What if Dorne negotiated for peace? Part 2
Following their original plan, Rhaenyra and Daemon left Summerhall the same night after they met with Prince Qoren. With one small change. In a week’s time, Princess Aliandra Martell would be sailing to Dragonstone to foster with Rhaenyra and Daemon.
It would be easy enough to hide the girl’s presence from outsiders, but that meant that Rhaenyra had only about a week to convince her father of her plan. It wasn’t foolproof, she’d only had less than a day to discuss it with Prince Qoren and Daemon, but she hoped the possibility of what could be, would be enough for her father.
Daemon returned to Driftmark alone and would stay there with the children until she returned. Rhaenyra flew straight to Kingslanding. The city was just as she remembered it and as she flew above them, the smallfolk stared and pointed. Their Realm’s Delight had returned, if only for a short visit.
She didn’t bother to fly to the Dragonpit, she didn’t plan on staying longer, and no doubt someone would be ready and waiting to greet her. She urged Syrax to land in the garden, her Golden Lady was just big enough to fit within the walls of the garden.
Several knights, servants, and ladies scrambled to get out of the way as Syrax landed and Rhaenyra dismounted. The only person who didn’t look surprised was Ser Westerling who had come to meet her when he realized she wasn’t going to land in the Dragonpit.
“Princess, welcome home.”
“Hello Ser Westerling, it’s good to see you again. Where is my father?”
“His Grace is in his room. His health has not been good in the past year and the Maesters have suggested that he spend more time resting.”
“And the Queen?”
“Mostly likely with him, or on her way here.”
Rhaenyra snorted, as she and Ser Westerling made their way to her father’s chambers. She hadn’t been back to the Red Keep since she and Laenor left. Much changed in their absence, she noted banners of the seven-pointed star hung all over the keep and most of the heraldry of her House was gone. The place seemed more like a Sept.
“Your Grace, Princess Rhaenyra has come to visit you.”
“Your Grace, Father.”
Ser Westerling was right in the prediction that Alicent would be with the king. Rhaenyra barely glanced at her, too stunned to do anything more than stare at the old man sitting in her father’s bed.
“Father, what have they done to you?”
“It is not as bad as it looks, daughter. The Maesters have done their best to help me.”
“May I ask what brings you here after so long Princess?”
“...I wished to speak to my father...in private Your Grace.”
“Alicent, why don’t you go see the children? I want to speak to Rhaenyra as well.”
“...Of course, Your Grace.”
Alicent leaves without fuss, no doubt running to her father to tell him that Rhaenyra and the King are speaking privately. Ser Westerling and the remaining servants follow her out so that father and daughter are alone.
Rhaenyra sits on the bed next to her father and holds his hand.
“Forgive me for staying away for so long. If I had known your health was this bad, I...”
“It is not your fault Rhaenyra. Dragonstone is your seat; it is your right as my heir... You married again.”
“...Yes...”
“You and my brother have always been twin flames, perhaps I should have married you when I had the chance.”
“If you did that then I wouldn’t have my boys, nor he, his daughters. Laenor and I had a great friendship in our marriage, and I know that Daemon loved Laena. We were both happy and now we are finally together.”
“I see...I know you did not come all the way here just to see me, what is on your mind.”
“I seek the guidance of my father and the permission of my King. Do you remember what you told me of the Song of Fire and Ice?”
“Aegon’s Dream.”
“Yes. Father what if I told you I have found a way to fully unite the Realm before the threat comes true.”
“I would ask you to start from the beginning.”
That is exactly what Rhaenyra does. She tells her father of the letter from Prince Qoren to their meeting in Summerhall, to Princess Aliandra coming to Dragonstone to foster with their family.
“We would have a fully united Realm under Targaryen rule, something not even the Conquerors managed to do.”
“...I never named you my heir on a whim Rhaenyra, and I never doubted that one day you would make an excellent Queen. I can see now that I was right in my predictions. You have the permission of your King and the crown to pursue this. Rhaenyra, you may be the first true ruler of the Seven Kingdoms, and I couldn’t be prouder of you.”
“Then come with me to Dragonstone and witness it for yourself. Prince Qoren may have come to me, but you are still the King. Your presence will show him how seriously we are taking this. Besides, I know the children miss you, as does Daemon though he won’t admit it. The first time you’ve seen each other in years cannot end at Laena’s funeral. Fly with me on Syrax, like a Targaryen king, like Aegon would have, and show them the fire and blood that runs through our veins.”
“You make a passionate speech daughter, but if we are to show the power of our House, then should your siblings not fly with us?”
“If the Queen allows it.”
“I am their father and their King; my will is the only one that matters in this. Besides, if Prince Qoren wishes for a strong match for his children, then there is no stronger one than a Targaryen Prince.”
“It is my understanding that Aegon and Helaena are already married.”
“There have been no matches made for Aemond or the younger one. Both would make excellent grooms.”
“Then I will follow your will on this father.”
“Your Grace? Will you and Her Grace be eating together?”
“Not tonight. Rhaenyra and I will have dinner together. Has her room been prepared?”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Viserys dismissed the maid who interrupted them, and he and Rhaenyra moved to the sitting room to eat dinner and further discuss her plans. Viserys felt a surge of warmth run through him, and for the first time in a long time, he and Rhaenyra were on the same side of things.
Over the next two days, Rhaenyra and Viserys spend most of their time holed up in the King's Chambers. Viserys doesn’t allow anyone, not even his own wife or Lord Hand, to disturb them. Rhaenyra brings books from the library and writes notes in High Valyrian to keep them from being read.
She and Alicent only say stilted greetings when they see each other, but other than those instances they decide to ignore each other, and Viserys is too tired to push the matter. The only time Rhaenyra sees her siblings is the third night of her being in the Red Keep. She had long written to Daemon about the plans she made with her father, and he sent a raven telling her that he and the children would go back to Dragonstone and wait for them there.
Dinner is a quiet affair with only the sounds of forks and knives hitting plates and people chewing. Viserys makes the announcement that he will be going to Dragonstone after dessert is served.
“Your Grace, I don’t understand.”
“There is nothing to understand Alicent, Rhaenyra had been worried about me, and she thinks, and I agree, that a change of scenery may be in order for my health.”
“Then the Maesters should come with you!”
“We will be flying Alicent, not taking a ship.”
“I don’t think that it is wise. What of the Small Council, what did they have to say?”
“I have made my decision Alicent! What is wrong with you? It is nothing serious and I miss my daughter and grandchildren.”
“...”
Rhaenyra clears her throat and interrupts the escalating argument, “Your Grace, I would like to invite my siblings to Dragonstone. It isn’t a far flight, and I’m sure they would enjoy seeing the home of our ancestors.”
“No.” “Of course Rhaenyra.”
Alicent and Viserys look at each other, but she is the first one to back down. She will try and convince her husband that this is a foolish idea tonight while the rest of the castle is asleep. Rhaenyra finishes her dinner and wishes her father goodnight before leaving. She completely misses the shocked looks on Aegon and Aemond’s faces at being included on the trip.
Everyone knew that the King and his Heir had been meeting and having secret conversations. Aegon’s mother and grandfather wouldn’t shut up about it and no matter how much they pushed the King never revealed anything. Of course, even though their father gave his permission, come morning it was likely they wouldn’t even be allowed to go so there was no point in getting their hopes up.
That way of thinking is what shocked Aegon when he was woken the next morning by servants packing saddlebags full of his clothes.
“Your Highness, the King wishes to head to the dragons soon you should bathe and get dressed.”
Aegon stumbled around in a dazed dressing in his green riding leathers and followed the maids out of his room. Helaena and Aemond were already in a wheelhouse with their mother. Aegon blanched at the look on her face and instead went to sit with his father and Rhaenyra.
“Good morning Aegon.”
“...Morning.”
Aegon nodded at his sister when she acknowledged him. They had never been close, whether because of their ages or the fact she and his mother hated each other, he barely knew anything about his elder sister.
Rhaenyra spent the entire ride with her eyes closed like she was sleeping, their father was actually asleep, slumped over next to his favorite child. Aegon spent the trip alternating between looking out the window and studying Rhaenyra’s features.
She didn't look like anyone he knew. Not their father nor their cousin Rhaenys from what he could remember of her from the clusterfuck that was their trip to Driftmark a year ago. She probably took after her own mother, the same woman the King mistook Aegon’s mother for.
He sometimes wondered how his life would be if he had been born as Queen Aemma’s son instead.
All too soon their ride comes to a stop. Vhagar is too large to nest in the Dragonpit so instead of splitting up, Rhaenyra asked the dragon keepers to guide the dragons to Visenya’s Hill and they would all mount and leave from there.
Aegon is the first out of the wheelhouse and he hurriedly makes his way to Sunfyre to avoid his mother. Rhaenyra and their father follow him out and he watches from under Sunfyre’s wing as his elder sister leads their father to her mount and allows them to get used to each other.
The second wheelhouse came to a stop and Otto was the first one to step out followed by Alicent, and then Aemond and Helaena. Aegon remained by Sunfyre and ignored his mother’s attempts to get his attention. The dragon keepers worked quickly to get the saddle bags attached to Vhagar and Dreamfyre, the largest and strongest mounts.
Syrax would be flying with two people and wouldn’t be able to manage any extra weight, and Sunfyre was too young. The Queen and Lord Hand both made last-ditch efforts to sway the King, but they were both ignored as Viserys climbed into the saddle behind Rhaenyra.
“Fly Syrax!”
Rhaenyra and the King were the first ones to take to the air, Aegon right behind them. Dreamfyre rose next, and then finally Vhagar with Aemond no more than a little dot on her back. Rhaenyra led them back toward Kings Landing to fly around the city before heading southeast toward Dragonstone.