Chapter 25: The Hunt

112 AC

Small Council Chambers,

Red Keep, King's Landing

Birthdays were the days when kids got to indulge themselves with their parents saying yes to everything and this birthday for little Aegon was no different, the birthday boy was playing with my sons and other noble boys in the courtyard while Alicent oversaw the servants for the upcoming hunt while I had to deal with the politics of the Small Council.

"The situation in the Stepstones is getting worse, the Dornish pirates are starting to menace our shipping lanes, while it is not as bad as that of the Triarchy, it is a sign of bigger things to come if we don't act now the Stepstones will become like the Marches," Tyland reports as Viserys listens impassively while filling his plate for his meal before leaving for the hunt.

"Daemon will take care of it, it is not like a bunch of Dornishmen on boats can trouble us too much," Viserys waves it off with a chicken leg.

"Your Grace, as a Stormlander, I advise you not to underestimate those sand eaters, they are the most dishonorable lot of people ever to grace Westeros," Jasper responded with a little fire, as a Stormlander he had plenty of experience with the Dornish, even if he wasn't a Marcher.

Lyonel cuts in "The matter of Stepstones can be kept aside for now, the Dornish pirates are not an urgent problem for we have a bigger trouble to deal with."

Lyman continues "And that is the riot in Duskendale, a mob of Lyseni merchants attacked the Braavosi and Pentoshi merchants, Lord Gunthor Darkyln has been lax in his response causing outrage by the emissaries of Braavos and Pentos."

"Seven Hells, these merchants," Viserys grumbles into his plate.

"Your Grace, I suggest that we send a couple of knights and a hundred men-at-arms to Duskendale to restore order and ensure justice, if Lord Gunthor Darklyn can't keep the Peace, then we have to do it ourselves, also I suggest that we increase the taxes for Duskendale by a tenth for the next two months as punishment for his failure to deal with riots that have caused embarrassment for the Crown," Lyonel advises Viserys who absentmindedly nods.

"Of course, the reason why the Lyseni merchants are so bold has to do with Lord Darkyln giving massive trade concessions to them to reinvigorate the decline of his town, especially after seeing it work so well elsewhere," Tyland quips which also causes everyone in the table to look at me.

"Why is everyone looking at me?" I ask defensively.

Lyman cocks an eyebrow, "Prince Aegon, ever since you gave trade concessions to the Rogares and then later to the Braavosi and Pentoshi merchants which have caused trade and wealth in Fairmarket to grow tenfold, nearly every other Lord with a middling town or port has tried to emulate you, many failing and causing a decline of the native merchants,"

"So, I didn't tell them to do what they did and if they did and failed it is on their head not to mention I have set up protections to ensure that the native merchants are not so easily displaced," I responded with a shrug. Of course, the merchant guilds nearly rioted if I hadn't given them trade protections when I allowed the establishment of a Lyseni quarter in Fairmarket. This, in turn, has caused a decline in my income but I have managed to tide over any trouble with the help of my bank. It is not my fault that other Lords didn't bother to keep their Essosi merchants on a leash.

The type of large-scale trade concessions that the other Lords have given the Essosi merchants are similar to what Alexios Komnenos gave the Venetians which would go on to cause the Massacre of the Latins. One of the many ways that they convince Lords into such ridiculous deals is through bribery, similar to what Daemon and I received in the Stepstones, each Lord was given a few chests of gold and jewels which immediately switched off their rational brain.

The Essosi merchants that did the trading were not the small merchants who exported only between a couple of cities but rather big exporters with large fortunes and with family-run banks in support, some of them have even started to tie themselves to the landed aristocracy to ensure that their benefits don't run away when there is a change in leadership.

"The towns of Duskendale, Maidenpool, Lord Hewett's Town, Ryamsport, Saltpans, Cuy, Lordsport, and Sisterton are all suffering from the problem of Essosi merchants dominating their trade because they followed what you did without thinking, none of them have any Royal bailout assured if things go bad," Lyman counters.

"That's enough talk of merchants, if Lords are foolish enough to sign away ridiculous terms then they deserve to suffer the consequences, the Crown will only step in if things go much worse than expected." Viserys cuts in defending me, "Anything else, we have a hunt coming up and I don't want to be burdened with any more work,"

"This concerns the hunt, Your Grace, a couple of our trackers claim to have spotted a White Hart in the Kingswood," Lyonel replies while I can see Jasper's eyes twinkle.

