Chapter 150: Daemon's Showdown, Otto's Fall
At the Dragonpit Square tournament in King's Landing, Viserys threatened to exile Ser Criston Cole, the White Knight, and Harwin Strong, the Bone Breaker, and both of them were stunned.
Ser Criston Cole had trained diligently since childhood, rising from the son of a steward in Blackhaven to a renowned knight, and finally achieving his dream of donning the white cloak of the Kingsguard.
Now, King Viserys threatened to send him to The Wall, to wear the black, transforming his Kingsguard white cloak into the black cloak of the Night's Watch, which was almost cruel for Ser Criston Cole.
Ser Criston Cole knelt on the ground and pleaded with King Viserys, "Your Grace, the reason I lost control and struck Harwin Strong was entirely because he ambushed me with white ash.
I am willing to accept punishment, but I have not committed a serious crime, so why must I be exiled to The Wall?"
King Viserys said gloomily, "Who can prove that Harwin ambushed you with white ash?
If it weren't for the Kingsguard intervening, you might have already killed Harwin.
You donned the white cloak of the Kingsguard, swearing to protect the King and the King's family, yet in front of the King and the Royal Family, and nobles from all over Westeros, you attempted to kill Harwin.
I can only exile you to The Wall."
Harwin also felt wronged, and he said dejectedly, "Your Grace, I am the victim.
I never intended to harm anyone, yet I was beaten bloody by Criston Cole.
Why do you want to exile me to the Three Daughters?"
King Viserys's tone was stern, "You are not a Kingsguard, you have no right to approach Princess Rhaenyra.
I previously ordered you to stay away from Princess Rhaenyra, but you disobeyed, leading to today's misfortune.
Should you not be punished for disregarding the King's orders?
A few years in the Three Daughters might clear your head."
If it weren't in front of all the lords and the people of King's Landing, King Viserys would not have dealt with it so heartlessly; however, Criston Cole and Harwin Strong, in an attempt to curry favor with Princess Rhaenyra, fought fiercely at Princess Rhaenyra's betrothal tournament, shaming the Royal Family in front of the nobles of Westeros and even the new nobles of the Three Daughters, which King Viserys found difficult to accept.
Harwin Strong and Criston Cole's courtship behavior reminded King Viserys of Lucamore Strong, the Lucamore.
King Viserys was filled with dread at the thought that he had allowed this White Knight and Bone Breaker to accompany Princess Rhaenyra for so long.
Seeing that the King was unwilling to let him off lightly, Criston Cole could only pitifully appeal to Princess Rhaenyra, who was standing nearby, "Princess, you must have seen it.
The Bone Breaker put white ash in his shield.
When my flail struck the shield, the white ash burst out and hit my eyes."
Princess Rhaenyra did see it, but if she testified for Criston Cole, she would offend Harwin Strong and House Strong.
Rhaenyra's eyes avoided Criston Cole's pleading gaze, "I... I didn't see anything.
I wasn't even watching the tourney at the time."
Criston Cole had protected Princess Rhaenyra for many years, and he knew Rhaenyra was lying the moment he saw her evasive gaze.
Criston Cole was deeply disappointed; the white moonlight in his heart had abandoned him in his moment of greatest need.
Just as Criston Cole was falling into despair, Queen Alicent stepped forward, "I am willing to testify for Ser Criston Cole.
I saw that when Ser Cole and Ser Strong were jousting, the moment the flail struck the shield, white substance sprayed out from the shield, hitting Ser Cole's eyes.
Ser Cole seemed to instantly lose his vision, and Ser Strong took the opportunity to knock Ser Cole off his horse."
Criston Cole looked at Queen Alicent with gratitude, and Harwin Strong felt a pang of guilt, for in a situation where most nobles pretended to be deaf and dumb, the Queen's testimony carried significant weight.
King Viserys frowned, "The Queen is willing to testify for Ser Cole, Ser Harwin Strong, do you admit it?"
"I deny it! Absolutely deny it!" The King was in a rage; if Harwin Strong admitted to using dirty tricks in the tourney, then a more severe punishment would await him.
The corpulent High Septon stepped forward, "Your Grace, since both parties are at odds, I suggest a trial by combat.
Let the Gods above decide who is lying!"
King Viserys agreed, and Prince Daemon found it utterly boring, for he knew that Harwin Strong was no match for Criston Cole.
The High Septon held up the crystal ball, and the setting sun's rays passed through it, casting a rainbow of colors upon Criston Cole and Harwin Strong.
After a brief ceremony, the trial by combat officially began.
Ser Criston Cole, filled with anger, swung his flail, fiercely attacking Harwin Strong.
Harwin Strong had switched to a greatsword this time, but he could only barely parry.
The flail was like a nimble viper, striking swiftly, and soon, Harwin Strong's breastplate, gauntlets, and greaves were all dented and pitted by the flail.
The most violent blow aimed at Harwin Strong's helmet.
