Chapter 111: Heir’s Resignation
Today's meeting was a clear demonstration of King Viserys' authority. Since the War for the Stepstones, the royal family's prestige had waned.
With the change of the heir, it was time for the Targaryen to reassert their dominance before the nobility.
Hearing the King's speech, many nobles quickly understood his intention. Their eyes were fixed on the dark dragon hovering above.
The dragon had a leather strap around its neck, attached to a saddle. A small figure sat on the dragon's back, commanding the beast.
"Cannibal, Dracarys!" Rhaegar spoke in High Valyrian, issuing the command. He tightened his grip on the reins and scanned the crowd below, who were clearly restless.
"Roar..." Cannibal, sensing his master's command, unleashed a torrent of green dragonfire that cut across the sky like a blazing river. To the onlookers, the flames seemed endless.
In a dramatic display, the pitch-black dragon surged into the sea of flames, the small figure on its back unscathed. Rhaegar stayed put, safe from the dragonfire thanks to his special dragon-riding suit.
"Land, Cannibal," Rhaegar said softly once the flames died down, showing off the dragon's impressive power. Cannibal's green eyes twinkled with amusement as it looked down at the crowd below.
The dragon changed direction, diving headfirst toward the ground. Cannibal was much bigger and stronger than Syrax, which was still in its juvenile stage. It was like a storm, capable of overturning chariots.
As Cannibal swooped down over the Red Keep, the wind from its descent began to whip through the back garden.
The gathered nobles couldn't help but glance nervously at the King, realizing the gravity of the situation.
"Roar..." Just as the black dragon was about to crash into the castle, it suddenly stopped in its tracks, roaring at the sky. It came down in the garden with a thud.
Luckily, the back garden was spacious enough to fit Cannibal's immense body.
Smoke rose from the ground as Cannibal landed behind the gazebo, its sheer size dwarfing Syrax.
The pavilion looked pretty small, like a mouse or a cat compared to the massive dragon, which stood towering over it. Cannibal's head reached as high as the tower, and it gave the crowd below a disdainful glance.
The dragon's presence was pretty intimidating. Nobles who dared to look directly at it couldn't help but back away in fear, especially when they saw the small figure on its back—a boy less than ten years old.
The sight of a child commanding such a fearsome beast was unsettling. It made you feel like you had a sword hanging over your head, ready to strike at any moment.
Rhaegar, perched on Cannibal's back, remained silent, his gaze distant.
"Roar..." Cannibal raised its head and let out a loud roar, spewing green dragon flames into the sky. The air heated up fast, turning the winter chill into a stifling summer heat, making everyone sweat.
"Alright, let me down, Cannibal," Rhaegar said in a calm voice, breaking the tension and halting the dragon's display.
"Roar..." Cannibal stopped its flames, folded its wings, and laid down. The heat had also affected King Viserys, who wiped sweat from his forehead while beaming with pride.
"Rhaegar, let the lords see your face," Viserys commanded loudly.
"Yes, Father," Rhaegar replied, getting up from his horse. He hadn't fastened the chains, and Cannibal, attuned to his master's will, ensured Rhaegar's safety without them. The saddle was more for comfort than necessity.
Rhaegar descended gracefully using a soft ladder attached to the straps around Cannibal's neck. With a soft thud, he landed and walked from the back of the pavilion into full view of the assembly.
Dressed in a sleek dragon-scale-patterned outfit, Rhaegar's clean, white face, silver hair, and purple eyes of the Targaryen lineage contrasted sharply with the menacing black dragon outside.
Leaving Alicent's embrace, Viserys took Rhaegar's small hand and stood tall before the nobles, his pride evident.
"My lords, behold your future monarch, the new king of the realm," he proclaimed loudly.
The nobles understood the situation clearly under the imposing authority of the two dragons. They erupted into thunderous applause, acknowledging their future king.
The sound of their applause echoed, confirming their acceptance of Rhaegar's status ascension.
After a round of applause and cheers, Viserys raised his hand to calm the nobles, whose faces showed a mix of emotions.
He patted Rhaegar's shoulder and encouraged him, "Go, Rhaegar, help Rhaenyra dismount."
Rhaegar nodded and glanced at Rhaenyra, who was still sitting proudly on Syrax's back. She needed to maintain her dignity in this important moment.
Rhaegar walked over to Syrax, looking up at his sister's calm face. As he reached Syrax's neck, he petted the curious dragon. He slowly dropped to one knee and said, "Rhaenyra, I'm here to help you."
Rhaenyra turned her head and looked down at Rhaegar with a neutral expression. After a brief pause, she undid the chain around her waist, rose from the saddle, and climbed down the ladder.
When she reached the ground, Rhaenyra extended her hand. Rhaegar took it, kissed the back of her hand lightly, and whispered, "Thank you, sister."
"Rise, brother," Rhaenyra responded, pulling him up gracefully. Hand in hand, they walked towards the gazebo, matching each other's pace despite their height difference.
When they got to the pavilion, Rhaenyra saluted Viserys and Alicent, then stepped forward to address the crowd before Lyonel could.
She scanned the assembly and spoke with passion, "My lords, I'm honored to have you here today for the heir changing ceremony."
"Here and now, in front of you all, I, Rhaenyra Targaryen, eldest daughter of King Viserys I, Princess of Dragonstone, and former heir to the Iron Throne, solemnly declare that I relinquish my claim to the throne in favor of my brother Rhaegar. I pledge my lifelong allegiance to him, to support him, and to work together to usher in a new era for the Targaryen dynasty."
With that, Rhaenyra confidently raised Rhaegar's small hand high, sealing her declaration.
(Word count: 1,004)