Chapter 15: Names not Blood
Haemon 127, Hightide
The flight from Dragonstone to Driftmark was a quick one. Aemond had challenged me to a race and Gaelithox and I couldn't deny him that. It was a rather quick one, with Caraxes being in the lead for a while and then Gaelithox rising into the clouds making Aemond believe he had a swift victory. That was until Gaelithox came crashing down with speed unbelievable passing Caraxes and taking the victory.
"There is still much you need to learn about flying Aemond" I said as we both landed on the sands Infront of Hightide.
"I only had Caraxes for a day." He shrugged.
"Then you must let Caraxes lead you. He is of the sky and you are of the dirt. Little brother." He nodded and the dragons quickly flew off to some unknown cave or something. "Come. It has been many years since I've seen my children or my wife. I am sure they would be pleased to see me, as much as I them." We walked to Hightide in a relative silence. Aemond only asking questions about training Aemon.
Once we arrived at the main keep the main family were there to see us. Not including Laena and Baelon. Aemon had grown since I had last saw him. Of course, he would over the years, but he looked older. He had a constant frown on his face as he looked at me. Rhaena, the light of my life was a pretty girl. The pink scar on her face was a bright contrast to her tanned skin. Her lone eye was looking at the ground, the other being covered by an Eyepatch with a Black dragon eating the sun. Rhaenys' hair had started to turn grey and Corlys was finally looking his age. No longer was he a man of a height with me, but now he hunched over and wrinkles were marking his face.
"Thank you for welcoming me into your halls, Lord Corlys." He patted my shoulder and looked to Aemond.
"It is the least I can do for the Hand, and a prince of the realm." We embraced then. "Gods it is good to see you again my boy. I fear I might have died without you stirring problems for me." I gave a laugh and looked him up and down.
"You fear death? You who cling to life, like an old salty seadog? Nonsense, I fear for the stranger when he finally takes you from you dear Lady Wife." He walked back then, and Rhaneys walked up to me.
"It is good to see you again, Good-son." She extended her hand, and I gave a light kiss on it, Aemond doing the same after me. Still silent.
"The gods have been kind to you, Princess Rhaneys. You look as beautiful as when I last saw you." She gave a snort at that then walked away bringing Lord Corlys with her. It was just I, Aemond, Aemon, and Rhanea left.
"Aemond why don't you have a servant bring you to a room. I wish to speak to my children alone." He nodded and left, swiftly and without complaint. Rhaena was still looking to the ground and Aemon was still frowning at me.
"Last I saw you both, you were much smaller."
"Last time you saw us. Rhaena still had an eye" Aemon sharply responded. I only sighed.
"I left you here for good reason Aemon. Kingslanding is no safe place for a child." Aemon only huffed and walked away. Leaving Rhaena and I alone.
"Hello my little dragon."
"Hello father" She still didn't look at me. I only kneeled to her.
"Why are you afraid to look at me Rhaena?" That's when I saw it, she had tears in her eye. She then latched onto me, crying. I picked her up and rubbed her back.
"Shhh. Kepa is here now. Gods be good, at least one of my children miss me."
"I missed you Kepa"
"You don't think I didn't miss you, little dragon? After all the letters I wrote for you, Aemon, and Baelon? It took everything In my power to not just fly away and take us all to Bloodstone, where we should be." She looked at me then.
"Why didn't you?" I sighed and let her down grabbing her shoulders.
"Us Targaryens. We have a duty to the Realm. To rule and guide them. My place was at the King's side to not let the Realm think the Crown weak. The dragons conquered the seven Kingdoms. It is now us who rule them. Do you understand?" She nodded. "As smart as ever, little dragon. Now take me to your mother." She quickly nodded before grabbing my hand and dragging me to Laena. When we finally got to her room. She was teaching Baelon, High Valyrian.
"Skoros gaomagon zaldrīzoti se birds emagon isse quptenka?(What do dragons and birds have in common?" Baelon seemed to think about the words for a second.
"Ēzi tīkuni(They have wings)?" Laena smiled
"Sȳrī gaomagon, byka mēre(Well done, little one"."
"zaldrīzes se hontes emagon tīkuni. Mērī mēre rules se jēdar(Dragon and bird have wings. Only one rules the sky). They both looked at me one with eyes of wonder and the other with eyes of disdain.
"Rhaena take Baelon and go find your Grand-sire" Laena said without breaking eye contact with me. Rhaena only looked at her and then me before grabbing Baelon's hand and leaving. Baelon still looking around confused. I walked closer to her and opened my arms.
"My love, you look a beautiful as when we wed." She slapped me. Hard. Incredibly hard. With as much force as to turn my body.
"Well, I do believe I deserved that." She slapped me again. I was holding my cheek then.
"That as well." She slapped my other cheek. "My love I fear that we may not finish the day if you keep slapping me!" She kissed me then. A full and long kiss.
"You left me alone, to care for our children." She said as she pulled away.
"You weren't fully alone. You had your parents with you." She looked ready to slap me again, but I grabbed both her wrists before she could do it and kissed her.
"They needed their father. Aemon and Rhaena needed you. Baelon doesn't even know who you are. When you left Rhaena wouldn't stop crying and Aemon waiting at the gates. You left them alone Haemon. You did." I only sighed and she hugged me. "You left me. Your wife. Alone, so many nights I worried over you. Fearing that news will come of your death in that wretched city."
"The crown needs to appear strong, and I am it's only support right now. The king grows weaker and there are those that scheme in the shadows. I can't even trust the small council." Laena looked at me then.
