The Conqueror's Brother

Chapter 9

Chaos was all that Maelor could think about when he would be asked to explain the events after the death of Aenys the Abomination. Maegor did not linger on Dragonstone for long, only staying around long enough to be crowned King, take the head of the Grand Maester for objecting to his rule and then went to the chamber with the painted table to declare his coronation and demand their allegiance through ravens, in a rougher manner than his father had all those years ago. Maegor had also called for his uncle to sit with them.

Many considered Maelor going to Dragonstone instead of someplace like Winterfell or Old Town for his safety. But Maelor was not a man known to leave family behind when crisis fell on them. He returned from his own kingdom when the prophecy of what is to come was revealed to him. He stayed to help build his family up. He had put in the work, and he knew if he left, all could come undone. Maegor would listen to him, at the least he would listen to him long enough for Maelor to plant the seeds of thought into him. To get events back on track.

His reception in the chamber was warmer than he expected. Visenya smiled at him, as did Maegor. The master though remained meek, not meeting anyone's eyes. Maelor did not know the man so he hardly cared about him.

"Uncle, please take a seat. There's a lot we have to discuss" he said, motioning to the empty chair. Once Maelor was sat, Maegor dismissed the Maester with a look and the man almost ran out of the room. Once the doors shut firmly, did he speak again. "Mother has told me about the dream father had, and the prophecy you saw in Valyria. I have returned to make sure such a thing does not happen."

Maelor gave his smug sister a look. "And what do you intend to do exactly?" Maelor turned his attention back to Maegor. "You've staked your claim to the throne and you were crowned as King by your mother. What now?"

"Now we get back everything that was taken from us. Starting with The Capital from these drabble men that fight in the name of their gods" Maegor stated calmly. "And then we remind them all what exactly House Targaryen is."

"With Fire and Blood?" asked Maelor.

"With Fire and Blood" confirmed Maegor.

"Even if your niece comes flying to stake her claim on the throne? Since she is the rightful heir?" the question deflated Maegor slightly.

"Aegon is the heir chosen by Aenys"

"And Rhaena is the heir according to your father's laws. Will you too, like your weak brother, ignore the rule of your father?"

"I will ignore nothing. I am not Aenys" Maegor told him testily. "My firstborn will seat The Iron Throne, regardless of the gender they possess."

"Then I suspect Alys Harroway has given you an heir" Maelor's statement was met by silence. Maelor closed his eyes and let out a long sigh. "I will have no part in this. Rhaena is the rightful heir to The Throne. If she comes to stake her claim, you will fight for The Throne no doubt."

"So you're against me then? Against us?"

"I am with no one, nor am I against anyone" Maelor rose, "you are my blood, as is Rhaena. I will not be made to choose between my nephew and my grand niece. I will have no part in this war, nor will my children."

"Very well" Maegor straightened, the lightness in his posture now gone, replaced by cold indifference. "You may go then, Lord Maelor."

Maelor walked out without another word, making his way to his old room, which was inhabited by Jaehaerys before they had left for Driftmark. It was a good move, keeping the children away from Maegor. A little while later there was a knock on the door and Visenya walked in, looking her regal stern self. But unlike most, Maelor saw the anxiety in her eyes. Something she was good at hiding from everyone but her siblings.

"You shouldn't have crowned him King" Maelor began the conversation.

"I've already stood by once and let one imbecile on the throne. I will not make the same mistake again. Maegor is the better choice in every way. He has the build of Aegon, the temperament of mine. He's skilled with a sword, rides Balerion and even carries Blackfyre of all blades. There is no one better than him to rule Westeros."

"Symbolism will get us nowhere," Maelor told her flatly. "Maegor is the second son, whose claim comes if all of Aenys' line dies out. And you are not blind enough to not notice his temperament, how his mind works. You've seen him as plainly as I have."

"He can be cruel, I'll admit" Visenya did not hesitate, "but only against those that wrong him or if he's in the heat of combat. He's gentle otherwise, has been all his life. You've practically raised him with me, you know it as well."

He couldn't deny it. Maegor had a short temper, but that only happened when he did not get his way. Usually, he was modest and well-behaved. But that is exactly what made Maelor uneasy. None of what was about to happen was going to go as Maegor would want.

"Rhaena will come to stake her claim" Maelor warned.

"She will" Visenya took a seat on the bed. "Which was why we were hoping you could broker peace between them. Maybe a marriage even."

"Rhaena is married, for better or for worse. Aegon is her husband now and we'll have to deal with the mess that decision of Aenys has left us with" Maelor sighed. "The High Septon would be all too happy to dissolve this marriage no doubt. But Maegor has two wives, something the Faith holds against him. They will not let him take a third."

"We don't need him to take a third wife" Visenya argued. "The High Septon would be happy to dissolve the marriage with Alys Harroway, and we can convince him to dissolve the marriage with Vaena as well. Maegor would be wifeless, free to take Rhaena as his wife."

"Rhaena is with child. What will Maegor do it? Will he accept it as his own and name it heir? Or will he throw it aside?"

"Maegor will have his own heir to put on the throne. Why would he bother with someone else's child?"

"And what if he can't have an heir? Two wives and both barren? Visenya we both have to consider that maybe it's Maegor who has the problem, that maybe he is the one unable to reproduce" he took a seat beside her. "Maybe the 'help' you had with trying to conceive him had that effect on him" he suggested. Visenya did not look surprised that he had known. Of all the people, him knowing worried her the least.

"Maybe" Visenya sighed. "It would have been a great boon, to have you on our side."

"I've already told you my answer to that. I will not raise arms against my own."

"And what about against those not of our blood? What about with them?"

"They aren't the threat. One look at Maegor on Balerion and you on Vhagar will make them shit themselves. The Faith won't stand a chance even if they muster the support of every man in the seven kingdoms. The only weapon of use against Dragons are scorpions now, and you both know to look out for those."

Visenya smiled at the last statement. It came as a shock to many but not to her when the news of the conclave's murder had been notified to all. The conclave of Archmaesters was said to have been holding a meeting that went on for longer than it should have. An inspection of the meeting chamber revealed that all of the Archmaesters had been murdered in their seats, throats slit and eyes gauged out. But that had not been the only death at The Citadel. Older Maesters, those that taught novices had met the same fate as well. Nobody knew who exactly had done it, how they'd done it or even why they'd done it. But there were whispers that a faceless man had done it, for no stranger could pass through without anyone noticing. The House of The Dragon had its ways to protect its own and its dragons.

Visenya stood. "We'll be headed to The Capital tomorrow and we will reclaim it" she informed him before leaving. Maelor just sighed.