Chapter 10: Farewell

Notes:

Thanks again for everyone who has stuck and read these past 10 chapters, its been great to write these.

There will be a few days before the next chapter and they won't be spammed out as they have been over the last couple of days, possibly 2-3 every week until we reach Chapter 31.

As always, comments are highly appreciated.

Chapter Text

"Something doesn't feel right.." Rhaenyra worried, pacing around her room "Does she know that something had happened between the two of us? Did he tell her?"

The princess was visibly worried, she could hardly stand still, which annoyed Aerion "If she had any suspicion, she would not have defended him." he told his cousin "What would she have to benefit from defending a disgrace such as himself? Now stop panicking, and just take a breath for the love of the gods."

"Tell me then, why else would she have defended him? There must be some reason." Aerion admired her beautiful Valyrian skin from afar, as he slumped down onto her couch.

She dressed in an elegantly blue gown with golden falcons in honour of her mother for a family feast to bare farewell to Aerion, she looked absolutely tasteful and exotic.

"Should your ladies not be helping you with that gown?" he questioned, she also wore a golden necklace encrusted with rubies, along with rings for each of her fingers, the gown stopped just below her shoulders, leaving them bare.

"Are you even listening to me?" she snapped, throwing him back into reality "if my ladies had been here, what would you think they would say to you seated here as I dress?"

"You should not look so tasty if you wanted me to listen, Princess." he smirked, though only received a deadly glare in return, her fathers judgement had brought out the fierce dragon he had fell in love with out for all to see, and she would burn anyone in her path "Perhaps she thought he had been wrongfully accused."

"Are you a child?" she asked, and Aerion did not know whether she was being serious "Can you not take anything more seriously." she added "should she have any inclination of what happened between me and that traitor, what stops her from having suspicions about us?"

Aerion rose from the couch, and stepped her way, placing his hands on her waist "I apologise, Princess, you have my undivided attention." she tilted her head, allowing him access to kiss her neck and down her bare shoulders.

"Tell me our next move, Princess." he asked, nibbling at her shoulder "Would you like me to kill them? I can make it messy." he bit at her neck playfully "or I can make it clean, that bitch queen and her little brats too if that's what you want." he landed a soft kiss on her cheek.

She stepped away, and he couldn't help but smirk at her and bite his lower lip "Don't be ridiculous."she said "You can not kill the Queen and a Knight of the Kingsguard, my father would have your head." he followed her steps, and closed in on her again.

"Not the queen then." he sighed "Ser Criston made a big enemy when he attacked Joffrey, one clean slit of the throat and no one will know of our involvement."

"He is a risk to your rule, Rhaenyra, deal with him now and we may rid ourselves of what could have been a problem later down the line." he added "I wonder what the queen would do were she to have information against you, the lords she could sway in favour of Aegon."

"I do not want to see him killed, Aerion." she shook her head "He may have reason to hate me, but even then, he was my sworn shield for years, and was my only true friend when Alicent married my father." he ran his fingers through her hair, taking a step back.

"I will find out the truth, but I warn you, Rhaenyra, whatever connection you may have believed you had with your traitorous sworn shield, it was shattered the moment you destroyed his tiny pathetic heart." he faintly smiled "It is better to put him in the ground, than to wait until he uses what he knows against you."

The princess seemed deeply saddened by what he was saying, but Aerion was only speaking the truth, and even she would not be able to deny such a comment.

"I will see you at supper, Aerion; It would appear I need my ladies afterall." he knew she was not angry at his comment "Please, whatever you plan on doing, do not harm anyone." she urged him "Promise me."

"Your wish is my command." he nodded to her, kissing her softly upon her cheek "Ser Criston and the Queen will not be harmed by me." he trailed his hands across her shoulders, before walking back over to the passage.

He crawled his way through the tight spaces and damp corridors of the secret tunnels lining Maegor's holdfast until he eventually reached the passage that led towards the Queen's bedchambers.

