21. Aenys IV/ Visenya IV (Patreon)

Aenys IV

28AC

“Prince Aenys!” he heard a loud whisper and was suddenly pulled from his comfortable slumber. His shoulder was being shaken by a powerful, armored hand and Aenys groggily rubbed his eyes. 

“What?” Aenys responded back, quietly trying not to wake his sleeping wife at his side. 

“Your father, King Aegon, has demanded your presence in the Aegonfort this instant,” the distinctive voice of Ser Robin was soon recognized and Aenys clambered out of bed. Stifling his annoyance, he slipped on some light clothes and shoes before departing with the Kingsguard. 

Exiting his manse, he noticed it was just before dawn, the moon was long past its zenith and was soon to be replaced with the much more wonderful sun. Their horses rode fast through the dark streets of King’s Landing, each gallop made Aenys more fearful. 

‘ What could have caused this? ’ Aenys thought with a deep sense of anticipation. His father was never so forceful, willing to act with quickness, yes but to shake him awake? For what? Aenys kept asking himself over and over. 

They had practically just made it inside the walls of the Aegonfort when Aenys noticed there was hardly a soul in sight. Aside from a few guards, nearly everyone was nowhere to be found. Even this early in the morning, the cooks and servants should have been scurrying about, yet none were to be found. 

‘ What the hells? ’ Aenys thought as he was finally dragged into the Small Council chamber. His eyes noticed the full table, aside from Ser Guy Lothson, every member of the small council was present and they all looked tired. 

Aenys took his seat next to his father and only then did he notice the look of extreme trepidation covering his face. 

‘ Did someone declare war? ’ Aenys thought, imagining that only something of that magnitude could frighten his father so. 

“Good, you are all here now,” he heard his father’s low voice resound across the room and Aenys listened intently. Answers awaited him. 

“I have called you all here to advise me, as is your role on this council, I have received some troubling news and I know not what to do,” his father said through a sinister level of calm and Aenys nearly shivered at his father’s blunt tone. He was almost always jovial and happy going around him. The last time Aenys had seen his father like this was in Dorne. 

“What troubles you, Your Grace?” Lord Aethan was the first to ask and Aenys was reminded of their familial ties. Lord Aethan had gotten a scolding once the full report of what had taken place in the Stepstones was released but nothing had come of it, his father needed his counsel too much. 

“I have just received word from Dragonstone, several accounts have said that my son Maegor fled in the night and has been wed to Lady Shiera Qoherys in a quiet ceremony in Aegon’s Garden,” his father said in a quiet voice and Aenys was shocked stiff. 

‘ What? ’ Aenys thought for a moment but he was not afforded time to think. 

“WHAT?!” a yell resounded from Lord Martyn Hightower and nearly everyone at the table turned their eyes to the enraged Andal. 

“And what is the proof of these claims?” Aenys immediately interjected. Surely Maegor would have told him if he were planning such a foolish action. 

His father turned to him then. A deathly serious look in his eyes. Combined with several reports from my informants on Dragonstone. I received word that Maegor chose to fly his dragon late last night, from Ser Raymont,” his father said through gnashed teeth and Aenys began sweating. ‘ No way… ’ Aenys thought, knowing just how badly his brother had just blundered. 

“The wedding was to be in a mere six days! There are hundreds of nobles here!” he heard Lord Hightower yell again before his father brought the hammer down. 

“Silence! I am well aware, that is why I have brought you all here, so that we may get ahead of this and find a solution before the lords hear of this. Yet I do not know what to do, so I ask you all. What shall I do with my son?” his father asked with a sneer. Aenys had never seen him like this before, with such an open hand. 

As everyone prepared their words for his father Aenys tried to prepare some of his own. Searching his mind deeply for what to say. 

