ALL NOVEL Chapter 126: 126
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118 AC
Kingslanding
Daeron Nymeros Martell
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Watching a rather ornate ship approach the dock with a Targaryen sigil on its sail, I can't help but feel annoyed.
"Nearly an hour..." I mutter aloud and notice the guards around me straighten up in their positions.
Word arrived nearly two hours ago that Daemons family would be arriving in an hour, so I left to greet them at the docks as the Hand of the King usually does for such important guests. But I find myself wondering if something happened onboard that slowed their approach or if I got screwed with, its hard to tell when Daemon is involved. I thought he had improved after ruling over his own lands, all the reports I have received have painted him in a surprisingly good light.
But now I am questioning those reports... as well as my early assumptions of who could be behind the assassination of the King.
There was always the chance Daemon was behind it, I thought as much early on while the King still drew breath.
But I doubted it and still do even now if I am honest.
I plan to watch him closely.
Very closely.
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"Welcome to Kingslanding." I smile as Daemon's third wife, Mysaria, and his four true-born children approach.
Well two are being carried, the young girls Alysanne and Daena.
Baelon the oldest is walking on his own with a curious look, he has almost bleached white hair and red eyes, Melisandre's Son who she apparently died birthing.
Maegor who was born not too terribly long after Baelon is also walking but is noticeably small for his age which is a bit ironic seeing how he is named after The Cruel.
"Thank you Prince Daeron, it's good to be back... despite not having missed the stench even slightly." Mysaria speaks up with a polite smile on her face which I stiffly return with one of my own before I turn my attention back downwards.
"What do you two think?" I ask the two young boys who are looking at me with uncertainty.
"Huh?" Maegor tilts his head and earns himself a glare from his elder Brother.
My smile turns a bit real as I can practically feel the brotherly love between the two as Maegor ducks his head with a scrunched-up face after noticing the look from Baelon.
"How do you two feel about Kingslanding?" I once more attempt to gain a little insight into the upbringing of these two Targaryen boys based on how they feel about this city.
"Oh." Maegor straightens back up with a small smile. "It smells bad... but I am looking forward to seeing the dragons." He practically bounces on his feet earning a sigh from Baelon before the older boy looks up at me with ruby-red eyes.
"The Red Keep is not as red as I thought it would be..." He states with a plain voice while maintaining eye contact, unlike his Brother who is looking toward the sky with obvious excitement.
"I don't see any new ones..." Maegor mutters before dropping his shoulder and kicking at the ground.
I snort and shake my head knowing Maegor will make fast friends with Aerys.
They are roughly the same age, Aerys is a bit older, a few moons.
"Well it's hot out here and I am sure you are tired and would like to rest." I focus back on their Mother who looks amused at the little exchange that just took place. "Shall we?" I offer my arm to escort the Princess who smiles and nods after turning to look over toward the two servants holding her daughters.
"Lets." She loops her arm with mine and I turn while instinctively letting my other hand land on the bone white mop of hair Baelon has.
My attempt to urge the young boy forward as I tend to always do with Aegon earns me a confused look before Baelon takes quick steps forward to keep up with me and his Mother.
"Kep!" A low girlish voice cries out before a shadow passes overhead causing me to look up to see the Blood Wyrm as it glides overhead.
Seems about the same size as the last time I saw him...
Tossing a look over my shoulder I spot Alysanne who was the one to call out lifting her head with squinted eyes as she looks up into the sky following the red dragon with her gaze.
Cute.
I hope she and Viserra will get along.
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"He still has not arrived?" Rhaenyra asks with a frown as she stands before a mirror trying on various blacked-out dresses.
"No." I lean against the door to the room with a tilted head. "He sent word he wanted to take his time walking through the city... whatever that means." He is being followed so by the time he makes it to the Red Keep, I will receive word of what he was up to.
But I am assuming he is meeting up with old friends.
Lots of people in the city love Daemon, it's not that strange for him to want to meet up with them after not seeing them for quite some time.
"Whatever, I didn't want to greet him before the court anyway." I nod in understanding as she has not made an appearance before the people since her Father passed.
Her first appearance will be in the Dragon Pit where Viserys will be cremated.
Then she will be crowned and sit on the throne taking up the duties of Queen of the seven Kingdoms.
Hmm... Eight Kingdoms?
