VISERYS
120 AC
Emptiness.
That was not all that Viserys could feel on that cursed day, but it is the only feeling that is always there with him.
He thought that doing things fast would be the best choice for everyone; after all, he just needed to move on, right?
No.
It is never that easy.
During the night, Viserys tried to sleep but was not able to.
How could he?
Every time he closes his eyes, a memory of Laena emerges in his thoughts.
Her bold smiles.
Her determination.
Her kindness.
Her affection.
Her smell.
Yet, all of the good memories always pale in comparison with the bad ones.
Her screams.
Her tears.
Her desperation.
Her cold skin.
Her last words.
Her last wish.
Her final breath.
Her cold body in his hands.
How could Viserys sleep after everything happened to him…
again?
Again.
Aemma.
His beloved Aemma.
They were married so young.
Their relationship was strange for a time, but they quickly grew attached to each other as they also grew up in age.
He gave his heart to Aemma.
He thought that he would never love another woman in his life.
He did not want to marry again, but he had a duty.
His house was close to extinction, and he needed to take action.
And so he did.
At first, Viserys was not comfortable with marrying Laena Velaryon, to say the least.
She was a decade and a half younger than him.
And he kept that feeling for years to come, but, at least, as time passed, Laena matured more as a woman, both in body and mind.
From a wild, pretty girl, Laena grew up to be a woman of astonishing beauty and fierce temper.
Much different from his Aemma.
Yet, as they got closer over the years, Viserys got to see a part of Laena that she does not show much to others.
Her heart.
Her interest in helping him when she could.
Her honest smiles.
A part of her that actually reminds him of Aemma.
And then, Viserys felt…
something.
He was troubled by those feelings at first.
He struggled to understand what exactly they were.
At first, he thought that he felt affection towards Laena because of how that part of her remembers him of Aemma.
Viserys thought that maybe he was just trying to attach himself to that side of Laena so he could, at least, recover a fragment of what once was his dear wife.
Yet what was really important for the logical part of their marriage was to produce children.
They struggled with it.
A lot.
The first pregnancy of Laena started with hope and happiness but ended in sadness.
The beginning of all the sadness that would come to them.
But, with all that sadness, they got closer and closer.
Supporting each other.
Of course, no mad man in this world would be able to deny that Laena was one of the most beautiful women alive, but their relationship was more than the pleasures of the flesh.
With Laena by his side, Viserys felt comfort.
He felt that he had someone to count on, to move him forward and to walk by his side, until his bitter end.
An end that came for the wrong person.
Through the years of marriage with Laena, he tried to solve only one question.
Is he able to love another woman after he lost Aemma?
And the worst part is that he never managed to answer that question.
He never got to understand if he came to love Laena or not.
But, as much as it bothers him, he can’t be that pathetic excuse of a man for long.
Or rather, he at least should not look like this pathetic excuse of a man he is showing.
He is a king, a father, and a grandfather.
The man that his family and his vassals look up to.
He needs to stand on his feet with a proud chest and shove his emptiness in the back of his mind.
That is easier said than done.
Viserys opened his eyes with a sigh after a much-needed short nap and a really big flood of thoughts during the journey back to the Red Keep in the royal carriage, which is still making its way to the castle.
The first thing he sees is who is in front of him on the carriage.
His beloved older daughter and now, with a melancholic tone, the most important woman in his life, Rhaenyra.
Looking at the woman she has become never fails to make him open a smile.
She looked so much like her mother.
Maybe even more beautiful.
But her pose was a strict one, which was side by side with her observant neutral face.
Viserys is not fool enough to say that his daughter is perfect, but he has had a lot of hope for her through the years, and he could see her improvements in the last years.
She is truly a woman now.
He can only pray to the gods for her success.
And then, he can feel his other daughters by each of his sides.
Looking left, Viserys sees Baela looking outside through the window, clearly bored.
Sometimes, she is just too active for her own good.
Looking right, he can see Rhaena looking at her dear pink dragon egg.
One that she took good care of her entire life, like it was a pet.
