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In a world where Jaehaerys looked over his assembled heirs, his most prominent concern was indeed, peace and avoidance of civil war in House Targaryen. And while he selfishly left the matter of Rhaenys versus sons of Baelon to the assembled lords, he was not so sure when it came to the brothers themselves.
Viserys was a peace-loving man who kept the wine flowing and entertainment going. This was not enough to endear him as a king. What if a rebellion rose? Or war erupted? What if Corlys Velaryon or his son in the future decided to take the Throne by any means necessary?
Viserys was not a firm man, but even with all the fears and doubts, Jaehaerys was not so worried about that.
He was worried about his youngest grandchild, Daemon.
His youngest grandson was ambitious, a fact everyone knew. He was dangerous, he loved power, or chaos to be more accurate. But more than that, Daemon was a dragon rider, an accomplished knight. Despite having nothing of his own, he still managed to gather an army of sell swords and knights from leftover sons who were unsatisfied with their rank in the world. Today, Daemon was willing to support his brother because he was young, and despite being ambitious, he had not faced the trials of life or the bitterness of disappointment from his blood. What if, one day, he decided to go against Viserys and made his bid for throne?
Moreover, people loved Daemon too. Viserys being favoured was only because he was the candidate against Rhaenys because he was supported by Vale and his brother. But take away the support of Daemon, what was left? He would not even be on par with his granddaughter. Daemon, on the other hand, was charming. He might be infamous, but he was also charismatic. Nobility either fawned over him, admired his warrior-like mindset, or was jealous of him. But they couldn’t take their eyes away from him.
If Daemon decided to rebel, Viserys would not last long, but the kingdom would go in flames over a pointless, preventable war.
Faced with such circumstances, Jaehaerys pondered his choices. Giving the inheritance of niece to her uncle’s son just because he was male… If laws were going to be broken today one way or another, why not go with a better choice?
And so, Daemon Targaryen was declared heir to the surprise of all other heirs, and the dread of one Otto Hightower.
Years later…
Daemon shook his head in disbelief. “No.”
Viserys was persistent. “This is what I want, Daemon.”
“Absolutely not,” he repeated. “I have tried my best to fulfil every wish of yours. I have also allowed a lot of your demands to be fulfilled, only because I felt guilty because of what happened on that day. I declared you my heir to wash the sting of pain grandfather’s choice left on you. But this? This is absurd.”
Viserys face twisted in pain, and then smoothed over. “I have not made a single demand of you that was not unreasonable. As you have stated many times, all of this should have gone to me, not you, but today, you are not even fulfilling a little request from me?”
Daemon was in disbelief. “Unreasonable? When you begged to have Otto Hightower remain as the Hand despite his clear bias towards his region when it came to administrative matters? When you forced me to pardon him and let him have a position on the council despite him spewing vitriol against me not once, not twice, but many times! You contradicted everyone, even Aemma had started to worry if there was something more going on between you two. You pushed incompetent people to the seats of power just because they were your “friends”, and you still state you have not made a single unreasonable request?”
It was true. Despite the evidence to prove the corruption of Hightowers and their unceasing bias towards the Old Town despite the cost to other regions and even the Highgarden in the Reach, Viserys still insisted on pushing many Hightowers and their lackeys in positions of power. Luthor Largent had let out a roaring laugh when he heard Gwayne Hightower was to be appointed, and had, on the first day, made the barracks hell for the green boy.
Otto Hightower had insisted on tightening the control over Gold Cloaks after the incidents but never at the cost of his own blood or coin. Gwayne Hightower never returned to the place either way. This was just one example in the long list of incompetent reach lords grasping above their ability or station.
At his reminder, Viserys sputtered, yet maintained his position. “You see enemies everywhere, Daemon, but this is not what we are talking about right now. As you keep on reminding me, I am your heir, but I also need an heir of mine. And I have told you my choice of bride.”
“Absolutely not.” Daemon raged. “I will not allow the Hightower blood this close to Throne, to our power. And who are you to decide the next heir? I am the King, as you so like to remind me bitterly. I will be the one deciding my heir, not you.”
Viserys clenched his jaw and leaned back in the chair. “I am not asking for permission, I am informing you. I will marry Alicent Hightower, and she will give me children.”