‘ What on earth is he thinking? ’ Aenys thought with a feeling of betrayal. Maegor had spoken readily of his distaste for Lady Ceryse Hightower but to go to such lengths just to avoid her? ‘ Why did he not speak with me first? ’ Aenys thought with a little sadness in his heart. He had worked hard over the last few moons to spend as much time with Maegor as he could but was his brother still intent to leave him out?

“Your Grace, with all due respect, breaking a betrothal made by you is going directly against your will. Defying your king is a crime, some might even go so far as to name it treason. I recommend taking his titles and income away, dissolving his false marriage, and pushing through with the wedding. Should we act fast enough, we should be able to silence any uproar this could cause,” Ser Osmund spoke first and plainly. 

‘ That seems harsh, ’ Aenys thought with a little trepidation. Certainly, his little brother must be punished but to take everything save his dragon and his sword? He himself was a product of a marriage of love, to deny Maegor would make his father a hypocrite. Aenys would prefer a more lenient punishment. Though from the look Lord Hightower was giving his father, he might be the only one. 

“I concur with what Ser Osmund suggested, those are fair punishments for a prince of the blood directly disobeying your commands,” Tion Tarbeck, the master of coin, spoke next and Aenys could only stare at his hands, dreading his turn to speak.

“That could be seen as too lenient, Your Grace. What of forbidding him of his dragon? I hear the pit is nearly complete,” the old, raspy voice of Grand Maester Gawen spoke next and Aenys bristled at the thought of being kept from his own dragon. He was not alone in his feeling. 

“Absolutely not,” his father answered in a heartbeat and it shocked everyone at the table but himself. A bond between a rider and their dragon was like nothing else, to forcefully separate them was cruel. 

“With all due respect, Your Grace, why not?” the Grand Maester spoke again and Aenys bristled again at the notion, though his father sought to answer. 

“Doing so would only make my recalcitrant wife hostile, not to mention we haven’t the means to, the loyalties of the Dragonkeepers on Dragonstone are not certain,” his father said an answer Aenys was not expecting but he supposed the importance of a bond between a rider and their dragon could not be properly explained. 

With his quiet teeth gnashing finally over, Lord Hightower actually rose to speak. “Your Grace! This humiliation cannot go unpunished! The whore he brought to Dragonstone should be killed or sent to the Silent Sisters at least, for having lured the prince into dishonor and disobedience. House Hightower demands nothing less than justice for this utter humiliation, we have been naught but loyal vassals since the moment we bent our knee to you, yet we are awarded with a long betrothal only to be broken in the last moment?” Lord Hightower spoke loud and angry, Aenys thought he might start frothing at the mouth at any moment. 

Taking a glance at his father revealed the look of apprehension on his face. Objectively Lord Hightower was not completely wrong, Maegor had humiliated them that night, loudly and openly. His mother had already humiliated House Hightower with the lengthy betrothal but to cancel it at the last moment with hundreds of nobles in the city for the wedding, his brother had caused quite the issue. 

“Your Grace, it is hardly my place to decide the fate of a member of House Targaryen, but I will use my time to remind you that Prince Maegor is your son, your own flesh and blood,” Ser Corlys spoke next as the Lord Commander and the look on his father’s face became unreadable. 

Lord Aethan rose to speak next and loudly cleared his throat. “Your Grace, with all due respect, ostracizing Prince Maegor from House Targaryen would be a foolish move. He rides a fierce dragon, which is growing larger by the day, he is also well respected and capable, such harsh punishments would only make him more upset,” Aethan spoke with a sincerity that shocked Aenys, he knew House Velaryon and his aunt were not particularly close but he did not expect such a move by Lord Aethan. 

“Yet he cannot go unpunished,” he continued before Lord Hightower could finish rising from his seat. “He has defied you and directly broken a betrothal made by Your Grace, so he must be punished. I would recommend perhaps confining him to Dragonstone for a few years, repurposing the income from the island to pay back Lady Ceryse’s dowry, and monitoring his actions closely. Should he leave his confinement, strip his lands and titles from him. That I feel is a suitable punishment for seeking a better match,” Lord Aethan spoke passionately and succinctly, and Aenys was not the only one who caught the light jab at the end of his speech. 

