Prologue
Pairing: TBD
Warnings: Cursing, death of characters, medieval and asoiaf customs, death at childbirth
Wordcount: 5.2 k
Notes: Alright, this is the prologue, from here on out, you'll have to make choices and those choices will lead you to different chapters, do not read the chapters in order from the masterlist (when I upload them), they won't make any sense! jeje HAVE FUN!
Year 106 A.C
The night had fallen over King’s Landing, and it found three Targaryens sitting in the small council’s chambers, the King, Viserys, and his two brothers, Daemon and Aegon Targaryen.
“I made my decision”, he said shortly, “I know who I am to marry”, both younger brothers shared concerned looks at his Brother’s words, this was not to be taken lightly.
“Well?”, mocked Daemon
“The Lady Alicent Hightower”, he said slowly. They both tried to remain calm, but failed, miserably.
“I think marrying Alicent Hightower is a mistake brother”, the youngest said, exasperated
“And why would that be?”, asked Viserys, mockingly
“BECAUSE OTTO IS A CUNT!”, grunted both brothers as the same time, Viserys looked at his brothers alternatively, and then sighed loudly as he slumped on his chair of the small council chambers, “and she is your daughter’s best friend”, continued Aegon
“So?”, he asked
“YOUR DAUGHTER’S FRIEND!”, he repeated
“Is it because you want to marry her, don’t you?”, he mocked, and Aegon shutted his mouth, it was, one of the main reasons…
He hadn't courted her, but he was thinking about it, Otto was an intelligent man, a powerful one, he had served as hand and very well, but now that his brother was a widower, it was dangerous, he was going to put his daughter under his eyes, if he hadn't already, there must be a reason why Viserys wanted to marry the girl. Alicent was a sweet girl, he could see her, cute too… the idea didn’t dislike him, and if he got betrothed to her, he could wait a couple more years until she was ready.
There was an uncomfortable silence
Daemon was looking at his younger brother, and Aegon refused to look back, he didn’t want to make Viserys feel like they were somewhat plotting against him, that there was something between them that he wasn’t in on.
“I think is better for both of you to do your duties to the realm”, the King said finally, and Aegon snapped
“You are going to send me away?”, he asked enraged, “only because I gave my opinion?”
“No…”
“I took you for many things brother, a tyrant isn’t one of them”
“You will marry lady Cerenna Lannister as discussed”, he continued
“But she is a Lannister!”, he complained
“The eldest sister of Jason and Tyland”, he continued, Aegon sighed
“I’ve never even seen her”, he grunted, Daemon chuckled, and Aegon slide him with an angry look
“And you, return to your wife in the Vale”, and then Aegon barked out a laugh.
“Brother, if you really meant on having Rhaenyra as heir, you can’t marry anyone else, you can’t have more children”, he said then
“What I do, is my business alone, you both, if you like your posts in the privy council and in court, will do as I say”, he said, pleased with himself, “it is clear to me now that Otto is right, you are both marryless, childless, you had not performed your duty to this House, to this family”, now both brothers shared concerned looks, “I’m trusting you to strengthen the House of the Dragon”.
The relation between Aegon and Viserys was complicated, the latter trusted and confided in his baby brother, so much so, Aegon now felt the liberty to contradict him, the King, he needed to put him back in his place.
“Yes your grace”, muttered Aegon, Daemon only watched the interaction, amused, “tomorrow at first light, I shall go to Casterly Rock to initiate courtship of the Lady Lannister”
Viserys nodded, pleased, Daemon couldn’t stop looking at him.
The King stood up from his seat and left his two brothers in the small council chamber, they shared concerned looks
Aegon stood up and directed himself to the table on one side, pouring himself a cup of wine for himself and one for his brother
“Arbour?”, asked Daemon as he received the cup, looking up at his baby brother
“Yeah”, he took his seat at the other side of the table, and drank in silence.
“You are going to let a Hightower marry our brother, the King?”, asked Daemon
“Well, is not that I can command him Daemon…”, they were interrupted, even though it was the higher hours of the night already, “I have clearly failed to see the closeness between them, he acted faster than I thought”
As he had been summoned, Otto Hightower himself entered the chamber.
