Clearing The Smoke

Haemon 129, Red Keep

"Rhaenyra if what you say is true allow me to marry Rhaena to the North."

We were walking together to father's room, before the dinner. She stopped and looked at me enraged.

"If we allow our children to be married to other Lords and not just our own then we will secure more alliances. You said it yourself. The greens have the backing of 2 or 3 Great lords. We need the men."

"It is sound council." I snorted.

"You learn a thing or two as Hand."

"Then Lord Hand, who would you suggest I marry my other children to?"

"You could try marrying them into the Vale or Stormlands. I heard that Lord Baratheon has multiple daughters."

"Aren't the Baratheon's Princess Rhaenys' kin?" I nodded

"Aren't our siblings our kin?" She froze for a moment and then kept walking.

"What if they do not accept?"

"Marrying into Dorne is always an option." She looked at me mouth agape.

"Surely you jape brother?"

"I don't. They are good fighters. We may yet need their spears."

"Aren't they a risk?"

"Everyone who doesn't share our name is a risk."

"What of Essos? Could we call upon their aid?"

"We have a pact not to interfere into each other's affairs. We could reach out to sellsword companies but none of the major cities." She gave a soft hum.

"The Iron Islands?"

"If we give them leave to raid the West then we have their oaths." That seemed to satisfy her as we continued the walk in silence. Finally opening the door to father's room. It was dark and you could see the dust in the air.

"He finished Old Valyria?" She asked me softly.

"He had Aemon help with the final touches. They share an interest in our family's history. Aemon always the smart one."

We approached father's bed he was leaning against the back frame. A maid was reading to him. He finally noticed us and gave a weak smile.

"My children..." He whispered. The maid rose and bowed and left.

"How are you, my king?" I asked examining the book she was reading. It was an old tome of dragons.

"Please...call me father...Haemon" I sighed and examined the cups he had on his nightstand.

"Thank you, father. For defending me." Rhaenyra spoke up noticing I wasn't going to say anything.

"Yes... My child... Ooh... my tea. Give me my tea" He reached out to the cups. I quickly grabbed one and helped him drink it. I gave it a sniff. Milk of the Poppy. It was strong.

"Thank you Haemon...Much better." I sat on a nearby chair and Rhaenyra sat on the bed with him holding his remaining hand. "What do I have the pleasure of seeing both my children?".

"We only wanted to see how you fared. I fear my years at Dragonstone have left me unaware of the severity of your suffering." Rhaenyra said very diplomatically. I gave a snort.

"We wanted to know why you called a family dinner. I myself am curious." I said reading through the pages of the book.

"Yes...Supper...Is it now?" He tried to rise, and Rhaenyra only pushed him down softly.

"No father it isn't now. We want to know why you wanted to see us all."

"Yes...Yes. Make things right...To much hate my daughter. I want...our family...to be whole. The dragon must live...Three heads." Then he made some mention of a prophecy. A song of Ice and Fire. Mullings of a dying old man. He sat there softly speaking to Rhaenyra. I got lost in the book that I zoned out what they were saying. Some servants came in and told us they came to prepare the King.

"You would have made a fine king, Haemon." Rhaenyra's eyes met mine and we just stood there shocked.

"Father I can't be king." I said softly to him.

"No, Rhaenyra will be Queen...If you...Aemma and I...A fine boy." He sounded more delirious as time went on.

"We will leave you to prepare, your grace." He gave a soft hum. I left with Rhaenyra following behind me. We closed the door and walked down the halls.

"Was that some trap to try to name yourself heir?" Rhaenyra asked.

"No. I denied it remember."

"He has a point though. You would make a fine King." I only scoffed.

"Why not marry me?"

"No." I said quickly continuing to walk.

"Aegon had two wives."

"No."

"Why not?"

"I am married and have a family. A happy one. I will not marry my sister to just to be King. Why do you think I desire a throne that I have spent my entire life trying to get away from?" I said quickly and without breaking stride.

"Yet you stayed as father's Hand?"

"I stayed as father's Hand because someone needed to." I said sharply. "He has no true allies. Only men trying to worm their way onto the Throne. Ser Otto being the main one. If I were not here, then he would be hand and our position would be a lot worse, he still has a good number of guards in his payroll and some of my top men are his. If he planned a coup I would be. Hard-pressed to stop it."

"Then why don't we regroup in Dragonstone after the dinner?"

"Not a bad plan. I would have to inform all those that are loyal so I will need a week at most."

"I fear we do not have a week brother. You saw father. He is dying. Soon. We need to tell those that are loyal now." I sighed.

"I'll send some of my men before the dinner. We will get a head start on this." We walked silently after that. Neither bringing up anything. Her room came up and I told her that I'd see her at supper, and she gave a soft nod. I walked back to my room to find Aemon, Rhaena, and Rhaenys.

