Daemon was in front of the king once again however this time they stood on the edge of the rock facing out towards the sunset sea "You are said to have potential boy, but I don't trust the ramblings of an old man and a woman"
"I don't wish to waste my time with you if you're not worth it, here is your test, you will climb up the rock and back up here without using aura, if you can't make it up by the evening then I'll kill you," he said simply as if discussing the whether.
Daemon felt himself feel slightly relieved at the test, he was quite fit and climbing 2 miles in a day would be pretty easy "How will I get-" but before he can finish he's pushed off the side of the cliff by the King.
A fall like this would turn a normal person to mush and even with a person using aura they'd break bones which is exactly what happened to Daemon, though he had the foresight to use 'Fortify' to its limits and he only ended up fracturing his legs and arms with a few broken ribs. He felt himself struggle to break the surface of the water as the fall had left him deep in the water.
He gasped for breath as he broke the surface of the water, pain rushed through his body with every kick of his legs and paddle of his arms as he attempted to keep himself afloat 'The King is insane' he finally concluded as he paddled towards the rocks.
The next 6 hours were some of the most painful of his life as he climbed up Casterly Rock with fractured arms and legs and a few broken ribs, he'd used 'Suppression' hoping it would help but it didn't help the pain he felt. With every inch that he climbed his whole body flared with pain as his bones felt that they were on the urge of breaking.
When he finally reached the place he had stood hours previously he saw the King sitting there a table and food was in front of him as he ate and drank "It seems you have potential, so I won't kill you, however you took too long for my liking, you'll do it again tomorrow" he simply said before ignoring him.
Daemon just lay on the floor his whole body aching as his consciousness started to fade.
When he awoke he was in his room it looked to be just after sunset, he'd been bandaged and felt slightly better. He found that his quality of aura assisted in how fast he could heal so luckily the fractures seemed to have started to heal, though the broken ribs would take longer.
He got up and got dressed putting on his tunic and breeches as well as the armour he'd been given by the king to assist in his guard duties. He left his room and headed towards the Great Hall, however when he arrived it found it mostly empty with only a few people still feasting.
He went to leave not feeling very hungry however before he could he was called "Daemon!" He heard from behind him, as he turned he saw the Prince Rhaegar Targaryen and his Kingsguard Arthur Dayne sitting at the upper dais by themselves.
Daemon approached them "How can I assist my Prince" he said with a small bow.
Rhaegar smiled "First you can stop being so formal it would feel wrong making my brother and mothers saviour behave so respectfully, and secondly please join us I wish to speak with you"
Daemon nodded his head and took a seat and took a drink offered by the Prince "I wish to thank you for protecting my mother, she is a kind woman and I would find Kings Landing a rather grim place without her there" he then bowed his head which shocked Daemon.
"Please do not bow to me, I find no honour in doing something that anyone would have done in my place" Daemon states humbly.
But Rhaegar shakes his head "Most would've quaked in their boots at just the sight of a faceless man"
Daemon smiles in appreciation as he sips his drink "In truth I did not know what a faceless man was so perhaps my bravery merely came from ignorance"
Rhaegar smirked "Perhaps, though from what my mother told me even after being stabbed multiple times you still fought to allow her to get away when you could've easily pretended to be dead and maybe live" he states.
Daemon just shrugs his shoulders, he didn't like the attention he got from 'Saving' Rhaella because in truth he didn't feel like he had, the faceless man outclassed him completely, if not for Ser Barristans presence then they'd all be dead.
"If it is agreeable to you then I'd like us to be friends, I find myself lacking many and who better than my mothers saviour" he said as he held out his hand to shake.
Daemon smiles and takes the offered hand "I would be happy to my Prince" he was always looking to make friends so was glad to take the offer.
Rhaegar frowns "Please call me Rhaegar"
Daemon shakes his head "It wouldn't be appropriate my Prince"
Rhaegar smiles "Would you please call me Rhaegar" he said to Daemon.
Daemon sighed but then nodded his head getting a wider smile from Rhaegar, Daemon then stood up "Apologises Rhaegar but I must be going, I should relieve Barristan of his shift soon as I spent most of the day asleep or training" he said getting a nod from the man before he left.
As Daemon approached Barristan the man smiled at him "Did the king come?" Was the first thing he asked, Barristan didn't reply only nodding his head slightly making Daemon clench his fists.
