The Crimson King

Prologue

The midwives scurried across the room, frantically fetching fresh, warm clothes and anything to assist the labour well; the young Queen's screams and wails were heard throughout the chamber. Many attendants worried that her birth would end like that of the last Queen.

The aged grand master, Mellos, stood at the edge of the birthing bed, his weathered eyes keenly observing the young Queen. He could discern the signs of crowning, the miraculous beginnings of a baby's head emerging into the world.

"You must push, my queen; I can see the head," Mellos urged, his voice a steady reassurance amidst the room's chaos.

Her screams intensified in the room until they heard the cries and screams of a baby, a boy. The Queen's face, contorted with pain just moments ago, now lit up with a radiant smile of relief and joy as she heard the first cries of her child, a sound that filled the room with a new kind of life.

"Your grace, you have a son. Did you and the king pick a name?"

"It's a boy," she faintly whispered. "Yes, your grace, I shall inform the King."

Overwhelmed with love, she gazed down at her newborn son, marvelling at his perfection with his deep violet eyes and a noticeable small set of fine silver tresses. At that moment, the world seemed to fade away, leaving only the two in a bubble of pure love.

Looking down upon him, "You, my love, shall be Jaehaerys."

The Queen's relief was short-lived, replaced by a wave of pain that washed over her. She had fulfilled her duty by providing the king with an heir, but now, more pain. "Mellos, what is happening?" she gasped, her voice strained with agony.

"the afterbirth? No, another child is coming; you must push."

Faintly gasping, "another I don't think I can."

"You must, your grace; it will be easier than the first," the old fool said. The Queen's screams intensified in the chamber before another cry entered the room from another baby who, unlike their brother, was a lot more vocal when he entered the room.

"Another son, your grace, the seven have blessed you with an heir and a spare for House Targaryen."

Bursting into the room came King Viserys to see his new child speaking to his wife, "I hear, my dear, that we have a son."

Looking towards the babe in Mellos' hands, "Ah, you must be my firstborn son; you will be named Aegon." Holding his son with happiness and finally has a son after all these years and the sacrifices he has put Aemma through.

Not noticing his wife calling him to see the babe in her arms, "I am afraid, my love, that Jaehaerys here is your firstborn son. Aegon is only your second."

Now noticing the babe in her hands, he comes over to notice, "Ah, so you are my firstborn son."

The court rejoiced at the news that the young Queen, Alicent Hightower, had successfully given birth to two healthy sons, an heir and a spare for the realm.

No one was as happy as the hand of the king, Otto Hightower, not as grandsire but seeing his ambitions of having his blood on the throne. Now everything that was left, was for the king to  name Jahaerys as heir. Yet, it was not to happen, as the king chose to keep his daughter as heir in the memory of his first wife.