The year 120 AC was destined to be one of tragedy.
Laena’s death was the first, but far from the last.
The long-simmering tension and mutual suspicion across the Seven Kingdoms finally bore bitter fruit, bringing grief and heartbreak to many.
None suffered more than the Sea Snake, Lord Corlys, and his noble wife, the Queen Who Never Was, Princess Rhaenys.
Before Viserys could find the right moment to discuss new marriage arrangements with Alicent and Corlys, tragedy struck again.
Not long after Laena’s death, while Corlys and Rhaenys still mourned their daughter, the Stranger came for their son.
Ser Laenor was killed in the market square of Spicetown.
His companion, Ser Qarl Correy, stabbed him to death.
When Corlys arrived to collect his son’s body, the merchants testified that the two had quarreled loudly before blades were drawn.
Qarl fled afterward, wounding many who tried to stop him.
Some said a ship waited for him at sea.
Either way, Qarl vanished without a trace.
The truth of Ser Laenor Velaryon’s death was disputed, but the most widespread tale held that Prince Daemon had hired the killer, then silenced Qarl himself.
Corlys offered a reward of ten thousand gold dragons for any word of Qarl.
Nothing ever came of it.
That was the second tragedy born of terrible ideas.
The third tragedy involved Viserys himself.
After Laenor’s funeral, Viserys did not return to King’s Landing.
He stayed on Driftmark, comforting Corlys and Rhaenys day after day.
On the last day of the month, he asked Corlys to host a feast and invited every blood relative, Daemon included.
“We carry the ancient blood of the dragonlords.
No outside enemy can destroy us.
Only infighting among our own blood can.”
Viserys raised his cup, and all eyes turned to him.
Aegon expected the usual lecture about unity.
What came next surprised him completely.
“I believe change is necessary.
I propose that Helaena marry Jacaerys, and that Aegon wed Baela.
What say you all?”
The room went still.
Alicent did not hesitate.
She refused outright.
“This is madness.
I will never agree.” Her face was ice.
“I will not allow Helaena to marry a boy who cannot control himself.”
Helaena tensed.
Under the table, her hand gripped Aegon’s, her knuckles white.
Aegon gently rubbed her soft hand and gave her a look that said not to worry.
Alicent glanced at Rhaenyra and Corlys.
Corlys’s eyes flickered.
He was clearly weighing the offer.
“I will follow Father’s wishes.”
Rhaenyra spoke first.
Once, she had held the clear advantage in dragons.
In 118 AC especially, she had commanded eight: Syrax, Seasmoke, Meleys, Vhagar, Vermax, Arrax, Tyraxes, and Moondancer.
Now everything had changed.
Vhagar belonged to the greens.
Seasmoke had lost his rider.
She had lost two dragonriders in one stroke.
Syrax had no combat experience, and Vermax and the others were still too young.
Meleys was her only battle-ready dragon.
And in recent years, Aegon’s popularity across the Seven Kingdoms had grown so loud it was suffocating her.
She desperately needed a way out.
If Jacaerys married Helaena, and Baela married Aegon, she could finally breathe.
It might even prevent a civil war.
Viserys looked to Corlys, whose eyes still shifted with thought.
Baela was Corlys’s granddaughter.
She listened to him far more than to Daemon.
So this matter did not require Daemon’s approval.
Only Corlys’s.
Corlys was torn, but he reached his decision quickly.
“The betrothals of Jacaerys and Baela were settled long ago.
Would it not be improper to break them now?”
As host, Corlys politely declined the proposal.
He knew very well that Jacaerys carried no Velaryon blood.
He cared more for the name than the blood, true.
But if there was a chance to bring the blood back into the line, he would not let it slip away.
Baela was Laena’s own daughter.
If Jacaerys and Lucerys married Baela and Rhaena as planned, Velaryon blood would sit on both the Iron Throne and the Driftwood Throne.
But if Jacaerys wed Helaena, the Iron Throne would hold only Targaryen and Hightower blood.
And Strong blood besides.
That was something he could never accept.
Viserys would not let it go.
“Why is it improper?” He frowned.
“We would only be exchanging marriage partners.
It would bring us closer together.
Is that not good?”
“It is not good at all.” Alicent’s teeth were clenched.
“You cannot keep favoring her.
Is Helaena not your daughter too?” The source of this chapter is g.com.
“How am I favoring anyone?”
Viserys’s voice rose.
“Helaena’s standing is every bit as high as Jacaerys’s.
Jacaerys is heir to the Iron Throne.
Tell me where the favor lies.”
Alicent stared at him in disbelief, speaking slowly, each word deliberate.
“Do you truly not know what I mean?
Have you not lied to yourself enough?”
Viserys’s face darkened, but he kept his temper and tried to soothe her.
“I do not know what you mean.
Jacaerys is entirely worthy of Helaena.
As for affection, that can grow in time, can it not?”
Alicent drew a long breath.
She was done with him.
Hearing Viserys claim again and again how much he had wronged Aegon, she found it laughable.
Perhaps the guilt was real.
But so was the instinctive, unthinking favor he always showed Rhaenyra.
Alicent exchanged a look with Aegon, took a deep breath, and sat back in her chair.
“I am finished with this.”
Viserys smiled, thinking she had yielded, and turned back to Corlys.
“Your Grace, the betrothals are already settled.
You gave them your own blessing.”
Corlys’s tone was firm.
He would not bend.
“They are not married yet.”
Seeing victory within reach, Viserys was ready to fight for it, dignity be damned.
“When Jacaerys and Helaena are betrothed, I will give my blessing as well.”
Corlys opened his mouth to object, but Viserys cut him off.
House Velaryon had lost Vhagar and Seasmoke.
Against them, his stance was hard.
Vhagar’s current rider was Aemond.
Aemond obeyed Aegon above all, and Aegon obeyed him.
He could not afford to yield, and he had no need to.
Today, he would change things.
“The matter is settled, Corlys.
I want you to understand that this is not a discussion.
It is the king’s comm…”
Bang.
The last word died as a wine cup slammed against the table.
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