Chapter 16: Insults and Insults
Haemon 129, Red Keep
News came that Corlys had fallen ill and is bedridden and his chances of recovery are slim. So, I sat here listening to the petitioning of Vaemond his brother, for him to be named Lord of Driftmark in his stead. Rhaenyra was here as well, so was Rhaenys and Rhaena. Laena had decided to stay and care for her father alongside Baelon.
"I will admit Ser Vaemond I am a bit confused as to why we are here right now."
"Lord Hand, my brother lies on his deathbed, not having made an official heir when he dies. I come here to see myself on the Driftwood throne on his death." I only scoffed.
"And you are forgetting that I have two sons. Who come before you in the line of succession. Also, Rhaenyra's third son, Joffery who come before them." He only glared harder. Then the doors opened and came in the King. Hobbling along with his cane looking like he might croak at any moment. We were all shocked. Everyone just standing there and staring at him. I quickly rose and went down the stairs.
"All kneel for his grace. King Viserys, The First of His Name, King of the Andals, The Rhoynar and The First Men, Lord of The Seven Kingdoms, Protector of The Realm!" Everyone kneeled. By the time I was done. He looked at me and spoke.
"I will sit the throne today, Haemon." I nodded and bowed my head. Then he moved towards the steps struggling and groaning. A Kingsguard member made to help him up. "No... I will be fine." He was breathing heavily and went up the first and second step. Before groaning and leaning forward. His crown giving a loud ting as it crashed to the floor. This was foolish. I swiftly went and grabbed the crown and pulled him up. "I said..." He looked at me then.
"Come on. Just a few more steps." I whispered to him. I might hate him for denying me justice. But no man deserves this. We slowly made our way up to the throne, him groaning along and me pitying him. Then he sat with a heavy sigh. I only bowed at the waist and placed the crown upon his head.
"All rise for his grace King Viserys!"
"Thank you, Haemon." I only went to stand at the base of the throne. Blackfyre was on my waist, Darksister was on Aemond's.
"I must...admit...my confusion." Eyes were darting around. "I do not understand why petitions are being heard over a settled succession." Vaemond walked forward. Ready to speak. "The only one present to provide keener insight into Lord Corlys' wishes. Is his wife. Princess Rhaenys."
"Indeed your grace" Rhaenys walked slowly passed Vaemond. "My husband often spoke of the succession of Driftmark after my son's death..." She looked at me with a sad look. "...He always spoke of Driftmark being inherited by Lucerys Velaryon and if he were to pass than Driftmark would be given to Baelon Targaryen." Vaemond's and Rhaenyra's eyes widened. "His mind never changed. Nor my support of him." The queen looked displeased by all of this, and Rhaenyra and her children only looked relieved. I was miffed, the matter could be handled later if need be.
"Well... The matter is settled. Again." Viserys wheezed and sat back into the throne.
"You break law... and centuries of tradition to install your daughter as heir. Yet you dare tell me who dares to inherit the Driftwood throne?" I only scoffed.
"You are the one who petitioned." Aemond said in a whisper making Aegon lightly laugh.
"No. I will not allow it."
"Do not forget yourself Vaemond" I said as I thumbed Blackfyre. He only looked at me in disgust.
"That! Is no true Velaryon" Pointing at Luke. "And certainly, no nephew of mine."
"Yet my son is your nephew, and you still seek to replace him. A second son you still are." He only glared at me.
"I will not have the Driftwood throne be given to a cripple!" I firmly gripped Blackfyre then. "Nor will I have it be given to a..." He paused.
"Say it" I heard Aemon whisper from next to Rhaena. He only looked at him then at the king.
"A Bastard! The son of a whore!" Father stood up and unsheathed his dagger.
"I will have your..." he didn't get to finish his thought before I was cleaning Blackfyre from Vaemond's blood. The sword had cut through his head like butter.
"He can keep his shit tongue." Father fell back into the throne. The Kingsguard having unleashed their swords pointing them at me. I only walked towards father sheathing the blade. Helping him stand up.
"I will have supper tonight. With all my family. Haemon. All of them. Make things right." He kept repeating.
"Guards! Take the king to his chambers." His Kingsguard came rushing to take him, Alicent following. Rhaenys walked to me then.
"I do not know how Laena will feel about this." I only shrugged.
"He insulted my son. Now take the children and have them watch over their granduncle be taken care of from the Silent Sisters. This will be learning for them." She only looked at me for a moment and then left, taking Aemon and Rhaena with them. Rhaenyra and I only stared at each other. The crowd was leaving the throne room with only the Targaryen left.
"Leave us." I said and Aemond immediately left. Aegon leaving with Helaena at his arm. I had soon corrected his behavior of spending his nights at the Brothels. It only took a night riding in the woods for him to see the error of his ways. Jace and Luke still stood behind their mother. Rhaneyra only turned to them before telling them to wait in their rooms. They left without a word.
"It is good to see you sister."
"Yet when you visited Dragonstone, you did not seek me out."
"I was there to give Aemond a dragon. Not for a social visit." I said sharply.
"It would have been nice for the boys to see their uncle." I glared at her.
"The only reason why I am their uncle is for the blood that flows through their veins. Not by choice." Rhaneyra only sighed.
"You still not have forgiven Jace?"
"My daughter still had only one eye."
"It was an accident!" She snapped.
"A one your son left without punishment and my daughter blinded!" I yelled back. We continued to glare at each other.
"You would take my son's eye?" I nodded.
"Or something of equal value." She continued to stare at me.
"And what is of equal value brother?" I shrugged.
"An eye, a hand, his cock. All serve some purpose in his life." Her face turned red.
"Those are dangerous words brother. One could say you are threatening the future king." I snorted.
