Chapter 1

The King's Squire

"Your Grace,"

They watched as the King turned from the balcony where the sun was visibly rising on the horizon. They hurriedly bowed deeply, greeting him.

"Rise," he nodded. They straightened and wasn't surprised to see that he was already dressed and ready for court. The King was wearing his usual black colour from his tunic down to his boots. Only his cape that draped over one shoulder was maroon and he had only wore it because his Hand had insisted he looked the part for court, along with the crown that was missing upon his dark curly locks. The cape was draped over his right shoulder, secured by a modest leather belt over his chest and under his left arm. The King had even rejected having a 3 headed dragon or wolf brooch made for him for the cape.

Both squires were not surprised to see the King already fully awake and ready. He always was by the time they came to him; the moment the sun rose.

"Is there anything you need Your Grace?"

He shook his head and swept past them with nothing more than another nod of acknowledgment. They bowed slightly as he passed, heading straight for the door. The King had always been distant from them. They were only his squire as he had decided to honor their lord fathers for their service by allowing their sons to squire for the King. The King was distant to everybody. For as long as they remember, the King does not laugh, he barely smiles. The only time they have ever recalling him laughing was in the presence of the Starks, who had long left King's Landing for Winterfell.

They trailed behind their King and the Kingsguard who were keeping watch outside his door. The King barely said a word to them but they all knew where he was going this morning, as he always did every morning; the first thing he would do, before even breaking his fast and immediately after he was presentable. When they arrived, the squires and Kingsguards restrained themselves from opening the door for the King, as they were supposed to, learning that the King preferred to knock and open this door himself. The Kingsguards turned and stood with their back to the door. The room was lit by the morning light that was streaming from the balcony through translucent curtains, stirring as a gentle breeze came. That was all the squires glimpsed before the handmaidens, two dark skinned, wearing dothraki garbs and one wearing foreign silk, left the room, the last one shutting the door behind her. They stood dutifully at the door, waiting for their King to re-emerge, as they did every morning since they began squiring for the King.

The King

She looked so beautiful.

It was the first thought that came to his mind every morning and night when he came and laid his eyes on her. She looked so small amidst large pillows and the red and black furs. He approached the bed, mildly aware of the handmaidens greeting him before taking their leave. The air in the room smelt lovely, like the flowers in the Royal Gardens in the thick of spring, and always reminded him of her. It stabbed at his heart and made his heart sing all the same.

He sat down beside her on the bed slowly and drew a shaky breath as an unbidden memory from years ago came to his mind; he had opened his eyes to see her perched on his bedside as he was now on hers. He remembered it vividly. Despite the sharp pain all over his body at that time, he remembered thinking she looked glorious in all of her beauty, her face marred only by that slight furrow between her brows as she had gazed worriedly at him.

He let a raspy breath loose as his hand covered hers which were placed over her stomach. He let his calloused thumb caress the back of her soft hand shortly before he clasped her hand with his. He hunched over her, pressing the back of her hand to his bearded cheek as he gazed upon her lovely face.

"Daenerys…" He whispered, "I dreamt of you again," he was unfazed as her eyes remained closed and her face peaceful. He reached up with his other hand and stroked the silver hair by the side of her face gently, "do you dream of me?" he smiled as he felt her soft silver hair. Her hand was warm, warmer than years ago, when he last saw her beautiful lilac eyes. He felt his heart skip a beat as he even pondered that day; how cold her hands were, her tired eyes gazing up at him, her full lips in a small weak smile that she managed just for him.

He closed his eyes, revelling in the heat of her hand and her cheek under his fingers.

"Daenerys," he turned and kissed the back of her hand, "my Queen," he murmured into her hand, barely audible. He then gazed at her, for how long, he did not know.

Then the door creaked open and he blinked away some moisture that was gathering in his eyes before he turned to see Grand Maester Julian at the door, his chains clanking softly as he bowed to the King, "Your Grace,"

He inclined his head in acknowledgement and turned back to gaze at the queen, "she's getting better," he whispered but he knew the Grand Maester could hear.

"I do not know your Grace, it is hard to tell without any-"

The King flushed just slightly, "she is getting better," turning his grey eyes on the Grand Maester. He had mistook that for a question.

"Yes, your Grace," The Grand Maester bowed again hurriedly, anxious at having offended the King.

The King blinked, the flash of anger gone, "she's warmer," he remarked, his hand still clasping hers to his cheek. The Grand Maester remained quiet. He would know to be such; should have known. There was nothing the King was more concerned about than the Queen's health, or rather, the Queen's recovery. The King gazed intensely at the Queen for a few long minutes, as if committing her face to memory; as if he had not done so, having spent hours a day gazing at her and remembering her features so vividly that they burnt into his mind in his deepest dreams. The King then blinked and pressed a firm kiss to the palm of her hand before placing her hand back over her stomach gently, "she will wake, very soon. I know she will," the King's eyes never leaving the Queen, "I will be informed immediately when she does,"

"Of course your Grace," Grand Maester Julian nodded.

"Thank you, Grand Maester," The King turned to him, voice thick with sincerity. The King glanced back at the Queen one last time before he turned and walked briskly out the room.

The squires immediately bowed when he emerged from the room, "your Grace, Lord Tyrion has invited you to break your morning fast with him in the Tower of the Hand before proceeding to the throne room for the morning court,"

The King nodded and walked ahead with his squires and the Kingsguard following close behind.

They left Maegor's Holdfast and quickly arrived at the Tower of the Hand.

"Your Grace," Tyrion smiled as he scooted off the chair at the table, wiping his mouth, "apologies for starting, I had an early start this day and was starving,"

The King huffed in amusement as he greeted the Lord Hand, "Good, as did I," concurring with the 'early start' rather than the state of hunger.

"Early start meaning, unlike you, I actually usually wake after daybreak," Tyrion japed before he paused and cocked his head in consideration at the King's words, "good?"

The King nodded, "lets proceed to court," he did not wait for the Lord Hand's reply as he turned for the throne room. He was not feeling hungry that morning. His stomach had not stop churning from the nightmare he had that woke him before even the break of dawn. That and the motivation to get morning court over with was motivating enough to proceed with court.

The sun was high in the sky by the time the King sentenced the last man, who raped and murder a peasant girl in fleas bottom, to the wall. He was escorted away by the Unsullied and the King stood from the cold and hard throne, his lips a frown under his moustache as he straightened his stiff back.

He was just reaching up to remove his crown when he heard laughing, the patter of feet as well as an urgent but soft call, "Prince Jaehaerys, court is still-"

The King smiled as the source of the commotion appeared around the great doors of the throne room.

"Father!" his cherubic voice rang loudly through the throne room. Prince Jaehaerys, the third of his name, ran through the hall, as fast as his little legs would carry him. His head of curly silver hair streaming behind him and his grey eyes shining with joy, the King met his son at the bottom of the steps of the Iron Throne, not wanting his son to climb those dangerous steps. The wet nurse and the rest of the Unsullied guards who were guarding the Prince arrived at the door of the Throne Room just after the Prince came dashing in.

The King waved them away as he took the Prince into his arms, turning to walk up the steps to the Throne.

"Father, I couldn't find you," Prince Jaehaerys mumbled as he pressed his face into his father's neck, his little hands touching his face. The King nuzzled his son gently, tickling him with his beard. Everyone in court could not help but smile as Prince Jaehaerys' joyful innocent giggles filled the throne room. Prince Jaehaerys have always been happy, since he was a baby. His presence had undoubtedly lit up many gloomy atmosphere in the Red Keep, which seemed to be the natural state of the Red Keep, owing mostly to the King's brooding nature.

"I was here, holding court. Do you know what that means?" The King asked, his dark eyes twinkling. The Prince shook his head. The King turned and went to the throne.

The King sat in the throne, placing Jaehaerys on his lap and the Prince beamed. He did love sitting on his father's lap in the high chair, above everyone else; like how he always dreamt it would be like to be on dragon's back. He was still too young to be brought on a flight on the dragons by his Father but Jaehaerys dreams and talks about it often enough.

"One day you will be King, Jaehaerys," The King said to the Prince, pressing a kiss to the back his silver head, "and this is where you will rule, where you will listen to your people and protect them," Jaehaerys turned, grinning at his father. The King sat in the throne with the Prince for a moment longer before the weight of duty became too heavy to ignore any further. Meeting Lord Tyrion's eyes, the King sighed, sounding years older than his actual age, "Go with Jeyne," the King stood and carried his son down the steps before handing him to his wet nurse, "I will be with you soon,"

Jaehaerys frowned as he shook his head, his little arms stubbornly clung around his Father's neck but the King did not physically force him to let go, the Prince never was forced to do anything.

The King smiled, taking him back into his arms and pressed a firm kiss to his forehead, "be good, Jaehaerys. Go," he pouted as he reluctantly released his Father and clung onto the wet nurse instead, watching as his Father smiled at him before turning away, attending his endless meetings he always seemed to be in.

Lord Hand of the King

"The handsome Prince grows strong," Lord Tyrion remarked as he walked alongside the King to the small council meeting.

The edge of his lips twitched up in a hint of a smile of pride, "yes,"

"Stubborn too," Tyrion added, "I wonder where he got that from?" he japed, looking purposefully at the King.

