HOTD: The Healer Prince SI Chapter 34 (Patreon)

Chapter 34

ALICENT HIGHTOWER

Alicent Hightower found herself lying on a bed, her body consumed by waves of crashing pain. She screamed as she found herself trying to push the child inside her womb.

“AGHHHH!” the midwives moved around her, and a faint smell of alcohol lingered in the room. The side was boiling pots of water as the midwives aided her.

“Just a little bit more. Just a bit more,” the midwife spoke encouragingly, and she nodded. Motivated by her determination to give Aenys a child, she pushed through, hunkering for breath as she tried to push once again.

“AGHHHH!” she screamed as she tried to push again. Her whole body burned in agony as she screamed.

“Huhhh,” she huffed for breath, breathing heart before suddenly she heard the sound of the doors opening.

“Aenys,” she heard Healer Greg speak up and tried to look up. Her heart eased as she heard the name of her husband.

“Aenys,” she tried to gasp out as she heard the sound of rapid footsteps before he appeared right body, his face paler than she had ever seen, as he held his hand.

“I am here, I am right here,” he said, as he lovingly pushed back the hair matted onto her face.

“My lady! You need to push!” said the midwife, and Aenys nodded. She huffed and screamed in agony.

“ARGH!” she screamed and suddenly felt her head grow lighter. Pain erupted in her abdomen as she tried to push once more.

“AHHHHH!” and her vision began to blur as she heard a midwife speak up.

“I can see the head!” she heard the nurse gasp as relief filled her heart, and she used the last of her strength as Aenys sat down beside her, gently speaking to her. He gently kissed the side of her head as she gently whispered into her ears.

“Just a little more! Just a little more!” and she nodded, taking in a mouthful of air before she pushed down once more, screaming as hard as she could.

“ARGH!” she screamed, and then suddenly the pain vanished as she felt the pressure in her abdomen lessen, and then relief flooded her senses as she heard the small whimpering cry of a child.

“AANNN!” and tears brimmed out of her eyes as she heard the midwife speak up.

“It’s a boy,” and she looked towards Aenys, who still sat there on the ground beside her, caressing her face as the midwife walked towards her. In her hands was a small bundle of cloth wrapped around a whimpering babe.

The midwife gently showed the babe to Aenys who had a small smile on his face as he slowly reached for the child and took it in his hand. He then looked towards her and kissed her sweat-filled forehead as he smiled at the babe and gently lowered it into her arms as the midwives helped her sit up.

“Thank you,” she heard him utter as he gently placed the newborn abbe into her arms, and she felt tears well up in her eyes as she looked at the babe. At her child.

“Place the child against your skin. It will help it be warm,” said the midwife, and she nodded as she took the babe into her arms and felt it whimper as soon as her arms touched it. A sense of warmth permeated through her as she looked at the babe, and it made her forget the pain running rampant through her body.

“Have you thought of a name?” she asked Aenys, who was now sitting by her side.

“I have,” he spoke gently, and she looked towards her and she gave him a small nod.

“Tell me,” she asked.

“Aenar. Aenar Targaryen named after Aenar the Exile,” he replied, and she smiled as she understood his reasoning. She looked towards the babe nestled against her skin and nodded.

“Aenar, it’s a good name,” she said as he lowered her head to kiss the babe’s head gently.

0000

ALESSANDRO FEROSA

The Sealord of Braavos found himself frowning as he sat opposite to the representative from the Iron Back. Braavos was still shaken by the treachery of Alissano Neysaris and the subsequent destruction of such a prominent and wealthy family.

Though the people were rejoicing today, the populace was elated by the news of the birth of Aenys’s first child. Aenar Targaryen, born to Aenys and Alicent Hightower, was a small child born with the classical Targaryen features, and the whole city rejoiced at such joyous news.

However, the same could not be said of the upper echelons of the Braavosi society. For the removal of the Neysaris family from their place of privilege and power had left a power vacuum. A vacuum that needed to be filled quickly. And that was one of the reasons he found himself sitting opposite to Tycho Harons, one of the infamous Keyholders and patriarch of the Harons, one of the wealthiest families on Braavos.

“So, has he given an answer to the offer?” the man questioned, his white hair tucked back, his face wrinkled face emotionless. The man was nearly twice his age, yet had led his family for over three decades and was perhaps one of the most influential people in Baraavos.

