Pre-Chapter A/N: Here we go with another chapter, coming in right on time. Next three chapters on my patreon(https://www.patreon.com/c/Oghenevwogaga)— same username as here and link in bio.
XXXXXX- AEGON
Aegon could not breathe. His whole life felt like it was flashing before his eyes. He knew what mobs could do to people accused of theft, and he could not even remove his helmet and reveal his identity because of how tightly the man that had caught him was holding on to him.
"I did not steal anything," he screamed but the small mob that was building did not seem to care. He was struggling to see clearly now. Everything was becoming dizzy and a blur to his eyes.
"Shut up, boy! Where's a boy like you going to get all this gold? Never seen a Lordling in clothes that don't fit right," the man holding on to him snarled in his ears as another man came forward and snatched the bag of gold—their hard-earned winnings—from him. Aegon was panicking now.
"I'm no thief, I'm the—" he almost said before another voice cut through his own.
"What is all this nonsense?" a voice he was not all too familiar with said, stepping into the mob. Aegon did not know the voice, but the mob had stopped now. It respected this voice. Aegon's eyes snapped up on hearing footsteps near him. He met the gaze of a blonde man just as tall as Lord Velaryon, but with green eyes that glimmered with amusement.
"We caught this thief running across the camp, my Lord. We mean to take his hand," one of the men finally said.
"You will do no such thing. Are you lot blind? Can you not see who you have?" Aegon flushed, knowing that his identity would be revealed soon. And while he had been about to do it himself to save his life, he found that he was far more against the idea now that the threat to his life was more remote.
"My Lord?" one of the men asked.
"This is Corbyn, my cousin's squire. He's stolen nothing and I will have any man who says otherwise come and repeat the words to my face," Ser Tyland said again and Aegon could not quite understand just what was happening. Did the Lannister Knight somehow fail to recognise him? And even worse, had he somehow managed to mistake him for someone else? Aegon did not think that was very likely.
More likely, it was that the man was trying to cover up for him. But if that was the case, then why was he doing this?
Aegon did not look the gift horse in its mouth though as Ser Tyland got the men to release him. He even had them hand back their gold and then with one hand on Aegon's shoulder, he led him away.
They were silent as they went, and when Aegon felt they were far enough away he spoke.
"Many thanks, good Ser," he said, and then tried to detach himself only for the grip on his shoulder to tighten.
"I think not, my Prince. Surely you will not mind exchanging some words with this Knight," Ser Tyland said but even if it was phrased like it should have been a question, it was very obvious that it was not one. So Aegon did as bid and allowed the Knight to lead them to his tent.
When they arrived, it was empty. There were Lannister men-at-arms all around the tent and two had to part it for them to go in but after that they were alone. The tent was massive. Easily the same size as Lord Velaryon's. But where Lord Velaryon's was simple on the inside, this one was like a room from Casterly Rock had been packed up and brought here to King's Landing. At least it was what he imagined rooms at the Rock to look like. There were red and gold carpets on some parts of the ground. Beyond that, there was a large table with a chair behind it, and several other lounging chairs. To the far side, there was another small table with a jug and goblets on it, waiting to be used. And on the other side, closer to the entrance, there was a stand with Ser Tyland's armour on it. It was a gleaming gold that seemed to take all the light in the room. The work of a master-craftsman, even Aegon's eyes could tell.
"So, Prince Aegon, what takes a Prince to that part of the camp?" he asked once they were in. He walked over to the jug and poured out some wine for himself, and then some for Aegon, though Aegon noted that he followed the wine in Aegon's goblet with a lot of water before handing it over.
Aegon took a sip of the wine, finding it to still be sweet despite the water added. Most likely Reach wine. Bloodstone had far more Dornish wine and that did not tend to be as sweet as the Reach ones.
"I went on an errand for Lord Velaryon," he said, after some thinking. Ser Tyland just chuckled and shook his head.
"And if the both of us go to his tent now with you dressed as you are, he will say he knows what you've been up to?" he asked. Aegon looked away.
"Now, I would appreciate if you did not make a mockery of my intelligence, Prince Aegon. What were you doing there? The truth now, if you would," he said, pinning him to the ground with his gaze. Aegon nodded, but he knew he could not tell the whole truth. If Mother found out about Helaena and Aemond, they would be in no end of trouble. While Lord Velaryon was likely to punish him, Aegon was already in trouble for disobeying and entering the Squire Melee on his own accord even if Lord Velaryon had not stated what his punishment would be.
Getting in more trouble now was just stepping on spilled milk. It would make it somewhat harder to clean, but not disastrously. And there was the chance that Lord Velaryon ended up amused with the whole thing and did not even punish him at all. He would not put his life on it, but the chance existed either way and if the chance was there, then there was hope.
