Runestone
101 AC
Ser William Royce
[Insert Image of Runestone castle here]
As I March through the halls out into the training yard the sounds of men fighting and training fill my ears. But my mind is only on one person there. The young Prince my cousin Lady Rhea's son was still just a boy of three name days and yet the lad looked to be five years old. But his height and size weren't what made him stand out. Rather it was the young prince's personality that stood out more than anything.
I had only just been knighted when he was born. I know many of us had doubts about the boy. Although he is a good lad just like any child his age, many had taken his appearance to mean he would take after his father in personality. Not to mention the boy didn't look at all like a Royce he was all Targaryen in looks. But as he grew we all knew him to be a kind and brave child. I still remember the time when he smacked the world's biggest dragon on the snout.
Still, the boy has his quirks like any Targaryen does but he still has the heart of a Royce and the blood of the bronze kings. He learned to worship the old gods as we all do and often likes to sit under the weirwood tree of Runestone. He always had a love for the woods and wood carvings as well. The little princeling even has a collection made himself.
At first Lady Rhea wanted him to stop for fear he'd cut himself but he never did. So now the young prince's chamber had wood carvings all over its shelves and walls. However, a noise interrupts my thoughts and I look up to see the boy in question knock a sword out of the hand of another twice his size into the air. Before the other boy can react he catches it in his other hand and uses it to knock down the squire.
The price indeed has more than a talent for making carvings. The lad has a talent for fighting and has some obvious obsession with fighting with two swords. When I asked why he told me that he believed that he believed that it was the pinnacle of swordsmanship. So the little lad trained hard every day.
" Sir Willam good morrow." Aye, good morrow my prince."Your mother has summoned you to her solar my prince." The prince frowned and looked down and mumbled something. Then he shook his pale gold hair and looked back up at me with his piercing purple eyes.
"Right, I'll be there soon but would you have any idea why she wants to see me?" He looks up at me and back down searching for a reason.
"Apologies my prince but I do not." Prince Aemon sighed and nodded before taking a deep breath and putting a slight smile on his face.
"If you'll excuse me Ser." He said as he walked past me out of the training yard. The boy always impressed me to be honest mainly for his mind as he mentioned most others. Children his age should still be hiding behind their mothers' skirts and speaking nonsense. Not this boy though. This boy has the mind of a maester and the heart of a Royce. Although it always did put me off somewhat that he could change moods at the drop of a quill. Even so, I respect the lad's ability with a blade at his age I could barely tell a spoon from a knife and he's already batting people around. That's our Prince the future Lord of Runestone and frankly, if this keeps up I know that I'll be happy to serve such a lord and I know I'm not the only one.
Runestone
100 AC
Aemon Targaryen
I walked through the halls of my mother's castle. Not grandfathers not anymore but hers and one day mine but for now I have my eyes on a different prize. Still, I walk through corridors and up stairs. Eventually, I reach my mother's solar still wondering what they could want. During these past three years of my life, I've been rather sheltered by my mother. Mainly because I was stupid enough to use the Dragon Warrior body transformation the day I was born. Thus I've practically been banned from leaving this place without supervision. Sure it was stupid to hit Vhagar yes, but to be fair she was a total bitch. Also, I think my new body and my time in the womb had me going a bit of my rocker. Still, I think I'm starting to cool off on that.
[" Well to be fair hitting the largest dragon alive with a fucking stick is pretty stupid you fucking baby."]
"Sigh." I shake my head slightly and knock twice on the light brown solar door inscribed with runes and studied with pebbles.
"Mother it's me," I say after knocking because I'm fairly certain you're supposed to announce yourself in this world I keep forgetting if that's a thing but I do it anyway.
"Enter." I hear my mother's voice call out from the other side. Reaching out and pulling the door open I see my mother seated at her desk. My mother the lady Rhea Royce and head of the house Royce now since her father and elder brother are dead. My uncle and grandfather were both killed by mountain tribesmen in an ambush. I didn't really know either of them that well to be honest. Nor did I care for my grandfather Yorbert or my uncle. As for family my mother and by extension I still have cousins. And she has a younger sister as well who was off to some lord I don't care to remember.
" Mother? You summoned me?" I say stepping into the room. The solar has an orange and black theme as do most of the rooms in this castle.
