The Heir // King Viserys Targaryen // Daemon Targaryen

39. Delight

 'We've sent out riders to find Rhaenyra, Your Grace.' Lyonel assured as the night grew dark and there was no sign of the princess. 'Ser Criston went after her, so the hope is that they are together.'

"Ser Criston is a skilled warrior, I'm sure Rhaenyra is in good hands." Avalon agreed nervously. "Rhaenyra is quite skilled herself, I'm sure she is fine."

'The girl is a heedless contrarian. If I instead forbade her to wed a Lannister, she would've run off with Lord Jason out of spite.' Viserys remarked.

"Probably.' Avalon agreed with a chuckle.

'A truly great Targaryen King I am. Powerless over mine own daughter of seven-and-ten.' Viserys remarked.

'King Jaehaerys ruled over half a century of peace while his children drove him to the edge of madness... his daughters, in particular.' Lyonel recalled 'It is tradition, Your Grace.' Viserys took another sip of wine he surely didn't need it but he drank it down anyways. 'Do you wish to hear my opinion on the matter?' Viserys let out a long sigh.

'Should I guess? You believe that your son, Ser Harwin "Break bones," the strongest knight in the Seven Kingdoms, is the best match for Rhaenyra.' Viserys hissed

"He is quite handsome, I think they would make a lovely match. He seems the opposite of any and all Lannister's." Avalon offered.

'You flatter me, Your Grace and your grace, but no.' Lyonel told him.

"I think that is the first match Rhaenyra would approve." Avalon countered.

"Would you like to marry him?" Viserys mused.

"I already have you, I wouldn't know what to do with a mistress... it that what a male lover is called or is that just for women?" Avalon teased and Viserys pressed a kiss to her lips, Avalon smiled into him.

'It would seem to me the best match for Rhaenyra is the son of The Sea Snake, Ser Laenor.' Lyonel offered 'Some years ago, I counseled you to take his sister to wife. My reasoning remains the same. Laenor is of pure Valyrian descent. He shares blood with your cousin, the Princess Rhaenys. And he is the heir to the wealthiest house in the realm. The breach between your houses has not narrowed since I last spoke of it. It would do much to assuage Lord Corlys of any slights real... or imagined.' Viserys pondered the idea. 'We must pray, of course, that Laenor survives the fighting in the Stepstones.'

"I think we should talk of Harwin." Avalon countered. "Laenor is a kind man, but he isn't one that would... suit Rhaenyra's needs."

"You flatter me."

"Technically, I flatter your son." Avalon mused.

"Excuse me love." Viserys said as he got up slightly drunkenly and left the celebration, he just wanted to have a good time and celebrate his son. Not all this.

+

'Princess, I must make a final plea that we return to the camp.' Cole requested

'I rather prefer it here.' Rhaenyra told him as she threw twigs into the fire.

'His Grace is certain to be worried by your absence.'

'His Grace can worry himself to death if he so likes.' Rhaenyra told him smugly. 'Tell me something, Ser Criston. Do you think the realm will ever accept me as their Queen?'

'They'll have no choice but to, Princess.' Cole reminded her as their horses neighed and whinnied behind them. Cole rose ready to defend his princess, drew his blade, the twigs cracking under his feet as all went quiet.

Criston grunted as Rhaenyra yelled a boar came charging at them, growling he leapt on top of Rhaenyra. She stabbed it and it fell. She lay for a moment remembering to breath when the boar started to squeal again Rhaenyra jumped up stabbing him over and over again, Rhaenyra grunted and whimpered as she drove her blade into the boar, killing it.

+

'Is everything all right, Viserys?' Avalon questioned coming up to a large and crackling fire where Viserys stood, needing solace but found that being with Avalon was better than being alone.

'You know, I... I named her... to protect the realm from Daemon. She was my only child. "The Realm's Delight." I named her out of love because I no longer believed...' Viserys murmured as he pulled Avalon closer.

'Believed what, my love?' Avalon questioned and Viserys sighed tracing his hands over her stomach.

'Many in my line have been dragon riders. Very few among us have been dreamers. What is the power of a dragon... next to the power of prophecy.' Viserys told her

'The hour is too late, and your mind is not clear.' Avalon told him. "A bit too much to drink perhaps." Viserys nodded.

'When Rhaenyra was a child... I saw it in a dream... as vivid as these flames, I saw it. A male babe born to me... wearing the Conqueror's crown.' Viserys told her confidently. 'And I so wanted it to be true, to be a dreamer myself. I sought that vision again, night after night... but it never came again. I poured all my thought and will into it. And my obsession killed Rhaenyra's mother.'

'Viserys.' Avalon tried to calm him. "I believe that no matter what you had choose, Aemma would have died, the baby wasn't coming out, it would have ripped through her either way. She would have died no matter your choices. You trying to save the babe was the noble thing to be done." Avalon assured.

'I thought Rhaenyra was the way out of my abyss of grief and regret. And naming her heir would begin to set things right.'

'Oh, it did.' Avalon assured "Rhaenyra will be a great queen... all girls go through his phase. I did. You must remember I was a little terror." Avalon told him.

"You were not. You were always perfect." Viserys corrected. 'I never imagined I would remarry... that I would have a son.' Viserys told her his confidence wavering. 'What if I was wrong?' he heard a horn blowing in the distance the beast had been found. He put a hand on her stomach running his hands along her dress. Hoping for another boy, he couldn't handle another girl.

"I am on your side, no matter the future holds for us, but we need to think of Rhaenyra too, a good future king. Not just a good match but a good man."