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High Tide, Chapter 43: Peace is a Lie
🕑 Added 2023-09-30 08:58:21 +0000 UTCSixth Moon, 109 AC
Rhaenys
“Viserys, what do you think should happen with the Velaryons?” She asked her husband and cousin.
He sighed. “I’ve told you once before that my opinions are yours did I not?”
“And I appreciate your support, but when my own opinions are yet to be fully formed, I need counsel from my husband, unless your opinions are as unbuilt as mine? Be frank with me Viserys, what are your honest thoughts?” Rhaenys said sternly. Viserys’ unconditional support was endearing at other times, but not now.
“On which parts specifically? There is much to consider.”
“Our children’s marriages for one,” Rhaenys said. “Who do you think they should marry?”
He looked at her and hesitated, sighing again before he answered. “Rhaenyra should marry Jaehaerys.”
“You think so?”
“Absolutely. When you and I married, it was to consolidate the line of succession for the stability of our house. Daemon and Gael are not wrong when they say it will be unacceptable for Rhaenyra to marry anyone else at this point. Who even is there but Jaehaerys or Jacaerys? They are the only ones with the blood and status and to be honest, I do not consider the Velaryons worthy of inheriting the Iron Throne. That’s our family’s throne, not theirs. Rhaenyra would give them a claim to it far too close for comfort and it would certainly be too much in the eyes of the realm for both of our children to marry Velaryons.”
“What about just one? Aegon?” Rhaenys asked, genuinely curious.
Viserys sat down on the chair. “Aegon and Laena are close to each other, and certainly I have more confidence that their feelings are lasting and real compared to Rhaenyra’s childish infatuation with Jacaerys. Laena is undoubtedly the finest candidate to be Queen from a purely logical standpoint. She would bring her dragon, a queenly dowry, and the support of House Velaryon for our son.
“However, we must also consider, as our grandfather taught us, how this would be perceived by the nobles. After all these years of conflict between our houses, a Velaryon Queen could be seen by many as giving in to the Velaryons or allowing them to take over our court. Especially if we consider that Aegon will almost certainly make Daeron his Hand and we both know the Velaryons are expecting us to simply hand them back the Mastery of Ships and the Royal Fleet. In which case, a Queen, a Hand, and a Master of Ships, on top of the Stepstones?”
“But those things won’t all happen at the same time will they? So the lords’ reactions will be more…muted,” Rhaenys pointed.
Viserys tilted his head, leaning it on his hand rising from the armrest. “Perhaps, but I fear that our son may become too closely influenced by the Velaryons. Already it seems like Laena has him wrapped around his finger. Love makes many a boy foolish and eager to please, and Laena has always been older than Aegon and with a force of personality that he could easily get swayed by. You remember how furiously he defended and insisted upon his marriage to her. How much of that was political reasoning and how much was simply passion and young love?”
“Should we begrudge our son’s desire to marry for love? We could not ourselves, should we deny him his chance as well?” Rhaenys asked, wondering. No matter what her thoughts were on Aegon’s match to Laena, and she had yet to fully decide on what they were, Aegon would be deeply hurt if she opposed the match, even if for the most logical of political reasons. Rhaenys never wanted to hurt her children if possible.
“What do you think Rhaenys?” Viserys challenged.
“I don’t know honestly. It’s why I wanted to ask you. It feels like either way I turn; I will be torn. If I oppose it, my father and Aegon will be upset, and yet if I do not, I feel like I am dishonoring our grandfather’s memory and betraying Daemon and Gael.”
Viserys nodded. “I understand what you mean. The Velaryons’ loyalty to our house has always been suspect, but Daemon and Gael have been by our side since our childhood and their loyalty has never been in doubt.”
Rhaenys snorted. “That will not stop me from wringing Daemon’s neck the next time I see him. He should have known better than to talk so loudly about it.”
“Knowing Daemon, he did it on purpose. He wanted them to know.” Viserys sighed.
Her cousin Daemon was fierce and loyal to the family, but he also tended to be a very opinionated man and when things did not go the way he thought they should, he had a tendency to lash out. Perhaps seeking to pressure her father, Daemon had spoken very loudly about the contents of the compromise her father had attempted to make with the Velaryons around courtiers and servants, and by now the entire court had learned of the details, highborn or low.
And the court was a lot larger than it normally was. Her grandfather’s funeral had been scarcely a week ago, and with her father’s coronation planned to be in little over a month, almost the entirety of the realm’s nobility had gathered in the capital and the rumor Daemon had spread had caused a furor among them.
Otto Hightower, the Governor of the Stepstones and many of his peers in the Stepstones, including his daughter Alicent’s husband, Lord Tyland Lannister of Guardian, were all afraid of how the Velaryons would treat them as their new overlords. Otto’s brother, Hobert, the Lord of Oldtown, and the rest of his allies in the Western bloc were opposed to the match as well. The Arryns and Mootons had found common cause with them, as had her mother and Daemon and Gael. With them went the might of two dragons, and almost three whole kingdoms.
The Starks, Royces, Graftons, Celtigars, Tarths, and many more had all declared their support for the Velaryons and her father’s compromise and the court had been rife with petitions both asking her father to keep to the deal and also to throw it out. Massive arguments and even a few altercations from the opposing factions had had to be broken up by the Red Keep’s garrison.
House Velaryon was divisive it seemed, not just for her family but for the realm as a whole. They had more enemies than they did allies, but it was not a massive difference and far more beside were the moderates and neutrals who did not overly favor either side but were simply watching and judging what her father would do. The eyes of the realm were upon them.
Rhaenys looked at the clock, one of many that her grandfather had once purchased from Driftmark many years ago, and knew that it was time. “The meeting will be starting soon. We should get going,” she said to her husband.
Viserys nodded. On their way to the Small Council chambers, they picked up their son Aegon, still sulking from his argument with them where he had profusely championed and defended his betrothal to Laena Velaryon, arguing that it was a politically and strategically sensible match and sure to be a successful one since both of them were fond of each other. Rhaenys had not been fully convinced but she had agreed to let him attend today’s meeting so he could argue his case there.
Aegon had been uncharacteristically silent at the dinner last week, perhaps unnerved by the sudden argument between his grandfather and uncle. Whatever her thoughts on his cause, Rhaenys was quite proud to see her son was beginning to grow into a capable young prince and future king. Every king needed to be able to speak up for themselves and argue for their vision.
