Proposals

Queen Alicents chambers

Alicent was sitting with her 13 year old daughter Heleana while she was studying an insect, and the Hightower queen couldn't understand why.

"This one has sixty rings and two pairs of legs on each." Heleana said as the insect crawled in on her hands. "That's two hundred and forty."

"Yes, it is." Alicent acknowledged.

"It has eyes. Though...I do not believe it can be seen." Heleana said.

"And why is that so, do you think?" Alicent asked her daughter.

"It is beyond our understanding." Heleana answered.

"I suppose you're right. Some things just are." She said as she rubbed Heleana on her back, but Heleana flinched, not wanting to be touched by her mother.

"What are you doing here?" Alicent heard Ser Criston ask.

"I wish to give something to Heleana, Ser." Daemion said.

"Let me see it." Ser Criston demanded.

"I can't show you. It's a surprise for Princess Heleana." Daemion said.

"I said let me see it!" Ser Criston tried to grab the gift but was stopped by Alicent.

"It's alright, Ser, let him in." Alicent said.

"Thank you, your grace." Daemion glared at Ser Criston. "Mittys." (idiot) He said in High Valyrian.

"What do you have there, Daemion?" Alicent asked.

"I noticed how Heleana always keeps some insects in a case, and I decided to make a frame for her. My grandsire helped me with it." Daemion said. He then presented the frame. It's made of dragon bone. "I painted it black."

"That's very thoughtful of you." Alicent said.

"It's beautiful. I shall cherish it forever." Heleana smiled.

Alicent looked at her only daughter. She loved that she was smiling. A part of her thought that perhaps she should marry Daemion when they come of age, but she remembered that Daemion is the bastard son of Harwin Strong and that the king still hasn't taken the side of the queen or her children who are true-born. She then looked at Ser Criston and nodded at him.

"Come, my prince. It's time to leave." Ser Criston took Daemion by his arm and escorted him out.

"Can I see you after my training?" Daemion asked Heleana.

"I will speak to the king about it." Alicent answered for her daughter, and Heleana watched in sadness how Daemion was taken out of the room.

Training yard

All the male Targaryens were training in the yards, and although Daemion, Jace, and Luke weren't very close with their uncles, they still enjoyed their sparring sessions together.

Ser Criston watched with disgust how wildly Rhaenyras youngest sons were swinging their swords. He looked at Daemion, who had obviously improved in the last 5 years since Ser Harrold personally trained him. He looked at Aemond and walked closer to the queens son.

"Soften you knees. Feet light." Criston instructed Aemond. "Keep your feet light and your hands heavy."

From above, the King was sitting and watching the boys train, and accompanying him was the Hand Lyonel Strong.

Viserys chuckled. "This is the stuff, Lyonel. Lads that learn together, train together, knock each other down, and pick each other up. They will certainly form a lifelong bond, wouldn't you agree?" He asked his hand.

"That is the hope, your grace." Lyonel said.

Aemond then hit Jace' sword down. "Don't stand upright, my prince. You'll get knocked down." Criston said."

Daemion moved swiftly, smacking the straw dummy. Ser Criston noticed the boys' advanced training. He wasn't just smacking the dummy, but he was smacking it on all the weak spots of a man. "Who taught you that?" He asked Daemion.

"Huh?" Daemion replied. "Oh. It was Ser Harrold. The Lord commander showed me all the places that can weaken someone easily no matter how big they are."

Ser Criston was seething. "Keep practicing." He then saw Aegon smirking at some handmaidens. "Aegon." The Kingsguard knight called out.

"I've won my first bout Ser Criston. My opponent sues for mercy." Aegon said arrogantly.

"You'll have a new opponent than my lord of the straw." Criston said. "Let's see if you can touch me. You and your brother."

Daemion, Jace and Luke watched as their uncles advance on Ser Criston but him being the better and more experienced swordsman was able to take the two of them on easily even when they tried to attack him at the same time it wasn't enough. "You'll have to do better than that." He said arrogantly.

