Aegon Arryn
It seemed as though King's Landing was determined to fight of winter. The snows had fallen everywhere else in the realm, the north was buried in it according to a raven from Cregan Stark, but King's Landing continued to fight, and though the days were shorter, the weather colder, still no snow had fallen in King's Landing. Aegon was impressed with that, it seemed as if the city had not lost the fighting spirit it had always had during his youth, that was something he liked, and something that made his life in the city easier, and helped to suppress the demons and nightmares that threatened to rear their heads from time to time.
His brother, King Valarr had made the long trip to the Vale some two moons ago to offer him the handship and after some hesitancy and some long discussions with Jeyne he had decided to accept the offer, after all Viserys would be serving as master of laws and if nothing else it would help reacquaint him with his two remaining brothers. Jeyne and the children would remain behind in the Eyrie, now the Gates of the Moon for the children were too young to make the journey with him and Jeyne needed to remain behind to ensure that the lords of the Vale did not think to take it easy now he and his dragon were gone.
King's Landing itself seemed much the same, it was filled with too many bodies and not enough space, despite Valarr's best efforts. It still stank to high heaven as well despite the fact that Valarr had installed a new sewage system following the Dance to see to that. Still it was slightly less humid and hot than it had been during Aegon's youth and that much he was grateful for. His brothers on the other hand he had found had changed significantly. Valarr had always been grim and serious, that much Aegon remembered from their childhood, but now it seemed as if there were rare moments of joy in his life brought on by his two wives and his children, such moments when they happened Aegon had learnt to cherish, for the man he saw in court and council was different completely to the man he saw when it was just them. Viserys, the youngest son of King Jacaerys and Queen Rhaenrya, had always been a smart boy if somewhat shy, but now Aegon's younger brother was so calm and cunning as well, he had trained his expression to remain neutral throughout the years he had lived on the Driftmark, the true heir to the Seasnake.
The council itself Aegon had soon learnt was made up of old wise men and young rash men. You had Lord Larys Strong who had served under Aegon's father and grandfather who was wise in his council and glib of tongue as a master of whispers should be, and then there was Grand Maester Godrick Manderly who had served since the end of the Dance he was smart and wise, but often prone to give neutral advice on most matters, then there was Ser Madden Darry the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard who had earnt his nickname the Demon of the Trident during the Dance, he gave sage advice when asked though he tended to remain quiet during most meetings. Then there was the young and rash faction of the council, Ser Bryce Lannister the master of ships was one who was fond of his own voice, and often gave suggestions that made Aegon truly want to hit the man, why Valarr had thought to appoint a Lannister of all people on to the council he knew not. Lord Simon Toyne was bold, that much Aegon could give him, he had made the crown lots of money, and due to Valarr not being a prodigious spender unless there was a war on, the treasury was booming, still the man seemed thick as a castle wall sometimes.
Still as Aegon sat down at the council table for the day's meeting, he could not but help and wonder what may have been had the Dance never happened and if grandfather Viserys had never married that Hightower slut. His thoughts were disturbed when the king and the Prince of Dragonstone walked in and sat down. Valarr spoke first. "Thank you all for coming. We have three main issues to discuss today my lords. They are, Oldstones and whom should take the title of Prince, the issue of Princess Jaehara and the fact that no child as of yet has come forth from her union with my son and finally we have the issue of Pentos and what House Volcarys wishes from us in regards to that matter. I would hear your thoughts on all three matters, starting with the issue of Oldstones. Maester Godrick."
The maester nodded and then unrolling a piece of parchment from his sleeve he spoke aloud in that monotonous voice of his. "With the death of Prince Maelor, by rights the Lordship of Oldstones should pass to Lady Heleana and any children she should have with Lord Aelix Stonefyre."
Lord Simon Toyne spoke then. "Maester Godrick speaks sense. Truly when Your Grace decreed that Oldstones should be given to Prince Maelor, the issue of his succession should he die without issue as has happened here, should not have been an issue. Lady Heleana is his true heir, and her children are after her."
As ever, what Lord Simon Toyne said, Ser Bryce Lannister had to echo."My lord speaks truly here. Lady Heleana and her children are the rightful heirs to Oldstones Your Grace, this should not be the issue. The issue should be which one of her children inherits the seat."
