Early 99 AC, Storm's End
Princess Aemma POV
She smiled briefly to Ser Roxton and Ser Crabb, the two Kingsguard that stood either side of the doors. Her guards behind her joined the two Kingsguard in standing guard when she walked into the chambers.
She saw Aegon there atop his bed with Viserys sat across him who had come to see Aegon any time the opportunity provided itself when there was an intermission between tourney events such as the jousts and the knightly melees composed of teams of knights.
Aegon had been bedridden for two days, his injuries were severer than expected and she'd seen the bruises that covered nearly the whole of his chest and torso.
"Aemma!" Viserys said with an easy smile "Are we expected back?"
She shook her head "No. Not yet." The feast had begun but their absence and delay would be understood especially given that there were still another sennight to go of tourney events. Besides, she hadn't quite liked the lacklustre hospitality of Lord Baratheon. It was fine for them to arrive a little late.
She turned her gaze towards Aegon as she stopped close to the pair of brothers.
"How are you feeling?" she asked gently, her gaze falling towards his bandaged chest. He caused a bout of panic when he fell down so freely.
Thankfully it seemed like it was only from exhaustion though it was clear he'd suffered a number of injuries from the way he had to lean on the shoulder of Axel Florent and had winced when pressure was put on some parts of his body.
"Like I have cracked ribs" Aegon said with a grimaced smile "Gods, the barbarian can hit like a boar" he said as began to move from the bed.
"Barbarian?" Aemma asked with a raised eyebrow. That was a new one. Certainly when referring to anyone south of the Neck.
"When he looks the part, acts the part and annoyingly hits like the part, the name fits." Aegon said with a chuckle before his face contorted in a slight grimace, his hand travelling to his side.
Aemma made a move towards him but Aegon waved her off and smiled gently at her indicating he was fine.
"I hope you don't intend to repeat that in front of others." Viserys said with a disapproving tone though his expression made it clear he at least found his little brother's antics amusing.
"I won't. I do have discretion." Aegon said with a side glance before he moved towards the table that had some clothing folded atop it.
"Besides, I'm sure we don't want to rub salt in their wounds any further than Viserys has already done." Aegon said as he picked up a shirt.
"Had I not stopped that duel, you probably wouldn't be walking right now." Viserys voiced out a little sharply "You should have yielded after you both dropped your weapons. You were never going to beat him in strength."
"Don't you think I know that?" Aegon said as he gingerly put on the shirt and turned to Viserys with a frown "I knew that the longer that duel went on, the more likely he'd win. But I could not yield so easily, not when pride was on the line. It was better to lose fighting especially amongst the Stormlords."
"Pride?" Viserys asked a little disbelievingly "Was pride worth this?" he gestured towards Aegon's uneasy walk. "Or worse?"
"Pride is worth more than it should be." Aegon said tiredly as he eyed Viserys with a strange expression "It can drive people to make ridiculous decisions and horrible acts…and it is what people respect. None more so than these Lords."
"Boys." Aemma called out firmly and she stopped whatever Viserys intended to respond with "Do not let your tempers flare. Especially here where we're far from home."
Both young men looked suitably chastised though Aegon's expression shifted slightly to gratitude as he turned his gaze to Viserys "Still…brother…thank you for stopping that duel when you did. You weren't wrong to say it might have ended up worse than it did."
Aemma thinned her lips. Heir Baratheon had taken things much further than he had right to, especially against a Prince of the Blood and judging from Viserys' hard eyes, she knew he felt the same.
"I will speak with cousin Boremund on the matter. His heir's actions…" Viserys shook his head disappointedly.
"If I may, Viserys…don't." Aegon said in a calm tone and he drew both of their attentions "Both Baratheons are belligerent and they will carry slights for a long time should they think they were slighted."
Viserys narrowed his eyes but before he could comment Aegon stepped up to Viserys and slapped his back "Now shall we join the festivities? I'm sure I could use a cup or twenty of ale." Aegon said with a teasing grin.
"I don't know how you can drink the ale they serve up" Viserys said with a disgusted grimace as the two brothers began to walk towards the doors. "Maybe you just like tormenting yourself." Viserys said as he eyed his torso meaningfully though with a glimmer of amused in his eyes.
"I resent that." Aegon muttered though his lips twitched.
"You resent the comparison brother?" Viserys said with a raised eyebrow as Aemma watched the exchange between the brothers with a smile on her face.
"No I resent how true it is." Aegon said and Viserys laughed at the jest. Aegon bore a hint of a smile though as she looked at his expression she thought it little off.
Soon enough they were all out of the doors, talking and jesting as if what had been discussed never happened, the two Kingsguard following behind them with quiet duty. The sounds of merriment and revelry could be heard as they approached their destination, chants and cheers and laughter mixed with that of lutes and singing.
They arrived at the merry filled great hall, a hall made of the same pale grey stones of the other walls of the great fortress that loomed over Shipbreaker's Bay, a fortress said to be as old as the Wall itself – most frequently by Lord Baratheon himself – constructed during the Age of Heroes thousands of years ago by Durran Godsgrief, the mythical stormking and founder of House Durrandon and its successor House Baratheon.
The hall was filled to the brim with Lords and Ladies and knights and squires – though only those of noble heritage, all seated on long tables that stretched from one length of the hall to the other with the tables for those of knightly Houses more crowded than the others.
Eyes fell upon them and a loud cheer descended through the hall and Viserys grabbed Aegon's arm, raising it causing the cheer to louden to pitch fever volume.
Aegon's looks of embarrassment was delightful, especially as his companions joined in the fun heartily, as they were paraded down towards the top of the hall, the place where the Baratheons were seated and where they would seat as high honoured guests.
His performance in the squire's melee had impressed many of the prideful Lords of the Stormlands despite the draw that it ended in.
Though it was clear that many believed their future Lord had been likely to win in a battle of strength, many had effused that Aegon's skill at arms were better than Borros'.
It had surprised them despite tales of Aegon's skill with a sword which increasingly was becoming more commonly known across Westeros.
They got seated at their place of high honour, on the right of Lord Baratheon and his lady wife and soon enough the revelries and feast continued on. Aegon was seated next to her whilst she was in between Viserys and Aegon with Viserys next to Lord Baratheon with his wife on his other side and his heir beside her.
"Good to see you in good health, Prince Aegon" Lord Baratheon commented.
"Thank you, Lord Baratheon." Aegon said with a polite nod before his gaze flickered towards Borros who was speaking to Lord Maynard Connington some way down the table "Your son has the strength of a stag" Aegon said complimentarily, his gaze back on Lord Baratheon.
Lord Baratheon chuckled with his body "Aye, he's a strong lad." Lord Baratheon looked at Aegon with a hint of something "No shame in losing to him, my Prince."
"Ah cousin, you're quite mistaken" Viserys interjected with a smile. "It was a draw."
Lord Baratheon smiled but Aemma could tell it was far from true "Of course my Prince, it was most certainly a draw. Had it continued, however, like some say it should have, it was quite likely my son would have won." Lord Baratheon spared a look at Aegon.
Viserys' smile dropped slightly and Aemma say that he was getting angered. "Mayhaps. But it had not continued and so it is uncertain what could have been."
"Which is why our rematch shall be a spectacle, my Lord." Aegon spoke up with a grin "I have no doubt the spectacle shall be even better once we've fully grown."
"We could even do it again here at another tourney at Storm's End once I and cousin Borros have earned our spurs." Aegon offered and though his grin was friendly, Aemma knew that his eyes were far from kind.
Still, she recognised the olive branch for what it was and Lord Baratheon after a few moments decided to take it as he laughed, his large body shaking with a cup in hand and raised it to Aegon
"Aye, the grown Dragon against the mighty Stag, ha! I can drink to that!"
Thankfully that was the end of the tense moment and things moved on to more appropriate conversation as more ale and wine was had and mixing amongst the nobility became common once everyone's hunger was satiated.
She stayed seated by the Baratheons during most of the festivity, oft speaking with Lady Seleyse, Boremund's wife, though she exchanged polite conversations with a number of other noble Ladies and Lords.
Viserys himself was often in the company of Lord Boremund and a few of his bannermen such as Lord Connington who was a more diplomatic man than Boremund which seemed to keep him occupied for a little while.
Aegon ended up conversing with a number of Stormlords over the course of the night, including Boremund and Borros after he joined Viserys briefly and that had seemed to go well.
