Chapter 9 Part 2

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Mid to Late 99 AC, Kings Landing

The doors closed behind him as he left Gael's room and stood in the hallway.

Despite knowing the guards were behind him, he let himself breathe out heavily in relief. Relief that she was healthy and hale. Relief that she forgave him. Relief that she accepted him. 

He never truly trusted the words of the Child of the Forest and the two moons since he'd left the Isle of Faces had felt like an age. An age worth waiting for, he thought as a memory of Gael joyful smile flashed and words of 'I do' rang in his mind.

And, it was an age he needed, time he needed. Time to think.

Of what he'd do next now that he had to change his plans and path.

One of them, he'd already was in the process of doing. He'd been as honest as he could be to her, about why he'd been the way he'd been, and he knew now that she would accept him even when he told her about dreams of another life. 

'She truly loved him' he thought to himself despite everything.

Aegon glanced around with the corner of his eyes. No one else was in the hallways, Viserys and Aemma long having departed in the hours since he'd been with Gael.

And the rest…

He began to walk towards the King's solar and he was grateful that it would be a long walk. He'd known the moment he'd come to terms with how meaningful Gael was to him, that he would marry her if she still so wished to.

His care for her demand no less from him. After all, what was love but sacrifice?

And those two moons had been important for him to digest that fact and what it meant onwards, of what else he needed to consider. One of the things being children.

Children were almost a certainty and now he knew that it was an inevitability.

He could see it in Gael's face. She wanted to be a mother.

Aegon's eyes drooped slightly as he walked.

Hmm…

Aegon lifted his head and glanced at the courtyard that lay within the heart of the royal apartments. To be a father…

To Aegon, there wasn't anything more daunting than that.

Protector. Provider. Teacher. Guide.

He'd need to be all of that and much, much more.

And that meant everything changed for him.

'Aegon. First of his name' rang in his mind and the thought of city and nation pressed on his mind. 

A pressure that did not come from excitement or anticipation but one of cold dread and flashes of images that spanned a year, ten years, a century after his death and seeing his children, grandchildren, descendants atop of dragons killing each other and their dragons off for a throne.

The very thought of that happening…

In a feudal system, with dragonriders that were either winners or losers by nature of order of birth, it was an inevitability. 

Feudal systems were incompatible when it came to magical peoples who could burn down a castle in minutes and cities in less than an hour atop a full grown dragon.

In truth…it was human nature.

Aegon never felt more powerful when he was atop Mīsaragorn, a flying medieval nuke, flying so high that he could see the curvature of the planet. 

Arrogance and feelings of grandeur and superiority was inevitable.

And choosing to remain in Westeros, beyond the emotional reaction he had to the idea of being subordinate to Viserys, to settle on lands in the Crownlands did not protect his family from the whims of Kings Landing whom would make it an impossibility not to be drawn in the affairs of Viserys and his descendants.

…just as it would be an impossibility for him or his descendants to grow his lands beyond what was acceptable to the Iron Throne. 

As it was, the Seven Kingdoms – minus Dorne – were uncharacteristic.

The Lord Paramounts and their vassals have kept their lands, their cities, their armies in a way that would never have worked at any time of medieval Europe.

Not without constant civil wars.

And that simple reason was dragons.

Before centralisation by Western European monarchs, notably the French monarchy, secure kings with absolute power had to balance a fragile relationship with their nobles yet they were never as weak militarily as Targaryen kings have been and even now, at the height of his family's power, this was still true.

Because there was no need to be more powerful militaristically speaking.

An error that eventually led to inertia catching up with his House by the time of Mad Aerys.

Yet that present dynamic changes as soon as there are other families with dragons. Families that also have a blood claim to the throne.

And when that happened, in a feudal system as that of Westeros where personal and House interest mattered more than the realm or oaths, instances like the War of the Roses or the Hundred Years wars, were all but inevitable.

Only this time it would happen with dragons…

And his children or grandchildren with Gael were likely to be at the centre of it even if he prevented the Dance in the iteration of Westeros he'd been familiar with.

He knew that it was supposition, but it was supposition based on extrapolation of what he'd seen…what had already happened…even to him.

Heirs and notable scions of lordly Houses distanced themselves from him after Gael's disappearance, some doing more than simple distance, and they did only what was natural to them…what was expected and needed from them. 

To act in their personal self-interest or because of pressure of either their contemporaries and allies or by their families.

