Haven't been able to write much lately but I accidentally missed like two days on my meds and it absolutely fucked me up. Felt like getting hit by an anxiety-riddled truck. It seriously felt like I was going through withdrawals or something.
Also lost my last working headphones today, and my science teacher somehow managed to leave the damn final exam blank when you fucking open the fucking thing. So I've been dealing with that all day and I still have to do my English one as well. Plus I have a mild fever so overall I'm doing so hot.
Probably going to go gym to blow off some steam later.
XXX
UPDATE
Tried to go gym but my app offloaded while I wasn't paying attention and it ended up refusing to load back on so no gym because I couldn't sign in. Plus my phone apparently ran out of storage space so that also sucks. Plus of course last but not least I'm sick again. Fuck my life.
Also watched the movie Limitless last night it was pretty good. Wish I had some NZT in real life 7.5/10 overall I'd watch it again.
[Insert Funny medicine gif here]
XXX
An excerpt from Grand Maester Vaegon's
Head of the Dragon
Volume 1
Early life of the Bronze Prince
Chapter 8
Beginning of the Round Table Knights
XXX
The knights of the Round Table began in the oddest of ways in the strangest of places. Nothing but a group of children led unexpectedly not by the eldest of its members but rather by the youngest. Prince Aemon Targaryen son of Daemon Targaryen and Rhea Royce founded the Knights of the Round Table in 101 AC. He led the group of great lords' sons at only three name days old. Although the group started as no more than a mere sports team nobody knew the true potential it had. The children involved quickly grew thick as theaves and were said to have frequently corresponded even long after the council ended. But even with that it seemed nobody understood the era this group of childhood friends would unleash upon the world.
XXX
Harrenhal
101 AC
Aemon Targaryen
XXX
The great council had heard fifteen claims over fourteen days. Every single one of them was dismissed, including my own, save for two. There had been claims such as Vaegon's which although reasonable were dismissed for obvious reasons. Then some were entirely outlandish so it would be ridiculous to ever consider. From false bastard sons of the king to even three illegitimate children of Princess Saera one of which was weirdly similar looking to the king. The resemblance was so striking that it made the Queen audibly gasp. Another who was the son of a triarch of Volantis and the last who looked weirdly familiar as well. But all those claims were dismissed leaving only two remaining.
On one side, my side, was the claim of my uncle Viserys of House Targaryen. He was a kind man and he had the classical features of our house. His hair is long and a silvery golden color closer to platinum blonde than any other color. His eyes were the classic Targaryen purple and on his face grew a mustache and a royal beard. Dressed in traditional Targaryen red and black with golden jewelry encrusted with rubies yet not at all gaudy in appearance. In fact, he wore fewer gems and jewelry than he had been recommended to wear but Viserys ever humble, denied most of them. He looked like a Targaryen but instead of fire and blood, he dominated the vibe of a nice warm hearth and a fine red wine or two. Apparently, according to my father in his youth, his big brother was quite the party animal even more so than he was. Though looking at him now you would never guess it although perhaps that explains why he expressed such interest in all my games.
Off to his side was his dear wife Aemma Targaryen once Arryn. She had the definitive Targaryen features though not from her father Rodrik Arryn but rather her mother Daella Targaryen. She was the king's own granddaughter much like her husband's main competition was only she did not carry the House of the Dragon's name by birth but by marriage. She wore a formal gown of Targaryen red and Arryn white which worked quite well for her and she was covered in a modest amount of silver jewelry with a few rubies and one rather large moonstone with the Arryn Falcon around it. Her hair was paler than Viserys' but not by much and her eyes were a few shades lighter purple. Her stomach was swollen with pregnancy and her right hand held her husband's while her left held Rhaenyras. The little girl was clearly desperate to move from her spot as she kept glancing up at her mother but she knew better than that and stayed still. Instead, the girl in red glanced at me and I gave her a smile that I hoped would be encouraging. She smiled sweaty back at me and looked forward stalling her movements and holding her head up high.
I stood between my father and mother each on either side of me and for once they weren't fighting for once. Unlike my less patient cousin who who seemed impatient I held no hands and had no problem sitting still. I was in all black clothing with no patterns or jewelry which had been another major argument my parents had. They acted like the colors I was wearing were the most important thing in the damned council instead of the outcome. Even so, they were both okay with black as both of their houses used the color.
We were up towards the front of all the lords and ladies a step down from Uncle V and his family up on the dais. I turned my gaze to the opposite side standing on the same level as Viserys was our cousin Rhaenys. I'm not actually sure but I think we're like cousins once removed but the whole inbred thing makes that a little unclear. She stood there with her husband and children. Instead of her husband's white, she was also in black but with Velaryon blue instead of red. The rest of her family was dressed in similar colors as well. She had black hair steamed with the pale gold that her father and I shared her eyes were also purple with hints of Baratheon blue. Her children however had taken almost entirely after their father with their white hair and brown skin. They both also had his blue-green eyes as well as not the classic Targaryen purple.
