The Rise Of A Dragon - Chapter 3: A Sword Wielding Princess

270 AC, King’s Landing  

Princess Aerea Targaryen carefully crept through the halls of Maegor’s Holdfast; she remained quiet as she tried to make her way to her mother’s apartments.

It had been a few days since she had last seen her mother, not since her water broke whilst they and Rhaegar were breaking their fast together.

Aerea noticed that after a couple of hours, many of the servants and knights she passed by all looked nervous, especially when they entered the holdfast.

She had been startled when she saw her father enter her mother’s bedroom only to hear him screaming a few moments later. Aerea had heard her father yell before but never like this, Aerys sounded like a man possessed, his voice rough and murderous and was followed by the sounds of things breaking against the walls.

It was her brother Rhaegar who explained to her that Rhaella had lost the baby, telling her that they had been born dead and that is why Aerys was so angry. Aerea noted that Aerys seemed to be more upset for the death of this child than he was when their younger brother, Daeron, who had died last year after living a sickly existence for six moons.

Because of his poor condition, Aerea had only met her younger brother once and even then, she was not allowed to touch him, the Grand Maester ordering that only he and his wet nurse could hold him until he showed signs of improvement.

This never happened and soon they burned Daeron just like they did to Shaena when Aerea was two and Aerys had traveled to the Westerlands.

Despite seeing the wrapped body of her stillborn sibling, Aerea did not see Rhaella leave her chambers, not even for a moment. So Aerea had decided that Rhaella must have been upset by this death and was now trying to sneek in to comfort her mother.

Aerea had been so focus on not being caught by any passerby that by the time she reached her mother’s bedchamber, she accidentally bumped into the man tasked with guarding it.

“Princess Aerea?” Ser Barristan Selmy, also known as Barristan the Bold and member of the Kingsguard looked down at his feet, surprised to see the princess lying on the ground.

“Hi, Barry.” Aerea said as she pushed herself to her feet.

“What are you doing here so late at night, my princess?” Barristan asked.

Aerea looked at the ground and her voice became quieter. “I want to see mother.”

A look of pity formed on Barristan’s face, “I am sorry, but I cannot let you in, Your Grace.”

“But why?” Aerea asked, tears forming in the corners of her eyes.

“Your father has ordered that no one may see your mother, not until the funeral tomorrow.” Barristan explained.

Barristan could feel his heart breaking as she watched the despair on Aerea’s face, the girl no longer able to stop the tears from falling when it became clear that the knight in front of her would not move.

While he felt bad, Barristan knew that giving in and letting Aerea into her mother’s room would end badly, especially for Rhaella. He was not sure if Aerys would do anything to Aerea, but he knew that the King would further punish his wife, somehow finding a way to blame her for everything.

The Kingsguard was there when Aerys entered the room and began shouting at Rhaella, the King had no longer felt any compassion for what his sister-wife was forced to experience yet again.

Instead, Aerys accused Rhaella of being unfaithful to him, that the reasons why they had experienced all these stillbirths, miscarriages, and premature deaths was because none of children were his so the Gods sought to strike them down.

Now he has Rhaella confined to Maegor’s Holdfast and has ordered two septas to sleep in Rhaella’s bed from this moment forward, to ensure that she remains faithful.

Barristan thought it was hypocritical of Aerys since it was preposterous to believe that Rhaella could have been secretly sleeping with another man when she was always surrounded by other people and because it was Aerys who was constantly cheating on his wife, there was a reason so many believed that Aerys had as many mistresses as Aegon the Unworthy and yet he chose to ignore that it was his adultery that could have led to this outcome.

In the knight’s opinion, the Gods killing so many of their children was because of the incestuous relationship between the King and Queen. It was one of the great sins that went against the tenants of the Seven and there were other Targaryens who intermarried and had struggles in conceiving children as well.

“I’ll go back to bed then.” Aerea shoulders slumped, and she turned to leave.

“Things will get better, Your Grace; it will not be like this for long.” Barristan said in one final attempt to cheer up the princess.

Aerea stared at the man blankly for a few seconds before continuing her walk back to her room, she was not sure if she believed the knight, but she hoped that he was right.

