Eve of The Departure

(Aerion's POV)

"Jace." I said as I walked up to the young boy

He was above the Dragonmont, sitting on a rock as he looked out and towards the sea. 

He looked up, "Aerion..." he said as I sat next to him

"Ah...." I said, "Your mother told me you were to act as my squire, help me don my armor." 

He looked down, "I guess so." He said

I frowned, "What's the matter, lad?" 

"Why are you leaving?" He asked

I looked to my side and saw a stick laying next to me, "Well, if you really have to know." I said picking up the stick and began to draw on the dirt ground, "Like I've told your mother, the Velaryon fleet will lure out both Triarchy and Dornish forces out into the open....." 

I was drawing several island shapes in front of us, acting like the stepstones. 

"If they're all in the open...." I said as I drew some lines from both sides that pointed to the several triangles that I have acting as the Velaryon Fleet, "I can ambush them with Vermithor and potentially cripple them. It might not take that long if executed right, a couple of days, perhaps, a week at most. If I can force the Dornish back and make sure they don't interfere any longer, than that is all I am needed for. They can handle the rest." 

I looked at him, he was looking down with a frown on his face, "And that will work?" 

"I don't know, I hope so. If Lord Corlys says it could, then it definitely might." I said, "It is a suggestion I made and he's more experienced than me in this....if he didn't outright refuse me, then I assume it's a feasible plan." 

"Hm..." He said

"What's wrong?" I asked

"I don't want you to go." He said, "It's better if you stay here and raise Visenya to be the next Heir after my Mother." 

"W-What?" I said, "But you're next in line, what do you mean?" 

"No, I am not." He said, "You know why. That is why you married my mother, right? To make a baby that looks like the both of you." 

I sighed and looked around us, seeing that there was nobody in sight, "Jace....." I said, "What absurdities are you saying now?" 

"I'm a bastard, Aerion." He said softly

I grabbed him by the shoulder, "Do not say that." I said seriously, "Not to me, not to anyone. Listen to me well, Jace. You are Jaecaerys Velaryon, son of Laenor Velaryon and Rhaenyra Targaryen. If you say that to the wrong people, Jace, you, your brothers...your mother...their lives will be in jeopardy." 

"But..." He said as he looked at me

"I'm serious, Jace." I said, "Please, swear it to me. You will not say that ever again." 

"But Aerion..." he started

"I'm serious, Jace!" I said, "I don't give a shit what everyone else says, do not ever utter those words-" 

"But look at me, Aerion!" He shouted, "I don't look anything like Ser Laenor!" 

I sighed and pulled away, "Jace....." I said and looked ahead, "None of that matters." 

"It does....it does when I have no father...." He said looking down, "Ser Laenor is dead....so is Ser Harwin....And now you who might die in war….." 

"To be without a father...." I said, "I know that too well." 

"Yours is alive." He told me

I then looked around, "Well, do you see him anywhere?" I asked, "He's not here, Jace, he never was. I understand, my boy, I understand the pit inside your stomach....I get that feeling all too well. Ser Laenor was there for you, no? He raised you and Luke as best as he could. He loved the two of you and he would've loved Joffrey as well. As for me, your Mother's Husband, well.....I'm trying....I really am." 

"You're not doing terrible." He said

I chuckled, "I am glad for that....." I said as I looked at him, "Tell me, Jace.....do you love your sister?" 

He looked at me, "W-Well...." He said, "Yea...." 

I patted his head, "Then promise me to look after her while I am gone. Not just her, but your brothers and your Mother. Be good to them." I said, "You are the eldest, Jace, you are responsible for all your siblings. It is a hefty burden, but one you should carry at the very least. I love my sisters and I try my hardest, my best, when it comes to them. And with your sister.....I love her....with all my heart..and I'll certainly try to be a good father....to her....to you.....I just need you and I to come to an agreement, Jace..." 

"What's that?" He asked

"Please." I said, "Don't ever utter those words again." 

"Promise me." 

********************************************

"Whoa!!" Luke said as he walked through the door, "You look awesome, Aerion!" 

"I bet I do." I said with a slight smile

I was standing in the middle of the room, my arm extended as I felt Jace tightening the straps on my armor. He was standing on a stool as he had a focused look on his face. It was the following day, when he and I had our talk. I was about to leave for Tarth, to await Lord Corlys's signal to join the battle. He had taken off already, hopefully reaching the Stepstones within the next week. 

