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House of The Dragon-For The Queen, Not The Prince: What Could Have Been: Chapter 4
🕑 Added 2025-03-29 02:05:03 +0000 UTC(Third Person POV)
[King's Landing, 2 Years Later....]
A young Aerion Targaryen, significantly taller than he was when he was just 10 years old, was sparring with one of the Royce Knights in the training yard of the Red Keep.
Holding a blunt sword, he parried the sword strike that was thrown at him from Ser Willam as he pivoted to the side. He spun around to swing his own sword to strike at the Royce Knight's stomach but Willam had stepped back and avoided the blow.
"Ho!" Ser Willam said, "Nice reaction, My Lord!"
Aerion straightened himself and slowly stepped to the side, a focused look on his face, not saying a word as Willam assumed another stance. He then lunged at Willam, thrusting his sword as the Knight parried it. Almost immediately, however, Aerion swung the sword sideways to follow up another strike. The Royce Knight stepped back to avoid the strike but Aerion had pivoted to the side, composing himself and swinging his sword.
Willam was able to block the sword strike but to his surprise, Aerion's strike was stronger than anticipated and caused him to stumble. Without another moment wasted, however, Willam straightened himself and thrust his sword at Aerion who dodged it with surprising speed.
Aerion spun around and swung his sword down at Willam's foot, the power being enough to knock the Knight off his feet and planting him forwards.
"Ah!" Willam exclaimed with surprise, spitting dirt from his mouth as his face was covered in it, "Well, I'll be....!!"
Aerion then straightened up, "Oh..." He said, "Cousin, are you alright?"
The young lord crouched down and offered his hand to Ser Willam who casually waved him off.
"Ah, Aerion..." He said as he stood up, "Your skills are improving by the day...."
He straightened up, standing right in front of Aerion Targaryen, Daemon's son. The boy, despite being ten and two, was almost as tall as his Royce Cousins, who ranged from just below six feet, to a little over it. Ser Willam himself was in awe at how much Aerion had grown. And it was not just his height, Aerion's strength had grown significantly.
The young Targaryen Lord had been training all of his life, squiring for the Royce Knights at the behest of his mother. He had learned many skills from his cousins and uncles, being taught how to fight and hunt. They were grooming him to be a mighty Knight, one that would be the pride and joy of House Royce and House Targaryen respectively.
"Thanks, Willam...." Aerion said as his hair flowed slightly in the breeze, "I am sorry for hitting you hard..."
Willam chuckled and shook his leg, "Tis nothing." He said, "I must say, your strength is mad.....are you sure you are a boy, Lord Aerion?"
Before Aerion could respond, there was a slow clapping from the side. Both he and Willam looked to see Daemon Targaryen leaning against the wall with a slight smirk on his face. Daemon had been watching the sparring session the entire time.
"Father...." Aerion said
"Look at my boy." Daemon said as he began to walk towards him, "Already skilled enough to knock a Knight off his feet. Impressive, indeed..."
Daemon reached him and patted his shoulder, a proud smile on his face. Aerion could not help but awkwardly give him a smile.
"My Prince." Willam gave Daemon a nod
"Ser Willam." Daemon said, "Where is Ser Gerold? And my wife?"
"Lady Rhea was with the Princess Rhaenyra..." Willam said, "As for Ser Gerold, I do not know."
Daemon nodded, "Is that so-"
"I am here." A voice cut him off
They looked to the side to see Ser Gerold walking over to them, patting his sleeves.
"Where were you, Uncle?" Aerion asked
"In the privy." Gerold said, "Prince Daemon. It has been quite some time, have you met with our Lady?"
"Not yet." Daemon said with a smile, "So tell me, Gerold....how goes the progress of my son's training?"
Gerold looked at Aerion, "Lord Aerion is a prodigy, I must say." he said with a slight smile, "He picks up everything we teach him quite quickly. He will be a fine knight when the time comes."
"Hm." Daemon said as he looked at Aerion who was kicking rocks to the side
"Aerion squired for all of us, Prince Daemon. From the time he was five, old enough to carry a shield and sword." Ser Willam said, "He is becoming a fine warrior too."
"Well, he is no longer a squire, is he?" Daemon said with a smirk, "This one claimed Vermithor, didn't he? He is a Dragonrider."
More than year ago, Lady Rhea took Aerion to Dragonstone to meet with Daemon who had come back from the Stepstones. There, after a conversation with his betrothed, Aerion went into the Dragonmont and confronted the Bronze Fury, Vermithor. In a violent encounter, Aerion claimed the fierce dragon and made him his mount.
This shocked most of the realm but Daemon was overjoyed, claiming that his son was destined for greatness. Viserys was pleasantly surprised by this and congratulated Aerion, throwing a massive banquet in celebration.
"Of course." Ser Gerold said, "He naturally outranks all of us, including his own Mother..."
