"You're here!"
Seeing Baelon and Gaemon walk into his solar side by side, King Jaehaerys felt a surge of quiet joy at the sight of his two strong, vibrant sons. These were his greatest creations, and the future he would lean on.
At their father's greeting, Baelon and Gaemon bowed together and spoke in unison.
"Father, we've come."
Jaehaerys nodded, then asked, "Do you know why I called for you?"
Baelon answered first. "Father, has Big Brother finished preparing on Dragonstone? Are you sending us now to begin the next stage?"
Gaemon nodded in agreement—he had guessed the same.
Jaehaerys gave another nod, confirming Baelon's words without dragging it out. "Correct. Aemon has everything ready. The next step is for the two of you to establish the forge and secure the techniques. It is time for you to depart."
Both brothers nodded eagerly. "We'll leave at once."
"Understood. I'll set out right away."
Seeing how impatient his sons were, Jaehaerys quickly raised a hand to stop them. "There is no need to rush tonight. Rest well and leave at first light tomorrow. This evening we will dine together as a family—one last meal before you go. Consider it my farewell to both of you."
Though Baelon and Gaemon were eager to begin, they could not refuse their father's wishes. They would stay one more night.
That evening, the entire Targaryen family gathered for the feast.
House Targaryen was truly thriving. The second generation alone numbered eleven members. Adding Jocelyn Baratheon, who had married into the family, the royal second generation now stood at twelve.
The third generation was also beginning to grow. Aemon's daughter Rhaenys, Baelon's two sons Viserys and Daemon—all were part of the new bloodline.
Counting the King and Queen, the royal family now numbered seventeen souls. In the long history of House Targaryen, this was an astonishing figure.
Alysanne's title as "the Good Queen" and the realm's belief that the Mother herself watched over her was well earned. In an age when childbirth was a deadly gamble, she had entered that battlefield thirteen times and emerged victorious each one. To the people of Westeros, such a miracle could only be the work of the gods.
The long dining table was packed. Jaehaerys and Alysanne sat at the head, smiling warmly as they looked out over their full house. Their hearts swelled with quiet pride.
Seated closest to the royal couple were Baelon and Gaemon—the guests of honor tonight, for the feast was held in their honor before their departure.
Once everyone was seated, Jaehaerys, as head of the family, rose and lifted his goblet. He raised it toward the gathering and spoke in a warm, carrying voice.
"Thank you all for coming tonight. To the continued prosperity of House Targaryen—drink!"
The family stood as one. At the King's toast, every goblet rose and the wine vanished in a single swallow.
"To House Targaryen!"
The first cup set the mood ablaze. Laughter and conversation filled the hall as the feast truly began.
"Father, a cup to you," Baelon said, raising his goblet to the King beside him.
Jaehaerys had deliberately seated Baelon at his right hand so they could drink together more easily.
Gaemon, though already one hundred and seventy centimeters tall at eight years old, was still far from adulthood. His goblet held only fruit juice—specially prepared, with no alcohol. Under Gaemon's guidance, the rule that minors must not drink had taken firm root in the family. Everyone now understood basic hygiene and healthy living thanks to his explanations.
After sharing a cup with Baelon, Jaehaerys let out a satisfied sigh. These past years had been hard on him. Ever since Alysanne accepted Gaemon's warnings about the harm of strong drink, his days of treating wine like water had ended. His flask now held only plain boiled water or the mild tea imported from Yi Ti. The tea had a pleasant aftertaste and slight bitterness, but it was not what he truly craved.
Jaehaerys could have ignored the Queen's rule in a hundred different ways, but after decades of marriage he knew she worried for his health. So he endured, drinking water and tea like everyone else.
The rule applied not only to the King, but to Baelon and Aemon as well. Their wives were even stricter than Alysanne, sometimes checking their flasks to make sure they were not sneaking drinks in private.
This was also why Baelon and Aemon had been so eager to establish the Dragonsteel forge on Dragonstone—to finally escape the watchful eyes for a while.
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