The King III

(Third Person POV)

Aerion sat in his chair, staring at the steaming cup of tea, not saying a word. He had woken up just before daybreak, trying to make sense of what he had just dreamt. He wasn't sure if it was real or not as he had never had prophetic dreams or not. And if it was the truth, he wasn't sure if it was the start of something he didn't want. 

He let out a sigh, "Man...." He said rubbing his hair, "What in the hells....?" 

He heard footsteps approaching, "My Lord." He looked up to see Ser Lorent, "Y-Your Father, Prince Daemon is here." 

Aerion frowned, "Huh?" 

He then saw as Daemon walked into sight, holding the handle of Dark Sister as he slowly approached his son. 

"Aerion." He said, "What are you doing up?" 

"What are you doing here?" Aerion asked with an annoyed tone, "I thought you were forbidden from stepping foot in here." 

"Ah." Daemon said, "Rhaenyra said that as long as the girls are here, I can visit if I please....so long as I am supervised." 

"I see." Aerion said as he looked at his cup

"What's the matter? You look like shit." Daemon asked

"You don't have to concern yourself with me." Aerion said 

"Right." Daemon said as he looked around, "Listen, I came to say a few things before leaving." 

"To Pentos?" Aerion asked

"Yes." He said

"Speak, then." Aerion said 

Daemon was going to say something, but stopped himself, the words caught in his mouth as he looked at his son not making eye contact with him. A feeling of nervousness filled his stomach as he remembered the Black Priestess's words. About what he had done, the truth of his Mother's death. 

"I...." Daemon said, "Ahem.....Aerion there is something that I've done...something terrible." 

Aerion looked at him, "And that.....that concerns me how?" He asked, "You're not a good man, I am not surprised you've done terrible things." 

"This concerns you because....." Daemon said, "Ah, forget it...." 

"Forget it?" Aerion said, "What did you do that is so bad? Besides the obvious." 

"When the time comes, you'll know, I suppose." Daemon said, "It's too late for me to speak those words." 

Aerion looked at him, his tired eyes scanning his father's posture, "I see." He said, "Very well." 

"Your Sisters." Daemon said, "My beautiful girls.....take care of them, will you? They have my blessing in marrying your sons." 

"My sons, hm?" Aerion looked away

"You are married to their mother." Daemon chuckled slightly

"Yea." Aerion said, "Is that all, Daemon?" 

Daemon nodded slowly, "Yea." He said as he looked down, "That is all." 

He turned around and began to walk away, a grim look on his face.

"What was he like?" Aerion called 

Daemon stopped and glanced at him, "What?" 

"Grandfather." Aerion said, out of nowhere, "What was he like?" 

Daemon turned around, "Why do you want to know?" 

"Everyone tells me different things." Aerion said, "I'm curious." 

The Rogue Prince sighed, "I told you, didn't I?" He said, "He was a jovial fool, my Father. Always happy, always....positive. He rubbed that off on Viserys, you could say. Laughing like the fool he was, at everything. Even after Mother died, Viserys said that he couldn't stop smiling and laughing. I thought of him as weak when I was young, like how Viserys was.....but..." 

Aerion looked at him, "But?" 

Daemon looked down, "Baelon Targaryen was a good man." He said, "He was not weak in the slightest.....he was a good man with a good heart....and he had my respect, despite everything. When he died, I....I mourned him." 

Aerion blinked for a couple of seconds and looked back at his cup, "Hm." He said, "The previous rider of Vhagar. Does it bother you that Aemond inherited that old hag? From your Father to your brooding Nephew." 

Daemon scoffed, "Let's not go into that." 

"Yea, you're right." Aerion nodded

Daemon looked at him, "Why do you ask me of my Father?" He asked, "Were you always so curious about him?" 

"Everyone usually wonders about their grandparents.....where their parents come from, I suppose." Aerion said, "I know where Mother came from, I lived with them. But as for you, it's strange. Not a lot of people speak about them....those of Dragon's Blood. But when they do, it's like they're above life. I wonder sometimes..." 

"What?" Daemon asked

"Will I speak to my children about you in that regard?" Aerion said, "Will they speak to their children about me? It's odd.....we ride what the commoners think as gods.....but we're just Men. Men placed in a pedestal that people will take too far to worship. Whatever our relationship becomes, Daemon, I will let my children think of you as they wish. All that matters is that I give them what you didn't give me. And my only hope and ambition is for them to grow up and have their own families...their children to have children of their own and our blood continue into the future. And just maybe, I will be remembered in a positive light." 

Daemon looked at him, "A positive light, eh?" He said with a slight smile and turned around, "Yea, sure, you can say that." 

Aerion frowned, "What do you mean?" 

Daemon chuckled and began to walk forth, "Nothing." 

********************

Rhaenyra stood in front of the Painted Table, staring at the engraving of Westeros as Aerion walked into the room. This was a few hours after Aerion spoke to his father, the sun was already high in the sky and shining upon the island. 

While Daemon was going to leave Westeros and head to Pentos, his daughters woke up and he decided to spend some time with them before departing. 

Aerion reached Rhaenyra, "Something on your mind?" He asked her as he stood behind her

"Lord Corlys still hasn't woken up." Rhaenyra spoke up, "The Maesters fear for the worst." 

"Hm." Aerion said, "Jace voiced his concerns to me yesterday. The Sea Snake is the most resilient man I've met, he should be fine." 

"Yes, you're right." Rhaenyra said, "Of course." 

Aerion stepped closer and wrapped her arms around her waist, leaning in and kissed her on the cheek, "Are you still upset?" He whispered, "My Love...." 

"You are but a fool." Rhaenyra said with a serious tone, "Plucking your eye out with Aemond's blade? Are you mad?" 

"An impulsive thing to do, I admit." He said, "But one necessary to quench the fires of conflict between us." 

"That may be true, but I don't want my children, your children to resent their uncle because of something you did." Rhaenyra said, "It will merely continue that cycle of anger and hatred.....there should be another way." 

"You're right." Aerion said, "I am sorry." 

"You were going to do it, weren't you? This wasn't just a display of your willingness to end things between us, right?" Rhaenyra placed her hands on his arms

"I was." Aerion said, "But I hesitated, showed a moment of weakness. A direct command from the Queen and my own Wife. Quite pathetic, eh?" 

"You fool." Rhaenyra said with a slight chuckle, "What will I do with you?" 

"The question is....." Aerion kissed her cheek again, "What will you do without me?" 

"Hm, that's the question." She said softly, "If something happened to you, I don't think I'll have it in me to find someone else, Aerion...so don't be a fool and die a needless death....." 

"I won't die." Aerion said softly, "I give you my word." 

"Best keep it." Rhaenyra said with a smile

As they stood there, holding each other, footsteps approached, "Princess!! Lord Aerion!" 

Aerion let go of Rhaenyra and stepped back, turning around as Rhaenyra did the same, seeing a guard walk up to them hastily. 

"What is it?" Aerion asked

The guard handed them a rolled up letter, "T-This came from King's Landing.....it is quite urgent...." He said shakily

Rhaenyra took the letter and unrolled it, reading it's contents. After a few moments, she widened her eyes and her face went completely pale, looking up at Aerion as her hands began to tremble. 

"What?" Aerion asked softly, "Did something happen?" 

"F-Father....." Rhaenyra said shakily as tears filled her eyes, 

"The King is Dead."