(King Aemon's Tower, The Red Keep, King's Landing, Blackwater Bay, The Crownlands, Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, Westeros, Planetos, Game of Thrones Universe)

--------------------------------

(King Aemon I Targaryen POV)

--------------------------------

(Year 305 AC)

--------------------------------

Aemon looked out across the city, for the last twenty years he'd reigned as King. His nephew missing, his older brother dead, and his father dead too. At least his niece, mother, brother, sister, and sister-in-law survived thankfully, but not without scars and sacrifice.

When the Rebellion was crushed, rather than deliver the rebels for judgment he marched on the city. But in order to bring peace he was forced to hand his own father over to the captured and defeated rebels. When he returned to the city triumphant he'd given the order for his father seized and declared incapable, everything was in place, since before he had left specific instructions with Jaime that in the event his brother doesn't survive to coordinate with his agents in the Red Keep and detain his fathers Small Council and his father.

His men had in the hours after Rhaegar's death gotten his family out, but Jaime had declined, seeking to stop Aerys and secure Aegon, luckily, thanks to his agents, the whole thing had succeeded.

When they welcomed their first children, he named their first Jacaerys, he was born with a twin sister they had named Joanna, after Cersei's late mother.

It was a few years later, but another son would be born to them, he would be named Aegon. Following that he had daughters and sons both. Not to mention the several bastard daughters on his two paramours, whom he'd set aside after marrying Cersei.

He'd been upfront with her about his past indiscretions, his children would eventually be recognized as Legitimate Targaryens, but to placate his wife he had had them removed from the order of succession and they knew that by accepting to become legitimate members of the House of the Dragon neither them nor their descendants would never have a legitimate claim to the Throne of Westeros.

''My King, it's time.'' Says Randyll Tarly, coming to stand beside him. Wearing his boiled Leathers with the Golden Pin of the King's hand on his breast. For as long as Aemon had reigned, Randyll had been his Hand, they'd had their ups and downs, but Randyll had served him well.

The Small Council was a mix of former Rebels and Loyalists, he'd created positions for representatives and a Master of War. The Lord-Commander of the Kingsguard remained the Chief General, but the Master of War's mandate was to equip, supply, form the strategy and tactics, oversee training and day-to-day management, and control the overall composition of the King's Standing Army.

Aemon had modeled this army after a variety of real-world groups such as the Roman Legions, Ottoman Janissaries, Japanese Samurai, and Mongolian Cavalry, as well as the Spartan Army. The Army was known as the Valyrian Wall.

Numbering a little bit over twelve thousand strong, and built up across his twenty-year reign. The Valyrian Wall were mostly orphans and second and third sons taken at a young age and trained practically since birth. Their training had instilled in them the martial discipline's of fighting in formation, surviving in rough and mountainous terrain, and a focus on supply and logistics.

The man in charge of this was Stannis Baratheon, together he, Randyll, and Aemon had built up this standing army. Throughout this goal, they practically revolutionized the Westerosi stance on warfare and its technology.

But more than this, it had helped them win the War against the Walker's.

Aemon regretted what had happened during the rebellion and the wars after. He and Rhaegar had a plan, but the Tourney of Harrenhall which was meant to be the turning point in that plan had cocked everything up instead, and in order to ensure his own son did not make that same mistake, he needed to take it back to the beginning.

''Just through there my King. Prince Jacaerys and his family are through the door.'' Randyll tells him.

''So much could and should have been avoided. We shouldn't have waited, we should have moved more quickly.'' Aemon tells his right hand, solemnly. It was a discussion that had repeated itself several times over the years.

''Perhaps, but if you could go back and warn your past self, would he have listened?'' Asks Randyll.

''Perhaps, perhaps not. Back then our allies were few and had little real power. You know, my greatest regret, is Aegon. We know he's out there somewhere, but just not where.'' Says Aemon, glancing at a picture hung on a nearby wall.

