Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

When Harwin Strong dies defending small folk from bandits all of Harrenhal mourns. Breakbones, as he is known across the realm, kills over twenty men before he dies of his wounds. He saves the lives of his men and the lives of the small folk who he was destined to one day be lord over. 

In Harrenhal his elder half sister curses and screams with all of the ravens in the godswood following her example. His father mourns the death of his firstborn. His younger brother is surprised by the sadness he feels. Rhaenyra Targaryen loses the father of her three children. The man who loved her with a fierce and constant hearth flame. The man who loved her in shadows and never asked for anything more. Something breaks in her that day. For the rest of her life the Realm’s delight will wear black and always treasure a ring made of Bronze with Runes carved in it. 

And when young Aegon Targaryen hears the news something in him breaks as well. The man who taught him how to properly swing a sword, taught him all of the Old Tongue he knows, and had jokingly told him of their distant relations through marriage and the Blood of First Men. The man who gifted Aegon with a well made dagger he has taken to wearing at all time V carved with the Runes for Fire and Blood. Aegon screams and trashes his room. Sunfyre, feeling his rider’s rage and agony, nearly sets three dragon keepers on fire. 

Soon after the court moves to Driftmark for a funeral. Aemond claims a dragon and blames Aegon for words their mother, grandfather, and Criston Cole have loudly whispered in the shadows for years. Betrayed by the younger brother he loved Aegon feels something that broke when Harwin died crumble completely. He will not know it yet but Aemond One Eye loses his only brother that day and gains his sworn enemy. It is a mistake he makes in self preservation that will tear his family apart in the years to come. 

Aegon looks around in the crowd. And in the corner of his eye he sees bannermen wearing the wolves of the Starks. He sees a woman with grey hair that shares features with his mother. He sees Bronze earrings in her ears and Runes tattooed on her wrinkled hands. Elena Florent of Houses Royce and Florent. His great great aunt. Grandmother of Rhea Royce of Houses Stark and Royce. Blood of his blood. And all that Harwin has told him of First Men and the Old Ways come flooding back. Everything he read in the library in the Red Keep. 

Aegon is a dragon yes, but that is not all he is. And in that moment he clings the to blood of First Men within him. His father is demanding answers and when Aegon opens his mouth he loudly calls in the Old Tongue looking straight at the Stark men and his kinswoman, “I call for the Blood Rites. I call for the aid of my kin. I call for protection.” 

As soon as the words leave his mouth he sees shock on the faces of everyone around him. But the Stark men look with alarm and interest. One with the bluest eyes he had ever seen, an axe strapped to his side, and tattoos on the side of his head goes to speak with Elena Florent. Her eyes lock with him across the room and feels as if those green eyes so much like his mother’s are piercing his soul. In Common he repeats the words he just spoke. With spite in his voice he looks at his father the king and adds, “my Brother speaks false. Your wife and Former hand have spoken these words for years in the shadows. I love my nephews. My sister is heir to the throne. I demand blood rites. I am of the blood of First Men. I call for these rites now to honoured.” 

His father, mother, brother, and grandfather look at him as if they have never seen him before. His sister looks at him with interest and a but of hope. And soon a shrieking laugh breaks through the chaos. A skinny man with kohl smuggled across his eyes amongst the Stark men is laughing and speaking the Old Tongue. All Aegon can understand is that he is saying the boy has balls and this is turning out to be quite fun. Elena Florent moves forward. The Stark men move behind her. She makes a gesture with her and and says in the Old Tongue, “Come here boy.” Aegon moves and dodges his mother’s attempts to grab him. 

Elena Florent comes before the King. She does not bow or make any gesture of respect. The former friend of the Good Queen turned sword enemy says to the King, “ This boy is my great great nephew. He has called for Blood Rites. The protection of his Kin. I, Elena of Houses Florent and Royce answer. We shall settle this with blood and steel.” 

