It has been days since Aegon arrived at High Tide and spent every moment with his son Aeron. They were flying on Nightwing across the skies over Blackwater Bay. Aeron smiled and laughed as the wind blew at his face; he enjoyed flying on dragonback with his father. Aegon was happy seeing his son's smile as they soon made their way back to a field close to the causeway that connects High Tide to the Island of Driftmark when the sun began to set. As Nightwing landed on the field, Aegon got off the saddle first and helped his son, who suddenly jumped off as his father caught him.
"You don't seem to be afraid of anything." Aegon chuckled as he caught his son, not expecting him to jump off the saddle.
"No," Aeron said with a happy smile causing his father to chuckle more. Nightwing then came close to the father and son. Not afraid of her since he had known her almost all his life, Aeron petted the dragon as she began to purr from his touch. Aegon and Aeron then began to walk away from Nightwing as she flapped her wings and flew off to the sky again.
As they walked to High Tide, Aegon put his son on his shoulders, "You remind me much of myself when I was your age. Although you are much bolder than I was."
"How?" Aeron asked.
"Well, When I was your age, I only went through the halls of the Red Keep," Aegon answered, "I didn't go out to the city of King's Landing until I was two and ten years of age. You are only six, and yet you seem to find yourself in the harbor of Spicetown without any help."
"I just look at the maps they have at the library," Aeron told his father.
"Well, I wonder how you would fair at the streets of King's Landing," Aegon replied.
"Can we go to King's Landing?" Aeron suddenly asked.
Aegon, taken aback by his son's request, reluctantly replied, "Maybe one day."
"Would my brother be happy to see me?" Aeron asked again, causing his father to stop walking for a second.
Aegon then thought about his older son again. He wondered how Baelar would react if he and Aeron came to the Red Keep. Then, deciding not to think about it, he answered, "I suppose he would if he got to know you."
"What's he like?" Aeron asked, wanting to know more about his brother.
Aegon sighed, "Well, your brother Baelar was a remarkable boy who, I know, will become a great man. He brought down three opponents at the age of three and ten at one tourney."
"He did," Aeron asked in wonder.
"Yes, he did. He was a strong prince who never gave up without putting in every effort he had to succeed." Aegon smiled, reminiscing about the tourney where he was proud of Baelar for the strength he displayed for everyone to see.
"Does he have a dragon?" Aeron asked, "Like Nightwing?"
"Yes, he does." Aegon answered, "Named Orvax. He's not as big as Nightwing, but still dangerous."
"Will I ever have a dragon?" Aeron questioned as Aegon looked at him with worry. If Aeron were a legitimate child, there would be no question of whether he had a dragon. However, he was not a legitimate child, meaning his chances of getting a dragon were near nothing, and Aeron didn't understand the concept of bastardy. He doesn't even know what bastard means.
Trying to avoid answering, Aegon said, "Dragons are dangerous and unpredictable beasts, Aeron."
"How?" Aeron asked, not letting go of the subject.
"Dragons can feel what we feel," Aegon began to say, "They are calm and docile if we feel happy, but when we feel threatened or angry, they become violent and almost impossible to control. They are an extension of ourselves."
"But will I ever have one?" Aeron asked again, causing Aegon to stop and put his son on the road of the causeway; he reached his eye level and answered, "We'll talk about it one day when you are older. Ok?" Aegon then saw his son giving a sad face, "I promise." Aeron then relented as he walked up the causeway to High Tide as it was getting dark.
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Melina Sorren was in her quarters, getting ready for bed. She was brushing her flowing black hair as she looked out the window next to her dresser, watching the sun slowly go down for the night to begin. Aegon entered the room and closed the door shut as he started to lean on the post of Melina's bed, staring at her beauty. Melina, noticing Aegon's presence, began to say, "How was your flight on Nightwing? Did Aeron have fun?"
"He couldn't stop smiling," Aegon answered, "When I suggested horseback riding, he told me it was stupid, and dragonback was superior."
Melina softly laughed, not surprised that her son said those words, "He's not wrong. I remember the first time on dragonback. You can't get the same experience on a horse."
"No, you can't," Aegon agreed, then told her, "He asked if he was going to get a dragon."
Melina turned to him seriously and replied, "What did you tell him?"
"That we would speak about it when he is older," Aegon answered, although knowing his son, that answer did not satisfy him.
"We are going to have to tell him. Sooner or later," Melina reminded Aegon, knowing that Aeron did not understand the situation of his birth.