Harwin Strong pulled back, barely dodging the fatal blow, but the flail struck his mount.
The warhorse's head suffered a critical hit from the flail, and the warhorse screamed, bleeding profusely, rearing up, its painful cries echoing.
The nobles and commoners in the stands shrieked in terror.
Prince Aegon began to vomit, Princess Helaena cried inconsolably, while Prince Aemond displayed a fervent and bloodthirsty smile.
Harwin Strong's warhorse began to fall to the ground.
Harwin Strong was flustered.
At this moment, the flail in Criston Cole's hand spun around and returned, striking Harwin Strong's breastplate.
Harwin Strong was sent flying, landing in the sand.
If it had been an ordinary person, this blow might have been fatal, but Harwin Strong, relying on his thick neck, saved his life.
His head throbbing, knowing he was unable to fight any longer, he quickly spat out a mouthful of bloody foam, "Your Grace, I surrender! I give up! I shouldn't have put white ash in the shield."
The knights in the stands cursed, Lord Lyonel Strong, Master of Laws, was greatly disappointed, while Larys Strong, Harwin Strong's brother, showed a faint, imperceptible smile.
King Viserys said, "This farce should end.
Harwin Strong, you have lost the trial by combat.
Under the witness of the Gods, Criston Cole's crime is absolved; you are proven guilty.
I exile you to the Three Daughters to repent your sins, and I believe Prince Daemon will arrange a good position for you."
Prince Daemon nodded, "Your Grace, rest assured, leave it to me!"
Once Harwin Strong arrived in the Three Daughters, Prince Daemon would arrange for him to train with the Unsullied, and he would never be able to contact Rhaenyra again.
King Viserys turned to Criston Cole, "You have been absolved of your crime, and you may continue to guard Princess Rhaenyra."
Ser Criston Cole shook his head, "Your Grace, Princess Rhaenyra is already betrothed.
Her fiancé will protect her.
Princess Rhaenyra no longer needs a guard.
I request to become Queen Alicent's guard.
Queen Alicent chose to step forward and testify for me in my most difficult time, and I wish to repay her."
Princess Rhaenyra's eyes were filled with disappointment, while Queen Alicent smiled, "Your Grace, please grant Criston Cole's request."
King Viserys agreed, but Prince Daemon felt that allowing a young and handsome knight like Criston Cole to guard the Queen and Princess would eventually lead to trouble.
Only Unsullied, eunuchs, or female guards are suitable to protect princesses and queens.
In the courts of Westeros and noble castles, there are no eunuchs.
Prince Daemon's Three Daughters has Unsullied and female guards to protect Prince Daemon's wife and children.
That night, Lord Lyonel Strong, Master of Laws, and Prince Daemon accompanied Harwin Strong to the port.
Lord Lyonel Strong said with disgust, "Harwin, you have truly shamed our House.
When you arrive in the Three Daughters, you must get rid of those bad habits.
As long as you perform well under Prince Daemon, you might receive the King's pardon in the future and return to Westeros."
Harwin Strong was obsequious.
He boarded the ship and disappeared into the vast sea.
After Prince Daemon returned to the Red Keep, he went to King Viserys's study.
King Viserys was carving a Khal, "This is the Khal who crowned Aegon with the golden crown.
The Queen is already eager to see the finished product."
Prince Daemon complimented King Viserys's carving skills and said, "Your Grace, is it truly wise to have Ser Criston Cole as the Queen's guard?
Criston Cole is, after all, a healthy and handsome man, and Queen Alicent is a graceful and noble woman.
The King is engrossed in his carving; if the Queen is constantly neglected, what might happen when she sees the handsome White Knight by her side?"
King Viserys's gaze lifted from the sculpture in his hand and met Prince Daemon's, "What exactly do you mean?
Are you implying that Criston Cole will flirt with the Queen?
Even a scoundrel like Lucamore Strong, the Lucamore, wouldn't do such a thing."
Seeing that he couldn't convince King Viserys, Prince Daemon had to resort to prophecy and sorcery.
He sighed, "Brother, now that it has come to this, I will not hide it from you any longer.
I had a very terrifying dream, a Green Dream, which means a dream that will certainly come true."
King Viserys put down his carving, "What kind of dream?"
At this point, Prince Daemon could only choose to lay his cards on the table.
Daemon said, "If Criston Cole remains by the Queen's side, in the future, the court will see two factions: Rhaenyra and Aegon.
Your Grace will pass away in his fifties, and Criston Cole will enthrone Aegon as King.
By this act, he will be known as 'the Kingmaker' in the writings of future historians."
"The Kingdom will therefore have two Kings.
Queen Rhaenyra will be crowned King on Dragonstone after her brother is crowned King, and Aegon and Rhaenyra both possess dragons.
Dragon Knights and dragons will battle in the sky, a Dance of the Dragons."
King Viserys was utterly shocked.
