The Dragon Queen

CHAPTER 46

Rhaelys sat on the iron throne when the doors opened. Rhaenys entered with a few men following after her.

"Princess Rhaelys."

"I'm queen Rhaelys now as you may have witnessed and you all are Traitors to the realm."

"I have been directed to deliver a message to you."

"Well then let's hear it then."

"The queen Rhaenyra Targaryen first of her name, queen of the andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men, lady of the seven kingdoms and protector of the Realm in her will and desire for peace is offering terms." Rhaenys starts.

"Terms?" Rhaelys asked confused.

"Acknowledge Rhaenyra as queen and swear obeisance before the her. In exchange her grace will confirm your possession of Dragonstone which will pass to your true-born son Aeron upon your death. The rest of your children will get to keep their royal status but will be stripped of their claim to the throne as well as any children you might have with prince Daemon."

"I sit the iron throne. I wear the Conqueror's crown and I wield the Conqueror's sword I was anointed by the high septon infront of thousands. I was named heir to the iron throne when I was but four and ten. My father never changed his mind , for almost twenty years he upheld my claim not showing any desire to change it."

Rhaelys stood up.

"You tell my sister that I have terms of my own. She should accept me as her queen and swear obeisance before the iron throne and in exchange I will not put her head on a spike for treason. That's my terms."

Rhaenys moves to walk to the door before she was stopped.

"Oh and before you leave. If she does not comply it won't be the sweet princess Rhaelys that comes for her it will be the queen of the seven kingdoms."

****

Rhaelys sat in front of the council. All of the dragonriders were present, everyone except Helaena, Aisha and Aelea who couldn't fly her dragon for obvious reasons.

"She what?" Daemon asked.

"She sent terms. Terms to which I denied."

"As you should." Rhaenyra was starting to become a nuisance to Daemon.

"I received a raven from Highgarden your grace. They agreed to send food and men in exchange for a dragon or two to guard them. They fear Rhaenyra would use dragons in retaliation for not declaring for her cause." Otto informed Rhaelys.

"Of course. We also have to send ravens to the lords reminding them of their oaths."

"Send us." Aeron said.

"What?"

"Dragons can fly faster than ravens and they are more convincing, send us."

"The prince is right. It would be a show of force." Said Lord Jasper

Rhaelys looked to Daemon who nodded slightly.

"Okay. Aerion and Rhaena will fly to highgarden, Rhaena will stay as her dragon is less likely to kill the livestock and guard them and Aerion will return with the food. Aeron will go to the north. Aemond and Maelon will go to Stormsend." She instructed.

"The rest will stay here and patrol the skies." Daemon said.

"Your grace the city watch needs a new Commander seen as ser Harwin is dead." Larys says.

"The gold Cloaks were always prince Daemons yoke but seen as he will have other duties to attend to he cannot be reaffirmed as their Commander." Rhaelys said.

"Your grace if I may?" Criston asked permission to speak.

"Of course ser Criston."

"Prince Aemond is a fine warrior and shows traits of leadership your grace. I think that it would be a honor to him if you were name him Lord Commander."

Rhaelys looked to Aemond. "Is this what you want?"

"Yes, your grace."

"Very well then. I install prince Aemond as the new Commander of the CityWatch."

****

Rhaelys stood at the Wierwood tree when the children approached dressed in their riding leathers.

"Everyone says Targaryens are closer to God's than men , perhaps we are I don't know. But we serve the seven kingdoms so we have to follow their beliefs. I want you to swear that you will go as messengers and not warriors, only fight if you are provoked and need protection."

Rhaelys nods her head to the septon. "Swear it to me on the seven."

The children looked to Rhaelys and then the book which was in the septons hands.

"I swear it." They all said.

"Good."

Rhaelys hands a letter to Aeron. "Lord Cregan Stark is close to your age, I think you would enjoy each other's company."

He bowed taking the letter. "Your grace."

"I'm your mother before I'm queen Aeron,  remember that."

She hands a letter to Aemond. "Lord Boris Baratheon is stubborn and hard headed but he is power hungry use that as a tool."

Rhaelys turned to Aerion and Rhaena. "The two of you have to be careful. You all have to be."

Everyone made their way to their respective dragon and flew away, the only thing heard were the dragons roars.

Hours have past and Rhaelys grew nervous. Daemon noticed and moved to stand next to her. "They are alright."

"How do you know?"

"Well they are Targaryens, we are meant for the skies."

"If we were meant to fly we'd all have wings."

"Well we don't but our dragons do."

"But we don't, we're people. I'm mean the dragons are not Targaryen, my dragon isn't call Vermithor Targaryen."

"It might as well be." Daemon says.

"Thats not-" Rhaelys was interrupted by a roar. She looked out and saw a single dragon returning and it seems Daemon noticed as well.

"Is that Aemond?" Dread started creeping into Rhaelys.

"Come on."

The two of them walked through the corridors. They entered the council room. Rhaelys stood and waited until finally someone arrived.

Aemond and Maelon walked in soaking wet.

"What happened?"

"I didn't mean to. You have to believe me." Aemond said.

"Aemond. What have you done?"

"We weren't alone in Stormsend, mother. Luke and Rhaenyra was there as well. We fought and we couldn't see anything. One thing led to another. One moment I was flying away from Rhaenyra and syrax the next the was an arrow sticking out of Seastorm killing him. We fell but I jumped." Maelon explained.

"Arrax attacked Vhagar. I lost control of her and ended up killing Luke." Aemond said.

Rhaelys knew Rhaenyra would retaliate. She looked to Daemon.