"Let me help," Alicent Hightower said as she stood in the doorway of Maekar's room, watching him strap his black Targaryen armour on. The heir looked at Alicent as her fingers pulled the straps of his armour tighter.

"Come back to me," Alicent broke the silence after a moment had passed. "Please, Maekar, I am scared for you."

"There is no need to fear, sweet girl," Maekar cupped her face in his calloused hands. "I promise to you that I will be back once my Uncle Daemon and his Cloaks are dealt with and I up the defences around Dragonstone."

"I know you are a capable swordsman, Maekar, but I worry," Alicent chewed at her lip. "Your Uncle Daemon is not in the right mind."

Maekar looked into Alicent's eyes, his gaze filled with determination and reassurance. "I understand your concerns, sweet girl," he said softly, his voice filled with sincerity. "But I cannot let fear guide my actions. I have a duty to protect my family and the people."

Alicent nodded, understanding the weight of Maekar's responsibilities. "I know," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "But promise me that you will be careful. Promise me that you will not take unnecessary risks."

Maekar smiled gently, his hand still caressing her cheek. "I promise, Alicent. I will not let my emotions cloud my judgment."

Alicent leaned into his touch, finding solace in his words. "Just remember," she said softly, her voice filled with love and concern, "you are not alone in this. We are in this together, and I will be here, waiting for you to return."

Maekar's eyes filled with gratitude as he kissed her forehead. "Thank you, my dear. Your support means the world to me."

As Maekar prepared to leave, Alicent held onto his arm, not wanting to let go. "Please," she pleaded, her voice barely above a whisper, "promise me that you will come back to me."

Maekar's expression softened as he looked into her eyes. "I promise, Alicent. I will do everything in my power to return to you."

With one last embrace, Maekar left Alicent's side, ready to face the challenges ahead. Alicent watched him go, a mixture of fear and hope in her heart. She knew that their love would give him strength, but the uncertainty of the future still weighed heavily on her mind.

"I made you something," Alicent's voice trembled, causing Maekar to pause in his steps. Alicent held out a green silk ribbon. "Something that may motivate you," she tied the green silk ribbon around Maekar's wrist.

Maekar's eyes widened in surprise and joy as he looked at the green silk ribbon on his wrist. "Alicent, this is a precious gift," he said, his voice filled with gratitude. He held her hands tightly, feeling a surge of warmth in his heart. "And I will speak to your father about our marriage, sweet girl," he declared, his voice filled with determination. "I want nothing more than for you to be my Queen."

Alicent's eyes sparkled with happiness as she leaned into his touch. "Oh, Maekar," she whispered, her voice filled with love, "to be by your side as your Queen is all I have ever wanted."

Maekar gently brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, his voice filled with tenderness. "And I promise, Alicent, that once this ordeal is over, we will make your dreams a reality."

Alicent smiled, her heart filled with hope for the future. "I believe in us, Maekar," she said softly.

Maekar kissed her forehead again, his lips lingering for a moment.

—————

Maekar arrived at Dragonstone just as Otto, Ser Harrold, Ser Criston, two Dragonkeepers and Otto's household guards made it to shore. Maekar landed Aegar on a hill, the white and gold dragon letting out a deafening roar as its rider slid down its wing.

"My Prince," Otto bowed his head when Maekar met them on the trail leading up to the fortress. "Where are your men?"

"They will be here soon, my Lord Hand," Maekar smirked. Otto nodded nervously, both him and the Prince leading the way to Dragonstone.

"The Isle of Dragons is certainly something, Prince Maekar," Otto said, glancing over at the set of islands a mile away.

"The Dothraki have made it their new home," Maekar agreed.

As they walked towards Dragonstone, Maekar and Otto engaged in conversation about the significance of the Isle of Dragons. Maekar explained that Dragonstone held great historical and symbolic importance for House Targaryen, as it was the ancestral seat of their family. He recounted tales of the dragons that roamed the island and the power they represented.

Otto listened intently, his nervousness starting to fade as he became captivated by Maekar's storytelling. He couldn't help but marvel at the thought of the Dothraki, a nomadic warrior culture, choosing this ancient island as their new home.

As they approached the fortress, the imposing structure came into view. Its dark stone walls stood tall against the crashing waves, exuding an air of strength and resilience. Maekar led the way, his confidence and authority evident in his stride.

Otto nodded, his respect for Maekar growing with each passing moment. He realised that the Prince wasn't only a formidable warrior but also a visionary leader.

"Welcome to Dragonstone, dear nephew, Otto," Daemon met them on the trail with his army of Gold Cloaks and his whore. He tossed the dragon egg between his hands, causing Maekar to eye him wearily.

"Your occupation of this island is at an end," Maekar spoke up, hand on the hilt of his sword. "You are to relinquish the dragon's egg, disband your army, banish your whore, and leave Dragonstone by order of His Grace, King Viserys."

"Where is the King?" Daemon replied cooly. "I don't see him."

"His Grace would never lower himself to entertain such a mummer's farce," Otto spoke up, stepping up to be shoulder to shoulder with the heir of the Seven Kingdoms. Daemon narrowed his eyes on the two noble men, before finding Ser Criston behind them.

"Ser Crispin, wasn't it?" Daemon shot at him.

"Ser Criston Cole, my Prince," Ser Criston corrected politely.

"Yes, apologies. I couldn't recall."

"Perhaps my Prince recalls when I knocked him off his horse?" Ser Criston retorted, and Maekar grinned.

"Very good," Daemon laughed.

"This is a truly pathetic show, Uncle," Maekar brought the conversation back to the topic at hand.

"Are you so desperate for the King's attention that you've resorted to skulking about like a common cutpurse?" Ser Otto added. Otto watched as Maekar shouted something in a foreign language, and the two groups on the trail heard loud war cries from the direction of Dragonstone.

"I do not want bloodshed despite your wrongdoings, Uncle," Maekar bit his lip to control his true anger. "But I swear to God I will make you watch as my men slaughter your men and rape your whore."

"I'm simply keeping with the traditions of our house, nephew, the same as my brother did for you and your sisters," Daemon shrugged, secretly seething at threat on his wife's life. He didn't glance back as Dothraki warriors trapped him and his men between them and Maekar.

"Those traditions are for the trueborn children of royalty, not for bastards fathered on a common whore," Maekar spat.

"Lady Mysaria is to be my wife."

"This is an abomination," spoke Otto. "With every breath you soil your name, your house, and your brother's reign."

"Our love does not know titles and traditions," Daemon smirked.

"And what of you, men of the City Watch?!" Otto yelled. "Aiding the Prince in his treason?"

"The King made me their commander. They are loyal to me," Daemon shrugged, holding the egg out. "Just like the Dothraki named Maekar their Khal. You've come for the egg. Here it is."

"Are you mad?" Maekar asked, stepping forward. Aegar roared in the distance, and Maekar noticed the Gold Cloaks unease. "You'd never survive this."

"Well, happily, neither would you or Otto," Daemon retorted. "And your father would have to name your sister heir."

"To choose violence, here, is to declare war against your King," Otto advised, his hand resting upon Maekar's shoulder to pull him back to safety.

"Wonderful."

"Even if it ends in the death of your unborn child and its mother?" Otto asked. The Gold Cloaks drew their steel, and Maekar, the Dothraki, the two knights of the Kingsguard and Otto's household guards drew theirs.

"You are outnumbered," Maekar seethed, holding up his unnamed Valyrian steel sword while Daemon held Dark Sister. Rumbling was heard in the distance and the Bloodwyrm known as Caraxes appeared on the hill above them, opposite Aegar. Caraxes was an all red dragon with a long neck and was as deadly as its rider, whereas Aegar was white with golden scales and a lot bigger than the Bloodwyrm.

Aegar roared at the other dragon, the men stuck between them saw the fire alight in his throat, prepared to kill the smaller dragon at its riders command.

"All of you, sheathe the fucking steel," Otto ordered the men. They complied, and all that was left was Maekar and his Dothraki warriors and Daemon and his Gold Cloaks and two grumbling dragons. "You too, my Prince," Otto added in a whisper. Maekar grumbled, before shouting something in Dothraki that made the warriors seethe their arakhs.

The sound of another dragon grumbling and the flapping of wings caught their attention, and Maekar and Otto walked towards the stone wall of the trail just as Syrax burst through the clouds. Maekar watched in anger as Rhaenyra landed Syrax beside Aegar, the two dragons nuzzling their heads together as Rhaenyra dismounted.

The crowd of men parted as Rhaenyra walked up to the two sides.

"What are you doing here, Rhaenyra?" Maekar asked her in a whisper, his eyes holding anger.

"Preventing bloodshed," Rhaynyra replied back coldly, eyeing the green ribbon on Maekar's wrist.

"Ser Criston, please escort the Princess to safety," Maekar told the young knight.

"Take care not to startle Syrax, my lords," Rhaenyra ignored her brother's request, brushing past him. "She's rather protective of me."

"Do you have no regard to your own life?" Maekar asked her in a low whisper, gripping her wrist tightly. "Daemon is a cunt, an insane one at that."

"I was worried about you," Rhaenyra admitted. "I thought that if I brought aid in Syrax I would help," Maekar shut his eyes, breathing a sigh through his nose. Maekar nodded, watching Rhaenyra closely as she approached Daemon. They had a conversation in High Valyrian about the ordeal, before Rhaenyra stepped back.

"Just stay here while I deal with him," Rhaenyra nodded, standing by Otto as Maekar walked up to Daemon, towering above him. "I'm right here, Uncle, the reason that you were disinherited. If you wish to be restored as heir, you'll need to kill me. So, do it," he spoke in High Valyrian. "So, do it. And be done with all this bother."

Daemon and Maekar glared at each other for a moment, before Daemon began walking back to his men, tossing the dragon over his shoulder. Maekar caught it, watching his men part for Daemon and his Gold Cloaks.

