When Cadmus left his room, he walked down the corridor, ready to meet the king, when he stopped and saw a boy in front of him. Black hair with some white streaks, he had deep purple eyes that resembled Rhaegar's eyes.
He looked very thin, silent, and taciturn, especially holding a large book in his arms as if it were the most precious thing in the world.
Behind him, a Kingsguard knight in his polished white armor; the man was tall and had a serious and cold demeanor. Brown hair and eyes, his gaze was cold and piercing like a sword, something all members of the Kingsguard possessed.
It was Jonothor Darry, Raymun's cousin and brother of Willem Darry (The man who took care of Daenerys and Viserys in exile in Essos), master-at-arms of the Red Keep.
Honestly, House Darry was truly blessed with many positions at court; the three members of House Darry held high positions at court.
Cadmus smiled and greeted the little prince. "Hello, little prince, I am Cadmus Peverell, your father's court mage."
As far as Cadmus knew, the king had five children. Three boys and two girls.
With Queen Elia, Rhaegar fathered Princess Rhaenys, and Crown Prince Aegon.
With Queen Lyanna, Rhaegar fathered Prince Maekar, Prince Gaemon, and Princess Naerys.
(Note: if based on the series, Jon Snow would be Maekar.)
The one standing before Cadmus was precisely Prince Gaemon, who was known at court as silent, taciturn, and an avid reader and library frequenter. In the eyes of the court people, a true bookworm.
The prince's eyes blinked twice, surprised by Cadmus's introduction; he looked at Jonothor, and seeing the Kingsguard Knight nod his head, confirming the words of the man before him, Gaemon spoke in a courteous and polite tone.
"It's a pleasure, Lord Peverell."
Gesturing for the prince to join him for a walk, Cadmus looked at the book in the little prince's arms and asked with a smile. "Do you love knowledge, My Prince?"
Gaemon nodded his head but didn't speak; he looked discreetly at Cadmus as if to ask something, but out of shyness, he didn't ask anything.
Noticing the prince's glances, Cadmus laughed; he liked children who sought knowledge. He looked at the prince and spoke in a gentle tone. "One of my duties is to assist the king in magical matters, including knowledge; my role extends to the members of House Targaryen."
Gaemon gathered courage with Cadmus's words and asked in a slightly embarrassed tone. "Are the books containing magical knowledge interesting?"
"Very interesting." Cadmus said with a smile; he could see the child's eyes shining with a thirst for knowledge that he knew very well, as it was the same look he had when delving into magic books.
"There is the knowledge of potions; some can save lives, others can even control luck itself. There is the knowledge of runes that serve to create items with all possible magical effects. And most importantly, there is the knowledge about magic." Cadmus explained to the young prince with an amused smile.
"With magic, it is possible to tame the forces of nature like fire, earth, water, wind, even elements like lightning, light, and shadows. There is the magic of Transfiguration, capable of changing the matter of an object into whatever you simply imagine. There are magics for all kinds of things, from a simple magic to unlock a lock to a magic capable of controlling space and time." The more Cadmus spoke, the more Gaemon's eyes shone; there was a deep eagerness for knowledge.
"Are you interested?" Cadmus asked, even knowing the answer. If you are a common person, there wasn't a single person who could refuse to learn magic.
Gaemon nodded his head and for the first time in a long time, spoke with such a determined tone that it made Jonothor Darry look surprised at the young prince.
"If your father allows it, come to my room and I will begin your studies." Cadmus said with a smile; for the first time, he felt a weight on his shoulders. Perhaps it was something every novice teacher felt when thinking about giving lessons for the first time.
Seeing that he had arrived at the king's chambers, Cadmus looked at Gaemon and said in a gentle tone. "I will meet with your father; I hope for good news, young prince."
Having said that, he didn't wait for Gaemon's answer and arrived at the door, where Arthur and Barristan were guarding. Cadmus didn't even need to speak, as Arthur had already spoken.
"The king awaits you, Lord Peverell."
Cadmus nodded and entered the room, where, surprisingly, he found Rhaella next to her son; the woman was helping her son deal with some state affairs and even advising him, just as Alysanne, the Good Queen, once did alongside her husband/brother, Jaehaerys I.
Barristan and Arthur entered the room, closed the door, and then locked it, making the atmosphere slightly tense.
