Bonus at 150 stones
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Dragonstone, The Chamber of the Painted Table.
Inside the great hall now, the firelight cast long shadows.
"What... do you mean?" Rhaenyra asked softly.
"Literally what I said." Corlys put down his flagon.
"They are no longer the children of Rhaenyra Targaryen, but the grandsons of Corlys Velaryon and the legitimate sons of Laenor Velaryon."
"Their surname will be Velaryon, and their inheritance will be Driftmark, not the Iron Throne."
Daemon's eyes lit up. He hadn't expected Corlys to be willing to make such a compromise.
Given the current situation, it was already a blessing that House Velaryon hadn't turned against them entirely.
Rhaenyra fell into contemplation, her eyes flickering.
"But they... their appearance..."
"House Velaryon has people with different hair colors, too," Corlys said calmly.
"As long as I, the Lord of Driftmark and Head of House Velaryon, am alive and publicly declare them the legitimate children of Laenor, the family members dare not question it."
"Furthermore, I have already informed some of the kinsmen of my intentions, and they agree. Of course, the prerequisite is that you, Rhaenyra, are willing to pay the price."
"What price?"
"I want you to swear by the Targaryen bloodline and the Seven Gods."
Rhaenyra did not swear hastily, but watched Corlys quietly.
Corlys stated word by word.
"First, after the marriage between Jacaerys and Helaena Targaryen is fulfilled, their heir must marry a girl from the main Velaryon line, allowing the Velaryon bloodline to flow back."
Rhaenyra frowned but said nothing. This was still better than sending Jacaerys to the Wall.
"Second," Corlys continued, "your child Aegon, the future heir to the Iron Throne, must also marry a woman of the Velaryon family. Baela, perhaps, or Rhaena."
Rhaenyra did not object.
He stared at the two silent figures.
"And third... their dragons."
Daemon interjected, "What do you mean? Those three young dragons?"
Silence fell over the hall once more.
Corlys slowly leaned back in his chair.
"Without sufficient compensation, even if I favor Jacaerys and his brothers, I cannot continue to place my bet."
"Rhaenyra, Daemon, you both know what I want."
Rhaenyra gasped, looking at him.
"You want those three children... and three dragons?"
Corlys no longer hid his ambition, stating coldly, "Four. Including Helaena's Dreamfyre."
"Once you become Queen, they will all belong to House Velaryon."
"House Velaryon will bear all the burdens for you, Rhaenyra, and this is the compensation we demand."
Daemon closed his eyes.
This was the most crucial and most dangerous step.
Dragons were the foundation of Targaryen power. For thousands of years, no family without the name Targaryen had been formally permitted to own dragons as a separate power base.
Even though the Velaryons possessed Valyrian blood, and even though they had consistently intermarried with the Targaryens, allowing their descendants to ride dragons was usually temporary, a loan of power, not a transfer.
Now Corlys was demanding ownership of four dragons: three hatchlings (Vermax, Arrax, Tyraxes) and one adult dragon, Dreamfyre.
And four bloodlines capable of riding dragons...
It was hard to imagine how powerful House Velaryon would become in the future.
Daemon opened his eyes. "Do you know what this means?"
"It means House Velaryon will become the second most powerful force in the Seven Kingdoms," Corlys said candidly.
"It means anyone who wishes to attack Driftmark must weigh the wrath of four dragons."
"It also means... the Targaryens will no longer monopolize the power of dragons."
Corlys paused. "But rest assured, if you agree, I will make all my kinsmen swear a blood oath that no descendant of House Velaryon shall ever usurp the Targaryen throne."
"Our family's goal is the Triarchy on the Eastern Continent. We will remain vassals under the Targaryens, and in the future, we will become kin..."
Hearing Corlys's true intentions made Daemon, standing nearby, laugh out of anger.
"My Lord, you dream beautifully. Do you really think you can take advantage of us Targaryens like this?"
"I am merely stating what I think." Corlys looked at Rhaenyra.
"This is the best solution."
"The dragon-riding bloodline that House Velaryon will possess in the future will also be inherited from you."
"I am also willing to let House Velaryon become a branch of the Targaryens... rather than just vassals as we are now..."
"Once Jacaerys and his brothers grow up, I can rely on the dragons and our massive fleet to crush the Triarchy. House Velaryon will occupy Lys, Tyrosh, and Myr, the Free Cities."
"Your children will become Kings there, provided, of course, they bear the Velaryon surname."
"In this way, if you name Aegon the Younger as your heir, your right of succession will be unquestioned and completely legitimate. Your throne is secured, and House Velaryon receives due compensation."
"We have shed enough blood for the Iron Throne. It is time to take some things back."
Rhaenyra walked to the window, looking out towards the dark cliffs of Dragonstone.
On the cliff, Jacaerys was affectionately interacting with his young dragon, Vermax.
Her eldest son was the child who would awkwardly comfort her whenever she was sad.
The teenager who became tougher after losing an eye...
If she agreed, he would become the Velaryon heir, Lord of Driftmark, but would lose his claim to the Iron Throne.
The Targaryens would lose ownership of four dragons...
But if she refused...
She remembered the letters of reprimand from her father, Viserys, over the years.
The disdainful mockery and sarcasm of the nobles. Alicent's triumphant smile.
And Daemon's words, that these children might be slaughtered in the future...
"I..." Rhaenyra's voice trembled, "I need some time to consider."
"Rhaenyra, you have no time." Corlys stood up.
"Lord Boremund's naming ceremony is in five days. Nobles from the Stormlands, the Reach, and the Crownlands will all be present."
"Rhaenyra, if you cannot give me an answer before the feast, I will assume you have chosen another path. And House Velaryon will be forced to reconsider its position."
Daemon narrowed his eyes.
"Are you threatening us?"
"I am merely offering the best solution, Prince Daemon."
"As long as you agree, even with the situation as it is, House Velaryon will still bet on Rhaenyra. We can't be expected to pay such a huge price without demanding compensation, can we?"
He walked toward the door, stopping at the threshold, and looked back at Daemon.
"Daemon Targaryen, you owe my son a life, and you owe House Velaryon an explanation. If this renewed partnership succeeds, we will be even."
The door closed, and the sound of footsteps faded.
Only the crackling of the fireplace and the moan of the sea wind through the stone window remained in the hall.
Daemon walked behind Rhaenyra and gently placed his hands on her shoulders.
This time, she didn't shrug him off.
She spoke in a low voice.
"This is the best choice."
"At least the children will live, have a legitimate status, and a bright future."
"These children all carry my blood... As the Targaryen line is now scarce, our Aegon will also need the support of these relatives in the future."
"Just as our ancestor Aegon the Conqueror created House Baratheon, I am also creating a new branch."
Seeing Rhaenyra inclined to agree, Daemon said urgently, "House Velaryon has its own family legacy!"
"Aegon the Conqueror never gave Orys, that Targaryen bastard, a dragon!"
"But you are giving House Velaryon ownership of four dragons! This could change everything! Have you considered that while relations might be cordial for a few generations, what about later?"
"We might be personally forging a rival for the Targaryens, a family that can also ride dragons?"
Rhaenyra shook her head.
"I don't care about the future; I care about now."
She tightly gripped Daemon's hand and looked at him.
"Daemon, you will help me, won't you?"
Hesitation and indecision appeared on Daemon's face. Even in his madness, he felt he couldn't match the desperation of his wife at this moment.
"Daemon... I beg you, help me."
Finally, Daemon gritted his teeth and nodded.
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