“And as I have stated many times before, brother,” Daemon reminded him, again. “I will not allow this.”
Viserys lifted his chin. “You don’t have a choice. Already, my child is growing in her belly.”
The King laughed disbelievingly. “I don’t have a choice? Fine! Let me show you what choice I have! Ser Harrold!” he snarled, summoning the Lord Commander as he stood up at the head of table in the chamber for Small council, the chair letting out a loud screech at the sudden movement. The man in question hurried forward and bowed to him. “I realize I have been remiss in my duty related to the investigation of death- no, murder of Princess Aemma despite Lady Arryn’s frequent petitions. Round up everyone who was in her presence in her last moments, and conduct the questioning without any bias. Do not spare anyone, not even Prince Viserys.”
“You can’t do that! Daemon! Stop this utter madness!” Viserys screamed at him while being subdued by the Kingsguard. Daemon sneered.
“I am not asking for permission, Viserys, I am informing you.”
“I am your brother! Your family! You cannot be allowed to do this to me!”
Daemon shot back. “Oh, Viserys, today, you will learn what I can and cannot do.”
Viserys frantically shook his head. “Rhaenyra will not allow this-”
“Wrong,” the King interrupted his shouting. “Rhaenyra was the one to back Lady Arryn’s petition to investigate the death of Aemma. You do realize that lodging such a serious complaint against a high-ranking royalty, the heir at that, is no easy task even if you are the highest-ranking nobility, right? This is why Rhaenyra, in her position as Princess of the Targaryen dynasty, declared her official support to move the matter forward as soon as possible. Your daughter is out for blood, Viserys. If I were you, I would be very, very worried about the investigation itself. Just imagine her rage when she learns that you are declaring your desire to marry her only lady in waiting only a few months after the death of Aemma.”
At this, Viserys paled, but continued screaming his protests. Daemon firmly turned his head away. For too long, he had allowed himself to be ruled by the guilt of usurping his brother’s right. Never mind the fact that Viserys would have also been a usurper to Rhaenys. Never mind the fact that his brother was a blind, weak fool who always favoured their enemies. He always let his antics slide, even when it earned him the ire and tears of his beloved niece.
No more. If Rhaenyra, who was younger than him, had recognized her father’s neglect and his role in her mother’s death, Daemon should also be able to look past their relationship and do what was best for their house.
In the end, Otto Hightower was implicated under the charges of treason, conspiracy and murder of Princess Aemma Arryn. He was executed without fanfare along with all the culprits involved in the Princess’ death. Prince Viserys had his allowance cut to a mere fraction, and lived under political exile for five years in Driftmark, and then would return to the capital and live in the Red Keep under the supervision of his daughter.
Alicent Hightower had cried when she was informed of the narrow options of having the moon tea or being responsible for her bastard without any help. She took the route of giving birth to the child, still under the false belief that things might change due to her father and her friendship with Princess Rhaenyra, but had to accept her fate when her father was executed a month after she gave birth to a boy. She had tried giving him a Targaryen name, but Daemon refused any leniency, taking away the right from her to name her child anything but flowers. As he had declared before, not a penny would be given from his coffers. They had no association with the child, thus, they had no responsibility either.
King Daemon acknowledged the Velaryon's help in dealing with his brother in the case of kinslaying and as a reward, announced his betrothal to both Princess Rhaenyra and Lady Laena to combine the claim of all lines. There was some resistance, but the King was not afraid of reminding his enemies that he had a dragon and he was not afraid to use it. Both of them gave him many children, which would have raised the question of the next heir, but before the succession crisis could arise, both queens decided to combine the claims of their children by marrying their eldest, Prince Jacaerys and Princess Baela, to each other, who later ruled the Kingdom as equals. The rest, Rhaena, Lucerys, Joffery, Baelon, Aegon, Viserys, and Visenya never glimpsed the horrible future that was their fate in another world. They lived happily and spent their days in joy under the watchful eye of their parents.
Viserys’ dreams finally changed from him crowning his Aegon to a silver-haired girl frolicking the halls of Dragonstone with her elder brother and her cousins without any worries about where her next meals would come and if she would be sold as a broodmare. She still faced many troubles in her life, but this time, she had a loving family to protect her.
But alas, Viserys never understood the meaning of his dreams, always lamenting on what ifs.