In the afternoon, the royal court gathers in a field outside King's Landing to witness the pyre that awaits Aegon Targaryen's body for burning. A great white dragon with grey membranes on its spine and wings, featuring two horns on its head, stands near the pyre but far enough away to ensure the people's safety, with Dragonkeepers keeping it under control. King Viserys gazes at the body in silence, tears streaming down his cheeks while Alicent comforts him. He feels great guilt about how the relationship between him and Aegon ended. Their last encounter is a fight, and they never saw each other again after that. Now he can never reconcile with Aegon or see his little brother again, having the words they spoke to always hang over him. Rhaenyra tries to hold back her tears while standing with her father and stepmother. She loves her uncle Aegon and was always intrigued and curious about his adventures in Essos, envied the freedom he has. She still remembers those times when he entertains her with stories of his travels. Daemon remains silent, showing no emotion. However, he is burning with anger, mostly at himself, as Viserys's words still hang over his head. He is the one who convinces Aegon to join his war. If he hadn't, he would still be here. Although tension still lingers between the two brothers, they agree to put their differences aside for their brother's sake as they lay him to rest. On their right stands Baelar Targaryen, his wife Leah Lannister, and his mother, Claryssa Hunter, who wears a veil. Baelar can't take his eyes off his father's body, tears rolling down his cheeks as he stands there.
Meanwhile, not far from the back was Aegon's other family, the Sorrens, who were not upfront with everyone else due to the circumstances, trying to respect the royal family. Daemon looks back and sees how far away they are. He then approached Aeron and Melina, urging them to come forward. Melina, not wanting to cause drama, was reluctant. Her son, however, follows his uncle, forcing his mother to go after him. The people of the court stare at Melina and Aeron as they come up to the pyre. Some were disgusted that they were here, but others were intrigued to finally see the Braavosi Whore that The Dragon of the East seemed to love more than his legal wife. Claryssa glared daggers at the younger woman and her bastard as they had no place here. Seeing everyone eyeing Melina and her son, Lord Corlys and Princess Rhaenys walked over to her to block their stares at her for the sake of her son. Melina knew people were looking at her, but she didn't care. All she cared about was her son, who began to cry.
Aeron stared at the pyre. He wasn't wearing his medallion, per Daemon's advice, that it might be taken, but he wished he was. Melina immediately got down to her son's level and brought him closer to her while caressing his face. Viserys and Rhaenyra looked at the small boy for the very first time. They saw he had brown skin, brown eyes, and his father's silver-gold Targaryen hair. They looked at the boy with sincere sympathy, Rhaenyra especially. She lost her mother when she was four and ten, but this child lost his father at six. Baelar saw his father's son and mistress for the first time. He didn't know what to think about them being here. At that moment, however, everyone was waiting for him to give Orvax the command to light the pyre. It was he who had to burn the pyre, but he wasn't sure he could. If he didn't, it's as if his father was still where, but if he burned the body, he would be gone forever.
"Everyone is waiting," Claryssa interrupted Baelar's thoughts, "Light the pyre."
"You don't have to if you can't," Leah said softly.
Without saying a word, Baelar took several steps forward as his dragon chirped, waiting for the command. Orvax looked at his rider and softly whined, feeling his rider's grief. Baelar was unsure if he could give the command, but then Leah took his hand to give him strength. Rhaenyra, remembering how she felt at her mother's funeral, came to her cousin and took his other hand while giving him a supportive smile. Baelar glanced at his wife and cousin before commanding, "Dracarys."
After hearing the words, the great white dragon came forward slowly to the pyre, engulfing it with flames as the body burned. Aegon Targaryen, The Dragon of the East, was now truly gone.
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As the body finished burning, the court had the reception at the godswood. Everyone was there speaking with one another as the most important topic on their minds was the Braavosi Whore. Melina and her family were at the far end of the godswood staying in a small building that was the entrance that led to the royal gardens, while Daemon was close to them. At the moment, no one knows about their escapade to the Dragonpit, and Daemon made sure that the Dragonkeepers don't breathe a word of it to the king.
Aeron watched as people left while giving him looks and stares. He didn't understand why they looked at him like that, but he didn't mind them. Instead, he paid more attention to Prince Baelar, who was on the other side with his mother and wife. The boy stared at his half-brother, seeing him for the first time, not knowing what to say or how to act.
"Aeron," Melina came to her son, urging him to be close to her.
"My brother is there," Aeron told her, "What are Lord Corlys and Princess Rhaenys saying to him?"
Melina looked where Aeron was looking, seeing the Sea Snake and the Queen Who Never Was with the grieving son and widow, "They are giving their condolences to them."
"Shouldn't they be doing that to us?" Aeron asked as Melina tried to get him to lower his voice.
"It might not be appropriate," Melina told him as she reached his eye level, saying, "Remember what we talked about, Aeron. We are just guests, nothing else. So we need to be respectful to them while we are here. Do you understand?" Aeron nodded as she got up and brought him closer to their family. She then began to notice a particular woman glaring at her. Realizing that the woman was Claryssa Hunter, Aegon's wife, Melina turned to avoid the widow's glare.
"If looks could kill, I'd say you would be drowning in blood," Draqeo commented after seeing the widow glaring at his older sister.
Melina tried to hide from her, saying, "It was a mistake to come here." Melina didn't want to come to the funeral. It wasn't that she didn't mourn for Aegon, but because she didn't want to see the hateful stares and whispers at court. Knowing how cruel the nobility can be. Especially due to her relationship with Aegon, who had a wife, and she didn't want her son to be involved.
Claryssa was glaring daggers at the woman who was Aegon's mistress, wishing that she and her bastard was not here. Just then, she saw Lord Corlys, Princess Rhaenys, and their children going over to them, seemingly giving them her condolences, which infuriated her. It was her husband who was dead, and they were giving their respects to that whore and bastard. Claryssa's oldest brother, the reigning lord of Longbow Hall, saw the Velaryons going to the Sorrens and said, "The Braavosi Whore and her bastard gains more sympathy from the Velaryons."
Claryssa glared at her brother and replied, "Just a formality. Nothing more." Her blood was boiling with anger as she felt humiliated by this indignity in front of her family.
"Are you sure?" the lord asked, "Seems more like Aegon wasn't the only one drawn to her. Although I don't think our prince pays much mind to it."
She then looked to her son, sitting beside his wife, who was guzzling wine by the minute. Claryssa grabbed the cup from him and said, "You've had enough."
"I'm a prince, Mother," Baelar grumbled, "I can have as much as I want."
"This is your father's memorial," Claryssa quietly scolded him, "and you spent most of it getting drunk."
Having enough of his mother, Baelar stood up and left the godswood as everyone who lingered behind bowed while he exited. Although he did give one last look to Aeron, who watched him go.
Claryssa was about to go after him until Leah grabbed her wrist to stop her. "He needs time, Claryssa," Leah told her mother-by-law. Claryssa, not wanting to make a scene, decided to let her son be as she went to the terrace with a table of food and drinks for the guests. She immediately went straight for the wine as she tried to restrain herself.
Meanwhile, the Velaryons were with the Sorrens. Laena and Laenor were with Aeron to comfort him. At the same time, their parents gave their condolences to Melina, "Many wouldn't come here if they were in your position." Rhaenys commented to Melina.
"We shouldn't have come here," Melina shook her head, wanting to leave.
"Aeron is Aegon's son," Corlys said, "He should be here as much as Baelar."
"People will be taking offense of you associating yourselves with us," Areqo reminded them as everyone looked at them disapprovingly.
After noticing the stares, Corlys replied, "We never paid any mind to them."
"Still," Melina replied as she looked at everyone around them. People were whispering and staring at them, while other people, who were members of House Hunter, were glaring at her. Thankfully, there were some guards the Sorrens brought with them for protection against anyone who would attack them. Unfortunately, however, there were only five of them.
Viserys Targaryen, wearing his crown, looked at Aeron, who was far from him. He never thought much about the boy when his father was alive, but now he can't stop thinking about him. Rhaenyra looked at the little boy. She wasn't sure what it was, maybe losing her mother when she was young, but she felt sympathy for him losing his father at this age.
"Father, maybe we should give our condolences to them as well." She asked her father.
"It would not be appropriate to Prince Baelar, princess," Otto Hightower told her.
"Prince Baelar is not here anymore," Rhaenyra reasoned, "Besides, Daemon and the Velaryons are already with them at the moment."
Viserys saw his brother and the Velaryons, who were not leaving the Sorrens' side. He remembered Aegon asking him to bring them here so his sons could meet.
