The great sage equal to heaven

"The stranger had to come personally for King Aemon Targaryen." – Archmaester Galant.

An analysis of the influence of the faith in the ascension of Aemon Targaryen, the great evil/the great sage equal to heaven, by Wise Master Yumon, 138-153, Yunkai logs, 890 AC.

We all know that Aemon, as a prince, was attacked outside his mother's home city, the oldest and most noble of the cities in Westeros, Oldtown, at this point not only the centre of knowledge in the world, as it is in contemporary society, but also the centre of the Faith of the Seven.

The Faith as of now is the single recognised faith of the holy kingdom of Westeros, but before the ascension of Aemon Targaryen, there existed four prominent faiths in Westeros: the worship of the old gods in the north, the worship of the drowned god on the Iron Islands, the worship of the mother Royne in Dorne and, of course, the Faith of the Seven.

The former three were stamped out during the Dance of the Dragons by King Aemon himself, as he recognised the Seven as the sole religion in Westeros, all other worshipping practices being seen as heretical and marked under the new label of paganism. This time was the bloodiest in Westeros's history, surpassing Maegor the Cruel, the conquest and even the war of Darksister and Blackfyre a few decades later.

The septons had been rallying the people to violence for nearly two decades, with every sermon focusing on heretics and nonbelievers in some way, so much so that the Dance evolved from a war of succession to a holy war with Rhaenyra Targaryen and the Blacks on the side of heretics and King Aemon Targaryen on the side of the Faith.

This, however, was not the culmination of blind religious zealotry, as many think it was. I believe it was a calculated attack, planned and executed by Prince Aemon's faction. The courting of House Bracken, House Bolton, House Baratheon and House Manderly illustrates this best. Someone in Prince Aemon's faction thought to court the faith and drive a holy war, and they did it meticulously and carefully, weakening the kingdoms of opposing faiths and houses that did not believe in the Seven. The conversion of many ancient houses that did not believe in the seven.

The reason this slipped under everyone's nose was simply that no one could have thought anyone would try to shift the landscape of Westeros as King Aemon Targaryen did; it was an absurd notion, a holy war for a kingdom that's been diverse and harmonious, relatively speaking, since before Old Valyria was even a concept. Aemon Targaryen destroyed that balance and forged this new holy kingdom.

I believe I even know why that occurred, and that leads back to Queen Adella Lannister, the Queen of Hearts. This was because she was to be ripped from King Aemon's grasp, so he resorted to this or was advised to do this.

There are two men who hold more sway over everything in Westeros, the king and the high septon. Meagor may have forced a submission to the crown, but the faith kept their influence mostly just with no military arm, and if you are at odds with one faction, having the backing of the other compels reconsideration, as no one wishes to go back to the fighting that Meagor had.

Aemon Targaryen, before he was known as the most ruthless, vicious beast ever to live, was known by another title – many other titles, most of which have been buried beneath the infamous 'Great Evil' title. He was once heralded as the avatar of the seven, the great sage equal to heaven, a title bestowed upon him by the high septon after he accumulated 3 dragon kills at the age of 10.

We must first understand the situation the realm was in when this title was given to King Aemon. The realm was divided by the Council of 101 AC. The ignorant King Viserys was given the crown above his cousin, the daughter of Aemon, the eldest son of the consiliator. Rheanyes, the queen who never was, lost the throne by popular vote by the lords of the realm, as no woman would sit on the throne above a brother or uncle or cousin. This precedent set was challenged by the very man it helped gain ultimate power. Rhaenyra, the Whore Princess, was given the name 'heir' by Viserys, but he had living sons. 

The realms were very much divided on this matter; the young prince's academic excellence and disproportionate size and strength for his age already swirling across the realm, "blessed by the seven". To contrast this, Rhaenyra had rumours of adultery on her, a stain not so easily washed even with a marriage, no matter its splendour. Leanor was merely a cloth to cover the ugly reality of the princess and her uncle. 

This all compounded into the quagmire that was the Battle of the Fourteen Flames. Five riders took off, and in the end, only Cannibal remained bonded. Rheanyes, Leana, and Leanor were all felled. Vhagar became riderless, Meleys became crippled and Sea Smoke became dinner.

 House Velaryon, one of the most ancient lineages in the world, one that stretched back to old Valyria itself, had started the battle off stronger than any other house in the world; not even House Targaryen could match three dragon riders and the strongest navy in the world. House Velaryon was truly at the apex ... until it wasn't. In mere moments, all three riders had fallen, and the final grains in the hourglass of House Velaryon had fallen... Aemon Targaryen would be coming for them. 

This battle, ill-thought, dangerous, and reckless, had set into motion the events that would lead to the emergence of the Holy Seven Kingdoms as we know them right now, as well as providing the basis for Aemon Targaryen to take the throne and fully embrace the Targaryen insanity during the Dance of the Dragons. 

The High Septon bestowed the title of the great sage equal to heaven on King Aemon. The very title that gave him the legitimacy to perpetuate the acts he did later in life, as well as the acts he did right after the battle, which I've analysed in my book, Religion: The Opium for the Masses and Tool for Kings. 

Tyland Lannister POV: 

The crimson wine swirled around in my chalice, and the spicy aroma filled the air. True Dornish Red costs a fortune to import from Volantis. Since Dorne couldn't trade directly with the other kingdoms, we needed to have a third-party trade route, truly ineffective, built on nothing but Targaryen arrogance, like everything else. 

What was the point of all this? Otto is gone, and it seems my efforts for the Adella x Aemon match will be for nought. He will die. Vhagar alone would have been more than enough, but Melyes and SeaSmoke as well; he won't survive. 

