' Rhaena thought darkly. She had to understand that the life she and Aegon had dreamed of as children simply was not possible anymore, even if Rhaena would fight to salvage as much of it as she could.
She had become her brother's Visenya rather than the Rhaenys she wanted to be. She was a wife whom he was marrying for duty rather than love. But perhaps she was not hopeless. Perhaps with enough effort, she could earn it back. Those kinds of thoughts had been plaguing Rhaena for the last few days, ever since she left her brother's room.
Septon Murmison began his sermons then, and instead of following along and listening to them. Rhaena thought of her plans. She could not fail; she had no choice, no room for error. No mistakes could be made, it was do or die.
She believed her brother fully when he said that if he learned that she was unfaithful, he would set her aside. But she would not let it come to that, she would not be unfaithful to him, ever. She swore to not waste the chance her brother had given her, and she would not fail him, not again.
Rhaena continued to stare into her little brother's violet eyes. Patiently waiting for her father's new favorite Andal, to finish his sermons so she could get the proceedings over with. Her dress was nothing but stifling to her, and she just wanted to try and relax, as much as she could manage, anyway.
When Aegon placed his cloak over her shoulders, she shivered. Not from the cold, but from the sheer weight of it. The moment was meant to be symbolic, her father's protection exchanged for her husband's. Once, she would have taken comfort in it. Now, her emotions were mixed, a jumbled mess swirling in her chest.
"With this kiss, I pledge my love," they said in unison, and then their words split apart.
"And take you for my lady and wife," "And take you for my lord and husband," they said together. Rhaena's voice was thick with emotion, but Aegon's not so much.
Rhaena could feel it. She knew deep down that the vows rang hollow, especially for Aegon. The vow and agreement she came to with her brother four nights ago was more important than this one here, she knew that. She could almost see it on Aegon's face, his vows tasted bitter on his tongue, meanwhile, Rhaena's vows only stoked her fears.
"So they are now joined in marriage. One flesh, one heart, one soul, now and forever!" The High Septon roared, and a hundred roars joined them as attendees cheered with the kiss that sealed the royal match.
The kiss that sealed their union was cold. Empty. Not like the ones she remembered stealing in the Dragonpit, in their rooms, or beneath the sky. This was different. This was a transaction, nothing more.
The transaction did not occupy her mind for long, however. An eerie quiet filled the hall. Nobody was cheering, not really. There were maybe a hundred people celebrating out of the thousands of attendees. Even the smallfolk outside were deathly quiet. It was eerie, and Rhaena felt a chill run down her spine.
She turned her head to look at the crowd; her eyes first went to her family as was natural, but she could see only a handful of lords were actually cheering and clapping. Her family was among them, however. From her father and mother, who looked the most enthusiastic. To her aunt and uncle, who looked relieved more than anything. To her little siblings and cousins, who were excitedly clapping along.
The Velaryon, Celtigar, and Pentoshi contingents also celebrated loudly. Cheers and claps emanated from behind the Targaryen section, as that was where they deserved to be. It was when her eyes drifted to the Andals and the First Men in attendance that things got concerning.
Most were just staring at them. She knew her father was having an argument with the High Septon, but what could it possibly be about? Did the Faith disapprove of their marriage, their traditions?
Rhaena reached out for her brother's hand involuntarily as the crowd stared on and her family quieted, as they also seemed to realize just what was going on. She was relieved when her brother took it, even if she dared not look at him. All of their eyes were fixated on the crowd now.
"What is going on?" she whispered.
Maegor XXVIII
3rd Moon, 39AC
My hands remained clenched as I scanned the room in Aenys's manse. I had been weary of just how this day was going to go, but it seemed to be moving along just fine, so far at least.
Thankfully, most of the attendees of the celebratory banquet could be counted among our supporters. Houses Velaryon, Celtigar, Baratheon, and some Pentoshi houses like Narratys and Brenyl were the main attendees of this more private celebration. No thanks to Aenys, of course. I had to basically force him to change just who was allowed within the walls of his expansive manse on the Hill of Rhaenys.