“No, not yet. He has asked for some time to consider the offer,” Alessandro answered and saw the man’s eyes narrow.

“Does he not understand what we are offering him? A chance like this is not something one can refuse,” the man said, and though his words were true, Alessandro was not blind to the plot being hatched by the keyholders. And from the way Aenys had reacted to the offer, neither was he.

The conquering of the Stepstones by Daemon Targaryen had taken Braavos by surprise. And the man had been antagonizing the Braavosi elite by targeting their fleet, demanding exorbitant tolls. These tolls and the lack of trade with Westeros had affected the coffers of the ruling elite, and he was quite sure that the decision to indict Aenys into the Keyholder position was proposed to remedy these troubles.

“He does, but you must understand that Alissano’s betrayal weighs heavily on his mind. Aenys is a cautious person. He will not make such a decision rapidly,” Alessandro rose to Aenys’s defense, praying in his heart that Aenys would make the right decision.

Alessandro may be the Sealord, and his first loyalty would always be to Braavos, yet that didn’t mean that he was blind to the favors Aenys had done for him, saving his life and risking his own. Tycho Harons face twisted at his words as the man gave a small nod.

“Indeed, Alissano’s actions were brash,” though he didn’t miss as the man’s eyes narrowed onto him.

“Though, I must ask, was it truly wise giving up the dragon eggs like this?” the man questioned, and this wasn’t the first time they were having this discussion.

“As I explained earlier, there was no other choice. Aenys had found out about those eggs. Lying to him or denying him his request would have alienated him. So, I decided to give him the eggs, and in exchange, he shall remain quiet about their origin,” Alessandro answered after a sigh, and the man narrowed his eyes, and sipped the especially prepared chrysanthemum tea, and uttered.

“Hmm, so you say. But you must understand Alessandro, you are the Sealord of Braavos, and you must always put aside your personal loyalties and make the best decision for the city. The troubles in Stepstones are bleeding our coffers,” the man said and looked into his eyes as he uttered slowly.

“So, talk to Aenys and convince him to take the offer. Otherwise, we might be forced to discover other options,” and Alessandro narrowed his own gaze as he asked sharply.

“And what options may those be?” Alessandro asked sharply. The man didn’t answer at first, though he did speak up after some time.

“According to the rumors, King Viserys’s illness has taken his arm. It is obvious that the King is not long for this world. Though the King has named his sole daughter as the heir, his brother Daemon Targaryen seems to be making his own ploy to seat himself on the Iron throne.” Alessandro’ eyes widened as he heard those words, especially by the implication hidden in those words.

“You cannot be considering making a deal with the Rogue Prince!” he nearly shouted, appalled by the implicate ploy. Had they lost their senses, making a deal with Daemon Targaryen, Aenys would not take that well.

“We are not blind to the man’s faults! But people on the man’s behalf approached us, asking for a loan, and there are some who believe that he has much to offer to Braavos despite the bad blood between the two parties,” and Alessandro shook his head.

“Viserys Targaryen will never Name Daemon as his heir. For the man to rise up to the Iron throne, he would have to commit the most heinous of crimes. King Slaying!” Alessandro tried to talk sense into the man, making them see the reality, and the man didn’t seem affected by his words.

“Perhaps, but that is not the only way,” Alessandro frowned as he tried to imagine any other way Daemon Targaryen could rise to the Iron Throne, and suddenly it dawned on him.

“A grand Council!” and the aged man nodded.

0000

RHAENYS TARGARYEN

“Have you lost your mind, Corlys?” she asked in an exasperated tone. Appalled by the words that had just come out of his mouth.

Corlys had returned from the campaign in the Stepstones for the funeral of Aemma. And hadn’t that been a loss? The woman had been a grounding presence in all the chaos and machinations of the capital, keeping the realm together tempering her husband’s decisions.

Yet she was gone now, lost to the birthing bed, trying to satiate her husband’s desires for a son. And with her death, the vultures had begun showing their true self.

“I have not,” Corlys answered as he turned to face her, wearing a crisp doublet made out of the Velaryon coloring, his badge of the Master of Ships pinned on his chest.

“The realm needs a queen. And which House is more worthy of that title than us? We are the richest House in the realm, with the blood of Old Valyria running through our very veins. There is no match more suitable than Laena for Viserys,” Corlys answered, and she shook her head, exasperated by those words, as Corlys walked behind her, placing her hand gently on her shoulders.