Aegon felt himself tense with anger at the insolence of the Lannister, he was young but he was also that traitor Tyland's cousin, and Aegon had never forgiven Lannister for opening his gates to Aemond during the Dance. Viserys merely chuckled slightly then, and when all eyes turned to him he smiled slightly and said. "Whilst what you say is true my lords, we must not forget whose side Lady Heleana was on during the Dance of Dragons. And though that war was many years ago now, the scars are still fresh, due to the wars that have been fought since then. To give the seat to a former traitor instead of a loyal vassal would be to invoke the wrath of the nobles especially in the Riverlands. No the Princedom must become a Lordship Your Grace that is the only way in which this issue can be settled peacefully."
Aegon once more found himself fully impressed with the way his younger brother spoke, he truly was the Seasnake's true heir. Lord Larys spoke then his voice no louder than a whisper. "That is all well and good my prince, but whom would you suggest naming to that Lordship then without causing too much trouble amongst the Riverlords and those such as Lord Aelix who might wish to press their wife's claim?"
Viserys spoke once more then, his voice clear and without hesitance. "Why my good Lord Larys, the King has a daughter that shall soon be of marriageable age who has a claim to Oldstones through the female line, if we were to propose wedding her to say Lord Blackwood's second son or perhaps one of your own nephews, why that would sit nicely with Riverrun and the Throne. Or if not the Princess, then Lady Heleana has a daughter who will soon flower and could be betrothed to one of the loyal riverlords and as she has a claim through the male line, none could dispute her and her husband's right to rule the seat."
Grand Maester Godrick spoke up then, his voice shaky. "My Prince what you suggest is reasonable, but what we must remember as a council is the fact that Lady Sansa Stonefyre is but eleven years old and still a maiden not yet flowered, as is Princess Alysanne. Such matches whilst ensuring that the lords who remained loyal to his grace the king, will have difficulty ensuring their lands are unthreatened by Lords as ambitious as Lord Garlan Bracken and Lord Malcolm Piper. Which is why I believe that Aemon Stonefyre should be given the Princedom of Oldstones as a male with a claim through his mother through the male line none will be able to question his right to the seat, nor threaten him and his without incurring the wrath of either Lord Aelix or the throne."
That was when Aegon spoke then. "If the council is going to be acting like a bunch of scared old women, simply because of a castle, then I suggest that Your Grace pull down the walls of Oldstones, and take its riches to fill up the coffers. Thus lessening the threat it could pose to the peace we are working toward restoring in the Riverlands."
Aegon can tell by the shocked expressions of almost all the council except his brothers that they did not think he would speak on the issue, or that he would give such a strong opinion. Lord Simon Toyne speaks through the silence his voice seemingly choked with surprise. "Forgive me my prince, but you cannot be serious? Why should his Grace break down Oldstones, when that castle has stood for many a year since King Vaegyl gave it to his cousin Prince Jaehaerys the Wise. Whoever holds that castle in the future will be indebted to the throne, and will strive to make sure that peace in the Riverlands stays. It is too important a seat to be broken down."
Aegon snorts then and contempt laces his voice when he replies. "I do not see the advantage in having such a seat if it will be used to fill another rebellion. Do you forget that Aegon the usurper was Prince of Oldstones when he rose in rebellion against his rightful king? Do you forget that it was the Riverlords who whispered in his ear and told him to rebel? Do you forget that Heleana Stonefyre was the usurper's wife and bore him three children, and now has three more children, who is too say that the riverlords would not whisper in one of their ears as well? No I say tear down the castle and take its wealth for the throne and the realm will be better for it."
Valarr laughs then and all eyes of the council turn to face him. When he speaks his voice is measured and controlled. "Ah yes, it is nice to see my brother back home once more. Speaking the truths that the rest of you are too cowardly to say. Yes we need Oldstones, but we do not need a Stonefyre sitting in the seat, regardless of their claim. No when the time comes my daughter Alysanne shall wed one of the loyal riverlords, and they and their children shall Oldstones till the end of time. That is that." Aegon grits his teeth but he sees the other lords nod their heads, and then sees Maester Godrick scribbling what Valarr had said onto a piece of paper. "Now the issue of the Princess Jaehara. Matarys you and her have been wed for neigh on two years now, and still there have been no children. I must ask you, and you must answer truthfully have you been trying to conceive a child with your wife or not?"
Aegon nearly laughs aloud when he sees his nephew's face colour, Matarys is nothing if not a proud man. "I have father, many times when I have the chance. It, just seems something is going wrong between." He blushes once more, and Aegon fights to hold back laughter, he is not a green boy.
Valarr sighs then and says. "Very well, Maester Godrick do you have any explanations as to why this might be happening?"
Maester Godrick waits a moment and then speaks. "I am not sure Your Grace. It is possible that Princess Jaehara may be infertile, it is possible after all maester Gorgon did write to me to say she was a difficult birth for Lady Heleana, it is possible something there or something later in life affected her capabilities."
Even from the grave the usurper haunts us. Aegon thought grimly.
Valarr meanwhile was grimacing. "Very well. Matarys continue trying, but it would not hurt to begin looking for other possible matches for you. Aegon will see to that." Aegon nods, and then Valarr speaks once more. "Now for the final issue. Pentos. Lord Larys what news do you have on the happenings across the narrow sea?"
Lord Larys speaks then his voice soft, so soft Aegon thinks if he willed it he could fall asleep. "My sources report that the people of Pentos are massing arms once more. It seems that King Baelon Volcarys means to add them to his empire, and they mean to resist. It is possible that they might look west once more Your Grace, they are building a fleet once again."
Valarr nods then and says. "Very well, it is time we dealt with them and this pirate king. Matarys you shall go with Lady Rhaenys and the royal fleet and some 4,000 men to deal with the Pirate King and the Fleet Pentos is building. I shall send word to Baelon to alert him to what we are doing. Ser Tom and Ser Olyvar of the Kingsguard shall be going with you Matarys. Make sure you do nothing foolish."
The prince nods, and then Aegon asks. "Where will these 4,000 men come from Your Grace?"
Valarr turns to look at him and says. "From the Crownlands, the lords want revenge for what the savages did during the last war, I mean to give it to them."
With that the council meeting ends, and does not meet again until the end of the Tourney held to celebrate Aegon and Viserys coming to King's Landing to join the small council. Matarys and his men leave King's Landing a day before the tourney, so the winner of the jousting is Ser Jeffrey Norcross of the Kingsguard who crowns some noble lady Aegon has never heard of as Queen of Love and Beauty. The tourney Aegon had protested calling it an unnecessary use of money that could be better spent elsewhere, such as rebuilding Gulltown's castle. Valarr had merely laughed when Aegon had mentioned that and said. "Brother, if you wanted Gulltown to remain as it was before the war, you should not have burnt it. No it shall serve as a reminder as Harrenhal does, of what shall befall those who fight the dragon."
The moons tick by after that, Aegon spends them either with the council speaking of mundane issues such as taxes and the trade coming from Valyria as King Baelon's empire has begun being called. Winter also finally sets in with the first snowfalls happening some two moons after Matarys and Rhaenys sail for Pentos. There are some skirmishes between the Reach and Dorne, but nothing serious at the first threat of dragons approaching both sides cool off and draw a peace, and there are discussions that Aegon has with Valarr and Viserys of bringing Dorne into Westeros, for as Valarr himself says. "I am king of Seven Kingdoms in title only, we have unfinished business with Dorne."
Aegon agrees with his brother there, the Dornish have become cockier since the ending of the slaver threat, conveniently forgetting that the only reason that they are not currently all in chains is because of his brother and the rest of Westeros. He would have been completely willing to march south to teach the Dornish savages a lesson had his brother asked it of him, only Viserys, their smart younger brother cautions them against it saying. "Aegon the Dragon could not bring Dorne to heel through conquest and lost his wife to the snakes there. No in time they will realise they would be better off joining us, but for now let them be isolated, Baelon will not trade with them so long as he is king Valyria never will. Soon enough they will realise they will be better off in Westeros rather than independent."