"I know, and I will when he's old enough to understand," Aegon promised. Melina nodded and went back to brushing her hair.
Aegon couldn't help but stare at Melina, seeing her beauty in the dark skies, "You're so beautiful."
She smiled and replied, "Because I'm in my nightgown."
"No, because I love you." Aegon laughed, "Although I have no complaints about the nightgown."
Melina smiled as Aegon then walked up to her. He took the hairbrush from her and set it down on the dresser. He then placed one hand on her hips and used the other to caress her face. Melina then leaned forward and kissed Aegon as he kissed her back. She then placed her hands under his shirt and took it off, revealing the scars he received from battles at the Stepstones. She looked at the wounds, remembering Aegon risking his life every time he was at the Stepstones. Melina hated that Aegon was fighting a war he had no part in, knowing there was a chance of a message saying he died in battle. But she didn't want to think about that. Instead, she began to rub her hands all over his body. Just then, Aegon picked her up and carried her to the bed, still kissing as they let the night take them in their bed.
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Baelar was at one of the long tables, conversing with the other lords who came for the royal hunt in the royal tent. The lords discussed tedious subjects, such as who had the largest armies or the best retinues. It wasn't very interesting for Baelar until one of the lords brought up the issue of the Stepstones.
"I have heard that the Crabfeeder has fed more Velaryon men to the crabs since the war started." Lord Blount said, "The mercenaries have been leaving their posts, believing it is a hopeless war with no end."
"One would think that dragons would be a powerful advantage over them, as the Conqueror proved many years ago." Lord Infield said.
"Yes, but the Dornish proved their cowardice by hiding in the caves during the First Dornish War," Lord Langward replied.
"That is true, but the enemy can only sabotage their ships and weaponry, knowing they can't attack at the field since The Night's Terror rules the night." Lord Blount replied. "Do you believe the king would send aid per Aegon's request?"
"It would not be wise to do so." Lord Otto Hightower interjected, "The Dragon of the East should have never entered the war or even started it without the Crown's leave."
"We could ask the opinion of prince Baelar." Lord Langward said as the other Lords looked in Baelar's direction.
Baelar looked back at the lords, a little flustered by them waiting for his opinion. Then, finally, he said, "I do not answer my father's actions; all I could say is that only the king can aid him and Daemon."
"There have been reports of your father having his mistress and bastard housed at High Tide." Lord Langward said, "I'm sure you have your own opinions on some of his actions."
Claryssa came close to the table as she finished speaking with the other ladies, but she heard the conversation the lords were discussing. Mainly about Aegon. She then listened to what Baelar had to say about his father's actions.
"My father's decisions are his to make," Baelar replied, not wanting to get into his father's affairs, "I'm not his keeper."
"I'm afraid it's impossible to be Aegon's keeper," Otto began to say, "He goes about as he wishes and takes up with the Braavosi Whore, who probably uses him for the benefits of her and her family, considering of the so-called Sorren Bank. It's a bank filled with nothing more but foreigners and thieves to drain the pockets of Driftmark."
"I hear that this new bank does half the war funding." Lord Langward reported.
"There is no certainty for that." Otto dismissed, "The wayward prince has fallen prey to an ambitious family that sent a seductress to reap the benefits for their gain. But, unfortunately, Aegon is too foolish to see it."
Baelar, having enough of Otto's words, shot back by saying, "One would think that you are guilty of that, Lord Hand, when Alicent Hightower married the king. For your benefit. Furthermore, I do not believe the king would take kindly to those who speak against his youngest brother. He is still a prince, after all." Baelar learned from Leah that Otto was putting Alicent as a potential queen for the king by sending her to his chambers occasionally. Baelar, saying nothing else, got up from the table and left the lords while Otto glared at the prince for the accusation he had just made in front of other lords. Claryssa, hearing everything Baelar said, went after him.
"You are aware that you just accused the Hand of the King of using his daughter for his benefit," Claryssa told him.
"Well, Rhaenyra believes so," Baelar replied.
"You can't go insulting the Hand of the King, despite what your feelings are." Claryssa lectured sternly.
"But what about insulting the princess." Baelar countered, "Leah told me about your confrontation with her."
"Confrontation?" Claryssa repeated, "She was giving insults, and I simply put her in her place."
"Her place?" Baelar repeated his mother's words.
"Rhaenyra is the heir, and she is supposed to be making allies by charming the lords and ladies of the realm so she could have their support on taking the throne," Claryssa explained, "And she is not doing any of that."
"There was a time when you wanted her to be my wife." Baelar reminded.
