Chapter 40: An Egg Besides the Cradle. 128 AC

[Runestone]

In the deepest depth of the Runestone Crypt, Maegor was walking through a dark corridor. He was accompanied by two men in bronze armor, one man was so tall that he had to duck to be able to fit in the corridor, and the two guards were holding a torch to light up the way.

Maegor was holding Robar, who just reached his 3rd name day this year, and he looked excited at the prospect of following his father in this journey.

"How is your uncle, Ser Gunther?" asked Maegor suddenly to one of his sworn swords, a member of the runeguard, Ser Gunther Royce, the Bronze Giant.

Ser Gunther gruffed at the question. "What about him, my lord?"

"I am merely asking how his condition is." Maegor pointed out.

"As usual." Ser Gunther answered. "He barely comes to the castle, he deserted his post long ago."

"To where?" asked Maegor.

"Only the seven know." Ser Gunther gruffed. "Whorehouse? Gambling den? I simply do not care."

"Well, you should." Answered Maegor. "An old man that holds no power will certainly develop some… tendencies…"

"Tendencies?"

Maegor didn't answer ser Gunther, instead, he turned towards his other sworn sword, ser Gareth Long. "You know what I'm talking about right, ser Gareth?"

"He would learn from Lord Bennard from the north, my lord." answered ser Gareth.

Ser Gunther scoffed. "Him? Trying to overthrow you? He would sooner be roasted like a sheep."

"Who knows, ser Gunther, we need to watch out." Maegor continued. "Dark times are ahead."

Ser Gunther frowned. "I'll watch his arse for you, my lord."

"Never mind about our dear old uncle." Maegor chuckled. "I want to know about you, Ser Gunther. Do you hate me for keeping the Targaryen name while I took the position of head of house?"

"What can I say, cousin?" ser Gunther shrugged.

"If not for me existing, ser Gunther, you would be lord in a couple of years give or take." Maegor countered.

"You are a better ruler by a mile away," said Ser Gunther. "I would not achieve what you have achieved right now. I do not care what name sits as the head of house. Besides, little Andar would be a good ruler, and he has the name of Royce."

Maegor just chuckled, and hummed, even ser Gareth also laughed a bit.

Ser Gunther just looked at the two in confusion. "Was that a test?"

"You tell me, cousin." Maegor said. "You tell me."

As the four of them arrived at the destination, they were greeted by a strange door. The front of the door was carved beautifully, full of runes that made a slight humming sound repeatedly.

"Stay here." Maegor said.

"Yes, yes, Targaryen blood only." ser Gunther answered lazily as he turned around, guarding his post. Ser Gareth followed suit.

As Maegor opened the door, he suddenly felt a force of hot wind hitting his skin. Instead of crying, Robar giggled at the sensation, and both of them entered the room.

As he closed the door behind him, Maegor saw his creation, a medium-sized room fully carved with runes with Targaryen symbols and heraldries decorating it. In the middle of the room lay three eggs, one white, one blue, and one yellow.

"Come." said Maegor to his son. "Choose one for your sister."

Robar nodded his tiny head as Maegor put him to the ground. Robar walked towards the three eggs, and stared at it for a couple of minutes.

Maegor just waited behind him, he clearly was taking the time to choose.

"Father?" he suddenly spoke out.

"Yes, boy?" answered Maegor.

"Why can't I get one?" Robar asked.

Maegor sighed deeply as he walked towards his son. He knelt in front of Robar, and cupped his son's cheek.

"Robar… my son…" Maegor spoke softly. "You are from House Royce. You cannot take a dragon as your partner."

"Then why does my sister have one? Why do you have one?" he asked.

"Because we have the Targaryen name." Maegor said guiltily.

"Am I not your son?" asked Robar, seemingly frustrated.

Maegor didn't say anything at first, he just kissed his son's forehead, and whispered to him. "Of course you are my son."

Maegor then took out something from his pocket, it was a small dagger, runes carved on its sheath, it was carved following a pattern of a dragon.

"Here." said Maegor. "While you may not have a dragon, house Royce has the knowledge of runes. You can use this to protect your family… your brother, your sister… it rivals the power of Dragons."

"You are a horrible liar, father," said Robar. While he took the dagger, he quickly turned towards the three eggs, and the boy took the white egg from the pedestal, before walking away towards the door. He opened it by himself, and carried the egg towards the outside.

The two guards outside were confused, they didn't stop him, they just looked at him walking away. Maegor exited the room, locking it tightly with his key.

"Something the matter, my lord?" asked ser Gareth.

"The ghost of my past appears to be haunting me today." Maegor smiled. "Let's get out of here."

—

As Robar and Maegor entered a room in the castle of Runestone, a soft sound of crying could be heard near the fireplace. Maegor could see that Andar was watching the baby on the cradle curiously, while his mother was watching him as she drank some tea from the table.

Robar looked at Maegor for a second, seemingly asking for approval.

"Go on," he said. "Put it beside her."

Robar then quickly walked up to the cradle, and put the egg beside it. Meanwhile, Maegor walked towards Helaena, and kissed her forehead.

"How is my little Elaena?" said Maegor softly.

"She is doing alright," said Helaena. "The maesters said that she will be fine if we keep her warm."

Maegor hummed as he sat beside her, watching as Robar talked to his twin brother about the egg that he took for their sister.

Maegor could only sigh at the sight, he leaned towards his chair, and spoke to his wife. "Robar asked me why he couldn't have a dragon."

"And you tell him what?" asked Helaena as she drank some tea.

"The truth." answered Maegor.

"My love, even if we barge him to not tame a dragon. It is inevitable." said Helaena calmly.

"You saw that in your dreams? That he's riding a majestic golden dragon to war?" Maegor said a little sarcastically.

"Silver," said Helaena.

"What?"

"A silver dragon." Helaena repeated with a deadpan look.

Maegor turned towards her and sighed. "Well, fuck…"

Suddenly, Maegor and Helaena saw as Robar's head touched the white egg, and it fell towards Elaena, hitting her right in the chest.

A sound of crying echoed throughout the room, with Elaena seemingly in pain. Helaena quickly stood up and walked towards the cradle to calm her down, while Robar stepped back a bit.

Maegor sighed as he also stood up, walking towards the two boys. "What have you done, you two…"

"I did not do anything! It was an accident!" Robar tried to defend herself. Maegor didn't punish him, he just told him to sit on the chair.

"Maegor?" Helaena suddenly asked.

"Yeah, something wrong?" questioned Maegor.

"No… just… it just hatched…" said Helaena.

"What?" Maegor said, walking towards the cradle.

"The dragon, it hatched." said Helaena, showing the empty eggshell to Maegor.

Maegor then knelt in front of the cradle, and saw that a slimy yet beautiful white hatchling was laying on top of the little girl. The girl had stopped crying, and instead, both of them were sleeping peacefully with each other, seemingly warming each other up.

"Oh, well, that was fast…" Maegor murmured. "Did your mother tell you how fast Aegon's egg hatching is?"

"No…" Helaena murmured. "You should send a raven to get a dragonkeeper to take care of it."

Maegor hummed. "Just let it be for now. Let the bond strengthen."