Baelor Targaryen (son of Rhaegar II)

Prince Baelor is the fourthborn child, and third son of the former King Rhaegar II and Queen Rhaenys. He is the current Master of Laws on the Small Council serving his elder brother King Aegon VII, and is the rider of the mercurial dragon Aegorax - a scarlet beast with flecks of shimmering silver. While still young, he has proven himself as a talented knight and tested commander having participated in a couple conflicts along with his winged companion. He is wed to Aemma Arryn, and has fathered two children from the union - Jacaerys and Saera.

Appearance and Character
Just like the rest of his kin, Prince Baelor has silver blonde hair that falls upon his shoulders and gentle violet eyes from the Valyrian ancestry within House Targaryen. He possesses a square jawline, high cheekbones and thick dark eyebrows. The Prince stands at 5'10 making him one of the shortest of his kin, and maintains an athletic figure due to a strict fitness regimen. He is a firm believer in the Code of Chivalry, thus Baelor oft displays himself purely and frequently washes - stating that a true knight must be cleanly as well as godly.

He is known to be a serious knight - and does not shy away from an opportunity to prove his worth to those around him. After taking part in various conflicts during The Bleeding such as the Razing of the Red Temple and the Black Prophet's Rebellion, Baelor now strives for a more diplomatic approach in regards to relations, so that the Kingdom he cherishes and it's people might have time to recover after such devastating years in recent memory.

Such a change of heart has placed him in line with Visenya's Wings since the end of The Bleeding, becoming one of her more prominent supporters - whereas before he had remained neutral in most of his sisters' differences of opinion. By no means however does he consider himself a pacifist by aligning himself so openly with his half-sister, and he will dutifully draw his blade when the time inevitably comes again.

Outside the battlefield, Baelor displays himself modestly - never one for extravagant jewelry or exotic tastes that do not warrant a measurable occasion for such things. Instead, he typically maintains solidity in his attire and dressings with his House's colours - and even a dash of Arryn influence at certain gatherings. However such modesty is disregarded in times of conflict, and upon donning his gilded plate the Prince shines as if a knight from a fairy tale. Some would perhaps consider accusing Baelor of his casual modesty merely being a facade for this more lavish and excessive appearance - but he would quickly state that such a display is merely to reveal himself to the enemy commander so that they might meet upon the field with ease.

Childhood
Baelor was born upon Dragonstone in the Second Moon of 415 AC, making him the fourth child from the union of the then Prince of Dragonstone Rhaegar II and his sister-wife Princess Rhaenys who held Summerhall. Unlike his two brothers before him Aegon and Aerion, a dragon egg would be placed within his cradle as a babe - an exacting decision on behalf of the Black Queen Visaera Targaryen, who no doubt intended the elder siblings to tame more mature dragons upon coming of age. The egg would hatch seven months later in the Ninth Moon of 415, bringing the dragon Aegorax into the world.

In his early youth, Baelor would prove to be a curious and enthusiastic child, always eager for what laid before him whether it be laborious or otherwise. He found great comfort in the presence of his elder siblings - particularly in that of his sister Rhaenyra, whom would go on to teach him the basic teachings of swordplay as she underwent her own lessons in the craft. He would display an innate talent in the art of the blade during their private sessions as well as those with a more experienced trainer that began in earnest in 422 AC, however Baelor could never replicate his elder sister's oppressive and intimidating grandeur that would fill a room with her presence. Through time, he felt himself distancing himself from her through not of fear but of discomfort in her ferocity that he could not possess.

He would find solace in this lacking not through other pursuits, but other methods. It would be his half-sister Visenya Silvermoon that would inspire him to follow his own path to Knighthood - telling him tales of True Knights such as that of Aemon the Dragonknight, and Galladon of Morne with his legendary sword, the Just Maid. Baelor would prove to be inspired by the promises of chivalry and their codes, thus continuing his intentions to become a Knight - although later he would remove himself from his private lessons with Rhaenyra, and instead seek elsewhere for lessons on the blade. He would find them in Ser Arlan Waters of the Kingsguard, although his teachings would come few and far between due to his duties as a sworn brother.

Outside of his siblings, there would be those of Baelor's own age with whom he enjoyed company with. Arthur Hightower - the son of Leyton Lightsteel and Aelora Velaryon - had been a constant within the Royal Court of King's Landing after the murder of his father during the Tournament of Summerhall, at the hand of the Sword of the Morning Aemon Dayne. A frequent target for Baelor's brother Aerion and his bullying, Baelor himself would often intervene to defend the boy resulting in both of their beatings. The two would become quick friends in the face of impunity, and would both go on to squire under Knights of the Kingsguard - although of various degrees of success in learning.

Adolescence
In the Eleventh Moon of 424 AC, Prince Baelor Targaryen would become a Dragon Rider to Aegorax - the beast that had hatched within his cradle beside him nine years prior. It proved to be a drawn out affair despite their previous time together, as Aegorax was a rather mercurial and moody creature. The young Prince would stay within the Dragonpit for four days, and three nights before the dragon allowed Baelor to mount him, before taking flight late into the evening and returning the following morning.

Flights would become a frequent pastime for Baelor in the months that followed - entranced and overjoyed by this new addition into his daily life and routine. But despite such excitement, he managed to maintain strictness in his lessons, and continued to strive towards his overall objective of becoming a True Knight.

A feat which requires much discipline, and furthermore much ability - and although he may have possessed such ability with a blade to make him worthy of knighthood, to become one so true required much more than to be able to swing a sword. It would be in 427 AC during the Blue Winter, where such an opportunity would arise. Prince Baelor frequently wrote to Visenya Silvermoon during her stay in Braavos across the Narrow Sea, and spoke of the sufferings of the smallfolk within the Crownlands that he had witnessed - and his desire to help in some way. Seeing this as a reason to return home to Westeros, Visenya suggested a tour of the Vale, where alongside Baelor they could offer aid and relief to those who need it. The Prince would jump at the opportunity, and with his father's permission and small guard to accompany his journey, Baelor would meet his half-sister in Gulltown where they would begin their efforts. In recognition for the Prince's generosity and desire for helping, Visenya bestowed him a gift - a Valyrian Steel link that formerly belonged to her mother Selenya Targaryen and the Learned Prince before her, Jacaerys Targaryen.

Ultimately it would be this journey into the Vale of Arryn that would lead Prince Baelor to several influential figures in his adolescence - including but not limited to his future wife Aemma Arryn and her brother, the future Lord Godric Arryn, as well as the famed White Raven with whom Baelor would later squire under, Lord Brynden Corbray. Such an impression was made between the young Aemma and Baelor, that Princess Saera Targaryen - the then Lady of the Eyrie - would have them betrothed upon the Prince's return to King's Landing - acting upon the wishes of the late Black Queen Visaera, who even in death impacted the realm with her rule.

Only half a year later Prince Baelor would return to the Vale to undergo squireship under Lord Brynden Corbray, after having been in awe of the former Kingsguard's presence during his previous visit. After securing tutelage, Baelor would return to King's Landing briefly to bear witness to the union of his elder siblings Prince Aegon and Princess Rhaenyra in what would be come to be known as the grand celebration of the Springtide Wedding. After this his squireship would begin in earnest upon returning to the Vale once more.