Chapter 3: A New Beginning

103 AC

Dragonpit, King's Landing

I looked on as my grandfather's funeral pyre burned on, set alight courtesy of Caraxes and Sheepstealer, the crowd in the Dragonpit numbered around eighty thousand men, women, and children of King's Landing and along with that around five hundred or so nobles who were in King's Landing at the time of his death or managed to arrive in time for the cremation, all of them came to see the last rites of a man who will go down in History as one of the Greatest Kings of Westeros.

"Well, looks like the Old Man is finally dead," Daemon remarked to me as we watched the flames burn.

"Yes, he is," I said nodding, For a moment there I thought he would have pulled a Queen Elizabeth II but he did not.

"Of all the children he sired, how come this shriveled old grape was the only one to outlive him?" Daemon then asked giving the stink eye to our most disliked uncle Vaegon.

I replied, "There is another, our aunt in Volantis."

"I don't think the whore counts." Daemon snorted.

"How is it that a whore and a raisin managed to outlive our grandfather but not our father?" Daemon then asks.

"That's Fate for you, she is a bitch." I dryly replied.

I thought about my father, Baelon the Brave, he was a fantastic dad, and he never blamed me for my mother Alyssa's death like how a certain Lannister would have, some say that Alyssa begged Baelon and my brothers to take care of me with her last breath.

I was a rather serious and quiet toddler growing up which made my Uncle Aemon jape that I was another Vaegon in the making, the thought of which was so abhorrent to my father who promptly took me and tossed me onto his back for a trip on Vhagar. And that was the first time that I screamed since my birth, since then taking me into the air became a daily thing that would go on to bring me out of my shell.

I was aware that my grandmother, Aunt Jocelyn, and Aunt Maegelle gave a huge tongue lashing towards my dad but my grandfather sided with my dad stating had he done the same with Vaegon, maybe he wouldn't have become like how he did, which did not impress the person in question. Alyssa flew on Meleys with both Viserys and Daemon almost immediately after their births but I did not have that experience as she was bedridden after my birth until she passed away.

It made losing Baelon to appendicitis all the worse, seeing him convulse in agony for those five days was unbearable, I couldn't sleep at night from the moment when he was chosen to be the Hand to that fateful hunt, I was jumpy and edgy throughout the year and when it finally happened, a wave of shame went through me, a shame that I could do absolutely nothing to help despite knowing what was to happen.

"Doesn't matter now does it." Daemon then said,

"Seems that way," I said nodding,

If one were to remove the curtain that is Sheepstealer and Caraxes they might find a rather weak dynasty, with an amiable King who is eager to please everyone at the head, two Princes, one who is a hothead and the other who has annoying neighbors, a Queen who is pregnant for the fifth time, and a six-year-old girl as the King's only child, this sounds like a surefire recipe for disaster.

Fortunately, the Throne is secure thanks to the hard work of Jaehaerys, the treasury is overflowing with gold and the legacy of goodwill persists, so things are looking good and people have good reason to be optimistic for the future, especially with an amiable and pleasant Viserys in charge. Except for me, it feels exactly like how it was before my father became the Hand of the King, the calm before the storm is always the worst, only in this case the calm will last for twenty-six years instead of one.

I hate my life.

"Did you hear the herald announcing the Velaryons?" Daemon asked me as we turned our gaze toward a stone-faced Rhaenys and Corlys who is glaring daggers toward the burning pyre of Old Jae.

"I did not, was there anything special in the announcement?" I replied looking at him.

"Rhaenys was announced as a Velaryon, not Targaryen," Daemon replied. "Which means that Rhaenys has finally given up her claim."

"I doubt the same can be said about Corlys," I remarked with a scoff.

"Please, Corlys is now the least of our worries we have more pressing enemies to take care of." Daemon then said with a sneer toward Otto Hightower who was talking with a few Lords from the Reach.