“A better match?!” Lord Hightower spit out in disgust before turning to his father once more. “House Hightower would never accept such a light punishment. The whore must be punished too, absolve their false marriage and continue with the betrothal we have worked towards for the last five years. There was no septon involved so it would only need your word,” Lord Hightower spoke again and Aenys was quickly learning that he was not particularly fond of this man. 

“Silence!” his father spoke with a fury and authority that could silence even Balerion himself, before turning to Aenys. “Now you speak, what would you have me do with your brother?” his father asked him the question he was dreading and Aenys took a moment to think. 

‘ What to do… ’ Aenys thought through the situation. His brother had clearly spoken many a time about not wanting to marry Lady Ceryse. Aenys could sympathize with him, the thought of marrying someone whom he had less than no interest in sounded terrible. Yet he had defied their father all the same, and so he must be punished.

“I agree with Lord Aethan, my brother must be punished but going too hard on him would only serve to alienate him more. I wish for him to help me rule one day Father, should he be stripped of his lands and titles and marriage then he would only be made bitter,” Aenys finished his thoughts and caught the enraged glare from Lord Hightower but shuffled that into the back of his mind, focusing more on his father. 

Said father just placed his head in his hands and let out a long sigh before speaking quietly. “Grand Maester, draft a letter to Dragonstone, I demand my son return to the castle at the earliest opportunity, should he fail to do so then he will be punished further,” his father spoke into his hands and Aenys struggled not to shiver at the sight of his father appearing so weak. 

“The rest of you are dismissed, not a word of this is to be spoken outside of this room, my son will be punished, do not fret over that. We will meet again here when he arrives,” his father finished and Aenys rose from his seat. The sun was just now rising over the horizon and he wished to return to his own family, who were no doubt still sleeping. 

As he left the room he pleaded in his mind for a moment. ‘ Please do not make the situation worse for yourself Maegor, Father can be reasoned with, ’ Aenys practically begged in his mind before he walked towards his horse to return home.  

Visenya IV

28AC

Visenya woke up in her bed refreshed and energetic for the first time in many moons. All of her carefully laid plans had worked out, she no longer had to fret over whether her fool of a husband would throw their legacy into the wind. Now she could bask in her victory, at least for a short while. 

She got dressed for the day and gradually made her way towards the main dining room. The absence of Dark Sister on her hip was still off-putting but it was being put to better use now, her son needed the blade far more than she ever would. 

The halls of Dragonstone were a mix of energy and fear. Word of her son’s marriage quickly spread, deliberately of course, she would not let her husband try and sweep this under the rug, by tonight the entire island should know of her son’s new wife. The thought of such a complete victory made Visenya practically giddy, the feeling of a well-laid plan coming to fruition was like nothing else. 

Taking her seat in the main hall she was unsurprised to find her son and gooddaughter missing. ‘ Hmm, gooddaughter, ’ Visenya thought with a small smile. She had never really thought of it like that until now. She had long since planned for Maegor to wed the snow-haired girl but she had never really internalized it until now. 

Visenya would admit that she had grown fond of the girl over the last few moons. She was an ever studious pupil and most importantly, she was a natural when it came to using a glass candle. Unfortunately, her fire magic was lacking, her Gryvetheon and Targaryen blood was diluted with several marriages to lesser houses, so it was to be expected. Even still, Visenya contented herself with teaching the girl how to operate a glass candle. 

Glass candles have long since become a dying art in this world. The fall of Old Valyria had started it but the weakening of magic worldwide had only hastened its fall. Few knew how to operate the candles and even fewer could. It was a tragic fate for such a wonderful art, yet all was not lost. 

Shiera Qoherys was skilled in using all of a glass candle. There were many functions, astral projection, long-distance communication, creating fire, among other more… unsavory uses. Shiera could do it all, unlike her siblings and child. ‘ Excellent find Maegor, ’ Visenya thought with another smile as the first dishes arrived. 