It had undergone several expansions over the years. It was to the point where it was basically a castle unto itself. It was nothing compared to Dragonstone or the Red Keep, mind you, more along the lines of my villa in the Velvet Hills, but it was still a step up from most of Westeros.
Regardless, I had spent the last few days meticulously working with my brother to try and secure King's Landing to the best of our ability. He was finally beginning to see the truth about the faith, after they threatened him at least. He still hoped for a peaceful solution deep down, but I could work with that as long as he actually realized they were poised against him.
I had been weary to allow my brother to go anywhere alone with Warrior's Sons. I knew for a fact that they were not loyal to our house, but I could not very well order the King of Westeros to do anything, not publicly at least. So he followed the High Septon into the crypts and I moved our family back toward the exits and prepared to call Terrax to the Starry Sept should the need arise.
Thankfully, nothing came of it. But it did lead me to a realization. Westeros was simply not safe for our family to reside in, not while the Faith Militant held sway. I had no real way of knowing just who was loyal or who would rebel, given the changes to my memories, but I knew one thing for certain: Dragonstone was safer.
My brother had spent considerable time in King's Landing over the last two years. While I bounced between Dragonstone and Pentos, even paying a visit to Lorath and Braavos, Aenys had remained largely in King's Landing. He even canceled his progress to the Riverlands after the Dornish began causing trouble.
This would have to come to an end, however. Even with the Red Keep nearing the state where it could be considered habitable, even if its completion was still moons away at the earliest, the city was simply too dangerous. My idiot father had brought over 700 Warrior's Sons into King's Landing, and gods knows how many Poor Fellows lived with the gutter rats. My brother had prepared the bonfire for my nephew's arranged marriage with my niece, and the damnable fire could light at any moment.
'How to get them to Dragonstone,' I thought with a hum. They had visited a few moons ago. When Baelon and Daenys's eggs finally hatched, we hosted a family-wide celebration on Dragonstone. But I needed a new excuse here.
"Are we in danger?" I heard Shiera ask from my side, and I quickly turned to respond.
"No, not here. Terrax and Quicksilver are in the yard," I spoke quietly, even if the quite rowdy chamber covered our normal voices well.
I had forced my brother to make it a policy in King's Landing for at least one dragon to always be outside of the pit. I had made the same policy true for Pentos; granted, my Dragonpit there was not yet complete but once it was, it would be policy. For safety purposes it was a necessity. A dragon was greater than any army after all. They also had the distinct benefit of never betraying us.
"Then why are you so tense?" she asked warily.
"You know why," I said, not really wanting to divulge secrets in such a public place. Even if we were only surrounded by family at the main table. Servants and friends were coming and going frequently.
"Enlighten me. You have a lot going on," Shiera demanded, her voice rising a little in volume.
"I am merely thinking of a way to convince my brother to return to Dragonstone for the foreseeable future," I said while scanning the room. My sons and nephew, Viserys, were currently troubling Ser Corlys as they ran about the hall. I was tempted to go and send my mother to reign them in. But I decided to let them fool around for now.
My wife snickered at that a little, causing me to raise an eyebrow. She waved her hands slightly before she covered her mouth.
"Sorry, sorry, I thought it was something more serious," she said apologetically.
"It is serious," I said, not a hint of amusement in my tone.
"I know, but convincing them to stay on Dragonstone will be easy. Aegon and Viserys love it there. Just mention that we would like to host the new couple on Dragonstone for a few moons, and they will surely all come," Shiera said lightly. Our time in Pentos left us largely disconnected from Westeros, which came with benefits and negatives.
The benefits were palpable. There were no disloyal lords or scheming religious figures that we had to worry about in Pentos. I had killed or banished every one of them after all, and Pentos was policed very well. The religiously diverse Pentos had its negatives, of course, but it also meant that we did not have anything to fear from a group of heavily armed, organized, and dangerous religious fanatics. Not after we exterminated the Faceless Men, at least.