I saw one of the Kingsguard's squires standing beside us as Ser Lorent stood there, watching me. He had offered for his squire to help me don my armor. His Squire would help Jace if he was stuck on a specific piece of armor. The Young Prince had gotten the hang of it, helping me place almost all of my armor on. 

"Your cloak is black....." Luke said as he walked around, "Opposite of Ser Lorent and Ser Steffon. Oooohh, it has the Targaryen sigil....and it's bronze! Your sigil, right?" 

I nodded as Jace finished up placing my gauntlets, "Yea." I said

"I think that's done." Jace said as he got off the stool, "Is that well, Ser Lorent?" 

Ser Lorent's squire nodded, "Yes, My Prince." He said, "You did well." 

Ser Lorent smiled, "Well done, young prince." He said, "Soon you'll have your own squire doing this for you." 

Jace nodded with a smile, "Y-Yea..." He said as he looked at me, "That does look cool...." 

"You think so?" I asked, "Better than Ser Lorent's?" 

Ser Lorent nodded, "I admit, My Lord, your armor is something else." He said, "Truly signifying your personal sigil...." 

"Valyrian Steel, eh?" I said with a chuckle, "My wife does care for me." 

"Of course I do." I heard a voice say

I looked up to see Rhaenyra stand in the doorway as Ser Lorent and his squire straightened up immediately. 

"Hm..." I said as I took a step forward, "I admit, Rhaenyra, this gift is truly amazing.....I can move so freely....and it's almost as light as leather armor....well, almost." 

"I am glad you like it, Husband." She said as she crossed her arms, "It was a perfect fit, I can see." 

"Yes." I said as moved my arms around, "It definitely was." 

"Is this a better gift than your own daughter, Aerion?" She asked

I frowned, "Oh, how is that a question?" I said, "My daughter is the most precious thing in the world." 

"Then come back to her safely." She said seriously

I nodded, "Yes, Princess, I will." I said as I extended my arm, "Jace." 

"Oh, yes." He said as he walked over to the table and grabbed the helm 

He walked back towards me and handed it to me. 

"Hm..." I said, "Good lad. Well, boys. Let's go check on the Bronze Grouch." 

************************************

Vermithor vocalized loudly as he moved around, shaking his head as his eyes darted around, unsettling everyone in the dragonmont. The keepers were trying to place some small luggage next to him, prepared for me by Maester Gerardys. His constant shifting and glaring would not allow it.

"Easy, Old Boy." I said in High Valyrian as I held my helm at my side, "Be Nice." 

Vermithor lowered his head and rumbled, staying still. The keepers then moved the bags closer to him as he approached the side of the platform, lowering himself to its level. 

"Lord Aerion, I have taken the liberty of packing some medical herbs and ointments should the need arise." Maester Gerardys said from a distance, "And some food rations for your flight. I hope that the Velaryons should share their own rations should you stay longer than anticipated." 

I turned and gave him a nod, "Thank you, Maester." I said, "Good man." 

He bowed slightly as he stepped back, behind Rhaenyra who stood there, giving me a concerned look. 

I gave her a slight smile, "Come." I extended my hand

She walked over to me as she took my hand, "Do not break your promise to me." She said in High Valyrian, "Come back safely and in one piece, your daughter will not grow up fatherless. Come back to me, Aerion, to me. I don't want to lose you." 

"Of course, my Wife." I responded in kind, "I promise." 

"No. Not just your Wife." She reached up and grabbed my head, "Your Love." 

She pulled me down and kissed me, taking me by surprise. I heard Vermithor's vocalizing as I kissed her back, wrapping my free arm around her waist as we lost ourselves in the moment, our tongues wrapping around each other's passionately. 

She then pulled away, surprised by this sudden impulse, "I....." She said softly, "I'm sorry...." 

I nodded, "It's okay." I said with a smile, "I don't mind..." 

She took a step back as she blushed, flustered at this, "Good Fortune to you, Aerion..." She said as she patted her dress, "I will await your return." 

"Yes, of course." I cleared my throat, "I will take my leave now.....My Love." 

She looked away as she tried to hide a smile, "R-Right..." 

I turned around and nodded at the keepers who bowed slightly, "I'll strap the luggage in." I said in high valyrian, "Just toss them up to me." 

I then walked over to Vermithor who looked at me. 

I pressed myself against him, feeling his heat and his breathing. 

I closed my eyes and smiled, "We are off to Battle, Old Boy...well, soon." I said to him, "Are you prepared, hm?" 

I opened and saw as Vermithor raised his head up, opening his maw, letting out a rumble. 

I chuckled, "Yea yea...." I patted his hide, "Let's go then." 

"To War."