Chapter 10: The Year of the Red Spring

120 AC

I looked over the balcony of my solar to observe the training yards as my son practiced. Gaemon wished to wield the Adjudicator so I invited the Master-at-arms of Horn Hill, Ser Roderick Hunt to teach him how to wield a greatsword. He was the man who taught the heirs of Horn Hill to wield greatswords so that they could wield Heartsbane. Gaemon was doing well, he excelled in all things martial. Training swords are heavier than steel swords, and Valyrian steel swords are half as light as normal steel. It was good that he was learning with the heavy wooden practice swords, they would help him develop his muscles and give him better instincts when using the sword.

After eight years of hard work and construction, Dragon's Lair and Cape Maekar were completed with the help of many former slaves from Tyrosh and the other Free Cities with settlers from all parts of Westeros. I can conclusively say that I am ruling a land that is a melting pot with the most diverse kinds of people, like Norman Sicily.

For at least a little while I could rest knowing that I have accomplished something worthwhile. Cape Maekar was now an important commercial harbor that could rival Oldtown. The city was built in stone with a grided system with wide cobbled streets, markets, septs, temples, guildhalls, taverns, inns, brothels, alehouses, bathhouses, banking houses, insulae, storehouses, breweries, tanneries, theaters, shipyards, a decent sewage system, and many other amenities on par with the Free Cities. The port is congested with all kinds of ships and boats from all over Westeros, the Free Cities, and beyond.

There were around a hundred thousand people who lived in the city, a city that surpassed White Harbor in less than eight years. The fact that steady employment was found with the near-constant construction work meant that many people began to move to the city from all over the world. It was only a matter of time before the city grew to be bigger than Gulltown and rivaled Lannisport in size and population.

As for the Dragon's Lair built atop the ruins of Sunspear, it was an impregnable fortress in the city center to any enemy that didn't have a dragon. The moat surrounding the castle was around seventy feet deep and the surface of the moat was tilted and covered in smooth stones.

The castle wall rose around thirty feet above the moat. There was only a single high brick-walled entrance ramp to enter or exit the castle. The entrance gate opened to the side rather than the front while the gatehouse and the walls have machicolations and arrow slits along with murder holes for the gatehouse.

The Greenblood has now completely recovered from the devastation brought by my invasion. Farmlands, orchards, and vineyards were built aplenty for the many settling families that were given land. Cultivatable land has increased with improved irrigation techniques. The idea of private land ownership was an attractive idea to many soldiers who would otherwise have serfs under some Lord or Knight.

Skilled masons, stone carvers, smiths, glassblowers, Lenscrafters, clerks, accountants, scribes, silk weavers, and all other kinds of artisans came to Cape Maekar upon hearing that I ruled here. Most of them were escaped slaves and in a way that created something like an underground railroad with the RTC ships serving as the main mode of transport.

I convinced the RTC to help in smuggling escaped slaves. Naturally, they didn't use the main commercial ships that docked in ports open for inspection but rather the smaller dhow ships that waited by the coast, and at times they participated in privateering with the Royal Fleet on every slave ship they found. While there was a certain moralistic need to free the slaves in the RTC, it was the economic benefits of freeing the 'skilled' slaves that convinced them.

I was known in Essos as the Pale Death of the Triarchy mostly among the nobles but amongst the slaves, I was the liberator who freed half a million people in Tyrosh, ergo I was the man to run to. This act of harboring escaped slaves, making them citizens of Westeros meant that many Free Cities were not happy with me, and when I say many I mean everyone except maybe Braavos but even the cities of Slaver's Bay were angry.

But at this point, they all know that the House of the Dragon isn't to be messed with. They are all waiting for the inevitable civil war to erupt to take their chances.

I brought my family to live in Dorne four years ago once the castle was ready for my family to move in. My wife, my mother, and I made immense contributions to the high culture of Westeros since we now controlled our very own court instead of simply being members of Viserys' court. We were patrons of the fine arts and our court in Dragon's Lair was abound with painters, mosaicists, architects, playwrights, poets, singers, scholars, scientists, and sculptors.

I hear roars from up above and I see both Ghost and Bloodfyre in a race while Silverwing is watching from a distance. My children were in the phase of racing with their dragons, it is easier to race when you have young and fast dragons but when you have a massive dragon who would rather eat and sleep all day, going on a race was useless.

At this point, I only used Vermithor for travel and war, not for the love of flying as I used to when I first bonded with him. I found myself swamped with too much work. There were times when it took Shiera undressing in front of me in the solar to make me put down my quill and look up from my ledgers. Though I wouldn't mind more of that.

"My Prince," My guard Tommard said, taking up my attention as he entered the solar.

"Yes, Tom," I asked him as I walked back into my spacious and extravagant solar from the balcony. I had no intention of having a decorated solar but my wife insisted that this modesty was beneath me for I was no longer a military governor of Dorne but rather the Prince of the Greenblood.

"A delegation from the cities of Myr, Lys, Volantis, and Meereen has arrived. They seek an audience with you," He informed me.

This is new, especially the Meereen part. For the first time, Slaver's Bay is getting involved. Though the covert actions of the RTC that affected them came directly from me, they usually sent their emissaries to King's Landing. Hoping that Viserys would make me and the RTC stop our slave smuggling operations, it took them an embarrassingly long time to understand that Viserys was useless in every way that did not include a feast, ball, or a tourney. And Viserys wasn't very sympathetic to the pains of slavers.