As my eyes glossed over her parents Laena's locked locked with mine and she gave a small wave with her hand. Laenor did as well and they both smiled at me. Luckily for me, they were subtle enough not to disturb anything and I waved back politely at them. Their father cleared his throat though and they stopped as did I. As we waited for the announcement to be made I stared out at the crowd.
Thousands of men and women all dressed in different colors with different sigils stood in rows waiting to sit as the royal couple made their way up to the dais between them all. Surrounded by Kingsguard they cut a surprisingly admirable figure. When they reached the very front of the hall the King alongside his queen claimed each step. Jaehaerys used no Cain this day and neither did Alysanne. Instead, they stood straight and regal despite their advanced age and slowly walked towards the gold and red cushioned thrones made for them. Kingsguard moved to stand beside them the lord commander himself Ser Ryam Redwyne stood to the right just below the king. Normally the hand of the king would be where he was but it took very little convincing for me to convince the two of him to have Ser Otto stand with the rest of the Hightowers of Oldtown.
As they made their way and sat upon both chairs the king raised his hand. Then just like that the hall went dead silent. No sound of any kind was heard not the skittering of a mouse or the crowing of a raven nearby. With just one hand motion an entire crowd of the richest and most powerful men and women not only fell silent but as down like children in school. It was at that moment that I realized what true power was. The man before me could command the most powerful people on the continent without a single word and his Queen commanded the same level of respect.
So there they were seated atop the dais. Right beside them the two candidates for heir their spouses and their children. A level below them on the dais the rest of the royal family all stood across from each other, a red carpet like a river of blood with flames and dragon patterns dividing us. It flowed down to dividing the Harrenhal's hall of a hundred hearths in half for hundreds of feet. On either side of it each house and the members they had seen fit to bring with them to this once-in-a-lifetime event.
The great hall was filled with their chattering and whispering, gossip spreading like wildfire as to who would be the one to become heir to the iron throne. But it was only when the king himself lifted another hand and all the lords and ladies sat in their chairs like good little children. Of course towards the back rows not all had chairs as this hall was made to accommodate hundreds of people but thousands had come. During the half of a year it took for this great council to run its course Harrenton and consequently Harrenhal had become the fourth largest settlement in all of Weastaros. In the realm, it was behind only King's Landing, Oldtown, and Lannisport in population and size. Now within this settlement a decision that would change the fate of the whole continent and possibly all of history would be made today. The council met for thirteen days and discussed fourteen claims. Nine lesser claims were quickly discarded. In subsequent deliberations, Archmaester Vaegon was then passed over due to his vows, and Princess Rhaenys and her daughter Laena were passed over on account of their sex. The assembled lords then focused on two major candidates Prince Viserys Targaryen and Rhaenys's son Laenor Velaryon. But anyone with half a brain knew it was truly no different than choosing between Rhaenys and Viserys anyway.
But before the decision would be announced to the waiting lords of Weastaros and their vassals the king gave a speech. One that I myself recommended he make on this very day. It was a speech about the unity of the realm about the unity of our royal house and most importantly that after today no matter the result that he wished for no quarrels between family to emerge. Of course, it was much more subtle than that but most of the smart lords would understand what it meant. It was a slight attempt at both preventing civil war and putting together the groundwork for the mending of any wounds. Of course, they would probably just be seen as meaningless platitudes although Jaehaerys is rather good at speeches so it wasn't boring at all to sit through. I guess that's what 50-plus years of public speaking gives you.
Still after that there was really only one thing left to do which was to hear the result. The two sides had already made their cases and behind that had rallied forces in secret just in case. In the end, though this was the most peaceful solution. The only real problem is that it gives the lords the false impression that they get to choose who their monarch is which was a dangerous precedent to set.
Soon enough the grate gates at the end of the hall opened once more. Two men in grand white and gold ceremonial robes carried a large box with another atop it by a pole with chains attached to the boxes. I could only assume the larger box which had a large artwork including the sigil of all the great houses engraved on it was the box with all the votes in it. The second smaller box must be the one with the actual outcome inside it.
When the two men concluded the walk up to the dais they set the box down and knelt with reverence. Then Ser Ryam approached them and took the smaller of the two boxes before walking back up the dais and kneeling before Jaehaerys. Granny's eyes stared hard as if she could simply will the box to become transparent though of course it did not. Slowly and with great care her husband opened the box and revealed a small scroll from within.
The moment of truth came and it felt like the entire room held its breath. Every eye in the room focused hard on the tiny scroll in the old dragon rider's hands as he unfurled it. Even I could feel my heart pounding and I could hear my father's grip tighten on Dark Sister's hilt. Even now he wore the blade with pride and a familiarity that I almost envied. Who would be named as heir?
