Chapter 11: Dining with The Old King

As we left the room, a Kingsguard followed behind us. The man was old and bald with gray eyes, he looked at least sixty to me and moved as you would expect a man his age in full armor to move.

"If you still worry about Rhaenys then don't brother," Daemon spoke up as they walked, "Jaehaerys passed her over once already, he will do so again."

Daemon's assurances seemed to do at least something to reassure Viserys as his shoulders relaxed and his face calmed.

Viserys couldn't be called handsome or beautiful like Daemon or Baelon the Brave. He had some pudge on him and wasn't as tall as Daemon who stood at least six feet. He also had a mustache. He was however pleasant to look at and honestly rocked his dad bod.

Daemon spoke to his children," While we are in King's landing, I will find someone to protect you and follow you around at all times. Follow the servant to your room. I'll have someone draw you a bath and send you lunch."

After Baelon and Alyssa reached their room, Alyssa asked," What did you think of our grandfather, Baelon?"

"He was nice enough, I suppose." said Baelon," though, he looked sad upon seeing us."

"He had the same name as you." Alyssa giggled. Baelon couldn't figure out what was funny about that, but he really didn't care.

Baelon hummed as he looked around. The room that they were given in Runestone was smaller than the room they were in now. The main room had two separate rooms diverging from it. There was also a table and a desk. A cabinet stood next to the bed, and off to the left of the room was a tub.

"What were father and the other man talking about Baelon?" asked Alyssa.

"It wasn't anything important Alyssa," Baelon tested the softness of the bedsheets and sighed with satisfaction as he laid down on the bed. Everything seemed to be in better quality compared to Runestone. The only complaints he had about King's landing was the god forsaken smell.

"Tell me!" Alyssa pulled on Baelon's arms with as much force as she could muster. Baelon rubbed her hair," A princess shouldn't pout. She should be gentle and kind."

"I don't wanna do that. I want to be like dad, riding dragons, swinging swords, braiding his hair~"

"Pff!" Baelon stifled a laugh when he imagined Daemon flying on his dragon high above the clouds, braiding his hair while singing the aladdin song 'a whole new world'.

"Are you laughing at me?" asked Alyssa.

"No, I was laughing at something else."

"Oh, okay…" Alyssa went back to checking the walls.

"Why are you looking at the walls so carefully?" asked Baelon.

"I wanna see if they have a secret room." said Alyssa.

"It's possible, let's ask dad when he gets back."

"But I wanna know Baelon, what was dad talking about?" Alyssa resumed pestering him.

"Fine, they were discussing who would be the next king," relented Baelon.

"The next king?" said Alyssa," Isn't the king's son the next king?"

"Not this time Alyssa, not this time," said Baelon, thinking about his grandfather lying on the deathbed.

A knock was heard on the door. Alyssa mustered her most confident voice, but frankly, it was more adorable than regal in Baelon's opinion," You may enter."

A few women entered the room followed by Daemon and another man wearing relatively expensive armor.

"These are the servants who will take care of you while you're here," said Daemon, pointing to the woman who were already filling the bath with warm water. "And this is Sir Stefan."

The other man stepped forward and gave a curt bow. "He was once a guard to the crown prince. Now, your grandfather sent him to protect you."

"It's my honor to continue serving a prince of blood," said Stefan, bowing down. Stefan and Damon looked to be about the same age. He had grey eyes, brown hair, a sharp jawline, and was clean-shaven with a sword on his hip.

"You will be serving a princess as well, I pointed out and my sister puffed out her chest as much as she could with a happy look upon her

face.

"Of course, my prince, my apologies princess," Ser Steffon bowed low and spoke humbly. I decided I liked him.

"I will be back again later, we have been invited to dinner with the rest of the royal family," That made me slightly nervous but my father put that to rest, "Don't worry, it's not as though the Velaryons will be there," He laughed at his own joke and Alyssa began to laugh as well though she didn't understand why.

…

By the time the sun began to set, Daemon returned to the room. Seeing that they were dressed and ready for dinner, he nodded with a pleased expression. He led them through the castle to the dinning room. While they were walking, Daemon told them somethings to remember to be mindful of," The king will be eating dinner with us, so be on your best behavior."

