Red Keep ― Maegor's Holdfast…
"All preparations have been made for the Eyrie, my prince," Steffon advised. "We have a ship ready to depart at your leisure."
Aeonar nodded. "Thank you, Ser Steffon," he replied. Being the Prince of Dragonstone and heir to the Iron Throne, he had been assigned two Kingsguard knights to protect him. Another seasoned veteran, Steffon was first sworn to the Old King Jaehaerys and remained with his successor Viserys. He was also the uncle to the Lord of Duskendale, Gunthor Darklyn. "Though I prefer to ride Vaelor with us."
"A travel by ship on calm oceans is preferably a much safer choice."
"But dragons are faster." And mine is the fastest in the world.
"Would you prefer we remain with Lady Alicent?" Erryk asked.
"Yes, that would be preferable, Ser Erryk. I'd rather prioritize my wife and son's safety over my own." Aeonar looked out the window. A single ship was being prepared by the bay, often the dockworkers occasionally overlooking to see Vaelor staring at them as they passed by him. He is growing bigger by the day. The prince then noticed one of his agents looking up at him signing hand signals. Farrier's men must have found something. Good. But someone must've been giving them a tough time considering it took longer than usual. Whoever it was, they were not ordinary schemers. No, this had to have been planned very thoroughly and covered their tracks well. "One more thing before we depart, I'll need a moment to speak with my father."
"Of course, my prince."
But before Aeonar or any of his Kingsguard escorts could say or do anything else, Ser Harrold Westerling came into the room. Both Steffon and Erryk stood at attention in acknowledgment of their Lord Commander. "Ser Harrold," they said.
"At ease," Harrold replied before turning to Aeonar. "Pardon the interruption, my prince. But His Grace has requested your presence before you leave for the Eyrie," he informed.
Aeonar raised an eyebrow. His former mentor would not tell him this personally unless he believed it was necessary. "I was actually on my way to see him, Lord Commander. But why so sudden?" he asked.
"I dare not say, but you must meet him in his quarters without delay."
What could he possibly want at this hour? Aeonar felt suspicious. Since his return from the campaign in the Stepstones, he had been avoiding his father for quite some time. Even so, Alicent was insistent that he at least talk to Viserys to see if there was anything that could be salvaged from the estranged father-son relationship. He had his doubts but only complied with his wife's request after being repeatedly asked to the point of annoyance. Dismissing his Kingsguard escorts, Aeonar accompanied Ser Harrold to Viserys's room. He could faintly hear gossip from courtiers, but he ignored them as they soon arrived at their destination.
Harrold pushed the doors open. "Your Grace, the Prince of Dragonstone is here to see you," he said. "Good luck, lad."
"Thank you, Ser Harrold," Aeonar nodded. He watched the Lord Commander leave the room, closing the doors behind him to give the king and him some privacy. The prince closely examined his father's room, vaguely recalling the last time he was brought here. But to see it now? Some dust had gathered, but it remained the same. The model of Old Valyria had grown to take up a much more significant portion of the room and was given more intricate details of design.
Viserys was alone, seated on a high-backed oak chair, looking over letters. Aeonar stood silently. Neither greeting his father nor giving any indication of his arrival. Viserys in turn did not look at or acknowledge his son. It was a few good minutes of cold silence before finally the king rolled up the parchment he had been reading and looked at his son. "My father didn't get to choose his wife. No, it was decided that he would marry his sister. It was the same for my uncle, me, and my brother. Our grandfather and grandmother chose our wives for us. The reasons were political, of course. The point was, we did not have a choice. But we did as we were bid. Some of us found love and happiness in our marriage. Others did not."
"I'm well aware of that," Aeonar replied.
Viserys tapped the parchment against the armrest of his chair and stared at Aeonar. "I could have arranged a match for you. There were so many offers. I could have arranged one with a daughter of House Martell."
"If you have something to say to me, father, don't simply beat around the bush about it or use soft language. Just get to the point and tell me."
Viserys voice suddenly sharpened, and his eyes narrowed. "Or perhaps I, as your king, could have forced you to marry Laena Velaryon, his daughter being wed to the heir to the Iron Throne certainly would have pleased Lord Corlys." He then sighed and his voice softened again. "But no, as your father, I allowed you to marry for love. I cared for your happiness, so I respected your choice. So… why do you continue to treat me with such disrespect? Why go sneaking around my back and scheme a deliberate plot to annul Daemon's marriage with Lady Rhea?"
