Hey guys I'm not going to complain about life or anything this time but I'm surprised I wrote this chapter so quickly and got it out so soon.
That being said I wanted to ask about a little retcon I was considering for the story. I know that I got the date of Yorbert Royce wrong as I have him dead now when he should still be alive in 101 AC. But I was thinking of making him live. This is so that when he dies instead of Rhea being the next lord of Runestone Aemon will be the next lord without Rhea having to die. He would make Aemon heir considering it would be weird if he named a woman his heir and turned around and voted for Viserys to be heir during the great council.
On the one hand, it gives Aemon a lot more starting resources; on the other hand, he will be much busier and will probably have to spend more time at Runestone, which might not be a bad thing.
Anyway I'm stuck on which to do and this is why I really need to start planning out chapters before I write them but oh well the was a train wreck from the start so I'm just gonna power through it.
A: Retcon so Aemon is named heir and Yorbert is alive in 101 Ac like canon.
B: Keep the current timeline of events
C: Maybe try to figure something else out like Aemon being heir but his mom is his regent right now and Yorbert is still dead
D: Suggest something else
Also speaking of retcons I was thinking of retconning Agaraxes's name but I'm not too sure about that just yet.
Anyways please leave some likes, comments, power stones, and reviews and please enjoy the chapter.
🙏🏾
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101 AC
The Red Keep
First Person POV
Jaehaerys I Targaryen
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I know I'm not "All there" as I was but when I heard Daemon's son speak of Aegon's prophecy I knew it was real. I thought at first mayhaps it was just dreams but now I'm certain. One day that boy will sit on the iron throne. That can only mean that his dream of dragons fighting dragons will come to pass. I have already heard word that the boys' father has been using his drunken escapades to cover some other activities that I'm not sure of.
Meanwhile, lord Corlys's younger brother gathers together the forces of Driftmark in his brother's absence. Mayhaps even by his own brother's order regardless they gather either way. But here I am in the red keep walking through its halls alongside my beloved wife and the boy she loves like her own son. But he's not ours he's Daemon's child even if he doesn't act like it most days.
I've always worried that the boy would turn out like my uncle. Alyssane thought marriage might calm his fire but the boy is a rogue at heart. It's odd how different the child is from his father. The boy is kind and sweet he gives gifts and even at his age has more manners than children twice his age. The only thing he and his father have in common it seems is their skill at song and their love for swords. I remember when I taught Daemon Vhermithor's song. I thought one day he might be the old dragon's new rider alas it seems it wasn't meant to be. Then I thought maybe it would be his child but the boy's egg hatched the night he was born like some sort of sign from the gods.
Just looking at him you can see why the people believe him blessed. Seeing his height and build you would think he was a boy of five. Talking to him you think you're speaking to a young maester at the citadel. His hair is a color so rare that it was even uncommon in the freehold and his eyes are like nothing I've seen before. They're a shade of purple like crystal gems and they almost seem to sparkle when you look straight at them. And the boy doesn't seem to notice but even at his young age the ladies of the court have already taken notice of his looks. I hope he doesn't turn out to be a whore monger like his father. But no doubt his wife shall be a lucky woman indeed. Although the woman will undoubtedly have to swat away other women like flies and guard him like a knight of the bloody gate. Even so, I'm sure she'll find it worthwhile.
Still, the boy is kind unlike his father but is just as energetic. Daemon was always a hyper child and I 'ill-tempered especially after Alyssa left us. He was just like his mother in temperament but as brave as his father. Truly he inherited the hotter blood of his parents. He has both their skill and strategic mind and a more devious nature but only the gods know where he got that from. But as troublesome as Daemon is his boy is still kind. Mayhaps it's all the time he spends with his mother that does it.
I sigh again and turn as we change hallways. I lean heavier into my cane and out of the corner of my eye, I see one of my Kingsguard glance at me to see if I'll fall. But I don't of course I may be old but it'll take more than a long walk to make me fall. Still, the thought of Rhea Royce adds to the burden on our shoulders.
The woman hates our house and rightfully so after all what happened the day Aemonbwas born was uncooth even for us Targaryens. I never would bet on the legitimacy of a child but Baelon and his boys were so angry at the possibility of doing so. I had hoped the word would never have gotten out but it did anyway. Then not only was Daemon a terrible husband to her with all his mockery but the others never even spoke to the woman outside of necessity. At least that was until Aemon visited the capital for the first time and all the women of our family seemed to fall in love with his cuteness. Her relationship with our house is better than it was bet I doubt she'll ever forgive us for the rumors of bastardy that followed her.
Still, it's good she didn't try to keep her boy away from his father's family. Though he has the blood of the first men and lives with his mother's family year round he still has a dragon and will one day be a dragon rider. What a dragon it is as well the little black beast is supposedly growing at a rate far faster than any other. The dragon is growing fast and by the time he is old enough, the boy will have a formidable mount indeed.
