29. Aegon's Troubles

King Aegon V Targaryen POV

It had been another busy day and now I was reading several missives that had arrived today. As I sipped the warm Sunrise Gold, I was thankful to Tywin once again. I was still feeling as fresh as if I had just gotten a full night sleep.

The light fragrant tea was something he claimed that was a combination of several herbs and berries that he had been working on and that this was the first batch he had successful blended.

Either way I had been fortunate to have secured it, with a promise from him that I would receive another, larger jar by the following week. I was truly thankful for it, as the next two moons would be a restless period.

Several Lords had sent ravens letting me know that they would soon be leaving their territories to make their way to King's Landing. Thankfully the whole issue with the sellswords had been resolved. The last thing I needed was for another reason for the nobles to gripe, oh how times have changed. House Targaryen had lost the edge that held them in check.

Since the first Targaryen civil war which had been at the height of our power and began our decline because of the loss of all of our dragons. 'The Dance of the Dragons', by the gods, it should have been called 'Viserys' Folly'. It was the single worst decision made by a Targaryen King, only followed by Aegon IV legitimising all of his bastards. 

With Aegon IV, the decline had already begun, Viserys was King at the height of our power and ever since, it had been a slow decline. At least my grandfather and father had done their best to stabilise our house, but even to this day I was still cleaning up the remnants of the Blackfyres. It was truly grating on my nerves.

Not to mention my own children, I was had been cursed to walk this world haunted by the short comings of House Targaryen till the end of my day. Of my children, I had only one viable heir thus far; Jaehaerys. If only Duncan would put Jenny aside. I have come to love her like my own daughter, but her presence meant the Duncan would never be accepted by the nobility. I f only he would see reason.

Jaehaerys on the other end, even after what he had done, had produced a male to continue the family line which only furthered his claim. I eagerly awaited to see my grandson Aerys again. I could only hope Jaehaerys and Shaera were raising the boy right. I intend to ask Jaehaerys to let him remain at court, hopefully both he and Steffon will be able to be fostered at the same time.

I didn't see why this would be an issue as I had planned to ask both Jaehaerys and Ormund to stay on after the tourney and serve on the Small Council, both Lord Stark and Lord Fowler expressed that they would be like to leave at the end of Winter.

Lord Fowler as the Master of Law was a politically savvy man but had never quite developed a taste for life at court in King's Landing. He now longed to return to Dorne, I would not wish to strain an otherwise good relationship, so Ormund would be a good choice to replace him. It would also mean that I would be able to spend time with Rhaelle and Steffon.

Lord Edwyle was a different story, the man was not very politically savvy and was honest to a fault, a typical Stark. Something I valued in the man who had been my Hand for the last 3 years, but winter was expected to end by the next year and with that he seems eager to return North. He had only accepted my offer in order to teach his son Rickard a lesson. Anyone could rule when times were good, true leaders were needed when times were hard.

He wanted his son to experience leading during those hard times while he was still alive, when spring came, he wanted to return North. So far Rickard had done well for himself and if he continued, Edwyle was willing to let him continue even after he returned North.

This was the inspiration for me to call my children back to the Capital, I was getting older, one day my time would come and I wanted them to be prepared. House Targaryen had unified Westeros and brought stability through fire and blood. The day the last dragon of our house died was the day that we started down a long, hard road of keeping the realm together.

The realm needed a firm hand to guide and protect it or else it would fracture and return to the times when every minor lords were kings, and the small folk would suffer for it. If only Lily's dream came through within my lifetime. What she had said had only strengthen my own resolve, I had also been increasingly dreaming of dragons for the last year.

Something was happening to this world, her words of the dead rising in the North was also adding to the creeping unease that I felt. Blood Raven had said the same to me, it was why I had allowed him to take Dark Sister with him but now he had gone missing with the sword.

Lily also mentioned a beast stalking King's Landing, could it be possible the Maelys Blackfyre had allies in the Capital waiting to strike. They called him Maelys the Monstrous and for good reason as I had heard of his obscene size and that he had an infant's head grown from his neck. 

This was why I needed to act, I needed to bind as many of the great houses under House Targaryen, even after my children had broken their marriage pacts and cause dissatisfaction and ruined the foundation I had sought to lay for the future generations. I had hope for my grandchildren, now it was just my children I needed to convince.

"Knock, knock." I heard from the door.

"Enter."

Ser Donald Tyrell opened the door to my study, and I looked in his direction. "Yes?"

"Your Grace, the ship of Prince Jaehaerys has been spotted entering the bay and is expected to dock within an hour."

"Very well, send word to Prince Duncan as well as Tywin Lannister to ready themselves, also, where is your Lord Commander?"

"He has already been informed and is arranging the escort Your Grace."

"Good, I will leave as soon as he is ready, have him meet me at the gate to the Red Keep."

I had already informed Duncan and Tywin that I wanted them to accompany me to meet Jaehaerys, if I wanted to start mending my houses short comings, I will need to take matters into my own hands. 

