OF BASTARDS & DRAGONS || Aenar Targaryen [1]

20 • MARRIAGE & MISCARRIAGE

It became accustomed to Aenar like a habit, his wife warmed his bed during the day and his mistress warmed it at night. To Francesa, sex was a duty, to Alicent, sex was love making.

The day began with a hip bearing the banner of House Velaryon sailed to Kings Landing. Amongst all dragons in the realm, The Red Queen, Meleys was very swift, had scarlet scales and pink membrane on her wings, her crest, horns and claws were bright as copper. Despise old, Meleys is a fearsome dragon when roused, cunning, daring and was no stranger to battle.

The pink she dragon circled the port several times while the Seasnake docked at the White Harbour.

In the sky, Meleys roared and came swooping down landing in a wake of dust outside one of the enormous vault tunnels ringing the DragonPits. Rheanys came down, rubbing her dragon to calm her down.

Immediately the Dragon keepers approaches The Queen Who Never Was, and bowed, before working to wrangle Meleys as they guided her into the valut.

A royal wheel house with men-at-arms and knights were at the ready. Rhaenys patiently strides to the carriage and waits for her Lord husband to join her. As soon as Corlys arrived, they took off and rode to the Red Keep to see the King.

It was early in the morning. Birds flew in air and nested in treetops, softly chirping like music. The warm breeze carried their song to the entites down below.

Viserys took the stone way that led to the deeper royal gardens, a place were eyes won't be wandering, whispering or ease dropping. Taking a lowest path he could see the Black Water Bay ahead in it's independence as he caught the sight of the Velaryons approaching him.

"Your Grace."

"Lord Corlys." Viserys smiles, joining his cousin and her husband. I'm glad we could meet. I know tempers ran hot today, and I wanted to assure you how much I value the bond between our houses. Rhaenys is my favorite cousin after all." He remarked.

Lord Corlys only straightened his posture, giving an illusion confidence and Rheanys only smiled strained.

"I wish to apologize for the tenor at the Small Council, Your Grace. It was not my intent to make offense."

"Your fleet is one of the realm's most important assets, Lord Corlys. But you must understand, as King, it is my obligation to avoid war until such time it is unavoidable."

"None among us desire open war." Lord Corlys paused for a moment before moving on to the reason he came here. "Might I speak plainly, Your Grace?"

"I always welcome the unfettered thoughts of my council." Viserys urged.

"I fear that the eyes of our enemies are presently fixed on the Red Keep. The Queen has passed. Aenar has been chosen as the next inline to the Iron Throne. Daemon disinherited, has claimed the Targaryen seat on Dragonstone without challenge. And now, a foreign power has established a colony in our most critical shipping lane."

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

"It is an honest one, cousin." Rheanys finally spoke up. "At the moment, The Crown is perceived as being vulnerable."

"And a blind incursion in the Stepstones is the only way to demonstrate that we are not?" Viserys reasoned.

"To elude a storm, you can either sail into it, or around it."Corlys spoke in riddles like a wise archmaester. "But you must never await its coming."

"Do you have a specific course of action to propose, my lord?"

Lord Corlys and Princess Rheanys shared a look as if Viserys had reached the matter they anticipated. "Join our families." Corlys began.