A Song of Ice and Fire: Wrath of the Sleeping Dragon

Swiftly.

The old maidservant led Viserys down from the Maegor's Holdfast to the ballroom on the first floor.

This ballroom within Maegor's Holdfast was primarily used for royal banquets and dances, and could accommodate over a hundred guests.

Arched windows let sunlight stream in, casting light onto the silver mirrors inside the ballroom. Rows of lit candles flickered gently, making the entire space bright and welcoming.

On the second floor of the ballroom was a long corridor, with thick walls adorned with intricate wood carvings and exquisite brocade silks. The Targaryen family's three-headed dragon banners hung on either side of the entrance.

In fact, Maegor's Holdfast was like a castle within a castle, located in the heart of the Red Keep, boasting twelve-foot-thick walls and a moat. As a royal residence, its defenses were naturally impregnable.

Viserys followed the old maidservant into the ballroom and found that quite a few guards had already gathered, tending to their equipment and weapons.

Viserys and the maidservant drew their attention, but only for a moment before they continued with their tasks.

"Your Highness."

A middle-aged man with gray-black hair, clad in leather armor and riding breeches, was polishing his longsword. Seeing Viserys enter, he nodded slightly in greeting.

Another Kingsguard in a white cloak turned his head towards Viserys upon hearing the voice.

Feeling the gazes of the two knights, Viserys tensed slightly, his fingers gripping his sleeve, but he appeared calm and politely greeted them.

"Hello."

"Ser William."

Ser William Darry was the master-at-arms of the Red Keep, responsible for training the guards in combat skills and formations. He was highly skilled in battle, which was necessary for such an important position.

His brother, Ser Jonothor Darry, was a member of the Kingsguard who had accompanied Prince Rhaegar during the rebellion. His fate remained unknown following the Battle of the Trident.

Viserys then turned to the young Kingsguard and nodded in greeting.

"Ser Jaime."

The white-cloaked knight didn't say a word, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, and his gaze seemed to assess Viserys with curiosity.

Despite being a recent addition to the Kingsguard, Jaime wasn't very familiar with the members of House Targaryen, especially the second prince.

But since they all lived in the Red Keep, they saw each other often, and Jaime sensed something different about Viserys today – as if he stood taller, yet appeared more humble.

Jaime gripped the hilt of his sword and then looked away.

Viserys didn't pay attention to the stares, although his heart raced a bit faster. He seemed to find some resilience in the face of adversity, a trait he had carried through his past life and into this one.

Viserys approached the seat in the center of the hall, where a silver-haired woman in ornate clothing sat. He didn't look up directly but bowed slightly in respect.

"Mother."

The atmosphere in the ballroom remained solemn and heavy, but he didn't know what had happened.

"Viserys."

Then, a weary voice sounded above Viserys's head.

Queen Rhaella reached out, her arm encircling the boy's waist, and gently embraced her son. She then leaned her head against the side of his face.

"My child…"

"There's something terrible I must tell you…"

Viserys could clearly feel his mother's body trembling slightly, her voice revealing that the strong woman had reached her breaking point.

Beneath her velvet gown were swollen bruises, bite marks, and scratches - remnants of the previous night when her frenzied husband had left his mark upon her in their bedchamber. Still, Rhaella Targaryen, a resilient woman, persevered.

Although the news of her eldest son's death and the nation's peril brought her immense sorrow, compounded by the emotional and physical trauma she endured the night before, Rhaella knew she had to pull herself together for Viserys and the child she carried within her.

Fortunately, her husband retained some sanity amidst his madness, realizing the situation was perhaps beyond salvation. He urgently ordered a group of Red Keep guards to escort Queen Rhaella and his second son, Viserys, to the safety of Dragonstone.

King Aerys II himself would remain in King's Landing, preparing to fight the enemy to the bitter end. He would not hand over the capital to the rebels without a desperate struggle.

As the rebels were not far from King's Landing, they had already received news that Tywin Lannister, the Lord Paramount of the Westerlands, ruler of Casterly Rock, and the King's old friend, had decided to raise an army for the King. Yet, since nothing was certain, it was prudent to escort the Queen and the Prince away from the troubled capital first.

…

Splash—

Fully armed soldiers stood guard as handmaidens helped the heavily pregnant Queen Rhaella, who had trouble walking, into the carriage. The curtains were drawn, sealing the carriage tightly.

Viserys followed his mother, preparing to board the second carriage.

At that moment, a minor incident occurred within the procession.

A brown-haired little girl appeared out of nowhere. The guards, unaware of her identity, turned a blind eye.

Sir William, the commander of the procession, hesitated for a moment before sighing, ultimately choosing to remain silent as well.

The brown-haired girl approached Viserys's carriage, tugging at his clothes and looking up at him with a cute face, as if asking where they were going and why she couldn't join them.

"We're going…"

Viserys recognized the girl from his memories but hesitated, clenching his fists.

He was well aware that he didn't fully understand the situation and, logically, should not create any additional complications.

However…

The silver-haired boy gritted his teeth and, in the end, made a bold decision. He grabbed the little girl's hand and pulled her into the carriage.

Following close behind, a small black cat effortlessly jumped onto the carriage roof.

"Hey! Balerion!"

The girl shouted excitedly in the carriage but was immediately silenced by Viserys's hand over her mouth.

"Mmmph…"

The boy glanced nervously outside the carriage, then drew the curtains once more, whispering into her ear.

"Hey…"

"Be quiet for now, Rhaenys."

Finally.

Rumble—

With the sound of wheels rolling on the cobblestone road and the soft tapping of horse hooves on the ground, the knights tightly gripped their weapons. The procession hurriedly escorted the two carriages out of the castle gates.

Leaving the Red Keep, they headed towards the distant horizon.