Blood of the Dragon

Dragons Rage

Grand Sept

"It's only been half a year since my mother died, and I have a feeling that they want to overthrow my brother as heir. I know how those men plot the moment Rhaegon leaves the council. They don't have the courage to tell it to his face." Rhaenyra said.

"You should not concern yourself with the matters of kings and Lords, Rhaenyra." Alicent assured.

"I'm just disappointed in how my father allows it." Rhaenyra stated.

"I'm sure he's trying his best." Alicent said. She had just come from visiting the king and was looking for Rhaegon, but found Rhaenyra instead. "Come kneel with me. I find this is a way to be with my mother. I know it may sound foolish, but..."

"I don't think it's foolish." Rhaenyra said. She then knelt down. "What do I say?"

"Whatever you wish. It's only for the gods to know." Alicent said.

Rhaenyra started crying. "I just want him to see Rhaegon as worthy."

"Your father loves you and Rhaegon. He'll always choose you both." Alicent assured Rhaenyra.

Royal Gardens

Lord Corlys and Princess Rhaenys were meeting with the King. Lord Corlys was still angered by what had happened this morning in the Small Council Chambers, but he thought that maybe he should talk to the King about the Crown Prince marrying his daughter Laena.

"Your grace." Corlys greeted.

"I'm glad we could meet, I know tempers ran hot today, and I wanted to assure you how much I appreciate the bind between our houses, Rhaenys is my favorite cousin, after all." Viserys said.

Corlys spoke up. "I wish to apologize fir the tenor at the small council today, your grace, It was not my intent to make offense." He said.

"Your fleet is one of the realms' most important assets, Lord Corlys, but you must understand, as king, it is my obligation to avoid war until such time it is unavoidable." Viserys pointed out.

"None among us desire open war. Might I speak plainly, your grace?" He asked.

"I always welcome the unfettered thoughts of the council, Lord Corlys." The king said.

"I fear that the eyes of our enemies are presently fixed on the Red Keep. The Queen has passed. The heir to the throne has no wife. The kings own brother is so angered that he has claimed the Targaryen seat on Dragonstone without challenge, and now a foreign power has established a colony in our most critical shipping lanes." Corlys said.

"You paint such an aspirant portrait of my reign, Lord Corlys." The king said.

"It's an honest one, cousin, at the moment, the crown us perceived as being vulnerable." Rhaenys said.

"You believe that this blind incursion in the Stepstones is the only way to demonstrate that we are not?" Viserys asked.

"To elude a storm, you can either sail into it or around it, but you must never await its coming." Lord Corlys said.

"Do you have a specific course of action to propose, my lord?" Viserys asked, and Corlys and Rhaenys looked at each other.

"Join our families. Have Prince Rhaegon wed our daughter, Laena. Unite the two surviving Valyrian houses. With the Targaryen dragons and the Velaryon fleet bound in blood, you can show the realm that the crown's strongest days are ahead, not behind." Corlys proposed.

"I haven't even thought of Rhaegons betrothals. It's been only 6 months since Aemma has passed, and I'm not sure if he's ready yet, and isn't Laena but a child?" Viserys asked.