The King

[Dragonstone, A Few Days Later]

(Aerion's POV)

"The more you complain, the less likely you get what you want." I said to Visenya as she laid on my lap

"Pleasee....." She cried

I patted her head, "No." 

She looked up at me, "I want to go see the Dragons." She said while sniffing, "Please...." 

"Not today." I said as I looked at her, "Why don't we go and play with your brothers?" 

"No." she said, "I want to see the dragons." 

I chuckled, "My little girl." I said as I reached down and picked her up, "Why must you be this way?" 

I kissed her on the cheek as I held her, her hair getting in the way. 

"Hmph!" She pouted

It was a few days after we left King's Landing, after the day of the Petition and the supper we had with the King. Rhaenyra was upset about my attempt to take my own eye to satiate Aemond's ire, so much so that she didn't want to see me much of the days. 

Everything was quite awkward, I wasn't surprised. I was willing to do something so crazy just for the sake of ending things between Aemond and I. Of course, I didn't do it. I don't know why I stopped, I should've, but alas, I was ordered by both Alicent and Rhaenyra. The consequences of following through might've been much more dire than I would've liked to see, which is why I hesitated at that moment and stopped. 

Now, I had Visenya asking me to take her to see the Dragons. The reason I wasn't taking her was because the Greyfiend had been flying near the castle as of late, but instead of showing hostility, it merely looked at our direction. Such behavior was strange, it was not something I expected. 

So long as it didn't attack, I didn't really care. I do wonder what the deal is about. 

I sat Visenya down on my lap and patted her head, "Do not be angry, my love." I said with a smile, "You'll soon understand why I tell you no." 

As I said this, the doors opened and Elinda walked in with Aegon and Viserys, "Milord." She said, "The Boys have been wanting to see you." 

I looked at them, "Oh." I said, "Bring them here." 

As she brough them, I saw Jace walk in behind her, "Aerion." He called 

"Jace." I said as Elinda handed me Viserys, "What is it?" 

"Can we talk?" He asked

I glanced at Elinda who had placed Aegon down next to me, on the floor, "Uh, sure." I said

Elinda straightened up, "S-Should I....take the children?" She asked 

"It's okay, Elinda." Jace said, "They can stay." 

She bowed slightly, "If you excuse me..." 

As she walked away, Jace walked over to Aegon and crouched down next to him, patting his head. 

"What's on your mind?" I asked as Viserys gently smacked me in the face, "Something wrong?" 

"The Sea Snake has not made any recovery." Jace said

"Hm...." I said, "Is that so?" 

"If he does pass, Luke will be Lord of The Tides." He said as he began to play with Aegon

"That's how it works." I said

"But wouldn't that be a problem?" He asked, looking at me, "Vaemond's sons are still alive, they could be angry." 

I frowned, "We already resolved this, Jace." I said, "Drop it." 

He sighed, "Y-Yea, you're right." 

"What is it?" I asked as Visenya laughed with Viserys

"Grandsire....." Jace said, "Do you think he will be alright?" 

I nodded, "He should be." He said, "Even if he said he'll pass soon, I doubt it'll be very soon. I give him a few more years, truthfully. Enough time for you and your brother to grow up and assume your positions." 

"Our positions?" Jace said, "Yea, that's what I wanted to talk to you about." 

"What?" I asked

"At some point, before my Uncle's birth, Aegon that is...." He started, "You were in line for the Throne, right? Daemon was Heir and you were born before Aegon." 

"Technicalities." I said as I rubbed Viserys's hair, "What of it?" 

He looked at me, "Has it ever interested you?" 

"What? The Throne?" I asked

He nodded, "Yea." 

"No." I said

"Why?" He asked, "You are Targaryen, son of Prince Daemon. It was your birthright." 

"The only birthright that interested me was a Dragon." I said to him, "Anything other than that was pointless to me. All I ever wanted was to meet the man who was my Father. But besides that, my only interest was to ride around the Vale, peacefully, enjoying my life. I was planning on that, truthfully, before I married your Mother. I was going to marry Lord Moore's daughter, give them a child at most, and just enjoy my life." 