(Years ago Aegon goes to the godswood after a long day of his mother lecturing him and his brother sneering at him. Aegon goes late on afternoon as the sun is low in the sky. He sees Harwin Strong praying before the weirwood tree. Aegon remembers a week ago when Ser Harwin had spent hours with him in the training yard giving him going over his forms. Aegon has never felt welcome here. But he has the blood of First Men in his veins. So he swallows his fear, kneels next to Ser Harwin, and looks at the face on the tree. He feels the silence and like he is being judged. He looks to his right and the man known as Breakbones smiles at him. “Welcome Prince Aegon.” Aegon feels a warmth inside of himself. Ser Strong does not look angry or annoyed. Aegon smiles back and turns back to the weirwood tree. He closes his eyes and takes in the silence. A peace he has never felt before descends. Yes, Aegon supposes this place isn’t so bad after all.)

Chapter Text

Everyone in the rom is shocked when Elena Florent utters these words. But the shock grows even greater when a man standing at the back of the group of the Stark bannerman move to stand by the Lady Florent. He is tall with his dark hair shorn short wearing thw worn leathers of the rest of the group with a sword on his back and daggers on his legs. His eyes are alarming however, the left a striking amber and the right a burnt amber. He has a long face and a muscular frame. But Aegon can see that this is a relative of Lady Florent. “My great grandmother is right in her statement. I am Ben Stark, eldest son of Lord Rickon Stark and Lady Rhea Royce. My elder brother Brandon Stark is the Lord of Winterfell. In his name I answer this call. Our bloodkin has called for protection and shelter. We demand recompense and justice. In the name of the Old Gods and the Old Ways.” 

The South may have forgotten most of the Old Ways. But one that still endures are the Blood Rites, of which there are many. But when a youngling is in danger they may call upon their blood for protection and justice. It may be solved in many ways. There are complicated rituals involving some. But in this case Aegon knows it will most likely be solved by First Blood. A duel much like a trial by combat. Except is the campion chosen by his father loses tradition dictates that he will be a ward of House Stark. His parent will have no say in his life. All ties will be shed and he will be lost to the North. Aegon knew this when he invoked the Rites. He knew that this would be the outcome. He does not want the throne. He loves his nephews. He is indifferent to his elder sister. But he wants peace. And he knows if he stays in Kings Landing under the heel of his mother he will never be free. He would rather freeze in the North than endure another day in the pit of the vipers. 

Otto Hightower is red in the face. As Hand of the King to two different monarchs he knows what this means. And judging by the angry look on the face of Viserys the King knows as well. Aegon has revealed secrets that will have consequences for House Hightower. The King now looks weak for his son calling for the rites. And if they lose Aegon who will follow a One Eyed attempted Kinslayer?

Viserys sighs and looks at his eldest son. He then says, “The Crown names Criston Cole as our sword in the Rites. Who comes for House Stark?” Alicent screams at him by Viserys knows already news is spreading throughout the halls of Driftmark. Within days all of Westeros will know. And he knows all of the First Blood will be lost to them. 

“I, Ben Stark, will fight for my kin.” The youth swings his sword over his shoulder. The blade sings are its sharp edges reflect in the light. On its surface Runes by his mother for his protection and other dark things cover both sides. The sword, which he calls Winter’s Bite, has spilt much blood. He does not mind adding that of a King’s Guard to its repertoire. 

The two circle each other in the middle of the room. Criston Cole is sure of his victory against this Northern Savage. For his part Ben Stark is bored of this already. He wants to head back to Winterfell to see his family. And so Ben decides to end this swiftly. Criston Cole foreword and their blades meet. It becomes clear Cole has some talent but he is nothing against the Stark. Ben decides he will male a statement. After all this duel is to First Blood. So he will make sure it has meeting. A few parries later and he sees his chance. An opening and a swing later and his sword has cut clean through Criston Cole’s right wrist. His hand sword and all fall to the ground as blood rushes into the air. Cole falls to his knees in disbelief and the Queen screams. Ben stark simply sheaths his sword and turns back to the King. 

