Enchanted // Rhae Royce

54. Innocent

'Father... I was hoping we might discuss something.' Taelon remarked as he sat down beside him kicking his feet up.

'Rhaenyra?' Viserys questioned 'I do not think she enjoyed Jason Lannister's company. She is cross.'

'You thought she would be?" Taelon countered with a hearty laugh. "Thorin handled that though, whack and another and Gods did you hear him crying out? Thorin in three, not even four and a grown man was begging mercy! It was great, he will be a warrior!"

'That certainly was something." Viserys agreed. "But... Rhaenyra has come of age. She must needs marry a high lord who will honor her, defend her, serve and guide her. Her wishes in this matter are irrelevant.' Viserys declared.

"If so you would have already forced her to marry." Taelon countered. "You don't want to piss off the moody little dragon. I do that enough for the both of us. Shes in a better mood now I think, I wouldnt worry with unions for Nyra just yet." Taelon snooped at the table picking up a scrool. "Oh, Vaemond Velaryon." Taelon declared. "What did those fools get into now?"

'Yeah. He's fighting in the Stepstones, with all the rest of them.' Viserys told him pouring another drink.

"I think you have had enough." Taelon countered taking the glass from him and drinking it himself. "Lets see..." Taelon read through it as the fire crackled and Viserys sighed leaning back in his chair. 'Corlys the cunt and Daemon the douchbag are losing their war.'

'Badly, by all accounts.' Viserys agreed.

'This is a plea for aid. I knew those fuckers could not take the pressure. Then why not send it?' Taelon questioned

'Because it is a war started by two malcontents, unhappy with decisions I made. If I now provide Daemon and Corlys succor, what will that say of their king?' Viserys countered

"That Daemon is useless without you." Taelon declared. "Without the crown. He is nothing and going to die. I'm all for it but I had hoped to kick his ass first before he died.''

'I am forever doomed to anger one person in the pleasing of another.' Viserys reminded him.

' Is it better for the realm if the Crabfeeder thrives, or is vanquished?" Taelon countered.

"You are so smart." Viserys declared.

"Got my brains from you pop." Taelon declared. "Got my stamina and ale tolerance from mum apparently."

+

"What do you think?" Taelon questioned. Taelon wanted to be the one to swoop in and save the day because that was just the kind of man he was. But he also wanted Daemon to fall on his ass. The predicament...

"You are the save the day type of man." Rhae remarked fondly when he got back. 

"I dont want to help." Taelon admitted. "But I want to help... be the one to swoop in and then Daemon knows, they all will."

"That you are superior in every way?" Rhae pondered. 

"Something like that." Taelon mused. 

"This might sound harsh, but-" Rhae began. "I dont care if he's dead or alive in the end." Taelon smiled back at her as her arms wrapped around him. "I went so many years just pretending he didnt exist that now having you in my life, you as my husband..." He kissed her silencing her. "Better than I ever could have hoped for." she finished as he pulled away. 

"He isnt the only one there though." Rhae added. "The velaryons are your kin, they are there fighting, their soldiers are fighting... innocents in this war Daemon and Corlys started." Rhae reminded him. "Do they deserve to die because we dont care if Daemon lives?"