She broke her fast without a sense of haste in her body. The combination of her plans working out and being in her ancestral home provided her with a profound sense of calm. It was quite fortuitous because otherwise, she may have grown impatient regarding the long wait. 

She had awoken just as the sun crested the horizon but it was fully out and shining on the winter day by the time the two finally made it to the dining hall. Both were nervously chatting about something or other and Visenya spotted the wide smile on both their faces. 

“I figured you would be hungrier,” Visenya said with a smile and finally caught the attention of her son and gooddaughter. They both smiled awkwardly before taking their seats. The table was designed for family dinners and could thus easily fit all of them. 

Neither of them answered her as the table fell into a deep quiet. Before Shiera finally seemed to muster her courage. 

“Your Grace, I wanted to thank you, for everything,” Shiera said with a bowed head and a sincerity that could be felt deep in her bones. 

Visenya merely smiled at her gooddaughter before coming up with her response. 

“Raise your head Shiera, be a good wife to Maegor and that will be thanks enough,” Visenya said with a glance towards her son, who still seemed embarrassed by the notion. He would get over it though, they all did. 

“Yes Your Grace,” Shiera said with a small smile as the second round of food arrived. 

Visenya would relish in this short time. Undoubtedly Aegon’s wrath would soon fall on them, so better to enjoy the peace and calm rather than fret over what is coming. Though Visenya would not allow her brother to ruin this all. That she promised herself.

…

The chamber of the Painted Table provided no comfort for Visenya. She had many memories in this room, she remembered when her brother ordered its construction, she remembered planning the conquest with her siblings, and she remembered plotting out each pass over Dorne. Yet now she was here not to plan for war, but to plan a response. 

A letter arrived just around midday from King’s Landing. It had entirely killed the infectious energy coming off the newlyweds as she, Maegor, Shiera, and many of the castle staff all crowded in the chamber to read the letter and discuss what to do. 

“You are to return to King’s Landing and answer for your actions at once or face further punishment,” her son finished reading the letter and Visenya had to fight the urge to hit the table, she could see the plan her foolish brother had made already. It was crystal clear in her mind. 

“So what are you going to do?” Shiera questioned after a long silence and Maegor looked apprehensive. 

“I will return to King’s Landing, and confront my father directly,” Maegor said after some hesitation and Visenya wanted to hit him. 

“You will do no such thing,” Visenya blurted out quickly and all eyes turned to her. 

“I was just as complicit in this as anyone, I did the crime, and I will answer for it,” her son said with a sense of determination and she understood what he meant then. He was merely deciding to be honorable when it was not the time to do so.

“Sure you were, but you cannot go to King’s Landing. The moment you arrive you will be separated from your dragon and hauled before a septon. Your father is surrounded by Andal snakes and lickspittles. They have no doubt poisoned his mind,” Visenya admitted the truth she so hated to think about and her son looked deep in thought. 

“If I do not go, it will no doubt be seen as another slight which he has already declared will be punished further. Perhaps I can reason with him if I go to King’s Landing,” Maegor tried again and Visenya merely shook her head. 

“That hardly worked out last time, all it got you was being forced closer to Ceryse. Allow me to handle it, I will fly to King’s Landing at once and get your father to acquiesce to the marriage, though you may suffer some punishments regardless,” Visenya said diplomatically, though the thought of her son being punished for marrying the most suitable candidate available made her very mind fill with rage. 

“Mother… he may take that as a slight too, you are directly implicated in this, not to mention he did not listen to you regarding my marriage before, why would he now?” her son asked with a great amount of hesitation in his voice and she regarded him cooly and calmly. 

“I acted irrationally then Maegor, I lashed out and made the situation more difficult than it should have been. I will act with more tact this time, I merely need to negotiate for him to accept the marriage and give you a light punishment, I can do that. ” She implored her son to listen to her. Visenya could feel it, if he went to King’s Landing he would regret it. 

