Chapter 17 - Just The Two Of Us

Jaehaerys Pov

I opened my eyes to a crimson sky, choked with swirling ash and devouring flames. The ground beneath me was a sea of dark volcanic ash, its coarse texture pricking my skin as I struggled to my feet. The air was thick with heat and the acrid smell of sulfur, making each breath a painful ordeal.

Fourteen colossal volcanoes loomed around me, their fiery mouths vomiting rivers of molten rock and clouds of burning embers. The sound was a deafening roar, a symphony of nature's wrath that seemed to shake the very bones of the earth.

In the distance, through the shimmering waves of heat and ash, I saw a lone figure. As I staggered towards him, his silhouette grew sharper, more defined. My heart thudded in my chest, a mixture of fear and hope propelling me forward. Finally, I halted, my breath catching in my throat as I recognized the man before me. It was my father, King Viserys, his regal bearing unchanged even in this hellish landscape.

He turned slowly, his piercing violet eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that seemed to burn through my soul. His face was etched with sorrow, the weight of countless burdens visible in the lines of his brow and the downturn of his mouth.

"Did you do it?" His voice was heavy, laden with a gravity that made my chest tighten.

"Yes," I whispered, my voice breaking as tears welled up in my eyes. The weight of my actions crashed down upon me, each word a knife twisting in my heart.

"What did it cost?" he asked, his gaze never wavering as I took a trembling step closer.

"Everything," I choked out, the single word carrying the full weight of my despair. Tears streamed down my face, mingling with the ash and sweat. My father's expression softened, a fleeting glimmer of the man who had once held me as a child.

He reached out, his hand warm and reassuring against the chill of the inferno around us. "My son," he murmured, his voice breaking with emotion. "Why? Why did it have to be this way?"

I fell to my knees before him, clutching at his hand as sobs wracked my body. "I had no choice," I cried.

My father knelt beside me, his arms enveloping me in a desperate embrace. "I know, Jaehaerys," he whispered. "I know. But the cost... was it worth the price you paid?"

His words echoed in my mind as the scene around us began to blur, the fiery landscape dissolving into darkness. I felt myself being pulled away, my father's touch slipping from my grasp. I reached out, a silent scream tearing from my lips as the vision faded.

I awoke with a start, my body drenched in sweat. The oppressive heat was gone, replaced by the cold, damp air of the Black Cells. The walls were rough stone, the only light coming from a flickering torch outside my cell. Chains clanked as I shifted, the heavy manacles around my wrists and ankles biting into my skin.

I was a prisoner, held captive by my own brothers, Aemond and Daeron. The fever that ravaged my body left me weak, my strength ebbing with each passing moment. The cold, damp air of the Black Cells seeped into my bones, adding to my misery.

As I lay on the cold stone floor, I heard the sound of footsteps approaching. The flickering light of a torch grew brighter, casting long shadows on the walls. I strained to lift my head, my vision blurred and hazy. A figure emerged from the darkness, moving closer with each step.

Through the haze, I discerned the form of a woman. Her presence seemed almost ethereal, her movements graceful and deliberate. She knelt beside me, the light of the torch illuminating her face. Her eyes, filled with a mixture of sorrow and determination, met mine as she reached out, her touch gentle against my fevered skin.

130 AC

The First Day of the Third Moon

Alyssa's POV

I burst into the small council chamber, my heart pounding with rage and desperation. My brother Aegon sat near the head of the table, flanked by our mother and grandfather. Their faces were masks of solemnity, but I saw no remorse in their eyes. My fury found its first target, and I turned towards Daeron, striding purposefully across the room.

With a resounding slap, my hand connected with his face. "How could you?" I screamed, my voice echoing off the stone walls.

Daeron stumbled back, his nose beginning to bleed. He looked up at me, shock and pain mingling in his eyes. "Where is Jaehaerys?" I demanded, my voice shaking with both fear and anger.

"Alyssa!" Mother shouted as the Kingsguard moved to restrain me, their hands gripping my arms tightly.

"You arrested him and paraded him around the city like a common criminal!" I screamed, struggling against their hold. "How could you?"

"Alyssa," Aegon's voice cut through the chaos. I turned to face him, my eyes burning with accusation.

"There were mistakes made in my absence," he said, his tone heavy with regret.

"I do not care for your words, brother," I spat. "Where is Jaehaerys?"

"He is in the Black Cells," Aemond answered, his voice cold and unfeeling.

Rage surged through me, and I tried to lunge at him, but the Kingsguard held me back. "Everybody who is not my immediate family will leave at once," Aegon commanded. The chamber slowly emptied, the shuffling of feet the only sound as courtiers and advisors made their way out.

I was in the North when I received a raven summoning me back to King's Landing for Jaehaerys' trial. I had flown at once, the urgency driving me faster than ever. The closer I got to the capital, the more disturbing the news became. My brother, my flesh and blood, had been arrested and paraded through the streets like a common criminal.