"Your Grace, before the dragons arrived in Westeros the White Hart was the symbol of Royalty and it is called the King of the Kingswood, an auspicious sign indeed for Prince Aegon the Younger's fifth nameday. While I am not one to" Jasper starts before I cut him off.

"Yes, we know, you aren't the only one who knows that, you need not go on further." I shoot him a look that causes him to shut up but I know that he will continue his speech when I am not around. Alicent and all her sycophants will love this piece of gossip, this news is sure to go around.

I share a look with Viserys before he gets up and delightedly claps his hands and says, "Very well, let us depart, I can foresee that this will be a memorable hunt."

As everyone gets up to leave, Viserys pulls me aside and says, "Can you go and find Rhaenyra, she has been angry with me for the past week because I canceled her tour, I am afraid she might not go for this hunt and you know how that will look for our family."

I sighed as I nodded.

Godswood of the Red Keep

I found her sitting on the roots of the great oak tree and staring aimlessly at Blackwater Bay, the sunlight filtering through the leaves falling on her gave her an ethereal look.

"You know if sit too long near a tree, the roots will grab you and make you one with the tree." I jested as she took notice of my approach.

"Very funny, nuncle," She drawled as she looked away.

"What has put you in such a bad mood? And don't tell me it is because your father canceled the tour, you know that you can do it next year or some other year and people will prostrate themselves before you just like they do now." I said as I sat next to her on the roots.

She gives a weak laugh before she turns bitter and says to me, "It is about the White Hart, people have been talking as if it is a sign from the Seven that Aegon should be king because that stupid beast just happened to be seen on his nameday."

"Since when do we Targaryens ever care about what men or gods think? Have you forgotten, we are above them?" I answered back with Daemon's attitude.

"I don't but the same cannot be said about my pliable father." She replied with a bite.

"Your father has not changed the succession for five years and he won't for fifty more." I countered. While Viserys is pliable, he isn't one to waver over his decisions, it was one of the lessons that our father taught all three of us, 'Once you decide on something, stay with it to the end no matter what' and that is something that all three of us have taken to heart though we express it in different ways.

She didn't reply to that for a while so I continued, "He loved your mother more than anything and Alicent is merely a political replacement, a part of him died with Aemma, and he still honors her memory every day, just like our father did for our mother."

"Yet, not enough to not marry that witch Alicent, Grandfather Baelon did not marry anyone after Grandmother Alyssa died, not even his beautiful sister Viserra." Rhaenyra bit back with more than a little resentment.

"That is an ant hill that you don't want to poke, Nyra," I say to end that conversation, the thing that happened between my father and Viserra and what happened after was a great taboo in the family. For a man with such a successful reign, Old Jae sure did have a lot of family problems, if you patch up one hole another two break out.

"Still, come to the hunt, stop sulking, stand proud, and show everyone that you don't believe in their nonsense." I pressed.

She got up and dusted off her velvet maroon dress that had golden dragon embroidery and said in mock outrage, "How dare you, a Princess does not sulk."

We held each other's stare before laughing.

Royal Camp, Kingswood

"All hail, Aegon the Conqueror-babe, second of his name, here is to his fifth nameday," Hobert publically hailed little Aegon as he and his mother descended from the wheelhouse. Rhaenyra coming right behind them gave a baleful glare toward Hobert but he ignored it as he basked in the glory of being the herald for his future king. She gave me a look and I nodded in reassurance, I would take care of that idiot.

My sons were the next ones to come running out of the wheelhouse, they ran straight to me and immediately began to resume their whining about why they weren't allowed to ride with me. After that issue was settled, I walked into the main Royal Pavilion while the boys ran off to play with Lorent right behind them.

I conversed with a few Lords and though no one dare say it to my face, the economic situation that a good number of Lords were facing was the main talk of all gossip circles with quite a few people placing the blame for it on my feet.

"The very notion of supporting foreign merchants over our own Westerosi is utterly preposterous." Isembard Arryn loudly announces in his circle which causes me to walk towards them, while his back is turned toward me so he doesn't see me approach though his friends do and they pale. None dare to say anything.

"Said a man who has prospered in trade with those very same Essosi merchants." Lord Footly retorts after seeing me. While he had his dealing with Essosi merchants, he was one of the few who wisely did not just throw away trading rights at them.

An offended, drunk, and oblivious Isembard answers "My dealings with the Lyseni are no different compared to any other, I am not a fool, I have not fallen in bed with the Lyseni bankers like Prince Aegon who simply signed away large trade concessions, who in their right mind would even do that, and all for a Valyrian steel sword, no doubt he was jealous that his brothers have them and he doesn't."