And it seems to be true, though Valarr never implicitly states it the rest of Westeros eventually begins cutting off trade with Dorne, shipping routes are changed to incorporate the Summer Islands and Ibben, it seems as if the lords of Westeros begin to ignore Dorne altogether acting as if it does not even exist. A policy that soon leads to the Prince of Dorne trying to send envoys to King's Landing, all of which Valarr sees and listens to and then politely tells to shove off, something Aegon comes to admire about his brother.
Six moons after setting off for Pentos, Matarys sends word that the city has finally fallen, it appears that though the city's fleet was burnt easily enough, and the city itself was captured, there was a period of unrest within the city led by a group of former magisters. Baelon being too old to deal with them himself gave command to Matarys who using Crimson Fury and means that would put the Boltons to shame, eventually routed the resistors and killed them, slaying the leader of the movement in single combat himself. It seems as if Matarys wishes to aid King Baelon in conquering the slaver cities, something Aegon feels slightly uneasy about, it seems as if Matarys might become another Maegor the Cruel or Vaegyl the Violent, but then Valarr merely laughs and says. "He is young, he will forget this warring business, and return home. He knows his duty." And sure enough the Prince does return eight moons after he set sail for Pentos bringing back with him Lady Rhaenys Velaryon and her dragon as well as 1,000 of the men he left with and Ser Tom Costayne of the Kingsguard, Ser Olyvar having died fighting to protect the Prince during a failed assassination attempt.
The moons tickle by and eventually the council decides with consent of the king to betroth Princess Alysanne Targaryen, the king's daughter to Ser Patrek Strong, the second son of Lord Larys' younger brother. The marriage takes place three moons later on the fourth day of the fifth moon of the 149th year after Aegon's Landing, three weeks after the Princess has flowered with the court in attendance. Ser Patrek takes the Targaryen name as per the terms of the marriage agreement, and his firmly told by Valarr that he will serve as Alysanne's advisor nothing more. The threat of Vermithor makes the boy agree to that. At the wedding feast Lord Larys pulls Aegon aside and speaks to him of grave tidings. "The Prince of Dorne is lying on his deathbed, and his daughter means to invade the Reach as retaliation to the trade embargo my prince."
"She can never hope to succeed though. The might of Westeros would crush Dorne." Aegon says, watching as his brother speaks animatedly with his two wives and as the Prince of Dragonstone whispers something to one of the groom's sisters that makes her laugh.
Lord Larys sighs then and whispers. "She does not mean to invade now, nor does she mean to do it alone. She means to ally with his grace's enemies and declare her father poisoned."
Aegon feels shocked and it reflects in his voice. "Surely she cannot be serious. Her father is dying of an illness, not poison. My brother would never resort to such cowardice, if he wanted the man dead he would do it himself."
Lord Larys sighs then and says. "She means to say the embargo is responsible. You know how much some of the lords dislike his Grace, Bracken is the foremost of these lords. But the king must not be told, not yet. I have my men working on removing the Princess."
Aegon nods and so the feast and the days go by unhindered, a new year is welcomed in and when news of Princess Mellario's death in her sleep reaches the court, Aegon does not bat an eyelid nor does Larys, and Valarr is none the wiser. Then comes the day of Prince Laenor's sixteenth nameday, the day that signals his ascent as Lord of Storm's End and Lord Paramount of the Stormlands. On that day, the High Priest of the Old Order confers him as Laenor Baratheon, in front of the heart tree in Storm's End in front of the Stormlords and half the court. Three days later in true Targaryen fashion he weds his sister Serenei, who becomes Serenei Baratheon, and if the Stormlords do not like it, they know better than to protest the marriage, Valarr is not one to mess with when it comes to his children.
A few moons after Laenor and Serenei have been in Storm's End and the court has returned as normal, Aegon receives a letter from the Vale, Jeyne and the children are deeply unwell, he asks leave to go and see them which is granted, by the time he reaches the Gates of the Moon, he receives a letter from the maester informing of Queen Sylvia's death from something known as White Fever, he enters the castle proper to be greeted by Jeyne, who is pale faced and sweaty and red eyed, she informs him that their son Baelor is asleep and ahs not woken up for six days. Aegon feels the nightmares returning, that night.