Chapter 119: The End of the Year of the Two Kings
"Let me go in and see her."
The terror of the Shivers was known throughout the realm, and Queen Rhaenyra had ordered the doors sealed shut, forbidding anyone from approaching. Just as everyone stood helplessly outside, the aged voice of Lord Corlys Velaryon—the Sea Snake—rose from behind them.
"Grandfather, you…" Joffrey saw the old man slowly walking toward them and instinctively reached out to stop him, but Corlys waved him aside.
"When I was young, I caught the Shivers on the Basilisk Isles... and survived." The Sea Snake spoke firmly. "Maester Gerardys has never suffered the Shivers before, and he is old. If infected, he will not survive many days. Someone must carry out the Queen's will."
Corlys swept his eyes over everyone present.
"We cannot allow the mistakes made after Viserys's death to happen again."
Daemon opened his mouth to object, but Joffrey caught his arm and shook his head, signaling him not to interfere.
Corlys glanced at his grandson with satisfaction. He stepped forward, gently knocked on the door, motioned for everyone to move back, then pushed open the first door and entered.
Daemon looked at Joffrey in confusion.
It wasn't that he doubted Corlys's loyalty.
But Corlys Velaryon undeniably had ambitions of his own.
Through decades of effort, House Velaryon had risen from a vassal house of Dragonstone into one of the wealthiest and most powerful houses in Westeros.
Through Princess Rhaenys's marriage, House Velaryon had once gained Meleys, one of House Targaryen's fiercest dragons.
After the Great Council, Jaehaerys's guilt had granted dragonriders to Velaryons.
They had even possessed Vhagar after the death of Balerion the Black Dread.
For a time, House Velaryon had possessed more dragons—and stronger dragons—than House Targaryen itself.
But all of that was gone.
Laenor's accidental death had turned Seasmoke wild.
Laena's death returned Vhagar to Targaryen hands.
Princess Rhaenys and Meleys had both perished in war.
House Velaryon had lost every dragon.
Worse, they had nearly lost their own bloodline.
The rise of House Varezys had further replaced House Velaryon's special standing.
The Varezys possessed fleets.
And their Silver Fleet was stronger.
Four-hundred-oared and five-hundred-oared warships filled entire armadas, while House Velaryon possessed only one five-hundred-oared flagship and nine four-hundred-oared warships.
As for ocean-going vessels, even Corlys envied the famous purple-sailed galleons of House Varezys.
During his voyages he had personally commissioned three such ships, and they still formed the backbone of his fleet.
The Varezys possessed greater wealth.
And it continued growing.
As for dragons—
No comparison existed.
In both quantity and quality, House Varezys now surpassed every family alive.
Their Dragonlord bloodline was purer than House Velaryon's ever had been.
Even more painfully, Corlys had once silently tolerated the deaths and destruction of rival Velaryon claimants during succession struggles involving Daemon and his sons.
That had left surviving relatives with inheritance claims weaker than even Daemon and Laena's daughters.
Thus collateral Velaryon branches had effectively lost any chance at inheriting Driftmark.
Then Lucerys died.
To secure Prince Dragonzel's support for the Blacks, Rhaenyra arranged for Rhaena—whose previous betrothal had become void—to marry Ray.
Corlys's grand design had completely failed.
His original dream had been simple:
Jacaerys would become king.
Baela would become queen.
The Velaryon bloodline would remain tied to the royal line.
Lucerys would marry Rhaena and continue Velaryon blood through Driftmark.
Now everything had changed.
The heir to Driftmark was Joffrey Velaryon.
And even Corlys knew the boy carried almost no Velaryon blood.
Well...
Not entirely.
Tracing far enough back, one could still find Velaryon ancestry.
After all, Aegon the Conqueror's mother had been a Velaryon.
Queen Alyssa, mother of Jaehaerys I and Alysanne, had also been born of House Velaryon.
Rhaenyra herself carried Velaryon blood.
Thus her sons naturally possessed some as well.
But that was not the issue.
None of the boys looked Valyrian.
And they certainly lacked Laenor's blood.
That thorn had always remained buried in Corlys's heart.
"I spoke with Grandfather after my brother died."
Joffrey looked into Daemon's eyes and slowly recounted their conversation.
After news of Lucerys's death reached Dragonstone, Joffrey had sought out Corlys and Princess Rhaenys.
He still remembered his fear and embarrassment.
It had been his grandmother who gave him courage enough to speak honestly.
At the time, every important supporter of the Queen—including Corlys—favored alliance through marriage with House Varezys.
Only after the decision had been made had Corlys remembered the awkward matter of his own bloodline.
Joffrey was already betrothed to Aliandra Martell.
The issue became troublesome.
Then Joffrey himself proposed a solution.
He promised Corlys that his future children—including the child destined to inherit Sunspear—would marry members of House Velaryon.
Through those marriages, Velaryon blood would return to prominence.
And Joffrey himself would permanently reside at Driftmark with Tyraxes.
After hearing Joffrey's promise, Corlys and Rhaenys—who already loved the three boys deeply despite the questions surrounding their parentage—immediately accepted.
In the future, Velaryon blood would merge with Martell blood.
That arrangement was not truly a loss.
After the war, Driftmark would still retain a dragon.
Thus Corlys wholeheartedly accepted Joffrey's proposal.
After hearing everything, Daemon could only stroke his stepson's hair.
He no longer knew what to say.
Should he curse his wife's recklessness?
Or praise the children's wisdom and sense of responsibility?
Daemon no longer had the strength to think about such things.
He was growing old.
Forty-seven-year-old Prince Daemon was no longer the passionate, impulsive prince of his youth.
A warrior remained a warrior even in old age.
But now he wanted only peace.
He wished to restore calm to the realm...
And live long enough to watch his children grow up and have children of their own.
Inside the Queen's chambers, Rhaenyra's lips had slowly begun turning blue.
Her body no longer shook as violently as Maester Gerardys beside her.
The old maester had tried scalding soup, Dragon peppers, fire, hot water—every remedy imaginable.
Nothing worked.
And he himself had already collapsed.
Yet even now he still struggled to prepare medicines while praying for miracles.
"Cor... Corlys... Lord... you cannot…"
Gerardys trembled while trying to stop Corlys, who had opened the final door.
But his condition had deteriorated so badly that he collapsed immediately after leaving his chair.
"Maester Gerardys," Corlys said gently, helping him back upright, "I survived both the Shivers and Red Death in my youth."
"You know as well as I do: those who survive Shivers or Greyscale never suffer them twice."
Corlys turned and stood beside the Queen.
Rhaenyra slowly opened her eyes.
"Your Grace... I…"
"I know why you came, Corlys."
For a moment, Rhaenyra seemed to regain some strength.
Though her lips continued turning blue.
"Please tell Daemon... and Prince Dragonzel... everything I say."
"I am listening, Your Grace."
Corlys took parchment and quill from Gerardys's desk.
Rhaenyra slowly spoke in High Valyrian:
"Upon my death, my heir Prince Jacaerys Targaryen, Prince of Dragonstone, shall inherit the titles King of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, and Protector of the Realm."
"His betrothed Princess Baela Targaryen shall become Queen."
"Prince Daemon Targaryen shall remain Protector of the Realm and Regent until Jacaerys comes of age."
"Prince Dragonzel shall serve as Hand of the King and foster father to Aegon and Viserys until their majority."
Rhaenyra looked toward Corlys.
"Driftmark…"
"Driftmark will pass to Prince Joffrey," Corlys said with a smile.
"My grandson has already spoken with me. I support his unquestionable right."
Rhaenyra managed a weak smile.
"Until Jacaerys and Baela have children... Aegon shall remain Prince of Dragonstone and heir."
"Corlys... tell Dragonzel and my son not to return to King's Landing until the plague has ended."
"I understand, Your Grace."
Corlys nodded.
He would continue serving as Lord of the Tides under Jacaerys.
He recognized Dragonzel's abilities.
Especially after witnessing his role in the war.
Without Dragonzel, the Dance of the Dragons would never have ended in four months.
Nor with only five dragons dead.
No one questioned the strength of the dragonlord whose family had slain Vhagar and Tessarion.
More importantly—
The true core of the Silverblood Army had barely entered battle.
Even during southern campaigns, House Varezys had sent only one thousand Unsullied.
Their main forces under Aslan Rondell had never moved.
After dictating her final wishes, Rhaenyra closed her eyes peacefully.
Corlys watched as her lips darkened fully blue.
Her trembling ceased.
The last traces of color slowly faded from her face.
"Corlys…"
Gerardys stretched out shaking hands.
"May I see... Her Grace's will?"
Corlys handed over the parchment.
The old maester read with wide eyes.
Then finally relaxed.
Corlys sighed.
He took back the parchment.
And watched as both Queen and maester gradually stopped breathing.
On the eve of victory—
Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen, First of Her Name, Light of the Realm, "Maegor with Teats," rightful Queen of Westeros, and "The Queen of a Thousand Taxes" in the mouths of King's Landing's smallfolk...
Died of the Shivers.
And thus ended...
The Year of the Two Kings.
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