48 Kingslanding pt 2

King's Landing, Crownlands, Third moon of 279 AC

Ragnar POV

Ragnar, Dacey, and Benjen were finally leaving The OldGods' Revenge. Lucerys Velaryon and his son were guiding them through the confusing streets of King's Landing. The City smelled terrible but wasn't as badly maintained as it would have been in Robert's reign, or so Ragnar thought. From the few things he could remember from the books, in Robert's time, King's Landing was packed with beggars, thieves, and poor people; under Aerys, not so much; the citizens looked somewhat happy even in winter; there were a lot of beggars but not much as described on the books.

The books were something that regularly plagued Ragnar's mind; they were pretty much useless now that the rebellion wouldn't happen. Ragnar would kill Rhaegar fair and square before the Silver Prince even tries to lay his rapist hands on little Lyanna.

As he walked through King's Landing, Dacey by his side carrying her Morningstar, he thought of Rhaegar Targaryen; the man wasn't what he expected; he looked and "felt" like an honest and friendly guy, a gentle soul, and above all a good king-in-the-making. There was a lot of pressure on the boy's shoulders, 300 hundred years of history, and the responsibility to fix his father's many mistakes; maybe that was why he went full Molag Bal on Lyanna, obsessed with the prophecy of Ice and Fire.

Ragnar would have to think about everything more carefully; nothing was making sense; Rhaegar Targaryen wasn't the monster Robert Baratheon claimed him to be; he wasn't the monster history claimed him to be.

" Ragnar, why is everyone looking at you like that?" Benjen said, his grey eyes looking troubled but excited. Ragnar chuckled and smiled at Benjen; he had obviously seen the looks people were giving him, admiration, respect… fear.

" They admire me, mainly for beating Ser Arthur Dayne and Ser Barristan Selmy. They fear me because of what I did in Duskendale." Ragnar said, and Lucerys Velaryon nodded eagerly

" Both respect and fear are well deserved. The Blood Eagle of Duskendale is a song as famous as The Rains of Castamere," Lucerys said; Ragnar, for the first time, was speechless.

" The what? They made a song about The blood eagle?" Ragnar asked sheepishly; Dacey giggled a bit, which shocked Ragnar as giggling wasn't something the she-beard did a lot… or ever.

" What is the Blood Eagle," Benjen asked

" Something I will teach you on your Five-and-tenth name day… a punishment," Ragnar said, and Benjen nodded; he knew better than ask Ragnar about it.

" Forgive me, my Lord, but didn't you tell Lord Lannister that the Blood Eagle was your family secret?" Lucerys asked; if he were able to get The Blood Eagle for Tywin, gold would flow.

" It is a family secret… Benjen is family. My foster son, who I care for as if he were my own. If My future sons become half the young man Benjen is, I would be happy. Benjen right here will be better than Arthur by his seventeenth nameday… if not before. That is not counting his prowess on the other fields." Ragnar said proudly; it was true; Benjen had grown on him; the lad was a good one. Benjen was as red as Dacey's dress but had a bright smile on his face. Lucerys just nodded slowly, apparently too heavy with thoughts. The Velaryon men that came to guard their liege seemed to doubt Ragnar's words, but they said nothing. Dacey had a slight smile on her face.

" Aye. The Young Wolf will have a very deadly bite, but not yet; my Morningstar still beats his sword. He will be a great Lord someday, but how could he not? Trained and taught by my Ice Dragon," Dacey said; as she finished her sentence, she hugged Ragnar's arm and gave it a quick, gentle kiss.

Ragnar smiled but said nothing; after Serana, Ragnar thought it would be impossible to find love again, but he was wrong.

" Lord Dovahkiin, can you train me?" Manford Velaryon said suddenly; Ragnar had almost forgotten about the boy; he was a silent one.

" My son, don't…." Lucerys began but was interrupted by Ragnar

" I can teach you while I'm in the capital… unfortunately, I can't do much other than that," Ragnar said.

Lucerys eyes widened, plots going through his mind trying to find a way to explore such an opportunity.

" Thank you! Thank you, my Lord. I swear by the Seven, I will try my best." Manford said; Ragnar only nodded.

Ragnar and his party were approaching the Red Kepp's stairs; no guard tried to stop them as Lucerys was with them. The Red Keep was something to behold; the Valyrian architecture was pure art; it reminded Ragnar of the ancient Falmer architecture. On Great Hall, Ragnar saw the Iron Throne, empty for now; it was an ugly thing; Ragnar's respect for Aegon Targaryen grew a little more. Ragnar felt that, like him, Aegon understood that being King wasn't a game. Power corrupts, and having a Thorne that uncomfortably reminded him that no king should sit easy on his throne. Ragnar's greatest fear was to become like Miraak, to be a tyrant; that was the main reason why he bent the knee to House Stark, to have someone to report to, someone to check him.

The nobles on the Red Keep were waiting for the King to open court; many had petitions, many were answering summons, many were there to make connections, and many were there to plot. There were more than 400 people in the Great Hall.

" Is court like this every day? So… full?" Ragnar asked

" Yes. His Grace's court is usually full. His Grace likes to have many witnesses to his edicts, reward, and punishments." Lucerys said as his face grimaced when he said the last word.

