Chapter Text
Prologue
Home, at last. But, the hardest was yet to come. The Red Keep had just come into view as Rhaegar rode atop his horse amongst his men. Enclosed by the rolling wooded hills, the Prince led a grand party. Surrounding him, he could see the banners of Stark, Lannister, Martell, Tyrell, Arryn, Tully, Targaryen, and Baratheon. This Baratheon banner was not of Rhaegar’s rival, Robert Baratheon, but instead of his brother, Stannis Baratheon. Robert was locked up, currently being held by the loyal House Darry at Castle Darry.
It had been quite a shock for the Pretender King when all his allies had turned on him. They all knew of the horrors the war was causing Westeros, but each still needed their own convincing. Eddard Stark was turned against Robert once Rhaegar told him the truth about Lyanna. And once he turned, the Houses Tully and Arryn followed.
Stannis had not needed much convincing to turn against his brother; their relationship had always been strained and Rhaegar’s proposal was good enough to convince him.
As these 8 great houses joined together and rode down the Kingsroad, the time to enact Rhaegar’s plan was drawing near. The woods around the city had concealed their approach thus far, but Rhaegar knew that the closer they reached to King’s Landing, the sooner Varys’ little birds would be singing tales of their arrival. Rhaegar had ensured that his father, King Aerys, and the Master of Whispers, Varys, were both under the assumption that all of their enemies, not only Robert, were in chains.
Rhaegar ordered the banners of the other houses to be stored in the wagons, and for the other great lords to be brought to their positions. They were to be brought into the city shackled by chains, and they would have to hope none of the King’s guards or advisors considered why the men marching them were carrying two weapons.
As the party proceeded through the Dragon Gate, the smallfolk lined the streets, shouting cheers and crying out with joy. They screamed Rhaegar’s name and cheered for the men who had seen the war to an end and brought victory to the Targaryens. For the lords in chains, rotten fruits were the welcoming gift. Little did they know, the most important part of the war was yet to come. Nerves roamed free throughout Rhaegar, more than before any battle or tourney. This was different; he was coming to imprison his father. His sword rested upon his hip, and for this encounter he had a bow slung across his back, with a full quiver.
The winding streets leading them to the Red Keep seemed longer than normal, perhaps because of the daunting task ahead. It had been a hard decision for Rhaegar, but his duty to the realm surpassed his loyalty to his father. The long, cobbled road from the Dragon Gate to the Red Keep felt longer to Rhaegar than it had on any of his previous journeys down path that resembled an arena. The buildings of King’s Landing enclosed them, and the smallfolk played the part of spectators. Seconds felt like minutes and minutes felt like hours as Rhaegar rode to his father’s doom.
A great creak echoed through the halls as the doors to Aerys’ Throne Room was opened. The King sat high upon the Iron Throne, with his Lord Hand, Rossart, stood next to him wearing a devilish smile. Aerys was dressed in a deep, royal red from head to toe, and his Hand was similarly clad, but a more scarlet red was fitted to the alchemist. Both stared down the Great Hall, watching Rhaegar lead his party, split by chains, to the feet of the King.
The heads of the greatest houses, ranging from Stark to Tyrell, some in chains, some free, all were gathered in the Throne Room. It was surely the greatest gathering of lords since before Aegon had conquered Westeros, with half of them were in chains, and with Aerys believing he was set to decide their fates. But despite this joyous news, a grimace rippled through King Aerys’ wrinkling face, Rossart held a smug expression, yet the most telling sign to Rhaegar was the guards, positioned by every door, resting their hands upon the pommels of their swords.
Rhaegar adjusted his right hand to his sword’s own pommel, a signal for the guards walking the imprisoned lords forward. Hopefully, Eddard Stark, Jon Arryn, Stannis Baratheon, and Hoster Tully were now all freed from their chains, ready to be handed a sword and fight. As Rossart leaned over to whisper in Aerys’ ear, Rhaegar decided that their hope of a peaceful transition would not be long lived. Rhaegar grabbed his bow and trained it on one of the guards at the exit, hoping the other archers would do the same. Ser Jamie Lannister stood by the King’s side. This standoff needed only another stick to light the flame.