"What do you mean?"
"There are those, still unhappy that Rhaenyra will be Queen upon the King's death. There are those that wish to see me replaced as hand. There are those that don't want a Targaryen to rule them anymore. All of this, I must balance. The king isn't fit to do it, and the Queen will only be partial to her father."
"Then why are you here? Why now, do you visit your family?" I sighed. This will be hard to explain.
"I mean to take Aemon with me to start teaching him of Bloodstone and have him squire under Aemond." Her sad eyes were then filled with fury.
"You mean to take my son to that nest of vipers without me. Without Baelon and Rhaena." I only nodded.
"You are more of a fool than I thought Haemon. How dare you come here and demand to take my son away?"
"He is my son as well Laena."
"Yet you were not his father. It was my father that helped raise him. Teaching him on the boats, making sure studied and learned swordplay. My father who did your duty." I sighed.
"He will come with me regardless of what you say."
"If that is your wish Lord-Husband. Then do so. Who am I to deny you? Just your Lady-wife, who you can leave and see on whim."
"Laena..."
"Take our son and go."
"Laena..."
"I said leave me Haemon!" she pushed me. I only looked at her for a few moments and left swiftly. I soon entered the main hall where I saw Corlys sinking into a chair looking at the fireplace.
"Where are my children Corlys?" He looked at me and motioned for me to take the seat next to him. I did.
"There are with my wife, seeing the dragons." We sat there in silence.
"I have been a bad father and husband." He chuckled.
"Maybe"
"I thank you for caring for my children and raising them, far better than I could."
"They are my blood. It gives me some happiness to see them grow."
"Yet it should have been my burden." He looked at me then.
"Children are not a burden Haemon. Not everything is about a duty, or a favor owed. I did it because I wanted to. Many times, Laena was going to run off with the children to Kingslanding to be with you. But I stopped her." I was shocked.
"Why would you do that?"
"I have lived many years. I'm older than the old king was when he still sat the throne. I know the burdens of being on the Small Council, being in the Red Keep. It drains you, steals your life away if you're not careful. You needed to be there focused, I feared that my wife and grandchildren would be a distraction towards you. Or it might have been I was just greedy; I do not know when I will pass. Yet it is coming soon. I can feel it."
"You are still as healthy as ever."
"I am being serious boy." His eyes hardened. "Every day it is harder to rise from my bed. To put Seafoam on my waist. To pick up my grandchildren. I do not know if Baelon will receive the same lessons I gave you and then Aemon. Don't get me started on preparing Luke to take my seat." I gave a nasty sneer at the name. I had not talked to Rhaenyra since she ran away to Dragon stone with her family. News came that her three boys were all healthy. All three bastards.
"Baelon should be your heir."
"Luke will be."
"Forgive me. But you are a fool. Not an ounce of Velaryon blood flows through his veins. Yet you would still choose him over Baelon."
"Yet he has the name. People do not remember what blood ties you have or whose father was whose. They remember names. I will hear no more of this. Let us sit and enjoy some peace and quiet." So, we did. I swore to bring this conversation up later. Or at least have Rhaenys do it. It made no sense to brush aside Baelon. I let my anger roll over me and just stared into the flames.
I spent a few days at Hightide. I spent most of them with Baelon, trying to teach anything I could, to give him some memories of me. Rhaena had been ecstatic when she found out about my extended stay. She bombarded me with questions and dragged me to take her flying on Gaelithox. Aemon, still had not said a word to me, only training with Aemond and visiting the ships. I discovered it was a hobby of his to go undercover on the fish barges and work as one of the crew. It was foolish really and to dangerous, yet if I told him not to, I think he would just run away to Essos to fish there. Laena had not seen me until the final night where she finally allowed me to join her bed, simply holding me and listening to my heartbeat.
Morning came and the family was there to see us off. Baelon and Rhaena were in tears at seeing their brother leave them, and Laena only making sure he had everything packed. Corlys only exchanged some words with me and shaking my hand. Rhaenys only made me swear to watch over her grandchild or else I'd be fed to Meleys. Laena made Aemond and I swear that no harm were to come to Aemon before giving me a full kiss and walking into the keep tears in her eyes.
"Father when will go with you?" Rhaena asked me as she held on to Baelon's hand.
"Soon little dragon. Very soon. Soon we will all be in Bloodstone, where we belong." She gave me a hug and waited with her grandparents. It was just Baelon in front of us now.
"Remember Baelon. Dragons are the rulers of the world. You are. No matter what the gods have taken away from you. You are a dragon. Soon the rest of the world will know your name. Do you understand me?"
"Yes father" I ruffled his head and hugged him.
"That's my boy. Now watch over your mother for me. She needs you to protect her. Can you do that?" He nodded fiercely.
"Of course, you can. Who am I to question the strength of Baelon, the Hammer of House Targaryen and shield of all maidens. Now go, I do not want you to blow away in the wind when our dragons take off." He gave a cute fierce face.
"I won't blow away in the wind! I'm too strong!" I chuckled.
"Then you must leave for you frighten the dragons with your mighty strength. We won't ever take off with you scaring them." He nodded and ran away to Corlys who gripped his arm strongly.
Aemond got on Caraxes, and I and Aemon got on Gaelithox since Gaelithox had much more room to sit on then Caraxes. It would be a silent fly, though I did laugh when I heard Aemon scream and saw his eye blow out of his sockets when we took off. We flew through clouds and watched the ships underneath us. Closer and closer the Red Keep got.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone