Aemon Targaryen

-Chapter 122-

-POV Rickon Stark-

"What are we going to do?" Bennard asked me, visibly worried about the Prince's threats, who seemed determined not to accept "no" as an answer.

'I wanted to maintain a certain neutrality in this conflict, but that seems increasingly difficult given his attitude,' I thought, realizing the Prince had deliberately come early this year to secure our support.

"I don't know. We really have no choice but to yield to his will," I replied.

"We can't accept something so outrageous," Bennard retorted, frustrated.

I raised an eyebrow before responding:

"And what would you have me do to oppose him?"

'Winter is about to begin, and beyond that, none of our armies could stand against his dragon,' I thought, annoyed by my brother's narrow-mindedness, focused only on the Prince's affront and threats.

"He's not the only dragon rider in the kingdom," Bennard said, reading my thoughts without me needing to speak.

"But none of them will stand against him," I replied, knowing that familial ties among them would prevent any real harm to each other.

'It is us who will bear the wrath of the dragons if we choose the wrong side,' I thought.

"And what if I told you I managed to make contact with one of them?" Bennard said after a few seconds.

"Who?" I asked, alarmed but also irritated that he had done this behind my back.

"Prince Daemon," he said, lowering his eyes.

"You're joking. Prince Daemon is his father!" I exclaimed, furious.

"That doesn't stop him from sharing some of our views. And through our correspondence, I learned that Prince Aemon frightens the king so much that he secretly allied with House Greyjoy to sink any ship bearing the Prince's banners that crosses the Narrow Sea," Bennard explained.

I frowned. "The king allied with Prince Daemon to secure the aid of another dragon rider?"

"He's done much more than that. When Prince Aemon returns to the capital, he's in for a huge surprise," Bennard said, handing me a message sealed with royal insignias.

I quickly read the letter, which detailed numerous conflicts and tensions, some of which I hadn't even known about, as well as news that could change everything.

"If what's written here is true, we should be even more inclined to maintain our neutrality in this conflict," I declared, folding the letter after finishing it.

"I agree," Bennard said.

'With this news, I can no longer side with the Prince for now. Otherwise, the entire future of the North could be jeopardized,' I thought.

I took a deep breath, then, after a few moments, exhaled and said:

"Very well. We will remain neutral. And if the time ever comes to publicly choose a side, we will align ourselves with the will of His Grace, King Viserys."

'Even if we lose the Prince's help, the North has prepared itself well thanks to him. We'll survive this winter. We'll figure out the rest when the time comes,' I thought, slightly uneasy at how Prince Aemon might react.

"Perfect," Bennard said, relieved.

"However, I will inform the Prince beforehand," I added, to Bennard's great surprise.

'He will see this as betrayal, but if I truly betray him, we'll be at odds, and that's not my goal,' I thought.

"Why?" Bennard asked, intrigued.

"I will be clear with him about the limits of our alliance. We are Starks, not Boltons. That name means something… our word has value."

---

-POV Cregan Stark-

"Prince," I said, looking at Prince Aemon, who was sitting on the edge of the balcony, swinging his legs into the void.

"What do you want?" the Prince asked without even looking at me.

"Father summons you to his solar," I replied, crossing my hands behind my back.

"Very well," the Prince said without taking his eyes off his dragon, Urrax, flying in the sky with an astonishing speed for a dragon of his size.

'No dragon is this fast. Even the Red Queen, Meleys, cannot match Urrax's speed,' I thought, admiring my tutor's dragon.

"Did you want something else?" he asked, turning toward me after noticing I was still standing there, dazed.

I shook my head, and then he added:

"You will accompany me to speak with your father. I want you there."

"I'm not…" I began before being interrupted by the Prince's stern tone:

"You are my cupbearer, and I want you present. Wait for me at the door."

'Father won't be pleased,' I thought, leaving the room, confused about what I should do.

It took only a few minutes before the door I had closed reopened, and the Prince emerged, wearing light leather armor and carrying his Valyrian steel sword at his side.

Without even glancing at me or signaling for me to follow, he started walking.

But I had known him long enough to understand when I was expected to follow in silence without question.

As we made our way to my father's solar, my thoughts swirled. I tried to decipher the reasons behind the solemn expressions of both the Prince and my father.

But in the end, I could only wonder in silence.

Once we reached my father's solar, the guards intended to announce the Prince's arrival, but he opened the doors without regard for courtesy.

'This isn't his domain, yet he acts as if he is lord here,' I thought, frowning in disapproval, though I refrained from speaking since my opinion did not yet carry weight.

"Your Grace," Father said, standing and bowing slightly to greet the Prince respectfully, something my uncle Bennard did not do as he leaned against the wall in a corner of the solar.

"Take a seat," Father invited politely.

"I don't need one. Tell me why you summoned me—what couldn't have been addressed over supper," the Prince replied, his tone slightly aggressive.

I turned my gaze to Father, who stared at the Prince for a long moment before sighing. He then declared:

"I wish to clearly define the boundaries of our alliance."

"To redefine the boundaries of our alliance," the Prince corrected, implying that Father had not upheld his initial word, briefly smiling as though he already knew what would be said.

Uncle Bennard frowned and said disapprovingly, "We've never…" But he didn't get to finish his sentence before the Prince cut him off without even glancing in his direction:

"I don't address underlings. Stay in your place."

Uncle Bennard clenched his fists but remained silent, leaving Father to continue:

"We never spoke of openly rebelling against the king… but I must admit, we also did not properly establish this alliance. And I never specified that I wouldn't rebel. That's why I wish to revisit the terms of our alliance."

The Prince observed Father without saying a word, which Father took as an invitation to continue:

"We remain allied on commercial and military matters, but we will not go to war against a king to whom we have already sworn allegiance."

---

Sorry for this slightly delayed chapter, but I've been sick for two days. You were right; the all-nighter didn't do me any good, and the drop in temperatures didn't help either.

I took advantage of yesterday afternoon to rest and take a nap, which gave me the energy to write today's chapter and even the one for Wednesday. I don't know what came over me, but I was really inspired and wrote over 3,000 words in less than four hours.

I considered releasing the extra chapter today, but I ultimately decided not to. Since I'm sick and unsure if my condition might worsen, it's better to have a chapter ready just in case.

---

Regarding this chapter, I imagine some will be surprised while others won't, but things are starting to get more complicated for Aemon, who until now was skillfully manipulating everyone and playing his game perfectly.

Since his rebirth, he had a significant advantage: his knowledge of the future and his partial understanding of each character.

However, the script is now moving in an unknown direction because he has changed too many things for his information to remain 100% reliable.

He is becoming public enemy number one, as he is accumulating too much power and disturbing everyone.

He instills fear in far too many people.