章 17: Storm's End II
(Rhaegon's POV)
"Sit." Mother said as she sat on the table in my chambers, "I have much to discuss with you."
I placed my sheathed blade atop one of my cupboards, "Hm." I said, "I bet you do."
She tilted her head, "What is that supposed to mean?"
I walked over to the table and sat in the chair across from her, "You should know." I said, "You and Father have been discussing my marriage without my knowledge....behind my back."
She smiled slightly, "Hm." She said, "So you've found out?"
"I have received a proposal from the Martells." I said as I crossed my legs and leaned back, "The Sand Snakes....or at least three of them."
"An amazing deal." She said, "I say you should accept. Not many can say that they marry three beautiful Dornish women."
"They're Sands." I said with a frown
"And what of it?" She said, "They can be your....Paramours.....while you take an actual wife. That is something I told the Princes of Dorne."
I looked at her, "Is that so?"
"They want your Dragon's protection, that is all." She said, "Morghul is a fast beast, he can make trips to Dorne and back with no issue. An alliance with Dorne is much needed, especially in keeping the Realm steady."
As she said this, the doors to my chambers opened and I saw the Handmaiden from before walk in with a pitcher of what I assume was wine.
"Mine apologies, Ser." She said as she bowed her head, "Princess Shaena said that she wished for wine..."
Mother smiled and slid the cup to the side, "Rhea, love, pour us some." She said, "Leave the pitcher. My son and I will have a long talk."
I saw as she walked over and quietly poured wine into our cups, her eyes darting back and forth from me and the cups.
"Hm..." i said as I looked at her
She then placed the pitcher down and bowed slightly, "Princess, Ser...." She said before walking away
I heard the door close behind her as I watched my mother take a sip from the cup in front of her.
"She's a pretty one, isn't she?" She said, "A Storm."
I raised an eyebrow, "Is that so?"
"Indeed." She said, "I brought her here, the poor thing. She would have lost her way in the villages of the Stormlands if left alone."
"How...generous of you." I said
She raised her eyebrow, "You shouldn't look down at bastards, Rhaegon." She said, "Not everyone is fortunate enough to receive the love of their lord-parents."
"She's a highborn bastard?" I asked, "Whose daughter is she?"
"I'll let you figure that one out, in time." She said as she set the cup down, "Anyways, where were we?"
"The Martells." I said, "And their Sands."
"Accept their offer, Rhaegon. I am doing my best to convince your Father." She said, "My late good-sister Ellia, she was a Martell. I think it is only fair I allow her nieces to be my son's.....lovers."
"I am a Targaryen and Baratheon." I said, "I will only take one wife at a time."
"Oh please, Rhaegon." As she picked her cup up, she said, "Political marriages are a bore, do you not think so? I was fortunate enough to fall in love with your father after your birth and Morgul's hatching. Because of the two of you, I saw him as mine."
She took a sip from the cup as she gave me a serious stare, something told me that she wanted to say more than that. I didn't find it surprising that she didn't love my father at first, I mean she was wed to him as a prize for Father's victories at the time.
"Hm." I said
"We are Targaryens. We are meant for more than this. The ways of Old Valyria have been lost on us. To return to that former glory, we must embrace those ways." She said, "To be limited by this land's...rules and limitations, it has stunted our growth. This is nothing but a wheel, Rhaegon, a wheel that spins endlessly and endlessly. The Iron Throne... is a seat of power, but do you know why everyone wants it? Why would everyone steal, lie, and kill for it? Because of one man who made it mean something.....Our Ancestor, the Conqueror."
I looked at her as I grabbed my cup, "Aegon...." I said, "And his Sisters..."
"If it weren't for them and the Dragons, a simple chair made out of steel wouldn't be the most sought-after thing for generations....for centuries!" She said, "And why? Why did it become that? How is it that they had Dragons? How did they wield such ferocious beasts? They were Targaryen."
"And all this means what, exactly?" I asked her
"The wheel will forever spin, Rhaegon." She said, "There are those that are bound to it, to spin alongside it, and those who leave it and will eventually be drawn back to it. But you, my love, you must rise above it....and break it. My Father cultivated his Grandfather's final gift to this world; The Dragons...and you, Rhaegon, your birth signaled the coming of a new age. The Obsidian Black Egg hatched with you."
She reached across the table and grabbed my hand, squeezing it tightly as I saw a fierce look on her eyes.
"Mother....?" I said softly
"My Father saw it, Rhaegon." She said, "I saw it too...in a dream....The Black Egg will hatch and the glory of our Dynasty will soon follow the black beast's fiery wings...."
"Morghul...?" I said, "This doesn't make any sense."
I had no fucking idea what she meant. My entire life she had lectured me on how I should be a faithful lord and husband to whomever I marry, no matter the background. And now, she's telling me I should take multiple lovers in the name of allying myself with the Realm...I.....It just doesn't make any sense.
"You must unite the realm using Morghul as Aegon did with Balerion." She said with a smile, "Break the wheel, Rhaegon, and build your own."
"What do you suggest?" I said, "You want me to ascend the Throne with several...what? Mistresses? Like Aegon IV? All that will do is trigger-"
"Nothing." She said, "Aegon IV did not have dragons. And if all Dragons were on your side, nobody would question you. Especially when you're the only one who can keep the Realm warm from the Long Night."
I frowned, "What?" I said, "The Long Night?"
She pulled away, "Rhaegar told me of the River Dragon's last words to him." She said, "I imagine he told you as well. The Three Eyes. You must go North to find answers."
I looked down, "The North?" I said, "I.....Long Night? What is this? I don't understand."
"Go, son." She said softly, "Your Aunt's engagement feast is soon and will take place in Winterfell. Use this as an opportunity to find answers of what that man meant in his Haunting words."
She stood up and patted her dress, making her way to the door as I hung my head in confusion. I was having trouble processing what she just told me.
"Oh and I am sorry, my dear." She said
I looked up to see that she had stopped at the door and was looking at me.
"F-For what?" I asked
"Your Aunt Dany." She said with a sad smile, "I know you were fond of her. The marriage news must've bothered you."
"She's my aunt." I said, "What-"
"You cannot lie to me." She told me with a soft and serene tone, "I recognize the gaze of love when I see it."
"And she was the subject of your gaze, Rhaegon."
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