Otto Hightower, my brother's newest rival since Corlys decided to take the boat back to Driftmark during the Great Council. Truth be told, both Daemon and Otto are at fault for the beef between them because they are both stubborn mules that need to learn on how to compromise. Otto turned out to be patronizing, arrogant, and condescending towards both of us, while we didn't bother to hide our contempt toward him, the tussle between Otto and Daemon dragged on. Daemon made a crass joke about Alicent which infuriated Otto who returned a zinger about Daemon being infertile and impotent for being childless after six years of marriage, after that the floodgates were opened and the gloves were off.

And all this before Viserys is even coronated, I can foresee that future Small Council Meetings will be entertaining as fuck.

Soon the fire died out and the dragons went back to their enclosures while Vermithor decided to fly to Dragonstone to join Silverwing, the ashes were collected and placed in an urn while everyone else inside the Dragonpit began to file out, and the cremation was over. Aemma and Rhaenyra left within minutes of the pyre being set alight as Aemma couldn't stand the smell of the flames and ashes, looks like the pregnancy brain has begun to kick in yet again for the fifth time in seven years.

"Come with me, Aegon, let's have some fun," Daemon said as we left the Dragonpit.

"Aren't we supposed to have dinner with Viserys, Aemma, and Rhaenyra?" I asked bemused as we mounted our horses.

"There will be plenty of time for that," Daemon said waving it off.

There is only one type of fun that Daemon likes other than killing or mutilating people.

Street of Silk

"Did you hear, Lord Mooton is hosting a tournament to celebrate Viserys' ascension, after the coronation in Oldtown, sometime after the New Year?" I said to Daemon as we entered one of the most highly exclusive and high-end brothels of King's Landing.

"Yes, I heard, you know what that means, yet another tourney where I will kick your ass," Daemon said with a smirk.

"What nonsense?" I gasped in mock outrage, "I will have you know that you have never once bested me in archery, we are evenly matched in the jousts and as for the melee, the only reason you win all the time is because of Dark Sister, if you fought with a regular sword, you would lose within the first five minutes."

A scantily clad girl came before us with a tray of spiced wine.

"Please," Daemon scoffed as took a cup of spiced wine that was presented,

He took a sip before continuing, "The only reason why you win archery competitions is that Father gave you a Dragonbone bow which is an inherent advantage like Dark Sister, you have never once unhorsed me in jousting, your victories have always been in points and even if I wielded a regular Longsword, I will still kick your ass."

"Bring it on, I won't be surprised if you lost both the joust and the melee in this coming tournament," I say with the confidence of a man who knows exactly what will happen.

"How much are you willing to bet on it?" Daemon asked with a wolfish grin.

"A hundred gold dragons." I gave out a feeler wondering how far he would go and he did not disappoint.

"A hundred!" He scoffed, "Make it a thousand,"

"Whatever man, it's your money," I replied with a smile.

"Be sure to have your money, ready once I win," He said with a grin as we shook hands on the bet.

"Speak for yourself," I replied rolling my eyes.

"Which one do you want my Princes, the Redhead, the Blonde, a Summer Islander, or this Silver-haired maiden from Lys?" the Madam asked me as we sat down in a private viewing area, we were shown the top picks that the Madam of the Brothel specifically picked for us,

"I doubt that the silver-haired is a maiden," I dryly replied, "Or anyone from Lys for that matter."

"Does it matter brother, do you want the silver or not, for I want her and the blonde," Daemon then said as he took a long pervy look at the naked girls.

I rolled my eyes and said "Sure, take her if you want, I will take the Summer Islander, she doesn't look timid like the rest,"

Also because she is the only person who might be an adult among the four of them, Madam nodded and showed me another room while Daemon took his two girls to another room reserved for him in this establishment.

Her flawless and smooth ebony skin, her slender and graceful body, her wide brown eyes, and her aura of sexuality made her a perfect bedmate for me.

"What's your name?" I asked her as we entered the room. I make it a point to know their names before I sleep with them simply to remind myself that they are people as well.

