Rhaenyra was on the balcony watching her father walking with the twelve-year-old Laena Velaryon. She was told that Lord Corlys offered his daughter to marry. Rhaenyra was troubled by this, but as Leah pointed out, her father was expected to remarry sooner or later to produce more heirs for the thrones, even if she is first in line. However, Lady Laena was twelve years old, and her father was in his thirties, which makes the marriage unsettling. She then started to walk from the balcony and passed by princess Rhaenys who was sitting on a bench beside a doorway.
"It bothers you, does it not?" Rhaenys asked.
"My father is a king," Rhaenyra replied, "It is his duty to take another wife and strengthen his line."
"I did not ask you a lesson in politics," Rhaenys quipped, "I asked if this bothers you."
"Laena is your daughter princess; does it bother you?" Rhaenyra shot back.
Rhaenys looked down and then back to Rhaenyra, "Of course it does. But I understand the order of things. I'm not sure you do."
Rhaenyra then began to look away from the older princess, "If you seek to elicit some anger from me, you should know that you're failing princess."
"Quite the opposite." Rhaenys answered. "Whether it to my daughter or someone else, your father will remarry sooner than late. His new wife will produce new heirs, and chances are better than not that one of those will be male. And when that boy comes of age and your father has passed, the men of the realm will except him to be heir not you. Because that is the order of things." She finishes while looking at Rhaenyra.
"When I'm Queen, I will create a new order." Rhaenyra proclaimed.
"How I wish that could be Rhaenyra," Rhaenys sighed dismissively, "But the men of the realm already had their opportunity to appoint a ruling queen at the Great council and they denied it."
"They denied you, Princess Rhaenys, The Queen Who Never Was" Rhaenyra reminded, "but they bent the knee to me and called me heir to the thrones."
"Do you remind your father's men of that as you carry their cups?" Rhaenys shot back causing Rhaenyra to go silent.
Rhaenys then walked to the balcony and said, "Here is the hard truth, which no one else has the heart to tell you. Men would sooner put the realm to the torch, then see a woman ascend the Iron Throne." She then looks at Rhaenyra who was looking back intently, "And your father is no fool." She finishes as she walks away, leaving Rhaenyra to consume her words. Then Baelar soon comes out from a doorway that was next to the bench and slowly approached Rhaenyra.
"You were listening." Rhaenyra concluded.
"I was." Baelar confirmed, "Sorry."
"Do you believe that she right?" Rhaenyra asked her cousin.
"Well, it's not surprising that your father is going remarry, since he is the king." Baelar answered as they began to walk together, "and men of the realm might not be open to the idea of having a ruling queen."
"So you agree that when my father has a son, he will be the new heir?" Rhaenyra asked again.
"I think your father would never have all the lords bend the knee to defend your right to the thrones, if he was going to replace you later on." Baelar said.
Rhaenyra looked at her cousin and gave him a small thankful smile, "Leah said the same thing."
Baelar looked at Rhaenyra and then looked away, remembering of the marriage proposal his parents, more specifically his mother, made to the king.
Rhaenyra saw the look Baelar had and asked, "What is it Baelar?"
Baelar stopped walking and turned to Rhaenyra, "You should know that my parents made a proposal to have us marry one another."
Rhaenyra gave Baelar a surprised look. She wouldn't usually be surprised if a marriage was made between them. They were first cousins, and they did grow up together as playmates when they were younger, doing what small children did. However, she also knows that Baelar and Leah had feelings for one another and to marry him knowing that was not something she wants to do to her close friend.
"Is that so?" Rhaenyra asked as she continued their walk.
"My mother said your claim to the throne will be stronger by having me as your consort." Baelar explained.
"How kind of your mother to think for my benefit." Rhaenyra said sarcastically.
"Well who wouldn't want to be the grandmother of the next monarch." Baelar concluded.
This caused Rhaenyra to chuckle, "I suppose that is an offer no mother would stand aside from." she said, causing Baelar to chuckle with her. "How does Leah feel about it?"
Baelar looked at Rhaenyra and then looked straight ahead, not answering the question.
"I know you care for her." Rhaenyra admitted, "And I hope I'm not betraying her confidence by telling you that she cares for you."
