All hail the new king his grace đź‘‘ King Prime_2 long may he reign.
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101 AC (After Conquest)
Kingslanding
The Red Keep
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"Ack! Hey easy with the comb alright!" I shouted as a maid combed my hair straight and another buttoned up my shirt. Three more servants were making up my bed and another was holding my shoes waiting for me to put them on. Each of them was of varying age and looks I think one might have been Tyroshi. She had partly blue hair, which I assumed was dyed, and a slight accent, though I'm not entirely sure, as she barely spoke at all. She looked young though she couldn't have been older than 17 and she didn't have a different skin tone from the others. She still looked caucasian like most Westarosi people do maybe she was only mixed.
"Apologies my prince." She says smiling as she continues to comb through my pale gold hair. I sigh and s but for some reason I could hear her suppressing a laugh. It's like these made don't really find my scolding intimidating like they did the night before. Instead, they seem to find it cute or something.
Meanwhile, Ser Harrold waited patiently by the door. He was somewhat tall around 5'10 and had his helmet tucked under one arm to his side his hand cupping it. His other arm rested casually on the pommel of his sword. He had a full head of hair and a full beard with slight bits of it going grey.
He waited patiently as the servants finished dressing me up in my new attire they even gave me some new shoes. It took longer than I would have liked which I think they could tell annoyed me and I swear I think I saw one of them reach to pinch my cheeks before another one swatted her hand away. Still, I'm no child so I definitely did not pout about it and I ignored their girlish squeals as I moved towards the door.
I made sure to quickly stop and get Laena and Rhaenyra's gifts. After I pocketed them I quickly moved over to the door leaving behind the smiling servants and stood before Ser Harold. Ser Harold who seemed to have a smirk on his face put his helmet back on and with a stalwart nod, he turned to open the door and walked out to move it out of my way. As I exited my enhanced hearing picked up one of the maids whispering.
"The young prince is so cute. I almost pinched his cheeks out of reflex." One whispered and another responded with a giggle. "I'm sure he'll be even more handsome when he grows up." Then another woman interrupted "Aren't you married and besides I doubt the prince will look your way you'll be old and grey that time." The second girl the Tyroshi I think as I noticed a slight accent in the voice gasped quietly "I'll have you know I'm only 5 and ten years. Besides nobles do that sort of thing all the time with servants. Don't you know that Prince Daemon" The other servants all hushed her before she could continue.
Started escorting me towards the king's chambers. I tried to walk quickly in front of him but as my body journeyed forward my mind did as it always does. Soon a thousand possibilities began to swim through my mind.
Each of them is like a school of fish swimming around a shark. That shark being a question with its own variants nearly as infinite as the sea creature's own teeth. That question as simple as it was was thought-provoking followed me through the hallways like a great white smelling fresh blood.
'Why would Grandma call me to the king's chambers so early in the morning?' I started guessing for an answer but the chances of me finding the right one felt like the chance of finding a specific grain of iron sand at the bottom of the entire ocean with no scuba gear. Even so, it tried but the potential answers seemed to flood in like water into a breached vessel.
'Was I getting disenchanted? Maybe I'm getting exiled for some strange reason? Maybe father did something last night and it repercussions for me? Or maybe I'm going to be sold off as a hostage for some strange form of political gain? Could they have somehow found out I was a reincarnator? Or maybe just maybe I'm worrying for no real reason?' That endless pondering continued throughout my journey through the Red Keep. I had given them no cause to want to harm me so what could this meeting be about? Maybe they simply just wanted to see their beloved great-grandson before they were with the rest of the family. Perhaps it was the gate of my walk or the slight hesitation in my steps that gave it away. But Ser Harrrold spoke from behind me.
"I'm sure whatever it is not unpleasant my prince." He said and I didn't feel even the least bit of comfort from that. Some strange sensation had taken hold of me. Something off and I started to realise that it wasn't the waking world that was troubling me so. I had an extremely strange dream last night but for some reason started to stir in my mind again. I couldn't remember the details they slipped from my mind like water through my fingers. In fact, it felt like I had completely forgotten about it when I woke up but now it keeps slipping into my mind.
"Ah yes, I'm sure," I said in response to Ser Harrold's meaningless platitudes. Although I knew his words were meant to be kind they did not reassure me in the slightest. We quickly made are way up thoughts of that dream slowly coming back to me. I tuned out the seemingly random clanking of Ser Harrold's armor and began to speed up slightly. I slipped up the last few steps and hit a left continuing to walk at an even brisk pace. But before I could make any more useless small talk I turned a corner and entered a much wider hall. In it, two men stood by a large wooden door with draconic carvings.