"A bastard king." I whispered.
"You were once a bastard." She whispered back.
"This will get us nowhere. Why are you still here?" Her anger vanished and she adopted a nervous look.
"Once father is dead, I will need all the allies I can get. I have a son. You have a daughter." I pulled Blackfyre out of its sheath.
"You are very brave little sister." I was furious. How dare she? Marry my Rhaena to one of her strong sons. What a cunt.
"And now you have your weapon drown against your future queen? What would the court think?"
"You would find many in today's court to not support you little sister. Many a year you were at Dragonstone."
"Just allow me to speak is all I ask."
"For our blood I will forgive this slight."
"Marry Rhaena to Jace. She will be queen. You will still be Hand and your daughter will be queen. You'll be the most powerful man in the realm." I placed Blackfyre's tip on the stone bellow me.
"You think I want a crown? You forget me." She only stared at me strongly.
"The greens are still at large, and Otto Hightower has the backing of 3 major houses for Aegon. I have been gone from court for long. Yet I never allowed my succession to die out brother. You may be hand now. But what if Aegon is crowned king instead of me? You will lose all your power and the realm will go to war regardless. Otto Hightower will not allow you to just roam freely. He will most likely imprison you or have you assassinated along with your children and Laena. You are his most dangerous adversary. Join our houses so that we may stand united against them." I only looked at her. She made some good points. If there would be a coup in place. My family was most at risk.
"Rhaena will marry Luke. They will not be wed until they both reach 8 and ten. I will be hand for both you and if I live long enough Jace. Taxes to the Crown from Bloodstone shall be cut in half, you also shall send aid to Bloodstone no matter the circumstances should their be a second War of The Stepstones. Am I understood?" She nodded.
"It is good you still stand at my side"
"I do not stand at your side. We are equals now. I do not serve you any longer." With that I walked off having to tell Rhaena the news. I found them standing vigil over Vaemond. Rhaneys caught my eye and shook both Aemon and Rhaena.
"I have news."
"What is it Haemon?" Rhaneys asked me seeing the defeated look on my face.
"Rhaena will marry Lucerys once they both reach eight and ten." Aemon looked at me in shock then in anger.
"You married Rhaena to him!?" I nodded. Rhaena looked ready to cry.
"Yes. She will marry to unify our houses" Rhaneys only held Rhaena.
"You can't do that! I won't allow it!" Aemon said.
"Can't? I am the head of this house. She will marry someone eventually. She still has a few years before she is wed." Aemon only moved closer to me.
"Mother will hear of this!"
"Then let her hear of it! My word still stands Aemon! You will no longer question me again!"
"...I'll do it." Rhaena whispered and Aemon only looked at her in shock. "It is my duty, to secure alliances to our house to further support it." She said in a monotone. I kneeled to her.
"Tell me now and I will call it off." She seemed conflicted.
"I will do it father. Luke doesn't seem so bad." Aemon only looked furious.
"He cut out your eye Rhaena!" She only looked at him.
"It wasn't Luke, it was Jace, and it was an accident. It was my fault for trying to stop them." I only made her look at me.
"Tell me Rhaena. Are you sure of this?" she only nodded her head.
"Yes."
"This Is foolishness! There should be no need for her to marry that..." I quickly looked at him.
"You will watch your tongue boy less you lose it at the command of the King." He shut his mouth but quickly had a sour expression his face looking at Vaemond's body.
"He said it and he lost more than his tongue."
"He insulted your brother. Tried to reach above his station. He deserved this." Aemon still had anger in his eyes. "You will understand what it is like to make these decisions once I am dead and you are the head of our house. This burden Is not a light one." He glared at me.
"I would never sell my daughter off like some whore." He spit out. Rhaeneys grabbed him his arms.
"Now you listen here boy! You may talk of your father however you want but you will never compare your sister to a whore again!" She slapped him. "Am I understood?" His eyes quickly lost all anger, and he stood their calculating everything that had happened. "Am I understood?" Rhaenys was raising her hand to slap him again. Aemon nodded looking at Rhaena who looked sorry for him. "Good. Now leave us. I will have words with your father alone." He only nodded and rushed off. Rhaena following him.
"Tell me why I should not take that fancy dagger of yours and slit your throat now?" I gulped. She had a pale fury on her face. Like staring at a demon who came to make your life and afterlife a hell unimaginable to all living things.
"We will stand united against the Greens upon the death of the King."
"That answer is not well enough. Try again boy." It was strange being called boy when you are three and five.
"Otto Hightower of the queen will move to place Aegon on the throne upon the King's death. It doesn't take me being Hand to see that. Now, we must be strong to oppose him and the great houses that will stand with him. You know as much as everyone that the realm will always prefer a man over a woman." Rhaenys contemplated my answer.
"And why will they not support you? You have been Hand of the King for some time and have run the kingdom without any trouble?" she questioned.
"Hand I may be. But I was still a bastard. Otto Hightower will sooner see me dead before the question of me being on the Throne comes into question. Along with my children. We need to stand with Rhaenyra in this coming war. For the future of our House. Fire and Blood will come Rhaenys. Fire and Blood." I said softly. She only nodded and backed away.
"Laena will not be happy about this. You will be the one to tell her"
"I will not be able to do it soon. The King wants us and the children to attend supper with him tonight." Rhaneys only looked confused.
"Us. If I must sit there with the Queen and Otto. You will be there as well."
"I fear that you may be flying to close to the sun my boy." She said softly.
"I will do what I must for my family. If I can avoid this war, then I will do so." We departed to prepare for the dinner. It would be a long night.
Author's note.
Definitely not my best chapter. At all. Second worse I think.
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