Chapter 10b
AEGON TARGARYEN
"Matarys was there," and he could not help but scream, as they waited for the fish to cook while he set out the tents.
"Aye," the large knight answered, failing to see his expression marred by excitement and fear.
"He was the one who vouched for me along with Prince Baelor," and he spoke with such reverence as he named his uncle and cousin.
"Why didn't you mention it before?" Aegon asked, for he was in great trouble now.
"What was there to say?" the tall man answered, and Aegon rolled his eyes.
"He was not supposed to be here," and he shrugged.
"So what? He must have decided to come," he said as he turned the fish once.
"And it was good that he came when he did. For otherwise I would not have been able to enter the lists," and there was admiration in his tone.
"He is a true Prince, I say. A true knight," and that he was indeed.
"Was someone else with him?" but Aegon's concerns lay elsewhere.
"Aye," he answered with a frown.
"One of the missing Princes, I think," and so he had found Daeron, and Aegon jumped to his feet, for now he was in a lot of trouble.
"Daeron?" he gasped, and Dunk shrugged.
"I did not ask him his name. They asked me to leave after I had put my name on the lists," and then suddenly they both heard a voice from the side, and turned towards the source at once.
Aegon reached for his dagger, and Ser Duncan rose tall as a sole figure stepped out of the shadows.
"Who is it?" Ser Duncan asked, as at full height he cut a tall and menacing figure as he stood there tall and proud.
"I come in peace, my good ser," and Aegon would recognise that voice anywhere, for he had spent years chasing after it.
They were cousins by blood, yet the person infront of him was more of a brother to him than Aerion, and he had begged his father to let him squire for him, and yet he had refused to see reason.
"My Prince," and Ser Duncan was the first to kneel on his knees.
"Forgive m..."
"Rise, my good ser. No offence was caused," and he rose, and failed to see Aegon's insolence as he looked at Matarys with sheer admiration, whose gaze turned towards him.
"What brings you here, my Prince?" and Aegon pleaded with his eyes, as Matarys' eyes narrowed.
"Nothing," he lied, obviously to Ser Duncan, as he walked up the hill.
"I was just taking a stroll to test the ground and scour the competition," and that made him frown.
"Will you be entering the lists, your grace?" Ser Duncan asked, and Matarys nodded.
"Probably," he answered, as his eyes kept drifting towards him.
"Is this your squire?" he asked, and Ser Duncan nodded.
"Aye," he said.
"He is a bit puny, wouldn't you say?" Matarys teased, knowing well enough that he did not like being called that.
"Maybe, but he will grow my Prince," and the tall man failed to see the tension between them.
"I don't think so," Matarys teased.
"I will," he found himself shouting on instinct, as Ser Duncan's eyes narrowed.
"Such insole..."
"I don't mind," Matarys countered.
"I see that he is rather spirited," and the tall man nodded, as he walked to the fire and quickly turned the fish.
"Aye, but he is a good lad. Good and hardworking," and it felt good hearing such praise.
"Then perhaps I could take him off your hands for the night," and Ser Duncan seemed surprised by the offer.
"You see, I rode hard and fast to make it in time for the tourney. My horses need grooming, and my armor needs a good polish, and I do not have a squire of my own," and Ser Duncan frowned as he looked towards him.
"I will go," he accepted, and Ser Duncan nodded.
"Are you sure of it?" he asked, and Aegon nodded.
"Yes. Yes, I am," and Matarys turned towards the tall man who was now eyeing him with suspicion.
"He will still be your squire. I am just borrowing him," and he was not convinced.
"I trust you, my Prince, but he is under my care," and Matarys chuckled.
"Do I seem like a person who would harm a puny child?" Matarys teased, and Ser Duncan shook his head.
"No, my Prince. I apologis..."
"You are very kind to worry over your squire, but do not worry. I will treat him well," he assured him, and with a final nod from him, the man let him go.
"Then he is yours for the night," and Aegon slipped to Matarys's side.
"Let us go then," and it pained Ser Duncan to see him go away, but Aegon had no choice.
"Good Night, Ser Duncan, and you have my condolences on the loss of your master," and Matarys' tone was much softer as he said that.
"He was a good knight," and the tall man nodded.
"Aye, that he was..."
"I do hope you live up to his expectations...."
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MATARYS TARGARYEN
Aegon said nothing at first, as they walked through rows upon rows of different pavilions. He had his hood on to cover his face lest people see them together.
"Thank you," he added finally, as he raised his head to give him a look.
"Don't thank me yet. I have done all I could to protect you, but the truth is that even i won't be able to help you against your father," and his face fell the second, his father was mentioned.
And Maekar Targaryen was a good man. An able man, yet tragedy and fate had made him prickly. He was quick to anger, and though he loved his brother, he could not help but compare himself to his eldest brother in all matters of his life.
"Please, you have to do something," Aegon begged, and he raised his hands in defeat.
"I am sorry. I have already done my good deed of the day," and the little boy sulked, as his shoulders sagged.
"Father is going to kill me," and Matarys chuckled.
"No, he won't. But what were you thinking, sneaking into Ashford Meadows on your own and then squiring for an unknown knight?" Egg was a rebel if anything.
"It was far better than sitting around and watching my brother getting drunk. Plus, I will never squire for Daeron. He has nothing to teach me," and Daeron was a poor knight.
"But still, you could have died," and Egg raised a brow.
"You rode into a war, and you are lecturing me about taking risks," and he did have a point.
"Still, I won't be able to lie for you much. He will know the truth soon enough," and Egg had the benefit of anonymity, for while he was a Prince, he was also the fourth son of a fourth son.
He was inconsequential.
"I know," he answered, as they walked through the castle gates.
"He is a good person, you know," Egg spoke of Duncan, and Matarys knew that better than him.
"I know, it is why I vouched for him," and Egg frowned.
"You know him," and he nodded.
"Somewhat," and they were just outside the Hall where the family had gathered, and where Egg was about to get quite an earful.
"Still, how did you even find me so quickly?" Egg asked, and he shrugged.
"You know me, I have my ways," and he rolled his eyes.
"You and Lord Bloodraven hate each other, but you two are more alike than you would ever hope to admit," and he did not know how right he was, as he swatted his head.
"Come, I need to rest," and with that, he walked into the Great Hall, as Prince Maekar's head turned towards him.
"Now, just as promised, I have brought you back your youth..."
"What the hell were you thinking!" Maekar Targaryen screamed at his son.
"Brother," Prince Baelor added, as the young Prince ground his teeth.
"Please, he is your son, and we are in foreign lands," and Baelor offered him a subtle nod, as Matarys turned around and walked out of the room.
He was still weary from the riding and had plans of sleeping early. There was to be a feast tomorrow, and then champions would be selected as defenders of the ladies' honor.
He could hear his uncle's shouting from behind, as he made his way through the halls, before a small voice called out to him.
"My Prince," and he slowed down as he heard his name being called out.
"Prince Matarys," and he turned around and saw the lady of the castle coming towards him.
"Lady Gwin," he smiled, and greeted the young lady Ashford in whose honor the entire tourney had been arranged.
"Forgive me for calling you out like this, my Prince," and he shook his head.
"There is nothing to forgive, my lady. You are the lady of the House and I am but a guest," and she blushed at the compliment.
"Could you join me in the garden for a moment?" and he had no reason to object, and so he followed after the young lady.
"Tell me then, my lady, what can I do for you?" he asked, and she hesitated before she finally asked away.
"Will you be participating in the tourney, my Prince?" and he understood what this was about in an instant, but in her nervousness the girl continued on without hearing his answer.
"If you are, then I would like you to be one of my champions," and with that, she presented him her favor, a golden ribbon with pretty little flowers embroidered into it. And until now, he had worn a few favors, and the embroidery on this one showed quite a bit of dedication.
"I am honored that you would offer me such a thing, but I am afraid I have not put my name on the lists," and her smile dropped in an instant.
"My brother is set to participate," and she gulped down, embarrassed, and did not know what to say. She was young, and between him and his brother, he was the only one who was still unmarried, so he would make for a better defender than his brother.
Seeing her expression fall did not offer him much ease, and the jousts were set to begin in a day, and though he was still tired, he would be fine. He could find the armor, as well.
"But who am I to deny the offer of such a beautiful young lady?" he began, much to her surprise, and it was only a joust, and Valarr would happily offer him his place.
And he went down on one knee and raised his hand.
"Weariness be damned. I shall be honored to defend you as my Queen of grace and beauty, Lady Gwin," and her eyes beamed at his words, as she offered him her hand, and he gave her knuckled a small kiss, after which she tied her favor to his arm.
"Thank you, my Prince," and she said with a bow, and Matarys nodded.
"Now, I do need to rest. I have three days of jousting ahead of me," and she nodded, as he walked out of the garden, and unfortunately for him, he was met with an unsavory face while he was heading out.
"So you did make it in the end," and Matarys hated that tone, as he looked up to see Aeron biting down on an apple. And in many ways, Aerion was their House come again.
Cruel. Cunning. Proud. And Powerful.
He had many a fault, but Aerion was no fool. He was clever, and was able to hide away his cruelty in the guise of tricks.
"Aerion," Matarys greeted, as he eyed the favor bound to his arm.
"So you will be competing in the tournament?" Aerion asked, and Matarys shrugged.
"Maybe," he lied.
"Good. It wouldn't have served me well to pay back your brother for the humiliation you caused me," and Matarys rolled his eyes, and he had tried to befriend him. He really had, but Aerion and him were like oil and water.
They were not rivals. They were enemies, and he had come to terms with that fact years.
"Keep Valarr out of this shit," Matarys warned as he looked down at him.
"So protective. Do you think I will harm your precious brother?" and he was the only person made enough to try.
"I did not humiliate you, cousin. It is not my fault you couldn't even last a single tilt against me," and his lips thinned at the insult.
"Be careful, cousin," he whispered as he stepped back.
"Tournies can be a cruel affair..."
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