"Good Morrow Ser Ryam." I greeted the lord commander of the Kingsguard. The white cloaks will always have my respect the ones who do their job at least and Ser Ryam is the epitome of that. Still, the ones who don't will always be an intense disgrace not just to the order but the crown itself. Although I don't have a Jaime Lannister to worry about however I do have a certain Cole to worry about.
"Good Morrow my prince." Ser Ryam said quickly stepping to the side and knocking on the draconian door.
"Your Grace Prince Aemon has arrived!" He called out cracking the door open slightly.
"Enter." An aged yet still firm voice called from behind the door. It wasn't the sweet and kind voice of my great-grandmother. It was the stern temper of a man whose voice commands the entire nation. A voice I've rarely heard in the entirety of my life. The voice of my great-grandfather. And as I walk into the royal chamber I see him sitting there my great-grandmother by his side. The King of the Seven Kingdoms Jaehaerys I Targaryen the Conciliator. Rider of the Bronze Fury Vermithor and the fourth king of the Andols the Rhoynar, and the first men. Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and protector of the realm.
"Good Morrow your grace and to you as well my queen," I say bowing with as much reverence and nobility that I can muster for my body. But what surprises me is the sudden chuckle I hear from in front of me. Still, I don't look up and make sure to keep my head down. I don't know what they want from me and maybe I shouldn't be so Cautious because of how suspicious it might look for me to act this way. But I can always just play the nervous kid card so it's better to be respectful than overly familiar especially because I don't know my great-grandfather that well.
"Lift your head boy and good morrow to you as well. To think a child of Daemon would be so polite." Jaehaerys says he is deeper than you would expect him to be at such an age and yet still filled with a subtle mirth. It's as if I've suddenly told a joke and broken the ice with my introduction.
"Indeed that boy was always unruly even as a child. But my sweet little Aemon is the most polite boy you'll ever meet." Grandmother chuckled she sat there next to him she wrapped her left hand around his and squeezed with a delicate practiced force.
"Come here Aemon." She says as she gestures for me to sit between them by patting the bed. I walked over hesitant at first then all at once. As soon as I finished sitting though grandmother scooped me up into her arms and sat me on her lap. She did it with a speed I'm sure someone at her age isn't normally capable of I'm fairly sure the dragon warrior body is responsible for that. I'm not sure what gave it away but she seemed to notice my surprise at her actions and giggled at my stunned figure.
"You are indeed as fond of the boy as I've heard. I'm sorry we have not spent much time together since you were born my boy." The king says chuckling slightly at his wife's fondness for me. I had thought my great-grandfather would be far more stern and critical but he seems kinder than I thought he'd be.
"You have nothing to apologize for your grace," I say still trying to remain as formal as I can from such a compromised position. Grandma giggles again seemingly for how formal I'm being and starts to trace he hands through my long hair.
"Please we are alone you may call me great-grand sire," Jaehaerys says warmly but he doesn't smile but he does turn to look at me better. We lock purple eyes and for a moment it almost seems like he is looking for something in mine. But in him, I sense a profound feeling of loss and a strange careful curiosity.
"I've been telling you to spend time with him Jae you've been missing out. I've missed you my sweetling it's been far too long." Grandmother says and I find it somewhat odd how cheerful she's being despite recent events. Still, if she's determined to be happy right now who am I to prevent that happiness? Still, she is being rather clingy though and although I do love her it's still odd.
"We spoke yesterday Grany," I say looking up at her face trying to puzzle out what exactly it is that's got her so attached to me not that I mind. She just chuckles at me once again in some sort of silent personal joke she has. Her face is much less wrinkled than before but not enough to return the full beauty of her youth I imagine. Now I feel though she's more akin to a beautiful painting of herself.
"And so many hours have passed since. Or is it that you no longer wish to see poor old me? Do you not love poor great-grandmother anymore?" She says with false sorrow I already know she's joking but I still almost fall for it responding with a more childish worry than I intended.
"It's nothing of the sort Grandma I was just… surprised is all. I assumed that we would meet when we break fast with the family this morning." I say trying not to be insensitive about her feelings just in case she isn't joking but she just laughs again.
"Well, my sweetling we'll eat together soon with everyone and I guess what? You can sit with grandma and grandpa at the head of the table." She says patting my head before starting to play with my hair again.