When they arrived at the Small Council chambers, her father and the Small Council had already arrived, fifteen minutes before the meeting was to begin at ten. Her father was seated at the head of the table, and to his right sat her uncle, Baelon, Hand of the King. After Uncle Baelon followed the members of the Small Council; Lord Lyonel Strong of the Great Fork, the Master of Laws, Lord Lyman Beesbury, the Master of Coin, Lord Robert Redwyne, the Master of Ships, Lord Quentyn Qoherys, the Master of Whisperers, and Grand Maester Runciter. Ser Harrold Westerling, the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, faithfully stood watch behind her father.
On her father’s left sat her mother Jocelyn, the Queen Consort of Westeros, and in her own right, Lady of Storm’s End and Lady Paramount of the Stormlands. She was only fifty and five but the raven black hair Rhaenys had inherited from her had already begun to grey in many places. Ruling the Stormlands had not been easy for her mother, even with a dragonrider for a husband and daughter.
Even all these years later, her mother still grieved the way her uncle Boremund had died with his wife and son, but the Stormlords had only seen weakness and foolishness in that tragedy. Fifty ships had sunk with her uncle off the coast of Tarth, it had cost the Iron Throne and Storm’s End hundreds of thousands of gold dragons, an investment that was now at the bottom of the sea. Many of Storm’s End’s vassals had contributed to that fleet and they had shared in the suffering from its loss.
Her mother, a woman, had taken the throne of Storm’s End amidst this chaos. Rhaenys knew that it was only because she was a Princess by marriage that her right to it was upheld; a woman had never sat the throne of Storm's End in her own right ever before. Many of the Stormlords had also fallen under the influence of the Tarths or their allies the Velaryons when her mother had ascended. The Velaryons had only backed off on her father’s demand, saying it was a gracious favor to family. The condescension in that had never ceased to irk at Rhaenys.
If it irked at Rhaenys, it infuriated her mother whose Baratheon fury had never failed to burn hotly against the Velaryons, still resenting them for her brother’s death and their actions against both her maiden and married houses. Her father had been fortunate that he had not promised the Velaryons Veil without her mother’s consent, or the tongue lashing she gave him would have been brutal indeed.
The councilors greeted her and her husband and son as they arrived and they nodded to them in return before taking their seats. Rhaenys sat beside her mother, her son on her left, and his father on his left. At ten minutes to ten, Daemon and Gael arrived and took their seats as well, Daemon beside Viserys and Gael to his left. Now they were six apiece on each side of the table, the Small Council on one side, and the royal family on the other, with her father at the head. They whittled down the remaining time making small talk among themselves.
Finally, at two minutes to ten, the doors to the chambers opened once more. The Velaryons walked in and Rhaenys raised her eyebrow. She had expected to only see Lord Corlys, Aunt Viserra, and their eldest son Jacaerys, but Lucerys, Laena, and Daeron filed in behind them as well, as did three of their Tide Guard.
She saw the surprise on her son’s face and a few meaningful smiles and glances traded between him and his friends, Laena and Daeron Velaryon, but soon enough the latter two steeled themselves, a careful guarded expression now on their faces. Rhaenys narrowed her eyes. She had known those two children for so many years, but she had never thought they had been trained and taught like this by their parents. What more were they hiding?
Lord Corlys Velaryon stopped, seeing them all seated and impatiently waiting. He looked to the clock. "We’re not late are we?”
“You're two minutes early actually. The rest of us just came earlier," her father answered.
Lord Corlys and his wife’s expressions were schooled and neutral but their children were less unreadable. Jacaerys narrowed his eyes in suspicion and the other three looked doubtful. Nonetheless they said nothing, taking their seats.
Lord Corlys sat on the other end of the table from her father, his wife and daughter on his left and his sons on his right, seated closer to him by birth. The Velaryons had arranged themselves at the table almost as if they were like a rival council. It was a rather apt representation of reality and Rhaenys could not help but scowl a little at the sight.
Her father spoke then. “Now that we are all here, let us begin. Today is the tenth day of the sixth moon of 109 AC. This council has met to finalize the details of a concordat between the Iron Throne and House Velaryon, the independent Archons of Tyrosh, and the Lords of Driftmark, Massey’s Hook, and Bloodstone, which they hold in fealty to this throne.”
He looked at each of them. “It has come to my attention, that details of my first negotiation with House Velaryon have spread to the court,” he said as he glared at Daemon. “Nonetheless, Grand Maester Runciter, if you would, please recite them for the room.”
As the Grand Maester did so, a heavy air began to fill the room. They all knew that this compromise was unlikely to stand today. When the Grand Maester finished, her father drummed his fingers on the table. “I would have counsel here. What is the opinion of my Lord Hand?”
Her grandfather had taught her years ago how to play a certain game. They would identify and determine the motives of those around them by examining their personal interests and connections. Rhaenys put it into practice now, watching the room carefully.
“I wholeheartedly support your plan Brother, as always,” Her uncle said. “I see no real point of contention in this proposal and back whatever decision you make.”
That was hardly unexpected, Rhaenys thought. The day Uncle Baelon sided against her father would never come. They had been close since before they could even walk.
“Thank you Baelon. Lord Lyonel?” Her father continued.
“I am of course supportive of whatever decision you come to Your Grace, but if you are asking my honest opinion, while this proposal has its merits, I feel it exists on its lonesome, forgetting the realm which surrounds it.
Lord Lyonel sighed. “Ser Jacaerys and Lady Laena are of Valyrian descent near as pure as can be and they have Targaryen blood through their mother, Princess Viserra,” Lord Strong said, with a slight hesitance to speak of people present at the table and watching him. “If I may however, the perception of them being chosen for your grandson and granddaughter’s spouses may give an impression that the Iron Throne is desperate for the Velaryons to rejoin the fold, when it should be the other way around.
“Also, I must formally oppose Princess Rhaenyra’s betrothal at least. The precedent set by Princess Rhaenys’ marriage to Prince Viserys indicates to the realm that the female heirs will be married inside the family to their male cousins in order to consolidate the line of succession for the stability of the realm. Breaking this precedent to give Princess Rhaenyra and her dragon and claim to House Velaryon would not be advisable in my humble opinion.
“Furthermore, if I may be frank, House Velaryon has been considered by many in the realm to have broken the King’s Peace when they conquered Tyrosh. Even now they claim the title of Archon of Tyrosh and are in effect, a vassal in defiance of the Iron Throne. While it would be beneficial to end the legal uncertainties and complications of House Velaryon’s status that have plagued this council for many years, I wonder at how the realm will react. The concessions given to Tyrosh are unheard of and along with the Stepstones? It will greatly empower House Velaryon and make it clear that they are highly favored, almost overly so. Many will look askance at this throughout the realm.”