"You wouldn't" Baelar assured her, knowing that Leah cares for him the same way he does for her.
"Did my father gave an answer?" Rhaenyra asked.
"I'm not sure," Baelar told her, "He probably was until…I'm sure you heard about me and my father about the other night."
"I have," Rhaenyra confirmed and gave Baelar a gentle smile, "I found it amusing that you returned from the Silver Bass reeking of ale."
"You may find it amusing, but my mother doesn't." Baelar said.
"Well your mother never found humor in anything." Rhaenyra quipped.
"That is true" Baelar agreed as they both laughed. "I wouldn't be surprised if your father decides to marry us."
"If he does, I'm sure we could find some sort of comfort together." Rhaenyra said hesitantly, "but if you wish to marry Leah and if it's possible, then I wouldn't want to stand in the way of that."
"Thank you, Rhaenyra, but I don't think that will happen." Baelar said sadly, "Anyway, I have to go find her and tell her the news myself." He then walked away and went to find Leah and tell her the news before she finds out herself.
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Leah was in the godswood, sitting on a pillow with her back leaning on the heart tree with a book in her lap. She was reading about Lann the Clever, the was the founder of her house. It goes on how Casterly Rock was once occupied a family called House Casterly, but during a time called the Age of Heroes, a man named Lann was able to steal the Rock right out from under them. There were many stories on how he did it. Some tales go on to say that Lann used the cleft to fill the Rock with mice and rats to drive the Casterlys out. Another story says he smuggled inside a pride of lions that ate all the male members of the Casterlys and claimed all their wives and daughters for himself. Although the most common tale is that Lann stripped naked and coated himself in butter, squeezed through a secret cleft in the stone and whispered threats, howled like a demon, stealing treasures to move them elsewhere, and rigging traps to convince the Casterlys that their home was haunted. As Leah was deep in her reading, Baelar came by and saw her at the heart tree.
"Leah" he said as he walked up to her.
"Baelar" Leah greeted with a smile.
"What are you reading?" Baelar asked as he sat down next to her.
"A history book about Lann the Clever." Leah answered as she went back to the book.
"Didn't you read that story five times already." Baelar questioned.
"It is the origin story of my house, and an interesting one." Leah commented, "Especially when he strips naked and butters himself to squeeze into the clefts of Casterly Rock." Causing the two teens to laugh together.
"Where's Alicent?" Baelar asked.
"Somewhere, I don't know." Leah sighed, "It seems she has been preoccupied as of late with something."
Baelar nodded, but then Leah looked at his face and could tell that something was wrong.
"What's wrong?" Leah asked, "is it your father? Have you spoken to him yet?"
"It's not that," Baelar reluctantly said, "My mother has proposed a match to me and Rhaenyra."
Leah looked at him with surprise. "Oh" was all she could say as Baelar looked at his lap, "Did the king agree to it?"
"I don't know yet." Baelar answered, "Although it seems like it will happen regardless of my thoughts on it."
Leah looked at Baelar, then down to her book, then Baelar again, "I'm sure you will be happy together. You and Rhaenyra always got along well."
"Even so, it's still not you." Baelar admitted, "And if I marry Rhaenyra, then you would be married to some lord, and we might never see each other again."
Leah then rested her head on Baelar's shoulder. They were silent for a minute until they both saw a guard coming up to them.
"Prince Baelar," the guard said, "You're presence is required in the small council chamber.
Baelar and Leah looked at each other and got a bad feeling that it might be about the marriage proposal and the king decided who Baelar will marry. The prince, with a sad face, got up as the guard escorted him to the small council chamber as Leah watched him leaving the godswood.
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Baelar entered the small council meeting room with all the members of the council sitting in their seats and Aegon standing next to Viserys. Baelar felt tension in the room and saw the Dragonkeeper as there as he then stood next to Rhaenyra.
"It occurred in the blackness of the night, my lords, during the Hour of the Bat." The dragon keeper said, "The thief eluded our pursuit."
"How is it possible that a dragon's egg was stolen out from beneath more than fifty Dragonkeepers?" Viserys asked in a stern voice, then turned to Aegon, "Aegon, when you and Baelar were in the Dragon Pit, did you see anything suspicious?"
"No your grace," Aegon denied, "Neither my son nor I saw anything."
