47: The Son of Ice and Fire, Checkmate pt.2

Rhaenys 

Castle Hayford 

Rhaenys was still having trouble believing what had happened. 

Their journey from Duskendale back to King's Landing had been fairly uneventful until they were ambushed as they passed through House Hayford's lands.

The memory came to her mind like a vivid nightmare.

They had been traveling through the forested area in hayford, the path narrowing with tall trees on either side. Suddenly, a group of armed men had emerged from the underbrush, swords drawn. Her guards had fought valiantly, but they were outnumbered. 

She remembered the chaos, the shouts, and the sound of clashing steel.

At first, she believed the attackers to be bandits, but to her shock, as Ser Jaime tried to escape with her and Arianne while the guards assigned to her fell to the swords, she noticed that they were Goldcloaks and they were led by the commander of the City Watch, the very man who ruled over the lands they were on.

Ser Jaime had tried his best, but even he was overwhelmed by the numbers and had to surrender when she and Arianne were captured. 

She tried to resist, but then a blow to her head knocked her unconscious.

When she woke, she found herself in a comfortable yet confining cell. The room was small but well-furnished, with two sturdy beds, a small table and chair, and a chamber pot in the corner. There was even a window, though it was barred, allowing a view of the wooded lands outside. The walls were of thick stone, and the heavy wooden door was reinforced with iron.

Arianne had been worried to death and had told her what happened after she was hit in the head by one of the Goldcloaks. She confirmed it was indeed Lord Hayford that abducted them, and they were now in his castle.

She now sat on one of the beds, trying to gather her thoughts. Across the room, Arianne paced back and forth, her expression one of anger and frustration.

"Oh, we should go by land," Arianne mimicked, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "It will be safer, she said."

Rhaenys sighed, her cousin clearly not in a good state of mind. "I didn't expect this, Ari."

Arianne continued pacing, her frustration palpable. How could they have expected something like this? They were the princesses of the realm, protected by their titles. Yet here they were, abducted by one of the lords closest to the capital, by the commander of the City Watch no less.

"I just... I can't believe this is happening," Arianne muttered.

Rhaenys looked at her cousin. "We will be freed, Ari.” she said, trying to calm her panicking cousin.

"Rhae, we're locked in a cell, at the mercy of a madman. How can you be so...?" Arianne retorted, crossing her arms she could not find words.

“We should have gone by sea,” Arianne said again.

“I am sorry, Ari. I... because of mother...” Rhaenys trailed off, unable to finish the sentence. Arianne quickly came to her side, her anger melting away.

"I'm just... scared," Arianne admitted, her voice softening.

"So am I," Rhaenys confessed. "The entire seven kingdoms will be here soon," she said, smiling, trying to put on a brave face. "We will be fine."

“I should be comforting you. I am the elder,” Arianne said, ashamed.

Just then, they heard a noise from the next cell. They both moved to the window in the door and saw Ser Jaime sitting on the floor, one of his hands tied to a sling and injuries on his handsome face.

"Ser Jaime," Rhaenys called softly. "Are you all right?"

Jaime looked up, his eyes filled with sorrow. "Princess Rhaenys, Princess Arianne. I'm sorry. I failed you."

Arianne shook her head. "This isn't your fault, Ser Jaime. You fought bravely."

"But it wasn't enough," Jaime said, his voice breaking. "I should have protected you."

"You did your best," Rhaenys said gently.

“Why would Commander Hayford do this? What compelled him to do this?” Jaime muttered, his confusion evident.

They heard one of the doors at the end of the hallway open.

“Looks like we are about to find out,” Arianne said, her voice tinged with dread.

Rhaenys moved to the window again to see who was coming. It was indeed Harrold Hayford, looking disheveled and mad, his hair wild and unkempt. His eyes darted around with manic energy, and his hands trembled as he wrung them together.

The door to their cell creaked open, and Harrold Hayford stepped inside. "Ah, Princess Rhaenys, Princess Arianne," he greeted with a wild smile. "Welcome to my humble abode."

She and Arianne exchanged a worried glance before she spoke up. "You have committed the gravest of treason, Lord Hayford."

“Have you gone mad?” Arianne demanded.

‘What are doing Ari dont anger the madman’ she thought hearing her cousin's words.

"Mad? Perhaps," Hayford replied with a crazed laugh. "But madmen can see the truth that others ignore."

"What do you hope to achieve by abducting us?" Arianne demanded.

"I want to prove my innocence," Hayford said, his tone suddenly serious. "I have been accused of treason… yes, treason, can you believe it? Me, a traitor…" he trailed off.

“No, no, it's all a conspiracy, you see, all orchestrated by your brother!” he said.

“My brother?” Rhaenys asked.

"Yes, your brother," he shouted, stepping forward, causing Rhaenys and Arianne to step back. This prompted Ser Jaime to shout from his cell, "Step back, scum!"

“If there is any truth in that, then go to the king and present your case,” Rhaenys said, trying to take a diplomatic tone.

“He has already committed treason by abducting us,” Arianne said.

‘Shut up Ari’ she thought.

“No, no, I have committed no treason. You are my guests; you will help me,” he insisted.

“You should have gone to the king,” Rhaenys repeated.

Hayford shook his head, his eyes wide and desperate. "I can't! The king won't listen to me. Maekar has poisoned his mind against me. The prince wants my position, my power. He has been plotting against me from the start."

Rhaenys frowned. "What are you talking about?” she asked, trying to calm the man down. “Maekar has no interest in your position.”

"That's what he wants you to believe!" Hayford shouted, his voice echoing off the stone walls. "He has been plotting against me, framing me for crimes I did not commit. He has turned everyone against me, made me look like the villain. But I am not the villain here!"

Hayford began pacing back and forth, his movements frantic. "It all started when he created the Fire Watch. He wanted to undermine my authority, make me look weak. Then he started planting evidence, bribing my men, turning them against me. And now, he has convinced the king that I am a traitor. But it's all a lie! A lie!"

He truly has lost his mind, Rhaenys thought.

"Maekar is the true traitor, not me. He wants to destroy me, to take everything I have built. But I won't let him! I will prove my innocence, no matter what it takes."

With that, Hayford turned and stormed out of the cell, leaving Rhaenys and Arianne in stunned silence.

"Hope Maekar busts his head in," Arianne muttered after a moment, her voice filled with disgust.

"Yes, I wish that as well," Rhaenys agreed, sharing her cousin's sentiment.

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Maekar

Surroundings of Kings Landing

He, along with Arthur, Oswell, and the Sand Snakes, led thirty of his Varangians and a hundred other guards from the Red Keep through the forests surrounding the capital, trailing after Hayford and his corrupt Goldcloaks. The air was thick with the scent of pine and damp earth, and the sunlight was receding as it set, casting long shadows across their path.

Hayford had managed to escape their grasp, even though they had given chase as soon as they learned of his plans. He had a lead of half a day, and the terrain had worked to his advantage, slowing them down.

As they rode he saw Obara, Nymeria, and ten other men who had ridden ahead approach opposite them.

"We have found something. Follow quickly," Obara said, urgency in her voice. To say the Sand Snakes took hearing Hayford's plans personally was an understatement. He really hoped Hayford would end up in their grasp when this was all over; he would love to see them rip him apart. 

They followed Obara through the dense underbrush, their hearts pounding with urgency. As they broke through the thicket, they came upon a small clearing. The sight before them made his blood run cold.

In the clearing, they found the remains of a skirmish. The ground was littered with bodies, some of them Goldcloaks.

“Survivors ,” Arthur called out.

The survivors were huddled together by a large tree, nursing their injuries. As soon as they saw them, they rushed over, and we met them midway.