" I see… that's… wise, I guess, if done correctly, that is," Ragnar said.

Ragnar and his party had to wait a few hours for the Court to begin; the King, followed by Tywin and Pycelle, walked into the Great Hall; all knelt to Aerys' presence, except Ragnar, who just bowed his head as a sign of respect to the Iron Throne itself.

" All Hail King Aerys Targaryen, The second of his name, king of the Andals, Rhoynish and Fist Men, protector of the realm." Tywin Lannister said, his voice was as monotonous as it was powerful.

" The first hearing of this court shall be…." Tywin continued; the hearings were as interesting as watching grass growing; mostly were petty nobles grumbling about lands or some imaginary slight. The only one that caught Ragnar's attention was the Lady of House Sunglass and her son by her side

" Your Grace, my cousin, Ser John tries to usurp me. My late lord father didn't have any sons, only I. He also didn't have any brother; the closest living relative is my cousin, who is a Knight but has no land of his own. He killed my husband through treachery, and he came to this court to try and convince some lord to support him in exchange for marrying said lord's daughters, but-" before Lady Sunglass could finish her pleas, one man shouted

" Lies, Your grace! She lies. She is trying to kill me because her child is a bastard!" The man said, clearly nervous.

"Is that so, Ser John? What say you in your defense, Lady Sunglass?" The King said; he looked somewhat bored yet focused on what he was doing.

" My child is no Bastard! He looks just like his father! My husband was the fifth son of Lord Forrester from the North! I knew my cousin would tell lies about my child, so I sent a raven to my husband's brother… he is here and can attest that my son looks just like his father," Lady Sunglass said; she looked calm but concerned.

" Ha, you called a filthy Northerner here to lie to the king? They are heathens! He will lie to save his brother's honor. I know I'm telling the truth; your Grace and I'll let the gods prove me right! I demand a trial by combat." Ser John said, which apparently got Lady Sunglass by surprise. Ragnar assumed it was because she only had a handful of guards serving her, and no skilled Knights were sworn to her house.

" Very well, Ser John. Will you fight for yourself? Or will you name a champion?" The King said, and Ragnar frowned.

" I will fight for myself, Your Grace," Ser John said, and the King nodded calmly; that was not the Aerys he had heard about; the man seemed calm and collected, happy. Maybe the hopes of getting a Dragon made him more stable. Ragnar could see the madness in Aerys' eyes; he just wasn't acting on it. Not that he had a reason to; everyone showed him only the utmost respect so far.

" And you, Lady Sunglass? Who will fight for you? Your husband's brother?" The King said

" I… I… your grace. I…" Lady Sunglass began but was interrupted

" I ASKED YOU A QUESTION, WOMAN!! THE KING WANTS HIS ANSWER," The King yelled, making the woman shrink. Ragnar looked at Dacey, who nodded.

" I shall be Lady Sunglass's champion, Your Grace. I cannot let a Knights usurp someone with Northern blood. Especially by someone who offended The North." Ragnar said loudly enough for everyone to hear him from where he was. Everyone looked at him, but he was unfazed; he slowly walked closer to the Throne.

" Announcing, Lord Ragnar Dovahkiin, The Lord of Winterhold, High Lord of Skagos, warden of the Shivering Sea," Lucerys said loudly; many nobles gasped at that, and the King smiled like a child on sugar.

" Thank you, Thank you, my Lord!" Lady Sunglass said quietly.

" Lord Dovahkiin, you answered my summon! It's good to see you again. We have much to discuss, Dovahkiin. I need you to do something for me, for House Targaryen." Aerys said, completely forgetting everything around him; his focus was only on Ragnar.

" Aye, Your grace, If it's something I can do, then I will try my best to… help you and House Targaryen. What about Lady Sunglass's predicament, Your Grace? Look at her boy, Your Grace; he clearly has Northern blood. Ser John was trying to take advantage of your benevolence and Justice." Ragnar said swiftly, Ser John was a dumb man, and Ragnar would kill him quickly.

" Ah… that, let the trial take place then. Here now! Bring me his head Lord Dovahkiin… I don't like to be deceived." The King said; Ser John tried to protest, but the King didn't even let him say anything.

Ragnar killed Ser John with one movement from his sword, a cut from behind that took half of the man's torso. The Nightingale blade cut the man fair and square. Ragnar then looked at the King, who nodded and said

" Court is adjourned for today… important matters must be discussed between the Warden of the Shivering Sea and me. Tywin, Pycelle with me now!

Hightower! Where is Rhaegar? Go get the boy now!" Aerys said as he got down the Iron Throne's stairs.

" Dovahkiin, come…" Aerys said, and Ragnar nodded. He turned to Benjen and said, "You will stay here and protect Dacey. My Dragonguard is under your command. I know you will not disappoint me; you have never had… if something happens, you have my permission to use magic." Ragnar said, and Benjen nodded. Dacey looked at him but said nothing; she knew it was a test for Benjen.

Ragnar then followed the King towards the small council chambers, or so he assumed.

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A/N: First chapter of the day… there will be one more… I guess. This little plot of Ser John was to show that not all plots were good as the Citadel's or the Hightowers… some people could be as dumb as Cersei ( I know it is hard to accept but that's the truth.)

Nerevarine Vs Dragonborn who wins?

Thank you for your support.