Daemon will be officially bending the knee before her, but his lands in Essos aren't really a Kingdom as he still goes by Prince.
Not to mention the Seven Kingdoms thing is really only for Westeros.
"Maybe it should be changed into an Empire?" I speak aloud a thought that has been bouncing around in my head for quite some time.
"What?" Rhaenyra turns to look over her shoulder at me, the sight of her still reddish eyes grips my heart.
I hate seeing her cry...
"The Seven Kingdoms, once Daemon bends the knee and Lys also joins in... I was thinking we might would be better off calling it all an Empire instead of a Kingdom." She purses her lips and looks back toward the mirror.
Silence fills the room as she obviously chews on that thought.
I push off the door and slowly make my way toward her, my steps lightly echoing in the room.
"I would not be a Queen then, I would be an Empress." My beautiful Wife makes an odd face before shaking her head. "One thing at a time..." I finish closing the distance and wrap my arms around her waist while setting my chin on her right shoulder.
"Volantis." She nods and I purse my lips.
We don't know for sure it was them... but their recent actions and the Tiger masks paint them in a bad light.
Not to mention the other possible assassinations that are all linked to this.
"Depending on how we handle Volantis, the lands under the Iron Throne will only grow..." I mumble and she nods. "Not to mention if everything goes well and we take out Volantis, I would have an easy time putting my plans in motion for the Mother Rhoyne." I want to send the Orphans of the Greenblood to settle the old cities on the Mother River.
It will be a multi-generational effort to revive the old Princedoms on the River... but it's doable.
Especially if we are planning to cripple or wipe out Volantis.
Maybe I really should flood the city?
I could have a warning sent into the city first... maybe enough people will flee and they can be coerced into helping settle the ancient cities.
People would take the flooding as a sign from the Mother Rhoyne if I put the right spin on it and get minstrels out singing my tune.
She leans her head against my own while placing her own hands over mine. "We will see, I want to handle my father's funeral and wear the crown before I make a decision like that." She turns her head and kiss my cheek before pressing her forehead against my temple.
"No rush, I am just speaking my thoughts." Leaning the weight of my own head against hers I close my eyes and tighten my embrace earning a light hum from my Wife.
God the next few days are going to be rough.
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"When are you going to burn him." Daemon asks before even taking a bite of his food.
"Tomorrow." Rhaenyra responds solemnly with her eyes closing as she sets down her utensils.
Daemon hums and nods even as his Wife reaches out and grasps one of his hands and squeezes it. "Then you will be crowned and sit the throne?" He sits forward a bit and narrows his eyes.
"That is the plan." Rhaenyra opens her eyes and glares at Daemon as I slip my hand under the table and grab ahold of her knee.
Daemon holds her gaze for a moment before nodding and slumping back into his chair with a sigh. "Good, the sooner you get it done the better." He reaches out with his free hand and lazily grabs his cup before lifting it up into the air. "Long may you reign." He lowers the cup and drinks most of its contents in a single go before setting it down and shaking his hand free from his wife's hold.
"Long may she reign." I add while drawing a circle on Rhaenyras dress-covered knee before pulling my hand back and returning to my meal.
I let out a breath feeling a bit better about Daemon, I think the chances he is behind the trouble brewing just dropped but I am still keeping my guard up... and likely always will around him.
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118 AC
Kingslanding
Aegon Nymeros Martell
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"I can take you to see Balerion." I smile as I offer Maegor the chance to see a real dragon.
Father and Mother are both wrong, Balerion is the goodest of boys.
I think Maegor will appreciate him like I do.
"You will?!" Maegor squeals like Aerys does when he gets excited while looking over an edge and I nod even as Nymeria sighs.
"Kepa said not to offer any trips to the Dragon pit without telling him first." Nymeria states plainly the words we heard numerous times before our kin from overseas arrived.
"I know... that's why I asked him first." I lie as easily as I breathe, a skill our Father has said multiple times is important to learn.
But also important not to use against him or he will 'tan our hide'.
Rhaenys narrows her eyes at me but I turn my head away to count the bricks on the far wall.
"Father told us to behave in Kingslanding." Baelon speaks up for the first time since we were left in this room and I raise a brow turning back to face him.
Mother told me to keep an eye on this one... he seems different.
"Oh come on!" Maegor cries out with a frustrated look. "I just want to see the other dragons." I smile knowing exactly how he feels.
Dragons are the best after all.