~X~

Rhaella stood silently with her son and daughter as the Septon preceded over the funeral rights of her latest stillborn child.

With the multiple deaths of children they endured, it was decided that funerals for children who did not live past the cradle would be private affairs, with only the silent sisters, Septon, and the royal family attending.

The only one not there was Aerys, the King making it clear that he would not go to the funeral of what he thought was a bastard she had with an imaginary man.

Rhaella struggled to contain the anger she held for her brother, how dare he of all people accuse her of adultery? They both hated how their parents forced them to marry, but unlike Aerys, she honored the vows she took, her husband being the only man she has ever laid with.

Aerys was the one committing sin, was the one who forsook the Gods at every opportunity, but because she was a woman, she was the one being blamed. Rhaella had felt the burden and pain with each child they lost and yet Aerys and the realm demanded more, entirely unsympathetic to her agony.

Rhaella tightened her hold on Rhaegar and Aerea when the silent sisters began to burn the body, her son and daughter were the only children of hers that were strong enough to live, the ones the Gods had favored while ignoring their younger siblings. The Queen did not know if she could live another moment longer if something happened to them, if her son and daughter would predecease her.

Rhaella looked down at Aerea when she felt her daughter squeeze back, Aerea gave her mother a small smile before turning her attention back to the flames.

The three royals stood in front of the pyre until there was nothing left of the stillborn but ashes, staying even when the silent sisters started placing the ashes into an urn.

The somber moment was soon shattered when the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, Ser Gerold Hightower, had appeared, stopping in front of the royal family.

The White Bull was the picture of professionalism, but there was also a glint of pity in his eyes. “Your Grace, I have been ordered by the King to escort Prince Rhaegar and Princess Aerea to the throne room.”

“Of course, Ser Gerold.” Rhaella sighed and looked down at her children, “Run along, my darlings, your father needs you.”

Rhaegar immediately went to Gerold’s side, but Aerea hesitated, remaining next to Rhaella, not wanting to leave her mother’s side, and not wanting to go days without seeing her again.

“Go, my little dragon. I will be fine.” Rhaella said, smiling at Aerea.

Despite not wanting her daughter to leave, Rhaella knew that going against the wishes of her husband would be bad for everyone in the vicinity.

And so, Rhaella watched as her children were led away by Ser Gerold only to be led away herself by the new guards ordered by her husband to watch her.

~X~

“Ah, my heir and my daughter have arrived.” Aerys said, his cheery grin a stark contrast to the gloom and anguish that was evident in his children.

“Greetings, father.” Rhaegar and Aerea said in unison, bowing to the King once they reached the base of the Iron Throne.

“I have brought you both here to watch me hold court today. As much as I dislike it, I must hear the petitions of the retched poor occasionally.” Aerys explained, his nose turning up in disgust as he thought about the smallfolk coming anywhere near him.

He waved his hand at two servants standing in the corner of the throne room and both quickly made their way to the throne, each carrying wooden chairs that were then placed on the lower stairs of the throne.

The siblings each took a seat on either side of the King, Rhaegar sat upright, his body language revealed nothing as he stared forward, watching as members of the court and small council began to flood the room.

Aerea squirmed in place, unlike her brother she had never sat in while Aerys held court, not to mention she could feel the stares of the nobility on her flesh, and unlike her brother, it greatly bothered her.

Aerea relaxed when she saw Rhaegar give her a reassuring look from the corner of her eye, she could already hear what her brother was silently telling her.

You are the blood of the dragon, do not let the opinions of those beneath us bother you. Their words are meaningless, nothing but the babble of lesser men.

With this, Aerea could sit back and watch as the first person who asked for an audience with the King stepped forward.

As the hours passed, Aerea found herself conflicted about this entire experience, she had been taught by her maesters and septa that the smallfolk were an important part of how Westeros society functioned, but Aerea watched as Aerys was nothing but disrespectful to his subjects.

The King would listen to each person with no ounce of interest before mocking them and refusing their requests. The same went for many of the nobles who also took the opportunity to ask something of the man, their high status and wealth doing nothing to protect them from the King’s vitriol.

Wouldn’t it be better to help them? If the smallfolk do well then won’t the nobles do better too? Aerea thought to herself.

The last and final petition had arrived, it was between two men, one younger and the other a few decades older.