"I placed a bet with the bookkeeper and went to collect my winnings," he said.
"And this outfit?"
"To escape notice, Ser Tyland," he said.
"Indeed. Well, that failed clearly. Pick something better fitting next time. No Lord worth his name would allow a member of his family to move about in clothes so ill-fitting. Particularly not here. Dressed like that, you somehow managed to draw almost as much attention as you would have walking about on your own," Ser Tyland said, not seeming to care about Aegon's gambling.
"Now there is the issue, of course, that the standard procedure here is for me to take you to your Knight," he said.
"Ser Tyland?" Aegon asked, feeling despair creep into him.
"But I never saw Aegon Targaryen today. Only Corbyn, my cousin's squire," he said, and then he waved his hand, telling Aegon that he could leave. Aegon turned to do so, only for Ser Tyland to call back at him.
"Of course, you ought to remember today. You are in my debt, my Prince. And while a Lannister always pays his debts, I am much more concerned about collecting," he said. Aegon nodded, just grateful to somehow have escaped that.
He hurried to the meeting spot, this time being careful to avoid running into anyone.
"What took you so long?" Helaena hissed at him once he was close enough that their words would not travel too far when exchanged.
"I was almost mobbed for our gold, Hel. That's what took me so long," he said.
"Well, you seem more or less alright. You should take this and the winnings from the rest of this week and put them in for a bet on your Knight winning," she said, not seeming to care about him almost being mobbed.
"No. I'm not doing it. And neither is Aemond. You can go place your bets by yourself if you like them so much. But no more. We will not be used as tools for something so dangerous again," he said, saying the words that needed to be said, even if he felt bad for saying them. Of course. Helaena could not place the bets. Even this little wandering about she did with Aemond was dangerous enough. Going through the camp of tents unescorted as a young maid was a recipe for disaster.
But then there was a gleam in her eyes that looked like she was considering it.
"What do you even need all this gold for? We've already made so much."
"Not as much as you would think. Once we split it three ways, there's even less for each of us," she said.
"If that's the case then you can keep my share. Not like I get much use out of the gold I already have," he said, waving it away.
"You can keep mine as well, Hel," Aem said some seconds later.
Helaena looked like she was about to cry, and then without warning, she was jumping on them.
----
Aegon stood in the field, in the gaze of the orange sun that was just about to begin setting, having now finished its journey across their sky. The final match was set to begin in a matter of seconds. His Lord and Knight stood by his side, head pressed against his horse's as he spoke to it words Aegon could not have hoped to hear, and the few times he had managed to steal little bits of it, it had been in a language he did not understand. Lord Velaryon was not the nervous sort. The thought of him being worried before a joust was impossible for Aegon to even contemplate.
It wasn't like he needed the gold. Or even the fame. When Aegon had asked, he said he did it to measure his capacity and then laughed after saying that like it was supposed to have some special meaning. Aegon had decided then that he most likely did it because it was expected of him. He was a powerful Lord known for his skill with sword and lance. He would be called a coward by many if he never jousted.
"Are you ready, Aegon?" Lord Velaryon asked as if it was Aegon that would be mounting a horse to ride against one of the greatest warriors in all the realm. Still, Aegon nodded, knowing an answer would be expected from him even if none was needed.
"Just supply the lances as I need them. Be quick as well. Tyland rides relentlessly. Those three squires of his will work to ensure that he is always well provided. You will match them," Lord Velaryon said. He said it as if it was not a question, but a fact. And so Aegon believed in it. The first horn blew, telling the Knights to take their positions. Lord Velaryon jumped on to his horse and rode to his starting position. Aegon had the spare lances ready.
He snapped his helmet shut, and then the Lord Aegon knew was gone, replaced by the greatest Knight in all the Seven Kingdoms, looking resplendent in his armour of gleaming silver that shone from every angle, with the helmet that was forged to give nothing away. He was simple where his opponent was complex. Ser Tyland Lannister's golden armour had lines that wove all across it, leading to the pauldrons that held his red cape steady. Said cape draped over the back of his horse in contrast to Lord Velaryon's sea-green cape that stopped at his waist.
At the back of each would be their House sigils with the only other difference being that the words 'Hear Me Roar' would be inscribed on the Lannister's.
The second horn blew and both men rode down at once, their horses eating the ground that was the field at a rapid pace. When they hit each other, it was a savage crash that ended with splintered wood flying in all directions. Both men riding past unscathed, their shields having borne the impacts well.
----
After nine tilts, the calls were coming from the crowd for both knights to disembark and continue with swords. Aegon, who was watching the match with keen eyes, could see that there were two ways this could end. Lord Velaryon could either continue on his horse and tire out Ser Tyland in the next few tilts. The Lannister Knight had been conserving his energy the last few rounds, but Lord Velaryon was not making it easy for him and it was somewhat obvious that Aegon's Knight had much more in the tank than his opponent. Or it could end with both of them coming off their horses and continuing with blades.