Ser Harwin noticed that his son's were watching their uncles. "Ah. Weapons up boys, give your enemies no quarter." Ser Harwin said. "Seems the younger boys could do better with a bit of your attention, Ser Criston." Harwin said.

"You question my method of instruction, Ser?" Criston asked.

"I merely suggest that method be applied to all your pupils." Ser Harwin answered

"Very well. Daemion, come here." Ser Criston roughly grabbed Daemion. "You spar with Aegon. Eldest son against the eldest son."

Daemion stood ready to fight Aegon. "It's hardly a fair match." Ser harwin said. Even though Aegon was 14 years old, Daemion was still as tall as his uncle.

"I know you've never seen true battle Ser, but when steel is drawn, a fair match isn't something anyone should expect." Ser Criston pointed out.

"Blades up, engage." Ser Criston instructed.

The boys charged at each other. Aegon was swinging wildly, and Daemion was dodging easily. Daemion then managed to hit Aegon in the face, and he got so angry that it got to the point where he started pushing the straw dummy at Daemon.

"Foul play." Ser Harwin pointed out.

"I'll deal with him." Criston said.

Both Ser Criston and Ser Harwin spoke to the boys.

"Plant your feet. You're better than him." Criston said firmly.

"Advance on him, the feet, right." Harwin instructed Daemion, and the boy smiled and nodded.

They engaged again, and Aegon came out even more aggressively, and Ser Criston started instructing him.

"Close with him. Press him backward. Close with him! Stay on the attack! Use your feet!" Ser Criston instructed Aegon, and he did what he was told and tried to kick Daemion in his chest.

Daemion slipped to his left, gripped Aegons leg, and tripped his free foot. Aegon then fell on the ground, and the rest of the boys laughed.

"Well done, my prince." Ser Harwin said.

"Thank you, Ser." Daemion said and reached out to help Aegon up, but he smacked Daemions hand away.

Once Daemion turned his back, Aegon quickly got up and charged at Daemion. He then repeatedly smacked his nephew with the wooded sword.

"Don't let him get up." Ser Criston instructed. "Stay on the attack!"

Aegon repeatedly attacked Daemion while he was still down. Suddenly, Ser Harwin intervened and pushed Aegon aside.

"Enough!" Harwin yelled.

"You dare put hands on me!" Aegon yelled.

"Aegon!" Viserys scolded from above.

"You forget yourself. Strong, that is the prince." Criston calmly said.

"Is this what you teach, Cole? Cowardice?" Harwin asked as he started picking up the wooden swords.

"Your interest in the Prince's training is quite unusual commander. Most men would only have that kind of devotion toward a cousin...or a brother...or a son." Ser Criston said.

Harwin then lost it he turned around and punched ser Criston Cole repeatedly. Even when the Kingsguard knight was already on the ground, Harwin did not stop, and then a few Kingsguard knights assisted Ser Criston. "Say it again!" Harwin yelled as the Kingsguard knights pulled him off Ser Criston. "Say it again!" He yelled again.

Ser Criston was laying on the ground, his fave beaten and his mouth bleeding, and he laughed. "Thought as much."

Rhaenyras chambers

Rhaenyra was fawning over her newborn son, while her other sons were training.

"Let him be bathed with a cloth, and see to it the cook gives you a good clear wine to drink." She told the wetnurse.

Just then, her young handmaiden, Elinda Massey, entered. "Princess... there's been an incident in the yard."

Rhaenyra used her secret passage to go to her lover but stopped at the sound of Lord Lyonels voice.

"What you've done fills me with unrelenting shame." Lyonel said.

"So that's what this is about then? Your shame?" Harwin asked.

"Our shame, Harwin! Shame on the whole of House Strong." The Hand of the King said.

"Because I put my hands on that insufferable Cole, the son of a steward?" Harwin inquired.

"He is a knight of the Kingsguard now. A defender of the crown." Lyonel said.

"He assaulted Prince Daemion, the future heir to the throne!" Harwin argued.

They shouted at each point where Harwin shoved things onto the ground, and Rhaenyra hid herself.

"You have laid us open to accusations of an uglier treachery." Lyonel said.

"What treachery is that?" Harwin tried to play dumb.

"Don't play the fool with me, boy." Lyonel warned his son. "Your intimacy with the Princess Rhaenyra is an offense that could mean exile and death for you. For her. For the children!"

"They are rumors only, spun by the princess' rivals." Ser Harwin said.

"People have eyes, boy. Yet his grace, the king, it seems, will not accept what his eyes can see. This flimsy shield alone stands between you and the headsman." Lyonel said. "The willful blindness of a father towards his child."

"I wish my father affected a similar blindness." Harwin said.

"Have I not these many years? And yet today, you publicly assaulted a knight of the Kingsguard in the defense of your..." Lyonel did not know how to finish that sentence.

"You have your honor, and I have mine." Harwin said, and Rhaenyra left to her chambers.

Rhaenyras chambers

Princess Rhaenyra had a lot to think about. She wanted to protect her sons from the Hightowers, but unfortunately, she was alone. She also hadn't told her sons that they were from different fathers.

She then heard singing, and it became louder as it got closer to the door. When the door opened, Ser Laenor and Ser Qarl entered through it, and they were drunk, Laenor was more drunk than Qarl.

"My dear wife." Laenor greeted.

"Princess." Qarl greeted as well.

Rhaenyra looked at Laenors clothes, which he noticed. "Oh, I fell down." He said and chuckled.

"Where have you been?" Rhaenyra asked angrily.

"Out with Qarl. Did I not mention it?" Laenor inquired. "Are you in much pain?" He asked. "You see, the milk swells the breasts, and-" Laenor was cut off by Rhaenyra.

"Do you mind Ser Qarl, I'd like to speak to my husband." Rhaenyra said. She was annoyed with everything her husband was doing. She looked at her handmaiden, and she left as well.

Once they were alone, Laenor walked closer to Rhaenyra. "War is afoot again in the Stepstones, Rhaenyra. The Triarchy takes new life from its alliance with Dorne." He was swaying back and forth. "They're waylaying ships and cargo." He fell on the couch. "Qarl's been fighting there, he showed me a... He showed me a sack of sapphires big as walnuts he took from the pirate he slew." He chuckled. "Ah! After all this time, this is just what I need. A little adventure. A good, honest battle to enliven my blood again." Laenor chuckled again. "He says there is a Tyroshi general there, a giant, they say who dies his beard purple and wears women's frocks." He laughed. "A few months maybe, hm? To be back at sea." He said happily.

Rhaenyra was beyond angry. Her husband wanted to leave now when she needed him at her side the most. "Are you mad?" She asked. "Do you know what's happened while you've been guzzling all the ale in Flee Bottom, and gods know what besides. Dark rumors are hunting us, Laenor. They nip at our heels, questions about our children's parentage." She said. "Vile, disgusting insinuations."

Laenor scoffed. "Insinuations, are they?" He inquired and drank more ale.

"They're our sons! Yours and mine, and their true father will not abandon them now to go carousing through the Narrow Sea, waggling his sword and winking at his sailors." She spat.

"I am a knight and a warrior, and I have played my part faithfully for 10 years. I am owed some -" Laenor was cut off again.

"You are owed nothing!" Rhaenyra shouted. "For 10 years you have indulged yourself at court, bought the finest horses, drunk the rarest of wines, fucked the lustiest boys. This was our agreement. I have not begrudged you, but... you do not desert your post when the storm lashes." She pointed out.

"The wise sailor flees the storm as it gathers." He countered.

Rhaenyra knew that Laenor had made up his mind and nothing will change it. She had no choice but to force him. "Very well, I command you. As the princess and heir to the throne you are commanded to remain in Kings Landing and at my side."

Laenor sighed. He was over this marriage and only wanted out.

Small council chambers

The small council meeting was in session. King Viserys was seated at the head of the table. Rhaenyra sat next to the hand, Lord Lyonel.

"It is Lord Blackwoods condition, therefore, that the Brackens moved the boundary stones in the dead of night and put their horses to graze in his field." Lord Jasper Wylde, the Master of Laws said.

"Why was this not brought before Lord Grover? has he grown so feeble that he cannot settle a quarrel over rocks?" Alicent asked.

"I understand that Lord Grover's son now rules Riverrun in all but name." Lyonel said.

Alicent sighed. "Well his also a Tully, and this remains a Tully problem."

Tyland spoke up. "If we may may move on -" The master of ships tried but was cut off by Rhaenyra.

"And the Brakens and the Blackwoods will use any excuse to spill each other's blood. There will be country folk who know where the lines have been drawn for generations, thus dispute bears looking into." Rhaenyra said.

"That is easy enough." The Hand of the king said

"Of course." Alicent scoffed and sipped his wine.

There was an awkward silence. "Ser Tyland?" Lyonel spoke up. "You had something you wished to talk about."

"We should address the latest developments in the Stepstones, my Lords." Tyland said.

Viserys sighed. "Will we ever be shut of that blasted place?"

"If you ask me, I think the Blackwoods have the upper hand." Lord Beesbury said.

"No." Rhaenyra said.

"We've moved on to the Stepstones, Lord Beesbury." Grandmaester Orwyle said.

"And the Triarchy's new alliance with Dorne." Tyland said a little louder since Lord Beesbury was old and couldn't hear well anymore.

"I was hoping our negotiations with Sunspear might persuade them to see reason." Viserys said and coughed. "To trust a Martell is to be disappointed."

"And where I wonder is our prince Daemon? I suppose I call him king as he styled himself when he won a battle there...once." Jasper arrogantly said.

"That was a decade ago, and the region was left undefended." Alicent said.

"We left it undefended. There should've been fortifications built. Watchtowers, a fleet of ships. A garrison of soldiers sent to hold our ground." Rhaenyra pointed out

"We cannot afford it. Alicent said. "Our coffers are great. They aren't infinite. We must consider the cost to our subjects -" Alicent was cut off by Rhaenyra.

"The cost of war is greater! But we have been lax and new the old monster lifts its head." Rhaenyra raised her voice.

"Let us be finished." Alicent said, and the council members rose up when she did.

Viserys sighed. "Yes." He was too tired.

"Wait. I wish to speak." Rhaenyra said.

"Be seated." Viserys said, and the council members sat down except for Alicent.

Rhaenyra got up from her chair and looked Alicent. "I have felt the...strife between our families of late, my queen, and for any offense given by mine, I apologize. But we we are one house and long before that we were friends. My son, Daemion, will inherit the Iron Throne after me. I propose we betroth him to your daughter, Heleana. Ally ourselves once and for all." Viserys looked at his daughter with pride. He was happy with this proposition. "Let them rule, together."

"A most judicious proposition, my daughter." Viserys happily stated.

"Additionally, if Syrax brings forth another clutch of eggs, your son Aemond will have his choice of them... a gesture of our good will." Rhaenyra offered.

Alicent then noticed Rhaenyras dress. "Rhaenyra. Look down."

Milk from her breasts had leaked through her dress, and she covered it with her hands. "Oh, seven hells." Rhaenyra said and felt embarrassed. She then sat down.

"My dear. A dragons egg of a handsome gift." Viserys said.

"The king and I thank you for your offer, and we will consider it duly, come husband. You must rest." Alicent said. Viserys slowly got up and left the council chambers.

Hi guys, here's another chapter of Dragons Rage

What did you think of Daemions gift to Heleana?

What did you think of Daemion defeating Aegon again?

What did you think of Rhaenyras' proposal?

I'm open to suggestions for this story

Please comment and vote

Thanks, guys