Looking at the relaxed expression of the Dowager Queen, Cadmus felt that the conversation would be difficult, as it seemed Rhaegar had not mentioned the poison.
Feeling all the lightness he had from the conversation with Gaemon disappear, he showed a solemn expression and greeted both of them.
"Good evening, Your Grace, Queen Rhaella."
"Cadmus, your arrival surprised me." Rhaella looked surprised at the handsome young man and spoke in a gentle, yet noble and graceful tone.
"Unfortunately, I don't come with good news." Cadmus said with an imposing tone; he looked at the king with a touch of accusation, as if blaming Rhaegar for not preparing the ground and calming the queen.
In the face of his young minister's accusing eyes, Rhaegar pretended not to notice and then feigned a cough, making Rhaella show a confused expression.
"I presume you succeeded." Demonstrating a solemn expression, Rhaegar asked with a hopeful tone.
"Yes, but it wasn't as easy as I thought; the poison is more potent and volatile than expected; I will have to use blood magic to cleanse the poison from the king's and the Dowager Queen's bodies." Cadmus spoke in an equally solemn tone.
Rhaella finally understood Cadmus's words and looked at Rhaegar with a shocked and worried look. "Rhaegar, you...
Knowing that he was also poisoned, Rhaegar closed his eyes for a moment and remembered his sons and daughters. Of all his sons and daughters, only Gaemon and Naerys were born with fragile health, especially Naerys, who couldn't even leave her bed without starting to cough violently.
Rhaegar felt his blood boil; a fury ran through his veins like magma from a volcano; he wanted to destroy everything and everyone at that moment. But, when he opened his eyes again, there was only a depth in his gaze that sent shivers down the spines of everyone present.
"What is happening." Rhaella asked with a tone full of concern, especially after learning that Rhaegar was poisoned; she didn't even care about her own condition.
Barristan and Arthur squeezed the hilts of their swords so hard that their fingers were pale. They had failed; they had not only failed the king but everyone around him. The members of House Targaryen were poisoned, and they had no idea this had happened.
Rhaegar looked at his mother and felt the words stuck on his lips; he never felt that words were so difficult to utter. However, seeing his mother's eyes, he knew she had the right to know and the culprits who made her lose so many sons and daughters, so many miscarriages and stillbirths.
"Mother..." Rhaegar began to say what Cadmus had said before.
The more she listened, the more Rhaella's expression changed from concern to total paleness; she staggered and held her chest tightly. If it weren't for Arthur being quick, the Dowager Queen would have fallen to the floor with such a shocking revelation.
Rhaella felt her world go blank; even breathing became difficult. The memory of the miscarriages passed through her mind, the pain she felt, the desolation, the anger, the resentment towards the gods, and the deep sadness.
She remembered the babies she held who died in her arms, whom she personally buried and burned the funeral pyres. The small, delicate, but cold bodies...
"Shaena, Daeron, Aegon, Jaehaerys..." Rhaella murmured the children's names with such great sadness that it made Cadmus feel an enormous weight on his shoulders.
Rhaegar clenched his fists and bit his lips hard; hearing the names of his brothers and sisters made him feel the fury bubbling in his chest again.
Arthur helped the Dowager Queen sit on the couch while showing deep sadness in his gaze. Seeing a mother mourn for her sons and daughters with such pain was so sad that he would rather be on the battlefield than see something like that again.
"Rhaegar, how could they do such a monstrosity? They were children, innocent children, so fragile and delicate." Rhaella murmured with a tone full of sadness, without a hint of anger in her tone. She was so sad that she couldn't even feel angry at that moment.
"I swear, they will pay for every life and Targaryen blood spilled." Rhaegar spoke in a terribly cold tone.
Rhaella didn't answer; she didn't have the strength for such a thing; at that moment, she was just remembering her dead sons and daughters.
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Note: People are arguing about why I didn't explain that Rhaella was poisoned for a long time. But I used the term "chronic poisoning," which literally means long-term exposure to poison.
(Chronic poisoning (or chronic intoxication) is the effect of repeated and prolonged exposure to small doses of a toxic substance over months or years, causing slow and cumulative damage).
My reaction to seeing the discussion: 😑😑😑😐😐😐
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Read my other books:
Game Of Thrones: The God-Emperor of Planetos (500,000 words written).
Percy Jackson: Godwyn the Golden.
Game Of Thrones: The King's Court Wizard