Chapter 7: House Baratheon II
(Third Person POV)
It was nightfall, Rhaegon took his time to reach his Uncle's whereabouts, a cliff overlooking one of the coasts of the Stormlands. He had been riding for hours on horseback, annoyed that he couldn't take his dragon mount.
Before him, he was able to see a massive bonfire that was lit, the flames reaching several dozen feet into the air, the intense heat radiating off and reaching Rhaegon who was around 40 yards away.
Around the bonfire, he saw dozens of soldiers and townsfolk raising their arms in the air, in a worshiping stance. It was a disturbing sight to Rhaegon, who slowly rode his horse towards them.
He noticed some of the soldiers were holding banners with a strange sigil, his House's Stag in the center of a flaming heart. He frowned as he saw this, completely baffled at the tasteless modifications.
He stopped his horse as he reached the first group of people who barely paid him any attention, his eyes darting around, looking for his Uncle amidst the zealots' crowd.
"Ahem." He cleared his throat
One of the soldiers turned around and upon seeing him, he widened his eyes, "S-Ser Rhaegon!" He exclaimed
Rhaegon looked at him, "Bring me my Uncle." He said, "And this Red-Priestess he's been spending time with."
The soldier nodded and scurried off, shouting for Stannis Baratheon, "Milord!" He called, "Ser Rhaegon is here!"
As he shouted, the crowd began to part in the middle, making way for Rhaegon as he was able to make out his Uncle in front of the bonfire, a lone figure outlined by the glow of the flames.
He was holding what seemed like a large blanket covered in blood as the soldier reached him, "Milord...Your nephew...." the soldier said
Stannis slowly turned around and looked at Rhaegon, who hadn't moved his horse from where he had stopped, "Nephew." He said, "You have come."
Stannis's eyes were as devoid of any emotion as always, but this time they were deeper than before, which unsettled Rhaegon.
"Uncle." Rhaegon said as he looked around, "These banners, whose are they?"
"Mine." Stannis said, "The Burning Stag."
"Hm." Rhaegon said as he leaned forward, "You are of House Baratheon, Lord Uncle. Am I to understand this is some sort of treason?"
"Nonsense." Stannis said, "I am to petition to my Lord Brother, your Father, that I wish to branch from the Main House and begin mine own....branch house. We will still be Baratheon, we will serve Robert and the Main House. But due to this new....shift of religion, I am afraid there will be complications."
"Shift of Religion?" Rhaegon said as he looked around, "Where is this Red Woman? I've heard unusual reports, Uncle, that you're spending more time in your chamber with a Priestess than your own Lady-Wife and Daughter. I've heard she is quite the beauty."
"You speak of the Lady Melisandre." Stannis said as he looked to his left, "Come forth, My Lady."
From the group of people next to him, a young-looking woman walked forward, wearing a red dress and hood. Rhaegon saw that the rumors of her beauty were true, she was beautiful, her piercing green eyes were mesmerizing, and her dark red hair draped gracefully down her shoulders.
"Hm." Rhaegon said as he sat atop his horse
Melisandre bowed slightly, "Ser Rhaegon." She said, "I am honored to be in the presence of a Dragonrider."
"My Lady?" Rhaegon raised his eyebrow at Stannis, "Since when is a Red Priestess a Lady?"
"Careful, Rhaegon." Stannis said sternly, "You are speaking to the one who opened my eyes to the Lor-"
"Ser Rhaegon, Lord Uncle." Rhaegon said seriously, "You of all people have told me to call others as they are. I am a Knight, you shall address me as such."
Stannis nodded, "My apologies, Nephew." He said, "Ser Rhaegon, Lady Melisandre is the one who aided me in my journey to find myself."
Rhaegon looked at the priestess, "Lord of Light, huh?" He said as his horse shifted, "Is that the one that demands sacrifices to the fire?"
"Offerings, my good Ser." Melisandre said, "The flames require an offering of material and they shall bring forth the sight that my Lord provides."
"Even if that offering is human flesh?" Rhaegon asked
"If it comes to that, then yes," Melisandre spoke truthfully
"Hm." Rhaegon said as he looked to a soldier to his right, "You, hold my horse."
Rhaegon dismounted his steed as the soldier held the reigns, he then proceeded to walk towards them, the heat of the bonfire not fazing him one bit. He was looking at all the people gathered, consisting of soldiers and common folk. This was a sight he wasn't used to, his Uncle in the presence of such a mix of people.
"Human sacrifices are frowned upon." Rhaegon said as he stopped several meters away from Stannis and Melisandre, "Uncle, you best not be doing something so foolish."
"No, Ser Rhaegon." Stannis said, "I will not do such things. The Lord has asked for material items, possessions, and such."
"Is that so?" Rhaegon said, "And which of these fools are the ones who opened their mouths, calling me a pretender and coward?"
"Those I have already hanged." Stannis said, "I may have found a different religion, but I am still a Lord of House Baratheon. No insults to my blood shall be tolerated, Nephew."
Rhaegon then looked at the bonfire, "I was called a pretender when one of our men asked them about these bonfires." he said, "Because they are like those I light in the North."
"I am not saying you are one of our own, Ser Rhaegon." Melisandre said, "But I can understand why you may light the bonfires, even in the North. The Lord provides to even those who don't believe. Especially when the Night can be dark and full of terrors."
Rhaegon looked around and saw that aside from the massive fire, the area around them was pitch-black, completely dark. One could say that a whole army could move in on Stannis and his group and they could not see it, even with the fire.
"Oh yes." Rhaegon said with a sarcastic tone, "The night here does seem filled with terrors."
