Duskendale

(Rhaegon's POV)

"And you're sure he's here?" I asked the soldier as we both walked down the path from the hill I landed Morghul at

He nodded, "Yes Ser." He said, "He and a couple hundred men."

I scowled, "The fuck does he think he's doing?"

It was a couple of days after my Tour in The Vale, I had rested at Runestone an extra three days at Ser Yohn's request. Morghul ate a nice and hefty amount of sheep and got plenty sleep. The flight to Duskendale was good exercise to keep him in shape.

The reason I was in Duskendale was quite simple, I had heard the Queen and the Princess were there, for whatever reason and my Lord Uncle Stannis also appeared.

Duskendale was once promised land to House Baratheon after the Ironborn Rebellion was quelled, their previous Lords had been executed for treason and conspiring with the Greyjoys. Renly was supposed to inherit it at my father's orders but the succession never went through for some reason.

This was the same place that my Grandfather was kindapped and Ser Barristan saved him.

What reason does Stannis have to come all this way? On the same day my Aunt decided to visit? I know the Queen likes to ride around the Crownlands, escorted by 4 Kingsguard and a 100 men. Nothing good can come out of this.

I gritted my teeth as I clenched my fists, "Curse that fool."

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

"As stated before, Your Grace, Summerhall is property in the Stormlands." I heard Stannis say as I walked through the doors of the main hall, "I am here to ask you to petition to King Rhaegar that either I am to receive Duskendale or Summerhall. Duskendale has never fully been passed to House Baratheon and I would gladly take over."

I saw as The Queen sat in a throne, her hands on her lap as she so calmly looked at Stannis who was before her, the red woman next to her. Princess Myrcella sat in a chair next to her, her eyes lit up when she saw me.

I couldn't ignore the smile she gave me as I merely nodded as I stopped in front of the door. I noticed Ser Barristan, Ser Jaime, Ser Meryn, and someone else I didn't recognize standing behind them as Stannis looked at the Queen.

"Duskendale was given to Renly." Queen Cersei said, "It is my understanding that you already have a castle, Lord Stannis."

"Yes your grace, a simple fort, secluded from anything else…." He said, "Truly not something worth it considering that I aided King Rhaegar in crushing the Greyjoy fleet and even helped him during the River Dragon's Rebellion."

"That simple fort….you decided to stay there even after Robert offered to house you and your family despite your insults to him and the crown." She said, "You forget yourself, Lord Stannis, you're gestures at my daughter's tourneys have left you in such….positions. Yes, you're a commander, a decorated one at that. But you're brother is a praised diplomat and has helped secure a thriving trade with Essos and far beyond east. That allowed our Kingdom, our Realm, to become much wealthier."

I took a step forward, "Your Grace, I apologize for interrupting." I said before looking at Stannis, "But I wish to ask Lord Stannis why he would dare bring a red-priestess before you. Instead of his lady-wife, he wishes to parade a member of the Red Cult?"

Stannis looked at me without saying a word, his emotionless eyes piercing through me.

"Calm yourself, Nephew." The Queen said as she smiled, "I allow this. I am intrigued to hear what an Asshai woman has to say."

The red woman bowed slightly, "Your grace, I am honored to be before you and your daughter." She said, "Tales of your beauty does you no justice, you are even more beautiful in person."

Aunt smiled at her, "You flatter me." She said, "And your name is?"

"Melisandre." She said, "I am one of the many envoys of His Voice, The Lord of Light's."

"Lord of Light," The Queen said, "The one some say brought back the dragons. Forgive me if I say that I find your….superstitions rather silly. Dragons came back because it was Nature that required them to do so. Aegon V's sacrifice to the fire did not do much. All it was….it was a mere coincidence."

"So you say, as well as many. But the Lord of Light blesses even those who don't believe." Melisandre continued, "Even the great Young Rhaegon here. He shares the warmth of The Lord and shares it well."

"He shares the warmth of his dragon's flame, that is all." The Queen said, "Morghul is not an envoy of your lord, or any god….he's a beast, a large….fire-breathing animal. He's a part of nature as are his brethren. Do not come here and try to preach about how it is your god that brought them forth."

Melisandre bowed, "That is all, Your Grace." She said

I walked forward and stood next to Stannis, giving him a serious glare, "You dare persist, Uncle?" I said, "After giving you many opportunities to back down? Where does it end? You'll rally your 2,000 men and threaten us for Summerhall? Or Duskendale?!"

"I deserve what is rightfully mine." Stannis said, "You wouldn't understand because you are showered by His Grace and your Father's gifts."

"You were so close in being sent to The Wall and yet you weren't because Father vouched for you." I said, "Yet you come here and spit in our faces with whatever this is."

"You will show me respect, boy." He said seriously

"To hell with your respect." I spat, "This isn't you. If this woman is influencing your head, then perhaps I shall cut hers off."

"No violence in front of Her Grace." I heard Ser Jaime say, "Or I'll have to remove the both of you."

I glanced at him, "Shut up." I said,

"This is between me and him."