Kapitel 37: Chapter 37: A Grandsire’s Woe. 126 AC
A/N: I'm busy with Uni tasks and Victoria III
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Three dragons were flying through the sky above the blackwater bay, all of them were of a similar size. The dragons' scales were shining brightly, reflecting the clear yet cool light from above.
On two of the three dragons, a man and a woman sat on beautifully crafted saddles. Both of them wore thick clothing, anticipating the autumn wind that was blowing through them. Both of them also were holding two babes in their arms, one seemingly more enjoying the ride than the other.
Those two were of course the Lord and Lady of Runestone, Maegor and Helaena.
In Maegor's hands is the ever active Robar, seemingly raising his arms to enjoy the cold wind passing through him, he giggled all the time, enjoying his first dragon ride. Andar though, is different, while he enjoyed the view, he disliked the cold, he held his mother tightly, seemingly trying to warm himself up.
As Robar played in Maegor's arms, the lord of Runestone saw King's Landing from afar. The smell of shit starting to hit his nostrils, the least favorite thing that ever came from this place.
The dragons then slowed down as they reached the port. They turned towards the majestic red keep, circled around it a couple of times, an extra minute for the boys, and the three dragons landed on the yard of the keep, where a couple of courtiers waited for their arrival.
Vermithor growled a bit, seemingly telling the people to give them a little bit more space, and the courtiers did, they stepped back and waited.
"Come on." Maegor whispered to Robar. "Let's climb down."
Instead of obeying his father's orders, he cried, as if someone had stolen his toy.
"Now, now, Robar." Maegor warned. "We will go back by carriage if you don't listen to me."
He didn't listen, and kept crying.
Maegor just sighed. He just held the boy tightly, before climbing down Vermithor's back. When he touched the ground, he already saw Helaena with Andar, the boy seemingly watching as his brother tried to rebel against his father's wishes.
Vermithor scoffed at the sound of the crying, but he just ignored it. He laid his head on the ground, resting in peace.
With Robar still crying, trying to reach Vermithor's back, the lord and lady of Runestone walked towards the courtiers who were waiting for them. Between the courtiers, Maegor and Helaena finally realized that the hand and the queen themselves had waited for them.
The queen was looking at Helaena longingly, she seemingly missed her, her only daughter, while the hand stood beside her, his hands on his back.
"Helaena…" the queen smiled sadly, she reached for her daughter, where she hugged her, alongside her grandson tightly.
Helaena could only smile awkwardly, she hugged her mother reluctantly with one hand, as the other was used for holding Andar.
As the queen released her hug, she touched Andar's hand as she cooed at the babe. "And who is this? Andar or Robar?" she asked softly.
"This is Andar, the quiet one." said Helaena, seemingly letting her mother hold the boy.
"And the crying one must be Robar." the queen nodded, walking up to Maegor.
"Your grace." Maegor greeted. "It's a pleasure to meet you, as always…"
"Indeed, Lord Maegor." said the queen, though she seemed to not care at all, she just focused on the babe in Maegor's arms. "What handsome boys they are…"
The queen gave back Andar, who was quiet all the time, to Helaena, while she held the crying Robar, trying to calm him.
"What's wrong with him?" asked the queen, rocking up the boy to try to calm him down.
"Dragon ride." Maegor answered.
"He doesn't like it?"
"Quite the opposite." Maegor answered with a smile. "He's rather… attached… to them…"
"A pity." suddenly said the hand. "As I understand, he couldn't get one."
Maegor didn't say anything, he just hummed. He then turned towards the servants, giving his and Helaena's belongings to them, to be delivered to their rooms.
"Only one room please." said Helaena with a smile to the servant.
The servant was a bit surprised, but he bowed nonetheless. As the servants left, the hand directed them towards the red keep, where they would talk inside.
—
As they entered the keep, the group was passing through the corridor, which was filled with courtiers minding their own business. Servants carrying scrolls and blankets, food getting delivered, it was seemingly a normal day.
If you don't count the lack of Targaryen decoration and the surplus of Faith of the Seven symbols that is.
"What happened to the keep?" asked Maegor with a frown. "It seems to be more… stale since the last time I visited…."
"Stale?" the queen questioned. "The symbols of the seven served only to guide us, it reminds us there is a higher authority above everything."
Maegor hummed. "Like I said, your grace. Stale…"
The queen just stared at Maegor as she continued to try to calm Robar.
"How is your business so far, lord Maegor?" asked the hand suddenly, seemingly to try to change the subject.
"It's doing well, lord hand." Maegor said. "Runestone is prospering enough. The smallfolk didn't have to worry about winter for the time being, the sheep were fed, wools filled our warehouses, travelers and traders came from afar to stay, to buy, or to sell."
"I've had complaints from Gulltown recently, that Runestone is developing too quickly for their taste." said the hand.
"And why is that a complaint? The realm is prospering." Maegor questioned.
"They basically said that you're stealing their spotlight."
"Oh, well, if Lord Grafton, or Lord Arryn of Gulltown have any complaints, they can talk to me directly. Runestone and Gulltown is only what? A mile or two away? Besides, the roads have been built, the travel time is much faster, I see no reason to not visit me."