—————

After a long and hard journey, Maekar finally arrived back at the Red Keep. The weight of the recent negotiations with his uncle, the tension and uncertainty, and Rhaenyra's sudden appearance still lingered in his mind, but as he stepped through the doors of the keep, and into the empty throne room, a sense of relief washed over him.

He scanned the throne room, searching for the familiar face of his Alicent. And there she was, standing near the throne, her eyes lighting up with joy as she caught sight of him. Without a moment's hesitation, she rushed towards him, her skirts swishing with each step.

"Maekar!" Alicent called out, unable to contain her excitement. She threw her arms around him, holding him tightly as if she never wanted to let go. Maekar's arms wrapped around her, pulling her close, feeling the warmth of her body against his.

"My sweet," Maekar whispered, his voice filled with relief. "I've missed you so."

Alicent pulled back slightly, her hands cupping his face, her eyes filled with love and concern. "I've missed you too, Maekar," she said softly. "I was so worried for you."

Maekar smiled, his heart swelling with pride at her faith in him. "I did my best, Alicent," he replied, his voice filled with determination. "I managed to talk my uncle down peacefully. The realm is safe, and we can finally focus on our future."

Alicent's eyes sparkled with admiration as she looked at him. "You truly are a remarkable man, Maekar," she said, her voice filled with awe.

They stood there in the grand hall, their arms wrapped around each other, finding solace and comfort in each other's presence.

"Have you spoken to my father yet?" Alicent asked.

"Patience, my dear," Maekar laughed at her eagerness. "Your father and I had no time at Dragonstone, but I shall talk to him tonight," Alicent nodded, squeezing Maekar one last time.

—————

After Maekar and Otto informed the King of their accomplishments on Dragonstone and retrieving the dragon egg, the Small Council chambers emptied just leaving the two tired men.

"Ser Otto," Maekar began, his voice laced with determination, "I have a proposition that could alter the course of our houses and secure your bloodline on the Iron Throne."

Ser Otto's eyes narrowed, his gaze fixed on the prince. He had never trusted Maekar, finding him unhinged and unworthy of the crown. He would admit he found a sense of respect for the Prince after the ordeal at Dragonstone, and in that moment, a flicker of curiosity danced in his eyes, for he knew the importance of ensuring the survival of his own house.

"What is this proposition, my Prince?" Ser Otto asked, his voice measured and cautious.

Maekar's lips curled into a confident smile as he stepped forward, his regal presence commanding attention. "I wish to court your daughter, Lady Alicent. A union between our houses would strengthen claim to the throne and show the realm that there is no weakness between the Hand and the Crown."

Ser Otto's skepticism deepened, his brow furrowing. "Marry Alicent to you?" he questioned, unable to hide the disbelief in his voice. "Forgive me, Your Grace, but I must question your intentions. You have shown yourself to be unpredictable and impulsive, hardly the qualities one would desire in a future king."

Maekar's smile faded, replaced by a solemn expression. He knew he had to convince Ser Otto, for the future of House Targaryen depended on it. "I understand your concerns, Ser Otto," he explained, his voice steady. "But it is precisely because of my ambition and determination that I believe I can bring greatness to our houses. With Alicent by my side, we can solidify our claim and create a legacy that will be remembered for generations to come."

Ser Otto remained silent for a moment, his eyes locked with Maekar's. He did want Alicent to marry the King, to ensure his blood was on the throne faster, yet he weighed the prince's words, searching for any hint of deception. While he distrusted Maekar, he also yearned for the survival of House Hightower, and this union could ensure just that.

"Your words are persuasive, my Prince," Ser Otto finally replied, his voice tinged with reluctance. "But I cannot easily dismiss my doubts. Alicent is my daughter, and I want the best for her. Can you assure me that you will treat her with the respect and care she deserves?"

Maekar's gaze softened, his voice filled with sincerity. "I give you my word, Ser Otto. I may be ambitious, but I am not heartless. Alicent will be treated with the utmost respect and given the position of honor that befits her status as a Targaryen Princess and future Queen. Together, we will forge a new era for our houses."

Ser Otto's gaze wavered, his mind filled with conflicting thoughts. He had seen the fire in Maekar's eyes, the hunger for power that burned within him, but he also knew that if he wanted his blood on the throne, Alicent marrying Maekar would solidify that.

"Very well, my Prince," Ser Otto relented, his voice tinged with caution. "I will consider your proposition and discuss it with Alicent. But know that her happiness and well-being are my utmost priority. Should I find even a hint of deceit or mistreatment, I will not hesitate to withdraw my support."

Maekar nodded, his expression grateful. "I appreciate your caution, Ser Otto. I assure you, my intentions are genuine, and I will do everything in my power to make Alicent happy. Let us hope that our houses can find common ground and work towards a prosperous future."

With a final nod, Prince Maekar and Ser Otto parted ways, the weight of their conversation hanging in the air. The shadows of Red Keep whispered secrets and possibilities, as the fate of House Targaryen and House Hightower became intertwined in a delicate dance of power and ambition.