The prince soon found himself growing increasingly agitated. He slowly curled his hands into a fist and the back of his eyes felt like they were starting to burn. The nerves twitching in his head were tugging at every corner more aggressively. How dare you…! "And what proof do you have that I was somehow involved? Do you have any shred of evidence to back up these accusations?" he replied. "In case you had forgotten, I'm no longer on your small council due to in no small part of your political blunders. Plus, I spent two years fighting in the Stepstones since you have repeatedly dismissed the Triarchy as a threat to the realm's economic stability. Two. Years! Without any help from you."
"Don't get smart with me, Aeonar. You may be my son, my heir, but I am still your king. And you will hold your tongue more closely. Now, do you deny your involvement?"
"Huh. I don't know which is better: that you think I'm all-seeing, or that you're trying so hard to pin the blame on me for something I didn't do… and failing. That's both sad and pathetic." This time, it was the Young Dragon's turn to stare down the king. "Why should you care about my happiness when you deliberately robbed me of it? Ignored my advice at every turn? Making promises under false pretenses? You made that abundantly clear a long time ago. If you have no wish to push me any further, then I suggest you back off. You've done enough damage already."
Viserys father did not back down and wilted under his gaze. Instead, he only seemed to strengthen. He grabbed Aeonar's wrist and held it tight. "Do not play games with me Aeonar and do not act like the victim! You went behind my back and arranged for the annulment. We both know it. This is not the first time you have overstepped your authority. I could punish you, by all rights I should. But you have only just returned, for the sake of Jaehaerys and Alicent, I will forgive it."
Instinctively, Aeonar forcibly pulled back. Once he felt his arm was freed, he pushed Viserys back. "Keep your fucking hands off me, old man!" he shouted angrily.
Viserys stumbled back, a look of anger on his face. The king and his son were the same height, but he noticed Aeonar had also gotten physically stronger. "I hate this, I hate that you and I are fighting. We are father and son. I do not want us to be enemies. Your mother would not want us to be acting like this." He sighed and rubbed his chin. "Daemon is free of his marriage to Lady Royce. I will not dispute that. However, my leave is still required before he can take another wife." He looked at his son, "I assume you already have a maid in mind for him?"
He still thinks I did it. That does it, father. You have had your chance… and you blew it. Again! For the third time! "The next time you lay a hand on me," Aeonar warned, "will be the last time you have any hands at all. No, I'll just let your leprosy do it instead." Viserys was stunned. How did Aeonar know about his ailments? "You think I wouldn't find out? No secret remains hidden for long... Your Grace. Not from me." Otto and Grand Maester Mellos have sworn to secrecy. And in his current condition, the king's ailment was getting worse. But before he left, Aeonar took one last glance over his shoulder. "But do you know what I think? Between you and mother, it should have been you who died that day – not her. I hope it was worth losing everything."
Aeonar then left, to take his leave early for his royal progress. But those words… hurt Viserys deeply to hear that. No matter how much time passes, the king missed Aemma terribly… and how her death caused his son to hate him for that. Those words cut deep into his heart. And as Aeonar stormed out, his face darkened with rage, he failed to notice something, or rather someone. Hobbling out of the shadows, leaning heavily on his crutch, appeared Larys Strong. The clubfooted second son of the Master of Laws. He watched the prince leave and heard the king's muffled but still audible sobs inside his room. A thin smile, which seemed more like a smirk, appeared on the face of the crippled member of House Strong as he returned to the shadows.
Before long, one of Farrier's agents snuck past the Kingsguard to infiltrate Viserys's room and found him by himself. "Pardon me, Your Grace," he approached cautiously. "We… We did an investigation into what happened earlier. The High Septon, the annulment… it came back to someone calling themselves 'the White Worm'," he handed the parchment over. Upon reviewing the evidence, it was shown that whoever the White Worm is had orchestrated the events that transpired. From what they could tell, it seemed that Aeonar was determined to be innocent… and the White Worm, whoever he or she may be, seemed to pin it on the Prince of Dragonstone to throw them off their trail. "Without a spymaster, we have a hard time trying to uncover the White Worm's true identity."
Viserys accepted the documents in stony silence, reading them repeatedly. He gave a flick of his hand and the agent left with a quick bow. Hours had passed. A faint draconic roar could be heard in the distance before silence befell once again. Viserys continued to stand there, his hands gripping the document so tightly it threatened to tear the paper. "Fool, bloody thrice damned fool," he cursed himself as hot tears ran down his cheeks. "What have I done…?"