Tom continued, "Sers Tyland, Amos, and Robert have also been informed while Ser Byron has led the delegation to the audience chamber."

I nodded, "Very well, I shall arrive soon."

My high-ceilinged and lavishly decorated audience chamber was located right on top of the entrance to the citadel. It allowed me to keep an eye on the entrance and the city. It was the place where five times a week I would hold court and resolve disputes, hold trials, issue edicts, and on slow days, have a good time with my courtiers. There were around three hundred people at any given day in my court which was on par with those of the Great Houses.

The four delegates were waiting for me as I entered the audience chamber. They were right in front of my cushioned marble throne while my courtiers surrounded them to watch what was something out of the ordinary. It was the first time that the Free Cities and the cities of Slaver's Bay had sent a combined emissary straight to me.

Tyland, Amos, and Robert were standing in their appointed places and we shared a nod as I sat down. This could be a meeting that could spell war all the while the Royal family was about to enter the greatest drama scene since my mother seduced Baelon.

Tyland was the Chief Collector, Amos was the Chief Inspector, Robert was the Chief Justiciar and Byron served as my aide-de-camp. With these four and their deputies, I formed the bureaucracy to rule over my part of Dorne which is now locally called the Greenblood while the Dayne part of Dorne is called the Torrentine.

Not very imaginative but functional enough I guess for everyday talk. It was derived from our title, I was the Prince of the Greenblood while Benedict Dayne was the Lord of the Torrentine. As for the Stepstones, it was still under military occupation, my military occupation.

The herald of my court, Gregory loudly announced in a voice that carried across the hall, "Behold, the emissaries of the Free Cities of Myr, Lys, Volantis, and Meereen. Drazenko Rogare of Lys, Morosh Drogar of Myr, Banicho Maegyr of Volantis, and Mazdhan zo Loraq of Meereen."

I nodded and I motioned with my hand, "Speak."

Out of these three, I was well aware of and acquainted with both Rogare and Maegyr. Drazenko Rogare was a regular feature of my court as an envoy of the Rogare Bank that did frequent business dealings with the RTC while I knew Maegyr from the time I visited Volantis, he was one of the few to be outright hostile toward me for he rightfully saw the destabilizing effect I had on the status quo of Essos.

The silver-tongued Drazenko spoke first, "The Free Cities have a humble request to ask of you, Prince Maekar. The smuggling that is being committed by the Royal Trading Company of Kings Landing is hurting our cities. We request your help in putting an end to this, we know that you are the one to whom the Royal Trading Company acquiescence in all matters regarding foreign relations and behavior."

I will admit that he knows how to speak and his reputation of a silver-tongued fox is well earned. He was charming and cunning during our many meetings alongside his brother, they hinted that they too would like to come under the same arrangement as Tyrosh. And the best way to do that was after a war that exhausted the Lyseni nobility and made them susceptible to an outside takeover. This would also explain why Lysandro is stoking the flames in the pro-war faction of Lys.

I motioned to the representative of the RTC in my court, Roger Iron to speak, "My Prince, this accusation by these emissaries is completely and wholly false. The Royal Trading Company does not deal in the smuggling of goods for the Company can easily buy said goods. This is complete slander. Any dealings that we hold in Essos are all legal. My Prince, this accusation cannot stand, the honor of the Royal Trading Company is put into question."

"Do you have a rebuttal for that?" I ask the emissaries.

The Meereenese Lo Zoraq answers, "We are not talking about the dealings of goods that occur with the Royal Trading Company but rather that of slaves that are being smuggled by offshore ships and boats belonging to the Royal Trading Company."

Morash of Myr continues, "These slaves are contraband, they must be returned to their rightful owners. This act of smuggling our slaves is theft, a betrayal of any dealings done in good faith. Our ships did capture a ship called a dhow that was owned by the Royal Trading Company but your Royal Fleet caught up to us and forced us to release the prisoners before they could be questioned thoroughly."

Roger strongly countered it, "Any slaves of Essos that have been bought by the Royal Trading Company are freed immediately and made into citizens of Westeros. And all this is done legally. Even by your laws. The very fact that they have admitted to capturing Company ships and torturing them is a sign of their devious nature. Myr must be punished for such an act of aggression on the Company and thereby the Iron Throne."

Roger was one of the many abolitionists in the Royal Trading Company, he successfully campaigned with my support to have a portion of the Company budget set aside for the legal purchase of slaves and their freedom. With Westeros now more deeply intertwined with Essos, slavery reared its ugly head on many occasions. Run-ins with slavers hunting for escaped slaves always turned ugly.

There was a part of the RTC that favored direct intervention in the slave trade and in rescuing them like Roger while there was another that would have preferred to turn a blind eye while occasionally helping the stowaway slaves.

I then said, "Accusations against an entity of Westeros that is a representative of Iron Throne is a grave matter. Unless you have conclusive proof and irrefutable testimonies of two men or women of good standing in society, this court will not be able to go further."

That was when Maegyr finally spoke with gritted teeth, he and his father hated my balls, "It is hard to find people to testify when they are the ones who escape and if you ask for proof, I suggest that you look at the many slaves that currently walk around in this court much less your streets in this very city. So many slaves that have burned off their marks can be seen. It is no secret in Essos that you are responsible for this theft. It is only a matter of time before Essos responds to this injustice."

Before Loraq can defuse the situation, I taunt him, "And exactly what is this response to this supposed injustice?"

