Chương 29: The North II
(Rhaegon's POV)
"Hm...." I said as I leaned back on the chair, "Interesting...."
Lord Wyman leaned towards me, "Does that conclude the Tour, Ser Rhaegon?" He asked
I nodded, "I guess it does."
"What do you think of it?" He asked me with a chuckle
It was Nightfall after many Northern Lords came out of common courtesy to see if they can successfully offer their daughters to me. They were all proper northern beauties and seemed like sweet girls but alas, none of them interested me. I was at a table in the hall of Lord Manderly's home as his servants constantly brought meat and ale to my plates.
While I ate, Lord Manderly kept helping himself to his delicacies of lamb and steak.
I sighed, "Lots of sweet girls, I admit." I said, "Some more promising than others. The Stormlands offered some profitable dowries, The Reach was probably the best off with Lady Margeary, Dorne with their tempting offer, Westerlands was rather disappointing, Riverlands was not bad but everyone tells me not to consider Lady Roslin because of her Father, The Vale was a bit mediocre than I hoped for, and The North was not bad at all...."
"The only worthy offer The North can make is Lady Sansa, Lord Eddard's girl." He said with a chuckle, "But our Lord does not wish to be burdened with another Dragon, everyone knows that! He won't say it, though...."
I smiled, "I don't doubt it." I said as I looked around, "There is something that bothered me."
I saw as he frowned, "Well what is it?"
"All of the lords that came here, they did not seem enthusiastic about it." I said
"Well, as I said, we already have a Dragon in the North." He said, "Us Northerners are satisfied with that. However, I find the black one much more friendlier than the white one."
"Shrykos, huh?" I said, "She's always been....feisty."
"Hm, yes, despite being smaller than the Black Lord, the Princess's mount can be quite more dangerous." He said, "The Princess, however, always keeps her in control. Which is good, of course."
I nodded, "Yes, she does." I said, "So.....about that meeting you mentioned earlier."
"Ah Yes." He said, "When all the Lords gather for the feast, they mean to speak about certain things about you. Between you and me, Ser, this meeting is mostly about the fate of the North and The Realm. About the choice you make."
I raised an eyebrow as the jolly large man bit from a chicken leg, "What do you mean? Why must The North worry about what decision I make when it comes to my marriage?" I asked, "A month ago, that wasn't even in my mind, Milord."
He nodded, "I understand." He said, "But the thing is.....it's about your Uncle."
"The King?" I asked
"The Prince." He replied as he took a sip of ale from his cup, "Viserys."
I narrowed my eyes, "What about him?"
"There are whispers, Ser." He said, "Whispers in the North. I know not of where they come from or why they're spoken, but we Northerners can hear them."
"What sort of whispers?" I asked
"The sort that can be heard through the wind." He said while giving me a serious look, "Tell me, Ser Rhaegon, are you the superstitious type?"
I took a sip from my cup, feeling the potent ale's taste hit my tongue, "Not really...." I said
"You should be." He said, "These whispers come from further North, way North."
"What's more North than The North?" I asked with a chuckle
"The Wall." He said
I looked at him as I set my cup down, "You're telling me someone is starting rumors from Castle Black?" I said, "Milord, I mean no offense, but are those rumors really worth worrying over?"
"Not rumors, Ser." He said as he leaned back, "Whispers. Actual whispers."
I frowned, "Oh, so it is not a metaphor?" I asked
"I do not jest, Ser Rhaegon." he said, "I respect you because of your kind heart and actions during the Ironborn's assault on the North, but I will not allow you to mock us. Especially if you don't believe."
"Whether I believe or not, it matters not, Milord." I said, "Until I hear these whispers, I do not know what to say to you. I will hear you and the other Lords out during this meeting. But know one thing, whatever decision I make, it is because I made it out of my own free will, not because someone manipulated or convinced me to do so."
"But of course, Ser." He said, "Forgive any offense."
"It is fine, Milord." I said, "By the way, what do these Whispers say about my Uncle Viserys?"
He gave me a worried look, "Whatever comes out of my mouth, do not take it as treason." He said, "You trust me, right Ser? I serve House Stark and House Stark will never betray the Crown."
I narrowed my eyes, "Out with it."
"The whispers...." He said before gulping,
"Prince Viserys will die soon."
***************************************************
(Third Person POV)
[The Red Keep, King's Landing]
Inside the Hand's Tower, sitting on his desk, Tywin Lannister took a sip from his cup as his daughter, Queen Cersei, sat in front of it.
"So...." Tywin said as he gave her a serious look, "What did she say?"
The Queen tilted her head, "A Kiss." She said, "She said she gave him a kiss."
"Hm....." Tywin's cold eyes slowly looked to his left, "Good."
"Good?" Cersei said, "That's all you say? Good?"
"What else do you wish for me to say?" Tywin leaned back while he crossed his arms, "It is best that they did not get further than that."
"What if they did and she's hiding it from me?" Cersei said, "You think I would subject my daughter to such scandal?"
"No." Tywin responded with a serious tone, "But Myrcella truly cares for him, I know it. It is easy to use that to get Rhaegon to our side."
"Our side?" Cersei said, "That boy is on our side."
"Not Rhaegar's side, Our side." Tywin said, "If we secure him as Myrcella's husband, the Realm will push for the succession to change to him. Their children will be Rhaegar's blood, heirs to the throne, and nobody will ever challenge him."
"Hmph." Cersei said as she gave him a slight smirk, "Rhaegar's blood or Yours?"
"What does that mean?" Tywin asked
"All you care about is having your blood, your name, on that stupid chair." Cersei said, "Which is why you had me marry Rhaegar, which is why you relentlessly ask me to bear him a son."
"You love him, do you not?" Tywin said with a cold voice
"With everything...." Cersei said softly
"Then give him a son." Tywin said as he leaned forward, "Otherwise, what use would you have as his wife?"
"I gave him three daughters that he loves with all his heart. Three." Cersei said with anger, "I have tried to give him a son, I have tried! But you cannot force something that Nature won't allow!"
"Which is why we must have Myrcella have a son with Targaryen blood!" Tywin said, "And secure the succession through Rhaegar's line!"
"She has Targaryen blood!" Cersei said as she stood up, "She's Rhaegar's daughter!"
"And do you think the Realm truly believes that?" Tywin said as he looked at her, "They say vile things about her, my granddaughter."
"She bears his mark." Cersei said, "The dragon's flame. Every one of Rhaegar's children has had the same birthmark he has, even Rhaenys and Aegon, gods bless their souls. They say he has it due to the fateful night at Summerhall. Myrcella is his blood, I will not have you nor anyone else deny it."
"I do not deny it." Tywin said, "But last I checked, Women do not inherit the Iron Throne merely because they're the Eldest daughter. The last time that happened, a war of dragons broke out and it laid ruin to everything and everyone. If Viserys were to ascend should something happen to Rhaegar, what guarantee do we have that the Realm doesn't decide to rise against him? Against everything we worked so hard for? You know the kind of fool he is, the barbaric tendencies he has, he is akin to Maegor The Cruel! With Rhaegon as Heir, everyone will be at ease and nobody will challenge him."
Cersei shook her head, "No, I cannot believe you." She said, "That boy wants nothing to do with the Throne. I've known and loved him since he was born, her mother and I are friends, we're sisters. All Rhaegon wants in this world is freedom. I cannot condemn him to the Iron Throne."
"It is not your choice." Tywin said
"It is my choice!" Cersei lashed out as tears formed in her eyes, "Why? Why must everything be about power with you? Why must Myrcella and Rhaegon be involved in this?"
"Because, my Daughter...." He said seriously,
"They're Targaryens."
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