“Does the askance of the realm matter in your opinion Lord Strong?” Her father asked. “House Velaryons has dragons, wealth, and allies do they not? Are they not strong enough to merit this alliance? Are you suggesting that House Targaryen be answerable to the whims and askance of the fickle nobility?”
“Of course not Your Grace. I only wish to give you my full understanding of the situation so that you may best know how to proceed if you decide to consider my counsel. Certainly I do agree that reinforcing the ties and repairing the relationship between your houses will benefit the realm as a whole even if they cannot see it at first. The decision rests with you Your Grace, as it always has.”
“My thanks for your counsel Lord Lyonel. Lord Lyman?” Her father said, his eyes flitting from one lord to the next.
Like Lord Lyonel, Lord Beesbury was hesitant on the existing compromise. Though he mentioned how the Iron Throne could stand to profit from the removal of sanctions, the loss of much of the toll revenues from the Stepstones and the very generous tax concessions offered to the Velaryons made it clear that the compromise as it stood was financially disadvantageous for the Iron Throne to a significant degree. He was also concerned about the difficulty of reintegrating and reforming the Tyroshi economy and separate currency with the Seven Kingdoms.
Ultimately Lord Lyman reiterated his colleague’s firm approval of whatever decision the King came to. He declared his full support of the marriages her father desired but recommended that while sanctions should be removed, the Iron Throne should keep the Stepstones as a Governorate, naming Lord Corlys as governor once again, but under the conditions the position had been given to Lord Otto Hightower. He also promised to prepare a plan for the economic and currency reintegration of Tyrosh into the realm but warned that it could take many years to finalize.
As far as Rhaenys could tell, both Beesbury and Strong were genuine Targaryen loyalists and loyal to her father, or more accurately, the institution of the Iron Throne itself. They would serve whoever sat the throne loyally and faithfully. Despite being a vassal of Oldtown, Lord Beesbury did not seem to have any strong affiliation with the Western bloc. He was an aging but graceful man, well-spoken and content with what he had.
On the other hand, having replaced the much esteemed Lord Rodrik Arryn after his passing, Lord Strong seemed rather eager to prove himself and wipe away the memory of his uncle Lucamore the Lusty’s disgrace with unflinchingly loyal service. Both of his sons were in service in the capital as well, the elder Ser Harwin, was renown as Breakbones, a famously strong knight. He was a captain of the gates under her cousin’s command in the City Watch. Lord Lyonel’s younger son, Larys, was an assistant to Lord Quentyn, the Master of Whisperers, who gave his opinion next.
Unlike Beesbury and Strong, Lord Quentyn was firmly in approval of the proposal as it stood and he urged her father to stand his ground and keep to it; arguing that he was the Dragon King, his word was truth and law, and he need not care about the opinions of the lords of the realm who would ultimately follow like sheep followed a shepherd. Daemon and Gael seemed to have very mixed feelings at his words, approving of his rhetoric, but disliking his support of the proposal.
On her own part, Rhaenys narrowed her eyes, wondering if her father saw it as the flattery it was. Lord Quentyn had loyally served her grandfather and now her father as the Master of Whisperers for decades but his loyalty to his daughter had finally reared itself it seemed. Lady Laena Celtigar, was a Qoherys by birth, Lord Quentyn’s daughter, and she was also her Aunt Viserra’s closest girlhood friend and their houses by marriage had been allies for generations. Rhaenys even recalled some rumors that her cousin Jacaerys was rather… close to Laena’s daughter, Cassandra.
After Lord Quentyn, came Lord Robert Redwyne, the Master of Ships. “Your Grace, if it is your will to dismiss me from this Council, then I humbly accept. If I may however, I would counsel against it, and not for personal gain. House Velaryon already has the largest fleet in the kingdom by far, larger than my own, the Lannisters, and the Royal Fleet, possibly even combined. Much progress has been made in the past two decades to strengthen the royal fleet and give the Iron Throne a fleet of its own without having to depend on any one house. However, with House Velaryon now so strong and possessing dragons of its own, it would be ill-advised to give them control of the royal fleet. I fear that if House Velaryon is given the Master of Ships once more, they will work to undermine the Iron Throne’s independent fleet in favor of their own, seeking a return to the old days when they provided much of the royal fleet.
“Furthermore, I would like to give my formal opposition to the marriages proposed. As Lord Lyonel pointed out, Princess Rhaenyra’s proposed betrothal to Ser Jacaerys is dangerous for the stability of the realm and the position of the Targaryen name as the name of the royal house. If any tragedy befell Prince Aegon, we could see a Velaryon ascend the Iron Throne as King while Targaryens of male descent are still at large. Furthermore, as Lord Lyonel said, many will look askance at a Velaryon Queen after decades of Velaryon defiance of the Iron Throne. These marriages would divide the realm greatly.
“On the economic matter, I would like to support my colleague Lord Lyman’s words as well. The currency situation must be resolved immediately. It is unacceptable that House Velaryon mints their own currency independent of the Iron Throne, and it must be ceased at once. Also, while the removal of sanctions could benefit the realm in the long run, the short term chaos may make this gain pointless as the Velaryons will flood the market with their goods and destroy the livelihoods of many smallfolk and the treasuries of many lords.”
Including his own perhaps, Rhaenys thought. Lord Redwyne was clearly arguing from his personal interests here.
“Lastly I would like to raise the matter of the Faith. I was surprised to hear that the proposal did not consider how to reconcile the Faith of the Seven at all, or even mention it. Many of my associates in the Most Devout have expressed their concerns to me over the years about the almost heretical nature of the Zaldilaros sect of the Faith in Tyrosh and how the Velaryons have seemingly created their own version of the Doctrine of Exceptionalism. Not only is this heretical, it’s a challenge to House Targaryen,” Redwyne continued passionately.
“Thank you for your counsel Lord Redwyne, but the matter of the Faith has been tabled for discussion at a later time. We must reconcile temporal matters first before religious and liturgical matters can be dealt with,” her father said, quickly changing the subject.
Lord Redwyne looked mutinous. Rhaenys felt herself pause at the reminder of just how heretical the Velaryons’ pet sect in Tyrosh had become, almost like a cult surrounding them. Were they really sure that reconciliation was a good idea at this point? They had used their religion like a tool, abused it to set themselves up as near gods. The arrogance and blasphemy was unbelievable. It was almost… treasonous.
