What It Means To Be Remembered

(Third Person POV)

[The Red Keep, King's Landing, More Than A Hundred Years Ago]

In the gardens of the Red Keep, in front of a recently sculpted statue of Aerion Targaryen, a young Aemon Targaryen stood, looking down as he held a letter in his hand. 

He gently folded the letter as he had just finished reading it. He then let out a sigh as he looked up at the statue's face, seeing the features of his late grandfather. He wore white armor, specially crafted for him, and commissioned by his Uncle, King Aegon III. 

"Grandfather." He said softly, "I never met you....nor my grandmother....which is something that I would have liked to do. My Father.....he doesn't remember you much....and my Uncle, His Grace.....the memory of the two of you gives him nothing but sorrow." 

He stood there, waiting for the statue to say something back. It was clearly a futile action, as the statue was but an inorganic object. 

"I have taken my vows." He said seriously, a calm yet melancholy expression on his face, "I am to be a sworn brother of the Kingsguard and will serve your son, the King, well. I come before you to make a vow. Everybody in the Realm remembers you as The Warrior, the mightiest man in History. Your mere name is as great as the Conqueror's....I....I vow to make you proud, should you be watching....I will be the best version of the Knight you were, Grandfather." 

He looked down and let out another sigh, clenching the letter in his hand. It is as if he had a heavy burden on his shoulders and could confide with anyone else rather than a statue of his grandfather. 

He looked back up, "If only you were still alive." He said softly, "Mayhaps none of this could have happened.....all of....all of what happened..." 

"Aemon?" A voice called out

He turned around to see a woman walking up to him, wearing a black and bronze dress, her long and beautiful white hair draped around her shoulders and reaching down to her waist. She had beautiful purple eyes as she looked at the Young Knight. She was holding what looked like a sword in her right hand as a young boy stood behind her left leg, a young boy with white hair. 

"Y-Your Grace!" Aemon said with surprise as he knelt down, "I am sorry, did you require something?" 

This was Queen Visenya Targaryen, Aemon's aunt, and daughter of Aerion Targaryen. Next to her was her son, Daeron Targaryen, who would later be known as the Young Dragon. 

Visenya frowned, "There is no need to kneel before me, nephew." she said softly, "Stand." 

Aemon nodded, "As you wish..." He said, "I apologize for any inconvenience." 

"Nonsense." Visenya walked up to him and smiled, "Look at you, you are to be a Kingsguard. A prestigious position." 

Aemon nodded as he looked down, "Yes..." 

The Queen then looked up at the statue, "Quite something, isn't he?" She said softly, "My Father." 

Aemon nodded, "Yes..." He said as he looked up at it, "My Father claims that he does not remember him but he does know that he felt his love as long as my grandmother's...." 

"Oh..." Visenya said softly, "He loved us all....Aemon....all of us....." 

Aemon then looked at Daeron, who was hiding behind Visenya's skirt, "The Prince...you should pay your respect to our Grandfather." He said with a smile

"This one is shy, that is all." Visenya chuckled, "I trust that he will be a mighty warrior like his grandfather. Just like I'm sure you will, Aemon." 

"Thank you, Your Grace." Aemon bowed slightly

"Shame that you joined the Kingsguard." Visenya said, "You could've wed my sister, Rhea. Lord Royce was more than happy to accept the proposition." 

"No, Your Grace, I am not worthy of such an honor." Aemon said

"Aegon did have a crush on Rhea, if I recall..." Visenya said, "Your brother, that is, not my Aegon. Viserys is a fool for marrying him to Naerys....but what's done is done." 

"Right..." Aemon said softly, "Is that Dark Sister, Your Grace?" 

Visenya raised the sword, "Yes." She said, "That is why I am here." 

"Your Grace?" Aemon said

Visenya offered the sheathed blade to him, "Take it. It's yours." She said

Aemon widened his eyes and stepped back, "What? N-No, I mustn't, it's Her Grace's sword..." He said, "I...." 

"I am a Mother, Aemon, not a warrior...not anymore." Visenya said softly with a tired smile, "I have done so much to protect this family...to protect Aegon....and Viserys....I can't keep fighting so hard...and worry about my children....not without...not without my Cara-"

She stopped herself, holding back some tears. 

"But, Your Grace.." Aemon said with a sad expression, "I-I can't....." 

