"What?"
Rhaegar and the others shouted at the same time.
For thousands of years in the Valyrian Freehold, the rule had been simple:
Whoever hatched the dragon egg would become the dragon's future rider.
Aemon, Baelon, and Alyssa stared at Rhaena in disbelief. Just because Rhaegar was a bastard, were the three elders truly determined to strip him of his right to ride the dragon?
Rhaegar's thoughts were very different.
The secret of the dragon-claw brand could never be revealed. The fact that he had hatched the dragon proved he truly was Aerea's son. Rhaena had always wanted confirmation of his Targaryen blood more than anyone.
Everyone had seen the tears of joy in her eyes earlier.
So why had she suddenly changed her position?
Seeing the confusion on all four of their faces, Rhaena crossed her arms and delivered a second statement, one that shocked them even more.
"Jaehaerys supports Rhaegar keeping the hatchling and has decided the dragon should be raised by him."
"What?!"
All four shouted again.
Aemon and Baelon exchanged looks.
It seemed that after all their arguing, the three royal siblings had failed to reach a unified decision.
Rhaegar, however, found it impossible to believe.
His grandmother, who should have supported him, was opposing him.
Jaehaerys, who should have opposed him, was supporting him.
Everything had been reversed.
Since when does that old white-haired king show kindness?
"The egg hatched because of you," Rhaena continued. "Only you will be able to ride this dragon in the future. Jaehaerys and I disagree. So we have decided that you will choose for yourself."
"Aemon, Baelon, Alyssa, you three come with me as well. Jaehaerys and Queen Alysanne are waiting in the hall."
Rhaegar followed Rhaena, the metal candlestick base still hidden in his sleeve.
Judging from her calm expression, there seemed to be no immediate danger.
At worst, he could simply refuse the dragon.
It would take at least ten years before the hatchling grew large enough to ride anyway.
Dragonstone had plenty of adult dragons.
Even wild dragons.
If necessary, he could simply claim one later.
The Dragonstone audience hall was far smaller than the banquet hall, less than half its size.
When the castle had been built, it had served as a Valyrian military outpost. Commanders issued orders rather than hosting councils, while large dining spaces were needed for soldiers.
Every candle in the hall had been lit.
Even so, the black stone walls swallowed most of the light.
King Jaehaerys sat upon a high-backed throne, holding Blackfyre.
Protocol demanded at least two Kingsguard on watch, yet only one stood beside him now, another had just been roused from sleep.
All other guards had been dismissed.
The lone Kingsguard studied Rhaegar carefully as he approached.
Rhaegar recognized him:
Ser Joffrey Doggett.
He rarely appeared during the day, serving mostly night watch. Besides Lord Commander Gyles Morrigen, he had served Jaehaerys longer than any other Kingsguard.
Before joining the Kingsguard, Doggett had even commanded the Holy Sword Knights during the Faith Militant uprising.
Now the room contained only:
Jaehaerys
Rhaena
Alysanne
Aemon
Baelon
Alyssa
Ser Joffrey Doggett
And Rhaegar himself
A meeting whose contents would never be made public.
The final outcome, surprisingly, satisfied Rhaegar well enough.
Jaehaerys tapped Blackfyre lightly against the throne.
A septon and a maester entered the hall.
The maester carried a large record book and placed it on the high table.
The septon was the same one who had dared wear robes of the Faith of the Seven during the Valyrian-style betrothal ceremony days earlier.
Both men were among Jaehaerys's most trusted servants.
The maester also carried a metal cage.
Inside it lay the hatchling.
Once Rhaegar swore his oath, the dragon would officially belong to him.
The contents of the royal discussion would remain secret.
Only Rhaegar's oath would be recorded.
And the Seven Gods themselves would witness and judge it.
The hatchling appeared to have already been fed.
Inside the cage, it slept curled into a tight coil, biting the tip of its own tail.
Like a stone.
Rhaegar did not immediately answer.
Instead he asked Jaehaerys:
"Has the dragon been given a name?"
Jaehaerys laughed heartily.
"Haha! Naming a newborn dragon is the duty and honor of the head of House Targaryen. Today I have the privilege of doing so for the first time."
"I name him Tessarion."
"Rhaegar."
Aemon called softly.
He shook his head slightly.
It was a warning.
He believed Rhaegar should refuse.
Rhaena stepped forward as if to intervene, then stopped.
Rhaegar nodded once toward Aemon, acknowledging his concern.
Then he nodded toward Rhaena as well.
Slowly, he stepped forward.
With a theatrical motion, he swept aside an imaginary cloak, placed both hands on his knee-
and knelt on one leg before King Jaehaerys.
Rhaegar understood perfectly.
The moment he knelt,
the peaceful life he had dreamed of was over.
No more comfortable idleness.
Jaehaerys looked toward Rhaena.
"The children will grow up eventually. We cannot protect them forever. Whatever Rhaegar becomes will be his own choice."
Everyone necessary was present.
Jaehaerys raised Blackfyre, gripping the sword upright.
After waiting a moment with no instructions forthcoming, Rhaegar looked up in confusion.
Wasn't this supposed to be a repeating oath?
You say a line, I repeat it?
Jaehaerys glanced toward Rhaena.
Rhaena shook her head.
So the king leaned closer and whispered:
"You… dragon… responsibility… duty."
Rhaegar had no choice but to improvise.
"I, Rhaegar Serlys, son of Aerea Targaryen, swear before King Jaehaerys Targaryen and the sword Blackfyre:
I will bear the responsibility of recovering the three lost dragon eggs.
I will protect the growth of Tessarion and safeguard House Targaryen.
So long as I live, Tessarion's claws, teeth, and dragonfire will never fall upon the blood of the dragon."
"Rhaegar," Jaehaerys said with a smile as he helped him stand.
"Your oath proves your courage."
He placed the cage containing the hatchling into Rhaegar's hands.
"The remnants of the Faith Militant are dangerous fanatics. You will not face that burden alone. I will assign men to protect Harrenhal and ensure your safety."
The Next Day
Rhaena departed Dragonstone, flying away with Rhaegar and the hatchling.
Jaehaerys and Alysanne watched as Dreamfyre disappeared into the distant sky.
Alysanne asked quietly:
"For the sake of Baelon and Alyssa's future marriage, was this truly worth it?"
"Worth it," Jaehaerys replied firmly.
"A dragon without a rider is nothing but an expensive beast that devours gold. And a Targaryen without a dragon is merely an ordinary man."
"Tessarion will need ten years before it can carry a rider."
"By then, the next generation of our family will already be born."
Jaehaerys looked down at the seabirds circling the coast.
"If they can claim any adult dragon, even if you and I are dead, Rhaegar and Tessarion will pose no threat to the family."
Alysanne linked her arm through his.
"Perhaps Rhaegar will become another Orys Baratheon."
Jaehaerys paused.
"If Rhaegar proves his ability and loyalty in the future, I may let him assist Aemon in governing the realm."
"Perhaps even marry a princess."
Then suddenly a thought struck him.
"Quick! Bring Aemon and the others here!"
Once the idea occurred to him, he wanted to test it immediately.
Aemon, Baelon, and Alyssa soon found themselves suffering greatly.
Jaehaerys ordered that every day, the three of them must carry dragon eggs from the castle to Dragonmont and back.
Alyssa's admiration for Rhaegar quickly turned back into pure annoyance.
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