Let Madness Reign – Aerys SI (ASOIAF)

BARRISTAN I

He was loathe to admit it but he had truly hit rock bottom. All his life he wanted to serve a worthy king as one of the greatest knights in the realm: a Kingsguard. He served with Jaehaerys II who was a wise and just king but he soon died and was replaced by his son Aerys II. Aerys II was a terrible monarch that sullied his office and tarnishes the achievements and legacy of his ancestors. Oh how the conqueror would scowl at this fool of a descendant. Though Kingsguard were not supposed to have their opinions on the king they served, in his own mind he admitted that he loathed King Aerys. To think that he had forsaken his birthright as a Lord, his chance for love, and a family for this mad and unworthy king.

Oh king Aerys was not always like this. During the early years of his reign he showed much promise and his youthful zeal and charm captivated many around him earning praise and accolades from both commoner and highborn alike. But he was fickle and soon grew uninterested in the affairs of the kingdom and entrusted those matters to Lord Tywin his hand and former friend. Lord Tywin was an excellent hand and this made King Aerys jealous and he began to publicly antagonize his Lord Hand. This culminated in the Defiance of Duskendale where the man he had once respected was changed into the monster he is now.

It was after Duskendale, that his grace developed a taste for burning people wildfire. Barristan did not know what of all things caused him to obsess over the substance that killed his family at Summerhall and nearly ended his house. But its more likely that whatever torture that the Darklyns had inflicted upon the king had scarred his mind. At first wildfire was limited for more capital crimes. When heinous criminals such as rapists were caught instead of beheading the king had them burnt at the stake by wildfire. Many did not mind this. In fact some peasants cheered when this occurred seeing as poetic justice for the criminal who terrorized them. Barristan found this repulsive as did his other fellow kingsguard brethren, but it was not his place to question his king. But then the king began escalating the severity of punishments within the capitals. Often brutally punishing even the lowliest of offenders with wildfire.

Many times he would stand on guard duty outside the royal chambers where he could hear the screams and shrieks of agony from the Queen. Queen Rhaella was a pious and kind woman who was thoroughly devoted to her children. Barristan surmised that had it not been for them, then she would flung herself out the window a long time ago like Queen Heleana had during the Dance of the Dragons. The King and Queen had a strained marriage as they suffered many miscarriages and stillbirths before Prince Viserys was born. And once Aerys had turned insane he became obsessed with furthering his line and keeping his bloodline pure by having a more children. In his madness, Aerys raped the queen forcing himself upon her and with this dirty and overgrown nails teared at her flesh. This left the queen bruised and bloodied and had to change her wardrobe to hide these wounds from the court. One time Aerys left the door open and he saw the queen's purple eyes displaying her sheer terror pleading with him to save her, but Barristan turned away and did nothing as he had sworn a vow to serve the king. Barristan sighed and resigned himself to his role as a Kingsguard serving the crown for the rest of his days.

Though Ser Barristan had hope in the young Prince Rhaegar who was nothing like his father. Rhaegar was kind, just, studious, and a capable leader. Barristan saw the makings of a great king within him and longed for the day when he finally took the throne to start another Golden Age for House Targaryen and the people of Westeros.

Barristan was interrupted from his thoughts when a blood curling scream echoed from the King's chambers and he rushed in to find the king lying on the ground unconscious.

AERYS I

I awoke to see a man dressed in some sort of medieval garb standing over me. Perhaps I'm in supporting medieval fair, but honestly I haven't been able to remember how I got here and frankly my head hurts. The last thing I remember was walking home from university and talking to this strange man who called himself Rob. I must have been drugged and dumped here after the dude mugged me since none of my belongings are at my side. Perhaps I could ask someone here where I am and for directions to the nearest police station.

But there were some things off about this place which made me feel nervous. A young boy who was dressed as a servant addressed me as your grace. I brushed it off as being part of this medieval fair and to see what would happen, I ordered the boy to fetch me a glass of water. I froze. My voice isn't British! I'm an American! Maybe this was a result of whatever substance that Rob drugged me with still being in my system. After they boy returned handed me some water in an actual silver goblet that had very ornate design resembling what I identified to be a dragon. When I reached out and took the goblet I noticed that my nails were very long and dirty as if I hadn't clipped them for a long time. And to make matters worse the skin on my hands were very pale as if I hadn't been out in the sun for years. My hands weren't like this! I distinctly remember that my nails were neatly trimmed and my natural skin color was brown. Then there was the fact that my parents and siblings would be worried sick that I hadn't arrived home.

Sensing that I was distressed, the boy asked me if everything was alright. I said I was fine and I said that I wished to be alone after which he left.

My body felt older and worn as if I were a more aged man, but this didn't make sense as I was in my early 20's and had graduated high school a year ago. Perhaps a nice glass of water would help me calm my nerves. And as I was about to take a sip of water I saw my reflection. I was Mad King Aerys! It all made sense! The overgrown fingernails and the long and unkept beard. The purple eyes and silvery hair along with the dragon heraldry all over this place! I was a damn Targaryen transplanted into Aerys of all people right before the Robert's Rebellion and he had pissed of Tywin Lannister of all people. I was so screwed. And the worst part hit me as I realized that I would never see my friends and family again I was rotting in this Hell that was Westeros. I let out a catatonic scream agony where I my vision was consumed by darkness.