Those same nobles and heirs would seek out his children and descendants during times of internal instability, twist their ears and consequently weaken House Targaryen for civil war between claimants does nothing but that.

Aegon twisted his lips as he looked back towards his front as he turned the corner.

Many would likely say that it was no good to think so far ahead, to base it all on a future that is riddled with conjecture. Yet…it was who he was.

In this life and the old one.

He'd been a man who dealt in logic, in numbers and in trends.

He could not not think in such a way, to see problems and try and fix it.

He doubted he'd ever lose that, even if he had accepted nearly everything now.

Nor would he leave anything to chance when it came to his family.

Short…or long term…or longer term, he thought as the Night King's face flashed in the forefronts of his mind.

And that meant he and Gael and their…family could not stay in Westeros.

A decision that bore many more difficult choices…and paths.

Aegon's mind spun and twisted as he thought of the next five to ten years.

He'd already settled on working out a way to convince the commonfolk of Dragonstone, people who have historical context, historical loyalty to his House, and a common ancestry, and made it an easy choice to form his core population around them and with time and carefulness, he'd work to elevate them into soldiers, sailors, leaders, teachers, healers and more.

It helped of course that he'd done much already to win their affection and loyalty.

Soon, he'd search out for knights and hedge knights of no or little renown and take the ones who are romanced by the idea of chivalry and honour and use them to form the spine of his army whilst also guiding as many as he could to marry and have children with daughters of the commonfolk of Dragonstone.

Coin and wealth would come from luxury goods he knew would generate much gold, like glass, which he would have to experiment with, and porcelain which he'd known the production of thanks to a phase of his mother...his mother in his old life.

Ships and ship development would take time and gold but he was building a cadre of shipbuilders and it was something that would continue with time.

There was much, much more he needed to do, like beginning his studies in magic, or like freeing as much slaves as he could from Lys and Volantis through coin so as to create a large population of common ancestry indebted to his family, but it was fine for he did not expect to accomplish all of it in the next five or even ten years, and he also needed time to think and develop systems, governance and inheritance.

Which was fine for the Summer Isles would be an ideal place for his family to grow and live, a place of safety and peace where he would teach his child or children to be his heirs, free from the polluted feudal thinking, and where he'd refine his ideas and settle on a land to colonise.

Aegon almost forgot that he was to meet with his father and grandfather by the time he arrived – his body running on automatic – at the King's solar.

He glanced at Ser Crabb, one of the two Kingsguard protecting his grandfather and father, and the man who taught him most of the fighting skills he now possessed, and inwardly smiled as he was given a slight nod by the aging knight.

Ser Crabb asked Jaehaerys if he could go with Aegon to deal with the bandits, to protect a member of the royal family, but he'd been denied at the time.

A gesture that meant much to Aegon.

He walked into the King's Solar and passed the Kingsguard that flanked the doors and schooled his face and his eyes as he approached.

Aegon stopped before Jaehaerys who sat imperiously on a miniature throne-like chair on raised dais, and his father who stood beside the old King, and bowed to Jaehaerys "Your Grace" he said with a mask of stone, all traces of emotions locked tightly within him.

Jaehaerys had a face of stone as he spoke. "Stand, grandson." It was the most Jaehaerys had spoken to him since Gael's disappearance.

Aegon did as he was bid and glanced at his father who seemed to stare at him with an inscrutable look. "Father." Aegon acknowledged neutrally. His father only gave him a small nod in return though that look never went away from his expression.

Whatever the look was for, it was undoubtable as to why he was called here, hours after he and Gael had spent together. Aegon returned his gaze towards Jaehaerys.

And all three men knew where this was likely to go.

"I have heard you have re-acquainted yourself with my daughter." Jaehaerys began, getting straight to the point. Good.

"I have." Aegon said calmly, his mask of stone remaining in place beneath the cold assessing eyes of Jaehaerys. "To see her healthy and hale was important to me."

"You spent hours with her. A long time to see her 'healthy and hale'." Jaehaerys noted and Aegon inclined his head in acknowledgement.

"We had much to discuss, Your Grace."

Jaehaerys latched on "Oh?"

"Yes. Such as her acceptance of my proposal to marry." Aegon intentionally said casually, his posture never changing nor was he fazed by the intense looks from both his father and grandfather.

"I have not given my permission." Jaehaerys said coldly and stern faced, though he could see the pleased glint in his eyes that was matched with the signs of relief in Baelon's face who was far easier to read.