The negatives were that we were almost too secure in Pentos. I was grateful that my children got to grow up largely worry-free. But it also meant that we were predisposed to overlooking threats that may be more real to our kin across the sea. Had it not been for my previous memories, I would have likely been like my wife and mother. They both considered the faith a problem but not an existential one like I did.
"I need them all on Dragonstone. For a few years at least, or at least until they start rebelling. Then, convincing them to stay will be easier," I elaborated a bit. I could conceivably convince Aegon to go to Dragonstone at any time. He had spent considerable amounts of time with me and my family over the last two years. Going so far as to spend two moons in Pentos this past year.
Now he was doing this to avoid his mother, father, and now newlywed sister-wife, but still. He appeared to enjoy our company, so I had little concern about him. It was my stubborn, stupid, naive brother that I worried about.
I could already picture him saying something like, "We just spent several moons on Dragonstone, Brother. We are needed here to try and smooth things over with the faith," or some other worthless, brain-dead excuse.
"Well, Alyssa looks about ready to pop. So we best get on that before she is locked in her room," Shiera said, looking over at her rival. They had mellowed over the last few years; granted, they didn't see each other much, but when they did, they behaved.
Alyssa was far too preoccupied with her son and daughter splitting away from her, along with her pregnancy. I only learned recently, after Rhaena spoke to my wife just two days before the wedding, about the true extent of just how much damage my idiot brother and sister-in-law did to their family.
I was grateful that Aegon and Rhaena managed to come to some sort of understanding, truly I was. It meant that we got to avoid the troublesome issue of finding new spouses for them should Aegon have actually demanded a change. That or the instability that would follow disinheriting the rider of Balerion. But it left us with new issues, namely my brother's fractured family.
Aegon and Rhaena were pretty clearly disinterested in their parents. It could even be seen in this very room. Rhaena was expertly not speaking with her mother in any way, and Aegon had long since left the table to go and mingle with the Baratheons.
"What a mess," I sighed, placing my head in my hands. The family decision had been to try not to mess with my brother's family and their affairs as much as we could help it. But it seemed that he had let the reins slip from his fingers and now his family was damn near running wild.
Aegon and Rhaena were a mess, Aenys remained naive, Alyssa was pregnant with what I hoped to be a daughter, and their children were varying degrees of neglected. I had already been planning to take Viserys on as my page soon, but I was genuinely considering fast-tracking my plans just to get him away from the wildfire.
"Would you rather be in Pentos?" Shiera asked, a mixture of amusement and concern in her tone as we both watched Baelon chasing after his brother.
"Yes," I answered instantly. For all of Essos's myriad problems, and believe me, it had a myriad of problems and troubles. It was still infinitely easier than the mess that was Westeros right now.
I had been busy over the last two years. New laws had been passed, and the beginnings of a proper government were being installed as I planned for my coronation as King of Pentos. After my agreement with my brother two years ago, before our father died, I had decided that my family ought to be kings.
Titles did not matter to me very much, not personally, at least. But I knew that the realm I had forged with fire and blood would one day be my children's, and they deserved to be remembered as kings and queens, not as princes and princesses.
Of course, the coronation and unification of Pentos, Braavos, Lorath, and Norvos had other purposes. I was not just doing this for vain reasons. As it stood, Pentos was still woefully underprepared to deal with Volantis. Sure, militarily, I had them beat just by having dragons, but I needed more than that.
I would not be like the Dragonlords of old. Lazily ruling an empire from a palace while the cities governed themselves, plotting and scheming. I wanted a state that could rival the greatest in the world. I wanted my family to have a home that would be theirs for the rest of time. To do that, I had to forge Northwestern Essos into a proper state.
No squabbling city states, no differing policies, no rival governments, and no conflicts. They had to be united, which was an irritating process, I had to admit. Braavos and Pentos could hardly be made to agree on anything. I had forced Braavos to its knees under the threat of total annihilation, but they were not happy kneelers.
I had since made a series of investments in Braavos over the last two years. Using my fortune to fund the rebuilding of the temples that my mother had torched to kill the Faceless Men. Along with rebuilding the Sealord's Palace for my personal use.
