South of King's Landing, north of Blackwater Bay, lay a vast, dense forest, which had stood on the continent of Westeros for millennia, untouched by large-scale logging. Viserys was amazed as he gazed at a giant tree that required dozens of men to encircle. And yet, such trees were commonplace in the forest. He couldn't help but marvel at the abundance of forestry resources in this world of ice and fire.
The seasons and plants here possessed a fantastical quality. Some trees bloomed and bore fruit in early summer, hanging heavily from their green branches. Some fruits had already fallen, crushed beneath the hooves of horses and travelers, releasing a scent of fermentation. As the hunting grounds of the Targaryen kings throughout the ages, the Kingswood had seen the construction of roads in its early days, resembling a main artery through the forest, wide enough for several rows of cavalry to ride abreast and also for the carriages of nobles to enjoy.
The bandit-hunting team did not openly announce their objective, merely appearing as if they were passing through from the north. In those days, it was a common occurrence for noble lords to lead their knights to the capital to carry out various missions or participate in tournaments. As soon as the fifty or so men left King's Landing, they were targeted and trailed: don't misunderstand, not by bandits, but by the girls who plied their trade.
They didn't follow too closely, planning to make their move when the knights camped.
Viserys, curious, turned his head to look, but was immediately grabbed by his brother's hand, forcing him to turn back and sit up straight. On this trip, he was of course positioned in front of Rhaegar, riding the same horse as his brother. The Crown Prince's arms held him firmly, protecting him on the horse.
Viserys had questions about the camp followers, but he didn't dare ask for now. He was afraid his brother would get angry and beat him, so he decided to focus on what was ahead.
The horses' hooves steadily trod the road. Golden sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves. Startled elk leaped away, and birds sang. The forest before him seemed like a golden amber, and Viserys nestled against the person closest to him in the world, listening to his even breathing, feeling that this time was incredibly happy.
"I'll take you hunting with me in the future," Rhaegar promised, sensing his brother's love for the forest.
"Fantastic!" Viserys leaned back, wanting to lean against his brother—but he immediately realized his hair was caught. To protect his younger brother from an attack, Rhaegar had put on black armor. This exquisitely crafted protective armor was adorned with three dragons inlaid with rubies and gold to highlight the prince's noble status. His slender silver hair was caught among them.
"Don't move," Rhaegar soothed him, his slender fingers touching his head, carefully trying to untangle it—the movements were so delicate, the force so perfect, and the breath he exhaled swept like a feather, causing Viserys to feel a tingling sensation at the back of his neck. The Crown Prince could play the harp and was also skilled at holding a sword and spear; his fingers actually had calluses. Those slightly rough touches made him swallow his saliva. He thought, far from the point, his brother was also in good shape, Lyanna was really a lucky woman! No, even Princess Elia, sharing a bed with him was a great deal.
After untangling his tangled hair, Rhaegar pulled out the dragon tooth bone clip from his head and quickly combed and secured it for his younger brother. The entire process was done on horseback, yet as steady as if he were in a suite in Maegor's Holdfast.
His brother was so good to him. Viserys silently swore again that even if he went through fire and water, even if he went to hell, he would not let the rubies on this armor spill onto the Trident River's beach.
Their cavalry formation advanced deep into the forest. Rhaegar saw the sky darkening and ordered them to prepare for camping and rest. The Kingsguard knights could set up tents and sleep on the ground by the campfire, and the camp prostitutes would also come over to do business. Rhaegar himself had no objections to this custom, but for the sake of his young brother, he wanted to find a nearby farmer's cottage to give Viserys a bed to sleep on and to isolate him from unnecessary curiosity and seeing what he shouldn't.
Yes, there were still commoners living in the Kingswood. Their wooden houses were in some sunny spots, adjacent to water sources.
Soon, a small cottage in the forest, covered with green vines, appeared in sight. One of the Kingsguard, Barristan, went forward to inspect. He found the house empty, but there was neatly stacked firewood, basic necessities, and half a fresh deer hanging under the eaves... But every plant and animal in the forest belonged to the King, and such behavior by the commoners was equivalent to theft and would be put to death.
He came back and informed the two princes. The owner probably saw a large group of cavalry coming and thought they were going to arrest him, so he ran away in fear and hid in the dense forest.
Rhaegar produced two Gold Dragons, placing them in a visible spot as a gesture of comfort to the poor soul. He intended to bring his younger brother inside to stay the night.
Viserys was excited. His elder brother led him through the slightly ajar door. Viserys looked around, noticing something had been hung on the wooden wall, but it was now gone. He looked at the empty cylinder below, filled with feather fragments similar to those used in his own archery. He asked his brother if the previous occupant had taken their bow and arrows, preparing for defense.
Rhaegar approvingly stroked his head, telling his brother that judging by the wound on the half-eaten deer hanging outside, it was indeed an archer, and a skilled one at that.
Living here, not paying taxes, and disobeying the orders of the nobles of the original fiefdom, managing to survive stubbornly, Rhaegar had no intention of capturing and harming such a person. But... was he really alone? He had already seen some clues from the hanging deer.
The Crown Prince still chose this cabin as their headquarters for the night. "The knights will guard the surroundings, someone has gone to the stream to fetch water, you can even take a hot bath today," he carefully arranged the details for his younger brother.
"Are you going to take off your armor, brother? I can wipe it for you!" Viserys's eyes sparkled.