"Well, maybe she was not the right bride for you. She even argued with the king about not wishing to be married in front of the whole court." Claryssa replied, "Leah has been doing all Rhaenyra refuses to do. She takes her position seriously and thinks for your benefit. Like a proper spouse. Just wished your father knew of that."
Baelar, having enough of his mother's words, left to find Leah, who was still resting in their tent. He entered the tent and found her on the bed, reading the book about Lan the Clever. The same book she had read since she was a child. "You've read that book more times than maetsers have in one hundred years."
"This book comforts me when all else fails," Leah replied tiredly while turning the page.
"Do you feel better?" Baelar asked, "The maids said you vomited earlier."
Leah looked at her husband and then back to the book, "It's nothing."
"Or something," Baelar countered.
"I'm fine, Baelar," Leah assured him, "it's just this pregnancy taking a larger toll on me than we thought."
Baelar sighed, not wanting to get into an argument. He removed his hunting shirt, leaving his undershirt on as he sat beside Leah. "Why are you not conversing with the other lords?" she asked, "You weren't with them when the king went on the hunt."
"Well, the king and lords don't hunt," Baelar answered, "The servants and the dogs do the hunting. So we go for the killing."
Leah chuckled, "I guess that's true."
"Besides, they were speaking about the Stepstones," Baelar admitted.
Leah put the book down, looked at her husband, and asked, "Did your father come up?"
Baelar didn't answer as he looked off. Leah decided to try again, "Baelar, you can't keep running away from this."
"You think I should reach out to him?" Baelar said while not looking at her.
"For your own sake, yes." Leah urged. "I know you miss him, Baelar. I can see you not speaking to him is hurting you."
Baelar didn't say anything. He just kept looking away. He admits that he misses his father. They haven't spoken to or seen each other for three years. Aegon sent that one letter to congratulate him on his and Leah's marriage. When Baelar got that letter, he didn't know what to feel. He was still upset about how his father seemed to love his other family more than him, but at the same time, he was happy that his father still remembered him.
"You can't say otherwise, Baelar," Leah continued, "I know you better than you know yourself."
Seeing that he was still apprehensive about the topic, Leah took his hand, "I know he would want to reconcile with you and that he wants to be with you when our child enters the world."
"We don't know that," Baelar replied softly as his voice began to shake.
"You don't think that's true?" Leah asked, "He does because he loves you. He's shown that he does. When your mother wanted to marry you to Rhaenyra, your father convinced the king to have us match. If it wasn't for him, we wouldn't be husband and wife and wouldn't be expecting our child. He was there for you at the tourney when you were defeated."
"He was going to leave again," Baelar murmured.
"And he wanted you to come with him." Leah reminded him, "Did he not?"
That was true. He remembers the time when his father returned all those years ago. He said he was going to Asshai and wanted him to come with him. He also remembers how he felt when he got defeated at his first tourney, and his father comforted him, and how his father was the one who brought him to marry the girl he wanted to be his wife. But one thing still on his mind: "He loves his bastard more than me."
"How do you know that"? Leah asked him.
"Because I was just a duty he had to fulfill." Baelar answered, "The bastard is the child he had by desire. He cares for him more than me."
"You don't know that," Leah urged him.
"He tried to bring his bastard and whore in King's Landing." Baelar reasoned.
"So he could have both of his sons with him." Leah said, "He wouldn't want both of his sons with him if he didn't want to stay with both of them. Do you expect him to abandon his six-year-old child alone without a father?"
"Wha…No, of course not, but…... Even before the bastard was born, he would leave and not return for months." Baelar flustered.
"But he brought you with him before, didn't he?" Leah countered.
Baelar sighed, having no answer to that. Aegon did bring Baelar along with him when he turned five. There were times when Aegon brought him to one of the Free Cities. Instead of being with him, Baelar would go to libraries and learn the histories and lore of the Free Cities and Old Valyria, and his father never chastised him for it but encouraged him. He even remembers all the times they played cyvasse together, even though Baelar could tell he didn't care for it but played anyways. It wasn't until his eighth name day that his mother said it was time for him to learn his duties as a prince. But there were still feelings that went unresolved.
