The message was clear. He had not submitted. He had only just acknowledged.
Vaelaris exhaled, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. He had not expected submission. That was not the way of dragons.
But acknowledgment was enough—for now.
He turned and walked back toward the entrance, the torchlight flickering against the stone walls.
.
.
[Red Keep]
The morning sun slanted through the high windows of the Red Keep's throne room, painting golden stripes across the black marble floor.
Inside, the throne room waited, its high ceilings swallowing the torchlight, the air thick with the scent of old smoke and nervous bodies.
The courtiers had already gathered, their voices a low hum like distant thunder. Gold glinted at throats and fingers, perfumes cloying beneath the sharper tang of sweat and fear.
Jaehaerys climbed the steps to the Iron Throne, the blades biting into his palms as he settled onto the seat. Sixteen years old, and the steel felt colder than it had the day before.
Below him, the hall stretched long and shadowed, the skulls of dead dragons lining the walls like silent witnesses. He exhaled, slow and measured, and let his gaze drift over everyone.
Queen Mother Alyssa and Rogar stood to his left.
Rhaena and Alysanne stood together near the base of the dais
Vaelaris stood to his right side.
No armor encased him this day. Instead he wore a long black coat of heavy wool, cut in the old Valyrian fashion, its high collar framing a pale face too handsome to be trusted.
Silver hair fell to his shoulders, tied loosely behind his head. Freshly washed of dust and travel grime, he looked less like a wandering exile and more like a prince of old Valyria returned from legend.
Yet it was not his appearance that unsettled the court.
It was his eyes.
Cold golden eyes
The courtiers watched him. *The lost prince. The dragonrider.* Whispers followed him like a second shadow.
The doors at the far end groaned open, and the last of the latecomers hurried in
They bowed, their eyes flicking between the king and the man at his side.
Jaehaerys leaned forward. "Let the court begin."
The murmurs died.
Grand Maester Benifer stepped forward, his chains of office clinking. "Your Grace," he said, voice measured, "the realm awaits your wisdom. Reports have come from every corner. Some bring tidings of loyalty. Others..." He hesitated, fingers tightening around a scroll. "Others bring caution."
Jaehaerys nodded. "Speak."
Benifer unrolled the parchment. "House Darklyn has sworn fealty. House Celtigar sends men and gold. Lord Tully offers three hundred mounted knights, provisions for the royal army, and his continued loyalty to the Iron Throne."
A ripple of approval passed through the hall. Jaehaerys felt the tension in his shoulders ease, just a little. "And the others?"
The Maester's face darkened. "House Stokeworth claims illness. House Massey blames the roads. House Harte, the storms. House Bar Emmon..." He trailed off. "House Bar Emmon has not replied."
Jaehaerys' jaw tightened. "Illness. Storms. Silence." His voice cut through the quiet. "Do they think me blind?"
No one answered.
Queen Mother Alyssa shifted, the movement barely perceptible. "They are waiting," she said, low and controlled.
Jaehaerys turned his head. "For what?"
"To see if you survive your current ordeal."
A murmur rose among the courtiers. Rogar Baratheon scowled. "Your Grace, these lords test your patience. They should be made to answer."
Jaehaerys held up a hand. "And they will. but lets wait and see how long they can feign ignorance."
Vaelaris spoke at last.
His voice was calm.
"The realm grows forgetful."
Vaelaris stood there with one hand resting lazily upon the pommel of his sword.
"It has been many years since the realm last feared dragons," he said calmly.
His voice was not loud, yet it carried through the hall.
"The rebellion has made the lords bold. They look upon a young king and mistake restraint for weakness."
His golden eyes swept across the gathered nobility.
"They have forgotten what it means when House Targaryen takes offense. Forgotten because they no longer wake to the sound of wings above their keeps."
A faint smile touched his lips.
"Perhaps it is time the realm remembered why House Targaryen is feared."
The throne room erupted.
Lords exchanged uneasy glances. Some murmured approval. Others paled.
None mistook his meaning.
War and devastation
Rogar intervened "Yes, my lord we have to show them your power and decisiveness."
"We have to make an example of one such that we can affirm your position infront of all the others"
Hearing all of these Jaehaerys then he turned back to Benifer. "What of the Faith?"
The Maester's gaze flicked toward the septons clustered at the back of the hall. "The Warrior's Sons have not disbanded. The Poor Fellows still march."
Jaehaerys' fingers curled around the throne's blades. "Maegor's laws still stand. The Faith was broken. The swords were laid down."
"Not all of them," Alysanne Targaryen said.
Jaehaerys shot her a look. "You speak as if you know their minds."
Alysanne met his gaze. "I know men who cling to power."
The hall fell silent.
"Three days."
The words echoed through the hall.
"Any lord who fails to answer my summons by then shall be judged a rebel against the Crown. One house will be made an example of and answer for that defiance, and through their punishment the realm shall learn its lesson."
Then Benifer while rolling the parchment said "My lord, then we have the previous kingsguard, your judgment is needed over them"
The doors swung open again. All the 5 Kingsguard who swore feality to maegor were brought, their white cloak pristine, the black dragon on their breast still gleaming.
"Kneel you traitors" the guard bringing them shouted.
Another guards pushed them down to ground by their knee.
Four men were bent over knee.
One did not.
Ser Harrold Langward remained standing at the center of the hall, shoulders squared and head held high. The white cloak draped across his armor seemed almost brighter than the rest.
Standing upright and affirm at the centre of the court.
Jaehaerys felt the weight of every eye in the hall.
Standing up from his throne Jaehaerys said "You all are kingsguard who swore your loyalty to the mad king maegor and are a traitor and threat to the new regime and the public."
"But you all did not flinch or betray the previous king even when it came to your life, you did you duty faithfully as a kingsguard so even though i cannot reward you but i will give you your option"
"either surrender and go do your lifetime duty at nights watch or be executed here and now" stated jaehaerys
Then suddenly Ser Harrold moved forward and stopped before the throne. "I am Ser Harrold Langward, Your Grace. I served King Maegor. I had swore my vows to him and will die doing so."
"I reject both your judgment and your claim to this throne."
Ser Harrold's voice rang throughout the hall.
"Before gods and men, I demand trial by combat."
The court erupted. Lords shouted. Some called for Harrold's arrest. Others muttered prayers.
Rogar's hand went to his sword. "You dare—" stepping forward.
Guards surrounding and pointing their spear on Ser Harrold neck.
Jaehaerys silenced him with a look.
Harrold did not flinch. "I have not yet seen proof that another sits this throne by right."
The hall erupted. Lords shouted. Knights also reached for their blades.
Rogar's hand flew to his sword. "Arrest this traitor."
Jaehaerys raised a hand. "No."
Jaehaerys unemotionally gave a deadpan look to him.
The movement was slow, deliberate. The hall quieted, though the tension did not ease.
"You question my claim?" he asked.
Harrold did not lower his gaze. "I question the right of any man to rule who has not proven himself before gods and men."
Jaehaerys held up a hand. "No." The word carried. He looked down at the knight. "You will not flee. You will not take the black. You will not beg forgiveness."
Harrold's jaw tightened. "I will not."
Jaehaerys felt the weight of every stare. He could refuse. He could order Harrold seized, imprisoned, executed.
But to do so would be to admit weakness. To show fear.
And a king who feared his own Kingsguard was no king at all. He rose from the throne,
Jaehaerys nodded. "Then you shall have your proof." He turned to the hall. "Trial by combat. The gods will decide."
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