That is when I place my hand over the shoulder of Isembard and join the group, "I admit that I have slept with more than a few Lyseni whores but I doubt I have slept with a Lyseni banker." I say with a chuckle and upon seeing me and my hand over his shoulders, Isembard nearly gets a heart attack but I am not done with him.

"I mean in my right mind anyway I wouldn't sleep with a banker, but who knows what I will do in my wrong mind, and who knows it might be a beautiful banker." I continued with a thoughtful look before giving him a 'friendly' shake by his shoulders the dumbass was close to pissing himself, he was shaking with his wine cup clearly on the verge of falling while it was deathly silent all around, plus a few more gossip circles became quiet to see what was happening.

"Then again, my brothers do have Blackfyre and Dark Sister, so it is unfair that I don't have one isn't and that is exactly why I may have bartered the financial stability of Westeros for a sword." I continue with a nod and a smile that unnerves everyone. "I happen to agree with your sayings Lord Isembard, you are a wise man, after all, a man from the cadet branch who happens to be richer than his overlords must be a very clever man, the Gilded Falcon they call you, is it not?" I have spent so much time in Daemon's company that I have become an asshole just like him.

"I have Dragonclaw right here," I say with a pat on the sword on my belt, "Would you like to see him, I must warn you he has quite a bite, after all, nothing is sharper than Valyrian Steel but I am sure you know all about that, don't you?"

He stutters "Yo-, your gr- grace, my deepest apologies, I am," I cut his drunken rambling with a pat on the back that may have been a tad bit too hard.

"But why are you apologizing Lord Isembard, I was merely agreeing with you." I continued with my fun but before I could mentally destroy him, a squire who either had balls of steel or was blissfully unaware of what was going on interrupted me while everyone looked on.

"Prince Aegon, his grace the King has requested your presence." The boy said looking at me like he hasn't interrupted my fun. He is lucky that I am not Daemon, he would have whipped him to death as he nearly did to that messenger in Dragonstone.

"Very well, tell the King that I will be coming soon," I said to him and he nodded and walked off. I turned to a cowering Isembard and leaned toward him and whispered into his ear, "The Gods have favored you today but I warn you if I hear another word coming out of your mouth that I don't like and people will start calling you the Gelded falcon"

The man shivered as I slapped him on the back and left while the poor guy probably fainted.

I reached the part of the tent where I found Rhaenyra and Viserys arguing, the area around Viserys was covered by a curtain I doubt people wouldn't know what is going on.

"Let me guess it is the marriage talk." I drawled as I interrupted them. They both turn to look at me, Viserys with an exasperated look while Rhaenyra has an angry look, as I approach Viserys says, "Here is another one out to make my life miserable as if those already there aren't good enough, was it really necessary for you to go and make that poor bastard's life miserable?"

"Who?" I ask nonplussed, while Rhaenyra gives out a chuckle, "The person who you nearly killed by talking to him."

"Not that you are any better, you insulted Lady Joselyn Redwyne in front of all the ladies." Viserys cuts in at her.

"She was harping about doing our duty to the realm all the while she and her dog were eating cake." Rhaenyra retorted.

"Never mind that now, I will deal with all that later," Viserys says cutting off the conversation on what we have done and changing it to what we need to do.

"Rhaenyra, I will brook no complaints on this, you will get married once you are six and ten and that is final, the question is who and I am willing to give you a choice something that other daughters do not get," Viserys said with a tone of finality.

Rhaenyra didn't bother to reply and she angrily stormed out of the tent while Viserys gave out a sigh before collapsing on his chair and taking the cup and having it filled with purple strongwine from the Arbor. He speaks after taking a long gulp.

"And now you, Aegon, why can't you just let people say what they want? Sure some people might hold you responsible for what is happening but you shouldn't bother with that, people have been saying that Rhaenys is the rightful queen well into my reign do you think that I care? Before it was the matter of succession then it became the matter of the Stepstones and now this merchant nonsense, people will find something to talk about."

"Some words are wind others are treason," I responded. "If you keep waving off talk you might find yourself in an unfortunate situation of your negligence."

"If you start cutting out tongues for what people are saying you will only prove that you are fearing what they will say for it might be the truth," Viserys sagely advises me while I hold back a snort, this talk will bite him in the ass one day.

"And what about those who seek to undermine Rhaenyra's claim as the Princess of Dragonstone, there are plenty in the camp alone who think that you should name little Aegon as the heir, can I threaten them," I ask him then because the best way to threaten someone is when you have permission from the king to do so.

"That you can do, but only to those who talk ill of Rhaenyra and seek to undermine her claim," He nods as he takes another gulp. If he doesn't pace himself he is going to have a killer of a hangover tomorrow.

"As you wish brother." I nod and he collapses back on the chair. I ask "Still troubled about Rhaenyra."

"Of course I am, I always am, she refuses to get married and what am I to do with her?" He complains.

I shrug, "I wouldn't know for I have no daughters but I will warn you if you forcibly marry her then she might end up having a marriage like Daemon, you need her to think it is her choice when you control all her choices." He nods in thought before grabbing a fig from the plate of fruits.

I leave the pavilion and as I walk out I hear that Jason, Tyland, and Hobert are sitting and talking inside the Lannister tent so I make my way toward their tent with a smile on my face upon seeing me approach the tent, the guards, servants, and household knights don't know what to do, a minor cousin tried to stall me but I sent him scampering with a look, and I enter the tent and upon seeing me all talk in the tent stops. All three of them look at me in shock and in Tyland's case a bit of fear. They were sitting on a table with roast fowl between them, it looks like I interrupted something important for them.

The Lannister tent is more than opulent, only slightly smaller than the Royal one, with Myrish rugs and ornate furniture, and a shit ton of gold covering the whole place.

"Your Grace, what a delightful surprise! I did not know that you were coming," Jason says after recovering from his shock before saying the last part with a sharp look towards his rapidly paling guards who were regretting their choice of profession.

I replied with a smile "Well, it was as a spur of the moment, I intended on talking with all three of you, I thought that I would have to find and talk to every one of you separately but to my good fortune all three of you are here, so I decided to come in, I hope that I am not intruding on anything serious."

"Of course not, Your Grace, we were just sharing simple pleasantries and catching up on affairs." Tyland smoothly answers.

"By all means, Your Grace, do join us, I will have a plate brought before you," Jason says before I tell him not to.

"Don't worry, this won't take too long, it will be a simple conversation and I need to keep my stomach empty for the feast tonight," I say with a chuckle while Lannisters nervously chuckle with me all the while Hobert looks on in silence. He knows exactly why I am here.

"It is a good day, my Lords, I gather that this hunt will be one for us all to remember," I say jovially as I sit beside Tyland and right in front of Hobert.

"Of course, Your Grace," Tyland cautiously says while Jason wishes to say something but doesn't. And for a few moments, I sit in silence while they exchange glances before I speak again looking at Hobert.

"Can we talk in private, my Lords, I wish to speak with you about a rather delicate matter," I ask them.

"Oh, no worries, Your Grace, you need to have no fear of anything," Jason replies looking at the two of them who nod in his support. Understanding my meaning he dismisses the servants, household knights, minor cousins, and guards inside the tent. No doubt plenty of them will be standing by the cloth walls to feed the gossip.

Once everyone is gone and I am satisfied that even an eavesdropper will only get bits and pieces of the conversation I begin to speak.

"Everyone tends to misjudge me, you know, they think that I am another version of Daemon but I am not for I am far more merciful than Daemon ever is, I don't kill people in a rage, I don't make decisions without thinking for I think long and hard before I do anything and neither do I make threats that I have no intention of carrying out, whatever I do I am very honest in my dealings," I say with as much sincerity as I can muster.

"Of course, your grace, who would dare suggest otherwise?" Jason asks in an ingratiating way.

I continue talking without responding to him all the while looking at Hobert, "Now of course, I am a man and all men do err and I admit that I have erred more than a few times, I have done things I am ashamed of and I deeply regret."

Hobert finally speaks, "We are all imperfect in one way or the other, not all of us are ever perfect beings."

I agree with a smirk "Exactly, we are all imperfect." Then during the pause, the inner Mark Antony in me comes out and I take hold of Hobert's hands that are on the table, he is startled and tries to pry free but my grip is more strong, "I forgive you, Lord Hobert, you are uncle to the Queen and my goodsister and as such we are extended family and so I forgive you."

"I don't know what you mean," He says while trying to slowly pry his hands but I hold on tight while the other two golden cats watch.

"Did you think that I didn't hear what you said as the Royal Family left the wheelhouse? Nothing escapes me, I have eyes and ears from Castle Black to Sunspear, Lannisport to Qarth, anything that happens I hear of it, and now when you say treasonous words in front of me did you think that I was a fool to not notice it." He starts to whimper but I continue.