This earned me some goodwill with the city's populace, which was sorely needed after I killed a fifth of them. Then, lightening up on some of their restrictions also earned me some goodwill with the merchants that dominated the decapitated city. It had taken me a disgusting amount of gold, but Braavos was largely on board, even if harmonizing the laws between Pentos and Braavos had been a colossal headache.
Eliminating tariff barriers, equalizing the punishments for certain crimes, implementing my rapidly expanding bureaucracy, and the creation of a proper tax system had been a veritable nightmare. I was growing more and more thankful for Illyrio and Gessio's help by the day. Not to mention Rego Draz, who was keeping the gold flowing while I was spending enough to make the Lannisters blush.
Then, of course, there was slavery. The elimination of slavery across my state had been immensely expensive. We still used a system of penal labor for the frontier against the Dothraki, but slavery had finally been all but extinguished in Pentos. It would take some time to actually find and free the last of the slaves. But my previous plans had finally worked out, even if they cost my gold reserves a pretty penny.
Lorath and Norvos, by comparison, were far easier. Norvos was little more than a Pentoshi colony now. So all I had to do was compensate the Prince I installed a few years ago for having to renounce his title and settle for being the governor of the city instead.
Lorath, meanwhile, had been all too happy to kneel to me. Especially after I promised to help them enforce their claimed waters some more. It would hurt relations with Ib in the short term, but I was certain I would be able to work something out with them later. We had common enemies, after all.
"Seriously? War is brewing there too," Shiera said, and I nodded, annoyance brimming underneath my skin.
Of course, the universe would never actually let me handle one problem at a time. That would be far too simple. Right when my brother was staring down what was shaping up to be a multi-year-long guerrilla campaign against the kingdom our father thought pacified, the states of Essos just had to stir up trouble.
Khal Oko had finally done it. He left Qohor a moon ago, and my spies in Volantis told me the city had mobilized an army of nearly 60,000 men. They officially claimed the entire Rhoyne River basin, including the cities of Norvos and Qohor. With Khal Oko gone, the counterweight keeping the Volantenes south of Dagger Lake was gone.
I could not have cared less for Qohor if I tried. It was little more than a village now after the Dothraki had run the place for the last fifty-odd years. But Norvos was a problem. If they actually planned on challenging me for Norvos, which my spies told me they had every intention of doing, then I had to deal with it personally.
'Do they know about the troubles in Westeros?' I wondered once more. If it were true, it was a troubling possibility. If this was a planned thing, resolving this issue quickly may prove impossible.
It was under these circumstances that I was called away from my realm, which was currently preparing for war with the most populous state in all of Essos, to attend a wedding. I would not have missed this for the world, of course, but it complicated our plans.
Illyrio and Gessio could largely run Pentos in my absence, and Aeron could manage the army with little issue. But to deal with Volantis, I would have to be there. This meant that I would be preoccupied for what was likely a few moons at least right after this wedding, of course, right when the faith were at their strongest and most dangerous.
"Mother," I spoke just loud enough for her to hear. She turned her head on a swivel, looking away from her namesake and toward us.
"Yes?" she asked, seemingly annoyed.
"You will be remaining on Dragonstone, yes?"
"I will go wherever the family goes, Son," she said with narrowed eyes before I moved to explain more. She knew the gist of what was going on, but I had deliberately been letting her relax more. She thought she was hiding it well, but I could tell that the death of my father was weighing on her.
"Which will be on Dragonstone. I would like you to remain here and defend the family while I am away in Pentos," I demanded more than asked, I couldn't really afford a retort. It was still a strange thing to get used to, but my mother had largely ceded her authority to me ever since she arrived in Pentos after my battle with the Faceless Men.
"Naturally. Are you sure you do not need support in the East?" she asked while she moved to shush my daughter with a finger pressed to her lips. Visenya looked indignant at the gesture, but she was quickly redirected toward Daenys, who was babbling off to the side.
"Terrax will be sufficient. I would prefer you stay here," I said before I braced myself for what I knew was about to come. My brother had overheard us and was about to start speaking. I could almost feel it.
