Chapter 18: An Audience With The King. 120 AC

Princess Helaena of House Targaryen was sitting in front of a bush in the outskirts of King's Landing, seemingly watching a green worm eating the leaves that it resides in.

Behind her was a huge dragon, a pale-blue with silver markings She-Dragon that is named Dreamfyre. The she-dragon was sleeping, seemingly snoring away as Heleana tried to take the green worm from the leaves.

As the green worm crawled to her palm, she picked one leaf, and put it beside the green worm to feed it. She kept watching it rather intently, seemingly examining the anatomy of the bug, and when she's done, she took a jar from her bag, and put the bug inside it.

Suddenly, a huge roar came from the sky above, and it woke Dreamfyre from her deep slumber.

Helaena also turned towards the source of the roar, and she saw a bronze dragon, seemingly shining because of the sun, with a silvery dragon also following along, gliding side by side.

The girl smiled at herself, putting the bug jar in her bag. "Cousin…" she murmured.

She quickly ran to Dreamfyre, not forgetting her bag, and climbed on the dragon's back.

[Soves!] She commanded the dragon, and Dreamfyre took off from the land, pushing away the grass and the bushes around her, before flying towards the two dragons that were approaching King's Landing.

—

[1st POV]

As I traversed the sky towards King's Landing, I was greeted by the smell of shit and piss, the part that I don't miss the most from the capital. I entered the outskirts of the city, with Vermithor letting out a huge roar that made the birds around fly away from our path.

Suddenly, I saw an approaching dragon from afar. The dragon was pale blue in color, its size was a little smaller than Silverwing, and I might have an idea on who owns that dragon.

When the dragon neared, my thoughts were confirmed when I saw a 11-year old girl riding the beast. She seems to have a bag strapped around her body, carrying… god knows what…

"It's great to see you again, cousin!" she shouted from the back of the dragon, the dragon that I assumed was Dreamfyre closed the distance, so we could hear each other, albeit barely.

"What are you doing Princess?!" I shouted back.

"I was just finding some bugs!" she said. "What brings you to King's Landing?!"

"I am the Lord of Runestone now! I need to swear allegiance to the king!"

"Oh…" she said, murmuring. She didn't shout, but I could still hear her because of my senses. "My condolences cousin!"

"Thank you!" I answered.

Helaena turned towards my two dragons, and continued. "Your dragons don't like the pit, right!? I will meet you at the red keep!"

"Alright then!"

—

When I entered the throne room, I was greeted by a rather peculiar sight. The king was in his throne holding Blackfyre as always, while the hand, who is Lord Otto now, is on the left side of the throne.

But my father is also there, on the right side of the throne.

I stood in the middle of the room, and bowed towards the three of them. "Your grace… Lord hand… father…"

"Nephew." the king smiled at me. "You've grown to be a fine looking young man."

"Thank you, your grace."

"I heard what had happened." the king continued. "It deeply saddens me about the passing of your mother. I heard she was an excellent character."

"She is certainly unique, your grace." I nodded.

"And now you will pledge your allegiance to me," he nodded. "Very well, Ser Harrold, call Rhaenyra to the throne room."

Ser Harrold, who was standing just right in front of me guarding the king, nodded. He left his post, to find the Princess and Heir, Rhaenyra Targaryen.

"As we wait, let's have some smalltalk." said the king with a warm smile. "As a lord, what are you planning to do in the future?"

"To be honest, I do not yet know, your grace." I said. "I've only been a lord for less than three days after all. But I'm planning to improve the conditions of Runestone, create opportunities for the smallfolk, and eventually expand the small town that surrounds Runestone."

"Create opportunities?" the king seemed interested. "How would you do that?"

"Runestone has a lot of craftsmen." I continued. "So perhaps there are some opportunities there."

"You have potential to rule, it seems." the king hummed. "Perhaps you will be a good lord."

"I thank you for your kind words."

After that, Princess Rhaenyra entered the throne room, wearing her black dress as always. She walked towards the king, noticing me and my father was in this place as well.

Rhaenyra eyed Daemon for a while, before bowing towards the king. "Have you called, your grace?"

"Yes," said the king. "Your cousin will swear fealty to me and you, it will not take some time."

"Of course." Rhaenyra bowed again. She turned towards me, her back facing the king, so I started to unsheath my sword, kneeling in front of her.

I then spoke the usual oath. "I, Lord Maegor Targaryen of House Royce, Protector of the Fingers and the Mountains of the moon, and the Master of Runestone, Promise to be faithful to King Viserys, and… his named heir, the princess Rheanyra."

I looked upon the people who were in the throne room, the king who was smiling, the princess with a poker face, the hand staring at me, and my father smirking at me.

"I pledge fealty to them, and shall defend them against all enemies in good faith, and without deceit. I swear this, by the old gods and the new."

