Prince Viserys of Summerhall was surrounded by flattering nobles, all vying for his attention. Finally, he managed to escape them, politely declining the offer from the Lord of Harrenhal, who wanted to prepare a princely suite for him. "I'll stay with my brother!" he declared happily. "I have so much to tell him tonight! I don't have much luggage anyway; the Crown Prince's suite will be plenty!"
When the Lord went to inform the Crown Prince, he found him smiling, as if he had expected this. "Thank you. I think what Viserys needs most right now is a hot bath with scented oils—please prepare it in my suite."
Only his brother truly understood him.
The last time he had enjoyed a luxurious bath was in a mansion in Braavos! On his journey back, he had first mingled with smugglers and then disguised himself as a poor mercenary. Being able to wash his face and brush his teeth in a stream was considered a luxury! He had concealed his face, so his fair Valyrian skin and silver hair had gone unwashed. He felt a little ashamed, smelling the scent of weirwood and dragon's breath on his brother.
As soon as he arrived at the Crown Prince's suite, he immediately headed for the bath.
Rhaegar smiled and personally rummaged through his luggage. His brother didn't have a single formal outfit or piece of jewelry befitting a prince, let alone custom-made armor. He gently touched the rough leather armor his brother had taken off, thinking he must have suffered in all aspects of life—he wouldn't have to anymore!
Jon Connington entered, approaching the joyful Crown Prince, and whispered to him that he had arranged meetings with several great nobles of the Seven Kingdoms, in case he wanted to discuss holding a Grand Council…
Rhaegar pondered for a moment. "Let the meetings proceed as planned. We don't even need to hide it from Father. The reason will be that I am searching for other Valyrian steel weapons and willing to pay a high price. As for the Grand Council—Jon, Father just named my brother a prince. I've decided to postpone the plan to convene the Grand Council for the time being."
Yes, the current royal reputation is soaring. Both of Aerys's sons displayed outstanding prowess at the tourney at Harrenhal. Even if the king behaved ever more madly and was unfit to rule, the lords wouldn't immediately want to overthrow him to enthrone the eldest son, Rhaegar, given the sudden emergence of the youngest son, Viserys.
The situation was becoming complicated, and Rhaegar's decision seemed justifiable at the moment. Jon didn't object either; he understood the Silver Prince—Prince Viserys, knighted and a prince, would not have anticipated that his older brother planned to seize power from the king.
The Earl anticipated the stance of the young prince, who was extremely favored by the king. He thought, at the very least, the young prince would be very torn. And the Crown Prince wouldn't want to hurt his younger brother.
However, this was actually the only mistake the renowned Prince Rhaegar made in his political career as Crown Prince. But it was also a mistake that led to serious consequences, causing him to regret it countless times in the future because seizing power was a point of no return. Missing the opportunity of fate meant having to pay an unimaginable price—the painful price of being torn apart from his beloved, his soulmate.
Back to the matter at hand, Viserys, having bathed and wearing a large shirt of his brother's, walked into the bedroom. He was wiping his wet silver hair, a few strands clinging to his slender neck, and tilted his head, smiling brightly at his brother.
Rhaegar's heart melted. He immediately got up, pulled him to sit by the warm fireplace, picked up a dry cloth to wipe his younger brother, and carefully combed his hair. The firelight danced in their eyes, illuminating their handsome and distinctively similar features. Rhaegar kissed his forehead—the two brothers leaned closely together. Viserys felt as if he had returned to the time when they were hunting bandits with the Kingsguard many years ago, as if time had always stood still, and they had never been separated.
Naturally, they slept in the same bed, with endless words to say and affection to express. Rhaegar couldn't put down the lock of silver hair of his younger brother on the pillow, listening to him vividly describe his experiences over the past few years: He went to the Wall to visit his old uncle Aemon, was trained by Bloodraven, who was called the Green Seer, and was told the whereabouts of the family sword, training him. Therefore, Viserys had to go to the Westerlands first, taking his adventurous old friend Tyrion to sea. They disembarked in Braavos, where Viserys received training in the Water Dancer's swordsmanship and also studied at the House of Black and White, which worshipped the Many-Faced God—although he was downplaying it, Rhaegar still heard what he had experienced to defeat his opponents by feeling in the dark—
He couldn't help but hug his younger brother tightly.
Viserys had seen the woven hair ring on his brother's wrist long ago.
"I've missed you so much, brother," Viserys murmured, burying his face against his chest. "But I want to get stronger, to be your arm, not a burden. Brother is the legendary prince, the future great king! I will stay with you, never to be separated!!"
Rhaegar kissed his brother's forehead, caressing his extremely handsome face, and promised in a hoarse voice, "My Viserys, we will never be separated."
Viserys, who was contentedly giggling, continued to tell his brother about his experiences and what he had seen. He described the fleet smuggling weapons, talked about the sailors in the taverns, and recalled the scenery beyond the Wall, the hundred-year-old Bloodraven—he had even brought back a piece of purple dyed fabric from Braavos! The same color as his brother's eyes!
Rhaegar kissed his brother's bright eyes again, and whispered deeply, "I remember every letter you wrote to me. Whenever the wind blows, I hope it brings your scent. I stand in the tower, looking at the whirlpool of Blackwater Bay, desperately hoping that the water will carry my longing to you, my Viserys... I love you deeply, more than anyone."
Viserys was intoxicated in his brother's arms, "I love you too, brother!" He didn't see the helpless look flash across Rhaegar's eyes, he only felt extremely happy. He must be the prince most loved by the king in history! How perfect life is!