 'So this was the route he was going?' Aegon mused to himself. He had no interest of stretching this out any longer. He eyed Jaehaerys intently as he spoke. "Grandfather, we all know that this is exactly what all of us want. Shall we stop pretending otherwise?" Aegon said bluntly.

After neither Jaehaerys and Baelon answered, Aegon continued. "As far as anyone is concerned, I was always meant to marry Gael." Baelon's own immense displeasure at the whole…affair had cautioned Jaehaerys from making any immediate announcements though Gael had disappeared very shortly afterwards.

Neither Viserys, Aemma or Daemon had known of the potential marriage between Baelon and Gael and Gael's disappearance and effect on their family had soon killed any potential of that being brought up.

As far as anyone knew, Gael had disappeared as a consequence of wrongdoing on Aegon's part, a right assessment, though the rumour that had become popular was scathing of him. Insidious even.

Aegon managed to resist the urge to clench his jaws and cooled the molten anger he felt at the very thought that he'd do anything like some had rumoured.

"No one knows the reasons why Gael disappeared. And no one needs to know the reasons." Aegon's expression of stone broke as a faint, almost unfriendly smile formed "Most already believe that I am responsible for her disappearance. We can use that to spin a tale to match that belief though I'd prefer it if it were much less…dishonourable." Aegon said with delicate calm.

Baelon, for the first time Aegon had ever seen, looked uncomfortable. 

Aegon didn't know who started the rumour in court that began shortly after Gael left, one that insinuated, though never said, that he'd committed a foul wrongdoing and caused Gael's flight, but it was one that no one in his family took to address.

He'd only found out from Bartimos and a few others who remained loyal, who'd heard from those who Aegon had once considered to be allies

Such a rumour would not have fallen deaf of the ears of Jaehaerys or Baelon or Viserys or even Aemma yet none of them did or said anything to rebuke the rumour.

Which in of itself was a scathing fire.

And the one who he could have seen challenge it, Alysanne, had secluded herself away from court.

Aegon had forgiven the harm that had been done to him by his family, after all, he knew that he deserved much of the shunning and more but he wouldn't forget it…just as he wouldn't forget the slights that were levied against him.

"I will see to it that it is understood to have been a harmless discourse." Jaehaerys said with a tone of finality. Aegon lightly nodded his acceptance before he spoke.

"So it is agreed then? Gael and I are set to be married?" Aegon asked, his eyes darting between Jaehaerys and Baelon. 

Baelon spoke up, for the first time "You were adamant in refusing to marry her. Even going so far as claiming to rather die than marry her." Baelon said pointedly and not without a hint of anger in his voice.

"Yes." Aegon acknowledged calmly as he met his father's stern gaze. "And I was mistaken" he admitted to both Baelon and Jaehaerys.

"I believed that it was the best way to avert what I have come to Dream" 'technically true but they didn't need to know the other reasons, the main reasons' "but it was against my…wants." Aegon told them before meeting the gaze of Jaehaerys.

"And that of hers." Aegon allowed a genuine smile to form on his face, one that was mostly true "I fought against destiny and I have lost." Aegon said as he looked first at Jaehaerys and then to Baelon. "Just as it was destiny for grandfather to marry grandmother despite the wants of the realm and just as it was destiny for you, father, to marry mother."

From their reactions alone, Aegon knew that he had them convinced of why he changed his mind. 

It was a cheap tactic, to compare what he had and would have with Gael to that what father and grandfather had and still had with their wives, and though neither men were exactly known for their sentimentality, both of them had it in spades for their wives.

And with the way Aegon had zealously searched for Gael, drawing onto their biases would only confirm their suspicions of his reasons of agreeing to marry Gael and draw away their attentions from everything else.

Jaehaerys shared a glance with Baelon before Jaehaerys looked upon Aegon with a stern look. "You will marry her within the sennight" he said with a sternness to match his face but Aegon could see the pleased glint in his eyes, one to match the more noticeable pleased expression in Baelon's face.

This was, after all, the best solution.

Aegon nodded his acceptance.

Both Baelon and Jaehaerys looked visibly relieved now.

"And now the matter of the dowry." Aegon stated with a calm expression. 

He knew he was…pushing but he needed to. 

Before, when he sought to simply see everything there was, he only expected two mayhaps three ships worth of people to come with him.

They would have always been moving, always coming and going from one place to another and they were men who would be able to care of themselves. 