Aemon Targaryen... I had such high hopes for that boy; intelligent, no doubt about that, and strong as an ox, yet recent actions had finally slipped the veil off the boy. A veil I'm not sure Otto, Alicent or even Viserys had been able to look past. All they see is their son; all they see is a boy, but I see more. I've observed him for too long not to connect the dots. He's bloodthirsty; every solution he gave to the master in his political lessons was more of the same. Might makes right, and rule through fear is a tested approach, but it is short-sighted and ineffective if used too often. 

His idiocy with Syrax had just proven it to me; he'd elected to risk his life, risk Adella's life and kill a Kingsguard and dragon. Any other king would have had him killed; he's just lucky Viserys is so undecisive that it took him so long to make a decision any other king would have made on the beach of Dragonstone. 

Yet Viserys had made the decision that Aemon would die. No one is ignorant of that boy's pride and obsessive personality. He won't surrender; he will fight and die, and I will wash away my hard work. 

Hemp now, would I stick with Aegon's camp, or would I try to move to Rhaenyra's camp? Maybe if I'm lucky, Leanor dies, and I can try and offer marriage to her; if not, then maybe Adella and some Vemond would allow House Lannister to escape the harshest retribution under Rheanyra. She's vain; throw her a few gifts, and she may forget House Lannister's involvement with Aemon. Perhaps Adella, being her lady-in-waiting, would be able to foster a friendship or at least allow her to let loose on Adella herself rather than targeting House Lannister as a whole. 

No, Jason would never agree to that; the bloody idiot doesn't even understand or notice his wife's the one who's been disappearing all his mistresses. He's too entrenched in his ego. He won't ever bow down to a woman. So Aegon's camp it will be. So what, a 7-8 year difference in age between Adella and Aegon? That won't work, so maybe Adella with a brakken or House Rayne and a promise to marry the children of House Lannister and Aegon. Yh, that would be the best option for us. I'll see if I can marry one of the three storms to try and draw in House Baratheon. 

*SWISH*

*CLANG*

My door swung open and cracked against the wall with such speed that it made me get to my feet, and the sight in front of me rocked me to my core. It was Queen Alicent standing there, dishevelled with tear-stained eyes, looking like she had been through hell. 

Her porcelain skin was stained with tears, and her raven-coloured hair was dishevelled and knotted, a stark contrast to the usual prim and combed hair that she wore every day. The green dress was abysmal. The dirt was clinging to her legs like a lost child. She was panting heavily and looked as if she might fall over at any moment. Her haggard breathing calmed. 

"I need you to find transportation out of this city by land, a way to sneak me and my children out before anyone notices. You'll come as well; do it before the week's end." She said no stammer, no hesitation, not even a bit of doubt for what was obviously treason; the queen and the prince and princess can't just leave without the king's permission. 

"That would be treason, Your Grace; perhaps you need to lay down some milk of the poppy to put you at ease," I said calmly, moving towards her, keeping an appropriate distance for decorum but enough to cow her. Alicent would usually give in if confronted. The realm is in too delicate a situation for me to waste time humouring this nonsense. 

"Hahahahh...Milk off the poppy...Milk of the poppy. MY SON HAS JUST BEEN SENTENCED TO DEATH AND YOU WANT ME TO SLEEP ON THIS ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR TINY LITTLE MIND?"She screamed at me and closed the distance between us as she stood on her tip toes to look me in my eye, her face contorted into a mixture of helpless exhaustion and infernal rage, her arms waving around the air as she spoke. 

"Your grace sentenced to death? I do not know what you're referring to I'm sure if we go to the king we will be able to sort this out I'm sure all your sons are perfectly fine," i said calmly i don't need this nonsense and i cant confirm that i was spying on the Kings private convversations.

She seemed even less pleased until she grabbed a knife from my desk and unsheathed it. I instinctively took a step back. She's too unstable. She may attack me, so I need to get a guard in her to contain her

*SLASH* 

*DRIP*

My mouth lost all moisture. What's gotten into her? She had slashed her forearm and dress, and even her inner thigh. What the hell is she doing ...oh no, I'm in a room alone with the Queen, she is roughed up and bleeding from my knife.

"Do as I say or I'll scream and you can plot from the black cells", she replied in an eerily calm tone as she walked close to me, her eyes were hollow like two gaping pits ready to swallow me whole like an endless abyss. 

She quickly threw herself at me, grabbing me in a vice-like hug. Rubbing her blood all over my clothes. I can't do anything. This whole situation caught me completely off guard. What happened to her? Why is she acting so differently? Is this just scewed motherly instincts driving her?

"Fine, it will take me four days to set up. Why do this, though Aemon will die, why commit treason instead of securing your position for your other children?" I said in a calm voice, pushing her off me, I'd been caught with my pants down. 

"Because Aemon won't die, he will win and I won't be a pawn for them to use against him," she said with conviction I'd never seen anyone have in anything. It was as if she was stating a fact, as if it was preordained. Why does she think this? Why is she risking everything over this?

-THE END-

Hi so yh ive been super busy with work pulling double shifts for weeks due to some organisational changes so this is the first time in a while that ive had a day off so here is the chapter 2000 words for my delay. 

Anyway the story i had to reevaluate it all due to some thoughts so i had to replan volume 2 and 3 and 4 volume two wont be as long as it was orginally intended to be but 3 will be longer to balance it out. 

The originl plan wasnt logical enough this new course will be more logical. 

Hope you enjoyed and for how tense the world is right now i hope all my readers are safe in iran and in the United States of America and northern ireland and anywhere else where it is dangerous. 

Anyway ill be out of my home country for july so i may be scattered on the uploads but ill try to make them on my phone if i can. 

Any till next time guys