" Yes, I have." She folded her hands and leaned towards me over the desk. Then she gestures gif me to sit in the chair at the table across from her. I do so and wait as she pours a cup of wine for herself but not one for me. Something I find a bit odd for her as although she does drink it's usually not this early in the day and she usually makes me do it. I don't really like alcohol in this life for a few reasons. First is that obviously I'm too young to drink yet as I'm only three years old even though I appear to be about five much to Rhaenyra's chagrin and Laena's laughter. The second is that even though the age of drinking and consent in this world is like 13 years old like in the books rather than the 16 years old of the show which makes me feel a little queasy just thinking about it. Another reason is I wouldn't want to mess up my growth somehow because I drank too much at a young age even though I have the dragon warrior body. Though I meant to save the other two I had for Rhaeynyra and Laena as they and Laenor were the only real friends I had around my age I knew my great-grandmother would die soon and I saw the breaking down of her mind and body and I honestly couldn't take it anymore. Still in could always get more Shop points or SP by killing some animals which I've been doing as much as I can while making sure nobody notices. As for the third reason why I don't like it is because whenever my father visits and starts telling me about the Targaryen values and history as well as what makes a true Valyrian man he starts to drink as well. Then eventually he gets so drunk that his words slur and he passes out. He's done it every time he has visited me without fail. Although he seems to like me he can't stand my mother so I basically never see him unless I'm in Kings Landing or for about two weeks around my name say. Though I can never say that I hate the man as when I was little he introduced me to Caraxes and let me tell you the blood wyrm is a very funny dragon if not a bit over dramatic and aggressive.
"I have decided to allow you to leave the castle grounds once again." My eyes widened slightly mother had always been rather protective of me although that was somewhat my fault. Even so, I had expected it would take more time for him to let me leave Runestone's walls again.
"You will be going out on a hunt with me." I blinked again I've never been on a hunt before not in this life or my last but I had my suspicions that I'll be quite good at it.
"Really?" I smile and ask just to make sure she's telling the truth. She stands up not angry or aggressive but amused by my reaction. It's almost embarrassing how childish I've become in this new body but I've learned to embrace it somewhat. That's mainly due to my great-grandmother Queen Alysanne's help mainly do to the fact she's always pinching annoyingly chubby cheeks.
"Yes. I would have waited a few more years but from what Ser Garold has told me you seem ready. He also says you're quite good with a bow. " She said smirking at my visible excitement and walking around the light brown desk towards me. Her hands trace the firstmen runes in the table. The things are all over the castle and have probably been there since the long night itself. I even squeeze my hands into fists puff my chest out and tilt my head with a wider smile that splits my whole face.
" We won't be returning until either you catch something or you bring yourself into harm's way again and get to hurt for it to be taken care of in the wilderness. " She says now next to me she croaches down slightly and puts a hand on my shoulder.
"Ours is the old way, my son and you are a Royce just as much as you are a dragon never forget that. Now go ready your things and head down to the stables. I'll be waiting there for you with a new horse just for you." She replies first with reverence then with a knowing tease at how much I've always wanted a horse of my own. I asked her for one for my first and second name day childish I know but who has never dreamed of being a knight in shining armor on horseback. That or riding through a field on horseback under the glowing sun.
"Yes, mother I'll be ready soon," I say and she smiles fully before brushing away my lengthening hair and kissing me on the forehead. Then she puts her hand back on my shoulder and squeezes slightly and rises back up.
"Go on now," She says and I smile even harder then turn and just barely keep myself from running out of the room. When I'm in the hall it takes all my restraint not to run down to the stables right away. Instead, I head to my chambers to change my clothes for hunting. Most of my room is covered in my carvings of different things. I may have gained a little obsession with wooden carvings ever since I got a metal dragon from my father and a stone one from my uncle on my second name day. I rather failed at fully concealing my intelligence seems I started speaking and walking a bit too soon but my appreciation for toys isn't something I have to fake. Rather I miss receiving them almost as much as I miss my old model kits. Still, I ignore them and make my way down to the stables. As soon as I'm there I'm met by my mother along with her cousins Ser Garold and Gunthor.
Ser Gerold in my opinion represents what a true Knight should be. He is the most truly honorable man I have ever met besides maybe a few members of the king's guard. I would love to see the day he wears the white cloak however he never will since he has a child of his own. Though if I'm going to become a knight one day I'd very much like to be his squire. But the most interesting thing about him is that he is a show-only character as I remember correctly. My memory of my past life is a bit spotty but I think that's more sure to my time going sturr crazy. After all a nice benefit of the dragon warrior body is the enhanced memory. But I soon switch my gaze to my much larger cousin.