"You've earned it, Nephew." She said softly, "You are a mighty swordsman, probably on par with my Father. Please, take it." 

"I..." Aemon said, "Are you certain? Dark Sister is a prestigious blade, His Grace needs to-" 

"I am The Queen, Aemon." Visenya cut him off, "Take it. Aegon won't protest. Neither will Viserys." 

Aemon reluctantly stepped forward and grabbed the sword, taking it into his hands. 

"Thank you...." He said softly

"It belonged to my Grandfather, Daemon." She said softly, "Before it came to my hands. My Father and He....they did not get along. But surely, Aerion Targaryen would not mind if his grandson used Daemon's sword. I had my fun with it..." 

"Mother....I'm hungry...." Daeron finally spoke up

"We'll go eat something right now, sweetling." Visenya patted his head, "Aemon. I know you'll do your best in serving the King....I know it...just don't overdo it, nephew, alright? You are my blood and I love you dearly." 

Aemon nodded, "Thank you..." He said softly

Visenya then turned around and walked away, leaving Aemon alone as he held Dark Sister in his hands. 

Aemon Targaryen would later be known as the Dragonknight, becoming one of the greatest Knights to ever live. 

Some would say that he would surpass Aerion Targaryen in that regard and while it could be agreed upon that Aemon would be even more noble than Aerion, he never once thought that he was better. 

In the time of King Rhaegar's reign, there would be 3 Targaryen Men that would be etched in the history books, for the right reasons. 

Aegon The Conqueror, Aerion The Mighty, and Aemon The Dragonknight.

Children that are born would later learn these three names and would sear it into their minds; looking up to the legacy that was left behind. They would forever tell tales of these men, each of their feats significantly bigger or smaller than each other. But it is the meaning of their actions that left an impact on history. 

Would there ever be another Conqueror? Probably not. 

Would there ever be another Red Dragon? Another Mighty? Another Bronze Dragonlord? A man that would decimate armies by himself in a single day? Probably not. 

Would there ever be another Noble Knight who would take a crossbow bolt for an Unworthy King, his death making every man and woman in the realm weep? Probably not. 

That is the impact left by these men. 

Nothing will change people's perspectives on them. 

Nothing.

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

[Essos, The Present]

Sitting on a stone chair, Zaldrizes Jaes looked at the far end of the room he was in. Nobody was with him; he was alone. 

He had his left arm hidden; resting inside his robe, as if it was held by a sling. He had his right arm resting on his side as his single green dragon eye pierced the air at the far end of the room. 

Suddenly, a strange figure appeared where he was looking like; a young woman that was wearing a simple white dress. She had short white hair and purple eyes and looked at him, holding a strange object in her hands in front of her, close to her stomach. 

It was as if she was see-through, a ghost even. 

"Did it hurt?" Her voice was sweet, almost child-like

The Dragon God shook his head slowly, "No." He said simply

"Tell the truth." She said 

"It didn't." He said

"Father...." She said softly, "Tell the truth....there is nobody else here...." 

There was a pause, several moments passed by as he calmly sat there, looking right at her. 

"Fine." He said simply, "It did. It hurt." 

A slight smile appeared on her pale face, "There you go." She said sweetly, "Was that so hard?" 

"But compared to losing you....." He said seriously, "It is nothing." 

She frowned, "Did I matter that much to you?" She asked

"You meant the world to me." He said seriously, "Everything. All of you. Every single one of you." 

"Do you feel the same for these children of yours? The ones you have now?" She asked

"Of course I do." He said, "But I have done terrible things since I've lost you....so many terrible things....when things are set in motion...you canno-" 

"Stop them." She cut him off, "Tell me, Father....did you love her? Mother?" 

"Of course I did." He said

"Then why don't you see her?" She said as he image began to fade slowly, "She's there....with the others...you can see her, but you choose to see me....why?" 

"Rhaenys...." He closed his eye as he let out a sigh, "I will not argue with you today." 

"Then why must you go and do what you're set out to do?" She asked as the only thing that remained was her head, floating in the air, the rest of her body dissipating like mist, "Is it for her?" 

Zaldrizes Jaes opened his eye, "Everything was for her." He said seriously, raising his voice slightly, "Everything I did was for her. Everything I do is for her. And not just for her. For you. For all of you. And I will not be questioned about it, child. Do you hear me?" 

"I will do what I must."