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House of The Dragon-For The Queen, Not The Prince: What Could Have Been: Chapter 7
🕑 Added 2025-03-30 23:56:11 +0000 UTC(Third Person POV)
"Dragon!" a Velaryon soldier shouted as Caraxes slowly descended onto a large hill, letting out his trademark nasal roar, "It is Prince Daemon!"
It was nighttime, there had been a battle just recently in which the Velaryon forces were victorious due to the aid from Daemon Targaryen and his dragon. There was flames scattered about in the area, the glow of them illuminating the night.
Caraxes's imposing figure was seen as he landed, Daemon mounted atop him. The Blood Wyrm's red scales shone brightly due to the light of the distant flames. It swayed its long neck from side to side as Daemon dismounted, snarling at anyone that was a bit too close.
Daemon landed on the ground and looked over at the side, seeing a group of soldiers approaching, led by Corlys Velaryon, holding torches.
"I take it you survived the shitfest, Corlys." Daemon said as he walked down the slop
"Aye, I did." Corlys said as he reached the bottom of the hill, looking up at the Rogue Prince, "I thank you for unleashing flames of despair on these scum."
Daemon smirked slightly, "It is nothing." He said as he reached, looking around, "It was unusually long, the Triarchy do have an excess amount of fodder. I am very surprised by that."
"But regardless, they still lost." Corlys said, "Our efforts are proving to work. In a couple of days, we will receive reinforcements from Driftmark, that will allow us to spread out movement to other islands. We will need you to take point on that campaign, My Prince. You are more experienced, we will have Vermithor on the rear, protecting the recovering injured and our supplies."
Daemon nodded, "A sound strategy." He said, "Speaking of, where is Aerion? I have not seen him all day, was he caught in the fighting?"
"I am not too sure." Corlys looked around, "Ever since Ser Gerold Royce came, we have not seen much of him."
Daemon sniffed the air, "Hm...." He said as he stepped to the side, "This was a fierce battle. Knowing him, he would be somewhere fighting....Come on out, Aerion!!"
He had shouted the last part, loud enough for anyone to hear. Everyone fell silent, only the sounds of the distant crackling flames and Caraxes's rumbling was heard.
Suddenly, there was loud rustling in the distance. Around fifty meters away from the group, behind what seemed like a small sand dune and large piles of Triarchy corpses, Vermithor was seen rising up.
The Bronze Fury's eyes pierced right at Daemon as it let out a loud rumbling. The massive dragon had somehow disguised himself in the darkness, undetected by anyone after the fighting. The dragon shook his neck as he looked to the side, snarling viciously as the light of the distant flames barely shone on his scales, giving off a bright bronze glow.
"How in the hells?" Corlys said, "We were here not too long ago, Vermithor was not seen at all....."
Daemon smirked slightly, "Vermithor was here the whole time." He said, "He just didn't fight....I reckon Aerion did plenty."
Below Vermithor, Aerion was seen sitting atop a rock, cleaning his blade with a torn rag. He had probably ripped the rag off the shirt of a fallen enemy. The young lord had a serious look in his eye, his entire face covered in the blood of his foes, no visible wounds on him.
Daemon stepped forth, "Are you well, son?" He called out, "You did not get too caught up in your mad killing frenzy?"
Aerion ignored Daemon, simply staring at his blade as he wiped the blood off of it.
Daemon looked around, "I do not see his uncle, did something happen to Ser Gerold?" He said
"I believe Ser Gerold was seen helping out removing and tending to the injured." a soldier said
"Ah, well how noble of him." Daemon said, "My son, however, is simply ready for another fight from what his body language suggests."
"This is not good, Prince Daemon." Corlys said, "I have seen many things in my lifetime and this is one of them. A battlefield is no place for a boy as young as Aerion. It has been a couple of months since the fighting started and he does not seem like he wishes to stop. The more this keeps going, he will eventually be absorbed in fighting and killing. He does not even fight on dragonback, he simply faces his opponents head on."
Daemon looked at him, "Is that so?" He said, "On foot?"
Corlys nodded as the soldiers behind him shifted nervously, "Yes." He said, "He may not look like it, but he is still a boy. This type of environment will change him. You should write to His Grace, have him write a Royal Command for him to return home. He will not listen to you, but he will listen to the King."
"Tch..." Daemon said, "If he won't listen to me, there is not a reason for him to listen to anyone. I am the boy's father."
"In that case, you should convince him to leave." Corlys said
"Worry not." Daemon said as he spat on the ground, "I will."
"Or at least, I will try."
****************
[King's Landing]
Rhaenyra sat on the bench in the Secret Gardens, looking in the distance. This was the same spot where she sat with Aerion months prior, speaking about his departure to the Stepstones.
She held a single flower in her hand, one similar to the one Aerion had given her; that one had long withered. Just recently, Lady Rhea had come to King's Landing to ask King Viserys to command Aerion to return home. She acted out of concern for her son, a worried mother.
Despite agreeing with her, Viserys was convinced by the Queen and his other advisors that another Dragon was needed to prevent the Triarchy from overtaking the Stepstones. This was a clear show of strength of the Crown, Aerion acting as their agent.....despite being a young boy.
Rhea did not agree with this at all but did not protest, not wanting to oppose the King and his Council.
Rhaenyra sat there, looking at a small clearing in the Gardens, remembering when she was a little girl, sitting on that same spot with her Grandfather, Baelon Targaryen when he was King. She remembered his smile and his laughter, one that gave the Princess and Heir the happiest girl alive.
She remembered when Baelon held Aerion in his arms when he was born, with a warm smile on his face when that happened.
"He will be a mighty Knight." he had told both Daemon and Viserys at that time
Rhaenyra believed that because of these words, her uncle, The Rogue Prince, was adamant about Aerion becoming a Knight and taking his training seriously. That and the fact that the moment he becomes a Knight, Aerion will marry Rhaenyra.
She sighed, "Aerion..." She said softly, "Why must you make this much more difficult....?"
"Princess." a voice said
She looked to her side, seeing that it was Harwin Strong standing a couple of feet away, his Lord-Father, Lyonel Strong standing a couple of feet behind.
"Oh, Ser Harwin." She said, "What may I help you with?"
Ser Harwin walked over and sat next to her, this action causing Lord Lyonel to frown in disapproval.
"I hear you are to relocate to Dragonstone for the time being." He said, "Out of respect for our friendship, I came to say goodbye."
Rhaenyra nodded, "Thank you."
Harwin then cleared his throat, "Lord Aerion is at war, is he not?" He said softly as he looked down, "Rhaenyra...?"
Rhaenyra nodded, "Yes."
"Interesting..." Harwin said low enough for her to hear, "Perhaps it is for the best."
Rhaenyra shot him a glare, "What is that supposed to mean?"
"Well..." Harwin said, "I....Well...."
Rhaenyra did not need to hear the words. She knew the implication of what Harwin Strong was saying. She also knew that if anyone else had heard it, Harwin would be punished. He was already been placed under strict surveillance under Viserys and Daemon's orders.
Rhaenyra stood up, "How dare you?!" She exclaimed, "He is my blood, my family! You dare wish for death to come for him?!"
"No, Princess....I...." Harwin said, "I did not-"
"Silence!" She said angrily, "I cannot believe you would even insinuate that, Ser Harwin. Aerion is my betrothed, I will not stand for this...."
"Princess." Lord Lyonel said, "What did my son say?"
He did not hear what Harwin had told her.
"Ask him." Rhaenyra said as she began to storm past him, "I do not wish to be in his presence no longer."
"Not now or not ever again."