"All ships of Westeros regardless of whether they be from the Royal Trading Company or not, the ships and their crew will be seized, and until all the stolen goods of Essos have been returned. The crew will be kept in bondage until the Iron Throne apologizes for this travesty of justice." He boldly declared.

This declaration causes outrage in my court as my courtiers shout back in a cacophony of noise that I can barely discern, I can see Roger shout back the words "NO SLAVER CAN MAKE DEMANDS OF WESTEROS." He has to be restrained from attacking them. The same could be said about the former slaves.

I stretch out my arm on the dragon-head-shaped armrest while Tyland comes and whispers to me, "This will lead to war no matter what."

I nodded before whispering back, "Good."

I raise my hand demanding silence and the people quieten, I rise from my chair, walk straight toward them, and stop right in front of Maegyr, "I trust you understand the rules of engagement, any action taken against the Royal Trading Company will be seen as an act of war against the Iron Throne."

I finish with a warning, "And I trust that you know full well what will be the result of your inevitable defeat."

Maegyr stared back defiantly while Morosh looked worried, Loraq looked conflicted between defiance and worry and Rogare stayed silent but his eyes were laughing.

A Week Later

"Ravens have arrived from the Red Keep and Driftmark, My Prince." My Maester Harrold said to me as he handed me two missives. My family was having dinner and upon learning of these missives' arrival, it put dinner on hold.

Driftmark and King's Landing, now those are two places that I have been watching for a while. I have been praying that Laena dies in childbirth else that will make the remainder of my life miserable. During the Year of the Wombs, Laena gave birth to Baela and Rhaena Targaryen in Pentos. Just two years ahead of schedule.

Then after a year and a half, once the babies were ready to be brought to King's Landing, Daemon presented them in court and was given two dragon eggs for them, and out of that one of them hatched into Moondancer within a year.

And then the next year, Laena had a miscarriage. Then Laena got pregnant once more, two years ago, and gave birth to a stillborn boy but she lived. Then I last heard that she was pregnant once more. No doubt Daemon wants a son.

The next couple that have taken home the prize for being the stupidest of the stupid are Rhaenyra and Laenor. For a brief moment, I hoped that my reaction to Jacaerys might have been enough to teach both of them a lesson on how not to be stupid but Viserys' reaction negated that. He began to pretend that it was normal for two silver-haired and purple-eyed people to have a brown-haired and brown-eyed baby especially when the girl's sworn shield also happens to have brown hair and brown eyes.

His justification for it was Rodrik Arryn and the Baratheons. At some point, I wonder if Viserys did lose his wits. It didn't end with Jacaerys, in the one and a half year it took for Daemon and Laena to arrive back in Westeros, Rhaenyra popped out yet another brown-haired and brown-eyed child named Lucerys Velaryon.

After the arrival of Daemon and Laena and the birth of Rhaena, the strong Velaryon children were betrothed to Laena's daughters with Viserys' blessing. It was obvious at this point to everyone what was happening but Viserys' wilful blindness kept things like that for a while.

There has been no Joffrey Velaryon at this point or any other third child for that matter. I am assuming that the reactions after having a second strong child were enough for Rhaenyra to grasp her stupidity but it was two children too late.

It was too late for both Harwin and Lyonel as well, for after Daemon arrived, I believe he convinced Rhaenyra to release Harwin from her service as my reaction to Jacaerys was rather public. So Harwin went back to Harrenhal four years ago which was good for Rhaenyra though the damage had been done.

Earlier this year, during the first month, one of Lyonel Strong's daughters died in childbirth so he had to return to Harrenhal where he and Harwin died in a mysterious fire as usual. Unsurprisingly Larys did not go to Harrenhal because he was too attached to his new position as Lord Confessor. Despite my best attempts, I still haven't found out who was responsible for the fire, though something tells me that there was more than one party to light the fire that night though perhaps ignorant of each other.

And naturally, Viserys in the famous Viserys fashion, reinstated Otto as Hand of the King. Now I doubt whether Viserys wants Rhaenyra to succeed him, maybe he is like the Joker. He just wants the world to burn.

"Well, what does it say?" My mother asked me, hiding the eagerness in her voice.

I unrolled the missive and read it out loud,

"The Houses Velaryon and Targaryen regret to inform you that Lady Laena Targaryen nee Velaryon has passed away in childbirth.

Yet in this hour of incredible grief, House Targaryen now has a light of hope in the newborn Alyssa Targaryen.

The cremation of Lady Laena is to occur within a fortnight at High Tide."

That second last part was surprising, to say the least. Perhaps this is the butterflies acting, I am not sure.

"So Laena is dead," Shiera remarked after a moment of silence.

"Yes," I quietly said as I pondered the fact that she died giving birth to a living and I am assuming healthy girl.

"What about the one from the Red Keep?" My mother asked pointing to it while my wife gave Gaemon and Haegon a pointed look saying not to talk. It was table manners that only adults speak at the table while children quietly eat and speak only if spoken to.

I took that missive and read it out loud as well,

"The Crown shares in the grief of House Velaryon over the loss of Lady Laena Targaryen nee Velaryon, to show solidarity and to mourn with House Velaryon,

The court is moved to Dragonstone for the next six months.

All who wish to attend the Royal court must come to Dragonstone."

As I put down the missive, I noticed that Gaemon wanted to speak, "Yes, Gaemon."

Gaemon pleaded, "Can we please go to Dragonstone, Kepa? I want to meet Aemond and Aegon, it is been so long. I have just been exchanging letters with them."