He said, "Impossible!"
Then Prince Daemon vividly described the Green Dream, from the Battle of Shipbreaker Bay, the Battle of the Gullet, the Battle of God's Eye, and the Battle of Tumbleton, the "Butcher's Ball," and the mob's attack on the Dragonpit, and the ultimate extinction of dragons.
Because Prince Daemon's narration was too real, King Viserys had no choice but to believe it, and he broke out in a cold sweat after listening.
King Viserys clutched his chest, "This is truly terrifying.
Can the prophecy of the Green Dream be changed?"
Daemon nodded, "I believe that a person's fate can be changed, otherwise what meaning would prophecy have?
Brother, since you have already confirmed Rhaenyra as the heir to the Iron Throne, then Queen Alicent's children should not possess dragons.
Once they possess dragons, they will become difficult to subjugate.
Back then, Maegor the Cruel, because he rode Balerion, after his brother King Aenys died, Maegor easily took the Iron Throne, usurping his nephew Aegon's Iron Throne.
Later, Aegon stole King Aenys's mount, Silverwing, but was still killed by Maegor, who rode Balerion."
"Balerion killing Silverwing was the first blood of the Targaryen dragon civil war, but certainly not the last.
During your reign, the Kingdom ushered in the era with the most dragons.
This is the most beautiful gift from the Gods above, and also the most vicious curse.
This world needs dragon rule, but too many dragons carry the risk of division and war."
"Our grandfather King Jaehaerys the Conciliator and grandmother Queen Alysanne, precisely because they deeply understood the danger of too many dragons, sent Princess Magna to the church to become a nun, and sent Prince Vaegon to the Citadel, where he eventually became a Maester."
King Viserys sneered, "That's not difficult at all!
It seems all I need to do is send Aegon to become a Silent Sister and send Aegon to The Wall to join the Night's Watch, and the problem will be perfectly solved."
Daemon chuckled, "It hasn't reached that point yet.
If Aegon wants to seize the Iron Throne from his sister Rhaenyra in the future, he cannot do without the support of Ser Otto Hightower and House Hightower.
Ser Otto Hightower is the Queen's father; an influential maternal relative serving as Hand of the King, he will naturally try every means to usurp the Iron Throne that belongs to Rhaenyra."
"Ser Otto Hightower has set his sights on Vermithor, the Bronze Fury, and Silverwing.
If Aegon and Aemond ride the Bronze Fury and Silverwing, then Queen Alicent's children are destined to become a major threat to Rhaenyra's rule in the future.
They must be stopped."
That night, King Viserys immediately convened a Small Council meeting.
Ser Otto Hightower was bleary-eyed.
King Viserys said, "After careful consideration, I have decided to reserve Vermithor, the Bronze Fury, and Silverwing for Rhaenyra and Prince Aegon's future children."
Princess Rhaenyra and Prince Aegon smiled, while Ser Otto Hightower's face darkened.
He looked at Prince Daemon, who was feigning profundity beside him, and immediately understood what had happened.
Ser Otto Hightower said gloomily, "Your Grace, according to the custom of the Grand Council, Aegon is the heir to the Iron Throne.
Not only have you deprived him of his inheritance, but you also intend to take away his dragon?"
King Viserys said, "There are still some young dragons in the Dragonpit.
Aegon can go choose if he likes; he will like them."
Ser Otto Hightower suppressed his anger, "Your Grace, all the great dragons of House Targaryen have fallen into Prince Daemon's hands.
Do you not see the risk behind this?
Aegon the Conqueror, King Jaehaerys the Conciliator, and even Maegor the Cruel, would never have allowed a brother's line to control so many dragons.
Daemon has brazenly become a usurper."
Daemon sneered, "This slander shows how audacious you are.
I am the King's bulwark, unlike those ill-intentioned and sinister nobles.
I am His Grace's own brother; I have expanded the Kingdom's territory, while you are merely an ambitious man attempting to place your grandson on the Iron Throne.
You seek to manipulate the Kingdom by propping up Aegon; you seek to elevate the Hightower above the Iron Throne."
Ser Otto Hightower said agitatedly, "Your Grace, back then at the Grand Council, you defeated the Uncrowned Queen by prioritizing male inheritance.
How can you now break the rules established then, when it comes to your son?
You should listen to the voices of the nobles from various regions.
Appointing a woman as heir, a woman cannot rule, will plunge the Kingdom into instability, and the Kingdom will become disunited, with endless bloodshed."
"I demand respect for Aegon's right of inheritance and a change of heir.
If Your Grace is unwilling, I demand a Grand Council be convened, allowing the nobles from all over Westeros, like the Great Council at Harrenhal back then, to vote for the heir to the Iron Throne."
King Viserys shook his head, "I am tired of your rhetoric.
I will not change the heir.
On the contrary, I will change the Hand of the King.
Ser Otto Hightower, you are dismissed!"
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