Bringing the Dawn

LII.

Jaeron Targaryen

Dragonstone, 300AC

Arthur had told him many a time that Dragonstone was a dreary castle. So he had not expected much when he took it. Thinking to himself that people in the south called Winterfell drear, yet to him it was all he had known until he had packed up to live in Greywater Watch under the care of Lord Howland. The very place no one would think to look for him, and a perfect place for his dragons to grow.

Yet now that Dragonstone was his, he realised that there was much more to it than drear.

The black stone might look boring, but up close the walls were carved intricately. In ways that were lost in the Doom four hundred years before. Gargoyles littering every battlement and dotting above the many windows of the castle. Creatures that no longer existed such as sphinxes, griffins, wyverns, fire wyrms, and some he had never learned the name of. Dragon sculptures directly at the entrance carved with such care every individual scale was still legible alongside some Valyrian glyphs. An ancient writing style according to the books that all translations for had been lost to time.

The inside was also black everywhere he looked. Whilst there were a few pieces of colour dotted on the walls or in rooms, it was minimal. The very man that had been confined to his own quarters alongside his wife and daughter would know much more about. He didn't know what to think or feel about having Stannis Baratheon fall directly into his trap. A part of him wanted to kill him, end the Baratheon line from existence. Another part of him wanted to try and win him over to the cause because he was a respected warrior and commander- a good man to have on his side. Another part of him wanted to see him stripped of all lands and titles, being banished to the Wall or to one of the Free Cities.

But deep down, Jaeron knew he could not do so. Not himself at least. As much as he tried to deny it, they were cousins. Whilst it was a couple of generations removed, House Targaryen had so little family and true friends to count on for aid that they had to stick together. But he had made a promise, and he was not going to break his promise. Once Stannis was locked away, he had deigned to call a council. Being led by Ser Arthur into the chamber of the painted table. Fingers trailing along the carved wood in utmost wonder. Knowing that the conqueror had stood in this room with his sisters and planned their domination of Westeros was humbling.

Before the conquering, his House only had a few thousand men to call on. Mayhaps even less than House Karstark commanded in the North. A couple of allies such as the Sunglass', the Bar Emmon's, the Velaryon's. Names that boasted numerous men and women in their histories for being fierce and all of which being considered friends of his House. Donning the crown of the very man who had once stood here and with both his swords either side of his hips waiting on people to enter the room.

The first had been Ser Brynden, the man nodding his way as he flanked his other side as was expected of a Kingsguard. The second being the Maester of Dragonstone who had introduced himself as Pylos. The third being Ser Garlan Tyrell who also bowed his head. He really needed to work on forming a council he could rely on, but that could wait for a time where all sides were on board with one another. Lady Margaery followed not long after and she fluttered her eyelashes his way and he gave her a small smile in response. It was a strange thought, knowing he was betrothed to the woman now. A powerful match, one that he had made the mistake of waiting too long for beforehand, a mistake he would not make again.

They hadn't begun discussing the marriage yet, but that would be happening at some point. Jaeron would prefer a northern wedding but as she was a follower of the Seven who are One, she would likely not be amendable to such a thing. A couple of Manderly men followed afterwards whose name he knew nought, and a few men that had seemingly been taking a tally of the men that had been lost in the battle outside Kings Landing.