Chapter 60
VISERYS TARGARYEN
It was his first time visiting the so-called 'Collosium', and it was another one of Aegon's ideas to project the Crown's wealth while simultaneously allowing them to save for the future. And the giant dome was built a bit far from the castle, shaped in a circle the building had the capacity to house thousands, and it had been constructed in such a way that anyone from the Royal Box could easily address the people down below.
"It truly is a marvellous thing," he added as he saw thousands sitting and cheering in the stands as the melee was set to begin. He had not attended many tournies since the marriage, not that the city had held many.
It was the first grand tourney arranged after that treacherous one he had called for in honor of his own son. Yet this time, they had waited and let the babe come.
And now, the young Daeron Targaryen was as hale and healthy as a child his age should be, and according to the Maesters was safe and healthy. Only then, had Rhaenyra allowed him to call for a tourney, his daughter still haunted by the memories od her own mother.
"It truly is marvellous," added Otto who sat besides him. And it was odd to have him by his side again. He was an old friend, one of the few that still remained, and though his treachery had been gruesome, time had given him patience and forgiveness.
Otto had lost everything just like him, and so they found comraderie in that and he had made it clear to the man that he would not be a part of his Council once more, even though he had been a capable and able Hand, one he had valued greatly until he had let his anger, and ambition blind him.
"To think that all this was built in but three years," and this 'Colloseum' was but one of the many changes that had taken place in the city, which was readying itself for a grand reconstruction, as Aegon planned to expand the Capital, and make it worthy of its title and status.
He knew that plans had been drawn and Gold had been set aside, and that it was but only the war stopping them, a war which was nearing its end as well.
By the latest news, Braavos had joined the war and had conquered several isles as well. The pirates had begun to flee, abandoning the isles as they lost their refuges, and the Crown was on the precipice of victory in the Stepstones.
"I apologise for being late," another voice cut through the air, as he glanced back and saw Rhaenyra walk into the booth. She was late, but he did not begrudge her anything as she walked into the box, flanked on the sides by her two cousins.
Lady Jeyne wore the colors of her House, much like Lady Laena. The three women, all walked into the booth and took their seats as Viserys motioned for Rhaenyra to step forward.
"Come let us greet the crowd," and at his command, both him and Rhaenyra stepped forward, as she held her youngest child in her arms, and the herald blew the horn so loud that the entire crowd became silent.
"NOW I GIVE YOU THE KING OF THE SEVEN KINGDOMS! YOUR MAJESTY! THE BENEVOLENT AND GRACIOUS KING VISERYS TARGARYEN!" and he waved to the crowd, as Rhaenyra stepped forward.
"AND BESIDES HER STANDS OUR BELOVED PRINCESS! THE REALM'S DELIGHT! THE FOOD PRINCESS, PRINCESS RHAENYRA AND THE YOUNG PRINCE DRAGON! PRINCE DAERON!" and it was the first time that the people were hearing the name officially, and Rhaenyra waved at the crowd as well, and he did not miss how the cheer for her was much louder than even for himself.
And he had been told that she was much beloved by the crowd because of her philanthropic actions, as she tried to build upon the work of his grandmother, the Good Queen Alyssane and tried to alleviate the plights of the common folk of the city.
"LET THE MELEEE BEGIN!" Rhaenyra voiced, and the herald blew his horn once more as Ser Harrold pulled back his chair, as Rhaenyra moved to the side to her own chambers.
"It seems like the Princess is more beloved than even the King," added Otto, and Visery nodded proudly.
"Indeed, she has done much for the people. It is no wonder they love her as much," and the Melee began to a massive cheer, as the sound of metal clashing against metal took over the entire clearing.
Sadly, no member of the Royal family was taking part in the battle. And it somewhat reminded him of his own brother, who would have salivated at such a chance.
But Daemon was gone, and so was his son. Busy fighting a war miles and miles away, as Otto suddenly added from the side.
"I doubt I have not witnessed such a tourney since the one from several years ago," and he nodded.
"But the times have changed! Back then, my daughter yet lived, and so did Prince Daemon," and it was a surprise to hear him mention that name.
"I am surprised you mention my brother," he added, tilting his head to the side as Otto nodded.
"Me and the Prince did not see eye-to-eye on many aspects, but I do know that he was your brother and you loved him dearly," and that warmed his heart.
"Yes, I did love him."
"His death was a great tragedy, one that set into motion the worst set of events in motion. It is a blessing in the end, that he has been avenged. The debt owed by the crown repaid," and Viserys was not fond of war or conflict.
Yet he had endorsed Aegon's war for this very reason. To avenge Daemon's death, and now Drahar was dead, burnt to a husk for what he had done to Daemon, and the whole world knew what it meant to anger a Targaryen.
"I just wonde...."
"NOOOO!" "WATCH OUT!" and the screams came first as his head snapped to the grounds, as he saw several people aiming straight at the Royal Box with their bows.
"YOUR GRACE!" "PRINCESS!" and suddenly a massive figure was infront of him, as he found himself getting shoved back.
"AGHHH!" he screamed as his chair tilted and fell down, as the Kingsguard put himself between himself and the onslaught.
TANG! TANG! TANG!
"AGH!" and he head hit the ground, and the world spun as he heard shouting and screaming, as a pair of arms helped him up and pulled him back.
"Rhaenyra! Rhaenyra!" he immediately gasped even as his head spun, and it was Westerling who was with him.
"She is safe, your grace," and he nodded, yet still as a loud screech tore through the whole area.