The brothers were so engrossed in their night talks. From the fief palace of Summerhall, they talked about their future plans—Viserys was full of ambition to recruit soldiers, train them himself, and research and make new weapons. Rhaegar told him that he had found Qyburn from the Citadel, and that he would arrange for him to be under his brother's command.
"We will build a new academic center near King's Landing. Also, brother, I got a batch of wheat and barley seeds from a long-distance merchant in Braavos that are said to increase yields. I will first try them on my fief, and if it's true, I will start to popularize them from the royal lands!" Viserys was full of confidence in his black technology, "Brother, even Dragonstone is a treasure! Dragon glass is buried there, and there are geothermal hot springs everywhere. Brother, the glass garden in Winterfell in The North relies on hot water circulation for heating and insulation. If it is used to grow vegetables and fruits, it would be great! That way, even in a long winter, we can guarantee the supply of fresh vegetables and fruits! Then, brother, you can go to Summerhall to avoid the heat in summer, and I will live on Dragonstone in winter? Brother, you have to entertain me well! Brother, hurry up and get married and become the Prince of Dragonstone!"
Rhaegar's eyes dimmed, but he still gently stroked his younger brother's silver hair, kissing his temples. "Alright."
Then, he heard the phrase he least wanted to hear: "Brother, what do you think of Lyanna?"
The moon hung in the sky that night, a silver crescent. The God's Eye Lake shimmered with a cold, silver light. Except for nobles like Robert Baratheon, who were snoring soundly, many heads of the Seven Kingdoms' houses stationed in and around Harrenhal found it hard to sleep. The Stark Duke of The North was in his tent, discussing the wonderful future of Lyanna, which was close at hand, with his two adult sons. He was full of ambition, preparing to add another dowry to his daughter's, to match the royal family. But Ned's spirits were not as high as his elder brother Brandon's. He frowned, uncertain whether his sister would find happiness this time.
The stream flowed quietly, and the bright golden-red lion flag of the Lannisters fluttered over the green fields. In the central tent, Tywin, the Duke of Casterly Rock, decided to arrange a good marriage for Jaime as soon as possible. He discussed it with his younger brother Kevan. At present, the only suitable young lady of noble birth was Lysa of Riverrun and Lyanna of The North.
"Lyanna?" The Duke frowned. He had a hunch that the young prince's disguise as a Northern squire had a deeper reason. Combining that with Rickard's excited expression, he had a guess: "Lyanna might marry a Targaryen prince. Then the other prince, if he has any political acumen, will probably have to marry my Cersei. Whether the King can withstand his two sons, we will wait and see."
Tywin didn't know that Cersei, who had overheard her father's marriage plans, turned and walked into Jaime's tent. The golden-haired girl kissed and comforted her injured golden-haired brother, and soothed him in the manner of "childhood games".
Moonlight flowed, illuminating the vibrant green and gold roses in Highgarden. The old grandmother of Highgarden got up, recalling the two princes' embrace and kisses today, and somehow felt a sense of familiarity – where had she seen this kind of passionate, all-encompassing love before? The silver moonlight shone on her white hair. She walked slowly, and finally remembered the handsome Targaryen who had once been engaged to her, but then broke the engagement – Olenna, when she was a girl, had also caught a glimpse of this prince, who was serving as a squire, in the Highgarden garden one night, behind a cluster of white roses, embracing and kissing his lover with great reluctance.
He died in his early twenties, alongside his lover, Ser Jeremy, during a suppression of rebellion.
… Always so young…
She was probably truly old, old! Every family produced lovers… The old woman wandered around, finally sitting somewhat humorously in a rocking chair, gazing at the moon.
###
The next day, the most exciting jousting tournament would decide the champion. The five finalists were Barristan and Arthur Dayne of the Kingsguard, Brandon Stark of The North, Yohn Royce, the Earl from The Vale, wearing his ancestral, mysterious bronze armor, and Crown Prince Rhaegar. These five victors would fight for the honor of the queen of love and beauty, in a one-on-one, round-robin format. Other participants could also challenge any of them, with the winner advancing to the next round until the final victory.
Arthur Dayne, wearing armor with a falling star design, and with his sister Ashara's handkerchief tied to his lance, was laughing and joking harmlessly with Barristan, who was staring at the handkerchief, until the Dragon Prince, fully armed, walked up to the tent.
Arthur was taken aback. He found that Rhaegar's expression was not happy, but rather, melancholy was etched on his brow—"Your Grace?"
Hadn't Prince Viserys returned? At least, yesterday Rhaegar had still been ecstatic about it.
Rhaegar solemnly touched the silver-hair braid around his wrist, gazing at the audience. He saw his brother, so dazzling and lively, chatting with the Starks, squeezed in beside their seats.
Last night, his brother's voice echoed in his ears again. "Brother, don't pay attention to Father's plans. You should get married and be granted the title of Prince of Dragonstone! The crown of love and beauty, give it to whoever you want, haha! I heard you went to the forest to chase the Knight of the Laughing Tree! You know who this knight is, right? Brother! You will definitely marry the one you love!"
…No. He would never be able to. Rhaegar pressed his lips together, gazing at his brother, Viserys, who was so confident, believing that he would surely win today.
I won't let you down, my Viserys.
The Crown Prince gripped his spear and nodded to Arthur. "I'm fine. Please, give it your all!
...
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"Game of Thrones: Dragon Prince"
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"My Sister And I are in The Apocalypse"
(End Chapter)