"The king," said Baelon in surprise,"I thought we were eating with uncle Viserys."

"Viserys, Aemma, and your cousin, Rhaenyra will be there as well." said Daemon. "Of course, Vaegon Targaryen will be there, but he won't judge you."

"Is he also a contestant to the throne?" asked Baelon.

Daemon snorted," Him? My uncle has another name, Vaegon the Dragonless. Alyssa has a better chance of inheriting the throne compared to him."

"Really, then where do I stand in chances of inheriting a dragon." asked Baelon.

"Already set your eyes on the throne?" said Daemon.

"No, I just want to know where I stand," said Baelon.

"Unless you have a dragon, you will not be respected by anyone in King's Landing. This isn't Runestone Baelon."

"We'll see about that." muttered Baelon.

Alyssa held her brothers hand, hating it whenever Daemon and Baelon argued with each other. "Baelon, don't fight."

"I'm not fighting Alyssa, I just want to say that you don't need a dragon to be great." consoled Baelon.

"Name a great dragonless Targaryen then," said Daemon.

"..."

"Don't try doing anything stupid like purposefully refusing a dragon because you want to prove a point." Daemon frowned, recognizing that silent look.

"I'm not an idiot. Dragons are a great aid father, why would I refuse a dragon."

"That's good."

"There are plenty great people, unsung heros. They may have not conquered the seven kingdoms, but they did great things in their way." said Baelon.

Their discussion was paused when they reached the dining chamber.There were two young Kingsguard protecting the door which the royal family would be meeting in and as they walked in, Baelon was quick to notice they were the last to arrive and the least well dressed, though nobody seemed offended thankfully enough. 

At the head of the table sat an old man with a long beard and white hair that might have been just as much due to his age as his heritage. His eyes were the common purple of House Targaryen and you couldn't ignore how tired they looked. More than likely he was handsome in his youth but now he was pale and thin and looked like Gandalf or Dumbledore.

Behind him stood another two members of the Kingsguard, though these two were much older than ones in front of the door. One was dornish and slim while the other was pale and built like a bull.

To Jaehaerys' right sat Viserys and beside him was a rather adorable child, she had the best of the Targaryen features. Her eyes weren't light nor dark, but were perfect amethysts, a haunting color. Her curly hair was the perfect mix of gold and silver and was pulled into a long braid and she was dressed in the finest clothes the realm could offer, not even Jaehaerys' own robes compared. She could only be Rhaenyra Targaryen.

To the left of Rhaenyra was a young woman who must have been her mother. Her hair was long and golden and her eyes blue. She was pretty, but was thin and willowy.

Across from Jaehaerys was a man with the traditional Targaryen looks dressed in the robes of a Maester. He was frail and had a long face and was the only Targaryen I had met that I did not consider beautiful in their own right. This was probably who Daemon was talking about, the dragonless Targaryen Vaegon

Daemon introduced his children, "This is Alyssa and Baelon, your great grandchildren, grandfather," Daemon said bowing slightly at the waist, a move which Baelon was quick to copy and Alyssa followed their example.

"Yes, I remember my grandchildren, Daemon," The old man chuckled slightly but it didn't reach his eyes, "Another Baelon. I'm sure you will grow to be just as brave as the last."

"Thank you, your grace," Baelon didn't look at the Old King and instead kept his eyes pointed towards the ground. Somehow, Baelon felt like the old king had something against him.

He turned to Alyssa who did not share my nervous air Baelon possesed, "You are very old," She proclaimed suddenly. Baelon tensed, ready to scold Alyssa, Jaehaerys just waved it off with a laugh.

"It would seem this one already takes from her namesake well," Jaehaerys continued to smile and chuckle, though it seemed more real this time.

"Sit down already, Daemon, we have spent enough time waiting for you already," Viserys eventually spoke up and Daemon brought his children to the left side of Jaehaerys, himself sitting next to the Old King with myself across from Rhaenyra and Alyssa next to Baelon.

Before long servants had food brought in and the table devolved into separate conversations. Daemon and Viserys were doing their best to subtly needle Jaehaerys about the next heir while Aemma and Vaegon were speaking of the latter's time in the Citadel.

Of course, Baelon, as a four-year old, was stuck listening to Rhaenyra and Alyssa discuss about random things that got them excited beyond comprehension, and in this case, it was dragons.

"You've rode a dragon?" Rhaenyra seemed very excited by the idea, "Do you think uncle could take me?"

But Alyssa scoffed, "You're not yet mature enough to ride a dragon, isn't that right Baelon?" Alyssa attempted once again to bring Baelon into the conversation but unfortunately for her, he didn't plan on making enemies with Rhaenyra just yet.

"I'm sure the princess is more than mature enough to ride a dragon, though whether she will or not will be up to her father," Alyssa turned to him with a betrayed expression as Rhaenyra shot her a victorious look.

'Honestly the amount that Alyssa was affected by other people's comments was sort of ridiculous even for a child her age.' thought Baelon.

 "Hush now Alyssa. There's nothing to cry about."

"But you're supposed to be on my side," She muttered to him.

"Well clearly he has switched to the winning side then," Rhaenyra was looking entirely too smug.

"No he hasn't," Alyssa's tears had turned to anger now, "He was just trying to save your feelings from the truth. Honestly brother you're too nice sometimes, Alyssa didn't seem to fully agree with her assessment of the situation but was also unwilling to think the reason was anything.

During this brief pause, Baelon took the time to scan the people present.

Status Window:

★★☆☆☆

Viserys Targaryen 23 ♂

Stats:

Leadership: 50

Bravery: 65

Strategy: 55

Politics: 60

Ambition: 85

Attributes:

Infantry: B

Cavalry: C

Archery: C

Magic: F

Construction: C

Weaponry: C

Naval Warfare: C

Aerial Warfare: B

Speech: B

'What?, how does this guy want to be the king. An F in magic, what went wrong here. Plus, all his stats are so low,' thought Baelon. If he became a king, Baelon wasn't sure how the realm would turn out.

Status Window:

★★★☆☆

Vaemon Targaryen 40 ♀

Stats:

Leadership: 15

Bravery: 25

Strategy: 20

Politics: 30

Ambition: 25

Attributes:

Infantry: D

Cavalry: C

Archery: C

Magic: E

Construction: A

Weaponry: C

Naval Warfare: B

Aerial Warfare: D

Speech: B

'Pretty talented, except for the fact that he sucks at combat, but makes up for it with Construction. What about Aemma Targaryen?'

Aemma Targaryen

Status Window:

★☆☆☆☆

Aemma Targaryen 20 ♀

Stats:

Leadership: 30

Bravery: 65

Strategy: 30

Politics: 50

Ambition: 30

Attributes:

Infantry: D

Cavalry: D

Archery: D

Magic: E

Construction: D

Weaponry: D

Naval Warfare: D

Aerial Warfare: D

Speech: C

'Hmm, nothing noteworthy, but she does have less ambition. Now for who I was looking for, the king.'

Status Window:

★★★★☆

Jahaerys Targaryen 68 ♂

Stats:

Leadership: 80

Bravery: 85

Strategy: 79

Politics: 75

Ambition: 15

Attributes:

Infantry: A

Cavalry: B

Archery: B

Magic: D

Construction: C

Weaponry: B

Naval Warfare: B

Aerial Warfare: B

Speech: B

'... Old is truly gold,' thought Baelon.'But there is still one mystery to be solved. If we assumed that normal Targaryens have and E in magic and D when bonded, why does Viserys have an F in magic.'

"Rhaenyra, does your father have a dragon?"

"Father? He used to have Balerion, but not anymore."

"Balerion? The black dread? The dragon of Aegon the conquerer? What happened?" asked Baelon.

"Sadly, Balerion died. His head is in the treasury now," replied Rhaenyra.

"It's a shame," said Baelon.

Things continued with this nature for what must have been an hour before a knock was heard at the door.

"Your grace, Maester Runciter brings a message on prince Baelon's condition."

"Send him in," Was the Old King's immediate answer.

The moment the old man entered the feeling changed. His eyes were somber and his body tired, "I'm sorry, your grace. Your son has died."

And with him went the Conciliator's final hopes of one of his children succeeding him as the king of Westerros.