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House of The Dragon-For The Queen, Not The Prince: What Could Have Been: Chapter 40
🕑 Added 2025-05-09 04:15:19 +0000 UTC(Third Person POV)
Harwin took a step forward, "Is that so?"
Aerion lifted his sword and pointed it at him, "I do not need to remind you of what you are getting yourself into." He said, "Get it over with, come at me."
Harwin lunged at Aerion, swinging his sword at him with one sword, causing everyone to go silent within that moment.
But what happened right after was a shock, which caused a massive gasp.
Aerion had taken a single step to the side, casually parrying Harwin's blade in such a fluid motion that it looked like he was not even touched. There was no sound of clashing steel, merely the sound of Harwin's blade cutting through nothing.
Harwin stumbled forward, taken aback by this, "W-What?"
Suddenly, he felt a tap on his back; Aerion had tapped it with the broad of his sword, "One."
Aerion took three steps forward, getting behind Harwin as the Knight looked at him with a bit of surprise.
Harwin did not expect the maneuver, he expected a parry with a bit of resistance, a hard one similar to that which Daemon used against him. He didn't think that Aerion would be capable of doing such a fluid and soft one like he just used.
From somewhere in the shadows, Daemon Targaryen was watching, leaning against the wall. He had a slight smirk on his face, a bit glad that Aerion was displaying his superior sword skills. He did not say anything, merely watched with his arms crossed, getting the attention of his wife, Lady Rhea, who gave him a silent glare.
Harwin turned around to face Aerion, who was simply facing away from him, "You...."
Aerion turned to his side, not fully facing Harwin but giving him a side-eye, "What is it?" He asked, "Is a typical parry enough to leave you without breath?"
Harwin took a step forward before lunging yet again, saying nothing as he swung his sword again.
Aerion blocked the sword with his own, holding Lady Rhaena with one hand as Harwin struggled to push forward. This was something that surprised even Breakbones, who was not expecting to be matched in power.
Harwin stepped back and tried to hit Aerion with a flurry of slashes, which the Bronze Dragonlord casually blocked and parried, not moving from his position nor changing his stance. Aerion did all of this with one single arm as everyone watched with pure awe, not aware that this was what Aerion was capable of.
It was like nothing they had ever seen, something out of a dream. A Knight like Harwin Strong struggling against someone like Aerion; a young boy lord who everyone expected his stories to be exaggerated.
For many years, Harwin Strong was hailed as the strongest Knight in all of the Seven Kingdoms, surpassed by none in terms of raw power and only bested in skill by Daemon Targaryen and Criston Cole respectively.
Everyone saw how Daemon and Harwin fared against each other in a fight, only for said fight to be stopped by the King. It was up in the air how that would have turned out, many leaning on the Rogue Prince, understandably.
But now everyone saw the difference between that fight and this one; all of Harwin's attacks being casually parried by Aerion with a single arm as the Young Lord did not move a single inch. It was like something out of a song, something so exaggerated that those watching could not even comprehend what they were watching.
To them, it was like the Warrior himself was standing in that arena, fighting a mere man.
On the Royal Stands, Viserys was watching with his eyes-widened, not believing what he was seeing. He believed the stories of his nephew's exploits in the Stepstones, but to see it for himself was something else entirely.
Even Rhaenyra, whose mouth was agape and staring with pure awe, did not think that seeing him in action would be like this.
"Aerion...." Rhaenyra said as she gulped, "You....are so skilled..."
Back in the arena, Harwin was still unleashing his flurry of slashes, still being parried and blocked by Aerion who had a serious yet calm expression on his face, which angered Harwin.
"Grr...." Harwin said, "You....!!!"
Aerion hard-parried Harwin's thrust, causing him to stumble to the side and simply tapped his shoulder with the broad of his sword.
"Two." Aerion said simply as Harwin caught himself
Breakbones composed himself, "Two what?!"
"That makes two times you have died." Aerion said, "The fist, I cut through your steel armor, and my blade cleaved you through your back.....and this second one, your shoulder plate is nothing but bread to my valyrian steel, allowing me to cut diagonally down to your belly...blood spewing everywhere on the dirt....and your guts spilling out....a horrid stench....."