"Three years ago, after I was told I might marry Rhaenyra, he took me riding on dragonback. We were on our dragons and raced across Blackwater Bay, seeing who would get to the dragon pit first. He got there first because it was night. Nightwing could conceal herself in the sky and fly past me before I could even notice," Baelar said, reminiscing that night while Leah smiled at the words, "afterward, we were going back to the Red Keep. Then he decided to take me to this tavern he went to when he was younger, called the Silver Bass. We went there, and not long after, he got into fights with some drunks. I had to go to the gold cloaks to stop the fighting. Should I forget that?" Baelar looked at Leah, who stared back at him. "Or what about when you punched some older boys for heckling at me, and he was somewhere in Essos and didn't return for months? Do I forget that he wasn't there when I needed him?"
Leah looked at him and said, "I'm not saying that you don't have any right to be angry at him, but for the last three years, I have seen you hurting. Hurting and angry and running away. Every time someone speaks about him, you run away from it. You can't keep running, Baelar. He's still your father. It's time to let go of your anger for your own sake."
Baelar thought about it. He is tired of not speaking with his father. He was tired of being angry at him. He wanted to let it go, but he wasn't sure how.
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It was the middle of the night, and Aegon was in bed with Melina under the covers. Melina had her arm on his chest as she slept. He fiddled with the ruby medallion that was the shape of the sigil of House Targaryen, thinking about his family at the Red Keep. Aegon then slowly got up, not wanting to wake her up, and put his pants on, but remaining shirtless, and walked to a nearby window and opened it to watch the night sky. He saw Nightwing flying around the sea. Usually, no one can see her at night, but he has been her rider for so long that he can tell where she is. Melina, noticing that Aegon had left the bed, looked up and saw him at the window. After putting on her robe, she walked up to him, kissed his bare shoulder, and rested her head on it.
"Are you ok?" Melina asked.
"Yes, just thinking," Aegon answered while looking at the night sky, "It's supposed to be the second name day for Viserys' firstborn son. Probably out celebrating."
"I wonder if he named his son after you." Melina wondered. Aegon must admit that he was taken aback when he heard that Viserys named his son Aegon. However, he believes he named his son after the Conqueror, not him.
"You're thinking about him, aren't you?" Melina asked, "About Baelar." Aegon didn't say a word and kept looking at the night sky. "Why don't you just reach out to him?"
"I wouldn't know what to say." He admitted softly.
"Well, what would be the first words you would say," Melina asked, trying to help Aegon to reconcile with his older son.
Aegon then slowly sat on the floor as Melina got down with him. "I would say, I'm sorry."
"Why would you say sorry?" Melina asked, urging him to continue. She knows why, but she wants him to say the words.
As tears started to form, Aegon explained, "When I was married to Claryssa, I was upset and wanted to run away for good and never come back. But when Baelar was born and in my arms, I wanted nothing more than his happiness and safety and to be who he wanted to be." Melina sat in silence as she let Aegon continue, "when he was a child, I took him everywhere with me. I even took him to the Free Cities, but when he got older, his mother started to pressure him to fulfill the duties of his position." He looked at Melina and said, "I never wanted that for him. I wanted him to be free, explore, forge his path, and discover himself. His mother, however, always got in the way. I always tried to bring him with me after he decided to stay in court, but he never wanted to. His mother convinced him not to. So, I decided to keep living my life and let him eventually find his way. But now I know I was hurting him in the process."
"Aegon," Melina tried to comfort him.
"I should have been there for him. I should have stayed in court for him and not made him suffer just because I hated the life of a prince." Aegon admitted, "I was selfish. I spent every moment with Aeron as much as possible because I wanted to do better. To do better. So, once I see Baelar again, I would first say, "son, I'm so sorry for everything." To all of them. Baelar. Viserys. Everyone."
"Then tell them all of that." Melina urged him.
"But what if he still rejects me?" Aegon looked at her as tears started to stream down his face.
"You won't know until you do," Melina answered softly.
"If I do, they might expect me to be in the Red Keep with them, and I might never see you or Aeron again," Aegon confessed. He was still afraid of that. What if he mends the bonds with his family, but they expect him to forget about Melina and Aeron? He wants to be with his family but doesn't want to be separated from his other family.
Melina then made him look at her and said, "I never asked you to be apart from your family Aegon. And when we had our son, I never asked you to stay either. You only need to worry about making things right between you and your son. That's all that matters. We'll see what to do from there." She then embraced him as he did the same. Aegon wants to go to his son and fix everything. He acknowledges that he failed as a father to Baelar. He hopes he can go to him and make things right between them. To heal their relationship while they still can.
