The Dragon Queen

CHAPTER 39

Six years had passed and things have changed in the keep. Aegon and his wife welcomed three children onto the world, Elaine, Quinton, Vissera. Aegon and his family travel between Kingslanding and Dorne.

Aeron and Helaena welcomed twins, Jaheara and Jahearys and reside in Kingslanding.

Aerion and Aemond are not wed as of yet. Maelon returned three years after the incident at Driftmark and Daeron still resides in Oldtown.

*****

Rhaenys sat on the Driftwood throne with Baela at her side. The maester standing in front of them.

"It's been near six years since I last saw my Lord husband, Maester. I must know...will he live?" Rhaenys asked the Maester. She was worried about Corlys as he had left for six years to fight in the stepstones.

"He led his sailors into an ambush, the ship made to look as if it were abandoned, in the fighting his neck was slashed by a dagger. He fell overboard into the sea. The wound was servere, much blood was lost, but the greater concern is the fever that followed. The ships maester said that, it burns from within."

Rhaenys feared that her husband would not make it.  Baela looked to her with concern all over her face, "The ravens came from where?"

"Even Port, your grace" the Maester replied, "So they arrive in three days" she stated.

Vaemond overhead everything they said, "Let all be made ready to receive him Maester Caven."

Baela turned to her grandmother, "The Seasnake is strong" she reassured Rhaenys,

"No doubt. And yet I have seen blood fever overcome men half his age."Vaemond spoke up.

"I will not suffer the talk of crows in my house Vaemond." Rhaenys stated.

"I love my brother, but we must be honest with ourselves. You may greet his ship to find him gone. And who will take the Driftwood throne?" Vaemond asked.

"My grandmother seems quite comfortable here." Says Baela.

"She presides only in the absence of her husband, upon his death the seat passes-"

"To Jacaerys Velaryon, as is my Lord-husbands desire." Rhaenys interrupted him.

"I am the Seasnakes closest kin, his own blood." Vaemond stated.

"Be careful, good-brother, one would take your words as treason," Rhaenys warned him. Vaemond stepped closer to her.

"I speak the truth Rhaenys, and you know it."

"The matter has been decided." Rhaenys said.

"By a man whose ambition has brought us down, calamity after calamity. My brother only cares for the history books, but what of the Velaryon line? Is it to be snuffed out? Supplanted by the pups of house Strong? Driftmark is mine by all rights. And while I should like your support, I do not need it! The winds have shifted, the crown has good reason to take my side."

Rhaenys shakes her head slowly. "My cousin, the King would have your tongue for this."

"But it is not a King who sits the throne these days good-sister, it's our future Queen does."

****

Rhaelys stood behind Aelea as she did her daughter's hair. Aelea was fiddling with a doll she had gotten from Aemond a moon ago.

The chamber door opens and Maelon entered. He walked towards his sister and lays a kiss to her cheek. Aelea turns to him and smiles.

"Good morrow sister." He turns to his mother and kisses her cheek as well. "Good morrow mother."

Rhaelys looks to Maelon. "Good morrow Maelon."

"A raven came from grandsire, it's for you." He says handing her the raven.

Rhaelys took the raven. What could Vaemond possibly want now? She read the raven and looked to Maelon.

"What is it?" He asked his mother.

"Your grandsire wishes to petition for the Driftwood throne, he wants to name you his heir."

"The Driftwood throne? Is Lord Corlys dying?"

"No but he has been injured."

Rhaelys and Maelon shared a knowing look.

****

Rhaelys went to the training yard and watched the boys training. Aeron and Aemond were fighting. The sounds of swords clashing could be heard.

Aerion walked up to his mother. "Mother."he said getting his mother's attention. She turned to look at him.

"Aerion, what is it?"she asked.

He lifted a letter that was in his hands. Rhaelys looked confused.

"Rhaena sent a raven. It seems that aunt Rhaenyra and her family will be coming to Kingslanding."He informed his mother.

The information didn't seem to shock Rhaelys. She knew that Rhaenyra would come to petition for her son.

"Well then, it seems that we have to prepare for their visit."

Rhaelys looked to the two boys who were still busy fighting below. Aerion knew his uncle and brother well, he knew that they were still not over what had occurred on Driftmark.

No one was over what happened at Driftmark.

Criston noticed Rhaelys standing. "My princess would you like to participate?"

Rhaelys smiled down at him. It has been a while since she held a sword. "Well it has been an age since I held a sword."

Aeron looked to his mother shocked. "I didn't know you could fight mother."

Rhaelys couldn't remember exactly when she had last touch a sword. "I could or I can if memory serves me well. I fought at the StepStones you know. Well not really but I trained with a sword."

Aeron was amazed at his mother. He didn't know his mother could fight. "What else are you keeping from us mother?"

Rhaelys just smiled mischievously at him. She left and returned after a while dressed in training clothes.

She entered the training yard and chose a sword. She looked to Criston. "Shall we?"

Criston took a sword and stood in front of Rhaelys, getting in position.

"Don't hold back ser."

Criston nodded and the two started circling each other. Rhaelys grew impatient and attacked. Criston dodged the blow just in time.

The boys watched their mother and sister in astonishment. The two fought for a while until Criston tripped over a rock causing him to fall. Rhaelys took the opportunity and held the sword to his throat.

Rhaelys breathed heavily. "Yield."

Criston smiled and sank his head in defeat. He dropped his sword. "I yield."

Rhaelys smiled victoriously.