Chapter 44: A New Lord and the Forging of Alliances
The morning after the Brightflames' arrival, the grandeur of Myrosh Castle felt charged with a fresh energy. Maegor, having heard Aenar Brightflame's stories and assessed his family's potential, now sat on his throne in the great hall, Blackfyre a dark, silent presence beside him. Aenar, Lady Xandra, Aelyx, Deana, and Rheanera stood before him, awaiting his decree.
"Aenar Brightflame," Maegor began, his voice resonating with Royal Authority (Uncommon). "Your loyalty, and your family's enduring flame, are gifts to House Targaryen. Your wisdom and experience will be invaluable to my burgeoning kingdom. Therefore, I declare that your House will once again rise."
He paused, letting the weight of his words settle. "I grant you the Enfeoffment of Vyrodos and Paenerion Baronies. You will be their direct lord. You will hold the title of Viscount, answering only to me, the King and Count of Ergos. A manor in Vyrodos Village will be prepared as your seat, and you will oversee the prosperity and defense of both baronies."
Aenar's face, usually so composed, betrayed his shock, then dawning elation. A Viscount. Two baronies. A true lordship after decades of exile. He dropped to one knee, tears welling in his eyes. "My King!" he choked out, "My gratitude is boundless. We will serve you faithfully, to our last breath!"
Maegor then turned to Aelyx, the proud young man. "Aelyx Brightflame, your spirit and your blood speak of a warrior's heart. Rise, and prove your worth. I hereby knight you. You will join my Targaryen Royal Guard. You will train under Lord-Commander Selmy and Lord-Captain Kaeto, and serve the Dragon with your blade."
Aelyx, his face radiating fierce joy, knelt and accepted the honor, his eyes burning with renewed purpose.
"And to address the future of my Royal Guard, and the realm," Maegor continued, his gaze sweeping over Barristan, then to his own personal guard, "the old ways of the Kingsguard, while noble in sacrifice, were flawed. A kingdom needs strong men and women to produce heirs, to pass on their knowledge and their blood. Therefore, I will abolish the Kingsguard as it was known. In its place, my Targaryen Royal Guard will be the pinnacle of knighthood. They will be permitted to marry, to have families, to hold lands, but their oath of fealty to the Crown will be absolute. Any Royal Guard may be dismissed from their post, but they will never truly abandon their oath to the Dragon." The implication was clear: service was paramount, but a personal life was no longer forbidden.
After this momentous decree, Maegor dismissed the rest of the Brightflame family and the guards, wishing them to rest and settle. He then invited Aenar to remain for more personal matters.
Alone with Aenar, Maegor got straight to the heart of his dynastic plans. "Aenar, as I stated before my court, the strength of our House lies in its numbers. Daenerys will be my Queen, the mother of my primary line. But Viserys also needs to produce heirs, to secure his branch. I intend for your daughter, Deana Brightflame, to marry Viserys Targaryen. Their union will form a strong, loyal branch of the Targaryen line, binding the Brightflame blood even more closely to the main house."
Aenar, though surprised by the directness, immediately saw the strategic advantage. His daughter, Queen to a new King's brother. "It would be an honor, my King," he replied, a calculating glint in his eye. "Deana is intelligent and dutiful. She will serve your will."
Maegor then presented his next proposal, one he had considered carefully. "Aenar, your sister, Rheanera. She possesses a keen mind, a strength of spirit. My Lord-Commander, Ser Barristan Selmy, is perhaps the finest knight alive, but his Kingsguard vows forbade him a family. He is older, but still robust, capable of producing heirs. I wish to see his legacy continue. I propose a marriage between Rheanera Brightflame and Ser Barristan Selmy. It would bind a legendary house, even one of common birth, to the Targaryens through a loyal, powerful vassal, and ensure the continuation of a truly noble spirit."
Aenar blinked, clearly astonished. Barristan Selmy. The Bold. His sister. This was an unexpected and truly grand alliance. "My King," Aenar said, awe in his voice, "Rheanera is… independent. But to marry Ser Barristan Selmy… it is an honor beyond measure. I believe she would accept."
"Good," Maegor affirmed. "Loyalty, wisdom, and progeny. These alliances will strengthen us."
Maegor then moved to another pressing matter. "Aenar, your family has been scattered for decades. You have lived in the shadows. Do you know of any other hidden Targaryen descendants? Any other lost branches, dragonseeds, or Valyrian families who might be willing to answer the call of a true Dragon King?"