"Yes, indeed, Gaemon. We must go to Dragonstone. We might also find a dragon for you there," My mother chimed in support. "Especially since we now know how to tame the Sheepstealer." Over the years, my mother plotted a way for Gaemon to bond with a dragon and that has resulted in Gaemon feeding Sheepstealer sheep until decides to bend his neck for Gaemon.

"There is a war on the horizon with the Free Cities. I don't think that it is wise for me to leave Dorne," I replied rubbing my eyes.

"That doesn't mean that we can't go to Dragonstone," My mother replied.

I nodded, but I wanted to be in Driftmark when the whole eye-slashing thing might happen.

Shiera then said to the kids, "Children, go to your chambers, your father and I need to talk." She shares a glance with my mother who nods.

The kids grumble but they obediently go while my mother goes with them to put them to bed.

After they are gone, Shiera advises me, "Wouldn't it be wiser for you to go to Dragonstone and talk with Viserys and the Small Council and ensure that whatever occurs with the Free Cities is legally mandated? The last thing any of us would want you to do is to go rogue like Daemon and start wars. If you have Viserys' support then you will have the other kingdoms sending men and supplies for the war effort. As much as battle-hardened your forces are in the Stepstones and Dorne. They aren't enough to force the complete submission of four cities."

I countered, "I don't need to force all four cities to their knees, just one, and destroy their fleets and armies and bring them to the negotiating table."

Shiera sighed, "Maekar, you don't have the resources to wage war against four cities. Don't make the same mistake as Corlys."

"What would you have me do?" I ask her as I pour wine for myself and her.

"I suggest that you go to the cremation in Driftmark and talk with both Viserys and the Small Council before you do anything," She replies before taking a sip.

"Viserra and I will come with the children afterward to Dragonstone." She finishes.

Shiera continued, "Maekar, I hope you realize that you have made many many enemies in the Free Cities. Even the Elephants in Volantis are itching for a fight. And this is not some Lord somewhere that you can offend and tell him to get lost. It took a whole century of concerted war and repeated military failures and losses for Volantis to finally give up. I know that city and trust me when I tell you this Volantis can send around five hundred dromonds against you and still have more ships left over for yet another fight. Even with your flamethrower ships and Vermithor, you will be hard-pressed to win."

She continues "I have a very good feeling that Volantis will have bribed a Dothraki horde to attack Tyrosh at the same time. You have made Tyrosh a forbidden fruit to the Dothraki. There will be a Khal or two who would desire a chance of vengeance."

I snorted, "Let them come." At the rate at which things were going, I am certain to attain the title of Dothraki slayer like Basil II who was the Bulgar Slayer.

While Dothraki can't attack Tyrosh directly, they can attack its mainland holdings which at this point have Westerosi soldiers. Rangers are sent ahead to scout and track movements of possible Dothraki incursions and send warnings to me. At first, Dothraki hordes came to Tyrosh as before only to find me, it became good battle practice for Vermithor as we perfected the art of making the ring of death that has wiped out many khalasars to the man.

After a while, the smart khals realized that riding into Tyrosh was not worth it. The fools who had more brawn than sense did show up from time to time but on the whole, the Dothraki hordes began to avoid Tyrosh which meant more focus on everybody else that didn't have my protection.

The Dothraki may not have a written language or recorded history but in all their many oral histories, the tale of the Dothraki begins with one event called the Doom of Valyria. The Dosh Khaleen knew exactly how dangerous a dragonlord can be which is why they have made it a point to tell every Khal that comes to Vaes Dothrak to never annoy me and it seems to have worked for the most part.

I turned to her, "Alright then, I will fly off for the cremation and I will see if I get any help from Viserys."

Sheira then continues before rising to leave, "Good, and one more thing. while we are at Dragonstone. Do not and I cannot stress this enough, do not let our idiot son go and try to bond with the Cannibal. He thinks himself to be rather clever but I know full well that he wants the Cannibal."

That does make sense, he was talking with the Dragonkeepers a lot about the Cannibal. I had never heard of the Cannibal attacking any actual Targaryen or any Targaryen trying to tame him for that matter but it was still a risk and the bigger danger for me was not the cannibalistic dragon but rather my angry wife.

The moonlight shone brightly over the city while there was a slight coolness in the air thanks to spring. I walked on the curtain walls of the Dragon's Lair with my main spymaster, Black Trombo of Myr. He realized that there was a higher life expectancy in working for me than against me. He was built like a gorilla but he was loyal to me and he proved it by smuggling a whole shipload of glassblowers and lenscrafters to Myr.

"So, Trombo, what is the news from Myr and the other Free Cities?" I asked him as we walked, my guardsmen stood vigilant in their posts while it looked like the city slumbered but I am that certain parts of the city were still awake.

He reported, "Myr is gripped with fear, the sailors, merchants, and every single slave owner dreads what will happen should you win. The Myrish don't want a war, just a few warmongering nobles and the guild of Glassblowers happen to influence the High Magister."

I replied with satisfaction, "Good, see to it that riots break out in Myr hampering their war effort. Send word to the more malleable magisters that if they were to severely curtail any Myrish effort in this war, then I will not attack Myr and make it into the next Tyrosh."

Trombo nodded, "Yes, My Prince."

"And Lys?" I followed up.

"As you predicted, Lysandro Rogare has been stoking the flames of war and intimidating the more diplomatic factions of Lys. Are you certain that Rogare will turn cloak?" He asked.

I shrugged, "If he doesn't then his head will decorate the walls of Lys alongside the many others. Lys is the closest of the Free Cities and the city that is our first target,"

"Volantis?" I asked as we walked over to the part of the walls that overlooked the barracks.

"Around the same as Myr but the ones who desire war are greater there. They don't think that you will attack Volantis." He revealed.

"That's rather foolish of them, perhaps I should fly over to their city and see if they still think the same especially when I have visited that city before," I said with a snort.

Trombo informed me, "The Elephants who desire war with you are not a large faction, they just happen to be led by the two Elephant Triarchs this year. I am certain that during next year's election both the triarchs will be replaced with more malleable men who desire peace."

"Let us hope then, that the war will break out before that, these Volantenes need a history lesson. And Meereen?"

"I never expected Meereen to get involved. I haven't placed any agents in that city but I will soon enough. At most they will send a few ships and maybe gold but an active war effort, it is doubtful. I doubt that the city will risk a war so far away."

I nodded before I said to him, "Good, now go to Myr and see to it that the city will never be ready for war, and after that come to Dragonstone to report to me."

"Yes, My Prince," He bowed before taking his leave.

Driftmark

"Alicent, it has been so long," I greet Alicent with a warm hug and I kiss her on the cheeks. While we were acquaintances at first by her father, we kind of became friends after the strong incident. I was still the Master of Ships with an annual visit to the Red Keep to give my report to the Small Council and the court was more divided than ever.

"Maekar, indeed it has been so long." She replied with a smile as she embraced me, as she withdrew she asked, "Where are the children? Aemond has been driving me crazy during the whole trip to Driftmark over being able to meet Gaemon."

"The children will be coming to Dragonstone to attend court for the next six months," I informed her with a smile.

"That's wonderful news indeed, especially at such a somber event such as a cremation," She said with a grimace at the end.

"Indeed," I said turning to the rest of the crowd. It was a cremation but at this point, it was more of a social event. The cremation was due to occur later today at dusk but in the meantime, everyone was having fun.

I walked across the Hall of Nine to meet the grieving people who were genuinely sad about this funeral.

I walked over to the Driftwood Throne to see a grave Colrys giving the thousand-yard stare while Rhaenys clad in all black and veiled was standing by him with her granddaughters huddled around her. Laenor was nowhere to be seen while Rhaenyra and Daemon were having a conversation while her kids were standing around awkwardly.

"My condolences, Lord Corlys for the regrettable loss of your daughter," I said to him without any expression while I could feel his wife's piercing gaze upon me.

"You, blackheart," She hissed from her veil, "You just came here to gloat did you not."

"I am sorry but I don't understand," I said bemused.

"Laena told us what you did to her and Laenor at the Great Council, now you are here to dance on her corpse," She furiously whispered back while holding her granddaughters tighter.

"That is something that children did nearly twenty years ago, I would figure that by now you would have left it," I replied. "And if you want to blame anyone for that I suggest that you blame your beloved Goodson Daemon for it was his handiwork that night."

I walked off after saying my piece to find Daemon in front of me, "Half-Brother, my condolences for the death of your wife." I may have picked up the whole half-brother thing from Rhaenyra. It was a great way of saying, I am going to kill you one day.

He didn't answer at first before snarling, "So you arrive at last, half-brother. For a moment I was worried that you wouldn't arrive. I heard that you were too busy starting wars with the Free Cities over slaves."

"What can I say? I made time for my beloved cousin," I snarked back.

Before he could anything Rhaenyra came by his side and frostily greeted me, "Uncle." She didn't lose the weight that she gained from the two pregnancies but she wasn't as fat as I thought she was.

"Niece," I said with a smile, "It has been a while, how are the children? Hale, healthy, and strong I hope." I looked over to her kids, and upon seeing my smiling gaze upon them, they ran away.

Rhaenyra gritted her teeth, "Careful now Uncle, you are playing with fire."

"And I am a dragon," I quipped. "So far, Viserys hasn't yet announced the mutilation order against any who make insinuations about her children.

"What do you want Maekar?" Daemon asks dangerously.

I smirk, "Oh nothing much, just came to give my condolences. I hear you have a third daughter now. Three daughters in a row is indeed quite something. And If you are wondering if I am mocking you, I am not for the person who is mocking you at this moment is your Bronze Bitch in Runestone."

That hit a nerve and probably lit the fuse of a bomb that might one day hit Runestone.

I sauntered off after that to find more sociable people.

"Prince Maekar, it is indeed good to see you again," Otto greeted me as I took in the view from one of the balconies of High Tide. Corlys knew how to build a nice castle.

"Ser Otto, indeed, it is been a nigh a decade since I last saw you," I said with a smile as I shook his hand.

This was never a funeral, no, this was a social event where people meet with others whom they haven't seen in a long time, a reunion for nobles at the beginning of a new season in court in a new place, it just so happens that the first night ends with a cremation.

Disrespectful really but my experiences with Baelon, Aemma, and Jaehaerys' cremations taught me that funerals for the upper tier of society were never a private event, it was always a social event. If I die peacefully, it will also be a social event like this.

He then said to me, "I hear that there is a war afoot with the Free Cities over slavery. While the King isn't inclined for another war I am certain that I can bring him around to allowing the Great Houses to support you. Lord Jason Lannister is willing as is Lord Grover Tully and Lord Matthos Tyrell. Most of the knights willing including my nephews Ormund and Bryndon are green but a war will help them cut their teeth in war."

He continues, "The War with Dorne was but a decade ago, while your men had a proper campaign. The Reachmen under Daemon had a half-eaten campaign that ended not due to a glorious final victory but rather due to the treachery of a Dornishman."