The lords then looked at Baelar to confirm what his father said. "No, your grace we didn't" Baelar said, realizing the real reason why he was summoned to the small council meeting. A thief stealing an egg from the Dragon Pit was as high a crime to commit and very dangerous to not act right away. The egg itself is harmless, but if it hatched and grown, the thief will have a dangerous weapon. Not to mention that the thief could sell the egg to potential enemies who will use it against House Targaryen.
The dragon keeper looked at the king and said, "It was Prince Daemon who was the culprit, Your Grace."
"Daemon", Viserys repeated, stunned by this defiance from his brother.
"Do you have proof of this charge?" Aegon demanded, although he has a feeling that Daemon really did this.
"The prince left a missive, my prince," Otto said who received a hard look from the prince, "which I believe might explain."
Grand Maester Mellos took out a scroll and began reading it to the court, "It is the pleasure of Daemon Targaryen, the Prince of Dragonstone and rightful heir to the Iron Throne, to announce that he is to take a second wife in the tradition of Old Valyria."
Viserys and Aegon looked at each other and then to Rhaenyra and Baelar as Mellos said the words rightful heir, as all know full well that Rhaenyra is the current heir.
Mellos continued to read, "She is to assume the title Lady Mysaria of Dragonstone. Her Grace is with child and is to have a dragon's egg placed in the babe's cradle in the custom of House Targaryen." Mellos finished reading the scroll as he looked up to the king and prince, "The prince has invited you to his wedding, Your Grace. It is in two days' time."
"Gods be good." Lord Lyman Beesbury muttered as he drank his wine.
"Who is Lady Mysaria?" Lord Corlys Velaryon asked.
"We believe-" Mellos started to explain.
"Daemon's whore." Otto interrupted, "This is nothing less than sedition."
"I strongly agree, sire." Lord Lyonel Strong agreed.
"Daemon knows better than to incite a rebelling against the crown my lords," Aegon said quickly.
"Aegon, our brother wishes to provoke me." Viserys said to Aegon, "To answer is to give him what he wants."
"The realm is watching, Your Grace." Lord Corlys said to the king.
"What would you have me do?" Viserys sternly asked, "Send him to the Wall? Perhaps I could put his head on a spike."
"There is no need for any of that Your Grace," Aegon said, "Daemon has always been impulsive, but he knows very well of the consequences of these crimes. For all we know this could be just bluster"
"Daemon has seized Dragonstone for himself, surrounded with an army of gold cloaks, and has now stolen a dangerous weapon." Otto replied, "That is far beyond bluster."
"An egg is hardly a weapon." Aegon shot back, "Half of them don't even hatch and we still have time to retrieve it."
Rhaenyra then muttered lowly as the council members then looked at her. "Which egg did Daemon take?" Rhaenyra repeated loudly.
The dragon keeper was silent, as if he was too afraid to answer, but he did so nonetheless and slowly say, "The egg was Dreamfyre's, princess. The same that you chose for Prince Baelon's cradle."
Rhaenyra, Baelar, Aegon, and Viserys all looked at each other in shock. Completely dismayed of the audacity Daemon has to commit such an act. Stealing the egg that was picked for the son that Viserys wanted for so long and lost his wife to gain. The same son that followed his mother to the grave.
"Assemble a detachment, Otto." Viserys commanded as he stood up and began to walk out of the room with fury, "I will go to Dragonstone and drag Daemon back to face justice myself."
"I'll go with you brother." Aegon said as he followed the king.
"Your Grace." Otto said as the two brothers stopped to face the Hand, "My apologies, Your Grace, but I cannot allow it."
"Allow it? Did you forget yourself Otto?" Aegon exclaimed.
"No my prince, but it is too dangerous." Otto answered calmly. "Daemon is without limit."
"Then what do you suppose we do Lord Hand?" Aegon demanded as he got closer to Otto.
"Let me go to Dragonstone." Otto answered to the king.
"And what makes you think you can subdue Daemon?" Aegon asked, "An ordinary man against a dragon rider."
"Aegon" Viserys warned his brother.
"My prince, this is a matter of the crown and the Hand acts in the crowns interests." Otto said to Aegon with an irritated look.
