LotwD - Book 1 : Rise of the White Dragon

Aemon Targaryen (92 A.C. First Moon)

Kingslanding – Lyanna's chambers.

A few moments after the birth of Aemon

A few moments after the birth of Aemon

It was after he had been nursed by his new father that Baelon spoke up. "You can let them in," Baelon commanded one of the servants.

They entered. The first to walk in was an older lady with a small tiara on her head, reminding him of what Daenerys had worn when he met her on Dragonstone. Queen Alysanne, the Good Queen. Perhaps the best and most influential Queen besides Visenya and Rhaenys, he thought as he looked at the woman. Beside her was a small girl, perhaps ten namedays old, with the familiar looks of House Targaryen.

"Mother, little sister, meet Aemon," his father announced. Baelon gently took Aemon from his mother's arms and carried him over to them. 'Hmm, sister. I'm not certain what time I've been born into yet. Considering the Queen's age and her children, this must be Gael, the Winter Child,' he thought as he observed Alysanne and the small girl.

"He looks wonderful, a blend of you both. A sadness that your brother isn't here," Alysanne said, tears glistening in her eyes as she trailed a hand down his cheek.

Aemon giggled. 'Oh, that was a childish impulse. Oh dear, I'll have to learn to control all of that again,' he thought, embarrassed by his giggle. "Yes, a true blend," his father said, smiling.

Baelon looked up as they heard footsteps. "Father, meet your fourth grandson." "Ah, a strong and curious lad. You can see him looking at us. Congratulations, son, and to you, good-daughter," King Jaehaerys said joyfully.

'Yet there was more in the eyes of the old man, a curiosity I don't quite understand,' Aemon thought, staring back at Jaehaerys. "Father, I hear I have another brother," a voice asked.

"It's true, son. Another brother, something we both doubted would happen again. Yet here he is," Baelon said as he placed Aemon in his brother's arms. 'Was this Daemon or Viserys?' Aemon wondered.

"See, Viserys, you'll be fine when your own babe arrives. Where is Aemma and your brother?" Baelon asked, smiling.

"Thank you, Father. Aemma is in the gardens with her ladies. She said she should be here soon. As for Daemon, I do not know. He stormed away earlier," Viserys replied.

"Hmm, he'll come around," Baelon said, though his smile didn't quite reach his eyes. 'Was there something about Daemon? Did he dislike that Father remarried or that I was born?' Aemon wondered as he began to move restlessly.

"Want to go back to your muna?" Viserys asked him. 'Yes, I want that. Now I have one and won't be parted for too long'  he thought, letting out a gurgle in response. "Ah, my little boy," his mother said as she took him from Viserys.

"Come, let's give mother and son some rest. We can all see the babe again later. Well done, Lya," his grandmother said as she kissed his mother's forehead before leaving the chamber. The rest followed, Baelon bringing up the rear.

"Come, let me take him to his crib. You need some rest, and the bedding needs to be cleaned," Baelon said after they were gone.

"Take him. We'll enjoy our son for many years," his mother replied as she handed Aemon to his father. "Sleep well, my son," his father said, and soon Aemon felt the pull of sleep, drifting off into peaceful slumber.

The following day

As his mother hummed to him, she spoke softly, uttering words that left him utterly shocked. "Oh, my little Aemon, my blessed child. Gifted by the old gods. I never thought I'd hold you again."

Confusion overwhelmed him. What did she mean by 'again'? After all, she had just given birth to me. The weight of his thoughts propelled him to cry out, prompting her to embrace him more tightly, a single tear streaming down her cheek. Seeing her cry, his crying ceased. He wanted to tell her that he was okay, to tell her about the weight she carried, the knowledge of the past, that she wasn't alone in it, and to express the love he felt for her. But he couldn't do it now—his infancy rendered him unable to act.

"My precious Aemon, I would sacrifice everything for you," Lyanna professed, her eyes glistening with tears.

"Lya, everything alright?" his father's voice echoed, breaking the moment between him and his mother.

"Yes, just overwhelmed with our baby," she responded, a tearful smile gracing her face. What he observed in her eyes resonated as genuine happiness and love. Was this the same sentiment Robb, Arya, Rickon, Sansa, and Bran felt when their mother showered them with affection? The thought of Bran was bittersweet, yet he held onto the memory of the sweet, adventurous boy he once was—not the monster who had taken over his body.

"Well, Lya, I echo the same sentiment. Little Aemon is truly remarkable," Baelon chimed in, gently taking him from his mother's arms. Baelon looked into his eyes with his purple gaze. He found love in them, reminiscent of the care Eddard Stark had shown him when circumstances allowed.

"Do you ever wonder what your life would have been like had you not attended the tourney?" his father inquired, his gaze fixed on Lyanna.

"I suppose I'd have returned to the North, perhaps married, as was the purpose of me going to Harrenhal to find a consort. I'd have continued at my father's side and eventually succeeded him. I'm still surprised that he kept me as heir, even after my brother was born. But fate said no. I met a handsome Targaryen Prince, became a Princess, and now I'm even a future Queen by his side," his mother replied.