"My name is Bella," The woman said with a sultry smile,

"Where are you from?" I followed up as I began to remove my clothes,

"Tall Trees Town, my Prince, born and raised," She said with a hint of pride, she spoke with that accent from the Summer Isles.

"Alright then, let's get started," I said with a smirk as I removed my shirt and Bella gave me a lustful smile as she moved toward me,

One Hour Later

"Ser Harrold, I would have thought that picking up Princes from brothels was no longer your job," I said to Ser Harrold Westerling as we rode toward the Red Keep in an escort that I would call heavy, You don't need twenty mounted guardsmen to pick up a Prince from a brothel.

"I would have hoped as well my Prince, but I was ordered by the King himself to find you." Ser Harrold answered ruefully.

The poor old man has been dragging me out of brothels since my fourteenth nameday where Viserys and Daemon treated me to the best prostitutes in King's Landing, needless to say, my father was so horrified that he nearly had a stroke. Oddly enough, Old Jae felt vindicated for some reason while Alysanne was never told what happened. She died thinking that her baby grandson was still a virgin.

"And not Daemon, that seems unfair, he is married and I am not, and yet I am the one being called out," I grumbled, it was another two hours until the family dinner which meant that this was not dinner related.

"The King wanted to meet you and I was told to make all haste and pick you up," Ser Harrold revealed. "And he also said to leave Prince Daemon be,"

"Now that is unacceptable, leave Daemon alone?" I said incredulously while Harrold did a great job of keeping a smile off his face,

"Did he tell you what he wanted to talk about?" I queried.

"The King did not reveal to me, my Prince." Ser Harrold replied to my disappointment.

I stayed quiet after that until we reached the Red Keep upon which a squire was quick to reach me and say that Viserys was waiting for me in his chambers in the Royal Apartments in Maegor's Holdfast.

King's Chambers, Royal Apartments

Maegor's Holdfast, Red Keep

"Alright, here I am," I announced inside Viserys' chambers to see both him and Aemma waiting for me.

"I am not in trouble am I," I asked just to be sure,

"You are not in trouble, Aegon," Viserys said with a smile as he held Aemma's hand. Good Lord, their love is sickening.

While Daemon and I cut the image of the dashing and handsome Dragon Princes, Viserys did not, he was plump and pleasant with a bushy mustache and an all-around nice guy with a happy-go-lucky attitude, unfortunately, the Iron Throne isn't meant for nice guys. But most importantly he has an amazing ability to put up with all the antics that Daemon and I used to do and I do not doubt that it will continue.

While Aemma was a small and dainty woman with sky-blue eyes and silver hair, she was sweet, kind, and gentle, and unlike her mother Daella, she did not suffer from dyslexia and was clever enough to hold her own in intellectual conversations, she had a backbone and a tongue that put many a Lord in their place, most of them thinking that she was as timid and weak-willed like her mother.

"We called you here so that we can discuss your marriage without Daemon interfering in it." He continued, "I have allowed you to remain unmarried all these years and I did not sell you off for political advantage in the Great Council as you asked."

"But now that I am king, it is time for you to do your duty to your family," He said, "There aren't many of us and you need to step up especially as Daemon's marriage is turning out to be barren."

I sighed, I should have known that this would happen. I walked over toward them and sat down on a chair and took the offered cup of wine and said, "Alright then, who do you have in mind for me?"

Aemma began unrolling a roll of parchment in her hands, "I have crafted a list of all the eligible maidens in the Riverlands, of not just marrying age but also of the proper and respectable Houses."

"I am going to stop you right there Aemma, it cannot be a Bracken or a Blackwood, because if I marry into either, it will mean trouble for the other as they will undeniably see it as divine favor to do whatever shit they want and I have no intention of getting involved in that, so please remove Bracken and Blackwood from the list," I interject before Aemma can start listing off names.

Viserys nods, "Yes, it will hamper your ability to be impartial in any dispute that should occur between them."