Much like Lord Robert, Grand Maester Runciter was firmly opposed to the proposal, though Rhaenys knew, as everyone else did, that as a Maester, Runciter had no small amount of bias against the Velaryons who had created the first university in Westeros and therefore begun the decline of the Citadel.
With his Small Council’s opinions heard, her father turned to them. First he asked Daemon and Gael’s opinion. They made clear their dislike of the proposal entirely, reciting much of what Daemon had vehemently ranted against her father a week ago, if with more tact, shockingly enough. Daemon being Daemon however, could not resist subtly implying the Velaryons were traitors during his speech and derisively calling them seahorses. Rhaenys saw their eyes narrow in anger and the scowls they hid as quickly as they came. If they did not already dislike him before, they did now.
When pressed for his opinion, Viserys gave the same answer he gave her earlier, aligning much of his stance with Lord Lyonel. Her mother was much the same, but went even further, indicating that she would not give up the island of Veil under any circumstances and that she disapproved of Aegon’s marriage to Laena but could see the merit of the match, and she was vehemently against the idea of the Velaryons getting the Stepstones, arguing that a Queen and the autonomy offered was more than enough incentive for them to pledge Tyrosh to the Iron Throne, citing the many historical precedents with similar arrangements, such as House Reyne joining the Kingdom of the Rock, or House Hightower the Kingdom of the Reach.
Finally, at last, her father turned to her and her son. “And what is the opinion of my heirs?”
Mustering his courage, her son not only spoke up, but rose to his feet, giving an impassioned and eloquent defense and support of his grandfather’s proposal. Rhaenys found herself impressed by her son’s eloquence yet again, but she could see the ulterior motives. Beneath the flowery words, the reasoning was superficial, and it was clear it was motivated purely by personal love and support for Laena Velaryon and her family, and not objective logic. Viserys’ concerns that their son was overly influenced by the Velaryons certainly had merit.
When Aegon sat down, Rhaenys could feel the eyes train upon her. As the Princess of Dragonstone and the future Queen, who she sided with would gain much more credibility and be more likely to see their vision unfold. Her family was split over the Velaryon matter, as always, and Rhaenys was the one who had to decide. No matter which way she went, she would be opposing members of her family. The crossroads Rhaenys had dreaded for so many years had come at last.
As she sat there, lost in her thoughts, she realized that she knew what she truly felt. She had always known, she had simply hesitated because she had not wished to hurt her son and father. The truth was, Rhaenys did not really want to reconcile with the Velaryons, not in this way at least. She had attempted it for her father and later son’s sake, but if it had not been for them, she would never have even bothered.
Her resentment had started small, over a petty childhood grudge when her Aunt Viserra had exploited her hopes to befriend her for her own gain, but it had only grown from there. Her grandparents’ marriage had broken down because of the Velaryons, and they had both suffered for it. Her parents were on the knife’s edge of going the same way. For years she had watched her grandfather suffer alone, deserted by his wife for a traitorous and defiant daughter. She had watched her mother struggle to rule the Stormlands, grieving her brother and trying to keep a hold on her power against the Velaryons who continued to undermine her.
The Velaryons claimed to be genuine in their desire to reconcile, but actions spoke louder than words. Even now they supposedly pulled out of the Stormlands, but Tarth and others were still close to them and defiant to Storm’s End. In the Vale and Bay of Crabs they acted against their own kin, undermining the Mootons and Arryns and empowering their rivals, Celtigar, Grafton, and Royce. Their cousin Aemma would never sit easy because of how House Velaryon had enriched and empowered her rival Arnold and his house by marriage, Royce.
The Velaryons had defied and betrayed them, breaking the law to a conquer a foreign land, where they had set themselves up as kings in all but name. They minted their own currency and paraded their supposed sovereignty and independence with pride; thinking themselves the equals of House Targaryen when in truth they had been spared utter ruin only by her grandfather’s mercy. And what gratitude had they shown for it? They had spat in their face, continued to undermine them, refused to even consider rejoining the fold until her father had all but gone begging for it with a compromise that so blatantly favored the Velaryons it was sickening. They had wormed their way into her children’s hearts, sought to corrupt and influence them for their own ends like snakes.
No, Daemon and Gael were right. Why did the Velaryons deserve a Queen after all that they had done? Why did they deserve to have her daughter, and endanger the name of her house and the stability of her realm any more than they already did?
On his deathbed, her grandfather had beseeched them to make peace with each other, but peace had to go both ways, and the Velaryons had not given their full share, expecting to be treated like kings when they deserved none of it. If they wished to reconcile with them, it would be on her terms, not theirs. House Targaryen’s victory, not House Velaryon’s.
Who was to say her grandfather had even been in his right mind when he had said that? Rhaenys remembered a different man, a man who had been broken by his mistakes and regrets and yet pushed onwards, never faltering, for the future he envisioned, a grand and prosperous future for their house. Her grandfather was a good man and he had taught Rhaenys that a good heir balanced their sire and ensured that their excesses did not ruin the realm. Her father had done the same for her grandfather, and now it was her turn.
“Rhaenys?” Her father asked.
She had to be the iron fist behind the velvet glove her father insisted on offering the Velaryons. She had to do her duty to her house and realm and restrain her father’s magnanimity even if it hurt him, hurt them both. Or was that simply the excuse that she was telling herself? Rhaenys did not know anymore. She was just tired of being torn. The crossroads had arrived, and she chose.
“I do not support giving the Stepstones to House Velaryon. The economic and financial reasons Lord Beesbury have presented are sound and logical in my opinion. It would be too much for House Velaryon to have the Stepstones on top of the autonomy, concessions, and privileges offered to them already for Tyrosh’s fealty. Furthermore, my daughter Rhaenyra should not marry Jacaerys Velaryon, but rather her cousin, Jaehaerys. Like my own marriage, it will consolidate the line of succession and secure the stability of the realm.
“As for my son’s marriage,” Rhaenys paused as she caught a glimpse of her son’s downcast and pleading expression out of the corner of her eye. She hesitated. She had sworn once that she would do anything for her children, was she about to break that promise?
“I am uncertain,” she said noncommittally. “There is a lot to consider. There are many valid points raised both for, and against the match. I think it would be best if we left this particular clause for further consideration and decide on a final decision at a later time.”
Her father was grim. He hid it well but Rhaenys could see the hurt and betrayal in his eyes. He had championed her and her right to inherit after him all her life, and this was how she repaid him? You hurt me first Father. Rhaenys had not forgotten that he had gone behind her back to negotiate with the Velaryons and offer herchildren in marriage like they were pieces of meat at the market without her consent or presence.