The older man had accused the younger man of assaulting his adolescent daughter, stating that he attacked her on her way home and forcibly had his way with her.

When the father found out he hunted down his daughter’s rapist and began beating him, only the actions of bystanders pulling the man away kept him from killing the younger man. Now the father had called for the King’s justice in deciding the faith of the younger man.

“I declare him to not be guilty of this crime.” Aerys said plainly once the story had been told.

The court broke out in in furious whispers, in their eyes it had been obvious that the younger man had been guilty as he did not even bother to defend himself by giving his side of the story, not to mention that witnesses who knew the father said he was gentle man who would never attack another person.

And what was even more appalling, was that a smirk could be seen on the young man’s lips directed at the father as the story of his crime was told.

Still, Aerys did not care about what was right in front of him, the younger man’s nonchalance, and arrogance amused him enough to not seek his blood being spilt that day.

“You cannot do that! That bastard is guilty, I know he is!” The father yelled, angered by the King’s decision.

Aerys’s smile left his face as he stood to his feet and glared at the man, “You dare question the word of your King?!”

The father glared back, “If the King won’t seek justice, then I will!”

The older man pulled out a concealed dagger from the coat of his jacket and charged at the rapist, his intent obvious as despite his old age, was able to quickly close the distance between them.

Just before the father could strike the younger man down, the dagger was quickly knocked from his hands and the man was knocked down to the ground.

The gasps of the crowd rang out across the room as Barristan Selmy stood over the enraged father, his sword drawn and pointed at the other man’s neck.

Moving faster than anyone could track, Barristan had prevented the father from killing the younger man and despite the crowd starting to cheer for his quick action, the Kingsguard was conflicted about what he had done.

Barristan as a chivalrous knight felt that the younger man should be executed as it was clear to him that he was guilty of rape, but his King, his liege lord, had declared him not guilty, and the King’s word was supposed to be the law of the land.

And now the man at his feet would soon die, Aerys would not let him live after disrespecting him, the King would not care that the father had only did this in defense of his child, he would only crave this man’s head on a pike.

“Guards! Take both these men to the Black Cells ! I shall deal with these traitors personally.” Aerys ordered.

The younger man’s face turned white with fear at the mention of the infamous level of the Red Keep’s dungeon. “Yo-You-Your Grace! Please show mercy! You have already declared me innocent! Please you cannot throw me into that terrible pit!”

Aerys’ gaze hardened as look at the man, “The ants are getting the ludicrous idea that they can tell me what to do. Well, I have changed my mind, you are guilty of rape and treason against your King and shall be punished accordingly.”

The younger man continued cry and begged as he was dragged away, the father remained silent, grinning wildly as he watched the younger man as he too was removed from the throne room.

While he was afraid of the torture he would soon face and the thought of living his wife and daughter to fend for themselves now that he was marked for death, he was also glad as he knew that his daughter’s rapist would also suffer a terrible demise.

“We are adjourned.” Aerys said, the crowd of nobles taking this as their excuse to leave, most wanting to get as far away from the dungeons as possible, knowing the horrific sounds that would soon be emanating from there.

Aerea took this opportunity to rush to Barristan’s side, “Are you alright, Barry?”

Barristan smiled at the girl, using this to mask his true feelings. “I am fine, princess.”

“That was amazing what you did back there! You moved so fast, and you were able to knock the dagger out of that man’s hand so easily.” Aerea exclaimed, eyes lighting up as she spoke. “Can you teach me how to do that?”

Barristan froze at the question, it was seen as improper for a woman to wield weapons, to learn how to fight, that sort of thing was left to men as women were expected to remain motherly and gentle.

Aerea would not be the first or last young girl that wished to hold a sword, who would dare to say they would ride into battle one day, but those childish dreams would soon slip away as they matured and learned their place in the world.

But Princess Aerea will never be a proper lady of the court. Barristan thought.

“Is that what you want, Aerea?” Aerys asked, breaking the Kingsguard out of his thoughts.

Aerea stood straight and she looked her father directly in the eye as she spoke, “Yes, father. I want to wield a sword.”

Barristan was unable to define the gleam that shined in the King’s eye as he stared his daughter down, but a shiver raced up his spine when the man showed off most of his teeth as he grinned.

