A Different Song (ASOIAF- OC/Reincarnation)

Chapter 10: The Second Son

The Spring Prince

Kings Landing

78AC

Baelon Targaryen stood near his beloved brother Aemon, providing him with silent support and strength, while Jaehaerys Targaryen, the King of the Seven Kingdoms, held his first grandchild for the first time. Well, the first grandchild the King had personally held or seen, he thought, remembering his bastard nephew in the North. There was a happiness in the King's face that Baelon had seldom seen before, and he wondered whether his own future child would make the King as happy as this.

"Aemon, have you decided on a name for the girl?" the King asked. Baelon could see the gears already turning in his father's eyes, envisioning a future role for the girl, just as he had done with his own numerous children.

Baelon looked at his brother Aemon and saw the worry still etched on his face. Baelon had tried to ease his brother's tension and fear as his sister-in-law Jocelyn became pregnant and neared her birthing date, but even he couldn't calm his brother. The number of flights on Caraxes, the number of training swords, and straw statues broken were too damn high. It was as if the current Aemon had been replaced by the broken, haunted boy who had returned from the North. At that time, Baelon couldn't understand how Aemon had changed so much by losing someone, but now, seeing his dear sister-wife Alyssa with a small baby bump, he could understand. If something happened to her, he would be lost and devastated too.

"I don't have a name, Father. I was quite worried about this and didn't think of any names," Aemon replied.

"Well, the baby looks healthy and is our Queen-to-be. Let her have a queen's name," his mother, the Queen, said.

Aemon thought for a few moments and declared, "Rhaenys. Her name will be Rhaenys Targaryen, after the first queen of Westeros."

Everyone nodded in agreement, and Baelon concurred with his mother and brother that it was the only worthy name of a queen that was acceptable. The King would, of course, not allow anyone to be named Visenya.

"Maester, let the ravens be sent. Let the realm know that our house has grown and the next generation is born. Send an invitation for a tourney in one moon. Now everyone, let us leave so that the babe and the mother can rest," the King ordered.

His father carefully placed Rhaenys in the crib and turned to leave, knowing that his order would be followed immediately. As the others left, Baelon looked at his brother, who was still gazing at his daughter with a forlorn expression. He understood that his brother needed him and decided against leaving with the rest of the family. He walked towards Aemon and stopped behind him, looking at the girl resting and the wet nurse standing at the side of the room, head bowed and making herself as invisible as possible.

"What is it, Baelon?" Aemon asked.

Baelon scoffed and said, "You know what it is, brother. Why are you looking at the babe like a lost dragonling? You have not taken the babe in your hands till now. Why, brother?"

Aemon sighed and looked at him. "Brother, it has been ten years since I lost my first love. Even now, thinking about her feels like a sword piercing my heart. Seeing Baby Rhaenys for the first time, I couldn't see her; my mind only saw my first baby, my Daemon. I have not contacted him for ten years. I have not even asked about him from you or the King. I know you both keep an eye on him. I want to ride Caraxes and take him for my own, but I can't, brother. The day I held him for the first time was happiness beyond anything. Only when you take your first child can you know it. When I heard of my Lyarra's death with him in my hand, the rage and sorrow were like nothing else. Even now, I am sure only the presence of mind of Lord Stark to take him from my hands and my own mind being frozen by pain is the reason he is still alive and not a splatter on the walls of Winterfell. Even now, I don't know whether I will smother him in a hug or let Caraxes feed on him if I visit Winterfell. So, for the last ten years, I have avoided him, and I will avoid him for the rest of my life. I put myself in whores and alcohol for two years to forget Lyarra and my son. Then, even when that was not enough, I put myself in the yard and my duties as the Crown Prince. When I married Jocelyn, I forgot Lyarra in her. Now I will forget my son by doting on my daughter. I have no other choice."

Baelon looked at his brother with pity and sadness. "Don't worry, brother. I am here for you to pick up the pieces. For your information, he has grown to be large for his age and is the life of Winterfell. He is doted on by Lord Stark like he is his own son. The sum of dragons you promised is sent every year annually and was even increased last year by me."

"Thank you, brother. I don't know what I would do without you, but don't ever tell me about him again, even when I share my grief. That is an order, brother. I don't want to hear about him and bring up my painful memories again or regret the life I have missed with him," Aemon finished as he turned to look at his daughter.

