Fire and Blood

Chapter 132: Filler Arc ― Rhaenys, Jaehaerys, and Mysaria

Red Keep ― Upper battlements...

"Mazēdan drōmon Ābrāzmā Baelā vumbiarzȳ. (Take the egg to Lady Baela's room.)" Jaehaerys gave instructions in High Valyrian. "Dijemiot hannēliks lōtūljās rūs syt. (And see to it that it's placed in the warming chamber for the baby.)"

"Sīrgō, dārilaros ñuhys. (At once, my prince.)" The Dragonkeepers obeyed and left, carrying the brazier to the prince's room.

Because his cousin-wife Baela was due to give birth at any moment, Jaehaerys personally took it upon himself to retrieve a dragon egg from the Dragonpit for their unborn child. Following the tradition of House Targaryen, he chose a platinum white egg adorned with bright golden swirls to be placed beside his soon-to-arrive child's cradle. As rumors circulated among the nobles at court, speculation ran rife on the gender of the impending progeny. Some confidently predicted the birth of a son to propagate the royal line, while others pondered the possibility that a daughter might be on the way. Before the Dance, neither Jaehaerys nor Baela had attached much importance to the gender of their firstborn child.

But that was then.

Now...

Jaehaerys looked tired. The emotional toll of loss weighed heavily on him, leaving him physically drained, mentally burdened, and emotionally burned out. The deaths of his brothers Daeron and Viserys and his cousin Lucerys haunted him; why they were gone, yet he was still here, breathing. Every decision weighed heavily on him as he started second-guessing himself. Despite his grief, he couldn't shake the deep sense of guilt and responsibility for not being able to protect those he cared about. Jaehaerys believed he could have done more for Daeron, Viserys, and Lucerys. He oversaw the whole operation to subdue the other Caltrop-aligned regions and bring them back to the fold. He made the call. And now, he lost a cousin and another brother. Now, left to grapple with his thoughts in solitude, Jaehaerys found himself isolated and lost in contemplation.

"The last time I saw a Targaryen prince this depressed was the day after Queen Aemma's funeral."

Jaehaerys quickly looked over his shoulder and spotted Rhaenys Targaryen and Corlys Velaryon making their way in. The Sea Snake, now walking without a cane, gently guided his wife in her wheelchair. Rhaenys had already awoken from her coma since the Battle of Rook's Rest, and even though she no longer had Meleys by her side and would never walk again, she continued to offer counsel and guidance to those who sought her wisdom. Rhaenys' sharp mind had not wavered. "Princess Rhaenys. Lord Corlys," he acknowledged their presence.

"Brooding was never your forte, Prince Jaehaerys," Corlys commented. "It's almost unbecoming."

Is that supposed to make me feel better, Lord Corlys? "There's nothing you could say or do that I haven't done to myself..."

"That's enough of that now. You are too hard on yourself, lad. There was nothing you could have done for either of them."

"Instead of dwelling on what may or might not have been," Rhaenys advised, "look inside yourself and ask whether or not the sacrifices made along the path you've chosen to walk were necessary to protect those beyond your understanding."

"Princess," Jaehaerys spoke, "Viserys, Daeron, Luke... they were my responsibility. I was in command when we chose to act without my father's approval. I made the call." He sighed, shaking his head. "How can I call myself heir to the Iron Throne if I can't even protect my own family?"

"You've done more than most beyond your years. Accept your failings, Jaehaerys; failure can be harsh, yet it can serve as a valuable lesson for growth and self-improvement - but do not let it govern your life. The more you keep your emotions bottled up inside, the more you'll only end up hurting yourself and pushing others away. It's okay not always to have everything figured out, to make mistakes, and to ask for help when needed. Remember that growth and learning come from facing challenges and setbacks."