I chuckle as I tighten my grip on his hands as he starts to panic, "So be assured of this, my dear Lord Hobert, if I ever hear of your name connected in circles of murmurs of treachery," I pull his hands closer as his breath starts to increase its pace as I whisper menacingly, "I will chop off these pink little hands of yours and nail them to the Gate of the Gods for all men to see."

Then I let him go as he scrambles away and then I get up and turn towards the other two men who are still shocked by what they have seen, "A fair warning to the two of you, it will be quite unfortunate if someone were to accuse you of having a poor taste in friends so I suggest that you be careful,"

After that, I strut back to the Royal Pavilion.

Later that Evening

While Hobert, Jason, and Tyland may not have said a word to anyone, the word that I went to the Lannister tent and things may have done a Daemon has started to circulate, fortunately, Viserys dismissed such rumors because why wouldn't he and according to Robb, who happens to be bedding one of Alicent's handmaidens, she is still trying to get the information from her uncle on what exactly happened in the tent but Hobert has been tight-lipped about it and passed it off saying, 'It is the talk of men that noblewoman need not concern themselves with.'

Despite being a Queen, Alicent doesn't have much respect from Hobert as he considers her failure to convince Viserys to name Aegon as heir as a huge failure that has let down all of House Hightower and its ambitions, and the same goes for Otto, I believe.

But right now I had another fun thing to watch. Viserys putting Jason in his place, it looks like the idiot did not learn anything from me while his twin brother has done well to make himself scarce.

"It is your sworn duty to report rebellion stirring in my kingdom," A drunk Viserys says to Jason with a not-so-happy look.

"Rebellion? There's been nothing of the sort, Your Grace, I," Jason pales and starts to stumble in his words as he glimpses me looking at him impassively.

"I did not decide to name Rhaenyra my heir on a whim, all the lords of the Kingdom would do well to remember that," Viserys warns him, good thing that he is not slurring his words, else that would have taken the heat of the warning.

"And if they needed to be reminded, my brother Aegon here is more than happy to visit these Lords in their keeps and refresh their memory on who is my heir," Viserys says resolutely which causes flashbacks in Jason who begins to pale even more. Looks like all three of us love intimidating Lords, we just do it in our different ways.

But before it could continue, Viserys dismisses him with a "Thank you for the gift."

"That man's pride has pride," Viserys grumbles to me as Jason walks away.

"That tends to happen when you sit on a mountain of gold, his father Tymond was no different," I answered thinking back to the Great Council. "Well, I better get going, I need to ensure that the boys are in bed, it is a big day for them tomorrow, it's their first hunt."

Viserys begins to reminisce "Ah, yes, the first hunt, I remember mine, yours, and Daemon's, it is pity you won't be joining us for the White Hart."

"Yes it is but the boys need to have a separate hunt and we can't have that mixing with your White Hart," I replied. The first hunt is something of a momentous milestone in a noble boy's life and I couldn't have that mixing with a vanity hunt for a White Hart and so I took another part of the Kingswood which was opposite where the White Hart was seen.

"Take care of Rhaenyra as well, only the gods know why she wants to go on the hunt but keep her safe, Ser Steffon and Ser Lorent will be with you," Viserys tells me, Rhaenyra begged me and Viserys to bring her along for the hunt as she couldn't stand to be in the same tent as Alicent while the men were off hunting, Viserys was never one to say no to Rhaenyra for long and so Rhaenyra was coming with me on the boys' first hunt which would also become her first hunt.

"Don't worry brother, I will take care of her," I replied before I left the party to find my sons and put them to bed before heading back for the bonfire.

Next Morning

I start my hunt with my usual hunting party: servants, personal guards, and huntsmen accompanied by half a dozen trained bloodhounds. My sons, the two Kingsguard, and Rhaenyra were the new inclusions. Robb attends as well, he is fond of hunting by himself but he tends to accompany me as well back when we hunt in the Riverlands.

Three huntsmen go up in the front, advancing slowly and quietly as spotters while the rest of us followed in the rear. We were armed with boar spears, bows, arrows, swords, and daggers. Robb had his weirwood longbow while I had my dragonbone bow, we had more range than anyone else in the party with our bows.

Rhaenyra for a change was not wearing her usual rich dresses of purple and maroon velvet but rather her riding leathers which happened to accentuate her curves and with her hair tied up in intricate braid like that of Visenya caused more than a few men in the party to choke on their spit upon seeing her, I had to shake myself to get my head back in order, I need to get laid.