It wasn't long before he got dragged to dance with a number of noble ladies though he danced the longest with the eldest daughter of Lord Estermont, a widowed woman who still in her twenties.
She had noted that he tended to dance with older ladies longer than he did maidens. Not that was something noteworthy per se, particularly given that his attentions were sought after by many daughters likely on the orders of their fathers.
Even as third Prince who stood to inherit nothing, Aegon was as desirable a match as the heir of a wealthy and powerful House like the Reynes, the Redwynes or the Hightowers. Not only was he of increasing renown on the cusp of knighthood at age five and ten, he was most importantly a dragonrider with close ties with the second in line to the throne.
Marrying him into their bloodlines would serve to substantially increase the chances of their grandchild marrying a child of hers and Viserys' whilst the possibility of marrying daughters of Aegon into the main bloodline was also there, thus bringing the potential of dragonriders into their lines just as it happened with House Velaryon.
Something their grandfather was not unaware of.
Her eyes moved towards Aegon who looked a little embarrassed as Walter Lefford said something with a grin on his face before he nodded towards one of the ladies, his grin widening. Aegon pushed him slightly as the rest of his companions laughed at his embarrassment and the flailing Lefford.
Aegon was quite different to the brash Daemon…and to her Viserys who was kind and gentle at heart without a bone of cruelty or deception in his being.
Aegon may hate this if she ever told him about how she thought he was like but she did believe Aegon's temperament and personality was a mix of Daemon, Viserys…and their royal grandfather Jaehaerys.
And she thought he was quite likely the most dangerous out of them once he was grown for with his brilliant mind that he kept hidden from all but a few, he could accomplish anything he set his mind to.
One look at the cadre of companions he assembled, all of whom were heirs to prominent and strong Houses, was all that she needed to remind herself of this.
He'd befriended them with little difficulty and had inspired strong loyalty and comradery within them, comradery and loyalty that felt truer than most of the lords had shown Viserys during the progression.
And she wasn't sure he even knew it.
It was hard to believe that this was the same aloof boy that she'd rarely see at Kings Landing.
Their royal grandfather had shown great wisdom by making Aegon join this progression even if it felt like Aegon had overshadowed Viserys somewhat with his skill and victories throughout their progression.
It was a good thing that Viserys was not a jealous or an easily offended man and that his nature had instead bound Aegon closer in brotherhood than it did push him away.
One thing she did think Aegon differed from all three men was that he cared very little about Westeros itself and it wasn't difficult to hear from the few times he spoke candidly with them that he longed to be in the air – or at sea.
Viserys had told her about his conversations with his father about what Aegon achieved on Dragonstone, particularly his attempts to improve main port and train common folk.
She and Viserys had often talked about Aegon and they both thought it a good idea to convince their royal grandfather to grant Aegon land on Crackclaw Point with access to sea. There were many ruined strongholds in the region and Aegon, with a bit of funding from the Crown, could restore one of those strongholds.
Given his brilliant mind, it would not take him long to turn it a wealthy land and quite likely another hub of sea trade. It would also solve another issue that she and Viserys knew their grandfather was keen to resolve…especially now with the news they heard about Leanor Velaryon.
Laenor Velaryan claming Seasmoke was a warning sign.
A dangerous threat to the Targaryen supremacy.
Kin the Velaryons may be but Corlys was an insatiable lord and there was no telling should his descendants not inherit that insatiability just as they inherit dragons.
With both Daemon and Gael claiming their own dragons, it was likely that at least the Royces may end up becoming dragonriders in their own right – once the disagreement between Rhea and Daemon was resolved – as the first born stood to inherit Runestone and expected to change his name to Royce.
And Gael…
Her eyes fixed on Aegon.
Marriage to Aegon would ensure that her line remained Targaryen and it also secured Aegon's line. They'd make a secondary branch of House Targaryen within the Crownlands without the danger of his line passing to another powerful and wealthy House like the Royces or Velaryons.
She knew it was…somewhat unseemly to think like this but she remembered the anger of Corlys about Rhaenys being passed over and now with their son, a non-Targaryen, a dragonrider…
It was foolish to not try and avoid a similar situation, especially now that the Royces may end up joining House Targaryen as a third dragonriding House.