“I was not notified of a council meeting”, he said, with a shit-eating grin on his face
“This wasn’t a council meeting, Otto”, Aegon was a skilled diplomat, only him could make a name sound as the most vile of insults
“This is a private meeting”, grumbled Daemon, Aegon just chuckled softly. The smile got wiped out of the Hand’s face.
“If it's something of importance to the Kingdom I should have been made aware”, he said slowly, like he was speaking to children.
“Exactly, it's our brother’s duty to whistle up his dog, not ours”, Daemon said simply, both brothers stood up and walked away from the privy council meeting room, leaving The Hand alone.
Small pleasures the brothers could still give themselves.
“What you lack in politics, brother, I lack in swordfight experience”, chuckled Aegon, making his sibling laugh too.
They decided to leave the Keep, after all, it was a known fact that walls had ears, and the brothers were not interested in being spied on tonight. They walked until the street of silk, where the most “respectable” establishments were, once they selected one, or rather Dameon did, they were quick to take a seat and order Ale
“Never thought he had it in him”, muttered Aegon, as he sipped his beer
“Have what?”, he asked
“Be a cunt”, he growled, Daemon only chuckled
“Yeah, tell me about it”, he murmured, “She is a Hightower brat, and yet, you wanted to be the one to marry her, you don’t fool me”
“Otto has had his eye on me for years”, he muttered, “but now, after our sweet Queen’s passing, he realised he can have the King of the seven kingdoms”, he whispered, “I can control Otto, our brother? not so much”, Daemon hummed, approving of his brother’s words
“Are you really going to Casterly Rock tomorrow?”, he asked, Aegon barely nodded
“I will do my duty, we cannot fall from our brother’s grace, not right now Daemon”, his brother nodded again
“I will go back to my bronze bitch then”, he giggled, sipping on his cup
“Yeah, sure”, the other mocked. Daemon offered his cup in a gesture to toast
“To the women we love and marry”, he said openly, Aegon met him half way, ”may they never met”, dropping ale everywhere making them laugh. The brothers stayed at the bar sharing stories and drinks, but soon it wasn't enough for Daemon
“Let me invite you to a treat”, Daemon said as he stood from the table, and walked towards the double doors at the end of the tavern
“No thanks brother, I wouldn’t like for my cock to fall off before my wedding night”, he mocked, standing from the table too, if he wanted to go when the day broke, he had to sleep well tonight
The last thing Aegon heard was Daemon’s laugh before the double doors closed after his brother.
. . .
He rose with the sun, even though he had only a couple of hours of sleep.
He got dressed slowly, making sure he was wearing his best riding attire, he was going on dragon back, but again, he was going to court a lady. He wondered if he needed to go with an escort, with his house, servants and soldiers.
The girl was a Lannister, of course she was going to expect fanfare, opulence and regality. But his dragon would have to suffice.
He grabbed his sword and was ready to depart. The Keep had risen already, servants and guards all doing their rounds. They greeted him as they saw him walk by.
But it wasn’t until he left Maegor’s Holdfast that he felt two skinny arms surrounding him.
“Don’t leave me uncle!”, said Rhaenyra, hugging his midsection tightly, “please”, Aegon smiled softly, caressing the top of her head, and her back softly
“You are going to be fine, little one”
“Please”, she begged, separating herself from him to look up at his face. Aegon thought she didn’t even know yet the betrayal looming over her, about her best friend and her father.
“Is what my King asks of me”, he said softly, they separated, and Aegon grabbed her shoulders softly to be able to gaze into her eyes, “I’m only a dragon ride away”, he whispered as he winked.
Rhaenyra felt like she was losing her ally, her protector, and an uncle and friend.
“I will be soon back, to marry here in the capital, under the King’s watchful eyes”, he said gently, she nodded, “I’ll expect you there, of course”, that seemed to please the princess, who nodded enthusiastically
With a nod of his head, and accompanied by guards, he left the Red Keep on horseback, followed by guards, in the direction of the dragonpit, where his mount awaited him.
The city was barely awakening, and yet the people who crossed his path nodded in his direction and greeted him
A thousand thoughts ran through his head, he had never courted anyone before, he did have his paramours, he had playfully flirted with ladies at court, yet he had never dared to make anything official.
And now he was on his way to court his future wife.
