Chapter 15
Daemon was excited. They were going to the council meeting and Daemon was sporting a smirk since he woke up this morning. There three announcements to be made today. First the introduction of his sister. Second Daemon being officially declared heir. And lastly Viserys decision regarding his marital status. Oh... He could already imagine their faces. The disbelief, the horror, the disappointment, the anger. He thrived for the chaos of today. He was sure his sister had something planned as well, she looked a bit too smug. Viserys began shaking his head when he saw the expressions on their faces. He had that fond exasperation that was usually directed only at him.
They were adorning their circlets again today. After all today will be written in the history books and they wanted to look their best. When they entered the council rooms, Daemon saw, to his surprise that his sister already had a chair of her own. Viserys must have given orders this morning for an extra chair to be brought. The councilmen rised to their feet and bowed. Viserys took his place, followed by Daemon and Maenera and then the council members.
"I would like to start this small council meeting by saying thank you, for your help and dedication you have shown the last few days in the light of recent events." Aaa... His brother had such honeyed words when he wanted to.
"That being said I was informed by my brother about the topics of discussion in the last meetings. I would like to hear your thoughts on the matter." Viserys said, but it seemed that the cunt had other plans.
"Your Grace, we had observed at the last meetings, that we have amongst us, what appear to be a new member, yet no explanation or name was given."
"Yes, thank you, Otto. That was in today's list of subjects that needed addressed."
"May I introduce you, my Lords, to Maenera Targaryen, daughter of Baelon Targaryen and his late second wife Aelera Snow, and my sister."
Silence descended over the room. He saw how the implications of that statement settled over the council members. The cunt looked ready to burst a vein, and the same could be said about Corlys. Lord Strong had a neutral expression upon his face but his eyes betrayed amusement. The Grand Maester and Lord Beesbury started sputtering questions, none of them inteligibile.
"You cannot expect us to believe this mummers farce, your Grace." Otto said
"It is not a mummers farce, Otto. Maenera is my sister." His brother's voice suddenly became frosty.
"Your Grace, what Lord Hightower tries to say is, we will need for some proof in the matter, after all there has been a child hidden from the public for almost 14 years." The Grand Maester said trying to gauge his sister age.
"If I may intervene brother? After all the subject of this discussion is indeed my existence." His sister sweetly said and once again Daemon reclined back in his chair waiting for the show, no doubt was about to begin.
"Go ahead."
"As I am sure you have questions and concerns, my Lords, I am more than prepared to answer any inquiry you may have. Please, ask me anything."
"Is there any proof of who you say you are?" The cunt asked
"Why, of course, my Lord Hand. Maester Vaegon has recorded both my parents marriage and my birth in the Targaryen family records, as it has been done with all the children born with the blood of the dragon. Although my lord I was expecting more trust to be shown in the word of your King. After all his word is law." His sister said and Daemon could not suppress a snort. Even his brother had a small smirk on his face.
"Then we will write to the Citadel, and ask for the records to be sent." The cunt continued appearing now a little smug.
"There is no need. The royal family had already written to Maester Vaegon to bring the records. He is on his way to the Capital as we speak. We all know that Targaryen official records cannot be handled by anyone without dragon blood." Well that cut the branch from under his feet. The royal family hadn't sent any letter, Maenera on the other hand... It was true that the records were not to be handled by anyone without dragon blood. In every generation there was a prince or a dragon seed that took the way of maestery, and they handled the official records untill they died and their successor took their place.
"We will of course defer to Arch Maester Vaegon expertise."said the Grand Maester a little choked up. He could see that the cunt was fuming.
"You expect us to believe that Prince Baelon married a northern savage bastard, my lady." The cunt said and he could see that all pretences flew out of the window. His sister's eyes became cold, and wasn't that an expression he never wanted directed at him. Both he and his brother were glaring at the man. It was one thing to question the validity of ones claims and another to insult one's mother.