"And the Hand should know that this is a family matter," Aegon shot back, "A matter that you have no place in."
"That's enough Aegon." Viserys demanded, "Otto will go and deal with Daemon."
"Daemon has a dragon, Viserys," Aegon reminded him, "What can he do against the Blood Wyrm."
Viserys looked at Aegon for a moment and said, "You're right brother. You will go with Otto on Nightwing."
"Forgive me Your Grace, but I do not believe that The Night's Terror would be a safe course of action." Otto counseled.
"Neither is going to Dragonstone alone without defense Otto." Viserys told him, "Aegon will go with you to deal with Daemon."
Aegon looked at Otto and then back to Viserys, "As you command Your Grace." He left the small council room to make himself ready for Dragonstone as Baelar ran after him.
"Are you really going?" Baelar asked his father while following him.
"Yes, I am." Aegon answered, "But this will probably be over quickly."
"You said that Nightwing was never tamed," Baelar reminded, "And that we don't control dragons. What if there was a fight and-"
"It won't come to that." Aegon stopped walking and assured his son, "No, we don't control dragons, but they can feel what we feel. Deeply. As long as there is no animosity between us, Nightwing and Caraxes won't do anything unless me and Daemon commands them to."
Aegon, seeing that his son was unconvinced, decided to take off his medallion he always wears, "My father gave me this medallion on my tenth name day, and now I'm giving it to you so you know I will be back."
Baelar took the medallion and rubbed his fingers on it. It was ruby red in the shape of a three headed dragon that was the sigil of House Targaryen.
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Aegon, in his riding clothes, went to the king's chamber and saw his brother looking out the window, probably thinking about Daemon.
"We are about to leave for Dragonstone." Aegon announced.
"Be careful." Viserys said as he turned and faced his brother.
"You actually believe that Otto is the one to deal with this?" Aegon asked his brother.
"He is the Hand and acts for the Crown." Viserys defended. "And Otto counseled that it is too dangerous for the king, and he is right. Daemon is without limit."
"And you believe that Daemon is not dangerous with his rival." Aegon argued. "The man who got you to disinherit him."
"Daemon got himself to be disinherited." Viserys argued back.
"Regardless, it was foolish to have him go alone and I don't what he can do to resolve this." Aegon then said.
"He will act as a voice for the crown. He will have Kingsguard to protect him." Viserys countered.
"Daemon has gold cloaks, and a dragon at his side." Aegon countered back.
"Well, then it's good you volunteered to go." Viserys concluded.
Aegon sighed and then decided to talk about his son's marriage proposal, "Before I go, I want to tell you that I decided Baelar will marry Leah Lannister."
Viserys looked at him and said, "Claryssa might not like that."
"Well I'm not interested in her desires," Aegon said, "Only Baelar's."
"Very well." Viserys said, seeing that his brother made up his mind, "We will announce the marriage after this endeavor." Aegon needed as he then left the room to finish getting ready for Dragonstone.
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Aegon was in his room as he finished getting armor on for the conflict that was coming. He knows Otto going alone was a suicide. He also knows Daemon is doing all of this just to get a rise out of Viserys after a long silence from each other for the last few months. Aegon can believe that Daemon was got this Mysaria pregnant and give the babe a dragon's egg, but if he really wanted to marry her, he would have done it already without telling the king until afterwards.
"So you're going to Dragonstone to deal with Daemon." Claryssa said as she entered the room.
"And you believe that I am making a mistake." Aegon presumed, not looking at her while putting his armor together.
"Actually, I support you." Claryssa corrected as Aegon looked at her with surprise.
"You do?" Aegon said as he looked up in surprise, "You hardly ever agree with me."
"Well, Baelar told me the circumstances and I do agree that Otto is foolish to go to Daemon on his own when your brother having a dragon." Claryssa explained as she walked to him and helped him put on the last part of his armor.
"Thank you." Aegon said quickly, still not knowing how to feel about his wife supporting his decision, which hardly happens.
"Well, hopefully when you succeed, it might put you in the king's favor again and he will accept the proposal we gave him." Claryssa concluded.
"Right, the proposal." Aegon repeated, now understanding his wife's motives, and decided to tell her the news that she was going to hear later when he comes back. "I decided that Baelar is going to marry Leah Lannister."