That makes three houses with dragons now to worry about. With the hatching of Seasmoke for… ah what was his name again? I ponder it for a few moments as I lift my head as we pass by another painting of something. Then it comes back to me.
Ah yes, the boy's name was Laenor and thanks to him House Velaryon stands to have its own dragon lord one day and possibly more if Maelys lays more eggs. Fortunately or unfortunately the egg of the twin sister… Laena was it? I'm not sure the fog in my head seems to be thicker with each day but I can't let it take my wits not yet the realm still needs me. I blink hard and shake my head although I don't say anything I can feel the eyes of my king's guard on me but I ignore them.
'Back to the matter at hand.' This meal of the whole family isn't just a polite way to gather us in mourning but a way to assess the field. With the child's dream in mind, it only seems more necessary. All hesitation about using Baelon's death this way fades. If this is the first step in proventk g out houses from falling, then so be it.
A sigh leaves my lips at the thought and the conversation between my great-grandson and wife stops as they look to me. I see the concern in the boy's eyes and the worry in my wife's and I know that I must say something that puts them at ease.
"Are you alright my love?" Alysanne asks me but I know there's no time for a true answer. Besides even now in these dark times the realm still needs a king it still needs me to step up. Sometimes it feels that the burden of the seven kingdoms will never be lifted from my shoulders and I'll be stuck in the role of king eternally.
"Yes I'm just tired my love a good meal should fix it," I say as convincingly as I can but I know no meal can fix this feeling in my chest. I wear the years harder than I ever have before I feel them more too. Age has done its work and I can now feel the strength of my youth and prime leaving my body more and more than ever.
I sigh even now the crown lies heavy upon my head. I cannot even rest to truly mourn my son. My son my Brave Baelon gone from the world far too soon. Just like his brother, the thought of him cracks something in my heart every time. I could even say his name in the presence of Daemons' son his own namesake. I shudder to even think it sometimes. My boy was out there far away on the Sapphire Isle of Tarth. Struck by an arrow that wasn't even meant for him by some random Myrish pirate. Gone just like that a boy I raised and loved and was so proud of. He would have made a great king even better than I am. I've lost so many people in my life and yet I remain.
My first babe my Aegon died only three days after he was born. My sweet girl Daenerys fell to the shivers in just a day and a half. Daella and Alyssa both died in the birthing bed. Viserra the beautiful girl died in a fall from a stupid horse while having reckless fun. Maegelle my kind daughter died from grey scale while nursing sick children to health. Gaemon and Valerion both died before their first name days. Then Geal my poor Geal words and thoughts cannot convey how much I wish I could have stopped her.
I wish I knew what I've done to have such a tragedy visit my family over and over again. Why do the gods curse me to take away all my family? First my father then my brothers and sisters then my children all taken from me and for what? To claim a throne to wear a crown that weighed heavily than most of them would ever know? They're all gone and now it's just my Alysanne. Thank the gods they haven't taken her too. I've given my life my blood my sweat and my tears to the realm to the kingdom and to the iron throne. I've lost all but one of my children and I've fought tooth and nail to keep this realm together. I've ruled longer than any other Targaryen king longer than my father or my grandfather or that usurper Maegor. But soon my time as king of the seven kingdoms will come to an end.
Another sigh escapes me but then it turns into a cough. Before I can stop it another comes but the coughing cuts off before it can become a fit. My guards come near me and Alyssane turns to me with worry but I wave them away assuring my wife, the boy, and my guards that I'm fine. That I require no
maester this day but just a hardy meal and some water and maybe a spot of wine. It is only then that the feeling truly hits me that my time in this world will soon come to an end. That is fine all I need to do is make sure that it is left in the right hands. That I can pass my crown to someone who will truly carry on the legacy of our house of our family into the future a brighter future a better future for all of us.
When I am gone all my work will be done and I will finally be able to rest my only regret will be that I shall leave behind my dearest wife. But when I do a new king shall rise in my place but if that's going to happen. Then whatever divides whatever potential dangers lie waiting for us I was routing them out now whilst I still have time. I must choose a successor and heir to my throne but how I know not perhaps I shall need another opinion. I know what my wife will suggest and I know that I shall disagree.
And there is one more whom I still would converse with the only member of our family who will not be attending our meal this morning. My son my last son Vaegon. Surely he will have some insight as to what to do and how to do it. I'll have to summon him as I'll be unable to make the trip for obvious reasons. But I'd summon him to the capital even if I could make the trip myself anyway. I'll have to put the matter aside for now however as we've finally reached our destination.
I stand beside my wife our descendant our great grandson one of many fruits of our love between us. Yet I cannot help but feel as though there should have been so many more such great-grandchildren. As the great door opens to the dining hall we proclaim our names to it waiting occupants who all remain standing until I sit. And as I do I finally feel like I have slightly lifted the burden of being a king from my shoulders.
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The next chapter is breakfast and after that it's the funeral on Dragonstone. Maybe I should start planning how u want to do the great council as well I don't know. 🤷🏾♂️