179
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299 AC
Dragonstone
Eragon Targaryen
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"So you will have enough time to make it back before the Tyrells arrive?" My Mom asks as I visit my children thanks to Arrax.
"Yea, it will work out, though I will likely be hearing a lot of whining about getting to come over to see them on my own. I just wanted to check on them before all the trouble today is supposed to bring. Tyrells and other Reach Lords are going to arrive which is already stressful but then the trial of Cersei is going to be held. I am almost certain she will demand a trial by combat but there is no one there who I am concerned about fighting... except maybe Jaime Lannister but I don't know if she even knows he is there." If she does and he accepts to be her champion then I will have to put down both of them in one day.
I will lose any 'power' I had over Tywin but he already has spares in the form of Jaime's children so he likely won't care. The man sent his Son as a distraction knowing it was possible he could get captured and that speaks to his character. Word is he is still weeks from reclaiming the Westerlands if not months with the Iron Born dug into it like ticks. I am not sure if I should be angry at the Iron Born or reward them for their service.
But either way, I have plans to deal with the situation regardless of what happens with the trial.
"Well come on then, Daeron has been uncharacteristically fussy the last two days and I am sure he would love to see his Father. Lady Dayne has done all she can to keep him from screaming his head off but I think he is just missing his family. He has only known being surrounded by loving people and that number dropped drastically leaving him sad." I nod wondering how Rhaegar is doing, he is the youngest and the one I worry about the most since he has neither his Father nor Mother.
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"Like magic..." Ashara huffs as Daeron tucks his head in the crook of my neck with his small hands gripping my tunic.
"How has Rhaegar been?" I ask while standing over my sleeping youngest boy as he rests in a cradle.
I easily avoid talking about how Daeron has an obvious favorite with how he clung to me the moment he saw me. The sight warms my heart more than anything else ever could but it's wise to not talk about it around his Mother. She seems a bit upset with how Daeron is treating her right now, but I am sure he loves her just as much and was just missing me.
"Good, he is a silent babe other than when hungry or he wants to be changed." Ashara leans over the cradle and runs a finger over Rhaegars forehead making him stir even while he remains sleeping.
"Good, his Mother will be wroth with me when I return to the Red Keep but I could wait no longer to see him. I will tell her that he is doing fine on Dragonstone and hopefully that will ease her mind at least a little." Ashara nods and we both step back from the cradle giving the sleeping babe his much-deserved peace and quiet.
"How are things in Kingslanding?" Ashara asks as we head for the distant wall with a comfy couch.
"Well..." I trail off as I turn to sit with my Son happily covering my shoulder in drool.
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"See you later little one." Crouching down before a maid I tickle the belly of my daughter Shaera, her red hair matching her Mother has already grown out to be the longest of all my children.
I shake my head as I stand up knowing her Mother is off in one of the caves of Dragonstone looking for something. She has been hunting for something and I have no idea what it is but she told me it is important. I am just happy nothing has been said yet about my connection to R'hllor and his followers so far in my stay in Westeros. Westeros follows the Seven who are One and if I am honest I think they are a lie constructed by ambitious men.
The main thing leading me to think that is the fact that the Andals who brought the religion to Westeros brought with them metalworking. They claimed it came from their Gods who gave them the right to conquer Westeros and displace the First Men. But history in Essos claims it was the Rhoynar who gave them metalworking...which seems much more believable. It's common knowledge in Essos but people in Westeros hardly hear about Essos let alone what is taught over there so all they know is their history. Their history tells them that the Andals came with God's might and lessons so they believe it without a single doubt.
It's one of the biggest reasons I am so accepting of R'hllor beyond all that the Lord of Light has done for me. There is physical evidence of him being real and able to change and manipulate things on the lands we walk upon. I am not learning of him and eating up stories from thousands of years ago, I am living as his Prince that was promised.
A burden in many ways but also a literal divine blessing from the God of fire and life, maybe I am wrong about the Seven but I know I am right about R'hllor. He might very well have a hidden purpose, or it could be he simply wants more worshippers. Who am I to deny a God that has given so much to me and only asks that I face a threat to the realm which I just claimed?
If the faith of the Seven steps up and takes up arms like in its old days when Targaryens just settled in after taking Westeros then I face them with Fire and Blood.