Otherwise, Rhaena was a very girly girl.
Way more interested in the common feminine traits of noblehood than her twin sister.
His two daughters were basically opposites.
The duo always remembers his grandfather, the Old King, telling him about his twin nieces, Aerea and Rhaella.
Well, the only thing he can do is hope that Baela does not meet the same end that Aerea met after claiming Balerion.
Balerion…
Another strike of sadness comes to his heart, but a very brief one.
The worst part is how the death of his own dragon was the least impactful in his life.
And then, by Rhaenyra’s left side, there are her own children.
Jace and Luke had to struggle a bit to fit together on the left side, with the older brother with a permanent angry face as his younger brother got the pleasure of being the one directly on the window.
And, of course, Rhaenyra was gently holding her youngest son, Joffrey, on her lap.
The little boy was shaking his small legs around and saying random things to call attention from people, irritating his older brothers and his aunts but making his mother and father laugh occasionally.
Laenor is at the right side of Rhaenyra…
as always.
Viserys could not think of another man that is more loyal to his wife than him.
Laenor is always by Rhaenyra’s side, no matter what.
Of course, it might be because of his…
circumstances, but it does not matter to Viserys.
Loyalty is one of the most precious treasures in this dark world.
Rhaenyra’s family is certainly not perfect, but it is her family.
It is his family.
He will protect his daughter and his grandchildren until his last breath.
That is a mission he gave to himself.
With a large sigh, Viserys tries to break the silence.
“So, my dear, what have you been doing in Driftmark lately?” The king asks with a short smile towards his eldest daughter.
Rhaenyra is a bit surprised by the sudden question but then smiles towards her father with real affection.
“I have been trying to keep my slender figure.
It is quite hard sometimes, especially when I really want to eat something sweet.
You know how that was always a weakness to me.” The Princess of Dragonstone says with a bit of a shy smile.
Viserys laughs.
“Indeed.
I had to instruct the cookers to deny you any sweets more than once.
It never worked out.” The king says with a false sigh.
Rhaena laughs at the story, and Baela frowns.
“Why does Rhae get sweets as a child but we can’t, kepa?” The princess asks, frustrated.
The king smiles at his daughter and lays a soft arm around her shoulders.
“Oh my child, don’t use your older sister as an example.
She was a nightmare to deal with as a child.” The king says with another laugh.
Baela snorts but smiles a bit.
Viserys then looks at Rhaenyra with a playful smile.
“Do you know who also loves sweets?
Helaena.
It is a rare moment when I can see her excited about something instead of being so quiet all the time.” The king says with a short laugh.
Rhaenyra blinks, a bit surprised.
She smiles.
“Helaena?
I can’t really imagine that Alicent supports her eating sweets as much as I did when I was younger.” The princess says with a laugh.
Viserys nods with a large smile.
“Certainly not.
Alicent would always complain to her if she saw the poor girl eating more than one or two sweets.” The king says it, and everyone laughs a bit.
Viserys then looks at Laenor.
“I did not have much time to talk to your father today, Ser Laenor.
How is he doing?” The King asks, curious.
Laenor sighs and frowns.
“He is doing well right now compared to the last few years, your grace.
Yet, time is finally catching up with the old sea snake, I am afraid.
I might become the Lord of Driftmark in some years.
And honestly, your grace, I prefer my father to be around for more years than to be a lord in the near future.” The heir of Driftmark proclaims, receiving an enigmatic look from his wife.
Viserys opens a short smile.
“I don’t judge you on that, Laenor.
I would prefer much more to have my father as King Baelon I, alive by my side, and be just a prince of Dragonstone.
It is a real shame that my father never ascended to the throne.
He would be a much better king than me, for sure.” The king says with a distant tone, looking at nothing specifically.
Rhaenyra sighs to call his attention and smile.
“I have to confess that I got quite used to Driftmark.
Lady Rhaenys certainly helped.
It is good to have an older woman that I can relate to in many matters.