"And.....when Grandsire betrothed you to Mother, why didn't you refuse?" Jace asked

"Hm." I said as I looked at Visenya, "You know, I don't consider myself a Targaryen sometimes. I may have the white hair, the purple eyes, a massive Dragon outside my doorstep, but I was raised by my Mother's Family...the Royce Knights are honorable men. Who are we to refuse a King's order?" 

"Well, you are a Targaryen....." He said

"I am." I said with a smile

"Everyone around us, Aerion...they all have some sort of ambition.....some crazy drive that dictates what they do." He said as I looked at him, "But you don't." 

"I am content with what I have." I told him, "Look at them." 

I gestured at his siblings. He looked at them and his face softened, a smile appearing on his face. 

"Y-Yea." He said

"Many Men are born with a sole purpose, Jaecaerys." I said as I leaned in to Visenya, "Not all of them know what it is. It took me a long time to discover my purpose.....the whole reason I exist." 

"And what's that....?" He asked

"The only thing I'm good at." I told him, "Fighting." 

"Fighting?" He asked

"It's the only thing I'm good at." I said, "I don't have the ambition that my Father has, the drive he wants me to have. I don't think I ever will. But you know what? I don't care. As long as I have the strength to fight for my Family, that's all that matters to me. Your Mother is everything to me, I'll fight for her." 

"That's it?" He asked, "It's.....Aerion, it's quite...you don't want more?" 

"Like what? The Throne?" I asked, "What's your point in asking me all this?" 

"If Grandsire does pass and Mother becomes Queen, I'm next in line." He asked

"That's how it works." I told him

"Are you okay with that?" He asked me as he looked at my children, "Y-You don't want t-them instead?" 

"Want them for what?" I raised an eyebrow

"Y-You know...." He said

"If you have any doubts, rest easy." I said as I closed my eyes, "We still have time to prepare you for the Throne." 

"But...." He started, "T-They're the-" 

"Jace, it's okay." I said, "I don't have any issues with that. I've had my own doubts, that's true. But I love your Mother. I accept you and your brothers. If anyone hates me for it, I don't care. What are they going to do about it? They can do the same thing Vaemond did, I don't care. I'll fight for you. That's all I'm good for anyways." 

"Y-Yea...." He said, "Thanks....." 

"Relax." I said with a chuckle, "It's not like a War will break out in any minute, take it easy. Even if it does...." 

"I'll handle it." 

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

[King's Landing]

(Third Person POV)

Alicent walked through the doors of the King's chambers, Ser Harold closing it behind her as she walked towards Viserys's bed. 

"H-Husband..." she said

It was dark outside, the middle of the night, when Viserys called for his Queen. 

The Queen stood next to him as he panted heavily, his eyes closed as his entire face looked shriveled. The sight of this unsettled her, giving her a shock she didn't expect. 

"A-Alicent....?" Viserys called

"Yes, My King." She said as she leaned forth, "I'm here." 

"I...." He said, "Everything burns...my head..." 

"Should I call for the Maesters? I can give you some Milk of The Poppy..." she said worriedly

"It's no use....." He said, "I see it.....everything....I see it everywhere.....The Cold.....it creeps upon us...." 

"The cold?" Alicent asked, "Do you need more sheets, Husband?" 

"A-Aerion....." Viserys said suddenly

"V-Viserys? What about him?" Alicent said as she looked at him, "What about Aerion?" 

"Aerion.....d-don't do it..." Viserys said, "It isn't you...that's not who you are..." 

"Viserys, are you well?" Alicent asked, "You're not making sense." 

"Flames...." Viserys said with a coarse voice, "A-Aerion....is it him? Rh.....aegon? Is he the one who was promised? A-Are you certain?" 

"A-Aegon?" Alicent frowned, "Your son, Aegon?" 

It was quite clear to the Queen that Viserys was not talking to her. He was seeing things, in his own mind. But she wanted to make sense of what he was saying. 

"I....." Viserys said, "I understand....it is him, then...he's the one who should sit on the throne.....to save us.....Aerion....you've made your choice...do not regret it....." 

"Aegon should sit the throne? A-Are you sure? What of Rhaenyra?" Alicent said

Viserys opened his eyes, "The Long Night..." He said softly, "It is he who saves us..." 

"The Prince That Was Promised."