Chapter Text
73 AC
The grounds of Old Oak are alight with activity. The jousting tourney being held is a spectacle The Reach hasn't seen in a brief time.
Lord and Ladies from all over The Reach have come to the seat of House Oakheart to celebrate the birth of Lord Oakheart's new son.
King Jaehaerys himself was even in attendance, accompanied by Princess Alyssa. She is the only one of the Targaryen children to join him as the rest remained in The Crowlands, save for Princess Maegelle who had recently made way to the Starry Sept to become a novice.
Alyssa sits beside her father in a grand viewing box alongside the Oakhearts, watching knights and squires alike break lance-after-lance. The banners of Rowan, Ashford, Fossoway, Redwyne, Beesbury, Peake, and Florent to name a few. However, the biggest topic of gossip of the tourney was the arrival of a new mystery knight. Princess Alyssa found herself quite intrigued by this lad.
Who was this mystery knight?
Who was this Silver Fool?
When it was announced that Lady Oakheart was with child, Lord Oakheart began planning a jousting tourney to celebrate the birth of their new child.
"The gods will see fit to bless me with another son. It is only fitting that my family and I celebrate properly." He wrote in his announcement.
This was all Baelon needed to hear to get back into the training yard. Ever since Aemon claimed his dragon, Baelon felt motivated to find the next tourney to claim his knigthood and his own dragon as well. Caraxes was serpentine and demonic in appearance. The dragonkeepers have dubbed him The Blood Wyrm. A true beast that could inspire fear and, with it, obedience. This was a dragon fit for the future king. Baelon could still remember the day Aemon first took flight, how the dragons chirps and hisses filled the sky. He looked every bit a Targaryen as Aegon the Conqueror must have on the back of The Black Dread. This was especially true when Aemon commanded his beast to let out a stream of fire into the air, earning applause from the smallfolk as they watched the heir take to the skies. As Aemon landed, he was cackling with excitement.
"There are no words to describe how it feels." Aemon said as he and Baelon toasted each other that evening.
"I pray that Jocelyn will share your enthusiasm, brother." Baelon said to him.
"Oh, give it time. As you know, such bonds take time to form." Aemon responded.
Baelon knew, in his heart of hearts, that he meant to claim his dragon sooner than later.
After spending some time in the yard, he makes his way to the stables for his charger. A lovely mount with white fur, Baelon always saw that he was in the best care ever since the best came into his possession. He always seemed well adept at riding at rings. Surely, this would be his mount for the joust at Old Oak.
More than that, within the past year, Her Grace had announced that she was with child once more. To nobody's surprise, Aemon and Baelon were eagerly hoping for another brother to bring into the training yard one day.
"Eager for a new training partner already?" Alyssa asked in jest one evening, nudging Baelon's arm as they strolled through a hallway.
"Who says he would not be yours?" Baelon asked in return. "I would merely be preparing him for the torment you will be like to unleash."
At this, Alyssa scoffed with a grin.
"You say that as if you grow tired of my torment." She teased, giving him a playful grin that made his heart skip a beat.
"Oh, nobody could grow tired of such a thing from you, sweet sister." Baelon teased in kind.
With Aemon and Jocelyn having taken residence on Dragonstone as is custom for the heir, Baelon has found himself in the company of his sister much more frequently, an occurrence he finds himself looking forward to in ways he hadn't back when they were younger. In addition, he finds his eyes lingering on her more than he noticed.
As the day of the tourney drew closer and closer, His Grace had announced that he would be traveling to Old Oak to pay tribute to Lord Oakheart and congratulate him on the birth of his child. He would also be accompanied by his daughter, Princess Alyssa. Later, however, he would invite Baelon into his solar for a brief conversation.
"You wished to see me, father?" Baelon asks after being led by Ser Lucamore.
"Yes, my son, have a seat." Jaehaerys said, gesturing to a nearby chair. After claiming his seat, His Grace looked upon his son as his his mind were made up on something. While he understood how much it meant to Baelon to enter the lists, he impressed upon him how the health and wellbeing of his mother was equally vital. He told Baelon that he would remain in King's Landing, aiding Septon Barth in ruling in his stead.
"This decision was not made lightly, Baelon." Jaehaerys said. "Grand Maester Elysar has recommended that your mother be on bedrest for the time being. With Aemon on Dragonstone, it falls to you to remain here should anything happen to either the realm or to your mother." He explains this firmly enough to his son so as to reiterate how the health of his mother and unborn sibling are paramount. Baelon feels the excitement for the tourney, and the prospect of knighthood, begin to fade away almost immediately. "I'm sorry, my son. But my decision is final."
Baelon left the solar and walked through one of the Red Keep's many halls filled with despair. He can scarce recall anything he worked so hard for. To be told that his plans are being ripped away from him was truly heart-braking. His thoughts are interrupted by the sight of his sister, Daella, running through the hall, covering her face as she cried.
"Daella?" Baelon called after her. She did not respond and kept running. He then noticed their mother doing her best to move after her. "Mother, what has happened?" He asks her.
"Vaegon." Was all she said in response. This didn't fully surprise Baelon as he came to know his brother as a sour lad who was more interested in books than in spending time with other people. Ever since they were children, Baelon did come to notice how much Vaegon and Daella loathed each other. As that thought passed through his mind, he noticed his younger brother walking through the hall, a look of annoyance pasted onto his face and it appears he is dripping wet.
"What did you say to her?" Baelon asks with concern, only to be ignored by his brother. Not one to take disrespect lightly, he caught up to his younger brother. "Vaegon!" He snapped as he caught his shoulder and turned him around. A second later, he felt how damp his shoulder was as the scent of wine hit his nostrils. "Wine?" He asks.
"You can thank Alyssa for this." Vaegon said in a rather annoyed tone. "After mother went waddling after Daella, she saw fit to waste an entire flagon of Arbor gold."
"Why did I see our sister crying? What did you say to her?" Baelon asks, not wanting the subject to be changed.
Vaegon sighs, clearly still annoyed that he has to spend another second in wine-soaked clothed.
"One of mothers companions asked when Daella and I would wed." He began. "I informed her that only lord she would be fit for is one in need of stupid children."
Hearing this caused Baelon's eyes to widen. He always knew that he and Daella did not like each other, but this was certainly knew. He now understood why their sweet sister ran off and why Alyssa poured the wine over him.
"You will march to your room and change your clothes. Then, once you are done, you will find Daella, fall to your knees, and beg for her forgiveness." He says sternly. More than just in combat, Baelon always tried to live by the virtues of a knight, including those of chivalry and justice.
Vaegon groaned as she shook himself loose from Baelon's grip. "You had better apologize!" Baelon called out to him. As his brother walks off, he hangs and shakes his head, amazed at how Vaegon could be so rude to their sweet sister.
Nearly a sennight later, His Grace and Alyssa took flight on Vermithor and made way for Old Oak, leaving Baelon the eldest Targaryen to monitor King's Landing and his mother. He wrote to Aemon, wallowing in dismay over his dashed hopes. Aemon wrote back, providing whatever comfort he could muster, suggesting he find some way to distract himself.
One afternoon, after another women's court, Baelon escort Alysanne back to her quarters. They had to make a quick stop to check in on Saera who was screaming at a nursemaid. Baelon silently thanked the gods that his newest sister, Viserra, was a welcomed change compared to Saera. Compared to her, Viserra was a joy to be around. Though, he would never admit it out loud, lest he incur his mother's anger.
"Here we are." Baelon says, opening the door to the royal bedchamber. He carefully walks her to the bed. After Baelon moves the blankets, he helps his mother into the bed and covers her up.
"Thank you, sweetling." Alysanne says with a smile. "I will admit, I am glad you don't groan about this as often as Vaegon or, at one point, Alyssa has." Hearing this causes her son to snicker in amusement.
He fills two goblets of water for himself and Alysanne and, after taking a sip, he sports a look of disappointment.
"What? Tired of spending time with me already?" She lightly jokes. Baelon responds by shaking his head. "Talk to me, my child. I am like to listen better than your father would." On this she was not wrong. Whenever the children had something that weighed on their minds, it was their mother who seemed the easiest to go to.
"I admit that...I was hoping to venture to Old Oak." Baelon begins, not wanting to lie to his mother. "I had hoped that this would be my chance at knighthood...like Aemon had at Duskendale."
As Baelon talks, his mother listens quietly and intently. For their entire lives, Alysanne has watched her oldest boys dedicate themselves to the training yard and the ideals of knighthood. She has come to know how much it means to them. She can imagine the disappointment Baelon must be feeling.
"Darling, perhaps this is your chance." Alysanne says with a soft smile. "You have my leave to ride to Old Oak. If the gods will it, you will surely earn your spurs."
"But, father has forbidden me from entry." Baelon sulks. He watches Alysanne silently ponder for a brief moment.
"True, he forbade you from entering." She begins. "But, there are...ways around that." She says in a crafty tone.
Baelon raises an eyebrow at this. "How do you mean?" He asks, quite intrigued by what his mother and queen may have in mind.
"Well...it isn't uncommon for a tourney, or at least a joust, to find a surprise guest enter the lists." She says. "A...mystery knight."
Baelon's eyes widen at what she says, unable to believe what she is suggesting. Alysanne grins and winks at him, quite pleased to have suggested something surprisingly deceitful to her son.
"I expect their to be suits in the armory that are currently not in use. Perhaps you will be able to craft a quick persona with one." Alysanne continues. "I look forward to learning how history will remember you as."
"B-But, what about you?" Baelon asks, torn between excitement for the joust and concern for the safety of his mother and unborn sibling. "Will you not be-"
"I am pregnant, not a cripple." Alysanne calmly cuts him off. "I have my handmaids, the household knights and Kingsguard, Grand Maester Elysar and, if need be, Septon Barth. I will be well, my son."
After a few seconds, a smile spreads across Baelon's face as he leans down to kiss the top of his mother's head.
"You have my word, mother, the next time you see me, I will have earned my spurs." Baelon declares before marching out of the room and directly to the armory. He takes some time to find the right pieces to assemble his armor for the joust. Once done, he spots some paint used to emblazon the Targaryen sigil on the shields. With a smile, he takes that as well as he rides off to Old Oak.
As the contestants lined up before Lord Oakheart's viewing box alongside King Jaehaerys and Princess Alyssa, they were joined by a knight in shining silvery armor. His visor was painted with a laughing face. He entered the lists as The Silver Fool. None knew what to make of him. Some even made japes, not taking the painting on his visor and, by extension, him as a serious contender. Baelon had expected this and was counting on it. He doubted many of them would try put up much of a fight if they didn't see him as a true threat. Every now and then, he caught Alyssa's eye on him, wondering what she made of him. Part of him hoped she would realize who he was.
As the tourney went on, The Silver Fool began to really make a name for himself as he unhorsed Lord Lynus Rowen. Following that, he unhorsed Ser Alyn Ashford and then his own friends Stannis and Edmure. He felt a pang of guilt for having to do this to his friends. His next opponent, Ser Denys Oakheart, proved himself to be a little more difficult. Both men broke four lances before Baelon focused his aim to a gap between Denys' shield and his arm. His well-honed vision had earned him another victory.
His next opponent strode in on horseback. Ser Rickard Redwyne, son of Lord Manfred and brother of Ser Ryam, was clad in armor and a shield with a cluster of grapes. As both men bowed to each other from their horses, they took to their sides of the field and readied their lances. When the time came, Baelon bid his horse to charge at his opponent. He kept his lance aimed just enough so that he felt no permanent damage would be incurred. As they met, both lances broke as the riders went to claim new ones. Again, their lances broke. They claimed new ones for a third attempt. Baelon could feel that this would be it.
He whipped the reins of his horse to charge at Ser Rickard. As they met, he was so certain of his victory that he did not immediately feel his grip on his shield start to waver. As soon as the lance collided with his shield, it was too late. He felt himself being separated from his horse before he hit the ground. He let out a deep grunt of pain as his back was shielded by the metal of his suit. But, his ears began to ring from the impact his head took.
"Ser." A voice calls to him. Baelon has to look around until he notices Ser Rickard looking down at him from his horse. "I bid you remove your helm so that we may know who fought so fiercely this day." His voice booms so that the crowd can hear him.
Smiling behind his visor, he bows to the knight and carefully begins removing his helm. The sun hits his eyes as he tosses it to the ground, exposing the mass of white hair that has been matted with sweat. A gasp spreads across the crowd.
"My name is Prince Baelon of House Targaryen!" He announces. "Son of King Jaehaerys, First of His Name, and Queen Alysanne!" His eyes catch onto the face of His Grace, eyes wide with shock, while his sister sports a mask of excitement and joy.
He looks back at the knight of The Arbor who smirks in amusement. "You are no knight, my prince." He remarks. "That took balls of you to do, though. No squire would be so brazen as to do what you have done this day." He dismounts from his horse and walks toward the second stone of the dragon. "That took balls, my prince."
Baelon snorts, smiling in delight with his actions.
"Kneel." Ser Rickard says clear enough for many to hear.
The prince blinks a few times, unsure if he heard him correctly. "I beg your pardon, Ser Rickard?" He asks, his smile faltering.
"You heard me." He softly says, his own smile widening.
Gods be good. Baelon thinks to himself as he bends the knee to the victor.
A bigger gasp claims the crowd and Alyssa rises from her seat, clinging to the railing before her as Ser Rickard unsheathes his blade, placing it each of Baelon's shoulders.
"In the name of the Warrior, I charge you to be brave. In the name of the Father, I charge you to be just. In the name of the Mother, I charge you to defend the young and innocent. In the name of the Maid, I charge to to protect all women. In the name of the Smith, I charge you to be steadfast in your vows. In the name of the Crone, I charge you to be wise. In the name of the Stranger, I charge you to humble."
Baelon stops breathes silently the entire time, wanting to savor every word spoken and every touch of the blade on his shoulder. He has waited for this his entire life.
"Arise, Baelon Targaryen." Ser Rickard Redwyne announces with pride. "A knight of the Seven Kingdoms!"
The feast that evening is quite grand to say the least as there is much to celebrate. Lord Oakheart has a new son, Ser Rickard has been announced the winner of the joust, and a young man has earned his spurs.
Baelon eats and drinks at a table with the Fossoway twins, a son of House Florent, and even Lord Hightower.
"I will return, my friends." Baelon says, laying his goblet on the table. "I expect your raven soon, Lord Hightower." He said to the delight of the Defender of Oldtown.
Before he can reach Lord and Lady Oakheart, he feels a small mass slam into his side, constricting around him. He chuckles, looking down to see Alyssa's smiling face.
"Why did you not tell us you would be in the joust?" Alyssa excitedly asks as their father walks up behind her.
"Because he was forbidden from entry." His Grace says with a knowing look.
"True. But, there are no rules against a mystery knight from entry." Baelon retorts, looking down at Alyssa. "I figured you'd like that little name seeing as you gave it to me." He winks, earning another laugh from Alyssa.
"This was very irresponsible of you, my son." Jaehaerys scolds. "You were to be at home, monitoring your mother."
"Funnily enough, this was her doing." Baelon says with a smirk.
Hearing this causes Alyssa's jaw to hang open with a smile leading to a laugh of, almost, pride for their mother. She rarely, if ever, indulges in something so reckless, let alone encourages her own children to do so.
"I will have words with her when we return home." Jaehaerys says, hanging his head a bit before stepping forward to Baelon. "That said, I cannot deny how skilled your performance was in the joust." He says, laying a hand on his left shoulder. "Ser Ryam and Ser Lucamore will be proud of how far you have come...just as I am." He says. While he does not smile, Baelon can hear the pride in his voice.
"Thank you, father." Baelon says, smiling at him first and then at Alyssa just as a song begins to play, urging people to begin dancing.
"Come, brother." Alyssa says, taking his hand and walking him towards the festivities.
As they made their way onto the dancefloor, Alyssa quickly found Baelon's hands and begin to engage in the movements appropriate for the song. Alyssa was never one for dancing. However, she would happily do so as long as her partner was her dear brother. As the music played on, Baelon and Alyssa could not deny how much fun they were having. Their eyes were on each other the entire time and would find themselves moving quite close to each other. The newly knighted prince could almost smell her.
As the night drew on, Baelon bid his farewells to the rulers of Old Oak and the visitors. Joined by his sister, the prince made his way back to his horse.
"Is it really a good idea for you to be riding so late?" Alyssa criticized.
"As a matter of fact, yes." Baelon answers. "I must return to King's Landing as soon as possible. From there, I will make my way to the Dragonpit and claim my mount." He says as he finishes saddling his horse.
Alyssa hangs her head, pouting a bit. Her brother notices this and walks back towards her, lifting her chin up with a finger.
"Fret not, sweet sister." Baelon says with a smile. "The next time you see me, I will be a dragon rider."
Alyssa's smile spreads once more as she lifts herself up on her toes, closing the distance between her and Baelon's lips. Baelon's eyes widen and he feels his cheeks getting hot. Despite how surprised he is, Baelon doesn't attempt to stop the kiss, finding himself to be enjoying it.
After some time, Alyssa is the one to pull away and grins up at her brother.
"I've always wanted to do that." She teases.
"T-To kiss me or...to kiss a knight?" Baelon asks, not expecting the stammer he let out.
"Both." Alyssa simply says before returning to the feast.
Baelon stands there for a moment, trying to process if that had actually happened. He shakes his head as he mounts his horse and begins his ride back to King's Landing. With his knighthood, he could no longer wait to make good on his end of his childhood pact with Aemon. He must claim the dragon his heart had been set on for so many years.