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House of The Dragon-For The Queen, Not The Prince: What Could Have Been: Chapter 34
🕑 Added 2025-04-26 21:49:20 +0000 UTC(Third Person POV)
It was the day of Visenya's Tourney, and everyone was gathered in the arena, both nobles and smallfolk alike. The King himself had announced a Joust to celebrate the birth of his first Grandchild. This was not uncommon for him to do, as when Rhaenyra was born, he had his father, the previous King throw a Tourney as well.
Even when Aerion Targaryen was born, Viserys, a Prince at the time, suggested a Tourney be thrown at Runestone. King Baelon Targaryen agreed to it, having a Melee Tourney take place, in which Daemon Targaryen became the victor and named Rhea Royce the Queen of Love and Beauty. Although this was the case, Daemon only did so because his Father strong-armed him to do so.
It was quite clear to everyone, noble and smallfolk alike, that Viserys Targaryen loved to throw banquets and Tourneys at any special occasion. Nobody complained, a Tourney brought a lot of attention and business for the Crown, and many Lords gathered to have a good time.
This Tourney, however, was different and a bit more special.
While it was a Joust, most Lords and Knights of the Realm saw this as an opportunity to see The Bronze Dragonlord in action, wanting to see what kind of rider Aerion Targaryen was. While they knew that he was a Dragonrider, they did not think his skills atop Vermithor would be the same on Horseback. They were sure to be confident enough to defeat Aerion, despite his famed reputation as a skilled warrior.
This was a day that would be marked in History; Visenya's Tourney, held in King's Landing.
Currently, the jousting arena was being prepared as the Royal Family sat in the stands, eagerly awaiting the jousting to begin. Everyone saw the Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen sitting next to the King as she held her daughter; Princess Visenya in her arms. King Viserys would often smile at the child and at her daughter, displaying his joyous mood.
On his other side, Queen Alicent Hightower sat, a neutral look on her face as she merely looked at the arena, wondering when the whole ordeal would end. In the row in front of them, Rhaenyra's siblings were sitting down, bored. The young prince Aegon was simply bored with everything as he drank wine from his cup as his brother Aemond was sitting next to him. Their sister, Helaena, was busy playing with what seemed like a small bug in her hand, which everyone was a bit unsettled by.
Viserys looked at Rhaenyra, "Is this not something glorious?" He said with a smile, "All of us together....here, as a Family."
Rhaenyra nodded, "Y-Yes..." She said, "It is, Father."
"When does it start, husband?" Alicent asked, "I am beginning to get bored."
"Soon, Alicent." Viserys said, "Have patience."
The young Aemond turned to look up at Viserys, "Who do you think will win, Father?" He asked, "Can I bet on the champion?"
Alicent frowned, "No." She said sternly, "You will do no such things."
Aemond looked down, "Ah..."
"I believe the victor will be your cousin, Aerion." Viserys said as he leaned down with a chuckle and ruffled his son's hair, "He is a mighty Knight."
"He does not joust often." Alicent noted, "I believe he is at a disadvantage."
"Nothing can defeat Aerion, I am sure." Viserys chuckled
"Should I bet on him, then?" Aemond asked
"Shut up, Aemond." Aegon said with a scowl
"No betting!" Alicent scolded
Viserys leaned back and mouthed, "Yes."
Aemond straightened back into his seat as Helaena spoke up, "The Strong will be vanquished." She said softly, "The Wild Dragon will make him bleed."
Rhaenyra heard this, "What was that, sister?" She asked with a slight smile, "Did you say something?"
Helaena said nothing, focused on the bug on her hand.
"Pay no mind to her." Alicent told Rhaenyra said, "Once she decides to not focus on matters, it is difficult to get her attention. Her mind wanders off elsewhere, my precious girl. Well, it is not big of a problem."
"Oh." Rhaenyra said softly
"I wonder if Aerion is ready, though." Viserys said, "I am anxious to see him in his first joust."
"You show him more care than your actual sons, Viserys." Alicent said
"Ah, do not be like that." Viserys chuckled, "He is Rhaenyra's husband! He is also a very formidable warrior, I am curious to see his skills firsthand!"
"The Bronze Dragonlord....."
**************
"This is foolish." Aerion said as a squire was helping him put on his armor, "Jousting....."
"Stop complaining." Lady Rhea said with a frown, "You committed to it, so see it through."
They were in the combatants' tents outside the arena, inside his tent. Aerion was not in an enthusiastic mood, considering that he heavily disliked jousting.
Ser Gerold Royce was standing at the side of the entrance, "Heh." He said, "Do you not like horseriding, Lord Aerion?"
"I do." Aerion said, "You've had me ride with you plenty of times. But this? Entertainment? I do not like it..."
Rhea sighed, "This is important, Aerion." She said, "You need to win this Tourney and name your wife the Queen of Love and Beauty. It is an important message to send to everyone in the realm. She is the Heir and had already had some questionable rumors and scandals before, you know that. This will establish your marriage to be rock-solid."
"She is right." Gerold said, "By doing this, nobody will question anything."
"Why would they?" Aerion asked as the squire, a member of House Royce, finished fastening his gauntlets, "I am her Husband, the Father of her daughter...."
"We know." Lady Rhea said, "But it is important...."
"Hm....." Aerion said seriously, "Just like how Father won the Tourney in Runestone? And named you Queen of Love and Beauty?"
Rhea smiled slightly and nodded, "Exactly." She said, "But unlike my marriage, yours will not be subject to rumors and scandals because you will not go off and bed whores and other women."
"Right." Aerion said, "Father should treat you properly, Mother."
"I think he is trying to." Gerold spoke up, "I think I overheard him saying he was going to repeat the same thing."
Rhea looked at him, "He's participating???" She asked, "Why?!"
"It's a Tourney, Lady Rhea." Gerold shrugged, "Have you known Daemon Targaryen to sit by and ignore Tourneys?"
"He knows that this is important for Aerion and Rhaenyra!" Rhea rolled her eyes
"But it is not just the King's granddaughter, cousin." Gerold continued, "It is Daemon's granddaughter as well. It is not surprising he would want to participate."
"Hm." Aerion said, "If we meet on the arena, I will not go easy on him."
"Don't expect him to go easy on you." Rhea scoffed, "By the way, Aerion, you do know that in jousting Tourneys, the loser must give their armor and horse to the one that defeats them?"
"Yes." Aerion said, "Are you concerned by that?"
"No, I was wondering." Rhea said with a slight smile
"Worry not." Aerion said, "For me and my opponents....because I will not lose to them..."
"And I care not for their belongings."
