The Red Keep
101 AC
Viserys Targaryen
3rd person POV
I sighed sitting at my table with one of my stone dragons in my hand. I stare at the beast wondering what could have been. My father gave me the first piece of what would become the beginning of my model of old Valyria. He would have been a great king maybe even greater than his grandfather ever was. But now that burden falls to me and as my thoughts wander towards the next steps I must take I am sidetracked by a noise from the door.
*Knock* *Knock*
"Whose there?" I ask my mind races as to who would disturb me now. I dismissed my king's guard to be alone for now. Was that a mistake? Could it be my dear Aemma or is it someone else? Without my guard, I didn't have someone to announce my visitor for me.
"Uncle V it's me Aemon." A childish high-pitched voice comes from the door and I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. Daemon's son. Just the thought of my foolish brother angers me. Our father dies and where is he?! Out drinking and whoreing to his delight. How could a man as great as father and a woman as kind as mother produce such a blackened soul? Mother. The thought of her makes my heart ache even more than before. I hope that somehow the gods have seen that the two are reunited again.
"Come in lad," I said as I returned my attention to the small stone object in my hands. But despite my distant gaze my mind was on the boy. My dear nephew was always a special child. Smarter, taller, and more talented than any boy his age should be. Many believe that Aemon was blessed by the seven themselves even though both he and House Royce follow the old gods. I still remember the day he was born the cruel jokes made at his mother's expense and even how Daemon's hate for his wife convinced him the boy was his. How even Father joined in on our cruel bet. Another spike of pain crashed through my chest at the thought of my late father.
Who could blame us though? Aemma and I tried for months sometimes and she wouldn't get with child. But he lies with the woman just once and reluctantly at that. Yet still a son is born to him. A son. I had none of my own none who had remained in this world long a least. I remember the joy that Aemma felt when she was first with child and yet. Death. So much death in this cruel world. Have the gods no mercy on my family? What have we done to deserve such?
"Uncle!"! A worried young voice rang out from beside me. Before I knew what was happening my head turned away from my stone dragon. My mind snapped to the small figure next to me and the small hand on my forearm. Then my eyes looked to the boy it was attached to. Pale gold hair was always either the first or second thing you noticed about Aemon. That was because if you're far from him it's the first thing you'll see when you look at him. But when you're close up it's his eyes that strike out at you first. Those purple eyes beyond compare it wasn't strange to say that just like his hair they were the rarest eyes our family has ever seen.
'The boy has such a strong gaze even at his age' Those eyes just one look and it feels like you've been struck. As if being completely singled out by a purple-eyed creature. It seems almost every shade of purple lies in those eyes. They seemed to shine like crystals and all of the light from them turned to the purest of black at their center. It was both comforting and startling.
"Uncle I see you're not well." He says smiling softly at me. Am I so disheveled that even a three-name day boy can tell something is wrong? No it's like I said Aemon has always had the mind of a maester. He's dealt with funerals and deaths before as well the boy has learned what death is far sooner than he should. Still, he's always been kind and compassionate even now he's worried about me a man grown. Daemon was never like that he wasn't always how he is now but he was never like that. It sparks some joy in my heart to think the boy has a good head atop his shoulders. It even makes me bark out a laugh I haven't laughed in days.
"Ha and how can you tell that?" A small reluctant smile graces my face as I look at him. But instead of the childish answer, I was expecting instead he says something that startles me slightly.
"I've been knocking on the door for quite a while and when I came in and called your name you just stared at your statue. Where did you get the stone dragon anyway?" My initial shock at his explanation fades with his question. My mind wanders back to that day but I pull it back before it goes to far and answer him truthfully.
"My father he gave it to me it was…" I glance back to the stone model of our ancient homeland. "A gift… to see the beginning of my dream." I say in a voice quieter than I intended to be.
"Your dream? What's that? And is it just me or does that figuring look like that old hag Vhagar?" He says making me chuckle. Aemon if anything was a curious boy. Frankly it's what endeared me to him so. He just like me when I was younger albeit much more physically gifted. Such a curious and kind boy doesn't deserve a father like Daemon. My thoughts grow bitter again remembering my foolish younger brother.
"Ah Yes it is Vhagar and my dream…well hmm… let's see this model will one day be a full replica of old Valyria," I said waving my hand towards the stone statues. I always dreamed from the moment I climbed atop Bellarion that I would have a son like him someday. Someone to teach and share my thoughts with and I need one now more than ever.
"Really? Hmm, tell me Uncle what do you think about the freehold. Personally I like to read books about it." he says. I'm honestly not even sure how to respond to that question. But after a few moments I we began to speak on the glory of old Valyria and before I realized moments had turned to hours. He had spoken about how he had a theory on old Valyria and how it may have been connected to other empires in the past. Although he still had more research to do on the subject he presented an interesting argument for it. Saying how the accounts of where or what dragons come from vary and that perhaps even the old Valyrians learned their magics and dragon bonding from some other civilization. The boys endless craving for knowledge and odd thinking always made me feel a strange pride towards him. Like when I'd toucil his hair and he would smile at me.
Before I knew hours of discussion had passed. Soon the sun went down and the day became dimmer as we continued to talk. Only to be interrupted by my own precious daughter. Despite the attempts of the castle staff and Ser Gerold's to dissuade her she wanted nothing more than to see and play with us. My dear girl insisted on finishing done strange game called tic-tac-toe with Aemon. Yet my little dragon's fury grew more and more with each loss easily handed to her by Aemon. To soothe her anger they switched to another odd game Aemon came up with called Rock, Parchment, Sheers which my poor girl to her own anger and my amusement also proceeded to lose 10 continuos rounds of as well.
Soon she grew tired and I had the maids take her back to her room. As I watched her be carried out my gaze turned back to Aemon. The boy wasn't even tired. Even though he was younger than her. He was bigger, taller, and smarter than she is. I let out a sigh as I slowly stood up and walked towards the door.
"Where are you going uncle?" He asked as headed to the door. I turned my head back looking into those unique purple eyes to speak. Mayhaps the thinks I would leave him for reason? But why?
"Just to call for some water Aem." I say trying out the nick name for the first time. Perhaps it will help him realize how close I'd like to be with him. After all he calls me uncle in private but addresses me formally in public already. It was startling how fast he caught on to it. But before I could open the door anthor knock came. I opened it and standing next to Ser Gerold was another servant. He nodded at me with respect and motioned for the girl to speak.
"Your grace Prince Daemon has returned to the red keep!" My mood soured instantly. I had ordered to be notified. Before my anger could grow any further I sighed letting out my frustratio. I looked back into the room at my nephew. He had a innocently curious and slightly surprised look on his face. Best not to show that side to Aemon he's too young for such things. He smiled at me and a brand new type of pain followed by and anger at my younger brother flooded through me all over again.
"I see… sigh you may go now." I said sighing again before considering what to do. Every time Daemon has returned to the Keep he's been drunk and stinks of whores. I'd better have Ser Gerold take him back to his room. I turned back to Aemon I opened my mouth to tell him he should go rest he cut me off.
"Uncle are you angry at my father?" Aemon said he looked down. My heart fell and all the inner anger and resentment with it. Here sits this lone boy my own kin whose father barely sees him once a year. Even then he hardly mentions the bo even if my brother is not cruel he's is surly negligent in his duty as a father. Even when requested he always refuses to see his son. That's not even starting on the relationship or rather lack of one he has with his wife. Lady Rhea has already petitioned to annul the marriage once and failed I image it will not be the last time either. Still Aemon deserves an answer.
"I'm... I'm not angry I'm just…" I search for the words I'm looking for but none come to me. I feel like anything I think of saying turns to ash in my mouth and now I've stayed silent to long. If only my dear Aemma was here she got along so well with Aemon. Kind and courteous as he is he charmed my lady wife right away. Let's hope he doesn't pick up Daemons' proclivities with women or every man in the seven kingdoms may be out of a wife. Regardless I must fin the words to explain to a boy so young why I'm acting in such a way just at the mention of his father's name. But before I find the words he cuts me off again stealing them right from my mouth.
"Disappointed. I understand. He disappoints me too sometimes. I have heard of my father's late behavior as well. Mayhaps we should go greet him together. Maybe then we can cause some sort of change? I would really like to see him I haven't in ages and I hardly remember the last time I saw father." He said the sorrow turning to innocent hope melting my resilience. Although it be best for him not to see his father this way I can barely bring myself to try and dissuade him.
"Well I… I think that might not be…" But before I could finish the boy already hopped up from his seat and ran over to me. Then he looks at me with a smile and eyes that I simply can't say no to as well. Here I'd but an innocent boy of three name days longing to see a father he barely remembers. How could I possibly refuse my young nephew that? So I with reluctantly at what I can already feel is a bad decision I caugh and change my answer.
"Ahem… that uhh might be for the best." I sigh then I laugh trying to not let on my sudden change in opinion. Soon as the words leave my mouth however the boy is already tackled me in a hug let go and headed out the door. That boy is just as impulsive as his father is… as my mother was… sigh.
"You servant guide me to my father. Come along Ser Gerold were off to see my father!" I here him call from outside outside the door as he skips down the hallway. I worry for him but I know if this is going to go well in any way i have to be there. So I follow my excited nephew and Ser Gerold with another sigh.
[Chapter image]
XXX
Hello everyone first sorry about the delay in this chapter was supposed to be out yesterday but I forgot. Also, I have some more questions for you all. I'm thinking about reintroducing the little competition I used to do in my other fics so I wonder if anyone was interested in that. Perhaps all add a benefit like specifically answering a question from the winner of something. Maybe I'll let them decide a skill or something that Aemon can gain or something like that.
I will also be doing some flashback chapters as bonus chapters but they will be much shorter than usual. I would do it based on power stones but I don't have a good way of keeping track of that yet so I'll probably do it either for holidays, when a winner requests it, or when I just feel like.
Lastly, some pretty bad stuff is going on in my life again and I don't really feel like writing so idk what this fic will look like going forward.