The brief momentary silence did not last long as Rhaenyra came barging into Viserys's room, pushing past the Kingsguard. "Damn it, father!" she hollered. "What the hell do you say to Aeonar this time?! He's already taken Alicent, Jaehaerys, and the rest of his escorts to Vale earlier than expected! What did you do?!"
"What I have always done… the wrong thing," Viserys said as he slumped into his chair. "Ser Tyland has put forward an offer for your hand in marriage. Though, from what we saw in the kingswood… you would sooner marry a wildling from beyond the Wall." He picked up his wine cup and stared at his sad reflection. "Any suggestions on who you would prefer?"
"Neither! You know, father, everything was simply fine before we lost mother. And ever since that day forward, our family has been steadily falling apart! So, no matter what you say, no matter what you do… I refuse to get married until you're genuinely sorry for driving Aeonar further away AGAIN!"
"I am sorry… not only to him but to you. I deprived you both of your mother. And I must live with the knowledge that it was my fault. I must look at my reflection and see the face of the man whose stupidity killed his wife. Perhaps I should abdicate and give Aeonar the throne. Spend the rest of my days a country lord."
"And take the easy way out? No, I do not think so," Rhaenyra shook her head and pointed her finger at Viserys. "If you abdicate, you'll only be proving my point and making our lives even harder. Do you want to make amends? You'd best work your fingers to the bone to make things right before you lose Aeonar forever." With that, Rhaenyra turned around and left.
But the only question was how. Viserys took a long drink from his wine. What would father do? The answer came to him as a memory of himself and Daemon as boys fighting over a toy, Baelon would knock their heads together and lock them in a closet until they remembered they were brothers. "What would grandfather do?" Viserys mused to himself. The Old King Jaehaerys reconciled the throne with the Faith, and it earned him the nickname 'the Conciliator.' Though it took his daughter Maegelle to reconcile Jaehaerys with his sister-wife Queen Alysanne when the two of them quarreled. Beatrice… Why? Why did you lie to me?
Red Keep ― Tower of the Hand…
Otto reviewed a document from one of his contacts in Oldtown. Being from House Hightower, he used his connections as Hand of the King to investigate the matter thoroughly with the Faith of the Seven and the Citadel. Once he heard of the dissolution of the marriage between Daemon and Rhea Royce, he couldn't help but feel that something must have happened that resulted in this.
"So, it seems my brother managed to piss off his heir again," Daemon chuckled with a flask of ale in hand. He was drunk but still coherent enough. "I just received notice of it just recently. I'm finally free of my old bronze bitch." Daemon took another gulp. "Never occurred to me that there was another way out that it took me this long to find out. And poor old Aeonar ended up getting blamed for something he didn't do."
Otto did not know what he feared more. The ever-growing rift between the King and the heir. Or the fact that Daemon was now free to marry again and potentially cause havoc. "The crown and council will endeavor to find a suitable match for you," he said aloud while he was mentally making a list of petty lords with unwed female kin.
The rogue prince only smirked and sipped from his cup. "Oh, that won't be necessary. I already have the perfect match in mind," he said. "Perhaps I should pay Laena Velaryon a visit."
Otto staggered slightly as if he had taken a physical blow when he heard the name of the Sea Snake's daughter pass through Daemon's lip. Adding Corlys's fleet and wealth to Daemon was like pouring oil onto an already blazing fire. At that moment everything fell into place in Otto's mind. Clever. Very clever. Whoever produced such a devious plot intends to cause internal strife that would severely cripple the realm.
The Vale of Arryn…
Alicent remained on the vessel with Ser Steffon and Ser Erryk, occasionally bouncing Jaehaerys on her lap. Before they eventually left for the Vale, she had heard of the argument between Viserys and Aeonar. No matter how much she would inquire, she would get brushed off. Alicent knew better than to continue broaching the subject again. Aeonar was too angry to even hold a conversation. For now, Alicent felt that a ride on dragonback would help her husband calm down and take his mind off things before they eventually arrive at Gulltown. Being the only major port city in the Vale, Gulltown would be where they would disembark before making the journey to the Eyrie. Being one-quarter Arryn by birth, Aeonar felt it appropriate to pay homage to his mother's homeland first during the royal progress.