Gunthor Royce unlike Gerold is a book-only character the bronze giant they call him. He's fairly far back in line but if I remember correctly he becomes the head of house Royce at some point after my mother. Though judging how he's behind my aunt and her son in line I wager a lot of dying will have to happen before that. Of course, in most houses, my mother would have been skipped over in line for another man. But my grandfather was rather firm in his decision to a point my mother and unlike most the members of the house don't resent that not even the men.
They are very different from the Targaryens in relation to each other. Putting aside my father's family's… unique practices let's call it. They don't fully treat each other like a family should I feel. Rather they seem to have an odd pack mentality that sets them apart from none valyrians. Although I am considered part of that odd pack mentality. Perhaps it's just arrogance or pride in who they are. Maybe that arrogance is the inheritance they are entitled to due to their royal blood. Or maybe their just assholes idk.
Either way, it doesn't matter really because today I go on my first real hunt. After a few more preparations I find myself with a bow in hand a small quiver on my back as I'm led inside the stables. To my surprise, I find a brand new horse just for me he's still young but he's just the kind I always wanted. In this world, there are multiple types of horses.
Chargers which are warhorses used on campaign and in tourneys. Some armored nobles of Slaver's Bay ride chargers. Destriers are tall, strong, splendid animals, often high-spirited. Destriers give knights a majestic air at tourneys. They are normally the most valuable type of horse, being well-bred and highly trained but quite expensive. Destriers can founder in snow. Coursers are smaller than destriers but faster, fit for war and for hunting. Warhorses are usually coursers, although they may on rare occasions be destriers. The expected number of knights and nobility when they find themselves in combat or jousting situations. There are several more types of horses as well.
This young stallion is a mix of all three. How do I know? Simple because it's exactly the kind of horse that I asked for all my birth err name days. Still getting used to some of the more niche phrases that this world has. Doesn't matter though as I walk closer to the young horse and reach my hand out to it. The horse snorts slightly and sniffs my hands. Slowly I press my hand to its head and slowly comb my hand through its mane. The joy I feel knowing this beautiful young beast belongs to me is enough for me to finally jump around with joy. The others laugh at me but I don't really care because I'm one step closer to becoming a true Knight.
I've ridden a horse before of course most children of noble families have by my age or a little older. But now I'm old and large enough to do so by myself. Soon I'm setting out alongside the family I will one day lead if I'm lucky not to add to the child mortality rate of this world. Still, I'm sure that one day I will be able to change it and soon I will ride out on my new steed that I've already bonded quite strongly with. And as the gates open I lean in almost unable to wait for them to fully open. Gunthor laughs and Ser Garold smiles at me but both wait for Mother and a few others to join us. When she does she asks me a simple question.
"Are you ready to hunt?" She looks at me with a joy-filled look filling her eyes that I haven't seen. Now that I think about it my mother hasn't been out on a hunt since I was born. Plus I know that even though she doesn't show it the death of her father and elder bro hurt him more deeply than she let on.
"I was born ready!" I reply ready to get back out into the real world. That and the fact that the kills I get on this hunt will give me more shop points and I'll be able to buy more skills.
And with those words, we ride out of Runestone's black gates. Down the roads we go and ride over the hills. And as I breathe in the cool air fresher than any I've ever breathed in my last life and smile with a joy I feel in my whole body. I glance away to see the narrow sea and all its natural beauty.
"Perhaps this life won't be so bad after all," I say under my breath and listen to the distant sounds of the sea. I ignore the system's continuous babbling and instead focus on a distant sound from above the flapping of my own dragon's wings.
[Chapter Image]
XXX
So I've come to a conclusion on a few things but first if like to apologize for the delay I meant to post this on Thursday. I know I said there would be no upload schedule and there isn't but I at least wanted to post one a week so sorry for almost missing that.
Also about the Velaryons first I've decided to make Laena and Laenor twins with Laena being the older sisterlike in the books. As for their birth dates, I'm thinking maybe 96 or 95 AC which is about as close to a middle ground between her show birth date of 100 AC and her book date of 92 AC. Also, I decided to give them the darker skin of the show but the sea green and blue eyes of the books.
Lastly, I have a few questions for you all.
1 What would you like to see in this fic? So suggested scenes and interactions you all would like to see?
2 What color should Aemon's new horse be and what should I name it?
3 Agaraxes is an all black dragon but what color flames should he have?
4 What skills would you all like to see Aemon have or gain from the system?