Her father then turned to the Velaryons at the other end of the table, who had been quiet thus far, though Rhaenys had noticed them constantly whispering to each other. “What is the opinion of House Velaryon?”
“Opinion? It’s not simply opinions Your Grace. It’s facts,” Lord Corlys declared thunderously, restraining his temper. His voice was measured but Rhaenys could see the anger in his eyes. So this was the bite of the Sea Snake, the wrath, the pride and entitlement of the reckless fool who had thought to conquer Tyrosh and make himself a king in all but name.
“The late King Jaehaerys promised us the Stepstones as a Lord Paramountcy many years ago. He then went back on his word and humiliated us in open court, threatening the safety and security of our house. We were supposed to be his kin but he treated us like his enemies!”
“Any claim to ill treatment you might have falls short after what you did next, Lord Velaryon,” Redwyne taunted.
“I am not here to defend my family’s conquest of Tyrosh,” He rebutted. “I’m simply reminding all of you that there was no treason or lawbreaking in it, as decided by King Jaehaerys himself. Any inferences or implications about our defiance of the Iron Throne is unmerited.
“The fact remains, for the past nineteen years, House Velaryon has been unfairly targeted by the Iron Throne for committing no crimes or treason and breaking no laws. I was unjustly stripped of my positions as Master of Ships and Governor of the Stepstones. Driftkark and Tyrosh have been sanctioned unfairly and their people caused much hardship. The Iron Throne illegally and unilaterally laid claim to universally recognized Tyroshi waters, causing the Stepstones Crisis.”
“You also defied Governor Otto’s jurisdiction over Bloodstone in that same crisis did you not Lord Corlys?” Grand Maester Runciter challenged.
“That is assuming he had any jurisdiction over Bloodstone. I was granted Bloodstone before Otto was made Governor of the Stepstones and I was never ordered by my actual liege in Bloodstone, the King, to swear to Otto as Governor. He simply assumed that I was under his jurisdiction.”
That was a weak argument in Rhaenys’ view, but Lord Corlys was not done.
“I must make it clear, House Velaryon does not needto ‘return to the fold’ as you say. We have been independent and prosperous in Tyrosh for nineteen years and while the resolution of this dispute is preferable, it is not necessary. I must do my full duty to my house and people in Tyrosh to secure a just compromise for them. Our independence and prosperity was hard won against slavers and their ilk and far from aiding us, the Iron Throne worked against us. Sentiments against this deal are not low in Tyrosh. The concessions and privileges and autonomy offered for Tyrosh in this proposal are the least of what should be expected.”
“Tyrosh cannot, and will not swear fealty to an Iron Throne that has acted against us before, unless we receive the promised concessions and privileges. It will not swear unless my daughter Laena is married to Prince Aegon, my son Jacaerys has a Targaryen Princess for a bride, and the Stepstones are given to us. We have already been more than generous enough conceding Veil to the Stormlands and the islands to their current lords as our vassals when we had every right to expect the return of all the islands as they were first promised to us twenty years ago, free for us to rule as we pleased without vassals appointed by the Iron Throne,” he declared, presenting his ultimatum to the approving nods of his wife and children.
“As for Princess Rhaenyra’s marriage, I will concede here. I do understand the concern of succession and stability. Many years ago, when I sat on this council, I was in fact the person who had proposed that Princess Rhaenys and Prince Viserys marry,” He continued.
Rhaenys blinked. She had not been aware of that.
“However, I cannot in good conscience give House Targaryen my daughter so easily. If Laena was to marry into the Targaryen family, we would ask that a Targaryen princess, or even two or three marry into ours in her stead. Prince Daemon and Princess Gael have three daughters and myself three sons. It would be a logical way to keep the blood pure.”
Daemon and Gael spoke up at that. “Absolutely not,” Gael said.
“Do you think that I’m going to give your brats my daughters Sea Snake? You are sorely mistaken if you think they are even worthy of them,” Daemon mocked.
Jacaerys Velaryon could take it no longer it seemed because he rose from his seat as well, faster than his brother Lucerys could hold him. “Worthy? My brothers and I have dragons, we are the sons of the Sea Snake and the Sea Dragon, heirs to fortune and power you can only dream of cousin. If anything it is you and your daughters who are unworthy of marrying me and mine! You are an insignificant second son of a second son with nothing to your name! What have you accomplished that you dare to speak in this manner? You’re nothing.”
Daemon grew wroth. “I dare?” He demanded as he rose. “How dare you? You are no true dragon. You’re a worm, nothing more than an unworthy pretender, a son of ingrates and traitors.”
At that, he made for Jacaerys, and chaos broke out. At once, Lucerys and Daeron rose from their seats to their brother’s defense, barely holding Daemon back from reaching him as he almost charged past them. Everyone else rose from their seats and began to shout, Gael and Viserys rose to Daemon’s side and supported him against the Velaryons who shouted back as the Kingsguard and Tide Guard moved in to keep the peace. Redwyne and Maester Runciter and even her mother began taunting the Velaryons while Rhaenys and her son Aegon, and the Lords Strong, Beesbury, and Qoherys urged for peace and quiet to prevail.
“SILENCE!” Her father thundered as he pounded his fist on the table so hard it turned red.
Aunt Viserra spoke up, screeching like a harpy. “What are you going to do Aemon? Daemon tried to assault my son! Are you just going to watch!?”
“I only meant to get closer so I could better address my dear cousin closer Aunt Viserra, as men. Hardly my fault that his brothers misunderstood my intentions is it? It’s like they came here looking for a fight!” Daemon said.
“Hold your tongue Daemon, or I will cut it out where it stands,” her father threatened, the worst he had ever given him.
Daemon was mutinous, he looked to his father for support, but Uncle Baelon offered him none. “Not one word out of you for the rest of this meeting Daemon,” Baelon commanded.
“Sit down Daemon. Now.” Her father ordered. Begrudgingly, Daemon obeyed and Gael and Viserys followed but the former looked exceedingly angry at her brothers.
He turned to the Velaryons. “Viserra, if you and yours have any respect left for me as your King, you will be seated now as well.”
Reluctantly, Viserra and her family heeded the command, but Jacaerys looked particularly furious and all of them were greatly guarded now. The Tide Guard remained at their side, standing between their lieges and the rest of the table.
Rhaenys felt her own anger stoked and hot. She wasn’t even sure who it was for. She glared at Daemon and Gael and the Velaryons both, feeling such rage at everyone, for their disgraceful display before the eyes of the Small Council, outsiders. Instead of the inner conflict within her being resolved, it was stronger than ever and tearing at her.