"And I've told you that you favor him too much you should let him sit with his parents. Maybe you should spend more time with Rhaenyra." Jaehaerys says seemingly exhausted with her exaggerations and stories she no doubt has told him about me. Yet he didn't seem angry but fond of her antics.
"I've spent plenty with her it just happens that my sweet little Aemon is always with her. Well, her and Rhaenys's children mainly her daughter." Alysanne said as she smiled down at me and hugged me from behind.
"You're quite the little heartbreaker already aren't you little one?" She teased and chuckled at me. I could feel the heat on my face in the rant tingling of a blush. I didn't know that it was obvious that I preferred to hang out with those two much more than Laenor. It was mainly in order to prevent him from developing any undue feelings about me in the future. Still, I can't have her thinking I'm some sort of groomer or worse besides I have other reasons for being nice to them. First, they'll probably be the only two I'll be able to fully relate to in the future. We are the next generation of dragon riders and we are all of royal blood. Secondly, having a positive starting relationship with them will benefit me politically in the future of course. If somehow Rhaenyra does still become Queen despite my efforts it's better for me if we have a good relationship to start with.
"It's nothing like that grandmother I just wished to spend time with my family and those who were my own age," I say but to be honest that's mostly just a cover for my true intentions. It's not like I don't like them though they are nice kids and they do make me laugh sometimes. But Rhaenyra is too young for any real conversation especially now that I've mostly stopped hiding my intelligence. Laena is nice and all but she's still young and it's easier for me to treat her like a niece or younger sister than anything else.
"Ah yes that is good my boy I mean no offence to you my boy but they are our blood as well. They are the future of the realm as are you and it is the duty of a king to ensure that future." Jaehaerys says looking away from me but into some strange middle distance.
"A King or Queen," Grandmother says interrupting wherever his mind was journeying off to and drawing his attention.
"Yes… Even so, what matters is that a good one knows that the future is secure. Tell me boy what do you know of the kings of our family?"
I hesitated before speaking this time. " You are the fourth king of our family the first was Argon the conqueror, the second was your father Aenys Targaryen and the third was…"
"It is all alright you can say his name boy."
"Ahem… the third was your uncle Maegor Targaryen."
"Yes, my cruel uncle. He wanted to be king so badly that he killed anyone who stood against him."
"Jaehaerys."
"I'm fine my love."
"Tell me boy do you know what will happen soon?"
"No, your grace."
"Ha ha so polite indeed you know your courtesy but I told you that you can call me great-grandfather."
"Apologies great-grandfather."
"No need to apologize little one."
"Don't scare the boy Jae he is still only three years old."
"Three years and yet you seem at least five. You are quite tall for your age indeed I'm sure you will grow up to be a fine young man."
"Thank you, great-grandfather."
"Are you scared of me child if so for that I do apologize it is as I've said I'm truly sorry we have not spoken much since you were born. But you are my blood you need not fear anything from me no harm shall come to you."
"I'm not scared great-grandfather but it is as you said I have never spoken to you at such great lengths before."
"Come sit closer to me these old eyes of mine would like to get a better look at you."
"Hmm you do have his features at that age indeed… sigh"
"My beloved Queen is right I'm sure you'll have all the maidens of the realm chasing after you when you're older." Her words made me blush but in all truth, it was a good thing. Targaryens are already considered ethereal beauties and handsome warriors. Frankly, I'll probably be attractive anyway seeing as Daemon is rather good-looking looking even if he is an asshole and my mother contrary to popular belief is actually rather pretty compared to an average woman. Although she's no Targaryen as it's been a while I remember what Gael looked like and she wouldn't even be a competition between the two. Plus she wasn't even known for being extremely beautiful compared to most Targaryen women.
"If I may ask whose features do I resemble exactly?" I wanted to know the details exactly because I know we share a very rare hair color but I'm curious if we really look that similar.
"Hmm… you look like my boy… my eldest son and your namesake. My… my boy would have been a good king one day… but then… well I'm sure a smart boy like you knows what happened to him?" He says struggling with the words perhaps it's too heavy even for someone like him to carry the deaths of so many loved ones. I do feel bad about making him talk about it but as he runs a hand through his beard that mild guilt abates from me as I remember the one part of their deaths that links them all together. Most of their deaths of his children were the direct or indirect result of his own terrible handling of his or Grant's own decisions. From Viserra snapping her neck to Daella's death in childbirth birth their father and mother weathered on purpose or by accident had a hand in the deaths of all but two of their 10 children who didn't die in infancy except Daenerys. And that thought somewhat dries up the empathy in me for both of them.