He waited patiently as the dragon masters brought him his dragon Karnax, born to him on his crib, the great white beast roared in excitement as he came up the ramp and saw his rider waiting for him.
He took a long breath, to focus on the fly ahead. He enjoyed flying on his dragon, it cleared his head, it made him feel free and powerful.
The flight to Casterley Rock was long, he had to stop along the way. But two days later he saw the biggest structure in the entire continent. Casterly Rock.
He made Karnax land near the stone bridge that led to the entrance of the huge fortress.
He was not surprised to realize the Lannisters were waiting for him at the gates.
The prince had never been to the huge castle, and to his amazement he realized that the castle was built into the rock itself, no only sitting at the top as many had described it, it was massive, greater than The Wall in the North, and the young prince could begin to understand why the Lannisters had gained the right to be as prideful as the Lion in their sigil.
He was met by the acting Lady of Casterly Rock Ceira Lanniser, flanked by his twin sons Jason and Tyland.
“I’m Prince Aegon, of House Targaryen”, he said loudly, bowing his head to the welcoming house, “son of Baelon and Alyssa Targaryen, and brother to King Viserys, and I’m here to court the Lady Cerenna”, he said
“It took you long enough”, said the older woman sharply, making him flinch, “we have been waiting a year, my eldest daughter had been waiting”, it was a true biting at the Prince’s heel, but it was too late now to correct that, he was here now and had to be enough.
“I’m truly sorry”, he finally said, “I'm here now”, she only hummed, clearly not pleased but he could see she was not going to refuse him, with just one gesture of her hand, guards moved around the group.
They led him through the gates inbeded in the rock, and he was inmediatly faced with a huge hall, that it was as big as ostentacious as he could only dream off. the tall walls dressed in tapestries telling the tale of the House from even before the conquest, and exquisite furniture bathed in gold leafs.
“The Lady Cerenna of house Lannister” a soldier presented, he looked up, and from a balcony on the second floor, there she appeared, like the figure of the maiden in human form. Golden curls fell down from her beautiful head, deep green eyes looked down at him, she was dressed in Lannister Red with golden jewelry adorning her neck. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
He released the breath he had been holding, as he seemed to forget how to breathe at all
When he saw her for the first time, he truly believed this is how those who had claimed adult dragons must have felt. He felt incredibly nervous, but excited in equal measure
“My Lady”, he greeted, bowing again, “I’m here, humbly to ask for your hand in marriage”, he only looked at him, he was sweaty, his hair messy from the flight here, he was wearing his riding gear, and he smelled like dragon, he looked back at her, at her face who seem to be made of marble.
Then she gave him a smile that branded his heart with fire.
“Yes, this one will do”, she said simply.
. . .
Only one week was neccesary for the courtship, before they decided to marry in King’s Landing.
Due to Aegon’s political responsabilities and the Lannister’s own political ambitions, the couple decided to stay in the capital after the extravagant wedding, where Aegon could still participate in the small council’s meetings and the life at court.
Year 115 A.C
Aegon watched the sun hiding in the sunset sea, and then he looked down at his arms where his daughter was sleeping in his arms, the baby was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. She seemed to have a golden halo around her tiny head, big rosy round cheeks, she was as beautiful as her mother.
“Look, the sun shines for you”, he murmured, kissing her forehead. “my golden princess”, he said with an adoring voice. He turned to look at his wife, still in the bed. She was looking at the scene with a tired smile, she was so pale…
“Try not to spoil her so much”, she whispered. It had taken them nine years to finally gave birth to their child, a little girl. When Cerenna finally got pregnant, they moved back to Casterly Rock, far from schemes from court, from sharp tongues that had treated Cerenna poorly.
“Impossible”, he said, “she has already wrapped me around her little finger”, she chuckled, but also a pained whine followed her amusement. “Just like her beautiful mother”, she smiled at the love she knew her husband held for her, she loved him back as fiercely and in equal measure.
“Aegon”, she called, “take care of her”
“With my life”, he said, so happy, he was missing what was truly happening, his gaze was lost on his daughter, but when he looked back at the bed, Cerenna had closed her eyes.
“Cerenna?”, he called
But he got no answer.
. . .
Daemon descended from his mount Caraxes, on top of the Rock, to find his brother Aegon waiting for him. dressed head to toe in black, and a disturbed look on his face.