"I expect you to believe nothing. The records will prove my claims. Regarding the marriage between my father and mother, my mother was not just a northern savage bastard as you said. She was the daughter of the Old King and a daughter of house Stark. My mother had the blood of the dragon and the blood of the first men in her veins. She was descendent of Kings of both sides of the family, one that had a ruling dynasty that ruled the North for over eight thousand years and the other, the actual ruling dynasty that is known for birthing dragon riders. Can you say the same about your heritage, my lord? And the appropriate way of addressing me is Princess." The chamber was silent. His sister just implied that her bastard mother was way above the curent lord Hand and putting it in perspective, she kind of was, matter of birth aside. Lord Strong was the first to recover and cleared his throat softly and asked
"Have you known all your life about your heritage, my princes?"
"Of course, my lord. My father never hidden who he was or that I have more family. I was hidden for so very long because of my difficult birth. The expectations of my survival being low."
"Why were you not introduced to court?"
"As I was saying, the expectations of me surviving childhood were low. As father died when I was very young, my mother wished to keep me close to her for a time, but unfortunately she had perished as well not Loong after my father, resulting in me never being formally introduced." She replied. It was obvious to him and his brother that the answers were rehearsed. Her words were truthful but she was leaving out a big part of the story. Daemon knew it will be unsightly if his sister revealed the actual reasons of why she had never been introduced.
"And how have you came in contact with your brothers, I am assuming that they had no knowledge of you before Prince Baelon's death."
"You would assume correctly. When I was old enough to travel I came to Kingslanding during petition day and met Viserys then. We kept in contact afterwards and the unfortunate passing of Queen Aemma brought us together again. My brother in the light of recent events wanted all his family close."
"Yes, I believe that my sister has answered all the questions that you may have at the moment." His brother said cutting the line of interrogation." What is next in plan to be discussed?"
"The matter of an heir, your Grace. With the passing of Queen Aemma and Prince Baelon, you are again without an heir." Corlys spoke.
"My heir is Daemon." The pandemonium broke. All of them were talking all over each other. Lord Strong again quiet. That man looked like he already knew the topics of discussion.
"My King, Prince Daemon is not a suitable heir." The maester said and Daemon sent a sneer his way.
"My King, you said that you have been informed of the matter discussed at the council meeting." Corlys interjected again
"I was." Viserys replied.
"And?"
"And nothing. While I am sure that the ladies, the council has graciously chosen, are lovely and would make great queens, my desire at this moment is to not remarry"
"But, even if you do not choose one of the ladies from the list, your Grace has a sister now." Replied lord Beesbury and all of the siblings had different levels of disbelief on there faces.
"Thank you Lord Beesbury, for your keen obsession. While we clearly understand your implication, the King had just announced that he will NOT remarry. As in anyone. Is not about chosing a better option, is about his desire of taking another wife." His sister defended, and he didn't miss the implied comment that she is better than anyone from the list. It was true after all, she was a princess of the blood and Viserys sister, she had much better chances of being chosen than anyone.
"Even so, the King has no heirs." The Maester said and Viserys finally lost it.
"Has everyone gone deaf today? I already stated that Daemon is my heir!" Viserys said and a warm feeling could be felt inside his chest.
"He has no heirs of his own." The cunt interjected.
"Daemon is young, he has time to have children. And even if the unthinkable were to happen. The succession is at follows: my brother Prince Daemon, my daughter, the Princess Rhaenyra, my sister, the Princess Maenera. I have three young healthy heirs. It is enough." His brother said.
"Now , if all the matters have been discussed and agreed upon. I declare this meeting closed." Viserys said and got up from his chair and out of the room. Daemon and Maenera following.
***
Later on as expected uninvited guests have made their way into his private chambers. He didn't expect however for Rhaenys to be the first to come. What was even more unexpected was the way she burst through the doors without even knocking, her husband at her heels, both of them having thunderous expressions on their faces.