“What happened? Where is my sister and Princess Arianne?” he demanded.

One of the survivors, a young squire, stepped forward, his face pale with fear. "We were ambushed, my prince. The Goldcloaks came out of nowhere. They took Princess Rhaenys and Princess Arianne…”

“What happened to Ser Jaime?” Arthur asked with concern.

“Ser Jaime tried to protect them, but they threatened to kill the princesses if he didn't surrender.”

Arthur's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenching. "Jaime is with them, good. He'll keep them safe."

Obara, Nymeria, and Tyene looked stricken. Obara had told him how Prince Oberyn had asked her to protect Arianne, and now this has happened.

"He actually did it," he muttered, shaking his head in disbelief. "I should have acted sooner." his hubris had caused all this believing hayford to be a coward but that coward has grown some large balls after his downfall.

"It's not your fault, my prince," Oswell said, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "You couldn't have known Hayford would go to such lengths."

“You are not to blame, Maekar,” Obara said. Her words offered him some comfort.

"This is madness," Arthur said, his voice filled with a mix of anger and incredulity. "The man has gone completely mad."

"What shall we do now?" Oswell asked Arthur.

Arthur took a deep breath, his eyes scanning the horizon. "We wait. Hayford will have reached his castle by now. Prince Aegon and Ser Barristan will arrive with more men in a day."

"Houses Staunton, Rykker, Buckwell, and Stokeworth will be marshaling their troops as well," Arthur added.

“That will take too long,” Nymeria said, her voice filled with concern.

"No, I had asked them to prepare if there was a chance Hayford would make an escape to his castle. They will be here in days," Maekar said.

"Well thought, my prince," Arthur said, a hint of pride in his voice. "We'll wait here for Aegon and Barristan."

“Let's hope the princess and Jaime are treated well," Oswell said.

"If he lays a finger on them..." Arthur growled, his fists clenching.

As Maekar looked at Arthur in that moment, he understood why he was called the greatest warrior in the Seven Kingdoms. The man looked like a force of nature now.

Hayford was fucked.

===============

Aegon and Barristan arrived just before dawn, riding through the night to join them. Now, with a thousand men they prepared to march on Hayford, the camp was a hive of activity. Soldiers conducted drills, tightened their armor, and secured their weapons. Horses were saddled, and banners bearing the sigil of House Targaryen fluttered in the early morning breeze. The air was filled with the clinking of metal, the murmur of voices, and the occasional neigh of a horse.

He watched the preparations from a distance. The rising sun cast a golden glow over the scene, the light filtering through the trees and casting long shadows on the ground.

"I hear certain houses already had their men ready to march on Hayford," Aegon's voice came from behind him, breaking his reverie.

He turned to see his brother standing there, looking both curious and accusatory.

"I had informed them that there was a chance Hayford could flee," he replied calmly.

Aegon studied him, his expression hard to read. "You are in contact with many houses in the Crownlands, then?" he asked, almost sounding like an accusation.

"Yes," he said, meeting his brother's gaze. "All those whom Hayford has slighted and made enemies of."

“What do you know of the current political situations in the Crownlands, brother?” he asked.

Aegon remained silent, his eyes urging him to explain.

“Hayford has been trying to take over the Duskendale circle,” he said.

“That is ambitious,” Aegon said surprised.

"He has been annexing lands bordering Stokeworth and Rosby for years."

“He wanted to become the de facto ruler of the circle, controlling the flow of goods and people into the capital."

"So, you've been rallying those who oppose him?" Aegon surmised.

"Yes," he affirmed. "Hayford's arrogance has made him many enemies. He truly believed he was unstoppable."

"Allying with Stokeworth, Rosby, Rykker, and Buckwell was...well, common sense," he said.

"I see you have thought that far ahead," Aegon said, a genuine note of appreciation in his voice.