“BURN THEM ALL!” Rhaegar was not sure if it was his father or Rossart who yelled it, or perhaps both, but their words soon turned into cries and battle shouts as arrows were loosed at the guards who could serve as the alchemist’s messenger. Rossart now held a dagger, rushing towards Rhaegar with the same ferocity of a rabid dog. Rhaegar’s bow was still loosing arrows at the far guards, but it was a quick adjustment before an arrow sprouted from Rossart’s chest. As his body fell, opening Rhaegar’s sight of the Throne, he saw his father slumped against the side of the Throne, one of the Throne’s blades itself now impaled in him. Yet the blade that killed him was the sword, dripping blood, of Jamie Lannister. King Aerys Targayen, Second of his Name, now lay dead on his throne, rivulets of blood seeping from his clothing, his death coming at the hands of his own Kingsguard.
His era was one of insanity and madness, and the realm could only hope his successor would bring the opposite. Rhaegar stood with his eyes trained on his deceased father, frozen by shock, before someone addressed him by his new title, causing him to jolt back to reality. Rhaegar turned his head to see all the men in the room looking at him expectantly. It was the hope of all that their new king would be able to return Westeros to greatness and save it from the legacy of the Mad King.
Appendix-
(297 A.C.)
Royal Family
King RHAEGAR TARGARYEN, 38
- his wife, Queen ELIA MARTELL, 40
- his wife, Queen LYANNA STARK, 31
- his concubine, Lady MYLENDA CELTIGAR, 27
- his daughter with Elia, Princess RHAENYS TARGARYEN, 17
- his son with Elia, Crown Prince AEGON TARGARYEN, 15
- his son with Lyanna, Prince JON TARGARYEN, 14
- his daughter with Lyanna, Princess VISENYA TARGARYEN, 13
- his daughter with Mylenda, VAERA CELTIGAR, 12
- his son with Mylenda, BAELOR CELTIGAR, 12
- his daughter with Mylenda, RHAENYRA TARGARYEN, 11
- his mother, RHAELLA TARGARYEN, 52
- his brother, VISERYS TARGARYEN, 21
- his sister, Princess DAENERYS TARGARYEN, 13
Kingsguard
SER GEROLD HIGHTOWER, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard
- PRINCE LEWYN MARTELL
- Ser BARRISTAN SELMY
- Ser OSWELL WHENT
- Ser ARTHUR DAYNE, the Sword of the Morning
- Ser JONOTHOR DARRY
- Ser JAIME LANNISTER
King’s Landing Council/Court
- ARDRIAN CELTIGAR, Hand of the King
- MACE TYRELL, Master of Coin
- VARYS, Master of Whispers
- MONFORD VELARYON, Master of Ships
- STANNIS BARTHEON, Master of Laws
- Grand Maester PYCELLE
- RENNIFER LONGWATERS, Chief Gaoler
Dragonstone
- Master MORTON of Derlyn, 33
- Ser BENETHON SCALES of Windwyrm, 31
Lords of the Dragonstone Sea
Lord MONFORD VELARYON, Master of Ships, Lord of Driftmark, 29
- his wife, Lady LIANNA VELARYON, 29
- his bastard brother, AURANE WATERS, 19
- his son, MONTERYS VELARYON, 12
- his daughter, DAENA VELARYON, 10
- his son, JACAERYS VELARYON, 9
Lord ARDRIAN CELTIGAR, Hand of the King, Lord of Claw Isle, 54
- his son, Ser Maric Celtigar, 29
- his daughter, Concubine Mylenda Celtigar, 27
- his daughter, Malora Celtigar, 21
- his son, Ser Harrold Celtigar, 20