He relieved Barristan of his post and after a few minutes he opened the door to a similar scene from the previous night, without saying anything he sat next to Rhaella and held her hand bringing her out of her daze "Daemon... I'm glad you're here, I slept so well when you came to me yesterday" she says in a weak pain filled voice that made Daemons eyes water.
Daemon however put on a brave front and activated his aura using 'Poppy's Embrace' to take away her pain, she sighed in contentment as her pain started to drift away and she could finally relax it felt like she was floating on a cloud as she started to drift to sleep. Daemon struggled to keep the pain in and even had to bite his hand, this pain on top of the pain of his fractured and broken bones was a lot to bare but seeing the look of happiness of Rhaella's face made it worth it.
———————————————————-
That's how the next few weeks went, he would climb Casterly Rock everyday after being pushed off it by the king and eventually he finally managed to get to what the King would call an acceptable time, though he said their training would begin in Kings landing. Each night he would visits a Rhaella and siphon away the pain she felt giving her a good nights sleep.
Daemon had also been enjoying his time that he spent with Rhaegar, he was quite a humble person and had lots of interesting thoughts of aura and even magic. He was happy for his friend when he won the Joust after beating Ser Arthur Dayne and Ser Barristan Selmy. Currently they were at the great feast that was being hosted after the tournament, Rhaegar had confided in Daemon that he believed this was where the announcement of his engagement to Cersei Lannister would be made.
Daemon congratulated him as it was clear Cersei would grow up to become a beautiful woman even if she did not like Daemon that much. He was enjoying the feast when the King stood from his seat clearly a bit tipsy but he had drunk nearly five bottles of wine to himself.
"Everyone, I'm sure you are all waiting for the big news that is rumoured to be announced during this feast!" He shouted with a slight slur to his voice.
"My son and heir Rhaegar is freshly Knighted and now 17 name says old, he also just won his first tournament, people have been lining up from all over the seven kingdoms to be married to him" The King shouted.
"My friend and my most trusted servant Tywin had offered his own daughter as a match, my Queen had agreed to such a match as well" he continued.
"But when I thought about it, it started to confuse me as it didn't make much sense" as he says these words the atmosphere changes and the Lannisters start to feel concern with Tywin clenching his fists.
"Tywin is my most trusted servant, but that is all you are, a servant" he says as he looks towards Tywin who impressively shows no emotion whatsoever.
"I wouldn't marry my heir to a horse, so it's ridiculous to think I'd marry him to a daughter of a servant" The king says before laughing and then sitting back down.
Daemon found himself shocked the whole room felt the same way but one man just felt rage, pure rage and yet he sat there with a mask of indifference, Cersei ran away with tears in her eyes, while Joanna went after her.
Rhaella whispered to her husband but it seemed to fall on deaf ears as he completely ignored her in favour of eating.
___________________________________
Joanna had finally managed to calm her daughter down, she was asleep now having worn herself out with the crying. She was devastated that she would no longer be wed to the Prince, she been enamoured with him ever since he first showed at Casterly Rock. Joanna hoped that this engagement would put an end to the unnatural behaviour that Jaime and Cersei had engaged in but now that it ended she didn't know.
She knocked on the door to the Kings chamber and heard the words to enter, as she did she saw him standing on the balcony with his hands surrounded with green flames, of course this wasn't real wild fire but his aura mimicking it. She stepped out onto the balcony with him and he extinguished it.
"How can I help you My lady" he says with a smug smirk
Taking a breath "I hope to convince you to reconsider the betrothal to the Prince" she said respectfully.
"I see... and how are you willing to convince me to do so" he started as he let his robe fall apart revealing his body underneath.
"I am not willing to do anything so crass, I am married to Tywin, your good friend" she stated.
His smile only widens "It didn't stop you before"
She looks at him with barely concealed rage "You forced yourself upon me, I didn't wish for any of it" she said tearfully.
"And it will never happen again, for as long as I shall live" Joanna states with absolute revolve.
Aerys just looks at her with a bored expression "Then you shan't live" he says before grabbing her and throwing her over the balcony.
He watches as she falls down hitting off the side of Casterly rock before splatting on the rocks beneath. He lets out a short laugh before stretching and going back to bed.
(AN: So our boy has had his first session with The King and now has met Rhaegar Targaryen. I wonder how things will go from here.)
If you like my stuff support and read more.
Patreon.com/captainalfie78works