A shadow loomed over the ship, causing Alicent to look up. She could see Vaelor flying above them. The Swiftrunner gave an occasional draconic vocalization if not a screech but slowed down just enough to remain in sight. Alicent knew that within moments, if Gulltown was further in sight, then Vaelor would begin to pick up speed. Sure enough, after another screech, the dragon beat his wings harder and flew at a faster pace.
"Gulltown is within sight, my lady," Ser Steffon reported.
"Thank you, ser," Alicent rose from her seat. Jaehaerys babbled and stretched his hands. "Yes, sweetling. We are almost there. Soon, you'll be meeting all kinds of nice people and making new friends in the Vale, yes?" she cooed in a motherly tone.
Before long, the ship soon arrived at Gulltown. As it began disembarking, the crew unloaded the necessary shipments before loading on more. Alicent, escorted by Ser Steffon and Ser Erryk, gracefully walked down the rampart to see a gathering of lords, merchants, and knights who had been expecting their arrival. Vaelor swooped down low and flew past them. Many ducked and exclaimed, some merchants applauding at the sight of the Swiftrunner before noticing Aeonar performing a front flip off his mount and landed directly on his feet. Theatrical, elegant, acrobatic. The Young Dragon turned to acknowledge the gathering as Vaelor flew overhead towards the Mountains of the Moon.
"And now, presenting," a Vale courtier announced, "Prince Aeonar Targaryen, eldest son of King Viserys of House Targaryen, the First of His Name, and heir to the Iron Throne. Accompanying him… Lady Alicent Hightower, daughter of the Hand of the King Ser Otto Hightower, consort to the Prince of Dragonstone, and their son, Prince Jaehaerys Targaryen."
"Welcome to the Vale, Prince Aeonar Targaryen," approached Lady Jeyne Arryn, ruler of the Eyrie and Wardeness of the East. "We have been expecting you." Being the head of House Arryn at an early age, she could not be more than a year older than Aeonar since the deaths of her father and brothers at the hands of the Stone Crows, one of the mountain Hill tribes. She turned to Alicent. "House Arryn greets you as well, Alicent. We received word of your much-anticipated arrival. Is this darling boy your son?" she noticed.
Alicent nodded. "Yes, Lady Arryn. This is Prince Jaehaerys," she presented him.
The Vale women converged on Alicent, clearly fawning over Jaehaerys. The little prince was initially overwhelmed at the attention he was getting but broke out in a giggling fit when some of the elder ladies booped his nose and pinched his rosy cheeks. Alicent felt nervous at being surrounded, especially if her son was caught in the middle. But with Steffon and Erryk keeping guard, they ensured the entourage would be safe. Jeyne and Aeonar merely stood off to the side.
"We've been hearing conflicting reports," Jeyne mentioned. "Some of them are… unsettling."
Aeonar suspected what she was implying. "I know," he replied. "I've heard the same thing."
"Although my bannermen have had their reservations, House Royce felt as if though this sham of an annulment of one of their own was an insult to their honor."
"And such insult will not stand. I assure you, Lady Arryn, I've already dispatched several of my best agents to investigate the matter thoroughly."
"For what it's worth, I believe you. I only pray that those responsible for disrespecting my vassals." Jeyne observed Alicent and Jaehaerys. "It's easy to ignore how short life can be. We learn it to the fullest, lest we forget what is more important in life. It wasn't that long ago when my father and all the Vale bid farewell to Lady Aemma since she married your father. We've kept her portrait along the Crescent Chamber's arcade."
"I'd… like to see that once we have time. For now, I think it's best if we tend to the concerns among our lords vassals and lords paramount."
"We will. And your consort?"
"Our plan is for Alicent to renew the women's courts, just as my great-grandmother Queen Alysanne did half a century ago. My wife volunteered to undertake this task personally."
"Good for her. The realm has been sorely lacking in paying more attention to our concerns since Good Queen Alysanne's passing. So long as Alicent does not overextend herself. She's still young."
"That she is. But Alicent is smarter than you think. Still learning how to play the game, but smart. She'll make a good queen when the time comes." Aeonar's eyes traversed through the growing crowd, noticing an undercover Lykirī Mēre agent amongst them. Both gave a subtle nod. Good. They are exactly where they should be. "Shall we begin, Lady Arryn?" he formally requested.
Jeyne nodded. "Of course," she replied. "Come. Let's begin our first session in the Eyrie."