Chapter 22: Uniting the Blood (156-160 AC)
By 156 AC, King Viserys I's reign was a monument to his strategic genius. Westeros was a unified, prosperous realm, its economy flourishing, its military unmatched, and its administration run by a loyal, efficient bureaucracy born from the Royal College. The great lords, bent and bowed, now operated strictly within the boundaries set by the Crown. Viserys, now in his late fifties, had achieved an unprecedented level of control. His final, crucial step in securing his unassailable dynasty was to forge unbreakable bonds through strategic marriages for his children.
He believed that while force and economic power could control the present, carefully interwoven bloodlines would secure the future. His understanding of Westerosi history, particularly the Dance of the Dragons, reinforced his conviction that internal Targaryen strife, fueled by competing claims and external alliances, was the gravest threat. His solution was bold, calculated, and aimed at both reinforcing Targaryen supremacy and eliminating future dissent.
Prince Aemon and the Wolf: A New Pact
The marriage of Prince Aemon (now 33 years old), the highly capable heir to the Iron Throne, was of paramount importance. Viserys knew Aemon would inherit a realm fundamentally reshaped, but also one where lingering resentments from the old houses could still fester. His choice for Aemon's bride was a calculated masterstroke: a Stark girl from the North.
The North, with its vast, untamed lands and fiercely independent spirit, had always been difficult to fully integrate. While Lord Rickon Stark had complied with Viserys's decrees, a deep-seated caution and pride remained. A marriage to the heir would bind the oldest, most traditional kingdom irrevocably to the Targaryen dynasty, solidifying the peace between dragon and wolf.
Viserys had observed the younger generation of Starks for years through his intelligence network. He chose Lady Lyanna Stark, the youngest daughter of Lord Rickon. She was known for her sharp wit, her quiet strength, and her fierce loyalty to her family and traditions. She was not a beauty to set songs to, but possessed a stark, undeniable presence. More importantly, her temperament suggested she could handle the complexities of court while retaining the unwavering loyalty of the North.
The proposal was made through official channels, framed as a gesture of profound respect and a desire to weave the ancient blood of the First Men with the blood of the Dragon. Lord Rickon, wary but understanding the immense honor and the implicit pressure, accepted. He recognized it as a definitive end to any lingering notions of Northern independence, but also as a guarantee of peace and a promise of immense influence for his house at court.
The wedding of Prince Aemon and Lady Lyanna Stark took place in 157 AC in the Great Sept of Baelor in King's Landing. It was a grand affair, perhaps not as lavish as Viserys's own, but deeply significant. The grim lords of the North, still accustomed to their Old Gods, traveled south in unprecedented numbers, a tangible display of their new fealty. Aemon, ever pragmatic, treated Lyanna with respect and quiet consideration. Lyanna, for her part, approached the marriage with her characteristic stoicism, determined to do her duty for her house and for the realm.
Viserys himself attended, observing every interaction, every subtle shift in allegiance. The union was hailed across the realm as a powerful symbol of unity, the Dragon finally, truly, embracing the Wolf. Aemon, with his mother's empathy and his father's strategic mind, began to actively cultivate goodwill in the North, ensuring their loyalty extended beyond mere fear of dragonfire.
The Dragons Intertwined: A Bloodline Secure
For his two younger children, Princess Shaera (now 20 years old) and Prince Daeron (now 14 years old), Viserys planned a different, yet equally strategic, union: an unprecedented marriage between them. This decision was rooted in his absolute commitment to preserving the purity and strength of the Targaryen bloodline, ensuring future dragonriders, and eliminating any potential future disputes over succession or claims within the royal family. It was a direct counter to the historical internal strife that had plagued his house in his previous timeline.
He had observed their interactions closely over the years. Shaera, intelligent and poised, had always displayed a protective affection for her younger, curious brother. Daeron, for his part, looked up to Shaera with immense admiration. While the age gap might raise eyebrows in some courts, it was not unheard of among Targaryens, and Viserys intended to portray it as a sacred, ancient tradition.
Viserys presented the idea to Rhaenys first. She, understanding the strategic imperative and the strength it would bring to their children's claims, supported him. He then subtly began to guide Shaera and Daeron towards this future, emphasizing their shared blood, their unique heritage, and the paramount importance of keeping the Dragon's blood strong and pure.
> "Your blood, my children," Viserys told them during a private family dinner, "is the most precious commodity in this realm. It is the blood of the dragon, the blood of kings and queens. It must be preserved, cherished, and amplified, lest our power diminish across the generations. Your union will ensure our house's strength for a thousand years."
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He spoke of the ancient Valyrian traditions, emphasizing the unique bond between brother and sister in their ancestral culture. Shaera, intelligent enough to grasp the immense political and dynastic implications, understood her duty. Daeron, young but already highly pragmatic from his studies in the Royal College, accepted his role with a quiet understanding of its importance.
The wedding of Princess Shaera and Prince Daeron took place in 159 AC in the Dragonpit, a more intimate, distinctly Targaryen ceremony. It was not a public spectacle for the realm, but a powerful, internal declaration of the dynasty's self-sufficiency and strength. Balerion, Argentia, and Meleys soared overhead, their roars echoing through the massive dome, a testament to the dragons that would undoubtedly be born from this union. The ceremony was filled with Valyrian rites, emphasizing the sacred bond of fire and blood.
The purpose of these marriages was multifaceted:
* Aemon's marriage to Lyanna Stark: To bind the most independent of the Great Houses, the North, irrevocably to the Iron Throne, ensuring their loyalty through blood and eliminating a potential source of future rebellion. It symbolized the "unification" of Westeros under the Targaryen Crown.
* Shaera and Daeron's marriage: To preserve the purity and strength of the Targaryen bloodline, ensuring strong dragonriders for generations to come. It eliminated any future internal succession disputes by uniting two strong, direct lines of descent, preventing the kind of familial feuds that led to the Dance of the Dragons in Viserys's previous timeline. It also kept dragon eggs and potential new dragon bonds exclusively within this tightly controlled royal family.
Viserys had now woven the final, unbreakable threads into his tapestry of control. His children, strategically married, represented the enduring power of his dynasty, balancing outward alliances with inward purity. The future of House Targaryen, strengthened by modern ingenuity and secured by meticulous, ruthless planning, was truly unassailable, a golden age meticulously crafted by the Dragon's Gambit.
This chapter sets up the future of the Targaryen dynasty through these strategic marriages. What would you like to explore next in Viserys's reign?