Claryssa then looked at him sharply, "Aegon, we discussed this."
"No you discussed it and expected me to agree and made the decision on your own." Aegon argued, "I spoke with Baelar, and he wants to marry Leah."
"How many times must I explain this," Claryssa said in frustration, "We do not marry out of desire, we marry for political strength."
"Why." Aegon asked, "What enemies do we have that require Baelar to marry Rhaenyra?"
"Once the king remarries and have a son, the lords of the realm will be deciding who they believe should take the throne and might take up arms if it were to escalate," Claryssa tried to explain as Aegon sighed dismissively, "And our son will be involved in it. But having Baelar, a male Targaryen heir as her husband, her claim won't be so easily challenged."
"I already spoke to the king." Aegon said, hearing enough of her defense.
"What?" Claryssa exclaimed with surprise of what he told her.
"I already went to the king, and he said yes." Aegon explained further after he finished putting his armor on. "He is going to marry Leah and let that be the end of it." He finished as he left the room leaving her stunned.
Aegon then went out of the Red Keep to the front gates as Otto and some members of the Kingsguard, dragon keepers, and maesters with him.
"Thank you for traveling with us, my prince." Otto said cordially
"I'm sure you're thankful for my help." Aegon said sarcastically.
"I am, but I assure you this will end quickly." Otto said.
"We'll see." Aegon replied as he got closer to the Hand, "But let me be clear. If any harm goes to my brother by your hand, I will not be hesitant to unleash The Night's Terror on you."
Otto stared at the prince who then got on a horse that was brought to him and went through the opened gates to go to the Dragon Pit to mount his dragon. Meanwhile all the other men who were with the Hand looked at each other with worry, seeing the prince threatening the Hand of the King.
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Leah walking down the corridor to her room, having a sad look on her face. The boy she cares for is going to marry her best friend. She knows that the proposal has not announced yet, but how can the king refuse such a powerful match for politics. The Lords of the realm were not too thrilled that a girl was named heir to the Iron Throne. If Rhaenyra is going to be queen, she will need a strong husband by her side to help defend her rights from rebellions that support the son everyone is hoping the king will have. Who better as a husband than Baelar. He is a male heir of House Targaryen and marrying him will strengthen Rhaenyra's claim and any children they have. Then it made Leah think of her own marriage that she will have and that she might have to leave King's Landing and go back to the Westerlands and Casterly Rock for her marriage. She never had any ill will with the other Lannisters, but she never felt happy with them. She lost her father before she was born, and her mother died form an illness when she was five. All the other women in the family tried to raise her as a daughter but they never treated her like their own children. She felt so alone, eventually that became her greatest fear. Being alone.
She then remembered meeting Rhaenyra at the age of nine when the royal family went to Casterly Rock for a royal tour. The girls were the same age and got along so well, when it was time to leave Rhaenyra convinced her father to take her in as a ward in King's Landing. Something that made Leah so happy because she was going to stay with her friend. When she went to King's Landing, she then meet Baelar who was kind to her. She eventually came upon the training yard and saw him begin his first practice with a wooden sword but failing. When she found him alone in the barracks changing from his training clothes, she would complement him and said he was just starting and would become better with practice. She would then come to the training yard day after day to see him practice and encourage him. There were times when the other boys made japes about him which caused her to punch a nose or two, but Baelar would come to her defense when she had to answer the king for it. Soon Leah and Baelar became infatuated with each other as they grew to become teenagers, to the point where they talk of marrying one another. However, now it does not seem possible. He was going to marry Rhaenyra and she was probably going to be sent away to the Westerlands with some lord as a husband and feel alone again. Just as she was lost in her thoughts, she then saw Alicent walking up.
"Alicent, did you're father leave for Dragonstone." Leah asked as news went around the Red Keep about Daemon's actions.
"Yes," Alicent said, "He and prince Aegon are going there as we speak."
"Hopefully this can be resolved peacefully." Leah said.
"I hope so, Daemon is without limit." Alicent replied as the two girls began to walk together.
"Did you see Rhaenyra?" Leah asked.
"Yes," Alicent answered, "She said she needed time alone."
"Is it true that Daemon took the egg she picked out for her brother Baelon?" Leah asked.
