The Bloody Prince: HOTD SI

Chapter 42

RHAENYRA TARGARYEN

"This was your mother's room," Lady Jeyne led her to a room atop one of the towers as Rhaenyra watched in awe at the castle her mother had grown up in. She had grown up hearing tales of the beauty and majesty of the Eyrie, and yet watching it for herself was a surreal experience, more so walking and seeing the Halls her mother had once traversed had spoken of in her tales was just magical.

And as she entered the room, she could immediately see why her mother would choose such a room. It was large or much ornate, and yet its window was amongst the largest, allowing one to see across into the vast oceans for miles and miles.

She walked up to the window and felt a cool wind rustle through her hair as she watched the vast sea and clouds touching the walls of the tower.

"It is beautiful, isn't it," Lady Jeyne added, as she joined her and stood by her side, the wind rustling her hair, as she smiled at her.

"I used to love coming here as a child, but I would be too afraid to stand near the window alone," she added with a chuckle as she pushed back a strand of hair and smiled at her, as she continued.

"So, I would often dragon Aegon here with me, so that he could hold my hand while I stood here and watched the skies and the oceans," and she could imagine it as well, a younger Lady Jeyne standing here on her tip toes looking outside the window in awe, as a disinterested Aegon stood there by her side, leaning against the wall.

And she was in a way jealous of her, in how she knew Aegon so well. Both her and Alicent, and yet she was supposed to marry him.

Though, it was some mercy that they both understood the necessity of this marriage. Even though it pained her as such.

"Later on, I would come here with Jessamyn," she added, and her voice quivered as she took that name, as she saw her eyes glisten.

"It was the place where we first discovered our feelings for one another, where we understood our lov..." she chuckled at those, as she wiped her eyes with her hand.

"It was also the place we kissed the first time, and then Aegon walked in on us," and her eyes widened as she gasped in awe, for she did not know that at all.

"You are lying," she gasped, and her cousin shook her head.

"No, it was the most embarrassing and dreadful experience, and though I had known him all my life I had feared the worst," she added, as they both plopped down on the bed.

"But it never came to pass. Years passed and he never ever revealed my secret to anyone, and only ever helped me navigate the politics of the Vale, even though it cost him his reputation," and so that was why he was viewed in such a negative light.

"A few of the lords understood, few tried to overstep and ask for my Hand. Yet he tore through them, making an example out of anyone who thought they could use this against me," she spoke so softly of Aegon, with such adoration that she was taken aback.

It reminded her of her friend.

"Do you love him?" she asked, trying to understand the message hidden in her words, because by now the word of her intended match with Aegon would have reached her as well, for her father had written to the Lady Rhea a few days before their departure.

Her head snapped towards her, as she looked into her eyes, her smile vanishing.

"I care for him," she answered softly.

"And yet I can never love him as a woman loves a man, for I can love no man as such," she added softly as she grabbed her hand, and smiled.

"My love was for Jessamyn, and now she is gone and I have only him," and Rhaenyra understood as she reached her hand.

"I understand," she cared for him, and loved him but perhaps in the way a sister loves a brother, and so was trying to warn her, or caution her.

"I may not love him as Alicent did, or even as you do," she added softly, and she doubted he loved her like that either.

"But I do care for him, I won't betray him," she promised, and Lady Jeyne nodded.

"That is all I can hope for," and with that they sat there taking in the scenery, as Rhaenyra took in the scenery.

"I want to stay in this room," the words left her mouth as they were about to leave the room, and her cousin smiled.

"I had expected as much," Lady Jeyne added, as she looked him in the eye.

"This will be your room, for as long as you remain a guest in this castle..."

0000

RHEA ROYCE

She would like to say that she was surprised by the King's missive regarding, securing a match between Aegon and Rhaenyra. But she really was not. Miles away from the capital she maybe, but she was not blind to the little games of power that were played in the capital.

And knew full well, that there was no appropriate match for the Princess than her son. The only other choice was Laenor Velaryon, but given the circumstances of Daemon's death, and how much both Daemon and Viserys Targaryen loathed and in some ways feared the Sea Snake, it not really a tangible option.

Not really when there was a better option available.

When a letter had first arrived many moons ago, speaking of the match between Aegon and the Lady Alicent she had been somewhat surprised even then, that the King had not chosen to marry Aegon to his daughter, the Princess.

Though, it seemed that history had set itself right in a way. Even though, a part of her was put down that it was not Jeyne, whom he was set to marry.

She had grown rather fond of the girl, and yet if she knew right, their liege lady had a wholly different choice when it came to her lovers.

She would have spoken against the match had Aegon asked that of her, it was her promise to him. However, now as she looked at her son's face, she was reminded of the time when he ahd first decided to wage a war on the Mountain clansmen. He had been but a child then, still yet on the cusps of becoming a man, and he had decided to undertake a task that was deemed impossible for a hundred years.

And yet one look at his face. One look, and she had lost her courage to stop him, for one glance at those eyes and she knew that his mind was made, and that her words would be all but useless.

And it seemed to her that it was the case this time as well.

The little indecision, the doubts, the fear. All of it was now gone from his gaze, and there was but determination and a fire in those grey eyes of his.