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In the early morning, Baelar hunted with the king and their entourage. He was riding his horse beside the king as all the other lords followed them, and the hounds were ahead of them to find the White Hart. It was said to be the king of the wood, and having it be seen on the day of Prince Aegon's second name day was presumed to be a good omen. Baelar was consumed with his thought about his father all night long. Whether he should reconcile with him or not, now was not the time to think that. Right now was the time to show prowess to the other lords. Baelar truly believed that Rhaenyra should have been with them. She was the heir to the throne, and this would have been an excellent time to show the lords that she was worthy of the throne. However, he couldn't help but agree with his mother that Rhaenyra was not taking her duties seriously. Just then, the entourage stopped, seeing a brown heart being tied down by the other men. Viserys got down from his horse and walked to the hart as some men, including Harwin Strong, eldest son of Lord Lyonel, kept the animal in place.
"He may not be white, Your Grace." Ser Harwin said, "But he's a big lad."
Jason Lannister then gave the king a large spear for the kill. The king took it and slowly walked up to the hart as the royal huntsman told him where to strike. The king, who seemed a bit drunk, struck at the wrong place as the hart screamed in pain. The huntsman then told the king to try a little to the left, which the king did, placing the killing blow as the hart then died. All the hunters applauded as Baelar looked at the king and could tell he was drunk or hung over.
The entourage came back to the camp as they brought in the dead hart and prepared it to be served as food. Baelar went to the table where the royal family was and sat next to his pregnant wife, Leah, while his mother, Claryssa, was standing behind them. Soon Rhaenyra and Ser Criston Cole entered the camp. From what everyone said, she ran off on her horse after she argued with her father, with Ser Criston Cole going after her. They were gone all night and seemed to return with a dead boar. Rhaenyra got off the horse, covered in blood, and walked to the tent without saying a word. All the lords and ladies, including the royal family, watched Rhaenyra with surprise; it seemed she had taken down a boar alone since she had blood on her face.
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Now that the hunt was over, the royal family returned to the Red Keep to rest from the celebrations. Leah, supposedly resting in her chambers, vomiting on a bucket her maids brought her. Baelar walked in and saw his wife's condition.
"How long have you been vomiting?" he asked her.
Using a cloth to wipe her mouth, Leah replied, "Just once in the morning and now."
"What about your headaches?" Baelar asked again, "Have they returned?"
"Only for a while this morning." Leah answered, "Nothing to be concerned with."
"Leah," Baelar urged until his wife cut him off.
"I said I'm fine," Leah assured him.
Baelar, not wanting to argue in her condition, decided to talk about his father, "I'm thinking of writing a letter to my father."
"Really," Leah asked in surprise.
"I just don't know what to say or do if I see him," Baelar confessed.
Putting her hand on his to comfort him, Leah said, "You'll know what to say when you see him."
Baelar, giving her a nervous look, decided to take her advice. He then looked at her and kissed her head. He was grateful to have Leah as his wife, who always supported and comforted him when needed. Then Leah started to grimace as the throbbing headache returned. Seeing her discomfort, Baelar got a towel, dipped it into a bowl of water on a nearby table, and returned to Leah to place it on her head to relieve the pain.
"I'll go see if Maester Mellos has any herbs that could be more effective," Baelar said as he walked out of the room to find the maester.
As he left the room, Leah suddenly had a sharp pain in the upper right of her body, as if it was under her ribs. After a few minutes, the pain passed, but it took Leah by surprise, making her worry if her child was all right.
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Aegon was in his room as he prepared to leave for the Stepstones. He spent a week at High Tide with Melina and their son, but now it was time for him to go to battle. Melina entered the room and saw he was almost done.
"I know I always say this when you leave," Melina started.
"Be careful, I know," Aegon replied softly, knowing Melina hated him leaving.
"I just wish you would stop going to a war you don't need to fight in." Melina confessed as he comforted her, "Every time you leave, I'm afraid. Afraid that one day, I would get a message that would say,"
"I know, I know," Aegon told her, "Viserys hadn't sent a reply yet. But, if he doesn't, I'm going to the Red Keep and convincing him myself."
"He might not like that," Melina reminded him.
"Well, at least I have a reason to come to King's Landing," He replied. He then showed her a piece of paper and said, "I've written a letter to Baelar."
"You did," Melina asked.
"Yes," Aegon answered, "I thought of sending it to him, but now I'm thinking of going there in person."
"I think that would be better." Melina agreed.
Aegon put the letter in a dresser drawer and looked back to Melina, saying, "I'm going to try and be back as soon as possible."