The crowd would not normally call for such, but it seemed that Lord Velaryon had whet their appetite with the match against Ser Fell and now they most likely wanted to see how he would fare against a more even opponent. Ser Tyland did not often fight in melees, but the tales of what he and his sword would do to pirates his ships encountered were legendary. Even Aegon had heard them. And even Aegon was hoping he would see both men fight.
It did not seem like that would happen when they rode against each other a tenth time and Ser Tyland was almost taken off his horse with a particularly committed strike from Lord Velaryon's lance. Two more tilts and it would be over, Aegon reckoned.
So he was far from the only one surprised when Lord Velaryon shouted to Ser Tyland over the roar of the crowd, asking if he would want to continue with swords. Ser Tyland did not think for long, rising and dropping from his horse before calling for his sword. Aegon could not believe his eyes. But thankfully, his legs still kept working as they marched down with Lord Velaryon's own blade.
To see Riptide drawn twice in the same day was a rare treat. Ser Tyland drew his own blade to gasps from the crowd. Valyrian steel. Brightroar. Aegon knew House Lannister had obtained a Valyrian steel sword by buying one from Lord Velaryon—it had been the gossip of the court for an age—but he did not know that it would be Ser Tyland who wielded it, and not his brother, the Lord Lannister.
Of course, it only made sense. Ser Tyland was the warrior of the two. Part of him wondered who would wield Blackfyre when Rhaenyra became Queen. If she became Queen, rather. Aegon was not blind. He knew his grandfather would work to convince his father to change his mind. It even seemed like he'd gotten Lord Velaryon on his side. Aegon's prospects of one day sitting the throne had never been higher. That did not fill him with happiness the way most would expect.
He turned his mind from matters of kings and successions to focus on the duel that was about to begin. Two of the eminent knights of their age. The only one missing was Lord Borros Baratheon. They stepped around each other, both of them assessing and waiting. Neither wore a shield. Both were familiar enough with the sharpness of the blade their opponent held that they knew they would not gain much from one.
Ser Tyland struck first in the end. He was the one with less patience, it seemed. Either that, or he had taken all the information he needed (or could) from Lord Velaryon's stance and movements. Their blades met, Lord Velaryon parrying the slash that would have raked across his breastplate with a smooth turn of his hips. The sound of both swords clashing was like music being played. It rang across the field like a song of steel.
A song of Valyrian steel, to be precise, as no other blades could make this sound when they clashed. Both knights became blurs of motion as they fully leaned into combat with each other. They danced across the field, slashes being met with clean blocks and parries while thrusts were met with counter thrusts and dodges. They fought and all the while they did so, it was like the crowd, nay, the world itself, held its breath as the song of Valyrian steel played itself out before them all.
Ser Tyland was the first to step back, forced to yield the space to avoid a slash that would have opened him across the gorget that he had been unable to block because of the feint he had fallen for. The fight before now had been like a staring contest where no man had the advantage, but that step backwards was the blink that guaranteed his defeat. He did not go quietly, of course.
The dance continued for even longer after that moment. It had revealed a weakness in Ser Tyland, but it was up to Lord Velaryon to take advantage of it, and as Ser Erryk said, at the level of skill that these knights existed in, everything came down to the finest of margins. Lord Velaryon slashed downwards, forcing a block, and then turning into a swing from the side that Ser Tyland had to step backwards to avoid again.
And then their blades met once more a second later. This time, Lord Velaryon slid his blade along Ser Tyland's, heading for the guard. They disengaged, and their blades clashed again. When Lord Velaryon finally won, it happened so quickly that Aegon had not fully understood the move. All he knew was that somehow, he'd managed to twist the blades so that his was pressed against Ser Tyland's neck while the knight's was held behind his head at an awkward angle.
Ser Tyland yielded and was released from the hold before being given a handshake. The announcer declared Lord Velaryon the winner. Aegon rushed to give him another lance after he mounted his horse. He rode to the announcer, and accepted the crown of roses at the tip of his lance, and then he rode along the field, teasing that he would give it to this lady or the other, before finally stopping at the royal box.
When he did so, his voice was loud and clear.
"As my beautiful lady wife is not here, there is none more deserving of the title of Queen of Love and Beauty than the fairest Princess of them all," he said, and then he skipped past Aegon's older sister to place it in Helaena's lap.
A/N: One more important story beat in King's Landing and then back to regularly scheduled programming. Next chapter comes on here by Wednesday night (Done with my rest week so we get two chapters this week). Next three chapters up on patreon(https://www.patreon.com/c/Oghenevwogaga) (same username as here and link in bio), support me there and read them early.