Aemma sighed, "Alright then, no Blackwood or Bracken." She takes a quill and strikes off two names.

"Bethany Mallister," Aemma asks, "Six and ten years of age, daughter of Lord Lymond Mallister. She seems perfect."

"Yes, the Mallisters, one of the most prestigious Houses in the Riverlands and the most influential in the Riverlands, I see no better match." Viserys nods eagerly.

"Umm, there is a problem with the Mallisters," I speak up in a quiet tone.

"What problem?" Viserys sighed. He is already accepting defeat in this regard, Man he knows me so well.

"Lord Mallister sent that girl to my bed hoping to seduce me when I visited Seagard," I said in the most innocent voice I had.

"Did you sleep with her?" Viserys asked with narrowed eyes.

"I did not, I sent her away with honor intact, who do you take me for? Daemon?" I replied with a mock indignant gasp,

"The point is, I cannot marry her for the sake of my pride, I left a sure thing for the sake of honor and now I am getting it back to marry, hell no." I justified myself.

"Boys." Aemma rolled her eyes as she crossed off that name from the list.

"Lord Tully has no sisters or daughters while House Frey is not respectable enough which leaves Darry, Strong, Mooton, and the Vances." Aemma continued.

"But Lord Darry's sisters are all married while his daughter is two-name days old while Lord Mooton's daughter is already betrothed." Aemma finishes,

"Which means Strong or the Vances?" Viserys looked at me expectantly.

"Both the Vances are dumbasses, they are the most pompous cunts I have had the displeasure of meeting and unlike the Lannisters, they don't have gold to back it up," I said to them and they visibly deflated.

"And Strong, I know that you and Lord Lyonel are good friends, so do you have anything to say about the Strongs?" Aemma asked me with hope in her eyes,

"Lyonel Strong is an intelligent man with whom I can hold proper and civilized conversations and he is not a brute like how people assume, he is one of the few Riverlords that I get along with, he is a person who is content in life, not an ambitious self-serving cunt like the rest of them and I have no intention of ruining our friendship by marrying his daughters who are too young mind you and also not smart, after all, I have standards for the women I choose to marry."

"Seven Hells, you are fussier than Rhaenyra when it comes to picking her toys." Viserys exasperatedly remarks upon hearing it.

"What about the other Great Houses?" I asked them hoping to assuage their hurt.

Viserys sighs and says "Like Tully, there are no women in House Baratheon or House Greyjoy, whereas, in House Arryn, there is Aemma's niece Jeyne who is but a girl."

"There is only one girl in House Tyrell from the Main branch and she is a babe at the breast while marrying a Martell would be unsavory given the bad blood," Aemma adds in her own two points,

"So...?" I ask lingering,

"So, in the Great Houses, your choices are Stark or Lannister." Viserys finishes for me, "And I know that for some reason you are averse to both of them."

Stark or Lannister, were there no other Houses left in Westeros? The other option would be to marry Alicent Hightower, while a smart option on paper, underneath, however, the trouble lurks. I hate Otto and Daemon hates Otto, and Otto hates me and Daemon, if I marry Alicent then Daemon will hate me and I can't have that. And did I mention that I hate Otto?

"You know what, I will decide on a wife by the time of your coronation, alright just give me some time." I try to reassure them and thankfully it works.

"Alright Aegon, I will wait until the coronation but if you do not choose by then, then I will choose for you," Viserys warned me and I nodded.

"Now that's out of the way, tell me what's going on with you?" I decide to bring the conversation to them,

"What do you mean?" Viserys asks quickly.

"It's clear to me as day, you are stressing yourself out and mind if I ask why because I doubt you are stressed out because of the coronation, so what is it about?"

Viserys sighed while Aemma held his hand and he said, "Since our father was named the Prince of Dragonstone Corlys and Rhaenys have been estranged from us and that was made worse with the Great Council."

"Well, if you want to blame anyone for that, you might as well blame the dead old man," I replied.