Maegor let out a long sigh before he answered her. “Very well, I will wait here,” he said with a clearly still conflicted tone but it was better than nothing.

“I will depart at once,” Visenya said and quickly made her way out of the painted table and she heard one last thing from Maegor and Shiera. 

“Good luck,” they said simply. Their futures were in her hands, she would not mess this up. 

…

Visenya could practically see the commotion in King’s Landing from the back of Vhagar. The Aegonfort was abuzz and the people scurrying in and out looked like ants on an anthill. Nevertheless, her suspicions were confirmed as she brought Vhagar down next to Balerion. 

Practically every single person in the Aegonfort was whispering among one another. Visenya smiled from ear to ear as she caught the subject of those whispers. Word of her son’s marriage had already spread like wildfire. 

It was not long after she walked into the main hall that she was practically dragged away. Three Kingsguards confronted her and led her to a pathetic little room. The same one used for Small Council meetings. 

Inside she found many people, most of whom she detested. The entire small council was here, from the Andals to even Aethan and his brother. Then her nephew was also present. ‘ It seems Aegon has finally put his foot down, ’ Visenya thought with a smile. Aenys attending a small council meeting at all was odd. Then the only one who really mattered appeared in view, her brother, with an absolutely enraged face. 

“Where is my son, Visenya?” her husband uttered in a low voice and Visenya made no reaction. Aegon could not frighten her, so his rage meant nothing. 

“He is on Dragonstone, with his lawfully wedded wife of suitable Valyrian stock,” Visenya said with a smug look sent the way of one Lord Martyn Hightower. 

Aegon’s teeth gnashing could practically be felt as his face was red with anger. She had not seen him this upset for a long time, not since the death of Rhaenys. “You aided and abetted him in breaking a betrothal Visenya! This is a gross humiliation of not just House Hightower or myself, but every single noble in attendance!” Aegon roared and Visenya merely returned a blank stare. 

“Might we speak privately, husband? This is a family matter after all,” Visenya said with a flat voice. Gloating or acting smug towards Aegon now would only hamper her efforts. 

“Family matters, yes. You are all dismissed,” he waved his hand dismissively before taking a seat in his chair. He looked monumentally tired. 

The Andals and Velaryons slowly filed out of the room, with Lord Martyn Hightower giving her a positively poisonous glare as he exited the chamber, much to her delight.

“You too, Aenys,” Aegon said, waving away his weak-willed son. Visenya cared little for it, he would just be a mere set of eyes to this argument. 

“Now wife, why don’t you tell me everything?” Aegon said with a hand pinching the bridge of his nose.

“Maegor married for love,” Visenya replied simply, it was an easy explanation, though not entirely truthful. 

“As if! You were planning this the entire time weren’t you?!” Aegon suddenly reared his head up and yelled at great volume, she could feel the sense of betrayal in his tone. ‘ Oh great, another screaming match, ’ Visenya thought with a sigh. For some reason, all their arguments devolved into this. 

“Our son did not wish to marry the Andal woman, so when he came to me and asked for my help, I agreed,” Visenya answered the first statement diplomatically, hoping to calm Aegon some more before enraging him further. 

“You planned it all! Didn't you? For years Visenya, you were planning this for years.” Aegon sounded thoroughly tired, and betrayed, like a kitten left in the rain. 

“Yes, I did. My son shared the same sentiments, he did not wish to live a life with the Andal you set up for him. So I set out looking for a more suitable match, though he beat me to it,” Visenya said simply and Aegon stared daggers at her. 

“Do not lie to me Visenya! I know you took in the Qoherys girl years ago, do you take me for a fool?” Aegon yelled again and Visenya let out a huff. She was not lying, it genuinely did work out that way. 

“That is the truth, husband,” Visenya said simply and Aegon let out another sigh.