Melina nodded as she embraced him. Afterward, they went into Aeron's room. They saw their son on his bed playing with his dragon figurine, which he named Balerion, with Laena Velaryon. Laena was always kind to Aeron, sometimes helping him with his studies, playing with him during pass time, and telling him stories about her father's Nine Voyages. Aeron adored her and always enjoyed her company and the stories she told him. When he saw his parents, he jumped off the bed and ran around the room, pretending the dragon toy was flying.
"Father, Balerion is flying," Aeron exclaimed while running around the room.
"I see that." Aegon smiled at his son's imagination, "Flying to battle, I assume."
"At the moment, he is burning Black Harren's stronghold." Laena chuckled.
"Ah," Aegon said, "Laena, can Aeron and I speak alone?"
"Of course," Laena replied as she got up from the bed and left the room, giving the little family some privacy.
Aegon grabbed Aeron into the air as the boy gave a shrieking laugh until he was placed on the bed. Aegon and then Melina sat on the bed to talk with him.
"Aeron, I'm going to leave for the Stepstones again," Aegon told him.
"You're leaving again?" Aeron asked sadly, already knowing the answer.
"It's only going to be a little while, but yes, I must return." Aegon explained gently, "They need me there."
"I don't want you to go," Aeron said softly, not wanting his father to leave again.
Aegon looked at his younger son, saw how sad he was, and said, "I'm going to try and stop the fighting so I can never leave again, son."
"Really?" The boy asked.
"Yes, I promise I will be back." Aegon replied, "And maybe you and I can leave Driftmark and see the Free Cities of Essos. Maybe Asshai even."
"We get to see where the ships go?" Aeron asked hopefully.
"Yes," Aegon smiled at his son's excitement, "When I get back, we'll see where the ships go."
After Aeron thought about it, he hugged his father tightly, still not wanting him to go. After the hug, Aegon decided to take off the ruby medallion he was wearing. "My father gave me this medallion on my tenth day," Aegon said, holding it and placing it on Aeron's neck, "And now I want you to have it. So you remember that I will come back."
Aeron rubbed his hand on the medallion and smiled that his father would give him such a gift. Then, he hugged his father again, more tightly this time, as his mother smiled at the both of them.
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Aegon flew on Nightwing in the night sky and landed on the war camp field. When he landed, he got off his dragon saddle and entered the camp as all the soldiers greeted him. He made his way to his tent that was made before he returned as a guard stood next to it. After greeting the guard, Aegon started unpacking when Daemon suddenly came in with a letter and said, "You sent a letter to Viserys."
Aegon looked at Daemon, noticing the letter, and asked, "He replied?"
"He said he does not want us to lose our victory," Daemon said, "He's sending ten ships with two thousand men, not wishing to see us fail and that his aid will give us all the victory that evaded us. Not you and me. All of us. As if he was involved in the war."
After hearing what the letter says, Aegon must admit that it was irksome how Viserys wrote as if he was fighting the war as much as he and Daemon did, but he has no time for that. "Daemon, we need help to end this madness."
Infuriated at his brother, Daemon left the tent without saying another word. Sighing, Aegon decided not to get into it and get ready for bed since there might be a war council in the morning. Later that night, he was sleeping in his cot when he heard a rustle outside. He opened his eyes but didn't move in case an intruder was around the tent. Then, having a sword close to him, he slowly reached for its pummel. A few seconds later, he grabbed his sword and swung it as it narrowly missed the enemy in his tent, the supposed guard outside the tent. Then, not having time to think about what was happening, the assassin swung his sword at the prince, who dodged it and ran straight to him, pummeling him to the ground.
"Who sent you?" Aegon asked the assassin he pinned down, "Was it the Triarchy?" The assassin spits in his face causing Aegon to let go of him. Then the enemy drew a dagger and raised it on Aegon, who held it to stop it from stabbing him. Aegon then kneed him in the stomach, causing the assassin to drop the dagger. Aegon then tried to get it, but the other man grabbed his ankles and climbed over the prince to get it first. Just as the man grabbed the dagger, Aegon climbed on top of him, but then he turned and stabbed Aegon's abdomen. Despite having a piercing pain in his stomach, Aegon then placed his hand on the enemy's throat and started to choke him so he could let go of the dagger. Once that happened, the prince pulled the sword out of his stomach, pierced the assassin's lungs, and then right to the heart, still choking him with his hand until the killer stopped moving. When the assassin seemed dead, Aegon fell to the ground and started bleeding profusely from his stomach as he put his hand on the wound, trying to stop the blood loss. He didn't know what to do, but he knew he must get help as soon as possible.