And it is also good that the boys here are close to their birthright.” The princess proclaims with a relaxed expression while gently stroking the hair of Joffrey, who laughs at his mother with his baby teeth.
Viserys smiles.
“That is wonderful to hear, my dear.
Now, tell me, how much did the death of Ser Harwin Strong affect you?
He was certainly very close to you, right?
Do you plan…
a replacement?” The king says with a serious expression.
Rhaenyra’s smile fades with the implications.
“I was very shocked and sad when I heard about it.
Ser Harwin was a great man of astonishing loyalty.
For now, in his memory, I will not search for a replacement anytime soon.” The Princess of Dragonstone proclaims with a definitive tone.
Viserys sighs in relief.
“That is good to hear.
Now, excuse me, everyone, but this old man is very tired.
Do you care if I close my eyes and try to take another good nap?” The King asks, feeling his tiredness get the better of him for a second.
Rhaenyra smiles with tenderness.
“Nobody here will stop you, Kepa.
Relax as much as you want.
You certainly need it.” The princess says with a gentle tone of voice.
Viserys nods in appreciation.
As the king closes his eyes, he can almost block his constant torments with the sound of wind, birds, and the moving carriage.
After arriving at the Red Keep, everything got very complicated…
and loud.
Viserys quickly moved to his chambers to get a third chance of a nap, but he did not sleep for more than half an hour with all the sound that the servants were making to get the throne room ready for the feast.
After throwing some water at his face, Viserys finally reached the throne room with his guards by his side.
All the nobles present here got up in respect to the king as he walked through the carpet and got to his seat at the main table, right in front of the Iron Throne.
Before seating, Viserys takes his cup from the table, already filled with fine wine, and raises it, making everyone else do the same.
“A toast…
for the life and achievements of Queen Laena Velaryon.
May the gods allow her to be in a better place and let her name go down in the history of the Seven Kingdoms for all eternity!” The king proclaims with a rising voice.
All the nobles present exclaim in approval before they go fully into food, wine, and conversations.
Viserys sighs and finally sits on his chair.
His eyes quickly move to all the delicious food on the large table.
His empty stomach roars just at the sight of it.
As the king serves himself with a large plate, as he enjoys to do, he hears a very familiar smirk on his left side.
His brother, Daemon Targaryen, looks at him with the gaze of a wicked child.
“You don’t need to place half of the turkey on your plate, Viserys.
I doubt that you could even eat that much without getting sick first.” The Rogue Prince says with a short smile.
Viserys snorts, making a false expression of offense.
“Me?
Sick of eating?
I should have you hanged for that, Rogue Prince.
There is not enough food on this table that I can’t shove down my stomach with some good wine.” The King proclaims, proud and faking a serious tone.
The two brothers laugh with the interaction and toast their cups together.
Alicent looks at her husband with a bit of surprise.
“Daemon Targaryen is laughing.
I must be going mad, for sure.” The princess jokes with a short smirk.
Viserys laughs and Daemon snorts.
The King looks at the wife of his brother.
“You are not much of a drinker, are you, Alicent?
I think I have never seen you drunk in all these years.” The king points out, curious.
Alicent nods, keeping a proud posture.
“Yes, your grace.
I don’t drink very often.
I prefer to keep my mind sharp to deal with these four here.” The princess proclaims, making a sign to her children, who are all struggling a bit to serve themselves at a table made for adults.
Young Daeron is still waiting for his mother to choose his food for him.
Viserys smiles at it.
“I see.
You are a good mother, Alicent, but I have to say that you are also a boring companion in feasts.” The King jokes with a large smile.
Daemon holds his laugh as Alicent opens a short and proud smile.
“I prefer to say that I have my priorities in mind, Your Grace.” The princess says with confidence.
Viserys nods and raises his cup to her in respect before taking a huge sip out of it.
With an empty stomach and a troubled mind, the king had a long night of eating and drinking ahead.
As the feast progressed, the nobles were slowly leaving the throne room, either from tiredness, full stomachs, or being completely drunk.
And in the almost empty throne room, Viserys was in all those situations.
