Chapter 1.3- The Seadragon's Roar

I could see that the words had done some of the work in cheering him off. Faults or no, Corlys Velaryon was a pretty alright man at the end of the day. You just had to dig under mountains of pride.

“The earlier days were spent disqualifying some of the other claimants. Seara Targaryen’s bastards, the fool who thought he could claim descent from the Old King himself, and the idiot that thought claiming to be Maegor’s bastard would win him more than scorn and disdain. All that remains is yours and Viserys’.” He said, speaking to me like I was his partner and co-conspirator rather than seven year old child.

“Good. So the speeches are tomorrow?”

“The law is on your side, the facts are on your side, tradition is on your side. Do me proud, Leanor.”

—

“Our father was Baelor the Brave, our mother, Alyssa Targaryen herself. My brother’s claim to the throne comes from that. Blood, and power. Jaehaerys himself disinherited Rhaenys’ line when he passed her over to my father, Baelon. As Baelon’s oldest son, what was his would rightfully fall to Viserys, not some spawn of the Seahorse. Also, the Old King is old. His heir must be a person prepared to accept the throne at any time from now. To grant that to a seven nameday old boy would be to doom the realm to a long regenthood. Now contrast that with Viserys, a man grown, rider to the Black Dread himself, and a father to a daughter, son soon to follow” with that, Daemon Targaryen took his seat. He was eloquent enough. At least what passes for eloquence in this world. But one thing he hadn’t been was convincing. At least, I hoped he hadn’t been. I for one sure wasn’t convinced.

“And now we will have Leanor Velaryon who has elected to speak for his claim himself” The Archmaester said in a monotone voice as if all of this was far beneath him.

“Thank you Uncle” I said with a smile as I stepped forward to the middle of the gathering. Harrenhal was the largest castle in the realm and that was clear to see as the hall of a hundred hearths contained what had to be the entire nobility of the realm. Hundreds of Lords in a crowd that stretched as far as the eye could see. If I had to convince all of them, then that would have been near impossible. Good thing that the Great Lords decided how their lessers voted, then.

“My name is Leanor Velaryon, son of Rhaenys Targaryen, Grandson of Aemon Targaryen, Great Grandson of Jaehaerys Targaryen.” I said when I stepped forward, and in a coordinated move, Igneel let out a roar right outside the castle. With his age, the roar did little but echo across the hall. No, it was Meleys’ answering roar that felt like it made the ground itself shake.