"Daenerys," The King replied simply, shrugging in feign innocence. Tyrion stopped walking, surprised that the King would talk about the Queen voluntarily and showed no signs of tenseness or sorrow or looked like he was about to cry. The King paused in his footsteps, realising his Hand was not beside him and turned to look. Their eyes met and Tyrion was almost bowled over when the King's usually stern brooding face broke into a smile and then he barked a laugh. Tyrion laughed upon seeing that, appreciating the humour of the situation through his surprise.

"Oh he definitely has her temper," Tyrion walked forward to stand before the King, "a true dragon," he emphasised and the knowing look in his eyes made the King chuckle.

"Have you been 'burnt' Lord Tyrion?" they turned and proceeded to the small council meeting.

"Multiple times when I tried to make him do as he was told," Tyrion's face scrunched as if he had tasted something awful.

The King huffed in amusement, "Dragons won't be told," he declared, "that was what Jaehaerys told me when told him to listen to his wet nurse. Maybe I should tell Maester Samwell to teach humility in between the education of the Targaryen history," he mused and Tyrion nodded sagely. They both chuckled as they entered the chambers. The small council members were all there, waiting for the King and the Hand, "apologies to keep you all waiting my Lords," the King said as he settled into his chair at the head of the table.

The small council was at first appalled by the King's overly kind words, apologising for slights on his part but eventually they got used to it and even came to appreciate some stark humility in the reigning monarch of the Seven Kingdoms. It has been a while since they saw that. They sat and listened as each small council members brought up matters that they deemed were of great importance and require a King's attention; ranging from the cleanliness and organisation of Fleas Bottom (that the King insists he be duly informed of) to the disputes that rose among the Noble houses. Most were satisfied with the King's rule which was fair and just but once in a while, arrangements would have to be made to appease the Noble houses who always seemed to be demanding to be held of higher regard by the crown than the next house. This was always an area the King seemed unable to understand, or rather refuse to yield in; appeasing the Lords of the Noble Houses.

The last matter was brought up by the Hand and it was the matter the King was always reluctant to pay any mind to; the proposed betrothals for the Crown Prince Jaehaerys III.

"I have already said, I will speak no more of any betrothals for the crown prince till he comes of age to have an opinion on the matter," the King interrupted the Hand's reports on the new proposals coming in.

"Your Grace, we need not decide on a betrothal for Prince Jaehaerys now but some consideration and attention have to be given to the matter eventually and it should be sooner than later-"

"Lord Tyrion, I will not force my son to marry someone he doesn't know," the King flared and Hand knew he could not hold his tongue when he knew the rest of the small council would in the face of the King's imminent rage.

"It is not uncommon to form alliances with marriage, your Grace," Tyrion said calmly, a meaningful look in his eyes.

"I know that," The King replied, calm, "and I am not saying my son will not marry to form alliances but he would have a say in the matter. We will resume speaking about this when he is older. If that is all…" the King stood and the rest of the council stood as well. They bowed. The King nodded to them before marching out the room swiftly. They all knew where he would be going next; the King was predictable that way.

The small council began shuffling out of the room, "The King would be well served to have the Queen ruling beside him," Tyrion looked up from the scroll to face the Master of Whisperers, Varys. There were the only two in the room.

"What do you mean?" Tyrion asked, turning back to his scroll.

"The Queen is Fire, the King is Ice," Varys helped himself to the empty seat beside him, "Only one can temper the other. The King's honour and tactlessness can be tempered only by the Queen's prudence and practicality; necessary ruthlessness to an enemy, generosity for loyalty and appeasement of the Noble Lords, and in return, the Queen's heavy handedness against even the slightest hint of treason can be tempered by the King's distaste for killing,"

Tyrion reminded, "the King knows what has to be done. He was a capable Lord Commander of the Night's watch and the King in the North,"

"But he is not doing 'what must be done' and being Lord Commander of the Night's Watch and King in the North and King of the Seven Kingdoms are a different matter entirely," Varys pointed out, matter-of-factly. Even Tyrion had to admit the Spider had a fair point. The Northerners have always been known for their bluntness that made them poor negotiators and in turn, terrible politician. "and the King has never been the same since the Great War,"

Tyrion sighed, "since the Queen…"

The King

The King knocked on the heavy wooden door, "Jaehaerys?" There was no reply and the King opened the door to see that the Prince's room and nursery was empty. He turned to the nearest Unsullied who was keeping watch along the corridor of the Red Keep, "have you seen the Prince?" The King knew the Unsullied probably did not understand him but he asked nonetheless.

The Unsullied turned to him and replied, "Se dārilaros istan naejot se dāria,"

The King did not understand most of what he said but he knew what dāria meant; Queen.