The Vale
Lord Paramount JON ARRYN, 78
- his wife, Lady LYSA ARRYN, 30
- his son, ROBERT ARRYN, 5
- PETYR “Littlefinger” BAELISH, Lord of Midlor Point
The North
Lord Paramount EDDARD STARK, 34
- his wife, Lady CATELYN TULLY, 32
- his son, ROBB STARK, 14
- his daughter, SANSA STARK, 12
- his daughter, ARYA STARK, 10
- his son, BRANDON STARK, 7
- his son, RICKON STARK, 4
- his daughter, LYANNA STARK, 2
- his brother, BENJEN STARK, 30
- Benjen’s wife, DACEY MORMONT, 24
- Benjen’s son, JEOR STARK, 6
- Benjen’s daughter, LYARRA STARK, 5
- Benjen’s son, RICKARD STARK, 4
- his ward, THEON GREYJOY, 18
The Westerlands
Lord Paramount TYWIN LANNISTER, 55
- his son, TYRION LANNISTER, 24
- Tyrion’s wife, LYNESSE HIGHTOWER, 25
- Tyrion’s son, GERION LANNISTER, 2
The Reach
Lord Paramount MACE TYRELL, 41
- his wife, Lady ALERIE TYRELL, 37
- his son, WILLAS TYRELL, 20
- his son, GARLAN TYRELL, 19
- his son, LORAS TYRELL, 15
- his son, MARGAERY TYRELL, 14
Dorne
Prince DORAN MARTELL, 49
- his daughter, ARIANNE MARTELL, 20
- his son, QUENTYN MARTELL, 16
- his son, TRYSTANE MARTELL, 10
- his brother, Prince OBERYN MARTELL, 39
The Stormlands
Lord Paramount STANNIS BARATHEON, 33, Master of Laws
- his wife, SELYSE FLORENT, 30
- his daughter, SHIREEN BARATHEON, 8
The Iron Isles
Lord Paramount BALON GREYJOY, 40
- his wife, Lady ALANNYS HARLAW, 45
- his daughter, ASHA GREYJOY, 21
- his brother, EURON GREYJOY, 39
- his brother, VICTARION GREYJOY, 36
- his brother, AERON GREYJOY, 27
The Trident
Lord Paramount EDMURE TULLY, 24
- his wife, Lady CERSEI LANNISTER, 31
- his son, JOFFREY TULLY, 12
- his daughter, MYRCELLA TULLY, 8
- his son, TOMMEN TULLY, 7
ESSOS
Pentos
Magister ILLYRIO MOPATIS, 54
- his son, Pynto Mopatis, 22
- his daughter, BREA MOPATIS, 18
- his son, LUCERRE MOPATIS, 6
- his son, LOTHO MOPATIS, 4
Lys
Magister TREGAR II ORMOLLEN, 47
- his son, SYRIO ORMOLLEN, 23
- his son, MELLARIO ORMOLLEN, 20
- his son, PARQUELLO ORMOLLEN, 16
(In Silkhead)
Master BYAN ROGARE, 44
- his wife, SERRA ROGARE, 44
- his son, GYLENO ROGARE, 19
- his son, MELLARIO ROGARE, 16
- his son, TYBARO ROGARE, 13
Myr
Magister TERRO II TRELLOS
Tyrosh
Archon SYRIO III ZOKAN, 44
- his son, GYLORO ZOKAN, 37
- his daughter, TYSHA ZOKAN, 21
- his son, MALLAQUO ZOKAN, 17
Braavos
Sealord FERREGO II, 42
Lorath
Archon GYLENO NAYLAN, 61
Norvos
High Priest EZZELYNO, 59
Qohor
Magister GROLEO TOGGOT, 55
- his son, MOREO TOGGOT, 24
Volantis
Triarch MALAQUO MAEGYR, 62
- entire Maegyr household
Elyria
Lord QAVO ILVAR, 56
- his wife, Lady PARQUELLA ILVAR, 56
- his wife and niece, Lady NYESSA ILVAR, 37
- his daughter, TRIANNA ILVAR, 23
- his nephew and heir, DAEGAR ILVAR, 34
Tolos
Lord METHYSO AZANTONE, 25
- his son, ALIOS AZANTONE, 5
- his son, BELICHO AZANTONE, 3
- his daughter, ALIA AZANTONE, 0
- his brother, ALIOS AZANTONE, 22
- his sister, RHAELLE AZANTONE, 20
- his sister, QAVA AZANTONE, 18
Mantarys
Lord DONIPHOS ZOBRIDAR, 45
- his wife, Lady RHAELLE ZOBRIDAR, 45
- his daughter, ALEARYS ZOBRIDAR, 27
- his son, VAEKAR ZOBRIDAR, 24
- his daughter, RHAELINOR ZOBRIDAR, 22