Chapter 102: Refusal

"Rhaegar, my son, no one has clouded my mind," Viserys reassured his eldest son, offering a gentle smile as he clasped Rhaegar's hand.

Rhaegar was confused. He asked, "Then why do you want to change the line of succession? Rhaenyra has done nothing wrong."

"I was the one who recklessly tamed the dragon, who acted without authorization, and who ended up stranded in the Peninsula."

He couldn't understand why his father had made that decision. He was the one at fault, while Rhaenyra had only acted to rescue him, defying her father's orders out of concern. Such actions didn't warrant such severe consequences.

"You're mistaken, Rhaegar," Viserys said, his tone sincere. "My intentions run deeper than blaming Rhaenyra for her actions. As my firstborn, you should've been the rightful heir."

"However, as a child, you were too young to take on that kind of responsibility. So I made Rhaenyra the heir to what was yours."

Rhaegar met his father's gaze squarely and argued, "But Rhaenyra has proven herself capable and loyal to the family. That's another reason not to replace her."

"Yet she is a woman!" Viserys interjected sharply, his tone carrying weight. "And there are many who oppose her, far outnumbering those who support her."

"I'm with her," Rhaegar said firmly, his demeanor shifting to one of resolve. "With a fully grown dragon by my side, any who challenge her will have to face the dragonfire."

Viserys regarded his son with a mixture of amusement and pride, chuckling softly. "Ah, the sight of an adult dragon, indeed formidable, capable of vanquishing armies."

But Rhaegar remained serious. "There is no jest in this, Father. The Cannibal has bested Vermithor and Silverwing, ranking among the strongest of dragons next to Vhagar."

Rhaegar was confident in himself and his dragon.

"Aegon the Conqueror's attempt to subdue Dorne is a good example of what not to do," Viserys said without emotion. "Queen Rhaenys's misfortune, with Meraxes's demise due to a scorpion crossbow arrow, marked the downfall of their campaign."

Rhaegar nodded knowingly, well-versed in historical accounts.

"And yet, her death and the dragon's demise signaled the failure of a grand conquest," Viserys continued, his tone firm as he grasped Rhaegar's hand.

"You need to know, Rhaegar, that relying too heavily on dragons can be dangerous. True power lies in winning the support of the people, not in the might of dragons alone."

"But have you really won the support of our people?" Rhaegar thought about the ongoing rebellions and unrest across the realm.

From the Ironborn raids along the coast to the persistent troubles along the Dornish border, these challenges showed that his father's assertion of control wasn't as strong as he thought.

"Even Maegor the Cruel, with the formidable Balerion at his command, ultimately met his downfall due to his tyranny. He faced rebellion and death upon the Iron Throne."

Viserys continued, shifting the focus. "Do you think your dragons are as strong as Balerion's? Are you as fearless as the warlike Maegor?

Rhaegar was quiet for a moment, acknowledging his own limitations. He was still a young prince, and the Cannibal hadn't reached its full potential yet.

"I'm a prince of the realm," Rhaegar replied, thinking about his future. "I can serve on the royal council or fulfill my duties as a prince."

Viserys looked at his son with a mix of love and wisdom. "Those are noble aspirations, my son, but too childish."

Viserys shared a memory, his eyes betraying a hint of sadness as he spoke softly, "There was a time when Daemon and I were as close as you and Rhaenyra, bound by love and trust."

"We were inseparable," he reminisced. "Before the 101st Council, I clashed with my cousin Rhaenys about who should get to sit on the Iron Throne."

"Daemon, with the Dark Sister at his side, swore to defeat anyone who stood in my way," Viserys went on, his voice tinged with admiration. "He was fearless and resolute."

"Thanks to Daemon's unwavering support, Grandfather Jaehaerys recognized the pressing need to address the issue of succession, convening the 101st Great Council," Viserys recounted, his eyes misting over.

"At the council, I secured my position as the family's heir with an overwhelming majority," Viserys revealed, his voice quavering with emotion.

"Rhaegar, can you and Rhaenyra really keep the unbreakable bond that Daemon and I had?" Viserys asked, his gaze intense.

Rhaegar couldn't meet his father's gaze and lowered his head. "There's always hope."

Viserys' tone softened as he leaned in and whispered, "I suggest you keep our family tradition alive."

"Really?" Rhaegar's eyes opened wide in disbelief, looking for confirmation from his father.

Viserys nodded seriously. "Absolutely."

"And has she agreed?" Rhaegar asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Not yet," Viserys replied with a soft chuckle. "That's why we're having this conversation."

Rhaegar stepped back and took his hand out of his father's grasp, feeling a mix of emotions.

He was feeling a bit of a mix of emotions, a bit of celebration and a bit of disappointment, which made him feel a bit down.

He couldn't shake the feeling that he was getting in the way of Rhaenyra's plans, a thought that weighed heavily on his conscience.

He was haunted by the words of Falcon and Skylar, who had warned him of the complexities ahead. Rhaenyra's future husband and children, and his own uncertain position in the line of succession.

"I'll become another Daemon?" Rhaegar murmured, his thoughts all over the place as he tried to calm down.

Viserys shook his head emphatically, saying, "No way! You are Rhaegar, my firstborn, the prince destined for greatness. "You're not going to go down the dishonorable path like Daemon."

Viserys put his hands on Rhaegar's shoulders and spoke in a serious tone, "As the future ruler of the Iron Throne, you'll have the power to lead the realm."

"Father, I'm prepared," Rhaegar replied, though his mind was in turmoil.

Pushing his father's hands away, Rhaegar backed away, muttering to himself, "Those words are your own, Father. Daemon was a man of sacrifice, but I can't..."

"You can't what? Abandon your aspirations for the throne, or betray Rhaenyra?" Viserys interrupted gently, his smile serene. "You've gained the loyalty of the Peninsula nobles, which is a pretty big deal for a prince."

"Father, your words are making me feel the same way I did when the Peninsula nobles pledged their allegiance," Rhaegar said, his voice getting deeper as he tried to stay calm.

"I cannot bring myself to harm Rhaenyra. She would despise me, and I would despise myself."

With a heavy heart, Rhaegar turned to leave without looking back, his mind made up.

Viserys didn't try to stop him. He kept his tone firm, saying, "My son, choices are unavoidable. You'll face these choices again and again."

"Then I will await the day when the choice is clear, the day Rhaenyra no longer allows me to remain in King's Landing," Rhaegar declared as he exited the room.

(Word count: 1,173)