"How dare you to do this to me?" Rhaenys began.
"Please, cousin, come on in, yes I am well, would you like something to drink?" Viserys replied sarcastically.
"You humiliated me trice in the span of two days!" Rhaenys began her rant.
"How so?" Viserys asked And calmly began to pour wine for him and his siblings. This conversation definitely required wine.
"First you, all of you came to the funeral in traditional garments without informing me, second you hide your sisters existence from me and my family and now you refuse Laena's hand?" He looked at his brother and sister to see if they wanted to intervene, they didn't. They already had their confrontations with Rhaenys, this one was his alone. Little shits.
"Firstly, I didn't know I was supposed to inform you about any garments I wear. You have never been interested before in my choice in clothing" He began sarcastically" Secondly I did not refused your daughter's hand specifically, I refused all the ladies hands, as I am not remarrying. Thirdly, my sister's existence had been a secret kept by the Targaryen family and I didn't see any reason for you to know."
"No reason for me to know? A secret kept by the Targaryen family? I am part of the Targaryen family!"
"Like my sister has explained to you in your earlier conversation. You cannot be part of the family only when it benefits you. You cannot ignore your family and your duties and expect to be kept in the know about that comings and goings of said family."
"I have not ignored my duties!"
"Yes, you did, and we all know it. Where were you when Aemma was bound to bed with babes and I was left alone taking care of Rhaenyra. Of course you could argue that my brother and the army of maids were helping me, but my brother was a man as well, one without children at that, and the maids do not know what a child with dragon blood needs. Where were you when my brother disappeared for months, and I was scared that he was dead, you didn't even sent a raven!..."
"I was busy with my own children."
"Do not interrupt me, Rhaenys. I was not finished. " He said and Rhaenys smartly shut her mouth." Where were you when Aemma gave birth to dead babes? Where were you when my wife and child died? You didn't even had the decency to offer me your condolences and you expect to be informed of the coming and goings of this family?" He saw that Rhaenys was preparing herself to speak, and cut her of again." You do realize that I am King. I could take your royal titles away, you have discarded it anyway. You present yourself as Lady Velaryon, I can make that happen, you can be known from this day and age as only Lady Velaryon wife of Lord Velaryon, I can take your children out of the line of succession, I can order both your dragon and your son's to be taken away from you. I could order back all heirlooms you took with you when you married. After all they belong to house Targaryen, and you want to know the best part? Even if you decide to wage war for all of this things, no house would support you. Do you want to know why? Because I am King, and all the insults you have laid at my, and my family's feet will make me well within my rights to do all these things to you. The Old King had disowned his own children for much less insults than this."
He could see both Rhaenys and Corlys become whiter and whiter with every sentence he spoke. He was angry, how dare she came here and demanding explanations when she was the one in the wrong. His brother was right. He is not going to atone all his life for a decision he didn't even made. It was not his fault that the Old King and the Lords decided that he should be the heir. He was done indulging her, Viserys had enough problems without her thrown in the mix. He had a family to support and Seven Kingdoms to rule, de didn't have time for her temper tantrums.
"My wife, had been a little hasty in her declarations, my King. " Corlys began, he understood now the precarious position they were in. "She was overwhelmed with all the revelations in the last few days. We beg your pardon." Corlys said.
"I expect a response from you Rhaenys and an apology. You have three days to decide if you want to remain a Targaryen princess with all the responsibilities that your title demands. Now get out, and this is the last time you will barge into my rooms like this." Viserys said and Corlys gave a bow and Rhaenys made a courtesy, and both walked out of the rooms in silence.
He turned and saw that Daemon and Maenera both, had proud expressions on their faces. His cheeks warmed slightly, he was usually very controlled but Rhaenys pushed his buttons today.
"I have never been more proud of you in my entire life." Said Daemon.
"Maybe you still have a chance to become a good King and a good head of the family." His sister whispered in his ear.