"Yes, he… passed on." The slight sorrow in the old king's bearing grew. Frankly, I have no idea how I'd feel or what I'd do if one of my children were to die. Still, I know one thing the pain of losing a child is something I never wish to experience. Still, it may be unavoidable in this time period as child mortality even in the royal family was terribly high. Though that was likely the fault of a certain order of men that I'll have to find a way to deal with at some point.
"Indeed it is a terrible thing that happened to him he was my heir until… well I'm sure you know. But tell me do you know what happens when a king dies?"
"The king's heir is crowned as the new king."
"Indeed your grandfather was my heir…. My poor boy, he would have been a good king. Our Baelon was as brave as they said he was but he was also gentle enough to be a good king."
"Gentle?"
"Yes gentle, tell me, my boy, do you know what makes someone a good king?"
"Wisdom and… intelligence I suppose."
"Hmm, a very good answer, and tell me what you think makes for a bad king?" The king questions in a way that vaguely reminds one of Yoda
"Weakness, a lack of discipline, and stupidity," I say quickly
"Not cruelty but weakness hmm and how is that what makes a bad king?"
"Umm… well it's… not my place to say your gra- great-grandfather." I hesitated again to say what I was going to say simply because
"It is all alright you may speak child no harm shall come to you." He reassured me again I wish I wasn't so hesitant to speak in his presence but one wrong word could spell disaster for me.
"Weakness makes one's own vassals feel as though they can act independently or without the leave of the lord when dealing with delicate affairs."
"Oh, how so?" He says in a lighter tone than I've heard him use before.
"Take the Tullys of Riverrun. Their main issue is that many of their vassals have far more military strength than their lord. This allows houses like the Brackens and the Blackwoods to take actions against each other or break the king's peace without being properly punished. They disobey direct orders and completely ignore laws imposed by their lord paramount despite their higher authority. This is because their lesser lords perceive them as weak. Well and… umm I do not know if I should say this next part." I stop here because the next part of the issue deals with how the faith of the seven is handled. Personally, the last thing I need is faith coming after me so early on in my life. So I stop and look down at my hands which have started fidgeting a little.
"You've already given such an extensive explanation already go on. Nothing you say will be held against you." Granny says with a slight chuckle in her voice. She wraps her arms around and pulls me closer to her.
"Well as you know my family. Specifically, my mother's family whom I live most of the time does not follow the faith of the seven." I say hesitantly but I do worry that the nervous child act is actually coming off correctly. Judging from my great-grandmother's loving gaze and my great-grandfather's quiet yet steady curiosity towards my words.
"Hmm yes I am aware but what does that have to do with weak king's little Aemon?"
"Well, it's that the faith is… well that is to say the faith of the seven has been essentially an enemy of our family since Aegon conquered Westeros. They only went dormant for as long as he was alive and as soon as he died they started to rebel against our house. They did this because your father was considered to be too weak. When he died and King Maegor took the throne he solved that issue but as soon as he was gone it began again. For example when your first child was on the way men and women of the faith tried to assassinate grandma. If that had not happened well perhaps your child may have lived. Perhaps he would have been even better than my namesake was." I say the words spilling out of me one by one at first slowly then at a pause I can't stop. I almost lose my sense of my surroundings and I zone in hard on the topic at hand. But I needed to get these words off my chest at some point and so I don't stop pointing things out. But as my final words arrive I realise how truly insensitive I may have been and so I resort to apologizing as quickly as possible.
"I'm sorry great great-grandfather I have overstepped." Trying the force the tone of a nervous child sitting before a king who had a longer reign than any other of our dynasty. I look up at him his face his stoic and contemplative. But then his stone wall fades and a small grandfatherly smile graces his face as he puts a hand on my shoulder.
"No not at all my boy you have only spoken your mind. Go on you have another point do you not?" He says squeezing his hand slightly with firmness that surprises me he still has it at such an advanced age. Or perhaps it's me who's wrong for thinking that such a man could have lost all the strength of his prime despite his age. Still, he quickly let's go after reassuring me that I can continue and so I dive in fully this time.