"Leaving so soon, Brother?" he said jovially. He was clearly enjoying this banquet, given his half-empty wine cup, which I had already seen refilled several times this night.
"Yes, actually. Go and fetch your son, we need to talk," I demanded, quietly, of course. None would hear us, but this was important. I was leaving, and the faith was about to rise in revolt; my brother and nephew had to be prepared.
…
"Uncle," my nephew said as he entered the private solar that my brother and I had moved to. I did not know what excuse Aenys had provided, but I also didn't care. I just needed a few minutes to explain everything.
"Aegon, I am glad you could join us," I said, leaning on the ornate desk my brother had purchased years back.
"Don't tell me this is another lecture," Aegon started. He was also deep in his cups, less than his father, however.
"No. I am here to tell you that you ought to move to Dragonstone for the foreseeable future," I said sternly. I hated working with drunk people, but I had little choice. I had to leave in the morning to get back to Pentos.
"Why?" Aegon asked, taking a seat on one of the ornate chairs that dotted the room. Aenys, likewise, was also listening intently.
"Because you saw what the crowd was like today. Dragonstone is safer," I said with a sigh. That had been horrendously awkward. One-fifth of the Sept cheered while the rest remained dead silent. If I were Aegon, I thought I might have lost it. It was so painfully awkward.
"Safer from what, the crowd? Uncle, we have dragons," Aegon said, and I was reminded that while Westeros may consider him an adult. He was still a boy who needed to be taught.
"Aye, but what good do dragons do when assassins creep over the castle walls at night? When you are stabbed, moving through the alleyways? When the manse is surrounded by the 700 Warrior's Sons in this city," I said, glaring at my brother more than my nephew.
"Why would they do that?" Aenys asked, confused.
"Did the High Septon ever sign off on this marriage, Brother?" I asked suddenly, causing Aegon to turn and look at his father.
"No? Since when do I need permission from the High Septon?" Aenys asked with a scoff, the alcohol evidently bringing out his latent Targaryen haughtiness.
"You don't. But he thinks you do. Now he is pissed off and has likely been planning whatever he intends to do for the last fortnight while the wedding was prepared," I elaborated and it looked like my nephew was quickly sobering up, even if my brother was definitely not.
"What do you mean, Uncle? Do you know something that we don't?" Aegon asked, now much more lucid. I had to admit, the boy was impressing me more and more every day. He was a quick study and an eager learner ever since our chat a year and a half ago.
"I know that the faith detests incest, and I know you just married your sister," I explained. The rationale was already sound, little else was needed.
"The High Septons of the past allowed the match between our mothers and our father. I will be able to convince him. You worry too much," Aenys said, swaying in his seat.
"Have you managed to convince him yet?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.
"No… but I am sure he will come around," Aenys said cheerfully. He was an annoying drunk, that was for certain.
"He already threatened you once, Aenys," I said, earning a worried response from Aegon.
"He did what?" Aegon asked, clearly out of the loop.
"He threatened your father over a year ago. When we all visited Oldtown together," I explained, and it looked like Aegon had just been hit in the face. I had been working to explain that trust should be given out sparingly to Aegon over the last year, but it seemed he had already misplaced his.
"And we just allowed that?!" Aegon asked, his hands balled into fists.
"Unfortunately, Aegon, the situation is more complicated than that," I began before Aenys tried to interject.
"I think you both are worrying too much; let us deal with this on the morrow!" he said cheerfully before both Aegon and I snapped at him.
"Quiet!" we both said, silencing him before Aegon turned back to me.
"Explain," Aegon demanded, and I let it slide this time. I merely narrowed my eyes at him instead of rebuking him.
"Punishing the High Septon must be done carefully. He wields immense influence in the Seven Kingdoms. Unfortunately, we must wait for him to make the first move, and it has to be a big one," I answered. Tempering my desire to reprimand him for demanding something from me. The alcohol in him certainly boosted his confidence.
"And that first move is rebellion?" Aegon asked, worried.