"Aegon, don't speak ill of the dead," Aemma admonished me. "Wasn't he the same person who forced your mother to get married under the threat of the Silent Sisters?" I asked back with innocent confusion on my face.

Aemma looked at me with narrowed eyes before she sighed and said, "Never mind,"

"I will admit it, our grandfather was a man who had his flaws, especially with his family and even more so with his daughters and granddaughters but we should celebrate a man for his achievements and learn from his failures," Viserys said afterward,

"So, what's wrong?" I asked after the pause got too long.

"I tried to make peace with Corlys, I gave him his position in the Small Council back but he refused," Viserys said to me dejectedly. Viserys always loved making friends and when people refuse to be his friends, he doesn't like it. "Why are you giving the man what he already had? Give him what he wants." I answered as if it was the most obvious thing in the world,

"And what does he want exactly?" Aemma asked me, She knows exactly what he wants. "Isn't it obvious? a direct and secure line to the Throne, so make an agreement with him of sorts, that your heir will marry his get and have a public reconciliation during the coronation, and everyone lives happily ever after," I said with a little bit of grandiose.

And more importantly, Corlys in the Small Council will help stem Otto's rising power. Now I need to get Lyonel Strong into the Council to stack it against Otto.

Viserys and Aemma ponder upon it for a while before they accept it, "You are right, this might be the only way to bring about reconciliation," Viserys says nodding along with Aemma. "And also invite them to dinner," I added as an afterthought,

"They already left." Aemma brings up, "They left almost immediately after the cremation,"

"Already! Damn, they must have hated the old man." I remarked on hearing that while Viserys rolls his eyes.

"Anything else you have to add, Aegon." Viserys looks expectantly at me.

"Yes, I do, why the hell are you making Daemon the Master of Laws?" I asked with obvious confusion.

"Well, I..." Viserys tried to justify it but there is nothing to say as he knows that Daemon is horrible when it comes to actual administration. The only thing that Daemon has over others is that he is the brother of the King. Nepotism at its finest.

"If you want to place him on the Small Council, then make it like mine, as an advisor." I will have to shuttle between Fairmarket and King's Landing every month to keep track of all the construction projects going on in Fairmarket and all the drama happening in court. I can foresee that my monthly commute will soon become hectic.

"And if you want to keep Daemon in King's Landing, then give him a job that fits his skill set." I continued.

"And what job is that, the one of the Lord Confessor?" Viserys asked me with a raised eyebrow.

"Granted, Daemon would love to be the Lord Confessor, I was thinking of the City Watch," I responded.

"Yes, put him in charge of the City Watch." Aemma nods along with me. "The City Watch is nothing more than a bunch of thugs, Daemon is the best person to whip them into a proper and respectable force." With Aemma agreeing with me, Viserys will never say no.

"Just give him all the money that he requires to equip the City Watch, their salaries, armor, weapons, uniforms, and everything else that could be needed," I add to it, Looks like Lord Beesbury will have a lot of work. Viserys nodded but before he could say anything I continued "And for Master of Laws, I suggest Lord Strong, he knows the law from front to back."

Before Viserys could say anything, the door opened and a bouncing ball entered,

"MUNA, KEPA, UNCLE AEGON." A delighted Rhaenyra screams as she runs into the room to hug and kiss us all.

"How is my favorite niece?" I said smiling as I kissed her forehead. I have a feeling that she has been in stables.

"I am your only niece, Uncle," Rhaenyra says giggling.

"Still the favorite," I said with a smile.

"Can you tell me the story about Cinderella one more time and also about Sleeping Beauty and Simba?" She excitedly chatters off about all the bedtime stories I have read to her.

"Sweetling, Uncle Aegon will tell you about all the stories you want but now you need a bath, you stink of the ponies," Aemma says picking up a pouting Rhaenyra.

"Don't worry, I will tell you all the stories you want," I reassured Rhaenyra and gave her a wink which sent her giggling.