“Do you have any idea what you have done?! This stunt has thrown the entire kingdom into jeopardy! This is a humiliation of not only myself but hundreds of nobles!” Aegon said again and Visenya was flabbergasted. ‘ How can he not see what to do? ’ Visenya thought in disbelief.

“The entire kingdom?! Aegon, you are the King! Go out there, proclaim your son’s marriage openly and publicly to the crowds, announce celebrations, and then your issue is solved! The only nobles who will still care are the Hightowers!” 

“Yes, I am the king, my word is law. Yet my own flesh and blood disobeys my word openly. What weight does my word carry then sister?” Aegon sounded exasperated. 

“The weight of Balerion, none will raise any issue because you ride the largest dragon in the world,” Visenya stated the obvious but she was met with a scoff.

“You are a fool, Sister. A kingdom run on threats of violence will only last as long as our guards refuse to take bribes. Besides, do you seriously think this would just be washed away? House Hightower has friends and connections all over the realm, this is a loud and public declaration that my will can be subverted. Merely announcing celebrations would not undo that,” Aegon said with poison in his tone and Visenya bristled at the insult. 

“If I am a fool then you are a coward. Brother. You are Aegon the Conqueror! Yet you cower from mere men! You ride the largest dragon in the world and command tens of thousands of soldiers. Publicly announce that your son has married Shiera Qoherys, that you support it, and you will be celebrating for the next seven days and the nobles will be too drunk to care,” Visenya said in response, her tone just as poisonous. 

“A coward?! Says the woman who slinked out in the night to subvert her husband!” 

“Aye, a coward and a hypocrite, you are going to punish your son for seeking a marriage for love?” Visenya responded, her voice searing hot on her tongue. 

“Do not,” Aegon said simply, giving her a glare that could kill an ordinary man. 

“If you really wish to placate your nobles, why not give him a polygamous match? One for duty and one for love, sound familiar?” Visenya said with a glare just as vicious returned and Aegon exploded from his seat. 

“You can return to Dragonstone and tell your son that he can either set aside his wife and marry Ceryse Hightower or he will be stripped of all his lands, titles, and honors, and be banished from the Seven Kingdoms!” Aegon roared like a dragon and Visenya snapped. 

She let an ominous calm descend between the two of them before beginning her tirade. “You are a gutless, craven, crude, detestable, lousy, pathetic, laughable excuse for a man and a king! Your very existence spits on our ancestors, with every breath you take they roll in the grave another time. A more pathetic creature does not exist, a failure of a father, a failure of a king, a failure of a husband, and a failure of a man!” Visenys began and Aegon looked stunned. 

“Your ‘perfect heir’ is barely a man at all and you are throwing away your other son! You cannot even claim your kingly duties forced your hand! Because you barely rule your kingdoms! I rule your kingdoms more than you do! All you do is ride around and party! I bet you wish you spent more time with Rhaenys in King’s Landing rather than on progresses now don’t you?” Visenya continued. 

Aegon’s stunned face turned to one of rage but Visenya continued before he could interject. 

“All that effort, all the pain and suffering and blood and tears, and you could not even avenge our sister. Her killers still live! As do the ones who maimed our brother. You avenged neither! You speak of humiliation but is there a greater one than that? Dorne beat you, took away your wife and you did nothing!” Visenya’s own face was growing red. She would hold nothing back anymore, her brother deserved nothing more than this dressing down.  

“And you continue to do nothing! You sit on your disgusting iron chair and play pretend king while all the others around you work! Even your son fights your wars for you now, and your other one does all your partying! You are exceptional only because of Balerion! Without that dragon you are nothing !” Visenya was running short of breath but she was not yet done. 

“What would Mother or Father say, Aegon? Looking at the pathetic excuse for a man you turned out to be. Wasting away on your pointy chair, surrounded by fools and Andals, desecrating our name and heritage! Perhaps they knew all along you would end up this way. Perhaps that is why Mother preferred Rhaenys and Father preferred me,” Visenya continued and the logical next step of her tirade must have gotten through to Aegon, as his angry face turned to one of rage. 