"NOOOOO!" and he looked up and saw that it was Rhaenyra, and he saw the Kingsguard pulling her back, as she tried head back to the balcony.
"JEYNEEE....."
00000
SAERA TARGARYEN
The preparations for her departure were made in haste as per her command. Her manse was sold, her jewels and gold gathered, ships were bought and much more. Despite her orders, Drazenko had managed to get wind of her plan, not that he could stop her.
Though, it meant that she was stopped from emptying out the Rogare vaults, and the gold and the riches would have served her well. For all of it was useless to them all.
They just did not know it yet.
Regardless, she knew that she had get away from the Triarchy and that she needed to do so at once, and so she did not fight much and gathered all she could as she prepared for her departure. Yet, before she could leave, Drazenko returned to the city and came to visit her once more.
"I never knew that you were such a coward," he taunted in her, in her own manse.
"Coward," she chuckled as she stood there on the balcony and watched the ship she had had bought for herself get loaded with her belongings.
"If only you knew what you had done, you would not be calling me a coward," and she turned around to face him, and Drazenko was much different to his brother.
Lysandro was smart, cunning, and had a good head for politics. Yet his greatest quality was his ability not to let gold and power cloud his judgement, at least not as much as Drazenko.
His brother, though, had disappointed her. He had destroyed all that Lysandro had built, though a part of her could hardly blame him for it all, given that he had been helped in much of it by Daemon's son.
Drazenko had let power, prestige and gold blind him to the cruel reality waiting for him, and the rest of the Triarchy, for they had seemed to forgotten about the lesson her father had taught them during the Myrish Bloodbath.
Jaehaerys Targaryen, for all his faults was a benevolent king, at least in matters that did not concern her. And yet, when Myr, had slain his eldest son, the world had learned what it meant to anger a dragon.
And in his rage, even the benevolent Jaehaerys, who had always helped up a kneeling enemy, had burnt the Myrish pirates who had killed his son with no remorse.
And now, the Triarchy in all its wisdom was set to anger another raging dragon, this one having none of Jaehaerys' benevolence. She had not met this Aegon, her nephew whom she believed to be the architect of her demise.
Yet if the word from the Stepstones and his actions prior to them were anything to go by, she felt him to be a cruel boy, a boy more ruthless than even Maegor, yet lacking any of his faults. And it made him dangerous, it made him much dangerous.
She had tried to warn them, about his danger. Yet they had not listened and now they would learn.
"You do now know what it means to anger a dragon, do you?" she asked with a scoff, as Drazenko frowned, as she looked him in the eye and tried to repay once more the kindness his brother had shown her.
"We fear no dragon," he replied and she shook her head.
"For you have not faced one, and much to your dismay the one you face has little to no mercy in his heart. Aegon Targaryen is a boy crueler than even Maegor, and yet to your dismay he lacks my Great Uncle's madness," she added as she walked up to him.
"And you and your cabal have thought it wise to anger a man such as him," and that was their mistake.
"He would have spared you if you had chosen to strike at him, yet you plan to strike at his family. He will burn you and all you hold dear," she finished.
"Pray that the attack you have ordered does not succeed, for if it does, then this entire city will face the consequences of your actions," and Drazenko scoffed as he slapped away her hand.
"I believe it is too late for that. I just received word in the morning," and her heart sank as she heard those words.
"We succeeded. The bastard has finally learnt his lesson," and she shook her head as Drazenko gloated away.
"They struck down one of his cousins, the lady of the Vale," and her eyes widened at that.
"I was told that he was much closer to her. The bitch died trying to protect his son," and he laughed, but she knew that it was done.
The deed was done. And now the world would burn.
"I pity you," she said as she moved past him.
"Go, scurry away like the rat you are," he taunted as she chuckled.
"Yes, I may be a rat, but I will live, Drazenko. I will live while you and the rest of your lot will burn," and she glanced at him for one last time.
"You will all burn, and your cities will burn with you...."
0000
The flight back to Kingslanding took longer than expected as Aegon found himself taking solace in being all by himself with his dragon. It had been years since he had flown on Silverwing with such leisure, so he slowed down and let the dragon rest as he made his way back to the capital.
With the campaign in the Stepstones nearly complete, he had no reason to rush back at once. And so, he flew at ease, as he let Silverwing fly at her own pace, after it had served him well for the past few moons during the campaign.
He reached the city finally, his dragon circling the castle, as it roared to make sure that they were prepared for his arrival.
A massive gathering would probably be called, and the King would like to make a spectacle of it, and yet as his Dragon landed near the Dragonpit, it took him but some seconds to register that the mood was not as jubilant as he had hoped.
Dread began to drown his being as he jumped down his dragon, faced the Dragonkeeper captain, and asked quickly.
"What happened?" the man lowered his eyes, hesitating forcing Aegon to ask once more with a rising tone.
"What happened?" the man gulped as he finally answered. The ground vanished from under his feet, and Aegon turned away in an instant and rushed towards his horse.
He mounted it, not bothering to wait for the guards or anyone else, as he pulled on its reins and raced towards the Red Keep. The people jumped out of his way as they made way for him, and the castle gates had already been opened for him.
He did not greet the guards or anyone else as he headed to the castle, and as he did, he found a small retinue coming out, one led by the familiar face of his wife. A face which was pale and flushed, and as their eyes met, he saw tears gather in them once more as he slid down the horse and walked up to her.
"Jeyne?" he eeked out the words, hoping, praying for a different answer. And yet she shook her head as he felt his heart twist in agony.
"She is gone. She is gone...."
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