Axaes Targaryen

"*Even if I did leave, cousin, they would never forget when their brothers were put to the sword by enemies His Grace was too apathetic to deal with. They would yearn for me.*"
― Axaes in response to his cousin Vaerena Targaryen demanding an explanation for his claim to Summerhall**Prince Axaes Targaryen** was a member of House Targaryen. He was the eldest son of Aewyn Targaryen and **Laena Targaryen** and the older brother of Aelyx Targaryen and Visenya Targaryen, nephew of King Baelon I Targaryen and cousin to his children, the heiress Vaerena Targaryen and her half-brother Rhaegor Waters, nephew of Valerion Targaryen and cousin to his son Daeron Targaryen, and nephew of Daegon Velaryon and cousin to his children Jaenara, Aethan and Elaena Velaryon.

Axaes was a dragonrider who rode Vhagar, the oldest of the Targaryen dragons, and was second in the line of succession after his cousin Vaerena Targaryen. Since a young age, he was actively involved in the politics of King’s Landing, where he made friends of many Lords and Ladies of importance. As a teenager, he already proved himself a more capable Knight than most while participating in various tourneys. After his father and mother died of the plague in 104 AC, he secluded himself at Dragonstone alongside his brother, both having grown suspicious about the deaths of their parents.

In 105 AC, Axaes and his brother flew their dragons to the Reach, where the castle of Horn Hill was being besieged by Dornish invaders. Axaes’ victory at Horn Hill prompted him to take charge in freeing the rest of the Marches from the Dornish. After a year of fighting, he and his brother had driven back the invasion in its entirety, and Axaes had become the de facto commander of the combined forces of the Marcher Lords, who subsequently monikered him “Protector of the Marches.”

Axaes continued to take up residency in the castle of Summerhall, a stronghold he had frequently used to rally the Marcher Lords and operated from during the conflict. In early 106 AC, he publicly declared himself as the “Prince of Summerhall.”

## Personality

Axaes Targaryen was a calm, collected and assertive person. He was noted to be able to sway even the sharpest politicians into subservience using simple quick wits and a passive, indisputable sort of dominance. During interactions, he carried himself with an easy and charismatic demeanor. His natural confidence presented itself in a number of ways: he rarely exhibited any worry or doubt, and always appeared to be satisfied with himself and his circumstances. Axaes rarely acknowledged social tensions or conflict, often making use of silence or sarcasm to dismiss dire situations.

Axaes was progressive, restless and stubborn in nature. He had a clear disinterest in activities that did not contribute to his advancement, and rarely wasted any time to act. Still, the Prince's yearning nature did not come at the cost of unforeseen consequences. Axaes was an extremely intelligent and calculating mind, and he never tended to worry about potential repercussions that hadn't already occurred to him. On the contrary; if an adversary had outmanoeuvred him intellectually, he was more inclined to smile at the irony than to rage in defeat.

Laws and traditions were foreign to the Prince. Axaes had a clear disregard for rules and authority, and judged everything based on its worth rather than its sentiment. He disagreed with a number of Westerosi adherences, such as the positions that women were given in its political structure. He also carried a distaste for those had power but did not use it, especially noblemen who were incompetent or inactive in their duties—something he accused King Baelon of in particular. Contrarily, he respected those who exploited their talents—especially when they did so in the face of dominion.

Driven by a burning desire for greatness, Axaes believed his birthright was a sign that he was meant for grandeur; a sentiment heavily influenced by the stories of Old Valyria—a seemingly perfect and relentlessly progressive empire. His constant drive to achieve more was a testament to his motivation for power, something that was exhibited in his continuous forging of political alliances, perfecting his combat abilities and his skills as a dragonrider, and even in leading men into war for impersonal reasons.

## Relationships

##### Prince Aelyx Targaryen

Axaes regarded Aelyx as his only true companion in life, and he was the only person who he loved and trusted unconditionally. The two brothers had an incredibly strong and unwavering relationship. Ever since they were little, they shared each of their experiences together—from training their swordsmanship to riding their dragons together, to more recently, fighting a war together. Axaes knew he could always count on his brother’s support and loyalty, no matter the circumstances. Although their personalities differed in many ways—Aelyx was silent, severe and aggressive whereas Axaes was more politically inclined—their ambitions were aligned. Axaes often made conscious use of his brother’s violent tendencies; both to destroy his enemies and to intimidate adversaries in social endeavors.

##### Princess Vaerena Targaryen

When they were children, Axaes and Vaerena were often treated as natural adversaries by their environment; the first children of two claimants to the iron throne. Because of this, Axaes grew up with a subconscious sense of rivalry toward her. In some respect, this also led him to regard Vaerena as an equal of sorts. As they grew older, Axaes developed more respect for her, as in many ways they were alike—they were both bold, defiant and strong in personality, and both were opposed to what oppressed them in life.

##### King Baelon I Targaryen

Axaes viewed the King as a natural enemy; both principally and philosophically. From a young age, Axaes was led to believe that his father, Aewyn Targaryen—the King’s younger brother—was better suited to sit on the iron throne. Axaes ruled Baelon’s ascension to the throne out to be disgraceful, not only because he was taught so, but because he truly believed his father would have been a far better King. Axaes thought of Baelon as an irritable, apathetic and overall incompetent man, whereas he viewed his father as ambitious, political and strong-willed. When his father died in 104 AC, Axaes immediately cast his suspicions toward Baelon, believing him to be responsible somehow. In many ways, Axaes’ motivations and actions stemmed from his natural defiance toward Baelon.