Aenar frowned, deep in thought. "My King, the whispers are few, and often vague. Most of those who survived the Doom, and then the Rebellion, learned to hide. Some, like us, chose anonymity. Others, I believe, sought refuge deeper in the Free Cities, or in the vastness of the Disputed Lands. There were old Valyrian families who claimed no dragon blood, but shared the heritage… many of them died out, or intermarried and lost their features. But I have heard some scattered rumors, very faint, of families in Volantis, who guard ancient secrets, or in Lys, who pride themselves on purity of blood, though they hide it behind veils and trade." He gave a few names, mostly vague family names, whispers he'd heard in Tyroshi merchant circles, offering what little he knew.
Maegor nodded, accepting the limited information. This would complement the System's intelligence. "We will find them," he vowed. "Every drop of loyal blood will be sought out."
Finally, Maegor addressed Aenar's new responsibilities. "As Viscount of Vyrodos and Paenerion, you will require your own forces. I grant you permission to raise sixty guards for your personal household. Thirty for each barony. They will serve you directly, but know this: if there is any inconvenience, any threat to your rule, any lingering defiance from the locals, I will personally fly on Balerion to resolve it. My direct involvement will ensure stability. Your task is to govern, to collect tribute, and to maintain order."
He then added another crucial component. "To help you settle and develop these lands, I will detach ten thousand Dothraki non-combatants from Khal Drogo's Khalasar, five thousand for each of your baronies. These Dothraki will aid you in building farms, transporting goods, and establishing more permanent settlements. And with them, to keep the peace and ensure compliance, three thousand Dothraki raiders will remain in your baronies. They will answer to Khal Drogo, but they will be a great help in keeping the local residents of Vyrodos and Paenerion in check, ensuring they understand the new order."
Aenar's jaw dropped slightly. Ten thousand Dothraki. Three thousand raiders. This was an unprecedented show of force, a terrifying guarantee of his new authority. "My King… you honor me beyond words. It shall be done."
Maegor then reached into his pouch, pulling out one of the new Common Dragon Eggs he had just acquired from the Game of Chance. It was unremarkable, dull grey, but still an egg. "And this, Aenar Brightflame," Maegor stated, handing him the egg, "is for you. It is a dragon egg. Let it be the guardian of your line, a symbol of the renewed power of House Brightflame under the Dragon."
Aenar took the egg, his hands trembling. A dragon egg. This was the ultimate symbol, binding his House to Maegor's vision of the future like nothing else could.
"After you have settled into your manor in Vyrodos," Maegor concluded, "we will hold a double wedding here in Myrosh: Ser Barristan Selmy to Rheanera Brightflame, and Viserys Targaryen to Deana Brightflame. These unions will cement our power."
With that, Maegor dismissed Lord Aenar, who left with a dazed expression, overwhelmed by the rapid ascent of his fortunes.
Later, Maegor found Ser Barristan in the courtyard, overseeing some of the Valyrian Swordsmen. Maegor approached him, Blackfyre a dark weight at his hip. "Lord-Commander," Maegor began, his voice casual. "I have made arrangements for your future. I have proposed a marriage between yourself and Rheanera Brightflame, Aenar Brightflame's sister."
Barristan, for once, looked utterly surprised. "My King? Rheanera Brightflame? But… my vows. And my age."
"Your old vows are broken, Lord-Commander," Maegor stated, his voice firm. "And your age matters little. You are a truly exceptional knight. Your knowledge, your strength, your very lineage should not perish with you. You will have children, Ser Barristan. You will continue the house of Selmy, and tie it eternally to the Dragon. She is a sharp woman, intelligent, capable. She will provide you with heirs worthy of your name. It is my command. You will marry her, and you will produce a strong lineage."
Barristan, still stunned, could only bow. "As you command, my King." A flicker of something akin to a long-forgotten hope, mixed with his soldier's obedience, crossed his face.
The next morning, Lord Aenar, energized by his new purpose, dispatched his three personal guards. They rode swiftly towards Vyrodos, bearing news of their lord's appointment and preparing the manor. They also carried the decree to the two Lord-Masters, Costos and Gyran, informing them that Viscount Aenar Brightflame would now be their direct liege. The stage was set for a new era in Ergos County, one forged in fire, blood, and meticulously planned alliances