Chapter 27
In the capital, ravens circled the Red Keep as Brynden Rivers paced in his solar as the latest missive from Ashford, though he had little need of it, for he already knew of all that had transpired in the meadow.
And he was not much happy with it. Not at all. Still, he read the missive, hoping that his 'eyes' had been wrong but alas, they had seen nothing but the truth. Maekar was dead, along with seven others, and the fourth son of the King had died at the hands of none other than the young Prince, who was the sole hope for the Royal Family.
"That damn fool," he cursed him, and his foolishness as he scrunched up the missive in his hands and tossed it into the raging fire, as he turned towards the window.
"What have you done, Matarys?"
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AEGON TARGARYEN
The funeral for his father was a somber affair. The King had sent Prince Aerys to Ashford to settle the matter, but the Prince had come too late and his father had long passed since then.
Aegon had stood alone as the fire ate through his father's being, and ever since his passing, Aegon found himself searching for the one responsible for his father's demise. Yet despite days spent in thought, he failed in his search to find the one person who had killed his father.
He could blame Matarys for he had swung the blade, but the only reason the two of them were fighting in that trial in the first place was because of Aerion and his murder of Tanselle.
But the only reason Aerion had killed her in the first place was because of her relationship with his cousin Matarys, a relationship which had begun because he had introduced Ser Duncan and his cousin.
Matarys, Aerion, and himself. Who was he to blame for his father's death?
Who?
So, his search for the one responsible brought him to his cousin's door, for if there was anyone who could give him the answer he sought, then it was his cousin. Matarys had woken up a day ago, on the day of the funeral yet he was unable to attend it.
He slowly pushed in the door, and the smell of medicine and blood hit his nose as he walked into the room. Matarys lay in a bed in the corner, and in all the years he had never seen him so thin and frail.
His skin had become pale, and as he turned his head towards him, he noticed the lack of that ever-present smile. His face contorted as he saw him, before he slowly opened his mouth.
"Egg," and he did not return the greeting as he walked closer, and for years now, Egg had looked up to Matarys as a hero of his, and he was not the only one. The whole realm thought him a hero, and called him Matchless.
He had hoped to be like him, and yet he had been the one whose blade had orphaned him and his brothers and destroyed his family.
Hating him should have been easy. Should have been right. But as he stood beside him, Aegon found only pain in his heart. Only pain.
Silence hung in the air as he stood beside Matarys, and just the simple act of breathing made his cousin wince in pain, and he was weak enough that Aegon could end his life in a quick second if he so desired.
"I would apologise to you, but I know well that there are no words in the world that could ease your pain and suffering," Matarys whispered and he did not need his apology.
All he needed was his reason.
"Why?" and Aegon's voice shook as he asked him that.
"Why did you kill him?" and the words made Matarys's lips thin, as his cousin turned his gaze towards the ceiling.
"Seven as my witness, I did not want to," and for some reason he believed him.
"Your father was my uncle. He was the one who trained me to be a knight, and he was the one who made me swear my oaths. It pained me to raise my sword against him, and I know it pained him as well," but they had fought against one another.
"We rode into battle for our own reasons, and we both suffered for them," and now he turned towards him.
"Your father died protecting your brother, and I lost my uncle protecting my honor," and he knew that. he knew all that.
"Is honor really worth such a price?" and he knew well that Matarys loved his father, just as his father loved him as a son. He had squired for the man, and much of all he knew about sword and lance came from his father.
"I am afraid you will have to search for that answer yourself," and a tear slid down his face, as Aegon's fists loosened up and he plopped down on the bed beside his cousin.
"For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to squire for you," and that was no secret.
"You were my hero," Aegon continued, and perhaps one day, when he had the answer to his question, he would be once more.
"I know," Matarys whispered, as Aegon gulped weakly.
"But I don't think I can squire for you anymore," and he did not have the heart to tend to the very blade that had taken his father from him. He was not that strong.
He had thought much about his future, and in the end he had decided against squiring for his cousin. But he was not going to squire for Daeron as well.
He had to understand what it meant to be a true knight, and while Matarys was the truest knight he knew, there was one other person he looked up to.
"I will squire for Ser Duncan," and he had made the decision after much deliberation.
Ser Duncan was a hedge knight, and came from humble beginnings. He was flawed, and yet he had a desire in him to do good.
He sought glory, but not for himself, but for his master, so that he may be remembered. He was a good man who had taken mercy on him even when he had been nothing more than a scrawny little orphan.
He had expected some opposition, but Matarys gave only a small chuckle as he drew in a breath.
"He is a good man," his cousin whispered.
"He will treat you well," but not everyone would be so forthcoming.
"I know, but not everyone will agree. Not with...," and he did not have the heart to say more.
"I will need you to convince your father," Aegon added, and he owed him that much at least.
"I will try," and that was all one could do, and suddenly the door to the room was pushed open once more as Aegon turned his head and saw a rather unlikely face walk into the room.
"Brother," he gasped, and it was Aerion who stood at the door.
Aerion may have lost an arm, but he had woken up a day earlier than Matarys. He had lost at trial and was now condemned to a life at the Wall, and he found it hard to have any sympathy for him when he had been the cause of this tragedy.
"What are you doing here?" and he had no reason to be here, and he watched him close the door behind him slowly as he met his eyes.
"Do not make any noise, brother," and he was whispering, and his eyes were bloodshot as they turned towards Matarys's form.
"I am just here to finish what I started," and with those words, he saw him take out a dagger from his belt as Aegon realized his intentions.
"No, I will not let you do that," Aegon stepped forward, but Aerion rushed forward.
"Who is asking you!" and Aegon may be small and weak, but Aerion's injuries had left him just as weak.
"HELP! HELPPP!" he screamed loudly, as he ran into his brother and pushed him back.
"What are you doing!" Aerion screamed at him, as he pushed him away, and Aegon's back hit the ground, but the push was enough to force Aerion to stumble back as well.
"He killed our father yet you would still defend him!" and by now the guards had walked into the room, along with Valarr.
"Grab him!" Valarr roared, as the guards all pounced on Aerion at once.
"You! You traitor! You would dare defend the person who killed our father!" and he looked him in the eye, and as he looked into those bloodshot eyes Aegon found the answer he had sought.
"Make no mistake, brother. The person who killed our father is you," and he saw Valarr step forward as he ordered the guards.
"Take my cousin to his room and make sure that he stays there," and the two men nodded, as they took a screaming Aerion away while Valarr turned towards Matarys on the bed.
"Why didn't you scream for help, you idiot?" he lashed out, and at that, Matarys simply turned towards him and offered him a small smile.
"I knew that I wouldn't have to," and the words struck hard, as his elder cousin sighed and walked up to him.
"Thank you, Egg," Valarr added, and he gave him a small nod, and turned towards Matarys one last time.
"Remember your promise," he whispered, and Matarys returned a nod.
"I will...."
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And an hour later, Egg found himself standing in front of a bruised and battered hedge knight who gawked at him.
"What?" Ser Duncan asked, as Aegon's shoulders sagged.
"I said that I wish to squire for you, Ser Duncan," and the words landed finally, and the hedge knight's eyes widened before he finally gave his answer.
"Why!"
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