“Brother”, it was like a cry for help. Daemon was quick to encounter his brother and engulfed him on a tight hug. “I lost her”, he whined on his brother’s ear, “she died”
“I’m sorry”, he said, when they finally parted
“But she gave me a beautiful daughter”, he said with a sad smile
“I know…”, he said, “and I brought you something”, only then he noticed he was carrying a bag, and from within, came a black dragon egg. Daemon offered it to him with reverence, and he took it with the admiration such a gift deserved.
“My daughter is a Lannister”, he said carefully, knowing fully well his brother’s sentiment for the golden lion house.
“Your daughter is a Targaryen”, he said back
“Thank you”, he whispered.
Daemon, despite his best instincts, stayed at Casterly Rock to support his baby brother.
“9 years we waited to be blessed by the gods with a child”, he said sadly, “and when they did, I lost my wife”, he whispered, his voice choking with tears, “I should have stopped trying… I should have…”
“There is nothing you could have done, and there was no way of you knowing”, Daemon whispered.
“I did the same thing Viserys did”, he lamented, only in the comfort and privacy of his study, “forced my wife to bare children until it killed her”
He knew it wasn’t true, Cerenna wanted a child as much as he did. And there have no traumatic miscarriages or stillbirths, she just never got pregnant until his daughter.
“It is done,” said Daemon, “you have a daughter now and that is all that matters”, he said.
When Aegon woke the next morning, the first thing he did was check onto his baby daughter, and chuckled in relief when he saw a small dragon in her crib, the small creature was black as coal, his skin looked like it had been bathed in lamp oil, he was coiled around his daughter, his tiny head cuddling her cheek, both sleeping like they were born together.
After the appropriate period of mourning, Casterly Rock decided to celebrate the birth of their little lady, and the birth of a dragon in the crib of a Lannister
Since prince Aegon married Cerenna Lannister, and not only that, but that he had decided to take residence on Casterly Rock, the Lannisters could not hold their boast, their ego was soaring, not only they had a little princess, they had Aegon Targaryen.
Ceira Lannister found Aegon in his study, his gaze lost in the flames
“Are you going to go back to King’s Landing?”, she asked him, her hands clasped in front of her
“I do not know”, he whispered without looking at her
“Don’t take her”, she whispered, then Aegon looked back at her, his mother by law had never asked him for nothing, demanded maybe. “I lost my daughter”, she said, her voice almost cracked… almost, “I don’t want to loose my grandaughter”
“I will not leave my child”, he said with a sharp voice
“Stay here then”, she said, “you know we cannot pass Casterly Rock to her before Jason or Tyland, but…”
“I’ll be called back to King’s Landing”, he whispered sadly, “my brother needs me”
“You need your brother now, and where is he?”, she said bitterly, “you had stayed there at court, concerted marriages, you are the arquitect of your family and it has thrived under your design and yet… they left you alone when you needed them the most”, Aegon looked at her, “she will be better here, under our care, under our family”
She know she was right, Lannister might be seen as prideful, egotistical and entitled, but to their own they were incredibly fierce and loyal.
“You know that we wanted to pass Casterly Rock to your male heir, and we know that is not possible now… yet…Don’t take her”, she begged, “you can stay here if you wish”, Aegon barely nodded. She might be right.
He was married to Cerenne to stablish a tight relationship fromt he Lannisters to the House of the Dragon, if he left now and took his child, the alliance could crumble.
“She will be raised here”, he sentenced, looking back at the flames
There was an understanding to change the line of succession of Casterly Rock to Cerenna, if and when she gave birth to a son.
But she was a girl.
. . .
Year 120 A.C
Five years later, the Prince, counseled by his brother Daemon, decided to take a trip to King’s Landing, where he had an audience with his brother King Viserys.
He was kept in the loop of what was happening in the capital; his brother, this same year as his daughter, had received the gift of a second son, who he named Aemond, and third child with the Queen. And then she gave birth to a fourth child, another boy.
Aegon though the last five years had been travelling back and forth, yet never returning to court, and he did not leave his daughter longer than a few weeks, having a dragon let him travel easily between both countries.