The King nodded his thanks and headed straight for the Queen's chambers, highly aware of his Kingsguard and squires close behind. It has been a long time but he could not rid himself of the uneasiness of being followed all the time.

As he approached the Queen's chambers, he immediately knew his son was there merely judging from the small entourage of 3 outside the door. From the moment he learnt how to walk, at an early age, it was notoriously harder for a large escort to keep on the Prince's heels so the King allocated two of his best Kingsguard to protect his son and 1 wet nurse who had been the Prince's wet nurse since he had been born.

They bowed to the King and he acknowledged with a nod, "how long has the Prince been here?"

"Since he left the throne room your Grace," the wet nurse replied.

The King knocked and entered. He turned and signalled his entourage to stay outside. He then closed the door behind him and quietly walked through the solar to the private chambers. In the room, the Queen's hand maiden was nowhere to be found but the King was not surprised that the Prince had dismissed them. The King himself dismissed them to be alone with the Queen. The door to the private chambers was ajar. With one foot over the threshold, he paused, his breath caught in his throat. On the large bed in the middle of the room was the Queen, just as he left her this morning, regal and beautiful. On the side, the Prince was wearing the maroon doublet he was wearing this morning and he was curled up on the Queen's side, his little head of silver on her abdomen as he slept.

The King could not help the wide smile that stretched his face till it almost hurt. He sat down gently beside the Prince, noticing how his small hand fisted the fur that covered his mother and his other hand holding hers firmly. He reached and gently stroked the back of the Prince's downy head, "Jaehaerys," he whispered. The Prince's eyelid fluttered, his cheek pressed against his mother's silk dress. In a second, his grey eyes were wide open as he turned to see his father beside him. Jaehaerys grinned toothily and hugged his father tightly around the waist, "I heard you have been here since the morning,"

Jaehaerys nodded, "I was bored and wanted to talk to Mother," he then grinned as he looked upon his mother's face. King watched lovingly as Jaehaerys reached out one small hand and stroked the Queen's silver hair gently, as he saw the King did to her a few years back. The Prince had asked the King why and he had replied, because I love your mother. He watched with a fond smile as the Prince lay his head on his lap, one hand still holding his mother's hand.

"Father, tell me a story about mother,"

The King looked down at the Prince's face and could not refuse, "alright," he pondered a second before he began, "On our journey to Winterfell, your mother has never seen snow before…"

By the end of the story, the sun was beginning to set and the King only realised the time when they heard a knock on the door. He took the Prince by his hand to bring him out into the solar and gave his consent for them to enter and the handmaidens of the Queen entered, bringing in supper for them. The King nodded his thanks, heartened as the Prince imitated his father, thanking the handmaidens formally.

They began their supper in comfortable silence.

"Father," the Prince started and the King looked up, surprised to see the Prince hesitating before he continued, "why is Mother sleeping for such a long time?" The King tensed. The last time the Prince had asked, he was very young and had just started speaking. The King flew into rage then and commanded the wet nurse to remove the Prince before he could do or say something he would come to regret. After that, the Prince did not speak of it again. But the King knew, from the wet nurse, that there were only 2 things his son was obsessed about since he was a baby; Dragons and his Mother. It broke the King's heart as he looked at the Prince, asking his father about his mother just as the King himself had asked his own, then, Lord Father.

At that thought, with a deep understanding for how the Prince must be feeling, desperate for anything anyone can tell him about his mother, the King decided to reply, "your Mother…" The King paused, staring at the stew in front of him. He turned when he felt a little hand on his. The Prince was standing in front of him, scrambling up onto his lap, burying his cherubic face into the King's chest, "she was protecting… us. From monsters," he tightened his arm around the Prince.

"Did Mother get hurt?" The Prince asked.

The King resolved to keep his expression even and strong for his son but felt a twitch, "yes. She got hurt and she couldn't get better," he glanced into the chambers to catch a glimpse of the Queen's silver hair.

"Would Mother ever get better?" The Prince followed the King's glance to look at the Queen, his wide grey eyes filling with tears. The Prince bit his lips, trying not to cry; a dragon does not cry. The King took his son's face in his hands gently, guiding him to look at him.

"Yes, Jaehaerys," The King told him, "your Mother is trying as hard as she can and we have to believe in her and give her strength," The Prince sniffed, rubbing at his eyes with the back of his hand before nodding firmly.

This is my first Game of Thrones fic! This story would mainly, and sadly, be my source of therapy that is needed from the angst of having wait 2 years for the next season. As you can already probably tell, this story would slowly cover the past and any questions that you may have so wait for it ;)

Hope you would like the story!

Do leave me a review to tell me what you think about this first chapter!