“It appears that all of you are lacking in the basic maturity and wisdom that I expected of the Blood of the Dragon. How disappointing. Therefore, I am done taking counsel. My final decision is such, and if anyone questions it, they can defend their protest in front of Caraxes,” her father thundered. The tone in his voice was clear, he would not brook any further defiance.
“The sanctions, tariffs, and unfair taxes by both the Iron Throne and House Velaryon on each other and any of their associates and allies will be wholly removed, allowing free and unhindered trade once more. The Small Council will remain as is however and House Velaryon will not be reinstated as Master of Ships.
"Bloodstone will be formally transferred to the Lordship of Driftmark and removed from the de jure jurisdiction of the Governor of the Stepstones. Furthermore, the unfair claims of the Iron Throne to the territorial waters of Tyrosh will be retracted. These clauses will ensure a Stepstones Crisis or a dispute over tariffs will not happen again, safeguarding peace and free trade for the future.
“The question of Tyrosh’s fealty will be left for discussion at a later time once tempers have… cooled. In the meantime, the Iron Throne will formally recognize House Velaryon as independent Archons in Tyrosh and Tyrosh alone.
“Finally, on the matter of the betrothals. My granddaughter Rhaenyra is henceforth formally betrothed to her cousin Jaehaerys, per my heir’s recommendation. This will consolidate and stabilize the line of succession and could only be good news for the realm. However, seeing as it is another contentious issue, my grandson Aegon’s betrothal to the Lady Laena will similarly be left undetermined and to be finalized at a later date. However, peace must prevail, and I can think of no finer way than to betroth my nieces Baela and Rhaena, to their cousins Jacaerys and Lucerys Velaryon.”
Daemon looked like he wanted to rage but forced his anger down at Uncle Baelon’s second warning. “Not one word Daemon.”
Gael looked like she was steaming in fury, but she too held her tongue at her father’s glare. “You as well Gael.”
He turned his eyes back to House Velaryon, where the angered Velaryons had schooled their faces into masks of stone neutrality as best as they could. “Does House Velaryon accept these terms, for now at least?”
Aunt Viserra and Lord Corlys looked to each other before they nodded. “We do,” Viserra said.
Her father’s expression was grim. “Then it is settled then. You are all dismissed.”
The Small Council rose from their seats and rushed from the room, eager to escape the wrath of the Targaryens and Velaryons. Jacaerys Velaryon stormed out, followed by his brother Lucerys. Her son disappeared somewhere with Laena and Daeron Velaryon.
As she left the room, Rhaenys could hear her father calling to Lord Corlys and Aunt Viserra to stay a little longer to speak with him, but she elected to ignore it. He had not called for her, her presence was clearly not wanted.
Once they had reached far enough away, Daemon and Gael could hold their temper no longer and began raging and shouting. “Who does he think he is to just betroth our daughters like that!?” Daemon demanded.
Rhaenys snapped. She was but an inch shorter than Daemon and she was stronger than she looked due to her Baratheon ancestry. She threw Daemon against the wall and pinned him against it, grabbing the collar of his shirt. In the corner of her eye, she saw Viserys holding onto Gael and keeping her from interfering.
“Your king!” She shouted at her insufferable cousin. “Your uncle, your liege. That is who he is. I may have agreed with you on some things Daemon, but if you dare defy my father like that again, I will not save you from his wrath!”
Daemon glared at her as he pried her arms off himself with force. In the next moment Viserys slapped the top of his head roughly, almost making him fall to the ground.
“What was that for!?” He demanded, raring to go for a fight.
Viserys rose to his full height, and it was moments like these that made Rhaenys remember just how tall Viserys was. Daemon was tall in his own right and better than Viserys at arms but Viserys was built like a bull, massive and imposing, and stood taller than every other man in the family when he straightened to his full posture. Some servants that had noticed as well dared to whisper that he was as brawny and strong as Maegor had been.
“For being an idiot. You’re like a child Daemon. Grow up! You disrespect our grandmother, our parents, our uncle, over and over again. What worth are you?”
“You backed me against the Velaryon brats didn’t you?”
“I’ll always back you against outsiders Brother. That doesn’t mean I won’t reprimand you away from their eyes. That was then, this is now. Touch my wife one more time and I’ll give you a reminder that I don’t need a sword to put you out of your misery.”
Daemon backed down at that. Rhaenys began feeling the slightest smidgens of guilt. She had been too hasty to physically assault her cousin. Her blood had run too hot, Targaryen fire and Baratheon fury too much to control. For all his disrespect and whining and many other faults, Daemon was ultimately loyal to the family and he had never raised a hand to any of them before, at least except Viserys in their brotherly squabbles.
“My apologies Daemon. I went too far,” Rhaenys apologized, offering her cousin her hand.
Daemon scowled at her apology but he took her hand. “Whatever. I did as well.”
“Are we done physically assaulting each other now?” Gael demanded, her arms crossed.
Viserys sighed. “Yes Gael, I believe we are.”
“Good,” she said. “Because I would like to know what we’re going to do about this decree my brother has made. Are you two just going to let this stand??”
“We will,” Rhaenys said.
“Why? What did my daughters do to deserve the Velaryon brats?”
“Exist. It’s no less than they deserve as princesses of the blood,” Rhaenys said. “You’re making it out to be some kind of punishment for Baela and Rhaena Gael. Frankly, it’s not. They’ll live like queens as the ladies of House Velaryon. They’ll have dragons and more luxury and wealth and power than they know what to do with. The punishment isn’t for them, it’s for you and Daemon,” Rhaenys said, realizing her father’s play.
“The two of you are the most vehemently opposed to the Velaryons and he wants to punish you for your disrespect and defiance of him, for leaking his plans to the court, by giving your daughters to the family you hate.”
“And you’re just going to let him?” Daemon asked.
“You’re already getting my daughter for your son. And who knows, maybe you’ll get my son for Helaena as well. Don’t be greedy,” she told Daemon and Gael before she walked away.
Rhaenys had thought that she had come to the crossroads, but somehow she knew that more awaited her and she was more torn than she had ever been.
_____________________________________________
Viserra
“Viserra, Corlys, stay a little longer,” her brother asked as everyone else left the room.
Aemon remained seated at the head of the table, looking more tired and defeated than Viserra had ever seen him. He almost reminded her of how their father had looked on his deathbed.
“Please, take a seat,” Baelon said, pointing to the seats Jocelyn and Rhaenys had vacated.
