Aelyx – 05
I let out a shout of pure joy as I flew above the waters of the Narrow Sea. There was nothing in the world like soaring through the air on dragonback. I had always loved flying with my father and stepmother, but dancing on the wind atop your own dragon was incomparable. A tug on the reigns sent Vhagar banking left and downward. A wild grin split my face even as the chain dug into my waist. My blood sang as Vhagar raced towards the water. To my right, a red streak darted in the same direction, keeping pace with my descent. Another touch to the reigns sent Vhagar rocketing upwards long before we reached the water. My father however continued downwards, pulling up only at the last possible moment. Craxes's claws sent up a spray of foam as he skimmed the water. One day I would be confident enough to perform such a feat, but for now, I was content to watch.
The last three weeks since I claimed Vhagar, had been hectic. Between dealing with the fallout from that shitshow of a night and learning how to ride Vhagar I'd hardly had a moment to myself. Not that I was complaining, Vhagar was worth any amount of hassle. It had not even been two fortnights, and yet I could not imagine life without my darling girl. The immediate aftermath of my knighting had been chaotic. No one outright objected, of course, they hardly could when it was the King himself who had bestowed the honor upon me. But Queen Alicent and her cronies had obliquely questioned the dubbing. Cloaking themselves in false concern they asked if a boy of four and ten was truly capable of upholding the responsibilities that came with the spurs. At first, I had been somewhat confused. I had been granted a knighthood not a lordship, it came with no lands or incomes, nothing that could have added any power to the Blacks. However, after a bit of contemplation, I realized the Hightowers undoubtedly abhorred the idea that Aemond and by extension themselves might owe the son of the Rogue Prince a debt. The king had brushed them off assuring his wife, that his brother would guide me through all of the trials and responsibilities of knighthood. That statement did not reassure the queen in the slightest, although I could understand her there, Daemon Targaryan was no one's idea of a mentor, and the idea of his mirror image mounted atop Vhagar would be enough to unnerve even die-hard Black supporters.
The objections had been silenced by Viserys as he led the procession back to Hight Tide, for all his faults our sovereign was not one to reverse a decision once made. Upon returning to the keep we found a crowd summoned by the night's events waiting for us. Before the assembled residents and visiting courtiers, the king proceeded to recount the heroics of his nephew. While I squirmed in embarrassment, Visereys cheerfully narrated how I had boldly rushed into danger, a credit to my grandsire Baelon the Bold, and upon seeing Prince Aemond imperiled, thrown myself before the world's largest dragon. He had capped off the speech by announcing my knighthood and declaring me a true and valued member of House Targaryen.
At which point he had called his middle son forward and scolded him for his ingratitude. He had then instructed the boy to thank me for saving his life. Aemond had done so in an almost mechanical manner, I admit that I had felt a certain amount of unease at the sheer rage I had seen in the prince's eyes, and for a moment I had worried he would leap for my throat right then and there. Just when I thought the night could not get awkwarder Viserys then turned to his wife.
"Dear, don't you have anything to say to Ser Aelyx."
Despite looking almost pained she had done what she had been implicitly ordered to do.
She nodded to me "I thank you Ser Aelyx, for defending my son." The sight of Alicent Hightower being forced to give thanks to his son had been almost more than my father to bear without breaking down into hysterics as he stood to the side, a massive grin splitting his face. The strangest thing was that upon reflection do believe that Queen had been partially sincere. After all, she had no way of knowing that without my interference Aemond would have successfully claimed the dragon and she did truly believe I have saved her son's life. Unfortunately, any gratitude she may have felt was overshadowed by the trepidation that my possession of Vhagar caused.
I shook myself from thoughts of that night when I saw my father gesturing to me from Caraxes. In addition to teaching me how to ride, over the past few weeks, I had been instructed on the signals that dragon riders used to communicate with one another while in the air. This one meant that it was time to land. I followed him as we winged back to Driftmark. As we approached the island, I surprised him by soaring past Caraxes and over the Nest heading to the interior to the interior of the island. As soon as I was sure my father was following me, I began to search for a place to land. I quickly spotted a little rocky valley that appeared to be inhabited only by a few wild sheep. I settled Vhagar down onto the valley floor, and moments later Caraxes landed beside her. I dismounted from my dragon, while my father did the same.
"What's this about?" he asked.
"I needed to talk to you about something."
He arched an eyebrow. "And you had to do it here, instead of at the keep."
I shook my head. "This isn't exactly something I wanted anyone to overhear."
His face lit up with a grin. "This is about a girl, isn't it? Has some pretty little serving maid caught your eye? You are at the right age for it."
"You've visited Dragonstone six times in the past few weeks." I cut him off, my tone not quite accusatory.
His expression turned guarded. "That's not really any of your business now it."
"Will the princesses' next children be born with silver hair rather than brown?" I asked bluntly. He rocked back on his heels, surprise etched across his features.
"You have hardly, been subtle in your actions, and already many speak of the attention you once paid to the princess before her marriage."
"As I said boy, it hardly your business. Did you bring me out here to lecture me on respecting Laena's memory? Because I assure you the dead care naught for the actions of the living. Or perhaps you mean to speak on the sanctity of marriage, if so, you would do well to remember your very existence owes itself to my lack of respect for those vows." I flinched slightly; it was rare for my father to throw my bastardry in my face.
Regardless I pressed on. "And what of Ser Laenor?"
At that, my father sneered. "The man is a cuckold, all the realm knows it, even if they don't dare speak it. He has cowered from confronting Breakbones, do you think he would dare raise an objection to me." And you will be content, I wondered, serving as Rhaenrya's clandestine lover, seeing another man styled as her husband and eventual Prince-Consort. Knowing that any future children you may have with her would be called Velaryon. No, I knew my father and knew his pride. In that moment I became absolutely certain that he had been behind Qarl Correy's murder of Laenor.
"Ser Laenor is not Marrano Brenaar. He is not the destitute son of a dead Sealord. You cannot simply needle him into challenging you to a duel and then cut him down"
"Can't I?"
"Well, you probably could." I conceded. My father could get under a person's skin simply by breathing, when he was actually trying, he could easily piss someone off so badly that they would fly into a rage and challenge him to a fight they could never win.
"But you shouldn't. If you marry Rhaenyra after killing Laenor it could cost her the support of the Velaryon fleet, Velaryon gold, and of Princes Rhaenys atop the Red Queen." At last, my father looked contemplative. I knew of course that he had never planned on cutting Laenor down himself, but hopefully, a recitation of the potential consequences would be enough to sway him from organizing an assassination. Moral reasonings would not reach him, but pragmatic ones might. He reached out and ruffled my hair.
"No need to look so grim son, it's not as though I'm actually planning on killing the sword swallower." I nodded uncertainly, unsure of the effect of my words.
"Now, let us get back to High Tide." He turned back to remount Caraxe, ending the conversation.