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Circling around the Red Keep I spot the gathering in the entrance yard and Arrax wings his way down while doing as soft of a landing as possible. He roars loudly upon making it into the yard scaring many horses but those standing around here are mostly use to the sight of him.
I can already spot the frown on Danny's face before I even finish dismounting my dragon. Getting both feet under me I quickly head over to the gathering while also noticing the arriving guests from the Reach. Fancy Wheelhouses and fine steads being ridden by men in pretty armor covered in flowers or gold. A few people and their sigils catch my eye as I dust myself off hoping I won't smell too much like a dragon during this greeting.
"You smell." My hope is crushed as Visenya scrunches her nose as I hug her side and she quickly pulls her head back looking at me with a frown.
"Sorry." I shrug but keep my arm around her not letting her flee which earns me a pinch on the back from my unamused wife.
She is also serving as a good shield against the fiery eyes of Daenerys who likely has a few words to speak to me. In my opinion, she needs to take it up with her dragon, her dragon is the one who needs to grow faster. Arrax may be growing big and strong but he can't carry two people to Dragonstone yet and he won't carry her on her own so she has to toughen up.
One day we will claim the skies together but today is not that day.
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"-and Lady Margery Tyrell." The loud man addresses the last person out of the fancy wheelhouse covered in golden roses.
"It is nice to finally meet House Tyrell, I want to thank you for your service to the crown with the swift and timely delivery of your gift." Making sure I call it a gift and not something else, gifts are free while calling it food could see them trying to squeeze something out of us.
If they want to reclaim it after denying it was free I will just point them out of the Keep and tell them to go cut it from the bellies of the Common Folk. I am sure the people would love to hear about the Reach Lords wanting the food back that has been distributed evenly through the city. We stocked up our own reserves with enough to last the city a long time but a good portion went straight into the hungry mouths of the people. A play to improve their opinion of House Targaryen, along with having word spread that we are fair and just.
People spread words like 'We never had to go hungry even under the Mad King' or 'The Fat Stag and his family ate all the food leaving us to starve'. There have been good results so far and no riots have happened since we took the city, which I intend to keep it that way. But the best part of all the information I am spreading is that it is almost entirely the truth which makes it all the sweeter and easy to accept by the people.
"Your Grace, it is an honor to meet you in person after all the tales I have heard about you." Lord Tyrell steps forward and I almost snort seeing the approach they are taking.
"I am not the King of Westeros, just the acting regent until Viserys comes to claim his throne." If he comes to claim his throne, the fool is planning on spending months gathering men in the Stormlands.
It is plain as day to see he sees me as a threat and wants men to take the city from me by force if he needs to. He could ride straight here and have the throne but instead, he wants to see shadows on the wall where there is none. It honestly is a bigger insult to me than anything else he has ever said about me being a whore king of the islands. He better wise up and step up with a clear head or I will call for a Great Council and let him see the truth.
If the people had to pick between him and me... I think it would be easy to guess who they would pick. The best part about it is afterward he would have nothing to say, it was decided by the people and he could rally no one to take the throne back. Right now he can have it as free as if he was sat upon it but if he continues to act a fool he will find it costing him.
"As you say, Your Grace." The man gives a short bow speaking to their stance and solidifies their plan to bend the knee and swear to House Targaryen.
"Let's get you inside, I am sure it was a long journey and you would like to have a room to rest in. We are having a feast tonight that you are more than welcome to join us at and we can talk more comfortably over a meal." I dislike the ass-kissing and prefer a casual conversation over drinks and full stomachs.
The man smiles wide and I can tell from his stature and belly he likely also prefers this way of negotiation. But when the Queen of Thorns behind him mutters loudly about 'feeding us our own food' the Lord of Highgarden turns red as an apple. I ignore the sharp words and turn as if I did not hear them heading back inside with my family.
Mother warned me about the real ruler of the Reach, the Queen of Thorns is a sharp woman with an even sharper tongue that I will need to avoid being cut upon. Worst comes to worst there are ways of dealing with her that will silence that tongue but I would prefer she work with me. I think even Viserys would see the benefit of having her on the small council that is in need of new blood. A Mistress of Coin from the Reach who is known for her wit is a good candidate as any in my eyes.