“It’s been a long time”, is the first thing Viserys said when he got him alone
“I did my duty to you, brother”, he said simply, “Doing my duties as Warden of the West, keeping the alliance with the Lannisters strong…”
“Yes you have,”, he said pleased, “And yet, you didn’t bring the princess with you?”, he asked
“I did not”, he said, “and I wish to return to her, as soon as possible”, the King smiled sadly at his younger brother’s words.
“I wish to have you by my side”, he said, “it’s been five years now since the passing of Cerenna”
“Yet I’m a father now”, he fought, he nodded. “I’m needed there”
“Daemon has married the Lady Laena Velaryon”, he said softly, “and Rhaenyra Harwin Strong, as you had insisted upon, and has her children, it’s been five years, maybe its time for you to take another wife”, Aegon looked at his brother like he just insulted him
“You seek me to sell me again? to whom? maybe the Starks this time? Tullys?”, King Viserys felt shame, and looked down at the table.
“It is not how I meant it”, he said softly, “I wish for you to find happiness again, to have heirs”
“I have my heir”, he said simply.
“A boy, that can carry the name…”
“We have three of those”, he said mindlesly, “many dragons are as adangerous as few”, a akward silence grew in the King’s private chambers.
“I’ve been told that your daughter has hatched a dradon herself”, he said then
“It’s a stange creture”, Aegon answered, a smile breaking on his face, “lean and black, as a dragon glass spear”, he whispered, “she makes strange noises, like the ones of a bird”, the she dragon was a strange mixture between Caraxes and Sunfyre, lean, oily black sin, delicate looking, yet the creature was as fierce as the bloodwyrm
“I need you back at court, brother”, Viserys said then. He understood his words, his brother was feeling lonely, he needed his siblings.
“I do not wish to come to court permanently, but, you have me and my allegiance, you always had”
“Rhaenyra is going to be Queen one day, and even though I made all Lords and Ladies from the greater houses bow to her, I fear it will not be enough…”
“If you had the balls to marry your daughter’s best friend and have not only one but two male heirs, brother, have the balls to name Aegon Heir!”, he said with greeted teeth. Ceira was right, yes his brother was King, yet he was seeking to use him, not caring for what he truly wished, he understood it though, “groom him to succeed you, let Rhaenyra live her life in peace”
“Rhaenyra is my heir”, he said shaking his head
“Look me in the eyes and say it again”, he said, and Viserys raised his head and looked at his baby brother in the eyes
“Rhaenyra is my heir”, he said, “it’s Aemma’s blood, my blood, your blood”, Aegon then nodded
“Very well”, he said decisively, “I will support you, and her, and I will do anything in my power to protect you and her inheritance, I will put all my efforts in making your will stand even after you are gone”, Viserys face lit up, to have his brother by his side, and the knowledge that he was going to be there to protect his daughter, was everything to him, meant the world. Because Viserys believed that Aegon could make his will stand
King Viserys hid his hand, who was already lacking two fingers, under the table.
“How is your daughter?”
“She is well”, he said simply, with a soft smile.
“You should bring her to court”, he said, but he did not like the smile on his brother’s face
“She is too young still”, he said, “too innocent for the schemes and lies”, he said dismissively, “in Casterly Rock she can play, and breathe fresh air and fly around as she pleases”, he said simply. “she is the Lady of the castle”, he chuckled, “despite Jason’s complains”
“Is she now?”, he asked lightly.
“Ceira absolutly adores her, and she still is with good health despite her age, she won’t let the girl out of her sight”, Viserys hummed, pleased, “there was a hunt some moons ago, Tyland and Jason had cornered a Lioness, and brought her two cubs”
“Lion cubs”
“They sleep in her bed, she cuddles them and had made golden collars for them”, Viserys chuckles. “She convinced Jason to train them as companions for battles”
“Battles”, the King whispered, looking at the table.
“Of course, Onixa, her dragon, wasn’t pleased”
“Onixa”, Viserys paladated the name
“It was that name… or Coalflake”, he hummed, Viserys laughed, “Onixa lived in my daughters chambers until they had to carve a bigger doorframe because she didn’t fit anymore”, he said lightly with a silly smile on his face.
“A spoiled little dragon”, Aegon wasn’t sure if his brother meant Onixa or his daughter, but both deserved said tittle.
“One day when she is older, I will bring her to court, but… not yet”, he said, and it was a promise.
