KINGSLANDING, 43 AC

To the surprise Of just about everyone at the court, the year kicked off with Jaehaera getting blessed with a new child, prince Aerion, born at the end of summer and the return of her second daughter, Princess Visenya, whom had been fostered at Driftmark for the first three years of her life, as the queen herself had been.

Besides that, the year kicked off with the uprising of Aegon the uncrowned.

"Father, do not go down to the gods eye, i don't care if Aegon is uprising or the bloody warrior himself, i don't want you to go!" Maegors eldest daughter, Rhaella exclaimed, visibly distraught as she entered the room.

Maegor looked at his daughter and spoke coldly. "The battle must be won," and the king did not allow anything to stop him.

This was necessary.

Maegor looked at his daughter, she was his pride and joy, but he did not allow anything to distract him from his duties.

"BUT I CAN'T BEAR TO LOSE YOU." Rhaella clung to him, crying.

She was so emotionally dependent on him, it was worrying for everyone around them.

Maegor looked at her, and a slight change could be noticed in his face.

"Rhae, calm down." Maegor whispered to her.

He realized that his words were too hard, but he could not show any signs of weakness.

The king sighed and stroked her hair, trying to calm her.

"My Brother is barely a moon old, you cannot die, how would I explain this to him.  He can't be fatherless just yet." Rhaella cried, which was met by Kathryn's obnoxious chuckling, she already had her plans in case Maegor died.

But she didn't laugh long.

She was quickly met by a hand in her face, which made her flinch.

"OUCH."

"So you think of the prospect of your king dying as something funny? Do you like to talk treason?" Jaehaera asked, almost barking at Kathryn.

Sheira just giggled and nodded in agreement.

"No it's just.. Rhaella, you're acting a little silly and immature for a princess, don't you think."

Rhaella went silent for a moment. Jaehaera and Sheira didn't like Kathryn's statement one bit.

"Being a mother of a prince doesn't make you immune to the law, do you know that? What you said, my love, could still be considered High treason." Sheira snickered.

"Don't speak to me of the law, Sheira. Don't you think your attempt to poison me was against the law aswell?"

"Snowsong is really hungry, I bet she could use a snack in form of you." Jaehaera snickered in Shiera defense.

This eventually silenced Kathryn.

Kathryn may had the law on her side, but what is a piece of paper to a dragon?

Maegor eventually spoke up too, he was rather annoyed by his daughters whining.

"Rhaella, do not burden me with your concerns!" He said, slightly raising his voice, and his daughter did not like this. But the king continued, "I do not plan on dying today, just calm down."

He paused and asked, "How are your siblings faring?"

"They're all fine, Visenya is concerning me though. She won't stop crying as soon as you put her down. It's though as if she has recessed." She sighed.

"Let me see the child," Maegor asked, and with this he approached Rhaella to take the baby in his hands, he took the child in his arms and looked at Visenya. He saw that she was small and feeble, but Maegor did not give up on her, he cradled the small child in his arms and hugged her tight.

"Shh, shh, shh," the king whispered, comforting the child.

But that didn't help either. Visenya kept screaming like she was about to get tortured.

"Enough crying!" Maegor suddenly shouted and grabbed Visenya violently, and the child screamed even louder, even louder than before.

"Maegor, what kind of fool are you? Have you never held a child in your life?" Sheira argued.

"Give her to me." She demanded, now taking Visenya from her Maegors arms.

Sheira sat down in a chair and took in Visenya in her arms, comforting the child and trying to calm her.

The child kept screaming, and Maegor, not knowing what to do, just stood there watching the scene.

"Hush, sweet girl, I'm here, so are your mommy and daddy." Sheira rocked Visenya back and forth in her lap, while talking sweetly to her.

Jaehaera watched the scene from a distance, while Kathryn kept laughing at both of them.

Visenya gradually calmed down and stopped crying. Maegor approached the two women, and asked Sheira, "How did you make her stop?"

"Just talk to her like there's no worries in the world."

Maegor was angry that he could not calm the child himself. He looked at his wives and Sheira and said, "Take good care of her, I'm going to prepare for the battle." and he left the room.

The king was furious, and the child crying just fueled this anger that was in him. He hoped she would not be so weak when she grew older.

"Good luck." Rhaella and Jaehaera both exclaimed. Kathryn just kept her skittish laugh up.

"Well aren't you just so fucking funny." Rhaella snapped, visibly distressed.

"He doesn't need your luck, he can and will return victorious."

"Kathryn, just keep your mouth shut. You can obviously see how distressed Rhaella is, I get it, we're constantly competing against each other for attention. But we should work together, not against eachother."

Rhaella just smiled at her mother.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome my love, don't mind this old, jealous hag."

Kathryn was by now beaming with rage.

"Me? An old hag, look at yourself before you speak, you barren hag." Kathryn argued

"Oh, someone's angry." Sheira snickered again at Kathryn. "Be angry all you like, my love. But it is true. You are nothing but a bitter hag."

Meanwhile..

Maegor went into the courtyard of the castle and saw his army. All of them were dressed in steel and waiting for the king. They looked determined and ready for battle. Maegor felt confident with his great army, and that was why he could not lose. He had to make sure the victory was his.

He got on Balerion and spoke to the army, "We are going to battle."

"Indeed." Dorian Hightower said, with same smug smile he always had.

"This battle is crucial, we can't allow any mistakes. I will lead you all, and we will be victorious," Maegor said, and then he ordered, "To battle!" And with these words the army marched towards the God's Eye.

While Maegor flew over them, Dorian marched the armies to meet the forces of Aegon the uncrowned on the ground.

But that wasn't necessary.

The rather small Quicksilver was by no means a match to the black dread.

She was quickly slewn with her rider.

Victory.

When the army returned home and entered the castle, there was a festive air. People were happy to see the soldiers back alive and celebrating their victory. Maegor felt proud of himself, he had won another battle and was satisfied with himself. He was victorious, something that was not yet achieved by anyone else.

As he walked through the courtyard with his army, he was greeted by his wives.

They seemed happy to see their King again.

Except Jaehaera. She was furious.

Yes, she agreed to a battle, but she never agreed to any murder.

Maegor could tell something was wrong.

He approached his wife, and saw that she did not seem pleased to see him.

"What's wrong, Jaehaera?" the king asked.

"I am happy that you returned alive. But do you think killing our nephew was the right approach?" Jaehaera was absolutely furious.

"It was him, or me, Jaehaera." The king said sternly.

"Aegon is the one who started this rebellion. He had no right to rebel against me, to do any of this to me."

"Exactly, you're worrying way too much, my sweet girl." A familiar voice agreed.

Jaehaera turned around, to see her mother, the dowager Queen, Visenya, behind her.

"DON'T PREACH AT ME, OLD WOMAN. YOU DIDN'T KNEW AEGON. I RAISED HIM LIKE HE WAS MY OWN, HE WAS GOOD, HE WAS KIND, AND YOU JUST TOOK HIS LIFE WITH NO REMORSE." Jaehaera snapped.

"My dear, you're stressed, aren't you? Come, take some time off."

"I AM NOT STRESSED, MY MIND IS MADE UP AND YOU KNOW IM RIGHT."

"Go to your chambers, Jaehaera." Visenya eventually ordered her, sternly.

But Jaehaera had none of that.

And with that, she ran to get her children, mounted her dragon, and took off to the sky.

That was the final nail in the coffin.

A couple hours later..

Maegor heard a knock at his door. He quickly used his standard greeting he used on anyone.

"I will not waste my time on those who are beneath me. Come in and speak quickly."

The door was quick to open. Inside came Kathryn.

„Husband, what happened?" She asked. She was clearly bothered by something.

"I'm sorry my dear, did you say something?" Maegor looked away from his cup of wine.

"Speak louder next time.."

„We barely spend any time together anymore. What happened to our relationship."

"And who's fault is that?" He asked sharply, looking back at his cup of wine.

"I am ruling the Seven Kingdoms, a matter that does not concern you, my dear.."

„What did i do to you?" Kathryn asked.

Maegor stayed in silence for a while, his cup of wine in mid-air.

"What are you implying?" The King finally asked, looking at his wife.

„Why are we barely spending time together anymore. The only times we actually interact is when it's concerning our sons." Kathryn sighed, deeply upset.

I threw my whole life away for you, I betrayed my sister and my love.. my Jaehaera.. and this is the thanks i get?

She thought.

"Well it's not like I have to hold your hand and tell you how much I love you my lady." Maegor said, while sitting on his chair, his back towards his wife.

"I am busy ruling the Seven Kingdoms, something that is way more important than holding your hand.."

„Fine then, why don't i just leave?"

Kathryn finally argued.

"Leave?" Maegor asked, turning his head slightly.

"Where do you plan on leaving, my love? The castle, Westeros or..?"

„Riverrun." She responded.

"You mean where your parents are?" The King said with a smirk on his face. "You really think I will allow that to happen..?"

„I mean, i'd go even if you didn't."

Maegor looked at his lady with hatred in his eyes.

"Are the children staying with me?"

„Of course." She sighed. Her son was always a painful reminder of what she lost and whom she betrayed.

Maegor sighed loudly, taking another sip of his cup of wine.

"You can leave then, my love.."

„So we're over?"

"Yes. I was waiting for the day I will be freed from your company."

Said Maegor, turning all of his attention back to his half empty cup of wine.

„Why did you marry me then, hm? Why did you cast Jaehaera aside for me then?" She spat at him.

Maegor looked at her.

"Because I was in need of an heir to the Iron Throne, which you gave me." The King said, drinking the rest of his wine.

"You fulfilled your purpose, my dear. What else do I need from you..? A pretty face?"

„Selyse was right. I really am just a stupid little girl with stupid little dreams.."

"Unfortunately so, my love." Maegor laughed. He looked at his wife up and down, as if making an assessment, when he suddenly started laughing even louder.

"You thought I loved you all of these years?.. My sweet summer child.."

„I did." She teared up. All she ever wanted was to be loved but yet the gods always denied her.

Suddenly, Maegor stopped laughing.

"You thought someone like me would actually feel love for you..?" He looked at her with an expressionless face.

„Yes."

Maegor stayed silent for a few seconds while he examined every inch of his wife's face. He suddenly stood up, and took some steps toward her.

„All i ever wanted was for someone to love me. I was used my entire life, I just wanted to feel like someone actually wanted me."

Kathryn officially lost it.

Maegor was right in front of her now, and he gently caressed her cheek, his face finally expressing a bit of sympathy and pity.

"What a waste you are, my lady.. And you are right, no one will ever love you like you want to be loved.."

He stayed close to her, looking down.

"But you know what?"

„What.." She sniffled.

Maegor looked at her once again with that same expression, and his hand slowly moved toward her chest.

"But at least you are good at one thing.."

His greedy hand was quickly stopped by Kathryn mid-air.

Maegor looked at her in both shock and anger. He quickly removed his hand from her, but did not say a word.

He then turned away from her, and poured another cup of wine.

Kathryn just continued to cry, her tears stained her red dress by now.

As the King of the Seven Kingdoms stood there in front of his wife, he took a sip from his cup of wine, and then said, looking at her in pity.

"You cry just like Jaehaera did.." Maegor scoffed.

„I miss Jaehaera. And Selyse, my sweet girl.. She was the only person to ever love me, to make me feel like I mattered." She cried even more now. She truly missed them.

Maegor stayed silent, still looking at her in pity. Then he spoke. His voice was a lot calmer than before, yet it was easy to see that the King was still filled with hatred. But, there was something else, hidden in his voice, something that seemed out of place.

"Do you still love her?"

„Yes."

It seemed like something in Maegors head had clicked now..