House of The Dragon-A God Amongst Men

Chapter 78: The Ill Prince



(Drakken's POV)

"Maegelle....!" Aemon said as he entered the room, holding a child that was wrapped in blankets, "You are here..." 

We were in my throne room, I sat in a stone throne as Maegelle stood next to me. 

"Brother..." she said, "Why have you come here?" 

Aemon walked up closer to where I sat, "Drakken." He said as he looked at me, "I have come to ask for your help." 

I raised an eyebrow as I leaned on my side, "My help?" I said, "That is new. What is it this time that you have come to me?" 

He crouched down and laid the child on the ground, taking the blankets off and revealing a young boy with white hair. He was pale, paler than usual, and his cheeks were red. There was nothing but sweat on his face and he was panting heavily. 

Maegelle gasped slightly, "A-Aenys...!" She said, "Drakken, we should get him some water!" 

I waved her off, "Call the servants, I suppose." 

Maegelle walked away in a hurry, "Yes..." 

I looked at Aemon who had a look of desperation in his face, "What is it?" I asked, "Is this your son?" 

He nodded as he placed his hand on the back of the boy's head, "It is Aenys...my firstborn..." He said with a shaky voice, "He's been ill for years but only recently has he gotten much worse...." 

I blinked, "Okay...." I said, "What do you want me to do?" 

He frowned, "W-What?" 

I shrugged, "So he's sick, the fuck do you want me to do about it?" I said, "You should get him some treatment." 

He looked down and then back up at me, "We have tried...our healers...our maesters...." He said, "They cannot cure him...they could only keep him on the thread of life, in constant pain....and agony....I.....He is my son....!!" 

"I am aware that he is your son." I said as I leaned back, "In fact, I am technically responsible for his existence. If it were not for my interference, your wife would probably not be capable of giving you a son...or more than one child." 

He frowned, "With your interference, you could save him....keep him alive..." He said, "I beg of you.." 

I tilted my head, "He is your responsibility, Aemon. He is not my problem." I told him, "Why should I worry about a boy who is not mine?" 

He looked back down, "I...." He said, "Please, I know of the power you wield. You can save him, I know you can." 

"Perhaps." I said

"No, you can..." He said as he looked at me, "You have prevented my brother and I from dying and even repaired our bodies when it was damaged to the point of no returned. You've cut off my head, dammit!" 

As he said this, Maegelle walked in with a jug of what I assumed was water. She held a cup in her free hand as she rushed over. 

"Brother..." She said as she reached Aemon and crouched down, "Lift his head up..." 

Aemon lifted the boy's head up as Maegelle poured water on the cup. She then opened the kid's mouth and slowly poured some water into it. I saw as the young boy began to weakly gulp the water down as he shifted uneasily, wincing in pain. 

"What is wrong with him?" Maegelle asked Aemon

"I...I do not know." He said, "He gets fevers, a serious cough at times, there is even blood in his feces.....I don't know what is wrong. We have tried everything, Maegelle. The maesters do not know what to do?" 

I saw as Maegelle looked at me, "Did....." She started but trailed off as she placed the back of her hand on the boy's forehead, "I..." 

"What?" I frowned, "I had nothing to do with this. Do not assume the worst of me, Maegelle." 

"Forgive me for even thinking about it." She said with a serious look in her face, "You started a war and slaughtered thousands because I insulted you." 

"And I ended said war when you apologized and gave yourself back to me." I said as I shrugged, "I didn't do anything else." 

"Maegelle..." Aemon said, "He is my son...I would do anything for him." 

I leaned back and chuckled, "Is that so?" 

"He is my Heir!" Aemon exclaimed, "When my Father passes and I ascend the throne, he is to be my heir!! He will succeed me!" 

i looked at him, "Some things are not meant to be." I said, "You wasted your energy by coming here. There is nothing that will help the boy." 

He stood up as Maegelle held the kid, "Drakken!" He shouted, "I beg of you, save his life! I will do anything! Do you not want us to live? The source of said high that you've boasted about? Will you allow your livestock to just die off?" 

I scowled, "It is not fun if you go along with that mentality." I told him, "Go home, Aemon. I will not help you." 

"Name your price, Drakken." He said with a serious face, "I will do anything. I don't care! Save my son! You want my blood? Take it all! You want to drain me until I cannot function? Go ahead! I will even join your wretched religion, anything!" 

I sighed and stood up, "It doesn't benefit me..." I said, "To save the boy's life, it has no use of me. I made sure you could have more children but whether or not they survive to their adulthood is not really up to me. It is up to you lot...I am disappointed in you, Aemon. I really did not expect for you to come all this way and beg me of all people to save someone dear to you." 

"Everything you've put us through..." He said, "You will continue.....???" 

I nodded, "If this gives you torment, I suppose I can use that as an excuse." I said with a slight smirk, "Go back home." 

"D-Drakken....you will really allow a child to die?" Maegelle asked, "Why would you do that? Do you not have a heart??" 

"I do." I said with a chuckle, "I just don't give a shit." 

Aemon crouched back down and began to shake his head, "I cannot accept it..." He said, "Please, Drakken.....I will do anything." 

Maegelle stood up, "Please help him, Drakken...he is my nephew..." She said with a sad frown, "Please..." 

I walked towards her and placed my hand on her shoulders, "The boy is not mine." I said seriously, "He is not my concern." 

I then walked past her and headed for the door. 

"D-Drakken...." I heard Aemon's voice trail off into a tone of despair

"I'll do it." I heard Maegelle say

I stopped and turned around, "Hm?" 

She looked at me, her hands slightly trembling, "I'll share your bed." She said with a frown, "Help the boy." 

I chuckled and shook my head, "You don't want that." I said, "Why would I do that if you don't truly want it?" 

"I'll still do it!" She exclaimed, "Just help him!" 

I walked over to her, stopping right in front of her as I towered over her small stature, staring right at her beautiful purple eyes. 

"No." I said simply

She straightened up and hardened her face, "Lord Drakken...." She said a bit more composed, "I will bear you a child should you save this child....I give you my word...I have promised myself to you....I will reward you with my body and with the satisfaction of having an offspring and an heir to House Drakkengard..." 

I patted her cheek, but she did not react much to it, "Oh...sweet girl...." I said softly, "Would you be willing to do something like that? For him? For them?" 

She nodded, "They are my blood..." she said firmly, "I will not regret it." 

I pulled my hand away, "No." 

She looked surprised, "B-But....." 

"Like I said....." I said as I turned around, "I won't bed you if you truly don't want to. Besides, I already have Mya...she is more than sufficient. You can stay a Maiden until the end of days if that is what you truly desire. Nobody will touch you so long as you are mine." 

"A daughter...." Aemon said suddenly, "S-Save my son and I will offer you a daughter." 

I stopped and looked at him with a scowl, "What?" 

He looked at me, desperation in his eyes, "Please...Drakken...." He said, "Anything....." 

I walked over to him and kicked him in the face, sending him flying. This caused Maegelle to gasp loudly in shock. 

"D-Drakken!" She exclaimed as she immediately crouched down to hold the boy who fell to the floor, "What are you doing?" 

Aemon had hit the throne, coughing up blood as he clutched his ribs, "Aghh...!" 

"You stupid fuck." I said with an angry tone, "You dare stoop as low as your father? You are a fucking disappointment, Aemon Targaryen. So much for the dignified Heir who does not stand down from anything, not even I!" 

He looked at me, "I...." He said, "He is my son...." 

"You are a fucking failure, Aemon." I said as I shook my head, "I had high hopes for you....such plans for you! I wanted you to be the one to rise above everything else and challenge me! All of this....bullshit...I wanted to reach the end just to see the look on your dumb and fucking annoying face when you see the fruits of my labor. I wanted you to be the one that witnesses the Rise of Grayle and Talis....I wanted you to see how hopeless your House is before the true might of my power...but you've....you've disappointed me....." 

He looked at me, tears in her eyes, "Please...." 

I clenched my fists and shook my head, "Bahh..." I said as I turned around, "You're so fucking stupid....." 

I extended my hand towards the boy and tendrils of black ether shot out of my palm and injected into him. The boy opened his eyes in response and let out a loud gasp. I saw his body twitch violently as I filled his body with my power. 

He then let out another loud gasp, one of relief as his body eased down, his color returning to him and the sweat disappearing.

"Ah...." The boy said in a soft tone

Maegelle looked at me as the tendrils returned back to me, "D-Drakken..." 

"Two years." I said seriously while looking at Aemon, "Your boy will be fine for two years. I didn't cure whatever illness he had, I simply bottled it up and locked it away. Once the two years are up, the illness will be released from his body." 

He looked at me, "T-Two years...?" 

"You have two years to figure out what will be my payment, Aemon. I have no interest in going to King's Landing at this time." I said, "I am quite busy. There is so much to be done, so many followers to get....so many people to conquer.....if you don't have a worthy payment ready in Two years....your boy will die. I will look the other way when his illness returns and takes his life." 

"I...." He said, "You can have one of my-" 

"No daughters." I said seriously, "That is the payment your Father can give me. Nobody else. You are right, I can't have my livestock dying on me. But I can afford to lose one.....this one is the one. Go back home..your boy will be fine. Enjoy the time you have left.....while thinking of the payment....."

He nodded as he stood up slowly, "T-Thank you..." 

"Shut up." I said, "Get out of here before I change my mind." 

Maegelle looked at me with a slight smile, something that I was not used to, "Thank you, Lord Drakken." 

I looked at her, "You and I will have a talk later." I said as I walked away, 

"Alone...." 


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