“Then it shall be done. Barristan, you along with Willem Darry, shall oversee the princess’ training, and I expect to see impressive results.” Aerys commanded.

“Of course, Your Grace. I will ensure that no man can compare to Princess Aerea when it comes to the blade.” Barristan said instantly, bowing his head to the monarch.

“At least one of my children will not be a craven.” Aerys said while turning his eye to his son, the insult was evident.

Rhaegar did not react, simply staring back at his father blankly. Over the years the prince had accepted his father’s hot and cold personality and knew not to take this criticism personally as Aerys Targaryen was a hard man to please, often taking pleasure in tearing others down.

He did not care if Aerys thought him craven, Rhaegar held no interest in fighting, in the act of spilling the blood of others for so called glory and honor. Rhaegar knew that intelligence was a far greater ability than being about to swing a sword and was happy to be surrounded by books and maesters than knights and steel.

One's ability to lead a country to a better future should not be reliant on their ability to fight, but to properly govern, a lesson Rhaegar did not believe that his father would ever be capable of learning.

Why should I let the opinions of a man who clearly torments others to make himself feel better about his own insecurities bother me? Although I suppose if I am to be King one day then having someone close to me who can fight and that I can trust would be most ideal. Besides, I have never seen Aerea so excited before in my life, so why take this moment away from her by trying to get father's attention. Rhaegar thought.

“Thank you, father!” Aerea happily chirped, thinking about how she would one day be as renowned as Barristan or Gerold.

~X~

The next day, Aerea went to the outer yard for her first lesson with Barristan Selmy.

The young girl wore a steel chest plate over red gambeson and black trousers, her hair had been placed in two long braids by her mother.

Said mother was sitting a few yards away on a nearby bench, her entourage of ladies sat around her as she nervously waited for Barristan to arrive and the lesson to begin.

When she had heard from her children that Aerea would be learning to fight, the fear she held for her daughter had almost caused Rhaella to faint.

The Queen could not fathom how her husband could allow something like this to happen, how he could be fine with their daughter, possibly getting injured or worse.

Rhaella knew that her daughter would never be a traditional lady, but her sweet girl’s place was not amongst men.

She wanted to argue even though she knew it would be hopeless to try and persuade Aerys once his decision was made but stopped herself when she saw how happy Aerea was with the arrangement.

She could not bear the thought of crushing her daughter’s dream and so relented, but adamantly demanded that she be there during the lesson, to alleviate her fears.

Barristan soon appeared, holding two wooden training swords in each hand as he made his way towards the princess. “Are you ready to begin, Your Grace?”

“Yes, Barry!” Aerea exclaimed, the ladies and knights in the yard verbally and internally cooed at the adorable joy that the girl had expressed.

“Good.” Barristan replied as he handed one of the training swords to Aerea. “Now, I want you to copy what I do, princess.”

The Kinsguard then moved back a few steps and held his sword out in front of him, lowering his back slightly and moving his legs apart and Aerea immediately copied the man’s stance, determined to do the best that she could.

“Almost perfect, princess.” Barristan smiled and moved to Aerea’s side to slightly adjust her form. “Now, continue copying me.” 

This went on for the next two hours, Barristan showing Aerea different movements and stances as the princess quickly copied the man.

Rhaella was able to relax when it became clear that her daughter would not be doing anything dangerous or arduous. Still, she kept her gaze solely on her daughter, ignoring everything and everyone else around her.

Rhaella stood up as quickly and as gracefully as she could, making a direct path to her daughter. “Aerea, did you enjoy yourself?”

“Yes! It was the best, mother.” Aerea instantly remarked.

Barristan walked up to the pair after picking up Aerea’s practice sword, “Princess Aerea did amazingly, Your Grace. I have not before seen someone take to the sword as quickly as your daughter did today.”

Aerea’s smile grew larger as she rocked back and forth on her heels, “I’m going to be just as good as you, Barry!”

Barristan chuckled, “And I can’t wait for that day to come, princess.”

Rhaella smiled to herself; her daughter’s good mood was infectious as they reentered the Keep. The mother of two hoped that Aerea would maintain her innocence and happiness for as long as possible.