"He did." Alicent replied.
"Daemon was always one to test limits, but I never thought he would resort to this." Leah commented. She looked at her friend and then saw that Alicent has been picking her nails again, "Is everything ok?"
"Yes, everything is fine. Why?" Alicent said while looking at her friend.
"Your nails." Leah said as she grabbed Alicent's hands, "you've been picking at them again."
Alicent was about to deny it, but when Leah took her hands and looked at them, she knew she couldn't say anything but the truth. Leah saw that they were close to her room, so she dragged Alicent to the room and shut the door so no one can hear them. They were in the room and Leah lead them to her bed.
"Tell me what's wrong." Leah asked as the girls sat on her bed, "You can tell me."
Alicent knows she is not allowed to say what she was doing. Spending time with the king and having deep conversations with him since Aemma Arryn's death. But the king asked her to not tell anyone about their time together, especially Rhaenyra. However, Alicent could tell fractions of the truth.
"My father wants me to marry." Alicent vaguely says.
"Oh." Leah said softly, "May I ask who?"
"I can't say." Alicent responded softly, "There hasn't been any agreement on a betrothal, and he doesn't want me to say anything." She then started to pick her nails again until Leah took Alicent's hands to get her to stop
"How do you feel with him." Leah asked, deciding not to press further on the name
"He is pleasant to be with," Alicent said, "and he has enjoyed my company."
"Would he make a good husband." Leah asked.
"It wouldn't matter because I have to do what is expected of me," Alicent admitted, "but there are times when, the obligation is just too much."
"I'm sorry." Leah said sadly, knowing the pressure her friend is going through since her father is Hand of the King. "I understand the feeling."
"You do?" Alicent asked, noticing her friend's sad look.
Leah looked at Alicent and decided to say, "Baelar is going to be betrothed to Rhaenyra."
Alicent look at Leah with surprise, "How do you know?"
"He told me." Leah answered, "It hasn't been decided, but it is a good match between them. And no doubt that I will marry someone else and probably have to leave the Red Keep. Leave you and Rhaenyra."
"I'm so sorry Leah." Alicent said as she comforted her friend.
"I'm sorry too." Leah said back as the two girls then hugged each other in comfort from the duty and obligations that they had to play in the game of thrones.
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Baelar was in his room and laying down on his bed, worrying about his father. He knows his uncle Daemon would not harm his younger brother, but his dragon is another matter. Decided not to think much of it, knowing there is nothing he could do, he began to look at his medallion that his father gave him. He then heard the door open and saw his mother walking in.
"I see you're still up." Claryssa said as she walked closer to her son and sat on the edge of the bed. "I couldn't sleep." Baelar said as he got up from the bed.
"You worried about your father." She concluded, "He can take care of himself. I came to discuss with you about your marriage proposal."
Baelar looked at his mother intently, knowing that she was wanting him to marry Rhaenyra, however she proved him wrong by saying, "You're marrying Leah Lannister." Claryssa said with a smile.
"I am?" Baelar asked stunned, "I thought you had plans to have me marry Rhaenyra."
"Well your father thought otherwise and already spoke to the king about it who agreed." Claryssa explained.
Baelar began to smile, but he knew his mothers plans and looked at her nervously, "Mother I didn't do anything to-"
"I am fully aware of who played their part in this Baelar." Claryssa said as her son started to defend himself, "And considering she is a Lannister, Leah is still a good match, and because of that you have my support."
Baelar saw that his mother was being genuine and smiled, "Thank you mother."
"Well, I can't deny that I have seen you both together lately and you do make a handsome couple." Claryssa said.
"Well, I suppose," Baelar said, "mother I know father can be, challenging at times, but he really has shown to care about us."
After saying those words, Baelar then saw his mother having a look on her face that might say otherwise. "What is it?" Baelar asked.
"Nothing" Claryssa said quickly, not really wishing to tell her son.
"No tell me." Baelar insisted, "What happened? Is it about father?"
Claryssa saw her son's face when he asked that question. She wasn't sure how her son would react to the information she has but considering she got the news from the Hand of the King; she knew it was a matter of time before he hears it from someone else. "It seems your father requested to the king to have his mistress and her child to come to King's Landing."
