The White Dragon

KING'S LANDING

THE WHITE DRAGON CHAPTER 37 : KING'S LANDING

A FANFICTION ON HBO'S HOUSE OF THE DRAGON

ELLYN REYNE

Standing at the foot of the throne Ellyn watches as the doors to the throne room open and her son enters, flanked by his friends Leon Estermont, Eddard Waters and Ellyn's own nephew Martyn Reyne who declares loudly "All hail King Aegon. Aegon the magnanimous, second of his name, King of the Andals and the first men, protector of the Realm. Hail King Aegon!"

Ellyn rolls her eyes at the pompous title. Ellyn had grown to despise titles ever since the moniker of the peaceful had been gifted to Viserys. No man should be given such praise or a title for holding his predecessor's peace and Viserys was anything but peaceful. A content man yes and naive but not peaceful.

Aegon passes his mother dipping his head slightly in acknowledgement before sitting down on the throne and addresses the room "Let's have the first petition my Lord Hand." Ellyn watches as Thaddeus raises a hand for the first man to step forward before smiling at her. A scrawny looking farmer steps forward and pulls the hat off his head before bowing his head lowly  "Good morrow, my, uh, Your Grace." The farmer says with a shaky edge in his voice and Aegon chuckles "It's alright. There's no reason to be nervous. What's your name friend?"

"Gr... Uh, Jerard, Your Grace." The farmer states with a stutter and the cronies chuckle as Aegon smiles "Good morrow, Jerard. And how might your king be of service?" The sight of Aegon tending to the smallfolk gave Ellyn some level of comfort that he would be a good king, or at least a king for the people while she and the council sort matters of the realm. "'Tis my flock. Uh, a-a-a tenth of them taken by... the Crown on... on the cusp of winter. If I'd had the time to plan..."

We should return them." Aegon says with a nod and Jerard smiles widely "Truly your grace?" Aegon nods and smiles "Of course. You will need your goats for the winter, won't you?" Jerard clears his throat and wrings his hands together "Sheep, your ... your Grace."

"Sheep, even better. I shall gladly make sure that your flock of sheep become whole once more." Aegon says with a nod of his head and Jerard laughs happily. Ellyn turns and walks up the steps to the throne and whispers lowly "I understand that you wish to be viewed as a good king to the people my boy but we already made a promise to all the Crownlands that a tithing of livestock would be necessary to sustain the dragons for their increased activity and if we cannot make exceptions for your lords of Hayford or Chyttering then you cannot exceptions for farmers."

Aegon looks up at Ellyn with confusion in his eyes and asks "Right... Right. Perhaps we could just return his sheep. He came all this way." Ellyn takes Aegon's hand in her own and softly states "I understand your reasoning but if you return one herder's sheep, Your Grace, you will soon find them all at the foot of your throne expecting the same." Aegon squints his eyes and shakes his head "They won't know." Ellyn sighs and pouts slightly "When the king speaks, all hear it. It's the downfall of power my son."

Ellyn then releases his hand and walks down the steps watching as Lilian gives Aegon a comforting smile before watching as her son glances between Jerard and his mother whilst picking at his cuticles before sadly stating "After further thought, I have decided that I cannot restore your sheep. If war were to break out, my dragons will require feed." Jerard's face falls and Thaddeus clears his throat making Lilian speak up "If I may speak my love."

Aegon raises a brow but nods his head and she smiles "House Rowan would be delighted to offer tribute to the dragons so that the smallfolk may see their flocks returned to their full amount." Gerard sighs and smiles widely in appreciation and falls onto his knees "Thank you your grace. For both you and the king's kindness." Jerard steps down and Aegon raises his hand "Bring forth the next petition."