The passageways led to other corners of the Red Keep, including the small council chambers and even the Kings' personal chambers, though you had climb the many ladders and some tunnels were so tight only a child may fit through them, and Aerion had no idea where they might lead.

Aerion made his way up the ladder to the Queen's chambers and listening and watching through the walls, small holes dotted the room, small enough for no one to see them, allowing Aerion to speak through them.

Alicent was seated down at the table while Ser Criston remained standing, always the loyal dog, Aegon had also been there, along with his younger brother and sister, Helaena and Aemond, the boys were playing with one of Viserys' stone dragon figures, while Helaena was sitting beside the Queen.

"She did exactly as I said, Ser Criston." she stated "the spoiled brat stood by and watched as you took the fall for her transgressions, she would happily allow you to die to keep anyone from finding out about her being a whore." 

"I see the truth now, your grace, I was a fool not to see it sooner." Criston responded "I only wanted to protect her from her enemies, and she forced me to break the sacred vows of the Kingsguard." The traitor looked hurt that he had been rejected, an utterly pathetic display.

"You had become a burden to her, so she casted you aside, as she does with those closest to her, she continued to act a child, and by all the gods, is not worthy of the Iron Throne." If he had his way, he would charge into the room and kill each one of them, cutting Rhaenyra's challengers before they could act.

"I fear for the realm if she does." Alicent knew how to manipulate, this much he couldn't ignore, her father taught his child well, but they were sheep stepping into a slaughter. "I fear most for my children, Ser Criston, they will always be a threat to her rule, and she may act against them."

"I will not allow that, my queen, I shall defend you from harm, as well as your children." he bowed his head, finding himself a new master to beckon every call " the man's eyes trailed towards Aegon and Aemond "I swear."

"I am sure you will succeed in defending us, Criston." the queen said "though I worry nonetheless, my fear is who she surrounds herself with." she said, shaking her head "The princess is an impressionable person, swayed by those she surrounds herself with."

Aerion smirked, she had attempted to turn him against the princess not so long ago with her words, and now convincing this pathetic excuse of a man of the exact same thing.

"Such as who, my queen?" Criston questioned.

"Well, the wild dog that stood beside her at your trial, Ser Criston." she answered "Prince Aerion, I see right through his charm, he has convinced everyone that he is a fine warrior, and good hearted, but I know the truth, he is as mad as his father."

"I unfortunately can not speak on him, your grace, I know only what my fellow brothers of the Kingsguard have told me; he is finely skilled with the blade, and seems to be an accomplished warrior." Aerion smirked at the praise, despite it coming from one such as Criston.

To think the Kingsguard used to be made up of the finest knights from across the seven kingdoms, and now only a few could be called such "Though, him and the Princess have rarely left each other's side since his arrival."

"They rode out alone to the Kingswood earlier today, from what I have been told." Aerion pressed himself against the wall, so he hear more clearly.

"I would not be surprised if he is another man she has spread her legs for." the queen grinned, taking a sip of wine "as is the way with my husband's family, always involved with each other."

"Aerion taught me how to use a sword." Aegon jumped up from playing, running over to his mother "I want his sword." he stamped his foot "it has a dragon with red eyes." Aerion rolled his eyes; the little shit was meant to keep his mouth shut.

"I am sure when you have grown old enough, Ser Criston will teach you and your father will even grant you a sword worthy enough for a prince, and future king." Alicent responded.

"I hit you with a sword." Aemond called out, propping himself up from the floor, and chasing Aegon around the room, he could not hear much else over the children's laughter, and chose to make his way back to his own chambers, learning enough about the Queen's intentions.

An hour later…

Once he had returned to his chambers, he made haste in making his way to the main barracks of the City watch, it was a large compound that house a majority of the two thousand gold-cloaks protecting the city, though he got a long glare from a few of them when he entered the training grounds.

A tall man soon approached him with a bushy brown beard, the man stood almost seven feet tall with a longsword at his hip "It has been a while since the Targaryens have graced us with a visit, what can we do for you?"

Aerion didn't have to speak before the man began to look at him as if he was familiar. "Wait…well call me stupid, I can't believe it is you." 

Aerion felt like a living display at how he was being looked at, the man walked in a circular motion around him, eyeing him from every angle "You're the son of the Rogue Prince, ain't ya?"

"Congratulations, Ser, you know who I am; do tell, how is it you know my father?" 

"I am Luthor, I served under your father when he was Lord Commander of the City Watch, and now it is I in that position, though we remain loyal to him" he said proudly, with his chest held high.

"I see, well then, you are the man I have come here to see." he looked around again "Perhaps we can talk somewhere with fewer ears.'' He gestured towards the other gold cloaks that surrounded them.

"As you command." he bowed his head, and led him out of the courtyard into the barracks; they passed several large rooms with beds that were on pretty much on top of eachother, the place looked more cramp than anything he had seen.

"Why would you follow my commands, Ser?" he asked as they reached the man's solar, sitting down at the desk.

"You are Daemon's son, and have my loyalty." the commander replied "Had I known you were coming, I may have tidied up." the desk was covered in a lake of parchment and dry ink "Drink?" he chuckled, placing a bottle of Arbor Red on the desk.

"I have seen much worse than a messy solar, believe me." he nodded, and Luthor poured the contents in a metal mug, passing it over to him "My father was in Kings' Landing for the wedding, did you know he was here?" He took a sip from the mug's contents.

"Aye, he was here." Luthor downed the whole mug of Arbor Red, smacking it down on the table and wiping his lips "We shared drinks last night, he was found in a brothel along the street of silk, drunk out of his mind." he chuckled "Should have seen him, we hadn't gotten that drunk in years."

Aerion shook his head in disappointment, he will never understand why his father is so obsessed in acting the fool, going into brothels when enough women in the red keep would happily give him their maidenhood.

"This is not what I came here to discuss." he said "I am here to request two gold cloaks enter my service, I need good men, loyal men that will travel with me to Runestone."

"And here I thought that the royal family look to the Kingsguard for protection, or have you finally noticed that they are nothing more than Political pieces, they no longer stand as the greatest warriors." he answered.

"Unfortunately I have no men to spare."

"You have thousands of men under your command, how is it you can not spare two of them?"

"We are having a troubling rise in crime." Luthor shrugged.

"I have gold to offer." he took out a few gold dragons from a purse on his belt, throwing them onto the desk "You can train new gold cloaks with it."

"Well aren't you generous, my prince." Luthor added, sliding the dragons into the palm of his hand "This will not be enough."

Aerion rose from the chair, and stood at the fireplace "Give me Jory and Rickard Manderly, and I will ensure more gold is sent from Runestone for their service."

"I want twenty pieces of gold." Luthor leaned back on his chair "Only then will I agree to you taking one of them, the smaller one to be exact, Jory."

"And why exactly would I agree to that? What happened to you being loyal to me because of my father?" Aerion questioned him.

"You will rest easily knowing that your involvement in the murders outside the fighting ring of Flea Bottom is well kept safe with me." Aerion clenched his fists as he was threatened.

"Are you threatening me?" He stepped towards the commander. "Be careful what your next words are, I could have you hung up outside the Red Keep for all to see, or your head could line Maegor's Holdfast."

"Do not worry, Prince, I will not speak of it." Luthor mentioned "It was I who made sure your involvement disappeared in the first place, as is the way of things, Prince's cause trouble, we clean it up."

"And why would you do such a thing?" Aerion asked.

"Because that is what we are paid to do, to make sure your image remains clean in the eyes of the people." he stated "Sadistic display you left there; if it was another man in my position, they may think you belong with the same filth we deal with."

"Oh, I assure you, Commander Luthor, I am much worse than any of you can begin to imagine." he tapped his fingers upon the desk "How exactly did you learn of my involvement? You were not there." he asked, hoping he had not been betrayed.

"I know what you may be thinking, and do not worry, it was not Jory who has betrayed your trust." the command stated, bringing some calmness to Aerion "I have my own eyes and ears in Flea Bottom, it is how we keep track of the filth that infests it."

The commander stood from his chair, and stepped outside the solar, yelling into the hallway "Oi! One of you shits, get Jory Manderly, he is wanted in my solar, NOW!" 

The man rushed into the solar after a few minutes of Aerion and Luthor sitting there in complete silence "Commander, you had requested my presence." Jory shared eye contact with the prince, widening them "Aerion?" he looked between the both of them.

"You are going on a trip, Jory." Luthor commanded "You are being placed in the service of Prince Aerion for his travel back to Runestone." Aerion smiled broadly "Your brother will remain."

"Very well, Commander." he looked back to Aerion "How many others are in your party?"

"Just me and you." Aerion revealed "I ordered my party to head back with my sworn shield, Ser Rodrik."

"And what is the plan?"

"Commander, get me a map." he ordered, to which the command passed over a rolled-up map tied together with a thin rope.

"I will leave you both to discuss your departure, I need to see to the training of the gold cloaks." he looked back "I want that gold we have agreed too." he said, before departing, his shouting could be heard throughout the hall "Oi! WHY AREN'T YOU ON DUTY?!"

Aerion smirked, before shoving all of the parchment that laid on the desk to the ground, not caring about messing a room that already looks terrible, untying the map and rolling it out on the desk, it showed the entirety of Westeros.

"Did you ask for me specifically?" Jory asked.

Aerion looked up from the map "Of course I did, I need someone I can trust, and that is you." he trailed his finger up the Kingsroad "We will travel up the Kings' Road until we reach Castle Darry, just south of the trident."

"What is there?" Jory folded his arms.

"My brother, Willam, he was fostering there, it is my hope that he may still be.." he answered "But there is also a small village called Brindlewood, where we can stop and resupply." he pointed out the village "It should take us a fortnight to get there, before travelling to Runestone.."

"Why do we not take passage from the port and travel to Gulltown?" he questioned "It would save us travel time."

"I have not made many friends here, one may attempt to act against me." he whispered "I will tell everyone we will be travelling by sea, but instead we'll leave along the Kings' road."

"Very well then, when we will be setting off?" he asked

"Meet me at the Dragon's Gate just before sunrise on the morrow,and make sure not to tell anyone of our travel plans." he grabbed his hand, planting some gold dragons in the palm of his hand "Buy some supplies for the journey." Aerion rolled up the map then passed it to Jory.

"I will." Jory nodded "This should be enough for the supplies we need."

A few hours later…

Aerion appeared outside the kings' solar later that night for supper, two kingsguard were stationed at the doors and showed him in.

The table was set in front of the kings' sculpture of Old Valyria, the King was already seated at the helm, while Rhaenyra and Alicent were seated opposite each other, Aegon had also been present, excited as ever to see Aerion.

"Aerion! I saved this seat for you." the boy pointed out the seat opposite Viserys, and he was closest to it, sitting down, Aerion had a broad smile on his lips as he looked at Aegon.

"Thank you, little man." Aerion replied, running a hand through Aegon's long hair, scruffing it up, chuckling along with him.

"I am glad you have come, my boy." Viserys said, and Aerion smiled to him, looking to Rhaenyra as her and Alicent were glaring at each other, the king then rose from his chair "Tonight, we bid farewell to my nephew, Aerion." he continued "Know that you will forever be welcomed in Kings' Landing, and do not forget us so quickly."

"Thank you for your kind words uncle." Aerion said, lifting up his own cup "I was unsure how I would be welcomed when I first came here." he looked to Aegon, who was solely focused on the sword at his hip "But I will you all, especially my favourite cousin here." he said, smiling at Aegon "You have made me feel apart of this family, which is all I could ask for."

"Well said, my boy." Viserys raised his cup "A toast…to family." Alicent and Rhaenyra reluctantly held their cups up, and they all said "to family." in unison, taking a sip from their goblets "Now let us eat to our hearts content."