Viserys then stood up from the throne, with the sword as his support. "I, Viserys Targaryen, first of my name, king of the andals, the rhoynar, and the first men, lord of the seven kingdoms, and protector of the realm, accept your oath of allegiance. I hereby shall declare you Lord of Runestone."

I nodded to the king, and I stood up. I stared upon my cousin, who was standing still in front of me.

"Congratulations cousin." she said.

"Thank you princess." I bowed.

The Princess then moved away from her spot, towards the direction of my father, before standing still again, watching the event that unfolds in front of her.

"Now, nephew, onto the next topic I want to discuss with you." said the king suddenly, confusing me a bit.

"Your grace?" I asked.

"Now that you are a lord, you need to have a wife to accompany you when you rule Runestone in the future. And I am here to discuss that topic. Your father proposed to me that you should wed my daughter Heleana. Would you agree to that?"

What?

"Your grace, isn't it a bit early for her to be married?" I said. "As I remember, she is in her 11th nameday."

"A betrothal for now would be enough." the king smiled. "So, will you agree?"

I turned toward my father, he didn't have any reaction whatsoever, the one who had a quite strong reaction however, was the Princess. She was staring at the king intensely, seemingly not believing what she just heard.

Then I turned towards the hand, he had a faint smile on his face for some reason, and I didn't like it at all.

"Has the queen agreed to it, your grace?" I asked.

"I haven't asked her yet." the king chuckled in embarrassment. "I believe she will agree."

"And what of the princess Helaena? Is she comfortable with this match?"

"I'm sure she would be more than happy to hear of this match," said the king. "She was always looking forward to the day you two would meet again since Rhaenyra's wedding."

I cleared my throat. "As I understand your grace, rumors say that you would marry Helaena to Aegon, not me. So please understand that this is a bit sudden for me."

"I know. I was also thinking about marrying Helaena to Aegon. But when your father proposed this match, I was convinced by it. Aegon will marry Laena Velaryon firstborn."

"And where is she now, your grace?"

"She is at Braavos. With her father and mother. Her mother is pregnant with her sibling right now, so expect news of a son or a daughter."

I just nodded at his words. I kept thinking for a while, continuously looking at Otto who was staring at me. Then I continued. "Forgive me, your grace. I do not wish to sow discourse, perhaps it is better for you to ask the queen first. A mother is rather protective of her son and daughter, so betrothing Helaena to me without her consent will complicate some things."

"Ah, so you agree then?"

"If that is what you wish." I said.

"Good." Viserys smiled. "Otto, go to your daughter and ask her if she is willing to go through this arrangement."

The hand bowed. "Very well, your grace."

—

[3rd POV]

Otto entered the queen's chamber as he saw her looking at a mirror. She was dressed neatly it seems, as some hours later, the council meeting will start.

The hand quickly commanded the servants to leave the room, and they both are now alone.

"Daemon's son arrived just now," he said. "He had sworn fealty to the king and Rhaenyra."

"And?" said the queen.

"His father was here the day before. In fact, he's here now too." continued Otto. "He asked the king to marry Helaena to his son."

"What?" the queen turned, seemingly not believing what she had just heard. "And what did the king said?"

"He agreed." Otto answered. "But the boy just now said to ask your permission first."

"Did he now?" the queen hummed. "Then I will not agree."

"Daughter," said Otto sternly. "We play an ugly game. And you must make sacrifices for that."

"He is Daemon's son." the queen countered.

"Exactly." Otto said. "He is Daemon's son."

The queen frowned at the hand's words. "I don't get what you mean father."

"He is unpredictable, just like his father." Otto continued. "If you marry Helaena to him, perhaps he'll join our cause instead of theirs."

"That is not a guarantee, father."

"If you want more guarantees, you've seen how he acts around his father," said Otto. "He's rather brash around him, thinking of him as his equal rather than his actual father. He will not listen to whatever his father asks him to, not anymore."

"I would rather marry Helaena to Aegon. To strengthen his claim to the throne." said Alicent.

"Alicent." Otto continued. "War is inevitable. If we manage to bring the boy to our side, we will gain two powerful and old dragons, belonging to the old king, and the good queen. That is worth more than a mere strengthening of the claim. A claim is worthless, if you cannot enforce it."

The queen went silent, she stared at the mirror once again, watching her poker expression deeply.

"So you want me to agree to the betrothal?"

"I do." said Otto straightforwardly. "It is a wager I am willing to take."

"A wager that you will lose."

"We don't know that yet." Otto said calmly. "The boy is alone right now, his father is not with him all the time. He needs company. And what better company, than the company of a woman?"

The queen continued to stare at herself, reminding herself at the time where she accompanied King Jaehaerys, and at the time she accompanied King Viserys when Queen Aemma Arryn died.

"Fine." she said softly. "But she will not be wed to him until she is on her 13th name day."

"Thank you, daughter." Lord Hand spoke. He bowed to her, and left the room, leaving Queen Alicent alone, just staring at the reflection of herself.