Now, with Gael coming with him, mayhaps with children already, and his plans of building a new home, he would need a lot more than simply men. 

He needed…a great many things.

And he'd use every single advantage at his disposal.

Jaehaerys expression shifted, not by much but enough for Aegon know that he was surprised. "Dowry?" Baelon asked, genuine surprise tinging his voice.

"Is a King's daughter not enough?" Jaehaerys sharply questioned, his authoritative voice cutting through the air like steel.

"Neither I nor father received any dowries." Baelon added.

"No." Aegon agreed, the linger discomfort from the realities of why still present even if it was lingering "But then I am a third son with no inheritance." Aegon's expression grew colder as he let his anger seep in his voice with deliberate intent yet with genuine anger.

"A third son, a prince, who was shunned by his own family, one half who did not know why he was shunned yet followed the lead of their grandfather and the other half blaming me as good as publicly, for Gael's disappearance." 

Aegon visibly calmed himself as his gaze cycled to fall upon his father's stoic face and that of Jaehaerys' impassive one before he spoke again. 

"I was wrong. Yes. My actions had consequences. I felt that more than any other." Aegon said as he drew himself up "But it had not been done out of malice or intentional harm for you had known that I sought avoid catastrophe for our family" 'Only partially true but as far as they were concerned…the whole truth' 

"Yet neither of you sought to defend me against the filthy accusations that not only stained my reputation but also of our House." Aegon finished with a deep exhale before he carefully studied their reactions.

As expected, Baelon was the most affected by his outburst. Traces of guilt and other signatures that he couldn't quite place.

Jaehaerys was far more unreadable.

"And what is it that you want? Gold? Land?" Jaehaerys asked calmly though not without a hint of mocking in his voice.

"Nothing as base as that." Aegon answered easily. "Only for you to support my efforts to the East."

"You still wish to go East?" Baelon asked with startled surprise.

Aegon turned to his father. "Yes. As I once said" Aegon glanced at Jaehaerys before returning his gaze to Baelon "I feel it is important for our House that I do so. Only now, I will have Gael and our future children with me." Aegon told his father.

Which was true. 

Removing his family from the generational shit-storm that was Westeros was best for their family. Mayhaps that would not have been the case if a lot of things were different, different in the way he could see himself stay and work to fashion something out a lot more sustainable…but they weren't and they wouldn't be. 

He wasn't so confident any more that Viserys could be anything other than who he was…a jovial man who was easily swayed by those around him.

Good for a merchant…terrible for a King.

Viserys probably had a couple of decades to change before he'd be King but he wasn't going to depend on hope.

"And it is a path that I will not waver from." Aegon said as he directed his gaze towards Jaehaerys "It will not be immediate. It may be two or may it be five years. It will, however, happen." 

Neither Baelon or Jaehaerys said anything for a long few moments.

"Very well." Jaehaerys said, an uncharacteristic rare smile that accompanied a scrutinising look. "You will have my support." 

"Thank you." Aegon said with a faint smile before continuing "I'd also like for Gael's house arrest to end." 

The smile fell away. "Do not test my patience." Jaehaerys warned sternly.

"I would never dream of doing so…Your Grace." Aegon said with a bowed head.

"It is simply that I would like to think that normality returning is of greater preference to our House than the rumours that continue to spread. I shall escort her everywhere and she will not leave my sight, I can promise you that."

His father snorted before he looked towards Jaehaerys. "And you said Aemon and I were more troublesome." Aegon was as surprised at the comment as he was to his father's reaction.

Jaehaerys peered at Aegon before turning to Baelon "Your sons have long since surpassed you and your brother in causing me headaches." 

Jaehaerys turned back towards Aegon. "I will…allow it." Jaehaerys said with some difficulty before he asked a question that likely plagued him.

"Tell me this truthfully. Has she kept…true?" 

Aegon forced the twitch of irritation he felt at his grandfather down and reason triumphed. "Yes." Aegon told his grandfather. "Gael has never been a liar. I believe her and that is enough for me." 

Jaehaerys stared at him for a while before he nodded. "Very well." Jaehaerys turned towards Baelon. "Have the grandmaester send the invitations to the wedding."

"Of course, father."

Jaehaerys dismissed him but Aegon remained despite it and it piqued both of their attentions. He hadn't planned on doing this but thinking of Viserys a short moment ago had set him off.