“Don’t you wish for our blood to one day sit on the Iron Throne, for your blood to take the rightful place the lords of the realm once denied them,” he spoke softly, and she scoffed.

“Do not confuse your desires for mine, Corlys,” she spoke angrily as she pushed away his hand and stood up from her seat.

“And do you really think Viserys would displace Rhaenyra as heir,” she questioned as she turned to face her husband, who answered cryptically.

“If Laena gives birth to a son, then I believe Viserys could be made to see reason,” he answered, and she shook her head.

“You give my cousin too little credit. He loved Aemma; it was perhaps one of his only redeeming qualities and if you think that he would replace Rhaenyra as an heir then you are mistaken,” she said as she waved her hand.

“And have you thought about Daemon and Aenys? Daemon has a son and desires the crown for himself, and now Viserys has apologized to Aenys and has pleaded for him to come back. Why do you think that is?” she questioned, and she knew that Corlys wasn’t blind to the plots brimming in the capital.

“It matters little. If Laena gives birth to a son…” but she cut him off.

“We are on the precipice of a civil war, Corlys. A civil war. And you want to push our daughter right into the middle of it!” she shouted, and Corlys’s eyes narrowed.

“I want to secure the future of our House. I want to take back what was rightfully yours. Ours,” he replied heatedly, and she shook her head.

“I nearly lost Laena once, Corlys. I cannot push her into these plots knowing the danger again,” she replied weakly, as the pain she felt as she saw her daughter fighting for her life after the debacle with Vhagar resurfaced.

“I know,” Corlys replied as he walked up to her and held her gently by the arms.

“But you must understand, the realm will have a queen. And there is a likely chance that the Queen will birth Viserys a son, even if the Queen isn’t Laena, the chances that there will be a succession crisis remain high,” he told her, and he was right.

“But then our family wouldn’t be in the midst of it,” she replied, though she was aware of the naivety of her words, and he shook his head.

“You and I both know that is false. We are the wealthiest House in the realm, and have the largest fleet, along with two Dragon riders. No matter what, we will be forced to choose a side,” he said, and his words were true.

“You don’t know that,” she argued.

“I do, for it has already happened,” he answered, and her head snapped towards him.

“Who?” she questioned.

“Daemon,” he answered, and before she could speak up at the nerve of the man, Corlys answered quickly.

“And I denied him. But this proves my point. We cannot hide from this, so why don’t we choose our own side? Laena is the perfect choice for Viserys, and I believe such a match could bring stability to the realm,” Corlys spoke lightly, and she pulled away from him slowly walked towards her seat, and sat down.

She rubbed her head, thinking about what she had just heard.

“And what about Princess Rhaenyra? What about a match between her and Laenor,” she questioned despite knowing the answer already. Laenor’s preferences were an open secret now, and despite him being on cordial terms with the Princess, she was aware of the regular meetings between the Princess and a certain Third son.

Corlys winced at those words.

“I believe that is not an option. From what I have heard, the Princess has been meeting up more and more frequently with Gwayne Hightower. I believe she has made her choice,” he answered.

“That is an interesting choice,” she remarked, and Corlys nodded.

“Indeed, it is, but it isn’t as simple as it seems at first. Gwayne Hightower is closer to his sister, Alicent Hightower than to the rest of his family. Given the Princess’s deep friendship with Alicent, this gives her the support of Aenys add to that the support she will have from the Vale. Rhaenyra's decision has some merits,” Corlys answered, and she nodded.

“Indeed, though I believe this would give the Hightowers too much power,” she replied, and Corlys nodded.

“Perhaps, and that is one more reason why we should implore Viserys to make Laena his Queen, to counter the rising influence of the Hightowers,” he answered, and she sighed as she leaned back and gave Corlys a nod.

“Alright, I shall go with you to talk to him about this.”

0000

You all wanted a boy. So, a boy it is. Aenar the Exile is a canon character. He is the father of Daenys the Dreamer.

Velaryons and Braavos are making their moves. I have always considered The Iron Bank as the most callous institute in all of the GOT world. It's like an institute built upon greed and profit, with the people running it only truly concerned with filling up their coffers. And for that, they will do anything, even make a deal with someone like Daemon.

Though what do you think, between Daemon and Viserys, have the Velaryons made the right choice for Laena?