There was a disturbed look on Aerion's eyes, which Harwin noticed.
"Tch...." Harwin said, "You think I have died.....? You think you can kill me with such ease?"
Aerion held Lady Rhaena in front of him, the blade pointing outwards, "I do not wish to come off as arrogant....." He started, "But in the War.....I have slain dozens of Breakbones.....those warriors who are on your level...and that says something.."
Harwin scowled, "There is no man like me.."
"There are plenty of men like you." Aerion said, "Strong....skilled on a horse...skilled with the blade...but unfortunately, not enough to stand a chance against me. That line.....it should be used for me...."
Aerion then lunged at Harwin with such speed that it took him off by surprise, "What?" Harwin said as he stepped back in response
Aerion swung his blade down which Harwin raised his to attempt to block it, but the blade was pulled back at the last second. Aerion pivoted to the side with such agility that Harwin could barely respond in time. He had swung his sword at Harwin's hand, the valyrian steel cutting through the steel gauntlet, causing Harwin to lose grip on his blade.
"Agh!" Harwin let out as he stumbled back
Aerion stood there, pointing his sword at him, "You could have lost your hand...." Aerion said, "If I had not decided to give you a slight scratch..."
"You...." Harwin said as he picked his sword up, "I will....."
"What?" Aerion said as he took a step forward, "You will what?"
Harwin rushed him, swinging his sword with his left hand but Aerion simply stepped to the side to avoid the attack.
"Too slow...." Aerion said, "You are useless without your dominant hand."
He spun around and hit Harwin square in the nose with his elbow, sending him crashing to the ground.
"Ughh...." He groaned as he clutched his bleeding face
Aerion stepped on his breastplate, "Yield." He said seriously as he pointed his sword down at him, "I will not shed blood in this Tourney, it will be a bad omen for my daughter."
Harwin looked at him, "Y-Yield?"
"Do you want His Grace to show pity to you once again?" Aerion asked
Harwin looked up to see Viserys looking down at this with a serious expression, "Tch....."
"I do not think you deserve death, Ser Harwin." Aerion said, "But this humiliation is enough for what you attempted to do. But I do not have to remind you that you try something of this manner again, I will not show you the same mercy...."
"Fine..." Harwin said, "I yield."
Aerion stepped off him, "Good choice."
He walked away as he sheathed his blade, prompting some squires to scurry over to where Harwin lay.
"T-The winner!" the announcer bellowed, "Lord Aerion Targaryen!!!"
The crowd erupted into a cheer as Aerion gestured at some squires to bring his horse over. As they reached him, he mounted his steed and looked over to someone bringing the wreath that was for the Queen of Love and Beauty.
He took the wreath and rode over to the side of the stands, looking directly at Rheanyra who was looking at him with a bit of surprise.
"My love." Aerion said as he turned the horse to the side, "Will you be crowned as the Queen of Love and Beauty, such as one day you will be crowned as Queen of The Seven Kingdoms?"
Rhaenyra did not hesitate; she stood up and walked over to the edge of the stands, a smile on her face.
"Yes." She said, leaning downward and allowing Aerion to place the wreath on her, "Thank you, Aerion."
"Hm." Aerion said, "Such a beautiful wreath, befitting a goddess like yourself."
Rhaenyra blushed, "Y-You....." She said softly, "What do you intend to get out of this?"
"Nothing much." Aerion said as he patted her cheek and leaned in to kiss her
This caused everyone else to cheer loudly as the two of them kissed, Rhaenyra wrapping her arms around Aerion's neck as she was caught in the moment, kissing him passionately.
Viserys was taken back, "Well...." He chuckled, "I guess that was expected...."
Harwin had stood up and looked at this with a distraught look on his face, saying nothing. He then turned around and began to slowly walk away, looking down as he bit his lips.
Aerion pulled away, licking his lips slightly, "I think I can get used to this...." He said, showing no reaction, "I like your lips."
Rhaenyra was blushing, wiping her finger on her lips, "I got carried away...." She whispered, "We just kissed in public.....in front of everyone...."
"That was the plan." Aerion said as he rubbed her cheek with his thumb,
"To show them that our bond is real."