Baelon looked at his brother carefully to determine whether he truly meant the order or not. Surprisingly, his brother meant it.

"As you command, Prince Aemon," Baelon replied with a slight bow and turned to leave the room at the dismissal.

The door was guarded by a Kingsguard knight, but surprisingly, it was Ser Ryam, their father's personal Kingsguard.

"Prince Baelon," the knight bowed and said, "the King has requested your presence after you were excused from Prince Aemon's side."

Baelon swallowed a scowl hearing that and nodded at the knight. He started walking towards the King's Solar. He had hoped that the King missed that he had stayed behind against the King's order, but as usual, his King didn't miss anything. Now, the King was calling his personal spy that he kept on his firstborn son and heir. Baelon still didn't understand how the King molded him into the role of spymaster of House Targaryen. Baelon had attended every lesson with Aemon, even the lessons with their father. Later on, his King started personal lessons for him alone. At first, the personal lessons the King taught were very interesting for the second son. He got his King's valuable time alone, and he was beyond happy, so he absorbed everything like an obedient, honorable prince. His father had spent many such personal lessons with every child. Everyone else thought that the loving father was spending time with his children, but Baelon understood that it was training them for different roles assigned by the King in his plan for House Targaryen. He was sure that Vaegon only wanted to become a maester because of the King's influence, even if the reason still eludes him. He still blamed his father for the instant love Aemon had for Northern woman, which was only because of the lessons the King had given to the Crown Prince. He still hadn't understood the reason why the King taught the Crown Prince about romanticized northern tales, Legendary Winter Kings of House Stark, and ancient fights with gremlins and snarks so much. He thought that his role was to support Aemon in anything, but he only understood his true purpose on the day the raven from the North reached the King ten years ago.

Flashback:

As ten-year-old Baelon entered the King's solar, he knew he was in trouble. The King was absolutely furious. Baelon couldn't see his loving father anywhere, only an enraged monarch.

"Baelon, tell me why I am hearing about your foolish brother's love for the Stark girl for the first time when she is going to give birth to a bastard. Why didn't you tell your King and father about the foolishness Aemon and you did when we visited the North almost ten moons ago? I know Aemon couldn't escape the eyes on him without your help. Tell me now," the King's enraged voice snapped.

"Your Grace, I am your son and under your authority, but I am loyal to my brother Aemon first and foremost. I will follow him and his orders even above your own, father. I apologize for it, and you can punish me for it, but I care not," Baelon said passionately, his face resolute.

The King sighed tiredly and said, "Well, I expected as much from you, but you are only a ten-year-old boy. I would advise you to never repeat that sentence to anyone else. It is treason you are speaking, but since it is from my own son to his elder brother and my heir, I will forgive it. But there will be a punishment for it, and I am sorry that you must learn this lesson as a punishment, Baelon. It would have come later without such dire circumstances, but needs must."

Baelon looked at his father with fear, wondering what lesson he must learn now, a lesson he would never forget in his life.

"Baelon, your brother has gotten the Stark girl with child, and the babe will already be born now. The raven was sent to ask for my permission for your brother to marry the girl."

Baelon looked at his father hopefully, but that hope was destroyed in moments.

"I will, of course, deny it, as House Targaryen can't afford its heir marrying a Northern bastard girl who has already birthed a child. The realm will never accept it now, and it is a fight I do not want to undertake. If you had confessed to me about this affair in the preceding ten moons, I could have done something about it. I would have legitimized the girl and allowed the marriage as a method to join the still isolated North to our house. I would have sold it as a way of civilising the brutish northmen to The Realm and Faith and they would have accepted it. I could have sold it to the people as an eternal romantic tale, but now everything is lost. Even if the girl survives childbirth, she is now seen as the older seductress who got into bed with the young, innocent thirteen-year-old Crown Prince. My first grandchild will be a bastard and lost to me."

Baelon looked at his father in shock. He and Aemon had thought their father would be enraged at the affair with a bastard girl. Seeing the shock, the King continued.

"What? It seems to me that you have not really listened to my personal lessons. There is a reason I influenced Prince Aemon's lessons with Northern roots and romanticized Northern heroes. I wanted a Northern marriage for him. I wanted him, after his ascension, to truly unite the realm and the North. I united the South under House Targaryen's banner; that was my purpose. I placated the Faith and made peace with them. I couldn't be the one making friends with the North; it was my successor's purpose, but now it's ruined. Let's not waste time over spilled wine. Now, your purpose was to support your brother, not in his foolishness, but for his well-being. You were to report to me any foolishness done by him so that I could handle it without dire consequences. In plain words, you were to spy on your brother only for me and later manage my own spy network and be the invisible master of whispers for your brother."

Baelon looked at his father with pure disbelief. He had never caught on to the King's plans. The King always asked about his brother when they met, but he never thought it was deliberate spying. His mind churned in disbelief, sadness and finally rage. Rage at being used as a spy against his brother and rage at the deception when the King is to be honourable and wise. Ignoring his various feelings that must have shown in his face, the King continued, further enraging him.

"Now, spying is for later, I guess. Baelon, my son, you have brought upon yourself this punishment. As much as I gathered, Aemon was in love, and we become foolish when we are in love, especially us Targaryens. Indirectly, you could have prevented this disaster. You could have gifted your brother the happiness he deserves if only you had told me about this. In a way, I am also responsible. My outward support for the faith may have made him and yourself believe I would not support him. The guilt you feel when you see Aemon and know he will suffer heartbreak is your punishment. I pray that he recovers swiftly and that sacrificing his happiness was worth preserving your own peace of mind by remaining loyal to your brother above all else. I am used to the guilt that has been with me for my many, many sacrifices. May The Fourteen give you strength to bear it, my son."

End

Baelon, lost in thought, finally reached the King's Solar. He entered after gaining permission and bowed.

"Your Grace, you called for me," Baelon said. Since the meeting a decade ago, he had refrained from addressing the king as "father" even when they were alone. With trained eyes opened to the deviousness of the King almost 10 years ago and years of close association, Baelon recognized that Jaehaerys Targaryen's public persona was mostly a performance, a mummer's role. The only genuine aspects seemed to be his role as a brother to Alysanne Targaryen and his position as a Dragonlord of House Targaryen. He was almost sure that the king only married his mother because the king's sister asked him to. At times over the past ten years, Baelon even speculated that the king didn't harbor true hatred for his uncle Maegor. The only visible resentment emerged when Maegor's name was mentioned or alluded to; otherwise, the reaction mirrored his elder brother's response to his son Daemon. Like Aemon, the king preferred to ignore any references to their supposed objects of disdain and Baelon knew Aemon himself didn't know whether he loved or hated his son.

In Baelon's eyes, the only role that seemed almost authentic was the role of The King. Even the role of a father to his children fell short. Baelon often pondered whether the king's lack of a positive father figure had significantly impacted his ability to be a father himself. Almost invariably, the king approached even his children like a king with his vassal lords.

The king looked at Baelon expectantly. Seeing no reply from him, The King snapped, "Well, spit it out, boy. How is he? Do I need to make plans for Caraxes suddenly flying to Winterfell, and having the boy in the court, or my heir being a kinslayer? What is it now?"

Baelon sighed knowing that the King's question was from a place of concern for the image of House Targaryen and not the worry of sanity of his son. Baelon knew that something had broken in Aemon when he returned from the North and it took his utmost skill to manipulate Aemon to do anything overtly damaging to their house's image. Baelon hated himself that he has to use the skills he picked up from the King to do so. 

 "Nothing, Your Grace. You have nothing to worry about. There is no change. My brother has decided that his new distraction will be Rhaenys herself and continue with his own responsibilities. He has ordered me never to share anything about Daemon with him after I shared some tidings today." Baelon replied.

The King sighed in relief. "It seems that you have done your job well, Baelon. I am proud of you, my son. At least I am happy I have actually avoided my father's mistake with his own children. Aemon being the heir knew your worth and consider you almost his equal and consider your words very carefully. My own elder brother Aegon didn't consider his siblings his equals. He himself was Maegor's heir and ignored his sister-wife and elder sisters' advice to wait before starting his rebellion. Maegor had just finished the fight against the Faith and the lords who rebelled against our house when Aegon followed the same foolish lords' advice to rebel. Even now, I wonder what madness possessed my elder brother to start a fight against the Black Dread…."

Baelon felt nothing at the praise from the King and he knew that it was nothing but an manipulation. Baleon saw the king lost in his thoughts regarding his own brother and the Black Dread. He wondered whether it would be better had Aegon be King after Maegor committed suicide or whether Jaehaerys would have done anything treacherous to become a King. Suddenly he saw the King having a thought and looking at him carefully.

"Baelon the Brave," The King mocked, "you hit the snout of Balerion in your childish exuberance. You ride Vhagar, the greatest dragon alive after Balerion and the Cannibal. Tell me, would you fight against a Dragonlord who rides Balerion the Black Dread?"

Baelon looked sharply at the unexpected lesson. He didn't answer quickly and thought about it. Balerion was still enormous compared to other dragons, but Vhagar was his trusty companion. So he replied, "Vhagar is the closest in size, and Balerion is older and weaker now. It would be a close fight if the dragonrider is inexperienced, and assured suicide by dragon if the dragonrider is experienced."

The king looked at him for a moment in pity, and his face showed some regret. But the expression vanished as quickly as it came, replaced by his teaching demeanor.

"Your calculation is correct only if the older dragon were not Balerion. As long as he can fly, currently there is no dragon that could kill him. I'm not sure, even with Vermithor and Caraxes joined with Vhagar, Balerion could be killed. The moment a fight happens, his blood will blaze with rage and only end with the enemy's death. The dragonrider doesn't matter. What you must understand is that appearances are deceiving, even in such well-known matters. As a spymaster, you must discern the lords who try to deceive your brother for their own purposes and deal with them, above all you must not loose his trust. My own brother Aegon never believed in Rhaena and lost his life to Balerion ignoring her advice."

"Yes, Your Grace," Baelon accepted the wisdom offered, though he personally believed Vhagar would prevail as of now with him as its rider. The king looked at him sharply, as if sensing a hint of disagreement.

"Well," the King started, "I got sidetracked from the actual reason I called you here. Our spies in Winterfell have sent a message. It seems that my grandson takes after me in intelligence. He has shown wit beyond his years. He proposed a solution for the problem of the deterioration of the New Gift. He proposed to Lord Stark that they take the entire land on lease, another name for renting, from the Night's Watch for a nominal amount. The contract they are going to sign is perpetual, stipulating that unless both parties agree otherwise, the land remains with the Starks. In return, the Starks will continue to support the Night's Watch with additional resources. This is the essence of the contract."

Baelon gaped at the sheer audacity of the contract. At first glance, it appeared to comply with all of the Crown's orders, but upon closer inspection, it clearly violated the intent behind those orders. If scrutinized for substance rather than form, it amounted to plain treason disguised as a lease agreement or whatever the new name for renting is. Effectively, the land now belonged to House Stark again, allowing them to rule as they pleased.

The King looked at his son and pondered the dilemma. After some moments, he sighed and said, "There is nothing we can do without making the status quo continue, but I don't want that. The only action we can take is to impose a penalty on House Stark for disobeying the spirit of the Crown's orders. The Night's Watch has existed for 8000 years, beyond the reach of the politics of kings. I will not interfere with their decisions. If they wish to give away their lands, they are free to do so, as long as the King's Peace is maintained there. There were no complaints from the northern lords before your mother's, frankly, foolish decision. Now, I have doubts regarding the true origin of this plot. It seems to be a strategic move to weaken both the North and the Night's Watch. I have never visited the place and genuinely believed it would strengthen them, so along with your mothers forcefulness and my own belief I allowed it. Previously, all we had to endure from the North was a raven twice a year from the Watch requesting men and resources. Now, we receive dozens of complaints from all northern lords about Wildling raids, the Night's Watch failing as lords of the land, and many other grievances. I would prefer things return to their previous state, but the Crown's decision cannot be undone, so I endured it during previous years. Now, a perfect solution has been handed to us on a silver platter. I will not question or stop the solution, and I will manage my wife's and my Hand's outrage."

Baelon nodded pensively. "Your Grace, I agree with you. The amount of headache and time lost discussing the same issue has been humungous, but what about the thinly veiled treason? This will be seen as a weakness of the Crown. Other lords may exploit it for their own gain."

The King nodded in agreement. "That is correct. I cannot be seen as acquiescing to this strong-arming by my vassal lord. However, I have a solution and a perfect use for this situation that will increase our own standing. We will not inform the Small Council of this matter. Let us observe who brings it up for discussion. If they have kept an eye on Winterfell, where a claimant to the throne currently resides with plans regarding him, they will be exposed when they bring this matter to the Small Council. I am certain they will suggest punishment for my grandson and House Stark, and propose voiding the contract. This is where you come in, Baelon. You will ensure that Aemon opposes any moves against this contract and the Starks. Let him oppose it, and I will present it to the realm as his own gesture toward a son he abandoned for ten years. This will prevent the Crown from appearing weak, and diminish any grumbling among the Valyrians and First Men about abandoning our own blood."

Baelon looked at the King with respect. He had always recognized the intelligence behind the kingly facade, but the cunning required to devise such a plan to turn a potential weakness into a strategic advantage was unparalleled.

"Of course, Your Grace. I will ensure that Aemon opposes any recommendations against the Starks and Daemon in this matter," Baelon replied confidently.

The King nodded, trusting Baelon to enforce the order. "Baelon, it is also time to establish contact with your nephew. After this matter is discussed in the Small Council, send a letter to him. Present yourself as the loving Brave uncle eager to connect with his daring nephew. Find out how much he resents the father who abandoned him and how he views the Royal Family. Make sure he understands that House Stark has escaped repercussions, other than increased taxes, as a gift from his father. Now, if there is nothing else, you are dismissed," the King ordered.

Baelon bowed respectfully and left the room, already strategizing on how to influence Aemon, despite the order to never discuss Daemon with him.

Two weeks later

Baleon was standing at the court and being the perfect prince of house Targaryen. All the nearby Lords had started to appear before court for the Tourney and offer their congrats to his his brother Prince Aemon. The court was welcoming the Baratheons and some of the Stormlords. The pure happiness and prideful boasting regarding Rhaenys by Boremund Baratheon was bigger than necessary. The man was the son of a previous Queen, half-brother to current King and Queen, uncle to next King and brother to next queen, so his niece becoming a Queen is not that big of a matter when, his entire relation is Royalty. The only way he could be more close to the throne is if his future son married Rhaneys and becomes King-Consort. 

King Jaehaerys welcomed his brother with all the requisite formalities and received congratulations with graceful decorum. Despite Aemon's informal betrothal to Jocelyn before falling in love with Lyarra, he knew his brother still cared for and liked Jocelyn. The Baratheons were furious when news of Aemon fathering a bastard with the Stark girl and seeking marriage to her, thus spurning Jocelyn, leaked as usual within the Red Keep. Their anger reached new heights as Aemon acted as a drunken, lovesick sad fool who only cared about flights and fights to forget the said dead love for almost two years without courting Lady Jocelyn. It was considered a miracle when Aemon cleaned up his act and became the responsible crown prince he is now. The entire affair delayed Aemon's marriage to Jocelyn by at least two years. Baelon knew the Baratheons were still resentful that Aemon had not rescinded the lifelong annual stipend of dragons awarded to Daemon or he is being groomed by a Great House such as House Stark.

Baelon had already received news that the Grand Maester Elysar had been informed of the Stark Contract directly from the Citadel. He still didn't understand why the Winterfell maester reported that it was his nephew who proposed the idea. His sole responsibility was to collect taxes for the crown and report business contracts to the Citadel; the originator of the idea was irrelevant to him. Baelon suspected that the maesters, or someone manipulating them, were keeping a close watch on the Stark bastard. He anticipated that today's council meeting would be quite entertaining.

Baelon has already warned his brother that morning about the council meeting and Stark's contract being brought up.

Flashback:

Aemon gently rocked Rhaenys in his arms when Baelon found him.

"Brother," Baelon called softly.

Aemon looked up, his expression a mix of confusion and curiosity. "Is it already time for the council meeting?"

"No, brother," Baelon replied gently. "The meeting is after we receive your wife's family. The Baratheons have entered King's Landing. We'll be needed in the Throne Room soon."

"I'll be there to receive them," Aemon said, setting Rhaenys down in her crib with care.

Baelon looked at Aemon and resolved that he needed to play the role of the loving brother who disobeyed orders for Aemon's own good now.

"Aemon, brother dearest, I need to warn you about something," Baelon started delicately, but in a serious voice.

Aemon studied his brother's face, noticing a hint of panic underlying his seriousness, reminiscent of the times they were caught in their childhood pranks by the King. He waited until Aemon finished tucking Rhaenys into her crib and then nodded for Baelon to continue.

"Brother, Two weeks ago, I learned about a contract that, at first glance, seems to comply with all of the Crown's orders," Baelon began carefully, "but in reality, it undermines our mother's directive regarding the New Gift to the Night's Watch. It effectively returns the New Gift back to House Stark's control, rented at a nominal rate annually, perpetually."

Aemon's expression turned incredulous, his brows furrowing deeply. "The audacity of House Stark... They are known for their honor, yet this is blatant treason and disobedience." he muttered.

"Yes, brother. Lord Benjen seems to have orchestrated this to circumvent the Crown's intentions," Baelon continued, his voice tinged with concern. "As you know The Night's Watch has been deteriorating further, and Northern lords are flooding us with complaints. The Starks has proposed this solution for that problem but it is blatant disregard to our mother. This cannot go unpunished."

Aemon frowned deeply. "Why did you wait until now to inform me? You mentioned you learned it two weeks ago."

Baelon hesitated briefly, then confessed, "Because, Aemon, the idea for this contract came from Daemon Snow."

Aemon's shock was palpable. "Daemon? He's only what? ten years old! How the hell could he have suggested something like this?"

Baelon nodded, a smirk playing on his face. "Well, it seems my nephew may not bear my name, but he has certainly inherited my brains, not your foolishness." He said it with pride, aiming to lighten the mood and reassure Aemon. A jest seemed necessary in such serious times.

Aemon scoffed, but Baelon could see his brother's shoulders relaxing, the tension easing and for the first time Aemon's face doesn't show sadness or rage thinking about Dameon. 

Baelon continued as he wants to plant the idea of a gift to Daemon from the abandoned father.

"By all things I heard, he is a prodigy in anything he puts his mind too. Nothing is hard for him, so I think that this is not impossible for him. This situation actually doesn't affect us, it is actually good for the realm and especially us as this will end the Great Complaints of the North, but we will never allow it as it disregards the Queens judgement and will. The only thing that affects us is the apparent weakness of the Crown, if the Lords became aware of it."

 Baelon looked at his brother carefully as he continued and a slyness entered the voice.

"No one actually cares about the North or Nights watch, so I decided to not to report it. I don't want the first message ever received by my nephew from his father's family to be a punishment when he actually did incredible thing for the realm. It will be unnecessarily cruel when my nephew opens the first message or contact form us hoping for a positive message or Gift for the missed namesdays, and receives scorn and wrongful judgement. But it seems that the maesters are excessively interested in this matter, as the maester of Winterfell not only reported the contract to Citadel, but also that Daemon was responsible for it and not Lord Stark. Our own Grand Maester Elysar was informed and he will tell it this today's meeting. He and Septon Barth has even invited our mother for today's meeting."

Aemon absorbed the information in silence, then turned to his Valonqar, his right hand, and spoke firmly. "I see their strategy—to garner support for whatever they propose. Our mother hasn't fully recovered from childbirth, yet they would inconvenience her for their agenda. Naturally, she will be furious at this disrespect and will not admit to any wrongdoing. I will not allow this to proceed. Whatever their intentions are, it will not be done. Brother, will you stand with me on this?"

Aemon looked at Baelon, seeking his unwavering support.

Baelon smiled and said, "Of course, brother. My support will always be with you. My fealty is yours forever." and He meant every word too. Though the King may think that he spies on Aemon, on King's behalf, ever since his childhood folly that cost Aemon his love, his first priority had always been his brother. Baelon would protect Aemon, even from himself and he knew a loving Aemon will never ever punish someone for doing good, especially his own blood. After all, Aemon always supported and encouraged him when he surpassed him in anything even if he was The Second Son.

Authors Note:Next chapter- the council meeting that will change Seven Kingdoms as a whole.Looking forward to the reactions, comments and discussions!!!To read ahead chp 11, 12, 13 and 14 : My Pat reon : search for Black Wolf