"Yes well… I um… ah where was I… ah yes King Maegor was also somewhat weak as he could not secure the future of his reign. Which as you said is one of the most important duties as a dynasty with no heir or a poor one is considered a weak dynasty. But his true weakness was that he was being stupid. He had the crucial flaw of overstrength which made him arrogant and reckless. He became blind to the foes around him especially those who claimed to be on his own side. Strength and freedom that is born from strength and overstrength. Proves itself to be more of a flaw when not wielded with proper wisdom. Without that wisdom, one can be tricked or schemed against by their lessers like a great stallion told to ride at full speed only to run off a cliff. That or to fall not in direct combat but by more duplicitous methods as King Maegor did. If he were smarter he would have never allowed anyone to know it was he who was conducting such foul acts outside his war with the faith. That was a matter for which such direct measures were advised albeit unsustainable as he had no method of replacing the faith to achieve true victory whereas all they had to do was kill him and all other Targaryens to win." I give the full explanation nothing held back. I don't think I've ever talked this rapidly or been so long-winded in my life up until this point. I do hope that my evolution didn't affect my brain in a way that causes me to talk too much. I should know better I do know better and my enhanced intelligence should make sure of that. Perhaps it is not my own unique abilities though maybe it's just my child's body. I already figured out it was affecting my behavior so maybe that's it. But what concerns me more is how the two of them are looking at me now. It's as if transformed into someone else all of a sudden. The two of them have more practice hiding their expression than anyone I know but even I can tell their somewhat shocked by what I've said. King Jaehaerys glances at his wife then back to me.
"I see…. Hahaha, you are quite the smart boy indeed. He has just learned as you said, my love. To think a boy of but three name days is so well spoken. Children your age would normally still be at their mother's breast." He says the first words slowly then he laughs and speaks with a joking tone. He's not even wrong if I remember his own daughter Saera or maybe it was Vissera was not weaned off milk until she was four.
"You're too kind Grandsire I simply spoke what I was thinking I do not presume to know everything," I say channeling a more respectful tone than I had been using before.
"See I told you he was such a smart boy and so humble too." She smiled down at me and tousled my hair with one hand. I sigh quietly knowing that I'll have to comb it again today so that it doesn't curl up like mother's does. Maybe I should just leave it sure I prefer it to be straight but it's just how I'm used to it being.
"Indeed your words are true my love. But tell me one last thing, my child. Do you wish to be king?" A spike of panic shot through me. Did he think that was my reason for all my statements? I wanted to cry out that I had no such ambition and why would I? King's Landing fucking sucks and anyone on the Iron Throne is in constant danger. Plus the city is overall terrible design I mean the construction alone will literally cause the whole city to smell like shit. But more than that why the fuck would I want to sit on an iron throne all day fixing other people's problems when I could just go around flying on my dragon all day eating snacks and doing whatever the fuck else I please? My only goal right now is preventing the dragons from going extinct and that is mainly because we will need a whole lot of them to prevent the future ice apocalypse coming our way. Besides everyone who sits on that damned iron chair seems to die a horrible death in some way. So I first need to clear up this misconception that they're under.
"No, your grace! I did not mean to give that impression I am no usurper!" I say a bit more panicked than I wished to sound but I think the message came across clearly judging from the rising of Jaehaerys's brows.
"Don't startle the boy so much, Jae he thinks be live him to be like our uncle. Calm now my Aemon we did not mean to frighten you so we know you are far too kind to be like our uncle." Grandmother says tightening the grip of her arms around me. It's just as comforting as it was when I was young in my last life and my first grandmother did that. I didn't know her for very long in the grand scheme of things. Maybe the good Queen can help fill that void if just a little.
"Indeed my boy I did not mean to give that impression this old man is far too reckless with his words. I simply wish to know why it is you do not wish to be king? Most men would do horrid things only to have a claim. Why do you not wish to sit upon the iron throne as so many others do?" He says calmly looking back into my eyes again and I feel like I truly see the years of wisdom that have accumulated in them. There's a certain weariness backed by an iron will cultivated to rule the seven kingdoms and to endure all the things he has. But even with his tagged form the man before me still has the regal bearing of a king.
"Well, I have many reasons, your grace. Not the least of which being that it's rumored to be dreadfully uncomfortable." I say jokingly trying to lighten the tone after all the strange questions and long rants weave had this morning.
"Haha indeed it is make back has suffered that dreadful chair for many years. However, I assume that someone as young as you would not fear a little back pain. Worry not child it is not a trick question feel free to elaborate."
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Sorry if this chapter is a bit of a mess to be honest it took me a lot longer to finish than I thought it would and I honestly got tired of writing and editing it towards the end. I don't know maybe I just need to take a break or write on one of my other fics for a while. I'm only getting busier in real life and frankly, I feel a little burnt out. But I'll try to keep writing for a little while. Anyway, time for today's question.
Today's question is what is your favorite Targaryen dragon and why? Mine is Caraxes mainly because the shoe made him look awesome.