Baelar looked at his mother stunned by what his mother said, "What? Why?"
"It seems he wishes to have his bastard near him." Claryssa replied, saddened by her son's look after hearing the news
"He never told me this." Baelar said, still shocked by the news.
"Well, I'm not surprised." Claryssa said. Baelar looked away as he was trying to comprehend the news of his father trying to bring his mistress and bastard to the capital.
Baelar began to stammer, trying to find the right words to say, "His mistress and bastard, at court. Does he not know how this will look, for you? For me? What people would say?"
"You'd have to talk with your father about it." Claryssa said, seeing her son in distress.
Baelar could not believe what he heard. His father is trying to bring his whore and bastard in the same roof as him and his mother. They already have to deal with the condescending looks and whispers from his father's affairs, but to have them close in the same city, the Red Keep. It's as if Aegon doesn't care how this would affect his legitimate family by having his whore and bastard close by. The people, it now seems, he sees as his real family instead of his true wife and son.
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After sailing through the Blackwater Bay, the ship that held all the men came upon the shores of the island called Dragonstone. The island was made as an outpost for the Valyrian Freehold, but then became a sanctuary for the Targaryens after Aenar the Exile, the lord of their house at the time, fled with his family after his maiden daughter, Daenys the Dreamer, had a prophetic dream about the Doom of Valyria. Afterward, the island was home for the Targaryens until Aegon's Conquest and soon became a stronghold for the heir to the Iron Throne.
The castle, named after the island, was next to a volcano known as the Dragonmont, where the wild dragons made their lairs, causing smoke, fog, and smell of brimstone to surround the island as the Hand and his entourage made their way past the gates and crossed the bridge as Daemon, and a group of gold cloaks went out to meet them. After a few words were exchanged, Daemon drew his sword Dark Sister, causing all the other knights and gold cloaks to draw their own swords. Then a screech that was heard as Caraxes, the Blood Wyrm, crawled wormlike out of his hiding place and gave a screeching roar at Otto and his men. When hearing Caraxes roar, Aegon, still flying in the clouds, then urged Nightwing to land on a rocky mountain where the gates of Dragonstone were placed. The black she dragon then gave out an unearthly shrieking roar that could be heard throughout the entire island. Aegon was too far away to hear what was happening, but he could see Daemon, who was still holding the dragon egg and his sword, having slight concern in his face. Daemon could not be easily afraid and knows his dragon was fierce, but he knew all too well what Nightwing was capable of as she was slightly bigger than him. He also knew why she was called The Night's Terror.
Just as tension was building up, Aegon then saw to his right, clouds moving suspiciously fast as a yellow dragon then leaped out over the bridge and flew around the sky. The yellow dragon flew past Nightwing and then circled past Caraxes as the two dragons gave a warning growl as the yellow dragon landed on the bridge. It was Syrax who was ridden by Rhaenyra Targaryen, Aegon wondered what his niece was doing but he did see her walking past Otto and walked up to Daemon. He didn't know what words were exchanging between them but then he saw the woman who he concluded as Mysaria, with an angry look, walked away from Daemon and went back to the castle. After a few more words, Daemon, who stared at Rhaenyra for a bit, turned around and threw the egg to her as she stumbled, but regained her composure. She then walked to the Dragonkeepers and placed the egg in the incubator they brought with them for the egg. She then looked back at Otto giving him a victorious glare and then went on her dragon. After seeing that the conflict was over Aegon then urged Nightwing to follow Rhaenyra and Syrax back to King's Landing, leaving Otto and the rest of his men behind to sail back on their own.
Syrax and Nightwing then flew to the city and landed on the flied by the Dragon Pit and dismounted their dragons. Once they did, they walked to a couple of horses that were waiting for their return.
"So what exactly did you say to Daemon." Aegon asked his young niece.
"I simply called out his bluff." Rhaenyra said with a smile, "You were right, it was a bluster"
"Well, it seems that you have proven that you are not just your father's little girl after all." Aegon said, "Although he might not be pleased with you leaving without his leave."
"Then I will remind him that I got the egg back," Rhaenyra replied, "without Lord Otto's assistance."
The uncle and niece chuckled as they got on their horses and returned to the Red Keep.