The year 111 AC was destined for the history books.
The tourney celebrating the fifth anniversary of the King’s marriage to his Queen was held at King’s Landing.
Queen Alicent and Princess Rhaenyra, divided by the colors of their feast gowns, became known as the greens and the blacks.
And the King’s eldest son, Aegon Targaryen, stole the evening, held in Viserys I’s arms the entire night.
Half a year after the tourney, Daemon and Viserys I fell out again.
Daemon was exiled back to the Stepstones, reportedly for seducing Princess Rhaenyra.
In 112 AC, the old Lord Commander of the Kingsguard died, and Criston Cole took his place.
Grand Maester Runciter died, and Mellos succeeded him.
Between 112 and 113 AC, Queen Alicent judged the time had come and proposed that Rhaenyra marry her son Aegon.
Viserys I refused.
The King used the succession as leverage, and Rhaenyra was forced to accept a marriage to Laenor Velaryon, the most famous sword-swallower in the Seven Kingdoms.
Criston Cole and Princess Rhaenyra became bitter enemies, reportedly because the princess refused to run away with him and humiliated him.
114 AC.
On the training yard outside the Red Keep, Aegon held a wooden sword and traded blows with Criston.
The crack of wood on wood rang out without pause.
Alicent watched from the side, her eyes bright with wonder.
Aegon had begun sword training at six, when it was nothing more than learning to swing a blade.
Now, at seven, he could hold his own against Criston for two exchanges.
His progress was so fast that even Criston was stunned.
Of course, if Criston fought at full strength, Aegon would last exactly two exchanges.
In a real fight to the death, Criston could take Aegon’s round little head in a single stroke.
“Your progress is remarkable, my prince.
Before long, I may have nothing left to teach you.”
Criston lowered his wooden sword, his voice full of genuine admiration.
“Thank you for the kind words, Ser Criston.
Though if you could hit a little softer next time, I would be most grateful.”
Aegon rubbed the red marks the wooden sword had left on his body.
Criston’s face flickered with embarrassment.
When he sparred with Aegon, he had to concentrate.
And when he concentrated, his blows landed harder without him meaning them to.
“Your skill forces Ser Criston to fight seriously, my prince,” Arryk Cargyll said with a smile.
He was not flattering Aegon.
He meant every word.
Aegon waved a hand.
“Stop, or I’ll get a big head.
Have you two eaten?
Join me?”
Before Criston could answer, Arryk shook his head.
“Thank you for the offer, my prince, but we have our own place to eat.”
“His Grace assigned you to guard me personally.
A man is at his most vulnerable while eating.
No arguments.
Follow me.”
In the end, Arryk went with Aegon to the dining hall.
Sitting across from Aegon, Arryk looked stiff.
“Relax, ser.
Do I look that frightening?” Aegon joked.
“I am a little nervous, my prince.” Arryk let out a slow breath.
“But not for the reason you think.
I was remembering what the bards sing about you.”
Aegon gave a faint, unreadable smile and said nothing.
At some point, a story had begun spreading through the realm.
The current Prince Aegon, they said, had the bearing of Aegon the Conqueror, founder of the Targaryen dynasty.
Such talk was a direct blow to Princess Rhaenyra’s authority.
For that reason, few dared repeat it inside the Red Keep, for fear of angering the princess and Viserys I behind her.
“I don’t care for rumors.
My love for my sister is beyond question.”
Arryk fell silent, unsure how to answer.
Aegon’s tone was plainly serious, but the look on his face was harder to read.
“One more thing, Ser Arryk.
I value your skill and your loyalty.
So there are things you may say in front of me.
Do you understand what I mean?”
Aegon’s words drained the color from Arryk’s face.
He suddenly realized his recklessness in discussing the succession at all.
If the King or the princess had heard, he could hang up his white cloak for good.
The first duty of the Kingsguard was to protect the King from harm and threat, not to care who the heir was.
The white knights swore to obey the King’s commands, keep his secrets, offer counsel when asked, stay silent when not, serve at his pleasure, and defend his honor.
Strictly speaking, whether the Kingsguard protected anyone else depended entirely on the King’s wishes.
Some kings thought it natural to send their guards to protect their queens, children, siblings, and cousins near and far.
Some even sent guards to protect their lovers, mistresses, or bastards.
Other kings chose to leave such work to household knights and soldiers, keeping all seven guards at their own side forever.
Viserys was the first kind.
He let Aegon choose a Kingsguard to protect him.
Aegon chose Arryk Cargyll without hesitation, the white knight who in the original story stayed fiercely loyal to the greens.
Given the chance, Aegon would just as quickly win over Arryk’s twin brother, Erryk Cargyll.
That would spare the brothers their fate in the original tale, where they killed each other in the end, and give Aegon two highly capable personal guards.