"I doubt anything I have to say matter much," she said as she put down the missive, and saw his eyes widen at her words.

"You are my son, I can see when you have made your mind about something," she added with a smile, and he looked down in embarrassment, as she sipped her wine.

"Do you wish to know what?" he asked and she shook her head.

"I do not," she answered much to his surprise. It had taken her only a few years to understand that her son was not a normal child, and that belief had only been strengthened over the years.

Her son had secrets, burdens, and aspirations that went beyond her understanding and imagination. She could do little to help him except arm him with all the knowledge and power she could, it was why she had him paige under her own father, let him rule over Runestone in her stead to let him do what he had to.

"You are my son, I shall always have your back. No matter what you decide to do with your life," and she saw him smile at those words, as he nodded.

"Thank you," he said though there was no need for that.

"And what is it about this navy that the King Viserys wrote about?" she asked and that was interesting.

"The King has tasked me with building him a Royal Navy, one that could rival if not exceed the Velaryon fleet," and that was a grand task, one that the King would only task a trusted advisor, or a selected would entrust to.

And a fleet to rival the Velaryons, that could mean only one thing.

And it was as if history was repeating itself infront of their eyes.

"So the rumors are correct," and Aegon nodded.

"The Velaryons left the capital along with all their navy, and to this day no one knows what they are planning," and it could simply be a form of protest as it had been in the reign of the Old King, or it could be worse. Much worse.

And so Viserys sought to lessen his reliance on the Velaryon fleet, and if he was building a fleet then it could be for one reason only.

"War," she realised and Aegon nodded.

"I have been tasked with bringing down the man named Cragas Drahar, to avenge the death of Prince Daemon Targaryen," he added softly, and she should have guessed that.

"And you have agreed," she asked and he nodded.

"I have. I will be heading to Runestone in a week to see my efforts in building the shipyard expedited and expanded. Then I will be flying to Braavos in a few days," he added much to her surprise.

"Braavos," that was a surprise.

"Yes, to both find ourself an ally in this war and to lean and learn from their ship building prowess. Perhaps maybe to even a commission a small number of them to set the basis for this fleet," he added and that was much like him.

She could hardly believe that more than a few weeks would have passed until he had been tasked with this, and yet he already had a plan as if he had been doing this for centuries, and it was what made her so sure of the secrets that were hidden behind that gaze.

"And what of the Princess," and the girl was lovely, she could see why she was called the Realm's delight, but she had thought that she was here to accompany him.

"Jeyne will keep her company, perhaps they can find some solace together given that they have both suffered a great loss," he added, and her eyes softened.

"So have you," she pointed out, though she knew that Daemon had not really done anything for him. He was still his father, and yet he seemed so unaffected by it.

It was callous of him, in away.

"I will manage on my own," he replied sharply and she hoped he would. She really did.

"What of the rebellion?"

"I have put down all those involved, let Jeyne decide on their punishments. It will help cement her image as their future monarch in their eyes, specially if I am not besides her. Let Rhaenyra join her instead," he added quickly as he rubbed his chin.

"Maybe at the court as well, to let her see and understand what it means to rule and govern over lords and people," he added, and that was a stellar idea.

"Well, I will convey the message. You should rest now, you must be much tired," she added for he had been flying for hours, and then had immediately rode into battle. And even after coming back he had again dived into work, before joining her late into the evening.

"Yes, I will....."

0000

Back in Lys, Saera Targaryen received a missive from Drazenko about the intentions of Corly Velaryon and smiled.

"And now the attack commences..."

0000

In Runestone as Aegon found himself in the castle where he was born as he dealt with the massive responsibility that he had levied on his shoulders, he found himself awake late into the night as he sat there drafting a regiment for the training of naval soldiers and sailors and so forth.

And despite the many sleepless nights, the workload did not seem to be lessening at all, and as the lord of the castle lay awake so did half the castle, and half the people inspired and honored by their young lord.

And in that work, he was interrupted by a knock on the door much to his surprise.

"Yes," he asked as he rubbed his eyes, and a servant entered the solar.

"I apologise for disturbing you," the man spoke as he bowed and Aegon nodded, as the man stepped forward.

"My lord, a missive arrived for you," and he was not expecting any letter. At least one not yet.

"From where," and the servant was quiet, as he placed the rolled-up missive on his table.

"From someone in the town near the docks, she said you would want to see this," and that was enigmatic, but he did not move to touch the rolled missive, as his gaze hardened.

"Who?" he asked rather forcefully and saw the hesitancy of the man before he finally answered.

"She called herself Mysaria, she said she knew your father, the Prince Daemon..." and Aegon felt a shiver run down his spine as he heard that name, as his eyes landed on the missive.

"Leave me, I will deal with you in the morning," he thundered and after a plea of mercy the man left his solar leaving him alone with the missive.

And after much hesitance, Aegon picked up the missive and rolled it out as his eyes began to skim over its contents, and he was so stunned that he read it again. And again. Word for word, as he felt a cold grip his being, as he dropped the missive and turned towards the town as he closed his eyes.

.

.

.

.

And while he stood there, his mind flew over it, the half awake half, toiling little town, as he flew through its streets, its shores, and the windows until he saw her.

"What are you doing here Mysaria...."

0000

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