Chapter 16: The final straw

105 AC

Great Hall of the Red Keep

Red Keep, King's Landing

"Did you say it?" Viserys quietly asks holding Blackfyre in his hand as the two of us stand before him in the Great Hall, only the Kingsguard is present for this.

"I don't know what you mean, brother," Daemon replied trying to be nonchalant when we all knew exactly what he meant.

"You will address your king as His Grace, else you shall lose your tongue," Viserys curtly said as his fingers tightened their grip on the Blackfyre.

Daemon and I didn't say a word, this was the first time Viserys had gotten angry and I could sense that it was only a matter of minutes before he erupted.

"The Heir for a day, did you say it," He asked once more in a biting tone.

Daemon sighed and looked at me before answering, "We all have our ways of mourning, your Grace."

Viserys is incensed and he roars, "My family has been destroyed, instead of comforting your brother or your niece, you chose to go about whoring and drinking as you have always done, YOU CHOSE TO CELEBRATE YOUR RISE WITH YOUR WHORES AND LICKSPITTLES AT THE COST OF MY WIFE AND SON,"

And that was my cue to start laughing, it started as a snicker which became a fit of giggles.

Both Viserys and Daemon looked at me like I was a crazy person which I might be at this point and I can see that Viserys is more than a little ticked off,

"May I ask what is so humorous, Aegon?" Viserys ground his teeth, his purple eyes blazing in fury.

"This is the first time I have ever seen a murderer grieve for his victim," I replied with a mocking smile and the effect was instantaneous on Viserys.

"HOW DARE YOU MOURN FOR AEMMA WHEN YOU WERE THE ONE WHO KILLED HER?" I roared back at him and he shrunk back into the throne while Ser Harrold Westerling took a step forward.

"You sent me away from the birthing chambers because you knew full well that if I were there I would have taken Runciter's head," I continued with a snarl,

"You have been killing her for the past nine years, it's a miracle that she lived this long considering that every single pregnancy was a battle of life and death,"

"Everyone except our idiot of a grandfather told you to stop after Rhaenyra was born but you did not and poor Aemma was too dutiful to beg for her life."

"ENOUGH," Viserys shouted back with his eyes wide open in fear and anger, he is shaking like a leaf and he might very well cut himself soon.

"I have had it with your self-righteousness, just because you were Father's favorite and you have your life all set together doesn't mean that you get to look down on the rest of us mortals who are still struggling with the challenges of life."

"None of you have any idea what it's like to be King, the crown doesn't lie heavy on your head and I pray to the Gods it never does, neither of you goes to sleep at night with the burden of all Seven Kingdoms on your shoulders."

"Managing a city or a bunch of bureaucrats or even the City Watch is nowhere close to what I have to bear."

"I am surrounded by powerful men with strong personalities who think that they can do a better job than me and they might be right but for better or for worse the crown has landed on my head so I must do my duty to the Crown, to the Kingdoms and the people because that is all that I can do,"

"And having an heir is a part of that, so YES Aegon, I sacrificed Aemma for an heir BECAUSE THAT IS MY FUCKING JOB,"

"ONLY FOR THE GODS TO LAUGH AND SHIT ON ME," Viserys finished with tears streaming down his cheeks.

"And you, Daemon, you have no allies in court but Aegon and I, and even Aegon balks at having to defend your foolishness in court," Viserys turns to him with fire in his eyes.

"I have only ever defended you against everyone and everything that I have given you, you have thrown it back at my face,"

"You have only ever tried to send me away, to the Vale, the City Watch, anywhere but by your side where even Aegon has a place." Daemon angrily retorted.

"TWO YEARS you have been King and yet not once have you named me to your Small Council much less to be your Hand,"

Viserys scoffs, "Small Council, Hand? Don't make me laugh, have you forgotten, you were given a seat in the Small Council only for you to lose it within a week because you were incompetent as an administrator."

"Even the City Watch, you never do the whole job, Aegon and Lord Beesbury have to clean up after you, Aegon has to ensure that justice reaches the right people because your purges made it very clear that your sense of justice is more than stilted while Lord Beesbury has to ensure that the money spent on the City Watch is being put to good use instead of lining the pockets of your sycophants,"

"So tell me Daemon why should I name you my Hand?" Viserys asks with a condescending tone.

"Because I am your brother and the blood of the dragon runs thick," Daemon responded.

"Then why do you both cut me so deeply," Viserys asked with his emotions running wild.

"We have only ever spoken the truth and we seek to protect you," I answered in a calming voice.

"For we see Otto Hightower for what he is," Daemon finishes for us.

"A loyal and unwavering Hand," Viserys begins only for the two of us to cut it out,

"A CUNT"

"A CUNT"

"A second son who stands to inherit nothing he doesn't seize for himself," Daemon continues.

"Otto Hightower is a man more honorable than you both will ever be," Viserys defends him.

"Is that so, then I have some news for you, your Otto isn't so honorable, he fucking lied to you and the Small Council about me when it came to that meeting which you all had about the succession," I cut in before Daemon could say anything,

"I am well aware of that, Otto told me as such earlier today, for he thought that as you are in line for the throne you won't be able to give an unbiased opinion, I chastised him accordingly but no more for he did it thinking about my best interests and that of the Realm."

"Are you being serious right now!" I asked with shock,

"For the first time you have been at a loss for words, Aegon, turns out that not everything is as you think it to be," Viserys said with a scoff.

"Regardless, he doesn't protect you like how we would," Daemon continued.

"From what?" Viserys asked deridingly.

"Yourself," I answered.

"You are weak Viserys and that council of leeches and worms know it and they feast upon you at the cost of our family," Daemon said as Viserys looked on in stony silence.

Viserys then sighed and took a deep breath before tightening his grip on Blackfyre and then he said, "I have decided to name a new heir,"

"I am your heir and Aegon after me and the twins following that," Daemon argued.

Viserys shook his head "Not anymore, your rampage in Myr has convinced me that you both are far too impulsive and bloodthirsty to be my Heirs,"

He turned to Daemon "You will return to your lady wife in Runestone at once and you are to do so without quarrel by the order of your King until the time for war comes,"

He then turned to me and said, "As for you, Aegon, it seems your duties are too few and light so you shall take over Daemon's duties in the City Watch, the Fire Watch, and the war effort of both the Crownlands in addition to your previous duties for it's time you learned what a real burden is."

Daemon takes a step toward Viserys only for the Kingsguard to put their hands on their swords and block him.

For a few tense moments, nobody dares to move a muscle.

"As you wish your Grace," Daemon grudgingly says before he storms off and I follow him soon after.