“Do not Visenya!” Aegon roared but Visenya continued in a quiet voice. 

“What would Rhaenys think of you now?” Visenya said in a calm voice, dripping with venom, and that was the moment it was all over. 

“GET OUT! NOW!” Aegon roared and the Kingsguard entered promptly. “LEAVE THIS CITY AND NEVER RETURN!” Aegon roared with a face as red as fire and Visenya merely looked at him with disgust. Her brother, the boy she grew up with, enjoyed the company of, perhaps even loved once, he was long gone, he died the moment Rhaenys did. 

Visenya quietly left the small room, still fuming from their discussion but retaining her composure. It helped that she was out of breath. She calmly walked towards the exit and her most loyal companion Vhagar.

…

Visenya Targaryen had never quite felt defeated before, she had suffered losses here and there but she never considered herself defeated, merely set back. Yet sitting in the chamber of the Painted Table, explaining to her son and gooddaughter exactly what happened. She felt true defeat for the first time. 

She had failed, truly and fully. Her son was now presented with a choice he should not have to make. Yet because of her failure, he must choose. His wife or his home. It had taken everything she had to just face them after arriving on Dragonstone.

“Such a gutless coward, I cannot believe I enabled him so long, I should have-” Visenya continued her tired, quiet tirade before she was cut off. 

“That is enough, Mother. We get the picture,” Maegor said after a long string of silence. He was currently hugging Shiera to his side and both looked nervous. 

Maegor took in a deep breath before continuing. “I will pack my bags, I will depart for Pentos tonight,” he said with a sense of assurance, and Visenya and Shiera both looked at him with wide eyes. 

Then, in an instant, Maegor turned to his still newly wedded wife and spoke to her. “Will you accompany me in exile, dear wife?” he asked with a nervous smile before Shiera returned one of her own. 

“Of course, for better or for worse right?” Shiera responded with a small smile and a piece of their vows and Visenya felt cold. Even in the warm castle. 

She had that once, a sense of belonging, companionship, love even. She had a brother and a sister, loving parents, an uncle, and a bastard brother. She was close with all of them, yet they were all gone now. Her parents died many decades ago, her uncle Daemon had died under her watch, Rhaenys was long dead, Orys had long since cut off contact, and now she and Aegon were done. Now that her son was leaving, Visenya felt truly alone. 

Visenya sat in silence as the castle bustled to life. Helping her son and gooddaughter pack. She could hardly bring herself to act, she had failed so spectacularly, how could she help them now when she was the reason they were in their current predicament? 

She was Visenya Targaryen. Rider of Vhagar. Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. Scion of Old Valyria. Yet she could do nothing for her child. 

Visenya followed the two up to the Dragonpit. The path to the home of the dragons was cold from the wind and Visenya warred in her mind for what to say and do. She could not go with them, not when she was the one who got them sent away. How could she face them in Pentos, how could she speak with them, knowing their predicament was all her fault? What could she even say to them?

As they made it to the top and Visenya was running out of time she just decided to go for it. 

“I am sorry Maegor, Shiera,” Visenya said with full honesty, and both her son and his wife were shocked stiff. 

“I should have been able to convince him, you shouldn’t have to leave,” Visenya said wholeheartedly and then she was brought into a hug. 

“It is alright, Mother. You did your best, Aegon Targaryen is not one to be convinced, I have tried many times. I am just grateful I can keep my wife, I will gladly accept banishment if I can keep her with me,” Maegor said with a small smile and Visenya returned the hug. She had not gotten one in a long time. 

Before long he had to end their hug. Terrax was led out of his stable by a dragonkeeper and Maegor mounted his dragon, strapping his wife with him. On their newly equipped double saddle. Visenya waved goodbye as Maegor led Terrax closer and closer towards the cliff, until he was airborne and headed for the Free City of Pentos. 

Visenya had never felt so alone.

Notes: