Scions of the Cruel King

Visenya

News of Vaegyl's victory filtered into King's Landing slowly than all at once. The brief smatterings of information they had from the actual battlefield, came from singers and story tellers hoping to earn some extra coin, they spun elaborate tales of the battles fought between Vaegyl and Aegon, of comets and prophecies, complete nonsense that Visenya, with her rational mind refused to listen to, until she received a definite report from either Jaehaerys or Vaegyl himself. The final clear cut word on the result of the battle and war itself came in the form of a letter- a proclamation more like- writ in her husband's own hand, declaring the death of their half brother Aegon, and the capturing of Lords Lannister, Crakehall, Florent and Osgrey. Another more personal letter came for Visenya and Rhaenys, this too was writ in Vaegyl's hand, and it informed them of a ship that would be docking in at King's Landing for a brief period of time, and that one of them should accompany the ship to Dragonstone to see the ship's cargo safely there.

Visenya was still not allowed to do anything to strenuous after giving birth to her daughter Rhaena and so it was Rhaenys who flying on Syrax's back accompanied the ship to Dragonstone. When she came back, she reported wide eyed that the cargo had been none other than Balerion the Black Dread, stowed away deep within the massive ship's storage area, the great dragon had been wounded during the fighting, and Vaegyl had decreed that the Black Dread was due to some well earned retirement on Dragonstone. "Balerion growled and moaned the whole way there sister." Rhaenys had said still wide eyed. "It was as if he was protesting being removed from Vaegyl's presence, he snapped at half the men as they untied his chains."

Visenya had been surprised their brother had even decided to relinquish Balerion to retirement amongst the mountains of Dragonstone, if there was one thing their brother loved almost as much as them and their children, it was his two dragons, Balerion especially, those two shared some sort of bond that even she could not understand. Vaegyl had arrived back in King's Landing two moons after his last letter, not mounted on horseback, but on dragonback, riding his red she dragon Malystryx, the she dragon had apparently broken free of the Dragonpit the minute Balerion had arrived in King's Landing, as if Vaegyl had called her, or she had sensed her master's need. Nonetheless, Visenya felt beyond happy to see her husband back, alive and whole. She greeted him as dignified as she could at the entrance to the Red Keep. "Your Grace," she had said straight faced. "It is beyond good to see you alive and well, and victorious." She had turned to Jaehaerys then. "You as well cousin, and my deepest condolences for your loss." The death of Alysanne would hit them hard, would continue to do so for some time.

Vaegyl had looked at her then as if he didn't care much for platitudes and simply wanted to devour her. "Come here," he had growled, pulling her flush against him, armour and all. He titled her face up then and in front of all his army had kissed her deeply and for a long time, so much so that his men began to cheer and make lewd comments. Malystryx roared triumphantly. When Vaegyl eventually broke away from her lips, she was weak kneed. "I have missed you as well Visenya. Where is Rhaenys?"

Visenya smiled, fully aware that she was blushing red. "With your cargo in Dragonstone brother, she will be back home soon though."

"Good." Vaegyl had said. He had then turned to his men, and said loudly "We shall feast tonight, we have won a hard fought victory." The men cheered at that, and then Vaegyl turned to her and said softly. "I wish to see my children my love."

"Come this way then." Visenya whispered to him, and led him deep into their apartments in Maegor's holdfast, where she stood in the doorway and watched as Vaegyl lifted their children into the air. Maegon- who began looking more and more like his father every day that passed- Aegor, Aelix and Rhaegar all were built slimly and without their father's bulk though for their eyes, there was a hardness in them that marked them for Vaegyl's sons. Orys a fierce toddler even at two and Rhaena who was no bigger than her father's hand. Vaegyl sighed. "It has been so long since I saw my children, I feel as if time is flying by and there is nothing I can do to stop it."

They were alone apart from Ser Alyn Connington and Ser Addison Hill of the Kingsguard, both of whom had the sense to make themselves scarce at her husband's words. Such words were rare from her husband. "Well the war is done now my love, Aegon and Daemon are dead, we can raise our family in peace now, all three of us." She said soothingly.

Vaegyl snorted. "Aye, if only it were that simple my love," he gave Rhaena to her and then stared out of the window, whilst the rest of the children ran around the room causing all kinds of havoc. "I questioned Gerion Lannister before we came for the capital. It seems our brother had the sense to send his queen and heirs as well as his brother's widow and her son away on a ship bound for one of the free cities. Laecareys and his whore of a mother are with them. This war might be done, but there will be more. So long as Jeyne Westerling lives, the Tarlings will continue to cause us havoc."

"Then send men after them, or if not that then allow myself or Rhaenys to go after them. We can end this threat once and for all, with dragonfire." Visenya said heatedly.

Her husband sighed. "No, no I cannot allow that. We must needs build a peace with the Faith, the faith militant supported Aegon, we must get the High Septon on our side, we must deal with this Septon Loren, and the Faith must move to King's Landing. Killing Aegon's widow and his children will not accomplish that, they are not on our shores anymore, and so long as we hold the faith, they cannot rebel, nor hope to gain support."

"Then what will you do brother?" She asked.

"I must needs make an example of those lords who were foolish enough to back Aegon. Gerion Lannister and Mern Florent shall lose parts of their lands and gold. Hostages will need to be taken, and some lords will need to be made an example of." Vaegyl replied.

"And what of the small council brother? Tybolt Lannister and Gerold Westerling were members of your council till the war, there are vacancies in the council that must needs be filled with allies." She said.

"Well I was hoping you could become Master of Laws sister. Gordon Massey did his grandfather justice as Master of Laws but he perished with Alysanne at Riverrun. I need people I can trust that is true, and I trust no one more than I do you and Rhaenys." Vaegyl said, with a pleading look in his eyes.

"I, I am honoured brother, but will the rest of your council support your decision? Will the rest of the realm? After all I am but a woman." Visenya asked curiously.

Vaegyl snorted. "Aye you maybe a woman, but you are my woman, and you are blood of the dragon Visenya. They will accept it or they shall find that Westeros no longer welcomes them."

Visenya smiled then. "Very well I shall accept. Enough talk of politics now my love. You look tired." With that she placed Rhaena back in her cradle, and led her husband back to their chambers, where they made love and then slept till the sun came up the next day.

It took nine more moons before all the ashes of the war could be cleared. During that time Rhaenys came back from Dragonstone, and Vaegyl put another babe in her belly, twins Grand Maester Justin declared. Jaehaerys continued to mourn for Alysanne, but his children, Aemon and Baelon continued grow and develop as warriors and young men, a dragon was hatched for Baelon, a dragon he named Serrax, a beast with grey wings and a white body. In the 63rd year after their grandfather's landing two girls were born to Rhaenys, girls named Daenaerys and Daenys, and King's Landing and the kingdoms celebrated these births, though with their births Vaegyl declared that he had enough children now to look after as well as his kingdom. And all laughed and secretly Visenya was glad, it would not to have too many children running about, the war with Aegon proved that, and even though Jaehaerys and Alysanne had fought valiantly for them during the war, there was always a nagging feeling in the back of her head that some idiot might try and seat either Aemon or Baelon on the throne once Jaehaerys day came, for the sons were shadows of the father, ambitious and skilled at arms.

Jaehaerys himself showed how valuable he truly could be though to Vaegyl and to Visenya, helping sort out which lords needed to be punished and made an example of and which lords merely needed to be pardoned. Lords Gerion Lannister and Robert Westerling both paid for their father's treasons. Visenya can still remember the atmosphere in the throne room when both men were brought before Vaegyl who was sat on the Iron Throne looking like some sort of god, the warrior made flesh some whispered. "You have been brought here to answer for the crimes of treason and treachery against your king." Jaehaerys had said loudly, for all to hear. "Do you have anything to say in you defence, or for why you should not be punished as significantly as the king has deemed fit?"

Gerion Lannister remained silent, but Robert Westerling yelled out with all the folly of youth. "Aye, this king is not the true king. He is an abomination born of incest and sin. We fought to put the rightful king of the Seven Kingdoms on the throne, and now with his grace King Aegon dead, his son Daemon is the rightful king not this baseborn scum who I see before me."

Visenya had laughed. "Oh how foolish some of these westermen are. You think Aegon was the rightful king? No, my brother is the rightful king, and his son Maegon will be the rightful king after him. You tried to place the usurper Aegon on the throne for your own gains, and because you Westerlings fail to realise that your days are done."

"For the crimes of assisting the usurper Aegon Targaryen, son of Jeyne Westerling, Gerion Lannister lord of Casterly Rock shall lose half of his wealth and two quarters of the land surrounding Casterly Rock, and shall give his firstborn son Tommem Lannister as a hostage to the Iron Throne for his good behaviour. Robert Westerling shall be stripped of his titles and two of the three castles that House Westerling have. From this day forth House Westerling will be mere landed knights and their seat shall simply be the Crag." Jaehaerys had said clearly.

Those two men had been led away, and next to face the king's justice was Lord Mern Florent and Lord Gerold Osgrey, both proud men who had fought for the wrong side. Osgrey could be a useful ally in the future Visenya had argued in the council meetings, but Vaegyl would not budge, the man had sided with a traitor, and needed to be taught a harsh lesson. And so it was that Jaehaerys read out the terms that Vaegyl had written himself. " You have both fought for the wrong side. For this crime you shall both be stripped of land, House Osgrey shall lose Leafy Lake to go with the castle Coldmoat which was lost during the reign of Maegor the Cruel. You shall give up your eldest born child to serve as a ward of the throne till such time they come of age. Lord Florent, you are an old man, an honourable man, but your son caused many casualties during the war fighting for a king he knew to be wrong. For this we request the life of Ser Jasper Florent in return for a pardon for your house."

There was much murmuring at this pronouncement. Lord Mern, old and weak of heart, stood up shakily and in a weak voice said. "I admit that what was done during the war was wrong. That my house sided with the wrong king. But what is done is done. My son killed many men you say? That is the way of war. You cannot ask a man to raise his arms in defence of his house, and not expect him to kill men. I ask of you Your Grace, why do you ask for my eldest born son, when you have taken all my other sons?"

Visenya went to speak, when Vaegyl grasped her hand, and shook his head slightly. He swallowed once and then spoke in what she had come to identify as his kingly voice. "What you say is true Lord Florent. During war one must expect death and for men to kill other men. But your son had the choice, fight for the usurper or put away his sword and bend the knee. He kept fighting, he and his men raped and pillaged through the lands of the Reach and the Riverlands. My spies tell me that he did things that not even the most barbaric of men in Essos would dream of doing. I would not be a good king, if I did not seek justice for my lands and my people. Hence I ask you once more, I shall forgive and forget what House Florent did during this war, if you give me the man responsible for half my kingdom bleeding."

There was silence in the throne room as all anticipated what would happen next, would Lord Florent accept the reason given to him. Visenya felt Vaegyl's grip on her hand tightening almost painfully so. Eventually Lord Florent spoke. " I am afraid that is something I cannot do Your Grace. I lost three of my sons during this war, Jasper has always been my favourite, my firstborn and my heir and now my sole surviving son. It was I who decided to side with Aegon the pretender. If anything, you should take my head and be done with it. I promise Jasper shall not seek vengeance if you do. I am an old man, a done man. Let Jasper learn from his mistakes Your Grace, and I promise you, he will be leal and loyal to you till his dying breath."

"What will you do Vaegyl?" Visenya whispered to her husband.

Vaegyl did not reply to her, instead he stood up and loudly said. "Very well then. Lord Mern Florent, I pronounce your life forfeit. Ser Alyn give me Blackfyre." And like that Visenya watched as in one swift motion Vaegyl removed Mern Florent's head from his shoulders. "Mount his head on a spike as a lesson." Vaegyl said to Edrick Storm, Commander of the City Watch.

One problem was sorted, hostages were given to the safekeeping of the throne, and Visenya watched as her children delighted in having new companions to play with. Jasper Florent came and bent the knee to Vaegyl, but only after Vaegyl took him to the Dragonpit and made the man stare eye to eye with Malystryx and Vhagar. Only did the man promise never to seek justice for his father, and promised never to side with a rebel ever again. Not quite trusting the man to keep to his promise, Visenya called in favours within the Reach and made sure the man was watched.

One more problem still needed to be fixed, the issue of the Faith and the Faith Militant. The High Septon was an old man, who somehow managed to find it within himself to travel from Oldtown to King's Landing where the small council sat down as witnesses as Vaegyl and the man hashed out a treaty, one that would be more binding than the previous one. The man seemed willing to listen, making a change from previously people of the faith she had met, including her and Rhaenys' septa when they had been children, that woman had fled when their father had died though, gone somewhere never to be seen again.

"Will you agree to completely disband the Faith Militant, and swear by the seven that the organisation shall never, ever exist once more?" Visenya asked.

"Yes Your Grace. What happened during the war, under Septon Loren was most despicable and broke the terms of the earlier treaty. The Most Devout or not without honour, we were led astray by Septon Loren's sweet words and false tongue. I swear by the seven that the Faith Militant shall be disbanded immediately and that they shall never again stand as an army. On one condition."The High Septon replied.

"Oh and what is this condition?" Vaegyl asked.

"That House Targaryen promises to always defend the faith whenever it seems to be under threat." The High Septon replied.

The growling of the dragons in the Dragonpit could be heard from the council chamber, Visenya looked at her husband and saw that his eyes had turned black, not violet. Shivering at the sight she said. "I believe we can agree to that, can we not my love?" She nudged Vaegyl under the table.

He blinked and his eyes were violet again, "Yes, yes we can. But I want Septon Loren excommunicated from the faith as well, and brought to Dragonstone."

"Dragonstone Your Grace?" The High Septon asked, his voice quavering.

Her husband's eyes were black as night as he spoke. "Yes, I have a friend who wishes to meet him."