''Even if we still had him, the Crown would have been yours anyway. A Great Council would have been called, and it would have amounted to you, your younger brother, or your nephew. No, despite our losses, you lead us to a great victory in the war's past. We made the right decisions.'' Says Randyll, as resolute as always.

''You realize, that after telling this story, everything begins to change?'' Aemon asks.

''I do, but your story is not yet over.'' Says Randyll.

''Maybe so, but my reign will be.'' Says Aemon, as he exchanges one last nod with his very Ned Stark sort of Hand and knocks on the door before entering the room.

--------------------------------

''Father?'' Jacaerys says surprised.

''Your grace.'' His daughter-in-law bows her head respectfully.

''Grandfather!'' His grandchildren squeal in excitement, hugging him.

''Please, sit with me.'' He says, placing his eldest grandson on his left knee and his only granddaughter by Jacaerys on his right Knee.

''Something's happened.'' Jacaerys realizes.

''Happening. Present tense. Your mother and I have decided to move to Dragonstone and Summerhall...alone. Which means the throne will be yours. But before I hand you my Crown and my Throne, I need to tell you a story.'' Says Aemon, ignoring his daughter-in-law's calculating look.

''Why now? You've led us to great victories, you've expanded our realms significantly.'' Asks Jacaerys.

''Because the Song of Ice and Fire has finished. I've given Lord Stannis leave to return to Storm's End, so you'll need a New Master of War as well as a new Master of Coin and Master of Whispers. Not to mention the four now vacant slots in the Kingsguard. Consider Baelon for a Kingsguard Cloak. Lastly, I want you to know that I expect an annual visit, four times a year.'' Says Aemon as places his Crown on the lap of Leonidas and placed his necklace around the neck of Rhaenyra.

''Yes, Father, if you feel that is the correct path.'' Says Jacaerys.

''I once told you of the four men I admired more than anyone, do you remember their names?'' Asks Aemon, glancing at Leonidas warmly.

''King Leonidas the First, Emperor Constantine the Eleventh, Ser Gawain of the Roundtable, and Kratos of the Forgotten Gods.'' Says Jacaerys, mentioning the men of whom Aemon had admired in his last life and used to inspire and instill virtues in his children. Though the story of Kratos was specifically centered around the hit video game series God of War, Aemon had used much of those games' storylines and quests as a cautionary tale for his son's childhood.

It wasn't an unwelcome surprise when Jacaerys named his first son Leonidas. Leonidas Targaryen.

''Yes, that's correct. The story I'm about to tell you will - like that of Kratos - hopefully serve you as a cautionary tale. This is a Song of the House of the Dragons, one of two Brothers. Of one, who was destined to be the Greatest in the Royal Family in Westeros's History, and the other as his brother's right hand. This is the story of your uncle Rhaegar and I, this is The Song of Two Brothers!'' Says Aemon as prepares to his son his story uncut, unfiltered, and in its entirety...well, most of its entirety at the very least.

--------------------------------

Author's Note:

--------------------------------

I had intended to write more, though I feel that this will hopefully satisfy my readers.

I chose to publish this as I didn't feel it was fair to stick to the start of Aemon's journey to the Iron Throne as well. Plus since I'm buying a new phone today it's less of a nuisance.

And at any rate, my chapter word count new rules are that when its applicable I'm trying for a minimum word count of 4,000. Stories that fall under this will definitely be stories from fandoms like The Witcher, Game of Thrones, and original novels like Imperialas Brittanica. While Anime Stories will be at a minimum of 2,500 hundred words per chapter depending on the fandom, like Pokémon for instance will typically try to fall under the rule of 3,000 words minimum per chapter.

Anyway, see you guys later, I've got oh so much shit to do and so little time to do it.

--------------------------------

Join my Discord via this invite link:

https://discord.gg/4TTZkVMMnq

To be continued

Rate this book

PREV INDEX