"Spend more time with Viserys, grandfather, father."

"Why?" Baelon asked with a frown. 

Aegon set his jaw slightly but he relaxed as he spoke. 

"Viserys…Viserys is a good man." Aegon began delicately. Jaehaerys narrowed his eyes at his description. "He has the charm a peacetime king needs but he is…fallible." Aegon told his grandfather and father. "Fallible in ways that is dangerous."

"Nonsense." Baelon said sharply and his voice tinged with anger was akin to that of a clapping of thunder, powerful and all encompassing.

"Do not speak ill of your eldest brother, Aegon."

"Continue." Jaehaerys commanded, much to Baelon's surprise. Baelon set his jaw, his nostrils slightly flaring but he said nothing.

"Viserys distanced himself from me during a troubled time for our family, a troubled I may have been responsible for in many ways, but he did not know that that and he did not question it. When he should have asked for clarity from me, he instead chose to consider the rumours about me." Neither Baelon or Jaehaerys looked eager to interrupt him.

He continued "when he should have pulled me closer, to be the only support I have, binding me closer to him, he instead made himself invisible to me or my troubles. Even if he did despise me, choosing to believe rumours instead of either demanding the truth from one of you, he should have considered that I am a dragonrider and he is not. That I am a skilled warrior of repute and he is neither. And more importantly that I am his brother." Aegon said with narrowed eyes.

"You believe him to be naïve and easily led to his own detriment." Jaehaerys said with a stone face.

"I believe he needs to be more time with both of you." Aegon said diplomatically. Jaehaerys, for all of his personal faults, was an excellent king. 

To achieve what he did, administration wise and centralisation, was laudable. Three Jaehaerys' in a row would do much to solidify Targaryen dominancy.

And Baelon had the makings of a king that would build on Jaehaerys' work whilst also react quickly to the threats to the realm…like the Triarchy.

From both of these men, Viserys only needed to listen and observe.

"You may go." Jaehaerys finally said after a while and Aegon did leave that time.

The days since that meeting with his father and grandfather went by quickly, spending every day with Gael, either in flight on their respective dragons, or simply being in one another's presence.

His grandfather did as promised though in a way Aegon did not expect. He let it be known that Gael's disappearance had been because of a disagreement between himself, Gael and Aegon, a disagreement that was resolved and that they were to be wed soon.

The announcement coupled with Gael's happiness for all to see had reversed many of the courtiers' behaviours towards Aegon.

He took much pleasure in forcing the leeches to crawl and stay away from him. Forgiveness for the likes of them would never be given.

He did forgive Viserys but whatever closeness he had with Viserys was mostly gone. In a way, Viserys sensed it too. Or mayhaps Aemma did.

Nevertheless, he rarely spent any time away from Gael, addicted as he was to the sense of peace she gave him. He'd missed it, the peace. 

When they'd been away from prying ears, far from civilisation, he told her of dreams that seemed like memories of another life, of miraculous things and wonders that created a spark in her eyes, the same kind of sparks that he'd seen when he told her stories of Middle Earth.

He told a little of flying metal ships and strange customs that seemed alien to Gael and more. It was likely as close to a truth he could tell her without scaring her or causing her to think him mad, a truth wrapped up in the way of Dragon Dreams, and he was content with it. 

He was perhaps sentimental but for him, marriage was a partnership in everything. In family, in wealth, in power, and in truth. And Gael deserved it all.

He also told her of the 'strange' language the people in his Dreams had spoken, the langue of Greek. He'd eventually begin to teach her the language and the script, and eventually he'd teach their children the same. 

A language that only his family could speak or read would be useful. English was too similar to Common and the script was almost a duplicate of the Latin alphabet. 

Oddly, High Valyrian clearly had the same ancestral alphabet as Common and he'd wondered if there had been a precursor civilisation in South, Central and Western Essos for that to have happened. Curiously, the Ghiscari script, however rarely it was used, was a completely different alphabet, as different as Arabic was to Latin.

Before long, it was time for their wedding, done in the Faith of the Seven ceremony rather than the Valyrian rites, and he was less than an hour away from being married. 

It was religious tradition, of sorts, for the groom to be alone in the time before the wedding, though he made sure Bartimos, Eldric and a few other heirs that stuck by him had been allowed to come and visit, though he regretted it somewhat with how some of them looked to be amused at his nervousness.

And as the time ticked down and sunset approached, it would be soon for him to step out and wait for Gael at the altar.

Though before that could happen, his next visitor arrived and surprised him.

"Corlys." Aegon acknowledged with a question in his voice.

The dark-skinned, white-haired man was smiling at him.

"I know, you were not expecting me, my Prince." The Velaryon Lord said jovially.

"I cannot say that I did." Aegon said wryly as he eyed the man. 

It caused the man to chuckle.

"Such suspicious eyes." Corlys said with a trace of mirth in his voice before he turned serious "I hoped to speak with you before the ceremony as I doubt I'll see a hair of you for a half a moon afterwards."

Try as he might, he couldn't help but look a little embarrassed by the topic though he moved passed it quickly and asked "What was it that you wished to speak to me about?" Aegon asked, neither kindly or unkindly.

For all of the respect Aegon had for Corlys, the man always had an angle. Aegon had exploited it by having his people trained as sailors though Corlys had never asked for anything in return. 

Would he ask for something now?

"My wife wants to invite you and your soon to be wife to stay at Driftmark for a few weeks." Corlys eyed Aegon pointedly "Before you get settled in Dragonstone."

Aegon was surprised by that and it must have shown on his face because Corlys smiled. Aegon grimaced internally. He really was nervous if he was allowing himself to be read so easily when he didn't want to be.

"Nothing more, nothing less." Corlys assured Aegon. "You are family after all. It would be good for Leanor and Laena to know their cousins."

Aegon thought about it, his mind crosschecking every reason why Corlys would make this offer now. He sighed internally. There were many, chief amongst them was the potential of an alliance through marriage.

Likely also knows that his bond with Viserys is…not as strong as it was before everything. Could he refuse? Probably but it would have consequences. Possibly make Corlys less amenable to his requests, should he have any.

"I will discuss it with Gael." Aegon said noncommittally.

Corlys nodded graciously "I expected as much. Our wives' wants do take some considerations than most others." Aegon smiled acknowledging the point.

There was a lull of silence, one that heightened Aegon's nerves as the time drew ever nearer by and Aegon broke the silence, just before Corlys made to speak, to distract himself from the coming ceremony "You've never said what place intrigued you the most" the comment surprised Corlys. 

It surprised Aegon too but he hoped that Corlys would go on his long winded, albeit eloquent, storytelling that would be sure to hasten the time.

"Hard to say." Corlys said as he stroked his beard. 

"Yi Ti would be the easiest to say. Asabhad is impressive, far more than any city I know save for mayhaps Volantis, Meereen or Braavos, and though I have not stepped beyond the ports of Yin and Jinqi, for foreigners are not allowed beyond the boundaries of the ports and the markets there, even from distance, it is easy to see the magnificence of the two cities." Corlys told Aegon.

"The other cities, the ones in between Asabhad and Yin, like Qin Fei or Gu Jiqu, were as impressive as any Westerosi city" Corlys laughed as he shook his head "And yet they are considered to be less than a city and more akin to a town."

"Their civilisation is old." Aegon commented "They've had the time and at least some form of unity to develop more cities than any other. In time, such things would happen here too."

Corlys hummed agreeably "Mayhaps so." A disgruntled look came across his face. "It's a shame they do not care to give respect where it is due. Not even us Valyrians."

"You've mentioned it before. That they see us as barbarians." Aegon said with faint amusement. Definitely Chinese, he thought to himself, if…everything else wasn't so clear. Though…he was curious to know what relationship the Yi Ti had with the Valyrians. 

The Romans, the Persians, the Greeks and other such ancient Kingdoms around the Mediterranean and the Near East all had contact in some form or another with China.

Did they have records of those contacts? He thought to himself. What would they have on his ancestors? What accounts would they hold in their records?

It would likely not be flattery…nor could it wholly be trusted but even biased accounting was valuable. At least to him. 

Corlys snorted. "Aye. And the worst thing about it in some ways they are right."

"I wouldn't have guessed the great Corlys would speak of such unflattering language about himself." Aegon said with faint amusement showing on his face.

Corlys chuckled loudly at that "I know when I am beat." Corlys told Aegon and Aegon got the impression there was more meaning in those words.

Corlys continued "And the damn Yi Ti do make us look uncivilised. Their commoners, at least the ones I've seen at the ports, seemed like they could all read and write. I doubt you'd find half the merchants of Kings Landing or the rest of the cities in Westeros that could do the same, let alone commonfolk."

"It doesn't make us uncivilised." Aegon noted.

Corlys made a disgruntled noise "Mayhaps no, but they would think otherwise and doubtlessly have some flowery words as to why we're wrong and they're right." Corlys shook his head "In any case, as much as the Yi Ti impress, it did not intrigue me the most."

Aegon looked at him questioningly.

"That would have been Asshai."

"Truly?" Aegon asked interested. He'd asked before, about Asshai. Corlys had much about the place, about the great walls that could contain all of the cities of Westeros combined. Of the black stone that was far more ominous than the stones of Dragonstone and that seemed like it was made of foul creation itself.

To say Aegon was interested was to put it lightly.

Strangely, despite the reputation it had, it was a popular port city. Even if the people and the city weirded people out.

"Hmm." Corlys confirmed. "Not because of its trades or its people or the reputation but because of its history that must have been similar to that of Old Valyria."

Aegon's eyebrows raised. 

Corlys smiled at Aegon "You're not the only one interested in history, Prince Aegon. Do you think I would be as good a storyteller without it?"

Despite himself Aegon's lips curled up "I suppose it makes sense. You do have a trace of exaggeration in your stories." 

Corlys laughed "No one wants to hear the boring important things." Corlys said with a smile, all but confirming there was exaggeration in his stories.

Aegon's smile deepened slightly and Corlys continued. "So Asshai is a place that intrigues me the most." Corlys peered at Aegon "It is worth visiting."

"I'll keep it in mind." Aegon sad noncommittally. He was…leery of the dark reputation of Asshai and without learning magic in some way or another, it would be a hard pass. His experiences with the Child of the Forest as enough for him to know he was vastly underprepared for any magical practitioner.

Corlys smiled knowingly before he shrugged and turned to leave "You should. If you're lucky, you'll find the Sunchaser beached nearby the port of Asshai." 

"Sunchaser?" Aegon asked, stopping Corlys in his tracks. The name sounded familiar.

"Yes. The ship Elyse Farman had built and sailed on. Supposedly having gone so far west she went East." Corlys scoffed.

"I regret I ever mentioned I saw the damn ship. Fools took it to mean the woman accomplished the impossible. A boorish crude lie."

He couldn't help but ask "Why?" half distracted as he was on the ship and the idea of going West.

Corlys looked at him unimpressed before shaking his head. 

"Sometimes I forget you're just a boy and still have to learn how to walk on sea-legs." Corlys said with an appraising look.

"Going West is impossible." Corlys explained, his expression turning grim.

"The Sunset Sea is a ravenous creature, its waters depthless and its waves mountainous. Even the Summer Sea is incomparable to the Sunset Sea and Summer Sea is no easy waters to sail upon."

"The Hightowers, the ones that sailed with Elyse Farman. They sailed for nearly two moons to get to the Targaryen Islands and that journey alone had been dangerous, so dangerous one of the three ships was sunk. And when the Hightowers tried to return to Old Town, the Sunset Sea battered and ravaged their ship and veered them so off course that they ended up in the Basilisk Isles!"

Aegon's eyebrows raised at that.

"And that was only one and a half moon's sail West from Old Town." Corlys said lowly before shaking his head. "Tales of Elyse Farman successfully sailing so far West she went East are nothing but stories to be told to impressionable children." Corlys said disdainfully before he fixed a look onto Aegon.

"I believe she was also caught in that storm or waters that sent the Hightowers to the Basilisk Isles and in the end settled to go to Asshai which may have been her end."

Corlys shook his head "Ah. Enough of such dire endings." Corlys peered at Aegon. "It won't be long now until the ceremony begins" he noted and it shook Aegon out of his thoughts.

Corlys laughed before he stepped and slapped Aegon on the shoulder. "Do not look so worried, my young friend. Marriage seems daunting yet it is but a journey on calm seas." Corlys began turn around though not without saying one more last thing.

"Just remember that she rides a dragon and could easily feed you to it should you displease her." Corlys said with a snort before leaving.

Minutes afterwards he was out and waiting at the front of the Sept, nerves so high that it felt as if the tip of his fingers and toes were tingling, so numb was he as he waited for her to come. 

He managed to keep his calm expression but it was a battle he was only barely winning. The singing didn't help either, he thought with a grimace and nor did the filled out Red Keep sept which seemed to be overflowing with people.

He saw many of the nobility he'd seen at the progression, even the Baratheons though he suspected most if not all only came because Jaehaerys would be giving away Gael, the last of his daughters.

He felt as if his heart had stopped, when Gael, cloaked in a maiden's cloak in the colours of their House as she was, was escorted into the Sept by Jaehaerys, who wore the Conqueror's crown, though his eyes were almost fixed entirely on Gael alone.

She looked like Aphrodite incarnate though with a dignity that surpassed even that of Mary herself. A shy dignity that spellbound him and a beauty that ensnared him and when he felt his heart going again, it felt like it was beating faster than his most exhaustive exercise.

As she stood by him, he could see her nervousness yet he also saw her delight and joy and he offered her a small smile, one she returned beautifully.

Jaehaerys removed her cloak from her shoulders and he moved to place his own onto hers. The words of the septon were spoken with him barely even noticing, spellbound as he was by her.

This would be the woman he'd spend the rest of his life with.

And he thought to himself…that was no sacrifice at all.

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Mid to Late 100 AC, Kings Landing

Gael POV

"They're beautiful." Her mother said softly, her shaking hand caressing Gael's wet hair. "Your eyes were the same shade when you were born. They'll darken in the next few months." Her mother fondly as she peered down at her babies who were cooing. They were her perfect little joys.

The doors to her room opened and Aegon was first into the room followed by her father. She gave Aegon a little smile as he leaned over and gave her a little kiss on her forehead before looking down at the boys.

She watched him carefully and she saw many emotions play out on his face yet there was one prevailing one, and that one was one she felt like she had whenever she looked at the boys.

"They're perfect." Aegon said intensely, his finger brushing against the cheek of one of her boys, her youngest. Gael smiled at the sight.

"They are." Gael said fondly before she looked down at them again. They were so well behaved too. Her father took a good look at them and she brought them a little closer to her chest as she tightened her lips a little.

"Do you want to hold them?" Gael asked him. Aegon took a moment to think on it before shaking his head.

"I can wait until later." He said with a smile.

Her father made a noise, drawing their attentions. It was a few heartbeats until he spoke "They look strong. Good." He turned to look at Aegon who met her father's gaze.

Her father and Aegon had a strange relationship, one that improved much once Aegon had married Gael. She did know that they met often, to discuss things that Aegon was tight lipped on. 

"Have you chosen their names yet?" her father asked Aegon. 

Traditionally, sons were given names by their fathers.

"We have. Castorys and Polaerys. Two ancient Valyrian names we found references to in my collection." Aegon lied to her father skilfully. Aegon did have a small collection of tomes written in Valyrian but they were only from Volantis.

Castorys and Polaerys were names slightly changed from a culture that Aegon remembered. Greek if she remembered rightly. Castor and Pollux, heroic twins from mythology. They were noble and righteous, strong and skilful heroes that saved people in trouble at sea or in grave danger in war. 

They were protectors and Gael agreed to the names should they have twin boys.

Her father mulled it over "I have not heard those names before." He said with a frown before visibly dismissing it "You can show me the tome later." He turned his gaze to Gael, his expression softening but not by much.

Her relationship with her father was still strained but it was better. She only wished he'd try harder. But then, she hadn't been a son.

"The grandmaester tells me you will recover well" Her father paused for a moment, a slight hesitation that was uncharacteristic. "I am glad you're well"

She smiled at him kindly "Thank you father." She said in a smaller voice than intended. Her father was still for a moment before he nodded. He took a glance at mother who smiled at father, like in the way she used to and father softened even more before he turned around and walked out of the room.

"Don't mind him." Her mother said, her voice croaking a little, her eyes still on the door her father had walked out from. "He is doing his best."

"I know." Gael said with a smile to her mother. 

Conversation was light and she was grateful when her mother left.

She let out of a sigh of relief. "That was almost as hard as given birth to these little joys." Aegon chuckled at her words before he sat down at the edge of the bed.

She leaned her head against his shoulder as Aegon gently brush his finger against Castorys' cheek. "I never thought expecting it would be so different to this." Aegon admitted to her.

"I think I know what you mean" she said as she rested her head against his shoulder.

"I'll do everything I can to protect them." Aegon said quietly though she heard the unwavering resolve in his voice.

"I know. I'm the same" she said with her voice thick with emotion and neither of them said anything further and for the next hour or so they simply stayed like this, watching their little joys coo before they fell asleep and Gael had never felt so content with life before and she never wanted it to end, no matter what it would take.