"Yes, I know how you feel. My path was supposed to go somewhere else instead of the kingship. I would have gladly followed the path to be my brother's Hand. Yet Aemon was slain, and now I'm the Crown Prince and will eventually become King," his father added, pausing.

"Lya, I never imagined I'd find love again after Alyssa. However, the moment I saw you enter the feast with your father, it took my breath away," Baelon admitted.

He could share the sentiment. He remembered his feelings when he first encountered Daenerys. She had captivated him from the start, and he had grown to love her for her actions. Yet everything had unraveled the moment he journeyed to Winterfell a memory that still left a bitter taste.

It was in stark contrast to how his mother looked at Baelon. The affection on both their faces was genuine, and he was happy his mother had found happiness after Rhaegar. Perhaps he could find the same in time. It also offered a glimmer of hope a possibility of finding love anew and building a family a family he dreamed of, with children named in memory of those he had lost.

The thought brought an involuntary smile, followed by a giggle of happiness. Oh, those baby impulses.

"Oh, my dear Aemon, your laughter is a beautiful sight," Lyanna remarked with a giggle, her eyes sparkling with both delight and tears.

"Indeed, just as beautiful as his mother," Baelon added, sealing the sentiment with a kiss.

He felt a bit awkward as he watched his parents kiss, but it was a small price to pay for seeing his mother truly happy. With contentment settling in his infant body, he yawned, surrendering to sleep's embrace.

A day later

He woke to an unfamiliar face peering down at him.

"Ah, my half-breed brother. Your mother seduced my father. Even your eyes are wrong," the man taunted. 'Daemon? Hmm, apparently, I will have another Theon in my life,' he thought, irritation building.

The rising irritation was interrupted by his oldest brother, Viserys. 'He was fond of Viserys despite the historical accounts that portrayed him less favorably. Regardless, Viserys had shown kindness toward him, and his efforts in maintaining the realm's peace after Jaehaerys I were commendable. Yet he had permitted the Targaryen civil war—the Dance of the Dragons—a decision he considered unwise and unnecessary.'

"Ah, there you are, brother. Finally meeting our new brother," Viserys declared. Then he turned to him. "Was our brother nice to you, little Aemon?" he added, playfully tickling his belly. Despite his resistance, he couldn't help but giggle, a childish impulse overwhelming him.

"Enjoying that, Aemon?" Viserys inquired with a smile. Daemon huffed, clearly unimpressed. "That child will only be half of us, brother, never a true dragon."

Viserys frowned and countered, "Well, you may have noticed, but Balerion recently took flight after years. As you and I know, I attempted to bond with him. Yet it wasn't meant to be. Now I'm content with Goynogar." A genuine smile graced his lips. Aemon was puzzled at the mention of Balerion. 'In his own time, Viserys had bonded with Balerion. Who was this Goynogar? No dragon, to his recollection, had that name. He wasn't sure why Balerion had flown again after his return. Balerion had only flown again after Viserys mounted him and died in 94 AC.'

"Are you implying that a 'half-breed' will tame the Black Dread?" mocked Daemon, disdain in his voice.

His thoughts shifted to his own experience with dragon-bonding. 'He had briefly formed a connection with Rhaegal, sensing a bond between them, yet it had been short-lived. He had felt Rhaegal's pain as the dragon succumbed to a scorpion bolt. The Ironborn fanatics had been waiting in hiding on the cliffs of Dragonstone. The wounds he took during the Battle of Winter were still not yet healed, unable to withstand a scorpion bolt shot to the chest, tearing through its insides.'

"Well, brother, time will reveal the truth. We'll see in six years or more, Daemon. And remember, Aemma is family, just as you are. She's part of Arryn, so keep that in mind. Let's never speak of 'half-breeds' again in my presence," Viserys asserted with authority, his tone surprising even Aemon.

"Very well, brother. I apologize for insulting your wife. At least she looks like a true Valyrian," Daemon conceded, smirking as he exited the room.

"Apologies, little dragon. Our brother can be a bit irritable. Nevertheless, I love you very much, a blessing after Uncle Aemon's passing. Even Rhaenys was honored when she heard you were named after her father. You know she also has a baby growing up, and soon we will have a great cousin," Viserys confided, picking him up and kissing his head. 'Viserys seemed to be a good man, even though he was not the best King, but he was a brother he gradually grew fond of. His words about Rhaenys made him sad, and he remembered his pain when he heard of Eddard Stark's loss. He wondered if this time she might be the Queen. He hoped not, as his father would have to die again. He would try to change as much as he could to protect his loved ones and the world against the darkness to come.' He thought as he smiled at his brother and touched his cheek.

"Soon, hopefully, you won't sleep alone." With a promise of a future sleeping companion, Viserys returned him to his crib, leaving him to sleep once again.

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