'Will cannon hold or did I change too much somehow?' And as the scroll opened for a moment the only man in the whole world knew the answer. Still, whether I or the realm was ready or not the answer came.
"VISERYS OF THE HOUSE TARGARYEN"
With that, it was done and as soon as it was I checked the opposing couple's faces. Rhaenys' face was contrite but refined. Perhaps she had decided to accept defeat with grace. But her husband although appearing calm on the outside was almost glowing with fury. Corlys seemed to be outraged which meant that he might be in trouble but hopefully his wife would calm him. I still remember the first time I had a genuine conversation with the man. It was at another family dinner that the king and Queen held for our house. He wasn't cruel to me at all or even the slightest bit unkind. In fact, he seemed to be relieved that Laenor and I were good friends. Although I do feel a bit embarrassed about how I talked his ear off about all his adventures at sea. Something Rhaenys and her children had great fun teasing me about much to my annoyance.
Then I looked down at their children. They seemed calm relieved even. In all this time it was right now that I realized that I hadn't actually bothered to ask if Laenor actually wanted to be the king of the seven kingdoms. Sure it seemed fun in theory but there's no way a boy as young as him would be ready for that leave of pressure and expectation. Laena too seemed to share her younger brother's relief. It seemed the twins were going to be okay after all. I had been ready to comfort two crying children after this but now it seemed rather unnecessary. Still, I'll check in on them later when I have the chance.
Soon enough though as instead of waiting for some other time only a day passed before Jaehaerys had all the lords swear their oaths to uncle Viserys. Frankly, it was one way to rub salt in the wound. To top that off there would be a feast tonight for Viserys' victory and he had been congratulated by nearly every single lord of the realm. But even with the Velaryon's growing saltier than the seas around Driftmark itself, I luckily found a way for me, to sneak off with Laenor and Laena to explore.
After we did I started to ask them about how they felt about his victory. Just as I suspected they had no desire for a crown. Instead, they were more relieved than anything.
XXX
Laena sat with legs crossed, one hand laced with her brother's the other carefully holding a carved and painted hippocampus. The creature from Greek myth was a gift I made for her myself. She hugged me fiercely when I gave it to her and her brother did the same when I gave him a toy ship carefully painted in a way so that it looked like it had a dragon's head. It also actually floated when placed in water so that may have also played a factor in why he liked it so much.
"So how are you two feeling?" I asked trying to sound as unsuspicious as possible. I leaned back on a coach cushion in the room we had been left in. Most of the children had been either too young to attend the ceremony or had been made to wait with their parents.
"We're fine," Laena said briefly looking up from her toy to look at me.
"But aren't you upset you lost your chance to king Laenor?" I questioned looking at the brown skinned boy.
He shook his head " I never wanted to be king not really it's what mother and father wanted." he said putting the toy down on his lap.
He asked me something I didn't think he would. "Hey Aem if you had the chance would you want to be king?" I stilled my movement looking away from the wooden carvings in my hands and looking over to my elder cousin. He looked back at me with something profound in his eyes that I didn't understand. Laena looked up from her toy to the epic saga in her mind quickly going on pause.
"Nah it's too boring all it is is a bunch of sitting around and fixing other people's problems. Besides I like my freedom too much to sit on a giant chair all day long." I said from my place coach wiping away the wasted wood on the table between us.
"But if you did what would be the first thing you do?" He said learning forward with blue-green eyes wide and searching for answers.
"Well I'm glad you asked, let's see the first thing I would do is… hey wait a second you're not just trying to steal my ideas so you can use them for Driftmark are you?" I said profoundly then swinging my eyes in suspicion. He had been consistently stealing my toy and game ideas like the boat in his hand right now.
He put on the most false innocent smile and face. "Whaaaaaat nooooo, I would never do that I don't know what you're talking about," Laenor said looking away from me and standing up. Laena giggled and focused more on what we were saying as she placed down her toy pausing the epic saga in her head to pay attention.
"Yeah, you are aren't you?" I said. Laena looked at me sitting up.
" Nuh uh!" He said with a smile crossing his face. He copied the phrase from me as well. How childish of him I thought as his sister looked back at him.
"Uh-huh!" I responded maturely as Laena's head turned back to me again.
"Nuh uh!"He said again louder this time.
"Uh huh!" He said again before blowing raspberries at me and running away around the table.
"Hey get back here!" I shouted but not enough for three of us to get caught. I jumped off the couch and ran after Laenor as he opened the door and ran out of the room.
"Hey wait for me you two!" Laena said hiking up her skirt and running after us.
[Chapter image]
XXX
I'm so tired it's like 5am and I haven't slept 😭goodnight y'all. Thank god for Grammarly.