"She is still my Mother." Aerion said under his breath
"It is a jest, My Lord." Gerold told him with a chuckle
"What is this whole Lord bit?" Daemon asked, "Aerion was born when I was Heir, he was in line for the Iron Throne, he should be called Prince. Just as my cousin, Rhaenys is still called a Princess."
"Ah, well." Ser Gerold started, "H-He wanted to be called that."
"Why is that, son?" Daemon asked Aerion
Aerion looked at his Father, "Well..." He said, "I do not know...I just like being called a Lord....that is all..."
"He rides a Bronze Dragon, our House is not a Royal one and our colors are bronze." Willam crossed his arms and told Daemon, "One of our maids jokingly called him the Bronze Dragonlord and I suppose he liked it."
Daemon whistled, "Bronze Dragonlord, eh?" He said with a chuckle, "Now that is something. If you wish to be called that, Aerion, then it is fine."
"Not like I am in line for the throne anyways." Aerion said
"Well, you are to marry the Heir, My Lord." Gerold started
Daemon chuckled and wrapped his arm around his neck, pulling him in, "Sers, if you excuse me, I have much to discuss with my son." He said, "I have missed you, Aerion, it has been months since we have seen each other."
As Daemon walked away, pulling Aerion aside, the young lord sighed.
"You should go and see Mother." Aerion said
"Ah, don't worry about it." Daemon said, "I have an idea."
**************
"What?!" Lady Rhea exclaimed as she slammed her hands on the table and stood up, "You are NOT taking him to the Stepstones!!"
They were in Daemon's chambers inside the Red Keep, sitting in a long table that was set up by his servants as food was being served. Lady Rhea sat on one side as Aerion was seated next to her, looking down as his mother had shouted loudly.
Daemon raised his eyebrow, "Wife." He said, "You are in the presence of the King."
He gestured to his side showing that Viserys was looking at Rhea with a surprised look. Next to Viserys, Rhaenyra sat, looking down in an awkward manner.
Rhea widened her eyes, immediately regretting her decision to shout, "I.....I...." She said as she bowed, "I apologize, Your Grace! Forgive me, I was caught in the moment....m-my Husband, the Prince, has caught me off guard with this request....."
Viserys raised his hand with a chuckle, "It is fine, Rhea....you are Family. There is no need to apologize." He said before looking at Daemon with a frown, "She is right, Daemon. What is the reason Aerion has to go to the Stepstones? You and Corlys have not finished the conflict there. You wish to take my nephew to a Warzone?!"
Daemon sighed, "The conflict has ceased." He said, "The Triarchy retreated. I have built some settlements there, holding it for Corlys as he establishes his lanes again. They received quite the damage during the Triarchy's assaults."
"But still..." Rhea said as she sat down, "My son has no reason to go there..."
"We will fly to the Stepstones together, it will be a few weeks." Daemon explained, "You both have told me I should spend more time with the boy. I am offering just that. Think of it as a nice vacation in these islands. Vermithor could bathe in the sun on the beaches, they are quite nice....if you ignore the crabs and the corpses."
"I meant spend time with him here or at Runestone, Daemon!" Rhea scowled, "What you are saying is ridiculous! He is ten and two!"
"I agree with Rhea." Viserys said, "I do not think it is a good idea."
Daemon sighed, "I need to ensure that the settlements there are safe." He said, "Two dragons posted there will ensure that."
"Is Seasmoke not there?" Rhaenyra spoke up, "Ser Laenor's dragon...."
"Laenor is no longer there. He returned home back to Driftmark." Daemon said, "Caraxes is an intimidating sight, sure. He will be enough for the Triarchy to think twice....but if Vermithor is there....then they will not even dare."
"I want to go." Aerion spoke up
Rhea looked at him, "Aerion, my sweetling..." She said softly, "It is too dangerous..."
"I am not a boy, Mother." Aerion said with a frown, "I am a Dragonrider...Vermithor is my dragon....he was the dragon of Jaehaerys, Father's Grandsire...that means something...."
"I understand.." Rhea said, "But this is not a good idea...."
"I will be fine." Aerion said, "It is okay, Mother."
"If something sparks, which I doubt it, I will send Aerion home." Daemon said, "He should memorize the flight route anyways. Right, son?"
Aerion nodded, "Yes." He said before looking at Viserys, "Is it alright, Your Grace?"
Viserys frowned, "Are you sure of this?" He asked, "You will worry your Mother."
"Yes." Aerion said
"Send the Royce Knights, just in case." Daemon told Rhea, "Either later or earlier, it matters not. If you are too worried, then have Gerold or Willam be there."
"....I..." Rhea said before looking at Aerion, "I do not know...."
"I can handle myself, Mother." Aerion told her, "I am not a child..."
"Oh, sweetling...but you are...." Rhea patted his cheek, "You are a boy...."
Aerion gave her a serious look, "Well..." He said, "One day, that will change..."
"You have to accept it."
Comments
Yuri Lover
This used to be Chapter 3, now it is Chapter 4 and the actual Chapter 3 is the new one. It is my mistake, I should have written that first before this chapter