...…..

Tywin Lannister POV

As we arrived at the docks together with the King, I observed three ships docked, one was larger bearing a large black sail emblazed with the with a red three headed dragon. This was the ship belonging to Prince Jaehaerys and his family.

Robar and Ilyn had accompanied me, and the three of us stood together with Prince Duncan, Gerald and a few of the Prince's personal guard. Lord Commander Duncan and two other King's Guard surrounded the King. Even in this time of peace the King had started reassessing the security of the royal family.

I had heard from one of the King's Guard that in that past, the King often dressed as a commoner with nothing but a sword on his hip and Lord Commander Duncan by his side and walked the streets of the city.

That had since changed over the last year and more so, now for the last couple of months. The King had also tasked Prince Ducan with assigning large patrols along the roads to Darry, Stoney Sept, Bitter Bridge, The Blackwater Rush and Bronzegate. He wasn't taking any more chances leading up to the tourney, as he aimed to deter any bandit attacks.

It was fortunate as I had gotten word from the King that my family including Tytos, my mother Jeyne Marbrand and my siblings would be coming here within the next couple weeks. My uncle Jason Lannister would be staying at Casterly Rock. Included in the party was also my brother by law Emmon Frey.

I was almost tempted to have him killed along the way, the same way I suspected that House Frey had tried to have me killed when I was on my way to King's Landing. It didn't take a genius to figure that it had to be someone who was in the Westerlands, that had connections with the Riverlands to set in motion the attack.

House Frey, not only met that criterion but also had a deep grudge against me. I had opposed Genna and Emmon's wedding as well as put a stop to Walder Frey's efforts to pocket a dowry from House Lannister. Then there was the matter of the "accidental" death of Aenys Frey.

I was proving to be a thorn in Walder Frey's side and as the heir to Casterly Rock, a future threat. If it wasn't him directly, then someone may have used House Frey to enact their plan. Either way, they were the most plausible suspects.

Eventually, I would gather the proof I needed one way or the other. I was in this for the long game and when I was finished with the Freys, they would be nothing more than a vassal house to me and the keys to the Riverlands. Thanks to the King I now had the means.

The King wasn't a stupid man, he too, would be aware that I would seek to find the responsible party for the attack. I only needed to bring him proof and a plan to enact punishment without causing a rift amongst the nobles. This was why I didn't bother to bring it up further, now was not the time. 

As we stood there, I glanced across at those present. Robar was wearing black full plate armour, as opposed to the dark grey he was accustomed to wearing. He also wore a short cape draped over his shoulder, bearing his new sigil; a golden lion's head on a shield on a field of black. It was quite impressive.

I had to literally force him to get his armour updated, as well as the cape was something I had made for him a while back. It was strictly decorative but as the Lord Confessor, he needed to look the part. Ilyn had laughed when he saw him. That was just normal behaviour for him. I also stifled a laugh within, but for a different reason.

What Ilyn didn't know was that his book counterpart had been appointed the King's Justice by Robert Baratheon, traditionally the King's Justice oversaw the Lord Confessor. To think that both these men were my sworn swords, it was hilarious in a very macabre way. 

I was drawn out of my musing as the guards of House Targaryen disembarked from the ship followed by a man draped in a cape with the Targaryen colours. No mistake could be made of who he was, with silver hair and purple eyes, a frame slightly smaller but almost a splitting image of his father, this was Prince Jaehaerys.

Next to follow was what I could only describe as a fine example of Targaryen beauty, like the man before she had the trade mark silver hair and lilac eyes. That was where the similarities ended, she possessed an unmistaken feminine beauty, with full lips, ample cleavage and shapely hips. It was only the deep gulp of Ilyn that made me aware that I had been gawking at her.

She was just my type but I would need to maintain the appearance of the straight laced, stern young noble. I would be like a dog chasing a car right now, but who knew what the future holds. As the Prince exchanged greetings with his father, brother and the Lord Commander, two children disembarked the ship.

A Targaryen boy who was around 9 name days, he walked with a confident air, proudly holding his head up as he surveying those present for their arrival. Behind him came a girl who kept her head slightly down, as she avoided eye contact with others. She was slightly younger and also had similar features. They could only be Aerys and Rhaella Targaryen.

As Aerys stopped and looked in my direction, our eyes locked onto each other. I gave him a polite nod however I never broke eye contact with him. Unfortunately for him, he was the first to look away a few moments later as I suspected because my skills 'Intimidation' and 'Inspire' were being subtlety channelled at him.

I would make sure to set the tone from early as I could take no chances with him. He who would one day, be the straw that broke the camel back, him and his son Rhaegar Targaryen, the banes of House Targaryen. The reason it would be pushed to near extinction.

I had no delusions that there were most likely other external factors at play behind the downfall but I held them as the main culprits. I was not about to allow history repeat itself, Aerys would not be allowed to be King. No, instead he would serve my will, he would be my puppet until the day that I no longer had a use for him.