"The lowborn claiming dragons, was it larys idea?" Jace realized. "Larys strong?"
"You were enthusiastic enough when Ser Steffon made his claim." Rhaenyra countered.
"He was the Lord Commander of your Queensguard. Heir to the Dun Fort. These people are..."
"Courageous."
"Mongrels." Jace corrected before marching off.
"Jace." She begged. He turned to her. "Think what is at stake."
"Im proud of you. This was a brave idea I'm honestly honestly surprised my niece agreed to it however." Avalon admitted
"Why?" Larys mused
"you know why."
"I know well what is at stake. House Targaryen is the blood of the dragon. If any may lay claim to it, what are we then?" Jace rasped.
"The rightful rulers of the Seven Kingdoms." Rhaenyra clarified.
"And what if one of your baseborn, silver-haired dragonriders decides he wants to rule the Seven Kingdoms?" Jace demanded. "Did the Conqueror's dream foretell that?"
Vaera dyed her hair silver to match her mother but danika and katya liked their strong roots. They had the violet eyes from their mother as their undeniably targaryen trait.
"What else would you have me do?" Rhaenyra pondered leaning back in her chair. "Prosecute a war, which we will lose, in which thousands will die. Or fly against Vhagar myself? Or perhaps you will fly against her on Vermax." Rhaenyra pondered. "Jace, with these riders, we can end a needless war. I may take my rightful place on my father's throne."
" And when you die?"
"You are my heir." She chuckled weakly.
"Did you think I would have dark hair?" Jace questioned after a moment. "When you took James Barnes into your bed, did you think I might favor him, or did it not cross your mind?"
"Jacaerys..."
Ser Barnes was a fine man, but he had said off to war and he didn't return. He had a strong jaw and thick black hair. He passed that down to his boys.
"I'm no fool, Mother!" Jace demanded. "The proof is here for all to see. Yet I may argue my legitimacy to succeed you because I have a dragon. And now you say you will strip that from me too." He rasped. Rhaenyra got up moving to her son.
"I mislike all of this." she whispered running her hands down his arms.
"Then don't pursue it." Jace begged.
"Whats-"
"Hushh!" Vaera demanded swatting, a hand at her sister " they in the middle of a bastard argument."
" what does that even mean?" Danika countered.
"But I cannot gainsay that which the gods have laid before me." Rhaenyra corrected. Jace shook his head, he felt like he was being replaced, he couldn't look at her.
He moved to danika and she understood. He grabbed her hand and pulled her close. She held him.
" you are my prince Jacaerys velaryon. Your hair color doesn't change that. It is you in your blood. Dragon rider is in your blood." Danika whispered kissing him.
"What is this?" Viserys questioned, his face riddled with disease the crown held in his fingertips. Daemon moved slowly towards him.
"I never wanted it." Viserys told Daemon. "I was right not to. All that pain it caused. It crushes whoever wears it." Daemon focused on the crown, which he coveted and looked to his brother... his broken decaying brother. "You always wanted it, Daemon. Do you want it still?"
" have you ever wanted the crown?"
" I was the third born son, I entertain the idea of when my brother became king, but I never thought it was an actuality." Taelon answered.
" he was choosing a successor?" Alys questioned rolling over in bed. Taelon shrugged
"Everyone thought daemon would be his heir. I didn't think you would pass over my elder brother for me. That's just not the way of the world." Taelon countered. " besides King's lives are so stressful. I'm having much more fun as a prince." He whispered lips trailing up her stomach until his body covered hers.
⚔️
"I hate this." Jace murmured arms crossed tightly over his chest
"Worst case scenario we get a bastard dragon rider." Vaera shrugged
"Thats the worst case scenario?" Danika murmured as rhaenyra spoke to the clearly just as unhappy dragon trainers.
"You didnt let me finish." Vaera sassed. "Best case scenario they all burn and jace stops being a little bitch." She added smugly.
"Where are they going?" Danika questioned as the dragon masters marched off.
"They refuse this merger of the bastards as well." Jace answered satisfied but rhaenyra stepped forward.
"I used to think I knew what it was to claim a dragon, but... I understand now that what I thought I knew is... ash in the wind. Perhaps it is blood" Rhaenyra remarked walking among them.
"Why didnt any of the dragon trainers try to claim one? They sort of listen to them. The dragons that is." Danika realized.
"It just shows that you dont need to have dragonseed for a dragon to listen to you." Vaera agreed.
"The dragon named Vermithor... is the largest in the world after Vhagar, and... perhaps, the most fierce." Rhaenyra informed them. "He's called the Bronze Fury." she looked among them. "We'll go to him now. And... may the gods bless you."
Vaera chuckled stepping forward as she cleared her throat.
"Some of you may die but its a sacrifice, she is willing to make." Vaera decreed.
Fear flooded the people as they saw Vermithor appear.
"Come forward Vermithor." Rhaenyra commanded. He appeared slowly behind her, they heard him before they saw him.
"Be calm vermithor". Rhaenyra commanded. "Be calm. Serve!" She shouted in high Valyrian he growled back at her but she reached out s hand touching his snout. He closed his eyes and she mirrored him.
"Who among you would be first?"
"I dont think I want to see this." Danika whispered holding tight to Jace's hand. He pulled her closer.
"You dont have to watch. I have to make sure my mother doesnt do something stupid." Jace offered but before they had a chance to leave fire blazed out. Danika curled into Jace as he protected her from the flames.
YOU ARE READING
Last Man Standing / Jacaerys Velaryon / Alys Rivers / Taelon Targaryen
FanfictionJace wanted control of his own life. To be seen as a man. Alys wanted a man that didnt fall for her tricks. One brave enough to take action. 🐉 "You are written in the stars. You are a masterpiece." 🗡️ most characters belong to grrm any mature c...
