The Dragonpit, Night.
Daemon watched him for a long, long time. Then he stood, walked back to his chair, and sat down heavily.
He shook his head and let out a laugh, one filled with a mixture of helplessness and exhaustion.
"You are truly shameless, Viserys." Daemon sighed.
"You are my brother. You should... You should at least have been honest with me."
Viserys lowered his head; he had no defense. Silence reclaimed the cavern once more until Daemon spoke again.
"But later, I thought it through. You aren't a fit King, the Gods know you aren't. You're indecisive, always trying to please everyone and ending up offending them all. But you're my brother, Viserys. My only brother."
Viserys looked at Daemon with a sense of shame.
"All these years, I've watched you," Daemon continued.
"Watched you struggle and suffer on that Iron Throne, watched you tear yourself apart between your daughter and your kingdom. I watched you try to be a good father while hurting every one of your children. I watched you fall ill, watched you rot, watched you slowly turn into... this."
He turned back to look Viserys in the eye.
"I am still angry. I still feel you owe me, owe me an apology, an explanation, owe me my entire life."
Viserys remained silent.
"So..." Daemon took a deep breath.
"If this is your wish, if it allows you to close your eyes in peace when the time comes... then I promise you."
"You promise what?" Viserys asked, his voice trembling.
"I promise to give up the Iron Throne," Daemon said.
"I promise that Rhaenyra will not fight Aegon for it. I promise to take Rhaenyra away from Westeros. I promise to let your Aegon rule the Seven Kingdoms in peace."
Viserys could hardly believe his ears.
"This..."
"It's real," Daemon said.
"But there is a condition."
"What condition? Dragonstone? High Tide? I can give you anything."
Daemon shook his head.
"What I want, you cannot give me. I want the East."
Viserys froze, thinking he had misheard.
"The... what?"
"A partition between East and West."
Daemon leaned forward, bracing his hands on the stone table and looking down at Viserys.
"Your eldest son, Aegon, will rule Westeros, the Seven Kingdoms, the Iron Throne, everything. And I will take Rhaenyra and the Blacks to the East. Not as exiles, and not as refugees. We go to conquer."
Viserys's mind went blank as he tried to process his brother's words.
"You're mad," he finally managed.
"The East has the Nine Free Cities... Volantis, Braavos, Pentos..."
"It has dozens of city-states, hundreds of tribes, and thousands of soldiers. On what basis do you, "
"On the basis that I have dragons," Daemon interrupted, his voice reigniting with that familiar, almost arrogant confidence.
"On the basis that I am Daemon Targaryen, King of the Stepstones, and rider of Caraxes the Blood Wyrm. With dragons... we can rebuild the Empire."
Empire. The word echoed through the cavern. Viserys tried to digest it all.
"Even with dragons," Viserys struggled to say, "the East is too far, too alien. Those cities have gold, fleets, mercenaries..."
"And infighting," Daemon cut him off again.
"Volantis has wanted to rebuild the Valyrian Freehold for centuries. Braavos wants to maintain the status quo, controlling other cities through finance. The Triarchy, Lys, Tyrosh, and Myr, is hardly a solid alliance. Pentos is in decline, Norvos is conservative, and Qohor only cares for itself."
He listed them off like items in a ledger; he had clearly been studying this for a long time.
"What do those Free Cities fear most?" Daemon asked.
"They fear us returning."
Viserys finally understood. This wasn't a whim; it was a meticulously crafted plan.
Daemon didn't intend to waste his strength in a Westerosi civil war; he wanted to take the fire elsewhere.
"Was it Volantis that contacted you?" Viserys asked.
Daemon nodded.
"The Black Walls. One of the three Triarchs of the Blood Party, Eluna Lanther. Volantis needs our strength. Without Targaryen dragons, they cannot build a new Empire."
"They will betray you," Viserys warned.
"Those cities have no honor, only interest."
"I know." Daemon smiled.
"I won't trust them; it's a temporary partnership. Once the Triarchy is taken, we move to the next step."
Viserys listened, growing more shocked by the minute.
This solved everything. Rhaenyra and her children wouldn't have to bleed in Westeros; they could build their own kingdom in the East.
Aegon could inherit the Iron Throne without the threat of civil war.
House Targaryen would simply be... expanding. Like the Conqueror did, just in a different direction.
"But how can you guarantee this?" Viserys asked, returning to reality.
"Doesn't this split the family?"
"Viserys, stop dreaming! It is already split! Currently, there are two Targaryens: one in King's Landing, and one on Dragonstone! The only reason they haven't started fighting yet..." Daemon didn't finish, merely looking at his brother. He drained his cup and set it down.
"This is the best way I can think of."
Viserys finally nodded.
"What of Corlys Velaryon? Will the Sea Snake agree to give up the Iron Throne?"
"Corlys has already agreed," Daemon said.
"And Jacaerys and the others?"
"They go to the Velaryons," Daemon said coldly.
"Corlys has already announced they are relinquishing the Targaryen name. Let it be so. In the East, no one cares if they are bastards or what color their hair is. They can marry noblewomen in Volantis and sire silver-haired, purple-eyed descendants. In a few generations, who will remember the 'Strongs'?"
A long silence followed. Daemon stood, walked to Viserys, knelt once more, and reached out his hand.
"This is better for everyone, brother. Rhaenyra and her children can live and have their own kingdom. Your son Aegon can have the throne, and the Seven Kingdoms avoid a war."
Viserys said nothing, but he gripped Daemon's hand tightly.
"Fine. I will... I will support you."
Viserys was the first to let go; he was too tired.
"I must go back."
Daemon helped him up. "I'll walk you to the door."
They walked slowly toward the exit of the Dragonpit, Daemon matching his brother's hobbling pace.
The walk that felt long when they arrived now felt far too short.
The stone doors opened, and the night wind rushed in.
The Kingsguard were waiting outside and immediately stepped forward to support the King.
Daemon stood in the doorway, watching his brother leave, surrounded by his guards.
"Viserys," Daemon called out suddenly.
Viserys turned back.
"Goodbye," Daemon said, looking at him.
Viserys knew this was likely their final parting. He looked dazed for a moment, then nodded.
"Goodbye."
-----
A/N:
If you are enjoying the start of the story.
Drop some stones to help this book reach higher.
You can read upto 20+ Chapters. + Images
You can also read "+2 Free Chapters".
www.patreon.com/
LastDreamer