A Song of Ice and Fire | Aegon Targaryen

Ch 8: Heir to the Iron Throne

"And if I'm dead to you, why are you at the wake?"

One of my handmaidens was finishing my hair as I looked at Vaella who was sitting on my bed, mumbling to herself while looking at a flower. I couldn't make out her words as her head swayed back and forth.

"There you go, Princess" she said.

"Thank you" I smiled.

I went to look at my reflection, examining my dress further. It was unusual for me to wear a color other than red, this day was no different. Only this dress was darker, more elegant than my other dresses.

I took deep breaths, trying my best to mentally prepare myself for what was to come. I flattened out my dress over my stomach when I looked at Vaella. She was picking the petals off the flower as I walked over. I held my hand out, the flowers making its way from the ground and back to the flower. 

"Go to Saera's chambers" I said. "I need to finish getting ready."

"I don't want to be alone" she whispered. 

"Ser Erryk will escort you to her chambers and to the throne room" I said. 

I looked at Ser Erryk who waited by the door as she nodded, leaving my chambers with Ser Erryk. I turned around as Ser Criston entered the room moments after they had. 

"Is it time?" I asked.

"Yes, Princess" he said.

I nodded, wiping my hands on my dress before following him. We walked down the halls to the throne room.

"Are you nervous?" He asked.

"No" I said. "But I feel like Rhaenrya was expecting it to be her."

"You were the right decision" he said. "Better than that cunt of a princess."

I stopped walking to look at him as he shrugged. 

"I'd keep your words to a whisper when talking of her.. she has ears everywhere, Ser Criston" I said. 

"Your grandfather is to be here" he said. 

"He is no grandfather of mine, he is simply the father of my mother" I said. "If he didn't have a choice he wouldn't be here. He hates me."

"He is missing out" he said. 

I turned to him smiling as he tried to hide his. Ser Criston wasn't as bad as everyone made him out to be. He could have an attitude at times but he was like the big brother I never had.

We stopped in front of the doors as I shook my body, preparing myself. He opened the throne room doors as everyone turned to look at me.

"The Princess Visenya Targaryen!" He yelled.

I walked down the hall, looking at all the Lords. I looked at Lord Erik Maximoff who was old and looked rather angry. We held eye contact for sometime until I stopped in front of the Iron Throne, slightly bowing to my grandfather. I then turned around to the Lords of the realm. One after another they were to swear to me, kneeling before a woman to sit the Iron Throne. 

"Corlys of House Velaryon, Lord of the Tides and Master of Driftmark" Mellos said.

"I, Corlys Velaryon, Lord of Tides and Master of Driftmark, promise to be faithful to King Viserys and his named heir, the Princess Visenya. I pledge fealty to them and shall defend them against all enemies in good faith and without deceit" Corlys said. "I swear this by the old gods and the new."

I looked at Corlys, knowing he was the only one in the room who did not want to swear to me. He wanted Jacaerys to sit the Iron Throne one day, I knew he thought Rhaenyra would be named heir after the death of my father. 

There were whispers here and there of people thinking my grandfather was going to name Rhaenyra his heir, making Jacaerys her heir. It was clear Corlys did not care that any of them were not of his blood but that they had his name and that was all that mattered to him, it was almost admirable.

One after another Lords Hobert Hightower, Rickard Stark, Borros Baratheon, Grover Tully, Brynden Blackwood bent the knee to me, swearing oaths to me as heir to the Iron Throne. I watched as my own grandfather bent the knee, everyone watching in anticipation to see him speak the words. I did not have his name but it was clear he was holding onto a grudge that was long overdue to expire. 

After all the Lords bent the knee, I turned around to my grandfather. He stood up from the Iron Throne, smiling down at me. I clasped my hands tighter as he looked around. My heart felt as if it was going to beat out of my chest. I slightly bowed my head, awaiting his words.

"I, Viserys Targaryen, first of his name, King of the Andals, and the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm, do hereby name, Visenya Targaryen, Princess of Dragonstone and heir to the Iron Throne" he said.

I bowed my head once more, looking up to him before turning back to the crowd. I tried to hide my smile as I looked to Rhaenys. She looked somber, as if she was upset. Perhaps she was, the realm failed to see her as Queen over my grandfather, even when I was named my fathers heir she was bitter.

I looked at Aegon who was standing beside Saera and Vaella. I was escorted out of the throne room by Ser Erryk when I heard someone following us. I turned around to see my grandfather standing only a few feet away from us. 

"Ser Erryk, I can get to my apartments alone" I said. 

"I can't leave you alone, Princess" he said. "Not on a day like today."

"Very well" I said. 

"You look so much like her" my grandfather said. 

"My father used to tell me that" I said. 

He walked closer as Ser Erryk stepped in front of me. 

"It is fine, Ser Erryk" I said. 

He nodded before moving to the side. 

"I did not like your father, and as much as I hate to admit it.. he was a good man" he said. "A child does not deserve to lose their parents so young."

"I'll live" I said. 

"There is not a day that goes by where I don't miss my daughter" he said. 

"At least you have memories of her.. I don't remember her at all" I said. 

He pulled out a necklace from his pockets, grabbing my hand and placing it in the center. I looked at the black stone, feeling a great deal of magic. 

"It was meant to be your mothers when she came of age and took over Highgarden" he said. 

"Then why are you giving it to me and not one of her sisters?" I asked. 

"She would have wanted you to have it" he said. 

He walked away as I turned to Ser Erryk. He then quickly turned around, throwing a ball of fire as I caught it in my free hand. 

"Your father taught you well after all" he said. 

He then left without another word as we walked to my apartments. Aegon was already there, drinking wine as he normally did. 

"Getting drunk early?" I asked. 

"Never too early, dear" he said. 

I rolled my eyes, placing my necklace on my bedside. I watched as he drank cup after cup, eventually leaving. Drunk Aegon was one of the most annoying things in the realm. He wouldn't shut up and just changed into a different person. I ended up at Saera's chambers, spending the rest of my day with my sisters.