The huntsmen spread across the woodland with the hounds, searching for a good quarry, Robb and I did catch a few rabbits and we did shoot down a few birds and the twins did try to catch rabbits and birds on their own but it seems that their marksmanship is lacking, maybe I need to increase their training with bows, I can't have people saying that my sons don't know how to shoot.

And then we find what we are looking for, the broken branches and trampled foliage, a boar's tracks are easily spotted. A boar is just what I need for this hunt and nobody in our company is drunk.

After following the trail for a while we come upon a clearing where we find a large wild boar, and boy is this a dangerous one. Robb and I get down from our horses and nock our arrows as we slowly approach the beast. The boar sees us and first gives a warning snort as it readies to charge at us at the slightest provocation.

The wind is perfect and the time is right and both our arrows fly straight into the beast's side going through its thick hide, still, the boar does not die. Instead, it rises, making a deep grunt of rage and pain and then it charges straight at us with its sharp tusks ready to skewer us like Robert Baratheon. While Robb prepares another arrow I am quickly given a boar spear by an attendant.

I hold the spear tight and position myself firmly as I wait for the beast to charge to its death, the second arrow from Robb does little to stop the boar's charge as the boar is full of fury and no pain. By the time Robb readies his third arrow, the boar reaches the range of the spear, despite being wounded that thing is faster than one would think.

My heart beats faster and louder as I aim the spear for the boar's head and I wait as it advances closer and closer and then it happens, both my strength and the momentum of the boar's charge drive the spear into its skull. The wild boar is slain and everyone cheers.

For a few minutes I wait to regain my breath before I call the twins forward, they slowly come forward with shock and awe in their eyes at what I have done. I take my dagger while one of the huntsmen shifts the boar to expose its neck, I cut open the neck, and the blood flows out, I place my hand in the path of the blood and then I smear it on their foreheads to show that they have been baptized in the blood of the hunt.

"Well, this will make a fine dinner," Robb remarks as I nod.

"Great hunting nuncle, that was something I can't place words to, my heart was beating so loud I thought you all would have heard it," Rhaenyra breathlessly says to me as she comes to inspect the kill. I know that feeling, "You aren't the only one Nyra, every hunt is like that, no matter how skilled of a hunter you are,"

As we return to the camp with our quarry, one of the huntsmen approaches, "Your Grace, we have found the tracks of a deer."

"Should we go for it, we already have a boar," Robb asks me. I was tempted to not go after the deer but then Rhaenyra spoke up, "We should go after it, the other hunting party is going after the White Hart, and as such we must have twice the quarry to make up for it,"

After thinking for a while I said, "You heard the Princess, let's go for the deer," Daemon and Aegor nearly cheered when I said that but I cut them off before they got too loud, it seems that in their excitement for their first hunt, they forgot the rule number one of hunting: be quiet.

As we approach the spot, another huntsman comes toward me, "Your Grace, there is a slight problem."

"What is it?" I asked bemused, he shook his head, "You should see it yourself, Your Grace."

Robb and I slowly approach the spot where the deer was last seen and upon seeing it from a distance I realized what the problem was, it was no ordinary deer, it was a full-grown White Hart, looks like the White Hart that everyone has been searching for has managed to slip through the net. It was a beautiful creature, each of its antlers had at least ten spines. The stag is busy feeding on the grass to notice us and we are at quite a fair bit distance, I know that only I can take the shot from this distance, not even Robb can hit the stag at this distance.

For a moment I did not know what to do while Robb looked at me, I took a deep breath before readying my arrow. I grab my bow and I nock the shaft, I keep my breath steady and the White Hart in my sight, I hold my breath and then I release the arrow.

My aim is true, it hits the animal in the neck, startled, it tries to run away but after a few minutes of following it we find it lying in the grass as its lifeblood leaks out staining its beautiful white coat in red, it isn't completely dead but on the way.

I walk toward it while the others keep their distance, I take out my dagger and then I call Rhaenyra, "Nyra, it is your turn,"

Rhaenyra dismounts from her horse and slowly walks towards me and the dying White Hart. I spoke as I handed her the dagger, "Put the beast out of its misery, the King of the Kingswood deserves to be killed by only you, after all, it is a sign." People have been harping about it for days, so we might as well make it true.

I shifted the stag's head and I show her the killing spot, "Here, a simple slice would do."

She nodded resolutely as she held the dagger and did a perfect cut.