Viserra took Jocelyn’s seat and sat down, Corlys beside her.
“What a mess,” Aemon said.
“What a mess indeed,” Baelon agreed. “I am sorry about Daemon. Alyssa and I tried to raise him as best as we could, but he was always with Gael, and Gael was always with our father – “
“And so he got to them both,” Viserra finished.
Baelon nodded. “That’s right.”
“I am sorry that it has come to this Viserra. I promised Corlys and you so much and it all fell apart in the end,” Aemon said with a sigh.
“It’s not your fault Aemon,” Viserra said, and she meant it.
When they had first heard that the Targaryens were altering the terms of the agreement just as her father had, Corlys and her had been outraged. They had been this close to walking out entirely. There was too much bad blood and broken trust between their houses for them to tolerate it happening again. Now however, Viserra realized that it wasn’t truly Aemon’s fault. His only fault was failing to control the rest of the house and it was not easy to keep a pack of dragonriders in line. She was grateful and proud that her own children were not nearly as rambunctious and defiant as Rhaenys, Viserys, Daemon, and Gael all appeared to be. Those four were arrogant fools and brats.
Though, she would have to watch Jace. He had been uncharacteristically hostile and aggressive lately. Daemon might have been mocking them, but the way Jace reacted was not what she and Corlys had taught him. There was a certain finesse that had to be used when dealing with insults like that, unless the individual in question was someone you could afford to threaten with impunity. As annoying as it was, they could not simply bully and threaten everyone into submission. They were not Maegor and they did not pointlessly antagonize people.
“Hope isn’t lost yet. My grandson and your daughter are in love and encouraging that will help in convincing Rhaenys to back it. She’s always had a soft spot for her children. Viserys will follow her and no amount of raging from Daemon and Gael will stop it once that happens. When Aegon and Laena marry, we can proceed with the integration of Tyrosh as we discussed.
“This first compromise can be a stopgap, a placeholder to ensure minimal points of tension or causes of conflict until the truly comprehensive agreement can reemerge. There is some good news from this at least. We have restored the peace and normalized relations for a start. I’ll announce it at my coronation, as planned.”
“No,” Corlys said firmly. “Announce it in court; first thing tomorrow. Before Daemon can spread rumors again and work to build opposition to it as he did the last deal. If it changes again Aemon, we will walk out of these negotiations entirely,” he warned.
Reluctantly Aemon nodded. “Very well, I understand your concerns.”
They made some idle small talk for a while, preferring not to dwell on the heavy and angry conversation they had all taken part in only a while ago. Eventually Viserra and Corlys excused themselves and left the room. When they finally returned to the privacy of their rooms, they walked out onto the balcony where they could not be overheard and spoke in private.
“This deal is not what we hoped for,” Viserra stated.
“It is not, and yet it is perhaps even better than we could have expected at this point. It’s too good to deny. Almost too good. I’m left struggling to see what the catch is. Aemon has recognized our independence in Tyrosh, given us favorable border adjustments and jurisdictional changes, removed sanctions, and handed us two dragonriders for basically nothing. He’s just served them up to us on a silver platter for free,” Corlys said, shaking his head in disbelief.
“I was thinking the same,” Viserra said. “Whether Baela and Rhaena are allowed to claim their dragons from the Pit or they take eggs from Dreamfyre, our house gains two dragons just like that.”
“It’s essential that this is announced as soon as possible. Once the realm hears of it, the Targaryens cannot back down without losing face. It may not have even fully occurred to them yet what the ramifications of giving us two more dragons will be,” Corlys declared.
“Are you not worried at all though? Jace and Luke do not get along well with Daemon and Gael. Their marriages may suffer for it.” Viserra said, wondering at her husband’s thoughts. She had no desire to curse her children to loveless marriages.
“Tentatively no. The girls’ parents may not like our children but the girls in question do. Luke has been charming them easily and they are friendly with Laena and Daeron. I am sure your siblings will ensure their grandchildren are not wholly under Daemon and Gael’s influence as well,” Corlys pointed out. “Still you have a point. We will have to instruct Jace and Luke on how to handle this. It’s a delicate matter.”
“What of our daughter?” Viserra asked her husband. “Do you think Aemon will succeed in convincing Rhaenys? Logically one would that think she’d want a dragon to return to her house now.”
“Who knows. For Laena and Aegon’s and all of our sakes, I hope he does. Baela and Rhaena will buy us time, but Laena’s marriage and the full deal concerning Tyrosh will seal the peace. He needs to rein in his heir better.”
“As do we,” Viserra observed.
Corlys sighed. “I’ll talk to him. Not today, he’ll be too angry to listen and we’d just end up fighting. Tomorrow.”
“He’s been acting very aggressive lately. Ready to throw down the gauntlet at any time. Like he has something to defend,” Viserra pondered.
“Or he’s looking to prove himself,” Corlys said as he stared out at the sea, looking at their small fleet of ships moored in the harbor.
“Remind you of someone?” Viserra asked knowingly.
Corlys smiled sadly. “Yeah, he does.”
“Rhaekar would be laughing to see that our son has become as difficult for us as he was,” Viserra said wistfully.
“Oh he’d be dying of laughter. He wouldn’t be able to hold it; it would amuse him to no end.
“I still miss him,” Viserra confessed.
“As do I,” Corlys said solemnly, but there was a slight smile in his voice. The years had dulled the pain and grief enough that now they could celebrate and remember the good times and not just the horrible way it ended.
“Having said that, I don’t exactly want Jace to turn out like Rhaekar,” Viserra said, though it was only half in jest. “What’s causing it you think?”
“What else? The same thing that caused it in Rhaekar. He feels like he’s in our shadow and so he has to prove himself to us, as Rhaekar tried proving himself to my grandfather and me.”
“He’s our heir though. You would think that Luke or Daeron would have this problem, not Jace. Aemon, Baelon, and Alyssa never had this growing up, but the rest of us in their shadow did. They never really felt like they were in our parents’ shadow though, not from what I could tell.”
“I don’t think your eldest siblings had as much pressure on them growing up. Besides, your parents didn’t fully solidify their legend until your eldest siblings were already adults. They grew as your parents’ reputation did.
“The two of us on the other hand? By the time Daeron was born we’d already accomplished most of our most famous deeds. Even Slaver’s Bay was when Jace was barely what. Eleven? Twelve? We didn’t realize it, but the shadow we cast on our children is immense. They all felt the expectations to measure up, even our own.”
Viserra denied it. “I’m not like my parents.”
“I didn’t say you were. All parents have expectations of their children, and we did as well Viserra. We can’t deny that. Ever since they were young we dreamed of what our children could do, and we pushed them to be the best that they can be. There’s nothing wrong with that as long as we give them the love and affection they deserve along with the expectations. It goes both ways. That’s what your parents failed to realize, and we did not make the same mistake, I assure you. Look how wonderfully all of them turned out.”
“So why did we fail with Jace?” Viserra asked sadly.
Corlys caressed her cheek with his hand. “We didn’t. But sometimes you can’t stop yourself from feeling that way, just as Rhaekar couldn’t even until the end. Jace has expectations not just from us but from the people as well, from our allies, and even our enemies. His siblings are arguably more well-known than he is and that’s rare for an heir. We’ve noted it before. Luke, Laena, and Daeron are all renown in Driftmark and Tyrosh for a specific trait and epithet but Jace has nothing. He’s just the heir, and everyone expects him to be perfect, so that’s what he’s striven to be ever since he was a boy.”
“He is,” Viserra insisted. “As near as can be. Even if I nag him about Cassandra, Jace has never once let us down. He will be incredible when he ascends the Driftwood Throne.”
“Aye. He will be. Our little boy has grown up into a fierce champion and leader of our house. I just hope he realizes that he doesn’t have to be perfect for us to love him. To be a worthy heir even. He just has to continue as he always has and he’ll do great things.”
“He just needs to rein in that temper of his, though honestly I understand why he did it. I was this close to going after Daemon myself,” Viserra scowled remembering how her nephew had mocked her sons.
“As was I. That bastard needs to remember his place,” Corlys said venomously.
“Honestly between Daemon and Gael, and even Rhaenys and Viserys with them our boys on the other side already disliking them, I wonder if we can still build a lasting peace,” Viserra said worriedly.
There was a dark look on Corlys’ face. “This is the second time that the Targaryens have gone back on their word to us. Even if we stand to gain something from this new deal, it does not bode well for the future. I fear that even if a lasting peace agreement is made, we may soon find that peace is no more than a sweet lie we tell ourselves.”
________________________________________
Author’s Note: I hope you guys liked this chapter! I was really struggling with it at first but I finally got my roll going. Ah Jacaerys and Daemon in the same room, we all knew that sooner or later it wasn’t going to end well. Stay tuned for Jace POV next chapter!
Let me know if there's any typos or grammar mistakes y'all noticed, as usual!
Comments
Tertius711
Yes the Velaryon-Targaryen drama is far from over. Ngl they probably would have at best locked Vermithor in the Dragonpit and severely punished Mooton and Arryn and at word they’d execute the rider for treason, kin or no. An official law proclaiming who is allowed to have dragons is probably long overdue at this point but it would require the Targaryens and Velaryons to work together which is easier said than done.
omasan harriman
Well the battle lines were drawn although Aemon should have negotiated what do the 4 actually want. the velayron issue wont just go away although. what would have happened if the arryns got their dragon . I'm assuming they wouldnt be allowed to keep it
Tertius711
Baela and Rhaena's age has been mentioned several times but I will remind you. They're the same age as Rhaenyra, twelve. The list of Daemon and Gael's kids ages was given in Ch39. They haven't bonded with dragons yet but if they are given the opportunity it is 100% a guarantee. No trueborn Targaryen has ever failed and Baela and Rhaena are the purest of their generation, purer in blood than Aegon and Rhaenyra and all the four Velaryon kids. They are genetically Jaehaerys and Alysanne's children. Indeed. Also they have their grandparents as authority figures in their life friendly to the Velaryons so their hatred of the Velaryon twins is not guaranteed. Also let's be honest, Daemon kinda sucks at passing his biases onto his children. In canon Rhaena married a bloody Hightower. We shall see if Jace can get over Cassandra. Stay tuned to see how that goes. There are no relevant Baratheons left except Jocelyn herself. Daeron certainly has the most flexibility and options for his marriage. I've already decided who he is marrying however and the answer may surprise some when it comes.
wphillips
Can we get a clarification on Baela and Rhaena’s age. I don’t think it was mentioned in the previous chapters. Maybe a list of all the ages of Daemon and Gael’s kids would be helpful. And have the girls already bonded with dragons yet? I didn’t think they were allowed before. I think everybody is assuming that they can bond with a dragon. I don’t think it should be a problem with how pure their blood is, but idk if it’s guaranteed. If I was Corlys and Viserra, I would ask that Baela and Rhaena come and visit at least Driftmark, if not Tyrosh, very soon. I think their reaction to the wonders and beauty of Driftmark would be similar to Viserra’s. Which would only help in the girls coming to the Velaryon side of thinking by showing what they will one day rule over. I imagine King’s Landing is still little more than a cesspool, but Driftmark has been a clean and beautiful city and island since Corlys started going on his adventures. I can imagine Baela and Rhaena’s initial reaction to hearing about their marriages to Jace and Luke to be pretty positive. They are older, very handsome, martially gifted, and unimaginably rich. I know that Daemon and Gael aren’t big fans, but many a girl in history have fallen for guys they knew their fathers couldn’t stand. I imagine that happening here. As long as Jace gets over Cassandra pretty quickly. We don’t need a Robert pining for Lyanna while married to Cersei thing going on. All of the future peace hangs on Aegon and Laena getting married though. If the youngest Velaryon and Targaryen generations can get married and have children before Daemon does something unforgivable, tensions should lessen to allow for peace. I’d like to see a talk between Laena and Rhaenys though. If Laena can convince Rhaenys that she truly loves Aegon for who he is, not for his station, then she might realize that it’s the best marriage she could make for him. Both politically and personally. Also is there any inclination to who Daeron will marry. Offering Daeron to some Baratheon cousin as a peace offering to Jocelyn and Rhaenys could go a long way in easing tensions and setting the stage for Laena to become Queen. And it’s not like the list of women he could wed that would benefit the Velaryons is very long. Vaella is already wed to Lord/Heir of House Stark, so no need to wed into the north. vaemond is married into the Vale. All of Aurane’s children are boys, so no need to make Velaryon cousins happy. I don’t see a marriage into the Western bloc, so no Lannister, Redwyne, Hightower matches. And I don’t think the iron throne would look favorably to Daeron marrying a Princess of House Martell. Leaving only the Tullys, Tyrells, or a marriage to a Tyrosh lady as options. And again, I wouldn’t want Aemon to think that the Velaryons are trying to meddle in other kingdoms again. Just my two cents. Anyways, another great chapter.