"If the King is sinning and not listening to the faith. What other choice will they find in their zealot minds?" I asked, prompting Aegon to realize the situation. I could see it in his eyes once the full extent of the situation was made clear to him.
"S-so… what do we do?" Aegon asked, resolve quickly making itself evident in the young man.
"For now, spend some time on Dragonstone with our family. Try your best to enjoy the peace before war begins. Trust me, Aegon, you will want every second of it back once it is gone," I said, placing a hand on his shoulder. He would require more work, but it seemed that the apple had indeed fallen far from the tree for this one, luckily for all of us.
"What about you, Brother? You said you were leaving?" Aenys asked then, kind of ruining the moment.
"You're leaving, Uncle?" Aegon asked, uncertainty appearing where once resolute resolve existed.
"Unfortunately, Volantis stirs out east. I am needed in Pentos for a while. I do not know how long," I said, answering Aegon's next question before he answered it.
"Shit," Aegon summarized my thoughts succinctly.
"Indeed. My family will be remaining on Dragonstone in the meantime. I recommend you do the same. Move your wife, your parents, and your siblings to Dragonstone while the situation unfolds. Once the problem reveals itself, it will be easier to deal with," I advised Aegon, and it seemed he was amenable to the suggestion.
'Thank the gods,' I thought, at least I did not have to convince him. The other person in the solar however…
"Dragonstone? We ought to go on a progress if you speak truthfully, Brother. Convince the people that my son's marriage is not sinful. It is no different from when our father married our mothers," Aenys started, and I so deeply desired to snap at him.
"No, leaving the safety of Dragonstone without an army at your back is a bad decision," I spoke, not expecting Aegon to back me up right after.
"I think Uncle is correct, Father. It would not hurt to spend some time on Dragonstone. Should a rebellion rise, we will be safe there. Should nothing occur, we get to spend some time with Uncle's family, and we can plan our first progress." Aegon explained the possibilities well, and I was reminded again just how much I liked the kid. He had a lot of promise, even if he was very unpolished.
Aenys looked at us both suspiciously before loudly sighing. "Very well, we will leave in the morning," Aenys said, throwing his hands up.
Aegon and I both sighed as Aenys gave in. Technically, Aegon couldn't move Alyssa, Viserys, Jaehaerys, or Alysanne. He could move himself and Rhaena to Dragonstone, but his siblings were Aenys's responsibility. With Aenys's family moving to Dragonstone, that would afford me some time to deal with Essos.
As Aenys left the chamber to return to the party. I stopped Aegon briefly, needing to say a few words.
"Uncle?" he asked as I grabbed his wrist, stopping him from leaving.
"Make sure you get your family to Dragonstone," I said, wanting to hear him say it.
"Of course, Uncle," Aegon said with a small smile, the first one I had seen from him that day.
I sighed in relief as I let his wrist go, but Aegon did not leave immediately.
"Uncle? I… I wanted to say thank you," Aegon began, earning a confused look from me.
"For what?" I asked, bewildered.
"For being so loyal. I… I do not know how to thank you enough. Or what we would do without you," Aegon said sheepishly. I was reminded again of my promise to the kid earlier. How he would always be welcome in our company, and I would be an open ear if he needed it.
He had made extensive use of my promise to him over the last year. He even went so far as to spend a few moons in Pentos with my family during one of his particularly bad spats with his parents. He was still a bit sheepish around me, but I thought that giving him a place where he could relax would be a smart play. It seemed it worked, given he actually agreed to marry Rhaena and was no longer acting like a complete fool.
"No need to thank me, Aegon. We are family, we must stick together. As for what you would do without me, I am sure you would have figured it out, Aegon. You are a good man; my father would be proud of you," I said simply. I did not know if what I said about my father would actually be true, given I did not really know my father all that well. But the rest was true, and boosting his confidence would be the smart play. Given that he was likely about to go to war for the first time.
"I… thank you, Uncle Maegor," Aegon said before ducking out of the solar.
I sighed again. I gathered myself before making my own way back toward the banquet hall. I was riding to war soon, I should try to enjoy myself before life made that nigh impossible once more.