When Aegon came back from that trip, he had to face said dragon… the cubs had grown big and they were training their teeth… with her daughter dresses, bedding and furniture and had to be taken to the woods.
. . .
Year 133 A.C
Your father entered your rooms after being anounced by your guard, and found you sitting in front of your mirror in your vanity, you had just dismissed your ladies who had helped you getting ready for the day ahead, your were braiding your hair, as you insisted on doing yourself, and you wanted to take a short flight in Onixa before supper.
“Father”, you murmured, finishing the braid.
“How did you do on your lessons?”, he asked, he looked, concerned, but not with you, so you guessed he had received news from the capital… which wasn’t odd these days.
“I won, again”, you said simply, the lessons in which he spoke off, consisted in you sitting with your uncle and grandfather, and play games of strategy and war. “Jason’s pridefullness is not fun anymore, it starts to become dangerous”, you said lightly, smiling at your father through the mirror.
“You inherited your mother’s wits”, he said with a smile, “she beat him too in numerous ocassions”, a pride of your own made you smile, feeling your cheeks heated.
“Did you need to tell me something father?”, you asked. He sat on the edge of the bed, close to you.
“My brother, King Viserys, has summoned us to court”, he said, and it wasn’t the first time. What was different now though, was the sense of finality.
“Us?”, you asked, that truly peeked your interest, turning on your chair to look at your father.
“He is gravely sick, and with Rhaenyra still being appointed as his heir, they need me there permanently, to make sure his wishes come true”, he explained, you hummed your understanding.
“It also occurred to me that I must find you a husband”, he said shortly, waiting for your reaction, and he saw what you felt, excitement, and yet, a bit of fear, “you are eight and ten now”
“I know”, you whispered, gripping the back of the chair, expecting
“I have received offers for your hand, and I was considering, with Jason’s permission to have lords come here to court you, yet, as we have been summoned to King’s Landing, we might just killed two birds with one stone”, he said, you always adored how your father would make you part of the process, about his thinking, about his decision making, and yet you didn’t know what to say. He saw your hesitation, “King’s Landing can be dangerous”, he continued
“It’s the royal court, one would think its the safest place”, you tried to lighten the mood, and you succeeded
“The dangers I speak of are of treasons, schemes and betrayals”, he said, “you’ll come to find that court is a battlefield of its own”, he said, you hummed, “you’ll need to find allies, and identify really quickly who might desire your downfall”
“I’m just a girl”, you said with a chuckle
“You are the niece of a King, a Lannister, heir on your own right to fortunes that could buy armies of a hundred thousand soldiers, and my child a Targaryen princess”, he finished, “you are a beautiful young girl who is seeking for a husband, every single lord will seek your hand”, he said, and chuckled when he looked at you and your horrified face, “I will not leave you, I will be by your side at every step of the way”, he whispered. “You will be able to make your choice of husband”, he completed. “Including, meeting your family, Rhaenyra is returning as well, with her eldest son Jacaerys”, he said then, “and there is also your cousins, Aegon and Aemond…”
“Daeron is in Old Town”, you completed, your father nodded, even though you never met them, you knew where they were.
“I also summoned the heir to Winterfell”, your father himself had to interve a couple of years ago, they had tried to usurp the Capital of the North, the own uncle of the true heir. “Dorne is showing up… the other great families…”
It was a lot to internalize in a short amount of time. An invitation, that sounded more like a challenge to war, and yet as such you were excited, the prospect of seeing who were your friends and who were your foes, and to finally meet your family.
“I see”, you answered
“You don’t have to come with me if you don’t want to”, he said then
“But it was a royal command”, you said with a laugh
“There is perks to being the brother of the king”, he said lightly, you hummed truly considering the possibilities.
“If you don’t want to come with me, and prefer to stay here, I will go answer the King’s call, I will hold audiences for the Lords who want to court you, and send some here”, he said, “I need to get you married before you turn nine and ten”
“I understand father”, you said with a soft smile
Even though the thought of going to the capital, to the royal court, excited you with no measure, there was also a feeling of unease in your chest.
Would you go to King’s Landing with your father?
If you want to go with your father, go to chapter “King’s Landing”
If you prefer to stay at home, go to chapter “Casterly Rock ”