"I can think of one thing." Otto answered. "Your dragons."
"Vermithor is tame, what's there to be scared about?" Maegor shrugged.
"Lord Maegor." Otto suddenly said, his pitch a bit high. "As I understand, a couple days ago I got a raven from the north, saying that Lord Maegor of Runestone has executed Lord Bennard Stark, with dragonfire."
"Lord Bennard is a traitor, lord hand." Maegor said. "In the name of the king, I executed him, with the blessing of the true warden of the north, lord Cregan Stark."
"It does not undermine that you are a southern lord intervening with the business of the north."
"Since when has the crown cared about the north?" Maegor smiled. "Anyway, look, lord hand, I'm here for family visits, I'm not here to be judged by the… ever-judging eyes of the hand of the king… who is also a great-grandfather now… indeed… you have lived for a long time lord hand."
Otto raised his brow. "Lord Maegor?"
"You have two great-grandsons now." Maegor continued. "The king can barely deal with the kingdoms' matters anymore… and of course, we don't want the hand of the king to be incapable also because of old age… perhaps you should consider stepping away from the position? Let a more… Young…. And energetic hand to help the king."
Otto just frowned, he wanted to say something, but the queen interrupted.
"Enough." the queen spoke, Robar finally calming down. "Lord Maegor, would you like to see your good brothers? I'm sure they would be delighted to meet you."
"A tempting offer, your grace." Maegor smiled. "But… Me and Princess Helaena want to meet the king first, is the king awake?"
The queen and the hand looked at each other. "He is… he's in his chambers." said the queen. "Very well, I will bring Robar and Andar—"
"That would not be necessary, mother." said Helaena, quickly giving Andar to Maegor, and taking Robar from her mother's arms. "I would like for father to meet them."
The queen had a weak smile. "An excellent idea, Helaena…"
—
As Maegor and Helaena entered the king's chamber, the smell of incense hit their nostrils. Helaena covered her nose, seemingly bothered by it, but Maegor didn't do anything, he just looked around. The atmosphere of the room seemed solemn, gloomy, as if light could barely enter it.
"Father?" Helaena called for him. No answer came, but there was a sound of coughing from the bed.
Maegor and Helaena looked at each other as Robar was getting restless because of the smell. Both of them then walked towards the bed, the smell of the incense getting stronger and stronger.
"W-Who goes there?" a weak and stuttering voice came from the bed.
"It's me, your grace." said Maegor as he sat on the bed, holding Robar. "Tis' Maegor."
"Maegor… Maegor…" the man, who is the old and frail king, tried to remember. "Ah… nephew…"
"Yes." Maegor hummed. "I'm with Helaena, and our children."
"Children?" the king questioned. "Help me… help me sit up…."
Maegor obeyed the king's plea. He helped the old man get up from his bed. The lord of Runestone saw as the king's face was covered with bandages, he put the king's back against the railing of the bed, sitting him up.
"Father." Helaena greeted, sitting beside the bed. She put Andar on the bed, letting the king watch the boy stare at him solemnly.
The king chuckled, pain in his voice. "A quiet one isn't he?"
"Indeed, your grace." Maegor said. "Heir of Runestone, Andar of House Royce."
"House Royce? Ah…" said the king, seemingly a bit disappointed. "No matter, he is still Targaryen by blood… and who is this?"
The king looked at Robar, who for some reason is quiet right now. He's seemingly unbothered by the king's looks, and he forgot about the smell for a second.
"Robar." Maegor said.
"I see a dragon's eyes…." The king smiled weakly.
Maegor didn't say anything, but suddenly, the king coughed, blood coming out of his mouth. Helaena then tried to make the king lay on the bed again, but he refused, instead, he touched his daughter's cheek, smiling at her.
"You've grown…" he smiled. "A pity…"
"I have grown, father…" Helaena answered with confusion. "But what pity are you talking about?"
The king didn't say his mind, instead, he turned to Maegor once again. "Maegor… It has been a while since you last visited me…"
"Indeed, your grace. I was busy dealing with my holding."
The king sighed. "No one, not even my dear daughter, has visited me recently… as you can see… I am no longer in my condition… I wish… I wish you to ask the Maester to send ravens, to my family, to our family… to visit me… I wish to see them again… one last time… before I cannot speak any longer, I wish to tell them my wishes…"
Maegor hummed. "I understand, your grace. But… I do not want you to get any hopes up…"
"I… understand…." said the king, now trying to lay his head on the pillow again as Helaena helped him. "Your promise… the dream…"
"I cannot promise anything, your grace. I am but just one man."
"One man…" the king whispered. "Two men… tis' enough…"
Maegor sat silently on the bed for a second, before standing up. "I will be the messenger, your grace. Dragons fly faster than ravens."
"Do… what you like… dear nephew…" and as he said that, the king fell asleep, seemingly having no energy left to speak. Maegor and Helaena then took their sons from the bed, before leaving the room to go do their duties.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein