Father-Daughter Quarrel

Rhaenyra strode over, looking furious. "She said Rhaegar was injured. What happened?"

Viserys said disapprovingly, "Rhaenyra, is that how you speak to your father and king?"

Rhaenyra was momentarily at a loss for words. She said helplessly, "Sorry. I'm just worried about Rhaegar."

"Rhaegar is in a bad way. He has extensive burns, and the Grand Maester says he may not make it."

Viserys repeated what the Grand Maester had told him.

But he didn't believe it himself.

When Rhaegar had spoken with him, he'd seemed in good spirits, not at all like someone on the brink of death.

Viserys believed the Seven had protected his eldest son.

Rhaenyra, unaware of what had happened, was stunned by his words.

She stood rooted to the spot, at a loss for what to do, unable to speak. She nearly fell over.

Rhaegar was her only full brother, the one close relative her mother had left her at the cost of her own life.

"How could this happen...? Rhaegar was fine this morning... No..."

Rhaenyra murmured in a daze, unable to believe the terrible news she'd just heard.

She couldn't accept it.

"Where's Rhaegar? I want to see him!"

It took Rhaenyra a while to collect herself. She was desperate to see Rhaegar.

Viserys sneered. "So you do care about your brother after all. I thought that bastard Daemon had stolen your heart."

"What are you talking about? What do you mean, Uncle Daemon stole my heart?"

Rhaenyra retorted without thinking, then continued to ask, "I want to see Rhaegar. My brother needs me."

"No, he doesn't need anyone. All he needs is to lie quietly in bed and recover!"

Viserys refused without mercy.

He'd already learned all about what happened at the Dragonpit today, including everything Rhaenyra and Daemon had said to each other.

His sharp instincts told him that Daemon seemed to have designs on Rhaenyra.

His own brother was trying to lure his daughter for the sake of power. Viserys would never allow that.

He had to nip it in the bud before anything went wrong.

Seeing how unyielding her father was, Rhaenyra didn't understand what was going on and could only try to appease him.

She asked anxiously, "Father, I'm Rhaegar's sister. You should at least tell me what happened to him."

Viserys didn't hide the truth. He frankly told her what had happened.

Rhaenyra cried out, "Rhaegar went to tame Dreamfyre all by himself? Is he mad?"

Everyone knew dragons were ill-tempered creatures.

A dragon like Dreamfyre, a she-dragon who'd been imprisoned for years, was especially fierce.

When Rhaenyra had tamed a dragon as a child, she'd done it gradually, with the Dragon Trainers' help.

Charging into a dragon's lair to tame an antisocial Adult Dragon was practically a death wish.

Every year on Dragonstone, one or two reckless youths with Old Valyrian blood secretly tried to tame wild dragons.

Most ended up burned to ash or swallowed whole by the dragons.

Few survived dragonflame.

Thinking of Rhaegar being burned beyond recognition by dragonflame filled Rhaenyra with indescribable anguish.

If she hadn't refused Rhaegar's request to fly on dragonback, perhaps he wouldn't have put himself in danger.

Seeing his daughter blame herself, Viserys's heart softened. He decided not to frighten her any further.

He sighed. "Rhaegar was lucky. He was only scorched by dragonflame. If he rests and recovers for a while, I don't think he'll be in any serious danger."

"That's good. As long as Rhaegar's life isn't in danger!"

Rhaenyra let out a huge sigh of relief, her heart finally settling back into her chest.

The initial shock had done its job. Viserys set down the stone carving, intending to broach the real reason he'd called her there.

"Rhaenyra, is there anyone you like? Someone who likes you back?"

As a father, Viserys felt a little awkward asking.

But for the sake of his children's future, he steeled himself and asked.

The topic had changed so abruptly that Rhaenyra couldn't keep up. Suspiciously, she asked, "Why would you ask that? Has another lord asked you for my hand?"

"Ahem. Of course not."

Viserys disguised his embarrassment with a cough, then explained, "I just think you're old enough to be betrothed. If there's someone you truly like, you can tell me."

"No. Most of the men I've met are a bunch of fools, and the few clever ones are far too full of themselves."

Rhaenyra's expression turned visibly disdainful as she mocked the men who strutted around her like peacocks.

Viserys rubbed his brow, hesitating. "What would you think if I arranged a betrothal to someone who met all the requirements?"

"Father, we agreed not to bring this up before the tourney ends."

Rhaenyra was clearly opposed to being pressured into marriage.

Viserys hurriedly said, "You should at least hear who I have in mind. You might be satisfied."

"Do as you like. It'll be one of those few houses either way."

Rhaenyra turned away angrily, unwilling to face her father just then.

With his daughter no longer watching him, Viserys felt much less pressure. The words slipped out before he could stop them. "What do you think of following our family's tradition?"

Rhaenyra stiffened, then turned around with difficulty, suspicion written all over her face. "Following tradition?"

She guessed who he had in mind.

Angrily, she said, "You're willing to sacrifice my marriage for the Iron Throne, and now you're dragging someone else into it too!?"

Viserys's temper flared as well. His voice rose. "What do you mean, sacrifice your marriage? You're a royal Princess. A Marriage Alliance is part of your duty."

"Even I, the king, can't escape it!"

Rhaenyra refused to back down. "If you want a Marriage Alliance, arrange one for yourself. I want nothing to do with that pack of carrion-eating vultures, and you're not to involve Rhaegar!"

"Rhaenyra! Do you know what nonsense you're spouting?"

Viserys shot to his feet and pointed angrily at his daughter. "You're a Princess of the realm and the heir to the Iron Throne. Your status grants you the greatest honor on the entire continent, second only to mine."

"But now, look at how selfish you are!"

"You're happy to enjoy the rights your status brings you, but you're utterly unwilling to make any sacrifices for it!"

Viserys glared at Rhaenyra, eyes wide with anger, and demanded, "Is this what you call a sense of duty as heir to the Iron Throne?"

Rhaenyra clenched her teeth, refusing to yield. "Power isn't about compromising with others. You have to fight for everything you want."

"What have you fought for? What do you have to be proud of besides being the heir?"

Viserys shouted.

Rhaenyra smiled bitterly and said indifferently, "This is what you've really wanted to say all along, isn't it?"

"You also think I shouldn't cling to my position as heir?"

"Now you have sons—Aegon, વિશેષણ..."

"Especially Rhaegar, now that he's recovered. You don't need a girl as your heir anymore."

Viserys immediately denied it. "No! I admit I've had moments of doubt, but even now, I still recognize you as my heir."

"A female heir goes against tradition. If you don't choose a consort with powerful backing, it'll be difficult to hold on to the Iron Throne in the future."

"I know you don't want to marry the sons of lords and nobles you can't stand. He would be a good choice."

"He's pure-hearted, has Targaryen blood, and his status would help you consolidate your power."

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