Melisandre raised her eyebrows, "You may not know it, but you have made....Human offerings to The Lord." She said, "You and your Dragon set ablaze many men years ago during the Ironborn Rebellion."
Rhaegon narrowed his eyes, "Careful, woman." He said seriously, "You are about to make some serious accusations."
"Not an accusation, good Ser, an observation." Melisandre said, "The Targaryens and their dragons have done what they have done best in the past, Burn. And such actions are pleasing to the Lord of Light, he accepts you and your family as his. That is the reason your Dragons have retu-"
"Quiet." Rhaegon said, "This isn't the first time The Red Cult has claimed they were the reason for the return of the dragons. When my Grandfather's Grandfather died in Summerhall and Sundancer and Arraxes hatched, the Red Comet was in the skies. You think your Lord of Light brought forth the bleeding star?"
"Aegon the Unlikely sacrificed his flesh and bones to the flames, Nephew." Stannis said, "Because of that, the Targaryen Dynasty was resurrected to its old glory, or at least near it. It is no coincidence."
"You follow our Lord's way, Rhaegon." Melisandre said with a smile, "You do light these fires in the North and spread his warmth to them."
"Yea, to keep me and my dragon warm, you imbecile." Rhaegon scowled, "And the people of the North. Not because I worship some light god."
"I have warned you once, Nephew." Stannis said seriously, "About speaking to Lady Melisandre without respect."
Rhaegon looked down at the ground and chuckled, "Interesting." He said, "You warned me, Uncle....Indeed you did."
Rhaegon then made his way past the group of people as they parted to let him through. He slowly climbed a massive dune of dirt and stone that was near the bonfire, illuminated by the flames that were started by the cult.
Melisandre looked at Stannis, "What is he doing?" She asked
"I do not know." Stannis said
He stood atop it, looking down at them, "The Night is surely dark, isn't it....Lady Melisandre." He said while adding a tone of sarcasm to the word Lady, "And oh boy, is it full of terrors....but for you and your fellow Zealots, I think one Terror will be at the top of your worries."
Melisandre looked at him with a frown, "What could you mean, good Ser?" She asked
Stannis placed his hand on the handle of his sword and stepped in front of the Priestess, "Get behind me." He said
It was almost as he was aware of what his nephew was planning on doing.
Rhaegon gave him a serious look,
"Naejot Māzīs, Morghul"
As he uttered those words, a massive shadow appeared from behind him, two golden amber eyes visible as they pierced straight through Stannis and into the red priestess.
Melisandre widened her eyes and began to gasp, "I...." She started as Stannis grabbed her arm, "Lord Stannis...!"
The crowd of soldiers and common folk began to scatter and scurry away as Morghul, Rhaegon's dragon came into full view. The light of the flames began to shine off the dark scales of the beast, illuminating its entire figure.
"Rhaegon!" Stannis exclaimed, "You dare bring your Dragon here? For what?! To intimidate us?!"
Morghul let off a deep growl as he lowered his head next to Rhaegon, glaring at Stannis. The bond between this black beast and the young Knight was so deep that it was already aware of Rhaegon's contempt towards his Uncle.
"Best be careful, Uncle." Rhaegon said with a serious tone, "This whole.....new Religion has dulled your senses. How can you let The Black Lord sneak up on you and your...company?"
Stannis began to sweat slightly, "Be calm, Nephew." He said, "Now is not the time for foolish games."
"Games?" Rhaegon said, "You jest, Lord Uncle. I am Ser Rhaegon Baratheon, son of Princess Shaena, and rider of Morghul. I don't play games when it comes to insults to my name. The next time any of your fellow zealots dares to insult me or my Family, I shall offer your Red-Priestess to her Lord of Light in the way she claims I did the Ironborn."
As he said this, Morghul reared his head back and spat flames into the air, giving off an intense heat that completely overrode the one from the Bonfire. The soldiers and common folk got on their knees, cowering at the sight of the dragon.
"Very well, Ser Rhaegon." Stannis said as he bowed his head down, "I shall make sure nobody insults you."
Morghul finished breathing his flames and snorted, vocalizing and letting out a deep rumble as he spread his wings outwards and stood taller.
Rhaegon lifted his arm slightly, "Demas!"
Morghul then lowered himself as he snorted, looking around and seeing the cultists cowering.
Rhaegon then nodded at the soldier who was holding his horse who was unusually calm at this, "Best return that steed to Storm's End." He said with a smile as he walked to his dragon's side, "I am to fly to King's Landing, the King has summoned me."
As he mounted the saddle of Morghul, the Dragon gave off a deep growl as it raised itself, looking at Stannis and baring its fangs at it.
As he strapped himself to the saddle, Rhaegon looked at his uncle and the Red-Priestess, "I shall allow this conversion of religions, Uncle. Only because I respect you and your past choices." He said, "But let me find out about a scandal with you and this woman. And of course, Human sacrifices to the Flames. You put anyone to the flames, I shall put hers into Morghul's...Oh, well, I already threatened her with Dragonfire.....You know what I mean."
Stannis nodded, "Fine."
Rhaegon nodded back, "Good night to you then." He said before looking at Melisandre, "I'd cozy myself to that bonfire if I were you, Priestess. The Night can be dark and full of Terrors, after all."
"Soves!"
Morghul then extended his wings and jumped forward, flapping them hard and taking flight into the air above the bonfire, letting out a roar. Stannis and the others covered their faces as the force of the wings hit them.
Melisandre watched as the massive shadow quickly shrank high in the sky, "Hm..." She said softly
"My apologies, Lady Melisandre." Stannis said, "I did not expect this."
"Dragons and their riders could be unpredictable, My Lord." She said with a smile, "But alas, part of his plan."
"The Lord's Plan."
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