[a/n: Patreon is ahead by 5 chapters. We are slowly adding up to the stockpile. Enjoy.]
(Third Person POV)
Daemon looked at Aerion who was carving a piece of wood with his knife. They were in the shore of the Black Water, just outside the keep. They sat on a log as they had a campfire in front of them.
"Where did you learn how to do that?" Daemon asked his son
The small boy simply looked down at the wood while carved it, "Willam taught me."he said, "It is not a big deal."
"Hm…." Daemon said, "Playing with knives is dangerous."
"This is not a toy." Aerion said, "I know what I am doing."
Daemon looked at his son, feeling a bit of a disconnection from Aerion who showed a bit of apathy towards him.
"Are you angry?" Daemon asked
"No." Aerion responded
"Aerion, I know you may not agree with this. Rhaenyra sure does not." Daemon said, "But it will be done."
"I cannot do anything about it." Aerion said as he looked down
"I am sorry." He said
"For what?" Aerion asked
"For not being there enough. For forcing this on you." He said, "You must understand, these sort of things have to happen."
"I understand." Aerion said as he stopped carving, "I like it when you visit me. I do not care where you are when you are not with me, what matters to me is that I know you will see me one day."
Daemon nodded, "Right…."
"I do not care what happened between Uncle and You." Aerion said, "But it seems you took his offer seriously."
"Of course." Daemon said, "We are Targaryens, of Dragon's Blood. I was against marrying your Mother at first but there was no other choice. Our line must be pure, to preserve the power of dragons. As poorly as we get along, I am glad your Mother gave me a son."
"Do you care about her?" Aerion asked, "About Mother?"
"....In a way." Daemon said
"Hm." Aerion simply said as he looked at the waters in front of them, "I do not hate Rhaenyra. But I do not know how to feel about this."
"You are a boy." Daemon said
"Even so." Aerion said, "I wished to have the freedom of choosing a wife…."
"Sometimes, even Princes like us do not have that luxury." Daemon said with a smirk, "She is your blood, a perfect and worthy suitor for you."
"Hm…." Aerion said
"You are a boy." Daemon said, "One day, you will be a Knight, a Man. And you will have the Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen. Most men of the realm want her."
"Well, what I want….is to have my own dragon." Aerion said
"Oh, yes." Daemon said, "Soon, that will happen. With time, you will claim one and we will fly the skies together."
"Do I have the freedom to choose which dragon I can have?" Aerion looked at his Father
"Hehe, yes.." Daemon chuckled, "But whether or not you are successful in claiming the beast…..that is up to fate."
"I want Vermithor." Aerion said, "The Bronze Fury. That is the color of my Mother's house…..and I am a dragon. Only he is worthy of me."
"You have quite the task ahead of you." Daemon said with another chuckle,
"That one is fierce."
****************
"This constant need to harrass your niece is getting exhausting, Daemon." Rhea said as Aerion walked up to her, "Leave her be."
"The girl needs to understand that she has a duty." Daemon said
They were in the training yard of the Red Keep, Daemon wanted to see Aerion's skills so far. Rhea and her kin were there already, sparring lightly.
"You talk of duty when you rarely do yours." Rhea said
"Careful." Daemon said, "I am your Prince."
"I am your Wife." Rhea rolled her eyes, "I will not have you influence my son to be harsh on Rhaenyra simply because you are too aggressive in reminding her that she is to marry someone who is significantly younger than she is."
Aerion was merely staring at the ground, a serious expression on his face.
"My son will not be insulted." Daemon said, "Harwin Strong….that imbecile thinks he can make an advance on his betrothed?"
"If that is the case, let the King carry out the punishment." Rhea said, "Leave Aerion out of it."
"Aerion is to be her husband." Daemon said, "If anything he sh-"
"He means nothing to me." Aerion said abruptly
Both of them looked at Aerion.
"What?" Rhea asked
"Harwin Strong, he is nothing to me." Aerion said
Rhea sighed, "You got that arrogance from your Father." She said, "But he is a Knight, Aerion, you should treat him with respect."
"I will be one as well." Aerion said seriously, "He should treat me with respect."
"How is he not doing that, love?" Rhea asked him
"He dares think he can swoon my betrothed so easily?" Aerion said as he crossed his arms, "He should know better than that. He is a fool and so is anyone else that think they can have her."
Rhea looked at Daemon, "That is you speaking."
"He has a point." Daemon chuckled, "Ten years old and already making good statements. He is my son after all."
"Harwin is a Knight." Aerion continued, "A true and honorable knight or man should accept when he can no longer grasp that which is not his."
Daemon smirked and looked at Rhea, "I stand corrected."
Rhea sighed, "Aerion, do not think like that. Rhaenyra is a good soul, she will refuse any advances. I have spoken to her, she has made a promise." She said, "Do not concern yourself with anything of the matter."
"A promise can be broken, Rhea." Daemon said seriously, "Rhaenyra can easily lie."
"Concern myself? Why should I?" Aerion said, "I am soon to claim a dragon, anyone who thinks they are above me when I do will learn that it is not the case. When I become a Knight and Dragonrider, I will prove myself worthy of everyone's respect. I do not need to concern myself to those below me."
"Alright." Rhea said as she grabbed his hand, "You spent too much time with this one, little Prince. Let us take you to your quarters and get you bathed and ready for bed."
"I am not a child." Aerion said
"You are." Rhea said, "Do not argue with me."
"Fine." Aerion scowled
"Wipe that scowl off your face, young man." Rhea returned a scowl of her own
"Listen to your Mother, Aerion." Daemon chuckled, "We will spar tomorrow if you wish."
Aerion nodded as Rhea pulled him alongside her, "Very well." He said, "I look forward to that."
"I will hone my skills."