The table was filled with foods from all across the seven kingdoms, though primarily the reach, there were barely enough space for their plates "Do you have to leave us, Aerion?" the young boy had asked him, with a saddened look.

"Aye, I do; I have responsibilities I must get back to." he responded.

"But..but, who will teach me how to use a sword?" Aerion looked to Rhaenyra, who appeared to be conversing with her father, then turning his attention back to Aegon, noticing a glare from Alicent.

"I tell you what, should your mother allow it, we will train together every morning upon my return." he answered, patting the boy on the shoulder before grabbing a sausage and a few pieces of bacon from the selection of foods.

"You promise?" he asked "I want to be a great warrior like you."

Aerion smiled, no one had ever looked up to him before as Aegon does, it felt beyond strange, but warmed him, before turning his gaze to Alicent as Aegon begins to eat.

"You have raised the little one well, my queen, I am sure he will make a fearsome knight, where is Helaena and Aemond, if I might ask?"

"They have already been settled into bed, while this one refused unless he saw you." she smiled "Are you looking forward to returning home? I suspect you must miss your other family, especially after your mother's passing, I remember how I felt when I lost my own mother."

"I suppose I do, your grace." he replied "We are planning on travelling by sea to Gulltown, where I am sure House Grafton would love to hold a feast in honour of a prince." he then thought for a moment "That reminds me."

He turned his attention to the princess "Princess, I come bearing a gift." He grabbed a small box from a pouch on his belt, and removed himself from the chair and stepped over to her "This is for your company, you have made The Red Keep feel like home."

Rhaenyra opened up the box, and inside was a pair of silver earrings with ruby stones "They are beautiful, cousin, I can not accept them, I too have enjoyed your company."

"Please, if not for your company, then consider it a late wedding gift." he smirked, receiving a smile from her, moving to sit back down.

"That is a fine gift, my boy." the king spoke "It warms my heart to see you and Rhaenyra grown so close, just as Daemon and I were in our younger years." the king frowned as he reflected on his youth "I pray this relationship remains strong."

"We're closer than you think..." he thought to himself; there wasn't much talk after that, except for the odd question from Aegon, who was going on about what kind of knight he wanted to be when he grew older.

At night's end, Aerion rose from the chair and bowed his head "Your grace, I thank you for your hospitality, but I really should be getting to bed, I leave early on the morrow." he looked down to Aegon, who was rubbing his eyes, probably wanting to sleep himself "I will write to you, hatchling."

Aerion turned to Rhaenyra "May I escort you to your chambers, princess?" he said, walking up to her and offering his arm.

"Of course you can, my prince." she removed herself from her chair and wrapped her arm around his; they both looked at Viserys.

"Have a good sleep, sweet daughter." Viserys said "I will see you at the small council meeting on the morrow."

"Father, I will be seeing you in the morning to break our fast, remember?"

"Oh, ofcourse, I had forgotten, my apologies." he nodded to them, and they left.

Aerion looked at Rhaenyra as they walked down the hall. "I noticed Laenor's absence tonight. Is he still at Joffery's side?"

"Yes, he sent me with his apologies to my father, and understanding the circumstances, he accepted that Laenor needs time." she said.

"He should be close to you, while our enemies plot." As they reached her chambers, he leaned forward and she slipped into his lips, and parted soon after.

"Be sure you have a loyal kingsguard by your side, Ser Erryk seems like a fine man, or maybe Ser Steffon." he whispered into her ear "the queen has turned Criston against you, he now plots with her to see Aegon on the throne."

She looked hurt by the news, though did not say a word on it "I will miss you." she finally broke the silence.

"If you miss me too much, fly on Syrax to Runestone." he intertwined their fingers "Come visit my home, see where I came from and land I now rule over." he said, his free hand running through her hair "You will always be welcome."

"Perhaps I shall you up on that offer." she said, and they kissed one last time, before she stepped back "Until next we meet, cousin."

"Until we next meet." She closed the door shut, and Aerion took a deep breath, walking back to his chambers, the taste of her lips on his mind; it was far better than any food he had eaten at supper.