Born in 136 AC, Aemon Targaryen was the second child of King Viserys II and Larra Rogare
of Lys, who grew to be so great a swordsman, he was granted the honor of wielding Dark
Sister, one of the Valyrian steel blades held by the royal family.
Nicknamed the Dragonknight, he once duelled Cregan Stark of Winterfell, remarking that
the Northern Lord was the finest swordsmen he ever faced.
Stories say Aemon and his sister Naerys came to love each other deeply, but she was married
to their elder brother Aegon in 153 AC and was crying during the bedding ceremony.
Distraught over his lost love, 17 year old Aemon joined the Kingsguard, serving under
his uncle Aegon III who passed away in 157 AC, succeeded by his son Daeron I, who in
the same year began his ambitious conquest of Dorne.
The Dragonknight followed his king to war and saved his life by jumping in front of
a poisoned arrow, but as a result was sent back to the capital to recover.
Nevertheless, as soon as possible he returned to the fighting and famously defeated a Dornish
champion in battle.
Although the young dragon was initially successful in defeating the nobility of the realm, he
soon faced a rebellion from the small folk, resulting in the peace talks of 161 AC where
the king was betrayed and killed alongside 3 of his kingsguard, while a fourth yielded
to the Dornishmen.
Aemon, the final member of the kingsguard present, immediately attacked and killed two
of the enemy but was quickly overwhelmed and captured.
The Dornish Lord Wyl of Wyl, then left the dragonknight naked in a crow’s cage suspended
above a pit of vipers while in King’s Landing, Daeron I was succeeded by his brother Baelor
the Blessed, a man so determined to end the war he walked barefoot to Dorne and negotiated
peace, before walking through a nest of vipers to free his cousin.
Although the Dragonknight told the King leave him behind and not risk his life, Baelor refused
and successfully rescued Aemon, but suffered a number of snake bites and collapsed unconscious.
Making their way home, Aemon carried the king to a nearby village where a septon gave them
a mule, and then reached Blackhaven castle, where they found a Maester.
In total, Aemon the Dragonknight served under five Targaryen Kings, beginning with Aegon
III, followed by Daeron I, Baelor The Blessed, Viserys II and finally his elder brother Aegon
IV.
However his relationship with Aegon was poor throughout their lives, due in some part to
the dragonknight’s affection for Queen Naerys, and because the vain, greedy, gluttonous king
was envious of the love and respect people showed for his gallant younger brother.
During the reign of the Aegon the Unworthy, a rumor was circulated by Ser Morgil Hastwyck,
accusing the Queen of adultery and treason, but some believed that it was King himself
who allowed these rumors to spread, in order to discredit his son and heir Daeron, with
whom he was quarrelling.
However the Dragonknight would not allow anyone to insult the name of his beloved sister and
so fought and killed Ser Morgil in a trial by combat.
Nevertheless, the rumors of the queen’s infidelity persisted, and later contributed
to the outbreak of civil war, when many chose to recognize Aegon’s bastard son Daemon
Blackfyre as true heir to the Iron throne.
The king had so little affection for his wife, that on one occasion he forbid his brother
from participating in a tournament, so he could arrange for the champion to dedicate
his victory to his mistress instead of his wife.
Yet Aemon again would not permit his sister to be mocked, and so entered as a mystery
knight called the Knight of Tears, and won the event, naming Naerys as Queen of Love
and Beauty.
Although he no doubt hated his brother, Aemon was loyal until the very end, dying in the
defense of his king when two brothers from house Toyne attempted his assassination.
Stories say Naerys was heartbroken when she learned of Aemon’s death and died a year
later in childbirth.
Forever bitter and hostile towards his siblings, Aegon IV did little to honor their memory,
and even attempted to smear their names, circulating rumors that Aemon had an affair with Queen
Naerys.
Yet despite the king’s efforts to taint the man’s reputation, Aemon the Draonknight
was remembered as one of the finest and most honourable warriors in Westerosi history,
with his great love for the queen inspiring singers for years to come.