(POV: Viserys)
Dragonstone was a beautiful island, one that was given to be controlled by the heir to the throne to teach them how to rule properly and justly. Viserys wasn't given such an opportunity however. He had no chance to slowly get accustomed to his duty. One day he was a Prince with few responsibilities and the next his uncle was slain, his father the new heir and him next in line for the throne.
He had never desired such a station and mayhaps it would have been better if Rhaenys had become the heir after uncle Aemon's death. Still, he had no choice. When he and Daemon received the letter proclaiming his uncle as king, Viserys had been willing to kneel, proclaim fealty to him yet it had been Daemon, Daemon that had pushed him to take the throne.
His grandfather's death had been suspicious, especially with how quickly Gaemon had prepared his ascension to the Iron Throne but that could be played off as luck. After all, his uncle had never shown himself to be anything but an honourable, courageous man. He had shown bravery when he had tamed the Cannibal while he was barely a child.
Daemon had argued against this, telling him that as Baelon's eldest son, the throne was rightfully his. He also claimed that the war would be no issue, they had 2 adult dragons, one which was the Black Dread, the might of the Vale's finest knights and that he had no doubt that the lords of the realm would flock to the banners of the rightful king. The threat of what would happen if they didn't was left unspoken. For his own sake, Viserys decided to not ask in detail what Daemon had planned for them.
Instead, they set about planning, holding a coronation upon Dragonstone though the crown that Daemon crowned his brother was a simple one, a simple gold band though he promised him that he would ensure a better coronation for him when they took King's Landing. That had been another thing, their plans to leave Dragonstone.
Per Daemon's words, "It was just a blasted bunch of rocks." Rhaenys could take the island while Daemon captured King's Landing and she would gain no true benefit from it. Not that she would dare fly against Balerion. She feared becoming another Aegon the Uncrowned. Though, that would make him the Maegor of the story. The thought made him sigh in melancholy as he sipped his wine.
None but his father had known that Balerion was a dragon past his prime now. He had grown larger and whatever injuries he'd received with Aerea Targaryen had never managed to truly heal. It pained his dragon to simply fly a few laps, yet just the threat had been enough to keep Rhaenys confined to her island.
When he told his brother of such, he simply laughed in his face. "Viserys, you need not even unleash the fury of Balerion upon Rhaenys. You may both simply stay here. Just the threat is enough to keep Rhaenys away." And then he had done something out of character. He knelt and presented Dark Sister to him. "I, Daemon Targaryen, make a vow in front of the Old Gods and the New. Until my brother's line claims the Iron Throne, I will keep Dark Sister in his hands."
That had shocked his court to send them into a frenzy of gossip as Viserys accepted the blade, before handing it back to him, "There is no need brother. You will keep Dark Sister and be my blade against my enemies." And with that he embraced his brother, holding him tightly, tears in his eyes as he wondered if this would be their last meeting with one another.
Viserys scarcely needed to wait a week though before a letter came, King's Landing had surrendered. He had immediately set out upon Balerion, Syrax following behind. He had not permitted his daughter to accompany her uncle, for fear that her dragon's age would be used against it in a fight against Rhaenys. He abandoned Dragonstone and landed Balerion on the outskirts of King's Landing, letting his mount rest while a contingent of guards escorted him and Rhaenyra to the Red Keep.
It had been strange however. When he had been younger, King's Landing had been loud, boisterous and filled with activity. Now the smallfolk stared upon him with rage, irritation and fear. It made his heart feel heavy in his chest but he hardened himself. A king could not be merciful all the time. He needed to be strong. For his family. For Rhaenyra. For Daemon.
He made his way to the throne room, gazing up at the Iron Throne, thousands of swords melted together to form a jagged monstrosity. Daemon walked over to them, in his hands was the crown of Jaehaerys. Viserys nodded, allowing his brother to put the crown on his head before he turned around to the few soldiers that remained. He did not understand what Gaemon had done, yet he had convinced many of their loyal guards to leave, many of the Kingsguard had followed behind and so had a great deal of the Small Council.
Daemon had dismissed them, "They are simply Gaemon's lackeys. The second we crush him, they will abandon his cause and surrender." Viserys did not believe the same. Jaehaerys's small council had been competent. And Gaemon had the same men. It was a bad omen for their side.
Daemon turned to him, a smile upon his face. "Aemma is waiting in your chambers, your grace." On his face was a grin as he bowed, a clear jape. Viserys smiled fondly at his brother's antics, turning around as his brother called out to his back, "Get to work making a son brother! Your kingdom will need an heir and I won't be around forever!"
That made him snort loudly as his guards looked at him awkwardly. He smiled as Ser Adrian Redfort escorted him while Ser Jon Oakheart followed after Rhaenyra, his excitable daughter bustling around Maegor's Holdfast, exploring every nook and cranny. He smiled fondly as she wrapped her arms around him, burying her face into his chest. "I love you father! Oh, I'm going to collect flowers to give to mother!" She exclaimed excitedly, running off to the gardens, Ser Jon following behind stoically.
He stepped into the royal apartments, breaking into an involuntary smile as he gazed upon his beautiful wife. Aemma closed her book as he began kissing her neck, his hands settling upon her hips. "My love, how is it that you grow more ravishing each day?" He teased, moving his kisses upwards, to her cheeks, enjoying how they turned rosy red at his words. "Mayhaps the same method you use to appear more like the Conqueror each day."
He let out a chuckle at her jape as his hands began fumbling with his own clothes as he moved his kisses to her lips. "Let's make a brother for Rhaenyra." He whispered, enjoying her breathy giggles, before the two tumbled into the bed. "This is expensive Myrish lace!" She chastised him, though he just smiled, "Then I'll buy you hundreds more of such clothes." He loved his wife, she was his one soulmate. He gave up on removing her gown and tore it off, getting ready to make love. "Let's give Rhaenyra a brother." She whispered, her lips pouty as she gazed up at him lovingly. What man could resist such words from their lovely wife? Certainly not him.
He began learning the next day about how the Crown's treasury had been drained by Gaemon before he left and had set Lord Lyman upon raising gold for his armies. Daemon had struck upon a plan. "Let me fly to the Stormlands Viserys! You may stay here! Gaemon nor Rhaenys will dare attack the capital while you and Balerion remain. I will remind the Baratheons that it was the dragons that made them and it will be the dragons that unmake them." Viserys sighed as the council began bickering over what to do, some appointments to positions such as Lyonel Strong as the Hand of the King, Ser Adrian Redfort as the new Lord Commander of the Kingsguard and others and he could already feel a headache building in his skull from how his brother was glaring at him.
Clearly he didn't seem happy that he had named Lord Lyonel Strong as his Hand. He would simply have to deal with that for a bit, for Harrenhal was a strong castle with fertile lands. He needed all the aid he could get for this war and he would have to reward all his supporters