"Have you calmed down, sister?" Aegon asked, his voice a strained attempt at patience. I glanced at Daeron, who was dabbing at his nose to stop the bleeding.

"What crime has Jaehaerys committed to deserve this treatment?" I demanded, my voice shaking with barely controlled fury.

"Do you even hear yourself, Alyssa?" Daeron retorted, his tone incredulous.

"How can both of you allow this to happen?" I shouted, turning my gaze to our mother and grandfather.

"Granddaughter," our grandfather began, his voice a measured calm that only fueled my anger, "the kingdoms are as divided now as they were before the arrival of Aegon the Conqueror. Jaehaerys is the cause of this unrest."

"The lords of the Riverlands and the Westerlands have gathered in King's Landing for this trial," Aegon added, his expression grim.

"And they demand their pound of flesh," Daeron said, his voice laced with bitterness.

"Aegon, you cannot punish Jaehaerys," I pleaded, my voice breaking. "He did everything for us."

Aegon gave me a look filled with pity before he spoke. "I am the king of the Seven Kingdoms, Alyssa. I must be a guiding light to the people we rule."

I ground my teeth in anger, feeling the warm trickle of blood as my nails dug into my palms. "I want to see him," I grated out, my voice a low growl. "Right now."

Aegon studied me for a moment, then nodded. "Very well. Ser Criston, take my sister to see my brother," he commanded.

As I walked towards the cells, Ser Criston at my side, I felt a cold dread settle over me. "How long has he been imprisoned?" I asked the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard.

"For the past moon and a half," he replied, his voice devoid of emotion.

The descent into the dungeons was a journey into darkness and despair. The air grew colder, and the flickering torchlight cast eerie shadows on the damp stone walls. When we reached the Black Cells, Ser Criston unlocked the heavy door, and I stepped inside.

Jaehaerys lay on the floor, his body a ghostly pale under the dim light. Chains bound his wrists and ankles, and he was shivering, feverish. His eyes fluttered open as I approached, and for a moment, there was no recognition in his gaze.

"Jaehaerys," I whispered, my voice breaking. I knelt beside him, taking his cold hand in mine.

"Alyssa?" he rasped, his voice weak and hoarse. "Is it really you?"

"Yes, it's me," I said, tears streaming down my face. "What have they done to you?"

He tried to smile, but it was a pained, broken thing. "They believe I am a threat," he murmured. "A threat to our family, to the realm."

"You are no threat," I insisted, my anger rising again. "You are my brother, and you did nothing wrong."

"They don't see it that way," he said, his eyes closing as if the effort to keep them open was too great.

I brushed a lock of hair from his forehead, my heart aching. "I will not let them do this to you," I vowed. "I will fight for you, Jaehaerys. I swear it."

"I love you," I whispered, my voice choked with emotion, as I pressed a kiss to his fevered lips, tears streaming down my face.

"Princess, it is time," Ser Criston said softly.

I kissed Jaehaerys on the forehead, lingering for a moment as if to imprint the memory. "Stay strong, my brother," I murmured, before reluctantly pulling away and leaving the cell.

Jaehaerys Pov

I was awoken by rough hands dragging me from my cell, the chains around my wrists and ankles clinking ominously as I was hauled towards the Great Hall of the Red Keep. My body protested every movement, the fever and the harsh conditions of my imprisonment having sapped my strength. As the massive doors opened before me, the noise of hundreds of nobles, their voices a cacophony of insults and jeers, filled my ears.

I was pushed forward, stumbling into the trial box, and I looked out at the sea of faces before me. Near the Iron Throne, I saw my family standing, their expressions a mix of sorrow, anger, and indifference. And on the throne itself sat my brother, Aegon, the so-called king.

The nobles quieted as Aegon raised his hand. "We have all gathered here for the trial of my brother, Prince Jaehaerys Targaryen," he announced, his voice carrying a somber authority.

One by one, the witnesses were called. They gave their testimonies, but their words were a blur to me, drowned out by the roaring in my ears and the rising tide of my anger. They spoke of atrocities, of bloodshed, of betrayal. They painted me as a monster, a villain deserving of nothing but scorn.

Daeron's wife wept as she recounted her tale, while rival lords spoke of their kin brutally murdered despite bending the knee. They were fools, all of them, blind to the truth of what had transpired.

Daeron stood, his voice cold and unyielding. "Jaehaerys may be my brother, but the fact remains that he has committed too many crimes to be forgiven."

I couldn't help it—I laughed. The sound was harsh and bitter, echoing through the Great Hall and silencing the murmurs of the assembled nobles.

Aegon fixed his gaze on me, his expression one of weary resignation. "Jaehaerys, what do you have to say for yourself?"

