Chapter 10: The Arrival

Jae stood on a pier, squinting into the distance. The ship of King Aegon VI Targaryen had been spotted about an hour earlier and the entire court had hurried down to the docks to welcome their new King.

Many of the nobles from all over Westeros had already arrived to King's Landing for the coronation, but none of the Great Lords with the exception of Mace Tyrell. That one wanted a head start in the race to make his daughter Queen – the Oaf of Highgarden had clearly not asked himself why Tywin Lannister wasn't doing the same.

For Jaehaerys, the moment of truth had come. Aegon's arrival came almost two years too late and it was time he learned why. Who would walk off that ship? A madman, an impulsive idiot, a weakling? The Martells might have kept him hidden for as long as they had for a number of reasons, and Jae's imagination ran with conjecture.

He briefly entertained the possibility of it all being a trick – the effect of a great man would be enhanced if everyone expected the worst. He discarded the notion as ridiculous wishful thinking. Rumors already circulated the kingdoms, few of them flattering. Even if Aegon proved to be his namesake reborn, it would take a long time for the whispers to die down – Martells would have to be idiots to hatch a plan like that. Maybe he's just immature, more interested in living than ruling. That wouldn't be too bad. Immature men grow up but idiots don't become wise overnight.

He looked around at the assembled nobles present. The welcome party consisted of Prince Oberyn and Princess Arianne, both of whom stood to his right, and Princess Daenerys to his left. Most of the court stood behind them, every one of them as curious about the King as Jae, though for wildly different reasons, no doubt.

Even the commoners had learned of the King's arrival and thousands of them filled the streets of King's Landing, eager to catch a glimpse of the King they hadn't seen since he'd been blessed in the Sept of Baelor as an infant.

Did he know what he was walking into? The Martells had to have some clue from Prince Oberyn's reports over the previous couple of moons if nothing else. The cream of Westerosi nobility had converged on the capital, the loyal and the treacherous alike, all of them coming to see what the King planned to do about the injustices they suffered under Connington, all of them coming to see why they had to suffer them in the first place.

It would all require a balancing act for the ages. The pardoned rebels came for assurances of fair treatment. The loyalists came to collect for their devotion to the Targaryens during the Rebellion. Perhaps for the first time in the history of Westeros, the aftermath of a war would happen fourteen years after the end of the war. The incubation period in-between only worsened the sentiments of the nobles. There were Heirs and future Lords who'd been weaned on the hatred for the Targaryens when they should have considered the Rebellion a thing of the past. The recipe threatened to ensure the hatred and the resentment would go on for another generation.

If Aegon went out of his way to reward the loyalists, the former rebels would take it to mean they couldn't expect a place in his regime. And then there will be trouble. But if Aegon made overtures to the rebels, loyalists might become enraged at the prospect of a King who would reward the traitors who'd done their best to kill them all not fifteen years past. And then there will be trouble.

Jaehaerys did not know the correct course of action. Satisfying the loyalists would be the safe move since they represented the rock upon which the current regime stood, but it was not a sustainable solution. One cannot rule the Seven Kingdoms when three of them dream of rebellions.

A thousand goals whirred in his mind, supported by a thousand plots. It all depended on Aegon – he had to know the man he wanted to manipulate before he could proceed.

"Excited to meet your brother?" Arianne whispered from his side.

Jae looked down at her to find her staring straight ahead, the corners of her mouth twitching.

"Indeed," he said as the ship approached the dock. Sailors on board ran up and down the deck, scrambling to prepare the ship for docking. He caught a glint of a gold helm and his heart began to beat a little faster. He would meet Ser Arthur Dayne by the end of the day!

At last, ropes were thrown overboard and the men working on the docks dutifully reeled the ship in and secured it to the pier. A large plank slid over the edge of the deck.

The trumpets sounded the King's welcome, and the drums beat. Nobles in the crowd instinctually straightened up as two Kingsguard knights walked down the plank, followed by a silver-haired man, a Dornish beauty and a frail woman who could only be their mother. Two more Kingsguards followed behind.

They made for a formidable image, Jaehaerys could not deny it as he went down on one knee with the rest of the Court. He stole another glance at the half-siblings he'd never seen before. Aegon did not look like a weakling. He had to be a few inches taller than Jaehaerys and far bulkier. He was all Valyrian in looks but did not resemble Viserys in the slightest. He had smoother features, his eyes far sharper.

Rhaenys was a carbon copy of her mother, though Jaehaerys thought he'd seen a glimmer of violet eyes. Much like him then. He found he liked the thought of not being the only one who took after his mother.

Aegon approached the gathered party with a serpentine step. He paused before them. Jae's long curls allowed him to look up without being noticed, and he saw how Aegon's chest puffed up. He is pleased. Pleased to see so many kneeling for him.

It took a nudge from Princess Rhaenys for Aegon to nod and say, "Rise, rise all!"

They slowly got back to their feet. Jaehaerys could've sworn his legs weighed more than they had when he knelt. He swallowed and took a deep breath.

"Uncle!" Aegon smiled and embraced Prince Oberyn who returned the hug with enthusiasm.

Aegon confirmed Jae's suspicions about his relationship with Arianne when the latter curtsied, but he could only offer a polite nod in return. Jae couldn't find any of the familial warmth Aegon shared with Oberyn.

Then Jae's turn came. Aegon's mouth spread into a wide smile, but Jae did not miss the assessing gaze in his eyes. He subtly looked Jae up and down as one might a horse. "Brother! How I have longed to meet you!" he said and hugged him.

Trying to appear friendly in public or merely going out of his way to slight Arianne? Because if Aegon thought Jae would buy his little act, he had to be an idiot. By the standards of King's Landing, Aegon's little performance bordered on laughable. Jae felt a pang of disappointment. He wouldn't have minded if Aegon were a good liar. At least they'd have something in common.

"It is good to meet you too, Your Grace." He had reminded himself beforehand not to use words like 'finally' or 'at last'. Aegon wouldn't appreciate being reminded of his late arrival. Especially as it seems it most likely wasn't his decision to do so in the first place.

"Please, Jaehaerys, my family all call me Aegon."

Jae inclined his head. "As you say, Aegon."

The King moved on to greet Daenerys, allowing his sister and his mother to meet him. Rhaenys came first and she had her arms around him before Jae could register what had happened. "It's so nice to meet you, little brother," she whispered.

"It is nice to meet you too, Princess," he said with a genuine smile. There was not a trace of guile in her, which made Jaehaerys like her on the spot. Either she excelled at lying or she happened to be very straightforward in her affections – both endearing possibilities in Jae's eyes.

"I don't have to repeat Aegon's words, do I?" she said with a chiding look mixed with amusement. She had her silky dark hair pulled back in a knot, leaving her shoulders bare. With a glance, Jae saw his sister could wield a knife – her breastbone stood exposed and it drew his eyes to the corded muscles rippling beneath her skin, the perfect build for a fighter relying on speed and skill. A spear, perhaps.

"Of course not, Rhaenys."

She gave him a cheeky smile before Queen Elia took her place.

"Your Grace." Jae bowed low. Queen Elia might've looked skinny and weak from a distance and on closer inspection, she did seem a bit gaunt, but a light shone in her eyes, her every movement speaking of an inner fire that would not go out. 

"Jaehaerys," she said with a warm smile. "I cannot thank you enough for saving Oberyn."

"It was nothing, Your Grace." His shoulder flared at the reminder. It still hadn't healed completely and it would take some time before the soreness left him, or so Pycelle claimed.

"What a fine man you've grown into. Lyanna would be proud."

No one had ever mentioned his mother, let alone alluded to how she would feel about Jae. He bowed his head on instinct to hide his thoughts and said, "Thank you, Your Grace."

She nodded, patting his cheek, looking all too aware of Jae's thoughts.

"I suggest we adjourn to the Red Keep. We've had a long journey and I believe everyone would like to freshen up," Rhaenys suggested and the rest of the party adopted her idea post-haste.

Jaehaerys mounted his horse, Ser Jaime by his side, and rode up Aegon's Hill behind the Aegon. Crowds of commoners lined the streets, cheering for their King. Aegon, for his part, returned their affection eagerly, waving and smiling to the crowd, throwing the occasional golden dragon to some of the orphans that ran by the side of the procession.

Jaehaerys watched it all with a smile on his face. Aegon chose the right, there was no doubt about that. Rhaegaer had been beloved by the people and at last, they had a son of the Silver Prince who resembled him in looks and, it appeared, in character as well.

The truth didn't matter, whatever it was. The truth never matters, if only you've got the discipline to keep it hidden. Every time Jae had an amicable conversation with Prince Oberyn, he remembered that lesson. It made him wonder what truth exactly Aegon hoped to keep hidden. I will know soon enough. If he is power-hungry and arrogant, he won't be able to help but reveal his true colors.

They reached the Red Keep in good time and the entire procession dismounted while the two Princesses and Queen Elia stepped out of the carriage.

Servants hurried back and forth, leading Aegon, Rhaenys, and Elia to their chambers while others rushed to collect their luggage and accommodate the other members of the party. Jae stood with Jaime, thinking how life at court would never be the same again when a Kingsguard approached them.

He had a huge longsword poking over his shoulder, a purple star on the pommel. That could only mean one thing.

"Ser Arthur," Ser Jaime said with a nod.

"Ser Jaime." Ser Arthur returned it. "Ser Gerold requests your presence in the White Sword Tower. You are to go over your duties now that the entire Royal Family resides in the Red Keep."

Jaime was about to say something, but Arthur cut him off. "I will look after Prince Jaehaerys in the meantime."

Jaime snapped his mouth shut, nodded to Arthur, bowed to Jaehaerys, and walked off, leaving Jaehaerys alone with the legend.

Jae watched Ser Jaime leave, a bit bemused at thought of his absence before he turned to the famed knight. "It is a pleasure to meet a warrior of your renown, Ser Arthur."

"The pleasure is mine, Your Highness." He bowed, but nothing more.  Jaime did say he wasn't much of a talker. Gods, this should be tedious.

"I was planning on retiring to my chambers until the feast. I wouldn't want to unnecessarily burden you, Ser."

"Not at all, Your Highness." Those purple eyes watched him from behind his helm.

What does this one think of me, I wonder. "Very well."

Jaehaerys walked out of the courtyard, his thoughts quickly straying from the Sword of the Morning. The elegant, subtle dance that would take place in the following days interested him far more. Surprisingly enough, he found himself looking forward to it. His derision of the courtly games had been eroding for a long time, but he hadn't expected to come to enjoy them. Men like Ser Jaime, warriors all, derided the feigned smiles and duplicitous talk. They did not understand. Courtly games were a form of chivalry. If all men were to come out and say exactly what they meant, the wars would never end. The games, with all their tedious rules and nuances, provided an avenue for nobles to pursue their ambitions without slaughtering each other.

Jaehaerys had come to love it, and so the coming days had him as excited as a maid before the bedding. He'd been taking baby steps towards peace for years, but now the opportunity came to take strides! Great strides!

It promised to be a memorable affair.