The Crown Prince smiled.
The heaviest chest armor and back armor could be removed when the knights rested. Viserys finally got his wish and hugged the piece of metal with the Ruby three-headed Dragons, rubbing it against his face.
"What is this made of? Valyrian Steel?"
Rhaegar was wiping his face with a linen cloth. He patiently explained to his younger brother: Valyrian Steel was forged with dragonfire and rumored to incorporate magic. Thus, the metal was light, never rusted, and would never break. The swords made from it were incredibly sharp, and the one he held was from the royal collection. Steel swords weren't the rarest thing on the continent, but gathering all the Valyrian Steel weapons treasured by the various houses might be enough to forge a suit of armor.
"If only brother could have a set like that," Viserys still yearned. "Light and strong, brother would be much more comfortable wearing it."
Rhaegar's eyes were filled with tenderness. He picked up a new linen cloth to wash his brother's hair himself. He carefully poured water of a suitable temperature onto the small, silver-haired head and heard Viserys mumble, "I will find Valyrian Steel in the future. No matter where I have to go."
He frowned slightly, imagining his most beloved brother leaving King's Landing, leaving his family – and leaving the protection of his own elder brother – to venture out on his own. He felt a little gloomy and uncomfortable. But this day would come sooner or later; it was essential for a knight's growth. Rhaegar said nothing, only carefully helping his brother wash up.
The group of people on the bandit suppression mission brought sufficient food, including meat and bread, and, at Viserys's request, paired it with ingredients like onions. In fact, as a place rich in prey resources, the knights wouldn't be short of food in the forest.
A bonfire was lit, and simple tents were set up. The large pot was filled with meat and vegetables seasoned with spices, and the aroma filled the air. Barristan drank a large bowl and laughed, saying it was also a kind of brown stew. He looked at Arthur beside him, who was watching the two brothers sitting in front of the fire.
Viserys, his hair still wet and disheveled, ate heartily. Rhaegar was cutting the roasted rabbit leg meat with a small knife, piece by piece, and feeding it to him. The Crown Prince didn't even care about himself, seemingly completely absorbed in feeding his brother. He was careful, pointing the sharp blade of the knife towards himself after cutting the meat, while Viserys's teeth and tongue were nimble, his small white teeth biting and pulling. The way he ate reminded Barristan of a young dragon in the legends, and he felt that the roasted meat in his hand tasted even better.
"Great!" Viserys, who had quickly finished eating, rubbed his belly, giggling as he grabbed his brother's hand. "My turn to practice cutting the meat, brother!"
Rhaegar cautiously handed him his own dagger. The little prince showed a good feel for the knife, following the general direction of the leg bone to cut off a piece of meat, which he then offered to his brother's lips.
Just like before, he also held the blade towards himself. His round, purple eyes watched his brother, and when he nodded in approval, Viserys was as happy as if he'd eaten honey.
"See? They truly are a pair of brothers who love each other," Arthur said softly. "The little prince loves his brother. The Crown Prince loves his younger brother as well."
He paused, then added, "It's a pity, not a princess."
"In any case, they are a good thing for the royal family," Barristan sighed. "May the Blackfyre Rebellion and the Dance of the Dragons never happen again."
Yes, what a wonderful future it would be if the kingdom had two wise and intelligent princes! However, both Kingswood Knights knew that reality was always crueler than ideals, and sometimes, the people gathered around the two princes would cunningly push for waves, stirring up trouble. The future was long, but the scene of the two princes that night was later recounted by Barristan and recorded in the White Book of the Kingsguard, which caused later generations to study it.
On the bed in the wooden cabin, Viserys, protected by his brother, slept soundly. In his dreams, he saw his brother's coronation: in front of the Great Sept, all the gods couldn't compare to the new king's demeanor. Rejecting the exaggerated Gold Dragon crown of Aerys, Rhaegar chose a low-key Crown of Seven Jewels, properly placed between his eyebrows. How handsome he was!
He wore a purple and gold cloak, with flowing silver hair, and the Silver Prince had become the Silver King of legend. He looked ahead, and the cheers of King's Landing surged like a roaring ocean. The people who loved him paid homage like a tsunami, and the king returned their greetings. Everything was perfect, but why did his brother's eyes still hold a hint of melancholy, a hidden longing?
The little prince reached out to his brother – and grasped at empty air.
He woke up. Reliving the aftertaste of the dream where Rhaegar had become king, Viserys rubbed his eyes, "Brother?"
There was a noisy clamor outside, but his brother wasn't there. He yawned and went outside to take a look.
Rhaegar's back was handsome and upright, standing in front of a bonfire. Viserys naturally walked over, took his brother's slightly cool hand, and pressed it affectionately against his cheek.
Rhaegar gently stroked his hair. The little prince perked up and looked at a group of attendants.
It turned out that Jaime, who led the night patrol, had caught a sneaky person nearby. He subdued the person and brought them before the prince for questioning.
Viserys took a look under the torchlight, and exclaimed! Golden hair, it was a woman! And, she was a Cersei look-alike, a very beautiful, fair-skinned beauty!
A camp follower? Or…
Anyway, no matter her identity, Jaime, who only had his sister in his eyes, was dismissive. He clearly explained why she wasn't like ordinary businesswomen, which made Viserys appreciate him a little.
※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※
Rhaegar thought his brother was pure. In fact, he was just overthinking things.