The king ends another cup of wine with a sigh.
His vision was blurred after all the alcohol, and he was very full and tired.
Yet, the good feeling that drinking brought to him was too necessary for him to stop.
After all, what is better for a disturbed soul than losing some sense of reality in a difficult moment?
And with some companions by his side, it is always better.
Viserys laughs as Daemon struggles to end his own cup, frowning as he does so.
“You are rusty, brother!
You certainly got a bite on your tongue with your previous comment, huh?” The king asks, struggling a bit to say the whole sentence.
Daemon smirks, his head shaking a bit.
“Sadly, I have too many stupid men to guide around like dogs to be able to drink as I used to, your grace.” The Rogue Prince says with a drunken voice.
Viserys smirks back and then looks beyond Daemon.
Aegon, his eldest nephew, is sleeping over the table after drinking too much.
His messy golden-silver hair falling around his head.
“I think you should wake up the boy before his mother finds him in this state.” The King says with a laugh, pointing his finger.
Daemon follows the direction and sighs.
“I told you to be more moderate while drinking, boy.
I don’t want my son walking around drunk at such a young age…
even less fainting after drinking too much.
Are you listening, Aegon?” The Rogue Prince asks, hitting the back of his son’s head with a slap.
The young prince grunts and raises his head, struggling a bit to keep his head up and eyes open.
He looks at Viserys and then at Daemon.
“Kepa…
why did Uncle Viserys turn into an apple?” The prince asks, confused in his altered state.
Viserys laughs hard while Daemon grunts in frustration.
“I allowed you to stay here, but I did not think you would go that far.
Go to your chambers.
Now.
We will deal with your mother tomorrow.” The Rogue Prince says, stroking his forehead with just the vague idea of discussing it with his wife again.
Aegon frowns and struggles to get up, almost falling on his own legs, to the delight of his drunk uncle.
The boy then manages to walk out of the court, followed by a minor guard after a sign of Daemon.
The two sons of Baelon the Brave are the only ones in the throne room now.
Not even a guard is around anymore.
Viserys then looks at his brother.
“Am I a tomato now?” The king asks with an idiotic smile.
Daemon sighs.
“Maybe drinking too much was not a good idea for you in the end.
Oh well.
I don’t care.” The Rogue Prince says, drinking more from his cup.
Viserys laughs at that.
“Don’t be a moralist now, Daemon.
I am having some fun here.
I don’t want to stop that soon.
You will not let your only brother drink him alone, right?” The king asks.
Daemon smirks.
“Fine.
But answering your stupid question from before, you are at least as red and as round as a tomato now.” The Rogue Prince mocks, drinking more from his cup.
Viserys snorts in feigned offense.
“And you look like a girl with that long hair of yours.
You should at least get a beard.” The king says with a large and malicious smile.
Daemon frowns, his smirk getting more intense.
“Like that mustache of yours?
I will pass.
Thanks.” The Rogue Prince mocks back.
The two brothers laugh as Viserys raises his cup.
“A toast…
a toast for House Targaryen.” The King proclaims with a proud tone, despite his state.
Daemon raises his own cup, sealing the toast as the two brothers go back to their jokes, laughs, and lots of wine.
After throwing up in the corridor of the Red Keep, Viserys is questioning his decisions with the little sense he has left in his mind.
Walking through the dark corridors, the king tries his best to get back to his bedroom, but a minute walking feels like an hour in his current state.
But, after a stupid amount of effort, he manages to get back to his bedroom.
The place he is so used to being.
To be with Laena in the most recent years.
Viserys falls in his bed after letting his crown on the desk, catching a much-needed breath.
The King looks to the ceiling as he feels the weight in his eyes.
And even in this state, his ghosts come back to torment him one last time.
‘Please…
I beg you…’
Those words.
Her voice.
Viserys can still hear her voice as his eyes are slowly closing.
“I am sorry…
Laena…
I am so sorry…
I am so sorry…” the king mutters as his eyes close and a final pair of tears fall from his eyes as his body gives in to its tiredness.