(Rhaegon's POV)
"Are you not happy, Rhaegon?" Myrcella asked me
"Hm?" I said as I looked at her
We sat on a bench in the secret gardens, I was looking off into the distance, lost in thought. And it wasn't about this whole marriage, frankly I was happy that Myrcella would get some happiness in her life. I do care for her, I really do.
But there are a lot of things on my mind and with the addition of marriage, things are going to be tricky.
She was giving me a frown as she hugged my arm, "Y-You don't look happy...." she said
"Oh..." I said as I shook my head, "No, it's not what you think. The truth is that your father loves to give big announcements at bad times for me. I've had a lot on my mind, that's all."
"Is that so?" Myrcella said, "I see...how do you feel about this, about us?"
"Uhm....." I said, "Well...."
"If you say something about us being related, need I remind you that marrying cousins is quite common." She said, "My Grandfather married his cousin. Also, Father's parents were brother and sister. We're of Targaryen blood, you know."
"Oh, don't worry, I've come to accept that." I said, "But....I....I just worry about how you feel. Considering that I have three women waiting for me at Summerhall and all.."
"Oh." She said with a smile, "I don't mind."
"Y-You don't?" I asked
She leaned closer to me, "As long as I can be with you, I don't care about anything else." She said, "So long as its just them. It's just them, right?"
I nodded slowly, "Y-Yea....."
"Then it is okay for me." She said with a chuckle, "My dream is coming true, Rhaegon. I can finally have you..."
"I'm happy for you then." I said with a slight smile
"What else is on your mind?" She asked, "You look more troubled than you say."
"War." I said truthfully, "That's all. You know of the conflict brewing, no?"
"I hear the whispers." She said
"I know you do." I said as I looked ahead, "Most of the Realm is preparing for War; men are being rallied, towns are being reinforced, food and rations are being stored, and the people are getting shelter."
"It'll be fine." She said, "Right?"
"Maybe." I said while nodding, "Viserys and I will be on our dragons....if it comes to that."
"Oh!" She said suddenly, "I forgot. Here, there's something I found, Rhaegon."
She pulled away and bent over to her side of the bench, picking up a small metal box. It looked really old and aged as if the passage of time was somewhat cruel to it.
"What is that?" I asked
She handed it to me, "I've been curious about Targaryen History as of late." She said, "In one of Aegon III's texts, it's mentioned that he received a letter during the later years of his reign. He wept on the Iron Throne after reading it. I've spent so long looking for that letter if it still exists. I couldn't find that specific one but I found this one instead. It was written by Aerion Targaryen shortly before the Dance of The Dragons."
There is that name again; Aerion Targaryen. I ought to stop worrying about the war and begin reading books, everyone throws that name around like he's the Messiah or something.
I frowned, "Really?" I said opening the box, "What's it say?"
"Read it." Myrcella said, "You'll find it interesting...."
There was an old folded paper in the box, I took it out and unfolded it and began reading its contents; words written in aged ink.
It read;
"Dear Rhaenyra,
My Love, If you're reading this, it means I am dead and you're on the Throne.
We've briefly discussed the Song of Ice and Fire and Aegon's Dream. "A Targaryen must sit the Iron Throne" your late father had told us both. That is true, my love, it is the only way the Realm can survive the Threat Beyond The Wall. I know that I didn't want to discuss it, but I've had nightmares about what's to come, the Cold...the Dark...It'll come for us all sooner or later.
I've seen it, the Army of The Dead. Commanded by Ice Demons that Northerners call the White-Walkers. It'll be hard to believe, I found it hard to do so myself. But Rhaenyra, the Realm must be prepared for this. I don't know when it'll come, but it will come. That thing, what I saw in the wall of Ice, it will emerge and bring darkness with it.
It was the corpse of a man, it wore the attire of the Night's Watch and had an Iron Crown on it. When Willam and I encountered it, it opened its eyes, one dark and one blue. I don't know what that means to us yet, but I do know that once it woke and set its gaze upon me, I felt the freezing embrace of the afterlife. It is exactly what many Northerners call this threat.
Death.
My Love, I regret it if you do in fact read this. I must've fallen in battle, fighting for you, to put you on that Throne.
I love you and always will, even after this conflict will be far back in the History Books.
Sincerely,
Aerion."
"What?" I said as I frowned, "W-Wait what?"
"Quite strange, right?" Myrcella said, "I wonder what he meant by that."
I looked at her, "You don't understand, Myrcella." I said, "I...."
She frowned, "What is it?"
I looked around, to check if someone was listening.
I then looked at her, "I've been having dreams...." I told her in a hushed tone, "Dreams about this...."
"About a corpse in ice."
*****************************************
(Third Person POV)
[Castle Black, The Wall]
A large and burly young man walked up to Jon Snow as he was placing weapons on the rack. Both of them wore Night's Watch garments.
Jon had what looked like a sword strapped to his side, a white-wolf adorned on its pommel.
"J-Jon!" the man said
Jon stopped and looked at him, "What is it, Sam?" He said
Samwell Tarly, one of Jon's brothers of the Night's Watch, nervously shifted, "What are you doing out here?" He asked, "They're about to cast the stones, Jon. Maester Aemon wants you to be present during this."
"While we do all of this, Mance Rayder's armies are moving closer to the Wall." Jon said with a scowl, "We have no time for any of this, we need to prepare ourselves. The sooner Ser Alliser realizes this, the better for everyone!"
"We need someone to lead us, Jon." Sam said, "What happened beyond the wall, to the Lord-Commander....to Jeor Mormont....We need someone to aid us in this fight."
Jon shook his head, "I'm no leader, Sam." He said, "You know that."
"Well, I disagree." He said, "I think you'll make a great leader."
"A Good Lord-Commander."