The Red Keep, Apartments of Rhaenyra and Baela Targaryen.
Baela slammed the door behind her, in a furious mood as she and her sister came into their room. The new King was a child, a fool, and by her first impressions, had the be-cursed blood of his father and the mad Targaryen’s of old. She could not help but think of three people, all from the annuals of history, men, and child, reviled and hated by all. Jofferey Lannister, Aerys Targaryen, the Mad King, and Prince Daenys Targaryen, the boy King’s father. The way he talked, how he looked, and how he acted towards Rhaenyra and Baela was demeaning and very concerning. She moved across the room to slump down into an open chair.
“What’s wrong Baela? Please, tell me, what is going through your mind right now?” Rhaenyra asked in a concerned tone. She walked over to her sister, kneeling down before Baela, reaching out to hold her hands as she looked up at her. Baela was scarcely ever like this, let alone not willing to talk. Her sister’s eyes were full of anger and fear, the same look she had when their parents had died.
Baela shook her head, not wishing to speak. Her face was scowled into an angry glare, turning away from her elder sister to try and ignore her and her inquiries. She did not wish to speak aloud what she felt, let alone bring her sister into this. Rhaenyra was kind and intelligent, but Baela feared that her sister was too trusting of this new King, of young Aerys, who already had shown he had little to now control over his emotions. Furthermore, Baela could not help but notice that Aerys smile seemed practiced… something hollow to hide the true face that was his own.
“Damnit, Baela, I am talking to you… answer me sister, tell me what is going through your mind right now. Do not close me out. We promised to be there for one another, no matter what, ever since Mom and Dad died… you promised, you promised Baela… please, speak to me…” Rhaenyra spoke in a pleading tone, full of concern and compassion. She looked up at her sister, holding both her hands within hers, offering a smile of truly heartfelt sisterly love. “I love you sister, my little Baela, go on… speak.”
Baela sighed, letting her anger and distrust wash over her and away. Her expression softened, the scowl turning into a loving smile as she looked at Rhaenyra, the smile then giving way to a concerned look. “Rhae… please, forgive me. I, I shouldn’t have shut you out like I did. I just, I just do not know how to best convey what I am feeling and thinking to you…” Sighing, she looked up and away, out at the window of their entrance foyer. She stared out of this simple portal separating the inside world from the outside world. “I love you sister, just hear me out before you say anything else… I need you to hear what I am saying, and what the implications of all of this.” Baela spoke in a concerned tone, wanting her sister to fully understand what she was about to say.
Baela rose up from her chair, helping Rhaenyra rise up with her as well. She smiled at her sister, embracing her softly, before leading her deeper into the apartments that they lived in. They walked past their rooms and dining area, to finally end up in an open air garden that overlooked the Blackwater Bay. She turned to Rhaenyra, motioning her to sit down and listen. Baela took a deep breath, enjoying the warmth of the morning sun upon her face, before turning to face her sister once more and choosing to speak her mind. She was thankful that they had left Ser Footly and Ser Trevan outside, guarding the doors to their apartments, for no doubt Ser Footly would find what was about to transpire to be borderline, if not complete treason.
“I don’t think we can trust King Aerys sister… I don’t think the realm can suffer another tyrant and Mad King.” Her tone was low and hushed. She looked at her sister with grave concern, knowing that what she spoke was something not to be taken lightly nor foolishly. The words would have grave affect upon the events that would follow in the future, good or bad. Baela looked down at her sister, rubbing her temples as she spoke, “Do you remember the history lesson we read about Joffrey Lannister? Or perhaps the Mad King Aerys Targaryen? Or if it’s easier, how about Daenys Targaryen? We’ve personally met him and spoke with him many a time. What do they all have in common with young King Aerys?” She looked away, sighing as she eased herself down to sit next to Rhaenyra.
“Baela… you don’t really mean that… do you?” Rhaenyra was concerned, her tone full of doubt and unease. Baela couldn’t really mean that, could she? Aerys did lose his composure, but, was he truly evil and mad? She stopped, looking away from her sister to think about it. The young boy had been gone for many years, born to a mad father at the very least. He had no court training, nor any real etiquette. His eyes though, they had look at her as though she were but a piece of meat, to be had, and then thrown aside. “He… he isn’t that bad, is he?” She felt so naïve for asking that question, but, she needed to be sure.
“Look in your heart, and you will find the answer dear sister. Look deep within you, and you will know what I say is true. He can not be allowed to ascend the throne, no matter what. The realm will bleed, and bleed, and bleed if he becomes kings. You can see it as well as I can. You merely have to look past the false mask he wore for you, and look at what he really is.” Baela spoke softly and compassionately to her sister. She looked at Rhaenyra in the eyes. She was the prettiest woman in all the Seven Kingdoms, full of life, love, and laughter. And yet, as she looked in her sister’s eyes, all she could she was doubt and uncertainty. “Don’t let his false masks fool you. Look deep within yourself. Remember what father taught us, what mother helped us understand. Look at who our family is, and what can happen when parents are not careful, when their children become what their parents were… remember what happened to the realm when Aerys II sat the throne, when Joffrey sat the throne, when Daenys tried to sit the throne. Look to the bad men who have tried to rule the realm, and see what came of their rules, what came of them… look, and you will see.”
Rhaenyra closed her eyes, closing off the world around her as she thought in quiet recollection. She played the meeting over and over again in her head. How Aerys had spoken to her, how he looked at her, how he yelled at her, how he wanted to burn his enemies. He was young, yes, but the very way he spoke and acted… it was almost as if Aerys II had been reborn. The son was like the father, perhaps more or less, but he was just and dangerous and unstable as Daenys. She opened her eyes, like coming to from a deep sleep, like breaking free of a dream. “He… he is the Mad King Reborn.” She looked at Baela. The fire had returned to her eyes, the life, love, the laughter, it all came crashing back… “We have to stop him… no matter the cost. King Aerys must die.”
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