Intro:
I have been reading AARs and playing CK2, especially CK2 AGOT for a long time and wanted to try my hand at a narrative based AAR of my own. This scenario takes place at a custom start date, shortly after the death of Dowager Queen Visenya Targaryen (wife of Aegon I) in 44 AC and diverts from the canon timeline. The main point of view character for now is Prince Viserys, son of Aenys I, but other members of the Targaryen family or court may have short chapters as well and some of the story may be told in letters or writings. This shouldn't have any spoilers for the books or show since it takes place over 200 years before the events of A Game of Thrones. I will mostly include art and portraits to help with the story and occasionally screenshots from CK2 as well. Thanks for reading and I appreciate any and all comments and suggestions!
Chapter 1: Escape to Dragonstone
Prince Viserys at age 16, a squire and captive of King Maegor the Cruel before his escape. He has shoulder-length white-gold hair and deep violet eyes, a shining example of the beauty of old Valyria.
Viserys' arms burned with exhaustion as he pulled the oars through the water for the thousandth time, his eyes fixating on the outline of King's Landing in the distance which was getting harder and harder to see as their boat moved into Blackwater Bay. He glanced over his shoulder at his sworn shield, friend, and mentor during his confinement in the Red Keep, Ser Jon Tollett, his white kingsguard armor shrouded in a rough homespun fisherman's cloak and his face sweaty with exertion.
Getting tired already old man?, Viserys teased good-naturedly, knowing the young Kingsguard knight was but a half a decade older than him.
You're breathing a bit hard yourself, my prince, why don't you take a break for a while? Else your cursed uncle will hear your panting all the way from Harrenhal and feed us both to Balerion, Jon replied, cracking a smile despite the grim nature of their situation. Viserys, who had slouched down and closed his eyes momentarily, shot up at the mention of his reviled uncle resumed rowing with determination.
Both men were fit and strong, with Jon being a capable warrior and Viserys doing little else in his captivity but take lessons from the Grand Maester and train in the yard of the Red Keep with Jon and occasionally Maegor himself when he was in the mood to beat Visery into a pulp with training swords. But even warriors tire, and they had been rowing for hours with still a large distance to cover before they reached safe harbour at his maternal uncle Daemon Velaryon's island of Driftmark.
The two men lapsed into a companionable silence as they both rowed feverishly for Driftmark. His body focused on the task at hand, Viserys led his mind wander to the monumental events of the last few months.
Viserys had once thought that he would remain a hostage of Maegor forever, seperated from the rest of his family who were under Dowager Queen Visenya's watchful eye on Dragonstone. He had even given up hope that the sons of Aenys would reclaim the Iron Throne from their usurping uncle, especially after Maegor and Balerion tore his elder brother Aegon the Uncrowned and his dragon to pieces at the Battle Beneath the God's Eye. This had all changed a few moons ago when Maegor, frustrated with his lack of an heir, had summoned his sister Rhaena from hiding in Fair Isle to forcibly wed himself to her. Maegor had forced Viserys to be present at the wedding and ensured Rhaena's loyalty by holding her and Aegon's daughter, Aerea hostage, while her twin sister Rhaella was sent to Oldtown to be trained as a septa.
Queen Rhaena Targeryen, fourth wife of King Maegor the Cruel, with her twin daughters Aerea and Rhaella.
Maegor's rule had made the royal court a violent, dangerous, and sparsely populated place, so Viserys was usually alone for his morning lessons with Grand Maester Desmond. Rhaena could contrive some reason or another to escape Maegor and his other queens' supervision meet and speak discreetly with Viserys. Even Queen Tyanna of the Tower, Maegor's Pentoshi paramour turned wife, who had eyes and ears everywhere, had not discovered their ruse. Viserys loved seeing his sister and her presence made life at court seem less hopeless, but he hated watching her suffer at Maegor's hands. One day, when Viserys had arrived to train in the yard with Ser Jon Tollett, he informed him that Tyanna had presented evidence of her fellow Queen Alys Harroway's infidelity to the King and Maegor had predictably killed her and every last Harroway in King's Landing. Interestingly, Maegor ridden out with a large force of men to exterminate every last Harroway from Harrenhal and the surrounding lands, a despicable act that would nevertheless give Viserys and Rhaena a window to plan an escape.
But to where? Visenya held their family at Dragonstone and would swiftly turn them over to Maegor if caught. They could flee to their mother's family, the Velaryons, but Viserys would not see Driftmark burned by Maegor's wrath when he returned from Harrenhal. The high lords at Storm's End, Casterly Rock, Highgarden, Oldtown, and the Eyrie may give them shelter but they could just as well hand them to Maegor on a silver platter.
A week later, fate intervened in their favor. Viserys and Rhaena was playing with Aerea, who had been brought by her mother to the Grand Maester under the pretense of a fever, when the maester recieved a raven from Dragonstone. It was a hastily written note from Viserys and Rhaena's mother, Lady Alyssa Velaryon, intended for her children that read: Dark Sister had been sheathed. The Dragon has both his wives now. Fly, you fools.
That night, Rhaena insisted on staying with her "sick" daughter Aerea in the Grand Maester's chambers, while Viserys stated his desire to consult the maester on a book about the fall of Sarnor. Using the secret passages beneath the Red Keep, Viserys and Jon had changed into garb of the smallfolk who lived in the hovels along the bay and taken a small fishing boat out to sea. Rhaena had taken her sleeping daughter and snuck into the half-finished dragonpit where her dragon Dreamfyre has kept. Their plan was to meet briefly at Driftmark to gain Lord Daemon's support in their plan to secure Dragonstone.
Jon's fit of coughing tore him out of his reminiscing and he watched as Jon spit a glob of phlegm into the water before resuming rowing. Viserys' eyes scanned the night sky worriedly, looking for any sign of Rhaena and Dreamfyre. Another hour of tense rowing passed and slowly the salt-stained walls of Castle Driftmark came into view. The beating of wings from above stole his attention as he saw a pale blue shape pass over the clouds. Dreamfyre!
Dreamfyre, the mount of Rhaena Targeryen.
Ser Jon followed his eyes upward and smiled with relief. Lets see if we can't beat them to Driftmark, Ser, Viserys said, grinning widely. We need to get you a dragon boy, so I don't have to carry you around anymore, Jon said, slapping his back affectionately.
Don't worry Ser, I have one waiting for me in Dragonstone, Viserys said, his eyes looking past the great Velaryon castle and into the dark beyond, where he knew his mother, siblings, and Vhagar awaited. He kept his eyes there as they rowed into a small inlet. One step closer to Dragonstone. One step closer to freedom. And one step closer to claiming the throne of his father.
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