"I have good news, and bad news." They all looked at me expectingly. I grabbed some cups before filling them with wine and giving them out.

"Rhaena will not marry Luke." Aemon gave a soft cheer and wrapped his arm over her shoulder. She looked pleased at the news so did Rhaenys. "She will marry Cregan Stark instead." That stopped the celebrations.

"You will marry her to a savage instead." Aemon said sharply.

"The starks are known as loyal bannermen. They are the ones who kneeled to Aegon without conflict. It is time they are rewarded for it." Aemon looked ready to explode again before I raised my hand. "It is a much better deal then marrying Luke. Speaking of marriages, we must talk about yours." He deflated at that.

"I don't want to marry now." I gave a chuckle.

"You will be marrying in the future. Not now." He still looked bummed. "It is not so bad. You will be a prince of Bloodstone. All maidens will want to be your lady." He gave a nod and Rhaena looked at him with a look of victory.

"Princess Rhaenys. We will be leaving tonight. I want you to take the children with you as soon as the dinner is ended." She only looked confused. "The sands are shifting faster than we expected. I trust you and you alone with my family" She gave a nod.

"Now I believe we have a dinner to get to. I will not let our family be the late ones." I rose and left the room, everyone following. We looked the image. I in all black the Hand pin on my chest. Aemon with purple and black on his chest. A dragon eating the moon on his chest. Rhaena on a flowing dark purple dress with her eyepatch of a dragon eating the sun. To finish us off was Princess Rhaenys wearing a dark blue of House Velaryon with a red and black scarf. It didn't take us long to reach the dining room. Queen Alicent already sitting at the left of the head of the table. Otto sitting next to her then Aegon, Helaena and Aemond followed. I sat at the other head of the table. Rhaenys sat to my left and then Aemon to my right with Rhaena following him. Rhaenyra and her children came in after us with Rhaenyra sitting on the Right side of the King's chair then Jace then Luke. We sat there in silence before the King came and we all rose and sat. Alicent said a small prayer and the meal began. It was comfortable, filled with soft conversation and light banter.

"It both gladdens my heart and fills me with sorrow to see these faces around the table." Father said rising and the conversations stopped. "The faces most dear to me in all the world...yet grown so distant form each other...in the years past" Aemon's face soured at that. I couldn't but agree with my son. "My face is no longer a handsome one... if it ever was one...Nor is my body as strong as I once was. But tonight, I wish you to see me...as I am." His eyes scanned the room. "Not just your king...but your father...Your grand sire...and your cousin." Rhaenys' poster got straighter at that. "Let us forgive each other. Now. The crown cannot stand if the House of the Dragon remains divided!" Aemon eyes burned. "But set aside your grievances. If not for the crown...then for the sake of this old man who loves you all so dearly." He flopped down into his chair, being helped by the queen.

"I wish to raise my cup to the Queen." Rhaenyra said rising form her sit. "She has tended to my father with unfailing devotion, love, and honor." Alicent looked at Rhaenyra. "For that she has my gratitude and my apology" Alicent looked at her, really eyeing her up before standing up. "I offer my cup to you, Princess Rhaenys. We are both mothers and we love our children. To you, and your house." She raised her cup and sat down. How cute. Aemond rose with Aegon both raising their cups.

"Let us not forget our Lord Hand, Haemon. Who has run the Kingdom with wisdom and grace not yet seen. He has handled disputes without impunity and has solidified House Targaryen as a House to be feared and respected." Aemond said slowly. "Hear Hear" Aegon following after. I smiled and rose.

"Thank you. Aegon, Aemond. But please. Let us all raise out cups to our King. He has had a long reign full of peace. Without him who knows what the Kingdom would be like today. To you father." Father gave a pleased smile. Before groaning in pain. I motioned to the guards to take him away. It was a quiet dinner before Aemon rose with his cup.

"I would like to toast Prince Jacerys and Prince Lucerys. They shall both sit upon the Iron Throne and the Driftwood Throne respectably. May they be remembered as wise and...Strong rulers." Aegon gave a light giggle at that. And Helaena only clapped. Jace stood up roughly, with Aemond rising slowly. Jace looked nervous at Aemond and Aemond only glared back at him. Jacerys only gave a cough before raising his cup.

"It has been a long time since I have seen my cousins, but I raise my cup to you both. I often remember our childhood, though some moments more unsavory than others." Silence filled the table. Rhaenyra looked nervous and Aemon looked like a mad dog. He was about to lunge at him before I grabbed his arm and forced him to sit down. Rhaena has a sad look on her face.

"Aemon switch with your grandmother now." He looked at me confused before looking over at Rhaena and doing so. What followed was a rather calm dinner. No one made any other sly remarks and just enjoyed each other's company. Even Otto looked like he was having fun. Helaena would start telling stories that captured the boy's attention, and Otto looked on at her with a smile on his face. I'd be glad to wipe it off his cunt mouth.