The Bronze Dragon-A House of the Dragon fanfic

Chapter 11

It was early in the new year when Princes Jacaerys and Lucerys, accompanied by princesses Baela and Rhaena and Lady Rhaenys, arrived in Runestone. Ostensibly, it was for the Princes to become more acquainted with their heritage in the Vale, and for the princesses to become more familiar with their brother.

However, what Rhaenyra had missed was that the dynamics had already been established, particularly in regard to my father and Lucerys. The night that boy had slashed out Prince Aemond's eye and escaped without consequence had likely made him a marked man in my father's eyes. The two of them would never get along until the day Lucerys met his death.

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127 AC

Arriving at Runestone hadn't been the difficult part; there were several ports dotted along the coastline, and they found one that would take their ship easily enough. With the children's dragons not yet old enough to ride, Rhaenys had resolved to travel with them on the ship. Meleys was of course unhappy about being left behind, but she had obeyed readily enough.

A small party was waiting at the port for them as they stepped off the boat, with a tall, strapping young man standing with a group of several knights. The young man stepped forward, removing his helmet to reveal "Lady Rhaenys, Princes, Princesses, I am Willam Royce, son of Ser Gerold." He stood at attention and bowed his head. "Lord Daevar has commanded me to be your escort to the castle. Come, we have a wheelhouse ready for you."

"I'll ride, if it's all the same to you." Baela said, gesturing towards one of the horses. She was quickly followed by a murmur of agreement from Jace and Luke, while Rhaena stayed silent. She had been hoping that Daevar would be here to greet them, but she supposed he would be waiting for them at the castle itself.

"I will as well." Rhaenys said. "What of you, Rhaena?"

"I will take the wheelhouse, I believe." She said quietly.

"I'll go with you." Luke said. Much as he had wanted to ride one of the horses, far be it from him not to be the gallant protector of a princess.

"I'll go and see if I can get some spare horses; it wouldn't do for knights of Runestone to be on foot, after all." Willam replied before heading over to a small stable. A few brief words, and the stablemaster agreed to release three horses, provided they were returned later. Really, the whole thing was done far too easily for there to be any genuine dislike by the smallfolk. With Jace, Rhaenys and Baela mounted, the party set off for Runestone.

It was nowhere as impressive as the Red Keep of course, but Jace was nonetheless impressed by the ancient building. He had brushed up on his Vale history while on the ship there, and knew all about how the Royces had led an alliance of First Men against the Arryns during the Andal invasions, until the death of Robar Royce II, that was.

As they were waved through the gates, they could see two lads in the courtyard, one practising with a training dummy, and the other overseeing his training. One second glance, Rhaenys recognised the boy in-training as Daeron, while the one giving him pointers on proper form and strikes was unknown to her. He was just in the middle of showing him how to strike with the shield when Baela called out. "Cousin! How are you?"

Daeron immediately halted his training and removed his helmet, wiping his brow as he did so. "Princess Baela, good to see you again. You too, Lady Rhaenys." He paused for a second when he saw Rhaenyra's eldest son was with them. "Jacaerys." He said, rather bitterly with a glare, before Luke and Rhaena exited the wheelhouse. "Princess Rhaena, Lucerys. Welcome to Runestone."

Rhaena curtseyed. "A pleasure to be here, cousin. It is a lovely place."

"It does have a certain charm to it." The other boy said, stepping forward and bowing. "Kermit Tully, at your service."