"Maybe it would not be harmful to give our condolences to them, Your Grace," Queen Alicent said, surprising everyone around her, "After all, they were with Aegon during his final moments."
Viserys looked at Alicent and thought about what she had said. After thinking about it, Viserys, Alicent, and Rhaenyra walked to the Sorrens. Otto Hightower was just a little behind them as Daemon, Corlys, and Rhaenys noticed them coming up. Corlys and Rhaenys bowed their heads, but Daemon didn't; he just stared at Viserys, wondering what he wanted. When they came to the Sorrens, who were surprised by their presence, they immediately bowed to them.
"No, there's no need for that," the king assured them, "We just wanted to give our condolences to you, Lady Melina, and your son."
Giving him a nervous look, Melina replied, "Thank you, Your Grace."
"And I would like to meet my…younger nephew," Viserys said, trying to avoid calling Aeron a bastard. Knowing she couldn't refuse the king, Melina urged her son to come forward. Seeing that the king was waiting to meet him, Aeron slowly approached Viserys and bowed slightly. "Your Grace," the boy greeted the king.
Viserys smiled at the child as he got down on one knee, "It's nice to meet you, Aeron. Your father told many things about you."
"He did?" Aeron asked quietly, unsure how to act in front of the king.
"Yes," Viserys answered, chuckling a bit as Alicent and Rhaenyra smiled, "This is your cousin Rhaenyra."
The crown princess smiled warmly and greeted the boy, "It's nice to meet you, Aeron."
Aeron bowed again to her as she smiled at the boy's mannerisms. She then had an idea, "You know, there are some cakes you could eat. I can take you."
"I love cakes," Aeron said, causing the adults to laugh a bit. He then looked at his mother, wondering if he had her permission, "Only if the king allows it," She replied as all looked at the king.
"I don't see the harm in it," Viserys answered as Rhaenyra smiled at Aeron and held her hand for him to take. Seeing he had permission, Aeron took the princess's hand and followed her to the food area. Although Aeron saw the Hand of the King giving a stern look as they were passing by but didn't think much of it.
Viserys watched as the boy followed his daughter and looked back to his mother, saying, "A fine boy. You raised him well."
"Thank you, Your Grace," Melina replied, "I wish to thank you and your family for allowing us to attend. I know that this was not ideal." She glanced at Daemon, knowing he had pulled something to make this happen.
"Well, Daemon convinced me that both Aegon's sons should put him to rest," Viserys said while side-eyeing Daemon, who scoffed lightly at the king.
"I am so sorry for your loss, Your Grace," Melina told the king, "Aegon was," she stopped as her voice began to shake a bit, as Viserys started to notice it, "a good man who can never be forgotten."
Viserys looked at her and saw that she was in deep grief for the father of her child, "I thank you, my lady."
The king and queen began to turn as Melina stopped them to say, "Your Grace," She turned to her father, who then gave her a piece of paper and faced the king, who gave her his attention, "I am aware of how prince Baelar and his mother feel about me and my son's presence here, but, they should know that Aegon wrote a letter to reconcile with his son," She looked at the paper in her hand, saying, "He decided that it would be better in person but," she stopped herself again to keep her composure while handing the letter to Viserys, "he would have wanted him to have it."
Taken aback by what Melina had just given him, Viserys took the letter and said, "Thank you, my lady."
Melina nodded as Viserys and Alicent began to walk away. The king couldn't take his eyes off the letter. At the other side of the godswood, Rhaenyra led Aeron to a table with food for the people who came for the funeral. Rhaenyra showed him all of the deserts that were still untouched.
"Personally, I like the lemon cakes," Rhaenyra told her younger cousin, "They have a certain flavor to them."
"They are ok," Aegon said, "But I like the chocolate better, but sometimes I have to sneak around to get them."
"Really?" Rhaenyra asked with a humorous smile.
"Mother said I always eat too much of it," Aeron explained, "Most of the time, I grab it off the table and hide while I'm eating them," He showed her by swiping a chocolate cake and immediately went under the table cover causing the princess to laugh.
She knelt beside him and said, "You've done this before?"
"Many times," Aeron said as he stuffed the chocolate in his mouth. People then started to come to the table, causing Rhaenyra, wanting to play along, to hide under the table with Aeron as they both tried hard not to laugh.
"I wonder why the king allowed those foreigners to come here." One of them said in disdain, "In the same roof with Claryssa and the prince. It's a marvel that a fight didn't break out between the two women."
"Daemon claimed that both of Aegon's sons should attend," another lord replied, "he always did value the bastard over his trueborn son."
The men walked away after they got their food and wine. Meanwhile, Aeron and Rhaenyra came out from under the table, still sitting on the ground, with the boy looking confused.
"What's a bastard?" Aeron asked, never hearing that name before.
Rhaenyra looked at Aeron with surprise, realizing he didn't know what a bastard was. Since no one likely told him, she decided not to explain it and told him, "Nothing to concern yourself with."
Aeron nodded at the princess but still thought about the word bastard. He knows they were talking about him and wants to understand what bastard means.
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It was night when Baelar and Leah were lying on the bed in his chambers. Leah was sitting against some pillows as Baelar had his head on her lap, not minding her swollen stomach as she entered her six months of pregnancy.
"It was a beautiful service," Leah said as she stroked his hair.
Baelar, laying his head on her lap, asked, "How are your headaches?" He was still mourning his father, but now he must think about his wife and their unborn child.
"You don't need to worry about that," She assured him.
"Please, Leah, I just need something else to think about," Baelar pleaded, wanting to take his mind off his father's death.
Deciding to help him keep his mind away from today's event, Leah said, "Maester Orwyle has been giving me herbs for my headaches. So now I've been having fewer headaches."
"Hm. Orwyle seems more adequate than Grand Maester Mellos," Baelar commented as the maester offered better medicine alternatives than the Grand Maester.
A knock was heard at the door as Ser Westerling entered the room, "My prince, my lady, forgive me for the hour, but the king wishes to speak to Prince Baelar. Immediately."
Baelar and Leah looked at each other. Then, knowing he could not defy the king's order, Baelar did what he commanded. Telling Leah he would be back soon, Baelar followed Ser Westerling until they entered the king's chamber and saw his uncle speaking with his cousin, Princess Rhaenys.
"Daemon said there is hardly any furniture with only four servants," Rhaenys informed her cousin, "it's as if they are living in a hovel. Corlys and I thought that for the time being, you could,"
"The prince Baelar, Your Grace," Ser Westerling announced as Baelar stood at the doorway, hearing what Viserys and Rhaenys were saying since the door was open when they approached the king's chamber.
"Ah yes," Viserys looked at Baelar and then back to Rhaenys and told her quietly, "We will speak of this later, Rhaenys. And I assure you, I will look into the matter."
"Thank you, cousin," Rhaenys bowed as she began to leave the room, but not before stopping at Baelar and taking his hands in a comforting gesture, "I am so sorry for your loss, Baelar."
"Thank you, princess," Baelar replied as she smiled at him as she left the room.
"You wish to see me, Your Grace," Baelar replied to him as Ser Westerling closed the door to give the king and his nephew some privacy.
"Yes, please sit." Viserys asked as he and Baelar sat near the fireplace chair, "I have spoken with your father's…." He stopped himself, not knowing how to name Melina. Many people, such as Otto, have called her the Braavosi Whore. However, remembering how Aegon reacted after calling her by that name from their falling out years ago and meeting her and her son for the first time today, Viserys decided to avoid that name "with Lady Melina Sorren."
"Is that so?" Baelar asked. He must admit he wasn't sure how to feel about his father's lover and bastard child being at the funeral. However, he was too busy mourning his father to think much about it.
"She," Viserys started as he held out the letter she gave him, "She said your father wanted you to have this." Staring at the paper, Baelar reluctantly took it from his uncle's hand, "Your father wrote a letter to reconcile with you. Although he decided it would be better in person, this is all left of him." Baelar didn't open the letter but never took his eyes off it.
"Would he still be here if," Baelar began to say until he stopped himself.
"If what, nephew?" Viserys urged him to continue.
"If I hadn't said what I said to him all those years ago," Baelar's voice began to shake as he looked at his uncle, "He wrote me a letter before. When I married Leah, he sent a message congratulating me on my marriage. He wished me a lifetime of happiness, but I never replied back. If I did and asked him to come home and said I was sorry for what I said, would he still be here?"
Viserys looked at him with sorrow, knowing his nephew felt guilty after the way he and Aegon left things. "We all have our regrets, Baelar." The prince looked down at the letter as a tear started to run down his cheek, and Viserys continued, "All we can do now is try and do right by him." Baelar then looked up to the king, wondering what he meant by that, "Years ago, your father told me he wanted you and Aeron to be together. To grow as brothers."
"He asked me if I would like to have Aeron here," Baelar confessed, remembering him and his father speaking on it.
"Then maybe we can make things right by having him, and you become real brothers. For your father's memory," Viserys told him. Viserys blames himself for how he and Aegon left things and thinks the only way to make it right is by doing what Aegon wants. To have both his sons be real brothers.
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Baelar returned to the room and saw Leah still waiting for him on the bed.
"What did the king want?" Leah asked Baelar as he sat on the edge of the bed.
"My father's mistress gave him a letter he wrote me before he died," Baelar answered as Leah's eyes widened. She then came over to the edge of the bed to sit next to him while he still held the letter in his hand.
"What did it see?" She asked him.
"I didn't read it," Baelar confessed, "I don't think I'm ready yet."
"Don't open it until you are," Leah said as she touched his shoulder.
"He asked me if Aeron and I could have some time together," Baelar said, "to be real brothers."
Leah looked at him and softly asked, "What do you think?"
"I know my mother would never allow it, but," Baelar began to say until Leah cut him off.
"Never mind what she wants. What do you want," She asked him.
"I just want to take that moment back," Baelar said, "When I said being his son was embarrassing. The next day he said "I love you" to me before he left. That was the last moment I had with him. Viserys believes if I grew brotherly bonds with Aeron, that would right the wrongs we did."
"Maybe it would be good for you and him," Leah said as she comforted Baelar.
"For him?" Baelar looked at his wife, wondering what she meant by that.
"Yes, remember Baelar, you lost your father," Leah told him, "But he lost his father too."
Baelar ran his hand through his hair and contemplated his wife's words. She was right. Aeron was probably grieving for their father as much as he was. Connecting with his little half-brother was what he needed, what they both needed.
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After the funeral service, the Sorrens head back to their home at the Iron Gate. As their carriage travels through Flea Bottom, a poor and crime-ridden area of town, the locals look on. The area is filled with unpleasant smells from pigsties, stables, and tanner's sheds. Aeron peers outside to see the people staring, but his mother urges him to look away. Finally, they arrive at their humble abode, passing some City Watch soldiers on their way in - likely sent by Daemon as promised.
They went inside, and they all began to get ready for bed until a knock was heard at the front door. One of the servants answered the door and received a letter from a guard in Targaryen armor.
The servant then went to get Areqo and handed him the letter. After reading the news, Areqo called his daughter, who had just put her son to bed. She walked down the stairs of the foyer to know what her father wanted.
Areqo approached her and said, "It seems the king wishes to have Aeron in the Red Keep tomorrow."
Surprised by the news, Melina asked, "Why?"
"He said that Prince Baelar would like to get to know Aeron," Areqo explained, "Saying that Aegon wanted nothing more than to have both of his sons meet. To grow as true brothers."
After hearing the reason, Melina said, "No, no, I don't want him there."
"Lina, it was a message from the king," Areqo stated, "You can't say no."
"So I should let him go there," Melina questioned, "Having to suffer the looks, the stares, and whispers of everyone around him."
Areqo sighed as he stepped closer to his daughter, understanding why she didn't want him to go, "I understand, but we might not have a choice in the matter."
Prince Baelar wants to meet Aeron. Melina did not know what to think of it. She didn't wish Aeron to be at the Red Keep around everyone to stare and point at him, especially with Claryssa Hunter and her family, who might do something hateful to him. However, it was the king's will to have her son there. So how is she going to refuse? While this happened, Aeron put on his hood upstairs in his room. He plans to go to the city again, specifically to the Dragonpit. Nobody knows about him and Daemon going to the Dragonpit and seeing Nightwing. Still, he wants to see her right now, feeling a yearning. He doesn't know what it is but wants to see her again. He slowly went downstairs and could slip through the hallways to the kitchen, where he heard his mother and grandfather talking. He couldn't listen to their words, but he didn't care. He made his way to the back door like last time, but he saw a man who seemed to be on guard at the window before opening the door. Aeron then remembered the gold cloaks Daemon sent for protection. Realizing he couldn't leave the manse, Aeron quietly returned to his bedroom. Frustrated that he wouldn't see Nightwing, he sat on the bed thinking about how to get to the Dragonpit. He can't go now, but one way or another, he will see Nightwing.