I met his eyes, my laughter subsiding into a dark smile. "I wish to confess," I said softly.

Aegon leaned forward, confusion and caution warring on his face. "Speak clearly, Jaehaerys."

"I am guilty, brother," I repeated, my voice growing stronger. "I am guilty of massacring the Blacks. I should have let Daemon murder the lot of you."

The hall erupted in uproar, shouts of outrage and disbelief filling the air. But I wasn't finished. I turned my gaze on Aemond, my laughter bubbling up again.

"Aemond, I saved you from losing your eye back in Driftmark," I said, my voice dripping with venom. "Daeron, you would have been lying dead in Tumbleton if not for me. Helaena would have killed herself without my intervention."

My gaze shifted to Aegon, and I felt a surge of bitter satisfaction at the pained expression on his face. "Aegon, you would have been poisoned while your children were massacred if not for me."

"I saved you all. I fought for you all. I bled for you, and now you cast me aside as if I am nothing," I spat, my voice rising to a shout.

I turned my attention to the Lannisters and the Westernlords, my eyes burning with hatred. "I wish I had let the Ironborn reave and rape the whole lot of you, let your daughters be turned into their salt wives. I wish I had let your sons be fucked in the arse by the Ironborn."

The gasps and cries of outrage that followed only fueled my fury. "Sending Jason Lannister to his death and burning the heads of the houses of the Riverlands brought me more joy than fucking a thousand whores," I said, staring directly at Joanna Lannister as I laughed.

"Fuck you, fuck everyone," I snarled, feeling my strength begin to wane. "You are all vermin, like dirt beneath my fucking feet."

I looked back at my family, my laughter turning into a bitter smile. "You think of me as a monster?" I asked, my voice eerily calm. "I became a monster to save you all, and this is how you repay me."

"I won the Dance of Dragons. I defeated everyone. I killed Rhaenyra and her bastards. I killed them all," I said, my knees buckling as I fell to the floor.

"And I would do it all over again," I declared, my voice echoing through the silent hall. "Killing and burning the lot of you brought me so much joy."

"Fuck you all," I whispered, my strength finally giving out as I collapsed to the floor.

"Jaehaerys!" Aegon's scream pierced the silence.

"You are my brother, but due to the crimes you have committed against the nobility, I sentence you to exile. You will never step foot in Westeros as long as I live," Aegon pronounced, his voice filled with a mix of sorrow and finality.

Alyssa Pov

"The prince is merely exhausted due to his long stay in the black cells, and his fever will break in a few days," Grand Maester Orwyle said as I stood next to Jaehaerys, my mother clinging to his hand.

"And now you all are showing concern?" I spat, glaring at my siblings and family.

"Which fool had the idea to put him in the black cells? Was it you, Daeron? Did your wretched wife addle your brains?" I thundered.

"It was Jaehaerys," Aegon said, and I froze.

"What do you mean?" I demanded.

"Granddaughter, come. We have many things to discuss," Otto said as I followed him and my brother.

We entered Aegon's solar, and on his table lay a set of books.

As we all sat, I looked intently at my grandfather.

"It was Jaehaerys's plan," he said, his face a mix of anger and concern.

"Alyssa, our brother is a dreamer," Aegon said, and I was shocked.

"Just like your ancestor Daenys, who dreamt of the end of the Valyrian Freehold, your brother dreamt of the Dance of the Dragons—that was the civil war between the House of the Dragon," grandfather said in a somber tone.

"He never told me," I said, clenching my fists.

"He did not want to burden his brothers and sisters, granddaughter," Grandfather Otto said, patting my back.

"Your brother found a way to keep all of you alive in this civil war and ensure we would end up on the winning side," he said.

"The both of us knew the conflict would be bloody, but I did not know the extent to which Jaehaerys would go," grandfather said.

"So in the end, punishing him was part of the plan as well," I said angrily.

"No, it was not," Otto said.

"Half of the kingdoms fear me while the other half fear and hate me," Jaehaerys had said.

"I am the dark cloud hovering over the Seven Kingdoms, and until I am gone, there will be no peace," grandfather quoted Jaehaerys.

I was furious; I wanted nothing more than to go and beat Jaehaerys to a pulp, but then I remembered how he wanted to protect his family in the end.

"I doubt the nobles will be happy with Jaehaerys's exile," I said.

"If any noble tries to tell me to send him to the Wall, then Sunfyre will be waiting for them," Aegon said with anger.

"They will not cross the boundary," Otto said.

"The Lord of the West and those of the Riverlands hate Jaehaerys, and that hate is the only thing binding them together. The moment Jaehaerys leaves, so will these lords," Otto said.

"It will take the Lannisters at least a generation to bring stability to the battered Westerlands, while the Riverlords will start feuding with each other again," he said.

"You mean the Crownlands," Aegon said, and grandfather chuckled.

"Yes, the Crownlands," he said.

"The power of the crown has expanded, and now the Crownlands consist of the entirety of the Riverlands," he said.

"House Tully has been stripped of their position as the Lords Paramount of the Riverlands," he said.

"And then these books," Otto said as I looked at them.

The title of the book was the Five Year Plan.

"Jaehaerys devised how the kingdom should be ruled for the next twenty-five years and how the power of the Targaryens should be firm," he said.

I opened one book titled The Royal Army and the Royal Navy.

"Harrenhal will be the main base of the royal army while Driftmark, Dragonstone, and King's Landing will act as the base for the royal navy of the east. The royal navy of the west will consist of the Iron Islands, other than that of Harlaw," I read.

"Aemond will be the Master of War," Aegon said.

I looked at another book titled The Branches of House Targaryen.

"Due to the number of Targaryens and dragons, Jaehaerys decided to create branches of House Targaryen," Otto said.

"Daeron will be the Prince of Harlaw, while Aemond will be the Prince of Summerhall in the Stormlands," grandfather said.

"The young prince Maelor will be the Prince of Driftmark and will marry the last Velaryon alive," he said.

"Fairmarket in the Riverlands, Sea Dragon Point in the North will be considered as future seats for the future Targaryen branches as well," Otto said.

"But what if some descendant of the future generation decided he wishes to be king?" I asked.

"Then," Grandfather Otto showed me a document which stated, "other than the express permission of the king, dragons will not be used to fight battles, and if anyone breaks the law, then the rest of the branches will attack them."

"Believe me, sister, the lords know what a war consisting of dragons looks like, and I doubt they will forget anytime soon," Aegon said.

"Then come the codified laws of succession," grandfather said, and on it, I read how only a man can be the king of the Seven Kingdoms. If a king only has daughters, then the next male Targaryen will be his heir, and only if there are no male Targaryens left will a woman be appointed as the queen.

Just reading all this gave me a headache.

"So what will you do now, sister?" Aegon asked me.

"Since you have exiled Jaehaerys forever, I will follow him," I said.

"I had a feeling," Aegon said with a soft smile.

"Forgive me, sister, for not being able to protect all of you, especially Jaehaerys," Aegon said in a somber tone.

I just got up and hugged my brother.

A Week Later

I entered Jaehaerys' room and saw him standing near the balcony, overlooking the city.

I walked up to him and held his hand.

"Alyssa, you will not be able to see them again if you come with me," he said, looking at me.

"Well, only you have been exiled, brother. I can still return," I said with a grin, and he gave a soft laugh.

But then I moved closer to him.

"A Targaryen alone in the world is a terrible thing," I said as I kissed him.

"I can scarcely believe it has been a year," he said as we parted.

"I know," I said as I hugged him.

But then the doors opened, and we heard the twins come running in.

"Baelon, Jaehaera," Jaehaerys said as the twins rushed in and hugged him.

"Please do not go, uncle," they both said, tears forming in their eyes.

"I will never be far away from both of you," he said. "For I will always remain in your hearts." They hugged him harder.

Then Helaena stepped forward. She didn't say much, but just hugged him as tears fell from her eyes.

I saw Aemond and his wife standing in the distance, and then they approached Jaehaerys with their newborn son in their arms.

"Brother," Aemond said and hugged Jaehaerys. "I will miss you, brother," he said.

"And I you," Jaehaerys said. "I will miss seeing little Maekar here grow up as well," Jaehaerys said as he lightly tickled Aemond's son, who gurgled. I said my goodbyes as well.

Daeron approached Jaehaerys, and they just looked at each other before embracing.

Then I saw mother enter, and she hugged the both of us and couldn't control her tears.

"I am sorry for failing you all," she said. "You all grew up so fast and had to go through so much. Please forgive me," she said.

"Oh, mother," Jaehaerys said as he hugged her. "You gave me the greatest gift of life. This was none of your fault," he said as she broke down.

"Do write letters," mother said as Jaehaerys nodded his head.

Then we left the room and walked toward the courtyard, where I saw grandfather standing. He exchanged a few words with Jaehaerys, and soon we departed towards the Dragonpit as the smallfolk stood on the streets.

I saw Aegon waiting inside the Dragonpit, and he hugged Jaehaerys and me before we both made our way towards our respective dragons, who were coiled together.

"Alyssa," he said.

"Jaehaerys," I said.

"I love you, my moon and stars," he said.

"My sun and sky," I said as we exchanged a kiss before mounting our dragons and leaving the Dragonpit. As we flew in the air, I couldn't wait to fulfill my dream of seeing the entire world and eventually starting a family.

In the end, it was just the two of us, and I was content as the sun rose up in the sky. It was the start of a new chapter for Jaehaerys and me.