In other words, he wants the Green Lords to be battle-hardened for the incoming civil war though I can see this going the same way for the Black Lords as well.

"What about the Starry Sept? What do they have to say about this war?" I then asked.

Otto replied, "Ever since you have subjugated Tyrosh and liberated its slaves, the freedmen and women have taken to the Seven and set aside their other many gods. The High Septon says that there are now more followers of the Seven in Tyrosh than in the North and the Iron Islands combined. They will come in support of yet another war."

For the most part, it was the Faith of the Seven that helped to rehabilitate most of the freed slaves. In a way, they were the Freedman's Bureau and they did a much better job at it than I could have. They helped a great number of slaves get their plots of land while saving others from becoming indentured laborers like how Pentos had during OTL.

After a tough transition period, Tyrosh transformed into another version of Braavos wherein people were paid wages for their services which they did of their own free will, men would farm their own land to feed themselves and their families. Where no man, woman, or child would ever be a slave again.

"There are two more things that I wanted to ask you, Maekar," He said to me seriously.

"Yes," I asked curiously.

He revealed, "I want you to take Aegon with you for this war. Foster him for the next five years and make a man and a warrior out of him. He is already showing signs of laziness and gluttony and I fear that Alicent is too soft on him. If there is anyone that can forge him into a man, that would be you."

"What does Alicent and my brother think of this?" I then asked as I looked around the seas to see many ships sail toward Spicetown while others were leaving the port.

"The King and Alicent have agreed to it," Otto replied to which I nodded, "Very well then, I will take the boy with me but trust me when I tell you, he will not like the hell that I will put him through."

Otto nodded vindictively, "That is the entire point."

"And what was the second thing?" I asked after that.

"Alicent would have wished to wait until both Princess Viserra and Lady Shiera have arrived but I will say it to you now. Marriage or rather two marriages. One between Aegon and your daughter Maegelle and one between your son Gaemon and Helaena," He revealed.

I knew that this was coming, ever since the double betrothal of Laena's daughters to Rhaenyra's sons, the Greens now want us to solidly side with them.

I take my time before replying, "I accept having Helaena marry my son, she is a sweet girl. But when it comes to marrying Aegon to my baby girl, he needs to prove himself of being worthy of my daughter's hand in marriage. Not just to me but also to my wife, my mother, and my daughter for that matter."

"I figured as much, which is why I ask that you take Aegon with you and make him worthy of your daughter's hand," He nodded. This was different, I expected him to negotiate more when it came to it. Maybe the desperation of not having enough dragons is speaking.

"I thought Alicent planned on having Aegon marry Helaena," I continued. "Something along the lines of doing the same thing as the Conqueror."

"Having you as our ally is more important than having an incestuous marriage for the sake of symbolism," Otto resolutely replied. Looks like he isn't a big fan of the incest.

"Very well then, I accept the betrothal between Gaemon and Helaena, we can make it official tomorrow but as for Aegon and Maegelle, that will need to wait," I said to Otto before I left the balcony in search of the green kids.

I grab Aegon by the neck before he can take another cup of wine and I put him in a headlock, "You know you shouldn't be drunk at a cremation."

"UNCLE MAEKAR," The Green kids chorus upon seeing me. While Aegon tries to flail around.

"How are you, kids? All of you are growing up so fast. Except for you Aegon, you are still the same." I said with a chuckle while Aegon tapped out.

I let Aegon go before Aemond and Helaena came to embrace me before Aegon joined as did Daeron.

"Where is Gaemon? Will he come?" Aemond asked, looking hopeful.

"Yes, you little runt, Gaemon will be coming," I said to him before saying to Helaena and Daeron before she could say, "And yes, Maegelle and Haegon will also be coming." Helaena saw Maegelle as the little sister that she never had.

"As for you," I turned to Aegon, "You better stop with the drinking. Because once I bring you to Dorne, I will throw you into the army boot camp and you will struggle for survival with all the other grunts. I have specifically instructed the drill sergeants to treat you like any other brute. And if I see you drink another cup of wine, I will tell them to be twice as hard on as on any other fool, your status as a Prince will be all but forgotten."

"What?" A shocked Aegon gasps while Aemond and Helaena snicker.

I continue smiling as I say, "Your status as a dragon rider is nothing, your status as a Prince is nothing, We will shave off your silver hair, and as far as anyone is concerned you will be Egg of King's Landing, try to find a nice surname for yourself."

Aemond and Helaena nearly break into full-blown laughter before they realize that they are at a funeral while Daeron starts to chuckle.

"And my mother agreed to this?" He asks shocked to which I dutifully nod, "Yes, she did."

"And don't worry about Sunfyre, he will have a wonderful time with Bloodfyre and Ghost," I reassured him.

"I thought you were going to foster me," Aegon asked as he paled even further.

"I am fostering you," I nodded, "In the barracks."

I then said to him, "If it makes you feel any better, it will be a four-month basic training course and if you pass high enough, you will get a chance to become an officer which is another six months added to it. And after that, if you want you can go for a course that specializes in certain aspects like a sapper, an archer, a horseman, or an artilleryman."

"Can I be a Prince as an officer?" He quietly asked with dread.

"No, you can't," I shook my head.

Aegon tried to reassure himself, "I am sure those four months will go by quickly." Those four months will go at a snail's pace for him. "I won't even notice it." He will notice it.

I grabbed him by the shoulder and said, "Remember Aegon, there is a simple doctrine when it comes to training soldiers. The drills are so brutal that they are like bloodless wars while wars are so easy that they are like bloody drills."

A horrified Aegon remarked, "That makes no sense."

"Don't forget there is a war coming up so there is a good chance that the training will become more brutal," I continued. "And don't even think about pulling your rank because it will not work. I will make your life ten times more miserable than before."

"Please stop I am going to faint," Aegon whimpered.

I approved as I patted him on the back, "Good, you better faint all you want right now because at boot camp, fainting is not an option, all it will do is get you thrown out of the army. Nobody wants a Prince who gets thrown out of the army."

I left a traumatized Aegon and his laughing siblings before I went to meet the other lords and ladies and one of them was Larys Strong.

"My Prince, It has been a long time since we last met," Larys smoothly says to me as he comes up.

"Lord Larys, my condolences to you as well on the loss of your brother and your father," I smoothly slide back to him.

"Tis truly a cursed castle, Harrenhal, mortar mixed with the blood of his slaves. They take away yet more lives, this curse of Harren," He bemoans.

"Yes, who would have thought that Harren would come and start a fire? Surely, You are lucky Lord Larys that you were wise enough to avoid Harrenhal from the minute you joined the King's Confessors and now you are the Lord Confessor, my congratulations on that appointment by the way," I drawled.

"I hear that my Prince is to engage in yet another war, a righteous war over slaves, should the Prince require any assistance in the matter I would be more than ready to be of service for such a worthy cause," He drawled back.

"If I ever require your assistance Lord Larys I will be sure to ask of it," I told him before I left. That guy gave me the creeps, it's a good thing that I have Shiera around cause I do not trust him, I doubt Alicent trusts him either as for why he is supporting her I have no idea.

Then came the next person to curry my favor, Vaemond Velaryon and his sons, now that is a group of people who weren't very happy with a certain Princess for her acts, and he probably believed himself to be the rightful heir to Driftmark after Laenor.

"My Prince," Vaemond and his sons bowed before me.

"Ser Vaemond, my condolences on the loss of your cousin," I told him and he nodded with his sons.

"I was hoping to have a moment with you alone, My Prince," He said to me as he looked around for any possible eavesdroppers.

"And what is it that requires such commitment to privacy?" I asked him with a little amusement. I knew why he wanted to speak in private. After Jacaerys' birth, I became the Prince to whom every man, woman, and child who had a problem with the strong Velaryon children would come to complain.

I put an end to his buttering up before he could continue, "If has anything to do with certain island's line of succession then need I remind you that the dearly departed lady has but three daughters, two of whom happen to be bonded to dragons at the moment."

"Yes, but they happen not to be of the male line, and if the Royal family is anything to go by, it is the male line that is preferred," He countered.

This was going to be a difficult conversation but I was rescued by Herald when he announced, "MY LORDS AND LADIES, IT IS TIME FOR THE CREMATION."

Laena was a Velaryon but also a Targaryen and a Dragon rider as such she got a dragon rider's funeral, a funeral that was written in flames.

It was Caraxes who came to do the honors, and within moments it was all over. Her children sobbed into their grandmother's skirts while her brother was beside himself. Her father and husband were expressionless. My gut feeling tells me that tonight, Daemon and Rhaenyra are gonna bone perhaps for the first time (alone, I think).

Also tonight, I am certain that a young boy will go and try to bond with a certain dragon.

I stayed awake all night and it was about dawn when I finally saw Aemond sneaking out of the castle to the dunes where Vhagar was sleeping.

"It's about time that you showed up Aemond, for a moment there I was worried that you wouldn't come," I said to him as he was sneaking out into the outer yard, the sound of my voice caused him to jump, and turn around in alarm.

"Uncle Maekar, I-I-I," Aemond began to stutter.

"Don't bother I know where you are going," I told him as I walked over to him by the postern gate. It was low tide, he could reach the dunes without having to go through the main causeway that was watched at all times by Velaryon guardsmen.

"Gaemon said he didn't want Vhagar," Aemond tried to justify and I nodded, "Yes, I know that but I wonder why you want her. She is an old cantankerous beast, bad-tempered at this very moment after having lost her rider. She is very old, at most she will have sixty years left in her, and out of that I would assume that only twenty are worthwhile."

"My father mocked me, he said I could have a dragon egg in Dragonstone or a hatchling if I was bold enough, I am bolder than he thinks," Aemond justified himself as tears came into his eyes.

"I am sure that my brother meant it as a jape, nothing more," I tried to calm him.

Aemond shook his head, "It's not just him, it's everyone, it is Aegon and my ... nephews, it is my half-sister's supporters who mock me for not having a dragon, even my mother's supporters look down on me for not having a dragon. As if I am lesser in their eyes."

"I didn't have a dragon until I was five and ten. It's no dishonor to have a dragon late in life, but if you wish to have Vhagar now then so be it," I opened the postern gate and I pointed to a hump of what looked like a rock.

"You see that hump of rock, that's Vhagar," I then point to another hump of sleeping rock, "And don't go there, that's my rock."

Aemond nodded and chuckled before heading out of the castle, before he left I gave him a last piece of advice, "She is asleep so she will be extra angry than usual, so be bold and confident when you meet her, don't show fear and weakness. And don't forget to chain yourself to the saddle before you take off."

My job was half done, I went back to my hiding place and I waited. After what I am assuming to be around ten minutes, I hear Vhagar growl, I go back to the postern gate to see a rising Vhagar get up from the dunes and walk herself to making a running leap for a flight and for a moment I wonder if the dragon will drop down to the ground on her weight but in defiance of physics the old bitch of Westeros jumps up long enough and spreads her wings as she soars into the sky with a new rider.

I wait for a while and then I see both of Rhaenyra's sons and Daemon's daughters arrive to see Aemond fly in a couple of circles around High Tide.

I walk out of the shadows and scare the next set of kids as I remark, "Is it just me or is it that tonight has been a night where kids don't sleep."

All four of them look like I have scared their shadows out of them. I have a feeling that in the moonlight I look menacing to them, I am probably their evil uncle in their stories.

"U..U..Uncle," Jacaerys stammers fearfully.

"Yes, Jacaerys," I ask with a curious shake. I felt bad for the kid, his parents were the fools and he and his brother were the ones suffering for it. Something I could understand.

"We saw someone steal Vhagar," Baela asserted while Rhaena looked at me fearfully.

"And how exactly do you steal a dragon?" I asked her and I bent down to one knee to her level. "Because last time I checked only Targaryens and those with the blood of the dragon can bond with dragons. If you see Vhagar flying up above with someone on her back then it means that Vhagar has bonded with someone within our family, not a thief from outside the family."

"Vhagar was my mother's dragon, she was mine to claim," Rhaena then angrily claimed, looks like the loss of Vhagar lit a fire in her.

"Then why didn't you claim her, you had two whole weeks to do so and I doubt you were in charge of hosting the funeral," I ask back to her and she looks tongue-tied.

I continued, "You didn't claim her because you were scared of Vhagar, this person who just claimed Vhagar is not scared of her that is the difference. And in case your father didn't teach you this, there is no such thing as an unbonded and free dragon belonging to someone."

"Who is it? Who claimed Vhagar?" Lucerys then asks to which I raise an eyebrow.

"I think you know who has claimed Vhagar," I answer back and Jacaerys is quick to catch it.

"Aemond," He breathes, "You helped him."

"More like pointed the hump of rock that he had to ride," I shrug, "To the best of my knowledge, my brother the King hasn't passed any law that states that Targaryens cannot ride dragons, just like all of you, except maybe Rhaena, but don't worry dear, I am sure that one day you too will ride a dragon."

For a moment the kids don't say a word before I tell them, "Now go and tell your mother, your father, your grandmother, and your grandfather that Aemond has taken Vhagar, tell them I helped him. It is too late to do anything now anyway, but go tell."

All four of them rush back into the castle to warn every adult they know that Vhagar has been 'stolen'.

This is going to be fun.

I watch from the sidelines as the Blacks and the Greens fight it out in front of a hapless Viserys. I can see Daemon doing the same from the other end of the Hall of Nine. This is fun, I should do this more often than not.

"MAEKAR, DID YOU HELP AEMOND BOND WITH VHAGAR," Viserys roared at me as soon as he got that tidbit of information, he needed a scapegoat.

I merely shrugged, "Don't look at me, I saw Aemond sneaking out of the castle and if you want to blame someone, I suggest that you blame yourself. You were the one who taunted Aemond into bonding with Vhagar by saying that if he was bold enough he could bond with a hatchling."

That has put the onus on Viserys and all eyes in the Hall of Nine turn accusingly toward him. On the bright side, no knife has been drawn and no eye has been lost. So it's a win. Plus no unnecessary insults have been levied at anyone over their births.

Now I need to get my son a dragon. Hopefully, it won't be the Cannibal.

A Month Later

Dragonstone

"It has been quite a year hasn't it, and the year is not even over yet. It began quite badly with a lot of deaths, my brother's wife died in childbirth, and then my niece's husband died when the mast of a ship that he was inspecting fell right on top of his head. Then my brother's ex-wife died in a freak accident that I am assuming had nothing to do with him."

"But there have been moments of good as well, the birth of a Targaryen girl, my brother and niece have run off to Pentos to get married in what I am assuming has been their lifelong dream, for Rhaenyra at least. For Daemon it was as long as from when Rhaenyra was born. And now Rhaenyra is pregnant, I wonder how long will my brother be angry. Tis only a matter of time before his heart melts upon learning that Rhaenyra is with child. I would love to see Daemon's face if that child also turns out to be a girl."

"Then of course we have the hatching of two dragon eggs, Tyraxes for Alyssa and Morning for Rhaena, maybe the sting of losing Vhagar will fade for her. And most importantly, the wildest of all the dragons has now been tamed," I monologued to the Dragonkeeper Elder as we watched the other Dragonkeepers struggle to place a saddle on the Cannibal. Fortunately, my son was the only one who could calm him down.

The black beast was smaller than Vermithor and Silverwing and slightly in size to Dreamfyre except that they had different builds. He was more stocky like Vermithor compared to the slender Dreamfyre. However, he was bigger than Caraxes and Meleys and his vicious nature overshadowed that of Caraxes. His baleful green eyes were of the same color as that of wildfire and his flames were also of that unholy fire but ten times hotter.

Soon enough, Cannibal was brought to heel and he was saddled for the rest of his life.

The Dragonkeeper Elder replied, "I don't know about your family but I am certain that in my order, there are certain to be a few deaths with this one to take care of."

Suddenly I feel a dreadful chill pass down my back I whisper to the Elder, "My wife is behind me isn't she?"

He nods, "She is. Should I have Vermithor or one of your children's dragons set alit your pyre."

"Once I am done with him, there will be no need for a pyre." My wife's deadly voice replied.