The conversation then shifted to other topics, and he and Aegon found themselves sitting in a quiet spot. They settled on a fallen log nearby and began talking about their lives. It was strange how the conversation happened; they had been ignoring each other so much since he arrived here. 

This was something he thought would never happen, though he tried not to get too familiar. Aegon had what he wanted, after all, and Aegon would not give it to him willingly.

He spoke of his life in the North and how great it was growing up there. "I grew up with my cousin Robb. We're as close as brothers," he reminisced.

Aegon looked at him with interest, his expression softening at the mention of brotherhood. "As close as brothers?" he repeated, a hint of longing in his voice.

"Yes," he said, nodding. "We did everything together. We trained, hunted, and even got into trouble together. Robb was always there for me, and I for him."

Aegon laughed bitterly. "Growing up here was...well, challenging," he said, looking at the camp in the distance. "Father had high expectations for me. He wanted me to be the perfect prince, the ideal heir. It was a heavy burden to bear. Mother was my only comfort. She was always there, gentle and understanding, a beacon of light in my life…."

Aegon's voice almost broke, his eyes glistening. "Now she is gone," Aegon said quietly, his expression shifting swiftly to one of anger.

He remained silent, unsure how to respond.

Aegon took a deep breath, steadying himself. "I sometimes wonder how different things would have been if we were raised together," he said, his voice filled with a mixture of curiosity and regret. "I have vague memories of us playing together when we were very young. Before...before everything changed."

‘Playing together, Daenerys had mentioned it as well. Was his memory from before he was six that unreliable?’ he thought.

"I don't remember much of that time," he admitted. "Not since the shipwreck."

"Oh," Aegon said, his voice tinged with surprise. "I didn't realize…yes, you were in a shipwreck. I remember now."

There was silence between them for sometime.

Aegon then looked at him with a strange expression. "Do you think we would have been like you and your cousin if we were raised together?" he asked, a strange wistful tone in his voice.

“I..umm” Maekar started to respond.

His tone then changed. "You were lucky, Maekar. You didn't have to grow up here with Father and his lofty expectations."

He opened his mouth to respond, but Aegon continued, his tone shifting to one of bitterness. "And now it seems he has found a son who can live up to his expectations," Aegon said, his voice growing more strained.

He noticed something change in Aegon's eyes. "Aegon..." he started to say.

Aegon cut him off, his voice rising. "No, Maekar. I have seen how he looks at you. He sees something in you that he never saw in me."

‘I despise the man,’ he thought in his head, but he wanted to calm Aegon down. “Brother, he does not treat me…”

But Aegon wasn't having it. "Don't patronize me, Maekar. It's clear to everyone. Maybe what they're saying is right. Maybe Father did bring you here to replace me."

‘It would have been very easy if that were the case,’ he thought.

“Aegon, those are rumors from the court not to be taken seriously,” he said.

"Look at what you've accomplished, Maekar. What Father has given you permission to do. He has never given me such freedom. And now, you are to take over the City Watch. I wonder why, brother."

Aegon's words grew more unhinged, his emotions spilling over. "Perhaps it's because of your mother.”

‘Oh, he really went there,’ he thought, his anger rising.

“Father must have loved Lady Lyanna so much, but—"

Aegon couldn't finish his sentence as Maekar's hand shot out, grabbing him by the throat. His eyes blazed with anger, his grip tightening. "Keep my mother’s name out of your fucking mouth," he hissed, his voice low and menacing.

Aegon's eyes widened in fear as he struggled to breathe. Maekar held him there for a moment longer, then released him, stepping back. Aegon stumbled, rubbing his throat, his face a mask of shock and fear.

He turned and walked away, his mind filled with thoughts about Aegon. Was he always like this? No, everyone spoke well about Aegon. The incident with Euron might have changed him, as by the looks of things, he was on the same path as Aerys and Rhaegar.

‘Sudden mood shifts, unhinged behavior... yeah, Aegon is fucked,’

‘All good reasons for me to take the throne.’ he thought. 

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