Viserys looks defeated. He calls for a Maester and then declares the Rites over. Aegon looks at his father and he sees his truly in that moment. He sees regret, resignation, and something that looks like pride. His father declares Aegon Targaryen and his dragon Sunfyre wards of House Stark until he comes of age. His home is the North until he is summoned back to Kings Landing. 

(Young Aegon listens as Ser Harwin tells him tells of the North. Of how he went with his father Lyonel as a trade delegation when he was ten dame days old. How big and grand Winterfell was. The snow and the wind and the kind of beauty not many would understand. How he went to the Wall and how he think that must be how Targaryens feel when they fly. He listens as Harwin tells his tales and thinks it is not a place he would mind seeing.)

Chapter Text

Aegon turns away from his father to look at his cousin. Ben Stark, the first born of Rhea Royce and the second son of Rickon Stark. With his intense eyes and strong built Ben, named for his grandfather, was an intimidating man. Add into the fact he had so readily defeated one of the most skilled of the King’s Guard and Aegon knew in the North he would be given no quarter by this man. Aegon’s thoughts quickly turned to what else he knew of the Stark family. 

Lord Rickon Stark who had passed away from what many called a broken heart. A strong lord who had never shirked from his duty. his firstborn Brandon Stark, who his beloved first wife died to bring into the world. A man married to Nina Reed who had given him three children so far: Cregan, Sara, and Royce. Brandon was known for putting down the Bolton rebellion three years prior which ended with him losing a hand and wiping the former Red Kings off the of face of Westeros forever. 

Ben Stark who inherited the keep once known as the Dreadfort. It was the will of its lord to be forever known as the Runefort in recognition of his heritage. 

Eleanor Stark, the only daughter born to Lord and Lady Stark, betrothed to Jonah Blackwood and heir to Runestone as her uncle never had an children. 

And the young Eli Stark. A wild boy whose reputation had travelled all the way to the South. The future lord of Moat Cailin and the boy who made Rhea Royce had been pregnant with when she put down a rebellion in Skagos in her husband’s name. 

Rhea Stark of Houses Royce and Stark. The girl who all of Westeros knew had been involved with Daemon Targaryen when they were teenagers. Before her marriage to Rickon many were sure Rhea and Daemon would marry. But mere days after Aemma Arryn gave birth to Rhaenyra Targaryen the cousins had had a row that ended with Rhea betrothed to Rickon Stark, leaving Kings Landing, and the pair estranged until the Queen died in childbirth. The day Rhea Royce left for the North Daemon went to Essos for the first time to be gone for a year. 

The North will be his home now. These people are his blood kin. By the bloodrites they will care for him, teach him, and shelter him until his eighteenth name day. “Boy!!!’. The sharp voice interrupts his thoughts. He sees Elena Florent staring at him with eyes as cutting as her tone. “Come along now. We will not dawdle in this keep any longer.” 

Ignoring his mother calling his name Aegon moves to follow the Stark party. He sees Daemon Targaryen looking at the entire party and in particular Elena Florent and Ben Stark with a ferocious and hungry gaze. The gaze then meets his own and Aegon shudders at the hatred in that gaze. He hopes this will be the last time he sees his uncle for years to come. 

(In the fading light of Dusk Harwin Strong kneels in the shade of the weirwood treee in the godswood of the Red Keep. Aegon is at his side watching in wonder as Harwin uses a stick to draw Runes in the dirt. “This is a invocation used to call for safe travels from one destination to another. But in terms of journeys from one place to another in life and death. If you are ever lost young dragon trace this in the air and whisper the words of the Old Tongue. It was told to meet by Lady Stark when I Mets her at the Wall as a young lad. It has never failed me yet.”

Aegon looks down and traces the symbols. “Can you show me more?” 

Harwin smiles. “I do not know many. But I will teach you what I know.”)