Still…she wasn't entirely heartless. She did believe that Gael and Aegon were fond of each other and she truly believed the two would be very happy with one another, just as she and Viserys were.
"Ah, Aemma" Viserys voiced as he dropped into the seat next to her. He grabbed her hands and kissed them gently. She looked at him a little hesitantly. He smelt like wine and looked as drunk as a mule.
"Viserys…" she began, gently unwrapping her hands from his before she stroked his cheek "How much have you had to drink?" she asked with a concerned frown as she looked at his slightly reddened face.
"A little."
Aemma furrowed her brows a little exasperated before she slowly got up "Come Viserys, let's head to our chambers."
Viserys' eyes peaked at that and Aemma smiled a little at his eagerness, drunk as he may be "I see" He said as he got up and he extended his arm "Shall we, wife?" Viserys said with a look of lust in his eyes.
-Break-
Early 99 AC, Kings Landing
Gael POV
"Why?" Gael asked of her mother with tones of desperation in her voice. "Viserys and Aemma and Aegon are there! Storm's End isn't that far, she's old enough to carry me there with nary a concern!"
"Gael, enough!" her mother said sternly, her eyes flashing with anger "I have said no. That is the end of the matter."
"No it is not!" Gael said as she clenched her fists, almost vibrating in anger "You have always denied me all that I have ever asked for and I have asked for little! Both you and father!"
"When have we ever refused you, daughter?" her mother said tiredly "You have been given everything you could have ever asked for."
"You refused me a dragon until I had to sneak out and claim one!" Gael said with her arms raised in frustrated exasperation "Something Daemon hadn't needed to do when he came and claimed Caraxes!"
"And have we not accepted your choices instead of locking her away from you?" her mother asked with angry narrowed eyes before quickly following up with others words, words said with a sharp tone "Something you were not punished for despite going against your father and I."
"You don't call quartering me in my room for a month without being able to leave once punishment?" Gael asked disbelievingly.
"Dear girl if you think that was punishment…" Alysanne shook her head.
"So limiting how long I get to stay with my dragon isn't meant to be punishment either?" Gael asked bitterly.
Alysanne said nothing and Gael closed her eyes momentarily.
They didn't trust her, they didn't really see her as a person. Just something to be kept. Her claiming a dragon only made things worse.
"You say you don't refuse me but you do…when it really matters." Gael said bitterly "Especially when it is away from you"
"Careful Gael." Her mother said in an angry whisper as she gripped tighter on her cane even if she had not yet stood up.
Gael smiled with ugly intent "Careful." She said acidly and had she taken a moment, she would have been surprised at her tone but she was in too much of a blind anger "Yes…Gael must always be careful. I must always be careful lest I end up like a wanton whore like Saera or a fool like Viserra"
Smack!
The noise of the cane clattering against the stone floor was deafening.
Gael staggered back, clutching her cheek. She turned her wide eyed gaze towards her standing mother who bore a furious expression she'd never seen directed at her.
"Do not speak things you do not understand, Gael." Alysanne said with a whisper that seemed barely restrained, barely able to contain the anger that she seemed to struggle with. "Your sisters are more than what your father calls them."
Gael swallowed harshly as bitter tears pooled at the corners of her eyes and she blinked them away angrily.
She heard her mother sigh and the chair scraping against the floor and she looked back at her mother slowly getting back to her seat, a worn and weary expression across her aged face and all anger fled from Gael.
Seeing her mother like this…
"I'm sorry mother." Gael managed.
Her mother looked up and their gazes met for a little while before her mother nodded slightly and she gestured quietly towards a chair opposite her.
Gael took it.
"I understand your frustrations, I do." Her mother began gently before she smiled sadly at Gael "Especially at me."
Gael startled at that admission and Alysanne laughed a little before she shook her head slightly "Dear girl…I know I have been…unreasonable." She sighed tiredly "And selfish." She turned her eyes to Gael as she reached out to her.
Gael took a moment before she took her mother's hand "But you mean so much to me Gael…more than you know." She said with so much emotion that it took Gael aback.
"Mother…" Gael tried though she didn't know what else to say.
The way her mother said that...
"Know that I have your best interests in mind, Gael. It may seem unfair but it is better than what many ladies your age and younger endure." Her mother said firmly as she g