The solar was silent, sealed against the world. The air smelled of wax, parchment, and fear.Viserys sat slumped in his chair, the weight of his son's questions pressing heavier than any crown. But before he could gather his words, Rhaegar raised a hand.
Rhaegar (calm, firm):
"Father, let me answer the questions. For you have been blind, as they wished you to be. And blindness is the doom of our House."
Rhaegar:
"We are Valyrian. Not Andal, not First Men. We ride dragons, we dream of the future, and magic stirs in our very blood. The Seven cannot chain us, the Old Gods cannot know us. Fire is our truth, and blood is our bond. Forget that, and we are nothing."
Viserys swallowed hard. His hand trembled on the arm of his chair. "Gods help me… how do you know such things?"
Rhaegar only pressed on, his voice sharper.
Rhaegar:
"King Maegor was not a usurper. He was rightful king. Son of Visenya eldest of Aerion's line. Aegon the Conqueror and Visenya agreed Aenys would reign first, for the love they both had for queen Rhaenys when she died in Dorne.grief unbalanced Aegon's judgment. Still, there was a pact: after Aenys, Maegor would sit the throne. Not Aegon the Uncrowned. Not any other branch. That was the will of blood."
Viserys shook his head violently. "No! No, history remembers..."
Rhaegar (cutting across):
"History remembers what scribes were paid to write. Alyssa Velaryon conspired with the Faith to blacken Maegor's name. She feared him. She feared what fire unchained might do to her children's claim. So the Faith called him butcher, usurper, demon and the tale stuck, because it served her. But truth, Father… truth cannot burn."
Viserys stared at the boy, sweat beading his brow. "This is treason you speak, against the very bones of our House—"
Rhaegar:
"No, Father. It is truth. And truth is more dangerous than treason."
Rhaegar moved closer, lowering his voice.
Rhaegar:
"Do you know why King Jahaerys never spoke of Maegor? Because Queen Alysanne was not who they claimed her to be. She was Maegor's daughter born of Ceryse Hightower. Do you understand now? Jahaerys married the blood of Maegor the Cruel himself."
Viserys's face drained of color. "Lies. Lies spun from shadows. I will not"
But the boy pressed on, relentless.
Rhaegar:
"Ceryse Hightower was sent by the Faith to destroy House Targaryen from within. But she fell in love with Maegor. Their union bore a child. Yet when she and Alyssa Velaryon both carried babes, Alyssa schemed. She had the children exchanged. Maesters, sworn to her cause, killed Maegor's trueborn babe, believing it Alyssa's. The realm never knew. But Maegor's line lived hidden in Alysanne."
Viserys gasped, whispering, "Seven save us…"
Rhaegar:
"And when Alyssa learned the truth years later, she hated it. She and Rogar Baratheon fought the match between Jahaerys and Alysanne because she feared her daughter's blood was not her own. But love overcame it, and so the lie endured."
Rhaegar's eyes burned now, voice unyielding.
Rhaegar:
"And now you see why you are king, Father. Not Rhaenys Velaryon. Not the woman they call 'The Queen Who Never Was.' For King Jahaerys despised both Velaryon and Baratheon blood. Had she not wed Corlys Velaryon, she might have been Queen Great Council or no. But with that name bound to hers, Jahaerys would sooner have burned the realm than let their line sit the throne."
Viserys stared, broken between fury and terror. His lips trembled, but no words came.
Rhaegar (soft, final):
"That is the truth of our blood. That is why history hides its face. And that is why dragons dream still to remind us."
The room was deathly silent. Only the flames crackled, whispering of shadows long buried.